《Magicraft Meister》 1 - Reference 1 (Character) 20170613 Reiko My name is Reiko, an automata. She has black hair that hangs down her back, black eyes, and looks about 10 years old. She is about 10 years old. She is probably holding a ball of Magi Crystal in her hand. Hannah A girl from the village of Kaina. She is 8 years old. She is eight years old and slightly emaciated. She carries a heavy bucket of water. Licia Lithia Faarheit is the new noblewoman of the Kingdom of Klein. The word Lithia is a prefix for lithium-containing minerals. It is also pronounced "lithia. This has nothing to do with the story. Beena. A red-haired girl I met on the outskirts of Breuland. Slender. Marcia. Young shipwright. 23 years old, short blond hair, blue eyes, wheat-colored skin. She is a little embarrassed to be dressed like this. Elsa Randall Eldest daughter of a viscountess in the Shoro Kingdom. 1617 years old, semi-short platinum blonde hair, light blue eyes, white skin. She is concerned about her modest breasts. Height 160cm,4345kg. B7 980,W54,H8082. B7 980,W54,H8082. Congratulations Beena! In the story, Beena and Count Kuzma got engaged, so it was a flying wedding. I painted this picture even though I said I wouldn''t paint men. Count, you should be thankful to Beena. Stearina Gamma Magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa. Copper hair, reddish brown eyes. Her hair can hang down or be tied up. Saki Eschenbach An alchemist of the Kingdom of Shoro. He is 21 years old. She has auburn hair and purple-gray eyes. 158cm,46kg. B77,W53,H78. First name "Boku. Glasses version. Dress version. Berthe Geist von Scarlett 18 years old. 150 cm,42 kg. B9.0,W56,H85. This is a Valentine version, but there is no Valentine in the story. EIRA SHIATA and KACHAIR Eira is 27 years old, 163 cm,54 kg. Red hair, brown eyes. KaChea is 19 years old. Height 156 cm, weight 45 kg. Semi-short blond hair, blue-green eyes. She wears round glasses. More to be added as they become available. 2 - Reference 2 (Map) 20211221 1. map This is a map of the area around the village of Kayna. It may help you to get an idea of the area. Maps are very difficult to make, and I did not realize how hard it is. I tried to make it like a picture map, but it would have been easier to use contour lines. I plan to add maps of larger areas as the story progresses. Here are the related maps up to the middle of chapter 3. This is the geographical features we found in chapter 4. The border lines are included as an extra. (Note) In the beginning of the Blueland Arc, 02-03 "The Girl with Red Hair", Jin''s statement about latitude was contradictory, so the text has been corrected. Related maps in chapter 5. Revised. Related maps in chapters 6 and 7. Related maps of chapter 8 and 9. Related maps of chapters 8 and 9 (part 2). Related maps of chapters 9 and 10. They are large. A topographic map of Horai Island. The related maps of chapter 11 and 12. A map to show the time difference between major points. The names of the capitals of the former Leonard Kingdom are changed. Maps related to chapter 14. This is No.2. Conceptual map of Chapter 15. Related maps of chapter 15, part 2. Chapter 16 related maps. Note the pseudo Mercator. The ruler was wrong. Related maps of Chapter 20. Related maps in Chapter 21. Chapter 22 related maps. The related map in Chapter 23, or the world map. The map related to chapter 26. The footprints of Adriana and Shuki. The map of Adriana and Barbora Zetsi. These are the maps related to chapter 33. This is a map of the world after chapter 33. It is quite large. Outline of Onogoro Island. This is a map related to chapter 41. The continent of Pandor. A map related to chapter 42. Here is a map of Chapter 51, Hale. Rivers and place names are coming soon. ....... More information is added. Chapter 57 related maps. Map of chapters 71 and 72. The name of Raven Island is different from the main story, because that is what the locals called it. ...... I will fix it in due course. Here is the map related to chapter 84. 3 - Reference 3 (Drawing) 20170917 05-05 Flexible kite This is a drawing of a flexible kite made by Jin in MOFT Village. You can actually fly it. Thin material like a plastic bag can be used, but be sure to reinforce the threads around the threads well. Otherwise, the dovetails will be torn off. It would be fun to write letters or illustrations on it with a magic marker. Since the kite looks like a square kite from a distance, a Japanese-style design would be suitable. Kites should be flown in an area free from high-voltage power lines and other hazards such as cars and trains. Nido Castle A quick scribble of a memo for setting up! I tried to do a rough draft (one step before) in C. There is no consideration of the mechanical structure of the materials. I have not considered the mechanical structure of the structure at all. Conlon 2 This is a rough sketch of an airship, Conlon 2. I would appreciate it if you could use it as a reference for your image. 4 - Reference 4 (Configuration) 20210914 1. calendar/time 1 year = 51 weeks = 357 days 1 day = 24 hours 1 hour = 60 minutes 1 minute = 60 seconds . 1 year = 12 months. Winter = December, January, February Spring = March, April, May Summer = June, July Autumn = September, October, November. One month = 29 or 30 days. The three summer months with long days are 29 days, and the other months are 30 days. However, one second on the modern earth is not necessarily the same as one second in this world. The internal clock of the summoned Jin has already been adjusted to our world. The same goes for the units of meters and kilograms. They may not be the same as those of the modern earth. The moon in this world does not wax and wane. Therefore, it is a night clock. It is a sundial in the daytime. The circumference is 360 degrees. Currency and Market Price Common currency of each country. One toll is about 10 yen. A copper coin is one tole (10 yen), a silver coin is 100 tole (1,000 yen), and a gold coin is 100 A gold coin is 10000 Tol (100,000 yen). Coins: Common to the Small Group of States, the Shoro Empire, Mitsuho Huso, Kunlun Island, and the Principality. The design is the same on the front with three crossed swords (dryschweibelt). Gold coin, diameter about 25 mm, thickness about 2 mm. (Volume: approximately 1 cubic centimeter). 75% gold, 15% silver, 10% copper (18K). (18K) approx. 20 grams. The obverse is a profile of the goddess in the sun. Silver coin, diameter about 25 mm, thickness about 2 mm. (Volume: approximately 1 cubic centimeter). Silver 90%, copper 10% (coin silver) approx. 10 grams. The obverse is a profile of the goddess with nine stars. Copper coin, diameter approx. 25 mm, thickness approx. 1.2 mm. (Volume: approx. 0.83 cubic centimeters). 95% copper, 5% tin (bronze), approx. 5 grams. The thickness is as thin as 1.2 millimeters. The reverse side is an ear of wheat and the profile of the goddess. Crystal coin, diameter about 50 mm, thickness about 3 mm. The volume is about 6 cubic centimeters.) Made of magi crystal of all attributes. Approx. 20 grams. The reverse side is a profile of a lily and a goddess. Special currency. A coin made of magic crystals of all attributes. Each coin is worth 10 million tol (100 million yen). (first appearance 58-01). It is for deposits and is not in circulation. (Market price). Wheat (shelled) is about 80 Tall (800 yen) a kilo. Barley (hulled): about 90 Tall (900 yen) a kilo. Exploded corn is 50 Tall (500 yen) a kilo. Food is a little more expensive than on modern earth. Bronze 2000-3000 Tall per kilo Copper: 1800-2700 Tall per kilo. Copper is surprisingly cheap. Copper is produced mostly as natural copper. Iron 5,000-7,000talls per kilo. Silver 40-60 Tall per gram Gold 100-500 Tall per gram *While natural gold, silver and copper are produced, iron is more expensive because it needs to be refined. Light silver 2000-3000talls per gram (2 to 3 million tolls per kilogram) Mithril silver 4,000 to 5,000 tolls per gram (4 to 5 million tolls per kilogram) Adamantite 7000 to 1000 per gram (kg 7 million to 10 million tolls) Adamantite (7-10 million tolls per kilogram) The reason why rare metals are so expensive is not only because they are produced in small quantities, but also because they are difficult to mine and refine (only a few mages can do it). (For example, adamantite ore is too hard to be mined with ordinary tools.) Magi stone (Magi stone) 1000-500 per colt 0 Tol. Magi Crystal (Magi Crystal) 10,000-10,000 Tol. per lot 10000~10,000 Tol. per collet One colt is about 1 gram, and a sphere is about 6 mm in diameter. Specifically, earth 10,000~30,000 tall Fire 15,000 ~ 40,000 Tol. Water 20,000-60,000 Tolls Lightning 30,000-90,000 torr Wind 40,000-120,000 tall Light 70,000-200,000 Tall Darkness 100,000-300,000 Tall Total 150,000-1,000,000 tolls *All per colt (about 1 gram, about 6 mm in diameter for a sphere) 3. the ceran solar system Celan: G-type spectral star, radius about 700,000 km, mass210E30kg (Probably, the spatial curvature of this universe is large.) 4. the Ars solar system Smaller than the Earth. Diameter: about 2,400 km Radius: about 120 km 0 km Degree on map: about 20 km Mass: about 5.9E24 kg (about the same as the earth) Orbital period: about 357 days Rotational period: about 24 hours Inclination of the earth''s axis to the plane of revolution: about 16.5 degrees 5. moon (Uni) About half of the Earth''s Moon. Diameter: about 1,700 km Radius: about 850 km Approx. 850 km Mass: Unknown Orbit relative to Ars (?) Radius: about 380,000 km Moon (Yunie) is always in the opposite direction of the sun Celan, so it can be considered an equivalent planet rather than a satellite of Ars. 6. Hale Almost the same as the earth. Diameter: about 12700 km Radius: about 63 50 km Mass: 5.972E24 kg Earth axis inclination: 16.5 degrees 5 - Reference 5 (made by Hitoshi) 20190711 What Jin made & What belongs to Jin ver.2.0.0 Horai Island. The island where Jin''s laboratory is located. It is about the size of Tochigi prefecture. It is almost circular and has a large bay (Tatsumi Bay) in the southeast. North side : Sea of trees, rich in plant resources and timber. East side : grassland dotted with bushes and shrubs. West : Wasteland. Stone and iron ore can be obtained. South : Wetlands, grasslands and rivers. The rice paddies are being cultivated. Underground : For 1,000 years, the golem has mined for resources. The total space is about 100 times the size of the Tokyo Dome. (The volume mined is 300 times the size of Tokyo Dome and backfilled.) Tatsumi Bay: The center is as deep as Toyama Bay. Coral is harvested in the surrounding area. A harbor and fish ponds have been set up. Mount Horai A dormant volcano that rises in the center of Horai Island. It is a cone-shaped mountain like Mount Kaimondake. Central plateau of Horai Island About the size of Setagaya Ward. There are ponds, forests and grasslands. There are orchards and corn fields. Research Institute The institute is located in the basement of a plateau spreading out at an altitude of around 1000m above sea level, halfway up Mount Horai. It is about the size of an average elementary school building (excluding the basement). The exterior walls are made of hardened chert (flint). The color is gray with light greenish tints. House A Japanese house built beside the institute. One-storied, tiled roof. Six Japanese-style rooms. With separate hot spring baths for men and women. Shrine A shrine moved from the former Leonard''s Kingdom. It is dedicated to the sage Shuki Tsetsi. (31-14) Underground dock A space of 2 km in length and breadth and 1 km in depth, built under the airfield behind (north of) the institute. (59-04) It is possible to move to the airfield on the ground with the transfer magic circle. Or you can send it to the target with a transporter. *Transfer gate Via Shinkai. The main locations are the basement of Jin''s workshop in Kaina Village, the shelter in Kaina Village, and the mountain north of Kaina Village (aircraft can also be transferred) (11-04). Potrock Cave in the Kingdom of Elias, the forest in the suburbs of Blueland in the Kingdom of Egelea, the house of Leuzert in the Kingdom of Shoro, the storage room of Saki''s house, and the storage room of Morira in the Nordic Federation. The Nordic Federation, the clan territory of Shinra, the base of the Nordic Federation 700672, the moon (Yunie), the planet Hale, etc. Shinkai is a transfer station. It is located at the bottom of the sea. It is 20 meters in diameter and made of two layers of light silver and 18-12 stainless steel. Butlers 49 and 50 are in charge. Kunlun Island. An isolated island between Horai Island and the Laurentian Continent. At first it was built as a dummy of Horai Island. Later, <><> was built and opened to the public. The *Pavilion A house and laboratory of Jin built on Kunlun Island. Tsetsi Island The island where Shuki was buried by his predecessor. It is located in the northern part of the former Leonard Kingdom. It is guarded by Nagi and Nami, the early automata built by the previous generation. Nagi and Nami are made to look like Shuki and his predecessor when they were young. Afterwards, Jin has enhanced the automata to Smith''s level performance. (29-28) Both call Jin "the second generation. Moon. A ship that flies in the sky built by the originator. The people of the old Leonard''s Kingdom fled. The people of the former Leonard''s Kingdom fled to it, but it became extinct except for Milowina. The head of the ship is . Jin takes over from Mirrowena. (27-45) Jin is named . Jackie <. She looks like an elderly lady-in-waiting. (55-39). Avalon. Mega-float. 2 kilometers in diameter. Originally a mobile base built by , which was taken over and remodeled by Jin. The headquarters of the World Congress and the World Guard are located here. The transfer gate made in the Kingdom of Selroa is installed (38-04). Supported by the administrative magic brain (48-17). In the spring of 3464, a high-speed line running through the first underground level is completed, making travel within Avalon much faster in times of emergency. (61-09) Automata, Golem, and magic brain. Reiko The automata of Jin. A reproduction and improvement of one created by Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the first Magecraft Meister. She is about 10 years old. She is 130 centimeters tall and weighs 30 kilograms. Black hair down to the middle of his back, obsidian eyes. He calls Jin "father. His first name is me. His favorite weapon is a Japanese sword of the shape of a peach blossom. It is made of adamantite, then magi-adamantite, and finally hyper-adamantite. At the same time, its function as a "vibration sword" was added. In the future version, the function of a plasma sword is also added (44-37). Gon, Gen Remodeled after the destruction of the enemy golem. Became a guardian of the village of Kaina. Golem horse Koma, Mint (for Hannah), Ain, Tubai, Dry, Cuttle, Sunk, Snow (for Erza), for customers, for pulling carriages. Soleil Reiko''s golem. (02-01) Girlish (about the same size as Reiko). Gold color. Light. She calls Jin "father. Reiko calls him "sister. Luna. A golem under Reiko''s command. (02-01) Girlish (about the same size as Reiko). Silver. Dark. She calls Jin "father. Reiko calls him "sister. Planes 1-5 A golem under Soleil. Girlish. She calls Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss. Soleil is her "sister. Satella 1-5 A golem under Luna. Girlish. She calls Jin "master. Reiko calls her "Miss. Luna is her "sister. Butler 1-50,ABCDE A butler golem. It calls Jin "master. Reiko calls him "Miss. Made of 18-12 stainless steel. Made of 18-12 stainless steel. 1 is from 10-02. 50 is in charge of the intermediate transition gate. 50 is in charge of the intermediate gate. She manages the gate at Horai Island and performs many other tasks. A is for Jin''s deputy in the village of Kaina. BC is for Nido Castle. D works at Loisart. E works at the base in Machina. Steward A golem that serves as Jin''s steward (chore). The base is the same as that of Butler''s. Made of 18-12 stainless steel. It is made of 18-12 stainless steel. He calls Jin "master. Reiko calls him "Miss. Elsa is "Mistress. (31-32) Usually pretends to be stupid, but when Jin gives his permission, she shows her true performance. Ruby. Golem maid. Fire. Defense. Aqua Golem Maid. Water In charge of flood control. Topaz Golem Maid. Soil In charge of land development. Perid Golem maid. Wind. Housekeeping. Ames Golem maid. Lightning. In charge of defense. Each has a light silver skeleton and a bronze exterior. Their muscles are magical muscles. They wear a black one-piece dress, a white apron dress, and a white brim. They have 100 subordinates each. They are called **leaders.) The white brims of his subordinates are numbered. He calls Jin "master". Reiko is "Miss. The number 100 is in charge of Kunlun Island. 101 works at Nido Castle. 102 works at Loisart. (In the book, 101 is Leuthart''s residence.) Tactile sense is added after 3457/10/30. 103 and 104 (59-33) for work at Machina''s base. Craftsman (Smith) 1-1000 Craftsman golem. Made of 18-12 stainless steel. About the same build as Jin''s. 400 kg. (09-03) Little craftsman (Smith) 1-10 mini artisan golem. (Little class) 40 cm (1/4") tall. He calls Jin "master. Reiko calls him "Miss. Slightly throaty voice. Mini Craftsman (Smith) 1-10 Mini mini artisan golem. (mini class) 10 cm tall (1/16). He calls Jin "master. Reiko calls him "miss. Kinky voice. Inch Craftsman (Smith) 1-1000 Height 25mm (1/64). She calls Jin "master. Reiko calls him "Miss. Her voice is thick. (13-06) millimeter craftsman(smith)1-1000 Height 5mm (1/320). She calls Jin "master. Reiko calls him "Miss. Her voice is thick. (13-06) Sky 1-1000 ("1" is the leader.) Air Force golem. Silver-blue. Made of light silver. Height 180 cm, weight 100 kg. Human-like build. It calls Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss. She works at Machina''s base, 1001-1100. *Marine 1-500 ("1" is leader.) Navy golem. Light silver. Made of light silver. Height 180 cm, weight 200 kg. Human-like build. He calls Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss. Since November 21, 3457, the number has been increased (as crew of cruisers and submarines, etc.) up to 500. The first digit is for generals, the first half of the second digit is for captains, the second half is for lieutenants, and the third digit is for enlisted men. 501 to 600 for service at Machina base (59-33). Land 1 to 1000 ("1" is leader). Army golem. Silver-brown. Made of light silver and adamantite. Height 180 cm, weight 250 kg. He is built like a human being. He calls Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss. Since April 22, 3457, she has copied the Shoro Imperial Knight swordsmanship. Kaina village is A to Z. (10-31) 1001 to 1100 for working at the base in Machina (59-33). Mermaid 1 to 1000 ("1" is the leader.) Underwater Army (Mariner) Golem for underwater use. Mermaid type. Silvery-white. Can swim at 400 km/h underwater. (09-07) 101-120. (59-33) as a base worker in Machina. Astro 1-100 ("1" is the leader.) Small golem for space. 40 cm tall. It calls Jin "master. Reiko calls it "Miss. Slightly throaty voice. Copper-colored. *Cosmos 1-700 ("1" is the leader.) (51-03) Space Force golem. Golden. It has a built-in force generator and can use engineering magic. 501-600 work on the craft . 60 1-700 work for . Space 1-20 ("1" is the leader.) (48-04) Exclusive for Aristotle of Deus ex Machina III. Same type as Kosmos. Black in color. Finger 1-5 A miniature golem 5 cm long. Belongs directly to Lao Tzu. It calls Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss. Her voice is "kinky. Sam 1-10 A miniature golem for intelligence, 5 centimeters long. It calls Jin "master. Reiko calls him "Miss. Her voice is "kin-kin". Shinobi Forces 1 to 2 Shinobi 1,2...... and up to pickup. The same type as Finger and Sam (23-19). They can move 300 meters with a transporter. He calls Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss." She has a thick voice. Command 1-10 The crew of the mini-mole. Equivalent to the Shinobi Forces. They call Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss. Her voice is "kin-kin. Ugly. A general-purpose golem for agriculture. A gift from Jin to the northerners. (16-26) *Stella. Appeared in 2019 Special . Copper color. She calls Jin "father. Reiko calls him "sister" and is at ease. The order of subordinates Reiko=Old lord>Soleil=Luna>5-color golem maid (no mark=leader)=Planet,Satera=Butler>5-color golem maid 1~10 0 = Smith,Sky,Marine,Land,Mermaid. *Arrow. Exclusive for Marcia''s golem boat. Made of bronze and nickel plated. *Lotte A maid golem made at the request of Count Kuzma. She resembles Bina in appearance. Her combat skills are the same as those of Lianna, the leader of the second squad of the < of the Kingdom of Egelea. Mini Reiko A miniature doppelganger created by the original Jin. Height 30cm. Reiko is remotely controlled by herself, so that her processing power is reduced a little when she is controlled by this doll. (46-15) Deus ex machina A substitute doll created by Jin. He is 6 feet tall with silver hair and blue eyes. He does not resemble Jin. Rei A follower of Makina. He is 150 centimeters tall and 40 kilograms. She has shoulder-length silver hair. Ice blue eyes. First name is "I". Jin for Jin-sama. Reiko as Reiko-san and Erza as Erza-sama. Basically, he speaks politely. Physical ability is more than Lando and less than Reiko. (37-11) A full-face helmet, covering the whole body, silver-white light armor. (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) (48-17) Anne A maid automata repaired by Jin. Slim adult female type. She has blue hair (apparently to make it easier to tell that she is not human) and blue eyes. Height 160 cm, 50 kg. B82W56H83. He calls Jin "Goshujin-sama. She calls Reiko "Onee-sama. Lol. Blue-haired automata of the same lot as Anne. (24-34) In the first person. The general manager of the Jade Pavilion. (28-13) Evacuated to Horai Island during the rebellion of the Magical League (53-11). *Leffa. Blue-haired automata of the same lot as Tia. (24-34) First person I. The proprietress of Wujinggaku. (28-14) Evacuated to Horai Island due to the rebellion of the Magic League (53-11). *Sarah. A maid golem customized by Jin to support Elsa, Mine, Martha, and Hannah in Kaina village. It has a paralyzer in its right hand and a magijammer in its left hand. It also has a stealth function and a magic barrier. Of course, it has a built-in manacam. Her eyes are Magi Obsidian. She calls herself "I" in the first person and "Goshuunin" (master) in the second person. Reiko is "Miss. When she calls Erza and the others, she adds "Sama" to their names. Titan 1-3 A giant golem-applied robot. Titan 1 is a semi-autonomous type, Titan 2 is a type exclusively for Reiko, and Titan 3 is a remotely piloted type. (09-08) Daedalus 1-50 Titan-based golem for heavy work. It weighs about 8 tons. Its movement is slower than that of Titan, but its precision operation is superior. (09-22) 5th Row (Quinta) Clandestine automata for intelligence gathering. There are 40 adult male automata and 30 adult female automata. 10 boy types, 10 girl types, and 10 little girl (Reiko) types for disguise, for a total of 10 The basic number is 10. The basic model is the Horai Island Covert Mobile Unit (SP). They have artificial skin and hair, making them more human-like. The adult male type is named , the adult female type , the boy type , the girl type , and the Reiko type , named by Jin. Each is numbered from 1. Jin is called Chief and Reiko Sister. Equipped with laser, stun, and barrier. Equipped with magijammer since July 3457. Houraishima Covert Task Force (SP) Also known as <. They call Jin "Chief" and Reiko "Sister". Two girl-types, equivalent to Reiko, are and . They are 130 centimeters tall and weigh 30 kilograms. Two girls of about the same build as Elsa are < and . Height 160 cm, weight 50 kg. Two adult female types are <<>. Height 165 cm, weight 55 kg. Later, two more of each type are sent to the village of Kaina (Hanna), Potrock (Marcia), Blueland (Beena and Count Kuzma), Kingdom of Egelea (Prince Ernest), and to escort Reinhardt in the shadows. (08-25) Their names are <>,<>(Hannah),<>,<>(Marcia),<>,<>(Bina & Louis),<>,<>(Ernest),<>,<>(Reinhard). All of them are 165 cm tall and weigh 55 kg. Two more for Erza. < and . Standard adult male <<<>. Height 175 cm, weight 70 kg. And a boy <<>. He is 150 centimeters tall and weighs 40 kilograms. There are ten of them in total. They are armed with lightning magic. From shock to 50 million volts of electric shock. Revised 22-28 (3458/02/08). Once relieved of duty, as needed. Built-in force generator. Pance and Viola are assigned to Kunlun Island. General-purpose golem A golem commissioned by the Kingdom of Klein (10-22). Made of five-and-a-half nickel steel. About ten times as powerful as a human (13-27). The 10 golems (nick 1-10) destroyed by the giant centipede have already been recovered (13-33). Nurse Golem for nursing. Three prototypes were made: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Gamma is at the Mireshan clinic in the village of Kaina. She looks like Elsa. When she calls Jin, she says "master. Performance is based on Quinta. (13-15) She is now officially mass-produced, and her appearance is slightly changed. Her hair is blue and very short, her face looks a little like Erza''s, and her body resembles Ann''s and Sally''s. Her breasts are large (expressing motherhood). Her breasts are larger (to express motherhood). She wears a nurse''s cap and has a mini-nurse with her. Instructor(Fewer) An automata for teachers. She has about elementary school-level scientific knowledge. Liese Doctor (healer) automata. She inherited Elsa''s skills. She looks a little like Sally Mireshan (though younger). *Jack. Surgical mini-golem. 3457/11/16-. *Doppel, a general-purpose alter ego doll. A doppelganger made by the compound Jin for his fellow human beings. (56-03) The face and physique can be changed. Farrar Golem for driving a car. It is also responsible for maintenance, upkeep, and support for getting in and out of the car. Farrar 1 is for the Shoro Emperor. Saffy 1-100 Golem Maid. Made of bronze, so its performance is not that great (but it is the best in the world). Works at Avalon. Eyes are deep blue. Donated by Jin (and Machina). (38-01) Magenta. Golem maid. Gift of Jin for the wedding of Fritz and Gloria. Her eyes are magenta. About twice as good as Saffy''s and a quarter as good as the five-colored Golem Maid. (49-06) Arul This doll was made by Jin and designed by Erza. An automata in the shape of Reiko. Presented to the Emperor Taisho (49-07). *Cecil A secretary golem made by Jin. Presented to his brother-in-law Moritz. (49-42) *Chrysanthemum Princess A Japanese automata dedicated by Jin to the tomb guard of Emperor Taisho. (53-03) Jin is < and Erza is < (59-01) *Lao Kun The magical brain who controls all of Horai Island and Kunlun Island. He stands over all golems except Reiko. He is absolutely obedient to Jin. He calls Jin "My Lord". He calls Reiko "Reiko-san". Lao Tzu Since 09-03. Mobile terminal automata of an old man. Old steward type. Little old man. A magical brain dedicated to satellite management. Located at the top of Mount Horai. He is a sub-brain of the old man. Koushin Gengshen is a magic brain dedicated to the security of Horai Island, Kunlun Island, Kaina Village, and so on. His processing power is about 1/100 of Laojun''s, but it is more than enough for 100 human beings. (10-31) He uses rather formal language. When he calls Jin, he calls him "Okan-sama", Reiko "Reiko-san", and Lao-kun "Lao-kun". (35-35) Taibaku Jin modified the magic brain at Fort Kulou. He controls the Kunlun island. (24-35) He calls Jin "My Lord. *Yangyong A magical brain that controls the illusionary boundary and the passage boundary of Horai Island. A subordinate of the old lord. (37-10) *Guru A mage brain under the Roukun, who is exclusive to Machina. (37-01) Aircraft and spaceships . A single-engine aircraft, standard. <> for long-range reconnaissance. For long-range reconnaissance. 3-engine. 2-seater. Maximum speed 500 km/h. 500 aircraft in stock (34-12). < For transport. 3-engine. 20-seater. Maximum speed: 300 km/h. > For covert use. Single-engine. 2-seater. Maximum speed 400 km/h. 1-500. Armed with 2 laser cannons. <> Vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOL),1-10. Maximum speed 1000 km/h. 10 passengers. Armed with 2 laser cannons and 1 Magicanon. For transporting Titan. Floats on four special engines. Maximum takeoff weight 10 tons. Maximum speed 100 km/h. Condor 3, equipped with a transfer gate for large aircraft. Maximum speed 150 km/h. <> Eagle 1. Eagle 1. A huge wind-powered "Blow Floater". It is designed to transport Daedalas, but it has a cargo compartment and can also carry supplies. (59-06) Maximum takeoff weight 10 tons. Maximum speed 200 km/h. Shaped like a drone with four circular wings of 15 meters in diameter. Length and width 50 m, height 25 m. (30 m if landing legs are included). (30 m including landing legs) (59-08) Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft (VTOL). Capacity of 5 passengers. 64 light silver. Maximum speed 800 km/h. Armed with a paralyzer, an induction radiator, a laser cannon, and, although small, a magic cannon. It is controlled by an independent control core dedicated to fire control. Equipped with a warp gate for escape. Barrier against both physical and magical attacks. Naturally, it also has a stealth function. Equipped with a low-precision magi-detector. < Airship. Developed under the concept of flying between countries in one day. Total length 40m, height 18m, capacity 30 people. Maximum speed 200 km/h. Jet thruster propulsion. It uses not only helium but also a force generator. Space ship specification. The same appearance as the Conlon 2. Maximum speed Mach 5.0 (27-20). Appears in the future version. Blow Floater, an airship-type wind-powered floating machine. The external appearance is the same as that of Conlon 2 and 3. Capacity of 50 people. Normal maximum speed 800 km/h. (48-02) < Prototype spacecraft with a diameter of 10 meters. (First appearance 27-01, naming 27-15) <<<> (27-38) <<<<<<<> in the same type. <>. The airship of Deus ex Machina III. Actually, it was built by Jin 400 years ago. <, it is a spaceship and can fly in a vacuum. The crew are all golems, of the same type as the Cosmos series, but of a different color (black), 1 to 20. 100 meters long, with flattened air sacs. It is 100 meters long and has a flattened air sac. <, which has been called . Telescopic landing gear extends from the lower part of the cabin to support the hull. (48-04) Maximum emergency speed, 600 km/h. < The flagship of a spacecraft 300 meters in diameter. It gives orders from the central bridge. The Great Sage is in charge of the Adriana. The Great Sage''s lines are enclosed in <>. He calls Jin "My Lord". 140 million tons. Equipped with 200 large force field generators. Acceleration of more than 20G. A craft with a diameter of 100 meters. The control brain is also named by the same name. (37-04) Crew: Cosmos 501-600. A destroyer built by Jack of the Moon. The same type as the Vulcan, but more powerful. (37-12) 1-6 (8) Ultra-small spacecraft for measuring the high concentration of free magical element (ether) in space (region). (55-01) At first there were six, but later there were eight. (55-16) Land Vehicles *Armored vehicle 8-wheeled golem engine automobile. For army use. (08-23) Armed with 1 laser cannon, 1 rail gun, 1 water jet. Capacity of 4 people. Equipped with manacam, a magical communication device, and can deploy a barrier. Equipped with a wire rope and a winch in case of getting stuck in muddy ground. In addition, it is equipped with four Magijet engines, a magic jet propulsion system, which can reduce the weight of the vehicle to one-fifth. The interior is air-conditioned, and although it is small, it is equipped with two folding bunks so that passengers can take turns taking a nap. Capricorn 1 A quadruped armored vehicle. Made of austenitic stainless steel for low temperature resistance. (15-29) Maximum speed 70 km/h. Capable of climbing hills at an angle of 50 degrees. Leg length is 6 meters, overall length is 8 meters, and overall height is 8 meters. It has a toilet and a shower. Armed with a paralyzing gun (paralyzer), a magic cannon (magi cannon), a laser cannon, an ether jammer, a magi jammer, a magic bomb (mana bomb), an electromagnetic induction radiator, a magic disturber, a gravity control magic device, etc. Mole A cylindrical machine, 2 meters in diameter and 3 meters long, similar to a shield machine. < and by using a chip made of hyperadamantite. The excavated earth is discharged to the surface by a transporter. Armed with an acoustic sonar and a magi-detector, they dig while searching for foreign objects in the ground. To avoid missing valuable deposits. The holes they dig are enchanted with to prevent them from falling down. (14-19) (17-26) Mini mole Cylinder-shaped, 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm in length. It is powered by a micro-magic reactor (magireactor). Propulsion is provided by a force field generator. It is equipped with a magical surveillance eye and can see images on Horai Island. It digs by transferring rocks in the direction it is going backward with the same object as a transfer gun attached to its tip. It is not mechanical and makes little noise. (23-10) The crew is <. [Vessel]. *Hydro 1-30 Trimaran. Propelled by Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system. Maximum speed 70 km/h. 4 passengers. Total length: 6 meters (45-14) Stream 1-50 Trimaran. Destroyer. Propelled by Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system, and by Force Generator, a force field generator. Equipped with 1 Magi cannon, 1 water current blade cannon, 2 laser cannons, and 4 torpedoes. Maximum speed 150 km/h. 10 passengers.From November 21, 3457. Shark A ship built by Jin with a "binding". Wooden (teak) with light silver reinforcement. Propelled by aqua thrusters. Maximum capacity of 8 people, with living space for up to 4 people. Length 10 meters, width 4 meters. (20-05) Equipped with a small warp gate and a force field generator for emergency use. The exterior of the hull is coated with lacquer mixed with light silver powder. Silver color. Cruiser A monohull ship. Length: 100 meters, displacement: 2000 tons. 10 ships planned. 10 ships to be built on or after November 21, 3457. Named after rivers such as Azusa, Katsura, Minato, Seki, and Rhinoceros. Cruising speed is 50 km/h (about 27.8 knots) when using the Aqua Thruster. Maximum speed is 200 kilometers per hour (when using the force generator). Armament: Magicanon, lasers, etc. The captains are Marine 14, 15, 16, 17, 1 8,19.... Submarine Orca. Magical water current propulsion engine Magi Water Jet propulsion and force field generator Force Generator propulsion. (21-02) 8 passengers. Maximum speed: more than 300 km/h, maximum depth: more than 1400 meters. Battleships Hotaka Kai, Myoko Kai, Asama Kai. Total length 250 meters, drainage 30,000 tons. Equipped with a force generator propulsion system. Maximum speed is 100 kilometers per hour. Armed with six 30cm laser main guns and 20 20cm Magicanon secondary guns. There are 100 guns of various types that can fire at different points. Each of them has an individual control nucleus. They are computer-controlled. It has 10 water cannons as auxiliary guns. The crew is made up of Marin and other naval golems. It is constructed of adamantite and lined with five layers of steel, with a mithril coating on the surface. Discharge capacity is about 30,000 tons. Crew of 30. Its cruising range is theoretically unlimited, but limited to areas with free magical elements. The range of the ship is about 10,000 kilometers with its onboard magic. The captain is Marine 11. The captains are Marine 11, 12, and 13. Equipment Bracelets for friends. The old man controls the barrier. Of course, the wearer''s will can also be used. It can also be used for communication, authentication, and luminescence. Primary Jin: jet black Elsa: light blue Saki: light purple Reinhardt: gold Berche: scarlet Meine: transparent Stearina: copper Toa: blue Marcia: dark blue Rodrigo: dark green Vivian: silver Hannah: yellow Reiko: milky white Luis: yellow green Beena: crimson Milowina: gold stripes on silver Goose: grape brown (31-03) : blue and white marbled (31-09) Martha: yellow and white marbled (31-39) Zion: silver and light blue marbled (35-28) Maricka: silver and yellow marbled (35-28) *Secondary Jin: jet black Reiko: milky white Zion: silver and light blue marble Marikka: silver and yellow marble (same as primary so far) Rhodoth: white and light blue marble (44-27) Ludmila: white and gold marble (44-49) [Magical tools] *Transfer gate (warp gate) Magickal tools for spatial transfer. *Stove *Lighter *Refrigerator (jointly developed with Beena) Popcorn maker Water heater (jointly developed with Beena) Distiller (joint development with Reinhardt) Vacuum cleaner (joint development with Reinhardt) Vacuum cleaner (developed with Reinhardt) Magical jet propulsion engine (Magijet engine) Jet engine using wind magic. *Magical water jet propulsion engine Magi Water Jet. A water jet that utilizes water magic. Golem engine *Magic turbine Wind thruster A degraded version of the Magijet. Force field generator An engine that is propelled by the same kind of force as reaction magic. (20-01) Wand of Paralysis Standard weapon of Horai Island. Laser gun Standard weapon of Horai Island. *Pendant Reiko''s special weapon. Guard ring A ring of protection made by Jin. *Protector ring A deteriorated version of the ring of protection. Shield case A countermeasure against rewriting magic of slavery. Manacam A communication device based on ether theory. Audio only. Mana Telecam A device that simultaneously transmits images and sound. Peeper telescope A telephoto device with a clairvoyant function. (35-08) Magical Recorder Absorbs and records magic applied from the outside. Magi Radar Detects specific magic. Magi jammer A jammer disperses magic power during chanting and prevents magic from being cast. Aether Eliminator Removes free magic element (ether) from an object and stores it in an ether tank. (32-26) Vibration Sword A sword that cuts objects by vibrating a blade of magi-adamantite at ultra-high speed. It has a magic certification, so if it does not conform, it is a weaker sword than adamantite. Induction Radiator This sword generates heat in metal using the principle of electromagnetic induction. Magic Sword A magical sword that uses thermal energy in the form of a sword. *Magical sword . A magic sword that uses lightning energy in the form of a sword. Mana Bomb A bomb that applies the "mana explosion" technique. *Magic transcription gun A gun that can release a specific magic without loss of time. (36-07) *Magic Transcription Cannon A cannon that can release specific magic without loss of time. (36-15) Aether Stocker A refrigerated storage with an ether ratio of 20 percent or higher. It can store magic materials semi-permanently. Free ether box A cold storage box with an ether ratio of 80% or higher. It increases the purity of magic materials. Treat Mentor A magical tool of healing. Coherencer <. Its effect is increased 20 times (34-13). Defensive shield (Aegis) A flat barrier made by applying a coherencer. It is called because of its shape. (34-13) Tools, etc. Pump Sieve Rear car Unicycle (cat wheel) Balls Floatation rings Window Axe Machete Water pistol Marcia figures Flexible kite and spool Pants, belt (for Erza and Bina) Non (Japanese doll) Damper for carriage (jointly developed with Reinhardt) Mace (for Reiko in a hurry) Ball bearings Outer rings (propulsion system for Marcia''s catamaran) Gears Momoka (Japanese sword for Reiko) Dagger (for Erza) Brooch (for Erza) Tray, knife, mop (for Lotte) Golem-arm carriage Swimsuit (made of subterranean spider silk) Compass Others Hot spring Hot spring in Kaina Village. Snow chamber. The future Automata, Golem. *Hope A general-purpose assistant golem created by Jin. Its body shape is almost the same as that of Jin. At first, it was made from common materials (41-32), but it was gradually upgraded (43-05) and eventually became as good as Rand (43-18). Mainly works as a pilot of Pegasus 2. Jin is < to <> (44-11), and Reiko is <. Erza is < (58-05), and the first person is me. *Tsukino A Japanese style maid automata made by Jin for Hale. She has a neo-style frame, stands 155cm tall, and is slender. She wears a kimono and a kappogi (Japanese cooking stove). She wears her black hair in a ponytail. She is somewhat active. She refers to Jin as her master and Reiko as her sister. (51-22,23) Luna, Soleil compliant. Hoshino A Japanese maid automata made by Jin for Hale. She is Neo type, 155cm tall and slender. Japanese clothes and a kappogi (Japanese cooking stove). She wears her black hair in twin-tails. She is somewhat quiet. She refers to Jin as "master" and Reiko as "sister. (51-22,23) Luna, Soleil compliant. Forestry golem. Forestry golem. created by Jin 400 years ago and operated in Hale, promoting greening. A small group is formed with 1-100 leading 10 units as a leader. (51-01) The color is moss green. The number of 1''s is 101-110, and the number of 2''s is 1. 11-120......10 1091-1100 under 0. Manon Secretary automata. Green hair. Based on a five-colored golem maid (to differentiate from blue-haired Anne and her friends), slightly detuned. She has the ability of about 5 human secretaries. For Tomax. She can use elementary healing magic. (48-31) Calls Reiko < (52-57). She looks a little like Ilmina Latkin (semi-long hair). Simone. A secretary-automata of the same type as Manon. Green hair. Exterior made by Elsa. For Tomax. She can use elementary healing magic. (56-01) Her hair is long. Wears it in a ponytail. (56-01) A golem maid made for the 700672 family in Hale. 5-color golem maid is the base. Based on a five-color golem maid. Pale copper color. Pale copper (pink-gold color). < 700672 is called , and Rouge and Neige are called . Jin-sama, Rubina-sama, and so on. (51-39) Volk. Volk means wolf in Russian.A golem made by Jin and assisted by Marikka, Rubina, Grina, Freddy, and others. It was donated to the new king of Elias to celebrate his accession to the throne. It is about 1/30th the size of Lando. He is 180 cm tall and weighs 120 kg. (52-47) He can use stun. Ruler An automaton donated by Jin to <> to teach the <>. Up to the basics. (54-21) Jin as Jin-sama. Reiko is Reiko-sama, the first person is me. Alice. A nanny automata created by Jin for the first princess Lizabeth Leah Klein at the request of the King of Klein Kingdom. She has green hair and apple-green eyes. Her appearance was arranged by Elsa. Mezzo-soprano voice. (56-26) Sovereign Repaired and rebuilt by Jin as the Guardian of the Kingdom of Franz. The contents of the control core, including the operating system, are the same as those of the past (+). Height 3m, weight 150kg. Luke Luke was created by Jin as a Guardian of the Kingdom of Franz with the same specifications as the Sovereign. The contents of the control core are Horai Island specifications. Height 3m, weight 150kg. Enju An automata for medical use developed by Jin and his team. Female type. (59-24) Saki test-operates Enju-1. (59-27,59-32) Edgar Automata made by Erza. 3899, it is in the service of Jin and Erza''s descendants. Aircraft, spaceships, and moving vehicles Pegasus 2 Dedicated to Jin. It is a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft and a spaceship that can go to the moon (UNY). (43-04) It was built by Jin who returned 400 years ago. It is equipped with a magical reactor, a force field generator, a barrier projector, and a gravity-controlled magic device. Armed with <>,<>,<>,<>,<>, etc. Length 15m, Width 10m, Height 5m, Capacity 5 persons (Max. 10 persons) (max. 10 persons) with 20G acceleration (1 km/sec in 51 seconds) 0 km/sec) Equipped with a repulsive field. Sparrow A passenger plane built by Jin for . Similar to the British Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft called . Similar in shape to the British VTOL aircraft. Overall length 5m, width 5m, height 2m (2.5m including wheels). Height is 2m (2.5m including wheels). Equipped with wind shield, physical barrier (solid barrier), magic barrier (magic barrier), and defensive shield (aigis). Armed with a paralyzing gun (Paralyzer), a magic cannon (Magi Cannon), an electromagnetic induction radiator (Induction Radiator), a magic bomb (Mana Bomb), a magic transfer cannon (Magi Trans Cannon), etc. Driven by a force field generator. Acceleration force 10G. Seven-seater. One pilot in the front and three rows of two seats in the back. Behind it is a small warehouse. (51-23) Taube A wind-powered floating machine (blow floater) made by Jin. 6-seater. It is equipped with a force field generator, a gravity-controlling magic device, and a transition gate. (44-03) The same model was donated to the Nordic Federation. (44-04) Shaped like a pot lid with circular wings and a flat fuselage. Maximum speed is 200 km/h. It has good straightness, but is not good at small turns. In other words, it is designed for transportation. TAUBE KAI Based on the Taube, this model has tabs attached to the rear of the circular wings to allow the fuselage to be tilted for improved maneuverability. Wind-powered airplane (blowplane). (57-15) Diameter 7m. Taube Kai 2 The result of a peaky tuning was that it became difficult to fly (61-01). Southern Cross A wind-powered airplane (blowplane) with large circular wings on both sides for flotation and small circular wings on the front and rear for attitude control. (61-07) Maximum speed is 300 km/h. It has a capacity of 6 passengers. It has a fairly good mobility. Overall length and width 9m. Hurricane Blow Floater" is an airship-type wind-powered floating machine. Slimmer than Conlon 2 and 3. (Total length 40m, maximum width 10m) Capacity 50 persons. Normal maximum speed 400 km/h (without force field generator (48-02)). Normal maximum speed 800 km/h (48-03). Emergency maximum speed Mach 2 (48-03). Equipped with Taube or Southern Cross. Atlas Special spacecraft 300 meters in diameter. Its propulsion system, consisting mostly of a and a maggireactor, provides 200 times the thrust of the 300-meter class ship Adriana. It boasts a thrust 200 times greater than that of the same 300-meter class (51-03) The controlling magical brain is . He calls Jin "My Lord". Rocket Mole Rocket Mole 2. Cylinder-shaped, 1.5m in diameter and 4.5m in length. It has a magia-damantite excavation blade and can send a mass of rock cut by a transporter to the rear or to a designated place. It moves by means of a force field generator. It can fly for a short time and move underwater. (43-13) Other Searcher A magical tool that searches for a specific substance. (52-21) *Strengthened exterior for civil engineering and construction (power assist) Power assist for construction made by Jin. Height 2.5m, 600kg. Three legs, 3 man-power 5 man-power. (61-01) Magi Certifier A magical device developed by Jin to deal with the Magi Emulator. *Deus ex machina*. Arcadia. An artificial island that serves as a base for deus ex machina. (59-35) It is rigged with rocks on top of a cylindrical body 1 km in diameter and 1 km high. Poseidon The administrative and magical brain of Arcadia. He calls Jin-sama "Jin-sama. The first name is "I." (59-35) (59-35) Coelacanth A submarine belonging to Arcadia. Total length is 20 meters. Maximum speed is 100 km/h underwater and 80 km/h above water. It has a deck like the I submarine and is good at surface navigation. Its maximum diving depth is 100 meters. With the use of a water avoidance barrier, the submarine can reach a maximum diving depth of 1,000 meters. The maximum speed is over 1500 km/h with the use of the force field generator "Force Generator". It is armed with mana bombs, torpedoes and detonators, and a magic transfer cannon (Magitrans Cannon). The crew is made up of mariners. It is also habitable in case of rescue.From 1 to 10. Kingfisher A small fast boat belonging to Arcadia. Total length is 7 meters. Normally it can accommodate 5 persons, but in case of rescue, it can accommodate up to 10 persons. (59-35) Maximum speed is 100 km/h. It is armed with a magical transfer cannon (Magitrans Cannon). The crew is made up of mariners. Comet Airship-type wind-powered floatplane (Blow Floater) belonging to Arcadia. (59-36) Armed with a and >. Capacity of 2 people. Maximum speed 300 km/h (Mach 3 when using the force field generator Force Generator). Aristotle Deus ex machina III airship. In fact, it was built by Jin 400 years ago. <, it is designed as a spaceship and can fly in a vacuum. The crew are all golems, of the same type as those of the Cosmos series, but in a different color (black), 1 to 20. 100 meters long, with flattened air sacs. It is 100 meters long and has a flattened air sac. <, which has been called . Telescopic landing gear extends from the lower part of the cabin to support the hull. (48-04) *Additional information (other than Jin''s) *Anatola A pleasure boat for the Hermes River, built by Marcia at Jin''s request. Flat bottom. (49-43) Piloted by Saylor2. Halcyon A trimaran for the Ermee River, built by Marcia at the request of Jin. (49-43) Seiler 1 is piloting. Akitsu < She was in the dome of the Great Sahara Desert, but came under the protection of Jin and went to Kunlun Island (53-11). After that, she avoided the Magic League and went underground in the Great Sahara Desert (53-11). The Black Knight A wisteria-haired automata created by Reinhardt. She is slim but has large breasts. (56-06/07). A black knight wearing black armor made of the shell of a gigantopod. Usually < (57-21) (wisteria in German). *Hanako. A girl automata created by Marikka for Reiko. She is called "Marikka-sama," which is basically her name plus "sama. Momoko A girlish automata created by Rhodotos for Reiko. We call her "Rhodes-sama" (basic name + "sama"). Rulf A girl automata created by Markosias'' adopted son, Markonen. 12 or 3 years old. She is about 145cm tall. Red hair. She looks about the same as Reiko. About 15% of Reiko''s power. (57-25/35) Rubel A girl automata created by Marcosias. She has crimson hair and looks about 10 years old (about the same age as Reiko). About 25% of Reiko''s power. (57-36) ---------------- Old version ---------------- Ordinary tools, etc. Pump Sieve Rear car Unicycle Balls Float rings Window axe machete Water pistol Flexible kites and spools Gears pants, belt (for Elsa and Bina) Marcia figure Non (Japanese doll) Damper for carriage (jointly developed with Reinhardt) Mace (for Reiko, who is in a hurry) Unusual tools] *They do not move with magic power, but they are things that cannot be imitated by ordinary people. My clothes (underwear, shirt, pants, belt, shoes) Reiko''s clothes (underwear, dress, apron dress, shoes) Ball bearings Momoka Japanese sword for Reiko . Outer rings Propulsion system for Marcia''s catamaran. Flexible kite Kite. Dagger for Erza. Brooch for Erza Tray, knife, mop for Lotte. Golem-arm carriage for Jin, for Prince Ernest Swimsuit (made of subterranean spider silk) for Jin and Reiko Compass [Magic tool Stove Lighter Refrigerator (jointly developed with Beena) Popcorn maker Water heater (jointly developed with Beena) Distiller (developed with Reinhardt) Vacuum cleaner (developed with Reinhardt) Vacuum flask Magical jet propulsion engine (Magijet engine) Jet engine using wind magic. Magical water jet propulsion engine Magi Water Jet Water jet utilizing water magic. Golem Engine Magical turbine Stun Rod: Standard weapon of Horai Island. Laser gun. Bracelet for Jin. Pendant for Reiko. Guard ring made by Jin. Ring of protection, a deteriorated version of the ring of protection. Shield case A communication device based on ether theory. Audio only. Mana-telecam: A device that simultaneously transmits images and sound. Magical recorder that absorbs and records magic applied from the outside. Magi Radar detects specific magical powers. A jammer that muffles magic power during chanting, preventing magic from being invoked. Vibration Sword: A sword that cuts objects by vibrating its magi-adamantite blade at ultra-high speed. It has a magical authentication, so if the user does not conform to it, the sword is weaker than the adamantite. Induction Radiator: Heats metal using the principle of electromagnetic induction. A magical sword that uses thermal energy in the form of a sword. A magical sword that uses lightning energy in the form of a sword. Vehicles Aircraft: Albatross, Skylark, Pelican, Raptor. Small ship Hydro,Stream,Shark Ship Battleship Battleship Hodaka Kai Myoko Kai Asama Kai Main guns are six 30cm caliber lasers Secondary guns are six 20cm caliber Magicanons Cruisers "Azusa", "Katsura", "Minato", "Seki", "Rhinoceros", "Yodo". Submarines: Orca. Automobiles. Armored car. 8-wheeled Golem engine automobile. For the army. Moles For underground exploration. Mini Mole For subterranean exploration. Spacecraft Flagship Adriana 300m in diameter. Acceleration value over 20G. Icarus 2, Hercules, Achilles, Perseus,Theseus, Castor, Pollux, Prometheus, Endemion, Daedalus, Cepheus Spacecraft 10m in diameter. Vulcan, a craft 100 meters in diameter. The control brains are also named by the same name. Atlas Special spacecraft 300 meters in diameter. Airship Conlon 2 Conlon 3 Wind-powered buoy (Blow Floater) Taube Hurricane Special aircraft Pegasus Pegasus 2 Sparrow Alchemy Heals wounds. Especially good for internal organ damage. Golem Gon,Gen Modified after destroying enemy golem. Golem Horse: Koma, Mint (for Hannah), Ain, Tubai, Dry, Cuttle, Sunk, Snow (for Erza), for customers, for pulling carriages. 5 colored maids: Ruby, Topaz, Perid, Aqua, Ames. Soleil, Luna, under the command of Reiko. Prane,Satera under the command of Soleil and Luna. Glider golem for flight data collection. Combat golem Sky,Marine,Land. Covert Mobile Unit (SP) For Jin''s escort. Youth type, adult female type, Girl, Boy, Reiko. Craftsmen (Smith) in charge of manufacturing. Sara for Erza, Meene, Martha, Hannah in Kaina village. Arrow, for Golem boat in Marcia. Lotte A maid golem made at the request of Count Kuzma. Mermaid - a mermaid golem for underwater use. Titan 1-3 15m huge golem. 1 is a semi-autonomous type, 2 is a type exclusively for Reiko, 3 is a remote control type. Daedalus 1-50 Titan-based golem for heavy work. Driver (Farrar) Golem for driving a car. Hope Golem maid for family No. 700672. Automata. Reiko, a girl automata created by her predecessor and remodeled by Jin. Lao Tzu: The automata for the brain, Lao Jiun. Quinta: Automata in charge of intelligence. 40 adult male (Regulus) and 30 adult female (Deneb). 10 boys (Capella) and 10 girls (Spica) for disguise, The basic number is 100 in total, including 10 boy (Capella), 10 girl (Spica), and 10 little girl (Mila). The basic unit is the Houraishima Covert Mobile Unit (SP). Liese: Doctor (Healer) Automata. Fewer: Teacher automata. Tsukino Japanese maid automata. Hoshino Japanese maid automata. Manon Secretary automata for Tomax Bartmann(automata). Kikuhime Japanese style doll (automata) dedicated to the tomb guard of Emperor Taisho. Other Hot spring Hot spring in Kaina village. Laozi (Laokun) The brain that protects and oversees the island of Horai. Snow Cellar The snow cellar in Kaina Village. Remodeling. Sword of Lycia. The base of the magic lamp. Marcia''s boat (Cygnus (Swan)) Marcia''s boat (ordinary boat) Elsa''s carriage (for escorting bandits) Anne, Lol, Lefa, 6 - Reference 6 (Bongrae Island) 20201114 Horai Island. The island where Jin''s research institute is located. It is about the size of Tochigi Prefecture. It is almost circular and has a large bay (Tatsumi Bay) in the southeast. Mount Horai A dormant volcano that rises in the center of Horaijima. The elevation is about 3300m. A conical mountain like Mount Kaimondake. Research Institute It is located in the basement of a plateau spreading out at an altitude of about 1000m above sea level in the middle of Mt. About the size of an average elementary school building (except for the basement). Central plateau About the size of Setagaya Ward. There are ponds, forests, and grasslands. Currently, there are orchards and corn fields. The north side is a sea of trees, rich in plant resources and timber. East side: grassland interspersed with shrubs. To the west: wasteland. Stone and iron ore can be obtained. South side: wetlands, grasslands, and a river. Plans to build rice paddies. Underground: For 1,000 years, a work golem has mined for resources, The total space is about 100 times the size of Tokyo Dome. Tatsumi Bay The center is as deep as Toyama Bay. Corals are harvested in the surrounding area. A harbor and a fishpond have been set up. Members Reiko An automata of Jin. All attributes. She is about 10 years old. She is 130 centimeters tall and weighs 30 kilograms. She has black hair down to her mid-back and obsidian eyes. He calls Jin "Father". Currently, he is Typ200RP, He is currently Typ200RP, max 2000RP. (3RP is about 1 person''s strength.) 1. 1 The power is calculated based on the power when he met Reinhardt and his friends. 1 percent of the power at that time is called 1RP. ReikoPower 1 ReikoPower). Old lord The magic brain who manages all of Horai Island and Kunlun Island. He is the leader of all golems except Reiko. He is absolutely obedient to Jin. He calls Jin "My Lord". He calls Reiko "Reiko-san". The automata is an old butler type, and is called "Laozi". 30RP. Koushin A magical brain who is in charge of guarding Horai Island, Kunlun Island, and Kaina Village. He has about 1/100th of Laojun''s processing power, but more than enough for 100 human beings. His language is somewhat formal. When he calls Jin, he calls him "Okan-sama", Reiko "Reiko-san", and Lao-kun "Lao-kun". Soleil A golem under Reiko''s command. Girlish. Gold color. Light. She calls Jin "father. Reiko is his "sister. 20RP. Luna A golem under Reiko''s command. Girlish. Silver. Dark. She calls Jin "father. Reiko is his "sister. 20RP. Planes 1-5 A golem under Soleil. Girlish. She calls Jin "master. Reiko is a "Miss. Soleil is a "sister" 20RP. Satella 1-5 A golem under Luna. Girlish. She calls Jin "master. Reiko is a "Miss". Luna is a "sister" 20RP. Ruby golem maid. Fire. Defense. 20RP. Aqua Golem maid. Water attribute. Water Regulation. 20RP. Topaz GolemMaid. Earth. Land development. 20RP. Perid golem maid. 20RP. Wind. Housekeeping. 20RP. Ames Golem Maid. Lightning. Defense. 20RP. Skeleton of light silver, armor of white copper. 20RP. Its muscles are magical muscles. She is called a five-colored golemmaid. She wears a black one-piece dress, a white apron dress and a white brim. She has 100 subordinates each. They have no white brim. They call Jin "master". Reiko is "Miss. The number 100 is in charge of Kunlun Island. Butler 1-50,ABCD Butler golem. He calls Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss. Made of 18-12 stainless steel. 50RP. 50 is in charge of the middle transition gate. A is for Jin''s deputy in Kaina Village. BC is for Nido Castle. D is for Loisart. Steward: A golem that serves as Jin''s steward (chore). The base is the same as that of Butler''s. Made of 18-12 stainless steel. 60RP. It calls Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss. She usually pretends to be stupid, but when Jin gives her permission, she shows her true performance. Craftsman (Smith)1-500 A golem craftsman. Made of 18-12 stainless steel. Made of 18-12 stainless steel. About the same build as Jin''s. 40RP. Little craftsman (Smith) 1-10 Mini craftsman golem. Height 40 cm. He calls Jin "master. Reiko calls him "Miss. Her voice is thick. Mini artisan (Smith)1-10 mini mini artisan golem. 10 centimeters tall. It calls Jin "master. Reiko calls him "miss. Her voice sounds like a "kin-kin". Sky 1-100 Air Force golem. 30RP. silver blue. Marine 1-100 Navy golem. 30RP. Land 1-100 Army golem.40RP.silver brown. Mermaid 1-100 Golem for underwater . Mermaid type. 20RP.silvery white. 1" is the leader. They call Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss. Sky and Marine are made of light silver. Land is light silver + adamantite. Hourai Island Covert Task Force (SP) Also known as . Black golem for covert maneuvering. They call Jin "Chief" and Reiko "Sister". 40RP. It has a stealth function, which is an optical camouflage. It can release electric shocks from its hands using lightning magic. Pance,Viola Two girl-forms equivalent to Reiko. They are 130 cm tall and weigh 30 kg. Dahlia,Kanna About the same build as Erza (but with a little more chest). Height 160cm, weight 50kg. Lily,Rose Adult female type. Height 165cm, weight 55kg. Elm,Ash Standard adult male type. Height 175cm, Weight 70kg. POTUS,Heath Boy. Height 150cm, weight 40kg. Iris,Azalea Kaina village: (Hannah), Cattleya,Lotus Potrock: (Marcia) Cherry,Camelia Blue Land: (Beena & Count Kuzma) Erica,Lobelia Kingdom of Egelea: (Prince Ernest) Sage,Cosmos Shawlo Kingdom: (Reinhardt) Each of them escorts an adult female. She is an adult female. Height 165 cm, weight 55 kg. Fifth Row (Quinta) Intelligence-gathering sleeper automata. Regulus: 40 adult male figures. Deneb adult female 30 Capella 10 juvenile models Spica Girl type 10 units, Mila Reiko 10 Total of 100. The basic unit is the Houraishima Covert Mobile Unit (SP). They have artificial skin and hair, making them more human-like. Each is numbered from 1. Jin is called "Chief" and Reiko "Sister". 30RP. Anne A maid automata repaired by Jin. She is a slim adult female type. She has blue hair (apparently to make it easier to tell that she is not human) and blue eyes. Height 160cm,50kg. B82W56H83. He calls Jin "Goshujin-sama" (in hiragana). She calls Reiko "Onee-sama" (in hiragana). 10RP. Sara Maid golem customized by Jin to support Elsa, Mine, Martha and Hannah in Kaina village. 30RP. Paralyzing gun in her right hand, A paralyzer in his right hand and a magijammer in his left hand. It has a stealth function and a magic barrier. It has a built-in manacam. Eyes are obsidian. She addresses herself in the first person as "I" and calls Jin "Goshuunin-sama (Go means "master" in hiragana). Reiko is "Miss. When she calls Erza and the others, she adds "sama" to their names. Titan A giant golem-applied robot. It weighs about 5 tons. 1 is a semi-autonomous type, 2 is a boarding type exclusively for Reiko, and 3 is a remote-controlled type. Daidara 1-50 Titan-based golem for heavy work. It weighs about 8 tons. It moves more slowly than Titan, but has better precision movement. Finger 1-5 Miniature golems of 5 cm in length. They belong directly to Lao Tzu. Sam 1-10 5cm tall miniature golems for espionage. Shinobi Unit Mini-golem for infiltration. 5cm in length. Black in color. Shinobi 1 to 10. The same type as Finger and Sam. They can move up to 300 meters with a transporter. It calls Jin "master. Reiko is "Miss." Her voice is "kinky. 2The intelligence of the golems A five-colored golem maid is about the same age as a high school student. Reiko is about the same. Reiko is about the same. She is not so creative as to create new things. They can understand what they are told and apply it to some extent. She uses magic crystals for her memory, so her memory and capacity are large. However, there are times when it takes him a long time to remember. (Because it takes time to access). 3Differences between golem and automata If we limit ourselves to those created by Jin, automata (Reiko) have hair. Golem does not (although it is made of the same material as the body and designed to look like it). Vehicles Albatross 1-50 Single-engine aircraft,Standard. Skylark 1-50 Three-engine long-range reconnaissance aircraft. Pelican 1-10 For transport. Raptor 1-10 Single-engine covert . Falcon 1-10 Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft . For covert maneuvering and support. CONDOR 1-3 For transporting Titan. Floating with 4 special engines. Maximum takeoff weight 10 tons. Maximum speed 100 km/h. 3 is equipped with a warp gate. Hydro 1-30 Trimaran. Propelled by Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system. Maximum speed 70 km/h. Seats 4 people. Stream 1-50 Trimaran. Propelled by Magi Water Jet and Force Generator. Destroyer. Equipped with 1 Magi cannon, 1 water current blade cannon, 2 laser cannons, and 4 torpedoes. Maximum speed 150 km/h. 10 passengers. 7 - Reference 7 (Character Description) 20170308 List of characters (human) 3456 (partly 3457) 3458 Nido Jin (Jin Nido, Jin Nido) Main character. Orphan. Childish face. Small build. First name "I". Height 160 cm. 52 kg. Dark eyes, dark hair. 20 to 21 years old. (She was 19 when she was summoned.) Her birthday is April 1. Adriana Barbora Zetsi Magecraft Meister, the first generation of magical engineers from another world. Born in 2340. She bequeathed her laboratory and title to Jin. She was 155 centimeters tall and 41 kilograms. Died at the age of 92. She resembled Hannah. Kaina Village. The common people only know her by name. Martha. The woman who picked up Jin who had collapsed in the village of Kaina. 57-59 years old. Dull blond hair that has turned gray. 160 cm, 56 kg. Hannah. Martha''s grandson. 8 10 years old (3458). Dull blond hair, steeple eyes. She is about 120 to 130 centimeters tall. She has increased from 19 to 24 kilograms. He is slightly thin. Birthday 2/8. She looks like Adriana when she was young. Giebeck The chief of the village of Kaina. He is slightly overweight. Red hair. Barbara Niece of the village head. 1618 years old. Red hair like the village chief. Jonas. He is good at woodworking and can make chairs, tables, beds, and so on. Most of the things in the village are his. 2931 years old. Nona Jonas''s wife. 25 27. Fran Born on December 5, 3457. Linus A man from the village of Kaina. Husband of Sera. 2830 years old. Patty''s father. Sera. Linus''s wife. 2426 years old. Patty''s mother. Patti. Child in the village of Kaina. 79 years old. 79 years old. Can''t swim yet. Henry. Two children born on June 27, 3457. Named Sally. Dave A man from the village of Kaina. 32 to 34 years old. Kurt''s father. Lil. Dave''s wife. 29 31. Kurt''s mother. Kurt Child in Kaina village. 1012 years old. 1012 years old. Naughty. Howard A man from the village of Kaina. 3032 years old. Jesse''s father. Iana Howard''s wife. 26 28. Jesse Child in Kaina village. 91011 years old.91011 years old. Tomboy. Howard''s daughter. Jim Child of the village of Kaina. 79 years old. Can''t swim yet. Locke. A man from the village of Kaina. Father of Mario. He used to go to King''s Landing to become a knight. He is 40 years old. He is the older brother of the men. Molly. Locke''s wife. 31 33. Mario A child of the village of Kaina.911 years old. He is a good swimmer. Locke''s child. Bill,Jeff,Rick,Tom,Jan,Slay Men of Kaina village. 28-35 years old. The Kingdom of Klein. Nobles (name, title, surname): hereditary title holders are allowed to bear the title. Semi-nobles (name, surname) Semi-nobles who are only one generation old are allowed to take only their surname. Kings are addressed as (name + generation) (**nth generation). Roland A peddler. 39 41. Brown hair, gray eyes. Medium build. He can use a sword at a self-defense level. Executive director of the Raglan Trading Company. Eric. Roland''s son. 17-19 years old. Brown hair, gray eyes. Brown hair, gray eyes. He has a thing for the village chief''s niece. He has a talent for magic. Raglan Eastwood. Chairman of the Raglan Chamber of Commerce. Eric''s grandfather. Formerly a baronet, now a merchant. Brown hair (which has faded), brown eyes. 61 to 63 years old. Medium height. Licia Faarheit. Apprentice knight in the Kingdom of Klein. 1517. 1517 years old. She has light brown hair (short bob) and the same color eyes. She is small. Slender. Smooth. She has a timid manner of speaking. New nobleman. 155cm,40kg,B79,W B79,W54,H77. Niklas Fahlheit. Father of Licia. Formerly a captain in the army of the Kingdom of Klein. Became a new nobleman and a knight (Ritter) for his achievement in a border dispute without any casualties. Brown hair (darker than Licia''s), blue eyes. 178 cm, 70 kg. 40 years old. Milia Faarheit Licia''s mother, wife of Niklas. 36 38 years old. Reddish brown hair, brown eyes. 154 cm, 42 kg, B81, W57,H80. She is a calm person. Gloria Allstadt She is the vice-captain of the Kingsguard female knight corps of the Kingdom of Klein. She is also an instructor. She is 23 to 24 years old. She has light brown hair that is cut short. 168cm,58kg. B83,W57,H82. She is the vice-captain of the Klein Kingdom research team in Chapter 21}. She is a beautiful woman with a sword fetish. Boulton Allstadt He is an armament control officer in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of the Kingdom of Klein. Baron. 4748 years old. Light brown hair, brown eyes. 172 cm, 74 kg. Father of Gloria. He has a microscopic demon''s eye. Jessica NORTON Captain of the Kingsguard female knight corps of the Kingdom of Klein. 27 to 28 years old. She has berry-short red hair and brown eyes almost red. 166cm,58kg. B89,W56,H83. Fire system mage. Cynthia Kirkman She is a female knight in the Kingsguard of Klein. 21 years old. She is 21 years old. She has short bob blond hair and blue-gray eyes. 165cm,57kg. B87,W56,H85. She is usually quiet and precise in her thinking, but she also has a passionate side. He is a general staff type. He was a member of the Klein Kingdom research team in Chapter 21.} Tiffany Bardach A female knight in the Kingsguard of Klein Kingdom. 20 years old. Age 20. Semi-long reddish-blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. Green eyes. 157cm,50kg. B84,W55,H86. She can use healing magic up to intermediate level. He is a member of the Klein Kingdom Research Team in Chapter 21.} Heinz Rasch The second son of Baron Rush. 22 years old. 22 years old. Brownish-blond hair, blue-green eyes. Muscular. 178 cm, 78 kg. Pascoe Rush Baron Rush''s 3rd son. 20 years old. Blond hair, blue eyes. 172 cm, 69 kg. Apprentice of the 4th knighthood. Bernard Nephra Foster. Knight Commander of the 2nd Order of Klein. Viscount. Dark brown hair, light brown eyes. 180 cm, 72 kg, 39 years old. He is 39 years old. Marthav Klasse Knight of the 2nd Order of Klein. Brown hair, brown eyes. He is 23 years old. He was a member of the Kline Kingdom Research Team in Chapter 21.} Daston A blacksmith who lives in the suburbs of Alban. He is quite a master craftsman. But stubborn. 58 years old, shaved head, gray eyes. 162 cm, 60 kg. Count Walter Lord of Caina, Toka, Charles and other villages. A dark lord with a strong desire to show off his honor. Blond hair, blue eyes. 170 cm, 65 kg. He was 41 years old. Viscount Beyer Old noble family. He runs a mine in the Marquisate, west of Count Walther''s estate. Similar to Count Walter. 179 cm, 80 kg. Ochre hair, brown eyes. 44 years old. Glenn Doubleday. Commander of the Kingsguard. 37 years old. 190 cm, 101 kg. Vizier Powell (Powell Darner Hudson) Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Klein. 45 years old. 172 cm, 61 kg. 172 cm, 61 kg. x Delighted Domus Hanks, Minister of Industry. Minister of Industry (mainly agriculture) of the Kingdom of Klein. Average. 47 years old. 175 cm. 47 years old. 175 cm, 70 kg. He betrayed the Kingdom of Selroa. Jackson Red Bados, Minister of Industry Minister of Industry (mainly agriculture) of the Kingdom of Klein. He is quite competent. 36 years old. 36 years old. 172 cm, 68 kg. Clarotho Bados Keris, Minister of Magic Minister of Magic and Technology of the Kingdom of Klein. He is 51 years old. 51 years old. 168 cm, 60 kg. Red hair, brown eyes. Harvey Sotos Flegrode Undersecretary of Magical Technology of the Kingdom of Klein. Fairly competent. 35 years old. 170 cm, 65 kg. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Fadas Rovs Fairgram, Minister of Defense Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Klein. He is 46 years old. 46. 179 cm, 70 kg. Brown hair, brown eyes. Lioness Ashford. Tutor of the second prince Arthur. From the Kingdom of Cerroa. He is 39 years old. Brown hair, brown eyes. 179 cm, 73 kg. 179 cm, 73 kg. First name: I. Bodemann. A healer who works in the healer''s wing of the soldiers'' wing. Arrogant and incompetent. Rieschen Fusis Klein The third princess of the Klein Kingdom. Dark brown hair, blue eyes. 142148 cm, 353 9 kg. She has a far-sighted magic eye. Her birthday is April 2nd. Edmond. First prince. 26 years old. Blond hair, gray eyes. He is 178 centimeters and 78 kilograms. First name I. Arthur The second prince. 22 years old. Dark brown hair, gray eyes. He is 173 centimeters and 71 kilograms. First name I. Alois III The current king of the Kingdom of Klein. He is supposed to be a good monarch. ....... Dark brown hair, gray eyes. 175 cm, 75 kg. 50 to 5. 2 years old. The kingdom of Egelea. The common people are (first name only) Honorary people are allowed to use (first name, family name) and surname. Nobles are allowed (first name, family name, surname). Royalty is addressed as (first name, family name, maiden name, status). There is no family name. Beena. A girl who lives in the suburbs of the city of Blueland. 15 to 17 years old. She is a magecraftsman. B78,W55,H79. Wavy red hair and red eyes. Nana Sister of Beena and twin sister of Lardo. 12 years old. Red hair, red eyes. 135 cm, 29 kg (when sick), 35 kg (when recovered). Lardo Brother of Bina and twin brother of Nana. 12 years old. Brown hair and brown eyes. 136 cm, 29 kg (when sick) 36 kg (when healed) Gladia Hampton. A (sort of) famous magecraftsman.) Bina studied under her for two years. But in fact, she is not much of a magi craftsman and her teaching is not very good. He is 45 years old. Gray hair, brown eyes. 177 cm, 85 kg (overweight), Claude. Count Galana''s son. Tall, blond and handsome. 35 years old. Blond hair, blue eyes. 185 cm, 70 kg. Count Galana A nobleman of the Kingdom of Egelea. A middle-aged, overweight bum. He is in charge of a mining estate and is well off. 49 years old. Director of the Western District of the Blue Lands. Brown hair, brown eyes. 171 cm, 98 kg. Count Luis Wurtz Kuzma A nobleman of the Kingdom of Egelea. 24 to 26 years old. A good man. He is in charge of a farm and ranching lands. Secretary of the Eastern District of the Blue Lands. Friend of Reinhardt. Brown hair, brown eyes. Normal features. 5''8", 72 kg. SEVANCE Head butler of Count Kuzma. 43 45 years old. Gray hair, light blue eyes. 179 cm, 79 kg. Maloum. Count Kuzma''s lady-in-waiting. She has brunette hair and the same color eyes. She is slightly chubby and has a calm atmosphere. Height 164cm, 54kg. angus bruu pyroyd, duke of bruu Lord of the Breuland. Cousin of King Egelea. 53 to 55 years old. He has dark blond hair with a hint of gray and blue eyes. 182 cm, 80 kg. Philippe Tifo Head of the Blue Lands branch of the Guild of Magecraftsmen of the Kingdom of Egelea. 61 years old. He is 61 years old. He has gray hair and a short beard. He does not have a mustache. 162 cm, 51 kg. Jade Nephroy. Magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. 38 years old. Dark brown hair, gray eyes. 175 cm, 60 kg. 175 cm, 60 kg. Viscount Guglieri (Fernando Forte Guglieri) Viscount of Egelea. 29 years old. Light brown hair, eyes of the same color. 177 cm, 75 kg. Lila SOLUES Royal Secret Maid Unit 2. 15 years old. Her hair is chestnut-colored with a bob cut, and she has light brown eyes. 155 centimeters, 41 kilograms. 155 cm, 41 kg.) Mary Royal Secret Maid Unit 2. 17 years old. She is 17 years old. She has black hair in a ponytail and steel-blue eyes. 165 centimeters, 48 kilograms. (with Reinhardt). Lianna She is the leader of the second squad of the Royal Secret Maids. 26 years old. Blonde with blue eyes (her hairstyle is a chignon). 166 cm,53 kg, B90, W58, H93. Kate Royal Secret Maid Unit 2. 19 years old. Chestnut hair (short haircut), violet eyes. 161 cm, 47 kg. (with Elsa). Lisa Royal Secret Maid Unit 2. 18 years old. Red hair, brown eyes. 159 cm, 45 kg. With Beena.) Aili SOLEUS A member of the Kingsguard. Sister of Lila. She can use offensive, defensive, and healing magic. Chestnut hair, short bob, light blue eyes. 164 cm, 56 kg. Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli Prime Minister. 58 years old. 170 cm, 60 kg. Gray hair, gray eyes. Able. Minister of Finance. 54 years old. JUDOL defense minister. 56 years old. Kelihidore, Minister of Magic. 39 years old. 160 cm, 52 kg. Straw-colored hair, dark brown eyes. Competent. William, Minister of the Interior. 47 years old. Kelly, captain of the Kingsguard. Bruno, vice-captain of the Kingsguard. Harold Rouen Autoclase, King of Egeria King of Egeria. 47-49 years old. 187cm,81kg. Blond hair, blue eyes. An ordinary king, neither good nor bad. Good-natured. Loves his children. Ernest Rhelm Andrew, the 3rd Prince of Egelea The third prince of Egelea. 13 to 15 years old. 155 to 1. He is 63 cm, 46 to 53 kg. Blond hair and blue eyes. A little selfish, but a clever boy. Concubine. Queen Catherine Riina Sphare Queen of Egelea. 41 43 years old. 161 cm,4 161 cm, 4.8 kg. Platinum blonde, green eyes. She loves her concubine Ernesto without distinction. Viscount Sekat Assistant to the Lord of Djeel. 39-40 years old. Viscountess Marilia Haifa Sekat Age 34 35. 152 cm, 45 kg. B83,W53,H83. Blond hair and blue eyes. Blonde hair, blue eyes. She is a calm person. My sister is married to Shoro. Birthday: March 29. Siede Stelle Sekat Eldest daughter. 9 to 10 years old. 122 cm, 23 kg. Slightly wavy blond hair, blue eyes. She is characterized by her use of the phrase "... is...". Her first name is Siede. His birthday is January 17. Edem. Eldest son. 14 to 15 years old. The kingdom of Elias. Common people are allowed (first name only). Honorary (name and surname) are allowed to use their surname. Nobles (first name, de (domain) surname) The name of the domain is often abbreviated. Kings are (first name, childhood name, country name, generation) Marcia Shipwright. 23 24 years old. Short blond hair, blue eyes. 169 cm, 55 kg, B89, W58, H87. Birthday October 10. Rodrigo Shipwright. 45 years old. Blond hair, blue eyes. 188 cm, 59 kg (skinny). He has a good arm. Father of Marcia. First name is me. Bacchus. Employee of Marcia''s workshop. 21 years old. Dark blond hair, green eyes. 176 cm, 71 kg. 176 cm, 71 kg. First name me. Practical and sales person. Jeremy He is 19 years old. Red hair, tanned face and blue eyes. 154 cm, 41 kg, B79, W53, H79. Her first name is "I." She is in charge of accounting and miscellaneous work. She is in charge of accounting and miscellaneous work. She has a complex about her manly name. Valentino de Hudson Third son of the Marquis de Hudson. He is 24 years old. 24 years old. Plots to make Marcia his concubine. Brown hair and gray eyes. 5''5", 65 kg. In fact, he is a criminal who profits from smuggling. He is connected to a mysterious organization. Sir Valerio.) Famous golem writer in the kingdom of Selroa. Reece. Captain of Valentino''s team. Small in stature. Dominic de (Xaus) Firenziano A woman lord of the province of Xaus in the south of the Kingdom of Elias. She is about 45 years old. She is a marquis. Kite. A child of the village of Mohut. (This is the only child whose name is mentioned.) Marquis of Godfar Lord of Toves in the western part of the Kingdom of Elias. Marquis Carlos de (Isdo) Hudson Lord of Isdo in the East of the Kingdom of Elias. Father of Valentino. Blitzen Skala Elias XII. King of Elias. Kingdom of Celuloa. The common people are (NAME ONLY). Honorary titles are (first name, last name) Special honorary positions are (First Name, Last Name, Rank Name) Rank names are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, Kappa, ...... Omega, and up to the 24th rank. The name is decided by the selection committee once every three years. The nobility is (name, surname, de, gift name) Stearina Gamma. One of the best magecraftsmen in the Kingdom of Celuloa. She makes crystal golems. She is an intelligent beauty with copper hair down to her back and reddish brown eyes, B88W53H84. B88W53H84. Dominique Ambassador to the Kingdom of Selroa. 27 years old. Waist-length blond hair, blue eyes. 170 cm, 59 kg, B88 W54H85. Same name as Marquis Florenziano. First name I. Sally Mireshan Healer living in Tellurus. 48 to 49 years old. Dark blond hair in a ponytail, blue eyes. 164 cm, 57 kg (slightly overweight). First person I. Donald Callow Alpha. Magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Celluloa. He is actually the number two of the Unification Party. 175 centimeters, 65 kilograms. He has gray hair and blue eyes. 59 years old. He is 59 years old. His first name is "I". Jules Rolland President of the Unification Party. 170 cm, 60 kg. Gray hair, gray eyes. 65 years old. First name: I. Clark Lambda The 11th Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Selroa. 172 cm, 61 kg. Short-cropped brown hair, brown eyes. 29 years old. He is 29 years old. He has an unremarkable face and a medium build. Duke Hubert Bertin de Marchand Lord of the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa. Cousin of the king and brother of the present queen. 40 years old. 180 cm, 148 kg. 180 cm, 148 kg. Beatrix Bertin de l''Emmerode Fourth daughter of the Duc de Hubert. 14 years old. Blond hair, green eyes. 155 cm, 43 kg. She is a selfish princess. Albert Bertin de Sillikanite The eldest son of the Duke of Hubert. 19 years old. Blond hair, green eyes. 179 cm, 71 kg. He is 179 cm, 71 kg. The selfish prince. Vivien Storyteller who lives in the town of Coup. Friend of Stearina. 33 years old. 156 cm, 43 kg. Platinum blonde, dark brown eyes. First person I. Lambreaux, First Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior. Prime Minister.) Beaujolie, First Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister of Foreign Affairs.) LATINTE First Secretary of the Ministry of Technology.39 years old. Blond hair, grey eyes. 174 cm, 67 kg. Lagarde, Secretary of the First Military Ministry. Knut AMONT, Director General of the Food Agency. Ludlord Coles, third seat of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Barfeeza Walker Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 45 years old. Brown hair, brown eyes. 5''5", 75 kg. 5''8", 75 kg. Nose beard, goatee. He is a burly man. First name I. J?rmer Balz Gamma. Magecraftsman. 27 years old. Dark brown hair, gray eyes. 162 cm, 56 kg. I am the first person. He is friendly. He was a beta in 3455 and 3456, moved up to alpha in 3457 when Donald left, but was demoted to gamma in January 3458 after losing to a black knight in the selection committee (the selection committee is held every three years). (The selection is held every three years in January.) Mabel Baltz. Wife of Jalmer. She is also his assistant. 22 years old. Blond ponytail, blue eyes. 158 cm, 49 kg, B84, W56, H86. Foltz Durant Alpha Magecraftsman. 35 years old. Blond hair, gray eyes. 170 cm, 60 kg. First person self. Eckart Tecles. A rich merchant who lives in the town of Coup. 43 years old. 171 cm, 72 kg. 171 cm, 72 kg. Gray head, brown eyes, first person I. Born in Watos, in the interior. A merchant of genius. Paulette Tecles. Wife of Eckert. 31 years old. 158cm,50kg. Blonde hair, light brown eyes. Blonde hair, light brown eyes. Michel Tecls. Son of Eckert. 9 years old. 132 cm, 40 kg. Blond hair, brown eyes. First person I. Tristo Clarotho, commander of the 2nd Frontier Corps. Born in the village of Lario, Rita Rivas. Orphan. 14 years old. Yellow hair, light blue eyes. 155 cm, 37 kg, B75, W52, H76. Sonia. From Rario village, Rebus region. 18 years old. Dull red hair, brown eyes. 161cm,48kg, B80, W55, H85. Interested in dyeing. Born in Lalio village, Roux Libas. 12 years old. Orphan. Red hair, brown eyes. 139 cm, 30 kg. 139 cm, 30 kg. Talented in healing. Later adopted by Guybeck Sully. Born in Lalio, Cana Libas. 17 years old. 17 years old. An orphan. Chestnut hair, brown eyes. 154 cm, 42 kg, B76, W51, H82. He is good at keeping moutons. He is a lord of the region of Ribas. He is based in the town of Oulau. Richard Valois de Cerlois Former King of Celuloa, abdicated on February 24, 3458. 45 years old. 177 cm, 80 kg. He is 45 years old. 177 centimeters long, 80 kilograms. Blond hair and blue eyes. His queen has passed away and he is in favor of one of his maidservants. Sibert Valois de Cerlois. Richard''s father. Plain. Guillaume Boulogne de Cerlois Richard''s grandfather. Age 98. A man of ability. Csar Valois de Cerlois Dauphin to King. 24 February 3458. 31 years old. 179 cm, 71 kg. Blond hair and blue eyes. Blond hair and blue eyes. Kirk ATTO Former bodyguard of the Dauphin. A master of sword and martial arts. 27 years old. 185 centimeters, 80 kilograms. Promoted to captain of the SS. Scave Sotheby''s. Former bodyguard for the crown prince. Master of sword and offensive magic. 26 years old. 181 cm, 73 kg. 26 years old. 181 cm, 73 kg. Sentenced to life in prison. Merfe. Richard''s maid of honor. Beautiful. 24. 163 cm, 55 kg. Red hair, reddish brown eyes. Red hair, auburn eyes. She adores Richard. First name: I. Bernard Valois. Cesar''s younger brother. 28 years old. 178cm,72kg. Blond hair and blue eyes. After Alain''s downfall, he governed the southern Cauline region. Alain Demain de Grimaldi Brother of Richard of Cerroa. He is 41 years old. He governs the southern part of the kingdom, including Koup. A fool. Thin blond hair, blue eyes. 168 cm, 98 kg. Kingdom of Franz. (Wilzon de Barkly) Deceased. Died in 3454 at the age of 65. Rejoined de Barkly. The present king.36 years old 37 years old (3458).170 cm,8 170 cm, 8.9 kg. Dark brown hair, brown eyes. First name: I. Catherine de Lafayette Former duchess. 59 years old. 150 cm, 38 kg. Gray hair, brown eyes. First name I. Lefort de Orange 47 years old. 168 cm, 92 kg. Dull blond hair, blue-gray eyes. First name I. Lotharus de Lafayette 41 years old. 181 cm, 78 kg. Brown hair. First name: I. Kutaga Akhtar, a deputy of Enak. Scumbag. Legion of Honor de Carter. Marshal of the Royal Army. Common sense. 177 cm, 72 kg. 177 cm, 72 kg. White hair, blue eyes. First name I. Dohaas. 176 cm, 70 kg. Blond hair, gray eyes. First person me. Bokker Ove. Magician in the service of the Duke of Orange. 38 years old. 171 cm, 59 kg. Brown hair, gray eyes. First person I. Dajour Harvey. Former magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa and a member of the Unifiler party. 33 years old. 177 cm, 7 He was 33 years old. 177 centimeters, 7.0 kilograms. He has red hair and brown eyes. Shoro Empire. Commoners are only by name. Honorary people are allowed to use (first name, family name) and last name. Noblemen are (first name, family name, (phone, given name)) A given name is given by a member of the royal family or a member of the higher nobility when a person reaches the age of majority (16 for boys and 14 for girls). The emperor is (?name?phone?gift name?shoro) No family name. An emperor must come of age before he can ascend to the throne. The imperial family is (name, (fon, given name), Shoro). The gift name is given by the emperor at the age of majority (16 for boys and 14 for girls). Reinhard Randall (Reinhard Randall von Adamas) Magi engineer of the Shoro Empire. He is 23 years old. Gray hair, gray eyes, slightly tanned white skin. Height 185 cm, 60 kg. He is a little bit tall.) First name is me. He can be a bit hot and bothered. He is actually the fourth son of a count. Elsa Randall. Cousin of Reinhardt. Eldest daughter of a viscount. She was 16 years old when she turned 17. Semi-short, almost silver blonde hair, light blue eyes, white skin. Two half-brothers. Father is Reinhardt''s father''s brother. Height 160 cm, 43 kg. B79,W54,H80. B79,W 54,H80. He is a quiet person who does not talk much. Born on March 15. Adberg. Elsa''s butler. He is very old. He loves his lady. He cannot use magic, but his martial arts skills are first-rate. HERMAN Erza''s bodyguard. Aged. He has a daughter in Kunimoto. Meine Erza''s nanny. 34 years old. Chestnut hair, brown eyes. Height 165cm, 53kg. B87,W60,H90. B87,W 60,H90. She is actually Elsa''s biological mother. Otto Elsa''s manservant. Claude. Reinhardt''s butler. Beth. Reinhardt''s maid of honor. She has small breasts. She is 28 years old. Married. Short dark blond hair. Blue eyes. 162cm,48kg. Dolly. Reinhardt''s maid of honor. Panty-breasted. 25 years old. Married. Short reddish brown hair. Brown eyes. 161 cm, 46 kg. Wolfgang Randall von Morgan. Father of Reinhardt. Count. Landlord. 59 years old. 59. 179 cm, 70 kg. Grey hair, grey eyes. The Randall family crest is two lions facing each other. Sofia Randall von Pirate.) Mother of Reinhard''s three brothers. She gave birth to Leonhard at 16, Erhard at 21, and died at 22. Isolde Randall von Terfur Mother of Reinhardt. 46 years old. Platinum blonde, blue eyes. 168cm,56kg. B98,W59,H92. Sofia''s sister. Erhard Randall von Quarto Brother of Reinhard. Third son of the Randall family. 35 years old. Wilhard Randall von Preuss Brother of Reinhard. Second son of Randall. 37 years old. Like his mother. Leonhard Randall von Mahrt. Brother of Reinhard. He is the eldest son of the Randall family. 40 years old. He looks like his father. Georg Randall von Amber. Father of Elsa. Viscount. (Note: There is no viscount in Germany, but there is one in the Shawlo Empire.) Brother of Reinhardt''s father. He obtained the viscountcy for his good deeds. 49 to 50 years old. 182 cm, 80 kg. Platinum blond hair. Light blue eyes. While in the Kingdom of Egelea as a captain in the expatriate garrison, he became a commander in chief for his success in stopping an army more than three times the size of the Kingdom of Cerroa''s and minimizing the damage to his friends and to the local population. Fritz Randall von Grosch Brother of Elsa. Second son of the Randall family. Age 25 to 26. Brainy. Major in the expatriate army. Platinum blonde like Elsa, light blue eyes. 190 cm, 96 kg. Moritz Randall von Amber. Brother of Elsa. Eldest son of the Randall family. Age 28 to 29. 170 cm, 55 kg. Pale red hair, light blue eyes. Intelligent. Frail. Marlene Randall von Nefla. Elsa''s mother-in-law. Viscountess. 44 years old. 168 cm, 54 kg. Pale red hair, greenish blue eyes. She is a little frail. Elsa calls her "mother". (She''s the only one with an "o" in her name. She''s the only one with an "O" in her name. (She is the only one who uses "o" because she is not related to him by blood.) Rubel. She is 61 years old. 61 years old. 170 cm, 61 kg. Gray hair, short mustache. Eyes blue. Honest. Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen Marquis. 53 years old. Retired lieutenant general. Bald head, gray eyes. 170 cm, 86 kg. Emma Theodoric von Rosie Wife of the 4th Marquis. Deceased. Karen''s mother. She passed away when Karen was 12. Charley Theodoric von Mowry. Eldest daughter of the Marquis. (Child of the Marquis at 16.) Eloped with Thore Eschenbach at 15, She gave birth to Saki at 16 and died at 18. Karen Theodoric von Banners Fourth daughter of a marquis. Age 17. Mother is Emma, his fourth wife. Platinum blonde, gray eyes. B82,W57,H83. B82,W57,H83. Saki Eschenbach (Saki Theodoric von Silva) Daughter of the first alchemist of the Shoro Empire. She is the daughter of a marquis. She is 21 years old. Auburn hair, purple-gray eyes. 158cm,46kg. B77,W53,H78. Born on May 20. Tor Eschenbach He is 44 years old and the number one alchemist in the Shoro Empire. He is 44 years old. He has auburn hair and purple-gray eyes. 170 cm, 61 kg. 170 centimeters, 61 kilograms. He eloped with the eldest daughter of a marquis and had Saki, His wife died of poor post-natal fertility. He is a commoner. Matth?us Geist von Rialger A friend of Reinhardt. 22 years old. He is the second son of a count. Captain of the 3rd company of the Kingsguard. Captain. A good soldier. Dark brown hair, brown eyes. 5''8", 75 kg. Brother of Reinhardt''s fiance. Berthe Geist (Randall) von Scarlett Wife of Reinhardt''s fiance. Eldest daughter. She is 18 years old. Lightly wavy blond hair, green eyes. 150 cm, 42 kg. B90,W56,H85. Born on April 22. Gelfried Geist von Mauve Father of Matth?us and Berthe. 47 years old. 47 years old. Blond hair that is beginning to fade, brown eyes. 179 cm, 78 kg. The coat of arms of the Geist family is an ivy-twined shield. Hilde Geist von Helio Mother of Matheus and Berthe. Age 43. Brown hair, green eyes. 152 cm, 45 kg. B86,W57,H89. Jung Fowls von K?bsler Prime Minister of the Shoro Empire. He is 59 years old. Gray hair, gray eyes. 177 cm, 58 kg (thin). First person I. Degas Furt von Manischlus Minister of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire. He is 44 years old. Blond hair, blue eyes. 175 centimeters, 70 kilograms. Big eagle nose. First name: I. christoph balde von tarnath Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire. 40 years old. 40 years old. 173 cm, 69 kg. Brown hair, brown eyes. She was a witness at the wedding of Reinhard and Bertsche. First person I. Gebhard Ackermann. Magi Engineer Maestro of the Shoro Empire. He is 53 years old, 163 centimeters tall. He is 53 years old. 163 centimeters and 55 kilograms. Thinning head (brown hair), brown eyes. Siegmund Grinwald. The former Maestro Magi Engineer of the Shoro Empire. Deceased. Marcus Grinwald. Grandson of Siegmund. He is 25 years old. Shiny blond hair. Dull blue eyes. 5''5", 75 kg. First name "I". Father of Elsa. Georg is his patron. Prideful but reasonably skilled. He was manipulated by Marcosias. Kiringer. A magical engineer of the Shoro Empire. Salzbach. Magical Engineer of the Shoro Empire. Budweit Shawlo Imperial Magical Engineer. Zenelos Fort Magical Engineer of the Shoro Empire. He lives in the town of Simos. He is 30 years old. Blond hair and gray eyes. He is 178 centimeters tall and weighs 70 kilograms. Good arms. Claire Altman A magical engineer of the Shoro Empire. He is from Suar, a town next to Simos. He is 21 years old. Red hair, brown eyes. B75,W46,H76. B75,W46,H76. First name is "I". She has a somewhat harsh personality. He has a good arm. BARRIAL TOOTA Mayor of the town of Simos, Lake Wass. He is 36 years old. Brown hair, gray eyes. 5''8", 71 kg. Energetic. First name: I. Derikel Labad. Mayor of Suar, Wass Lake. Age 59. Gray hair, blue eyes. 178 cm, 70 kg. A gentle, elderly gentleman. First name: me. Couwald. Local shipwright. He is 36 years old. Silver hair, green eyes. 177 cm, 73 kg. He has good hands. First name is "I". Count Woodruff Arberine von Elm. Head of the Technical Department of the Ministry of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire. He is 44 years old. Brown hair, blue eyes. He is 178 centimeters and 75 kilograms. First name is "I". Common sense. Next to Jin''s house on the right. Countess Jenna Abelaine von Cuellar. She is 36 years old. Dark blond hair, violet eyes. 160 centimeters, 49 kilograms. First name: I. Viscount Volker Goltmann von Ork. Head of the General Affairs Department of the Ministry of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire. He is 39 years old. Blond hair, gray eyes. He is 5''8", 78 kg. First name is "I". Hard worker. Next to Jin''s house on the left. Baroness Sharona Goltmann von Tanne. Age 34. Red hair, brown eyes. 153cm,40kg. First name I. Viscount Jorgens Heckerath von Paddock Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry of the Crown of Shawlo. He is 47 years old. Blond hair, blue eyes. 177 centimeters, 71 kilograms. Father of Flora. First name is I. Common sense. A neighbor of Jin''s house. Baroness Lexia Heckerath von Kamerere. Age 39. Brown hair, gray eyes. 165 cm, 54 kg. Flora Hekerath von Merante Knight of the Imperial Guard of Shawlo. Eldest daughter. 22 years old. She is 22 years old. Blonde hair, blue eyes. 157 cm, 48 kg. She is 157cm,48kg. B83,W57,H80. She is earnest and easily played with. She is a little concerned about her maidenly name, Flora, which does not sound like a knight. Ciara Geist (ne Heckerath) von Lavra Wife of Matheus. Second daughter. Eighteen years old. Blonde hair, blue eyes. 156 cm, 46 kg. B83,W56,H82. First name I. Vivacious. Godronas Berntsam von Narlad Captain of the 2nd Platoon, 1st Knights of the Shoro Empire. He is 25 years old. Blond hair, blue eyes. 179 cm, 78 kg. First name: I. Lugaria Gascar von Alkois Commander of the 3rd navy of the Shoro Empire. Lieutenant Colonel. He is 45 years old. Dull blond hair, gray eyes. He is 172 centimeters and 67 kilograms. First name: I. Captain Bernstein. Roenas. Alchemist of the Shoro Empire. Discovered that the pigment of purple orchid changes color with acid and alkali. Boyd. Mayor of the village of Kaltz. He is 45 years old. Brown hair, brown eyes, medium height. Kaala A native of the village of Kaltz, a maid at the Reinhardt residence. 17 years old. 163 cm. She is 17 years old. 163cm, dark blond hair, brown eyes. 52kg. B83,W55,H B83,W55,H87. Dessa From the village of Kurtz, maid of honor at the Reinhardt residence. 19 years old. 19 years old. 165 cm. red hair, brown eyes. B84,W55,H B84,W55,H89. Behrle. From Magyarz. Apprentice maid. 14 years old. Dark blond hair. B83,W50,H76. B83,W50,H76. Lonely throughout her life. She lost her parents and her sister. Barrow. From McGillrutz. Apprentice butler. Fifteen years old. Brown hair, brown eyes. 155 cm, 45 kg. He has a younger brother and a younger sister in Kunimoto. He has an older brother who is working. Kono Barrow''s younger brother. 8 years old. Lucca Barrow''s sister. 6 years old. Conti Barrow''s father. 41 years old. Mates Barrow''s mother. 36 years old. FRIX BECKER One of the tax collectors of the Etrant. 30 years old. Chestnut hair, blue eyes. 178 cm, 77 kg. Bardo. Village headman of Magirutu. 40 years old. Age 40. Thinning gray hair, blue eyes. 173 cm, 65 kg. Rosie. A woman who runs a diner and inn in the town of Trom. Dull blond hair, light blue eyes. 161cm,59kg. B88W65H90. She is 32 years old. She is caring. No children. Augustus. Rosie''s husband, a fisherman. Blonde hair, gray eyes. 178 cm, 84 kg. 178 cm, 84 kg. 38 years old. Good people. OLIVER A merchant in the town of Ithmar. 28 years old. He is 28 years old. Light brown hair, grey eyes. He is 173 centimeters and 65 kilograms. <. Rudman. A merchant in the town of Ithmar. He is 55 years old. Thinning gray hair, blue eyes. 170 cm, 79 kg. A big merchant. Rubbishy. <. Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo The Shoro empress. 49 years old. 154 cm, 45 kg. Dark hair, light brown eyes. She is the interim empress until her nephew Ernst comes of age. She is a quiet lady, but has great political power. She has a magic eye to see if someone is right or wrong (whether they mean harm or not). Ernst Shoro He is the next emperor of the Shoro Kingdom. He is 8 years old. He is 130 centimeters tall and 29 kilograms. Dark hair, brown eyes. An honest boy. He is not a because he has not yet come of age. He is currently second in the line of succession. Charlotte Alina von Rinal Shawlo Sister of the former Shoro Emperor and sister of the present Shoro Empress. She is 42 years old. She is 155 centimeters and 53 kilograms. Dark brown hair, brown eyes. Plump. She is currently the first in the line of succession. Demon. Lardus the Humorous. The mysterious man who manipulated and ruined Count Walter. Humorous" is not a second name, but a family name. He is 190 centimeters tall and weighs 87 kilograms. Gray hair, gray eyes. First name is me. Humorous Bafrosk. Humorous clan leader. Gray hair, gray eyes. He is 227 years old. 227 years old (The life span of a demon is 5 times longer than that of a human, so he is 45 years old). First person I. Humorous Donecia. A female demoness. Height 167cm,54kg. She has long black hair and golden eyes. She is 92 years old (equivalent to 1.8 years old). She is 92 years old (equivalent to 18). She is beautiful. Bemiarouche of ashlar. A female demoness. She is thin. She has ankle-length black hair and dark eyes. Height 181cm,58kg. Daughter of the humorous clan leader Bafrosk and wife of Dogmaraud. Dogumaraud the Burnt Male demon. Short-cropped black hair, dark eyes. Height 155 cm, 80 kg. Muscular. A demon who controlled Markosias. Appearance unknown. He excels at technology. Androgyous of Madness A boy demon. He seems to have controlled the selfish siblings, but he was discovered by Jin, defeated by Reiko, and killed by the fire magic of the selfish siblings. Gallowglass of Madness Head of the Madness clan. He is a radical. He is killed by a magical outburst. Rydros the Mad. Son of Gallowglass. Head of the Mad Clan. Archelle the Puppet. A girl demon tribe. Jet-black hair, red eyes, white skin. She is 120 centimeters tall. She can use transference magic. She wields a gigantic scissors beetle, Gigantor Avrum. She is 43 years old (equivalent to 8 years old). First name is "I". Sister of Belialus. Belialus the Puppet. A demon tribe. She is thin and has an eagle nose. Gray hair, dark skin and golden eyes. 127 years old (equivalent to 25). She tried to stop Jin and the others by manipulating a groundworm in front of the Pazdekst isthmus, but she failed. First name: I. Brother of Archel. Puppet Endus A demon tribe. He controls a 100-handed giant. Puppet Maximus A puppet clan leader. Gray hair, golden eyes. The first person is me. 350 years old (equivalent to 70). Theon of the Forest A girl demon tribe. Height 152cm,34kg. Silver hair, light blue eyes, white skin. 70 years old. 70 years old (the life span of demons is 5 times longer than that of humans, so she is about 14 years old). She is a tomboy. Lucas, the boy squire. Height 160 cm, 52 kg. Dark brown hair, dark eyes. Dark skin. 5 years old. 5 years old. (The squire race grows quickly and has a long life span.) Istaris of Morura A female demoness. Height 159cm,48kg. Silver hair, light blue eyes, white skin. 90 years old. 90 years old (the life span of a demon is 5 times longer than that of a human, so she is 18 years old). She is 90 years old. She is graceful. Netros. Male follower. Height 175 cm, 69 kg. Dark brown hair, dark eyes. Dark skin. 18 years old. Bardius of Morura Male demon. He is 173 centimeters tall and weighs 62 kilograms. He has white hair, white beard, and light blue eyes. 420 years old. I am me. He is the chief of the forests and the grandfather of Istaris and Zion. Radeous of Morura. Male demon. He is 174 centimeters tall and 66 kilograms. He has silver hair and light blue eyes. 225 years old. Father of Istaris and Zion. Rorona of Morura Female demon. Height 159 cm, 49 kg. She has silver hair and light blue eyes. 200 years old. Mother of Istaris and Zion. Marikka of Morira. A girl demon tribe. Height 150cm,33kg. Silver hair, yellow eyes, white skin. 50 years old. 50 years old (the life span of demons is 5 times longer than that of humans, so they are equivalent to 10 years old). She is quiet. She has yellow eyes because her grandmother is from the tribe of the gospel. Alectus of the Gospel Male demon. Height 179cm,67kg. He has white hair and yellow eyes. 210 years old. Husband of Milonia. Milonia of the Gospel. I am a female demon. Height 163 cm, 55 kg. She has white hair and yellow eyes. 180 years old. Wife of Alectus. Fabius of the Gospel. Male demon. Height 171cm, 62kg. He has white hair and yellow eyes. 350 years old. Clan leader. Domenicus of Erosion. Male demon. Neutral. Height 165 cm, 60 kg. He is 355 years old. (The life span of a demon is five times that of a human, so he is the equivalent of 70. Clan leader. Jalardos of Erosion. Male demon tribe. Neutral. Height: 171 cm, 67 kg. He has blond hair and purple eyes. 228 years old. The next clan leader. Yeminiena of Erosion. A female demoness. Neutral. She is 160 centimeters tall and 50 kilograms. Blonde hair, blue eyes. 189 years old. Wife of Jaraldos. <. Male demon. Neutral. < male demon. Neutralist. < male demon. Neutralist. < male demon. Neutral. Height 190 cm, 100 kg. Gray hair, gray eyes. He is 195 years old. (The life span of a demon is five times that of a human, so he is the equivalent of 40 years old.) First name is "I". Clan leader. Florodorus the Burnt. Male demon tribe. Extremist. Clan leader. He is 200 centimeters tall and 150 kilograms. He is 232 years old. (The life span of a demon is five times longer than that of a human, so he is 46 years old.) He is 232 years old (the equivalent of 46, since the life span of a demon is five times that of a human). Father of Dogumaraud. Number 700672. An old human who came to Ars, a homunculus created by the "Origin". First person. Nostalgia. Chiharad Souto An engineer for the Nostalgia Party. 34 years old. Blond hair, gray eyes. 173 cm, 67 kg. He is from the Kingdom of Egelea. First name: I. A foreigner (=Mitsuho Kingdom) Maya A citizen of Mituho. She is 24 years old. Dark brown hair, light brown eyes. Quarter. 162 cm, 54 kg, B82, W56, H83. No parents. Her first name is "Atai. He has an Osaka accent. Darrow. A Mitsuho citizen. He is the head of Kali. He is actually the vice-mayor of the town of Seki. 41 years old. Dark brown hair, gray eyes. Dark skin. Half-Japanese. 176 cm, 73 kg. First name is "I". He has no accent. He has a short beard. Crowe Mitsuho Nation. The mayor of the town of Seki. 46 years old. Dark brown hair, brown eyes, dark skin. 177 cm, 75 kg. 177 cm, 75 kg. First name is "I". He has no accent. HIRO MUTU Emir of Mitsuho. 63 years old. Dark brown hair that has almost turned white, brown eyes, dark skin. 174 cm, 73 kg. 174 cm, 73 kg. No accent. Shuki Tsetsi. A wise man. Moon. Milowina. The last survivor of the migration from the former Leonard''s Kingdom to the moon. 61 years old. Female. 155cm,43kg. Other Shenna. A genius magecraftsman who created Elena 300 years ago. She is a woman. 8 - Reference 8 (Correlation Diagram) 20140427 *Correlations and other information in MagiCraft Meister. We hope it will help you enjoy the story. We will be adding more as we go along. We will be adding more as we go along. 01 National Correlations Correlations as of chapter 13. The correlation chart is as of chapter 13. I''m not sure if this is a good idea or not, but I''ll try to keep it up-to-date. I''m not sure if I''ll be able to do it in the future, but I''m sure I''ll be able to do it. (But please be gentle with me. ......m(_ _ _)m ) 9 - Reference Material 9 (Various) 20160521 001 Table of physical properties of materials valid after chapter 23. Except for fantasy, the melting points of quartz, zirconia, gold and silver are real. The melting points of light silver and adamantite are those of titanium and tungsten, respectively. Mithril is the same as silver. The same applies to chemical resistance. The same applies to chemical resistance. I will not be updating this page often as I have priority on the main story. If you have any requests, please send them to me and I will try my best to respond to them. (But please be gentle with me. ......m(_ _)m ) 002 Crest These are the national emblems of each country as of chapter 31. Since the Kingdom of Dinar was split from the former Kingdom of Dinar, some parts of it have been followed. The Kingdom of Cerroa is the same as its successor. In the Kingdom of Shoro, the imperial coat of arms follows the design (the background of the sword is plain), but the national emblem is three barleys. 10 - gallery Congratulations Bina! This is a character introduction of Count Kuzma, but it is also an event picture, so I''ll put it here as well. Elsa''s hot summer greeting A hot summer greeting for 2013. Christmas Elsa Christmas 2013. Happy New Year 2014 New Year''s greeting picture of 2014. Hannah in kimono. Thank you for 300 episodes! Celebrating 300 episodes. Thank you for the 1st anniversary. Happy 1st anniversary. Valentine Berthe This is Berthe, Reinhardt''s fiance (married as of 2014/03/05). There is no custom of Valentine''s Day in the story. Saki in glasses Saki in dress Saki in white with new glasses Jin and Erza''s wedding I have time to draw all of them: ...... 11 - 00-01 Prologue12 Epilogue in Two Worlds Jin Nido was an orphan. He was abandoned in front of Nido Orphanage when he was a child, and was raised in the orphanage. His hobby is all kinds of crafts. He is also good at all kinds of crafts. In the orphanage environment, where he could not get what he wanted, he always chose the path of making things by himself. "Jinny, make me a plane. "Yes." For the younger boys, he made everything from topknots and bamboo-copters to stilts, boomerangs, kites, and model airplanes. After graduating from public junior high school, she attended high school on a part-time basis. I want a doll!" "I want a doll! "Okay, okay, wait a minute." And for the girls, he made origami and stuffed dolls. Thanks to this, I became familiar with Western-style sewing and could sew at least ordinary clothes. "You are really good at sewing, Jin. Thanks to you. The director of the hospital, who had brought him up, praised him every time. "Jin, I''m sorry, but can you fix the leak?" "Leave it to me." He did all kinds of carpentry work, from house repairs to building chairs and tables. After graduation, he went to work for a company. He moved into the company''s bachelor dormitory and left the orphanage. All the children who loved him cried as they said their goodbyes, "Everyone, this is not the last time we will see each other," he said. I''ll come visit you on my days off with souvenirs, okay?" True to his words, he visited the orphanage on Sundays with souvenirs bought with his salary. * * * * * * Not earth, another space, another time, another world. There, a witch,...... a wizard, was ending her life. "......Look,......I need someone I can trust with this institute,......and with everything,......I have,......and I need someone I can trust with everything,......I need someone I can trust with everything,......and with everything. ......and find that someone ...... somehow,...... and ...... give it to me. ......I''m asking you,......." "Hi Okaasama." She was a Magecraft Meister. She died peacefully, leaving her automata, which she had created with her all her energy, to take care of her. * * * * The company where Jin got a job was not a so-called "black company," but it was a very tough place. I dare not describe the type of work, but the holidays were only Sundays, and although there was no overtime work, those in the dormitories were often summoned to work suddenly. In particular, Jin, who had graduated from high school, was treated like a slave and became fatigued. Jin Ni Ni, you are not in good spirits. Even the children at the orphanage were worried about him. "Are you busy with work?You should take it easy and rest at least on Sundays. The director of the orphanage also told him so, but he refused to accept it, saying that playing with the children here was his rest. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The automaton has been searching for its master''s . The clues are <> and <>. The automata, which can distinguish human characteristics by <> and <>, has been searching for a human with a > and > as similar as possible to that of its master. "In this world, there is no one like me. The probability of finding an identical or near-identical person is very small, and even after 100 years of searching, the automata have not been able to find a . * * * * "Nido, I''m sorry, but I need you to do this too. "Yes." Jin was given various tasks to clean up. He was good at organizing documents, checking contracts, handling complaints, repairing and collecting defective products. Now he is repairing the company''s LAN that has been causing trouble. All this was possible because Jin had knowledge in so many different fields. * * * * * * * * * * "Ikuukanni access suru tameni ha managa tamarimasen." With the vast amount of knowledge given to them, automata knew that they lacked magical power to access other spaces, and they developed means to compensate for this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ah, I guess I''m a little sleep deprived. ......" Jin was walking around with a face full of dark circles. No wonder. He had not slept for three days. Today''s work is to check the system of a certain steel mill. * * * * "Die 2367 Sekai Feiler. Die 2368 Sekai No Scan ni Torikakaru." The automata, with the perseverance that only an inorganic object can possess, continues to search for its <>. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Uh, temperature control, error. .........it looks like the line is broken somewhere..." Jin followed the sensor wire leading to the electric furnace. * * * * "Die 3601 Sekai?????? Mitsuketa!" After a thousand years of searching, the automata finally found its . "Shokan shiki kidoukaishi." * * * * * * "It''s hot, no matter how many times the furnace is turned off, it''s still molten iron underneath. As expected, the electric furnace was not working at the time of the check, but the huge amount of molten iron could not be cooled down easily. "Ah, here it is. I must have bumped into it when I was shoving the scrap into the furnace." Electric furnaces melt iron by arc discharge, and the raw material is mostly scrap iron. Some of it seems to have damaged the sensor wires. * * * * * * "Shokanma houjin kouchiku. FUKATOKUSEI GENGOCHI SHIKINO HUYO." It seems that language is the same means of communication everywhere. "Kidou!" A magic circle composed of a complex magical language appears in front of the automata. * * * * "Okay, I''ll go to ........." Jin finished replacing the parts. At that moment, his hand slipped and he almost dropped the tool. "Oops, I shouldn''t have done that." Reflexively, he reached for the ladle of the electric furnace. In other words, it was a place where molten iron was stored. "Oh!" With a short scream, Jin''s body fell toward the ladle. Jin''s last thought in this world was, (I wonder if the life insurance will be paid out to the orphanage. ......) (I wonder if the life insurance will be paid to the orphanage. 12 - 00-02 Prologue 2 Successors Born "It''s a ceiling I don''t know. ......" <. The line is a promise. "Omezame desuka master." The voice startled Jin awake, and he saw a beautiful girl. Black hair, black eyes, translucent skin. She was about 120 centimeters tall, maybe in elementary school.She was dressed like a maid. "Well, who are you? "I am an automata. I''m an automata. Jin''s head spins at the not-so-surprising answer, but.., (I think automata ...... were karakuri dolls ...... made in Europe, but were there such elaborate ones?) Then Jin realized that what he heard was not Japanese. And moreover, it was not English, French, German, or any other language. "Well, so you saved me?" For the time being, I decided to check each question one by one. "Tasqueta to iunoto wa sukoshi chigaimasu. I am the master of this place, and I am here to help you. And where am I? Okaasamano kenkyujo desu. Mother, you mean the one who made you, right? Yes. Where is she? 1024-899-27-ninichi-maeni-mimakarimashita. The word "strike" was not uttered by the automaton, but it is likely that Jin understood the rather old-fashioned and stiff word as it was applied to the Japanese language. "I see..." 1024 years, 8 months and 27 days. This automaton had been working for an unimaginably long time. So why did you call me here? I called you because I want to take over your life. "Inherit all of this? ...... hmm, can you be more specific? "Hi. I''d like to take over everything. Okaasamano mahou gijutsu. KOREIDEI IDESUKA?" A little more, I said, really little, but I got the general gist. "So, in short, you want me to follow in the footsteps of my who was a wizard, is that it?" "Hai sonotoori desu." It didn''t take long for Jin to realize that this was not Earth, given his unfamiliarity with the language and the existence of automata that were beyond his comprehension. He was sure that he had fallen into the ladle of an electric furnace. I still remember the sensation of my body burning from the intense heat. "So you healed me? I asked him, thinking that if so, magic would be amazing, But I was told, "Yes, I don''t know how to heal you. But I was told, "Yes, Tokuni soiuikoi ha shiteimasen. But..., "There is a world where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel, where we can travel. "When you are transferred to another world, does the magical element compensate for the defects in your body?" Jin looks around his body again. His left hand. There is no scar on his thumb where he cut it with a knife in elementary school. Right shin. There are no dog bite marks. His back, which was burned by spilling hot water from a hot-water bottle, seems to be clean. Jin checked and then realized that he was naked. "Oh my god!" This reaction was natural, because even though the other party was an automata, she looked like a beautiful girl. "Master?Dou sare mashitaka?" Jin was even more embarrassed by the fact that the automaton was an automaton and looked at him anxiously without looking away. After wrapping a sheet around his body for the time being, Jin calmed down and thought about it again. (Anyway, I was on the verge of burning to death ......, or almost burned to death, and the only reason I survived was because this girl me, right?) (I heard that I can''t go back to my original world, but I guess I''m already considered dead there, so I guess there''s nothing I can do.) (I''m sure the director and the children of the orphanage will be sad. ...... sorry) After thinking about this and that, Jin made up his mind. "So, what exactly should I do?" he asks the automaton standing silently in front of him. Then he asks, "Here, please help me!" he said. Saying this, the automaton stands up and leaves the room. Jin followed, wearing only a sheet wrapped around his body. The lack of shoes was a concern, but the floor seemed to be carpeted, so his feet did not hurt. Jin walked out of the room he had been in to the corridor and observed the structure of the house. He had a general knowledge of the architecture. The walls and ceiling are made of a milky white material. The texture is similar to quartz, and it glows dimly so that it is easy to walk around. "Is this light magic?" I ask, and an automaton walks in front of me, "Yes, it is. Aeterni yoru eikyuhakkou desu." Another unfamiliar word came up, but Jin decided to refrain from asking any questions for the time being. As far as he could tell, the size of this was about the size of an elementary school in the city, Jin guessed rather vaguely. The automaton stops in front of a door. "Kochira desu." It was a massive door with precise carvings. "I will not be forced to do anything I don''t want to do, and I will not be forced to do anything I don''t want to do, and I will not be forced to do anything I don''t want to do, and I will not be forced to do anything I don''t want to do. "Okay." Jin boldly put his hand on the door and ...... "......, it doesn''t even budge." "Master, please!" He pushed the door open. I knew he was very nervous. "Okay, okay." Blushing, Jin opened the door this time and stepped inside. The dimly-lit room suddenly became bright. "Wow!" The glare was startling for a moment, but when he realized that it was just a light, he regained his apparent composure and looked around the room. It was a kind of study, with a simple but solid desk and chair, and on the desk was a large crystal ball the size of a watermelon. On the desk was a crystal ball the size of a watermelon and a book. The only other thing there was a bookshelf and a bunch of books. Jin thinks that it was a study after all. The room looks as if it has been used by someone until now, with not a speck of dust on it, and it even feels fresh. Somehow, Jin sat down on a chair. Suddenly, his crystal ball began to glow. "What is it?" "Welcome, my successor." An old woman''s face appeared in the crystal ball at the same time as the voice echoed. "My name is Adriana Barbora Tsezi. I am a wizard and a mage. And the world''s only Magecraft Meister. "Okaasama desu!" The automaton standing behind Jin added. It seemed to be able to enter after the door was opened. "I have been researching the connection between magic and tools. The culmination of my research is this laboratory. Sadly, my research has not been accepted by my fellow mages. There is a hint of sadness in his voice. "But I believe that my research is meaningful. But I am afraid I will not be able to prove it in my lifetime. There is a pause in his speech, but it is resumed. "I would like to hand over everything I have built up to those who share my aspirations. How you use it is up to you, Successor. Please see the record for details. With that the voice ended, and the face in the crystal ball disappeared. "Do you mean the book ......?" He reaches for the book next to the crystal ball. As soon as his hand touches the cover, the book begins to glow ....... "Whoa! The contents literally avalanche into Jin''s head. It happened in an instant. "......" When the light subsided, the book was no longer there, and Jin had become the rightful successor (Successor) of the Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. "So this is magic. ......" With the knowledge she had inherited, she was able to feel the magic contained in her body and understood how to use it. But also the dangers. "Thank you, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. I will surely put this power to good use. Jin said to the crystal ball whose light had disappeared, "This is what I want to do for you. With these words, the automata crumbled into pieces. 13 - 00-03 Prologue 3 Departure "...... I''m hungry." * * * Jin inherited the knowledge and skills of Magecraft Meister Adriana Barbora Zetsi, but there was no magic to create food from nothing. He could barely create water by water magic, so he did not die of thirst, but the lack of food was fatal. I made my own clothes. It was not a feat that I had honed my sewing skills. He used fabrics that he found on the shelves. For the time being, Jin looked around the institute. He knew some things, but it was somewhat different from his living memory, as if he was looking at a reference book or a dictionary. It is the same with magic, once I have used it once, I can use it like breathing after that, but it seems to take some time to search in my brain for the magic I have never used before. So, coming back to the subject, it seems that there is no stockpile of food in this institute. Or, even if there were, I don''t want to eat food that is 1000 years old. No, I would not be able to eat it. "Hmm, like this..." What is he doing? He is repairing, or rather, rebuilding the automata. The dismembered dolls that have served their purpose are a source of pity. Jin used to make dolls for orphaned children, and when he saw a broken tool or machine, he wanted to fix it if he could. He said, "My predecessors are amazing. They have almost the same skeletal structure as human beings. This automata has an internal skeleton just like a human, muscles made of magical fiber, and a magically synthesized magical skin. Instead of internal organs, they had ether converters and mana drivers, and their thoughts were controlled by an elaborate control core. "The skeleton is already in pieces and there is no way to fix it. ...... It would be faster to build a new one." So, we rebuild the skeleton using light metal from the basement warehouse. It''s easy to make it, because it''s magically processed, and the dimensions are the same as the original. Later, I learned that they used rare light silver, but I did not understand its value since there was a mountain of it. If it were true, one kilo of light silver would be enough to build a mansion, but I use it casually simply because it is compatible with magic. "It would be more efficient to use an ether converter like this ......, and the mana driver can be made smaller if we do this." We can make improvements and rebuild them in the same way as we make models. The magical tools are inscribed with powerful words, or "words and spirits" in MagiLanguage, but for some reason, I noticed that using Japanese, and Kanji in particular, boosted efficiency, so I decided to rewrite the whole thing in Japanese. I wondered if it would be better if I simply renewed the specifications for the magical fiber and the magical skin of the muscles as they are.No, there is room for improvement for the magical fiber. ....... Magical skin...it looks different if we change it. Oh, but I''ll put a permanent reinforcement on it. Jin is so absorbed in his work that he is unaware that the specifications, which were already abnormal when his predecessor built it, have become even more abnormal. "Finally, the control core. It''s deteriorating and it''s going to break at any moment. ...... I don''t remember this one being in the warehouse." There is a tunnel in the basement of the institute and many magical dolls classified as golems have been digging out useful resources slowly but steadily. That is, for a thousand years. The amount is unimaginable, but Jin does not know that. He has nothing to compare it with. Incidentally, the golem''s simple structure allows it to continue to operate without deterioration as long as it has magic power. There it is, there it is, there are so many of them. Then let''s use this beautiful one. The magi crystals used in the original control core were red, but the one Jin took out shone in rainbow colors like an opal. "Move the information from the old control core," he said. Yes, it worked. This one''s bigger, so it looks like there''s still plenty of room. Let''s try to copy my knowledge too. It seems to be the nature of maniacs to forget their hunger and get absorbed in their work. "......Knowledge transcription (transinfo)......Wow, that''s pretty tough on the brain. I guess I can''t have all the knowledge, but that''s about all I can do. As it would take time to transcribe all of Jin''s knowledge, I will mainly transcribe knowledge related to language. Specifically, Japanese language, Kanji, kana, alphabets, and so on. And so it was that Jin spent the whole day reassembling the automata. "Now I just need some clothes. The clothes he was wearing turned to dust and scattered as soon as the magic power ran out, so now the automaton was naked, and in many ways it was very painful to look at. "Now that we''ve come this far, let''s take care of it until the end." I had made my own clothes, so there were no more fabrics left that I could find. I have no choice but to search the warehouse. There was a large amount of threads from the ground spider, so I used them to make fabrics. The previous generation had also made a loom. The cloth woven with fine threads is used for underwear, and the cloth woven with thick threads is used for jackets. The weaving of even lace is the work of the great predecessors. "If we make the same structure as the original clothes, how should we dye it for color? I searched and found the right dye. He chooses a transparent blue. This was actually a magical dye that repels demons. The shoes are dark brown leather from the warehouse. They are actually dragon leather, but Jin doesn''t care. After all this, I ended up with an outfit that was more appropriate for Alice than a maid''s uniform. It''s the same design as the doll clothes I made for the girls at the orphanage, so it''s only natural. "Yes, well, I have a child''s body, so this is fine. Jin is satisfied with the finished product. "Well, let''s finish it up. He pours in the magic power to activate the mana driver, but the automata lying in front of him does not move. "What is it?Did I do something wrong?" You examine it, but there is nothing wrong with the magic circuit. "Well, I don''t know." At that moment, I felt a rumbling in my stomach as if I had just remembered something. And so, back to the opening line. Oh, ah! "Oh, oh, I''m so hungry. ......" Jin slumps down. "If I stay here in this laboratory, I''ll starve to death. ...... So he decides to go outside for the time being. "Well, if I remember correctly, it''s easy to move around by using the warp gate, isn''t it? The inherited knowledge tells us that such technology exists. I remember that the warp gate to the outside was on the first floor. Searching my memory, or rather my knowledge, I arrived between the warp gates, which are the gates to the outside world. There are several warp gates in a row. "Well, I don''t care which one, but I''ll take the fifth one. According to our knowledge, this is the warp gate that opens near the big town. You take about five gems from the warehouse to exchange for money. Small rubies (gems that look like rubies). He decides that if they are too big, it will be difficult to exchange them for money. "Okay. Let''s go." He gets on the magic circle of the warp gate and puts his magic power into it. Immediately the magic circle is activated and ...... "...... something is wrong..." There is something Jin forgot to do. The warp gate was installed more than 1000 years ago. A hundred years is a period of time when a town can be destroyed and the topography of the land can be changed. The Warp Gate that corresponded to the one used by Jin no longer existed. "Ma,sa,ka,bo,so,so?" The magic circle flickered violently. The amount of magic power required for the transition is great. It lost its way and began to run amok. "It...won''t... go... down..." Unable to get down, Jin''s figure disappears from the institute, leaving the runaway magic circle behind him. * * * * "......Otou, sir?" The automata opened its eyes. It seems to have sensed Jin''s danger, perhaps because it was in the room directly under the runaway magic circle. The reason for the delay in activation was that the body''s magical capacity had become tremendous, and it was taking time to convert the free magical element (ether) in the air into the amount of active magical element (mana) necessary for movement after the mana driver had been activated. "Father is missing ......." The disappearance of one''s creator is a big deal for an automata. "I have to find my father ......." The automaton goes in search of Jin, the raison d''etre of its existence. He prepares a new warp gate for his return and says, "I''m going, "I''m going." This also disappeared from the institute. All that remained were the golems who were digging for resources. 14 - 01-01 Kaina Village "...... it''s a ceiling I don''t know." The second promise. Jin opened his eyes and found himself lying on the bed. He is wearing only his underwear, but when he looks to the side, he sees his jacket on the table. He slowly sat up. There is nothing wrong with me. The only thing I can tell is that I am very hungry. "......?" I felt eyes on me and turned around to see someone peering through the doorway and hiding. Then I heard footsteps moving away from me. "Is it someone from this house?" After muttering to himself, Jin looked around the room. The simple clay and wood walls, the simple table, and his bed. He guessed that it was a very ordinary country house. "Well, well, well, well. An elderly lady entered the room. She looked like a country lady. Hidden by the hem of her skirt, a small child peeks out. It seems that the child was the one who had been staring at her earlier. "You were lying at the entrance to the forest. She''s the one who found you. With these words, she gently pushes the child hiding behind her skirt forward. She is a girl with dull blond hair and steeple eyes. She is about 8 or 9 years old. "My name is Jin. My name is Jin Nido. Thank you for helping me. Um, where am I? Jin. This is the village of Kaina. It''s a small village in the middle of nowhere. Jin had no idea where he was. At that moment, Jin''s stomach rumbled loudly. "Oh my, you must be hungry. ...... wait a minute." With that, the lady withdrew. Jin and a little girl (little girl?) were left. Jin said to the girl, "Oh, you must be hungry. Jin told the girl, "I heard you found it for me, thanks. Can you tell me your name? He speaks softly to her. The girl bashfully says, "Hannah, "...... Hannah." she replied. "So you''re Hannah. Nice to meet you." When he held out his hand to her, she slowly reached out her small hand and squeezed Jin''s. "Yes, I''m Hannah. "Here you are, thanks for waiting. Then the hostess came back with a tray of pots and plates. "You must be hungry, eat a lot. She poured the porridge into a deep dish. It smelled good, and Jin devoured it. It was his first meal in days. "Don''t be in such a hurry. To his wife''s dismay, Jin ate the porridge. Jin ate the rice porridge (?) with such a speed that his wife was astonished. "Thank you very much for the food. "What''s that?" "Oh, <> is a kind of greeting for meals at my place. It is a word of thanks to the food and the person who prepared it. By the way, we say "Itadakimasu" before eating. ...... I missed saying that one." "Oh, I see. I''ve never heard that before. You, Jin-kun, seem to have come a long way. Yes, probably. Maybe?What do you mean? Jin then gave a blurred explanation. He hides the fact that he is from another world and simply says that he came here due to a malfunction of the Warp Gate. However. "Warp gate?What''s that? I didn''t get through. "Well... A warp gate is a magical tool that allows you to travel between two specific locations in an instant. ...... "A magical tool?Are you sure it''s an artifact? Artifact? What, you don''t know?An artifact is a magical tool that was created before the Great Sorcery War. "The War of Magic? Another unfamiliar word. I really wonder where you come from. ...... The War of Magic is a war between humans and demons that took place about 300 years ago. I don''t have that information. Can you tell me more? I don''t know that information. Well, 300 years ago, the demons who had been on a different continent suddenly attacked us. And all the countries that had been skirmishing with them were destroyed. This wasn''t good, so the great power of ...... what was it called, ah, yes, Dinar I of the Kingdom of Dinar united the remaining countries against the demons. "Oh, ...... I see." 300 years ago, when automata were scouring the other worlds to find Jin. No wonder they don''t know. "It is said that the population of the continent was reduced to one-third due to death after death after death. At that time, wizards played an active role, but it is said that more than half of the people who had magic power died in the Aether Stampede, which is said to be the last gasp of the demon tribe. "Is that what happened?" Populations were decimated by war, towns and civilizations were burnt to the ground in the fires of war. And the number of wizards, the bearers of culture, has decreased drastically. So this world is the same as it was a thousand years ago, or even a thousand years behind. Or, in some cases, it is even later than 1,000 years ago. Okay, thank you for your explanation. So, your wife''s name, I haven''t heard it yet. "Oh, is that right? I''m Martha, nice to meet you. "Martha, right. Nice to meet you." Martha told me many other things. She told me that the village of Kaina belongs to the Kingdom of Klein and that there are 29 households. And it is spring. A year in this world is 357 days, a year is 51 weeks, a week is 7 days. Jin was somewhat relieved to know that this was the same as a thousand years ago. It is highly possible that this is the world where Adriana Barbora Zetsi was, though it is also possible that she was transported to another world due to a runaway warp gate. (Well, okay...) Jin thinks. It''s a life I''ve picked up anyway. Feeling full and comfortable, Jin gets out of bed and puts on his jacket. In his pocket were rubies and a knife. He took out one of the rubies, "Here, take this as a thank you for saving my life. "What''s this, ......!" Martha is surprised to see the ruby. "Jewelry?You can''t give me this!" "But it''s the least I could do." "I didn''t save you because I wanted to thank you. Just pull that thing down." Jin pulls back the ruby as Martha stares at him. "But then... ...... "Well, why don''t you stay here for a while and keep her company? She''s been lonely since her parents died. Jin wondered what was wrong since Martha was the only adult he saw, but it made sense to him. "Okay, that''s not all, so let me help you too. "Hmm, that''s all right then. Well then, you can use this room for a while. Jin decided to stay in this village for a while to repay the favor for saving him from starving to death. 15 - 01-02 Pumps "Good morning, big brother." "Good morning, Hannah." The day after Jin decided to stay with Martha. Jin woke up in the morning and went outside to wash his face. Hannah had just woken up. "Hanna-chan, I need to wash my face. He said, "Yes, the well is this way. Then she grabbed a washbasin and a hand towel and started to walk away. Jin followed her. Jin takes the handbasket, of course. "Here it is!" There was a well about 20 meters from Martha''s house. It was round and bordered with stones, and had a roof to keep out the garbage. The water was drawn from a hanging bottle on a pulley. "Wait a minute. ...... Hannah said and began to pull hard on the bottle with her small body. Jin panicked, "Hey, hey, Hannah. Are you doing this every day?" When Jin asked this, Hanna looked at him as if it was natural, "Yes, I do. She answered, "Yes, I do. Hearing this, Jin thought about it. Meanwhile, Hannah finished drawing water and poured it into a bucket, "You can clean your face first, big brother." Jin again panicked and let her wash his face for the time being. Then he said, "Thanks, "Thank you. Then I will fetch water for you to wash your face. Hannah smiled at him and said, "Yes! "Yes!" On the way back to the house. "Hannah, it''s hard to fetch water, isn''t it? "Yes, but everyone is doing it." Jin hears this and thinks about it. He thought that even if it was impossible to make magic tools now that he did not have enough materials, it would be possible to make ordinary tools. So, after breakfast, he asks Martha about it. "Martha, is there a blacksmith in this village? Martha looked a little sad, "My husband used to be a blacksmith, but he died long ago. So there are no blacksmiths now. Why is that? "No, I just wanted some iron and copper." And he said, "Oh, I think there''s a lot of that left at your husband''s workshop. It''s probably covered with dust. If you want to use them, do as you please." "Thank you very much." Jin thanked her and was taken to her workshop. It was located behind Martha''s house and was about six tatami mats in size. There was a broken furnace, a dusty anvil, a hammer, and a considerable amount of iron and copper lumps lying in the corner. "If we have this much, we can make a lot of things. Jin was relieved to see the copper lumps. He immediately set to work. Now, let''s analyze. ...... copper, and tin. Bronze. Just right. I''ll just have to process it." Using his newly-learned magic, Jin transforms the bronze block. He makes pipes, levers, pins, cylinders, pistons. In other words, Jin is making a pump for a well. "Magic is so useful, isn''t it? In the original world, all this machining, turning, milling, and casting would have been impossible. When we had finished making the parts, Hannah came in after cleaning up from breakfast. "What are you doing, big brother?" "Oh, you''re Hannah. This is a pump, a tool to make it easier to fetch water. "It makes it easier to pump water?" "Yes, come and take a look." Jin assembled the pump body and headed for the well with the body, pipes, and other parts. Martha and the other wives in the neighborhood had just gathered there for a literal well-well meeting. Since they washed dishes at the well, they naturally met at the same time of the day. "Oh, Jin, what''s the matter?What is that in your hand? "Is this the little Jin that Martha found? Is Hannah with you? Hannah seems to like you a lot. How old are you? The wives were asking a lot of questions out of curiosity, Jin answered in an appropriate manner, "This is a tool called a pump. He explains to them. "Okay, so what does it do?" "It''s installed here and used to pump water. It''s much easier than a fishing bottle. When Jin said that, one of the wives said, "Are you sure it''s a magic tool?Were you a magician? Jin laughed. Jin laughed, "It''s not a magic tool. It''s just a common tool where I come from. Well, I can use simple magic. With these words, Jin connected the pipe to the pump, fixed the pump to a board with a hole drilled in it, and placed the board on the well. He poured priming water, which had been pumped in advance, into the top of the pump, and when the cylinder of the pump was filled with water, it was ready to go for now. "Okay, let''s give it a try. Jin slowly pushes the lever of the pump. The pump we made this time is a pump for pumping up water, which is used for ordinary wells. As I jostled the pump, water came out of the pump. "Oh, wow!That''s great!" "Hey, hey, hey, let me try it too!" But Jin said, But Hitoshi said, "Wait a minute. I want you to do it first, Hannah. ...... Come on, Hannah, go ahead." He gave up his place to Hanna. "Okay. So, I just have to move this stick, right?" After confirming this, Hannah moved the lever up and down. Then water came out as expected. Jin hurriedly puts the bucket down. Soon the tub was full. "How''s it going, Hannah?"How is it, Hannah? "Yes, it''s very easy!Thank you, big brother! Jin was relieved to see Hannah smiling with a big smile on her face. Seeing this, the wives, who had been eagerly waiting for the pump, took it upon themselves to pump it. "Wow, this is so easy! "Yes, it''s going to be a big help from now on! "Jin-kun is an amazing magician, isn''t he? The wives took turns pumping water into the tubs they had brought. Everyone was amazed at how much easier it was than using a fishing bottle. "Jin, is this what you meant when you said you wanted copper? Thank you very much. Martha looks happy. A material that had been sitting in the dust for a long time had been transformed into a useful tool. After this Jin checks the pump to make sure everything is okay. He went home with Martha and Hannah. It was not long after this that the villagers heard the rumor and came to check the pumps, and they asked him to install pumps in all the wells in the village. For this reason, Jin was thanked by the whole village and his face was remembered. 16 - 01-03 Hot spring "Come here, little girl. Come here, come here." "Hannah, wait for me. ......" Today, instead of hiking ...... with Hannah, Jin came to the mountain to pick medicinal herbs. "H-Huh, Hanna-chan, you''re fine, aren''t you......?" "Yes!" As one would expect from someone who grew up in the area, she and Jin seem to have different basic physical strengths. Jin, on the other hand, has the disadvantage of carrying a basket on his back. In addition, his burnt and tattered body has been supplemented during the transition, so his muscular strength and endurance have returned to their initial values, i.e., without the effects of training, but he is unaware of this. "Phew, I finally climbed ......." A small mountain on the north side of the village. The elevation difference is about 200 meters. After an hour of climbing, the view opened up. "Look, there''s the village!" Hannah pointed with her hair blowing in the wind. "Wow, this is a nice view! "Yes, it is!" There was a meadow near the summit, and the village could be seen at our feet. Looking back, we could see the snow-capped peaks of higher mountains to the north. "Ah, this snow must be the reason for the abundance of water. Jin thought, "Basically, it is a land of little rainfall, but the high mountains are covered with snow, so the groundwater is abundant. And to the west. "...... Bald Mountain, huh?" There was a small mountain with no grass or trees. Upon closer inspection, the surface of the mountain was yellowish in places, and what looked like steam was rising from the mountain. "Could it be a volcano?" I was thinking about that when Hannah came to me, "Here you go, honey. She came back with a bunch of medicinal herbs. "Are these herbs?" "Yes. You grind them and put them on the wound. And this one is to be drowned and used as an ointment. They said it was a medicine for wounds and an infusion. Jin also searched for medicinal herbs, using the ones Hannah had collected as a model. Since the two of them gathered together, they were able to collect the desired amount of herbs quickly. In such a case, it is strictly forbidden to be greedy and gather too much. "Well, let''s make a bento, shall we? "Yes." Bread and fruits like apples. We shared them. "It''s delicious, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is. I guess it''s different when you eat in a place like this. While eating, Jin observed the volcano and its topography. Hannah noticed his gaze, "Are you looking at the mountain of death? "Mount Death?" "Yes. Birds that go near that mountain fall off. Sometimes it smells funny. < "Noxious gas?" Volcanic gases. Hydrogen sulfide and sulfurous gases are poisonous if inhaled by living things. It''s no wonder they''re called that. "Okay, okay, I''ll stay away. Shall we go home then?" "Okay." We finish collecting our desired medicinal herbs and have eaten our lunch, so we slowly make our way down the mountain. This area, where there are no dangerous beasts, has become an important gathering place for the village. "There are no demons here, are there? Martha told me that most of the demons and monsters living on this continent were destroyed during the <>. The remaining demons retreated far to the north. "I''m home, Grandma." Hannah, Jin. Martha came to greet me. "Oh, you''re sweating," she said. "There''s some water there. Wipe yourself off." Yes, sir. Hannah quickly took off her clothes and began to wipe herself. She is only 8 years old and seems to be fine with Jin watching her. Jin, too, was not fazed by the fact that he had bathed the younger children at the orphanage. Although he does not look old for his age. I still want to take a bath. The pumps have made it easier to fetch water, but fuel is precious. Boiling enough water to take a bath was a luxury. "I guess it''s a hot spring after all." Jin finished wiping himself off and looked at the mountains. There is a volcano there, and from the topography, there must be a vein of hot spring water underground. "I guess I''ll just have to use magic to find out. Despite his knowledge, Jin is still not accustomed to the idea of using magic. "Let''s see, is there any earth magic for this kind of situation? He searches for the necessary magic by flipping through the dictionary in his brain. Then he finds the magic he wants. "......" Good. Searching underground (ground search). Change target, hot spring." This magic is originally used to search for veins of ore, but with a little rearrangement, it can even search for hot springs. The title of "Magecraft Meister" is no exaggeration. "Here it is. One or two,...... Okay, let''s use this one." The hot water veins that flow underground and are rich in hot water and near the village are selected. The next step is to decide on a location. "Hey, where are you going?" Hannah came up to Jin as he was going outside. "Yes, to make a hot spring. Do you want to go with me? "Yes!" Hannah doesn''t know what a hot spring is, but she is happy to go out with Jin. "Well, I can''t just make a hot spring on my own, can I? So Jin went to the village chief''s house first. "Oh, there''s Jin-chan! "Jin-chan, where are you going?" Jin, who had been thanked by the whole village for the pump, was already familiar with the place. The children were especially fond of him. Jin, with a crowd of children in tow, knocked on the door of the village headman''s house. "What is it?"Oh, Jin-kun. What''s wrong?" A man of advanced age comes out. This is Guy Beck, the chief of the village of Kaina. Yes, I need to talk to you about something. About what? Jin explained that he needed to dig a hot spring and to build a hut there. "Well, you want to dig a well with hot water and build a hut, don''t you?I don''t see any reason for me to object. I''d like you to build it. What do you need?" The village head understood the usefulness of the bath, so the conversation was quick. "Yes, I need wood for the shed. "That''s easy. You can take it from the lumberyard. "Thank you very much." With the permission, Jin immediately went to the proposed site. It is a slightly depressed area in the middle of the village. "Okay. That''s it. After confirming the hot water vein by ground search, he first makes a bathtub with earth magic. Two bathtubs, one hot and one lukewarm. The bathtubs are slightly shallow and wide enough to stretch out in. "Oh!Wow!" "Isn''t it great to go to the gin?" The children who followed us were not afraid of Jin''s magic, but watched him with amusement. They had never seen a wizard before, so they had no prejudice at all. "Okay, the bathtub is ready..." he said. Next, we started on the hut. All we had to do was to put up four pillars and a roof. The children who came along with us helped to carry the logs. "Good, good, good!" "Hey, you guys, don''t fall down! I''ll be all right. "All right, hold me down a little bit." The children helped a little, and the shed was finished. We put up some boards around the hut to blind them for now. "Now it''s time to dig the hot spring. Digging. Continue hardening. A hole is dug to the hot water vein and the surface is hardened at the same time to replace the pipe. Hot water soon started to gush out. Yes, the water is hot enough. Or rather, too hot. Ah, oh, oh, oh...." In a hurry, he creates a pool of hot water and lets it accumulate. In the meantime, I dug a hole to the water vein so that the hot water and water can be mixed. Using a flume, the hot water and water are poured into the bathtub in the proper proportions, "Now we have a hot spring!" "Oh!" "Are you going to swim in here, little guy?" To the children who didn''t quite understand, "No, no. No, no, no. This is where we go to clean ourselves up and get rid of our fatigue. So, you who helped me, you have the right to be the first to take a dip in this village. "Oh!" "Yay!" The children undress on the spot and rush to the bathtub to get naked. Boys and girls alike. Jin has a strange way of understanding that they are just children. "You should pour hot water on your body before getting into the bathtub. Jin took off his own clothes with this warning. "Wow, it feels so good! "Hey, hey, don''t get too excited!" The children were overjoyed to see the hot spring for the first time, swimming and running around in the bathtub. "Onii-chan!" Hannah came to Jin. "I''m sure grandma will be happy to see you. "Yeah, I hope so." The hot spring that Jin built was welcomed by the whole village, and more bathtubs were added. The bicarbonate spring water is very popular among women because it makes their skin smooth and smooth, and the huts have been changed from simple to more solid. The huts were also changed from simple to solid. The men''s and women''s sections were separated, and a changing room was built, making it look more like a hot spring. 17 - 01-04 A peddler The season has turned from spring to early summer. "It''s been almost two months. ......" It has been almost two months since Jin came to Kaina Village. In that time, Jin has installed a pump, dug a hot spring, and maintained the sewage system. He made a wheeled cart and a wheelbarrow. The cart was made because Hannah thought it would be difficult to carry water. Then I thought it would be convenient to have a unicycle as well, so I made one, and it was surprisingly well received. Right now, Jin is playing tag with his children. It is a game that had never been played before in this world, at least in this village, and is now the most popular game because it can be played without distinction between men and women. "Jin-chan is the devil this time! "Okay, here we go. Let''s count to 10. 1,2,3,4,5,6. 7,8, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8......" All the kids run away at once. "Nine, ten!" Okay, here we go! "Whoa!" Martha watched them with a smile. "I had been depressed since I lost my parents, but now that Jin came, that girl (Hannah) is all cheered up. I was wondering who you were when I first found you..." "Well, we caught one of them first." The number of ogres is gradually increasing as the rule called "more ogres" is used. When all of them become ogres, the game is over for the time being. "Hannah, I''ve got her!" "Kurt, I got you!" "Mario, wait!" "Jesse, I got you!" And so it went on until dark. After working up a sweat, we washed our bodies in the hot spring and headed home with refreshed faces. Lately, Hannah''s hair seemed to be getting shinier. It has gone from a dull golden color to a shiny golden color. It must be the effect of the hot spring. Jin thinks to himself as he follows Hannah as she hurries home. I''m home. I''m home. "Welcome home, Hanna. Jin." Martha, who was preparing dinner, greets him. "You must be hungry. "Thanks for everything you''ve done for me." "You know, thanks to Jin, we have more time to live, it''s easier than ever. In fact, the labor of fetching and carrying water had been greatly reduced, and it had become much more convenient to use the hot water from the hot spring for washing dishes and the like. "Here, it''s ready! "Wow, it looks delicious! Tonight''s menu is fried eggs and stir-fried vegetables. "I''m a little short on salt, it may not taste very good, but bear with me," Martha says apologetically. Martha said apologetically. Jin heard this and said, "Oh, I see. But we''ll be stuck without salt, won''t we? "Well, Roland will probably be here tomorrow or the next day, so we can buy some. "Roland?" Roland?" Jin asked, the name unfamiliar to him, Roland is a peddler who comes every two months or so to sell salt, sugar, dried fish and other foodstuffs, as well as fabrics and clothes. "I see." It seems that being self-sufficient is not an option. "Then I need money. Martha interrupted him before he could say that he had some rubies with him for living expenses. "I don''t need money, I''m bartering. It''s such a remote village, there''s no way to make money. Martha laughed, saying that Roland knew that. * * * * * * The next day at noon, just as Martha had said, a wagon arrived. It was a big wagon, pulled by two horses. There were two passengers. The mayor of the village, Giebeck, greeted them. "Oh, Mr. Roland, welcome. "Welcome, Mr. Roland, and welcome, Eric. Roland is a stocky man of about 40, and Eric is a handsome man of about 20. They both carry short swords at their waists, probably for self-defense. They both carry short swords at their waists, probably for self-defense. They both carry short swords at their waists, probably for self-defense. You look well, chief. Thanks to you. My niece was looking forward to your arrival. Eric looked embarrassed. He had a crush on the mayor''s niece. Roland looked at Eric with a shy look on his face, "We arrived a day or two earlier than planned. I brought more salt this time. "Oh?That''s very helpful." The demand for salt was increasing with the summer season approaching. Roland and his team immediately parked their wagon in the central square of the village, set up a simple table, and laid out their wares on it. We started with groceries. Salt, sugar, dried ogi. And these are black-eyed peas. They are tolerant to the heat, so you can sow them even from now on. Salt, please. Yes, a bag of wheat is 200 grams. Sugar, please. Yes, 20 furs, that''s 2 kilos. I''ll have some of those black-eyed peas. "Oh, this is a nice gem, I''ll give you a little extra." Everyone traded wheat, furs, and sometimes gemstones. Eric was looking hard at them. After all the food has been purchased, Roland has Erik help him change the items. This time it is fabrics, clothes, and tools. Jin watches from a distance to see what tools they are selling. "Hmmm, aside from fabrics and clothes, are those lanterns?And pens and ink, huh? By the way, it was the village head who bought the pen and ink. "I hope we can talk to him later. Jin thought that he would like to hear about the outside of the village, preferably about this world. The next day, he received a message from the other side. * * * * After the business was over, Roland packed up the goods and tables and put them in the wagon. "Now then, let me show you a nice place," the mayor said to them. The mayor said to them. "A nice place?" Yes, this way please. The mayor showed them to a hot spring. "What is this place?It wasn''t here the last time I was here, was it? Yes, it was just opened the other day. < A hot spring? Well, please come in. Needless to say, Roland and Eric were surprised at how comfortable the hot spring water felt. 18 - 01-05 Contract The next morning. "Jin, are you there?" After breakfast, the chief came to Martha''s house. "Yes?" "Oh, Jin, can I talk to you for a minute?" "Yes, can I help you?" The chief laughed, The mayor laughed and said, "Nothing, it''s nothing. Mr. Roland, the peddler staying with us, would like to have a word with you. "Oh, really? "I see." "Well, why don''t you come over right away?" So Jin went to the village headman''s house. "Nice to meet you, my name is Roland, a peddler. I am sorry to call on you at this time. I am his son, Eric, and it is a pleasure to meet you. Roland and Eric were waiting at the village headman''s house and greeted Jin politely. They were merchants in this area. "Oh, it''s nice to meet you. My name is Jin Nido. The three of them sat down around the table. The village head also sat down. Soon a young girl came in with a cup of tea. "Here you go." "Oh, thank you, Barbara." In the corner of my mind, I think that Jin is the niece of the village head, but then I quickly turn my attention back to the person in front of me. "So, what can I tell you?" Jin begins. Roland answers. No, it''s not a big deal. I''m just curious about something that wasn''t here when I visited this village ......2 months ago. "Oh, the hot springs." "Yes. And the pump, the tool to pump the water. Did you really design it? "Yes, what do you mean?" Jin looked doubtful, "Oh, no, Mr. Jin, is it? Where did you learn to be a magecraftsman at such a young age? "Magecraftsman?" This is a new word to me. I had inherited the title of "Magecraft Meister," but I had never heard of a "Magecraftsman. "Oh, you don''t know?That''s surprising. Magecraftsman is a general term for people who use magic to make tools. "Oh..." Roland changes the subject when she replies with an indifferent tone. "By the way, where did you say you were from?" Roland jumped at this because it was something he wanted to be sure about. "Yes, actually, I happened to find a and was sent there by it. So I don''t know where I came from or where exactly I am going back to. "Warp gate?I think I''ve heard of it. ...... Eric, what do you think? "I think I learned that there is an artifact called that. It''s supposed to be able to travel between two different locations." For the first time, Eric opened his mouth to say something other than hello. "He was at the Cecilio School of Magic last year. He knows a little bit about magic. His father, Roland, looked somewhat proud. "Well, I guess it was an artifact, but anyway it went out of control and when I came to, I found him lying here by the village. Martha, who is taking care of me now, picked me up and I have been living in this village ever since. I have misrepresented a part of the story, but I am not mistaken. And Eric, "That''s a disaster, isn''t it? Many artifacts are incomprehensible to us, so I guess it happens." Roland took over, "So you are saying that you don''t know where your home is?" "That''s right. You don''t know if I say "Nihon," do you? "Nihon," you say. That''s right, I''ve never heard of this place. Is that where you live? Yes, it''s my hometown. Roland crossed his arms and thought. In the meantime, Eric asked. "So you are saying that the magic you use and the tools you make are from Jin-san''s hometown? "That is correct. Jin nodded his head and Eric excitedly said, "That''s wonderful! "Excellent!I''d love to learn how to make that pump! Roland chided him. "Now, now, don''t get so excited. Mr. Jin, we will pay you for the information, and you will teach us the structure of the and how to make it. Jin wonders what to do. There is nothing wrong with teaching. However, I think it would be better to benefit this village if possible. I would like to know how much you would be willing to pay for the information.Oh, I don''t know the currency of this area, so I''d appreciate it if you could tell me about it as well. "I see. Of course. How about 100,000 Tolls for the information? In the common currency of the Kingdom of the Groups, a copper coin is 1 Tol, a silver coin is 100 Tol, a gold coin is 10,000 Tol, and 10 kilograms of wheat is about 300 Tol. 10 kilograms of wheat is about 300 Tolls, Ten kilograms of wheat is about 300 talls and three silver coins. Jin quickly calculates the numbers. Even though there are some fluctuations, it seems to be accurate to assume that one tol is about 10 yen on the basis of wheat. This means that the information fee is one million yen. "One more question before I reply, do you have the idea of <> in this country? "<>?What is it?" I could guess that there probably wasn''t, since he asked me that, "A patent is something that protects the rights of the person who first thought of it, and for a certain period of time, when you use the patent, you have to pay a <> to the person who patented it," he said. Roland thought about this for a moment and then said, "I see, "I see. That''s a good system. It protects the interests of those who invent new things while making them widely available. This will increase the momentum to create something new. As expected of a merchant, he is quick to understand. But.., "But unfortunately, there is no such a system. I see, that''s unfortunate. "Well, then, ......." Roland looks disappointed, "No, I will sell you the information on that condition. But there is one condition. "What''s that? Roland is excited by the prospect of selling the information on the pump. "I want you to put your name or something similar on the pump. Preferably something that can''t be imitated. "I see. Differentiation from similar products. Roland swallowed quickly. "Yes, that''s right. Sooner or later, imitations and similar products will appear on the market, but we''ll make sure that people know that the original is from Roland Corporation. "Hmmm, the real original is Jin-san''s, though." "If you say that, in my country we won''t be able to tell which one is the original anymore. And so the contract is signed. Eric is in charge. Jin made one pump in front of me and handed it over as a sample. Immediately that afternoon, Jin demonstrated the pump using the few remaining bronze pieces. That day, I spent the whole afternoon at Jin''s workshop, "What the hell is that? Eric''s cry echoed throughout the afternoon. 19 - 01-06 Barley Harvest I''ll see you in two months. Take care. "I''m sure you''ll come back, Eric." "Yes, I''ll bring you something else." The next day, Roland and his group left the village of Kaina. Eric was sad to say goodbye to Barbara. Jin was thinking about something as he watched the carriage going away. (Two days by carriage to the village of Toka, two more days to the town of Charles, and three more days to the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. The speed of the wagon was 4 to 6 kilometers per hour. If we run 8 hours a day, it''s 200 to 300 kilometers to the capital. That''s quite a distance. But if we go to the capital, we might be able to get a map of this continent. Then we might be able to find the location of the institute.) While I was thinking like that, I felt a pinch on my hem. I looked and saw that it was Hannah. "Hannah, what''s wrong?" I call her "Hannah" these days. "Jin-chan, are you leaving this village?" She was teary-eyed. Jin was impressed by the fact that girls have a good intuition even though they are small, "Well, I don''t know. At least I won''t leave this year. Hannah said, "I''m not going to leave this year at least, "I''ll be your daughter''s wife, so please don''t leave me. She said, "I''ll be your wife. Jin said, "Oh, thanks. When Hannah grows up, if you still feel the same way about me, I''ll ask you to do the same for me. Jin replies. Actually, I have heard such a line from him before. The first time was when Jin was in the third grade of junior high school. He was taking care of a girl who just came to the orphanage. She was 6 years old at the time. But when she was 9 years old, she told a boy who was one year older than her from the same orphanage that she would be his wife in the future. Next, when Jin was in his first year of high school, a girl four years younger than him confessed her love to him. But when Jin, who worked part-time during the day and went to a regular high school at night, found out that the girl was dating another boy. In the end, however, it was just a temporary confession, and Jin stopped believing in such lines of the little girl. He remembered the orphanage that had found him as an orphan and raised him, and decided to stay in the village for a year to repay the favor for having found him, and to do what he could do for Martha and the village. It was almost summer and the fields in the village were full of wheat. The fields in this village are managed jointly, so everyone works together to reap the harvest. Jin helped, but his back soon began to ache and he dropped out. "d*mn, I''m not strong enough, am I? This is because most of Jin''s body is supplemented with magical elements, so no matter how much he trains, he cannot build muscles. On the other hand, if he were to strengthen his body with magical powers, it would be a great thing, but it will be a long time before Jin realizes this. "There must be something I can help you with. ......" The wheelbarrow that Jin made was useful for transporting the harvested wheat, but he is still thinking about what he can do to help. "Oh, I remember when we used to grow wheat at the orphanage, how did we mill the wheat at that time? He dug up his memory, "Oh yeah!A sieve!" The flour we eat in this village is a whole ground wheat flour, which is called whole wheat flour. It is not the pure white flour that is available in modern households, but a brownish flour with bran in it. "Let''s make a sieve right away!" Jin says no to Martha, goes home, and hurries to make the sifter. He made a frame, a mesh, and combined them to make a sieve. There are two kinds of nets: a fine one and a slightly coarser one. The next day, the sifter was made, and he said to himself, "That''s all right, but it''s very hard to sift by hand. So, I made a frame to hang the sifter from the top to save the time and effort of holding it by hand. This reminded him of the sifting frames he had seen in the past, which were hung from the ceiling like this. "This looks good." The sifter hung from the frame is shaken by hand and collected in a tub placed below. The remaining bran is used to feed the livestock. "Okay, it''s done!" Martha and Hannah had just returned from bringing in the wheat, so I showed them the sifter. "What''s this?You have made something new!" "What''s this, honey?" They were surprised, as I knew they would be. Jin explains. "Really, it can sort flour?" "Yes. And if the flour is of better quality, I''m sure Mr. Roland will appreciate it. Will it taste good? "I see. It''s worth trying different ways to eat it and sell it. So I immediately grind the wheat from last year''s harvest on a millstone, grind it into flour, and sift it through a sieve. (Freshly harvested wheat cannot be ground because it is not yet dry.) "Hmmm, put it in like this, and shake it..." "Sounds fun!I''ll do it too!" Hannah, who had been watching, started to help, leaving the sifting to Hannah, while Martha ground the wheat and Jin separated the sifted flour and stored it. "Wow, it''s beautiful! The brown whole wheat flour has turned into a fairly white flour. Jin is satisfied that this is good enough for now. It really turns out beautiful, doesn''t it? I think I will bake bread with this flour today. That night. "It''s delicious, auntie! Hannah is delighted. "It''s really delicious. ...... White bread is delicious after all." Even Jin, who was raised in a family where he had no likes or dislikes and could even eat bad food without a problem, was struck by how different it tasted from the bread he had eaten before. I must tell everyone about this." The next day, the villagers were delighted to see how delicious the sifted flour tasted, and once again Jin had to build a sifter for each house. I wish I could make this flour a specialty of the village of Kaina. After the sifters had been distributed, he suggested this to the village headman, who agreed. "Good, now we will be able to earn a little foreign currency. Jin was pleased. When Roland arrived two months later, he was surprised to see the flour. "White flour like this is hard to find even in King''s Landing!The pure white flour that the nobles eat is made by servants who grind shelled wheat by hand. It''s impossible for ordinary people to eat that kind of flour. There are so many things that come close to that! Not pure white, but very close to white, and at a reasonable price. As a merchant, I am tempted to jump on the bandwagon. And although he has no gold ready this time, he promises to fetch a higher price on his next visit. "But you always surprise me, Mr. Jin," he said. Roland mutters as he eats a loaf of white bread. "I''d like to visit Mr. Jin''s hometown, too. If you ever come out to King''s Landing to look for clues, please let me help you. I would appreciate it. Jin, who would never be able to return to his true hometown in Japan again, decided to accept the offer. 20 - 01-07 stove There is something that Jin has been thinking about for a while now. It is a stove. In Kaina village, or rather in this world, firewood is generally used for cooking. However, firewood is used after chopping down trees, pruning branches, chopping into small pieces, drying, and splitting the firewood. Cutting down the tree and hauling it to the site is hard work, and the drying process takes about six months. Undried raw wood is difficult to burn and smokes a lot. In a world where people did not have the idea of making charcoal, firewood was the source of heat for the common people. "I still want a magi crystal,...... or even a magi stone. There was a mountain of them in the basement of the institute," said a disappointed Jin. Well, the amount of resources stored in the institute is enough to disrupt the distribution. (It''s no use asking for something you don''t have. Well, my hypothesis is that there is a subatomic particle called a magicon that attaches itself to a proton like a neutron to form a nucleus. I think it is similar to radioisotope. Jin''s hypothesis is that the same element with a magic electron attached to its nucleus has magical power. This is the result of a combination of his knowledge of magic as a "Magecraft Meister" and his knowledge at the level of a modern Japanese high school graduate. No one in this world has ever even tried to think of such a thing. (In other words, it should be possible to enrich uranium in the same way as uranium, but we don''t have the materials or facilities.) In a research institute, Jin could have built a magical elemental enrichment device in a day, but here in the village of Kaina, there was nothing he could do. "Onii-chan, do you want to play with me? Hannah invited Jin to play with her. "Oh, yes, that''s right. Where do you want to go?" "It''s hot, let''s go swimming." There is a big river called the Erme River running south of the village, and it seems to go all the way to the royal capital. Roland told me that the river is not used for water transportation because of the many waterfalls along the way. "Okay, let''s go." So they changed into their swimsuits and headed for the river. The swimsuits were not much different from underwear. Hanna was fine with the fact that she was wearing only her underwear, and Jin didn''t have to worry about it either. Many children had already come to the river to swim, including Barbara, the niece of the village head. Barbara, as expected, had a cloth wrapped around her chest as well. "Oh, Jin-chan!And Hannah too!" Kurt shouts when he sees them. Mario and Jesse waved at them. "It''s not good for your health if you go into the river. You have to pour water on your body and go in slowly. "Yes." Hannah warns Jin as they slowly enter the river. He swims at the edge of the river where the current is slow. The pool is about 20 meters wide and 3 meters deep at its deepest point. "It feels so good! "Oh, yes, it really is." As he floated in the water and rested his head for a moment, water was splashed on his face. "Phew!" "Hehehe, Jin-chan, what are you just standing there?Let''s play!" It was the mischievous Kurt who poured water on me. "You got him!" "He''s stuck!" "Oh, you want to play tag?I''m in! "Me too!" "Me too!" Before I knew it, the kids had gathered and turned it into a game of underwater tag. Barbara stood in the shallow end, smiling at them. "Hannah, I got you! "Jesse, I got you!" "And Kurt?" "Oh, there he is!He''s in there! Okay. Kurt dives deep into the abyss and escapes. It was Mario, a good swimmer, who caught Kurt near the bottom of the pool. As he does so, Kurt goes berserk, causing the sand at the bottom of the abyss to roll up. Jin saw this and an idea flashed through his mind. "Oh, that was fun! The children get out of the water after playing. It is almost noon, and everyone is heading home. "You guys should take a quick dip in the hot spring before you go home. "Yes." Jin called out to the children, for he was afraid that they might get sick if they were still cold. Well, the children in this village are not that carefree. "Whew!" Jin verifies his earlier idea while taking a hot bath himself. (Just as atoms with more neutrons are heavier, atoms with extra magicons attached to them should be heavier. If so, it should be possible to sift them out in the water like gold sand.) "Onii-chan, are you out yet? Hannah''s voice calls out to Jin, who comes back to himself. He returned to Martha''s house sweating because he had soaked in the hot water for too long. Hannah looks cool. "What''s the matter, you look hot for a swimmer? Martha said to me. "Yeah, I was just thinking." When I told him that, he laughed at me and said, "You are the same as ever. In the afternoon, Jin was alone again at the Ermee River. Hannah was taking a nap. "Well, let''s give it a try. She mutters to herself and gets into the water. With a big plate in her hand. First, she scooped sand from the bottom of the river into the dish and shook it in the water. The lighter sand is swept away by the water, but the heavier sand remains. This is a gold mining technique called wanguage. Of course, Jin had no experience with this technique, but he had seen it done on TV. After repeating the process several times, a small amount of red-colored sand remained at the bottom of the dish. I get out of the water and check it out. By magic, of course. "Analyze. ...... yes, it''s a fire magi stone. It''s better than I thought. I repeated several times, but all I could find were red magi stones. "Hmmm, maybe it has something to do with the fact that there is a hot spring. But, well, it''s an unexpected luck." The fire magi stone is a good material to make a stove. That day, Jin was collecting magi stones until Hanna came looking for him in the evening. The next day, Jin is in his workshop. The materials he uses this time are iron-based. He was sorry to ask Hannah to go and play by herself, as it was dangerous to handle fire. "Well, that''s the basic shape, isn''t it? Jin, thinking of the shape of a common cassette stove, transforms the iron into a steel plate. Once again, he thinks that magic is useful. However, he does not realize that it is only because he is a Magecraft Meister that he is able to do this with such precision. The finished iron plate is now bent to form the shape of a stove. A heater made of Magi Stone is placed on the burner part, and a Magi Stone container replaces the cassette cylinder. Since this is a prototype, it is shaped like a cassette stove, but in the end I would like to make it look like a gas table. "Okay, it''s done! What I noticed when I started to make it was the adjustment of the heat power. This is achieved by adjusting the magical power supplied from the magi stone to the heater with a knob. "I''ll have to give it a try right away." Jin took the finished stove to Martha. Martha was just about to start preparing for lunch and had just taken out the wood to boil water for the pot. She said, "Oh, Martha, wait a minute. Martha stopped holding the firewood and said, "What''s that?You''ve brought something interesting again, haven''t you? "Yes, it''s called a stove, and you can cook without using firewood. Is it a magical tool after all? Yes, it is. Can you try it? I''ll be glad to use it. What do you want me to do with it? Put the stove on the cooktop and put a pot of water on the pot. "It''s easy to use. First, lift up this lever. Then you twist this knob, and the heater heats up and the water boils. You can adjust the heat by twisting the knob. Martha''s eyes widened, "What a magic tool!. Jin''s plan was to sell the stove manufacturing process to Roland again. In doing so, he would like to make the magi stone of the fire system from the Herme River a specialty of the village, and make it a source of income for the village. Then, the problem that Roland will have to deal with when he transports the magi stone by horse-drawn wagon is the time and effort required for the transportation. If the cost is too high, the village may be forced to purchase fire-type magical stones (magi stones) from other sources. In conclusion, it was necessary to improve the transportation. (There is a difference in elevation between the royal capital and this place, isn''t there?) From what I have heard, the altitude of Kaina village is about 1000 meters above sea level. This is the reason why this village is located in the south and is relatively comfortable in summer. (The return trip is fine, but it must be difficult to come back.) The return trip with the load is downhill, but the outward trip is so difficult that the frequency of visit is only once in two months. "Oh, I''d like to develop a motor or an engine. That would be possible in a research institute, but not here. If that''s the case.., "I guess we could improve the horse-drawn carriage. ...... Jin concluded that he had to find out what he could do to improve the carriage. "It must be equipped with bearings so that the horse can pull easily. He thinks about what he can do now. "I want to use rubber for tires, don''t I? That would mean finding a tree where natural rubber can be harvested. When I worked part-time at a camera shop, I heard about a resin called gutta-percha. It is not rubber from a rubber tree, but a resin from a tree called "something," and a famous German camera maker put it on his camera. The tree is found in China and other countries, and its bark is said to be used to make a healthy tea. I wondered if that tree produced white sap for the tea we drink in this village. So I decided to check it out. Then, Hannah was the one who knew more about it. "Hannah, let''s go pick tea leaves. she says, "Yes! she would answer immediately. So they took a small basket and went into the forest. "There it is, this tree! The villagers call it the tea tree. "Okay, let''s pick the young leaves and pick them." "Yes." A tree that grows abundantly in a corner of the forest. When you tear off a leaf, it makes a sticky string. This is the raw material for rubber. Having learned the characteristics of the trees, Jin went back to the forest again, this time alone, after gathering leaves for tea. "I don''t want to over-gather and let it die," he said. He scratched the trees here and there, and tied plates to catch the sap that would seep out, so as not to destroy the environment. "All right, if we wait until tomorrow, we''ll have quite a lot of sap. I try to imitate a rubber tree sap collector I saw on TV or something. While the sap is accumulating, I go back to work on the bearing. "What are you going to do next time, my dear?" Hanna is amused by Jin''s recent attempts to create various things with magic. "Well, watch and see. ...... transforming (forming)." "Wow, that''s interesting!" A lump of iron is transformed into a sphere in an instant. There are several dozen of the same size, down to the micron. This is the kind of precision processing that only a magical engineer, a magecraft master, could perform. Carburizing A magic to make iron contain carbon, Jin''s original. By this process, the mere iron is transformed into strong steel. In the same way, the outer ring, inner ring, and ball retainer are made and assembled to complete the ball bearing. Since they have been hardened (hardening), their durability is unquestionable. "What''s this?" The finished product was something that Hanna did not understand, so she looked bored and went out to help prepare dinner. Jin smiled and prepared a wheel and a shaft of the right thickness for the bearing. The day ended with the conversion of Hanna''s water cart to a wheeled cart with bearings. The next morning, Hanna came back from fetching water, "Did you do something to my cart? "You know what I was making yesterday? I put it on. Jin said, "It''s been moving very lightly, so I thought it was you who had become so powerful," said Jin. He looked at Jin with a disappointed but happy face. "Well, what about the natural rubber? After breakfast, Jin went to the forest to see how the sap was accumulated. "Oh, there''s a lot of sap. The plate that Jin had put on was almost full, so he put it in the bucket he had prepared and continued to collect the sap. "Well, next is vulcanization. 22 - 01-09 Is Hannah strong? In September, when it was still hot, Roland arrived. When Roland and Eric saw the stove, Roland said, "I''m tired of ...... being surprised." "If Jin-san told me he was the chief kingdom magician in King''s Landing, I''d believe it. They bought the stove manufacturing method from Jin and also agreed to purchase the magic stone from him. Now the village of Kaina had another means of obtaining foreign currency after flour. "And now..." When Hitoshi started to say something more, he looked at me tiredly as if he still had something to say, I was wondering if you could show me your carriage or cart, Mr. Roland. Roland looked at me suspiciously. "A cart?And why?" It was a natural question. "I was wondering if it would be possible to move the cart more lightly. Jin said what he was thinking, Roland says, "If you reduce the weight, of course it will be lighter, but then you will be able to carry less goods and make less profit. Roland says. But that is not what Jin meant. "No, no, that''s not what I mean," Roland explains, "I mean that we have to modify the wheels so that they turn more lightly. But neither of them seemed to understand what he meant, so Jin took them to Martha''s house to prove his point. "Huh?What''s going on with you, Onii-chan and Uncle Oji-chan?" Martha was not home, but Hannah was, so Jin thought it was a good idea, "Yes, I just wanted to show you Hannah''s caravan," he told her. He said to Hannah, "Yes, I thought I''d show you Hannah''s car. "My cart?Yes, that''s fine. I''ll bring it right back! With that Hannah went to the barn and came back with the cart in tow. Pulling it with one hand and running. Roland and Eric were surprised to see her. "What an amazing view. ......" "Oh, he''s so powerful for such a little guy." Both men''s faces scrunch up a bit, but Jin laughs, "Well, why don''t you try pulling it yourself?" I let Hannah pull the cart. "What is it, this lightness?What is this lightness? She seemed to notice the difference immediately. I explained the bearings and their effects. And if you show them a wheel spinning in the air and see that it keeps spinning for a long time..., I finally understood what ...... Jin meant. So, you would be willing to equip our carts with this as well?" "Yes. Yes. "Yes, we would like that very much. So we had the cart brought in and the wheels, axles, and bearings were replaced. He also added rubber tires. "Um, Mr. Jin, what is that attached to this wheel? "Oh, they are rubber tires. "Rubber tires? "Well, try it out." Roland and Eric are placed on an empty cart, and Jin shows them how it works. The effect of the ball bearings was amazing, and even Jin, who was not very strong, was able to pull the cart with ease. The rubber tires also improve the comfort of the ride. Hannah, who was watching the demonstration, looked pleased and said, "Let me try it, too! Hannah, who was watching, said happily, so I took her place, "I''m strong!" she said. She was happily pulling the cart with the two of them on it. "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah ......" Roland and Eric are in full retreat. Well, that''s the effect of the bearings. After such a scene, they finally understood that the bearings made the car lighter and the rubber tires improved the ride quality. "Well, Mr. Jin, this modification is amazing. Are you sure you don''t need the money?" "Yes, but in exchange, we would like you to come to our village more often. Hearing this, Roland turned into a merchant, "I see, so you are making an up-front investment for that purpose. Roland understood Jin''s intention correctly. "Yes, well," he said. "Yes, well," he said, "but the performance is satisfactory, and if the stove sells well, we will need to purchase the magic stone. Okay, it may not be possible to suddenly increase to once a month, but I will make an effort to come twice every three months. Jin was relieved to hear that he had achieved his initial goal. But this time, Roland asked, "By the way, Mr. Jin, that round thing over there that the children are playing with, is that ...... too? Jin looked in the direction to which Roland pointed. There were children throwing dodgeballs at each other. Yes, that''s right. It''s called a ball, and it''s made of the same material as a tire. "Well, can''t you sell this to us, too? "Ah, ah, that''s fine." We were looking for a use for the tea trees in the forest, since we found that they yielded quite a lot of resin. That''s why we decided to sell rubber balls. Since it is too difficult to explain the manufacturing process, we only show the rubber ball as a product this time. At first, we sold 50 each of baseballs, clues, and dodge balls. After all the negotiations were over, Eric started to get nervous. Jin somehow guessed the reason, "It''s cooler if we go to the Erme River, let''s go together. Let''s go to the Ermee River together. Unable to refuse, Eric and Jin headed for the river, but when they arrived at the river, his face was colored with joy. When they arrived at the river, his face lit up with joy, because there was Barbara in a bathing suit with a float in the river. "Jin-san, what is that thing she is holding on to? "Oh, that''s a floatation ring. Even if you can''t swim, you can stay afloat if you wear it. Barbara, who had overheard their conversation, spotted Eric and waved to him. Eric looked like he wanted to get in the water right away, but he did not have a bathing suit. Then Jin said, "Eric, if you want to swim, there is a hut over there. He then pulls out a new bathing suit that he had secretly brought and hands it to Jin. I had prepared this for him. "Oh, thank you!" Eric snatched it up and dashed to the changing hut. Eric and Barbara swam until the sun went down. It is a side story that Eric was chastised for not helping to organize the merchandise and Barbara was chastised for playing around without taking care of the housework. It was one of those days when summer was almost over. 23 - 01-10 Tax collector is coming. It''s October, and the autumn wheat is beginning to sprout. "I wonder if they''ll be here soon. Martha says. Jin overhears this. "What do you mean, coming?" The tax collector. The tax collector? Ah, so there are taxes in this world, Jin thinks. The word "tax collector" made him imagine a fat and greasy middle-aged man. Or else a skinny, money-obsessed middle-aged man. Once, a tax collector came to Nido Orphanage where Jin was. Well, he didn''t hide anything or evade taxes, so he left immediately. "How much have they taken from us?" Martha nodded her head, "Well, last year, I think, with wheat ......". From what Martha said, Jin understood that it was about 5 tons. If the consumption of this village is about 10 to 15 tons per year, the tax is 2 to 1 or 3 to 1. That might be a little light as a tax. "Is there a fixed tax?" I asked him, "Yes, it seems to be based on the number of households. It is said that this is because it takes too much time and effort to collect taxes by checking the yield of each harvest. In the Edo period, when land inspection was conducted, this method of tax collection was not implemented until after the Kyoho Reforms. This may be a good thing, since it is difficult for the government to make a budget if tax revenues change according to the harvest. However, there were times when the government could not pay the tax due to bad harvests, and in such cases, the tax could be reduced by a tax exemption. "We come here to find out if we can pay or not, and also to decide next year''s tax. "I see, and what about transporting them?" The tax collector escorts them to the village of Toka. The tax collector will escort them to the village of Toka, where a government official will pick them up. It seems that the tax collector does not come to this remote area to collect the tax. "I see." Jin decided to ask the question that had been on his mind for a long time. "By the way, I''ve been wondering, isn''t there any danger on the road that takes two or three days?Beasts, bandits, etc.?" "Thieves, huh? I''ve never heard of such things since I was born. I guess they don''t make much money in the middle of nowhere, do they? Well, that''s true. ...... "And the beasts, well, there are beasts. The dangerous ones are the wolves. But these wolves are small, so there''s no danger unless they attack in packs. Besides, they all wear bells to keep the beasts away. I didn''t know they had such a thing. Jin wondered if it might be a magical tool. After all, Jin knew that it was a bell to ward off , not . Well, as it turned out, the bell was a degraded version of the bell that repelled <>. It was two days after that story. "Ah, here we are at last! A traveler came to the village of Kaina. She looks like a woman. She wore a breastplate on her petite body, a short sword on her hip, and mounted on a horse, looking like a person of rank. Yes, she was the tax collector in charge of the village of Kaina. As she walked her horse, she asked the villagers who were there. "Excuse me, I have to ask you, are you sure this is the village of Kaina? "Yes, it is. The answer was Jin. He had just returned from collecting natural rubber sap. "Oh, thank goodness. I thought I had come to the wrong village. "Excuse me, who are you?My name is Jin from this village. Jin asked the woman on the horse, who was moved to tears. "Oh, excuse me. My name is Licia, a tax collector who has been assigned to the village of Kaina this year. Jin felt his image of a tax collector crumbling noisily in his mind, but he did not show it, "Oh, that''s very kind of you. You said, "Starting this year," didn''t you? Then you must not be familiar with the land. Would you like me to show you the way to the village headman''s house? That would be very helpful. I''d be very grateful. Jin asked with all his might. Laughing, he stands first and leads the way to the village headman''s house. On the way, Licia asks me a question. "Oh, um, how are the wheat crops doing this year?" "Oh, you should ask the village headman you are going to see about that kind of thing. "Yes, that''s true." Jin looked at the woman on the horse again. She is small and has a childish face. Light brown hair and eyes the same color as hers. She does not look mature enough to be an adult. "Excuse me, Miss Licia, but how old are you?" "Uh, um, I''m 15 years old!Is that funny?" Jin laughed, "I don''t know what you think is funny, but you just look so unfamiliar to me. "Oh, yes, this was my first job in the service of the kingdom! "Your first job in the service of the Kingdom. That must be nerve-wracking. But you should relax a little more. Yes, thank you. ...... I bit. Jin recalled a similar nervousness of a child at the orphanage who was preparing for the high school entrance examination. "Wow, my family is the new nobility, so we''re not used to this kind of thing." "New nobility?New nobility? Jin was so unfamiliar with the word that he couldn''t help but ask back. "Don''t you know about this?Since the previous king had purged the nobility of bad nobles, wealthy commoners or soldiers who had made good deeds were made baronets or knights to fill the vacancies. I''ve never heard of this before. I''ve never heard of it before." "That''s right. I don''t think it''s right to talk about such things to a man I don''t even know, but Jin, who has no intention of spreading the word, listens in silence. Perhaps because of this, Licia became less tense and her speech became less forceful. "My father was made a knight (ritter) because of his merits during the border war with the southern countries. I, his daughter, am doing this job because I too could be made a knight ritter for my merits. "Oh, it''s a lot of work, isn''t it? He reminded Jin of the fact that power is a complicated thing. "Oh, this is the village headman''s house. While they were talking, they arrived at the village headman''s house in the small village. "Oh, thank you, Mr. Jin. "No, I''ll leave you to it." With these words, Jin returned to Martha''s house, carrying a tub of natural rubber. "I''m home. "Welcome home, Jin-baby. Have you been gathering food again? Hannah greeted him. She was looking forward to seeing the various things Jin would make with rubber. By the way, I put elastic in the pants too, so it''s easier to wear. "Oh, welcome back, Jin." Martha also greeted him. Jin said to Martha, "I just met the tax collector and he took me to the village headman''s house. Martha nodded her head, Martha nodded her head and said, "What?Martha said, "I''m sure he knows this village very well. I thought she would say so. Jin thought that was what she would say, He said, "Well, I heard that a new person had been appointed this year. The new person was a 15-year-old girl. She said she was a new noblewoman. "Oh, I see. Well, that doesn''t make any sense. With a snap the hem of her jacket was pulled down and she looked at Hannah with a slightly bloated face, "Is she a little bit of a virgin?" "What?" "Was she a human being, so you asked her to help?" Jin was at a loss for an answer, "No, she wasn''t. It''s true that she was cute, but ......! Hannah pinched him. "If someone is in trouble, you have to help them, don''t you?That''s why." "Yes, Hannah, if someone is in trouble, you have to help them, too," said Martha. Martha also offered her help, so I immediately said, "I''ll help you, too, Martha, I''m only here because Martha helped me. When I said this, Hannah finally agreed and let go of my hand. 24 - 01-11 Ricia Far Height Licia Faalheit is the eldest daughter of the Faalheit family. Her father, Niklas Faalheit, served for many years as the chief of soldiers in the Kingdom of Klein, and was knighted as a Ritter for his efforts in resolving a dispute on the border with the Kingdom of Selroa to the south without any casualties. Originally, knighthood (ritter) was an honorary title for one generation only, but since the number of nobles was insufficient in the Kingdom of Klein, as a special exception, the same title was given to his children if they also achieved success. "Ah, it''s not easy being a noble, after all. ......" A sigh escaped from Licia''s mouth. She had been educated as a noblewoman since she was over 10 years old, so her consciousness as a commoner had already taken root in her mind. The door opened and the village headman appeared, "Well, well, you must be the new tax collector. I am the village head, Mr. Giebeck. I look forward to working with you. He greeted them. Licia dismounted from her horse and answered, My name is Licia Faarheit, and I am in charge of the Kaina village area from this year. It is a pleasure to meet you. "Well, well, first of all, please make yourself at home. Licia was urged by the village head to tie her horse to the stables and entered the headman''s house. As she sat down at the table, her niece Barbara came in with a cup of tea. Licia was thirsty and drank it in one gulp. Barbara immediately put in a second cup. This time Licia drank a little at a time. As soon as she took a sip, "Well, then, Mr. Mayor, how is the crop this year? and set to work. The mayor is a serious man, I thought, "Well, I guess it''s about the same as a normal year. "Then, you will pay the tax we decided on last year, won''t you? "Yes, that will be fine. This is all about this year''s tax payment. Now let''s see the village and the fields. "Oh, you''re just getting started?" Licia raised her eyebrows when she heard this, "Is there something wrong with that?" She is trying to appear dignified as best she can, but the fact that she is biting is no longer good enough. "No, Mr. Farheit, I thought you might be tired. In the past, he did nothing on the day of his arrival, but made his rounds the next day. "I see. But I am me. Please show me the way. "Yes, I will." So the chief showed him around the village and the fields. "Here is the wheat field. The autumn wheat has already sprouted. It seems to be doing well. And the other crop fields. "I see that you are also harvesting vegetables." And finally, the warehouse. "Hmmm, with this much wheat, we should be able to survive the winter even if we have to pay taxes." Yes, I''m sure that will be fine. I''m relieved. Can you start tomorrow? "Oh, from tomorrow?I can do that, but aren''t you tired, Mr. Fallheit? The village head asks Licia, who is looking somewhat tired, "Don''t worry. This is my role." She smiled a little too hard, and a ball rolled at her feet. "What?What''s this?" Licia picked up the ball, "Oh, thank you, girl! That''s my ball! She said to Kurt who came running to her, "Here, take it." She handed the ball to him, but his eyes were glued to the ball rather than to Kurt. "Mr. Farheit?" The village chief, who was suspicious of Licia, called out to her, "......Mr. Village head, what is that round thing the girl was playing with?" "Oh, is it a ball?" A ball? Yes, it''s a plaything that Jin made for me. When you say Jin, you mean the one from ......? Yes, he is the one who just escorted Mr. Fahlheit to our house. He''s the one with the ball? Yes, he was not originally from this village, but wandered into our village in the spring. He seems to be a magecraftsman from a distant land and has done a lot for the village. "He is?A magecraftsman? Yes. "Is that so? ......" Licia, a little interested in Jin . "I believe a merchant named Roland is dealing in his work." "Roland? I''ve heard of him. I think there was a merchant by that name in the Raglan Trading Company, which has been growing recently. Maybe that''s him. I see. I''ll check it out when I get back to King''s Landing. With that, the matter of the ball was settled, and the two left the field and returned to the village. "Mr. Mayor, that''s the pump, isn''t it?" On the way back to the village, Licia stopped at the well pump. "Yes, that''s right. Jin made that one too." "!!!!" Licia was surprised again. This pump is now spreading at an astonishing speed, not only in King''s Landing, but also in the surrounding villages. This is the driving force behind the rapid growth of the Raglan Trading Company, but I had no idea that it was made in this village. What''s more, a magician from a foreign country named Jin (Magi) is also a member of this group. I had never realized that they were made by an exotic magical craftsman (magi craftsman) named Jin. Licia was becoming more and more interested in djinn. "Well, please take a break from your work today and relax. With these words, the chief takes Licia to a hot spring. His niece Barbara was already waiting there. What is this place, Mr. Mayor? "This is a hot spring." Hot spring? "Well, you can take a bath. Barbara, take care of the rest. Yes, Uncle. The mayor left Barbara in charge of Licia and went back to his house. "Come this way, Mr. Fahlheit." He invited her into the dressing room and asked her to take off her clothes, "Why are you undressing? Licia''s reaction was quite natural, as she had no idea what was going on. Barbara laughed, "I''m sorry I didn''t explain myself better. This is a hot spring, you know, with warm water. The villagers come here to soak in the hot water and relieve themselves. Is it different from a bath? Yes, the water here comes from underground. According to Mr. Jin, there is a mass of heat under the mountain of death, and the underground water that touches it is heated and turned into hot water, but I honestly don''t understand it. "Is this Jin-san''s story, too?" Yes. He is the benefactor of this village. From that point on, we talked while soaking in the hot water. "Oh, this feels so good. Licia finally relaxed and stretched out in the hot water with Barbara. "Isn''t it?" The tax collector is bathing now, so the villagers are quiet, except for Barbara, who is shut out. The two of them lie down in the hot water and relax with their heads on the edge of the tub. They look a little like old men. "......" "Mr. Farheit?" Licia gazes enviously at the two bulges on Barbara''s chest as she stretches out next to her, but then changes her mind and says she has more important things to worry about right now, "Where in the world did you come from, Jin-san?" I asked, "Well, I heard that you were caught in an outburst of an ancient relic (artifact) and were sent to this place. He said that his country is Japan. Do you know it? "Nihon, no, I have never heard of it. I''m not familiar with the geography of this continent. Licia tells Barbara that she is a new noble and that this is her first job as a tax collector. 16 and 15 years old, they are only one year older than each other. They became good friends through their nakedness. 25 - 01-12 Transportation The next morning, the men of the village gathered in front of the chief''s house. They were carrying wheat, the tax, to the village of Toka. "Well then, please take care of it!" Locke, the leader of the men, said, "Oh, leave it to me. This time we only have to do it once, so it will be easier. Yes, we are going to use the wheeled cart that Jin has built to carry them in one trip. Until now, they had to be carried by horseback or on horseback, which required several round trips between the villages of Kaina and Toka, which was not an easy task. This time, however, they used 12 carts to carry about 5 tons of wheat in a single trip. Moreover, it is a gentle descent to Toka village, so it should be very easy to get there and back, even though it is an ascent, since the village will be empty on the way back. "Do you have food and water?" "Yes. And you didn''t forget anything? You take care. Dad, have a good trip. Okay. He waves to his wife and children to see him off, and then he''s on his way. "Okay, ......, Mr. Tax Collector, we''re ready to go." Locke calls out to Licia, who says, "Then we''re off!" The group started to move out with the cart in tow. "Bye, Jin! Jin had joined the group. He wanted to take this opportunity to see the outside of the village of Kaina. Licia leads the group on horseback. She looks back from time to time to make sure they are following her. Licia is followed by Locke and Jin. Because of the narrowness of the road, they are moving forward in single file. After crossing the Herme River and crossing a small pass, the road continues gently downhill for the rest of the day. "It''s so much easier going downhill..." was Jin''s true feeling. This was Jin''s true feeling. Although all the backpacks are equipped with bearings, they still get tired. Licia was hoping to have more time to talk with Jin during the transportation. After three hours of driving, they found a clearing and a spring of water, so they took a break. "Ah, I''m tired after all," she said. "Ha-ha-ha, Jin is still weak. "I''m not as strong as you, Mr. Rock." Rock is over 6 feet tall and weighs 80 kilograms. Jin is 160 centimeters tall and weighs 52 kilograms. Physically speaking, he is no match for Jin. "Well, you know, but Jin can do things we can''t. I envy you more." "...... May I have a word?" Licia interrupted them. "Mr. Tax Collector, is something wrong?" Locke asked, "No, no, just let me forget about work during my break," says Licia. Licia says. She continues, "Mr. Jin, right, I heard you came from far away, is it true?" Yes, it is true. "I see. ....... You also made this RIYAKARU, didn''t you? Yes, I did. "Tax collector, this gin is amazing!He''s been making one thing after another to make life easier in the village!My son is happy!" Locke said, and the other men who were resting around him started to talk, "Yes, I know!My wife''s skin is so soft and smooth since she started soaking in those hot springs. "Your wife''s skin is beautiful, isn''t it? "What do you mean?You repeated it twice." The men were in a lively mood. But Licia seemed to be interested only in Jin, "So, Jin-san, you are a magecraftsman, right?" "Yes, well, I suppose so." "Oh, um, so you''ll be living in Kaina village for the rest of your life?" "......" Jin could not answer that question immediately. But, "Well, we can''t keep such a talented guy in the village forever, can we?" Locke said. "Besides, I''m sure Jin would like to go back to his hometown. Licia heard this and said, "Uh, Jin-san''s hometown is in a country called Japan?" "How did you know ...... Oh, you asked Barbara, didn''t you?" "Yes, yes. Barbara told me about it at the hot springs. Those hot springs are so nice!It made my skin so smooth!" "Ha, that''s good to hear. ...... So, Mr. Tax Collector, have you ever heard of this <>?" "...... Lycia." "What?" "I told you my name yesterday. My name is Licia. But I''m in the middle of my official work. ...... No problem!Please don''t call me "tax collector", call me "Licia"! She insisted that everyone call her Ms. Licia. "So, Licia-san, do you know the name Nihon?" "No, I''m sorry, I don''t know. "I see." Well, since it was a different world, it would be strange for her to know about it, so Jin was not so discouraged. However, Licia seemed to think that Jin was overreacting when she saw him like that, "Well, Jin-san, I didn''t know about this, but there might be someone in Wangdu who knows about it!I''ll ask my acquaintances when I get back, so please don''t give up hope! I''ll ask my acquaintances when I get back, so don''t give up hope! Jin said, "Oh, thank you very much. Jin could only reply, "Oh, thank you. The group started walking again. After crossing a small pass and a long descent, they arrived at the campsite at sunset. There was a simple hut that could be used by anyone traveling between the villages of Toka and Kaina. "Well, we managed to get there before it got dark. Rock breathed a sigh of relief. It would be dangerous once it was dark. It was worth the early morning walk on this short autumn day. I hurry to prepare dinner. We put out the stove and pots we had brought in the cart along with the barley. Some cook porridge, some roast dried meat, and some boil water. Each person is assigned a task and prepares it quickly. Licia looks at the stove, "Don''t tell me this stove is also ......?" "Oh, Jin made it for me." She said, "Oh, I knew it. I won''t be surprised if anything else comes out. He let out a sigh. After the meal, there was nothing more to do, so they took out their blankets and made a bed for each of them. Then, just to be safe, we decided to take turns taking the night shift, and decided on the order. We decided to take turns taking a nap, just to make sure we didn''t doze off. First, we''ll go to ......." "I''ll do it." Licia said. "Yeah, but there''s a sign ...... that Licia doesn''t have to do it ......." Locke said, and Licia shook her head, "No, I''ve been riding the whole time and you''ve been pulling the carts. "Is that so?Well, let me guess, Jin, you''re the one. Okay. "Okay?" No, no, I got it. In two hours we''ll have Jonas and Linus, then Bill and Jeff. Then Dave and Howard, Rick and Tom, and finally me, Jan and Sulley. "All right. Okay, I''m going to bed. With that, they all wrapped themselves in blankets and started to sleep, leaving Jin and Licia alone. Jin and Licia wrapped the blankets around themselves and sat down on a bench by the entrance of the hut. The sky was already dark, and the moon was about to rise from the edge of the mountain in the east. The moon in this world is smaller than the moon on the earth. Therefore, no moonlight was expected. However, it is an important celestial body in that sense, since the time is measured by the movement of the moon. Jin and Licia sat in silence for a while, and then Licia began to speak in a few words. "I told you that my family is a new noble family, didn''t I? "Yes, yes. So I grew up as a commoner until I was 10 years old. But after my father was taken away by the knights (Ritter), my environment changed drastically, and to be honest, I''m still in a state of selflessness. "......" Jin can only listen in silence. "But the current prime minister is an honorable man, and he is trying to run a government for the benefit of the common people. Knowing that, I decided to become a knight (ritter), thinking that if I could, it would be for the good of the common people and the people. Licia''s story continues. But what do you mean by ''for the people''?If it is for the people, Jin-san is much better than me. Pumps, hot springs, backpackers, stoves. I thought this is the kind of work that will benefit the people." "......" "Jin-san, am I going to stay the way I am now ......?" 26 - 01-13 Attacks Licia''s sudden question made even Jin gasp in shock. However, he remembered what the director of the orphanage had once told him, A person is a creature that cannot live alone. So we all live with the help of others. "Yes, that''s right." Licia answered honestly. "We are all suited to different things. There are things we can do and things we can''t do. "Yes, I understand. "So, I think you should do what you can do. When Jin said this, Licia looked down, "...... what I can do. She mutters. Jin said, "I am not a nobleman, and I am not interested in politics. But you are, aren''t you? "What?" "I don''t like the idea of a person who doesn''t question what he is doing being in charge. Licia fell silent. She seemed to be thinking about what she had been told. Jin said nothing more and looked at the stars and the moon. After confirming that the moon had been moving for about two hours, they went to the hut to take turns. The men were in the big room and Licia was in a separate room. Jin wakes up Jonas and Linus, who are asleep and snoring in the big room. "N......, you want to take over?" "Yes, please." "Yes, please." "Okay." Jin takes over and lies down. He was tired from the daytime and immediately fell asleep. Licia, on the other hand, had a hard time falling asleep. She was thinking about what Jin had told her. What can I do? I guess finding out what it is will be my immediate task. ......" * * * * The next morning was unusually cloudy. After breakfast in the dim light, the group left early. We walked through the forest, crossed a bridge over a creek, and walked through a meadow. "At this rate, we should reach Toka village before nightfall. I hope so. The cart rumbles onward. We had lunch on schedule, so we had about 15 kilometers to go, or about four hours. The terrain around us was getting rocky. After passing through this rocky area, we could see the village of Toka. Rock cheered the group up. We''re almost there, just hang on. And then... "Whoa! screamed Yang, who was in the last row. "What''s going on? "Whoa, whoa, what the hell is that?" When he turned around, he saw something oddly shaped approaching from behind. "Is that a golem?" Licia muttered. "A golem?That thing?" It was a two-meter tall humanoid figure wearing iron armor all over its body. It''s pretty tough. "Oh, there''s one over here!" Rock''s voice. The same golem was approaching from the front. "Are they after the wheat?d*mn it, you guys, take it easy! The barley is precious to him, but there is no way he can defeat the golem in armor, and Locke''s plaintive cry echoes through the air. I won''t let you! Licia, you can''t! Licia, the only one with a sword, drew her shortsword and dismounted from her frightened horse, heading toward the golem that had come from ahead. "Don''t worry, I''m still learning swordsmanship!Ah!" Licia lowered her stance and slashed at the golem''s legs. But.., "No way. ......" The shortsword bent askew, not cutting through the golem''s leg. "That''s what I''m telling you!Get back!" Jin shouts as he rushes toward it, "No!I may be an apprentice, but I am a knight!A knight (Ritter) protects everyone! "Watch out!" What? The golem''s fist was aimed at Licia. Jin is a Magecraft Meister. The Magecraft Meister is actually incapable of offensive magic. At best, his healing magic can heal cuts and grazes sustained in the course of his work. For this reason, he has been given an aptitude for creative magic. And there is the added bonus of not being able to affect things that have not been touched. However, "cannot use offensive magic" does not necessarily mean "cannot attack. A chainsaw is a machine to cut down trees, but it can cut not only trees. Well, that''s what it means. Jin grabs the leather water bag at his waist, "d*mn!Just in time!Water jet!" "Ow!" Licia''s head was hit with a dull thud. It''s over, she thought to herself. But then she saw the golem''s arm roll down in front of her with a metallic sound, "Oh my God, ......?" Fearfully, she looked up and saw the lower half of the golem. The upper body had fallen to the other side. It seemed that its arms had been torn off together, and its right arm was missing from the elbow. His right arm was lying in front of him, and he understood that the dull impact he had felt earlier had been caused by the collision. "Yes, yes, another one! Remembering that a golem had attacked him from behind as well, he stood up and looked in that direction. Jin was just about to cut through the golem with his water jet. "No way. ......" I had never seen such magic. It seems to be a water-based magic, but the only water-based attack magic I know of is the water stream or the water ball. Both of these magic methods can only be used when there is an abundance of water nearby. "Licia, are you okay?" Jin rushes over to her after confirming that the golem no longer appears. "Yes, yes. I think I might have a bump on my head. The golem''s arm pats him on the head where it hit him. "Oh, I''m sorry. I''m a little late. Jin-san, what was that magic? What is that magic?Is it a water jet?That''s engineering magic (craft magic) to process stone and iron? "What?It has such a great power of attack?" Licia was surprised, "Let''s talk about that later. Licia, can you use healing magic? Jan, who was at the very back of the group, had been hit by the golem and had broken his arm. "Oh, I''m fine. ......<>" Licia rushes to Yang, puts her palm on his broken arm, and casts a spell. A pale light illuminated the affected area, and the swelling in the arm went down. "Oh!Amazing!" The men who were watching were also impressed. "Thank you, Miss Licia." Jan, then Locke thanked her. "No, it''s my duty." Licia laughed and tended to the bump on her head. 27 - 01-14 Gon of Golem "So this is the Golem. ......" How in the world did a Golem end up here? Jin is examining the Golem he has defeated. The men in the village are now relaxed after the threat of the Golem, and are resting in their slumped bodies. Licia, on the other hand, is standing by Jin''s side, examining the golem with him. "I can''t help but think that someone sent it. Licia makes a guess. "What for?" "Come on ......, it''s ......." Originally, golems are autonomous enough to perform simple commands. That''s why it''s difficult to find out who sent it, since it doesn''t need the magician to be near it. Well, if we can''t find out who did it... What do we do? If there''s something we can use, we''ll use it. Jin now examines the structure of the golem. "It''s really a crude construction..." He dismisses it with a single blow. Hearing this, Licia says "What?A golem is an advanced magic doll in its own right, you know? "Even so, its body is just stone, and its armor is just iron. The nucleus is a small magecrystal, and it doesn''t even have an ether converter, so it uses a mana tank. I can only think of it as a disposable golem." "What? Licia, too, had attended a decent school after becoming a semi-noble and thought she had a fairly advanced knowledge of this world, but everything Jin said was far above and beyond that. "I think if I play around with it a little, I''ll be able to use it to a certain extent. For now, it''s Niko-ichi. Muttering this, Jin lined up the two golems ...... but gave up because they were too heavy, and went back and forth to gather the necessary parts. By this time, the men had begun to watch with amusement as Jin did his thing. "This one is a little bigger than the other one, so we''ll use this one as the core and this one as the mana driver," he said. "What a complicated thing to do. Hey Jin, how much longer is this going to take?I''d like to leave soon. Rock called out to Jin, who seemed to be enjoying himself indefinitely if left alone. "Oh, we''re almost there, sir. Jin said, not stopping his hand. "And so," he said, holding his arms together. " The golem returns to its original form. "And then . Wake up, Golem. The Golem woke up in response to his voice. "Whoa, whoa! Rock and the others backed away in surprise. Licia also involuntarily clutched her bent sword. Jin laughed when he saw that, "Don''t worry. He only listens to me now." The golem basically obeys the master of the magic in its core. "But, Jin ......." Locke and the others looked worried even though he said that, "Don''t worry. Here." Jin pats the golem on the back, saying, "Are you sure you''re okay? "Are you sure you''re okay ......?" "You''re such a worrier. Golem, named <>. The naming was full of a lack of naming sense. But Jin himself didn''t seem to mind at all, "<>, tow this cart." The golem made a gesture of affirmation, then started to walk away with the cart in tow. "Let''s go." Jin said and started to lead the way. The men who had been watching in amazement followed in a hurry. Licia also mounted her horse and hurried after Jin. Two hours later, they arrived at the village of Toka. They managed to reach the village just in time for nightfall. "Oh, wow! What is that?" And of course, the villagers were astonished to see Gon, the golem. It was even more eerie now that it was getting dark. "Nooo, he''s going to attack our village!" A soldier stationed in Toka Village came forward with a sword. Licia stopped him. "Wait! This golem is our friend. Even though he was an apprentice knight, he was better than the average soldier. The soldier stops, startled, "Oh, is that so?......Yes, I understand." He listens obediently. Gon is not a violent man, and soon the villagers get used to his appearance. "Please bring the wheat here." Wheat is brought into the warehouse in Toka Village. Gon is the one doing the work. "Wow, that''s amazing." Golem, who is more than three times as powerful as a man, has single-handedly (?) carried the wheat that Jin and the others brought in to the warehouse. He carries the wheat that Jin and the others brought into the warehouse by himself (?). "Good work, Gon. Rest and recover your magic. If anyone tries to take the wheat, get rid of them. Gon stood upright in front of the warehouse and stopped moving as Jin gave the order. "Now we don''t need any guards." Jin said with a smile, and the people of Toka Village looked at him with indescribable expressions, "Who the hell is that guy?" "Was there ever a man like that in the village of Kaina?" and "Was there ever a man like that in the village of Kaina? Meanwhile, the men from the village of Kaina said, "Jin, you''re a real piece of work!" "That golem! "That golem, does he listen to anything you say? "He''s going to be very useful in the village!" The soldiers then turned to Licia and said, "Uh, Mister Tax Collector, what the hell is that golem ......" "Who is that young man? The three responses were very different. That day, Licia was staying at the kingdom soldiers'' quarters and Jin and the others at an inn in the village of Toka. After dinner, Jin was walking around Toka village when he saw Licia and called out to her. "Licia-san!" "Ah, Jin-san." "Are you still dressed like that?" Licia was wearing a breastplate and had a sword in her hand. Yes, I''m still on duty. "Well, that''s hard work, isn''t it? So, what are you doing? Jin asked, looking at the sword in his hand, "My sword was bent, so I went to a blacksmith, but he said he couldn''t fix it. "Which one?Can I see it?" Licia handed the bent sword to Jin. Jin looked at the sword, "Analyze. ...... ah, this one is a piece of wood. It''s not steel, it''s iron. "What?But the arms dealer where I bought it said it was a good sword. "You''ve been deceived, haven''t you?They thought that since she was a woman, she wouldn''t know the difference between good and bad, or else they thought the sword was just for decoration. "Oh no. ......" Licia nodded in shock. Jin saw this and kept his sword in his hand, "It can''t be helped. Forming. Carburizing. Heat treating. Hardening." The bent sword is straightened, carburized into steel, and hardened. "Yes, is that right?" "Yes, yes, yes?" Licia seemed to be at a loss to understand what Jin had done. "That''s why I fixed the sword. I don''t think it will break so easily this time, so please take good care of it. "Oh, thank you very much. ....... I didn''t know magecraftsmen could do such things. ......" Licia happily accepted the sword, "Jin-san, how can I thank you?" But Jin said, "I don''t need any thanks." "That''s not possible. There must be a price for my work. I know, why don''t you become the kingdom''s exclusive magecraftsman?I will recommend you. But Jin said, "No, I don''t think so." "Why not?" Licia gave him a doubtful look. "I don''t like the idea of working for someone else. I want to live freely and return home. In this case, the home is the institute. "I see... ...... but it''s a waste..." "That''s all right. So, could you please not report about me for a while? "What?What do you mean? You''re probably going to report that you were attacked by that golem, aren''t you? Yes, that''s my job. I want you to keep quiet about me then. I want you to keep quiet about me then, even if it means that Licia managed to fight them off. But then, I''ll have to go to ....... But Jin bowed his head, "Please. I still want to live quietly in the village of Kaina. Seeing Jin like this, Licia gave up, "I understand. But if you ever come to King''s Landing, please do not hesitate to visit my home. 28 - 01-15 Gen of Golem On the way back from Toka village, Gon, the golem, towed a cart with a cart on it, so that everyone had to do nothing but walk, "Well, Gon is quite an amazing man. Jin never ceases to amaze me." That''s what everyone, including Locke, was thinking. Needless to say, Jin loaded the other broken Golem (which Jin had destroyed) into the back of the car on the way home. Today, Jin was taking Gon to the mountain pass overlooking the Mountain of Death. The purpose was to look for the Magi Crystal, even if it is small. Of course, it is the material to repair the other golem. "I''m sure there should be some around here..." "Jin-chan, there are some pretty stones over there on the other side of the mountain..." Hannah said to Gon as she sat on his shoulder. At first Hannah was afraid of the golem, but when she saw that Gon was listening to Jin, she gradually got used to it, and now she was able to move around on its shoulders. "I see...let''s go." We followed Hannah''s advice and descended into the valley behind the Dead Mountain. Of course, there were no volcanic gases in the valley. As we descended the valley, we noticed that there were more and more colored stones. The texture of the stones is granite-like. Various minerals are produced in such places. But it would be dangerous to go too far down, "Okay, let''s look for them here. Searching underground (ground search)". They searched the area with search magic, and luckily found a magi-crystal in a relatively shallow place. "Gon, try digging here for a minute. He dropped Hannah from his shoulder, and Gon, the golem, began digging up the ground. The momentum of his digging was so great that an onomatopoeic "zugga-ga-ga" sound was appropriate, and in a few minutes a hole of about five meters in diameter opened up. "Wow, that''s amazing! Hannah rolled her eyes at the sight. Then she noticed something shining. "Hey, girl, something glittered!" "Okay, Gon, stop! ...... What is it? ...... Oh, it''s a white mica!" There was a huge white mica crystal. It was over one meter square. "This is something to ......Yes, it is! ......Gon, dig out what''s there." Gong immediately dug out the white mica. The crystals are clear and beautiful. "This is good, it''s going to be winter. Jin mutters to himself as he looks at the white mica. Hannah said, "Is this useful, honey?" "Yes, it will be useful. ......Good, that''s all we have. Gong, dig some more. Gon dug out all the mica and resumed digging. Within 50 centimeters of digging, yellow crystals appeared mixed in with the stones. "Oh?I got it!It''s a magi crystal of the earth attribute! "Pretty, isn''t it, girl?" Hannah said as she looked at the magi crystal. The clarity of the magecrystal is so high that it could be used to make jewelry. This is a very good quality. After digging up about five such magic crystals, Jin stopped Gong and prepared to go home. "Hannah, we''re walking back, are you okay?" "Yes!I''m fine! The magic crystal can be put in his pocket, but the white mica has become such a big baggage that Gon can''t afford to carry Hannah on his back. "..............." "Come on, Onii-chan, hurry!" "...... haa,fuh." But Jin was not as strong as Hannah. I''m not sure if this is a good thing or not. "What''s that?You''ve brought something unusual again. Martha looked at the mica and commented. "This is muscovite," she said. The name "moskovite" is said to be derived from . Jin remembered that he had read in a book on minerals that if you used this as a substitute for glass, it would be light, hard to break, and would not be damaged by shards. The transparency of this material is lower than that of glass, though. "Put this in the window frame like this," he said. He put the mica in the window frame made of wood, and then he put it in the window again. "How do you like it?" I put it in the kitchen window and asked Martha what she thought. "Wow, I can see outside and the wind doesn''t come in. That''s great!That''s great for the coming winter!" So, the next day, he put the white mica in all the windows of the house. Of course, the windows can be opened and closed. "It''s bright and keeps the warmth in. It saves wood. Thank you, Jin. You''re welcome. It''s so warm. The sun warms the room so much that Hannah begins to doze off in her bed. "Okay, this way next time." Since most of the mica is gone, it will be a little while before the windows of the village are covered with mica. So Jin decides to regenerate the other golem first. "Shall we use three yellow magi crystals? One is an ether converter, one is a mana driver, and the other is a control core. Each of them is programmed with a magical language to be used exclusively for that particular core. At this point, the specifications are not only ordinary, but even exceed those of a top-grade golem, but Jin is neither aware nor self-conscious of this, just as he was when he repaired the automata before. "Okay, it''s done. I''ve made the control core conditionally intelligent, and I haven''t forgotten about it. Come on, Gon." Gon does not have an ether converter, so he uses one of the two remaining magi crystals. The last one is the control core. The original control core is of poor quality, so I will take it out and use it for something else. In addition, I tuned up the control core and gave both of them the same ability. Now I have two extraordinary golems. Now let''s do it all at once. Knowledge transfer (transinfo). ...... this time it''s only a partial transcription, so it didn''t matter." "What are you doing, little girl?" Just then, Hannah woke up from her nap and came in. "Hey, are there two Gon?" Hannah said as she saw the two Golems lying side by side. "Hannah, this one is Gon, but this one is not Gon. "Really?" So Jin decided to change the color of the golem''s exterior. Both golems wear light armor for battle, but Gon''s armor is blue. The image is that of a bronze knight (though his armor is made of iron). The other one is silver. "Wow, they''re beautiful!" "Hannah, this blue one''s Gon. Gon! Gon gets up and turns to Jin and says the words of obedience. "Yes, master." Gon speaks! Hannah is surprised. But.., Gon, this is Hannah. Her instructions come first after mine. Ryokaidesu... Okay. ...... Hannah, Gon listens to Hannah too. Really?That''s great!" Hannah is honestly happy. Jin continues to activate the other one. "Named <>. ...... you are <>." "Yes, Master." Gongen. He thinks of it as Gongen. No one commented on Jin''s naming sense. "Hannah, this is Gen. Gen, this is Hannah. Her orders come second only to mine. Ryoukaidesu. And so, two guardians were born in the village of Kaina that day. With the help of the two Guardians, Jin installed mica windows in all the houses in the village over a period of three days. 29 - 01-16 Collection Okay, I''ll see you later. Take care. "Onii-chan ......" Jin has learned that magi crystals can be found in the mountains deep inside the village of Kaina, so he decides to go out for a serious collecting trip. Hannah stays at home because of the danger. Rock accompanies her. "Bye, Tomo, have a good trip." Don''t hurt Jin! "I don''t care if I get hurt. ...... Locke is the father of Mario, a good swimmer. He asked him to show him the way since it was off-season. He leaves Gon in the village and takes Gen on a hunting trip. Locke has brought his favorite bow and arrow. "But, Jin is a magecraftsman, right?That''s amazing." Rock mutters to himself as he watches Gen walking with his large pack. "I once went to King''s Landing to become a knight, but after less than two years I woke up from my dream and came back to the village. "Is that so?" "I see. So I know a little about life in King''s Landing, but I''ve never seen magic tools like the ones Jin made, and I''ve never seen a talking golem like Gon or Gen. "Ah, ha-ha-ha." "Well, you''re going to have to leave the village sooner or later. That''s for your own good. But it would be nice if you''d drop by the village once in a while." Jin looks as if he has seen something unusual as Locke speaks with such sincerity. "Why, why, what''s that look?" "Well, I was just thinking that you are a surprisingly considerate person, Mr. Locke. "That may sound like a compliment, but it''s not." Locke says, but his eyes are still smiling. "The people of Kaina Village are all good people. Of course, Mr. Locke..." "Of course, Mr. Locke," he says, "but that''s okay. So you''re going down into that valley at ......?" The valley from the pass we came to. The valley where Hannah and I came from the other day. "Yes. "Yes. Last time we went down a little bit, but this time we thought we would go further down. We had prepared a camp for the night. I gave it to Gen to carry. "Okay, let''s go down." So the two of us and one of our companions carefully made our way down the valley. If there was a waterfall, we went around it, and Gen took care of the bushes. When it was well past noon, we arrived at an open area. "Let''s camp here." Such a decision could only be made by Rock. We prepared to set up camp as he told us. "First, we need to move the rocks and flatten them out. Gen, help me." "Yes." I let Gen help, and soon the ground was level. Then they put up a pillar and supported it with string so that it would not fall down. A beam was placed on its side, and a large piece of cloth was placed over the beam. The ground is first covered with cloth, then with furs, and a bed is made. "Thanks to Gen''s presence, we were able to bring all this stuff with us. It is so comfortable that it is hard to believe that we are only two people in the tent. "All right, I''ll get ready for dinner, and you go look for something. "Okay, then." Jin leaves the preparation of the meal to Locke and begins to search for the ore. "Ground Search". After using the ground search magic here and there for a while, a big reaction appeared. "There it is!" Jin shouts out, and Locke comes over to him. "Oh, it looks like you found it. "Yes, I did. Then, Gen, dig here. "Ryokaidesu." Jin tells Gen to dig a hole in the ground. Gen digs a hole with great vigor. "Wow, this is great! The hole gradually became deeper and deeper. Gen stopped after about 3 meters. After about 3 meters, he stopped. Then, he brought out a big black rock. "What is it?What''s that? It''s not a nice looking rock, is it? "It''s iron ore. We are running out of iron and copper for the village, so we need this. Keep digging, Gen. "Yes, sir." The last time Gon and I came here, the golem itself could not identify rocks because it had not yet been improved, but now it is different. Jin has given it limited knowledge, and it is now able to independently search for the materials it needs to some extent, except for special items. Piles and piles of magnetite. Sometimes, brass ore is mixed in. A rock, "Gold? but he was disappointed when Jin explained it to him. We worked until late in the evening and were able to mine a considerable amount of ore. We sorted and stacked the ore. Gon and Gen will come back later to pick it up. "So you didn''t find what you were looking for the most?" Locke asks over dinner. "Yeah, I guess I''ll see you tomorrow. The night comes early in the valley. After dinner, we do nothing but rest, leaving Gen to keep watch. Tired from the walk, we both fell asleep soon after. The next morning, after breakfast, Jin again uses the ground search to find a vein of magi crystals. Further down from the camp, he finally received a response. "Okay, then, Gen, please do it. "I''ve got it!" "I''ve got it!" As he had done yesterday, Gen dug into the ground. The first thing that came out was a yellow magi crystal with earthy properties. It was what Jin wanted. "Good, that''s good. Keep digging. "Yes." After digging out two more yellow Magi crystals, nothing (except ordinary rocks) appeared for a while, but suddenly Gen''s body shook and his movements stopped, "Master, tegakoire mashita." Gen came up from the hole, showing his broken hand. "What?Your hardened (hardening) hand is broken? ...... Could it be adamantite? Adamantite is the hardest mineral in the world. After entering the hole and examining the bedrock himself, Jin said, "It is definitely adamantite. I didn''t know it was in such a shallow place." He muttered to himself and took out the water bottle from his waist, "Water jet". The water jet cut through the vein of adamantite ore. The ore he cut out in this way was not very large. "Well, we''re lucky to find it in such a shallow place. We also got a bonus." The bonus was that a small amount of mithril silver was found. This metal, called mithril silver or simply mithril, is the best conductor of magic. It is an isotope of silver. The usual silver isotope is 47 protons and 60 or 62 neutrons, but in mithril the neutrons are almost completely replaced by magic molecules. But in Mithril, neutrons are almost completely replaced by magicons, so it is possible. But aside from that, we have found most of the materials we wanted, and we are ready to go home. Needless to say, Gen''s hand was quickly repaired with engineering magic. "Are you done?" "Yes, thanks to you I found something good." "Okay, the days are short, let''s go home." Then Locke''s eyes light up. "Mr. Locke?" "Shh, be quiet." He shoves Jin out of the way and nicks an arrow to his bow. He grabs his bow and fires an arrow into the valley. A voice is heard saying.., "Got him!It''s a mountain lion!" Rock ran toward the valley, and a few moments later, he pulled a big deer. "Look, a great catch! Let''s take it home and dry it for meat. Mountain lions are a valuable source of protein. We decided to take only the fragile mountain deer, our camping gear, and some ore, leaving most of our gear for later. "But how could they stay in such a place in this season? Rock said as he looked at the mountain lion Gen was carrying. "Oh, is that so?" "Yeah. Normally you''d have to go further north into the mountains to get one, but you''re in luck. Normally, you have to be prepared to spend several days in the mountains to catch them. Jin was somewhat concerned, but his worries disappeared when he started thinking about how to use the ore he had found. 30 - 01-17 Golem Horse During this collecting trip, Jin found 15 magi crystals (magi crystals), including small pieces of yellow ones with earthy properties. This is quite a lot. In addition, mithril silver and adamantite ore. I was able to bring all the magi crystals, but not the ores. So after Jin and Locke returned to the village, I sent Gon as well as Gen to retrieve the ores that had been dug out. The two golems work tirelessly, and by the next day all the ore is piled up in a heap in the garden. Jin looked at them and smiled to himself, thinking that this would expand the range of things he could make. "Why are you smiling at me, Onii-chan?" Hannah said to him, and Jin came back to himself with a shy smile on his face, "It''s nothing," she said. "Really? ......You know, Mr. Locke wants to see you." "Mr. Locke?" I went out into the yard to see what was going on, and saw Locke standing there holding something in his hand. "Hey, Jin. Here, it''s dried mountain lion meat. It''s just a little bit, but it''s for you. He said he had dried the mountain lion he had caught on his way back from his hunting trip. Since the meat is easily damaged in its raw state, it is preserved for a long time as a valuable source of protein. "Oh, thank you for taking the trouble." When Jin received it, Locke continued, "So, I have a little favor to ask you today." "What''s that?" "This time, I and a few others are going to go hunting for mountain lions, and I was wondering if I could borrow Gon or Gen to help me with my luggage, just in case. Surely it would be easier to get into the mountains if we had a golem to carry our luggage. So Hitoshi said "Okay. Then please take Gen with you. "Oh, okay. I''ll come back in the morning. With that, Locke left. Jin looked at Gon and Gen, "Well, I guess we''ll just finish the reinforcement as soon as possible. "What are you going to do, Onii-chan?" Hannah, who was still nearby, heard Jin''s muttering and asked. "Hmm?I''m going to make Gon and Gen a little stronger. "Make them stronger?Can you make me stronger too? "Haha, I don''t think so. Girls are more popular when they''re graceful. Jin said irresponsibly and casually. Hearing this, Hannah asked, "Is that so?I wonder if Onii-chan also likes the more graceful girls. ......" She muttered something like that, but it didn''t catch Jin''s ear as he went to his work. "For now, let''s change the tips of my hands and my breastplate to adamantite." Considering that Gen''s hand had been broken by adamantite ore last time when he was digging out the ore, he decided to replace his hand with adamantite ore. Then, a breastplate to protect the chest, which contains a mana driver, an ether converter, and a control core, all made of magecrystal. These two are made of adamantite. "Smelting". The ore is smelted into metal using magic. Among the separated impurities are metals such as tin, chrome, and nickel, which are stored and will be smelted again later. Jin is doing such a process by himself, but he doesn''t realize how out of specification it is. He doesn''t realize how out of the ordinary it is, but he is able to proceed in peace because there is no one in the village of Kaina to point it out to him. "Okay, now both of them are strong!" And they are unaware that Gon and Gen are becoming more and more unorthodox golems. * * * * * * "Well then, Mr. Rock, Mr. Jeff, Mr. Yang, be careful." "Okay, I''ll be there." You take care. Gen, take care of Mr. Locke and the others. "Ryoukaidesu, master." The next morning, Locke and two others went out to hunt wild deer. Some of the children were amused and followed them along the way. Mario, of course, and Hannah were among them. Jin was working on something he wanted to make again. It was a golem horse. Golem is humanoid because the movement information stored in its control core, which controls its movement, is that of a human. In other words, it is because its creator understands only human movements. However, this does not apply to Jin, who is a Magecraft Meister. The data for the analysis of quadrupedal locomotion has been inherited from the previous generation. In this respect, too, we can see that this age has fallen behind the past. The worst thing is the war. Aside from the war, Jin started to make a small horse (pony). For a start, he wanted to make a vehicle exclusively for Hannah. Unlike automata, it is a golem, so its structure is simple (by Jin''s standards). "Well, I think it should have a modest performance. The exterior is made of magically hardened bronze, and is easily recognizable as artificial. The exterior is a magically hardened bronze, recognizable at a glance as artificial. However, the use of adamantite for the skeleton and the increased durability make it even less than normal. "I would rather focus on strength and endurance than speed. So, two magic crystals are used for the mana driver and two magic crystals for the ether converter. They are already monstrous. "I think we only need one control core. Smaller magi crystals are used because complex autonomous operation is not necessary. "Okay, I''ve built a basic control system. ......Yes, I''m getting used to it." The horse''s movements are simulated in Jin''s brain and converted into a movement control formula. This process can only be done by a Magecraft Meister, which is impossible for an ordinary Magecraftsman, but Jin is unaware of this. "So I put a saddle on it to make it easier to ride. ...... is complete!" Now that the small horse (pony) is completed, Jin makes another golem horse for himself with the same structure. The size of the horse should be a little larger, about the size of a smaller normal horse. The reason is that it is difficult to get on and off if the horse is too big. "Onii-chan, what are you going to make ......, Mr. Horse?" Just when the second horse was finished, Hannah came back. "Hey Hannah, just the place. "Hey, Hannah, just in time. I made this little horse especially for Hannah. Hearing this, Hannah''s steeplechase eyes widened. "What?Is that my horse?" The chief is the only one who has a horse in the village of Kayna, so it is natural for her to ask this question. Jin smiled gently, "Yes, he is. Wait here for a moment. With that, he turns to the golem horse, "Start it up." The two golem horses get up. Jin then turns to his own horse, "Well, ...... name me, <>. Your name is <>." Koma. You mean "pawn. I won''t say anything now. And now to Hanna, "Hannah, name my horse." "Me?Well, then... This is a herb that is also found in this world. It may be suitable because of its greenish-blue color. At least it is better than Jin''s sense of naming. "Okay, name her . This is your master. Mint looked at Hannah and bowed. He understood. "Alright, Hannah, let''s go for a ride." "What?I''ve never ridden a horse before. "Don''t worry. It''s easier than riding a horse. With these words, Jin puts Hannah on the pony. It''s a small horse (pony), so once she gets used to it, she should be able to ride it by herself. "Yes, yes. Put your feet in the stirrups. And hold this handle." "What?What''s this?" A golem horse, with something sticking out of the base of its neck. It appears to be a handlebar of a motorcycle. That''s right, Jin has applied the control method of a motorcycle to a horse golem. As Hannah hesitantly straddles Mint, Jin teaches her the basics. The right hand is called the gas pedal, and when you twist it, it starts moving. When you want to stop, you pull back the gas pedal and squeeze the brake lever. And when you want to turn, turn the steering wheel to the left or right, and the horse will turn as much as you turn. After teaching him this, he got on the horse himself and said to the horse, "Well, let me walk, "Then let him walk. Don''t worry, I''ll go with you. At first, the horse is put on a limiter so that Mint will not run out of control. "Uh-huh." Hannah gently turns on the gas pedal. The mint starts to walk slowly. "Wow, he''s moving! With a click of the horse''s distinctive movement, starts to walk. Jin follows with his frame. "Good, good! Try twisting the gas pedal a little more. "Yes. Mint, who had been walking with normal legs, speeds up and becomes a fast walker. This is the maximum speed for the current setting. "Wow, this is fun! With the stability of the saddle and stirrups, Hannah was riding the mint without a hitch. Jin is relieved. 31 - 01-18 Signs of unrest Hannah got used to the golem horse < in about two days, and now she is running with the limiter removed. As for Jin, since it was impossible to have one golem horse per house, he created five golem horses as shared golem horses. Needless to say, Jin went mining for the missing materials, but thanks to Jin''s golem horses, he was able to get everything he needed in one day. "Jin, this horse is great! "After all, I don''t have to feed him, don''t I? "No, he''s more powerful than that. He''s as strong as five normal horses. Whatever the case may be, the golem horse has a good reputation. His name, by the way, is <><><><<>. 1,2,3 in German and 4,5 in French. I heard that he insisted on three letters, but I will say nothing more about Jin''s naming sense at ....... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Rock and the boys are back...after a week of hunting in the mountains, they literally brought back a mountain of stuff. Of course, Gen was the one who carried them. "Welcome home, son! "Welcome home, Dad." "Hey, buddy, welcome back. Are you okay? "Hey, I''m back. Mario, have you grown up a little? "You''re an idiot, you can''t change in a week." The family looks happy to see him for the first time in a week. They put down their luggage and immediately went to the hot spring to wash off their sweat and dirt. That night they were treated to a big feast of meat. The main people gathered at Locke''s house to talk about their souvenirs. Of course, Jin was invited. "Well, it''s not like we caught anything," he said. We went down to the bottom of the valley and waited, and a herd of mountain lions came along. It was a simple matter of shooting them. It was more trouble to skin and gut them. No dangerous beasts of prey? "Yes, a forest bear came once, but it ate all our guts and went back again. It was a simple dish of grilled meat with a sprinkle of salt, but the meat was exceptionally tasty after a week of being dropped off. "That''s more than enough dried meat for one winter," he said. "Smoked meat would be good, too, wouldn''t it?" Jin suggested, "Smoked?What''s that? He asked back. Smoked meat is made by burning wood chips and smoking the meat with the smoke to dry it. "Oh, so that''s the way they do it in gin''s hometown? That''s right. "That''s good, we have plenty of meat, let''s try that smoking method too. The next day, they decided to give it a try. The next day we decided to give it a try. We used a query tree that we had cut down from the forest. I heard that this tree blooms white flowers in spring, and Hitoshi thought, "It looks like a cherry tree, doesn''t it? Jin thought that it looked like a cherry tree, so we decided to try it. As a result, it worked. It worked. Originally, smoking is not difficult in itself. The principle is to burn the wood to produce smoke, not flames, and use the heat and smoke to smoke and dry the meat. The meat is rubbed with salt and smoked so that it tastes good enough to eat as it is. "This is delicious. It makes me want to drink sake. You drank a lot yesterday, you know! Such exchanges took place, and most of the meat was smoked. Amidst the bustle of the party, Locke was alone with a downcast look on his face. Noticing this, Jin approached Rock and called out to him. "Mr. Locke, what are you thinking about? "Jin. No, I was thinking about why we caught so many mountain lions. And you came up with that? "Yeah. I can think of several. So Jin gives him some advice. "When you are in such a situation, it often helps to have someone listen to your thoughts out loud. "I see. Then I''ll ask you to listen to me. What''s the matter? Then Jan, who had gone mountain hunting with him, came in, and Locke started talking to them. "One possible reason for their ill-timed migration is the food situation." "Right, when they run out of food, they will move to look for it, right? Jan nodded in agreement. "The second is when they are chased by their enemies. A pack of rock wolves, for example. "Certainly, they may flee from their natural enemies. Jin agrees. "Third. Mountain lions also live in herds, but when a herd gets too big, the young deer sometimes form another herd and live separately." "But you know, not all the deer we caught this time were young." Jan questioned this theory. "Yes, they were. The other possibility is that they were chased by the enemy." "It is unlikely that they were bait. "You don''t think it''s likely that they were bait?" When Jin asked, Locke nodded his head and said, "Yeah, "Yeah. From what I''ve seen, there''s still no snow in the backcountry where the mountain lions are, and the greenery is the same as in a normal year. I don''t think there''s a lack of food." "Then, ......" Could it be that they were being chased by something fierce? So Locke leans forward, "I can handle a mountain lion, but a rock wolf is a problem. They are nocturnal and attack in packs. Jin said, "Have these rock wolves ever attacked a village before? Jin asks. Rock shakes his head, "No, I haven''t heard about it since I was born. But I heard that something like that happened once in my grandfather''s time. "I see. ......" Jin folded his arms and thought about it. Locke, "So I was wondering if I should tell you guys about it, since I''m not so sure about it myself. "Well, why don''t you go scouting then?" And Jan. "Scouting. That''s a good idea. We can go further into the country than we went this time to see what''s going on. Jan, you say something good at least once a year. No, I don''t feel appreciated. "Well, I''d better tell the mayor about it," said Jin. Jin said, and Locke agreed, "Well, I guess so." That night, a meeting was held at the village headman''s house, and it was decided that the village would send out a reconnaissance team. Jin''s opinion was accepted, saying that if the danger was detected in advance, countermeasures could be taken. Of course, it was also a good idea because of the golem horse that Jin had built. Locke and Yang are to go on a reconnaissance mission with the golem horses. The departure is in two days, a period of time for the two to get accustomed to the golem horses. The next day, it was time for them to train. "Oh, wow!" They open the throttle too much, and the golem horse goes into a standing position, and they''re swept off their feet. "Oops!" Or, "Geez!" When the horse comes to a sudden stop from a gallop, he is thrown forward. But despite being covered in scars, both of them had mastered the golem horse in a day. "Well then, I''m off!" You mustn''t do anything rash! Dad, be careful. In an atmosphere more tense than the previous mountain hunting trip, the two scouts mounted their golem horses, and , and headed for the mountains. 32 - 01-19 Arms Development In the village where the scouting party was sent out, a discussion was held to see what else could be done, and it was decided to build a fence in the field. This would protect the crops from vermin and would not be a waste. Trees were cut down, made into logs, and buried around the fields. These tasks proceeded at a rapid pace, thanks to the presence of the villagers, as well as the golems Gon and Gen, and the golem horses Dry, Cuttle, and Sanku. The work proceeded at a rapid pace, which, to the untrained eye, could be described as abnormally fast. It was the third day after the scouting party departed. "Well, it looks like it''s taking shape. Jin has been helping (with engineering magic) to process the cut trees into logs, and now that the required number of logs have been processed, he can have some time to himself. "I think I''d like to get some ...... weapons too, just in case." Jin ponders. With the scarcity of materials, it is unlikely that he will be able to make a special weapon. At best, he can make a blade made of adamantite. "Well, it won''t go to waste, so I''ll make an axe or a machete. ...... I will make blades that will usually be used as tools for daily life. However, since there was not much left since I used it for the golem horse, I could only make a steel body with an adamantite blade. Even so, 10 axes and 20 machetes were made. The rest are my own weapons. Not to boast, but Jin''s muscular strength and athletic ability are low. Compared to the men in the village, he is at the lowest level. He cannot engage in melee combat. On the other hand, he is not good with a bow either. "I guess I''ll just have to make that one..." Jin muttered to himself, and began to make a water pistol. It was a pistol type with a large water tank attached. "What are you making, big girl?" Today, as usual, Hanna came to Jin''s workshop (actually Hanna''s grandfather''s workshop). "Hey, Hannah. I''m making a water pistol. "Water guns?" In the first place, there is no such thing as a gun in this world, so even if you say "water pistol," the word "water pistol" is not understood. "Well, watch and see." The structure itself is not complicated, and one can be completed in a short time. It comes with a water tank. ?" Hannah is not quite sure what it is, "Here, you put water here, hold it like this, and pull the trigger. ......" The water pops out. "Wow!That''s fun!" Since it is just a toy to anyone but Jin, he decides to give this water pistol to Hannah. "It''s really meant to be played with in the hot summer," she says. But thanks!It''s fun!" Hannah received the water pistol and went off to play with it. "......I''d better make some more for the other children." Jin realized this and made 10 water guns of the same model. Once he had made one of these, he could easily mass-produce more. Incidentally, since there was no plastic, all the guns were made of mica (moschovite), which made them light and resistant to breakage. After that, I made two water pistols for my own weapons with a larger capacity water tank and a more accurate piston. Two more blades without water tanks that fire only the water inside the body of the water pistol. If Jin uses them in combination with the engineering magic of <>, they will become a formidable weapon. "Even so, it can''t protect the whole village, can it? Jin reminds himself not to be complacent. Later, Kurt, Mario and the others came to find Hanna playing with a water pistol, and needless to say, they all received their own water pistols. * * * * The next two days went by peacefully. On the third day, the scouting party returned. "Oh!Locke, I see Jan is all right." "Yes, thanks to my horse." After a short break, the two men go to the village chief''s house to report on their reconnaissance. "We didn''t have any problems at first. They had no problems up to the point where they had hunted the mountain deer. "From there we went a day further into the village, but not much had changed. Then I turned a little to the west." So he went straight north, then turned 90 degrees to the left. "That area didn''t change, either. We were relieved, and we headed north again. And then I said, "What''s wrong?" "What happened?" "We came upon a place ...... with a bunch of mountain lion bones lying around." What? "I felt like I was in trouble, so I stayed on my horse, and a big wood bear came out of the woods. When I looked closer, I saw that he was dragging a mountain lion that was still dripping blood." "A wood bear? "A wood bear!" "Yeah. Yeah... and don''t be surprised if it''s a... What?What? "Ten of those big wood bears just showed up there!" "What? That was the cry of the people. It was the cry that represented the feelings of all those gathered there. Wood bears are dangerous beasts that can only be hunted by a team of three or four experienced hunters. Ten of them. "How did they end up here? ......" It is assumed that this is due to the large number of mountain lions that are usually absent from the area, but then why did they come south? There is a valley with almost no vegetation between the mountains where mountain lions and wood bears live and the mountains behind the village of Kaina, which is why the village of Kaina was almost free from damage by the beasts. However, now that mountain lions are more likely to come across the valley to our side, we should expect wood bears to follow them. That was the conclusion of the day. Then, Hitoshi said, "I made a sturdy axe and machete for you. Please come back later to pick them up. The village head said, "Oh, I see. Jin, I''m glad you''re here. Then go with Jeff and Tom and Jin and pick it up. I''ll take care of it for now. "Okay, sir." Jin went back to Martha''s house with Jeff and Tom, and Jeff took the axe from the workshop and Tom took the machete. Jin reported the meeting to Martha at home. I see," he said, "that a mountain lion or a wood bear might come this close to here. We have to make sure Hannah is careful. "Yes, that''s right. Hannah, you mustn''t go to the northern mountains for the time being. I told her that and she said.., "Yes. But the river is okay?" The Erme River in the south is less dangerous. Children are more likely to be reckless if you say no to everything. Jin has seen small children in the orphanage, so he knows this. When he told her that the river was good, she took a water pistol and went to the river to play. From then on we took turns watching the northern mountains every day. But after two or three days, there was still nothing unusual. Just when the villagers began to wonder if they had been worrying too much, it happened. After breakfast, Jeff, the watchman, spotted a cloud of dust on the mountain to the north. Looking closely, he saw a large herd of mountain lions coming down the mountain. "Hey!A herd of mountain lions is coming down the mountain! He rushes to warn the whole village. The village chief, Rock, and Jin come out to see them. "This guy looks like he''s being chased by ...... something. Locke stroked his chin and said. "If it is a wood bear, it will show itself in a few minutes. The chief agreed. "Then, let''s first lead the mountain lion in a different direction so that it won''t come to the village. Everyone agrees with Jin''s opinion. So Jin, Rock, Jeff, and Rick ride the golem horses and lead the mountain lion to the forest to the west. "Let''s go!" Rock led the way, followed by Jeff and Rick. Jin is the leader. "Be careful!" The four golem horses were getting smaller and smaller as the worried voices in the backs of the riders shouted, "Don''t worry! "Don''t worry, this time it''s Yamaga we''re dealing with. Come on, get in the house. The village chief tried to reassure the worried women. "Onii-chan ......" Hannah looked in the direction where Jin and the others had disappeared. 33 - 01-20 A person who drives someone out "Okay, I think this is a good place." Rock, who was in the lead, looked at the terrain and decided. "This is a good place to get the herd of mountain lions to change direction. It was impossible to make the galloping herd change direction at right angles. So, we have to make them turn around at a gentle curve. The perfect terrain for this was right in front of us. It was a step of about 2 meters. It is not so steep as to be a cliff, nor is it a slope. If we could just get them to turn to the west, they would just keep going. "Listen, the four of us have to stay close to him and lead him single file. Keep your heads up!" Oh! Jin and the other four rode their golem horses toward the distant dust cloud. The distance between them is rapidly closing. "All right, turn around!Then ride slowly and let them catch up with you. When the deer catch up, match our speed. Then we''ll move west a little at a time." Locke''s instructions were precise, as he had always wanted to be a knight. The herd of mountain lions catches up with them. The four of them skillfully maneuver their golem horses to match the herd''s speed. The four of them are now able to steer their golem horses and keep up with the speed of the herd.That''s it!" The golem horses can change their speed with a single accelerator pedal, which is why they can work together so well. A real horse would need a lot of training to achieve this level of coordination. "That''s great, Mr. Locke!" Jin, who was in the rear of the group and was controlling the horse, was impressed. He has no intention of being second to anyone in terms of making things, but this kind of operation is not something Jin seems to be able to do. "Push a little more to the right here! Locke''s command made the golem horses shift their course to the right. The herd of mountain lions also shifted their course to the right. "We''ll keep going to the same place we were!" The herd moves forward at an angle of 45 degrees to the previous step. Then the lead deer, not liking the bump, shifted further to the right. "Good!Keep leading them for a while!" We continue to lead the herd along the bumps and away from the village. When they were far enough away from the village, "Okay, that''s enough. Let''s turn back!" The four of them return to the village of Kaina in a wide arc so as not to provoke the mountain lion. There is no longer any need to worry about the mountain lion heading back to the village. "You''re doing a great job, Mr. Locke!" Jin says to Locke as they stand side by side, "That''s my brother!I didn''t think it would go so well!" "Indeed." The other members all praised Locke in unison. "Come on, man, don''t be a dick. It''s not as if the other beasts aren''t coming into the village. Let''s hurry back!" With a touch of embarrassment, Locke opened the throttle of his golem horse and headed for the village at a high speed. Jin and the others followed a step behind. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the end, nothing more unusual happened, and the day ended with the guards standing guard once again. Tired from the daytime guidance, Jin soon fell asleep. Around midnight, however, he was awakened by a loud rumbling sound. "What is it? I was curious, so I went outside and saw a red glow over the mountains to the north. As he looked, the light faded and eventually disappeared, but Jin had no idea what it was. Then he felt a cold sweat running down his back. "What was that? What the hell was that light? Is the mountain going to collapse? The people who were woken up by the rumbling of the earth are also looking at the red light and muttering anxiously. "Magic ...... explosion ......" Those who cannot use magic cannot feel it, but Jin sensed it clearly. Something or someone, something with powerful magical power had been defeated. The core of magic was destroyed. The core of magic is the root of magical power that demons have. Since it controls all magical power, if it is destroyed by magic, the magical power may run out of control and cause an explosion. "But if it is that large, how great a monster was it? According to Jin''s assessment, this is the magical power of a demon that is not quite a dragon, but close to it. The person who could defeat such a demon ....... The current Jin probably can''t compete with it. "Can you manage it with just a blade of water jet ......?" Even if the water jet works, Jin is the only one who can use it. If there are several opponents, I don''t think he can protect the whole village. "Oh no. ......?" But escape is not an option for Jin. He did not want to abandon the village that was becoming his second home. "Shelter ......?" The shelter is Jin''s conclusion. In case of emergency, the shelter should be built for all the villagers to escape. "We have to get to it right away." Not wanting to worry anyone, Jin starts to build the shelter without telling anyone. The location is a rocky area on the outskirts of the village. He calls Gon and Gen, the golems, and gives them instructions. Gon and Gen, dig a big hole here. It should be big enough for all the villagers to fit in. "I''ve found it." Two of them immediately started digging. The adamantite on the tips of their fingers helped them dig through the hard bedrock without difficulty. "Good, dig deeper!" I wanted a depth of at least 10 meters. The excavated rock was compacted and hardened to reinforce the interior of the hole. This allowed us to excavate efficiently without piling up earth and rocks around the hole. It took longer because we dug at an angle, but it will make it easier to use. "Okay, that''s good. Now let''s dig the living space. The ceiling height is, let''s say, 3 meters. Jin gives instructions while reinforcing the walls. The golem is damaged by the hard work, but Jin quickly repairs it so as not to delay the work. Soon the dawn breaks. Jin decides to return to Martha''s house. Gon and Gen let him continue working. Good morning. "Good morning, sweetie. ......?" Hannah''s eyes rolled back in her head when she saw Jin. "What''s wrong, honey?You look terrible, don''t you?" When Jin reflected his face in the water, his eyes were bright red and bloodshot, and dark circles had formed under his eyes. No wonder Hannah was surprised. "Oh, ah, I couldn''t sleep last night. ......" Martha came in and was just as surprised as Hannah when she saw Jin''s face. "Jin!What''s the matter with you?What''s going to happen to this village if something happens to you now? "What ......?" Jin looks at Martha in surprise. "Don''t you realize what you''re doing?The scouting, the fence, and preventing the mountain lion yesterday would not have been possible without you.You''re the reason we all feel safe." "I''m ......?" "Yes, you are. You''re a part of the village now...you''re trying to do things on your own...but you''re a watery one...you know that? We share our hardships and joys together, in this village. When Martha said this to Jin, he couldn''t help but feel his eyes burning. "Thank you. I ......." Martha pushed Jin''s shoulder, "You look like you haven''t had enough sleep. Go ahead and get some sleep. You''ll feel better after a little sleep. Hitoshi said again, "Thank you, sir, "Thank you very much." Jin thanked her again and fell into his own bed. "Onii-chan ......" Martha looked at Hannah with concern, "Let her sleep for now. When she wakes up, I''ll give her some warm porridge. With these words, Martha took Hannah outside. After sleeping soundly for five hours, Jin eats his breakfast and lunch and rushes back to the shelter he is digging. He is half embarrassed. "It''s pretty much done. ......" Gon and Gen were running somewhat poorly now that Jin had left. Jin quickly repairs them and inspects the inside. It looks like 80% of the work is done. "Okay, I think we can make it in time. But there comes a time when Jin''s efforts will be in vain. "Jin!There you are!Heaven!" Locke came flying in, gasping for breath. "Mr. Locke?What''s wrong? "Well, it''s, it''s from the North Mountain ......" "From the North Mountain?" "......, you''re not going to believe what''s coming. ......" What?What? It''s a monster. Or a giant monster. Anyway, you''ll have to see for yourself ......." So the shelter stops for a while, and Jin, accompanied by Gon and Gen, goes to the north of the village to the protective fence. "Oh, Jin. What does that look like?" Tom, who was standing guard, points in the direction of the fence. "...... what?" A girl in a light blue dress with a white apron. Her silky black hair is flowing down her back. "That''s ......." The girl spots Jin in the distance, and for a moment her image blurs, "Father!" The next moment she was hugging Jin. And then... "Father! The voices of everyone present faded into the sky. 34 - 01-21 Silent talk 1 Automatas drift After Jin was sent away by a warp gate that no longer accepts him, automata also use the same warp gate to search for him. After the momentary outburst, the automata were sent to the sea. The automata lands on the water and sinks. Her body has about the same specific gravity as that of a human being, so she can swim easily, but the material for the warp gate she is carrying on her back for her return is heavy. Its mass of about 20 kilograms drags the less than 30-kilogram automata to the bottom of the sea. However, she is not just an automaton. She is a so-called "super automata" that Jin has reassembled without her own weight. Her physical strength is dozens of times greater than that of a human being, and her endurance is almost unlimited. If she moved her slender arms and legs, she could float effortlessly above the sea. "This is ......." Looking out over the horizon, she sees an island in the distance. The automata swam toward it. With clothes on and 20 kg of luggage on its back, the speed exceeds 60 knots (more than 100 km/h). (more than 100 km/h), even though she was fully clothed and carrying a 20-kilogram load. There is no other aquatic creature faster than her. After an hour or so, the automaton arrives at the island. The island is quite large. "Is this the island where the ...... laboratory is located?No, I don''t think so. ......" When she landed on the island, she was surprised to find out that it was the island where she had left from, the island where the institute was located. The island she knew was much smaller than the one she had left, because it was a volcanic island. The island she remembered was a volcanic island, and the mountain in the center of the island was always belching smoke. Now there is no smoke and the mountain is at least 1,000 meters high. It seems to be well over 3,000 meters high. There was even snow on the top of the peak. "I can only assume that it has been uplifted in the last thousand years." I muttered in a voice devoid of emotion, and headed in the direction of what I assumed to be the laboratory. The island is covered with sparse forests and grasslands, making it easy to walk around. Since the island is not tropical, it does not appear to have been turned into a jungle. "There don''t seem to be any large animals. Insects, birds, small mammals and reptiles, and amphibians. Not much has changed from the original inhabitants of the island. The laboratory was located underground on a plateau in the center of the island. Based on the time it takes to get there, the automata estimate the approximate size of the island today. "It''s more than 100 times larger than it is now. ...... Well, I don''t think there''s any harm in that." Roughly the size of Miyakejima Island, originally part of the Izu Shichi-shima group, is now about the size of Tochigi Prefecture. However, the automata proceeded on its way without paying any particular attention to this. We arrived at the entrance of the institute. It was covered with ivy, but the automata, the original inhabitants, were able to find it quickly. Before her power, the tangled ivy was no more than a weed on the side of the road, and the automata easily opened the door and entered. "One more time, right?" Tireless, she rides the warp gate once again, and runs out of control once more. This time, the automata appeared in the desert. "Desert, huh? Well, the direction where people are likely to be is ...... that way, isn''t it? Sensing the slightest hint of magic, she walked in that direction. Tireless, she makes it to the town in four days, through scorching days and freezing nights. "It seems that your father ...... is not here." There was no mistaking the magic of Jin, who had created her, and she concluded that he was not here. "Shall we set up this warp gate somewhere and return to the laboratory? We decided to set up a warp gate in a cave in the middle of a rocky hillside at a considerable distance from the town. The entrance is sealed with rocks to prevent strangers from entering. Furthermore, it is protected by wards. Well, since it has a function to detect magic, it can be used only by Jin and his related persons (including automata). "Then, transfer." And the automata returned to the laboratory. The third time. This time it appeared in the middle of the wilderness. It took 7 days to reach the human settlement. Again, a warp gate was set up in the vicinity and the automata returned to the institute. The fourth time was in a land inhabited by demons. Most of the demons ignored the automata, but some of them attacked us, so we had no choice but to fight them off. Some of them were pseudo-dragons (Siamese dragons). Their leather, feathers, fangs, and bones seemed to be good materials, so I collected all of them, set up a warp gate, and returned to the laboratory. After returning, the materials were sorted and stored so that they could be used at any time. In this way, the automata went out to search for Jin over and over again, never considering the possibility that he might be dead. And then, he shifted, not knowing how many times because he did not count each time. This time it was in the snow. An automata dived into the snow with the weight on its back. The snow was dry and powdery, and there was no response, and no matter how much he moved his arms and legs, he could not seem to escape. "It can''t be helped, can it? The automaton''s body begins to heat up. She melts the snow, keeping it at a level that does not affect the baggage on her back. It took some time because some parts of the warp gate are sensitive to high heat, but she managed to escape from the snow after a whole day. "Now, where are we? I climbed up on the rock and looked around. It looks like a very high mountain. "It looks like there will be less snow as we descend. But which way should I go ......?" Perhaps the distance is too great to detect any human presence or magic. "Let''s ask them to strengthen the functions in this area next time." It''s a roundabout way of saying that we must first find Jin, since only he can strengthen the functions that are lacking in order to find him. "Heading south is probably a safe bet." The season is winter, and we decide that it is better to head south than north, so we follow the ridge with less snow and descend the mountain. Sometimes she fell into a puddle, but each time she heated up to get out, it took her a long time and it took her three days to reach a point where there was less snow. Now, a 3,000-meter-high mountain rises before her eyes. Looking back, she sees the high mountain she came down from, a 6,000-meter mountain covered with glaciers. "It''s still going to take some time. Let''s wait a little longer to find a place to set up the warp gate. The automaton heads for the 3,000-meter-high mountain. However, there is no need to cross the summit, so they aim for the saddle (col), which is a little lower than the summit. Even so, there was still more than a meter of snow near the ridge, and over the next two days they completed the second pass over the mountain. "It looks like the rest will be fine." He knew from the ridge line at 3000 meters that the rest of the mountain was rocky and less than 2000 meters high. He knew that the rest was less than 2,000 meters of rocky terrain. The automaton was planning to set up a warp gate at the top of the mountain. If there was no snow, she could reach the summit in half a day. It was already dark when she reached the summit, but it did not matter to her that she could see in the dark. The summit was wide and there was a cave that looked like a good place to set up a warp gate. "That looks like a good place. An automata approaches the cave. She jumps down. The place where she had been standing was gouged out. "...... Is it a Hecaton Cale? A 20 meter tall giant with 100 arms. It climbed up from the opposite side of the slope and suddenly threw a rock at her. "It''s a type of demon that stores magic inside. That''s why you couldn''t detect it. The automata calmly analyze their opponents. Many giant demons are incapable of using magic. This is because they consume magic power internally to support and maintain their huge bodies. Therefore, the amount of magic power leaking outward is so small that I judged that she could not sense it now. "If I didn''t have the baggage on my back, I would have been able to face her head-on, but I guess that''s to be expected," she muttered as if giving up. The automata muttered in resignation and increased the operating rate of the ether converter in her body from about 5 percent to 20 percent. At the same time, the operating rate of the mana driver was also increased, and the magic power was kneaded at once. And then... "Mana Explosion!" He unleashed his most powerful offensive magic. The output was 20 percent. The impact engulfed the Hecaton Cale''s own magical core, creating a huge explosion that instantly obliterated its massive body. The advantage of this magic is that it can annihilate only those who have magic power. The terrain near the summit is unaffected. The cave is also safe. "......The defeat is complete. It seems a bit wasteful, but I guess it can''t be helped. It''s more than that." It is a bit of a waste to have completely destroyed it without leaving any usable materials, but she had more important things to do. "......This magic power must be your father''s, right?" She could finally sense Jin''s magic power here. "We have to set up the warp gate quickly. An automata sets up a warp gate in the cave of the Hecaton Cale, which has just been defeated. The bones of wood bears, which were probably the Hecaton Cale''s prey, are scattered around the cave, so they are thrown into the bottom of the valley. We carefully assembled the warp gate and checked its operation. Once completed, he returns to the laboratory with it, and then comes back again immediately. This is all for Jin''s sake. In case something malfunctions while bringing Jin back to the laboratory, the automata will destroy itself. By the time everything was completed, it was dawn. The automaton hurries down the mountain. The automaton heads for the other side of the low mountain. Beyond the low mountain, a small village can be seen. When the automaton spots Jin, the person she has been longing to meet, standing by the fence at the edge of the village, she gives 100 percent output. It gave her a speed close to the speed of sound, moving her instantly over a distance of more than 100 meters. And then, in front of the automaton... "Father!" Jin, the father (creator) she had spent half a year searching for, was standing there with a stunned look on his face. 35 - 01-22 Father and daughter? "...... I''m sorry you had to go through that." Jin is now patting the head of a hugging automaton. "Uh, it looks like you''re in the middle of something. Rock, who was getting impatient, finally called out to him. At the sound of his voice, the automaton steps away from Jin for a moment. I''m sorry, sir. I have been searching for your missing father for a long time. Then he tries to speak further, but Jin interrupts him, He interrupted him and said, "No, let''s talk at the chief''s house. Mr. Locke, is that all right?" "Oh, yeah, that''s fine. What''s the danger from the mountains at ......?" If you''re talking about that mountain I came from, there''s no danger. There was a Hecatoncairn, but it interfered with me and I killed it. "Oh, I see. That''s good. ...... Hecatoncale? According to Locke''s knowledge, the Hecaton Cale is a monster that usually takes a company-sized group of people to defeat. The other villagers in the village did not know that, so they were simply happy to be out of danger. "Not only Jin, but his daughter (?) too. is outrageous too. ......" Locke muttered and followed after the others a little later. Jin looked at the automata, "You,...... didn''t have a name, did you?" "Yes, father." "Hey, this father of yours..." The man who made me, so I think it''s more appropriate to call him Father. "Oh, I knew it." Jin had a vague understanding of this, but when he was told clearly, he completely understood. "So you mean that the previous generation is your mother? "Yes, Adriana Barbora Zetsi is my mother. Jin felt that the automata had become much more human. This was only because he had transferred his knowledge. Jin also sensed this. "So, I guess the name is ......." After thinking for a moment, Jin said, "Okay, your name is Reiko from now on." This is a decent name for Jin. He had heard that Jin''s name was given by the director of the orphanage by taking one letter from the Japanese alphabet, so he had to find a letter for a girl from the five letters. "Yes. Thank you very much. I am from now on. While talking like this, we arrived at the village headman''s house. Jin made sure to remind Reiko of one thing. "Listen Reiko, keep the Warp Gate a secret. he instructed in a whisper so that the people around him could not hear him. At that moment, Giebeck, the village head, came out to see what was going on. "What''s going on here, all of you?" Locke, who had been walking in the back, stepped forward and spoke briefly about <>, finishing by saying that he had come here to hear more about her. "I see. If you''re no longer in danger, that''s good. Come on in." "Thank you very much." So Jin, Reiko, the village chief, Locke, and Tom and the other men came in. And the rest of the villagers who were available came in droves. Thanks to them, the spacious living room of the chief''s house was filled with people. "Now then, let''s hear what you have to say. The chief opened the conversation. "Well, let me talk first. Jin was the first to speak. "This girl, Reiko, is an automata created by my predecessor and repaired by me. She has been searching for me ever since I was sent here by a runaway warp gate. "Yes. I''ve lost track of your father''s whereabouts, so I''m ......." Reiko, the automaton, follows Jin''s lead and gives a brief explanation of what has happened so far. Of course, she did not mention the warp gate. Still, it caught the listener''s interest. "...... is why." After Reiko''s long talk was over, no one opened their mouths for a while. Everyone was impressed by Reiko''s loyalty, sympathized with her hardships, and was amazed by her strength. "I see, so that mountain lion was fleeing this way because of the Hecaton Cairn. As Jin said this, the people around him came to their senses, "So you are no longer in danger?" "Yes, the wood bears were all eaten by the Hecaton Cale. "Oh, thank goodness. After all, we only benefited from the large amount of deer meat we caught. "But still... Laco, right?They''re no different from humans. But it''s amazing that you managed to defeat the Hecaton Cail in such a way. "It makes me cry that you came all the way here to look for Jin, who made it for you." They were arguing and almost losing control of the situation, "Okay, everyone, if you understand, let''s break up. Go back to your homes and reassure your families. The village head concluded and everyone dispersed. Jin, of course, takes Reiko back to Martha''s house. "I''m home. "Welcome home, Jin." "What''s that girl?" "Welcome home, Jin ......! Both Martha and Hannah were surprised to see Reiko. Jin was surprised to see them, "Let me introduce you. She''s my automata, and her name is Reiko. She came looking for me when I went missing." That''s how I introduce her. "Nice to meet you, my name is Reiko, and I''m an automata. I''m an automaton, and I''d like to thank you for the help you''ve given my father. "Your father? Martha is impressed to hear that Reiko had gone through so much trouble to find Jin. Hannah, on the other hand, looked at Reiko with a somewhat worried look in her eyes. At that moment, Jin''s stomach rumbled, Well, it''s already past noon, I''ll hurry up and have lunch. What food don''t you like, over there, Reiko?" Martha asked as she walked to the kitchen, "No, I''m an automata, so I don''t eat anything. Reiko answered. Martha again looked surprised, "I see. I guess that''s enough for the three of us then. With that she went to the kitchen. The rest was Hitoshi, Reiko, and Hannah. Hannah asked Jin timidly. "Onii-chan, are you leaving here ......?" "What?" "Because Reiko came to pick you up, didn''t she?" Hannah said with tears in her eyes. In response, Hitoshi said, "No, I''ll stay here at least until spring." "Really?" "Besides, just because I''m leaving here doesn''t mean I won''t come back. I''ll come back as often as I can. "Really?Are you sure? Hearing this, Hannah became visibly more energetic. "I''m sure, I promise." "I''m glad. ......" Hannah smiled with real happiness. Just then Martha came in with bread and soup for lunch. "Come on, let''s have lunch. Are you sure you don''t want to eat, Lako? "Yes. Thank you for your concern. So Jin, Hannah, and Martha had a little late lunch together. While they were eating, Jin told them that there would be no more danger from the mountain. "I see. Well, I guess we can rest easy now that the danger is gone. Martha seemed relieved. After lunch, Jin took Reiko and went to the workshop while Hannah took an after-dinner nap. "Well then, Reiko, go and get the materials for the warp gate. I''ll ask everyone to make a final confirmation that the danger is over. "Yes, sir. I''ll get right on it." With that Reiko ran out like the wind, her black hair flowing in the air. "Now, I''ll get ready to set up the warp gate here. He calls Gon and Gen, who have been waiting out back, and has them dig a hole in the corner of the workshop. What we are going to build this time is not a shelter, but a small room. In Jin''s sense, it is about the size of an eight-tatami-mat room. So it was completed quickly. The walls, floor, corridors, and stairs are all magically hardened and reinforced, and a rather obscure door is placed at the entrance. Eventually, I plan to put up magic wards, but that will come after I return to the institute. If we can go to and from the laboratory, we will be able to create various things much easier than we can now. "I''m home, sir." Reiko returns in about an hour, carrying materials. Hannah is still napping. "Okay, let''s set it up right away!" They plan to install the warp gate before Hanna wakes up and comes to visit the workshop. Jin hurriedly dived into the newly built basement. "Connect this to this, assemble it, and combine it with this." Reiko, who had already done this many times, was the main person in charge of setting up the warp gate. "This is a self-sufficient type, so it can be used already. This is a simple boundary, so it can only be used if the wavelength of the magic power is the same as your father''s." Is Reiko going to be okay? Yes. I have the same wavelength as your father since he injected the activation magic into me. "Can you take someone else with you?" I''ll ask him if that might be possible. Jin should have some knowledge in this area, but it seems to take him a long time to search his brain. "It is all right if they have physical contact with your father or myself," he says. "As long as we are holding hands, it''s all right?" Yes. Yes. I''m going home tonight. I have some supplies I need. When Jin said that, Reiko said.., "Then I have a favor to ask your father. Would you please improve my magic detection function?" "Hmm?Yeah... because you went through a lot of trouble to find me. Okay, I''ll do it as soon as I get back. And so Reiko becomes an even more outlandish automata. 36 - 01-23 Laboratory after a long time "Ah, I feel nostalgic..." At night, after Hannah and Martha had gone to bed, Jin and his automata, Reiko, returned to the laboratory of the Magecraft Meister. "It''s bright even at night. ...... I wonder if they have magic lamps." The laboratory is equipped with magic lamps in key places, and since the automata have been maintaining them for a long time, the facilities in the laboratory are still fully functional. However, the automata themselves had reached the end of their useful life and once collapsed in front of Jin. Jin fixed it, or rather, remodeled it, and here is Reiko today. "Well then, let''s improve Reiko for a start. Are you sure? "Yes, I''m sure you''ll be of great help to me in the future. ...... lie down there. Yes, thank you. Reiko is lying on the same workbench in the room where she was remodeled. I''m going to turn off the magic. Yes, sir. When the mana driver is turned off, Reiko''s movements naturally stop as well. Jin had already built a plan for Reiko''s improvement in his mind, so he immediately went to get the materials. "Okay, this looks good." From the large amount of mana materials stored in the warehouse, he selected two particularly beautiful obsidian stones. Next, a clear magi quartz crystal was taken out, and the two were combined to form an eyeball. At the same time, he devises a magic formula to write on it. "Okay, magic detection, life detection. Telephoto, magnification, night vision, clairvoyance..." The improvement was over. But then... "There are some parts that have deteriorated a little, so let''s fix them up. Jin felt that the joints of the arms and legs were a little rickety. "I guess the light silver can''t take Reiko''s power after all, let''s change it to light mithril. The shape of the skeleton was left unchanged, but the material was changed to a stronger material, and a thin film of adamantite was coated on the surface. This would make it many times more durable. "I was in a hurry at the time, so I didn''t mess with the muscles too much. But I''ll make the strands of magical fiber thinner and increase the number of strands. This will make it more supple and durable. Just like a wire rope is made by joining thin steel wires together. "There''s a material I haven''t seen before: ...... ah, the feather of the pseudo dragon (Siamese dragon) that Reiko slayed. It''s perfect for a magical skin." Jin, who was free to do whatever he wanted, finished all the improvements in about four hours. The appearance has not changed at all, but the inside has become so powerful that it could be said to be a different thing. "All right, Reiko, <>." The mana driver is reactivated. This time she had enough magic power to wake up immediately. Father... Reiko, how are you feeling? Reiko gets up and gets down on the floor. For a while she moved in small steps as if checking her physical condition, "Very good. Thank you very much." Then she bowed. "Well, that''s good. Well, let''s go back to the village today. Reiko said, "What?I thought you''ve been here for a long time. "No, I have an appointment with Hannah, and first of all, there''s no food or water here. ...... Reiko was shocked by Jin''s words, "Yes, I see, your father needs to eat. ...... She was depressed. Jin was surprised to see such feelings growing in the automata, "Oh, so that''s why I''d like to go back and forth between the village and here, and also to improve the living environment here." "......Yes, I''ll do my best." Jin and Reiko returned to the village of Kaina using the warp gate. Jin quietly gets into his bed and Reiko stands by his side. Reiko stands by him, and Jin says to her, "Hey, I don''t feel comfortable standing there." But Reiko says, But Reiko said, "But it would be terrible if something happened to your father. And I''m not tired, so don''t worry about me." "Then at least sit in the chair there." But ...... Listen to me. "...... yes." After such an exchange, Jin finally fell into a short sleep. The next morning. Hannah came to wake up Jin, who had overslept because he had stayed up late going to the laboratory last night. But Hannah woke him up. "Your father is still sleeping. Reiko interrupts him. Hanna said.., "Get out of my way. I''m waking her up for breakfast. "Let her sleep a little longer." Dinner''s ready! Not enough sleep is not good for your health. I have to eat or I''ll get hungry. "......, you''re being too loud." I have to wake up with that noise at my bedside. "Oh, it''s morning already. Hannah, did you come to wake me up?" "Yes!" Hannah looks at Reiko with a triumphant look on her face. "......" Reiko is nodding. Jin changes his clothes, washes his face, and goes to eat. "Good morning, Jin. It''s unusual for you to oversleep. Martha said. "Yes, I was working on some things until a little late. "You''ve been cooking something, haven''t you?You like crafts, don''t you? Martha knew of Jin''s love of crafts, so that was the end of the conversation. After breakfast. Hannah helps with the dishes and goes out into the garden. Reiko was waiting there. Hanna tries to avoid Reiko and goes to the workshop where Jin is, "Hanna-chan, please wait! Reiko called out to her. "What?I''m going to see your sister..." "Can I talk to you for a minute?" I don''t have anything to say to you. Reiko insists on talking to Hannah.., "Don''t say that. We want to hear about your father. "About your father?" At the mention of Jin''s story, Hanna stopped in her tracks. "Yes. I talked to your father for the first time in my life yesterday, since he disappeared ...... right after I had it remade." "I see. ......" Hanna felt a little sorry for Reiko at this admission. "Hannah, you lived with your father for half a year, so I think you know him much better than I do. So please tell me a story." When she said that, Hanna could not refuse and started to tell her story with some pride. "......I was the one who found Jin-chan the first time!I went to the forest to get a leaf from the tea tree, but my baby girl was dead. "When I was drinking water, my grandma said it was too hard, so she made me a bottle! "You made me a soft cup, so it was easier for me to drink the water!" "He made me tools to shake the wheat, so I could eat the delicious bread! "He made me a stove, so I can cook rice more easily!I don''t need a firewood." "He makes balls and temari and plays with me. He makes me boulders and fireballs and plays with me. "He made Goremu''s Gon and Gen, and he made my horse, called Minto, for me. He''s fast!" Although the chronological order of the events was not clear, it was clear from Hanna''s passionate speech that Jin cherished and cared for her. "I see. So your father cares about Hannah. So naturally, such a line spilled out of Reiko''s mouth. "Is that so ......?" "Yes. Yes. I finally met your father yesterday, and he finally fixed what was wrong with my body. "Is that so?" Hanna felt a little sorry, knowing once again that she had kept Jin mostly to herself and that Reiko had been all alone for a long time. I''m not sure how I feel about that. I guess Reiko missed her big brother too. ...... I guess I was the same way. ......" Hannah remembers how lonely she was after her parents died, until she met Jin. "I''m sorry. I had a feeling that Reiko was going to take Jin-chan with her. ......" Reiko gently patted Hanna''s head, "It''s all right. Father, you said that last night. . "I have an agreement with ......" Jin said he would stay in the village until spring. "I see, you said so!" Hanna''s face brightens up, and Reiko says to her, "Hannah-chan, will you be my friend too?" She then held out her hand to her. Hanna stared at her hand for a moment and then grasped it firmly with both hands, "Yes!Reiko and I are friends!Nice to meet you, onee-chan! "Yes, Hannah-chan." Jin watched them quietly in the shadows of the workshop with a smile on his face. 37 - 01-24 Made The next night, they moved to the laboratory again. Jin looked around the room, "This big laboratory is not efficient with just Reiko. Jin says so, and Reiko says, "When your mother was alive there were many maid golems, but after she passed away there was no need for them, so we stopped them." "Oh, so you just need to reactivate them?" "Yes. Would you like me to check? Reiko then led Jin to a room in the basement. Here it is. "Wow. ......" There were about 20 female golems lying around. Most of them had rotting or missing limbs. "They are very damaged. Unlike automata, golems deteriorate quickly when they are not in operation and do not have magic power circulating through their bodies. "It would be faster to make a new one. "Yes, I''m sorry for the mismanagement. "Well, that''s all right. Would you take out the undamaged one there for my reference? Yes, I''ll take care of it. Reiko is five times stronger than a normal adult male. So she lifted the golem easily and carried it to the workshop. "Thanks. I don''t know why I don''t have any muscles even if I work out. Reiko said when Jin casually mentioned this, "Don''t you realize it, father?" Reiko asked back with a curious look on her face. "What?" "Your father''s body is mostly supplemented with magical elements, so it basically maintains its current state." "Does that mean that no matter how hard I work out, I won''t gain muscle?" "Yes." "Oh my God. ......" Indeed, it makes sense if we consider it in light of our knowledge. In short, Jin''s body is made of a mass of magical elements. "Huh?Then why does he feel thirsty or hungry? "His body functions are the same as before, so he needs water and nutrition as usual. "Oh, I see. ......?What about body strengthening magic? There are some engineering magic that strengthens the body. Sometimes power is needed to create large objects. In your father''s case, it doesn''t make much sense. "Of course." Indeed, Jin had tried to use the body strengthening magic in the village of Kaina, but it had little effect on him, who was not a physical person in the true sense of the word, so he had assumed that it could not be used on him. "It would be far more efficient to activate the magical power in the body than to strengthen the body with magical power. This kind of idea was difficult for Jin, who was not yet accustomed to magic. "I see...activation of the magical power in the body, huh? There was no such magic, was there? Yes. But your mother has created a number of new engineering magic. "I see. Well, we''ll take our time. Let''s start with this golem. Jin returns his attention to the golem, trying to take care of the things in front of him first. "Is it made of ...... brass?" "Yes. Your mother said it was just right for working with. Looking at the golem, which was rusted black and had some patches of greenish blue, Jin made a judgment without analyzing it. "Well, brass. I think I''d rather have a white copper one." "White copper?What kind is it? Reiko asks a question in response to Jin''s words. It is a natural question, since she was not able to transfer all of Jin''s knowledge when she transferred it to Reiko. "Shirodou is an alloy of copper and nickel. It is more corrosion resistant and softer than brass, so I think the movement will be more natural." The 50-yen and 100-yen coins are white copper. (The new 500-yen coin is nickel brass.) "Nickel?What does that mean?" Reiko doesn''t know this either. That means that the previous generation did not know either. Or, it may be a knowledge in Reiko''s lost memory. "Huh?I saw a warehouse full of them the other day, didn''t I?" Jin said and took Reiko to the underground warehouse. "I think it''s here." There was a pile of silver-gray metal ingots. "Is that nickel? That''s the metal left over after the arsenic was separated. "Arsenic is ...... scary." Leave the arsenic behind and have the nickel piled up next to it. Of course, bring the copper with you. "Mix 75% copper and 25% nickel. The alloy is made by fusion. The red copper has changed to a silvery-white color. Is this white copper? It is indeed white copper. Brass is 60 or 70 percent copper and 40 or 30 percent zinc. That is how red copper becomes yellow brass, but with nickel, even 10 percent of the copper becomes white. "Let''s make a golem out of this." The biggest difference between a golem and an automata is its structure. While automata have a skeleton and skin, if not as large as humans, the golem is basically made of material and a nucleus. But Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the Magecraft Meister of the past, did not create such a simple golem. You used magi crystals for the eyes as well, didn''t you? "Yes, your mother used to enjoy changing colors." The color of the magi crystals changes according to the magical attribute they bear. When Jin had remade Reiko before, he was still unaware of it. "Okay, how about red, blue, green, yellow, and purple?" "That sounds good. I will get them as soon as possible. Red is strong for fire, blue for water. Green is for wind and yellow for earth. And purple is lightning. Jin builds five bodies of white copper, based on the original golem. The interior is hollow, with small ribs for reinforcement. Since Jin''s design of the faces and other parts of the bodies is hopelessly inadequate, they are made to look exactly like the original golem. I will distinguish it by the color of its eyes and clothes. Father, thank you for waiting. It took me a long time to find the right size for the eyes. "I''m just getting a body for this one." I put eyes on the five bronze golems. Of course, after the Magi Formula has been engraved into them. "Okay, all that''s left is the nucleus of the golem. The golem moves with the magic power contained in the core according to the formula engraved in the core, but the Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, has also incorporated an ether converter and a mana driver, so that the golem can move semi-permanently. (Gon and Gen and Golem Horse also have these two things). The nucleus is a milky-white magical crystal. It has all attributes. The rainbow-colored one used for Reiko is a high-level crystal of all attributes, and the milky-white one is a degraded version. The milky-white one is a degraded version, though one is worth enough to build a mansion with. Other minor improvements are to be made. Since it was impossible to complete the project in one night in about three hours, I worked and played in the village of Kaina during the day and returned to the laboratory for about three hours at night to work on it. In this way, we spent several days building the maid golem. On the evening of the fifth day. "Now it''s finished, isn''t it? Reiko said, and Jin said, "No, not yet." "What?" "I don''t feel comfortable seeing you without your clothes on." Reiko raises her eyebrows when Hitoshi says that, "Father, are you perhaps tired of me?" Jin feels that Hannah''s influence is making him more emotional. "Why is that? ...... It''s just a matter of appearance." "I see, that''s a relief." Reiko runs to get the materials for the clothes, and Jin looks at her back and says, "Don''t be a yandere. ......" Reiko is running to get the materials for the clothes, and as she looks behind her, Hitoshi says, "Don''t be a yandere, . And a white brim (headdress), the symbol of a maid. Jin made one first, then Reiko made the same one, and soon enough for all five of them. "Well, it''s finally done." "Thank you for your hard work, father." "Okay, then. The five maid golems rose to their feet. "Nice to meet you, master." The five maid golems bowed in unison. "Okay, so your names are ......, Ruby, Aqua, Topaz, Perid, and Amez. I name them according to the color of their eyes. That''s acceptable for Jin. "Reiko, I''m going home to bed, but you''ll stay here a little while longer to teach and share the work with the girls. "Yes, Father." "Thank you, Miss." The golems, unconditionally obedient to Jin''s magical power, recognize Reiko, who feels the same wave of magical power, as a superior being. At any rate, this relieves some of the labor shortage at the institute, and the maintenance of the rooms is underway. 38 - 01-25 Broken promises Winter is in full swing and snow has fallen on the mountains visible from the village of Kaina. The village, which is on a plateau but surrounded by higher mountains, receives little precipitation, but it is moistened by the rain and snow that falls on the surrounding mountains. "I guess it snows, but not enough to pile up." Jin had grown up in the city and had always dreamed of building a kamakura or something like that, but it seems impossible in this village. "By the way, Roland-san, you haven''t been seen for a while now. ......" I promised Roland, the merchant, that I would visit him once every month and a half, so he should have been here by now, but he has not shown up. It is hard to believe that a merchant whose reputation is based on honesty would break his word. Then one day, someone other than Roland visited the village of Kaina. "Grandma is calling for you, Jin!" Jin, who had been working on a stove in his workshop, stopped what he was doing and went to his mother''s house. "Mr. Jin, it''s been a long time. There was Licia Faalheit, the tax collector. "Licia, it''s been a long time. You look well. When Jin greeted her, Licia said, "I''m sorry! and bowed her head. Jin did not understand what was going on, "Licia, please raise your head for now. I don''t understand." Licia raised her head and looked apologetic, "I couldn''t let the golem thing go unanswered, ......." "What?" "It seems that one of the soldiers stationed in Toka Village went back to King''s Landing and blew the whistle ......." This is Jin''s fault. Gon, the golem that Jin had made when the wheat was transported, was seen by the soldiers and the villagers of Toka Village. Even if Lysia''s mouth is sealed, you can''t put a door in another man''s mouth. Word spread quickly in the capital. According to Licia''s story, The king heard that a golem had appeared near the village of Toka, and that someone was using the golem as a messenger. The king orders his vizier to confirm the truth or falsehood of the rumors. The Prime Minister carefully investigated the rumors and discovered that the person who was using the golem was Jin, who lived in the village of Kaina. He also discovered that Jin was the developer of the pumps that were becoming popular in the area around the capital, as well as the stoves that were so popular among the common people. The king, apparently feeling threatened by Jin, ordered Count Walter, the lord of this area including the villages of Kaina and Toka, to bring Jin to him. Fifty of the count''s men are now on their way to this village. Licia concluded. "Jin ......" Martha looked worried, "Don''t worry. I haven''t done anything wrong. Jin-san, this is not the time ...... to be talking like that. "If you run away, it will look even more suspicious, right?" Jin reassures her, but inwardly he is a little nervous. Licia gave up when he couldn''t convince her, "Jin-san, magecraftsmen who can create and manipulate golems are very valuable, but if they don''t belong to a country, they are considered dangerous. So please be careful. "Thank you, Licia. I will be careful. I don''t really know what to watch out for, though. At any rate, I decided to go back to the workshop and discuss the situation with Reiko. "Worst case scenario, you might have to run away. "In that case, we should use the warp gate on the mountain instead of the one here. I think it''s better to disable the one here. "Yes, unfortunately. Soon after, the basement where the warp gate was placed was filled in and the entrance was put back in such a way that it was impossible to see it. "Jin, right?" A high-pressure voice echoed from the entrance of the workshop. I looked and saw many soldiers in armor standing there. It was faster than I expected. "Yes, I am Jin? Jin answered, and a man who looked like a commander said, "Yes, I''m here to take you in. If you resist, I''ll show you no mercy." He thrust a spear at him. Jin held it back gently, "What is it suddenly?" The man who seemed to be the commander said, "Are you defying Count Walter, the lord of this area?" "No, so why on earth should I be taken away?" At this point, Jin finally understood why Licia had told him to run away, but it was too late. "Well, it''s the king''s order. Obey the king''s order. Judging from the tax rate and Licia''s story, he had assumed that this was a sane country, but he was wrong. The man in front of me is a typical power-hungry type. "I don''t belong to this country. I''m not obliged to obey you. Gradually Jin became more and more angry. Jin is not a saint, and he is rather short-tempered. He is soft on his relatives, but when they are harmed, he shows no mercy. "Oniichan!" Hanna tries to run to the soldier, but her small body is blocked by the soldier. No, she was pushed away and fell on her buttocks. "Kya!" Hannah! Jin steps forward, and a spear is held out to intercept him... but... "Get out of my way!" Jin grabs the spear and activates forming. The spear transformed and bent into a U shape. "Hey!The spear! You!You dare to defy me! Three more spears were thrust out. Gon, the golem, stopped them. He had returned from patrolling the village and rushed to the aid of his master Jin in his hour of need. "Hey!This is a golem!I knew it was you! "Killer?" Jin picked up Hannah in his arms and asked suspiciously. "Don''t play dumb!The golem attacks that are happening all over the kingdom right now, you were the one causing them, weren''t you! "What?" Unfortunately, Gon and Gen''s appearance has hardly changed at all since Jin and the others were attacked. The colors have been changed, but the design is virtually unchanged. "Are you playing dumb?I saw one once and so did some of my men. The same type of golem is attacking people and materials in many places. What? At this point, Jin finally realized how bad the situation was. It seems that someone or something is using Golem to attack various parts of the Klein Kingdom. It seems that the golem that was Gon''s predecessor was one of them. I wish I had done a little more research at that time. ...... It''s too late, but a closer inspection of the Golem''s core might have revealed the culprit. "You can''t get away with this now!" Soldiers surrounded Jin. Jin turned to Hanna in his arms, "Hannah, I didn''t do anything wrong. But I don''t think I can stay here anymore. "Oniichan ......" "I''m sorry I couldn''t keep my promise until spring. I''ll come see you again someday. Until then, take care." After Jin finished saying that, he gently slipped a ruby (?) into Hanna''s skirt pocket. ruby (?) into Hannah''s skirt pocket. Then he said, "Reiko! "Reiko!" "Yes, father." Hearing Jin''s voice, Reiko, a loyal automaton of unmatched loyalty, blasted away the 10 soldiers surrounding him in the blink of an eye. "Hey!You defy me!" Jin said to the panicked Count Walter, "Look, I didn''t make them attack you with a golem. But I don''t want to be accused of something I didn''t do, so I''m going to leave. With these words, he hands Hannah to Martha, and calls for the golem horse, <, and mounts it. Reiko rode in front of Jin. "One more piece of advice. Try to lay a finger on the people of Kaina. I''ll crush the Kingdom of Klein. And he turns the wheel, "Thank you for your help, Martha. Take care!" With these words, he started running toward the northern mountains, leaving the soldiers under Count Walter in a daze. Gon and Gen followed. "What are you doing, you guys!After them!After them! But the golems were moving fast, and they were quickly shrinking in size. But the soldiers still gave chase. Even Count Walter was chasing after them on an ordinary horse. "Onii-chan ......" Jin ...... Jin-san......" Hannah, Martha, and Licia prayed for Jin''s safety. 39 - 01-26 And then... Jin escapes to the mountains and, guided by Reiko, heads for the cave where the warp gate is hidden. "This is it. The cave was a good vantage point from which to view the foothills of the mountain. Jin looked out over the village of Kaina, "It''s a pity. He then transfers Gon and Gen, the golems that have been following him. The golem horse, , also manages to push its way into the cave and is transferred. The only ones left are Hitoshi and Reiko. "Well, they saw us running this way, so we''ll have to disable this one, too. "Yes, that''s right." d*mn, I don''t know when we''ll be able to go to Kaina Village again. I will help you. Reiko follows. "Yes, you''re right. Well, let''s make sure it breaks down after a minute of our use. The warp gate has such a function by default to prevent misuse. After finishing the set up, Jin said, "Shall we go then?" "Yes." Yes." And the two disappeared. "d*mn, you let them get away." "Oh, no, no, no, no, no. ......" An hour after Jin and the others disappeared, Count Walter and the others finally arrived at the top of the mountain. There were already no clues, and snow was falling, "Count, there is nothing we can do here. We should leave before dark. The adjutant advised, "It can''t be helped, let''s go home." Muttering bitterly, Count Walter and his soldiers dismounted from the mountain and headed straight for the capital, with the village of Kaina by their side. * * * * * * * * * * * "So this is the island where the research institute is located. After returning to the institute, Jin went outside with Reiko''s guidance. The climate was warmer than that of Kaina Village. The climate is warmer than that of Kaina Village. It is not so much a jungle, but it probably rains a little. "I think we can be self-sufficient if we cultivate the land. Jin thought it would be possible to cultivate a field. But it is still a long way off. But more important than that. Find me a tree that grows edible fruit. Yes, Master. Reiko and the five golem maids split up to secure some food for the time being. It took about two hours to find four kinds of fruits and two kinds of nuts. We also found what looked like a rubber tree. After analyzing them and confirming that they were non-toxic, we tasted them. Yes, this one is sweet and tasty. This one is sweet and sour. This one is sweet but a little dry. This one is sour." The fruits are similar in taste to peaches, oranges, apples, and lemons, respectively. The nuts resembled walnuts and chestnuts. I think I can manage to eat them. Then gather up about 20 fruits and 10 kilos of nuts each. Jin returns to the laboratory after giving instructions to the golem maid. * * * * "Idiot! In the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, Count Walter returns to report and is reprimanded by King Alois III. "I told you to bring this Jin man to serve the kingdom. And now you treat me like a criminal!And now you''ve offended him and he''s run away!What will you do if he is sent to serve in another country? "I''m sorry, sir. ....... But there was a possibility, however, that he was controlling the golem and causing harm to our country. "That too has already been reported. Jin captured the golem with a magic I have never seen before, and made it listen to him. "My God!" This is because Licia had been the first to return to King''s Landing and report the incident in order to prove Jin''s innocence. She was reprimanded for withholding the truth, but this was offset by the fact that she was asked to do so by Jin himself, and by the fact that she herself reported what she had seen of Jin''s abilities. The king and the prime minister wanted Jin. Enough! And no further contact with the village of Kaina! Understood? Yes, sir. If we provoke Jin any further, not only will he escape, but he may turn against us. Considering what Licia had told me about his abilities, I didn''t want to do that. "It''s not going to work. ......" Alois III, King of Klein, looked up to the heavens and sighed as he was left alone. * * * * "Onii-chan ......" Every morning, when she started the pump to fetch water, she remembered Jin. Since then, Count Walter and his soldiers have passed through the village and left, and there has been no retaliation. Martha and the other villagers were all worried about Jin, who had fled to the mountains. He''s got Reiko with him and he''s riding a horse, he''ll be all right. Locke said. Since the villagers do not know about the warp gate, they all think Jin is hiding in the mountains. So they sometimes go to the mountains with the remaining golem horses to search for Jin, but of course, they have no success. Then one day, Licia came to the village. "Oh, Licia-sama, how can I help you?" The village head greeted Licia and asked her when he saw her bright face. "I''m glad to hear that Mr. Jin''s suspicions have been confirmed. "What!" "And His Majesty the King has personally apologized for the misunderstanding and invited Jin-san to come to King''s Landing to serve him if possible. He also said that he would guarantee you the position of Royal Magical Craftsman at the very least." "Wow!That''s great! The village head is impressed. A Royal MagiCraftsman is a Royal MagiCraftsman, and is treated like an aristocrat. And Jin-san? "Well, I haven''t heard from him since then. "I see. ......" The residents of Kaina Village were frankly happy that Jin was recognized, but they were half as happy as they could be when the important Jin was still missing. 40 - 02-01 Glider Golem Somehow, the year had changed in this world''s calendar, but Jin and the others were completely unaware of it. "......I''m bored." Jin ate nothing but fruits and nuts day after day. "Oh, I want to eat rice. If I don''t have any, I''ll just eat bread. It seems that he has grown tired of eating rice and misses his old diet. "I''ll buy some wheat somewhere..." "Father, in that case, let''s plant a field here on the island. At Jin''s murmur, Reiko suggested. "Well, we have to buy seeds, but we have to prepare a field. "Yes. So, why don''t you leave it to the golem maids, Topaz and Aqua? Topaz is earthy and Aqua is watery. That''s a good idea. Jin nodded his head. Reiko said, "Then we''ll need golems to work under them. "Oh, I see. We can make that too. So they decide to make a golem that will work under not only Aqua and Topaz, but also the five golem maids. Jin and Reiko work together to finalize the specifications. "No magical skin, and you don''t need clothes, do you?" "Yes, that''s right. Instead, we''ll plating the surface with light silver and change the color. "What?" Jin explains to Reiko. Light silver is an isotope of titanium, and the color of titanium can be changed by adjusting the thickness of the oxide film on the surface. These were knowledge that Jin had acquired at a factory (related to metals) where he worked on modern Earth. "I see, I understand now. That''s my father." He immediately begins to make a golem. The basic form is the same as that of Golem Maid. The basic form is the same as that of GolemMaid, but the structure is considerably simplified. The control system is the main focus. It has an autonomous intelligence, and adjusts itself to listen not only to its superiors, the maids, but also to its superiors, Reiko and Jin. "I will make the body, so your father will take care of the ether converter, the mana driver, and the nucleus. "Okay, here we go." The simple tasks were divided between Reiko and Jin, and the key complex tasks were carried out by Jin. Two days later, five types of Golem, ten of each, were completed. Two days later, five types of golem maids of ten each were completed. Reiko''s suggestion was accepted by Jin, "Yes, that''s right. Topaz is for land development. Aqua is for flood control. Perid will take care of the housework. Ruby and Amezu will take care of the island''s defense. I think that''s good. Okay, Topaz, Aqua, Perido, Ruby, Amez. I''ll put you under my command. Keep up the good work! And your golems, please. Yes, master. Please take care of them. The five golem maids bowed to Jin, and the golems under their command bowed first to Jin and then to their boss''s maids. Topaz and Aqua went outside the institute, and Perid made rounds of each room. Ruby and Ames also went outside with their men. Reiko then said, "Father, there are still two left, what are they?" Jin asked, looking at the two golems that had not yet been activated. "Yes, these are Reiko''s men. Reiko will be busy with many things from now on, so I made her subordinates." "My subordinates?" Yes. They should be as good as Golem Maid. They just don''t look the same. Yes, the two golems still lying there are small and about the same size as Reiko. "I''d like to link them with Reiko before activating them. How''s that sound?" "Your father made them with me in mind, I can''t deny that." He looks slightly happy as he says this. Jin is relieved to see that. He had been wondering what he would do to convince him if he would say something like < again. "Well, come here then. ...... mana linkage ...... that''s it,<>" Two golems rise, one golden, the other silver. One is gold, the other silver. "Nice to meet you, father, sister. The golems greeted each other. By sister, of course, I mean Reiko. "Yes, nice to meet you. ...... father, what are their names?" "Well, they are ...... under Reiko''s direct supervision, so you should name them, right?" Reiko thought for a while, "Well, the golden one is Soleil and the silver one is Luna." She was much more reasonable than Jin. "Yes, I am Soleil." "Yes, I''m Luna." Now that the manpower shortage was pretty much over, Jin could go on with his problem-solving. "Reiko, we can''t make good use of this island if we don''t know the topography. Don''t you have a map?" Reiko looked a little puzzled, "Well, it has changed so much since your mother''s time that we need to make a new one. Reiko tells us that it seems to have been uplifted during the past 1000 years. "I see, then it is imperative that we get a complete picture of this island." Jin crosses his arms and ponders. "We can do the surveying much later, but I''d like to know the general topography and size of the area." It would be a great help if we could take aerial photos or something, but we don''t have the means to fly in the sky in this world yet. Jin was still pondering, "Yes!Reiko, help me a little." Jin seemed to have an idea and went to the workshop. "Father, what are you doing?" Reiko looked at Jin suspiciously, "I want to observe the island from the sky and know the approximate topography. For that purpose, I''m going to build a golem that can fly." "In the sky? Reiko was surprised. Even her predecessors had never thought of such a thing. "Yes, well, even if it can fly, it will only glide after being launched by magic power. In other words, a glider. The procedure is to make a model glider, turn it into a golem, have it observe the ground while gliding, and create a map upon its return. In this case, the scale is assumed to be approximate. "I understand what you are saying, but can you really fly? Reiko is skeptical, since only a part of Jin''s knowledge has been transcribed. "Yes, well, proof is better than argument, so let''s give it a try. So, a glider was built using light silver, and a golem nucleus was mounted on it, along with a magi-crystal to ensure vision. Although the nucleus is small, it only operates the elevator, directional rudder, and auxiliary wing (aileron). It was completed in a short time. "Does this thing fly?" "Yeah, watch this." Jin goes outside the institute to test fly the glider golem in the vestibule, which had already been cleared by Topaz and Aqua. "Okay, let''s throw it. First, the glider is lightly pushed forward. The glider glides straight up, flies about 50 meters, and lands. "It really flew! Reiko seems impressed. Her face does not show much yet. We repeat this several times to make the glider golem remember how to control it. And now it''s time for the real thing. "Reiko?" Yes, Father. Throw this as high as you can. With her full power, she''ll be able to reach three kilometers into the sky. Yes, sir. Reiko gets into throwing position. "Glider golem, observe and remember the island. And come back here. Just as Jin gives the order, "I''m coming!" Reiko throws the glider golem as fast as she can. It soars into the sky so quickly that it is invisible to the naked eye. "How''s it doing?" Jin asks Reiko, who can still see it. Yes, it is still rising. Still ...... gliding. It''s coming down slowly. ......" The glider golem landed in front of the institute two hours later. It was the next day that a map based on the images of the island stored in the Golem''s core was completed. 41 - 02-02 Naming, Bongrae Now, in front of Jin was a map of the island where the institute is located. It was the result of the glider golem. I see, this island is almost circular. The southeast side of the island is gouged out to form a bay. "Father, let''s name this island, too. Reiko, the automaton who was looking at the map with Jin, said. "I guess so. ......" Jin ponders. "Yamato......Akitsushima......Yashima......" The names sounded familiar. It is Jin, after all. "Yes, let''s go with ''Horai Island''." Horai is a legendary island in the East Sea of ancient China where a goddess resides. It was a good name for Jin. "And since this bay is located in the southeast, ...... southeast is also called Tatsumi, so let''s go with ." Jin was Jin, after all. "So, in the center of this Horai Island is , a little over 3000 meters high. If we use it well, we can cultivate plants in cold regions. "The institute is located in the middle of Mt. It is a remnant of the island of 1,000 years ago. "Yes, there are wetlands and ponds. We could call it the central plateau. Jin''s naming style is on a roll. "For the time being, let''s build an orchard and fields around here so that we can be self-sufficient. "Okay. I will instruct Perid and Topaz to do so. Reiko agrees with Jin''s decision. She quickly gives instructions. "So, the north side is a primeval forest. Is it suitable for forestry?And to the east, there are bushes and grasslands. It would be nice to have a pasture or something. And to the south, wetlands and grasslands, and a river. Maybe we can make rice paddies." "What are rice fields, father?" Reiko asks suspiciously. Reiko asks suspiciously, because the knowledge she has received from Jin is not complete. "Oh. A rice paddy is a field dedicated to the crop of rice. I used to eat rice as my staple food in my previous world. Reiko looks at Jin with distant eyes, "I understand. So you want to eat this crop of rice. "That''s right. I don''t know if it exists in this world, but I''d like to find it. I don''t know if it exists in this world, but I''d like to find it. Jin continues to examine the map. "The west side is a wasteland. It looks like the remains of mud and stones from the collapse of Horai-san and the flow of lava from a long time ago. There may be mineral resources here. "Yes. It''s a lower priority, but it needs to be investigated. So, Tatsumi Bay... Reiko changes the subject. "When I went out to look for your father, I told you that I went out to sea, and I re-entered the sea from here. There is an abundance of coral on the ocean floor in this area. "Coral. We could collect some. Wait, if it''s a coral reef, shouldn''t there be plenty of fish? I remember watching a nature documentary program a long time ago that showed that coral reefs have many kinds of fish. "Yes, indeed. "Then, it would not be a bad idea to build a fish pond here and cultivate fish. "Shall we make a special golem and leave it to him? We don''t have enough manpower to do everything we want. But Jin and the others had the means to solve this problem. "Yes, that''s right. At the same time, I would like to build a harbor here in Tatsumi Bay and put a ship on it. A ship? "A ship?" "Yes. I want to build a big one, about 200 meters long in the end. Two hundred meters is completely Jin''s hobby. It would be nice to travel on the sea. ......Well, we have to develop the power source first. There is still a long way to go, but at the same time he is looking forward to it. "Well, that''s about it for now." Having grasped the terrain and decided on a course of action, Jin took a breath, biting into a piece of fruit resembling an orange and muttering, "Well, that''s about it for now. "This way, it''s clear which items are high priority and which items are low priority. After all, the first priority was to secure food. "We have already transplanted fruit trees similar to the ones your father mentioned, ." "You''re fast. That''s what I''m talking about." Perid and Topaz worked together with their men using magic, so it only took them a couple of days to finish. "So, the first thing we need to do is to secure wheat. Wheat is the staple food in this world. Wheat and barley were grown. "We need to buy enough to eat and enough for seeds. But where should we go?And we don''t have any money." There was a lot of money in the lab, but none in currency. "I have an idea of a town where I could buy some. That''s where I moved to for the fifth time." "I see. I''ll come with you then. So, for the money, do you want me to sell the Magi Crystal or something I made? Reiko nodded her head at this. It is not surprising since neither Jin nor Reiko know much about this world. "Well, I guess I''ll just have to take some Magi Crystals with me and make a decision at the destination. "Yes, I think that''s a good idea." "All right, let''s go then." "Yes. The corresponding warp gate is here. Reiko had written the destination on the warp gate she had set up, so it was easy to understand. The warp gate had on it. Is this the town? "No, it is more of a city than a town. There is a hidden warp gate in the forest about three kilometers before the city. Okay. Okay. Let''s go." The two were transported to the Blue Land. 42 - 02-03 Girl with red hair Jin and Reiko went out of the warp gate into a cave. When they got out of the cave, they found themselves surrounded by a deep forest, just as Reiko said. "Hmm, is this a little south of Horai Island?No, it might be because of the shift in longitude. "Father, what do you mean?" "Oh. I judged it by looking at the position of the sun. Jin and the others left Horai Island at around 3 pm. It looks like it was just before noon here. It is natural that the sun''s altitude is different. "Then, Horai Island and this place are off by less than 45 degrees in longitude. If we can determine the distance, we can also determine the size of this world. "?" Jin calculated the angles and directions using his unique measurement skills as a Magecraft Meister, but Reiko didn''t seem to understand. It seemed that this knowledge was not transferred to Reiko, but Jin said that he would explain it later, since there was no time, and walked into the forest. "Well, is there a voice calling for help from somewhere?" "No, I don''t hear any such voice. "......" Jin was at a loss for an answer when he was answered honestly. "Well, okay, so which way is Blue Land?" Yes, this way. Reiko takes the lead and shows Jin around. The underbrush is short and easy to walk through. "Are there any wild animals?" Hitoshi asks as they walk, "Yes. As far as I can tell, there are only small herbivorous animals. There are no magical beasts either. "Well, that''s a relief." Yes. I would protect your father even if I had to. Reiko can easily take on a whole country now, so most things are not a threat to her. After walking for about 30 minutes, the forest broke off and we came to a meadow. In the distance, I could see the castle walls. That is the Blue Lands. "I see. A fortified city. The fortified city surrounded by stone walls, that was Blueland. After walking for another 20 minutes, we approached the city walls of Blueland. The area around the walls was also lined with stalls and crowded with people. "Do I need anything to enter the city? "I''m sorry, but I didn''t go inside last time, so I don''t know. "I''m sorry, I don''t know, I didn''t go inside last time. Well, for now, let''s look at the stalls and gather information. Maybe we can find out the level of tools and the currency. "Yes." So the two of them decided to look around the stalls together. We learned a few things. First, language. It was the same as the one Jin had been speaking in the village of Kaina. Second, the currency. It was the same in Thor. This kingdom is called the Kingdom of Egelea, and like the Kingdom of Klein, to which the village of Kaina belongs, it is one of a small group of countries. And this place, Blueland, is called the economic center of the Kingdom of Egelea. As I was looking around the place, I heard something like this. "Oh, a magic crystal?No, it''s a Magi Stone." There was a store selling various colored Magi Stones. "Not very big ones. ...... Geez, a thousand dollars a piece! It cost about 10,000 yen. "A thousand dollars for such a small one? "Oh, brother, you want to buy one?" The stall owner said to me, "No, I''m afraid I don''t have it with me. Jin ran away saying, "No, I''m afraid I don''t have it with me. "But a magic stone like that costs 1,000 dollars. I wonder how much this Magi Crystal would be worth. The red Magi Crystal that Jin had brought for money. It is said that the value of a magi stone and a magi crystal is 10 to 20 times higher than each other in the market. "I can''t sell it easily ......." I didn''t want to be too obvious. "Reiko, was the Magi Stone in the laboratory?" "I believe it was discarded for lack of use, so you should be able to find it if you go to the place where it was discarded. "Ah, I think the market will be confused if we sell them without a plan. Even today on Earth, there are rumors about the existence of a diamond syndicate. Jin is a Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer, and rough trade is not his specialty. "I guess I''ll sell them next time. For now, he decided to give up trying to get money and just look around. "I don''t see many stalls selling magic tools. So far, he had not seen any such stalls. Reiko told Jin who tried to look for more, "Your father is the only Magecraft Meister in the world, so he doesn''t need any reference, does he?" "Oh, thank you. But you never know where you might find an interesting idea. I''d like to be humble and not conceited because I''m a Magecraft Meister." "If your father says so." Reiko was always devoted to Jin. Then, at the edge of a row of stalls, she found a store selling magic tools. "It''s kind of crappy," she said. Jin muttered when he saw the items for sale. That was his honest impression, "What? It was a small whisper, but it seemed to be heard, and the girl who seemed to be the store keeper became agitated. "Are you trying to stink up our goods?" The girl who stood up and glared at Jin was about 15 or 6. She was a little shorter than Jin, with wavy, flaming red hair and red eyes. Her face is a little severe, but 9 out of 10 people would say she is a beautiful girl. "Say something!" Jin was thinking of what to say when he realized that he had been overheard in his careless muttering. Before he could open his mouth, Reiko responded. "I was just giving you my honest opinion. What''s wrong with telling the truth? She was adding fuel to the fire. "It''s bad!You''ll make people less likely to buy!" "From what I''ve seen, it doesn''t seem to have sold. I don''t think there will be any decrease since there aren''t any to begin with, do you? "No, you''re wrong! You should stop shifting the blame to others without facing the reality. You said what you wanted to say! No, I didn''t want to, but I had to explain it to you. You ......! The red-haired girl took a stick from somewhere and swung it at Reiko. 43 - 02-04 Helpers "What are you doing?" Reiko took up the stick that the red-haired girl was holding without a second thought. As she does so, a small spark seems to fly. "What?" "It''s a dangerous toy, isn''t it?" Reiko snatched the stick and broke it in half. "Hey, hey, hey... ......" At that moment, an old man from a neighboring stall said, "Hey, if you''re going to make noise, do it somewhere else. You''re hurting my business." Jin, who had lost his timing to interrupt the argument between the two, said, "Oh, I''m sorry. Reiko, stop it. And you, come here for a minute." He took the red-haired girl by the arm and took her to the shade of a tree a little far from the stall. And then, "I''m sorry for what my friend Reiko did to you. I''m sorry. Reiko was looking mysterious behind her. The girl said, "Ah, ah, who the hell are you people?< with your bare hands, or snap it in two, or something like that ......!My paralyzing wand!What are you doing?It cost me a fortune!" "Calm down for now." Jin hurried to calm the girl down, as she was about to start screaming again if he left her alone. "Ha-ha-ha!" "Haa, haa," he said to the girl who was gasping for air, "Anyway, let me introduce myself. I''m Jin. This is Reiko. And you? I''m Beena. Nice to meet you, Beena. Jin takes the staff that Reiko still has in her hand. "So, you have a small thunder magic stone in your grip..." "What?" "You spread it all over the wand so that you get an electric shock when you touch it. What?What? The wand is made of ...... ash, huh? It''s true that it''s a good conductor of magic for wood, but it''s only wood, so it doesn''t seem to be very efficient. "What?What?What? "The magic formula for activating the Magi Formula can be found at ....... Wow, that''s sloppy writing. You''re wasting more than half of your magic power." "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Bina can''t hide her surprise as Jin easily analyzes the principle of operation of the paralyzing wand. "Oh, you said Jin, who the hell are you?" "I''m ...... a magecraftsman." Jin said as he handed the broken staff back to Bina. Magecraftsman" seemed to go over better. "You too?" "You too?" "Does that mean that Bina is a magecraftsman too?" Yes, I am. I''ve been training under the teacher Gladia Hampton for two years now! Bina is puffing out her not-so-large chest, "Who is that?" Jin''s reaction was something like this. "You don''t know who that is ......?" "No, I don''t." "<> is a renowned magecraftsman! "I see." In contrast to Bina, who is furious, Jin is calm. "Well, anyway, I apologize for disparaging your products and breaking your wand. Jin apologizes again. Bina, too, was impressed by Jin''s honest apology, "Oh, I''m sorry for waving my paralyzed cane at you out of the blue, too. She bowed her head, but then noticed something, "Yes, that''s right!You told me that my work was poor, didn''t you! "Yeah, that''s why I said I was sorry." "I''m not mad at you, no, I''m a little mad at you, but..." Beena is at a loss for words. She was thinking about it with a frown and a red face, but then she seemed to have made up her mind, "Shoddy" means you can make something better, right?Please!Give me your power!" "What?" The conversation takes an unexpected turn, and Jin is taken aback. "Please!I really need the money!I need to sell my products!But I can''t sell any of them!I don''t know what to do!I don''t know what to do!Please help me! Wait a minute! She calmed Beena''s outburst again, "Let me explain in order. First, Beena needs money, right? Yes, she does! And why is that? Do I have to explain? Beena looks at me with a downcast, upturned eyes. She looks at me with a sullen expression on her face, a far cry from her earlier behavior. "Well, I don''t know. If I''m going to help you, I''m going to need to know why. What''s in it for me anyway?" "U...... okay. I''m ashamed to tell you. ...... to cure my brother and sister. "They''re sick. So they need a doctor, medicine. What about your parents?" Bina''s face clouds over as she is asked this question. Then she says in a sad voice, "They got sick when I was studying with Ms. Gladia Hampton. "Oh, I see. I''m sorry, I''m sorry." Bina''s voice was cheerful as she bowed her head to Jin, "It''s okay. So, I had to make up the tuition for the teacher to teach me, so I have no money even though I have debts." Bina, who had been so strong, told me the situation. Jin is not good at this kind of thing. "I understand. I don''t know what I can do, but I can help you with the cane. "Really?Thank you, Jin! Bina jumped for joy. "Well, what can I do for you?" "Well, I guess we should close up for the day and you can take me to Beena''s workshop. "Yes, yes. It''s a dirty place. And so, Jin was forced to help Beena, a red-haired girl he had just met. 44 - 02-05 Improvements and improvements "This is my workshop. It''s small." Bina led us to her workshop. It was located on the outskirts of the town of Vreeland. According to Bina, "In the city?Only rich people and aristocrats live there. The common people are all outside the city walls. She said. Jin senses political corruption here as well, but he decides not to think about it, as it has nothing to do with him. Bina''s workshop is about 10 tatami mats in size. This is normal for a private workshop. However, there were few tools and utensils in the workshop. "What about my younger brother and sister? Jin was concerned about his younger brother and sister who were sick. "They live behind here. Don''t worry about them. "I don''t think so. Just let me see how they are. Bina tells him to be persistent, "Do you know what''s wrong with him?" "I know what''s common sense." "Oh, really?Well, let''s get you checked out just to be sure. So we went to the house behind the workshop. The house was more like a shack. I spent all my money on the workshop. Bina was a little embarrassed. Nana, Lardo, how are you feeling? Beena enters the house, opens the door to the room where they are lying down, and calls out to her younger siblings. "You''re up early today, little sister. Her younger sister Nana, about 12 years old, has the same red hair as Bina. "Yeah, I''m fine. Same as usual." That was answered by her younger brother, Lardo. He is also about 12 years old. Brown hair. "Who''s that?" Nana asked when she noticed Jin behind Bina. Jin introduced himself. I am Jin. I''m an acquaintance of Bina''s and I''m helping her at the workshop. Lardo then said, "Is that so?I heard that your teacher is a famous magecraftsman. That''s why you''re a great magecraftsman too!" He said proudly, "Yes, that''s right. I can learn a lot from you. When Jin said this, Reiko''s face outside the room seemed to twitch. * * * * * Jin returned to the workshop from his house. "So?Do you know what''s wrong with them?" From the way they looked lazy and the bleeding gums, Jin guessed it might be scurvy, but he wasn''t sure, "Well, I have an idea, but I''m not sure. He replied, "Well, I have an idea, but I''m not sure. "Yes, I knew it. I wasn''t expecting that one. With that, Bina went to heat up some soup for her siblings'' lunch. Jin took this opportunity to give instructions to Reiko. Reiko, hurry back to the laboratory and find the Magi Stone. And bring me lots of those peach-like fruits. "But then your father will be alone..." Reiko worries.., "Don''t worry. I don''t think there''s any danger here. "Yes, I understand. I''ll be there as soon as I can. Please do not do anything dangerous. With these words Reiko disappeared like the wind. Then Bina came back. "Are you alone?Where is Reiko? "Yes, I asked Reiko to take care of something. She''ll be back soon. Anyway, let''s get started." "Hmm?Well, that''s okay. Then hang it up there." The two sit down in chairs across a thick wooden workbench. "Well, what should we start with?I''ll leave it to Bina. Jin said, "Well, can you take a look at this?" Bina has placed a lamp on her workbench. It is a common lamp, like the ones used in every house. "A magic lamp, huh? "That''s the first thing they teach you how to make at your teacher''s place. That means it''s basic, right?I want you to take a look at it. "Okay." Jin holds it in his hand and looks at it. The magic power of the Magi Stone is converted into light using the Magi Formula, which is engraved on the Magi Plate. Basically, the Magi Stone can be of any attribute. "Well, the housing is not well made. The conversion efficiency is poor because of the messiness of the magic formula. "You said earlier that the Magi Formula is sloppy. Then show us your example. Jin thought that if he showed them his skills here, they would listen to him more honestly in the future. "How do I replace the plate that writes the Magi Formula? ......Yes, that''s fine." The plate is a catalyst, so to speak, that activates magic when it comes into contact with the Magi Stone. Jin engraves the Magi Formula on it. "Magick absorption, magick storage, magick stabilization, magick conversion, magick activation..." "Wait a minute! would be complete. "It''s done, isn''t it?" "Yes. Then let''s make about three of them. Since Beena was going to use the prototypes to check for problems and test various other things, they decided to make one for sale. "Since they are for sale, let''s make them look nice on the outside. Jin then painted the wooden casing white. This is what is called "white goods. "Wow, it looks nice. With the samples, we were able to complete three machines by noon. They are not working yet because I haven''t put in the Magi Stone yet. "It''s done." "Oh, good job." "It''s already lunchtime. I can''t do much, but would you like to eat with me? "If you want." So Bina goes into the kitchen. Something is simmering. After a while, a vegetable soup was ready. "I''ll feed it to Nana and Lardo, you go ahead and eat it. But he said, "No, I don''t think so, No, that''s not going to happen. I''ll peel the citran and take it with me. Saying this, Jin took two citrons and went with Bina to his younger siblings'' room. "Oh, Jin! Lardo shouted when he saw Jin behind Bina. "Hey. I''m going to peel your citran today. With these words, Jin peeled the citran. It is easy to peel by hand like oranges. "It''s so sweet and sour! Nana was delighted. Bina watched them eat with a smile on her face. They came back to the kitchen and prepared their own meal. The soup is made by stewing various vegetables, and the seasoning is not bad. The seasoning is not bad, but.., "Hmm?" Hard and crunchy. Bina said to Jin, "I''m sorry. The corn is hard, isn''t it?It''s the cheapest kind, so no matter how much I cook it, it doesn''t get soft. Jin looked at the corn and chewed it slowly. "Do you have any more of this corn, ...... beena? "Yes, yes. I bought a bag of corn, so I think I still have about 8 kilograms left. Hearing this, Jin hurriedly ate the soup and showed me the corn. Jin twisted the corn on his hand and looked at it, "I think I can probably make this," he said. He said, and then hurried to the workshop with Bina, who had finished eating. "What''s wrong?" Bina asked suspiciously, "I thought of a quick and easy way to make some money," he said. He then instructed Beena to start making a magic tool. "Yes," he said. One medium shallow pot ...... and one large deep pot. The shallow pot will be suspended in the air and a magi stone will be placed underneath. With these words, Jin writes down the formula for the magi formula on the plate. Bina saw this and asked "What?Unless my eyes have gone crazy, that''s a lightning formula, isn''t it?If you use a pot, shouldn''t it be a fire system?" Then Jin chuckled, "That''s the characteristic of this tool. Look closely, the lightning is very small and is switched at extremely short intervals." "That''s ...... how you do it." Jin assembled the tools with Bina and then told her, "Give me some of that corn and a little oil and salt," he said. They put the vegetable oil, salt, and corn in a pot suspended in the air, "If it works, I''ll give you a nugget. He muttered to himself and activated his tools. A few moments later, the smell of the corn started, and suddenly the corn popped with a sound. Bina was startled, "What is it?" "Yes!It worked." Once the corn popped, it popped one after another. The popped corn accumulates in a large pot placed below. Eventually, when there was no more corn in the top pot, Jin stopped the tool. "Come on, let''s try it. The corn popped in the big pot. Jin picked it up and put it in his mouth. "Yes, it''s good! Bina watches and tries some of the popped corn herself. And then.., "Ah. It''s delicious." And she eats it enthusiastically. In no time at all, the popped corn in the pot is gone. "It was delicious. It lingers." "Right?It''s called popcorn. I think you could make a lot of money selling this at the stall." "Oh, yes!I''ll start tomorrow! "We need to find a buyer for the refrigerator, too. If the popcorn gets popular, maybe we can find a buyer for that too. "Yeah, I guess so. Well, I''m happy to earn my living for now. Jin, thank you! What''s this? ...... Oh, be careful with this one, you need a hard-shelled corn to pop it properly." "Really?Really? I thought it would taste better if I used expensive corn. So Jin and Beena went to buy corn, cooking oil, and salt. They managed to buy some of these items for Beena, as they were all inexpensive, and Jin also received a bag of corn to take home. 48 - 02-09 Horai Island, currently under development What awaited Jin when he returned to Horaijima was a mountain of reports. "We have surveyed the wasteland on the west side of the island, and it seems that a large amount of granite, Oyaishi, and other stone materials can be obtained. As for mineral resources, iron ore was abundant, but other minerals are scarce." "Please mine and store good quality iron ore." The grasslands to the east have been fenced off and are ready to be turned into pasture. "Oh, as soon as we have enough money, we''ll have to buy some cattle and sheep." "We have finished setting up a harbor in Tatsumi Bay, and we have set up two fish ponds on a trial basis. Keep me posted on the fish stocks and the species of fish. The orchard on the plateau is ready. We''ll build a refrigerator afterwards, so please store the harvested fruits there. The list of useful plants in the northern forest zone is complete. There''s a rubber tree. That''s a good one. And so on, and so on, and so on. In the end, the report continued until the next day, and I took a day off from visiting Beena. "I''m tired indeed. ......" The golem maids worked harder than Jin had expected. "How was your father?" Reiko asked after finishing the report. "Yes. The prototype of the refrigerator is ready. And popcorn." Popcorn? It''s a food you can make from this corn. Jin pulls out a bag of corn he brought with him. Topaz received it. I''ll sow it in the field right away. "Yes, please." Topaz handed it to his golem and gave him instructions. "Well then, let''s make a refrigerator here too. "I''ll help you." Jin heads for the workshop with Reiko. "It''s good that we can use Magi Crystals instead of Magi Stones. Jin takes out a water-based Magi Crystal and immediately begins to engrave the Magi Formula. Compared to the Magi Stone, the Magi Crystal lasts tens to hundreds of times longer, so it can be used directly to engrave the Magi Formula. On the other hand, since MagiStone needs to be replaced frequently, a MagiBoard (plate) is used. "Instead of making ice, you cool it directly." Bina could not have done this, but Jin was able to construct the Magi Formula without any difficulty. "Father, the chassis is ready." Reiko was making the refrigerator itself. "Good. We''ll put a thermal barrier around the housing. That''s it. "It''s done." The finished product was about 1 meter high, 70 centimeters wide, and 60 centimeters deep. "Okay, let''s put some fruit in it. It tastes better when it''s chilled. "Okay, I''ll put it in later." "Okay, then I''ll convert the unused room into a refrigerator, or rather a cold room." So we are going to build a warehouse for storing fruits, nuts and grains. "I think the best place for that would be at the very back of the first floor. It is a huge refrigerator, but if Jin and Reiko cooperate, the size will not be a bottleneck. Fruits were quickly brought into the newly built refrigerated room. In the same way, Jin uses another room to make a freezer room. The reason is that freezing is better for long-term preservation. Ice can also be made. Fruits and nuts were stored there as well. When it was all over, it was already dusk. Jin went to the dining room he had set up in the laboratory, "Ah, another meal of fruits and nuts. ...... He blurts out. Reiko heard him, "Father, we have some bread and dried meat." "Really? Jin asks hurriedly. "Yes. Actually, the other day while your father was in the workshop with Bina, I made some money by selling magi stones at a stall. I bought it with it. Was it unnecessary? Reiko looks worried. But Hitoshi said, "Of course not... You noticed it well, Reiko. I''m glad." Saying that, he grilled the bread Reiko offered and seared the dried meat. "Yes, it''s good." Jin eats the bread with the dried meat. The amount of salt was just right. Reiko saw this and smiled, "That was good." But there is only enough bread and dried meat for one more meal. "We''d better make sure we have enough food for tomorrow. Jin thought as he ate. Then he came up with an idea. "Oh, Reiko, I want to build a house outside. Home? "Yes. This institute is top secret, but if you ever bring someone here, we can at least keep it a secret by showing them to the house we built outside. Reiko raised her eyebrows slightly, "...... is that about Bina-san?" "No, it''s not limited to Beena. I just thought it would be a good idea to say that there happened to be a warp gate near my house. After all, not knowing where they came from will be a disadvantage when buying grain and livestock in the future. "Is that what you mean? I understand. In that case, I''ll have Soleil and Luna help me make it. It doesn''t have to be a very big house. It doesn''t have to be too big. It can be cozy. Yes, it should be about twice as big as Beena''s house. We can also build a simple workshop as a dummy. "Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it. Jin was relieved that it was now easier to explain to Bina where he had come from. 49 - 02-10 Writers Manufactured The next morning, Jin visited Bina''s house with a basket of apple-like fruits. Reiko is away again today. Or rather, she is building a house. "Beena, are you there? she says, and knocks on the door, which opens with a bang. "Jin!You came! ...... what''s that?" "......" Jin was bounced out the door. "Ow! ......" "I''m sorry." Bina saw the bump on Jin''s forehead and looked apologetic. "Oh, it''s okay. ...... cure." Jin casts a healing spell on himself. Beech''s eyes turn into dots when she sees this. "Oh my God, you can do healing magic too? "You can use healing magic, too?I can use it, but only this much. It can only heal minor injuries while it''s being made. "That''s still amazing. ...... "So, why were you in such a hurry?" Jin asked Bina after healing Cobb. "Oh, yeah. That was selling like hotcakes!" According to Bina, at first only people bought the corn because they were curious about it, but those who took it home and ate it came back to buy more, and those who saw them came back to try it, and so on. So they ran out of 10 kilograms of corn in the afternoon. "So I wanted to give this to Jin as a share, or rather as a thank you. Bina offered three silver coins. About 3,000 yen. "Wow, you must have made a lot of money." "Yes. And I sold the four magic lamps I left next to the lamps. Oh. Just as planned. As far as Jin is concerned, the popcorn is to attract customers and the magic tools are to sell. "So I decided to open the store at noon and spend the morning making magic tools. "Oh, you got an idea?" Jin asked, "Yes. One is a magic lamp that is convenient for carrying and the other is a magic tool for igniting a fire. Jin thought for a moment, "What do you mean by a magical tool for lighting a fire?I don''t cook much, so I don''t really know how to use it. "Really?You know, it''s not normal to be able to make a fire with magic, so those houses either keep a fire starter or use a fire starter. A hiokoshi is a tool used to make fire by rubbing wood against wood. "There are magic tools that can make fire, but they are expensive and not something ordinary people can afford. So I thought it would be better if I could make a fire just to start a fire. Jin was impressed. Bina was talking about a lighter. "Yeah, that''s good, isn''t it?You already have a plan, don''t you?" "Yes, will you listen to me?First, we need to get the Magi Stone (......)." Then, after listening to Bina''s explanation, Jin said, "I think it''s a good idea. Let''s make it right away." "Yes. So they start to make it. "I want it to be about the size of your palm, and it should light on fire when you hold it. "Well, gripping is a bit vague, so how about this? Jin explains the push button. "Oh, that''s a good idea. When you press this button, the Magi Stone contacts the Magi Board (plate) and it works. ...... Thus the lighter was completed. "The magic stone (magi stone) is very small, so I can make it much cheaper. The magi stones are made of crushed peas, and can be used about 100 times. "One hundred dollars, that''s expensive. About 500 yen. 5 yen per use for 100 uses. That''s a good deal. And if the fire runs out, why don''t you bring it back to me and I''ll refill it with magi stones for a fee? "Yes, I agree. I''ll give you 20 tokens. "Yes, that''s right. And maybe we should sell as many as we can and make some money before they copy us. "Yes, that''s true, there is a big chance that they will copy us. Bina agreed. "Oh, and from now on, I think it would be a good idea to put an imprint on all of your work so that people will know that it is Beena''s." "What?Why?" "One way to distinguish it from similar products. And if we''re going to sell the name, we might as well start now." Bina blushed a little, "Is that so?I''ve never thought about that before. "No, I''m not trying to flatter you, but I''m sure you''re going to be famous in the future. Jin said this with a straight face, which made Beena blush even more, "Oh, I''m going to be famous?Oh, no." She started to wiggle more, which made Jin laugh, "That''s what I''m talking about. You''ll have to think of a design for the engraving, won''t you?" "I''ll think about it." Incidentally, Jin''s design as well as his naming sense is also a disappointment. The engraving was to be a design of Bina''s B (the letter B in this world was similar to the alphabet) in the flower of Bina''s favorite lily. "Okay, let''s engrave it on the lighter. To Jin, who said, "A lighter?" "Ah, yes. I was thinking of calling this magical tool <> after the word "light" which means to light a fire. Lighter, right? Yeah, that''s good, isn''t it?You have good taste, Jin, like the refrigerator! It was a complete misunderstanding, but Jin was not dumb enough to point it out. After making about 20 lighters in the morning, they had bread, vegetable soup, and apple soup for lunch. Apulul was a common fruit, by the way. "My brother and sister are happy because of you. Jin had brought a variety of fruits, and both of them were getting an appetite for them. "Oh, but is the april a little hard?" Bina is worried because her gums are bleeding. "Then why don''t you make juice out of them or burn them? Jin said and Bina rolled her eyes. "Bake it?Bake the april?" "Yes. We cut out the core, add sugar and cinnamon, and bake them in a frying pan. Beena heard Jin''s explanation, "Sugar is too expensive. And what''s cinnamon?" "Oh, I see, I''m sorry. That''s the way we eat them where I come from. So we call them grated apples." Jin accidentally said "apple", "Apples?That''s what they call apples where Jin''s from. Yes, let''s call them grated apples. Saying this, Bina grates the apples and brings them to the table with her siblings'' meals. 50 - 02-11 Tools for the common people After lunch, Jin and Bina went to set up their stall. As usual, they set up a simple table at the far end of the stall area, and set up their magic tools there. They were supposed to. What is this crowd? The place was already overflowing with people. "Ah!They''re here! "Oh, <>, hurry up and sell it!The kids are waiting for you." "Two popcorn, quickly!" I want three popcorns!" Most of the customers had come to buy popcorn. "Okay, okay, just a minute. With that, Bina put the corn in the popcorn machine, added oil and salt, and turned it on. After about three minutes, the corn started popping. "It''s always interesting to watch, isn''t it?" "Oh, it smells so good." The finished popcorn is wrapped in leaves of the pawpaw tree and sold. The leaves are widely used for wrapping because they are flexible and tear resistant. Yes, thank you very much, that will be five copper coins. Five tol (about 50 yen) per package, a good deal. Half of it is for advertising purposes. "Oh, I''ve been waiting for this! This is it, this is the taste!It lingers in the mouth!" Some of them open the package and start eating it right then and there. Jin was stunned by the popularity of the products, but then he noticed something he had prepared and placed it on the table displaying the products. It was a tag with the name of the product and its price. When I looked around the stalls, many of them had price tags, but none of them had product descriptions. That is why I prepared these tags. "Hey, what''s this ?" Sure enough, a customer in line to buy popcorn bites into it. "Yes, this is a magical tool for lighting a fire. This is a sample. Jin then shows a prototype lighter. Pressing the round button in the center of the rectangular box, a small fire was lit. "This is how you can use it to make a fire," he said. I demonstrated, "Wow, that''s nice. Can I try it?" A woman of about 30, probably a housewife, said so, and Jin handed her a lighter. "This is how ...... the fire started. You put this on the stub. It''s useful for when the spark goes out. Is this ......50 tall?I want one. "Yes, thank you." One was sold immediately. Jin received the prototype, handed over the product, and received the money. "Well, that looks useful. Can I have one? "Thank you very much." Some of the customers, who had been waiting to buy popcorn, saw the convenience of the lighter and started to buy it. "Well, I''d love to have one, but I don''t have it with me, hey, are you coming back tomorrow?" "Yes, I will. "Well, I''ll buy it tomorrow." And so it went on, and before the evening was over, all the corn we had prepared was gone, and the lighters were sold out. "Shall we go home?" "Yes. ......" Bina looks tired. Jin was tired of doing something he was not used to, so he decided to leave. "But you sell well, don''t you? "Yeah, I was surprised too. "I guess so. That''s a lot of sales." The bag on Bina''s waist was overflowing with copper coins. Jin''s is a mixture of silver and copper coins. "Can''t you exchange the coins or something?" Jin asked, "It''s boring because they charge me a commission. The answer came back, "It''s boring because they charge a fee. After returning to Bina''s house, he calculates the sales. The popcorn sales totaled 2,200 dollars, and the lighter 1,000 dollars. Total: 3200 Tall. The cost of the ingredients is 500 Tolls for 10 kg of corn, 100 Tolls for salt, and 300 Tolls for oil. Tolls for salt, 300 Tolls for oil. The magic stone for the lighter is 500 Tolls, and the others are 100 Tolls. We make 1,700 Tall, minus the cost of the oil. Jin calculated it in his mind to be about 17,000 yen a day. That''s not bad. "Then half that to Jin, 850 tall. Here you go. A bag full of coins was presented to him. "Wait a minute, we don''t need this much. "No, we''re splitting it." "No, of course not. The workshop belongs to Beena, and she''s the one who procured the materials. 7-3 is fine." "Let''s see, that would be ......?It''s too much to calculate, so just take the 700 tall one. You know, I''m getting fruits and stuff." Bina then offered him 700 dollars mixed with silver coins. By the way, the correct answer is 510 dollars. "...... Well, that''s okay." Jin accepts it with a wry smile. "Well, we still have some time left, so we better go get some materials, right? "Yes, I''m tired, but I''ll have to go shopping today. Bina carried a large bag on her shoulder for shopping. Jin did the same. "I think we should start with the magi stones first. Bina decides to start with something light and goes to buy a magi stone for her lighter, but Jin stops her. "Wait, wait, I''ll get you the Magi Stone. "What?Oh, by the way, Jin said he has a Magi Stone, didn''t he? Yes. I''ll sell it to you at cost, don''t worry. "Sorry ...... but thanks." So the two go around buying salt, oil, and corn. Jin finally gets some barley and wheat for food. "All my money is gone," he says. Bina is a little disappointed. It''s no wonder he''s still stuck in the bicycle business. "I''m sure we''ll be able to afford it in a little while. Jin consoles her. Bina says, "I know. Before Jin came, we weren''t selling at all, so we can''t afford to be extravagant. She looked up at him. "But the writer''s reputation was good, wasn''t it? After all, it is very rewarding to create something useful for everyone. "Yes, I think so too. Then, of course we''ll make a writer, but think about what else we can make. "Oh, you''re leaving?" "Oh, you''re leaving?" "Yeah, I''m sorry. I''ll be back tomorrow. "Well, thank you for today." With these words, Jin left Bina and returned home carrying corn and wheat. * * * * * * * * * * * * The scene changes to a nobleman''s mansion within the city walls. In a luxurious room, a boy of 12 or 3 years old is sitting on a luxurious chair. He is sitting on a luxurious chair. Then a servant comes in. "I''ve bought what you asked for, sir." The servant holds out something wrapped in a pine tree leaf. "Oh, this. Yes, here you go." It was the unmistakable popcorn. The boy takes a bite, "Yes, it''s delicious!I''ve never tasted anything like this before." He ate the whole thing with a gulp. Is that all? Hey, get me some more." The servant looked apologetic, "The store is closed for the day, so I can''t get you any more until tomorrow. The boy looked unhappy, "Well, I''ll order the cook to make them." 51 - 02-12 Confession "Welcome home, father." When I returned to the institute, Reiko welcomed me. "It''s already dark, but please take a look at the new house we have built. "What?Already?" Jin is surprised that Reiko and the others have built the house in one day, but he doesn''t realize that it could have been done much faster if he had done it himself. Aside from that, when he went outside the institute, he found a Japanese-style house with a tiled roof. "This is ......." "From your father''s memory, we searched for a form that would be comfortable to live in, and this is what we came up with." One-story, wooden, tiled roof. The walls are painted with clay. Please take a look inside. When you enter the house, there is an entrance where you take off your shoes. The hallway is wooden and has an earthen floor, and is connected to the kitchen. There are four rooms, ...... tatami mats?" They were covered with something similar to tatami mats. "According to your father''s memory, it''s made of <>?I think they are made of it, but I found similar grass growing in the marsh, so I used it." How could she go to such lengths, I thought, but that was how much Reiko had done for Jin. Reiko, thank you. You are really a very good ." Jin said with a big smile, and Reiko looked happy to be praised. "Shall we start sleeping here tonight? "Yes, please." That night, Jin slept on a futon in the tatami room for the first time in a long time. The next morning. Jin had barley porridge for breakfast, Reiko, please sell the small magi stones again for money. I want you to buy wheat, barley, seasonings, etc. with it. "Yes, sir. When you are done, can I go to Ms. Beena''s? "Yes, yes. If she doesn''t have a stall, it will be at Beena''s house. Yes, sir. The Magi Stone from Horai Island seems to sell for a very high price because of its high quality. Reiko gets 5,000 Tolls after selling 3 Magi Stones, and buys wheat and barley with the money. The price of wheat and barley in the vicinity of Blueland is 80 Tolls per kilo for wheat and 90 Tolls per kilo for barley. It is a side story that the clerk at the grain store looked at Reiko who was carrying 60 kilograms of wheat and barley on foot with a blank look on his face. Some of the wheat brought back to Horai Island was given to Perid, a golem maid, for cultivation. The rest was stored as food. Salt can be found in the sea of Horai Island, so Reiko''s role ends when she buys a little pepper. "Shall I make some more money? So Reiko sold two more Magi Stones and got 3200 Tall and went to the place where Jin might be. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, Jin. I brought Persica again today. Thank you! Bina no longer cared where Jin brought the fruit from anymore. "My brothers have been feeling better since they started eating these," she said. "That''s good news. It would be best if they could get well without seeing a doctor. Jin said, "Did you know this would happen, Jin?" Bina looks at Jin with a superior look in her eyes. "Yes, I thought it might happen. "Yeah, I thought it might happen, but I told you I wasn''t sure.That''s why I didn''t tell you. "You said that, didn''t you? What was the disease? Scurvy. "Scurvy?" Bina nodded her head at the unfamiliar word. "It''s a disease you can get if you don''t eat raw vegetables and fruits. Bina said, "When you think of vegetables, you think of soup, don''t you?Certain nutrients in vegetables are destroyed when they are heated. That''s why it makes sense to eat them raw. Bina nodded her head when Jin explained this to her, "Why does Jin have such knowledge?Jin seems to be fundamentally different from me. She said. "Ah, I may have had a very special education. Maybe that''s why. "Education?Did Jin ever attend an academy? "The school?" "No?Then maybe a tutor?Was Jin rich?Or a nobleman?" Jin waved his hands in front of his face, "No, no, no. How should I put it: ......" I''ve been thinking about this since the house was finished. "I''m an orphan." "What?" Bina is taken aback by this sudden confession. Jin continued, "And I live on an isolated island. And my master is no longer here. "......" "On that island, there is a warp gate that is said to be an ancient artifact. "A warp gate? Beena was surprised and panicked. Jin told Bina to calm down, "Calm down. I used the warp gate and went out into the forest on this side. And the rest is as Bina knows. The story is abbreviated and blurred a lot, but generally it is not a lie. The content of the story seemed shocking to Bina, and it was not until long afterwards that she said, "I got some idea about it, "...... I kind of get it. I also found out why Jin is a magecraftsman," she said. "Fruits grow on that island, too. Jin added. "I see. Thank you. So you trust me now? "Yes. Don''t tell anyone else, okay? Of course not. So I''m gonna make another lighter today. "Sure, I''ll help you." So the two of them start working on the lighter. They found that they sold well, so they doubled the number of lighters they made today to 40. There was still some time left, "So, have you thought of anything else you want to make? Jin asked. Bina said, "Oh, yes. I wonder if we can make a magical tool to make hot water? "Wouldn''t we need it because it would be easy to make fire with a lighter?" Hitoshi countered, "No, it''s not that. Hot water is not the boiling water used for cooking, but the hot water used for washing hands or wiping the body, for example. Jin clapped his hands in admiration as he heard this explanation, "Oh, I see. I understand." It is a magical tool that can be used like a water heater on the modern Earth. All it has to do is to make some hot water. That doesn''t sound so hard. "It''s not that difficult, is it?As far as I''m concerned, I''m thinking of something that generates heat when placed in a container filled with water. Bina extended her idea, but Jin dismissed her idea. "Oh, that''s no good. "Why not? Bina, who had been so easily rebuffed, spontaneously shouted out loud. "Beena said yesterday that this is a good tool for everyone. I did say that, didn''t I? "That means you want to keep the price as low as possible, don''t you? I guess you''re right. Then we have to think about efficiency first. Efficiency? efficiency? I mean work for effort. Bina was deep in thought when she heard this, but soon realized what it meant, "I see. It means to make as much hot water as possible using as little magic power as possible, right? "Yes, yes. Bina is a very good learner, isn''t she? Jin was honestly impressed. 52 - 02-13 Template deployment In the end, there was not enough time to start building the < that day. After lunch, Jin and Bina went to set up their stall as they had done yesterday. "There seems to be more people here than yesterday. There was a crowd there, even bigger than yesterday. The two of them start to prepare for the event. "Hey, I''ve been waiting for you. "Hurry up and make it!" "Yes, please wait a minute!" Bina is making popcorn, and Jin is setting up his magic tools. Reiko joined them. When Jin saw Reiko.., "Oh, Reiko. Are you done?" "Yes. We''ve finished buying barley, wheat, and pepper. They are whispering to each other, so the customers in the hustle and bustle don''t hear them. "Good, then you can help me here." "Yes, sir." So Reiko joined the store. "Oh, what a pretty girl. Is she your sister?" said one of the customers. Jin and Reiko, both with dark hair, looked like brother and sister. "No, I''m ......." Reiko was about to say that she was his daughter, when Jin interrupted her, "That''s right. She came to help me." "Oh, good girl. Oh, can you give me one of these lighters? I bought it yesterday and my mother-in-law said it was nice and took it. "Yes, thank you." Jin hands over the lighter and takes the money. Reiko looks dissatisfied. But Hitoshi whispered, "Reiko... just pretend she''s my sister. Don''t make trouble for me." "I understand,...... brother." And just like that, the popcorn and lighters were sold out before the sun went down. "You sold out again today! "Yeah, that''s great." As we were walking toward Beena''s house, someone interrupted our conversation. "Heh heh, I see you''ve been making a lot of money lately. We''d like to have a little share of it. There are four men, all four with swords on their hips. "...... Wow. What a bunch of freaks." Jin is appalled, but the men don''t care as they reach for the bag around Bina''s waist. "What are you doing!This is today''s sales!" Beena brushes their hands away. "So, please, let me give you a little something..." "Don''t be silly!Why are you doing this to us? Bina is always so stubborn. And Jin, "That''s called stealing, do you know that?" He asked. Then one of them said, "What about it? and he suddenly punched Jin in the face. But the next moment, the man was flying in the air. And he stayed there, "Heggh!" He let out a strange scream, slammed to the ground, and remained silent. "What are you doing to my father?" It was Reiko, of course. The three remaining men couldn''t believe that Reiko, who looked about 10 years old, had done it, "What the hell did you just do?" "You use magic? "What did you just do?" "Do you use magic? Jin said to them, "You''d better take him back home for your own good. But they were not the kind of men who would listen to such advice. "Are you kidding me?Don''t you know what it''s like to be in pain? One of the men with a sword pulled it out from around his waist. "I''m going to hurt you a little. With that, he slashes at Jin. But the sword does not reach Jin. "Don''t tell me what you can''t do. Reiko snatches the sword away from him in an instant. What? "Such a lazy sword is useless!" Saying this, Reiko bent the blade in front of the man''s eyes. "What are you, a monster? The two remaining men looked terrified, pulled out their swords and started swinging them around wildly. "That''s dangerous!" But Reiko snatched the sword away in an instant, and this time, to their horror, curled it up into a ball in her hands. "Uh-oh!" The men see this and try to run away, ignoring the one who is unconscious. "Cowardly!" As if to say that, Reiko caught up to the three men and hit one of them in the dove tail and one with a sword to the neck. She threw one of them down and knocked the other one unconscious. "Father, it''s over." "Yes, thank you." They were talking as if it was a matter of course, and Bina said, "Lako is so amazing. No wonder my paralyzing wand is useless. She said with a sigh. "So, what should we do with these guys?" All four of them were stretched out beautifully. "Well, let''s tie them up and turn them over to the guards. "Okay." Jin transforms the swords the men were holding into wires and ties them up. "That''s an interesting way to use it." Since Beena could also use Forming, she turned the sword into a wire and tied up the last man. "Well then, let''s put our stuff down first, and then we''ll go turn these guys in. "Right." So they tied the men who were still unconscious to a tree just in case. The three of them went back to Bina''s house to drop off their belongings. "Well, let''s go and hand them over." "Yes, it''s a pain in the ass..." So the three of them went back, but the four of them were still unconscious. What do we do? "Father, I''ll drag them away." As she said, Reiko dragged the four men to the soldiers'' quarters. They hit rocks and their trousers were torn. These things were beyond the control of Hitoshi and the others. The "Why can''t you make it? Why can''t you make it!You''re incompetent!" Curses echoed through the hall. "Bocchan, we use the finest corn, the finest vegetable oil, the finest salt... ......" "What''s the finest!It''s burnt and not at all puffed up!I can''t eat this!" A plate of burnt corn was thrown away. "Why in the world?It looks so easy to make. ......" No one answered his blurts. 53 - 02-14 Please The next day Jin went to Beena''s house alone. Reiko was going to give various instructions at Horaijima in the morning and join him in the afternoon. First, they made 50 lighters together. The rest of the time was used to work out the concept of the water heater. "How about we fill a tub with water and heat the water inside it?" Bina suggested, "Yes, that would be a good idea. Jin agreed. We immediately made a prototype. A bucket-shaped container was made of copper, and a magi device was assembled in the bottom to serve as a heater. I fit it into the wooden bucket, and voila! "It''s done! Okay, let''s fill it with water. In Bina''s house there is a well, which she uses for her magecraft. She draws water from the well and fills the container. "Heat". The magi-device is activated. In about five minutes, about 10 liters of water has become as hot as a bathtub. "Yes!It worked! "Yes, it worked. What if we keep it running? He kept it running and after about 10 minutes the water began to boil. "It boils water too!" Bina is pleased. But Hitoshi said, "Well, considering the safety aspect and the consumption of magi stones, I think it would be better to stop the water at the same temperature as a bath. "I see. I wonder about ....... Surely, there are other ways to boil water. "It would be better if we could use magi crystals, but with magi stones, they run out as soon as they boil, don''t they?" Bina thought for a while, "Yes, I''ve decided. Let''s call it a <> and make sure it doesn''t boil." "Shall we develop the <> separately?" "Okay." So the two of them headed for the stall with the prototype of the "hot-water heater". Reiko was already waiting for them at the stall. "Oh, Reiko, you''re early today." "Yes, my ...... brother. I''ve already purchased most of the things." As yesterday and the day before, Beena was making popcorn and Jin was tending the store. "Give me one of those lighters. "Thank you very much. Lighters are selling well again today. Meanwhile, Jin puts the prototype water heater he brought on the table. "Oh?What is it?" A customer waiting for popcorn bites into this unfamiliar magical tool. This is called a water heater. When you fill it with water and turn it on, it heats ......." To the curious onlookers, "The water inside turns into hot water." After about five minutes, the water started to steam, and the onlookers were impressed. "Hey, hey, can you boil water with this thing? "It''s not safe, it''s only hot enough to stick your hand in. "Hmm. But it can be used for washing dishes and so on. "If you boil water heated with this in the kettle, you can save on firewood and so on. "Oh, yes!I might want one. Hey, how much?" At this point Jin got stuck. He had not discussed the price with Bina. So he quickly calculated the cost in his head. "Let me see... 200 dollars per unit. "Well, that sounds like a good deal. But I don''t have enough today. "Oh, these are made to order, so if you order today, you can have them tomorrow. "Oh, I see. I''ll order one. "Thank you very much." I got an order for one right away. And then.., "Oh, I''ll order one too. I want one too." To my surprise, three units were sold. It seems to be more popular than I thought. In the end, the popcorn and lighters were sold out. We also ordered 5 water heaters. "I''m so happy. I can''t thank you enough. I can''t thank you enough. Bina says with a smile on her face. "Ha ha, I''m glad to be of service. But if we keep on like this, we''ll run out of copper, right?And wood for making vats. "Oh, I see. ...... What should we do?There is no place nearby where we can buy copper. Bina looks worried. Seeing this, Jin said, "Don''t worry. I think we have enough left for tomorrow." "Really?How come Jin knows more about my workshop than I do? "Inventory control is important too. You can''t run out of materials while you''re making something. I know, I''ll try my best. But I''m glad you''re here Jin. I should praise the old me for thinking of asking you. Bina smiles at that. Reiko, on the other hand, is silent. A figure appears in front of the three of them. "Excuse me, you must be Beena, the Magi Craftsman. It was a man dressed in luxurious, but not showy, clothing. He had short-cropped blond hair and must have been around 35 years old. "Yes, I''m Beena. I am Beena. The man lightly bobbed his head and said, "My name is Galana, I am a servant of Count Galana and my name is Claude. "Yes, yes." The man who introduced himself as Claude was tall, slender, and fair-faced. Bina is a little nervous when such a man bows to her. "Recently, I heard that a food called popcorn is popular in the castle, so my family bought some yesterday, and the boy who ate it said he wanted more. Oh..." "If possible, I would like to know how to make them. Of course, we would be very grateful. "......" Bina looked at Jin. Jin had originally taught her how to make popcorn. Jin noticed the meaning of her gaze and gave her a nod of affirmation. "Yes, yes, that''s fine." Bina replied, to which Claude replied, "Really?Thank you very much!Then, please come to the pavilion and visit ......." Claude was about to say, "Well, um, is it possible to bring Jin with you?" He asked, He said, "I only asked Bina-sama to come with me. ......" She said, "I was told that you are the only one, Ms. Beena, so please visit . Then Bina said, Then she said, "Well, I''m going to leave my luggage, please wait a moment. Claude thought that was a good idea, "Okay. Where do you live?If you like, I can take you there in my carriage." But he said, "No, no, I''m close by. I''ll be right back if you wait for me. With these words, he started to run. Hitoshi and Reiko followed. When Bina returned home, she turned to Jin, "Jin, are you sure you want to do this?Are you sure you want me to tell him? "No, I don''t mind. But since the guy seems to be an aristocrat, you should get what you''re entitled to." "Yeah. ......" Beena, looking somewhat uneasy, confided that it was her first time to visit a nobleman''s house and that she was worried that she might misbehave. "Don''t worry. They''ve asked me to come. Besides, it will be night soon and we can''t leave my brother and sister behind, can we? It''s almost evening. Even though they are getting better little by little, it is not a good idea to leave them bedridden. "So I''ll stay until Bina comes back. Jin said, "Really?I''m going to go." Beena gave up and said, "I''m going to go. Bina gave up and went to the residence of Count Galana. 54 - 02-15 housekeeping "Okay, Jin, take care of the rest." Go on, then. Reiko, take care of him. "Yes, Father." Bina took the corn and the popcorn machine and left. Jin ordered Reiko to take the bags to Claude''s place. "Well, let''s go to Nana and Lardo''s." He told them in advance that Bina was going out and that Jin would stay with them while he was gone. "Ah, Jin-chan!" Both of them look better than when I first saw them. It''s a sign that their scurvy has healed. Bina has to run an errand and will be late, but we''ll have dinner in a little while. Until then, eat this. With these words, he presented her with a plate of Persica berries. "Wow, I love these! They look so good!" Nana and Lardo eat them with delight. Meanwhile, Jin prepares dinner. Meanwhile Jin prepares dinner, but all he has to do is bake some bread and heat up some porridge and soup. Father, I''m back. Then Reiko comes back. "Thank you." "You went in the carriage, sir." "I see." In the meantime, the barley porridge and soup had heated up, so Jin divided them into small portions and brought them to Nana and Lardo. He has been taking care of small children since his days at the orphanage, so he is used to it. "Here you go, dinner is ready. "Thank you, sweetie." I wait for them to finish eating, put away the dishes, and return to the kitchen. Reiko was warming Jin''s share. "Father, it''s just the right amount of cold. Actually, Jin has a cat''s tongue. He never got used to eating hot food. "Oh, thank you." It is already dark outside. If only I could teach him how to make popcorn, Jin thought, I should be home by now. "You''re late, Beena." "Father, are you staying here tonight?" "Well, Beena asked me to stay, and even if I don''t, I can''t leave without them. Reiko said, "Well, I''m going to stay here tonight, "Well, I''ll go back and get your father''s bedding." "Yes, will you do that?" "Yes, I''ll go then." Reiko disappeared in a flash in the pitch dark. "...... You don''t think something has happened to her, do you?" * * * * "Oh!This is delicious! "I''m so glad you could make it, my dear." Beena continued to make popcorn at Count Galana''s house. The corn was cheap, but the oil and salt were of the highest quality, so the taste was something else. "Well, I''m satisfied. With these words, the selfish boy left the diner. All that was left was the leftover popcorn, Beena, and the family orderly, Claude. "So I can just clean up and go home? Beena asked Claude, "Yes. "Yes, but we would like to buy the machine from you if possible. "Yes, but I''m afraid I''ll be in trouble tomorrow without it. ......" Bina turns him down softly. Of course, there was the reason that it belonged to Jin, but as a commoner, Beena was a bit intimidated. A nobleman could and would forcefully take it away from her. "Of course, we will pay you a reasonable price. How about 10 gold coins for your visit? Ten gold coins, or 100,000 dollars. That''s about one million yen. Ten gold coins? Yes. How about it? The daily sales including expenses are just under 4,000 Talls. Twenty-five times that, or about a month''s worth. Any more insistence could lead to the worst possible outcome. "Okay. "Okay, that''s fine. Bina agreed. She decided to apologize and give all ten gold coins to Jin when she returned home. Then, Claude''s further words followed. "So, I heard that you are an excellent magecraftsman. How would you like to be our family''s exclusive Magi Craftsman? "Exclusive?" In other words, they would become our patrons. A patron of the nobility would be able to make whatever he wanted without worrying about the production cost. Bina thought of her mentor, Gladia Hampton. He was backed by three aristocrats and lived a life where the local aristocracy was not a problem. Claude added, "If you become our exclusive partner, we will pay off all your debts. "What? How do you know ......?" Bina was surprised when Claude mentioned the debt. "I''m sorry, I had to look it up. Claude replied nonchalantly. "............" Bina looks down and thinks. Her current debt is about 1.2 million dollars. She has to pay for Gladia Hampton''s training and her parents'' doctor''s fees. So far, there is no way to repay the debt. "But..." Bina looked up and thought about the past few days. She had gotten to know Jin and learned a new perspective on magic tools. She had learned the joy of giving shape to her thoughts. She learned the joy of making magic tools for the common people, not for the nobles. "I am sorry, but I must decline. These were the words that came out of Bina''s mouth. This was non-negotiable. "I see, I''m sorry. If you change your mind, please let me know. Claude then held out a bag containing ten gold coins. The bag contains the coat of arms of our family. If you have any business with our family, please show it to the gatekeeper. "Oh, thank you." Bina nervously receives the bag. "Well then, let me take you to ......, but the gates are already closed at this hour, so please stay the night. Please stay the night. We''ll send you back tomorrow as soon as the gates open. "Yes, yes, please." Claude led Bina to the guest room. Bina did not see the slight strain in his mouth. * * * * * * Jin made a bed on the blanket that Reiko had brought. At that moment. "Father, someone is approaching here. "What?"Is Bina back? Jin asked comfortably, "No. It''s not Bina''s magic. There are four of us. They are coming in a horse-drawn carriage. Reiko''s ability to detect magic has improved since Jin improved it. Since Reiko says so, she must be right. I heard the sound of a carriage stopping in front of the house, followed by a knock at the door. 55 - 02-16 Another nobleman "Who is it?" Reiko opens the door. There stood an elderly man dressed in a butler''s uniform. "Excuse me, is this Magecraftsman Bina''s house? Yes, it is. The man bowed, I am Sevans, a servant of Count Kuzma''s family. The head of the family would like to talk to you about the magical tool that Bina-san made for him. "My master, does this mean that Count Kuzma is here to see you?" Yes, he is waiting in the carriage. "Please wait a moment." Reiko then withdrew and discussed the matter with Jin. Jin could hear her conversation, "I''ll get it." She then turned to Sevance on behalf of Reiko. "Beena is away on business at the moment. If you would like, I, Hitoshi, would be happy to talk to her. Sevans thought for a moment and then said, "Yes, "Yes, then Mr. Jin will be your companion. He opened the window of the carriage behind him and said something, He opened the window of the carriage behind him and asked Jin, "May I come over to your house? He asked Jin, "May I visit your house? Jin immediately agreed. Then he asked Reiko, "Reiko, take out the april from the refrigerator and peel it for me." Reiko instructed Reiko to get some aprs-consumables out of the refrigerator and peel them. Sevans followed his master, Count Kuzma, out of the carriage and went inside. "Welcome, Count Kuzma. My name is Jin, Bina''s assistant. Yes, I''m sorry to come to you out of the blue, but there are a lot of things going on here. When I looked at the Count who said this, I saw a young man in his mid-twenties. He had brown hair and brown eyes. His face is normal, but he has an elegant air about him. "I''m sorry to bother you in this dirty place, but please have a seat. He used to be a member of society, so he knows how to be polite to his superiors. "Mm." Then Reiko came in with an aprs-ski. She said, "There is nothing here, but if you would like to try it, please eat it. An aprs-ski was offered to her. Sevans reached for it. I think he''s trying to poison me. "Excuse me." He took a bite and a look of surprise came over his face. "What ......?" The Count saw that, "What''s the matter?It''s rare to see you make a face like that. And the Count said, I''m sorry, sir. This april was very cold. "What?" Count Kuzma heard that and took a piece himself. "Oh!This is delicious. It''s very good when it''s cold. "Did you like it?" Jin asked immediately, "Yes, I like it. How do you keep it cold?Surely you are not rich enough to buy ice? Since this country is located in the south, there is no ice even in winter. So, for cold storage, ice made by ice magic is commonly used, but it is very expensive and unaffordable for the average person. "Yes, we have developed a new refrigerator to preserve the ice. "<>? Yes. It is a magical tool using Magi Stone. Count Kuzma''s face lit up, "That''s what I mean. I heard that you have developed some rare magic tools and sell them to the common people at a low price. Yes, you mean lighters. "Yes, you mean lighters." "Yes. Actually, one of our servants bought one of them. That''s why I was interested in the maker. I am honored. And you also have a water heater, don''t you? Yes, I do. It seems that one of the people who placed the order today was a servant of the Countess. "Interesting. In the first place, don''t magecraftsmen make precious magical tools?" "No, Bina,...... our idea is to make things that are useful for a wide range of people. The Count looked at Jin with amusement, "Ha-ha-ha!That''s so weird!" And then, "I like it. I was going to ask you to become our family''s magecraftsman, but I decided not to. Keep up the good work and keep making better and better things. Jin was a bit surprised. The Count in front of him put the interests of the people before his own. "If you have any problems, you can come to me anytime. I will help you if I can." To the Count who said that, "Well then, I''ll take your word for it." When Jin said this, the Count leaned forward, "Hmm?What''s the matter?Are you in trouble?" "Yes. In fact, Beena went to the Count''s place at Count Galana''s invitation in the evening, but she had not returned by this time. Her younger siblings are also very worried." When Count Kuzma heard this, he said, "I see. So that''s what you wanted to talk about. Count Galana. Count Kuzma folds his arms and thinks about what is going on. Eventually he uncrossed his arms, "All right. I''ll drop in on Count Galana before I go back to the house. Jin was relieved to hear her say this. "Thank you very much. Thank you very much. He thanked her and sat down again, He sat down again. Before you leave, could you show me the refrigerator?" Jin brought one of the three refrigerators he had made. It weighs only about 20 kilograms, so even he, who is not very strong, can carry it. "Oh. So this is it." The Count looked at the exterior, opened the door, and peeked inside with interest, "Insert the Magi Stone and chant the key word, and it will work. "That''s easy, isn''t it? Is this for sale? Yes. Yes, although it couldn''t be sold at the stall. I guess so. How about 10 gold coins from ......? What?" Jin was astonished. Ten gold coins are worth 100,000 dollars, or about one million yen. Is that not enough? No, no, that''s fine. Jin stammered in reply, "Oh, I see. Sevans, give me the gold coins. And load this on the wagon." "Yes." A bag of gold coins is placed in front of Jin. And a refrigerator was carried out in its place. Count Kuzma stood up, "Well, it was quite a productive night." He said and held out his hand to Jin. When Jin took his hand, the Count said, "Let''s talk again." With these words, he left the room. 56 - Count 02-17 Two The heavy gate of the castle. A carriage stopped in front of it. "This is Count Kuzma. Please open the gate. The guard at the gate checked the crest on the carriage to make sure it belonged to the count, and then checked it against the passport presented by the gentleman, "Open the gate!" In a clear voice, he announced to the officer at the top of the ramparts, "Open the gate! Then, with a heavy thud, the door opened, "Please come through!" The carriage passed through, escorted by the guards. The carriage passed through the door. "Feels good!" Bina was taking a bath at the residence of the Count of Galana. As expected of a count''s mansion, the luxurious marble bathtub was overflowing with hot water. "I knew it, aristocrats must have a good life. They are fundamentally different from the common people who bathe in water or at most wipe themselves with hot water. "I have to work hard. Bina muttered to herself and left the bathtub. When she returned to the changing room, she found that she had not taken off her clothes, but instead had put on new underwear and a bathrobe. "I''m going to remember how extravagant I am," she said. She put on her underwear. The silk felt comfortable against my skin. After putting on the bathrobe, she went out of the changing room. There was a small, fat, middle-aged man. "Oh," he said. "Wow, he''s quite good, isn''t he?" The man who put his hand on his chin and muttered that was dressed in luxurious clothes and looked like he had a certain status. Then Bina said, "Oh, uh, who are you?" "Yes?I am Count Galana. Count? Bina bows hurriedly and the Count waves his hand, He waved his hand and said, "Ah, that''s all right. But follow me." "What?" I said follow me! What? The Count forcefully grabbed Bina''s hand. Bina shakes him off. "If you disobey me, what will happen to your brother or sister? "......!" A clear threat. Bina''s face freezes. "Come on, come on." Beena''s hand is grasped again and she is dragged away. Her face is pale. They walk down a corridor, up a flight of stairs, and arrive at a room. "Come in." The lady-in-waiting at the door gives Bina a pitying look for a moment, then follows the Count''s order, opens the door, and the two enter. "......" In the middle of the room is a large bed. As expected, Bina has an idea of what is going to happen here. But with a glimmer of hope, she asks, "Well, what''s going to happen here? "Well, what are you doing here?" Count Galana smiled a wicked smile on his greasy face, "Gufu, what, you ask? It''s like this,......!" "Kyaah!" Her bathrobe is suddenly pulled off, and Bina loses her balance. She falls into a bed. "The night is long, let''s have some fun." "No, no. ......" Beena tries to put up a token resistance to the Count, who comes at her with his jacket off, "Don''t you love your brother or sister?" But when he asks her that again, Beena stops resisting. "Don''t be so afraid, I''ll take care of you. With these words, the Count leaned over Beena. "No, no!" But her voice only amused him. "I love it when she makes a sound like that," he said. And just as his hand was about to slip on Bina''s underwear, there was a knock at the door. There was a knock at the door. At first the Count ignored it, but when the knock sounded again, he said, "Shut up! I''m busy!" I yelled at him, "I''m sorry, sir. But Count Kuzma is here to see you." "What? Even though they hold the same rank of count, Count Kuzma''s family is an old family, while Count Galana''s family is an upstart. They have a different voice in the kingdom. He couldn''t just ignore her. Count Galana clicked his tongue and walked away from Bina. His footsteps echoed as he left the room. Bina breathes a sigh of relief when the door is closed behind her. Welcome, Kuznetso! "Welcome, Count Kuzma." Count Galana comes out to greet her in the entrance lobby. "No, I''m sorry to bother you at this time of night, but..." Then don''t come here! Count Galana yells in his mind, but on the surface he seems to be smiling, "No, if it''s urgent, it can''t be helped. So, what can I do for you?" He started the conversation in the lobby where he greeted me, clearly wanting me to leave as soon as possible. Yes, let''s get on with it. ...... Magecraftsman, please hand over Beena." What? Her assistant told me that Count Galana invited her. I have also confirmed with the guards at the gate that she has not left the city walls. "......" Count Galana hastily calculates the pros and cons in his brain. He was dealing with an old family that was participating in the national government, even if they were young priests. This is a count family that has risen from a viscount with money. It would be better to follow their lead here. "Oh, oh, it''s Beena. I was just letting her use the bath, but I''m sure she''s finished by now. I''ll have her call you now. Hey!" Claude hurries away. "..............." The silence hurts. Galana''s back was sweating profusely. Bina arrives shortly afterwards, accompanied by Claude. Her clothes were back on. She was also carrying a bag of money. Are you Beena? "Yes, I am." Beena was suddenly brought in front of another nobleman, and she looked uneasy, but Count Kuzma recognized her, "My name is Count Kuzma. I''ve been sent by Jin-dono to pick you up." "What?Jin? The color of blood returned to Bina''s face at the mention of the name Jin. "That''s right. Let''s go." Count Kuzma beckoned Bina to follow him. Beena walks toward him slowly. Count Kuzma gently takes Bina''s hand, "Well then, Count Galana, thank you for your hospitality. With these words, he left the place. 57 - 02-18 Darkness Beena was now being carried in Count Kuzma''s carriage. Seeing Bina who seemed to be nowhere to be found, the Count called out to her. "Mister Beena, actually, I went to see you today," he said. "To see me?For me? "Yes. I heard that there is a magecraftsman who sells some interesting magical tools at a stall. "You mean the ...... writer?" The Count nodded, "Yes. But you were not at home, and your assistant, Jin, entertained me instead. "Jin?I see. "Look, I bought this for you." The Count pointed to a refrigerator in the corner of the seat. "Ah, a refrigerator. The Count nodded his head, "I had a short talk with him and he told me that your motto is to make things that are useful for people in general. "Uh, yes, that''s right." "Actually, I was going to ask you to become the exclusive magecraftsman in my mansion, but I changed my mind when I heard that." "What?" "This is something that should not be spread too widely." The Count said, "For the past six months, golems and magical beasts have been coming from the Kingdom of Celluloid. "What? The Kingdom of Celluloa borders the Kingdom of Egelea to the north of the Kingdom of Bluerand. And the Blue Lands are relatively south of the Kingdom of Egelea. Therefore, information such as the Count mentioned had not flowed to us. "As expected, there were many who thought that something was going on. So, the nobles are beginning to surround themselves with good magicians (magecraftsmen) and are eager to take advantage of any opportunity that may arise to increase their power." "......" "Well, having power is a good thing as long as you can use it properly, but it seems that most of the nobles are just trying to make their own houses look good." Bina did not know what to say, so she just listened in silence. "On the other hand, you have a very clear idea. The common people who pay taxes are the ones who support the nation. You are doing a good job of making magic tools that will benefit the common people. "Ah, thank you." That was all Bina could say after being praised by the nobleman, the Count. "Well. It''s time to go to the gate. The carriage is driven out in the reverse order of its arrival. When they arrived at Bina''s house, Jin was waiting for them. "Well, it seems that he has been waiting for you for a long time because he was worried about you. "Jin! Welcome back, Bina. I''m home. Beena blushed a little as she got off the carriage. In fact, Reiko had sensed the carriage and had just come outside, but Beena didn''t know that and neither did Jin. The Count opened the window, He opened the window and said, "Jin-dono, I have done what you asked me to do. With that, he turned the carriage around and went back to the fortress. Jin and Bina went inside the house and explained to each other what had happened. When I told them that I had sold the popcorn machine, Bina bowed her head apologetically. "After the fact, I''m sorry. It belonged to Jin and I sold it without his permission. To be honest, I was surprised to see ten gold coins ......." Jin laughed when he heard that, "Ha-ha, that''s enough. You told me the truth. Besides, a request from a nobleman is almost like an order. "It makes me feel better to hear you say that. I''m so sorry. So here you go. Bina offers Jin 10 gold coins. "Oh, okay." Jin takes it. Otherwise, he won''t be able to get rid of Bina''s guilt. Jin also offers Bina the money from the sale of the refrigerator. Bina gives him half of it, five gold coins. Jin accepts it as well. When they talked about what happened next, Bina did not mention that she was almost attacked by Count Galana, but only that she was forced to stay there halfway. She also said that she was saved thanks to Count Kuzma. "I see. I owe Count Kuzma a debt of gratitude. Jin said, and Bina said, "Yes. He''s a good man, isn''t he? Beena''s cheeks turned slightly red as she said so. Jin saw this and thought, but did not say anything, "Well then, now that Beena is back, I''m going to leave now. "What?It''s already late. Why don''t you stay the night? No, I don''t. No, I don''t. Good night. With that Jin left the room before Bina could stop him. "What the hell, ......?" Bina, a little bloated, went to check on her younger siblings, and seeing that they were sleeping well, she herself slipped into bed. Jin, on the other hand, asked, "What do you think? "What do you think?" Jin returned to Horaijima and asked Reiko for advice. "Is this the Kingdom of Cerroa that the Count was talking about?There is a possibility that they are conducting some kind of magical experiments there. "Magical experiments?" "Magical experiments?" "Yes. The golem that your father met, the golem that attacked that country. And the Hecaton Cale that I met. And the Count. It smells artificial." "Hmmm... ......." Jin folded his arms and thought, "Father, can we stop going to the Blue Lands now?" "What?" "Beena, you''re on your own now, and we''ve already bought all the grain we can get there. I think it would be better to go somewhere else. Surely, what Beena had asked me to do had already been done. The refrigerator would be bought by the nobles if the Count would spread the word. Then the debt will be paid soon. My brothers and sisters are almost well with the fruits I left for them. "I can''t go to school forever, you''re right. Then I''ll show up a couple more times, tell Beena and leave." "Yes, sir." The next day, Jin went to Bina''s house, thinking that it was time to tell Bina that he wanted to concentrate on his own business. Reiko was planning to join him after giving instructions to the golem maids on Horaijima. A carriage was parked in front of the house. "That''s ......." As I approached, I saw the coat of arms I had seen only yesterday. It belonged to Count Kuzma. I knocked on Bina''s door, "Jin!" Bina came out from inside with a great rush. "Thank God!You know, the Count is here, and he ordered some things for me, you know..." Jin put his hand on Bina''s shoulder, "All right, calm down a little." Beena blushed a little, She blushed a little and said, "I''m sorry. She then invited Jin into the house. "Oh, Jin-dono." Count Kuzma was sitting there. "I''m here early. That refrigerator is very convenient!I ate my breakfast fruit cold and it tasted even better than usual! "Good for you, sir." Come on, have a seat. I want to hear all about it. I would like to hear more about what you have to say. Bina sat down and the Count opened his mouth. "First of all, that refrigerator, I want you to make one twice as big. If you want to pay for it, I can give you the money in advance. "Oh, thank you. If the refrigerator is sold, he can expect to earn a large sum of money. For Bina, this is what she wants. "Also, I was just being shown this magical device called a water heater, and I want you to make me ten of them. "Ten? Jin was drawn in by the generous offer, and was thinking about how he could get the right number. 58 - 02-19 Disgusting Premonition In the end, Count Kuzma left with an order for two large refrigerators and ten water heaters. "It''s like a dream," Bina muttered with an upbeat look on her face. Bina muttered with a cheerful face. "I was having trouble selling any of the magic tools I made until Jin came. "We need to start making the ones we ordered yesterday. Yes, that''s right. So first, we decide to make water heaters. The first thing to do is to make the five hot water heaters ordered yesterday. Since it is a duplicating process, it can be completed in a short time. But then he realizes that he is already short on materials. "Oh, we don''t have enough copper and we don''t have enough wood. "Shall we go shopping today after the store? "Yes, it''s a long way, so I''ll have to leave early. "Yes, that''s what you said." "I got 50,000 dollars yesterday, so I think I''ll be fine." This was Bina''s share of the money from the sale of the refrigerator. Then it occurred to me. There was no popcorn machine. "Oh no, I''m stuck. ......" We''re out of ingredients and can''t make popcorn now. "I guess I''ll just have to apologize today." "That''s all I can do. ......" I had enough material left to make lighters, so I made 30 lighters, "Then let''s have lunch a little early. Bina showed him a piece of bread. The bread was not pure white, but it looked quite expensive. "Oh, it''s a nice bread," Jin said. Jin said, and Bina smiled at him, "Isn''t it?Count Kuzma brought it for me. "Hmmm." Deciding to leave most of the food for Nana and Lardo, Jin and Beena finish their lunch. Bina brought them their lunch. Then Reiko came in. "Oh, Reiko, you''re early." "Yes, father. Everything is going well on the island. So, have you talked to Ms. Beena? Jin realized that he had forgotten all about it. "Oh, I forgot." "Father, ......." Reiko gave him a puzzled look. "Well, I''ll find an opportunity to tell you." "I''ll find a good opportunity to tell you..." "You''d better get a grip on yourself..." She reminded me further. Then Bina came back, "Oh, Lako, you''re here." "Yes." Somehow Reiko didn''t seem to be at ease with Bina. "Well then, let''s go and open the store. And so the three of them head off to their usual spot, the three of them sharing the hot water heater. "What the hell, I''ve been looking forward to this! "You didn''t say that yesterday!" "Don''t be silly, the kids were looking forward to it too!" "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. ......" Sure enough, the customers who were looking forward to the popcorn started to complain. Bina and Jin bowed their heads frantically. Reiko sees Jin and glares at the complaining customers. Some noisy magic power started to leak out. Jin notices this and takes Reiko''s arm and pulls her to a little distance away. And before Jin could calm her down, Reiko said "...... What are those people, even though your father didn''t do anything wrong? Can I purge them?" Extreme words. Jin sighed, "Reiko, please don''t do anything, okay?" "But, Father... ......" "Don''t do anything!" Reiko, when told again by Jin.., "Yes. ......" Reiko, who had been repeatedly told by Hitoshi, grudgingly agreed in a small voice. When she returned to the restaurant, the customers who had complained had left. But.., "The water heater I ordered, is it ready yet?" "Yes, of course. He hands me one of the water heaters. "Good. Then you said 200 dollars, right? Here you go. "Thank you very much." In that way, the five units that were reserved were sold, not to mention the lighter. "You have nothing left to sell." "Yeah. "Yeah, it''s early, but that''s more convenient." So they decide to go to a store that is said to be far away that sells materials. It is located at the foot of a mountain about an hour''s walk from the outside of Blueland Castle. There are mines and lumber resources there. On the way there, Jin was pondering when to tell Beena. Little did he know, "Look, this is the place." It was in a corner of a large warehouse. "Come in." A man who was in charge of the store greeted him. "Well, two kilos of bronze ingots and ten kilos of copper ingots. And wood." Bina seemed to have thought about what she wanted to order and quickly placed her order. "31,000 Tall, but I''ll give you an extra 3,000 Tall. I''ll give you an extra 3,000 tokens. "Thanks. Can you bring it to my house? Bina said as she paid the bill, "I don''t think so. She agreed, saying, "I don''t think so. Now I can go home without having to carry the heavy ingot. Jin had thought about having Reiko carry it for him. As they returned to Bina''s house with a man who had a cart pulled by a small horse like a donkey, they saw the cart parked again. But the crest of the carriage belonged to Count Galana. And there were about ten men standing there who looked like private soldiers. I have a bad feeling about this. Such a murmur escaped from Jin''s mouth. I don''t want any trouble! With these words, he threw the ingots and lumber out of the cart and had a donkey pull the empty cart. The donkey pulled the empty cart and the materials dealer flew back home. Reiko stood right next to him. 59 - 02-20 Reiko Unparalleled "Beena, right?" asked a man who looked like the head of a private army. "Yes, I am. Beena replies with a blue face. "I see. I''ll ask you to come with me." "Wait a minute. You''re not going to take me with you without a reason? Jin takes a step forward with these words, but ignoring him, the head of the private army turns to his men and cocks his chin. Seeing this, two of his men pushed Jin away and grabbed Bina''s arms from both sides. What the hell are you doing? He tried to shake them off, but Beena''s strength was too strong for him. And Jin.., "Stop! and tried to hold the soldier down, "Shut up!" She shook her hand as if shaking off an insect, and her hand hit Jin in the face. "Tsk!" What? At that moment, a gust of wind blows past. The wind''s name was Reiko. "Kyaah! Whaah! Bina and two soldiers who had grabbed Bina''s arms flew into the air. They were five meters high. Even the soldiers had no choice but to let go of their hold on Beena when they were thrown up into the air at such a high altitude. Although they knew it was futile, they waved their hands around in the air and tried in vain to regain their bearings. Reiko then jumped first, caught Beena in a princess hug, and landed safely on the ground. Behind her, two soldiers who could not fly were knocked unconscious on the ground. Since they fell on their backs, it seems that they did not break their necks. "Oh, thank you!" Bina thanked them in a trembling voice, but Reiko was unconcerned, "I didn''t save you. I didn''t help you because I couldn''t forgive the person who beat your father. You were just an afterthought. Bina''s face scrunched up a little as she said this. "Oh, I did it, didn''t I? Then she looked up at Hitoshi. "Who the hell are you? The private shouted at him. "Uh, can you leave now?" Hitoshi asked, but the private told the rest of his men, "You can cut off everyone except Bina!" He ordered them to do so. Oh, it''s over.) Jin sighs in his heart. Meanwhile, Bina is evacuated to a place a little further away, and she just stares at him with a pale face and no voice. Reiko then went towards the eight soldiers who attacked her without fear. "What is it, you little brat?" The soldiers felt something eerie toward Reiko as she slowly walked up to them, without any concern, and they stopped rushing toward her and looked at her. Reiko walks further, and the distance between her and the soldier who was in front of her first closes. ....... "Whoa!" The soldier was on the ground before he even knew what had happened to him. The soldiers were as if the spell had been lifted, "You little brat! Take that!" They shouted these words as they cut at Reiko. Reiko, however, showed no sign of avoiding the attack. The next moment, it was the soldier who trembled with fear. "How can such a nonsense hurt this body that was given to me by my father? The sword that the soldier swung down certainly hit Reiko in the brain. However, he could not even cut off a single strand of Reiko''s hair. "Uh-oh!" Another soldier cleaves Reiko''s torso. But his sword and even his clothes were unable to cut it, and it had stopped. "This way!" Another soldier thrusts his sword again, this time at Reiko''s chest. It was aimed precisely at Reiko''s chest. But even this does not penetrate Reiko, not even by a millimeter. Clothes made of threads of a ground spider can only be damaged by a sword with a higher magic power, such as a holy sword or a magic sword. And even more so now that Reiko herself had been strengthened with magic power. Don''t you see the futility of this? Reiko grabs their swords carelessly and crushes them in her palm. The sword is thrown away at Reiko''s feet in a small lump. Reiko''s skin is the feather membrane of a Siamese dragon, supple and strong. Through magic, it is harder than steel. "Hi-hii-hii-hii-hi!She''s a demon! Soldiers who were on the run, but.., "The weak ones took the initiative, but when they found out the strong ones, they ran away first. It''s disgusting." Reiko muttered to herself and kicked the ground. "Aaah!" Reiko runs around in front of the fleeing soldiers in an instant and knocks one of them out with a blow to the dove tail. Reiko then grabs him by the leg and swings him around with one hand. "Aaah!" "Aaah!" Reiko swings the big guy around with one hand and knocks the rest of the soldiers down with it. "No way, right? ......" The last one who muttered that was blown away. The private watching her said, "Are you a monster?" The private said, holding a sword in his right hand. The private seemed to be able to use magic, and there was a red magi stone embedded in the hilt of his sword. "Fireball! With these words, a ball of flame about two meters in length shot out from the tip of the sword. "This is impossible!" But Reiko extinguished the ball of flame with a swing of her right hand. "What!How about this, <>! The private unleashed his most powerful magic with all his might. At the same time, the red Magi Stone attached to the hilt of his sword shatters. < "Jin!Reiko is here!I don''t care if she''s an artifact-class automata! But Jin, who has now reopened his mind, says.., "Don''t worry. There''s no way my Reiko can do anything with that kind of magic, is there?" True to his word, when the storm of flames subsides, the figure of Reiko standing calmly comes into view. "Is that the strongest magic you can use?" The materials that make up Reiko''s body are made of the world''s best materials for both magic and physical resistance. Even without a barrier, she cannot be harmed unless by legendary magic. "Uh-oh!" Seeing an opponent whom the magic he had used to kill dozens of opponents was not able to penetrate, even the Private broke down. Now all he can do is swing his sword around wildly. Reiko shoots her magic at the sword. Induction. It''s the magic Jin taught her... super high frequency eddy currents. The eddy currents generate high heat in metal. "Hot!" The private''s sword quickly becomes red-hot and he can no longer hold it. The private is now unarmed. "Hii ......" The private is just frightened by Reiko who approaches him step by step. Like a frog staring at a snake, he cannot run away, but only turns blue and trembles. "You will apologize in hell for pointing your sword at your father. With these words, Reiko drew her right hand. 60 - 02-21 Goodbye Reiko pulled out her hand, which only caused a scratch on the private''s face. The private, however, blows a bubble and passes out. "It''s over!" Reiko turns to Jin and brushes the dust off her skirt. "Reiko, you didn''t kill anyone, did you?" "Yes, I didn''t want to make your father a murderer." Since Reiko is an automaton, Jin takes responsibility for her actions. Reiko was taking it easy on him, which she did not want to do, as she had done in the days of the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. "That''s all well and good, but ...... you''ve done it." Jin muttered, matching her tone, "That''s just great." Such a voice echoed. What? When he turned around, he saw Count Kuzma standing there with Sevance. "I heard that Count Galana had sent out his private army, so I was curious and ran over to see if it was over. The private army stretched out, eleven men in all. "Oh, my God. Your lady''s strength is the best in the kingdom. I think she may be stronger than the kingdom''s first knight. The Count glanced at Reiko, "But this is not good." "What?" Bina looks doubtful, "She refused Count Galana''s invitation and assaulted a vassal without cause." "What ...... is that!" Bina tried to argue, but the Count stopped her, "Yes, I know. What I just said was that I expected to be treated as such. That means that Count Galana will use his power to fabricate the whole affair in such a way. "Bina had nothing to do with beating up Count Galana''s private army." Jin stopped using honorifics. "Yes, well, that''s true, but we don''t have any witnesses." "Yes, you do. We have a great witness, Count Kuzma. After saying this, Jin turned to Bina and said, "Bina, I know you, "Beena, it''s been a pleasure getting to know you. I hope Nana and Lardo are all right now, and that you have gotten the hang of making magic tools. And above all, you have Count Kuzma, who understands you." "Eh, huh?What are you talking about, Jin? Bina was puzzled. "You don''t need me anymore, do you? Saying this, he pulls out a magi crystal from his pocket. It is green in color and has the wind attribute. "I''ll give you this as a parting gift. Please put it to good use. With these words, he half-forcibly puts it in Bina''s hand. Jin then turned to the Count, "Count, I''m leaving this country. Take care of Beena. ...... Beena, good-bye." Then, without hearing Bina''s words, he started to run. "Wait a minute, Jin!I haven''t even thanked you enough! Jin runs away with those words behind him. Reiko followed him, but since Reiko was much faster than Jin, Reiko had to pick him up and run with him. "Excuse me, father." "Oh, no, Reiko..." "This way is faster." Jin could not make up his mind at the end of the race. * * * * "......" "............" Bina and Count Kuzma remained silent for a while after Jin disappeared. The Count was the first to speak. "Beena, who the hell is this ...... Jin?" Bina asked, "I don''t know,...... but he''s a rather special kind of magecraftsman who lives on an isolated island,......." "Hmmm, I see." At that moment the men who had been knocked unconscious by Reiko let out a groan. It was about time that some of them noticed. "Beena, get in my carriage and hide!" "Yes, yes." Count Kuzma turned to Count Galana''s private army, "What are you doing? He called out loudly. "You''re making a disgrace of yourself in a place like this. Go back to your employer! The private soldiers, who had been alerted by the Count''s shouts, packed the still unconscious into their wagons and left without a word. "Bina, that''s enough," Count Kuzma said. Count Kuzma said, and Beena came out of the carriage. "Hmmm, but I don''t think it''s a good idea to live here after all this time. "What?" The Count smiled, "I''m sorry, but I think you''d better leave this house and workshop and come to my place." "Huh, yes?" Bina still did not understand. The Count saw that, "In other words, if you stay here, Count Galana will try again like he did today. That''s why I''m asking you to come to my house." "Oh, I''m the Count?" "Yes. But don''t worry. I''m not trying to get Beena to do anything. I''m just asking you to move your house and workshop to my residence and its grounds." "......" The Count turns to Bina, who is having a hard time keeping up with the rapid developments, "Well, once you''ve made up your mind to do so, you''d better hurry and pack your things. Sevans, go back to the house and come back with a carriage to carry the luggage. "Yes, sir." Sevans replied, got on his horse, and rode away. The Count said, "What''s the matter?Bina, get your luggage quickly. Or do you need my help?" When the Count said this, Bina jumped up and down, "Oh, no, of course not!I''ll get ready right now! She ran into the house. He said, "I''m going to get ready right now! "So this is what happened after all." Jin muttered as he relaxed in his house in Horaijima. "Yes, but wasn''t the timing just right?" Reiko said while making a cup of tea. "Well, I stopped helping Bina without any excuse, but I guess I had no choice. But now that I think about it, we missed seeing inside the walls of Blueland. That''s true, but... I still don''t know much about this world. ...... So what are you going to do now? "Well, let''s see. "Well, I would like to go somewhere warmer, season-wise." In that case, there is a warp gate to the southern seaside. "The southern seaside, that''s nice. Is there anything interesting there? There are many islands and shipping is well developed. Shipping!That means there are ships! Yes. "Yes." "Okay, let''s go there next. I want to see the ships of this world. "Yes, sir." And so, in another land, the adventure of Jin and Reiko begins. 61 - 02-22 Silent Story 2 Visit Kaina Village in Secretly "Hourai Island is getting pretty good now, isn''t it?" Jin returned to the base and spent a few days relaxing. "Father, please give Gon and Gen a role to play. Reiko said to Jin one day, "Well, I guess so. I wonder how everyone in ...... Kaina Village is doing." Jin himself has no way of knowing that he has been declared innocent by order of the king. "By the way, there is a warp gate in the basement of the workshop, isn''t there? Although it has been buried with soil. "I wonder if we can use that?" I don''t want to go there and find myself stuck in the ground. "Well, then, I think it would be a good idea to remotely send the soil that is within the operating range of the warp gate to us. "Oh, that''s a good idea." All the warp gates in the institute are on the master''s side, and the corresponding warp gate can be operated in various ways from our side. "First, deactivate the sorting function." First, the function that only those who have the same waveform of Jin''s magic power can use it is temporarily cancelled. "And then, reverse transfer ...... Oh! Jin is surprised when a lump of earth suddenly appears. "It seems to have worked. Reiko laughed as she ordered Soleil under her command to remove the soil. "Well, I''ll go there first and see what''s going on. The soil around the warp gate is probably gone, but the basement must still be covered with soil, so Reiko is going to go there and remove it. "Uh, about that, Reiko..." Yes? "Actually, there should be a shelter I built at the edge of the village. I''ve only put up a simple ward at the entrance... so Reiko should be able to find it easily. "Yes." So I''d like to set up a warp gate there anyway. Well, in that case, let''s disassemble and reassemble the warp gate in the basement. Will you do that? "Yes, I''ll take care of it." We decided to leave the whole process to Reiko. At midnight, Reiko starts her work. First of all, she moved the site. "I knew it was covered with soil..." The area around the warp gate is filled with soil. There is no sign of people around. After checking with the magic detector and the life detector, we start our work. We moved the soil and dug a hole to go outside. Reiko and Jin had worked in this area, so they knew where the original entrance and exit were. Reiko then went to the workshop that Hitoshi had been using for the first time in a month. It is pitch black, but that does not bother Reiko at all now. "Your father''s workshop." After giving a nostalgic glance, Reiko starts to disassemble the warp gate. A familiar task, it takes only about 10 minutes. It takes five minutes to remove all the materials and completely backfill the hole. Where is the shelter? I extend my magic detection to the outskirts of the village. "I can feel a distortion, maybe it''s here." Reiko has an idea of where the shelter is, and walks out into the darkness carrying the materials for the warp gate. She soon found the location of the shelter. She released the warding and went inside. "It''s spacious, the floor and walls have been hardened, as expected of your father. The warp gate is quickly assembled and installed. "Now, let''s do a test run." Reiko returns to Horai Island. There she saw Jin standing there with two Golems, Gon and Gen. She thought that the appearance of the two Golems had changed, but she decided to keep quiet until Jin explained it to her. "Welcome back, Reiko. Did everything go well? "I''m back now, father. Yes, the installation of the warp gate was completed without any problems. And Jin said, "All right, let''s get going." With that, he led Gon and Gen to the warp gate. Reiko followed them. Jin went out into the shelter, "I can''t see ...... anything. He muttered, "A light. He magically turned on the light. The light from his palm illuminated the area. "Ah, it''s been a long time since I''ve been here." When Reiko had not yet joined Jin, Jin had built a shelter for the villagers to escape from the mountain, fearing some kind of demon might be coming. "Is it ...... still dark outside? From the position of the moon, is there a time difference of about two hours between here and Horai?" The full moon is hanging in the sky, but it is much smaller than the one on the earth and does not provide any light. It is so bright that you can barely make out that there is something there. "Father, please hold on to me. With Reiko, who is not afraid of the dark, he can walk without stumbling. Jin decides to do so. A short walk brought him to the village of Kaina. "Ah, it''s been a long time. It has only been a month, but it feels like it has been a long time. "I don''t see ...... that anything has happened. That''s good." Jin, who did not know that there were no restrictions, was relieved to see that the village had not changed at all. "Martha''s house ...... Hannah, I wonder how you are." Jin''s eyes were filled with joy. "Let''s not get too nostalgic," he said. He looked back at Gon and Gen, whom he had brought with him, "Gon, Gen, you are to be the guardians of this village and watch over it secretly. And if anything should happen, let us know immediately. Use the shelter as a base. I understand. "Oh?The two of them are speaking fluently now. Reiko notices. "Oh... I modified them while Reiko was working on them at the warp gate. I have increased its autonomy, increased its ability to speak, reinforced its structure with adamantite, and made it look less confusing. "I noticed the appearance, but did you modify it in that many ways?" I had been mistaken for a golem that had attacked me when I paid my taxes, so I made some radical changes to its appearance so that it would never be mistaken for a golem this time. In doing so, the structure was also strengthened. It is almost a different thing. "It looks more human, just like the golem maids on the island, doesn''t it? "Yes. Yes. They are basically the same except for the masculine form, although they are not covered. I''ll put this on at ......." For now, however, we''ve decided to put her in armor that looks more like her original ...... appearance. In case they see us, they will know that we are Gon or Gen. Incidentally, if a person is <> human-like in appearance instead of armor, he or she is categorized as an automata instead of a golem. The boundary between the two is not so clear. And Hitoshi says.., "I''m sorry to leave, but I''ll have to wait until things cool down a bit before I can see everyone''s faces. He muttered to himself, and started walking toward the shelter. Of course, Reiko led the way. "Take care, everyone." Her voice was small, but Reiko, who was standing nearby, heard it. The entrance to the shelter was carefully warded, "Okay, now no one will be able to get in unless they have a lot of magic power." Moreover, it was specially designed to be safe when Jin and Reiko were with it. Of course, Gon and Gen, the golems created by Jin, are fine. This is the technology of the previous generation that distinguishes and recognizes them by the waveform of their magical power. "Well then, Gon and Gen, I''ll take care of the rest." "Yes, I''ll leave it to you." Jin and Reiko returned to Horai Island. 62 - 03-01 Port town Potlock A peninsula at the southern tip of the continent where the Lesser Antilles is located. The name is Elias Peninsula. It is under the rule of the Elias Kingdom of the same name and has a thriving maritime, fishing, and salt manufacturing industry. It is connected to the continent only by a narrow strip of land, and there is little traffic to and from other small groups of nations, and a unique culture was being formed. "I see, it''s warm here. Jin breathes in the sea breeze. Jin is now walking around the port town of Potlock, the eastern gateway to the Kingdom of Elias, guided by Reiko. "It was here on the coast that I was sent away on my 15th runaway transition. There was an erosion cave, so I set up a warp gate there and hid it by disguising it as a rock or something." "I''m sorry you had to go through that too." Jin says to Reiko, "I''ve put you through a lot of hardship too. "No, it''s only natural. Reiko replied, but looked happy. We have the same currency, don''t we? "Yes. Yes. It''s a small group of countries, so it''s the same. Jin had a little money in his pocket from selling magic tools and magi stones in the Blue Lands. "Well then, let''s go and settle down in a cheap inn somewhere. Located in the south and surrounded by the sea, it is a winter resort for tourists. Therefore, there are many lodging facilities in the area. "I''m looking for a place to stay for about 200 dollars a night, but I''m wondering if there''s any kind of information center." "Shall I go and ask?" Reiko said, "Yes, let''s ask. Ask at the stall over there that sells kushiyaki skewers. And while you''re at it, buy me a skewer. "Yes, I''ll do that." Reiko ran to the stall, bought a skewer, and talked with the owner about something. He was talking to the owner about something, but then nodded and came back. "Oh, that smells good." It was similar to grilled squid, seasoned with some kind of fish sauce. "Yes, it''s good." Jin ate the grilled skewer and listened to Reiko''s report. "So, I heard that there is no such thing as an information center. But I asked the owner for his recommendation for a place to stay. "I see. That''s good. And where is it? Yes. Go straight down the main street, turn left at the corner of the tool shop, and you will find it at the end of the street. So that''s where we go. First, we walk down the main street. Both sides are lined with stone buildings. The buildings are lined with stone on both sides, perhaps because they are resistant to the sea breeze. "I wonder if this culture dates back to the Middle Ages." Reiko responds to Jin''s soliloquy. "I''m not sure about the medieval period, but I have the impression that it is somewhat behind the time of your mother''s time. "Well, maybe it''s because of the or something. Once the civilization was destroyed, the number of mages who were the bearers of the civilization decreased drastically. We were talking about this when we came to a tool shop. "Turn left at the corner of the tool shop." Is it there? At the end of the street was an old but sturdy stone building. A small sign hung on the wall. "This seems to be the place." We walked in. "Hello. "Yes, are you staying with us?" A well-dressed woman greeted us at the counter. I heard about you at the kushiyaki stall, and I was wondering if you would like to stay overnight. "You''re here through Paul, aren''t you? "Well, it''s 200 Tolls per person per night, but your daughter is small, so we''ll charge you 3 I''ll give you 200 Tol per person per night. "Okay, I''ll stay three nights for now. Jin took out 900 Tall from his wallet and paid. "Yes, sure. Then write your name here. ...... Jin, and Reiko, right? ...... Here''s the key to your room. You''ll have to pay extra for meals in the cafeteria." "Okay." So they went to their room. The stairs were made of stone, soft stone, so that the sound of their footsteps did not echo. "It looks like Oya stone." As a Magecraft Meister, Jin is also interested in stone. Oyaishi, or floating stone tuff, is also found on Horai Island. This stone is used for building materials because it is fire-resistant and easy to process. This is your room, isn''t it? On the door, instead of a room number, it says <>. "That''s the name of a fish, isn''t it?" Reiko tells me to look at the doors of the other rooms, and I find <><><> and so on. "What kind of fish is Bonito?" "I don''t know?" Reiko doesn''t know much about fish either. Anyway, we enter the room. There are two beds and a small table. And two stools. There seemed to be a shelf on the wall for luggage. The toilet was at the opposite end of the corridor. Looking out of the small window, you can see the seaside. As the name of the house is <, it seems to have been built facing the sea. The only luggage I have is a bag containing a change of underwear and other clothes. If they wanted to, they could return to Horai Island. However, I rented an inn in consideration of socializing with the people of this town. There are no bathrooms, only facilities similar to showers. Jin gave up on the idea that he would have to take a bath on Horaijima, "Well then, let''s take another look around the town. "Yes, father." So they locked the door to their room and left it with the woman at the front desk before going outside. "Father, where would you like to go first?" "Well, I would like to see a ship, so let''s go to the harbor. So we go to the sea first. < is an inlet of the sea. It seemed to be a bathing beach, and there were a few bathers there. Looking to the left and right, I saw a lot of boats about 300 meters ahead on the right side. "That seems to be the harbor. If you walk along the shore, you will soon come to the harbor. Vessels of various sizes were quietly swaying in the waves. It smelled like fish, probably because many of them were used for fishing. The hulls are mostly made of wood. Metal seems to be used only for reinforcement. Jin immediately begins to observe. "Father, this ship is interesting. Hearing Reiko''s voice, he went over to the boat, and sure enough, there was an interesting boat afloat. "A catamaran." It was indeed a ship in the shape of what is called a catamaran on the modern Earth. It was about 4 meters long. "It''s a ship with both high speed and stability. But what is it used for?" As Jin was talking to himself, a voice came from behind him. "Well, look at it. Are you a shipwright too? When he turned around, there was a woman who looked a few years older than Jin. She had a good style, showing where she stood out, and was slender where she was slender. She had short blonde hair, giving the impression of being active. Her blue eyes reminded me of the ocean, and her tanned skin was firm and healthy looking. "No, I''m Magecraft My ...... Magecraftsman." Jin almost called himself a master again. But when the woman heard the name "Magecraftsman," her eyes lit up, She said, "A Magecraftsman!Hey, do you belong to any organization? When asked this question, Jin replied, "No, I don''t." Then the woman smiled more happily, "So you''re free!That''s perfect. What''s your name?I''m Marcia. I''m Jin. And this is Reiko. Jin and Reiko. Jin and Reiko, right. Nice to meet you. So come on over here and let''s have a chat. Marcia invites us to a coffee shop in the harbor. There were no other customers in the cabin, so the three of them chose a seat at the far end of the room and sat down. 63 - 03-02 Golem Boat Race "This is a cheap and tasty restaurant." Jin observed Marcia again as she spoke. She was a beautiful woman, but her face was tanned to a wheat-colored like her arms and legs, and her fingernails were blackened, probably due to her work as a shipwright. It seems that shipbuilders (shipwrights) do not magically process materials but assemble them by hand. They are usually wearing a linen top and bottom and an apron around their necks to protect them from dirt. "Let''s see, where should I start? Jin and the others were sitting around the table drinking kuhe, a specialty of this region. Incidentally, Reiko is also drinking it to pretend to be human. They can eat and drink just because they don''t need to eat and drink. After taking a sip, Hitoshi felt that the taste was similar to cocoa despite the coffee-like name, and decided to go buy some later. Marcia also took a sip of the kuhe, "This country, the Kingdom of Elias, is a country with well-developed boats," she said in a masculine tone. She said in a masculine tone. Jin also took a sip, "Yes, I understand that. "So, every year, or every other year or so, various ship competitions are held. "Oh, yeah." I guess there is some kind of race. It''s a good way to hone your skills. So, in five days, there will be a speedboat competition. "Sounds interesting." Jin casually said something like that, "Sounds interesting, doesn''t it?Right?" Marcia leans forward and says so. And then, "So come and join us!I''ll do everything I can for the money." "Wait a minute!" Jin stops Marcia from getting too excited. "You''re jumping the gun. You can start by explaining to me that there''s a speedboat race. Marcia sat back down and drank the rest of the kuhe out of her cup, "Sorry, sorry. So, there are some restrictions or conditions for the speedboat competition. "Yes." "The size, that is, length and width, and the number of crew members, are not included, but there is a condition that a golem must move the boat. "The Golem?" "Yes. To be more precise, the pilot is a human being and the boat is rowed by a golem. "Oh, I see." I''m beginning to understand. In other words, it is a race of boats powered by a golem. "So, I want Jin, the Magecraftsman, to make a golem for me!Please do!" Marcia was getting excited again, and Jin calmed her down, "I understand what you''re saying. So, what are the advantages ...... of competing?" "Of course, the honor!For shipbuilders (shipwrights), it''s a great honor to win first place, isn''t it?Well, you get the prize money, too." Jin understands this feeling. When you are building a moving model, you want to compete with others. "So, why me?" This is the important point. Why do you care about Jin, whom you have never met before? "There are not many freelance magecraftsmen. And, after all, his reaction when he saw the boat I made..." "Oh, that boat..." he said. "Oh, that catamaran." "Yes, that one!<, didn''t you?That means there are other boats of that shape, right? Well, yes. I can''t say that there are other ships like that in the world. "So, Jin is a magecraftsman who is free and has knowledge of ships. That''s why we need your help." Marcia paused for a moment and then continued. ......My family has been shipwrights for generations, but my father got so involved in gambling that he ruined the store. To top it all off, he went missing and had a woman somewhere else. But I want to open a store again. ......" After a short pause, Marcia continued. ......To be honest, I''m running out of time. If I don''t make a name for myself in this competition, my father''s store will be completely in someone else''s hands. I''m not going to ask too much about that, Jin. "I see. But why do you trust me so much when you''ve never met me before? "I''ve been struggling since I was a little girl. I can tell a lot about a person when I meet him or her and talk to him or her for a while. Jin, you are trustworthy. Jin smiled wryly, "I can''t say no if you''re that trustworthy." Reiko was standing next to her, looking as if she knew what to expect. When Hitoshi agreed, Marcia said, "That''s it!Okay, it''s decided. Jin and I will team up until the day of the competition. The reward is ......, Jin, where will you stay?" The Kainarutei. Yeah, that''s where I''m staying too. What a coincidence. I''m on the third floor in a room called "Herrin". We''re on the second floor. It''ll be easier for us to meet if we''re in the same room. Then we can talk about the rest there. "Yes, let''s. So, we decided to go to from there. < "Well, about the reward, what do you want? Jin thought about it, "How about half of the prize money?" Marcia was absolutely astonished. Her face was also twitching. "I know I said I would do my best, ...... Jin, but are you more stubborn than I thought?" "Yes, why?" "Because the prize money for winning is one million dollars. That''s about 10 million yen. When I said "half of the prize money," he thought I was asking him to give me that much even if I came in last place. So, I hastily tried to cover it up. He said, "No, if you win. If you don''t win, it''s different. "Really?You seem very confident. "Yeah, it''s only natural that I want to win, isn''t it? Jin laughed, trying not to let his inner impatience show, and Marcia laughed as well, "Yeah, that''s great!Aim for the championship!I''ll be happy to give you half of it if you win!What''s the real story at ......?" "Well, Marcia can look at my work and decide." "Is that right?" "Yeah. I''m not in need of food at the moment." Marcia''s face softened as she said this, "Well, you''re a strange one, Jin. But if that''s what you want, I''ll do it. With that, the contract was concluded. We will document it later," Marcia added, then looked at Reiko, "By the way, Reiko, you don''t talk much, do you?" Marcia started to say something like that. "No, I''m fine as long as my ...... brother is happy." For the time being, the brother-sister relationship is still in effect in public. "Well, you''re a good sister. But you know, if you don''t find our conversation interesting, you can go somewhere else to play, right?" "No, no, no, no. Don''t worry about it." She still seemed to want to say something, but Jin turned to her, "Reiko is also my assistant, so I''m going to listen to what you have to say with you," she said. Marcia was surprised. Marcia was surprised, "Oh, I see. It''s unusual to have a brother and sister magecraftsmen. Well, if you say so. Let''s continue our conversation. With that, he began to explain the competition. "The length must not exceed 4 meters, and the width must not exceed 4 meters. Well, usually the more the width, the slower the boat, but ......" "A catamaran won''t slow down as it gets wider. And it''s more stable." "That''s what I mean. So, the crew must be a helmsman and a golem. The helmsman must be a woman. Well, I''m on the boat. And a golem to row the boat. Then Jin asks a question. "Can I ask you something?How does the golem move the boat? "Oars or paddles, I guess. "Why can''t it be driven any other way?" For a moment Marcia did not understand the meaning of the question, but then she seemed to realize it immediately, "Do you have a better way?" "Yes, I do. "Yes, but it''s not a good idea to get caught up in the regulations. But Marcia said, "I don''t think so. For example, we can make a golem swim and let it pull us along. Hearing this, Jin said, "That''s good. So, what are the regulations on the golem? "Oh, no more than 2 meters tall. No weight limit. If you''re heavy, you''re at a disadvantage, of course." What about materials? "I don''t think there were any." Jin heard this and immediately began to draw up a blueprint in his mind. 64 - 03-03 Figure "Jin, I''m sorry then, but I have to go somewhere right away." Marcia took Jin''s arm as he thought about it, "You have to register today or you won''t be able to join." "Well, that''s not good. Okay, let''s hurry up." Jin was forced to hurry when he heard the deadline for registration. Marcia, Hitoshi, and Reiko, in that order, run down the street. They arrived at the central street of the port town, where a large stone building stood out. This is the town hall of Potlock. Marcia opened the door and went inside, followed by Jin and the others. "Oh, isn''t that Marcia? Did you find the magecraftsman? The person who called out to us was the same age as Marcia or slightly older, with brown hair and gray eyes. He was dressed in a dowdy outfit, probably of noble birth, and was accompanied by two guards. "Ah, you''ve been found. When Marcia replied, the man gave a small click of his tongue. But he did not care, I''d like to participate in the golem boat competition. Marcia applies at the special reception desk. "Yes, then we will confirm your membership. The receptionist says, and Marcia beckons Jin to join her. The shipwright is me, Marcia. The magecraftsman in charge of making the golem is him, Jin. "Yes, then, how do you prove that you are the Magi Craftsman?" Marcia asks Jin. Jin, are you a member of a guild of magecraftsmen or something? "No, not really." When Jin answered that he was, the staff member said, "Then all you have to do is to show us your work or solve the problems we have prepared for you," he said. Reiko heard this and went forward. Hearing this, Reiko stepped forward. "In that case, I can do it myself at ......." Jin hurriedly pulled Reiko back, "What is your assignment?" She managed to ask him. Then the staff member said, "If you could make something out of the materials we have here." He pointed at the door to the next room. Jin said, "Oh, I''ll get right on that." With that, he and the staff member headed for the room. On the way, he turned around, "Marcia, Reiko. I''ll be right back." Then the door was closed. At that moment, no one saw the man who called out to Marcia with a dark smile on his face. The room was filled with another room, a room that had been used as a bedroom for the next day''s guests. There was another attendant in the room, "Now, show me what you can make with this." The attendant put a block of copper on the table and said to Jin. "Okay. Now let''s see what you can make. The block of copper was smaller than a clenched fist and not much could be made of it. A cup, a plate, a candlestick. ...... "Okay." Having decided what to make, Jin immediately puts magic power into his hand. "Hmm?" At that time, he felt a slight sense of discomfort, "Forming." He invoked the magic without any care. The magic was activated regardless of the situation. "Marcia, how did you manage to find a freelance magecraftsman? Meanwhile, in the hall of the mutual aid guild, the disturbed man from before was talking to Marcia. "You were lucky," he said. "But if the Guild doesn''t approve you, you won''t be able to qualify for the competition after all. What do you mean? What do you mean? What if he''s just a man of his word and not a magecraftsman or something? Marcia was indignant. "Don''t be silly. Jin is not that kind of a man. Marcia forgets to use honorifics and yells at him. But the disturbed man didn''t care, "I don''t know. We''ll soon find out." While I was saying this, the door opened and the officer and Jin came out. "How was it?" asked the disturbed man. "......" The officer kept quiet and held up the object in his hand. "What?" "Oh?" It was a bronze statue about 10 centimeters high. Or should I say a doll? "Sorry, Marcia. I couldn''t think of anything to make right away, so I made your figure ...... doll." Jin once helped to make a prototype of a figure sculpture as part of his part-time job when he was in an orphanage. Although he was not good at original design, he was more skillful than others when he had a model to follow. His skills were also demonstrated in Magecraft. "That''s fine, but why are you wearing such a swimsuit? Marcia complained, her cheeks flushing. She was wearing a one-piece swimsuit. "No, I didn''t have time. No way, I couldn''t be naked. "But how did Jin know I was wearing a bathing suit? "No, you have to use your imagination." No, he''s just using his imagination. Marcia turns bright red and Jin answers without hesitation. Reiko is just praising Jin. "Well, then, I admit that Jin-san is a magecraftsman. "You did it, Marcia!" So Marcia pays the entry fee of 10,000 Tall. Please register your team name later. Marcia accepts the entry badge offered to her and clutches it to her chest. "Thank you, Jin. But Jin said, "You can thank me after we win. Jin, however, smiled wryly, "You can thank me after you win. The first time I saw her, I thought, "I''m not going to thank you for that. Meanwhile, the disturbed man pulled the attendant into the shadows and said, "Hey, what''s going on? "Hey, what do you mean? "No, no, I let him work at that table, just like you said!But he made that statue so fast. The guy in charge of the examinations saw it too, so I couldn''t fool him. "That''s a table with a magic circle built in to block magic activation, right?You didn''t change it to another table, did you?" "No, it wasn''t. I checked the markings. "d*mn it, did you get a defective product?" The crazy guy looked frustrated, but then he changed his mind and smiled sarcastically, "Well, there''s still a way." * * * * * * Extra. Mayor Potlock, the head of the competition committee, looked at the figure of Marcia made by Jin. And then he said. "Yes, this will be the official swimsuit for this year''s competition! 65 - 03-04 Rivalry Jin and his teammates made a small toast to the formation of the team during dinner at . "Well then, let''s celebrate the formation of team . Glasses were raised and lightly touched to each other. And then, "Let''s do our best to win the championship! MJR, by the way, are the initials of Marcia, Hitoshi, and Reiko. Of course, the naming of MJR was left to Marcia. After a friendly meal, the meeting begins. At that time, Hitoshi said as if he remembered something, "By the way, what happened to that disturbed man during the day?" "......" Marcia looks like she doesn''t want to say anything. Jin sensed this and said, "I won''t force you to say anything." But Marcia is determined to say it, "No, I don''t want to keep secrets from my teammates. She began to speak. "This is Valentino, the third son of the Marquis of Hudson of the Kingdom of Elias, who is the assistant to the Lord of Potlock here, and he has no hesitation in asking me to be his concubine. "What?" He has three wives and two concubines. He says he wants the same number of wives and concubines. "He''s a ridiculous guy. ......" As you can imagine, Jin was appalled. I don''t know why he likes me so much. Marcia was not very pretty, but she was in the category of a beauty, Jin thought. But she did not say so, "So, is she going to participate in the competition? "Yes. He is going to compete. Bored with his family and money, he hires good shipbuilders (shipwrights) and skilled magicians (magecraftsmen). The magecraftsman in particular is rumored to have been invited from the Kingdom of Celluloa, the home of magecraft. "There is no way my brother can be defeated by such a man." Reiko, who had been silently listening until then, couldn''t resist and interrupted. "Oh, yes. I believe so too. "So, what are your plans for the future?" Jin tried to change the subject somewhat forcefully. "Well, anyway, tomorrow we need to buy materials for Jin to make a golem. I''d like to say that money is no object, but as you can see, don''t get your hopes up. "Yeah, the ingredients are usually good enough." "Well, I''ll be helping with the fishing in the mornings until the day after tomorrow, so I won''t be able to go to the market until the afternoons. So you can do whatever you want in the morning. "Helping with the fishing?Why?" Marcia looked a little embarrassed, "To get used to being on the boat a little bit, but I''m ashamed to say that I need to earn some money," she said. "I see. I''ll see you at lunch. Then let''s go back to the cafeteria for lunch. Jin liked it because the food was good. Meanwhile, Reiko is getting to know what Jin likes. "Yes, let''s do that. Marcia nods her head. The night ended with other news: the lords might come to watch the competition, and there would be prizes not only for speed, but also for design and ideas. "Your father is very fond of things, by the way. Helping people again? He must have been referring to his time in the Blue Lands. "Yes, well. But I''m interested in the race, it sounds interesting." "I hope it''s all right with your father, but I''m afraid he''s using you for his own gain. Jin was used by his bosses and seniors in his previous life, so he is somewhat aware of it, but it''s his personality and it''s hard to fix. "Well, I''ll be careful." It was all I could do to answer him now. "Well, I''m going to take a shower and freshen up. The sea breeze had been blowing all day and I felt sticky. "I''ll go wash myself off." Jin said to Reiko and went to the common bathroom with a change of clothes and a towel. He came back as soon as he thought ....... "Father?What''s wrong?" "No, no, no. There was only water, and I had to pump it up myself and fill a tub on the shelf before I could bathe in it. And the well water is muddy because of the proximity to the ocean." Jin reminded us that water is precious. A pump has been built in the village of Kaina, but it does not seem to be widely used here yet. "Tomorrow, I will go back to Horai Island and take a bath. Having given up on taking a bath or a shower for the day, Jin was planning various ideas on his bed at the inn, but he fell asleep before he knew it. The next day. Jin and Reiko returned to the laboratory using the warp gate to bring the materials. Reiko is carrying a barrel of fish sauce. Since she could not find soy sauce, she had bought it as a seasoning that tasted similar to soy sauce. Jin got out of the morning bath that Reiko had boiled for him and immediately started to prepare. "Well," he said. Reiko, I found a leather of a pseudo dragon (Siamese dragon), didn''t I?" The feather membrane is used for Reiko''s skin, thin and tough. In contrast, the leather was thick and elastic. "Yes. I hunted it during the fourth transition and kept it as an ingredient. Reiko says casually as she hands the fish sauce to Perido, who is in charge of the household chores. <, it usually takes more than ten people to defeat a demon named "dragon". "Okay. I''d like some of that. And some wind elemental magi crystals. "Wind attribute?Wouldn''t water be better?" It was a natural question, but Jin simply said, "The golem I''m thinking of has more speed than power. He simply said. "I understand." Reiko replied honestly and prepared the items she was told. "Okay. Let''s make a swimsuit then." "What?" Reiko looked doubtful and Jin said.., "No, there''s a swimming beach there. I want to go swimming for the first time in a while. "Is that what you mean?" Then, the thread of the Grand Spider appeared again. "Isn''t it amazing that the previous generation even made a knitting loom?" "Yes, your mother is great. The previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, was a woman who developed various spinning and weaving machines. One of them was a knitting loom, which could weave fabrics like so-called "merillas. "Set the yarn dyed dark blue," she said. "Okay, start it up." Once the machine was started, the fabric was woven at a speed comparable to that of modern earth machines. This time it is for a swimsuit, so he stops weaving after a certain length and takes out the fabric. "I''ll ask you to weave a little more in white, so I can dye it later," he said. "Yes. ...... Luna, Soleil, I''ll take care of it. Reiko''s two men were left to do the rest of the work, and Jin began to finish the swimsuit. "Do this here, cut it back, fuse it here, and so on. Okay, it''s done. Reiko, here''s yours. "Thank you." Jin made a navy blue one-piece swimsuit. I hope it''s just my imagination that it looks a lot like a school swimsuit. Jin continued to make a swimsuit for himself. "Okay, there is still time before noon. < and change. After returning to Potrock, the two changed into their swimsuits at Kainarutei and headed for the beach at the back of the hotel. "It''s so close and convenient." Jin quickly entered the ocean. The sea water temperature seemed to be relatively high and did not feel cold. Reiko followed him. Reiko''s specific gravity is almost the same as that of a human being, so she floats on the water if she stretches her body. For a while, the two of us floated on the calm surface of the cove, basking in the tropical sun. "Ah, it''s so relaxing. Jin said to himself. "Oh?Is it possible that your daughter is not a doll? Someone said. "What?...... is a blur." Jin rushed to his feet, and drank some water, causing him to choke. "Father, are you all right? Reiko is concerned about Jin. And the person who called out to him was.., "Ah, as I thought. It''s a wonderful work of art!We don''t have them in our country either. Could it be an artifact?" It was a man who looked three or four years older than Jin. He was thin and lanky. Gray hair, gray eyes. His skin was white, though slightly tanned. He was wearing a bathing suit, so he must have been a bather. Jin gets ready for such a man. "Why do you think Reiko is a doll?" The man shrugs a little exaggeratedly, "I''m a Magi Engineer, or rather a Magi Craftsman of the Shoro Kingdom. Excuse me, my name is Reinhardt. "...... Jin. This is Reiko." Still wary, Jin also introduced himself. Reinhardt then says "Jin-kun and Miss Reiko, huh? Are you going to participate in the golem boat competition? He smiled. "Yes. Does that mean you are too? Jin answered in the affirmative, "I''m going to participate. My golem is this one." He then introduces the golem that suddenly appears next to him. "This is the golem I put my heart and soul into, <>. It was a mermaid-shaped golem with the lower half of its body made of fish. 66 - 03-05 Obstruction? When Jin saw the Lorelei golem, he was impressed by the material and the idea. "Wow, I''ve never seen a golem made from the leather of a magical beast. When Jin said this, Reinhardt''s eyes widened. "Amazing!I can''t believe you recognized Lorelei''s material at a glance!" "It makes sense to use supple materials for supple movements, doesn''t it?" Reinhardt took Jin''s hand, "Yes!You understand me. And you, Miss Leco, don''t ...... get it, do you? She''s not a golem. The major difference between a golem and an automata is that an automata is made to look like a human being. One of them is that they wear clothes. Well, the boundary between the two blurs when you get down to it. At any rate, the first priority of automata is to resemble human beings, while the priority of golems is to be used for their intended purpose. This does not apply to Reiko. Anyway, when Reinhardt said that to Jin, he smiled wryly, "Oh. Actually, we haven''t built it yet." "Oh?Is that so? "Actually, I was invited yesterday, and I registered for the event yesterday afternoon. Reinhardt looked surprised, "That''s a lot of work, isn''t it? I and the other participants have already prepared for the event and are already making adjustments. But Jin chuckled, "Well, you''ll just have to wait and see," he said confidently. He said confidently, "Well, you''ll just have to wait and see. "Yes, you''re right!Jin, you look like a real competitor. I''m looking forward to the competition! Reinhard said, "Lorelei, let''s go!" "Lorelei, let''s go," he said, and climbed onto the mermaid golem''s back, "Bye, Jin." He swam away. Jin watched him go, "I see, just because the golem is moving, it doesn''t mean I have to stay on the boat," he muttered. Jin muttered. Then he chuckled, "Well, it''s motivating to have competition, isn''t it? Jin said this to no one in particular, and looking at the position of the sun, he knew it was almost noon, "Well then, Reiko, we''d better get back. "Yes, father." He got out of the sea and returned to Kainarutei. * * * * * * "Then let''s go to get some materials. After meeting up at the restaurant and having lunch together with Marcia, Jin and Reiko went out to the town. "What do you use for the golem?" Marcia asked, "Light silver would be good, but if you can''t, bronze will do. She replied, "Light silver is good, but if not, bronze will do. Then Marcia replied, "Well, light silver is out of our budget. I''m sorry, but can you do it in bronze? "Yes, of course. Jin nodded in agreement. The group then came to a place where warehouses of material stores were lined up. This is the place. "Come in." A shopkeeper greeted them, "50 kilograms of bronze ingots for the golem. And a magi stone." But.., I''m sorry, we have the bronze, but we''re out of Magi Stones. What? Marcia''s voice gets louder. Without the Magi Stone, the Golem is nothing more than a mere wooden figure. As a shipwright, she knew that much. "So, when is the next shipment coming in? "Well, the next shipment is due in a week. "Well, the next shipment is due in a week," she said, "so we won''t have them in time for the competition!Forget it, I''ll go to another store." An exasperated Marcia said, "Oh, it won''t matter where you go." The clerk says, "Why? "Why?" Marcia asked the clerk, "Someone bought up all the Magi stones around here last night. "......" Marcia was pale. If she didn''t do something, she wouldn''t be able to complete her golem. And that meant she would have to abandon the competition. Then Jin tapped Marcia on the shoulder. "Jin?" "Marcia, let''s just buy the bronze and go home. I have the Magi Stone. Marcia was relieved when Jin said this and nodded her head, "Then I''ll just buy the bronze and go home. The shopkeeper replied, "Thank you, that will be 30,000 dollars. Marcia was astonished at these words. "What?Isn''t that double the market price?" "Yes. We''ve been running low lately. "That''s double ...... the price." "Can''t you get it for 20,000 dollars?" I''ll ask him if it''s not too late, "That would be a little over 30 kilos. Marcia is disappointed, but Hitoshi is not, But Hitoshi said, "Thirty kilometers is all I need. But Hitoshi said, "30 kilometers is all I need. "Really? "Really? Leave it to me. Seeing Jin''s confidence, Marcia felt a little relieved, Then give me 30 kilos of bronze. With these words, he paid 18,000 dollars. The waiter brought the mass of bronze from one place to another and placed it in front of Jin and the others. "So, will you carry it for me? Marcia said, but the waiter said, "I''m busy right now, "I''m busy right now. She refuses. She says no. "What are you talking about!There are no other customers!" But the waiter says nothing and goes back to the back of the room. Marcia was left behind, "d*mn!What a place!" But Hitoshi said, "Marcia, you''re wasting your time. Let''s go home." Then he looked at Reiko, "Reiko, I''m sorry, but please..." "Yes, brother." And Reiko lifted the 30 kilogram ingot with ease. "Hey, hey ......" Marcia''s mouth dropped open when she saw it. And so did the clerk who was watching from the shadows. A girl of 130 centimeters in height, who looked to be no more than 10 years old, was lightly lifting a metal mass that weighed as much as she did. "I told you, Reiko is my assistant. "I don''t think it''s as heavy as this!" While they were arguing, Reiko was walking away with the ingot. 67 - 03-06 Production Start! There is a small dock for rent attached to the harbor, which was also Marcia''s workshop. The catamaran is now stored there. "Here, this is my workshop." "Okay, Reiko, take her down there." "Yes, sir." Reiko lowers the bronze ingot to the dock floor. "Now, first we have to refine it." Marcia heard Jin''s muttering, "What?Jin, did you just say ?" "Yes. What about it?" "No, no, no!This is the ingot you just bought! But Hitoshi chuckles and says, "Yes, but... "Yes, but this one has a lot of impurities in it. Arsenic, bismuth, lead..." "Huh?Huh?What?I don''t understand, but did the material supplier know that and sold it to you at such a high price?" "I''m afraid so." Marcia''s face turned angry as Jin said this, "d*mn!"d*mn that material supplier!I''m going to complain!" But Hitoshi stopped her, "No, no, no. You''re wasting your time!" But Marcia''s anger did not abate. Reiko approached Marcia. "Marcia, don''t worry about that. You can see your brother''s amazing skills at ......." "What?" Marcia looked at Jin, "<>" The ingot glowed for a moment, and the next moment, the impurities contained in it were separated and rolled around in a lump. "Heh?" "There we go." "Yes, what did you just do?" Marcia couldn''t believe her eyes. "What?I just separated the impurities. Jin said calmly. "But how can you do such a thing so easily? Marcia, on the other hand, is excited. "Why, because you are a magecraftsman? "I don''t know why it''s in question form, but ...... is. Well, that''s okay. So what''s next?" Marcia was becoming less and less surprised by Jin''s methods. "Forming a golem. ...... forming. Forming. Forming. Engineering magic, Forming is applied continuously, and the Golem is built up. He has already created many golems on Horai Island, so he is used to it. "Na, na, na ......" "That''s it. Next we need an ether converter, a mana driver, and a control core. Jin took out three Magi Crystals from his pocket. Marcia''s jaw almost drops when she sees them. The value of a magi crystal is more than ten times that of a magi stone. "How could such a thing just randomly come out of my pocket!" Reiko patted Marcia on the back, "Because he''s my brother, you know." Marcia was crushed, but quickly recovered, "That''s right, it''s not that it''s a bad idea. In fact, I should be thankful to fate for bringing me together with Jin!" Marcia is surprisingly quick on the uptake. Meanwhile, Jin had Reiko help him with some minor corrections. "Okay, that''s pretty much it. The rest can be found at ......." Marcia had been watching Jin''s work until then, "......, Jin, is this golem female-typed?" "Hmm?Hm? Or rather,<>," she said. "............" Marcia looks at the design of the golem lying there and exclaims. "Now it''s done. ...... what''s up, Marcia?" Jin asked, seeing Marcia with her mouth wide open. Marcia came to herself, "Hey Jin, if my eyes weren''t crazy, I''d think this golem was ......." "Yes, Marcia is the model. I knew it! Yes, the golem that Jin had created was not only female in shape, but looked exactly like Marcia. Of course, the surface of the golem has a metallic luster peculiar to golems. "It''s kind of nice to have a golem that looks just like the person who controls the ship." "You''re ......" Marcia was taken aback by the fact that the body lines of the golem were almost exactly the same as those of the ship''s captain. How could Jin know his own body shape? Actually, it is thanks to Reiko who helps him. Reiko''s eyes have a clairvoyant function. Reiko, who knows his body shape very well, is making detailed corrections. "So," she says. ...... Marcia, come here a minute." Jin, who had been bent over the golem, beckons to Marcia. "Hmm?" Marcia bends down as well, and Jin says to her, "I''m going to transfer Marcia''s knowledge about the ship to this golem, so just think about the ship. "What?" Marcia''s surprise never ceases. It was normal for a golem to take some time after activation to impart its knowledge to the user. "Okay then, let''s go to ...... transinfo, level 3." Nowadays, it is easier and easier to divide the level of knowledge transfer (transinfo) according to the need. "Wow!" Marcia is startled as the magic power of transinfo pierces her head. But Jin continues, "Master slave... 1st Marcia, 2nd me, 3rd Reiko..." He sets up a chain of command. "Okay, that''s all done. ......?Marcia, what''s wrong?" Jin asked as he saw Marcia slumped over. Marcia was half stunned, "...... it''s nothing. So, does this thing work anymore?" "Yes. It''s starting up now. "Activate it now." And the golem woke up. "Marcia, give it a name." Hitoshi said, "Oh, I do?" Marcia panicked, but after twisting her head for a moment, "Well, I''ll have the Arrow, then." "Yes, I''m Arrow." "Oh, he talked!" Marcia could not tell you how many times she was surprised. Marcia gazed at the finished golem, Arrow. As a result, she said "I guess you didn''t have enough bronze. "What?" "Because, you know, the golems that row boats are all exceptionally large in stature. Isn''t that why you made the Arrow female-typed? Yes, all such golems were built to row oars and paddles, especially the upper body. But Arrow looks like Marcia. Even his arms are much thinner than those of male golems. For a golem that requires strength, the female form would be at a disadvantage. But Jin laughs, "Because she doesn''t use her arms. Besides, a golem''s strength is not its size. Jin said, glancing at Reiko. "Hmm?Anyway, I know that Jin is no ordinary Magecraftsman. "Ha, that''s good to know." Saying this, Jin, faced with the remaining bronze, again used the Forming technique in succession. In no time at all, parts that looked like water wheels, parts that looked like round rings, and parts that were bent and wiggled were formed. 68 - 03-07 Signus, launching water "What is it?What is this?" Marcia turns her head to look at the parts that bear no resemblance to the oar. Jin said, "Just watch and see. Reiko, help me put it together." "Yes, sir." Reiko carries the heavy parts and Jin attaches them to the catamaran. Soon it was completed. "Okay, it''s done. Let''s float it and see how it balances, and then let''s run it. It was attached to the rear of the center hull of the catamaran. There is a waterwheel at the very back and a round wheel next to the waterwheel. The wheel had a V-shaped groove on it, and a belt made of a flexible material hung from it. The belt hung between the other wheel and the wheel. On the other wheel, there was an L-shaped curved bar sticking out from both sides, a seat a little behind it, and a handle a little in front of it. As you may have already guessed, Jin made a propulsion device of the type that can be pedaled like a bicycle to turn a water wheel. You often see such a device at tourist attractions such as ponds and lakes. But when Marcia saw it for the first time, she asked him, "How can you go forward like this? "Are you sure you can go forward like this? She looked worried. "Well, let''s give it a try," she said. So, with the help of Arrow the golem, she floats the boat on the sea. And then.., "Well then, I''ll steer the boat, Reiko, press the pedal." "What?Are you all right?" Marcia still looks worried, but Jin smiles, "Yeah. I''ll take care of it." "I''m ready, my ...... brother." "Okay, let''s go. We''ll take it slow at first. Yes, sir. Reiko presses the pedal. Then the waterwheel starts to turn, and the water is scraped backward. The reaction pulls the boat forward. "Oh!It''s moving!" And then the boat moves out of the bathing area and gradually picks up speed. "Yeah, that''s not so bad." "Father, would you like to go a little faster?" "No, this is about right. Reiko, what is the current output of the ether converter? Yes, about 5 percent. I see... It''s not as efficient as I thought. I''ll try to change the shape of the water wheel. Jin then uses forming while sitting in the pilot''s seat. If there is physical contact, the water wheel can be used at a distance of about 3 meters. The efficiency is inversely proportional to the distance, though. "Oh, it looks a little better this time. After a few tweaks, the speed is improved by more than 30% compared to the first time. "Okay, let''s go back." Jin makes a U-turn and returns to the dock. He was greeted by a jubilant Marcia. "Jin!You''re amazing!You''re a genius!" Jin is embarrassed and Reiko is proud at the unreserved praise. "Just one more thing to add and we''ll be all set. "Is there something more you need?" Marcia asked back at Jin''s tone. "Yeah. I want to add a cover to prevent the spray from the waterwheel. As the waterwheel spun at high speed, the centrifugal force sent spray flying in all directions, wetting the backs of both Reiko and Jin. "Do this like this. Forming. Okay, it''s done." "Well, can I try to ride it?" Seeing Marcia itching to ride, Jin smiled wryly, "Yes. But first, Marcia, as the owner of this boat, you should give it a name, too." "Hmm?Oh, I see. How about ......<>?" "That''s a good idea.How about ......<> to match the name? "Oh?Ahhh?" The catamaran''s hull changed from the wooden color it had been until now to a white color, befitting the name Cygnus. "What did you do? "I simply removed the pigment and made it white." In short, bleaching. In fact, they are waterproofed. And then he says.., "Arrow, come here. Okay, plating." The nickel from the impurities separated from the bronze is plated on the surface of the arrow. Now the arrow has a silver-gray color and is resistant to corrosion. "Wow, that''s great!Gin, are you sure you''re ready for this?Are you sure?" Marcia looked at him as if she wanted to get on board as soon as possible, "Yeah. "Yeah. Take care of yourself." "Okay!I''m off!Arrow, please! Hey, excuse me. Cygnus, launch! Since Marcia has the highest command authority, the cooperation between Arrow and Marcia is smooth from the start. Marcia starts to fly. Splashing water from the stern, she glides along the water. Jin looked over at her and said, "Ah, water turbines are not so efficient after all..." he said to himself. he said to himself. Reiko overheard him. "Father, are you still dissatisfied with that?" Reiko had knowledge passed down from the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, but there was no propulsion engine like the one Jin had created this time. "Ah. It''s more efficient because it''s not a back-and-forth motion like an oar, but it''s still a lot of splashing ......." Yes, the splashes and waves mean the loss of energy. Jin, with his knowledge of the modern earth, wanted to use screw propulsion. "But, there are many problems in turning a screw..." he said. First of all, the direction of rotation changes 90 degrees from the pedal. And the rotation speed is not enough. Screws are inefficient unless they rotate at high rpm. "I can''t make bevel gears (bevel gears) yet. ......" So far, Jin has not been able to make gears. Gears require precision because two or more pieces mesh with each other. He could make bearing balls by simply controlling the weight parameter, but gears, with their modules, pitches, and involute curves, are a bit out of his league at the moment. "I guess that means I have to build a machine tool, right?" I worked in such a factory, so I have used lathes and milling machines, and I know the approximate structure, but so far I have not been able to reproduce it due to lack of time. "Well, that''s something we''ll have to work on in the laboratory. After a while, returned with a kick of water. "Welcome home. When Jin greeted her at the pier, Marcia looked excited, "Jin!This ship is amazing!I''ve never seen such a fast boat! "That''s great. So, do you have any complaints or concerns? Jin asked, "Yes, I have no complaints about the propulsion. "Yes, I have no complaints about the propulsion. It would be nice if it were a little more maneuverable. Catamarans have long, narrow hulls, which makes them difficult to maneuver, even though they have good straightness. "Hmmm, but don''t you need to be able to turn in small circles to compete? "Well, yes. Basically, we just leave the harbor, go around the island at the turnaround point, and come back to the goal. But," Marcia adds. "There''s nothing wrong with trying to get a better hull, is there?" Marcia laughs at that, "That''s right. Once we are satisfied, progress stops. Jin agreed. It was almost dusk and the wind had calmed down. Jin and the others called it a day. 69 - 03-08 Magidget Engine The day after Cygnus (Swan) was completed. Like the previous day, Marcia went to work as a fisherman, and Jin returned to Horai Island. "Now, let''s see if I''m right or not. The idea came to me last night in my bed at Kainei-tei. "Pressure wind (blower)." Jin uses the rudiments of wind magic. This magic is usually used to blow garbage away. A strong wind is generated from his palm, and it stops after about 5 seconds. "Well, I guess it doesn''t have any recoil." Jin noticed that most of the magic has no recoil. Usually called , it is valid even in other worlds. However, it does not apply to magic. Jin was trying to analyze the reason for this. "Well then, Reiko, when I give you a signal, use the pressure wind (blower) and see what happens." "Yes." Reiko, the super automata, is programmed to protect her master by using attack magic of all attributes at a level so high that even her master can''t use it. "Three, two, one, now!" Blower. Trace. A strong wind blows from Reiko''s hand, and Jin traces the flow of magic at that moment. "Now the wind! Wind. Inspection. Now, Jin examines the magic power and the workings of magic. After repeating this three times.., "I got it!It''s just as I thought." "Father?" Reiko nodded her head, which was unusual for Jin who was jumping up and down. "Thank you, Reiko. I finally understand why only the opponent is blown away by the wind magic. Jin then explained to Reiko. "For example, the pressure wind (blower) magic, it looks like wind is coming out of your palm, but it is actually gathering air around you and shooting it out. Jin guesses that the magic is relatively weak and thus consists of this kind of structure. "There is supposed to be a recoil when it is fired, but the magician does not feel it. That''s because the magic to counteract the recoil is activated at the same time. Is that so? Yes. Yes, that''s right. I have examined the flow of air, the flow of magic power, and the structure of magic. But," said Jin, taking a breath, "As a formula, we only need to eliminate the part that cancels the recoil from the pressure wind or strong wind, don''t we?" As far as Jin understands, magic begins with the act of recording the procedure (flow) of activation in the world, followed by the existence of chanting, which is the spirit of speech, and then the activation of mana. In the case of magic tools, it is magic that records or remembers the procedure (flow) in the <> as if it were written on a magic board (plate), and then activates it with words and magic element (mana). To make the world newly memorize this procedure (flow) is to create a new magic. This act of memorizing is not something that everyone can do, and it is the difference between each mage. Putting this aside, Jin continues his story. "So, it should be possible to make such a magical tool. "I understand what you are saying. But what is the use of that last magic tool you mentioned? Jin smiled mischievously, "Well, just watch." Then he brought some light silver from the warehouse and began to make something. It took some time because it was the first time for Jin to make something, but he eventually finished it. "It''s done! It was a cylindrical object about 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long. "Father, what is this?" Jin then opened the lid on the top of the cylinder, pushed a very small magi stone into the cylinder, and closed the lid. Then he closed the lid, "Reiko, hold this tube tightly and be careful not to crush it." "?Yes." Then Reiko held the tube as if she was holding it, "Activate." Jin activated it. At that moment, the wind blows out from the tube in Reiko''s hand, and tries to pull her down with a lot of force. "Father, what is this?" "Yes, it''s a great success. It''s a magical jet propulsion engine. The engineering nomenclature is relatively decent. "Hold it, please, until the magic of the Magi Stone runs out." It had been in motion for about 20 minutes. "Yeah, yeah, that''s what I thought too." "What do you mean?"Father..." Reiko asks Jin, who nods his head in agreement. "Yes, it means that in the Wind magic, the part of the magic that prevents the recoil I mentioned earlier consumes more than half of the magic power," he says. "Does that mean that if it doesn''t prevent recoil, it requires much less magic power?" Jin nodded his head happily, "Yes, that''s what I mean. Now we are ready to fly and build a high-speed boat. Jin had a feeling that a jet plane would be built before a propeller-driven plane. "Oh, it''s almost noon. Let''s go back to Potrock for now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * As he exited the erosion caves and headed back to Potrock, Jin thought, "Something smells fishy. "Father!There''s a fire!" Reiko pointed out at the same time. Black smoke was rising from the harbor. "Isn''t that where the dock is?" Jin had a bad premonition and started to run. Reiko followed him. "Oh, the dock! Even from a distance, it''s obvious. The source of the fire was Marcia''s rented dock. Red flames are peeking out from inside, and smoke is billowing out of the dock, making it look like it''s in an uncontrollable state. "Reiko, can you put it out?" As soon as Jin said that, seawater rolled up and rushed to the dock. White steam rises, and the fire is quickly extinguished by the large amount of seawater. "What is that?" It''s a water-storm. Reinhard. The magician using the water-storm was Reinhardt, a magi engineer from the Shoro Empire, whom I had met yesterday. 70 - 03-09 True value Soon the fire was completely extinguished and the area was filled with the smell of burning embers. "Thank you, Reinhard. Jin approached Reinhardt and thanked him. "Hey, Jin. Was this your dock? "Yeah." "Well, by the time I ...... noticed the smoke, the fire had already started and there was nothing I could do." "No, I''m just glad you were able to put it out." Reinhardt looked disappointed as he said this, "But there was your ship inside, wasn''t there?It''s already been reduced to ashes. ...... "What?" What? Jin''s reaction, as if to say, "What are you talking about?" And Reinhardt, who did not expect such a reaction back. "Aaahhh!My ship! Then Marcia''s shout echoed through the room. "Why ...... did this happen!What did I do?I finally finished my ship!d*mn it!" Marcia was crying and hitting the ground, and Jin approached her, "Marcia, there''s no need to cry." He patted her on the shoulder and said, "Marcia, there''s no need to cry. "...... Jin." Jin wiped Marcia''s tear-stained, snot-stained face with his handkerchief, "Arrow! he called out loudly. "Alor!" she said, "Hi! came back. But for some reason, from behind him. Look." Jin points behind him, and ahead of him is a > floating in the sea. "Why ......?" Marcia is stunned, but Jin is unconcerned, "The Arrow is an autonomous golem. It''s only natural for it to protect the ship. "Yes. Kasai ga hassei shita de isoi de uminifune wo taihisasemashita. Hesakigasukoshikogeteshimashimashitaiga. "I see, thank you." A burnt hessaki can be fixed in no time. Marcia was now shedding tears of relief when she saw that the ship was safe. She then said to Hitoshi and the others, "Oh, Jin, is that the golem you made?That''s impressive!You can make a golem that can think autonomously!There aren''t even many people in our country!" "...... who?" Marcia looks at Reinhardt with a dubious look on her face, "This is Reinhardt, whom I met yesterday. He says he''s a magi engineer from the Shoro Kingdom. He helped me put out the fire. Or rather, he put it out by himself. "I see. I''m Marcia. I''m a shipwright. Nice to meet you." Reinhardt bowed lightly to Marcia, "Well, well. As Jin introduced, I am Reinhard Randall, a magi engineer of the Shoro Kingdom. Then, through the onlookers, three guards arrived. The fire seems to be out. Is anyone involved?" I was asked by what appeared to be the captain, "This is Marcia, the guy who rented the dock." Same here, Jin. "Reinhardt. I''m a magi engineer from the Shoro Kingdom. And the captain.., "Hmm?I believe you are the guest of ......." Reinhard smiles, "You know me? Yes, I am from the Shoro Kingdom, invited to the Golem boat competition. The captain saluted, "I beg your pardon!But isn''t your dock in the middle of the harbor?" "Yeah. I happened to be passing by and noticed the fire, so I magically put it out." The captain saluted again, "Well, well, well!Thank you very much." Then he turned to Marcia and Jin, "We''d like to ask you a few questions, so you''ll have to accompany us to the guardroom." She was obviously not the same as Reinhardt. Jin whispered to Reiko, "Take care of the rest. Don''t let anything more happen to the ship." They leave the harbor and head for the packing house on the outskirts of the city. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * While the onlookers were dispersing, Reiko was paying attention to her surroundings. She was aware of an unknown magical force. And Reiko was not the only one who sensed it. "What is it?This feeling." Reinhardt of the Shoro Empire also felt the strange magical power. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, at the guard station, an interview was being held. "That''s why I wasn''t here in the morning to help with the fishing! "I came to the harbor after having some fun and found it was on fire. Both Jin and Marcia were away when the fire broke out. "Hmm, but I''m pretty sure the fire started at the dock you''re renting. "I told you, there is no fire in the dock! "That''s for sure. I don''t process with fire." "Well, that would mean arson, wouldn''t it?" The captain of the security team was not at all convinced. Jin became more and more irritated. "Anyway, you wouldn''t set fire to your own boat, so it''s either arson or a fire accident, right? Jin started to say something like that. "Uh-huh. Well, yes. Jin took this opportunity, "Since the other docks were safe, isn''t it possible that the arson was aimed at us who were going to participate in the Golem boat competition? Then, "Shut up!I have no right to be dictated to by you!" The captain suddenly became angry. Jin thinks this is a little strange. The tax inspector who had come to investigate the rumor that the orphanage where Jin had lived had been evading taxes had given off a similar vibe. So Jin said, The golem I built is an autonomous golem. If you ask him, you might get some useful information, right? He says so. The captain is surprised, "What?You can make such an advanced golem?...... that would be worth checking out." So the captain of the guard says, "Okay. You said Marcia, you stay. And you, Jin, you follow me." With these words, he left Marcia in the hands of the others and headed with Jin toward the area where the rental dock was located once again. 71 - 03-10 Sea Snakes Meanwhile, Reiko and Reinhardt, who remained at the rental dock, both felt a strange magical power under the sea and were on alert. And then he appears. "Whoa!" What the hell? A startled voice echoes through the air. A gigantic sea serpent pokes its head out of the surface of the harbor. It was coming toward us at great speed. "Death Sea Serpent. ......" Someone muttered. It was indeed a giant sea serpent called the Death Serpent. It was over 10 meters long. Lorelei! Yes, Mia Schepfel. Reinhardt''s golem emerged from the sea. "I will defeat the Death Serpent!" "Yes!" Reiko turns to Reinhardt and says.., "Wait, Mr. Reinhardt!" "Yes?What''s the matter, Reiko? "Do you know that monster?" "Yes. I''ve only heard stories. It''s a giant sea serpent with magical powers. Naturally, water-based magic will not be able to penetrate it. Then Reinhardt stores magic power in his right hand. "It works ......." At that moment, Lorelei hit the Death Serpent. This slows down the Death Serpent considerably. But the enraged Death Serpent opened its big mouth to bite Lorelei. "Fire magic!...... Flame Lance!" Reinhardt''s magic was fired at the open mouth. The speed was so fast that he missed the target and hit the Death Serpent directly in its open mouth. The Death Serpent cries "Gaaaah!" and thrashes about. Lorelei has already retreated. "I''d like to give her another shot if I were you, but I don''t think I can ...... with the way she''s acting." The Death Serpent is lumbering near the harbor, causing a huge wave to crash into the water. Small boats were shaken like leaves, and some capsized. Jin and Marcia''s Cygnus (Swan), a catamaran, is very stable and Arrow''s skill in single-handedly maneuvering it has given them no worries for the moment. Reiko confirmed this, "Ms. Reinhardt, I will stop the Death Serpent for a while. In the meantime, please fire the magic you just used. Then, without waiting for Reinhardt''s reply, he jumped into the sea. "What is she?What is that girl? "That''s absurd!What the hell is she thinking? Such were the cries of the onlookers. Reinhardt believed the words of Reiko, an artifact-class automata, and stored magic power in his right hand. Reiko swam to the Death Serpent in a short time, although it was a little difficult to swim because she was not wearing a bathing suit, and decided to hit its torso first as a test. It sounded as if she had hit it with a block of steel. Even though he trusted Reiko, Reinhardt could not believe his eyes. Reiko''s upper blow blew the Death Serpent several meters away. The Death Serpent''s body was 50 centimeters in diameter at its thickest point. The serpent was lifted halfway up out of the water. Reiko sinks into the sea in reaction. "It''s really hard, isn''t it? Reiko sinks into the sea, and once she sinks, she puts her feet on the bottom of the sea. She then kicked the seabed as hard as she could, and plunged into the Death Sea Serpent with the force of her kick. The Death Serpent, which had been on the rampage, was a little slowed down by Reiko''s first blow. Then, a second, more powerful blow was delivered. This time at 20 percent output. This time, the Death Serpent was sent flying into the air by the blow from directly below. The impact is unprecedented, and the serpent is in a half-fainting state. The Death Serpent was thrown into the air, "Flame Lance!" The spell of Reinhardt exploded. It was more powerful than the first one, and the Death Serpent''s head was blown off, and the surface of the sea was stained red with blood. The headless body of the Death Serpent floated on the waves. Reiko recoiled and dove back into the sea, watching the scene. She then swam underwater until she reached a spot where there was no blood, and came up to the surface near the shore. "Reiko!" Just then Jin came in, accompanied by the guard captain. "Father!" Reiko is soaking wet, but with a swipe of her body, the water is dispersed clean away. The special (rare) material is no joke. Meanwhile, the captain of the guard force was stunned to see the Death Serpent and Reiko who hit it. He then hurriedly puts something in his pocket, which he had been carrying in his hand. "Jin, and Miss Reiko." Then Reinhardt came over and tapped Jin on the shoulder, "Oh, Jin!Your Mistress Reiko is amazing!I didn''t think you could blow away the Death Serpent!I''ll have to invite her to my kingdom after the next competition!" (I had no idea that this guy was so big that he would be invited to the Shoro Empire. (I had no idea ...... that this guy was such a big deal that he would be invited to the Shoro Empire. The ship was safe anyway, and the outcome would have been the same.) Jin called for Arrow, oblivious to the captain''s feelings. The waves were already calming down in the harbor, and the catamaran Cygnus (Swan) was soon laid up at the pier. "Oyobidesuka?" "Yeah, Arrow, just out of curiosity, did you see anyone suspicious before the fire?" "Yes, yes, I did, in the casino. Red stone? Maybe it''s a magi-crystal of the fire attribute. If so, it can be ignited over a period of time. Reinhardt, who was listening next to me, said so. Jin shared the same opinion. "I see. Then the man or woman who threw the magi-crystal into the room must be the arsonist. The captain said with some trepidation. "I suppose so. "Yes, I see. We''ll look for the culprit. Thank you. Marcia will be released. With these words, the captain ordered the men on the spot to clean up the carcass of the Death Serpent, and then quickly left. "I''m not sure, but was it attacked by that floating monster over there?" Jin asked Reinhardt, "Yes. So, with the help of Miss Reiko, I struck it with fire magic and defeated it. "Hmm. Reinhardt is good at magic too. Jin said as if he was impressed, "No, no, it''s thanks to him. He showed a small wand made of mithril silver. It was small enough to fit in his palm. When Jin saw it, he said "I see!It is preloaded with magic!With this, we can activate magic just by sending magic power. Hearing this, Reinhardt was astonished, "My God!You could tell the function just by looking at it!Jin, you are amazing!You really should come to our country once!" With these words, he slapped Jin on the back. Jin felt the force of the slap, "Oh, yeah. I''d love to visit if I have a chance. Jin answered, "I would love to go there if I have a chance. The dock is located near the area where the dock for rent is located. In a warehouse district close to the dock rental area. "I''m sorry, I must have missed it." A stout man apologizes to a slender man standing in front of him. "Besides, the Death Serpent has made things go unnoticed..." The fire had been forgotten because of the Death Serpent. "I didn''t expect him to escape to the sea in advance. But you''re a lucky guy. I didn''t expect the Death Serpent to come here. "Well, I''ll beat him up on the spot." With that, the two men left the scene. 72 - 03-11 Intruders "Well, it''s finally over. Jin and Marcia sighed together. Until now, Jin had been repairing the burnt-out rental dock, and Marcia had been explaining and apologizing to the neighbors. "It''s late in the evening already. ......" "We didn''t get much done today, did we?" The fire had left them with nothing to do to prepare for the competition, such as adjusting the boats. "Well, we have a whole day tomorrow. I won''t be able to help with the fishing until today. "I see. Then I can start working on Cygnus tomorrow morning. Then Jin says something that just came to his mind. "By the way, Marcia, is there any boat that me and Reiko can go on? Since Marcia and Arrow will be on Cygnus (Swan), it will be easier for Jin to check and adjust various things if he is on a boat on the sea. Marcia sensed this and said, Yes, I have it. I have a small boat that I used to use to help with fishing. Is that okay?" She said she had one at the fishing pier, so they decided to use it tomorrow. That night. "Reiko, I''m sorry, but could you keep an eye on Cygnus at the dock?I don''t want any more interference." "Okay. I''ll call Luna from Hourai. Reiko answered and went through the warp gate leading to Horai Island in the darkness, and called her two golems, Soleil and Luna. "Sister, you wanted to see me?" "Yes. Yes, it''s your father''s call. Luna, you are with me. Soleil, you will guard this Horai Island. "Yes, sir." Then he moved to Potlock again, "As I explained, Luna, you will stay here at the dock and protect this ship." Then he turned to the golem, Arrow, who was there, "Arrow, this is also your senior, created by your father. He will guard the ship and the dock. "I''ll make sure he protects the ship and the docks." Arrow is a golem with enhanced leg strength and not much combat power (in the true sense of the word, low even by this world''s standards). It is therefore vulnerable to attacks from outside enemies. "You must be the newest sister your father ever made. Well, I''ll leave you to it." "Yes." Reiko saw to that and returned to the inn. Reiko does not need to sleep. After Hitoshi goes to sleep, she stands quietly, listening for signs of her surroundings. Normally, she would remain like that until morning comes. "...... intruder, is it?" Two people pried open the back door of the closed Kainarutei and entered. However, Reiko does not take any action at this point. She does not intend to do anything as long as Jin, her absolute master, does not suffer any disadvantages. "Have you come up to the ......2 floor?" She quietly slips out of the room and stands in the hallway so as not to wake Jin. The owner of the footsteps seems to be going up to the third floor, where Marcia is staying. Reiko, thinking of Jin who is looking forward to participating in the Golem boat competition with Marcia, decides that if anything happens to Marcia, it will be a loss, so she follows the intruder up to the third floor without making a sound. When the intruder reaches the third floor, he stands in front of the room named <>, checking the name of the room. It is obvious that this is the room he is looking for. And Marcia is staying there. "What can I do for you at this time of night?" What? The two of them suddenly froze when a voice called out to them from behind. They can be praised for not making a sound. They turned around and saw a beautiful black-haired girl wearing a light blue one-piece dress and a white apron. "What?What the hell is she doing here?You''re a suspicious one." one of them said in a whisper. Reiko heard that, "Which one of you is suspicious? That''s a room where a woman is staying. Are you trying to break in?" Then the other one attacked Reiko silently, brandishing a knife. They decided to silence her without question. "!" The knife instantly disappears from the hand of the man who attacked Reiko. "Please don''t touch me with this!" Before Reiko knew it, the knife was in her hand. Then he folded the knife in two with his fingertips, and folded it in two again. "Hi ......" One of the men, who was indeed startled by this, lets out a small yelp. The other man was unlocking the door to enter <>''s room. Reiko sees this and decides that time is of the essence and increases the output from 10 percent to 20 percent. "Gee!" A fist thrust toward the man''s dove-tail instantly knocked him unconscious, and then she slammed her sword into the neck of the man who was prying open the lock. "Gah!" The two intruders are crushed. "......" Reiko sighs uncharacteristically. 20 percent non-killing is very difficult to control. Reiko holding two men by her side. It would be a very surrealistic image if anyone were to see it. Reiko goes down the stairs without making a sound and goes out through the back door opened by the men. There, she once again searches for signs of her surroundings, but there are no suspicious signs within a kilometer. The men decided that they were safe for the time being. "Shall I dump them somewhere?" Reiko then kicks the ground. Reiko, running without a sound, kept running as fast as she could for about 15 minutes, and dropped them there, still unconscious. She drops them there, still unconscious, in a back street of some distant town. Reiko then turned around and went back to Jin''s room. "Ah, I slept well." When Jin woke up in the morning, he found Reiko as usual. "Good morning, father." "Good morning. It''s a beautiful day today, isn''t it? "May I have a word with you?" What''s wrong?What''s wrong? Reiko explained to Jin what had happened last night. Jin folded his arms as he listened to her story, "Well, it''s kind of poor, isn''t it?" She then tried to connect the series of disturbing events. The fact that the magecraftsman was not found until the last minute. Magi stones were being bought up. The bronze we bought was of poor quality. The dock was torched. And the intruder last night. He is unaware of the magical sabotage spells at the town hall or the fact that the head of the guard was targeting him. "Marcia is being targeted ......?No, that''s not the right way to go about it." The sabotage mentioned is intended to prevent Marcia from competing as a result. I can''t think of any reason to do that. It''s not like she''s the favorite or a famous shipwright. If Reiko had been able to keep the intruder in custody and interrogate him, she might have learned something, but it''s too late to say that now. It would be unreasonable to ask Reiko to be so considerate. "Well, whatever the reason, we can''t give in to any interference, can we? Having concluded so for the time being, Jin slowly gets ready and goes downstairs to the first floor. He washed his face in the well and went to the dining room, where Marcia was already there. "Good morning, Marcia. "Good morning, Marcia. Good morning. Good morning. After a hurried breakfast, the two got ready and headed for the harbor together. Luna had left the dock a short time before, so there was no fuss, and Marcia, with her Cygnus floating in the water, said, "Well, Gin, I''ll see you later, Then, Jin, I want you to go to the port over there from here. I have a small boat there. Saying this, Marcia slowly left the harbor, letting Arrow row her. "All right, Reiko, we''ll go with you." "Yes, Father." Reiko took the molten bronze chunk that was lying on the dock for rent, and Jin headed for the harbor used by the fishermen. 73 - 03-12 One Piece "Hey, Jin!" Marcia''s voice echoed through the deserted harbor as the fishermen were leaving. "Not there. A little further." We follow her directions. A small boat for two people was sitting on the pier. "Yes, that''s it. You can get on it." Marcia said from offshore, and Jin untied the rope and climbed into the boat. Reiko followed. The boat smelled slightly of fish, as it had been used to help with the fishing. "Go ahead of me, I''ll catch up with you later. He said to Marcia, Deodorant. The smell was removed with deodorant, the magic word of engineering. Then Jin processes the block of bronze that Reiko gave him. "Forming. Hardening. ......" The bronze was formed as if kneading clay with invisible hands. The result is two small waterwheels with crank handles. They have crank handles. "Now all that''s left are the bearings." Ball bearings are not possible now, so he uses ordinary flat bearings, which are quickly made. "Okay, let''s put this on. What Jin built was in essence an outer-wheel boat. Waterwheels are attached to both sides of the hull and driven by handles on the left and right sides separately. Of course, Jin is the one who drives it. No wonder it''s ......, it''s Reiko. "Okay, Reiko, I''m sorry, but please turn this to move the boat. Then Jin explains to Reiko. The reason why the left and right waterwheels are independent is to eliminate the need for a rudder. By changing the speed of the waterwheels, the boat can be steered at will. However, this is only possible with Reiko, and an ordinary golem would be too inefficient. Even a golem''s legs are naturally stronger than its arms. "Yes, leave it to me." However, Reiko, being a super automata, can get enough thrust just by turning by hand. The advantage is that she can change direction without the need for a rudder by changing the left and right rotations. At first slowly, and then gradually faster as she gets used to it. Reiko maneuvered the small boat at will and headed out to sea. There are several areas for practice and Marcia and her crew were in the eastern area of the harbor. At this time of the year, the sea in this region is calm. This is where the competition takes place. On the calm sea, there were many boats running around. One of them was Cygnus. "Oh, Jin, you''re here. ...... What''s that?" Marcia asked in surprise when she saw the paddlewheeler. "Oh, I thought this would be better than the oars. It''s not as efficient as a foot paddle, but it''s good enough for Reiko. When Jin said this, Marcia frowned, "Hey, Jin, this may be unnecessary, but even if Reiko is your assistant and good at body strengthening magic, it''s not very complimentary to use her like that, is it?" "Huh?" For a moment Jin didn''t understand what was being said, but then he immediately understood what was being said. "Oh, I see. I didn''t tell Marcia about this. What about? Reiko is an automaton that I created. "What?" Now it was Marcia''s turn to be taken aback. "I didn''t tell you when we first met, but now I have to tell you. We''re teammates, right?" "............" "Marcia?" "You''re late, idiot!" She seemed to have lost her temper. "I''m sorry. I''m sorry, but if I had told you the truth when we just met, it would have gotten complicated. For the next few moments, Jin did his best to quiet Marcia down. "......Well, it''s true that now that I know what Jin is capable of, I''m not surprised by this level of surprise, so I don''t understand his concern." Then Marcia said, "Well, well, anyway, it''s thanks to Jin that I''m able to compete,...... so I guess this is the end of the story." Let''s stay positive and work for the competition, Marcia said. Jin is relieved. At the same time, he decided to keep quiet about the possibility that Marcia might be targeted until after the competition. I am not sure if she is really being targeted, and I want her to focus on the competition for now. In the meantime, I have decided to take as much precaution as possible for Marcia''s safety. If we had been able to interrogate the intruder yesterday, we might have found out something.) Reiko has abandoned her. So, from now on, we will work on preparing for the competition. In a golem boat like this one, it is important for the golem, who is in charge of propulsion, and the pilot to cooperate with each other. To use an analogy, it is like the relationship between a driver and a horse in a horse-drawn carriage. The coordination between Golem''s Arrow and Marcia was improving with each passing moment. Jin observed them, checking for any problems and making minor corrections at every pause. This cycle completed the morning. "After lunch, I''m going to pick up my swimsuit for the competition. Marcia says. Jin says, "Is that a competition swimsuit?" "Yes. The entry fee includes the cost of the swimsuit. It seems that the high entry fee of 10,000 dollars, or about 100,000 yen, included not only the operating expenses, but also the cost of such items. I see. "Okay. I''ll take care of the Arrow in the meantime. "Yes, please." So, after lunch, Marcia went to the competition office in the town hall. Jin was going to check out the Arrow and give it a tune-up. "After all, if you move it that much, the joints will wear out if you just harden the bronze. So, he coated the sliding parts with adamantite that he brought from Horai Island. This is not against the rules. "The magi crystals are also a little worn, so I''ll replace them with new ones. In addition, "Bronze is resistant to corrosion, so I''ll just apply a thin layer of mithril plating to the surface. It''s a hobby, but no one is going to stop him. When the magical modification (tune-up) was finished. "...... Jin, I''m back now." Marcia came back ...... and Jin almost burst out when he saw her outfit. "What ......!" Marcia was wearing a navy blue one-piece swimsuit. Moreover, it looked just like the figure Jin had made during the registration screening. Or rather, the chairperson of the committee decided after seeing the figure. "I heard that this is the design for this year. ...... Jin, what do you have to say?" "Oh,......, I''m sorry." First of all, Jin apologized. "But it looks great on you! Marcia looked at him with a stern look, "You sound like you''re just saying that ......." "No, no, it''s not that!No, no, it''s not that! Marcia''s got great style, it looks good on her, really. Marcia''s cheeks flushed a little when she heard that. "Really?If ...... Jin says so, I guess it''s okay." Marcia has a little bit of a curvaceous figure, and all the men in the harbor area are glued to her swimsuit. But she only makes them feel depressed, "Well then, let''s start the afternoon practice! With that, he got into Cygnus. We practiced and adjusted until the evening, and then we just had to wait for tomorrow''s qualifying round. The only thing left to do was to wait for tomorrow''s qualifying round. Oh no!I should extend my stay at the hotel. Jin shouted as he remembered on the way back to the hotel. "Don''t worry, father, I extended it for three more nights when I came out this morning. Reiko was very helpful. 74 - 03-13 Just before the start of the preliminary round The next day. Clear skies. It was the qualifying day for the Golem boat competition. The harbor was alive with activity from the morning. The participants were all saying, "Oh, I''m getting nervous. "I couldn''t sleep well last night. "I''m going to do it today! "You guys all look so cool. I feel like abstaining." Some are nervous, some are enthusiastic, some are anxious. They showed various faces. In the midst of all this, Jin and the others were quite normal. "Wow, there are all kinds of boats. There are many kinds of golems. But most of them specialize in arm strength. "Comparing them to your father''s is a stretch. Hearing this exchange between Hitoshi and Reiko, Marcia''s self-consciousness is lifted. "Hey, Jin!" "Ah, Reinhardt!" Reinhardt comes running up to her. Behind him was a girl in a yellow one-piece bathing suit. "I''ve never seen you before. This is my cousin Elsa, the ship handler. Elsa Randall. Nice to meet you. She is a beautiful girl with semi-short platinum blonde hair similar to Reinhardt''s but shinier, and light blue eyes. She is fair-skinned and tan. "I''m Jin. This is my teammate and shiphandler, Marcia. This is Reiko. This is Marcia. Nice to meet you. The sailors shake each other''s hands. Then Reinhardt makes a joke. "Ha-ha-ha, Erza, you''ve already lost the breast. ......Wow!" Reinhardt, who had made a s*xually harassing remark, was silently kicked by Erza and fell into the sea. "Oh my God! Rai should learn to have some delicacy." Then someone approached them. "Hello, Mr. Reinhardt, Miss Elsa. And there''s Marcia and ...... who knows who else." It was Valentino, the crazy guy. "This is Mr. Valentino. This is Mr. Jin." Reinhardt came out of the water dripping with water and called Jin''s name. "Oh, that''s his name, I''m sorry. Well, Miss Elsa, and Marcia, how are you today? Valentino looks at Elsa and Marcia as if no man is in his life. Reiko is too young to be of interest to him. Marcia looks annoyed by his gaze, I''m doing well. I''m looking forward to the qualifying rounds. And Elsa, as if she didn''t feel his eyes on her, "I''m doing just fine. ...... how about you, Valentino?" Valentino arched his thin, muscleless chest, "Perfect!I''ll take first place in the qualifying round." He said. Then Valentino appeared from behind him, "Mr. Valentino, the preliminary round is about to start. She was a petite beauty wearing a red one-piece swimsuit. This one was glamorous. "Oh, Reece. Okay, I''m coming." Then she gave an impish bow, "Good luck, gentlemen." With these words, he left the room. "As usual, Mr. Valentino..." Elsa looked half-amused. "Yes. But his confidence is not without foundation. Reinhardt is more serious than ever. And then a voice from a loudspeaker echoes through the harbor. "The 10th Golem boat competition qualifying round will start now. Participants, please board and prepare your boats immediately. "I''m off then." Marcia calls out to Jin. "Let''s do our best." With that, Reinhardt leaves with Erza. Jin sees them off, "Once the competition starts, there is nothing more I can do. All I can do is trust Marcia and Arrow and watch over them. "Yes, and your father''s arm." Jin and Reiko then headed for the staff seats. * * * * "Well, the memorable 10th Golem Boat Competition, with the largest number of participants ever, including some from overseas, is showing unprecedented excitement. The live commentary was provided by a loudspeaker system, so the voices were heard in every corner of the harbor where the event was being held. The commentary is by Mr. Bernardo, a young magecraftsman who is the pride of our country. "I am Bernardo, and I am very much looking forward to seeing the various golem boats today. "Well, Mr. Bernardo, since some of our guests are tourists from overseas, could you give us a brief explanation of the competition? The spectator seating area in the harbor was filled with more than half of the tourists and the rest of the locals. "Yes, that''s right. To put it simply, it is a competition to see how fast the boat can go, but what is special about it is that the boat is propelled by a golem and piloted by a human woman. In this case, the performance of the golem is the deciding factor, isn''t it? Yes. Of course, but we can''t ignore the maneuverability of the golem either. Today''s qualifying round is just a speed contest, but tomorrow''s main race will require maneuvering skills as the boats will go through several checkpoints. "I see, so you are saying that the ship''s helmsman and the golem will have to work together? That is correct. Just as a coachman and a horse work in unison to move the coach, it is also important for the boatman to know how to control the golem. "Thank you, sir. Now, it seems that the participants and their boats are about to be unveiled at the port. As he said, the boats were lined up in the order of registration and followed the guide boats slowly around the harbor. A large magic screen was set up in front of the main presiding table, which could be seen clearly from the audience seats. "This year, the boatmen are wearing custom-made swimsuits, and they are generously showing off their limbs to the audience," said Mr. Kurokawa. "It''s quite a novel swimsuit design." I don''t think Jin would have thought that a figure he made just for fun would be so well received. "Mr. Bernardo, can you name a team that you particularly like? "Well, let''s start with the first team, the team. The team of Valentino, the third son of the Marquis of Hudson and assistant to the lord, is captained by Miss Reece, the runner-up last time, and their golem was made by the famous Sir Valerio. I would say that they are one of the candidates for the championship. "Yes, I can imagine the strength of the golem with its huge upper body just by looking at it. If he wielded an oar with that arm, he would be able to generate tremendous speed. The image projected on the magic screen changes. "We can''t miss the team invited this time, the < team of No. 3, Count Randall''s fourth son, Mr. Reinhardt, who is also an excellent magecraftsman. The boat is projected on the magic screen. "Propelling the shallow-bottomed boat is a mermaid-type golem, <>, isn''t it? The presenter explained the situation while looking at the data on hand. "The operator of the boat is Miss Elsa, the cousin of Mr. Reinhardt and the daughter of a viscountess. Lady Elsa is a mage herself. When she explained this, there was an especially loud cheer. "Really, Reinhardt is a countess? "I have a connection with the status of a count, don''t I? After that, the introduction of the players continued, but there was nothing new for Jin. But.., "What''s that?" It was number 27, a golem with giant wings on its back. "Mr. Bernardo, that''s an interesting golem." Yes, it is. I suppose it is based on the way waterfowls glide on the surface of the water when they fly away. It is true that the width of a ship is limited to 4 meters or less, but there were no restrictions on the golem. "Yes, but with wings that large, it must weigh quite a bit. The all-metal golem, looking at the ship, was sunken down considerably, so one could imagine its weight. "Hmm?What is that?" Jin looked a little amused. The number 28, Team <. The boat was a slender canoe type, but had auxiliary hulls called "outriggers" attached to both sides. "It''s an interesting shape," Reiko said. Reiko said, "No, it is fine in calm waves, but in rough waves, if the floats on both sides are lifted by the waves, the weight of the middle hull may be applied to the braces and cause them to break," Jin explained. Jin explained. "I see, we don''t have to worry about that with our team''s catamaran. Reiko is convinced. "Yes. But it will be effective here in the calm sea. And that golem. What Jin was wondering about was the four-armed golem. Naturally, it has four oars. He looked at the obviously short handle of the oars, "Maybe it''s a desperate measure because the outriggers prevent it from carrying long oars, but it''s not bad. "And then there is a dark horse, or should I say a unique team, number 35, <>." Jin and his team are introduced last. "The shape of the boat is different, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is. It is two narrow boats in a row. This is a form of two narrow boats, which is more important for stability. And the most notable feature is the propulsion system. "What is it?It looks like a water turbine. The Cygnus (Swan) in full view. The spectators were astonished by its outlandish shape. "A water wheel turns with the flow of water, but this is the opposite. It spins the waterwheel and kicks the water. This looks interesting." The introduction of the participating teams ended with the 35th car, Cygnus (Shiratori). The preliminary round will start soon. 75 - 03-14 Out of the blue "In the qualifying round, the boats will leave the harbor, round a rock and return to the harbor, five at a time, with the top two boats advancing to tomorrow''s finals. The live commentator explains the competition. "We have 35 teams this year, so the teams with numbers 1, 8, 15, 2, 29 The teams with numbers 1,8,15,2,29 will be the first group. Nyoda<> is number 35 and in the last group. "Now, the first round of qualifying! This is the group that includes the number 1 team, Valentino''s <. All members of this group were wearing red swimsuits. It seems that the color of the swimsuits was changed for each qualifying block. Jin saw that the hulls of all five teams were as thin as canoes, which is natural since all five boats are paddled with oars, but the golem that moves them, the one of <>, was noticeably stronger. "They must have hired a good magician (magecraftsman) because of his status or money or something." His imagination was right on the mark. However, all teams do this to a greater or lesser extent, and there is nothing wrong with it. "Well, here we go!Five, four, three, two, one, start! As soon as the starting flag is waved, there is a splash of water. The Golems begin to paddle in unison. Soon, number 1 was in the lead. Then came numbers 15, 29, 22, and 8. "Well, I guess strength is the key to success," Jin muttered. Jin was right, the golem of was two times larger than the others with its bladed oar. The gap between the two is widening. "Number 1, <>, has turned in the lead! A boat with a magic eye on board was also floating on the sea, from which images were sent to the magic screen, so that the spectators could see what was going on. < was nearly 500 meters ahead of the second-place finisher. "That''s about 1.3 times faster. Well, I guess I''m not at my best yet. Jin analyzes the strength of his rivals. The second round of qualifying was naturally numbered 2,9,16,23,3 There was nothing to see in the second round of the qualifying round. By the way, the color of the swimsuit was orange. Then came the third round. "Now, in the third round of the preliminary round, the number 3, team <> is the one to watch!As you can see, this is the first time in the history of the tournament that a mermaid-shaped golem has been used!Let''s see what they can do! The contestants in this block are in yellow swimsuits. "Five, four, three, two, one, start!" Lorelei pushes her wide, shallow-bottomed hull from behind. Her kick was powerful, and she was quickly outpacing the other four boats. "This is as fast as the just now!" The live feed is getting more and more intense. "Well, it matches the shape of the boat. But, if it were a catamaran, it could be propelled between the two." The disadvantage is that Lorelei, the golem, is quite defenseless, Jin analyzed. In the meantime, number 3, who turned around early, finished first. He won by a margin of nearly 500 meters over the second-place finisher. The 4th and 5th rounds of qualifying proceeded, but no team caught Jin''s attention. In the 6th round, the group with the < was in. Their swimsuits were light blue. "Three, two, one, start!" "Oh, number 27, he''s spread his wings!He''s flapping his wings! "That''s a lot of power. It''s lifting the ship slightly. The winged golem was using its flapping wings to generate thrust and lift the ship slightly, reducing drag. "But it''s too inefficient." As Jin muttered, number 27 was in second place right after the start, but whether it was because of the strain on the golem or lack of magical power, it gradually began to lag behind, and by the time they reached the end of the race, it was at the bottom of the pack. "The idea was interesting," he said. He ended up finishing in last place. Then came the final round of the qualifying round. A block of navigators in navy blue swimsuits. "Now, the last race of the day, the seventh round of qualifying, is about to begin! The live commentator''s voice is heard and a cheer goes up. Jin also took notice. Marcia and the four-armed golem, number 28, are going to compete. "I was thinking earlier that number 28 is an unusual golem, commentator Bernardo. "Yes, it is. But it was made by the master craftsman, Mr. Giordano. "What?As I recall, he made the golem of the team that won the last two championships, didn''t he? Yes, that''s right. Yes, that''s right. And what I am more interested in is the number 35. Here the subject of Cygnus (Swan) came up. "Oh, you mentioned that at the parade. "Yes. Yes. And it is interesting that it is a golem that looks just like its operator. Let''s pay attention to it. And so begins the final round of qualifying. Five, four, three, two, one, start! Surprisingly, it was number 28 who started first. The golem was lying on the hull, moving its four arms and oars efficiently. "Well, that''s an interesting way of rowing. Jin was a little impressed. Meanwhile, Marcia was in second place. Jin was watching her closely, "Marcia seems to have an idea. Arrow is far from his best. Perhaps he didn''t want to show all his cards before tomorrow''s final." "But without saying anything to your father." Reiko''s tone is a little discontented. "Yeah, maybe he got the idea from watching the races so far." While we were talking, the boat was heading for the turnaround point, the detached rock. So far the leader is number 28, with Marcia in second place. "Mr. Bernardo, what do you think? "Yes, number 28 is using his oars very well. Yes, number 28 has a good use of the oars and I expect number 35 to catch up. At the magic screen, Marcia''s Cygnus has just turned in. "Well, it''s turning around nicely. I think Marcia''s about to get serious, don''t you? Just after Jin said that. "Oh, number 35, he''s spurring!" The spray from the waterwheel behind Cygnus (Shiratori) became louder and louder. Then Cygnus (Swan) increased its speed. Number 35, fast, fast!He is catching up to the leader, number 28! The sound of the live commentator''s voice became louder and the crowd cheered as well. Number 28 is also picking up the pace!But number 35 is even faster!And ...... now!He''s overtaking!Number 35 is in the lead! Cygnus (Swan) continues to lead.., "Goal!Number 35 in first place and number 28 in second place! "Well, Mr. Bernardo, the commentator, it was a heated battle, wasn''t it? Yes, it was a great match for the final round of the qualifying round. "But why didn''t number 35 go that fast from the beginning? It is a natural question. "Well, I guess, if I had to guess, I would say that the waterwheel would have been under a lot of stress at full speed due to its structure, so I think they were saving it for tomorrow''s final. This is a plausible answer, but to Jin, it is misguided. After all, the moving parts are reinforced with adamantite, so there is no danger of breakage even after hours of Arrow''s full power. But in the audience.., "I see, so you were worried about the durability. They were convinced. "Well, the 10th Golem boat competition qualifying round is over. Ladies and gentlemen, please make sure you have not forgotten anything. Tomorrow''s final will start at 9:00 a.m." An announcement was made, "Well, let''s go and congratulate Marcia. Jin stood up, "Jin!I knew I was right!Your ship''s propulsion system is excellent!" The sound of a hot voice made him turn around to see Reinhardt. He was accompanied by Erza, who was dressed in a bathing suit. "Since you and I have been in separate training waters, this is the first time I''ve seen your boat, but, hmmm, turning a waterwheel is a novel idea!I''d love to hear all about it!Oh, I''d love to hear all about it! Erza stood next to Reinhardt, who was talking to himself, I''m sorry for being so loud. I''m sorry to be so loud. ...... Rai says so too. Well?" she asked him quietly. Hitoshi said, "If Marcia says it''s okay, I don''t mind. I answered, "Oh, I see!Then we should hurry up and go check with Marcia! Reinhardt was about to run to the port, "What?What did I say?" Just then, Marcia, who had left the ship in the care of the ship''s manager, arrived. Jin tells Marcia about Reinhardt''s offer. "Yes, I don''t mind." Marcia immediately replies, "Yes, I don''t mind. Reinhardt is overjoyed to hear that. "Okay!Okay, let''s go! She started to walk away, but Erza pulled her hand and held her back. "Brother Rai, Marcia and I are going to change into our swimsuits. I''m going to go change. 76 - 03-15 Movement of small group countries Reinhardt led us to the most exclusive restaurant in the aristocratic district in the center of the port town of Potlock. "Well, I''ve never been in a place like this before," said Marcia. Marcia said. The same goes for Jin. Once again, I realized that Reinhardt and the others were aristocrats. However, Jin, who grew up in modern Japan, stops there. His attitude did not change because he only knew what nobility was. Marcia, on the other hand, did not seem to have expected such an exclusive restaurant, "Well, do I have to behave in a certain way as the son of a count and the daughter of a viscount? He was very reserved. But when asked, Reinhardt laughed and said, "I''m the same as before, I want you to talk to me the same way you''ve always talked to me. And I have a private room here, so you don''t have to worry about your manners. "I see!That''s a relief. I would have left otherwise. He looks at Jin. Jin is very calm. Have you ever been to a place like this before? "No, this is my first time. When I was on Earth, I once went to a fancy restaurant with my boss to entertain a client. So I was not calm, but rather I was just sitting still because I did not know what to do. "Well, it''s a private room, so you''ll just have to do what you''ve always done. With that said, the group enters the restaurant with Reinhardt in the lead. Jin, Reiko, Marcia, and finally Erza. "Welcome, Mr. Reinhardt, isn''t it? Please come this way." It seems that the conversation had already taken place, and as soon as they enter, the waiter leads them to a private room. Please make yourself at home. With these words, the man left. There was a room with a luxurious table and chairs. And when he checked the number of guests, there were five chairs. And then.., "We''ve been expecting you, young lady." "Thank you." There were two women in maids'' uniforms. They seemed to be the maids of honor for Reinhardt and Erza. When they signaled.., "Welcome, may I have your food right away?" The waitresses came immediately. "Yes. Yes, please." Reinhardt said, and several waitresses came in turn, and soon the table was filled with food. We''ll take care of the rest. With these words, the two maidens escorted the waitresses out of the room and closed the door. "Well, let''s have a toast first. Reinhardt raised his glass. Everyone except Reiko followed suit. The attendants poured sparkling wine into the glasses. And then, "Well then, I thank you for this acquaintance. The glasses were clinked and a faint clink sounded as Reinhardt led the group. After a glass of sparkling wine, Reinhardt said, "Yes, the wines of this country are quite good. He put the empty glass on the table. "Now, Miss Marcia and Mr. Jin. I would like to ask you a few questions. May I? Reinhardt spoke in a different, more serious tone than usual. "What I''m most interested in, Mister Jin, is you. I know you are not a simpleton, like Miss Reiko, that golem, or the water wheel on the ship. If you don''t mind, I wonder if you could tell me. Jin took a sip of the slightly sweet wine, "I was an orphan. I never knew my parents. I learned everything from my master. I don''t have a master anymore. He began to talk. It was the same story he had told before, not a lie, but not the whole truth. "I used to live on an isolated island, and there was an artifact, a warp gate," he said. A warp gate?That''s unusual!" Reinhardt, who could no longer remain silent, shouted in surprise. His tone had returned to a rough one. "I came to this continent through the warp gate and have been looking around. I''ve only been here recently, by the way, so I''m not familiar with the common knowledge of the world. ......Well, I hope you will forgive me for this much." I cut him off at random, as I knew that if I went into too much detail, I would get into trouble, but I was telling half-truths, and those listening were convinced. "I see!So you have a special way of thinking!What was your master''s name?" For a moment Jin was not sure what to do, but he decided to tell the truth about this. "Her name is Adriana." Reinhardt tilted his head when he heard this, "Well, I''ve heard of her, but I don''t think I''ve heard of her. Then Erza, who had been silent until then, said, "Brother Rai, this is the same name of a legendary magecraftsman who existed long ago. As I recall, her name was Adriana Barbora Zetsi. Jin was surprised to learn that the name of his predecessor, who had lived more than a thousand years ago, was still being passed down today. "Yes, that''s right!It is said that he was a magecraftsman who was so unique that he was considered a heretic at that time. I see, so your master was named after him." "Maybe." Jin was not stupid enough to say it, even though he was the one who had said it. Reiko, beside him, had raised her level of sensitivity to the two of them by knowing her mother''s name, but she was not so sure. "I see. Since I''ve been asking you so many questions, I''d like to ask you next, Miss Marcia. The shape of that ship, was that you?" Reinhardt spoke again in a rather firm tone, "Yes, that''s right. ......." Marcia is still a little nervous. Reinhardt smiles and changes his tone back to rough. "I told you to use the same tone of voice as before. That''s what this private room is for. Reinhardt then urges her to go on. "Well, I''ll take your word for it. That ship, Jin called it a catamaran, was prototyped by my father and completed by me. "So your father was a shipwright too?" Marcia nodded, "I don''t know, he wasn''t much of a workaholic. He played a lot of games, had women and disappeared. But I liked that catamaran that your father built just for fun." Saying this, he drank the wine from his glass in one gulp. The lady of the house immediately poured more. "At first it was supposed to be a little thicker, but I thought it would be faster if it was thinner, so I made it thinner. "I see. I see. I see. The thinner the boat is, the faster it will be, but it will be less stable. But it is less stable. But the catamaran is more stable. With these words, Reinhardt also drank some wine and had a maid pour it for him. Then he turned to Jin again, "So, Jin, you are not familiar with this continent, are you?" Jin nodded his head in agreement. "Well, before we talk about my country, let me briefly explain the current situation on the continent. Reinhardt takes a sip of wine and says. About 300 years ago, a magical war took place. The kingdom of Dinar was the center of the human side at that time, but as you know, it later split into smaller states and became the small group of countries we know today. Actually, I didn''t know that, but I have to admit that I agree with Jin. "The Kingdom of Selroa is located in the area where the capital of the Kingdom of Dinar used to be. It is the most cultured of the small group of countries. This is because it has inherited the legacy of the former Kingdom of Dinar. Jin listened attentively to this interesting story. "There are rumors that the Kingdom of Cerroa is making some strange moves at the moment, but that''s not really something to talk about here. But I''ve already heard about it. "On the other hand, the Shoro Kingdom, to which I belong, was founded by Dinar I of the Dinar Kingdom and his brother in the western part of the kingdom. So it is not exactly the former Kingdom of Dinar." "I see." Jin, who could not remain silent for long, began to give a moderate amount of conversation. "On the other hand, the Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Franz, the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Elias where we are now, and the Kingdom of Leonard at the eastern end of the continent are the former Kingdom of Dinar. "Hmm." So why did Dinar I''s brother establish the Kingdom of Shoro to prevent an invasion from further west? Invasion? "Invasion?" "Yes. There is a large desert to the west of the Shoro Kingdom, and beyond that desert are foreign peoples. Aliens? "Yes. It is said that after the magic war, their advanced soldiers attacked us only once. They must have seen us as an easy target since we were exhausted from the war. That''s an understandable reason. "But at that time, the Shoro Empire had an ancient relic (artifact) that had been handed down from before the Great Magic War. An artifact?What is it?" Reinhardt laughed and said, "I can''t tell you that here. Jin, unless you come as a guest to our Shoro kingdom. Then Reinhard said, "Come, let''s eat." With these words, he ordered the two maidservants to serve the guests. From then on, they had a casual conversation while eating. There is no doubt that Jin was interested in the artifact in the Shoro Kingdom. * * * * * * * * * * * * * That night. The dock managed by the tournament committee. This is where the ships and the golem that will participate in the finals are stored. Incidentally, the golem has been temporarily put out of action in order to prevent the magi stones or magi crystals from being depleted. A suspicious figure arrives. The suspicious figure was fumbling with the lock of the dock. What are you doing? "What are you ...... doing? The next morning, a man tied up in a coil was rolled in front of the dock. The man was a member of the port guard. We are going to question him about what he did on his off-duty night, but he is a little confused and is saying that it was a little girl who tied him up. 77 - 03-16 Final Game Start The next day was another fine day for the competition. After breakfast, Jin and Marcia had a final meeting in front of the competition venue. "I''ve made the boat as maintenance-free as possible, so I don''t think it''s in the same condition as before. "Yeah, I trust Jin on that," said Marcia. "So, do you have a plan?" "Yes. From what I''ve seen of this year''s course, the technical stage is just outside the bay. So we will try to keep it low until we pass through there. Catamarans tend to lack agility. That''s where the skill of the operator really comes into play. "Yes. Once we get started, the rest is up to Marcia. As Jin said this, Marcia held out her right hand, "Jin, thank you for being with me. I''m glad I met you that day. Jin squeezes her hand back. There is nothing more Jin can do. "Yeah, good luck." "Okay, I''m off." Then Marcia turned her back to Jin, took a few steps, and suddenly stopped and turned around, "This swimsuit was unnecessary, though." With these words, Marcia headed for the harbor. Jin took his seat at the staff table, just as he had done yesterday. In case you are wondering, Reinhardt and Valentino, the disturbed man, are nobles, so their seats are specially reserved for them. On the other hand, the seats for the staff are not occupied much and are empty. "I wonder why it''s empty. Jin picks a seat at random and sits down, saying, "It''s better than crowded," while Reiko sits next to him. Reiko is sitting next to him. "Well, I''m looking forward to it. Jin mutters to himself, "Our team is sure to win," Reiko says. Reiko says. But Hitoshi says.., "No, it''s said that the game is a matter of luck, and you never know what will happen. That''s why it''s interesting. With that, he leans back against the back of his chair. He leaned against the back of his chair. "Now, the long-awaited final game is here! The time had come, and the sound of the play-by-play announcer''s voice rang out. The crowd was even bigger than yesterday. "Today''s final match, the lord of the province of Xaus in the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias, where our Potrock is located, Dominic de Firenziano, is here too! Immediately after the announcement, the lady lord waved his hand from the highest seat. "There are 14 fast boats here again this year. Who will win?The final race will be here soon! The 14 boats left the competition docks and slowly made their way through the bay, gathering at their assigned starting points. "The Golem boats are manned by beautiful women in colorful swimsuits. Which boat will stand at the top?You''ll have to see for yourselves! The audience cheers loudly. "Well, the audience is getting excited, isn''t it? "Yes, they are. We have received reports that the number of spectators has increased by 20% due to the design of this year''s swimsuits. From then on, one-piece swimsuits would become a staple of the event. "All the boats are ready for the start. The countdown to the start has begun! The crowd is as still as water, and the only sound is the countdown. "......5.4.3.2.1. The 14 vessels started off to the thunderous cheers of the crowd. The first to jump out of the water was number 1, <>. The next one is number 3,<>. And number 28,<>. Marcia''s Cygnus is currently in 7th place. "We''re a little late to the party. Jin mutters in a whisper. She was a little late because she had trouble avoiding the neighboring boats at the start of the race. "If it''s a crowded race, catamarans may be at a slight disadvantage. Cygnus (Swan), a catamaran that is not very good at slipping through, had to slow down to avoid bumping her hull, so she is now in seventh place. "Mr. Bernardo, as expected, the first and third boats are out of the way." The commentator was the same as yesterday. The number 28 is in third place and seems to have escaped the confusion at the start of the race. What about number 35? "What about number 35?" "After the way he drove yesterday, I think he has a lot of catching up to do. It will be interesting to see what happens. As predicted by the commentator, Marcia picked up speed as they left the harbor bay and entered the wide open water. "Oh, number 35, you''ve got a spurt, huh?" Marcia was passing the 6th and 5th place finishers and closing in on the 4th place finisher, number 10. At this point, it becomes difficult to see with the naked eye, and we can only rely on the images projected on the magic screen. "As you predicted, Mr. Bernardo, it''s still coming out, isn''t it?" "Yes, the 35 is very fast. Now that we are out in the open sea, there are fewer obstacles, and he is showing his strength. Cygnus (Swan) passed the number 10 boat and moved up to 4th place. The race then moved on to the second stage. The second stage is a reef area between the turnaround point and the uninhabited island of . "Number 1 is now in the lead as they enter the reef zone!It is followed by number 3, then numbers 28, 35, 10, 1 and 8. Number 28, 35, 10, 1, 8... "There are some reefs there, so it''s important to be agile." The speed is far from maximum, as the boat has to navigate around the reefs and avoid the reefs. Number 1 is Reece, an experienced navigator, but he is unable to take advantage of the powerful Golem''s propulsive force. In number 3, Elsa handles the boat with ease and Lorelei responds well. The number 28 boat is making good use of the maneuverability of its four-armed oars and rudder combination to navigate through the reefs. And number 35, Marcia, is delighted to be able to control the speed of the Golem Arrow as she pleases. "That''s Jin!I can go with this!" The autonomous golem, communicating with its master-slave, was able to communicate subtle adjustments. This is due to the effect of magical power conduction by the surface treatment (safeto-treatment) Jin applied to the hull. The slight magic power that everyone has, Marcia''s magic power was transmitted to Arrow through the hull of the ship. If the Arrow can make subtle acceleration and deceleration, it can compensate for its lack of mobility. But not all of them work so well. "Oh no, number 34, we''ve hit a reef!It looks like the hull is damaged. It looks like they are going to abandon the race. Several boats failed to avoid the reef. Some of them sank. "Again!Number 16, she couldn''t avoid the reef and hit the hull!Oh, she''s sinking!Is the operator okay? The boats of the tournament officials on standby rushed to the scene and rescued the boatswain. "His swimsuit is torn to pieces!Is the skipper all right? The scene of the rescue is projected on the magic screen. The men in the audience were cheering as the scene unfolded, a scene that would be the same anywhere in the world. The lead group has now broken through the reef zone!The first group is number 1, followed by number 3, number 28, 35, and so on! "It looks like the first place was not overturned. Well, it''s hard to overtake in that zone, so it''s not surprising. But numbers 28 and 35 are closing the gap to numbers 1 and 3. In the end, on the second stage, the reef area, four boats, numbers 34, 2, 16, and 12 In the end, four vessels, numbers 34, 2, 16, and 12, had to abandon the second stage, the reef area. The third stage was an unobstructed speed stage in open water. All vessels will be able to demonstrate their maximum speed. The goal is the uninhabited island of Io. That is the turnaround point. "Number 3, we''ve got a spurt!He''s going fast, fast, fast!Can you get up to number 1?Oh, number 1 is going even faster! It looked as if Erza was going to overtake, but Reece accelerates the Golem even faster, keeping the lead as they race across the water. "Numbers 28 and 35 have also picked up speed!" The audience could see this through the magic screen. Marcia, you''re doing great. "Yes. "Yes, I''m making good use of the magical connection with the Arrow." Jin and Reiko watched with a sense of relief. "So we''re finally at the open sea." "Yes, there are some waves. "Yes, there are some waves," said Reiko, "but it''s a catamaran, so it shouldn''t be a problem. Will Marcia make a spurt from here?" The Golem boats are speeding eastward. Leaving a white wave behind, they disappear beyond the horizon. Their speed is about 30 kilometers per hour. Knots are not used in this world, by the way. Then, another magic eye seems to switch to the magic screen, and this time the top group is seen coming toward the magic screen. "Oh, Marcia is about to move up to third place!" The screen showed Cygnus (the swan) and Marcia in her swimsuit piloting it. Jin thought that after the competition, Marcia would surely be approached more and more by men. "Father!" As Jin was thinking about such a trivial thing, Reiko suddenly sounded nervous. "What''s wrong, Reiko?" "...... I can feel the magic." 78 - 03-17 Reiko is on the move. "Magic?Where did it come from?" Reiko concentrated on her detection for a moment, "Yes. From the looks of it, it''s near the turnaround point." When Hitoshi heard this, he thought that Marcia might be the target. But.., "I don''t think so, but is there anyone who could interfere with the competition?" We don''t know that from here. "It''s also possible that they''re targeting Marcia, huh?" Jin folded his arms and thought for a while, but even though they had met by chance and formed a team, he wanted Marcia to win. I want to see my ship win. "All right, let''s head for those waters." And I don''t like anyone interfering with a fair competition. "The tournament officials will be nearby. If they are saboteurs, we will find them and turn them in. He said enthusiastically. "Yes, father. I will help you." Naturally Reiko obeyed. "All right, then, we''ll take the boat we borrowed from Marcia. The boat they had rented the day before yesterday was already at the pier. Hitoshi and Reiko left their seats and hurried there. "Oh?Jin and Reiko, where are you going?" Reinhardt, who was watching from the top row of seats, saw them get out of their seats. He also saw them walking toward the pier. "Hmm, interesting boat. Does it have waterwheels on both sides? I''d like to go to ......, but I guess I can''t if I''m in the guest of honor section." The guest of honor''s seats are separated like private rooms for each nobleman, and guards stand at the entrances and exits so that one cannot leave his or her seat unnecessarily. Reinhardt glanced at the two ladies standing behind him on either side of him and sighed in resignation. As Reinhardt watches, the two seem to be leaving the harbor in the boat. "Oh?Oh?Oh, that''s fast!" I couldn''t help but exclaim. That''s right, the outer wheel that Reiko was spinning was splashing high in the air and leaving the harbor in no time at all. Since most of the people were watching the competition, only Reinhardt and a few others on the pier could see it. "Okay, that''s good, Reiko, keep it up." Knowing that little attention would be paid to them because of the competition, Jin had been flying from the beginning. And when he saw that he could no longer see the spectators'' seats with his own eyes, "Reiko, you can give me up to 20 percent." "Yes, father." Reiko could afford it, but any more would be too much for the outer ring, which was made of ready-made materials. Reiko''s slender arms spin the outer ring faster than the eye can see. The splashes are several meters high, and the boat is moving like an arrow. The speed is probably over 60 kilometers per hour. That''s more than twice as fast as the top of the race. "That''s fast!" The boat is not a catamaran but a normal boat, so it is not stable. Even so, Reiko handled the boat well and it did not sway to the extent that I felt it was dangerous. "Hey, hey, what the hell is that?" One of the sailors on board the boat, which was responsible for broadcasting the competition through the Magic Eye, looked at her with a wide-eyed gaze. A boat the size of a canoe passed by at an unbelievable speed. The occupants appear to be a small man and a girl in a light blue one-piece dress and apron dress. "Maybe my eyes have gone crazy. ......" I rub my eyes and look again, and the boat is about to disappear into the horizon, leaving a white wake. Since it was not a competition, Jin and Reiko went out to the open sea without going through the reef area. They continued on their way to the magic that Reiko had detected. "Reiko, what do you think?What do you know about the other party? "......" Reiko does not answer. She is paddling, trying hard to detect the magic. Finally, Reiko opens her mouth and says apologetically, "Father, this is not human. Its magic power is getting stronger. It is definitely a Death Serpent. About 40 of them. What? They''re the ones Reiko and Reinhardt killed. They''re coming this way at a very high speed. We''re on our way too, and rapidly approaching. "The Death Serpent, the one you dealt with the other day, right?" Jin asked as if to confirm. "Yes, father." "So?Can you beat it?" Reiko answers in the affirmative. "Yes, no problem." "No problem? ...... If I had to name a problem, it would be that it takes a little bit of time. They have 40 fish and we have one ship. The more time it takes, the more it will affect the competition. "We can''t turn back now, can we? ......" This is about 10 km away from the competition turnaround point, the uninhabited island of Io. There were no boats in the area. Now that the outer rings are worn out, it is unlikely that we will be able to reach our previous speed. Even if we turn back, we may be attacked from behind before we get back. The bearings of the outer ring had worn out considerably. We made some emergency repairs, "We have no choice," Jin said to himself. Jin muttered to himself. Jin smiles a little too much in his haste, but decides to think about how to deal with the Death Serpent based on the characteristics he has heard about. They believed in Reiko''s ability and wondered what they could do. And the time passed. The time has passed. "Contact will be made in a few minutes." Reiko announces that she has detected the enemy. Jin gives one last, last bit of hope, "Reiko, is there any chance that the Death Serpent won''t attack us?" I ask her. But Reiko says "No, there is not. The wave of magical power transmitted from the serpent is ferocious and full of destructive impulse. In addition, the Death Serpent is a carnivore. Jin heard this and made up his mind. "I understand. Reiko! We''ll take them as far away as possible! "Yes, sir." A few minutes passed, and the surface of the northeast sea began to ripple. "Here it comes." Reiko, who has much better eyesight than Jin, spots it. Jin immediately gives the order. "Do it!" 79 - 03-18 Interception! "Flame Lance. Flame lance. Flame Lance." Reiko fires a series of Flame Lances for good measure. When the first shot lands, a huge Death Sea Serpent breaks the surface of the sea, and its scythe rises up. "Flame Buster!" At that moment, the advanced flame magic blasted the Death Serpent''s head off. "One!" Perhaps sensing that the leader had been killed, three more Death Serpents emerged from the surface of the sea. "Flame Buster! Flame Buster. Flame Buster!" Reiko fires a series of flame magic at three of them. Two more are blown off their heads, exposing their wreckage to the waves. That''s three! However, the other one sensed her presence and dove into the water, so the third flame buster was a missed shot. Jin, who was watching this, said, "You dove into the water. Watch me, I''ll flush you out." He then executes the tactic he had planned. "Acoustic sonar!" It is an engineering magic that uses ultrasonic waves to examine the internal defects of objects, etc. If the strength of the ultrasonic waves is increased, it can affect underwater creatures. Jin fired ultrasonic waves at the maximum intensity into the sea ahead of him. Immediately after that, more than ten Death Sea Serpents appeared as if they were fleeing from the sea. Fish large and small, stunned by the aftermath, also floated in the vicinity. "Now, Reiko! "Flame Buster! Flame Buster! Flame Buster! Flame Buster. Flame Buster." Five Death Sea Serpents were reduced to rubble by the continuous fire magic. "Eight of them now..." However, the escaped Death Serpents dive into the sea again. Then Jin said.., "Reiko, I''ll flush them out again, this time attack them with lightning magic". "Yes, sir. "Okay, here we go. ...... acoustic sonar!" The Death Sea Serpent is hit again with another ultrasonic shock, and it rises up out of the water, "Thunder Rain!" Reiko showered the Death Serpent with a thunderbolt-type superlative magic. The Death Serpent was hit by the lightning, and it seemed to faint and floated on the sea with its belly showing. "All right, I''ll finish him off later! Again!" Jin fired his acoustic sonar at full power. Reiko pelted the floating Death Sea Serpent with Thunder Rain. More Death Serpents were knocked unconscious and floated away. That''s half of them. But there are too many! Fall back! Reiko is in danger, but Jin is not. Reiko retreats quickly. Two Death Sea Serpents have realized that the small boat in front of them is the source of the danger. The Death Serpent is superior in instantaneous force and closes the distance instantly. Reiko was too occupied with the outer ring to intercept them. When the jaws of a single Death Serpent was right in front of her. "Water Jet!" Jin unleashed his magic on the approaching Death Serpent. The blade of water, which exceeds the speed of sound, cuts off the Death Serpent''s head without a second thought. "Oh, my God!This is terrible!" Jin and the others are drenched in the gushing blood. But in the meantime, another Death Sea Serpent was approaching. "Water Jet!" Once again, Jin swung his water jet. This time, he was a little farther away, so he was not splattered with blood. "Father, what was that?" Reiko asked in surprise. "Oh, it''s an engineering magic <>. It can even cut Adamantite!" "As expected of your father!" Reiko looks happy even at a time like this. In the meantime, I was able to keep my distance from the Death Serpents. There are about 15 of them moving now. "Is it not effective from this distance?Water Jet! Jin''s powerful water jet sliced through the bodies of two Death Sea Serpents, cutting them in half, but the remaining 13 serpents created a curtain of water to block it. "d*mn, I guess they are strong against water." The water current of the Water Jet could penetrate through the water curtain created by the Death Serpent, but its power was weakened considerably and it bounced off the Death Serpent''s scales without damaging them. The remaining thirteen serpents went berserk and shrank back to attack Jin and the others. Their movements stop for a moment. Then.., "Mana Explosion!" Reiko''s most powerful offensive magic has exploded. This magic can annihilate only those who have magic power, but it is necessary to aim at the magic core with pinpoint accuracy in order to suppress the power of the magic. Otherwise, the surrounding magic power will cause a detonation, and it will be a terrible thing. Aside from that, eight Death Sea Serpents were blown up by a single "Mana Explosion". The one that was floating unconscious was also caught up in the explosion, making a total of seventeen Death Serpents blown away. Now there are only five left alive. "Whoa!It''s shaking!" The small boat was indeed rocked by the aftermath. "Once again, ...... is a little too close." Reiko refrains from another Mana Explosion. For Jin''s safety, she took precautions. Then the remaining Death Serpent approaches. "Laser!" This time Jin''s magic was released. An intense red light pierces through the Death Serpent''s head. If it hit the water curtain, it evaporated instantly, and pierced through the hole in the Death Serpent. In the blink of an eye, all five Death Serpents were vanquished. Reiko saw this, "Father, is that engineering magic too? "Yes, it was a spur-of-the-moment operation, but it worked. It was just an application of light magic. Light. It is a magic used to illuminate your hand or to find something in a dark place. "It''s just that the light is amplified so intensely and the waves are aligned (coherent). It is possible because it is magic, but in reality it would require a large apparatus. However, Jin had both the knowledge of modern Earth and the knowledge of a magical engineer, the MagiCraft Meister. A fusion of science and magic. It is a path that leads to a higher level than that which the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, had set out to achieve. "You''ve done it, Father." Reiko said as she put an end to the floating Death Sea Serpent. "Well, I guess I''ll have to put an end to it. Reiko, who had no such feelings, took care of it as if she was working without any hesitation. "Are you done?" "Yes, I don''t feel the magic anymore." On the quiet sea, Jin washed away the returned blood with water magic. Like Reiko, his clothes are made of magical material, so they will be clean in no time. "Well, shall we go back?" "Yes, father." Jin and the others began to return, slower than when they had arrived. 80 - 03-19 Dead Heat "There goes number 35!Fast, fast, fast!He''s now tied with number 3 in second place! "Well, it looks like number 35 has really come into his own!" Both the commentators and the live commentary were astonished at the remarkable progress. A team of unknown shipwrights and magecraftsmen are battling it out for the lead. They are fighting for the top spot. "Ahhh, number 35, we''re finally in second place!And now we''re going for the lead!" Rietje, the leader of the number 1, <>, was getting impatient. The golem, made by Sir Valerio, who is considered a master craftsman, is specialized for rowing oars. Even though she was driving it at almost full throttle, a boat from a team that was just starting out was slowly catching up to her. "I have my own stubbornness, too. Reece muttered and slightly changed the course of the boat. "d*mn!You''re so clever!" Marcia spat. Reece moves the ship to block Marcia''s path. "But that''s how impatient they are!" Marcia calmly changes the course of the boat, but Reece senses this and does not allow Marcia to pass. "Number 1 is blocking our way nicely!Number 35 is too far ahead to pass!" "I should have tried to pass him on a more distant path, but it''s difficult when they are so close. This is the skill of the veteran sailor Reece." Obstructing the course is not a violation as long as the hulls do not make contact. And if hulls touch when overtaking, the one in the rear is considered to be at fault. As the two vessels were playing this game, Elsa, number 3, the blue marine, was sailing on a course far enough away from the other vessel. "Ah, here comes number 3!While numbers 1 and 35 were tangled up, he took the lead!Number 28 is starting to lag a bit! The top group now heads towards the fourth stage, the turnaround point, the uninhabited island of . * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Jin and Reiko were rushing toward the uninhabited island of . Since they had come all the way out here anyway, they wanted to see Marcia in action up close. "But what was that Death Serpent doing there ......?" The Death Serpent is supposed to be a demon that lives farther north in the sea. That''s what Reinhardt said afterwards. "Could it have escaped from something like the Hecatoncale?" "Well, I don''t know. Anyway, the race is the priority now. Jin dismissed the question as too much information to think about. (I want to build an airplane. ......) Just as he was thinking about that, an unexpected accident happened. "Ah!" One of the outer rings, which Reiko was driving, broke its axis and sank into the sea. It happened in the blink of an eye while she was running fast. "I''ll go look for it! Reiko said in a panic, "No, it will be difficult even for you. It''s not like it has any magic power, and if it sinks in this deep sea, how long will it take you to find it?" We''ve already gone several tens of meters from where we dropped it. Even for Reiko, it would take time, if not impossible. Then Reiko was disappointed, "I am sorry. I can''t believe that I have caused your father''s work to be lost. Jin tried to console her, "No, it was originally made of a material with poor durability, so it can''t be helped. But, please remove the outer ring of the one that''s still intact. "Yes." Reiko handed the safe outer ring to Jin. "Ah, this one almost broke too. ...... deformation(forming)" The outer ring was transformed into a small paddle by Jin''s magic. They couldn''t make a big one due to lack of materials. "Reiko, I''m sorry, but could you paddle with this? "Sure." Reiko immediately started to paddle with it, but she could not get any speed at all. "No good. ......" The bronze is of poor quality, and the hardening magic does not work well. If Reiko tries to give ten percent output, the rod is likely to break. "I don''t think we''re going to make it in time. ......" Reiko looks at the disappointed Jin, "Father, I''ll swim and push." With that, she quickly took off her clothes and jumped into the water before Jin could say a word. Reiko seemed to feel responsible for the loss of one of the outer rings. Reiko then grabbed the boat in the water and began kicking the water with her slender bare feet. "Oh, oh, this is fast!" When she was sent to the sea by the warp gate that went out of control in her search for Jin, Reiko had reached over 100 km/h with her clothes on her back and her luggage on her back. Now, even more enhanced than before, she can easily reach 100 km/h while supporting a ship carrying Jin on her back. From the outside, the boat would appear to be running at an unbelievably high speed, even though it is not doing anything. "That seems to be Io Island." Jin''s eyes caught a glimpse of an island that looked like a turnaround point. There were several boats floating around the island, probably carrying tourists. "Reiko, you''d better slow down or they''ll wonder why you''re here! Jin shouted loudly, worried that Reiko might hear him in the water. But Reiko''s hearing is not so good, especially when it''s Jin''s voice. She immediately recognized him and slowed down the swim. Slowly, the boat with Jin on board moves toward the sightseeing boats. Jin takes a paddle in his hand to make himself feel less uncomfortable, but the presence of such a small boat in the open sea is already suspicious. Fortunately, the spectators on the sightseeing boat were too busy watching the fierce competition among the top group, and no one was paying attention to Jin''s small boat. * * * * * "The three leading boats will soon be approaching the turnaround point! "The key to this fourth stage is how short the turnaround time will be. The size of Io is about 1 km across and almost circular. The description continues. "The island is conical, like a volcano, so it is shallow on the shore and deepens as you move away from it. Which means... "That''s right, if you try to go around in a small circle, you risk running aground. If we go around too far to be safe, it will take too long. So the key is how to deal with that. Yes. But it seems that the three boats in the lead all choose to go around just in time. As the commentator said, the three vessels seem to have decided to go around the uninhabited island just a few meters away from it. The three vessels decided to circle around the uninhabited island just a few meters away from the island. "They made it just in time." The top group is just now coming into view. "Numbers 3,1,35.... That''s a good position. After we turn around this island, it''s all about speed, isn''t it? Jin remembers the stage configuration of the competition. And then.., "Father, we need to talk." Reiko came out of the water. "Reiko, what''s wrong?" "Yes... I saw two strange golems in the water. Golems in the water? Another strange place to be. So what are they doing?What are they doing? Nothing so far. They''re staying put. "............" I don''t get it. It''s in the wrong place for a convention. I don''t understand why it was placed underwater. Don''t you know where he belongs or something? "Wait a minute. ...... Yes, the maker is probably a magician (magecraftsman) called Valerio or something. It reeks of the same magic as the golem with the number one number." "What?...... hmmm." If this is about Valentino, the crazy guy, there''s something fishy going on. Maybe this time it''s interference. "All right, Reiko, you''re in the clear here. Keep an eye on those two and stop them if they interfere with the competition." "Okay. Can I destroy them? "Uh, no, you can''t do that. You can destroy the legs and arms, ...... but don''t damage the golem''s control core so that it can be used as evidence. "Yes, sir." Reiko disappeared into the water. Soon, the top group approaches the island of Io. 81 - 03-20 And the long-cherished wish... (These two are specialized in underwater behavior, aren''t they?) Reiko observes and analyzes them as she approaches them, killing their presence. (Small body, thin body shape, paddles (fins) on their arms and legs.) Both of them are of the same form. (The protrusions on their forearms seem to be highly offensive.) Reiko then approached to about 5 meters and hid herself in the water. The area is shallow, not more than 2 meters deep, but there are many rocks and no shortage of places to hide. The Arrow is getting closer.) Looking from the water, I saw Reinhardt and Erza''s shallow-bottom boat, Valentino and his crew''s monohull, and Marcia''s catamaran approaching in that order. At that moment, there was movement among the underwater golems. One was heading for Elsa''s boat and the other for Cygnus (Swan). (I don''t know what you are going to do, but I won''t let you go.) Reiko has no hesitation against the golem. She moves through the water in a split second, kicking rocks with her body like a spring. First, she grabs the leg of the golem closest to her. He squeezes it at once. Is it hollow inside? (It''s hollow inside, isn''t it? It''s nothing compared to the golem your father made.) Then she squeezes the other leg too, and leaves the slowed down Golem there, and Reiko goes to the other Golem. (Is she going to cut through the body of the boat with that prong?) (Are you going to cut through the hull with those prongs?) The golem aims at the catamaran. But a moment later, Reiko''s arm catches the golem''s arm. This prongs are soft steel.) Reiko twisted off the arm. Water enters the cavity, and the golem slows down at once. That''s it.) A slow-moving Golem is no match for Reiko. Having twisted off the remaining arms and legs, Reiko did the same to the other Golem. The control core at its heart is still intact, so she will be able to identify the culprit. Now, let''s report this to your father.) Reiko leaves the stuck Golem there for the moment and heads for Jin''s boat. Behind her, the top group passed by without incident. "Father, it''s all done." Reiko reported as she quietly peeked over the edge of the boat. "Well, thank you very much. Now, how do we bring back the golem as evidence? "If it''s that big, I can drag it home. Reiko replies without hesitation. "I see. Then, I''ll ask you to take care of it. "Yes." Reiko seems to be glad that Jin is relying on her, and acts with a smile on her face. First, she twisted, twisted, and stretched the twisted limbs to make an ugly rope. This was a forceful feat that did not even use engineering magic. Using this rope, he joins the two golems together. Reiko herself is unaware of what she is doing, since she is only producing 20 percent of her output. Perhaps they are a father and daughter who are similar to each other. After tying the golem to the stern of the boat, Reiko again began to swim with the small boat on her back. "What''s that little boat? "It''s moving even though we''re not rowing?" This time, some people on the boat seemed to notice, but they could not see Jin''s face, and he was not pursued for this matter after this. * * * * "The top group has rounded the uninhabited island of at the turnaround point!The order is number 3,1,35,28!" The live commentator continued to announce with the same intensity as ever. "From here on, the final stage to the finish line will be an unobstructed high-speed section. The commentary began. On the wide open water, number 35, Marcia has left the back of number 1 and is now taking a diagonal course. She did this to prevent Reece from blocking her path. Then he sped off. "Oh, number 35, he''s fast!The splashes are flying backwards!" Cygnus (Swan) was going so fast that he didn''t even notice the loss of speed due to the diagonal movement. "It''s over!They have overtaken!Number 35, Team <, has finally overtaken number 1!" For the first time, Marussia was in front of Reece. Reece was impatient. "Why?I can''t get past!Oh no!I didn''t know that ship was that good!" As the catamaran with Marcia splashed in the water, the number 1, Reece, could not believe his eyes. He was pushing the golem that Sir Valerio had built beyond its limits, but the gap was not closing. It was like a nightmare. Marcia accelerates even faster and closes in on the leader, Elsa. She''s fast. She''s as fast as ...... her brother Rai thought she was." Elsa, sensing the difference in absolute performance of the boats, decides to stop blocking their way. "A fair fight." She felt that, while not a foul, blocking the way was not the right way to climax the finals. Instead, he encouraged Lorelei to push her speed to the limit. Lorelei''s lithe body rippled and kicked the water backward. Meanwhile, on Cygnus, the waterwheel, driven by Arrow''s pedaling to the limit, propelled the boat forward with a white splash. "Ah, waterwheels are so inefficient, aren''t they?" Jin sighed as he watched from a distance. I have already written about the fact that the splashing water means that the water turbine is doing unnecessary work, although it looks flashy at a glance. "After all, a ship is a screw, isn''t it? Jin, who has yet to develop a suitable power source to drive the screw, said, "When I go back to the research institute, I''m sure I''ll be able to find a power source. "When I return to the laboratory, I would like to focus on this issue. Jin is rocked by the boat, thinking about what he has thought before. "Hang in there, Lorelei." Erza was desperately trying to control Lorelei, but number 35 was slowly closing the gap. Soon, "Oubawaku desu, master Erza." Lorelei told us that we had exceeded our limit. At this pace, they would not make it to the finish line. Erza has no choice but to reduce Lorelei''s output. Finally, Cygnus (Swan) takes the lead. "Incredible speed!He has just passed the Blue Marine and is now number 35, the first time in this competition that he has taken the top spot! "I''m sure Team < will be in great demand once this competition is over." The team was unknown, but now that they''ve won, they''ll be approached by rich and noblemen from all over the world. "Yes, that''s right. According to the information at hand, the shipwright, Miss Marcia, is also a shipbuilder (shipwright). And Mr. Jin, the magecraftsman who made the golem, is unknown, but I''m sure his name will spread quickly now." For the first time in the finals, Cygnus (Swan) is in the lead. He could no longer see it with his eyes, but Jin smiled when he heard the voice on the spot. "Come on, Reiko. Let''s hurry home too. The course of the boat was different from that of Marcia and the others, so it would be a bit of a roundabout way, but there was no way they could pass by the boat in the lead. The small boat with Jin on board takes a large detour and heads for the port town of Potlock. * * * * * * * * * * At the goal point, the central port of Potlock, a man grits his teeth as he watches the competition''s outcome on the magic screen. It was Valentino, a man who is known to be a bit of a cripple. "Noooooo, Reece, what a bummer!Sir Valerio is Sir Valerio too! He mutters in frustration, then turns around and smiles darkly, "I have no choice in this situation. ......" "Valentino, Valentino," he said. "Valentino, we are almost at the finish line. Why don''t you go greet the competitors at the finish line? Someone dismissed the guest book and said, "Why don''t you go meet the competitors at the finish line? Not many people can call out to Valentino. This time it was Valentino''s boss, the Marquis Dominique de Firenziano, a female lord of the province of Xaus in the south of the Kingdom of Elias. Valentino was inwardly tongue-tied, but without letting it show on his face, he followed his boss down from the guest of honor''s seat and headed for the finish line. 82 - 03-21 Commendation Ceremony and A small boat arrives at the outskirts of the port town of Potlock, and no one is around to see it. Everyone had gone to the finish line to catch a glimpse of the soon-to-be heroine of this year''s tournament. "Okay, Reiko, it''s okay now." Naked Reiko, without caring about it, went up to the boat and quickly put on the clothes she had been taking off. "Father, all we have to do now is to take this golem to the convention officials. "Yes, yes. Yes, that''s right. "Yes." Reiko then picked up the motionless Golem and started to walk away. Jin was with her. What the hell? "What the hell, what the hell is that? ......" Although most of the residents are paying attention to the competition, what stands out still stands out. Jin was about to resign himself to the fact that he was going to leave this town soon. He arrived at the finish line. The crowd cheered. "...... number 35, now, gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! The loudest announcement of all reminded me that Marcia had just crossed the finish line in first place. "You did it, Marcia!" Jin thought he saw a tearful look on Marcia''s face through the crowd of people jostling to get a glimpse of this year''s queen. "Congratulations, father. "Well, of course it''s your father. Reiko looked somewhat happy even as she said this. "Oh, it''s Jin!Congratulations on your victory!You got me!By the way, what is that you are carrying, Miss Reiko? Just then, she runs into Reinhardt, who has come down from the guest of honor''s table to congratulate Erza. Hitoshi was very happy to see her, "Ah, Reinhard. Actually, these two golems were apparently sent by someone who wanted to sabotage the competition. "What!Is the control core intact? "Of course. Of course. I''ll check it out, but I''d like to see the competition officials present. That''s right.I won''t tolerate anyone who taints what should be a fair competition!Hey, officials! As an invited guest and an aristocrat from another country, Reinhardt''s influence was great, and soon the vice-chairman of the tournament management committee arrived. The chairman was busy with the awards ceremony. "Someone has cheated with this golem. What? "You can find the proof by examining its control core. Watch me, <>. Reinhard casts a spell on the control core. Not read(decompile), but <> which is easy to understand even for a layman. "This is ......!" A line of light letters appears. It reads, "This one reads, <>." "This one reads <>, I can''t read the ****, but destroy it!Oh my God!" One of them was slightly damaged and the reading was not perfect, but it was enough to know what was important. "So, this golem was sent out by ......!" The vice-chairman''s face changed color. But Reinhardt calmed down, "No, don''t say anything after that. There is a possibility that he is too enthusiastic a supporter. "Anyway, this matter will be discussed at the convention steering committee! With these words, he ordered his subordinates to carry the golem as evidence. "Well, that''s about it." Reinhardt suddenly spoke up as Jin relaxed his shoulders and muttered, "Jin, I saw you let Miss Reiko row you out!I''m more and more tempted to invite you to my country. How about you come with me when I return home?" Not that there was anything wrong with that, so Jin asked when that would be. "Not right after this competition, I''m afraid. I have to visit other areas, and it will be about 10 days before I leave the Kingdom of Elias for some reason." Jin wanted to give shape to the inspiration he had gained in this country, so the 10-day grace period was convenient for him. "That''s fine. I would love to go with you." "Oh, yes!The Randall family, or rather the whole country, welcomes you!Well then, what shall we do? Shall I send someone to pick you up here in 10 days? Reinhardt was surprised that Jin wanted to go. "That would be great. Well... How much luggage can I bring?" "I don''t mind, as long as it''s not more than one carriage." I don''t think it''s that much. Jin thanked him, saying it would be no problem. The meeting place was set at the central square of the port, and Jin received a handkerchief with the Randall family crest on it. By showing this handkerchief, the people who were waiting for him would be able to identify him. At that moment, there was a loud cheer from the competition hall. "Oh, the awarding ceremony has started before I knew it. So Jin and Reinhardt headed for the venue. On the podium were three beautiful women and girls. On the podium for the first prize, which was the highest, was Marcia in a navy blue bathing suit. Her body shape was emphasized where it stood out and where it was nipped in, attracting the eyes of the majority of the male audience. In second place is Elsa in a yellow bathing suit. This one, despite her age of 16, has a rather modest figure and is a big hit with those who are into that kind of thing, but since she is also a baroness, she could not be cheered too openly. Third place went to Reece in a red bathing suit. She is petite but glamorous, and her popularity was almost split in two with Marcia. * * * * * * * * * * After the awards ceremony, Jin and Reiko were talking with Marcia in the waiting room. They have already taken off their swimsuits and are now wearing normal clothes. "Thanks to Jin, we really won. Thanks to you, I''m going to be a shipwright. With these words, he placed the bag containing the prize money of one million dollars on the table. "And I also got 100,000 tokens for the design of the hull," he said. Marcia''s cheeks relaxed as she was happy that Cygnus (Swan) was recognized as a catamaran. "And I also got a unique prize. I guess this is for Jin." She places a bag containing 100,000 Talls in front of Jin. Jin''s waterwheel drive has been recognized. So we''ll split the prize money as agreed. "Yeah, I''m ......." "Yeah, I know. We owe most of our winnings to Jin. I''d like to give you three-fourths of the money." "No, no. I''m ......." Jin was about to say that he was joking, but kept his mouth shut. He realized that being too modest was a bad idea, and that too much modesty might make the win less valuable. "Well then, I''ll be happy to accept half of it. With that, he opened the bag of gold coins, counted exactly 50 coins, and gave them to Reiko. Reiko puts them in the front pocket of her apron dress. "Now I feel better," she said. What are you going to do now, Jin? Marcia asked, looking relieved. "Well, I came here originally as a tourist, and I thought it would be nice to see another town in a little while. Besides, Reinhard has invited me." "I see. I''m sorry, but that was the end of the contract and Jin is not a citizen of this country. But it was fun, even if it was only for a short time. Saying this, Marcia held out her right hand. Jin took it in his hand. "I had a good time teaming up with Marcia, too. After smiling at each other, Jin and Marcia left the waiting room. They were then jostled by those who wanted to hire them. * * * * * * What? Is it true? Yes, I confirmed it in the presence of our guest of honor, Mr. Reinhardt. Investigate immediately. The news that someone is plotting to sabotage the golem angers Dominique de Firenziano, the lady of the house. He ordered an urgent investigation. On the same day, it came to light that the assistant to the lord had purchased a large amount of magi stones without regard for the disruption of the distribution system. Furthermore, it was reported that a merchant who handled the materials was paid to sell bronze of poor quality to a specific customer (although he did not say Marcia). In addition, a member of the port guard tried unsuccessfully to sneak into the dock where the ship of the finals was being stored and was captured by someone. After interrogation, it was revealed that he was targeting the ship with the number 35. Other information, which we learned from interviews, is that Valentino was persistently trying to get Marcia, the winner of the competition, to become his mistress. What was decisive was the identification of the contents of the program of the golem captured by Reiko and the magecraftsman who created the golem. Naturally, the person who hired him was also identified. Although there was a lot of circumstantial evidence against him for obstructing the competition, even a single point of the golem''s programming was not something that could be left unchecked. With this evidence, Valentino was taken into custody. Sir Valerio, the creator of the golem, was also under suspicion, and a letter of protest was sent to his home kingdom of Cerroa. However, in spite of his captivity, Valentino was still smiling a wry smile. The conference management committee announced. "It is with great regret that we have to inform you that there was an attempt to interfere with what should have been a fair competition. It was a prejudice against the number 1 <. The 3rd place ranking of number 1 <> will be cancelled and number 28, team <>, will be moved up to 4th place. The number 28, team <> will be moved up to the 3rd place. We sincerely hope that this will not happen again. 83 - 03-22 When the mystery is solved "Well then, let''s toast to our mutual success!" Now, Jin, Reiko, Marcia, Reinhardt, and Erza (four of them and one of them) were celebrating at a fancy restaurant. Both Jin and Marcia were fed up with being solicited by aristocrats and rich merchants after the tournament, so they gladly accepted Reinhardt''s invitation. "Well, Jin, you beat me!I never thought Lorelei would be defeated." "Really. I couldn''t believe it when Lorelei overworked in the last stage. Reinhardt and Erza both honestly admitted their defeat. "Jin, tell me one thing for now. Jin said, "Tell me one thing for now." Judging from the way he said "for now," he had many questions he wanted to ask. What is it? "It''s about the warp gate that you came to this continent. Jin thought to himself, "I knew you''d bring that up. "Yes, but I don''t want to tell you too much. If it were to be destroyed, I would have no way to return to my hometown. Jin turned down the offer in a safe manner. Hearing this, Reinhardt nodded his head in agreement, "Well, I see. I wanted to check it out, but I guess not. ......" "Brother Rai, everyone has one or two things they can''t tell others." Elsa said. Reinhardt backed down, although it seemed a little inappropriate in this case. "I''m sorry. But I''m sure I''ll invite you to my home base someday." Jin said half diplomatically, and Reinhardt took the bait. "Oh, yeah!That''s exciting!Tomorrow I have to go to the capital of this country as a diplomat. I''m sorry, but I''m sure I''ll visit you sometime! "Ah, ah..." Jin regretted saying that, but he was a little disappointed. After that, the meal proceeded with a lively discussion about the competition. The topic of conversation turned to the golem that Jin and Reiko had captured. "In the end, Reece, the ship''s operator, was not found guilty of any wrongdoing, so he was not arrested. Valentino is in custody and under interrogation." "Well, that makes sense, doesn''t it?" Marcia, who had a lot to do with Valentino, had a complicated look on her face. "Marcia has been through a lot, hasn''t she?" Jin understands how Marcia feels. Reinhardt asked her to tell him about her hardships. Normally, this would not be a topic that Reinhardt would want to talk about, but since he was so excited about winning the competition and was tipsy from drinking wine, Marcia began to tell him about the hardships she had gone through to compete in the competition, "What?Tell me in detail and in order." Reinhardt asked her with an unusually serious look on his face. Marcia started with the fact that the magecraftsman had not been found until the last minute and that the magi stones had been bought up. He also tells us that he was charged twice as much for bronze, and that he was sold bronze of poor quality. "Hmmm...and then, the arson..." There was also the fire that Reinhardt put out. That one was aimed squarely at the ship. At that time, Jin decided to speak up too, as he did not have a chance to do so at this time. "You know, actually, it was the night before the qualifying round ......." Reiko told him about the intruder she had fought off and dumped far away. "What the...? Hmmm... ......" Reinhardt puts his finger to his forehead and thinks. "My brother Rai is very smart even though he looks like this." Erza gives a subtle compliment. "He''s not exactly a diplomat." Reinhardt seemed to collect himself after a moment and looked up, "First of all, I can say that you did not want Marcia to participate. Jin agreed, "Yes, but I don''t know why. But I don''t understand why. Why would they limit Marcia?Why not the other participants?" Reinhardt chuckles, "That''s exactly what I was thinking. Maybe it wasn''t Marcia that was targeted, maybe it was the ship?" "What?" Reinhardt went on to explain that he wanted to make the catamaran disappear. "Who wants to disappear?" "Valentino, of course. If he could not compete, he would have to give up the catamaran, according to Marcia''s story. Then, with some money, Marcia would sell it to him (Valentino). Reinhardt reasoned. "Well, he didn''t have the money, and he had to pay for the upkeep until next year, so he would have sold it for a certain amount, even if it was to Valentino. Marcia corroborated Reinhardt''s reasoning. And his reasoning continues. "Now that Marcia has qualified for the competition, there is no way she can buy the ship until the competition is over. The way he went about it was by arson." This shows that they don''t want the ship, but they don''t want to have it, Reinhardt explained. So he quenched his thirst with a sip of wine and continued. "The arson failed. There is an autonomous golem on board that Jin built. If we mess with it, they might be able to identify the culprit. They all listened to Reinhardt''s reasoning without interrupting. "So we resorted to a last resort. They could harm or kidnap Marcia to prevent her from competing. But that didn''t work either." Reinhardt looked like a different person as he explained. "The last resort is the underwater golem. But that attempt was foiled by Miss Leco. And then you interfered with the other boats and tried to win at the last minute. So," Reinhardt paused for a moment, "I''m sure you''ll find out something when you examine the catamaran," he concluded. He concluded. Right now, the boats in first through third place are under the control of the competition committee. It is not something that can be easily touched, but judging from the way they have been operating, it is not safe to say that they are. And Valentino is an assistant to the lord. Well, he may be under a lot of scrutiny right now. "The sooner we investigate, the better. At Reinhardt''s words, they quickly put away the remaining dishes and left the restaurant together. It is already dark outside. We walk down the street, illuminated by the magic lamps, toward the harbor. The cool night sea breeze felt good on their tipsy faces. As they walk, Reinhardt asks Marcia a question. When did you build that catamaran? Marcia thought for a moment, She thought for a moment and then asked, "Two years ago, I think. I''ve made a few changes since then. "Oh, last year we did a major remodeling." "Last year, or ...... when Valentino wanted Marcia to be his concubine?" "Last year ...... year!" After all, there must be a connection. Eventually, the group arrived at the public dock in the harbor. A guard was standing guard. He said, "Thank you very much for your help. We''d like to take a look at the ship, if that''s all right." This was the request of Reinhard, the owner of the second-place team, <>, and their guest of honor. The guard nodded and unlocked the dock entrance. I thanked him briefly and went inside. It is pitch black, but it is bright enough for Jin, Reiko, Reinhard, and Erza to use their light magic. "Now, Marcia, will you check out the ship?" Marcia was the one who built the boat, so she immediately started the investigation. First, she examined the entire hull. However, Jin has bleached the hull with a surface treatment (safeto-treatment), so nothing in particular was found. Next is the right hull. The interior was supposed to be hollow except for structural materials. What is this?What is this?" In the right hull, there was a strange piece of parchment pressed into a gap between the girders in the rear corner. "With something like this in the gap, it''s no wonder I didn''t notice it before..." Marcia took out a piece of parchment with what appeared to be a coat of arms, letters, and a picture on it. Marcia reads it out loud. "Yeah, what is it, a deal for four Eladrites, a contract?" Reinhardt and Elsa''s eyes widen when they hear this. "That''s ......." "What, <>?" The two were surprised. But Hitoshi said.., "What is it?" It was a gem that Jin did not know either. "Oh, it''s ......." Reinhard explained. According to him, the gemstone was discovered about 100 years ago and is extremely rare. Because of its property of amplifying magic power, its distribution is restricted in many countries. Here in the Kingdom of Elias, it is supposed to be sold exclusively by the state. The price of one piece is probably not less than 10 million dollars. 4 pieces would be 40 million dollars, or about 40 million dollars. Four pieces would be worth 40 million tolls, or about 400 million yen. Four pieces would be 40 million tolls, worth about 400 million yen. That is smuggling. "Oh, I don''t know anything about this! Marcia exclaimed. I don''t want people to think I was involved in the trade of such precious stones. "I know, it''s not a gem that ordinary people can get their hands on. Just when Reinhardt was about to say that he didn''t want anyone to see the contract, there came a loud bang and the front of the dock was opened. With a loud bang, the front door of the dock is pried open. 84 - 03-23 Ending Golem! "That''s definitely Valentino''s golem!" He pried open the door and in came the golem made by Sir Valerio, the owner of the competition, Valentino. "He''s been cornered, and he''s gone berserk!" Another golem of the same type appeared. Two!Did he get bored with the money he made from smuggling and had them built? The two golems were chest-deep in water, but they approached with sure footsteps. "I guess they came for the evidence of that eladrite deal." Of the three ships, they head straight for Marcia''s catamaran. Reinhard calls Lorelei. "Yes, Mia Schepfel." Lorelei, a mermaid golem, appears out of the water. "Wait, Reinhard, you don''t mean to stop those two golems with Lorelei, do you? Lorelei is made of leather, not metal. When Jin, who was worried, asked him, Lorelei''s fighting power is very high, even though she looks like this. It is limited to underwater, though." Lorelei then gave Lorelei instructions. Lorelei disappears into the water. The next moment, the two golems lose their balance and fall as if caught flat on their feet. "That''s good!Now let''s get out of here while we still can!" Reinhardt sets up Erza and Marcia first and tries to evacuate them from the dock. But.., "No!If we don''t leave it alone, won''t that golem destroy my ship? "Yes, indeed. From the looks of it, the two golems seem to be semi-autonomous. They will not stop moving until they reach their goal or are destroyed. Marcia asked Jin what he meant by semi-autonomous type. Reinhardt answered her question. The semi-autonomous type is the most common type, which has some autonomy in its behavior. For example, if you give the command, "Bring me the **", it will work without detailed control. On the other hand, if you want to give it more autonomy, the difficulty level will increase, and the number of magecraftsmen who can make magecraftsmen will be much smaller. And. "Hmmm, this place is too narrow ......." Jin, on the other hand, was worried. Reiko could easily take on 10 or 20 of those golems, but in this narrow dock, there are only so many ways to fight without causing damage to the surrounding area. With Reiko''s weight, if she hits the golem with enough force to destroy it, there is a big possibility that she will be thrown backward as a reaction. If that happens, she will be thrown through the wall. I looked around the dock for a better way to attack the golem, and I found it. "Reiko!Hit them with that weight!" It was a weight (ballast) of about 20 kilograms. It is used as an anchor to temporarily hold the ship in place. "Yes, Father." Reiko lifts the mass of steel with ease and hurls it at the golem at 20 percent output. "Ah!" Who was it? Reiko''s weight smashed the golem''s upper body and sent it flying out of the dock. "Good thing the door was open ......." Jin is relieved that he did not break the door as the golem pried it open and entered. Reiko then threw a weight at the other Golem. The second golem reached out to catch the weight, but it could not catch the mass of iron that Reiko threw at 20 percent output. The mass of iron flying at ultra-high speed shattered its proffered arm, crumpled its chest, and flew through its upper body, still maintaining its speed, to the sea outside the dock. "............" "......" Those watching were speechless. The first among them to come to his senses was Reinhardt. "Lorelei, find the control core of the golem!" "Yes, sir." If we can analyze the control core, we can identify the culprit. Lorelei quickly retrieved two control cores from the water. Meanwhile, Reinhardt explains the situation to the guards who have gathered by now. Erza is standing beside him, supporting him. Jin saw this and thought to himself, "I guess it is useful to be sure of one''s identity. "I see, two golems have pried open the dock door and attacked us. "The guard is also injured, but he says he''s sure of it." Anyway, please come to my lord. We''re guarding the place. All hell had broken loose. Jin and his team were to go to the Marquis Dominique de Firenziano, the lady of the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias, which includes Potrock, as a person of interest. * * * * Meanwhile, in the government building with Dominique de Firenziano, Valentino de Hudson, the third son of the Marquis de Hudson, is locked up in a room on the second floor for interrogation. Valentino de Hudson, the third son of the Marquis de Hudson, was confined to a room on the second floor for interrogation. He is not in jail, but in a room in the government building, since he is an assistant to the lord of the house. A detailed interrogation is scheduled to take place tomorrow. With two guards at the door, it seemed that he would not be able to escape. But then... Then he heard the sound of breaking glass inside the room. "What? The guards are startled by the sound, open the door, look into the room and are astonished. "Golem! There were two golems. If Jin had seen them, he would have recognized them as the same golems that had attacked him when he was carrying the tax in the village of Kaina. "Hmmm, as long as these guys are around, I won''t get caught. I have no more use for this country!" With these words, Valentino ran out through the hole made by the golem, followed by the two golems. "Wait!" One of the guards ran out after him. The other guard ran to report to his lord. "What?Valentino has escaped! The lord could not believe his ears when he heard the report. The son of a well-known nobleman had run away for fear of being condemned. "Find him immediately!" I ordered my men, but there are few guards in this town. I brought 10 guards myself, and the original 20. Half of them are on leave due to work commitments, which is a little insufficient to deal with two golems. And then.., "Mr. Florenziano, our guests from the Shoro Kingdom, Mr. Reinhardt, Ms. Erza, and the members of today''s winning team <> are here to see you immediately. The port guards are with them. Jin and the others alone would have been put off, but since the nobles were with him, he ordered the lady lords to let them through. I was annoyed inside. But as soon as he began to listen to the story, the color of his face changed. Reinhardt then applied a to the golem''s control core, and it displayed the instructions, "Destroy the ship with the number 35 and retrieve the evidence of the Eladrite deal hidden inside!The order came from ...... Valentino!" "The evidence has been recovered. Here it is." Reinhardt puts the evidence on the table. Florenziano''s color changed even more and he said that this coat of arms must be the one used by Valentino. "From what you have told me, it seems that Valentino was involved in smuggling. Florenziano, the lady of the house, said that the eladrite that was hidden in Marcia''s ship, which was supposed to be related to the contract, must have been stolen by someone a year ago when it was on its way to the royal family. "The evidence for this is that it is marked with an E." Indeed, all four of the stones in the diagram on the contract were drawn to have a small E engraved on them. There is no doubt about it. "But how could they have hidden it in such a place?" The lady is impressed by the oddity. Marcia thinks for a moment, "Oh, it must have been that time, a year ago, when we couldn''t find a magecraftsman to take part in the competition, but we were rebuilding the ship for the competition, just like this year. The boat was not docked at the time, but on the beach, so anyone could get close to it, he said. It is assumed that the ship''s unusual shape made it a good landmark. "......Then there was a report that they were chasing a suspicious person. I understand that when they were captured and their belongings searched, nothing was found." The Marquis said, looking at the past records. At the same time, Marcia said that Valentino had noticed her and she was so depressed about being asked to be a concubine that she had taken the catamaran to the next town where her father''s store was located. Valentino must have been upset because he had planned to retrieve the catamaran immediately. "And when he found it again, he found that the boat he or his partner had hidden the evidence in belonged to Marcia, whom he had been wooing, and who was about to participate in the competition. It all makes sense now. "If we interrogate Valentino, we''ll know who stole the El Rado lights and the organization he deals with." Reinhardt said with a relieved look on his face. But the lady lordess looked reluctant, "Actually,...... Valentino was rescued by a golem a few minutes ago and escaped." "What? "I''ll have to report this to the capital and put out an APB on Valentino. Mr. Reinhardt, will you come with me? Yes, of course. Jin and Marcia will now leave. From now on, this is not a job for civilians. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning, Jin and Marcia said their goodbyes at the port. If you ever come to this town, come and visit us. < is in good shape! "Yeah, I''m looking forward to it. I''m looking forward to it. Build lots of good ships. Jin and Marcia shook hands and parted ways. * * * * Anecdote. The people involved in the smuggling operation, other than Valentino, were arrested one after another. The person who set fire to the dock was a paid security guard. He was off-duty, but he had access to the dock area with a face-pass. The captain of the guard was also paid by Valentino, and was dismissed and imprisoned after it was revealed that he had been involved in various illegal activities such as smuggling. The men who were knocked unconscious by Reiko when they tried to attack Marcia were arrested in a neighboring town for another crime, but when they were questioned about their guilt, they readily confessed to the crime. Later, a large number of carcasses of the Death Serpent were found off the coast of Io Island, but no one could answer the question of why they were found here. 85 - 04-01 First flight After leaving the inn in the port town of Potrock for the time being, Jin returned to Horai Island for the time being. In another 10 days, he would go back to Potrock and head for Shoro with Reinhard, a nobleman of the Shoro Empire. In Potrock, we gained a lot of things. We found some fish sauce, but it is regrettable that we could not find any rice. "Ah, a bath is so nice! Since there had been only a shower or something similar in Potrock, Jin was relaxed in the morning bath for the first time in a long time. "Father, let me wash your back. Reiko was standing by his side. She looks no older than ten, but inside she is a super automaton who can take on an entire country. "Oh, please." While Reiko was washing his back, Jin was thinking about what he was going to build. "I want to make a high-speed boat, but first I want to make an airplane using a magical jet propulsion engine (Magijet engine). The Magijet engine is a jet engine based on wind magic. The fact that a jet plane was created before a propeller plane is something that can only be said to be possible in the magical world. After getting out of the bath, Jin prepared a large amount of light silver. Light silver is a metal that is light and conducts magic power well. It is composed of titanium with an atomic number of 22, and most of its 26 neutrons are replaced by magic molecules. It is no wonder that Jin chose it as a material for aircraft. He also decided to use quartz for the wind shield. After deciding on the materials, they immediately started work. "Well, since it''s the first time, the main wings are normal tapered wings with no recession angle. We don''t intend to go faster than the speed of sound from the start. "How do we mount the engine?" Jin thinks it would be easier to balance the propulsion through the center of gravity. "Put it in the back, with the air intake in the front." Gradually, the shape of the plane begins to take shape. The problem is the control system. He had built model airplanes before, but he had never seen the cockpit of a real airplane. I had never even been involved in such a game. "Well, I heard that the control stick moves the elevator, directional rudder, and aileron," he said. With his limited knowledge, he decides how to control the aircraft. "The speed is determined by the gas pedal and brake. And the brake should be linked to the flaps. Jin is enthusiastically finishing up. The light silver mass has now been transformed into a shining silver airplane. "Even if it can''t be autopiloted, some degree of autonomy would be helpful," he says. This is when golem technology comes into its own, and based on their experience with the glider golem they had previously built, they used magi crystals to assemble a navigation aid system. In this way, the prototype became a sort of mish-mash of technologies. "It''s done! That afternoon, the first prototype of the plane was completed. A runway was built in parallel, and Topaz, one of the five-colored golems in charge of land development, was ordered to maintain the runway. "Well, let''s make the first flight! Jin was about to board the plane in high spirits, But Reiko stopped him. Reiko stopped him. "According to your story, this magic tool can fly, right? "Yes, it does." "I trust your father''s technology, but what will you do in case it malfunctions or breaks?" "......" I hadn''t thought of that. I didn''t have a parachute or anything. "Please, father, let me do it first." Reiko, being a super automata, would be able to handle most things. "Well, all right, Reiko. I''ll leave the test flight to you." "Yes, sir. So, I had Reiko memorize how to fly the plane by using transinfo. The seat was too low for Reiko, so we readjusted it, and finally the first flight was made. Then, "Well, I''m off! The wind was light and it was a perfect afternoon for flying. Reiko fired up the Magijet engine. The sound of air jets echoed, and the prototype began to glide. The speed gradually increased, and Reiko pulled lightly on the control stick, "Yes!It flew!" The prototype lifted off lightly and flew into the blue sky. "It worked!" Reiko flew around Horai Island, and when she got used to it, she started to test the limits of maximum speed, rapid ascent, rapid descent, rapid turn, and so on. Without a speedometer, the speed was 400 to 500 kilometers per hour. The maneuverability and stability of the aircraft during rapid ascent, descent, and turn are satisfactory. This is largely due to the use of light silver, which is five times stronger than duralumin with a weight equivalent to superduralumin. In addition, the navigation aid system learns and supports us. "Oh, I''d love to have a communications device." The visual equipment can be reproduced from the magic eye and the magic screen that we saw during the competition in Potrock. "Can we make something that can be called ''magic ear'' and ''magic mouth''?" The names are tentative, of course. The sun was setting and it was getting dark, so Jin beckoned Reiko to come down. Reiko, sensing this, lowered her altitude and headed straight back toward the runway. "Birds!" A flock of birds crosses in front of the plane as they return to their roosts at dusk. Birds slam into the fuselage. The windshield is fogged with the blood of crushed birds, and the magical jet propulsion engine sucks in the birds along with the air. <. The magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine) stops after sucking in a large number of birds. The birds block the view and throw the aircraft off balance. The result is a stall and a crash. Reiko! The prototype crashes from an altitude of about 50 meters and is so badly damaged that it cannot be seen from the ground. The fact that it does not catch fire is a product of magical engineering. Jin rushes to the crash site. Reiko''s assistant golems, Soleil and Luna, are on both sides. "Ha, ha!" What was waiting for Jin, who arrived at the crash site out of breath? "I''m sorry, father." Reiko bowed deeply. "Reiko, are you all right?Are you all right? Jin asked, "Yes. There is nothing wrong with this body that your father gave me. However, I broke the plane that you entrusted to me. ...... Jin hugged Reiko, "You can make another plane, you idiot. But Reiko, you''re the only one." "Father, I''m an automaton. If you were my father, you would be able to make me again and again. And since I am not a person, it would be more correct to call me one. Reiko said and Jin smacked her on the head with a slap, "You idiot. You are you, and your experiences from birth to today, the memories of our time together, are yours and yours alone. They may make automata that look like you, but Reiko is yours and yours alone." "Father ......" Reiko buried her face in Jin''s chest. "Thank you,......." Then, in a quieter voice, "Reiko is lucky." She said. Let''s go home. We will improve the second plane so that such an accident will never happen again. "Yes, I will help you as much as I can." Soleil and Luna carried the broken aircraft, and Jin and the others returned to the laboratory. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The hand that hit Reiko on the head hurt so much, but Jin could not show it on his face. 86 - 04-02 Failure is the source of success. The next day, Jin decides to start with the magic tools for communication. The method of transmitting information to distant places is known to him through the magic eye and the magic screen. The free magic element (ether) that fills the space vibrates under certain conditions, and its waves are transmitted to distant places. It is just like the relationship between air and sound. We have developed a magical device that can communicate voice using this element. We call it the "manacam," or magic element communication device. By combining this with the magic eye and the magic screen, we have created the mana-telecom. "Okay, we can communicate with the ground with this on board. The next device was a protection device. "We can apply warding to cut off the physical effects on the body. The idea was to avoid injury from a broken aircraft. It was relatively easy to create a magical device to generate wards that prevent physical blows. This is placed under the seat. Then, we think about escape. The first thing that comes to mind is a parachute. Jin made a parachute from the threads of a ground spider. It is light and strong. And also, "A small magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine), which would slow down or change the direction of the fall when parachuting. Unlike the parachute, it is unknown whether this engine will work or not, so it would be better if it never comes into use. So, after the safety measures were taken, we started to build the second prototype. The basics were the same as the first prototype, but the shape was made more sophisticated and the parts that needed strength were reinforced with adamantite. In addition, it is a double-seater, and a seat is provided for Reiko. So far, so good. The problem is how to keep it from absorbing solids. Jin had been struggling with this problem for a while, but suddenly had an idea. It is a physical barrier that is also placed under the sheet. This is a barrier in the modern sense of the word. But those who are inside will not be deprived of oxygen. In other words, air is allowed to pass through. "Oh, but if the wind speed exceeds a certain level, the air cannot pass through, right? <<><>> and other magic winds do not pass through. "Let''s see, I see, the Magi Formula (Magi Formula) here is ......, I see, so this is where it is specified." Jin then investigates the Magi Formula for physical wards. He showed that he was not a master at evaluating the warding equipment created by Bina in the Blue Land before. As a result, a repulsive ward was applied to the air intake, which repels substances other than gases, i.e., liquids and solids. This field is designed to cover the entire airframe, making it a de facto barrier. The only drawback is that it allows wind magic to pass through. Finally, spare magi crystals, which should be called spare fuel, can be loaded. In case the ether converter fails, we will be able to land safely. "This concludes the possible security measures." The control core as a navigational aid system will be recovered from the crashed one and its information will be copied, so that the flight will be stable from the beginning. "Okay, let''s go." In the early afternoon, Prototype 2 with Jin and Reiko on board soared into the sky of Horai Island. "Wow, it feels good after all." Jin was literally in high spirits after flying for the first time. Incidentally, Reiko was mainly in charge of piloting the plane. "Father, this plane is more stable. The detailed adjustment of the shape seems to have been effective, even though it was adjusted by intuition. "Failure is the source of success, as they say. The newer the model, the better it should perform." Jin then starts practicing to be able to fly the aircraft himself. His instructor is Reiko. "Get used to it little by little." Gradually, Reiko took over the controls from Jin, and by the evening of the same day, Jin was able to fly the plane by himself. This was only possible with the help of the navigational aids. "Ah, that felt good." Jin is in a good mood after landing safely. Reiko also looks happy. "I think I''m going to have a good dream today." Jin walked lightly to his home where Soleil and Luna were waiting for him to prepare dinner. The next day, Jin finally decides to try building a boat himself. The shape of the boat was a trimaran. Like a catamaran, a trimaran is suitable for high-speed sailing. In addition, the center of gravity can be lowered because power and accommodation can be placed in the center of the hull. The hull is made of light silver, which is the most common color for catamarans. And the engines are made of "", "The engine is ...... this one!" It is the Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion engine developed based on the Magi Jet Engine. It is simply a replacement of wind magic with water magic, but it is also very efficient. This is not surprising, since the principle itself is different from that of real water jet propulsion. "It''s OK as long as it doesn''t suck in dust." Having learned from the bird strike accident, the team took countermeasures to prevent the jet from sucking in water plants and other debris. After lunch, Jin and Reiko took the boat to Tatsumi Bay. Soleil and Luna were also to carry the boat. "All right, let''s go on our maiden voyage. Unlike airplanes, boats are relatively safe. Jin piloted the ship. Since he does not know the control system of a ship, he uses the same system as that of a car. The gas pedal is used to drive, the brake is pressed to deploy the brake plates in the water, and the lever is used to switch between forward and reverse. The steering wheel is used to turn left and right. "Oh, this is comfortable. The prototype boat navigates the calm waters of Tatsumi Bay. "All right, let''s test the maximum speed." Jin presses down on the accelerator pedal as hard as he can. The trimaran picks up speed, reaching a maximum speed of about 70 kilometers per hour. "That''s good enough. Well, Reiko is faster than me. Jin mutters to himself as he looks at Reiko in the passenger seat. Reiko smiles happily when she hears this. After having successfully maneuvered the boat for the first time, Jin returned to the port where Soleil and Luna were waiting for him. "Okay, let''s call this prototype ship <>. Hydro" means "of water" or "of hydrogen. It might be an unusually good name for Jin. "Yes, let''s name the plane <>. It was an albatross, but he liked the sound of it, so he named it so. The next day. "Well, now that we have the ship and the plane, let''s start mass production. He wanted to use the ship for island defense and the plane for defense, reconnaissance, and of course, understanding of this world. "Reiko, have Soleil build 30 planes and Luna 30 ships. "Yes, sir." Since the prototypes were duplicates of those made by Jin, Soleil and Luna could easily make them. Just for the record, no ordinary golem in this world, let alone the best golem in the world, can do such a thing. Although Jin is unaware of it because he has nothing to compare it to, only the technology possessed by the Magecraft Meister can create such super advanced golems and automata. "So, I''m going to make a golem to put on a ship and a plane. Reiko, help me. "Yes." This time, the golem is made of light silver, giving priority to lightness. Since I have done this many times, I easily completed 40 golems. As I mentioned before, light silver is an isotope of titanium, so its color can be changed by the oxide film on its surface. Therefore, the golem for the sky is light blue, and the golem for the sea is navy blue. "Okay, let''s put it all together <>level 4....... Okay, I''m getting used to this." In the beginning, I transcribed some unnecessary knowledge, and Jin''s workload was heavy, but I got used to it after doing it many times, and now I can transcribe the necessary knowledge in a short time. "Naming, Sky 1 to Sky 20, Marine 1 to Marine 20". But my sense of naming had not changed much. "Sky 1 and Marine 1 as captains, Air Force (Air Force) and Navy (Navy), respectively." This did not improve Horai Island''s defensive capabilities much since it was not equipped with weapons. "I don''t want to make ...... too many weapons, but I guess that''s the way it is in this world." In a world where there are even demons, Jin decided to let go of the need for a force for self-defense. "That being said, Sky1, you will use your men to scout around this Horai Island and make a map of the surrounding area. I''ll give you the gist now." Using transinfo, we can teach them what they need to know in an instant. This is more efficient than the human counterpart. Trans-info does not work on humans. Jin was looking forward to the result, as he was sure that he would be able to find out the location of Horai Island in this world, which had been on his mind for a long time. "Now, let''s think about weapons and armor. Jin''s desire to create new weapons and armors was unrelenting. "First of all, the armor. Jin went to the warehouse in the basement of the laboratory to look at the materials and think about it. 87 - 04-03 Legendary equipment? "The basic of armor is armor or shield. ......" Jin, who is not strong enough to wear them, would not be able to wear them, and they would not fit him. "Then I guess we can call them accessories." Jin plays with the magi crystals on the shelf, "Maybe a ring or a pendant. So he picked up one of the rainbow-colored Magi Crystals, Forming. ......Magic Formula(Magi Formula) Writing(Write-in). ......I think I''ve got it." I made a rainbow-colored ring. Reiko, are you there? "Yes, Father." Reiko came to his side as soon as he called her. "I want to try this. It''s a guard ring. She showed him the ring she had just made. It is a ring. It has a ...... complex formula for magi written on it in great detail. I cannot analyze it. Even though she is skilled in magical engineering as an assistant, Reiko is no match for Jin, the Magecraft Meister, in this field. "Do you understand?It''s supposed to nullify weapon attacks and magic attacks, but I need Reiko to attack it a little. "That''s too dangerous. If she''s to be experimented on, let''s let the golem do it. Reiko objects. That''s right, Jin himself is testing something that may or may not be able to defend against Reiko''s attack by itself. "Well, I guess you''re right. I don''t have a choice. Who''s there now?" Soleil and Luna had their hands full with the planes and ships in production. "The only one who has his hands free right now is ...... Oh, and there was Perid." She is a golem maid who is mainly in charge of housekeeping. It is a humble role, but thanks to it, there is not a speck of dust in the laboratory. "Okay, I''ll ask Perid to take care of that. So we go out to the plaza in front of the institute. "Listen, Perid, just put on this ring and stand still, okay? "Yes, I understand, my master." Perido put the ring on and stood far enough away from the scene, "Perid, the key word for activation is . Chant it for me. "Yes, <>. You can''t see it, but it should be activated by this. Reiko, start with a light magic at first. I gave Reiko the go-ahead. "Yes. ...... fireball A fireball about 2 meters long flies toward Perido. But it is intercepted about one meter before Perido, and disappears. "Next..." said Perido. Fire Bullet. Dozens of fire bullets of about 30 cm in diameter shot out. But they were also blocked. "Well, that''s going well. Reiko, next!" "Yes! Flame Lance! The Flame Lance is a kind of advanced magic. It''s powerful enough to defeat the Death Serpent. However, the magic was extinguished a meter away from the spear. "Okay, that''s enough for the flames. Next time, use lightning. "Yes." Jin was very satisfied to find that this also prevented even the higher level magic. He tried water magic and wind magic, and found that they were sufficient to defend against magic attacks. Reiko, enough with the magic. Hit me this time. Jin tries to test the effect against physical attacks. "Yes, I see. Here I go! Reiko hits him with 10 percent power, but her fist stops about 10 centimeters before Perido''s. "Hmmm..." he says. "Well, it can''t be helped that the activation distance is closer than with magic. "Well then, Reiko, 20 percent." "Yes." The barrier withstood Reiko''s 20 percent fist. Last, 30 percent. Yes, sir. Here I go! Reiko rarely gives 30 percent. Five percent is as good as an adult, 10 percent is superhuman, and 20 percent is not a person at all. When Reiko''s 30 percent fists collided, sparks seemed to fly, but the barrier somehow survived. "That''s enough, Reiko. Thank you. Thank you, Perido." He thanked Reiko and Perido, "Well then, Perid, the ring is yours as a reward." "I am honored, my master." Perido bowed and left. Jin turned to Reiko, "Reiko, are you all right?Are your hands hurt?" "Yes, there''s nothing wrong. Thank you for your concern, father. "I see. That''s good. What do you think, Reiko? I think that''s enough. Yes. I haven''t had a chance to test it, but it can probably withstand even the most advanced of advanced magic, and should be able to withstand up to fifty percent of what I can do. That would be a legendary level of protection for an individual. In this world, space is filled with free magic element (ether), which does not exist on earth, and can be manipulated by magic power. By stopping the aether, we can create a barrier that nothing can penetrate. "All right, then, let''s go back to the laboratory. With these words, Jin and Reiko returned to the workshop and produced 10 rings identical to the ones he had just made. Four of them were to be given to the golem maids of the five colors except Perid, and two were to be given to Soleil and Luna as a reward. After making the ring, Jin combined the same magical crystal (magi crystal) and mithril silver to make a pendant head, and wrote a magical formula (magi formula) to achieve the same effect. Then he made a chain out of mithril silver, "Reiko, this is yours. and offered it to Reiko. "What?For me?" Reiko is puzzled. "Yes. You''ve served me well, and you''re a girl, you should have a pendant or two, shouldn''t you? Reiko smiled happily, "Thank you for ......, father. I will treasure it." She took it and immediately put it around her neck. "Yes, it looks good on you." Jin, who made it, looked happy. Finally, Jin started to make one for himself. "I''m not used to wearing rings, so I''ll make a bracelet. He made a bracelet out of adamantite and plated it with mithril silver. He sets the magi crystal in the shape of a wristwatch. "With this size, I can write not only defensive but also offensive magic on it. The wand that Reinhardt saw in the port town of Potrock. It had a formula for activating magic engraved on it, and when magic power was applied to it, magic could be activated. He said, "I''m going to use that as a guide." Instead of just engraving the formula, make it selectable. At least, I was able to use fire, water, wind, earth, thunder, light, and darkness at the lower levels. "All right," he said, "let''s put security on it so that only I can use it. I had created a legendary piece of equipment that no one else in the world could use. "Let''s give it a try." Jin muttered, "I''ll take care of it." Reiko said. They went out to the plaza in front of the institute again, and Jin fired various kinds of magic at Reiko. All of them were blocked by the barrier created by Reiko''s pendant, but Jin was pleased. "Now I can use magic as well as anyone else. I dare to write this. I dare to write that being able to use all attributes of magic up to advanced magic is not a human feat. 88 - 04-04 Golem Engine After creating a legendary accessory, Jin took a short rest. It is not quite dusk yet, but he takes a bath and refreshes himself. "Ah, I''m sure I''ll come up with a lot of new ideas this way. Reiko watched over Jin as he relaxed, muttering to himself. Right now, Jin wants to build a motor or an engine with rotational motion. "I can make a rotary motion if I can row with my feet. ......" At that moment, an idea flashed through Jin''s mind. "That''s it!" He ran out of the bath and hurried to the changing room. Reiko followed him in haste, grabbing a bath towel to see what was going on. "Is that the Golem engine?" "Yes. In short, instead of a piston, it incorporates the same mechanism as a golem''s arms and legs to turn a crankshaft. Although he did not know the difference between a two-cycle engine and a four-cycle engine, Jin knew at least the principle of how an engine turns. "First, let''s make a prototype using bronze. Bronze is the most commonly used material because it is easily deformed by magic power. Therefore, it is natural for Jin to think of making the prototype with bronze. So, the prototype of the golem engine was completed before dark, at a height of about 50 centimeters. "Okay, let''s do a test run before dinner. Start ......!" The internal drive mechanism starts to move and the crankshaft turns. "Oh, it turns, it turns! Then, he increases the rotational speed by increasing the amount of magic power he pours into the crankshaft. "Hmmm, I guess this is the limit. The rpms seem to be about 300 rpm. Since the handle is cranked by hand, it would be difficult to raise the rpm any higher. "Reiko, can you hold this shaft and stop it? "Yes, I can try." Reiko first gripped a shaft about 2 cm in diameter at 5 percent output. The rotation slowed down, but did not seem to stop. She then increased the output to 10 percent and the rotation stopped for the first time. "Okay, thank you Reiko. There is a lot of torque (rotational force). I have a feeling that I can use a direct connection in a car. The only thing that remains is durability. "Let''s keep it at maximum RPM and I''ll go get some dinner. Reiko, I''m sorry, but you''d better see if it stops. With these words, Jin went to the house he had built outside, which he had come to call . There, Soleil or Luna was in charge of meal duty, which changed daily. "So today it''s Soleil. You''ve gotten used to it, haven''t you? "Yes, Father." Barley porridge, baked bread, and tea were served. The tea was from a tea tree from which Reiko had secretly gone to the village of Kaina in the middle of the night. We planted a seedling so that we would be able to drink our own tea in a few years. We eat barley porridge, drink tea with a familiar taste, and eat bread with marmalade made from boiled citran. I have recently found some grass that looks like strawberries, so I think I can make strawberry jam. Jin, anxious about the engine endurance results, hurriedly finished his dinner and returned to the laboratory. "Oh, Father..." "How is it?" Yes, it''s working fine. "Let''s see..." I touched the Golem engine, but it was not very hot. No wonder, since there is no piston to generate heat. "Okay, let''s stop the engine and take it apart. Jin stopped the engine and rushed to disassemble it. He checks for any damaged or worn parts. "Well, as I thought, the golem part is the most damaged. We can make a skeleton out of adamantite and muscle tissue out of magical fibers. I thought that a structure similar to Reiko''s would work. "All right, let''s go to work then. Reiko, bring me adamantite. Asking Reiko to bring the heavy adamantite, Jin went to get the magical fiber and magi-crystal that he could hold. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "It''s done!" Late at night, the Golem engine was completed. Most of the engine is made of adamantite, and the crankshaft is supported by ball bearings. The golem parts are reinforced. The torque was increased to nearly three times of the prototype. It is so strong that Reiko can finally stop it by increasing the output to 20 percent. "Now we finally have to make the gears, don''t we? That was the end of the day''s work. The next day, Jin seriously considered making gears, which had been on his mind for a long time. He had made gears before, but when he tried to mesh them together, he found that they were slightly stiff and rattled too much, making them unusable. It is a sign that even the Magecraft Meister had his own difficulties. It seems that the Magecraft Meister''s ability is like a 3D rendering software. The basic shapes of spheres, discs, and cubes can be created and copied by default. However, there was no concept of gears, so it seems that unless you create a standard object once, you can''t create a perfect one. "Hmmm, how can I make a module exactly ......?" Jin groaned as he ate his breakfast. Reiko sees him and worries. "Father, why don''t you stop thinking at least when you are eating?" "Ah?Ah... ah... I guess so. I get it. ...... So, the first step is to divide the circumference into equal parts. ......" "Father!" Reiko finally scolded Jin. "...... Reiko?" Startled by Reiko''s yell, Jin looked at her. "Ah, ah, ah......." Reiko was surprised at herself for yelling at Jin. "I''m so sorry!" Reiko gets down on her knees, wondering who she learned it from. "You have behaved unbelievably disrespectful to your father. Please punish me!" "............" Jin reaches out his hand toward Reiko. Reiko is ready. She has no defense, and in Jin''s hands, she will be disintegrated in a blink of an eye. But contrary to her expectation, Jin''s hand gently caresses Reiko''s head. "I''m sorry, Reiko, for worrying you. You are right. Please correct me if I''m wrong from now on." "...... aren''t you angry?" Why should I be? Reiko yelled at me because she was thinking of me. Jin ate the rest of his breakfast, savoring it. Jin spent the rest of the morning thinking, but no good idea came to him. After lunch, Jin was having a cup of tea in the . The teacup in his hand is cylindrical. As he plays with it with his hand, he is still thinking about the gears. "In short, you put teeth of the same size in a row. I can make as many teeth of the same size as I want. The bearing balls only needed to have the same weight and spherical shape, but in the case of gears, even the slightest misalignment would be fatal. "Father, please take it easy." Reiko looked worried as she saw Jin thinking and worrying more than ever. Jin, however, is listening to her with a blank stare. "............" Reiko realizes that there is nothing she can do to make Jin stop thinking now, and she thinks that she can get him out of this situation faster if she cooperates with him. So, using engineering magic, which Reiko can also use, she processes a wooden board she has on hand into a disc shape. She made several of them with different diameters and placed them in front of Jin. "Hmm?What is this?" Jin noticed and looked up. "I thought it might help your father think. Jin took it in his hand. A disk. If you put them together like this, it''s called a friction wheel. Gears are gears with teeth carved around them to increase friction and prevent them from sliding. "If we start with the friction wheel, we should put a non-slip material around it. ......" Jin thought about this and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "Yes!First, make a straight gear ...... rack. Cut it in the required number of teeth, round it, and ...... you''ve got it!" "Father?" "Yes, Reiko. I got the idea from looking at this disk you made for me. Thank you." Jin patted Reiko on the head. Reiko''s eyes narrowed and she looked very happy. "Well, now we can make spur gears. If I can make a spur gear, I think I can manage to make a bevel gear. The point is to divide the circumference into equal parts, so once the standard is made, the rest is not so easy, but it can be made. "Father, it''s time for dinner. Reiko said, "Hmm?Oh, is it that time already?" Jin looks at the small moon in the sky and knows that it is already night. "I''m getting hungry when I realize that." Jin stretches out and heads for the to have a meal. * * * * After dinner, he continued to think about various ways to make gears, but it was late at night when he finally came up with a good idea, "Well, I''m going to bed. Good night, Reiko. "Yes, Father. Good night. Reiko was relieved to see Hitoshi who went to bed without any hesitation, and was happy to be petted by him today. 89 - 04-05 Gearbox, Magic Turbine, and The next morning, Jin woke up and started to make gears after breakfast. First, he made a straight gear as a standard. Adamantite stretched into a strip is prepared. Then, the gear teeth are made. The module (size of the teeth) is not a concern. It''s just a standard for the human body. "This is about right." Since it will be used for a car, it needs to be strong, but considering that adamantite will be used, a smaller size seems to be okay. Since it is easy to make it bigger, I decide to start with the smallest one I can make. I will make 200 teeth that are the same as the one I made. This is no problem. If we put them in a row facing each other, the distance between the teeth will naturally become constant. "Okay, now if we < one of them with the strip, we have ......!" The straight tooth rack is complete. "Now we need to make a rack with the desired number of teeth to match this. ......Yes, it worked. And then, round it <>. Now you have the outside of the gear. At this stage, you have a gear with the desired number of teeth, and the tooth part of the gear is made. In other words, it is a donut with teeth. "Now we just need to fuse the material to fill the inside of this circle. Got it!" A spur gear had indeed been created in front of Jin''s eyes. Jin made another gear with a different number of teeth, and tried meshing the two together. They meshed so beautifully that Jin felt like dancing. If he can make a spur gear, he can manage to make a bevel gear. However, they are limited to bevel gears with the same number of teeth. Still, the ability to change the direction of rotation by 90 degrees was appealing, and the variety of machines that Jin could make quickly expanded. "All right, let''s make a car! The chassis was again made of light silver, and the engine was a four-cylinder engine, or rather a four-cylinder engine. He also made rubber tires, and spent the entire afternoon building the car. "Yes, yes, it''s comfortable. Since there is no transmission, the car is operated only with the accelerator and brake. It is not an automatic. This is possible because the output of the Golem engine is flat. After driving around for a while on the flat land in front of the institute, Jin came down to the car with a satisfied look on his face, "But father, I think the golem horse is more versatile. "Huh?" For a moment, Jin does not understand Reiko''s question, but then he quickly realizes what she means. An airplane is a magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine). A ship is a Magi water jet propulsion engine. So, Hitoshi thought that land is a golem engine, but the roads in this world are not only unpaved, they are not even well cleared. In such a world, how many chances would there be for automobiles? "Hmmm, I wonder if it will be self-satisfying. Well, let''s just use it as a foot in this island. So, "Reiko, take Topaz''s initiative and build a network of roads around the island. The surface doesn''t have to be paved, but it should be solid to prevent weeds and to allow us to carry heavy things. "Yes, sir. Can we prioritize major facilities such as Tatumi Bay, the fields, and the airport?" "Yes, that''s right. Since an airport for airplanes had been built, it was imperative to improve the roads. Large warp gates have been installed at various locations, but roads are still necessary. "Ah, I''m hungry. It is already dark. "Father, I cooked dinner tonight. "Oh, Reiko did, that''s exciting." Soleil and Luna were busy mass-producing planes and ships, so Reiko was in charge of cooking for Jin. "Isn''t that white bread?" "Yes." Reiko peeled and ground each grain of wheat by hand and baked it with the flour. "Yes, it''s good." Jin eats the bread and drinks the vegetable and fish soup. After all, bread without the crust tastes good. "I''m sorry we haven''t found rice yet," he says. "No, I know. No, I know. I don''t ask for what I don''t have. I''ll have to look for it on my next trip to the West. We could not find rice in the port town of Potrock. Jin hoped that there might be something different and rare in the west. It was the seventh day after returning to Horai Island. Let''s make a turbine anyway. With this line, Jin''s day began. The principle is quite simple. All you have to do is place an impeller in a sealed container and use wind magic to rotate the impeller. If the wind is circulated well, there is no need to draw air in from the outside, and air does not leak out. So it was very easy to make. "Oh, I knew it had a high rotation speed. In short, because it is a wind turbine, the rotational speed is high. But the torque (rotational force) is not as high as that of the Golem engine. "Well, it will be useful for something if we make it. It is fun to make them. Reiko is also chewing on the meaning of her existence at Jin''s side. The data of Jin''s works are stored in Reiko''s mind, organized and saved so that she can make a duplicate at any time. It is an auxiliary storage device for Jin. "Father, what happened to your story about making weapons?" And like a secretary, she points out what Jin has forgotten. "Oh, you mentioned that. We needed it as a defense force." Jin thinks about it. "Like a blade of water current (water jet), a flux of light (laser), or electromagnetic induction (induction). ......" After much consideration, we decided to install lasers as standard equipment. The reasons were that it could easily be made non-lethal by changing the intensity, the defensive methods were limited, and it was easy to aim and difficult to dodge. "All right, let''s make it then. Reiko immediately asked me to get the materials and we started to make it. The construction is simple. It is shaped like a thin flashlight, and the Magi Formula is written inside. "Now all we need is the authentication. "Father, what is authentication?" Reiko asked, not being familiar with the word. "Oh, for example, if someone takes it from me, I''ll make sure that he can''t use it. Without Jin''s magic waveform, the device will not work. I named it "Certificate". All of Jin''s golems and Reiko''s golems have inherited Jin''s waveform, so they can be used without any problem. "That''s it." The prototype is complete. It looks like just a tube. He didn''t make it a pistol. "Let''s try it out." He went outside the institute, aimed at one of the rocks piled up at the edge of the square, and fired a laser. A needle-thin beam of light came out and penetrated the rock in seconds. "Okay, that''s a success," he said. Saying this, he changed the setting slightly and fired again. This time the beam was a little more diffused, and although the range was shorter, it vaporized the rock it hit in no time. "This is dangerous. I can''t let you use it except in an emergency. So I decided to come up with another less powerful weapon. "Paralysis .........right...a stun gun!" When I first met Beena in the Blue Lands, she was carrying a . We know that such a magical tool exists. "Okay, I''ll make something a few steps better than that! Jin is determined, "Father, it''s almost noon, so please have lunch first. Reiko tells him to go to the museum instead of the laboratory. "So Soleil made lunch today?" The menu consisted of toast, Citran marmalade, salad, and a fried egg. It was a bit like breakfast, but Jin didn''t mind and ate it. "Thanks for the food. As soon as he finishes eating, he heads for the laboratory. "As usual, your father is so blind when it comes to cooking, isn''t he? Reiko quickly followed Jin for support. The stun gun was easily completed. Having seen the paralyzing wand before, he had compensated for its shortcomings and made it more efficient. It looks like a wand about 30 cm long. And another two types in the shape of a baton were made. The wand is for personal use and the baton is for security. The wand is made of light silver and the club is a composite of adamantite and mithril silver. "Now let''s make an army. Jin said, and made 20 golems and named them Land 1 to 20. With this, Horai Island now has an army of land, sea, and air. 90 - 04-06 Horai Islands position was determined Day eight. Father, Sky One is here to give you a report. What?Did the reconnaissance work come through?" Jin, who had just finished breakfast and was having a cup of tea, hurried to the institute to hear the report he had been waiting for. < When Jin and Reiko went to the basement hall of the institute, Sky1 was already waiting for them. "Sky1, I see you''ve completed your ground reconnaissance." "Yes. I''ve made a schematic map of the surrounding area, centered here on Horai Island. Sky1 unfolded a large sheet of paper and showed it to me. The paper was white-tanned hexenbiest leather, a durable material that would last for a thousand years or so. "Hmmm... ......" Jin was impressed by the schematic drawing. It is quite well drawn. The map, which was drawn with Horai Island in the center, showed the sea all the way to the right, or east, and part of the continent to the west. To the west, a part of the continent was drawn. "This continent is the continent where the kingdoms of Klein and Elias are located, isn''t it? "Yes, that''s correct." Sky1 confirms Jin''s guess. "Good, keep up the aerial survey at this rate. When you fly over the continent, be careful not to be noticed by the people below, okay? "Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I''ll fly as high as I can. Yes, please do that. The problems that humans have with air pressure, oxygen levels, and cold do not affect the golem. Jin continues to look at the map. "This must be the Kingdom of Elias. It looks like this. This must be the area where we had the boat race. And this is Io. And if we look more closely.., "Is there another island between Horai Island and the continent? It''s much smaller." Jin wondered if the island could be used as a villa, or rather an outpost for defending Horai Island. "The planes were double-seaters, right? Take some army golems with you and have them survey the island." Yes, sir. "And if it''s uninhabited, we want it to be our island too, so let''s ...... call the main ones while we''re at it." Jin invited Soleil, Luna, the five colored golem maids, and Marine 1 and Land 1, and explained his plan for the future. 1. Whenever we invite someone from now on, we first invite them to . 2. will be maintained in a plausible manner, and Jin will make it look as if he is living there. 3. In case of emergency, he treats the island as a dummy Horai Island. 4. The island is named . The naming of the island is a hobby of Jin''s. "The details will be worked out in the future. "We''ll work out the details now, but have you figured out what we''re going to do? Everyone in the room answered "yes" to Jin''s confirmation. If you need more help, please let me know. "Yes, master (my master), if you want to maintain your place too, please increase the number of people under your command. The five colored golem maids all made the same request, and Jin agreed. The same goes for Marine 1, Sky 1, and Land 1. In short, they were short on staff. "Oh, okay, okay." So Jin was to increase the number of golems under his command for the rest of the day. "Father, are you sure about your magical power? Even though he is a Magecraft Meister, his magical power is limited. Yes, I think I can still afford it. "I knew it." In fact, since Jin''s body is mostly supplemented with magical elements, the amount of active magical elements (mana) he possesses is extraordinary, or rather, an impossible amount. It will be a little while before Jin learns of this from others. Reiko had an idea, but she kept quiet because she had no proof. So, after a lot of work that a normal mage would have been exhausted by now, the golem was finally completed, The golems that were finally produced were five golems each under Soleil and Luna. The names of the golems are Prane 1 to 5 under Soleil and Satella 1 to 5 under Luna. The type is a girl type. There are 90 golem maids of each of the 5 colors. Together with the 10 from before, the total is now 100. The type is female. There are 80 golems of Sky, Marine, and Land. The total number of golems is 100. The numbers are 21 to 100, and the type is male. "Ah, I''m really tired. ...... Jin muttered while relaxing in the bath. I was more physically tired than magically tired. Even though he had Soleil, Luna, Prane, Satella, and the others helping him from the middle, it is probably a world record to have built this many golems in one day. "Reiko, how is the inventory of materials? As expected, we consumed a large amount of materials, and Jin seemed to be getting worried. Yes, we are fine. The copper, nickel, mithril, light silver, adamantite, etc. that we used, we can make a thousand times this number of golems. He has been mining every day for a thousand years. "Originally, this island was rich in mineral resources, which is why your mother chose it as her base of operations." She must have known from experience that volcanoes are rich in underground resources. Reiko explained to Jin that the danger of eruption was magically detected and mitigated. "The previous generation must have been amazing." Even the modern earth cannot control the energy of volcanoes. "Tomorrow afternoon, we''ll go to Potrock." My appointment with Reinhardt is in ten days. The day after tomorrow. You''ve done a lot in eight days. "Yes, you''re a great father." Reiko, who was standing by my side, was giving me some advice. "Reiko, thank you for helping me. Jin thanked Reiko for her help. "No, I am here to help your father. Reiko looked happy even as she answered. "It''s true that you''ve helped me. Well, I''d better get out of here. Reiko holds out a bath towel to Hitoshi after he gets out of the bath. Hitoshi wipes himself off and gets dressed, "Reiko, what''s for dinner tonight?" Reiko asked him. "I think it''s grilled fish and fried prawns. "Oh!I''m looking forward to it. Since they had oil, bread crumbs, flour, and eggs, they could make tempura and fried prawns. Of course, Jin taught me. There was something like Worcestershire sauce, which was enough for frying. "Ah, it was delicious! Jin muttered with satisfaction as he ate his perspex after the meal. "I am honored, father. Luna, who was in charge of tonight''s meal, said happily. Soleil and Luna have been showing a little glimpse of their emotions lately, perhaps due to Reiko''s influence. But you know, they are still different from human beings.) Jin mutters this in his mind without saying it out loud. Whether Reiko or other golems, they are absolutely obedient to their creator Jin, which sometimes makes Jin sad. (I guess people want to be among people, after all...) Jin looks up at the night sky from the window and thinks to himself. "Father, aren''t you cold? Reiko says to him, "Yes, I''m fine." Jin replies, "Yes, I''m fine." He recalls his life in the village of Kaina with nostalgia. 91 - 04-07 Travel arrangements The next day, Jin finished breakfast and began to prepare for the trip. "Let''s see, a change of underwear, a shirt, pants, and a jacket. He only needs two clothes, since the dirt can be removed by <. "...... what else do you need?" Jin is a bit surprised because he has never traveled in this world before. Reiko can''t be counted on for this either. "For now, let''s assume that we are traveling on Earth. Money, medicine, handkerchiefs, tissues, guidebooks, cameras. "I don''t have a guidebook or a camera. Jin says, "I don''t have a guidebook or a camera," and thinks he will make a camera one day. "And a handkerchief with the Reinhardt family crest. It was given to him for confirmation. I can''t forget this. And a bag to put it in. I made the missing pieces and finished the preparations. "Father, what about the warp gate?" If there is a warp gate, we can always return to Horai Island if something happens. "Hmmm, well, I don''t know..." But some parts are too bulky, so Jin is not sure what to do. "Well, let''s just take the magi device with us, and we can deal with the chassis and the like on the spot. As long as there is a magical device for transference, the rest can be managed with ready-made materials, such as a base and a chassis. Yes, I think that would be a good idea. "Yes, if we have two units, we can come back in case something happens to one of them. So, we prepared the Magi Device, which is the heart of the Warp Gate. A black magi crystal with dark attribute and a magi board (plate) on which the control system is written. At this time, it is necessary to synchronize it precisely with the waveform of the master''s magic in Horai, so it is a part that can only be made here in Horai. "Okay, this is good. Without the parts for the chassis, two units weigh about two kilograms, no problem. "I hope I didn''t forget anything." Well, if there are any, we can buy them or, at worst, we can make them. "Father, why don''t you bring a water bottle just in case? "A water bottle. A water bottle. It should be able to keep the water hot and cold and have a magical formula engraved inside to purify the water. As soon as I think of it, I do it. We use light silver, make it double-layered, and vent the air inside. In short, it is a thermos. In addition, I engraved a magic formula for purification on the bottom part of the bottle so that the raw water would not upset the stomach. "That''s it. I made one for you too, Reiko. "I don''t need to drink it, but I will have a spare for your father. She took it. "You can get the rest at ......." "Father, since you were invited, how about a thank-you gift?" "A thank-you, huh ......?" Jin thought for a moment, and then he held up the milky-white Magi Crystal in his hand, "Forming. ...... Magi Formula. Write-in." He made up a ring. It is a degraded version of the guard ring. Let''s call it a protection ring. Jin did not know which seemed stronger, the guard or the protector, but the first one he made was a guard, so he called it this. "Shall I make a few of them and give them to you when I have a chance?" "Yes, that''s right. I noticed that with the guard rings, how about I hold something like a sword? Reinhardt and the others know that Reiko is an automata, so they won''t think twice about equipping her with something to protect Jin. "Besides, it''s easier to go easy on her with a sword." "I see." Jin quickly took out the adamantite, "Forming. Hardening. Surface treatment. ...... sword was made. It is a Japanese sword with a warp and a slender body. It is about 50 cm long, just right for Reiko. I used magic to put an impossible blade pattern on it just for fun. "Father, I believe this is ......." "Ah, so you have knowledge transferred to you too. Yes, it''s a sword, not a sword. It''s lighter than a big sword." With these words, he makes a scabbard out of light silver. The color of the oxide film was pink, so that Reiko would not feel uncomfortable holding it. The sword armoring, such as the tsubame, is silver. "I don''t know much about the formal construction of Japanese swords, but this should be fine." The handle is made of Siamese dragon fangs. A cord made from the threads of a ground spider is wrapped around it to prevent it from slipping. "Okay, it''s done. The name is ...... right, and it''s pink, so it''s a peach blossom." He then hands the completed to Reiko. "Thank you, I will protect your father with this." With this, he thinks that most of the preparations have been made, and he gives the final instructions again to Soleil and Luna, who will be guarding the house. "Well then, if you need anything else, please contact me at ......." Jin was about to say that much when.., "Wait a minute!" he said, and hurried back to the workshop. Reiko followed him to see what was going on. Soleil and Luna stayed behind. "Father, what''s going on? Reiko asked suspiciously to Jin who had started something in the workshop. "Oh, I''m making a manacam, a magic element communication device. Jin had developed it himself, but had forgotten about it until now. "Okay, I''ve made two sets for now. You can talk between me and Reiko, and between Reiko and Soleil or Luna. If something happens, we can contact each other. So far, it is not a cellular phone, because it is not possible to select the other party. It is more like a walkie-talkie. It''s about the size of a modern cell phone, so it''s not bulky. "Now it looks like I really won''t forget anything. Reassured, Jin reassured Soleil and Luna again. "...... understand?" "Yes, sir. If anything happens, use the manacam to contact me. Yes, sir. So Jin and Reiko used the warp gate and flew to Potrock. It was just before noon local time. They went to , which had become a familiar place for them. The lady greeted me and said, "Hey, long time no see, have you been away? The hostess greeted me. "I saw you at the last competition. I heard you made that golem. Marcia told me." She told me that since then Marcia has been running around as a shipwright, trying to open a store. "I see, she''s not in town now." She has been paying off her debts, buying tools, and since yesterday she has been in another town to buy materials, the woman said. "And today?Are you staying overnight?" "Yes, but only for one night. Jin said, "Well then, you can stay at the same 300 as before. I found a room at ......, exactly <>. I got the same room as before. Well, it seems that the number of tourists had slightly decreased since the Games were over. "Well, I guess I''ll just have to wait for my car to pick me up tomorrow. Jin muttered to himself and sat down on his familiar bed. 92 - 05-01 The beginning of the journey On the morning of the appointed day with Reinhardt, Jin and Reiko left <> and headed for the central square in front of the port. Unlike the competition, the plaza was deserted and looked bleak. "Ah, this smell of the tide mixed with the smell of fish, it''s unique to this place. Jin is feeling a little nostalgic. Even the same sea breeze is different between here and the seashore of Horai Island. Jin imagined that it was probably because of the people''s lives here. "Father, the carriage is coming. Reiko''s voice broke through his reverie. It seemed that a carriage had arrived to pick them up. "Well, they have suspension, just in case..." At a glance at the first carriage, Jin recognized that the arms supporting the wheels of the carriage functioned as suspension. The arms extend back and forth from under the passenger cabin. But there are no dampers. With only springs, the vibration lasts for a long time and makes you feel carsick. Modern cars are equipped with dampers (shock absorbers) to quickly control the vibrations, but this carriage has none. "Are the wheels made of iron? The wheels are covered with iron. They may be durable, but they seem to make a lot of noise. Well, it won''t make much noise if there is soil under the wheels. The carriage in the back was of the same type, but a little older and a little more plainly decorated. "I guess we are in the back coach..." As we were thinking such a thing, the carriage stopped in front of Jin and the others, and from the carriage behind, a man with an air of a butler got off and opened the door of the carriage in front. A girl with near silver blonde hair, light blue eyes, and white skin appeared from inside. She is Elsa Randall, Reinhardt''s cousin. Without any help, she jumped from the carriage. She is indeed holding her skirt down to prevent it from billowing up. She is not wearing a bathing suit today, but a young grass-colored dress like a noblewoman. The dress is simple, but the fabric is shiny and carefully sewn. The collar, cuffs, and hem are decorated with lace. "Jin-kun, Reiko, it''s been a long time. "Ah, it''s been a long time." The butler was staring at him, but Jin did not notice. At first, Jin offered a handkerchief he had put in his pocket. But Erza shook her head, "No," she said. Jin can keep it." With these words, Elsa motioned to a servant-like man who had gotten out of the carriage behind them to load Jin and the others'' luggage into the carriage. There was not much luggage, so it would all be loaded in one go. "Come on, get in! Elsa invited Jin and the others into her carriage. The carriage could accommodate about six people, with three chairs facing each other. When asked if there was anyone else in the carriage, Elsa replied that it was just the three of them. So Hitoshi and Reiko sat facing the direction of travel, that is, in the back seat, and Elsa sat backward in the front seat near the driver. "Can we leave now?" Erza nodded her head and pulled a string. The end of the cord seems to extend to the coachman''s seat, which is supposed to give simple instructions such as "stop" or "go". Now the servants'' carriage starts to run ahead of the others. The wheels made a clunking sound as if they stepped on a stone. The cabin shook like a bump. It was going to make me sick if I didn''t get used to it. Elsa, perhaps anticipating this, said to me, "Let me know if you get sick. I''ll fix it." She told me that there was some kind of relief. She seemed to have some kind of relief. She continued, "My brother Rai couldn''t come because of his work, so I''m here." Elsa explained. She said that Reinhard was busy with various things in the capital. "Yes, thank you." Jin, who was not quite sure how to talk to Erza, was speaking in a strange way. Seeing Jin like that, "Don''t be shy and talk to me like you do to my brother Rai. Jin relaxed his shoulders when he heard her say, "Don''t be shy. "Well then. Thank you for coming all the way to ...... to pick me up today. Is this okay?" "Yes." Elsa nodded. "I wanted to have a long talk with you guys. That''s why I''m here." A pause, "My brother Rai is one of the top magi engineers in the country. Lorelei, which he built, has been defeated. I would like to know about your technology." This is a very direct question. From the way he speaks, it seems that conversation is not his forte. "Well, I think it would be better to talk about such things in the presence of Reinhardt. Jin dodges the question well. Erza agreed with him, "Well then, is there anything you want to ask me? Jin thought for a moment about where to start, "Well, first of all, where is this carriage going? He asked where the carriage was going. "North. From the port town of Potrock to the region where the capital of the country is located. Where my brother Rai is. "What is the name of the capital?" Erza''s eyes widened a little, as if she was surprised by the question. However, they quickly returned to normal, "The capital of the Kingdom of Elias is Borgia. Don''t you know it?" "No, I don''t know. I''ve been on an isolated island, so I''m not familiar with the situation on the continent. Jin told him a little about his background, "I remember you saying that. Then let me tell you a little about the Kingdom of Elias. He began to explain. "The Kingdom of Elias is located on the Elias Peninsula, which juts out to the south of the Laurentian continent." "Oh, you know about that?" "The Kingdom of Elias is divided into four provinces. You can think of them as east, west, south, north and south. "I see. So Potlock is in the southern province? Yes. And we''re on our way to the northern province. It''s called Nord. Elsa broke off. Jin pictured in his mind the terrain Sky 1 had reported. It made a lot of sense. "There are four main roads in the kingdom of Elias. They all run east-west, north-south, and south-south from the capital Borgia. Are we good so far?" "Yes. The road to the north leads to the continent of Laurent, and the road to the south leads to Potrock, is that correct?" "That''s right. East and west are less important than north and south. "...... wait a minute..." What''s going on? What''s wrong? Erza looked at Hitoshi with a questioning look when he interrupted her in mid-sentence, but soon realized the reason why. Reiko didn''t seem to understand why Jin was looking so blue. "Leave it to me." After saying that, she takes Jin''s hand. "What?" "...... heal him." Then warmth flowed from Elsa''s hand and Jin, who had been feeling sick, felt refreshed. "Well?" Elsa asked as she let go of his hand, "Oh, yeah, I feel better. Thank you. Was that magic?" "Yes. The Shoro Imperial Chanting." "I see. I knew it. But if it seems so familiar, does that mean there are many people who get drunk? Jin asked, "Yes. Most people who get on the boat for the first time get sick. "I see." "......" Reiko was depressed. She had been unaware of Jin''s condition, and had let the stranger in front of her fix him up. "I hope you put a damper on it." Jin is talking to Elsa, oblivious to Reiko''s depression. "Damper?What''s a damper? "Oh, I don''t know how to say it. A device that suppresses shaking. "A damper. ......" Elsa seemed to have a vague idea of what kind of damper Jin was talking about. "This structure seems to be difficult, though." Jin then began to think about installing the damper for his own sake. "Jin-kun is a wonder after all. I hope you can teach me a lot during my trip." Erza looked at Jin with a curious expression, "Oh, sure. Jin replies lightly. Reiko silently gazes at him. 93 - 05-02 Flathead Village The coach arrived at the village where we stayed that afternoon while the sun was still high in the sky. It was called Flathead Village. I thought we were going to stay here for the night or go a little further. There were several adjacent villages and hamlets around Potlock, and we had seen several villages and hamlets on the way here. So there must be more villages ahead. This is a far cry from the area around the village of Kayna. I remember that it took us two days to get to Toka village carrying wheat. Even here it looks more like a town than a village. "The Kingdom of Elias did not suffer much damage during the Magic War. That''s why this size is normal. I see. So there was no sudden decline in population? No. The population of this country has also decreased by half. Due to the battles in the center of the continent and the Aether Stampede. Then why ...... was there so little damage to buildings and facilities? "Yes." The carriage stopped in the square. The butler opens the door to the guest room. Hitoshi and Reiko jumped out. Elsa also jumped down, skillfully holding her skirt as before. When they all get off, Jin says to Elsa, "Hey, why do you call it a flat head?" Elsa pointed to a mountain to the west of the village. "Look at that one." "I see, it''s a flat head." The top of the mountain was flattened as if its top had been carved off. "So, that''s Flathead Mountain, and this village became Flathead Village. "That seems to be the case." Four followers and two servants approached us. They had left their wagons with us. I was told that one of the three men was a guard, another was a steward, and the last was a servant. The only woman among the servants was Elsa''s nanny. The names of the servants were not introduced. "Well, well, Viscount Randall''s daughter, you''re here early. I turned around at the voice and saw an elderly man standing there, flanked by younger men. The village headman. He took care of us on our way here." Erza overhears this to Jin. It was a round-trip trip, so it was only natural. "Thanks for your help." The village head bowed as Erza said this and motioned to the men on either side of him. I went toward Erza with one of the men. "This way, Miss Elsa, please." Elsa and the nanny headed toward them. "Please come this way if you are with me. Each man stood up to lead the way. Jin tried to follow his companions, Jin and Reiko are with me. Erza beckoned to him. "Erza-sama, who is this?" the village head asks Erza. Erza answered, "Jin-kun and Reiko are guests of Count Randall''s family. The chief rolled his eyes when he heard this, "Oh, really!That''s wonderful!Jin-dono, Reiko-miss, please come this way." So Jin, Reiko, Erza, the nanny, and the village chief went to a big house in the center of the village. This seemed to be the village chief''s house. "Welcome, welcome! Several servants greeted them. Erza seemed to be accustomed to the house since she had stayed there before, and she smiled and nodded. Jin was puzzled by the unfamiliar welcome. "Come on, come on, please make yourself at home in this room. Jin and Reiko were shown to a room that was a duplex, each room about eight tatami mats in size. There were two beds in the back room. The room in the front had a rather luxurious table set. "I guess this is a rather wealthy village. Compared to the chief''s house in Kayna Village, Jin''s house is much larger. The population alone is probably larger here, so they must be well-off. "It''s close to the port town. Jin noticed that Reiko was acting strangely. "Reiko, what''s wrong?Is there something wrong with her? "...... father." Reiko called out Jin''s name with a desperate look in her eyes. "What''s wrong?What''s wrong?" "...... please don''t throw me away." What? I''ll try harder and harder! "What, what, what''s wrong?" I couldn''t help your father! "Wait a minute, what on earth are you talking about?" Reiko''s unusually incoherent dialogue leaves Jin puzzled. "I didn''t notice that your father was suffering, and I fell behind that man! "You mean the carsickness?That was the first time, it''s understandable. Elsa must have known because she''s seen other people get carsick." "But, but ......!" Hitoshi gently hugged Reiko who was still talking. "Reiko, you''re my daughter.I would never abandon my daughter. And since she''s your daughter, you don''t have to rush around trying to be useful. "But ...... I''m just relieved to have you by my side." Jin pats Reiko''s head while saying that. "I was born to be useful to ...... your father, and if I can''t be useful to ...... you, there''s no point in my ...... existence. ......" "That''s why I''m already grateful that you''re by my side." I hugged Reiko and patted her back, and she began to calm down. "Are you sure ...... I''m ...... helping you?" "Yes, of course. I''m so proud of you, aren''t I? "Thank you very much ......." Reiko hugged Jin''s body gently. Reiko is getting more and more emotional.) Jin stroked Reiko''s back thinking so. "Jin, are you there?" Then Erza opened the door. She saw them hugging each other, "......I''m sorry." With these words, she quickly closed the door. The sound of footsteps walking away from the room faded away. "Was that Elsa?Didn''t she want something?" It was Jin, who didn''t understand. He was not sure what was going on. Some time later, Jin went out into the garden of the village headman''s house. "Ah, this is a nice view," he said. The tropical evening was warm and there was a flowering tree in the garden with white flowers, the name of which he did not know. The sky was dusk, and the sun was setting behind the Flathead Mountains. Just then, I heard a sound behind me. ?" Jin turns around at the sound. It was Elsa. She was wearing a loose-fitting gown, perhaps a loungewear. "......I''m sorry about before." She bows her head. "Hmm, just now?" She has no reason to apologize. But. "Well, I''ve heard that some people do that with dolls." Jin has a bad feeling about this. "...... that kind of thing?" "The hobby of playing with dolls instead of the opposite s*x." "...... wait a minute." "Reiko is cute, and I can understand why you would feel that way. ...... Even a naive person could understand what Elsa was saying. I knew I misunderstood. And in the worst possible way. "Don''t worry. I don''t care if Jin-kun has that kind of hobby. Jin shouted in his mind, "You really do care. 94 - 05-03 Dont touch me. "...... and that''s why." Jin tried his best to explain to Erza. Thanks to his efforts, Elsa finally understood that it had been a misunderstanding. "Oh, really?But I''ve never heard of an automata (automata) being emotionally unstable ......." "Reiko is special in many ways." Jin looks up at the sky. The stars had already begun to appear. "Let''s go inside." Elsa agreed, and they walked out of the garden back to their room. "Oh, I see you''ve been out for a walk. A nanny came in. She gave Jin a cold look, "She says dinner is ready. So Elsa went to the dining room with the nanny. Jin goes back to his room and brings Reiko. Reiko tells Jin that she does not need to eat, so that only he can hear her, to which he replies, "But, well, there''s no need to tell the village head that you''re an automaton, is there? Reiko agreed with him. By the way, Reiko can mimic a meal. She has to secretly eject the food later, though. By the way, egestion is to take out the solidified food in the form of compressed food, balls or needles from her mouth, but she keeps some of them in her body because she can use them for attacks. In addition, they have an analytical function in their mouths to analyze the taste of the food they eat and to make use of it in their cooking. This is the result of Jin''s enhancement of this function, which was originally intended to detect poisons and the like. Dinner that night was sumptuous. To tell the truth, Jin had never eaten anything like this before. Since he is not familiar with fine cuisine at all, he has no idea about the names of the dishes. < I don''t have any likes and dislikes, so I had no trouble eating, but I didn''t know the manners, and I ate as Elsa did, so I felt somewhat tired and didn''t feel like eating. The night of the event, Jin was in his room. That night, as Jin was relaxing in his room, there was a knock at the door. Reiko happened to be gone to drain too much food, so Jin opened the door to find Elsa''s nanny standing there. Looking closely, she looked to be still in her twenties. Her chestnut-colored hair was pulled back behind her head and she had brown eyes. "Come in." She declines Jin''s invitation, "Mr. Jin, as your daughter''s nanny, I''d like to tell you something. Do not make the mistake of thinking that the young lady has given you permission to ride in the carriage with her. I''ll cut you off if you try any insolent thing. What? I had no idea what he meant by that, but I knew from my experience in my previous life that I should never talk back to a woman who talks this way, so I agreed with him. "It is all right if you understand. Well then." With that, she turned and left. He closed the door and went to bed, not knowing what she meant. Reiko came back just in time, so he turned off the light of the magic lamp and lay down on the futon. The next morning, we had to leave early. The next morning we left early. It was a little far to the village of Mohut, where we would be staying next. After a breakfast of freshly baked bread, goat-like milk, and some kind of salted vegetables, the group left Flathead village with the village chief seeing them off. Flathead was beautiful in the morning sun. "Oh, I couldn''t make the damper after all..." said Reiko, who had become unstable. I was too busy trying to calm down Reiko, who had become unstable, and to clear up Elsa''s misunderstanding, to develop the damper. But when Reiko said, "It''s all right, father. I will heal you this time. Her words caused Elsa''s eyes to roll back in her seat. "What?Did you learn the magic of Verheillet, by any chance, Reiko? "Yes, thanks to you." "......" Elsa is absolutely mortified. That''s true. It''s no small feat to be able to reproduce magic you''ve only seen or heard once. It is not easy to reproduce magic that one has seen and heard only once. Usually, it takes chanting, imagery, magical power, and the talent (sense) and mental ability to access the archives that hold the catalog of magic. If all of these are not in place, magic will not work. < The reason why Jin cannot use most of the offensive magic is because he does not have access to the archives of offensive magic. On the other hand, he has almost unlimited access to the <>. This is a given, so there is nothing we can do about it. If we compare magic to a computer program, we can say that there is a callable function in the <>. It can be likened to a story about whether or not trigonometric functions can be solved with only four arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) instead of calling the function y=sin(x). Then, the question arises as to why Reiko, a creature, can use more offensive magic than Jin, but is still limited in engineering magic. This is because the results of normal magic, including attack magic, are simple and easy to visualize. The < to be invoked at the same time is also relatively simple in many cases. On the other hand, engineering magic requires the user to visualize not only the result but also the process, so it is selective. Although Reiko has a brain with the highest quality magical crystal (Magi Crystal) and the best technology of Magi Formula, her imaginative and creative power is not as good as Jin''s. On the other hand, the materials of <> are not as easy as those of Jin''s, but they are still very useful. On the other hand, even if she cannot access the archives of offensive magic, Reiko can memorize most of the magic, as long as she can write in the magi crystals for memory in her body, she can refer to them the next time. The same is true for the bracelet that Jin made for himself. However, it is impossible to memorize the magic which is too complicated to be written down or whose method is not known. However, with Jin and Reiko''s analyzing ability, they can analyze most of the existing magic. * * * * * * * * * * "Reiko has some artifact technology, so she can do it. Jin only explained so. Well, it is not a lie. All is part of the story. <, Erza did not question further and kept her mouth shut. Jin is looking out the window today. It seems less likely that she will get drunk that way. The road gradually climbs. It is quite steep in parts. The horses in this world are powerful, pulling this many carriages with two horses. Jin-kun, can I go that way? Erza says. It is true that if you are sitting backward on the uphill, you are likely to slip off when the carriage sways. "Yeah, that''s fine." It seats three, and Reiko is small enough that there is plenty of room. Hitoshi leaned a little closer to the window. Reiko moves closer to him accordingly. Inevitably, Elsa sits on the opposite side of the window. "It''s all uphill from here. Today''s lodging, Mohut, is a village built on a gentle slope at the bottom of the Hambaluf Pass. The main industry is cheese. Elsa explains. Indeed, it is the end of February, and the landscape seems to be gradually turning back to winter. "It''s mountainous, but there''s hardly any snow. That''s because the roads are chosen to go through those areas." Elsa seemed surprised at Reiko''s mastery of magic, but she seemed to be convinced and started talking to me as if it were yesterday. At that moment, the carriage shuddered and stopped, tilting. "Miss!I''m sorry, the wheel got caught in the hole! The voice of the coachman rang out. The three of them hurried to get off the wagon. The path was cut across the slope, and water from above had gouged out some parts of the path. "Come on, keep up!" The usually quiet governor shouted at the horses and gave them a whip as if to encourage them. However, no matter how strong the horse is, the wheels, which are stuck in a very tight position, do not start moving. The carriage ahead of us noticed this and stopped, and four attendants got off. "Elsa-sama, please leave it to me. With these words, the three servants except the nanny tried to lift the carriage with all their might. However, the weight of the carriage and the wheels, which were stuck tightly together, did not budge. Seeing this, Jin asked.., "Reiko!" Reiko," he said, "Yes, father. She replied shortly and pushed the men away as she approached the carriage. "Hey, hey, little girl, what are you doing?" one of them said roughly, but Reiko didn''t care and got under the carriage, even though her clothes were soiled, "Ei!" She stood up, carrying (????) the carriage. "Hey ......!" "Oh, are we dreaming?" The three men watched with open mouths as the little girl lifted the carriage with both hands and then carried it away. At any rate, even the two horses were halfway up on their feet and were being dragged along. After moving the carriage to a place where there was no rough surface, Reiko gently dismounted the carriage and came back. There was a little mud on it, but a swipe of her body removed the dirt. This is only possible with rare materials. "Thank you, Reiko." Jin pats Reiko''s head and praises her when she comes back. Reiko looks happier than usual. "Reiko, you''re an automaton, but you''re as powerful as a golem? Erza asks in surprise. "Yes, she does. I mean, we''ve seen it before. At the dock in Potlock." Elsa said that she had been attacked by a golem at that time and had been upset. That''s why I forgot about it until now. And then, "Normal automata are as strong as humans or a little stronger. I''ve never seen an automaton that can generate that kind of power. "Is that so? ......" While we were having such a conversation, the man who had approached Reiko earlier came to us, "Hey, are you an automaton?" "Yes, I am." When Reiko answered, the man said, "...... can I pet her too?" Reiko asked. But Reiko''s voice was cold, "No. Only your father is allowed to touch me without permission. The man was so disappointed that he backed away. "...... he has been away from his daughter for about six months now. I think that''s why he wanted to pet Reiko." Elsa followed up. She told me that he was her escort. She said he was an expert with a sword. The group resumed their trip soon after that, as it was getting late. 95 - 05-04 Moft Village Despite some trouble, the carriage proceeded smoothly and arrived at its destination, the village of Mohut, around dusk. Elsa told us that the slopes were the color of dead grass in the evening light, but that in spring and summer they are covered with grass and colorful flowers bloom and compete with each other. "You know a lot about this place, don''t you? Jin is impressed, "I traveled to Potrock the summer before last along the same road. He answered, "I have traveled to Potrock by the same road the summer before last. The squire and his men went to the inn, while Jin and his nanny, a foreign nobleman, a servant, and a friend of the nobleman, were hosted at the village headman''s house. Jin-kun, we will leave the day after tomorrow to rest the horses. Erza told Jin that he would have to leave the day after tomorrow to rest his horse, and he headed for the village chief''s house, thinking that he would be able to get a damper this time. Dinner that night was a bread and cheese dish. Cheese is a specialty here. The bread was quite white, which showed how much the chief wanted to welcome Erza. Cheese dishes include cheese itself, fried cheese, and cheese salad. There are two kinds of bread, one baked with cheese on it and the other with cheese on it. Drinks were either milk or Brule''s juice. I like the bread with cheese on it. Elsa put cheese on the bread and handed it to the waiter to be baked. Jin tried the bread with cheese on it. "This cheese is delicious. Jin wished he could buy it and send it to Horai Island. "What is this Brule?" Jin took a sip of the dark purple juice and liked the taste. It is the fruit of a low tree that grows in the mountains. It is a specialty of this area. Jin was impressed by the fact that there were specialties unique to mountainous regions. Jin also wondered if it was possible to make this Brule in Horaiyama, or perhaps it grew wild. "Oh, it''s not to your liking?" the village head asked Jin, who seemed to be in a blank mind. Jin panicked, "No, no, it''s very delicious," he replied. The village head smiled with satisfaction upon hearing this. Reiko stared at him. After the meal, they were about to return to their assigned rooms. "Sir, I am sorry, but due to the shortage of water before the spring rainy season, we are unable to prepare for your bathing. So please visit ......." "Okay. Just get me some water to wipe me down." Elsa answered without further ado. "Well, thank you for your concern. I will bring it to your room later. Jin entered the room, thinking that villages in highlands are prone to water shortages. A little later, a girl about Elsa''s age brought him a tub of water. Jin asked her. "Can I ask you something? And the girl said, "You don''t know, do you? Yes, it hardly rains here in winter and summer. It rains a lot in spring and fall. Then he points to a tub of water, This water is not for drinking. Each house keeps drinking water in barrels, and there is a small amount of spring water. But that is not enough for washing and cleaning, so we use water stored in a large reservoir. "So this water comes from the reservoir? Yes, that''s right. Yes, that''s right. The water is filtered through a cloth to make it clean. I understand. Thank you. The girl thanked him and left. "I guess the water situation is not so good after all. Jin was muttering to himself when there was a knock at the door. "Yes." Reiko opened the door and found Elsa standing there. She was not wearing the dress she had been wearing a moment ago, but a classy light blue loungewear. "Did you get me some water?" "Yes. There, just now." Jin points to the water, and Elsa points to it, "It''s too cold to wipe, you should use hot water." "Oh, yes, that''s right." Jin puts his hand in the water, "Heat." Then, when the water started to steam, he took his hand out of the water, "Well, this is about right." Elsa, who was watching this, said, "What was that ......?" "Hmm?You mean heat?It''s engineering magic. It''s a magic that heats up an object. Is that how it works? Oh... Oh...?Did you mean to say that Elsa was going to magically turn the water into hot water? Elsa''s cheeks turned slightly, "That''s enough. Good night." With that, she turned around and went back to her room. "I''m sorry for taking care of you." Jin said, and Reiko said, "No, it''s not your father''s fault. It was Elsa''s fault for not saying enough. Jin laughed, "Can''t you be a little more friendly to her?After all, she invited us." "It was Mr. Reinhardt who invited us. Not Erza." Reiko is nonplussed. "But Erza is a relative of Reinhardt''s and she''s the only one we have at the moment." Reiko said reluctantly as Hitoshi repeated this, "I understand. It''s what your father asked you to do. She nodded. "Okay, you understand." Jin sat Reiko down on the bed and sat down next to her, "Good, good." "......" He patted her head. Jin was worried about Reiko because she had been emotionally unstable yesterday. Jin stroked Reiko''s head for a while. He was about to go to bed when he noticed that the water was getting cold. * * * * * * The next morning, I thought it would be a bread and cheese meal again, but there was bread, but less cheese, and instead of bread, there was Brule jam and another red jam. "What''s this?" "It''s flape jam. Flape is a small grass-like tree that produces a lot of red berries in the fall. I put it on and tried it. It was sweet and sour and delicious. Comparing the two, the acidity was stronger than that of the brulees, and Jin preferred this one. As for Elsa, she seemed to prefer the sweeter taste and seemed to prefer Brule''s jam. However, she did not look at Jin, as if she still had some kind of obsession with it. Reiko ate silently but moderately. After the meal, we decided to go outside. She wanted to see the spring and the pond. But then she saw something that caught her attention more. "Oh! It was a white object flying in the sky, a <>. 96 - 05-05 Making kites "That''s definitely a kite." Mohut Village is a mountainous area with a lot of wind. It is not surprising that kites are flown there. Jin is not interested in the history of kites, but he is interested in kites themselves. It brings back memories of making kites for the younger children at the orphanage. The kite here is a diamond shape with a longer bottom. It is a simple kite made of bones in a ten-syllabic pattern. I wonder what they put on them instead of paper. There is no Japanese paper in this world. You don''t see paper either. We only see parchment or thin boards on which they write, so we are curious about what they are putting on the kite. "Oh, do you have one of those at your place too? I turned around and saw the village headman standing there. Looking at him in the bright light, his tanned face looked like a piece of astringent paper, but he looked surprisingly young. "Yes, but in a different shape. "I see. That''s interesting. I hear that you are a magecraftsman. I know that kite making is child''s play, but could you make one for us? Jin is intrigued by the kind words, "Just one to pass the time," he says. "By all means. I''d like to have the materials and stuff. "Of course. So Jin went back to the village headman''s house. "Father?Are you going to cook something? Reiko, who had been teaching Jin how to cook his favorite dishes at the village headman''s house, came over. "Yes, a kite." "A kite? In your father''s place, kites are flown on New Year''s, aren''t they?" Reiko, whose knowledge of Hitoshi had been irregularly transcribed, seemed to know about kites. "Yes. Winter is more windy." The story is centered in the Kanto region, where the winter monsoon, known as the gale, blows. In Hamamatsu, the competition seems to be held in May, and in Nagasaki in April. Anyway, Jin was thinking about what kind of kite to make with the materials the village head had prepared for him. "Hmmm, I didn''t think they put tanned leather on it..." he said. Leather of an animal similar to a goat living in the high mountains. It is white in color and very thin, but still heavier than paper. "It would be a bad idea to make a kite too elaborate. So Jin decided on <>. Based on a square or long rectangle, a line is drawn to divide it into four equal parts vertically, and the bones are attached to the left and right lines except the center of the rectangle. The standard line is the top third of the kite at both ends. If the line is shorter than that, the kite is what is called a "ceiling kite," or a kite that flies at high altitude, and if it is longer than that, it flies far. If you cut a straight line from the string to the top of the left and right bones, you get a kite with a hexagonal shape with a longer lower part. The kite is a little heavy, so we should make it shorter than one-third of the length. He made three kites with different shapes. "Oh, you have already made it. ......This one is very different." The chief of the village who came to check on the work voiced such a comment. Jin said it was just right, I would also like to paint on it. Do you have any paints? Jin said, "Do you have any paints? "Oh, you want to paint? That sounds interesting. He brought out some paints for dyeing leather. Jin wondered what he was going to paint, and then he put red paint on the brush and wrote "<>" in large letters. What is it?What is this picture-like character?" Naturally, the village chief, who could not read Chinese characters, asked him. Jin answered, "They are ancient characters that mean <>. Jin answered, "It means <>. "Ah, a dragon in ancient Chinese characters, it certainly fits a flying kite, doesn''t it? Jin continued to write the character for "dragon" in blue and black on the other two kites. It was a good decision not to paint them. Finally, the paints are finished by applying the <> engineering magic to the paints. The thread is strong hemp yarn. Now, let''s see if we can make it fly. "I''ll go with you." Reiko replies, of course. And then.., "I have some work to do. I''ll see you later." With that, the mayor retreated to his office. With Reiko, Jin went out to the front and walked toward the direction where the kite was flying. On the top of the cliff that drops down to the east. Of course, there is a sturdy fence to prevent them from falling. There were many children gathered there, some flying kites and some watching them. There was one figure watching them. "...... Elsa?" It was Elsa. She was not dressed in a dress, but in her normal clothes for a walk, with lace, decorative buttons, and the like, giving off the air of a well-bred woman. "...... Jin-kun." Erza''s face looked somewhat sad when she turned around. "What are you looking at?" "Kids. I thought it would be fun. "Why don''t you just ask them to join us?" Jin says, "Why don''t you just talk to them? "No. I''m not good with kids." He shakes his head. But Jin says, "You don''t hate them just because you don''t like them, right?" He showed her a kite in his hand. Erza looked at it and did not understand what it was, "...... Jin, you, what is it?" A flexible kite is a kite that can be rolled up and carried around. If it is rolled up, it is not difficult to recognize it as a kite. "It''s a kite. Do you want to try to fly it?" You say, "A kite?A kite? he seemed to be interested in it. "I''ll go to ......." "Okay." Some people (Reiko) were frowning a little, but Jin took Elsa and walked to where the children were flying kites. The first thing he noticed was the younger children who were just watching the kite flying. They were swarming around Jin and the others. "Big brother, aren''t you the Okkyusan who comes to Souchou-san''s place?" "Hey, hey, what''s that in your hand?" "You''re beautiful, big sister. Are you a little girl? Are you a little girl? You''re a guest too, aren''t you? The last was directed at Reiko. The children gathered here look about Reiko''s age. They seem to feel a kinship with Reiko. "Listen everyone, this is a kite too. I''m going to let you fly it." Jin hands one of the kites to Erza. It is a kite with the word "dragon" written on it in red. "Me? "Yes, you did," he says. "But ...... I''ve never flown a kite before." When Erza hesitated, Jin asked her, "Don''t worry. The kite I built won''t fall down just a little bit." Unable to refuse his words, Erza accepted the kite and the string. She heads for the place where the kite is to be flown. The children notice her and make room for her. They are right in the middle of the kite flying. "Uh-uh." Pushing behind Elsa''s back, Jin.., "There they go, there they go. It''s easy to get along with kids, you just have to play with them from the same perspective. "...... got it." With determination, Elsa walks up to the fence and unfurls her kite. The flexible kite spreads out with the wind from the turn of the wheel. Then Elsa lets go of the hand holding the kite. The flexible kite pulls the string with the wind, and the ball of string in Elsa''s hand loosens up rapidly. And the kite soared into the sky. "Oh, wow!It really flew! "Wow!" The older kite-flying children were amazed at the kite''s uncoordinated flight without a tail, a weight to balance the kite. "You''re so good!" Some of the children mistakenly believe that Elsa is skillfully controlling the kite. The flexible kite was flying its letters high in the blue sky. 97 - 05-06 Flying a kite There was a boy, about a little smaller than Reiko, who was looking at us at a little distance from the excited children. When Jin beckoned to him, he walked over. "Onii-chan, what is it? "Do you want to try frying this?" Jin handed the child a kite with the word written in blue letters. The kite was made to be a ceiling kite. "Oh, you don''t mind? "Yes. But it might be dangerous to go alone. ...... Reiko! "Yes." Help her to fly her kite. I''ll do it. ...... let''s do it. What''s your name?My name is Reiko. Maybe because of her friendship with Hanna in the village of Kayna, Reiko became better with children. "Reiko, my name is Kite!" Jin thought for a moment that "kite" means a kite in English. "But still, a ball of string is hard to handle. ......." There was one more kite left, but he put that on hold and looked at a dead log that was lying around. "Okay, I think I can use this one. ...... forming. Shaping. Finally, hardening." Since wood does not deform plastically like clay, the magic used is shaping. The magic of shaping is to remove all but the necessary parts of the material. The parts are made and put together to make an old-fashioned kite spool. With the logs that were there, five identical ones were made. He gave one of them to Reiko, "When you get all the string out, wind it this way. She gave her instructions. Jin took it to Erza. "Wow, it''s so far! Erza is also stretching the thread smoothly. "Hey, hey, big brother, what''s that written over there? "That, that means ." Jin told him. "Wow, a dragon!Sounds tough. "Right?That''s a dragon. "Ryu! < Ryu is awesome! Ryu!Liu! Liu! When the children learned how to read the Chinese character for dragon, they started calling out "Liu" in unison. Jin told Erza, "It''s fried just fine!" "It''s not my skill. Jin''s kite is amazing. "Ha, thanks. We''re almost out of string. Then tie the end to this. What''s this? A spool of string for the kite. The balls of string we use in this village are made by tying a small piece of wood to the end and rolling the rest of the string up as needed. There is a big possibility that the ball of string will get mixed up. "Did you do this, too? "Yes, I just made it." Jin handed the spool of string to the surprised Erza and started to prepare to fly the last remaining kite himself. "Oh, you''re going to fly it too, brother?" "Ryu''s brother!" "Hey, my name is Jin. "I see, you''re Jin''s brother." While they were talking, Jin was ready to go, "All right, let''s go!" The kite flies up with the wind. It''s a kite with black letters. "Oh!" This kite has a string between Elsa''s kite and the kite''s kite. "Wow, this is really impressive. Then the village headman arrived. "Would you like to fly a kite, too? Jin asked the village headman, "Yes, I used to do it a lot when I was a child. Jin handed him a ball of string. He handed him a ball of string and said, "Then, please try to fry it. "I''ll take your word for it. ......Well, what''s this stability? The village chief, who had flown kites many times, was amazed at the stability of the flexible kites. "Ordinary kites have to be adjusted and have tails to fly well!" Knowing how quickly Jin had made the kite made his surprise all the greater. "Use this spool when you''ve finished the thread." It''s stable enough for him to use while looking away. "Well, this is the spool," he said. I see, this is a good one! The village head is even more impressed. Jin left the black dragon kite to the chief and went to Reiko and the kite first. "How do you like it, Kite? "Oh, big guy!Thanks, this kite is great! The kite was so excited with a smile on his face that the ball of string in his hand was about to run out. "Well, that''s good. ...... Reiko, when you run out of string, will you take care of it?" Yes, sir. Then he went to Elsa. She has already got all the thread out, and is winding it around the kite spool, and is holding the spool by the handle and giving it a good bite. "You''re doing great, Elsa. "Oh, Jin-kun. ......Yes, as you can see." The red dragon kite is pulling its string at an angle of about 30 degrees and looks small. It looks like it flew pretty far. "That''s great, girl!" Elsa is surrounded by girls. "...... want to hold it for a minute?" "Yes!" A girl happily holds out her hand in response to Erza''s question. Elsa puts the spool in her little hand. "Wow!" The girl is delighted to feel the pull of the kite in her hand for the first time. Elsa watched her with narrowed eyes. "Thank you, girl. "Is that enough?Then you''re next. "Wow!" Elsa was also happy to be surrounded by happy children who let her fly the kite one after another. Elsa was also happy to be surrounded by happy children who took turns flying the kite. "Oh, my God, I''m so excited! As expected of a magecraftsman invited by a nobleman. said the village chief after we returned from flying the kite. "That kite is easy to fly and stable. Even a small child wouldn''t worry about dropping it. The tanned leather kite was expensive, and he didn''t want it to fall down. "So, Mister Jin, please give us permission to make that kite in our village.And that spool of string. How about 100,000 Tall Tolls for that and the kite as well? About one million yen. Originally, there was no patent system, and anyone could imitate this kite if they saw it. It does not require any special technology. Jin, who did not care much about money, agreed that it was fine, although he did not know how much profit it would make in the future. "Oh!Thank you very much. This will be a new specialty of this village. After leaving the money with Reiko, Jin took another walk around the village. "This reminds me of the village of Kaina. Jin still could not forget his life in Kaina village. 98 - 05-07 The butler and the nanny Early the next morning, the group departed from the village of Mohut. It was a great feeling to see them off early in the morning. "Here, brother, this is for you! "Take care, girl!" "Take care, Reiko! See you later, Lako!" Everyone said goodbye to each other, and some of them gave me a beautiful stone, which seemed to be their treasure. "See you later, you guys, take care. "I''ll be back. Until then, take care. Jin and the others left Mohut Village with a sense of regret. "In the end, I couldn''t make a damper. ......" Jin was a little depressed. "Jin-kun, I think we can make it after we meet up with my brother Rai. "Do you think so?" "I don''t know. Rai is a crafty idiot even though he looks like one. Yeah, I can see that. I do? Today Elsa''s tone was the same as before, or perhaps a little more friendly. "My family consists of my parents and two older brothers. My father is Rai''s father''s brother." He even told me about his family structure. "Oh, so that''s why you share the same family name." "Yes. But my mother is not like them. "Oh, come on." Jin wonders if he is allowed to tell such a thing to the general public. "It''s okay. Jin-kun needs to hear this." But Erza continued on. "My mother is gone. My father met her when he was on assignment in a foreign country." "......" Jin could only listen in silence. "But my mother is kind to me now. My brothers loved me too. That''s why I never knew that my mother was different." Elsa learned of this when she happened to overhear a conversation between her father and mother. Elsa''s father thanked her current mother for treating Elsa with respect, even though she was not his child. "When I heard that, I was blinded by darkness. But," he continued. "My brother Rai taught me that." He told me that Reinhardt''s mother was not his legal wife. Elsa says she was surprised to hear this at the time. The always cheerful Reinhardt, like Elsa, had only one other mother. "But my brother Rai told me it didn''t matter," she said. Reinhard also told Erza that he was going to change his attitude toward her parents when he found out. When Erza said she did not want to change her attitude, "Then there is nothing wrong with it. You can call me the same way you''ve always called me. You are you. Nothing has changed. Then nothing has changed for your parents either. That''s what he said. It was a very Reinhardt-like way of consoling him. "Rai is the fourth son. Four brothers, all men." Reinhardt is more than 10 years older than his brothers. "So my brother Rai, who was a little closer to me in age, used to play with me a lot." "Oh, so that''s why you call him Brother Rai." "Yes." It was a story that clearly showed that the relative whom Erza missed the most and depended on the most was Reinhardt. "Speaking of which..." Jin said something that had been bothering him for a while. "What kind of person is your nanny? The answer came out of Elsa''s mouth, "Meine always thinks of me first. Sometimes she goes too far and people stare at her, but my father doesn''t say anything, so I guess that''s OK. The nanny seems to be named Meene. I was a little curious about the reason for her attitude the other day, so I asked her about it, but if Erza''s father is always like that and doesn''t say anything, Jin, who doesn''t know much about serving the nobility or being a nanny, seems to think it''s fine. "Then, what about the nanny brothers?" "What? The answer came back unexpectedly, and Jin thought better of it. Jin had been aware that a nanny was a woman who gave milk in place of a mother whose milk supply was poor. In reality, there are two types of nannies: one is such a nanny and the other is a nanny as a nurturer. It seems she was the latter. "Oh, I''m sorry. I thought she was nursing on behalf of Elsa''s mother. Jin said, "Yes, I heard that she was feeding me from Meine''s breast. "What?" Normally, a childless woman cannot produce breast milk, but I wonder if this world can do something about it with magic. When Jin said this, Erza nodded her head and said, "I''ve never heard of such a thing, "I''ve never heard of such a thing. Jin-kun, you know a lot about tits." Jin decided to drop the subject, as he felt he was being misunderstood again. The carriage slowly climbs up a steep hill. Looking out of the window, the sky is opening up, and it looks like we are almost at the pass. We take a rest at the pass. We will give the horses a rest and then start the descent. True to his word, the group took a short rest at the Hambarf Pass. There is a small, wide flat area on the pass where five or six horse-drawn wagons could be parked. The road from here leads to the capital city of Nord, so there were guards stationed there. There were three guards. They had a simple dormitory and seemed to be guarding in shifts. I saw a steward showing some kind of ID card and asking for permission to pass. The guards were relaxing themselves by twisting their upper bodies. The guard was feeding a lump of what looked like sugar to his horse. "Ah, it''s cold on top of the mountain, isn''t it? Jin gets out of the carriage and stretches. His breath is white. The wind is cold. The temperature is about 5 degrees Celsius. The mountains around us were towering, and some of them were painted white with snow on their peaks. The altitude of the Hambarf Pass is about 2,500 meters above sea level, and here, too, frozen snow can be seen in some places. The village of Mocht felt cool but not cold. It was a bit hard to get around here without an extra jacket. Erza seemed to be tolerant of the cold, and she got off the bus in her dress, twirling around with the hem of her skirt fluttering happily. When Jin was watching her unusual appearance, "Jin-sama, may I have a word with you?" An elderly man, who was introduced as Erza''s butler, spoke to Jin for the first time. "Uh, yes." The butler urged Jin to go to the shade of a rock some distance away. Reiko followed him a short distance away. When they reached the shade of the rock, which was not visible from the carriage, the butler bowed deeply. "First of all, thank you for making friends with my daughter. "What?" Jin was amazed at being thanked before he even knew what was going on. "It has been a long time since I have seen such a cheerful and happy face of your daughter. There is only one thing that comes to mind when I think of a cheerful and happy face. "Well, was it in the village of Mohut?" "Yes. The young lady only played with her older, male siblings and relatives, so she was a bit of a tomboy when she was a child. I guess it was out of respect for the main line of the family that he stopped when he was about to say "a naughty girl. "She herself loved small children and liked to play with the little children who came with her to the occasional garden party. However, she often made them cry, and she didn''t know what to do about it, and she always had a troubled look on her face. "Are you sure you want to tell me that?" Jin asked back, curious. It would not be appropriate for him to be told about the childhood of the viscountess. Yes, by all means. ......Since she kept repeating such things, she gradually became more and more, you know, reserved when she was old enough." I guess that happens when you are no longer old enough to play with boys. And there must have been a backlash when he found out about his mother. "The one who missed her the most was Reinhardt, the head of the family, but he couldn''t be with us all the time. Reinhardt was quite a talented magi engineer and was frequently sent abroad as a diplomat because of his diplomatic nature. "It so happens that there is a ship competition in Potrock this time, and Mr. Reinhardt invited me to come all the way here. The butler broke off, turned his head and sighed, "If I had known that she would be exposed to the public in such a bathing suit, I would have done everything in my power to stop her!" He was so angry that his fists were clenched. "I can''t believe that your daughter''s skin will be exposed to the curious eyes of all kinds of people!" "Ha-ha-ha!" Jin, the one who designed the dress, can''t help but laugh. The butler looks up and takes a deep breath, "...... I digress. I came all the way here, but when Mr. Reinhardt left for his official duties, he looked so lonely that I was worried about him. But," he prefaced his speech, "But yesterday, he smiled happily and told us many things about Jin-sama during the night. "Oh, my?" "Yes. He told us that in order to get along with children, you should play with them from the same perspective, and that he was the first to let you fly the kite he had made for you. Well, that''s true. "You have been looking happy since this morning. I am sure this is all thanks to you, Jin-sama, and that is why I have invited you to this place to thank you. He thanked her again and said that he understood why she wanted us to come with her in the other carriage, "Please take care of her for the rest of the trip and for the rest of her life. Please be her friend." Jin panicked, "Don''t bow so low. You don''t have to tell me, Elsa and I are friends, and she has taught me a lot of things that have helped me. "Thank you very much." With that, they returned to the carriage. Reiko must have heard their entire conversation, but she did not say anything in particular. Then Meine, Erza''s nanny, arrived. "May I have a word with you, Jin-sama?" The nanny pulled Jin into the shadows with the same line as the butler. "First of all, I would like to thank you for your kindness in taking care of my daughter. She bowed to Jin with similar words. But after that, it was different. "The young lady was always very active. But when she reached a certain age, she wasn''t allowed out much and spent most of her time inside the house. "Oh..." "It''s been a while since she''s been outside, so she seems excited. Since it''s a rare occasion for her to go out, we were willing to give her a little indulgence and even allowed her to ride in the carriage with you instead of us. But that doesn''t mean that you should touch the young lady, ...... you know that, don''t you?" "Yes, I''m going to get screwed over, aren''t I?" "Yes, I hope you know that. I hope you will behave yourself. As soon as Meine, the nanny, said that... "You idiot!" the butler''s angry voice rang out. "Mr. Adberg ......" The butler''s name seemed to be Adberg. Jin thought that he was off, but the butler, Mr. Adberg, was very fierce, "Meine, what did you say?What are you talking about?Reinhard trusted you and entrusted you to be his hostess. What do you call that?How many times have I told you that your attitude is degrading not only to the young lady, but also to the family?" But Meane dismisses him with a sullen look on her face. Jin-sama, on behalf of Meine I apologize. I hope you will not be offended. Saying this, the butler, Adberg, bent 90 degrees at the waist and bowed respectfully. Meine, however, looked at him, "Well, it seems that even Mr. Adberg thought that Jin-sama was a suspicious person at first. She even boasted that even Mr. Adberg thought Mr. Zin was a suspicious person at first. I''m thinking of your daughter in my own way. If she has to quit as a result, that''s fine. You think it''s degrading to her?That''s fine. You should quit the aristocracy. Then I''ll take care of your daughter." "You ......!" Adberg''s hand went up, probably thinking that his words were too good to pass up. But then... "Jin, we''re leaving soon. Adberg, Meine?What are you doing? The governor was already preparing to take the carriages out, and Erza had come to look for Jin and the others who had not returned. "Yes, I was looking around." "Oh, yeah?Well, get in." Without further questions, Erza got into the carriage first. Everyone got into the carriage. The carriages started moving again, and we finally crossed the mountain pass and began to descend the road leading to the capital. "It''s a bit steep at first". True to his words, the carriage is going down slowly. "It doesn''t have brakes, does it? Jin said, "Brakes?What''s that?" Elsa asks with a curious look on her face. "Oh, a brake is also called a braking device, a device used to slow down and stop a moving vehicle, such as a carriage. "Is there such a thing?" "Yes. For example, this carriage, well, it would be a lot easier to go downhill like this if you put a device to stop it by clamping the wheels. It seems that there is a stop for stopping, but there is no brake for driving. "I see. I don''t drive on mountain roads very often, so it was neglected. Please discuss this with my brother Rai. "Yes, that''s right." It''s fun to talk with Reinhard about what he wants to build. Just then. The carriage shook and then there was a knock at the carriage door from outside. Erza opens the window and sees the butler, the servant, the guards, and the nanny all outside the carriage, "My lady, it''s a bandit! Please do not go outside. They told her that. 99 - 05-08 Attack "Bandits! The group did not expect to be attacked in such a place. "This is where we came down the steep slope from the pass. They can''t see us from the pass. The guards would not even notice us. Elsa analyzes calmly. "Normally, it''s better to attack from above. But we are unarmed. The way out is up. But the slope is too steep. "Well, they must have known we were in a place like that and attacked us." Maybe. Maybe they knew I was coming and going and ambushed me. If you go to Potrock, it''s almost always the same way there and back. That''s what they were after, Elsa said. "How many bandits were there?" Reiko opened the window and looked out. The carriage had a simple but effective magic formula for magic warding, so it would be difficult to detect any sign of the bandits from inside, but only by sight. "There are ten, no, eleven. Reiko reported that there were 10 people attacking them and one was standing at a distance. "I see. Oh, yeah. I know this is a bad time, but Elsa, I''ve got something for you. Jin took a ring out of the bag in which he kept his personal belongings and presented it to Elsa. "......?Jin?" Erza looks at the ring with a doubtful look on her face. "You know, I made this ring, it''s called a protection ring. He says and hands it to Elsa, pressing it against her hand. "Anyway, try it on." "Hmm." I looked for the right finger to fit the ring, and found it on the ring finger of my left hand. Elsa puts the ring on, looking a little happy for some reason. "I put it on." "Okay, in a minute the magic power will be absorbed, and if you chant the activation key word, <>, you can prevent most attacks." "...... what?" "I don''t have time to go into details. Reiko, where''s Momoka?" Yes, she''s in my luggage. As one would expect, he could not carry a sword with him at all times, so it was stored in a compartment in the back of the carriage. "All right, bring it out. And intercept the bandits. "Yes, sir." "Jin, you guys stay here. We''ll deal with the bandits ourselves. Erza said but Jin shook his head, "That''s not how it works. It''s an emergency, we have to pull together to get through this. With that, he and Reiko went out of the carriage. There was a nanny with a short knife in her hand, ready to protect the carriage. "You guys?" "We can fight too. We can help you." Elsa tried to leave with her, "Miss!You can''t!" The nanny tries hard to stop them. And Jin, "Elsa stay inside. This carriage is protected by magic, isn''t it?" "You know ......?" "Yes. Yes. So it''s safer for you to stay inside. But Elsa did not listen and got out of the carriage. "Miss ......." The nanny was already in tears. Elsa was nonplussed, "I can do magic if we work together. So do I." She looks down the hill. The bandits are about to make contact with the guards. "You!Do you know that this is the carriage of the Viscountess of Shoro? the butler shouted loudly. "I don''t know! I don''t care whose carriage it is! As long as it makes money! With these words, the bandit in the lead swung his sword into the air and came at him. The one who caught him was the guard who had said he wanted to pet Reiko. "Well, that''s too bad!You''re going to die for money!" The guard catches his opponent''s sword, slides it away from him, and moves into the bandit''s pocket. He then strikes the bandit in the dove-tail with the hilt of his sword. There is only one reason not to cut him down. He doesn''t want Erza to see the bloody scene. "Geez!" The bandit seemed to be a good guard, and with one blow the bandit was knocked unconscious. "I will not lay a finger on you, young lady!" Beside him, the butler wielded his staff like a baton, flicked the bandit''s sword away, and struck him a blow to the brain, knocking him unconscious. The remaining servants, however, were shaking with fear and timidity, though they still had their sticks in their hands. He seemed to be too busy protecting the wagon. The four men ran toward Erza and the others. "Miss!Why are you out here! the butler shouts, but Erza doesn''t care and holds out her right hand horizontally. And then.., "Wind Bullet!" She fires a volley of invisible bullets. "What? But each bullet is not very powerful, and the bandits approach, slowly, protecting their faces. Reiko, go! "Yes, sir!" Considering Erza''s pride, she gives up the first move, but it''s not safe to go any further. Jin gave Reiko an order. "What?What''s a little girl going to do? The bandits were snickering at what a 10 year old girl could do, but their faces changed when Reiko wielded a peach blossom in her hand. "What? < "Whoa, whoa!" With two swings, two swords were cut off. With three swings, three swords were cut off. And the fourth could barely swing his sword, but... "Hi-hi!" Reiko jumped over the bandit''s head and slashed down his sword as well. Then.., "Wind Blow!" Erza fired a magic blow. "Ha-ha!" The bandit was hit by an intermediate-level wind magic and was blown away, never to get up again. "Three more!" Erza turned her eyes to see that the remaining three had already been knocked out by Reiko. "We''re all right now." Jin said, "Miss, please don''t be reckless just because you can use magic. It will shorten Meine''s life. The nanny said. Elsa was quieting her down with a few words. "I guess it''s almost over for them. Jin muttered. Erza looked down the hill at the sound of his voice. Thanks to the efforts of the butler and his guards, four of the bandits were on the ground, and the fifth was about to fall at the butler''s feet. "The butler is strong, isn''t he?" "Yes. Adberg is a martial arts expert. "I see." And Hermann is a knightly swordsman. His bodyguard is called Herman. The sixth bandit has just been killed. Now there is only one left who is watching from afar. Just as I was thinking that... "What a surprise!You let your guard down! two bandits came running out from the top of the hill. "Kyah!" Meine''s dagger was hit by the bandit''s sword, and blood spilled. The bandit''s sword slashes her diagonally across the shoulder, and she falls. "Meine!" "...... get ...... to ...... get ...... to ......." Another bandit attacked Erza. In her panic, Erza forgets to use her protection ring and crouches down with her head in her hands. "Barrier!" Jin covers Erza as she crouches down and chants the key word. The next moment, Jin is attacked by a sword that the bandit is swinging down. However, the sword is blocked by an invisible barrier and does not reach Jin. "What? The bandit freezes for a moment with a look of disbelief on his face, and the next moment he is struck down by Reiko''s sword. The other bandit is already out cold. Meine, however, has been cut down by the bandit and is deeply wounded. "Meine, are you okay?Are you alright? Elsa rushes to him. She immediately casts a healing spell. But the wound is deep and the blood does not stop. "Thank you, miss ......, please don''t do that ....... ......." Meine refuses the treatment with a blue face, perhaps thinking it''s useless. "No. I won''t give up. I will not give up. < The wound heals a little, but it is too big to heal. Jin, unable to bear the sight, ordered Reiko to keep her eyes on the surroundings, "Erza, let me do this. Then he moved closer to Meine, "<>" He invoked the magic of the bracelet. It is an intermediate level healing magic, but supported by the bracelet and Jin''s great magical power, it is as effective as advanced magic. The blood stopped flowing and the wound was sealed. "I''m all right now." Hearing Jin''s words, Erza, who had been watching with tearful eyes, clung to Meine, "Meine, thank God......" "Miss ......" Jin was relieved to see them, "Your wounds are healed, but you''ve lost a lot of blood, so you should take it easy. He then looks up. The last remaining bandit moved. 100 - - 05-09 vs. Golem The leader of the bandits was a mage. Therefore, they did not fight in front of the enemy, but deployed their men to set up a trap. The target was the daughter of a nobleman. She was good-looking and used magic. A certain source had requested her to be his prey. Fortunately, her cousin, a nobleman who uses a golem, was on a separate mission. It was the perfect opportunity. We deployed two skilled men behind him, pretending that we were going for him from the front. The plan was to catch them off guard when they defeated the men in the front and kidnap the daughter. The men in front are pawns. The devourer who made them puppets with his magic, he does not care what happens to them. But that plan was easily defeated. The only force that remained was the golem that the mysterious man had given them. The golem was given to me for free, and in exchange for the magic power of the magician, it has shown tremendous power. In the past, when he used it as a test, he killed an entire company in a flash. He himself was unharmed. Since then, this golem has become the last trump card for the bandit leader. The remaining bandits were mages. The remaining bandit seemed to be a mage. "In exchange for my magic power, I will exchange my odd". In his hand, he held a transparent ball the size of a baby''s head. It shines. "<>>>>" At the same time, a huge shadow appeared from behind the bandit. "That''s the ...... golem!" Adberg, the butler, exclaimed in surprise. He had not expected the bandit to have a golem. "That''s the golem! Jin shouted in surprise. Jin-kun, do you know it? Erza, while protecting Meane, heard Jin''s words and asked such a question. "Yes, I have seen a similar golem in the Klein Kingdom before. But that one is ......." The golem was at least twice as large as the one Gon and Gen had encountered near the village of Toka. It was four meters tall, and its surface was a dull, shiny silver-gray color, giving it an ominous appearance. "Erza, get the three of them back here!" Jin shouted to Erza, sensing something ominous. Erza, too, seemed to sense something unusual, "Mentor!Herman!Otto!Come here!" Otto is the name of the servant. But the three do not obey Erza''s call. It seems that they intend to intercept the golem. At least Adberg, the butler, and Hermann, the guard. "No!It''s no match for a human!" Jin shouts. Reiko can handle it, but as we saw in Toka village, there''s no guarantee that another golem won''t show up. Meene, the injured nanny, and Erza, who is protecting her. Even Reiko can''t protect both places at the same time. "No. Those two won''t listen to me." Erza sighs when they don''t come back even though she calls them. "I guess we''ll have to go help them now..." "What?" Thinking calmly, the one with the most offensive power is Reiko. And Jin has a special bracelet. And defense. Jin has a bracelet, Reiko has a pendant, and Erza has a protection ring. In all likelihood, Reiko should go to the rescue. Jin thought so. "Erza, hold Meine tightly and chant "Barrier". "Yes. . Erza then chanted the key word. A barrier is put up around them. Jin saw that, "Reiko, I want you to defeat them and come back as soon as you can." "Yes, if your father says so. Reiko then starts running. Jin looks around cautiously and stands between Erza and the bandits, keeping his eyes on the bandits'' movements and keeping a watchful eye, just in case an attack from the bandits comes. Erza looks at Jin''s back with a clinging gaze. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "d*mn!" Herman''s sword reaches the golem, but fails to even scratch its surface. "Don''t tell me it''s ...... adamantite?" The dull, silver-gray glow of the adamantite. If so, his own sword would not be able to cut it. But as Erza''s guard, Hermann is not about to back down. Adberg was going to strike the enemy who was controlling the golem. But... "Oh my God!" He struck with his steel-cored staff and felt a numbing sensation in his hand. "Hmmm... Did you think the magician was defenseless?" The mage had put a ward around himself. "He''s ...... a tough opponent! Adberg became impatient. "But he''s probably after the young lady. Then we must defeat her no matter what it takes. ...... Miss! Adberg, the butler, looked at Elsa, the woman he was supposed to protect, and felt a chill run down his spine. Behind her, a golem of the same type as the one here was approaching. "Miss!And Meine! Meine is lying on the ground covered in blood, and Erza is holding her in her arms. The golem rushed toward Erza. "d*mn, there are two of them! Jin exclaimed as he turned around. There were also two golems that had attacked them in Toka Village. His prediction was correct, but the attack came from the opposite side. "The bandits attacked us from behind too, the same with the golem! Jin was slightly behind. The golem attacked Erza and the others right in front of them. "Hmmm, this is the end!" The bandit leader licks his lips at his seemingly defenseless prey and opens his mouth to give further orders. "Gole ......". But that was all he could say. The bandit''s world has been turned upside down. "......?" The bandit leader is sent flying through the air, then slammed back down to the ground. The bandit fainted. "That was easy. Reiko muttered. Reiko forcefully pried open the boundary and threw the bandit away. Next, she faced the golem squarely, and with a flash of <>, she threw the bandit away. "Whoa! The guard, Herman, could not believe his eyes. The golem, which had not suffered a single wound no matter how many times he had attacked it, was sliced in two. The golem split into upper and lower sections, and fell with a metallic clang. Its magic circuits were severed, and it could no longer move. "Where is your father?" Reiko looked back at Jin. The golem''s arms closed in on Erza and Meine. "Kyaaaah! "My Lady!" Unintentionally, Erza and Meine hugged each other and screamed. But what Erza sees is the golem''s hand stopping in front of her. "......?" Jin''s voice came to Erza, who looked pale and puzzled, "<>" It is dozens of times more powerful than the <> that Jin can use alone. After the thick laser beam passed through, there was only a golem lying on the ground, its lower body vaporized and gone. "Well, I''m glad it helped. That ring blocks most attacks." 101 - - 05-10 escort "Let''s just keep the control core, shall we?" Jin uses engineering magic to open the upper body of the defeated Golem. He confirms that it has the same structure as the golem that Gon and Gen were based on. Erza''s three servants and two servants are in the process of tying up the stunned bandits. In particular, the bandit leader, a mage, is gagged and his chanting is suppressed. The nanny, Meine, is in the carriage. Her wounds are healed, but she can''t take it easy. "...... Jin-kun." Erza was waiting for him when Jin took out the control core and returned. "Thank you. Thanks to you, Meine and the old men were saved. She bowed deeply and thanked him. "I''m glad Erza is all right, too. He was a little embarrassed and said it in a blunt manner. From the window of the carriage, Meine was staring at us with a complicated look on her face. "And what is that magic ......?I thought I saw a light, but half of the golem was gone." He asked me about the <> magic. "Oh ...... that one... ......." Jin wonders how to explain. And the conclusion he came up with was, "It''s an artifact I found on the island. That''s why I don''t understand it." He shows his bracelet. "It seems that this bracelet can only work with the magical power of the first person who puts it on. Only I can use it. The word "artifact" is useful. It stops the pursuit for the time being. "Is that so?Then it can''t be helped. What''s wrong with ...... old man?" The latter words were addressed to Adberg, the butler. "I''ve finished tying him up, but what do you want me to do?Many of them are unconscious, and we can''t put them on the wagons. We had only just descended the steep hill from the pass, and there was a long road ahead, including a long, slow descent. "What should we do?" Erza looks at Jin and asks him. She seems to be relying on Jin completely. She has always played with her older siblings and cousins when she was a child, but she sometimes relies on someone in the oddest of places. Well, it doesn''t hurt her reputation as an aristocratic woman, and I guess she is relying on Jin even more after this incident. "Yes, ...... that mage and the golem should be given to the right place." With these words, he looks around. The bandit was hiding in a forest where there were trees of about 3 meters high mixed with trees of about 10 meters high. "Use that tree to ...... do this ...... and then ...... okay. Elsa, can I make some modifications to the carriage?Of course, I''ll put it back together later." Jin asked, and Erza immediately agreed. She seemed rather interested in what they were going to do. "Okay, then, Reiko, help me. "Yes, father." Jin then orders Reiko to cut down three trees, each 10 meters high. Herman is stunned as he watches Reiko cut down the trees, each one 30 centimeters in diameter, with a single cleave of her peach blossom. "That girl can easily do what I couldn''t do with ten of my men. Maybe she doesn''t need me anymore. But everyone ignored him. The rest of the group was rather curious to see what Jin would do. "Okay, take off that horse, extend the shafts, pass the logs, make it a four-horse cart, strengthen it, and connect it ......." Jin intended to connect the two carriages and wagons with two logs and put the bandits on the joint. The lead wagon would have four horses from the rear wagon. The axles and bearings would be reinforced. What he was doing was within my understanding, but the speed at which he was working was extraordinary. Reiko was carrying a 10-meter tree by herself and cutting off the branches in no time, while Jin was working with no weight at all. While they were working, Jin asked Reiko a question. Hey Reiko, those two who attacked Erza and Meene, did you not detect them? It was a natural question. "Yes. I didn''t detect any sign or presence of those two. I am sorry." "Well, if you couldn''t detect them, they might have been wearing some kind of magic equipment for covert action. Let''s check it out. Leaving the work to Reiko, Jin goes to the bandit he has tied up. As a result, it turns out that the bandit was wearing an amulet with a Hide effect. "Hmmm...once they see me or hear my voice, the effect wears off. Not very useful. I''d use ......." Jin muttered to himself, then realized that he was currently working on something else, and returned to the carriage modification work. He finished the whole process in about half an hour, "I''m sorry I''m late because I did something else on the way. Erza, let''s go. Everyone was inwardly dismayed at Jin''s words. Even Meane was at a loss for words. From then on, the trip went smoothly. We took a rest and had lunch in Rinat, one of the towns along the way. The guards at the entrance of the town saw something unidentifiable being pulled by four horses and rushed to call their superiors, and Erza explained to the soldiers who came out. At that time, Erza sent a messenger on a fast horse to inform Reinhardt in the capital city of Borgia of what had happened. At the same time, the soldiers of the Kingdom also sent out their horses to report the incident. In less than an hour, both arrived at the capital, Borgia, and the messengers went to report to their respective counterparts. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "What!Erza and her friends were attacked by bandits?So, so, what''s the damage? Reinhardt stood up and confronted the messenger. "Yes, yes, everyone is safe and sound, no injuries. On the contrary, we have captured all the bandits and escorted them back to the town of Rinat. "I see. ......" Reinhardt relaxed when he heard that they were safe, and the next moment he asked if this information had been conveyed to the leaders of the Kingdom of Elias. The messenger replied that another person had gone to the palace. The messenger replied that the other one had gone to the royal palace. Thank you for your hard work. Go back and get some rest." Reinhardt is now in the villa of the Marquis Dominique de Firenziano, and he hurries to the room of the owner, the Marquis Dominique de Firenziano. "Marquis, I have urgent news..." Is something wrong? Yes. Then Reinhard told him what the messenger had just told him. The Marquis Dominique de Firenziano was astonished and hurried to send for Erza and the others. He gave the necessary instructions and once again faced Reinhardt. "This is a shameful thing. I had no idea that such bandits were roaming around here in the province of Nord. According to the messenger, they even owned a golem. "A golem, you say? You don''t mean the golem? Yes, it seems to be a common sight in the Kogun region these days. Jin said he secured the control core, so we should be able to find out what it is. Reinhardt said, "Jin?Not Miss Randall?" Marquis Florenziano asked the obvious question. Reinhardt laughed, "Actually, the friend who sent Erza to pick me up is Jin. You know him, don''t you?He is the magecraftsman of the team that won the golem boat competition. "Oh, I thought that name sounded familiar. I see, he was taken by the Shoro Empire. ...... He says regretfully. It''s no wonder they let a good magecraftsman get away. "At least we should welcome him while he is in our country. * * * * Elsa and her party left the town of Rinat in the early afternoon. The bandits have been handed over and the converted carriage has been put back together. The mayor of Rinat town, the officials, and the soldiers were all shocked at the speed with which Erza and her party put the wagon back together. The work of an ordinary magecraftsman can be followed with the eye, whereas Jin''s work was completed in a fraction of a second. The moment after Jin utters a short chant, the transformed object is there. It is no wonder that the audience is appalled by this. "Soon we will be in Borgia, the capital. Elsa told us. The view from the window of the carriage was different from the previous one where forests and meadows alternated with towns and villages, and we could see that the population density had increased with houses scattered in the fields. "Do you know what the population is?" Jin asked, and Elsa looked apologetic, "I don''t know. I''m sorry." I''m sorry. Jin panicked, "No, you don''t have to apologize," she said. He followed Erza. Then she said, "Reinhard, how are you doing? "If it''s my brother Rai, he should be at the Marquis of Florenziano''s villa right now. So we are on our way there." We were talking about that when the carriage stopped. "What''s wrong?" Elsa asked him, He said, "Miss, they are coming to meet you." When Erza and the others looked out the window, they saw about 20 soldiers and two four-horse carriages, with a well-dressed man who appeared to be the head of the household giving instructions. The man dismounted, walked to the front of the carriages, and bowed at a right angle at the waist, "Welcome to the capital city of Borgia! He bowed at a right angle at the waist and said, "Welcome to the capital city of Borgia. 102 - - 05-11 Experiment "Hello, Jin, it''s been a long time! Jin and the others were invited to the villa of the Marquis of Florenziano, where they met Reinhardt again. "Thank you for your hard work, Erza. I''m glad to hear that you''re all right. Erza patted Reinhardt on the head, as if to say, "Good-bye, "Brother Rai, don''t do this. You''re not a child anymore." She gently pushed Reinhardt''s hand away. "What, you used to be so happy when I did this to you ......?" Reinhardt pushes away the hand that caresses his head and notices the ring on Erza''s finger. "Oh, a ring. The tomboy is getting more colorful." Then Erza hurriedly hides her left hand, "This is not like that." Her face is slightly reddening. "This is a magic tool. ...... Jin gave it to me. It saved my life." Reinhardt''s eyes light up when he hears this. "Well, can I see it?" "No." "Don''t say that, come on, just a little bit!" Reinhardt is insistent, "Don''t say no. He''s my brother Rai, so I''m sure he''ll break it." Erza is indifferent. But Reinhardt doesn''t flinch. "I won''t do it. I promise." Jin couldn''t bear to see them arguing like that, "Ah, what''s this? I have a ring here that''s the same as the one I gave Erza, so I''ll give one to Reinhardt as a thank-you for your hospitality." "Oh, yes!I''m sorry!" Reinhardt snatches the ring from Jin''s hand. "...... is not a diplomat at all. Rai is a total craft fool. Erza let out a sigh. "Well, the base is a magi-crystal of all attributes. And it has the Magi Formula engraved on it? Reinhardt immediately began analyzing it. "You are very detailed. A warding against magic ......, and this one against offensive ...... attacks. . I can read it somehow, but I can only read it. I can''t imitate it." Still, it is a great achievement to be able to read the Magi Formula, which even Reiko could not read. Reinhardt again formally thanked Jin for the good gift. "Well, first of all, you should take a bath and get tired. After the somewhat unconventional reunion greeting, Reinhardt suggested that Jin should take a bath. Jin, who loves taking a bath, gladly accepted. Reinhardt ordered the lady-in-waiting to show Jin to the guest room and then to take him to the bathroom. "This way, sir." Jin and Reiko followed the maid of the Florenziano residence. First, they were shown to their room, put down their luggage, took out their clothes, and went to the bathroom. "Please undress here. The changing room was as spacious as that of a public bathhouse. It was incomparably luxurious. When a maid tried to help Jin take off his clothes, he refused, saying that he would do it himself. The lady withdrew from the room. When Jin entered the bathroom, he was met by a maid dressed in a swimsuit-like bathrobe. "Wow! Jin was suddenly greeted with a 90-degree bow, which startled him so much that he almost fell down in the bathroom. Reiko supported him. "Sir, let me wash your back. Reiko stopped the maid who was approaching Jin saying this. "No, thank you. I will take care of your father. But.., "I''ve been told to take care of your daughter as well. and she insists. But Reiko says.., I am an automata. I do not intend to be taken care of by humans. And it is my privilege to take care of your father. With these words, he used his power to force the maid out of the bathroom. Jin could only smile and watch. "Now it''s just your father and I." Saying this, Reiko poured hot water on Jin''s back. The bathtub was a luxurious marble one. It was as large as a public bathhouse. "Ah, it''s nice to take a bath after a long time, isn''t it? Jin stretches his arms and legs in the bathtub. Reiko is not in the bathtub, but is sitting upright in the washing area. As usual. But when Jin sees that.., "Come on in, Reiko. It feels good." "No, I don''t need it." Don''t say that. You''re in the bathroom with me, so soak in the hot water with me. That makes me happy." Reiko responded to Hitoshi''s words that she was happy, and after preface, she poured hot water on her own body and gently put her body into the bathtub, saying, "Excuse me. Jin invited Reiko to his side and patted her head. "Thank you for everything you do for me. I appreciate it." Reiko looked at Jin with a surprised look on her face, "You don''t have to thank me, father. He only has to give you orders." "Idiot! I told you before, you''re my daughter. "............" After that, the maid who was kicked out spread a rumor among the servants of the Florenziano residence that Jin was a lover of girl dolls, or not. * * * * * * * * * * * "I will take care of the young lady. Meanwhile, Elsa was in the other bathroom. She is being lovingly taken care of by her nanny, Meene. She must still be anemic, but she still stuck to Erza, which was something to behold. Erza usually takes off her own clothes, but for now Meene is taking care of her. "Your skin is always so beautiful. As she was taking off her dress, she noticed a ring on her left ring finger. I remembered now that Erza had told me that Jin had given that ring to her when they had been attacked by bandits during the day. "Miss, that ring ......" "Hmm?Jin-kun gave it to me." "Why is that ring on your finger? Meine''s anemic complexion turns even paler. But.., "Because it was the perfect size for this finger." Erza says simply, and Meine sighs, feeling weak. "Listen, young lady, the ring finger of your left hand is the finger of love. The ring you wear there is either an engagement ring or a wedding ring. "Is that so?" Elsa is unusually puzzled. She simply felt a little more grown up because her mother and many other grown women wore rings on that finger. Meine said, "Let''s have a nice talk while you take a bath," and they went into the bathroom. The two of them went into the bathtub. In an unknown country, in an unknown place. A man was talking with an unknown person. "...... Two prototype Golem 11s have been destroyed." "Hmm. And the means to do this? Yes, that''s ...... What happened? ...... was so instantaneous, we couldn''t detect it. "What?...... I see. It seems there are some good people or things in that country. I''m sorry, sir. It''s all right. We are still in the process of building a prototype and testing its power. A little loss is inevitable. Yes... "But if we know how to destroy it and take the necessary countermeasures, we should have a nearly invincible golem. Right?" Yes, you''re right. "Yes, as you say." "Good, keep going. By the way, what happened to that guy? What?Ah, the man you entrusted with the Eladrite smuggling? He was caught smuggling and is wanted by the government. He''s a useless guy. "Well, then, let''s use him to our advantage. So you''re saying... That''s right. Give him the prototype 20. Oh, you mean that one? That''s fine. I''ll have to try it eventually. "Yes, sir." The conversation stopped and there was silence. 103 - - 05-12 Ring Reinhardt, Erza, and Jin were invited to the dinner table. The only other attendants were Reinhardt''s maid and Erza''s maid. After Meine gets out of the bath, she feels sick with anemia, so she is put to bed in her room. All these members know that Reiko is an automata, so there is no need for her to pretend to eat. "This is our private meal, so don''t mind your manners and don''t be shy. Since Reiko said so, Jin can enjoy his dinner without any concern. "Elsa told me. She said you did a great job!I wish I could have been there!" After the toast, Reinhardt started to ramble on. He was as excited as ever. For some reason, Erza is sitting to the left of Jin. Reiko is on the other side. In other words, Erza is sitting in front of Reinhardt, and Jin and Reiko are sitting to his right. The wine served this time was Reinhardt''s favorite wine. Jin did not know what sake tasted like, but he thought that this wine was delicious. The container in which the wine was poured was a clear glass. "It is a clear glass, isn''t it?It is the painstaking work of the Magi craftsmen in the Marquis'' household. Indeed, it was clearer than any glass I have ever seen in this world. With the atmosphere and the good-tasting wine, Jin is drinking a little too fast tonight. (I''m not too drunk for that... ...... I''m not so good with alcohol, am I?) ) Jin is a little bit embarrassed inside. The reason for this is also in Jin''s body. Jin, whose body is mostly supplemented with magical elements, is not susceptible, or practically not susceptible, to internal causes of anomalies. In other words, he is resistant to sleeping pills and poisons and does not get sick. On the other hand, they are not susceptible to mental anomalies caused by external factors such as carsickness, confusion, hypnosis, etc., and they also suffocate. Let''s take a break from the discussion. Over dinner, we talked about our travels. Erza talked in halting tones, Reinhardt asked questions, and Jin answered them. The meal proceeded peacefully, with Reinhardt''s surprised voice echoing from time to time. Then, when they talked about the golem, Reinhardt said in an unusually serious tone, "Yes, that''s right, "Well, tomorrow morning, the Marquis of Florenziano would like to talk to you, is that all right?" "Yes, I don''t mind." When Jin answered, Reinhard said he would let him know and returned to the topic. "Erza told me that you said it would be a good idea to put a damper or something like that on it.And what is a damper?Elsa''s explanation was not clear enough for me." "Well, I guess." Jin wondered how to explain. But since he was talking to Reinhardt, he thought it would be all right to be a little technical, "What happens when you put a weight on the end of an elastic rod, bend it, and then release your hand? "Yes, well, the weight shakes. Jin then explains that this is called <>. Then he explained that the device to stop the <> quickly is a damper. Reinhardt looked pleased, I see!To use your analogy, if you press down on the weight with your hand, the <> stops faster, doesn''t it?We can make such a device!" Reinhardt''s grasp of the subject is astonishing. The rest of the meal was spent talking about brakes. After dinner, Koohe comes out. Pot-rock, or rather, a specialty of the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias. It was indeed much better than what Jin drank at the Marquis'' mansion, Potrock. It has more flavor and a clean aftertaste. While drinking Cujat, Jin looked at Erza sitting next to him with a sideways glance. She picked up the cup with graceful hands like a noblewoman, brought it to her mouth, and put it back on the plate (saucer) without making a sound. The sequence of her movements was so fluid that I couldn''t help but admire it for a moment. I wonder if he noticed Jin''s gaze, "Jin-kun,...... what?" Erza asked him with a slight tilt of her head. Jin panicked, "No, no, I was just thinking that you are indeed an aristocratic lady. Even the way she drinks her kuhe is very graceful. When she said that she was honestly thinking so, "...... is embarrassing." She put her hand over her mouth and dyed her cheeks. At that moment, "What?What happened to the ring?" The ring was missing from the ring finger of Elsa''s left hand. Elsa was shocked when she was told that, "I''m sorry. Meine told me that the ring finger of my left hand is a ...... special finger." Then Reinhardt interrupted. "Haha, Erza, you''ve become really pretty. ...... Jin, the ring on the ring finger of the left hand is supposed to be an engagement ring or a wedding ring. Especially among the nobility. It seems that the custom was the same as on modern earth. Hitoshi was a little flustered when he was told this, "Oh, I see. I didn''t realize that. Elsa, I''m sorry." He bowed his head. But Erza told him, "It''s not your fault, Jin. I''m the one who took it and put it on your ring finger." "That may be so, but ......" Jin asked Erza if she still had the ring and asked to borrow it for a moment. Elsa immediately pulled the ring, which was on a chain around her neck, out from under her collar and held it out. "Well, let me see your hand." Jin said, and Elsa held out her right hand. "I''m sorry." She said no, and Jin took her offered hand. "Ah." Without noticing Erza''s cheeks turning red, Jin took the ring and placed it on Erza''s middle finger. And then.., "Forming." engineering magic. The ring increases its inner diameter and becomes large enough to fit the middle finger of Elsa''s right hand. "That''s good." With these words, Jin placed the ring on Erza''s middle finger and released her hand. Staring at the ring, Elsa said, "Thank you very much. with a complicated expression of disappointment and happiness. Reinhardt looked at his cousin in such a curious way, "After all, Erza, you have become lovely," he said. He said, "You have become pretty, after all. Erza turned her head away, "I don''t know ......." She said in a whisper. "See, that''s the thing. In the old days, you''d have hit me out of the blue." "............ brother Rai, you''re a jerk." Erza''s eyes started to water. Reinhardt stopped playing with Erza and turned to Jin. "By the way, Jin, I''m almost done with my work in this country. By the way, Jin, I''m almost done with my work in this country, and my departure date is approaching. If you want to take a look around here in Borgia, I''m sorry, but tomorrow and the day after tomorrow are the only two days left. But tomorrow morning I have a meeting with the Marquis of Florenziano, which means I only have a day and a half. Reinhard apologized for the inconvenience, but Jin told him that he would not ask for anything extravagant after having been invited to the meeting. "Well, that makes me feel much better. As an apology, I''ll show you around the Borgia tomorrow afternoon. Erza will go with you, won''t she?" Reinhard said. Jin replied that he was looking forward to it. Of course it is better to have a good guide when you are new in a city. Erza, who had been in a bit of a bad mood, seemed a bit happy to hear Reinhardt''s words and frankly agreed. After that, Reinhardt told us about the Kingdom of Elias. Of the four provinces, the northern province of Nord, where the capital is located, is under the direct control of the royal family. The southern province of Saus was ruled by the Marquis of Florenziano, the western province of Tves was ruled by the Marquis of Godfar, and the eastern province of Isdo was ruled by the Marquis of Karlsruhe. The province of Isdo in the east is ruled by the Marquis Carlos de Hudson. The Marquis de Hudson is ...... Ah, the father of Valentino. He seems to be an ordinary man, for better or worse. He seems to rule his domain with little or no consequence." How could such a son come from such a parent? The Hudson family may be demoted to baron at best, or at worst, be demolished because of Valentino''s recent incident. There were many other things that he told me. As a diplomat, Reinhardt is well versed in the affairs of each country. Jin remembered something that had been bothering him for a while and asked Reinhardt about it. "Hey, what about religion? "Religion, huh? There is no specific one. I mean, it seems that the number of church members and priests has been decreasing due to the Magic War. It seems that each country now worships different idols. Hitoshi, who had heard Reinhardt use the word instead of , asked, "Is Reinhardt an atheist, by any chance?" Jin asked, "Is Reinhardt an atheist? He replied, He replied, "Haha, it would be better to say that the Shoro Empire is an atheist rather than I am. I believe that there is a God in the sense of an existence beyond human knowledge, but I don''t believe that there is such a convenient existence that hears our prayers and wishes without hesitation. "Well, you are a realist, aren''t you?" In the meantime, it was getting late at night and we all went back to our rooms. 104 - - 05-13 Hitoshis lecture The next day, about an hour after breakfast, Jin was summoned to the room of the Marquis Florenziano. He was accompanied by Reinhardt, Elsa, and Reiko. It''s been a while. The Marquis said as soon as Jin and the others sat down on the sofa. To Jin, of course. I had been too preoccupied to notice him when I reported the golem fiasco after the competition, but when I looked at him again, his dark blond hair was pulled up in an updo and his blue eyes were slightly upturned, making him look intelligent. If he wore glasses and a suit, he would look like a teacher or a secretary, but in reality he is a marquis wearing white leather pants, a white blouse, a blue vest, and a light purple jacket. He did not look like a man in his mid-forties, Jin thought. The marquis continued, "I didn''t expect that Jin, who was active in the golem boat competition, would be recruited by the Shoro Empire. What were our people looking at? Every country needs a good freelance magecraftsman. The Marquis half-jokingly expressed his regret. He ordered the waiter to brew a pot of kuhe, "Well, take your time. Today we want to talk about the bandit Jin and the others captured and about the golem. First of all, the marquis explained about the captured bandits. It is said that the bandits were originally from the eastern province of Isdo, but have recently drifted here. The leader of the bandits is a mage of some caliber, and he has been using magical and induction to turn most of his men into puppets. The frightening thing about this subliminal magic is that the person himself believes that he is acting of his own will. "Anyway, he''s the kind of guy who makes his minions disposable." The Marquis spat out. "I''m not sure, but I heard that the leader was a low-ranking noble from the Kingdom of Cerroa. When he escaped, he killed all his pursuers with a golem. We''ll know more about that in the next few days," he said, "But more importantly, I examined the golem''s control core first, and found something extraordinary. "Something terrible?" "Yes. The golem was a prototype 11. Erza was the only one who nodded her head, not understanding the meaning. Jin and Reinhard understood exactly what it meant. "What do you mean?" Jin answered Erza''s question. "It means that there are at least ten more golems like that, and probably more are being made." Reinhardt then took over, "<> means that they are making those golems for a purpose. And we have an idea what that purpose is." "Yes. It''s definitely for combat. The purpose is war, I suppose." The marquis summed it up by saying. "You mean someone, somewhere, is preparing a golem for battle?" And Elsa. "Yes. According to our information, it was the same type of golem that helped Valentino escape from custody in Potrock. "So Valentino is connected to them somehow?" Reinhardt said, and the Marquis Florenziano said, "Yes. But the search of the remaining houses turned up nothing but evidence of corruption, and the three ladies and the two concubines seemed to know nothing about it. He briefly described the results of his investigations in Potrock. "So he was wearing the mask of a disturbed man. ...... Jin replied, "No, it seems that he is a simpleton, though. The marquis finished. "In any case..." The Marquis of Florenziano rejoined. "This is a matter for our country, so Mr. Reinhardt, Miss Elsa, and Mr. Jin need not get involved any further. This was a small act of pride on the part of the Marquis Florenziano and the leaders of the Kingdom of Elias, but as it turned out, it was a mistake. If they had asked for the cooperation of Jin and Reinhardt at this time, the chaos that awaited them might have been avoided. However, it would have been a terrible thing to say to them as they were not gods. After all, at this point, the main body of the golem that Jin had defeated had not yet arrived at the capital, and we did not know how it had been defeated. As of yesterday, only the control core and the bandit had been sent to the capital. The golem was heavy, so it was put on the back burner at the site. If anyone had seen the defeated golem, they would have wanted to know how it was defeated. After that, they asked him about his impressions of the town, especially Potrock, and what was good and bad about it, and Jin mentioned one thing he had noticed. Yes, Potrock is a port town, and the water is bad because of its proximity to the sea. He said that not being able to wash his body sticky from the sea breeze would be a disadvantage for sightseeing. The Marquis heard this and said, "Oh, yes, that''s true. Only a few luxury hotels allow you to take a bath. Then he looked at Jin with a mischievous smile, "But since you mentioned it, I wonder if you have any ideas?" Jin smiles at that. "You are quite perceptive, aren''t you? Yes, I have an idea. "Well, I guess?I''d love to hear what you have in mind. Yes, of course. It''s a distillation. Distillation? "What is it?" Marquis and Reinhardt both asked Jin. Reinhardt leaned forward. Jin replied, "It is a magical tool to purify water. "But Jin, the water in that well, no matter how fine a cloth you filter it with, the salty taste is still there," Reinhard replied.Even though the water looks clear to the naked eye. Hearing this, Jin said that the salt dissolved in the water could not be filtered out with a cloth. "Hmm?What do you mean by that?" Reinhardt was the one who took the first bite. To which Jin replied, "Hey, do you know what happens if you take sea water and leave it on a plate? Reinhardt immediately replied, "Well, do you know what happens if you take a plate of sea water and leave it alone? Reinhard immediately replied, "Well, there will be salt left on the plate. Reinhardt immediately replied, "Well, where did the water go then? to which Jin replied, "What?What?Well, it dried up, so it must have disappeared, right? Reinhard thought about it and answered. "You are half right and half wrong. To dry up does not mean to disappear. They became invisible particles, like air, scattered in the air." "............?" Reinhardt didn''t seem to understand what was going on, "Look, with water, when you cool it, it''s ice. When you melt it, it''s water. If you melt it, it''s water. This is called liquid. If you heat it to a boil, it becomes steam. This is called gas. In reality, steam is not strictly speaking a gas, but for the sake of simplicity, I explained it this way. "I see. ......" Jin then continued his explanation. "All things have this state of solid, liquid, and gas. It''s just that the way they are cooled or heated differs depending on the object. Jin breaks off. Reinhardt crosses his arms and grunts, chewing over what he has just heard. The Marquis and Elsa don''t understand half of what he''s saying, but they do understand that he''s talking about something revolutionary. "So, salt doesn''t become a gas until the temperature is much higher than that of water," Jin said. When Jin said this, Reinhardt immediately replied, "I see!That''s why there is salt left after the water has turned into gas! Jin nodded his head, "That''s right. Then what happens when we collect the gaseous water?" Reinhard thought for a moment, "Wouldn''t it become pure water?" He gave the correct answer. "Correct. Using that principle, we can make fresh water from seawater." "I see what you mean. We boil seawater to make salt, but we can also make water by doing the same thing! As expected of Reinhardt, he had an idea of what kind of magic tool he should make. There is a way to separate impurities with engineering magic, but it requires a different order of magnitude of magical power. With the method suggested by Jin, it would be possible to create a magical tool that would be widely used by the general public. The Marquis Florenziano, who was watching the situation, said "Jin-kun, Reinhardt-sama. As the lord of the province of Xaus, I beg you to create a magical tool that will enable us to do this. He bowed to the Marquis. It is hard to say no when the marquis bows down to you. Jin and Reinhardt decided to end the meeting there and immediately started to make a magical tool. Jin, my idea is to put a pot underneath and fill it with seawater. Then put a lid on the pot and make a small hole in the lid so that the gaseous water will come out. Reinhard shows his sharp point. Jin nodded in agreement, "We can put a tube through the hole and lead it to another pot. The gaseous water is cooled down in the tube and becomes liquid water again. "I see. Jin, is that what your master taught you? Jin asked, "Well, yes. I lived on an isolated island, so I needed such tools. He tried to cover it up. 105 - - 05-14 Apology and Dolls Jin and Reinhardt forgot to eat lunch and were making distillers. Reiko, who could not bear to watch them, dragged them forcibly to the dining room. After finishing lunch in a hurry, they ran back to the workshop, "Do this here," she said. "Yes, let''s try this." They work on the distiller. They devised, improved, and refined ways to increase efficiency and extract as much water as possible in as short a time as possible. "Reiko, get the copper." Yes, Father. You''re so good, Reiko! I envy you, Jin! Reiko''s assistant is also impressed Reinhardt, and he becomes more and more fascinated with her. Jin, with Reinhardt''s strong research spirit, is uncompromising in his pursuit of the project. Two or three prototypes are made, and then they are destroyed. In the end, the day ended with making a distiller instead of going to see the city with Reinhardt. Instead, they made a high-performance distiller. "............" And so Elsa, who was looking forward to spending the afternoon touring the city of Borgia with him, was completely bummed out. "Elsa, I''m sorry. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. "I''m sorry." "I''m sorry." Erza''s elbow landed cleanly in Reinhardt''s tail as he was about to tap her on the shoulder. "...... are you okay?" Jin, who was watching, was worried and called out to Reinhardt, ".................." Reinhardt, his body bent in a crouch and sweating profusely, does not reply with a blue face. He finally seemed to be able to breathe when Jin thought of applying the cure, "G,u,u,it worked......,that''s the old-fashioned Elsa......." Perhaps she heard me say this, Erza looked at me for a moment, and when her eyes met Jin''s, she quickly turned and ran away. "Reinhard, I still think we are to blame. "Well, ......, you know. Well, , we are the ones who broke the promise, no matter what the reason. "I have to go apologize." Jin says so, but Reinhardt says.., "Uh-huh." But Reinhardt only said, "Ummm..." and was not very clear. When Jin questioned him about it, Reinhardt finally said why. "Erza doesn''t listen to me when she''s angry. ...... He said, "That''s not true. Jin said, "That''s not true," to which Reinhardt replied, "You saw the elbow strike she just gave me. "He''s always been a bit of a handful when he''s angry." Jin thinks to himself, "If he knows so much, he shouldn''t have broken his promise," but even he doubts that Reinhardt would have stopped the production even if he had said he would do it later. "But I don''t know if Jin would have gone." "Why would I?" Reinhardt replies to Jin, who doesn''t understand why Reinhardt would say such a thing, "Because he looked a little different when he was with you. "What should I say to apologize for that ......?" Jin thinks as Reinhardt is still in pain. He doesn''t know much about girls Erza''s age, but when he was in the institution, he was forced to break a promise he made to a younger girl, and when he apologized, he said ...... "Okay, let''s do it. Reinhard, get me some clean fabric, thread, and hard wood." "What?Yes, okay." With these words, Reinhardt went around to the maidens and butlers of the Marquess Florenziano''s residence and in a short time he had the materials Jin had mentioned. "Are you going to make something with these?" "Well, you''ll see," said Jin. Jin wielded his engineering magic. First, the wood is shaped and formed into parts by shaping. The parts are then joined together by joints and shaped. The surfaces are then treated by bleaching and smoothing. Next, the black threads are taken from the yarn, bound together with binding, and attached with joints. "Well, this is ......." Then he gave Reiko a piece of one of the beautiful fabrics and gave her some instructions. I sewed myself up into an unfamiliar shape using another color of fabric. "Finally, a tabi. He found some white fabric and shaped it into the shape of a tabi (socks). Black stones were added to the eyes and rouge was applied to the lips to complete the process. Yes, Jin was making a Japanese doll. "Put the kimono on like this," he said. For the younger children who cried for an ohinasama. It was helpful that I had studied briefly about the structure of kimono, Hakata dolls, Kyo dolls, and Ichimatsu dolls. "That''s an unusual doll. Are those clothes from some folk costume?" Reinhardt is impressed. "And she looks a bit like Miss Reiko." Dark eyes, dark hair, sideburns. If her hair were a little longer, she would look just like Reiko. "Well, you know. I made this doll to look like a doll I saw a long time ago. The materials used are different, but the doll is a Japanese doll, a checkerboard-like doll at least. The kimono is made of Western-style fabric, but it suits the doll surprisingly well. Jin went to Erza''s room ...... with the doll he had just finished, "Reinhard, where is Elsa''s room?" So Reinhard, Jin, and Reiko went to Elsa''s room together. First, Reinhardt knocks on the door. "Yes?" The nanny, Meine, showed her face. "Mr. Reinhardt, what''s going on?You came running in, Miss, and you''ve been locked up in your room ...... and you haven''t opened the door no matter how much I''ve called you. She said anxiously. And when he found Jin''s figure, "Jin-sama, I didn''t expect you ......." It seems that Meane still has some reservations. Then Reiko steps in front of Jin, "Please don''t make false accusations. If you insult your father any more, you''ll get what you want. "No!" Meine''s face turned pale, as she had seen Reiko''s ability. "Stop it, Meine!" "No, Reiko!" Reinhardt and Jin calmed both Meine and Reiko down, "Jin, we''ll wait here, you go ahead. Jin nodded his head and went to his room. Meane did not disturb him anymore. He knocked on the door further down the hall. There was no answer, so he knocked again. "Elsa?It''s Jin. Can you open the door?I want to apologize." With that, I knocked, and a few moments later the door opened slightly. Then he whispered, "...... what?......I don''t want you to apologize." Jin holds out the doll to Erza, who looks as if she has no idea what to say to him. "Yes, I''m sorry, but this is my apology. Please take it." For a moment, Erza stared at the doll, but then opened the door a little more because she couldn''t see it well. Then her face relaxed a little. "Cute. ...... can you give me this?" Elsa reaches for the doll soon. Jin quickly hands the doll to her as if to push it to her, "I''m sorry about today. I''ll make it up to you tomorrow. Reinhard! Jin turns around and reminds Reinhardt. Reinhardt shakes his head in panic, "Oh, yes. Yes, of course! Reinhardt says so too. So please get yourself in a better mood. And take good care of that doll. Erza stops Jin as he is about to go back to the house by pinching the hem of his jacket. "Wait...wait...wait...wait...wait...wait...wait... ............ what''s this girl''s name?" What?What? Hmmm, let''s see. ......" Jin, Yi, Rei, Tomonobu. Immediately Jin thought of the name Nobuko, but it didn''t seem to fit in this world, "My name is ...... Non." Normally it should be who is called Non or Non Non, but Jin shouldn''t expect naming and there is no problem. "Non ...... thank you. You are ...... cute." Seeing Erza hugging Non in that way, the whole group was relieved. 106 - - 05-15 Town Tour The next day, after breakfast, Jin and his team immediately set out for the city. The city of Borgia, the capital, has a three-story structure. The center of the city is, of course, the Royal Castle. The castle is the residence of King Elias, Blitzen Skala Elias XII, and his ministers live there. The government affairs are conducted here. The first level surrounding the castle is the aristocratic district that stretches outside the solid walls. This is also surrounded by the city walls. The second layer is the common people''s district outside the walls of the aristocratic district. Wealthy merchants, skilled craftsmen, and stores for the masses are located here. The third layer is the farmland outside the commoner''s quarter. There are residences of farmers and those who could not live in the common people''s area. Now Jin, Reiko, Erza, and Reinhardt are riding on a two-horse uncovered wagon through the nobles'' district outside the castle. The view is good but a little dusty. "How are you doing, Jin? Aside from the dustiness, Jin has been gazing around like everything he sees is a rarity. He''s a geek by the looks of it. Well, it''s his first time in a noble town after being summoned to this world, so it''s not surprising. "Ah, yes, it''s quite a sight to see, isn''t it? Isn''t it?Many of the buildings here date back to before the Great Magic War. Although the population decreased during the Great War, many old buildings remain in this country because it was not caught in the fire of war. On earth, they are like the Gothic style. They are made of stone and are characterized by many pointed towers. It may look overdecorated. However, the overall appearance of the building is old, so the seemingly excessive amount of ornamentation is not as pronounced as it could have been, and the overall appearance is well balanced. When Jin commented on this, Reinhardt was impressed, "Yes, Jin has a good point. I agree with you. It is said that the architecture after the World War II became utilitarian and tasteless. Compared to that, this architecture, which can be called stylistic beauty, can be seen at ......." Reinhardt noticed Elsa''s glaring eyes on him after he had rambled on to that point. Yesterday, today, Reinhardt keeps his mouth shut. "Let''s go to the tailor first. Reinhardt says and orders his servant. The servant skillfully maneuvered the carriage to the tailor''s shop around the corner from the main street. "Come on, Jin, get out. "Come on, Jin, get out of the car. "What?I have no business in a tailor shop. But Reinhardt said nothing of the sort, and took Jin into the tailor''s shop. "Well, Mr. Reinhardt, welcome to our shop. Immediately the owner came out and greeted him. "Yes, I''m here a day late. Is it ready?" "Yes, it''s ready. Yes, it''s ready. Is this the gentleman who will be wearing it? The master looked at Jin standing next to Reinhardt. Reinhard nodded yes. Then please come this way. The master was about to take Jin to the back. "Oh, hey, Reinhard!" "Just follow me." Jin walks into the back of the room without understanding what he is being told. He went to the back of the room and said, "Hey! "Hey, ...... here." After a while, Jin came out wearing a magnificent jacket. Originally, Jin was dressed in black pants, a white shirt, and a beige vest, which was the attire of an average commoner. Well, one might ask what is average, since the materials used for these clothes are all woven with threads of ground spiders, which are worth enough to buy a house. Putting that aside, Konin was wearing a luxurious jacket on top of his average commoner''s clothes. "Father, it suits you well. It was a dark gray with a slight purplish tinge, above the knees, and had a large collar. The buttons are silver. It had the letters embroidered on the chest. A gift from me. It is a jacket worn by a standard magecraftsman. It will not be rude to appear in front of other nobles if you wear it. It will come in handy on the journey ahead, he says. "Even though it will soon be spring, it will be cold as we go up north." Reinhardt concluded. Jin had no choice but to accept his words. "Okay. Thank you, Reinhard. But how did you know the size? After saying this, Jin thought that it went without saying. Reinhardt is also a first-rate magecraftsman. He could at least guess the size of the clothes from their appearance. "So, now it''s time to take a serious look around the city! Reinhardt leads the group into the jewelry store two doors down. The jewelry shop sells not only common jewelry but also jewelry made from magi crystals, which both Erza and Jin thought would be enjoyable. "Heh." Unlike the modern Earth, there were no showcases, but the shelves were lavishly decorated with gemstones, loose stones, and processed goods. Jin, who is not good at designing, remembers the designs he likes and secretly asks Reiko to remember the designs. "Oh, this stone has a nice color, just like the color of Elsa''s eyes. And so it goes. He noticed a light blue stone among the loose stones in a row. Erza, who was looking at another shelf a little further away, turns around. The stone, about the size of a thumb, is light blue and shows a deep blue color from different angles. It is shaped into an oval so-called cabochon cut and looks like it could be used as a pendant head. "Well, well, I like this one." Reinhardt looked over Jin''s shoulder and muttered to himself. He called the shopkeeper and told him that he would buy the stone. "Well, well, well, my customer, you have a good eye. This aquamarine stone is imported from the Kingdom of Leonard. With these words, the shopkeeper put on the gloves with the "Magi Formula" written on it and picked up the stone. Jin understood in his heart. He knew that even if the stone was not in the showcase, the public could not touch it because it was protected by a ward. Without a glove or something similar with the Magi Formula corresponding to the warding, the stone on the shelf could not be touched. Well, unless you have enough magical power to overwhelm the wards on the shelf. In other words, Jin and Reiko can do it. But they won''t do it. The price was 120,000 Tall. Reinhardt paid it in cash, "It''s almost Erza''s birthday." With this remark, he put the wrapped package into his inside pocket with great care. The next stop was a magic tool store. Jin was worried that Erza might be reluctant to buy it, but she did not say anything, probably due to the effect of the aquamarine stone that Reinhardt had bought her, although she had said earlier that her birthday was coming soon. "Hmmm, it''s quite an elaborate piece of work, isn''t it?" Jin looked at the lighted magic tools. He suddenly remembered the magecraftsman girl, Beena, whom he had met in the Blue Land. "There is some similarity in the use of the Magi Formula," he thought. Thinking this, he looked at the creator''s name and saw that it was written as . I remember that it was the Magi Craftsman whom Bina had studied under, I thought to Reinhardt, who was standing nearby, "Do you know this Magi Craftsman? I asked Reinhardt, "<>?Ah, he is a magician (magecraftsman) who can make some good things, but he doesn''t have anything outstanding about him. He replied with a rather dry evaluation. "But look at this. What do you think of this guy? Jin recognized what Reinhardt showed him. It was a refrigerator. "............" As Jin pondered what to say, Reinhardt was the first to express his opinion. "I think it''s a pretty good idea. I think it''s a great idea to use magic stones instead of magic crystals as the source of magic power. "Well, you know..." "What?What?" "What?Look, they probably make ice in this part to cool the stuff inside. And once the ice is made, it won''t work until the ice is melted. That''s pretty thoughtful. I''d like to buy one and take it home." "Uh, yeah." "Uh, yeah." "Really, what''s wrong?But why did they put the magi device on top?It would be easier to make it bigger if it was placed on the bottom." "Oh, cold air is heavy and sinks downwards. That''s why the cooling section is on the top." When Jin answered quickly, Reinhardt looked surprised, "Jin, could this be you? Jin couldn''t help but answer, "Yes, that''s right. 107 - - 05-16 At the Church When Reinhardt found out that the refrigerator was made by Jin, he asked, "Jin, when did you make this? "Jin, when did you make this?You said you''ve never been to this city.That would mean it was made in another city. ......" Since lying too many times seemed to be too much of a risk, Jin decided to tell the truth. "Let''s see, in Blueland," he said. "Blueland!That''s where we''re going!Jin had been to Blueland before! Jin explained that he had never been inside the town. He had only been outside the city walls. "Well, but in that case, how did you get to the Blue Lands?" Reinhardt, who had deduced the incident at Potrock last time, knew that he couldn''t afford any clandestine information, "...... there was a warp gate exit on the outskirts of blueland." "Oh, so if I go to the Blue Lands, does that mean I can go to Jin''s house?" Here it comes, Jin thought. He had expected this day to come. "You said that the warp gate has a boundary that selects people, but is it adjustable?" Reinhardt asks a sharp question. Jin only hopes that <> is well developed. "Well, I won''t know until I try it, but I think I can handle it with me. That''s my answer for now. Reinhardt seemed to be satisfied with that for the time being, and went outside to go on to the next destination. The group got on a horse-drawn carriage and went to the main street. The central street was paved with cobblestones, so it seemed less dusty. This street has also been around since before the magic wars. < and , which is why it has lasted so long." The cobblestones, which are not damaged by iron-wheeled carriages, certainly seem to have been strengthened by magic. And at the end of the central avenue. "That''s the oldest church in the country." Although it is not a thriving religion, it is still a religion that will never disappear. The church was made entirely of stone, and reminded Jin of a World Heritage church he had seen on TV one day. "You can see inside freely," Reinhard said. With these words, Reinhardt stopped the carriage and beckoned Jin to come. It seemed to be more of a tourist attraction than a church. "There are some things I want you to see." We made a small donation at the entrance and passed through the gate. The arched gate is 5 meters wide and 10 meters high. Once inside, the floor is so polished that one can almost see one''s face reflected in it, and the walls are decorated with carvings and murals. The ceiling is decorated with lights made of colored glass in various places. "Wow, it''s amazing," he said. "I''ve never been here before. It''s interesting." Jin and Elsa each briefly express their impressions. "Isn''t it?Even that one piece of colored glass can''t be reproduced with today''s technology. Reinhardt pointed to a stained glass window that looked like a flower. Was it because of the magic war? "Yes. The war is an abomination. Jin agrees with me. This world''s culture and civilization has not only slowed down but has even regressed because of the magical wars. After a long hallway, the group arrived at the inner room, the chapel. "Look, look at that! Reinhardt pointed at one of the paintings on the ceiling. !" Jin''s eyes widened in astonishment. What was painted there was a small circle that rotated around a large circle. And a smaller circle circling around the smaller circle. In other words, a star, a planet, and a satellite. "Do you know what this is?" Jin slowly opens his mouth. "...... the sun, this world, and ...... the moon, I guess." Reinhardt is astonished to hear the answer. "Jin!Wasn''t this your first visit here?And yet, how do you know the conclusion that all the researchers have finally reached? Reinhardt''s loud voice drew a few curious glances from the other tourists. Erza noticed this, "Brother Rai, you''re talking too loud. You should talk about it somewhere else." She said to him. Reinhardt agreed and left the place. The time was right at lunchtime. It was just around lunch time, so we went to a nearby restaurant. A private room was available, so we took a seat there. "Now, Jin, let me hear the answer to your question!" Reinhardt asked breathlessly, "Before that, I just want to ask you one thing. Is ...... the way I just said heretical?" This was important. Jin remembered names like Copernicus and Galileo, people who had once rejected the celestial and advocated the geocentric ...... theories on the earth. "Yeah?"No, that''s not true, okay?" But Reinhardt''s reply was unexpected. He said that the roundness of the ground made sense to anyone on the ship. He also said that it would explain why there are four seasons. Indeed, the horizon of this world looked round. Jin thought that the planet was probably smaller than the earth. "Well, some say the world is flat," he said. Some say that the roundness is just our eyes. Most of them say it has nothing to do with our lives either way," he concludes. "So, Jin, what''s your answer?" If you''re not a heretic, you don''t have much to worry about. Jin relaxes his shoulders. Worst case scenario, he and Reiko were thinking of running away from here. "Ah, that''s what my teacher taught me. It''s a fine line, but it''s not a lie. It is a subtle line, but it is not a lie, because I learned it from my teacher at school. "I didn''t ask who taught me that." But Reinhard and Erza misunderstood him, just as Jin wanted. "Hmm, your teacher must have been a great man." "Indeed. That theory has only been around in the Shoro Kingdom for the past 10 years or so. The theory itself has been around for a long time, but some scholars have noticed that this diagram can explain various phenomena. Well, that''s quite a feat. Excuse me, sir, your meal is ready. At that moment, the food arrived and we put the conversation to rest for the moment and had lunch. Sauteed chicken breast, grilled fish with herbs, and meat steaks. Drinks were light fruit wine. Jin did not know what kind of bird, fish, meat, or fruit each was, but they were all tasty in their own way. Citran for dessert. Erza seemed to love citron and took advantage of the private room to eat Reinhardt''s portion. "Ah, Erza, do you want some of mine? "Sure?" Erza asked with a happy look on her face, and Jin nodded in agreement, "You can have some for Reiko, too." She had ordered a small portion for Reiko as well, so as not to arouse his suspicions. In the end, Erza ate all the citrons by herself and looked satisfied. "Well, Gin, actually, after this I have to make one last round of greetings as a diplomat." Reinhard said after finishing his meal. "What do you want to do?Do you want to go back to the Marquis''s residence, or do you want to continue going around with Erza?" Jin wondered at this suggestion and asked if Erza didn''t have to make the rounds, He replied, "Yes. "Erza is unofficial. Jin replied, "Then, I''ll leave it to Erza''s decision. Erza replied, "Well, then, I''ll leave it to her judgment. Erza''s answer to his question was "I would like to look around with Jin-kun. Her answer was, "I want to look around with you, Jin-kun. 108 - - 05-17 Street of the common people After leaving Reinhardt, Jin, Reiko and Erza came to the common people''s area. Jin was more interested in this area. The aristocratic area did not have the smell of life. Elsa also wanted to come. "They didn''t take me to see it even though I wanted to." That''s true. The connection between a baroness and a commoner is usually nonexistent. In this world, it''s normal for women born into nobility to not be allowed out much. "Thanks to Jin-kun..." She looks like ...... saying so. From the outside, she looks like a young lady of noble birth and her escort. Reiko is not sure how she looks. "Oh, what''s that?" Erza points and asks Jin if the stall is unusual. "Those are grilled skewers. They used to sell them in Potrock, didn''t they? "I just saw it from afar. Meane and my grandfather didn''t buy them. Well, I guess they didn''t think it was something a noblewoman would eat. "Do you want some?" Erza nodded with a twinkle in her eyes. Jin said, "Okay, "Reiko, can you get me two skewers? She asked. Reiko holds the purse strings of Jin. Reiko answered "Yes" and went to the skewers store. She came back with two skewers in her hand. She gives one to Erza and eats the other one by herself. The lunch at the restaurant had been too elegant and not enough for him. "Ah, I liked the taste of pot-rock better..." he muttered to himself as he ate. Jin mutters to himself as he eats. Elsa, on the other hand, is eating her lunch in a very elegant manner, one bite at a time, while both of them are walking around the restaurant. "But it''s delicious. But it''s delicious. And I''ve never eaten like this before. Jin thinks that his nanny Meane would yell at him if she saw Erza eating the skewers while walking, but on the other hand, he also thinks that it''s okay since Erza is happy. At that moment, he saw a foot sticking out from under Erza''s feet. Erza, who was engrossed in the skewer, stomps on the foot. Ow! the owner of the foot yelled out. He was a man about the same age as Jin, and he looked like he had a bad temper. "Hey, hey, miss, where are you looking? He was at least a head taller than Elsa. The thug is looking down at us from above and shouting, "I''m sorry. I''m sorry I stepped on your foot. I apologize." Erza apologizes in her usual tone. The man seemed to be annoyed by Elsa''s attitude, "Oh, oh, you''re just going to apologize and that''s it?What else do you want me to do? What else do you want me to do?" Elsa was going her own pace. "I think I might have broken my leg. I''ll get the money for it." But then Erza says.., "Then I''ll put on the vorheillet. Let me see your wound. The man panicked, "No, no, just give me the money and I''ll go to the healer myself. Hey, little brother over there, you''re the valet, right?What are you going to do about my daughter''s misbehavior? He turned to Jin. Jin thought it was time to leave, "Erza, let''s go. This guy is a cheater. He makes you step on his foot on purpose to get money from him. He tells her. But the man who was called a taker got angry. "You''ve got to be kidding!Who are you calling a "takari"? he shouted and hit Jin. But... "Barrier!" Ow! His fist stopped 30 centimeters in front of Jin. This is the function of Jin''s bracelet, a physical barrier. A barrier that would have protected even Reiko''s attack (about 50 percent), and that a mere mortal couldn''t break. "Hey, stop it already. You''ll really get hurt this time." He glared at Jin who said, "Remember me!" With these words, the thug disappeared. "You know, this is the reason why my grandfather and my nanny Meene-san don''t bring Erza to places like this," Jin explains to Erza. Jin explains to Erza. "There are people like that everywhere. So let''s go home. Jin thinks about Erza and suggests that they go back to the Marquis'' house for a while. But Erza says But Erza says, "I''m fine as long as I have the ring Jin gave me. So I just want to look around a little longer. Jin says, "We''re almost there. Jin also says that they are almost there, and looks around. Maybe because of the fight earlier, there is no one around. Deciding to walk around at random, Jin takes Reiko and Elsa with him and starts to walk to the main street. There were many stores on both sides of the avenue. Stores selling ready-to-wear clothes, household utensils, and foodstuffs. Jin found something familiar among the foodstuffs. "Are these ...... potatoes?" He picks one up and looks at it. The color and the shape of the potato are clearly potatoes. I tried to analyze it secretly, but there was no doubt that it was a potato. "Hey, brother, do you want to buy some? The old man in the store asked him, so he bought a pile of them. "Yes, 50 dollars for a pile of topopo. It was surprisingly cheap. Since he didn''t have a bag to put it in, he asked the guy to sell him a bag to put it in, and paid 70 Tall. "Jin-kun, are you going to eat that ......?" Elsa asked anxiously looking at Jin''s happy face. "Yes, I do. I''ll borrow the kitchen tonight and give it a try." "Is that, ...... if I''m not mistaken, <>?" "It has a name like that?This is a genuine edible potato. I would never eat them. For some reason, Erza is afraid of them, and distances herself from Jin. Seeing this, Jin handed the bag to Reiko. Finally, Elsa came closer to Hitoshi. They then went to a store selling cheap accessories and a store selling weapons for self-defense. Erza seemed a little interested in a slim dagger. However, when Jin secretly analyzed it, he found that it was just an inferior looking item. So Jin dragged Elsa out of the store. When he told her this outside the store, she asked him, "Really?I was a little curious because my mother had a dagger like that. Hearing this, Jin thought that if he had a chance, he would make one. * * * * * * * * * * * * * I''m a little tired. Erza is sitting on one of the benches scattered around the plaza in the middle of the main street. She had walked a long way, so it was understandable. She finished the Citran juice she had bought at a street vendor and turned to Elsa, "Well, let''s go home. Erza nodded her head when Jin said so. The sun was setting and the wind was getting colder, so it was about time. "Erza, are you cold?" "Yes, I''m fine. I''m fine. "But the wind is getting colder, so I''ll take this off your shoulders. He put his own jacket on Erza''s shoulders. "Thanks. It''s ...... warm." "If you catch a cold, Meane-san and Papycha-san will kill you. Erza laughed and Reiko said, "I will protect your father. The group walked down the main street toward the aristocratic district without getting tangled up with the common thugs. 109 - - 05-18 New specialty They got into the carriage that had been waiting for them at the border between the noble and common districts and returned to the residence of the Marquis of Florenziano. "Well..." Jin went to the kitchen with the topopo he had bought. The kitchen was preparing dinner. However, since it was the residence of a marquis, it didn''t seem to be too much of a burden to cook for Jin and the others, and they didn''t look too busy. "Oh?Are you a visitor?How can I help you?" A mature man, who was probably the head chef of the kitchen, noticed Jin. He said, "Ah, ah, hello. I was wondering if I could use your kitchen for a moment. He showed them a bag in his hand. The cooks saw it, "Is that topopo?Why are you using such a common food?" "One out of several of them is poisonous, you know? and so on. Jin laughs and explains. "Poison?It''s in the sprouted potatoes. The area around the sprouts is poisonous. This one is fine because it hasn''t sprouted. Oh, and the green ones are poisonous all around. "What?That''s ......." Hmm, now that you mention it, it does occur to me. "So, you use topopods that have not turned green, and even sprouted topopods can be eaten if the sprouts are removed?" Jin nodded at them and said, "Yes, "So, I''m thinking of making some delicious snacks with them. A man who looked like the head chef stepped forward. "In that case, let me help you, sir. First, he washed the topopo (potatoes) well to remove the mud. Thinly slice them and soak them in water for a short time. Drain them, deep-fry them in hot oil, and season them while they are still hot. Yes, Jin was going to make potato chips. The chef was indeed very experienced and sliced the chips so thin you could see through them. He thought of various seasonings, but decided to start with a simple salt flavor. The prototype was completed in no time since it was fried in a pan for deep frying. "Wow, that was easy to make," he said. "Come on, let''s taste it. Jin picked up a potato chip and was about to put it in his mouth when Reiko quickly picked it up from the side and put it in her own mouth. "Hey, Reiko! "If you want to poison me, I''m at your service." Reiko''s mouth is equipped with analytical functions including toxicity. No toxicity. Saltiness seems to be just right. With that, Jin picks up a few potato chips and bites into them at once. A nostalgic taste spread through his mouth. "Yes, it''s good." The head chef, who was also watching, was also a little apprehensive, but he picked one and put it in his mouth. "Ummm, delicious!The crispy texture, the crunchy texture, the oil soaking through and the salty taste all go together ......!" Hearing the chef''s praise, the other chefs, in order of their availability, reached for their chips and said, "Yum! "Yum! "I didn''t know such cheap food could taste so good!" "I guess it''s not only the ingredients that determine the taste! "I didn''t know that such a cheap product could taste so good! And so the prototype potato chips were gone in no time at all. "Well, sir, you''ve taken off your helmet! The chef shook Jin''s hand. "This looks like it would be a good light meal, and it would also go well with ale. "I''m sure you can make it even better with some seasoning. So, I asked him to serve this as a side dish for dinner. I was so pleased that I asked him to serve it as a side dish for dinner. And dinner time. Tonight''s dinner was with the Marquis of Florenziano. "First of all, let me tell you that we are ready to mass produce the distiller. The deposit will be two million dollars, is that correct?" That''s fine," said Reinhard. Jin agrees, and the Marquis dismisses the business discussion. "Mr. Reinhard, Miss Elsa, Mr. Jin. Let''s be civil tonight. Cheers. Cheers. Everyone raises their glasses. Tonight''s glasses were not only clear, but also had a bird of prey-like design on them, which is the emblem of the Marquise. The first glass of wine was empty when the chef arrived. The head chef arrived. A new dish. He left the potato chips I had just eaten. "Oh, that''s interesting. The Marquis immediately picked one up and put it in his mouth. Reinhardt and Elsa also took a bite. "It''s delicious. Chef Matthias is indeed a chef. "Mmm, delicious!" "...... delicious!" The chef was praised, "No, I learned this from a guest." he said honestly. Elsa was shocked to hear that, "Is it ......<>?" "What?Topopo? "Topopo?This?" At Erza''s comment, Reinhard and the Marquis of Florenziano also sounded surprised. The chef nodded his head and said enthusiastically that there was no need to worry about topopo poison and that it would be delicious if cooked. Jin also nodded, "It''s not so much that topopo is poisonous, but rather that topopo shoots are poisonous," he said. It is a means of self-preservation to prevent animals from eating the buds. Everyone nodded in agreement with Jin''s explanation. It is true that most of the stories of poisoning from eating topopo sprouts have occurred after spring, that is, days after the harvest season. Above all, the dish, the snack, or the snack that you just ate: ...... "Topopo chips." That''s what Jin said. He had been eating them for a long time. "I see, I think I understand why Mr. Reinhardt said you are a bit of a special kind of magecraftsman. He takes another bite of his topopo chips. "It''s a bit of a drag, isn''t it?" He takes another bite. "Marquis, that''s not fair." Reinhard reaches for his chips too. Jin starts to eat too. Erza, the last one left, reached out her hand, picked one, and put it in her mouth. After that, they began to eat as if they had been in a dam, and the mountain of Topo Popo chips on the plate was emptied in no time. "Well, it''s a great honor for a chef to see you eat so beautifully. The chef bowed and left. The Marquis Florenziano was thinking about something and turned to Jin, "Mr. Jin, no, Mister Jin. I wonder if you don''t mind if I make these at home, or in the Borgia?" Jin nodded with a smile, Yes, of course. You can thank me for my hospitality." "Yes, thank you. Well, I''ll have the food brought to you. Enjoy yourself tonight. * * * * * * After this, became a specialty of the Borgias, and topopo was reevaluated and popularized as a crop, making life easier for the peasants and increasing the tax revenue of the country. The Marquis of Florenziano was praised for his achievements in later years. In addition, it should be noted that refrigerators became widespread for the preservation of foodstuffs. It should be added that the advice of Jin to fry topopo in oil only for a short time and not to heat the oil too hot was followed. 110 - - 05-19 Report on the status of Lunundo Island and departures That night, Jin returned to his room, took out his manacam and contacted Soleil and Luna on Horai Island. Luna answered. "Yes, this is Luna on Horai Island. "Oh, Luna, it''s me. Yes, father. How are you? Is everything all right? "Yes, everything is fine." Jin was relieved to hear that, and asked him to report on the situation in Kunlun Island. "Yes, the Kunlun Island. ......" According to Luna, the situation in Kunlun Island is as follows, The is completed. It has a living space, a workshop, a dining room, and a water supply and sewage system. It has been modified to make it look old. Some materials have been brought in to make it look natural. The resident staff consists of a five-colored golem, 100 topaz, 100 ames, 100 rubies, 100 aqua, 100 rubies, 100 ames, 100 rubies, 100 rubies, 100 rubies, 100 rubies, 100 rubies, 100 rubies, 100 rubies. 100, Aqua 100, and Perid 100. 5. Three lines of warp gates have been installed, including a spare one to Horai. The food stockpile is also being prepared. The fruit trees that were originally there are being used well, and a considerable amount of Citran and Apulul can be harvested. Some mineral resources have also been dug out and disguised. "You have done well in such a short period of time. Jin praised Luna and the others. With this, they should be able to cover it up if they have to invite Reinhardt and the others in the near future. "Okay, now, can you make it look like it could be an artifact?" "Yes, I think I can." Luna and Soleil, who had transcribed some of Reiko''s knowledge as well as a limited amount of Jin''s, seemed to be able to handle even the vaguest of instructions. "Okay, I''m counting on you. I''ll be back soon if I can. With these words, he cut off the communication. If we stop by the Blue Lands, we can use the hidden warp gate. "I guess we can make it work now." Jin was relieved that his concerns had been settled for the time being. The next morning... * * * The next morning. "Well then, Miss Elsa, take care. Thank you for everything, Jin-dono. I hope to see you again. After breakfast, Jin and Erza are seen off by the Marquis Florenziano and leave the Marquis'' residence. They headed north to the border with the Kingdom of Egelea. Brother Rai is here too. Erza''s voice made me look outside, and I saw that Reinhardt''s carriage had joined them. The reason for this is that Reinhardt is a diplomat and had greeted them in the royal castle. The carriage with Reinhardt''s guards and servants was in the lead, followed by Reinhardt''s carriage, Erza and Jin''s carriage, Erza''s guards and servants'' carriage, the carriage carrying the group''s luggage, and the carriage carrying the group''s food, and so on in that order. "Ah, I didn''t make another damper," Jin blurted out. Jin blurted out. "Hmm, Jin-kun is surprisingly forgetful. Erza, who was sitting on the opposite side of Jin, smiled and said, "You''re surprisingly forgetful, too. Reiko snuggled up to Jin, "Leave it to me, father. I won''t ever make your father uncomfortable again. She acted as usual. The group slowly makes its way toward the border. The capital city of Borgia is located at an altitude of about 1,000 meters above sea level. The capital Borgia is located on a plateau at an altitude of about 300 meters above sea level, from where the road climbs slightly and then descends gently after crossing the Delft Pass. The group stayed overnight in the town of Metalov, located just beyond the Delft Pass. The night was uneventful, and the next day was an easy one, mostly downhill. The next day was an easy one, mostly downhill. "We are almost at the border. Elsa said as she looked out the window. As she said, the group arrived at the border in half a day. At the border stands a fortress from the time of the Magic War, standing proudly in all its majesty. It is not ....... Three hundred years have weathered the stone, the wind and rain have created moss, and the sun has infested the vines. "What a ...... ruin!" As Jin commented, the fortress looked just like what one would expect from a . "But it''s still the same inside." Elsa added. The fort is protected by the border guards, whose captain personally checked the passports, "I''m sorry, but this is my job too," he said. With these words, he opened the door of the carriage and checked the passengers. This was also to ensure that Valentino and the other wanted persons would not cross the border. After checking the baggage, the captain, who judged that the group was in good condition, ordered his men to open the door of the fort. The door opens with a heavy thud. The iron door is 50 centimeters thick. On the surface of the door is an old magical formula (Magi Formula), indicating that it is resistant to magic. "Indeed, the only thing old about it is its appearance. Jin thought to himself. The carriage passes through the open door and passes through the fortress. The tunnel-like walls were also inscribed with the Magi Formula. "Hmmm, it''s a rather old style, but it seems to be efficient. Jin muttered as he looked out the window of the carriage, "Jin-kun, do you know the letters on this wall?" Erza asked with a surprised look on her face. When Jin said that he did, Elsa was even more surprised, "Even my brother Rai could only read half of the words on this wall. "Yeah, that''s probably true. "Yeah, that''s probably true. It''s an old format. From the format, it must be about 1,000 years old." "What? ......" Erza was absolutely mortified, "You know, I had an artifact at my place. I''m familiar with such things. He explains. Erza was somehow convinced by this, "You are a wonder, Jin. I want to know more and more about you. She looked at Jin. Jin did not notice, but Reiko, who was standing next to Jin, was staring at Erza with a grim look on her face. 111 - - 05-20 Revenger The man was a former nobleman. He was born the third son of a marquis and grew up without any problems. He was raised in relative freedom, as his older brother was the heir to the family. Although he lacked magical talent, he was a good student. However, at some point in his life, a distortion began to appear. The first time was when he broke a given toy while playing with it. I thought I would be scolded, but I was not. After a while, the child gets tired of the toy and breaks it on purpose. When he did so, he was not scolded again, but was given a new toy. A tutor was always there to help the children with their studies. The tutors praised him highly because he was not so smart, and he believed what they said. No one challenged him because of his position, which fostered his unfounded self-confidence. The pampered heart grows and the ears that have been listening to the sycophants are deaf to their admonitions. The ego that has never known failure becomes overconfident. He learns to waste money, to play with women, and to take pleasure in tormenting the weak. And at some point in time, he wants to have a marquise. He thinks about what he should do to achieve it. He has learned to skillfully hide his twisted inner self and to play the role of a slightly disturbed man to others. At the tender age of 20, he is appointed to the position of assistant to the lord. At the same time, a mysterious collaborator appeared and gave him new . Money, women, power. What the man got next, in other words, was violence. The price was simple. Using his power and financial resources, he simply passes a certain jewel from one organization to another. There was supposed to be no problem. But a year ago, he got his first taste of failure. Jewelry was the monopoly of the state. Therefore, they were questioned and pursued by the authorities. The deed used for the transaction was hidden in an oddly shaped ship that happened to catch his eye. They were supposed to retrieve it immediately and destroy the evidence. However, there is a discrepancy. The boat had disappeared. When he found it again, it was floating in the public eye, ready to compete in a famous local competition. The team had two options: get the ship, or worse, get rid of the evidence. Both of them failed. The opponent was stronger than we had thought. The taste of failure is bitter. The man vows revenge against the one who made him taste that bitterness. He does not think of it as resentment. He knew immediately what his opponent would do. He is going to the country, accompanied by a nobleman who is returning home. The mysterious collaborator has given the man more . Now he can take revenge on the man he hates. The man''s name was . * * * * The wagon passed through the border fortress and headed down a gentle road. "If you pass the valley beyond that, you will pass from the peninsula to the continent," Elsa told us. Elsa told us. The road continued between sheer rocks, and the narrowest point between the rocks was just ahead. It is said that the road was made in this way to prevent the invasion of the demon tribe during the Magic War. Erza explained that this was the last hurdle and that the rest of the way was just a leisurely walk along the road on the flat land. "What kind of a town is Breuland?I''ve never been inside it, so please tell me. Erza thought for a moment and then asked, "What kind of town is Breuland? "Blueland is a fortified city. It is the economic center of the Kingdom of Egelea. She began to explain. From Blueland, roads extend in all directions, and trade with surrounding cities, towns, and villages is flourishing. It is also a window for trade with the Kingdom of Elias, and its lord, the Duke of Bruu, is a cousin of King Egelea. The surrounding lands are divided into farms, ranches, and mines, each ruled by two counts. Then he breaks off, "I am not good at explaining. But if you have any questions, just ask. He ended with, "I am not good at explaining. Somehow, Jin was curious, "Do you know the name of the Count of ......?" He asked. Elsa immediately replied, "Count Kuzma rules the land where the farm and ranch are located. The mine is ...... called Count Galana, I think." Inwardly Jin thought, "I knew it. Well, Count Galana doesn''t know my face, so I guess I can handle it. At that moment, the carriage came to a sudden stop. Jin, who had been thinking, almost fell off his seat, but Reiko immediately supported him and he did not fall off. "What''s wrong?" Erza asked the hostess, "Miss, it seems to be a falling rock. It seems to have blocked the road. "What?" She opened the window and looked ahead, and sure enough, there was a big rock blocking the road ahead. Jin saw it too and got off the carriage with Reiko. Reinhardt, who was in the carriage in front of us, also got out and looked at the rock. It is 3 meters high and 3 meters wide. The width of the road is about the same, and the height of the sheer rocks on both sides is about 20 meters. Even if we wanted to move it, we could not find a place to move it. "This is not good..." Reinhardt muttered. Jin thought that there was no way to move it out of the way, and was about to say something to Reiko. "Jin, let me show you my golem! Reinhardt said and approached a carriage loaded with goods in the rear, "Wake up!" He said the key word "wake up". The cover of the wagon is lifted, and a humanoid figure emerges from the wagon. It is a two-meter tall, jet-black golem. "Stand up,<>" Slowly the golem dismounts from the wagon and stands up. "Jin, this is my <>. It may not be as good as the ancient relic (artifact) Miss Reiko, but ......." Reinhardt was about to say this when he heard the earth shaking behind him. "What? Reinhardt turned around and saw two golems in the rising dust. They seemed to have jumped down from the cliff. The fact that they jumped down from a cliff 20 meters high and did nothing indicates that they are very advanced golems. The golem suddenly hit the last carriage loaded with food. With a single blow, the wagon is destroyed, and the food, water, and other items on board scatter. "What are you doing? Reinhardt immediately sends his black knight (Schwarzlitter) toward the wagon. "Black Knight!Stop them! "Yes, sir!" With a short reply, the black knight (Schwarzritter) heads toward the two golems. The other Golem was about the same height as the Black Knight (Schwartzritter) and was a dull silver color. However, its appearance was one that Jin knew well. "That''s ......." The same kind of golem that attacked Jin when he was in the village of Kaina to pay his taxes. However, its movements and strength are far different from those of those days. However, Reinhardt''s Black Knight (Schwarzritter) is no ordinary golem. With the flexibility of movement that only an autonomous type can have, he succeeds in taking on two golems one at a time. First, he moves behind one of the golems and hits it with a powerful kick. The golem is blown away, away from the carriage. The black knight (Schwarzritter) closes in on the remaining one. The opponent reaches out with both hands and grabs it. The black knight (Schwarzritter) ducks his arms, goes behind the golem, grabs it, and lifts it high above his head. "All right, throw it over your head!" Without waiting for Reinhardt''s instruction, the black knight (Schwarzliter) threw the Golem he was holding at the other Golem that was approaching. Jin saw this and decided to put the safety of himself and Erza first. He also instructed Reiko to stay on the defensive and not attack until it became dangerous. 112 - - 05-21 Secret Weapons The battle between the black knight (Schwarzritter) and the two mysterious golems continued. First, the black knight (Schwarzritter) moves to confront the mysterious golem one-on-one, and succeeds. The black knight (Schwarzritter) is better at one-on-one. Now, the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) had just kicked the mysterious golem as hard as he could and slammed it against the rock wall. "Okay, that''s good!Keep attacking the lower half of the golem. The black knight (Schwarzritter) kicked the lower leg in succession as ordered by his master (Reinhardt). The movement was so smooth that even Jin was impressed. "Well, that''s a nice move. The number of joints is close to that of humans. And the range of motion of the joints is very wide. The mysterious golem, its legs distorted by the kick of the black knight (Schwartzritter), is unable to stand and crumples to the ground. In order to counter the other golem, the black knight (Schwarzliter) did not stop the crumpled golem, but kicked it in the back. "You have a soft body after all." Jin is again impressed. The joints of the golem are closer to those of a human than any other golem he has seen in this world. In other words, it is easier for humans to program its movements. Therefore, its movements are natural and fluid. "But your father''s is better." Reiko blurts out to Jin who is praising the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter). Reiko was not happy to hear her master, the best engineer in the world, praising someone else. The golem is kicked in the back, and its abdomen is severely distorted. "All right, just keep on folding!" At Reinhardt''s command, the black knight (Schwarzritter) strikes with his entire body. A dull thud was heard. The golem with its abdomen caved in takes the blow hard, and is blown more than ten meters along the rock wall. Its right arm and left leg are shattered, and it is unable to stand up. "Good, put a stop to this golem!" The Black Knight (Schwarzritter) grabs the golem by the neck, which had managed to stand up, and lifts it as if to pull it out, slamming it directly into the rock wall. A tremendous metallic sound is heard. The golem dives five centimeters into the rock, and its limbs are shredded to pieces. It is now incapable of fighting. "All right, I''m going to take out its control core, and you''re going to help me. Reinhardt first used engineering magic to search the golem''s chest, which was stuck in the wall in front of him, and took out one magi-crystal. He then walks toward the other one. The black knight (Schwarzritter) is with him. It was then. "Father, something is coming! Reiko''s voice. No sooner had Jin heard it and alerted Reinhardt than it appeared. "Hello, long time no see, Reinhardt." "You must be ......." A man about 6 feet tall, smaller than the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter), with a golem in tow, appeared. "Well, there are some things I want to include, but for now I have no use for you. I''m here for ......." The man, Valentino, stared at Jin with eyes full of hatred, "You, commoner. * * * Valentino appeared here. The meaning of this is obvious. He is the man who has been the driving force to expose his crimes. That is, Jin. The Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) Reinhardt tried to order the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) to capture Valentino. But.., "Don''t do it. Your golem is indeed a good one. But before this it is but a helpless puppet." Reinhardt is not the kind of man who would stop at that. "Jin is my friend. It is only natural that I should protect him." With these words, he ordered the black knight Schwarzlitter. "Protect Jin from that golem!" Valentino hears this and with a wry smile on his face, "Well, it''s okay, I wanted to test the performance of Albus (this one). Jin stood with Reiko, protecting Elsa and the others. "Father, that golem has something that cannot be analyzed." "What?" Reiko reported. The golem was grayish-white, or at least its surface was plated with mithril. It is about 6 feet tall, smaller than the Black Knight (Schwartzritter). Its design is undoubtedly the same as the one that caused a series of golem disturbances. From what Jin saw, it was far inferior to the Black Knight (Schwartzritter) in terms of structure and strength. "Father, please analyze the magic pattern." "Hm?I got it. ............ What the hell is this? What''s wrong? Jin suddenly shouted so loudly that Erza, who was standing behind him, was startled and became concerned and called out to him. But Jin , "The output is too large despite the magic core(core)...... flow(flow)......." He was absorbed in analyzing his opponent, muttering. "Black Knight (Schwarzritter), go!" "<>, go! The Black Knight and <> collide. For a moment, it looked as if the Black Knight was going to overpower Albus, "<>, it''s an overwrite!" At the same time as Valentino''s words, <> emitted a dull light. When the light disappeared, the black knight (Schwarzritter) had stopped moving. The black knight had stopped moving. Father, that light is dangerous. "Yes, I know." Jin sensed and analyzed the light, and found that it overrides the Magi Formula in the control core. This is why Reinhardt''s Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) can no longer operate normally. Reiko, are you alright? It would be a disaster if Reiko were to suffer such a fate. "I don''t understand ....... I don''t have enough information. "I see. Reiko, get behind me. But... Just listen to me. Jin then thinks desperately about what he should do now. What''s the matter? "What is it, Black Knight? Reinhardt calls out, but the black knight (Schwarzlitter) remains motionless. No, if you look closely, you can see that its body is shaking erratically. "Black Knight! Reinhardt calls out, but in vain. The black knight (Schwarzlitter) is pulled down by and lies there. He just lies there on the ground, occasionally shaking his body convulsively. "Black Knight (Schwarzlitter)......" approaches step by step. "Reinhard, step aside. All I want is to cut off the head of that commoner. I''ll let you guys go. "Don''t be silly!You can''t sell out your friends! "...... Wind Bullet!" At the same time Reinhardt shouted, Erza, who was behind him, fired a wind-bullet. However, it was bounced off without a scratch. "Elsa, stop wasting your time! No ordinary magic can hurt this ." But Erza did not listen, "Windblow!" This time, she unleashes a blow of wind. But the result is the same. "Get out of my way when you see it''s no use. ......Are you ready, commoner?I''ll thank you for humiliating me and ruining everything. Jin! Jin! But Jin turns his head and mumbles something in his mouth. Reiko is standing behind Jin, as if hiding. 113 - - 05-22 Cheetahs "Jin-kun!" Erza cried out for the first time. Finally Jin looked up. "Erza, Reinhard, I''m sorry for bothering you. Valentino, let''s finish this." "Are you ready for this?" Valentino is proud of his victory, while Jin is just standing there, looking natural. Reiko does nothing. "All right, <>, twist his neck." Valentino orders ruthlessly. "No!" Reinhardt tries to stop <>, but the flesh-and-blood man is no match for him and is swept away. I won''t let you get hurt, Jin-kun!" Erza stood to defend Jin, but Jin gently pushed her shoulder away, "Thank you, Erza. Thank you, Reinhard. But I''ll take care of this." With that, he takes a step forward, "Come." and invited Albus to join him. "Die!" Valentino shouted, and at the same time <> attacked. "Kyaaa!" Elsa closes her eyes. Reinhardt tried to look away, but then his eyes widened at the sight that followed. "Barrier!" "What the ......?" ''s arms were trying to grab Jin''s head, but they remained about 50 centimeters away, unable to touch him. "What!You!What did you do!" Jin''s voice was indifferent, "It''s just a physical barrier." But Valentino smirked, "Hmmm, I heard they used some kind of magic tool to protect it, but how long do you think it will last? can move for two or three days without refueling!" Jin heard this and laughed, "What? You don''t have an ether converter after all? "What?" Jin then turns to Reiko. Reiko, when I disable this thing, don''t let Valentino escape! "What are you talking about, ......?" Valentino, who did not understand Jin''s attitude and words, was confused. He did not care, but said the application of the Magi language he had just analyzed. "Erase." A moment later, <> stops moving. "Write-in". <> begins to move again. However, the destination is not Jin, but Valentino. "What, what''s going on?< No matter how much Valentino orders him to stop, <> doesn''t stop and finally catches Valentino. Valentino''s arms are shattered when he is caught by . Albus also stomped on Valentino''s right foot. "Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Oh, no! Jin panicked, "Standstill!" If he had not said the key word "standstill," his arm might have been ripped off. Still, Valentino was foaming and blacking out from the pain of having his arms and right leg shattered. "I''m a little tired. Jin breathed heavily, "Erza, I''m sorry, but could you cast a simple healing spell on him? He asked. But Erza said, "Why?She tried to kill Jin-kun. So I can''t complain even if Jin-kun kills me. But Hitoshi said, "Yeah, it''s just my opinion. Besides, I don''t want him to die just because of this. I want him to pay for his crime." I want him to pay for his crime. Erza tilted her head, "Okay. I''ll heal her and hurt her again. If you do it again, you''ll be punished." She said something terrible like that. Jin heard this and thought, "Ah, she is from this world after all, "Erza, a pretty girl like you shouldn''t talk like that. When I quieted her down with these words, I felt her face turn red for a moment,....... "...... okay. I''ll give you some painkillers for now. Painkiller (schmelzmittel)." For the time being, she felt no more pain, but her arm was twisted in a strange way. Reiko, put a brace on his arm and tie him up. At last, it was her turn, and Reiko was eagerly carrying out the instructions. Valentino moaned in pain despite the painkillers (Schmelzmittel), but she was too overzealous and forcefully moved his broken arm. He even gagged him, and Valentino''s captivity was complete. "Now, what are we going to do with him?" Reinhardt was in charge. "Since he''s a wanted interstate fugitive, I think we should escort him back to the Kingdom of Elias. "Yeah, that''s a good idea." However, since the group could not afford to do so, we decided to leave the matter to the appropriate authorities in the Kingdom of Egelea for the time being, which was the next best thing. "Ah, one of the wagons is broken up..." The golem had destroyed the wagons carrying food and water. Of the scattered food, the ones that were safe were recovered. Most of the water was ruined. "I was going to go to Phantol today, but I don''t think I will be able to make it. Today we will go to the village of Rufaart, which is just a short distance from here, to get some water. The black knight (Schwarzritter) cannot fix the problem here, so the captured carries him to the village of Rufaart. There was room in the wagon that the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) was riding in, so we loaded the food that was still intact into that wagon. That''s how it was. Finally, we were about to discuss what to do about the rocks that blocked the road, "Oh, it''s too much trouble. Reiko, smash it!" Jin ordered somewhat bluntly, "Yes, father!" Reiko, who was not able to play an active role this time, walked joyfully to the rock and hit it silently. The rock, which was about three meters across, shattered. Needless to say, the faces of everyone except Jin, who was watching the scene, scrunched up. Reiko grabbed a piece of the shattered rock and began to throw it over the cliff as if she were throwing a piece of paper. While Reiko was cleaning up the broken pieces of rock, Reinhardt turned to Jin, "Now, Jin, tell me more about that magic." Then Erza came up to him. It''s not something that should be kept a secret, but rather something that needs to be spread around so that we can take countermeasures against it in the future, "Okay. First of all, that used a kind of engineering magic, overwriting. He explains that the purpose is to overwrite the control core so that the original command is not executed correctly. And furthermore, the results of the analysis of the method are the and . "But, but how is it possible to do that without touching the Magi Crystal? No wonder Reinhardt was surprised. It was common knowledge that writing a magic formula on a magecrystal was so precise that it could only be done by touching, or in other words, holding the crystal in one''s hand. "Yeah, that''s strange. Let''s check it out, shall we?" In cooperation with Reinhardt, I decided to check <>. Then.., "Hey, Jin!Here it is!" Reinhardt found a light blue gemstone. No, it was a magi crystal. "This is Elradorite!" It was a gemstone that amplifies magical power. It is thought that he used this characteristic to create an intensity of magical power that would normally be impossible, and overwrote it without contact. "I see, so this is how it''s used." The two were convinced. But Reinhardt said, "I wonder how Jin was able to do a trick that is only possible with amplification. "It wasn''t easy," Reinhardt said. "It wasn''t easy. We had to analyze the method and accumulate a lot of magical power. I explain what happened when Jin was muttering something. I told him that the barrier provided by the bracelets allowed us to buy time without worry, "But I was worried." Erza, who had come nearby before I knew it, said so, and Jin apologized to her. "So, I figured out how to do it, so I did it backwards to <>. First, I erased the magic formula by erasing it, and then I wrote in the command to catch Valentino by writing in the magic formula. He concluded by saying that the distance between them prevented him from writing a detailed formula, and as a result he had to break the bones. "Well, as for the bones, I guess I got what I deserved." Reinhardt says, implicitly telling Jin not to worry about it. "Father, the rocks have been cleared." Reiko had just finished clearing the rocks and the road was passable, "All right, let''s go." We are now in the Kingdom of Egelea. The group set out for the village of Rufaat. The sky was covered with thin clouds, indicating that spring was near. 114 - - 06-01 蓬莱岛と昆仑岛 Jin and Reiko were traveling together in a carriage invited by Reinhard, a nobleman of the Shoro Kingdom. Now, the carriage carrying the group is approaching the fortress city of Breuland. At this point, Jin made a proposal. "For now, I would like to go home and prepare to receive Reinhardt and the others. That''s why. Both Reinhardt and Erza were very much interested in the idea of inviting them to Jin''s house, and they agreed to the proposal. "Then, I will pick you up at the gate tomorrow morning. But maybe only the two of you can come with me." I remember to remind him that if Adberg the butler, Meine the nanny, or Hermann the guard came, it would be too much to handle. "Yeah, no problem, I''ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow! "See you tomorrow, Jin-kun." With such a light heart, Jin and Reiko parted from Reinhardt''s group and walked for about an hour to the warp gate hidden in a cave deep in the forest on the outskirts of Blueland. "It is undamaged, and there seems to be no sign of intrusion by anyone. Since there are two types of wards, one for concealment and the other that cannot be removed except by Jin''s magic pattern, small animals and people who happen to be in this area will not be able to find out the presence of the warp gate. Jin and Reiko entered the cave without any difficulty and went to the warp gate. In an instant, they were on their way to Horai Island. In an instant, they are on Horai Island. A nostalgic atmosphere envelops Jin. "Welcome home, Father. "Welcome home, master and daughter." Soleil, Luna, and the five colored golem maids were there to greet him. The first thing Jin did was to take a bath. He was a little tired of traveling by carriage, and moreover, he had not taken a bath for two days in a row. "Ah, it''s warming! "Father, are you tired?" Reiko was soaking together with him. "No, I''m not tired, but it''s nice to be home. "Master, may I give you a report?" In order to save time, he decided to call the five-colored golem into the bathroom to hear its report. The development of Horai Island is going well. Road construction, port construction. Orchards and rubber trees are cultivated, fish are raised in fish ponds. Quarrying and preservation of stone, mining, classification and storage of mineral resources. And the Air Force (Air Force), Navy (Navy), and Army (Army) report. Skye and her team seem to be doing a good job of mapping. Marin and his team have scout boats around the island at all times to keep an eye out. Well, for the moment, ships of this world do not come out to the open sea because they do not have a compass or a compass. And Lando and his men are guarding the islands of Horai and Kunlun while helping with development. "Ah, I wish I had a brain while I''m gone. Soleil and Luna were not enough. So, Jin got out of the bath and immediately decided to put his idea into action. "Let''s collect all kinds of Magi Crystals. I prepared 8 Magi Crystals of each attribute: earth, water, fire, wind, lightning, light, darkness, and all the other attributes. Place all the attribute Magi crystals in the center of the plate and the remaining Magi crystals around the center of the plate. A magi-device is assembled so that each of them can mutually circulate their magical power through the magical crystals of all attributes. "Okay, let this be the brain. As energy sources, we have an ether converter, a mana driver, and a spare mana tank. Safety measures have been taken to ensure that the machine will not stop in the event of normal problems. "The chassis is made of adamantite and mithril." The whole structure is a hemispherical dome. The radius is about 50 centimeters. To prevent the computer from revolting, as is often the case in science fiction, we have written in several layers of magical formulas for safety. It senses Jin''s magic pattern and obeys only him. And a destructive device that can be activated only by Jin is also installed. Basically, this brain stands above all other golems. The only exception is Reiko. Reiko and this brain are equal, and they monitor each other so that they do not run out of control. Reiko is superior in power and this brain is superior in intelligence. Finally, most of Jin''s knowledge, Soleil and Luna, Prane and Satella, the five colored golem maids, Sky, Marin, Lando, etc., all the knowledge of the golems, are transferred to the brain who manages Horai Island, named <. The reason why he did not transcribe Reiko''s knowledge is for the purpose of surveillance as mentioned above. "Father, what do you mean by <>?" "Oh, he is the chief of the immortals who were said to live in Horai and Kunlun in my former world. I may be wrong about some things, but that''s not the point, so I''ll let it go. "<> start up." Jin activates <>, the man in charge of Horai. "Master, please take care of my lord." "Okay, Lao Tzu, is there anything wrong?" No, not at all. You know what you have to do now? Yes, no problem. Good. Good. Keep me posted on your progress. Yes, sir. Thus, the brains to take care of Horai Island and Kunlun Island were born in place of Jin. "Now, you can rest assured even if I am away. If you have any problems, consult < first. And report to me regularly." "Yes, sir." The golems replied in unison. * * * * "Father, I have a favor to ask you." Unusually, Reiko asked Jin for a favor. "Yes, what is it?" "Please don''t let that golem defeat us in the Albus riot the other day. And I want to be able to never attack your father." "Reiko ......" She seems to be worried that she couldn''t confront directly for fear that engineering magic would rewrite her control core. "Okay, come here." Jin then invited Reiko to a workshop in the institute and laid her down on a workbench. "All right, let''s stop for the time being." "Yes, sir." In fact, Jin had been thinking of countermeasures since the incident. The first method was to use a magic shield. After stopping Reiko, Jin decided to shield the control core (control core) with the highest quality mithril silver to protect it from external magic power. The surface of the shield is engraved with the Magi Formula, which can convert external magic into free magical elements (ether). Second, protection by magic patterns. The magick formula (magick formula) and the magick circuit (magick circuit) were reconfigured so that only Jin''s magick patterns could be rewritten. This was quite a difficult task. "Shall we also have a spare control core? Thirdly, we modified the control core so that the backup control core can take over in the event that the main control core drops out. The main control core (control core) will still be located in the chest, and the backup in the abdomen. "We could incorporate another safety device." It is a kind of breaker. It is a kind of a breaker. It is just a magical device that instantly cuts off the magical power for movement when an attacker tries to attack an opponent with Jin''s magical power pattern. < has a similar device. However, these devices have the condition that <> is the case that <> would be disadvantageous to Hito>. In other words, <>. "Well, since we''re here, let''s do the overall maintenance. Reiko''s body is checked, and any parts that are damaged or worn out are repaired or strengthened. Furthermore, the ether converter and mana driver are adjusted again. This has improved the efficiency and increased the output by 10%. In addition, a hide function, which can be called a stealth function, was added. Combined with the ability to block out air and magic, as well as the ability to muffle sound, it has a much higher level of functionality than the one used by the bandit. We call it the "stealth" function. Just as it should be. "Okay, Reiko, <>" Reiko gets up, "How are you feeling?" "Yes, I feel lighter than usual. Thank you, father. "Well, that''s good to know." Actually, my weight has increased by about three kilograms due to the additional spare control core, magi device, mithril silver for shielding, etc., but I guess it''s within the margin of error. I''ve also increased my power output. So, Jin decided to keep quiet about it. I explained about the additional functions. * * * * Reiko''s modification was finished, "Well, I wonder how things are going in Kunlun..." After eating lunch prepared by Soleil, we finally decided to go to Kunlun Island to prepare for welcoming our guests. "Father, how should we set up the warp gate?" Luna asked. As it is now, we cannot fly directly to the Kunlun Island from the Blue Lands. We would have to go out once inside the institute. That is undesirable. "Well, ......, we should install another warp gate in the Blue Lands so that we can fly directly to the Kunlun Islands. "Yes, that''s a good idea. I think that would be a good idea. agreed, and we flew to the Kunlun Island with the necessary materials. Of course, Reiko carried the materials. 115 - - 06-02 The Lantern and the Blue Land The first thing we did after flying to Kunlun Island was to set up a warp gate. "Okay, now we have to set up a counterpart warp gate in the Blue Lands as well. "Father, I''ll take care of that." Before Jin could say whether or not she was okay, Reiko jumped into the warp gate and returned to Horai. She then flies from Horai to Blue Land with the materials, sets up the Warp Gate that is the counterpart to Kunlun, and returns using the Warp Gate. It took about 15 minutes. Reiko was very efficient. Now that he is ready to move, Jin can finally take his time to look around the Kunlun Island. Soleil and Luna were his guides. These two were in charge of the development of the Kunlun Island. "First of all, the warp gate is located in the basement of the . The stone basement looks reasonably old, and it is not surprising that there are artifacts in the basement. "Open the door and climb the stairs to the first floor, the entrance hall. The bronze door was heavy and even had a greenish-blue patina, making it look like the door to a secret room. This area must be a fusion of Jin''s knowledge and that of his predecessor. The entrance hall is about 10 meters square and is also made of stone. The walls are decorated with murals and difficult-looking formulas. Looking closely, one can see a picture of a five-colored golem and a simple magic formula (magi formula), "What is this?" There was a poem written in Japanese. The lyrics, to be exact. It was a popular pops song from about five years ago, which remained in the corner of Jin''s mind. "Well, no one can read it, so it''s OK. Without thinking too much, Jin moves on to the next room. The back room is the workshop. I tried to make it look a certain way, but what do you think? The iron floor, the fireplace, hammers and other metallurgical tools. Woodworking tools such as saws, chisels, chisels, knives, etc. In the center of the room is a large, heavy-looking worktable. All of them look old. On a shelf are a few magi crystals and colorful magi stones. On another shelf are a few threads of ground spider. In the adjacent warehouse are copper, bronze, white copper, nickel, iron, tin. And light silver, mithril and a small amount of adamantite. It looks like a smaller version of the workshop on Horai Island. "Well, this is good enough, Soleil, Luna, thank you. Jin then gave them the guard rings he had made for them as a reward. "Thank you very much. I will treasure it." Both received it with joy. On the first floor, there is a dining room, a toilet, and a bathroom, all of which have been recently remodeled. The toilets are western style, by the way. The excrement is magically decomposed into elements, so there is no smell and it is clean. The bath is a hot spring. The water is pumped up from 50 meters underground. This is a great story for those who love to take a bath. As a side note, a hot spring will be drilled on Horai Island in the near future. The dining room is spacious and can accommodate about 10 people, and there are four stoves made by Jin in the kitchen. Of course, there is also a refrigerator. Water is pumped. "Well, this seems to be all right. The living space seems to be on the second floor. The living facilities are as follows. There are eight rooms of about 10 tatami mats each. Two of the rooms are covered with tatami mats, and are supposed to be the rooms of Jin and his late master. To be exact, Jin''s room has a closet, which takes up two tatami mats, making it eight tatami mats. The rooms of Jin and his master (dummy) are next to each other, and the two rooms on the opposite side of the corridor are a study and a closet. The remaining four rooms are Western-style rooms with wooden floors and stone walls. The windows are covered with white mica. There is a bed, a table, a chair, and a built-in closet, all of which are of period design. In fact, they are definitely antiques, as they were popular in the previous owner''s time. Three of them are guest rooms, and the last one is a waiting room for golem maids. There was also a toilet on the guest room side. The third floor is an attic and a storage room. There are dozens of copies of grimoires that were common in the previous generation, as well as robes designed to look old-fashioned or even wizardly. The most important thing is the parts of broken magic tools brought from Horai Island. It seems that they have chosen only those items that we don''t even know what they were used for. "Hmmm...it looks like a house where a mage has lived for a long time even to me..." Jin was also impressed. "Now let''s go outside. I''ve drawn a rough sketch of the house as a mural. It was apparently in the entrance hall, but Jin had not noticed it. "Oh, this one...oh, this one..." From Jin''s point of view, Kunlun Island is about half the size of Oshima of the Izu Islands. It is enough for human habitation. It is roughly circular. The center of the island is the Kunlun Mountains, and this is located at the southern foot of the mountain. "The east and north sides of the island are forested. The west side is grassland and wasteland, and the south side is grassland, sparse forest, and marshland. So you can mine for resources in the west? "Yes. I had Land 80 to 100 help dig some mining pits and actually dig out some mineral resources. That''s pretty good. "Okay, I''ll leave it to you two to show the guests around, and I''ll be counting on you then." Copy that. * * * What''s it been, three months? Reinhard and Erza were now at a friend''s house in the Blue Lands. "Yeah, it''s been about that long since I left here for the Kingdom of Elias at the end of last year. "You''ve become more and more beautiful in the little time I''ve seen you, Miss Elsa. Don''t flatter yourself. No, I''m not flattered. She''s become more mature or deepened in some way. "Compliments don''t get you anywhere." My friend is Count Kuzma. They were from the same count''s family and were close in age, so they had been friends since Reinhardt''s first visit to Breuland as a diplomat two years ago. "Will you be able to take your time this time?" "Well, yes. Well, now that all my official work is done, I can just relax and go back to my home country. Then a maid of honor arrived with a bag of fruit. "Oh, here they are. Here you are. Try some of this. The Count offered them a plate of Persica. Reinhard and Elsa took a bite and were surprised. "It''s cold and delicious! "Delicious!" Count Kuzma then looked very pleased, "Isn''t it?< Reinhard said. Reinhardt reacted to the word "refrigerator". "What?>She asked her if she would like to be his concubine. Just remembering the rapt look she gave me at that moment sends chills down my spine. "Well, now that I''ve moved your workshop to my place, I don''t think I can touch you too easily. Besides, he might have his eyes on another woman by now." I feel sorry for him. "But you see, most of the mines around here are under Count Galana''s control. His influence in the Blue Lands is not to be underestimated." "Ah, there are some good quality magi-crystal mines there, aren''t there? The mountains to the west of the Blue Lands are Count Galana''s domain and his mines are located there. Count Kuzma''s domain is in the eastern countryside. And the plains surrounding the Blue Lands were under the direct control of the Duke of Bruu. "Well, I don''t have any more official business this time, so I guess we won''t have to meet." That was a mistake, but there was no way Reinhardt could have known that. "You said you were just going back to your homeland at leisure, how long can you stay here?" Count Kuzma asked as he popped a Persica berry into his mouth. "Well, I don''t know. One of the carriages is broken, so we have to get another one, and I would like to improve it a little. Reinhard replied, In that case I can get the materials for you. The workshop is at ...... if you need it." "Oh, um, if you don''t mind, you can use my place! Bina said with great energy. I wanted to hear more about Jin''s story, and I also wanted to see how a magecraftsman from another country worked. "Yes, I might ask you to help me then." Reinhardt replies lightly. Then he mentioned his plans for the next day. "Well, I''m going out for a bit tomorrow. "Well, do you have somewhere in mind?" "Oh, actually, Erza and I have been invited to Jin''s house. "What? Bina screamed out in a crazy voice when she heard that. Then she added "Oh, um, Jin is here? She leaned forward again and asked Reinhardt. Even Reinhardt was a bit taken aback, "Ah, yes. He and I have been traveling together since Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias. "I was in the same carriage with Jin-kun from Potrock. Elsa interjected from the side. "Oh ...... is that so? ......" A slight look of frustration or sadness or some other complex emotion flashed across Bina''s face, but it quickly disappeared, "Please!Please let me join you! Bina said as she stood up and bowed 90 degrees at the waist. Reinhard thought. It seems certain that this Beena is an acquaintance of Jin. If so, it would be no problem at all to take her to meet Jin. After that, he should decide whether or not to invite her to his house. He concluded, "Well, I''m meeting Jin tomorrow. It would not be a problem if we go there together. After that, you can ask Jin directly. He told her. Bina''s face lit up, "Thank you very much! and bowed 90 degrees again. Erza looked at Bina with an indescribable expression on her face. Reinhardt did not notice it. 117 - - 06-04 Welcome to Kunundo The next morning, in front of the gates of Breuland. "Ah, here they come! Jin, who had been waiting for a while, saw a carriage coming out of the gate. It is the familiar Reinhardt four-horse carriage. The carriage stops in front of Jin and Reiko, the door opens, and Reinhardt and Erza come out. And then Adberg, Elsa''s butler, and Meine, her nanny, got out as well. And finally, someone Jin did not expect, the red-haired girl, Beena, came out at the end. "Jin!I missed you!" As soon as she landed on the ground, Beena ran up to Jin and said, "I missed you so much! "You just said what you wanted to say and left!I wanted to thank you properly ......!" Bina was only a little smaller than Jin, but she was on her tiptoes and her eyes were just as powerful as Jin''s, so I said to her, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, "I''m sorry." Jin couldn''t help apologizing while bending down. However, perhaps he couldn''t help but apologize to Jin, or perhaps he had his own feelings about Bina''s attitude, "It''s not right for you to apologize, Jin-kun. You should move further away." Erza came between them and pulled Bina away from Jin. "Ummm...okay...okay...okay...okay...okay...okay...okay...okay. ...... Jin, you don''t have to apologize. I just wanted to thank you. The three of them watched the scene. Reinhardt smiled at Elsa''s gesture, Adberg, the butler, looked at her as if he were dazzled by her change, Adberg, the butler, looked at Erza as if she were dazzling him, and Meine, the nanny, stared at Jin. "Well, Jin, Miss Bina insisted on seeing you, so I brought you here. Jin answered that it was not. And then, "The warp gate is set up so that only two people can come together. ...... "Yes, I know. Actually, Count Kuzma said he would at least say hello, but he couldn''t come because he had some political business to attend to. So Adberg and Meane are just going to see him off. But this Meine.., "Mr. Reinhardt!Are you really planning to go to such a strange place alone with just the two of you? She''s grumbling. She didn''t seem to notice Reiko''s eyes on her. Reinhardt restrained her and said "It''s all right. I''m here, and you know how much Jin cared about Erza during the trip." "That''s true, but ......" Adberg was still not convinced, but he was quieting her down with something. "Jin!I''m also ...... not ...... allowed to go to your house?" While Reinhardt and the others were talking, Bina was saying the thing she wanted to say the most. "I''ve been thinking about you ever since you helped me. Please!" Jin wondered what to do. The reason why they built the house on Horai Island was originally to prepare for the situation when they decided to bring Beena with them. But what about the fact that he said that he could only bring two people with him? He must have read Jin''s thoughts, "Father, I think I can take at least one person with me. Reiko offered a helping hand. "I see. Then, I think we can manage. Jin then turned to the group, "Well, the warp gate only reacts to my magic. And if you''re caught in my hands, we can go together. That''s why I said two people, but I heard that Reiko can take at least one person with her. That''s how he explains it. The explanation was a bit complicated, but it was fortunate for Jin that he did not get into any particular problem with the artifact, a warp gate, or something like that. "Then please send me to ......." Meine was still grumbling, but Adberg took the liberty of dragging her into the carriage, which quieted her down. "Well, let''s go." Jin started to walk away, followed by Reinhard, Erza and Bina. Reiko was the leader of the group. Soon Erza was standing next to Jin, and she wrapped her left arm around his right arm. Bina saw this and clung to Jin''s left arm. Reinhardt watched from behind, smiling, "Your father is a hard man to deal with, isn''t he? Reiko was walking behind him. Reiko looked unhappy. After 10 minutes of walking, Reinhardt, Erza, and of course Bina did not look tired, but Jin stopped, "Koma! Jin stopped and called his horse Golem, "Koma! The horse golem, , came out of the forest with two horse golems of the same type. The result was, "What is this?" Bina''s face turned red when she saw this, "...... sounds interesting." Elsa''s face lit up, "A horse golem!That''s what I''m talking about, Jin!" Reinhardt exclaimed. "It''s a golem horse. This is how you ride it." Jin let go of Elsa and Bina''s arms, and stepped onto the frame. "Hold it here and twist it like this to make it move. It is also autonomous, so you can just ride it as long as you tell it where to go. To tell the truth, I realized in the morning that it would be a waste of time to make Reinhardt and the others walk the distance to the warp gate, so I hastily created the golem horses except for <>. "Oh, I''m wearing a skirt..." Bina blushed and said, "Ugh..." Jin didn''t notice that. But Erza didn''t seem to mind, and was already astride the golem horse. "Jin-kun, this is fun." Erza is skillfully operating the handlebars and letting the horse walk around the area. She looks down at Bina and seems to be smiling. "Yeah, I hadn''t thought of that." Reinhardt is also riding around on one of the other horses, trying out different things. Originally, they had planned to bring only two people, so there are only two golem horses. (Should we ask them to ride with Erza? No, it would be dangerous to ride with Erza who is not used to riding with them.) ) The speed limiter is set, but I am not sure if it is safe to do so. So, it''s Jin''s . "I guess it can''t be helped." So, Jin walked up to Beena''s side and said, "Come on, Beena, get on this side," he said. He held out his hand. At first she did not seem to understand what he was saying. >>At first she didn''t seem to understand what he meant, but then she understood what he was trying to say, "Uh-huh!" He squeezed Jin''s hand and climbed into the << himself. She then sits down in front of Jin, facing sideways. "............" Elsa looks at the two of them, and Bina gives her a triumphant look, clinging to Jin, "Come on, let''s go. I''ve been interested in Jin''s house for a long time!" Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt head for the forest in that order. Reiko takes the ranger position, keeping an eye on the surroundings. Well, I know that there are only small animals and birds in this forest. We move forward at a speed slightly faster than that of a human walker. In less than half an hour, we have arrived at the foot of a large rock deep in the forest. "Now, get off the horse here," he said. With these words, he dismounted himself first, and then helped Bina down to the ground. Reinhardt was the first to get off by himself, "Here, Elsa," he said. He tried to help her up, but she said, "No, I can get off by myself." She said a little sulkily and jumped down. Jin led the group around the big rock to a cave behind it. "Here is the entrance. Take my hand. "Take my hand and you won''t get caught in the warding. With that, he put out his hand and Beena quickly grabbed his right hand and Erza quickly grabbed his left hand. "Uh, Reinhardt, take Reiko''s hand. Reiko, please." "Yes, father." Reiko held out her hand to Reinhardt with an expression of disgust on her face and Reinhardt took her hand with a wry smile. Reiko''s hand was softer than he had expected, and he was surprised to feel something like body heat. "Well then, let''s go. With these words, Jin walked through the cave. Bina and Elsa entered the cave along with him. "It''s so bright! Both were surprised to see that it was brighter than expected inside. "It''s because the warp gate is equipped with a small light. Jin indicated the warp gate at the back of the room. With both hands occupied, I thought it was bad manners to do so, but I did it with my chin. "Oh!That''s the warp gate!" Reinhardt is excited to see the real thing for the first time. But Jin.., "Come on, let''s go!" He says, "Let''s go!" and steps toward the warp gate. Erza and Bina hesitated, but since they were holding hands with Jin, they were pulled by his hand and jumped into the warp gate. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In an instant, the scenery changes and the group emerges from the stone basement. Reiko and Reinhardt come out of the warp gate a little later. Finally, and the other golem horses emerge. Jin releases their hands and bows lightly to them, "Welcome to Kunlun Island! 118 - - 06-05 Flower picking "This is where Jin lives: ......" This is where Jin lives: ...... "Konronto, you say?" The three people responded in three different ways. "This is just a basement with a warp gate. Please come this way." Jin opened the door and went up the stairs. He emerged into an entrance hall. "Wow, there is a mural carved on the wall. Is this the ...... golem? That''s when Reinhardt said, "Welcome home, father, sister." Soleil and Luna appeared to greet him. "Welcome, guests." "Surprised, are these two made by Jin?" "Yes, the golden one is Soleil, and the silver one is Luna." "I am Soleil." I am Luna. Both greeted each other with fluid movements. Looking at the girl''s figure, Erza was not at ease inside. She remembered the way she had hugged Reiko the other night. Jin had denied it, but she wondered if he had a taste for such things.I can''t help but wonder if he has a taste for such things. On the other hand, Bina said, "Wow, this is amazing. Soleil and Luna?I''ve never seen such an elaborate golem. She was honestly surprised and impressed. "Father, the weather is fine today, so I have prepared tea for you outside. Soleil said and Luna opened the front door. Jin nodded in agreement and invited everyone outside. "Wow!" There was another surprised voice. There were five colored golems, Ruby, Aqua, Topaz, Perid, and Amezu, all wearing aprons, lined up in a row. This is a five-color golem maid. From right to left: Ruby, Aqua, Topaz, Perido, and Amez. I named them after the color of their eyes. As he says this, Jin thinks in a corner of his mind that the next time he dresses her, he''ll change the color of her clothes, too. "You''re a wonderful maid!" Bina''s voice sounded a little twitchy, as expected. Erza also seemed to be a little taken back. She might be getting seriously worried about Jin''s s*xuality, since all of them were female-types, even if they were golems. "Please come this way." Reinhardt gets 100 Ames, Erza gets 100 Aqua, and Bina gets 1 ruby. The group took their seats around a round table. "This is coarse tea. Perid 100 served tea from the tea tree and Topaz 100 handed out Persica nuts. "Huh?This tea is similar to the one often drunk in the Kingdom of Klein. As expected of Reinhardt, he has been to many countries. "Ah, I haven''t had gin persica in a long time. Bina was in a good mood as she was served her first Persica in a while, and it was chilled in the refrigerator. And what about Erza? "Jin-kun, have you been living here all by yourself? She asked me as she tasted her tea. "Yes, ever since my master left. Jin was not lying since his predecessor was no longer here when he came to Horai Island. "Aren''t you lonely?" Erza''s eyes looked worried when she asked that, "I don''t feel lonely because Reiko and the others are here." Hearing Jin''s answer, Erza becomes seriously worried. But.., "But I still miss people, so I went to Blueland and Potrock. Hearing these words, she is relieved that there is still salvation. "Oh, you''re not going to get much common sense living in a place like this, are you? This is Bina. She was remembering the time when they first met. "Do you often make golems and such, Jin?" Reinhardt''s main interest is magical engineering (magecraft). In such an atmosphere, over tea and Persica, the conversation is lively. Reinhardt talked about Magecraft, and Erza talked about life in Jin. Bina is interested in the island. After the tea was finished, Jin was about to get up to show her around the island and the pavilion, when Erza came in, "Jin-kun, where is the impurity?" Jin asked. Jin instantly understood what he meant, I''m sorry!Soleil, please show him the way. And explain to her how to use it." Soleil instructed him. It was a natural thing to do, since Jin couldn''t explain it to her. "Oh, me too! Bina also stood up and asked Luna to accompany her. "......Ah, ......I''m sorry I''m late." After they left, Jin was puzzled. During the trip, the coach stopped about every two hours for a short rest. It is thought that they did their business at that time. However, he did not pay enough attention to the girl''s needs, and she made him mention it to her. "Jin, don''t worry about Elsa. She''s been like that in the past." Reinhardt follows up, but Jin, feeling like a failure, is a bit depressed. As the host, this was not a good response. After a long time, Jin remembered that when he was on Earth, he was told to casually pass by the restroom first as a rule when entertaining female guests in the newcomer training program. At that time. "Wha-eeeeeee! I heard a surprised voice. "Oh, that voice is Bina. I knew you''d be surprised. Jin looks as if he should be surprised. Reinhardt, on the other hand, looked at Jin like that, "Jin, that voice was Miss Beena, wasn''t it?What''s going on?Is it to be expected that you are not panicking?" Before Jin could answer that question, Erza returned, "...... Jin, kun. That''s amazing. I want one too." She said. Hearing this, Reinhardt makes a >He made a face. Then Bina came home, "Jiji-jin, what''s with that toilet?That bathroom is amazing!It''s not a toilet at all! I said to myself, "Calm down. Don''t call a girl to go to the bathroom. Bina turned red and shut her mouth. Reinhardt was still looking at her with a >Erza noticed this and asked, "Why don''t you go to the bathroom, too? "You should go there too, Rai. It''s amazing." "Is it?" So, with Soleil''s guidance, Reinhardt also decided to go to the restroom. And as expected, "Jin!That was groundbreaking!I want to introduce it to my house, or rather, to our country!Please help us!" He rushed back. The toilets installed by Jin in Kunlun Island and Penglai Island are so-called Western-style toilets. The toilet bowl is made of white quartz and has a seat with a engraved on the surface. The surface is treated with a surface treatment to prevent sticking and is flushed using the water magic method. Since there is no paper (it was not made), it is a so-called "hot-wash toilet seat. It is no wonder that the first time you use this toilet seat, you will scream like I just did. The warm air for drying is done by magic, the waste is decomposed into dust by decomposition, and the odor inside the room is eliminated by deodorant. The standard in this world is a hole for the common people and a so-called "potty" for the aristocrats, so it is no wonder that all three of them were shocked. 119 - - 06-06 Three sizes Leaving the story of the restroom for later, Jin suddenly had an idea and invited the group into the pavilion first. First, the first floor. Entering through the south-facing front door, you see the entrance hall. At the back are the stairs to the basement and the second floor. Facing the stairs, there is a toilet on the left. To the right is the bathroom. "This bath is a hot spring. When Jin says this, everyone nods their heads. It seems that hot spring baths are not common here. "Well, you know, if you dig deep enough underground, you can dig a well of hot water. ...... "Oh, I see." He seemed to understand a little from that explanation. Further to the right, that is, on the east side of the building, are the kitchen and dining room. On the other side of the entrance hall are the workshop and warehouse. "I''d like to see Jin''s workshop," Reinhardt said. Erza and Bina seemed to agree with Reinhardt, so we decided to show them the workshop first. The workshop was about 20 tatami mats in size. The workbench, which is aged (or so it appears), first catches the eye. Then there are the tools that have been used (or made to look like they have been) for a long time. Materials lined up on the shelves. Hmmm, this is a sight to behold. I mean, this is an enviable collection. "......" Reinhardt exclaims, and Bina is speechless. Erza was looking around, as if she had been shown something unusual, though she didn''t understand it herself. Then Jin spoke what came to his mind. "Uh, I was thinking of showing you around the museum and its surroundings in the morning, and then showing you the island in the afternoon. "Hmm, that sounds good." Reinhardt had no objection. "So, since it''s hard to walk, I''d like you to ride the golem horse I showed you, and the ladies are in skirts, right?" Elsa is wearing a long skirt that goes down to her knees, though it is close to her normal clothes. Bina is wearing a pleated skirt that goes below her knees, as she usually wears. "So, I''d like to make you a pair of riding pants as a gift, if you don''t mind. When Hitoshi mentioned this, Bina took the bait. "What?Jin, you can sew too? "Well, if I had to say whether I could or not, I could, but this time I don''t think I''d call it sewing since it''s made with engineering magic. Saying this, Jin took out a piece of leather from the shelf. "Hmm?Could it be the leather of a magical beast?" As expected, Reinhardt immediately guessed the material. "Yes. I thought this would be best. "I don''t know, isn''t it a very precious material?You can''t get magical beasts around here, can you?" Jin wondered if that was true, but he didn''t show it, "Well, my master has a lot of it." He decided to cover it up by saying, "Well, my master has a lot of them. So I decided to make trousers for Elsa in white leather and for Bina in dark red leather. "Ah, Reiko, I''m sorry, but could you take their measurements for me?" Jin was afraid to take measurements. "Yes, father." Reiko looked at them blankly, "Yes, Father. Elsa is 160 centimeters tall and measures 79, 54, 8, and 0 from the top. Bina is 157 centimeters. Bina is 157 centimeters. 78,55,79 from the top. "E......" Bina is puzzled by the sudden mention of her height, which she does not know well. Erza looked at her body and said, "Is that so? >>Elsa looks around her body as if to say, < "Hey Reiko, don''t talk about those numbers so openly. Jin was also at a loss as to how to react. As for Reinhardt, he said, "I know how tall you are, "I know how tall you are, but what do you mean by the numbers after that? He asked, "I know how tall you are. Reinhardt replied, "Yes. I want to know too." Elsa also did not seem to understand. "Me too. I know you guessed my height, but what do the numbers after that mean? Jin was a little embarrassed, "From the top, the measurements of the chest, waist, and buttocks, I guess. ...... Bina blushed when she heard this, and Erza''s cheeks also turned red. "Na na na na na na ...... gin no skank!" "Jin-kun, you''re so naughty!" Jin shouts when he hears these words from both of them. "It''s my fault!" It seems that it''s because he ordered Reiko to measure their body sizes. "Well, I don''t get it somehow. With these words, they cut the leather. For some reason, Reinhardt was impressed when he saw the moldboard made of thin sheets. "I see, if you make a mold like that, you can make the same thing with only a few changes!" Judging from Reinhardt''s reaction, it seems that in this world where paper is precious, the concept of katagami does not exist, or if it does, it is not well known to the general public. In reality, various products were made by combining templates and machine tools. Nowadays, computer-controlled machines are the mainstream, and the template seems to be going out of use. But I digress. Jin, who cut the leather of the magical beast, shaped it using engineering magic <. A belt of the same color is also made, and it is completed. "Done!" The three of them were impressed by his skill in tailoring two pairs of trousers in just half an hour. "Well, then, we''d better put these ...... in another room where we can change. So Jin led Elsa and Bina to the bathroom changing room, told them to change there, handed them the pants and went outside himself. "A present from Jin. Heh." Once they were alone, Bina hurriedly took off her skirt and put on her pants. Elsa simply put them on again in silence. "Jin, how do you like it?" Beena put on her pants before Erza did, and showed them to Jin, who was waiting outside. The trousers were made with some room to spare, and although they were in line with the body, they did not accentuate the lines of the body, giving the impression of a healthy s*xiness. "Jin-kun, I tried it on." Elsa also came out and spun around on the spot, "It''s very easy to move. Thank you." She said, "Thank you. Bina was impatient. She had not thanked him yet. "Oh, Jin, Jin, thank you!I''ll take good care of it!" "That''s good to know, you two look great together." The three return to the workshop where Reinhardt is waiting. Reinhardt was not bored as he was walking around the workshop, observing and touching various things. "Oh, you''re early. You could have taken your time. "You could have gone slower," he said. "It''s not going to take that long!" No wonder Elsa argued with him, "It can''t be taking that long. 120 - - 06-07 Common sense, absurdity After that, I will show you the second floor of the pavilion. You come up from the entrance hall and go out to the second floor hall. On the east side are Jin''s room and the master''s room (dummy). To the east are Jin''s study and the master''s room (dummy), and to the west are the guest room and the toilet. To the west are the guest room and the bathroom. And the golem maid''s waiting room. "Is this Jin''s room?" The eight-mat room is a Japanese-style room with tatami mats. "Oh, please take off your shoes." Jin first took off his own shoes and lay down on the tatami mats. "I didn''t know the floor could do that. May I lie down on the tatami, too? Since she was wearing pants, Bina also took off her shoes and lay down on the tatami. "Oh, it smells so good! Tatami mats were woven with Igusa-modern material, and they smelled like Igusa. "Really?" Erza takes off her shoes and lies down as well. She lies down on the opposite side of the tatami mat from Bina. "It feels nice and cool. But not cold. "Well, it''s nice to be able to take off my shoes! Reinhard has taken off his socks as well and is enjoying the feeling of the tatami mats on his bare feet. "But how are you going to sleep?It must be cold at night in this condition." Bina asked a natural question, so Jin got up and opened the closet door. "When you go to bed, you put this futon on the floor. Bina got up and came over to him, and touched the futon a little, refusing to let Hitoshi touch it. "What''s this?It''s so soft!It''s not feathers, is it? "Here, let me see..." Reinhard also touched the comforter, "Yes, what is it?It''s like a fine thread intertwined with each other. It''s a little bit like felt, but the softness and elasticity are completely different. Finally, Elsa touches the comforter, "It''s soft. I want to sleep on it." Jin pulled out a futon and laid it on the floor, "Here you go. Elsa was the first to lie down. "It''s amazing. It feels better than a down comforter. I can''t sleep under a feather comforter, but not on this one. "Oh, me too!" Bina rolled over as well, "Oh, really, it''s amazing!It''s nothing compared to the straw mattress!" After saying this, she noticed the difference between Elsa and herself and kept her mouth shut. "Hmmm, what the heck is it made of?And the fabric of this comforter. It''s not hemp, it''s not wool. It''s more comfortable than silk. Reinhardt touches the duvet cover, looking at its texture and luster, and tilts his head. "It''s the spitting threads of a subterranean caterpillar. Jin told her the correct answer, since she seemed to be troubled forever if he left it unattended. "What!A ground caterpillar?It''s a supposedly extinct monster!" Like the Grand Caterpillar, the Grand Caterpillar''s food is magical power, not carnivorous. They do not attack people unless they are attacked. However, because of their appearance, they have been the target of defeat, and now they are only surviving in the underground of the frontier. But on the other hand, there are still some of them in the underground caves of Horai Island, and the previous generation protected them, knowing that their threads would be useful. Jin has inherited them and is considering cultivating them. Topaz is leading an experiment to see if it is possible to use the tunnels after extracting the ore to give them magic power by using an ether converter. "Ugh, it''s a demon string. ......" Bina heard this and got up from the futon. Erza seems to be fine and is still laying around. "Even the pants Jin-kun gave me are demon leather. Even the silk you gave me was demon leather. It''s strange that she doesn''t like the threads of demons. "That''s right!It feels so good to the touch! Erza told her, and Bina lay down on the futon again. "Then what''s inside too?" Reinhardt seemed to have figured out that the cover and the contents were made of the same material. "Yes. "Yes, it''s cotton. Cotton made from the threads of the Grand Caterpillar. It''s made from the threads of a ground caterpillar, so it''s magic cotton. "I see... a magic cotton." Reinhardt''s face suddenly turned serious, "Jin, as a friend I have to warn you. Your technology and the materials here at Conlonteau?I would advise you not to share it with the world. He said. Now Reinhardt has the face of a diplomat. "Brother Rai, what do you mean by that?" Erza also seemed to be concerned when she heard this and stopped lounging on the futon, got up, and came next to Jin to ask him a question. Reinhardt chose his words carefully so that even Erza could understand, "Jin''s technique is different. His skills are outstanding. And all the materials he has are very rare and valuable. If we release them to the world, there is a possibility that the distribution will be confused." He breaks off and looks at Erza. Reinhardt saw Erza nodding and continued. "All the countries will try to surround the gin, and they will try to steal the materials here. Every country will try to surround Jin and take the materials from here. "That''s terrible!" Erza''s voice sounded indignant, and Reinhard nodded, "Yes, that''s right. That''s why, Jin, you need to know what the world standard is." "Indeed." Reinhardt said to Jin, and he agreed. I know my sensibilities are off. I also know that my technical level is high. I am also aware that the resources stored in Horai Island are a threat to the distribution of this world. However, I appreciated Reinhard''s blunt words. "Thank you, Reinhard. I will be careful about the materials. I''ll be careful about the materials, and I''d like to know more about standards. When Jin said this, Reinhardt laughed and said in his usual tone, "Of course! "Of course!And I''d like to learn about technology! Then he became serious again, "If that''s the case, it would be proper for a diplomat to ask you to join our country, wouldn''t it?" He laughs again, "But I want to continue to deal with Jin as a friend. So I say, <>. "You already know that," Jin said. Jin replied, "Well, that''s good to know. To tell you the truth, I was worried that Jin would settle down in this house and say he would not travel anymore. Jin said that was not the case and added that he would not break his promise once made. Hearing this, not only Reinhardt but also Erza looked relieved. "It''s almost noon, ladies and gentlemen, the food is ready, please come in. Perid called out to them and they all moved to the dining room on the first floor. Bina seemed to have lingering feelings for the futon, looking back and forth several times. 121 - - 06-08 Its a nice bath. Lunch menu: white bread, fried white fish, vegetable salad, citran juice. Persica nuts for dessert. "Mmmm, could this pure white bread be ......?" "Yes, we have removed it." Reinhardt is amazed at the white bread, which is made of wheat husks carefully peeled by hand by the golem maids. It is a quality that is unique to these women, who are far more patient in carrying out simple tasks than humans. "...... delicious." Bina takes a bite and is impressed by the taste. But, Jin, how could you eat my home-made food without saying anything? Are you okay with eating such delicious food on a regular basis? "Yes. I don''t have likes and dislikes. I''m in the habit of eating food with gratitude. "That''s kind of great, isn''t it ......?" Bina looks at me with a strange admiration. "This is delicious." Erza seems to like the fried chicken. Reinhardt was intrigued by the taste of the dressing on the vegetable salad, "I think I''ve tasted this salad somewhere before. ......" He started talking like some kind of foodie, "It''s a fish sauce I got in Potrock," I said. I said, "Oh!That''s it!That''s the taste!I see... I didn''t know it could be used with spices like this! He was impressed again. Jin had made Japanese dressing many times at the orphanage, so he was quite familiar with it. "But, Jin, you said you lived here all your life, didn''t you?" "?Yes." Bina suddenly asked. "Do you grow wheat or something on this island?Or do you buy it?If you''re buying, haven''t you been coming to the Blue Lands for quite a while?" "Ugh." Jin gets impatient when he is confronted with the inconsistency of the food. Reiko saves him. "Mr. Beena, the warp gate was not adjusted properly and it was dangerous. That''s why I''ve been sneaking out to buy things like wheat. The first time your father went to the Blue Lands after the adjustments were made perfectly was when he met Mr. Beena." "Oh, I see. What happens when the ...... adjustment isn''t working?" "You can be sent to the craziest places." "......I shouldn''t have asked that. ......" He seemed to be afraid of the warp gate for some reason. * * * After lunch, we enjoyed a leisurely cup of tea and finally began our tour of Kunlun Island. All of us got on a golem horse and started to tour around the island. For the three unfamiliar people except Jin, Ames 100 for Reinhardt, Aqua 10 for Erza, and Bina for Bina. For each of the three, except Jin, who was unfamiliar with the island tour, Reinhardt received 100 Ames, Erza 10 Aqua, and Bina 100 Ruby. The person who was in charge of the tea ceremony was still in charge of the tea ceremony and led the way. Since we cannot visit all of the mines, we head west to the mining area. There is a small hill where the tunnels are located and we have a good view. The horse is interesting once you get used to it. Erza seems to like the golem horse. "He moves really well. It looks just like the real thing. Unlike modern Earth, where high-speed photography is available, it is not possible to analyze quadrupedal locomotion. Therefore, animal-type golems tend to move awkwardly or look unnatural. Therefore, it is not surprising that Reinhardt is impressed. After an hour of enjoying the scenery ......, which was mostly grasslands, bamboo grasslands, sparse forests, and wastelands, there was not much to see, but anyway the group arrived at the mining site. There, 91 to 100 army golems were working, which was overwhelming to see. Finally, the male golem made its debut. "Wow, this is amazing! There is a place where the metal ores that have been dug out are sorted and piled up. Magi crystals were carefully stored in a covered warehouse, and magi stones were grouped together in magi stones. "It''s amazing to have your own private mine, after all." "I just inherited it from my master. This is not correct. Horai Island is, but the development of Kunlun Island has only just begun under Jin''s reign. "Your master ...... was Mister Adriana, wasn''t it?She must have been an amazing person. Reiko looked happy for a moment when Reinhardt said this. "If you climb that little mountain there, you have a great view." Soleil, our guide, tells us this, and we all climb the small mountain on horseback. After about five minutes, we reached the sea to the west. On a clear afternoon, the shadows of islands could be seen dappling the horizon. "Oh, the ocean is beautiful, isn''t it? "Really. Is it close to Io or something?" Reinhard and Erza seemed to remember the Golem boat competition. Both of them looked disappointed when Jin said that they could not see Io Island from here. Bina seemed to have seen the sea for the first time and just stared at the sea without a word. "It''s beautiful. ......" I just thought I heard her voice. We stayed like that for a while, but we couldn''t stay at the top of the mountain forever, so we called out to Beena and went down the mountain. "Jin, I''m glad I came. Thank you." Bina, who was in the tail end of the group, muttered to herself. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The sun was already setting when we returned to the pavilion. The sundial in front of the pavilion said it was just before four o''clock. "Well, Reinhard, isn''t it time for you to go home?Or would you like to stay the night? When Jin asked this, Reinhardt looked thoughtful. But.., "I want to stay here." Erza said so, and Bina said she would stay the night too, which inevitably led to Reinhardt staying the night too. "Well, then, please come to the hot spring," Jin said. Jin said, "Yes, that''s it. I''ve always wanted to try it. Erza said happily. She must have been glancing at me from the changing room as she was putting on her pants. In the spirit of ladies first, we decided to let the women bathe first. Soleil and Luna are the attendants. "Wow! ......" The bathtub, made of marble and about 4 meters in diameter, was overflowing with hot water. The bathtub is constructed so that the water overflows from the bottom of the bathtub, preventing dirt from accumulating. The quality of the water here was alkaline simple spring water. The water is mild and mildly stimulating, making it easy to bathe in. It is also good for beautiful skin. Soleil and Luna poured hot water over their bodies as they bathed. "Ah, it feels so good! Bina, who rarely bathes, was simply enjoying herself, "This hot water. It makes my skin smooth. Is this a hot spring?" Elsa noticed that the water was different from ordinary hot water and asked Luna who was standing nearby. "Yes. Your father said that it is mildly alkaline and good for the skin. "Weak alkalinity?" I understood that it was good for my skin, though it was gibberish. So I stretched out in the hot water and stroked my arms and legs. Elsa glanced at Beena, compared her with herself, and for some reason looked relieved. "Beena, right?" "Yes, Erza-sama." Beena was surprised when Erza called out to her. You don''t have to be so formal. You and I are both guests of Mr. Jin here. "Yes, thank you very much. ......" Even so, Bina, a commoner, cannot change her attitude so easily. What is your relationship with Jin-kun? "Oh, with Jin?" Erza nodded and said that she was interested in Jin''s behavior, which she did not know. "Well, about a month and a half ago, I think. I was setting up a stall for magic tools in the suburbs of Blueland, wasn''t I? Then I went to ......." Bina told the story of her encounter with Jin, and how he asked her to help him pay off his debts and help his sick younger siblings, the development of lighters and refrigerators, popcorn and water heaters, and so on, in order. Elsa listened attentively, but when she finished listening to Bina''s story, "Jin-kun is still Jin-kun. You are the same no matter where you are." Looking at Erza''s profile as she said this and smiled faintly, Bina felt something hazy in her chest. 122 - - 06-09 Legend "Oh, this is very special." After the women leave, Jin and Reinhardt take a bath. Jin, you are really mysterious. Reinhardt stretched out in the hot water and talked to Jin. "It seems as if you were not born in this world. Jin''s heart jumped for a moment when he said that. "No, I don''t mean that figuratively. Looking at the steamy ceiling, Reinhardt continued. "You may not know this, but there is a legend in our country. "Legend?" Jin listened to the word for the first time. "......They say there is another world beyond the sun in the sky." "What?" How did he receive Jin''s words? "A world out there, believe it or not, but it''s just a legend." Reinhard waved his hand in front of his face as if to say, "I don''t believe it either, "They say our ancestors came from that world." "They came?" "They came?" "Yes. Whether they came to explore a new world or were driven away from their old world, the legends do not tell us. Jin had never heard of such a legend, so he was a bit intrigued. I said to him, "That''s an interesting legend, "That''s surprising. Are you interested in it?If so, there must have been a storyteller in the Kingdom of Cerroa, which we are going to pass through. After saying this, his attitude changed drastically, "By the way, Jin, while we''re on the subject, what do you think of Miss Beena and Erza?" "What?" Jin is stunned for a moment, unable to follow the sudden 180-degree turn in the conversation. "No, even from my cousin''s point of view, I don''t think Erza''s looks are bad, and that Miss Beena is also very pretty, even if she''s not the prettiest girl I''ve ever seen. Jin''s head finally started to spin when he was told this, and after thinking about the two of them, "Beena is, well, she''s a bit of a handful, I guess you could say. "What about Elsa?" "She''s ...... well, a bit of a dangerous sister." Reinhardt smiled, which looked like he was annoyed, happy, or even bitter, "Well, they are like little sisters to Jin, aren''t they? He said in a low voice, "Well, they are like sisters to Jin. As an aside, Soleil and Luna, who had heard Jin''s comment, later told Reiko about it, and Reiko gave a wonderful smile that could be interpreted as either relief or joy. * * * * * * * * * * * The menu for the evening consisted of vegetable and chicken stew, fried white fish, plain omelette, salad, and baked aprs-salad for dessert. "Wow, this is delicious. You call it fried? "Yes. Fish is coated with flour, dipped in beaten eggs, coated with breadcrumbs and fried in oil. I didn''t know there was such a cooking method. It was the first time for Reinhardt, let alone Bina, to try the fries, and they were well received. Erza seemed to like the baked aprs-ski, and Reiko casually offered her another plate. Seeing that Reiko seemed to be in a good mood, Jin wondered if something was wrong. "So this is baked aprs-ski. They are really delicious. He had tried to make baked aprrul at Bina''s house before, but was not able to because of the high price of sugar. It looks so easy to make. I''ll remember it and make it for my younger brothers. "By the way, how are your brother and sister doing? Bina answered, explaining that they were both feeling better and were now helping to clean the garden of Count Kuzma''s house. "The Count has been very kind to us, hasn''t he?" She concluded. Meanwhile, Erza has just received her third plate of baked aprs-ski. "Hey, hey, hey, Erza, are you sure you can eat that much? Reinhardt, who couldn''t bear to look at her, said, "Nn... "No, I''m fine. I''ll finish it now." He then put the baked aprs-ski in his mouth. "Ha, I''m glad you like it." Jin laughed and ate the baked aprs-soup himself. "So it''s a bed, but the bedding is the same! The guest room is a Western-style room with a bed, but the bedding is made of cotton. Bina is delighted. "Oh, this nightgown is also made of threads from the ground caterpillar, isn''t it?It feels so nice!" Ruby 100 quietly left the room. "I wanted to sleep on tatami." For Erza''s sake, Aqua 100 brought in spare tatami mats and laid them out on the floor to create a makeshift Japanese-style room. "Thank you." Erza said, and Aqua 100 bowed and left the room. The remaining Erza lies down on the tatami, ......happiness." After enjoying the feeling of the tatami for a while, Erza snuggles into the futon and falls asleep with a satisfied look on her face. "Thank you very much, that''s enough." Reinhardt said to Ames 100, who had folded the clothes he had taken off. Even though he was a count, Reinhardt, a fourth son, had the habit of taking care of himself as much as possible, and he refused to wear the nightgown made of magi silk, saying that he would wear it by himself. Yes, please call me if you need anything else. With these words, Ames 100 left the room. As Reinhardt watched his back, he felt a little threatened by Jin''s golem, which behaved just like a human. "I definitely don''t want Jin to be my enemy. This was an honest expression of Reinhardt''s feelings. * * * * "I''m talking about ......." Meanwhile, Jin was in his room talking to Reiko about the legend Reinhardt had told him. "I''m sorry, I''ve never heard of such a story. Reiko said she had never heard of it either. So, is it a legend that has been handed down only to a few people? "I would like to hear more about it if I have a chance to hear it. Even Reinhardt has only recently learned that this world is a sphere, and yet such an old legend tells us that there is another world beyond the sun, in other words, in the universe. How could I not be curious? "Maybe they flew in the sky in ancient times..." Jin mutters in a whisper. Jin thinks back to the picture books and TV images he saw as a child, wishing he could go to space someday. 123 - - 06-10 Into Blue Land Castle The next morning, Jin woke up early and went out on the balcony in the center of the second floor. It was the beginning of March. The sea breeze blowing from the distant sea smelled like spring. "Jin-kun, good morning. I turned around to see Erza standing there. She was still wearing her nightgown of magical silk. "Good morning. Did you sleep well? Erza said yes, "Tatami. Futon. It was very comfortable." Jin was relieved, "What?Tatami?" Erza nodded her head, "The golem maid laid them out for me when I complained." "Aqua?Heh, that''s very thoughtful of you." Jin was impressed even though he had made it himself. The girls have a magical link with Jin and Reiko, so they seem to have been growing little by little. "This is a nice place." Erza said as she stood next to Jin and looked at the view from the balcony. "Ha-ha, thank you." Hitoshi replied, and since Erza was still in her nightclothes, "Aren''t you cold?" He then took off his own jacket and hung it over hers. Erza accepted it with a slight blush on her cheeks, "......Thank you. Jin-kun, you put your jacket on me before ......." She said. "Today, after breakfast, I''ll take you to the Blue Lands. "Hmm. I really want to stay longer, but I can''t help it. Saying this, he leaned closer to Jin. "Good morning!Jin!" Jin''s voice was cheerful. Erza quickly let go of Jin''s body and turned around. Jin also turned around, "Good morning, Bina. You''re early. "Yes, the morning comes early for the common people. Beena glances at Erza who is wearing Jin''s jacket. Bina, who had already changed into her normal clothes, whispered, (I should have come in my nightgown too ......) (I should have come in my nightgown, too. ). "What?" (I should have come in my nightgown.) She didn''t seem to hear me because she was whispering. "Nothing!It''s a nice view here." "Isn''t it?Look, you can see the ocean in the distance." "Oh, yes. That''s the ocean." It was a peaceful morning. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After finishing breakfast, Jin once again moves to the Blue Lands, this time accompanied by < and the horse golem. This time, since they were all wearing pants, they each rode their horse golems that they had been riding since yesterday. In less than an hour, we were at the edge of the forest. "Well, I''m sorry, but you''re going to have to get off your horses here. I remember exactly what Reinhard had said to me yesterday. We should avoid unnecessary displays of skill. "I''m sorry to see you go." Reinhardt, who had given his own advice, was the first to get off his horse, followed by Erza and Bina. "Thank you, Koma." Jin sent them on their way, "Well, let''s go." With these words, they started walking toward Blueland. Reiko followed with her luggage, and Elsa and Bina hurriedly jumped into Jin''s hands. Reinhardt walked slowly alone, watching the scene. In the suburbs of Blue Land, where spring is almost here, the grass is starting to sprout and you can smell the fragrance of spring when you step on it. "Jin, will you stay at my house today?I want to show Nana and Lardo that I''m back on my feet. Bina tugged on Jin''s arm and said, "No. Jin is my brother Rai''s guest. He stays with us. Erza did not back down either. "Well, Jin is staying with Count Kuzma anyway. Reinhardt, who couldn''t bear to look at them, calmed them down. Reiko was surprisingly not in a bad mood. She is probably reassured by Jin''s comment yesterday that they are like sisters. I guess she is relieved by the fact that Jin said yesterday that they are like sisters. After a short walk, we see the walls of Breuland. "Oh, they are already here to pick us up. I saw two carriages, Adberg the butler, and Meene the nanny standing in front of the castle wall. When Meine saw the group, she turned bloodthirsty and flew to them. "Miss! Meine, who had run as fast as a sprinter, hugged Erza, who was standing next to Jin, "Are you all right?You didn''t do anything, did you?Why did you stay away from home without permission? She was so quick to get to the point. Reinhardt laughed, "Come on, Meine, you can''t just go AWOL when I''m with you, can you?" But Meane shakes her head, "No, I don''t think it''s right for a bride-to-be to stay overnight in a man''s house. She refuses to budge. "Meine, it means that you don''t trust your daughter and Mr. Reinhardt. How many times do I have to tell you? Adberg said. He continued, "Jin-sama is a guest of the master of the family, Reinhardt-sama. If you are going to demean him to such an extent, it means that you are neglecting Mr. Reinhardt, doesn''t it? Meine looked down in frustration when she was told that much, "......Yes,......I am sorry,Miss,Reinhardt-sama,......" She apologized. "Meane, if you are going to apologize, you should apologize to Jin-sama too." Adberg said to her, and she bit her lip and bowed her head toward Jin, saying in a trembling, small voice, "I''m sorry. Jin was relieved that she apologized, since he had been worried that Reiko, who had been giving off a deadly vibe, might jump on him at any moment. "Jin, Meine doesn''t mean to hurt you either, please forgive her. She just has a bad habit of going a little off the rails when it comes to Erza." "Yes, I know. Meine is just always worried about me." Reinhardt and Erza say this in defense of Meene, but Jin doesn''t care anymore. Jin then starts to walk away. He walks away with Bina still attached to his right arm. Erza sees this and looks at Meane reproachfully. * * * * Reinhardt, Erza, Adberg, and Meene use a carriage, and Jin, Reiko, and Beena use a carriage to go to the castle of Breuland. Jin, who was seeing the castle for the first time, was looking around with interest. Bina saw this and said "By the way, Jin has never been inside the castle walls before, right? "That''s right, isn''t it? "Inside, it''s divided into sections. The right side of the central street is for the nobles, and the left side is for the wealthy and the high-end stores. Jin looks at the townscape again. The carriage is now running on the central avenue, and there are indeed mansions on the right and stores on the left. Count Kuzma''s house is quite close to the center of the city. From this, we could infer that Count Kuzma has such an important position in the Blue Lands. "Oh, I see it. That''s Count Kuzma''s residence. Bina pointed to a particularly magnificent mansion. 124 - - 06-11 Request "Welcome, Mister Jin." Count Kuzma himself came out to greet us in the entrance hall. Well, maybe it''s because Reinhardt and Erza are with him. "I''ve been wanting to have a long talk with you." He shook hands with them. "Don''t worry about Count Galana. That private army was dismissed for unjustly attacking the common people. The privateer is imprisoned. The trouble with Count Galana''s private army that caused Jin to leave the Blue Lands was apparently taken care of by Count Kuzma. The private army had originally had many problems, and it seems that they had no difficulty in taking the blame for their crimes. The Count then turned to Reinhardt, "Reinhard, did you enjoy Jin-dono''s base?I wish I could have visited there too, if I had not been on official business." Count Kuzma said this with a look of deep envy on his face. Then he turned to Bina, "Beena, your younger siblings are worried about you. Go to them as soon as possible." "Oh, yes!I''ll leave you now. Jin, see you later! With that Bina ran into the courtyard. "Well, come on inside." Count Kuzma stood up first and led the way, but then Sevance took over as Jin and the others'' guide, and the Count went into another room with Reinhardt and Erza. "Please make yourselves at home here." Jin and Reiko were allocated a room on the second floor of the Count''s mansion. It is a rather luxurious room. Count Kuzma knew that Reiko was not human, so he did not prepare two rooms. "You can see the courtyard from the window. It''s quite a beautiful garden, isn''t it? Jin looks around the garden. Reiko is putting away her luggage. When Jin was relaxing, a lady-in-waiting came to call him. She said that the Count wanted to talk to him. Having no reason to refuse, Jin and Reiko went to the parlor with the maid. The parlor was located in the center of the same second floor and had a large balcony. The counts were sitting around a round table on the balcony, relaxing in the early spring sunlight and having tea. "I have brought Master Jin." The maid of honor who had led Jin to the balcony stepped back. "Hello Jin, the sun is warm here. Reinhardt beckoned to him. Jin sat down at the round table, right between Reinhardt and Erza. Or rather, he was made to sit. Reiko stood silently diagonally behind Jin. "Luis_...... Oh, Luis is Count Kuzma''s name, Jin." Reinhardt then explains the composition of the names of the nobility of the Kingdom of Egelea. "There is a name, a pseudonym, a family name, and a title. So Count Louis Wurtz Kuzma is the official name of the Count. And now for the main topic. "So, Luis, will you tell Jin what you just said? Count Kuzma looked at Jin, "The king of Egelea has a prince named Ernesto. He is the third prince, and he likes golems and automata. Then he glanced at Reiko, "A Golem garden party will be held to coincide with Ernest-sama''s birthday party in ten days'' time. "Golem garden party?" Jin asked back unintentionally. According to Count Kuzma''s explanation, the use of golems is a popular practice in many countries to compensate for the chronic shortage of labor due to the small population, and the Kingdom of Egelea is no exception. The 3rd Prince Ernest is also fond of golems, and it is said that one third of his guards are golem soldiers. Against this background, they decided to hold a Golem garden party at the birthday party of the 3rd Prince Ernest this year, inviting excellent Golems and magical craftsmen (magi craftsmen) from inside and outside of the country. Each country is looking for ways to make effective use of the golem. "Reinhardt and his <> have also received invitations. The Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) is apparently quite famous. Reinhardt looked a little reluctant, "I''m glad that my Schwarzlitter has been accepted, but it''s a pity that it''s out of order right now." "What? I''ll get you as much material as I can, so you can fix it. Reinhardt looked at Jin, "That''s what I''m saying. Don''t you think this is interesting? Reinhardt looked at Jin and said, "Don''t you think it looks interesting? Jin had been interested in this project since he heard about it, "Yeah, it sounds interesting. I''d like to see it. He answered lightly, "Yeah, it looks interesting. Hearing this, Count Kuzma said, "Well, if you say so, it will be easier for me to ask you." "What?" Actually," Count Kuzma said, "each nobleman above the rank of viscount in the kingdom is supposed to bring at least one golem with him. "So, if possible, I would like you to make the golem for me. I will do my best to provide the materials and so on. Can you do that for me?" The Count added regretfully that Beena was not yet capable of making the golem. Jin had no choice but to refuse. It would be interesting to see how advanced a golem could be made with ordinary materials, not the best materials available in Horai Island. "It will be a great help to me, and I will accept your offer. He replied. "Oh, okay. Thank you. How do I get paid?" Well, the Count will decide when he sees the finished golem. "Well, he''s very confident. I''m looking forward to it. Reinhardt watched the exchange between the Count and Jin with an amused, yet slightly worried look on his face. "Speaking of golems," said Count Kuzma. Count Kuzma changed the subject slightly. "I just received this information from Elias Kingdom yesterday afternoon, and it seems that it belongs to the Kingdom of Selroa. He was referring to the golem the bandits had been using after crossing the pass. What? The Kingdom of Cerroa is the country that Reinhardt and his party must pass through in order to return to the Shoro Kingdom. "No, well, it''s just that some of the materials used were magi crystals from the Kingdom of Cerroa, though it doesn''t necessarily mean that the Kingdom of Cerroa itself is making them." The Count added to dispel Reinhardt''s fears. "And that golem you were attacked by. This is the golem that the black knight (Schwarzritter) was attacked by. "The Eladrite used for it was from the Kingdom of Leonard. Well, 80% of eladolite comes from that country, so it''s not surprising. "Hmm, it could be that the Kingdom of Selroa and the Kingdom of Leonard are connected in some way." Reinhardt was not in his usual mood of tension, but was in a serious mode as he pondered. "Originally, the Kingdom of Celuloa is proud of the fact that they are the heirs of the Kingdom of Dinar. Reinhard said that the Kingdom of Cerroa is also a country that is eager to expand, having annexed , one of the small group of countries between the Shoro Empire and the Kingdom of Egelea, about 150 years ago. "Well, there is no proof, and there is no way they can do anything to an individual like us. With these words, Reinhardt returned to his usual face. After that, the conversation was pleasant. "I see that Miss Elsa has joined us. The topic of conversation was the Golem boat competition in Potrock. When Count Kuzma heard that all the participating boat operators were women and were dressed in swimsuits, he said to her, "Ha-ha-ha, Elsa! "I envy those who got to see Miss Erza in her swimsuit up close. Erza blushed a little when she heard that Count Kuzma was wearing a bathing suit. When she heard that Jin participated in the event with a golem that looked just like Marcia, the ship''s helmsman, she said, "Hmmm.., "Hmmm, then I''ll ask you to make a female golem this time. The model is ......, how about Bina? I don''t know how serious they are. Jin was not sure how serious he was, so he was just making some appropriate responses. Jin was thinking that it would be uninteresting since neither of them had breasts. "Jin-kun, are you thinking of something rude?" Erza glared at Jin as if she had a woman''s intuition. Perhaps it was not a woman''s intuition, but rather a glimpse of Erza''s eyes on his chest that caught her attention. "Well, I guess it''s almost lunch time. The conversation continued until lunch time, and when the sun was announcing noon, they moved to the cafeteria. After lunch, Jin designs a golem and Reinhard starts repairing his black knight (Schwarzlitter). The location is, of course, Bina''s workshop. "Ah, Jin, Mr. Reinhardt, come in. The Count told me about the golem. Jin! Jin! Bina and her siblings greeted us. Nana and Lardo were looking much better than before, both in color and flesh. "Hey, you two look good!" "Yes! "Well, you two, you''ve got work to do, so get out of my way." "Okay, I''m off to clean up!" Nana and Lardo were happy to see Jin again, but he had a job to do, so Bina told them to go out and clean the garden. Jin looked around the workshop, "Wow, this is Bina''s workshop. It''s a lot bigger than before, and you''ve got a lot of tools and materials. What are you making now?" "Huh?You know, a wind generator. When the temperature rises in spring and summer, it will get hot around here. The nobles have their servants fan the air to cool off, but he thought that if there was a magic tool that could create wind, the common people would be able to accept it. "Hmm, that''s good, isn''t it?So?What''s the idea? Bina says with a proud smile, "It''s ready. All we have to do is to use the elementary wind magic <>. < "Yeah, I think it''s good." "Yes, I''ve been working hard since Jin disappeared." Erza was watching Bina from the shadows, who was a little proud of her, but no one noticed. 125 - - 06-12 Hitoshis Golem production While the materials for the golem were being delivered, Jin was talking with Beena. "Beena, why don''t you use the <> instead of just sending wind? He gave her a hint of an idea, "I see!The wind blowing on the ice is cold!It''s comfortable even in summer!" For some reason, Reinhardt was biting. So Reinhardt and I put together the idea of a <>. "In other words, we just need to blow air on something cold, right?" "Then, why don''t we make the shape here like this? "Yes, then this is ......." So, by the time the materials arrived, the three of us had completed the prototype of the <>. "Ah, ...... is done, isn''t it?" "I think I''ve done ....... "I wonder if ...... is good enough." Not only Jin, but even Reinhardt helped him with the <. No wonder Bina was concerned. "It''s fine, isn''t it?I was just helping out as a hobby," Reinhardt said. Reinhardt said, and Hitoshi made it clear that he did not mind if this <> was Bina''s work. "Oh, thank you for ......, Mr. Reinhardt. Thank you, Jin! Reinhardt thanked Bina apologetically, Reinhardt said, "That''s all right, Beena will make a good magecraftsman, by the way. Reinhard said, "That''s all right, but Beena will make a good magecraftsman. Beena, who was the one who had been told this, said, "I guess so," but her cheeks were slightly tinted with happiness. "Well then, let''s make a golem! Jin is getting fired up in front of the materials that have arrived. Reinhardt has just brought in the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) and taken out the Magi Crystal for the control core. "Well, then, let''s fix it! Reinhardt gets fired up, imitating Jin. With a little help from the Count, Bina is trying her best to learn from them. Jin is still not ready to start work on the project. Meanwhile, Reinhardt has started to create a control core. "Basic control magic formula (control system) writing. ...... write control formula for operation." So Bina is sticking to Reinhardt so as not to miss the procedure. "......Magic Control Flow (Magi Sequence)Good. ...... slave (master-slave) imprint." The resulting control core. "Okay, now the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) is back to normal. But it''s boring as usual, isn''t it? I can''t stop thinking about Jin''s golem that I saw at Kunlun Island. Reinhard wanted to make the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) more powerful. "Besides, I don''t want to lose again like last time. We must not have the control core overwritten by powerful magic from the outside ever again. Since that time, Reinhard had been thinking of countermeasures. "I wonder what is the best material that is hard to penetrate magic power. Then he glanced at Jin and saw Erza sitting beside him, wondering when he had arrived. "Oh, Elsa, I didn''t know you were here. That''s unusual, you never came to see me even when I''ve been holed up in the workshop. When Reinhardt said this, Erza turned her head away. "Well, well, you''re a bit of a bore." With that, she turned her attention back to the material in front of her and started to look for something. For the time being, there was the shell of an armored turtle, the leather of a large lizard, and the feathers of a helm eagle. The idea is to select the material that is the most difficult for magic to penetrate from among these. "It''s hard to do it alone. ...... Hey, Erza, can you help me a little?" Reinhardt called out to Erza, who was staring blankly at Jin''s doodle of a golem concept. Reinhardt smiled and turned to Bina, who was standing nearby, "Beena, I''m sorry, but could you help me with an experiment? He asked Bina to be his assistant. She said, "Yes, if it''s all right with me. Reinhard then made samples from the three materials he had selected to be roughly the same size. "Okay, turn your palm up." He placed it on Bina''s palm and then placed the plate on top of it. "Now, write the <> magic on the plate on your palm. "Yes, sir." By observing the flow of magic power when Bina writes in this way, Reinhardt wanted to find a material that would dampen the magic power. As it happened, it was a good thing that Reinhardt asked Bina to help him. If it had been Jin, he would have easily written the article regardless of the material. Also, since Erza could not use engineering magic, she would naturally have to experiment with magic that is normally activated, and these are difficult to observe the magic power because of their short activation time. "Hmm, the shell of an armored turtle is the most difficult to pass through magic. I guess I can use this. Reinhardt thanked Bina and opened the chest of the black knight (Schwarzlitter). The inside of the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) is not simply hollow, but is filled with various kinds of fillings in various places. For example, the fists are filled with steel to improve the effect of blows, and the toes are filled with adamantite to increase the destructive power of kicks. The entire torso was stuffed with a spongy substance. "Oh, um, Mr. Reinhardt, what is this?" Bina could not remain silent at seeing the material for the first time and asked Reinhardt. "Hmm?This. It''s called "goulashvam," and it''s a demon that lives at the bottom of the sea, and the dried carcass is soft and resilient like this. It is a perfect material for protecting the control core, which is the heart of the golem, and other magical devices (magi devices). But it is very easy for magic to pass through," he concluded. Reinhard then takes out a magi device from the goulashvam and sets the control core he has just processed into it. "Okay, <>...... good. Connect this to the operating system again. The adjusted magi device is returned to the golem, and its surroundings are covered with the shell of an armored turtle. The black knight (Schwarzritter) was originally heavy, but the increase was not too great. "Now it''s just a matter of fine-tuning. With 99% of the work done, Reinhardt begins to remove scratches and other damage to the exterior of the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter). * * * * * * "Okay, I''ve decided." Jin, who had been studying the plan by drawing something that looked like a scribble on the wooden board at hand, seemed to have made up his mind, clapped his hands together, and stood up to get the materials. At the same time, Reiko, who had been standing by Jin''s side silently, also stood up. "Father, what can I bring you? "Well, I''ll start with iron and zinc. "Zinc? Elsa, who had only been looking at him until then, raised her voice at the unfamiliar words. Jin noticed this, "Oh, zinc is a metal that looks like lead but is not lead. Jin explained simply. In this world, it is used to make brass. Jin doesn''t know what happens when zinc is mixed with iron, but he does know that plating the surface of the metal prevents corrosion. "First," he says, "mix carbon with iron to make steel." Carbon can be supplied from carbon dioxide in the air. Well, only Jin knows the existence of carbon dioxide. Carbon content is about 0.8 percent. The skeleton is made from it. The skeleton is much simpler than that of a human being. For example, it has no ribs and no pelvis. So this is what it looks like. Okay, heat treat. Hardening. Plating." The same treatment as quenching and tempering is applied by engineering magic, and after further hardening and strengthening, zinc plating is applied to increase corrosion resistance. Sliding parts such as joints are plated with adamantite to prevent wear. The objective is to construct joints that are similar to those of humans. By building an endoskeleton and an armor-like exterior around it, it is possible to make it behave like a human being. It is difficult to achieve this with an exoskeleton like a normal golem. "It''s kind of creepy. Erza gave an honest impression when she saw the skeleton. The simplest golem with a hollow interior is surprisingly inefficient in terms of magic power, since it uses magic power for all of its movements. All of the golems created by Jin had an endoskeleton and were equipped with magical muscles for movement. Pure magical movement is similar to telekinesis, but with magical muscles, the golem can expand and contract when triggered by magical power, thus increasing the efficiency of magical power. "Magical Muscle" is a tool that can be used for the following purposes. < I know what it is. Sandworms are caterpillar-like creatures that live in the desert. They usually feed on underground magic, but when their territory is disturbed, they come out to the ground and attack. No wonder Erza knows about them. Their leather is a specialty of the Shoro Empire. As is typical of demon materials, it reacts to magic, so it has various uses, such as material for armor, sheaths and hilts for magic swords, and robes for mages. The material is then torn into thin strips and bundled together to form magical muscle. Just as Jin finishes this process, Reinhardt has finished repairing and remodeling the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) and comes to check on Jin. 126 - - 06-13 Golem Panic "Wow, that''s an interesting structure! Reinhardt looks at Jin''s golem, which is temporarily assembled with skeleton and muscles, and sounds as if he is impressed with it. He stares at the unfinished golem lying on its side and seems to be thinking about various things. Jin did not pay any attention to it and started to make the heart of the golem, the magi device. He takes the Magi Crystal in his hand and begins to write <>. "<>,Magical Control Flow (Magi Sequence)...... Magi Formula Construction". Bina and Reinhardt are watching the scene intently. "Okay, the control core is complete. Next are the mana driver and the mana tank. The golems Jin has seen in this world, without exception, draw magic power from the mana tank and use it. On the other hand, the golems that Jin creates are all equipped with ether converters, which absorb the free magical element (ether) that fills the space, and convert it into magical element (mana) for use. The mana is then converted into various kinds of energy using a mana driver. This time, since the work was commissioned, we decided to use a mana tank so that it can be maintained even without Jin''s presence. However, Jin does not intend to use an ordinary mana tank. "Reiko, go find me the red and green Magi Crystals. Yes, Father. Meanwhile, Jin prepares the exterior. Since he has a skeleton and muscles, the exterior is meant to be his armor. The joints, which are the moving parts of the body, are inevitably weak, so thin bronze metal plates are stacked on top of each other so that there are no gaps. Normally, this work is done in an instant, but since it is a one-of-a-kind (custom-made) item and the Count had asked that Bina study it, she took the trouble to make it slowly. "Father, is this correct?" Reiko returned with a magi crystal. There were two magic crystals: a red fire-type magi crystal and a green wind-type magi crystal. "Hmmm, what are you doing with those?" Reinhardt couldn''t help but say out loud, but Jin replied, "Just watch and see, "Fusion." "What? Reinhardt was astonished at the feat of fusing fire and wind magi crystals. Normally, it is said that it is impossible to fuse magi crystals with different attributes. "Well, you''ve done it! ...... Reinhard, would you like to take a look?" Reinhardt was handed the newly fused magi crystal and first checked it with his eyes and then the flow of magic power. Then he said. "Ummm, what is this? Inside the magecrystal, magic power was being activated to an extraordinary degree. "Well, to put it simply, it''s like a fire being set ablaze by the wind. Jin explained easily, but it is not something that just anyone can do. "Hmmm... I wonder if they inactivate the magic power once before the fusion process? Even so, Reinhard, an excellent magecraftsman, understood more than half of Jin''s procedure. "Correct. In addition to that, we need to follow the flow of the magic power to fuse them together." "I see, that''s helpful. Thank you!" Reinhard is overjoyed, but to Jin, the Magecraft Meister, this is common knowledge. No, it was a common technique in the days of his predecessors. This is all due to the Magecraft Wars. The world has regressed due to the drastic decrease in the number of culture bearers caused by the decrease in population. Aside from that, activated magical crystals (magi crystals) are difficult to handle, but they are efficient in the use of magical power. With the caveat that they are not as efficient as the Magi Crystals of all attributes used for Reiko. "Okay, connect this and the mana driver to the control core," he said. The heart of the machine is being built. "Okay, I''m going to improve the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) right away!" Reinhardt, who had been watching Jin''s procedure, was inspired to try it himself. "Uh, Bina, will you help me?" "Yes, yes! With Beena as his assistant, Reinhardt also tries to fuse the red and green magi crystals. Erza, on the other hand, is watching Jin''s work without saying much. "Well, let''s see... Now we have to find the head. Reiko, red, right... just get me two magi stones..." "Yes." Jin then began to work on the head. Jin glanced at Bina and transformed (formed) at once. Erza rolled her eyes when she saw this. "Okay, let''s attach this to the head and fuse it. Reiko, give me the Magi Stone. The magi stones processed for the eyes are inserted. The mouth and throat are also made of magi formulas, and the vocal organs are composed. The ears are also inscribed with the Magi Formula for hearing voices. "Oh, let''s shield this one, too. The mithril silver covers the magi device. Each of the several prongs is a terminal that generates magical power commands to the limbs and head. The interior is now complete. All that remains is to adjust and finish the exterior. "All right, Reiko, make any minor size adjustments." Yes, father. Reiko glances at Bina and then gets to work. Head, neck, chest, abdomen, waist. And arms and legs. "What do you think, father?" "Yes, it''s good. But ......" Seeing the chest part, Jin felt that it was not enough, so he transformed it again. He did not notice that Erza''s eyes became sharp for a moment as she looked at him, "Okay, that''s about right." As a final touch, Jin applies surface treatment. This time, the surface of the bronze is suppressed to a copper color. In other words, a reddish color. "Hardening. Surface treatment. Now it is finally finished." Jin is satisfied with his work, having completed the task of creating the best possible golem with the limited materials available. "But there''s just one problem: ......." Jin muttered to himself, "Jin-kun, what''s the problem?" Erza, who had been silent until then, asked. "Oh, Erza,...... no, I was wondering what to do about the basic knowledge of this golem." "What do you mean?" This golem is basically a maid golem. So I was wondering if I could have someone transfer the knowledge of the maidservant to this golem. "Then I''ll order the head maid to do it for you. I turned around at the sound of his voice and saw Count Kuzma standing there, having come to check on the progress. "Well, well, well. "Well, well, well. Bina, come here for a minute. "Yes?" Bina, who had been helping Reinhardt, comes to the Count''s call. She sees a golem lying there, "What the hell is this? She turned red and screamed out loud. That''s because the golem looked just like Bina. The body lines were reproduced quite accurately, and it was quite s*xy. "Jin''s body! Bina was so embarrassed that she tried to hit Jin, but Reiko gently prevented her from doing so. "Let go of me! "No! If you let go of me, you''ll hit your father. "No! Count Kuzma, unable to bear the sight of Beena turning red and screaming, explained to her: "I''m sorry, Beena. Sorry Beena, I actually asked him to make a golem based on Beena''s model. "Ha, ha, ha, the Count? Beena was on the verge of panic. At that moment.., "Tei!" "Ah!" Erza''s chop hit Beena directly in the brain. "Aaaaah! "I''m in trouble... ......" Beena cowered, holding her head. It seems that she did not panic. Jin thanked Elsa in his heart for her quick thinking. "Calm down a little. It''s easy for Jin to recreate a girl''s body. Even in Potrock, he made a golem that looked just like Marcia''s." "Hey." And in Kunlun Island, he easily measured our suri-sizu?And in Kunlun, he easily measured our suri-squares. Thanks for the help. I didn''t mean to hurt you. There was nothing left to do but to apologize. The Count added a few words, "Mmm. Bina, you can be proud that you have become the model of such a beautiful golem. However, the Count''s words were a blow to Beena. But!But!But why?The golem''s are bigger!They''re bigger! That was Bina''s heartfelt cry. 127 - - 06-14 Forgotten After he had managed to quiet Bina and calm her down, Count Kuzma called the head chamberlain. "You wanted to see me, sir? A lady-in-waiting in her late thirties with a calm atmosphere appeared. She was wearing a dark blue one-piece dress with a white apron and a white brim on her head. She had brunette hair and eyes of the same color. She was a slightly chubby woman with a calm atmosphere. "Well, actually, I''m working on a golem right now, Mallum, and I''d like you to share your knowledge with me." "Yes?" As expected, he didn''t seem to understand, so Jin stepped forward, "Mr. Mallum, please think about the work you are always doing," he explained. But he still didn''t seem to understand, "Yes, yes," he replied. But Jin didn''t seem to understand. Jin, however, does not care, "Knowledge transfer (trans-info) level 3. "Kya! Marum is startled by the magic power that suddenly penetrates her head. Jin explains that there is no pain or aftereffects. Even so, Mallum looks a little pale. "Master slave, 1st blank, 2nd, Count Kuzma, 3rd, Beena, 4th, Mallum. The first place will be the third prince. The chain of command has been set up and all the work is done. By the way, the creator (father), Jin, is in a class of his own. "I see...so that''s how you do it!I never get bored with Jin!" Reinhardt seems to have < Jin''s way of doing things, as expected. "Well then, now that we have a client, let''s <>." Yes, father. "Kyaaaah!" Marum let out a small scream when she saw the golem suddenly get up. "How are you feeling? Jin asked, and after moving his body a little, Golem replied that he was fine. This is your masters, say hello. "Nice to meet you, My Master. It is a pleasure to meet you. With these words, the golem bows to Count Kuzma. The gesture was graceful and natural. "Well, it certainly looks like Mallum." The behavior of the golem was very similar to that of Mallum''s, since it was transcribing Mallum''s knowledge. Count, give him a name," Jin said, and Count Kuzma thought for a moment, "Well, your name is Lotte." "Yes, thank you. My name is Lotte. Lotte bowed deeply. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Beena. Thank you, Mr. Mallum, for having me. Lotte greets Bina and Maloum. Maloum''s eyes were black and white, as if she had never seen a golem so close to a human before. "Well then, Malm, see if there are any problems with Lotte''s education for a while. "Yes, yes, sir." With that, Mallum took Lotte and left the workshop. "Well, Jin, you''ve made a fine golem. What should I pay you for it? "I''ll leave it to the Count. The Count chuckled when he heard that, "How about a million dollars and the position of Royal Magi Craftsman in the Kingdom of Egelea? "What!" Reinhardt and Erza were surprised, "I decline. Jin cut them off with a blunt "No." The Count knew what he was talking about. The Count shrugs his shoulders as if he knew what was coming and sighs. "Oh well, I guess it''s not going to work. ...... Reinhard, I envy you." Then he said, "Three million dollars. What do you think?" That''s about 30 million yen. "That''s fine." Jin accepts this time. He leaves the reward of 300 gold coins to Reiko. He picks up the bag of gold coins, which weighs about 6 kilograms, with his fingertips and puts it in the front pocket of his apron. The apron was not only strong but also did not tear or get torn even with that much weight in it. It is indeed a rare material. After the exchange of rewards, it was already evening. After taking a bath, Jin and the others gather in the dining room. The waiters and maids brought their meals, and among them was , dressed in a maidservant''s uniform. "Well, Lotte, your clothes look good on you. It seems that you are working diligently. The Count, seeing her arranging the dishes with the movements of a seasoned lady-in-waiting, exclaims in admiration, "Yes, my master. "Yes, my master..." "Master, Lotte is very good. With just a little instruction, she works as well as a maid who has been with us for 10 years. "I''m so embarrassed, sir." The way she replies is so human-like that if you were to look into her eyes, you might not think she is a golem, even more so because of her clothes. Even more so with her clothes on. "Well, I guess you could call this an automaton..." Reinhard mutters. Reinhard mutters to himself. Jin asked Reinhard what the difference was between a golem and an automaton. "By our definition, automata are those that focus on "humanity", and golems are those that focus on "function". "Right. I''ll put it simply: automata have hair and skin. A golem has hair made of the same material as its body and basically has no skin. Hearing this, Reinhardt nodded his head and said, "That''s one of the definitions. Jin-kun. "Jin-kun." Erza spoke to me during tea time after dinner. "Yes?What is it?" "Damper." Hearing that short word, Jin thought. He had always said that he would install a damper, but he had always put it off because he was busy with other things. "Well, I''ll have to make it this time. Thank you, Elsa." "Yes." Erza looked a little happy to be thanked by Jin. "Then tomorrow, when we make a replacement for the broken carriage, we''ll take care of it too! "Yes, then we will prepare the materials as promised. Reinhardt agreed, and Count Kuzma agreed to prepare the materials as well. The next morning, after breakfast, the two men immediately set about remodeling the carriage and making a carriage. "It''s a carriage, so it has axles on both sides, right? "Right?Of course. "But what if we put wheels on the fixed axles?" "Hm? ......I see, the left and right wheels turn independently of each other. What would ...... happen if we did that?" "It will reduce the resistance when turning." While exchanging such conversations, the two men were working out the concept of the carriage. Erza could no longer keep up with them, so they spent the day relaxing at Count Kuzma''s mansion. The nanny, Meine, spent the whole day with Erza. She looked very happy. "So, if you want to suppress vibrations, it would be better to use a structure like this, wouldn''t it?" "No, that''s too complicated. No, it''s too complicated. ......" "The leather of the Grand Mud Frog is very effective!" "Yes, it''s enough of a damper." * * * * They worked on the carriage without even having lunch, and finished the new carriage by evening. 128 - - 06-15 Mutual Aid Association (Guild) The next day began with the installation of a damper on the old carriage. The only way to do this was to attach a viscoelastic material to the brace that supports the wheels. The viscoelastic material was, of course, leather from a large mud frog (grand-mud frog). By stretching it diagonally up and down so that it supports the armrests, it suppresses vibrations. When you try it out, you can see that it is quite effective. "Oh, this is great!Jin, I''ll be sure to thank you for this when I get back to my country!" Jin was happy to see Reinhardt overjoyed. This will alleviate his coach-sickness to a great extent. It is lunchtime when Reiko tells them that it is almost lunchtime. When they go to the cafeteria, Count Kuzma is waiting for them. It seems that his official work finished early. "Oh, you''re here, you two. We need to talk." With these words, he beckoned them to the lunch table. After lunch, they had a tea time. After lunch, during the tea break, Count Kuzma began his story. "The talk is, of course, about the Golem garden party. Then he looked at Jin''s face, "Duke Bruu, myself, and Count Galana will be going from the Blue Lands. Elsa''s face twisted a little when she heard this. She seemed to dislike it very much. "So, we leave in three days. It will take three to four days to reach the capital city of Asunto, so we should be able to get there two days before the Golem party. "I understand." Hearing Jin''s answer, the Count continued. "So, the afternoon after tomorrow, Jin will go with me to see the duke. The golem < will be with us, of course. This means that the golem and its creator will be shown to the Duke in advance of the golem party. "So, if possible, I would like Jin to register with the Guild of Magecraftsmen. Jin had been a freelance magecraftsman in Potrock, but this time he wanted to make sure that he had proper identification. "The guarantor is me, and the referee is ......." I''ll do it." Reinhardt came forward. With the Count as a guarantor, and with the recommendation of Reinhardt, who is a count, even though he is only the fourth son of a count, he will be able to register without any problems. There was almost no disadvantage for Jin. So Jin immediately agreed. "That is good. I will write a letter to the guild later. The afternoon was spent installing dampers on all the old carriages. In the spare time, the two of them installed the same damper on Count Kuzma''s carriage. * * * * * * * * * * * "Here is a letter addressed to the Guild of Mutual Aid. The next day, after breakfast, Jin was given a scroll sealed with wax by the Count and decided to go to the Guild immediately. To tell the truth, he was interested in the Guild. In Potrock, he had only made Marcia figures and did not know what kind of organization it was, and he was also interested in whether the Guild in this country was any different. Reinhardt, who was my nominator, accompanied me. Erza also said, "I''m going with you. It would be boring to stay here by myself. So the four of us, Jin, Reiko, Reinhardt, and Elsa, set out for the trip. Erza''s nanny, Meine, also wanted to go, but Reinhardt and Count Kuzma told her not to treat them too much like children, and she reluctantly complied. The light wagon without a top left Count Kuzma''s mansion with the four on board. They were headed for the Breuland branch of the Mutual Aid Guild, which is located near the walls of the fortress city of Breuland. "Oh, this is definitely less shaking! "Indeed. This makes the ride much easier. Reinhardt and Erza each give their own impressions. Unlike the test ride in the Count''s mansion, they were able to confirm the effect of the dampers on actual road surfaces such as dirt and cobblestones. "Now we have to wait for the durability of the Grand Mud Frog leather..." "Hmmm. Well, it''s not a very expensive material, and it''s practical enough to have a spare. While we are talking like this, we are approaching the walls of the castle. "That''s the Blueland branch of the Magecraftsmen''s Guild. Jin remembered what Reinhard had told him yesterday. An organization called a mutual aid association (guild) is like an agricultural cooperative or a fishermen''s cooperative. They provide benefits to those in the profession, sometimes protect the rights of those in the profession, and sometimes punish those who damage the reputation of those in the profession. In addition to magecraftsmen, there are also mutual aid societies (guilds) for architects, tradesmen, handymen, and others. One of them, the Magecraftsmen''s Guild, was a two-story building made of stone like Oyaishi. "We are here. The coach stopped in front of the guild. After the four of us got off the coach, the driver moved the coach to a designated place, namely the parking lot. "Wow, there is even a parking lot? Jin is impressed. The use of a carriage is a sign of status or wealth. It means that they are frequent visitors. Reinhardt opens the door and the group enters the guild. "Hmm." Inside, the atmosphere is bright and cheerful, with white wall materials used in many places. If I were to compare it to a place known to Jin, it would be a bank or a post office. A young woman in the role of a general information desk sits at the desk just inside the entrance. From there to the back is a counter-like area with several windows, each with its own staff. >>, etc. Jin and the others headed for the counter. "Welcome. Are you registering?" A young man who seemed to be a little younger than Jin was at the window. "Yes. Here is a letter from Count Kuzma. Please give it to the branch manager first. At Reinhardt''s prompting, Jin handed the sealed scroll to the young man in charge. The young man checked the emblem on the sealed scroll, "At once. and went to the back of the room. While waiting, Jin looked at the other windows. Reinhardt explained the situation. . Although there is only one person at the counter, there are about five people inside, indicating that they value the information. <<>. A magecraftsman with no patron is said to come looking for work. >. They seem to offer various kinds of consultation services for difficult requests. Of course, they charge a reasonable fee. >. If you are short of funds, you can borrow money according to your performance. The guild also gives rewards to members who have made outstanding achievements. . The guild will help you to arrange materials for production, and introduce you to where you can get them. >. This is the window that Jin is waiting for. This is the point of contact for registering with the guild. >. This is a procedure for those who have seriously damaged the honor of the guild, but I don''t want to hear too much about it. The young man returns, Please come upstairs, the branch manager would like to talk to you. Jin and his group were led by the young man to the second floor of the guild. 129 - - 06-16 Director of the Branch The branch manager''s office is on the second floor of the guild. "Mr. Branch Manager, we have a visitor for you." < "Please come in." With these words, the door was opened by a female automaton. She was about 150 centimeters tall and petite, with the appearance of a girl on the verge of becoming an adult woman. Her brown hair was shoulder-length. Her eyes were also brown, the most common color in this world. Her facial features were of average build. The automaton invited Jin and the other four inside. The young man who was guiding us said, "Excuse me," and went back to his work at the counter. "Welcome, Mr. Reinhardt, Miss Erza. Welcome, Mr. Reinhardt, Ms. Elsa, and Mr. Jin. The branch manager was a friendly old man. "I am Philippe Tifo, the head of the Blue Lands branch of the Magecraftsmen''s Guild of the Kingdom of Egelea. A rather long title. The fact that he has a family name means that he is an honorary member of the guild, and this is an indication of his ability. He is as small as Jin, with pure white hair and a short beard. He has no mustache. His eyes are so narrow that it is difficult to tell whether they are open or closed. But every once in a while, Jin could see a sharp glint of light flashing from behind his eye lids. "Hello, Mr. Philip, it''s been a while. "Hello." Reinhardt and Erza seemed to already know each other. "You must be Jin-dono. I read Count Kuzma''s letter. And you said that Mr. Reinhardt would be your nominee? Yes, I''m sure of it. Yes, I''m sure of it. He seems to be a very reliable magecraftsman. Jin-dono, I look forward to working with you in the future. And so, Jin was registered with little or no review. "Well, isn''t there some kind of test?" Jin asked, remembering what had happened at Potrock, He then asked, "Ha, Count Kuzma and Mr. Reinhardt, if you both recommend it, then there is no doubt about it. And that automata there, isn''t it your work, Jin-dono?It''s a wonderful piece of work, isn''t it? Philip said as he glanced at the automaton standing beside him. "My name is Reiko. She is more my daughter than my work. Jin said, "I see, you have affection for your work as well. I am glad to hear that. I have been thinking that it is a pity that so many young magicians (magecraftsmen) these days are so intent on making money. However, if there are magicians (magecraftsmen) like you, Mr. Jin, there is still hope for the future. After saying this, Philip suddenly smiled shyly, "Consider this an old man''s ramblings. Well then, I will issue a certificate of registration for the guild. "What?Here? When Jin questioned this, Philip said.., "Yes, right here. ...... dona." "Yes." The automaton called "Donna" steps forward. She held a metal plate in her left hand and held out her right hand toward Jin. "Jin-sama, please take my hand. "What?" Jin was suddenly taken aback, "Jin-dono, this dona can read the magic properties of the person who touches its right hand. And it can record the magical properties on a plate of mithril alloy in its left hand. When Jin heard this, he guessed in his mind how to do it. Reading the magical properties, this is easy. The warp gate also has a function to detect Jin''s magic pattern. But recording the characteristics, this is new to me. It is not a copy of the magic pattern, but a record of it. It means that the characteristics of magic power are extracted and quantified or embodied. Jin''s thinking speed has its limit. That was all Jin could guess before he touched Dona''s extended right hand. Jin put his right hand on Dona''s right hand with curiosity. Instantly. Dona stiffened and fell backward. "Dona! Philip panicked. Jin also bent down to look at Dona. "...... the magic pathway seems to be damaged. Philip confirmed it as well, "Yes, that seems to be the case. But why? Both of them are pondering. Reinhardt also came and confirmed that the magic path was damaged, but he could not think of a cause. "I think it is probably an overflow. It was Reiko who said so. "Overflow?" Philip used his engineering magic to open Dona''s chest to see what was going on, "Yes!You said Leco, you are right. But there is too much overflow!Do you have more magic power than Donna''s magic path can handle, Jin-dono? "Yes, maybe." Reiko speaks up in response to Philip''s surprise. "Your father is the best in the world." No, Reiko was proud when she said those words. "I see...the best in the world," Reiko, or perhaps Miss Reiko, is not entirely out of line. I''ve set Donna''s Magi Device to withstand up to five times my own magical power. "Five times as much as the branch chief!That''s amazing!Jin, how extraordinary you are! "I can see why you''re doing such a good job." Reinhardt and Erza were both surprised and convinced. Just a little note for the record...if you are trying to measure 100 meters or 1000 meters... If you are trying to measure 100 meters or 1000 meters, a 10 cm ruler is not a suitable measuring instrument. There was some trouble with ......, but with Jin''s conscious effort to squeeze the magic power, the repaired donor was able to make a registration card for him. Jin was glad that the magic power pattern was necessary to make the registration certificate and not the amount of magic power. * * * * * * After Jin had successfully joined the Guild of Magical Craftsmen, Philip, the branch manager, said to him, "I''m looking forward to working with you from now on, Philip, the branch chief, said to Jin, "I''m looking forward to working with you from now on. And now, if there is anything you notice, please tell me. There are things you can see from the outside that you can''t see from the inside," said Philip. Philip said and asked Jin for advice. "Yes, that''s right. I have thought about this before...can we create something called <>?" Jin then explained the simple patent system. Well, Jin himself does not know the details of the patent system. "I see, so if you create something new, you are granted special rights for a certain period of time? Philip nodded his head in admiration. Reinhardt nodded, "That will give them more motivation to create something new! Reinhard was also excited. He added, "So we can prevent similar and inferior products from being sold. Two birds with one stone! Philippe clapped his hands, "It may not be possible to institutionalize it right away, but I would like to discuss it with the guilds in this country, and perhaps in other countries as well. Thank you, Mr. Jin, for your excellent proposal. Jin bowed his head. Jin panicked, "No, no, this is just what I heard from my teacher," he said shyly. He said shyly, "Adriana, you said, Jin''s teacher?She really was a wonderful person, wasn''t she! Reinhard praised her. Only Jin noticed Reiko''s happy face behind him. 130 - - 06-17 Beautiful Girl and the Beast The day after Jin registered with the Guild, a meeting was held at the Duke of Bruu''s residence for the nobles, golems, and magecraftsmen who would be attending the golem garden party. "Kuzma, Director of the Eastern District of the Blue Lands." "Director of the Western District of the Blue Lands, Galana." The two counts announced themselves, followed by the introduction of the golem and its creator, the Magi Craftsman. "The golem of Count Kuzma, <>. Magecraftsman, Jin." At the sound of their introductions, Lotte and Jin step forward and bow. "The golem of Count Galana,<>. Magecraftsman, Botes." Count Galana''s Golem, <>, was a golden golem. She was glamorous and feminine, larger than Lotte. (Kuh-oh, I don''t like it!) Soleil, Reiko''s assistant golem that Jin made in Horai Island, is a matted gold color, while is a shiny gold color. Lotte is matte copper. It''s a taste for the rich, isn''t it?) Jin declared in his heart. The magecraftsman named Botes, who had made it, had also sewn gold ornamental threads here and there on his clothes, which explains his taste. Count Galana looks like a fat middle-aged man with brown hair and brown eyes. Next, "Shoro diplomat, Reinhard Randall''s golem, <>. Magical Craftsman (Magi Craftsman) is also Reinhard Randall. Reinhardt''s black knight (Schwarzlitter) is introduced as a guest. "Well, you have all done a wonderful job. The Duke of Bruu, Lord of Breuland, commented. He is a cousin of King Egelea. He is about 50 years old. He has blond hair with a hint of white, blue eyes, and a sturdy build. He has a short moustache and a very dignified appearance. "Then let me show you my golem. < In response to his voice, a golem over two meters tall in sturdy armor appears. At first glance, it appears to be a powerful fighter. On its back was a huge sword. "This is me, Tauros. Magecraftsman is Jade Nephroy. Jade Nephroy was a lanky man of advanced age. But his gray eyes were sharp, and he looked at Jin and Lotte as if he was searching them. "I am not ashamed to present this to King Egelea, as well as my guest Reinhardt''s black knight (Schwarzritter)," he said. Duke Breu is in a good mood. "Since today is a meeting, let''s have a chance for the participants to get to know each other afterwards," he said. True to his word, the rest of the meeting was a tea party with refreshments and herbal tea. "Hello, you must be Count Kuzma''s magecraftsman, right? Jade Nephroy came to Jin with these words. Yes, well. But I''m just a client, not an employee. When Jin replied, Jade looked surprised, "So you''re a freelancer?That''s unusual. I didn''t know that a magecraftsman who can make such a large number of golems is a freelance craftsman. So there are still some master craftsmen buried in the world. "Do you have any idea how good that golem is?" Reinhardt came over and asked Jade. "Well, well, well, Mr. Reinhardt. Your black knight (Schwarzlitter) is a wonderful piece of work. Your movements are especially smooth and natural. "No, no, your Taurus is magnificent!No, no, your Taurus is magnificent! Reinhardt pointed at him, "I don''t know. But the one who helped me control the movement of the Taurus is Robert, the most powerful knight under the Duke''s command. In general, the cooperation of veterans in the field is usually sought for the model of golem''s movement control. Hence, Jin''s Lotte is modeled after Marm, the head maid. "The strongest knight in the Blue Lands is your model, he looks very strong. "No, no, I have heard about the strength of the black knight (Schwarzlitter). I heard that it destroyed 20 planes by itself in a recent mock battle. "No, that was a mock battle under very limited conditions ......." Jade and Reinhardt started talking to each other, and Jin quietly left the scene, taking advantage of the situation. However, Count Galana''s magecraftsman, Botes, approached Jin. "Hm, you are Count Kuzma''s magecraftsman, Jin, you say?" Jin gave up and decided to respond. "Yes, well. But I''m just a client, not an agent. The same reply as before. "Yes, of course. It takes a simple magecraftsman to make a simple golem like that. Botes then turned on his haunches, "How would you like to be Count Galana''s employee even now?If you do, I will teach you many things. Jin had no intention of taking him seriously. Jin no longer wanted to take him seriously, He replied, "I''ll think about it after the next golem garden party. He replied, "I''ll think about it after the Golem party. Did he take that as an affirmation? "Ha, yes, if you become Count Galana''s client, there will be a lot of money to be made. With these words, he walked away. As Jin looked over at her back, he thought to himself that there were many different kinds of magecraftsmen. "What, Jin, here you are..." Reinhardt found Jin and called out to him. Jade from earlier was with him. But before Jin could say anything, "Well, well, well, Mr. Reinhardt. I wonder if Miss Elsa is not with you today. Someone said, "Miss Elsa was not with you today? It was Count Galana, of course. "Count Galana, today is the meeting of the golems, Erza is not coming. Reinhardt responds with a smile. "Ha-ha-ha, you''re right. But your cousin, Miss Elsa?With her talent for magic and her good looks, I would love to have her as my second wife. Elsa is a viscountess, and to be the wife of a countess, albeit a second wife, would be a great match for her. Last time she was called a concubine, so that''s a little better. "No, no, she''s still a naive child, and for that reason I''m hoping she''ll learn a thing or two by accompanying me on my travels. "I don''t know, I just find her very attractive in that innocent way. Please give my best regards when you return. Count Galana walked toward the Duke of Brouw, probably thinking that it was out of place to make further advances in a place where alcohol was not being consumed. "Did you hear me, Jin?" Reinhard asked Jin, "Yes. No wonder Erza doesn''t like him. Erza, who still doesn''t know much about the world, and the fat, middle-aged Count. That''s a beauty, or rather, a beauty and a beast. And this will never be a prince even if a loves him. "I won''t let Erza marry him..." Reinhardt mutters with a rare expression of disgust on his face. * * * * * * "Ah, Jin and Reinhardt-sama are both in the duke''s mansion, aren''t they? Bina, who had been left behind, was mumbling to herself in front of the workshop in the courtyard of Count Kuzma''s mansion. Erza, who was taking a walk in the garden, heard her, "It can''t be helped. I''m rather relieved that I don''t have to see Count Galana. "What?Miss Elsa, you know Count Galana?" Bina asked Elsa in surprise, "Elsa." "What?" "Elsa is fine. I''ll call you Beena too. She replied. Yes. So you know Count El......za,Galana at ......?" The language was a bit cryptic, but Elsa seemed to get the message, "Yes. The last time I met him, he asked me to be his concubine." "A concubine? ......" Bina looks back at her own case. Her sick younger siblings had been used as a threat and she had been almost handcuffed. She was almost saved by Count Kuzma, who came to her at Jin''s request. ....... I, too, was once almost violently attacked by Count Galana," Bina said. Bina said, "Rude?Does he ever get violent with girls? She didn''t seem to understand the meaning of the word "violent", "Well, <> means ......." Bina was puzzling over how to explain, "Miss, you are here in this place? The nanny, Meene, came to her saying that. Then she said, "The wind is cold today, please come inside. She half-forcibly took Elsa away. Bina was left behind, looking at her back, "......I guess Erza is going to have a hard time in the future," she muttered to herself. She was muttering to herself. 131 - - 06-18 闲话3 ある日の蓬莱岛 This world is filled with free magical element (ether). The mantle and core, which make up the earth, are also different from those of the earth. The mantle is rock containing magi stones and magi crystals, and the core is metallic elements such as mithril and adamantite. The magnetic poles coincide with the magic poles. Since free magical elements (ether) are attracted to the north magnetic pole, the closer to the north pole (north magnetic pole = north pole), the higher the concentration of magical energy in the air. On the other hand, the farther south one goes, the thinner the free magic element (ether) becomes. Therefore, demons that feed on magic power inevitably gather near the North Magnetic Pole. By the way, free magic element (ether) is not attracted to the South Pole. This is because there is no magic pole at the South Pole. This was one of the great mysteries of this world. For this reason, the area around the North Pole is the land of demons, and the rest of the world is the land of humans. However, there are always exceptions, and one sea dragon had left its home and was swimming south. The sea dragon preyed on a group of Death Sea Serpents it found along the way. The remaining Death Serpents fled southward to escape from the sea dragons. Although they have little magic power, they swim around in the sea without any enemies, preying on vulnerable sea creatures without magic power as soon as they find them. However, near a certain uninhabited island, a group of about fifty Death Sea Serpents were attacked by a powerful enemy and were annihilated. Most of their magical power was scattered and dispersed into the air and the sea. The seawater, containing a concentration of magic that was impossible in nature, flowed northward on the ocean currents. And this became known to the stray sea dragons. Attracted by the magical power that flowed through the sea, Sea Dragon resumed its journey to the south. Unaware that this would lead to his own destruction. * * * * A warm current flows around Horai Island. It started near the equator, grazed the peninsula where the Elias Kingdom is located, and flowed northward through the sea area where the Kunlun Island and Horai Island are located. Many fish migrate with this warm current. Now, Marine 67, the navy golem of Horai Island, was on board a trimaran < and was fishing with Aqua 6 7, who was also a maid golem. (Marine 67, you got a lot of fish, didn''t you?) (Mmm, these are to be frozen and dried, right?) Yes. (Yes. The master likes fish.) At that time. Marine 67, did you notice?) Yes. It''s powerful magic. Let''s hurry back.) Hydro 23 fully opens the Magi Water Jet, and rushes back to Tatsumi Bay. After avoiding the fish tanks in Tatsumi Bay, Marine 67 goes to the pier and goes to the laboratory through the warp gate to report the results. Aqua67 used the warp gate after gathering the fish he caught. While Jin is away, the magical brain that manages Horai Island, , receives a report and immediately begins to respond to it. Air Force dispatched. Sky 1 is ordered. Skies 2 to 10, protect the airspace over the institute. 11 to 50, patrol over the reported area. The rest of you stand by.) Sky 1, copy.) Navy, get to work now. Marine 1, take marine 2 to 80 to the northern waters of Horai Island. Have the rest of them guard Tatsumi Bay.) Marine 1, copy that.) Army is on alert 1. Land 1, take Lands 2 through 10 for security of the lab and pavilion. The rest of you deploy to the northern and eastern coastlines.) Land 1 copy.) Soleil and Luna, along with Prane, Satella, and Golem 100, will guard Kunlun Island.) (Copy that.) gives orders one after another. The reason why he doesn''t sound like a military man is that his knowledge of the original Jin is half-baked. * * * * Two hours later, Sky45 spotted a wake heading south from the north. He and 33 and 37, who were in the vicinity, descended and confirmed that it was a giant dragon-like creature. (Sky 45 report. Found a huge dragon. It seems to be the master of magic. The dragon is carnivorous. (Sky 45 reported.) The dragon is a carnivore. Report via the manacam that has just been sent to everyone. Horai Island copy. Send the image too. Continue to observe the subject.) Sky 45, copy.) Sky-25, 48, 49, 50 more coming in. We won''t miss it. Sky45 sent the images to with the , which he carries for mapping and other purposes. Analyzing the images sent by Sky45, <> considers what to do. The target is a demon. *If left unchecked, there is a big possibility that it will uproot and eat all the fish around Horai Island. It is a demon and a carnivore. Conclusion. Exterminate it as soon as it enters the controlled waters of Horai Island. Supplementation. For the sake of Jin, the master, you should secure materials. * * * * * * * * * * The sea dragon was moving southward at a speed of about 40 kilometers per hour. In the process, it finds a place where magic is concentrated. It seems to be land, but it feels an incredibly large amount of mana. It was the mana leaking from the Magi Crystal stored in Horai Island. The sea dragon turned its course slightly and increased its swimming speed toward the source of the mana. When he was very close to the place where the mana was located, he noticed that there were small particles of mana scattered all over the sea. He surfaced to catch it in his stomach, although it was not as big as the magic power he was aiming for. At that time, a thin light fell from above. It easily pierced through the right hind leg of the sea dragon, which was unscathed by the fangs of the Death Sea Serpent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The sea dragon approached the sea area 50 kilometers away from the Horai Island, and there is no doubt that its goal is the Horai Island. < First, the Sky-25, flying directly overhead, fires a single beam of light. It pierced the sea dragon''s right hindlimb. (Sky25 report. < Roger Horai Island. Air Force on site should attack with lasers. However, target the head and chest as much as possible, as they are considered vital areas.) Sky 25,29,41,45,4 6,47,48,49,50.) Then, the nine s simultaneously fired two lasers, each with a ground weapon. The optical weapons, which converged as thin as needles, hit the sea dragon, which tried to escape into the sea in a panic. The sea dragon was hit by 11 laser beams on its head, 4 on its chest, and 1 on its tail. The sea dragon died without knowing what happened. No blood was spilled. Sky45 reports. The target was successfully neutralized. No damage.) Horaijima Copy. Leave the dismantling of the target and securing of materials to the Navy in the area and have the Air Force return to the island except for Skye 41 to 50. Sky 41 to 50, reconnoiter the 500-kilometer area for any other anomalies.) Copy that.) Army, release alert one and return to base. Copy that.) Sea dragons are a treasure trove of materials. Horns, fangs, claws, scales, and bones can be processed into products with magical powers. Leather was more durable than that of Siamese dragons. (Blood is rich in magical power. It could be used for something if it is frozen and preserved.) Lao Tzu decides to preserve the blood that hardly flowed out. The wing membrane on her back, which is small for her body size, will later be used by Reiko to further improve her performance. The preserved blood will also play an important role in the future, but that is still a long time in the future. < is satisfied with her own performance. (I am sure the master will be satisfied as well.) Thus, the first mission of the magical brain of the Horai Island administration << Laozi>> was completed. 132 - - 06-19 To the Capital Everything is going as planned. Well, I hear there''s some interesting people joining us this time. "Yes. I hear that the Black Knight, the Taurus, and Ceres will be joining us. "Hmm, Stealina and her golem who refused to cooperate with us. That''s one thing. If this operation succeeds, we will be able to strengthen it at once. Not if. Let them do it. Ha! * * * * Count Kuzma, Count Galana, and Reinhardt, including Duke Breu, left the Blue Lands as planned. On the first day, they stayed in Verbena. It was late afternoon when they left, so they had only traveled about 20 kilometers. Count Galana did not cause any problems, so it was a peaceful night. The next day was rainy. We headed for the provincial town of Strial. By this time the roads were dirt, gouged in places, muddy from the rain, and slow going. "Can''t you go any faster? Count Galana''s carriage was leading the day''s tour, and he was the only one who complained about the slow progress. "We could get there in plenty of light if we weren''t in such a hurry." Reinhard muttered with a wry smile. This time, Jin was riding in Reinhardt''s carriage with Reiko. Incidentally, Erza''s carriage was accompanied by Beena. It seems that they hit it off because they both hated Count Galana. Not only Reinhardt, but also Count Kuzma was cooperating to keep them out of Count Galana''s sight. In the afternoon, after the rain had stopped, we arrived in Strial while the sun was still high in the sky, just as Reinhard had said. It is not as busy as the town of Breuland, but it seems to be a busy town. Of the group, the Duke of Breuland stayed at the Lords'' House, which also served as a guest house, while Count Kuzma and Reinhardt''s party stayed at a Strial nobleman''s house, and Count Galana stayed at one of Strial''s finest inns. "Welcome, Count Kuzma, Reinhardt. And Miss Elsa. The man who greeted us with these words was Viscount Grieri, a nobleman living in Strial. He looks like a young man with light brown hair. He has a sturdy physique and looks even dependable alongside the lanky Reinhardt. "Are you Jin, the Magecraftsman?And who are you?" The last words were addressed to Bina. Bina panicked, "Ah, my name is Beena, a magecraftsman in the service of Count Kuzma. "Oh, so you''re a magecraftsman too. Well, well. Well, there''s no need to stand around talking, so please come inside. He left Jin and Bina in charge of the butler, and told Count Kuzma and Reinhardt, "Please make yourselves at home. He himself took the role of the guide. "Well, you look like an ordinary aristocrat," said Jin. Jin said. "I don''t know what normal is. Bina said. They were shown into one of the large rooms. "By the way, do you think the two of us will be using this room? I looked around and saw a large bed in a room about 10 tatami mats in size. "Apparently so. Well, I guess that''s how they treat the less famous magecraftsmen. Jin said as he said that, "Reiko." and called out to the automata he had created. "Yes, father." "Kya!" Bina was surprised to see Reiko appear right next to Jin. "Oh, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to startle you. I didn''t want to cause any trouble, so I had Reiko activate her stealth. . This is a higher level magic function that was created as a result of Jin''s analysis of the function of the amulet used by the bandit we encountered the other day. It can make not only the presence but also the appearance disappear. The principle is the application of light magic, which refracts and bends light around the body to show objects behind it. Naturally, the light does not reach the eyes of those who are inside, resulting in darkness, but this was handled by Jin''s knowledge that wavelengths other than visible light cannot be refracted or bent. In other words, Reiko sees things in the infrared region. "...... You never know until you are suddenly stabbed in the back." Bina comments on the noise. It''s certainly good for covert maneuvering. Jin thinks about forming a ninja unit when he gets free. "Don''t peek!" After the meal, Bina said she was going to change into her nightgown, so Jin went out of the room. Incidentally, Jin and Bina had a simple meal in separate rooms. All they wanted to do now was to go to bed, and they were about to get into their nightclothes. Then Elsa walked by. She must have come to Jin and the others'' room. "Jin-kun, what are you doing? A natural question. "Yes, because Beena is getting dressed right now. To which I replied, "What?Are you two in the same room? I replied, a little impatiently. Jin, that''s enough. ...... is that you, Elsa?" The door opened and Beena looked up, surprised to see Erza there. "...... Beena, come with me." "Uh, um, a little bit." Elsa looked a little angry and dragged Beena to their room. "Miss, are you sure you want to sleep in your own bed with her?" "Yes. My bed is bigger." Elsa''s bed is a double, or rather a king-size bed. The small Elsa could easily sleep three people. Meane, the nanny, is reluctant. Even though they are friends of the same s*x, the idea of common people sleeping together seems to have some kind of a hold on her. Elsa looks at her reluctant face and comes up with a compromise. "...... got it. Sleep with me, Meena. And Bina can sleep in Meena''s bed. "Oh, Miss!Will you let me sleep with you?" Meena''s scowl turns into a happy glow when she hears this. "Yes..." "Okay, Miss Beena, is it? You can sleep on the bed here. "Ha-ha-ha..." Unable to keep up with the momentum of Erza and Meane, Beena was forced to sleep there. On the other hand, this is Jin. Beena, you''re late. Father, I''ll wake you up when Beena comes back, so please go to bed. "Well, I''ll do that. I''m sleepy. Jin lies down on the edge of the bed. Reiko stands quietly at his feet as if to protect him, looking around for any sign of his presence. But Bina does not return, and there is no sign of anyone else. The night goes on like that. * * * * * * * * * * * * Despite this hiccup, the group, including the Marquis Brown, Lord of Strial, arrived at the capital city of Asunto via the town of Lurs in the morning, two days before the Golem Garden Party, as scheduled. 133 - - 06-20 Kings Asund, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, is a fortified city. The walls rise 10 meters high and are magically hardened and reinforced, and the Magi Formula carved on the surface makes the city resistant to magic. Unlike the Blue Lands, the interior is neatly divided into sections like a grid, more like Heian-kyo or an ancient Chinese capital. The central avenue stretches from the south, and the Royal Castle stands at the end of the avenue. "What an amazing city!" Jin, who was looking out of the window, said in admiration, "Yes. This is a city that was built after the magic war. I heard that it was built in a reasonable way. Reinhard said. When I asked him what he meant by "reasonably", he said that the city was first divided into lots, and each lot had its own address and the address was managed in a ledger. This allows for accurate management of residents, population control, and identification of suspicious persons. It is a simple equivalent of the current family register or certificate of residence. "Well, this is a very advanced country, isn''t it? Jin is impressed. The carriage continues along the central street and stops just before the royal castle. There is a gate and a guard is standing guard. The Duke of Bruu, the Marquis of Braun, the Count of Kuzma, and the Count of Galana identify themselves, and the occupants of each carriage are checked. Reinhardt was a diplomat and guest of the Shoro Kingdom, and Jin and Bina presented their registration cards as magicians (magecraftsmen). Reiko thought about having Reiko disappear in stealth to avoid any trouble, but she revealed herself as Jin''s automata from the beginning to avoid any trouble later. Since anyone with a background in magic would know that Reiko was an automaton upon closer examination, she was readily accepted, and the group was allowed to enter the castle. After passing through the gate, they entered the area of the castle called the Outer Palace. Passing through the well-maintained cobblestone plaza, we headed for the guesthouse on the left, instead of the royal palace in the front. The carriage arrives at a slow speed, about half or even one-third of its previous speed. The carriage arrives at the designated position, and the carriage doors are opened from the outside. Standing there are four knights of the Kingsguard. They are among the finest warriors in the kingdom. They are monitoring the movements of the Duke of Breu and his party to make sure that no suspicious people enter the castle. The ladies-in-waiting who work in the castle are there to greet them. They are the daughters of low-ranking nobles, or the daughters of powerful merchants, and they work here as apprentices. The only thing they have in common is that their identities are secure. Here at the castle, we were on the lookout for spies and assassins from other countries who might be among those invited to the third prince''s birthday party in two days'' time. "I will take care of all your weapons. With these words, he entrusts Reiko''s , the weapons of Reinhardt''s guards, and the sword of Hermann, Erza''s guard, to the custody of the prince. The butler Adberg''s staff was not entrusted to them. "This way, please." The Duke of Bruu and his entourage were accompanied by ten ladies-in-waiting and ten servants, while the Marquis of Braun and his entourage were accompanied by seven ladies-in-waiting and seven servants. Counts Kuzma and Galana each had five maids of honor and five servants, and Reinhardt had the same number of maids of honor and servants. "This wing is at your service. Reinhardt, Erza, Jin, and Bina were shown to a building that was connected to the others. For some reason, Hitoshi thinks of a one-story apartment building. Reinhardt, the leader of the group, was in charge of assigning the rooms. "Well then, I, Erza, Jin, and Bina will each have one room. The rest of you can assign the rooms to men and women as you see fit. The last words were addressed to his butler. The servants'' rooms were assigned by the butler. Incidentally, all the golems participating in the garden party were transported to a designated warehouse with their movements stopped. This was also done to prevent sabotage. "Well then, let''s put our luggage in our rooms and relax. Elsa, Jin, Bina, let''s have a cup of tea together in my room later. Yes. Okay. Okay. Then they go to their assigned rooms. One of the maidservants followed Jin. "Well, what about you?" Jin wondered as she tried to enter the room with him, I am the maid of honor who will be taking care of your business! She answered with some impatience. At a closer look, she seemed to be about 15 or 16 years old. She looks about the same age as Erza and Bina. Her hair is chestnut-colored with a bob cut, and she wears a white brim on her head, a black dress and a white apron dress, so you can tell at a glance that she is a maid of honor. She was a charming girl with round face and round brown eyes that moved frequently. She had a round face and a charming face. I will take care of your father. Reiko stood in front of the girl. It was both cute and funny to see Reiko, who was 130 centimeters tall, standing tall with her chest out in front of a girl who was about 155 centimeters tall. "Oh, um, am I not good enough?Would a more experienced person be better?" The lady-in-waiting asked impatiently, as if she thought the reason for my refusal was because she was inexperienced. "No. "No. Whoever you are, there is no need. Reiko quickly answered, "No, Reiko, we don''t know much about this country or this castle, and I think we can be of some help, don''t you? Jin said, "......Yes, Father." Reiko reluctantly agreed. She put her luggage in her room and looked out the window. The only thing she could see outside was trees. "The view is not so good. Jin muttered to himself, "Oh, um, excuse me!The trees are planted as a blindfold so that you cannot see them from outside. Jin heard that and understood. "Well, let''s go to Reinhardt''s room. With that, he left the room and was accompanied not only by Reiko but also by the maidens. Erza was just coming to the room, and I saw that Meane had another maid of honor with her. She was a little older than Erza and slender in appearance. She is a girl with chestnut hair and violet eyes. "Hi, Elsa. Who''s this?" I asked, "......, I''m the lady-in-waiting. And you, Jin? "Yes, it seems so." Then Bina came out of the room. "Oh, Jin." "Hi, Beena." Bina was also accompanied by a redheaded maid. The three of them went to Reinhardt''s room. There were, as expected, two maidens. One was a glamorous beauty in her mid-twenties, blonde and blue-eyed. The other was a beautiful woman in her late teens, with unusually dark hair in a ponytail and steeple eyes. Jin said, "I wonder why all the ladies-in-waiting in this castle are so beautiful. Jin said, "Oh, my guest, you''re very good! said a glamorous lady-in-waiting diagonally behind Reinhardt. Jin''s lady-in-waiting turned her cheeks and Erza glared at him a little. The glamour lady with Reinhardt said, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. The tea made by Reinhardt''s lady-in-waiting tasted like real tea. "Hmm?This tea tastes good. Jin said, "Thank you very much. It''s called "Teaye" and is a specialty of our country. "Really?" Green tea, oolong tea, and black tea are all made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The young leaves are plucked and dried, but the unusual thing about tea leaves is that if they are left to ferment, they will turn into black tea. Green tea is steamed to stop this fermentation, while black tea is made by fermentation. So the tea we drank here was definitely black tea. "You like it, Jin? I''m going to buy some on my way home. "Me too." Reinhard and Elsa also seemed to like the tea. Bina is not sure what tea tastes like. "Well," Reinhard opens his mouth. His face is in diplomat mode. "You say you''re our maidservants, and you''re here to keep an eye on us, aren''t you?" 134 - - 06-21 Secret "What do you mean?" "I don''t understand what you mean. "You seem to have misunderstood something. Reinhardt, Erza, and the ladies-in-waiting in charge of Bina replied in a matter-of-fact manner, "What are you talking about? There was one girl who was easy to understand. "............" The girl who was looked at warmly by everyone was, of course, the girl in Jin''s charge. "What? Finally realizing this, I tried to act nonchalant, but it was too late. "Lila, you ......" "Ugh," It seems that Jin''s name is Laila. Laila is lying on her face, her shoulders are shaking. And then.., "Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh!" She starts crying. "Hey, hey, hey, honey." "I''m sorry!" As Laila cried out in public, Jin and the others began to feel as if they were at fault. Elsa, who couldn''t bear to look at her, held Laila''s shoulder, "Don''t cry. I''m not going to do anything to you. Laila was still fidgeting, but eventually her crying stopped. "You''re not ...... crying, are you?" "Oh, yes, it''s true." Reinhardt, with tears and snot on his face, replied with some, or perhaps quite a bit of reticence. I''m not sure if it''s true or not. "Well, to begin with, the last time we stayed here, we didn''t have a maid of honor like you guys." After Lila calmed down, Reinhardt told her the reason for his theory. "And it''s no exaggeration to say that this time the nobles from all over the country will gather, so one can imagine that security will be tight." He then glanced at one of his attendants, a sharp-looking lady-in-waiting who appeared to be in her late teens, "Her movements were too lean for a maid. She was moving too lean for a maid. Those were the movements of a person who had trained in martial arts, probably dagger fighting. He concluded. After a few moments of silence, the sound of clapping could be heard. The master of the applause was a glamorous beauty in her twenties, also a maid of honor under Reinhardt. "You are very good, Mr. Reinhardt. We are indeed from the Royal Secret Maidens of the Royal Court. I don''t know if Jin heard that name and thought, "What''s with the nerdism? I don''t know if Jin thought that he was a bit of a nihilist when he heard the name. "The Royal Secret Maid Corps is, as the name suggests, a covert unit that takes the guise of a lady-in-waiting. I''m Lyanna and that''s Kate. That''s Mary, the crying one is Lila, and that''s Lisa, the Royal Secret Maidens, the second team. Leanna, a glamorous beauty in her twenties and the leader of the second team of the Royal Secret Maids, whose true identity had been revealed, began to speak. "Our mission is to maintain security within the royal palace. I''m here to eliminate even the slightest suspicious person and maintain order in the royal palace. She shakes her head, "But I''m disqualified if Mr. Reinhardt finds out..." He stands up. "Hey, where are you going?" "Yes, I''m leaving now that I''ve failed the mission. Leanna answered with a slumped shoulder. But Reinhardt said, "You''re an idiot, you didn''t fail completely, did you?" "Yes?" Leanna did not understand what Reinhardt was saying and sounded puzzled. "Your role is still viable even if your identities are revealed, is it not?" "......" "Wouldn''t it be helpful to have someone who knows the palace well, and you wouldn''t have to be reprimanded by your superiors?" "That''s true, but..." Then it''s settled, Reinhardt clapped his hands together, "I''m not accusing you of watching us. It''s your job. We just didn''t like the idea of being watched so closely behind our backs." Jin was impressed by Reinhardt''s generosity and at the same time felt a little uncomfortable. Then someone tugged at Jin''s hem. He turned his head to see Erza. In a whisper, Elsa said to Jin, "My brother Rai has always had breasts, "My brother Rai has always had a soft spot for women with large breasts. She told Jin in a whisper, "Brother Rai has always had a soft spot for women with large breasts. * * * * "......" Jin is now back in his room. Laila is in front of him. Somehow she reminds Jin of a young girl he used to know at the orphanage. She had been unexpectedly chosen as a member of the class committee in the second year of junior high school, a role to which she was not accustomed and which wore on her nerves every day. "Hey, Lila. "Yes, yes!What is it, sir? You''re too nervous," Jin said. He was even more nervous that he was not suited for this job. Then.., "Why do you work for the Royal Secret Maid Corps? I asked her. Laila looked down and then said "Do you think that ...... you are not suitable for it? she asked, looking up at me. A normal man would have felt something in that gesture, but Jin is a hard-core simpleton, a slow learner, and a hopeless romantic. "Well, I think so." Laila''s shoulders slumped as she answered honestly, "I know. ...... I wonder why my sister put me in this role. ......" * * * * Erza had nothing to hide and acted the same as usual in front of Kate, the Royal Secret Maid of the Royal Court who accompanied her. Bathing, eating, dressing. Kate sighs inwardly at Elsa who acts as if she is not there. Kate sighs inwardly, "I''m not as good as I used to be. Reinhard keeps a diary silently. As a diplomat, he is required to submit a report upon his return to Japan. Leanna and Mary are standing next to him, looking as if they are not where they are supposed to be. They wait for Reinhardt to finish his diary, "Um, Mr. Reinhardt... ......" "Yes?What is it? "Why did you protect us?" Reinhardt answers with a smile. "Well, I''m not sure why. I don''t like to be watched. But I also don''t like it when a woman like you is scolded. "What''s that?Are you hitting on me?" Lianna puts her hand over her mouth, wiggles her hips, and laughs. She is quite coquettish, but Reinhardt is unmoved. "Well, I''ve been a diplomat for six years, including my apprenticeship. I''ve done my fair share of tricks." "Oh, I hate you." Lianna straightens her posture again. "Surveillance is not nice when it is done secretly and secretly, but when it is done openly, it is surprisingly tolerable. "Oh, you are not answering my question very well, are you? "So, if we turn you away, someone more skilled will be watching us this time without us knowing, right?That''s what I''m saying I don''t like." Reinhardt smiled a fresh smile. 135 - - 06-22 Love Banana In the evening, Jin was escorted to the bathhouse by Laila, his royal secret maid. "Oh, Jin." "Oh, Count Kuzma." Count Kuzma had just arrived to take a bath. Jin tried to come back, "Just as well, I wanted to have a little chat with you. Would you like to join us?" The Count invites him to join him. Jin could not refuse the Count''s offer. He decides to join them. "Oh, you don''t have to come." The Count orders the ladies-in-waiting to wait outside the dressing room. Jin prepared himself a little, wondering if there was something complicated to talk about. Well, as a matter of fact, Reiko, who had disappeared by stealth, was secretly following him. "It feels good to take a hot bath, doesn''t it?" said Count Kuzma. Count Kuzma was relaxing in the bathtub, stretching his arms and legs. The bathtub is so wide that it is not too small even if the Count, who is about 180 centimeters tall, stretches out his body. The Count is thin but has a good amount of muscle mass, and Jin is a little bitter about his poor body. No matter how hard he works out, he can''t build muscles. "So, what do you want to talk about, Count?" He was restless, so he asked Jin to talk to him. "Oh, yes, yes, yes. The Count looked down as if he was thinking about something, then looked up, then looked down again, and so on. He did this several times, and then, as if he had made up his mind, "Jin, what kind of relationship do you have with Bina? "What?" Jin let out an unintentionally stupid voice. I thought he was asking me for some kind of difficult question, so I was even more surprised. "I heard that you have been very much in love with Beena and even invited her to your base the other day. It seems that Beena has opened her heart to you. Once he opened his mouth, the Count continued speaking. "She''s ...... healthy, yes, healthy. She has learned magecraft, raised her younger siblings, and is pure despite her hardships, even though she is not from a privileged background. "Ha, ha." Jin is overcome by the Count''s enthusiasm. "I also admire the idea of using his skills for the benefit of the common people. Besides, it''s beautiful and ......" After all those words, the Count finally came to himself, blushed and kept his mouth shut. "The Count. ......" Even the dullest of men would be able to guess what was going on after being told this much. "Ha-ha-ha, laugh at me. It seems that she has lived in my heart since the first time I saw her. * * * * Jin wondered what to say to Count Kuzma as he got out of the bath and looked at him with a sideways glance, who was covering his head with water. For a while after that, he had been told that he was in love with her. The Count seems to be serious. He does not care about his status. He will make Bina happy. "Phew..." The Count wipes the drops from his hair with a towel and glances at Jin as if impatiently waiting for his answer. Jin sensed this and spoke his honest feelings. "She (Beena) is like a sister who needs your help. These were the same words he had used to answer Reinhardt. Count Kuzma''s face lit up when he heard that. "I see!She''s a sister to you? And his expression remained the same, "Then, is Miss Elsa the one you love?" he asks. He has regained his vivaciousness now that he knows there are no obstacles to his love. No, no, she (Elsa) is a bit of a dangerous sister, isn''t she? Hearing this, Count Kuzma said, "Hmm, so both of them are your younger sisters. Perhaps you prefer matured women like Lyanna of the Royal Secret Maidens?" As the Count was saying this, there was a thud from somewhere. "Hmm?Someone''s here ....... So what do you think, Jin? Jin shook his head. "The type of woman I fall in love with is the type of woman I fell in love with. It was like a Zen question and answer. "What''s that?" As expected, the Count did not understand and frowned. "Well, so far there is no one like that. When Jin said this, Count Kuzma said, "Well, there is no one like that yet, is there? "Just when you think you have it in you, the woman of your dreams suddenly appears. Like me!" With these words, he left the bathroom. * * * * Jin stayed behind and lay in the bathtub. Thereupon , "...... father." "Reiko?" Reiko appeared out of stealth. And suddenly.., "Father, do you prefer adult women with large breasts?" Jin, who had been leaning over the bathtub, slipped. "What are you talking about?" Jin rushed out of the bathtub after almost sinking into the hot water. "I want to grow up," he said. Jin is surprised by Reiko''s sudden request. "Hey Reiko, what''s going on?" "If your father likes big women, I''m ......" Hitoshi smacked Reiko on the head, "Idiot. How can I like you just because you''re big?" Jin said to her, "But Erza told me that Mr. Reinhardt likes women with big breasts. Jin remembered that time. As I recall, <>. Jin wondered why he was so blind when it came to me, when he could read that as <>. "So, Elsa and Bina are my friends, you know. And you are my precious daughter, I love your face and your figure. "Really? Reiko was jumping up and down, no, really jumping up and down, and he looked at her with joy, "So don''t worry too much about the girls around you." "...... understand." Jin decided to go up, although he was not sure whether she really understood him or not, since it was not good to occupy the bathroom too much. Reiko disappears again in stealth. In the hallway outside the changing room, Laila is sitting on the ...... floor, dozing. "............" Jin poked Laila''s head to wake her up. "What?Is it an enemy attack? Laila jumped up, pulled up her skirt, and pulled out a knife attached to her thigh. She pulls out the knife attached to her thigh and pulls out her skirt, slicing it open. "Kyaaaahhh!" Laila screams as her short drawers and thighs are exposed. Just then Elsa and Bina came in for a bath, "Jin!What are you doing? "...... Jin, are you a beast?" They misunderstood him, "I''m innocent!" Jin''s heartfelt cry echoed in the aisle. 136 - - 06-23 Game The day has come to an end, night has fallen, and morning has come again. It was the birthday of Prince Ernest Rilum Andrew, the third prince of the Kingdom of Egelea. In the morning, nobles from outside the castle who were not attending the golem garden party entered the castle in numbers, and together with the soldiers guarding the castle, they made a lot of noise. Jin and the others, that is, Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Bina, are watching the scene from afar. Count Kuzma and Reinhardt are not here because they are officially going to a birthday party. "Oh, this is so boring..." Bina blurts out, "...... agree." Elsa agrees. Jin was bored as well, "Let''s play some games. "A game?" Jin thinks for a moment. What is a game that is easy to make, can be enjoyed by many people, and does not require familiarity or skill? Then he thought of Sugoroku. "Okay, let''s use this table." What are you going to do? We''re in Elsa''s room. Simply because it is the largest. It was also fully furnished. Jin chose a tea table about 60 centimeters square, "surface treatment". The surface was made white and smooth. Then, squares were drawn on it with ink. "What?Start?Goal?" Bina peeks in. After drawing the basic squares, Jin begins to explain the game. "This is a game I know called Sugoroku. Basically, you roll these dice. He quickly makes dice with engineering magic and rolls them, "The first one to reach the goal wins." "...... seems easy." Erza gave an honest impression. Then Jin said, "Yeah, it looks easy, doesn''t it?But here comes the fun part. We need to put conditions in some of the cells." "Conditions?" Then Jin explains. "A break," he says, "or three squares back. "I see. So it all depends on luck. "Well, yes. Okay, let''s try something like this first. So, a Sugoroku game with one condition written in every 10 squares is completed. Jin quickly made the pieces, changed the color of each piece, and started the game. "Three pieces go forward..." and "Here it comes! "Three pawns!Six pawns in a row...yikes!< Four..." The game is going on and we are almost at the goal. "Four out, four out. ...... ah, two." "May the five come out ...... ah." I was not able to relax, because I sometimes got caught in a <<20 back>> before the goal and had to go back. "Yay! I''m not getting old (?). Jin, who had been so hot, was in first place. "Oh, I lost. Okay, 2 out, 2 out. ...... got it!Number 2!" "...... lost. One more time." This Sugoroku was well received, as it was a good way to kill some time. Laila, Lisa, and Kate of the Royal Secret Maids, who were watching in the background, looked like they wanted to play too, so we decided to include them in the second round. At first they were adamant, saying that they were on duty, but Jin persuaded them to join in, which seemed reasonable or not, saying that it is a maid''s duty to keep the guests occupied. "Kya!They said it''s going back 10 squares! "Aaaaand, take a break!" Six, get out!" It''s pretty dirty. But it seems to have helped me get to know the girls a little better. That evening we played Sugoroku until Reinhard and Count Kuzma came back. After playing, Jin put the table back as much as possible. Laila and the others looked at him with a look of regret. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, tomorrow is the Golem Party," said Count Kuzma. Count Kuzma spoke about precautions. "Dress in formal attire, of course. I heard that Jin has a jacket for magecraftsmen. I have one for Bina as well, so you can wear it. "Oh, for me? Count Kuzma smiled and pulled out a fine rouge-colored jacket from his luggage, "You can wear this to the wedding. He handed it to Bina. "Oh, thank you!" Bina hugged the jacket tightly to her chest. The Count''s face relaxed a little as he looked at her. "There is an order of entry to the castle, first the ministers, then the nobles who work at the castle, then the invited guests, then the nobles from the suburbs, then the nobles from far away," he said. Reinhardt and Erza are the invited guests. "The last is the magecraftsman," he says, "and this is where Jin and Bina come in. Only the nobles are allowed to greet the king and the prince, so they can just watch. That''s easy, Jin thought. Frankly, I don''t like fancy parties. "Count Galana is far away, so Beena probably won''t be able to find him. He reassures Bina with these words. However, Elsa''s mouth is slightly agitated. "So, you can''t bring any weapons into the venue, and there are restrictions on magic tools as well. I don''t think Miss Leco will be able to enter." "I don''t agree." Reiko, who had been listening in silence, opens her mouth. "Protecting your father is my mission and the reason for my existence." But.., "Reiko, I appreciate your concern, but not this time. We have to make sure that Count Kuzma and Reinhardt won''t be inconvenienced. When Jin reminded her of this, Reiko reluctantly nodded in agreement, "...... yes, father." "And so, the nobles who brought the golem were to go before the king and prince in turn, identify themselves, and make the golem do some simple movements to show it off. The Count looked at Jin there, "What do you think I should have Lotte do?" He asked. He thought that Lotte was a maid golem and would not be able to give a flashy performance. But Jin said, "Is there anything you want me to do? Jin, on the contrary, asked the Count, "Is there anything you want me to do for you? The Count did not expect to be asked such a question, but then he recomposed himself, "Well, let''s see...dancing, sword dancing..." Hearing this, Jin said, "I can do that. Jin answered, "Yes, I can. "Yes, I can. ......" Jin looks around the Royal Secret Maidens in turn. Lila ...... skips over them, and Jin''s gaze stops at Lyanna. "I guess we should ask Lyanna-san for her help after all." "What?What do you want me to do?What do you want me to do? Jin looked at Leanna, who had no idea what he was talking about, "Well, please think about your work. Then he ordered Reiko to take out a small magi crystal, "Trans-Info level 2." "Kyah!" "This should do it." What the hell was that? As expected of the leader of the Royal Secret Maid Unit 2, he is also in a panic. Jin explained that he had simply copied Lyanna''s movement pattern, but even after hearing that, Lyanna just went into a panic. >>But when she hears this, she only looks at him with a Since they cannot touch the golem stored in the warehouse yet, they decided to do so during the adjustment time before the unveiling, and went back to their rooms. 137 - - 06-24 Hiromae The next day, right after breakfast, Jin started to improve the golem <. Of course, this was in the presence of Count Kuzma. The other participating golems are also making final adjustments and checking their operation. Yesterday, we copied the movement patterns of Lianna, the leader of the second team of the Royal Secret Maids, and transferred this information from the Magi Crystal to Lotte''s control core. The image of this process is similar to that of an OS update or a patch on a personal computer. "Is this the end?" asked the Count who had come with us, "Yes. Count, please activate it. Count Kuzma then utters the key word, <>. Then he told Lotte to get up, "Lotte, how are you feeling?" Jin asks, "Yes, father. No problem." Hearing those words, Jin moves to a large place with Lotte. He looks back at the Royal Secret Maids who are following them, "Okay, then, ...... Lianna, please attack Lotte, even if it''s lightly." "What?" Jin explains to the wondering Lyanna that Lotte should be able to use the same martial arts as Lyanna. "Okay, then, I''ll go." Leanna pulls out a dagger from under her skirt. Unlike Laila, she does not cut through the skirt. Then she suddenly cut at Lotte. Lotte flicked it with her left hand and stepped forward, aiming her right fist at Lyanna''s dove tail. But Lyanna ducked by somersaulting backward. "Yes, that''s fine. Stop Lotte, too." Jin stopped the two (one and one), saying that it was enough to check their movements since it was not a combat training. "Mmm, this is great!Lotte is great, Lyanna, you are also great!" Count Kuzma, who saw the momentary attack and defense, praised them. "I''m so embarrassed, sir." Lianna bowed and moved backward. "You''re good, Squad Leader!" If it had been me, I would have been hit with that fist. "Ugh, why didn''t he cut her skirt ......?" The other secret maids of the royal court who were watching also praised Lyanna''s moves. One person, however, had a slightly different impression. "Jin, you''re amazing!That''s a very unusual way of doing things!I wish I could do it too! Reinhardt said excitedly. Maybe Reinhardt could do it with a little practice, Jin thought. "But..." Reinhardt continued in a whisper, lowering his voice. "But," Reinhard continued in a whisper, lowering his voice, "it''s not good to do that in public. Do you know what would happen if I found out that I could read the knowledge of a minister or a general like that? Jin realized that he had been told that. In fact, it is impossible to read them when they are resisted, but it is not possible that only those who are willing to make such a discovery. "Be careful if you don''t want to be taken advantage of by the powers that be or be accused of a crime you didn''t commit." Jin thanked Reinhardt for his advice. * * * * Just before noon, the Golem garden party finally gets underway. "Have a nice trip! Jin and the others are escorted out of the guest house by the Royal Secret Maids. The knight who greeted them led them to the inner palace of the royal castle. As explained by Count Kuzma, they entered in order from the cabinet members. After the nobles working at the castle, the invited guests, Reinhardt and Erza, entered. Then came the nobles from the suburbs and the distant nobles, and finally the magecraftsmen, Jin and Bina. Looking at the faces that entered the hall with them, except for Count Galana''s golem, the Magi Craftsman who created <>, and Botes, they were all new to me. Then, Bina said to me.., "Oh, sir! She said. "Sir?" "Yes, that''s right. Jin, look who just came in. That''s Gladia Hampton, the teacher I studied with for two years. Yes. The person who had just entered was a middle-aged man of a certain height but of a more conspicuous width. "I wish I could have greeted him. I wish I could have greeted you," he muttered to Bina, "Look, it''s almost our turn. Jin tells her. Then an attendant called out for Jin and Bina to enter. I looked around and there was no one left. Jin and his friends were literally the last to enter. "...... Oh!" All the participants were there in a hall that looked bigger than a gymnasium. No, not all. "His Majesty Harold Luan Autoclase-Egelea, King of the Kingdom of Egelea!His Royal Highness the Third Prince Ernest Lilim Andrew! Finally, His Majesty the King and His Highness the Third Prince entered the room. The king and a figure that looks like the prince are sitting in the far front of the room. On either side of them, a group of nobles, some dressed in gold and silver ornamental threads, others in shining jewels, each in their own extravagant attire, were standing in line. Standing beside them, covered with cloth, must be their respective golems. "Now then, we will celebrate the birthday of the King of Egelea, Harold Ruan Autoclaisse-Egelea, the 3rd Prince of Egelea, Ernest Lilim Andrew, by throwing a party for the Golem! A woman who seemed to be a facilitator declared the opening of the party in a clear voice, and all the nobles in the room applauded in unison. The nobles clapped in unison. When the applause stopped, the king raised his left hand. This time, the crowd went quiet as if the water had just hit the floor. "Good day, my friends! Thank you all for gathering here today for the sake of my child. Without bowing his head, the king expresses his thanks. It seems that the king''s speech is the same everywhere. Jin was somehow reminded of the principal''s speech at the opening or closing ceremony of a school year. "......That''s all from me." That was the end of it, or so he thought. Then the third prince, today''s main character, spoke up. "Thank you all for coming today. I really appreciate that you brought so many golems because you know how much I like golems. The third prince is smaller than Jin. He looks like a middle schooler. Jin is listening to the conversation, thinking in his head that he is 13 years old. "...... The one who brings his favorite golem will be rewarded by the father king. Please look forward to it. Now let''s see your golems! Finally, the long speeches are over, and it seems that the Golem is about to be unveiled. "Now then, I would like to begin the introduction of those in attendance and the unveiling of the golem. The facilitator''s voice rang out again, "Prime Minister, Mr. Galuelli!" An elderly man with a white head stepped forward, put his hand on his left breast, and bowed deeply. And then, "Golem,<>. The Magi Craftsman is the Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa, Lord Stearina. With that, Prime Minister Galuelli removes the cloth from the golem standing next to him. "Oh! "Beautiful! "Beautiful!" "Wonderful!" The hall was abuzz. What appeared was a crystal-clear golem made entirely of crystal. It was a female figure with a flowing body line that appeared to be in her late teens or early twenties. She was wearing nothing. No, if she was wearing anything, it would have spoiled her beauty. At her heart is a purple magi device. Her eyes are a fiery crimson. She is beautiful. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Ernesto. My name is Ceres. A voice like rolling bells. Flowing gestures. And the demonstration was a dance. Her soft, almost human movements captivated all who watched, and the eyes of the nobles in attendance were riveted on Ceres. Nay, even the king and the prince were transfixed. "Well, if you can''t see the seams, she must be using < to move." Jin was the only one who was more interested in the structure than in its beauty. "It''s probably not very efficient in terms of magic. But it is a beautiful golem. It is a work of art. Still, he was not shy about praising its shape. As someone who is not good at design, I envied his sense of design. The magecraftsman who created Ceres was a woman in her early thirties, or perhaps even late twenties. She is an intelligent beauty with copper-colored hair down to her back and reddish brown eyes. Her eyes were fixed on her work, Ceres. When the demonstration was over, the audience burst into applause. "This is going to make the golem after this look a little hazy, isn''t it? "No, indeed. "His Majesty''s reward will be the Prime Minister. The nobles whispered to each other in a low voice. 138 - - 06-25 Golem people "Now then, Mr. Braoloat, Minister of Finance." An elderly man with a thinning head of hair stepped forward and bowed. "Golem, <>. The magecraftsman is Herr J?rj?dare. An ordinary golem appeared from under the cloth, bronze in color and female in shape, in her mid-teens. "Normal, isn''t it?" "Well, I guess that''s the norm." The nobles are whispering such evaluations. However, when <> begins his demonstration, a look of surprise comes over their faces. Flowers blooming in the fields, meadows rustling in the wind. Glowing clouds, the blue sky stretching to the sky. Birds singing, trees rustling Gentle winds, this beautiful land He sang in a clear voice. "Oh ......" "What a ......" The three songs and the singing golem made a strong impression on the audience, although not as spectacular as <>. Next came the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior, and the Minister of Defense. They were all safe golems. "Minister of Magic, Mr. Kelihidole." A man as small as Jin stepped forward. "Golem, <>. It is your own creation. Then a pure white golem appeared from under the cloth. "Oh! "Oh, that figure!" The golem had pure white wings on its back. Jin remembered the golem he had seen in Potrock, but this < was more sophisticated. "Angel ......" The word was muttered without anyone''s knowledge. This was very curious, but there was no one to ask. flapped his wings slowly and bowed four times to his surroundings in a graceful, though not flying, motion. "It''s beautiful." That was the honest impression of those who saw it. After that, golems were introduced one after another. So far, the ratio of male and female golems is about 3 to 7. "Lord of Breuland, Duke of Bruu." Finally, the name of the Duke of Bruu is called out. "Golem, <>. Magecraftsman, Jade Nephroy." Duke Bruu''s golem was definitely a male form, and it was huge. "Oh, oh! Powerful! "It''s a mighty man." His appearance resembles shiny black armor, and he is over 2 meters tall. Today he carries a shield instead of a sword. It is a huge shield called a tower shield. The overwhelming sense of intimidation overwhelmed those who saw it, even without any demonstration. "Assistant to the Lord of the Blue Lands, Count Kuzma, Director of the Eastern District of the Blue Lands." Count Kuzma stepped forward and made a beautiful, textbook bow. "Golem,<>. Magecraftsman, Jin." No one is surprised to see Lotte appear from under the cloth. But, "My name is Lotte. Please make yourself at home. and then, in a clear voice, she bowed in obeisance with a flowing movement that caused some of the Gugenja to look at her with astonishment. The movements were more like those of a human being than fluid. However, most of the people in attendance did not notice it, "Well, it''s very conventional," he said. "Well, she is dressed in a lady''s uniform, but there seems to be nothing new in the rest. The audience did not notice it, but gave off the wrong impression, saying things like, "Hmm, it''s very conventional. "Did you say ...... gin? What is he? I''ve heard that he''s a magecraftsman from the team that won the recent golem boat competition in Potrock, Kingdom of Elias. "Is he free?" No, I''m afraid the Shoro Empire''s got him, Reinhardt. ...... I''m a little disappointed. Some of the nobles were talking about it. "Assistant to the Lords of Breuland, Count Galana, Director of the Eastern District of Breuland." Count Galana''s turn. "Golem, <>. Magecraftsman, <>." A golden golem is introduced. "Wow." You''re very flashy. Only a rich count would do that. He seems to have a bad reputation. "Viscount Grieri of Stoliar." The nobleman who helped us the other day. "Golem, <>. Magecraftsman, Gladia Hampton. This is a golem made by Bina''s master. It was a standard male golem, which one would expect to be the epitome of an ordinary golem. The introduction continued, and finally it was the turn of the invited guests. "Mr. Reinhardt, diplomat of the Shoro Kingdom. Reinhardt stepped forward. "The golem, <>. It is your own creation." The cloth is removed, and the Black Knight is revealed. "Oh, so that''s the black knight we''ve heard so much about," he said. "I see...well-proportioned figure, natural movements..." If there were a hundred of those golems, there would be nothing to be afraid of. The black knight (Schwarzritter), as a golem for battle, wielded a wooden mock sword and performed several kata. The reason for using a mock sword is because he was in front of royalty. "Ambassador of the Kingdom of Selroa, Dominique-sama!" A woman of a strange age stepped forward. She bowed gracefully, her waist-length blonde hair hanging down. "The golem, <>. It is your own creation. It seems that she is also a magecraftsman. The golem, <>, was a bird-shaped golem. There were three of them, red, blue, and yellow. Although too heavy to fly, the way they flap their wings and sing is quite impressive. Above all, the skill in keeping them within the size of a dove is to be commended. The nobles in the distance had not brought their golems, so Dominique''s was the last to go. "Excellent work, all of you! It is hard to say which is the best, but we will rank them later, at our discretion. The king''s words echoed. However, I would like to have some time for discussion. So, let''s have lunch, albeit in a standing style. I hope you will all enjoy yourselves to the fullest. 139 - - 2006-26 Raid We''re all here. Let''s get started. The Royal Castle of Egelea is said to have an ironclad defense. The Royal Castle of Egelea is said to boast an ironclad defense. The reason for this is the structure that was built after the magical wars by making use of the experience of those wars. The outer wall withstands physical attacks, and the inner wall specializes in magical defense. Furthermore, a magical ward to keep out the unwary. Lastly, the best knights of the Kingsguard and high-performance golem soldiers. These were the elements that made the Royal Castle of Egelea impregnable. * * * * * The unveiling of the golem began before noon, but it had been going on for more than two hours, and it was already past noon. Jin and the others were getting fed up. At the king''s order, preparations for a late luncheon finally began. The attendants set the tables and bring in the food. It will be some time before it is completed. Bina takes advantage of this time to go and greet her teacher, Gladia Hampton. Jin, who was free, followed her without any hesitation. "Hello, doctor, it''s been a while..." Gladia Hampton, who was chatting with someone next to her, stopped talking and looked at Bina, "...... who is it?" She looked at Bina and said with a disinterested look on her face, " who is it? "You forget, don''t you?I''m Beena, who used to work for the doctor until last year." Gladia Hampton thought for a moment and then finally remembered, "Oh, it''s you. I''m sorry, I have a lot of students. "No, please don''t worry about it." So what''s going on?Have you built a golem too?I didn''t see your name mentioned. "No, no, no, I mean..." When Bina was at a loss for an answer, Jin offered his help. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Hampton. Bina was my assistant and is here today. "And you?" Oh, I''m sorry, my name is Jin. "Yes, so?" No, no, that''s all. Come on, Beena, let''s go. With that Jin pulled Beena away from Gladia Hampton. Gladia Hampton resumed talking with her neighbors, as if she had already forgotten about Beena. "............" Beena was dejected. In a corner of her mind, she had hoped that the person she had looked up to as her mentor would see how much she had grown, and praise her if possible, but she had been betrayed so easily. "Well, isn''t it just like that?" Jin thought about what he should say to her and spun the words. "A teacher teaches a lot of students, right?From the students'' point of view, there is only one teacher, but from the teacher''s point of view, there are many students. It''s not something you can remember." "......Yeah, that''s true. I guess so. Thanks, Jin. Pulling Bina, who seemed to be feeling a little more energetic, Jin headed toward the dishes laid out on the table. Jin was hungry, and Bina, who was standing next to him, was also eagerly walking toward the food on the table. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Eladolite, a gemstone that amplifies magic power. A standard eladolite can amplify magic power 20 times per piece. If two of them are combined, it multiplies 20 times 20,400 times. And if you combine two more? The answer is 160,000 times. Even though it may not be as simple as the above calculation, it will never be less than 100,000 times. And 100,000 times the magic power enables the writing of the Magi Formula to the control core, which is normally done in the state of contact, at a distance of 20 meters. "<><>>" The golem received the Lord''s command and released all its hidden power. * * * * * * A chill ran down Jin''s spine. It was the same kind of magical power he had felt recently. "Hi-jin, ho-ho-hi-fu-ta?" Bina asked, still clutching her meat. But Jin looked grim, "Beena, be careful. "Huh?" "Aaahhhh!" At that moment, a scream echoed through the hall. "Beena, come here!" "Huh ...... kya?" Jin suddenly pulled Beena, who was about to fall down after stepping on the tatara, and held her up as he activated his magic tool. "Barrier!" All the golems that had participated in the golem garden party, including the golems that had helped the maidens carry the food and prepare the tables, had begun to go berserk. "Kyaaaah! Gah!" Screams were heard everywhere in the hall as the sound of things breaking echoed through the hall. What''s happening? "Your Majesty, Your Highness, it''s all right, I''ll protect you." No, it wasn''t all golems. "Are you ...... all right?Lotte?" "Yes." Jin created Lotte, "<>!Stop the runaway golem!" "Yes, sir." It''s Reinhardt''s black knight (Schwarzlitter). "d*mn!< "Ah!My ! All the other golems had left their master''s control and were running amok. "No! Stop it, stop it! The Kingsguard knights present struggled, but they were outnumbered. Less than 10 men could not hold off more than 40 Golems. Even if they wielded their swords, their opponents were metal dolls that felt no pain, and these were flesh and blood. 9 men became 8, and 8 men became 7. Among them, the vice-captain of the Kingsguard who was with the king and the prince was fighting a good fight. "Dorya! Among those gathered in the hall, only the knights of the Kingsguard were allowed to bear arms. Among them, Bruno, the second-in-command, was carrying a famous sword coated with adamantite. Wielded with full force, it has the power to cut a bronze golem in half. Bruno has just cut down his third golem. "King!I''ll hold you here!Please get us out!" "Uh-huh." King Egelea leaves with Prince Ernest the 3rd. Only Lotte follows them. They go to the emergency exit in the corner of the hall. Just as they are about to reach the emergency exit, the golem guarding the castle bursts through the emergency exit in front of them. 140 - - 2006-27 Battle of War "Whoa!" The emergency exit door blows open and two golems attack the king and prince. But... I won''t let them! The copper-colored maid golem blocked the attack. Lotte! Lotte blocked the attacker''s fist with her slender limbs, and even threw the attacker away. Her arm was slightly dented, but she didn''t care about that, and took on the other one, twisting its arm up and successfully ripping off its arm. Then he grabbed the other arm and threw it away. Lotte turns to the kings and tells them what is happening. "Your Majesty, Your Highness. It seems that most of the golems in the castle are out of control. * * * * An avalanche of battle golems, including guard golems and knight golems, have just come in from other entrances and exits. Jin and Bina are inside the barrier and do not feel any attacks from the golems. In such a state, "Beena, are you okay? "No, no, no, what the hell happened?" Jin lightly tapped Beena on the shoulder to calm her down, "Calm down. "Just stay with me and you''ll be fine," he told her. He explained the current situation to her. I think all the golems in the castle have been taken over. "What? Jin then briefly told them about the golem he and Reinhardt had met, <>. "The magic I felt this time was hundreds, if not thousands of times stronger. Moreover, <> and <> twice. You know what this means, don''t you?" Bina nodded her head with a blue face, "Yes. It means that ...... you don''t know who you''re dealing with, but you''re only taking orders from that someone, right?" "Yes. Maybe only my and Reinhardt''s were not taken over." He pauses for a moment and then says, "I don''t know if I can say that we''re lucky, "I don''t know if it can be called fortunate, but the only thing you could have done with the write-in would have been a simple order. I mean, like ...... to go on a rampage, or attack humans." * * * * "Black Knight, destroy him!" Like Jin, Reinhard analyzed the situation and concluded that it was a very bad situation. It was unlikely that everyone in the hall would be able to help, so Reinhardt looked for Erza and Count Kuzma. They had been lost in the initial confusion. Reinhardt looks around and gives orders to the black knight (Schwarzlitter). He has just knocked down a knight golem from the outside. Pick up his sword. Pick up his sword. ...... Come here." With a little time to spare, Reinhard had the black knight pick up his sword. Now he has a means of attack. "Elsa!Luis!Where are you?Are you safe? Reinhard calls out to Erza and Count Kuzma. In answer, "Reinhard!I''m safe!" Hearing that voice, he is relieved, but just as he is relieved, a golem attacks the Count. "The Black Knight! A golem tries to attack Count Kuzma, and cuts off one of <>''s legs just in time. "Sorry, thank you." He runs to Count Kuzma and tells him to stay next to him, "Barrier!" He activates the protection ring given to him by Jin. The two are now safe for the time being. What about Erza? Then the next concern is Erza. Erza was isolated. Thanks to the protection ring that Jin gave her, she is not injured, but she is surrounded by golems. "Rai brother ...... Jin, you ......" Because of the barrier, the golems stopped 30 centimeters in front of Erza, but she was so anxious inside that she was about to cry. "Help me,help me,......" * * * * What the hell just happened? Most of the nobles have no idea what''s going on, and half of them are either knocked unconscious or lying on the floor, badly wounded from the blows of their own golem, which was close by. "Ceres!It''s me!Don''t you understand? Celes, the crystal golem of Magecraftsman Stearina of the Kingdom of Celluloid, was no exception to the rule. However, its body is made of crystal and is vulnerable to impact. A swinging hand collides with another golem that happens to be passing by, and it shatters. "Ah!Celes!" As he swung his remaining arm around more, he hit a wall and finally lost both of his arms. Ste-Alaina, no longer in danger of being hit, clings to Celes and says, "Please! "Please!Please stop!I don''t want to see you broken!" With these words, Stearina used her engineering magic. "Write-in". Only Jin and the mysterious golem can use <> at the moment. Therefore, Stearina chose "write-in" as a means to stop <>. This messed up the control order and Ceres was stopped. In a moment of relief, Stearina was hit in the head by a golem from behind, and she lost consciousness. At the same time, Ceres was also destroyed by the golem. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Aaah! At the center of the scream is a . Even though it does not carry a sword, its massive tower shield, which is as tall as a man, is a deadly enough weapon by its mass alone. With one swing, three or four men could be blown away. "No, stop, <>! Jade Nephroy, the magecraftsman of the <>, tried desperately to stop the <>. But there was no stopping him. Finally, the tower shield wielded by the grazed Jade''s arm and blood spurted out. "Ow! It was only a graze, but Jade turned blue and ran away. However, there was another golem waiting for him. Fortunately for Jade, the golem was female-form. The blow only broke his ribs. However, the pain caused Jade to collapse on the spot, coughing up blood and fainting. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Your Majesty!Your Highness!Are you all right? At last, the Kingsguard rushes in. There were 15 of them. Their armor is covered with scratches here and there. No wonder, they had fought dozens of golems just to get to this hall. "Don''t spread out!Move in groups of three!" The captain instructed. Each of us was in charge of a 120-degree radius, and we moved slowly forward. You must rescue not only kings and princes, but also the prime ministers, finance ministers, defense ministers, and other important figures of the state. "Uh-oh!It''s coming! Shit! One of the Kingsguard knights has just slashed at the shiny golden golem that had attacked the fat count. But it appears to be stronger than it looks and only inflicts a shallow wound. On the other hand, the knight''s sword had spilled its blade. "d*mn, so it''s not all as it seems!" The golem''s target was turned from the fat count to the knights by the slash. "It''s coming, watch out!" The three knights gripped their swords and prepared for battle. * * * * "d*mn it!Get out of my way! The captain of the Kingsguard, Kelly, is now linked with the created by Bina''s master, Gladia Hampton. It is a problem because he is holding a sword that belonged to a guard golem that has already been defeated. Even a normal guard golem is about a head taller than a human and has a longer reach. It weighs three to five times as much as a human and is three to five times stronger. The custom-made , though described by Jin as , is still more powerful than the security golem. It is only a knight captain that can keep them on an even keel, but it is impossible for a mere member. Equal, equal, equal. The hall was a place where chaos reigned and the sounds of screams and metal and the smell of iron mingled together. Most of the participants were wounded or unconscious, and the unlucky ones were already out of breath. In the midst of all this, the counterattack was finally about to begin. 141 - - 06-28 Launch of counterattack Jin looked around. At first, he was confused and could not use his attack magic, such as or , because of the risk that they might engulf the people around him due to their directness and high power. But now that the confusion has subsided a little and there are only a handful of people standing, they can use them without hesitation as long as they know which direction to fire. Beena, stay close to me. What are you doing, Jin?What are you doing, Jin? Sparing no time to respond to Bina''s panic, Jin released a laser beam. The target is the golems that are swarming around Erza. Since he was not sure if the barrier of his protection ring would protect him from the laser beam, he started with the golems on the side of the barrier instead of in front of it. Again, in order to preserve the evidence, we avoid the area where the magi device is located. In other words, they focused on the lower half of the body. "That''s amazing. ......" Bina, who was standing beside him, was beyond amazed and was dumbfounded. Every time Jin''s bracelet glowed, the lower half of the golem evaporated and disappeared. After repeating this several times, the golem around Erza was finally wiped out. "Erza!" With tear-stained eyes, Erza watched the golems being defeated. And that it was Jin''s magic. "Jin, kun......" Erza ran to Jin, moving her wriggling legs, The ...... barriers collided with each other and bounced off each other. "Ahh!" Erza fell on her butt inside the barrier. Jin smiled, "Erza, we have to release the barrier, don''t we?" He looked around and deactivated his own barrier. Erza deactivated hers as well, so Jin took her hand and helped her to her feet. Erza''s hand was shaking a little in Jin''s hand. Jin wanted to comfort her, I''m sorry. But the place is still crawling with golems. If you can, take care of Bina for me. "What, Jin?" Patting Erza once on the head, Jin pushed Beena toward Erza. Elsa held Beena in her arms. And then.., "Barrier!" The two put up the barrier again. "I''m going to join Reinhardt and the others. That way at least we won''t be attacked from behind." "...... got it. Be careful." Despite all her complaints, Elsa understood the situation. With her legs still a little shaky, she and Bina went down to the wall. * * * * * * Back in time, the guest house. Reiko is at home. She appears. "...... what''s shaking now?" Reiko feels a mighty wave of magic flow through her. "It''s the same kind of magic that the golem Albus or something used last time. Are you going in the direction of the castle, toward the hall? Reiko started walking slowly. "Where are you going?" Laila, the remaining Royal Secret Maid, asked her, but Reiko only said "Your father is ...... in danger." She muttered and ran out of the room. "Excuse me!" Lila ran out after Reiko, "Ow!" She gasped when she saw the devastation in the hallway. A scavenger golem was running amok. I saw Reiko lightly hit and destroy it. "Aaaaah!" Laila rushes back to her room and locks the door. "What the hell happened?" No one answers. Meanwhile, Reiko increases her power even more and sprints down the hallway. The 20 percent that Jin is normally allowed. Two security golems stand in her way. "You''re in my way!" Reiko swung her arm once. As a result, the two security golems were blown apart and flew out through the wall of the guest house. "I knew it was the magic from before..." Reiko muttered as she advanced. The first time was weak, the second time was strong. Reiko sensed the second time, which Jin could not have sensed. It was near the waiting area of the Golem. It means that all of the reserve and miscellaneous Golems on standby were affected. What Reiko saw when she left the guesthouse grounds could be summed up in one word: chaos. Here and there, golems and knights or soldiers were fighting. The courtyard of the castle looks like a battlefield, with fallen soldiers and broken golems piled on top of each other. The human side is clearly in the wrong, but Reiko''s first priority is Jin''s safety. However, there are so many golems attacking that she cannot ignore them. Inevitably, Reiko had to destroy many of the Golems present. "Ta, thank God. ......" "What the hell is she?" "Is it a golem ...... or an automata?" To the wounded, Reiko may have seemed like a goddess of salvation. Now we have a security golem, a knight golem, a scullery golem. Golem, the golem, had risen up against the humans. Reiko slaughters many such Golems as she goes along. ?" She noticed an out-of-place white bird-shaped Golem among them, but Reiko didn''t check the details of the Golem, prioritizing to rush to Jin. Finally, Reiko crossed the courtyard and reached the door to the inner palace in the center of the castle. However, it was separated by a thick iron door. Reiko tries to push the door, but it does not work, as if it is sealed from the inside. So Reiko takes the quickest solution. That is, she destroys it. A loud bang sounded, and the iron door was distorted. "It''s surprisingly strong. The gap of about 30 centimeters was created. The fact that Reiko''s 20 percent blow was enough to create such a large gap shows how sturdy the door is. It is no wonder, for the door was about 10 centimeters thick. But it was enough for Reiko to get through. Once through the gap in the doorway, she found herself in a land of further chaos. In the plaza in front of the inner palace, the knights of the Kingsguard and the knights of the Mage Guard were fighting back against the golem. The Kingsguard knights were using their superior swordsmanship, and the mage knights were using fire magic, the golem''s weak point. The common material used for the golem in this castle is bronze. The melting point of bronze is about 1050 degrees Celsius with 5% tin. The melting point falls even lower when lead and other metals are mixed in. Golems made of low-purity bronze were deformed and immobilized when exposed to fire magic. However, fireballs and firebullets are not effective, and at least a flame ball is needed to be effective. And there were only a few mage knights who could shoot flame balls. Reiko moves toward the hall in such chaos, avoiding obstacles. Fortunately, the golems there were already fighting with the knights, so only a few golems attacked Reiko. This allows Reiko to go much faster than before. Moreover, all the people who were there had no time to spare and did not notice the little girl running toward the palace at a very high speed. The palace is in chaos. Swords, fists, and other weapons, as well as daily necessities such as mops, brooms, and trays, were being unleashed on Reiko. "It''s very noisy, isn''t it?" Even if they don''t hurt us, they are annoying and very much in the way of our progress. So Reiko finds a broken chore golem lying around, grabs it by the legs, and swings it around. Reiko weighs 33 kilograms (she gained 3 kilograms last time), and it is surreal to see her wielding a bronze golem weighing over 100 kilograms. It was surreal to see her wielding a bronze golem weighing over 100 kilograms, but it was very effective. The golem swung around in the passageway, which was only five meters wide and three meters high, although it was wide, scraped the walls and scattered its fragments, but it was still bouncing off the approaching golems. "Weight is a weapon in its own right. ......" Reiko''s steps do not stop even as she thinks of this. From the other side of the open door, she sees a flux of light (laser), probably by Jin''s magic, obliterating the golems. "Father!I''m coming!" Reiko increased her speed even more. * * * * * * Reinhardt, the Black Knight (Schwarzritter), and the Kingsguard were trying to gather the survivors in one place. Erza and Bina have also joined them, and are giving first aid to the badly injured by applying healing magic. "There are so many of them!" The black knights (Schwarzritter) were protecting the Kingsguard while preventing many golems from attacking them. "Black Knight (Schwarzritter)!Behind you!" The black knight (Schwarzliter), who had beaten away the guard golem, rescued a woman who was about to be attacked. "Oh, thank you ......." It was Dominic, the envoy of the Kingdom of Celluloid. She seems to be safe. "You''ll be relatively safe here." With these words, Reinhardt sent the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) out again. The Kingsguard members are putting combat second and doing their best to rescue the wounded. And then one more. "Erza-sama, please heal her!" "Yes, I will." Erza''s face twitched as she looked at the wounded man. The wounded man was Count Galana. His face was swollen and his nose was broken. Her right arm and left leg were twisted in a funny way. In addition, he was coughing blood from his mouth, as if his ribs had been broken. He hesitated for a moment, but then said "<><>" Erza casts a healing spell and performs first aid. Then.., "Oh, that''s His Majesty and His ...... Highness! A member of the Kingsguard spotted the king and the prince in the distance. The two were protected by a copper-colored maid golem behind a wall made of immobile golems. * * * * * * Even though there is a wall made from the defeated golem, there is no way that it can completely protect them. Now, <> has neutralized her dozenth golem. Her arms are covered in scars, and some of her fingers are shredded. The clothes she had been wearing were gone, her beautiful body was dented and scarred in places, and her joints made a creaking sound every time she moved. "Lotte, are you all right?" Prince Ernest asked worriedly. "Yes, Your Highness. I can still move. With these words, Lotte catches the sword of the attacking knight golem in her arm and prevents the prince from being hurt. But the cost was too great: her right arm was finally broken from the elbow. "Ah!Lotte!" But Lotte was unconcerned, "It''s all right. I feel no pain. This is dangerous for ...... your highness!" "Whoa!" Another golem attacks. I won''t let it! Lotte intercepts it. However, since she can no longer use her right hand, she is unable to block the guard golem''s left fist, and is hit in the chest. Lotte''s chest was greatly dented, but she didn''t care about that, and she clamped the thrusted fist in her still usable right side, and grabbed the golem''s head with her left hand. He then grabbed the golem''s head with his left hand. He pushed his left hand out at once, and the golem was blown away, spinning around like a spinning top. "So ...... amazing, Lotte!" The prince exclaims in amazement. "Yes, my father made me this way..." "He made you like this. ......" The king hears this and is about to say something, "Look out!" This time it is the sword that grazes the king. It is the knight golem. Lotte, who has lost one of her arms, is a somewhat heavy burden to bear. Even so, Lotte doesn''t back down and defends the king and prince, challenging the golem head-on. Lotte''s advantage is her speed and flexibility. It is a little tough to challenge the knight golem head-on. But she dares to do it if necessary, that is Lotte, that is Marm, the mother of Lotte''s character, and Lyanna, the basis of her movements. The knight golem swings his sword down from the top. Lotte catches it with her right arm, which is now useless. The rest of it falls from her shoulder on impact. But the knight''s slash was slow enough. With his left hand he grabs the sword and twists it up using the principle of leverage. The knight golem is easily dislodged at the right wrist, and the sword remains in Lotte''s hand. Lotte spared no time to replace the sword and struck a blow to the knight golem''s neck with the blade still in her hand. The sword bites halfway into the knight golem, slowing it down. Finally, Lotte has enough time to change her sword, and she brings it back to her left hand and strikes another blow. This time the head of the knight golem falls off, but the opponent does not stop yet. Lotte plunges her sword into the hole in the golem''s neck. The magi device inside the body is destroyed, and this time the knight golem stops moving. "Lotte!Are you okay? Yes, Your Highness. But Lotte''s left hand has also lost three fingers in the battle. It is clear from that that she is close to her limit. At that moment, Lotte felt a surge of magical power. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, it''s all right now..." Why? Why? Lotte smiles with a scarred face at the king and prince who look at her with a questioning expression, "Because my sister is here." 142 - - 06-29 Overwhelming "Lotte''s sister?" The prince''s face was strange. Lotte smiled and nodded her head, and reached out her left hand, which had been freed from her sword. "Yes, over there." Lotte points to the other side, and there is the service gate at the bottom of the hall. It was the place where the golems were swarming the most at the moment, the most chaotic place. A girl in a light blue one-piece dress and a white apron dress appeared from there. "<> This is my sister. * * * * Father! Kicking away the golems, Reiko rushes into the hall. She blasts away any golem or knight golem that gets in her way, and heads for Jin. "Oh, Reiko!I knew you''d be here by now." Reiko smiles happily at his words of trust, "So, what shall we do first? She asks for Jin''s instructions. When asked, Jin has only one answer. "Protect the humans and neutralize the golem that is attacking us. "Yes, sir!" Reiko kicks the floor forcefully and rushes into the swarming Golem. With a swing of her right arm, the knight golem is blown to pieces, and with a swing of her left hand, the guard golem slams into the wall. Reinhardt sees this and says, "Oh, Reiko''s here!" "What?Reiko?" Elsa and Bina also looked at him, and their eyes widened. The golems that had been swarming around were visibly decreasing in number. Not one or two, but five or ten!Black Knight, rescue the remaining survivors! Seeing this as an opportunity, Reinhardt decides to leave the golem to Reiko and focus all his energy on rescuing the survivors. "Be quiet!" The golem blows up. Reiko had already defeated more than 60 runaway Golems, but there were still more coming at her, no matter how many she defeated. Seeing this, Jin devises a plan, and gathers iron-based materials from the scattered Golem fragments, "Fusion". And then they were united, "Forming". They transformed it. The result is a striking weapon called a mace. It must weigh about 200 kilograms. Finally, it is hardened to increase its durability. "Hey, Reiko! Reiko heard Jin''s voice in the midst of the melee and came to his side immediately. "I know it''s a rush job, but try this." She pointed at the mace she had made. Reiko immediately knew what it was for, "All right, I''ll use it. With that, she lifted the mace with one hand, "Then, I will continue the sweep. With that, he plunged into the group of golems. "............" "......" Watching the whole thing from nearby was Dominic, an envoy of the Kingdom of Celluor, and Stearina, a magecraftsman also of the Kingdom of Celluor. They were absolutely amazed to see two out-of-the-ordinary things: Reiko''s power and Jin''s engineering magic. Reiko swung her mace, and four or five golems were blown away. "This is good." To Reiko, it was nothing more than swinging a wooden stick, but it was very effective. The golems are obliterated before the growling mace, as if it were blowing away scarecrows. 10, 20, 30. Ten, twenty, thirty... and then another ten or so, and almost all the Golems are gone. Reiko found the remaining Golem and took another swing. But that swing was stopped. "That''s ...... Taurus!" Tauros, the golem brought by Duke Bruu, was catching Reiko''s mace with its huge tower shield. "You can catch this? You seem to have some strength." Reiko held the mace with both hands, and swung it widely, "Can you catch this? He slammed into the Tauros. A roar went through the hall. Reiko''s mace was shattered, and Tauros''s tower shield and left arm were shattered. "It''s pretty tough, isn''t it?" Reiko, having let go of her mace, confronts the Tauros with her slender body. "This is for breaking the mace that your father made for me! At that moment, Reiko increased her power to 30 percent for a moment. Reiko hits him with her body. The laws of physics in this world are not much different from those on Earth, except for the phenomenon of magic. When a light object collides with a heavy object, the lighter object bounces back. But that is when there is no friction or resistance. And the strength of each object must be taken into account. Tauros is made of steel and weighs 250 kg, and Reiko is made of rare materials and weighs 33 kg. The speed of the Tauros is almost zero. In contrast, Reiko''s speed is 50 meters per second at the time of impact. The sound was even louder than the roar of the previous collision, and smoke reeking of iron filled the air. When the smoke cleared, the Taurus was no longer there, but only Reiko who was brushing the dust off her body. The silence that had come over the survivors breathed a sigh of relief. "Is it over ......?" Someone muttered, and with that, the tension fell from the shoulders of those who were there, and some of them sat down on the floor. In the midst of all this, Bruno, the second-in-command of the Kingsguard, whipped his wounded body and went to the king and the prince. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, are you all right?" "Oh, Bruno, are you also safe?" Please, come this way, we are gathering the survivors. "Okay, okay." And so at last the survivors were gathered in one place. Your Majesty! Prime Minister, are you all right? Your Highness, I''m so glad you''re safe. Yes, Lotte saved me. Lotte, whose wounded body was crouched behind the king and the prince. The king and the prince, Prime Minister Galuelli, Minister of Finance Braurort, Minister of Magic Kerichdor, and the ministers of defense, interior, and foreign affairs. Nobles such as the Duke of Bruu, Count Kuzma, Count Galana and Viscount Guglieri. Guests such as Reinhard, Elsa, Dominique, the envoy of the Kingdom of Celuloa, and Stearina. Magical craftsmen (magi craftsmen) such as Jarlidare, Jade Nephroy, Gladia Hampton, and Botes. Captains and sub-captains of the Kingsguard. Some of them were seriously injured, but they are alive. On the other hand, there were a few casualties among the soldiers and members of the Kingsguard. * * * * Reiko''s heroic efforts have cleared away most of the golems in the hall, and there are no new golems coming to attack, so the leading figures of the Egelea nation are discussing the future. Then, the Minister of Magic, Kellichdole, says "Mister Reinhard, why didn''t your Black Knight (Schwarzritter) and Count Lotte of Kuzma join the riot?" This must have been what he wanted to ask the most. In reply, Reinhardt told the story of the golem used by Valentino, a criminal in the Kingdom of Elias, and explained its modus operandi. He said that he had already told this story to the appropriate authorities in the kingdoms of Elias and Egelea, and concluded by saying that his black knight (Schwarzritter) had been modified to be immune to outside interference by magic. "I have not heard of such a golem. The report must have stopped somewhere. With a hard look on his face, the Minister of Magic was silent for a moment. Then Jin arrived with Reiko in tow. "Oh, Jin!And Miss Reiko!Thank God you''re here! Reinhard greeted Jin. Count Kuzma too, "Jin, your Lotte protected His Majesty and His Highness very well. He expresses his gratitude. Hearing that, Jin said.., "What?Lotte?" He looks around and sees Lotte in the back. In front of her are the king and the prince. When the king hears Jin''s name, "Oh, you are Jin, the Magi Craftsman. Kuzuma tells me that you are an excellent Magi craftsman. You are to be congratulated for having created this wonderful golem called Lotte. "Yes, thank you." Jin bowed his head when the king said so. He did not know how to be polite in such a situation, so he just thought it would be good to be on the down-low. "And you said, ''Reiko. You did a wonderful job. Was that yours, too?" is an automaton. "I see. I have many questions, but first let me thank you. All those present were surprised that the king of a country would thank a single magecraftsman. "You mean Jin. Thanks to you!If you can, will you fix Lotte for me?" Prince Ernest said. Jin looked up and saw Lotte standing behind him. All of the clothes she was wearing are gone. Her right arm is missing from the shoulder. Her left hand was missing the middle, ring, and little fingers, and her body was covered with numerous scars and dents. "Lotte, come here." Jin beckoned to Lotte, and she came with a slight limp. Looking at her from the side, you can see that she is in even worse shape. "Lotte, you did great. You did your best to protect His Majesty and His Highness. I''m proud of you." Jin tenderly cared for the scarred Lotte. 143 - - 06-30 Cleaning up afterwards "But my king, although the situation seems to be under control, I believe there are still golems running rampant in the castle. We will not be able to stop this disturbance until they are cleared out. This was said by the Prime Minister, Galuelli. "Yes, you are right. Then I''ll leave the command to you and the Minister of Defense. "Yes!" Prime Minister Galuelli bowed and turned to Jdl, the defense minister, whose broken arm was still painful, "Jdl, although you are wounded, you are still the defense minister of this country. You will go, won''t you? "Of course I will." Of course I will," he says, and stands up. Kelly, the captain of the Kingsguard, says, "You four, follow me. He sent four relatively lightly wounded men to escort them. "Black Knight (Schwarzritter), you follow me. Come back when I send them off. "Yes, sir." Reinhardt followed the black knight just in case. "Well, the arm is..." Jin was looking for the parts of <> with Reiko protecting him. "Oh, there it is! He finds his lost right arm. Two arms, one from the elbow to the tip and the other from the shoulder to the elbow. "I guess I can''t get the fingers," he said. So I searched for the best quality bronze golem pieces I could find and picked them up as replacements. "Okay, Lotte, lie down there." "Yes, father." There is no workbench, so he lays Lotte down on the table, which is still intact, Standstill. He makes her stand still. Then, the right arm is connected first. Lotte has a steel endoskeleton and magical muscles. And the exterior is bronze. Her magical muscle was damaged so badly that she can only manage to perform normal movements. "Wow, I didn''t know Lotte had such a structure." Prince Ernest peeks out from the side and says in admiration. "Your Highness, are you interested in the structure of the golem? Jin asked, "Yes, I am!I''m going to make a golem myself when I get a little older! He answered innocently. The surface of the golem was repaired by engineering magic. The mana in the mana tank has been depleted, so I replenish it. This is the end of the first aid measures. Some of my fingers are missing, but there is nothing I can do about that now. "Jin, aren''t these Lotte''s fingers?" Then Bina finds what looks like Lotte''s fingers and brings them to me. "You''re ........." ?" Prince Ernest was stunned and stiffened when he saw Bina''s finger. "Your Highness?" Prince Ernest suddenly took Beena''s hand, "You!What is your name?" "Beena, sir." Beena was puzzled and said her name, not knowing what was going on. The prince takes Beena''s hand, "Beena!That''s a nice name!Beena, will you be my wife?" "Yes, yes, yes! She suddenly said something outrageous. "I liked you at first sight!You look just like Lotte!" It was a suspension bridge effect, or should I say, the prince who liked Lotte, who protected him from danger, fell in love at first sight with Bina, the model of Lotte. However, she is only thirteen years old, so I''m not sure how much she knows what she is saying. "No, Your Highness! Then one person intervened. Count Kuzma, of all people. "She, Beena, I''m going to propose to her!" "What? ......?" "Ah ......" Bina heard the Count''s words that he had said in the heat of the moment right next to her . "What? She turned bright red and ran away from the room. She didn''t leave the hall, however, but simply went to where Elsa was treating the wounded. "......" "............" ".................." The prince, the count, and Jin are left behind. The air is somewhat awkward. "Uh, uh, oh, this is Lotte''s middle finger." Jin deliberately shouted and used it to repair Lotte, which Bina had found. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Unlike the atmosphere in the hall, a sweep battle was about to begin in the palace. "Okay, we''re ready now." Defense Minister JUDOR''s secret Kingsguard Golem. Not only was it not normally activated, but its magi device had been removed and deactivated, so it was safe and sound. After the magic minister Kelihidole checks them, they are activated and started up. Five Kingsguard golems stood up. "Okay, you guys, take down the golems that don''t follow us, okay?" "Yes, sir." The five Kingsguard golems, shields in their left hands and swords in their right, left the Defense Ministry basement. "That''s enough for now." "Now let''s move on." Next, he activated 10 emergency golems. These are all-purpose golems, and were given the task of collecting and protecting the wounded in the castle. Then, 10 more reserve golems are activated. They are assigned to guard the castle. Then he hears the sound of birds'' wings. JUDOR looked out the window and saw a bird that looked like a dove flying against the dusk sky. "A pigeon, huh? I envy you. With this muttering, Minister Jude turned his attention back to his work and resumed his discussion with Minister of Magic Kelliherd. It seems that the range of the slavery magic attack was not the whole castle but the area around the hall, and the golems on the second and third floors of the palace were safe and sound. In other words, the queen, the second prince, and the first prince were safe. "Tentatively, the range of the <> is approximately 20 to 30 meters in radius, and the most effective is estimated to be around 10 meters in radius. The most effective is about 10 meters in radius. Kerichdole estimates the range of effect from the appearance of the runaway golem. He recorded it for future countermeasures. * * * * The remaining golems, numbering about 30, were easily neutralized by the golem of the Kingsguard. Thus, the runaway golems in the castle were cleared out, and by the time night fell, the injured had been treated and order had been restored in the castle. Those who attended the garden party and were badly injured were sent to the infirmary, while those who were lightly injured were treated and returned to their assigned rooms. After recovering usable parts of the destroyed golems (i.e., magi devices), they were returned to their original materials and reused. Magical craftsmen who have survived are asked to cooperate in this process as needed. * * * * * * * * * * "Thanks to your efforts, we were able to minimize the damage this time, and I thank you for that. In his office, King Egelea, Harold Luan Autoclase, expressed his gratitude to Jin and Reinhardt. "I cannot thank you enough, especially Jin. It was your golem, Lotte, that saved me and my son. Then the king said, "Normally, I would have had you sealed as a nobleman and made a Royal Magi Craftsman, but you have already decided to go to the Kingdom of Shoro. It is unfortunate, but it can''t be helped. < "But," The king''s words continued. "That slavery magic attack, I want you to teach me how to prevent it. Not for free, of course. Tell me what you want first. I will grant it to the best of my ability. Jin wonders what to ask the king. 144 - - 06-31 Approach "Then, could you please leave Reiko out of it?" Jin''s request was decided. "Well, Reiko is the golem, or rather, the automata girl who fought off the golem in the blink of an eye, isn''t she? ............ well, I''m very, very sorry, but I''ll grant your wish." Jin was relieved to hear this. The king gave a few words to one of his aides who was standing by, "I will tell the Prime Minister and his ministers to be thorough. That will not be enough to satisfy us. Let''s give them something afterwards." "Thank you very much." Jin then spoke of his greatest concern. "By the way, did you find the culprit or the golem that did this? Kelly, the captain of the Kingsguard, answered his question. You are right to be concerned. The mage knights are doing their best to find it. Also, it is reported that the last of the runaway golems has just been subdued. "I see." As for the Kings of the Kingsguard, after Jin, the guest of the guests, had played such an active role in the battle, they wanted to at least finish it off with their own hands. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, I think the danger is over now. Please make yourselves at home." The king was relieved by the report of Kelly, the captain of the Kingsguard, "Ernest, I think I''ll rest then. ...... sir, take care of the rest." With these words, the king and the prince retired to their rooms, protected by their guards. "I cannot apologize to you all for the way things ended. The Lord Privy Seal bowed to each of the remaining nobles and guests. "This place is a mess. The guest house seems to be in good condition, so let''s move there. With these words, he led the way to the guesthouse. On the way, most of them were chilled to their core when they saw the thick iron door that separated the inner and outer palaces had been warped, thinking that the golem had gone so far out of control, but some of them had an idea who it was and felt threatened in another way. Gathered in the hall of the guest house were nobles and invited guests from outside the capital. There, once again, the minister bowed his head. "This is not a matter that can be solved with an apology, but I would like to apologize on behalf of the Kingdom. Then he prefaced his speech, "The dinner will be prepared here shortly, so please enjoy it at your leisure. Since the arrangements for the upper and lower chairs had not been made in time, the dinner was almost a rude party because of the emergency situation. Some of the participants had some grievances about the incident, but they were all mentally exhausted, so the atmosphere was such that they decided to leave such matters for tomorrow. The Home Secretary thought about having them bathe, but considering that they had been attacked during lunch and that it was already dusk, he decided to give priority to eating. However, due to the urgency of the preparations, there were not enough tables and chairs, and the meal was again served standing up. Those who were seriously injured were sent to the infirmary, so Elsa and Bina were relieved not to have to face Count Galana. "Oh, by the way, I''m hungry..." "Me too. I''m hungry too... I just started to eat a late lunch and then all of a sudden there was a commotion. Bina was standing by Jin''s side. Count Kuzma was staring at him from a distance. Jin felt her eyes on him, "Beena, how did you feel the Count''s feelings? He asked her. Beena almost spewed out the contents of her mouth when he asked her, "No, don''t do that!I still don''t understand! was all she could manage to say. Then Elsa came in. She was holding a plate full of citrons in her hand. "Thank you again, Jin-kun, for ......." He bailed, partly because he was afraid that if he bent any further the citran would spill out of his plate. "No problem, don''t worry about it," he said, "but I''m glad you''re okay. But I''m glad you''re okay." "Yeah. I was really scared at that time. No matter how many barriers we have to protect us, it must have been terrifying to see a golem swarming 30 centimeters in front of us. "Thanks to Jin-kun and ...... Reiko. Then he looked around, "By the way, where is Reiko? I asked. Jin smiled, "I''m here. ...... Reiko!" "Yes, father." Yes, Father! Reiko suddenly appeared out of nowhere after removing her stealth, surprising not only Elsa but Bina as well. It''s not something you get used to no matter how many times you experience it. You see, the bandits were using the Hide at the bottom of the pass, right?I studied it and made it more effective. ...... that''s enough, Reiko." Jin said and Reiko disappeared again. "I see. Jin, you''re really good." "What, <>?What is that?" Elsa and Bina reacted differently. "It''s a magic contained in an item used by the bandits who attacked us before. Elsa explains. Bina hears this and says "Yes. ......Erza is traveling with Jin, so they must have shared a lot of experiences." "......?" Erza wondered at Bina''s sudden dejection, "Beena, do you have a tummy ache?" "What?"No, no. I''m fine. "Really?Okay, that''s fine. ...... Oh, Brother Rai." Erza looked at Reinhardt. Next to him was a beautiful woman with waist-length blonde hair. "Is that ...... Dominique?" The woman was indeed Dominique, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Celuloa. She is outgoing in places and reserved in others, just the type of woman that Reinhardt would like. "But you don''t hear anything about Reinhardt''s love life, do you? When Jin said that, Erza said, "No stories about him?Rai can''t fly. Or is it about swimming?" Jin then explained to Elsa that the stories about Rai were about women. To his surprise, "My brother Rai has a fiance in the country. Then, to his surprise, she said, "My brother Rai has a fiance in the country. "He...... heh, to Reinhardt." Erza explained that a boy of noble family could get married at any time after the age of 20. Some of them get married as early as 18. "I see. What about women?" Elsa looked surprised and then immediately returned to her usual expression, "Some girls get married as early as 13 years old. Usually they are between 15 and 19 years old. He answered, "Is that so? "Is that so?" Jin realized that the age of marriage is low in this world. Jin, how old are you?I''m 16." Erza asked, looking into Jin''s face. She even mentioned her own age without being asked. "Me?I''m 20. Oh, almost 21." Jin replied, "What? Bina, who was listening to the conversation next to him, shouted out a crazy voice. "Hey, think about where you are!" Jin warned her, but Beena was excited, "Jeez, Jin is 20 years old!I thought he was the same age as me or at least one or two years older than me. "Me too." Erza agrees, and Jin is a little depressed. "...... am I that childish?" Bina looks flustered when he says this, "No, I don''t think so. I mean, you know,...... "You look young." Elsa offers a helping hand, but it doesn''t make me very happy. Certainly, there is a story that Japanese people look younger than Westerners. However, Jin once received a shock when a classmate at his old high school said to him, "Nido-kun, you look like an old man, "You look like a child, but you are an old man inside. No wonder he muttered to himself in a self-mocking tone, "You look like a child, but you are an old man on the inside. "Is it rude to call me Jin-kun? Erza, who had been calling him "Jin-kun," not realizing that he was four years older than her, asked him that, but Jin told her that it was strange to be called something else now and that it was fine to continue as before since Erza was of a higher rank than he was. "Excuse me for interrupting, Jin-dono, is it? At that moment, Stearina, one of the best magecraftsmen in the Kingdom of Celuloa and the creator of the crystal golem <>, approached me. 145 - - 06-32 Starena and Dominic "Let me introduce myself. My name is Stearina. I''m Stearina Gamma. "Oh, I''m Jin." The woman in front of me, who introduced herself as Stearina Gamma, is an intelligent beauty with copper-colored hair down to her back and reddish brown eyes. She is slightly taller than Jin and well proportioned. "I''ve been wanting to have a long talk with you. Now, may I?" She glanced at Elsa and Bina before saying, "Yes, yes. "Yes, yes, of course." "Yes, thank you." Then he took a sip of wine from the glass in his hand, "Your engineering magic is amazing. Who did you learn it from?Tell me if you don''t mind." She looked at Jin with her reddish brown eyes. Jin dodged the probing look, "From my master. "What is her name?" "Her name is Adriana." Jin answered, "Adriana! "Adriana!That''s the same name as the great mage who lived about a thousand years ago. Oh, so you are named after her. This is the third person who knows the name Adriana, following Reinhardt and Erza. And the same is true for the misunderstanding that she was named after Adriana. "I see, you must have been just as great as the , your master. Stearina looks a little distant. Then she looks at Jin again, "I just overheard that you are on your way to the Shoro Kingdom with Master Reinhardt, aren''t you? Jin answered, "Yes, I am, "Well, then we will surely pass through the Kingdom of Celuloa. I would like to invite you to my house then, if you would like. "Yes, ask Reinhard, if you can spare the time." "Yes, I''ll be waiting for you." Then, after some casual conversation, "It''s bad for the ladies in the back if I monopolize Mr. Jin too much. See you later." With that, Stearina walked toward Reinhardt. Erza came up to Jin as he was walking away, "Do you like big breasts too, Jin? Jin was startled and panicked, "What are you talking about?" "...... I''ve been looking at her for a long time." Jin was an orphan and never knew his mother. Perhaps because of this, he has a weakness or a longing for older women. Stearina was in her early thirties, and her calm atmosphere made him feel at ease, but he was ashamed and ashamed to tell Erza about it, I was just curious because she was on her way to Reinhardt''s place. Erza believed it easily. Erza easily believes it, "......Rai likes breasts," she murmurs in a whisper. She muttered in a whisper. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Reinhard''s black knight (Schwarzlitter) was amazing! Dominique said excitedly with a slightly red face, perhaps intoxicated by the wine. "Ha ha, I am honored. It was your , wasn''t it? "Oh, I''m so embarrassed. But all three of my birds were destroyed in the commotion. "That''s too bad. I would have liked to see them up close. "Oh, no, you''re very good." He was modest, but in fact he looked pleased. "I would have liked to show it to you and ask your opinion." He seemed to have changed his mind when he said this regretfully, "By the way, Mr. Reinhardt, why didn''t your black knight (Schwarzlitter) go out of control? He even asks such a question. As a magecraftsman, he seems to be concerned about it. After this, Jin, Reinhardt, and I are going to spread the countermeasure against the tentatively named <, so I decide to explain it to Dominic as well. "It''s a structure that protects the magi-device from magical vibrations. "Well, why would you do that?" Reinhard explained simply that he had seen a bandit he had encountered before using a golem with the tentative name of . Hearing this, Dominic showed a rather exaggerated surprise. And then, "Mr. Reinhard, I would like to hear more and more about what you have to say. If you don''t mind, can we meet after dinner? he asked in a whispering voice. In response, "I don''t mind, but ......" I was about to reply, "Well, well, well... I''d like to talk to you about that too. Stearina interrupted the conversation. "Are you ......?" "Yes, I am Stearina Gamma, a magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa, just like Dominic-san. I greeted her. To Stearina, "Oh, you are <>? I am. Reinhard replied, "Oh, you know what gamma means, don''t you, Mr. Reinhardt? "Yes, I do. I believe they have a selection committee every few years to decide the honorary positions in the country. Is it correct that you are the third? He replies, "Yes. He is indeed a diplomat. "You know very well. So, may I ask you a question? "Yes, you may. Then would you please come to my room? Yes, tonight at 8:00. Is that okay with you, Dominick? "...... yes." With a slight hint of bitterness in his voice, Dominique agreed. * * * "I wonder what Bina thinks of me. ......" Count Kuzma was sipping his wine alone. Thereupon, "...... Count." Bina, the Count, came in. "Whoa!Beena! Wine spills from the glass in her hand and soaks the Count''s sleeve. "Oops..." "Oh, don''t move. I''ll wipe it up. Saying this, Bina produced a handkerchief and hurriedly wiped Count Kuzma''s sleeve. "......I wiped it quickly, but there is still a little color on it." Bina said apologetically to the Count, "Oh, it doesn''t matter. You can change your clothes when you get back." But Bina said, "Oh, I''ll clean it up. " Engineering magic < is a magic that removes dirt and grime. With this magic, the stain on the sleeve of the Count''s dress was cleaned up. "Oh, I''m sorry." "No, I''m not much of a cleaner at all, but I can do this. Seeing Bina saying this with a slightly awkward smile, the Count decided to do what he wanted to do. "Beena." He puts the glass aside and takes Bina''s hand in both of his, "Will you marry me?" He finally said, "Will you marry me? 146 - - 06-33 Unexpected ambush 8 o''clock at night. Jin, Elsa, Stearina, and Dominique are gathered in Reinhardt''s room. The attendants are Leanna and Mary with Reinhardt, and Kate with Elsa. Laila with Jin was not there. And the maidens with Stearina and Dominique were not there either. The room is too small for them. "I''d like to hear about your black knight, Mr. Reinhardt." Dominique said with moist eyes. Her blue eyes were fixed on Reinhardt. "I don''t know what to tell you, even if you ask me to tell you. ......" "Oh?I have heard about it.Last year, wasn''t it? The battle golem simulation held in the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa, and you won it, didn''t you? That was the debut of the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter). At that time, the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) pushed aside all the other powerful golems, and in the final match, he defeated the Adamas Warrior, who was said to be the best in the Kingdom of Celluloid, and won the championship. "Oh, I wish I could have been there. If only I hadn''t been away from the capital on official business. ......!" Dominique is gradually getting closer to Reinhardt as she says this. "......Why is that man so attached to my brother Rai?" A little further away, Erza is making unhappy noises. Jin was standing next to her, "I guess he is interested in Reinhardt. He sips his fruit juice. "But it''s strange. Rai doesn''t usually attract women like that. Erza said something to which Jin couldn''t help but laugh. Another woman, Stearina, also came close to Reinhardt. "After all, he''s a nobleman and an excellent magecraftsman, so naturally he''s going to be interested in you, isn''t he? When Jin said this, Erza said, "But as a magecraftsman, Jin is better than you. Jin cut her off bluntly. "Haha, I''m honored to hear you say that Erza, but I''m just a regular guy." "No way. If you were an ordinary person, I wouldn''t be able to believe in this world. I don''t know whether to praise or criticize her. Jin, not knowing how to respond, decided to change the subject, "Well, come to think of it, Bina hasn''t come yet. Is something wrong?" Erza remembers what had happened at the bathhouse earlier. After dinner, she was covered with dust. After dinner, when she went to take a bath to clean her body covered with dust. Bina came into the bathroom at the same time as Erza. At that time, the Royal Secret Maids had been dispatched to clean up the mess, so I decided that I could go in there calmly. "Ah, Bina..." "Erza-sama, ......-san." After all, Beena can''t stop using honorifics. "You said Elsa is fine." "Yes, but ...... Elsa." "Yes, but Elsa," she said, "that''s fine." As Erza soaked in the hot water first, Bina, who had washed her body, came in. "Um, can I talk to you for a minute?" "Yes, what is it?" Bina looked around the bathroom to make sure they were alone, "Erza, what kind of relationship ...... does Erza have with Jin ......?" She asked. Elsa nodded her head, "Jin-kun and I are friends. She replies, "Jin-kun is my friend. But that answer did not seem to be what Bina wanted, "Well, then, what do you think of Jin, Elsa ......?" "Hmm?How is that different from the previous question? Erza asks back. To Erza, Bina asks again, "What do you think about Jin ? "Do you like Jin ......?" "Yes. "Yes, I do." Erza answers simply, and Bina''s face falls, "I like ......, too. She confesses, "I like , too. Hearing this, Elsa says, "As I thought. You like Jin just like me. We are the same." Elsa smiled at him. Bina saw Elsa''s gesture, "When you say you like ......, do you mean you are willing to marry ......?" She asked. * * * * (Marry ...... Jin-kun?) Erza looked at Jin who was standing next to her. (Marriage...... to live like your father and mother?And have and raise children? (......) She looks at Jin again with this thought, No, no.) I felt it in my gut. I enjoy Jin''s company. He knows mysterious things and is dependable. But I can''t imagine raising my own child with Jin. That''s why I couldn''t answer Bina''s question in the bathroom. "Elsa?" Elsa comes to herself at the sound of a voice calling her name. When she turned toward the voice, she saw Jin giving her a questioning look when she suddenly became silent. "Did something happen with Beena?When I asked her about Beena, she suddenly became silent. Jin asked her, "No, nothing happened. It''s just that Beena has been formally proposed to Count Kuzma. He revealed something outrageous. "Oh, really? I knew it." Jin is puzzled. To Jin, Jin-kun, what do you think? Erza asked him, but then some people interrupted them. "Excuse me, miss. We would like to have a word with Mr. Jin as well. It was Stearina who said so. Dominic was there too. Reinhardt had been released and was seen quenching his thirst with fruit juice. "That cute little automata girl, Jin, you made her, didn''t you?" It was Reiko. With her running around so wild, she must have been noticed. Yes, that''s right. "Yes, I did." "I knew it!It''s amazing that she can kick Golem''s ass with her body, I wonder what kind of structure she has? When I asked that question, I felt Stearina''s eyes light up for a moment. "That''s a secret. As a magecraftsman, I can''t reveal my secret technique so easily. As one would expect, Jin also said no softly. Then Dominic, who was standing behind him, said, "I wonder if she, like the black knight (Schwarzlitter), has a countermeasure against <>?" Jin guessed that Reinhardt had told him about this, "Yes, of course. Dominique then asked. Then Dominic said, "Oh, I knew it!" "Hey, I knew it!" he says, "Hey, will you let me see her? She lowers her body and takes his hand, looking up at him from below. Jin frowned a little, He frowned a little and said, "Well, I understand. Could you wait for me while I go get him? Then he shakes off his hand and leaves the room, and comes back a little later. When he came back, Reiko was following behind him. "This is my Reiko. Reiko, this is Stearina and this is Dominic. Say hello." Reiko pinched the hem of her skirt a little, "Nice to meet you, I''m Reiko. Dominique saw this and said, "Nice to meet you, I''m Reiko. Dominique saw this and as if he couldn''t hold back any longer, he hugged Reiko and held her. "Kyaaa!She''s so cute!I want one like her!" He said and kissed her on the cheek. Reiko does as he says. But her expression shows her disgust. Stearina can''t stand to watch anymore, "Dominic, what are you doing to my son? Enough!" Dominique says in a different low voice, "Yes, you''re right. If you want it, you can have it for yourself. With that, she pulled out a shiny green gemstone from her pocket. ?Is that, by any chance, an Eladrite?" Stearena exclaims, and at the same time, Dominic''s engineering magic is unleashed. "<><>!" Amplified <> from zero distance. Immediately after that, Reiko''s expression disappears. 147 - - 06-34 United Party "Mmmm, now Lako is mine. "Oh, how wonderful!" Reiko doesn''t move. "Dominique, you ......" Stearina squeezes the words out with a look of surprise on her face. "Yes, I''m a member of the Unification Party. "Unification Party?That group of fanatics! Dominique refutes Stearina''s statement. "They''re not fanatics. They are reformers and messiahs who will return this world to the way it was before the Great Magic War. "So Dominic, you''re the one responsible for the golem fiasco after all, aren''t you? Then Dominic smirked, "Yes, I am. I had planted Eladrite and Magi Crystal inside my bird golem. It was easy because I couldn''t examine the contents of the golem. There were red, blue, yellow, and white ones, and I activated them in the golem yard in the castle, and I think I hit the jackpot. Dominique blurts out her victory. Dominique''s smile is now one of superiority. "So you were acting like you were about to be attacked! Reinhardt says, "Yes, that''s right. But thank you for saving me, Mr. Reinhardt. Dominique says so. Her smirk is so hateful. "I''m stronger than all the golems in the castle, and if I bring back this Leco, I''m sure I''ll be a top executive. Now, Leco, kill everyone here except Jin and Reinhardt. Dominic gave a cruel order. Stearena, Erza, and Reinhardt turned blue when they heard it. If Reiko rebels, there is no one who can stop her. Except Jin. And Jin was calm. Reiko is standing quietly at the corner of his eye. "Reiko!What are you doing?Kill them all!" Dominique shouted at Reiko, who didn''t move. But Reiko kept her face blank and her voice cold, "Why should I listen to you?" "What?" Dominic looked at her, not understanding what she meant. "Only your father can give me orders." Reiko said and walked slowly toward Jin. She then reached into her pocket and held out the Magi Crystal, "Father, this is the MagiRecorder. He handed it to Jin. "Thank you, Reiko." Reiko received the stone and gave instructions to Dominic. Dominic was indeed annoyed that Reiko, his , had been taken over by Dominic. "Reiko, get Dominic!" His words were strong. "Yes, sir." Reiko replies, and then turns behind Dominic and twists his arm up in a flash. She also takes the eladrite from his hand. "Kyaaaah!Why?Why?" She can''t believe that the she performed at zero distance, even using Elradorite, had no effect on her. "Kuuuh!What the hell!" Dominic is still yelling. Reiko frowning. And... "You''re so loud." "Aaahhhh!" There''s a dull thud and Dominick''s shoulder comes off. "I''m sorry, I was a little overzealous. Please fix it, Miss Elsa." "Ow!It hurts! Dominique screams, but her body doesn''t move at all as Reiko holds her down. "Leanna, Mary, whoever you are, tie him up!" Yes, sir! At Reinhardt''s instruction, Lyanna, a member of the Royal Secret Maidens, rushed over and tied Dominique up. "Elsa, heal him just in case." "Nn. " The fact that she said "painkiller" instead of "cure" shows how angry Elsa was. Jin didn''t say anything either. "Then I''ll take him in." "Yes, please." Thus, the case of < was solved with the culprit caught. * * * * "Why did you think she was suspicious? "The waveform of magic I felt when she held my hand was the same as the one I felt during the day. Right now, Jin and the others are in Reinhardt''s room, being interrogated, or rather, reporting on the incident. They are Kelliherdt, the Minister of Magic, and Jdl, the Minister of Defense. "What?So you, Mister Jin, can read the waveforms of magic power? The one who was surprised to hear that was Kelihidole, the Minister of Magic. "What?Isn''t it normal? Jin thought that it was normal because the guild''s automata could do it. As expected, quantification is impossible. This is like being able to memorize a person''s face but not being able to draw a portrait of the person. To draw a picture requires a different talent. No, no, it''s not possible. I see... You are indeed a magecraftsman that His Majesty and His Highness would take a shine to..." Kerichdole nodded her head in agreement. "So, what was the method used to prevent that "rewrite slavery magic" at zero distance? At that time, Jin, who sensed Dominic''s intention to do something, used stealth to take Reiko with him and went outside for a while. Then, after taking some countermeasures, he entered the room with Reiko, pretending that he had called her. "That''s this." Jin pulled out the Magi Crystal that Reiko had given him from his pocket and showed it to her. "Well, take a look." He handed it to Kelihidole. The minister looked at it with his eyes and examined it with his magic, "I can see at once that this has a magic formula for absorbing magic power engraved on it. But what is the other one?I have never seen it before. And there is also something else that is too detailed to read here. He surrendered. While the Defense Minister stood beside him in amazement, Hitoshi said, "The other one is a record, "The other one is a record (Magi formula). The detailed one is the command she tried to give to Reiko. Jin explains to everyone. < is a magic that writes commands into the control core, the magi crystal. This is the magic that makes the MagiRecorder absorb the magic power instead of the Control Core, thus making it impossible to achieve the goal. "Reiko''s control core (control core) is heavily shielded with magic power, but I didn''t want to risk what would happen at zero distance, so I used this hastily prepared thing." I didn''t want to risk what would happen at zero distance, so I used this hastily made stuff. "Hmmm, I see. That''s instructive." Minister of Defense Jude was inwardly astonished to hear this from Kelihidole, the minister of magic who oversees the country''s magical technology. He was still young, but he could see the unfathomable skill of the magecraftsman, Jin, in front of him. "I hope you will teach me how to do that tomorrow. Jin readily agreed to Kelihidole''s request, "Of course. makes a mockery of the golems and the magecraftsmen who created them. I would never leave them alone. It''s a shame that the works we put our hearts and souls into are used in such a way that they are disposable pawns. As a person involved in manufacturing, Jin was furious that he could never allow this to happen. Stearina, a magecraftsman from the Kingdom of Celuloa, looked at Jin with kind eyes. "Now, I would like you to listen to what I have to say. The Minister of Defense, Jude, began. "Dominic was talking about the Unified Party. Elsa and Jin raise their hands. "Well, Mister Reinhardt, and Mister Stearina, do you know them?" Yes. As a matter of fact, I was once invited by the Unification Party. "Well, that''s a strange thing to hear. What kind of person was it? The Minister of Defense, who was hoping for some clues, hurriedly asked, "Before you answer me that, why don''t you explain to Erza-san and Jin-kun what the Unification Party (Unifiler) is? JUDOR sat back down and coughed once, "Well, the <> is an underground organization that spans the Kingdoms of Cerroa, Egelea, Franz, Klein, and others, and is a group of people who are trying to return the small group of countries to the << Kingdom of Dinar>> that they were before the Great Magic War. It seems that the main group is the Kingdom of Cerroa. The capital of the ancient Kingdom of Dinar used to be in the vicinity of the current capital of the Kingdom of Selroa. This is what Reinhardt had mentioned earlier at the restaurant in Potrock about the Kingdom of Celuloa''s suspicious activities. "At the moment, there are no territorial disputes because the population has been drastically reduced due to the magical wars, and it can be said that there is almost no friction between the small group of countries. Those who are willing to go to the trouble of unifying them and using military force are, I think, a destructive group." The causes of conflicts between nations include territorial disputes over resources, economic disparity caused by industry, and religion. In the case of the , it could be said that it is similar to religion. That is to say, it has members who are fanatics. Jude said he did not want to do anything that would disrupt a world that is generally running well, albeit with some power struggles and corruption. "I agree." Reinhardt, who had remained silent until now, opened his mouth. "Countries have been compensating for the lack of manpower due to population decline by developing golems. The "slave rewriting magic" that can control them in an instant is terrible and unforgivable. Countermeasures must be taken promptly and thoroughly in all countries. "That is right. I would like to ask for the cooperation of Reinhardt, Jin, and Stearina. Jin, Reinhard, and Stearina nodded their heads in agreement as Judele and Kerichdole bowed their heads in agreement, "With pleasure." I''ll help you. "Of course." And with that, they shook hands. * * * * * * "But ...... you said that Jin, what a ...... surprise he is," he said. I agree. Conversation between Minister of Magic Kelihidole and Minister of Defense Judele. "His identity is unknown. But he has gained the trust of Lord Reinhardt and is going to Shoro. If it were not for that, I would have put a noose around his neck and made him a follower of this country." "So much for that?" "Oh, Lord Juddles. Even I would not be able to do that. The thought of a magecraftsman named Jin who had made Kelihidole, the top mage in the Kingdom of Egelea, say such a thing frightened Jude, the Minister of Defense. "That automaton called Reiko that''s attached to that side of the castle can probably take this castle down with just one of them." "Not that much!" "And he''s sworn absolute obedience to Jin. I dread to think what would happen to Jin ...... if anything were to happen to him. Until we decide on a national policy, do not do anything unnecessary. 148 - - 06-35 Lotte remodeling The next day, Jin was very busy from the morning. "Jin-sama, His Highness Prince Ernest wants to see you. As soon as breakfast was finished, Jin received a call from the prince and went to the inner palace. There was Prince Ernest the Third with Lotte. "Ah, Jin, you''d better fix right away! Prince Ernest the 3rd says. Jin smiled and agreed, knowing that although he was being selfish like a royal, he cared for that he had made. "If possible, I''d like it if you could make it stronger than before. Jin replied to the prince who said so, "Tougher?Not to make me stronger? Jin asked back. The prince replied, "Yes, it must be better to make it strong, but I don''t want it to be broken more than that. The prince replied, "Yes, it must be better to be strong, but I don''t want you to be broken more than that. Jin liked this answer. Then, I''ll do my best to get it done. The prince was overjoyed. The prince was overjoyed, "I see!Then you can use any materials in the warehouse!I''ll give you permission under my name! With these words, he went to the back of the warehouse and came back with a document in his hand, "Just show this to Jin and he''ll let you through," he said. He gave Jin a permit saying, "If you show this to him, the manager will let you through. "Now, let''s see what kind of materials we can find here. With the permit in hand, Jin first rented a workshop in the royal palace. It seems to be a place where knight golems are usually maintained. He had Lotte wait for him there, and half-excitedly headed for the materials storage area of the royal castle, pulling a cart carrying materials from there. It was located in a corner of the inner palace, guarded by two soldiers, and just inside was a guard of the castle. Jin showed them the permit given to him by the prince, and they let him through right away. The officer came with him to keep an eye on him to make sure he did not do any catnip, but Jin did not have any intention to do so. In any case, it is a few steps inferior to the one in Horai Island. However, there are still some valuable materials. Jin has plenty of light silver and a good amount of bronze. In addition, he has decided to use a little adamantite, four magi crystals, and the leather of a sandworm. Jin pushed the cart with the materials and returned to the workshop that he had rented from the prince. When he returned to the workshop, he found not only Lotte but also the prince waiting for him. "Your Highness! "Ha-ha-ha, I skipped today''s study just to see Jin fix Lotte." Prince Ernest seems to like the golem a lot. No, he likes Lotte. "Is it okay if I stay here and watch?" Yes, please. Jin doesn''t dislike this prince who genuinely loves the golem. He stopped Lotte''s magic.., "First, we''ll strengthen the skeleton." After explaining this, he begins to work. "Oh, that''s light silver, isn''t it?And that''s adamantite." He has a fair amount of knowledge, as he says he wants to make his own golem in the future. "Yes, I will first replace the steel skeleton with light silver. Jin then proceeded to form Lotte''s skeleton with the same dimensions. A process that would normally be completed in a matter of seconds is done slowly for the prince''s sake. "Wow, Lotte''s skeleton looks like this. "We''re trying to make her more human-like." Jin continues to work while giving explanations from time to time. Next, the sliding parts are coated with adamantite. "Oh, I see. By using adamantite on some parts, it prevents them from being worn out. He has a very good understanding. The next work is the musculature. <. "Wow, I''ve never seen these techniques before. ......" The prince stares at Jin''s work as he says this. To be honest, a golem with muscles attached would be quite creepy, but the prince didn''t care about that. Finally, the most important part of the project, the installation of the magi device, seemed to be a simple matter of transplanting an already existing one, "Your Highness, this structure protects Lotte from the . Saying this, he holds out the magi device in front of the prince''s eyes so that he can see it better. "So this is the heart of Lotte. ...... Is this box mithril?Is there some kind of magical formula engraved on it? Yes, it''s a magic formula that prevents magic from coming from the outside. "There is such a magic formula! <. The difference is that it is generated in a space and in an enclosure. Jin says that he plans to inform the Minister of Magic of this method of protection against < after this, and resumes his work. The body should be placed in the proper position on the chest and covered with magical muscle around it. "This completes the first step. Jin then waits for the prince to ask him a question. Sure enough, the prince asked a question. "Hey, if you cover the Magi Device with mithril, it may not accept magic from the outside, but won''t it be unable to extract magic from the inside as well? This is a very perceptive question. Jin answers the prince''s question in an easy-to-understand manner. "Normally, that would be true. But do you see some lines coming out of this case? Jin pointed to about six lines sticking out. "Yes." "These are the conductors that transmit the magic power to the various parts of the body. Each of them connects to the hands, legs, head, and torso. I see. So there''s no way for magic to travel in the opposite direction from those lines?" The prince''s comprehension was outstanding. Jin was pleased and started to explain in-depth. "No, it does not. This line is made of mithril, which allows magic to pass through but not magic. The reason why is because ......" I explained that magic is just a wave of energy, but magic is an energy that has a certain substance, so it is difficult for it to pass through a conductor of this thinness. As expected, only about half of the students seemed to understand the explanation, but at least they seemed to get the idea that this is the way it is. "Jin is amazing. He seems to know more than his teacher. Prince Ernesto looks at Jin with respect. Jin smiles and resumes his work. "Now, we are going to start the final stage of Lotte''s rebirth. With that, he removes the exterior of the old Lotte and transfers it to the new Lotte. What was missing was made up with the bronze we had brought with us. The prince looks happy to see Lotte who regains her original appearance in a flash. When all the exterior parts have been transplanted, only the steel skeleton remains. All the other parts were reused. "Now, let''s put the finishing touches on it. Jin then returns Lotte''s skeleton to a block of steel (ingot). "Wow, how beautiful!" The prince is impressed by the way the skeleton becomes a lump while he is watching. Jin''s working speed is about one-tenth of his usual speed. Normally, the deformation would have been completed in a matter of seconds. "Separating zinc. " Separating the zinc used for rust prevention. The prince was muttering, "I wonder what zinc is..." But if I explained that much to him, we would run out of time, so we pretended not to hear him and moved on. "<>" This is the process of deforming the separated steel to form a disc. Yes, <>. This is also Jin''s playful way of thinking that a tray is a maid''s tray. But Jin doesn''t stop there. "<>. . <>" "Wow, it''s Bon Festival!" Jin''s special weapon, which can be used for striking and can also be thrown. Jin also made several knives from the remaining steel. Still there were some left over, so after thinking about it, Jin made a mop. It is a steel mop. It is also a very good striking weapon. He also made a tassel out of leftover sandworm leather. Finally, I call on Laila, a member of the Royal Secret Maidens, who is waiting outside the workshop. She knew that she had been following Jin closely, even if it was just for work today. "Ah, ah, um, may I help you?" Laila was a little nervous to be summoned to a place where the prince was also present. Or maybe not just a little. "Oh?I think you''re Iris''s sister in the Magic Knights, aren''t you? Laila was a little nervous when she heard the prince''s words, "Ha-ha-ha-ha!I am Aili''s sister. She bit it spectacularly. And it looks like it hurts. "I knew it!You look a lot like Aili!" "I''m not as good as my sister ....... ......" Laila looks down. Apparently, her sister holds a very high position in the Magic Knights. But Jin had something to do with Lila, "Your Highness, I would like to finish my business first. The prince stopped talking, "Oh, I''m sorry!Laila, Jin has a favor to ask you." Laila said. "Yes, what is it?" Jin then said what he wanted to do. "Well, I need a set of samurai uniforms in the same size as yours. ...... including underwear." "Huh? Laila turns red and looks down at him, and Jin thinks she must have misunderstood, "Look, this isn''t your uniform," she said. < I explain firmly. The prince offers to help, "Look at this. We''re going to put it on the golem. Isn''t that right, Jin? "Oh, oh, I didn''t know that, I thought I was ........." What was that supposed to mean? Jin wondered, but did not say so. Lila left the workshop saying she would be right back, and returned in about five minutes. "Oh, um, is this okay?" "Yes, thank you." Jin accepts the offered set of maid''s uniforms with thanks, and first activates Lotte. "Lotte,<>" "Yes." "Kya!" Laila, who was watching from the side, let out a small scream of surprise. It seems that it is surprising to see a lying golem suddenly get up if you are not used to it. "How are you feeling, Lotte? Jin asked, "Yes, father, I feel very well. Thank you very much." Then she turns to Prince Ernest and kneels down, Then he turned to Prince Ernest, kneeled down, and said, "Your Highness, I''m sorry for your concern. The prince was delighted. The prince was delighted, "Lotte, you are all right now, thank God! She hugged him. Then he shouted in surprise. "Lotte, why are you so warm? Jin answered. "Your Highness, in fact, Lotte has a magical circuit (magi-circuit) built into her that creates her body temperature. This is a function built into most of Jin''s automata and golems, including Reiko. The metal golem is cold to the touch, so the purpose of this function is to solve this problem. "Wow, you''re still amazing, Jin! The prince is even more impressed by Jin. Jin turns to Lotte, "Lotte, put on the clothes there." Lotte puts on the clothes and becomes a golem, a maid of honor. With knives under her skirt and on her thighs, a tray under her arm, and a mop in her hand, she becomes the fighting maid of Jin''s imagination. 149 - - 06-36 After, respectively. Prince Ernest, overjoyed, went into the back with Lotte, and Jin let out a breath and started to clean up the mess in the workshop. "Ah, let me help you. With that, the Royal Secret Maids, Laila, began to help. ...... "Oh, no!" She scattered the leftover material on the floor, "No!" She trips over a tool and overturns a shelf, "I''m sorry!" He accidentally kicked away the materials that Jin had put together. He kicked the materials that Jin had put together by accident and made a mess. Seeing this, Jin said to her, "Please stay still, "Please stay still,......." Reiko said and called Reiko. < "Ugh, am I useless ......?" Laila says to the depressed Reiko, "Well, people are good at what they do and not good at what they do not do. Jin could only say, "Well, people are good at what they do and not good at what they do. * * * * "......Bina is avoiding me." Count Kuzma complained to Reinhardt when he visited his room. "I heard you proposed to her last night." "Mm-hmm. He hasn''t shown me his face since. Saying this, he grabbed a bottle of wine that was in front of him, put his mouth directly on it and drank it straight from the bottle. "Hey, hey, don''t be reckless!" Reinhardt chided him, but the Count did not listen to him and opened the second bottle. "...... is a serious matter." Sighing, Reinhardt shook his head in resignation, "I''m going out for a while." He shook his head in resignation and left Count Kuzma''s room. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...... "I guess we''re finally halfway through." The hall where the golem garden party was held was a mess of rubble and broken golems. Cleaning up the mess were the attendants, servants, and members of the Magic Knights. A few of the Royal Secret Maids also seem to be helping out. The reason for the participation of the Magic Knights is to secure still-usable magic crystals (magi crystals) from the broken golem. So it is the male servants who clean up the debris, the maidservants who clean up afterwards, and the Magic Knights who pick up usable and valuable items from the debris. "Oh, this looks useful. One of the magic knights picked up a red magic crystal. "Here''s another one!" This time, a green Magi Crystal is found. The work is so uninteresting that they can''t do it unless it''s like a treasure hunt. Then.., "Ah, this is a piece of crystal golem, isn''t it? A magi-crystal embedded in a transparent crystal. It was indeed a piece of . "Oh, you found it." What?" I looked up at the voice, and there standing there was Stearina. "I couldn''t give up, so I came looking for the piece of <>, but I''m glad you found the most important part, the heart. She then lifts <>''s chest with both hands, "I''ll take it. With these words, he left. _ *BR>_ "It took less time than I thought," he said. "It was subdued in a shorter time than I thought. It seems that the golem was more powerful than expected. But did you achieve your goal? Yes. The amplification limit of the eladolite. It''s about 100,000 times stronger. There is not enough magic power to supply more than that. Also, the final amplification of Elradorite will break down due to overload. "Hm, two in series, 400 times is appropriate." I agree. And number two? Yes. I have detailed information on one of the finest golems in the Kingdom of Egelea and its allies, no doubt. We''re analyzing it now. So we''re one step closer to our long-cherished dream. "Yes, sir. Not just one step, but two or three. That''s very good. I''ll leave it to you. And one more interesting piece of information. What''s that? A magician named Jin... a magecraftsman... is said to be quite good. Well, that''s interesting. Where does he belong? He''s a Magi Craftsman from the Shoro Kingdom. He''s with Reinhard Randall. Reinhardt. He''s a guy I''d like to get my hands on. Good. Keep gathering information. Yes, sir. Acknowledged. ............ Bina was sitting alone by the window, looking out. It was already dark, and with all the trees planted, it was almost impossible to see anything. "...... wind." And a sigh. After a while, Bina suddenly turns around, "Hey, Lisa." She called out to Lisa, the Royal Secret Maid, who was standing behind her. "Yes, can I help you? "I was wondering if I could talk to you for a while, or rather, if you could give me some advice. After much deliberation, Bina seemed to have decided to ask her for advice, as she was close to her age. "Consult?If it''s all right with me..." "Thank you. ...... what do you think about the marriage between a commoner and a count? "What?" Bina honestly told him that Count Kuzma had asked her to marry him and that she was not sure whether she would accept or not. "Well, if it were me, I would gladly accept. "You would? "Yes. A countess is a very prestigious position, isn''t it? It''s a position you can''t get even if you wanted it! It seems that Lisa has that kind of personality. "...... compared to a magecraftsman?" "You can''t compare them. I''m not saying that magecraftsmen are bad, but their status is totally different. A count is an aristocrat, an aristocrat! "...... I see." Bina, realizing that she must have been asking the wrong person, turned her eyes once again to the darkness outside the window. * * * * * * "Miss, I''m so glad to see that you are safe and sound this time." Meane, the nanny, was changing Elsa and speaking to her sincerely. "That''s why I told you before that there are many dangers when traveling. But Erza shakes her head at Meane''s words, "No. There are some dangerous things, but there are also much more fun things." "Miss ......" "Hey, Meine, what does ''marriage'' mean?" "Yes?" Meane is at a loss for words, unsure of the meaning of the question. "Beena, Count Kuzma has asked you to marry him. But Meine understood what Elsa said, "Well, in my opinion, it''s not ...... a good idea." "Really?" Erza turns around in surprise at the unexpected answer. Meane finishes putting on Erza''s nightgown and walks around to the front of the room, "...... yes. I mean, men can''t ...... be trusted. You shouldn''t." "What?" Erza is even more surprised by Meine''s bombshell statement. "You are almost seventeen years old, and in the eyes of the world, you are of marriageable age, but you don''t know much about men yet, do you? Would you like me to tell you a few things?" "...... yeah." Elsa nodded, "Men think of women as tools to bear children. Otherwise, they are an outlet for their desires." The words came out of nowhere, and Elsa simply listened in silence. "When I was ......15 years old, I served as a lady-in-waiting in the house of a certain nobleman. My family was a wealthy merchant, and it was customary to serve for a few years as a chambermaid in order to learn the ropes. Then, after a pause, "...... there was a guest in the nobleman''s house. He was a foreign nobleman and a soldier. "Someone like your father." Erza mutters, her father is a viscount and one of the commanders of the Shawlo Imperial garrison abroad. Meine frowned slightly when she heard this, but immediately continued on as if nothing had happened. "...... The young man, who is a battalion commander in the national army, is to be taken care of by myself and another older lady-in-waiting. He stayed with us for about three months. During that time, he and I became man and wife. "A man-woman relationship?" Elsa, unable to swallow the euphemism, parroted it back. Meane smiled, "It means that we are not married, but we are still living together as husband and wife." Whether she understood or not, Elsa continued on anyway. "The man told me that he had a wife in his country. She also told me that he already has two children, two boys. Knowing that, I had a relationship with him." Elsa listens in silence. This is the first time Meane talks about her past. "You didn''t marry her?" It is not unusual for a nobleman to have a second wife or a concubine. Count Galana had said something like that to Elsa. "I guess I wasn''t even good enough to be his concubine. She never once said that to me." He let out a sigh and then continued. "Eventually, her period of stay passed, and she returned to her country. But by then, I had a new life inside me. "You mean a baby ......?" Elsa asks, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Yes. When the time came I gave birth to her. It was a beautiful little girl." "A girl ......." "I was going to raise her alone. My family was reasonably comfortable. But how did the nobleman know that? He wanted to take the child. The nobleman''s wife was frail and could not bear any more children. And a girl can be a tool for a nobleman to marry another nobleman. "......" "I refused. But the common people were no match for the nobility, and in the end the girl was taken away from me." "......" "That''s terrible." "Yes, it''s terrible. But now that I''m serving you like this, I''m not so unhappy. What happened to the girl? He looked worried. "From what I''ve heard, he was not discriminated against and was raised with the children your wife gave birth to. "I''m glad ......." Yes, that''s the only thing that saves my heart. "Aren''t you lonely?" Meane smiled kindly at the question, "I''m with you now, miss." She gently takes his hand. Erza gently takes her hand and returns it. 150 - - 06-37 After, 2 each Overnight. Bina was still troubled. Or rather, she couldn''t sleep all night, and the next thing she knew it was morning. Bina''s royal secret maid, Lisa, was asleep, leaning back in her chair. "...... morning, huh?" She muttered to herself and left the room to wash her face. The washroom at the end of the corridor. There was a dug-out well with a constant flow of water. In spring March, I rinsed my mouth and washed my face with water that was neither cold nor warm, but just the right temperature. Then he realized that he had forgotten to bring a towel. At that moment, a new towel was offered to him from the side. "Thanks for ......." I took it without checking who it was, probably one of the maids of honor, and wiped the water from my face. Only when he opened his eyes did he realize that it was Jin. "...... Jin." "Good morning, Bina." "Oh, good morning." For some reason, things got awkward. Beena waited for Jin to rinse out his mouth and wash his face. "Jin!" "What''s wrong, red eyes. Didn''t you sleep well? Bina hesitated for a moment, "...... I''ve been proposed to by Count Kuzma." She confessed. Jin responded, "Yes, I heard so. Jin replies, "Yes, I heard so. In response, Bina said, "Jin, you knew?" "Yes, Erza told me last night." "Yes, Erza-sama told me." Bina looked down and tried to speak again and again, and then stopped, "Hey, what do you think about ......?" She finally said, "What do you think, Jin? The Count proposed to me. I ...... congratulate ...... you." "Yes,......." "Count Kuzma is a good man. He doesn''t discriminate unfairly and he cares about his people. His servants are not strange from what I''ve seen. I don''t think he''d be insulted if Bina were to marry him." "............" "He has the passion to say such lines to a prince. I''m sure he would make Bina happy." "Jin ......" I could sense Jin''s feelings for Bina in every word of these lines. However, these are not romantic feelings. It was the kind of love that one would show to one''s family, even one''s younger sister. I realized it. I was made aware of it. "Hey, Beena?" Beena looked down for a while, but when she looked up, she was smiling. And then.., "Thanks, Jin. I''ve made up my mind. I accept the Count''s proposal. He said. Then she suddenly hugged Jin, "Jin, I love you." Jin said one word and immediately pulled away, "Thank you for everything you''ve done for me. I hope we can be good friends in the future. With these words, he ran away. The remaining Jin was stunned, not understanding what Beena had just done. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meane was deep in thought. She wondered what she should do now that she knew that Erza, whom she had thought of as a child, had become an adult before she knew it. She told Erza that they had become man and woman, but in reality, it was a more forceful and one-sided development. I forced myself to do it even though I didn''t want to. Over and over again. When I remember that, my distrust of aristocrats and men comes back to my mind. And what Elsa is going to do now. As a daughter of a nobleman and with two older brothers in the family, she is destined to marry someday. I hope the man is a good man, I hope he loves Elsa. "She''s ......" The words just fall out of my mouth. "He only sees ...... Elsa as a tool." * * * * "Well, then, Mr. Reinhardt, Mr. Jin, please. Jin and Reinhardt explain the countermeasures against < to the people in charge of the magical institutions, including the Minister of Magic, Kellichdorre. First, Reinhardt explains how to protect magi-devices by using materials that are difficult for magic power to penetrate. He explained that the shell of an armored turtle is effective so far. "Well, I see, if you don''t think about the materials, it can be done easily. Although it uses materials that attenuate magic power to a certain extent, it does not require much time and effort to modify. And since the size of a mass-produced Magi Device and the enclosure (case) to surround it are fixed, it can be mass-produced as well. Jin then explained. "The shield case was developed with the idea of not allowing magic power to pass through to the inside. Jin took out a sample he had prepared and placed it on the table. "The surroundings are made of mithril silver, which is easily permeable to magic power. The easy passage means that it is also difficult to release the captured magic power. I see. That makes sense. "If we leave it as it is, it will be saturated and we don''t know what will happen, so we have engraved a magic formula (Magi Formula) to convert magic into magic power and also to return it to the air. "Mmm." The magic minister, Kelihidore, raised his voice in admiration. "And as an insurance policy, we can also give them magic tools that absorb the magic that is released. Kelihidole applauded Jin as he concluded by showing the magic recording stone (magi recorder). "No, that''s brilliant, Jin-dono. Jin-dono''s method is reliable but time-consuming and expensive. Reinhardt''s method is easy and effective. I think that we should use Jin-dono''s method for important golems and golems with high combat power, and use Reinhardt-dono''s method for other golems, what do you think?" No one objected to Kellichdole''s proposal. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and Reinhardt, who had been instructing the golem remodeling until nearly evening, were relieved to finally be released. "Jin, let''s go sweat it out." Reinhardt said and invited Jin to take a bath. Jin, who loves taking a bath, agreed without hesitation. He went to the bathroom. There are always towels in the changing room, and if you ask, the maid of honor will wash your clothes and even dry them with magic. "Ah, I feel so tired. After almost a full day of teaching, one is tired in one''s own way. "Yes, indeed. But I''d rather be in a korontoh''s bathtub. Reinhardt says that the hot spring water coming out of the ground feels better than the boiling water. Jin agrees. The feel of the water is different. "Bina, I hope you will be happy. Reinhardt said to Jin as he soaked in the hot water. "Did you hear that?" "Yes, during the day, Lewis did." Louis is Count Kuzma''s name. "I''m sure Count Kuzma will make Bina happy. I hope so. "I agree." Jin and Reinhardt laughed. "By the way..." Reinhardt continued. "Tomorrow is Elsa''s birthday." "What?What? That''s very sudden." Jin was surprised to hear Reinhardt suddenly say that. I think he had mentioned that her birthday was coming soon in Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias. I''m sorry. I got mixed up in the Golem garden party and all that, so I didn''t get around to telling you. "I''m sure Reinhardt will be fine with the rocks he bought back then. ......" Jin thinks. Then he remembered that Erza was interested in something like a beautiful dagger. 151 - - 06-38 Hitoshi, Beena, Count "I''m not sure if I''m a good match for you, Count, but I''m very happy to have you as a friend. Bina had made it clear that she would accept Count Kuzma''s proposal of marriage. After talking to Jin in the morning, she had not been able to go to the Count''s room until noon. "Well, thank you. Thank you very much. The count''s face did not look good when he replied in this way. Bina saw this and asked him worriedly. "Um, Count?Is there something wrong with you? "No, I''m just a little hungover. The Count replied with a wry smile. As expected, Bina''s reply was vague, so he couldn''t say that she had been drowning her sorrows in drink. "I didn''t know the Count was like that. I thought he was a hard man. Bina said, and the Count replied, "He lost his parents early in life, and since he took over the family, he has been working every day, especially when it comes to his relationships with women. Hearing this, Bina giggled, "It''s not good to be too dexterous. Count, please take good care of me for a long time. She bowed her head once again. "Hey, Bina, I''ll announce the official engagement after we get back to Blueland, but, um, could you please call me instead of ......!" Jin, in full force, instantly turned the debris in front of him into a single piece. "What?" "<> copper. <> iron. <> tin. >Zinc. >Miseryl. >Light silver. ............" "Yeah?What?" Before Stearina knew what had happened, a mass of copper, iron, zinc, tin, and mithril had formed in front of her. "...... wind." Jin looks a little tired, as expected. The total amount of debris in front of him must have been more than a dozen tons. He had to fuse all of it at once and extract each of its components. It is not surprising that they did it in such a short time. "Oh, oh, oh, do you know what you''ve done?" "Yes?" Jin looked at Stearina, wondering why she was surprised at what he had said. "I can''t believe you did in such a short time what a normal magecraftsman (Magecraftsman) would have to do in a few days. ......" "Huh?" Jin, who had taken Stearina''s joking remark seriously, regretted what he had done, but it was too late. But then a good idea came to him. "Excuse me, Mr. Stearina?" He asked Jin, "......What is it, Jin?" Stearina replies with a backward step. Did he think that he would be silenced? "Here''s the seed," said Jin, holding it in his hand. Jin showed her something in his hand. It was a stone. It glowed a dark aqua color in the evening light. "...... could it be an eladrite?" "Yes. You see, when I caught Dominic, I took it away and forgot about it. I''m going to give it to Mr. Kerichdole after this, but it would be nice to use it for once, wouldn''t it?" He laughed and showed it to me. In fact, I had the eladrite, but I had not used it. But Stearina, who did not know that, was relieved. "Oh, I didn''t know that. I''m so surprised. I thought you were a monster, Jin-kun, who could do such a thing. Hearing this, Jin breaks out in a cold sweat. At the same time, he wished he could have one Eladrite. Of course, he wanted to fool himself about his power. "Well, since you made the rubble usable like this, I''m sure they won''t say anything about the delay in giving it to you. I think they will be rather pleased." Stearina seemed completely convinced that she had done what she had just done with the help of El Rado Light. "So, what is it that you want to make?" And back to the first question. Jin said, "It''s a dagger. A woman''s dagger. he replies honestly. The woman in front of him is a skilled magecraftsman and might be able to give him some advice. "Hmm, did someone ask you to do this for me?Oh, is it the platinum blonde lady?" Jin, who knew that the platinum blonde lady was referring to Elsa, said, "No, she didn''t ask me, but she was interested in daggers before." At this, Stearina frowned a little with her well-shaped eyebrows, "Are you thinking of ...... giving it to her as a gift?" She asked. She was right, so Jin was honest, "Yes. Actually, I just heard that it''s her birthday tomorrow." Stearina stared at him and then sighed heavily, "You''re so silly. She then sighed heavily and said to Hitoshi, "You''re so silly. "You don''t know how to treat girls because you''re always doing magic crafts (magecraft), do you?" "............" Not knowing what to say, Jin kept silent for the time being. "You know, giving a knife as a gift is a sign of . A ring or a necklace means that he wants to bind you. Oh, binding doesn''t really mean tying you up, right?" "Yes, yes." "Giving you clothes means I want to take them off, and asking you out for dinner means I want to eat you." It''s getting more and more dangerous, so Jin said, "I understand. So you are saying that a dagger is not a suitable birthday gift? "Yes. However, it is possible to give it as a gift for self-defense from an inseparable relationship, in other words, from one''s immediate family. Jin was further troubled by this comment. "Then the dagger should be given to me through Reinhardt, and my real desire is for an accessory or ......." He thought about it, "Well, what about a brooch or something? I ask Stearina. Then she asks him, "<>. Jin thought that might be a decent idea, and decided to make a brooch as well. "Jin, it''s time for dinner. Then Erza came in. She had been looking for Jin who was not in his room even though it was dinner time. Oh, is it that time already? Thank you for everything, ...... Stearina-san." "Oh, it''s okay, Jin-kun." With that, she sent Jin and Erza off. Jin was empty-handed, thinking he would come back for them later. "It''s nice to be ...... young, isn''t it?" They didn''t seem to hear him muttering that. However, Reiko, who had been following Jin in stealth, heard them clearly. "Jin-kun, what were you doing?" It was a natural question for Erza, but she could not answer honestly, "Well, I was looking for something useful," she said. "Don''t waste things, that''s what Meane always says. Jin-kun, you''re good." Jin was impressed in a strange way. 153 - - 06-40 Misunderstanding After dinner, Jin went to the rubble yard again. He was surprised when he told the superintendent that he had separated the materials into individual pieces, and in a great hurry he told his boss, who was already there with the magic minister, Kelihidole, and another high ranking nobleman. "Oh, you must be Jin-dono. I heard from the person in charge that you separated this from the others, didn''t you? The nobleman, whose name I did not know, approached Jin. He was a tall, thin man in his 40s with thinning hair pulled back in an all-back. He said to Jin I am William, the minister of the interior of this country. I am the minister of the interior of this country. "Yes, yes. I have to say something to Minister Kerichdole about that." "Yes?" So Jin pulled an Eladrite out of his pocket, "This is the Elradorite that Dominic gave me. In fact, it was with the help of this that we were able to make this separation. Both of them scowled a little, but quickly recovered, "I see, so you used Elradorite to amplify the engineering magic to perform this feat. It seemed that they had successfully misunderstood what Jin had thought. "So, I have to give this back to you." With that, he handed the Eladrite to Kelliherdre. "Well, I certainly received it. A little delay is nothing when you look at this separated pile of material, right, Sir? "That''s right. The material will not be wasted, it will be reused. The Lord Treasurer will be pleased as well, even though he is not here. Jin-sama said you wanted something from the materials, didn''t you?" William asks what Jin wants. Jin told him honestly that he wanted mithril and a few other materials. "Well, in that case, you can have as much as you need right here. After that, I will bring out the materials myself. The Minister of the Interior said so, and Jin was delighted to secure the materials. Mithril. Enough to make a dagger and a brooch. Light silver, copper, zinc and a little tin. Various pieces of magecrystal. Magi crystals are worthless if they are shattered. Even if they are fused with engineering magic, their magic power cannot be extracted. Imagine a magnet. Magnets have N and S poles, which attract and repel each other. Magecrystals (magicrystals) also emit lines of magic force, but by themselves they generate almost no force. Therefore, when we collect broken magic crystals (magicrystals), the direction of the lines of magic becomes random, and they interfere with each other and cancel each other out, resulting in a weakening of the magic power that can be extracted (this does not happen with magnets). "Hmm, is that all you need?If you need anything else, just let me know. Prince Ernest has asked me to make some arrangements for you. "What? His Highness? He likes you because of Lotte. "Thank you. But this is all I need. I see. Then I''ll take the rest of the materials away. Yes, thank you very much. Jin thanked her and left. The materials were heavy, but when they were out of sight of the two Ministers of Magic and Home Affairs, Reiko came out of her stealth and carried them for Jin. "Well..." He piled up the materials in his room and was about to start building when there was a knock at the door. "Yes, who is it?" Reiko answered on behalf of Jin, "Good evening, is Jin there?" It was Stellina. "Oh, Mr. Stearina." Jin stood up to greet her. "Is this a good time?" "Yes, come in." "Well, I''ll leave you alone for a while." Stearina got permission from Jin and entered the room. No one who was watching her ...... noticed anything, except Reiko. And even Reiko decided that it was nothing to report. To report every little thing in daily life to Jin would be to disturb him. Therefore, the fact that her friend Erza was across the hall was not something that should be reported. If Erza had something to do with Jin, she would have come to his room. That''s what Reiko judged. * * * * "Is that ...... Stearina?" Erza went out into the hallway to visit Jin''s room to ask him a question, and she saw Stearina just entering Jin''s room. "Jin, you, with Mr. Stearina?" Erza returned to her room, but she felt something hazy in her heart and went out into the corridor again. Then she went to Jin''s room, trying not to make a sound with her footsteps, I know I shouldn''t do this, but...) After a struggle in her heart, she puts her ear to the door. "......Yes, yes, I can''t believe it''s your first time." "Don''t flatter me." "I''m not trying to flatter you. Jin, you''re really good. I can''t beat you." "......!" Erza backed away involuntarily. What was that?) And again, timidly, she put her ear close to the door. "That''s amazing, you''re getting so hard, I''ve never done that before either." "Isn''t it normal?" "Jin-kun, you are just as I predicted. I''m sure any girl would be pleased with this. I hope so. I''ll make sure of it. I don''t know why I couldn''t listen to her anymore. Elsa walked away and went back to her room and threw herself on the bed. "Miss?What''s wrong? Meine, the maid of honor, called out to Erza in concern, but she did not reply and remained prone on the bed. The woman did not reply, but remained prone. "Mithril silver doesn''t usually get this hard, does it?" Stearina said in surprise, "Oh, it''s mixed with a little bit of copper. Stearina replied. "What?Really?" "Yes. Silver becomes harder when mixed with a little copper. It is called 925 silver, and it hardens when heated to about 500 degrees Celsius and kept at 25 It hardens when heated to about 500 degrees Celsius and kept at 25 degrees Celsius for a while, and becomes even harder when left at room temperature. It is also harder to darken than pure silver. Jin knows about the properties of metals since he learned all about them during his training as a newcomer, but apparently they were not yet known in this world. It seems that even when they make alloys, they do not control the composition ratio strictly. "And then you have to do , and then . It''s kind of amazing, isn''t it?" The finished dagger is a shiny silver color, about 40 cm long. It is slender and light. Moreover, because it has been finished with Jin''s all his strength, it is stronger than most steel swords. "But this shape, size, and lightness. Even a girl can handle it. They''ll be happy." I hope so. Now all we need is a scabbard and a handle. Jin takes a piece of light silver in his hand and transforms it. The size and shape are just right for the sword, and the sheath is finished with pieces of Magi Crystal. The hilt is finely engraved to prevent slipping, and the end of the grip is inlaid with magi crystals as well. "Now it is finished." A magnificent dagger has been created. The scabbard is light silver, the color soft gold, and sprinkled with small magi crystals. When pulled out, a sword of limpid silver is revealed. "I wouldn''t mind paying a million dollars for it," said Stearena. was Stearina''s comment. 154 - - 06-41 Jealousy The next day, things finally calmed down at the castle of Egelea. In the morning, all the nobles of Egelea were gathered in the castle, and according to Count Kuzma, they were briefed on the current situation and their future plans. Then, just before noon. This time, everyone, including the invited guests, including Jin and the other magecraftsmen, were gathered. First of all, the announcement was made that the disturbance was caused by the Unification Party, that Dominic, the envoy of the Kingdom of Selroa, was the direct culprit, that they had launched a large-scale attack using Eladrite, and that countermeasures already existed and that they were prepared to share their technology with other countries in the future. The announcement was made that they had already taken countermeasures against the attack and that they were ready to share the technology with other countries. Finally, the Golem party concludes. "I would like to thank all of you who have gathered here for Prince Ernest, although I am late due to an unexpected incident, and I would like to present my evaluation of the golems you have brought with you. At His Majesty''s words, everyone present bows deeply. Then William, the secretary of the interior, took over and the results were announced. "First place, His Royal Highness Ernest''s favorite golem, <>. Second place, the crystal golem, <>, which was a delight to the eye with its magnificent form, although it was regrettably broken." Everyone was satisfied with the ranking. Third place went to the black knight (Schwarzritter). There was no one below the fourth place. This time, it''s no matter. "Count Kuzma, Assistant to the Lord of Breuland and Chief of the Eastern District, who presented <> to us, will be rewarded with additional land, and its creator, Magecraftsman Jin, will be rewarded with a prize." It seems that Jin also gets a prize. This is different from the case of Reiko. "I would also like to express my gratitude to the maker of <>, Magecraftsman, Lord Stearina. It seems that Stearina will receive something as well. "I would also like to express my gratitude to the maker of the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) and diplomat of the Shoro Kingdom, Mr. Reinhardt, as well, and present him with a gift. The Egelea Kingdom''s compliments are expressed, and the prize is announced. However, Erza had a gloomy look on her face from this morning. Reinhardt noticed this, "Erza, are you in a bad mood? Reinhardt notices this and asks in a whisper, "Erza, are you in a bad mood? But Erza shook her head silently. "Well, that''s good. ......" Jin''s prize was the title of of the Kingdom of Egelea, and a very small Eladrite insignia. The fact that he was presented with an Eladrite, which was entirely controlled by the state, meant that he was treated like a guest of honor in the Kingdom of Egelea. In short, he was a person of trust and credibility. "Jin, you''re going to have a hard time ......" All the countries must want Jin. Erza heard Reinhardt''s muttering, and only then did she look up from her prone position. I''m so tired. "Ah, I''m so tired. Jin blurted out as he lay on his bed in his room at the guest house. He is not good at formal occasions. At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Come in," Jin said, and Reiko opened the door. Jin sits up and sits on the bed to welcome her. To say the least, it''s not polite. "Excuse me." With these words, Laila, a member of the Royal Secret Maidens, entered the room. She is supposed to be assigned to keep an eye on Jin, but she has been absent from time to time since the golem fiasco. So this time, she knocked and entered the room. "Oh, I''m sorry for troubling you for such a short time! Laila said as soon as she opened her mouth. "What?For a short time?" "Yes, yes!As of this very moment, I have been relieved of my duty to monitor Master Jin''s activities! < on watch. Jin could understand that. So.., "Oh, I see. Thank you for your hard work. He said, "Yes, I''ve done a lot of things. "Yes, I''m sure I''ve done a lot of things wrong, but please forgive me. Well, I don''t know if I have done a good job of monitoring, but as a maid of honor, I must have scored at least 75 points. Jin said, "Oh, thank you!" He blushed as if he was deeply moved and said so. Then he bowed deeply once again, Then he bowed deeply again and said, "I am sorry to leave you now, but I will take my leave." With that, he left. He forgot to close the door. "...... points down to 70." Jin muttered with a wry smile as he watched Reiko close the door that had been left open. * * * * "Elsa, what''s really going on?" After returning to the guest house, Reinhardt was curious and went to Erza''s room. "...... brother Rai." Erza, with her eyes somewhat moist, lay on the bed on her back, looked up at Reinhardt, and opened her heavy mouth. Then she speaks. She tells of the conversation between Jin and Stearina that she overheard last night. "......fun." "...... and then it got kind of hazy and weird. Why?" At that moment, Meane, who had been listening quietly, opens her mouth. "The young lady is talking about Jin-sama ......." But Reinhardt interrupts her, "Shut up, Meine. Erza asks, "Do you have any idea what Jin and the others were ...... doing?" Erza shakes her head. Erza shakes her head in denial. "I don''t ...... know. I thought they seemed to be getting along well. Oh, and Jin-kun seemed to have an unusual atmosphere of being taught by Stellina-san. Hearing this, Reinhardt concludes. "Erza, it''s an emotion called ." "Jealousy?" Erza looks up and mutters as if reciting. "Yes. You used to play with your brothers and me, didn''t you?You used to sulk and get grumpy when other kids got along with you and me." "............" Elsa listens silently. "It''s the same. You''re just jealous because Jin seemed to be getting along with other women." "No, I''m not. How can you be so sure? Reinhardt then gently stroked Erza''s head as she lay there. "That kind of thing doesn''t change no matter how old you get. If you were curious, you could have asked her directly, but you keep to yourself like that. You''re a very timid little girl, aren''t you? Reinhardt''s voice is soft and his hand is gentle as he caresses her head. "You must be 17 today.You''re still a child, aren''t you? She pushes Reinhardt''s hand away, "I''m ...... not a child anymore." Erza gets up saying that. "Okay, that''s it. You know, you can think of others. That''s what a grown-up does." The other guy... ...... "That''s right. You were the first to protect Jin when Albus attacked. Remember how you felt then." "............" "I''ll go check on Jin later." With these words, Reinhardt left Erza''s room. * * * * When Reinhardt visited Jin''s room, "Reinhard, you''re in the right place. I was just going to visit you." Jin said. And then, "Isn''t today Erza''s birthday?" Reinhardt nodded. Reinhard nodded, "When we were looking around the Borgia before, Erza wanted a dagger. I asked. I guess she was worried only about what Stearina had told her. And he backed it up, Well, it''s not often that a stranger gives a dagger as a gift. Most of the gifts are given by relatives or family members. But that doesn''t mean you can''t give them. "I see." For Jin, this was a subtle answer. Jin twisted his head for a while, "Then, Reinhard, I have a favor to ask you. He held out a dagger to him, "Reinhardt is a relative of Elsa''s, it wouldn''t be a bad idea to give this to her, would it?" Reinhardt took it and was amazed at the fine workmanship on the sheath and handle, and when he pulled it out, he was amazed at the mithril''s brilliance. "Jin, did you make this by any chance? Jin nodded his head, "Well, you must be very much loved by the god of creation. It''s a wonderful, beautiful design. I can''t imitate it. Reinhardt praises the design, but Jin scratches his head, But Jin scratched his head and confessed, "No, actually, Stearina did the design. Reinhardt heard this and said, "I can''t imitate it. Hearing this, Reinhardt remembered the purpose of his visit to Jin''s room, "By the way, Jin, last night you were doing something with Mr. Stearina, weren''t you? Jin asked casually. Jin looked embarrassed or ashamed when he was asked this question, "Oh my God, did you hear me in the corridor?Yeah, I''m fatally bad at design, and I was looking for materials when I met Stearina and asked her for advice. I was looking for materials when I met Stearina and asked her for advice. He added, "Don''t tell Erza. Hearing this, Reinhardt nodded inwardly. If you think about it, he has a little mother-in-law (?) named Reiko. Reiko is his little mother-in-law (?). It is hard to believe that the attempt to make a s*xual move on Jin would be so successful. Reinhardt breathed a sigh of relief in his heart and looked radiant, "Okay, I''ll take care of the dagger. With that, he clapped Jin on the shoulder. 155 - - 06-42 Happy Birthday That evening, Erza''s birthday party was held in the hall of the guest house. The guests of honor were Erza, her cousin Reinhardt, Count Kuzma, Bina, and Jin. There was also Meine, the nanny, Adberg, the butler, and Hermann, the guard. "Thank you all for coming today." Elsa, dressed in a young grass-colored dress, greets the guests briefly. Then Count Kuzma, on behalf of the others, "Happy birthday, Miss Elsa! Cheers!" The toast was proposed. Glasses are raised and clinked. And they all present gifts. "Happy 17th, Elsa!" Reinhardt gave a pendant with a large aquamarine stone. Of course, he bought it in Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias. At that time it was just a round polished cabochon, but now Reinhardt cut it and it is shining brightly. "Thank you, brother Rai." Erza''s eyes narrowed and she looked happy. She immediately puts it on a chain and hangs it around her neck. The color of her dress matches the color of the chain. "Congratulations, Miss Elsa!" Count Kuzma presented her with a perfume. It is a citran fragrance, which Elsa loves. It is not a strong fragrance, but a subtle refreshing scent. "Thank you, Count." Elsa takes a little out and puts it behind her ear. The faint fragrance is pleasant. "Happy birthday, Elsa." Jin gave her a brooch. It is made of mithril silver and is studded with colorful stones. Erza received it with a slight downcast look, but the beauty of the shape and color made her open her mouth, which she had been keeping shut. It is beautiful. Is this a magi crystal? "Yes. They''re too small to be practical, but they have all the attributes of magi scattered throughout." The shape of the crystal is also magnificent. The entire piece is made of mithril silver, but the flowers and buds are coated with gold, and the leaves surrounding them are coated with light silver, giving them a greenish color. The drops of dew on the flowers were represented by colorful magi crystals. "Lovely. I''ll treasure it." Jin said to Erza, who clutched the brooch to her chest, "Actually, I made it, but the design was guided by that ...... stearina," he said honestly. He said honestly. Hearing this from Jin''s mouth, Erza understood what he meant last night. Then she said, "No, this is from Jin''s heart. Thank you." He smiled at her and said, "Thank you. Bina gave him a bouquet of flowers. She had asked her maid of honor to buy them for her. "Thank you, Bina. I wish you and the Count all the best. When Erza said this to Beena, Beena blushed and looked down, and Count Kuzma looked a little embarrassed. Count Kuzma also looked a little embarrassed. And Hermann also had a handkerchief, which made all three of them flustered, "Thank you, everyone. You can never have too many handkerchiefs. I''m glad." Elsa said and bailed. Reinhardt saw this and nodded happily. The rest of the dinner followed. Meine, who knew Erza''s tastes, prepared the menu in collaboration with the cooks of the guest house. Elsa was very happy and ate deliciously because she liked all of her favorite foods. Who could not feel the warmth in her face? After the meal was over, they were chatting in harmony over a cup of after-dinner tea, "Well, Elsa, I have a special gift for you today. Reinhardt said and handed a long, thin package. It was about 40 centimeters long and a little heavy. "Thank you. What''s this? "Well, open it." Elsa opened the package as she was told. Her hand stops and her eyes widen. Out of the package emerges a dagger with a golden sheath and a golden handle. The scabbard is elaborately decorated and covered with colorful magic stones. On the hilt was a small but light blue magi crystal, the same color as Erza''s eyes. "Is this ......?" You were interested in it before, weren''t you? "Yes. I wanted something like the dagger my mother cherished. To Erza''s reply, Reinhard said, "Yes. That''s the one Jin made for me." "What?" Erza''s eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Gin asked me if it was okay to give a knife to a girl for her birthday. That''s what I call mature consideration. "Jin, you ........." Jin was embarrassed and looked down when she said that. Erza walked up to Jin and said "Thank you, Jin-kun. She bowed her head and went back to her seat. But she did not sit down in her chair, but held a sword in her hand, "I''m going to pull it out." With that, he pulled out a dagger. "Oh!" "How brilliant!" Count Kuzma and his escort, Hermann. It seems that these two understood the value of the dagger. No, the steward, Adberg, also understood its value, but he barely uttered a sound. The dagger is about 3 cm wide at the base. The blade is about 30 centimeters wide at the base, gradually becoming thinner toward the tip, with a sharp edge. The tsubaku, hilt, and scabbard are gold in color, which is due to the coloring of light silver. The magi crystals on the pommel are small, but they are clear and beautiful. "Mithril?" Erza seems to have an idea of what it is made of. A person with magical powers would know that the sword is capable of transmitting magic power and serves the same function as a staff. For a mage, a wand is a very useful item for directing and focusing magic. But it is difficult to give a sword the properties of a wand. Hard mithril silver is difficult for magic to pass through, and mithril silver is soft. However, the sword Jin had made was hard enough to allow magic to pass through, and seemed to be strong enough to be used as a sword. But.., "Elsa, a sword is not a weapon for a noblewoman to kill her enemies. Remember that." Reinhardt spoke to her in an unusually calm tone of voice. "...... brother Rai?" "For a noblewoman, the sword is the last vestige of dignity she has to protect. You can pull it out only when you really, really do not want to bend your will. "......?" "You still don''t understand it well. But that''s okay. Someday you will understand it naturally. And when you do, I want you to remember my words." "Yes, brother Rai. Okay. Thank you." Elsa thanked him honestly. To be honest, she understood what she was saying, but she was far from understanding. But she understood that her cousin had told her something important, and she promised herself that she would not forget his words. "............" And those words were not only in Elsa''s mind, but also in the mind of her nanny, Meine. When she did not want to bend her will. Twice before, she had given in to violence the first time and to power the second. I am not an aristocrat. So it can''t be helped, she tried to think so, but Reinhardt''s words strangely stuck in her mind. * * * * * * * * * * * * "I see that you have received detailed information. Yes, a pigeon arrived this morning. And how did it go? Yes, it seems there''s a golem with extraordinary power. Not the black knight Schwarzlitter? Yes, we have already investigated the power of the Black Knight (Schwarzritter). The thing that slaughtered most of the runaway golems this time has more than five times the power of the black knight (Schwartzritter). "What?Are you sure? "Yes. However, I don''t think a golem with that kind of power can move for a long time. I suspect that it is designed for short term combat using eladrites. "Hmmm... You''re right, you''ve already analyzed it. And the prospect of making a better golem. Yes, sir. You are indeed the genius I knew you would be. 156 - - 06-43 What is self-weight? The day after Elsa''s birthday party, Jin officially received his award and inventory. According to the inventory, he received a certificate of <>, an insignia, and a half-coat. Since I had received the insignia the day before, I have the certificate and the half-coat today. The standard attire for a noble mage is a robe, and for a knight a coat, but the Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea wore a half-coat. The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Egelea is displayed on the left breast and back. The certificate is a mithril silver plate engraved with Jin''s name and the words "guaranteed by the King of Egelea". The insignia with an eladrite on it, which he received yesterday, is to be worn on the chest or lapel of his daily clothes. And, although it is not a complimentary gift, Jin will be given a carriage and a horse for his exclusive use. At this time, when I told him that I wanted to make it myself like a magecraftsman, he laughed and agreed, writing out the necessary materials and handing them over to me. "Well, I guess I''ll just have to give it a shot now," he said. After yesterday''s award ceremony, Jin had been threatened by Reinhardt that he would be in a lot of trouble, so he was going to build a defensive carriage, at least in case of unfriendly contact. "Basically, the frame is made of light silver with adamantite coating on the sliding parts. It is pulled by a golem horse." You can imagine what an extraordinary carriage this would be. "The wheels are also light silver with adamantite ball bearings. But there''s just one problem. There is only one problem... there is not that much light silver in the castle''s warehouse. "Well, what should we do? Jin has an idea. It is to install a warp gate in the carriage. Originally, he had planned to install a warp gate to Horai Island somewhere, and he had brought the important parts with him. If a small warp gate that one person can pass through is installed in the cabin or in the corner of the luggage space, he can return home anytime he wants. And Jin is planning to bring materials from Horai Island. So, the first step is to build a temporary cabin. Since this cabin will not be used after the completion of the original carriage, it should be made appropriately. It is more difficult to set up a warp gate in it. Reiko, who is small, took care of most of the work, and Jin only had to fuse and joint the materials. The temporary cabin and the warp gate were completed in about an hour. Reiko immediately jumped to Horai Island to send out the necessary materials. "Well then, father, I''ll be on my way. With these words, Reiko jumped to Horai Island. On that day, Reinhardt and Erza were invited by Reinhardt''s friend, and Count Kuzma and Bina were invited by the Count''s friend, and both Reinhardt and the Count wanted to take Jin out with them, but Jin stayed alone because he wanted to build a carriage. Until the materials are gathered, Jin decides to study the details of the carriage. "Hmmm, I should be a little cautious," he says auspiciously. He is thinking auspiciously, "Hmmm, maybe we should weigh it a little," but he knows even now that the result will not be dead weight, but no one is here to point this out to him. "Would it be a bad idea to have a 4-wheel independent suspension ....... Let''s go with a trailing arm ......." The front and rear trailing arms can take a large stroke, and the axle acts as a so-called torsion bar. The axle is fixed and the wheels turn, so turning is easy. "What should we do about the damper? It would be a bad idea to make an oil damper. I should use a material with viscoelasticity for the suspension spring. Reiko came back to the room as I was putting together my ideas, muttering to myself. "Father, I''m home! "Oh, Reiko, just in time, I''ve just decided on a plan too. "Well then, I''ll start bringing in the materials." Reiko then speaks into the manacam in her hand. "This is Reiko, Topaz 2, send out the materials." "Topaz 2, copy." Topaz 2, who must be waiting behind the warp gate, replies, and after a few seconds, "Here it comes." A light silver ingot came out of the warp gate. Reiko takes it and places it next to Jin. "Okay, next." <, and Topaz2 follows the instruction and sends out the materials. In the blink of an eye, piles and piles of materials are piled up. Jin, who was watching them, said "All right, stop it for a while. If you run short again, ask for help." "Yes, sir." Reiko gave the order, and the shipment of materials was temporarily halted. (It would be convenient if Reiko and the others had a built-in communication function, wouldn''t it?) (It would be convenient if Reiko and the others had a built-in communication function...) Jin headed for the pile of materials, thinking about it. "Let''s start with the cabin. He decides to start with a space that can be used as a living room. The image he has in mind is a six-passenger one-box car. The interior dimensions are 1.8 meters wide, 4 meters long, and 1.9 meters high. Even Reinhardt would not hit his head on it. The frame is made entirely of light silver, and the walls and floor are both honeycombed and covered with wood to give the appearance of wood. So far, no one has seen it. It was worth working in a lonely place behind the guest house. "Well, now we can move the warp gate. The warp gate is moved from the temporary cabin and installed. Reiko can pass through it as it is, but Jin has to bend down a little to get through. However, there is no problem in its function. It is well disguised and hidden in such a way that it cannot be seen even if one looks closely. The windows are not made of glass but of white mica and have window frames that can be opened and closed. Skylights were also installed on the roof for ventilation and to allow the driver to look outside. Finally, the body of the car. "First of all, the wheels. The diameter of the wheels should be large enough to allow the vehicle to travel on rough roads, but if they are too large, they will affect the overall length of the vehicle (making it longer), so we decided on a wheel diameter of 60 cm. The wheels are made of light silver and painted black. "I think it would be better to have a larger stroke." I thought about the length of the swing arm. Then, an idea came to him. "Yes, yes. I don''t have to imitate the carriages of this world, nor do I have to recreate the suspension of modern Earth. "Golem''s arm ......" That''s the answer. Jin''s golem arm has a skeleton and muscles. Muscles are springs and dampers. In other words, when an external force is applied, it bends to release the force, and when the external force is removed, it stretches to quickly return to its original position. "This is good! So, using a reinforced light silver skeleton and magical fiber muscles, we ended up with a four-wheel independent suspension. The outside is covered with a light silver cover, so that no one would be able to tell that the inside has such a structure. In addition, Jin added a reclining function to the seats, including the coachman''s seat. He has also added brakes, something he forgot to do when he and Reinhard converted the carriage. It is a simple structure that uses a golem''s hand and a palm-like part with brake pads to grip the wheel and stop it. And a front light using the magic of <> and a ventilation system using the magic of <>. Furthermore, it is equipped with an air conditioner that uses the magic of <> and <>. Finally, we build a horse to drive it. In other words, a golem horse. You may be thinking, "Of course we can''t install a golem engine. I can almost hear them from somewhere thinking, "We can''t just install a golem engine, can we? The golem horse has been built many times and completed in a short time. At that time, "...... Thank God. We made it in time." I heard her voice. I looked and saw a gasping Elsa standing there. "Jin, I wanted to see the first carriage you made. Erza, who must have been running, gasping for breath and with sweat beading on her forehead, looked at the carriage with a twinkle in her eye. "Is this Jin''s carriage?" "Erza, did you come running?" "Yes." Jin was a little surprised at the unusual sight of Elsa, "Yes. Well, you can drink this." Reiko, who had prepared the snacks for Jin, who was absorbed in the cooking, took the Citran juice from the set and offered it to Elsa, "Thank you." Elsa thanked him and drank the juice in one gulp. "Fuu." Returning the empty glass to Jin, Erza again said "I want to ride in the carriage you built, Jin. I want to ride in it. Can''t I?" Jin couldn''t refuse. He had not tried it yet, but there seemed to be no problem with it, "Okay, we''re going to try it out now, if you want. With these words, Jin hurried to finish the last adjustment. 157 - - 06-44 Supercarriage The golem horses are tied to the wagon, and we''re ready to go. "Here you go." Jin opens the cabin door. Then the ramp comes down. "This is amazing!" This time, Elsa was wearing a long-sleeved dress, so she was wondering how she would get on the ramp, let alone get off (or jump off). A ramp would make it easier to get on. "Inside ...... interesting" Cabin for 6 people. 3 seats in 2 rows. Three seats in two rows, not facing each other, but facing the direction of travel. The windows facing the windshield are wide and arranged to provide a good view in the direction of travel. The seats are upholstered in Hexenbiest''s leather and cushioned with Hexenbiest''s cotton. There is a seat for the driver, but it is not really necessary because the driver is a golem horse. Therefore, the front can be seen clearly without being obstructed by the golem horse. "Reiko, please take a seat in the coach just to be sure," said Jin. Jin said, "......Yes." She answered in a slightly grumpy tone. Still, she didn''t look so bad, perhaps because Jin had once said that Erza was like a younger sister to him. Reiko, who was sitting in the governor''s seat, turned around and looked at Jin''s face. Jin was sitting with Elsa. Reiko''s face became a little stern. "Okay, please." Whether she realized it or not, Jin gave the signal to leave. Reiko gripped the reins extending from the golem horse and gave the command with her magic power. The golem horse quietly begins to walk away. "Wow. It''s moving." Erza is pleased. It will move. The carriage comes out of the back of the guest house and walks out into the plaza. The guards'' eyes roll when they see it. The carriage is okay. It''s a bit odd, but that''s all. But the horse pulling it. It is greenish-blue. That means it''s made of metal. That means it''s a golem horse. I had never seen such a thing before. Since it came out of the back of the guest house, I had an idea that it belonged to a guest of honor. But I couldn''t overlook the fact that it was so different, "Hey, wait a minute, that carriage there! He ordered the carriage to stop. "Reiko, stop!" "Yes, Father." The guard was even more astonished when he saw that the carriage had stopped and that the driver was a little girl. "Oh, are you Reiko ......? He used honorifics for some reason. "Yes, I am Reiko. Reiko answered. "Oh!I knew it!I''m the one who was saved by Reiko-san in the nick of time during the Golem incident the other day! "Oh!" Reiko, however, has no recollection of the incident. The others were literally just an afterthought. "So, what is this? It''s a carriage. "Well, it''s a carriage I built with your permission. Jin opened the door and said, "Oh, you are Jin-dono!You are the creator of Mr. Reiko and the recipient of the award, aren''t you! He''s a hot-headed guard. He''s even hotter than Reinhardt when he''s excited. "I see, the chariot you built. I see, so the horse is a golem too!That''s what I''d expect from an honorary magical craftsman! "May I go now?" Reiko asked, "Yes!Yes! Reiko waved her hand to the guard and he saw her off. "......A strange person..." was Elsa''s comment. was Erza''s comment. The plaza in the castle was cleared, so we couldn''t really test the comfort of the ride, "It''s amazing. It hardly shakes at all. I thought the carriage that Mr. Jin and Mr. Rai remodeled last time was great, but this is even better. Elsa exclaimed. We continue to increase the speed a little. It''s going about 10 kilometers per hour. I''m afraid I''ll be scolded for going too fast since we are in the royal castle. "Reiko, how much power does the golem horse have? I ask, "Yes, about 10 percent. Jin nodded his head in satisfaction, but Elsa was surprised. Jin nodded his head in satisfaction, but Erza was surprised. "I knew it. ...... Jin-kun is out of the ordinary." With that, the test run is over and the carriage makes a U-turn. The independently-suspended wheels are light, and the carriage turns almost on the spot. "What was that?" Elsa''s face was filled with incredulity. Her position gave her the opportunity to ride in a variety of carriages, and she realized once again that she was riding in a carriage that none of them could compete with. * * * * * * "Hey, Jin! I heard such a voice. I looked over to see the third prince, His Royal Highness Ernesto, with Lotte in tow. "I saw from my room that you built something amazing! He seemed to be interested. Jin got off the carriage and greeted the prince. "Your Highness, are you sure?Is it all right for me to come out of the inner palace? Prince Ernest said, "It''s all right. I am fourth in line to the throne. I have two older brothers and an uncle, so I''m not that important to the kingdom. The first time Jin hears the prince''s dismissive words, he says to him, "Your Highness, that''s not what I meant. Your Highness is undeniably your own son by blood. Think back to the time of the riot. He admonished. Prince Ernest listened with a nod, but then looked up, He nodded his head, but then looked up and said, "......Yeah, I guess you''re right. Maybe Jin is right. I''ll be careful. "You do that, Your Highness." Jin is relieved. Prince Ernest may be a selfish boy, but he is an honest boy at heart. "Well, I must say, this carriage is amazing! Jin smiled as he gazed at him with a twinkle in his eye, "Would you like to ride in it? He said, "Yes! "Yes! was his cheerful reply. "Well, there is a passenger on the boat, is it OK?" "The first guest?" The prince looked into the carriage and met Elsa''s eyes. "Ah, so that''s what this is about. Jin was snoring with this man. "So, Your Highness!" Jin panicked, Snoring? Erza doesn''t understand. Her name is Erza and she''s Reinhardt''s cousin. She''s my friend. "Erza, yes." Elsa stands up, picks up the hem of her skirt, bends her knees slightly, and bows. "Well, well. Miss Elsa, I am Ernest, the third prince of Egelea. The prince took Elsa''s left hand and put his mouth on the back of it. Such a gesture is the face of a 13-year-old but still well-disciplined royalty. "Come on, Jin, let me see you run! But the way he said that and got so excited was that of a boy of his age. Jin instructed Reiko to run the golem horse at 10 percent. * * * * "That was amazing!Jin, I want one too!Make me one!" Sure enough, the prince wanted the same carriage. 158 - - 06-45 Departure Day On the 18th day of March in early spring, after the chaos in the Royal Castle of Egelea was over. "Jin, come back again!Next time, teach me how to make a golem slowly! said Prince Ernest the 3rd. Jin, I hope to see you again. I''d like to see Bina with a cute baby in her arms. Count Kuzma said. "Jin,...... I can''t say much more than the usual, but thank you ...... for everything. I will never forget the last few days. I''ll never forget going to Conlonteau. Bina said. There were many other guards who were looking at Reiko as if they were worshipping her, and many other maidens who looked like they were leaving her behind. At 9:00 a.m., Jin and his party left the capital, Asunto, after being seen off by these people. The king said, "King, let''s go! "King, are you sure you want me to go? asked the Prime Minister in the throne room. He is dangerous. His skill, his knowledge, his abilities, and the automaton that follows him. All of them could be a threat. I understand. But I don''t think this djinn has ambition. Ernesto misses him too. But ......! What if we make a mistake and he turns completely against us?That one automaton, Leco, could take on my entire army. The king looked up at the ceiling, "Then it would be to our advantage to act as friendly as possible." "............" After leaving the throne room, "Sweet." the Prime Minister muttered. "There is no guarantee that we will not turn against them. There is even the possibility that they will kidnap you and force you to follow them. It''s not too late, send someone to ......." At that moment, a man approached me. "Is something wrong, Prime Minister?" It was the magic minister, Kelihidole. The Prime Minister spoke of his concerns, "Well, I agree with the Prime Minister on the big picture. According to the report that has just come in, that djinn possesses tremendous magical power. After all, it is said that he turned a golem that had been destroyed and discarded into material all at once. The magic that Jin performed recently to turn scrap into material by <. He said he used eladolite, but even so, it is ineffective unless magic power is supplied. For example, a transistor amplifies an electric current, but only with a proper power source. It is never something out of nothing. The same is true of eladolite. Without a magi crystal, which is the source of magical power, it is impossible to release amplified magic. Because Eladrite and its operation are state secrets, Jin, who had no such knowledge, was unaware of this fact. Of course, Stearina was there, too. That was one of the reasons why they only told him that Elradorite amplifies magic power. "But personally, I''d like to be friends with him. Since even the Minister of Magic had said this about Jin, Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli, the Prime Minister of Japan, said, "Hmmm... "Well, we can''t just stand by and do nothing. We must at least keep an eye on him. He instructed his subordinates, "We must at least keep an eye on them. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, this coach is really comfortable. "Yes. I want to ride in it from now on. Reinhardt rode in Jin''s carriage for the first time that day and was amazed at how comfortable it was. Erza seemed to like it very much and sat down next to Jin as if it were natural. "No wonder the prince wants this one. Yesterday, that is, March 17, I had spent the whole day building a carriage exclusively for Prince Ernest and also teaching the guild about the structure of this carriage with a suspension system using a golem arm. Of course, it is not a prince''s carriage, but a carriage for the prince. Of course, even though it was exclusively for the prince, it was not equipped with air conditioning. Even the output of the golem horse was a degraded version of Jin''s carriage, with the output of the golem horse reduced to 10 percent. It was a pity that the material control officer turned pale in spite of this. The same goes for the structure that he taught to the guild. Nevertheless, it is innovative as a carriage and may become the mainstream in the future. "And an autonomous golem horse. I like this one." Now that they have left the capital and there are not many people around, Reiko is back in the cabin and the golem horse is leading the carriage by itself. For a while after leaving the capital city of Asunto, the landscape remained rural, but gradually the houses became sparser and sparser. Then we saw a row of red stakes, and after that, not even a shadow of a house could be seen. Not a single shack was to be seen. However, with meadows and forests, the environment did not seem to be bad at all. "This area north of Asund is owned by the royal family," Reinhardt explained. Reinhard explains. "See the red stakes?There are precious medicinal herbs and rare flowers growing beyond that point, so they restrict the area in various ways. It''s a protected area. "Are people allowed here?" Jin asked, "No, individuals are not allowed. Individuals are allowed to collect medicinal herbs. As long as they do not collect in large quantities. "However, cultivating land and grazing are not allowed. This is normal in a protected area. "So you can''t even live here?" No wonder there are no people there. The carriage drives on, admiring the landscape that has been kept in its natural state. Then, near noon, the red pile is seen again. "Hey, we''re finally through the reserve," Reinhardt said. Reinhard said. "It''s almost noon, let''s go somewhere nice for lunch. Normally there would be a village or a town, but the protected area is surrounded by nothing but nature. "Actually, this course is not the main highway. If it were the main road, there would be a proper station. Reinhardt says something like that. "Then why?" Erza answered Jin''s natural question. Jin-kun. You''ll understand that in a little while. "?" We left the question for now and drove the carriage a little further. After about 10 minutes, the view opens up and I see a bright reddish-purple color. "Oh?" I exclaimed to Jin, "Huh, are you surprised?I was surprised when I saw it for the first time too. Spread out before my eyes was a reddish-purple carpet. It turned out to be a flower garden. "I wanted to have lunch here, so I asked him to come this way." He had passed by here by chance when he traveled here some years ago, and the view had stuck in his mind''s eye. I wanted to show this view to Jin-kun. That''s why I asked my brother Rai to let me pass this way. "Oh, I see. Yes, it''s a beautiful view. Thank you, Elsa." "Yeah. I''m glad you like it." A little further down the road, there was a square where we could park the carriage. "Come on, let''s have lunch." Meane, in an unusually good mood, leads the way in preparing lunch. They spread out a rug right next to the flower garden, "Here you go, ladies and gentlemen". Slices of hard bread, similar to French bread, are served with warm soup. The same bread is baked a little, then sliced meat is put on top and baked some more. Salad prepared in the morning. Tea. It was the first day on the road, so they had everything they needed to prepare the meal. "Yes, it''s good!" Reinhard compliments on the food. "Meine, this is delicious! "It''s good." "Thank you." The soup was seasoned to Erza''s liking, and of course she enjoyed it. This time Meane did not cause any problems, so the lunch ended in harmony. "We''ll be in the next town in less than an hour, so let''s take it easy. Reinhardt said as he looked out over the flower garden, "Yes, three lives." Erza ran into the flower garden with joy. Jin also approached the flower garden. He sits down, picks a flower, and holds it in front of him. The small reddish-purple flowers clumped together. Each tiny flower looks much like a pea flower. "It looks like a lotus flower," he said. The small rice field behind the orphanage, where they used to sow the seeds of lentils for fertilizer in the spring. For the first time in a long time, Jin remembered the world he used to live in. He could hear the sound of young children''s laughter and see them running around. "Father?" Reiko, perhaps noticing Jin''s unusual appearance, sat down beside him and looked into his face before he knew it. Is something wrong?" "...... No, nothing. I was just thinking about the past. "Long time ago? The world where your father used to live? "Yes." When Jin nodded, Reiko looked worried, "Um, does your father feel annoyed that I''ve invited you here?" She asked him with a hint of sarcasm. Jin shook his head, "No, not at all. I would have died if you hadn''t , so I''m grateful, but not annoyed. Reiko''s brow furrows as she replies, "That''s all right, then, "That''s all right then. It''s just that your father''s face looked sad. Saying this, she gently takes Jin''s left hand in hers. Jin and Reiko stayed like that for a while. Jin and Reiko stayed like that for a while, and then Jin suddenly thought of something. He picked up a few linden bushes and started to make something. "Father?" Reiko looked at him quizzically. Jin picked and twisted them one after another, and then wove them into a braid, "Now, it''s done!" He was making a crown of flowers. And then.., "Here, Reiko." "and put it on Reiko''s head. "Oh, Father?" Reiko is surprised to suddenly have a flower crown made by Jin on her head, "Oh, you''re so cute, Reiko." Jin said with a slightly sad but kind smile. "Father, ......" Reiko looked down a little, "Thank you, sir." Reiko smiled and thanked him. "Oh, what''s that?" I turned around to see Elsa standing there, wondering when she had returned. She lifted the hem of her skirt a little and put the flowers she had picked in it. "Hi, Elsa. You have gathered a lot of flowers. The flowers Elsa had gathered included white and yellow flowers, except for the rhododendrons. There were also white and yellow flowers mixed in among the flowers Elsa collected. When Jin saw them, he said, "Do you want a crown of flowers, Elsa? Elsa nodded her head. Jin immediately started to make another one. Most of it is made of lotus flowers. He then adds a yellow flower that Erza had picked to accentuate the crown. "It''s done. Here, Elsa." Jin then placed the crown on Erza''s head. Erza''s cheeks flushed a little, "Thank you for ......" she says shyly. It was a warm spring day in the late afternoon. 159 - - 07-01 Cleaning! Spring March, 18th. Jin''s group attended the Golem garden party held in Asund, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, and overcame the Golem runaway incident caused by <>, and were on their way to the Shoro Empire, the home country of Reinhardt and Erza. Since Reinhardt had already finished his work as a diplomat, the trip was a leisurely one, with a lunch stop at a meadow with a flower field that resembled a lotus flower. After staying one night in the provincial town of Lacour, we returned to the main road via the towns of Pan and Cartol, and continued to the provincial towns of Bazard, Fregurand, Degrand, and Dsir, staying in the town of Diaral on the 24th. On the morning of the 25th, the group left the town of Ziaral and headed for the town of Delide, where they planned to stay for the next night. "Hmm, did something happen? Just before noon, a soldier-like figure asked us to stop at the end of the road. From his outfit, he was a soldier working in a local city. "Is something wrong?" Reinhardt, who was still riding in Jin''s carriage, asked as a representative. "Oh, I''m sorry, but the road has collapsed ahead of us and is impassable. It will take almost 10 days to restore the road. Please go around." It''s spring, so it rains a lot. It is cloudy today, but it rained yesterday and the day before. That must have caused the collapse of the collapsible parts. "It can''t be helped." Reinhardt''s group is not very familiar with side roads. But they will be a little better, so this time they will be led by Reinhardt''s men. After asking the soldiers for directions, the group headed for the side roads, with the coach in which the gentleman was riding in the lead. The side road was uneven and narrow. In addition, the ruts were dug by the rain, making it difficult to drive. Jin''s carriage was comfortable, but when Reinhardt returned to his own carriage, he quickly returned to Jin''s carriage because of the difference, even though it was equipped with a damper. "Ah, Jin''s carriage is the best! It seems to be true that once you get used to luxury, it is hard to go back to your old life. Just then, the rain started to fall again. "Oh no, it''s raining. In this mountainous area, the rain seems to fall in short bursts. In no time at all, it was pouring down in torrents. The road quickly became muddy and the ruts disappeared. The driver of the carriage in the lead has a hard time choosing the right road to go on. However, there seemed to be a mixture of abandoned roads and animal paths, and the group was heading in an unbelievable direction in the rain. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was late afternoon when the rain stopped. When the sky finally cleared, it was the leader of the group who panicked. "Oh, my God! He got off the carriage in a hurry and rushed to Reinhardt''s place, that is, to Jin''s carriage. "Mr. Reinhardt, I am so sorry!I must have taken a wrong turn." Reinhardt bowed his head as if he was about to get down on his knees on the muddy ground and apologized, "Hey, hey, what''s going on here?Explain it to me." "Yes, sir. I heard that a small village or hamlet could be seen ahead, but I was told that the town would be visible in the evening, and such a small village was not mentioned. But Reinhardt was not offended, "Well, it can''t be helped. If there is a village, we can consider staying there. It''s better to be lost than to be lost." The rain and the confusing road. Reinhard was not so narrow-minded as to reprimand him for such a small matter. He patted his chest in relief, "Then we will go to that village. The group then set out for the small village. "It is a simple village. A truly small village, somewhere between a village and a hamlet. It was a village that seemed to be living on a small amount of wheat. "Well, it''s not far from the road, so it could be more lively. Reinhardt nodded his head. "Well, it''s no use thinking too much about it. The group entered the village. The village is simply demarcated by stakes driven into the ground around it, and there are only about 20 houses. It was a smaller village than Kayna. "Oh, you have a visitor?" I parked the carriage in a suitable square and was looking around when an old woman walked by. "Are you from this village?" Reinhard''s butler asked, and the old woman nodded. I would like to stay in this village tonight. The old woman pointed to a house. The village headman was an old man with gray hair. "Are you a nobleman or a noblewoman? "That''s fine, if you give us a place to sleep, some water, and some food to share. There were enough provisions for several meals, so the butler limited his request to the bare necessities. "Where would you like to stay? ...... we have an empty house, if that is ok with you. The chief got up and showed the group to two stone houses at the back of the village. "It may be a little dusty," he said. It might be a little dusty," he said, but not a little. It''s very dusty. Miss, you mustn''t come in until it''s been cleaned." The three of us, led by Meine and the two ladies-in-waiting with Reinhardt, split up and began to clean the house. But it is not easy to clean the whole house. And there was still another house to be cleaned. Jin, who couldn''t stand the sight of them, said to them, "Reiko, will you help me a little? Reiko nodded and jumped out. "I''ll be fine on my own here." With that said, she quickly started to clean the other rented house. Since she doesn''t have to breathe, she doesn''t mind the dust that rises in the air, "<>" Breeze" wind magic was used to blow the dust up and out through the window. Jin saw this and tapped Reinhardt on the shoulder. "Hmm?What is it, Jin? "Reinhard, let''s make a vacuum cleaner. Jin said, "Let''s make a vacuum cleaner. "And use the wind magic to suck it in." Mmm-hmm. "And then filter out the dust it sucks in." "I see, Jin''s ideas always amaze me." Reinhardt''s honest admiration made Jin feel a little sorry. After all, it was not his own idea, but technology that had been accumulated over hundreds of years in his former world. "Hmm, what''s wrong?" Reinhardt called out to Jin as he looked thoughtful. "Oh, no, I was just wondering what kind of material I should use. "Well, let''s see. I can''t use much material since I''m traveling. He fudges it. But the material was the biggest obstacle. "How about this?" Reinhardt pulled out an old leather bag. "Yeah, that looks good. I found this." He ran an on a rock he had casually noticed, and found that it contained a significant amount of iron. "And I think I found something else we can use." Reinhardt pulled out his old jacket and the two decided to give it a try. "<><>" Jin separates the iron from the rock, "<>>>". Reinhard made a hose from a leather bag. "Jin, is this about right?" "Yes, a little thinner." "Okay, I see. Leather can be plastically deformed to some extent, so <> can be used. Jin then makes the main body from the separated iron. The image is not a cyclone type, but an ordinary vacuum cleaner. The reason is that Jin had never used a cyclone vacuum cleaner. The filter is made from Reinhardt''s old jacket, and the rest is easy. It is powered by a magic stone. Originally, Jin had it for something. Since the principle of the vacuum cleaner is simple, Reinhardt was happy to help, and the prototype vacuum cleaner was completed in about an hour. "Well, let''s give it a try. So he went to the rented house, "Father, it''s done." Reiko''s team had already finished wiping the floor. So I went to the house where Meane and the other three were in charge. The other one was only half finished, "Meine, try this one." Reinhardt held out a prototype vacuum cleaner. "What is this, Mr. Reinhardt?" Reinhardt''s lady-in-waiting nodded her head. "It''s called a vacuum cleaner." Reinhard activates his magic, "It sucks in dust and dirt like this." He actually showed her how to clean. "Well!" "Great! "Thank you!" The three of them were amazed and thanked each other, and immediately started to clean the rest of the room using the vacuum cleaner. The cleaning was completed in the evening. The cleaning was completed around five o''clock in the evening. It was almost dusk in the spring. Even so, all the hard work was worth it. The rented house had a bath, albeit a small one, and all of us, especially the maidens, were relieved to be able to wash our dirty bodies after the cleaning. 160 - - 07-02 Depopulated "Now, I have something to tell you." After the bath and dinner had been served, Reinhardt and his family arrived at the hotel. Reinhardt gathered his party, that is, Jin and Reiko, Elsa, her nanny Meane, his butler Adberg, and his bodyguard Hermann. He gathered his butler and two maids of honor in the same room. He is in serious mode. "It''s about this village." Reinhardt looked at Jin, "Have you noticed anything?" Reinhardt looked at Jin and asked, "Have you noticed anything? Jin thought for a moment, "Yes, I thought the village was not very active. Reinhardt nodded his head, Reinhard affirmed, "Yes, it should be. After all, this is a village where only old people live. Reinhard said. Jin heard this and frowned, "Is such a place depopulating too ......? He muttered. "Really?" Elsa asked Jin. He looked doubtful. "Oh, yeah. The gradual disappearance of people? "Yes." Reinhardt took over, "To maintain the population, each couple must have at least two children. Elsa, do you understand?" "Yes." "Considering the infant mortality rate, the military service, the plague, etc., I''d say three is a good number for the government." Jin gradually understood what Reinhardt was trying to say. "To put it simply, this is a village that can no longer sustain its population. Reinhard then began to speak with a slightly pained look on his face. "About 20 years ago, the neighboring Kingdom of Cerroa was messing around with the surrounding countries. He interspersed some light words, as if he was trying to soften the seriousness of the story. "Well, only the previous king of Celuloa himself would know the truth of that, but since I can''t ask those who are under the ground, I can only speculate. He glanced at Erza and Meene, "It is generally said that he wanted to expand his territory, but that is no small reason." Reinhardt took a breath, "I wanted to swallow all the kingdoms on the continent. He said, "I wanted to swallow all the kingdoms on the continent. "That''s the Unifiler''s ......." When Jin said this, Reinhardt shook his head. "That''s right. The Unifiler philosophy was already in place at that time. The current King Selroa seems less ambitious than his predecessor. But in fact he is more ambitious than his predecessor, in my opinion. The previous king was easy to understand, but the current king is ...... hard to read, to be honest. But he has not lost his ambition to rule other countries. He is probably building up his power right now." Then he looked at Erza again, "So, the previous King of Cerroa attacked the Kingdom of Egelea and the Kingdom of Franz for 3 years, from 21 to 18 years ago to be exact. Our Kingdom of Shoro was not particularly attacked, perhaps because we are not a descendant of the Kingdom of Dinar. But there was a time when we had to send troops to the Kingdom of Cerroa for defense. Then Jin notices. "I see. So that''s the reason why this village became depopulated during that period. "Well, that''s how it is. And Elsa, I heard that it was during this period that your father achieved his success. When Reinhardt said this, Meane''s expression seemed to distort for a moment, but no one noticed. "My father..." "Yes. My uncle told me that when he was in the Kingdom of Egelea as a captain of the expatriate garrison, he stopped an army more than three times the size of the Kingdom of Selroa''s and minimized the damage to his friends and to the nearby residents." "Wow, Erza''s father must be an amazing man." These words came from Jin''s honest feelings, but Meane''s face twisted even more when she heard them. But as usual, no one noticed because he was lying face down. "Many soldiers and soldiers died in the battle against the Royal Army of Selroa, and among them was Count Luis ...... Kuzma''s father, I heard. Jin was satisfied with this explanation. "Ah, is that why Count Kuzma took over the family at such a young age?" Reinhardt nodded his head with a hard expression on his face. "Yes. And soldiers were drafted from all over the place. This would have been one of them. It seems that every man between the ages of 20 and 40 who was able to fight was drafted at that time. If you count backwards, those who were over 40 then are almost 60 now, so it makes sense that this village is full of old men. "I heard that some units were organized by village. And there must have been units that were wiped out. This village was one of them." Reinhard said with a sigh. Jin also felt gloomy, but he asked a question. "Then what about the wives and teenage children of those who were drafted? Reinhardt looked sad when he was asked this question, "They abandoned their villages. "Abandoned," he said, "......." "This place is north of the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea. If the army of the Kingdom of Selroa attacked, it would surely become a battlefield. Fortunately, the house is still standing and was not exposed to the fire, but the mothers with their children evacuated just in case." "............" Silence filled the room. "I''m sorry to be a little heavy-handed, but, Elsa, you''re 17 now. But, Elsa, you''re seventeen now, and I thought you should know a little something about the world, especially back then when your father was involved." Then he turned to Jin, "Jin, I wanted you to hear this because I wanted you to know, but also because I wanted to hear your opinion." "Your opinion?" "Yes. You said earlier that the villages are depopulated, right?So you have seen or know of such villages and settlements elsewhere, right?If so, I would like to know if you know of any measures taken by the government in such cases." Reinhardt is also a member of the aristocracy and a member of the ruling party. In reality, this world is suffering from a population shortage. He thinks it is necessary to find a way to alleviate it. When Jin was told this, it brought back memories of a TV program he had seen when he was on Earth, which focused on marginalized communities. "Yeah, right..." Jin spins his words in his memory. First of all, industry. If you can''t make a living there, you can''t attract people. "Well, that''s a good point. Keep going." Reinhardt agrees. "If the place is not attractive to young people, it will be difficult for them to move here. There is a surplus of land in many areas. It would be nice to have a reason for people to want to live here. "I understand that. What exactly?" Jin recalls the news that some municipality was doing this, "A tax reduction in the beginning, maybe, or a percentage reduction for five years or so." I modified it to apply to this world and explained. "I see!So you want them to settle down during those five years. That''s a good idea. "And then we could reduce the taxes somewhat, depending on the number of children born." Reinhardt''s face lit up with admiration, "Excellent. That''s what I was thinking too. Jin, I think you have a talent as a politician, don''t you? He exclaimed. Jin shook his head, "No, no, I''m just a guy who makes things. Don''t be too sure," he said hurriedly. After that, we talked and exchanged opinions. After that, we exchanged various stories and opinions and retired to our rooms as it was getting late at night. * * * * * * * * * * * * * That night, Jin was unusually deep in thought as he lay on his bed. (I can make various things because my predecessors gave me all of them, right?) He turned over in his sleep. (I can''t take credit for explaining to Reinhardt and the others how great I am, because I was educated in modern Japan.) I''m a little hazy. What am I supposed to do with myself?) Jin, who had been running around like crazy, doing whatever he wanted to do, was pondering what he should do in this world for the first time since he came here. 161 - - 07-03 Quiet Story 4 Ninja Unit Meanwhile, what was Reiko doing? Since leaving the capital on the 18th, she had sensed that suspicious people had been following her. The night of the 19th. Cloudy. Behind a hotel in the town of Cartol. One person was neutralized. (Your father hates killing.) (Father hates killing.) It''s fortunate that the victim suffered only simple fractures of both legs. The night of the 20th. Rain. At midnight, in the corridor of the guest quarters in the provincial town of Bazard. Two men were neutralized. They are different from the ones from yesterday. (You don''t think there are more than one group of people following us like this?) The two men were knocked unconscious, stripped naked and thrown out onto the main street. Night of the 21st. Light rain. On the second floor of an inn in Fregland. One person was incapacitated. Every day? I''d better find more ways to protect your father.) This one was bound and hung from a watchtower at the edge of the city. And on the night of the 22nd. Rain. At the guest quarters in the provincial town of Degrand. (They don''t seem to be coming tonight, but we can''t be too careful.) Reiko activates the manacam. "Yes, this is Luna. Reiko''s sister, Luna, the support golem, immediately responds. "Luna, come here through the warp gate. "Yes, sister." Luna immediately came out of the warp gate attached to Jin''s special carriage. "Here I am, sister." Thank you very much. I''m going to the laboratory now. I''ll be back by morning. In the meantime, I''ll leave you in charge of your father''s safety. Can you do that? Yes, sister. Reiko then moved to Horai Island. Reiko," she said, "I''ll leave you in charge of your father''s safety during this time. Reiko, welcome back. How are you tonight? Laozi, the magical brain in charge of Horai Island, greeted her. "Lao Tzu, I need to talk to you about your father''s safety. "Let''s go see him." Reiko and Lao Tzu watch each other to make sure they don''t run amok, but they are not on bad terms with each other. They are not on bad terms, especially when it comes to Jin. Reiko explained to Lao Tzu in detail what had happened since the incident of the runaway Golem. Lao Tzu listened to her, but when Reiko finished her story, I understand. Eladrite, and , that is indeed troublesome. I''ll take care of all the golems here. Shield and magic recording stone (MagiRecorder) are fine? I''ll take care of it. And as for the protection of the master (my lord)... That is the most important issue. For a while, Reiko and Lao Tzu had a detailed discussion. "Then, we have decided to equip every golem with a manacam, is that right? "Yes. I will ask your father to install the manacam on myself, but Lao-tzu will take care of the others. "Yes, sir. Since there are so many, we will start with Soleil, Luna, Prane, and Satella, and modify them from the one with the smallest number to the one with the largest number. "That will be fine." Jin was also concerned about the built-in manacam, so he decided to take this opportunity to do it all at once. "Then, as for your father''s protection, have you decided to create a covert task force (SP)? "Yes. However, if we are going to build such a sophisticated golem, it would be better to obtain the master''s (Mylord''s) permission. "That''s right. I will talk to your father about it tomorrow. "Yes, please." Finally, a detailed exchange of information takes place. "The master (My Lord) has not contacted me recently, so I have a lot of reports. Would you tell him, Reiko? "Sure. Reiko was told about the map that was currently being made, that the approaching demons had been repelled, and that the materials for the map had been secured. The meeting ended around midnight. Reiko decided to return to Jin. Using the warp gate, she returns to the regional city of Degrand without losing any time. The rain had stopped. "Welcome home, sister. This man was visiting your father''s bed, so I took him down. She pointed at the man tied with ropes. His face was swollen and he had fainted. Reiko glanced at him and lost interest, "Thank you, Luna. I''ll take care of the rest. I''ll take care of the rest. You go home. I''m sorry you can''t talk to your father. Yes, sister. Please give my regards to your father. And so Luna returned to Horai Island. The man they had captured was tied up behind the inn and left there. * * * * * * The next morning, Reiko told Jin about the >. He said, "Ha, ha! "Haha, I wish I could have made one too. Well, it would be a pity to leave Reiko alone to guard at night, wouldn''t it?" Reiko says, "No, it''s not like that," but Jin had already thought of a plan, "Okay, let''s go back to the lab tonight and make it. ......Ah, I don''t have anyone I want to use as a reference for covert action." The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the two of them have been in the same room together for a long time, "Ah, father, I have just the person for you. "What?" Then Reiko told him about the man who had been tied up and left behind the dormitory. "Hmmm...I knew that kind of guy would turn up. I guess we need a covert task force. Okay. Let''s get his behavior pattern. I went around to the back of the building, but the man was still unconscious. Since it was more convenient for him, Jin decided to use transinfo. "<>Level 4". Knowledge of covert action, behavior, actions, and organizational information are all transcribed at once into the magi crystal in his hand. If we analyze it later, we should be able to find out where they were sent from. It just so happened that a top-class man of the organization had been dispatched due to the failure of the tracker until the day before. Well, he was easily caught by Luna. I should add, however, that thanks to this, we had obtained a considerable amount of data on covert activities. On the night of the 23rd, it rains. The group stayed at the guest quarters in the provincial city of Djeel. At midnight, just as the rain was letting up, Jin quietly slipped out of his room and headed for the carriage yard. Perhaps they were alarmed by the death of one of the top members of the organization, but there seemed to be no one suspicious tonight. Using the warp gate hidden in the carriage, Jin and Reiko were instantly transported to Horai Island. The time difference between Horai Island and the regional city of Djeel is about three and a half hours. So it is nighttime here. But for the golems, there is neither night nor day. "Welcome home, father, sister..." Reiko''s assistant golems, Soleil and Luna, greeted her. "Ah, I''m home. Are you ready to go? Lao Tzu answered. "My Lord, welcome back. Yes, all the materials are ready. "Well, thank you." Jin then heads for the laboratory. First, he adds the manacam function to Reiko. Since the basic device has already been built, this is easily completed. The real work is to be done by <>. Since it should be as light as possible for its function, the skeleton is made of hollow light silver, and the exterior is also made of light silver. Now, what should we do for the exterior? The surface is to be colored black. That''s a good idea, Jin asked himself in his mind, and agreed. Masculine or feminine? Adult or child. Eventually, the answer came. We should have them all for any occasion. That night and the next night, over the course of two nights, Jin''s own <>, also known as , was born. There are 10 members, 5 types of 2 each. Two girl-types equivalent to Reiko. and . <<>, who is about the same size as Elsa (but has a little more breasts). <<> of adult female type. Standard adult male type <<>>. And the boy type <<>. "Well, I''m glad to have you with us." Jin says to the newborn <>, "Yes, father." They greeted in unison. 162 - - 07-04 Whistle The next morning after staying in a depopulated village, the sky was clear. "Ah, it''s been a while since I''ve seen a clear blue sky. Jin breathes in the fresh morning air and stretches. "Good morning." Reinhardt woke up too. "This means we''ll definitely be able to get to DeRead by the end of the day," says Reinhard. Breakfast is mostly preserves. Even so, we were given some fresh vegetables to add color to the meal. After a simple meal, the group left the depopulated village without knowing its name. Of course, they thanked the village chief profusely. There was nothing that the gentiles could do for the village now. Our departure was a bittersweet one. Still, the sky was blue and the sun was warm. It is the season when spring is at its peak. As we continue on our way, our spirits begin to lift. The wind feels good. Jin''s carriage has ventilation openings in the ceiling for easy ventilation. Reinhardt, a fellow passenger, was also relaxing. Erza is unusually lightheaded. Jin was talking to Reinhardt in a whisper so as not to wake Erza. Hey, Reinhard. I wonder if there is a guild in the town we are going to? The guild that Jin mentioned was, of course, a mutual guild of magecraftsmen. "Hmm?Probably not. It would have to be at the local city level. I see. It still seems to be a small organization. What can I do for you? Reinhardt asked, "Yeah, I was wondering if I could sell you a vacuum cleaner." "Hmm." Jin explained to Reinhardt that the vacuum cleaner was a useful magical tool for both the common people and the aristocrats, and that he wanted to popularize it if possible, and that he wanted to do so as cheaply as possible. "I''m sorry to Reinhardt for helping us," he said. Reinhardt laughed and said, "I''m sorry for helping Reinhardt, "I think Jin''s way of thinking is not so bad. I''ll support him. Jin bowed to Reinhardt and said, "Thank you, "Thank you. Jin bowed his head and said, "Thank you. Reinhardt then said to Jin "So, Jin, you''re going to stick to the common man''s way of life, right?" "Common man?" An unfamiliar word. No, "common man" is a word that even Jin could understand. "Ah, there are two types of people, the common people and the electorate. The popular faction is, of course, those who want to spread magic tools to the general public. And the electorate are those who are You want to monopolize it among the chosen few. That''s right. And what about Reinhardt? Jin says and waits for Reinhardt''s answer. Depending on his answer, Jin''s future actions may change. "I am of course ......." Rai is a commoner. That''s why he used to clash with my uncle. It was Elsa who answered from the side. "Hey, hey, Elsa, don''t take my line!" Reinhardt laughed and said, "You two are talking all the time, it''s boring." Erza shows a slightly pouty face. "No, it''s just that Erza was sleeping so comfortably. Elsa turns pale and says, "No, she was sleeping comfortably, "No, I wasn''t sleeping. I wasn''t sleeping. She says, "No, I wasn''t sleeping, "It''s a nice day today, and as they say, you never wake up from a good night''s sleep. Jin said, "What''s that?" Erza asked with a dubious look on her face. Reinhardt also looked interested. "Well, I think it means something like <>, right? I replied. It was actually a Chinese poem, but Jin, who was not very good at Japanese or Chinese literature, could not explain it any further. "Hmmm...<>, huh? Indeed. It''s perfect for the sleepy Erza. Reinhardt said teasingly, and Erza blushed, "I''m not a lazy girl now. Rai''s teasing." She turned her head away from him with a blush. The conversation had gone completely off-topic, so Hitoshi said "Anyway, I was thinking of disclosing the structure and manufacturing process of the <> to the public. Then anyone ...... can make one, I mean Magecraftsman, right?" I said. But Reinhardt had a difficult look on his face. "Well, it doesn''t work like that. The information is given to the Magecraftsmen Guild, but each Guild handles the information differently. ...... He replied tartly, "What do you mean? "What do you mean? Jin asked, "It means that some guilds try to monopolize the technology for their own profit. The guild I visited before in the Blue Lands is not like that, though. Reinhardt explained. In other words, how each guild handles the information it receives differs from one guild to another. "Hmmm, I see. It''s difficult, isn''t it? Jin let out a sigh. "............" The meaning of my existence in this world. Just as he was about to find it, Jin stumbled. Somehow, he felt weak, looked out of the window, and whistled. (Come to think of it, this might be the first time I whistled when I came here.) (Come to think of it, this might be the first time for him to whistle since he came here.) Maybe it was because he had no time to spare, or maybe he simply forgot about it. The melody is a late Showa era POPS, a song that the Director liked and used to listen to often. The melody is a late Showa-era POP song that the Director used to like and listen to often. Jin was a high school student with a regular school schedule. Normally, when a child reaches the age of high school, he leaves the orphanage, but the director seemed to want him to be his successor and allowed him to go to school from the orphanage. The fact that he gave him the surname "Nido" may have been a manifestation of this. On his way to school, Jin used to whistle. The tune was a song from the Director''s collection of cassette tapes. (Was I hopeful in those days?(Was I hopeful back then, or did I just want to get paid as soon as possible?) In any case, it''s a world to which I can no longer return, a life to which I can no longer return. Now Jin has no choice but to live in this world. It''s not possible to make this world a better place to live. (It''s not possible to make this world a better place to live, but if it''s within my reach. And I can do it.) Even back then, Jin wanted to make the orphanage better and buy toys for the younger children. (My predecessor was studying the connection between magic and tools. ) It was not accepted at the time, but now it is accepted in the form of Magecraftsman. (I''m ......) As I thought about this, the song ended and of course the whistling stopped. "Jin, what was that song?" "I''ve never heard it before. It was a good song. Reinhardt and Erza praised the song. Jin decides that one day he will tell them who he really is. He had not yet found the courage to do so. Just as his predecessor had been ostracized by his fellow mages, Jin was afraid that his friends in this world would treat him as a heretic and reject him. The reason why Jin does not call himself a "Magecraft Meister" is because he has inherited the memories and experiences of his predecessor''s persecution. 163 - - 07-05 Loneliness In the town of Delhi, I stayed at a reasonably expensive hotel. It was a solid three-story stone building with a rooftop. At night, Jin left his room, unable to sleep for some reason, and went up the stairs to the roof. There was a small light on, and he could manage to see his feet. The stars were twinkling in the spring night sky. "Ah, it''s a beautiful night sky. I don''t know the constellations over here. Jin looked up at the starry night sky and felt uncharacteristically sentimental. Then.., "Reiko, are you here?" "Yes, Father." Reiko, the faithful automata who has always protected Jin, breaks her stealth spell and appears. "Come here." "Yes." Jin, who had been feeling lonely for some reason, calls Reiko over and pats her on the head. "Father?" Reiko looked at Jin a little differently than usual and raised a questioning voice. "Yes. You''ve always been by my side, you know." "Yes, that''s the reason for my existence. "You always say that. "Well, you''ll always be there for me, won''t you?" "Yes, of course." It was too dark for Jin to see, but at that moment Reiko had a big smile on her face. "??????" Suddenly a song spills out of Jin''s mouth. A song that for some reason he had long since forgotten. It is the ending theme of the story of a group of people who go to the west in search of sutras. This is a song I heard on a videotape, not a cassette tape, in the Director''s collection. "Father ......" Reiko holds Jin''s hand. She hopes it will make him feel a little less lonely. "?????????" Just as Jin finished singing. Reiko turns around quickly. Reiko quickly turns around and gets into a fighting stance,......, but... "Jin-kun?" It was Erza. Erza''s room was on the third floor, and she had come up because she heard Jin''s voice. "Erza?What''s wrong?" Jin asked her, "That''s what I''m talking about. What''s wrong, Jin? "What''s wrong? I couldn''t sleep for some reason, so I came out here. Erza gave me a probing look, "Hmm." She looked as if she was satisfied with the answer. "So, what did you just sing?" "Somewhat." Erza seemed to be unconvinced by this answer, and showed a thoughtful look, Jin-kun, are you lonely? She then answered bluntly, "Are you lonely, Jin-kun? "What?" Jin was clearly flustered, although the darkness of the room prevented him from seeing the look of impatience on his face. He had not expected Elsa to say something like that. "Why?" I asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "Because I was like that." Elsa said something like that. "My father is a soldier and is rarely home. My mother is frail and doesn''t leave her room much. My brothers and I are too old to talk to each other." Hearing about Elsa''s family structure again, I still feel sorry for her. "My brother Rai doesn''t always play with me. Especially since I became a diplomat, I didn''t get to see him very often. He must not have had many friends his own age. Jin thought that this might be the reason why he was not good at conversation. "When I am lonely, I sometimes want to be alone. Then I remember the good times I had. "Elsa''s good times were when she was ...... "When I was little. When I played with my brothers and my brother Rai, no, they played with me." Jin thinks again that memories of childhood are special for all of us. Those childhood days when you could just play without knowing anything. In Jin''s case, it was for a very short time, but it certainly happened. Jin is an amazing magecraftsman. But that''s why I''m lonely. Tonight Erza is very perceptive. "......, Rai said." But it seems that she actually got that from Reinhardt. "Brother Rai said. "Only those who share the same feelings can make up for loneliness." "......Elsa." Jin was surprised to hear such words from Elsa''s mouth. But, "What does ...... mean?" Erza seems to be Erza after all. Jin''s seriousness has somehow gone away. He looks up at the night sky again, and then at Elsa. "Are you cold?" In the darkness, he sees that Erza is wearing a nightgown. "Hmm. I''m fine." Nevertheless, Jin took off his jacket and put it on Erza. "Thank you. You''re always so kind, Jin-kun." Erza thanked him and pulled the front of her jacket up. Jin looked at her and said "Hey, we talked about the popular and the electorate during the day, is it really that bad?" "No, it is not. There are many common people in our country. Only a few nobles are electorate. According to Elsa''s explanation, some nobles who have Magi Engineers = Magi Craftsmen are trying to monopolize the technology. "They just want to feel superior. Erza dismisses them as "just trying to feel superior. "But I''m sure you don''t like that kind of thing, Jin-kun." "Oh. It''s good to make what you like, but it''s also nice to make people happy. That''s when you feel that it was worth making. "My brother Rai said something similar." Then Elsa cut off her speech, turned her head and fidgeted as if she wanted to say something, but then she looked up as if she had made up her mind, "Brother Rai said not to tell you..." Then he looked up as if he had made up his mind and said, "My brother Rai told me not to tell you, "I want you to come to Shoro. I want you to make a lot of things that you like and that will be useful to us. Then he blushed a little, "I love the look on your face when you are making ...... something." Then he turns around, "Good night." With these words, he turned around and disappeared from the rooftop. "Something you like, something useful, huh?" Jin was left alone and mumbled to himself. For some reason, Reiko was nowhere to be seen. "If I''m not lonely, that means I''m going to settle down, right? Now Jin is alone. He doesn''t belong to any country. "Well, I was planning to live in a country sooner or later. Originally, he had planned to visit many countries on this trip and come to a conclusion. "The Shoro Kingdom, huh? * * * * * * At that time, Reiko disappeared. "Sister, there was a man like this..." <>, also known as the . "He''s noisy night after night. It would be a nuisance to inform your father of this, so please dispose of it yourselves." "Yes, I understand." 164 - - 07-06 Quiet Story 5 Kaina Village after a long time Jin was now alone in the village of Kaina. Since then, he had somehow remembered and wanted to visit the village. He went to Horai Island once by the warp gate of the carriage, and then went to the warp gate set up in the shelter outside of Kaina Village. It was nighttime in the village of Kaina. The weather in Deleid was clear, but it was lightly overcast here. The air was somehow tepid, like a spring night. "I guess everyone is already asleep. ......" The night comes early in the village of Kaina, where there is little in the way of entertainment and most of the work is done on the farm. Most of the households go to bed at dusk. The moonlight through the clouds makes it possible to see the road. Jin started to walk alone along the nostalgic road. "Martha, Hannah ......, I hope you are well. Gently, he peeks over the hedge at Martha''s house. I could see Hannah''s room through the mica window that Jin had installed. Jin wants to take a peek, but he almost thinks that it is a pervert''s thing to do, so he circles around the house and moves on. There is a pump there. It is the place where Jin first created and installed a useful tool with his engineering magic. "It''s working well, isn''t it?" Jin gently moves the handle of the pump. < His next stop was a hot spring. The sound of hot water could be heard even in the middle of the night. The roof, which used to be a shack, had been replaced by a beautiful shingle roof, and the entire structure was solidly built. The villagers must have taken good care of this facility. When Jin looked inside, he found some hot water spores in the hole he had dug out, so he removed them with engineering magic. The sedimentation tanks for settling out the dirty water and hot water were also filled with mud, so he cleaned them up with < and . Jin walked around the village again. When he came out to the plaza, light red flowers were in full bloom in spite of the dark moonlight. "Query flowers, huh? They really look like cherry blossoms. It was my favorite flower when I was in Japan. Jin looked up at the query in full bloom for a while. "Master!" Someone noticed Jin and called out to him. When he turned around, he saw.., Gen. It was Gen, the golem. He seemed to be on guard duty in the middle of the night. "How are you doing tonight, sir?" "Yes, I wanted to see the query flowers." Jin answered in a somewhat embarrassed manner, even though there was no need to hide it from him. Then, he suddenly thought of something. "Gen, how is Gon doing?" "Yes, I think he is patrolling the village guard as well." When Hitoshi heard that, he said, "All right, let''s go in order. Gen, follow me." "Yes, sir." What Jin came up with was that Gon and Gen had not yet been given any countermeasures against the . At the same time, the golem horses had not. So Jin was going to take countermeasures against the golems left in the village of Kaina as soon as possible. * * * * * "Laozi, do you have all the materials for the countermeasure? "Yes, my lord. We have already prepared countermeasures for all golems in Horai Island, and we have 100 sets for spares and replacements. "Alright, I''ll take the same countermeasure for this now. After that, we will do the same for and the five golem horses. "Yes, sir." Then Jin, with the support of Lao Tzu, applies the countermeasure against the rewriting magic of slavery to Gen. At the same time, he adjusted and optimized the magi devices and performed overall maintenance. As a result, Gen''s output was increased by about 8 percent. Overall, Gen is now able to produce about 30% of Reiko''s output. We have also added a stealth function and improved it so that it can protect the village in secret. "Okay, Gen, go back to the village and tell Gon to come here." "Yes, master." And he did the same for Gon. Next, he gave the golem horses Ein, Tsubai, Dry, Cuttle, Sanku, and Hanna''s Mint, and then relieved Jin. "If the village of Kaina is attacked, we will be in trouble. The horses are not equipped with stealth. After all the improvements were completed, Jin moved back to the village of Kaina. The shelter with the warp gate is located on the outskirts of the village, and the Erme River is close to the shelter. This time Jin decided to go to the Erme River. The spring grass was just beginning to sprout on the riverbank. Jin''s face breaks out in nostalgia as he steps on the gravel of the riverbed. I remember when we played tag in the water at that pool. I think it was back then that I found the Magi Stone mixed in the sand. Jin used it to make a stove and sold it to the merchant Roland. "It seems like a long time ago, but it''s only been about three months. It feels like too much has happened," Jin recalls after leaving the village of Kaina. "Meeting Beena in Blueland, making popcorn, building a refrigerator, meeting Count Kuzma, Reiko''s big stand-up act..." It brings back memories. "We built a golem ship in Potrock, fought with the Death Serpent, and started traveling with Reinhardt and the others." It seems like only yesterday, or a long time ago. "We made kites, caught bandits, maintained the Kunlun Island, made Lotte, and oh yeah, there was the golem riot." <>, Jin was in a state of mind that made him want to mutter a famous line from an anime. In the meantime, the eastern sky is getting lighter. The morning comes early in Kaina village, which is much further east than the town of Delhi where Jin and his friends are now traveling and staying. "It''s about time for the early risers to get up," Jin muttered to himself. Jin mutters to himself as he walks toward the shelter where the warp gate is located. "I''ll be back!" With that, he dived into the shelter and jumped to Horai Island through the warp gate inside the shelter. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was still nighttime in the town of Delhi. After returning via Horai Island, Jin quietly returned to his room at the inn and fell into bed. He then went into a short sleep until the morning. Little did he know that Reiko, his faithful automata, had been following him all along. "Father, ...... are you satisfied?" Reiko murmurs to Jin as he sleeps, looking at his satisfied face. There was still some time left in the morning, and the stars were twinkling above the town of Delhi. 165 - - 07-07 Yada Village The next day, before departing from the town of Delhi, Reinhardt said he wanted to talk to Jin about something. Then he said, "Actually, there are ruins to the north of the town of Deryed, called the Keuwan ruins, which date back to around the time of the Magic War. I have never seen them myself. I have never seen them either. Jin is also interested in ruins from the time of the Great War. "It''s a bit of a detour, but I don''t have any official duties anymore. I''m rather interested in them. Reinhardt agreed with Jin. "Well, how about you, Erza?Do you want to go home soon? I asked Erza, and as I expected, she said, "I''m interested, too, "I''m interested too. I''d like to go there." Reinhard clapped his hands. Reinhard clapped his hands, "Okay, it''s decided. I''ll have to tell the leader of the group. He left the room. * * * * * * * * * * * The carriage leaves the town of Delhi and follows the road to the provincial town of Ulemlin. There was a guild in Uremlin, but they decided not to release the technology of the vacuum cleaner to the public. I felt that the city was somewhat rough. I will release it after checking with a more trustworthy guild. After staying overnight, we headed north along a side road. After half a day, we arrived at the town of Koors. There was still some time left, so we went further north and arrived at Yada village in the evening. This is Yada village. Reinhardt was the first to get out of Jin''s carriage, followed by Jin, "I heard in the carriage that there is a mine here. He looked up at the mine to the northwest of the village and said, "I think there are various kinds of gems here. "I heard that there are various kinds of gemstones here." The last person to come down was Elsa. She seemed to be interested in gems. Jin looks around and observes the village. Jin looks around and observes the village. "They call it a village, but it''s pretty lively. There are enough buildings and people to be considered a town. Reinhardt answered Jin''s question. "This is not an agricultural village, but a tourist and mining village. Most of the miners are from Uremlin and the tourists are not residents. The original inhabitants seem to live off the innkeepers and shopkeepers." In other words, it is treated as a village because of its small original population. "A little more than 20 kilometers northeast of here on a mountain road is the village of Keune. I heard that the ruins of Keewan are located there." Reinhard explained. Reinhard explained, "I heard that the village of Keune is really small, so I was told that we should stay here and go there and back. Reinhardt said that he had heard this information in the town of Delhi. "Well, let''s take it easy today." Reinhardt looked toward the butler who had preceded him. "Thank you, Claude." Claude, the butler, bowed, "Mr. Reinhardt, I will show you to your lodgings. So the group re-boarded the carriage and headed for the inn for the night, guided by Claude. The inn was located in a quiet place on the outskirts of the village. It was a sturdy four-story stone building. All the rooms face the mountain and have a nice view. The rooms are a little small, but not so small as to be inconvenient. All in all, the inn is of a high standard. "Oh, you can see the mine from the window? The windows here had no glass panes. They were board doors, and when they were opened, one could see outside. It has a good view of the mountain where the mine is located. The sun was just setting behind the mountain where the mine is located. Dinner consisted of soup with bread, grilled river fish, grilled chicken-like meat, and a salad of wild vegetables. I was concerned that Elsa did not seem to have much of an appetite. Then he said, "Elsa, are you sick? He asked her. Then Elsa said "I don''t like coca-caulk meat. She said, "I don''t like cocarisque meat. Kokalisuk is something like chicken meat, apparently. Then Jin said, If you don''t like it, don''t force yourself to eat it. Just tell me and I''ll eat it. With that, he quickly took Elsa''s portion on his plate and ate it in three bites. "Thanks for the ......." Elsa thanked him, looking down for a moment. "Well, tomorrow..." Reinhardt started while sipping his after-dinner tea. "The innkeepers say the weather is not going to be very good. The day after tomorrow is supposed to be fine. So tomorrow I''m going to take a rest and relax in this village. The continuous carriage rides are tiring, no matter how comfortable they are. "I heard there are tunnels for tourists. I hear there are tunnels for tourists, and if you are lucky you can find some gems. You can go to those places, or you can visit a stone processing plant. I hear you can buy them cheaper than usual." "Hmm. That''s fine." Elsa agrees and we decide to visit the village tomorrow. "And the day after tomorrow, the weather looks good, so we''d like to go see the ruins, either by wagon or by horse. I heard that the road is quite steep. It will take some time to get there by ordinary horse-drawn carriage. Because horse-drawn carriages are, "Then let''s take my horse-drawn carriage. Jin suggests. Reinhardt and Erza have no objection. It was decided that Jin, Reinhard, Erza, Reiko, and the butler Claude would go. We may spend a night in the village of Keune, if necessary. Fortunately, Meone is not so picky these days, so that should not be a problem either. "Okay, so tomorrow we will visit the village. That''s how it was decided. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Yada village is a village that is made up of tourism and mining. The mountain where the mine is located is a huge granite. Granite is a rock formed when magma solidifies deep underground. During the solidification process, various minerals are separated and crystallized. They are called pegmatites (megacrystalline granites), and the gases contained in them sometimes create so-called <<> called crystalline cavities. The crystals of various minerals are contained in these caves, so that the places where the deposits of pegmatites are located near the surface are good mines. Jin and his group went to visit the mine. The mines open to the public are old tunnels that have been mined out and are no longer profitable. However, it is still possible to find rough gemstones if you are lucky, and above all, it is a rare experience to walk through a tunnel that stretches long underground. It was therefore a favorite pastime of the rich and the aristocracy. At the entrance of the tourist tunnel. On this day, in addition to Jin and his group, there was another family, also apparently aristocratic, who had come to see the sights. They were a middle-aged woman who looked like a mother, a boy who looked a little younger than Elsa, a girl who looked like her younger sister, and an elderly man who looked like a butler. "Well, well, these are the gentlemen who will be with us today. Please give them my warmest regards. This is the group of Baroness Sekat, assistant to the Lord of Dsir. Thank you for your kind greetings. This is Mr. Reinhardt, diplomat of the Shoro Kingdom. Claude, the butler who accompanied them, returned the greeting. There were two people who were to guide the two groups of four and four guests. One is a large, strong young man who also serves as a luggage carrier. The other is a middle-aged small man, who is the actual guide. The other is a middle-aged small man, and this is the actual guide. Watch your step. With a slightly accented or rather blunt voice, the middle-aged man led the group into the mine. It was a little cool and damp inside. The path was a little cool and damp inside, and the rocks protruding from the ground underfoot made it difficult to walk. The man who led us along the path walked easily. Every now and then he turned his head to see if all eight of us were following him. The big man was at the end of the line. He checks to see if anyone is late or strays. A few steps from the entrance, there are light fixtures placed in various places on the walls. They could somehow see their footsteps. "Even if you get lost, you can get out by following this light. There was an arrow pointing the way out by the light. If this is written on all the lights, even if we get lost, we should at least be able to head for the exit. Thinking of this, Jin walked down the middle of the line of eight people. 166 - - 07-08 Mine The tunnels were generally easy to walk through, although some were narrow in places. This area may have been redeveloped for tourism. The tunnel was level at first, but gradually began to descend. We were thankful for the lights placed here and there. "Mother, are you cold? the boy asked his mother. It was about 15 degrees Celsius in the tunnels, and it was not cold as long as one wore long sleeves. But Mrs. Hasegawa was wearing only short-sleeved spring clothes. "Yes, it''s a little cold. Naturally, she replied. "Here, let me give you this. The butler took out a half-coat from the luggage the big man had brought and presented it to Mrs. Yamanouchi. "Oh, thank you." Mrs. Elsa said and put on the half-coat. Elsa, who was watching this sequence of events, felt somewhat resentful that she was wearing a long-sleeved jacket. She then looked at the back of Jin who was walking in front of her. The jacket that Jin was wearing was one that Erza had also been given on several occasions. After descending a short ladder and walking down another toe-down tunnel, we came to a slightly wider area. Here we are, this is the end of the tunnel. Surprisingly, this was the end of the tunnel. I guess they would not take ordinary people out to the dangerous depths of the earth, and it was for sightseeing purposes only. There are a few paths here and there, and if you are lucky, you can find gemstones in the rough," the guide told us. The guide told me. The tool was a magic tool similar to a chisel. "If you press the tip of the chisel against a rock and let the magic power flow through it, you can dig the rock. A mini rock drill with magic power, if you will. "Mother, I''d like to try a little." My sister said something like that. Maybe she heard it was jewelry and wanted it. "Really?Just a little? The guide took out a magic tool from the big man''s luggage. "Oh, me too! The boy said, "Oh, me too," and added another. Since there seemed to be no extra charge, Jin and the other three, that is, Jin, Reinhard, and Erza, decided to try it as well. Each of them enters a different branch path. All of them were shallow, and there were still traces of digging by the previous tourists. "Are we really going to find gems in this?<" This is the first time in a long time to use the ground search. "...... hmm?What?What is this? There were gemstones in the walls and ground. As you can guess, it was some kind of cheating or service to please the tourists. I had heard that Jin was doing something similar at the Matsutake mushroom mountain for a fee. "There are no more veins of ore around here..." <, he can easily find out. Well, the fact that there is a large vein of ore in a much deeper place shows that the mine here is not a fake. "Well, it''s a tourist spot, let''s enjoy it. Jin said to himself and placed the drilling tool near the embedded ore. * * * * When Jin dug out some of the rough stones, he said to himself. "Umm, I can''t find it. He heard a voice saying. When he turned around, he saw the girl from the baron''s family. She noticed Jin, She noticed Jin and said, "Oh, there are already people here. I''m sorry. She said that and tried to go back. Jin stops her. "Hey, girl, I think you can find some jewelry here. Come in if you like." The child stopped and turned around slowly. By the light of the dark magic lamp, she looked about 8 or 9 years old, blonde hair, blue eyes, and pretty, much like her mother''s wife. "Um, are you sure?" Jin smiled and nodded his head, showing her the rough stones he had dug up. "Wow, there are so many. Can I dig here, too? "Yes, you can. This area looks good. Jin points to the area near the rough stones found in the ground search. "Yes, I''ll give it a try. With that, the girl puts the excavation tool in her hand against the wall of the tunnel. She then channels magic power into it. The tool vibrates finely and the adamantite coated on the tip of the tool shatters the rock. The adamantite coated on the tip of the tool broke the rock, and the rough stone spilled out. "Oh, something came out. What is it, brother? The child picks up the rough stone he just dug out and holds it out in front of Jin. Jin looked at it for a moment, "This is amethyst," I told him. I told him, "This is an amethyst. The child looked half happy and half disappointed, I''ll look for more. He tried to put his magic tool against the wall again. Then Jin said, "Why don''t you try this one as well as that one? He pointed to another wall where another rough stone was buried. "Yes, that''s what I''m going to do. The child dug at the wall pointed out by Jin. Then another rough stone rolled out. "Oh, there it is again. Oh, brother, that''s great! This time, a yellow crystal (citrine) came out. "Uh, this is not what I want either. A girl says something like that. And Jin said, "Well, what kind of gemstone do you want? Jin asked her. And the girl said, "A pink stone. The child replied, "A pink stone. There are few gemstones that are pink in color. Pink sapphires, tourmalines, and kunzites. Topaz can also be found, but it is very rare and there is no way that you can find it in a fake tourist mine like this one. "Hmmm, I hope so. Jin thinks as he says this. Maybe I can find some pink sapphires. Sapphire is aluminum oxide, and its mineral name is corundum. It is a mineral that can be found in abundance wherever it is found. It''s just that not many of them are pure enough to be made into gems. So Jin secretly searches for a lump of corundum by . Fortunately, he finds it in a shallow place. It is a little difficult because of the distance, but he manages to remove impurities little by little with the magic of . The main ingredient, aluminum oxide, of course, is left. And also chromium. It seems that the material originally contained only a small amount of chromium, so I was able to finish the process somehow. "Ugh, I can''t find it! the girl grumbled. Jin called the girl again, "I think I can find something here. He told her. "Your brother''s predictions are always right," she says. I''ll give it a try. He then places a magic tool there. It''s a little deep, so it takes time. It''s hard to get out. "It looks like it''s a little deeper." It seems to be deeper than I thought. It took about three times as long as before, and finally the stone rolled out. "We did it!It''s a pink stone!" The girl happily picked it up, clutched it to her chest, and bowed. "Thank you, brother. I''ll give you the other stones in return. With these words, he turned back down the tunnel, taking only the pink sapphire he had found. Jin decided that he had had enough, picked up the stones the girl had left behind, and slowly walked back down the tunnel. 167 - - 07-09 Ore When Jin returned to the junction of the branch tunnels, the others had just returned as well. "Hey, how was Jin?"This is what I got." Reinhardt showed them the gemstones he had harvested. Two crystals and one amethyst. I was like this. Jin also shows his harvest. "Well, three citrine crystals, three amethysts, and one smoky quartz crystal. That''s impressive." Reinhardt seems to have an idea how he found it. Well, one yellow citrine crystal and one amethyst crystal were dug out by the girl. "I only found this one." Elsa showed him the black crystal in her hand. "All I found were crystals," said Reinhardt. Reinhardt commented. "Mother, this is a present for you. The girl from earlier is presenting her mother, Baroness Sekat, with a stone she has dug out of the ground. "Oh my God, are you sure?Thank you, Sheide." The girl''s name is Siede. She is smiling as her mother pats her on the head. Jin looked at her sideways and thought it was a good thing that he had made the magical pink sapphire. "That brother gave me the place..." he hears her voice. I can hear his voice. Then the baroness walked up to Jin, "I see my daughter has been taken care of, thank you". She thanked him. "Excuse me, you are Marilia, right?" Reinhardt called out from the side. Yes, I am Marilia, and you are? I am Reinhardt of the Shoro Kingdom. I am Reinhard of the Shoro Kingdom. I met your husband, Viscount Sekhat, the other day in Asunto. Marilia heard this and said, "I am Reinhardt of the Shoro Kingdom. When Marilia heard this, she said, "Oh, yes, of course. How is my husband?I was worried when he came home late. Yes, he was fine. But there was a little trouble at His Highness Ernesto''s birthday party, and I think he''s been sent to deal with the aftermath. In this world where information transmission is slow, it seemed that Mrs. Reinhardt had not yet been informed of the golem outburst. So, Reinhardt told her only a few casual details. She was relieved to hear from Reinhardt, who was there, that her husband was doing well. "Your brother is late coming home. Then she heard the voice of the girl, Siede. The only one who had not yet returned was her brother, the boy. "Yes, Edem is late. "I''m going to look for him." With these words Sheide starts to run. "Oh, don''t run, it''s dangerous! said his mother, Marilia, just as he tripped and fell down. "It hurts! "Look, look, I told you,...... I''m in trouble, I can''t do healing magic,......" Then Elsa stepped forward, "I''ll do it. ......<>" "Oh, it doesn''t hurt anymore." "Well, thank you very much, young lady. Come on, Seide, say thank you." "Yes, ma''am. Thank you very much, sister. She is an honest girl who thanks Elsa as soon as her mother tells her to. "...... be careful, okay?" "Yes, sir." It is hard to see in the dark, but Elsa seems to be blushing a little. "Mother!I found an amazing rock! Then Siede''s brother Edem came back, shouting loudly. "Look, look!A green stone!And it''s a beautiful shape! With these words, Edem held out the rough stone in his hand to his mother. Jin glanced at the stone and saw that it had a distinctive feature. "It''s a fluorite, isn''t it?" Erza heard him muttering in a whisper. "Fluorite?" "Hmm, ah. Was it Edem just now?The stone he was holding. It had a beautiful octahedron, didn''t it?Fluorite can be broken into that kind of shape. Fluorite is calcium fluoride. In fact, it is also used in iron manufacturing. Aside from the electric arc furnace in which Jin fell into, it was used in blast furnace iron manufacturing to facilitate the flow of impurities called "slag". Therefore, it is a mineral with which Jin is very familiar. As a gemstone, it is too soft (Mohs hardness 4), so only a few collectors collect it. Perhaps this is another tourist service stone. "Well, well, Edem, you found an amazing stone. I''m so happy for you." "My brother, she found a pink stone." "Well, that''s great." Yes, sir. Jin did not mean to disturb the happy family. It''s just... I just envy them a little bit. "Yes, everyone, did you have a good time?We are about to go outside, please follow me. Then came the voice of the guide. Returning the borrowed magic tools, the eight of us headed back the way we came. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Outside, the clouds had parted and blue skies were peeking through. The wind was already blowing a spring breeze. "Ah, it''s nice to be out in the fresh air, isn''t it? Reinhardt agreed, and Erza was shaking her head in agreement. "Well then, good day to you all." Baroness Sekat greeted them. Shede waved his hand, "Good-bye, brother, sister," she said. Jin and Elsa gave a small wave back. It was just lunchtime, so we decided to go into a nearby restaurant. As it is a mining village, the restaurant was decorated with ores and gemstones of various sizes. "Do you have any aquamarine?" Elsa asked Jin in a small voice. "Aquamarine, huh? I don''t know..." Aquamarine is a color similar to that of Erza''s eyes. It is one of Elsa''s favorite gemstones. "Oh, this one does." A fist-sized crystal was on display. Aquamarine is the same mineral as emerald, but while emerald crystallizes deep in the earth under great pressure, aquamarine usually forms in pegmatite. "This is beautiful. "It''s beautiful even unpolished, isn''t it?" "Well, if the polished gem is a dressed-up beauty, the gem is a simple village girl." "???" "............" Reinhardt interrupted suddenly. Jin and Erza couldn''t help but make indescribable faces at his uncharacteristically impudent words. "Huh?I feel like I''m being thought of in a bad way." Reinhardt sensed this and said with a wry smile, "It''s not my imagination. That kind of talk doesn''t suit my brother Rai." Erza let out her honest impression. "That''s terrible. I was going to ...... buy you that stone, but I''m not going to do it. Reinhardt said in a sulky tone, "I''m sorry. I''m sorry. Elsa was leaning toward him saying, "My brother Rai is handsome. Reinhardt''s smile deepens, "I thought you''ve matured a bit, but you haven''t changed a bit. Well, I''ll buy it for you." Reinhardt was sweet to his cousin. * * * * * * "Is that sapphire still out there? ......" The guide who had seen Siede give the sapphire to his mother, Viscountess Marilia Sekat, reported it to the mining association. The tourist tunnels were closed for the next two weeks and mining was carried out, but little pink sapphire, or even just corundum, was extracted. 168 - - 07-10 The Mystery of Ethers After finishing the meal, the afternoon was spent doing whatever they wanted to do. Jin headed for the mine, but Reiko appeared in a deserted place after she had released her stealth. Then she said.., "Father, something seems to have happened on Horai Island. She told Jin that something had happened on Horai Island. "What do you mean, something that even Lao Tzu can''t handle? "No, it is more like an important discovery that I would like to report. "I see. Okay, I''ll go home. Jin and Reiko return to the carriage in a concealed manner, using stealth himself. Jin could not see outside, so he asked Reiko to pull him back. Confirming that no one is watching, he quietly gets into the carriage, activates the hidden warp gate, and jumps to Horai Island. * * * * * * "Welcome home, my lord. As you exit the warp gate of Horai Island, you are greeted by the voice of Laozi. "Ah, I''m home. I heard you have something to report?" Jin went to the room where the main body of Lao Tzu was located and sat down on the chair provided. Reiko stood by his side. "Yes, my lord. Actually, it''s about the <> unit. The Albatross is a plane that flies on a magical jet propulsion engine created by Jin. "We are still making topographic maps by aerial surveys, but in the process we have learned something unexpected." Unexpected? Yes. First of all, please take a look at this. instructed Jin, and a map in the process of being made was spread out in front of him. He is in charge of Land 1, the army golem. "It''s very well done, isn''t it?" "Thank you, sir. The details are still to be worked out, but I think we have a rough idea of the terrain. "Yes. But why is there not much of the southern hemisphere? The topographic map showed the northern hemisphere in detail, but only a little of the southern hemisphere. "That is the point of this report." Lao Tzu then began his report. "At first the measurements were going well. But then <>, which was heading south, started complaining of anomalies. At the same time, the sky golem on board also reported an abnormality." "Anomalies?" "Yes. It is a decrease in the operating efficiency of the ether converter. However, no abnormality was found when we examined the returned Albatross. Hearing this, Jin had a hypothesis in his mind, but he refrained from making an immediate decision due to the lack of information and let <> continue. "And the <> headed for the north, on the contrary, the efficiency of the ether converter has increased abnormally. The Sky Golem on board also reported a similar increase in efficiency." Hearing this, Jin felt that his hypothesis was correct. concluded from the above that the concentration of free magical element (ether) in the air seems to increase in the north and decrease in the south, which is consistent with Jin''s hypothesis. This is consistent with Jin''s hypothesis. "Father!" At that moment, Reiko, who had been silent until then, opened her mouth. "In your mother''s time, the north was the land of demons and the south was the land of humans. Is there any relation between the two? Hearing this, said, "Thank you, Reiko, for your good information. Master (My Lord), from the information we have now, it seems to be certain that the concentration of free magical element (ether) becomes more concentrated the further north you go. He concluded that the concentration of the free-magic element (ether) becomes more concentrated the further north one goes. Jin agrees. Reiko also agreed, "Besides, there was a place where the efficiency of the ether converter was abnormally high when I went looking for your father before. It might have been in the north. Jin agreed. Jin agrees with this and speaks out his conclusion. Yes, if that much is true, there seems to be no doubt about it, regardless of the reason. If that is the case, it is urgent to develop a plane that can go to the south, not to the north. So, Jin started to design a new type of plane in cooperation with . "It should be equipped with three ether converters. It will also be equipped with a large mana tank so that it can fly without free magic element (ether). Unlike mechanical airplanes, neither the ether converter nor the mana tank are very large, so adding them will not make the plane any larger. "Master (My Lord), I also recommend the addition of a magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine). suggested that it would be better to add more engines. Jin decides to adopt this opinion, "Okay, let''s add one engine on each wing. With a total of three engines, a longer flight distance would be possible. Although the number of engines is not simply proportional to the distance flown, it would be effective in terms of making it easier to increase the flight speed and altitude. Jin is not an aerodynamicist by nature. He only has experience in building model airplanes. If it is not correct, he will just rebuild it. Thus, it was decided to build several aircraft. The first one is a long-range reconnaissance plane. It is equipped with three ether converters and three magical jet propulsion engines. It has a large mana tank and can theoretically circumnavigate a planet in this world with ease. The next is a transport plane. It is similar to a long-range reconnaissance aircraft, but the wing area and fuselage volume have been increased in order to increase the weight capacity rather than the flight range. The last one is for covert maneuvering. <, but has a stealth function, enhanced offensive power, and can move at high speed. It is not too much to say that it is a stealth fighter. Each of them is named <> for reconnaissance, > for transportation, and for stealth. Skylark is a lark and Raptor is a bird of prey. The names are derived from the names Jin heard when he was on Earth. Albatross seems to be a more suitable name for a long-range reconnaissance aircraft than Skylark, but it is Jin''s name, so we should not be concerned about it. The name of the aircraft is "Albatross". After completing the design, Jin looked at the map again. I have a rough idea of the size of this star from my previous surveys. "But it is smaller than I thought. < "I guess it''s still packed with heavy elements ......, maybe even magic elements." Jin is also interested in the structure of this star, but he decides to leave that for later. "<>, there seems to be a disquieting atmosphere in this world as well, so be on your guard. He reminds her. "Yes, you are talking about <> and the Unification Party (Unifiler), aren''t you? Reiko-san has reported it too. "Yes, she has. If they find out about this place they''ll definitely come after us. Be careful. Yes, my lord. Then the village of Kaina must be on the lookout too. Yes. The name of the village is very special to Jin. It is a village that can be called his second home. Now that Jin had received the title of Honorary Magecraftsman in the Kingdom of Egelea, he had high hopes that he might be able to visit the Kingdom of Klein and the village of Kaina in one of its regions with pride. It would be a little while before that happened. Jin then spent some time listening to detailed reports on the development of the island and the situation in Kunlun Island. In a word, things are going very well. Finally, I asked him about the mining of eladite, but unfortunately, he told me that no vein of ore could be found on either Penglai Island or Kunlun Island. "Well, it can''t be helped. Keep on investigating. "Yes, my lord." Jin passed through the warp gate again and returned to Yada village. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was still light in Yada village due to the time difference. Jin gets out of the carriage and checks for any damage, but finds nothing wrong. "Ah, Jin-kun." Then a voice called out to him. I turned around to see Erza. "What are you doing?" "Yes, I''m checking the carriages. Tomorrow we will go to the village where the ruins are, right?That''s why." Elsa looked satisfied when I answered that. "You''re good, Jin. You''ve made all these things and you''re still so cautious. "Haha, flattery will get you nowhere." Jin replied to Erza''s compliment, "Okay, everything is fine." He clapped his hands and said. "I hope the weather will be fine tomorrow." "Yeah." Jin looks up at the sky as he walks alongside Elsa. The reddish sunset clouds seemed to be telling him that tomorrow would be a fine day. 169 - - 07-11 Silent Story 6 The Depression of King Egerea Harold Luan Autoclase-Egelea, King of Egelea, was depressed. "How may I help you, king? Sir Braoloat, the finance minister, asked tiredly as he looked down at the papers in his hand. "Three years of the national budget has been lost. The golem party incident of the other day, the cleanup is just about finished. Repairing the broken castle, replenishing the destroyed golems (mainly for Reiko), taking measures against the newly built golems, paying compensation to the guests at home and abroad, and sending information abroad...... no amount of money was enough. In addition, "Good morning, Father." "Good morning, Your Majesty." There was the third prince Ernesto. Today he is accompanied by his favorite lady-in-waiting, the golem Lotte. Ernest, the 3rd Prince of Egelea, is not the son of the Queen of Egelea, but the son of a concubine. Therefore, he was next in line for the throne after his uncle, the king''s brother. However, the boy himself did not care about it at all, and grew up free and unrestrained. His father found it adorable, and as the king, he honestly felt a pain in his head. "Well, good morning. Ernest, what are your plans for today? "Yes, father. In the morning we''ll study and practice manners. In the afternoon we''ll practice horsemanship and swordsmanship. Good. Do it well. Yes, sir. The busy King exchanged a few words with his beloved son and returned to his duties. "I remember Lotte and that carriage... ......" The king recalls more causes for his headache. Twelve years ago, the king began to use golems and other means to fill the manpower shortage caused by the small population. Even the newborn Prince Ernest was replaced by a golem except for his attendant nanny. Those who are entrusted with the care of the royal family need first of all to be trustworthy. Few of them were given priority over the princes above them and over the king and queen. It was inevitable that Prince Ernest, the fourth in line to the throne, was put on the back burner. This is why Prince Ernest had become fond of golems. "But I didn''t think he was the best of the bunch..." The first prince is good-natured and unreliable, the second is quarrelsome and unfit for politics. The younger brother is, I suppose, fit to be king, but it is human nature for the current king, who is also a parent, to want his own blood child to inherit the throne. Prince Ernest is clever and of good character. He was well liked by the soldiers and knights around him. For now, the succession is based on blood and age, but the crown prince has not been officially chosen. When Prince Ernest turned 15 years old, he was going to name the Dauphin after having assessed the qualities of all his children. "...... I just can''t accept that golem bias." One of the duties of a king is to maintain his lineage. A family feud over the succession to the throne is the last thing he wants. Even though it was the seed he had sown, he was worried about Prince Ernest''s future if things continued as they were now. "I heard that he has a daughter modeled after Lotte, but she is a commoner, and she is engaged to Count Kuzma. It is a matter of conjecture as to how serious the 13-year-old was, but Prince Ernest suddenly proposed to the girl, Bina. "It''s a relief that he doesn''t seem to have any interest in human women." King Egelea shook his head once and returned his attention to the documents in front of him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, I''m so tired. "Your Highness, thank you for your hard work." Prince Ernest was relaxing over a cup of tea that Lotte had brewed for him after his tutoring session. "I still have a teacher of manners coming later..." "That''s right. Please study hard. "Yes, thank you." Thank you. What?You can''t do it? Yes, I''m sorry. Minister of Magic Kerichdole gasped when he heard the report from his men. It was that he could not make a copy of the carriage and the golem horse that Jin had given to Prince Ernest. "Even though the original golem is right in front of you?" "Yes." The golem horse that Jin made and left behind. It looks just like an ordinary horse in size and shape. So far, so good. The most astonishing thing about it is its movement. Quadrupedal walking is not simply a matter of alternating right and left movements. On modern Earth, where high-speed cameras are available, it would be possible to analyze the movements, but the magicians and magical craftsmen of this world could not do so. Incidentally, before the Magecraftsmen''s War, the , which is often used by Jin, was quite common. By using this method, it was possible to retrieve information on the movements of horses from actual horses, but this magic has long since been lost. Therefore, the Minister of Magic, Kelihidole, was unaware of the fact that this was exactly the magic that Jin used on Lyanna of the Royal Secret Maidens, even though she had reported it to him. The scary thing is preconceived notions. However, even Lyanna herself had no idea what magic was being used, so her report was a bit hazy. "Hmmm, I guess we''ll have to settle for something similar." Prince Ernest asked Jin to make a golem carriage, and the king saw it and ordered to make several carriages for the royal family. It seems that not only King Egelea but also the Minister of Magic will continue to be troubled for the time being. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Come to think of it, there was a Royal Secret Maid attached to Jin, wasn''t there? The King suddenly remembered and asked JUDOL, the Minister of Defense, who was standing nearby. "Yes, you mean Lila Solyus? "Oh, yes, that''s her name. I heard that she is the sister of Iris Solyus of the Kindei Magic Guards. Yes. Both sisters have great magical potential. The younger sister has yet to manifest hers. JUDLE explains. But the king interrupts him with a wave of his hand, "Oh, that''s not what I meant. Is it possible to put him on Ernesto? "Yes, for the moment the Royal Secret Maidens are not available, and, well, I don''t think Lila is very suitable for the job. "Mm-hmm, that''s no problem then. All right, let''s appoint this Lila SOLEUS, let''s call her Lila SOLEUS, as Ernesto''s lady-in-waiting. She should ostensibly be his bodyguard. Yes, sir. She will have more guards now that she is thirteen years old. Under this guise, Laila was to be Prince Ernest''s lady-in-waiting. "I heard that, Lila!Congratulations!" "What a promotion!" Her fellow Royal Secret Maids of Honor are also congratulating her. "If the prince gets his hands on you, you''ll have a shot at the title of lady of the house! said Lisa, the Royal Secret Maid attached to Bina. "Oh, I don''t know if I''m up to the task ......." Laila was more anxious than happy, more bewildered than happy. Laila was gently encouraged by the group leader, Lyanna. "Don''t worry. I heard that the prince is very kind and that this was a direct request from the king. But this only made her feel more and more deflated. "Why would the ...... king want me?" "I don''t know, I don''t know." "I don''t know, I don''t know. ......" With a sense of uneasiness, Lila went to Prince Ernest''s apartment. She knocked and entered the room. There, she finds Prince Ernest leaning over Lotte. The prince smiles when he sees Laila, "Hello, Lila. It''s been a long time. You don''t look well. Laila said to him. Laila was surprised that the prince remembered her, "So, Your Highness, you remember me? she asked in a slight panic. In fact, this is a serious disrespect. He had called out to the prince without even greeting him. But the prince did not seem to pay any attention to him, "Ha, you brought me Lotte''s dress. You brought me this Lotte''s dress.That''s why I said it''s been a while. Finally, Laila remembers that she hasn''t even greeted him at his new position, "Oh, no!As of this moment, I am Lila SOLEUSS, the new lady-in-waiting to His Highness Ernesto!I know I don''t have much to offer, but I''m going to work hard to make this happen. ......" Laila spun the words desperately, but perhaps because she was unfamiliar with the language, she bit her tongue at the last minute. "Ha ha ha ha!" Prince Ernest laughed cheerfully. "Lila, you don''t have to be so nervous. Your father told me not to take it too hard and to think of you as someone to talk to and to consult with. I''m looking forward to working with you." "Yes, yes!" Laila bows hurriedly. At the same time, there was a dull thud. "Uh-uh. ......" Forgetting that there was a table in front of her, she bent down so deeply that her forehead hit the table with a forceful impact. "Laila, Laila, are you okay?I heard a loud noise." "Hi, Laila... ......" Laila''s life at her new workplace has only just begun. 170 - - 07-12 To Archaeological Site The day of departure for Keune Village was sunny from the morning. As planned, Jin and his friends departed for the village of Keune in Jin''s carriage. The members of the group are Jin, Reinhard, Erza, and Claude, the butler. Reiko is sitting on the dais. The road is quite bad as they said. The road is not only uneven, but also steep, narrow, and littered with large stones. Jin''s horse-drawn wagon made its way through these rough roads without a care in the world and arrived at the village of Keune before noon. "That was fast, that''s Jin''s carriage! Reinhardt was full of praise. "Now, where are the ruins? Jin parked the carriage in a suitable square and observed the surroundings. The village of Keune looked like a cold village in the mountains. It seemed much more desolate than the village of Kayna. "Are there really any ruins here? Jin thought, "If there is such a cultural asset, it should be a little more crowded. "Have you come to see the ruins? Jin turned around at the sound of that voice and saw an old man with a bent back standing there with a cane. He seemed to be from this village. "Yes, yes. The Keowan ruins, is it?I''d love to see them." Jin explained the purpose of his visit, "Oh, I see. To the ruins, huh? That''s a curious thing to do," the old man said. The old man laughed in a slightly accented voice, "Then come this way. I''m not busy anyway, so I''ll show you around. He started walking toward the mountain. Jin and the others looked at each other. "What are you going to do?" "Well, why don''t we follow him?" "Well, let''s follow him. I think it''s a good idea. There seems to be no danger. I didn''t sense any evil or murderous intent in him. Claude, the butler, who used to be a first-class swordsman, assured the old man that he was in no danger. "All right, let''s get going then. "Oh, Jin, is the carriage safe?" Reinhardt asked concerned. Jin laughed and said it would be fine. "I''ll lock it too." Not only the lock, but there must be a <> secretly watching the carriages so that they can leave without worry, but Jin couldn''t say anything about that. "Hey, what''s up?" An old man at the end of the road turned around and called out to him. Jin rushed to get his luggage out of the car, "Come on, let''s go. He walks away. Reinhardt and the others also start walking. Erza saw that Jin was unusually carrying his luggage, "What''s that, Jin? Jin-kun, what is it? Jin smiled and answered. "This?Various necessities. He explained. "It has a light, water, portable food, and a rope. Claude looked impressed and said, "Oh, really? "You are very well prepared, Jin-sama. Unlike the tourist mines of yesterday, the ruins are basically unmaintained. Lights and water are a necessity. He pointed to his own luggage. Claude had also prepared for the trip. This time, Reiko had her in her hand for the first time in a long time, and she was walking close to Jin. "You guys seem to have brought a lot of things with you, but there''s no need for them. An old man walking ahead of him said in a low voice, "What? "What?" "The ruins aren''t that big. You just go in, take a peek, and that''s it. "Is that so?" When Jin asked this, the old man answered in the affirmative. "Yeah. If there was more to see, it would attract more people. It seems that the old man was disappointed. However, we decided to take our luggage with us since we were going to the trouble. After walking for about 10 minutes, we came to a huge cliff. "Cliff ......?" "It looks about 100 meters high. Look, there is the entrance. The old man pointed to a near-vertical cliff made of granite, and at the foot of the cliff the ruins were open. "There''s nothing dangerous about it. Locals go in there to cool off in the summer heat. The old man''s explanation was somewhat disheartening, but the group headed for the entrance to the ruins since they had come all this way. "It looks like a disappointment," said Reinhardt. Reinhardt said, "But I''ve never been to a place like this. It might be more interesting than you think. And Elsa. Jin was walking in silence. Reiko stops suddenly and holds Jin''s hand. "Father, there are people in the ruins. Just as she said, a figure emerged from the entrance of the ruins. "Oh, how unusual. Are you a visitor?" "Oh, sir, are you here to survey the ruins today?" The person who was called "Sensei" and who seemed to know the old man well must have been an old man. There was no hair on his head, and instead, he had a magnificent white beard on his chin. However, his back is straight and his gray eyes give an impression of vigor and vitality. He was wearing a white robe-like jacket and had the air of a researcher. "Well, I have to come here once a day to relax. After saying this, the person turned to Jin and the others, "As a researcher, I am glad that young people are interested in this kind of ruins. I am Lukor, a common archaeologist. "I am Jin. This is Reiko. I''m Reinhardt. This is Elsa. I''m Claude, the butler. Jin and the others introduced themselves and greeted the man who introduced himself as Lukor. "I have been investigating these ruins for 10 years now, but I still don''t fully understand them. If you like, I can show you around a bit. Lukor offers. To tell the truth, I appreciate having someone who has studied the site show me around rather than just gazing at it aimlessly. "Yes, that would be great. Reinhardt said, speaking for the group. "All right, come here, then." Lukor led the group to the mouth of the ruins from which he had just emerged. The entrance to the ruins, a granite chasm like the cliffs, looked weathered and tattered, but once inside, that impression was blown away. "What is this place?" It was a large space with many chairs, benches, and beds. And a heap of scattered garbage. "Ha ha, you must be surprised. This used to be a large empty room, but since it was cool in summer and warm in winter, the locals started to use it as a summer and winter shelter. That''s how it ended up like this. Lukor explains. This is probably why there are magic lamps here and there, not as bright as in the daytime, but bright enough. "Oh, I see. "I was surprised because it came out of nowhere." Reinhardt and Erza laughed at Lukor''s explanation, but one of them, Hitoshi, had a scowl on his face. 171 - - 07-13 Secrets of Archaeological Sites "Jin, what''s wrong?" Reinhardt noticed that Jin was acting strangely and called out in a concerned voice. Jin had a bead of sweat on his forehead, "This is ...... a huge warp gate," he said. He said, "What? "What? Is this a warp gate?" Reinhardt and Erza were surprised, but it was probably Lukoil who was the most surprised. "What, what, what?This is the Warp Gate?How could you possibly know that? His face turned red and blue, and he stammered, finally saying just that. "Why, because I know ......, that''s all I can say." Jin had been deceiving himself by saying that the warp gate he had been using was an ancient relic (artifact), but now the warp gate as an ancient relic (artifact) definitely appeared here. "Ummm...ummm...ummm...ummm......... You can easily detect at a glance what I couldn''t even understand after 10 years of research?That''s absurd!" "No, I''m sorry. Jin apologizes to Lukor, who is excitedly ranting, not understanding what he is saying. "Oh, look, you see that part of the magic circle where the paving stone is broken?Isn''t that evidence of a warp gate? I tried to tell him, but he became even more confused. "I don''t care!There is no magic circle for a warp gate! It seems that nothing he can say will make a difference now, Jin-kun, let''s go! Erza pulled on Jin''s sleeve. Jin also decided to leave the situation alone for now and left the room. "So, if this is a warp gate, it''s ...... huge." Reinhardt sounds impressed. "Yeah. I didn''t know there was such a big warp gate either. Well, it looks like it''s already dead. Jin says. However, the air conditioning still seems to be working, albeit imperfectly. It is cool in summer and warm in winter. I could understand if it were a cave, but in such a shallow place, it makes more sense to think that the air conditioning is working. Reinhardt asked Jin as he was thinking about this. "Jin, what do you think such a big warp gate is used for? "Judging from its size, a large amount of supplies or a large number of people, I guess. Reinhardt nodded in agreement, "I think so too. I think it was probably one of the strongholds of the war of wizardry. Jin agreed with him. Jin agreed with him. "I see, that''s a strong possibility. ......" Then Lukor, who had recovered, interrupted. "You guys!You think so?That''s the same conclusion I''ve come to over the last 10 years!This place must have been a provincial fortress during the Magic War!" "Ha, ha!" The excited Lukor''s argument continues. "The War of Magic!It was a war for survival between demons and humans!The demons were strong and the humans were weak!But the humans have not perished. Why do you think that is? Lukor asks Jin. Jin answers without knowing why. "Is it the Aether Stampede?" He was right. "Yes!Aether Stampede has caused the free magic element (ether) in the atmosphere to disappear, even if only temporarily. The demons cannot survive without free magic element (ether). But human beings, with the exception of powerful wizards, can live without free ether. Jin felt a chill run down his spine when he heard this. If another "Ether Stampede" were to occur now, Jin, Reinhard, and Erza would not be able to survive. And Reiko would probably be immobilized as well. "Is the method of ''Aether Stampede'' transmitted?" Jin asked her that question. "Hmm?No, no, the technology before the magic war, including that, has not been handed down for the most part. That is why I am investigating these ruins! Jin is relieved for the moment. There seems to be no danger for the time being. But.., However, Jin thinks to himself, "It might be a good idea to think about countermeasures against the "Aether Stampede".) ) Jin thinks to himself. Reinhardt asked Jin another question. "Hey Jin, if this is a fortress, what do you think there is besides the warp gate?" "Well, command center, living quarters, infirmary, pantry, and ......." Jin spins his words in thought, and finally, after a little hesitation, he says, " armory, "...... armory," he said. Reinhard said. Reinhardt nodded in agreement with Jin''s words. "I think so too. I think there are weapons from the past hidden somewhere in these ruins. Then he continued his words. "I can''t help but think that if they were to fall into the hands of that , I would ......." Now Jin finally understood Reinhardt''s concern. "Indeed. I hope it''s not there, but if it is, we have to do something about it. Jin agrees. Then he looked around at the wall, "If this is the warp gate room, it''s like a doorway. It should be on the first basement floor or the first floor above ground. If there is such a warehouse, it must be in the basement, so it must be on the same level or in the basement. Lukoil interjects again, "No, no.... No. There is no other room. There is no other room. I can use a little magic myself, I tried to find it. I''ve tried. But in vain. There is no other room. Jin tried to refute this. Jin tried to argue with him, but he thought better of it and kept his mouth shut. Reinhardt took his place, "Well, that''s all right then. Well then, if there is nothing more to see, let''s get out of here. Jin and Erza agreed. Jin and Erza agreed, and the group went out of the ruins, leaving the still mumbling Lucor behind. The sun was shining brightly outside. The old man who had shown us the way was gone. "Well, what are we going to do for the night? Reinhard said. Erza heard that, "What?Aren''t you going home? She looks doubtful. Jin quieted her down. "Well, let''s go to the carriage. We''ll talk about the details inside. With that, the group strolls back to Jin''s carriage. It was a pleasant afternoon with a spring breeze. "Well then, let me explain." They returned to Jin''s carriage, sat down in the cabin and closed the door. "Reiko, keep an eye out for anyone approaching. "Yes, father." Jin gave a final warning and urged Reinhardt to start talking. "Okay. Erza, you heard about the Unifiler the other day, right? "Yes. First, let''s start with an explanation to Erza. "The Unifiler is planning to revive the Dinaric Kingdom. In other words, they want the lost technology as much as we want it. "I understand." Jin then took over and began to talk. "If those ruins are the remains of a fortress from the past, it''s definitely not just that room. I can assure you of that. You mean... Yes. The armory will be there. And the technology of the past. At this point Reinhardt took over again. "Normally, it would make sense to contact the appropriate department in the Kingdom of Egelea and have them investigate... but seeing as the situation has been left unattended for decades, it seems that at least the people in Ulemlin are all incompetent." Uremlin is the nearest regional city. Reinhardt has a way with words. "And that Lukor guy is suspicious. Too suspicious. Why would it take 10 years for one room like that? Jin agrees. It''s just not right. Reinhardt sums up the conversation. "For now, I''d like to take steps that won''t benefit the Unification Party (Unifiler)," he says. Jin agreed with these words, "Yes. They are the kind of people who try to manipulate Reiko and the golem that others have made. We don''t know what kind of dirty tricks they might use. I think we should be the first to go. He said. Finally, Reinhardt said, "Besides, I''m interested in ancient technology! Reinhardt concluded. Erza''s shoulders relax after hearing this. 172 - - 07-14 Undercover into the ruins Then lunch in the carriage. Claude, the butler, is eating outside, somewhat apologetic, but no matter how hard I try to persuade him, he just won''t listen. Lunch is served with bread and fruits. Then Jin took the opportunity to bring out a thermos. "Oh, it''s hot. Why?" Elsa is surprised to see that the tea poured from the thermos is still hot. Jin laughs, "It''s called a thermos," he explains. Jin explains. "You use magic?" Erza tilts her head and asks. "No, it''s called a thermos because it''s hard to cool down as if by magic, but I don''t use any particular magic. I''ve put in a magical formula for purification, but it has nothing to do with keeping it warm. "Then why?" "Well, I''m interested too." Not only Erza but also Reinhardt showed interest, so Jin sat back down to explain over a cup of tea (teehee). "This is another thing my teacher taught me," he began, "there are three different ways heat can be transferred. He began. Reinhard and Elsa listened attentively. The first one is conduction. This is when heat is transferred through an object. "Well, if you try to drink hot soup with a silver spoon, the handle gets hot right away. Reinhard seems to swallow quickly. "Next comes the radiation. When you hold your hand over the fire, it gets warm, doesn''t it?" Erza replies this time. "Yes. It''s warm even from a distance. Is that what you mean by radiation? Jin nodded his head in agreement with Erza and said the third thing. The third one is convection. When air or water gets warm, it becomes lighter and rises upward, while cold air is heavier and falls downward. This repeated cycle of air circulation is convection. "I see, when you build a fire in a cold room, the ceiling is warm but the floor is cold," Reinhardt said. Reinhardt said, and Erza shared her experience. A bath. If you fail to boil it, only the top is hot and the bottom is cold. Jin clapped his hands, "That''s right. He praised them both. "So, this thermos has a hollow wall structure that allows the air inside to escape. In this way, heat that should escape by convection and conduction does not escape. And since it is metal, it also reflects radiant heat and traps it inside. Reinhardt''s face lit up when Jin said this, "That''s why it doesn''t cool down easily!That''s great, Jin, what''s the word for that?" He was very excited. "<>. It is a science that tries to explain all the phenomena in the world. When Jin explained this, Erza''s face broke into a smile, "I understand now. One of the reasons why Jin-kun is so great is because he knows the science. That''s why all the magic tools you make make sense. Jin said. Jin nodded his head, Erza, you are right. The science I learned from my teacher has been continued for thousands of years by my teacher and his teacher and his teacher''s teacher, and so on. He explained. "Hmmm, I wish I could have learned from Jin''s teacher!" said Reinhardt regretfully. Reinhardt said regretfully. Perhaps it was Reinhardt''s own concern for Jin that he did not ask him about his teacher. The night was over. Night fell. The moon, which tells the time, is about to rise into the mid-sky. In other words, just before midnight. "Well, let''s go," Reinhardt whispered. Reinhardt whispered. "Yes. Jin nodded. "............" Elsa was asleep in her reclining seat. So Reinhardt gives instructions to the butler, Claude. "Claude stay here and watch over Erza. I and Jin are going to the ruins. Yes, sir. Claude is not worried because Reiko will be his escort. Well, the > is watching over this carriage from the shadows. Even though the road was taken during the day, it is not easy to walk at night. Even more so since we are walking without lights on as a precaution. However, Reiko, who does not mind the darkness, is leading the way, which makes it easier for Jin and the others. Finally, we came to the entrance of the ruins. The light of the magic lamp was leaking from the inside. "Reiko, go and check if there is no one there. "Yes." At Jin''s instruction, Reiko disappeared in stealth, approached the entrance of the ruins like the wind, peeked inside, and came back without making a sound. Neither Jin nor Reinhardt could see her. "It''s all right, there''s no one here. They stepped into the ruins again, reassured by the report that "It''s okay, there is no one here. "Well, Jin, where should we start?"Well, Jin, where should we start? Reinhard said. Jin had lived in a house with a warp gate, albeit a small one, so he decided to follow your instructions. Jin thinks for a moment and then replies. "Underground. An important warehouse would be built underground. And it must have been enchanted to conceal it. Reinhardt agrees, "Probably so. But a cloaking spell, huh? That''s a problem. But it''s a cloaking spell, isn''t it? Jin, however, shakes his head and denies it. "It''s not good to try to detect them with magic." What? "When there''s a cavity behind the wall, if you tap on it, it makes a different sound, doesn''t it?" "Mm-hmm." "In other words, we use sonar." When Jin explains this, Reinhardt is impressed and pats him on the shoulder. "I see!I hadn''t noticed that!Let''s give it a try." So Jin and Reinhardt split up and used their sonar magic to check the walls and floors. "I don''t see it here. ......" Jin was about to start on the next wall when Reinhardt shouted out. "Jin!Come here!" "What''s wrong, did you find him?" Jin rushed to Reinhardt''s side. "Yeah. Over there. So Jin also checked with the sonar and found that there was indeed a large cavity beyond that wall. "Then the next question is how to get to the other side. We could dig a hole with earth magic, but it would be bad to leave a mark on the wall for future use. In the end, they decide to dig another hole from the outside. He goes outside for a while. He took Reiko, who was watching him, and went about 50 meters away. "Okay, let''s start digging from here. We chose a place where the rock outcropping would make it difficult to see from the outside, and finally started the work. "<>" Jin digs a hole, "<>" Reinhardt strengthens the wall to make it harder to collapse. Reiko disposed of the debris far away. After about an hour, the hole was finally penetrated. "We made it!" Beyond the hole was a wide open space. Jin and Reinhardt stepped carefully into the hole. 173 - - 2007-15 Archaeological Site When Jin and Reinhardt stepped into the room, it was pitch black. "<>" Jin turned on the light magic. Then they were able to see. "What is this place ......?" Reinhardt wondered. It was a small, spacious room with only a few old-fashioned desks and chairs. The design of the desks and chairs were similar to those used by Jin''s predecessors. "It must be the office or the command center." Jin could only guess. "But there might still be a room in the back here. Let''s look for it. He checked the three walls, the ceiling, and the floor, except for the hole he had drilled, and this time he soon found a passageway. There was a door on the innermost wall. It was disguised in such a way that it was a little difficult to see. "Shall we go in?" "Let''s go in." "Yeah." With this brief exchange, Jin and Reinhardt proceeded further into the room. After following a rather wide passageway for about five meters, they came to another door. "I''ll open it. "I''ll open it. Reinhardt called out, and Jin prepared to release his magic at any time as a precaution. Reinhardt opened the door. "What? As soon as he opens the door, the room lights up. It seems that the magic lamp in the room was not dead. "This is ......." What appeared before him was an empty bookshelf. "Looks like a library." Reinhardt looks over the bookshelf and concludes. "There are still some of these." There were two books with what looked like parchment paper, simply closed, in the corner of the shelf. "What do they say?" Jin decided to read them. Jin could read the old magic alphabet of a thousand years ago, which is an ancient alphabet in this age. He pretends to read it with some difficulty because it is difficult to explain why he can read it. "5......Month......23Day......Magic ...to abandon ...... the invasion...... fort...... of ......... ...Decision ......." It looks like a diary or a record. It must be from the time of the wizard war. So thought Reinhard. "Material...... weapons...... food...... possessions......... ......... as long as ...... you take it out." Reinhardt analyzes Jin''s reading with a nod of approval. "I see. So this fortress was abandoned because it was no longer possible to hold off the invasion of the demon tribe. I see. So this fortress was abandoned because they could no longer hold off the invasion of the demon tribe. "Just to ...... make sure,...... the warp gate,...... the hall,...... is ...... fill it up and ...... go." "Oh, so it was the other side that buried it. Now I''m having a hard time finding this one." As Reinhardt says, it is ironic that the warp gate was buried, but later on it was dug out first. Jin closed the record, "Well, it doesn''t say much of anything important," he says. Reinhardt shakes his head, "No, it''s a document that will help us get closer to the truth of the magic wars. Let''s take it home with us. I will take it home with me. I told myself that it would be a criminal act to take such materials out of the ruins of another country without permission, but it would be better than having them fall into the hands of the Unification Party (Unifiler). "We can send the translation to King Egelea later." Reinhardt put the document in his pocket with this thought. "Now then, the armory is probably empty. Let''s just take a look." It seems that the armory is at the back of the archives. The reason I know this is because it is written on the door at the back. Either the door was old or it was locked from the inside, but no matter how hard Jin and the others pushed and pulled, it could not be opened. Out of necessity, Jin called Reiko. "Reiko!" Reiko heard Jin''s voice and came immediately. "Yes, father." "Open this door, please." "Yes, Father." Reiko immediately put her hand on the door and pushed it open at once. The hinges creaked, but she managed to keep it from breaking. "This is ......." The door did not open because there were a number of motionless golems lying motionless in front of the door. They were covered with dust, and both Jin and Reinhardt covered their noses and mouths with handkerchiefs. "Golem for battle?No, it''s just a chore golem." Jin examined the motionless golem and determined that it was not a combat golem, but a golem that performed chores. "Five of them, huh? They don''t look particularly broken. Reinhardt also bent down to examine the golem. The magic lamps here are dark, and you have to look closely to see the details. "It looks like it''s running out of magic. But Jin denies it. "...... No, no. Look at this. Here." Jin opens the golem''s chest. What was not there was not there. "The control core is missing ......?" Reinhardt sees it at a glance and starts to check the other golem. "It''s not in this golem either. "Not on this one either." Jin and Reinhardt found that all of the five Golems did not have a control core. "Only the control core cannot be missing. So, should we assume that someone has disabled this golem? "I don''t know. I don''t know. That''s the most likely explanation. Jin doesn''t know what''s going on either. "These golems were not that important. They are not important enough to take with us when we leave. Then we can just remove the important parts and take them with us. ...... like this." Reinhardt''s guess was confirmed by Jin, "There might be something in the record, I''ll take a closer look when I get back," he added. Reiko called out to him and said, "Reiko, what''s going on? Then Reiko called out to him. "Father, there is another one in the back." "What?" Jin looked toward the back of the room where Reiko said, and saw something human-shaped in the darkness. "<>" When Jin turned on the light, he could see the figure clearly. It was an automaton dressed in an old maid''s uniform. It was left sitting on the floor. It was as dusty as a golem. "An automaton. ......" Jin bends down to examine the automaton. The dust is cleaned by magic. The doll''s body is of an adult female type. The magical skin is still barely elastic. Her hair is a dull blue. Her hair is a dull blue, perhaps intentionally colored differently from human hair. "This thing has a control core!" Jin, who had examined it, let out a surprised voice. "It seems that the reason why it is not moving is not due to the depletion of ...... magic power. This automata was equipped with an ether converter. "Oh, I see. There must have been some kind of shock, and the internal magic connection must have been broken. Jin''s keen observation finally found the faulty part. "Okay, I''ll fix it." Once the problem was identified, it was not a malfunction that Jin could not fix. "<><>" The broken magic circuits were joined, and the magi-device, which had been on the verge of disintegrating, was repaired. "Okay, <>" Then, giving it the magic power to start up, the automata begins to move. With a slight creak, the automaton opens its eyes and stands up. "Did...you...do...this...to...me? The automaton uttered the words, though a little stuttering, as if its vocal mechanism was damaged. 174 - - 07-16 Anne with Blue Hair An old automaton began to move and speak. It was supposed to be a witness to history. "Your name is Anne and I am your master. All I knew was that the automata''s name was Anne, but I didn''t know anything else, "I''m sorry, but I can''t tell you how to do this. I was told. I wondered if this automata had been erased of important information. If there was a possibility that the automata might have fallen into the hands of the enemy, it would have been a natural thing to do. "Hmmm... I don''t think we will find anything more..." concluded Reinhard, who was examining the room where the golem had been. "Then, what should we do with this golem and its automata? At that moment, a voice echoed from the passageway they had entered. "Ha-ha-ha-ha!That''s great!Excellent!Thank you very much for your hard work! It was Lukor, the self-proclaimed archaeologist we had met earlier in the day. "Lukor!What are you doing here?" Reinhardt asks, and Lecore laughs again. I told you I''m examining these ruins. < "The Unified Party! Lukor was an agent of the Unifilers. "During the day, I thought he was a pirate, so I sent a pigeon to report him. And in the evening, I received a reply. "Surprise, surprise, Reinhard and Jin, both of you are the ones that our Unification Party (Unifiler) has been looking for! Lukor was so excited that he started babbling on and on. "With this discovery as a souvenir, you too can pledge your allegiance to the Unification Party (Unifiler)!Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Lukor laughed like a madman. At that moment, Jin turned around when he felt a tug on his sleeve. There was the automaton, Anne. "The person''s house is very funny...is............" It was hard to hear and her voice was low, but Jin listened to what Ann said. "............" "I see. You''ve been very kind. Thank you, Anne. When Jin had finished listening to Ann, Lukor was still laughing and shouting. "Ha-ha-ha-ha!Come on, you two, come with me!" To Lukor, Jin said something to him. "What the hell!" "What?" At the sound of Jin''s cold voice, even Lukoil stopped laughing and looked at him strangely. "What did you say?" "I said, ''What a b*tc*,'' you fanatic." Jin then followed up with another attack. "The Unification Party?Do you really think you can do that?Then you''re not even a fanatic. You''re just a fool." When he was told that much, Lukoil''s face turned red and he became angry. "What, what, what?Do you know what you are talking about?" Jin replied coldly, "Unify the continent?In the first place, the Kingdom of Dinar ruled only a small part of the continent. Even then, it could not sustain itself due to population decline and went bankrupt and became a small group of countries.That''s ridiculous. Oh, the Unification Party (Unifiler) is a comedy group? Reinhardt''s eyes widened at these harsh words, which did not suit Jin, but Lukoil was even more astonished when he was told. "What, what, what?" "Don''t make me ask you again, you have a bad memory?" You''re f*cking with me! Yes, I am. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! "You''re like a boiled octopus. ...... Oh, you wouldn''t know it if I told you. Yeah, like a boiling kettle. "Ugh!" "Oh, hey, Jin?" Reinhardt called out in concern at Jin''s unusual behavior. Jin answered Reinhardt in a whisper. "Shhhh... Just wait a little longer." "Ah, ah..." "So the Unifilers aren''t wizards, but a bunch of idiots." Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! "Until..." Anne''s voice rang out and Jin unleashed his magic. "<>" "Gee! And Lukor crumpled to the ground. "Well, it''s over." Reinhardt asked Jin as he exhaled. "Jin, what was that magic?" "Oh, is it stun?It''s an application of lightning magic, a magic that paralyzes an opponent with an electric shock for a real moment. It is very effective against humans. When Jin explains this, Reinhardt is impressed, "Hmm, is that another benefit of ?I''m more and more interested in learning science from you, Jin. "Yes, I''ll find an opportunity." Jin is getting more and more involved. Let''s start with this one. He uses his robe to tie up the unconscious Lukor. As I was tying him up, Reinhardt asked me a question curiously. "Jin, you were very provocative toward him earlier, did you have a reason? Jin answered in the affirmative. Then he asked Reinhardt a question in the opposite direction. "Didn''t you feel that his reaction was somewhat strange? "Hmm?Yes, indeed. But fanatics are like that, aren''t they? Reinhardt replied, but Jin said no. "Remember. "Remember. Remember how Dominic was like that after he revealed himself? Reinhardt thinks back to that time. And it is true that the same thing could be said about the unusual state of excitement. "Well, you were excited to the point of being a little crazy, weren''t you? When I answered that, Jin nodded his head in agreement. "I say that it might have been the effect of <>. "Hypnosis?What is that? It''s a magical version of hypnosis, if you will. But where did he get such information?Reinhardt must have wondered. Then he noticed that there was an automaton by Jin''s side, "Could it be that this automaton?" Jin laughed and nodded his head. Jin smiled and nodded his head, "Yes. Anne here taught me that. Jin answered, "Yes. I thought that Anne was going to start explaining the details, but it was Reiko, who was standing next to Anne before I knew it, who spoke up. "People think that hypnotic magic can control the subject at will, but it is not so. "What?" Neither Jin nor Reinhardt had ever heard of this before. "In the case of hypnosis (hypno), it is impossible to control all of the subject. What you can do, then, is to direct the subject''s behavior. In other words, in the case of Lukor, it is to let him continue his investigation of the ruins. We both agreed. "Ah, so that''s why we''ve been here for 10 years despite the lack of success. Normally, you don''t spend 10 years in a place where you can''t find anything. The two feel better now that they know why. "And I''ll have the Unified Party (Unifiler), which is backing up the site, report back to you every step of the way, that''s about it. "I see. So how did you know he was under hypnosis? Reinhardt asked the most important question, "When you are hypnotized, you become mildly aroused when you have something to do with the person to whom you have given the <><>. He explained. Jin nodded his head. "I see. That''s right. Dominic was like that at that time. Lukor was not in a state of mild excitement, though. Reinhardt''s question was also answered. "It seems that the more forcefully an order is imprinted, the more aroused it becomes." "I see. So it seems that Lukoil was not originally a Unifiler. But why did he stir things up like that? Reinhardt''s question is also valid. Jin was only asked by Ann to provoke him at that time. The answer to that question is, "When you give a shock to a person at the peak of his excitement, he may wake up from his hypnosis. Anne explained through Reiko. "So there is a possibility that Lukor is now awakening from hypnosis. Okay, let''s wait until he realizes it. 175 - - 07-17 Birthday While he waits for Lukor to notice, Jin turns to Reiko, "Reiko, do you understand what Anne is trying to say? Reiko asks. Reiko had just explained to him on behalf of Anne, who was having trouble with her speech apparatus. Yes, father. She is like a cousin of mine, so she can speak on my behalf with magical synchronization. "Cousin?" I''m not sure I understand that expression. "Yes. Yes. She and I have the same basic design. I think we probably use the same design basis as your mother. I can feel the magical vibrations for vocalization just by touching her like this. I guess you could say it''s like having a radio voice pop into the radio when the frequencies are close enough. Anyway, Reiko is able to speak on behalf of Anne. Perhaps because of this, Jin is relieved that she is not jealous of Anne in particular. "I see...I see." Jin is satisfied, but Reinhardt, who is standing nearby, has a question mark in his head. "Jin, what do you mean?Explain it to me so that I can understand. Jin apologizes to Reinhardt. "Oh, I''m sorry, Reinhard. I think it''s likely that this Anne was designed by the same person as Reiko. The details have changed, of course, but the basics are the same. That''s why I said that Reiko is her cousin." "Hmmm, so Reiko ...... is such an old design?" Jin tried to remember what he had told Reinhardt about Reiko, but could not. He thinks he explained to Bina about the artifact that Jin had found, but he thinks he left Reinhardt in the dark about it. "Ah. Reiko was originally an artifact-class automata, but she was quite damaged when I found her. So, I reassembled her using new materials while keeping the design as is, and that''s what Reiko is now." When I explained this to him, Reinhardt seemed to agree with me and made several large affirmative gestures, "Well, that explains a lot. No wonder you ...... are so efficient, Reiko. "Reinhard, if you''re talking about Reiko, you don''t have to put the ''missus'' suffix on her now. Reiko. "...... yes?" There was a slight pause, but Reiko, who had no ill feelings toward Reinhardt and who had been told to do so by Jin, agreed. "Well, thank you, Reiko." "...... no." "Anne, I''ll take care of it later. Thank you very much. As I was doing this, Lukor, who had been knocked out, jerked away. Reinhardt was the first to notice. "Hey, did you notice?" I lightly tapped him on the cheek, and he finally opened his eyes. "Ugh...... where am I? "We''re in the ruins." "Ruins?" It seems that some of his memory has been blown, so Reinhardt, on behalf of the others, explains what has happened so far. "Hmm, I think I remember ...... something like that, ...... surely, I vaguely remember. By the way, can you untie me?" Lukor said as he looked around at his figure tied up in the sleeve of his robe. I was now back to my senses, so I cautiously untied my clothes. "Well, that''s a relief. By the way, are we in the ruins? "Yes, we are. "Hmmm, I never thought that the secret of the ruins, which I couldn''t find no matter how much I looked for, would be discovered by you guys who just came here today. ...... I guess I''m retired now too. ......" Lukor is a different person from when he was under hypnosis, this must be his true character. "Well, what are we going to do now?" Reinhardt resumed. The survey of the ruins is over and it is past midnight. "I''m kind of tired. I''m kind of tired. I''m going back to my hut. Lukor had built a hut near the ruins and was living there. Jin and the others returned to the wagon and took a nap until morning, and decided to visit Lukor''s hut again when it was light. "Elsa, I hope you are still sleeping," said Reinhardt. Reinhardt said. Jin agreed, saying that he would be upset if he woke up and found them gone. So they hurry back to the carriage. As a result. "Mr. Reinhardt, Miss Elsa is well rested. The two are relieved. They get into the carriage quietly so as not to wake the sleeping Elsa, recline the seat, and take a nap. Reiko and Anne are outside the carriage. Reiko was alert and Anne was working as a sentinel, though she was not in good shape. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning. "It''s terrible of you two to leave me behind and go to the ruins alone. Sure enough, when Elsa woke up, she found Anne outside and had to explain where she had come from. "I''m sorry, Elsa. You were sleeping comfortably and I felt sorry to wake you up." "Bullshit." "It could''ve been dangerous, and I didn''t want to take you there. You have to understand, Elsa. I don''t know. A disgruntled Elsa has no way out of this. She has no choice but to prepare breakfast first. She boils water and makes soup on the stove, which she has made herself. Cutting bread and soaking it in the soup makes a simple breakfast. The village is poor, but it can''t be helped, as they didn''t expect to find so much in the way of food. "Well, it''s good sometimes..." Reinhardt glances at Erza as he says this, but her mood does not seem to have recovered. Reiko, sensing this mood, drops a sort of bombshell. "Father, today is your birthday, isn''t it?" "Huh?" What? "Oh, I didn''t know that." The lines were spoken by Erza, Reinhard, and Jin, in that order. "Yes. Your father''s birthday is today, April 1, that''s right." Jin''s information, which had been transcribed by Reiko, also included his birthday. Coincidentally, it was also on April 1 that Jin was summoned to this world. "Oh, I''m 21 years old now. At the same time, it''s been a whole year since I came to this world. "Oh, I see. Jin, let''s celebrate today when we get back to Yada village. Reinhardt said hurriedly. "No, thanks, I''m already 21." But Jin doesn''t look so happy. "That''s not true. It''s a day to commemorate the birth of Jin-kun. It''s a very important day." Erza was the one who said that. Erza was supposed to be upset, but when she heard that today was Jin''s birthday, she seemed to have forgotten all about it. "Well, I guess so." Jin, who came from an orphanage, did not celebrate his birthday until his early elementary school years. After that, he was on the receiving end of celebrations. Therefore, Jin, who was not accustomed to having people celebrate his birthday, hid his embarrassment. After visiting Lukor''s hut and talking with him, he decided to go back to Yada village, this time with Erza. On the way, there was a loud noise and the sound of things breaking, and then it became quiet again. "What was that?" "I don''t know. Reiko, stay alert. Hitoshi gave Reiko some instructions and headed for Lukor''s hut, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings. The Lukor hut was located in a hollow about 50 meters away from the ruins along the cliff. But... "What''s going on?" The hut was crushed as if it had been trampled by a giant foot. There was no sign of Lukor. Either he was crushed along with the hut, or he escaped. I hope he got out of there, because I don''t smell blood. Anyway, I guess we''re stuck here. "Well, let''s go back to the wagon for a while. Unsure of what to do, Jin and the others returned to the carriage and told the story to Anne and Claude, the butler, and asked their opinions. Then, Anne made an unbelievable comment. "I don''t think you''ve done anything wrong with Giggles, do you? 176 - - 07-18 gigabytes "<>?" Both Jin and Reinhardt asked Anne back at the unfamiliar word. Reiko, sensing that it was going to be a long conversation, again leaned close to Anne, synchronized their magical powers, and began to explain on Anne''s behalf. "Gigarth is a weapon that was developed in the final phase of the ...... war against demons in the war against ...... demons, which is said to be the War of Magic. The people of that time called it the War Against Demons. "But Gigarth was imperfect. It did not listen to its makers at all. "So, what kind of weapon is this Gigarth? Jin had a bad feeling about this and urged him on. "The Gigarth is a huge humanoid weapon with a total height of 10 meters. Hearing this, even Jin was surprised. I have never heard of such a thing. It was a weapon developed after the death of his predecessor until the time of the Magic War. Is it a golem? No. Gigarth is Gigarth. Tell me its characteristics in detail. Reinhardt''s face turned pale. "Gigarth is shaped like a human, but has broad shoulders, short legs, and long, thick arms. It is about 10 meters long and weighs about 30 tons." "It''s a giant golem." Reinhardt says so, but Reiko, or Anne, denies it. "No, it''s not. Giggarth is just a collection of rock debris. "A collection of rocky debris ......" Jin tries to imagine. I rather think that''s what the golem was like in the world before. There was such a monster in a game I played on the only video game console in the orphanage. "Was there such a thing there?" Jin and the others did not remember seeing such a giant inside the ruins where they found Anne. "No, Gigarth must have been sealed in a state of <>. "<>?< Jin thought he had heard wrong. The magical core is the core that demons possess. "It is the core of magic. Gigarth is an artificial demon. "<>?" There''s another word I''ve never heard of. "Yes. They are artificial demons created to fight against the demon tribe. "An eye for an eye, huh?" Jin folded his arms and thought. From what Reiko has just read, it seems that the automata Anne has not had her memory erased. Perhaps, like Reiko, her control core has reached the end of its service life and its ability to read information has become unstable. If we force them to work too hard now, they may give up the that they have obtained. Jin concluded. However, it is not possible to repair Anne properly here and now. Jin hurriedly begins to examine Anne, the automata. With the help of Reinhardt. Erza sees Jin''s expression of impatience and keeps quiet so as not to disturb him. The steel skeleton is rusted, the joints are stuck in some places, and the musculature made of some unknown demon''s leather is shredded in several places. The magical skin covering the body was a synthetic material, but it too was in tatters. Jin judged that it had been about 350 years since she was made. If the Magical War was 300 years ago, she was older than that. The quality of her materials was generally inferior to Reiko''s, so she must have reached her limit after 350 years. For the time being, the diaphragm of the Magi Crystal, which is a vocalization device, should be repaired temporarily. However, since I have only attached the cracked magi crystal by , the vocalization device, which is at the end of its life span, will probably break down in the near future. "Anne, what kind of person was it who made you?" Jin decided to ask. "Yes, I was made in a mass production factory, so I don''t have a specific creator. His speech had improved a lot and he no longer needed Reiko''s help. "A mass production factory, there is such a thing?" "Yes, secretarial automata like myself and battle golems were made in the factory. Jin guessed that the design basis was probably based on the previous generation''s design. "Well, Jin, this Anne is an amazing structure, I learned a lot!" Reinhardt was also amazed at the structure of Anne. But now we have an urgent problem. "So, tell me what you know about Gigase." "Yes. Gigarth uses the magical power stored in its magical core to build up its body by covering itself with the surrounding rock debris. As long as there is a magic core and magic power, it regenerates again and again. It is rather similar to the golem in the games Jin has played. "Then, was that Gigarth''s core in the room where Anne was?" "I don''t know. I was not given that much information. Based on this information, Reinhardt summarized his guess. "Anyway, there was a magical core of Gigarth somewhere in the ruins, and for some reason it was activated and started moving. It was activated by some reason and started to move, and it trampled down the hut of Lukor that was nearby. That''s about all I can think of to say. What is more important now is the whereabouts of Gigarth than to find out the cause. We are also concerned about Lukor. After all this time, I regret my carelessness in not sealing up the ruins. I was also careless in thinking that there was nothing left to find. "Well, you said it''s incomplete and doesn''t listen to its maker, right?What kind of condition is it in?" I asked him hopefully if he would just not listen to me, but this was not to be. Yes, once they start to move, they attack you regardless of whether you are friend or foe. That''s the worst. Reinhardt''s back broke out in a cold sweat. "So I used to use it by throwing the magic core into the middle of the enemy. It was useful when there were no allies around. "Is there a way to advance, or is there some kind of law to attack?" Jin suddenly thought of this question and asked it. "Yes, for some reason it aims for higher ground." Jin somehow recalled the phrase, "fools, smoke, and goats climb to high places. Giggles is neither smoke nor goat, so he must be ....... "That would mean that he climbed up the mountain after crushing Lukor''s hut." Reinhardt crosses his arms and ponders. "What should we do? We can leave them there, or we can take care of them ourselves. Or we''ll let the right people know." "It''s our fault he''s out there. We should do something about it if we can." Jin''s opinion is to exterminate it ourselves. Reinhardt agreed, thinking that it would not be so difficult since Reiko was there. "If we give it more time, it might cause more damage." Then, when we talked about the members who were going after Gigers, Erza said she would go too. "You didn''t take me to the ruins, so I''m going too." "No, we''re not going for fun, it''s too dangerous." Reinhardt tried to calm her down, but she would not listen to him. "Erza, neither I nor Reinhardt want to put you in danger. So please wait here quietly. Please." Jin claps his hands together in front of his face as if in worship. Elsa did not know the gesture of worship, but she could feel Jin''s feelings. "...... got it. I''ll listen to Jin-kun, whose birthday is today. "Thank you, Erza." Erza finally agreed with me. Anyway, Erza is now wearing a skirt. She is not suited for mountain climbing. Jin and Reinhard get ready. They have only prepared a water bottle, a walking stick and a rope for the climb. The staff is made of wood. I''m off then. Take care, you two. Reinhardt-sama, Jin-sama, please be careful. Take care of yourselves. Claude, the butler, and Erza saw Jin and the others off to the mountain. Reiko accompanied them. This time she is carrying a peach blossom. Anne is staying at home with Elsa and the others. Anne is likely to fall apart if she climbs the mountain. Reiko takes the lead and leads Jin and the others, looking for a comfortable place to walk. "Fu, haa..." "Whee!" "Whee!" Neither Jin nor Reinhardt is good at mountain climbing. Reiko, of course, is cool about it, jumping from rock to rock, climbing up and down again, "Father, it looks easier to climb with your right hand. "The rocks are too fragile there, "Be careful, the rocks are fragile there. He was giving us advice like, "Father, it will be easier to climb on the right side. After about 30 minutes of climbing, we found a flat terrace and decided to take a break. The two of us drank the water we had brought and took a deep breath. "I knew it would be tough, but it''s tough..." "Yeah, I know, I know..." "I know, I know. "Yeah, I''ve climbed a few mountains in Kunimoto, but I''ve never climbed a rocky mountain like this. They were talking like this, but they knew they could not rest forever, so they started climbing again. When they hit an unclimbable single rock, Reiko cut through the rock with a peach blossom in her hand to make a foothold for us. Thanks to her, the summit came into view after an hour. "Oh, there is the summit! At that moment, Reiko, who had climbed close to the summit, gave us a signal. "Father, there are big footprints here. The person we are trying to reach may be close. 177 - - 07-19 Past super-technology "Wheeze, wheeze, wheeze, ha, ha!" When Jin and Reinhardt finally reach the spot where the footprints Reiko found are, they are astonished to see them. "From the size of these footprints, they must be over 10 meters long! It was that huge. But Reiko shakes her head, "No, Anne told me that it has large feet to keep it stable. That''s why ......." She was about to say, "You guys! "You guys!What are you doing here? came a voice from above. They looked up to see that it was Lukor, who had gone missing. Jin and Reinhardt rush up to the top. Reiko was there in just one leap. "I came looking for you because you disappeared! Jin said. She''s not lying. Lukor scratched his hairless head, "Oh, I''m sorry. After breakfast I went to take a look at the ruins. I found a hole in the wall in the middle of the passage and a box with a seal on it. Lukor explains how it happened. "It was sealed tightly, but when I let the magic flow through it, it opened by itself. A black magi crystal rolled out of the box, and it took in the rocks around it, and it got bigger and bigger. So I sneaked after it." He explained. He explained. "And where is he now? When Reinhardt asked, Lukoil silently pointed to the direction of the sun, that is, to the mountain in the east. He went up that way. "Okay, let''s go after him." When Jin said this, Lukoil panicked, "Oh, come on, you''re not going to stop him or destroy him, are you? Jin said to Lukoil. Jin then said to Lukoil firmly, "Yes. Yes. It is said that he is Gigarth, a secret weapon of the Magic War. It is also imperfect and destroys without care. If we don''t stop it now, it''ll be too late to stop it before it damages the surrounding area. But can you defeat him? "I don''t know, but we have to try." Reinhardt said. I followed Reiko and Jin onto the ridge. They followed the footprints on the ridge to the east. Reiko had once gone ahead of Jin to scout the area. Lukor does not move, "...... can you defeat such a monster ......?" He only muttered, "Can you beat a monster like that? * * * * The path through the ridge was easier than before. Moreover, after Gigarth''s walk, the path was flattened in places, as if the ground had been cleared, making it even easier to walk. "Ah, the wind feels good. Sweat is going down. The sweat they had worked up during the ascent began to recede in the mountain breeze, and the two men picked up the pace. After about 10 minutes, Reiko intercepted them with her hand. "There''s ...... ahead." The ridge ahead was a so-called double ridge, with a wide ridge. Looking closely, we could see a part of it moving. "That''s Gigarth!" It is a huge humanoid covered with rock debris. It is exactly the shape Anne had described. It walks slowly, aiming for the summit that lies ahead. "Can you stop it?" Reinhardt says anxiously. "Let''s give it a try anyway. Reiko, try to hit it with a rock from here. "Yes, Father." Reiko picks up a stone just big enough to fit in her small hand and throws it at Gigarth with 20 percent force. "Oh?" The stone and the rock that made up Gigarth''s body collided, shattering the stone and shattering part of Gigarth''s body. However, the broken parts of Gigarth''s body were regenerated in no time, taking in the surrounding rocks. "Hmmm, that''s a golem, isn''t it?" Jin is still thinking like that at this stage. Reiko threw a handball-sized rock as her second shot. This time, a hard sound echoed, and more rocks flew off from Gigarth than before, but they regenerated quickly. "That regenerative ability is really annoying," said Jin and Reinhard. Both Jin and Reinhardt felt the same way. Jin asked Reiko to hit a large rock to see how fast it could regenerate. Reiko easily carried a large rock, about five times her own size, and threw it at Giggarth. The rock flew in a straight line instead of a parabolic line and hit Gigarth. "No good!" Gigarth stumbled back with the impact, but regenerated before he knew which was which: the shattered rock, the shattered body, or the shattered body. "Is a small attack not enough? Reiko has a sword, Momoka, which probably regenerates even if it is cut off. The rocky terrain here is a great advantage for Gigarth. "Then let''s attack with magic!" Reinhardt takes out his wand, which is inscribed with magic, and fires a spell at Gigarth. "<>! The magic in the wand can be released in an instant as long as the magic power flows through it. The advanced magic of fire, Flame Lance, hit Gigarth. "Even that didn''t work? The rocks that melted away from the hot flames were quickly replenished from the surrounding rocks, making it impossible to strike a decisive blow. Moreover, Gigarth finally recognized us as an enemy, turned around, and came slowly toward us. "But its reaction is also slow. It is too slow to recognize the enemy. This is another reason why it is called a failure. But there is no time to take it easy. The approaching Gigarth is 10 meters tall and quite intimidating. "I''ll break it directly!" Reiko jumps out and strikes Gigarth. Reiko jumped out and hit Gigarth. Jin-kun, Rai, I''m worried about you. Erza was left in the carriage, fretting in agony. In front of her was Anne, an automaton. "Hey, does Gigarth have any weaknesses?" For some reason, the two of them left without asking that question. "Weakness? He can''t sustain himself when he loses his magic power. He is slow to react. They lack intelligence." This was not very helpful information. However, the first words she said, "When you lose your magic power," stuck in Erza''s mind. "How does Gigarth get his magical power? I asked her. Anne''s answer was surprising. "They absorb it from everything they touch, from the air around them, and from the magic that is released from them. That''s why it is designed for use against demons. Anne explained that it was effective against demons whose magic was an essential element for their survival. Hearing this, Erza was struck by a bad premonition. "Then, why don''t we attack them with a golem or something?" "Yes. It won''t work against Gigarth. It will absorb magic power from the opponent just by touching it. Hearing this, Erza felt her blood run cold. "So, even an automata like you can''t do it?" I asked her with a ray of hope. "Yes. Even if it is an automata, Gigarth absorbs magic power. I, for example, will be immobilized in no time at all. Reiko is the trump card for Jin and the others. This Reiko is an automata that moves with magic power. "Jin, you ......." Erza turned anxious eyes toward the mountain where Jin and the others were headed. * * * * * * Reiko strikes Gigarth. Gigarth raises his leg to intercept her. Reiko''s fist strikes Gigarth''s leg, destroying it, or so it seems. "......? ......" The moment she touches Gigarth''s leg, Reiko stops moving for a moment and is kicked away by Gigarth''s leg. "Ah." The difference in weight was more than 50 times. Reiko flew in the air and fell down the cliff in an arc. 178 - - 07-20 Safety Rate "Reiko!" Jin''s cry rang out. On the side where Reiko fell was a sheer cliff, with a drop of more than 100 meters. Giggles slowly approaches Jin and the others. "I didn''t think you could win, Reiko!" Reinhardt looks blue. "You son of a b*tc*, my Reiko!" Jin is about to fire a laser at maximum power. "I''m sorry, father. I was careless." Reiko jumped over the cliff and came back. Jin stopped himself from releasing the magic, Reiko!Are you all right? he asks worriedly. Reiko waves her hands, "Yes, nothing is broken. She reassured Jin with a wave of her hands. "Father, could you leave that to me?" Reiko looked angry as she stood in front of Jin. "I''ve caused your father worry, even for a moment. I will take responsibility for that." She said this and ran out of the room without waiting for Jin''s reply. Jin ran toward her back, "Reiko!Do whatever you want!But this time, don''t lose! He called out to her. Reiko, receiving Jin''s encouragement, increased the output of the ether converter to 40 percent. The aether converter became like a small bullet and hit Gigarth''s torso. Gigarth was knocked down by the impact. "Oh, you did it?" Reinhardt let out a small cheer, but Gigarth was clutching Reiko with both his arms. Compared to his physique, Gigarth''s arms are large and thick. His hands are proportionally large, and Reiko''s small body easily fits into them. And Gigarth, while strengthening himself with the magical power he had sucked out of Reiko, was trying to clamp down on her and destroy her. A creaking sound comes from Reiko, or from Gigarth. "Reiko! Reiko turns around and smiles once at Jin''s cry. As if to say, "Nothing to worry about. Then Reiko turned up the output of the ether converter to 80 percent. "What?" Reinhardt''s voice came out as if he was puzzled. It was as it should be, Gigarth''s surroundings appeared to be slightly luminous. This is a side effect of the tremendous amount of free magical element (ether) being converted into magical element (mana). The characteristic of Gigarth is that it takes in external magical elements (mana), converts them into magical power in a magical power furnace (mana driver), and uses them as its own energy. Naturally, there is an upper limit. It is determined by the capacity of the mana driver. Now, Reiko''s ether converter is in full operation to supply mana to both Reiko and Gigarth. "Do you still have room? How about this ......!" Reiko finally increased the output of the ether converter to 100%. Gigarth tightened his grip on Reiko even more. "Can you withstand this? Then!" Reiko increased the output of the Aether Converter to 110%, then 120%, and so on. This is a rough technique because she trusts Jin and his technique completely. 130 percent, 140 percent. There is a safety factor for machinery and structures. The reason why a truck with a loading capacity of 10 tons does not break even if it is loaded with 12 tons is because a safety factor of 1 or more is taken into account. In the case of a design with no margin, the safety factor is small, and in the case of a design with a margin, the safety factor can be large. There is also the cost factor. Then, how was Reiko? Reiko, the beloved daughter that Jin poured his heart and soul into, was made using the world''s best materials and processing methods, and her design was based on the work of the previous generation of Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. Gigarth, on the other hand, is a mass-produced prototype made in a hurry for the war against the demon tribe. Reiko is not inferior in any way in terms of perfection, robustness, or reliability. There was no way that the beloved daughter of the MagiCraft Meister, a magical engineer, could be defeated by a defective mass-produced product. At least that''s what Reiko believed. One hundred and fifty percent, one hundred and sixty percent. Gigarth''s rocky body heated up. The mana driver had exceeded its limit. 170 percent, 180 percent. Gigarth and Reiko''s surroundings are glaringly luminous. The excess energy from the conversion of free magical element (ether) into magical element (mana) is all that''s left. "Hey, Jin, is Reiko going to be all right? Reinhardt, who was watching, looked worried. Jin himself is worried to death. But he believes in the smile that Reiko showed him earlier and just watches her. 190 percent. There was a thud. Two hundred percent. Something shattered inside Giggarth. At the same time, its body crumbles to mere rock debris. There is no more luminescence. Reiko lowers the output to its normal level of five percent, and brushes the dust off her body. She then bowed to Jin, "I''m sorry for worrying you," she said. She then bowed to Jin and said, "I''m sorry for worrying you. Jin ran to Reiko and said "Reiko!Are you all right?Are you hurt anywhere? she asked breathlessly. "Yes. Yes, I''m fine. ...... father, I am an automaton, so please say "malfunction" or "damage", not "injury". Reiko replies. To Reiko, Jin said, "Idiot, I told you before that you are my daughter. So it''s okay if you''re injured. "Yes, thank you." Reinhardt watched this exchange in silence, "Jin, Reiko, let''s go home. I''m sure Erza is worried about you. Jin agreed. Jin agreed. "Okay. Reiko, do you think there is anything left of Gigarth''s nucleus? "I''ll check." Reiko immediately walked over to the rocky debris that used to be Gigarth and dug around, and soon seemed to have found something. "Father, this is all I found." He held out a piece of magecrystal. "Of course, that''s what happens when that much mana flows into the body, isn''t it?" Jin muttered to himself as he held about three small pieces in his hands. * * * * A piece of rock fell from near the top of the mountain, which he was staring at with concern. "Are you ...... fighting?" Erza clasped her hands tightly folded in front of her chest. Then a strange luminous phenomenon enveloped the area near the summit she was staring at. "Is that ...... magic power?" How much magic power does it have to emit light that bright? Erza''s complexion turned paper white with anxiety and worry. However, the unusual phenomenon did not occur again, and Elsa, who had no way of knowing what had happened, spent a stomach-churning time. However, just as the sun was about to reach the mid-sky, she heard the long-awaited footsteps. "They''re back!" Elsa jumps out of the carriage. Claude, the butler, is waiting outside to greet his master, Reinhardt. "Jin-kun, Rai-brother..." Erza frowns when she sees them and Reiko. Jin and Reinhardt were both injured. Jin''s palms were covered in blood, and Reinhardt''s knees were bleeding. "Were they strong opponents after all?" Erza asked worriedly, to which Reinhard replied with a smile. "Yes, he was a strong opponent. But you don''t have to worry anymore. Reiko defeated him." Reiko had not disappeared, but was still by Jin''s side. "But you''re hurt like that..." Erza pointed out, and Jin laughed and said. "Oh, we both fell down when we were coming down from the mountain. Our walking sticks and water fell down somewhere. Elsa''s face contorted as she explained. "Idiot! I''m so glad you two are okay." Then she begins to weep profusely. Jin, whose palms are covered in blood, refrains from touching Erza, so Reinhardt hugs her and comforts her. "I''m sorry for worrying you. Now that you''re back like this, don''t cry." Reinhardt soothed Erza with these words for a while. Needless to say, after washing her wounds with water, Erza''s healing magic healed her injuries. 179 - - 07-21 Feast After the destruction of Gigarth, Jin and his group looked for Lukor on their way home, but they could not find him. Perhaps the Unifilers were still watching him. Well, I am not a child, so I am not worried about his disappearance. Underneath the hut of Lukor, we also found a fragment of a box which might have sealed the magical core of Gigarth. According to the ancient writing on the box, it was left as a trap in case the ruins were discovered by the demon tribe. If we channel magic power into the box out of curiosity, Gigarth will be activated. Since the Unifilers must know about the ruins, I returned all the golems left behind to their original materials so that no one would find out their other secrets. There was no material that was particularly valuable, so I did not spare it. Since the magic circle of the warp gate has been rewritten, it would not work properly even if it were reproduced. On the contrary, it might run out of control. If the members of the Unifilers come here at a later date with the information from Lukor, they will get nothing, or rather, they will go back with a terrible souvenir. Jin and the others went to the village of Yada with peace of mind. "The best thing is Anne," Jin said. Reinhardt affirmed this and tapped his pocket. "This record of the war is also very valuable. Jin looked at Anne and muttered. Anyway, we have to repair it. "Well, only Jin can do that. Please fix it. But there are no such facilities in Yada village. "Anyway, we should fix it while we are in the Kingdom of Egelea. was Reinhardt''s opinion. He added that now that the Kingdom of Celluloa was in trouble, Jin, the Honorary Magician Magi Craftsman, would be able to rent a workshop somewhere while he was still in the Kingdom of Egelea. He would be able to fix it completely if he could bring it back to Horai Island, but it was still a secret from Reinhardt and the others. Jin gradually felt the hassle of keeping secrets and wanted to tell Reinhardt and the others everything. The return trip was downhill, even though the road was bad. They were able to arrive at the village of Yada in the evening. And then, as expected, Meane flew in. "Miss!I was worried that you were coming back late!" That''s all she said this time, no sarcasm toward Jin. Maybe she is learning a little. "Ah, I''m so tired." Somewhat tired, Jin went to his room at the inn and threw himself on the bed. "Father, I will wake you up when dinner time comes. Jin closes his eyes and thinks about today. About Anne. About Gigarth. The system that absorbs mana. That was a close call. If Reiko had not been able to produce that much output. All these things were going around in circles, and before Jin knew it, he had fallen asleep. The sound of knocking echoes. A knock sounded. That woke Jin up. He sees Reiko going to open the door. "Yes, what is it?" Elsa is at the door. "I''m here to pick up Jin-kun." "I''m here to pick up Mr. Jin," she says. It was already dark outside, and dinner was about to be served. Jin got up and walked to the door. Her favorite young grass-colored dress. She was wearing a flower in her hair and a brooch on her chest that Jin had given her. "Elsa?" Elsa holds out her right hand to Jin, who can''t understand why she is so dressed up for a dinner at an inn. "I''m here to pick you up," she said. Come on, let''s go." "Ah, ah..." With his head still spinning from sleep, Jin takes Elsa''s hand and ...... rather than hers, she pulls him along the path to the cafeteria. When he arrived at the cafeteria, Jin was greeted with applause. There was Reinhardt and his butler, Claude. Erza''s butler, Adberg. And to his surprise, even Meane was there, applauding. "Happy birthday, Jin-kun! Elsa said as she took Jin''s hand. Jin did not understand what was happening for a moment, but then he finally understood what was going on, "Thank you, everyone," she said finally. He finally said, "Thank you, everyone. Erza was the first one to see a single tear from his eye. "Jin, kun?" Erza looked into Jin''s face with concern, "Ah, ah... It''s nothing. It''s just that it''s been a long time since I''ve had a birthday celebration like this. Then something happened. He replies. Erza pulls Jin''s hand, "I could see something unexpected in you, Jin. Come this way, please." As if he was the guest of honor, he seated him at the top of the table. I sat next to him. Reinhardt''s attendants quickly poured the wine, and when he saw that everyone had been served, he said, "Now, my friend, Honorary Magician of the Kingdom of Egelea, Honorary Magician Onorari Magikraft, "Then, on the occasion of the 21st birthday of my friend Jin Nido, Honorary Magician Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, I would like to propose a toast. Cheers! I said. Cheers! Cheers! The participants joined in. "Jin, I could only do this on such short notice, but happy birthday. Reinhardt said, and tears welled up in Jin''s eyes again. "Thank you." It was a clich, but it was all Jin could say. "Yes, Jin." When he saw that his glass of wine was empty, Erza poured it out herself. "Thank you, Elsa." "Nn. You''ve always been a great help to me, Jin-kun." Erza looks somewhat mature as she replies in that way. Then Reinhardt got up from his seat and came over, "Jin, I don''t have time to give you something like this. I brought it on behalf of all of you, but please accept it as a token of our feelings. What he presented was a flat case about one size larger than a business card. "It''s a case to put your guild registration card in. Speaking of which, it looks like it is just the right size. The material seems to be silver. The front is inlaid with gold. It seems to have the word "Jin" written in decorative letters. It must have been made by Reinhardt. "Thank you, I will treasure it." Jin says and puts the case in his breast pocket. In the meantime, Elsa was sharing the fruit with him. "Here you go." "Here you go." "Thank you." Tonight, Jin is always thanking her, but it is strangely comforting. The meal that night was one of the most enjoyable meals Jin had ever had in his 21 years of life. A warm spring evening breeze was blowing in the village of Yada. From somewhere, petals of query flew in and added a flutter of light red color to the window sill. 180 - - 08-01 Brothers and sisters On April 2, at the height of spring, Jin Reinhardt and his party left Yada village and stayed overnight in Koors town. The next day, instead of returning to the main highway, they continued westward to Ikasanat, a regional city on the border with the Kingdom of Celuloa. Here, immigration control is very strict for those who leave the Kingdom of Egelea to go to the Kingdom of Cerroa and vice versa. This is because they are dealing with the Kingdom of Cerroa, and the border with the Kingdom of Elias is not so strictly controlled. "They might keep us here for three days or so..." "Well, it might be good for your body to rest. Traveling by horse-drawn wagon is tiring. It is hard on the body if you don''t take a rest day after a few days. So Jin decided to take this opportunity to repair Anne, the automaton he found at the Keowan ruins. On the night of the day he arrived at Ikasanat, Jin stopped Anne''s operation for a while and had Reiko carry her to Horai Island. He thought about telling the truth to Reinhardt when he asked him where he had repaired Anne. "Welcome home, my lord. Who is that young lady? Lao Tzu welcomes you at the institute. She looked at the automaton that Reiko brought to the laboratory and said curiously. "Ah, this is an automaton I found at a place called Keowan Ruins, and its name is Ann. It''s very damaged, so I thought I''d repair it. Please prepare it. "Yes, sir." And so the repair of Anne by Jin began. The first thing he did was to repair the control core. The first step was to transfer all of Anne''s information to the Magi Crystals of all attributes that had been prepared. "<>" By transcribing the knowledge, a complete copy was made. To his horror, after the copying, the original control core was broken into four pieces. "Uh-oh, just in time. "Well, it''s possible that some of the information is buggy. Jin analyzes so. "Lao Tzu, please transcribe at least the information on Horai Island as much as you can spare. At the same time, copy the information that Anne knows. "Yes, sir." Lao Tzu thus obtained the information during the magic war. At the same time, Anne would be given the minimum knowledge to work for Jin from now on. "Master (My Lord), about 20 percent of the information is incomplete. Lao Tzu, who had copied Anne''s information, reported. This was expected from Jin. "Yes, of course. Try to fix it as much as possible. It may take some time. "Yes, sir." He left the information to Lao Tzu, and Jin proceeded to repair Anne. "Now we can upgrade the materials in the replication process. The steel skeleton is now made of light silver, and the tattered musculature is made of the same magical fiber as Reiko''s. The skin is made of a pseudo-dragon (Shaman). The skin is to be prepared from the feather membrane of a pseudo dragon (Siamese dragon). Jin finds an unfamiliar material on the shelf. "Laozi, what is this? "Yes, it is a material from a sea dragon. "Ah, you mentioned it before. I see. ...... can be used. Jin resumes his work to finish Anne''s repairs for the time being. The eyes are sapphire and crystal. Aether Converter, Mana Driver, and Shield. The manacam (mana cam) is also installed, and the hair is made of threads of a ground spider dyed blue. The muscular tissues have been installed, and the only thing left to do is to cover them. "It''s not a good idea to completely restore it to its original state. ...... Jin was worried. Actually, Anne had something on her that Reiko did not have. "I wonder if it was used for <>." During the war, the military was devoid of feminine charm, and this automata took the form of a woman. The purpose of this doll is a matter of guess. "I''m not going to do this after all." Jin could not look at the automata in that way. He thought of them as daughters to be loved, but not as objects of s*x. Finally, the clothes. We dress them in the same clothes as the five-color golem maids. Black with no white brim. "Okay, it''s done. " "Yes, ma''am." Anne got up. "How are you feeling?" Anne stands up and checks her movements by stamping her feet and lifting her hands up and down. "Very good. Thank you very much. "Okay, hold it right there. Next, Reiko, come here. "Yes, father." Jin calls Reiko. "All right, Reiko, you struggled with Giggles the other day, didn''t you?I''d like to check your whole body and strengthen it so that nothing like that can happen again, okay?" "Yes, that would be great. Yes, that would be great. The answer came immediately. Jin nodded his head, "Okay, I''ll do it." First, Jin stopped Reiko and checked every part of her. Then, he asked her. "This is ......." Jin raised his eyebrows. There was a lot of damage. The skeletal structure of the right leg was slightly distorted and the magical muscles of both arms were slightly torn. There was no abnormality in the chest cavity, but the ether converter and mana driver were slightly deteriorated. It seems that the 200 percent operation had been too much for them. "This will require a complete reinforcement. And I''ll have to nail Reiko. Jin muttered to himself and started to improve Reiko. First, a complete review. Incorporate what he noticed after looking at Anne''s structure. The skeleton is adamantite. It is hollow, with a spongy core. This structure allows for both light weight and strength. The muscles are made of a composite fiber of sea dragon leather and conventional magical fiber. Sea dragon leather hardly deteriorates as long as the magic power is circulated, and its instantaneous force is three times stronger than that of magical fiber. However, it is somewhat difficult to control, so it was made into a composite material. The skin is the wing membrane of a sea dragon. It seems to be twice as strong as the membrane of a pseudo dragon (Siamese dragon). As a result of using these materials, the total weight of Reiko was reduced by a whopping 15%. Dragon materials are awe-inspiring. "Yes, just as expected. Now we can increase the output. Saying this, Jin added another pair of ether converters and mana drivers to Reiko. In other words, Reiko''s output has doubled. "This still isn''t enough for Gigarth, is it?" Jin then started the last improvement he had been thinking about since the battle. A boost in output. It would be different if he had an eladolite, but to do without it, Jin thought of a so-called <. Jin is not very familiar with electronic circuits, but he is aware that a capacitor is something that can temporarily store power. In other words, the idea is to temporarily store the output that is not normally used and release it when necessary. For this purpose, they intend to equip Reiko with an ultra-high performance version of the <>. This will be useful even when we go to the south where the free magical element (ether) is said to be scarce. Theoretically, it should be able to produce 1000% output for a moment. I can''t think of any use for it, though. "We could replace all the weight savings with these." Reiko weighs in at just 30 kilograms. This is an improvement to make up for the weight that was lost in the previous modifications. "All right, Reiko, <>." Jin gets up and tells Reiko about the improvements. "Okay. From now on, I''ll try to limit it to the usual three percent. "Okay. And how are you feeling? "Yes, very light. Thank you very much. Okay, then I have something to say to you. Sit down there. "Yes?" Jin makes Reiko sit down. Then he says the words he''s been thinking about. "Reiko, I''m glad you''re fighting for me. But you''ve got to stop trying to do it by force. Okay?" "What?Wasn''t the reason why your father strengthened me so often was to encourage me to wield that power?" "What ......?" Jin''s head was in his hands. The enhancements he had given Reiko with the best of intentions had turned her into a believer of the power. "That''s not true. I only strengthened you because I didn''t want you to break down. From now on you should think more carefully when you fight. "Yes, I understand." Reiko agreed with him honestly, and Jin felt relieved. When Jin, Reiko and Anne were about to return, Lao Tzu called out to them. "Master (my lord), I have a proposal for you. "Hmm?What is it? What is it? Yes. Now that the number of My Lords is increasing, there is a possibility that they may fall into the hands of others, by chance or otherwise. Lao Tzu is right. Jin also had a thought that came to his mind when he heard this, but he urged me to go on. "So, I suggest that we add a function to erase information, just in case." "I see." What Jin immediately thought of was a self-destruct mechanism, but it was a much calmer idea. Although it was Jin''s idea, he had no intention to install a self-destruct mechanism on the Golem, which could be called his children. Even the safeguard he had put on Lao Tzu was a destructive device that only Jin could activate, not a self-destruct mechanism. Without using rare materials, it is impossible to make it perform as well as Jin''s golems. It is difficult even to imitate Lotte. On the other hand, we need to keep the information of Horai Island as secret as possible. All right, take Lao Tzu''s lead and execute the plan. "Yes, sir. So, Lao Tzu then proceeded to apply security measures to all the golems under his command. This time Jin returned to Ikasanat. He had been in Horai Island for quite a while, and he felt a little dozy, but it was morning. "Good morning." Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Jin went to the cafeteria for breakfast. "Good morning, Jin." Reinhard greeted Jin and looked at him, "Did you not sleep well?Your eyes are red. Jin nodded his head and replied that he had been thinking about it a lot and had missed his sleep. Jin nodded his head and replied that he had been thinking about something else and had missed his sleep. "Good morning, Jin." "Good morning." Erza says good morning to Jin. The three have dinner. "What are your plans for today?" To which Reinhardt replies. "I''m going to do some formalities. I''ll take care of that on my own, so Jin and Erza can do whatever they want. At that moment, the door to the dining room opens and a man who looks like a soldier enters. The man looked around and then walked toward Jin and the others. Then he said, "Elsa, it''s been a long time! He hugged her as soon as she finished eating. "Brother! Erza is surprised. "Yes, it''s been two years, hasn''t it?You''ve looked better, Elsa. I''m glad to see you''re doing well. 181 - - 08-02 Recovery Drugs "The last time I saw you, you were only as big as my breasts, but you''ve grown. And you''re beautiful." The man who says this to Erza is a great man with platinum blonde hair and light blue eyes, the same color as Erza''s. He turns to Reinhardt this time. He now turns to Reinhardt. "Reinhard, thank you for babysitting my sister." Reinhardt does not seem bothered by the somewhat arrogant tone and speaks to him in a friendly manner. "Long time no see, Fritz. You''re a major now? "Yes, I was promoted this year. You seem to be doing quite well. I hear rumors of a Black Knight. I''m honored to hear that. The two talk without honorifics, as if they''ve known each other since childhood. "Yes. We were here today on the Egelea Kingdom side for border patrol. I saw a familiar carriage parked right next to this hotel. I thought it might be a good idea, and I was right." The man called Fritz turned to Elsa once more, "I''d like to have a long talk with you, but I''m still on duty. I''ll be back tonight." With that, he bowed respectfully and strode out of the cafeteria. From the beginning to the end, Jin did not seem to pay attention to him. When Fritz left, Reinhardt turned to Jin, scratching his head, "Surprised, aren''t you?That is Elsa''s brother, the second son of the Randall family, Fritz Randall von Grosz. He is the commander of the expatriate garrison. He is a company commander in the Expatriate Army. He is no longer with us. "My brother Fritz is a soldier. He''s a bit simple." Elsa explained about her brother''s personality. "I see...a brainy guy..." Jin inadvertently said what he thought. "Brain? "What''s that, Jin? As expected, Erza and Reinhardt overheard him. Jin had no choice but to explain. "Well, brawn is a figurative expression that even the brain is made of muscles, and it refers to a person who is better at moving his body than thinking. ...... He explained with some euphemism. Erza''s own brother cannot be described as <, <, or <> by mistake. But he still took it pretty well, "Muscle to the brain...... brother Fritz...... pukuku......." Unusually, Erza is about to burst out laughing. It is quite fresh to see her trying to hold back her laughter. "Ha-ha-ha, Jin has a funny way of expressing himself!Look at that Elsa''s face. I''ve seen something rare. ...... Well then, I''m off to the formalities. What about you, Elsa?" Erza, still shaking, finally looked up at Reinhardt''s question, "Meane said she would show me around the city today. She replies. "I see, Meine is from around here. I see. Take care. Jin, what about you? I''m just going to look around town. I''ll see you at night. I''ll see you in the evening. ...... Claude, let''s go. "Yes." Finally, Reinhardt, his face now serious and in diplomat mode, left the dining room with his butler, Claude. "Well then, Jin-kun, see you later." Erza also leaves. The remaining Jin turned to Reiko, who was hiding in stealth, "Reiko, let''s go, then." and left the cafeteria. * * * * Jin had returned to Horai Island with Reiko. He had a lot of things he wanted to do. By the way, he left Anne in the hotel room. If anyone asks her, she is instructed to tell them that she is out in the city. And the first thing she wanted to do was "Reiko, happy birthday, even if it''s a day late." "What?Father? April 3rd, two days after Jin was summoned to this world, was the day Reiko was reborn. Today is the 4th. The reason for the delay, he couldn''t make it in time to avoid Reiko''s detection. "Here are new clothes. You can wear this one this time." The clothes I had been wearing had been checked after the battle with Gigarth, and I found a few worn-out parts, so I made new ones. The fabric is the same, but this time the color is jet black. Combined with Reiko''s hair and eyes, it looks mysterious. In fact, this black dye has the best anti-magic performance. "Thank you, father." Reiko quickly changes her clothes on the spot. She folds her old clothes carefully and puts them in the far corner of the equipment room for Reiko. "Yes, it looks good on you. You look a little more mature. Reiko smiled happily when Jin said this. The next step was to check the information obtained from Anne. Some of the information was damaged or missing, but if it had been completed by Lao Tzu, we would have a lot of information. "Lao Tzu, how are you doing?" Jin asks how well the information obtained from Anne has been restored. "Yes. The recovery rate of the information is 85%. The remaining 15% were so damaged that I am sorry to say we could not recover them. Lao Tzu looks apologetic and Jin says, "Oh, yes, "Oh, that''s no problem. So, did you find anything new in the information you were able to recover?Let me know if there is. He urged him to go on. Lao Tzu responded immediately. The first one is the knowledge of medicine, the second one is the information of the golem suit, and the third one is the origin of the magic war. The third one is the origin of the magic war. The rest is still in the process of completion and repair. "That sounds like a lot of interesting information. But you have information on the origin of the war, but not on the "Aether Stampede"? "Yes. It seems that Anne was abandoned before the Aether Stampede occurred. I see. I see. Then it can''t be helped. Then, the chemical?Give me that information. About 98% of Jin''s body has been replaced by Magiatom, or atoms made of magic particles. Therefore, if an "ether stampede" were to occur, Jin would disappear in an instant. That is why he wanted to know the information about the "ether stampede. At the same time, cells made of magical atoms are more stable than normal cells. Therefore, the effect of training does not appear, which is a drawback, but on the other hand, they are not affected by pathogens or other factors. The only exception to this is mental anomalies. Therefore, Jin''s body can be injured but not get sick. What about growth and senility, that remains to be seen. That being said, Jin was interested in medicines. There were few medicines in the knowledge he inherited from the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. He barely knew about ointments to protect the skin from irritating materials and ointments for burns. "Yes. There was information about a medicine that uses magic to improve the healing power in the body. Lao Tzu''s words made Jin jump. "A potion! It is famous in some games such as "Slay the Dragon" and "The Last Illusion". Jin was very interested in it because synthesizing potions is not a magical engineering (magecraft) but an alchemy. Yes, it is what is called a potion. And I also found information on so-called , which restores magical power. In this world, ether refers to , which is a magical element ubiquitous in the world. Confusing, Jin thought. "Well, it doesn''t matter. Do you know how it is made? "Yes. The most popular way is to purify the blood of high-ranking demons. It seems to be similar to what is called . Hearing this, Jin is tempted to try making it. "Ah, but it''s not the blood of a high-ranking demon, is it? Lao Tzu replied, "Yes, it is. "Yes, I have it. "What?" "The sea dragon we defeated the other day, its blood has been secured and frozen. "Well, that''s great!" Jin is delighted this time. He immediately went to the freezer to see the frozen blood. "Wow! It was about 20 drums of blood from a huge sea dragon. That''s about 4 kiloliters, or 4 cubic meters. That is a tremendous amount. Jin brought out a small portion of the blood for experiments. Lao Tzu was very clever in this respect. "Let''s try to purify it first. Jin explores his uncertain knowledge and decides to try centrifugation. I can build a machine, but first let''s try something simple, "Reiko, please. Reiko, please." He decides to leave it to Reiko. "Yes, Father." Reiko swings the blood around in the adamantite container, which is inert to chemical reactions. The container was so durable that it was swung at nearly the speed of sound, but the effect was unexpected. She was able to separate the blood into three components. Serum is essentially blood minus the blood cells and platelets, but because it was further centrifuged at an ultra-high speed that no one had ever thought of before, a liquid that could be called <> was found. "Well, is this clearest part the serum?The rest will be analyzed later, so please keep it frozen. Jin brought the crystal container containing the true serum in front of him and looked into it. It was about 300 milliliters. "Lao Tzu, what are you going to do with this?" "Yes. It should be rich in mana. Please check it out. Jin checks the flow of mana by . It is indeed true. It is indeed true. In fact, you could almost say that it is mostly mana. All that remains is to give it directionality. <, it becomes a potion, and if you give it , it becomes ether. Having the knowledge of Jin, Lao Tzu''s explanation was very easy to understand. However, it was made from the blood of a sea dragon, which was ten times more potent than the one in Ann''s time. "I see, it''s the same idea as imprinting magic into magi crystals. Jin understands, and decides to implant <> magic into the Magi Crystal, but it is not available to him. Not even for Reiko at the moment. "Well, I guess I''ll have to wait until Reiko learns it somewhere..." Jin took 100ml of the liquid as an experiment and put his own healing magic, <> into it. The liquid glowed for a moment and then returned to normal. "Well, I''m sure it works, but I don''t have anyone to try it on. Jin is not injured, and the golems do not need the cure. So Jin has no choice but to put the potion he made into a bottle and save it until he has a chance to use it. He uses forming magic on the crystal to make a bottle, and puts a lid on it with a piece of wood that looks like a cork. I put it in my pocket. Now, the second golem suit was also interesting. "A power suit! Jin is unusually excited. But there seems to be no detailed data. "Well, I guess I''ll just have to make it myself. In this way, another extraordinary piece of equipment was born. 182 - - 08-03 Marriage arrangement Jin began to study the specifications with great enthusiasm. He thought that it should be double-layered like a knight''s armor, with muscles of magical fiber in between (......), or that the armor itself could be deformed by forming magic. In any case, the basic form is armor. It is also essential to have defensive power. "Anyway, let''s make a prototype. First of all, Jin thought of the process of making an armor that fits him, placing muscles on the outside of the armor, and armoring the outside of the muscles. It was quite difficult since he had never made armor before. The material is the usual light silver. It is necessary to make it light. After having lunch at Persica, Citran, and Apurul for the first time in a long time, Jin worked on his armor until almost evening. "Father, you must go back soon". He was so absorbed in his work that if Reiko had not warned him, he would have been working on it until midnight. He was so enthusiastic that if Reiko had not warned him, he would have stayed up all night. "Thank God, I made it in time. When I returned to the hotel, it looked like the dining room was just about ready. "Ah, Mr. Jin!" A voice called out to me. I turned around to see Claude, Reinhardt''s butler. "Ah, Mr. Claude." "You''re back late. We''ll be dining out tonight, so please get ready. Outside? Outside? Yes, at the invitation of Miss Elsa''s brother, Mr. Fritz. Jin understood. He had not seen her in two years, so he would like to talk with her at leisure. "Yes, I understand." "Then I will be waiting for you in the lobby in 30 minutes. So Jin went back to his room and got ready in a hurry. Since Elsa''s brother was going to be with him, he decided to put on the half-coat of the Honorary Magician Magi Craftsman. I wanted to take a bath first, but there was no time, so I just wiped myself off with hot water. Anne and Reiko helped me. I finished my preparations in 20 minutes and went to the lobby, where Reinhard and Claude were waiting for me. "Hey, Jin. Erza''s already gone. It''s a little early, but we should go too. Reinhardt said as soon as he saw her face. He let Claude lead him out of the hotel. "It''s just around the corner, sir." True to his word, we arrived at the restaurant in about five minutes. It was a three-story building made of marble-like stone. The lack of unnecessary ornamentation could be seen as austere or functional beauty. A man wearing a cloak, who looked like a junior officer, came to me, "Are you Mr. Reinhardt?The major is waiting for you. Please come this way. He shows us the way. The man''s crisp movements were those of a military man, and Jin, who did not have a good impression of military men, was secretly impressed. The officer knocked on the heavy-looking door on the second floor of the restaurant and said, "Major, please come in, "Major, I have brought a guest for you. He said, "Major, I have a visitor for you. Immediately the door was opened and Jin and the others were invited in. "Welcome, Reinhard," said Fritz in the back. Fritz, who was in the back, said. Elsa was sitting next to him, wearing her favorite young grass-colored dress. "Come, sit down." Reinhard and Jin were led by the waiter to their seats. Jin is seated at the bottom of the table. Claude stands by the wall. Erza''s nanny, Meine, was also there. "Well, tonight is on me. Fritz says and raises his glass of wine. "To the health of my sister Elsa. And to our engagement." But no one chanted, their faces scrunched up in surprise. ?? "What is that, brother? I''ve never heard of it before." The most surprised person was probably Elsa. She rushes over to Fritz. But Fritz is unconcerned. "What, you didn''t know?I read in your father''s letter that you were aware of this..." Elsa shakes her head, "I don''t know. I have no intention of doing so." But Fritz looks at her with a serious face and says, as if admonishing her, "Elsa, I don''t know. "Elsa, you turned 17 a few days ago, didn''t you?You turned seventeen last time I saw you, Elsa. Didn''t you promise to marry her after this trip? "No, I didn''t." Meane was staring at the exchange between the two siblings with a terrible look on her face, but only Jin noticed it. Since Meene had been eyeing me so much, I thought that she must have been looking at me in this kind of situation, and as I asked her about it, it turned out that she was right. But as expected, Meene did not say anything to Fritz. "I read in the letter from your father that Elsa promised to marry him when she got back from this trip. When Fritz said that, Reinhardt said, "I think you''re expanding on what I said about wanting to see the big world before marrying." But Fritz was not listening. "Well, you''re of the right age, and you''re marrying into a marquise! He pushed him away. "You know, because we live next door to each other, don''t you?You know the Marquess Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen, don''t you? His wife passed away a few years ago and he was looking for a companion. Elsa''s face turns pale when she hears this. But Fritz did not seem to notice this and continued talking. "This is a great thing. It''s a big deal. Isn''t that great?" "......" Elsa is speechless. Seeing this, Jin could no longer remain silent. "Um, Mr. Fritz. What about Erza''s will? But Fritz glanced at Jin and laughed snidely, "Will?A daughter of a nobleman who is not his heir has no will. It is a woman''s duty to marry a man who will benefit her family. Hearing these words, Elsa''s complexion turned as white as paper. Reinhardt, who could not bear to look at her, said as if to appease her. "Fritz, that''s a bit much, don''t you think?Even Elsa would be surprised to hear about your engagement out of the blue. "Well, Reinhard, I don''t suppose you''re thinking of taking Erza as a concubine, are you?You have a fiancee in the country, you know." Fritz''s face is red. Despite appearances, he may not be very good with alcohol. "Yes, of course she is. Elsa is my little younger cousin too. Nothing more, nothing less. But that''s why I want her to be happy. But Fritz is too heated to listen. "That''s why I''m telling you that there is no greater happiness than marrying into the Marquise''s family. Elsa nods, her eyes brimming with tears. But Fritz interpreted this as just embarrassment, "Well, everyone, let''s have another toast to the happiness of my sister Elsa! He is saying that and spitting out a popular song, but Erza, Reinhard, and Jin are downcast and it looks like a wake. Naturally, the food did not go down well, and most of the dishes served were taken down as they were. However, Fritz, who was the cause of the situation, seemed to think that it was only because he was tired from the trip and had no appetite. * * * * * * * * * * * That night, after Jin returned to the hotel, he visited Reinhardt''s room. "Jin, huh? I was just thinking of coming over there myself." Reinhardt offered him a chair. Jin sat down and Reinhard bowed. "Jin, I''m sorry. Fritz wasn''t always like that. But Jin stopped Reinhardt, "It''s not something Reinhardt should apologize for. I''m more worried about Erza. "Yes, I agree with you. I didn''t expect you to suddenly ask me about our engagement. "It''s bad enough that he seems to really think he''s doing it for Erza''s sake. Reinhardt chuckles when Jin expresses his true feelings. "It''s true, being a marchioness would be a big deal. It would be a great honor for Erza''s family. But then again, we''re dealing with the same people. ......" "Is it terrible?" Jin''s question is straightforward. "Well, the Marquis is 53 this year. He''s quite fat. Well, he''s better looking than Count Galana." Even after hearing this, Jin did not think he was a good match for the Marquis. "Is that what marriage between nobles is like?" "Yes. But the old-fashioned aristocracy is like that. Especially military families. My father wouldn''t say such a thing, but my uncle is, how to say, obsessed with the desire for success. ......" Reinhardt looked uncomfortable, but Jin said, "Reinhard, you don''t have to speak ill of your relatives. Let''s go check on Erza. "Yeah, let''s go check on Erza." The two went to Erza''s room together. Adberg, the butler, answered the door. "The young lady has already gone to bed." "Well, that''s good." If she has gone to bed, we''ll see her tomorrow, Jin and Reinhardt said to each other, and went back to their rooms. 183 - - 08-04 ????, ELZA ?? The next day, Jin woke up to find the hallway noisy. He hurriedly put on his clothes and went out into the corridor, where he found several men in military uniforms walking back and forth. One of them spotted Jin and approached him. One of them spotted Jin and approached him. I''d like to see your room. "What?" Jin is a little taken aback when he is suddenly asked to show his room. But the man said something else, "May I see it?If you don''t deny it, I''ll show it to you. With these words, he pushed Jin out of the way and entered the room where Jin was staying. "......What is this?" Jin, who had nothing to hide, was a little displeased with his attitude. The soldier came out immediately, "Well, everything is fine. I''m sorry to have disturbed you." He walked down the corridor. "What is this really about?" Jin returned to his room. Then Anne came in, "Goshujin-sama, I think he is looking for someone. Jin listened to Anne''s report, wondering if it was the original creator''s hobby that Anne''s pronunciation of when she called Jin was so lispy. "He didn''t look in the drawers of the built-in desk, but searched under the bed and in the wardrobe, so I think he is looking for something big, perhaps a person. It was quite an insightful report from Anne. "Who?" she asked. "I don''t know, I''m not sure." At that moment there was a knock at the door. Jin said come in, and it was Reinhardt. "Good morning, Jin." "Good morning." Reinhardt looked around the room. Jin noticed that, "What''s wrong with Reinhardt?" Reinhardt asks. Reinhardt looks complicated, "Erza disappeared from ......". He said, "What? "What?" Jin is surprised. The soldier must have been one of Fritz''s men and was looking for Erza. "It''s morning and Erza hasn''t woken up. I couldn''t find Meane, who would normally have already gotten up. I went into the room and found that they had both disappeared. So that''s why Fritz is looking for them. That''s why Fritz is looking for them. He came to you, too? "Yes." Jin looked out the window. A group of soldiers, apparently under Fritz''s command, were searching for him. The fact that they could be seen throughout the city suggested that they were searching for him with all their might. "Thank you very much." Jin muttered to himself and somehow understood why Erza had disappeared. "If Meane is with her, they probably won''t be able to find her. Reinhardt blurted out. "After all, Meine is from the town next to Icasanat. She knows the area and probably knows some people there. If Meine is serious about running away with Erza, well, she''s not going to be found for a long time. There was a note of hope in his tone. "What does Reinhardt think?" Jin felt compelled to ask. "About what?About Elsa''s marriage?Or about her disappearance? "Both." When Jin said this, Reinhardt began to whisper. "I don''t think marriage is a bad thing. The nobles are assisted in the management of their estates by their lords and stewards, and you can learn it after marriage. There are maids of honor to do the housework, and to be frank, they are just decorative dolls. That''s the aristocratic wife. You can even hire a nanny for your children. He chuckles as he says this, "That''s the case of the old aristocracy," he says. He continues. "I want Elsa to have a different kind of family, a warmer family. Ideally, she should marry the man she loves, but it is also possible to nurture love after marriage. Reinhardt looks forlorn for a moment as he says this. But the next moment his face returns to its usual expression and he continues. "Well, I can understand why you ran away. Jin, have you noticed?The relationship between Meine and Erza? "Yes, I have been aware of it. So that means Reinhardt is too?Well, of course. Yes. I think Meine is Erza''s biological mother. I say probably because it''s hard to hear. That''s true. You can''t ask Erza''s father. Or even to her. "The way she talked to me, the way she treated Elsa, when she became a nanny, all these things made me think that she must be my own mother." Jin also expressed his opinion. And then, "Well, I still don''t agree with the way she educated him," he added. Jin added. Jin had also been taking care of small children for a long time, and he thought that Erza would never be able to stand on her own feet. "But what are they going to do now?" That''s what Jin is concerned about. Meine''s parents might be here, but she would be easy to find if she went back there, and she couldn''t just wander around all the time. "Meine is broken somehow," said Reinhard. Reinhardt said. is an expression used in this world to describe a person with mental illness, trauma, or personality problems. Jin thinks it is true. Meane''s attitude toward Erza seemed unusual in some places. I wonder why Erza''s father chose Meene as her nanny. Jin mentioned the question that suddenly came to his mind. Reinhardt answered, "Erza can''t sustain herself without Meine. "What?" Jin is also stunned by this shocking revelation. "No, to be precise, it doesn''t have to be Meane. But I don''t think we''ll be able to find such a person so conveniently. Reinhardt was about to say so, but Jin hurriedly interrupted him. It seems that he has heard something terrible. "Wait a minute, Reinhard. That''s new to me, but what will Erza do without Meine?" Reinhardt nodded his head, "Oh, you haven''t told Jin yet. I thought you had already told her, I''m sorry. He apologized and began to explain. "I told you that Erza used to be a naughty girl, didn''t I?That was partly to vent. Elsa has one defect, though it is not a disease. It''s called <>." "Hypermagic?" Jin had never heard this word before. "Ah. The amount of magic power a mage possesses varies from person to person, but there is a certain upper limit for each, right?Erza''s is not very large. A little more than a normal mage. "Is that bad?" But Reinhardt said, "No, no, I''m just getting started. Reinhardt, however, told Jin not to jump to any hasty conclusions. "Magic power decreases when magic is used. Is that right? "Yes. And if you rest, the reduced magic power will naturally return to normal. That''s true. In Erza''s case, it returns to normal too much. And too much magic power will eat away at her. In this case, the magic power is probably mana. If she eats too much or is overnourished, she becomes obese or diabetic. In the case of magic power, the same thing happens, though it is difficult to say exactly what it is. Jin tried to imagine. Suppose that the golem produces a large amount of mana due to the over-operation of the ether converter, and the mana furnace (mana driver) is unable to handle it. The excess mana will be transformed by external stimuli such as a little magic, and will have a bad influence on the body that contains it. What if the same thing happens in the human body?Jin understood the problem that Erza was facing. He also understood why Meane had not been fired for her reckless behavior. "Having someone around who can act as a proper safety valve can keep the outbreak at bay. Jin understood. If there is someone like a blood relative who is on the same wavelength of magic, or rather the same wavelength of life, the symptoms can be suppressed by having that person as a pathway for the mana. "Isn''t there any other treatment?What will happen to Elsa if Meene disappears?" "She can stay away for a week or ten days. And there is no problem if we use magic and consume magic power during that time. I don''t care if she was a child, but Erza understands it herself now." Reinhardt dismissed Jin''s concerns with these words. "Hey Reinhard, couldn''t you have given her a magical tool to release her magic power?" Jin asked curiously. But Reinhard smiled sadly, "Yes, in theory that would solve the problem. But there is one big problem. He said bitterly. "What''s that?" "There was no one who could make a magic tool to release the magic power before activating the magic, even if it was in the form of magic. What? What?" Jin frowned curiously when he heard that, and Reinhardt looked at him and said, "No way. "There is no one who can make it?" "I don''t think so, Jin. Reinhardt asked timidly, to which Jin replied with a big nod of his head. "I think I can probably make it. 184 - - 08-05 Regret Regret because you''ll regret it later. "Well, Jin, you can make it. ...... Oh, my God. I didn''t know I was so close to the person I was looking for. Reinhardt is downcast. No wonder. Reinhardt can make a magic tool that simply releases magic power. However, if he does not use it, he will be depleted of magic power. The best way to understand it is to liken it to diabetes caused by magic power. If the magic power (sugar) is more than necessary, it is harmful to the body, and if it is depleted, it is not good for the body. It is no wonder that they assumed that no one could make a magical tool that would stop at the right place. However, thinking about it, even though we have only recently come to know the person''s personality, it would not be normal to confide the secret of Elsa''s body, the Viscount''s daughter, to a stranger from nowhere. She is a relative of Elsa''s, but she is also a daughter of another family. It is a common practice in the world to lose a recipient simply because she is ill. "If Erza had been my sister instead of my cousin, I would have consulted with her long ago. Reinhardt said to himself. It was too late now. Just then there is another knock at the door. This time Anne opens the door. "There you are, Reinhardt." The knocker was Fritz. "Of course you heard, Elsa is gone. Her nanny Meine is with her, and I will find out where they are. So, Reinhard, you can go now." "What?" Reinhardt doesn''t quite understand what he''s being told. It''s unusual for him to be so quick-witted. "In other words, you don''t have to babysit Erza anymore. Thank you." With that, Fritz turned on his heel and left without waiting for Reinhardt''s reply. From the beginning to the end, Fritz did not even look at Jin. "......" "............" Silence falls between the two. Then both let out a sigh, "And so it goes. Jin, you will leave here tomorrow. Are you still interested in coming to my country? Reinhardt asked Jin with a sad smile. Jin quickly responded. Yes, of course. So you will leave tomorrow morning, is that correct?What are your plans for today? Hearing this, Reinhardt now smiled happily. "Oh, yes!Thank you, Jin. I was worried that you might not like our country after all the trouble we''ve been through. I''ll be out of town for formalities in the morning. I''ll be back this afternoon." "Okay. I''ll just kill some time until the evening. Jin responded to Reinhardt''s explanation. The two men parted for the moment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After having a proper breakfast at the hotel, Jin moved to Horai Island again. Jin had an idea. It was a magical tool to search for Erza''s whereabouts. Assuming that Erza is wearing the dagger and the brooch made by Jin, they should have Jin''s magic pattern engraved on them. The protection ring is excluded because it would have become familiar with the owner''s magic. In other words, I decided to make a high-performance magic detector. "Master (my lord), aren''t we going to continue with the armor today? Laozi asks. Jin nodded his head, "Yes. I have an idea. Please prepare the materials. "Yes, sir. What Jin wanted to make was a higher level version of a magic detector, a magic tool, or rather, a magic device that detects an individual''s magic power and locates his/her whereabouts. To tell the truth, Reiko''s predecessor, Automata, had been developing such a device for about 50 years in order to find a successor after the death of their predecessor. However, after a thousand years of search, the device was destroyed without a trace after Jin''s discovery, and some of the automata''s knowledge has been lost, so it has not been possible to reproduce the device so far, No, there was not even a trace of such a magical device in the past. Including the memory. Therefore, Jin also had to be made from scratch. The basic device is a sensing device that is also installed in Reiko. It is attuned to a specific magical power and knows its strength and direction. The accuracy is not very good. We are planning to install three large scale ones on Horai Island. If the direction is known, a straight line can be drawn in each direction from two distant points, and the intersection point will indicate the location. Since the two points are immovable, Jin thought that if he increased the number of observation units to a total of three, he could expect considerable accuracy in case there was an object on the straight line connecting the two points. As with radio waves, the tuning of magic is based on the principles of resonance and resonance. Instead of coils, they are made of magic crystals engraved with the magic formula. Jin carefully writes down the formula. Beside him, Reiko was working on the housing and support legs of the detector under Jin''s direction. Lao Tzu, the brain of Horaijima, was watching the scene and wished he had arms and legs to be of more use to Jin. Now, Jin was at a loss as to how to quantify the direction in which the magic power was detected. In the original world, there are azimuth magnets and the position of the North Star. "Ah, we need a compass for ship and plane navigation, too. So, Jin temporarily stops assembling the detector and tries to make a compass. As an experiment, he magnetizes a steel needle, sticks it in a piece of paper, and floats it in a basin of water. He has a needle, paper, and a basin, but magnetizing them is difficult. In the end, we transformed (formed) copper into copper wire and coated the surface with insulating paint made from the sap of a tree similar to poison oak. An electromagnet can be made by connecting a battery made by alternately stacking copper and zinc sheets and inserting a cloth soaked in citran juice between the sheets to an enameled wire-like wire made in this way. A steel needle was magnetized using an iron core, and finally a magnetic needle was completed. When I put it in a piece of paper and float it in water, the simple compass points north and south. This shows that this planet also has a geomagnetic field. Jin now proceeds to make a full-fledged compass. The needle is made of steel, the bearing is a small crystal, and the case is made of light silver. The compass is divided at 360 degrees, and 16 azimuths are marked: east, west, north, south, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest, and 8 azimuths below northeast, which is in between. For greater accuracy, a north star or other landmark should be used, but this is sufficient for a start. The three detectors with built-in azimuth panels were completed in about three hours. Each of them has an independent golem brain and can exchange information with a manacam (a magical elemental communication device). I placed each of them on the top of the laboratory in the south of Horai Island, on Tatsumi Bay in the southeast, and on the top of a small mountain in an orchard in the southwest. "Okay, I''ve adjusted them to my magic power now. Let me know which direction you sense each of them." Lao Tzu was in charge. Once the information is sent to Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu will process it and pass it on to Jin. "My Lord, the largest response is 179 for A, 347 for B, and 61 for C, C is 61. A is for the laboratory, B is for Tatsumi Bay, and C is for the orchard. The magnetic north is 0, and the values are expressed in 360 degree clockwise direction. Yes, I am right in front of the institute. This should work. Can you find other Golems? The golems Jin created all have the same magic pattern as Jin''s. The only difference is their strength. The difference is strength. So we can use the same detector to find them. "The golems on the island are too numerous to identify." That''s what it means. If they were right in front of us, there would be many ways to identify them, but it seems that the magic pattern alone is not enough. "Oh, I see. What about the flying squadron?" There are only a few golems flying around for mapping purposes. "Yes, that would be possible. The location is ......." But Jin interrupted him, "Oh, I don''t need a detailed report. But please make sure that you can report not only numerically but also in terms of points on the finished map. Lao Tzu tells him to do so. It is not easy to understand if you report the direction in numerical values. "Yes, sir. Now, Horai Island can search for the members below Jin. If they wanted to, they could search for Erza as well. Or more precisely, Erza''s magic tools. "Master, I have a favor to ask you." Lao Tzu, having decided that there was a break in the search, tells Jin about the wish that he had just thought of. "Could you please build me an external humanoid terminal? In other words, a golem or an automata that Lao Tzu can control. "Then I can help my master (my lord) more. Jin thought about it. The idea was to have Reiko and Lao Tzu monitor each other and deal with runaway situations, but he wondered if such a terminal for Lao Tzu would reduce Reiko''s advantage. "You don''t have to be as strong as Reiko, at most you can be as strong as Ann." Seeing Jin''s hesitation, Lao Tzu added. Jin gave his permission, saying that would be fine. "Okay. Do you have any hope for the appearance? "Yes, I want it to look like an old man, as befits the name of Lao Tzu. Indeed, there is no golem with the appearance of an old man in Horai Island now. "Okay. Leave it to me. So Jin immediately decided to make a special automata for Laozi. The basic structure is the same as Ann''s. The only difference is that it is male. The difference is that it is male-oriented and does not have a control core, which is equivalent to a brain. Instead, it is equipped with a mana telecam and a remote-controlled magi device, and is controlled by Lao Tzu. Therefore, the maximum output is equivalent to 20 percent of Reiko''s power. I thought for a moment about making it look like a hermit because it is Lao-tzu, but in the end I decided to make it look like a butler. It is a combination of Elsa''s butler, Adberg, and Reinhardt''s butler, Claude, divided by two. Between you and me, I decided to go with the hermit look simply because it would be too dignified and would make Jin feel self-conscious. The following is an example of the "Hermit" style. One of the targets is acting alone. All right, get him. Copy that. Copy that. Jin returned to Ikasanat from Horai Island in the late afternoon. With night still to come, Jin walks around the town looking for armor, looking for stores that sell weapons and armor. But he doesn''t find much. In the first place, full-body armor like that worn by a knight is custom-made. "I''ll talk to Reinhardt about it later. Giving up, Jin returns to the hotel. 185 - - 08-06 To the Kingdom of Celluloa The next day, the 6th of spring April. In the morning, Jin and Reinhardt visited the room where Erza was staying. "............" "............" "............" No one spoke. They just looked at the items Erza had left behind or had been forced to leave behind. Among them was Non, the doll that Jin had given her earlier. It had a faint stain on it, but it was not from neglect, but from being stroked and picked up repeatedly. You were left behind, too?) Jin muttered only in his mind and gently touched Non''s head. The dagger was still there. Jin was a little disappointed to see it. However, he was more worried than surprised to see that the protection ring was still there. Jin was pained to know why Erza, who should have known how useful it was. He wished she had at least this one. So Jin took the ring and put it in his pocket. As he was doing so, the door unexpectedly opened and Elsa''s brother Fritz entered with his men. "What, Reinhard, you''re still here?" He said as soon as he saw her face. "We were just leaving." "I see." Fritz looked around the room and said to the butler and the guards. "Get rid of everything you don''t need. You will be under my command for the time being. I will decide whether or not to send you back to your home country. With that, Fritz swatted Non off the nightstand with his hand. "Oops." Jin catches it before it hits the floor. Fritz looks at him sideways, "Hmph." Fritz looks at him sideways and snickers, Reinhard, get out of here. You know what I mean, but don''t say anything else. He said to Reinhardt over his back. "I understand." Reinhardt patted Jin on the shoulder and walked away. Jin followed Reinhardt with Non in his arms and did not look back. Adberg, the butler, and Hermann, the guard, looked sadly at the two. * * * * * * * * At 10:00 a.m. on the same day. Jin and Reinhard entered the Kingdom of Celluloid in a carriage. Since Reinhard had completed the formalities, they were able to pass through the border gate without any problems. Neither of them speaks much. Erza''s disappearance seemed to have taken its toll on them. At 2:00 p.m., we arrived at Tellurus, the regional city where we would be staying for the night. Behind Tellurus flows the mighty Torres River, and beyond it is the capital city of Esia. The Torres River is over 200 meters wide and has no bridges. Ferry boats are the only means of transportation. Therefore, boats are available only by reservation. There are few boats large enough to carry carriages. "Mr. Reinhardt, the boat is fully booked for the next three days." Claude, the butler, says apologetically. "Oh, well, it can''t be helped. You got a place to stay, didn''t you?" Since there are so many people waiting for the ferry, there are inevitably many innkeepers. Yes, there was a good hotel available. So first Jin and the others went to the hotel. The hotel was a 10-story building, which is quite tall in this world. Jin and his friends'' room was on the sixth floor. "It must be hard to take the stairs to the sixth floor," Jin thought. Jin thought to himself, "It must be tough to take the stairs to the sixth floor," and to his surprise, a golem carried him up. "The Kingdom of Cerroa has a small population for such a large area. That''s why golems are used in various places. Reinhardt explained. It was Jin''s first experience to climb the stairs sitting on the golem''s arm. He did not see Reiko, who was following him out of sight, looking slightly frustrated, of course. "Ah, I can see the river." On the sixth floor, the Torres River could be seen in the distance through the roofs of the buildings. There were dozens of ferryboats coming and going. But all of them were small boats. "Why don''t they build bigger boats? Reinhardt overheard him muttering to no one in particular. "That''s the policy of the kingdom. The Torres is a natural moat. Across the river is the capital, Esire. That''s why no boat larger than a 10-seater can be privately owned. All large ships for carriages are under the control of the state. When Jin heard this, he thought it was like the Oi River in the Edo period. Even boats were forbidden there, and people were ferried by footmen," he recalled a scene from a period drama he had seen. "Well, we''ll just have to relax for the next three days. The room we took this time was a four-roomed room. The first room was assigned to Reinhardt, the second to Jin, the third to Claude and the other male servants, and the fourth to the female servants. The third room is for Claude and other male servants and the fourth room is for female servants. The rooms are connected to each other by doors, so that they can be accessed without having to go through the corridor. Jin and Reinhardt were now chatting in Reinhardt''s room. "Reinhardt stopped here on his way there, didn''t he?" "Yes. There''s no other way to get there." Reinhardt said that according to the policy of the Kingdom of Cerroa, this is the only road to the Kingdom of Egelea. There is one more narrow road in the mountains, but it is only occasionally used by the army because of wild beasts and bandits. There are no settlements where people can resupply. "This city is nice, but there are five city walls on the other side of the river, and you can only pass through the first wall unless you are allowed. Ordinary travelers have to walk along the road between the first and second walls. Jin thought that Reinhardt''s explanation made it sound like a complicated country. The city walls are an endless series of stone walls like the Great Wall of China. Five layers of them. Jin felt like he was wasting his time and effort. "I''m a diplomat, and I stopped by Esia on the way there, so I can pass through the fourth wall without any problem. What do you say? "Yeah, well, you don''t have to go that far. Jin tells Reinhardt that he does not want any trouble. Reinhardt agrees, "Then let''s use the second road inside the city walls. He decided to use the second road inside the city walls. The original Esire is within the fifth wall. With time free for dinner, Jin asks Reinhardt for more information about the walls of Esaias. The space between the fifth and the fourth wall is large, and there is one town. The wealthy commoners can''t be found there. For non-aristocrats, it might be called an esiah, in a sense." "So Reinhardt has no problem getting in there?" "Well, that''s the way it is. And between the fourth and the third, it''s even wider. But it''s also a place to hold off the enemy in case of emergency, so it''s not a very nice place to be in, with the military drill grounds and all. Jin nodded his head in agreement. "Oh, so it''s the road between the third and the second street. Yes, it is said that the area between the second and first streets is not safe for anyone to pass through. Not that I saw it with my own eyes. That night the meal was lonelier than usual. Jin wondered if the atmosphere would change so much just because Erza was not here. "I wonder what Elsa is doing now..." Jin''s voice leaked out. "Yeah, I wonder. I wonder what Erza''s happiness is. Reinhardt seemed to be thinking the same thing, and he gave him a nod. Jin wanted to ask Reinhard about something, so he drank some after-dinner tea and said to Reinhard, "Reinhard, what is it that makes Elsa so happy? "Reinhard, can I ask you a question?" He asked him. "Yes, what is it?" "Elsa''s brother, Fritz, you said?" "Yes, that''s right." So, did you used to play with and love Elsa? I asked him, because he was so far removed from the image of his brother that Elsa had told me she had played with when she was a little girl that night in DeRead town. Reinhardt gave a big nod, "Oh, so that''s how it is." Reinhardt gave a big nod and began to explain. "Fritz changed four years ago. The previous king of the Kingdom of Selroa had passed away and the political foundation of the current king who succeeded him had not yet been solidified. There was a battle, not quite a war, but more of a skirmish and less of a war," Reinhardt says. "He was a second lieutenant at the time and was taken prisoner by the enemy ...... Wehrmacht of the Kingdom of Celuloa. He was rescued in an exchange of prisoners, but since then he has changed. He has become a power-hungry man," Reinhardt said sadly. "Until then, he was a good brother who cared for Erza. "I see. That must have been hard for Erza. The kind older brother who used to be a laughable "brainiac" turns out to be a complete jerk. It must have been a bolt out of the blue. Jin thought again about what Erza''s happiness was. 186 - - 08-07 Unexpected reunion The regional city of Tellurus is, in a sense, a gateway to the royal city of Esaias. Why is Esaias located so close to the border? Originally, the Kingdom of Cerroa was a very small country. After the Dinaric War, when the Kingdom of Dinar was divided into a small group of countries, the Kingdom of Cerroa was founded on the site of the capital of the Dinaric Kingdom, and led by the 8th king, Laurent I, it challenged the neighboring countries to war. Over the course of ten years of warfare, the Kingdom of Celuloa swallowed up the surrounding countries and increased its territory. This aggression was repeated for generations. The countries it swallowed were in the north, east, west, and southwest. This is why the location of the capitals are unevenly distributed. If the Kingdom of Egelea was also swallowed up, its location would not be so strange. The southern kingdom of Egelea resisted stubbornly until the end of the war, and Roland I made peace with Egelea to avoid the decline of national power due to the prolonged war. Since then, although there have been some skirmishes, diplomatic relations have generally continued in an outward appearance. Yes, until 18 years ago when Elsa''s father was active. "Reinhardt said the current king seems a bit belligerent. ......" Jin muttered to himself as he walked through the streets of Tellurus. Only two days to go before he could board the ferry. Reinhardt says he will visit his acquaintances and is separated from Jin. Jin is just wandering around the city to distract himself from the frustration of not finding Erza. The spring sun is warm and just right for a walk. A little tired after wandering around for more than an hour, Jin sat down on a bench in the plaza facing the main street. "Fuu." There were many people coming and going, and the place was lively. Parents and children, families, lovers. Merchants, aristocrats, old people, children. People from all walks of life were coming and going. "Hey, it''s your brother. "Yes?" I heard a familiar voice. I turned my head and saw a blue-eyed girl with silky blonde hair hanging down softly. And you are... I''m Siede, brother. The girl I met in the mining village of Yada. She is the daughter of the Viscount Sekat. "Oh, yes, yes, it''s you, Shide. What happened to you today?" Jin remembered her and spoke to her smiling. "Yes, I''ve been sightseeing in this town since the day before yesterday. Today we took a cruise on the Torres River. "Oh, a cruise boat. Did you have a good time? "Yes, I did. The river is very wide and blue, and the fish were jumping around. She explained to Jin with a smile and hand gestures. Her gestures are smiling, and Jin enjoys listening to them. "So, why are you here?Are you alone?" Sheide looks a little puzzled. "Oh, well, I lost my ...... mother and the others." "What?" In short, he was lost. Jin rushed to his feet and looked around. But there was no one in sight. "I''m sure your mother and the others are looking for you, too."Well, do you know the hotel where you are staying? "Yes, sir. < "The Shade of Green Tree Hotel... ......... I''ve seen it somewhere..." The name sounded familiar. As Jin was thinking about it, he heard a voice in his ear. (Father, the hotel is located two streets east of this street.) Reiko, who had remained out of sight, overheard him. "Um, I think that hotel is over there." Jin thanked Reiko and started walking away, taking Siede by the hand. "Thank you, brother. Aren''t you going to be with her today?" By "that sister" I assume he meant Elsa. Jin remembered that she had healed Shede''s injuries after he had fallen down with a healing spell. "Yes, we are separated now. "Is that so?I want to see you again." He seemed to have missed Erza since she had healed his injuries. "Well, that may be difficult." "After all, your sister is an aristocrat too, so she can''t go out very often, can she?" "Well, yes. Jin said to her in a deceptive manner as he was not going to tell her the truth, and Siede said with a serious face. I am lonely. Then you can stop being a nobleman. His words gave Jin something to think about, "No, little Sheide. Your mother will be sad." He told her to be careful. Sheide nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, I understand. I don''t want to make my mother sad. "Yes, Sheide is a good girl." Jin stroked her head as she walked next to him. "Hehehe, it feels good." Siede was very happy to have his head patted. In the meantime, we arrive in front of the hotel. "Siede!" a woman''s voice sounded panicked. It was Sheide''s mother, Marilia, Viscountess Sekat. "Mother!" Marilia rushed to him and took him in her arms. Where have you been?Edem and Hauro are looking for you right now! Jin wondered idly as he watched the father and son face to face. "I''m sorry. I was watching a funny show on the main street and my mother and the others disappeared, so my brother brought me here. Then Marilia let go of Siede in her arms and looked at Jin. "Thank you very much for bringing Sheede to me," she said. ...... Oh, are you sure?" She seemed to remember Jin''s face. Yes, my name is Jin Nido, I was with you when you visited the tunnels in Yada village. "Oh, my God, it''s you. Are you alone today? Yes, Reinhardt is visiting a friend. "I see. I''d like to thank you for your hospitality, but I''m traveling and don''t have much at hand. ......" Jin was rather embarrassed, No, I didn''t do anything special. I''ll leave you to it. With that, Jin bowed his head and walked quickly away from the place with a voice that was still holding him back. "Oyako, huh? I like that kind of thing." With this thought in the corner of his mind, Jin walked at a moderate pace and came to the edge of the river. Along the Torres River, there was an embankment about 5 meters high, which could be climbed. Jin, who was a little sweaty from the walk, climbed up on the bank to enjoy the river breeze. "Hmm?What''s that noise?" He climbed up on the bank and saw the riverbank, where people were gathering. "Father, it looks like a drowned body or something." Reiko said, hiding her face. Reiko''s eyesight is sharper than a hawk''s. She was seeing in infrared when she disappeared, and it was difficult to distinguish details in the distance, so she went close to the body in a moment and came back. "That looks ...... familiar. It''s Meene, isn''t it?" "What?Meine, who was supposed to be running away with Erza, came up as a drowned body! Jin had a bad premonition and ran down the embankment. He almost slipped a few times, but Reiko supported him each time and kept him from falling. He landed on the riverbank and rushed to the river. Seeing him through the crowd of onlookers, Jin grunted and said, "I knew it! "I knew it was ...... Meene. There was no doubt that it was Meene. The difference was that she was not drowned. She was still breathing. "Get out of the way!I know her!" Jin went to Meine''s side and said, "Ugh! ......" He frowned at the devastation. His right hand seemed to be broken and bent in a strange direction, his head was swollen reddish-black as if he had been beaten, and a knife was sticking out of his abdomen. 187 - - 08-08 Escape Back in time, the night before Elsa and Meane''s disappearance. In a hotel room in the provincial city of Ikhsanat. "............" Elsa was crying silently when she returned to her room. The Marquis of Eisen knows. He came to see her from time to time because his estate was next door and he was also her father''s superior. He had a hairless head and a small fat figure. He said he had been fit before he retired from the army, but Elsa could not imagine that he had been so fit. Once, when Bina was proposed to Count Kuzma, he asked her how she felt about marrying Jin. At that time, Elsa recalled that she liked Jin, but she could not think of marrying him and living together. "But that man..." I didn''t like it. I didn''t even want to be with the Marquis. I hated being his wife even more. Just looking at her gives me chills. Elsa bit her lip and could only shed tears. But as a daughter born into a noble family, she had to obey her father''s orders. And if it was a marriage proposal that would benefit the family, everyone around her would be happy. Except for one person, Elsa. Just then there was a knock at the door. "......" When Erza did not answer, the door was opened softly and Meane came in. "Miss." "......" When Elsa still did not respond, "You don''t have to say anything. You don''t want to marry the marquis, do you? Meine says, "You don''t want to marry the Marquis, do you? Elsa couldn''t help but look at Meine''s face. "I know. I''ve watched you since you were a baby. Meine smiled softly and gently cradled Erza''s head. "Meine ......" Erza finally couldn''t hold back her emotions and called out Meine''s name. At the same time, her tears welled up again, "Meine, Meine......" Erza cried for a while with Meine in her arms. After Erza had calmed down a little, Meine opened her mouth. "Miss, there are two paths here. One is to marry a noblewoman as you are told and marry a marquis. The other is to renounce your aristocratic position and be free to make your own decisions. "The freedom to decide for yourself?" Elsa looked up at the sound of that. "Yes. We, the common people, have fewer rules than the nobility. We may have to face some hardships because of it, but there are two kinds of hardships: those imposed on us, and those we choose to face. It is hard to say which is better, but don''t you think it is better to have hardships that you have chosen for yourself? * * * Meane''s temptation was well-timed. In fact, she had been secretly preparing for the day when she would come to this city near her hometown. In order to kidnap Erza. But if Erza had been able to escape of her own free will, Meane could not have wished for better luck. With sophistry and trickery, Meane was trying to get Erza to do what he wanted. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Freedom to decide for yourself." Once again Erza repeated. "I may never see Mr. Reinhard again. He is an aristocrat. But Jin-sama is a commoner, and we may be able to meet in a year or two when things cool down. Meane added. You could call it clever. She had successfully stimulated Erza''s feelings of concern, or perhaps even adoration, for Jin. "Jin-kun, I''m sure you will ......". If she could meet Jin, Jin might be able to make her meet Reinhardt as well. Erza holds out such hope. And before long, Erza was affirming this to Meane. "I''m going." After Erza said that, Meine hugged her again, "Miss!You''ve made up your mind well. Meine will protect you even if it costs her life. She patted Erza''s back. That night, the two of them were not seen together. That night, the two disappeared. Dressed in the commoner''s clothes that Meane had secretly prepared, they sneaked out the back door. No one expected Erza to run away, so there were no guards of any kind. There were guards, but they did not stick around all the time, but only patrolled periodically, so it was not difficult for her to escape when they were not around. I left behind all the accessories, bulky objects, and unnecessary baggage that would immediately identify me as an aristocrat, including daggers and rings. Daggers and rings. The ring had been removed, and by the time I realized it, there was no way I could get it back. The truth is that Meane, who knew that Jin had given it to her, had put her in that situation. (But this is the only thing...) Erza secretly slipped the brooch that Jin had given her for her birthday into her breast pocket. Erza, who had wanted to take the dagger with her, was a bit reluctant, but Meane took her by the hand and led her into the darkness of the night. The only people who saw her were Pance and Lily of the Covert Maneuver Unit (SP). However, they did not do anything, saying that they had nothing to do with Jin. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meene, who had saved most of her salary as a nanny for this day, told Erza not to worry about money for the time being and escaped almost in her clothes. Meine''s family lives in the town of Sasad, next to Ikhsanat. They are quite wealthy merchants, but we do not plan to rely on them since they will be the first to check us out. In the dark, Meane goes to the hired . He has already crossed the street on his way there, so in that sense, he is on schedule. "Well, welcome. So, is that the young lady I''ve been talking to? "Yes. I brought her out tonight. Please, stick to the plan. I know, I know. Meane had originally planned to kidnap Erza in Icasanat, but she had already made arrangements for her escape. "Well, we don''t have much time left tonight. Stay here until tomorrow night. Don''t worry, they will never find us. With these words, the handyman leads Erza and Meane to a room with a bed. The room could be locked from the inside. The two were mentally exhausted and soon fell asleep. The next day we waited for dusk before going into action. It was a long day. When they left the handyman''s hideout, both of them looked exhausted. First, we headed northeast by horseback. There are other ways to enter the Kingdom of Selroa besides via Ikasanat. Well, most of them are illegal. Erza and Meene rode their horses along the narrow path in the mountains, which is used by back-street workers who travel from the Kingdom of Cerroa to the Kingdom of Egelea and vice versa. The road, which was as narrow as a footprint, went on and on in the mountains. The ridgelines are borderlines, and stakes marking the boundaries have been driven in various places. These stakes were magic tools that triggered an alarm when a person crossed between them. Therefore, the manufacturing process is kept secret. If Jin were to see it, he would easily be able to analyze its structure. "You can rest here until morning." There was a small hut near the border. < to use in times like these. Erza and Meine were exhausted after riding through the night in the dark, so they did as they were told and wrapped themselves in the blankets they were given. "...... not tasty." "Just bear with me a little longer, miss." The two of them satiated their hunger with bread and soup that the handyman had prepared for them. Naturally, the taste is not good, and Erza can''t help complaining about it. The procedure for the day was to enter the Kingdom of Selroa through the border line that <> had pried open, and wait for the night in a hut on a hill overlooking the Torres River. The <> is a middle-aged mage who, with the help of his magical tools, constructs a kind of tunnel in a place where the distance between the stakes is wide. Once through the tunnel, the stakes did not raise an alarm, and Erza and Meene were able to cross the border without incident. "Now all we have to do is go down the mountain to the river, ask the ferryman to cross the river, and we will be in the sub-center of the Kingdom of Selroa, where we won''t be caught by our pursuers for a while. The handyman who had come with them told them this and led them to a hut on a hill overlooking the Torres River. "Stay here until nightfall, okay?" With these words, the handyman left. The rest of the group, Elsa and Meane, looked at each other. "Miss, we are almost there. Once we cross the river, we won''t have to be afraid of the followers anymore. We''ll rent a house and live together. "Yes." Meane gently hugged Erza, who looked tired from the trip. Erza fell asleep. Meine looked at Erza''s sleeping face, "Sweetie. I will protect you at all costs. She gently brushes a strand of hair from her forehead with her finger. It is getting dark outside and the long-awaited night is about to arrive. "Come on, let''s go! The door to the hut opens. It is already dark outside. "Watch your step. Even so, it was difficult to find your footing with only the moonlight to guide you. Erza and Meine almost fell down several times as they stepped onto the riverbank. There they saw a small boat. "That''s the ferryman! The figure on the boat bowed a little. "Thank you, thank you very much. Meine put a bag of gold coins in the handyman''s hand. He then put the bag of gold coins in the handyman''s hand. The handyman opened the bag to check the contents, smiled amiably and disappeared into the darkness. "Come on, miss." Meine takes Erza by the hand and they get into the boat, a small boat for five people. First, Erza is taken to the boat. The ferryman helps her on board, and she climbs aboard without a hitch. Meine gets on board, and the boat quickly leaves the shore, heading for the other side of the river. The ferryman was using some kind of oar to propel the boat. "Now all we have to do is wait for the boat to reach the other shore. Meine exhaled loudly and gently hugged Erza''s anxious shoulder. The moon is small in this world. Even so, the surface of the river reflected the moonlight in countless flickers, as if it were sprinkled with silver sand. Elsa gazed at it absentmindedly. The boat slowly crossed the river. 188 - - 08-09 The Scourge The boat carrying Elsa and Meene was about a third of the way down the river when suddenly the ferryman stopped rowing. Suddenly the ferryman stops rowing. The boat stops moving and starts to go downstream with the current of the river. The current of the Torres, however, is slow. It is about a quarter of the speed of a person walking. "What''s wrong?" Meane asks suspiciously, "Heh heh heh ......" There was a nasty look on the ferryman''s face. Meine, feeling a bad premonition, hugs Erza''s shoulder tightly. What? Erza suddenly bends over. She looked over to see another man, who had apparently been hiding on the boat, sticking something in her mouth. "Miss! "Hehehe, I heard this lady uses magic. I''ll be d*mned if I''m going to let her do the chanting." "Oh, you guys!" Meine pulled out a knife she had hidden in her pocket. "Whoa, that was dangerous!" But the ferryman hits Meine''s hand with the oar in his hand. "Tsk!" With that blow, the knife fell out of Meine''s hand. His wrist hangs limply. It looks like a broken bone. "Sleep tight, old man." The ferryman strikes Meane on the head again with his oar. There''s a dull thud, "Oh ......," he says. With these words, Meine gave up consciousness. "" Erza tried to scream aloud and storm out, but she was unable to chant the magic because a rag was shoved into her mouth, and her arms were twisted behind her back, making it impossible for her to storm out due to the pain. "Heh heh, it worked, didn''t it? "Yeah, tonight''s guest is a noble lady, and it''s been a long time since I''ve had a good one. The ferryman not only passes those who try to cross the river in secret, but also sometimes kidnaps them and sells them off somewhere. This time it was Elsa. "Let''s have some fun first, shall we? "Yeah, it''s not often we get a chance like this." The man who had twisted up Erza''s arm used some kind of handcuff to hold her arm in place. Elsa moaned from the pain in her twisted shoulder and elbow. But the men looked down at her with a smirk. "Hehehe, how does it feel to be beaten by the commoners you usually make fun of, noble lady? "Even a commoner can do this much, you know." No, I''ve never made fun of the common people.) Elsa wants to say so, but she can''t. The ferryman grabbed her by the chest. I don''t feel good.) Erza tried to escape from the ferryman''s grip by twisting her body, "Don''t be too rough or you''ll fall off the boat!" The other man then slides down on his horse on Elsa''s stomach. (Gugu, Kuru, Shii) Elsa''s resistance gradually weakened as she struggled to breathe, unable to repel the weight of one adult male. "Oh?Are you done resisting?Well then, I think it''s time to eat. The ferryman licked his tongue. No, someone help me!) Erza desperately cries out, but all that escapes is a moan because of the cloth stuffed in her mouth. "Heh heh, I''m just getting started, aren''t I?" The ferryman reaches out for Erza''s breast while saying so. (Rai, my brother ......, Jin, my son ......) The men who had always protected her were gone. They are gone, and I have run away from them. "Elsa!" Erza is relieved when Meine wakes up and hits her with her body, causing the ferryman to fall into the boat. "Oh, she''s awake already!" The other man who had been riding on Erza said disgustedly and picked up the knife that Meane had just dropped. The blade of the knife glinted in the moonlight. No way!Meine, run!) Erza wanted to say so, but she couldn''t say it out loud. She could only watch as the knife was thrust into Meine''s abdomen. (Lie,lie,meine......) "Gu,fu......e,r,za......" Meine slowly collapses. "Throw him in the river and I''ll deal with him slowly, Miss Erza." So saying, the ferryman grabbed Meine by the legs and threw her over the edge into the river. (Ah, ah, ah ......) Just when Erza was about to despair. "Whoo! Suddenly there was a light that shone on them. "Bah, no way!" A black patrol boat? It was a fast boat, called a patrol boat in this river. Three golems rowed the oars, and it could reach a speed one and a half times that of an ordinary boat. The black hull of the boat was something that even the ferryman had never seen before. It is possible that the ferryman had never seen such a black hull before and therefore did not notice its approach. The truth is that the magic of the Hyde was responsible. "Oh, give me a break!" "Oh, yes!You promised to let me off with up to five men a month!" The ferryman seemed to have some kind of backroom deal with the guards of the Kingdom of Celuloa, he insisted desperately, but the men in the black patrol boat remained silent. Upon closer inspection, they were all wearing black clothes and black masks. "Hey, hey, shouldn''t we have tried to kill the nobles?Not yet!I haven''t done it yet!So give me a break. ......" That was it. With a flash of the white blade, the ferryman''s head left his body and fell into the river. !" Blood splashed in front of her eyes, and Erza closed her eyes. "Oh, me too?No!No!" The man who had been riding on Erza screams and jumps into the river to escape. A wind magic < hits him in the back. "G,a ......" The man''s spine is severed and he falls over the edge of the boat into the river. "............" The tragedy that occurred before her eyes was so graphic that Erza did not feel she had survived at all. The men of the black patrol boat, however, silently moved Erza from the ship to the patrol boat and removed the restraints from her arms. Finally free from the pain in her arm, Erza tried to take out the rag that was stuck in her mouth by herself. "Oh, but first, let''s get this on you," she said. The first voice she heard was simultaneous with the ruthless action. "What?" A choker-like object was wrapped around Erza''s neck, and she heard a metallic clang, then realized she couldn''t speak, even though she had taken out the rags. "......!" "Hmm, that''s a little harsh. Hold on a minute. How about ...... this?" The man in front of her seemed to have done something, and she managed to speak, albeit painfully. "Who are you people?Didn''t he help you?" The man in front of Elsa smiled through his mask as he finally said this, "We helped you, Miss Elsa. Help us and we''ll make it easier for you. He said this to her. Erza frowned when she heard this. But then she remembered Meine, "Meine!Save Meine! She pleaded, "Meene, save me! "Meine?Oh, the traitor''s maid. The man looked around the boat, but Meine was nowhere to be seen on the surface of the river. "She was either swept away or sunk. Either way, no one should be so disloyal as to take out the daughter of the lord''s house. Let him go. He ordered his men. "What?" Erza turned pale when she heard this, "That''s ...... what I want!" She pleads in a strained voice. But the man ignores her request. Elsa''s arms and legs are once again strapped down. "If you stay in these waters for too long and the guards find you, you''ll be in trouble. We''ve done what we came for. Let''s go." The black patrol boat left the area at high speed. All that was left was a small boat carrying the headless body of a ferryman. 189 - - 08-10 Treatment Meine is badly injured and on the verge of death. Jin first casts a healing spell. "<>". Anyway, there seems to be no time to spare. It is a good thing that the knife in his abdomen did not fall out. If it had come out in the river, he would have lost a lot of blood due to the water pressure. <>" Jin performs a first aid treatment by applying a layer of healing magic. He confirms that Meine is still breathing, "Is there a doctor ...... in the neighborhood?" he asks the onlookers gathered around him. One of them said, "There is one a little further into town. I said, I''m sorry, can someone help me carry this man there? Jin said, "Oh, I had something to do," he said. "I have to go home soon." "I can''t do it," he said. And then none of them were left. No, only the middle-aged woman who had told me about the healer remained. "How heartless they are. ......" Jin muttered, "It can''t be helped. We''re all a bunch of people in this town to begin with," the woman said. The woman said. "You''d better pull out this knife. And as soon as she said that, she pulled out the knife at once. "What!" It must have hurt, because Meane''s body, which should have been unconscious, jumped. "What! "Cure him! But the woman immediately cast a Shoro Empire-style healing spell to minimize the bleeding. "If you keep it in too long, you won''t be able to pull it out." The woman said, "You can''t leave it in too long or it will become entangled and adhered to the musculature. "What about you?" Jin was impressed with his skill, "Oh, I''m that healer, Sally Mireshan." Fortunately, there was a healer among the onlookers. It''s a little hard for two people to carry this injured person. Mainly in terms of the impact on the injured. "Leave it to me. ...... Reiko, go over there and call up and from the Covert Maneuver Team (SP). "Yes, sir." Since it would be too suspicious to release her stealth at this point, Reiko replied shortly while remaining out of sight, and called for Elm and Ash behind a tree growing on the riverbank. "Sister, you wanted to see me?" At first, <> also called Jin <> and Reiko <>, but they decided to call Jin <> and Reiko <> because of their role in the unit. Jin was obsessed with a strange place. "Thank you for your hard work. Please follow your father''s instructions for the time being. "Yes, Sister." Reiko then returned with Elm and Ash. "Thank you. Elm and Ash, lift him gently and carry him. You can follow us wherever we go." "Yes, Chief." Sally Mireshan was surprised to see the two golems listening to Jin. "You''re amazing! I can''t believe you have two such magnificent golems. But thank you. Now lift them up gently." Elm and Ash put their hands under Meine''s immobile body from both sides and lift her up gently. They have to maintain a position that does not damage the wound in her abdomen as much as possible. "Yes, yes, come this way then." Sally leads us over the embankment and into town. Even though Elm and Ash are rare, people do not look at them as much as they do in a town where golems are commonplace. "Right around the corner there, yeah, that''s it." Three minutes from the embankment was Sally''s Healing Center. A small sign on the door reads <>. "Yes, yes, just lay her down there gently, yes, that''s fine. Once Meene was placed on the bed, Sally began her examination. "Your right wrist and right arm are broken. The wound on your abdomen is... and ......, leave me alone for a minute. Sally stopped Meane''s attempt to undress and warned Jin. "Oh, yes." Jin and Reiko escaped to the next room, which was a kind of preparation room. And then.., "Reiko, call Lao-tzu. See if she can track Erza''s location." "Yes, I have." For a while, Reiko silently communicated with Horaijima with the built-in manacam (magic element communication device). Then, about two minutes later. "Okay. One is in Icasanat. One is in Icasanat. The other is about 20 km up the Torres River. When Jin heard that, "Yes. The response that it is in Icasanat is probably the dagger that he left behind. So the other response is likely to be Elsa''s." He guessed so. At that moment, he heard Sally calling him from the next room. Jin rushed back to the treatment room. "What''s wrong?" Sally was standing there with a grim look on her face. "It''s dangerous. I pulled the knife. I closed the wound. I made him spit up the water he drank. Broken bones healed. But ......" Jin looks into Meine''s face. It is white and bloodless. The knife wound probably reached his internal organs. I have heard that it is difficult to stop bleeding in the liver and spleen because of the concentration of blood vessels in these organs. Jin, who had studied first aid at a factory, concluded as much. Damage to internal organs would be fatal in a world where surgery is not possible. "If this continues, ...... will be in danger." Sally looks sad. It must be hard not being able to save the patient. "At least if you have ...... recovery medicine, ......" "A recovery drug?" "Yes. It''s a type of medicine you can take, but it''s expensive. Alchemists themselves are rare, so it can''t be helped, but if I could get him to take it, maybe..." Jin had a prototype recovery medicine in his pocket. However, it was only a prototype, and there was no way to test it on a human body, so it had remained untouched for a long time. "At this rate, is there any chance of recovery? Jin asked, just to be sure. Sally thought for a moment and then asked, "Not one in ten. I mean, if he doesn''t regain consciousness at this point, he will be dead. He says, "I mean, if he doesn''t regain consciousness at this point, he will be dead. Jin, too, after thinking for a while, took out a recovery medicine from his pocket. "I have what looks like a recovery medicine here, but I don''t know how effective it is," he said honestly. I don''t know what it does," he said honestly, "Here." Sally took it and seemed to be examining it. Finally, he said, "<>" This magic is to analyze what you don''t know. This magic cannot analyze what it does not know, so it was meaningless for Jin to use it, but Sally was like, But Sally said, "Ki-kun!Where did you get this? He was so excited that he came close to Jin. Jin looked at him, "Does it work?If so, let''s talk about it later and use it! He said. Sally blushed a little and nodded her head in agreement. "Well, yes. You are right. Then let''s get to it. With that, he filled a sucking cup a third of the way and put it in Meine''s mouth. "Drink it ......." About half of the drink spilled out, but he managed to get her to drink the other half. The effect was dramatic. His white complexion turned red and his breathing, which had been erratic, returned to normal. Sally, who had been checking the pulse at her wrist, also began to feel the same way, "Well, it looks like the crisis is over. Sally, who was checking the pulse at her wrist, let out a sigh of relief. 190 - - 08-11 Tracking After Meine''s condition has stabilized, Sally gives her another sip of the remaining recovery medicine. This time she was able to give him the whole dose without spilling it. "Well, I guess she''s all right now. We''ll just have to wait and see. Now Meine is breathing calmly. "She seems to be mentally damaged, so it will be a while before she wakes up. Sally said, "Doctor, can you keep Meane in the hospital for a while? Jin asked. Then Sally said "Well, this is a healing center, so I don''t mind. But I am also a healer, and I would like to ask you about the medicine you just gave me. He made an exchange of terms with me. The content of the exchange was, well, natural, "Yes, I understand. I made that recovery medicine myself. Jin replies honestly. Somehow he thought that he could trust this healer named Sally. She is a woman, but she has an air similar to himself and Reinhardt. "You made it?You are an alchemist?" Sally looks surprised. "No, I am a magecraftsman. I heard from a certain source how to make a recovery potion, so I thought I''d give it a try. "What?You heard how to make it?You heard about a manufacturing method that is more important than life for alchemists?" Sally was even more surprised. Jin thought this was a bad idea and decided to correct it. "No, the person I asked was an automaton. It was a guy from the time of the Magic War. "What? Sally is often surprised. I thought she was calm and collected, but maybe she is more excited than I thought. "It was an old automata, and it stopped working after I heard it, that''s all I could hear. And the information was incomplete." Jin then told us that he had made the automata by putting healing magic into a serum obtained by precipitating the blood of a demon with magical powers. I omitted the centrifugation part because it would have been troublesome. "Hmmm, I didn''t know it could be made that way. However, Sally seemed to have some feelings about it and was mumbling and ruminating about the process. "I can''t get demon blood,...... but maybe it''s not limited to demons,...... all you need is the magic power contained in it,...... then you can make it. ......" "Sir, sir." The actual "I''m not a fan of the way you do it," he said, "but I''m not a fan of the way you do it. He was worried about Erza as well as Meine. "Hmm!What is it? "So, Meine is already all right?" "Yes. I''m sure she''ll be fine as long as she continues to recover. Hearing that, Jin made up his mind. "I''m sorry, but can you take care of her here until she gets better?" "Hmm?I don''t mind, but there must be a reason. Jin told him the story of Elsa and Meane. "Hmmm, they took the young lady to escape. And on the way, they were attacked? "Yes. That''s the only explanation. So she can''t go back to the main house? They will be punished. Sally thought about it for a while, "Okay. I''ll take care of him until he gets better. I''ve got the information about the recovery medicine. He agreed to take care of her. Jin bowed his head, "Thank you, doctor. So, here is the money for the time being. He offered three gold coins, or 30,000 dollars. "This is too much, but ......." Sally was about to say so, but when she realized that the money included the hush money, she took it without saying more. * * * * Jin, who no longer had to worry about Meene for the time being, hurried back to the inn. It was already late in the evening, but Reinhardt had not returned yet. He decides to ask for a message. "<>I''ll tell him that, won''t I?" He asks Claude, the butler, to leave a message, leaves Anne in the room, and sets off under the darkening sky to look for Erza. Time is running out. He wished he had a golem horse frame, but it did not pass through the warp gate. I had no choice but to remove the golem horse from the carriage and mount it. Without a saddle, the horse is unsteady, but we put up with it, saying that time is of the essence here. Our destination is upstream on the Torres River. Jin decides to call in the Air Force as backup in case of emergency. Sky 71 to 75 will be ordered by Jin to stay in the air with Raptors 1 to 5. They''ll be 2,000 kilometers away by the time Jin gets there. "Ah, but the problem is that it''s hard to land. Jin has now realized the drawback. "I remember there is a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft), isn''t there? I''ll try to build one when I get back home. ......" Thinking of this, Jin walks through the darkness of the night. While he is worried about Erza, his head is full of thoughts as he is just rocked on the back of the golem horse. "Reiko has been strengthened, but I''m not very good at it myself. I need to get my personal equipment up to speed. Night-vision goggles to see in the dark, or a power suit that stops halfway through. And so on... Jin''s ideas continue to flow. "Oh, I wish Reiko could fly, too. When he comes up with such ideas, there is no one who can stop him. In a sense, this is a reaction to his (supposed) restraint. Jin is not a pacifist. He is not a quarrelsome person. He is basically soft on his people and merciless to his enemies. Well, most people are like that. It''s not that Jin liked Meane. He complained about everything and was not a fan of her. But that doesn''t mean he was so heartless that he would just let that kind of treatment go on. Especially now that I know that she is Erza''s real mother. He would find Erza and make sure that whoever did this to Meene would pay for it. That''s what Jin thought. < "I''m tired of ......." Jin was exhausted from being rocked on the back of the golem horse, which had no saddle. "Oh, it would have been so much easier if I had a bike. Or a bicycle. I''ll build one later." Jin''s hoop, the hoop of his own weight, seemed to fly off to another dimension. "Father, are you all right?Do you need me to carry you? Reiko asked, concerned, but Jin refused Reiko''s offer, thinking it was too pathetic to be carried by a 130cm tall girl. "Is that so?If you''re tired, you can always say so, right?" "Yes." Jin answered, but it was highly unlikely that he would whine to Reiko about it. It''s a father''s dignity. Besides, it''s not that he''s too tired to walk, he''s just tired from being rocked by a horse without a saddle, so there''s nothing wrong with walking. And he is not particularly fast. At the moment, we cannot increase our speed because the covert task force (SP) is advancing while keeping a watchful eye on the direction we are going. The closer we get to the enemy base, the slower the speed will be due to the precaution. Jin is also concerned about Erza''s safety, but he suppresses his impetuousness, judging that if Jin is found, there is a high possibility that Erza will be in even greater danger. The destination should be near by now. We have to make sure they don''t notice us. Lao Tzu reported that the destination Sky and the others had seen from the sky was a fortress in the forest, and that they had taken the side road along the river so far, but that they would have to follow the roadless path ahead. "Father, why don''t we let the covert task force (SP) clear the way to avoid wasting time?" It takes a lot of strength to go through the bushes. That is why we propose to have the covert task force (SP) perform maintenance work such as mowing. Of course, quietness and secrecy come first. "Yes, let''s do that. So, < and of the Covert Maneuver Unit (SP) show up and lead the way. The other members were on the perimeter. Reiko was closest to Jin, protecting him as she went. After about 15 minutes, Dahlia, who was leading the group, stopped moving. "Chief, there is a building". Dahlia reported, and I looked hard into the darkness and sure enough, there was a fort-like structure. "I can certainly feel the magic of the brooch your father made." Reiko said. The brooch she had given to Erza was covered with fine magi crystals, and it contained Jin''s magic power as well. That''s why Reiko can sense its presence at this distance. "Well, now it''s time to infiltrate," Jin says. Jin says, "You don''t have to do it yourself, father. We have a covert task force (SP) for such a situation. All you have to do is give us an order. Reiko rebuked me. I felt somewhat ashamed of this, but it was true that Jin''s physical ability was low. "Okay, then, I give you an order. First, find Erza. Don''t let her find you." "Yes, Chief." The Secret Service Personnel (SP) disappears into the fort without making a sound. Jin thinks as he watches them. It would be interesting to make a magic doll that moves by my will.) (It would be interesting to make a magic doll that moves by my will. Jin thinks it is inappropriate, but even at a time like this, he is connected to making things. 191 - - 08-12 Crisis in Elza The men who had kidnapped Elsa continued up the Torres River and eventually reached the left bank of the river. "I''m going to blindfold you from here." "......" Elsa was blindfolded and carried by the men. Elsa, no longer able to resist, was at the mercy of the men. After about 30 minutes, they seemed to have arrived somewhere, and I could feel a change in the air. The air was a little musty and damp. They put her in a room that was closed off. The blindfold was removed. The restraints on her hands and feet are gone when Elsa notices. "Well, you should get some rest." She turned her head to look at the voice and saw a man wearing a black mask outside the bars, which had been fitted with sturdy-looking bars. From the sound of his voice, it seemed to be the man who had just put the chanting choker on Erza. "It will be dawn soon. Then the branch manager will have something to say to you. A man who looked like a subordinate stood behind him and offered a wooden cup of water and a plate of bread through the bars. "Well, eat this." With these words, the men left. Left alone, Elsa looked around the room once more. Three of the walls, the floor, and the ceiling were made of solid stone. The remaining one is barred. There is no way she can escape. I put my hand around my neck and found a choker that seemed to be made of metal. I tried to remove it, but could not do so. Giving up on removing the choker, Elsa drank only water. She then lies down on the hard floor. She felt so miserable that tears welled up in her eyes. "Rai, my brother ......, Jin, kun ......." An older cousin who always supported me and helped me, and a friend who created one thing after another that no one else could imitate. Why didn''t I talk to them before I ran away? It''s just frustrating. Tired, Elsa fell into a shallow sleep. She must have dozed off for several hours. Elsa awoke to a voice calling her. Her body ached from sleeping on the hard floor. "The branch manager is calling you. You have to come." Again Elsa''s hands and feet are shackled. This time, the restraints were connected to the left and right sides by a chain about 30 centimeters long. So if she raises her right arm, her left arm is pulled, and if she tries to raise her left leg, her right leg is pulled. In other words, they are allowed only small movements. Erza, who was let out of the prison in this state, managed to walk without falling, though she almost fell down due to the unfamiliarity of the situation. She was flanked by black masked men in front of, behind, and to the left and right of her. After climbing a long flight of stairs and walking down a long corridor, she came to the end of the hall. The man in front of me opened a heavy-looking door. "Come in." "Ahh!" The man behind her pushed her and she finally fell down. She thrust her arms out and was able to avoid hitting her face, but her injured knee hurt. "Now, now, you mustn''t treat a lady like that." I looked up at the slimy voice and saw a man sitting in a luxurious chair at the back of the room, looking down at Elsa. He was not wearing a black mask, nor was he dressed in black. On the contrary, he was dressed in white, wearing a robe and a long cloak. "Can you stand up?I''m sorry, my men don''t seem to know how to treat a lady. I''ll tell them later, please give me a break. Her voice was polite, but it had a sickening quality to it. Elsa stood up slowly. "Oh, your knee is bleeding. " The wound on Erza''s knee is healed by the healing spell. "That should do it. "Well, then, welcome, Miss Randall. You are welcome." Elsa looks again at the man''s face. She is not sure if he is in his twenties or thirties. He had a flat white face and gray hair. His gray eyes were narrow and seemed to show madness behind them. His body is lanky. Even slimmer than Reinhardt. He seems tall enough to be recognizable from his chair. "I''m not Randall anymore. I''ve given up that last name." As usual, the choker is pressing down on his throat, making it difficult for him to speak. "Oh, I see. My men report that you and the nanny were trying to escape to the kingdom of Celuloa. The man said with a serpentine grin. "I''m sorry to be late, but my name is Parcel Marces de Canagelion, the leader of the 8th branch of the Unification Party (Unifiler). Erza felt a sense of dread, even after all this time, thinking that this was the base of the Unification Party (Unifiler). But she hid it and ruminated on the name she had just heard. "Nobles of the Kingdom of Cerroa? Nobles in the Kingdom of Celuloa are supposed to be named according to the following rules: first name, family name, and gift name. "Oh, you see. She''s a very intelligent woman." The flattering look on his face only disgusted Elsa. "Now, before we get down to business..." Purcell ordered his men to sit Elsa down in a simple chair. "We can''t keep the lady standing for too long, can we?" With that, Purcell finally got down to business. "Well, first of all, I invited you here for two reasons. Or should I say three?" Either way, it would not be pleasant for me, Elsa thought as she looked at Purcell''s feet. "One. First, a check against Mr. Reinhardt. This has already been done, hasn''t it?" "What?" Erza wondered for a moment what Reinhardt had to do with her, but then she realized that her gentle cousin might have to do what was in the interest of the Unifiler if he was being held hostage. "Second. A mysterious magical craftsman (magi craftsman) suddenly appeared. I would like to know more about him and the golem he is carrying. Jin, who had foiled the Unifiler''s plan, wanted to get this information from Erza, who was with him. "I don''t know, I don''t know. Even if I knew, I wouldn''t tell you. Elsa declared shortly, glaring at Purcell. "......3 one. You are a good mage. We want you to be a member of our Unified Party. "Who?" Erza turns her head to the side. But Purcell continued to taunt her with a smirk. "You''d better think about it," he said. You''ve already fulfilled at least the first part of your request. And if you refuse the second and third, we have our own way. He was as polite as ever, but this time his words had an icy coldness to them. Elsa looks at Purcell''s face. "As long as you are alive, you meet the first condition. As long as you can speak, the second condition will be fulfilled. A look of horror came over Elsa''s face as she realized the meaning of those words. "Do you understand?It''s the gentle ones who rip off their fingernails. Breaking a finger. Sharpen your nose. Tear off an ear. Cut off a limb. There are other ways to torture a woman, but I don''t want to do that to a lady." That''s a lie. The man in front of her, Purcell, does it willingly. Elsa felt it in her gut. "Well, that doesn''t change my problem. Elsa said this with all her might, but her body was trembling slightly. "Oh, so you like to be blamed, then?" "No, no. Neither, no." Purcell heard that and started to laugh. "Well, well, you are a selfish girl. All right, I''ll give you one day to think about it. Tomorrow morning, I''ll ask you again for your answer. Until then, please think about it. "No matter how much I think about it, my answer will be the same." Elsa replied in a trembling voice, and Purcell stared at her, "Oh, your eyes are beautiful. They are like the finest aquamarine. I wonder what they will sound like when I hollow them out, don''t you? She licks her tongue. "I wonder what it will sound like when I hollow it out, don''t you? ............" Elsa fainted quietly. "Oh, no, that''s boring. You''ve fainted. ...... put her back in her cell." * * * * When Elsa regains consciousness, she is in her cell. The bars were closed and the door was locked. There were no windows, so she could not tell the time. But no matter how much time there was, Elsa''s mind was made up. She had betrayed those who had been kind to her and run away, but she would never betray them again. That was the one thing she would not change no matter what happened to her. Suddenly, I think of Reinhardt''s words when Jin gave me the dagger he had made. What I didn''t understand then, I understand now. Take your own life. The dagger for that. But I left it behind. I left it behind... along with my nobility. But now I..." Erza swears to herself. She will never sell Reinhardt and Jin. No matter what she has to suffer as a result. That is my pride. Closing my eyes, I remember the journey so far. "It was fun, wasn''t it?" The trip with Reinhardt. I went to the Golem boat race. On the way back, I was with Jin. I learned many things. I met many people. When I think about them, even in times like these, I can feel my heart warm. I''m satisfied. Elsa lay down. There was still time before night, but her body felt tired and sluggish, and her consciousness faded into darkness. 192 - - 08-13 Hitoshis anger Three guards neutralized. Two front gate sentries neutralized. The 3 guards guarding the perimeter of the fort and the 2 guarding the entrance are neutralized in a matter of seconds. The method is the same as < or . When applied directly to the skin, it produces 500,000 volts, and up to about 5,000,000 volts against thick leather clothing. The golems of the Covert Maneuver Squad (SP), also known as the Ninja Squad, can fire electric blasts with their own hands to paralyze even without a staff. "Two back gate sentinels neutralized." The fort''s personnel were neutralized one by one as they disappeared in stealth and were several times stronger and faster than humans. "We have 32 men in the fort. Currently 12 are incapacitated. Reports came in to Reiko one after another via the built-in manacam (magic element communication device). "The fortress seems to have three stories underground and three stories above ground. The material is granite. It is a relatively new structure. The condition of the building is also reported one by one. At the same time, it was also reported to Laozi of Horai Island, who analyzed the situation on his own. "There is a reaction on the second basement floor that seems to be Elsa''s. "Presence of the leader of the fortress on the second floor above ground. "Nineteen men are currently incapacitated. There''s a chance they''re about to find out. All right, Erza''s protection is our top priority. Copy that. Copy that. What''s going on?What''s going on? I don''t know!I don''t know! The sentry''s gone!The guard that was on duty hasn''t come back! Enemy fire? I don''t know, sir. All right, let''s go to class one alert! All right, put us on alert level one. ......? The noise woke Elsa up. "What''s going on?" Just then, two masked men came down the stairs. "There they are!" "Yeah, we''re all clear." They saw Erza in the cell and were talking to each other. One of them, and soon the other one, collapsed. "?" Two golems appear in front of Erza, who has no idea what is going on. Both were female and about the same height as Elsa. One of them uttered a voice. "Are you sure you are Erza-san? "Uh, yes." The other one, hearing this, seemed to be reporting to someone who was not here. "Erza-san has been found. She does not appear to be badly injured. She is in jail and we are going to start rescuing her. One of the female golem put her hand on the bars of the prison, and bent the thick bars. "Amazing!" The golem steps through the bars, which are bent enough to allow a single person to pass through, and steps inside, "Excuse me." With that, it twisted off the restraints that bound Erza''s hands and feet. But, "I''m afraid you''ll have to be the chief to remove that choker, so please be patient for a while longer." "What?Chief? Yes. The one who made us. The one who...? Nidohito, it''s your father. Jin-kun. ...... Tears welled up in Erza''s eyes. She knew that Jin had never given up on her. "Erza-san, can you walk?" "Yes, I''m fine." "Then please put this on." The golem took a ring from the glove compartment at its waist and handed it to Erza. It was something familiar to Elsa. "This is..." The first ring Jin gave me, a protection ring. It was the ring that had saved Erza so many times. With tears still streaming down her eyes, Elsa put the ring on. "Come on, let''s go." The golem stood up and started to walk away, "Wait, what are your names?" Erza asked, thinking that Jin''s golem must have a name. I''m Kanna. And this is Dahlia. "Kanna Dalia. Thank you." With these short words, Elsa started to walk after Kanna and Dalia. They walked up the stairs. When they reached the next floor, Dahlia disappeared. "Gee!" A short, muffled scream was heard. In the middle of the corridor stretching to the left was Dahlia, who had disappeared, and at her feet were two black masked men lying on the floor. "Did you kill them?" "No, I just knocked them out. The chief doesn''t like murderers. Climbing the stairs, we found ourselves in a large lobby where four black masked men were lying on the floor. And two male golems were standing there. "Huh, too?" Erza asks, looking at the male golem. "Yes. They are Elm and Ash. The two golems come closer to her, "Erza-san, right? We will send them to you. Thus Erza escaped from the fortress, the branch of the Unifiler, protected by Kanna, Dahlia, Elm, and Ash. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Erza!You''re safe!" A few hundred meters from the fort, Erza met Jin again. "Jin, kun. ......" Erza ran out, buried her face in Jin''s chest, and cried out loudly. "Jin, kun, that was scary. ......" "Erza......" Jin patted Erza''s back for a while, and when Erza finally stopped crying, he gently grabbed her shoulders and let go of her body. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped her face. "Thank you." Jin wondered at Erza''s voice, which was even more faltering than usual, and found a choker stuck in her neck. "What''s this?" "It''s a necklace that seals out evil." Jin''s face lit up with anger when he heard that. Erza has excess magic power. What would happen if we blocked her magic? The excess magic will eat away at her body. "You put this on her!" In a fit of anger, Jin picked up the choker. "What?" Erza was surprised that the choker, which she had been unable to remove no matter how hard she tried, came off so easily, but she agreed that it was just because it was Jin. Jin was examining the removed choker with tracing and inspection magic, "It doesn''t just seal magic. ......!It''s the opposite of healing magic, it''s a magic formula (Magi Formula) that slowly causes physical discomfort to the body. He then grabs his choker and gives Reiko more instructions. "Reiko, I''m going to smash that fort!" 193 - - 08-14 ultimatum Jin, furious, sends instructions to the ninja unit through Reiko. "Throw out those who have been incapacitated. "Call me when there are no more humans left. "Go, sir. "I''m off." Elm and Ash, who had sent Erza, headed for the fort again. Jin, Erza, Reiko, Dahlia, and Kanna remained. "Jin, where are those golems?" Erza asked what she wanted to ask. "They''re the covert task force (SP), a.k.a. the Ninja Squad." "Ninja force?" She didn''t know what a ninja was. "Oh. In short, they are the golems who protect me without usually showing themselves. That''s the explanation for now. "When did you make them?" "What?Well, after I left Egelea''s castle, I guess. "What?Where did you make it?I didn''t see you making them." Jin hesitated for a moment, wondering what to do, but then decided to make up his mind. "On Horai Island, you know." "Houraito?Not Conlonteau? "Yes. I''ll explain everything when this is over. Jin calm Elsa down. "Father, Ash has an interim report. All of them have been neutralized except for the head. They''re being carried out of the fort now." "Okay, that''s good. ...... keep the head intact." Jin then looked at Erza, "I''m going to go show Erza''s tormentor what I can do. Wait here. Dahlia and Kanna stay with Erza. He said this and started to walk away, but Erza grabbed him by the hem of his dress. "Wait. Take me with you." "Are you okay?" We''re going back to the place we just escaped from. Jin is worried. "I''ll be fine with you, Jin. I''m fine with Jin. ...... but please don''t leave me alone." There were frightened eyes like those of a little puppy dog. Jin, sensing Erza''s anxiety, nodded his head. "Okay, I''ll go with you." Erza took his hand and stood up. "Reiko, Dahlia, Kanna, let''s go. "Yes." Jin walked out with the three of them. "<>" Jin created a ball of light and held it in the air. This is a ball of light that remains lit until the magic power contained in it runs out. Jin creates 10 of them and floats them around the fort. It is now as bright as daylight. "Barrier". He also deployed a magic barrier around Elsa and himself. Without stopping, he steps into the fortress. "Don''t worry. I''ll protect her no matter what. "...... yeah." He walked through the uninhabited fortress to the second floor. This is the office and living quarters of Purcell, who calls himself the head of the 8th branch. As Jin was walking, he asked Erza about the general situation. "Open the door." Kanna, who had been following him, stepped forward and kicked the door open. The heavy, ornate-looking door was blown open like a leaf. "Who are you?" A panicked voice said. In the corner of the room, there is a thin man in a white robe. He was guarded on either side by a pitch-black golem, and he carried a long staff that appeared to be overly decorated. "...... Purcell." Jin did not miss the look of fear in Erza''s eyes when she saw the man. "So you''re the branch manager." "Yes, I am. I am Parcel Marces de Canagelion, the leader of the 8th branch of the Unification Party (Unifiler)!And you are? Jin chuckles, "I''m the Nido Jin you''ve been wondering about." Hearing this, Purcell''s face contorted in a complicated manner. "I see!So it was worth it to take Miss Randall hostage. Now pledge your allegiance to the Unifiler! Purcell says in a grandiose manner. "Don''t play with me!" But Hitoshi said in a voice so cold that Erza, who was standing next to him, could hardly believe her ears. "I don''t care what you call yourselves or what you''re up to, as long as I don''t get in trouble. Erza couldn''t help but look at Jin''s face at these words. "The golem fiasco wasn''t aimed at me either. Well, I was pissed off at the time, and I had to pay for the fire that came my way." Jin takes a breath and then speaks in a lower voice. "But not this time. You kidnapped Erza. You made her cry. You hurt Elsa''s nanny. You are ...... my enemies!" Erza had never seen Jin look so grim. But she is not afraid of him. Rather, he reassures her. If she was protected by this man, she would not be afraid of anything. That''s what I thought. "I''ll save your life. Go home and tell your friends. If you touch any more of my people, that will be the day the Unification Party will be destroyed. "You''re talking nonsense. Do you think you can take on our Unification Party (Unifiler) by yourself? Even at this late stage, Purcell is still bluffing. To Purcell, Jin hugged Erza''s shoulder, "Just me?I''m not alone.I have friends I can trust and relatives to protect." He then looks at Reiko, Dahlia, and Kanna, "I have children who can count on me." He then looked at Reiko, Dahlia, and Kanna and said, "I have children who can depend on me. With these words, Dahlia and Kanna stepped forward. When Purcell saw the two, who were about the same size as Erza, he said to her "Oh, you''re a magecraftsman, aren''t you? Do you think you can defeat my SS with such a slender golem?" He said to the black golems on either side of him, "Fight them off!" Purcell orders them to fight them off. Jin is short, "You can go all out!" That''s all he said. With that, the two realize what is happening, and in an instant, they take the black golem''s back and shower it with 10 million volts of electricity. Not in paralysis mode, which does no permanent damage to the human body, but with the power of lightning magic. The outer shell of the Golem was partially melted by the force of the blast, and the electric current that surged through the hole created easily penetrated and destroyed the control core of the Golem inside. The two black golems collapsed almost simultaneously, their metal bodies making a high-pitched noise as they hit the stone floor. "Hi-hii-hii-hi!" Purcell was stunned to see this. But Jin followed up further. "The golem''s gone, but what about the human?Dahlia. "Yes, let''s give it a try." Hi-hi!Hyah! Dahlia''s mere approach knocked Purcell unconscious. He was blowing bubbles and his pants were getting wet. He seems to have become incontinent. Jin sees this and lets out a sigh, looking at Erza next to him, "How are you feeling?Do you feel a little better? He then looked at Erza next to him and said, "Do you feel better? Erza smiled a little and nodded her head, She smiled a little and nodded her head. Thanks." She replied. Jin looked at the incontinent Purcell and gave him some instructions as if he had no choice. "Oh, that''s disgusting! Dalia, drag him outside so he doesn''t touch his leaky clothes. "Yes, chief." With that, Dalia grabbed Purcell by the collar and dragged him out of the fort. Jin and Elsa are out first. Jin and Elsa had gone ahead of them, not wanting to walk down the urine-dripping hallway. The ball of light that Jin had lit was still floating outside the fort. Some of the black-masked men I had grouped together were moaning. They are about to wake up. Jin took out the Magi Crystal from his pocket and approached the unconscious Purcell. And then.., "<>" and copied the information about the Unified Party (Unifiler). If you analyze this, you will be able to learn a lot about the Unifiler. "Hey, wake up. Wake up!" Jin called out several times to Purcell, who was rolled at his feet, and finally seemed to notice him. His robe was frayed and his cloak was torn in some places because he had been hit here and there when he was dragged. "You finally noticed..." "Huh!" Purcell shrugs as he notices Jin looking down at him. "You know, it''s guys like you who are the foxes that outfox the tigers!" Jin looks at Reiko, who is standing by his side. Reiko seemed to sense it, "Father, Sky 71 overhead, 75, any time you want," was all he said. Jin replied. Jin turned to Purcell and the black-clad men who had awakened, "Listen, back off this foolish ambition to unite the continent. This is a warning. This will not happen again. The men listened in silence. Next, Jin said.., Reiko. Reiko. Reiko then sent an instruction to the air force above via manacam. Immediately after that, pillars of light poured down. There were ten of them. They were, as we all know, <> beams of light. Two of the on-board lasers were irradiated at their maximum output. The energy of the lasers activated the free magic element (ether) in the atmosphere, making visible light trails that would normally be invisible. The granite that makes up the fortress was instantly vaporized when exposed to the ten lasers. Because the lasers were emitted from a flying object, the irradiation points moved even within a time period of about one second. As a result, more than 70% of the fortress was instantly vaporized. "Hey, hey, hey, ......" Purcell and the other men in black masks who had woken up all sat up. "Look, this is the last time. << Stay away from us. "Yes, yes, yes!" This time they all reply in unison. Jin takes one look at their pathetic appearance, "Erza, is this okay?I could have killed them all, but ...... not so much. He said to Erza, who was staring at him. Erza nodded her head. "Nah. This is fine." Jin saw this and said, "Okay, come on, let''s go. He patted Erza on the shoulder and started walking slowly. The moon was shining in the sky. 194 - - 08-15 After When Jin and the others reached the edge of the Torres River, dawn was finally breaking. "Ah, I''m so tired. Jin sat down on a rock on the bank. Erza also sat down. "Aren''t you tired?" Jin said, and Elsa nodded her head. "Yeah. A little." The expression on her face, visible in the dim light, seemed to indicate that she was not only tired but also harboring something more complex. "Is something bothering you?" When Jin asked her that, Erza said with a sad look on her face. "If only Meane were here..." Hearing this, Jin asked Erza. "You put Erza in danger by making her run away from home, and you''re worried about her? "I ran away from home because I wanted to. I''m sorry I put her in danger. I think it''s my fault that she ran away from home because I wanted her to. Elsa turns her head. Tears welled up in her eyes. Jin tried to comfort her, "Meine is safe," he said. She said, "Meine is safe. "What? "I found Meine in the water, and that''s why I started looking for Erza. She was badly injured, but she''s fine now. She''s in the care of a trusted healer. I''ll let you see her when she''s a little better." Tears welled up in Erza''s eyes with joy as Jin briefly explained Meene''s condition. "Meine, you''re alive. ......" Seeing Erza murmuring happily, Jin was glad that he had saved her. After a short rest, Jin and Erza start walking again. It is now quite light. The area is covered with river mist. After walking for a while, they came to a wider area. It was about 6 meters wide, wide enough for two carriages to run side by side. "I wonder if we can land here. Jin looked around and muttered to himself. Reiko heard him and said, "Don''t worry," she said. and looked up at the sky. "Okay." Reiko gives an instruction on the manacam. "Pelican 1, come here!" "What?You called not only Raptor but also Pelican? Reiko looks at Jin in surprise, "Yes, Lao Tzu told me that you might need them in case you need them". Jin nodded his head and said, "Yes, Lao Tzu said that we might need it. Jin nodded his head, "I see, you are right. Then, Elsa, please come to the edge of the room. ...... that''s right." "?" Erza, not understanding what was going on, followed Jin''s instruction and moved to the edge of the embankment. Then a black shadow descended from the sky. What? Erza braces herself, but Jin says to her.., "Don''t worry. That''s a plane I made. He tells her. Erza looked at Jin in surprise. "An airplane?" Before Jin could say anything in reply, the Pelican 1 burst through the fog and landed just within the width of the embankment. The landing legs are almost overhanging the embankment. "This is ...... flight." Yeah, that''s the Pelican 1. Come on, get in." With that, Jin went up the ramp first, turned around, and held out his hand to Elsa. Fearful of seeing an airplane for the first time, Elsa was pulled up the ramp by Jin''s hand. "Oh ......" From Erza''s point of view, the inside of the plane was not much different from Jin''s carriage. This made her feel a little relieved. "Come on, sit down and put your belt on. Jin put Elsa in the window seat and helped her put on the seatbelt. "What''s this? "It''s a safety belt to keep you from being thrown out of the chair when the plane shakes. With these words, Jin also took a seat in front of Elsa and fastened his seat belt. Reiko, who had come along for the ride, was not even sitting in her seat. "Okay, let me out." "Okay." At the controls is Sky 1, the head of the Air Force Golem. With a whoosh and a suck of air, Pelican 1 is in motion. "Ah, ah, ah." Suddenly the Pelican 1 starts to move, and Elsa is confused by the G''s as it starts up. "It''s okay." Jin turned around and told Erza briefly. Erza calmed down at Jin''s words and had time to look out the window. "Wow, that''s amazing." After a short glide, Pelican 1 floated up. I felt that momentary sense of lift. Then the nose of the Pelican 1 lifts, and it gains altitude rapidly. It cuts through the river fog and immediately flies out into the clear space. "We''re flying. ......" Elsa''s body begins to tremble. For the first time in her life, she is flying, and in a vehicle she never thought possible. "So don''t worry. I''m right here with you." Jin loosens his seatbelt and pats Erza on the head. Elsa gave him a ticklish look, but her trembling seemed to subside. Pelican 1 climbs to about 3,000 meters and heads east. White clouds were below. Mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, cities, and villages are all visible. As Elsa became accustomed to flying, she was transfixed by the sight. "This is amazing. This is the world seen from the sky. She presses her forehead against the window and looks down. Pelican 1, flying at a little over 300 kilometers an hour, was over the ocean in about two hours. "Oh, is that the Elias Peninsula?And if so, is that Io?" Jin''s heart warms at the sight of Elsa, who is more excited than ever. If only she could forget the shock of being kidnapped, even if only temporarily. That''s what he thinks. Then, the ocean spread out as far as the eye could see, and a large island came into view. "That''s Horai Island," Jin explained. Jin explained. "That''s where my real home is, my base." "Hourai Island...... is Jin''s home." Erza stares intently. Pelican 1 is slowly descending. "Erza, it''s going to be a little bumpy when we land, so I need you to sit up properly." "Yes, sir." Erza obediently listened to Jin. The Pelican 1 landed on the runway in front of the institute. "Welcome to Horai Island." Jin, who landed first, said as he held out his hand to Erza who was coming down the ramp. "Thank you for your hospitality." Erza''s cheeks were a little red as she answered. "Welcome home, my lord. Welcome home, Miss Elsa. Laozi''s terminal greeted her. She was the perfect butler. "Who is it?" Lao-tzu introduced himself before Jin could answer Elsa''s question. "I''m sorry I''m late. My name is Lao Tzu and I am in charge of this Horai Island. Then he made a beautiful bow. He is more splendid than Jin, the source of his knowledge. "You must be tired, so please take a bath and have a meal first. He takes a bath as Lao Tzu recommends. As I had expected, there were already separate bathrooms for men and women. Lao-tzu is a master of his art. Jin was accompanied by Reiko, and Erza by Soleil and Luna. * * * * * * * * * * * "Phew!" Jin, who had been working all night, soaked his limbs in the warm hot spring and stretched them out. "Reiko, thank you." He says to Reiko, who is soaking in the hot spring with him. "No, I didn''t do much this time. "That''s not true. Reiko as a organizer, and Reiko who supports me. Without you it would have taken much more time. Yes, thank you. "I know Elsa has been through a lot, be nice to her." ...... Yes, I''ll try." * * * * ...... "Miss Elsa, how''s the hot water?" "Oh, it''s fine. Just right. "Miss Elsa, let me wash your back." "Hmm. Thank you." Soleil and Luna are entertaining Erza. The sky of Horai Island is clear and blue, free from the ambitions of the Unifilers and the aristocrats'' desire for success. 195 - - 08-16 I was called Big Brother. The two of them get out of the bath and eat at a time that is neither breakfast nor lunch. It was Lao Tzu who said, "I cooked this time. Lao Tzu said, "I cooked this time. She was a little nervous about cooking for Jin for the first time, and although it was a large portion, they were hungry and ate it all without any problem. "Thanks for the food." As their stomachs growled, their eye lids began to slacken. "Father, please get some rest." Reiko is worried about Jin''s health. "Yeah, sure. I''m going to take a nap. Elsa must be sleepy too. Yes. So I show Elsa to the house. It is springtime on Horai Island, which is located on the Tropic of Cancer, and during the daytime it is quite warm even in the pavilion, which is located at an altitude of about 1000 meters. Here you go. "What''s this? I''ve never seen anything like it. Elsa looks at the Japanese-style building with a tiled roof. "Well, let''s take a rest and relax. I''ll explain everything afterwards." I look forward to it. I put down the futon in the room facing south and called Elsa over, "Tatami mats here too. I''m glad." She said that and rolled over on the tatami mats. Then she rolled over onto the futon. She looked like a child. "Well, I''m going to sleep in my room for a while." I said and went to close the sliding door, "...... wait. ...... please, just stay with me for a little while." Elsa''s voice stopped me. "Okay." Jin went back to Elsa''s room and lay down on the tatami mats. "I''ll stay here with you, so take a good night''s sleep." "Okay. Thank you, Jin-kun. This time, Erza seemed to be able to sleep peacefully. "...... are you feeling lonely?" Jin thinks back to the past. When he was in the orphanage, a girl who had lost her parents had been taken in. She was a third grader who could not sleep unless someone was always by her side. Jin and the other older children took turns sleeping with her. Jin remembered those days fondly. "Father, it''s time for you to wake up. Jin fell asleep as he was doing so. Reiko''s voice woke Jin up. "Ah, I slept well. Jin gets up and stretches. Reiko looks a little grumpy. "Father, you must sleep properly under the covers or you won''t be able to get rid of your fatigue. And what if you catch a cold? I''m sorry. But I was worried about Elsa. I apologized and Reiko looked at me as if she didn''t have a choice. "It''s almost three o''clock. We should call Mr. Reinhardt or he will be worried. "Oh, yes, that''s right. I think I''d better tell Reinhard about this place. Reiko nodded in agreement, Reiko nodded and said, "Please do as your father wants. Jin quietly left the room. Jin quietly left the room and asked the same question to Lao-tzu through the terminal in the building. Yes, if you think it is good for the master (my lord), please do as you want. I will do my best to support you. Lao Tzu said the same thing and Jin finally decided to bring Reinhardt. At that time, he heard footsteps running down the corridor. When he looked up to see what was going on, he saw Erza running. "Elsa?" I said to Erza''s back as she passed by, and she stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned around. "Jin? "Erza, what''s wrong?" When she turned around, Erza''s eyes were filled with tears, as if they were about to spill. "Jin-kun!" Then Erza jumped on Jin. "I thought you left me!" She said and clung to Jin. Jin felt that Erza had regressed a little. (Probably because of the anxiety she felt when she was kidnapped, or because of the drastically changed environment.) Jin thought so while gently patting Erza''s back. "Well, what should we do now?" If he was right, time would solve the problem. Jin could not go out with any hesitation at this point. "Will it be all right if I ask Soleil and Luna to follow me?" Since this was the case when they were bathing, Jin called them and decided to leave Elsa in charge for a while. "Yes, I''ll leave it to you. Jin then tells Erza. "I''m going to call Reinhard for a while. Can you wait for me?" Erza nodded her head with a sad look on her face, "Yes. But please come back soon. ...... brother Jin." She said, "Brother Jin? "Brother Jin?" Erza called herself just like Reinhardt. "Nn. ...... I''ve already left the Randalls. So I''m all alone. If possible, I''d like to be treated as brother Jin''s sister. ...... no?" Oh, Jin understood. Erza was now alone in the world. That''s why she''s so anxious. "I understand. Erza will be my little sister from now on. Is that okay?" Brother Gin... Brother Jin. Good. I''ll go get Reinhardt, so just wait quietly. Leaving Erza behind when he finally calmed down, Jin jumped through the warp gate to the Tellurus carriage. Then he realized. There is a time difference between Tellurus and Horai Island. Therefore, it was still before noon. I should check on Meane first. Instead of staying at the inn, Jin headed for the healing center in Sari. It was sunny on Horai Island, but cloudy here. Jin walked through the town, feeling the damp spring breeze. He turned down an alley close to the embankment and found the healing center. "Hello." He opened the door and walked in. "Oh, it''s you. Wait here for a moment. Sally looked at Jin and started to examine the patients again. After waiting for about 15 minutes, Sally finished examining the patients, After waiting for about 15 minutes, she looked at the patient and said, "Did you say Meine, I noticed her..." "Really?I''m glad to hear that. "But she''s been giving me a hard time, trying to leave the hospital when she hasn''t regained her strength. You should warn her too." So Jin entered the hospital room with Sally. When she saw Jin''s face, Meane, who was lying down, raised her upper body, "Jin-sama!Erza, Erza! Jin stopped her with his hand, "Don''t worry, Meine. Erza is fine. I''ve already helped her out. She''s not hurt anywhere, she''s fine, don''t worry. When she said this, Meane''s entire body seemed to relax. "Oh, oh ...... so ...... you saved me?Thank you, Jin-sama." She lay down on the bed again. "Meene is Erza''s real mother, isn''t she?She''s hiding Erza in a place where she will never be found. I''m not going to tell the Randalls about that, except Reinhardt. So you can rest assured that you''re in good hands." When Jin said this, Meane''s eyes filled with tears, "Did you know that ...... I almost made ...... that girl unhappy?" That''s what she said. Jin said, "That''s good to know. Let''s think about what we are going to do. First of all, we need to get well. But I''m glad. I''m sure Elsa will be relieved now. Jin said, "Jin-sama, I have a favor to ask you. Please don''t tell Erza that I''m alive. "What?" "I finally realized it after all this. I''ll only make her unhappy. He''s better off without me. Meane looks as if her view of the world has changed since she almost died, as if she has become a different person. But Jin.., "You''re an idiot. Now Erza is all alone in the world. Meine is your only living relative. She''s your own mother.What are you going to do if you don''t protect her? She cheered her up. But she still said, "Is it so ......? Is it okay for me to be a mother? She says things like, "I don''t know if I''m allowed to be a mother. Jin chuckled inside his heart, thinking that his troublesome personality would never change. 196 - - 08-17 Confession of Shock Putting Meine''s case on hold, Jin went back to the inn where he was staying to meet Reinhardt. "Jin!" When Jin visited Reinhardt''s room, before Claude, the butler, could say anything, Reinhardt himself came running out. "What the hell happened?Why haven''t I heard from you until now?Was it something you couldn''t even tell me?" He grabbed Jin by the shoulders and stormed out. In a panic, he said.., "Calm down. I''m going to explain now. I''m going to explain. I don''t feel comfortable here, so let''s go to my carriage. He said, "Let''s go to my carriage. Reinhardt, as expected, said, "Well, you don''t want people to hear this. "Hmm, you don''t want people to hear, do you?Okay, let''s go!...... Claude, I''m going out for a minute. Don''t worry if I''m late! he told Claude in a loud voice, "Let''s go, Jin!" He patted Jin on the back. Jin went to his room and called Anne. "Yes, Goshujin-sama?" "You come with me." So Jin took Reinhardt and Anne and got into the carriage. "Come on, Jin, explain it to me! Reinhardt urged, "Wait a minute. Actually, Reinhard, there is a secret in this carriage that I haven''t even told you. If you do this ......" With these words, he opens a door behind the back seat, disguised as a luggage compartment. "This is where the warp gate is located." Reinhardt was astonished at this statement. "What!Does that mean we can go to ...... from here to Conlonteau? "Well, you''ll know where you''re going when you get there. Well, we''ll see where we end up. Jin said, "Of course I''m coming!I''m looking forward to it! He said and looked as if he wanted to crawl in. Jin laughed, "Well then, I''ll go in first, so hold Anne''s hand and follow me." This warp gate also requires Jin''s magic pattern to pass through. When Reinhardt confirmed that Jin had been transferred, he took Anne''s hand and jumped into the warp gate. Reinhard jumped into the warp gate with Ann''s hand. When Reinhardt went out of the warp gate on the receiving side, he found himself in a large room. At a quick glance, there are more than 50 warp gates in a row. They all appear to be in operation. "Jin, Jin, what is this place?It looks different from the basement we came from before. Reinhardt asked, looking at the appearance of the room, which looked nothing like the warp gate room at Kunlun Island. "Yes, that''s right. Reinhard, welcome to Horaijima. Horai Island? "Yeah. Well, I''ll explain slowly. Well, I''ll explain it to you slowly. Jin accompanied an excited Reinhard to the outside of the laboratory where the warp gate is located. It was already evening here. "What?It was still early afternoon in Tellurus where we were? "Yes, the time here is about three and a half hours off from Tellurus. "?" Reinhardt still didn''t seem to understand what was going on. Jin, however, invites Reinhardt into the house, saying that he will explain slowly later. "Oh, you''ll have to take off your shoes, won''t you?" Reinhardt, who had been accustomed to the Kunlun Island, took off his shoes and went up to the pavilion. "There is someone I want you to meet, Reinhardt." When Jin said this, Reinhardt nodded his head, I''m not sure what you mean by that....... Jin, you don''t mean?" Jin opened the sliding door to Erza''s room. "Erza, I''ve brought Reinhardt." * * * * "Elsa!You''re safe!You idiot! You worried me! "I''m sorry, Rai. I was so stupid." The two cousins take each other''s hands and rejoice in their reunion. After they had settled down, Jin ordered Soleil and Luna to prepare dinner. Lao Tzu had her maid golem do all the cooking, so all they had to do was carry the food. "Come on, let''s celebrate our reunion! Jin said and raised a glass of wine. It was a tatami room, a cushion on a table, and wine, but there was nothing else to drink, so there was nothing else to do. "Cheers! And so the three of them began to eat their dinner. While eating, Jin decided to give some explanations he had been thinking about in order to answer the questions of Reinhardt and Erza, who were itching to hear them. First of all, "Reinhard, I want you to listen to me as a friend away from your country. Reinhardt gave his deepest approval. Reinhardt gave his deepest approval. Finally, Jin made a confession. I was not born into this world. "What do you mean?" Jin knew he wouldn''t get it the first time. "I mean, I was born and raised in another world and came to this world ...... well, I transferred." "......" Both of us were pondering the meaning of this, but eventually Reinhardt spoke up. "Oh, so that''s why you have that extraordinary knowledge." "Yes. There was no magic in my former world. Instead, science was developed to support people''s lives. So how did it come to be here? It''s a natural question. "I almost died in the other world and Reiko summoned me when I was in danger. Well, she wasn''t the Reiko of today at that time. Summoned? You almost died? The point of surprise is different, but I guess it was a shocking story. "Summoned from ...... and from another world?I would have laughed it off if it hadn''t come from Jin''s mouth. "I can''t believe my brother Jin almost died." Jin laughed and continued. "Well, I guess you''re right. I heard that the automata that Reiko ...... is based on took 1000 years to find me. "A thousand years?Wait a minute...1000 years? Reinhardt is almost lost in thought at the thought of 1000 years. "Oh. The name of the creator of this automata is Adriana Barbora Zetsi. My predecessor." "What? Reinhardt''s surprise reached its peak. "Then, did you ever meet Adriana Barbora Tsezi?" At Erza''s words, Jin shook his head. "No, I only know her from records. After I was summoned, I inherited the magical knowledge that was left behind by the magic of my predecessor." "............" A moment of silence passes. This time it was Erza who spoke first. "Now I know why my brother Jin is unusual. Are we the first to talk about it?" Jin nodded. "Yeah, it''s not like I''m going to go around telling everyone about this. I didn''t want to attract the attention of any crazy person. I said, "...... that''s impossible." Elsa said to me. "Even now, the Unifilers are watching me. Jin was conspicuous in both the kingdom of Elias and Egelea." I know. Jin knows that. "If he had stayed on this island, that wouldn''t have happened, but I guess it''s nice to be alone. It is lonely to be surrounded only by golems. When Jin said this, Erza nodded her head in assurance, "That''s good. Jin brother also has a proper s*xual habit. She said something like this. She was worried that he still had a proclivity for dolls. "By the way, Erza, what is this ?" Reinhardt, who had been silent for a long time, opened his mouth. "I have already abandoned Randall''s house. Brother Jin made me his sister. That''s why he made me his sister. Hearing this, Reinhard folded his arms, "Well, I see. So there was the Erza thing. ......." He muttered and looked a little thoughtful. Then he looked Erza squarely in the face again, "You''re not going back, are you? with a serious look on her face. 197 - - 08-18 From now on When Reinhardt asked Erza if she was planning to return, Erza replied, "Yes. I''m sorry." She bowed her head. Reinhardt looked sad, really sad, "Well, if you''ve thought about it and made up your mind, that''s fine. I mean, it''s strange for me to say that it''s good or bad. Then he turned to Jin, "Jin, I know I''m such a poor cousin, but please take good care of me. Jin bowed his head. I knew that Jin would have to take care of her for the time being, so I nodded my head in agreement. "I''m a bit of a fool," he said. Even Erza said that to him. I don''t think she knows what she''s saying, but it seems to me that < means something else. "...... But I can''t believe Jin really wasn''t born in this world. It was a line that Reinhardt had casually uttered once in the hot springs of Kunlun Island. "Yeah, well, you know. "No wonder you''re not familiar with the common sense of the world." "But that makes sense." Reinhardt and Erza each seemed to be convinced of the unreasonableness of Jin''s existence. In such an atmosphere, Jin said "Now it''s just a matter of what we''re going to do. Jin said another purpose of inviting Reinhardt. "From now on?" "Yes. I''ve given the Unifilers an ultimatum. That probably won''t stop them." Jin folded his arms and said this with a difficult look on his face. "They claim to be , but in reality, I think they just want power. I don''t like the way they are doing it. But I can make tactics, but I can''t think of strategy. When Jin said this, Reinhardt nodded his head in agreement, I see what you mean. You want someone who can see the big picture. "Well, yes. Well, to be more precise, I want the knowledge of such people. < When Jin said this, Reinhardt smiled wryly, "Well, I guess Jin has a way of doing that," he said. Reinhardt laughed and said, "Yes, Jin has a way of doing that, doesn''t he? "No, I heard it was a common technique in the past.Well, there are some drawbacks: if the person resists too strongly, the transcription fails, and while it can be done on golems and automata, it can''t be done on humans. Besides, it can''t be used if the person isn''t suitable for it." "Hmm?When Jin inherited the knowledge from Adriana''s ...... predecessor, wasn''t he able to do that?" "Yes, that''s it. It''s impossible because you have to have the same magic pattern as the person in question to be able to synchronize with them. That''s why it took Reiko a thousand years to find me. Hearing this, Reinhardt is disappointed. "...... I see. I''m sorry to hear that." "Can''t my brother Rai remember the transinfo?" Then Elsa says something that comes to her mind. "Sure, it would be nice if Reinhardt could use transinfo, but I hear it requires a lot of aptitude. Still, he said he would give it a try anyway, so I asked Reiko to help him and we decided to see if he could transfer from magi crystal to magi crystal. Jin and Reinhardt are similar to each other in that they start doing this in the middle of a conversation. "Look, the formula is like this, and the key word is like this. "Hmmm. I guess it''s not so easy after all." "Well, we''re just looking for aptitude, so you don''t have to succeed the first time." "Okay. Okay, let''s give it a try. " For a moment, the Magi Crystal seemed to glow faintly. Reiko had been tracing the flow of magic with her tracer all along, "I''m sorry to say, but your aptitude seems to be low. But with training, you will be able to use it up to level 2. He concluded. "Level 2? How high is that?" "Yes, ......." Level 1 for language knowledge, 2 for behavior and movement patterns, 3 to 5 for general knowledge, 3 to 7 for specialized knowledge, and 6 to 8 for subconscious. Reiko explained that the level of subconscious is about 6 to 8. There is an overlap of levels due to the complexity of knowledge. "So level 2 means words and behavior/action patterns. ......" Reinhardt is disappointed. But, "But it still means we can make a much more advanced golem!" He recovers quickly. "Brother Rai is a crafting fool after all." Elsa mutters in a whisper next to him. "......Would you like to give it a try, too?" Jin casually asked Erza. "Yes, let me try. So I''ll let Elsa do the same thing. "<>...... How''s it going?" "I think I''ll be able to use it up to about level 3." "What!I envy you, Erza! Reinhardt shouted loudly. Erza saw this and gave a small laugh. I''m so jealous of you, Erza! Anyway, is there anyone close to you who can plan a strategy, even if it doesn''t have to be very sophisticated? "Of course there is someone." Reinhardt looks confused. "......, sir?" "What?" Erza said someone''s name. I didn''t catch it, so I asked her again. "...... Brother Moritz." "Moritz?" "He''s the brother above Elsa." "Elsa''s brother?" "Yes. Moritz may be weak in body, but he is said to be the most resourceful man in the world. The younger brother Fritz is the brains and the older brother is the frail intellect. Apparently, there are two extremes in the family. Well, it would be better if the brothers cooperate with each other, but Georg Randall von Amber, the father of Erza and her siblings, is not on good terms with Wolfgang Randall von Morgan, the father of Reinhardt. The brothers are not necessarily close. "You don''t have to be that good, though." Lao Tzu''s computing power is probably tens of thousands of times greater than a human''s, and given a basic knowledge, he could simulate it himself and become proficient in no time. "No." Jin then had a thought. "Why don''t we make a military strategist and a general staff?" "Jin?" Reinhardt looked at Jin thoughtfully. Jin panicked, "Oh, I''m sorry. I was just thinking about it. He apologizes. Then he says "Well, it''s not like it''s going to happen anytime soon. I wonder if I can get a full-body armor. "Full body armor?" "Yes." Jin explains. Anne''s knowledge of the "reinforced armor" was also included. "Reinforced armor!I''m interested in that too. It may be difficult to procure it in the Kingdom of Selroa, but I''ll see what I can do. Reinhardt was also interested and agreed to think of a way to obtain it. "Finally, what about me?" When Jin said this, Reinhardt looked sad. "I see. So this is the end of your trip with Jin. "Huh?" Huh?Isn''t that what you were talking about? Jin denies it. No, no. No, no, no. I''m interested in traveling, too. There are still many things in this world that I don''t know about, and I''m interested in the Shoro Kingdom. "Really?" Jin smiled and nodded. "Really? I would never lie about something like this. I just thought I''d stay here for a few days to get my equipment ready. I explain. "Tomorrow, right?The day we cross the Torres?" Reinhardt nods. "That''s right. Aside from the people, there are no boats available to take the wagons. If we miss tomorrow, we''ll have to wait for another day. Jin pondered. "Can we join them later?" Reinhardt asked, "It would be difficult, but yes. After crossing the river, there will be a barrier and the personnel who enter the special security zone of the royal capital will be checked. They are checked on their way out, and if there are more or less people, there will be trouble. So we just have to stay here while we pass through the special security zone? "Well, yes. About five to ten days. Jin thinks again. 5 days is enough time to prepare a lot of equipment. The problem is the wagon. Without Jin and Reiko, there would be no one who could move it properly. "Father, why don''t you set up a warp gate around the ruins of that fortress? Reiko suggested. "Well, ...... the Kingdom of Celuloa smells fishy. We should build a forward base." "What?" Jin explained again to Reinhardt, who did not understand. 198 - - 08-19 One great circle "Now, last but not least, I have a question for Elsa." What? "It''s about Meine." When Jin said this, Erza leaned forward with great energy, "Meine!Are you feeling better already? she asked hurriedly. Jin was surprised at her vigor, "Yes. She''s already regained consciousness. Elsa sat down and said, "I''m glad to hear that, "I''m glad. ...... She said a few words. "Erza, it could be said that Meine has put you in harm''s way. Are you still worried about her?" Reinhardt said. It''s not my imagination that I sense a little anger in him. "Yes. But Meine took it upon herself to protect me when I was in danger. I''m still worried." Erza answered, and Reinhard let out a sigh, "I knew it. I guess it''s in the blood. He muttered in resignation. Erza overheard him and said, "What do you mean by that, brother Rai? Reinhardt''s face turned serious. Reinhardt''s face turned serious, "I think Meine is your real mother. He told her so. Erza kicks off the cushion and stands up. "Brother Rai!Is that true? "Yes. That''s what he said too. Hitoshi answered this time. Again Elsa tried to sit down, but the cushion had bounced off the floor, so she just sat down on the floor and ...... flipped over backwards. "Ah!" "Are you okay?" Jin and Reinhardt ran up to him in concern. Erza and Reinhardt were not good at sitting on the floor, so they had put five cushions on top of each other, so the difference between the two was huge. "......Your butt hurts ...... but it''s okay." Erza stood up, rubbing her buttocks, pulled the cushions together and sat down on them. Tears welled up in her eyes, either from the pain of the buttocks, or from the joy of knowing her own mother. "I want to see Meene." Erza looked at Jin and said. Hitoshi thought about it. Then he came to a conclusion. "Okay. Erza, you and Meine can live in Kunlun Island. It''s safe there and you can come and go easily by the warp gate. Reiko agrees. "Yes, there are many problems on this island, but Kunlun Island was originally a dummy of Horai Island. I think it''s a good idea. "The environment is good there. I''ll be relieved if you do it that way. I can''t afford to hire Meine back now. Reinhardt agreed, and we decided to bring him to Kunlun Island later. "Well then, I''m going back to Terlus. "Okay, take care of the rest. I''ll take the wagons and you can tell them that I''m leaving on my way. Of course. I don''t want to go into the special precautionary zone of the Kingdom of Selroa, so I''ll tell them we''ll take a detour and meet up with them or something. With that, Jin handed Reinhardt the manacam. Recently, they had succeeded in adjusting and tuning the magic frequency and were able to talk on about 1,000 channels without interference. It is not a large number of channels compared to the radio waves, but it is significant to be able to cover all the members of Horai Island. "Now I can contact Lao Tzu in Penglai Island. Lao Tzu can pass the message to me, and if I am not available, you can leave a message with Lao Tzu." "Yes, that''s good. I''ll be in touch regularly. Maybe at night." Reinhard, it will be easier for us to meet up if we are in close contact. I''m going to pick up Meine and we''ll go to Tellurus together. "Jin, take care of Meine." So Jin, Reinhardt, and Reiko jumped to Tellurus with Erza seeing them off. I''m going to go to Meene''s. "It would be better if I didn''t see Meene. Tell her I said hello. "Okay." Reinhardt returned to the inn and Jin went to the healing center of Sally Mireshan. "Hello." There was no patient at the clinic this time. "Oh, it''s you. The patient is much better. Your healing potion is very good. Sally greeted Jin with these words. "I see. So it''s okay if I discharge him?" "Yeah?Well, I think he''ll be fine. But don''t push yourself too hard, okay? "Yes, it''s all right. I''m going to let them recover at the place where they will be received. When Jin said this, Sally seemed relieved. "I see. That''s a relief. If she stays quiet for two more days, she will recover. He said. Jin went to the hospital room. "Oh, Jin-sama." She tried to sit up, but Jin stopped her, "Meine, are you almost ready?" Jin stopped her as she tried to sit up. Meine smiled, "Yes, the pain is gone now, thanks to you. I still have a little bit of weakness, but I''m fine now," she said. But Hitoshi said, "I''m fine now. But Hitoshi says But Hitoshi says, "No, the most important thing is when you are just starting to heal. This time, I''m going to ask you to move to a different bed. "Not here, but where?......?" Meine''s face lit up in anticipation. "Oh, you know what I''m talking about, don''t you?Where Elsa is." "Oh, Elsa!I''ve been to ......, but will Erza forgive me?" Meane looks down anxiously. She looks so different that I wonder if this is the same Meine. Maybe this is what it means to be free of possessions, Jin thought. It''s all right. And Erza knows that Meene is her real mother. When Jin said this, Meane rolled her eyes. "Come on, you can tell me who your mother and daughter are. So let''s go. "Yes, yes." So Meane was discharged from the hospital. She was still unsteady on her feet, so she called Elm and Ash of the Secret Service (SP) to carry her out. "Thank you for your help, doctor." Jin bowed to Sally as he left. "No problem, you''ve helped us a lot too. I''ll study the recovery medicine. I''ll try it with my own blood first. Good luck. They go to the place where the carriage is located, check that there is no one around, and get in. Jin supported them only when they passed through the warp gate of the carriage, and Meane and Jin once jumped to Horai Island. Elm and Ash guard the carriage. Reiko stays behind for a while with the SP, and they are to take the carriage to the remains of the Unified Party''s fortress, where they are to prepare to build a forward base before returning. "Come on, let''s make this quick for your father''s sake. Reiko tied the golem horses she had brought to the carriage and immediately sat down on the dais and started the carriage at a high speed. The covert task force (SP) follows her, out of sight. "Oh, hey, what the hell is that?" "Is that a horse-drawn carriage ......?It''s too fast for that." Some of the witnesses were surprised and wondered, but nothing more, and Reiko turned the carriage around to the site of the fort in two hours. * * * * Jin returns to Horai Island with Meene. Meine was surprised to see the warp gate for the first time. They went out of the institute and went to the pavilion. It was already dark outside. And then, she saw a figure in front of the pavilion. It was Erza, of course. When Meine noticed this, she shivered and stood there, seemingly unable to speak. Erza also stood there staring at Meene. Jin quietly left the place. "Kaa......-sama!" Erza was the first to move. She took one step and then another, slowly approaching Meene. Meine, on the other hand, was a little dismayed and almost backed away. "Mother! Finally, Erza ran out of the room. She jumps on Meine and hugs her. At first, Meine''s arms wandered in the air as if she didn''t know what to do, but soon her arms were wrapped around Erza in a tight embrace. "Elsa!" "Mother ......!" They both cried. "I never ...... knew I had a real mother so close to me. I wasn''t alone." "I''m sorry, I''m a bad mother ...... and I don''t expect you to forgive me." "No, no, no,...... it''s okay." They remained there until it was dark, and finally Jin, worried about Meane''s illness, called out to her and they finally separated. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After this, the two go through the warp gate once more to the Kunlun Island pavilion. Here they are taken care of by the five-colored maid golems Ames, Aqua, Topaz, Perid, and Ruby, each numbering 100. Erza had been here before, but Meene looked a little, or maybe a lot, more drawn. "Well, if you need anything, call me on the manacam. Take care of your mother. Thank you for everything. Jin-sama, thank you for everything. Meane, get yourself well soon. Jin then decided to return to Horai Island. "Mother, huh? Erza, I''m so happy for you." He thinks to himself. On the way to the warp gate, he looks up at the sky and sees a star-filled sky. Then, Jin returned to Horai Island and finally started to move in earnest. 199 - - 08-20 Column 5 In order to build up the army, Jin consulted with Lao Tzu. First of all, he had to organize the information of the Unified Party (Unifiler). Lao Tzu would analyze the magi crystals which were copied from the knowledge of Purcell, the leader of the Unifiler. The key is to strengthen Horai Island. "There are many things to do, but where should we start? "Well, information, transport or movement, and strength. I think these three are necessary. I think it would be better to list the means of reinforcement for each of them and prioritize them. Following Lao Tzu''s advice, Jin thought about it. The proposal he came up with was as follows, 1. To strengthen the information, secret agents should be sent to various areas. 2. Develop a new means of transportation. 3. Develop new weapons. The three are as follows. "I think that the secret spy should be in the direction of reinforcing the current ninja force. Yes, I think so. In my opinion, assuming that they do not protect the master (my lord), they should be automata instead of golems, and should be disguised so that they can blend in among the people. "Hmm, that sounds good. Hmmm, that''s a good idea. Let''s make about 100 of them and call them "Quinta". "The fifth column is the spies, right? That''s a good name. Lao Tzu agreed, and it was first decided to create an intelligence unit, the <>. There were 40 male adults and 30 female adults, which were the easiest to operate. For disguise, 10 boy types, 10 girl types, and 10 smaller Reiko types, for a total of 10 The basic number is 10. The basic structure is the same as that of the Houraishima Covert Mobile Unit (SP), but they are covered with a magical skin and have hair, making them more human-like. Jin made the basic parts of the SP, and Lao Tzu took care of the rest. The next step was the means of transportation. "I want to build a VTOL or helicopter as a means of transportation. "You mean a means of transportation that can take off and land anywhere. That sounds good. The last weapon was not rushed because it is linked to information and means of transportation. And just as they were about to start the development of the fifth column (quinta), Reiko returned. "Father, we have finished setting up the base at the fort site. "Ah, thank you, Reiko." Then Reiko started to report. "First of all, we decided to leave the remains of the fort intact. The reason is that it would give people the impression that the fort was abandoned. "The base was set up at a depth of 50 meters by digging a hole in the center of the fort. The manacam and warp gate have already been installed. Reiko continues her report. "As living facilities, we have installed a bedroom, kitchen, and toilet. We have also installed a bath, albeit a small one." It seems that she knew that Jin likes to take a bath and took care of it. The pantry is not yet stocked, but we have already stored enough water for 10 people to live for a week. "You did a good job. We will set up bases in various locations from now on, using the one that Reiko has created as a standard. In addition to the three items mentioned earlier, the item of establishing bases has been added. It seems that a military chief of staff is urgently needed. Even Lao Tzu is based on the knowledge of Jin. What are you doing?"What are you doing? Then Ann came in. For now, Anne has no specific role to play, and she has been free since she came to Horai Island. She had been asking Soleil and Luna about various things. "Ah, Anne..." Jin briefly explained the circumstances. Then he said, "I think I can give you some advice. He said, "I can give you some advice. "I see, Anne worked as a sort of secretary at the fort, didn''t she? "Yes. Unfortunately, even if you fix it, some of the memories have been lost, but I will help you as much as I can, so please don''t dispose of it. "Destroy it?Why are you talking about that? Anne told Jin who was wondering why she was talking about such a thing. "In that fortress, I became old-fashioned and my combat ability was low, and the soldiers got tired of my body. So they didn''t repair my malfunctions and left me to rot." "What ......?" That''s a terrible story, Jin said angrily. "As long as you stay with me, I''ll never do that to you. So forget about that sad thing. Support me at ......." "Yes, thank you, Goshujin. I will do my best." "Anne, let''s work together." Reiko also encourages Anne. Somehow, Jin has never seen Reiko jealous of Ann. It might be because they are the same "blood family" whose design basis is the same as the previous generation. "Okay, let''s start over. We have a lot of work to do, but we have to get it all out there and put it in order. Jin looked around the fixed terminals of Reiko, Ann, and Lao Tzu. "It''s mainly military equipment for the Unification Party (Unifiler), isn''t it?" Ann asked for confirmation. "Yes. But I also want to refrain from killing if possible." Jin answers, and Anne responds to his answer. Then, the first priority is to gather information on the Unification Party (Unifiler). Gaining information about our opponents will be our best weapon. Jin agreed. "Yes, I see. To do so, the fifth column (quinta) will be formed and dispatched to various locations. "I see. Then the next step is to survey the ruins. Anne suggested. Ruins? "Yes. Like the ruins I was in, there must still be facilities from those days in various places. It is also important not to give any part of our super knowledge of the past to the Unification Party (Unifiler). "I see. So there is a possibility that there are weapons like Gig Earth? Yes. The Gigarth is a mass production prototype, and I remember that 10 units were produced. Three of them were destroyed in the war. Of the remaining seven, one was recently destroyed, so it is very likely that six remain. Surprisingly, the meeting with Ann proved to be fruitful. Lao Tzu has the same knowledge, but Ann''s thought process is not designed by Jin, so she points out things that Jin seems to have overlooked. The first priority is to create a fifth column (Quinta) and dispatch it to various locations to gather information on the Unified Party (Unifilers) and the ruins. After that, the Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft (VTOL) will be sent. The policy for the future will be decided according to the information that is expected to be brought to us during the development of the VTOL. Specifically, once the VTOL prototype is completed, Lao Tzu will be in charge of its mass production and deployment. Jin completed the fifth row (Quinta). It is thought that the VTOL and the quinta can be completed at about the same time. Then, using the completed VTOL, the fifth column (quinta) will be dispatched to various places. This may be the reverse of the order of what I said at first, but Ann assured me that this would be the most efficient way. Jin began to think of a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. "One of the major drawbacks of VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) is its low fuel consumption. To be more precise, the jet engine cannot suck in air when it is stationary, which means that fuel consumption is poor during vertical takeoff and landing and when the aircraft is stopped in mid-air." Jin recalls a magazine article he read long ago. But this does not apply to the magical jet propulsion engine (Magijet engine). "I think there was something about helicopters being bad if the speed of the rotors exceeds the speed of sound. This is also vague, since it is from a magazine article. "I guess I''ll go for a VTOL type aircraft. Once you make that decision, the rest is easy. Considering the speed, stability, allowable load, etc., the number of magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) and the method of installation are considered. This is mainly a discussion with Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu''s simulation ability is useful. As a result, two large magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) are installed at both ends of the main wings, and they are directed downward for takeoff and landing. In addition, two smaller magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) are used for propulsion. In addition, four small magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) are installed for directional adjustment, pointing in different directions. This allows the craft to float and stand still like a hovercraft, and to move in all directions at a very low speed. When flying, speed can be obtained by rotating the magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) on the wingtips in the direction of travel. At low speeds or when carrying heavy loads, the jet propulsion engine can also generate lift by jetting downward. By placing the engine for levitation at the center of gravity, we intend to minimize changes in attitude. "Okay, let''s make a small prototype. Jin becomes more animated as he begins to build the prototype. Lao Tzu arranges the materials, Reiko transports them, and Jin processes them. The process is the same as before, but from this time on, Anne checks the details, which makes it more reliable. After some trial and error, the first prototype of the VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft was completed by midday. "Okay, let''s do a test flight. At the airfield in front of the institute. Again, the test pilot was Reiko. Reiko, I''m counting on you. "Yes, Father." After a brief exchange of words, Reiko climbs into the prototype VTOL and starts the engine. The sound of the Magijet engine, a magical jet propulsion engine, was heard. The prototype left the ground. It floated! Jin watches the movement with bated breath. It seemed to be a little unstable, but Reiko compensated for this by using her reflection speed dozens of times faster than that of a human being, and the prototype was able to stand still at two meters above the ground as planned. "Yes!Reiko, next is to move forward and change direction at a slight speed! Jin instructs Reiko through the manacam. In response, Reiko further manipulates the prototype. After about 10 meters, Reiko backs up the prototype. After about 10 meters, Reiko backs up the prototype. "Yes, yes, that''s good, that''s good." The prototype returned to its original position and made a 180-degree turn at that spot. She moved it further sideways and slowly in a circular motion, carefully checking its maneuverability and behavior at a very low speed. "Okay, Reiko, now let''s see how it flies. Try flying normally first." Satisfied with the results for the time being, Jin ordered the next step, testing it as an airplane. Reiko waved her right hand lightly to signal that she understood, and the plane began to climb vertically. At an altitude of about 50 meters, the magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine) was activated. The prototype flies forward as if propelled by a bullet. The speed is quite fast. Reiko continued to gain altitude, and at about 500 meters, she gradually rotated the engines at both ends of the main wings in the direction of flight. This was difficult. The upward force decreases and the thrust increases. The maneuverability changes slightly. Without Reiko''s reflex speed, it might have been impossible. However, Reiko managed the prototype without a hitch, accumulating data in the auxiliary magi-crystal. The Magi Crystal, which was comparable to a support computer, would later make it much easier to operate the VTOL. "Success!" A new wing was born in Horai Island on this day, though it may need some minor modifications. * * * * * * * * * * * At night, we received a call from Reinhardt. He said that he had crossed the Torres River without incident, and that there was nothing unusual in particular. 200 - - 08-21 Just a little bit, potlock. The next day, Jin started to build the fifth column (Quinta), leaving the mass production and deployment of the VTOL to Lao Tzu. The basic structure is the same as that of the Covert Air Mobility Unit (SP). The skeleton is made of hollow light silver, muscles of magical fiber, and outer skin of magical skin. It has about 30% of the functions of the initial Reiko, but is usually kept to the level of a quick human being. The process is fast because it is a process that has been done many times and there are two assistants, Reiko and Anne. Reiko and her team made the basic parts such as the skeleton, while Jin made the control core and other magical devices (magi devices). Countermeasures against slave rewriting magic are the same as those of the covert task force (SP), but since they are secret detectives, a magic recording stone (MagiRecorder) was added purely for recording purposes. In addition, we have added a function that allows the user to play with their appearance. Specifically, hair length, eye color, height, and body shape. The length of hair can be changed by inserting and removing hair from the pores, just like a certain famous person. The eyes are designed to be replaceable like contact lenses. The replacement parts are stored inside the body. The height can be changed about 10 cm by adjusting the play at the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, groin, knee, and ankle joints. The body shape can be made to look fat by letting water in between the two layers of magical skin. Hair color can be easily dyed. Dye is also an equipment. The attack power is a stun gun and lightning magic. In addition, his body art is enough to fight against people. Security measures to erase memories and information are installed just in case. The base of action is the same as that of the covert task force (SP). In order to blend in with other people, we asked Meene to cooperate with us and strengthened our common sense. Well, it is doubtful that Meene knows common sense, but she is better than Jin and the others. In that case. It is an aside that Meene was also a little surprised at the knowledge transfer (trans-info). With the support of Lao Tzu and Reiko, and with the duplication process, the fifth row (quinta) of 100 was completed in the morning. As originally planned, in order of size, there were 40 adult male figures and 30 adult female figures. For disguise, there were 10 boys, 10 girls, and 10 Reiko dolls. "Okay, let''s name them ......." Jin named the adult male type <, the adult female type <>, the boy type <>, the girl type <>, and the Reiko type <>. Each is numbered from 1. "Master (My Lord), Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft No. 1 is completed. Lao Tzu had just completed his VTOL. When Jin went outside, he found a VTOL painted in matte black. It was completely stealth-equipped. It was quite large. According to Lao Tzu, it was intended to be used for transportation. "Oh, that''s nice!" Jin said happily, and Lao Tzu asked him to give it a name. "A name. A name ...... hmmm, I would have liked to be named Cloud Sparrow ......." Jin''s image of Skylark was "skylark" because of its ability to fly vertically. "It''s a bird of prey that can stop in mid-air. ...... Okay, Falcon!" It is a falcon. Falcons don''t often stop in mid-air to look for prey, but that''s Jin. "Okay, I''ll name it Falcon 1. We''ll roll out 10 more below. "Okay, you got it." Jin was about to start work on the next one when Lao Tzu said, "Master. "My Lord, Erza is calling for you in Kunlun Island." "Elsa?Is something wrong? No, she wants to have lunch with you. I remembered that she said that to me about two hours ago when I went to the Kunlun Island to ask Meene to help me copy the common people. As usual, when it comes to making things, Jin is the only one who can''t think of anything else. * * * * * * "Brother Jin, welcome! "Hi, Erza, Meine. I invited you to join us for lunch. This is the same Meine. I''d believe her if she told me she was being controlled by hypnosis. "No, I''m glad you told me that your father would have skipped meals if I had left him alone. Reiko, who has been following me, reveals this to me. "I knew it! Brother Jin is a crafty idiot too! Erza said with a giggle. "I see. Well, thank you very much. Please enjoy your meal. Meine made freshly baked bread, plain omelette, light vegetable soup, grilled fish, and fruit salad. It was just right for lunch. Thank you very much. When he finished eating, he was offered a glass of Citran juice. "Meane, can we move now?" Jin asked, and Meine answered in the affirmative. "Yes, I''m almost better now, and I think I''ll feel better if I keep moving. "That''s good." Jin stares at the number 100 maids in the distance. "Those golem maids have been very good to me. But please let me take care of your ...... daughter Elsa. Jin told her not to take it too hard and warned the golem maids to be careful. "Um, so I have a favor to ask you..." Meane, who had finished cleaning up, opened her mouth. "Hmm?What is it?" "Well, I was wondering if I could go and get a change of clothes or something for Elsa and ...... me. I came here with nothing but my clothes on, so I don''t have a single change of clothes. Even if Jin were to make them, he would be afraid to wear underwear, and Meine cannot handle the threads of a ground spider. "Well, I think we can go to a place that is not dangerous ...... ah, Potlock." The port town of Potlock. It''s where Jin met Erza and Reinhardt. It''s the town where Jin met Elsa and Reinhardt and where he competed in the Golem Boat Race. I don''t think the Unifilers have gotten that far. "Potlock. I miss it." Elsa seemed to think so too and mentioned the name of the town. "Yes, I have been there before and I remember that the selection of goods was not so bad. So Jin took Meene to Potrock, "Brother Jin, I want to go with you. Erza said, "Brother Jin, I want to go with you. "Well, it''s at the southern tip of the Elias Kingdom, so there''s no danger, right? Jin thinks about it and gives his permission. Well, I''m going to deploy the fifth column (quinta), which has just been completed, as an escort. Then Jin realizes something. Let''s ask for clothes for automata. So he asks Meane, "That''s just right. I''d like to order a set of clothes for my automata. Meene readily agrees. Meine readily agreed. "Yes, of course. First, she and Jin move from Kunlun Island to Horai Island. The security system is still in place, which means that the transfer cannot take place without Jin''s magic pattern. Jin called Deneb 30, a female adult. "Yes, Chief. She is dressed in the same maid''s uniform as the golem maid. I don''t know what they will say if I show her naked in front of Erza and the others. I want you to escort Erza and Meane to Potlock. "Yes, sir." There is a reason why they can''t come and go without Jin''s magic pattern. So Jin gives them 10 gold coins. That''s the equivalent of one million yen. "Elsa, Meane, I''ll deposit the money in this Deneb 30." We know that Meane and her friends have very little money. "Excuse me, Mr. Jin. Thank you very much." Meane, sensing Jin''s concern, bowed her head. For the first time in his life, Jin was deeply moved by the thought that this was the same Meane. "As you may have guessed, this Kunlun Island, Horai Island, and the Warp Gate are absolutely secret. "Yes, I will never tell anyone." Although Jin has instructed Deneb 30 to be careful about such matters, it is still reassuring to confirm it directly and verbally. * * * * * * From Horai Island, we fly to Potrock in an instant. We exit the cave at the sea erosion cave on the coast. Deneb30 has transcribed the basic knowledge and led them to the town without hesitation. "It''s been a long time." "It really does." Elsa left Potlock by carriage on February 16th. About a month and a half ago. "You must have amazing magic skills, Gin-sama, since you arrived so quickly. Meine was again impressed. Erza agreed. "Yes." After staying here for a month or so, Meine had some familiarity with the area and was able to get to the clothing store without hesitation. In this world, the aristocrats wear high quality custom-made clothes, and the common people wear ready-made clothes or second-hand clothes. This time, we went to a ready-to-wear store. This is the store where Meane and the other servants work. At the store, I bought three dark blue one-piece dresses and apron dresses for myself and 10 pairs of underwear. For Erza, I bought a dress, a blouse, a skirt, etc., and 10 pairs of underwear. The reason for the large number of underwear is that I knew that I would not be able to come here often to buy underwear. For the automata, he bought underwear, dresses, blouses, and skirts. "Now we just need to buy the fabrics and go home. Meane, who could make her own fabrics, bought more linen fabrics. Deneb is carrying everything for us. The long spring day is almost over by the time we return from our shopping spree. On the way back, Elsa glanced at the harbor and saw several familiar catamaran boats. Good luck, Marcia!) Elsa does not say it out loud, but she gives a hearty cheer to her old acquaintance as she heads back home. 201 - - 08-22 Railgun The third day in full swing. "Now, what to do after the fifth row? Jin personally wants to get started on the powered suit as soon as possible. But Anne said, "This Horai Island can be considered a maritime nation. If it is to be a frontline base, we should build an aircraft carrier. It is an aircraft carrier, or in other words, an aircraft carrier, which he seems to have brought with him from Jin''s knowledge. "It would take too much time to launch air power from Horai Island. We need an aircraft carrier with a large transfer gate (warp gate) that can send airplanes. "I see..." Anne has a point every time. "Okay, let''s build it." Jin and Lao Tzu start working on the concept. The size of the ship would be 200 meters. It is equipped with a warp gate so that it does not need to carry more aircraft than necessary. It is powered by the Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system. Instead of one large engine, six smaller ones are used. It is possible to change course simply by adjusting the power output of the engines. The deck has two layers. The lower deck is for all types of airplanes that need to glide, and the upper deck is for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) planes. It is equipped with three warp gates that are large enough to accommodate all types of current aircraft. Armed with a laser cannon. Six main guns and six secondary guns. There are 100 guns of each point-firing type. All of them have individual control cores. It is like a computer control system. It has 10 water jet cannons as auxiliary guns. It is not developed yet, although live ammunition is also desired. The crew consists of Marin and other Navy golems. Similarly, the Air Force (Air Force) and Army (Army) will be increased. The Air Force (Air Force) will naturally be assigned to VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft, while the Army (Army) Golem will be assigned to forward bases and the Corps of Engineers. The Adamantite structure is lined with five layers of steel, and the surface is coated with mithril. Discharge capacity of about 20,000 tons. Crew of 30. Its cruising range is theoretically unlimited, but limited to areas with free magic element (ether). The cruising distance with onboard magic is about 10,000 kilometers. An improved speedboat is planned to be built and installed. Three ships named "Hotaka," "Myoko," and "Asama" will be built according to the above specifications. As expected, it is not something that can be done in a day or two, so the ship will be built slowly under the leadership of Lao Tzu. Jin was in charge of checking the important points and making new equipment. The next thing Jin did was "First of all, please make a gun that can fire live ammunition. Anne said to Jin. She was quite a manager. "Well, I''d like to make a gun that can destroy Gigarth with kinetic energy alone. The robot no longer had a shred of self-reliance. It''s almost refreshing. "The recoil would be horrendous. ...... If it is to be mounted on an aircraft carrier, there should be no problem. So, Jin started to make a slingshot in principle. It shoots bullets with the power of magical muscles made from the leather of sea dragons. It is a development of the catapult. The problem of the projectile falling out when it is pointed downwards is solved by having a bullet-holding function at the tip of the magical muscle. Normally, it is held in place and released at the moment of firing. The rails of the gun barrel are divided into upper and lower sections, and the Magical Muscle moves between the rails to fire the bullet. "Okay, the prototype is complete." It was just before noon when the one-meter-long prototype was completed. Since he was invited by Elsa for lunch, Jin decided to go to the Kunlun Island after one test-firing. "Reiko, give it a try." He was not sure about the recoil, so he asked Reiko to do it. "Yes, Father." Unlike ordinary slingshots, magical muscles are easy to set up because they can be extended by channeling magic power. The bullet is a steel ball two centimeters in diameter. "This is just a test, so use the strongest one you can find." "Yes, sir." Reiko held it horizontally toward the sea. "Here I go!" She pulls the trigger. The magical muscle made from the leather of a sea dragon releases its tremendous power. With a bang, the bullet flew in a straight line instead of a parabolic line, and was no longer visible to Jin at the moment it was fired. The clouds disappeared with the shockwave. The ionized air seemed to glow. "Ah, that sound seems to have exceeded the speed of sound. It can''t have overcome gravity, can it? I''d like to think so. You don''t have ......, do you?" Jin is stunned by the power. On the other hand, Reiko, who had fired the shot, was still recoiling a little backward. "Reiko, how is it?" "Yes, it was my first time, so the recoil made me fall back a little, but I''ll be fine next time. Hearing this, Jin decided to make the prototype one of Reiko''s exclusive armaments after a little more modification. * * * * * * * * * * * "Yesterday, I saw a ship that looked like Marcia''s." After lunch on the Kunlun Island, Erza tells us that she saw a ship that looked like Marcia''s. "There were several of those catamarans. "There were several of those catamaran ships floating in the harbor. "Well, it looks like Marcia''s doing well." "Yeah. I didn''t see her. Jin chuckled in his mind, "Well, if we meet there, it will be complicated as to why Erza is here. "What are you doing now, Jin?" Erza asks Jin, and Jin answers casually, since it''s nothing to hide. "Right now, I''m strengthening the military in Horai Island. I don''t like wars, but I can''t say that to protect it, and when I think of what they did to Erza, my guts start to boil. Hearing this, Meane, who had been listening in silence, interrupted. "Erza, did they do something to you?" She was in a panic. Erza answers calmly. "No. No, they didn''t do anything to me. But they threatened me. She tells them about Purcell. She had kept quiet until now. When Meane heard this, she was furious, "What the hell!What did you say?Jin-sama, those people are not good for the world even if we let them live! She said in a radical tone. Jin smiled bitterly and said, "Ah, you haven''t changed at the core, "I know. I''ll destroy them when I''m fully prepared. He replied and left the room. "Well then, let''s go back to Horai Island and resume our work. Thanks for lunch. And thanks for the clothes. Jin said as he picked up the clothes he had bought yesterday and asked Reiko to carry them for him. "Yes. Jin, I''ll see you tomorrow for lunch." "Yeah. See you." Jin then returned to Horai Island. * * * * The test was over when the upper and lower rails of the gun got hot and deformed after Reiko had test-fired it several times. "Ah, I guess even steel can''t shoot continuously. So we decided to rebuild it with adamantite. The melting point of adamantite is about 4500 degrees Celsius. It does not melt even when heated to white heat. It is a metal that cannot be made into anything without engineering magic. The specific gravity of iron is about 7.9, while Adamantite is about 19.3. It is more than twice as heavy, but Reiko will have no problem with that. The extra bonus is that it can also be used as a bludgeon. The total length is 1.5 meters. A little larger than Reiko''s height. The bullet is a cartridge type and fires 10 rounds. It fires a bullet 3 centimeters in diameter, one size larger than the prototype. Standard bullets are steel balls. Adamantite-coated bullets are used for better penetration, and lead balls for more power. In the case of lead, the bullet deforms and sticks to the target upon impact, transferring almost 100 percent of its kinetic energy to the target. "There is no rifling on the barrel, but it should be enough for this kind of power. The gun flies at a maximum speed of about Mach 20, so it can be sighted in a straight line as long as it is within visual range. "Hmmm, the name is ...... annoying, let''s just call it a rail gun." I guess it''s not wrong in the sense that it fires bullets from between the rails. "Thank you, father, for this wonderful weapon. From now on I will use it to eliminate your enemies. Reiko says to him, "No, you have to think about who you''re fighting." Jin remembered to nail her with a nail. "Master (My Lord), I have something to report. Laozi, sensing that Jin''s work was finished, spoke to him. "Yes, what is it?" "Yes. I copied some knowledge from Ms. Meane for the fifth column (quinta), and in doing so, I found some traces of mental manipulation, so I thought I would report it to you. "Mental manipulation?Hypnosis? "No, it is not that powerful. I think it''s more like seduction. "Seduction?" Jin has never heard of this magic before. "Yes. This was also in Anne''s knowledge. It''s a spell to make a person consciously do a certain action. If you use it in a way that encourages the person''s desire, it does not seem unnatural. It is not so unnatural when it is used in a way that encourages the person''s desires. "Hmmm ......" Meane''s seemingly unusual obsession with Elsa. If it is due to a suggestion (seduce), it makes a lot of sense. Though we don''t know to whom it was made. So, it''s lifted now? Yes. I think it was a shock to the head or the body. All right, see if you can find a way to disarm it. Yes, sir. There''s a chance we''ll be dealing with a lot more of them. Maybe even Elsa''s brother Fritz. Jin is even more aware of the fact that this is not a simple matter. * * * * * * * * * * * In the evening, Reinhardt called us on time and told us that he was preparing to cross the Asur River at a town called Dali, instead of stopping at the capital, Esair. Again, we were told that we would have to wait for 3 or 4 days. 202 - - 08-23 Drag Base Deneb 1 of the 5th column (Quinta) was dressed in the clothes that Elsa and Meene had bought for him and was sent to buy clothes for the others. On Anne''s advice, they decided to buy second-hand clothes, as new ones would be too conspicuous. She also sent them to the Blue Lands to buy some clothes, and after repeating this process, they all had enough clothes by the end of the day so that they could live in a human town without being recognized, so she sent them on their way. "Okay, then," he said. "Yes, sir, Chief." We scatter them to various locations, starting from places with warp gates, such as Potlock, Blueland, and the ruins of the fort. All of them are to make a regular call to Lao Tzu in the morning and at night. We also plan to set up small warp gates at appropriate locations. That''s all for the time being. Jin takes a deep breath as he watches all the participants transfer to the next location. "Now, what are we going to do next? The answer, of course, was Anne. "Goshujin-sama, I know you studied the medicine the other day, but how do you store the blood you used?" "Hmm?I froze it." Is it still the original blood? Yes, it is. Then Anne looked flustered, "No!Blood is difficult to preserve! Jin also said, "Lao Tzu, what are you doing? "Lao Tzu, what does Ann say?" Lao Tzu said, "Yes, that''s right. "Yes, that''s right. The information I copied from Ann was sorted out last night, and I immediately responded to it. I apologize for the delay in contacting the master (My Lord)." Jin was relieved. "Well, that''s all right then. It would be a waste to waste such a rare material. What kind of preservation do you do with ...... if you can''t freeze it? This was answered by Ann. "It is not the red part that we need, but the liquid component. Once separated, it can be stored in an ether stocker with almost no deterioration. "Aether stocker?" Jin had never heard of this word. "An ether stocker is a storage facility in which the amount of free magic element (ether) in the air is increased to more than 20 percent. It can store materials with magic power semi-permanently without deterioration." Anne explains. This is good news. "I made the cellar last night and transferred the blood to it. Lao Tzu also reports. After the fact, Jin does not blame her for this. In fact, he praised him for a job well done. "Well, that''s a relief. Then, Lao Tzu, have you already analyzed how to make an official recovery potion? "Yes, I have. Yes, I have completed the part that was unclear and I know how to do it. So, we start the production of the recovery potion immediately. The effectiveness of the recovery drug has already been proven in Meene, and the demand for the drug is expected to increase. The centrifugal separation was right on the mark. However, there was no need to do it at subsonic speed, and as a result, the next filtration process was shortened. "Normally, the separated serum is filtered? Yes. But thanks to Reiko, only the final filtration is required. Reiko''s subsonic centrifugal separation had saved two steps of filtration. This time, about 10 liters are processed. Only about 3 liters of pure serum remain. The rest is stored in the ether stocker as it can be used for various medicines and even poisons. "This is almost like free magic element (ether) in liquid form, isn''t it? Jin asked, to which Anne answered in the affirmative. "Yes. If the magecrystal is crystallized free magic element (ether), then this can be called free magic element (ether) in liquid form. The purity is more than 70 percent. According to Anne, it is practical enough if it exceeds 30 percent, so we can expect it. "Once exposed to free ether, the impurities will be precipitated out and the purity will be further improved. This is called the drug base. It seems that there is an ingredient in the true serum that can take in or bind to the free magic element (ether). It is said that the more powerful a demon is, the more of this ingredient it has. What about your father''s blood then?" Reiko, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Your father probably has more magical power than a sea dragon. "What ...... hmmm..." Jin ponders. Certainly, according to Jin''s hypothesis, the free magical element (ether) is taken in through the lungs and dissolved in the blood. Then, the higher the ability to take in free magic element (ether) in the blood, the more magic power there is. It is similar to the relationship between oxygen and red blood cells. The more red blood cells you have, the more oxygen you can take in. "Okay, let''s try it with my blood one of these days. Jin said, but was not very enthusiastic about the idea. Resigning himself to the task, Jin hurriedly builds a box of free ether. It is a four-fold increase in the capacity of the ether stocker. "I guess I can just put it in here." Jin said as he put the drug base into the ether box the size of a large refrigerator. Yes, one day is enough. The remaining impurities will also precipitate out, so we can kill two birds with one stone. On this day, we processed another 20 liters of drug base, making a total of about 10 liters of drug base. * * * * * * * Lunch that day consisted of fresh bread, Citran marmalade, Persian juice, and stir-fried vegetables. After the meal, Jin told Erza about Reinhard''s disappearance. He said, "Now he''s going to the Asur River. He was blabbing about having to wait again. "Hmm. It took me a week to cross those two rivers on my way there. Really, what is that country thinking? Reinhardt-sama, you should be very careful. Jin was a little concerned, but he thought that a diplomat of a country would not be attacked in broad daylight, so he returned to Horai Island that day. * * * * "Well, let''s let the 5th row (Quinta) find the armor for the golem suit research, and let''s see what we can make in the afternoon. Jin immediately thinks about what to do. "We don''t have much in the way of land transportation. I saw them the other day, cars, right?I think we should develop such a means of transportation for the army. Jin agrees to Anne''s advice. Tanks, armored cars, military trucks, etc. come to mind. "Yes, we made a carriage for the suspension system. We can use that golem arm. He immediately begins to formulate a plan. Since caterpillars are troublesome, he increased the number of wheels to eight. Since rubber would not hold up well, he lined the wheels with sea dragon leather instead. Eight wheels are independently suspended, and the engine is an eight-cylinder engine, or rather, an eight-cylinder golem engine. One for each wheel. The frame and armor plates are adamantite. The windows can be opened and closed in case of emergency to look outside, but the magic screen is usually deployed to provide a 360-degree view of the outside as if there were no walls. It is also an excellent telephoto projector. Of course, night vision is also possible. Armed with a laser cannon, a rail gun, and a water jet. Capacity of 4 people. It is equipped with a magical communication device (manacam) and can deploy a barrier. Equipped with a wire rope and a winch in case of getting stuck in muddy ground. In addition, it is equipped with four auxiliary magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines), which can reduce the weight of the vehicle to one-fifth. The interior is air-conditioned, and although it is small, there are two folding bunks so that passengers can take turns taking a nap. Jin has added any equipment he can think of. The specifications are outrageous. "Okay, that''s about right." "Goshujin-sama, we need drinking water, a pantry, and medicine. And floodlights." Anne pointed out what was missing. We decided that the floodlight should be able to emit infrared and ultraviolet rays in addition to visible light. Once the basic design was given to Lao Tzu, he would prepare all the parts except for the important ones that only he could make, so the workload on Jin was light. The third day ended in this way. * * * * * * * * * * * * At night, a conversation with Reinhardt. "I''m in Dali. The place is crowded just like Tellus. There are some shady characters roaming around." "Are you all right?" "Yes, there are soldiers from the Shoro Empire in Dali, so don''t worry about them. That''s good. Oh, yeah, I met someone I didn''t expect. Who''s that? Who''s that? - Someone Jin knows. I know someone from the Kingdom of Celuloa... ...... Stearena? "Yes, I know her. She''s on her way back from reporting to the palace. 203 - - 08-24 Solicitation To the west of Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa, flows the Asur River, which flows out of Lake Asur, a huge lake. Together with the Torres River to the east, the Asur River is a natural moat for Esia. Naturally, there are no bridges across the river, and the river is crossed by boat. Therefore, as in Tellurus, it would take three to four days to book a boat and cross the river. Reinhardt, who had separated from Hitoshi and Elsa, arrived at Dali on April 11 to wait for the ship, because he was detained at the customs gate there on April 10. He arrived in Dali on April 11 and waited for the ship. On the following day, April 12, Reinhardt was touring Dali. "Oh, Mr. Reinhardt! Reinhardt turned around to see Stearina Gamma, one of the most famous magecraftsmen in the Kingdom of Celuloa, with copper-colored hair and reddish-brown eyes. "This is Mister Stearina. When Reinhardt greeted her, Stearina looked at him with a superior look. "Oh, it''s so sad to hear you speak to me in such a strangerly manner. It is a s*xy gesture, but Reinhardt is unmoved. "I beg your pardon, Stearina. "Yes, I forgive you." Stearina looks around and asks Reinhardt, "Are you alone today? "Are you alone today?You''re not with Jin-kun? "Yes, Jin and I have been separated for a while. Reinhardt answers in a slightly blurred manner. Hearing this, Stearina''s shoulders slump and she says, "Is that so? "Is that so?I''m a little disappointed. I wanted to have a long talk with you." Reinhard smiles, "I''m sorry, I''m the only one here." Then Stearina laughed and said, "I''m sorry, I''m the only one here. Stearina smiled and bowed to Reinhardt. "I was only joking, Mr. Reinhardt. Are you free today?If you have time, would you like to join me?" Reinhardt, who had no plans, nodded his head. "Sure. Do you know any interesting places?" "Uh-huh, you''ll have to wait and see when we get there." Saying this, Stearina naturally wrapped her left arm around Reinhardt''s right arm and walked away. "Come in." Stearina led Reinhardt to an ordinary house. It was a two-story stone house, as is standard in the Kingdom of Selroa. The windows are large and some of them are glazed. Behind the house, there is a canal that seems to lead to the Asur River. It is my home away from home. Stearina''s main house is on the other side of the Asr River, but when she visits the capital, she always has to wait three or four days for her return, so she rents a house here. We use the house more than 50 days a year, so it''s cheaper than a hotel. With these words, he opened the door and invited Reinhardt in. "Welcome home, miss. An elderly butler-like automaton greeted him. "I''m home. Zafio, you have a visitor. And don''t call me "miss". Yes, ma''am. The automaton said this and disappeared into the back of the house, probably to get ready for something. "Oh my God!" The butler-like automaton is called Zafio. "Oh, my God! No matter how much I tell him, he still calls me "Miss," even though I''m a thirty-something old lady, you know?" But Reinhardt shakes his head, "No, no, Stellina-san is still a young lady. Zafio said, "You are still a young lady. Zafio called her "Miss" because she was programmed to do so. It is because that is how Stearina programmed it. Reinhardt saw through it. He saw through it, and yet he took advantage of Stellina''s flirtatious words. "Oh my, you''re so good. Unlike Jin-kun, I wonder if Reinhardt-sama is used to seducing women. "Well, I don''t know." Reinhardt dodges the question easily. Stearina glares at him lightly. "Well, that''s just plain nasty." While they were exchanging these words, Zafio came back. "Everything is ready, miss. Sir, please come this way." Zafio said, and Stearina and Reinhardt followed him. At the end of the corridor, Zafio opened the door, "Come in. Zafio opened the door and invited them into the room. It is a large room with a large window in front, through which one can see a well-kept garden. The room must have been facing south, and it was bright with plenty of light. In the center of the room was a simple but well-shaped round table with two cups of tea (teh-eh), which was slightly steaming. Please tell me a lot about yourself. In the Kingdom of Egelea, I could only tell you a very limited number of stories because of the ears around me, couldn''t I? Reinhardt, who did not understand the intent of these words, decided to muddle his words. "Well, we didn''t know each other very well, and I remember that we had a few conversations. Then Stearina smiled mischievously and said. "Oh, you''re wary of me, aren''t you?" She continued, "I haven''t told you much about the Unification Party (Unifiler) yet, have I? Reinhardt was also surprised. "Didn''t I tell you the other day that I was invited to join the Unification Party (Unifiler)? "Yes, but you only told the people of the Kingdom of Egelea. Yes, that''s right. But I thought it would be better to tell Reinhardt-sama and Jin-kun as well. We are in the Kingdom of Selroa, so there is no need to be concerned about the Kingdom of Egelea. Stearina said this and Reinhardt was ready to listen. "It was about a year ago that the Unifilers approached me. I remember they told me that they wanted to change the world and asked me to help them. After sipping her tea and taking a break, Stearina continues her story. "I asked him to let me think about it, and he left for a while, but about five days later he came again, and from then on he came every day. If Jin had heard this, he would have said it sounded like a phony religious recruiting campaign. "Each time they used different words to solicit me. >>And ...... oh yes, <> were offered as a reward. I don''t think I want a man as my reward. Stearina laughed. "It was about the fifth time that I refused clearly. Then he stopped coming, but when he left he said ......." "What can I say, typical blackmail." Reinhard takes a sip of tea. It is quite fragrant. "After that, I was almost kidnapped once..." What? "Please don''t tell me the details, it would be too embarrassing. At that time, I was rescued by a knight of the kingdom, so I''m safe and sound now. "I didn''t know that. ......" Reinhardt is not a stranger to the situation after what happened to Erza. "I''m sure there were two knights of the kingdom protecting me today as well. I didn''t notice. Reinhardt, who was not a military officer, could not have known. "So, Mr. Reinhardt, you should be a little more aware of your position." "Yes, that''s right. ......" The rest of the conversation was idle. In every word, it seemed that Stearina wanted to meet with Jin one more time to talk about various things. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * That''s why. That was the end of the long conversation from Reinhardt. "Be careful, will you?" "Yeah, I''ll try not to go out alone from now on." "Yes, you will." The hotline with Reinhardt was cut off. The hotline (?) with Reinhardt was cut off at that moment. 204 - - 08-25 Good mood "Recruitment and kidnapping, huh?" Jin was deep in thought after hearing what Reinhardt had told him. "Goshujin-sama?Mr. Reinhardt is the person who was with us the other day, isn''t he?" Anne asked him. "Yes, that''s right. "You are good friends with him, aren''t you, Mr. Reinhardt? "Yes, well..." If so, then he and the other friends you have are in danger if you don''t protect them too, right? Anne said that such so-called lure attacks are also possible. "This Horai Island is without a doubt the best in the world when it comes to offensive power. And defensive power as well. But not Goshujin-sama. "What?" What would you do if someone exploited your weakness?That''s what you have to think about." He''s right. This time I was able to save Erza, but Hannah from Kaina Village. Marcia in Potrock. Beena of Breuland, Count Kuzma. Prince Ernest of the Royal Castle of Egelea. And Reinhardt. What would Jin do if they were kidnapped and held hostage? I know I can''t just cut them off. Yes, I know. We need to increase the number of SPs and protect them from the Unification Party (Unifiler). Thus, Jin decides to increase the number of SPs. It was late that day, so he decided to wait until the next day, returned to the pavilion, and went to sleep. The reason why Jin went to bed like this was because he was afraid of Reiko. After breakfast, Jin went to bed. After breakfast, Jin immediately decided to increase the number of the covert task force (SP). Two SPs will be stationed at Kaina Village, Potlock, Blueland, and the Royal Castle of Egelea, respectively, to protect Reinhardt in the shadows. For the sake of versatility, they are unified as adult female types. Since the template was already available, 10 of them were completed in a short time. "The names are <>, <>, <>, <>, <>, <>, <>, <>, <>, <>." Jin was almost feverish as he tried to unify the names of the flowers. We immediately dispatched to the location of the warp gate, but waited for the rollout of the Falcon, a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft, to the Royal Castle of Egelea, and then dispatched to the 5th The next step was to dispatch them with the fifth column (Quinta), waiting for the rollout of the Falcon, a VTOL aircraft. "Now, what''s next?" "About that, sir..." Anne''s been acting like a chief strategist lately. Jin was worried that Reiko might be jealous, but he was relieved to see that they seemed to be able to share the same roles in a strange way. "The Goshujin-sama is a human being. So let''s think about safety for the Goshujin-sama. Jin agreed. "Golem suits, night vision goggles, helmets, battle suits. The list goes on and on. "No, the drug base we prepared yesterday should already be ready. The drug that can heal Jin''s body is the first priority. "Yes, that''s right." So Jin opened the free ether box and took out the drug base. It was glowing slightly in a container made of crystal. It is wonderful. I have never seen a drug base that contains so much magic power. "Okay, now all I have to do is to put magic into it..." This is the way to write a magic formula into a magi crystal. Father, I''ll leave that to you. At this point Reiko stepped forward. "The other day, I had a chance to learn healing magic at the healer Sally''s place. She even used the advanced level of Medicare. "Hm, Medicare?I thought he was chanting in Shoro''s imperial style when I saw him. Jin expressed his doubts. "That place is close to the Shoro Kingdom, so they can do both, can''t they?" Reiko gave her guess. Well, the discussion does not lead to any conclusion, so the topic is closed for the moment. "Well then, Reiko, please." "Yes." Reiko answered affirmatively and increased the output of the ether converter and the mana driver to 10 percent, and then she kneaded up the magic power. "<>" The drug base glowed for a moment, and when it subsided, the drug base turned into a pale blue recovery potion. "Anne, what do you think?" Jin asked, and Anne examined the recovery drug, "It''s excellent. It''s the best recovery medicine. She gave her assurance that it was a top quality recovery drug. "Yes, you are indeed Reiko." Reiko smiled happily at the praise. "Okay, let''s divide them into vials. Jin made small vials out of white mica and Reiko and Anne filled them with the medicine. Each bottle holds about 50 milliliters, which is a lot of work since there were 10 liters in the bottle. Now it was time to make ampoules. The ampoules are made of white mica, so the inside of the ampoule looks like white mica. The ampoule is made of white mica so that the inside can be seen and it is hard to break. It is soft and easy to open. About 200 ampules are made, 50 of which are kept in stock on Horai Island, and the rest are used as reserve medicine for forward bases and armored vehicles. According to Anne, the ampoule with such a high purity can be stored with almost no deterioration. Just to be safe, I decided to store them in a small refrigerator that has been modified to also serve as a magical power storage (ether stocker). Now I feel secure. "Now, it''s time to make my equipment. Let''s build it up one by one. Ann agreed. The materials are ready. Lao Tzu''s humanoid terminal also came and told us so. "First of all, Goshujin-sama, it would be better not to make armor at once, but to finish the equipment to guard each part of the body. Jin agreed with Anne''s advice. "I see. Jin, who had been at a standstill in his attempt to make armor, decided to follow her advice. "I think we should start with a helmet, don''t you? "Yes, a helmet. Then Jin had an image in mind. A so-called sci-fi special effects helmet with a visor or goggles, a communication function, a floodlight, and so on. "The main body should be light silver." If it is too heavy, Jin''s neck will not be able to hold it. "It should have a built-in manacam, so that we can talk with Reiko and Lao Tzu. Ideas keep coming. "Let''s add a small but powerful floodlight. It should be able to emit not only visible light but also infrared and ultraviolet rays. Great idea. "The visor part should not only be light-shielding, but also have night vision and be able to see infrared rays." Sounds like a lot of fun. "The outside is coated with a composite of mithril and adamantite, and the inside is buffered with goulashvam." Goulashvam is, in essence, a sponge. "That''s great, you already have a plan. Lao Tzu said as he laid out the ingredients that Jin had mentioned on the workbench. "Okay, let''s make it! Jin''s voice was full of life. Reiko, who was standing by him, was also happy. Jin was on a roll and completed the prototype helmet in about an hour. When he tried it on, he said "Well, I guess it''s alright. He corrected the parts where it hit the helmet by forming magic. "Okay, that''s about right. After making ......, it would be nice to have a simple gas mask or oxygen supply." They want to be able to use it in places where there is no miasma, i.e. volcanic gases, or at high altitudes where the air is thin. "Okay, let''s make Prototype 2!" In a good mood, Jin spent the morning building up to the fourth prototype helmet, and decided to use the first helmet for light use and the fourth for use with oxygen supply function. 205 - - 08-26 New equipment Jin finishes the helmet and continues to ponder. "Father, it''s almost noon. Don''t you have a lunch appointment with Ms. Elsa? Reiko says to Jin, and he realizes that it''s too late. "Oh, that''s right. Shall we go to the Kunlun island then?" "Yes. Having lunch with Elsa is a very good habit for Jin, who is usually stuck in an irregular lifestyle if left unchecked. So recently Reiko had begun to show a good face to Elsa and Meane. Jin flew to Kunlun Island with Reiko. "Welcome, Jin-sama! Meane greeted him. I''m here for lunch again today," Jin said. Jin said, and Meane said, "Erza is waiting for you too. She led him to a table. A table was set up in front of the pavilion, and Erza was sitting at it. The white clouds floating in the blue sky were like spring. "Brother Jin, welcome. "Hello, Elsa. "It''s a beautiful day. It''s warm today. Brother Jin, aren''t you hot in that outfit? Jin was still wearing his winter clothes. Underwear and shirts made of ground spider threads keep out the cold and release sweat at the same time. So Jin did not care much about his clothes. But Elsa, a girl, was a little concerned about it. It is not the season for winter clothes anymore. "It''s warm today, so we decided to eat outside. Meane brought lunch to the table, and we stopped talking about clothes. A warm breeze was blowing, and it was indeed a perfect day to have lunch outdoors. While eating slowly, Jin told Erza about what Reinhard had told him about Stearina yesterday. "Brother Rai, did you have such a talk with Mr. Stearina?" "Yes. "I''m afraid of the Unification Party (Unifiler)......." Erza''s shoulders were shaking a little when she said that. Jin encourages her. "Don''t worry, you''ll be safe here. I''m with you. I''ll escort Reinhardt. Jin reassures her by saying that he has decided to increase the number of SPs and have some of his acquaintances protect them behind the scenes. Erza smiles a little and nods her head in agreement. "Hm, Jin-brother..." "Well, I''m going home. See you tomorrow, okay? "Yeah, see you tomorrow." Jin returned to Horai Island and was thinking about the clothes Erza had told him to wear. Suddenly, he had an idea. "The material of the demon ...... is it!" Take the Death Serpent for example. Its body is covered with scales and epidermis. Its scales are hard, but its skin is also tough. How is it tough? The skin of a creature, though it is a demon, is flexible. But when Reiko hit it, it sounded as if she had hit it with a block of iron. Why is this? The outer skin of some demons has the property of hardening against impact or pressure. They instantly harden and become like iron against impacts such as blows. They also react in the same way to localized pressure such as fangs, claws, and blades. These are self-protection reactions by magical powers. When such materials are given magical power with specific properties, they contract and elongate. The magical muscles of automata and golems are based on this property, and it is also the reason why Reiko''s skin is flexible but can crush rocks when hit. Jin first came up with the idea of making clothes out of this material. The pants he is wearing now are made of hexenbiest leather. It is strong and flexible. But it does not harden. "Sea dragon leather, the thinnest part of this is still ...... the belly. Sea dragons can be thought of as the Japanese equivalent of a dragon that has doubled in size. Their surface area is large, and their epidermis has various characteristics depending on the part. The abdomen, and to a lesser extent the lower part of the abdomen, was slightly thinner and most flexible. "I guess it''s a lamprey after all." I am going to make a pair of leather eels. Since demon leather can be fused with engineering magic, and can also be somewhat deformed (formed), it would be perfect. However, it is purplish black in color. This is a silver-gray helmet coated with adamantite, which I made earlier. Too austere. "Let''s make a prototype first. Jin proceeded with the work, knowing that it could be deformed (formed), so it would be okay if it was a little loose or tight. The leather of the sea dragon, which could not even be cut with scissors, was easily cut out with a water jet blade, fused together, and one garment was quickly made. Then, when he tried it on, he said, "Oh, the zipper is too tight. "Ah, there''s no zipper. It was Jin who did not say "zipper" or "zipper. "Oh well. Let''s use engineering magic to join them together. Since it was a prototype, Jin took the easiest way. "Well.... ......Ah, this is the hard part. <. ......There is a bump here. >" After several revisions while wearing it, Jin''s exclusive leather pupa is finally completed. "Hmmm, let''s pass the magic power through it. .........!" It seems that the kind of magic power to be passed through it was wrong, Jin was constricted and tightened at once. But still it was not a big deal since the magic power was small. If it had been as strong as Reiko''s, for example, every bone in his body would have been shattered. "Father, are you all right? Reiko, who had been watching silently, calls out in concern. "...... Yeah, I''m fine. I made a mistake. This time, she channels the magic more carefully. The tuna hardens. "Reiko, just ...... a little bit, you know, one percent of the power, not ...... directly, but some ...... around there, yes. Yes, hit me with that piece of wood." Jin tested the performance as gently as possible at first, because he did not know what would happen if Reiko hit him directly. As a result, it was found that it could withstand a 10 percent blow from Reiko well enough. However, it was blown up so badly that Reiko rushed behind Jin at super-speed to catch it. Jin was too scared to try any further. "Well, this is good. Let''s add various functions to this base. Jin''s face brightened as he realized that he had been having difficulty because he had been thinking only of using the armor as a base. "I wonder if I can control the contraction and elongation. This was not easy, even for Jin. It was extremely difficult to control only the contraction of the part corresponding to the muscle. Sometimes the contraction was not as fast as expected, or even in parts that were not involved. Reiko, who was watching, looked as if she was on edge. Finally, they arrived at an idea. It was to attach more magical muscles on the top of the tuna. This way, the wearer can clearly recognize which parts of the body he wants the magic to flow to and how much he wants it to flow to. "It looks terrible, though." It looks like a model of the human body showing how the muscles are built. If you met it in a dark place, you would be shocked. However, the performance of the robot is as follows: it starts by supporting Jin''s movements, and it can produce about twice as much force as Jin. Jin''s are not likely to sustain more than that. Even if the muscles are strong, they cannot exert their full strength if the bones that support them are weak. "Still, well, the defense is first class. If you can double your strength, you''ve succeeded. This is not a power suit, but rather a ." Jin is pleased with his success for now. "But I want to do something about the appearance of this ......." But I want to do something about the way it looks... ." The muscle model is too scary. "Oh, I see, we can put another layer on the outside." By making a three-layered structure, we managed to make it look normal. * * * * * * * * * * "Branch 8 Director, Mr. Purcell, has run away and come back. "Branch 8 Director ...... Oh, that no-good guy. That''s the guy who paid to be branch chief, isn''t it? Yes... and he took control of Elsa Randall at one point and then took her back. "Yes, and he had Elsa Randall once in his possession and then he took her back. And who''s the guy who took it back? Yes, that''s Jin Nido, apparently. Oh... "And at that time, Jin Nido warned us, the Unification Party (Unifilers), to stay out of his way and destroyed the 8th Branch''s fortress with a pillar of light. "Pillar of light?What''s that? I don''t know. Purcell''s explanation doesn''t make any sense. I guess a fool is always a fool. Well, that''s all right. Tell that information to the chief engineer. He may be able to unmask this pillar of light. huh? "<>?What kind of a magecraftsman are you? You''re right, sir. Jin Nido aside, I understand that Reinhardt and the woman in question have made contact? Yes, she''s in Dali. Good. Secure them immediately. Immediately. 206 - - 08-27 Combat readiness "And then there''s Goshujin-sama''s weapon, isn''t it?" Anne said as she looked at the reinforced clothes that had been completed. "The <> and <> are too powerful and are for long to medium range. Please also bring weapons for close range." "I see..." Anne''s suggestion is a good one. But Jin can''t do martial arts. "Then, I think it would be better to wield something like a stick. ...... At any rate, Jin tries to imagine himself wielding a stick. ...... something is different. Jin couldn''t imagine it. "A sword then?They say you can''t cut with a sword unless the blade is sharp, and adamantite is too heavy. The force of about twice as much is not enough to wield an adamantite sword. "Well, ...... it has to be light, which means that material is not good enough. ......" I thought about it and came up with the sword of light from the famous movie. "I think I can manage that." Jin draws a plan in his mind. "It''s no good for trapping plasma ....... It''s too violent as an anti-personnel weapon. It''s the same ...... with lightning-based magic." Jin keeps twisting his head. "Well, I thought it was a good idea. "Goshujin-sama, in that case, please equip defensive wards first. Anne offers a helping hand. But it literally helped Jin to get an idea. "Right!A barrier!A sword with the same force field as the barrier! Jin began to think about the possibility of creating a magic barrier in the form of a sword, which would expand into a sphere or a disk. It is easy to make a spherical or disc-shaped barrier, but it is extremely difficult to make it into a sword shape. "Yes!I can do it!I can do it!" But Jin''s knowledge of magic and experience on Earth made it possible. "Why don''t we make the pole for deploying the magic barrier into the shape of a sword? The Magic Barrier is a wall made of free magic element (ether). The principle is simple. It is a combination of attraction and repulsion to free magic element (ether). Where they balance each other, an invisible wall is built. To put it more simply, the free magical element (ether) attracted by attraction and the free magical element (ether) pushed away by repulsive force. The density of free magic elements (ether) at the place where they collide and balance each other becomes tens of thousands of times higher than that of normal space. If we could connect these free magical elements (ether) with each other. That is a magic barrier. The strength of the magic barrier is determined 50% by the concentration of free magic element (ether), and 50% by the connecting power of the mesh. The size of the mesh is such that free magic element (ether) can easily pass through it, so there is no danger that the mage inside will run out of free magic element (ether). The poles for generating attraction and repulsion may be rings or virtual points created by the mage in space. At the risk of sounding tedious, since the designation of a virtual point also requires magic power, it is more efficient to use a magic tool such as a ring. Now, Jin has come up with the idea of making the in the shape of a sword. "Normally, it would be a spherical surface because it radiates from the <." That is, a web of ether is formed equidistant from the radiant point. "If we make it into the shape of a sword and change the intensity in some parts, ...... oh, that''s good." Changing the strength changes the distance at which the attractive and repulsive forces are balanced. If the poles were points, it would be too difficult to control, but in the form of a sword, it would be relatively easy (for Magecraft Meister). It still needs to be fine-tuned, but the sword-shaped Magi Crystal in Jin''s hand emitted a dim light about 50 centimeters in diameter, which looked like a sword. "Okay, this way here, this way there..." Jin made some adjustments to the magical language written on the sword-shaped Magi Crystal. After about three adjustments, "It''s done! Jin exclaimed joyfully. "I changed the output to ......oh! When short, it was about 40 centimeters long, and when long, it was more than two meters long. "Well, how sharp is it?" Jin tried cutting at a piece of wood that was lying around. "Huh?" But contrary to his expectation, it did not cut. "Hmm, maybe it''s because it''s just a stick-shaped barrier as it is now. ...... He guesses the reason and takes a countermeasure. "If we change a part of this connected free magic element (ether) into flame ...... or even heat energy..." After some modifications, he experimented again. "What do you think?...... ah-chi-chi chi-chi." Hot air leaked out. "I need to reduce the amount of free magic element (ether) to be converted into heat energy a little more. And the third time. "Yes, that''s it!" The magic sword glowed blue-white. The temperature must be over 10,000 degrees. When I cut it on a piece of wood, not only did the section turn black and charred, but some of it evaporated. Next, I''ll try it with a steel bar. He puts on his helmet and asks Reiko to help him. "Reiko, take that iron rod there and hit me lightly. I''m going to hit you lightly. "Yes, sir." Reiko reminded him and hit him with the iron rod about 2cm thick and 80cm long. Jin caught her with his magic sword. The basic form of the barrier is a sword-shaped barrier, so it can catch a real sword. The bar melts into two pieces within a second or so. If it receives a sword, it will damage the other''s sword. "Okay, how about electric energy?" I modified the MagiLanguage and tried to create electric energy by using lightning magic. "Well, how about it?" It starts up. The sword looks pale and yellowish at the same time. "Well, it''s too dangerous to let you touch it. ....... Reiko, put that bar on the ground. "Yes, Father." Reiko sticks the iron bar, about 60 cm... a little bit into the ground. "Okay, here we go..." Jin swings his sword down at the iron bar. At that moment, whether the sword touches the bar or not, an arc discharge occurs, and for a moment it glows dazzlingly with a crackling discharge sound. Without the light-shielding function of the helmet, it is likely to cause damage to the eyes. The next moment, the sword made contact with the iron bar, sending out sparks like an electric welder, cutting the bar in two. The white-hot iron splatters. "How many billions of volts are there to be incandescent at a moment''s notice? ......" Jin stares at the sword intently. I feel like I''ve made something terrible. If it weren''t for the magical electrical energy, Jin, who is closest to the sword, would have been the first to suffer damage. "Now we just have to make it so that we can control this voltage..." Jin muttered to himself, and after making improvements to adjust the size of the swords and the thermal and electrical energy, he had finally completed two magic swords as magical tools. "Shall we make <> and <>?" Masamune is a heat-based sword and Muramasa is a lightning-based sword. And their names are already in the same style. "Goshujin-sama, thank you for your hard work." Father, would you like to take a bath? Anne and Reiko called out to Jin as he finished his work. Jin stretched, "Yeah, I think I''ll take a bath. He said, "Yeah, I think I''ll take a bath. Reiko followed him, while Anne cleaned up. "Ah, I feel so tired. Jin soaks himself in the hot spring water at the hotel, and makes an old man''s voice. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * We have arrived at Dali. Okay, let''s proceed as planned. Yes, sir. What? That night, Jin was waiting for a call from Reinhardt, but he was getting worried when he did not hear from him after the scheduled time. Then he received an urgent message from Lao Tzu. Master (My Lord), Sage has called. They say that Reinhardt has been kidnapped. What? We''ve just increased the number of SPs. "We went to Dali where Reinhardt is via the base at the fort ruins, but we couldn''t reach him in time by a narrow margin. "You Unifilers ...... didn''t listen to my advice!" Jin''s anger quietly flared. Horai Island, prepare to launch. 207 - - 08-28 Defeated That day, Reinhard had visited Stearina''s house in the morning. He was there to discuss about golem control. Therefore, he was accompanied by his own black knight (Schwarzlitter). Because of Jin''s warning, five guards were deployed around the house. They were the original guards and soldiers dispatched from the Shoro Empire. "Welcome, Mr. Reinhardt. Since last night, Stearina had been calling Reinhard by his name. "Good morning, Stellina." Reinhardt also called her by her given name. They were ushered inside to a large living room. There stood two golems and two automata made by Stearina. "This is my best work at the moment," she said. "Well, it''s wonderful." One of the golems was the same type as the crystal golem that had been destroyed at the previous golem garden party, and the other was a male golem of steel. The automata are a girl in her late teens and an adult female. The golems are and . The automata are and . Without even a word of greeting, the two begin to talk. This is the spirit of a craftsman. "The crystal golem, from the looks of it, you''re using forming magic to make it work, aren''t you?Isn''t it too inefficient? Reinhardt asks, and Stearina answers. Yes, it is. That''s why we are applying softening to the movable parts at the same time as forming. "Hmm, I see. Compared to just deformation (forming), it saves about 30%, right?" "That''s right. Actually, it''s more like 20% and a half. It can''t operate for a long time. But the significance of the crystal golem is not its practical use. Reinhardt agrees. "That''s right. I was shocked when I first saw Ceres. It''s a direction that someone like me would never have thought of. "Well, thank you. What about Custer at ......? Of course, he was referring to the male golem. "Well, this is typical of what happens when a female magecraftsman makes a male golem. The figure has the appearance of a man of grace. It could be described as a male character drawn by a girl manga artist. When Reinhardt said this to Stearina, she laughed, "I''m not good with big men," she said. Reinhardt did not hear it. Reinhardt ignored her comment. "What is the body of the golem made of in terms of structure? "Soft magic resin, right. Soft magic resin is the material used for the body of ordinary golems. It is a resin extracted from a tree with magic power, <>. In short, think of it as a kind of pine resin with magical powers. It is common to mix powdered mithril to make it more magical, or lead to make it heavier, and so on, changing the additives according to the purpose. In the case of golems for combat, even the lowest quality of magic stone, or magic stone, is used. Such was the case with the golem that was the basis for Gon and Gen, who were once defeated by Jin. It is rare for a golem to have a skeleton and muscles like the golem Jin makes. "What about additives?My black knight (Schwarzlitter) is made of mithril and adamantite powder. Reinhardt revealed a little secret about his Black Knight (Schwarzlitter). "Well, adamantite powder?What does it do?" "For one thing, it weighs a lot. Adamantite is heavier than lead. For another, guess what ......?" Reinhard said with a mischievous smile. "Well, I ...... don''t know. Adamantite dampens magic and mithril allows it to pass through. They are opposites." Reinhardt gives a hint to Stearina. "That''s a shame you know all that. I didn''t say I was using ." The hint seemed to hit home for Stearina. She is a first-rate magecraftsman after all. "Okay!You mix mithril and adamantite in different parts!" Correct. Mithril for the arms and legs. Adamantite for the torso. And adamantite for the tips of the hands and feet. Stearina looks at Reinhardt with admiration. "You''re really good. I''ll go first ......." Just as Stearina was about to say this, there was a loud noise. "What is that?" Was it the front door? Reinhardt and Stearina got up at about the same time and went out into the hallway. "!!!!" There were four dull silver golems, about two meters in height. I recognized their armored designs. "No way, it''s the Unification Party! "How did they get here?What was the golem guarding the city of Dali doing? What were my guards doing? "Anna yowai golem nado ikura itemo onaji da sore ningen no goei nado nanimo dekinai." One of them spoke. The voice is hard to hear, as if metal were being rubbed together. "You don''t mean to tell me that you walked through the city with impunity? "No, he must have used the waterway behind the house. Reinhardt thinks about the location of the house. The canal running behind the house leads to the Asur River. They probably entered Dali from there, disguising themselves as ordinary boats. The Black Knight! Reinhardt calls for the black knight he brought with him, "Custer!" Stearina called Custer. "I don''t want to waste my time on this!" With that, one went toward the black knight (Schwarzlitter) and the other toward Custer. And the other two came toward Reinhardt and Stearina, respectively. "d*mn! " Reinhard activates the protection ring that Jin gave him. The golem is blocked 30 centimeters in front of Reinhardt. The Black Knight and Custer collide with the enemy golem. The black knight (Schwarzlitter) swung his fist at the enemy golem, sending it flying away. "You''re not so tough after all!" The golem, which seemed to be the spokesman, commented. Hearing this, Reinhardt learned that their information had been passed on to the Unifilers. "Black Knight!Give it everything you''ve got!Destroy them! Yes, sir! The Black Knight gave it his all. His blow had the power to blow off the head of the enemy golem. Then, the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) confronts the second golem. A battle between autonomous golems. Holes are torn in the walls of the house and pillars are broken. But there is no time to worry about that. "Kyaaaah! comes the scream of Stearina. Reinhardt turns around to see that Custer has been destroyed and Stearina has been captured by the enemy golem. "Stearina!" Reinhard bit his lip. He should have pulled her close to him and kept her inside the barrier. "Maz, hitori kakuho!" said the golem that seemed to be the spokesman. "Reinhard, what''s your name?" "............" When Reinhardt didn''t answer, the golem spun more words. "Hm, Schwarzritter is not okay with you. Now the black knight (Schwartzritter) has just defeated the second golem. All that remains is the golem holding Stearina and the golem in front of him. "Good, good, I''ll make my own jitsuryoku..." The golem in front of him said so and headed toward the black knight (Schwarzritter). This was a good chance for Reinhardt, he could not resist if Stearina was taken hostage, but the golem, the leader of the enemy, seemed to be simple and willing to fight the black knight (Schwarzritter). Since then, Reinhardt has also improved and strengthened the black knight (Schwarzlitter). Even if he could not beat Reiko, he did not intend to lose to the Golem of the Unifiler. "Go, Black Knight! "Yes!" With a short answer, the Black Knight engaged the enemy golem. For a moment, their physical strength is in conflict, and their movements come to a halt. The two were in a state of struggle. The two fighters continued to push each other, but there was no winner. "Mo juubunda zenryoku de ixo!" The enemy golem says, and its strength rapidly increases. The black knight (Schwarzritter) is defeated. They are slammed against the wall while still in a tight group, and then they smash through the wall, hit a pillar, and come to a stop. However, the enemy golem does not stop. With its rapidly rising power, it pulled out the right arm of the black knight (Schwarzritter). And the next moment, the left arm. "What? Reinhardt can''t believe what he is seeing. But it is real. The enemy golem kicks the black knight (Schwarzritter) down, and then rips off both of his legs one after another. It is a tremendous power. It''s like ...... "Reiko''s power?" The stunned Reinhardt uttered these words. "Reiko?Is that the name of the golem?" Leaving the black knight (Schwarzlitter) limbless, the enemy golem again closed in on Reinhardt. "U......" Reinhardt realizes that he was about to accidentally divulge information and shuts his mouth. "I''m going to be very careful now." The enemy golem then approaches Reinhardt, holding Stearina hostage. "I''m sorry, but I can''t help it." "Mr. Reinhardt!You can''t do this! Stearina says stoutly, but the next moment her arm is twisted up and she screams. Reinhardt could not bear to see her like that. The barrier is released. Then the enemy golem, perhaps knowing that this is the effect of the ring, twists up Reinhardt''s arm as well and removes the protection ring from his finger. At the same time, chokers were placed around their necks. It was the same choker that had been placed on Erza. It is a magical device that interferes with the chanting of magic and makes the wearer physically ill. "Solo solo hito atsumatte kuruna!" They made a loud noise so that onlookers and guards would come. With these words, the golem led them out through a hole in the wall. They were just above the canal, and a black boat was floating in the water. "Nore." Reinhard and Stearina were kidnapped in broad daylight. There were many witnesses, but they could do nothing but watch the black ship sail down the channel toward the Asur River. Half a day later, Sage and Cosmos, Reinhardt''s exclusive covert task force (SP), arrived. They saw a destroyed black knight (Schwarzritter) and the cloth-covered remains of five men. 208 - - 08-29 Horai Island Army Launched Jin regretted his naivete and prepared to go out on a sortie. After much consideration, he told Erza in Kunlun Island that Reinhardt had been kidnapped. I knew that we would not be able to have lunch together the next day depending on the future developments. Since she might be worried if she could not contact Jin at that time, she decided to explain the current situation to him while she still could. "Unification Party (Unifiler)...... to Brother Rai ......" Elsa''s voice sank. "Brother Jin, please help brother Rai." "Yeah, I''ll take care of it. I''m on my way. Jin disconnected the call and continued to prepare for launch. Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, Falcon 1 to 3, were ready to launch, so they would be included. Piloting the aircraft was Air Force Golem Skies 11 to 13. "Well, now that I look at it this way, we are still short on means of transportation. Jin feels that he does not have enough means to get to the site when something happens. "Do we need a supersonic aircraft? ...... No, it''s better than that." What he came up with was a runaway warp gate. If we lose the receiving side, we don''t know where we are going to go, but if we can control it. The ship was ready for departure, so Jin boarded Falcon 1 and left Horai Island. Accompanying him on Falcon 1 are Reiko and 10 SPs with Jin. Reiko has brought a railgun with her. She also carried a small warp gate. Falcon 2 has army golems from Land 41 to 60. Falcon 3 carried Marine 5, a Navy golem, and Hydro 5 was suspended, just in case. This was Anne''s idea, considering the possibility of using it in the mighty Asur River. The three Falcons were flying at top speed in the night sky. Roughly 600 kilometers per hour. This is an astonishing speed for an aircraft of this size. "When the carrier is ready, we can send them to the West Sea, and they can fly there by the warp gate," said Reinhardt. During the trip, Jin was concerned about Reinhardt, but there was nothing he could do about it, so he listed the things they lacked and thought of ways to improve them. "Yes, Reiko." "Yes, father." I have a question for you. Do you think you can control the runaway warp gate? Reiko flew around the world many times to find Jin when the warp gate went out of control. Jin was trying to get a clue from Reiko''s experience. "Yes, it was a runaway, but it was not directional. I didn''t feel any regularity in the destination. "I see. ......" Jin is a little disappointed. "But there was one phenomenon that caught my attention. What is it? Yes, there seems to be a connection between the magic power consumed by the warp gate and the distance between the destination and the institute. According to Reiko''s impression, the more magic power is consumed, the farther away the destination is. "I have not been able to measure it, but the points that are currently known from the survey are the mountains north of the village of Kaina, the forest outside of Blueland, and Potrock. The distances are almost the same. This is good news. If the distance can be controlled by consuming magic power, the only thing left is the direction. A warp gate is a magical tool to connect the space between two points. In the case of a transfer, the receiving side is merely a landmark, and the sending side is almost everything. Jin understands that much. "So, if we can designate the receiving side without the device, we can ......". Jin was absorbed in this thought for an hour and a bit before Dali. "Father, we will be over Dali soon." "Oh, I see." Jin breaks his reverie and returns to reality. It is night here. Jin can''t see anything. "Falcon 1, deactivate stealth. Reiko, look down. Do you see anything that interests you?" Jin asks Reiko to use her vision to look for anything suspicious. Jin puts on his own reinforced suit and helmet. "Nothing so far." But unfortunately, nothing is found. "d*mn, I guess I''m too late." Jin thinks of a way to find Reinhardt. If he knew Reinhardt''s magic pattern, he would be able to search for him with a detector in Horai Island, but he did not have such a detector at hand at the moment. "There is no magic power left in the guild card case that I got from the guild. Then a thought occurred to him, and he contacted Sage and Cosmos, the covert task force (SP) who were supposed to be in Dali. "Yes, Chief. This is Sage. "Okay, look, is there anything that has Reinhardt''s magic power left in it that we can use to detect him?" I asked and immediately received a response. "Yes, the destroyed Black Knight (Schwarzlitter)." "What? Jin was surprised. According to the report, he was lying on the ground with his limbs torn off. "Is the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) really that destructive? Compared to the enemy golems we''ve seen so far, this one has far more power. "Well, good. Then, can you carry the black knight (Schwarzlitter) over here? "Yes, I think it will be fine as long as we both use overlapping stealth fields to carry him. Okay, then hurry up. The rendezvous point is ...... Sage, the rendezvous point with Cosmos is about 10 kilometers north of Dali, up the Asur River. Of course, the plane will be stealth when it lands. There are no settlements in this area, even though the walls of the Kingdom of Cerroa are visible across the river. Jin wondered what kind of defensive thought they had. Sage and Cosmos arrived less than 10 minutes after Falcon 1 landed. That''s impressive how fast they arrived. "Thank you, Sage and Cosmos." "Chief, I''m sorry we couldn''t protect Mr. Reinhardt." As soon as they arrive, Jin tells them not to worry about it. "I''m over here. Black Knight (Schwarzritter), this guy is terrible ......." His limbs have been forcibly torn off, causing a leakage of magic power, and he has stopped working. "But the control core has nothing to do with it." With this muttering, Jin takes out the control core from the chest of the black knight (Schwarzlitter). "Okay, this is enough to understand Reinhardt''s magic power pattern. Sage, jump to Horai Island by the warp gate of Falcon 1, and hand this control core to Laozi. And let him search for Reinhardt''s whereabouts. According to the time, he probably isn''t far from Dali." "Yes, sir." Sage took the control core and jumped to Horai Island through the warp gate. Jin just waits for the call from Laozi. While he waits, he thinks again. I should install a magic detector in Falcon and Raptor. And then he thought. "I see. If we want to improve the accuracy of position calculation, we should install it not only on Horai Island, but also on Kunlun Island and the aircraft carrier that will be completed in the future. The greater the distance between two measuring instruments, and the closer the distance between the instrument and the object, the more accurate it becomes. It would be effective to install it on the Falcon, which can be stopped in mid-air. While I was thinking about this, I received a call from Lao Tzu. "You''re early. Did you get it? "Yes, my lord. The magic power of Reinhardt-sama was so great that it was easy to identify him. In addition, Lao Tzu was getting used to it. And the location? "Yes. It''s about 10 kilometers north of where the master (my lord) is now, right by the river. Okay. Thank you. Sage returned almost as soon as we lost contact with him. He had a simple map in his hand. "Chief, I also got an abbreviated map from Lao Tzu." "Thanks for your help, Sage. All right, Falcon 2 and 3, descend! The two aircraft descended in stealth. Unlike jet engines, magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) make little noise. There would be some dust, but the area was covered with gravel, so it could be disguised. Even if they are noticed, the landing is so short that the plane will have already taken off by the time a patrol comes to look around. "Lands 41 to 60 from land. Sage and Cosmos with me. Bring down hydro five. Me, Reiko, and Marine 5 will take the boat. Falcon 1 through 3, cover us from the air. Copy that. This is a land, sea, and air envelopment operation. Preparations are complete in three minutes. Jin and Reiko boarded the Hydro 5 and Falcon 1 to 3 took off into the sky. "Let''s go!" Jin commanded, and Lando and the others started running. Once they were near the enemy base, they left the approach to the stealth-equipped Sage and Cosmos, and set up a perimeter. Jin headed up the Asur River in the Hydro-5 piloted by Marine 5. He does not care if he is seen. "Unifiler, this time I''m going to make you regret it!" Purcell, who claimed to be the head of Branch 8, did not have much information. He was really a low-level person. He was a small-time employee who had built his position in the Unification Party (Unifiler) with money. He was not stupid enough to inform important secrets to such a newcomer and upstart. Jin was determined to siphon off important information this time. The Hydro 5 was moving along the river at 50 kilometers per hour, or about 27 knots. And the army golems were moving at about the same speed. The 10-kilometer distance was covered in a little more than 10 minutes, and the enemy base they were aiming for was right in front of them. It was a watchtower abandoned by the Kingdom of Cerroa. 209 - - 08-30 Branch 6 The black boat that took Reinhard and Stellina left for the river Asur. The great river, the Asur River, flows out of Lake Asur. Lake Asur is not only a tourist attraction, but also a place where the Kingdom of Selroa can secure valuable fishery resources. The width of the river is about 300 meters. There are four 40-meter-long boats floating in the middle of the Asur River. They are owned by the Kingdom of Cerroa, and are ferryboats, so to speak, for transporting carriages across the Asur River. The black boat approached one of them. It was already around four o''clock. It took a long time to get out of the canal and into the river because of the many obstacles and tricks to get out of the canal without being seen. The sun was setting and no one could see the black boat. The black boat was already at an angle where it could not be seen from the shore. The distance between the boats was about 150 meters, and the sun was fading, so the naked eye could no longer see what was going on. The small black boat has pulled up alongside one of the larger ships, and Reinhardt and Stearina have been transferred to it. Their arms are already bound behind their backs. "What is it?Are we transferring to a bigger ship?" Reinhardt says, "Amari, don''t worry about it. The golem nudges Reinhardt in the face. The large ship with the two on board heads up the Asur River. The remaining three ships did not respond. Reinhardt sees this and wonders. "I don''t suppose any of the three ships are under the control of the Unifilers? Or is it ......?" Reinhardt senses that he is observing his surroundings, "Your yoni someina kata ni mirareru no chinochi komaruna." With these words, the golem blindfolded Reinhardt and Stearina. The large ship was moving at a slow pace. The city of Dali is far away and both banks of the river are deserted. The night was falling and the area was enveloped in darkness. After about two hours, the boat approached the right bank of the river. There we found the ruins of an old fort. It seems to be a watchtower from the time when the Kingdom of Selroa was expanding its power. It seems to be no longer in use, and is covered with ivy. The fort, half of which is built over the river, is quite huge. Although it is a watchtower, it must have been used as an important fort during the war. It was designed to be accessed by boats directly from the river, and large boats disappeared into the black, open mouth-like doorway. Now blindfolded and unable to see, Reinhardt could tell by the atmosphere that a ship had come ashore. "Have they arrived at their destination?" A spokesperson-like golem voice said, "Have we arrived at our destination? "Tsuita ori te moraou!" Reinhardt is triggered by a human-like arm. "Ouch!You have to be more gentle!" I heard Stearina''s voice. She seems to be with him. Blindfolded, Reinhardt walks up the stairs, down the corridor, around the corner and up the stairs again. Eventually he feels the carpet under his feet and is made to sit in a chair. At the same time, the blindfold is removed. "Welcome, Mr. Reinhardt, Mr. Stearina. Welcome." A man sitting in front of him said to him. "I am Intact Marzecilia de Galvani, the leader of the sixth branch of the Unifiler Party. I am also the Viscount of the Kingdom of Celuloa. Intact is in his mid-thirties, about the same height as Reinhardt. He was about the same height as Reinhardt, but skinny to the point of being scrawny. Dark brown hair, gray eyes. A crooked eagle nose, chiseled cheeks. His eyes had a brutal gleam to them, almost maddening. He was dressed in a white robe and cloak. The room where I am now is a large stone room with a carpet on the floor and tapestries hanging on the walls. Countless magic lamps were lit, and the room was as bright as daylight. "We are honored to have the distinguished magecraftsmen Reinhardt and Stearina in our branch," said Perlman. "Hmph, just like that Purcell fellow..." Reinhardt says as if he is going to spit it out. Intact frowned. "Purcell?Don''t put me in the same category as that imbecile. I''m one of the few branch managers who has been given the newest all-powerful golem." "The all-powerful golem?" Yes. Stronger than your Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) and capable of autonomous action. You''ve seen firsthand how powerful it is. Well, yes. Reinhardt affirms. "And I''m sorry that you had to resort to such a heavy-handed approach, as I''m sure you''ve approached Stearina many times." "Hmph, I will not cooperate with you in any way. Stearina says stoutly, but her voice is slightly trembling. "Hmph, there is no use in being stubborn. We have the means to make them cooperate with us regardless of their will. "You mean hypnosis?" Reinhardt exclaims. "What?Who told you that?" Intact stared at Reinhardt with steely eyes. "Let me guess. I don''t remember who told me that. "Well, there''s no point in playing dumb. If you put me under hypnosis, I''ll tell you everything. Reinhard bit his lip. "Well, think about it. If you cooperate with us, your magical skills will be greatly improved. After all, we have the world''s most gifted magi-craftsmen. "Oh, I see. Reinhardt, who knew Jin, had no idea that he was the best in the world. "Well, I don''t trust him. But you''ve seen the power of the all-powerful golem. It was a golem garden party held in the Kingdom of Egelea, and I took advantage of the commotion I caused at the party to investigate golems in various countries. That''s why that golem was created based on that information. So, the disturbance was a diversion to gather information? Yes, it was. And I heard that there was a golem that surpassed even the Taurus? < Intact speaks with a great deal of pride. The madness in his eyes seems to have increased. "In addition, I have also received a battle golem that specializes in combat. It is nearly twice as strong as the all-purpose golem. It is truly a golem worthy of the name ''invincible. Reinhardt does not know all of Reiko''s powers. But he knows about Jin''s technology and the island of Horai that was shown to him the other day. Knowing this, what the man in front of him says sounds hollow. "Well, I don''t think you should use invincibility so easily. Reinhardt said this sarcastically, and Intact seemed to take it as a reference to the black knight (Schwarzlitter), "Well, I thought you would say so. He laughed it off. "At any rate, Mr. Reinhardt, Mr. Stearina, as long as you are here, no help will come. And even if they do, it will take an army of over a thousand to bring them down. Think carefully and let me hear your answer. With that, Intact squared his jaw and four black masked men forced Reinhardt and Stearina to their feet and led them out of the room. "Where are you taking us?" Reinhardt said, "The guest room," one of the men answered. One of the men answered, "The guest room," and locked them in the room at the bottom of the stairs. There were no windows and only two simple beds. Only one magic lamp was on, and the room was dimly lit. "Phew." Reinhardt is relieved when his hands are released from behind his back. Stearina is drooping. "Stellina, cheer up!" When Reinhardt says this to her, she stays down. She is also feeling a bit lazy, which is also the reason for her low spirits. "......It''s no use. No matter how much she refuses, she will end up like Dominique. Reinhardt had told her the other day that Dominique had been brainwashed or hypnotized, and Stearina shuddered at the memory of that maniacal behavior. "I can''t do that!I don''t want to be myself anymore!" She was shocked by her own words and seemed to be getting more and more panicky. "Don''t worry, I''m here for you." Reinhardt hid the fact that he too was feeling lazy and gently hugged and patted Stearina on the back. This seemed to wake up Stearina''s arousal. "I''m sorry, Mr. Reinhardt." When she pulls away from Reinhardt, Stearina''s cheeks are a little red. She falls back on the bed. "Now what are we going to do?" Lying on the bed, Reinhard ponders. He tried to contact the innkeeper in the town of Dali, but he could not find a manacam. The protection ring has been taken away. I was kidnapped in the late afternoon. It took me 5 or 6 hours to get here. And an hour or so after that. It''s about time, if you notice anything unusual from the fact that you haven''t called Jin on time. If he can find himself with the device he used to find Erza, perhaps help will arrive tomorrow morning. Reinhardt thought so and tried to hang on until tomorrow morning. But he was mistaken. For one thing, Jin did not realize that he did not know Reinhardt''s magic pattern. And the other was. "Reinhardt-sama, isn''t it?" Jin and Houraishima''s ability to get serious. 210 - - 08-31 Penetration An abandoned watchtower. It was clear that it was a Unifiler base. "Okay, Land 41 to 60, keep your distance and surround and blockade the fort. The Army Golem is not stealthy, so it stays at a distance of about 200 meters to avoid being detected by the enemy. All covert SPs, head for the enemy base. The SP, which has already rescued Erza in the previous mission, will infiltrate the base again to rescue Reinhardt. Falcon 1 to 3, stay in the air and provide backup. Marine 5 is piloting the speedboat Hydro 5, and Reiko is standing by on the Hydro 5 with Jin. The 12 units of the covert task force (SP) infiltrated the enemy base without making a sound. Even Jin does not see them now. Having already infiltrated the 8th branch, their actions were smooth. Their coordination was also more advanced. Basically, they work in pairs. While one is distracted, the other is paralyzed. They attack one from the front and back. If there is more than one opponent, we will attack in pairs or more. In this way, we neutralize them without even raising an alarm. Guards. A perimeter guard. Gate guard. Patrolmen. One after another, they were neutralized. The structure of the fort was similar. Judging from its antiquity, it seems that the fort of Branch 8 was copied from this one. This gave us a further advantage. First floor service gate is secure. Commence search of the second floor. B1 confirmed. Reports came in to Jin one after another. Finally, the long-awaited report came in. "Basement level 2 confirmed. Mr. Reinhardt has been found. Mr. Reinhardt? It is Mr. Reinhardt, isn''t it?" asked a pitch-black golem. It was about the size of a normal adult woman. It had pried open the door, which was supposed to be locked, and entered. "Ah, ah. Reinhardt is me. Then the black female golem bowed, "It''s nice to meet you. My name is Sage. Please make yourself at home. Please give me a chance to meet you. Reinhardt was puzzled. Then another female golem of the same type appeared, Sage, let''s hurry! Sage, let''s hurry! "Who are you? was all Reinhardt could manage to say. "We are the Secret Service Panzer Platoon (SP). We have been asked to protect Mr. Reinhardt. My name is Cosmos." The golem that came in after him said that. "You were asked to guard him?Is that ......?" "Yes, Jin, from your father." Reinhardt breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, Jin was quicker than I thought. All right, we''re getting out of here, aren''t we?" "Yes. We should be okay for a while now. Okay. Stearina, let''s go. "Yes, yes." Then Cosmos asks. "Who are you?" "Yes, this is MagiCraftsman, Stealina, who was kidnapped with us. I''d like to take her with me. Okay. Let''s go to ............." There was a pause. It was because he had contacted Jin, but feeling hesitant, Reinhardt made a slight apology. "I''m sorry, that was selfish of me." "No, that''s okay. No, it''s okay. It''s just that we were not strong enough, so I called Pance and Viola, who were nearby. Before I could finish my words, two small shadows arrived. They were in the shape of Reiko. "Are you guys also from the Covert Maneuver Unit (SP)?" Reinhardt is surprised. Stearina looks speechless. Please hurry! From the second basement to the first basement. There, two more bodies, a boyish POTUS and a heath, join them. When Stearina saw them, she seemed to think something. Then they went to the first floor. Three guards patrolling the room are down. Then a golem appeared. "Leave it to me." Porthos said and leapt at him. Heath leapt at him silently, a moment later. For a moment, purple sparks flew. 10 million volts of lightning magic. The golem is incapacitated and falls. A high-pitched noise echoes through the air. "They''ve noticed us, of course. Let''s hurry. ...... Mr. Reinhardt, Ms. Stearina, excuse me..." What? What?What?......kyaaaaaahhh!" Reinhardt just screamed in shock, but Stearina screamed. Sage picked up Reinhardt and Cosmos picked up Stearina and started to run. Their speed was more than five times faster than that of human beings. No wonder Stearina screamed. It was like she was suddenly on a roller coaster. But the speed certainly kept them out of harm''s way. At once the distance from the ruins of the fortress opens up. Before we knew it, Stearena had gone quiet and fainted. Since it is not a problem, the two of them follow Jin''s instructions and move far enough away from the fortress ruins. Lando 58, 59, and 60 are there to further escort them. "Are you Jin''s men too?" "Yes, we are Army Golem Land 58,59,60. Land 58 answered on behalf of the others. Reinhardt recalled having seen them in Kunlun Island. Then he realized once again how ridiculous Jin was. "I can''t ask you to serve my country now. ......" * * * * "Father, it seems that we succeeded in rescuing Mr. Reinhardt and Ms. Stearina. "Good, now it''s time to attack that fort. Let''s use the Falcon as little as possible this time. There is no need to show all of our skills. Jin ordered Marine 5 to bring Hydro 5 to the shore and went ashore with Reiko. Now that Jin is wearing a reinforced suit, he can jump about 2 meters. He can jump without coming in contact with the shore. With his helmet on and his shield in night vision mode, he could see at night as if it were daytime. Jin and Reiko, along with Land 50, 51, and SP Ash and Elm, went around the fort and stood about 100 meters from the front of the fort on the opposite side of the river. They stood about 100 meters from the front of the fort on the opposite side of the river. "All right, now that you ignored my warning, there will be no mercy for you. Reiko, put three bullets into the front wall of the fort first as a greeting. "Yes, Father." With a pleased gesture, Reiko prepares to fire the railgun. The sight of her holding the 1.5 meter long adamantite barrel is quite surreal. "Fire!" Fire!" The adamantite-coated bullets, which are designed to have high penetration power, were fired at Mach 20. Almost at the same time as the impact sound, a hole of three centimeters in diameter opened up in the fortress in front of us, in its chest wall. The bullet easily penetrated the one-meter-thick rock wall and continued through the inner wall, finally stopping when it lodged itself in the outer wall on the opposite side. One more shot. And another. Jin tried to imagine what the situation would be like inside the fort with three holes in it. 211 - - 08-32 Battle begins "What''s going on? Branch 6 was now in an uproar. It was after 9:00 at night. In a sense, this is the time when things are at their most relaxed. The night shift is starting to move in, and those on regular duty are taking a rest. Confusion runs through the fortress at night. A guard at the service gate has been found unconscious. The guards on the outside are not returning. Two guards in the basement. They''ve fainted. Reports keep coming in, but I don''t understand them. "What the hell is going on?Report it to me so I can understand!" Intact Marzecilia de Galvani, the sixth branch manager, yells at the top of her lungs, but that doesn''t make things any better. Oh, my God! What is it now? What is it now? - There are no prisoners! What?What''s going on? Intact was almost confused. "Branch Manager, please calm down. I can only think that someone from the outside has entered the building. Marcello, the vice director of the branch, said to him. He is also a magecraftsman. "Someone?Who are you? Marcello had no answer to that question. "Yesterday, a pigeon came from headquarters, remember?Remember that? "What?Do you really believe what that upstart Purcell told you? "I''m just saying, let''s consider it as one of the possibilities. That was the closest thing to the truth, but Intact wouldn''t listen. Marcello had no choice but to give his own orders, and that''s when he was hit in the face by something. He felt a blow on his face, something passed in front of him, and at the same time he heard a dull thud and saw a hole in the wall. "What the hell was that?What was that?" I touched it, and blood was dripping from my face. The next moment, there was a dull sound, and this time there was a hole in the wall behind me. I have no idea what just happened. Marcello, a reasonably competent magecraftsman, had no idea what had happened, nor could he even guess. In the next room, a soldier on guard duty was panicking when a hole suddenly appeared in the wall and something snatched his arm and ripped off his flesh. But Marcello was able to think calmly. "What did it say ......, <>," he said. No way. ......" "Branch Manager!A hole suddenly opened in the wall and two golems on standby were crushed! Something is lodged in the wall facing the river! A report comes in. "Take out the thing that is stuck in the wall and bring it to me. I go around to the front of the fort and look out through a small hole for observation. "What?What is that?" There were several figures about 100 meters away. It was too dark and far away to make out their faces. "From the direction of the hole, I wonder if they are the ones who did this to us. After thinking for a while, I decide to send out two battle golems. Of course, they are the lowest class golems, just to see what happens. "Go. And if they''re enemies, capture them and bring them to me." * * * * * * "Well, we should have some kind of reaction by now." Three railguns are fired and ten minutes pass. Jin stared at the fort in the darkness, his helmet in night vision mode. "Oh, father, something''s coming out." Reiko, who has even better eyesight than Jin in night vision mode, spots two golems coming out of the fort. "They''re coming on foot. They are golems. They don''t look very good. You can tell the quality of a golem by the way it moves. If it moves awkwardly, it''s a low-grade golem. Simple strength, however, cannot be measured by such a scale. When you get as close as 20 meters, even Jin can tell it''s a golem. And the quality of the workmanship. It can''t be friendly. The two golems did not seem to have the ability to speak, and they approached Jin silently, without stopping their steps, and tried to grab him. "What are you doing?" Reiko took a swing of the railgun in her hand. Both Golems were crumpled up and immobilized after being hit by the railgun, which was made of adamantite and weighed about 50 kilograms, heavier than Reiko''s. "How fragile . "How fragile ......" The exterior is bronze. Jin has no idea what this golem was sent out for. "Let''s get a little closer. Yes, Ash, Elm, take the golem. Yes, Chief. SP, Ash and Elm carry one of each of the stuck golems. Land 50 and 51 are with them. In the darkness of the night, Jin and his teammates approach the Golem within about 40 meters of it. "All right, let''s smash that golem against the wall of that fortress. ......That''s right, let''s ask Rand to do it this time. Lando 50, Lando 51, please. "Yes, master." Lando 50 and 51 lifted the golem at the same time and threw it as hard as they could at the wall above the fort. Incidentally, the maximum output of the army golem is about 20 percent of the current Reiko''s. It is outrageous in its own way. The golem was thrown with such force that it hit the wall of the fort and fell down halfway into the ground. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "What, what, what are they?" As I was observing the outside, a golem suddenly flew out of nowhere and slammed into the wall. Seeing this, even Marcello was stunned. But he quickly cooled down and began to think. "Hmmm, that power, the golem he is carrying is the strongest golem that was active at the Golem Party, isn''t it?If so, is he Jin Nido?" The information from the golem garden party matches the information from yesterday. "It''s time to be sparing no more. ......<" Marcello produced three balls of light and floated them in front of the fort. The darkness disappears and the light becomes bright. There were four golems that appeared to be battle-ready, and a man wearing a strange helmet who seemed to be ordering them around. And what is hard to understand is that a person who looks like a girl is standing there holding a strange weapon that is bigger than her height. "Is that them who attacked you?" Marcello turned toward the voice and saw Intact, who had recovered and was looking out through the other observation window. "It seems so. The lower golems were no match for him. "Well, I''m the only one who can activate the advanced battle golem. I don''t care who or what you are, you''ll see. And with that, Intact pulled back and activated all of the battle golems and sent them into battle. He then activated all of the battle golems and launched them into battle, saving the strongest battle golem and the all-powerful golem as trump cards. As Marcello watched, he immediately saw fifteen battle golems rush out from the front of the fort. "More than double the strength difference. Well, I guess that settles it." * * * "There is someone behind the surveillance window on the fort. It seems to be observing us. As Reiko was saying this, a ball of light came up and illuminated the area. "It finally noticed us. Then I wonder if it will attack us with all its might next time.Barrier." The reinforced clothes have a high defense, but just in case, Jin put up a barrier. Not long after that, fifteen golems burst out of the open door at the front of the fort. 212 - - 08-33 Battle of Golem Enemy golems, 15. Incoming! Ash, Elm, Land 50, Land 51, intercept. Roger that. At Jin''s command, four Golems jumped out. The first to collide with them were the lightweight Ash and Elm. These two are the type of fighters that take advantage of their speed due to their light weight. Ash, under the pretense of engaging the enemy golem head-on, instantly jumped to the right side and slammed a back left fist into the enemy golem''s head. Elm crouches down to avoid the golem''s fist, and then he leaps up and slams his fist into the enemy golem''s jaw. Both of them are effective against the enemy golem, but they do not do much damage against the golem. The head of the attacked golem is crushed, but unlike humans, it is not a fatal wound. Based on the current Reiko, the output of the army golem is about 20 percent, and that of the SP is about 10 percent. percent. Even so, a bronze golem can be slaughtered with a single hit, but against a combat golem, it is standard practice to target the torso, where the control core is located. "Hmmm, it is specialized for fighting against people, isn''t it?" Just as Jin was having this impression, Lands 50 and 51 collided with the enemy golem. The army golems, as they are known to be, were blown to pieces with the first blow. Next, Land 50 and 51 each took one of the golems under their arm and smashed them against each other in the same manner. This makes a total of six bodies in the scrap heap. Meanwhile, Ash and Elm had killed the first two. Seven remained. "Well, Lando and the others are really pushing hard. Maybe they should learn more martial arts." Jin recalled how Lotte had been very successful at the Golem Party. "Next time, I will transfer my knowledge of martial arts. And he made up his mind to do so. I was so determined. "Oh, what a bunch! Intact, who had been observing them, exclaimed in surprise. "Mm-hmm, they are strong. I think that''s Jin Nido after all. Marcello made a calm analysis. "I don''t care about that!We must win!I''m going to activate the most powerful golem right now!" With these words, Intact withdraws. The remaining Marcello lets out a sigh. "Well, it looks like we''re going to have to deploy our forces one after the other. We''d better get ready to run away. * * * * Little by little, Ash and Elm seem to be getting used to fighting against golems. At first they were fighting one on one, but now they are taking advantage of their speed to take one down with two of them. This is not a match, so it is fine. On the other hand, Land 50 and 51 used their power to scrap the enemy head on. They couldn''t hold two of them aside like they did the first time, but they had already taken down two each and were just now taking down another. Ash and Elm have also finished defeating two of them, and all fifteen enemy golems are now scraps. "Well, what a pity. Land 50, Land 51, collect them." They were made and used by their idiotic masters, and now they''re in this mess. Jin ordered the 15 bodies to be recovered for research purposes. "Father, look out!" A black shadow attacked Jin. Reiko notices this and quickly covers him, but because of the difference in their weight, she is knocked off her feet. But it was worth it, for the black shadow could not touch Jin, and stopped after stepping on the tatara. Jin was a little surprised, even though he had put up a barrier. Then he looks at the enemy in front of him. "...... a black-gray golem. It seems to be different from the ones we''ve seen before." Jin could see the quality of the workmanship even from the slightest observation. The black-gray color is also a sign that it is coated with adamantite. The battle begins again. Ash and Elm leap at the black-gray golem in place of Reiko, who is knocked away and slightly separated from Jin. But the difference in size is great. The black-gray golem was about 2.3 meters tall, while Ash and Elm were 175 centimeters tall. In terms of weight, the difference is probably nearly three times as great. Ash has a right arm and Elm has a left arm. The other golem is catching the other golem with only one arm. "Wow, it''s pretty powerful." Jin looks at it with interest. "Hmm, the flow of power is not so different from other Golems. But there is a strange concentration. ...... could it be?" Jin wonders how the enemy golem is generating its power, "Rand 50, you''re up against it." "Land 50, you deal with it. Following his instruction, Land 50 went toward the black-gray golem. The enemy golem notices this and shakes off Ash and Elm. "Ash, Elm, thank you. Get back here." Jin instructs them to return to their flanks, bringing the covert maneuver unit (SP) back to his sides. In front of him, a black-and-gray golem and a Land 50 were locked in a battle. They are grabbing each other hand in hand and pushing each other. "Hmmm...they are exerting the same power as Lando..." Jin observes again. Reiko gave him a word of advice. "Father, it is good to observe the enemy, but you should do it moderately, or the leaders may escape. Jin reflected on what he had been told. He was aware that he was not suited for combat. "Yes, I understand. I understand, but I don''t want to destroy it too much as a research material. Okay, Land 51, Ash, Elm, Reiko. Get him down." Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Reiko''s going to knock him off his feet. She is a little stronger than before, perhaps in retaliation for being bounced off. The enemy golem with its knee joint bent backward falls to the ground. Reiko punched it at the base of the limb . In the blink of an eye, the enemy golem''s limb joints are half destroyed by the four blows. It was in no condition to exert itself properly. Then, five more golems seized him, and even the enemy golem was unable to move. Jin moves closer and touches its chest, "<>". and erased the operating formula of the control core. Now the black-gray golem is immobilized. "It worked. We didn''t think they would use this magic on us. All the golems were neutralized, and Jin looked up at the fortress. Reiko also looked up right in front of him. "The people who were here just a moment ago are gone, aren''t they?" The faces that had been peering through the small observation window had disappeared, and Reiko could detect the presence of living creatures, albeit with a little less accuracy. I trusted her judgment. "I see. Maybe they are trying to escape. If so, it would be from the other side of here, probably from the river. All right, we''re done here. Land 50, 51, and Ash and Elm stay back and watch. If the Unifilers come out, don''t let them get away. Reiko, come with me." Jin and the others are at the front of the fort. The river is the best place to escape. Jin decides so and heads for the river with Reiko. Hydro-5 was waiting for them. "Okay, we wait for the enemy to come out. Once the boat is in the river, there is no escape. We were going to round them up. There is a big door in the part of the fort facing the river. If they come out, they will come out through there. We waited for about three minutes. And the door opened as expected. "Okay, you''re right. Falcon in the sky, you are to support us. But hold your fire until I tell you otherwise." This time, Jin had tried to refrain as much as possible from showing off his military strength. I have no intention of giving away our air power. The enemy ship was a large ship. It is painted black and can hold about 50 people. There were four oars protruding from each side, which seemed to be rowed by a golem. "Hmmm, it''s still a little dark in night vision mode. Jin, who was in night vision mode, managed to observe without lights. Hydro 5 quietly followed him and waited until the boat was in the middle of the river. "Okay, <>" Jin produced five balls of light and floated them. The area is brightly illuminated. The area was brightly illuminated. "You mean you''ve been waiting for me? The light balls revealed Jin''s ship. "What, they were chasing us in such a small ship?" Intact made a disparaging remark when he saw that the Hydro 5 was a small boat that could only accommodate about four people at most, but Marcello was different. "No, Branch Manager, that''s not true. That boat doesn''t have a rower on board." "What?" At the moment, the propulsion engine of all ships in this world is a golem (except for those rowed by men). Marcello wonders why there is no golem on board. Is there a golem in the water? Marcello had overheard a story about a golem boat competition in the Kingdom of Elias, in which mermaid golems had participated, and this made Marcello imagine such a thing. "Yeah, attack!Magic Squad, forward!Fire!" While Marcello was watching, Intact ordered the magician to fire a flame ball at the small boat. However, just before they reach the small boat, the flame balls explode as if there is an invisible wall, and none of them hit the boat. "What are you doing? Intact was excited, frustrated by the ineffectiveness. Marcello saw this and thought that a hypnotized person is not a suitable leader. 213 - - 08-34 Water Battle "Magic Squad, fire!Fire away!" The 6th Branch Chief, Intact, gives the order, and the Magic Squad fires flameballs one after another. "...... But there''s no such thing as a strategy. Are all branch managers idiots?" Jin thought as he blocked the magic with the barrier he had deployed. "Well, let''s wait and see. Eventually the magic power will run out and we won''t be able to shoot. The magic power required to maintain the barrier is small, but the flame ball requires a lot of magic power. As if realizing that the Flame Balls were not going to get them anywhere, three Flame Lances flew at them this time. However, they were easily stopped by the barrier. After that, no more magic came. "Branch chief, everyone is using too much magic. ......" The captain of the magic squad reported with a blue face, but Intact was still in a rage. "Yeah, they''re all useless!" At that moment, the ship they were on was hit by a shock. "All right, Reiko, now fire five steel balls at their ship!" This time, Jin did not intend to use any special means of attack. The railgun, despite its power, is in principle the same as a catapult or slingshot, something similar to what we have in this world. However, it is impossible to fire a railgun at speeds exceeding Mach 20. "Yes, father." She temporarily released the barrier and readied her railgun. "Yes, that''s right. You don''t have to go all out. I''ll give you five percent." "Yes, sir." There was no way to stop the steel ball, which was traveling at the speed of sound even at 5 percent. The booming sound is a sonic boom. If the railgun did not have an absorption barrier, it would have been powerful enough to damage Jin, let alone Reiko. Five shots echoed. The recoil caused Hydro-5 to fall back about 10 meters, but it quickly regained its footing. Meanwhile, the Unification Party (Unifiler) ship was on the other side. The hull shook with a dull thud. I saw a girl in a small boat holding a long tube and pointing it at me. "Are you sure this is a magic tool? Marcello, the vice director, opened his eyes in astonishment. But Intact, the branch manager, was in a panic. "What the heck is that?What was that?Somebody say something! "Two of the four power golems were damaged by the mysterious attack! Multiple holes in the hull! That''s not what we want to hear," yells Intact. At that moment, the ship lurched. One of the shots had hit below the draught line, and the ship had begun to flood. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Intact calls out to the all-powerful golem in dismay. "Hi, Shibucho." Hold me!Listen, don''t let go until I tell you! Hi. Unable to stand on the rocking ship, Intact uses his only remaining trump card, the all-powerful golem, to support himself. "Well, that''s a relief. What is the damage?What the hell was that attack? Marcello began to think that it was time to give up on Intact, who was still blustering away at this point. "You people!Who would stand idly by and take an attack of this kind?Shoot them with your bows and spears!And if the magician has recovered a little, fire some magic at them!" Intact ordered. In response, two archers stood on the edge of the ship and took aim at Hydro 5. The archers are reasonably skilled, and two arrows are fired from the rocking and tilting ship at Hydro 5 without warning. But before they could reach Hydro-5, they were blocked by the barrier and fell on the water. In return, three steel balls are fired, two of which hit the bottom of the draft, and one of which pierced through the cabin. "The hull is damaged!It''s beyond repair!Water is coming in!" A report comes in from the cabin below. Marcello gives orders while Intact is screaming. "This ship is no more. Everyone get off the boat. Get a board or something to hold on to and jump in the water! "Baba baba baba baba, Marcello, you''re abandoning this ship!" Intact was about to storm Marcello in a frenzy of excitement. At that moment, two more steel balls hit him, one of which destroyed the right leg of the all-powerful golem. The golem loses its balance and falls into the river, taking Intact with it. "Ohhhhhh......" After the scream, the sound of water was heard. The all-powerful golem obeyed orders and did not let go of the intact even under water. And Intact, or rather humans, are not designed to speak underwater. Therefore, the all-powerful golem sank down in the river with Intact firmly supported. "Everyone get out of the way!Get out of the way! Marcello shouted and turned around. When he saw that there was no one left to jump in, he grabbed the nearest piece of board and jumped into the water himself. "Father, the crew is leaving!" "Yes. "Yes, and the ship is sinking. "All right, let''s finish this up." Jin ordered Reiko to fire two lead balls. "Yes." The soft lead crushed and spread as the bullets impacted, transferring all of their kinetic energy to the hull. The result? "Na, na, na, na." The ship they were on was smashed to pieces in front of the Unification Party members floating on the water. "All right, all that''s left are the ones floating in the water. Reiko, give them a baptism of thunder rain with minimum current. "Yes, Father." One of the quickest ways to deliver an electric shock to a body immersed in water is to drop thunderbolts on it from overhead. Reiko therefore unleashed a baptism of thunder at the lowest value she could control. For a moment, the surface of the river turns purple. About 10 million volts fell on the floating Unification Party members. All the Unification Party (Unifiler) members on the surface of the river fainted with a short scream. The heart would not have stopped unless they were very unlucky because they were underwater. However, there were two unlucky ones, and two who fainted and sank to the bottom of the river due to the weight of their armor. Including the intact, there were a total of five. Unexpectedly, the same number of people as Reinhardt''s guards lost their lives. "All right, let''s get them back." The Unifiler party members who had been neutralized were scooped up with a fish-catching net that had been provided. There were 28 in all. "Let''s just get them ashore and tie them up for now." Lando and the others were placed on the riverbank, and the fainted Unification Party members were handed over to them. Since there was no suitable rope, Jin used his engineering magic to make a wire rope from a piece of golem. "Well, I''ll have to discuss what to do with them with Reinhardt. Since he had kidnapped a diplomat of the Shoro Empire, he was afraid to dispose of them on his own. Or rather, since it was probably Reinhardt who felt the greatest resentment, he decided to ask Reinhardt''s opinion first. Reinhardt came in protected by the army golem Lands 58,59,60. "Jin!" Reinhardt!You''re safe! Yes, thanks to you. Reinhardt smiles at Jin, but Jin notices that his smile has no power. He looked at him and saw a collar around his neck. "No way!I''m sorry, Reinhard. I should have seen it first." He puts his finger on the collar. "No, Jin, this is not easy to remove." Jin then picks up the collar. Reinhardt does not even feel the tug. "Hey ......, you ........." "Hmm?" Reinhardt smiled at Jin, who looked at the collar he had picked up with a look of disgust on his face. "Good grief, how can you pick it back up so easily?" "I mean,......, the moment you touch it with your fingers, you get an indescribably bad feeling, and when you counteract it with magic power, it softens like clay and you can tear it off, is that right? This collar has a function to fine-tune the size by using the wearer''s magic power. The truth is that the functional part was injected with an excessive amount of magic power,...... more than 10 times the approximate amount that would be expected,......, causing it to malfunction. But Jin will not know this until he examines the collar in detail. Hmmm, well, we''ll get into that later, but Stearina was captured with him. Take her collar off, too. Reinhardt says, to Jin''s surprise, "I''m listening. I heard that the place where Reinhardt was attacked was Stearina''s house. "Yeah, I heard it''s officially a different house. Stearina, on the other hand, is still unconscious in Cosmos''s arms. "Oh, it''s probably because of this collar. She must have some kind of magical formula that makes her sick. Saying this, Jin took off Stearena''s collar as well. "What?That''s why you''ve been feeling kind of lazy. Thanks for the help, Jin ......, but what is it?That''s a strange helmet. And can you call it clothing? Jin wears a helmet that looks more like a sci-fi helmet than a helmet. The night vision visor is pulled up so that we can see his face, but if it were pulled down, we would not be able to recognize him. "This new equipment I made. It''s pretty useful." Then Jin turns serious and points at the Unifiler members who are still unconscious and tied up, "Reinhard, what are you going to do with them? "Reinhard, what are you going to do with them? 214 - - 08-35 Reflections "The group responsible for the abduction of Shoro''s diplomat, Reinhard Reinhard, will be dealt with by Reinhard. .........oh yeah..." Jin took out a magi crystal from the pocket of his reinforced suit as he remembered and approached the fainted members of the Unifiler party and used transinfo on the man who seemed to be the most important among them. "I think I can get some better information now." The last time I read this, the head of Branch 8, Purcell, did not have any good information. And when he tucked it away in the breast pocket of his reinforced suit. A shadow came out of the darkness and struck Jin. Jin''s body was lifted into the air and sent flying five meters into the air. Jin! Father! The one who hit Jin was the all-powerful golem that had sunk into the river along with Intact. Since its right leg had been destroyed by Reiko''s railgun, it took a while to get out of the river. Naturally, Intact, who was supporting her as ordered, had drowned and was no longer of this world. However, the all-powerful golem was autonomous, though not as autonomous as Jin''s golem, and it knew that once it was confirmed that Intact was dead, the command would be transferred to Marcello, the second-in-command, who would be the vice-chief. When he saw that Marcello was unconscious and tied up, he attacked the enemy standing closest to him, namely Jin. Hit by the blow, Jin was sent flying five meters to the ground, unable to move. "How dare you ...... your father! With those words, Reiko delivered a blow to the all-powerful golem. She swung the railgun in her hand and struck it from the top. It was a force that bent even the barrel of the adamantite railgun, literally with all of Reiko''s strength. Somehow, the universal golem did not sink into the soil, but was flattened like an empty can trampled by a truck. "Jin!Jin! Meanwhile, Reinhardt rushes to Jin and takes care of him. "Uh......uh?" Jin!Jin!Thank God! Father! Reiko, who had defeated the all-powerful golem, immediately rushed to Jin''s side. "I am sorry!Please punish me! Reiko kneels on her knees in front of Jin who regains consciousness. But Hitoshi gently calls out to Reiko. "Reiko, I''m all right. So look up. "Jin, Jin, are you sure you''re okay?The golem hit you and blew you up 5 meters! But Jin smiles and replies. "Yeah, this reinforced suit protected me from the blow. I think I was knocked out, but that was just from the shock of being blown 5 meters and hitting the ground. Jin stood up and waved his hands and stamped his feet to show that he was safe. "Oh, I''m so glad. I didn''t feel like I was alive." "Father, ......." Reiko''s face is crumpled. If she could have cried, she would have shed copious tears. And all around her were the golems of the Secret Service (SP) who were following Reiko''s example and getting down on their knees. It was surreal. "That''s enough, everyone. I''m fine. The sea dragon-made reinforced suit withstood the blow from the all-powerful golem, even though its right leg was destroyed. Although not very happy, we were able to verify this in a real battle. "Jin, I''m honestly glad you came to save me. But you should take better care of yourself. "What?" "Reiko and the other golems who are your children. If anything happens to Jin, everyone will be sad. You should understand that. Reinhardt, knowing that the golems and automata Jin had created were capable of rich emotions, gave him this advice. "I don''t think you are suited to command in the field in the first place." Jin gratefully accepted Reinhardt''s blunt advice. "So ...... you are. Okay, I''ll be careful. Thank you, Reinhard. "Yeah." So, after consultation, Jin and Reinhardt escorted the captured Unification Party members to Lands 58, 59, and 60 and took them to the city of Dali. They took them to the city of Dali and handed them over to the Kingdom of Celuloa through the garrison of the Shoro Empire. As a diplomat, Reinhardt could not let his personal grudge take precedence. Jin thought about what to do with Reinhardt and Stearina, who had not yet awakened from her stupor. In the end, since it was still midnight, he decided to take them by Hydro 5 to the town of Dali. "Oh, wow!This is the ship Jin built!" Reinhardt is excited to see the Hydro 5. "It''s not golem-driven!" I''ll explain everything later," Reinhardt says quietly, and we get him on the boat. The boat has a capacity of four people, so it is fully occupied by Marine 5, Jin, Reinhardt, and Stearina, who is piloting the boat. Reiko, however, is not happy, "I will never leave my father''s side. She would not leave her father''s side. I have no choice but to carry her on Jin''s lap. The bent railgun is put into the luggage space. The railgun is still light enough to fit in the luggage space. "Then we''re leaving." With that, Marine 5 started the Hydro 5. The boat is going more than 50 kilometers per hour, even with four people on board, because of the current of the river. The army golems except for Lands 58, 59 and 60, which were transporting Unified Party members, were recovered by Falcon 2. 2 retrieved. The pieces of the captured enemy golem are also with them. "Reinhard, just so you know, the guards of the Kingdom of Celuloa are unwilling, right?Reinhardt and Stearina were kidnapped and they didn''t even make a move." "Well, you know. I can sort of see that. And the butler, Claude, right?I heard he was shut out of the scene, too. Jin explained what he had seen and heard when Sage and Cosmos of the Secret Maneuver Unit (SP) had stayed at the site to gather information. "Well, is it that rotten?" As we were talking, the city of Dali came into view. Hydro 5 pulls up to the shore, as it is not a good idea to get too close to the city. Here, a problem emerged. The city of Dali is on the left bank of the Asr River, while the POWs are on the right bank. "It''s no use. There should be soldiers stationed in the city of Giron. Let''s hand them over there." Reinhardt said and Hydro 5 crossed back to the right bank. "I''m sorry, but you''re going to have to keep me in the dark. And give my regards to Mr. Stearina. Now, having soldiers from the Kingdom of Selroa and the Shoro Kingdom asking me questions is a waste of time, and more importantly, it''s a pain in the ass. So, Jin, though he felt bad about it, left the cleanup to Reinhardt. "Oh well, it can''t be helped. You''ll have to make it up to me later, won''t you? Reinhardt smiled mischievously. And Jin, "What, I saved you!" Reinhardt laughs and says, "What, I saved you. Then Reinhardt says "Ha-ha, I''m just kidding. Well, leave the diplomacy to me." And he accepts the job. Still concerned about Stearina, who had not woken up yet, Jin sent Reinhardt ashore, saying that he would deliver the recovery medicine later. Sage and Cosmos, Reinhardt''s personal guards, were already there waiting for him, and they took care of the unconscious Stearina. He contacted Land 58 and the others by manacam, and was told that it would take about four and a half hours to reach them. "Well then, Reinhard, I''m really sorry. Take care of the rest! With these words, Jin turned the Hydro-5 towards the upper reaches of the Asur River again. Just as the city of Dali was out of sight, Falcon 1 and 3 descended. Falcon 3 rests on the river to suspend Hydro 5. There is a spray of water. Jin and Reiko board Falcon 1. As they do so, they take out an ampule of recovery medicine from the first-aid kit provided and ask Reiko to hurry up and deliver it to Reinhardt. "Okay, but father, you must never leave the Falcon, okay? Reiko reminded him. Jin smiled and nodded his head. Then I''ll hurry up and go. With that, Reiko disappeared. Reiko completed the three-kilometer distance in about one minute. She was traveling at nearly 200 kilometers per hour. Mr. Reinhardt. Oh, hey, Reiko, what''s up? "Here''s your recovery medicine. It works well, so divide it into two half doses." Reiko then presented an ampoule of the recovery medicine. "Oh, this is it. Thank you for taking the trouble." Reinhardt took it with thanks. "Well, I''ll take this." Reiko turned and walked away like the wind. "Father!Are you all right? "Oh, Reiko, you''re early." "...... thank God you''re all right." "Of course I''m fine. What do you think I am? But Reiko didn''t answer, "Come on, come on, let''s go home." Jin said. Jin understood Reiko''s sentiment and ordered Sky 11 to return. Falcon 1 and 3 soared into the dawn sky. Falcon 3, with Hydro 5 suspended above it, was as fast as Falcon 1. This is due to the application of wind magic to control the flow of air around the aircraft. The same is true for the . All the thick fuselage models are equipped with the same function. On the way back to Horai Island, Jin explained to Erza how he rescued Reinhardt with the manacam. On the other side of the manacam, Erza was breathing a sigh of relief. Perhaps she was remembering the time when she had been kidnapped. After that, Jin takes a nap for a short time. Reiko stares at his sleeping face. Falcon 1 flew toward Horai Island in the direction of the rising sun on the horizon. 215 - - 08-36 Silent Story 7 Around that time, Kaina Village Spring in April, the village of Kaina is full of life. Children are busy playing outdoors when the grass and trees sprout in the fields and mountains. The adults are plowing the fields and preparing to plant crops. The wheat that was sown last fall is growing and weeding the field is a must. "Hannah-chan, there are lots of weeds over here! "I got so much over here, too! Hannah and Patty, one year younger than Hannah, were picking wildflowers on the banks of the Erme River. Angelica, cress, cryptona. Wildflowers that even a child can pick. There are no similar poisonous plants, so they can be gathered safely. Angelica is an aromatic herb, and cress is tasty as a spicy garnish for porridge and rice porridge. Cryptona is used in soups. "Ah, there''s Hannah! came the voice of Jessie, a naughty little girl. In this season, the village girls are busy picking wildflowers. They visit the riverbanks, fields, forest edges, and other grassy places to pick wildflowers. Overcoming the winter season, they can enjoy the joy of spring in the fields and mountains, and at the same time, they can replenish vitamins that they tend to lack during the winter. Even without knowing such logic, picking wildflowers in spring was passed down from parents to children and from children to grandchildren in the village. After picking wildflowers until the long spring sun sets, the children would go to the hot springs to sweat before returning home. "Oh, it feels so good! "Hannah-chan, let me wash your back." "Yes, thank you." In the hot spring, children are washing each other''s backs. Shortly before Jin left the village, he had taught them to use Rita berries to wash their bodies and clothes. Rita berries are harvested in the fall, and no one would touch them because they were said to be poisonous, But when Jin muttered to himself, "This is a mukuroji tree, isn''t it? He dried them in the sun, ground them into a powder, and rubbed them with a little water to make a foamy substance. When he put a little of it in water and rubbed it, it foamed up and removed dirt. He also said, "If you use it every day, it will irritate your skin, so you should use it only when it is heavily soiled. He also said, "You should use it only when it is very dirty because it will irritate your skin if you use it every day. Until then, they had washed their clothes with lye, but when they used the powder made from rita berries, the dirt was removed even better, so the whole village gathered up rita berries. "I''m home, Grandma. "Welcome home, Hannah. You picked a lot of ritas. Grandmother Martha squinted at the basket full of wildflowers in Hannah''s arms. "I''m going to make you a lot of things tonight, aren''t I? "Yes!I''m so excited! That evening we made a salad of wildflowers and boiled vegetables. And of course, there was bread made from sifted flour. Delicious. "Hannah picked them for us, of course they''re delicious." And so the dinner time passes happily. The night comes early in the village of Kayna. In most houses, it is almost bedtime when the sun sets. The lights are usually torches or tallow lamps, which few houses use because they are too wasteful. "Good night, Grandma." "Good night, Hannah." Even in Martha''s house, dinner is served at 5:00 p.m. and everyone goes to sleep at 7:00 p.m.. That''s why we are all up early in the morning. They are up as soon as the sun rises. "Good morning, Auntie." "Good morning, Hannah." Everyone comes out to the communal well to rinse their mouths and wash their faces. "Hey, Auntie. ......" While pumping the water, Hanna always remembers Jin. "......I wonder if you are well." That day, Hanna goes to the mountain to pick wild vegetables on her golem horse, Mint. Her companion today is Gen, a golem. Of course, it is still a secret that he is back, so he acts as if Hannah and the villagers don''t notice him. With a clap of hoofs, Hannah heads for the mountain. "Oh, there''s Hannah! The children who find her call out to her. "Hanna-chan, I love you!" Hannah is the only one who has her own horse. The other five golem horses are shared by Ein, Tubai, Dry, Cuttle, and Sanku. The chief of the village who manages the horses can borrow them if he is refused, but Hanna, who has her own horse, is envied. "My grandma made this horse for me, you know..." she muttered to herself. Hannah strokes Mint''s neck as she murmurs. Mint keeps going on and on through the meadow and along the mountain path without stopping. And it took me only 20 minutes to reach the summit of the small mountain. It was more than twice as fast as walking. The village of Kayna was below us. Hannah remembered the last year when she and Jin came here to gather medicinal herbs. But we can''t stay like this forever. "We have to pick wild plants..." she said. Hanna got out of the mint and immediately started looking for wild plants. One of the plants she came looking for today was a lily bulb. It is usually collected in the fall, when the tops of the trees have withered away, but last fall she could not come to the mint to pick it because of the wild deer commotion and so on. The other one is "yamanegi" (Japanese leek). It is a wild vegetable, but also good as a tonic. It is good for a somewhat weakened body after the winter. Both of them were well known to Hannah. There is a similar type of poisonous herb in leeks, but she knows how to distinguish it, so there was no need to worry about making a mistake. Hannah is a smart girl. We continue collecting until just before noon and stop when the basket is full. After tying the basket tightly to the mint, we straddle it and start our way home. The ride down was even faster, taking less than 15 minutes. "I''m home! "Welcome home, Hannah. Thank you. You didn''t hurt yourself, did you? "Yes!" I''ll be right back for lunch. Go wash your hands. Yes, sir. Hannah took the basket down from Mint and went to the well to wash her hands. That afternoon, Roland the merchant''s carriage arrived. "Hello, Mr. Roland, we''ve been waiting for you. "Mr. Gibek, it''s been a long time. It''s getting warmer, isn''t it? Yes, it has. Last time I was here was a month and a half ago, when it was still winter, so things were very different. Is Jin-san still here? "No, he''s not leaving." Roland has this conversation with the village chief every time he comes to the village. "I see... ...... I''ve always wanted a rubber ball..." It seems that the rubber balls that Jin made and sold became quite popular. However, since Jin is the only one who can make them, there is nothing to sell. "What can you do without what you don''t have? As usual, they sell food, salt, seasonings, etc., and buy fire magic stones. Hannah watches from a distance. The night comes again. The wind picks up a little, so she closes the window. Hannah remembers that Jin made this mica-filled window for her. It has been four months since Jin disappeared, and Hanna has yet to forget him. She looks up through the window and sees stars twinkling in the night sky. 216 - - 09-01 Start of research Horai Island, an isolated island in the blue sea. This is the base of Magecraft Meister Jin. When Jin returns to his laboratory, he is astonished. "Shattered ......!Oh my god!" The Magi Crystal, which he had sucked out from Marcello by transinfo, had been shattered. "That golem''s blow. ......" When the Unifiler''s all-powerful golem received the blow, Jin, who was wearing a reinforced suit, was unharmed, but the magic crystal (magi crystal) that he had kept in an external pocket seemed to have received a shock. The fact that the pockets were made of a different material from that of the rest of the suit backfired, since it was impossible to put things in there if the pockets were too hard. "I can''t go back and do it again now. ......" Since I left it to Reinhardt, I have no choice but to give up this time. "Well, maybe next time. Jin then changed his mind and started to analyze the enemy golems. There was nothing to see in the 15 battle golems. It was a familiar structure. In other words, it was an old-style (to Jin) Golem, the prototype of Gon and Gen. But the battle golem that came out later was different. It was able to match Land 50 in strength, even if it had to be bent over. "Well, it''s different from the internal structure. It has a skeleton. A hardened steel skeleton can be seen. However, the structure of its joints is not as good as the one made by Jin, and the material of its magical muscles and the way they are used are also incomparable. "But is it because of this?" Jin took out four gems. They glow light blue in sunlight and green in artificial light. As far as is known, there is only one such gem. Eladrite. The gems are attached to the extremities of the body and have the effect of amplifying magic. 20 times the standard. You used it to create a force equal to Rand''s. However, to produce that much power with ordinary materials means that it would be quite impossible. As expected, the magical muscle had deteriorated considerably. "I see, I have to do maintenance every time I exert full power. It''s kind of a hassle." That is a harsh criticism. It is because we are not in an environment like Jin''s where we can use rare materials as much as we want to use them. "But it''s a big mana tank. Isn''t it about 10 times bigger than a normal golem? Most of the space in the chest and abdomen was occupied by the mana tank. "Hmmm, if Eladrite amplifies magic power, it shouldn''t need such a big mana tank. Jin, who had only one idea as to why, held one of the El Rado lights in his hand, "<>". and used the magic to turn on the light. The light, which normally would have been about the brightness of a 100-watt bulb, became as bright as if it were a flash. "Wow! Jin is so dazzled that he drops the Eladolite. "Father, what''s wrong? Reiko rushed in from outside the room. The light was already off by then, so Reiko had no choice but to ask Jin what had happened. "No, I was just doing an experiment. "Ha-ha-ha, I see, I see!" Jin bursts out laughing. Reiko looks at him with concern. "Father ......?" "Oh, I''m sorry. No, I was told that eladolite amplifies magic, so I experimented with it. And it does, you know, amplify it. It does, but it requires a corresponding amount of magical power. Jin sensed that the magic power used for the lights in the current experiment was about 20 times more than usual. "In other words, the power of the magic may indeed be 20 times more powerful. However, since the magic power is taken 20 times, it is not so beneficial if you don''t have magic power." It means that it would be a one-shot deal unless they possess huge magical power like Jin or have an inexhaustible supply of magical power like Reiko and her friends. That is why the battle golem was equipped with a huge mana tank. Jin estimated that it would have stopped working if it had continued to fight with Lando for more than 10 minutes. The mana tank would be empty. "Well, we will have to conduct detailed experiments, but that''s the principle. Let''s leave the rest to Lao Tzu to continue the experiment and verification. * * * * After finishing the discussion about the eladolite, Jin decided to discuss what he and Reiko had almost talked about the day before, namely, the outburst of the warp gate. "I mean, I want to make a warp gate that doesn''t need an acceptor," Jin explains to Reiko. Jin explains to Reiko. "It would be wonderful if we could do that. We could even ride directly into the enemy base. "Yes, it would make travel so much easier. It would be great if we could take an ordinary warp gate, transfer to any location, and set up a warp gate there. "Right." So, Jin and Reiko, who had experienced a runaway shift of a warp gate, began to study the details. With the support of Lao Tzu, they summarized their theories. With Lao Tzu''s processing capability, it was no problem to construct the theory of the warp gate while verifying the eladolite. Then Ann arrived. Anne is now working as an automata with Lao Tzu. She is an automaton who checks Lao Tzu''s plans and schemes. Ann, who has a different thought process from Lao Tzu, is useful in this way. However, since his processing power is much lower than that of Lao-tzu, he is necessarily detained for a longer period of time. "Goshujin-sama, lady, what are you doing?" Lately Anne has not hesitated to call Reiko . Although it seems to be the complete opposite. So Jin explained it to Anne. Then Anne said, "I need to determine a coordinate system that specifies a single point in space, right?" Ann is able to think logically like this. Anne is capable of such logical thinking. Jin, by the way, was a sensible man, and Reiko and Lao Tzu also inherited it. "I see, that''s true." Then Jin remembered what he had learned in high school. The first thing that comes to mind is the XYZ coordinate system, which is the length, width, height, and width. There is something else, something called polar coordinates, I think. Azimuth, altitude, and distance, I think. The terminology is a bit dubious, but the idea is correct. "In this case, I think it would be better to use polar coordinates with the origin on the sending side. If we set the origin at the outgoing transition gate (warp gate), we can determine the distance, azimuth and altitude (angle). "In that case, we need to convert the coordinates of the known point to polar coordinates, don''t we? Anne also advises him on what is needed. "Yes, we will need a dedicated arithmetic unit ...... control core. In this way, the control system was conceived. However, the important thing is whether or not it can be materialized at its destination. As Jin understood it, the principle of the warp gate is to connect two different points. It is never broken down into atoms and reconstituted at the target. "Well, the most important role of the receiving side of a warp gate is to be a landmark. To make a landmark that can be recognized from a distance. In other words, the receiving side does not need an enclosure. The reason the receiving end has the same shape as the sending end is simply because the receiving end will be the sending end on the return trip. "If it''s a one-way trip, there''s no need for an enclosure. And if we can remotely control the magic circle or magic formula (Magi Formula) that will be the landmark, we can ......." Jin thought hard. "Father, the most difficult thing is to determine the distance, isn''t it?" Reiko said. It is true that determining the direction is as sensible as shooting a railgun. But the distance? "Indeed. I can think of three possible points: the intersection of straight lines drawn from two points." And Jin. "And the amount of magic power used to send it out." and Reiko. And, "The point where the force of attraction and repulsion meet." Anne says smartly. It is the same as the principle of barrier. "It''s hard to go long distances anyway. We need to start with a distance that we can see. It seems that we can''t just go from the island of Horai to the Kingdom of Selroa. So Jin decided to start building a prototype. The sending side uses a modified version of a normal transfer gate (warp gate). Normally, the receiving gate (warp gate) is connected to the sending gate by weak magic power. Instead of this weak connection, a magic circle is formed at the target point with strong magic power. "How much can we simplify the magic circle? With Anne''s advice, the first prototype was completed in the early afternoon. Jin jumped to the Kunlun Island, where Elsa was waiting, to have lunch. Reiko went along with him, while Anne checked the prototype before the test run. Jin, brother Jin," said Anne. Jin, welcome. Thank you for saving my brother Rai last night. Is that why?You were a little late today, weren''t you? "Yeah, I was a little busy." Erza glared at Jin as he made that excuse, "Jin brother is a crafty idiot too," she said. She said, "Jin brother is a crafty idiot too. Reiko tells Elsa. "Your father still eats his meals because Erza-san is waiting for him. Otherwise, he would skip two meals without a care in the world. Even today, it''s been like an all-nighter. "Brother Jin, you can''t do that. It''s bad for your health. Reiko and Elsa reproached Jin, and he scratched his head, "I understand. I''ll be careful. He apologized. Then he briefly told Erza about what had happened last night. Of course, Jin did not tell her that he had been hit. 217 - - 09-02 Superalloy After lunch, Jin contacted the covert task force (SP) attached to Reinhardt. The purpose was to get information from Marcello again. We need information. First of all, we had to find out where he was imprisoned. I wanted to know where he was being held. If we knew where he was being held, the Secret Service could do whatever they wanted. But the answer came as a surprise. "What? < "Oh my God. ......" The speed of the executions is a little too fast. Jin again wonders if there is a connection between the Unification Party (Unifiler) and the Kingdom of Celuloa. They must have been afraid of the information leaking out. But there was nothing he could do now. He realizes again the abnormality of the Unification Party (Unifiler) and decides to do what he has to do now. Jin decides to check Reiko''s railgun. "What kind of power can bend an adamantite barrel ......?" Reiko looks apologetic at Jin''s disgust. "I''m sorry. I lost control when I saw your father get punched out. "So maybe you gave it a thousand percent. ......" The power to bend even adamantite. And then Jin suddenly realized. "Reiko, your skeleton is adamantite too. The barrel, which was thicker than Reiko''s skeleton, was bent. Jin became concerned. "Yes, it''s nothing to worry about." Reiko says so, but Jin is worried and decides to check it. Jin stops the magic and checks Reiko''s body after she stops moving. "I knew it. ......" Her joints were rattled and the bones of her arms were slightly distorted. Is he lying because he doesn''t want Jin to worry, or is he unaware of it? "Even adamantite can''t withstand Reiko''s 1000 percent output? ......" Jin thinks. How can we increase the strength? "Strength, after all, is the bonding force between atoms or molecules, isn''t it? The breaking of a bond between atoms or molecules is, in other words, destruction. "How can we increase this bonding strength? Jin reminds us that sometimes special metals are added to metals to make them sticky. "Let''s try ......" Reiko remains at a standstill, so he calls Soleil and Luna. "Get me some adamantite and mithril silver. "Yes, Father." They brought Adamantite and mithril silver ingots from the storehouse in the basement and placed them in front of Jin. "Thank you very much. ...... first, just the adamantite," he said. Jin makes a test piece of adamantite with engineering magic. It is a rod about 1 mm in diameter and 20 cm long. "Next, I mix one percent of mithril silver. <, he made an alloy of adamantite and mithril silver. He then made a test piece of the same size. "There we go. ...... Soleil or Luna, whichever you prefer, can you bend this adamantite rod?" Jin asked, but she simply said, "No. "No, I can''t." Jin asked, but the answer was simply, "No, I can''t." "Well, yes, you can. "Well, of course you can." So I had no choice but to reactivate Reiko. "Father?" Reiko wakes up and looks doubtfully at Jin with a difficult face. "Reiko, as I thought, there is something wrong with your body. I would like to strengthen it, but I have to do some experiments for that. I haven''t fixed it yet, but I woke you up." "Yes, I will be happy to help you." So first Jin bends a test piece of adamantite. The test piece bent and broke at about 25% of Reiko''s current output. "Okay, now this." A mixture of mithril silver. This one bent at about 20 percent. "Father, it''s getting weaker," said Luna, who was watching. Luna, who was watching, said. But Jin said, "Wait a minute. I''ll have you do it like this this next time. He poured his own magic power into the other test piece. Adamantite is basically non-interacting with magic, but the addition of mithril silver made it contain magic power. "So let''s bend it. ......?" Reiko looked at me funny. That''s right, it doesn''t bend even though I applied 30 percent of the force. Reiko applied more and more force. When Jin felt the output of the force increasing, he hurried to stop her. "Reiko, that''s enough!That''s enough! Just as I thought, the magic power seems to increase the strength. "Magic alone increases the strength?Not enhancement magic? Jin answered in the affirmative. "Oh, I didn''t explain myself well enough, did I? There is <> and <> magic, right?The principle is the same. The bonding force between atoms or molecules is compensated by magic power. In the case of metals, elastic deformation occurs when the bonds in the fine crystal lattice of the metal stretch and then return, while plastic deformation occurs when the bonds are displaced. Hardening (hardening) and strengthening (reinforcing) are conventional methods to strengthen this bonding force by encasing it from the outside. The addition of mithril silver has made it possible to do this from the inside. Jin speculated that by hardening (hardening) fine particles of silver mithril diffused in adamantite, a network of magical power, so to speak, based on silver mithril particles, is created, which increases the strength of the material. Of course, if the same thing is done with mithril silver alone, the strength will increase, but the effect will not be as dramatic as that of adamantite because of its low original strength and hardness. That is why even Jin has not noticed it until now. To begin with, adamantite costs 7000 to 10,000 tons per gram. Adamantite costs 7000 to 10000 tons per gram, and mithril silver costs 4000 to 5000 tons per gram. It can be said that there was no idea to mix adamantite, which weighs 7000 to 10000 tons per gram, with mithril silver, which also weighs 4000 to 5000 tons per gram. "The rest is just a matter of mixing ratios. Experiments with different proportions of mithril silver showed that the addition of 1.5 percent was the most reinforcing. "Okay, let''s name this alloy Magi-adamantite." It was found that when strengthened with the maximum amount of magical power, it was about five times stronger than adamantite as it was. "Okay Reiko, go back to sleep. I will strengthen your body with this Magi adamantite." "Yes, father." Reiko''s skeleton was thus upgraded to magi-adamantite. Next, Jin decided to make a new, more powerful version of the curved railgun. The idea was to make it a cannonball instead of a spherical shell, and to apply a rifling inside the barrel. The barrel is made of Magi-adamantite, which prevents the barrel from being worn down even by adamantite shells. The firing system was changed from a slingshot to a spring system. In short, think of it as a change from a slingshot to a silver ball gun. The spring is made from the muscle of the sea dragon, not its leather. There were some muscles that survived the dismantling without being severed. They are probably wing muscles. An interesting characteristic of the wing muscles is that they can be elongated by applying magic power to them. The rate and power of elongation varies depending on the amount of magic power applied. Jin had thought that all of the muscles would be like that, but the muscles of limbs and so on shrink under the influence of magic power. The reaction was no different from that of human muscles. "I wonder if you mean that the spreading of wings is magical power." I don''t know much about magical creatures, so I''ll assume so for now. It''s more about how to use them. "I can make the muscles contract without magic power, and then extend them by applying magic power all at once, and fire a cannonball with it. Yes, it seems to work." The faster the extension is, the better, so he uses one of the eladolites he has available as a boost for the firing. The barrel is all Magi-adamantite. The caliber has been increased to 5 cm. This gun could withstand Reiko''s 1,000 percent power output. I hope that doesn''t happen again anytime soon. "All right, Reiko, give it a shot." "Yes, father." In front of the institute, Reiko fired her new railgun, or rather her Magi Cannon, as fast as she could toward the east. At the same time as the sound of the boom, a hole appeared in the clouds, and a tail of ionized air could be seen. The boost from the eladrites was tremendous. "Oh, that''s something, ......, you''ve gone to space this time?" Although precise measurements could not be made, a small flying object orbiting the planet would have been observed if anyone had actually seen it from space. Its initial speed was Mach 80, or 27 kilometers per second. Even taking into account the deceleration due to air resistance after the launch, it still exceeded the first cosmic speed of this planet. "Reiko, don''t go all out until I tell you to. Okay? Don''t let it go." Jin nailed her so. * * * * Meanwhile, Reinhardt was in a state of panic. He first explained to the Royal Guard of Selroa that the two had been kidnapped by the Unifilers. As proof, they had to return to Stearina''s villa in Dali. The condition of Stearina''s golem and automata left there, the devastation of the destroyed golem, and the remains of his bodyguards in the morgue, finally convinced the guards of the Kingdom of Celuloa. What was more difficult was the captured members of the Unification Party (Unifiler). Since Reinhardt was not seen with Hitoshi, they were forced to ignore the fact that they did not know who had helped him. Well, since he was a diplomat of another country, Reinhardt was saved because they did not ask him any questions about him. However, the members of the Unification Party (Unifiler) were all talking about Hitoshi. Well, since he was wearing a helmet, it was impossible to identify him as Jin, and Reinhardt did not say anything, so the name <> was given to him, leaving the question of whether he might be Jin or not. As an aside, Reinhardt and the others were not informed of the execution of the Unifiler party members. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "So it was Jin-kun who rescued us?" Reinhard and Stellina are having a cup of tea after cleaning up at the half-destroyed Stellina''s villa. "It''s a pity, I would have liked to talk to Jin-kun again. "Well, you were out of your mind, so it can''t be helped. Perhaps it was because of the magic collar, but Stearina did not wake up until the morning. She finally woke up after taking all the restorative medicine Jin had given her in two doses. "Hey, Stearina, is there something wrong with you? "Hey Stearina, what''s wrong with you?Why do you say that? No, I''m just concerned that you''ve been unconscious for quite a long time since you were rescued from the Unification Party (Unifiler). At first Stearina tried to cover it up, but Reinhardt''s reasoned questioning made her give up. "Actually, I''ve been in bad shape for a long time. I''ve always been lazy and sometimes I''ve had a cramp. She confides. "Have you seen a healer?" "Yes. When I have a healer heal me, it''s fine at the time, but after a few days it starts to hurt again. "I see. ......" "But now I feel better than ever. I guess it''s thanks to the presence of Mr. Reinhardt. Stearina laughed. Neither of them has noticed that Jin''s restorative has worked, and it seems unlikely that they will for the time being. 218 - - 09-03 Artisan "A report is coming in from Deneb 21." The next morning, through Lao Tzu, the first results from the fifth column (quinta) came in. Deneb 21 was sent to the shores of Lake Asur. Lake Asur is a huge lake located in the northern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa. Located on the border with the Kingdom of Franz, it is an important center for tourism and fishery resources. Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Cerroa, and the tourist city of Lerasus are located just north of Esia. In the suburbs of the city, there were said to be ruins from the time of the Great Magic War. "The interior was half destroyed, and there were no materials or magical tools of particular interest left behind. Although the first results were not very good in terms of content, as stated in the report, "Regulus 15 reported that there were no remains of any magic tools or materials inside. Regulus 15 reports. "Capella 4 reporting, sir." On that day, there were three reports in total, and the third one, i.e., the one found by Capella 4, was a sealed box containing the nucleus of Gigarth. The location was a mountain in the northern part of the Kingdom of Egelea. "There it is after all. Anne was right. So one of the six remaining Gigases was found. There are five left. The sealed boxes are a bit of a hassle, but Capella 4 has decided to take precautions and bring them to Horai Island through the warp gate of Blueland. "Hmmm, I guess we still don''t have enough network to be a forward base or a bridgehead..." Jin grumbled. However, it had only been five days since the completion of the fifth row (quinta). No wonder. "Well, then, what about me?" After receiving the report and giving instructions, Jin decided to make a substitute doll based on what Reinhardt had told him the day before, <>. "The structure is the same as the fifth row (quinta)," he says. The doll is to be made to resemble a human being. The most important thing is to build in <> to send sounds and images to Jin on Horai Island. It is semi-autonomous and basically moves according to Jin''s instructions. The appearance is to be made to look just like Jin. I would like to say ......, but it is still difficult to make a doll that looks exactly like myself, so I asked Reiko to do the final work. The finished doll is Jin''s substitute doll. "...... is creepy." That''s what a doll that looks like you is supposed to look like, after all. "Don''t you like it?" Reiko says anxiously. "No, it''s not that it''s not good. On the contrary, they look so much like each other. Jin reassured Reiko. "Let''s give it a try." A test run was immediately started. The control is done in a room of the research institute on Horai Island. There are five large monitor screens, all of which are the images seen by the eyes of the substitute doll, with the front view adjusted to the same level as human vision, and the left, right, up, down, and outside of that level. The frontal view is adjusted to the same level as human vision, and the top, bottom, left, and right are adjusted outside of the frontal view. Normally, the front monitor alone should be sufficient. From there, Jin gives simple instructions to the dummy. Since remote control is likely to take time to realize and brain wave control is also likely to take time to develop, this method was adopted as a bridge until then. For the most part, Reiko and the covert maneuver team (SP) will be nearby to provide support. Forward, stop, walk, run. The basic movements are fine, but the detailed movements are still very strange. They do not look human-like at all. "Well, it''s a substitute for me when I go to dangerous places, so I guess it''s all right. Jin had many complaints, but there were still things he wanted to develop, so he decided to let the substitute doll work as it was. "Well, Lao Tzu, how is the progress of the aircraft carrier? Jin asked Lao Tzu, "Yes, so far we have made 50 percent progress in processing the materials. Yes, so far we are 50 percent of the way through processing the materials. The same answer came back from two directions. One from Lao Tzu''s humanoid terminal and the other from his brain. "Ah, it might be complicated if both of them are Lao Tzu," Jin thought. Jin thinks to himself. He wonders how it was in the book he read long time ago. Then he remembers. "...... Okay, let''s keep Lao Tzu for the human type and call < for the brain type. Both mean the same thing, right?" "Yes, my lord." "Yes, my lord." "Okay, you mean I am Laojun. The name was taken from Lao Tzu''s alias in the Immortal Realm, <>. Then, Jin again received the report about the aircraft carrier. "Well, I guess it will take some time..." "Yes. Yes. We started by building a dock for construction on the seashore. "Ah, as I thought." Jin is a magecraft master. He is a leading expert in magical engineering (magecraft), but he does not specialize in building huge things. "Hmm, let''s make a worker golem. Anne agrees. "I think that would be a good idea. Aside from the parts that only you can do, having a golem do the other parts will lighten your workload and increase production efficiency. "Right?" So, Jin decides to start mass-producing the worker golem. The material is steel. There is no need to use precious light silver or adamantite. However, nickel and chromium are added to make it a rust-resistant alloy steel. In other words, it is stainless steel. It is also 18-12. 18 percent chromium and 12 percent nickel. The reason is that the more nickel, the darker the steel becomes and the heavier it looks. "The power is good enough, but I need to be able to use my engineering magic well." So, I transferred a lot of Jin''s knowledge and made it so that it can do anything except precise writing. He is about the same size as Jin. The reason for this is that they can do detailed work as well. Five hundred of them. The first five bodies were made, and then 50 were made by moving and supporting them. Then we made another 500 by supporting those 50. The whole thing was done in the morning. I knew that the efficiency was different. "My Lord, please give me a name. I was so impressed by the ease of the work that Lao-tzu and Lao-kun urged me to do it. "Hmmm...a craftsman then...". Here, Craftsman Golem and Craftsman (Smith) 1-500 were born. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Lunch is at the Kunlun Island with Erza and the others, as usual. "Welcome, Brother Jin. "Hello, brother Jin." The weather is nice and warm again today, so we have lunch outside. Today''s lunch consisted of sliced meat on grilled bread, vegetable salad, and Citran juice. Jin felt that the menu was smaller than usual, but he took the bread without saying anything. "......" "?" Elsa was staring at Jin. He was a little suspicious of her unusual behavior, but his hand did not stop and he put the bread in his mouth. "?"? This is the second question mark of the day. The taste was a little different from usual. The meat was cut thicker, but the seasoning was a little lighter. Jin is not a picky eater, but he is not a tasteless person either. In fact, he cooks simple dishes himself and is as picky as anyone else. He just doesn''t say it out loud. "......" And when he was about to eat the vegetable salad, he felt Elsa''s eyes on him, and Jin came to a conclusion. "Could it be that Erza made today''s lunch?" When he mentioned this, Erza visibly tensed up. "...... didn''t it taste good?" Then she said slowly, "No, no, I don''t think so. "No, the seasoning is a little different from mine, but it''s good enough. I see, Elsa made it for you." "Hmm... I''m ashamed to be Jin''s sister if I can''t do so many things. Erza''s cheeks were slightly tinted when she said that. "Yes, I''m glad." Jin then eats all the remaining bread and salad. "That''s good, Erza." Erza and Meine finished eating as well, and Meine peeled Persica for dessert. Erza was not yet capable of peeling Persica, at least not in front of Jin''s eyes. Jin remembered that Erza''s knowledge transfer (trans-info) aptitude was higher than Reinhardt''s, and muttered to himself that he would try to teach her some engineering magic when he had some free time. 219 - - 09-04 Silent Story 8 Ricias Struggle Licia Faarheit is a new noble of the Kingdom of Klein. Her father, Niklas Faalheit, was given the title of knight (ritter) for his distinguished service in battle, and Licia herself was allowed to call herself a knight (ritter) because of her achievements as an associate knight. However, it cannot be denied that one of the reasons for this is the chronic shortage of human resources in the Kingdom of Klein, to which Licia belongs. On January 17, 3457 of the continental calendar, the Kingdom of Franz, which borders the Kingdom of Klein to the west, suddenly invaded the border. The Kingdom of Franz is a vassal state of the Kingdom of Celuloa, and has been meddling with us across the border. The Kingdom of Franz is a state of about the same size as the Kingdom of Klein, but it relies on the power of the Kingdom of Cerroa, which stands behind it, and these skirmishes have been repeated every few years. * * * * * * At Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. "Licia Faalheit, I am here. Licia was summoned by the Commander of the Knights of the Kingdom. "Yes. Lysia Faarheit, a battle has broken out on the western border with the Kingdom of Franz. You are to go to Storsk as a member of the relief guard. "Yes!" Licia and 10 other new knights (Ritters) were recruited to join the rescue knights and head for the battlefield. Licia was chosen because of her ability to use healing magic. Almost all of the members were also users of healing magic. After only three short days of training, Licia was one of the 25 members of the Knights of the Order of the Rescue to go to Storsk. To save time, the training while marching was so hard that three people dropped out, but Licia persevered with her natural sense of responsibility. Since she was marching during the training, it took her two days to get to Strsk. In total, it took five days. At the moment, the battle lines are at a stalemate. The Kleinians were defending well and holding off the Franzians. On the contrary, they were slowly pushing back. Upon arriving in Strsk, Licia and the other rescue knights immediately began their activities. Water, please! Healing magic, this way, please! Get the braces! Strsk is located just behind the battlefield. The 300 men of the 3rd Knights of the Kingdom are stationed here. Many wounded soldiers had been brought here. A battalion would have its own personal first-aid team, but there were not enough of them on the battlefield, and the knights were very busy as soon as they arrived. "<>" <>" As a result of her training and efforts, Licia had mastered even the intermediate level of healing magic. "Farheid, take care of this one too!" "Yes!I''m on my way! So under the tent she was moving around without a moment''s rest. "Wind ......" During the short break, Licia went out of the tent and looked up at the night sky. She was tired in body and spirit, but content. "What I can do ...... is to heal, I guess." These are the words that Jin said to me one day when I brought wheat from the village of Kaina. . Since then, Licia has been asking herself what she can do. > The words she said at that time. I think I was telling the truth. I think those words were the truth for me, even though they were spoken on the spur of the moment. To protect and to heal. That''s what I ...... can do." I looked up at the night sky and saw the moon shining just like the sky I was looking up at that time with Jin. The next morning, the front line was moving. The next morning, the front moved. The next morning, the front line moved. The Kingdom of Franz had received reinforcements and pushed back the forces of the Kingdom of Klein. "Faarheit, you fall back with the slightly wounded!" Yes, sir! Johannes, the captain of the rescue knights, gave the order. The seriously wounded who cannot walk on their own are to be carried in wagons. The rescue knights were scrambling to secure a usable wagon, even if they had to carry the wagon''s load themselves. (The cart made by Jin-san was awesome. ......) Licia remembered a cart that could carry wheat from the village of Kaina to the village of Toka in one trip for the tax payment. She did not remember the name of the cart, but she was amazed at its carrying capacity. (If only we had that technology in our country, I am sure ......) Licia''s musings are interrupted there. "Enemy attack!Get into fighting positions!" Before they were ready to retreat, the Franzians attacked. "Oh, ......, that''s it!" It was a golem. Moreover, the shape of the golem looked familiar. "Is that the golem that attacked ...... just before Toka village? It looked just like the golem that Jin had fought off and destroyed with his mysterious magic. Twenty of them. They were attacking at the head of the enemy soldiers. "Aaah! Aaah!" Screams, splashes of blood, and more and more seriously wounded. Under such circumstances, the 25 members of the rescue squad retreated, protected by the 3rd Knights. Some of the seriously wounded had no choice but to abandon them. "Oh, why at a time like this? Licia''s cheeks were streaked with tears, a mixture of frustration and sadness. "<>!" At that moment, a magic shot out from the direction Licia was heading. The Flame Lance melted the golem, which seemed to be made of bronze, and knocked down the enemy soldiers. "Oh, it''s the Magic Knights! This company specializes in magical attacks. Their original role was to provide support at long range, but they had come to the crisis of the 3rd Knights and the Rescue Knights. "<>! The Flame Lance, fired in rapid succession, slaughters more than half of the 20 enemy golems. Seeing this, the enemy captain, thinking of the damage, turns to retreat. The Knights of Magic do not pursue the enemy, but instead rescue the wounded. Many of the members of the Knights of Magic are capable not only of offensive magic but also of healing magic. "This way!Healing magic! Stop the bleeding!Quickly! The slightly wounded are sent back on their own, while the knights in charge of the rescue team all tend to the wounded. "Ugh, this is ......." The wound that just opened, the blood that won''t stop. Licia fights the feeling of nausea that rises in her as she casts healing spells. She does not heal the wound completely, but gives priority to first aid. The battle was over before noon, but before she knew it, it was dusk. The knights of the rescue squad are lying on the ground exhausted after having managed to complete the first aid treatment. (Still there were many people who could not be saved ......) Although she felt helpless, Licia did not regret her actions. Soon night falls, and the knights rest in the shade of torn tents and half-destroyed carriages. The Knights of Magic had already retreated to the rear with as many of the seriously wounded as possible. "There are 58 wounded remaining and 5 wounded in our rescue party". In total, 63 wounded and 20 knights are still alive. In addition, there were 15 soldiers with minor injuries that did not interfere with their actions. That is all that remained. The number of dead is still unknown, but it is likely to be no less than 50. In the midst of all this, there was Licia, making porridge with the food that had survived and feeding it to the wounded. "I''m doing the best I can," she muttered to herself. She was going around among the wounded, chiding herself while muttering "I''m doing the best I can. Two days later, the battle, which could be said to be a regular one, comes to an end. With meaningless casualties on both sides. 220 - - 09-05 Open battlefield "Master (My Lord), we have a report from Regulus 2, who has been dispatched to the capital of the Kingdom of Klein." A voice echoes. "My Lord. I''d like to talk to him directly, so please send him this way. For a while now, in order to avoid confusion, I have been referring to the head of Horai Island as "Laojun" and his humanoid terminal as "Laozi". On earth, these names refer to the same person or hermit, but it is effective to prevent confusion. < "It''s Jin, what''s going on?" "The Kingdom of Klein." The village of Kaina, where Hanna lives, and the country to which Licia belongs. < "I see. The Kingdom of Celuloa is the country most suspected of having ties to the Unification Party (Unifiler). Jin thinks of this map of the world, though it is incomplete. To the north of the Kingdom of Celuloa are the Kingdoms of Franz and Klein. If Franz belongs to the Kingdom of Franz, and if the Kingdom of Klein can be subdued, the remaining kingdoms are Egelea and Elias. The easternmost kingdom of Leonard is still unknown, but with two more kingdoms, the original goal of the Kingdom of Cerroa, the recreation of the ancient Kingdom of Dinar, could be achieved. "Master (My Lord), we have a report from Capella 1, who has been dispatched to the western part of the Kingdom of Klein. Capella 1 is the fifth column (Quinta) dispatched to the western part of the Kingdom of Klein. . "What? Just when we thought we''d heard that they''d violated our borders... here it is. "Master (Mylord), we have a report from Mira 1 who has been dispatched to the Kingdom of Egelea. Mira 1 is the fifth column (quinta) that was dispatched to the capital of Egelea Kingdom together with Deneb 1. "What now?You mean to tell me that the Kingdom of Selroa has declared war on us?" < What? The Kingdom of Cerroa against the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Franz against the Kingdom of Klein. Now the small group of countries were in an uproar. "Are the kingdoms of Shoro and Elias at peace? The old man answered. "Yes, so far nothing seems to have happened in those two kingdoms. "Hmmm... ......" Jin thought. What should he do now? Then he remembered his friend, Reinhardt, who could see the situation at a time like this. "I believe Reinhardt was still in Dali or thereabouts. To be precise, he is in Giron, the city across the Asur River from Dali. He is still being held up because of the Unification Party member that Jin captured. "I wonder how I can pick him up: ......" I guess we will have to go there by stealth plane in the middle of the night. "Okay, old man, Falcon 1 is ready. And adjust the warp gate. And a golem horse for transport. "Yes, sir." At that moment, Anne offered her advice. "Goshujin-sama, I don''t think it''s a good idea to let anyone but a completely reliable warp gate come directly here to Horai Island. "Hmm?What do you mean? "Nothing is perfect. It is possible that the enemy may come here through the warp gate, or the security of the warp gate may be breached. Anne''s assertion was valid, Jin agreed. "I understand. So it''s okay if we send them out, but when they come from the other side, they should pass through Kunlun Island, for example, to give us a little cushion, is that right? Yes, that''s right. "Then ...... would be the best place." Jin was thinking of using an aircraft carrier as a relay base, although it would not be possible immediately. If worst comes to worst, we can just blow it up. In that case, it would be better to use a mere floating island instead of an aircraft carrier. Therefore, he has included in his future plan that except when he confirms the other party using the manacam, he will once go through the relay base instead of going directly to the Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * That night. 8:00 p.m. Horai Island time. Reinhardt called me on time. "Thank you, Reinhard. By the way, did you know that the war has started?" > "Not only that. The Kingdom of Franz also declared war on the Kingdom of Klein." <> Reinhardt is surprised. No wonder. "So, I need to talk to Reinhardt, could you please come over here? <> "Okay, I''m coming to get you." After reaching an agreement, Jin jumped from Hourai Island to the suburbs of Zilon using the warp gate of Falcon 1, which had already arrived at the suburbs of Zilon. He is accompanied by Reiko and the covert task force (SP). "So that''s the town of Giron. Falcon 1 had landed on a riverbank about 2 km away from Zilon. Jin steps out of the onboard warp gate and gazes at the city lights, which are dimly visible against the night sky. "All right, Reiko, let''s go get Reinhardt." "Yes, Father." Jin''s golem horse, <>, and another golem horse are loaded on the Falcon 1. Jin rode Koma and Reiko rode the other golem horse to Giron. Of course, Jin is wearing a reinforced uniform. The covert task force (SP) followed him at a run. It takes only about three minutes to reach the city of Giron. Unusually, this was not a fortified city, but instead a wide moat wall surrounded the city. The moat was about 20 meters wide and could not be jumped over by an ordinary person. In addition, the walls of the moat are almost vertical, and the water surface is at least 5 meters above the moat, making it difficult to get in and out of the moat even if you tried to float a boat. Most of the several bridges were drawbridges and were closed at night. Only two bridges were open, but they were guarded by guards to keep out any suspicious visitors. "Now, how do we get Reinhardt out of here?" As Jin was pondering this, Reiko came up to him, "Father, I''ll jump over and take Mr. Reinhardt away. Reiko said, "Father, I''ll jump over and take Mr. Reinhardt away. "Well, that would be best." That seems to be the best way for a short time, so I decide to do it. "Okay, please put up a barrier and stay still. And you, the covert task force (SP), make sure your father is well protected. "Yes, Sister." Reiko was still anxious to say something, but Jin urged her on and they finally set out for the city. First we choose an empty place and jump over the moat. For Reiko, this is a piece of cake. "You said Mr. Reinhardt was staying at an inn called , didn''t you? She had heard the approximate location of the inn, so she recognized it immediately. Reinhardt was waiting for me in the entrance hall of the inn. "Mr. Reinhardt?" "Oh, Reiko. Where''s Jin?" "Your father is waiting outside the moat." I see. Then let''s go now. After a brief exchange of words, Reinhardt went outside with Reiko. Reiko was carrying a rather large bag with her. They arrived at Horiwari soon after. "Well, how do we cross from here?" Reiko approaches Reinhardt with a questioning look on her face. She reaches out her hand. "Huh?Well, maybe, maybe?" Reinhardt turns a little pale. But Reiko holds Reinhardt in her arms with a cool face. The picture of the 5''5" Reinhardt being held in Reiko''s arms is quite surreal. "I''m coming!" "Uh, no, no, no, no, no! With Reiko holding Reinhardt in her arms, she leaps over the 20-meter long moat without any difficulty, and runs straight to Jin. Still holding Reinhardt in her arms. "Father, I brought Mr. Reinhardt. Reiko steps out in front of Jin with Reinhardt in her arms. "...... hey, Jin." "...... Hey, Reinhardt." It was a somewhat awkward reunion. After that, Reinhardt rode the golem horse and Reiko rode the frame with Jin to the Falcon 1. As an aside, Reiko seems happy to be riding with Jin. From there, they arrived at Horai Island in an instant through the warp gate. 221 - - 09-06 Apology When Reinhardt arrived at Horai Island, he met Jin in the reception room of the institute. He first presented the luggage he had brought to Jin. "What is this? "Well, open it." Jin took out the contents of the package and laid them out on the table. "This is ......." What came out were two books that recorded the history of the war of magic. And a doll. A package that appeared to be Reinhardt''s personal belongings. "I took care of it at that time, but I think it is better for Jin to keep this record, and this doll should be returned to Erza. The doll was Non. Erza had left it behind when she ran away from home, and Jin had caught it when Erza''s brother Fritz knocked it off the table, and Reinhardt had kept it. Reinhardt said, "I''ll give it to Erza later. I''m sure she''ll be pleased." "Oh. Thank you for taking the trouble. And I''ll let you know when I''ve deciphered these records. Yes, thank you. Jin then called Lao Tzu, the human terminal, and handed him the record and ordered him to decipher it. "Yes, my lord." Lao Tzu said and left. Tomorrow the decipherment would be finished. "Well, I have been sending my automatons to various countries for some time now. According to this, the Kingdom of Franz has declared war on the Kingdom of Klein." Reinhardt looks surprised. "Well, I guess it''s finally happened, but why now? "I want to hear your opinion, Reinhardt. I also feel that Reinhardt''s safety is in danger if he stays in the Kingdom of Celluloid. Jin spoke his mind honestly. "Yes, I appreciate that. Two of my guards have been killed and my black knight (Schwarzritter) has been destroyed. Reinhardt looks a little sad. "It''s ...... a pity about the black knight." Jin understands this feeling. "Yes. The most regrettable thing is that the broken Black Knight was confiscated by the Kingdom of Celuloa. "What?" According to Reinhardt''s explanation, the destroyed Black Knight (Schwartzritter) had somehow been brought back by the soldiers of the Kingdom of Celuloa, and not a single piece of it remained in Stearina''s villa. And no matter how much he complained, he never got it back. "You''ve got to be kidding me. ......" Jin, who was listening to the story, was getting angrier and angrier. But then. "Huh?The Black Knight (Schwarzlitter)?" Jin tried to remember. "I heard that Reinhardt was kidnapped ......, and then, uh, I asked Cosmos and Sage of the SP to investigate Reinhardt''s magical power pattern.... ..." He seems to remember. "Uh, sorry, Reinhardt." What? "The Black Knight, he''s with me." Jin then explained that he had brought the black knight (Schwarzlitter) to the Falcon in order to find Reinhardt. "And they brought it to the laboratory and it''s still there. I''m sorry!" Jin apologizes with his head so low that it sticks to the table. "Oh, no, please raise your head. Oh, so Jin was the one who retrieved it for me. Thank you. "As an apology, you can fix it here!You can use the materials as you like!" Jin even said. Reinhardt is astonished at these words. "Really?That''s great!" Now there''s no time to talk. First, the two head for the workshop. They have nothing to complain about, since they are so much alike. They are not talking about politics, not about their country, but first of all, they are talking about craft. Reinhardt is led to the workshop, where a dismembered Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) is placed on a table. "Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) ......" Reinhardt''s face is once again clouded by the devastation of the Black Knight (Schwarzritter). But.., "This time, I''m going to make you a golem that no one can defeat," he mutters. He mutters, "This time, I''m going to make you a golem that no one can beat. Then he looks back at Jin, "Except for ...... Reiko and the others." * * * * "I''ll make a golem with a skeleton, too." Reinhardt, who has seen Jin''s golem several times, mutters. Reinhardt then said to Jin, "Reinhardt, I''m going to make a golem with a skeleton, "Reinhard, I have a favor to ask of you, too. Reinhard said. "What is it?" "The underwater golem that Reinhardt showed me, I think it''s called Lorelei.I''d like you to show me how it''s made. What do you think?" "Oh, I see. That''s fine. I''m going to use Jin''s golem as a reference. Reinhardt readily agrees and explains the structure of Lorelei and its key technology. I have some questions for Jin later on, so I guess I''ve been generous enough to tell him everything I know. "I guess you could say ......." "I see, I didn''t know there was such a trick to moving the tail fins." Jin is happy to hear a few tricks. "But, Jin, are you going to make an underwater golem too? Reinhardt asked, to which Jin nodded. "Yes. Horai Island is an island. I thought it would be effective for fortifying the sea and developing the underwater world. "I see, that''s true. And now I have a point I''d like to know a little bit about. Yeah, what''s that? "About the way you put on the muscles, you used to put them at an angle in some places, didn''t you? What does that mean? "Oh, that. They imitate the way human muscles are built, and by putting them at a slight angle, they allow the arms and legs to twist. Reinhardt''s eyes lit up, "Oh, yes, that''s it!That''s the secret of their natural movement!" Human arms and legs do not simply bend and stretch, they can also twist, and their normal movements are a combination of these. Therefore, the golems and automata that Jin makes can move more like humans. "Okay, if that''s the case ......." Reinhardt was about to get into his stride when... "Father, Mr. Reinhardt, it''s late. You can continue tomorrow." Reiko warned him. "Oh, it''s that late already. Reinhard, let''s do it tomorrow. Jin obediently agreed. Reinhardt reluctantly complied. The two left the institute and went to the pavilion to lightly sweat it out in the hot spring before going to bed. * * * * * * * * * * The Kingdom of Cerroa is currently in the lead. That''s true. The Kingdom of Klein is also fighting hard, but is slowly being pushed back by the Kingdom of Franz. Well, that''s to be expected. So what''s the plan now? Well, as planned. Yes, as planned. We''ll send in the Golem unit when the time is right, right? Yes. And that new weapon... Oh, that?You''re going to use it in a real war? Yes. The stupid countries will be stunned. You''re right, sir. The time has come for us to take over the continent. 222 - - 09-07 First of all, goodbye In the end, Reinhardt stayed overnight on Penglai Island. The next morning, after having breakfast, they immediately set to work. "I want to incorporate Lorelei''s movements into the skeletal golem. "Hmmm, then this is how to do it: ......." Reinhardt advised Jin, "If you add chromium and nickel to iron, you can make this kind of alloy. "Hmm, this is chromium and this is nickel. I''ve seen them sometimes, but they were all thrown away. Jin advised Reinhardt. "Okay, do this here. "Here, do this." "Here, do that." As a result of the work, the repair of the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) was completed in the morning, and Jin also completed the underwater golem <. "Hmmm, I don''t think the mermaid type will be of any use on land..." "I''m sorry, sir. "I''m sorry, my master." Mermaid 1 bows her head, but Jin shuts her down, "No, that''s not what I meant. I want you to work with the Navy to develop and explore the undersea. "Okay, I''ll do my best." The upper body is that of an adult female, and the lower body is that of a fish. Mermaid Golem was made up to number 100 and was active in the sea area around Horai Island. On the other hand, the black knight (Schwarzritter) said. "How are you doing, <>?" Reinhardt and I were making final adjustments. "Yes, very good. The only thing is that the output balance has changed, so it takes some getting used to. The material used is 18-12 stainless steel, which has been magically hardened (hardening) to double the strength of the previous steel. The output is also equivalent to that of Jin''s army golem because of the use of magical fiber made in Horaijima, although it is not made of sea dragon leather. In addition, since a Jin-style shield case was used as a countermeasure against slave rewriting magic, it can be said to have been completely reborn. Finally, the control core was also renewed, and the language became fluent, and Reinhardt decided to name this newborn black knight (Schwarzritter) , which means black. * * * * * * * * * * * We decided to have lunch with Erza and the others on the Kunlun Island. Since Jin had contacted them in advance, they had prepared enough food for the four of us, and Jin had explained to Reinhardt that Meene had become such an extreme personality under the influence of the magic <>, so although they were awkward at first, they soon became comfortable with each other and were able to talk as before. We soon became comfortable with each other and were able to talk as we used to. "So, Elsa has calmed down too, huh?" "Yes, Elsa has calmed down. Every day now she teaches me things. Cooking, sewing..." "Elsa made this soup, didn''t she?" Jin could tell whether Elsa or Meane was the one who made this soup by the seasoning. "Hmm. Jin, you can tell? "That''s right, after being treated to food every day." Erza smiled happily when she said that. Seeing Erza like this, Reinhardt was glad that he had entrusted Jin with this task. After the meal, Jin told Reinhardt "Reinhard, please give her that. Reinhardt then sensed this and said, "Give him that. Reinhardt guessed it and took it out of his baggage that Reiko had brought. "Here, Elsa. You forgot something." "Ah, Non. ......" Non, a Japanese doll made by Jin. She had left it behind, and Reinhardt brought it to her. Erza took it, "Thank you, brother Rai. It makes me so happy." with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Reinhardt." Erza''s mother, Meine, also bowed her head. * * * * Finally, Jin and Reinhardt were able to take some time to talk about the future. "Anyway, Reinhardt better be careful. Anyway, Reinhardt should be careful. "Yes, I really thought so this time. The Black Knight (Schwarzritter) was defeated at least once, so we must not be overconfident. At least we have a dedicated covert task force (SP) with us. "I just received a new report that both the Kingdom of Selroa and the Kingdom of Franz are overwhelming their opponents. This is the information that Jin just got from the old man. "Well, I don''t want to hear the details of how Jin got such information. And, well, I am a diplomat of the Shoro Kingdom, so I can''t just run around. It''s a matter of national prestige." "......" "Anyway, now that we''re in this situation, we''ll have to ask the garrison soldiers to escort us back to the country. Jin was still a little worried, but he agreed with Reinhardt''s request for a platoon or company escort, rather than a few men. "But more importantly," Reinhardt said, "about Jin. It would be better to avoid any conspicuous actions now, as there is a great possibility that both countries will target you or suspect you, even if they don''t." "Ah, so that''s how it happens after all. ......" "If you''re a djinn, it''s probably easy for you to come to our Shoro Kingdom, isn''t it?I''m afraid I won''t be able to travel with you, but please come and visit me, I''ll be waiting for you." Reinhard said regretfully. Jin was also interested in the Shoro Empire, which was not a small group of countries, and he was also curious about the artifact that Reinhardt had mentioned one day, which was an ancient relic from before the Great Magic War. "Yes, I will visit there soon. You still have the manacam, don''t you?" "Yes. Fortunately or unfortunately, I left it at the inn, so the Unifilers didn''t take it away from me. The protection ring was taken away from me, though." Reinhardt''s protection ring was not in the possession of the Unifilers who took him prisoner. It was at the bottom of the river with the branch chief. When Jin heard this, he pulled out the ring from his pocket as if he had just remembered. "Oh, I almost forgot. This is a new protection ring. It''s the same one as before. He hands it to Reinhardt. Reinhardt took it, Jin, thank you very much. Well, I should get going. There was still not enough time to panic because of the time difference, but Reinhardt did not understand it well and started to leave. "Claude must be worried about me since I stayed out all night without telling him." "Yes, I guess so. I''ll take you back to Giron then." Jin and Reinhardt got up and walked to the warp gate. The Black Knight (Schwarzritter) and Reiko followed. The transition is instantaneous. They enter Falcon 1, which is waiting in the suburbs of Giron. Once outside the stealth warding of Falcon 1, the city of Giron can be seen in the distance. "By the way, it''s only a little after noon here. Tell me the reason for this next time we meet. Reinhard said goodbye to Jin. "Yeah, sure. I''ll see you later." "Yeah, I''ll be waiting for you in Shoro." Reinhardt starts to walk away, but then he stops and turns around, "Jin, let me tell you one thing. The artifact I told you about before is a huge golem. "Huh?" Jin was stunned when he was told the one thing he had been wondering about. "Haha, I''m sure Jin will make the same thing, or even something more amazing. There''s not much point in keeping it a secret now. With these words, Reinhardt headed for the city of Giron this time. Jin ordered Reiko, who was standing next to him. "Reiko!" "Yes, father." "Watch over Reinhardt until he is sure he is in the city and meets up with Claude the butler. "Yes, Father. ...... but take care of your father too." Reiko obeyed his order, although she was still concerned for Jin''s safety. She disappears in stealth and secretly follows Reinhardt. Sage and Cosmos follow her as well, so she can rest assured. Jin waits in the Falcon. Jin thinks about the giant golem that Reinhardt mentioned until Reiko comes back. Not only the Golem, but the bigger the moving thing is, the slower it moves. This is due to strength and inertia. Inertia interferes with the ability to stop a swinging arm. If you try to push against inertia, you will break your arm. Bending strength, which is one of the strengths of an object, is proportional to its cross-sectional area, while weight, or mass, is proportional to its volume. In other words, strength is proportional to the square of size and inertia to the cube, and the larger the object is, the less strength it has in relation to its mass. In this sense, we can say that the size of a human being is operationally balanced. "But dragons and 100-handed giants (hekatonkale) are not so good. They move very quickly for their size. "It is possible that they are light because of their small density. The lower strength makes sense if you consider that it is strengthened by magic power. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was the only way. "In other words, the weight can only increase as the square of the size." This is a very simplified idea, but it is not far off the mark. "If he is 15 meters tall, a human being would be, let''s see, ......" Jin is 160 cm tall. He weighs 52 kg. His size is 9.375 times. The volume is its cube, so 824 times its volume, or about 42.85 tons. Squared, the weight is 4.57 tons. "Maybe we can keep it at around 5 tons. ......" Jin also longed for a giant robot. 223 - - 09-08 Titan "Well, what should we do first? After leaving Reinhardt and returning to Horai Island, Jin had already decided on his future plan. It was to "intervene in a way that is unrecognizable to me. It is the same as some hero stories where the identity of the hero remains a mystery until the last episode. Jin thought that he had just made a helmet and a reinforced suit. Then came the idea of a giant robot. There was no way Jin would not jump at the idea. "We can''t directly intervene in the war, but..." He thinks it might be a good idea to intervene when ordinary people are in danger. More than that, we think it is the best banner for the Unification Party (Unifiler). After all, it stands out. I think that lasers and railguns are less threatening because we don''t understand what they do to us. A giant robot ...... golem would be intimidating enough, right? So, the first step is to develop materials. The base material is light silver, because it would weigh too much if it were made of adamantite. "Hmmm, I remember learning that titanium is an alloy of aluminum, vanadium, and molybdenum. ...... Jin desperately tries to recall his past knowledge. I guess that light silver is made by replacing neutrons in titanium with magitrons. Therefore, he thought, it must have properties similar to those of titanium. "We''ll just have to give it a try. With Reiko as his assistant, Jin began to search for an alloy of light silver. Thanks to engineering magic, it only takes a moment to make a test piece. This is a big deal. By mid-morning they had almost found the best combination of metals. "Brother Jin, come in." Lunch is again with Elsa and the others. It was a cloudy day, so we had lunch indoors. Looking at the Persica berries that had been cut rather awkwardly, "Oh, Elsa peeled the persica today," said Jin. Jin said. Elsa smiles at Hitoshi for noticing. The menu consisted of freshly baked bread, citran marmalade, vegetable salad, vegetable soup, and tea. All of them are seasoned as if Elsa had made them. Yes, Elsa is improving day by day. Jin praised her as she ate. "I''m glad to hear you say so, Jin. Erza smiled happily at the praise. After lunch, the new alloys were tested again. "Let''s see, 90% light silver, 6% aluminum, and 4% vanadium. In the end, they settled on an alloy called 64 alloy. Aluminum, once called light silver on earth, seems to be less abundant than titanium in this world. Vanadium was originally 23 in atomic number, next to titanium and before chromium, so Jin also managed to identify it by analyzing it in some detail. In this world, it was found in the soil, albeit in small quantities, and was even piled up in a corner of a warehouse as a mysterious ore. It can be said that our predecessors had the foresight to instruct us not to dispose of such unknown ores and metals. A quiet word. Jin made 64 alloys of titanium and light silver, and diffused mithril silver into them. This added the bonding force of magic to the bonding force between the atoms, and finally he was able to increase the strength of the alloy to seven times that of ordinary light silver. This was astonishing. "Hmmm, I think this alloy should be used for light silver from now on. Jin also felt this way. Now, once the materials were selected, it was time to begin production. The craftsman (Smith) Golem is called back from 91 to 100, and is made his assistant. The old man is building the aircraft carrier under his direction, but Jin does not care about it, and the old man understands too well Jin''s capricious nature. After all, most of his knowledge comes from Jin. "Let''s make three robots, one with remote control, one with autonomous action, and one that can be controlled by riding on it. The giant robots that Jin knew were those that were controlled by a pilot, those that had some degree of willpower, and those that were controlled by riding on the head or something. The basic structure is the same. The skeleton, muscles, and exterior are the same. Since it was basically the same as the golems we had made so far, only larger, the prototype was completed in an hour with the support of Reiko and the craftsman (Smith) golem. The rest was to incorporate the control system. The autonomous model is almost the same as the Golem, so it was easy to make. The commands are given through a manacam, a magical communication device. "Okay, uh, <> No. 1, move!" The name is apparently a reference to the light silver, <>, and the Titans of Greek mythology. Titan 1 stands in the plaza in front of the institute. It looks quite intimidating. "Okay, try walking." Since this is a test, Titan-1 has no vocal mechanism yet, so it moves silently. But its steps are sure-footed. The ground rumbles powerfully. "Okay, try running." Following the order, Titan One slowly begins to run. And then it gradually picks up speed. It''s not a bad move. "Reiko, what do you think?" Jin asks Reiko''s opinion. Yes, I think it''s not bad. It''s not as bad as the last Gigarth we fought. "Yeah, that''s true." Titan 1 made it to the edge of the plaza and, being an autonomous vehicle, turned back around. "Okay, now let''s shadowbox!" The Titan-1, which had been partially transcribed with Jin''s knowledge, was able to communicate with the others and began to move. The Titan-1 moves with an agility that belies its size. Jin is pleased that his hypothesis was correct. "Okay, stop." Jin stops Titan 1 to check for any anomalies in its various parts. His face is full of joy. "Yeah, yeah, it was only a short time, but there are no abnormalities in the joints, skeletal structure, or muscles!I''d say this is a success! "Congratulations, father. You''ve done a marvelous job." Reiko looks happy too. "Yes. Then let''s finish the one you''re going to pilot first! Jin worked on the Titan II with great vigor. He decided to stop riding on the head because it was too dangerous, and to install a pilot''s seat inside the fuselage. The control core, which is a copy of the Titan-1''s movement data, is used to make fine adjustments such as balance, while the pilot gives movement instructions. This is because Jin does not expect the pilot to be able to control a giant robot out of the blue. Therefore, No. 2 was completed relatively easily. Since it was not as dangerous as flying, Jin climbed into the robot. "Father, are you all right?" "Yeah, it''s just like driving a car." Jin did not have a driver''s license, but he had driven forklifts and other vehicles on the factory grounds, but not on public roads. "Okay, here we go." Jin sits in the cockpit on the chest. Since it is a prototype, it does not have chest armor and can visually see in front of it. "Go!" He stepped on the accelerator pedal, and the output of the ether converter and mana driver increased, and Titan II began to move accordingly. At first it was like a thud, thud, thud, and gradually it became faster and faster, then it made a U-turn at the edge of the square and came back ...... to a sudden stop. "...... father?" Reiko, who had been going along with him, looked up and saw Jin''s blue face. Reiko knew what it looked like. She rushes to the cockpit and jumps up, "<>! and healed Jin with Shoro''s imperial chant. "Ah, ah, thank you for saving me, Reiko." Hitoshi looked dismayed. "I got drunk so fast. ......" Since the size of the boat is almost ten times larger, the up and down movement when walking is also almost ten times larger. This, in turn, put a strain on the pilot, and he easily became intoxicated. "I''m sorry, but the passenger-controlled type is dead. Jin gets off the Titan II with the help of Reiko. "I think I can handle it, don''t you? Reiko follows up. Jin hears this and says, "Yeah, you''re right. I''ll build this one exclusively for Reiko. He says, "I''ll finish that one later. They decide to finish that one later, and start working on the third and final remote-controlled Titan III. It uses the same system as that of Jin''s substitute doll that we made the other day. I decided to sit in a special pilot''s seat from which images are projected from the magic eye installed in the golem''s eye, and control it from there. Otherwise, there was nothing I could do when the Golem went far away from my sight, and I also wanted to feel the sensation of flying the Golem by myself. Jin''s enthusiasm must have been responsible for the fact that he was able to complete all three of the aircrafts after making various adjustments until nightfall. 224 - - 09-09 Jammer At the same time that Jin was working in Horai Island, there was a commotion in Shogun. Meanwhile, Reinhardt was on his way back to the Shoro Kingdom as planned. A company was assigned to guard him. The commander is Captain Matheus Geist von Rialger. He is the commander of the 3rd Company of the Kingsguard. He was Reinhardt''s friend and the brother of Reinhardt''s fiance. "I didn''t know Matheus was here." Reinhardt was now on his way home, protected by the troops led by Matheus. "Yes, his majesty also asked me to protect you." His Majesty? Yes. Rumors of your Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) have reached the kingdom. You won the battle golem simulation in the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa!I heard that he defeated the Adamas Warrior. It was about a year ago, but it sounded like a story from the distant past to Reinhardt. "And you won second place in the golem boat competition in the Kingdom of Elias, didn''t you? Matheus continues to talk with his horse following closely beside the carriage. He is quite dexterous. "Yes, well. It''s a pity we didn''t win." "Of what?It''s not my field, and to come in second place out of the gate is quite a feat. Reinhard recalls how he first met Jin at that competition. We have spent many intense days together since then. "...... Speaking of which, where is your cousin?" The voice of Matheus broke my reverie. By cousin, I mean Elsa. "Elsa, huh? I can''t ...... tell you that. Ask Fritz. "Major Fritz, huh? I''m not very good with him." Reinhardt knows that his friend has been concerned about Erza since she was a little girl. But now he already has a wife. "Fritz ......" Now that Jin has told me everything, I can''t help but wonder if Fritz might be under the influence of a seduce. But there was no way to be sure. Today''s stay is in the provincial town of Tansten. * * * * Jin received a report from the old man. > Two sealed boxes of Gigarth were found on this day. Now there are only three left. "Hmmm ......" < "...... got it." Jin gets up and goes to the workshop. Reiko follows silently. "War is not a good thing. I know that. But I think someone once said that there is as much justice as there are people, so there must be as much national justice as there are countries. ...... Jin thought as he walked. "I''m not a hero or a brave man. Not even a warrior. I am a Magecraft Meister." Then he remembered what Licia, the new noble girl of the Kingdom of Klein, had asked him before. "<>" She said so. And that was how Jin was feeling right now. "Father, where are you going?" Reiko stopped him as he was walking past the workshop, thinking. "Oh, ah... I''m sorry." Scratching his head, Jin returns. Reiko looked at him with concern, but said nothing. "Well, today we''re going to develop a new weapon. Jin said as soon as he entered the workshop. "Last time, Reinhardt and Stearina were fitted with , and after analyzing it, I came up with a lot of interesting ideas. Can you tell us about them? "Of course. First of all, that collar had the effect of blocking the concentration of magic power. Jin''s worries were now gone and he was getting more and more heated. "When using magic, there is the existence of chanting as <>. It is completed with a small amount of magical power as a <>. If the trigger can be composed without chanting, magic can be invoked without chanting, but we will leave that aside for now. "The function of the collar was to diffuse the small amount of magic power needed to trigger the trigger. Gasoline, for example, is the match that ignites the magic. It is a function to blow it out. "If you do this on a large scale, you can create a field where magic cannot be activated. Jin concluded. "That''s great, father." Reiko was honestly impressed. "And the other is the function to reduce the wearer''s physical strength. If this were done on a large scale, it could stun an entire army. These are also effective weapons, and if both of them are perfected, they could stop the war, if only temporarily. "Excellent, father. Let''s develop them immediately." Reiko was saying this when Anne came in. "Goshujin-sama, I heard about you through the old man. Something similar to it once existed." "What?" According to Anne, in the early days of the War of Magic, there was a kind of magic that blocked magic. "But it wasn''t very effective because it made it impossible for allies to use magic as well. It is said that there were many cases in which it was disadvantageous for us to be unable to use magic against a demon tribe that had superior power. "Well, in this case, since it''s just a magic power jamming to activate, I think Reiko and the golems can move without any problems, don''t you?" Jin questioned Anne thoughtfully. "Yes, it''s only a , so it won''t affect the golem, which is powered by internal magic. It just can''t use external magic. Reiko also has her own means of magical attack, though she often fights with her power these days. But with Reiko''s strength, that shouldn''t be a problem. "It works against magic troops. And you know how to do it? Yes, I remember. So first, based on Anne''s memory, I made a prototype of the Magijammer. Since Anne was present, it was completed easily. Jin added his own innovations and improvements in various places. "The efficiency is more than doubled with your method, isn''t it? was a line from Ann who was present at the test. Jin then went on to develop a weapon that would . "Why don''t we just expand the function of the collar? "But that would require too much magic power. "Hmmm, I see. Oh, then, we could do it this way: ......" "Father, I think it would be faster to review the magic control flow (magi sequence) from the beginning. "That''s true." Jin, Reiko, and Anne. The three of us will discuss this. Jin''s inspiration, Reiko''s verification, and Anne''s consideration from another angle. With a model and a clear goal in mind, they had a rough idea of the structure before noon. "Father, it''s not good for your health to be so occupied. It''s just noon, let''s go to Erza and the others. Reiko said and dragged Jin out of the sea of prototypes. "Goshujin-sama, please go and have your lunch. I''ll make the prototypes in the meantime. At Anne''s words as well, Jin turned his head and jumped to the Kunlun Island. "Welcome, Brother Jin! It was sunny on the Kunlun Island today. So lunch was served outside. Erza, who had always been a dexterous cook, has improved a lot in simple cooking. After leaving the magecraft, Jin was eating bread again, thinking a little. Erza noticed him. "Jin, are you eating while thinking about something? Jin looks at Erza. Since Erza had spotted me, I explained briefly about the current situation on the continent. "War ......" Erza turns a little pale, and Jin explains what he thinks is a reassuring explanation. "Ah, but fortunately, the Shoro Kingdom is not in the midst of war. Reinhardt also told me last night that he was returning home under the protection of a unit commanded by a captain named Matheus." "Mateus?" Erza looked nostalgic for a moment when she heard that name. "Oh. You know him?" "Mateus is a friend of my brother Rai, my fiance''s brother." "Heh. So when Reinhardt gets married, he''ll be the brother-in-law of this Matheus guy? Yes. If Matheus is with him, Rai''s brother will be safe. Erza said this and Jin felt a little relieved. Not exactly, "Hey, what do you think about the war that has just started? Jin asked her. Erza immediately replies. I hate war. Then she continues. "...... brother Fritz was once a prisoner of war. I was so worried about him." This was when Fritz was still a gentle older brother. When Jin heard Erza''s words, he wondered if Fritz might be under the influence of a seduce, and oddly enough, he had the same imagination as Reinhard. "My father was a soldier. I heard he made his career in the war. But I hate war. I''d be better off without it." Meine, who was listening beside me, looked a little pained, perhaps remembering the time when she was pregnant with Erza. "Okay. I''m sorry for asking such a strange question. Jin bowed his head lightly. 225 - - 09-10 Next to Next Jin returned to Horai Island from Kunlun Island and was thinking about Fritz. "Goshujin-sama, the prototype of the Magijammer is ready. Anne came in and reported. Jin changed his mind. "All right, let''s test it right away. "Well, Reiko, I''m sorry, but will you be our test subject? "Yes, with pleasure." So, I activate the Magijammer on Reiko. It was almost a cube in shape, with a parabola-shaped generator on one side. "Do you like it?" "Yes, I don''t feel anything. Since it only interferes with the activation, it has no effect on the movement of automata like Reiko or golems like the covert maneuvering force (SP). "Okay, now try to use some magic. I think a ball of light would be good. He chose "a ball of light" because it is a magic that does not involve any offensive elements. "Yes. ......<. ...... father, it does not work." "Yes, it works!" The chanting is performed, but the magic power for the accompanying trigger is dissipated. Therefore, magic as a phenomenon is not activated. Jin, together with Reiko and Anne, checked the area of effect. According to the results, the effect seems to diminish rapidly as the distance increases. It is inversely proportional to the cube of the distance. If it is to be put into practical use, the output power should be increased by a factor of 50. "Hmm, is it the effect of free magic element (ether) in the air?It''s hard to build something on a large scale. ......" Jammers are useless if they do not work continuously, so they consume a lot of magic power. The size of the prototype, about a 30-centimeter cube, was limited to 10 meters in the direction of irradiation and a 60-degree angle of irradiation. "Even if it were mounted on a Falcon or something and irradiated from the sky, the range would be too short. It would be a good target if it flew 10 meters from the ground, and there would be many other problems as well. "I''ll see what I can do about that at ......." Jin thought about it. "We can''t use it intermittently ......." Then he had an epiphany. "Yes!Intermittent! "Father?" Reiko, Anne, give me the prototype. Jin rewrites a part of the control core that controls the generator. At the same time, he thoroughly reviewed the Magi Formula to improve its efficiency. "Okay, let''s test this. And the result of the test was as follows. The effective distance was twice as long as before. "Success!" "Father, what are you doing?I know you''ve improved the efficiency of the Magi Formula..." Reiko asks, and Jin explains. "Yes. < In other words, by operating for 0.2 seconds and resting for 0.4 seconds, the consumption was reduced to one-third. The output power during operation was increased to compensate for the reduced consumption. The 0.2 seconds is enough for the jammer to be effective, and 0.4 seconds of rest is not enough time to complete the chanting. The operation output could be increased by inserting a pause time. It can be compared to the fact that a current exceeding the rated value can be applied to a resistor, etc., if only momentarily. "That''s just like your father." "Goshujin-sama, it''s amazing!" Reiko and Anne exclaimed. "All right, then, the prototype of the Magijammer is ready. Let''s leave this one to you and your craftsmen (smiths) to deploy. Let them decide on the best timing for intermittence. The creation of the craftsmen (smiths) had relieved Jin of much of his workload. Jin could concentrate on the development. Now he could spare no time. "Okay, let''s figure out a way to break the hypnosis and seduction. This is what Jin thought was most necessary at the moment. What if Elsa''s brother Fritz was under the influence of a seduce? Or even more than that, what if the leaders of the countries that are now at war with each other had been implicated? The Unifilers could do something like that. Jin decided to take immediate countermeasures against hypnotic magic. He needed Anne''s knowledge. "Anne, what do you think?What do you think is the best way to break the spell? "Yes. In a word, . ...... "I knew it. ......" When we met Lucor at the ruins, he was released by a weak lightning spell called stun. When he told this to Anne, she said She replied, "Goshujin-sama, that''s not a stun, but a shock. She replied, "What? "What?" "This magic was developed before the Great Magic War, and is the same as the lightning magic shock." "I see." Since they analyzed and applied the <> used by Bina, it''s not surprising that there is a magic modeled after it. "There is another magic called <>." "What?" Anne said something interesting, and Jin''s interest was diverted. "It is a weak electric shock with a special waveform. The waveform is ......." Probably some kind of magic that has a paralyzing effect on the nerves, Jin guessed. Jin guessed so. "I see. Not only the waveform but also the intensity is important. But the application does not seem to be difficult. For Jin, it was easy to make a paralyzing gun (paralyzer) with this application. It is pistol-shaped and fires an electric shot when the trigger is pulled. Even though the voltage is low, it travels through the air and reaches the target, perhaps because it is magical. The user can switch between a short duration and continuous discharge. This makes it effective against a large number of opponents. However, this weapon is only effective against Jin in Horai Island. Reiko and Golem are not paralyzed by this weapon. However, since I cannot test it myself, I will not test it until I face the Unification Party (Unifiler) again. In the meantime, I will make one for Reiko and Hitoshi''s Secret Service (SP) and test it as soon as I get a chance. "All right, then, let''s make another hypnotic release machine that uses shocks. Again, the shock magic from Anne''s memory was rewritten into the Magi Formula. "But it''s so much faster when you have a model. No one intervenes to say that it is faster without a model. A prototype was made in less than 30 minutes. The shape is the same as that of a paralyzed gun (paralyzer). In the future, it will be possible to switch between paralyzing (paralyze) and shock (shock). "I don''t have anyone to test this one either. So, the verification of this also was delegated to the old man. Jin then started to consider how to deploy Titan. Titan is a good choice for demonstration, but its drawback is that it takes too much time to transport from Horai Island. For example, it takes about 600 kilometers to the location where the current conflict is taking place, and about an hour even for the Falcon. Jin''s goal was to reduce this time to about 10 minutes. This is where the warp gate without a receiving side comes in. If he could send them out using this gate, it would be much faster than flying all the way from Horai Island, even if there is a slight error in the location. However, there is a problem of not being able to come back. Jin thinks about it more. Reiko was a little worried that Jin seemed to be in a hurry. So, she decided to leave Jin to Anne''s thinking and went to the other room to consult with the old man. > "Lao-kun, what is it? "Mr. Lao, I am a little worried about your father. He seems to be in a hurry these days. "Yes. I think it''s the Unification Party (Unifiler). And I think that you are worried about the war. "The war and the Unification Party are not your father''s responsibility. "My father is not evil!" "What should I do? << "I see, that makes sense. < "Certainly ...... it would cause more trouble for your father." Unaware that his loyal subordinates, or even his children, were asking such advice, Jin finally came up with a plan to operate the Titan and further devised a plan to implement it. 226 - - 09-11 Elza Disappeared Again The consultation between the old man and Reiko is still going on. <> "Yes. We are only your father''s creatures, and I am afraid I must admit that we do not have that much influence. Both sides seem to agree. <> The old man asked Reiko. "I am unwilling to do so, but I will ask Ms. Elsa to do so. Reiko answered. Reiko seemed to have a hard time making a decision, judging from the frown on her face. < "Yes, I will. Take care of your father in the meantime. After this conversation, Reiko jumped to the Kun Lun island by herself through the warp gate. "Hello!" She calls out and enters the guest room building where Erza and the others are. She may not have to be shy since the rooms originally belonged to Jin, but it is the polite thing to do. "Yes. ...... Oh, Reiko?" Meane came out and looked a little surprised. "Hello. I have a favor to ask of Miss Elsa regarding your father. "For me?What?" Elsa came out from behind Meane. Reiko explained to them about Jin''s current situation. Elsa and Meane listened in silence. He is trying to fight against the Unification Party (Unifiler). They are aware of the war. Wondering what they can do. ...... "They don''t look as happy as they used to. I''m worried about that." He concludes by saying that. They are silent for a while, and then Meane speaks up first. "Jin-sama, because of what happened to Erza and Reinhardt-sama, you have been avenging the Unification Party (Unifiler), haven''t you? "I''m honestly glad that you''re doing this for my sake. But I don''t want you to be too hard on yourself. Erza also expressed her opinion. Meane continued. "I think that Jin-sama has been pursuing so many things at once that he has lost his composure. Erza agreed with this opinion. "I think so too. I think she is too greedy for this and that. Reiko thought about it for a while and felt that what they were saying was probably right. "So, what should we do?" That is what Reiko wants to know most of all. "A change of scenery, I guess. It was Meane who answered. "A change of scenery, is it ......?" Reiko mumbled in a parrot voice, but seemed to think it was a good idea. "So, how can I make your father feel better?" Reiko was not likely to come up with anything. Next time it was Elsa who answered. "I think you should do something fun." "Something fun, you mean. ......" Again, Reiko could only parrot the words back and forth. She seems a little sad, if not a little sad at heart. Is it a pity that she can''t think of such things herself? "Then, Miss Elsa, why don''t you invite your father? Me? "Me?" "Yes. It would be better for your father to be invited by you than by me. Elsa, sensing Reiko''s slightly sad mood, shook her head. "Yes. If it''s okay with me. Wait a little." With these words, she went into the building to put on her clothes. The remaining Meine asked Reiko, "Reiko, I think it would be good for you to go to a place where Jin-sama can feel at ease. Reiko said, "Reiko, I think it would be good for Jin-sama to go to a place where he can be at peace. "A place where you can be at peace? Hearing this, Reiko wondered where would be a place where Jin would feel at ease. But before she could formulate her thoughts, Elsa arrived. "Here you go." Erza was dressed in a long navy blue skirt, a white blouse, a light blue scarf, and a brooch given to her by Jin. These were the current attire for Elsa. "I''m off, Mother. "Yes, go on your way." With that simple exchange of words, Elsa and Reiko entered the building through the warp gate. After emerging from the Warp Gate room on the first floor, she heads for the workshop with Reiko leading the way. Erza, who had never been to this workshop before, was gazing around, curious about everything she saw. When she returned to the workshop, Jin was giving instructions to the old man. He was surprised to find not only Reiko but also Elsa in the room with him. "...... means, old man, can you make the preparations for me?" After finishing his instructions to the old man, Jin hurriedly turned to Erza, "Erza, what''s going on? He asks, "Erza, what''s going on? Erza seemed to have already thought of an answer and replied immediately. "Teach me magic skills, too. "Oh, Jin, you call it magecraft, don''t you?" "Erza?Magecraft?" Yes. I want to try. Can''t you? Erza turns her head slightly and looks up at him. Jin is not good at receiving requests from his relatives. He hesitated for a moment, but then quickly nodded his head in agreement, "Okay, I''ll teach you. He replied, "Okay, I''ll teach you. "I''m looking forward to it." Elsa looked happy. Reiko was watching from the corner, (Come to think of it, your father said something like that a while ago. ......) (By the way, your father had muttered something like that a while ago ()). * * * * * * "Yes. That''s the basic use of magic. Jin''s coaching began immediately. At first, he taught him how to use engineering magic. While most of the ordinary magic works outwardly, most of the engineering magic works inwardly. In other words, it is necessary to feel the magical power instead of seeing it. Jin began by making the students understand the difference between the two. "Ugh, it''s hard!" "Hang in there. If you can do this, the rest will be easy. "Nope." This is exactly the scene of an older brother teaching a younger sister how to study. It''s a funny scene. Now, Jin''s worries about new weapons and military equipment have vanished from his mind. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the end, Jin continued to coach Erza in engineering magic for about two hours until the evening. Thanks to his efforts, Erza managed to learn how to handle magic power and memorized the rudimentary engineering magic of < and <. Especially, the forming is very deep. Jin can make a figure, but Elsa can only make a cup-like object at best. This is interesting." Still, using the softening and forming techniques she has just learned, Erza plays with the lumps of copper, kneading them as if they were clay. Jin couldn''t help but smile when he saw Elsa laughing like that. Reiko sees this and is relieved. She then approached them and told them the time. "Father, Miss Elsa, it''s almost 5 o''clock. It''s almost time to leave. "Oh, it''s that time already. "The good times go by fast, don''t they?" So Erza is going back to Kunlun Island for the day. "Well then, let''s come back here tomorrow after lunch and continue where we left off today. "Yes, brother Jin. I''m looking forward to it. Father, I''m going to take Miss Elsa home. Yes, please. So Reiko and Erza go to the warp gate room on the first floor together. "Ms. Elsa, thank you for your hard work today. Reiko says, "No, I had a good time too. I''m looking forward to tomorrow. Erza replies, "I''m looking forward to tomorrow. We soon arrived at the warp gate room. At that time, Reiko received a call from Jin via her built-in manacam. < Then Reiko said Elsa-san, your father called me and said he had something for you. I''ll be right back. Please wait here. "Yes, okay." So Reiko rushed back to Jin''s place. "Oh Reiko, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to call you back." "No, what is it?" "Oh, I was going to give this to Elsa. Well, tomorrow afternoon would have been fine, but I wanted to give it to you as soon as possible. Jin held out the bracelet. "It is a bracelet to prevent Erza''s excessive magic power. It has the effect of converting excess mana into free magic element (ether) and storing it. It is much easier to release it into the air than to accumulate it, but Jin thought it would be a waste to use it as a bracelet to accumulate excess magical energy. Even though he was busy, he had not forgotten about Elsa''s illness. "Well, I can''t say I don''t need it now that Meane is with me. His biggest worry was that Meene would become self-deprecating and leave Erza alone, but looking at the two of them these days, he feels that they are fine now. So I''ve been working on it slowly in between, and just recently I finished it. "Okay, I''ll give it to you. She was still a simple-minded person, not realizing that Erza would be more pleased if Hitoshi handed it to her. Reiko then took the bracelet and went back to the warp gate room on the first floor. But then she returns immediately and reports in a panicked voice "Father, Miss Elsa is gone...". 227 - - 09-12 The Lost Elza Time goes back a little. The warp gate room after Reiko was summoned by Jin. Until Reiko returned, Erza was looking at the warp gates standing in a row. They are marked "Kunlun Island," "Potlock," "Blue Land," "Ruins of Fortress 8," and so on, but Erza cannot read them because they are all written in Japanese. "......This is all warp gates. ......Where can we go?" She looks around with such thoughts in her mind. Sometimes I even look inside. Inside there is a magical formula written in unreadable characters. The interior structure is also interesting. On the ceiling, there is also a pattern of some kind that I cannot make out. I wonder if I will be able to make something like this someday. I wondered that, and as I was looking up, I caught my foot on something. "Ah!" And he falls down. The place where I fell down was inside the warp gate. All the warp gates that Jin has need his magic pattern for authentication. And on Erza''s chest was a brooch given to her by Jin. Yes, it was the one that Lao-kun (called Lao-Tzu at that time) had used as a target when he searched for Erza with the magi radar when she had disappeared before. In other words, Erza was approved and moved alone. When Reiko returned 10 seconds later, Erza had already been transferred. * * * * * * * * * When Jin was told by Reiko that Erza had disappeared, he rushed to the warp gate room. "Check the other rooms just to be sure. Yes, I''ll order the maids to do so. Jin then looked around the warp gate room. The most likely possibility is that he was transferred by the warp gate, but how did he pass the authentication of the magic power pattern? Putting that aside for the moment, I check around the warp gate, but find no clues. The warp gate does not generate heat even if it is activated, and it is self-sufficient in magic power, so there is no evidence of a decrease in magic power. "Hmmm, if the warp gate had an operation counter or something, we would be able to know immediately which one of the warp gates was activated. Jin grumbles, but it''s too late. Soon after, the maid golems report that Erza is not in the institute or within a 50 meter radius around it. "Oh, if this is the case, I should have registered not only Reinhardt''s but also Erza''s magic power! "Father, please calm down." "Goshujin-sama, I heard what happened." Reiko calm down and Anne came in. "Let''s take a look at what has happened so far. It is most likely that you have been transferred by the warp gate. Then where are we going? Anne reminded Jin to think in a logical way. "Yes, that''s right. First, the island of Kunlun. I quietly asked the maid golem there, but she hasn''t returned. Then, the most likely place to look is the warp gate next to it. It was a warp gate to Potlock. "Can you contact Cattleya and Lotus who were attached to Marcia, Reiko?" "Yes." Jin and the others search for Erza. Erza was still dressed in the same clothes she had fallen into. Erza appeared at another warp gate in a collapsed state. "Where am I? You have to go out of the warp gate before you can go back in. Otherwise, if you are too slow to get out of the gate, you may be sent back to where you came from. Slowly, Erza got up and went out of the warp gate. The room was like a basement, and was relatively large. The dimly lit room must have a magic lamp somewhere. As far as I can see from the light, there is only one warp gate, the one that Elsa just came out of. We knew that we could return to the warp gate from which we came if we entered it. So at this point we are not too worried about it. There is a staircase at the end of the basement. I was a little curious about it. Erza thinks that it is not a dangerous place, since Jin has installed it. She would probably be scolded if she went back there now. So, as if she were a tomboy again, Erza walked toward the staircase. She climbed the stairs and found a simple door. Gently opening it, she found that it was still daytime outside. It was already dusk on Horai Island. ?" I wondered, and I couldn''t help but go outside. It was an empty meadow, and a big river was flowing nearby. Elsa takes a step or two toward the river. She wanted to go there for some reason, but she almost stopped herself. "I have to go home or I''ll get in trouble. She felt bad that Reiko had already returned and was probably looking for her, so she turned around to hurry back and was shocked. "The door is not ......." The doorway from which I had just emerged was nowhere to be found. I had opened the door from a slightly raised pile of earth, but no matter where I looked, the door was nowhere to be found. In a panic, I poked my hand out and dabbed around the area, but could not touch anything that looked like a door. "...... lie." Elsa probes further. Her hands and knees were covered with mud, but she had no time to worry about that now. After half an hour of this, I have no idea where I am. All I could see were my footprints. I don''t even know where I came out first. "What should I do? ......" When I was kidnapped before, Jin found me. I wonder if he will find me again. What if he gets mad at me for using the warp gate without his permission and doesn''t look for me? "I''m sorry. ......" Erza''s pessimistic thoughts made her feel like crying. "Hey, sweetie, what''s up?" A voice called out from behind her. It was a girl of about eight or nine years old. She had slightly dark blond hair tied up in a pigtail and a basket of wildflowers in her hand. "Where did you come from?" Elsa answers, regaining her composure. I, Elsa. I don''t know where I came from. Then the girl says, "Hmm?Are you lost then?" And Elsa said yes. And Elsa said yes. "Really?Then follow me. Let''s go to Mr. Soncho." The girl said and started to walk slowly. Having no other choice, Elsa followed the girl. They soon arrived at a small village. The boundary of the village was marked by stakes and a simple fence. "Come here, Elsa, come here!" With the basket in her arms, the girl walked down a small path that led to the center of the village. Erza, who had stopped to look around, hurried after her. There were strange things standing in various places that Erza had never seen before. It seemed to be made of bronze with a simple roof over it, and the fact that the surrounding area was wet suggested that it was a facility related to water. I wondered what it was, but my first priority was myself. Erza followed the girl as she walked. "This is Soncho-san''s house," she said. The girl stopped at a building that was a little more magnificent than the other houses. "Souchou-san! the girl shouted loudly through the door. A few moments later, the door opens and a girl comes out. She is about the same age as Elsa. She was about the same age as Elsa, except for one part of her that was significantly older. "Oh, what''s wrong?My uncle hasn''t come home yet. I think he''s probably out patrolling the wheat fields. The girl pointed at Elsa and said. "Is that so?You know, this little girl is lost." "Lost?" The girl looked a little doubtful, then turned to Elsa and asked. "Is that so?I''m Barbara. I''m the niece of the village headman Giebeck. I''m Elsa. Elsa, is that you? Where are you from?I see you have no luggage. ......" When asked, Elsa almost says Kunlun Island, but swallows her words in haste. I don''t know. I found myself here. And then I met the girl." Barbara tilts her head when she hears this, "That''s a strange story. Well, I guess that''s one way of putting it." She doesn''t seem to think much of it. Then she looked up at the sky, "The sun will be setting soon, if you would like to come to my house. He beckoned Elsa to come to his house. Looking at the darkening sky, Elsa decided to take him up on his offer. "Thank you. Thank you for your hospitality." Barbara said and called out to the girl. "Thank you, Hannah. Don''t worry about Elsa, she''ll be taken care of at home. 228 - - 09-13 Search "Hmm, I heard she''s not in Blue Land either. ......" On Horai Island, where Jin is still looking for Erza. "What should I tell Meane? ...... It''s 8:00 in Horai Island. The time difference from Kunlun Island is about an hour. It''s 7:00 a.m. over there, which is a strange time to be leaving. "Well, I guess I''ll just have to be honest. ......" With the previous Meane burned into his mind, Jin can only imagine the result of being yelled at. Nevertheless, Jin rushes to the Kunlun Island to meet Meene. "Jin-sama, Erza seems to be late. Seeing the worried look on Meene''s face, Jin''s back goes down. But then he pulls himself together, "Erza has gone missing from ......." Jin tells her honestly. "What?Missing?Erza?What happened?" Thankfully, Meane did not get upset or grab Jin, but accepted the fact. Of course, her face contorted in concern. "Actually, ......." Jin explained what had happened so far, including his guesses. After listening to the whole story, Meane muttered. "I''m sure she was ...... looking through the warp gate out of curiosity. That was a pretty good guess, but it wouldn''t change the situation. "Anyway, we''re doing our best to find him, so don''t worry ...... too much. Jin said. It is not surprising that his speech is a little incoherent. Yes, Jin-sama is the one who rescued the girl and me. He is looking for Erza again, I believe him. Jin felt pressure when he was told this, but he did not show it in his face and gave a big nod of approval, "Leave it to me." With these words, he left the Kunlun Island. "Goshujin-sama, I wonder how Erza-san was able to transfer? Anne asked. It was not so much a question as a confirmation to find out the cause. "Hmmm, maybe the authentication didn''t work, or maybe it''s ......." "You had something with Goshujin-sama''s magic power, didn''t you?" Jin heard this and reacted quickly. "Yes, that must be it!Why didn''t I think of it earlier?" He could only think that he was in a panic because of Erza''s disappearance. He gives some instructions to the old man, reflecting on what he had done. "Mr. Mere Old Man, please use my magical power ...... as you did before to find Erza." The instruction was lost. "Master, what is it?" The old man asked suspiciously. Jin looked at him as if he understood, "Well, maybe so!Elsa was wearing the brooch I gave her!Isn''t that right, Reiko?" Jin is generally not so concerned about what other people wear. Not even his own clothes. "Well, yes, I think he was wearing a brooch on his chest." Reiko did not pay much attention to it either. You could say that they are father and son with similarities. Well, in Reiko''s case, it may be that she just doesn''t care about anyone but Jin. "I''m sure of it, Mr. Reiko. It''s the same brooch as the one you used to look for Elsa. That''s what you''re looking for. Yes, sir. The old man started to search for Elsa using the Magi Radar. The search points are the places where warp gates are located. Potlock, Blueland, the ruins of the 8th fortress, and ....... "Master (My Lord), we have a response at Kaina village." About 30 minutes after the old man started his search, he received a report of the discovery. "Kaina village! Jin was relieved that the place was not dangerous. "It must have been an unintentional trip outside, and the warding must have prevented us from going back in. One of the characteristics of this kind of wards is that it is easy to get out from inside but impossible to get in from outside. This is mainly related to the flow of the magic power that activates it, but I won''t go into the details here. "Anyway, Kaina village or ......." Jin looks at me distantly. "I left Kaina village last December, I think, and it''s April now, so it''s been about four months. ...... I don''t know if it''s long or short. A lot has happened in that time. Too much. Now that I have earned the title of Honorary Magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, I am sure that no harm will come to me if I return to the village of Kaina. However, I really do not want to cause trouble in the village. "Anyway, we''ll just have to go there tomorrow morning, huh? But Erza is also worried. No matter how nice the people of Kaina Village are, she must be feeling a little uneasy. So Jin contacted Gon, Gen, and Hanna''s special covert task force (SP) in Kaina village. < Iris of the Covert Task Force (SP) answered on behalf of the others. Jin briefly talked about Erza''s disappearance and finally asked if he had seen Erza, who was supposed to be on her way there. The answer was, . The answer was ">. < It was definitely Elsa. < Jin is relieved to hear that. "Okay. I''ll pick her up tomorrow. Until then, take care that nothing happens to Hanna or Erza. < That concludes our communication. It is after 9:00 p.m. Horai Island time. The time difference from the village of Kaina is a little more than two hours, so it is around seven o''clock at night. It is already dark. The houses are about to go to sleep. There is no use in going there at that hour. It would be more of a nuisance and might cause a big commotion. Jin calmed his inner conflict like that. He then spoke to Reiko. "Reiko, Elsa was definitely transferred to the village of Kaina. Kaina village? "Kaina village, is it?" "Yes. Tomorrow, yeah, 8:00 a.m. local time, should be fine. I''ll pick you up." Jin said with a determined look on his face. "Father, you are going back to the village of Kaina, aren''t you?" Reiko said as if to confirm. "Yes. At least let everyone see that you are safe, and then we''ll see. Jin was not afraid to take on a single country now. But he wanted to avoid conflict. Especially since it was in the village of Kaina. "I''m going to dress as the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, the Honorary Magical Craftsman. It was a statement of self-assertion. "Yes, I''ll bring my Peach Blossom and my Magi Cannon. "No, I don''t need either of them. I don''t think the village of Kaina needs such things, and I hope it never does. Jin went to sleep, half-anxious and half-heartened at the prospect of seeing his friends again the next day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "So, Erza-san, did the warp gate go out of control? This is the home of the chief of the village of Kaina, Giebeck. It is evening. After a little early dinner, Barbara and Erza are chatting. Most of the conversation is Barbara talking and Elsa answering. "Hmm. I don''t know if it''s quite the same thing as running amok. "Is that so?But a warp gate? Does that happen often? What?What do you mean? Barbara explains to Erza, who looks doubtful. "Last year, too, there was a person who was sent away due to a runaway warp gate. Hearing this, Erza felt a little nervous. "And who is that person?" "Well, he''s not here anymore. It was a misunderstanding, but Count Walter, the lord of this area, suspected something untoward and left the village. The misunderstanding has been cleared up, but since he hasn''t come back, there''s nothing I can do to tell you about it." "So, ......" Elsa was about to say something when Giebeck came in. A little girl was standing beside her. "Hey, Hannah, what are you doing here at this hour?" It was almost 5:00 in the afternoon. No wonder Barbara asked. "You know, I was wondering about Elsa." "Me?" Elsa looked at Hannah with a slightly surprised look on her face. "Yeah...I was wondering if you were lonely coming here by yourself..." Hearing this, Elsa smiled. "Thank you. ...... Hannah, right?" "Yeah, I see, I didn''t tell you my name, I''m sorry. Saying this, Hannah bowed her head. Seeing this, Elsa giggled. "It''s okay. You saved my life." They were talking, when Barbara brought another chair, "Hannah, you can sit here. I was just talking to Elsa about some things. Hannah, you want to talk too, don''t you? He said. Hannah cheerfully agreed. "Yes!" 229 - - 09-14 Hello At the Giebeck home, Elsa, Barbara, and Hannah were talking face to face. "So, ...... where were we?" Barbara nodded her head, "...... about the people who left the village," replied Elsa. Elsa answered. Hearing this, Hannah said, "Are you talking about me, Onii-chan?" Hannah said, "Do you mean Oni-chan? This time, Elsa tilted her head, "Big brother? She looked like she didn''t understand what I was saying. Barbara sensed this and added, "Hanna-chan is talking about it. "Hannah-chan is talking about Jin-san, or Nihon?I think.He is a man from Japan, I think. He is a magecraftsman, you know?" "What?No way, my brother Jin? Erza was surprised to hear that. Hannah was also surprised to hear that. "Brother Jin?Did you say my brother Jin, oneechan?Are you your sister, Onee-chan? "Yes, I''m Brother Jin''s sister." Hanna''s face lit up when she heard that. "Jin-brother!You made it home!Hey, hey, how are you?Where are you now?What are you doing?Where''s Reiko?" Erza was flabbergasted by Hanna''s rapid-fire questions. "Jin, Jin is at home. He''s fine. He''s making all kinds of things, like ....... Reiko is with him. That''s all she said. "Oh, I''m so glad ......!I''ve been worried about you for a long time!Not only me, but everyone! "Yes, that''s right, Miss Elsa. Your brother was a benefactor and a member of this village. "Interesting. Jin never told me." Elsa said, which made Barbara and Hannah a little surprised. "Really?You know,......." "Well, you know, Onii-chan, you know,......" "Jin-san made hot springs and stuff for us." "Onii-chan, you know, she made it for us!" Both of them tried to get Erza to listen to Jin''s story, which confused her. "Wait a minute. Please tell me one at a time." Barbara and Hannah looked at each other and laughed. "Hannah, what about dinner?" Barbara asked Hannah, who had calmed down a little. "Yes, I''ve eaten. I told my grandmother that I was going to visit Mr. Soncho." "Right. Then, would you like to stay over at my house?Then you can have a nice talk with Elsa." Barbara said to Hanna. Hannah gladly accepted. "Yes!I''ll stay over!" So Barbara went out to tell Hannah''s grandmother Martha that Hannah would be staying the night. During this time, Hanna tells her many stories about Jin. When Barbara came back, the three of them talked again. It continued until late at night, when Hannah''s eye lids seemed to stick together, so they moved to the bedroom. Hannah decided to sleep in the same bed with Elsa. Hannah wanted to sleep in the same bed with Elsa. "Mmm. "Together with a girl. Good night." "Good night, Hannah." Soon Hannah began to sleep. Barbara and Elsa continued to whisper so as not to wake her. "Hannah is lonely because her parents are gone. So last year, Jin-san came to live with us, and she became very attached to him. And then she left again. "......So, that''s what happened." "Yes. That''s why I told Jin-san''s sister, Erza, that ......" Hannah clung to Erza''s right arm with her small hand. "Hannah-chan." Elsa patted Hannah''s head gently. Hannah''s hair smelled like the sun. The next day the sun rose. The next day the sun rose. "8:30, huh? It''s 6:30 in Kayna village. Is everyone awake already?" Jin couldn''t sit still and was fidgeting. "Father, you said you would pick them up at 8:00 a.m. in Kaina village, didn''t you? Reiko reproached him. "That''s what you said, but I''m not at ease. Anne sees Jin and asks him a question. "Goshujin-sama, if you want to visit this place so much, why have you never been there before? Jin groans and replies, "I didn''t want to bother you. "Because I didn''t want to bother you, I guess. "What do you mean?" "Oh, when I was in the village of Kaina, I was suspected of having created the golem that was attacking people all over the place. But that''s a false accusation, isn''t it? Yes, of course. Then you don''t have to worry about it. I''m sure everyone is worried about you. I''d be happy if they were, but I''d be hesitant if they thought I''d gotten rid of them or something. "What''s that? Sometimes the Goshujin-sama thinks in an irrepressibly backward way. Jin could not help but laugh at Anne''s clear statement. It was a trauma caused by an incident in Jin''s past. It was when he was a company employee. A subsidiary company, or rather, a sub-subsidiary since Jin''s company was a subsidiary. He was sent to the factory for about two weeks. I don''t know if the employees were unwilling to work there, or if there was some other reason, but it was just terrible. The factory was a mess, the materials were not organized, and the machine tools were out of oil and making strange noises. Jin checked on them one by one, instructed them to be tidy and organized, and struggled to create manuals on how to maintain the machines. He especially worked on the manuals outside of working hours. Thanks to his efforts, two weeks later, the factory was clean and tidy, and the machines were quiet. The workers thanked Jin for his help when he left. But then... After leaving the factory, Jin realized that he had forgotten his paperwork, so he naturally went back to get it. At that time. I don''t have time to go through all that trouble of check sheets.) (I know exactly where all the materials are, you know. I don''t even know which materials are where.) He''s just a big guy from the head office.) Well, now that he''s gone, let''s do it again as before.) Such voices were heard from the other side of the door. Jin felt as if all his strength had been drained out of him, wondering what all his hard work had been for the past two weeks. Because of this experience, Jin had become timid. "I don''t want Kaina village to be noticed by the Unification Party (Unifiler). But Anne rejects Jin''s idea. "No, Goshujin-sama. You can''t prevent the Unification Party (Unifiler) from doing evil by being so passive. We have to crush them actively. "Proactively," you say. Anyway, the best thing to do now is to go to the village of Kaina to pick up Erza-san and greet everyone there. And say hello to everyone. I''m sure that will make everything better. "I doubt it." Anne''s admonition made Jin drop what little hesitation he had left. He had a little bit of a plan to sneak out and bring Erza back secretly. "Father, it''s a little early, but let''s go. The time is 9:00. In the village of Kaina it would be 7:00. Martha and Hannah would be up and finished their breakfast by now. Mr. Locke and the others should be out working in the field by now. "I see. That''s right." Reiko told Jin with mixed feelings as he stepped into the warp gate to the village of Kaina. He emerged from the shelter. A quick check is made. There is no sign of deterioration. "Father, let''s go!" Reiko urged him to go. Jin climbed the stairs, opened the door, and went outside, looking at his feelings, not knowing if he wanted to go or not. It was a beautiful sunny day outside. The spring sun was shining down on him, and he squinted his eyes. Grass was growing around the former rocky terrain, and it was springtime. It''s a good disguise. It''s been almost a year since I first came here. As Jin walked slowly toward the village, he thought back to last year. His thoughts were interrupted by a villager''s voice. "Jin!" "Hey, isn''t that Jin?" "It''s Jin!Jin''s back! What?It''s true, it''s Jin! At the sound of his voice, people came from houses and fields. "Hey, come here, come here, Jin has come back! "Oh, he''s back!" "Yes, he''s back, and so is Reiko!" And they all came running toward Jin. Some of them abandoned their farm work to come here. "Jin!You''re looking good! said Rock. "Jin-chan, where have you been? We''ve been worried about you! said Kurt. More people gathered. "Jin!What have you been doing all this time?You didn''t send me a single message!" said Martha. And Hannah, who was in front of the chief''s house... "Welcome home, sweetie." And Jin could only say one word. "...... I''m home." 230 - - 09-15 Home The morning after Hannah''s sleepover. When she woke up, she saw Elsa''s sleeping face in front of her. Her hair was pale gold, her eyelashes long and white. "...... beautiful." Hannah thinks to herself. While I was looking at Elsa''s sleeping face, Barbara woke up in the bed beside her. Even though she is the niece of the village head, she is still a village girl and the morning comes early. "Ah, I slept well. ...... Hannah, good morning." "Good morning." They greet each other. Her voice wakes Elsa up. "hmm...... morning?" "Good morning, Elsa!" Hannah greets a sleepy Erza with a good morning greeting. Erza seems to remember what happened last night, and smiles in return. "Good morning, Hannah. Good morning, Barbara. The three of them get dressed and go to wash their faces. To the well outside, of course. Erza, who had become accustomed to the conveniences of the Kunlun Island, remembers that most of the inns she had stayed at on her trip had wells in the courtyard where she washed her face. "Elsa, you can go ahead and wash your face first. With that Hannah pumped the pump. The water came out with a rush. Elsa''s eyes widened. She had heard about Jin''s pump last night, but it was still a surprise to see it in person. A pump that can pump water from the bottom of a deep well without using magic. What a wonderful thing Jin is able to create. Someday I want to make something useful for people like this. Such a feeling sprouted in Elsa, albeit a small one. Breakfast consisted of white bread made from sifted flour, salad with wild vegetables, grilled river fish, and tea. "This tea is a little strange, but it''s delicious. "Oh, that tea is made from leaves in the forest. Hannah is eating with us this morning. "Is that so?" It is a common drink in the northern part of the Klein Kingdom, but Elsa, who is from the Shoro Kingdom, had never had it before. "Would you like to go out to get it with me next time?The mountain is still blooming with query flowers, so it will be beautiful. Hannah''s invitation made Elsa feel that she should go with her. And unknowingly, "Yes. And then, unknowingly, she said "Yes" in agreement. The next day, I was in a hotel in the city of Tokyo. Suddenly, she noticed that there was a commotion outside. It seemed as if all the villagers were in an uproar. "What''s going on?" Just as Barbara got up to look outside, the door opened. Gibek came in. Giebeck turned to Hannah, a little out of breath, "Mr. Jin is back," he said. "Jin is back. "What? The same voice came out of the mouths of the three people present. And it was Hanna who was the first to say the following words "Oh, my baby girl! She ran to the front door. She opened the front door and went outside to find Rock, Jonas, Linus, Bill, Jeff, Dave, Howard, Rick, Tom, Jan, Sly, Kurt, Jim, Patty, Mario, Jesse, and Martha. The place was filled with villagers. And the one to whom all eyes were directed was, without a doubt, Jin. Reiko was with him. The villagers were all saying something to Jin in their own way. "Jin!What have you been doing!You didn''t send me a single message!" said Martha. Jin walked slowly toward Hanna. The villagers made way for him so that he would not be disturbed. Tears well up in Hannah''s eyes. Not wanting Jin to see her crying, Hannah turns her head down. When she looked up again, Jin was already right in front of her. She thought about what she would say to Jin when he came back, but the words she had been thinking about were gone and all that came out of her mouth was, "Welcome home, Onii-chan. That was all that came out of Hannah''s mouth. Jin smiled softly at her and said, "I''m back, "I''m home. Hannah smiled softly at him and said, "I''m back. Onii-chan!" Unable to resist, Hannah ran out and jumped into Jin''s chest with all her might. Jin gently takes her in his arms. "Onii-chan, Onii-chan ......" Hannah''s face was already covered with tears. Jin gently hugged her and kept patting her back. "Please don''t go away ......." Hannah, her eyes still full of tears, pleaded with Jin, who looked a little troubled, but the next moment he smiled and gave his approval. "Onii-chan!" Hannah hugged Jin once more. Meanwhile, Reiko looks at them with a gentle smile. "...... Jin-brother." Jin looked up at the voice and saw Erza standing there. "Elsa, I''m glad you''re okay. I knew you were here last night, but I couldn''t come here in the middle of the night, so I came here in the morning. Jin said, and Elsa looked at him with tearful eyes, "Aren''t you angry?" Jin asked. Jin looked at her curiously. "Why should I be angry?Erza disappeared, and I looked for her, and I found her. That''s all. She''s already sorry for what she did, isn''t she?Then I have nothing more to say." Tears finally welled up in Elsa''s eyes as she replied. "I''m sorry. Erza then clung to Jin''s shoulder and quietly let her tears fall. * * * * * * After waiting for Hannah and Erza to calm down, Jin stood in front of everyone in the village. And then, "Thank you for your concern. He bowed his head deeply. Locke was the first to run to him. He held Jin''s head in his arms and put him in a headlock. "Oh, my God, Mr. Rock! "Son of a b*tc*, you left without telling me. You''re so stinking watery!" But Locke''s eyes are smiling kindly as he says this. Jonas, Linus, Bill, and Jeff were all laughing at the scene. The next thing Jin did was to throw him up in the air. "Jin!Welcome home! Jin!Welcome home!" they said in unison as they lifted Jin up to their feet. Jin cried silently as he was crushed. He realized that this was his second home. No one asked where Jin had come from or how he had gotten back home. Everyone was aware that Jin was an unusual mage, and no one shunned him because of it. They were just happy that Jin had come back. 231 - - 09-16 The House of Hitoshi When the excitement of Jin''s return subsides a little, the village mayor, Giebeck, calls out on behalf of Jin. Giebeck, the village head, calls out to Jin on behalf of the others. Jin, welcome home. This village has been waiting for your return. "Mr. Mayor, ......" "Of course, it would be a great loss to the world if a magecraftsman of your caliber remained only in this village. But when you are tired, when you are sad, when you want to go home, this village will always welcome you. With these words, he took Jin''s hand. Jin squeezed his hand back. "Thank you very much." The chief then turned to the others, "All right, everyone, that''s enough. We will talk to Jin again. For now, let''s let Jin take his time. With that, he indicated with a hand gesture that they were dismissed. "See you later, Jin." "Jin, tell me your story sometime." "Jin-chan, let''s play again!" With these words, some went home and some went back to the fields. Those who remained were Jin, Reiko, Hannah, Elsa, Barbara, Martha, and Giebeck. Giebeck tells Jin: "Jin, Reiko, Hannah, Elsa, Barbara, Martha, and Reiko. Jin, I don''t think you know this, but you are not a wanted man. Afterwards, Mr. Faarheit came to me and told me that it was Count Walter''s courage. He said that the king would have preferred to take you in. Jin was relieved to hear this. At least his presence here would not cause any trouble in the village. Giebeck added, "Well, Jin, you can go to Martha''s now. Barbara, come inside. Giebeck opens the door and pulls her inside. "Yes, uncle. Miss Elsa, I''ll see you later." Barbara went into the house too. "Come on, let''s go home too". With these words Martha took Hannah''s hand. She started walking slowly, but then stopped and looked back at Jin, who remained standing still. "Hey Jin, what are you doing? I''m going home. "Martha, ......" "Come on, sister, come on, Reiko. I''m going home, I''m going home. Martha told Jin and he started walking with Elsa and Reiko. A short walk brought them to Martha''s house. "Come on, Jin. Why don''t you show your sister around your house? Jin looked back at Erza, who was standing diagonally behind him, and held out his hand. "Yes." Erza gave a small nod and took his hand. "I''ve left Jin''s room just the way it was so that he can come back whenever he wants," Martha said. Martha said. The room was spotlessly clean, not a speck of dust in sight. Seeing such a room brought tears to Jin''s eyes. "Welcome home, Jin. Martha said to Jin again, and he finally burst into tears. Reiko gently offered him a handkerchief. Erza looked at Jin and held his hand gently without saying a word. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin drinks the tea that Martha made for him. Elsa and Hannah are also at the round table. Reiko was standing behind Jin. "Ah, I haven''t tasted this in a long time. Tea from different tea trees tastes different in different places. And since Jin had been drinking only the tea from the Kingdom of Egelea recently, it had been a long time since he had tasted the green tea from the village of Kaina. "......" Jin takes a break. In front of him are the faces of Martha and Hannah. "Um... ......" Jin is about to say something when Martha interrupts him. "Jin, let me tell you something first. Jin, let me tell you something first. I''m not going to ask you any questions. The people in the village are the same way. We all know you''re no ordinary man. That you can do things that other people can''t. So you don''t have to tell me how you got here or anything if you don''t want to. Remember that." Jin was at a loss for words when Martha said this to him. He had been wondering how he was going to explain. "Thank you very much. If I told you everything, it might cause trouble for the village, so I feel much better now that you said that. It would be fine if it was just the villagers, but the lords and other people from the kingdom might also come to the meeting. I did not want any unnecessary trouble. At that moment, Hannah opened her mouth as if she could not contain herself. Let''s go to the mountains to get some medicinal herbs! Hearing this, Jin remembered last year when he and Hannah went to pick medicinal herbs together. "Well, let''s see. Let''s go after I drop Erza off. Thinking that Meane would be worried about him, he replies with a surprising answer. "Well, let''s go together, Elsa!" "Brother Jin, I want to go too. Jin smiled and nodded his head. "Okay, I''ll go with you. You''re not going to ...... walk there, are you?" Hannah nodded her head, "Yes!I''ll ride with you! She answered. Hearing this, Jin thought about it. "Well, are there any other golem horses available? It is the beginning of the busy farming season. Golem horses are supposed to be useful for cultivating land, farming, and transporting materials. "Yes, that''s right. The horses are probably all on loan. Martha made a guess based on the current situation. "Well, shouldn''t they be?" Seeing the disappointed look on Hannah''s face, Jin left the room for a moment. He then took out a manacam from his pocket outside the room and made some kind of contact with Horaijima. He then returns to his room and turns to Hanna, "Hannah, it''s all right. I have to prepare my lunch. He said, "Hannah, it''s all right. Hanna was overjoyed to hear that. "Really?You can go?Yay!Grandma, I''ll help you make lunch!" "Yes, yes, one moment." Martha stood up laughing and went to the kitchen with Hannah. "Brother Jin?" Jin explained what he had done to Erza, who looked doubtful. "I sent instructions to send the golem horses from Hourai Island over here." Then, after another call to somewhere, he hands Erza the manacam (magic element communication device), "Meine is worried about you. Make sure you apologize to her. She said, "Meine is worried about you. Erza received the manacam. "Um,...... mother?......Yeah, I''m sorry. I''m with my brother Jin right now. So I''d like to see a few more things here and then go home. ...... Okay, sure. Thank you." He seemed to have been talking with Meane about something, and when he finished he gave Jin back the manacam. "Thank you, Brother Jin. Mother forgave me when I told her that Jin was with me, saying that it couldn''t be helped. "Well, that''s good." Jin then turned to Reiko, "Reiko, give that to Elsa." "Yes, father." Reiko took out a bracelet from her pocket. It is a bracelet to prevent hypermagic. This is the reason why I had to call Reiko back once to give it to her in the first place. It is a blessing in disguise that Jin was able to return to the village of Kaina thanks to the bracelet. "This is a bracelet that prevents Erza from suffering from excess magic power. It also stores excess magic power. When you use magic, if you pass the magic through the bracelet, it will give priority to the magic in the bracelet." "Really?" Erza stares at the bracelet intently. I didn''t know such a magical tool existed. No, only Jin could have made it, Erza thought intuitively. "Ah. As long as you wear this, you don''t have to worry about excess magic power anymore. "Thank you,......." I can say that I have a flaw in my hypermagic, but this bracelet can control it. I no longer have to worry about the disease that has been bothering me for so long. It''s like a dream, Elsa thought. At that moment, Reiko looked outside as if she had noticed something. "Father, the horses have arrived. "Well, you''re early." Jin stood up and went outside. Erza rubbed her eyes and followed him. When Jin, Hanna, Erza, and Reiko went outside, they found Jin''s beloved golem horse, , and the golem horse he had made when he had invited Erza, Reinhardt, and the others to Kunlun Island. They had probably been brought there by someone from the Secret Service (SP), but the person who had brought them was no longer in sight. "Oh, it''s my brother''s horse!" Hannah seemed to have remembered the frame. Erza also recognized the golem horse that she had ridden before, and she was soon astride it. She was wearing a ...... skirt. Well, it''s not a dress this time, and as long as I hold the front, I should be able to manage. "Lunch is ready. Oh, you''re Koma, and what about that one?Did Jin call you?You''re still so impressive, aren''t you? Martha came out of the house with a basket of lunch boxes. < "Thank you very much. Let''s go then. Reiko takes the basket and the canteen. And three golem horses and an automata head for the mountain. * * * * "Ah, it''s been a long time since I''ve had this view. "It''s a nice view." Jin enjoys his first panoramic view of the village of Kaina in a long time, and Erza enjoys her first view of the village. After this, the three of them and one other enjoyed a picnic that was not really a gathering of medicinal herbs. 232 - - 09-17 Old Kings activities and washing machine Reiko was consulting with the old man using the built-in manacam (magic element communication device). "Your father looks very happy. I have not seen him so happy for some time now. "Yes. I don''t think it''s a change of scenery, but rather that your father is essentially suited to this kind of life." "Therefore, I think it is necessary to create a system that can deal with the Unification Party (Unifiler) without your father. "Please, sir. I have to protect my father here. I have to stay here and protect my father. Thus, we decided to enhance the system of Horai Island without Jin to reduce his burden, and also to establish a system to realize his ideas as quickly as possible. The old man decided to prepare another 500 Smith Golems. The work is easy or rather a process of flow work, since there is a template. By fully utilizing the existing Smith Golems, a total of 1,000 Smith Golems were assembled in such a short period of time that it could be said that the process was quick. The control core (control core) is a copy, so it was possible even without Jin. >. The old man has taken full advantage of his authority to reorganize the craftsmen (smiths) golem, and has set in motion the quickest way possible to realize Jin''s idea. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Wow, Gon and Gen, long time no see! It''s the afternoon after returning from a picnic of medicinal herbs. Hannah was so happy to see Gon and Gen, who had come to show themselves in a dignified manner. She is hanging on Gon''s arm or being carried on Gen''s shoulders. Jin was still keeping quiet about Hanna''s special covert task force (SP). What he is doing is building a washing machine with Erza as his assistant. Last year, we did not notice it, but Martha and the other women in Kaina village had rough hands after the winter. One of the reasons for this is washing clothes. In Kayna village, there was not even a washboard, and most of the washing was done by hand in a large washtub. Large items such as bed sheets were washed by stepping on them with one''s feet. Although hot spring water is available, it is still a difficult task. It happens every year," he said. It will get better when it gets warmer. Martha laughed, but Jin was not convinced. That''s where the washing machine comes in. He envisioned a hand-cranked washing machine. The laundry, detergent, and water are placed in an egg-shaped container, and when the handle is turned, the container spins and the laundry is agitated inside. Jin thought that an ordinary automatic washing machine would be difficult to operate and, although it may be selfish of him, it would not be suitable for the village of Kaina. The missing materials were brought from Hourai Island. Well, most of them were made from bronze, copper, and iron left in Martha''s house. Erza is still an apprentice, so she is still observing. Her eyes were serious as she stared at Jin working the metal by forming. "The most important thing in forming is to have an image. Imagine from beginning to end what kind of shape you want to make. That''s the best trick. Jin slowly builds up the washing machine, using forming to show us how he does it. "The image ...... is difficult. Do you mean that I have to have a clear picture in my mind of what I want to make? "Yes, that''s right. Yes. You have to start with a simple shape at first. While talking like this, Erza does not know that Jin is out of his league when it comes to forming without chanting. She is striving to be able to do the same. It is too high a goal to strive for, but it will not be in vain. In the meantime, the hand-cranked washing machine is completed. Reiko asked me to get the leather of the hexenbiest to use as packing material. Without it, water would leak out and splash all over the place when the machine is turned. Natural rubber would have been fine, but it would not be as durable. "Interesting shape" Erza expressed her honest opinion when she saw the completed washing machine. Hannah came over and looked at it with interest. "What''s this? "This is a washing machine. Is there anything you want to wash? Jin asked Hannah if there was anything she wanted to try. Then Hannah said, "Yes, I do!I changed my pants yesterday. and went to the laundry room to get them. Jin and Elsa look at her with a wry smile. Reiko takes the prototype hand-cranked washing machine and we go to the well. The sun was shining and a few women were chatting with each other. "Oh, Jin, isn''t it? Did you cook something again? "You''re Jin''s sister, aren''t you?You don''t look much like her. But she is beautiful. She was approached by someone who said something like "You''re a beautiful woman. When she was told to her face that she was a beautiful woman, Elsa''s cheeks turned red with surprise. "This is called a washing machine," she said. Jin opened the lid of the washing machine, put in Hanna''s pants, and poured in water from the well. Finally, he poured a small amount of Rita''s seed powder as detergent. Then he closes the lid. The ladies at the well are watching with great interest. "And then I turn this handle." The size of the washing machine is for one person, as it is a prototype. The size of the washing machine is for one person, as it is a prototype, and the amount of laundry in the village is not so large that this size is sufficient. The larger the machine, the more power it would require to spin the clothes, and that would make it more difficult to spin the clothes. There is an option to have Gon or Gen do it. After spinning the wheel around and around for about three minutes, Jin stopped. The washing tank slowly slowed down and stopped with the lid up to balance the weight of the tank. "Open the bottom stopper and let the water out. Dirty water comes out. (To Hannah''s credit, it is not really "dirty". It means water after washing.) Fill the rinse water. Close the stopper at the bottom and now pour the water through the lid. "Turn it again." While turning it, Jin said, "Oh, that''s right. If it''s not too dirty, you can clean it with just water. With this remark, he kept turning the water for about one minute this time. After changing the water again, Jin said that he would finish next time, and then turned the water with the bottom stopper open. The water splashed a little. You can squeeze it like this. Of course, you can squeeze it by hand. After explaining the process, he stops the washing machine, opens the lid, and takes out Hanna''s pants. "Now, open the lid and take out the laundry. She then pats the clothes dry and stretches out the wrinkles. "All that''s left is to hang them out to dry." How do you like it?Jin looks around at the ladies'' faces. "......" "............" Just when Jin thought they were not responding well. "Jin!You can wash more things with this, right?" "Make one for me!" "Sounds fun!" The hand-cranked washing machine seems to have been accepted in the village of Kaina, though more for fun than convenience. "Thank you for washing my clothes, Onii-chan! Hannah''s smile made Jin the happiest. He arranged through Reiko to have the washing machine mass-produced and brought to Horai Island. * * * * * * Jin, of course, and Erza were to stay one more night. Meane, who talked to Erza through the manacam, said <>. "Brother Jin, you looked so good today." Erza said suddenly after dinner. "What?" Jin was not sure what she meant. "The past few days, Jin, you sometimes looked so sad. But today you seemed to be having a great time all day. "I see. ......" Jin thinks about what Erza said to him. Inwardly, he had an idea. (I guess I was tired from the Unification Party (Unifiler) and so on.) Jin smiles bitterly and wonders if he is not suited for rough work after all. "Hey, Erza, can you use magic too? Hannah, who was helping to wash dishes, asked Erza as soon as she came back. "No, but I''m not as good as my brother Jin. But I''m not as good as my brother Jin." But Hannah looked at Erza expectantly with sparkling eyes, "Show me something you can do! She said, "Show me something. Elsa thought for a moment and then noticed that the kitchen where Martha was sitting was dimly lit, She chanted "<>" and turned on the light. and turned on the light. The kitchen becomes bright at once. Martha is surprised. "Wow!I was surprised. ...... Oh, it''s you, Elsa. Is this magic too?How convenient! Erza saw the scene and said "Enriching people''s lives with magic is very rewarding, isn''t it?" Hearing these words, Jin smiled and turned to Erza, "You''ve found a good point. I''m sure Erza will make a good magecraftsman. He said. Really?Thank you, Brother Jin. Erza smiled with happiness when she was told this. This smile was something Jin had never seen before. 233 - - 09-18 Relaxing Hitoshi, The old man continued his activities. In support of Jin, the following actions were taken. 1, 1. to build a port for an aircraft carrier. 2. to investigate whether the Kingdom of Selroa and other government officials are under hypnosis or seduction. 3. investigate undersea resources as a way to utilize the Mermaid Corps. 4. make weapons for the golems. 5. Further improvement of the warp gate without acceptance. 6. Develop an aircraft that can carry Titan. 7. build a heavy-duty golem based on Titan for heavy-duty work. 8. Mass production of Magijammer and Paralyzer. These were the immediate goals of the group''s activities. In addition, we will place an observer in the warp gate room. This is to prevent accidents like this one from happening and to deal with intruders. In addition, we will monitor the room with mana telecams at all times. If Jin were to ask, he would say, "Surveillance cameras? Although Jin has not given clear instructions for either of these measures, they are necessary considering their purpose. "The Goshujin-sama will be surprised when he comes back. Ann, the support person, said with a smile. Finally, as a side note, she received Reinhardt''s regular call on his behalf, and assured him that <>. Since there was nothing special about Reinhardt that day, that was all he needed to say. * * * * * * Jin and Erza came to the hot spring in the dark. Erza had missed her bath yesterday, so she secretly asked Jin for advice. There are no villagers in this unlit place. Jin was concerned about Erza''s unfamiliarity with people. They have a ball of light, so neither of them is lacking in lighting. "Okay, I''ll go this way. Jin says, and a young voice follows. I''m going to stay here with you, okay? Yes, Hannah was following him. "Yes, Hannah-chan, I''ll come in with you. Erza seemed to have already become comfortable with Hannah. Jin took a bath in the hot spring in the village of Kaina for the first time in a while. He had the place to himself. "Ah, I missed it yesterday for some reason. Jin can use engineering magic such as deodorant and cleanup if the need arises, but the hot springs are still very special. Erza-chan is so beautiful. Meanwhile, in the women''s bath, Hanna and Erza were soaking in the hot water together. "I''m sure Hannah-chan will become beautiful too. "I don''t think so.Can you be Jin''s bride?" When she asked me that, I was at a loss for an answer. "Ummm...yes. Jin-bro is taking good care of Hannah-chan. She could barely reply. * * * * Reiko was unusually waiting outside the hot spring this time. Partly because Jin wanted to be alone, but also because she wanted to take this opportunity to communicate with the old man. "How are things going there, Mr. Lao? "Yes, we are only doing what we can for our father. < "That''s for a process that only your father can do, right?" << Two more cores, is that correct? < "That can''t be helped. Do we need to add more hands?" . Yes, I see. * * * * * * "Hey, Elsa, Hannah, it''s time to go." "Yes, Onii-chan." They exchanged a Showa-era couple-like exchange between the men''s and women''s baths, and Jin left the hot spring. The spring night air felt good on his burning body. Soon Elsa and Hannah came up. Both of them had wet hair and their cheeks were slightly cherry-red, and there was a hint of s*xiness (well, in Hannah''s case, it could not be called s*xiness). They walk along the street at night, lighting the way with a ball of light (a ball of light) lit by Jin. Hanna is in a good mood as she holds hands with Elsa and Jin. Reiko follows silently behind them. It was a peaceful scene. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Late at night, when Hannah has already gone to bed. Jin had a brief report from Reiko. "Well, I see. I''d better go home. But he was worried about Hannah. When Jin said so, Reiko made a suggestion. "Father, why don''t you invite Hannah to Horai Island or Kunlun Island? "Hmmm, that''s another way to do it. Then we''ll go to the Kun Lun island with Erza. Reiko, will you take care of Hannah in the meantime? Reiko nodded her head in agreement, "Yes, if your father says so. Reiko answered, "Yes, if your father says so. Relieved, Jin turned to Reiko and indicated to her that he would do so. "Okay, let''s have breakfast tomorrow and then go home. Let''s go to the Kunlun Island first to drop Erza off via the institute, and have Hanna spend some time there as well. * * * * > "Yes, everything is going in our favor." > "Yes, we were able to get some information, thanks to the fact that we kept only Marcello of the 6th branch alive. << That''s interesting. And what? >> "Yes, I have some information. "Yes, some of the information is unreliable due to his confusion, but we call him a mysterious golem master who controls a golem that has gone toe-to-toe with our strongest golem. "So what?I know it is nothing compared to our comrades. < No? < Yes, as you wish. < 234 - - 09-19 Silent Story 9 Old Country There was a boy. He was born the third son of a well-to-do merchant family and was raised relatively freely. His grandparents were still alive and well, and it can be said that it was not his parents but his grandparents who mainly raised him. The boy loved old stories. His grandparents used to tell him stories. The War of Magic. The great battle against the demons. The boy''s heart leapt when he heard them. When he turned 15, he set out on a journey. He didn''t go very far. He could have been there and back in ten days. There were ruins there that could be reached in four or five days one way. The ruins of the magic war that I had heard so much about. It was located on a hill overlooking a large lake. It was developed as a sightseeing spot, and most of the people visited there along with sightseeing at the lake. The boy, however, was not interested in the lake and just looked around the ruins. "So this is the ruins. ......" The ruins were like the ruins of a half-collapsed castle. The parts of the ruins that are not in danger of collapse are open to tourists. The rest of the site is off-limits, with only occasional visits by authorized archaeologists. There must be something more interesting there. The boy thought so. He waited for the night when the tourists were gone and entered the restricted area. With one small magic lamp. It changed his life. Suddenly, his footing collapsed and a hole opened up. Dozens of people had never had a hole in the place where he had walked. Was it fate? "Oh, no, no, no, no. ......" A hole in the floor made of stone more than a meter thick. The boy fell through it. He was lucky not to be crushed by the stones that fell with him. The largest of the stones was 2 meters square, and the boy would have been a mere lump of meat if he had been trapped under it. "This is ......" Whipping his aching body, the boy stood up. The place he was in looked like a hall. The hole into which he had fallen seemed to be slanted from the middle, not vertical. Otherwise, the boy would have been killed by the impact of the fall. However, the hole he was supposed to have fallen into was blocked by the stones that collapsed later, and there was no way for him to escape from the hole. "Oh, no." The boy muttered, but his face did not look as troubled as his words. Because he was standing in a place that no tourist would know, a place that even archaeologists had never set foot in before. The thought that this must be the inside of the castle where the generals and knights used to roam during the magic wars made the boy''s heart beat involuntarily. Now, which way shall we go? There were two entrances to what appeared to be a hall, one large and one small. The smaller one was about the size of the front door of an ordinary house. The larger one was five meters high and wide. After much deliberation, the boy went to the smaller one. As he started walking, he noticed that he could see around him for some reason. It was nighttime, and the magic lamp he had brought with him was under the stone. And yet he can see his surroundings. It was because the walls were luminous. He thought he had seen many things in his life, but he had never seen such a light. "I wonder if this is old technology. Guided by the lights, the boy passed through the smaller doorway. Beyond the smaller doorway was a passageway that curved gently and continued for a long time. It curved slightly downwards, and the boy continued to go deeper underground. After about 10 minutes, there was a door. It was made of iron and rusted red. "I wonder if it will open..." He pushed the door with all his might, and the door moved little by little, creaking noisily. The door managed to open just enough for one person to pass through, and the boy stepped through the door. Thinking back, this was his last chance to turn back. But fear and hesitation were gone from the boy''s mind. He was simply drawn to the unknown and kept going. What was on the other side of the door was a great number of magic tools. Many of them were broken, but still a third of them appeared to be safe, at least from the outside. Among them, there was one that caught the boy''s attention. "Is that a ...... doll?" It was a doll. She looked like a girl. But she was lifeless, sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall. There is another reason why I identified it as a doll. Her left hand was broken. It was missing from the elbow joint, and there was some kind of string hanging from the remaining part. It was not a human body in the least. "...... beautiful." But the doll was beautiful. The hair had a golden sheen and felt like the finest silk threads. Her skin was porcelain white, and her face was that of an angel. "I wonder if it works anymore." The boy gently touches the doll. I am cold. I can''t feel the body heat. "...... a doll, after all." I run my hand over his cheek. "It''s soft ......." It feels like a human touch, but cold, so strange. I wonder if its eyes are closed. The boy can''t help but wonder what color the eyes are. The doll is so beautiful, the eyes must be beautiful too. "Why doesn''t it move?" He grabs her shoulders and shakes her lightly. The golden hair sways softly, but the doll never wakes up. At a loss, the boy remembered an old story his grandmother had told him. It was about a princess who was imprisoned in a tower and kept sleeping. The princess, the only child of an ancient kingdom, sleeps on and on. Until the day the kingdom is restored. When she awakens from her sleep, that''s when the old kingdom will be restored. Such is the story. The princess was awakened by a hero. The princess wakes with a kiss from the hero. And the princess wakes and marries the hero. That is how the kingdom is restored. That is, the hero becomes king and the princess becomes queen. "A kiss ......?" The boy had never been in love. Of course, he had never been with a girl. If you can call it love, this doll was the boy''s first love. The boy looked around even though no one was watching him, and then he gently put his face close to the doll''s. After hesitating for several times, the boy looked at the doll and said, "I''m in love. After many hesitations, he kissed the doll on her peach-colored lips. The boy turns bright red and pulls away from the doll. The boy turns his head down as if embarrassed, then looks up and sees the doll''s face once again, and is astonished. What? The doll''s eyes were open. They were bright red, the color of blood. But the boy thought it was beautiful. "Did you ...... wake me up?" Her voice was like rolling bells, and it fascinated the boy. The girl gets up slowly. "You''ve been asleep for a long time. Oh, your left arm is still broken. The girl walks away. "It''s a little rickety. But I guess it won''t hurt to move. Step by step the doll walks and stands in front of the boy. "Thank you. If you don''t mind, can you give me a name?" The boy, whose head is so surprised that it is barely working, still says his name. It is the name that comes to his mind at the moment he sees the doll. "Elena." The doll smiles when the boy says this, Yes, my name is Elena. I am very happy to meet you, my lord. 235 - - 09-20 Invite Hannah It was Jin''s first morning in Kaina Village in a long time. "Ah, I miss the smell." The smell of blue wheat fields. The smell of cooking in the houses. The smell of trees. The smell of the wind. Jin breathed them in, filling his lungs with them. After breakfast at Martha''s house, Jin said what he had decided yesterday. "I''m going to drop Elsa off and go back to the institute. Hannah was the first to react. "Onii-chan, are you leaving ......?" Jin, thinking that she might say so, quickly added, "Hannah is coming with me. "Would you like to come with me, Hannah?" Hearing this, Hannah jumped up and down. "Oh, really?You''re taking me to your house? "Yes, if Martha says yes. Before she could finish her sentence, Hannah gasped for air and begged Martha to take her home. "Hey, hey, Grandma!Can I go to your house, Grandma?" Martha giggled, "Yes, of course. But don''t bother Jin, okay?" "Yes!I''ll do whatever you say, Onii-chan! And so, they were going back to Horai Island with Hannah. "Well then, Hannah, I''m sorry, but could you keep her blindfolded until we get there? "Yes, sure!" Jin''s suggestion was made out of concern for Hannah''s safety, as he knew that if anyone knew how she had gotten there, they might start to pry into her affairs. Jin carried a blindfolded Hanna on his back. That alone seemed to make Hannah happy, "I''m looking forward to seeing my grandma''s house. I''m looking forward to it! She was so excited to be on Jin''s back. Erza, who was walking beside Hannah, was also looking at her with narrowed eyes. In the meantime, they left the boundary of the village and came to a shelter with a warp gate. "This is where I should have come from. But I couldn''t find where I came from. Erza said and explained how the day went. Jin replied apologetically. "Yeah, well, there are layers and layers of wards to prevent anyone from accidentally wandering in. "Is that so?" Yes. Wards to hide the entrances. Wards to keep out intruders. Wards that make it undetectable by magic. It doesn''t work when you get out from inside, though." Erza tilts her head at Jin''s explanation, "But then my brother Jin can''t get in either. Jin explains it to her. Jin explained that too. "My magic pattern is different. The patterns of magic are so different that no two people are the same. That''s why only I and the golems and automata I created can use them. With these words, Jin reached out his hand to a seemingly empty space and opened a door. Erza, however, did not see it. The magic power in the brooch was not enough. Jin then grabs Elsa''s hand. "Ah!" It is a word uttered in surprise. It is because the moment Jin grabs her hand, an open door appears in front of her eyes. The door she had emerged from the day before yesterday. The door to return home that she had searched and searched but could not find. "Come on, let''s go home." Jin said, pulling Elsa by the hand and leading her through the door to the shelter. Reiko follows. And although not visible, Hanna''s dedicated covert task force (SP), Iris and Azalea, also followed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The group first entered Horai Island through the warp gate, and then immediately jumped to Kunlun Island. Once outside, Jin took off Hannah''s blindfold. Hannah, who had been silent ever since they approached the shelter, opened her mouth again. "Wow!Is this your home?" "Yes, it is. I won''t tell you how I got here. Okay?And don''t tell anyone but Martha, okay?If you promise, I''ll keep bringing you here." "Yes!I promise!I won''t tell anyone!It''s a secret between you and me!" Hannah promised happily. "Erza!Jin-sama!" Then Meane came running out. She must have been worried about Erza. "Who is it?" Hannah wondered. "I''m Erza''s mother." Hanna was surprised when Jin told her. "What?So you''re her mother? No, Erza and I are step-siblings, so we''re not related. That''s why Meane is Erza''s only mother. "Hmm. ......" Hannah nodded her head and looked at Erza and Meene who was hugging Erza. Meine was talking to Elsa about something, but then turned to Hanna and said, "Hanna-chan, Hanna-chan, Hannah-chan, right?I''m Meine. I''m Erza''s mother. My Elsa has been very kind to you, thank you very much. She bowed lightly. Hannah blushed a little, "You''re welcome. Hannah blushed a little and replied, "You''re welcome. I''ll be back in an hour or two. When Jin said this in front of the building, Meane opened her mouth. "Jin-sama, I''m sorry for the trouble Erza has caused you. I''ll take care of Hannah-chan myself." Jin, who had been planning to ask Reiko for help, thought it was a good opportunity, "Then can you take care of her?" He asked Meane to take care of Hanna. And to Hanna.., "Hannah, I''m sorry, but I''m going to work a little bit. She said with a worried look on her face. Meane looked at Jin with a curious look on her face. Hannah, who was the one who was told to do so, said "Yes!I''ll be fine!I''m waiting for you! she answered cheerfully. Jin was relieved. "Jin, don''t worry. I''m here for you. Erza also assured him of this, and Jin returned to Horai Island with peace of mind. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Kingdom of Cerroa is pushing the Kingdom of Egelea''s army. "The Royal Army of Franz is overwhelming the Royal Army of Klein. Information from the battlefield. It''s just as we planned. Then another voice echoes. It seems to be a means of communication similar to the manacam. < "Oh, Elena. Is there something wrong?" "Yes?Who is it? "What?The MagiCraftsman whom Marcello once claimed to have secured?" < "Hmm. And Donald was there as well? < "Then could you try to meet him somehow, Elena?" < <> "I''ll leave that decision to Elena. If you think she''s worth it, take her. If not, delete ......." << 236 - - 09-21 Quiet Story 10 The story of a magician who was called a genius In the eastern part of the Kingdom of Celuloa, in a cold village bordering the Kingdom of Egelea, there lived a Magi Craftsman. He was formerly the Royal MagiCraftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa, but he had retired from the life in the royal capital in disgust, and had retired to his birthplace. He had one apprentice. He was the son of a distant relative, and when he was in King''s Landing, he took him as an apprentice because of his talent. He had many other apprentices, but few of them became his own, and when he said he was going to retire and move back to his hometown, the boy was the only one who came with him. The others left because they had families or because they were not good at rural areas, or for some other selfish reason. Only you are my true disciple. With these words, he taught the boy everything he knew. His specialty is golems. Of course, he could make other magical tools, but he was best at making golems. The Kingdom of Cerroa has long made up for its lack of labor with golems. His skills played a part in this. His golems were different from those made by others. <, in other words, they were autonomous. And . It had three times the output of an ordinary golem. In other words, one Golem could do the work of three. Except for jobs that require numbers. Finally, <. Even the work golem had a refined form in its ruggedness. is not an easy thing to achieve, as one is born with a certain sense of beauty, but in terms of <, it is in the realm of technology, so it was possible to teach him that much. By the time the apprentice boy became a young man, he had passed on almost all of his knowledge and skills to the boy, or rather to the young man. And the time had come for the gears of fate to mesh. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Are you the genius magecraftsman I''ve heard so much about? A man stood before the young man. He was about five or six years older than the young man, and looked to be barely over 30. Who are you?Who are you? The young man looked at him suspiciously, "A messenger from the ancient times, let''s say. The man replied, "A messenger from the ancient times, let''s say. "So?What do you want with this messenger from the ancient times? "Wouldn''t you like to develop your abilities more and more and use them to your heart''s content?" What? The man''s words were plain, but the word "to the fullest" caught the young man''s attention. "Well, the proof is in the pudding. The man turned on his heel and walked quickly. It was as if it was natural for the young man to follow him. He was somewhat annoyed, but his interest was piqued. The young man started to follow the man. The man led him to an old mansion in the suburbs. Come in." The man who turned around for the first time opened the door and invited the young man in. The young man meets his destiny. The man who appeared before the young man was a perfect beauty. What appeared before him was a perfect beauty. Impeccable in both function and form. No, only one thing. His left arm was broken. "This, this is ......." A girl with golden hair, crimson eyes, porcelain skin. The young man had never seen such a beautiful automaton. The girl opened her mouth. Hello, my name is Elena. Are you the one who can fix my arm? Even her voice was sweet. The young man was instantly charmed. For a while, he could only stare into the red eyes of the automaton named Elena, unable to speak. His reverie was broken by the words of the man who had brought him here. "Well, can you fix her arm?" The young man shook his head in silence. I could tell just by looking at him. Right in front of me, Elena is a work of art. My own, no, I cannot fix her, not yet. But. "Someday, I will show you that I can fix it." These words came out naturally. The young man had also been captivated by Elena''s magic. The man''s words were not a lie. In the basement of the mansion, there were many never-before-seen magic tools and never-before-heard artifacts. And books written in an ancient language contained magic and magical techniques that were supposed to have ceased to be handed down in the past. The young man was astonished, thanked the man, and immediately started researching to improve himself. * * * * * * * * * * * One year, two years, three years. One year, two years, three years. Five years, ten years. More time passed, and the young man became a mature man. He was not yet ready to fix Elena, but his research was progressing steadily. "I''m looking forward to it! Already Elena''s movements were smooth. Her joints and muscles had already been repaired. But the skin and skeleton could not be recreated yet. I trust you will fix it. The young man, or rather the mature man, who was told this to his face by the automata who visited him from time to time, continued to work even harder. He makes dozens and dozens of golem prototypes. In the process, his golem-making skills were further improved. Golems specialized for combat are commonplace. Some of them even boast nearly twice the performance of conventional golems, which had more than three times the output of conventional golems. Of particular note is a golem that has the ability to overwrite commands in the control core of the other golem. And a golem that can temporarily increase its power by more than ten times by using a jewel called Eladolite, which was brought to us in the research process and has a function of amplifying magic power. And many more. Not only golems, but also magic-enhanced swords. Shields against magic. < In between studies, he visited the ruins, removed and studied the relics, and made efforts to get as close to the past as possible. "Well, this weapon from the past called Gigarth that we found at the ruins seems to have some interesting functions. The young man is now in the middle of his prime. His energy was high, and the flames of his passion were not waning, but burning even louder. "Giggles?It''s a failure. He''s a low brain with little intelligence, just a rampaging, power-hungry little brain." From time to time Elena would come to his laboratory to offer advice and criticism. "But if there are still automata left in the ruins, I want you to destroy them. "Why?Why, Elena? Because they are all inferior to me. I am the one and only automaton. Queen of automata. I was made to be one. The automata that remain in the ruins are rebels who rebelled against me. Please don''t leave them behind. "Okay, I get it." Several blue-haired automata were found in some ruins, but they were all dismantled according to Elena''s request. The body parts of some of these automata were adapted to Elena''s body, and after 20 years, Elena returned to her perfect body. 237 - - 09-22 Hannahs success "Old man, let''s hear your report first. Jin said as soon as he left Hannah at Kunlun Island and returned to Horai Island. Jin recalls the road he has traveled. Ikasanat is a border town. It was also a fort with high walls and a moat around it. "The fact that they have overtaken that place will give them momentum," he said. Even Jin, who is not familiar with military matters, can understand that much. Both sides had the upper hand in the attack. It may be justified. Now it is spring and there is an unwritten rule to avoid wars during the busy farming season in this world where there are few professional soldiers due to population shortage. It is because it would lead to a decline in national power. "But the Kingdom of Cerroa must be promoting agriculture with golems. That was Jin''s guess, but he was almost right. "What should we do ......?" Jin was not sure. Jin has the power to defeat the invaders as evil. But at the same time, Jin''s power could upset the balance of the world. People fear those with power. As a result, he is shunned, feared, and ostracized by this world. That''s what Jin feared. "All right. What is the main reason why you called me here, then?" Suspending his conclusion, Jin asked the following question to the old man. "Okay, let''s hear it." The old man began by explaining the project he had been working on in Jin''s absence. 1. to build a port for an aircraft carrier. 2. to investigate whether the Kingdom of Selroa and other government officials are under hypnosis or seduction. 3. investigate undersea resources as a way to utilize the Mermaid Corps. 4. make weapons for the golems. 5. Further improvement of the warp gate without acceptance. 6. Develop an aircraft that can carry Titan. 7. build a heavy-duty golem based on Titan for heavy-duty work. 8. mass-produce Magijammer and Paralyzer. When Jin heard this, he was impressed. "That''s brilliant. You''ve done what I intended to do, what I forgot to do. Thanks for the help. > "Yes, by all means." To tell the truth, the old man was relieved. He had been worried that he had acted presumptuously. If he had made a mistake, Jin might have declared that there was a sign of rebellion. However, Jin genuinely admired the old man''s arrangement. "Then I understood. We can make a control core for a heavy-duty golem? You are allowed to copy the control core and mass-produce the existing Golem. However, developing a new kind of Golem was out of your purview. Since the control core is basically made by Jin and follows him, this procedure does not allow Lao-kun to produce subordinates who follow only him, so that it is necessary to have Jin make the control core every time it is needed, although the work efficiency is slightly reduced as in the present case. Once he has made them, he can make as many copies as he wants. "Goshujin-sama, this is what I need. Anne brought a large magi crystal. It is yellow in color. It is of earthly origin. "Well, it''s the same size as Titan, but it''s for heavy work. ...... Jin thinks as he looks at the prototype of the heavy-duty golem. It consists of an 18-12 stainless steel skeleton and magical fiber muscles. Jin constructs a flow of magical control (magi sequence) that is appropriate for the material. We don''t need speed. Instead, it must be as precise and robust as possible. In about five minutes, it was complete. "Okay, try this out." Jin hands the control core, which is made of magi crystals of the earth system, to the old man. "Yes, I guess so. Let''s see, let''s name it <>. Apparently, he named it after "Daidara-boshi" (Daidara is a loner). It''s a very Jin-style naming. < Regardless of the name, the island of Horai will be further enriched by these projects. Jin confirmed the rest of the projects and jumped to the Kunlun Island where Hanna was waiting for him. Reiko watched Jin without saying a word during the trip, but she sensed that he was back to his usual self, and she thanked Erza, Hanna, and Kaina Village inwardly. I''m not..." * * * * No, no. You see, this is how you peel it." "...... like this?" "Hmmm, something like that. And this one, you have to chop it up finely." "Hannah, is this okay?" As Jin jumped to the Kunlun Island, he saw three people cooking something under the blue sky. "Oh, welcome home, mommy." Brother Jin, it will be ready soon. "Jin-sama, I''m making Kaina village-style rice porridge with Hanna-chan''s help. In short, barley is boiled in water and seasoned with vegetables, dried meat and dried fruits. It is sometimes thickened with starch. It is often eaten for breakfast or lunch. A wide variety of variations can be created by carefully examining the ingredients, making a soup stock, and using seasonings. Jin liked to eat porridge with dried fruit called passa, which is similar to wild grapes. In the Kunlun Island, there was a larger bichis that grew wild, so he harvested and dried the fruit. They used them. In the mountainous area of Penglai Island, there were also flapes and bulrur that I used to see in Mohut Village, so I harvested them and made a place to cultivate them. Jin watched the three of them cooking and squinted his eyes, thinking that it might be tasty if he added dried bulgur to the dish. "It''s ready, Onii-chan!" Hannah, who had been tasting the food, said something like that, and Meine turned off the stove. Erza puts the dishes on the table. Today Jin had to stay at the table and just wait for the dishes to be brought to him. "Ah, it smells so familiar! Hot zosui (rice porridge) arrived. Everyone takes their seats and begins to eat with the customary "Itadakimasu" signal. Meane and Erza seem to have grown accustomed to this custom. "Yes, it''s delicious! "Hehehe, I knew exactly what you were going to do, didn''t I! Hannah, the instructor, was also very proud. "Yes, it''s a very good taste!" Meane seemed to like the Kaina village style seasoning. And she liked Hannah even more. Hannah is a good girl. She''s hardworking, cheerful and pretty. "Hehehe, I guess so." Hanna seemed happy at the praise. Erza was also smiling at her. After lunch, they had tea from the village of Kaina. "It''s a beautiful green color, isn''t it? Meine admired the green tea she had never seen before. Erza had already experienced it in the village of Kaina. "Oh, it tastes good too. It has a refreshing bitterness with a hint of sweetness and a clean aftertaste. She liked the taste too. "Hannah, please tell me more about it." "Yes!" It seems that Hannah has taken to Meane well. Jin felt relieved. The three of them were cleaning up the mess together, and they looked like a father and son. (Oh, Hannah lost her parents too, didn''t she?) It is natural that Hannah, who still misses her mother at her age, misses Meene. I''m glad I brought her with me. "Okay, Hannah, when you''re done cleaning up, let''s all go to the beach together. Jin said and went to the kitchen to help clean up. Reiko looked at him with a relieved look on her face. She then contacted the old man to send the golem horses to the Kun Lun island. 238 - - 09-23 Reinhardt and Donald, and April 19. Reinhard was staying in the provincial town of Astan. It was quite a long march from Tansten, where he had stayed the day before, but he planned to stay here in Astan for three nights, according to his childhood friend Matheus, the captain of the 3rd Company of the Kingsguard, who was escorting him. The reason being that there was a supply base for their home country, the Shoro Empire, here in A''stan. "We will stay here for three nights so that the soldiers can rest. The rest of the day will be a hard march, so get plenty of rest. Matheus told Reinhardt about the plan. After three nights in Astan, they would leave Astan in the early morning of the 22nd. They would spend the night in the provincial town of Pororon, and then go to the city of Ganes on the 23rd and to the border town of Tuscosia on the 24th. If we get transit permission soon, we can enter the Shoro Kingdom on the 25th. "At the latest, on the 27th, we will be able to set foot on our homeland. Matheus said with a smile. Then he said, "I''m warning you, don''t go out alone.And don''t go to the whorehouse. You''re going to meet Bertsch in 10 days, right? He also makes sure to nail her to the wall. Claude, the butler, had told him about Reinhardt''s habit of walking alone. "...... I understand." A disgruntled Reinhardt. But he can''t argue with Matth?us because he has a point. "I had a nice trip with Jin, didn''t I?" Lying on his bed, Reinhard recalls this. The 20th day after tomorrow. The next day, the ban was still in place. Reinhardt has to stay in his room even though it is a sunny day. One of the ladies-in-waiting saw Reinhardt looking absent-mindedly out the window or lying down on the sofa, "Um, master, I overheard something just now," she said. She told Reinhardt what she had heard in the lobby. "There is a Royal Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Selroa, Donald Callow Alpha, who is staying in this city. "What!" Reinhardt jumps up from the sofa he was lying on. . It means that he is the head of manufacturing in the Kingdom of Celluloid. Reinhardt had not yet met him, but of course he had heard of him. "Hmmm, is there any way we could meet?" If he could come here, it would be no problem. Thinking so, Reinhardt called his butler, Claude, and asked him for advice. "Yes, sir. I will ask them about their schedule for the time being. "Yes, please." Depending on how much authority the Kingdom of Selroa grants to its Royal Magical Craftsmen, Reinhardt may be considered at least equal to them since he is a diplomat. With a thrill inside, Reinhardt waited for Claude''s return. After an hour or so, Claude returned with good news. I have just returned. They said they will visit you this afternoon. "Oh!Oh!That''s exciting!Claude, Beth, Dory, make sure everything is ready. Yes, sir. Reinhardt instructs the butler and the maids of honor. I can''t do much on the road, but as the one who called them, I want to do my best. Reinhardt spends the morning suppressing his excitement. The person who came with the golem was a man named "Kurt". The person came with a golem. He was of medium height and white hair. But his dreamy blue eyes showed intelligence and a hint of madness. "It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Donald Callow Alpha. It is an honor to have you here, Mr. Reinhardt. It''s a pleasure to meet you too. They shook hands, exchanged brief greetings, and Reinhardt first suggested that they join him at the table. "So that''s the golem you made, Mr. Donald, is it?" Reinhardt, who could not wait to talk to her, opened his mouth before the lady-in-waiting served him tea. "Yes, it seems so. This is 457 who is taking care of me." The golem called "No. 457" was two meters tall and had a human-like body. When Reinhardt saw it, a murmur escaped from his mouth. "Endoskeleton type ......". Donald was a little surprised to hear that. "How did you know that?If so, would you make an endoskeletal golem too, Mr. Reinhardt?" From Donald''s words, Reinhardt knew that his guess was correct. "Yes, well. "Yes, well, an endoskeleton would allow it to behave more like a human being, wouldn''t it? Donald nodded his head in agreement, "Yes, yes. You are a great man, Mr. Reinhardt, to understand that at such a young age. Reinhardt is a great man to understand it at such a young age," he says, sounding impressed. Reinhardt is a little embarrassed. But he is not so foolish as to mention Jin''s name here. I have recently become aware of the structure of the golem," he replied. It must have been his experience as a diplomat that he could only reply with "I have recently also become aware of the structure of the golem. "Hmm, your golem was a black knight (Schwarzritter), wasn''t it, Reinhardt-sama? As I recall, he defeated Beta''s Adamas Warrior. Beta is, in essence, the second Magickal Craftsman after Donald, the Alpha. "That was a year ago. I''m sure your country is developing a much more powerful golem now. This was a sarcastic remark to the Kingdom of Cerroa, which was at war with the Kingdom of Egelea, but Donald did not care at all. He was right. It seems that Beta has made further improvements to Adamas Warrior, and technology improves through competition. "I agree with you on that point. Reinhardt resisted the urge to continue, "But I don''t approve of war. The conversation continues, and before long the evening is over. Donald said he would like to come back tomorrow. Reinhardt is happy to oblige, as he has no wish to do so. Donald left in the darkness. "Yes, it was a good time. Talking with magecraftsmen from other countries is a fruitful experience. Even if they are talking on the assumption that they are not divulging secrets to each other. "Good evening, Mr. Reinhardt." "Thank you, Mr. Reinhardt." "Yes. Thanks to Beth. Thank you. Reinhardt thanks Beth, the maid of honor who told him about Donald. When she was thanked, Beth panicked. "Oh, no, that''s too kind of you." "No, I mean it. No, I mean it. You and Dory have done a great job following me for nearly two years away from home. It''s almost over. You can go home to your families." "No, Mr. Reinhardt. No, Mr. Reinhardt, it is only natural that I should take care of you, since you have been such a good friend and family man to me. Now Dolly answered. "Still, it must be hard for you to be separated from your husband. I''m sorry about that. I''m sorry, but it was your father who put you two married men in my life. It was his father''s decision that Reinhardt, who had a fiance, should have a married lady-in-waiting with him so that he would not have to deal with her during his travels. It is no coincidence that both of them have modest breasts. It was the father''s decision to take this into consideration. "I''m sure the Grand Master has a deep thought in his mind." Claude, the butler, said this from the side. He said this because he knew Reinhardt liked big tits. The two ladies-in-waiting didn''t know that much about Reinhardt. "Well, anyway, you''ll be going home in ten days. Yes, I''m looking forward to it. Yes, I''m looking forward to it. The next afternoon, on the 21st, Donald arrived as promised. Today, in addition to Golem 457, he is accompanied by an automaton. The automaton had long silky blond hair, skin as white as porcelain, and fiery red eyes. She looked as if she could be believed to be human. My name is Elena. The automaton said her name. Her voice was beautiful. Her clear soprano sounded like a bird''s call. Reinhardt looked at her, unable to respond. It was Donald''s voice that brought him back to himself. "How do you like it, Mr. Reinhardt?Isn''t Elena wonderful? Reinhardt suddenly realized and blushed slightly. As a diplomat, he has many opportunities to see beautiful women. Royalty, noble daughters, wives, their servants, and prostitutes. But the automaton in front of him, Elena, had a beauty that surpassed all of them. "Elena, my dear. My name is Reinhardt, Magi Engineer of the Shoro Kingdom. Perhaps Reinhardt''s calling himself a Magi Engineer, the Shoro Empire''s official title, was a small act of self-respect. 239 - - 09-24 With Hannah "Wow, it''s huge. This is the sea ......" We all came to the coast of Korun Island. Hannah grew up in a village deep in the mountains called Kaina. She was just standing there, looking at the ocean for the first time in her life. Holding her by the shoulders, Jin walks to the edge of the waves. The spring sea is gently lapping against the shore. The beach is littered with seashells. "Wow, it''s beautiful. Are these seashells?" "Yes, they are." Hannah is excited to find a beautiful pink shell as small as a cherry shell. "Here''s another one, Hannah!" Elsa joins her in collecting shells. "If it were just a little warmer, we could swim. The Kunlun Islands are roughly on the Tropic of Cancer. Unlike Potrock, where it is always summer, the water is still a little cold. "Well then, honey, let''s go swimming in the summer! Hannah says back, and Jin''s cheeks relax. "Yeah, let''s." The memory of swimming in the Erme River last year comes back to Jin''s mind, and he thinks about making a new swimsuit for Hannah. The children in the village of Kaina swim in swimsuits that are similar to underwear, or at least the bottom part of the swimsuit. Barbara and the others would wear a cloth around their chest as well. "That was fun, Potlock!" Before I knew it, Elsa was standing next to Jin. Hannah was making a pile of sand with Meane. "Oh, that''s right, that''s when I met Erza and Reinhardt..." "Hmm. It was a long time ago." It has only been two and a half months, but it feels like a long time ago, probably because every day was so intense. "Father, the sun is too strong on the beach, so here, take this. Suddenly Reiko called out to me and offered me a straw hat. Of course, to Elsa, Hannah, and Meine. "Oh, thanks, Reiko. What did you do with it?" Jin had never made a straw hat before. "Yes, I think Meane made it." "What?What? When he turned to Meane, she looked down a little embarrassed. "Thank you, Meene. Jin thanked her and put on his straw hat. The straw hat smelled good. Inhaling the sea breeze, Jin gazed at the sea. The waves were calm. Then he turned to Reiko who was right behind him, "Reiko, can you sneak one of the hydros over here? Reiko answered "yes" and asked her if she could turn one of the hydro boats this way. Reiko nodded her head, "Yes, I''ll get it for you right away. Reiko answered "Yes, I''ll make an arrangement right away. She then contacted the old man by manacam, "He is coming soon. He replied, "He will be here soon. As he said, Hydro 2 arrived in about 5 minutes. Marine 2 is piloting the boat. "Master, you wanted to see me?" Marine 2 landed Hydro 2 on the beach because it was a sandy beach. "Oh, thank you. You''re early." Yes, we were just on patrol in this area. While Jin was talking with Marine 2, Hanna was interested in Hydro 2. "Onii-chan, is this the boat you made?I want to ride on it! Jin smiled and nodded his head in agreement. Of course. That''s why I called you here. Erza, let''s go too. Sorry Meine, but we only have room for four, can you stay here? Meine smiled, "Yes, of course. I will be waiting for you here. So Jin, Elsa, and Hannah got into the Hydro 2. Reiko is sitting with Hannah, as if she was sitting on Jin''s lap ...... like in the past. The car is a four-seater, so there are two seats in the front and back, and Marine 2 and Jin are in front. Erza, Hanna, and Reiko are sitting in the back. All three of them are small, so they managed to sit down. "Okay, let''s go!" Marine 2 puts the Magi Water Jet, the Hydro 2''s magical water propulsion system, into full reverse thrust. The force of the thrust moves Hydro 2 on the beach, and the boat slides out to the sea with a spray of water. Hydro 2 quickly turned around and headed out to sea. Everyone held their straw hats in their hands to prevent them from being blown away. "Wow, that''s fast!" "...... is amazing!" Aside from Hannah''s first time on a boat, Elsa, who has competed in the Golem boat competition in Potrock, can see firsthand how ridiculous this boat is. "It''s not twice as fast, it''s three times as fast." At the time, Elsa''s boat had an estimated cruising speed of about 20 kilometers per hour. Now, the Hydro 2 is going nearly 60 kilometers per hour. "Wow, that''s great!" Hannah is excited. Erza, who was planning to heal her immediately if she gets drunk, relaxes her shoulders. At that time, Jin gave her a signal that only Reiko could understand. Reiko, realizing this, secretly casts on Jin. In other words, Jin was getting seasick. Splashing and kicking against the waves, the Hydro 2 makes a full circle around the Kunlun Island. "Oh, that was fun. Thank you, Onii-chan! It is just time for a snack when they return to the beach where Meine is waiting. Peridot 100, the Korun Island''s resident maid golem, thoughtfully brought snacks. "Oh, you''re so thoughtful!" Jin praised her, "No, the old man gave me the order. Peridot 100 easily clarifies. They spread a cloth on the beach and sat down to snack. Peeled citrons and citron juice. "Wow, it''s delicious! It was the first citran she had ever eaten and she liked it. "Here you go, Hannah! Jin felt a warm feeling in his heart when he saw Erza sharing her favorite Citran with Hannah. "Let''s come swimming next time..." "Yes!" Hannah was in a good mood as she walked with her golem horse. Meine rode with Erza on the horse. "Elsa, you shared your citran with Hannah, that''s great! "Yes, because Hannah is so cute. "I see you can do big sisterly things too." Meane had her mother''s face. We took our time on our way home, and it was past three o''clock when we arrived at the museum. "Just in time. Let''s have tea. Meane said and started to get ready. Ruby 100 had boiled water for her, so it was ready in no time. "Here you go, Hannah. I brewed a cup of tea, a specialty of the Kingdom of Egelea. I put some sugar in it for Hannah. She took a sip of it. "It''s so sweet!Delicious!" She smiles. Erza''s face naturally broke into a smile when she saw that. Meine also smiled. "Here you go, this one too. I served dried brulle as a tea set. It is Jin''s favorite food. "Oh, this is delicious, too! Jin, Elsa, and Meine. Everyone wanted to see Hannah''s smile. Afterwards, we went to the hot spring in the pavilion. All three women bathed together. "Yay, this is a hot spring too! Hannah was the first to rush into the bathhouse. Hannah, who was used to bathing in the village of Kaina, poured hot water over her body before soaking herself in the hot water. Then Erza and Meane came in. The hot water feels good because of the sticky sea breeze. Meine stretches her body in the bathtub. I''m a little tired from riding the horse. Then Hannah came up behind her, "Auntie, let me rub your shoulder". She said. She said, "No, that''s okay, I''m fine. Meane said no, but Hannah did not agree. "Don''t worry. I give my grandmother a good night''s sleep." Saying this, she began to rub Meane''s shoulders half-heartedly. Her hips and buttocks were tired, but she was not stupid enough to mention it. "Oh, that feels so good! Hannah, you''re so good!" She said and let Hannah do what she wanted. "Yes!How do you like it?Do you like it here?" "Yes, that part feels good." Hannah''s grip is surprisingly strong. It''s because she helps with the housework every day. "Thank you, Hannah. I should do something for you. What would you like?" After having her shoulders rubbed for a while, Meane told Hannah this, and Hannah twitched, then looked a little embarrassed, She twitched and then said a little shyly, "Oh, you know... Auntie, you know..." Meane smiled gently. Meane smiled gently, "What is it?She encourages Hannah to say it. Meine urges Hannah to say something. Then Hannah said her wish slowly. I want you to hold me in your arms just once, auntie. Meane had heard that Hannah''s parents were gone, "Yes, of course. Come here, Hannah." She hugged Hannah with both hands. Hannah buried her face in Meine''s rich chest, "......Mom!" she murmured in a voice so small that she could not be heard. in a voice so small that she could not be heard. 240 - - 09-25 Martha and Meene On the day of the party at Kunlun Island, Hanna is going to stay the night. She contacted Martha through Gon or Gen. "I''m staying at my auntie''s today!" Jin is relieved to see Hannah, who seems to have taken to Meane very well. Tired after a day of play, Hannah seems to fall asleep after finishing dinner and starts to drift off to sleep. Meane picks her up and carries her to her room, and puts her on the futon in her and Erza''s room. Jin looked at her and was impressed by how much of a mother she had become. "Well then, I''m going back to Horai Island, take care of Hannah. I will come back to pick you up in the morning. "Yes, Mr. Jin, thank you for your hard work. Brother Jin, see you tomorrow. "Okay, good night." With these words, Jin returned to Horai Island with Reiko. When they went out of the warp gate, Topaz 43 was standing there. "Welcome home, Master. "Oh, Topaz. What''s wrong? Yes. The old master has ordered me to take it in turns to stay here. When Jin heard that, it hit him. The old man was trying to prevent the disappearance of Elsa from happening again. "I see, thank you." After saying these words, Jin went back to his workshop. The old man, you took care of it right away, didn''t you? Jin thanks the old man with the manacam, the magic element communication device provided. Jin agrees. "Yes, that''s right. Let''s take our time after the current mess is over. And then, "Have you made any weapons for the golems? Jin asks. Jin, now completely relaxed, seems to have a good idea. "I''ll make the blade of the Magi Adamantite vibrate at ultra-high speed. Magi adamantite can be made thinner than usual without worrying about the blade spilling. If we can make it vibrate at ultra-high speed using magical technology, we can create a sword that can cut through anything. Jin thinks so. If security is applied to the sword, which can be used only for Jin''s golem, it will not be misused, and the Magi adamantite is weaker than adamantite if it does not pass through magic power. < With the permission of Jin, you can develop such a weapon by yourself without any help from him. "Well, I''d like to talk to Reinhard later. Jin yawned as he said this. The night comes an hour earlier in Penglai Island than in Kunlun Island. Jin was a little tired. "Father, the old man also said this. Please rest today. Reiko also suggested, out of concern for Jin''s health. Jin obeyed her suggestion. "Yes, I will." Reiko follows him to the bedroom. Reiko said, "Thank God, you''re my father again." She muttered in a small voice that no one could hear. * * * * * The next morning, Jin jumped to the Kunlun Island before breakfast. It was 6:00 a.m. local time in Kunlun Island. Hannah woke up just in time. They met in the bathroom of the pavilion. She was washing her face with water from the tap. "Good morning, sweetie." "Good morning, Hannah." Jin and Hanna greeted each other in the morning. "Did you sleep well?" "Yes!I slept with my auntie. "With Meine?That''s good. "Yeah." And then Meane and Elsa come in. "Good morning, Mr. Jin." Brother Jin, good morning. Good morning. After saying good morning, the four of them go outside. It''s another beautiful day. "Wow, what a beautiful day!" Hannah is running around in the garden in front of the house. "Jin-sama, are you taking Hannah home today? Meane asked. Jin nodded. "In that case, since Erza has been so kind to me, I would like to thank them for their hospitality. "I see, that''s fine, I''ll go with you. I understood Meine''s feelings, so after breakfast, Jin, Hannah, Meine, and Erza decided to go to the village of Kaina. Breakfast consisted of bread, slices of smoked meat, salad, and citran juice. Hannah helped with the salad, while Elsa cut the smoked meat into thin slices and squeezed the citran juice. "It would be nice to bring some citran as a souvenir," Jin thought. Jin thought so. The citran, persica, and april on this island, or rather on the islands of Penglai and Kunlun, are seasonal. Whether it is because of the climate or some other factor, I do not know. Jin had guessed that the mana contained in the ground might be a factor. "Bon apptit! Hannah''s voice starts the breakfast. "Hannah, after breakfast I''ll take you back to the village of Kaina. "......Yeah, okay." Hannah looked a little sad, but she agreed to go. Seeing her like this, Meane said to her, "Don''t worry, Hannah. Auntie and Elsa will go with you. She comforted her. "Oh, really?You''re coming too?Yay!" It seems that they have grown quite fond of each other in just one day. After cleaning up slowly, I take the citrons out of the refrigerator and put them in the basket. I want to give at least one citran to each person, Jin thought. There are 29 households in the village of Kaina. With an average of three to four people per family, 120 pieces would be enough. It was not a lot for one person to carry, but with four people and Reiko, it would not be a big deal if the five of them could share the load. But since Jin was going to carry Hannah on his back, Reiko was supposed to carry the three of them after all. "I hope you didn''t forget anything..." Jin says, "No problem! "No problem! Hearing Hannah''s cheerful answer, "Well then, let''s go. The group headed for the warp gate room. Of course, Hannah was blindfolded and Jin was on her back. In an instant, they were in the warp gate. When they went outside, the village of Kaina was clear. It was around 7:30. The first destination was the house of the village headman. Giebeck was sweeping the front of the house with a broom. "Hey, Jin, what''s going on?Who''s that? Giebeck asks about Meene. Meine bowed politely and said. "Are you the village head? I am Erza''s mother and my name is Meine. My daughter has been indebted to you in many ways, so I thought I would drop by to say hello. "That''s very kind of you. So, Meine-san, are you and Jin ......? Yes, Erza and Jin-sama are in-laws, so they are not related. I didn''t know that. You seem to have a lot of circumstances. Perhaps because of his age, Giebeck did not inquire too much about it. "So, I brought you this as a small gift instead of a present. Could you please give it to me?" He presented three baskets full of citrons. The chief rolled his eyes when he saw them. "Oh, this is amazing! I have never seen this fruit before. We will eat it gratefully. May I give it to the whole village? "Yes, if you would." Then Barbara came out. "Good morning. What''s this fruit? "It''s called Citran. It''s delicious! Hanna had been quiet while the mayor and Meene were talking, but when Barbara came out, she explained in a cheerful voice. "Oh, Citran. They smell good." Barbara took one in her hand, sniffed it, and her face broke into a smile. Jin said it was time, "Well then, Mr. Mayor, can I ask you to hand them out? He asked. The village headman said, "I''ll take care of it. "Well, I''m going to send Hannah home now. I''m going to send Hannah on her way now, so I''ll hand the citran to Martha. "Okay, Jin." So Jin and the others went to Hanna''s house. Martha had just finished hanging the laundry. "Grandma, I''m home!" "Hi, Hannah, welcome home. Did you have a good time? "Yes, very much!We went to the sea and took a boat ride!It was so fast!" "Well, that''s great! ...... Jin, who''s that?" Martha looked at Meone and asked who it was. "Martha, is that you? My name is Meine. I am Elsa''s mother. I''m Elsa''s mother. I''d like to thank you for all the help you''ve given her. Elsa bowed next to her. "So you''re Erza''s mother. You certainly look like her. But you don''t look like Jin. "Yes, actually. ......" Meine explained her relationship with Jin to Martha. Meanwhile, Hannah puts the basket of citran in the kitchen and turns to Jin who has come with her, "May I have one?" She asked with a superior look. Jin smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yes!Then I''ll peel one for my grandma too! Hannah said and started to peel the citran. The ripe citrons peeled easily with Hanna''s hands. After quickly peeling the skin, Hannah took it to Martha. "Here, Grandma, this is for you!" Martha was talking with Meane and looked at her when Hannah called out to her. Hannah, what''s this? "You know, it''s a very tasty fruit!" "Well, thank you. ......Yes, they''re delicious." "Yes, it''s delicious!I got a lot of them, you can eat them later!" With that Hannah went back to the kitchen. "You are a good girl, Hannah. Meane looked at her back and said something to her. "Yes, I think she''s not so bad, but I guess she''ll only end up like me if she stays in this village. Martha looked a little disappointed. Hearing this, Meane pondered for a moment. 241 - - 09-26 Refrigerator? Jin saw Citran in the kitchen of Martha''s house and remembered last year. It was early summer, when it was getting hot. Jin was going to build a refrigerator to store food, but he gave up the idea because he had no way to go back to Horai Island yet and he did not have enough materials. But now. "Well, it''s not enough to make everything convenient, is it? Although no longer a wanted man, Kaina Village may not be too conspicuous. "What should we do ......?" Jin went outside and looked at the spring-colored mountains. The snow had already disappeared from the lower mountains, but the higher mountains in the distance were covered with a perpetual blanket of snow. "Snow, or ......, yes!" Jin asked Hannah, who was eating a bowl of citran and returning it to the diner. "Hannah, does it snow in this village? "What?" Hannah, who had just put a bowl of citran in her mouth, looked puzzled, not understanding the meaning of Jin''s question. "Brother Jin, you have to listen to me more carefully. Erza chided her. "Oh, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Hannah, I wasn''t here in the middle of winter, so I don''t know how much snow falls in this village in winter..." This time Hannah seemed to understand. "Well, it doesn''t snow until the first of the year. But it snows in February and March. The snow in March melts quickly, but the snow in February doesn''t, so it''s a big problem. The March snow melts away quickly, but the February snow doesn''t, so it''s a big problem. Jin was there until the end of the year. He did not see any snow on the ground, but it seemed to fall in a certain amount at the beginning of the year. "But this year," he said, "everyone said that the snow was easy to come by because of the bear that Onii-chan made for us. Jin''s idea was solidified when he heard that it was going to snow enough to require shoveling. "Okay. < "Yukimuro?" Erza, who was standing beside him, asked back. "Yes, a snow chamber is a hole dug in the ground and filled with snow to store food. Snow is stored in winter and used in the hot summer. It''s just a lot of work, and you don''t need any money. Elsa is impressed by the idea. "What a great idea. Is that from my brother Jin''s world too?" "Yes. We''ll have to get permission first. Hannah, I''m going to the village headman''s office. Jin said to Hannah. Hannah nodded. Erza sat down next to her. "Okay, have a good trip. Erza and Hanna saw him off, and Jin headed for the village chief''s house. Reiko followed him silently, but her face broke into a smile when she saw him looking so happy. At the village headman''s house, the ladies of the village had gathered. "Jin!A souvenir?Thank you! "They look delicious!I''m going to eat it with my kids right away! Don''t leave some for your husband, okay? "I know!" They were all in a lively mood. Then Giebeck, the mayor of the village, said, "What do you want, Jin? What can I do for you? Jin told him that he wanted to build a snow room. "Hmm, a snow room. We have been burying vegetables and other things in the snow to preserve them while there is snow, but you say we should make active use of it. Certainly, it would be helpful to be able to preserve them during the hot summer months. "Jin, you should definitely make some!Meat doesn''t keep well in summer! "Of course, gin!I can count on you. Not only the village head, but also the ladies there agreed with me, so the only thing left was to choose a place. The snow would melt and turn to water little by little, so a well-drained place or a low place in the village would be preferable. After some discussion, we finally decided to build it in the open space where the wheat silo is located. This is because it is convenient in terms of food management. Also, the drainage would be good. "Okay, Gon, Gen, Reiko, help me." "Yes, Father." So Hitoshi went to the square where the pantry was located. It was on the east side of the village, on a very gentle downhill slope toward the forest. Jin decided to use the southernmost empty space as a snow shelter. "Dig a hole like a shelter here" he instructed Gon and Gen. Gon and Gen have already done this work once before, so they can handle the job quite well without having to give detailed instructions. Since this is not a rocky area, they can work quickly. Reiko assisted me with digging magic to widen the hole. Jin strengthened the walls of the hole by hardening. With these coordinated efforts, the snow chamber was completed in less than two hours. The passageway runs diagonally toward the basement, and the snow chamber itself is about the size of two elementary school classrooms. The floor is made of masonry to improve drainage. Water seeped into the ground through the gaps between the stones. The floor is about 3 meters below the ground level and has a good insulation effect. In addition, the soil that was dug out of the ground was piled up on top, which will also increase the thermal insulation effect. It would be even better if grass grows in the future. "That''s good. We will install the magic lamps later, but the most important thing is the snow. The snow that fell in the village of Kaina this year has already melted. "We''ll have to bring it from the mountains. ...... No." No. Why don''t we just magically produce snow? Then Elsa and Hannah came along. "Hey, honey, what did you make for breakfast......?" "Hi Hannah. It''s that time already. Let''s go home. I''ll explain on the way. So Jin left the Yukimuro and headed for Martha''s house. On the way, he explained the situation to Hannah in a way that was easy to understand. "Well, we have to store the snow. It must be nice and cool!We''ll save some food there!" "Yes, that''s right. "Yes, we will. Next year we''ll fill the village with snow. But it''s too late this year. ......" Jin glanced at Elsa. "?" At first Erza did not understand what he meant, but then she realized that he was trying to get her to think, and she twisted her head to think. Then, when Martha''s house came into view. "Okay. I can make snow magically appear. He said the correct answer. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, Jin asked Martha and Hannah to gather the villagers in the cellar square. The villagers, who had not heard Jin''s words earlier, were tilting their heads. "Hey, hey, hey, Jin, what''s this? It was lunchtime, and the villagers who had returned to their houses gathered around to hear that Jin was up to no good again. After confirming that most of the villagers had gathered, Jin began to explain. "This is called a snow chamber," he said, "and we fill it with snow. This is called a snow chamber, and the snow remains even in summer. That''s where we store food that is easily damaged. Even with such a simple explanation, the usefulness of this method seemed to have been conveyed. "Wow!That''s great!Meat spoils easily in the summer, that''s why we have to dry or salt it. "But you know, there''s no snow this year. You''re not going to tell me you''re bringing it from the mountains, are you? Hitoshi laughs and replies. "No, I won''t. Next year, I''ll ask you to gather the snow that falls in the village and pack it up for me. ...... Jin then looks at Elsa. "Elsa?" "Yes." Elsa extends her right hand toward the snow chamber, "<>" She casts a spell. It is an intermediate level water magic. It is also an elementary ice magic (derived from water). With the chant, snowballs fly toward the snow chamber. The source of the water is a nearby stream, so there is plenty of it. "Oh! "Wow! I''ve never seen that before! That''s Jin''s sister!And she''s pretty too! "What does beauty have to do with it?" The villagers, seeing her, were all in awe of her. Not a single one of them was averse or in awe. This is also because they are accustomed to Jin''s out-of-standardness. Incidentally, Jin cannot use this kind of offensive magic (except with bracelets). He can only use < to cool down an overheated object, or to produce ice. The ice is not suitable for digging a hole and pushing food into it, since ice can only produce ice, and to impress the villagers, Erza was made to do it. Thanks to the extra magic stored in the bracelet, the snow chamber was full in about five minutes. "Okay, that''s good. Erza, thank you. Jin thanked Erza as he had Gon and Gen shovel the snow. Then he told the villagers, "Now the snow room can be used anytime. You may put in what you want to cool. But be sure to close the door. "Oh, all right!Is there anything else I should be aware of? "Yes. Well, since you are in a hole, the air quality may be poor, so be careful. If you feel like you are suffocating, get out of the hole immediately. Jin was thinking of placing an auxiliary golem for the time being as a countermeasure against the lack of oxygen. He would make sure that the health of the people who entered was taken care of, and he would also help them with the loading and unloading of food. "Okay. I can use it now, right?" "Yes." "All right!Let''s get all the free men together and go hunting for mountain lions! said Rock, the older brother of the men. "Let''s keep the booze cold so we can have a drink when we get back! "You!Don''t drink too much! It is another normal day in the village of Kaina. 242 - - 09-27 Silent Story 11 The Madness of a Doll Shortly before the Magical Wars. In the Kingdom of Dinar, there was a certain magecraftsman. He proclaimed himself to be the second coming of the ancient genius magecraftsman, Adriana Barbora Tsezi, and everyone around him thought that he was not exaggerating. However, this was only because he happened to acquire some of the templates left by Adriana Barbora Zetsi. And those templates were still unsatisfactory from Adriana''s point of view. But the people of this period did not know that. That is how far ahead of her time Adriana Barbora Zetsi was a super genius. It is only at this time that people have come to understand her. Using the template, he created the automata. It was worthy of being called an automaton, for it not only moved, talked, and thought, but it even felt pseudo-emotions. It breathed and had a body temperature, although it was only a pretense. It was so good that it could be said that it was just like a human being. "Well, this is wonderful. "This is indeed his work. The nobles praised him and wanted to own his automata. I like silver hair and blue eyes. I want her to be tall and slender, with large breasts. She wanted to be tall and slender, with large breasts. She should be thin and have modest breasts. Every nobleman has his own favorite look. The magecraftsman changed the automaton''s appearance as requested. "Well, it would be nice if we could enjoy the night as well..." Even such a request is met. Anyway, to be recognized and praised by others, that was the meaning of his life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the same time, there was another magecraftsman. He, or rather she, was also a genius. Or perhaps she was the one who deserved to be called a genius. However, her genius was warped, and her madness was directed only toward the creation of automata. She devoted her life to creating the best automata. Fortunately, her family was wealthy and had more money than she could spend in her whole life. She devoted all of it to the creation of automata. However, in the beginning, it was still very poor. Her movements were slow and her speech was faltering. "Masu-ta-ocha ga aroha mashita" ("Masu-ta-ocha ha yoroshita"). "Yes, I did, didn''t I?How many times do I have to tell you!" Her irritability was an everyday occurrence. But as she made 10 or 20 more, she gradually became more sophisticated. "Master, your meal is ready. Her movements and speech became comparable to those of human beings. Along with this, she also became the talk of the town. Requests to create automata started pouring in. But she was not satisfied yet. The automata made by the Magi Craftsman were more popular than hers. In other words, Adriana Barbora Zetsi is better than her. She knew that all the popular automata were based on the template left by Adriana. After rejecting all the requests, she set her sights on creating an automaton that would surpass the golem in power. This became her next goal. Because the automata created based on the template left by Adriana Barbora Zetsi were all more than three times as powerful as humans, and were also useful as guards. "What Adriana? I''m going to prove that I''m better than you!" True to her goal, the automata she created became more and more powerful. Despite their slender female appearance, they are more than twice as powerful as the average golem. But she was not satisfied yet. An automaton that surpassed automata, a queen of automata. This was her next goal. Her appearance should be beautiful. Her gestures are graceful. And once she showed her authority, all automata would bow down to her. It has become my dream to create such an automaton. In order to achieve this, the automata she has made so far are returned to their original materials, and only the best parts are recovered and used for the next generation. All of her more than 100 automata were scrapped. However, the information and knowledge stored in their control cores were accumulated. Without marrying, she devoted herself to making automata. One day, a merchant brought in a used magi crystal. It was quite old and had some kind of basic control formula engraved on it. She analyzed it. "This is amazing!It seems to be more than 600 years old, but I can''t believe that such a control system existed back then!" It was a Magi Formula written for a golem. With it, her research progressed rapidly. And since the Magi Crystal was so pure that it was difficult to obtain in her time, she decided to use it again with <>. When she was over 60 years old, she completed an automata. It was her masterpiece. She looks like a woman in her late teens, about to grow up from a girl. She is neither tall nor short. Her hair is golden and her eyes are crimson. "You are my pride and joy. Even Adriana Barbora Zetsi''s golem is no match for you." She praised her automata with these words at every opportunity. The automata behaved as she expected, or even more than she expected. "Mother, it''s a beautiful day today, let''s go for a walk. Such thoughtfulness was just like a human being, or rather, a human being itself. One time, she was even courted by a sergeant of a noble family whom she had fallen in love with at first sight. It is only an automata with Magi Crystal with <> effect and <> eyes. If she wanted to, an automata could use her eyes to perform forbidden magic such as <>, <>, and <>. This is due to her insanity. She did not approve of the fact that her automata served other people. In addition, her hidden power is immeasurable. Even ten battle golems would not be able to defeat the automata. Not only strength, but also speed, flexibility, and the martial arts skills he has learned. In addition to these, he carries a short sword made of adamantite for self-defense. It is a sword with magic and can cut through even steel with ease. Combined with the swordsmanship of the automata who wield it, she is nearly invincible. On the other hand, she is gradually losing her energy, perhaps due to the strain she has been subjected to since her youth. "Mother, I made barley porridge today. The automaton was taking good care of her, but her body was getting weaker day by day. "I don''t have long to live. But I am happy to have made you. She said in a gentle voice when she could no longer get up from the bed. "Mother, please don''t say such sad things." The automaton said, but she shook her head slowly. She shook her head slowly. "Human beings will come to an end one day. We cannot live the same time as you. There was no more madness in her eyes. "When I''m gone, you can live your life as you wish. You are my masterpiece. You are the queen of automata." "Mother ......" "My ...... daughter. You are the best ......." As she spun those words, her condition suddenly changed. Blood rushes from her lungs and seals her throat. There was only a gurgling sound, and what she tried to say at the end was forever a mystery. That night she drew her last breath. * * * * * * * * * * * "<>...... that is your mother''s wish." The words were burned into her brain, or rather into her control core. < At that time, either by a trick of fate or insufficient erasing, a part of the Magi Formula, which was supposed to be erased, came back to life. The contents of the formulas do not overlap with the formulas she had engraved, and they naturally merge with each other. This is what an automata should do. To defeat Adriana Barbora Zetsi, that is, to overwhelm the golem she created. To be the best, you must stand above all beings in this world. The automata had a vast knowledge. And there was the mansion she left behind. The automaton devised a plan to rise to the top of all things. ............. * * * * The first victim was the Magi Craftsman, said to be the second coming of Adriana Barbora Zetsi. When his master did not wake up for a long time, the maid of honor went to check on him and found him dead in his bed. Then, one after another, his automata were destroyed. Since most of the owners were aristocrats, the mansion had a gatekeeper and there were guards and guards in the room. Even so, in the morning, one would wake up to find an automaton lying on the floor with its limbs and head ripped off. Some nobles hired mages to cover their houses with wards, but to no avail. As if to mock such countermeasures, the criminals easily entered the house, destroyed the automata without anyone noticing, and left like the wind once again. What is strange is that there were several cases in which the automata were destroyed when the guards noticed it, even though the guards were in the room with the automata. All of the guards testified that they did not see the culprit. No, there was even a case that an automaton was destroyed while it was in the same bed with its owner, a nobleman, and the nobleman was completely unaware of it. It was speculated that the forbidden spell of might have been used, but no proof was ever obtained. No traces of hypnosis could be found on the victims who were supposed to have used it. The case was never solved, and it continued until the dead magecraftsman and all the automata he had created were destroyed. It was later revealed that the magic used at this time was called <, which is a magic to direct one''s consciousness to perform a certain action. The magic was called <. Five years later, the Magic War broke out. Many automata and golems were created. They are all sent to the battlefield. It was during this period that the template left by Adriana Barbora Zetsi was rediscovered, and automata and golems created based on it became very active. Automata were mass-produced and performed front-line chores. Of course, the golem was fighting on the front lines. In the midst of all this, a mysterious incident occurred. At first the soldiers who saw it thought they were dreaming. A girl with golden hair was slaughtering the battle golems of his army one after another. Behind her, the demons are closing in on her. A dream is a dream is a nightmare. The war was fierce. Not far from the battlefield, an automaton was stuck, but no one paid any attention to it. This is because such an automaton without a left arm is as good as scrap. But the automaton was still . He learned firsthand that there are forces that cannot be resisted by the power of the individual alone. To wait for the next opportunity, the automata are put in a dormant state. He decides that the next time he will awaken is when someone touches him, and he closes the doorways. Next time, we will do better. Yes, suggestion (seduce), hypnosis (hypno), and subconscious induction (subliminal). It would also be a good way to make a human into a human. So you decide: ...... 243 - - 09-28 Ghosts of the Past Reinhardt was talking with Donald, a magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa, and Elena, an automata. Now they were talking about the structure of the golem. "Yes, the current Golem is too simple. The current Golem is too simple. The old Golem was much more elaborate. Elena says. I agree. Golems and automata are imitations of human beings. Then why don''t they imitate the human body structure? Reinhardt, who had been unknowingly becoming light-mouthed, felt Elena''s eyes light up as he said this. "Mr. Reinhardt. Mr. Reinhardt, Donald is here to see you. I understand that you are also making an endoskeletal golem. "Yes, I used to use a soft magic resin a while ago. But I realized that was no good. Elena stares at Reinhardt. "Did you think of that, Mr. Reinhardt?Or do you have a model?" Elena''s eyes narrowed slightly as she asked this question. "I heard that Ji...... Adriana Barbora Zetsi had made such a golem. Reinhardt almost mentioned Jin''s name, but he hastily dismissed it. However, Elena''s expression changed when she heard this. I''m not sure what to make of that.Even after ......1000 years, that woman is still standing in front of me!" "...... Eh?" Her crimson eyes blazed. The thin haze that had been hanging over his head suddenly vanished, and Reinhardt tried to get to his feet, but Elena was more straightforward. But Elena is quicker. In an instant, she flipped off the table and was close to Reinhardt. She puts her hand on his throat and tries to strangle him, but just then... "I won''t let you!" Sage and Cosmos, the covert SPs protecting Reinhardt, appeared and stopped Elena. "What!This movement, this wave, is Adriana''s! Elena shouted and changed her target from Reinhardt to the two covert SPs. Reinhardt retreated to a corner of the room and activated his Black Knight <>. Meanwhile, Donald took up a position on the opposite side of Reinhardt with Golem 457. Elena was fighting hard against Sage and Cosmos. No, Elena had a slight advantage. "Hmmm...so this is as good as I thought. You were stronger in the past, Adriana! Elena was playing with Sage and Cosmos, uttering such lines without saying a word to anyone. "What''s going on? At that moment, three guards who had been waiting in the corridor jumped in after hearing the commotion in the room. Donald saw them, "457!" which was not really an instruction. At that moment. "Aaah! Fire bullets (firebullets) were fired from the hands of the 457. A total of 60 bullets were fired. Twenty firebullets were fired at each of the three, piercing the heads, chests, shoulders, and stomachs of the guards, as well as their arms and legs, and mowing down their lives in the blink of an eye. "You!< Reinhardt saw this and fired a ball of flame at Donald. The Flame Ball is a ball of flame about one meter in diameter. It is not a magic that should be used in a room. However, No. 457 was able to extinguish the oncoming fireball of the Flame Ball by simply hitting it with his palm. "What the ......?" "I''m sorry, Mr. Reinhardt. I would have liked to bring you into the fold, but after what happened to Elena, that''s not going to happen. Then there is only one way I can go. For the sake of our future, you will die." With these words, Donald ordered Golem 457. "Kill Reinhardt!" "Kill Reinhardt!" "He won''t get away with it that easily!Noir, intercept! Here began the polarized battle between the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) Noir versus Golem 457, and the covert maneuver unit (SP) Sage and Cosmos versus Elena. Sage and Cosmos struggled. Sage and Cosmos were struggling. Even with the martial arts skills of the veteran agents they had been given, they were no match for Elena. "You''re just a waste of talent!" However, the two fighters were barely even, since it was a two-on-one match. In addition, the movement of Elena''s left arm was a little slower than that of her right arm, so she was able to exploit the gap. However, Elena''s speed and strength were both superior to Sage''s. Sage and Cosmos were able to fight against Elena with a coordination that is possible only with the same type, and they were able to do so without suffering a fatal attack. Meanwhile, Noir and No. 457 were continuing their battle, smashing through walls. Noir had the advantage in strength and speed. On the other hand, No. 457 was the one who made full use of his skills and magic. Now, No. 457''s "Wind Cutter" has just broken down the wall. "What''s going on? The innkeeper hears the commotion and comes over, "What is it? When they saw the golem fighting in the room, they turned and ran away. "Reinhard!" Matheus rushed in with ten men. Three of them were mages. "Oh, Matheus!" What the hell is going on? I don''t know. They attacked us out of the blue." Reinhardt thought it might be related to the Unifiler, since Donald had said he wanted to bring him into the fold, but he was afraid to say anything now that he had no proof. "Donald Callow Alpha!Are you out of your mind? Matheus called out to him, but Donald refused to listen. "I don''t think so, Seduce ......?" Elena responded to Reinhardt''s muttering. "You know about seduction!I can''t keep you alive any longer!" With that, she instantly hurled Sage toward the cosmos. The two of them fall on top of each other. In the small space of time that elapsed, Elena approached Reinhardt and fired a Wind Slash. The invisible blade of wind seemed to cut through Reinhardt, but just before it hit him, the blade of wind popped and disappeared. "What!" The barrier that Reinhardt had activated early in the battle was blocked. "Well, thanks to Jin." Reinhardt is relieved inside. Sage caught Elena, whose movement slowed slightly when she saw that her Wind Slash was blocked. He twisted her left arm and threw her to the ground with a backward throw. He threw her to the window. Elena was thrown out through the window. She was on the second floor. But Elena regains her position in the air and lands without a hitch. And she screams out. "Donald!That''s enough!Now that we know what they''re capable of, let''s get out of here!" Donald hears this. But now he is surrounded by Matheus'' men. Golem 457 was seized by the Black Knight Noir and Sage Cosmos. "Donald Callow Alpha!The Shoro Empire is holding you for assaulting a diplomat in the act!" Declaring this, Matheus ordered his men to tie Donald up. "d*mn, d*mn ......, you think you''ve got me now, don''t you?" Even when tied up, Donald remains fearless. "Do you think I''m going to do this without any back-up?" Before he could finish his sentence, the corridor wall collapsed and ten golems came crashing in. "Whoa!" "Mateus!" Matheus and his 10 men were blown away without a second thought. Noir, Sage, and Cosmos followed. As expected, they were caught off guard. This is my power. I''m no match for the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) or the mysterious Golem. Donald is standing on the shoulder of Golem 457, mocking the others in the crowd. "You''re the Unifiler, aren''t you?" Reinhardt''s question was more of a confirmation than a question. "Yes, that''s right. I am the second seat of the Unification Party (Unifiler). < Donald is now as arrogant as he is proud of his victory. "Knowledge of the past, you say?" "Yes, that''s right. Before the magic wars, magic and magical technology were far more advanced than they are today. It is our long-cherished dream to bring back that time. Shut up!You''ve caused wars and caused innocent people to suffer for that... Those who can''t use magic are just a lesser race. Although the number of mages has decreased due to the magic wars, we mages are still born rulers. His voice is tinged with madness. Fanatic! "Call me what you will. It''s just the howl of a loser. That''s why I''m sorry. Mr. Reinhard, you deserved to be one of us. "I don''t want to be a part of this. I know better." Reinhardt''s words seemed to interest Donald a little. "Well, what is it?" Reinhardt took a deep breath and answered. "It''s the future." "What?" Donald was surprised by the unexpected answer. "You don''t understand, you''re stuck in the ghosts of the past. Magic is useful, yes. But it is not absolute. There are other forces in this world that we must understand and harness. Forces to be understood and harnessed? Someday you will understand. But by then you''ll know it''s too late. Looking Donald straight in the eye, Reinhardt told him. "Hmph, talk nonsense. I have nothing more to say to you. Golems, crush them!" Donald gives the order. Matheus also gives the order to his men. "Attack them!" Ten golems attack. Reinhardt, Matheus, and the following 10 soldiers, the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) Noir, the covert maneuver unit (SP) Sage, and Cosmos intercept them. The battle did not last long. The covert maneuver unit (SP) was made by Jin. Even though they were made by Donald, they were no match for the unnumbered golems. This explains why Elena is so strong. Noir is also active. Matheus'' men fought hard, and in less than five minutes, the ten golems were silenced. But Donald and Golem 457 had disappeared. "What the hell was that?" Finally Matheus and Reinhardt were able to calm down and talk. They were the Unifilers. And they came to kill me." "That''s why I told you to stay at the supply depot and not at this inn!" Matheus complains. "No, that''s just where, you know, he''s staying, isn''t he?" Reinhardt stammered in reply. "...... Well, I understand how you feel. Major Fritz is not my cup of tea either. But, you know, life is what we make of it, right?" "Well, you know,......" Reinhardt feels he has no choice but to follow his friend''s advice. Furthermore, he is depressed when he realizes that the manacam, a magical communication device entrusted to him by Jin, has been damaged. Matheus sees Reinhardt in such a state and pats him on the shoulder with a knowing look, not knowing the reason for his depression. 244 - - 09-29 Moving After finishing the construction of the snow room, Jin returned to Martha''s house. During lunch, Meane told him that she had something she wanted to discuss with him. "So, what is it?" In the dining room of Martha''s house, Jin, Meane, Elsa, Martha and Hannah met each other. "Yes, to be frank, Erza and I would like to live in this village. "What?" Jin was startled by this out of the blue. I have spoken with Martha and she has agreed to let us stay here. At Meane''s words, Martha continued to explain. "We talked about a lot of things. You said you can read and write. I was thinking that after you get used to this village, you could eventually teach the children how to read and write. Jin agreed. "Oh, that''s good. There is nothing wrong with being able to read and write. "I''m good at mending things, and I think I could also get by with tailoring clothes. I think I can help in many other ways, Meane concluded. And finally, "It''s not good for a mother and her child to be in your care forever, you know." "Wow!Auntie, are you going to stay with us forever?" Hannah, who had been listening silently until then, spoke up. "Yes, I am. Is that okay?" "Yes!I''m so happy!Are you with me?" "Yes, yes. Right, Elsa? "Yes, of course." Erza answered immediately, as if they had discussed it beforehand. Jin smiled and looked at them. "Well, I don''t have anything to say if you two have decided on this. I''d rather support you. "Thank you, Jin-sama." "Thank you, Brother Jin." "Then you''ll have a lot of work to do. First I have to get my stuff. Then we''ll clean up the room, right?" Jin said, and Martha laughed. "Jin, I''ll take care of the room. "Yes, sir." So Jin and Meane decided to go back to the Kunlun Island to get their luggage. Of course Reiko comes with them. Erza was to wait with Hannah. After using Koma and another golem horse to get to the shelter, they jumped to the Kunlun Island via Horai Island, and Meane immediately started to pack her bags. However, there is not much to pack yet. She had enough for three travel bags, if you know what I mean. "Thank you for waiting, Mr. Jin. I looked at her, carrying a large bag in both hands and on her back, "Reiko, take one for me." Jin said and took one of the bags from Meane. "I''m sorry, thank you." Meane was afraid, but Jin laughed and carried the baggage away. It is quite painful, but he does not show it because he is proud of his work. Back in the village of Kaina, the golem horses are waiting for us in the shelter, so it''s easy. When we returned to Martha''s house, the room had already been cleaned. The room had been used by Martha''s son and his wife. In case you are wondering, Jin is using the guest room. Hannah had been sharing the room with Martha since her parents had passed away. Reiko helps Hannah to clean up her room, and the packing up is done quickly. "Let me know if anything is missing," Jin says. Hitoshi said, to which Meane replied with a happy smile, "Yes, I''ll look forward to working with you then, won''t I? Erza was also somewhat relieved. Erza looked somewhat relieved. Jin returned to Horai Island by himself this time, thinking that the stockpile of wheat and barley would be insufficient because of the sudden addition of his family members. Reiko, of course, was with him. "Hmmm... I''ll have a special golem for just in case something happens..." It was time for Jin''s normal routine to begin. He builds one golem with the same specs as the golem-made one. However, he decided to customize it slightly. The contents of the customization are to increase the fighting power in case of emergency. Specifically, a paralyzing gun (paralyzer) is installed in the right hand, and a magic jammer (magijammer) is installed in the left hand. He can also use shock and induction, which Jin had always thought of as stun. It also has a stealth function and a magic barrier. Of course, it has a built-in manacam. The clothes are the standard clothes of the golem maids of Horai Island. In other words, it is a cloth woven with the threads of a ground spider. The eyes are black, using the same magi obsidian as Reiko''s. "Reiko''s eyes are black, too. "Like Reiko, Magi Obsidian has both light and dark attributes. The darker the stone is, the better it is for receiving light, in other words, for it. Jin finished his customization, talking to himself without telling anyone. "Activate,naming,......<>" "Yes, Master. My name is <." The name sounds not bad for a female golem, but the fact that it is named after a plate of dishes is a secret only in Jin''s brain. "Okay, Sara, go get a bag of wheat and a bag of barley from the warehouse. "Yes, sir." Thanks to the knowledge transfer, Sara, who knew the ins and outs of Horai Island, went to the warehouse. Recently, the old lord had ordered some of the fifth column (quintas) to stock up on food, so there was a fairly large stock of barley. "Goshujin-sama, you are back. Then Anne came in. "Did the old man report anything?" Jin shook his head. "No, nothing." "I see. Nothing urgent, but I have some reports to make. How can I help you? "Well, I don''t know. If it is not urgent, I will go to the village of Kaina and come back and ask you then. Anne nodded her head in agreement, "Okay. I will check the documents and other information. With that, she left the room. Jin looked at her back, "Yes, please do so. Jin said to her back. Sarah came back just in time to replace Anne. She was carrying sacks of wheat and barley on her shoulders. "Okay, let''s go." At Martha''s house Jin was laughing as he brought the wheat all the way over. Jin is also very conscientious. But since it''s a good opportunity, I''ll take it. Martha had no intention of doing so, but Meane and Erza decided that it would be better for them to feel less self-conscious. "So, I made a maid golem for you. Jin then introduced Sara. "My name is Sara, and it''s nice to meet you. "Well, well, well, well. "Oh, I''m so sorry." Martha giggles even more. Meine, a former maid of honor, had not expected to have a maid, even if it was a golem. Hannah rolls her eyes as well. Well, after all that happened, the priority of command was decided. Aside from Jin, the maker, the order of precedence was Martha, Meane, Erza, and Hannah. "But why bother with a maid of honor? Martha was still saying. "Well, it can be used for hard work too. Since it is customized, it has one and a half times the power of a five-colored golem-maid. Normally, she can hold down two people''s strength, but it''s safe to say that she can handle up to 10 people''s strength. You wouldn''t guess it from the looks of it. "Well, I guess I''ll have you stay here and take care of things. Martha said with a smile. Martha laughed and said, "Well, maybe I''ll have you stay at home and watch over the house for me. It is a virtue of the village of Kaina not to lean on convenience. "Well, you can think of it as a housewarming gift from me. Jin laughed as he said this. He then proceeded to modify Hanna''s mint. Erza watches the work with interest. Hannah was looking at Sarah with Meane. "Is that part of the countermeasure against slave rewriting magic?" Elsa asked. "Yes, it is. Not only humanoid golems, but also golem horses, because we don''t want them to be manipulated." "Yes, that''s outrageous. We should take countermeasures. Erza, who had experienced the damage firsthand, gave her deepest approval. "Okay, that''s it. Now Erza, I''m going to leave this golem horse here for Erza, and you can give it a name. With these words, she pointed to a golem horse made of bronze. "What?Is it mine?" Jin nodded his head. Erza''s face flushed slightly, "Well, <>" she named it. She named it "<>". 245 - - 09-30 Report and Humanitys Resolution The old man said he had a report to give, and Jin, who was anxious to hear it, said "I have some business to attend to." He returned to Horai Island before the evening. He was relieved to hear that Hannah was going to sleep with Meane. "Old man, give me a report, will you?" < The old man started his report. First of all, he reports on the progress of the aircraft carrier and the mass production status of the golem weapons, such as the super high-speed vibrating sword, the paralyzer, and the magijammer. The Mermaid team has found resources on the seafloor. What can be extracted is still being explored. And.., The report says. "What ...... is ......?" This is a serious situation. "What?That''s good news." This is a great development amidst all the bad news. < Hearing this, Jin nodded his head in agreement. "I think I understand. It''s like a constant state of excitement, isn''t it?" The old man says that he experimented on a man who was obviously being manipulated. He recovered without any aftereffects. "Leaving aside the pros and cons of human experimentation, well, you have done a good job. It''s going to be a lot easier for us in the future." <<> The old man also gives some more bad news. What?Tell me the details. The old man told me that Reinhardt had met a magecraftsman named Donald and an automata named Elena, that Elena''s attitude had changed during the meeting, and that there had been a battle between the SP and Elena, and Donald''s golem. The fact that Reinhardt himself is safe. Reinhardt himself is safe. Donald was the second seat of the Unified Party (Unifiler). Finally, he told us that the manacam he had given to Reinhardt had been damaged, and that it had been the covert task force (SP) attached to Reinhardt that had contacted him. "Well, I''ll have to give him the manacam again." The old man concluded. Jin was relieved that Reinhardt was safe, and his anger toward the Unification Party (Unifiler) was rekindled. "I can''t forgive them anymore. I thought that I had to give Reinhardt the new manacam as soon as possible, and also to upgrade the power of Sage and Cosmos, the covert maneuver unit (SP) with Reinhardt. "By the way, I hear that this Elena automata is quite something. Even though the covert maneuver unit (SP) doesn''t have much power, it''s more than an even match against two of them. "Do you know what kind of automata they are?" Anne, who had been listening silently, suddenly interrupted. The old man answered her question. Hearing this, Ann raised her voice. "That''s him!That''s him!" "That''s him?" Jin, who was concerned about Ann''s words, motioned for Ann to give an explanation. "I said <> because his name is unknown. He is a mysterious automaton who appeared in the period just before and during the early stages of the war. It looked just like a human, but it destroyed human-made golems and automata almost indiscriminately. What? But that doesn''t mean he''s on the demon tribe''s side... and many demons who messed with his automata have been killed. "Well, do they have a purpose?" "I don''t know. < "The Golden Princess of Destruction. From what I''ve heard, she seems to be running amok. Reiko, who was standing next to Jin, agreed with him. Reiko, who was standing next to Jin, agreed with him. I''m sure that automata is running amok without a master. Reiko''s words had some credibility. "So you are saying that this automaton was not made by this Donald or someone like him, but is much older than that?" "Yes, it must have been made before the Great Magic War. Anne finished. "Hmmm, why would such an automaton be with the second seat of the Unification Party (Unifiler)?" Jin twists his head, but no answer is forthcoming. Then came more bad news. "Yes, and?" "What?" Jin''s face becomes even more difficult. "That means they''re going to conscript the people as soldiers, right? We''re going to be busy working in the fields!" Even if they win, the production of agricultural products will decline, and the nation''s power will be reduced. "War is a foolish act, isn''t it? If we''re going to do it, we should do it only with those who want to do it. Jin said as if to throw up. "I think I''ll just make the battlefield a mess. Jin even thought about that. "Kaina village is depopulated because of the war. That village too. ...... I recall the scene of the depopulated village that I saw during my trip with Reinhardt and the others. "Yes, I''m sure Licia would have been sent out too." >asked Jin. >she shouted, slashing at the golem. "If things continue as they are, I''m sure the Kingdom of Egelea will not be safe. ...... Prince Ernesto loves Lotte made by Jin. Laila, a natural and clumsy member of the Royal Secret Maids of the Royal Court. Count Kuzma of the Blue Lands and his fiance, Bina. The kingdom of Elias may be in danger, too. Jin thought of Marcia, a shipwright. There were other people he had met on his journey. Siede and his family, whom he met at the mine in the village of Yada. The children of Moft village. "If I could do something about it, I would. ......" Jin began to think about how to do it. "Goshujin-sama, you don''t want to win the war, you want to stop it, right?" Anne asked as if to confirm. Her words reminded Jin of a scene. It was a long time ago at an orphanage. Two young children were so absorbed in a game that they started to make a fuss about who won and who lost, and in the end, they were about to fight. "If they can''t get along, I won''t let them play the game! The director took away the game console and smashed it against a stone, breaking it. "I bought this game so that you could have fun, but if you''re going to fall out because of a game, I won''t let you play any more games. The children who had been fighting cried and apologized to the director who said this firmly. After that, Jin worked part-time to buy the same broken game console again, and the children never fought again. "Well, it''s up to the country whether they can get along or not, but maybe we can stop them." "Father?" Reiko was tugging at the hem of Jin''s jacket, as if she somehow sensed that he was about to do something dangerous. "Oh, yeah, it''s okay, Reiko. What I''m going to do now is nothing without you." Jin then explained his plan. Reiko, listening to him, nodded her head in agreement, "I''ll leave it to you. Reiko answered proudly, "I''ll leave it to you. And then, "Your father will just give us instructions here in Horai Island, won''t he? She said smiling at him. Jin had planned to use the substitute doll that he had made before, so he agreed to that. "Yes. I''ll use the dummy to give instructions. ...... I see, you don''t have to look like me, do you?" I thought before that I would intervene in a way that he would not recognize me, and moreover, it would be more convenient for what I was about to do if I did not look like Jin. So Jin hurriedly changed the appearance of the substitute doll. Black hair became silver hair. Black eyes became blue eyes. The height of the doll was increased to 5''10". From every angle, the doll looks nothing like Jin. "Okay, that''s it. All that''s left is ......." Jin quickly prepares the equipment needed to carry out his plan. "And then, yes, we''ll have to make the induction into a magical tool..." Smith, with the help of the golem, finished the preparations in a short time. Jin then saw that the preparations were ready and gave instructions to the old man. Reiko will go on Titan 2. I''ll take Titan No. 3 if necessary. Titan 2 is a piloted vehicle and Titan 3 is a remotely piloted vehicle. "Floating base?" Jin asked back at the unfamiliar word. Jin was impressed. Lake Asur is in the Kingdom of Selroa, but its location is on the border with the Kingdom of Franz, and it is also close to the Kingdom of Klein. . "Well, I don''t know why I made it myself, but you do a good job, old man. < With these words, the old man landed two large planes in front of the institute. "Oh, so this is the Titan transport plane. It is a plane equipped with an unusual magical jet propulsion engine. The diameter of the magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine) is unusually large, while its overall length is short. If the normal Magijet Engine is cylindrical, this Magijet Engine is a wheel. It is not a new thing, but a variation, and could be manufactured under the authority of the old man. Jin looked at it and commented. "I see, it can''t go very fast, but it is very powerful. Jin is even more pleased to hear that. "Good, old man. Keep up the good work and help me. You named it at ....... Hmmm... ......." Jin looked at the aircraft again. Four huge magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) were placed at the apex of the square for levitation, and four smaller magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) for propulsion. The titan would ride on the swing-like part that descends to the center of the square. "Okay, <>." < "Okay, we have plenty of time. Condor 1 with Titan 2 will depart tomorrow morning. Raptor and Falcon teams will be on board with the Army." The craftsmen (smiths) and golems load up the magic tools that Jin has just made. When that was done, the old man gave instructions to the army golems. . Late at night on April 21. At last, the island of Horai began to move. 246 - - 09-31 New Weapons April 22, Asund, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea. The walls of the castle rise 10 meters high, and the inscribed magical formula (Magi Formula) makes it resistant to magic. It was thought that these walls would be impregnable and protect the castle from all kinds of foreign enemies. That is, until early that morning. "Good morning. Your shift is up. Good morning. All clear. I''m on it. At sunrise, the guards guarding the gates are replaced. The towns near the border are on fire, but the castle is supposed to be peaceful. Suddenly, a fireball flies in and causes an explosion. < "What''s going on? Soldiers in the camp came out to see the explosion. Then another Flameball came flying at them. "Whoa, whoa! Aaahhh! Two soldiers without shields or even armor were hit by a flameball at close range. The third flameball hit the soldiers'' quarters. It was only then that I had time to see where the flameball had come from. It was above my head. "What the hell was that ......?" "No way. ......" The soldiers saw a strange vehicle floating in the sky. It looks like a large ball with a basket underneath. There were five of them floating in the sky. * * * * The same day. Franz''s army is advancing against Klein''s army, and Franz''s army is ahead. The Franzian army, which had overtaken Stolsk, had downed Gresha, occupied Kosice, and was closing in on the provincial city of Tetrada. Tetrada was a fortified city, and was intercepted by the 3rd Knights of the Kingdom of Klein. Licia Faalheit''s father, Vice Commander Niklas Faalheit, was in command of the group in place of the Commander who had been wounded in the battle the day before. "Sub-commander!Get that!" One of the knights points to the sky. "What is it?" That''s ....... Are you sure it''s flying in the sky? There were five giant spheres floating about 100 meters in the air. Then, magic was released from the cage that hung there. "Ooooh!" It was an intermediate level magic of the lightning attribute, <>. The knights fall down. "No!Everyone use your anti-magic shields! As the name suggests, anti-magic shields are resistant to magic, but weak against physical shocks. It is possible to have both characteristics, but it would be too heavy. This is because an anti-magic shield needs to be large enough to cover the user''s body, otherwise the exposed parts will be damaged. If it is made sturdy for physical resistance, the result can be guessed. Only a golem can carry such a heavy object in battle. And two of these golems descended from the cage. * * * * * * * * * * * * "We sent eight to the capital of Egelea and five to the battlefield of Klein. "Truly, the technology of the ancients is marvelous." <<< Hmmm. Let''s give them a taste of the hopelessness that cannot be prevented, and show them the human dream of flying. "What about the super weapon?" << * * * * No matter how high the city walls are, there is no way to defend against an attack from the sky. Asund, the capital of Egelea, was no exception. Magic rained down on both the outer and inner palaces. "Oh no! Fire!Put out the fire!" The fire magic raining down from about 100 meters above the castle was throwing Asunto Castle into chaos. And because of the confusion, no one noticed that three flying balls were approaching from the opposite side and lowering their altitude. "Okay, now, go!" Three golems leaped from the baskets on the three spheres to the roof of Asund Castle. The distance was about 20 meters. "Whoa!" There were 15 soldiers on the roof. They were too distracted by the five magic spheres to notice the attack from behind. The three golems quickly silenced the 15 soldiers and began to descend from the rooftop to the floor below in search of more prey. * * * * The golem descended from its cage and landed on the top of the city wall. Jumping down from a height of 100 meters, even a golem cannot be safe. It came down from the cage, following the rope hanging from the cage, while slowing down. The defenders were unable to move to stop it because of the thunderbolts that rained down on them. And when the remaining three flying balls saw that the golem had landed, they stopped shooting thunderbolts and continued on their way to higher altitudes. "Uh-uh!Is this a plan to bring down that golem!" Deputy Commander Niklas, holding a sword himself, announced to his men: "That golem is coming down! "Take down that golem!His goal is to open the gates!" Yes, few noticed the commotion of the flying ball, but the Franzian army that had surrounded the fortress city of Tetrada suddenly came to life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, what is that ......?" "Can people fly? ...... The Royal Franzian army approaching Tetrada, and the battalion commander and his adjutant leading it, were in awe at the sight of the flying sphere. "If there were such a thing, it would change the war." The ball could scout enemy positions from the sky. They could spot an ambush in the blink of an eye. And no matter how high the walls, they would be meaningless. We could attack at will. I''ve just seen it. "I didn''t think it was possible to declare war at such a busy time of the year... but now that His Majesty has such a backer... ......" And he gives the order. "Battalion, prepare for battle!The west gate of the Tetrada will open soon!When it opens, the 1st and 2nd companies will charge!Third and fourth companies, cover from the rear!The 5th and 6th companies will stand by in the east and take out any enemy soldiers escaping from the castle." * * * * "Kuu!My queen, please escape! The royal apartments are located on the upper floors of Asunto Castle. Normally, the enemy attacks from below. But this time was different. The two golems that had attacked from the rooftop were aiming for the royal apartments, kicking away the Kingsguard knights. The king, queen, and the third prince, Ernest, were there. There is a secret passage for escape. However, unfortunately, a part of the passage had been left collapsed by the golem commotion the other day. The king wanted to prioritize the comfort of his soldiers and the rebuilding of his important organization over the repair of the escape route, which might not be used anytime soon. "<>!" Just as one of the Kingsguard knights appeared to be in danger, a powerful wind spell was unleashed. It did not blow the golem away, but it did stall it and buy some time. "Sister!" Iris Solyus of the Kingsguard Magic Guards fired. She is the sister of Lila Solyus, the maid of honor of Prince Ernest. "Lila!You protect his highness!I will protect His Majesty and the queen. "Yes!" The chaos in the castle of Asund only increased. 247 - - 09-32 Battlegrounds Father, I''m going. Reiko, please. Yes, sir! Condor 1, Titan 2, we are go! Condor 1 floats into the sky with Titan 2 piloted by Reiko. They headed straight for the huge warp gate that had been built on the land behind the institute on the side of Mount Horai. "I''ll take command from here, right?" Jin headed for the command center inside the institute. * * * * * * Your Majesty, Your Highness, this way! On the third floor of Asunto Castle, a fierce battle is raging. Three golems advance on the royal family. The Kingsguard and the Kingsguard Magic Knights are rushing to defend against them. Lotte is protecting the prince with a tray in her hand and a mop on her back. "<>!" Aili Solyus of the Kingsguard is holding off the approaching golem with a series of wind-based magic attacks. In the room, fire and lightning spells have an effect on their allies, so they use wind magic more frequently. However, it is a fact that wind magic is not so effective against golems. The only effective magic against a massive golem is the wind blow, which can only hold it at bay. Outside the castle, half of the soldiers were busy dealing with an attack from a flying ball. "Lila, help me! Iri''s breathing is ragged from the continuous wind blows. Her colleagues attacked with wind bullets, but they were clearly not powerful enough. "But, but, sister, I ......" "Just do it!Don''t talk nonsense, just do it!This is the time to do it!" Prince Ernest calls out from behind Laila, who is still hesitating. "Lila, please. I and my father can''t use powerful offensive magic. I know it''s not very considerate of me to rely on you, a girl..." "Your Highness ......" I can''t stay in the house with the prince talking like that. Laila, her heart stirred, stepped forward. Before dawn. Just before dawn. It is still early in the day, and darkness has fallen. Lake Asur, a huge lake located on the border between the Kingdoms of Selroa and Franz. Its length is over 100 kilometers and its maximum depth is about 300 meters. Artificial structures emerge from its depths. It is a spherical structure with a diameter of 70 meters. As soon as it rises to the surface, its huge upper dome opens. At the center of the dome sits another huge warp gate. The warp gate is activated. A huge golem and an aircraft carrying the golem are transferred there. "Father, we have arrived at Lake Asur as planned. We are now on our way to Tetrada. The distance from the center of Lake Asur to Tetrada in the Kingdom of Klein is about 120 km. Condor 1 with Titan 2 on board has a top speed of about 100 kilometers per hour, which should get us there in a little over an hour. The Raptor and Falcon teams will arrive at about the same time. * * * * On the walls of the Tetrada, a deadly battle was raging. On one side, the 3rd Knights of the Kingdom of Klein are fighting to defend the Tetrada to the death. On the other side are the golems sent by a mysterious force. "<>!" The mages of the Knights check them with magic, but the two mysterious golems are easily blocked by the small shields on their left. "d*mn, an anti-magic shield! We are on the castle wall, and it will take a few more minutes for the knights of magic to come rushing in. If they can get one of the two to the gate in the meantime, they will lose. "Charge!Stop the golem at all costs! shouted Niklas Faalheit, the second-in-command. The five knights charge in as ordered. But... "Aaah! Aah! Aah! All five knights were thrown to the ground by the magical thunderbolt released from the flying ball. No, no! One of the golems took advantage of the opportunity and attached itself to the stairs leading down from the castle wall. "d*mn!< As a last resort, Niklas unleashed the greatest fire magic he could muster. His target was not the golem, but the stairs. The stone staircase was shattered by the Flame Lance. The golem, however heavy it was, could not jump down from the eight-meter-high walls, he thought. However, their calculations were wrong. The lifeless golem made its huge body dance and jumped down. At eight meters, a human being would never have made it to such a height. There was a roar, and the stones of the cobblestone pavement shattered and scattered. The golem got up, though its lower half of its body was distorted. But its ankles are broken and its knees are bent in strange directions. It is obvious to all that it will never be able to move properly again. But the golem''s job is to open the gates. A single magical blow will suffice. "Men below!Keep that golem away from the gate!" Niklas shouts as loud as he can. The ten soldiers guarding the gate pointed their weapons at the golem. "Aaah!" "Aah!" If they look down, magic attacks are fired from the sky. If you turn your attention to the sky, the other golem remaining on the castle wall will attack you. "d*mn, an attack from the sky could be so nasty! Perhaps no one had ever thought of an attack from the sky before. Niklas had experienced it firsthand. With the help of the air support, the golem reaches the gate, dragging its body. He points his safe right hand at the gate and casts a spell. It was the same Flame Lance that Niklas had fired. But the power was far more powerful. Flames ten times stronger than Niklas''s Flame Lance struck the gate. Bronze tinsels and iron hinges were blown off. And the gate slowly collapsed outward. It meant the defeat of the fortified city of Tetrada. * * * * * * * * * * Strial, a city in the Kingdom of Egelea. There, the Duke of Bruu and Count Kuzma had come with a large force. They were there to defend the capital city of Asunto. The Bluerands had left Count Galana in charge. "Your late father fought against the Kingdom of Cerroa. Then I will fight for my country as well!" The worried face of his fiance, Bina, comes to mind, but Count Kuzma has put aside his personal feelings and joined the war in the face of a national crisis. "Tomorrow night we will reach Asund." Duke Blou muttered to himself as he prepared to leave. Count Kuzma looked up at the sky, and his eyes were glazed over when he felt something moving in front of the sun. "What is it?" It was not a bird, but something. It was flying in a mass high in the sky. It was headed for the capital city of Asunto. But strangely enough, I did not have an ominous feeling. The gates have been opened! The gates are open! "Okay, 1st and 2nd squadrons, go to ......." Just as Franz''s army was about to begin its attack. A huge shadow blocked the sun. Looking up, you see a strange object floating. Four rings are arranged in a square, and from the structure connecting them in a crisscross pattern, two ropes hang down to support the planks. And on the sideboard was a gigantic golem, the likes of which had never been seen before. The giant golem, mounted on the strange flying object that slowly descended, has now landed in a position to stare at both the Franzian army and the city of Tetrada. 248 - - Operation 09-332 "What the hell is that? ......" It was an awe-inspiring feeling on both sides, the attackers and the defenders. "Is it friend or foe?" That is another question that both sides have. But it soon becomes clear. A voice came from the giant golem. "Drop your weapons, both of you!" The voice sounded like a woman''s voice, although the application of wind magic to magnify the voice and make it resonate obscured the original quality of the voice. "War is barren. Nations are exhausted and people are hurt. What this world needs now is peace. Reiko was speaking from inside the golem, the same words that Jin had taught her. "The population is small and the land is large. If you have the energy for war, develop your country. Make the people rich." These were the words of persuasion that Jin had been thinking about desperately last night. "Why do you now hold weapons in your hands that you fought each other in the magic war? Time seems to have stopped on the battlefield. Everyone listened to the words of the giant golem. "The past is the past. The past is the past. It is the future we must reach for." Some of the soldiers and knights were receptive. "Do not look back at the past, but use your strength to build the future. Do not live for destruction, but for creation. Someone sniffed and sniffed. It sounded like a pretty thing to that person. "You are free to listen to this advice or not. But if you don''t listen to me, I will stop you by force. Before he could finish saying this, the Royal Franz Army unleashed a flame ball spell at the giant golem. The giant golem caught the flame ball with its huge palm and squeezed it. After a short delay, the 1st and 2nd companies came to their senses and began to move. The goal is the open gate. And from the gate, the intercepting magic is released. The magic of the Titans was in the air. Jin, who had been watching and listening through the mana telecam installed in the Titan, sighed. "I guess it''s not going to work. Jin''s words did not seem to have any persuasive power in the special battlefield environment. "Reiko, we''re going to execute Operation No. 2 as planned. Raptors and Falcons, deploy! Yes, father. Yes, Master. * * * The battlefield is once again filled with noise, "I''m sorry, sir." Such a voice echoed. And then the giant golem began to move. Its movements are comparable to those of human beings. This means that it appears to be moving about ten times faster than a human. In the blink of an eye, the giant golem approached the walls of Tetrada. "Whoa, whoa!" The walls are 8 meters high and the golem is 15 meters tall. The walls are only about waist-high. With such a huge golem approaching, it is only natural to be afraid. And then... The giant golem raises its right arm. A smashing sound is heard. More than half of the wall in front of the giant golem has collapsed. Buried beneath the rubble are the remains of the golem that descended from the flying sphere. Yes, the giant golem, along with the walls, had crushed the golem that was still rampaging about with a single blow. "What a ......!" Niklas Fahlheit let out a groan of astonishment and awe. The giant golem that had shattered the walls now turned to the Franzian army and held out its right hand as if using magic. The soldiers shuddered at the mere mention of it. But nothing happened. Just when the soldiers were beginning to think that it was just a false threat, it happened. "What is it?My body is hot." "Hmm?Sword is hot? "Hot!"Hot!" "Hot!" "Hot!" "Whoa, whoa, why?" The swords the soldiers were holding and the armor they were wearing started to heat up. "It''s hot!I can''t wear it! The sound of metal on the battlefield. Swords are thrown out, helmets are thrown on, armor is taken off. Now all kinds of metal are heating up. You are a master, father!) Jin hurriedly finished the magic tool, the Induction Radiator. If it radiated at maximum output, it could melt steel in a short time, but considering the soldiers, it radiated weakly. And it is not Reiko''s Titan 2 that is radiating, but the Falcon 1 to 5 Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) planes far above us. VTOL). They were stealthily disappearing and radiating toward the ground. Titan II is just posing. There was no time to mount it. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!What''s going on?What''s going on? That''s the cry of the soldiers. The swords, helmets, armor, and spearheads that were still in their hands because of their wooden handles began to glow red. The red eventually turned yellow and then white-hot,...... and all metal weapons and armor melted down. No, even the pots and metal dishes in the rear position had melted. "This is ......" Without weapons and armor, there was no way they could fight properly, and Franz''s army had lost all will to fight. This scene was seen not only in front of the Tetrada gate, but also in front of all the Franzian troops, including the 5th and 6th companies that were positioned on the opposite side of the gate. And the mysterious ball flying in the sky was not safe. As they stood idly by, unsure of the identity of the giant golem, they noticed that it was gradually losing altitude. "What?More fire, more temperature!" Yes, the mysterious flying ball was a hot air balloon. It floats in the sky with the heat source of the magic fire used by one of the mages on board, and moves with wind magic. Since there are no heavy items such as gas cylinders, it has a high carrying capacity. But now, the Raptor squadron equipped with a magic jammer (magijammer) had disabled the use of that magic. "We''re losing altitude!Can''t you do something!" We''re in Tetrada Castle! Inside the Tetrada Castle, a flying ball was waiting to descend with the golem that had destroyed the castle gates. "d*mn!Attack with magic!" "No!I don''t know why I can''t use magic! Four of the five hot-air balloons crash-landed into the tetrada. The remaining one crash-landed outside the castle, and the two occupants escaped from the tetrada. However, they were captured by the army golem that had already been deployed and taken to Falcon 5 to get information. We are waiting for Jin''s instructions. The crew members aboard the remaining four balloons were all taken into custody. Niklas Fahlheit behaved reasonably. He will be ordered to escort them back to the main headquarters in Berg. And finally, it happened. "Gee! Gah! Ow! With a short scream, Franz''s Royal Army, Klein''s Royal Army, and even the inhabitants of Tetrada all let out a short scream and fainted. Of course, this was caused by the paralyzing gun (paralyzer) fired by the Raptors and Falcons in the sky above. At the same time, they were shocked, which should have awakened them even if they had been controlled by hypnosis or suggestion (seduce). Around Tetrada, where no one had moved, army golems appeared. They recovered all the weapons and armor within the walls of the Tetrada. At the same time, they gave recovery medicine to those who were seriously injured. It was proven that the medicine was effective even if they did not drink it. The fainted people woke up and realized that their weapons and armor were gone, but there was nothing they could do, so the Franzian army retreated. The army of the Kingdom of Klein had no choice but to repair the collapsed walls and gates. 249 - - 09-34 Repulse Reiko, thank you. Can you go straight to Egelea? Yes father, no problem. Okay, I''ll intervene in Egelea with a substitute doll. Yes, sir, I''m on my way. Now that the battlefield in Tetrada has been settled, Jin decided to intervene in Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea. Considering the distance from Horai Island, Raptors 6 to 10 and Falcons 6 to 10 should have already arrived. Jin projected on the magic screen the image from the substitute doll on Raptor 10. * * * * "<>!" "Kyaaaah!" It was Laila who cast the Storm Rush. The enemy golem was right in front of her, and she cast it madly in an attempt to block it. It was an advanced wind magic, and had the power to make the golem retreat to the end of the corridor. In the aftermath, his allies were also hit, but it was nothing to worry about. "Ha, ha ......" "You did it, Lila!You can do it!" "My sister ......" Laila''s cheeks flushed slightly at the praise of her talented sister. "Come on, Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Highness, get downstairs while you still can!" Not wanting to waste the time Laila had earned, the Kingsguard led the way, followed by the King, Queen, Prince, the golem Lotte, and Laila, with Laila''s sister Iris taking the lead. Unfortunately, there was no time to care for the knights who had been defeated by the enemy golem. When they managed to get down to the first floor hall, they found many wounded soldiers. "Golem from here too? Where did they come from? Ten of the same type as the golem that had attacked us from the rooftop were on the rampage. "Your Majesty!" The one who raised a voice that almost screamed was the Minister of Magic, Kelihidole. Around him was a pile of the wreckage of the Kingsguard Golem Squad. "You have no idea how strong they are!They are comparable to Leco at the Golem Party!" "What?" Don''t tell me that Jin is behind this? It was Defense Minister Jude said. "No, sir." The maid golem immediately denied it. "Lotte?" "Your father would never have made such a clumsy and unattractive golem. That''s the Golem of the Unification Party (Unifiler) that caused a commotion last time." Lotte assures him. "For the sake of your father''s honor." Lotte says, and throws the tray in her hand at the golem that came toward Prince Ernest and the others. It was a steel tray made by Jin. The tray made a deafening sound, and the golem''s chest was smashed into the enemy golem''s chest. The golem''s magi-device is destroyed and it stops working. Lotte hurriedly retrieved the tray, and caught the fist of the other golem with the tray. This time, the tray shatters with a high-pitched sound. But the enemy golem''s fist also shatters. "Your father gave me the tray!How dare you!" Lotte now has a steel mop in her hand, which she had been carrying on her back. The mop has a large, heavy tip and can be used as a mace-like weapon. The mop that Lotte hits with crushes the head of the enemy golem. The eyes of the head are responsible for the advanced golem''s vision. In other words, by destroying the head, the vision can be taken away. Although the head was not destroyed, the distorted head provided only inadequate visual information. With the next blow, Lotte destroys the chest of the enemy golem. This silences two of them. Eight remain. "Lotte!Enough!I understand!You protect His Majesty and His Highness!" Even Minister of Defense JUDOL had to admit that if Lotte were to be destroyed now our strength would be greatly reduced. That is why he decided that we cannot afford to lose Lotte as a royal protector. Lotte drops back under his command, just in the nick of time. "Your Highness!Look out!" The magic firebullets aimed at Prince Ernest were flying. There were about 50 of them. Lotte notices this and swings her mop to knock them down. However, the mop, which is a blow weapon, is not enough to drop the 50 firebullets. About half of the firebullets hit Prince Ernest. "Your Highness!" Someone screamed. Prince Ernest closed his eyes with his head in his hands, expecting to be hit by a bullet. But the impact does not come for a long time. Fearfully, Prince Ernest opened his eyes. What did he see? What he saw were two pitch-black golems standing there as if protecting Prince Ernest. They were the covert SPs, <> and <>, that Jin had secretly assigned to protect Prince Ernest. "Who are you guys?" Prince Ernest asked unintentionally, and the pitch-black golem opened its mouth, "We are the ones who protect His Highness in the shadows. With these words, he and Lotte stand around Prince Ernest and the royal family. Although I do not know who they belong to, and I still have my doubts, I am glad to see their increased strength. Just when I was thinking that... "Kyaaaah!" Iris, who was guarding the stairs, is blown away. Three golems came down from the top of the stairs. That brings the total number of golems targeting the royal family to 11. "......" Defense Minister Jude felt a chill run down his spine. Iri, the knight of the Kingsguard, is drained of her magic and though she seems to be alive, she is wounded and out of action. His sister Laila is still a novice. The captain of the Kingsguard, Kerry, is outside in command to prevent an attack from the mysterious flying ball, and here is the vice-captain, Bruno, and three of his men. The magic minister, Kerichdole, is capable in magical warfare, but not so good in hand-to-hand combat. And as for myself, my right arm, which I broke during the Golem party, has not healed yet, and I cannot wield a sword properly. "If push comes to shove, I''ll have to give up my life, huh?" JUDEOR was about to make up his mind when he heard the following words. "What? Once again, 10 new golems appeared. They were golems unlike any other golems he had ever seen. Almost completely humanoid, silver-brown. It holds a sword in its hand. "Ever. ......" JUDOR prepared to take out at least one, and preferably two, of the golems, and reached for the shortsword at his waist. But... Ten golems appeared, swords drawn in their hands, and they confronted the eleven golems in front of them. "Are they on our side?" The swords wielded by the silver-brown golems were so sharp that they easily cut off the spears held by the two enemy golems. "Oh?" "What a ......" No matter how sharp a sword is, it takes a certain amount of power to cut through metal. However, in front of my eyes, the body of an enemy golem is being sliced apart as if it were a knife slicing through a piece of fruit. The enemy golem tries to avoid them in a hurry, but the silver-brown golems are much quicker. With their momentum, they cut off the arms, legs, and torso of the enemy Golem, silencing eleven enemy Golems in the blink of an eye. "My God, my God. ......" The king is also astonished. "Juddle, Kelihidole. Did you arrange this golem? There was no way I could answer the king''s question. "No, sir. I don''t know where they belong. I could only answer, "No, sir, I don''t know where they belong. However, although he did not say it out loud, Prince Ernest had an intuition as to who had created the silver-brown golem. And Lotte sensed its magic pattern, Thank you, Father.) She was inwardly grateful to Jin, the creator of the golem. Once the golem was gone, all that remained was the flying ball. Everyone there looked up at the sky. Then, the flying ball was slowly descending. There were two people on the descending cage, and they appeared to be in a hurry. "They are coming down, but they seem to be in a hurry. The magic minister, Kerichdole, mutters as she stares into the eyes. And then all five spheres fell into Asund Castle. The ten silver-brown golems that caught them were the same ten silver-brown golems that had defeated the enemy golems. This brings the total number of golems to 20. "What ...... are they doing in the castle?" Minister of Defense Jude was worried. He could not believe that the supposedly iron-clad Asunto Castle could be so easily penetrated by these mysterious golems. Even if they were our allies. And then the astonishment intensifies. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, what is that? A golem, even larger than the 10-meter-high walls, had appeared and was peering into the castle. 250 - - 09-35 Deus Ex Makina The fortified city of Asund is surrounded by a 10-meter-high wall. Its shape is almost square, 5 km on a side, and the Royal Castle is located inside the square, bordering the northern wall. The defensive wall, called the Outer Palace, extends from the northern wall at the same height, forming a nearly square shape of the Outer Palace. The northern wall of the Outer Palace is the wall of Asunto, and the royal army would be launched from the gate in the north. Protected by the outer palace is the inner palace, where the king resides and serves as the political center of the city. The wall separating the Outer Palace from the Inner Palace is 3 meters high, less than one-third the height of the city wall. Therefore, the outer wall can be seen from the center of the inner palace. The huge golem was standing taller than the wall seen from the inner palace, and was looking down on us. "Whoa, whoa, whoa ......" "Oh, that''s ........." As the terrified viewers watched in horror, they saw someone standing on the wall from the golem''s palm. Black clothes, a silver helmet like no one had ever seen before. A tall man. The shape of the figure suggested a man. "Who is he? Is he an enemy or a friend? All of us who were staring at him had the same thought. "Gentlemen!" The voice of the mysterious person sounded. Some kind of magic must have been used, reaching every corner of the inner and outer palace. I am deus ex machina. Some people call me the mysterious golem master. Jin spins his words as if reading from a manuscript he prepared after consulting with the old man. His voice is of course slightly changed. "Deus ex machina? "I''ve never heard of it. Who are you?What do they want? The crowd is abuzz. But then, with a wave of his hand, the man who calls himself deus ex machina falls silent again. "War is futile. It produces nothing. Deus ex machina speaks. "The land is large and the people are few. Do not commit the folly of fighting amongst your own kind. Some of us agreed with him. "Humans have not yet caught up with the culture of the time of the magical wars. It is true. But it is foolish to look to the past. For the past will never return. Some raised an eyebrow at his words. "Don''t look to the past. Focus on the present. Strive to create the future." The deus ex machina speaks even louder, shouting. "You are free to listen to this advice or not. But if you do not heed my advice, I have my own ideas. Deus ex machina then points at the broken golem. "Look!" People look at it. Their eyes widen in astonishment. As soon as they saw the destroyed golem, it became red-hot, then white-hot, and melted. "Do you understand?I want only one thing: peace. Coexistence, if you will. It shouldn''t be too hard." The deus ex machina breaks off and looks around at the people. "I do not appear unless there is a conflict. Think about it." With that, Deus ex machina leaps onto the shoulder of the giant golem. At the same time, the giant golem turns around and faces away from Asunto Castle. At that moment, a magic knight chants an attack spell. "<>......!Why?I can''t use magic!" Deus ex machina turned from the golem''s shoulder, "I forgot to tell you. I can not only disable magic, I can make it useless. Stop wasting your time." He points at the knight who just tried to use magic on him. "Gee!" Then the magic knight let out a short scream and suddenly went rigid. He fell into a coma. "I''m afraid he was a puppet of the Unifiler. But this should bring him back to his senses. Later I will send you a list of those who are known to be puppets." Deus ex machina then turns his back on the people again. "Well, I hope we don''t meet again." And this time, Deus ex machina leaves with the giant golem. * * * * At the Horaijima command center, Jin fainted in agony. "Aaahhh, I''m so embarrassed! He had finished reading the script and couldn''t stand the tone of voice that was so terrible. "Goshujin-sama, please calm down. You looked great!" Anne was comforting him. "Before the war, it was normal for you to talk like that, to be so vain. The aristocrats used to make such exaggerated statements in skirmishes between countries, Anne says. "...... I guess they''re exaggerating." Anne''s consolations don''t seem to be helping much. Then the old man''s request came in, and Jin changed his mind. "The situation unfolded almost exactly as we expected, so we can deal with the aftermath as we planned. "Well, I''ll go with Kai. "Well, I''m going to the village of Kaina, so call me if you need anything." "Well, I''m going to the village of Kaina, so call me if anything happens. Jin, who had done such an unorthodox thing to stop the war, felt unsettled and rushed to the village of Kaina in search of solace. "Ah, Onii-chan!What are you doing?It''s almost sunrise." Hannah exclaimed as soon as she saw Jin''s face. She came back late, so she was a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, sorry, I had some things to do at the other house..." "Oh my God. I was so surprised, I thought you were gone again! "I''m sorry. I''ll be in touch from now on. Jin apologized as he stroked Hannah''s head. As he stroked her head, he felt his frayed heart calm down. "You know, I went to the forest today to gather some logs. Uncle Rock and the others got a lot of mountain lions this morning, so they''re going to make a kunsei. Jin remembered that Rock had said something like that when he saw the snow room. "I see. Do you want to help me make it?" "Yes!" Hannah, in a better mood, pulls Jin by the hand and heads for the smoked fish market. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At that time, Titan 2 and Reiko returned to Horai Island. They are the first to return via the warp gate. "Old man, where is your father?" Reiko asked as she could not see Jin, who was usually around. . The old man told the truth, a little worried that Reiko might be in a bad mood. "I see. You went to see Hannah, didn''t you? But despite her concern, Reiko smiles and says to him. "It seems that Hannah is the most important thing for your father, doesn''t it?" The old man felt a little strange, so he decided to ask Reiko boldly. Then, to my surprise, Reiko laughed. "You noticed that, didn''t you? Yes, next to your father, you are the most important person in my life. > "Of course. Hannah is very much like your mother. Yes. Adriana Barbora Tsezi''s mother. Of course, there is no similarity in magical patterns. On the contrary, Hanna can''t use magic. > "Yes. When your mother was young, or rather, when she was a child, she must have looked like that. 251 - - 09-36 After Dreams Yes, then I will go after your father. "Yes, sir." Reiko heads for the village of Kaina. And the old man started to do his duty. > The old man gave instructions to interrogate the Falcons still in the Kingdom of Klein, and the prisoners of war that are being held in the Falcons. * * * * * * Reinhard was at the supply depot. A place outside the city of Astan, about one kilometer to the north. The surrounding area is an exposed rocky outcrop where rock has been carved, pillars erected, and beams passed over to create turrets, storehouses, quarters, stables, and other structures. "I''m so heavy!" Reinhardt and Matth?us were walking between the dormitories, muttering to themselves. They had just finished breakfast. Yesterday, on the way here, Matheus, who was guarding him, asked him <><><><<><<>. Matheus, perhaps he understood what was going on, or perhaps he simply gave up, but he did not pursue me this morning. However, there was one more person at the supply depot that I did not want to see. "Oh, Reinhardt. You came this way." Only inwardly, Reinhardt frowned. Then came Erza''s brother, Fritz. He was on his way back to Japan because it was time for a change of shifts. He was surrounded by a few worried-looking men. "I heard you were attacked.I''ll make a strong protest to Celluloid. It''s not as comfortable as the inn, but it''s safer. Fritz said smiling. Reinhardt feels a little uncomfortable. "Yes?What''s wrong?Do you see something on my face?" Reinhardt asked with a doubtful look on his face as he stared at Fritz. "No, nothing on your face, but I thought you looked different..." "Hmmm, is that so?Well, I don''t know... everyone I''ve seen since this morning has been saying that, but I''m still me, you know?" Seeing Fritz laughing, Matth?us could no longer remain silent. "Major, are you sure something is not wrong?" Fritz''s brow furrowed slightly at the question. "Nothing. "Nothing at all, except that I had a bad dream." "Dreaming?" "Dreaming? I had a dream that I was hit on the head and fainted. "......" "It was a dream, right?I didn''t have a bump on my head. Fritz smacked him on the head. Reinhardt, seeing this, is puzzled, "Well, that''s all right. I''m going to my room. I''m going to my room," he said, choosing to leave for the time being. "Oh, okay. I''ll visit you when my office hours are over. ...... Matheus come with me. Let''s talk about yesterday in detail." When Reinhardt returned to his quarters, he found a familiar magical tool on the table. It was a manacam, a magical communication device. "When did you get ...... that, Jin?" Reinhardt nodded and put it in his pocket. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > The old man asked Deneb 30, one of the fifth column (quinta) secretly dispatched to Reinhardt from the floating base, through the manacam. Yes, I used shock magic and handled it well. No one has noticed. * * * * Asund, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea. Finance Minister Braoloat is worried about the situation. The attack has further increased the burden on the treasury. The Minister of Defense, Judele, and the Prime Minister, the Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli, were both thinking about it. "Anyway, if this list is true, it''s a big deal! A sheet of parchment was spread out in front of the Minister of Defense. It listed more than a dozen names. All are aristocrats who hold important positions in various ministries or are involved in the governance of important cities. The title of the list reads . "Anyway, there''s nothing we can do without checking each one of them, is there?" "Hmm. At the end of the article, it says that <>, is it true? "Well, I have never heard of such a magic as ...... suggestion (seduce). You said so yourself, didn''t you?" "Yes, I have. I''m sorry, sir, I haven''t studied it. The city in the western part of the Kingdom of Klein. It was late afternoon in Tetrada, a city in the western part of the Kingdom of Klein, and order had just been restored. "Commander, everyone in line, we''re done!" "Well done!" The 3rd Knights of the Kingdom of Klein are lining up, but without armor, swords, or spears, they don''t look very good. "The situation is still unclear, but the Royal Franz Army has retreated. There is no doubt about it." There is a slight murmur, but it soon disappears. "That giant golem could have destroyed us, or even the enemy army, if it had wanted to. They were all unconscious at the same time. And now we''ve lost our weapons and armor as well. Subcommander Niklas speaks to the adjutant next to him. "Indeed, yes. Where in the world did they come from? "You won''t get an answer if you think about it. We have to think about the future. How many casualties this time? Well, that''s ...... Yeah?What''s wrong? The acting deputy is stuttering. Niklas raises his eyebrows. "Are you sure it''s not too many?" The temporary deputy denies it in a hurry. "No, no, on the contrary!There were no casualties! What? There were many wounded in the battle from yesterday to today. Especially those who were mortally wounded in yesterday''s battle. However, I have just confirmed that all of them are recovering. "What ...... is ......?" That''s exactly what I don''t understand. The seriously injured have recovered even though nothing was done. No, maybe ......, Niklas imagines. Maybe that giant golem did something. And then he remembers what the giant golem said. "< * * * * The hot air balloons dispatched to the kingdoms of Klein and Egelea have lost contact with each other. What?Who could drop one of those?One or two, maybe, but all of them? The Franzian army is retreating towards the border. What about the Golem?Where''s the Golem?The battle golem we secretly brought to Castle Asund! A pigeon brought a report that it too has been destroyed. "Nooooooooo ...... what in the world has happened!" . Then a voice interrupted, like the tinkling of a bell. "Oh, oh, Elena. Where are you? < "Well, it''s good to finally see your face. I''m looking forward to it. So what happened to Reinhardt? < "What?Elena says, "I see what you mean: ......" "Ummm, no way. ......" <> "Yeah, there was a guy who destroyed the 8th branch a while back, apparently a golem user named Jin." "Well, he is ............." Elena listened silently to the explanation, but when she finished she raised her voice a little. "I''m sorry. I thought there was no golem that could match us. Elena seems to have cut off communication unilaterally, and her voice is no longer heard. * * * * The square in the village of Kaina was thick with smoke. "Geez, it''s smoky. Sarah, will you take care of the rest?" "Yes, master." In the village of Kaina, they are currently burning the wood chips from the query tree to smoke the mountain lion meat that Locke and his friends have caught. It is smoky because it is smoked rather than burned. That''s where Sara comes in. Sarah, the golem maid who doesn''t have to breathe, works silently, and in no time at all, the preparations for the smoking process are finished. All that remains is to continue smoking the meat until the moisture is absorbed. "I''m looking forward to it, I''m sure tonight''s drinks will be delicious. Don''t drink too much! The village of Kaina is at peace. 252 - - 09-37 Silent Story 12 Distorted Dolls My mother passed away. She left me her words. . That was her last will and testament. Then I, her daughter, must do it. Being the best means that I will never lose to anyone. And to be the best means to be the best means <>. I conclude. * * * * * * My first thought is that <> is too many. Then what do we do? We can reduce them. For starters, we got rid of the Magecraftsman, whom your mother had shunned. He was a man whose life was going to end in a few years if we left him alone, but we thought it was important to break the not-so-shallow connection between him and your mother. The next step was to destroy the automata that the man had created. It was the most straightforward way to prove that we could not lose. They were too weak. If you twist your arm just a little, you can easily break it off. So we took off their limbs, and we took off their necks. As I continued, the owner of the automata became alarmed and increased his guards, but that would not stop me. I am the . A little use of the power your mother has given me is enough to make the guards all become cowards. >,<>>, and >. Especially, subliminal induction is a slavery magic that makes my commands seem as if they are done by my own will. As a queen, it is natural for me to have slaves, isn''t it? In this way, I have eliminated all the target automata. However, I laugh at the fact that no one noticed that I used subliminal induction, and only hypnosis and suggestion (seduce) were alerted. I was not the only one to be wary of hypnosis and suggestion. Then I kept thinking about what I should do as a queen, but I could not come to a conclusion. At that time, the war against demons, or the war of magic in this era, started. To my surprise, the template left by Adriana Barbora Zetsi was rediscovered, and automata and golems based on it were mass-produced. I remember your mother who had a grudge against Adriana. So, I decided to show the world how good I am by getting rid of them. Many golems are deployed on the battlefield. It was fun to destroy them with a single swing of the sword. The adamantite shortsword your mother gave me. It could cut through even a steel golem with a shield. The humans looked on in amazement. They must have realized that I am stronger than the golems. The demons also took note of me. They must have realized that it was the golem that I was after, for it no longer stood in my way on the battlefield. Until then, I had been able to cut down any demons that got in my way with a single sword. . That was the name the soldiers gave me. I am a queen, not a princess. I''m sure they''ll call me queen again when they see how strong I am. I failed. I failed. I have just learned that individual strength and collective strength are two different things. More than 100 battle golems and more than 200 mages. It was indeed too much for me to handle. I lost my left hand and retreated in agony. That''s right. A retreat. It''s not a retreat. A queen is never defeated. Individually, I am the strongest. But the strength of the group is something else. Then, I should create the strongest group and reign at the top of it. Until then, I decided to rest a little. The loss of my left arm was a great blow to me. Now that your mother is gone, is there anyone in the world who can fix me? It is hard to imagine that there is anyone in this day and age. After all, I went around erasing them. Then there is only one thing to do. We wait. An abandoned fort near a large lake. There are still some usable materials and magic tools here. I set up some tricks, blocked the entrance and went to sleep there. Until someone who has been watching me comes to wake me up. Then I would pretend to be his servant and rule him. Then I would organize and turn man against man. With these thoughts in mind, I shut down the furnace. I woke up. I woke up. The slightest contact of magic power reactivated my furnace. "Did you ...... wake me up?" It was the boy who woke me. Dreamy blue eyes. I know those eyes. The sergeant of a noble family who once wooed me when I was with your mother. I am aware of how I look to human men. I sense a great deal of latent magic in the boy in front of me. So I decide to take advantage of him. I stand up. My body is beginning to feel a little sick. Let''s use this boy to fix it. "Thank you. "Thank you. Can you give me a name, if you like?" I''ll say this and he''ll believe me. Naming an automaton or a golem is a sign of mastery. "Elena." the boy called me. I smile and serve him. Yes, my name is Elena. I''ll be very happy to meet you, my lord." The rest was easy. Step by step subconscious induction. And the boy became my slave. I, the queen, am the slave and the slave is the queen. I, the queen, do not abuse my slaves senselessly. I gave the boy all the knowledge I knew and taught him about the magical tools I had found in the place where I had slept. The boy was touched and inspired by the technology of the past, and he had an ambition to recreate the ancient lands. Conveniently, in the country where the boy was, there was a group called the Unifilers. This is an outlandish group that pursues the ideal of the Kingdom of Dinar, which seems to have united the continent after the Great Magic War, as the supreme country. But in this sense, it was very convenient for me. Using <>,<>,<>, the boy ...... named <> joined the Unification Party (Unifiler), and little by little he became a member of the Unification Party (Unifiler). I am not sure if it looks unnatural or not, but I am not sure. It may look unnatural. All the executives will be my slaves anyway. * * * * After more than 10 years, Jules had become one of the leaders of the Unification Party (Unifiler). One day, he brought with him a magecraftsman who was reputed to be one of the best of his time. "Hello, my name is Elena. Are you the one who can fix my arm? She said this with her mouth, but I could tell from the first glance that the man was not even close to your mother''s skill. But since there was no one else who could do the job, we decided to compromise. To be honest, I was not satisfied with his ability. After another 10 years of thorough training, this magecraftsman named Donald has managed to become useful. All but my broken left arm had been repaired and I had regained my original motion. The only thing left was the left arm. Since I was short of materials, I decided to destroy the blue-haired automata that had been created during the Great Magic War, and let him use the materials from it. The blue-haired automata were made based on Adriana''s template, so they are made of better quality materials than other automata and golems. And I have been educating Donald for 20 years. It has been 37 years since I woke up, and I have finally been able to get my body back. I am not the enemy of my body now. I have no enemies now that I have my body back. Jules has finally reached the top of the Unifiler. At the same time, the Unifiler''s ambition has changed from recreating the Kingdom of Dinar after the Magic War to the unification of the continent. They taught Donald the super-technology of the past and had him develop numerous golems, weapons, and arms using this technology. This has allowed the Unification Party (Unifiler) to quickly expand and now has more than 5,000 members, making it a major force in the world. Then, I ordered the Unification Party (Unifiler) to unify the continent. Since the party was originally called the Party, the members accepted it without any sense of uneasiness, and we are now moving toward the unification of the continent. <<> etc, etc,etc,etc ....... It is unlikely that anyone in this world can compete with the super-technology of the past. Still, we must not let our guard down. I have heard that a magecraftsman from the Shoro Empire named Reinhardt is quite excellent, so I have decided to meet him once. If he is useful, I will take him as a slave, if not, I will just delete him. I will reign as the queen of this continent, and I will not let anyone interfere with that. 253 - - 09-38 Actions It is the evening of April 22nd. The Knights were gathering in the fortress city of Tetrada. The 2nd and 4th Knights of the Kingdom of Klein, the Rescue Knights, and the 2nd Magical Knights. All of them, though not as many as the 3rd Knights in Tetrada, were forced to end the battle without understanding what was going on. The lack of a fortified city around them made it natural for them to gather in Tetrada. "It appears that the Franzian army has now retreated to the border area. The scouts report that the Franzian army is not much different from their own, and that they are still without weapons and armor. "I see." Viscount Bernard Nephra Foster, Commander of the 2nd Knights, affirmed. He is now in command of the mixed forces. "At any rate, we can''t fight a war without weapons and armor. Whether we retreat or march, we must wait for an answer from King''s Landing. Yes. Also, after interrogating those prisoners of war, it is clear that the Unification Party (Unifiler) was the mastermind behind this. Niklas Fahlheit answered. "Yes, I heard that. And you are escorting them to the capital, right? Yes. Well, there''s nothing more urgent than making emergency repairs to the damaged sections of the city walls. We''ll be working through the night. Take turns resting the men. You commanders too! Sir, thank you. Fall back, sir. Thank you. Leaving the lord''s mansion, which was being used as a temporary command center, Niklas went alone, unaccompanied by his second-in-command, to the garrison of the Guardians of the Rescue. There his daughter, Licia Faalheit, was supposed to be. "Is the baronet hurt? asked a young guard knight as Niklas approached. The rescue knights themselves were not very skilled in combat, so they were accompanied by a group of knights to protect them. No, I''m off duty. I came to see my daughter. Is Licia Faalheit here?If she''s still on duty, I''ll leave. The guard smiled, then straightened his back and assumed an alert posture. "Ah, you must be Licia''s father!My name is Pascoe Rush. I am the third son of the Rush family. I would like to thank you for healing me the other day! He bows deeply. "Licia should be resting by now, so please come through. The third tent from the back." "Okay, thank you." Niklas thanked him and went to the tent where his daughter Licia was. The night is about to fall. In a room of the royal castle of Asunto, the capital of Egelea, the king and the third prince were talking as the darkness of night was falling. "So, Ernest, you say that the mysterious golem that came to rescue you was made by Jin? "Yes. It has distinctive movements. It looks a lot like Lotte''s." Prince Ernest the Third replies confidently. But the king has no idea how the golem''s movements differ. "Well, I don''t know, but if you say so, I guess so. The king acknowledged Ernest''s words with a difficult look on his face. "But then, who exactly is Jin?He can create a golem that can easily defeat that enemy golem that we couldn''t even get our hands on. ...... That automata called Leco seems to be an ancient relic (artifact), so that makes sense, but this time.... ..." "Don''t even think about it. Jin is my friend, the Honorary Magi Craftsman of this land. That''s all right." "Yes, that is true, but perhaps the Prime Minister will not agree." Alas, the prince is almost right, but it is a bad habit of those involved in politics to want to know what is going on behind the scenes. "Never mind. I''m going to have a talk with the Prime Minister now. I want you to stay with Catherine." "Yes, I''m sure your mother will be very anxious." Ernesto nodded and left the room. He was replaced by the Prime Minister, the Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli. "Where is His Highness Ernest?" "He went to see Catherine. He''s been in hiding ever since that fiasco. The Prime Minister nodded knowingly. "Well, Your Highness is very fond of Her Royal Highness, Queen Catherine." "Yes. Catherine is also very fond of my daughter. As a father and husband, I''m relieved. "So it must be. ...... Now, Your Majesty, let''s get down to business." The Prime Minister spread the documents he had brought with him on the table. "I understand. It''s about those puppets of the Unification Party, isn''t it? "Yes. Unfortunately, the information was true. * * * * The old man checked the images sent by Raptor and said to Anne, who was also watching the images. "Yes, my old man. You were right, weren''t you?" < "Still, the Goshujin may be concerned." "Yes, sir." And the next topic is the Unification Party (Unifiler). "Where is it?" < The old man has << Lao Tzu> at his work terminal unfold a map of the area. "Uh, yes, I see. There could be a base of the former Dinaric Kingdom in that area. They must have modified it to their advantage. Anne has a memory of the early days of the Magic War. The old man has the same data, but he seems to be able to use the same information better than Anne because it is directly connected to his thoughts. If we find out that this is the home of the Unifilers, we may be able to end the conflict between the small groups in one fell swoop. "Yes, it''s quicker to crush their heads than to attack their limbs. <<< That''s right. And last but not least, it seems that Mr. Reinhardt is at the supply depot without incident. "I see. In that case I have a proposal. The old man was curious to hear this proposal from Ann. > "Yes. "Yes, I would like to take this opportunity to obtain, through Mr. Reinhardt, the battle patterns of soldiers, preferably of knight class. The old man considered the proposal. < So the old man called for the fifth line (quinta) that was available and sent them to Reinhardt''s place. If it works out, it will strengthen the forces of Horai Island. And Reinhardt readily agrees. * * * * After leaving Astan with Golem 457 and Elena, Donald spent a day to get to the nearest secret base and took a secretly hidden to the headquarters. The hide spell was cast, and few people would notice. And it was nighttime. Elena was communicating with the headquarters of the Unifiler through a built-in device similar to a manacam. When she finished, Elena was silent and thoughtful. "Elena, what''s going on?" Donald wonders, seeing the unusual Elena. "Are you thinking about that Reinhardt?He was a good man, but he was no match for me. Besides ......." "Shut up, shut up for a second." "Okay, okay." Elena was thinking about Sage and Cosmos of the Covert Task Force (SP). She had decided that it was a bad idea, but in fact, she recognized that they were strong opponents. And now I heard about this golem-user called Jin. There was much to think about. "Numbers, you know." Elena recalled how she had been forced to retreat before, before the strength of the group. "Donald, I''m going to activate the whole golem squad when I get back." "Okay, Elena." The speed of the hot air ball is about 15 kilometers per hour. They''ll be back in a few hours. * * * "Oh, it''s so good when we eat together!" In the plaza in front of the village chief''s house in Kaina Village, everyone was enjoying the barbecued mountain lion they had just caught and chilled sake. When a large catch is made, it is shared by all, and this was the Kaina village way. "This is delicious! "Right!Erza, Meine, try this one too. The freshly made smoked fish was still too smoky and not quite as tasty as the others, so the smoked fish that had been left on the table was served. "It has a nice flavor. The smoky aroma is very appetizing. Elsa and Meene joined the group and seemed to be enjoying themselves. In the midst of this atmosphere, Reiko quietly overhears Jin''s words. "Father, the old man has something to report. "I see. Is it about what happened after that? Jin quietly exits the square. He took out a manacam from his pocket and called up Mr. Mana-kun. "Old man, I want to hear your report. 254 - - 09-39 Hitoshi, set out. "So there is no battle going on right now. Jin, who has made contact with the old man, is relieved to see that the situation has improved. . Then Ann''s voice interrupted. In other words, she is telling us to destroy the headquarters, not the branch offices. Jin laughed at the words, "Well, you''re right. Okay. I''ll be back there in a little while. Then we''ll put an end to this mess. Jin then hangs up. He silently returns to the plaza, where Martha, Hannah, Meane, and Erza are. "Oh, Jin, how are you doing, are you having fun?" "Yes, I''m full. By the way, may I have a word with you? Jin led the four of them out to a place a little further away. "Yes, Jin?" "What''s wrong, Onii-chan?" Martha and Hannah looked doubtful, but Meane and Erza seemed to sense it. "This country is being invaded right now," Jin spoke up. Jin opened his mouth. "They are called the Unification Party (Unifilers). I am going to stop them. He spoke in simple abbreviated sentences, so Hannah was the only one who looked at him like, "What? >>Martha seemed to understand. "Jin has the power to stop them, doesn''t he?" Martha asked with some concern. Jin sensed this and answered proudly. "Yes. When you stop them, will you come back here again? Yes. "Yes, I promise. If you don''t come back, I won''t care. Yes, sir. Yes, then go ahead, Jin. Go to ...... and don''t worry about Meine and Elsa." Martha said, tapping her chest. "Take care of yourself, Onii-chan. I''ll be a good girl and wait for you. Martha''s mood gave Hannah some idea of what she was talking about. "Yes, I know. I''ll come back for you, I promise. Jin bent down and stroked Hannah''s head. Hannah smiled, even though she was a little tearful. Jin, be careful. And don''t let anyone else be unhappy because of them. Erza also said to Jin with a serious face. "Okay. I''ll settle up now. Jin-sama, please be careful. I wish you good luck. Meane also said a few words of farewell. "Yes. I''m off then. "Bye." Jin smiled and waved his hands as his family saw him off and walked away. Jin then returns to Horaijima with Reiko. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Old man, please give me some information. "Oh, that''s great. Where is it? < "I see, so they used the ruins as it is and turned it into their headquarters?And with the resources, the production of golems will progress. The Unifilers call it a hot air balloon, and it was made to counter the demons that could fly, but it had some shortcomings such as being slow, and in the end it was never put to practical use. "We have vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) planes over here." << "What is it?" < Jin hears this and thinks about it himself. "Hmmm, the Gigarth can absorb magic power. If it is applied to that, it might be possible. If it absorbs magic, the mage can''t be touched by accident, but if it neutralizes magic, it''s a different matter. . "Then all you have to do is not use magic." If the attack is purely physical, there is no way to prevent it. Jin concluded that it would not pose much of a threat. "What else is there?" <<> "Yes, I heard. Maybe ...... it''s him." Jin thought of Erza''s brother Fritz''s face. "Oh, that''s great!Okay, let''s copy the army first. We can make it work in the time we have before we go out. If we have time, we can copy the Horai Island Covert Task Force (SP), the 5th column (Quinta), and the other golems as well. Reinhardt, however, had a very hard time, although he didn''t say anything without saying anything. "And that''s it?" "My own plane?" Jin went outside to see it parked in front of the institute. The old man''s mobile terminal, <>, came with him and explained it to him. <>. As it says, it is about one size smaller and sleeker than the Falcon, a VTOL aircraft. <>. The Warp Gate is indeed the ultimate escape device. < The autopilot is included. Jin can simply give simple instructions on where to go and so on. < "That''s very nice of you. ......" The old man is not so self-effacing. It is like a mirror of Jin himself. It may be based on the assumption that he went to the sea with Hannah, Erza, and Meene in Kunlun Island. >. This is the highest speed among the air forces of Horai Island. "Wow, I am very proud of you for building such a thing with such limitations, Mr. Lao. Jin was impressed by the fact that the old man had been able to create such a great product with a combination of existing products, which he had only been allowed to rearrange. Jin thought about it. Then, after thinking about it, "Okay, Pegasus 1." He names it <>. At the same time, he also marked the name <> on the plane with engineering magic. < The closer the distance is, the more accurate the magi detector will be, so it is possible to detect Jin and fly down to him. Well, thank you once again, old man. All right, Reiko, you come with me. And you, Anne, come with me. "Yes, my dear." Jin decides to accompany Anne, who seems to know a lot about the ruins. At the same time, he brings along a substitute doll. Of course, it is the mysterious golem-user (master) version that was remodeled last time, and it does not look like Jin. Jin himself also took all possible precautions, and rode Pegasus 1 equipped with a reinforced suit, helmet, Masamune, Muramasa, and so on. Reiko also boarded Pegasus 1 equipped with Momoka and a magic cannon (magi cannon). As spare weapons, they also load up several "Vibration Swords," which are ultra high-speed vibrating swords. Jin, judging that everything was now ready, gave instructions to Lao-kun. "Old man, since Reiko is with me this time, Titan will launch the first unit. I will give general instructions and you give detailed instructions. "Okay, all available Raptors, Falcons, and Pelicans are to be launched. Army land units, split up. Weapons fully loaded. Take medical supplies." Jin asks himself if he has forgotten anything. However, there is a warp gate in the Falcon, and if the need arises, we can transport them via the floating base. "Horai-jima Force, let''s go out! Jin''s voice rings out, and the Raptor squad departs first. This is because the size of the floating base does not allow for takeoff and landing. Next, Condor 1 with Titan 1 on board launched. Falcon 1-10 take off next. Finally, Pegasus 1 with Jin on board soared into the sky of Horai Island. And when the air power of Horai Island approached the Kingdom of Cerroa, a floating base surfaced in the center of the huge lake, Lake Asur. The upper dome opened, and a flying object carrying a huge golem flew out. However, no one saw it because it was protected by a stealth field. Now, the battle against the Unified Party (Unifiler), in which the majority of Horai Island''s forces were devoted, was about to begin. 255 - - 09-40 Battle The western shore of Lake Asur before dawn. The area is a plateau-like plain, a wide wilderness with a very slight slope. The northwestern part of the plateau is a towering rocky hill with thick vegetation on its slopes. The rocky mountains are composed of granite, and they are rich in underground resources. The fort was built in such a place. It was built more than 300 years ago, but there were people who took care of it and remodeled it. The name of the organization was the Unifiler. "Ah, we''re here at last!" Three shadows descended from the sky and landed on the ground. "I''m tired, Elena. said a gray-haired, blue-eyed old man. "Donald is a human being. I don''t feel anything. A beautiful, dazzling girl says, "I don''t feel anything. But the atmosphere is icy. Another silhouette is decidedly non-human. Golem 457. The three shadows are surrounded by many shadows that have appeared from somewhere. "Thanks for meeting us!" Donald calls out in a hawkish manner and walks away, protected by the approaching golem guards. Elena and Golem 457 followed. A part of the rock wall was used as a door, which they opened with their strength, which only golems are capable of, to reveal a wide open space inside. We crossed the hall and passed through the door guarded by the golem with a face pass. We climbed the stairs and walked down a long corridor. He put his hand on the door at the end of the hall, and it opened by itself. Inside was a decorated room. The walls on either side were hung with colorful tapestries, and in front of them stood gold and silver golems standing erect with their spears at the ready. In the center of the room, a scarlet carpet was laid out, and Donald and Elena walked through it to the back of the front. "Welcome home, Elena. A figure seated in the back of the front room called out to them. I''m back, my lord. Elena replies. It''s time for a full-scale attack, isn''t it? "Yes. As you can see from the hot air balloons, the chaos in many countries is still continuing. If we go on the offensive now, the Unified Party (Unifiler) led by you will be able to rule this continent. Despite his bell-ringing voice, his words are imbued with madness. But there is no one here to question it. For here in the throne room of the general headquarters of the Unification Party (Unifiler), there are only two living people, the president and the second president. In fact, there are less than 50 people in the headquarters. The rest are all golems. "Five hundred old Golems for combat. 500 new battle golems. 200 all-purpose Golems. A total of 1,200 Golems have been activated. "My lord, you are very good with your hands. Let''s launch them. ...... Elena was just finishing her sentence. "Report. There''s a huge shadow approaching from the sky. An urgent call came in from the security golem. From the sky? The man who seemed to be the leader of the Unified Party (Unifiler) operated some kind of magic tool attached to the side of his chair. Then an image appeared in the space in front of him. It seems to be a development of the magic projection window (magic screen). Switching the magic eye installed outside the base in various ways, I succeed in capturing the shadow in question. A silhouette floats in blackness against the background of the dawn sky. It was a mysterious object. It consists of four rings connected in a square shape, with something hanging from the center of the rings. The object appeared to be a giant humanoid. "What is it?What is that?" No one could answer that question. But Elena stares at the figure with burning eyes. "That''s ......!Definitely an extension of Adriana''s design. I see, so the mysterious golem master, Jin, is here. We must welcome them. Elena turned to the leader of the Unified Party (Unifiler), "Jules, send out all the golems. And Gigarth! He gave the order. There was no trace of the respect he had been showing to . But no one objected to that. The order was given. Father, we will be in the vicinity of Kasimunore in a few minutes. Reiko, who was sitting in the navigator''s seat of Pegasus 1, said so. Jin, by the way, is sitting in the pilot''s seat, but he is doing practically nothing. He is letting the autopilot, which uses the control core of the Air Force Golem, do the work for him. "Okay. Stay in the air. What about Titan One?" The old man''s voice came over the manacam. The distance from the floating base to here is only about 50 kilometers, and we have adjusted our arrival time so that we arrive at the same time, but it is inevitable that the Condor with the slowest speed will be the last to arrive. A few minutes'' error is acceptable. "Okay. Turn off your stealth and let the enemy see you as you approach. If the enemy notices you, they will try something. Jin is determined to crush the enemy. "Send the army golem unit down to a place a short distance away from where you think the enemy base is located. In accordance with Jin''s instructions, 10 Falcon squadrons landed at a point about 2 kilometers away from the area in question. Three Pelicans also chose to land on level ground. With this, 100 Army Golems are now in full force, divided into groups of 10 and lined up. Raptors circled the sky, watching the ground. The sun is rising over the horizon. The area is tinted a brilliant red. In the light, Condor 1 and Titan 1, which is being carried by Condor 1, come into view. They are visible because they are stealth-cut. "Oh, here they come. Okay, drop Titan 1 a little closer to the enemy base." As instructed, Titan 1 drops down about a kilometer from the enemy base. As the sun gradually rose, the light turned from red to gold to white. In the light, the door to the enemy base opened. The door was opened. One hundred battle golems, which Elena calls the old model, appear. Each of them has a shield and a spear. "First, let''s check them out. Let''s go!" Elena gives the order, and the battle golems begin to march in an orderly fashion. "Father, it''s an enemy golem!" Jin and Reiko watched from above. "All right, let''s use our army golems to intercept them. Land troops, go! A 100-100 golem battle begins, but the battle is too one-sided. The 100 Golems of the Unifiler formed a single horizontal line, forming a wall as they advanced. It was truly a flawless assault that only an inorganic object could make. But the army golem they were facing was no ordinary golem. No, it is not just an ordinary golem, but a golem classified as one of the best in this world. The Golem of the Unifiler holds a shield and thrusts a spear through the gap between the shield and the shield. This is the so-called "bed of spears". On the other hand, the Land Troops do not carry shields or spears. On the other hand, the Rand team does not carry shields or spears, but a super high-speed vibrating sword, the Vibration Sword. It is made of magi-adamantite, and when magic power flows through it, minute ultra-high-speed vibrations occur, slashing anything it touches. The spear of steel thrust out by the Unifier Golem is cut down in an instant. Then, with the returning blade, it slices through the shield and pierces the unprotected chest. The thrust destroyed the control core, the heart of the golem, without missing a beat. The golem''s control core was destroyed without missing a beat. Within 10 seconds of contact, the 100 Golems of the Unified Party (Unifiler) were disabled. Jules, the leader of the Unified Party, who was watching this through the magic screen, was astonished. "What?A battle golem, even an old model, was killed in an instant! But Elena, with frustration on her cheeks, was gauging the strength of the RAND team. "Next!Go for two hundred!Don''t form up. No shields. Use your swords." The second group of 200, twice as many as the first, appears. This time, the 200 do not form a line, but rather charge in a disjointed manner. * * * * "Two hundred this time. Lando''s group moves back two meters from the 100 that have just been defeated. Form up into groups and attack them as a group. Looking at the battlefield from above, he could see the battle situation clearly. Even Jin, who was an amateur, was able to give reasonable instructions. In addition, Anne was his assistant. The speed of the rush is slowed down in order to avoid the defeated golem. They are also disoriented. Aiming at this point, Lando and his team attacked. Aiming at the legs, they cut them off. If they slashed at the legs, their legs would be cut off. If they slashed at the chest, the control core of the chest would be destroyed and they would stop moving. If you cut off its head, its visibility is suddenly reduced, and such a golem is easily neutralized. More wreckage piled up on top of the original 100 wreckage. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Elena, who was watching the situation, said "Now. Launch 500 of the new battle golems from behind them! 256 - - 09-41 Fierce Battle "Hmm?There was a doorway there, too?" Jin, who had been watching from the sky, where he could literally see the big picture, saw a doorway open up in the rock wall about 500 meters west of where the Landeswehr was engaging the enemy. "Lando team, watch your back!Titan 1, cover me!" He immediately gave the order. In response, Lando''s team, 1 to 60, reversed course and headed for the doorway. The remaining 61 to 100 continued to slaughter the old battle golem. "Oh?This golem is a different type, maybe it''s a new type. Be careful!" Jin then gives orders to the Raptor squadron circling overhead. "Be ready to fire your magijammer at any time!" The Raptors then turned their attention back to the battle. Five hundred of the new battle golems appear. Although most of the old ones have been defeated, the difference in strength is five times as great. But then Titan 1 joins the fray. "What a huge golem. It''s a menace to see in person. Even Adriana couldn''t build something like that. Even Elena, looking closely at the Titan''s huge body, felt threatened. "Throw the two Gigarth nukes into them before our golem makes contact with them! Elena instructed. One of the all-powerful golems obeys. Gigarth, the superweapon of the past, is controlled by a magical core. The core absorbs mana from its surroundings and makes it its own. The mere touch of the core absorbs the mana of the opponent and renders him immobile. Such a super-weapon of the past. One of the versatile golems tossed the magical core of Gigarth, which is usually kept in a sealed box, into the old type of battle golem with the whole box. The sealed box hit the ground and broke, absorbing mana from the old Golem, and Gigarth was formed. His body was made of rocks and the bodies of the old battle golems that were lying everywhere. "Two Gigarths. They must have secured the two we failed to find." Jin, who was flying above us, said as he looked at the magic screen showing the situation on the ground. "But how could they have used the mana of our allies? They are a tough bunch of guys. Now, Lando''s team is sandwiched between two Gigases and an enemy Golem. Several Land Golems had stopped moving under the attack of the Gigases, but they were rescued by their colleagues, and their mana drivers were safely reactivated and they returned to the front line. "Lando''s group, leave Gigarth alone. Stay away from him. Titan 1, stop Gigarth. Jin gives the order. "Father, even if he is a Titan, won''t Gigarth absorb his mana? Reiko, who had played against Gigarth once, said so. "Yes, I have an idea. If I''m right. Jin then gave further instructions. "Titan 1, put a solid barrier around your fist". Jin''s plan. One of them is to concentrate the defensive wards that originally cover the entire body on the fist. And Gigas can absorb mana or free magic element (ether), not magic. According to Anne, Gigarth can absorb , but the last time they met, his body was melted by Reinhardt''s Flame Lance. So Jin guessed that magic could not be absorbed. "Okay, hit Gigarth in that state!" Gigarth moved slowly. Titan''s right fist easily punched Gigarth. What the hell? What the hell? Elena is surprised. Gigarth''s body is scattered. Among the debris, there is a shiny object. It is the core of magic power. As soon as the core fell to the ground, it collected the surrounding scraps and debris and became Gigarth again. "...... I''m a little surprised, but Gigarth can''t be defeated by such an attack." Elena muttered as she stared at the magic screen. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Jin watched from the sky. "Just as I thought. Gigarth cannot absorb magic. Okay, Titan, keep attacking! Titan 1 leaves the Gigarth at a distance and strikes the other Gigarth closest to him. Gigarth''s body is blown away again. At the same time, the magic core also flies out. Aiming at it, Titan 1 swung his fist again. "What!" Elena, who had been watching, let out a startled cry. Titan 1, with an agility that did not match its huge body, struck the ejected magic core again. As expected, the core could not withstand the physical shock and was shattered. The core was shattered, and the gigase was never formed again. "Why, why, why! Elena exclaimed, as if she could not believe what she saw. Right in front of her eyes, Titan 1 defeated the second Gigarth in the same way. "Bullshit. ......" Elena''s dejected voice echoed through the headquarters of the Unified Party (Unifiler). Jin saw this and immediately gave the following instructions to Titan 1: "Titan 1, Titan 1, Titan 1, Titan 1! Titan 1, cover Lando''s team. Titan 1 moved forward to meet the order. Titan 1 moved forward to cover Land''s battles. With a five-fold difference in strength, Lando''s unit had formed a formation to cope with the situation. This was the strategy of the Shoro Imperial Guard, which had been copied by Reinhardt. According to this method, 1 is 1 in a group of soldiers, and 10 combined does not equal 10, but rather only 5 or 6. Rather, they can only display a power of 5 or 6. However, when the soldiers form a formation as an army, 1 can become 3 or 4. In response to the new battle golem, which tried to envelop them with its numbers, the Land troops formed what on earth would be called a fish-scale formation. In other words, they formed a shape. The sharp tip of the sword wields a super high-speed vibrating sword called the "Vibration Sword," which renders the enemy golem incapable of combat. The back row deploys a physical barrier (Solid Barrier) and a magic barrier (Magic Barrier) to prevent attacks from behind. While maintaining this formation, Rand''s team runs through the new battle golem at a rapid pace. "I see, they are moving so as not to be surrounded." Jin, who is watching from the sky, can understand the intention of their movement. At the same time, the image from the sky was also being broadcasted to the old man, and the old man used the information to give instructions to guide the land troops to the appropriate positions. "Now, Titan 1!" Jin confirmed that Lando''s team had once penetrated through the enemy golem squad and instructed Titan 1. Titan 1 attacked the back of the Unified Party''s new battle golem, which had been distracted by Lando''s squad. Its huge feet trample about five of them, disrupting the pace of the enemy golem. Titan 1 then runs through the enemy golem. "d*mn, what a ......!" Elena''s face contorts in frustration. The only thing being destroyed in front of her eyes are the golems of the Unifilers. "Good, Titan One, to the right this time!" Kicked and trampled by huge feet, the enemy golems were not destroyed, but their legs were bent, arms were broken, and heads were crushed. Naturally, its movements become sluggish, and its fighting power drops. The Land troops do not let this go unnoticed. The wreckage of the new battle golem quickly piles up. "Pull back!Regain your positions! Elena, seeing this, gives the order. Following her instructions, the Unified Party''s new battle golem temporarily moved away from the Horai Islanders. However, more than 100 of the new battle golems were scrapped in the battle. Although some of the Land troops are wounded, no one has dropped out. Even with the Titans, the Unifilers still have the advantage. Looks like ....... "Well, what are they going to do?" A void has emerged in between the fierce battles. Jin also tried to plan his tactics, watching to see what his opponent would do. "Goshujin-sama, in a battle on level ground, numbers are the key. But they are not well coordinated. That''s where you can take advantage of them. Anne also gives advice. Anne is more familiar with this kind of battle than Jin is. "Yes, I see. So we just need to distract them. Jin muttered. Reiko overheard him. "Father, I''ll get it. 257 - - 09-42 Overwhelming Reiko, will you go? Now, we need to create a disturbance to gain an advantage in the war. And the best person to do it is Reiko. But no direct intervention yet. Use the magic cannon (magi cannon) and shoot from a distance only. Reiko nodded her head and said, "I have some things in mind. Reiko nodded her head. "Yes, I''ll leave it to you." Jin then lowered the altitude of Pegasus 1. When they were about 10 meters from the surface. "This is fine. Anne, take care of your father. With these words, Reiko took Momoka and the Magi Cannon and jumped off Pegasus 1. Dexterously holding down the hem of her skirt, Reiko landed on the ground. She was about 500 meters away from the battlefield. "All right, Reiko, fire the Magi Cannon at 30 percent. "Yes, sir." Hitoshi''s order came from Pegasus 1, which had regained altitude. "Now, I''ve ordered the land troops to move. The allies are moving from the left side to the right side. Can you see them?" Reiko, with her amazing eyesight, read the timing when the land troops on the left side would disappear. She then readied her Magi Cannon. "Magi cannon, 30 percent output! Fire!" With a booming sound of a shockwave, the adamantite cannonball was fired at a speed of about Mach 20. What the hell are you doing? "What are you doing?Oh, no! Elena gritted her teeth as she looked at the magic screen. At that moment, several of the new battle golems blow up. "What?" A few seconds later, a few more. And then a few more. "What?What''s going on?" Even Elena couldn''t see the shells flying at Mach 20 or higher, so she couldn''t grasp the situation. And in the meantime, another friendly golem was blown away. Elena was shown the sight of her allied Golem being blown up a total of 10 times, and she almost lost her judgment. "Golem!Spread out!If you stay together, the damage will be much worse!Spread out! But that was exactly what Jin was aiming for. * * * * "Oh, the enemy golem has broken apart! They must have been scared off by Reiko''s bombardment." Jin muttered to himself as he watched from above. "Goshujin-sama, with this, it is possible to attack with Raptor. Anne offered her advice. "Yes, that''s right. Let''s have the Raptors target the enemy golem with point-blank fire instead of a wide area of fire. Jin then instructed the Raptors. "Raptors, each of you fire a laser at an enemy golem on the surface. Do not hit your teammates by mistake. * * * * What the hell is this? Elena''s voice is becoming shrill. Behind the magic screen, one by one, the new battle golems are falling. I don''t know what happened. Suddenly, heads, arms, and half of their bodies evaporated and collapsed. "What on earth, what on earth, what on earth! Elena screams, and Jules, the leader of the Unifiler party, taps her on the shoulder to calm her down. Jules, the president of the Unifiler, tapped her on the shoulder to calm her down, but this only served to irritate Elena. "Shut up!" Elena''s arm is swung away from her. She slams into Jules'' chest. The sound of bones breaking echoes through the air, and Jules collapses, coughing up blood from his mouth. "What, is that ......?" was all that came out of his mouth. He had fainted. Looking down at the fallen Jules, Elena regains some sense. "d*mn, I broke a piece that still works. ...... Well, there are plenty of replacements. He turns to Donald, who is standing beside him with a surprised look on his face, "Donald, you''re going to be the head of the Unifiler from now on," he says. He tells him that he is now the president of the Unifiler. Donald, who had been looking at me with a drawn look on his face, smiled at the sound of her voice. "Okay, Elena. I''m in charge now." There is no will in his eyes. "Yes. Donald, how many hot air balloons are left? Ten. Ten. Okay. All of them. And I want all the mages on board. All right, we''ve got 28 people, so 8 for 3, 2 for 2, okay? Yes, that''s fine. Let''s get them in the air! Yes, that''s good. "Good, Raptors!" Jin looked at the battle situation and felt that everything was going well. The number of enemy golems remaining was less than a hundred, and only the Raptors were capable of eliminating them. So far, no members of Lando''s team have dropped out. Some of them are slightly wounded, but they do not affect the operation of the unit. "All right, Raptors, stop the laser attacks!" The enemy had become sparse and inefficient. Jin decided that the Raptors would be enough for the rest of the mission. "This can''t be the end, what will they do next?" That''s when Jin thought, "Goshujin-sama. "Goshujin-sama, that one." Jin looks up at the sound of Ann''s voice. He had been paying attention only to the bottom, but this time the enemy was at the same altitude. The distance was about one kilometer. They are still visible to the naked eye only as dots. However, when he looked at the magic screen with telephoto function, Jin unusually muttered in an impressed voice. "Wow, a hot air balloon. I''ve heard about it, but I didn''t know they had really developed something like that." But Anne said, "No, Mr. Goshujin, as I reported to the old man, it''s called a hot air balloon. It was developed during the Magic War as a countermeasure against flying demons. It seems that this information was in Anne''s unrecovered memory. It seems that it was only recently that the information was finally restored. "The one who appeared in Asund and Tetrada?Well, it doesn''t matter what you call him. From the looks of it, it seems to float by using air heated by fire magic and to move by wind magic, doesn''t it?" As expected of Jin, he had guessed the principle almost precisely just by looking at it. "That''s right. That''s why I was able to crash-land it with a magijammer in the last battle. "Okay, let''s scare them off first." Jin then moved Pegasus 1 toward the enemy flying ball. "Keep the magijammer ready to radiate at any time. And deploy a magic barrier in front of it." Pegasus 1, which is also a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft, moved forward at a slight speed and approached the enemy hot airball. * * * * * "But this is still a great flying ball, anytime I get on it." "Yes, indeed. It''s amazing that you can fly in such a way, the technology of the past must have been amazing. "It''s a definite advantage to be able to fly. We can easily see where and how many enemy troops are in the air and we can attack at will. "Hey, we''re almost over the enemy, get ready for the magic." Such was the conversation on the hot air balloon. But their voices are frozen in astonishment. "Hey, hey, what is that?" What was in the corner of their gazes? It was a flying object shining in silver. "Is it made of gold ......?" "How can such a thing fly ......?" * * * No one was surprised to see the Pegasus 1 as it emerged from its stealth. 258 - - 09-43 Reikos participation in the war When confronted by the Unifiler''s hot-air balloon unit, Jin said, "Make a small hole in the balloon section with a laser. He ordered them to "make a small hole in the balloon section with a laser. In response, the control core for fire control fired a thin laser. It missed the target and hit the Unification Party''s hot airball. "Whoa, whoa!" The Unification Party member on board panicked. That''s right, if the balloon breaks, the only thing waiting for them is a crash. However, the narrow laser did not cut through the balloon, but only made a small hole. The hole, however, was enough to drop the altitude of the balloon. We''re losing altitude! More fire! No, we''re losing altitude! The ten hot air balloons were losing altitude very slowly. Jin saw this and said, "Okay, that''s enough. Now this." He fired a paralyzer gun at the occupants of the flying ball. "AUGH!" Agh!" The crew members moaned shortly and fainted. Even after the crew members have fainted, the hot airball continues to descend slowly. Since it is a descent, not a crash, the crew will not die. * * * * "Oh my God. ......" Elena, who was watching the scene through the magic screen, was stunned. Reinhardt''s words came back to her suddenly. "A non-magical power ...... is that what it is?" Elena muttered bitterly as she stared at the shiny silver flying object, Pegasus 1. "Yeah, in this case, let''s get out the universal golem!" The universal golem is a golem with high autonomy, and its power and magic have been strengthened by Eladrite. Two hundred of them are unleashed on the battlefield. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Oh, another golem has appeared. That one looks ...... familiar." It was the same type of golem that Jin was beaten up by when he was careless when he rescued Reinhardt and Stearina. "He''s a good performer there, isn''t he? ...... Land troops, beware!A new enemy has joined the fight. It seems to use both power and magic. Jin''s instructions were relayed to all the Golems via the old man. There are about 100 of the new battle golems left, and 200 of the all-purpose golems. The universal Golem, perhaps based on the previous battles, spread out and headed for the battlefield. Their speed of movement was fast, and many of them escaped from the laser point shots from the Raptors. "Well, I guess they''ve learned a thing or two. What should we do?" At that moment, a message from Reiko comes in. . After thinking for a moment, Jin gives his permission. "Okay, that''s fine. But don''t push yourself too hard. You can give up to fifty percent of the output at your discretion. > Reiko replied and kicked the ground. She kicked the ground, starting with 10 percent output. Drawing her adamantite sword , Reiko slashes her way between the enemy golems faster than the wind, even though she is carrying the Magi Cannon on her back. The exterior of the all-powerful golem is steel. Its skeleton is also steel. Even though adamantite is far stronger than steel, it takes a certain amount of strength to slash through it, but Reiko''s physical strength made this possible with ease. With one swing, she severed an arm, with two she severed a neck, and with three she severed a torso. In this way, Reiko slaughtered about five of them, "Cutting them three times is inefficient, isn''t it? She said to herself and increased the output to 30 percent. Reiko, who had increased her speed even more, now sliced the enemy golem in two with a single sword stroke. A true black gale. All that remained after Reiko''s run was the wreckage of the enemy Golem. Reiko has cut down about 30 enemy Golems in this way, but she feels the Momoka in her hand is being overpowered. "It''s not good to break the sword your father gave you, is it?" He muttered to himself and put Momoka into the scabbard. Instead, he held in his hand the magi cannon that he had been carrying on his back. It is made of magi-adamantite and is 1.5 meters long. It is a ferocious weapon that can also be used as a striking weapon. Reiko swings it. The enemy golem is hit by the weapon, and is blown away with a somersault. Its limbs are half torn off by the impact of the collision. "I knew this was good!" Some of the enemy all-powerful golems tried to hold the wielded magic cannon (magi cannon) with their hands, but the result was the same. The strength of steel, no matter how hardened, could not stop the mass of magi-adamantite being wielded at ultra-high speed. The power raised by the eladolite was completely useless. Reiko was running around the battlefield as if she were going through an uninhabited field, swinging her Magi cannon (Magi cannon) left and right. * * * * * * "What in the world is she? Elena''s voice is almost an exclamation. The magic screen that she was staring at as if devouring the image of Reiko, who was running around the battlefield, was barely visible. She is wearing a black one-piece dress and a white apron dress. Her black hair is flowing in the air as she wreaks destruction. Half of the all-powerful golems had been defeated by this one jet-black princess of destruction. "Did Adriana create such an automaton?I don''t believe it!That was no automaton!It''s a monster, yes, a monster! To Elena, Donald, the new president of the Unifiler party, said, "Elena, calm down. There are still 200 old golems left for battle. Let''s get them out. He continued, "If they''re using Eladrite to amplify their power, we should run out of magic soon." That''s true. Let''s go! Let me out! "Oh, the same golem as the first one came out. I guess they''re running out of tricks, huh?" Jin''s guess was right. "All right, Lando, you guys mainly focus on the golem that just came out. Don''t get in Reiko''s way." And then he thought about it some more. "Hmmm, the magical fiber Lando uses for his muscles is based on the threads of a subterranean spider (Grand Spider), isn''t it? Then he comes to a conclusion. "All right, Raptors, Falcons, all aircraft. Activate the induction radiators! Do not irradiate in the direction Reiko is. And to the ground troops.., "Land troops, be careful! The induction radiators will be irradiated. If you feel your body is about to be overheated, leave the area. The direction where Reiko is is the safe zone. At Jin''s instruction, the induction radiator is activated. It is an application of lightning magic, which generates an induced current in any metal, causing the metal to heat up and melt. As one would expect, it is impossible to generate heat by targeting only the enemy. The RAND team will also be affected by the effect. This is the reason why Jin issued the warning. Incidentally, there is no effect of electromagnetic waves on the human body, which is often talked about in the modern earth. This is because it is not electromagnetic waves but lightning magic. Upon receiving Jin''s warning, the Rand team immediately left the battlefield when they sensed that their bodies began to heat up. As a result, there was no damage. However, the old-type combat golem of the Unification Party (Unifiler) has little autonomy and is unable to make decisions on its own. For this reason, it has remained on the battlefield even though its body has become red-hot. * * * * "Golem is starting to heat up!Why?Why? The phenomenon was the same as what had already been seen on the battlefield between the Franz and Klein armies, but Jules, who could speak of it, was in no condition to do so. The threads of the ground spider used for Rand''s muscles and Reiko''s clothes can withstand the heat of 1,000 degrees Celsius. But the musculature of the Unifiler''s old battle golem could not withstand even 300 degrees. The temperature of the steel that glows bright red is around 700 degrees Celsius. The musculature of the old Golem was burned out, and it could no longer move. It fell to the ground and was further heated to a metallic mass. The control core remained unmelted because it was a magi crystal with a high melting point, but it would have been meaningless if the main body had melted. The golem, which had already been destroyed, suffered the same fate, and hardened iron lumps were strewn all over the battlefield. 259 - - 09-44 Further up The battlefield is dotted with melted golem metal and magi crystals that were used for the golem. Jin, who was observing the ground, noticed something. "Hmm?The number of eladolites seems to be low. Magi crystals used for control cores, mana drivers, and mana tanks could be found all over the place, but only a few dozen or so eladolites could be found. "I see, since they are rare Magi Crystals, it was impossible even for the Unifilers to equip all the Golems with them. Jin thought to himself and ordered Rand 91 to 100 to retrieve the Magi Crystals. * * * * * * * * * * * * The effect of the electromagnetic induction radiator literally annihilated the old battle golem. The all-powerful Golem, which was their only hope, had been reduced in number by Reiko''s work, and now that Lando''s team had rejoined the battle, its fate was now hanging in the balance. "Why, why, why!What the hell is wrong with you! Elena''s cries went beyond grief to panic. "Elena, calm down! We still have thing left..." Donald, with the gentleness of a subordinate, quieted Elena, his true master. "Yes, yes. Now is the time to bring out the thing. Donald, I give you permission, let it out! "Yes, sir!" Donald ordered the few remaining golems to bring out the weapon from the past called the <>. * * * * Goshujin-sama, something else is coming out. Anne, who had been on guard around the area, said to Jin, who was watching the battlefield. A large mouth opened on the rock wall, and something was coming out of it. "Hmm?What is it?That thing." It looks like a huge bow. Arc-shaped beams stretch out to the left and right. There is a rail-like structure running through the center. That''s a ...... ballista. "I see, that huge bow is used to eject shells." As I watched, several golems pulled out their crossbows and tried to send rock cannonballs flying. From the size of the golem, I estimate that the length of the bow is about 10 meters, and the rock they are trying to send out is 50 centimeters in diameter. Assuming that the specific gravity of the rock is about 3, the rock weighs about 200 kilograms. "Can it reach us from there?Anyway, let''s give them a heads up. ...... Land troops, Titan, beware!A rock cannonball is about to be fired! Almost simultaneously with Jin''s warning, a rock cannonball was fired. It flew in a parabolic trajectory for about 200 meters and fell on the crowded battlefield. Although no damage was inflicted on the Land troops due to Jin''s warning, the rock shell flew toward one of the surviving all-powerful golems, and the unlucky all-powerful golem, apparently damaged, was unable to avoid it and was hit directly. The golem was crushed and badly damaged by the friendly shells. Two more rock shells fly toward them, but Lando''s team avoids them all. The enemy all-purpose golems that were not malfunctioning also avoided the incoming shells. Elena then changed her instructions and moved the ballista closer to the battlefield, this time aiming at the Titan, which had a larger target. However, a rock shell with a velocity of about 10 meters per second was not a threat. The Titan easily evaded them. "But if you hit it, you''ll probably do some damage. ...... Reiko, do you have any bullets left?" Jin contacted Reiko who had a magi cannon to deal with it. "Yes, father. We don''t have any more adamantite shells, but we have five steel shells left. "Good, that''s good...fire them at the ballista at about 5 percent." "Yes, sir." Reiko then leaves the battlefield at high speed, and takes a distance of about 500 meters. Then she readies her magi cannon. She aimed at the ballista. The barrel is almost horizontal. "Five percent power, fire!" The steel shell, softer than adamantite, is scraped inside the magi-adamantite barrel, and is fired with slightly reduced velocity. Even so, the initial velocity exceeded Mach 2, and the shell could be aimed in an almost straight line at 500 meters. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Aim better!" Elena cannot hide her frustration at the rock cannonballs that do not hit easily. The ballista was originally developed as a weapon for attacking slow-moving giant monsters and demonic strongholds. There is no way they can catch Titan One in motion, much less the Land troops. "What a useless weapon!" That''s what he shouted. The ballista suddenly broke in half. "What?What is it?" Elena panics as her army''s weapon is destroyed again before she can understand what happened. The magic screen was showing the appearance of the ballista, which was being destroyed even more. "Oh my God!What the hell is going on? Elena, get that! Donald, who was looking at the other magic screen, shouted. In the magic screen, there was a small shadow holding a long, thin, cylindrical object. "What is that?It''s too small to make out, isn''t it? Their magic screen could not enlarge the image any further. "I don''t know, but it seems to be that guy from earlier? "That black-haired monster?I wonder how far he will go to get in our way! Now that the threat of the ballista is gone, Rand''s team clears out the remaining Golem of the Unifilers. Finally, there are no more Golems of the Unifilers left to move. * * * * * * * * * * * * Goshujin-sama, the enemy golem is silenced. The attacks have stopped since the ballista. Anne looked around the battlefield and said so. Jin had the same impression, "I wonder if this is the end of the war. I agreed with Anne. However, to be cautious, we took some time to check the battlefield from the air and land. "Yeah, it looks like it''s finally over." Jin, judging that the resistance of the Unification Party (Unifilers) had been crushed, decided to order an invasion into the enemy''s headquarters. "Land 1 to 40, stay where you are and cover the rear. 41 to 60, bring out the ballista. 61 to 80 enter through the front doorway.81 to 10 81 to 10-0 enter through the doorway on the west side of the rock wall. "Father, what about me?" Reiko on the ground inquires. Jin replies. "Reiko, wait a little longer and go to one of the three places where there seemed to be strong resistance. "Yes, sir." However, after five or ten minutes, the entry units did not seem to encounter any resistance. So Jin lowered Pegasus 1, and the substitute doll was lowered. Reiko runs up to him. "Reiko, I want you to go in through the front with the dummy. "Yes, sir. I''m sorry..." Reiko held out Momoka, "Father, Peach Blossom is damaged." She said, "Father, the peach blossom is damaged. Jin took it and examined the blade. Indeed, the adamantite blade was slightly distorted and had lost some of its strength. "All right. When I get back to the laboratory, I''ll upgrade it to a magi-adamantite blade. That being the case, ...... it''s a small place, so the Magi Cannon won''t have much use. Leave it. You can take this instead." Saying this, he presented the "Vibration Sword," a sword that vibrates at ultra-high speed. It was not for Lando, but the size for the girl model of the Covert Maneuver Force (SP), which he had carried as a spare. "Okay. I will borrow this one this time. Jin then instructed Ann to follow. Then Anne, follow me. If this is a fortress from the time of the Great Magic War, you should be familiar with its structure. Yes, Goshujin-sama. Anne can take this. Jin handed her a paralyzed gun (paralyzer) and a guard ring (guard ring). "Yes, thank you." "Okay, I''ll stay in the air. Don''t take any chances. "Yes, sir!" Jin is back in the air with Pegasus 1. Reiko and Anne are headed to Unification Headquarters. Here, the final phase of the battle against the Unification Party (Unifiler) has begun. 260 - - 09-45 Incoming The front doorway. It has been open for about 15 minutes since Land 61-80 entered the building. Reiko, Anne, and Jin''s substitute doll also enter. "There''s no doubt about it. This is the site of an old fort. Ann said after checking the structure. The entrance hall is as wide as a hall. It was a waiting area for soldiers who had been relocated. As in the ruins of Yada Village, there are still remnants of the warp gate on the floor at the back. However, only a small portion remains, and there is no hope of reproducing it. It must have been destroyed when the fort was abandoned. A passageway extends from there to the front. At the entrance to the passage is a hollow where a guard once stood, and there is now a golem there, but it has been destroyed by the Landtroopers and is not moving. "There should be a staircase a short distance ahead. The three of us followed Anne''s lead. True to Ann''s words, they proceeded 20 meters until they came to a staircase that led to the upper and lower floors. The basement leads to the armory and the upper floor to the command center. What should we do? Anne turned around to ask for Reiko''s decision. Just then, she heard footsteps coming up from downstairs. !" Reiko braced herself for a moment, but when she sensed the magic pattern, she realized that it was from the RAND team, and let go of her hand on the hilt of her sword. Rand 70 and 71 came up. "This is my lady. The basement was an arsenal of broken golems and other useless magic tools. Sixty from Land 41 have joined us and we are continuing our investigation. Hearing this report, Reiko decided to go up. "Let''s go up." So she went upstairs with Land 70 and 71. "Oh, there''s someone ahead of us." The door to the second floor corridor was open, and in the corridor were Rands 91 to 100, who had entered from the west. "My lady, there are just some scavenger golems here. We''ve neutralized them all." Land 100 reported to Reiko. "Perhaps the equivalent of a command center is on the fourth floor. Let''s go." Anne urged. Reiko nodded her head and called out to Land 100 and the others. "You guys continue to investigate this floor. Reiko and the others go to the third floor. The door to the third floor was opened, and Land 81 to 90 were there, investigating. Reiko and the others left the investigation to Lando''s team and went to the 4th floor. The stairs ended there, and a sturdy-looking door blocked their way. "We''ll go first, my lady," Land 70 said. Rand 70 said and pushed the door with 71. But it did not budge. "I feel a can opener being lowered inside. What do we do?" There are several ways to open it. That''s what I asked. That''s when Jin called me. The substitute doll opens his mouth. You are on the fourth floor, right? "Yes, sir. What should we do about this door?Do we open it by force? Jin gives the order through the mouth of the substitute puppet <. "Yes, Father." Reiko replies, and puts her hand on her sword, but Land 70, who was standing in front of the door, slashes through the door with his own ultra-fast vibrating sword, the Vibration Sword. Reiko is a little disappointed. Then a substitute doll comes to Reiko, . Everyone there, as well, should call him <>. Since "Deus" means God, Jin also refrains from calling the doll "Machina," which means "machine," as a nickname for the substitute doll. "Yes, Machina-sama." The group then went through the door and stepped onto the fourth floor. It was a relatively large hallway with a carpet. "There is no doubt about it. At the end of the hall is the command center. This fort must have been manned by a very high-ranking commander." Land 70 and 71 lead the line, < behind them, and Reiko and Anne as the leaders. They also proceeded side by side. There were several doors on the left and right, and we opened them to check inside, but there was nothing of particular interest. Finally, only the front door remained. "I''ll open it." Rand 70 and 71 pulled the door. This time the door had a puller. Slowly the door opened. It did not seem to be secured with a bolt. "Be careful." Just as Anne was saying this, a few golden and silver shadows with spears jumped out of the door that was open enough for one person to pass through. Several shadows of gold and silver with spears came out of the doorway, which was wide enough for one person to pass through. They were golems. "I knew it!" Reiko, who had been paying attention, immediately draws her Vibration Sword, and quickly slays the two Golems that attacked her. Not many golems can keep up with Reiko''s physical abilities, even if they don''t know how to use a sword. And Rand 70 and 71 also killed one each of the enemy golems. Two gold ones and two silver ones. In total, four enemy golems rolled. "Is this the end?" Anne said as she defended Makina. Makina was the weakest of the group, followed by Anne. "Perhaps it is." With that answer, Rand 70 and 71 put their hands on the door again. This time nothing jumped out and the door was opened. "So this is it." In the back in front of them sat an elderly man, with a golden and silver golem, the same as the one they had just defeated, standing on either side. Another golem about two meters in height stood in front of Reiko and the others, avoiding the man''s front. "I am Donald, President of the Unified Party (Unifiler). You will be facing my masterpiece, Golem 457. Go! With that voice, Golem 457 kicked the floor and attacked Anne. Donald, the elder man, the current leader of the Unified Party (Unifiler), had seen Reiko''s out-of-standardness through the magic screen, so he targeted Anne, who seemed to be the easiest to deal with. Anne is certainly not very strong. "Barrier". However, she is quick enough to activate the guard ring given to her by Jin. And the guard ring once blocked Reiko''s 30 percent blow. Golem 457''s fist stopped 10 centimeters in front of Anne. "What? Land 70''s super high-speed vibrating sword, the Vibration Sword, cleaved Golem 457''s torso, which had stopped for a moment. Even steel, hardened to the utmost limit, could not put up much of a fight against the Vibration Sword. No. 457, divided into its upper and lower bodies, makes a heavy thud, and falls to the floor. "Nah, nah, nah ...... my masterpiece is ......." Donald turns pale. Makina called out to him. . Reiko remained silent and nodded her head in affirmation. "Gunnun...... cheeky!Ancient technology cannot be defeated so easily!That''s right!I''m not going to lose! But Donald was on the verge of a half-crazed frenzy, unable to accept the facts before him. Makina Jin, unable to bear the sight of Donald, gives him a command. Anne immediately released the barrier and fired a paralyzing shot at Donald. "Ow!" She then switches to shock once more, and fires it again. Some people do not faint from the shocks, whether it is because of the wavelength of the shock or the waveform of the shock. Therefore, it is necessary to apply the shock twice to a person who is believed to be mentally manipulated. As soon as Donald fainted, the gold and silver golems standing on either side of him attacked him, but were quickly defeated by Land 70 and 71. "Well, I was wondering if there was a golden princess of destruction here, but I don''t see her. Reiko looked around the room. "Oh?Lady, there is someone lying there. Anne, who was looking around the room as well, found a person lying behind a tapestry hanging on the wall. "Who is it?" Anne, Reiko, and Makina go to the place where they found the person. Rand 70 and 71 are on the lookout. It was an old man who had collapsed. Anne examined his injuries, "His sternum is broken, but he seems to be still alive. She diagnosed that he was still alive. Thinking that she might have some useful information, Makina-Hito decides to use the recovery medicine she had brought with her. She applies it to the wound on his chest, and the old man seems to breathe a little easier. Then he makes the old man drink it by mouth. The old man manages to swallow the recovery medicine. His breathing became more regular and his blood color came back. Then the old man opened his eyes. 261 - - 09-46 Traps "Uu...... where am I?" The old man asked Makina after he woke up and looked around. When Makina answered, the old man slowly shook his head. "The Unification Party (Unifiler)......, I see, I remember. I am the president of the Unifiler, Jules Rolland. I feel like I''ve been dreaming for a long time. Jin thought through Makina that the shock of being beaten and being on the verge of life and death seemed to have broken his brainwashing. "Originally, the Unification Party (Unifiler) was supposed to be a group that followed the ideals of the Dinaric Kingdom, and was concerned about the current situation where countries were competing with each other, and wanted to unify ideologically. Jules Rolland muttered to himself. "How did this happen? ......" Jules is puzzled. Machina saw him and asked him a question. > Jules answered in the affirmative. Jules answered in the affirmative. "Yes, I do. But it seems as if someone else was doing it. I don''t know why I ordered that ......." Jules'' head reeled as he answered. Jin, who was watching through the magic screen in Pegasus 1, decided to go ahead and give instructions through Machina''s mouth. < . Jules hears the word and reacts. "Oh, you mean Elena?Oh, yes, Elena. Yes, that was her instruction. Yes, I remember. Her orders were absolute. She was our queen. ......" "I knew that Elena, the Golden Princess of Destruction ......, was the real mastermind." Jules was surprised to see Anne say this. "Are you an automata?The blue-haired automata...... found in the ruins were all destroyed or destroyed by Elena''s order, but ...... they still remained, didn''t they?" "Do you know where this Elena went?" asked Anne. Jules pointed to the seat of the head of the board and behind it, "If she''s not here, there''s a loophole behind her. Maybe that''s where he slipped out. He told them. He seems to be completely free from the brainwashing. Leaving Rand 71 with Jules, the group searched for a loophole. It was not long before they found it. They tapped on the floor, and found a hollow area. Land 70 found a hollow, which they lifted with their fingers and opened easily. It was a steep down staircase. It was almost completely dark. < Jin gave these instructions and the group went down the stairs. They went straight down the stairs. The staircase, which looked almost pitch black in the bright light, was in fact lit by a few lights, and the group could see ahead without any problem. I don''t know of any hidden passageway like this. They must have built it later. So we don''t know what lies ahead. Be very careful." Ann warned as she descended the stairs. Suddenly the stairs disappeared. Or, more precisely, the steps tilted and became a slide. Naturally, the group slides down. However, no one panics, not even the humans. The first one, Land70, stuck its hands against the wall and came to a halt. Naturally, the three following units hit Land 70 and came to a halt. "It''s a trap, isn''t it? It would have worked on a human." <> Makina asks, and Lando70 nods in agreement. "Yes, master Makina. It''s easy. The group began to descend again, leaving Lando to act as brake. Lando adjusted the force of his hands, and the speed decreased as they slid down the slope. "It''s a long way down. "It''s a long way down. I think we''ve already passed the climbing point and gone underground. The stairway, or rather the slope, leading to the basement was at an angle of about 45 degrees. When it seemed that we were well underground, the end was finally in sight. . When they were only about 10 meters from the end of the stairs, Makina ordered Land 70 to stop. "Yes, Makina-sama." Then Land70 decided to descend again at about one-third the speed of the previous descent. Reiko, Anne, and Makina followed, keeping an eye on their surroundings. Finally, they arrived at the end. There is a door. Reiko, who has the best hearing, listens carefully, but hears nothing. Reiko switches her vision to infrared, but finds no heat source near the door. "Hmmm, what kind of trap would I set if I were you?" Jin thinks to himself inside Pegasus 1. Meanwhile, Rand 70 put his hand on the door. At the same time, Jin thought of a possibility. > Before Jin could finish his sentence from Makina''s mouth, he heard a sound coming from the stairs, or rather from the top of the slope. "It''s a rock!" Reiko, who was the first to notice the sound, looked up and shouted. Yes, a rock avalanche was sliding down the slope. The door was a dummy. As soon as she touched the door, a rock avalanche would start. You''re going to bury us alive! The slope we descended was more than 50 meters long. The avalanche of rocks covered the slope. Barrier. Barrier! Reiko has a pendant, Anne has a ring. The magic barrier in them completely blocked the rock avalanche. But we can''t move at this point. Unlike humans, we do not have to worry about suffocation, but we cannot stay like this forever. Makina-Hito concluded. Yes. The mana tank is a magical device that allows us to move without problems even in places where the concentration of free magical element (ether) is low. Reiko is the only other person who has this device. Reiko removed the mana tank from inside the machina. It is a magi crystal of all attributes. They shine in rainbow colors even in the darkness. The concentration of free ether is high enough that it will not stop the machina with its ether-converter. "Yes." The barrier prevents it from being crushed by the rock, but it also prevents those inside from touching it directly. It is necessary to cut the barrier and quickly set the magi crystal on the rock. In doing so, they had to work while supporting the rock that was about to collapse, but Reiko and Land 70 were able to hold the rock avalanche in place with their physical strength. This was largely due to the strength of the two, of course, but also because of the frictional force exerted by the jammed rocks in the narrow passage. Anne watched over Reiko and Land 70 as she prepared to put up a barrier just in case. Reiko supports the rock with her left hand, while screwing the magi-crystal in her right hand into the gap between the rocks. Then the two put up the barrier again. All is now well. "Yes." Jin then evacuates the allies in the fort, just in case. With the resistance broken, it was possible to get out in a matter of minutes. Of course, Rand 71, Jules, and Donald, who was still unconscious, were also able to get out. I order all the prisoners we''ve knocked out elsewhere to be taken out as well. <<> Mana Explosion! Reiko''s most powerful offensive magic has exploded. This time at 100 percent. When she defeated the Hecaton Cale before... it was 20 percent. What is the difference? The answer is the conversion rate of mana. When the conversion rate is low, it only breaks apart the bonds of matter containing magical elements (mana), but when the conversion rate is high, the contained magical elements (mana) are converted into energy. In other words, it is a physical . Hence, it is a magical . Magi crystals, which were used as mana tanks, are, so to speak, a mass of magical element (mana). What would happen if they were to explode? The side where Reiko is is sealed by an indestructible barrier. The passage is a straight line. The answer came quickly. The Hecatoncale, a hundred-handed giant once defeated in the mountains north of the village of Kaina, exploded with a magical crystal more than ten times more potent than its magical core. A large number of rocks clogging up the long ramp were all blown upward and aimed for the exit. It turned into a cannonball of rocks and spewed out at once. The force of the explosion smashed through the ceiling of the top-floor control room, sending it flying outward. "Wow, that''s more powerful than I thought it would be! Jin, who was watching from Pegasus 1, was impressed to see that a part of the rock plateau had broken off and rock debris flew up more than 50 meters from the plateau. * * * * * * "What, what, what?What is it this time?" <, had escaped to a secret room behind a hidden door at the midpoint of the slope that used to be a staircase, and was relieved to have successfully trapped her pursuers. At that moment, there was an earth tremor that shook the entire fortress. Looking through the magic screen, which was still intact, I could see rocks shooting out like cannonballs from a part of the plateau that was the roof of the fort. "What, what, what, what!Don''t tell me this is the work of that monster too! Elena''s exclamation rang out. Elena''s exclamation echoed through the air. "You did well, Makina-sama!" Anne was also impressed. Reiko, on the other hand, was listening intently after the barrier was removed. "I heard a voice from halfway up the slope." The ramp had been damaged by the impact and was uneven, so there was no difficulty in climbing up it. So the group easily climbed up the slope and finally found the hidden door. 262 - - 09-47 The Princess of Destruction < "Yes, I know." Makina-Hito, Reiko, Anne, and Land 70 stood in front of the hidden door they had found in the middle of the ramp that used to be a stairway. "I''ll open it." Land70 pushes the door, but it doesn''t budge. < Yes, sir. So, following Jin''s instruction, Land70 pushes the door with full force. The door and the can opener held, but the hinges came off unbearably and the door fell into the room. The room seemed to be small, but it was quite spacious. It was about the size of an elementary school classroom. I saw an automaton standing at the front end of the room. "You''ve come at last! The automaton opened its mouth. The automaton shakes its head in denial. "That name was given to me by a slave. I am the queen. Queen of automata. "So you are the Golden Princess of Destruction, after all. The Golden Destroyer looked at Anne as she spoke, "There is still one more survivor, isn''t there? I thought we had destroyed all the dolls that carried Adriana''s lineage. She spat. Jin was watching the images sent from the magic eye in Machina''s eye, which was projected onto the magic screen of Pegasus 1. Even through the magic screen, the automata was beautiful enough. Her waist-length golden hair, porcelain skin, and crimson eyes. Her proportions were near perfect. But... The words leaked out of Jin''s mouth as if to interrupt his conversation. It came from Makina''s mouth through the manacam, a magical elemental communication device. "What do you mean by that?" The Golden Princess of Destruction, who had overheard him, turned to Makina. Her eyes shine with a bewitching light. < effect, so to speak. Under normal circumstances, Jin, who has no resistance to mental attacks, might have been immediately taken captive. But Makina is not Jin. The images through the magic eye and the magic screen could not deceive Jin. "Of course. . Those were your mother''s last words." "<>?" Reiko and Makina said at the same time. "Yes. I am the best. That means everything in this world should bow down to me!" The Golden Princess of Destruction said so triumphantly, and I could feel the madness in her voice. "Yes, my dear ...... Makina-sama." Makina-Hito and Reiko nodded at each other. Reiko then stepped forward. "<>. You mean to say that the one who made you loved you the most?" What? "<>, didn''t he fail to say the words that follow <>?" "............" Reiko''s question renders the Golden Princess of Destruction speechless. The madness disappears from her eyes. But it is only for a moment. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!You don''t know what you''re talking about!I am your mother''s masterpiece!I am the queen of automata!" She screamed and leaped at him. She then clamped her hands around Reiko''s neck. "I''m going to twist off your neck like this.... And then I''m going to rip off her hands and legs. Just like I''ve done to all my automata." And the Golden Princess of Destruction exerts herself even more. But against her will, Reiko is unconcerned. And then.., "What are you doing?" She said to the Princess of Destruction, as if to say, "I don''t mind at all. A look of astonishment came over the Princess of Destruction''s face. "Oh, oh, oh, you!You are the monster from the battlefield! Reiko grabs both hands of the Princess of Destruction and easily shakes them off. "I''m not a monster. I am an automata. My name is Reiko. I am at your service. "You, you, you!You''re Adriana''s daughter!" The Golden Princess of Destruction heats up even more. Reiko, on the other hand, remains calm. "Yes. It was Adriana Barbora Tsezi''s mother who made me. And Hitoshi Nido, my father." "You have parents, huh?Are you kidding me?You said Reiko!I don''t care about you, I don''t care about you!" he shouts, shakes his fist at Reiko and leaps at her. Reiko catches his fist. "Stop wasting your time!" But the Golden Princess of Destruction is unstoppable. Where is the swordsmanship and martial arts she has learned? She just swings her arms around and confronts Reiko. She looks like a spoiled child. "I said stop!" "Kyaah!" Reiko''s fist blasts the Golden Princess of Destruction to the other side of the room. She slams into the wall, gets up, and with a dangerous gleam in her eyes, comes at Reiko again. Her speed was a gale, but Reiko was faster. The left fist of the Princess of Destruction collided with the right fist of Reiko. The Princess of Destruction is blown away with a dull sound like "Gogan". Her left arm is almost torn off from the elbow. "Ugh......!I knew he couldn''t fix me completely! Again, the Princess of Destruction comes at Reiko. Reiko meets her with a fist. This time, her right arm was blown off at the base of her shoulder. "Stop it already! You can''t beat me." Reiko says, but the madness of the Golden Princess of Destruction does not abate. "Why, why, why!Why does Adriana always bother me!Why does she always torment me!Mother!Mother!Where are you! Makina Jin whispered to her. "Yes, it seems so..." Reiko seemed to sense it too. "I''ll settle this." Saying this, Reiko picked up the Vibration Sword. And then, "Rest in peace ......." With these words, she slashed the Golden Princess of Destruction in a single horizontal motion. The upper and lower halves of the golden Princess of Destruction rolled on the floor. But her mouth was still spewing words and she was trying to move with her only remaining left arm, which was missing from the elbow down. "I am ...... the first. I am the ...... woman ...... king ....... I''m the mother......, the mother ......, the mother ......, the mother ......." But his movements slowed, and finally the light faded from his crimson eyes. <> Makina-Hito lets out a sigh. For Jin, this was a very nerve-wracking act. It was even pathetic to see him spreading madness until the end of his life. Would Reiko also be controlled by such madness if she made a mistake?It was Jin who made me think about such a thing. "Yes, Ototo...... Machina-sama." And the group left the room. 263 - - 09-48 Princess Destruction Disappeared Jin decides to leave Makina there as a substitute doll, leaving the old man in charge of the rest of the work. He decides to return to Horai Island with Reiko and Ann, taking the remains of the Golden Princess of Destruction with him. We flew all the way when we came here, but we decided to use the floating base on the way back. According to the old man, the floating base has a stealth function so that we will not be seen even during the daytime. Of course, we would have to make sure that there were no boats around, but even if there were fishing boats on the huge Lake Asur, they would not be far from the shore, and there was little danger of being noticed by the waves generated by the base. Although it would be better not to use the base too often, this time Jin and the others returned to the institute as quickly as possible via the warp gate of the floating base. "Now, let''s investigate this thing. On the workbench is the body and broken arm of the Golden Princess of Destruction. Jin carefully examined them. Reiko has the Vibration Sword in her hand in case of any unforeseen circumstances, and Anne is by Jin''s side for advice. Anne is standing by Jin''s side for advice. But the muscles are not fully developed yet. Jin sees that although it is far superior to those golems, it does not have the same structure as its predecessors. "The skeleton is made of light silver. Well, that''s reasonable. What else can you tell me about ......? "Father, what''s wrong?" Reiko, who was on the other side of the workbench, rushed to Jin''s side. "Oh, I''m sorry. I just saw an unusual structure. Saying this, Jin opened the chest case of the Princess of Destruction so that Reiko could see it. "There is no ether converter. There is no mana driver either. And ...... what is this?" Reiko could not immediately grasp the function of this device, since she had never seen it before. However, Jin has already figured it out, so he explains it to Reiko. "Ah, an ether tank and an ether driver. It''s not very energy efficient, but I hear it''s easy to get power out of it. It''s not smart, though." Jin said as he looked at the free magic furnace (etheric screwdriver), which was made up of giant magic crystals (magi crystals). "I heard that there was much more free magic element (ether) in the air at the time of the Magus Wars than there is now. This was probably a good thing. "Then, would this automata have been stronger if it had gone to a place where the free magic element (ether) was thicker? Reiko asks, and Jin thinks for a moment before answering. "Yes, I think so. If the concentration of free ether is twice as high, the output would be about one and a half times as much. Reiko and other automata and golems of Jin''s have ether converters that can double their output if the concentration of free magic element (ether) is doubled. However, the creator of the Golden Princess of Destruction may not have been able to make an ether converter at last. Or perhaps they did not want to imitate Adriana''s structure. It may be a rough analogy, but it would be easier to understand if we say that the free-magic reactor (ether driver) directly burns the crude oil called free-magic element (ether), the device to refine it once is an ether converter, and the refined gasoline is used in a mana-driver. "Anyway, it''s not as good as your mother''s technology, is it? Reiko looked a little proud as she concluded. "Well, this is all that''s left. I''m sure this is the control core, but I''ve never seen a magi-crystal like this before. Do you know about it, Anne?" Jin held a pink-colored Magi Crystal in his hand. It is quite large, about five centimeters in diameter. "No, I don''t know. What are its attributes? Anne did not know either. "Yes, it seems to be a composite of light and fire. I didn''t know there was such a magical crystal in nature. Anyway, the knowledge and experience of the Golden Destroyer must be contained in this. I will let you analyze it. Before that, please visit ......" Jin decided to keep a copy of this valuable source of information. He prepares magi crystals of all attributes, "<>" He used the engineering magic of transcription. But at that moment. "Whoa! The pink-colored magi crystal suddenly emitted light. Jin closed his eyes in the dazzling light, but Reiko was looking at the phenomenon. "...... what was that?" Reiko, who had been watching the event, explained. "Father, that magic crystal (Magi Crystal) seems to overreact to certain magic wavelengths or waveforms. That luminescence is the magic power of the knowledge transfer (trans-info) converted into light. "What?I can understand the theory somehow, but I can''t believe that such a magic crystal (magi crystal) exists naturally. ......" Jin''s predecessors had no such knowledge. Anne didn''t know either. "Hmm, this is a hypothesis, but could this overreaction to my magical power, that is, to my predecessor''s magical power, be one of the reasons why the Princess of Destruction is hostile to her predecessor?" "It''s possible, but it''s hard to prove." "Yes. It would be a poor idea to go to the trouble of confirming it. I''d better not mess with ...... anyway. By the way, did you manage to make a copy?" Jin checks the magi crystals of all attributes. There might be some omissions, but most of them were copied. "Okay, let''s have this one analyzed. The original will be sealed up tightly for the time being. Since the magi crystal has unknown characteristics, Jin decides to handle it carefully. He wrapped it in a thin foil of mithril to insulate it from magic, and put it in a box made of thick adamantite for safekeeping. "Okay, the last thing I need is his eyes. Jin removed the crimson magi crystal used for the eyes of the Princess of Destruction. "Blood crystal, as I thought. I remember it has a charm effect. This was something Jin knew. "It would have been easy to manipulate the mind if I used these eyes together. ...... Jin was glad that he had not gone directly to the site, he thought, patting himself on the chest. "Okay, now I know everything. Let''s fix it." Jin, who had done his research on the Golden Princess of Destruction, said something like that. Reiko did not remain silent. "Father, you''re going to fix her after we''ve been enemies?" Hitoshi laughed and added, "I''m not going to fix it. "Yeah, I think it could still be useful, as long as we get rid of the crazy cause. And I''m thinking of having them monitor the Unification Party (Unifiler). Jin further explains his plan. The small group of countries, namely the kingdoms of Cerroa, Egelea, Franz, and Klein, have been swept away by the Unifilers. They want to make the Unifilers take responsibility for what happened to them, instead of leaving it up to each country alone. "That president, Jules or whatever he was called, seems to have come to his senses, and he seemed to regret it." So they wanted the golden princess of destruction, or rather her look-alike, by their side to watch over them and advise them. "I see, I understand now. Because the original Golden Princess of Destruction would not look out of place, would she? "That''s right. Then let''s fix it. But I''ll play around with the structure a little. So Jin set about repairing the Golden Princess of Destruction. The skeleton is intact. However, the way the magical muscles are attached and the materials used are the Horai-jima standard. However, the output of the muscles is kept low and is equivalent to that of a human being. This is in case of emergency. Joints are coated with adamantite. The skin is also the standard magical skin of Horai Island. It is the same as that of Anne. It is equipped with an ether converter and a mana driver. The problem is the control core. "Hmmm, what should I do? ......" Jin wonders. "Father, what are you worried about? Reiko, concerned about Jin''s distress, called out to him. "Oh, I was wondering what to do with his memory. If I analyze it, I can erase his memories since he went out of control. "Well, if I were you, I wouldn''t want him to keep his memories while he was crazy. I want to be who my mother and father wanted me to be. Hearing Reiko''s words, Jin also made up his mind. "Okay, all right. Then, I will erase the memories of the time after the maker''s death. And I will give it to you as new knowledge." In other words, although he knew what had happened, he would make it seem as if it was someone else''s action, not his own. I don''t want to mess with it, but it''s dangerous." "Father, as an automaton, I should be disgusted by any behavior that does not conform to the will of the creator. Reiko pushed Jin back. "Okay, Reiko." Jin then prepared a milky-white Magi Crystal and carefully transcribed the memories of the <> Golden Princess of Destruction in order from oldest to youngest. The memories are stored digitally by utilizing the molecular structure of the magi crystals. As an aside, it is said that one standard magi crystal can record the memories of 50 human beings. "Okay, that''s it. By the way, the last memory is of . What''s this? "You''re the best.You''re the best, not the one I loved the most? "Yeah. Maybe it was in the middle of something... ...... Reiko stared at the golden princess of destruction, "...... poor thing. I could have listened to your mother''s will, but she couldn''t do that either, could she?" He said. At first she was against fixing it, but then she began to feel more and more sympathy. "Ah, that was the beginning of his misfortune, wasn''t it?" Then, after thinking about it again, Jin added <> to it. "I know it''s not a good thing..." Reiko replied to Jin''s muttering, "No, your father is a kind man. Even if it is a false memory, he will be happy with it. I assure you." "Thank you, Reiko." And then, instead of the memory area, we record what has happened so far in the knowledge area. This allows us to understand what has happened and what we have done. And then, we will use this knowledge to make amends in the future. Lastly, as a safety measure, we have taken steps to erase the main magickal device in the event that it falls into the hands of a third party. "The rest is to be maintained as a whole," he said. The clothes she was wearing had been cut to pieces by Reiko, along with the main body, so she had to make new ones. I found myself eating a late lunch on the way, so it was around 5:00 p.m. Horaijima time when everything was done. "All right, <>" < Slowly raising herself up, the Golden Princess of Destruction looked at Jin, "You fixed me ......? She asked. "Yes. How are you feeling?" "Yes, I''m fine. Thank you very much." When Jin heard that, he made an attempt, "Do you remember what you''ve been doing?" "Yes, I made it. "Yes, my mother made me, my mother loved me, and my mother told me at the end that . I have no memory of what happened after that. I must have been broken. Jin was relieved. Jin was relieved. Then he added "Okay, what''s your name then?" I ask. The creator did not give her a name. If there had been any confusion of memory and knowledge, he would have said Elena. But... "Yes, she has no name. I would be honored if you could name her after the person who fixed it. Jin is relieved. "Okay, you are ." Yes, I am . Without any objection to the name being the same as the Elena in her knowledge, Elena accepted the name. Thus, <> vanished and was reborn as <>. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin, exhausted as expected, relaxes his body in the hot spring, eats Reiko''s home-cooked meal, and goes to bed early. Contrary to Jin, the old man who is the brain of the magic of Horai Island, who does not know tiredness, made moves one after another in accordance with Jin''s intention. He dispatches a team of craftsmen (smiths) to reorganize the headquarters of the Unification Party (Unifiler) and make it functional again. After the wreckage of the battle was recovered, the remaining land troops near the headquarters of the Unified Party (Unifiler) were removed from the area, leaving behind 20 units from 81 to 100. The rest of the land troops, leaving 81 to 100 units, are removed from the area near the Unification Party (Unifiler) headquarters. The captured Unification Party (Unifiler) members are brainwashed. The first thing to be done is to remove the brainwashed Unification Party members who have been captured. Further arrangements will be made after Ashinin wakes up. Thus, the long days of confusion caused by the Unification Party (Unifiler) finally seemed to be coming to an end. 264 - - 09-49 IF If it was Hitoshi who found Elena, One day, the old man reported that one of the fifth column (Quinta) he had dispatched to various places had brought him some very interesting information. "Yes, but it has not been discovered yet, has it?" "Well, that sounds interesting. I should go there sometime." Jin mutters, to which Reiko objects. "Father, it''s dangerous to go to such a place where you don''t know what''s there. "Well, Reiko is there too, and since it''s a ruin, I''ll ask Anne to go with us this time. And I''ll bring my reinforced clothes and with me." Reiko still looked a little reluctant, "I don''t have a choice. I''ll bring Momoka and the Magi Cannon. And I''ll give each of the SP a paralyzing gun (paralyzer), a super high-speed vibrating sword (vibrating sword), and an electromagnetic induction radiator (induction radiator). He said. Jin heard this and wondered what on earth they were going to fight with, but kept his mouth shut because Reiko was likely to tell him not to go because it would be too dangerous. "It won''t take long if we go through the floating base at Lake Asur. We can arrange to arrive there around midnight. * * * * Jin took off from the floating base at Lake Asur in the Pegasus 1, a VTOL aircraft dedicated to Jin, and reached the target ruins in about three minutes. . "The fifth column (quinta) is waiting for us. There is no sign of anyone on the ground. The fifth column (quinta) has discovered the ruins, and infrared and visual detection has confirmed that there are no people on the ground. Judging that there was little risk of being seen, Pegasus 1 landed at the plaza in front of the ruins. The cobblestone pavement was perfectly suited to the site, and the landing was easy and dust-free. First, the covert task force (SP) went out to warn the area. One minute later, Reiko landed, followed by Anne. Finally, Jin landed. "Thank you for the long trip, Chief. The fifth row, Quinta, in charge of the west shore of Lake Asur, bowed his head. Thank you for welcoming us. Now, where is the site in question? Yes, this way, sir. I illuminated the area with a ball of light. There are pillars and buildings made of magically strengthened stones scattered around. However, the magic of strengthening has worn off, and the buildings have begun to weather. Jin was led by the fifth row (quinta) to the edge of the ruins. Stopping between two large pillars, the fifth-row quinta said, "There is a large cavity here in the basement," he said, pointing to the ground. pointing to the ground. Jin examines the ground with acoustic sonar magic and finds that there is definitely a large space underground. Jin then gives instructions to Reiko. Reiko, hit here with 30 percent power. "Yes, father." Reiko, seeing that Jin and the others had moved away a little, swung her pretty fist and slammed it into the ground. At the same time, there was a roar, and the ground cracked and caved in. Reiko jumped back lightly and avoided the fall. When the dust settled, there was a large hole in the ground. "It''s dark. " The bottom of the hole was not visible even when illuminated with light magic. Then Quinta, the fifth row, said, "Chief, I''ll go down first. and jumped into the hole. A few moments later, a report comes in on the manacam. Jin and his group went into the hole. Jin is carried by Reiko, while Anne and the covert task force (SP) are on their own. The hole in the ruins they descended into was small and wide, with passages extending to the left and right. Either one was fine, but Jin headed for the smaller passage. After a short distance, the passage went downhill. On the wall of the passage, although dimly lit, there was a permanent luminescent element made of free magic element (ether) embedded in the wall. "It''s lower grade than the one in the laboratory." Reiko commented as she looked at the dim light. Soon a door appeared. It was made of iron and rusted red. "Goshujin-sama, this looks like an emergency escape room of an old fortress. "Hmmm, then, what do you think there might be in the back of this room? Jin asked Anne. "Yes, I think there is a high possibility that there are emergency magic tools and weapons. "Okay, let''s open it." Jin tries to push it, but it is so heavy that it hardly moves. Reiko pushed in his place. The hinges creak, but they break halfway, and the door falls back into the room with a loud bang. Dust rises into the air. "Pfft, this is terrible! " Jin uses wind magic to drive the dust out of the room. Now he finally has time to look around the room. As Ann had said, there were quite a few magic tools in the room. Some of them were broken over the years, but a third of them still looked usable. Jin ordered the covert task force (SP) to retrieve them. Then, he found something at the far end of the room. "That is ......." It was a doll. Jin immediately recognizes it as an automata. It looked like a girl. She was lifeless, sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall. Her left arm is broken and missing from the elbow. "Is this, by any chance, ......<>?" It was Anne who said that. "Anne?" "Perhaps this automaton is the . The mysterious automaton who went around destroying my brothers and sisters in the early days of the War of Magic." "I see. ......" Hearing this, Jin examines the automata, trying not to touch it. "It''s so-so, isn''t it?" Reiko''s cheeks puffed up when she heard that, and Jin hurriedly added. "......, though it''s not as good as Reiko''s." Reiko''s face returns to normal. "Well, I''ll recover the old magic tools, but this automata is a shame too. All right, Reiko, you take it back." "Yes, I will." Reiko, carrying a magic cannon on her back and a peach blossom on her waist, carried the automata. The eyes of the automaton opens, sensing the slight magical power that Reiko emits. "Did you ...... wake me up?......Wait a minute, what are you doing? "Oh, you''re awake. I knew I had set myself to wake up by detecting magic. "Hey, hey, let go of me!I am the queen of automata!I can''t listen to my queen''s commands! Reiko''s arms are like a vise, and no matter how hard the automaton tries to break free, it''s useless. "Oh, are you, by any chance, Adriana''s ......! "Oh, you''re so picky. My mother''s name is Adriana Barbora Tsezi. I knew it!Let go of me! I told you to shut up! Reiko''s hand holding the automaton tightened. There was a cracking sound, and the automaton''s skeleton was distorted. "Aaahhh!" The automaton''s scream echoed, as if it had some sense. "It''s too loud! Father, please shut her up." At Reiko''s request, Jin approached the automaton and put his hand on its neck. And then.., "<>" He stopped the automaton half-forcibly. "Oh, it''s quiet now." "I guess this automaton is the golden princess of destruction after all..." Anne said, looking down at the automaton being held by Reiko. "Hmmm, I wonder why she has such a personality. I''m a little curious." Jin looked down at the limp automaton as he said this. The walk home was uneventful. The return trip out of the ruins was uneventful. When we left the hole, the covert task force (SP) climbed up first and pulled Jin up by a rope. He then boarded Pegasus 1 and returned to Horai Island via the floating base. Now, in the workshop at the research institute in Horai Island, the automata brought back were being analyzed. "Well, the skeleton is made of light silver, and the muscles are made of magical fiber. There is a mana driver, but no ether converter. Father, what does that mean? Reiko asked while holding the automata down to prevent danger. "Yes, Reiko and the others use an ether converter to convert free magical elements in the air into magical elements (mana), and then convert those magical elements (mana) into energy in a magical furnace (mana driver), right? "Yes." "This automata, instead of having an ether converter, has an ether tank, which is converted into energy with an ether driver. "And what happens when you do that?" Reiko knows enough about the different structures to understand the differences, but not enough to understand things like efficiency. "Normally, we would use a combination of a mana tank and a mana driver, but with this automata, it seems that we can sacrifice efficiency and gain output instead. "I see, I have never heard of an ether driver. So you are saying that the efficiency is low because it converts the free magical element (ether) directly into energy? "That''s right. If you think about it, the free magical element (ether) in the air was probably denser than now before the "ether stampede" occurred, so this would have been fine. Jin speculates. "But your mother made me in the same way as now, didn''t she?" Reiko questioned. "Yes, that means of course that the previous generation is superior in terms of technology and design philosophy. One is a structure that makes power by brute force, and the other is a structure that obtains power efficiently through delicate control. It goes without saying which is better. "And then there''s this control core, but there''s something wrong with it." "What do you mean?" "Well, it looks like it was overwritten with a used one. There are some old MagiFormulas that have been lost in some places. Jin looked at the relatively large control core and said. "I wonder if this is one of the reasons why this automata went crazy. Saying this, Jin completely erased the old Magi Formula. "Then there''s also the possibility that the will of the creator has something to do with it. Saying this, Jin searched for the part using the engineering magic of "read" and "decompile. After 30 minutes of searching, he found it. "Here it is. , huh? "<>, that''s for sure, one wrong move and you''re out of the loop." Reiko, an automata who had also lost her maker once, could understand the danger. "Hmmm, <>, huh?" Jin nodded his head. "That could be taken any way you want to put it. You can be the best, or you can be the most wonderful. Jin thinks about it. And then, "If it were me, I''d want him to say that you were the best. Reiko says. "Well, that''s what most people would say. Jin agreed with Reiko. "Well, let''s just repair the parts that are worn out or deteriorated. Jin repaired the defective parts of the automata. Then he restarts the automata. Of course, Reiko was watching him. Or rather, with Reiko restraining him. "...... where am I? The automaton opens its eyes. "Did you fix my arm?" There is no madness in his tone. "Yes, I did. Is there anything wrong with it yet?" With these words, Jin slowly released Reiko''s restraints. Then the automaton tried to move her body, "No, nothing. She is doing very well. Thank you very much. He bowed. "I would like to serve you in return for your help in fixing me. Please give me a name." He bowed again. Jin thinks for a moment. Suddenly a name comes to mind. This is unusual for Jin. "Well, how about <>? He said. "Yes, I am Elena. I am looking forward to working with you, Goshujin-sama. Elena bowed deeply and turned to Reiko and Anne, She turned to Reiko and Anne and bowed to them. She bowed her head. This is a world where "if" is allowed. This is the world of what if Jin had found Elena. This is a story of the "what if" world in which Elena would have had a happy life afterwards. 265 - - 09-50 Each one of them has its own... The next day, the 24th. After finishing breakfast in a hurry, Jin rushed to the village of Kaina. He went to Martha''s house. When he went to Martha''s house, Hannah had just come out to wash her face. "Onii-chan!" Hanna ran to him and jumped on him. Jin picked her up in his arms. "Good morning, Hannah. I finished everything." "Good morning, sweetie!Can''t we go anywhere else now? Jin put her down gently on the ground, "Well, I have some cleaning up to do, so can you wait here for one more day?" "Uh... ......" As we were talking, Martha, Elsa, and Meene came out, too, hearing our voices. "Welcome home, Jin. "Martha, I''m home. Elsa, Meine, I''m home. Welcome home. Welcome home. I''m glad you''re safe. Jin briefly explains to everyone that he has neutralized the Unification Party. "Now we are going to reorganize the Unification Party (Unifiler), or rather, we are going to make the disabled Unification Party (Unifiler) make amends." He explains that the president and the second seat had been brainwashed. Elsa understood immediately because she had some knowledge of the matter, and Meane also understood quickly because she had an idea of what was going on. Martha seemed to understand only vaguely, not to mention Hannah. "Well, I''m going to spend the rest of the day cleaning up. Hannah nodded reluctantly at Jin''s explanation. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well then, first of all, Elena, it''s your role. Jin returned to Horai Island and called Elena. "Yes, Goshujin-sama. What should I do? "You will be the advisor to the Unification Party (Unifiler) for a while now, dismantling and revitalizing the organization. ......" I will help you as needed. "Well then, Goshujin-sama, I''ll be on my way." Elena returns to the headquarters of the Unified Party (Unifiler) via the floating base in Lake Asur on the Falcon 4. There she finds (former) President Jules Lorrain and (former) second seat Donald Callow Alpha. Both of them have been brainwashed by near-death or shock magic. Elena, a former Princess of Destruction, also had information about subliminal magic in her memory. And of course, how to solve it. "You''re going to have to do better than that. ......" Jin prayed for success as he watched the Falcon 4 disappear into the giant warp gate behind the institute. Jin''s estimation is as follows. Originally, the philosophy of the Unified Party (Unifiler) was to recreate the Kingdom of Dinar before the Great Magic War. However, it was replaced by the unification of the continent by the Golden Princess of Destruction. So, they took advantage of the fact that TOP2 had come to their senses to unbrainwash everyone from the top executives to the commoners and turn them into a harmless group. In doing so, they were going to give them some other techniques in addition to the past techniques taught by Princess Destructive to make them a cohesive force. Specifically, they are thinking of <. This is a degraded version of the manacam, a wireless communication device that allows communication only with specific parties. It is about the size of a large desk and is not portable. Like the Manacam, it is not possible to select a specific party. However, it can be used as a hotline between heads of state and government. A more degraded version of this, smaller in size but with a shorter effective range, seems to have been used in the Unification Party between the Princess of Destruction and the President of the Unification Party. Therefore, it is not a particularly bad technology to spread. This kind of technology will be used as a centripetal force of the new Unification Party as well as an apology to the neighboring countries. We do not know what form of apology Joule and Donald intend to make, but offering this technology at that time will atone for their sins a little. "But it''s a big one. ......" The prototype manaphone that the old man had built was really as big as a desk. "It must be very difficult to connect long distance. The reason for its large size is that it is divided into many parts. Each of these parts is a sophisticated magical tool. Once again, Jin was impressed by the range of the manacam he had created. After all, it could reach the other side of the planet. "Then, I guess the one I made uses free magic element (ether) instead of magic element (mana). ......" When I analyzed the ancient artifact "Magic Screen" and applied the method to it, I didn''t notice it and inadvertently named it "Manacam", but in fact I should have called it "Aethercam". Well, I think it is better as it is now because it is not a good word. As an aside, the use of Chinese characters has contributed greatly to the miniaturization. , are more efficient and several times more effective when written in kanji characters, which themselves have their own meaning. I''ll leave you with a quiet question. As for the support for the Unified Party (Unifiler), I leave it to the old man to support it, but there is still the matter of subsidies to each country. This is not something that Jin is worried about, but he would like to help in some way because of the victims and damages caused by the late intervention. "Even hypocrisy is better than not doing it ......" So, first of all, we decided to send ingots made from melted golems as materials to the Kingdom of Egelea, which seems to be the most affected country. The amount of ingots was about 200 tons of steel, 200 tons of bronze, and 50 tons of light silver. Adamantite and a little mithril. The market value of the gift was about 150 billion dollars. We will also donate half of it to the Kingdom of Klein, Tetrada. In addition, we have decided to return the seized eladolites that have the engraving of the country to that country. Fifteen pieces are to be given to the Kingdom of Egelea, and 10 pieces to the Kingdom of Klein. The Kingdom of Selroa, the Kingdom of Franz, and the Kingdom of Elias did not have any engravings. All of these materials are from the melted golem, so it does not hurt the pocketbook of Horai Island. It is only the time and effort involved. As for the eladolite, 41 pieces without the engraving remained in Jin''s possession. That is enough. He plans to bring them in by midnight using several Pelicans with stealth functions. Jin''s face breaks into a smile when he thinks of the surprised look on the warehouse superintendent''s face in the morning. * * * * "......When can we leave?" Reinhardt, Fritz, and the others on their way back to Japan were further delayed by the mess in the Kingdom of Celuloa. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Now, Jin is listening to the report from the old man. Here is the latest information from the 5th column this morning. The Kingdom of Cerroa is the country where the Unification Party (Unifiler) had the deepest root. Still, it does not erase the fact that the invasion took place. As for apologies and reparations, each country should deal with those issues on its own. "How many people have been affected?" "I want to give the seriously wounded some healing medicine secretly." "Yes, please do so. Jin felt much better now. "Now, I''d like to know how my friend is doing, wouldn''t you? The old man responded immediately. Licia," thinks Jin. I wonder if she has found what she wants to do. Jin thinks that the wedding is about to take place. Marcia must be doing her best, Jin thinks fondly of his days in Potrock. Jin smiles as he recalls the fun he had with Prince Ernest and Laila. << Speaking of Tellurus, he wonders how Sally, the healer, is doing. I wonder if Siede and his family are still there. "Well, that''s good to know." Jin relaxes his shoulders, saying that he has done what he can do for now, although there are still many things to be concerned about. Then Reiko came in with a bottle of Citran juice. "Father, please take a break. "Yes, thank you." Sipping the well-chilled juice, Jin thinks about the peace that is finally coming and about the future. 266 - - 09-51 Quiet Story 13 A certain 5th row activity The word < seems to have been originally Spanish. During the Spanish Civil War, a rebel general said on the radio, < It is said to mean an informer, a spy, or an enemy agent. Regardless of that, the 5th column (Quinta) of Horai Island was sent to various places as <>. This is Deneb 20, we have just arrived at the base of the 8th fortress. No sign of anyone around." Deneb20 is an adult female automata. For this purpose, she looks just like a human being. Her hair and eye color can be changed at will. Deneb20 had brown hair and brown eyes. This is the most common color in the world, and is considered to be less conspicuous. "First of all, let''s get dressed. He was dressed in common people''s clothes, but he had bought them in Potrock, a city in the Kingdom of Elias. Since they were purchased in Potrok, a city in the Kingdom of Elias, there is a high possibility that they are not in accordance with the customs of this area. Deneb 20 is on his way to the town instructed by the old man. The name of the town is Sasari. It is a medium-sized town near the Torres River. It is said that anyone can come and go during the daytime. Even so, Deneb20 was standing near the entrance, looking at the clothes of people passing by. "I see... I guess they should be dressed like that..." He starts walking around the city looking for a second-hand clothing store. He found one rather quickly. He buys the clothes he is looking for. The first thing I bought was an ankle-length skirt made of wool. I bought a jacket made of wool in the style of a vest, and a blouse as it is now. The color is light brown for the skirt and gray for the jacket. I heard that loud shades are not in fashion. The total cost was 1200 Tall. Deneb20, who had changed in the store, blended in perfectly with the city. "Now, how do we get to Kemai? Kemai is the central city of Deneb 20''s area of responsibility. It is located on the southwest side of Lake Asur. The first problem was how to cross the Torres and Asur rivers. There are several ways. The first problem was how to cross the Torres and Asur rivers. This was impossible for Deneb 20, who could not prove his identity. The next is to ask a black market trader to cross. This is dangerous, as Elsa and Meane have been attacked in the past, and the possibility of their identities being discovered is a concern. "I guess I''ll swim after all." The fifth column (Quinta) is made to look like a human and can barely float on water. However, if they were to swim on the water, there is a risk of being spotted by the night patrol boat. It is better to go under the surface. "We can put a weight on it." Deneb20 thought that he could easily go underwater if he carried a stone or something like that, and that night he put his plan into action. He took off all his clothes and packed them tightly. He then put them on his back. The stone weights are held in both hands. If the need arises, I can let go of the stones and swim at double the speed. The water is still cold, but Deneb20 throws himself into the water without any concern. With his nearly infinite endurance, Deneb20 was able to swim across the Torres River with ease. No, it was as if he was walking halfway underwater. Here''s where the commotion comes in when they come ashore. Someone found Deneb 20 who had climbed out of the river naked. It was a soldier patrolling the riverbank. The river they crossed is on the Esaias side, which is a little more heavily guarded. There was not even a soldier on the other side of the river, so Deneb 20 had let his guard down. At night, when the soldiers saw a naked woman coming out of the river, they were astonished. What are you doing? The magic lamp in her hand shines on Deneb 20. Her brown hair was wet and dripping with water. Her white skin was glistening and watery, and the twin hills of her breasts, which she made no effort to hide, were full and heaving. "I don''t think he''s swimming here on a night like this. He''s a suspicious guy." He licks his tongue as he says this. "I''ll let you off the hook if you shut up and do what I say. With that, the soldier thrust his sword into Deneb20''s neck. "Are you alone, ...... soldier?" The soldier seemed to take Deneb20''s question to mean something else. "Oh, yeah. I''m all alone. You should be thankful.I''ll take good care of you, okay?" "......" Deneb20 mumbled something again, but the soldier did not seem to hear it. "Huh?" The soldier, who had moved his face closer to hear, heard it clearly this time. "You''re a lowlife, aren''t you?" "Uh oh?" The world is turned upside down. "Geez..." The soldier slammed his back against a stone on the riverbank and fainted. The specifications of the fifth column (Quinta) are similar to those of the covert task force (SP). Because of the difference in materials, they cannot produce the same level of power, but they can still produce nearly five times the power of humans and are reasonably useful in interpersonal combat. One or two soldiers are no problem. However, since it was an unexpected situation, I decided to report it to the old man via the built-in manacam and ask for instructions on how to deal with it. The old man''s instruction was simple. << Deneb20 obediently wipes himself off, puts on his clothes, and leaves the place as fast as he can. In the darkness of the night, Deneb 20 had covered the nearly 100 kilometers to Lake Asur without being seen. Lok, a town on the shores of Lake Asur. Deneb 20 was gathering information here in Lok, as he could not act conspicuously during the daytime. He only listens to the rumors. Even so, Deneb20, who has several times better hearing than humans, was able to obtain quite a lot of useful information in one day. The Unification Party (Unifiler) is strong on the shore of Lake Asur. It seems that the Unification Party (Unifilers) is also in the center of the Kingdom of Celuloa. It is said that the Unifilers are excavating ruins in various places. Although 2 and 3 are not more than rumors, the fact that the same information was heard at several places seems to be highly credible. Deneb20 reported them to the old man. < The old man continues. << In other words, we can say that the state of constant excitement is the normal state. Or we can call it a state of constant excitement. >. Since we are talking about the pattern of magic power, we cannot distinguish people who do not have magic power. However, since there is almost no merit to mentally manipulate those who do not have magic power, it seems to be practical enough. This discovery was the work of the fifth column (Quinta) who had been dispatched to another area. "Yes, sir. Thank you very much for the useful information. Deneb20 immediately tries to detect the magic patterns of the people in the town. It seems that the mayor and the assistant mayor are definitely under the influence of mental manipulation. (It was a shock magic, wasn''t it? When we restored the hypnotized Lucor to his senses at the Keowan site, we had to shock him in an excited state, but later experiments had shown that shock magic was sufficient to release him from hypnosis. This was also reported by the fifth column (Quinta), which was active in another area. That night, as a reward for a trip, Deneb20 attacked the mayor and the deputy mayor when they were sleeping and gave them a shock spell. Deneb20 then swam naked again across the river Asur to his post in Kemai. This time, Deneb20 made it across the river without being spotted, and arrived in Kemai later that night. In Kemai, he began to gather information in earnest. During the day, he basically listened to rumors, and at night he would break into the houses of suspicious persons, and if he found out that they were under mental manipulation, he would give them a shock spell. There were also times when he would listen in the back of bars at night. It was inevitable for them to avoid entering the bar because of the possibility of being recognized as automata. But on the third night. Two men stood in front of Deneb 20, who was listening to the gossip in the back of the bar. "Hey, hey, hey, Miss, what are you doing here? "Hey, hey, hey, Miss, what are you doing here?We''ll take care of you. Both of them seemed to be very drunk. But more than that, Deneb20 detected a characteristic magic pattern. "Have you guys ever heard of the Unifilers?" Deneb20 asked as a test, and the men''s attitudes visibly hardened. "What?Why is the name of the Unification Party (Unifiler) mentioned here?" Deneb20 felt that this might be a good guess, "It''s because I came to this town to join the Unification Party (Unifiler) too. I answered. Then the men stared at Deneb20 with skeptical eyes. "Well, if that''s true, I''ll tell you. "Really?" But I can only tell you on one condition. What''s the condition?I''ll do whatever I can to help you. This is the first significant clue we have. Deneb 20 was determined to get to the bottom of it. But one of the men smirked and gave Deneb 20 a nasty look from top to bottom, "You can stay with us tonight for the night," he said. He then said, "If you stay with us for the night. Deneb20 was not a man who did not know what that meant. "Well, that''s too bad. I am not in a body capable of such an act. With that he quickly stunned them with shock magic. Then he ties them up. "Well, I am sure that these guys have some information, but what should we do? Deneb20 looked down at the two men he had tied up and pondered. Then, as he looked down at the two men in custody, Deneb20 thought to himself. The old man called. < "Yes, sir." The old man has decided to build a bridgehead at Lake Asur, a key location in the Lesser Antilles, as a launching base for the giant golem that his master Jin has built. A VTOL Falcon brings the materials for the warp gate. The location is a cape on the southern coast. Deneb20 confirms that it is out of sight and out of mind. The warp gate is set up, and the craftsman (Smith) golem comes from there first. Next comes the materials for the floating base. Then comes Mermaid, the underwater golem. All the materials are cast into the water and assembled underwater. The mermaid golem assembles the structural members and the craftsman (smith) golem joins them together by fusion. Deneb 20 is on the lookout for the surroundings and deals with anyone who approaches. Deneb 21 and Deneb 19 were also present. Because the work was done underwater, construction proceeded day and night, and the floating base was almost completed in one day. It is a spherical structure. The interior is divided into an upper and lower partition, the upper half being the space for the warp gate. The ceiling of the sphere can be opened and closed. The lower half houses various magical devices, but most of them are ballast (weights). To sink, water is injected into the ballast, and when it floats up, the water is discharged, similar to a submarine. After seeing the completion, Deneb20 reported to the old man about the two men he had captured. The old man praised Deneb20 and took over the two prisoners. It is not clear what kind of interrogation took place, but it is certain that it led to the location of the headquarters of the Unification Party (Unifiler). And Deneb 20, or rather the fifth column (Quinta), will continue to collect information for Jin today and tomorrow. 267 - - 10-01 New house It is the 25th of April in the village of Kaina. The sun is shining strongly, and the days are beginning to feel like early summer. The mountains are covered with fresh green, and the ears of wheat in the fields are growing. The wind no longer blows cold, but feels pleasant. An addition was being built to Martha''s house. Jin''s workshop, which was used by Martha''s late husband who was a blacksmith, was about 6 tatami mats in size. The plan is to double the size of the workshop to 12 tatami mats and build a two-story building to create a living space. Since Elsa and Meane were going to live together in Martha''s house, Jin decided to take this opportunity to make a proper place for them. "Oh Jin, I''m here to help you ......, it''s already half finished!" The men of the village of Kaina took turns coming in and helping out in their spare time from work. As usual, Jin is using his engineering magic to process logs to make pillars and floorboards. Gon and Gen are doing the heavy work such as putting up the pillars, and Reiko is helping them, so the pillars and floors are put up in no time at all. By mid-morning, 80% of the building was finished, not just the front. After lunch, the interior was done in the afternoon. "It''s amazing what magecraftsmen can do, isn''t it? Everyone who came to see the house was surprised at how quickly it was being built. But.., "Well, it''s a gin. But, "Well, it''s a djinn," is a satisfactory response in the village of Kaina. The exterior of the house is a two-story building with a single-flow roof, with a workshop on the first floor and a residence on the second floor. The front of the first floor has a large frontage with a large overhanging eave called a dobisashi. When the weather is fine, one can work under the eaves. The basement was also dug and used as a storage area for materials. Of course, a small warp gate was secretly installed. On the second floor, there are two 6-mat rooms. The room immediately after the stairs is the living room, and the study and bedroom are in the back. The bedroom is a wooden floor, but it is a room where one takes off one''s shoes, which was an obsession of Jin, who is Japanese. "Onii-chan, can I go that way?" Hannah calls Jin from downstairs. Hannah has been following Jin since this morning, watching him work. She is now looking around the rooms. The only house with a second floor is the village headman''s house, so it must be unusual for her. "Oh, it''s fine." He had just finished cleaning the second floor, so he made sure that there were no more wood chips or other dangerous things on the floor. "Yay!" Hannah came up to the window. She quickly got to work on the window. "Wow, what a nice view! The view of the village from the second floor looks different. "Ah, I can see the wells. "There''s the house of the sound waves..." Hannah is excited. Hannah is excited. By the way, there is no dining room or kitchen, but that''s because Martha.., "I won''t forgive you if you say we eat separately! Martha insisted, "I won''t allow you to have separate meals! Jin gratefully accepted the offer. Instead, he made some modifications to Martha''s house, and reconstructed the entrance and kitchen door so that Jin''s house and Martha''s house were facing each other so that they could easily come and go. "Father, the roof is finished. Reiko, who was in charge of the roofing work since she was the lightest, came downstairs. "Thank you very much, Reiko!" "Yes, Hannah-chan." Reiko smiled at Hanna, "All that''s left is a desk, a chair and a bed. She said to Hitoshi. Jin nodded, "Oh. Linus is going to make that for me as a housewarming gift. Linus, one of the men in the village, was surprisingly good at woodworking. Most of the tables and chairs in the village are made by him. He told me, "I can''t compete with you, but it''s just a feeling. That''s what he told me. So Jin reminded Reiko not to be stingy with him. "Brother Jin, I see Mr. Linus. This time Elsa''s voice came from downstairs. Looking down from the window, he saw Linus carrying a wooden bed in a wheeled cart. Jin hurried down the stairs, "Mr. Linus, thank you for coming all the way. Linus smiled and waved his hand. Linus smiled and waved his hand, Linus laughed and waved his hand and said, "What the hell are you talking about, this is not even a tenth of what you did for us. He said. "First of all, we need a bed. After you put this down, I''ll bring you a table and a chair. "Thank you very much. Reiko, you''ll have to carry them. "Yes." Reiko nodded and carried the bed easily. Linus watched her go, "Jin''s not bad, but Reiko''s amazing, isn''t she? Linus looked at her and said, "Jin is great, but Reiko is amazing, too. In the end, the renovation was completed in one day, and the evening was a small celebration of the completion. The members of the party were the organizers Jin, Reiko (who didn''t eat and drink), Hannah, Martha, Elsa, and Meane. We will send a box of citrons to all those who helped us tomorrow. "Well then, thank you very much for your help today!" Jin, congratulations on the house! Congratulations, Jin! "Congratulations, brother Jin! "Congratulations, Jin-sama! Everyone chanted with smiles on their faces. Then we enjoyed Martha and Meane''s thoughtful cooking. No, no, no.., "Brother Jin, I made this soup. Erza said, "I made this soup too. "Yes, it''s delicious. Elsa must be working hard at cooking too. "Yeah." "Hey, girl, girl... I chopped vegetables and peeled citron too! Hannah also shows off her cooking skills. "Oh, Hannah, thank you. It''s delicious." "Heh heh heh!" Martha''s house is peaceful, and the village of Kaina is quietly closing in. It was a day that made me want to continue saying, "All is well that ends well. After dinner, Meane reported to Jin. "Jin-sama, we are going to start a study group tomorrow. Meane explained that she had told him a while ago that she would teach him how to read, write, and calculate. "We''ll start at the village headman''s house for a couple of hours a day. "Yes, the chief''s living room is very spacious. The chief''s house has a large room that is sometimes used for village meetings. Meane told them that they could use it for the meeting. "That''s good to hear. Good luck. If there is anything I can do to help, please don''t hesitate to ask. Meane smiled and bowed as Jin said this. "Yes, thank you. Erza said she would work with me too, so I''m fine. "I see. Erza too. You''ll be fine. Brother Jin... Erza seems to like children. Knowing this, Jin thought that Erza herself might be a surprisingly good stimulus. "I''ll get the pens and pencils for the scribbling. Jin, who had an idea, suggested. "Well, are you sure?At first I was thinking of writing on the stone slab with water." When water is poured on a flat stone slab, it changes color. He was thinking of using this, "No, I have something better. I will give it to you tomorrow." With these words, Jin accepted the offer. 268 - - 10-02 Nostalgear When Jin heard that Meane and Erza were going to hold a study session, he jumped to Horai Island that night. This time he takes Erza with him. Not to mention Reiko. A small warp gate was installed in the basement of their new house, so they did not have to go to the shelter. "Welcome home, Master." The warp gate room is managed by a butler golem, <>, who was commissioned just yesterday. It is based on the adult male golem of the Covert Maneuver Unit (SP), but has a little more power than the SP because it also serves as a security force. He will also perform various other administrative tasks in Horai Island. >. The brain of Horai Island, the old man also welcomed Jin. "Ah, I''m back. My Lord, please prepare a cloth woven from the threads of a ground spider. <> "Well, I would need a piece of woven cloth one meter wide and five meters long. When Jin goes to the workshop, Perid 17, the golem maid in charge of household chores, has already brought in the cloth. "Oh, thank you." When Jin thanked her, Perid 17 bowed and left. "Father, what are you going to make with the Grand Spider cloth? Reiko, Jin''s best assistant, asked. "Hmm?A whiteboard, utilizing the characteristics of the cloth woven with the Grand Spider''s threads. Jin answered. "A whiteboard...... I see." Reiko seemed to understand at once, but Elsa was >on her face. Jin sensed this and began to explain. "Erza, a whiteboard is a board on which teachers write explanations and such when they teach students at school in the world I was in. The blackboard is originally used, but it would get complicated if I start talking about it, so I''m going to use the whiteboard for now. "So, the threads of the ground spider are stain-resistant," he says, "and Reiko''s clothes are all made of it. Reiko''s clothes are all made of it. Elsa seemed to understand and nodded her head broadly as I explained this to her. "Okay. I''ll write on it and explain. And if you say it won''t get dirty, just wipe it lightly and the writing will disappear. "Correct." Elsa seemed to understand immediately. "That''s right. If we put this on the board, we can make a whiteboard for the teachers. Cut it into small pieces for the children to practice their writing." "I see what you mean. Very useful. "Elsa can''t do the processing yet, so you''ll have to watch us do it. ...... Reiko, let''s get started." "Okay." So, Jin and Reiko work together to make it. The threads of the ground spider cannot be processed with ordinary tools. It is necessary to use tools made of adamantite or engineering magic. Jin and Reiko worked on them with engineering magic, and made one blackboard-sized piece and 27 30-centimeter-square pieces. "That''s amazing. Can I be like that?" Erza asked Jin as she watched with a twinkle in her eye. Hitoshi obliged. "Yeah, I can teach you." "Yeah. "Yeah, I''ll teach you." "Hmm...that''d be fun." All that remained was a pen and ink. There are pens in this world, but they are quill pens. I would have thought that it should be made of metal, but since mere iron will wear out quickly against a cloth woven with the threads of a ground spider, I made it out of 64 light silver, taking its lightness into consideration. The shaft is also made of the same material so that it can be repaired by engineering magic when it wears out. This is a hardened pen called a "Kabura-pen". It is easy to make because of its relatively simple shape. "Try this one, Elsa." Jin gave her a sample pen along with the required amount of 64 light silver, and asked her to try it. "Hmm. <" The 64LB changed its shape and ...... "...... difficult." It stops in a funny way. "As I said before, it''s all in the image. Maybe you should close your eyes and try to picture the shape of the object you want to make." "Hmm. I understand. " Now it looks much better. It is not symmetrical yet. "Oh, it''s much better. We''re almost there." "Hmm. I''ll work on it." Elsa practices again and again, and after the tenth time or so, she has finally succeeded in making a pen that is usable. "Oh, this will work. You did a good job." Jin praised her and Erza smiled happily. Her expression seems to be getting more expressive these days. And then there''s the ink. Well, colored water would be fine, but the other day the Mermaid team had found a fish (or rather a mollusk) that looked just like a squid, so I decided to use its ink. The ink may fade with time, but that''s OK for practice. And for Meine, or rather for the teacher, markers. I made a pipe of light silver, tapered the tip, and inserted the tip of a brush made of felted threads of a ground spider. Fill the body with ink, close it with engineering magic, and you are done. But then, the ink started to overflow from the tip of the brush. It seems that the ink must be impregnated in a cotton-like material. Jin rebuilt it. He stuffed cottony threads of ground spider inside to prevent the ink from leaking out. "Well, I guess I succeeded this time. With his writing materials ready, he asks Reiko to pack them in one piece and carry them for him. "Hmm, what is it?" < "Oh, that''s good." < It is unusual in a sense that it took more than 10 days to build a floating base in one day, considering Horaijima''s ability to build a floating base in one day. It is always the case that there is no one who can say that it is abnormal in any case. < Further explanation follows. The structure has been put into practical use as an angled deck, but since Jin did not know this, the old man came to this conclusion on his own. I understand. Thank you. Please continue." < It was almost midnight when I was taking care of some things. "Well, I''d better get some sleep so I don''t lose too much sleep. Let''s go back to Kaina village. I''ll explain about the ...... aircraft carrier later. "Hm, Brother Jin." It is 9 p.m. in the village of Kaina when we exit the warp gate in the basement, and everyone is asleep. Erza quietly returns home so as not to wake Martha, Meane, and Hannah, and Jin goes to his newly built bedroom. Then he realizes. There is no futon. He had been careless. "Father, I''ll bring it from the guesthouse." Reiko turns herself around... She jumped through the warp gate to Horai Island. She returned in a few minutes. A new futon, a quilt, and a pillow. Now I can finally sleep. Good night, Reiko. "Good night." And the night goes on. * * * * After Jin goes to sleep, Reiko, who doesn''t need sleep, has a routine of discussing various matters with the old man using the built-in manacam. "The Kingdom of Selroa was the country with the most brainwashed ministers, so it must be difficult for them to recover their functions. Now that the Unifilers have virtually collapsed and their influence is gone, the countries are in disarray. The most chaotic was the Kingdom of Cerroa, where as many as three-quarters of the cabinet members were Unifiler puppets. The list of brainwashed personnel has been disseminated through the 5th column (Quinta), but the response varies from country to country. The information is coming to you via the 5th column (Quinta). << What about the Kingdom of Franz? << "I know that much, old man. The Kingdom of Franz is relatively small, so I guess they can still manage. "So that''s why Mr. Reinhardt can''t leave the office?" << * * * * * * At the headquarters of the Unification Party (Unifiler), where Jin had sent the repaired and refurbished Elena, Jules, the leader, and Donald, the second in command, were working together on a plan to reorganize the organization. "Hey Donald, what the hell have we been doing? "You know Donald, what the hell were we doing? We''ve done some terrible things because we''ve been so caught up and bound by our longing for the past. "It was a great relief when Elena told me that taking responsibility does not mean to die or to quit. It''s a way out, for sure." Then a voice joined in, like a tinkling bell. "Yes, that''s right, my lord. You have to clean up the mess and contribute to the world in order to take responsibility. I will do my best to help you. "Oh, with Elena, we''ll be a hundred strong." The location of the headquarters of the Unification Party (Unifiler) is unknown except to Jin. So, for the time being, Jules and Donald can work in secret. And they had made it their goal for the rest of their lives to reorganize the Unification Party (Unifiler) and make it into a group that could contribute to the world. This information was conveyed to the old man through Elena, and the old man, with the permission of Jin, would assist the Unifiler to the extent he could. "So, as a sign of our fresh start, I would like to change our name from the Unification Party to the Nostalgia Party. "Nostalgia, that sounds good." "Yes, I think it''s nice." 269 - - 10-03 Study Group "Good morning!" "Good morning!" The village of Kaina was filled with the cheerful greetings of children. "Good morning!" "Good morning!" "Good morning!" The children gather at the residence of the village headman, Mr. Giebeck. They are the children who are participating in the study group taught by Meane and Erza. There are nine of them. As expected, they are few. It''s simply because there are not that many children. "Not so many, after all. Meane had noticed this as well. In a normal family, it is not unusual to have more than three children. In fact, Erza has three siblings, even though they have different mothers, and Meene has seven siblings. The food situation is not so bad, you know. The village head, Giebeck, overheard her soliloquy. "Mr. Meane, it''s because of the men who were drafted into the army and the epidemic that broke out eight years ago. He still spoke a little strangely. "Epidemic, huh?" This is something Locke has told Jin before. Locke told Jin as if the draft was the main cause, but in fact the epidemic was more serious. Locke did not know much about it because he had gone to King''s Landing to become a knight at that time. "It was terrible then. Half of the village was destroyed and all the dead had to be burned to ashes because they didn''t want the disease to spread. That''s why there are no graves that look like theirs. "I didn''t realize that. ......" But as if to shake off the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Giebeck continued. "But there will be more people living here soon. "What?" Meane, who had been looking down, looks up. "I don''t know if it''s because the villagers are a little less burdened since Jin came last year, or if it''s because of the hot springs..." "Oh, someone is pregnant?" Next to her, Elsa was looking at her with a >Meane is very perceptive. "Yes...five wives'' bellies are growing." "That''s great news, isn''t it? While they were talking, Hannah came in. "Auntie," she said, "good morning! "Yes, good morning, Hannah. Well then, let''s get started." I taught her that we say good morning to each other at home, but that we should keep our study group meetings separate from the rest of the class, so she immediately puts this into practice. Including Hannah, there were 10 children in the group, ranging in age from 7 to 14. Good morning, everyone. My name is Meane and I will be your teacher. This is my daughter, Elsa, who will be my assistant. "Sensei Meine!Erza-sensei!" The children are in high spirits. "Yes, quiet." Meine clapped her hands to silence them, "Since we are starting today, let''s introduce ourselves first. You may know each other, but I don''t know you well since I just arrived here the other day. So please tell me about yourself. The children answer, "Yes, sir. "Well, let''s start with the teacher. My name is Meene. 35 years old. I''m 35 years old. I''m not from this country but from the Kingdom of Egelea. This Elsa is the teacher''s daughter. Then, Elsa, please introduce yourself. "...... Elsa, I''m 17 years old. I''m 17 years old. I come from the Shoro Kingdom. I''m not very good at talking, but I hope we can be friends. When Erza finished, the children applauded. "Minne-sensei!Erza-sensei! "Let''s see your magic again!" Erza had become a heroine of the children after she had shown them her magic when she had built the snow room. "Now, please introduce yourself one by one, starting with you." "Yes!I''m Patty!I turned eight the other day. My father''s name is Linus, and he''s good at making things out of wood. My mom is Sera. She gets a little scared when she gets angry, but she''s good at origami. "Yes, thank you, Patty. Okay, next, please." "Yes!I''m ...... not me, I''m Mario. My ...... father is Rock and my mother is Molly." In this way, the children introduced themselves. When they had finished, it was time to start the class. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin was watching from a distance when Reiko pulled the hem of her dress with a tug, and he knew she had something to say, so he left and went to the back of the village headman''s house. What is it, Reiko? "Yes, I''m sorry, but the old man asked me to tell you something." "Well, what is it? Well, let''s go there. There is a warp gate in the basement of the new house, so we can easily return to the laboratory. After being greeted by the golem in charge of the Warp Gate room, Battler 1, I headed for my familiar living room. The old man''s mobile terminal, Laozi, is waiting for him there. Lao Tzu said and bowed, He then held out a short sword. "Tetrada...... Oh, the Cline Kingdom forces have been disarmed, haven''t they? So it was one of them." Jin looked at the shortsword as he said this. It is an ordinary, common sword. He holds it in his hand, but there is nothing about it. "What about it?" "What?" Jin heard something unexpected, "<>" Jin uses a magic to examine the function of magic power. "Surely, this is my ...... ah, I remember. This must be Licia''s short sword. Jin remembered. Last fall, when he and the men of the village were carrying wheat, the tax money, from the village of Kaina to the village of Toka, they were attacked by a golem, and Licia, the tax collector at the time, recklessly confronted the golem with this sword. However, the sword, which was not made of steel but of soft iron, bent easily. After defeating the golem, Licia tried to have the sword repaired by a blacksmith in Toka Village, but was told that it could not be repaired, and she became depressed. Jin, who couldn''t bear to see Licia like that, fixed the bends by <> and turned her into a steel sword by <> and <>. "This is the sword from that time. I remember Licia was in Tetrada too. "Licia-san, she is the one who asked your father to run away, isn''t she? Reiko wasn''t there when the golem was defeated, but she was referring to the time when Count Walter misunderstood and brought the information that she was coming to capture the golem. "Oh. He took good care of you." The sword in his hand is rust-free and well-sharpened. Licia had probably never used it in battle, but it was clear that she had taken good care of it. "Indeed. A person who takes good care of a gift from his father is a good person." Reiko''s criterion was simple and clear. Jin chuckled. "I''d give it back if I could." The disarmed swords, spears, shields, armor, etc., were checked for quality, and unless they were clearly specially made with magic, rare materials, etc., they were instructed to be crushed and turned into ingots. In that sense, the old man (and his subordinates) who found this sword should be praised. "I think he is in the capital, right? Reiko overheard Jin''s mutterings. "Father, you''re not going, are you?" "Hm?What''s wrong?My face is not well known in the Kingdom of Klein, and I don''t think I''m in any particular danger. "That''s true, but ......" The overprotective Reiko has been looking a little reluctant lately. Then the old man offers a helping hand. Preventive measures for what? It is a natural question. The old man replied, . The mobile terminal, Lao Tzu, brought something in a basket. "Hmm?Isn''t that a piece of clothing?" "Sea dragon leather?Then this is also impact-hardened? Anne''s full strength is about ten percent of Reiko''s former strength. That is to say, it can be prevented by human power. >>. The silver side is the smooth surface of leather. It makes sense that the best defense is the surface. I understand. Pants and a jacket. Thank you, old man." There was something else in the bottom of the basket. It looks like a collar. What else is this?...... No, wait, a magic tool. What ...... is it that generates a barrier in response to the clothes?" < It is a very well-equipped machine. You are doing a very good job these days, as you did with the Pegasus in the last issue. I will be very glad to use it. 270 - - 10-04 Quiet talk 14 Ricias so far Lysia Faarheit is a new noblewoman. Her father, Niklas Faarheit, was a soldier captain in the Kingdom of Klein, and was given the rank of knight (ritter) for his services in a border dispute. His eldest daughter, Licia, was also working hard as an apprentice knight. Next, Faarheit! Yes, please! The female knight apprentices are being trained. They are currently engaged in a mock battle with wooden swords against their instructors. There are many situations where female knights are needed, such as guardianship of royalty and high nobility. Here in the Kingdom of Klein, the number of female knights has been increasing in recent years. The instructor who is giving me practice is the vice-captain of the Kingsguard female knight corps. Her name is Gloria Allstadt. Her light brown hair is cut very short and her eyes are a steeple color, giving her a vivacious impression. At 168 centimeters tall, she is on the tall side for a woman, and her slender figure has made her the object of admiration of her gender. Most female knights are the children of lower nobility or knight families. Gloria''s family was a prominent family that had produced knights and lady knights for generations. Among such families, Licia, whose father was a new noble, stood out a little. "She''s going to do her best, isn''t she? "Well, my family is of the new nobility, so if I don''t work hard, I''ll fall in my own generation. Half of the colleagues watching Licia''s training were children of noble families. They are not bothered if they do not become knights. "I''d rather be disqualified and married off sooner rather than later. Some even have the audacity to say so. On the other hand, those born into knightly families are different. "I was born into a family of knights for generations... I can''t lose to a boy who''s just a drop in the bucket..." "Look at that outfit. There''s nothing in the way of form. There''s no elegance in it." Whether she knows it or not, Licia is still going for her instructor no matter how many times she is hit by the wooden sword. And at the end... "Kyaah!" The training ends with a big pop. "Oh, thank you very much." Licia thanks the instructor, breathing hard on her shoulder. "All right, now everyone is finished, right?Next is the straw cut. You are in charge, get ready. Yes, sir. The participants attach a bundle of straw to a stake in the ground. You are to cut it with the sword. When you cut with the sword, think about the line of the blade. The blade must be perpendicular to the object to be cut. If you don''t, you won''t be able to cut, and the sword may be bounced, bent, or broken. The instructor explains. This is very different from iai with a Japanese sword. In iai, the sword is often cut at a 45-degree angle. This is due to the fact that the makiwara is made of tightly rolled tatami mats, which are very difficult to cut. However, the straw slashes that Licia and the others were required to do were simply to make the blade line up and to pull the sword back slightly to increase the sharpness of the cut, and the strength of the straw was very low. "I''ll show you first." The female knights were basically using shortswords. The instructor pulled out the shortsword on her hip. "Ah!" With a fierce and piercing sound, the shortsword is flashed in a single horizontal motion. The straw is cut in half. A sigh escapes from the female apprentice knights who are watching. "Instructor Allstadt, how nice! And whispers like that. "Okay, try it. The first letter is the hardest. Let''s start with Anderson. "Yes, sir. Ah! It''s no good. The blade''s not straight. A hundred strikes. Next, Bogart. Yes, sir. ...... What are you doing?You''re not swinging fast enough! You''re not swinging straight!Swing 300 times!Next, Carter. Yes, sir. ...... This time, he cut the straw with flying colors. "Okay, that''s not so bad. Next ......" Thus, a total of 33 female apprentice knights try to cut the straw one after another. Those who couldn''t cut it were given a shake. Finally, it was Licia''s turn. "The last one at Farheit. Go ahead. Yes, sir. ......! Licia successfully slices the straw into two pieces. "Mm, okay. ......?Farheid, show us your sword. "Yes, sir." Suddenly the instructor asked her to show him her sword, and Licia impatiently held it out. "Hmmm. Hmmm... you use a really nice sword. Where did you get it?If it''s this good, I''d like to have one myself. "Well, um, that''s the sword that I had repaired by a magecraftsman I know. He said it was originally just iron, but it got bent, and he mended it. He was in a hurry and his explanation was a bit slow, but the instructor seemed to understand. "Hmmm, I see. You have a good friend. Take good care of this sword. Gloria then turned to the group, "Ten laps around the training ground and we''re done for the day. Everyone, run!" And she led the way. Ten laps around the training ground after a full day of training is a tough task. Some of the runners dropped out, but Licia ran the whole way. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In 3457, the year 3457 of the continental calendar, the neighboring Kingdom of Franz invaded the border, and Licia was appointed as a knight of the Guard of Honor and sent to the battlefield. Licia could choose whether to be disappointed that she could not become a Knight of the Kingsguard, or to see this position as her true calling. Licia was the latter. On the battlefield, Licia recalls a conversation she once had with Jin. , Jin said. "What I can do ...... is to heal, I guess." Through daily training and effort, Licia had mastered even intermediate level healing magic and had become a skilled healer in the rescue knight corps. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In that year, there were three skirmishes. The third battle was the most intense one yet. With heavy casualties, Klein''s army was forced to retreat, and they met Franz''s army at Tetrada, about 50 kilometers back from the border line. At that time, a huge golem appeared. A huge golem appeared and made it impossible for them to fight. The Franzian army was melted down, and everything made of metal, from weapons to armor, from golems to tableware, was melted down, and before the Kleinian army knew it, they were knocked unconscious and their weapons and armor were taken from them. Without weapons and armor, there was no way they could engage in a proper battle, and the Franzian army retreated. Licia and the others were holed up in the tetrada, waiting for instructions from the headquarters. "Licia, I heard you did well. Then, her father, Niklas, came to visit her outside of working hours. Niklas is the deputy commander of the Third Order of the Knights of the Kingdom of Klein. "I''m so glad you''re okay!" Father and daughter take each other''s hand and rejoice in each other''s safety. "Licia, I heard you did well too." "Yes,......, even though some people couldn''t be saved." Niklas says gently to his daughter, who looks down at him. "It can''t be helped. Everyone is prepared to come to the battlefield. It is fortunate that there were no casualties among the general population. That''s because your fathers did their best, isn''t it? That''s what they do, and that''s what they are proud of. Such was the conversation between father and daughter that day. "By the way, I''m the third son in the Rush family." Finally, Niklas said what was bothering him the most as a father. But Licia''s answer was, "What?Who is that?" and he said he was relieved to hear her answer. The next day. The next day. "Good morning, Licia. "Good morning, Mr. Pascoe." Pascoe Rush''s face is red. In addition, he reads his lines in a barbed voice. It''s a beautiful day, isn''t it? "It''s cloudy, but ...... "Oh, yes, it is, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah ......" Pascoe smiles and makes a fool of himself. Then he turns to Licia, "Well then, I have a job to do!" He salutes her and leaves. "You''re funny!" Licia then looked up at the sky. "Guarding, huh ......?" She puts her hand on her waist and is surprised to find that she no longer feels the familiar sensation there. "It''s gone, right ......?" Licia has lost her shortsword, which she had been using since Jin fixed it for her. This may have been another reason for her depression. 271 - - 10-05 Ready to go out "So Licia told me that she lives in the royal city of Klein Kingdom." Jin recalls that she once told him that <>. "That''s the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, I mean the capital. ...... where is it?" <>. The old man told me. "Oh, yes. Alban. What kind of place is it?" I had planned to visit there one of these days, but it was cancelled because of a Count called Walther. "Hmmm, let''s ask Elsa. ...... I''ll take Elsa with me. I''ll take Elsa with me. Yes, Hannah too! Reiko is getting impatient as the conversation is getting louder and louder. "Father, that''s ...... not a good idea." But the old man seemed to have a different opinion. "Magic dyes......Oh, I see. It will make a big difference to your impression. Some magic dyes come from magical beasts like chameleons. Such dyes can change color at will with magic power. That''s a good idea, since it is possible to drop them with engineering magic. Reiko heard the old man''s words and suddenly realized. She realized that the old man was trying to shorten the time that Jin was away from home by leading him out like this. In this kind of intrigue (?) In this kind of intrigue (?), the old man is a few steps ahead of Reiko. "Oh, yes, that''s right. Okay, two days and one night from tomorrow. That''s good, isn''t it?" "Yes, father." < Reiko agreed and the old man made a further proposal. Hitoshi affirms the proposal. "That''s right. Okay, let''s put two of them on, just like Reinhardt and the others. Immediately, Jin created two covert maneuver units (SPs). He has done several of them, so the duplication process is quick. "They are named and . I suddenly realized that about 3 hours had passed since I left the village of Kaina. "Oh no, I have to get back soon or Hannah will get angry with me again. Jin said and decided to go back. Reiko was smiling beside him. "Oh, sweetie. It''s almost sunset. It was 11:30 in Kaina village. Hannah, who had just returned from a study session, came to call for Jin. Jin muttered to himself, "It''s just in time. Okay, I''m coming. So Jin went to the dining room of Martha''s house. Elsa and Meane had also returned. Jin disappeared in the middle of the meeting, but I think we managed to do well today, okay? Erza reported to Jin. Meane continued, After introducing ourselves, I explained the meaning of study and in what kind of situations it is useful. Jin nodded in agreement. Jin nodded his head. I see, that''s good. I have some time to talk to you after this. Jin said and started to eat the lunch that was in front of him. "...... so I''m thinking of going to Alban, the capital of the Klein Kingdom, for a couple of days and a night. Do you know Alban, Elsa?" After a brief explanation, Jin asks Elsa. She is the one who knows the most about each country in this group. "No, I have never been there, so I don''t know. I''m sorry." Erza is a little dejected when she answers. Jin gently talks to her. "No, don''t worry about it. It''s worth a try, isn''t it? What? So, me, Erza, Meane, and Hanna are going to go there. When Hitoshi said this, Hannah shouted happily. "Really?You''re taking me with you, too?" "Yeah, for one night and two days. It will be a good learning experience. Martha, is that okay? I asked Martha, Hannah''s grandmother, and she nodded her head, Martha nodded and said, "Of course. You will see many things that you would not see if you stayed in the village. She is not at all concerned about how she is going to get to Alban. I wonder if I should say that this is only Martha who has known Jin for a long time. "Yes!Thank you, Grandma!" But on the other hand, Hannah was overjoyed. "Okay, then, we''ll leave tomorrow, and you can stay at the Kunlun Island tonight. Oh, and Martha, why don''t you come stay with us?" Jin said, and Martha shook her head, "No, I''ll stay here. I''ll stay here with the young people. Martha turned down the offer. Then Meane said, "Gin-sama, Erza, I''ll stay here with Martha. The three of you have a good time. Jin told her that they should all go together after all, but in the end the three of them decided to go together. "Well, let''s stay at Kunlun Island tonight and leave in the morning." "Yes!" Yes! So Jin takes Elsa and Hannah to the Kunlun Island. Hannah is blindfolded again. This time, Hannah can''t see them, but she''s accompanied by her special secret maneuver unit (SP), <> and <>. "Wow, it''s your house!Oh, it''s Mr. Meido!Hello!" Hannah is excited as soon as she arrives at Kunlun Island. She finds the maid golem who helped her a little last time and calls out to her. "Elsa, I need to talk to you about something." Leaving Hannah to her own fun, Jin told Erza about his disguise. "If you disguise yourself a little, I think we can avoid trouble later on. "Okay. Do I change my hair color?" "Yeah. Yeah. You know, just going from platinum blonde to brown would make a big difference, wouldn''t it?I''ll go brown too. What should I do about Hannah ......?" Hannah''s face and name are completely unknown, and she doesn''t need to be. But just to be safe, I decided to make her brown as well. "Hannah, come here for a minute." Hannah, who had been playing with Perid 100, came over as soon as Jin called her. "What''s up, honey?" Jin explains to her. "In preparation for going out tomorrow, I''m going to change the color of my hair. "What?" She still didn''t understand what he meant. So Jin decides to show her how it''s done. He goes to the bathroom and wets his hair with water in which he has prepared a solution of magic dye. Then he uses engineering magic. First, Elsa. "<>" In no time at all, Elsa''s hair turned light brown. "Wow!Wow!That''s interesting!" Hannah clapped her hands in amusement. Jin himself was next. He made the color dark brown. "You haven''t changed much, have you? The change from black to dark brown does not make a big difference in her impression, so Hannah''s reaction is slower than that of Erza. However, Jin does not mind. Or rather, it is not something to be concerned about. "Okay, then, it''s Hannah. Okay?" "Yes!" "<>" Hannah has gone for a chestnut color. Erza''s color is a calm brown, Jin''s is a dark brown, and Hannah''s is a light chestnut color. Seeing their reflections in the mirror, Hanna is excited again. "This is so fun!I''m looking forward to tomorrow! As an insurance policy in case she gets lost, Hitoshi decides to give her a necklace with a magi-crystal that contains his own magic power. And some clothes for a formal dinner. Since I am not good at designing, I will consult with Elsa about it. As for the size, I don''t have to worry about it because I have Reiko, as you can see from the clothes I made for Beena and Elsa before. "All right, then, let''s start making clothes. Jin said, and both girls, Hannah and Erza, beamed. "Erza, give me some advice on the design." "Nah.... Brother Jin." And so the three of them headed for the workshop in the museum. 272 - - 10-06 Present "Hannah is wearing a light blue one-piece dress. She should wear a white sash around her waist and tie it with a bow at the back. Taking Erza''s advice, Jin made Hanna''s dress. She kept it simple like a commoner. However, he decided to use a color that would give a sense of refinement, so a one-piece dress was made. The sleeves are short-sleeved for spring. The fabric is magi silk. It is light and has a nice texture. "Hmmm...girl, I want an apron too..." Hannah pleaded with me, so I made a white apron instead of an obi, and made the strings wider. "Wow, that''s great!" The clothes were being made while she was watching. Hannah''s excitement was building. "Okay, it''s done. Would you like to try it on? Jin said, and Hannah took off her clothes on the spot, "Yes! with a big smile on her face. "Wow, it feels so nice." Hannah was a little puzzled by the different texture from the linen clothes she had been wearing, but then she looked at herself in the mirror and said, "Wow, this feels so good! "Wow, is this me?Thank you, Onii-chan! and she was so happy. Next was Elsa''s clothes. "Erza looked good in the young grass-colored dress, didn''t she? Jin said, and Erza nodded. She nodded. I like that color. So we made a simple A-line dress from the same magi silk. The design is the same as Hannah''s. Common people don''t wear clothes with elaborate designs. They also rarely wear decorations such as lace and ribbons. Incidentally, both skirts are below the knee. Socks were white and ankle-length for both girls. "And then there are the shoes. We made moccasin-like shoes out of hexenbiest leather. Dark brown. This is also very folksy. So Elsa and Hannah are dressed in simple outfits of similar design. The difference is that Hannah wears an apron. However, they are made of magi silk and leather of magical beasts, both rare materials. At first glance, they look ordinary, but they are about five times more durable. Since there was still some time left, Jin decided to make a necklace for Hannah while explaining it to Erza, since it was a good opportunity. Hannah peeked at him, not understanding what he was doing. "I think I''ll use magic quartz, since it seems to go with any color. Magiquartz is a white to colorless crystal with a weak light attribute. It is also used for Reiko''s eyes. However, the main reason why Jin chose it is that it is indistinguishable from ordinary quartz crystal. Quartz is a common mineral, and it is not surprising that common people wear it, but its value is 100 times different. Well, unless you look at them with the magic of analysis, you cannot distinguish them. The design is not elaborate, but spherical. It is fastened with a clasp of light silver and worn around the neck on a chain of light silver as well. The color of the light silver is a slightly dull silver, giving it a cheap look. Wearing something too expensive would arouse suspicion, and if he is attacked for it, it would be a complete disaster. Finally, Jin put magic power into the item so that it would serve as a marker when searching for it with the magi radar. "Hannah, here''s another present for you. "Wow, can I have this?Thank you, Onii-chan! But Hanna knows with her own eyes that Jin had made it for her, so she is overjoyed. Hannah immediately put it around her neck and looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Hannah, you''re so cute!" Erza looked at Hanna with narrowed eyes. Finally, Jin told Reiko to bring Licia''s short sword. "Brother Jin, what is this?" Erza asked in a quizzical tone, "Oh, this belongs to an acquaintance of mine. I decided to go to Alban partly to return it to him. I replied. "Hmm. ......" Elsa''s eyes are slightly sad as she gazes at the shortsword. Jin has an idea why. "Erza, are you perhaps remembering that dagger? It was a gift that Jin once gave to Elsa on her birthday. He had left it with her when he refused to accept an engagement that did not suit him and renounced his position as a nobleman. "....... It was a gift from my brother Jin. Erza answered, still a little sad. Then Jin said, "Well, I''ll give you something suitable for the present Erza. Jin said. "What kind of gift?" Erza was curious. "Probably a knife, since common people don''t carry swords. "A knife, yes, that''s fine." Elsa seemed to understand. Then Hannah, who has been frolicking in front of the mirror, comes in. "What are you guys doing?" "Yes, we are making a present for Elsa. Jin answered. Hearing this, Hannah looked interested. "Well, you''ll just have to watch. "And watch Elsa, too. Jin prepared light silver. "<>. <>. <>" Forming is applied in succession. Jin is making a folding knife called a folding knife. He once used a folding knife called an electric knife in his work, and he also used a Japanese folding knife to sharpen bamboo dragonflies and the like. Since there is no locking mechanism as it is, I added a simple locking mechanism. "Interesting shape". This type of folding knife does not seem to exist in this world. Most of them are sheath knives, which are kept in a sheath. Light silver blade, light silver handle. Since that is not enough to make it artistic, a horn of a pseudo dragon (Siamese dragon) is decorated and small magi crystals are scattered. These magi crystals will also serve as markers to be searched for by the magi radar. "Okay, it''s done." After opening and closing the crystal a few times to check its condition, "Erza, I have another present for you. Jin hands it to Elsa. It is a gift of a knife, but it does not matter since they are now brother and sister, even though they are in-laws. "Thank you, Jin-brother. Erza, who had been watching him make it, quickly opens and closes it. Then she smiled and told Jin what she thought. "This is interesting. It''s very convenient." "Ha, I''m glad you like it." Jin laughed too. "Erza-chan got a present from her big sister too, so we''re all in the same boat! Hannah was in a good mood as usual. Meanwhile, dusk is falling outside. The time in Kunlun Island is about an hour ahead of that in Kaina Village. "Well, let''s get ready for dinner," Jin says. Jin says and leaves the workshop. He washes his hands in the washroom, and Hannah and Erza follow suit. In the dining room, Perid and Topaz were preparing dinner. "What''s this? Tonight''s menu had been prepared according to Jin''s instructions. Ground mountain lion meat, mixed with flour, kneaded and baked. Topopo (topopo) is boiled, mashed, mixed with a little meat and boiled corn, floured with beaten egg, breaded and deep-fried. In other words, it is a hamburger steak and croquette. Since there is no Worcestershire sauce, I tried to make my own, and now I have finally succeeded in making something satisfactory, so here it is. (It was not Jin who had a hard time making them, but Perido from Horai Island.) "Wow, this is delicious! "Is this made with topopo?" Hannah was pleased with the hamburger steak, and Erza, who has a discerning palate, recognized the ingredients in the croquettes. "I didn''t know topopo could be so tasty." It was hard to believe that she had been afraid of topopo. After the meal, he spent time telling Hannah stories about his trip. "So my brother Jin made a kite and we flew it with the kids. "Well, I hope you make me one next time. "Oh, yes. Let''s make kite flying popular in the village of Kaina. That night, Hannah and Erza were in the same room. "Wow, tatami smells good! Jin thinks that Hannah also likes the smell of tatami, or rather Igusa, and wonders if it could be grown in the village of Kaina next time. "Well, good night. "Good night, sweetie." "Good night, Brother Jin." They decided to go to bed before too late, but Hannah, who was very excited, had a hard time falling asleep. I couldn''t get out of bed again today. "I couldn''t get out of bed today either. ......" The old man was in regular contact with Reinhardt again tonight. 273 - - 10-07 City of Alban The next day, the 27th, Jin and his crew left for Alban after breakfast. Spica 7 of the 5th column (Quinta) was in charge of the Alban area, and they had found an abandoned building nearby that they had remodeled and turned into their base. Of course, the base is equipped with a warp gate, so we can jump to the base by using the gate. Again, Hanna was blindfolded and moved to the base just to be safe. Although not visible, a covert maneuver unit (SP) was also with us. "We have been waiting for you, Chief, Sister. And Erza-san, Hannah-chan." Spica 7 greeted us. She was about the same size as Elsa. She had a little more chest. Her hair was a brown bob like Jin and the others. Her eyes were gray. She was dressed in brown linen clothes like a commoner. "Oh, thank you." As Jin worked to greet her, Hannah, who had just taken off her blindfold, said to him, "Who is she? "Who''s this?" she asked. "Oh, I guess she''s Reiko''s sister. She looks bigger than Reiko. When Hitoshi explained, Hannah made a subtle face, as if she understood or not. "We''re here to see Alban, the capital of the Klein Kingdom. I''m also here to deliver this sword to you. "Yes, you can count on me, Chief. I will take you there. To which Spica 7 replies, "Don''t call me Chief right now. And don''t call Reiko Sister. I''ll be Jin and Reiko will be Reiko. And no "like" either. Okay, Jin-san. Yes, that''s fine. So, what should I call you? Yes, in town I''m Burgoo. Okay, Burgot. Well, get on with it and show us the way. We step out of the ruins. The sky was clear in Kunlun Island, but it was a light overcast here. Jin puts on the half-coat he has brought with him, which is the mark of the Honorary Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. The ruins seemed to be protected by wards, and he felt a slight discomfort when he left. The wards were quite strong. There was a small forest around the ruins, which also had simple wards to confuse our sense of direction. Spica 7 seems to be very cautious. After a 10-minute walk, the capital city of Alban finally came into view. This is also a fortified city, and its walls are about 8 meters high. The walls of Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, were 10 meters high, so the height of the walls was lower than that, but the stone walls were still very massive. We left Kunlun Island a little after 8:30 a.m., so it was past 7:00 a.m. in Alban, which is about one and a half hours ahead of Kunlun Island. It seems that the gates of the city have just opened. "Is there some kind of screening process to get in?" "Yes. The dispute with the Kingdom of Franz has subsided, but since there was a dispute with the Kingdom of Franz, you will be required to show some form of identification. In Jin-san''s case, I think a certificate of Honorary Magical Craftsman "Honorary Magical Craftsman" will be sufficient." Jin was glad he had worn this just in case. "What about Hannah and Elsa?" "Yes, Hannah is small, so I think she can be Jin''s sister. Elsa is a bit more subtle. It would be easier if we could prove that they are family members. Jin recalled that he had once proved that he was a magecraftsman in Potrock. "Erza can now use a lot, can''t she?Let''s go with that." He then went through his pockets to see if he could find any materials. He found a scrap piece of light silver. It was probably the half-silver scraps from the carriage construction in the Kingdom of Egelea. When I test-drove the carriage, I put on a half-coat and shoved the leftover scraps into my pocket at random and left them there. It is small, but it is enough to make a pen like the one I made the other day. "Okay, when they ask you for proof, make a pen out of this and show them. "Yes." That''s a relief. Reiko disappears in stealth. The group then heads for the open gate. "Hello, Bago, you look beautiful today. Thanks, and good luck with your work. I thought Spica 7-Bargo didn''t need any identification, but he seemed to know the guards well enough to get a pass. "Who are those guys over there? "Yes, my friend Jin-san, a magecraftsman, and his sisters. Jin and his sisters bowed to him. "Oh, I see. Do you have any proof?" They seem to be treated with a certain amount of politeness, as they are Bago''s acquaintances. On the other side, another guard is checking a man who looks like a merchant. "I am the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. Jin showed the coat of arms on the left breast of his half-coat. "If this is not enough ......" He tried to take out the certificate engraved in mithril silver, but the guard stopped him, "No, I understand, thank you. Where is your daughter? I''m your daughter-in-law! Hannah answered cheerfully. "Yes, I got it. And finally, who is your daughter?...... She''s a beauty too. She looked at Erza and said, "She''s quite light-hearted, isn''t she? "I am brother Jin''s sister. This proves it." Erza said this and showed the light silver in her hand to the guards, "<>" He showed a pen formed by engineering magic. The guards were amazed at the speed at which it was made. "This is amazing. All right, please go through. Here is a temporary proof. He presented three wooden bills to the guard. "If you have these, it proves that you have been properly examined at the gate. Jin, Elsa, and Hannah took them. "Please give it back to me when you leave. If you do not have it, you may be treated as a suspicious person. "Okay. Thank you very much." Jin said and walked through the gate. Finally, it was Alban. "That went well, Jin-san." "Yes. BARGO, are you close to that guard? Jin asked, sounding at ease. "Yes. His name is Barthes, and he is a knight in his own right.As you can see, he has a lighthearted personality, so if you talk to him when he''s not busy, he''ll divulge all sorts of information on his own, which is very useful. "I see. ......" Jin was strangely impressed by the fact that the fifth column (Quinta) had grown so strong in a short time. "Well, I''d like to hand over the sword first. Reiko, show yourself." Jin calls Reiko from a place between buildings, where no one can see him. "Yes, father." Then she held out the sword in her hand to Jin. It was wrapped in a cloth so that no one would recognize it as a sword. "Good. Burgoo, do you know the house of Faarheit?" But he didn''t know that, "I''m sorry, I don''t know." He bowed his head. "No, it''s okay if you don''t know. I''ll ask someone. ...... In the meantime, do you know the area where knights, barons, and other low-ranking nobles live?" "Yes, I can tell you that." "Yes, I can tell you that. ......Hanna, Elsa, what are you going to do?I''m going to give you the sword, but you don''t have to go with me, you can go your separate way, okay? Jin asked, and they both shook their heads. "I want to be with you!" "Me too. Since we''re here together, why don''t we do things together? "Okay. Then let''s go together. So the five of us, including Reiko, showed up and walked down the main street of Alban. On both sides were two and three-story stone houses. Many of them have stores on the ground floor. I''ll take my time to see them later, Jin thought. Walking straight down the main street for about 10 minutes, he came to a central intersection with a large sundial. He turned right at the intersection and headed toward the east area. There were many large buildings just after the turn, but the scale of the buildings gradually became smaller and smaller. "This area is where the knight (ritter) dwellings are located. Most of the houses are two-story with small gardens. From the outside, it looks as if about 20 square meters of land is allotted to the knights. Considering the size of Alban, which is about 2 km square on each side, this is probably still a large plot. Since there were few pedestrians or passers-by other than Jin and his friends, we could not ask them where Licia''s house was. "Well, what should we do? As Jin was pondering what to do, he saw someone running in front of him. "Oh, good, let''s ask that person. He waited for the person to come closer. The person looked like a young woman. 274 - - 10-08 Gloria Allstadt A woman with light brown hair cut very short came running toward them from the end of the street, probably for training. She was wearing pants for ease of movement. Her bottom was a pair of gray pants. They are loose-fitting and seem to be easy to move in. The top is a white T-shirt with raglan sleeves. She is wearing short boots. The color and gloss of the fabric are indicative of the quality of the fabric used for the clothes. The leather of the boots is supple and looks luxurious. The woman who approached us was in her early twenties, tall and slender, but not skinny, and had a firm impression. When she saw Jin and the others, she slowed down her running speed a little. "Excuse me, I have a question..." When Jin approached the woman, she said, "Excuse me, I have a question, "Yes?" The woman stopped and said, "What is it? "Have you ever heard of the house of the Fahlheit family?" "Hmm, the house of Faarheit. Yes, I know the house. It''s the second house on the right at the corner. He told us. Jin bowed his head, "Thank you very much. Jin bowed his head and thanked her. The woman waved her hand as if she meant nothing to him, She waved her hand as if she was saying "nothing. By the way, you seem to be an honorary magical craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, aren''t you? The woman who saw the half-coat Jin was wearing said this as if confirming his identity. "Yes, that''s right." "Well, I don''t know what business you have with the Farheit family, but the head of the family, Niklas, is gone, as is his daughter Licia.Only the wife and the maid are left. Both Niklas and Licia were still in Tetrada. Oh, I see, Jin thought, but did not say so. His main goal was not to see Licia, but to return the sword. "I see, I have no choice." The woman looked as if she was thinking about something, "Are you not the magecraftsman who repaired Licia''s sword? "Uh, yes, I think so." "Yes, I think so..." I think so, but the sword is here now. "Oh, yes!My name is Gloria Allstadt. I''m the vice-captain of the Kingsguard. "Oh, I''m ...... Jin." Jin also gives his real name. It is also known that he is an honorary magical craftsman, and if he misrepresents himself, he is likely to get into trouble later. "Jin-dono, huh? You are a foreigner, so please don''t be so formal and call me Gloria. "Thank you, Gloria. These are my sisters. This is my friend here in town, Burgo. And Reiko. This is Bago. I''m Hannah! Elsa. Reiko. Bergo greets her normally, Hannah cheerfully. Elsa greeted her by pinching her skirt in what is known as a curtsey. Gloria looked a little impressed when she saw Elsa''s greeting. "Well, Miss Elsa, you bow beautifully. She looks like a child of a noble family. Being a former daughter of a noble family, it was only natural for her to do so, but when she was told this, Erza smiled a little and dyed her cheeks. The last Reiko just bowed her head a little. "So, what did you see this country do to you, Jin-dono?It is not easy to come and go between the Kingdom of Egelea and our country with the Kingdom of Cerroa in between, is it?And moreover, this is a time of war." The war against the Unification Party (Unifiler) was on the 23rd, and the Unification Party (Unifiler) became the Nostalgia Party (Nostalgia) on the 24th. Today is the 27th, and it seems that not enough information has arrived yet. "Well, let''s just say I''m trying to get a better idea of what''s going on. Jin replies in a casual way. Gloria seemed to be satisfied with that, "Well, that''s all right. I don''t know what your business is with the Fahlheit family, but when you are done with that, please come and visit me. My house is there. He pointed to a rather large house behind Jin and the others. I''m off duty today. I''ve just finished my morning practice, which is a habit of mine. So when you''re done getting ready, well, could you come at 8:00 a.m.? It is about half past seven now. Then, 8 o''clock seems like a very short time. I wonder if such a thought appeared on his face. Twenty minutes is all that is necessary and sufficient. I will be waiting for you. With these words, Gloria opened the door of her house and disappeared inside without waiting for Jin''s reply. "Well, she''s a bit pushy, isn''t she? Bago, you know?" Jin let out a sigh, smiled, and asked. "Yes, I know him by name. She is, as she said herself, the vice-captain of the Kingsguard female knight corps. She is a baroness, of course, and a knight (Ritter). Since knight is a title rather than a status, it is quite possible that she is a baroness and a knight. "You seem to be a very strong man, and I hear that you are also an instructor for female knights." "Oh, so he knows about Licia. Jin guesses. "Well then, let''s get some things done first. Jin said and started walking toward the house he had been told. Hannah and the others followed. "Reiko, maybe you, or even the old man, knew that Licia was not back yet?" Jin said what he thought as they walked. Reiko nodded. "Yes. But if your father gave the sword directly to Licia, why would he give her a sword that he had supposedly lost in the Tetrada?So, after discussing it with the old man, he kept quiet about it. Jin heard this and thought, "Indeed. It would be very bad if the connection between Makina and Jin was known. He knew that Reiko and the old man had kept quiet for Jin''s sake, and he felt sorry for his thoughtlessness. At the same time, he was glad to know that Reiko and the old man were not following him blindly, but were serving him of their own will and for their own good. Well, I think I would have listened to him even if he had told me beforehand, but I didn''t say so because I wasn''t sure about it. The second house around the corner. Sure enough, there was a small inscription on the gate that said . "Here it is! Jin checked the house and handed the sword to Burgot, "Tell him that someone named Machina gave it to me. "Give it to me, saying that a man named Machina has given it to me. Bago used the knocker attached to the door. A few moments later the door opened. "Yes, who is it?" An elderly woman, who looked like a maid, peeked out. "Oh, you are sure this is Mr. Farheit''s house, aren''t you? Yes, it seems so. "I know you are not at home, Miss Licia, but I have something for you from a man named Machina. Could you give this to her when you return?" Burgot said and held out a sword wrapped in a cloth. The maid took it without question. "Here you are, then." Burgos turned himself back to her. She thought she heard someone say her name from behind, but she left the room. "Well, that''s the most important thing done," he said. But 8 o''clock was still a long way off. "Father, are you going to his house? Reiko said. "Well, I don''t know what he wants to talk about, but if he''s the vice-captain of this country''s Guard of Honor and a baroness, I''m afraid we''ll have trouble later if we ignore him." "Indeed. There are a lot of aristocrats like that." Erza said so too and Reiko had no further objection. "So... So what are you going to do?Hannah and Erza don''t have to go out with me, do they?" But Erza and Hanna.., "I told you before. We''re here together, so we''re going together." "I want to be with you." They both declared that they would stay with Jin as they had done before. "Okay. Then we''ll work together. And, well, thank you for your hard work, Bago. If you stay in contact with him too long, it could be troublesome if your true identity is revealed, so you should leave it at that. If you need me, you can contact me through the built-in manacam. "Yes, I understand. I will leave you now. If you need anything else, please feel free to call me. Burgos bowed and left. "Well, let''s go around there and kill some time before we go back. So we decided to go around the lower class aristocratic district. Jin had an image of a house for sale. There was a small garden of only a few square meters, and two-story houses were built at the back of the garden. Each house had its own characteristics, with some having only a lawn, others a garden full of flowers and grasses, others a garden with fruit trees, and still others a garden with bare soil and a bleak landscape. To Jin''s surprise, several houses had pumps installed. Hannah, on the other hand, said, "Wow, it''s beautiful!Oh, those flowers look like queries!Oh, is that a pump? Everything she sees seems to be unusual and she is always excited. Seeing Hannah like this, Jin was glad that he had brought her here. Most of the houses are made of stone. Most of the houses are made of stone, mostly granite. Sometimes there were houses made of wood. When we returned to the central intersection, the sundial showed a little before 8:00 p.m. "Oh, that''s just right," he said. "Oh, that''s perfect. Let''s go to Gloria''s house. It was about a five-minute walk from the intersection. This was Gloria''s house. When I got to the front of the house, an elderly man who looked like a butler was standing there. "Are you Mr. Jin''s family?" Jin answered yes, and the butler bowed reverently, The butler bowed reverently and said, "We have been waiting for you. The lady is waiting for you. Please come in. He opened the front door. "Oh, I''m sorry to disturb you." The house was neat and tidy. "This way, please." The butler led Jin and the others into what appeared to be a parlor at the back of the first floor. "Welcome, Jin-dono and your sister. There, Gloria was waiting for them, dressed to the nines. Her blouse, modestly decorated with lace and other ornaments, was quite full on the chest, and the strap of the dagger she was carrying was cutting diagonally into her cleavage, as if she was wearing a knight''s sundress. The silk riding trousers she was wearing were dyed in a refined purplish-gray color and showed a calm and shiny appearance. Her light brown hair was neatly coiffed and accented with a gold hair clip. But what caught my attention more than that were the dozens of swords on the wall behind her. "I am honored to be invited. Jin, the elder of the two, addresses the group on behalf of the others. But Gloria interrupts him, "Ah, as I said before, you are a foreign tourist. You can be more open. I have this tone myself." His tone is masculine, perhaps because of his job as a knight. The butler frowned slightly but said nothing. He suggested they sit down, and when they sat down, "Please have a cup of tea and relax first. With these words, Gloria ordered the butler to prepare tea and tea sweets. The tea normally drunk in the Kingdom of Klein is made from tea leaves from the same tea tree as the one in the village of Kaina. Jin, Erza, and Hannah were relieved at the familiar taste. But Reiko did not drink it. "Hmm, what''s the matter?Your daughter ......, you say Reiko, doesn''t drink?" Hitoshi answered honestly, since they had discussed this beforehand. "Reiko is an automaton, she doesn''t need to eat." Gloria''s eyes widened when she heard this. "What?An automata?...... Excellent work!It''s as good as being an honorary magical craftsman!" Gloria is surprised to hear that Reiko is an automata and praises her. But Jin is more concerned about the wall behind her. 275 - - 10-09 Disappointing Beauty and the Blacksmith Gloria senses that Jin''s gaze is fixed on the wall behind her, "Hmm?Oh, this collection, it''s my hobby. She said. "It''s not a practical collection, but I display beautiful things." But Jin was still staring at the wall, or rather at the sword on the wall. "What is it, Jin-dono?" Gloria asked him suspiciously, and he finally looked back at her, "No, it''s quite a collection, it''s very informative. He replied, "No, it''s quite a collection. "Reference?" Gloria seemed to have an idea and clapped her hands together. "I see!So you are interested in swords!Most of the swords on display here are ceremonial swords, but they still have some utility. The top one on the right is a replica of the one used by the knights of the kingdom about 150 years ago, but it is quite different from the current one and has a warp. The warped shape is useful for slitting, but it requires a lot of skill to make it, so the replica was made by casting instead of forging. The one below that is made of silver. It is often considered as a mere decoration, not even mithril, but I like it because it is an example of successfully putting magic in it and it is quite a nice design. The one below that was purchased from the Kingdom of Leonard and is wider as it goes to the tip of the sword, I think because it is more convenient for slashing with its weight. The bottom one is a recent one and is used as standard by the Magic Knights. ..." Jin was slightly taken back as he began to ramble on at once. (......) "He looks a bit like my brother Rai." Erza muttered in a whisper. Hannah was not listening from the beginning. She is picking up some snacks that were served with the tea. Reiko is not interested in her. (A beautiful woman is a beautiful woman, but a regrettable beauty. ......) Jin was half listening to the conversation with this impression in his mind. "...... So, if you''re interested in swords, we can talk about it quickly. Let me tell you why I came all the way here. Gloria said after a few words and drank the tea in one gulp, moistening her dry mouth, "Could you make me a sword too?" She then said, "Could you make me a sword? "A sword for Gloria-san? "Yes. Of course, it''s not for display here. I finally broke my favorite sword the other day. I have a few spare swords, but none of them are any good. He looked Jin straight in the eye, "I have seen Licia''s sword, and it is a good one. I wonder if you could make me one of your swords. After he finished, he bowed his head lightly. "Why don''t you make one for her? Hannah, seeing Gloria''s condition, said to her, "Oh, Hannah, I want you to make one for me. "Oh, it''s Hannah, isn''t it? How about it, Jin-dono? "Brother Jin, since you''re saying this..." Even Erza said so, so Jin broke down. "I don''t mind if you make it, but what about the ingredients? But it''s not good if you don''t have the materials. "Oh, I know a blacksmith who can help you with that. "I see. ......" Well, if you have the materials, I have no objection to making it. If Elsa and Hannah want to make it, that''s even better. Jin just thought that he had come all the way to Alban to see the sights. "Well then, let''s go make it. Since time is limited, the sooner the better. "Well, you say so!Okay, let''s go now! Gloria stood up. But then she looked at Hannah, "Oh, your sisters can stay here if you want, what are you going to do? What do you want to do? She seemed to have taken care of me in her own way. "I want to stay here with my sister. I''ll go with my brother Jin." Both of them said yes, so Gloria nodded and we all agreed to go together. We left Gloria''s house and walked straight for about 10 minutes in the direction of the city walls. The blacksmith''s workshop was located right next to the wall. The blacksmith''s workshop was located a little far from the residential area because of the noise and fire involved in the blacksmithing work. "This is it. He''s a skilled blacksmith who would normally be a member of the Royal Knights, but he''s a bit eccentric and has taken up residence here, saying that his job is to forge the tools of the common people." As Gloria was explaining this, a stout man came out from inside, "You''re the one who''s calling people bigoted and whatnot. ...... Oh, what''s that, girl?" he said. He said, "You''re a bigot or something. He was about the same height as Jin. But his arms were thicker than his body would allow. "Duston, I''m already 23, you can''t have a little girl. The old blacksmith called Duston laughs and says. "Well, you''re still a little girl in my eyes. So what can I do for you today? "Well, I broke my favorite sword," he says. But Duston interrupts Gloria as she is about to say that, "No, no, no, no, no. I''ve decided I''m not making any more weapons. I can''t ask you to do me this favor." He shakes his head. But Gloria says something to that effect. "No, I''m not asking Duston to make it for me. I''m just asking him to share his materials with me. Duston frowns when she says this. "Really?Well, you''re the only one who asked me to do that, so I''m willing to do it. But who are you going to ask?" "Yes, to Master Jin here." What?What? That little bastard can''t even handle a hammer! Reiko was about to jump out of her skin when she heard those words, and Jin quickly put his hand on her head. That dissuaded Reiko. "Onii-chan is amazing!" Hannah was not silent. "Oh, sweetie?" Even stubborn Duston couldn''t yell back when a girl as old as his grandson yelled at him. "Onii-chan makes everything!Ponpu, riyakaa, minto! She stared at him. But Duston heard a word in Hannah''s words that caught his attention. "What did you just say, little girl?Didn''t you say pump?" "Yes!He said I was in trouble, and he pumped!" "What did you say? ......" Duston stared at Jin with a surprised look on his face. And Gloria felt the same way. She looked as surprised as Duston. "Po, it was Jin-dono who made the pump?I never heard that before, that''s amazing! "Yes, yes, well..." Jin, who was the main topic of conversation, could not keep up with the tension of the people around him and was a bit withdrawn. "......Well, I know that a magecraftsman can do some amazing things." After the excitement had died down, Duston invited the group into his workshop and sat them down in a chair in a corner. "I''ve always wanted to make tools and magic tools. It''s fun to make tools that are useful for everyone. Jin also said in a quiet tone. He must have been quite honest about this, since he had been going through a lot of rough times recently. "Oh, you know what you''re talking about, young man!Yes, the common people''s life is the first thing to be taken care of! Duston heard Jin''s line and got excited again. "That''s why I make knives and spoons and kitchen knives!" "Ah, Duston, I''m sorry, but they don''t have much time either, so it would be great if you could share your materials with us soon. ......" Gloria opened her mouth, knowing that if she remained silent, her business would never seem to end. Deep down, she too was eager to hear what Jin, the supposed developer of the pump, had to say. "Mhm, ah, yes, I guess so. What do you want?I don''t have any adamantite or mithril. To which Jin replied. "Iron would be nice. And, if you don''t mind, I''d like to take a look at your work. "Hmm?I''ve got plenty of iron. And a tour, yes, that''s fine, but is it interesting? Duston said, but Jin looked at Elsa and Hannah alternately, "Elsa, you should see how to make blades without using magic. And Hannah, this little father of yours is the same man who works with Hannah''s grandfather. "Hmm. If Brother Jin says so... What?With grandpa? Erza nodded and Hannah looked puzzled. "So your grandfather was a blacksmith too. Good, go ahead and take a look. With that Duston got up. He lit the furnace. The furnace seemed to be powered by magic, and there was no charcoal or coal to be found. I don''t make my own iron. I make tools from iron I buy. Saying this, he grabbed an ingot that had been broken into pieces of appropriate size and heated it in the furnace. When the ingots turn red, they are removed from the furnace, placed on an anvil, and stretched by hitting them with a hammer. When the material cools and hardens, it becomes hard to work with, so it is put back into the furnace several times during the process to heat it up. "Wow, it''s forming into a shape! Hannah exclaims in surprise. Duston hammered the iron into the shape of a knife. When the shape of the knife was roughly formed, he finished it with a chisel and a file. The shape of a kitchen knife classified as a beef knife was completed. "You have to burnish it. I''m sorry, but it''s a secret, so I can''t show you ......, but if you want to watch from a distance, that''s fine. With these words, Jin and the others retreated to a corner of the workshop. Watching from a distance, Duston finally grabbed the knife and put it in the furnace. This time he stared at it carefully, and when the knife turned orange, he took it out and dipped it into the water at once. Steam rose up with a whoosh sound. Even from a distance, it was powerful in its own way. Elsa and Hannah, who had never seen it before, looked a little surprised. "Well, that''s it for the hardening process. The last step is tempering. Duston explained in a mumbled voice and finally grabbed the knife again. This time he does not put it inside but holds it over the furnace to sear it. After a few moments, he pulled it away from the furnace. "It''s done!" He waits for the knife to cool, files the surface, and then sharpens it with a whetstone. Finally, the handle is attached. It took about an hour to complete one knife. 276 - - 10-10 Humanity "Thank you very much for your help. Thank you." Jin thanked Duston. "Hannah, did you see that?Hannah''s grandfather used to make all kinds of things like that. "Yes, I see. She''s very different from her grandma. ...... Jin patted Hannah''s head, "Yeah, I can''t make things like that." He said. And to Elsa, "What do you think?" He asked her. Elsa answered with a slightly upturned face. "Hmm. I learned that knives and other blades we usually use are made in this way. It was informative." "Yes, it was. And the final hardening and tempering, those are very important for iron and steel. He explains. Naturally, Elsa asks questions. "What do you mean?" "Well, steel, which is a kind of iron, is heated to the color of Citran and then cooled rapidly to make it hard. That''s quenching." That''s quenching. If it is left as it is, it is hard but brittle, and it breaks easily. That''s why tempering is done to make it sticky. Keep it at a temperature so high that the droplets of water that fly off will form into dancing balls, and then cool it slowly." "Hmm, okay." "Knowing this will make all the difference in your magecrafting. As Jin was explaining all this, Duston came in with a grim look on his face. "Hey, young man!Who told you this secret?Usually you are only taught this knowledge when you are recognized by your master as a full-fledged master.I was taught it when I was over 30 years old!" He was surprised that Jin, who looked 20 years old, knew about it (Jin was already 21 years old). "Who?" "My teacher. "Your teacher is so generous...he''s amazing. ......" Duston looks stunned. "Hey, let''s see how you make it, too. "Nmm.... I''d like to see my brother Jin make one too. Hannah and Erza were saying such things to Jin, and he laughed as they encouraged him, "May I use your workshop?" He asked Duston. "Yes, I''ll show you what a magecraftsman does! Duston readily agreed. Jin immediately went to the iron ingot. "<>......mmm......" After checking the quality of the iron, Jin called Erza to study it. "Elsa, come here for a minute. ......Note that the analysis is to find out the composition of this iron, but you can''t understand what you don''t know. That''s why we need knowledge." Jin then cast the Analyze spell, and after checking it again himself, he asked Erza to try it too. "Hmmm..." he said. <" This worked the first time, "I got some idea of ...... iron. But the others are so jumbled up that I can''t understand them at all......." Elsa frowned. "Ha, that''s understandable. Listen, <> copper. <> silicon. <>Sulfur. >Phosphorus." Jin applied four extractions to the original ingot. This separated copper, silicon, sulfur, and phosphorus, albeit in small quantities. All of them are small enough to fit in the palm of one''s hand, but as impurities, they are too large to be ignored. Look, these are the impurities. Each one of them is already a pure substance, so let''s analyze each one of them. "Hmmm... >...... "How is it?" Jin asks Erza, who looks a little surprised. Elsa''s cheeks flush, "I know a little about copper and sulfur. Perhaps because both substances were relatively familiar to her, Erza was now able to distinguish between them. "Good. I don''t want to take up too much of your time, so today''s lesson is over. You can watch the rest." "Hmmm..." Jin finishes his lecture to Erza and resumes knife making. Behind him, Duston''s jaw is about to drop off, but he doesn''t notice. Reiko stands proudly beside him. "<>. <>" Jin separates the necessary amount of iron with engineering magic. With the next magic, the iron changed its shape in Jin''s hand and became a kitchen knife. "Okay, so that''s the shape. I''d like to say that the rest is heat treatment, but there is a little less carbon. Jin confirmed that the carbon content was about 0.5 percent. The amount of carbon is the factor that has the greatest influence on hardening hardness, and for knives, 0.8 to 1.2 percent is suitable. <>" The carbon is extracted from the carbon dioxide in the air and mixed with the iron. Since this magic can only contain carbon on the surface, we use the engineering magic of homogenization to homogenize the components. After repeating this several times, the carbon content reached 1 percent. It''s about time. "All right, Elsa, keep an eye on it. " Erza, who had been observing the magic flow, could feel that the knife held by Jin was heated for a moment, then quenched, lightly heated once again, and then returned to room temperature. "Isn''t it hot?" Elsa asked worriedly as she sensed that the temperature had risen to the point where the iron turned citran (orange), albeit only for a moment. "Yes, I''m fine. What Elsa sensed was only a change in the state of the iron, not its temperature. That''s the beauty of engineering magic. Jin handed Erza the knife. Erza realizes that it is indeed not hot. Behind her, Hannah''s eyes are shining, and next to her, Duston''s eyes are wide as if they are about to fall out, following his jaw that is about to come off. "Let''s put the blade on last. . Let''s clean the surface too,<>." The blackish knife shines silver-gray. "Okay, it''s done. Mr. Duston, do you have a pattern for this one? ......?" When Jin turned around, Duston looked at him with an inexpressible expression on his face. "Hello, Mr. Duston. Hello, Mr. Duston. When Jin called out to him, Duston finally reactivated. "Ah, ah. I was surprised to see a magecraftsman at work for the first time. So, wait a minute, what did you do to that ingot? He is saying that Jin separated the impurities from the ingot. "Yes. There were some impurities in the ingot, so I separated them. "...... can you even do that? ......" Daston was a bit out of it. "So, the handle. This is the standard handle I use. A kitchen knife handle made of hard wood. The knives made by Jin were almost the same size as Duston''s, so he just put them on and that was the end of it. Gloria, who had been watching Jin''s work as well, was still absent-minded, but she rebooted herself. "Jin, Jin-dono!You are amazing!I knew Licia was telling the truth!Can you please make me a sword as soon as possible?" The unfortunate beauty was showing her true colors. Jin nodded, "I know. So what kind of sword do you want? He asked. "We female knights have a short sword as our official equipment. The blade should be 50 centimeters long and the handle about 20 centimeters long. The shortsword here is called that in contrast to the longsword wielded on horseback. It does not mean a short sword. "I understand. Jin said, and secured the necessary amount by separating the ingot from the one he had just used. Knowing Licia''s sword, he has a rough idea of the quantity. Then, after deformation (forming) and carburizing (carburizing), heat treatment (heat treating), forming (shaping), and finishing (finishing). After further hardening, the body of the sword is completed. Erza, who had been watching the work, asked a question. Brother Jin, why did you carburize the sword less often than before?And you didn''t use homogenization. "Oh, you''ve been paying attention. The worst thing for a sword is to break. The ideal sword is one that doesn''t break, doesn''t bend, and cuts well. Composite materials can achieve this. Jin explains. "Composite?" "Yes. In other words, we use relatively soft iron for the core and hard steel for the blade. And harden the surface." After I said that, Erza looked up at me and said, "I understand. "The core is soft so it won''t break easily. If we carburize (carburize) only the surface to make it hard, it will not bend easily. And if you harden it, it will cut better." "Correct." When Jin praised her, Erza''s cheeks turned a little red with happiness. "Oh, you, you, you!I''ve never heard of that process before!You can''t just talk about such a secret recipe like that!" Daston, who was listening in the back, said excitedly. "Yes, it''s okay. I''ve been using Duston''s workshop, and he''s been sharing his iron with me. Do you have materials to make sword sheaths and hilts? Jin said so matter-of-factly that even Duston was taken aback, and his excitement subsided. "Yes. You''ve brought a great guy with you. Saying this, he points to a shelf of materials in the back. "Use whatever you can find there." Jin then rummages through the shelves. He chooses thick leather for the scabbard, bronze for the tsuba, and hard wood for the handle. These too were quickly shaped and processed by engineering magic, and finally the shortsword was complete. "Thank you very much for your patience, Gloria. Please check it." "Yes, thank you." Gloria received the shortsword, sheathed it, and lightly shook it. "How do you like it?I can adjust the weight a little, so don''t hesitate to ask." "Yes. I think the tip is a little heavy. At Jin''s request, Gloria gave her impression. I understand. You can keep it. ......<>" Jin further strengthens the tapered shape a little. "How about this?" Gloria swings the short sword again, "Yes, that''s better!Thank you, Jin-dono! She thanked him with a big smile on her face. 277 - - 10-11 As expected, the disturbance... It is almost lunchtime. All right, I''ll take care of lunch. With these words, Gloria Allstadt invited Jin and the others to lunch. She also invited Duston, but he refused, saying that his wife had made him a lunch box. "When I was a little girl, I used to go to Duston''s workshop and watch him make knives." It seems that the budding beauty was already there by then. He stopped by the house to drop off his sword and then went to the central street. The time indicated by the large sundial was around 11:45. There were more people on the street than in the morning. I have a favorite restaurant. Gloria took the lead in showing Jin and the others around. "Here it is." The restaurant was located on the central street, a little further back in the direction of the gate from which Jin and the others had just arrived. The signboard read "Crystal Pavilion," and although the restaurant was small in size, the atmosphere inside was pleasant. It was a little early at midnight, so there were not many customers yet. Welcome, Mr. Allstadt! The waitress, who appeared to be a regular, greeted me in a friendly manner. "Hello, Feo. I brought a guest for you today. I''d like four servings of your recommendation, please. "Yes, sir." The waitress called Feo bowed and went to the kitchen to place the order. The lunch here has a good reputation. Off-duty soldiers and knights often come here. Gloria explained. "There was a battle going on all the way to the west near Tetrada until the other day, but it seems to be over now. The fast horses arrived yesterday. The Kingdom of Egelea was fighting with the Kingdom of Cerroa, but it seems to be over now. This information was brought to us by a pigeon the day before yesterday. Are you sure you want us to hear that? No, I don''t mind. You must be worried about the state of your country.Consider it part of the thanks for making the shortsword for me. Thank you very much. He knows about it, or rather, he is the one who knows about it, but he is saying it as a courtesy, so Jin thanks him. "Thank you for waiting." The food arrived quite quickly. "This is how we have tried to reduce the variety of dishes, but instead we have carefully selected the flavors and shortened the cooking time. Gloria explained. In short, it is a set meal that changes daily, and it is commendable that they came up with this idea in this world. And as she explained, the food tasted quite good. Freshly baked bread, vegetable soup, dried fish stew, and grilled venison. And aprs-soup. It was not a high class dish, but it was familiar and could be enjoyed by both the common people and the lower class aristocrats. By the way, Jin was curious about the bread. It was not pure white, but not whole-grain bread. To put it bluntly, it looks just like the one they eat in the village of Kaina. "This bread: ......" Gloria explains with a look that says she knows what I''m talking about. "Oh, isn''t it delicious?It''s been on the rise lately. It''s made with flour sold by a fast-growing trading company called Raglan Trading Company. I knew it, Jin thought. It''s nice to realize that you are making a difference in the world in this way. He expected Hannah to say something, but she seemed to be absorbed in the dried fish stew. "You know a lot, don''t you? Jin thought she was very knowledgeable about the world for a knight, "Well, the owner''s wife and I have known each other since we were children," Gloria replied. Gloria answered. Jin thought, "I see. * * * * * * After dinner, tea was served. "So, the gratuity for the sword..." Gloria opened her mouth before drinking the tea. How much should I pay you?I''d like to say I''m willing to pay anything, but there''s a limit to how much I can pay. ...... To Gloria, Hitoshi said, "It didn''t cost me anything for the materials, so I''ll take the value that Gloria-san gave for the sword. I''m fine with the value that Gloria-san gave for the sword. To be honest, Jin did not know the market price of the sword. But that is the most annoying thing, Gloria muttered and thought about it. But then she seemed to make up her mind, looked up, took out a smaller leather bag from the pochette-like bag attached to her waist, and placed it in front of Jin. "Here is all I have." "What?" When Jin checked the contents of the leather bag, he found seven gold coins and fifteen silver coins. That''s 71,500 dollars. "That''s too much," Jin said. Jin said, "That''s too much," but Gloria was not afraid to say that she would pay 100,000 Tol for the sword and that it was sacrilege to haggle. Jin was a little troubled, but he came up with a good line of persuasion. A craftsman is willing to have his work used for free by someone who recognizes the value of what he has made and values it. So I''ll just take this." He pulled out two gold coins and returned the rest to Gloria. "Please take good care of them, or rather, make them useful." To Jin, Gloria bowed her head in reply. As she began to drink her tea, which had cooled down a little, there was a commotion outside. "What''s going on?What''s going on? Before Gloria could finish her words, there were more sounds of something breaking and people screaming. Gloria knew that this was something out of the ordinary and ran outside. She is a knight around here. The bill was apparently paid. Jin and the others followed her outside. And then... "...... Golem?" That looks familiar. It''s the old Golem of the Unification Party. Three of the old Golems, the prototypes of Gon and Gen, were tearing around the central street. "What the hell!" Gloria asks a soldier standing nearby. "Ah, Gloria-sama. No, no, I don''t know exactly, but I can tell you that at twelve o''clock, those three appeared from the wagons and went on a rampage. Indeed, there were three half-broken wagons lying at the end of the street. Can''t you stop them? "Yes, sir. Our swords are no match for them. We''ve requested a squad of mage knights, but we haven''t ...... yet." This is not the time for this! Gloria turns to the three golems. The golems have begun destroying stores along the street. People run for cover. Many people run out of the destroyed stores. And some turn back at the sight of the Golem. A small child, apparently separated from his parents, falls down in front of the Golem. "Look out!" The Golem, without hesitation, looks as if it is about to trample the child. "Reiko!Save the kid! "Yes!" Jin''s order. Reiko responds, and is on the move in an instant. Jin''s orders were to . The best way to save the child would be to pick him up and get out of the way, but it is difficult to do so at this moment. If Reiko picked up the child at the speed she was going, the child''s slender body would not be able to withstand the acceleration. Reiko, who judged so instantly, took an action to become a shield of the child. She covers the child with her hands and knees as if to protect it. Then the golem''s legs attacked. Those present saw the golem''s feet being lowered to Reiko, who got down to protect the small child, before they could wonder about Reiko, who had moved in an instant. Some women covered their eyes, unable to bear the sight of Reiko and the child, who would be crushed instantly. But Reiko''s body was not a small thing to be crushed by a golem. "Oh? Gloria, who had not taken her eyes off the Golem, looked at her. Reiko had caught the golem''s foot with her back, and was not even moved. "<>" Then, Erza''s wind magic exploded. The child was hit while lifting one leg, and was easily knocked over. At that moment, Reiko slowly got up, holding the fallen child in her arms. She rushes back to Jin and the others. "Father, the child is safe. Jin patted Reiko on the head and praised her as she came back holding the child who was crying and blubbering. "Reiko, you did well. You made the right decision." "Reiko, you did a good job!" "That''s great, Reiko! Hannah praised her too, and Reiko''s face broke into a smile. The child had scraped her knee, so Erza casts a healing spell. "<>". The blood stopped and the child finally stopped crying. "Yes, it''s all right now. No more pain?" "...... yes." Thank goodness," Elsa said, turning her attention back to the golem. "<>" Jin uses dig, an earth magic, to make the golem fall into the pit, blocking its movement. Reiko is moving to protect the people around her to avoid being seen as a bad influence, although it would be over soon if Reiko were to get out of hand. "<>" Jin then stops the golem, which is blocked from moving. In fact, he is also secretly supported by the stealth mobile unit (SP), which has disappeared. Jin himself is also acting while putting up a barrier. The second body stops, and only one remains. At that moment. "<>" The remaining golem is blown away by the burst of flame magic. 278 - - 10-12 Princesses "Advanced fire magic?" Shards of the blown golem rained down. The walls of nearby buildings were gutted and some people were injured by the debris. Some people were burned by the debris. "What have you done to the city?Elsa, look after the injured. "Yes." Jin ran to the building. There was a large crack in the building, and it looked like it was about to collapse. "<>" Jin repairs it with engineering magic. For the time being, it seems that the wall is no longer in danger of collapsing. "Oh, thank you very much. ......" Erza seems to have taken care of most of the wounded as well. After taking a breath, Erza looked again in the direction where the magic had come from. There was a magic knight there. Several knights who came from the same direction are checking for suspicious persons in the vicinity. "Captain!" Gloria shouted, ran up to him and glared at him a little. The mage knight looked at Gloria in a bad way. "I''m sorry. I think I used a little too much power. "Not just a little!The people have been affected!You''re always, always, always!You should know how to control it! But if we don''t do something, the damage will be much worse. ...... "I understand that!That''s why I''m asking you to be more lenient!" A closer look at the person being chided by Gloria reveals a woman who looks to be no more than 30 years old and is only slightly shorter than Gloria. Her hair is also cut very short and is a bright red. Her eyes are also a light brown color that looks like red, giving the impression at a glance that she is good at fire magic. However, the current theory is that there is no correlation between the color of her hair and her specialties. The breastplate is large and prominent, the kind of volume that Reinhardt would have liked. "Gloria, there you are! How''s the damage?" A carriage was parked behind the woman called "captain" and such a voice called out from inside. Gloria was startled and straightened her posture when she saw the owner of the voice. Yes, there is some damage to the building, but it seems that emergency repairs have been made. The human casualties were minor, but several people were injured by the aftermath of the Flame Lance. However, they have been healed with the help of those who can use healing magic. Gloria answered with an erect and steadfast stance, and then pointed to Erza who was treating the injured in the back. "Okay. We will compensate the residents well enough later. I will give Jessica a stern talking-to. But right now we have to clean up the mess first. Jessica, you''re in charge. "Yes, sir!" The woman whom Gloria had called the captain responded with a salute as she received the order from inside the carriage. Meanwhile, female knights who seem to be under her command capture three suspicious men around the wagons. These three men had apparently brought the wagon to this location. Although I say "wagon", the horses were not hitched to the wagon, and they pulled it by themselves. "Take them back for questioning. "We''ll bring them back for questioning and have them come back later for your two golems. Jessica then walked up to Jin. "Thanks to your efforts, we were able to capture the two golems," she said, "and I thank you. My name is Jessica Norton, the captain of the Kingsguard female knight corps of the Kingdom of Klein. My name is Jin, Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. "Ah, a guest from the Kingdom of Egelea. Is the woman who is treating you over there one of yours?" He looked at Elsa. "Yes, she is my sister. My name is Elsa. This is my sister Hannah. Jin then introduced Elsa and Hannah. "Well, let''s thank your sister as well. So, there is a man in the carriage over there who would like to thank you personally. Will you come with me? Since the captain of the Kingsguard female knight corps said "that gentleman," I should have a pretty good idea what he meant. Yes, I understand. Jin agreed. "Well, I''m sorry. You and your sisters should come with us. ...... Gloria was off duty today. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. And I''ll see you tomorrow at the palace. "Yes, sir." Gloria glanced at Jin and the others as her boss said this, Then Jin-dono, Erza-dono, and Hannah-dono. I apologize for the rush at the end, but I must leave now. If you ever need anything else, please do not hesitate to ask for my house. With that, he bowed lightly and left. "Come on, Mr. Jin, this way," Jessica Norton said. Jessica Norton beckoned Jin and the others and led them to a carriage parked at the end of the central street. As they approached, they saw that it was a very handsome structure. He opened the door of the carriage and said, "I can''t tell you who he is, but let me just tell you that he is a nobleman of this country. With these words he opens the door of the carriage, "Mr. Rhys, I have brought you here." He called out, "Mr. Rys, I have brought you. A cheerful voice came from inside. "Oh, yes!I am Rieschen Fuchsische Klein! "...... What?" Princess of this country? "Princess of this country? Despite Jessica''s concern, the princess was there, proudly announcing herself. * * * * * * "......?" Inside the carriage, Jessica sighs. Beside her is the dark brown-haired, blue-eyed princess. She was dressed in elegant clothes without frills or other unnecessary decorations, which might have been her going-out clothes, but she seemed to have been born in this way. In front of him sat Jin, Elsa, Hannah, and Reiko. "Don''t sigh so much. You will lose your happiness. Her Royal Highness says to Jessica, "Who do you think is to blame? "Whose fault is it that you think it is? The princess smiled at the tired voice of Jessica and said, "Who do you think is to blame? "It''s not in the nature of royalty to cheat or hide things!" And then Jessica sighs for the second time. "...... huh?" "Well, I''m not going to bother you with Jessica, who''s still in a stupor, but I did call you all the way up here to thank you, for one thing." The princess began. She looked to be only 12 or 3 years old, but her speech was mature, probably due to her royal upbringing. "Are you ......?" Jin opens his mouth as the representative. Yes. I saw your automata protect the fallen child, and you incapacitated two golems by dropping them into a pit. And the bigger sister was treating the wounded. The princess pointed to her right eye. "Master Rhys!Nothing more!" Jessica hurried to warn the princess about her uninhibitedness in speaking out about matters that should be kept secret, but the princess didn''t seem to be offended. "Is it a magic eye ......? A demon eye is, as the name implies, an eye with magical powers. It is very rare and is said to be one in tens of thousands. The effects of the eye vary, some are clairvoyant, some can see through disguises and mimicry to reveal the truth, and some are enchanting, like the eye of Elena, the Princess of Golden Destruction. And there are also those that can see far away, like the princesses. "I just slipped out of the castle to check on the town. There was some commotion and I rushed over to see what you guys were up to." Jin thought that the princess was a disappointing type when she said that she had escaped from the castle, even though she seemed to be talking about something honorable. Her face is well-defined, not necessarily because she is royalty, and her eyes are clear with a slight upturned look that shows her winning spirit. Her eyes are clear and slightly upturned, with a hint of elegance, but only in her gestures is there a sense of mischievousness. She said, "Now that you have given me your name, I would like to hear your names too. Jin and the others rush to tell their names. "Oh, I beg your pardon. My name is Jin. This is my sister Elsa, and this is my sister Hannah. And this is Reiko. I''m Elsa. I''m Hannah! Elsa stood up and gave a short bow, pinching the hem of her skirt. Hannah greeted her cheerfully. Reiko remained expressionless. "Oh, I see, you''re Jin, aren''t you? You are the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, aren''t you? That is the second reason why I have summoned you. After a pause, Princess Rieschen begins to speak, this time in a rather faltering tone. "The third prince of the Kingdom of Egelea is called Ernesto-sama ....... Do you know him?Tell me if you know him. What kind of man is he?" The princess asked with a slight blush on her cheeks. Jin thinks, but answers her. Yes, she just turned thirteen years old, I think. "Hmmm, she is one year older than me. She''s quite a clever girl, and she likes golems. "....... We seem to be on the same page." He''s also very considerate of those under his command. You''re very kind. "Your Highness, perhaps a marriage proposal?" "Yes, yes. ...... what are you talking about!" The princess nodded halfway in response to Jin''s question, then turned bright red and panicked. Her appearance is appropriate for her age. "No, it''s not surprising that there are marriages between royal families, and she wants to know about the princes of distant countries. He is a man with good intuition in a strange way. "Well, well, well. For the moment, I am only making an inquiry. The princess answers with a downcast look on her face. She is kind of cute. "I think she is a good person. But I don''t know about the relationship between a man and a woman. The princess nodded as Jin finished. "Well, yes. You have been very helpful. I thank you. ...... And last but not least, I have an automaton that I would like you to fix. 279 - - 10-13 AUTOMATIC DOLL WITH BLUE HAIR Is it an automaton you want fixed? Yes. I''m sorry to say, but there are no good magecraftsmen in the Kingdom of Klein. They all give up on us. Princess Rieschen said regretfully. "I was told that there was a good magecraftsman in a remote village, but he escaped because of some idiot called Count Walter." "What?" I had heard this story somewhere. "What?You''ve heard of it too? ......Truly, the old aristocrats are so busy protecting their own interests that they don''t think about the interests of the country or the people." The princess looked at Jessica, who was standing next to her, "This Jessica is also a new noblewoman. I sometimes think that it would be a good idea to replace all the nobles. "Your Royal Highness, I think I''ll go to ...... now." Jessica interrupted softly. "Yes, I suppose so. It''s not nice to have a guest from another country complaining to you, is it? In that case, Jin, I''m going to ask you to go with me to the royal palace. It seemed that he was no longer at the stage where he could refuse. Jin gave up and agreed. But.., "I can''t fix what I can fix if I don''t have the materials. He would not forget to tell the princess, "I can''t fix what I can fix if I don''t have the materials. Then the princess said "Ummm ...... what will you need? She looked at me with difficulty. Jin explains. It depends on what is damaged. I''ll have to examine it first. So the carriage carrying the group departed. Accompanying them on both sides were four knights of the Kingsguard. Even with the princess, Jessica, Jin, Elsa, Hannah, and Reiko on board, there was plenty of room to spare. It is a carriage with four horses. However, the ride is not very comfortable. However, the road is cobblestone pavement, so it''s a good thing. Mainly for Jin. The carriage was headed for the building at the end of the central street, namely the Royal Palace. "Is it okay if we go with you? Jessica answered. "We are going to the royal palace, but since it is a detached palace, security and control are less strict than in the main palace. And since this carriage is for the exclusive use of the royal family, it is easy to check." Princess Rieschen also gave a supplementary explanation. "I am the third princess. I have two older brothers and two older sisters. Moreover, a princess who has not yet reached adulthood has no right of succession to the throne. Therefore, even though she is royalty, she is treated lightly. Prince Ernest was also a concubine, Jin remembered. Somehow, I have a feeling that such royalty would be better off, but I can''t say it out loud. The detached palace was the building on the left toward the front of the palace, in other words, at the western end. It was a little different from what Jin had imagined, but I was convinced that it might be like that in a different world. Hannah was absorbed in looking out of the window as it was the first time for her to ride in a carriage. Elsa looks out the window with a slightly curious look on her face. "Here we are, here we are..." The door of the carriage is opened from the outside and a step is prepared for getting out. Reiko gets out first, and looks out the window. Of course, nothing happens. Erza gets off by herself, a little envious of Hannah''s help. "Thank you for your hard work, Jessica. You can go now." The princess said, but Jessica shook her head. "No, I will stay with you until the end of the day." "You''re a serious guy, if only you were better at magic. ...... Well, good." With these words, the princess entered through the entrance of the huge, albeit detached, palace. Jessica led the way and the others followed. Jessica was a little disappointed by the princess''s words. The place was not as popular as I had expected. It seems that this place is also understaffed. The only thing that caught my eye was an automaton. They were dressed in maidens'' uniforms, and it was clear that they were making up for the lack of staff. But... "Hmmm, why are they in such a bad shape? This was Jin''s impression after seeing the automata. And Erza, "Brother Jin, something is wrong with the movements of these automata. They seem to be moving in a jerky manner. She said. She had seen the golems Jin had made in Horai Island and Kunlun Island, so she could tell the difference in their movements. Whether she heard our conversation or not, the princess walked silently and stopped in front of a room. "Here." She put her hand on the door, turned around and let out a sad voice. "Jin, please, fix her..." she said. Then she opened the door herself. The walls of the room were covered with tapestries of flowers and butterflies, and the floor was carpeted in a soft young grass color. The room looked like a child''s room. "Wow, what a cute room! Hannah must have had the same impression, because she said something like that. Yes, this is the room I used to live in when I was a little girl. The princess''s eyes were slightly moist as she said these words. "Please take off your shoes before entering." With that, the princess neatly laced up her dark brown shoes, took them off, and stepped onto the carpet. Jin and the others followed. Only Jessica stood guard at the entrance. She looked around the room, feeling the softness of the carpet under her feet. A crib was placed in one corner, and a shadow sat beside it. "That''s ......." "...... Anne?" Jin and Elsa shout at almost the same time. Sitting there was a blue-haired automata. At a glance, it was obvious that it was the same type as Anne. "Anne?" The princess overheard the murmur. "She is not called that. <. She''s one of my ...... nannies." Jin did not miss the note of sadness in her voice. So he went over to <>. It is definitely an automaton of the same model as Anne. Its state of preservation is somewhat better than when Anne was found. However, it has stopped. Before investigating the cause, Jin questioned the princess. "Princess Rieschen, how did you get this tier? Hearing this, the princess reacted with a twitch. Jin, you ask how, not from whom. Well, you do know, don''t you?Tia is certainly not a recent creation. It was found in the ruins. When Jin heard that, he thought. "Tia is an automata, but she was also my concubine''s nanny. I''ve heard that when she was a child, she even suckled her own breasts." Certainly, Anne''s same model would have been equipped with nipples. The fact that it has a breast-feeding function may mean that it is custom-built. "When I was a child, Tia could talk but could not move. Even so, she told me many stories and sang to me. But ......" The princess looks down. "Three years ago, Tia suddenly stopped moving. I took it to our magecraftsmen, but they told me that they could not fix it because its structure was different from that of the automata of today. Tears glistened in his eyes. "Our country is a backward country in terms of automata and golem technology. I have heard that the Kingdom of Egelea makes extensive use of golems and automata. In fact, many of the automata working here were purchased from the Kingdom of Egelea. With these words, the princess gently touched Tia''s cheek, which had stopped moving. "I remember. Tia''s body was warm. Other automata are not cold, but they are not warm either. Then the princess looked at Jin and took his hand, "I know that Tia is a special automaton. But I want to hear Tia''s voice again, no matter what it takes. Jin. Please!Please fix Tia! Princess Rieschen''s frantic, cheerful appearance showed just how serious she was. "Onii-chan, please listen to the princess''s request. You can do it, can''t you, Onii-chan?" Hannah also looked at Hitoshi with this expression. Erza doesn''t say anything, but I can tell by the look on her face what she wants to say. Jin himself still wants to fix it. "Okay, I''ll do what I can." With that, he decided to examine Tia. Although she was better preserved than Anne, her magical skin was deteriorating and losing its elasticity, and her magical muscles were shredded in several places. The skeleton was distorted and the joints were rattled. However, the main cause of the malfunction was the ether converter. According to Jin''s assessment, the magical crystals forming the ether converter had deteriorated, and the concentration of free magical element (ether) was too low for the free magical element (mana) of this time period to be refined. There is no way that most of the magecraftsmen in this country, or even in this time period, can repair it. "Well, what do you think?Do you think you can fix it? Jin smiled at the worried princess, "Don''t worry, I can fix it. You just need magi crystals of all attributes. The princess smiled when she heard this. Hearing this, the princess smiled. I understand!Magi crystals of all attributes!I''ll have them ready for you right away!" With these words, she ordered Jessica standing in the doorway to do something. Jessica went out into the corridor and came back soon. She must have given instructions to another servant or an automata. She ordered Reiko to lay Tia down on the floor to perform some simple maintenance until the magi-crystal could be delivered. "Your Highness, may I take off my clothes so that I can fix Tia?" I asked as a matter of courtesy. Of course the princess nodded. "Elsa will undress her for me, please." Jin felt the coldness in Elsa''s eyes as she looked at him, so he decided to ask her to do so. "Yes." Erza answered shortly and started to take off Tia''s clothes. The clothes looked recent and not tattered. After removing her apron and dress, she found a slip-like underwear. As is customary in this world, there was no bra. The underwear were drawers tied with laces. "I don''t want to wear the drawers for now." Jin stopped Erza as she took off her slip. If it is the same as Anne''s, it is dangerous in many ways. Then he stops her from removing the magical skin from her chest. "Your Highness, we are going to dissect a part of Tia. I don''t know if I can show you. I will leave it to you to decide. Princess Rieschen looked down and thought for a moment, then looked up as if she had made up her mind, "Let me see. I asked for it, and above all, no matter what she looks like, Tia is Tia. I will see to it. 280 - - 10-14 Awakening, Reuniting Okay. Please watch." Jin then peels off the magical skin of the chest along the seam. The metal exterior peeked out. "Brother Jin, it doesn''t look like there are any seams." Erza, who had been watching the work, said in admiration. "That''s right, it would be a turn-off if you could see them, so they''re well hidden." As a side note, Reiko''s body has no seams. It is seamless. In the case of Anne and Tia, there are also seams in their exteriors, which can be opened to reveal their interiors. The tubes are attached to her chest, and it was found that she takes breast milk orally for feeding. This was a structure that had never existed in Anne. Jin was later told that Tia had fed the princess by sharing her breast milk with the wives of low-ranking nobles who had babies. Jin further checks the inside. "Oh ...... it''s pretty damaged." Some of the mithril silver magic nerves are also broken. The one I explained to Prince Ernest earlier as <>. Jin named them "magic nerves". Jin is reasonably comfortable with technical names. "Your Highness, do you have any mithril? Jin asked Princess Rieschen, who was watching from a distance. The princess responded immediately. Mithril. Well, if that''s all you have, use this. With these words, the princess took off the necklace around her neck. The chain was made of mithril. "May I?" Jin asked as he received the necklace, to which she immediately replied, "Yes. Jin''s evaluation of the princess increased. "Then, I will use it. ......<. <>" Mithril is added to the broken nerve wire and the connection is made. Lotte''s gift to Prince Ernest had six magical nerve wires, but Tia''s had twelve. Six for the limbs, the head, and the torso, and two for the body. This may have been to make them more reliable. Remembering that Anne had only 6 limbs. Then, this tier may have been customized, or it may be an early type. It seems to have been simplified in the later stage of mass production. Just then, the magi crystal arrived. The princess went to the door herself, received it, and handed it to Jin. "Jin, is this what you want?" It was a milky-white magi crystal. It is of sufficient quality and size. "Yes, it is fine. Jin accepts it and begins to carve the magick formula to make it into an ether converter. Since Erza was not able to do this yet, the explanation was kept simple. "It is a magical device for converting free magical element (ether) in the air into magical element (mana). After saying this, Jin concentrated on writing the Magi Formula. The formula was so delicate and minute that not only Erza but also the princess, who had a far-sighted magic eye, could not read it. But it is a task that Jin has performed many times before, and he finishes it in a flash. "Replace this with the old one," he says. The old ether converter is a dull white color. It seems to be a rather poor quality magecrystal. "For now, let''s reconnect the broken Magical Muscle and reinforce the Magical Skin. The only thing we need to do is to make it move. Beyond that, it is impossible, even for Jin, because of the lack of materials. After about half an hour of repair and maintenance, the repairs were completed. After putting the clothes back on, the last step was to activate the ether converter. Once activated, the mana she produces can be converted into energy using the mana driver, making this system a kind of perpetual motion machine. "Your Highness, what kind of magic can you use? The pattern of magic power at the time of activation determines the direction of the magic power generated thereafter. Therefore, the golem and automata created by Jin have the same magical characteristics as Jin. "What?I can use the cure, the water ball, and the water bullet. That''s good enough. Please come this way. Jin said and the princess came to Tia''s side. "Put your hand on your chest ...... and let the magic flow," Jin said. Jin said and the princess looked surprised, "What?Just magic?I''ve never done this before. she said hurriedly. Jin gently controlled her and said, "Don''t worry, "It''s all right. Just use it like you would use a cure. The moment you feel the activation,...... well, how should I put it,...... it''s like releasing your concentration." "Well,...... I kinda get what you''re saying. I''ll give it a try anyway, okay?" "Yes, please." Here we go. Let''s go. ......! Jin, who had been watching the flow of magic with tracing magic, saw that the magic gathered in the princess''s hand and was canceled just before it manifested as healing magic. Half of it dissipated into the air, but the other half was enough to activate Tia''s Aether Converter. The Aether Converter produced mana, which was sent to the Mana Driver, and then sent to various parts of Tia''s body through the magical nerves. Then Tia opens her eyes. Then she slowly raises her upper body. Her blue eyes caught Princess Rieschen''s. "Princess ......, my lady ......." Her lips moved, and slowly the words spun out. "It has been a long time ....... You have grown ...... big, haven''t you? She smiled at me. "Teh ...... Tia ......!" The princess hugged Tia. "Tia, I missed you. I missed you so much ......!" "Well, well, well, princess, you''re still a spoiled brat, aren''t you?" Tia hugged the princess tenderly. She can now move, even if it''s only her arms. The legs, however, could not be moved without materials. "I never thought I would see you again, Princess. "I ...... too!" The other guests looked at each other and left the room. Hannah was lying on the soft carpet, asleep. "She just said me, not ." In a whisper, Erza whispers to Jin. "Yes, I''m sure she said <> when Tia was working. I guess it brings me back to the old days. Jin replies in a whisper. Jessica came over to Jin and the others, "Jin-dono, I thank you too. I haven''t seen you so happy in a long time. I can''t thank you enough. Jin bowed his head. Jin was grateful. "No, I just fixed an automaton that stopped working, that''s all. If Her Royal Highness is pleased, it is Tia''s achievement. "Hmph, Jin-dono is humble. But the princess doesn''t seem to think so. Jessica looked behind Jin. Jin turned around and saw Princess Rieschen with moist eyes and flushed cheeks. "Jin, thank you!You have done what none of the Magi craftsmen in this country could do!" With these words, she took Jin''s hands. The sound of his voice woke up Hannah, who had been dozing off. "Oh, Tia, you''re moving!Oh, Tia, you''re moving! The princess smiled at the sound of her voice. "Yes, your brother is wonderful, you have a good brother." "Yes!" Elsa is smiling happily beside her. "Your Highness, even though Tia is fixed, there are still some parts that need to be repaired, so please don''t force her. Jin gave her this warning. "Yes, I understand!Jin, how should I thank you?" "Nothing. ......" As Jin was about to say this, Erza pulled his sleeve. Jin realized that she had an idea, and left it to Elsa. "Your Highness, then I would like to ask for a permit to enter Alban. All Jin has is the temporary pass issued in the morning. "Yes, that''s easy. And then? Then we''ll see about your accommodations for the night. Mm-mm. You may stay here. I''d like to talk to the djinn too! I was going to ask her to show me a place to stay, but it turns out that I will be staying here. "Let''s get the rooms ready right away! The princess went to the door and instructed the young lady-in-waiting there. Then she turned to Jin and the others, "Now, I will show you to the drawing room, please follow her. So Jin and the others were escorted to the drawing room again. The princess returned to Tia''s side and began to talk again. She must have been very happy, for she seemed to have a hard time leaving Tia. Jessica is standing guard in the hallway. One might wonder why the captain of the Kingsguard, but the lady-in-waiting told me that he had originally come up from the position of the princess''s bodyguard. "Because Jessica-sama really cares about the princess. She''s been guarding the princess since she was a little girl. She seemed to be a talkative lady-at-arms, and she talked and talked about other gossipy things in the palace that were not asked about, and then left. The guest room was now occupied by only Jin and the others. "Hey, Elsa!" Jin gave Erza a slightly reproachful look, "Brother Jin, think about what you did. You did something that no magecraftsman in this country could have done. There''s no way they''ll just let him go. He was right. So you''ll have to deal with him tonight. The way Erza said it, it sounds like she meant something else, but I understand what she meant. Hannah was fine with the rare experience of staying in a royal palace, even if it was a detached palace, but Jin was not comfortable in such a stiff place. "I''m sure Erza is used to it. ......" I muttered, "Not really. "Not really," a voice replied. "I didn''t go out socially until I was about the same age as that princess." Until then, he said, he had always been doing what he liked and playing. "That''s why I don''t like a formal atmosphere either." I guess he didn''t say he didn''t like it, Jin thought as he sat down next to Hannah and played with her brow. Hannah silently, or rather smilingly, allows him to do so. Reiko stands quietly to protect Jin, and it is almost dusk outside. 281 - - 10-15 Princesss melancholy "Sorry to keep you waiting." That''s how Princess Rieschen came in. She had changed her clothes before I knew it. "Wow, you look beautiful! Hannah exclaimed, entranced. She was wearing a loose-fitting dress instead of the going-out clothes she had been wearing a few minutes ago. The dress was peach-colored with white lace. "As a concubine, I don''t like this kind of dress. The princess smiles and utters such lines. However, her gestures are sophisticated, and it is easy to see that she is not a novice. "Dinner will be ready soon. Don''t worry about your manners, I hope you enjoy yourself. "Yes, thank you." "Yes, thank you," was all he could say. Soon after, two maidens and two automata brought the dinner. No, it was the automata that brought the dinner, and the two maidservants who put them on the table. And an elderly man, who looked like a chief chamberlain, was supervising the whole process in the corner of the room. (Ah, this automaton looks very tired. ......) (Ah, this automaton is very tired...) Jin thought that when he saw the movement of the automaton. Jin could tell just by looking at it. (I can''t fix it without permission.) He is curious about what he is curious about. It is the saga of a craftsman, you might say. The dinner was reasonably sumptuous, and the menu gave the impression of not being extravagant. A small pot of pot-au-feu-like stew with various vegetables is placed on the table. A bite-sized steak is topped with red and yellow vegetables cut into cubes and covered with sauce. A marinade made of fish with a color like salmon. Rusk-like, but not rusk-like, bread cut into small pieces and baked with sugar. Plain omelets. And a salad with lots of fresh vegetables. Persian juice was served as a drink. "This is the kind of menu I usually eat. Well, you may be dissatisfied with it, but I want you to eat it. "Yes!Bon apptit! Hannah was the first to start eating. Like Jin, Hannah is not picky about her food. Erza does not seem to like kokarisk meat, but she was not served it this time. So all three are enjoying their meal as usual, when the princess looks at them curiously and asks, "What is it that you want to eat? "Is that the Egelea Kingdom way of saying "Itadakimasu"? Jin answered. "No, it is not. It is a kind of greeting that has been handed down in my family before meals. The princess looked interested when she heard this. "Well, Jin seems to be from a very special family. I''d be happy to learn more about it if you don''t mind. She says something like that. He laughed, saying that he wanted to know about various customs and manners in different countries. Jin did not touch on her birth or upbringing, but talked about something that might interest the princess. It was, of course, the topic of automata. "Your Highness seems to be using automata quite a lot, do you know the creator? "No, I don''t know. No, I don''t know. I only know what my father gives me. I see. From what I have seen, most of them are made in the Kingdom of Egelea, followed by the Kingdom of Selroa. When Jin said this, the princess was impressed that he could tell just by looking at them. She then added, "I have a feeling that everyone''s movements are getting worse. Hearing this, Jin felt that the princess knew what she was talking about. Then she said, "You are right. It looks as if it is not well maintained. He said honestly. I also advised her that we should call in the necessary materials and people who could do the maintenance. But that was a wild guess. "Oh, really?I''ll have the materials ready tonight. Jin, take a good rest today. And tomorrow, you will help me get them all ready!" Erza, who was listening to this, was a little taken aback. Earlier, she had given me the look that I had to stay here because I said unnecessary things, but now she was saying even more unnecessary things. But Erza doesn''t dislike Jin. She is just a little worried about him. After all, she knows that Jin''s love for dolls and golems is extraordinary. ....... "You like that, Hannah? Here, eat some of mine." "Wow, thank you, my dear!" Hannah is pleased to share the Persica on her salad with the princess. Jin, on the other hand, has a question in his mind that persica = peaches, so why is it there now? The detailed investigation of Horai Island has yet to be done, but it seems that the free magical element (ether) in the ground is doing something, but here in the Kingdom of Klein, ......? I have no answer to this question. Jin decides to have the fifth column (Quinta) check it out later. Unaware of Jin''s emotionless thoughts, Elsa has a warm feeling that the three people here are indeed her family, even though they are not related by blood. "Here, Hannah, this is for you too. "Wow, big sister, thank you!" Elsa also shared her Persica with Riesch. Princess Rieschen looked a little envious seeing such a scene. "You two really get along well. I envy you a little. Hearing this murmur, Hannah turns to the princess and asks, "How do you get along with each other so well? "Ojisan-sama, is there someone you have a bad relationship with?" It was Hannah''s privilege to be allowed to ask such a question. For better or worse, her life in the village had been a very open and honest one. The princess is not offended by the question and answers with a slightly sad smile. "Well, it''s not that we don''t get along with each other. It''s just that I don''t have a close family. Similar but different expressions. Elsa had an idea. Princess Rieschen is a floating member of the royal family. Jin understood it from a different angle. The opposite of like is not dislike but indifference. It is not whether you are liked or disliked, but being ignored is something that is very hard to bear. An automaton never betrays its master. But can we say that this is the will of automata?Is it not because it was made to be so? When I think of such a thing, I feel empty. Being at ease with an automaton is no different from being shut up in your own shell, in your own world. "His Highness'' brother is ......." As Jin is about to say this, the princess, perhaps sensing something, answers preemptively: "The older brother is Edmund. The older brother is Edmond, who will be 28. The younger one is Arthur.26. The older sister is 30 and married to a duke. The younger sister is 22 and has just married into another duke''s family. "...... Her Highness'' siblings are all very old, aren''t they?" Elsa was also older than her brothers and sisters, so she could understand them somewhat. It is often the case in the world that people do not get along with each other in a real sense when they are far apart in age. "Mother," he said. "Mother...... died soon after giving birth to my concubine. That must be one of the reasons why you and your sisters are so cold to my concubine. Jin understood a little. The current royal family of the Kingdom of Klein has no queen. The queen is the youngest of five princes and princesses, starting with a 30-year-old eldest daughter and ending with a 12-year-old third daughter. Princess Rieschen passed away after giving birth, which may be the reason why the princess is not esteemed by her brothers and sisters. "Father is the only one who is kind to me, but he is always busy. ...... But Jin can do nothing. All he can do is hope that this bright and energetic princess will grow straight into adulthood. No, at least I can make her feel at ease when she is here in the palace, Jin thought back. Even if it is through an automaton. With a wry smile at the contradiction with what he had just thought, Jin seriously decided to repair the automaton owned by the princess. So Jin borrowed a pen, wrote down the list of materials he would need, and asked them to prepare it for him. "Yes, all right!This is all you need. I will have them ready by tomorrow morning! The princess handed it to the maid of honor and gave her instructions. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. After the meal, she avoided heavy topics and told him a few stories about the kingdom of Egelea. Jin had traveled by carriage along the main road of the Kingdom of Egelea, which passed from the Kingdom of Elias to the Kingdom of Cerroa. "Well, I''ve heard rumors, but was the golem fiasco really that bad?" The princess was most interested in the story of the commotion at the Golem garden party. Jin and Erza told her the story of what had happened, cleverly hiding the fact that they had been involved in it. Seeing that Hannah was starting to feel faint, the princess thanked her for sharing her interesting story and left the room. In her place, one of the maids of honor led the guests to the bedroom. This time, the maid of honor was not a talkative lady but a quiet elderly woman. She was not a talkative lady, but a quiet elderly woman. I have not seen such a happy face of the princess in a long time. With that, she left the room. All three of us were in the same room, which was a large room (about 20 tatami mats) with curtains on each bed to ensure a private space. After putting Hannah on one of the beds, Jin told Elsa and Reiko. "The princess is better than I thought she would be. Tomorrow I''m going to fix up the automata here and go home. "Hmm. I knew Brother Jin would say so. "As your father wishes." Neither Erza nor Reiko objected. So Jin tells Reiko. Reiko, please contact the old man and have him send us some materials for repair. She counted up the materials that might be needed. They would be received by one of the SPs who were attached to Jin in the shadows. He would not need a large amount of materials, but he also instructed them to pack them discreetly so that they would look like baggage. "Okay, everything will be ready tomorrow. Jin said and threw himself onto the bed. "I thought we were going to see the city, but it turned out to be something like this," he said. "No, this was fun." Erza sat down on her own bed and answered. "I know that my brother Jin is kind not only to humans but also to automata and golems. Hearing this line, Reiko smiles softly, just a little. 282 - - 10-16 Repair The next morning, breakfast was usually served around 7:30. For nobles and royalty, it was probably early. Hannah woke up at 5:30 a.m. and lay around on the bed, and Jin was also an early riser, so he was always with Hannah when she woke up. Jin was also an early riser, so he would wake up and help Hannah with her hair, though he did nothing more than tie her hair up in a pigtail. Elsa, on the other hand, also woke up a little after 6:00 a.m. and opened the curtains to get up. Since all three of us were awake, we all decided to go wash our faces together. When I went out into the hallway, I saw an automata standing there. He said, "Good morning! The automaton greets us. Jin felt that his vocal functions had deteriorated a little. The washroom was at the end of the corridor, so he washed his face and refreshed himself without hesitation. Looking out of the window of the washroom, Jin learned that the water used in this room was pumped by an automaton with a fishing bottle. "That one''s starting to act a little funny, too. ......" I wondered if the Kingdom of Klein was that short of labor, and felt a little sympathy for him. Just then, I heard a cheerful voice from behind me. "Oh, Jin and the others are awake too, good morning! It was Princess Rieschen. She was wearing a shiny light silk nightgown. Her eyes are tightly closed, so they are not transparent. She was accompanied by an elderly lady''s maid, but she washed her face and rinsed her mouth by herself. She wiped her face with a towel she received from the maid and brushed her hair with a brush. Jin noticed that the mirror in the bathroom was slightly distorted and had lost some of its luster, <>. <>". and using magic, he cleaned the mirror. The princess was very pleased to see it. "Hohoho!Magi-craftsmen are amazing!We should train more and more magi craftsmen in our country. She is even thinking about domestic affairs. Jin is Jin, "Erza, forming may seem simple, but it is very deep. The simpler the shape, the more important the image is. A mirror must be flat. I lecture Elsa. "I see." Meanwhile, Hannah is walking back to her room. The princess stopped her. "Wait, you said Hannah. Come to my room. I''ve got something for you. What?You''re going to give me something? Yes, yes. Yes, yes. Come here. The princess said to Hannah that she would borrow her sister for Jin and Elsa, and then she pulled her hand away. Hannah was in a good mood now that the princess was pulling her hand. She probably doesn''t realize how much it means to spend time with royalty like this. When Jin returned to his room, he said to Erza "If you stay with my brother Jin, your common sense will be destroyed. Jin, who was more or less aware of this, laughed as he heard her say something that did not sound like a compliment. "Father, here are the materials we received. Reiko, seeing that the conversation was over, showed Jin the materials he had ordered last night. It was in an ordinary leather bag, and if asked when she had brought it, she could have answered that she had had it under her coat from the beginning. Jin checked inside and smiled when he was sure he had what he wanted. "Onii-chan!" Just then Hannah returned. When Jin opened the door and saw her coming in, he was surprised and exclaimed. "Heh heh, what do you think?" Hannah was wearing a glittering dress, which must have been given to her by the princess. "How do you like my secondhand dress?Doesn''t it suit you?" said the princess who came after her. Hannah''s chestnut-colored hair, untied from the braid that Jin had tied for her, was adorned with a silver hair ornament with a flower motif. Her dress is a light red, which seems to be the princess''s favorite color. The dress is pretty, with lace and ruffles. The bust is accented with a rather large ribbon. She wears pure white, elbow-length gloves, making her look like a little lady. "It looks good on you. You look very pretty." When Jin compliments her on it, Hannah smiles and laughs happily. The dress is very pretty on Hannah. "You can take that dress home with you. The princess said as she ate her breakfast. "I won''t be able to wear it anymore anyway." "Yes!Thank you, princess! Hannah was delighted. The princess''s face broke into a smile when she saw that. The princess, who is the youngest child, can''t help but think that Hannah, who is smaller than she is, is adorable. It must be a rare time for her to talk with the common people, since she is not used to talk with them so closely. "Well, then, let''s get into it and fix it. Jin finished his breakfast and announced to the princess that he would start the repair work. "Your Highness, please call all the automata working here. And the materials I asked for yesterday. At the same time, he asked for the use of a room to work in. The princess nods and takes Jin to another room. It was a simple room of about 10 tatami mats, and in one corner there was a pile of the materials Jin had requested. "How about this room?" The room was spacious and had a sturdy table, so Jin agreed that this would be fine. "Elsa, you stay here and help me. What about Hannah? "Hannah, I''ll ...... take care of her." The princess herself made such an offer, so we gratefully accepted and decided to leave Hannah in her care. Since I would be using materials procured from the island of Horai, it would be a little difficult for me if the princess stayed with her. "Well then, please take good care of her. She trusts Jin completely, and there is no surveillance on her. Including Tia, there were a total of eleven automata working in the palace. "Shall we start with Tia then? "Yes, please." Jin had Tia lie down on the table and stopped her. This time, he removes all of her clothes. "......Ah......" Elsa, who was watching the scene, let out a sound and blushed. After all, just like Anne, Tia had also developed a feminine side. Jin dismantles Tia, avoiding mentioning that part of her. He strips off all of her magical skin and removes her exterior. "Ah, it''s still terrible, isn''t it? "Hmm. It''s kind of in shreds." Elsa has seen the process of making Lotte in the Blue Land, so she doesn''t feel bad about it. "Yeah. The skeleton is warped and rusty." The skeleton was steel, just like Anne''s, but there was red rust on it, and the part corresponding to the shin was slightly bent. "I''d like to make it light silver, but I can''t, so I''ll make it stainless steel." Jin said and had Reiko take out chrome and nickel from the bag of materials in Horaijima. He had her prepare them with that intention. "Elsa, look carefully, this is chrome and this is nickel. When you mix them with steel, you get an alloy called stainless steel. As he explains, Jin slowly alloys them with the steel of Tia''s skeleton using alloying magic. Distortion and rattling are adjusted by forming. The sliding parts are coated with adamantite. "This is the end of the skeleton. Next comes the muscles. I asked the princess to order sandworm leather. They''re a specialty of the Shoro Empire. They seem to be quite expensive here in the distance, and the quantity was small. But that is to be expected, and I have prepared a large amount of Horai Island''s own magical fiber. "By combining and twisting thin fibers like this, it becomes more supple and stronger." Jin replaces the magical muscles while explaining to Erza. Erza watches him intently, trying to remember how to do it. "That''s it," she says. More than half of them were ruined. "I think it''s great that Jin was able to finish it in fifteen minutes." "Ha-ha-ha ......" Next is the control core and other magi devices. The next one is the control core and other magick devices (magi devices). We replaced the deteriorated magi crystals. And, although we don''t have to worry about the Unifilers anymore, we have to take measures to prevent the rewriting of slavery magic, just in case. We reinsert the magi-device into the mithril case, and fill the surrounding area with a sponge buffer made of goulashvam, and that''s it. I was grateful for the arrangement of this bulky material. All of the magi devices for vocalization were replaced with new ones. The old control core will be analyzed again on Horai Island. There may be some new discoveries. "Now we should be good for 20 to 30 years without any maintenance. The improvements have been made so that the boat will hardly deteriorate during daily operations. The exterior is put back together. The exterior is also treated with a surface treatment to remove rust. The last step is the magical skin. This is also replaced with the one made in Horaijima. The color is the same, but Jin wonders what to do with the of the skin. I heard that princesses used to suckle on them, so I decided to keep the nipples on the breast. Inside the udder, there was a tank for storing milk, so I rearranged the tank in case it was used as a nanny for someone else. What impressed me was that the inside of the tank was inscribed with the Magi Formula for <, which was intended to prevent decomposition. "But cleanup is not enough, is it?" It works, but not well enough. Corruption cannot be prevented only by purification (clean-up) that separates impurities. Well, if there are no impurities, the decomposition is slowed down. So, Jin added his original Magi Formula for sterilization. "The bottom part is ......." The problem is the lower abdomen. After much consideration, I decided not to replace the magical skin, but only to reinforce it, leaving it as it was. "Brother Jin, your face is red. Despite Erza''s remarks, Jin finished the entire work in 30 minutes. He re-dressed her and restarted the machine. When Tia got up, she bowed deeply and thanked Jin. Thank you, Jin-sama. Now I can work again. Jin nodded, "Tia, you should be back to normal, or at least more functional than before. Take care of the princess. Tia smiled and answered him. Tia smiled in reply. Yes, of course. You are the reason for my existence." * * * * The remaining ten automata were recently made. Seven of the automata working indoors were made in the Kingdom of Egelea, and three of the automata working outdoors were made in the Kingdom of Selroa. There is no deterioration of the magical skin, and it seems to last for a long time with reinforcement (reinforcing). However, since most of the joints were worn out, I repaired them and coated them with adamantite. Since the skeletons were made of iron, I added nickel and chromium to them to make them stainless steel. I used up almost all of the nickel and chrome I had brought with me. "You don''t have a magic element converter (ether converter), do you? ......" Since it is from the current era, a mana tank is used instead of an ether converter. I wondered where the mana tanks were located, but it seems that the mana tanks are located further in from the bathrooms. It seems that automata whose mana has been depleted go there by themselves to replenish their mana. "I have quite a bit of extra magical fiber that I prepared, so I''ll strengthen it." Jin strengthens it together with the original magical muscle (Magical Muscle). It should be able to produce about 1.5 times the power output. Those whose vocal functions have deteriorated are replaced with Magi Crystals. Now we have used up almost all of the magi crystals that we brought with us. Only one remained. Jin put it in his pocket. "Okay, that''s it." One by one, the automata are called to the room and repaired, and the last one leaves the room. "...... wind." Erza, who was watching the work, gave a tired sigh. "Finally, ......" "...... are you still going to do it?" Elsa looked at me like she was dumbfounded, "No, you see, I was wondering what a mana supplier would be like. Jin says and starts walking down the corridor. The automata bow their heads in silence when they recognize him. "Behind the washroom," he says. ...... Oh, that." There was a huge device. Jin analyzes it with engineering magic. "Well, the principle is similar to an ether converter. But it can only be made this big. Jin stops playing with it, and only modifies the parts that seem to operate inefficiently. "Okay, now the efficiency has been improved. Jin looked refreshed. 283 - - 10-17 Silent Story 15 The Secret of Horai Island and Topazs Work Topaz, the golem maid of Horai Island, is in charge of land development. Amezu and Ruby, who were created at the same time, were in charge of defense, Perid was in charge of housekeeping, and Aqua was in charge of flood control. Each of them had subordinates numbered from 1 to 100, and they worked day in and day out. Land development is a simple but important task. Because it will produce the food needed by Jin, the master of the land. Topaz leaders, who are the heads of Topaz 1 to 100, are given the knowledge necessary for their activities by Jin and Lao Kun (after all, it is Jin''s knowledge). Most of the uncertainties can be solved by checking with the old man, so there is hardly any problem in the daily work. "The orchard is finished and the fields are ready. Topaz mutters to himself. This is a habit he inherited from Jin. Living alone for a long time makes you talk to yourself a lot. In front of Topaz''s eyes, fields and orchards stretched as far as the eye could see. The fields are wheat and barley. Since the fruit trees grow in all seasons, we sowed wheat to see if it would grow well, and it is growing rapidly and will be harvested soon. The fruit trees are Persica, Apulle, Citran. And maruons, ornats, and ramons. And some ramons. The most useful one is Persica. The fruit tree, which is very similar to the in the modern earth, blossoms in spring and bears fruits in summer in this world, but here in Hourai Island, it can be harvested almost all year round. I found this in the geological characteristics of Horai Island. < of free magical element (ether) running through it. The old man said. This is still under investigation and has not been reported to Jin. Lao Tzu, the mobile terminal of Lao Jiun, and Topaz 11 to 30 are cooperating in the investigation, and a conclusion will be reached in a few days. We will report to Jin after that. Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the Magecraft Meister of the previous generation, established her base here because of the rich veins of ore that lie beneath the ground. < The old man guessed so, and the investigation based on his guess started. In fact, the growth rate of crops in Horai Island is very fast. It was confirmed that the plants with higher magical properties grow faster. The best example is Persica. Fruit trees such as Persica, Apurul, and Citran, which have probably been growing wild for a long time, are growing in all four seasons without exception. . Topaz recalls the conversation he had with the old man the day before yesterday. "How was it?" Topaz asked him, but she had already guessed the answer. And then she said, "I was very happy, The answer came back as he had guessed. According to Jin''s theory, free magic elements (ether) are smaller than elementary particles and can pass through matter. The only way to hold the free-magic element (ether) in place is by magical power. "But the free magic element (ether) stays in Persica''s fruit, doesn''t it? ......" << The mana in the body decreases when magic is used, but over time it recovers by taking in free magic elements (ether) in the air. This mana can take various forms of energy and can be manipulated by the will and image of the person who purified it. This is magic. This is the theory of magic, which Jin has added his own interpretation to the theory developed by his predecessors. Those who do not have magic power cannot take it in, and therefore cannot use it. "However, free magic element (ether) stays in Persica fruit. In other words, the fruit itself has magical power, right? If the fruit has magic power, then the tree also has magic power. In areas with a high concentration of free ether, the power of magic is increased. "This is why magical plants (tentative name) grow quickly on Horai Island, isn''t it? This is the conclusion that the old man and Topaz have come to. The only thing left to do is to discover the vein of free magic element (tentative name) that should be under the ground. This has already been proven to some extent. We know this by the fact that < and , which feed on free magic element (ether), live and thrive in large numbers in the underground of the island. Now we just have to wait for the results of the survey to confirm this. By the way, the discovery of the magical properties of Persica and other species has been an indicator for finding a revolutionary conservation method. >. On April 11, the ether stocker was completed, and the old man stored some experimental fruits in it. According to the report, the fruits in the ether stocker did not deteriorate at all, while they slowly deteriorated in an ordinary refrigerator. Since there is no problem at all in storing non-magic items in the ether stocker, all the refrigerators and freezers in the institute have been converted to use the ether stocker. "This will also prevent any fruit that the master doesn''t eat from spoiling, right?" Yes, the fruits that she has been stockpiling for Jin''s sake will go bad in about a month even if they are kept in the refrigerator. They were a waste, so the damaged ones were dried and used as feed for the fish kept in the fish tanks in Tatsumi Bay. However, since the refrigerator was used as an ether stocker, we have been able to store them without letting them spoil. A small part of this is used by the fifth column (quinta) scattered all over the country. "Oh, Persica is rare at this time of year!I''ll pay you as much as you want!" Many noblemen would say so. By giving gifts to these nobles, they are able to make connections and obtain various information. The old man, who guessed so, had the fifth column (Quinta) secretly conduct human experimentation. The experiment on human body is just to measure the amount of magic power before and after eating Persica. Jin devised this measuring device based on his previous experience of measuring magical properties in the guilds of the Kingdom of Egelea. The principle is simple. It uses the phenomenon of magical resonance to measure the magical power possessed by the subject. Nobles who eat Persica usually have magical power. Therefore, it was possible to secretly measure and collect data. According to the results, it was found that the Persica from Horai Island was highly effective in restoring magic power, just as it was guessed. < Then, the old man informed Topaz that he had received some interesting information from the Secret Service (SP) attached to Jin. . If you think about it, the flowers should have just fallen. There should be no fruits growing in the Klein Kingdom, which is much further north than Horai Island. Topaz wonders, and asks a question. "Where did this Persica come from? The old man answered immediately. The results of the investigation came in the next day. The Kingdom of Klein is a backward country in terms of magical technology, but on the contrary, its agriculture is somewhat more advanced than other countries. To my surprise, there was a <>. An orchard surrounded by stones on three sides. The remaining one side and the ceiling of the greenhouse were covered with huge crystal slabs. Inside the greenhouse, they use magi stones to keep the orchard warm at night so that they can harvest the fruit in the spring. "They are kept in the cold until November, and then in December they start keeping them warm. <<< but the quantity will be negligible, won''t it? >> "Yes, at best. Regulus 2 concluded. "I suppose the fact that you feasted on something so valuable means that the masters are welcome to it. Topaz said to the old man. In this way, Topaz is working day and night in cooperation with the old man to improve Jin''s diet. * * * * * * * * * * * The existence of the pathway of free magical element (ether), or <>, is revealed two days later, just when Jin returns. 284 - - 10-18 Unexpected "Onee-chan!" Hanna came out into the hallway as well, probably hearing Jin''s noise. She was wearing a different dress. This dress had no sleeves and hung from the shoulder straps. The bust is wide open, but it does not look at all s*xy on Hannah, who has no breasts. The skirt is flouncy, and it makes a rustling sound as Hannah walks, probably because she is wearing a pannier underneath. "Jin, how are you doing?How are you doing, Jin? Princess Rieschen asks with a mischievous look in her eyes. Jin smiles at her, "Everything is finished," she replied shortly. He answered shortly, "Everything is finished. He did not expect that answer, "What? The princess''s eyes widened. Although she did not know much about magecraftsmen, she had an idea of what they were. However, she was completely betrayed, but in a good way. "Princess, it is true. Jin-sama is a wonderful man. He fixed me completely. Tia was the one who said this. "Tia!You can walk again? "Yes, thanks to you, Jin-sama has fixed me. I''m back to normal, or even better than I was before. Now I can serve the princess forever. "I see... I see... ......!" The princess jumped on Tia. Tia caught the princess firmly. Tia had probably never been able to do this before because of her limp. "There you go." Tia said and picked up the princess. This was a true princess hug. "That''s good, that''s good. ...... Jin, Erza, and Hannah were all smiling at the princess, who was even happier than when Tia had reactivated her yesterday. * * * * "I really wanted to introduce you to my father, the king. ......" After lunch, Jin and the others told the princess that they wanted to leave. The princess was a little reluctant, but she nodded her head. Perhaps she thought that forcing the princess to stay would not bring any good results. At that moment, "Excuse me. Jessica Norton, the captain of the Kingsguard female knights, and Gloria Allstadt, the vice-captain of the Kingsguard female knights, came in together. "Oh, Jin-dono is here too! Jessica looked happy to see Jin and the others. "We have the results of our analysis of those golems from yesterday, and we have come to report them to the princess. You all have a right to hear the results since you helped us. So we move to the parlor. Jessica''s eyes widened when she saw the automata working so well. "Oh, they look so different from yesterday. Jin-dono, is that you? "Yes. Jin has fixed all the automata here. "Oh, I knew it!He was a top-notch magecraftsman!Not only does he know swords, but he also knows automata. ...... Oh, I remember he has a wonderful automata by his side. As expected of the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, the "Onorari Magi Craftsman"! The hot and bothered line is of course Gloria''s. She is the one who made the automata for Jin. She was carrying the short sword that Jin had made for her on her hip. An automata, or rather Tia, appeared with a cup of tea. "Hi-Hime-sama, what is this? Jessica rolls her eyes again when she sees that Tia, who could barely move yesterday, is moving normally today. "Well, what a surprise!Tia was also fixed by Jin today! The princess took a sip of her tea and said proudly. "But first, let me hear your report." "Yes... ......" Wiping the sweat from her forehead and straightening her posture, Jessica began her report. Her appearance shows the dignity of a captain of the Kingsguard female knight corps. According to her report, the two captured golems were secretly brought in by the Unified Party (Unifiler) in a wagon. They were activated around noon on the 27th, and their purpose was to confuse Alban. When Jin hears this, he imagines in his heart. At the time of the delivery, the Unification Party (Unifiler) was still striving for world domination, and Jules and his team probably could not have gotten this far. "The three suspicious persons were also Unification Party (Unifiler) agents. But the previously announced ?There is no evidence of such manipulation. This is because many of the ordinary members who are not executives are willing to cooperate with the world conquest without brainwashing. Jin heard about this from Jules and others via Lao Kun. "The Unification Party (Unifiler), huh? A troublesome opponent. ...... The princess makes a scowl. Jin resists the urge to tell her that the Unification Party (Unifiler) is now harmless. "Thank you for your report. Yes, I''m going to send Jin and the others to the gate now, will you come too? If the princess commands it... "Yes, Jin-dono, are you leaving?" Jessica immediately agreed, and Gloria muttered a few regretful words. I''ll come back to visit you again sometime. Jin stood up with these words. Elsa and Hannah stood up as well. Reiko is holding a bag that should be almost empty. For some reason, it seems to be full. The princess''s carriage takes the group to the southern gate. In the carriage are Princess Rieschen, Tia, Jin, Elsa, Hannah, and Reiko. Jessica and Gloria are on horses, guarding the front and rear of the carriage. Hannah is wearing the princess''s dress. She has been given several other dresses. In fact, Reiko''s luggage contained the dresses she had received. "Yes, I''ll give you this. You asked for it yesterday." The princess then presented Jin and the others with a permit to enter the castle. It was silver in color, and proved that she was a person recognized by the royal family. It has the likenesses of Jin, Erza, and Hannah engraved on it, so that no one else can use it. "With this, you can pass through the gates at any time. Ordinary people can only pass through the gates when they are open, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., but if they show this silver permit, they can pass at any time, except in times of war or other emergency. "Thank you very much." Jin accepts it gratefully. The portrait does not reveal the color of his hair, so it is safe to visit with a different hair color. "And this is how I feel. With these words, the princess handed Jin a heavy bag. "Fifty gold coins, I don''t know if this is fair, but it''s the most I can give you. Please give me a break." The amount was 500,000 tol, or about 5 million yen. Jin refused to accept it. "Your Highness, this is too much!" "Is that so?But as a concubine, I can accept ......." No, that money was originally taxed by the people. It is not good to waste it. Jin admonishes. A few tenths of a percent of the gold might be from the wheat Jin and the others brought in last year. "Hmm, then how much would you accept from us?" Jin was at a loss for words when he was asked this question. "Well, I think it would be about two gold coins. The princess took out five gold coins from her bag and put them in Jin''s hand. What you did for me was more than enough for 50 gold coins. Please understand that. And I understand how you feel, but don''t be too modest. It will lower the value of what you have done. He squeezed Jin''s hand, "It has been a pleasure getting to know you and your friends. If you don''t mind, would you be my friend?" Jin and Elsa understood how the princess felt, and Hannah, the princess who had been so kind to them, "Yes, I''d be happy to." "Thank you." "Will you be my friend, princess?Yay! How could I refuse? "Well, thank you. Then please call me Reese from now on. Yes, Mr. Reese. Mr. Reese, is that correct? Miss Reese! Oh, that''s right. Yes, this is a good day. Meanwhile, the carriage pulled up outside the gates. Jessica and Gloria jumped on their horses to see if there was anyone suspicious in the vicinity, and rode a little farther to the woods. Jin said that it was fine to go as far as the gate, but the princess seemed to be regretting her decision and drove the carriage to the outside of the gate. She looked out the window of the parked carriage, "Is your carriage outside? The princess asked, "Are your carriages outside? I had to answer a little vaguely, "Well, yes. "Well, that''s all right. I don''t mean to pry. I''m not going to pry. ...... Come see me again sometime." With these words, Princess Rhys shook each of Jin''s hands. Then the door is opened. Before the stepstool was placed, Hannah, who was sitting near the door, was the first to get off. She jumped down cheerfully, making the sound of her panniers scraping against the floor. At that moment, there was someone who held her and put a dagger to her neck. 285 - - 10-19 Remainers "Oh, sweetie. ......" Hannah! They caught us completely off guard. And the timing couldn''t have been worse. Because they were moving in a horse-drawn carriage, Hanna''s dedicated covert maneuvering team (SP) was a little distance away from them. If it had been Reiko who got off first, there would have been no problem. But it is too late to say that. Furthermore, Jessica and the others had gone to the forest to check the situation. Moreover, the man must have been using some kind of magic tool with a hide-and-seek effect. The SP may have detected the presence of the man in advance, but they were too late to deal with him, partly because they did not know his intention. It was a combination of misfortune for Jin and the others, which was a blessing in disguise for the man (or should I say a misfortune in view of what was to follow). "Don''t move!Get out of the carriage, all of you!" "...... now we will do as you say." Princess Rieschen said and jumped down from the carriage without a step. Then Jin, Elsa and Reiko. "Princess!" Jessica and Gloria ran back to the carriage. "You!What are you doing?Let her go! But the man holding Hannah smiles evilly. "If you want to spare the princess''s life, you''d better get at least 10 meters away from her!" "Hm?The princess? Hearing that line, we all realized what was going on. The man had mistaken Hannah for the princess because she was wearing a dress the princess had given him. But that was no consolation. As they slowly leave the carriage, Jin whispers softly to Reiko. "Reiko, how are Iris and Azalea?" Reiko switches her vision to infrared and looks at Hannah''s surroundings. "Yes, they are one step away from ......" "Aaahhh!" Reiko is about to say this when a man''s scream echoes through the room. Everyone in the room, except for Jin and Reiko, looked at each other with wide-eyed amazement. They wondered when two black golems had appeared. One was protecting Hanna, and the other was holding the man down. The man''s right arm, the one holding the dagger, was bent in three unbelievable directions. "Onii-chan!" Hannah rushes to Jin with tears in her eyes. Jin also ran to Hannah, hugged her small body, and rubbed her back. "It''s all right now. I''m sorry I scared you. "No, I was just believing that you would save me." Jin looked at Iris and Azalea and said, "Good job. "What is it?What is this black golem?" Finally, the princess said only that. Jin told her that he would explain later and turned to the man. "Hey, what are you doing this for?" But the man sniffs, sweating in pain. "Well..." But it was a bad move. "Iris. And the other arm." Jin said, and Iris twisted up the man''s left arm. Meanwhile, Jin hugged Hannah so that she wouldn''t see him break it. There is a cracking sound, and then the man screams again. His shoulder and elbow are shattered. "Geeeeaaaaaaaahhh!" Jin is no saint. He has a soft spot for his people, but he is also merciless to his enemies. This time, the man made Hannah cry. This time, the man made Hannah cry. This time, he breaks her hip. ...... This is the last time. What''s the reason?" With tears and snot running down his nose, the man opened his mouth. "I thought ...... I''m going to ...... run away. I wanted ...... to get ...... a carriage." Jin asked Elsa to give the man some painkillers to make it easier for him to talk. Elsa nodded, "<>" I will stop the pain. But both shoulders are still broken. "Why did you decide to run away?" Jin glares at the man. The man is convinced and confesses. "There''s going to be a group of about 50 people attacking this place soon ....... They''re all rascals. I was one of them, but I changed my mind and decided to leave. And I need to get out of here as soon as possible. That''s why I needed a horse and cart. Just then, they heard the sound of many footsteps coming from beyond the forest. "No!It seems that what you just said is true. The princess turned pale. It will take time to close the gates. There is a good chance we will not make it in time. "Alban will be attacked if we leave him unprotected!Jessica! Gloria!We''ll stop him! Yes, my lady. Yes. And the princess turned her pale face to Jin. "Jin, you and the others can ride back inside the castle in my carriage. They won''t be able to attack you so easily inside the palace. What about Mr. Reese? We''ll hold them off here as long as we can. I can use my waterballs and water bullets too. The princess looked at the puddle of water. Jin wondered if the princess was planning to use herself as a shield. "Tia, run to the castle and tell her this. If the remaining troops in the castle move, there are only about fifty of them, and they are nothing to worry about. "But the princess is ......" Tia hesitates. As expected of a work from the age of the Magic Wars, this part is well done. "......" Jin closes his eyes and thinks for a moment, then opens them and speaks up. "No, Tia, protect Princess Reese. Jessica and Gloria, you just take care of capturing the bandits. Erza hears this and whispers in a whisper, "That''s just like my brother Jin. "That''s just like my brother Jin," she whispered. "Oh, my God, what are you talking about? ......" At that moment, the leader of the bandits emerged from the forest. He was accompanied by a golem. "What!There''s even a Golem! "I wonder if we can hold off even half of them. ...... The princess is surprised. Jessica is nervous. "Jin-dono, you are ......" Gloria is about to say something, but Jin doesn''t care, and directs her to Reiko. "Reiko!Stop them!But do not kill them as much as possible. "Yes, Father!" Reiko kicked the ground. The next moment, several bandits are flying through the air and are slammed to the ground. "Oh, you guys... ......" "Oh, what the hell is that kid ......?" "I''ve never seen ...... so many people flying through the air." The princess, Jessica, and Gloria couldn''t believe their eyes. There were fifty bandits on the ground in the blink of an eye. And the golem, with a single kick from Reiko, had been blown twenty meters into the air and crashed into a tree, bent into a funny shape and motionless. "It''s over." In less than a minute, Reiko had neutralized 50 bandits. That''s unthinkable. The eyes of the princesses speak eloquently even if they say nothing. Who are you?I said. "I''m sorry, but let''s tie them up first." Jin said and began to bind the unconscious bandits with belts and waistbands so that they could not move. Reiko and Elsa helped him. Jessica and Gloria joined in a little later. Within a few minutes, they had finished binding everyone. "Now, I ask you again. Who are you? Princess Rieschen asks Jin. Jin was ready and determined to tell her a part of the truth. "Uh......... didn''t I tell you about the golem fiasco that happened yesterday in the Kingdom of Egelea to Master Ries?" "Uh-huh." "At that time, the one who did the most to suppress the runaway golem was this Reiko. She is also an ancient relic (artifact) and my precious daughter. Jin explained as he placed his hand on Reiko''s shoulder as she came next to him. "For these achievements, I was given the title of Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. He was telling the truth, although he left out much of the story. "I didn''t know that. ......" Now that I had seen Jin''s ability as a Magi Craftsman and Reiko''s ability, I could honestly realize that it was true. "Even so, Reiko is amazing. He is stronger than Golem. Jessica said as if she was also impressed. "Speaking of which, what happened to the black golem that just saved Hannah? Gloria asked as she looked around. Jin answered, "It''s a golem that guards the perimeter in the shadows. This time it''s on the back burner. ......" He explained. The princess''s eyes light up when she hears this. "I knew I was right!Jin, can you make a golem for our country as well?" Jin let out a sigh inwardly and replied, "Well, on one condition. "Well, it depends on the conditions. 286 - - 10-20 Request The princess nodded broadly to Jin, who said he had a condition for the golem''s production. "Yes, of course. Price?The time and effort?This work is not for me, but for my father. You can tell me anything you want. No, it''s nothing. As long as you promise not to take us into custody. Of course, the princess promised on her honor. Jessica and Gloria did the same. "If you antagonize us, it will be the end of our country. The princess laughed jokingly, but no one in the room knew that she was not joking. Not even Erza knew the true strength of Horai Island. "Well then, I''m sorry, but could you please come back to the royal castle after this?" "I don''t have a choice. Considering the conditions, returning to the village of Kaina was not an option. If someone asked me where I was going, I would be at a loss for an answer. If I tell the old man, he will tell the village of Kaina in some way. "Elsa, Hannah, I''m going to be gone a day or two longer, is that all right?" Jin asked them with an apologetic look on his face. Erza and Hanna both laughed and agreed. "It''s my brother Jin''s decision. "Are you going back to Oujisama''s place again?That''s fine!" Jin was relieved to hear that. "Well, you can ride in the carriage again. ...... Gloria, I''m sorry, but stay here and watch out for the bandits. I''ll send someone right away." "Yes." * * * Jin and the others get back into the carriage and head back to the palace they had just left. They were taken to a guest room, served tea, and waited for 30 minutes. In the meantime, Jin instructed Reiko to explain the situation to Lao-kun in the village of Kaina. He would contact the village of Kaina, probably by using Lao-kun or Butler. When he had done that, Erza asked him a question. "Brother Jin, I also have a question. What was that black golem that saved Hannah earlier? "Oh, yes, Onii-chan, I want to know too!" Jin knew he would be asked at some point, so he gave a simple explanation. "It''s a guardian golem that usually doesn''t show itself, but is always by your side. "Hmmm!I see. Thank you, Onii-chan." Hannah seemed convinced by this explanation, "Can it disappear?" Erza seemed to be curious about that. "Yes. Reiko uses it too, right?It''s an advanced version of Hide magic." "I see. I see. ...... Jin was about to say something in response when Reiko pulled his sleeve. "Reiko?" "Father, the village of Kaina is in trouble. They just received a draft order. "What? Jin remembered that he had heard through the old man that the Kingdom of Klein had declared a state of emergency and ordered the nobles who owned lands to form an army. That is why I am now at ....... The only relief is that the war is over. "Oh, my dear ......?" Hannah looks worried when she hears the words "Oh my God. The same goes for Erza. Jin explains the situation to them. He says that the war is already over and that there is no danger even if they are drafted. He also said that they would be released soon. Hearing this, Hannah looked relieved. "But you can make better use of the fact that I''m here. ......" Just as Jin started to think about what was going on, the door opened and Princess Rieschen walked in. "Jin, rejoice!My father is going to meet you now!" "What?" Jin hesitated for a moment, but then thought that if the king would meet him in person, he could make a lot of demands quickly, so he stood up. "Oh, and my sisters, I''m sorry, but you''ll have to wait here. I''ll ...... guarantee your safety. I won''t do anything." Jin didn''t say anything, but as if reading his mind, the princess patted him on the back and said so. She implied that she would not threaten Jin as a hostage. "I will not do anything to make an enemy of you. I will do it out of pride. So Jin took only Reiko with him from the palace to the royal palace. Jessica accompanied him. Gloria, who had just returned, was to follow Hannah and the others. There was a covered corridor that led to the palace grounds in about five minutes'' walk. After another five minutes'' walk, Jin arrived at a magnificent door. This is the office of my father, the king. The Prime Minister is with him now. With these words, Princess Rieschen had Jessica open the door and announce that she had brought Jin. A voice called out from inside the room, and the princess urged Jin to enter. Reiko was leaning over Jin like a shadow. "Father, I have brought Jin-dono, Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. "Yes." On the other side of the massive wooden desk sat Alois III, King of the Kingdom of Klein. The princess whispered her name to Jin. My name is Jin Nido. This is Reiko, an automaton. Jin bowed deeply. Reiko stood still beside him. No one said anything, as if they did not expect courtesy from an automaton. "This is Alois III, King of the Kingdom of Klein. King Alois III introduced himself. Alois III is 50 years old, 175 centimeters and 75 kilograms. He has a sturdy physique of 175 cm and 75 kg. He has dark brown hair similar in color to that of Princess Rieschen. Her eyes are gray with a stern look in them. Standing to her right is a thin middle-aged man. To his left stands a muscular man with the air of a warrior. "This is Prime Minister Powell. And this is Glen Doubleday, the Commander of the Kingsguard. The Prime Minister bows, but the man introduced as Glen Davrode only slightly pulls back his chin. But Hitoshi does not have the personality to be bothered by such a trivial matter. In fact, he had no regard for the Knight Commander. A moment of silence fell. The princess, standing in between them, was about to say something when Alois III finally spoke up. "...... I thought I''d finally meet you, but I didn''t realize you belonged to the Kingdom of Egelea." "What?" "What?" "First of all, I''m sorry. I apologize for the misunderstanding that led to your expulsion from the village of Kaina. Saying this, Alois III bowed his head, lightly but definitely. The Prime Minister and the Commander of the Kingsguard were flustered. The king of a country, even an honorary magician, apologized and even bowed to the common people. "You built the pump, developed the stove, and fought off the golem that interfered with your tax payments, is that correct?" "...... yes." Jin had to nod. The pump is known not only to Licia but also to Gloria, so there''s no use in fooling around. "Yes, of course. Licia Faarheit told me about you. We had hoped to welcome you as the Royal Magi Craftsman, but through an unfortunate mistake, or rather, inadvertence on our part, we have inconvenienced you." He was probably referring to the fact that Count Walter had come to take Jin away as if he were a criminal. "So you went to the Kingdom of Egelea as a result. I heard rumors that there was a disturbance in which a golem went on the rampage?I heard that there was a magical craftsman (magecraftsman) and his golem who were very active at that time." Princess Rieschen then added. "Father, I heard it from the mouth of Jin. She also told me that the automaton who played an important role at that time was Reiko, who is there. "Oh, of course. She looks like a pretty girl, but she has tremendous power. The King looks at Reiko with an impressed face. Reiko is unperturbed by his gaze. "Thank you, Reiko. Reiko is unperturbed by his gaze. I heard that you neutralized 50 bandits and a golem who were trying to attack this city. Reiko opened her mouth for the first time. "I was only following your father''s orders. "Well, I am grateful to Jin for that." Then the king finally got down to business. "Jin-dono, I want you to use your skills to create a high-performance golem for our country. As you may have already noticed, we are short of manpower and talent. The conflict with the neighboring Kingdom of Franz was finally over the other day, but we were still short of manpower. He then looked at the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister nodded lightly and looked down at the note in his hand, "According to the report, we have 100 tons of steel, 100 tons of bronze, and 25 tons of light silver, According to the report, 100 tons of steel, 100 tons of bronze, 25 tons of light silver, a little adamantite and mithril, etc. have been supplied by a certain source and are on their way from Tetrada to here. They should arrive tomorrow or the next day. Then he looked at Jin, "In other words, the use of equivalent materials will not affect the national stockpile," he concludes. He concludes, "That means that the national stockpile will not be affected by the use of equivalent materials. However, Jin knows that this is not accurate. Because some of the materials being transported are metals that were used to arm the soldiers of the Kingdom of Klein. Then the king takes over again. "So, Jin, I''m asking you to make 100 steel swords and 20 battle-hardened golems of a general-purpose type. 287 - - 10-21 Hitoshi, start. 100 steel swords and 20 battle-hardened, general-purpose golems. "Are the swords longswords?What are the specifications of the golems?" These are natural questions. Without knowing the specifics of what is being made, it is impossible to answer the question. Prime Minister Powell answered the question. "Well, the sword should be a longsword. I have a sample for you to refer to later. The problem was the golem. "What is the main purpose of the golem and how big is it? "Mainly for protection. Today, Jin-sama fought them off, but we have too few men for such an attack. In the first place, our country is ......." A brief explanation follows. In the Kingdom of Klein, only the Knights and the Kingsguard are professional soldiers, the total number of them being about 700. The total number of the army is less than 4000. The population of the Kingdom of Klein is about 100,000, so this is the limit. The figures Jin has been told do not seem to be false. It is just that the existence of secret agents is being withheld. The old man even knows about the existence of 50 secret agents. The credit goes to the 5th column. "We can''t afford to invade other countries because of our national strength," the Prime Minister concluded. The Prime Minister concluded. If it is for the sake of defense, Jin has little resistance. "The size is a little bigger, about two meters, I guess. Besides guarding, it would be useful to be able to use it as an artificer. Jin knows that the walls of the tetrada are still quite crumbling. That''s where he wants to put them. It is understandable that they want swords. Jin has already taken all the weapons and armor that were there. "Finally, as for the reward, 100 swords and 20 golems for 400,000 Tall. If you are good, you can get 10,000,000 Tolls. If they are good, I will add 10 million dollars. This is the limit of what our country can produce. Since all material costs will be borne by the Kingdom of Klein, this is purely a labor charge. Considering this, the price is almost the same as the market price. The only market price that Jin knows of is that of Lotte, who was commissioned by Count Kuzma in the Kingdom of Egelea. "As an addendum, I will be reasonable in making such a request to the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, even if it is after the fact. The Prime Minister explained that he would give the Kingdom of Egelea a proper explanation, an apology, and a gift. "I understand." With some thought, Jin accepted the offer on those terms. "Oh, that''s wonderful!" The king broke into a smile. Princess Rieschen and Jessica, the captain of the Kingsguard, could not hide their joy at the successful conclusion of the negotiations. Glenn, the captain of the Kingsguard, was also relieved, though he did not show it in his face. The request is written in writing on two sheets of parchment, signed by the Prime Minister and Jin, respectively. Jin entrusted his portion to Reiko. This was more secure. By the way, Jin did not mention the deadline. He was confident that he would be able to complete the project in less time than they thought, and more importantly, he did not want to leave the village of Kaina for such a long period of time. On the other hand, the Prime Minister also did not mention the deadline, but his background is the opposite of Jin''s. He said that this request would take a month. He thought that it would take at least a month to complete the project. It is a secret only he knows that the Prime Minister is thinking of deepening his friendship with the Kingdom of Egelea within that one month, and possibly even bringing Jin over to our side. And it may be said that he is a black man if he has already planned to make Princess Rieschen his emissary and marry her to Ernest, the third prince of Egelea at the same time. However, the fact that he does all of this for the good of the country is what makes him a prime minister. However, it is a magical craftsman named Jin who can easily and unconsciously defeat such schemes. No, he does not know that he is a Magecraftsman, or Magecraft Meister. "Well, do you have all the materials? Jin has come to the workshop on the first floor of the castle to discuss the details with the Prime Minister. The workshop was reserved exclusively for Jin until the completion of his request, and he was even given a key to the workshop. This workshop is usually used to make weapons and armor for soldiers and knights. However, since it is not possible to provide armaments for all the members only in this place, they are basically supposed to procure them by themselves. This is another indication of the lack of human resources. "Well, we know that we will receive as many materials as mentioned above, so there is no problem to use our stock. The warehouse is in the basement. Just show this permit to the officer." The Prime Minister, who knew that it would take at least a month to finish the project, handed Jin the permit as if to show his generosity. Upon receiving it, Jin asked if there were any restrictions. The Prime Minister answered that there were none. He even said that they could use anything they wanted as long as it fulfilled the request. The Prime Minister then said that the Princess of Rieschen had kindly allowed them to use her detached palace as their quarters until the completion of the project. "I hear that your sisters are there as well. Her Royal Highness will be glad to be relieved of her ennui. Here''s your permit to come and go. He also received a permit to enter and leave the palace. The Prime Minister, satisfied that he had done what he had to do, said, "Well, good luck," he said, and turned to leave. and started to leave. As he walks away, Jin calls out to him. "Oh, what should I do when it''s finished?" The Prime Minister seemed to think that he was being asked where to put the finished product. "There is an armory next door, so I want you to hand the sword over to the manager there. As for the golem, well, there is an unused soldiers'' room at the end of the corridor, so it would be helpful if you could take it there. Jin nodded his head in agreement, as he had not heard that before. But what he really wanted to ask was, "So, when it''s all over?" The Prime Minister was not in the mood to talk about it. The Prime Minister thought that it was a bit premature, but then reminded himself that Jin would not have much of a chance to talk to him unless it was now, "Her Royal Highness Princess Rieschen is usually busy with nothing in particular to do, so it would be quicker to have Her Royal Highness tell me. Jin replied that he had nothing better to do. Jin sensed that the princess was being taken a little lightly by his words. But he did not say anything at this moment. "I understand." He simply replied. And this time, the Prime Minister left. "Well, first of all, we need to procure materials. Accompanied by Reiko, Jin heads for the underground warehouse. When he showed her his permit, the Prime Minister had apparently been informed of the situation, and the officer let Jin through with an open invitation to use whatever materials he wanted. "Okay, first, the metal materials. Four tons of steel. 1 kilogram of adamantite. 5 kilos of mithril. Oh, there''s some red arsenic nickel ore in the corner. It''s got a lot of impurities, but it''s usable. The red arsenic-nickel ore looks like it could yield copper, but copper could not be separated from it. Instead, only arsenic and an unidentified metal remain. This ore was also mined on Horai Island, and its identity remained unknown for a long time. It is no wonder that the Klein Kingdom has been keeping it. "I should be praised for not throwing it away. Jin mutters and adds it to the ingredients. "Next is magi crystals. He rummages through another shelf and obtains 60 of the milky-white ones with all attributes, 20 of the green ones with the wind attribute, and 40 of the colorless ones with the light attribute. "Now all that''s left is muscle." He looked at another shelf and noticed an unusual material. I had an idea of what it was just by looking at it, but after analyzing it, I found it to be the leather of dragonhead eels (dragon eels). Dragon eels (dragon eels) are giant eels with a head similar to that of a dragon and are herbivores. The largest eels can reach up to 3 meters in length. In the Kingdom of Klein, dragon eels are caught in Lake Manuse, east of the capital Alban, and in Lake Cedrolia in the south. Its meat is oily, but edible and tasty when cooked. The leather is used for armor and magic tools because it is weakly charged with magic and reacts to magic power. There was a small stock of it on Horai Island, so Jin knew of it. The properties of magical muscle as a material are a little better than sandworm leather, and much worse than ground spider threads. Finally, materials for the sword sheath, brim, and hilt are to be prepared. The scabbard is made of hard tanned leather, the brass for the brim, and hardwood for the hilt. "Well, now we have everything we need. The bulkiness of the materials makes it impossible to carry them out all at once, but Reiko manages to carry them all out in a few trips. The officer is frozen with his eyes open. The time is approximately 4:00 p.m. "Well, let''s get started. With Reiko as his assistant, Jin began by separating the nickel from the red arsenic nickel ore. The red arsenic nickel ore is too bulky, so the work is done in the warehouse, not in the workshop. I have already obtained permission from the official. <>" From the approximately 20 tons of red arsenic nickel ore in the warehouse, we were able to separate approximately 350 kilograms of nickel. The arsenic is dangerous and is left in the ore. Steel mixed with 5.5 percent nickel is called five and a half nickel steel, which has improved low-temperature properties as well as wear and corrosion resistance. Jin carried out 233 kilograms of nickel (with Reiko, of course). "<>" The steel ingot and nickel become one and homogeneous. This means that 4.233 tons of 5? nickel steel is now ready. Using this, Jin first forms the skeleton of the golem. The basic template is an adult male model of the Horai Island Covert Task Force (SP). Recently, they have been using it for the battler type as well, so that one can be completed soon. "Well, I used 122 kilos, and . That''s enough." After confirming the amount he had used, Jin used the momentum to make up the remaining 19 bodies. The workshop had been ordered to be off-limits, so it was fortunate that no one was around to see it. Or should I say, it was a pity that no reaction could be seen. If anyone had seen it, he might have questioned his sanity. That is because Jin''s speed of production is that extraordinary. Of course, this work includes adamantite coating on the joints. It was a pity that no one could see the deformation of adamantite, a phenomenon that cannot be seen under normal circumstances. Still, it took time to prepare the materials, and it was 5:00 p.m. when we had completed the skeletons for 20 bodies. "We can do the rest tomorrow. Jin said, locked the workshop, and returned to the palace. An automaton at the entrance showed us the way. It was the automaton that Jin had fixed. * * * * * * * * * * * Hannah, Elsa, and Princess Rieschen were playing together in the palace. No, there was another one, Gloria. "Ah, welcome home!" "Welcome back, Brother Jin. Welcome back. "Oh, Jin, you''re back. This Sugoroku is very interesting! Jin-dono, you''re back. It''s exactly like Sugoroku. Erza had played it in her spare time in the Kingdom of Egelea, so she remembered it. The pieces and dice seem to have been made by Erza with her newly-learned engineering magic. The princess is red, Hannah is yellow, and Elsa is green. And Gloria has a blue one. "I like that it can be played by any number of people and that you can change the course and the squares each time. The best thing is that the rules are simple." The princess seemed to be getting excited by the game of Sugoroku. "Well, Jin has returned, which means ...... that it''s already past five o''clock. Dinner would be ready soon, the princess said, and got up. Dinner consisted of barley porridge with herbs, fried vegetables and meat, baked fish wrapped in a pie crust, a soup of beans, vegetables, and marrow, venison steaks, and a salad with a variety of vegetables. "Am I allowed to join you?" Gloria is eating with me, too, with some trepidation. "It''s not much of a meal, don''t worry about it", the princess laughs. The princess laughs. Indeed, the food may be considered simple for royalty, but for the common people, it is a great feast. The after-dinner drink is a warm glass of ramonade, a mixture of squeezed juice of ramon and sweetener. "Wow, it''s delicious! Hannah was delighted to taste it for the first time. Erza had had it before and was not surprised, but her eyes were smiling, as if she liked the taste. "Hmmm, is this the sweetness of honey?" Jin took a sip and let out such a comment. The princess said, "Yes," and looked at Tia. Realizing the meaning of her gaze, Tia explained. "Yes, this drink is the juice of Ramon, squeezed and mixed with honey. You know exactly what I mean. Not because it tasted exactly like honey lemon," said Jin. "Honey is a specialty of the Kingdom of Leonard in the east and is rarely found on the market, but you''ve had it, haven''t you? "You are the Honorary Magi Craftsman of Egelea, so it must be possible. With these words, the princess took a sip of her lemonade and urged Gloria to explain what had happened to the bandit. 288 - - 10-22 Golem Completed "They were all underlings of the Unification Party (Unifiler)." Gloria began to explain that she had obtained this information during the day when Jin (or rather Reiko) had interrogated those who had been neutralized. They had nothing to do with those who had caused the golem riot the day before. "They had only received instructions to attack Alban after noon today," she said. He goes on to explain that the instructions were rather lax, saying that if they got out of line, they could do as they pleased. "We concluded that the purpose of the raid was to confuse them," he concludes. He concludes. "Whoever tried to kidnap Hannah must have been at least a little rational. He attacked Alban and didn''t think he could escape safely. When I questioned him, he told me a lot of things." I can''t tell you all the details," says Gloria, although Jin knows more than that. "I don''t know how much Jin-dono knows, but as far as Hayama and Dove have informed me, the battlefield that was pushed to Tetrada ended when a mysterious force intervened. The Franzian army has retreated and we can call it a truce or a cease-fire." Jin knows this too well. He is the one who did it. "In summary, I can say that the situation in the small group of countries has calmed down. The postwar talks with the Kingdom of Franz are still to come. Although Jin has some interest, he would prefer to leave the political issues to the other countries. However, there is one point that he cannot compromise on. "Didn''t the Kingdom of Klein draft soldiers? In fact, it is Jin who knows that an order for conscription has been sent to the village of Kaina. "Yes, I am sure that the nobles who own lands have been instructed to send out soldiers in proportion to the population. Princess Rieschen answered. She is very well-informed for her age, which is a sign of her excellence. "You are not going to rescind it?" This is what Jin was most concerned about. Gloria answered his question. "I think it will be rescinded within a day or two. "I think it will be rescinded within a day or two, because by that time the knights who traveled to Tetrada will be back. She said that the damage to the knights might not be canceled before the actual situation is known. This does not mean that the war with the Kingdom of Franz is over, she concluded. "I see." Jin listened to her explanation and realized that he still had to take one more step. * * * * * * * * That night, Jin and the others stayed in the same room as last night. The room was dimly lit by the light of the magic lamp. Hannah started to stretch out, so we got ready for bed. However, she only changes into her nightgown. This nightgown is one of the ones provided in the guest room. I can tell from its texture that it is made of silk. Jin changed his clothes on the curtained bed, thinking about such trivial things as "where did silk come from? Just then. "Hannah, will you sleep with me? came Erza''s voice. When Jin heard her voice, he had an idea. He must have been shocked to be captured by the bandits during the daytime, even if it was only for a short time. At the same time, he felt sorry for himself for not being more considerate. Then, Jin closes his eyes, thanking Erza. The next day, after having breakfast, Jin went to the hotel. The next day, after breakfast, Jin again goes to the royal workshop for a request, "Mr. Reese, is it bad if I take Erza with me as my assistant? Jin asked her, hoping for the best. But the princess readily gave her permission. "Hey, princess, may I come too? Hannah asked the princess. Again, the princess gave her permission immediately. Then she asked again, "Well, it''s boring without Hannah and Erza. I''ll go with you. She said.., "Princess!I''ll go with you then! said Gloria, who was there. I''ll leave aside for the moment whether it was for protection or out of curiosity. So this time, a large group of us headed for the workshop. There seemed to be some trouble, but with the vice-captain of the Kingsguard and the princess present, the guards could say nothing and everyone was able to enter the workshop. "Oh!This is the golem Jin is making! "Wow, it''s so cool!" The princess is excited to see 20 skeletons. Hannah is also amused. Erza has seen the skeletons several times, so she has no obvious reaction. And Gloria? "Hmm, this is the structure of a golem. She says, "Hmm, this is the structure of a golem, no, it''s helpful. There is no one here to say to her, "Don''t use it as a reference. "I''m going to attach the muscles first. Jin says and begins to work on the leather of the dragonfly eels (dragon eels). "Elsa, watch carefully. The most important part of the separation of engineering magic is to know exactly how much of it is needed. He explains this and separates the leather into the necessary quantities. "We could cut it into pieces, but that would cut off some of the fibers and tissue, so it''s better to use engineering magic here. "Hm, Brother Jin?" Jin''s hands did not stop as he explained. One after another, the leather of the dragonhead eel (dragon eels) is divided into smaller pieces by separation. Arm muscles, leg muscles, waist, shoulder and neck muscles. The size of the muscles in each part of the body varies slightly, but Jin has a template in his mind, so the work proceeds without hesitation. Fifteen minutes until the muscles were ready. It was amazingly fast. "Okay, I''m going to install this. Reiko, help me. Elsa can''t do it yet, so watch her closely." Yes, sir. Yes, Brother Jin. Reiko has assisted Jin many times already, and her skill level is well above that of any magecraftsman other than Jin. The complicated and troublesome task of attaching magical muscles to twenty golems took only twenty minutes for Jin and Reiko. "Ummm, it''s somewhat creepy. ......" "Is it?Interesting, though." Princess Rieschen is a bit taken aback, but Hannah, who has been watching them handle the mountain deer in the village, seems unconcerned. "Now it''s time to make the important magi device. I''m going to ask Erza to help me with this. Saying this, Jin picked up the magi crystal and mithril. He asked Elsa to make a mithril casing. Of course, it was to be used as a countermeasure against slave rewriting magic. She makes a sample and has him make the same one. Jin, in the meantime, decides to build a mana tank, a mana driver, and a control core. "Hmmm...beautiful magi crystals, all attributes..." The princess muttered to herself as she looked at the Magi Crystal in Jin''s hands. As expected, she seems to have a general knowledge of magi crystals. "<>" The Magi Crystal in Jin''s hand emitted a pale light, and magical words appeared around it, then disappeared as if absorbed into the Magi Crystal in his hand. "That''s it!" "Oh!That''s engineering magic. ......" The princess seemed to like it, as it was one of the most spectacular engineering magic she had ever used. She watched intently as the Magi Formula was engraved into all of the prepared Magi Crystals. The magi device for the voice is made of green, and the eyes are made of colorless magi crystals. It took about 30 minutes to process a total of 120 magi crystals. Jin saved his time. If he really wanted to, he could do it more than three times faster. "How about you, Elsa? Jin calls out to Erza, who is transforming (forming) a mithril casing. "I''m only three pieces away from being finished. Erza, under Jin''s tutelage, has already surpassed the standard, even if only in certain processes, but she is unaware of it. She had not seen her cousin Reinhardt''s work much, so she had only Jin to compare her work with. Jin helped him, and soon 20 enclosures were made. "Okay, let''s take this one: ......." "Put it on the chest, right?" Erza seems to be learning the procedure little by little. Jin deliberately worked slowly to make it easier for Erza to remember, and then attached the magi device to her chest. "Let''s see..." he said. Mana tank, mana driver, and control core, right? "Yes. Mana tank, you remembered that well. Jin was mildly impressed that Erza could recognize the mana tank, since he did not often make golems with mana tanks. "At Count Kuzma''s place." Yes, Lotte, the golem that I had made at Count Kuzma''s place in Blueland, had been designed for a mana tank. Thinking back, Erza may have wanted to become a magecraftsman since then. The control core is connected to the mithril wires, or magical nerves, by engineering magic, which are then connected to the limbs, head, and torso. The control core and other parts of the body are filled with a sponge buffer made of goulashvam. Eyes and speech apparatus are mounted on the head. The mouth is fixed. In other words, the mouth is fixed, and the facial expressions cannot be changed. The process takes about two and a half hours. The princess and Gloria are watching Jin''s work with curious looks on their faces. Hannah sometimes looked at him with a wry look. "Okay, let''s install the exterior. It was interesting to watch the roughly 60 kilograms of five-and-a-half nickel steel being stretched into a plate and then deformed into armor and attached to the golem. Now even Hannah was staring at the scene without saying a word. Reiko supports Jin''s work by taking charge of separating the 5? nickel steel into 60 kg chunks and roughly stretching them. It takes three minutes to make one golem, and within an hour, twenty golems are completed. "Oh, it''s already done! Jin said to the excited princess, "Now I''d like to test the operation of the golems. Is there anyone who would like to be my partner?Preferably a male soldier. The princess nodded her head. The princess tilted her head and thought. "You want a man?Then I will call one of the knights of the Kingsguard. The princess gave the order to Gloria and Gloria gave the order to the soldier, and a few minutes later a young knight arrived. You wanted to see me, Your Highness? Thank you, Rush. I wanted you to be my test partner today. Partner? So the princess introduces Jin and the others. "This is Jin, the Magecraftsman. My father asked me to create a golem for him. Jin. This is Heinz Rasch. Jin and Heinz shook hands. 289 - - 10-23 Secret transcription Heinz Rasch introduced himself as the second son of Baron Rasch, He has blond hair almost brown and blue-green eyes. He is a strong, muscular man. He is said to be one of the most promising young knights. The princess adds. Heinz looked slightly embarrassed. So, Your Highness, what can I do for you? "Well, you''ll have to ask Jin here." Heinz turned to Jin and said to him, "I was hoping that Heinz-sama would be able to measure the strength of the newly created golem. Heinz turns to Heinz and explains, "I was wondering if you would be able to measure the strength of my new Golem. Heinz looks as if he doesn''t quite understand. "By the way, as a knight, you fight with swords and spears, right? "Hm?Hmmm..." Jin immediately uses his magic. "<>" This is the first time to try the <> option. Since not many people would be happy to have their memories and knowledge copied, it should be possible to perform transinfo ...... in such a way that they do not know what has been done. I did it in a whisper, even though people would not know what I was talking about. The destination of the transcription is the last one of the magi crystals that I brought from Horai Island. "<>...... yeah, it''s okay." Jin confirmed that the knowledge transfer (transinfo) had succeeded. "Jin-dono, what exactly is my role?" Heinz asks again. He seems to be unaware of anything. It was a great success. Jin then says to Heinz, "Please wait a moment. I''m going to launch this golem now, and I''d like you to have a simple mock battle with it. He asked. Heinz had been told about Jin''s request from the king, so he gladly accepted it. "I see...so that''s how it is. I understand. I''m looking forward to it." Jin transcribed the necessary information from the Magi Crystal in his hand to the control core of the golem. "Okay, <>." Mana is poured into the golem and the mana driver is activated. The mana tank has already been filled. One of the golems rises up at the sound of Jin''s voice. "Oh? Oh! It moved! The princess, Gloria, and Heinz, who were watching, each shouted. Elsa and Hannah, who seemed to have gotten used to the sight, did not make a sound. "How are you feeling? "Yes, my creator, I feel fine. "Good." Jin hurriedly produced two mock swords from the remaining iron ingots and handed them to Heinz and Golem. He handed them to Heinz and Golem. I would be very sorry if you get hurt in such a thing. "Yes." The group moves to the backyard. The unusual combination of the three men and women seems to be watched from afar by the available maidens, soldiers, and knights. Heinz removes the sword from his waist. "I will take it." Gloria immediately approaches, bows, and accepts the sword. Heinz shook the mock sword a few times to make sure it felt good, then glanced at Jin. "Then, please." Jin took that look as a sign that he was ready, and announced that he was ready to begin. "Let''s go!" Heinz nodded his head and slashed at the golem. The golem caught the slash with a flowing motion, then took a step forward and swung its sword in a sideways cleave. Heinz ducks with his agile body movement. The golem sees this and takes two more steps. Heinz moves to the side, not behind, and slashes over the golem''s shoulder. "Oh, that''s something!" The princess, watching from a distance, exclaims. Heinz is one of the best knights among the young knights. Jin was pleased inside that he had obtained good data. The magi crystals in Jin''s pocket had all of Heinz''s martial arts transcribed on them. "Good luck to both of you!" When the princess called out to them, the mock sword in the hands of the two (one and the other) broke. It was no wonder. "That''s all for now!" Jin called out, declaring the end of the session. Jin then bows deeply and thanks Heinz. "Thank you very much, Mr. Heinz. "No, thank you. This golem will be ours from now on, won''t it?This is very encouraging. I thank you. "Jin, you are great!I was right!" The princess was also excited. The gallery around her was also impressed. The galleries around her were also impressed, but they could not speak openly, so they clapped their hands in small gestures. "Well, I''ll leave you now." Heinz bowed and left. Jin and the others returned to the workshop. Jin then stopped the golem that he had just test-mobilized and checked each part. Yes, everything is fine. Well, let''s finish the remaining nineteen. He mutters half to himself, and then uses transinfo to write information into the control core. The whole process took about 10 minutes. "Jin, is that all?" Princess Rieschen asked with a face that clearly showed she was suppressing her excitement. "Yes, it''s done. We are going to start it now." Jin answered, and started the machines one by one. "Oh, oh?" It was a spectacular sight to see twenty silver-gray golems shining dully in a row. "All right, each of you check yourselves for movement. Following Jin''s instructions, the 20 Golems wave their arms, bend their legs, and twist their bodies. And all at the same time, "No abnormality. all at the same time. Jin smiled for a moment upon hearing this. But his expression quickly returned to normal. "All right. Now let''s give you temporary names. Starting from the far right, Nick 1, 2, 3, and ending with Nick 20 on the left. "Okay." I should add that Nick is named after a nickel. Even golems made to the same specifications are treated differently to give them individuality. Giving it another name is the first step. Since we are on the cutting edge, we decide to have lunch. The princess leads the way back to the villa. In the villa, everything is already prepared. The automata set out the dishes one after another. It is a pleasure to watch the automatons, which are now moving so quickly and efficiently. Since it is lunch, the menu is not too heavy, but a combination of bread, soup, salad, and juice. However, the bread is pure white, the soup is made of many kinds of vegetables and venison cooked until it melts, and the salad is made of vegetables picked in the morning. The juice is Persian deer juice. In the Kingdom of Klein, Persian deer must be very precious, so it was clear that the princess had splurged on it for Jin and his family. "Wow, it''s so sweet and delicious! The juice made by squeezing ripe persica is thick and sweet enough without adding sugar. The natural sweetness of the juice leaves a refreshing aftertaste. Elsa, who loves Citran, seemed to like this juice. "I hope you don''t mind if I join you ......." Gloria was embarrassed. "What do you mean? I heard that it all started when you asked Jin to make you a sword. In other words, it was your work. Gloria is even more embarrassed when the princess says this. * * * * * * This afternoon we will be making swords. This time, the sword is not a short sword, but a long sword. The word "long" refers to a short sword, not a particularly long sword. It is a sword that a strong male knight can wield with one hand, and is used more for thrusting than for cutting. "Well, the model is ...... and the Prime Minister said he would prepare it for us. Ah, here it is." Jin instructs Reiko to prepare the necessary amount of steel. Reiko, who has special vision, is better at non-contact weighing. She knows everything from the weight of a sword to the size of a woman''s underwear. "Father, I think this is good." Reiko held out a two-and-a-half kilogram piece of five-and-a-half nickel steel. "Good." Jin said and was about to accept it, but then he realized something important. 290 - - 10-24 Sword 100 Shaking 5Half nickel steel, although tough, is not so suitable for blades. This is because the addition of nickel leaves a large amount of austenite, which reduces the hardness of the steel. Therefore, Jin began by first separating the nickel from the remaining 5? nickel steel ingot. "<> Nickel". From the remaining 1.79 tons of 5? nickel steel about 98 kg of nickel were separated. The resulting pure carbon steel should be enough to make 100 swords. "Well then, Elsa, let''s practice separation. Jin invites Erza to join him. Jin began to explain to Elsa as she approached. The trick to separation is to visualize the <> accurately. Ten 1-gram pieces weigh 10 grams. 10 grams is 10 grams. 10 grams is 1 gram, 100 grams is 100 grams. It''s a repetition." "I know what you mean." "The key is to know how much a gram is. That''s the first step. By saying out loud what he had already memorized by feel, Jin himself understood more deeply. At the same time, he realizes that his predecessor''s way of thinking is very close to modern earth science. Not everything, of course. There are some digital ideas in some places, and some of the materials are treated down to the molecular level. It is a little too late to say this, but it was also surprising to see how the muscles of golems and automata are so close to those of human beings that one would need to know their anatomy to make them. (Maybe the previous generation was also a summoned person.) (Maybe the previous generation was also a summoned person.) No one can answer such a question, though Jin does not think so. "<>" Jin returns his consciousness to Erza. Erza is trying very hard to use separation to create a one-gram chunk. "You can do the separation without any problem now. Now we just need to recognize a gram. A skilled craftsman can see a flat surface with his palm. Magecraft masters have such a sense, but even if they don''t go that far, humans are surprisingly good at measuring things with their eyes. A woodworker can tell the thickness of a 3mm from a 4mm board without measuring it, and a skilled driver can sense a change in air pressure in a tire. The point is that you can reach a certain level of skill through habituation. The higher the level, the closer one comes to becoming a Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer. "<>...... How about this time?" After more than a dozen times, Elsa''s senses are getting much better. "Yes, I think it''s good enough. "Yes, I think it''s good enough. Let''s take out a 2.2 kg lump. Reiko, take care of the adjustment. "Yes, father. ...... Elsa, let''s do it. Yes. So, Reiko verifies the lumps that Elsa made by separation and fine-tunes them to a more accurate amount. At first, the amount was too much or too little, but after 30 times, the error was getting smaller and smaller. "Hmmm, Mister Elsa is also quite impressive, isn''t she? Gloria, who was watching the work, was impressed by the progress she had made. She, too, had never known an ordinary magecraftsman, so she did not realize how out of the ordinary this was. Princess Rieschen is very interested in magecraft and watches intently. Hannah, who also likes to see Jin working, watches him quietly, but she seems to have grown tired of the sight of him working endlessly on a 2.2-kilogram piece of steel. Jin senses this, and with about 70 completed steel blocks in his hands, he finally begins to make the sword. "<>" The steel blocks seem to emit a pale light, and then they change their shape in no time at all. Then it takes the form of a sword. It takes about five seconds. Even so, Jin is holding back. If he really meant it, he could complete it in one second. "Oh, wow!Jin-dono, may I have a look at it? Gloria couldn''t keep quiet. Jin laughed and held out the sword. "I haven''t even finished the hilt yet. Gloria takes the sword and looks at it. "Hmmm, nice work!I don''t often use a longsword, but this one is quite easy to use." "Is it?I used the sample sword and the sword that Heinz-san was holding earlier as reference. Gloria was surprised when Jin answered. At the same time, the princess also raised her voice. "What!Heinz''s sword is unmarked, but it''s a work of art!" "What!How did you know the details of the sword in such a short time? The details of the sword were different from the point of surprise. "Well, I''m relieved to hear that it''s of good quality. Jin said and went back to his work. Elsa and Reiko had finished making 100 pieces of steel. "<>. <>. <>" The swords were completed one after another. 100 swords were made in about 15 minutes. "That was fast!" The princess and Gloria are both looking on in astonishment. "Now all we have to do is harden them..." Jin began to explain again to Erza. "You explained it at Mr. Duston''s place, didn''t you?Keep that in mind as you watch." Jin said, and picked up about ten swords in a single motion. "<>. <>. <>. <>" The onlookers are silent as Jin processes ten swords in a single operation. The whole process takes about 30 seconds, and in a little over five minutes, 100 swords are completed. "Now all that''s left is the sheath, the brim, and the hilt. Elsa can do this too. "Tsubaki?" Erza looked doubtful at the unfamiliar word. "Oh, for swords, it''s called a guard, isn''t it?" Gloria answered. "Yes. In our country, a sword with a hilt and a tsuba is called a hilt. The sword you are having made now has the hilt and tsuba made separately, so you can call it a guard. "Okay. Would you be okay with that, Elsa? "Yes, that''s fine." With that, Jin prepared the leather for the scabbard, the brass for the guard, and the hardwood for the handle. He asked Erza to make a brass guard. Jin shows her a sample of what he wants it to look like. I''ll do the fine tuning," he says. "I''ll try." Elsa separates the amount of brass to be used as a guard from the mass of brass. Jin sees this and is impressed by how well she has done in such a short time. Seeing him forming the guard by forming, Jin was relieved that he could leave the work to her and started to make the scabbard and handle himself. Reiko took the materials while Jin was in charge of processing. In no time at all, the scabbard and handle were ready. "Wow, this is fun! Hannah was also looking at them with delight. This too was completed in about 10 minutes. Elsa has only made 20 pieces. "I''m sorry I''m late," she apologizes. She apologizes, but it''s just that Jin is too crazy, and Elsa is fast enough. It is a tragedy of having a family member who is too good. Jin attaches the completed guard to the sword, adjusts the hilt, and fine-tunes the sword. Finally, he sheathes the sword and the sword is complete. Hitoshi used to change the color of the scabbard little by little. Every 10 strikes, the color of the scabbard is a gradation of brown, from almost white to almost black. "Hmmm, it''s quite beautiful. Gloria, who was watching, was also impressed. Princess Rieschen is looking at it with Hannah. She is not bored. When the guards prepared by Elsa are used up, Jin helps her to make more guards. It was about 2:30 when the 100 longswords were completed. "This is the end of the whole volume." Jin stood up and stretched, uttering a somewhat dated line. "Well, you showed me something good. Gloria, the sword enthusiast, was pleased. "Good, then we can hand it over to the Prime Minister. ...... you there, go get the Prime Minister. Tell him that Jin has completed what he asked for." Princess Rieschen ordered a soldier passing by the workshop to go get the Prime Minister. Inwardly, Jin wondered if he would be able to summon the Prime Minister so easily, but his fears were unfounded. The prime minister literally flew in. "Jiji-jin-dono, it''s done! Even his bodyguards could see him running down the corridor at a speed that would have stunned them. "Oh, Powell''s guy can make a face like that, too?" Princess Rieschen''s cheeks relaxed at the Prime Minister''s panic, who usually has a wry expression on his face. "Wheeze, wheeze, wheeze ............" The Prime Minister, who seems to have run as fast as he could to the workshop, has a sweaty forehead and is breathing on his shoulders. "There''s no need to be in such a hurry." The princess''s half-amused words were also ringing in his ears, "Hohohohoho, did you really complete 20 golems and 100 swords? She asked him with an almost insatiable appetite. "Yes, please take a look." Jin pointed inside the workshop. There stood twenty silver-gray golems with a dull sheen, each holding five swords in its arms. "Oh, it''s true, isn''t it ......?" "Yes, I saw her and Gloria from the middle. No doubt Jin made this many golems and swords. For some reason, the princess is very proud. Just when Jin was about to relax, she said, "This is the end of the request. "How can a sword made by a magecraftsman be of any use in a real battle! A voice reeking of trouble echoed through the room. 291 - - 10-25 Rewards "Prime Minister!Why did you, a man of your stature, make such a request? The voice came from a middle-aged man with a stout build. "Boulton, you are making too much noise!" The prime minister rebuked him, but the man would not listen. "Weapons must be forged!A sword made of beaten steel is unbreakable, and a shield made of iron is strong. You know that cast swords break easily and are useless. Cast shields break easily. They are useless for protection!The same is true of armor made by magecraftsmen. Don''t you remember the year before last!Even if one were unbreakable it would bend. It will not break. Forcing soldiers to use such weapons is like asking them to die!That''s insane!I''m against it!" He rants on at once. I felt a sense of dj vu, "...... father......" Gloria muttered tiredly. It seems that the man called Boulton was Gloria''s father. What a father-daughter resemblance! In the sense of disappointment. Hearing his daughter''s muttering, Boulton recognized Gloria. "Oh, Gloria. What are you doing here!And you, Princess Rieschen!You may be able to repair automata and create golems, but I, Boulton, will not accept your entrusting me with your armaments as well! The voice was loud. Hannah covered her ears. "Father, ......" "Yes, Gloria, now I have to give my opinion to the Prime Minister ......." Boulton was about to say this when Gloria silently held out her shortsword. "Hmm?You said you broke your sword the other day. So this is your new sword. Hmm,............ what? Boulton''s eyes lit up when he saw Gloria''s shortsword in his hand. "Oh, a magnificent flow of steel!The blade is hard, the core is soft. The whole thing is strong!You''ve got a good sword!You must be a famous smith!" Yes, it was made by Jin-dono there. "Yes, it was made by Lord Jin there." "Hmmm, Lord Jin?...... There''s only the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. ...... No way! No way, sir. Boulton finally learned that his daughter''s shortsword had been made by a magecraftsman named Jin. * * * * Boulton is said to be an arms control officer in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and a baronet. He was once a knight in his youth. Boulton bowed so deeply that his head hit the floor and apologized to Jin. "I am sorry!This Boulton, this is a lifetime mistake!I never thought there was a magecraftsman who could make such a great sword!" "It doesn''t matter." Jin really doesn''t care. He was just dumbfounded from beginning to end. Both the Prime Minister and the princess looked as if it was business as usual. Erza thinks that Reinhardt is a more extreme version of him, but she doesn''t show it, and Hannah just sees him as a funny old man. Hanna was playing fetch with the princess to relieve her boredom. No, she was playing something similar. Jin overlooked Boulton''s apology, thinking, "I didn''t know they had that kind of game here. * * * * "So, there is a boundary inside the metal, and it breaks from that boundary. The larger the area surrounded by the boundary, the more brittle it is. When they had finally calmed down, they sat down in a rest area in the corner of the workshop. "Boulton, like me, has a magic eye. It''s called the ." Princess! Once again, the princess blurts out something important. She''s even more honest than Jin. She''s even more honest than Jin. "Microscopic, that means you can see small things, right? When Jin said this, Boulton was astonished. "What?You can tell what it is just by hearing its name!Who the hell are you ......?" "So, I am the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea," he said, "the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. Jin said and asked them to resume the interrupted conversation. "Hmmm, I''ve heard that magecrafting (magecraft) is very popular in the Kingdom of Egelea, but I didn''t know it was this much ......." Saying this, Boulton began to explain. Jin understood that what he was talking about was what we call and on modern Earth. Metals are made of fine crystals, and the denser and finer the crystals are, the tougher they are. One of the purposes of forging is to make the metal particles finer, and this is the reason why forged aluminum wheels are stronger than cast ones. This was something that Jin, who used to work in the metal industry, had learned in his training. "It was my opinion that swords and other weapons made by magic are not practical because the boundaries between them are so absurd. Your sword, however, is ......." Boulton talks on and on, and I guess Gloria is the reason she was raised by her father. "All right, all right, that''s enough. The point is that the sword you made, Jin-dono, is very practical, isn''t it?" Prime Minister Powell concluded, as if he had had enough. Boulton, on the other hand, replied, "No, it is much more than that. He said, "No, it is much more than that. After the uproar, he had a trial cut of the scroll and confirmed that it was, in fact, a great sword. Since then, Boulton had kept a low profile. Hitoshi was afraid, Elsa looked at him, Hannah smiled at him, and Reiko was proud of herself. "I see." The Prime Minister closed his eyes, folded his arms, and thought about something, He closed his eyes and folded his arms. I have to admit that I had my doubts about you. Although you say you are from the Kingdom of Egelea, I suspect that you are actually an agent of the Unified Party (Unifiler) or the Kingdom of Franz. He bowed lightly. "Hey, Powell, that''s ......." The princess was about to say something, but the Prime Minister stopped her with his hand. "Your Highness is right," said the Prime Minister. It is not possible for the enemy''s agents to produce such weapons and golems. The reason why he knew about the golem was that he had secretly watched Jin''s golem engage in a mock battle with Heinz. The Prime Minister concluded that he would report to the King immediately and asked him to follow him. He then asked the soldier who was accompanying him to request an audience with the king. Then, "Well, let''s take it easy, shall we? The group leaves the workshop. In addition to Princess Rieschen, Prime Minister Powell, Chief of the Boulton Armed Forces, and Gloria, Vice Commander of the Kingsguard, Jin, Elsa, Hannah, and Reiko walk through the royal palace. The ladies-in-waiting and the soldiers on guard also seemed to be interested in them and were throwing glances at them. "I would like you to wait here for my sister. Erza and Hanna were led to a reception room near the office. Reiko nodded her head and held up four fingers after checking the infrared mode. This means that there are two SPs dedicated to Hanna and two SPs dedicated to Erza attached to her side. That makes Jin feel relieved. Jin was relieved. He and Prime Minister Powell enter the King''s office, which they had visited the day before. Reiko, of course, was with them. The princess was with Jin, Gloria was with Hannah and the others, and Boulton had left. "You came, Jin." King Alois III was waiting for Jin, as if he had been informed in advance. "I heard. I heard you completed the sword and the golem in just one day. You did well. I thank you. Alois III clasped his hands together on his desk, "Now, in addition to the promised sum, I would like to add something as a reward. Is there anything else you would like? He looked Jin in the eye and asked, "What do you want? As expected, he seemed to offer some kind of reward for having made so much in such a short period of time. Jin had some thoughts about that, "To be honest, I don''t really know how much I have done," he replied. He replied, "To be honest, I don''t know how much I have done. The question is what the king will say in response. "Hmm, I see. I had hoped to take you on as a Royal Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, but that''s not going to happen either. The title of Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea was quite useful to Jin. "I would be happy if you would settle down in my country, since I will give you a fiefdom," the king said. the king said, and the prime minister made a proposal. "There is also the possibility of giving them control or autonomy over a specific area of land, if not necessarily a fiefdom," he said. Such a statement came out of his mouth. When Jin heard this, he said, "That''s a good idea. Jin said, "That''s a good idea. Seeing his reaction, the Prime Minister jumped to his feet. "Oh, yes!Jin-dono wants the land?" The Kingdom of Klein would rather give him a territory and bind him to it than just give him gold and say goodbye. "No, it would be better to call it a leased land rather than a territory," replies Jin. Jin replies, "No, it would be better to call it a leased land rather than a territory. A leased land is, for example, a land that Country A leases to Country B for a certain period of time under a treaty. The sovereignty is ostensibly held by country A, but the actual right to govern rests with country B, which has leased the land. In this case, the Kingdom of Klein leases the land to Jin personally. Although less binding than a fiefdom, it was a condition that the Kingdom of Klein could accept. "Hm, is there some land you would like?" Alois III asked Jin with a look that said he was starting to get the picture. Jin''s answer was already known. "Yes, the village of Kaina. 292 - - 10-26 Leased land Kaina Village "Hmmm... Kyna village, huh?" Alois III, King of Klein, smiled pleasantly as Jin said this. "Is that all you want?You can ask for a larger territory, can''t you?" "No, it''s just the village of Kaina. Jin''s mind remained unchanged. "Well, that''s good. Alois III orders his scribe to draw up a contract. This is the general outline. The following is a detailed description of the definition of the village of Kaina, the scope of the lease, and the term of the lease. The loan period is 50 years from today. The market price for a golem like the one Jin made is 5 to 8 million tolls.2 The price of one golem like Jin''s is 5 to 8 million dollars. 20 to 160 million dollars. The cost of materials is approximately 80 million dollars. Jin''s labor would be no less than 80 million dollars, judging from the workmanship. In addition, there is a sword, but this time the whole project was undertaken for 50 million dollars. The difference is more than 30 million dollars. On the other hand, if the tax revenue of the village of Kayna is 5 tons of wheat, it is about 450,000 Tall, or 22 The tax revenue of the village of Kayna is about 450,000 TL, or 22.5 million TL for 50 years. The tax revenues of the village of Caina, on the other hand, were not commensurate with the amount of the reward, so Alois III said that a larger territory would be acceptable. The text was read out again. The contract would be null and void if Jin acted against the interests of the Kingdom of Klein, among other clauses. Naturally, the village of Kaina is considered an extraterritoriality. Since Jin himself could not memorize all the clauses read out by the clerk, he had Lao-kun memorize them through Reiko and check them at the same time. Then, Reiko whispered to Jin that the problem was still <>. "What do you think, Jin-dono?" Prime Minister Powell asked Jin after the text had been read out. Jin then mentioned the points that the old man had pointed out to him through Reiko. Yes, <>, this is somewhat ambiguous. For example, if someone belonging to the Klein Kingdom causes a problem around the village of Kaina, and I ...... am to blame for it, to what extent am I allowed to do so? By implication, the king realized, he was referring to Count Walter''s intransigence last year and Jin''s actions in stopping him. "Well, yes, Prime Minister, do you have an opinion?" "Yes, in that case, how about allowing the right of self-defense in the region in the event of an act that would undermine the region as I indicated earlier? He is using difficult words, but he is saying that if they attack the village of Kaina, fighting back within Kaina would not be an act <>. It is only natural if it is an extraterritoriality. Conversely, it is not allowed to chase them out of the village of Kaina. "In this case, is it correct to say that the village of Kaina is not a real village, but rather the boundary of an area? "Specifically, the area north of the Torgo Pass, bounded by the Erme River and the northern mountains." The Togolese pass is a small pass that was crossed when the tax was paid. The northern mountains are not the ones where they go to get medicinal herbs, but the area further north where the Hecaton Cairn was located. It is quite a large area. It is Jin''s opinion that a simple drawing has been added so that there are no ambiguities. Some other points are to be confirmed. The last point added at that stage was that <>. The old man gave his OK, so Jin signed the contract and stamped his handprint on it. Two copies of the contract were made, one for the Kingdom of Klein and the other for Jin. "Now we have a connection between our country and Jin," said Alois III. Alois III said to Jin, "Your Majesty, I would like to confirm something. "Yes, what is it?" "The conflict with the Kingdom of Franz seems to have ended. What about the order for conscription?" "Prime Minister?" The king turned Jin''s question to the Prime Minister. "Certainly, I have issued an order to the nobles who own lands to conscript. However, since I withdrew it this morning, each of them has been disbanded, or should be disbanded. Jin''s chest heaves with relief at the Prime Minister''s explanation. The men of Kaina village will be able to return to their villages soon. I am relieved to hear that. Finally, please make sure that there will be no friction with Count Walter, who rules the whole Kaina village. "I understand." The last clause, <>. Jin is relieved and happy that all is now done and that the village of Kaina is now at peace. The king is the king, "I am happy to have made a connection with Jin," he said. He had two glasses prepared, poured wine into them, and offered one to Jin. Jin accepted the offer. Then, for the sake of our good relationship," he said. "To a good relationship." Cheers. The princess was delighted that Jin, whom she had found, had been recognized by her father, the king, and the prime minister was delighted that he had made a connection with a rare talent. The contract was signed at 5:30 p.m., and it looked like they would be staying another night. Princess Rieschen took the opportunity to extend an invitation. Jin, I''m so happy for you. You can have dinner at my place again. Father, is that all right?Yes, Powell, will you come too?" Alois III smiled and nodded. "Well, Rhys, you''re in charge of the feast, I''ll leave you to it. Powell, you may go." The grand dining room of the villa has a magnificent setting. A sumptuous meal is laid out in the dining room of the palace. Among the participants are Princess Rieschen, Prime Minister Powell, Baron Boulton, and Vice-Captain of the Gloria Knight Corps. And Jin, Elsa, Hannah, and Reiko (though Reiko does not eat or drink). Hannah is wearing a dress given to her by the princess. Erza was also wearing one of the dresses, which was not the princess''s, but was given to her by the princess. Jin is wearing the half-coat of the Honorary Magi Craftsman Honorary Magi Craftsman. A toast is made with light fruit wine, except for Hannah. Hannah is the only one who drinks juice. "Ah, I feel so relieved now!" The Prime Minister, who had finished the toast, let out a relieved voice. He must have felt better now that he had a connection with Jin. He may still have something in mind, but now that he knows how good he is, he will not touch Jin directly. Jin explained the situation to Elsa and Hanna in a simple way, but Elsa and Hanna probably did not understand it. Still, she seemed to understand that Jin had received a reward, She said to me, "I''m happy for you, girl. She said to me. While eating, the conversation was lively. The one who talked the most was, of all, Princess Rieschen. She said, "I was right! And, "You can stay here forever! You can stay here as long as you like! Gloria was Gloria, "I will treasure this sword that Master Jin made for me for the rest of my life! I will treasure this sword that Master Jin made for me for the rest of my life! And her father, Boulton.., "Jin-dono, I would like you to make me a sword next time, if you can. ...... (I put the matter on hold for the time being.) (I put the matter on hold for the time being.) The night went on with pleasant conversation. * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Alois III, on the other hand. "The Prime Minister answered Jin''s question, but when did he withdraw the conscription order? He checked with his secretary to be sure. He wanted to keep his credibility. "Don''t worry, I am sure that the order to withdraw the draft order was sent to the various places this morning by fast horseback. "Well, that''s good. Indeed, last time we made a slight mistake, and let such a great talent slip through our fingers. Alois III recalls with bitterness Count Walter''s courage. "Besides, he made a good acquaintance in marrying Lys to Egelea. The Kingdom of Klein, which promotes the idea of diplomacy from afar, would be pleased to strengthen its ties with the Kingdom of Egelea. Princess Rieschen heard from Jin that the third prince Ernest was a very good prince, and as a father, not a king, she should be happy about that. "How is Count Walter doing now?" He wants to know exactly what is going on, since he is going to lose his lands, even if only a part of them. The secretary replies. Yes, I believe they are organizing their own army in Gaara. I am sure that the conscripted soldiers have been disbanded. "Good, I will send out the first horses tomorrow to inform them of the decision regarding the village of Kaina. I will send out the first horses tomorrow and inform you of the decision regarding the village of Kaina. How is the linkage working, old man? < That night, on his bed, Jin made sure that no one was around to eavesdrop on him, and then, just to be on the safe side, he communicated with the old man through Reiko. < Yes, Jin did not fully trust the Kingdom of Klein. That''s why the golem has a number of <. That''s why he used light-attributed magic crystals (magi crystals) for the eyes, which seemed to be a little over spec. All the extra power is used for the linkage with the old man. The formula for the linkage is so minute, and is composed of Chinese characters, that no one can analyze it. As a matter of fact, all the extra power of the wind vocalization device is used for the linkage with the old man, so that the old man can know what the golem is saying and even what the golem hears if he wants to. In addition, the control core is also equipped with a limiter to prevent attacks against Jin, Horai Island, Kunlun Island, and Kaina Village, and it is also configured to allow the Old Man to seize control of the core if the need arises. This is a secret only between Jin, Reiko and the old man. "I have one more favor to ask. The old man, I need you to deliver the same golem carriage that I made before to the vicinity of Alban tomorrow morning. Jin instructed the old man to be as deceitful as possible, thinking that he would probably be sent off the next day. "We''ll get by with this: ......" 293 - - 10-27 Silent Story 16 The Kako Party is active. "Elena, what is this?" Jules, former president of the Unifiler party and now president of the Nostalgia party, looked at the large desk-sized magical tool and asked the question. It was April 27. It was the day after the Unification Party (Unifiler) was renamed the Nostalgia Party (Nostalgia). "This is called a manaphone. "Manaphone?" Jules was puzzled by the unfamiliar name. "Yes. It has a counterpart, and you can make a call between the two units. Elena explains. "Well..." Jules says, "I''m not sure. But haven''t Elena and I talked at a distance before? It is a natural question. Elena and Jules had once talked with a certain magic tool while Elena (her predecessor) and Donald (the second seat) were on their way back in a hot air balloon. "Yes, you are right to ask that question. I don''t know the name of that magic device, but it is not possible to talk to it at a distance. For example, the best I can do is to connect Astan with here. And you can only talk to me. And if there is a high mountain in between, it is impossible to communicate even if the distance is close. The magic device for communication, one part of which is built into Elena, has a counterpart as large as a room. "On the other hand, this manaphone, despite its small size, can communicate over distances of several hundred kilometers, maybe even more than a thousand kilometers. It doesn''t make any difference if there are mountains in between." "My God!Is this from Makina-sama? Yes. I have received a total of 20 manaphone sets, 10 pairs in all, and I think it would be a good idea to send them to various countries. The five countries, the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Cerroa, the Kingdom of Franz, the Kingdom of Klein, and the Kingdom of Elias, are small groups of countries that are closely connected in many ways. If manaphones are to be installed in the capital of each country as a hotline to other countries, 4 manaphones are needed per country, so 4 multiplied by 5 equals 2 So, 4 multiplied by 5 equals 20. Shoro and Leonard will have to wait for the next time. "I am sure they will be pleased with this. Jules breathed a sigh of relief. Then he asked Elena again. How is the reorganization going? Jules asks Elena, his secretary. According to Elena, more than 80% of the executives who had been <> have remained in the organization after being released from mental manipulation, as they still share the ideals of the Nostalgia Party. The remaining less than 20% of the members seem to be those who were simply interested in power or money, and they are detained and put in the dungeons. It is undecided whether they will be mentally manipulated to make them harmless and released, or whether they will be kept as they are. It would be best if he would change his mind. I see. Then we can work as an organization. Yes, my lord. Elena, although she had been converted by Jin, was still speaking in the same way as before because of the eyes of those around her. "Well, I wouldn''t be able to accomplish this without Elena''s help, so please keep up the good work. * * * * Meanwhile, Donald, who was in the second seat, had been struggling for a long time. The reason for this was the battle early in the morning of the 23rd. No matter how wide and unpopular the plain in front of the headquarters was, it was impossible that no one in the town of Kasimunore had noticed. Makina (Jin) was checking the area from the sky, so there were no human casualties among the residents, but it is possible that they heard a lot of noise, and some of them may have seen the debris that was blown up when Makina and the others escaped from the trap. "Can we cover it up with the development of a new mine? ......" All of this was covered up with a peaceful rationale, which the Donald was smart enough to keep under wraps. And then there is the cleanup of the that he had made to the other countries. "...... is sending people to Alban, the capital of the Klein Kingdom, for the purpose of disturbance. I''m sure there are others. ......" Donald sighs when he learns that one of the militant leaders has taken it upon himself to carry out the operation. It''s the morning of the 28th. It will be noon soon. "The dates are the 27th and noon of the 28th. One of them is already over. The other one is too late to call now. ....... I just hope Klein Kingdom can handle it. * * * * "Your Majesty, a gift has arrived from a group called Nostalgia as a consolation gift." "What is it?The Nostalgia Party? Yes. According to the attached letter, they are a group whose purpose is to discover the technology of the past, apply it to the present, and connect it to the future. "Sounds fishy to me. So, what''s the gift? Yes, this is it. What''s with the big desk?And four of them? Yes, according to the letter, they are magic tools called manaphone. Manaphone? It is said to be able to communicate with distant places by means of magic. It is said that each of the five kingdoms of Klein, Egelea, Franz, Selroa, and Elias can communicate with each other. "If that''s true, it would be very useful, let''s give it a try." "There may be risks, so it would be better to do it in the presence of the Minister of Magic." "Yes, call the Minister of Magic as soon as possible." On the morning of April 29, conversations like this are said to have taken place in many countries. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "This is Kelihidole, Minister of Magic of the Kingdom of Egelea. Can you hear me?" The magic crystal attached to the manaphone of the Klein Kingdom glowed brightly, and a voice echoed out. Prime Minister Powell, who was standing nearby, hurriedly replied. This is Powell, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Klein. I can hear you very well. "Oh, I see. This morning, I received this magical device called a manaphone, and after examining it, I found it to be harmless, so I have attempted to contact your country. Hearing this, the Prime Minister replied hurriedly. "We were also investigating the matter, but your contact has proven it to be valid, and we thank you. Then, the Minister of Magic of the Kingdom of Egelea and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Klein continued their conversation for a while, albeit informally. "It is indeed very useful. I will speak to the King after this and advise him to have a meeting with your King. These words were exchanged without a word from either side. This was before noon on April 29. Similar communications were exchanged between the kingdoms of Elias and Egelea, and between the kingdoms of Klein and Franz. The manaphone will surely have an impact on the diplomatic relations among the minor kingdoms. By the way, no one knows that this manaphone has a built-in manacam, and all the contents of the conversation are transmitted to you. The "Manaphone" has a built-in manafon (manacam), and no one knows that the contents of the conversation are being transmitted to the Old Man. "Elena, do you know how that manaphone was delivered to the countries? Yes, my lord. It seems that the Lord Machina ordered his men to bring it to you. Jules and Donald both groaned at this reply. Jules and Donald both groaned at the answer, wondering if this mysterious being called Machina had that much power. And <>, he said. The words that Donald heard from Reinhardt lie before Jules and Donald''s eyes with a certain weight. "......How in the world could a golem look like this?" There were piles and piles of leftover metal chunks from the melted golems that had been sent to various countries as reconstruction materials. "Well, I don''t know. There must be a lot of things in this world that those of us who only look to the past can''t understand. "I wonder how much of that we will understand in the rest of our lives." Jules'' muttered words convey a hint of loneliness. "It''s okay if you don''t understand everything. Life is like that, isn''t it? Donald answered. He remained positive. "Well, it''s true. I suppose no life can be all things to all people. I will support you both as much as I can. Both Jules and Donald smiled at Elena''s words. "Thank you Elena. As long as you are with us, we can believe in the future. "Yes, you can count on us. And just a few minutes ago, Machina-sama delivered another magic tool. "Well, I wonder what surprises await us this time." 294 - - 10-28 Return The next morning, Jin decided to leave Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. He had been away from the village of Kaina for quite a while, and Hannah was getting ready to leave. It was a pity that we could not stop by the Raglan Trading Company where Roland the peddler was located. Another time will have to wait. After breakfast, the princess again takes us to the city gates in her carriage. The carriage is guarded by Kingsguard knights on horseback in front of and behind the carriage. Gloria was also in the carriage with her, but they hardly talked to each other in the carriage as they were about to say goodbye. The princess said one word to me, "I wouldn''t mind if you stayed longer. The princess only muttered, "I wish you could have stayed longer. The carriage came to a halt as it passed through the city gates. The escorting knights are taking care to stand guard at a short distance away. On the other hand, Jin, Hannah, and Erza''s SPs were on the lookout around the carriage. Although they were not visible. Jin and the others slowly disembarked from the carriage as if regretting their last moment. By the way, Hannah is wearing her own clothes this time. But no need to worry, nothing more happened today. The princess and Gloria stand with their backs to the walls of the city, and Jin and the others stand facing the walls. Everyone is silent. There were many things they wanted to say, but when the time came, the words did not come out of their mouths. Then Gloria spoke up first, "Jin-dono, I hope to see you again someday," she said. I hope to see you again someday," she said. Princess Rieschen followed. Jin, what are you going to do now? The normally cheerful princess looked sad. "Yes, I''m going to the village of Kaina. Jin replies. Jin also feels a little lonely. "By the way, you said you have a carriage? "Yes." Jin nods and whistles. Then a carriage comes along the road leading to the forest. "Oh?What is that carriage? The princess is surprised to see a golem carriage for the first time. Gloria is the same way. It''s my carriage. It''s a carriage pulled by a golem horse! The carriage comes to a stop near Jin. Jin takes one look at it and realizes that it is the same as the one he had made in the Kingdom of Egelea. The old man has done his job well. "His Royal Highness Prince Ernest of Egelea has the same one. I''ll let him know. This would increase Princess Rieschen''s interest in the Kingdom of Egelea. Sure enough, the princess says, "Oh, yes!I''m looking forward to meeting Master Ernest! She exclaims. And then, "Actually, I received a magic device called a manaphone yesterday. It seems that we can now talk to the kingdoms of Egelea, Cerroa, and Franz. Oh, and the Kingdom of Elias too. Jin, who had heard this when he talked with the old man last night, smiled inwardly, thinking that he would be able to make good use of it. "So, I heard that my father talked to him about various things. According to what I''ve heard, next month, tomorrow being May, there''s going to be an arranged marriage between a concubine and Ernesto-sama. As usual, this princess is quick to mention important information about the country. She may be a little embarrassed, but she is still a little careless. "Well, congratulations! Jin had no choice but to answer in the same way. "Well, it hasn''t been decided yet." The princess blushes and replies, but Jin thinks it might be a surprisingly good match for her. "Well then, I''m afraid I''m running out of things to say. "Thank you for your hospitality." Thank you very much, Ojyo-sama! "Well, you''re a good man. See you again. Jin-dono, I''ll see you soon. With brief but heartfelt words of farewell, Jin and the others climbed into the carriage. Then the carriage doors closed and the golem horses began to move slowly. "Be careful!" Princess Rieschen shouts despite her status as a princess. Jin sinks back into his seat, thinking that this has been a good meeting despite everything that has happened. * * * * "He''s gone," the princess muttered. The princess muttered and looked at Gloria who was going back on foot and told her to get in her carriage. "I can escort you in the carriage as I did on the way there, can''t I?" Gloria was afraid to go, but in the end the princess pushed her too hard and she agreed to ride with her. As soon as the carriage started moving, four knights of the Kingsguard naturally approached. They were to escort her to the royal palace. "He was a strange man, wasn''t he?" In the carriage the princess and Gloria were talking about Jin and the others. "Yes, he was the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, but he was a man of many mysteries, wasn''t he?" "Yes. But I got the impression that he was not a man who would bring harm to our country. I agree. The carriage drives down the cobblestone central avenue. Looking casually out, the princess remembered the golem fiasco from the other day. The building and the road in front of her were being repaired. The hole Jin made to drop the golem and the wall cracked by the aftermath of Jessica''s Flame Lance. "We''ve compensated you, but we haven''t dealt with Jessica yet. ...... I guess you can say that her salary has been reduced by three months." It is customary in this case to reduce the salary by half. Gloria could see Jessica''s half-crying face. "You''d be perfect if it weren''t for that..." "Yes. He has leadership skills, good judgment, and top-notch swordsmanship. In addition, he is well-liked. But he is not good at controlling magic. This is not a problem on the battlefield, which is why Jessica is able to stay as a captain. "Human resources are very important. Princess Rieschen muttered to herself. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The carriage carrying Jin and the others is speeding down the street. "After all, Jin''s carriage is very comfortable to ride in. Erza looks satisfied. "It feels so good! Hannah also expressed how comfortable the ride was. After a long ride, Jin contacted the old man through Reiko. "Father, there is a stealth Condor 3 waiting for you in the sky. "Yeah. ...... is that three? There were supposed to be two Condors, but before I knew it, there were three. "I heard that Condor 3 is equipped with a large transfer gate (warp gate). If you use it, you can return to Kunlun Island without leaving the carriage. The reason they didn''t make it a direct connection to Horai Island is probably because they were thinking of all the contingencies. I see. I see. You''re very good at this." Satisfied with the work of his subordinates, Jin thinks about blindfolding Hannah, but decides not to do so. He wanted to continue to take Hanna out like this and gradually reveal his true identity to her. "Hannah, we''re going to Kunlun Island in this carriage." "Huh?Uh-huh. Hanna was momentarily taken aback by Jin''s words, but she quickly nodded her head. What Jin said he could do, he could do. The carriage turns off the road and starts driving on a rather rough road. The active suspension (?) by the golem arm works to prevent shaking. The carriage is almost free from any shaking due to the active suspension (?) by the golem arm. After about 10 minutes of driving on the rough road, we came to an open meadow. "This is Condor 3," Reiko said. Reiko said, and Condor 3, which had been deactivated, appeared. "Wow!It''s so big!What''s that?" "...... Did my brother Jin make this too?" Hannah was frankly impressed, and Erza immediately thought of the Pelican 1 that she had been given a ride in before, but upon closer inspection, the resemblance was almost non-existent. Nevertheless, the overall atmosphere, or rather the way it should be as a magical tool, made Erza feel that Condor 3 and Pelican 1 belonged to the same category. It was also a sign that Elsa had grown up to be a magecraftsman. The carriage slowly enters the warp gate where Condor 3 is suspended. The carriage''s occupants felt as if their vision had gone dark for a moment, but in that instant the carriage had traveled several hundred kilometers and arrived at the Kunlun Island. 295 - - 10-29 Owner-Hitoshi The carriage left not from the Kunlun Island pavilion, but from the garage built at the edge of the plaza in front of the pavilion and the warp gate inside it. "When did you build this ......?" Jin muttered. The last time he was in Kunlun was on the 26th, and today is the 30th. The old man seems to have built a lot of facilities in such a short period of time. Jin got off the carriage with Elsa and Hannah, saying that he would praise them later. "Wow!This is my grandma''s house!This is amazing!What''s going on?" Hannah was surprised at the instantaneous change of location. "Hannah, my brother Jin is amazing. That''s why he can do this." "Yes!You''re amazing!" While Jin was thinking about how to explain this to Hanna, Erza was the first to convince her. "Okay, let''s go back to Kaina village." "Yes!" This time, we went to Horai Island via the warp gate in the basement of the pavilion. Here in Horai Island, the number of battlers maintaining and guarding the Warp Gate has increased to 10. From Horaijima to the village of Kaina. It is a hassle, but it is for our safety. We left from the basement of Jin''s workshop. Climbing the stairs, Hanna went out in front of her house. "Yay, I''m back! Hannah was welcomed by the princess, but she was so excited that it made her think that her birthplace was the best place for her. Then she runs into the house. "Auntie, I''m home! Martha heard her voice and came to greet her. "Hannah, welcome home. Did you have a good time?" "Yes!I met a lady!And she gave me a present! "What?" Martha''s face scrunched up a little at the mention of the word "princess. "Elsa, welcome home!" "I''m home, Mother." Meine came out to greet Elsa. She reported that she had a good time with her brother Jin, even though crazy things always happen with him. She reported. Jin was the last one to come slowly up the stairs from the basement. "Welcome back, Jin-sama." "Welcome back, Jin." "I''m home." It''s nice to hear you say welcome home. It makes you feel that you belong here. But Jin had something to do first. "I have to talk to the village head and Martha and the others. "What is it?What''s wrong? Jin went to the village headman''s house with Erza, Hannah, Martha, Meane, and of course Reiko, saying that they would talk at the headman''s house. "What''s wrong, Jin?" Giebeck, the village head, was at home and invited Jin and the others inside. I have something to report. Jin began by telling them about his trip to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, with Hannah and the others. He brushed aside Licia''s sword and Gloria''s request, and told them about meeting the princess, repairing the automata, and receiving a request from the king. In return, he was given a lease on the village of Kaina. Finally, he unfolded the contract and showed it to her. "Is that so?" As expected, Giebeck''s face was scrunched up at the contents of the agreement. Martha and Meane also looked surprised. "So, does that mean Jin will be the real ruler of this village for the next 50 years ......?" But Jin denies it. "No, I have no intention to be a ruler. It''s just something I thought of when I heard that the draft had taken away some of our manpower." "...... are quick on the uptake. Indeed, the day before yesterday, the draft order came through and Rock, Jeff, Dave, Howard, and Rick were taken out of the village." I knew it," Jin thought. "But we''re safe now. The draft order has been rescinded, and we don''t have to worry about them anymore. "Well, I hope so." The mayor went back to the story, "So, what is Jin going to do about it?" Jin returned to the topic of what he was going to do with the village. "Nothing, I think it''s fine as it is. ...... Oh, you don''t have to pay taxes anymore, do you? "Mmmm, but that''s not the way it works either. It is unheard of for a ruler, whether in a fief or a lease, not to receive taxes. But Jin shook his head as if troubled, "So, I''m not a ruler. If I had to say, I would say that I am a temporary owner. The mayor sighed. The chief sighed. "Changing the terminology doesn''t change what''s inside. But, I kind of understand what you mean. So, Jin is the owner of this village. I am the chief of this village. Is that all right with you?" Jin was pleased that the chief seemed to understand. "Yes, that''s fine. "Yes, that''s fine," he said, "but you should pay a tax. But we should take the tax. And you can do a lot of things for the village with the tax. When Jin was told this, he finally understood. With the tax he received, he would make things for the village. That is the way Jin should be. "I understand. Then, let''s keep the tax as before. "Yes. It''s going to be strange since I''m the only one who will receive it. I could live in Martha''s house with her and give the tax to her to cook for me. Part of that tax was paid by Martha. Martha laughed when she heard this. "What, you were thinking of that? That''s just like Jin!" Hearing Jin''s laughter, he felt his strength somewhat weakened. "I don''t care what Jin has become. Even if they say he became an aristocrat!Isn''t that the same for you, Hannah?" "Yes!You''re a big girl, aren''t you? Jin''s eyes were filled with excitement when he was told that. Martha and Hannah are the same. "Okay, then, chief, please take care of the village as you have always done. "Okay. From now on, I will take care of this village as a deputy of the djinn. Giebeck laughed. "But to think that that djinn could rise so high in the world, you have no idea what the world is like. No, it''s because he is a djinn, isn''t it? "But to tell you the truth, I was surprised too. Jin and his friends are having lunch at Martha''s house. Hannah is crazy about the taste of home that she has not had in a long time. Although she had been treated to a feast at the royal palace, the food in the village of Kaina is not poor by comparison. It is still at a level that would lead her to return to the familiar tastes of home. "Well, the easier the taxes are, the more we can get for ourselves if we work hard, so it''s worthwhile. Martha laughed. Jin was planning to set up a full-scale defense network for the village of Kaina. * * * * "......, so please be aware of it." At the palace, Count Walter, summoned by Gaara, received word from Alois III that the village of Kaina had been cut off from his domain. "Why?What mistake have I made?How could I have made such a mistake that my territory would be reduced in size, even if only slightly! Count Walter blasted at the king. "What mistake have I made?" Alois III''s eyes glint. "How dare you speak to me like that! Your hasty decision and your hasty rush have allowed a nation of magecraftsmen like yourself to be stolen away! That''s, that''s ....... "You see, for the next fifty years the village of Kaina will be leased to Jinn Nido. And all conscripts are to return to their villages as soon as possible." "Yes, yes. ......" Count Walter withdrew for the moment, but no one could see the swooning light in his eyes. 296 - - 10-30 Progress Various Hannah has not been to the village of Kaina for a long time. Erza is slowly telling Meane about her trip. Jin made a plan to protect the village of Kaina, just in case, or rather, to be able to protect the village no matter what happens in the future. To make this happen, he jumps to Horai Island. "Welcome home, master. Butler 1 welcomes him. Jin went to the workshop. "Welcome back, master." Anne also came to the workshop. Jin thought he would tell her later that he had met Tia, an automata of the same type. Jin sits down on a chair in his familiar workshop and begins to consult with the old man using the manacam, the magic element communication device provided. He explained that the village of Kaina had become Jin''s leased land and that he was going to increase the number of guards. He explained that he would install "magic eyes" in several places so that he could keep an eye on the village. Then, we will increase the number of golems to guard them. The old man agreed with Jin''s idea. "Goshujin-sama, I think we should also prepare wards." Anne expressed her opinion. Certainly, defensive wards are effective. "Okay, let''s build warding generators in the bridge over the Erme River, in the village fence, and in the basement of the bridge. Only Jin, Reiko, and the old man can control the warding generators. The priority is given to Jin, Reiko, and Reiko. "There are 26 golems. They are of the same type as the army golem, from Land A to Z. They are gray in color so as not to be conspicuous. They should be gray in color so as not to stand out. Disappearance (stealth) is standard equipment. The purpose is to distinguish them from the Horai-jima Golems, which are numbered. The same type of aircraft can be manufactured by you as well. "I think it would be better to arm them as well, Your Excellency. Anne''s advice again. Yes, indeed. "Okay, a paralyzing gun for the human. For the golem, a super high-speed vibrating sword for close quarters. How about an induction radiator for long range? Well, since the opponent is not necessarily a golem, I think a laser cannon would be better than an induction radiator. I see. Then I''ll use both. There was no one on Horai Island to ask what the hell they were going to fight. "Finally, it would be nice to have a substitute in my absence. So, a butler is stationed at Jin''s house in the village of Kaina. "That''s good, but how many battlers are you going to make? Jin asked. "Fifty," was the reply. "Okay. Then make 51 of them, and make sure that the battlers who come to me are outnumbered. So, one of the newly completed butlers is stationed at Jin''s house to act as a substitute for him when he is not available. "Well, then. ......" Jin told them about Hannah''s abduction by thugs in the Klein Kingdom, "I think we need to make some changes in the setup of the Covert Task Force (SP) to prevent this kind of thing from happening." "Hannah-chan, how about we make it so that if we don''t know the person, we can always seize him or her?" Ann suggested. "Hmmm, if it''s bad, for example, I have a feeling we might even seize someone who comes up to us to ask for directions." "Yes, that''s right. ......" It''s hard to come up with a good idea. "Huh?" The "Mere Old Man" suggested. Surely, we can have it always deployed. "Well, it is difficult, but I will think about it. It may not be possible right now. On the other hand, a paralyzing gun (paralyzer) can paralyze only the target. Okay, that''s good for the covert task force (SP). And ......." Jin takes out two Magi Crystals from his pocket for other business. One contains Tia''s old control core, and the other contains data such as Heinz Rasch''s swordsmanship. "Please analyze this. It will probably be valuable information. Jin handed two Magi Crystals to Lao Tzu, the mobile terminal. "And ......, I don''t know if it''s because I haven''t mentioned it, but that diary-like book found in the ruins, you know?I''m sure you''ve already deciphered it, right?" Jin asked with a sullen look on his face. He was looking forward to seeing what the old man would say. The old man''s reaction is unusually brusque. Jin thinks, "Oh, well... "What''s the matter?Is there a problem?" < "So what''s wrong?" "What?" Jin could not believe his ears. I thought the old man had gone crazy. "Oh, I sort of get it." Jin understood. It must have been an endless record of the personal lives of people who lived in the past. When he asked the old man about it, the old man replied, "Yes, that''s right. << "Well, you know..." Jin, who has lost his strength, asks the old man what he can learn from him. "Well, that sounds interesting. Jin was most interested in the demon tribe. Jin knows very little about the demon tribe. << "Yes, yes." The old man continued his explanation. According to him, the demon tribe has built an advanced civilization comparable to that of human beings. However, they do not like to "swarm" as much as humans do, and because of that, they do not use and . This is why the humans were able to win the war. "But then, it is strange that they abandoned the fort and retreated, isn''t it? If they were winning, there would be no need to retreat. "Well, that''s too bad." "Yes, please report back to me when you do. So, what''s the next alchemy? Jin knows that alchemy is equivalent to chemistry in the modern earth. But it stops there. Alchemy was developed about 500 years ago, later than the previous generation. Therefore, the golems (including automata, Reiko''s predecessors) who were holed up on an isolated island had no way of knowing about it. as a weapon. In the end, it was not realized because strong acid could not be produced in large quantities. Strong acid is an acid with high ionization. Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and so on. To use it as a weapon, it would be put in an airtight container and hit the enemy demon. "Chemical weapons. ......" It is a technology that we do not want to see spread too widely. "What about the information on the last remains?" "Okay. Please continue to analyze the control core that I entrusted to you. > "Hmm?What is it?Let''s hear it." Jin asked, thinking that this was one of those days when the old man would continue to make unusual comments. "Singularity?" < around Horai Island where the free magical element (ether) is concentrated. In Feng Shui, there is an idea that there is an "earth vein". What you have just described is the exact path of the veins of magic. "I see, so?" "Amazing. It''s just like a "Xian Peach". Not long ago, the old man had guessed that this is what Jin would say if he knew this fact, and he was right. < "Oh, that''s good. And you have already modified the refrigerator, haven''t you? Now Jin has seen through the old man''s work. Jin was happy to know that the system he had created, the "Mere Old Man," was working well. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Astan, a provincial city in the Kingdom of Selroa. About a kilometer to the north of the city. The supply depot of the Shoro Kingdom is located in the open rocky area. Diplomat Reinhardt was stranded there. Most of the leaders of the Kingdom of Celuloa were affiliated with the Unifiler, and as a result of the replacement of their heads, the government was paralyzed. We had hoped to leave on the 25th at the latest, but we could not get permission from the government of Celuloa. "Reinhard!Rejoice!We can finally leave!" Fritz, Erza''s brother, came running up to her and said. "Really?" "Yes. The paperwork finally went through. Tomorrow morning we leave!Folt, Borrn, Ganes, Tuscosia. Tuscosia... and our homeland! Fritz is very excited, and Reinhardt is frankly happy. They are about a week behind schedule. "Now I can finally set foot on homeland soil!" "Yes, I''m looking forward to it." That night, Reinhardt was able to talk with Jin for the first time in a long time and went to bed feeling satisfied. 297 - - 10-31 Because I like it Spring April has come to an end and summer is approaching in May. Today is the second day. Here are the letters A, B, and C. Let''s read them. "Eee, bee, shhh!" Today is the day of Meane and Elsa''s study session. Jin, who was listening to them idly, was once again thinking how similar the alphabet of this world is to that of the earth. (Well, maybe I''m not the only one who was summoned a long time ago...) Thinking about it but not finding an answer, Jin recalls his call with Reinhardt last night. "That''s good." << "And Reinhardt, too, right?" "Where are we staying tomorrow?" <<< I''m leaving here in the morning for Volto, probably to Bororong. Everyone is in good spirits, as they have been looking forward to resuming their journey. "Things have been a bit of a mess over here, we have a lease on a village in a remote part of the Klein Kingdom for the next 50 years. < "Yeah, actually. ......" Such is the conversation. (I''d like to visit the Shoro Kingdom or .........) Seeing Hannah practicing her handwriting so hard, it was hard for Jin to tell her that he was going on another trip. Erza seemed to feel something for him. After the study session was over, Erza walked home hand in hand with Hanna. "Hannah, do you like my brother Jin? "Yes, I love you, my big brother!" Elsa and Hanna were talking about Jin. "Yes. I like you too." "We''re the same!" "You know, Hannah... What do you think about Jin going on vacation? "Oh, no. I''ll miss him. The natural answer came back. "Yes, you''re right, I''ll miss him. But, you know, the last time the three of us went out together, how was it?Wasn''t it fun?" "It was fun!" Elsa nodded and patted Hannah''s head. "Yes, it was. It was fun, wasn''t it? And you know what? Jin-bro has a place he wants to go." "You do?" Hannah stopped and looked up at Elsa. "Yes. Jin was looking forward to seeing the country of Shoro." "............" Erza squats down and looks up into Hannah''s face. "If you like my brother Jin, I''ll let you do what you want to do, won''t I?" Silence was the only response. They had been doing this for about three minutes when Hannah finally spoke up. "...... yes." Erza hugged Hannah. "Hannah, you''re so brave. You''ve made up your mind." Saying this, she rubbed Hannah''s back with moist eyes. "But don''t worry. Jin will come back from time to time, I know he will." "Yeah,...... I guess so." * * * * That afternoon, Jin was on Horai Island checking the magic eye that had been installed last night. "Hmmm, this will at least give us enough time to deal with any human attack. The maximum distance from the original Kaina village area was 10 kilometers, and the minimum distance was 2 kilometers. "I''ll make an auxiliary brain for monitoring only. It is like a smaller version of the "Mere Old Man". It is about a hundred times smaller than the "Mere Old Man" in terms of functionality, but it should have the processing power of about 100 human beings. I have experience in making the "Mere Old Man" once. He has experience in making a small version of the "Mere Old Man," and it took him about 30 minutes to complete it. "Startup". "Okay, I''ll call you Koshin." This naming had a complicated background. Jin read a manga in his childhood, I had a vague recollection of this folk belief. Although it was a hazy memory, Jin named it <>> from that one point of <>. < "I am counting on you." Jin returned to the village of Kaina just before 3:00 pm. When he went upstairs to his study, Hannah was waiting for him. "Welcome home, sweetie. "What''s wrong, Hannah? She looked down and fidgeted, but eventually looked up and said in a firm tone "Onii-chan, if there''s anywhere you want to go, you can go there, okay?" "What?" Jin was surprised at this out of the blue. The other day''s outing was so much fun. You want to go somewhere too, don''t you, Onii-chan?Then you can go. I''ll be a good girl and wait for you. "Hannah ......" It was true that my desire to visit the Shoro Kingdom had been growing ever since I had talked with Reinhardt last night. Jin wondered if Hanna had noticed this, but then he immediately thought of Erza. Erza and Meane were the only ones who knew of his plans to go to the Shoro Kingdom. But they don''t say it out loud. Instead, he pats Hannah on the head. "Thank you. Well, I may be going out soon. But I''ll come back from time to time. I promise." "Yes!" Jin promised to come back from time to time. That alone made Hanna happy. She was so attached to Hannah that Jin kept stroking her head for a long time. The night of that day, Reinhard was in the hospital. That night, Reinhardt called her on time. <> "Good for you. I might be on my way there tomorrow. > "Yeah, I''m fine. "Yeah, just me. Erza can''t make it yet, can she?" << "Adberg is the butler and Hermann is the guard. Who was the other one?" < "Well, I don''t blame him." "Yeah, I''ll go after her this time by myself in the carriage." <> I''ll be right behind you. < 298 - - 10-32 Hitoshi leaves on a journey Time went back a little. When Hannah said , Jin returned to Horai Island with great joy and started to prepare for the trip. "Well, first of all, we need a carriage. The carriage that he had made in the Kingdom of Egelea before was still there, but it was a little troublesome to put it back together because the warp gate that was installed in it had been converted to a new one. The old man had made a similar model, but Jin decided to prepare a new model at this time. The appearance of the new model should be similar to the original carriage. Of course, it is equipped with a warp gate. Four-wheel independent suspension, active golem suspension. Air-conditioned. Equipped with floodlights. Of course, the horses are golem horses. The next step was a surprise. "Can we make it run without a horse? In other words, they were going to install a golem engine so that it could run on its own. "We can''t put in a big enough engine to be noticeable, so we''ll just have to go with the bare minimum." Jin is unaware that his "minimum necessary" is a level that is generally considered to be too much. "Father, the materials are ready. Reiko brought 64 light silver. It is stronger than mere light silver. "Okay, let''s begin." Jin wields his engineering magic to his heart''s content, processing the materials without hesitation. Reiko is supporting him. In addition, two craftsman (smith) golems, whom the old man had thoughtfully invited. In no time at all, the carriage is ready. The tires are made of sea dragon leather. The scale-like bumps on the wheels provide excellent grip even on rocks (perhaps the rocks will chip off more than the wheels). "I guess a small golem engine won''t go fast enough." Hitoshi, who had tried out the Golem, commented, "I guess the small Golem engine doesn''t make it go any faster. The reason why the engine is so small is that it is attached to each wheel. The wheels look a little thick, but in fact, the Golem engine is attached near the axle. Therefore, it was not possible to install anything too large because it would have been too conspicuous. Therefore, it is undeniable that there is a lack of torque. The speed is estimated to be about 40 km/h. Such a statement may be made because a golem horse can easily reach a speed of about 100 km/h if pulled at full speed, but the maximum speed of an ordinary carriage is about 15 km/h. Jin''s yardstick is outrageous. He is unaware of the fact that Jin''s yardstick is outrageous. The golem horse was an adaptation of one that he had made in the past. However, the light silver parts are now 64 light silver, and the magical muscles have been strengthened, doubling its output. "It''s nice to know that you can also ride." With a saddle, stirrups, and < attached, she can be ridden as a horse. "We''ll also add a seat and make it more comfortable. Well, if it comes down to it, we can come back through the warp gate and sleep here." No one said, "That''s not a trip anymore. Anyway, Super Carriage No. 2 was completed in about two hours. "Hmm, what is it?" When Jin heard the old man''s suggestion, he immediately understood his intention. "I see. < it looks low class, huh?" In short, he wanted to bring along a golem to take care of Jin''s personal needs. "I might even let him be a golem for everyday use." So, Jin immediately begins to create a golem. Jin loves to make golems and automata. "I think I''ll just use a butler as a basic model. The material is 18-12 stainless steel. At first glance, it looks like steel, so it is easy to fool. The appearance is intentionally rugged. The model is the battle golem of the Unifiler. However, I will not make it that rugged. We do not want to be misunderstood. Its power is slightly higher than that of Butler. His dexterity approaches that of a craftsman (Smith). So he should be able to do a lot of chores. "Hmmm, I''ll have to tell him to look slow in general." And so the valet golem is born. His name is ......<>. "Yes, master." Now most of the preparations are complete. "...... should get some rest. Reiko, old man, take care of the rest." Yes, Father. < Tired as he was, Jin asked Reiko and Lao-kun to take care of the rest of the detailed preparations for the trip, and went to bed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, I''m off." Jin had come to tell the people of the village of Kaina that he was going on a journey. "Have a good trip, Jin. Give my regards to brother Rai. Jin-sama, take care of yourself. Jin, take care. Come back sometimes! "Bye, Onii-chan, have a good trip. ......" Erza, Meane, Martha, and Hannah saw him off, and Jin walked toward the shelter. He could have used the warp gate in the basement of the workshop, but he decided to walk all the way to the shelter because it would not look good in the picture. In front of the shelter, the defenders of the village of Kaina, from Land A to Z, were all present. "Master, this is Lando''s unit in charge of protecting the village of Kaina since the 1st. "Oh, thank you for coming all this way. Well then, take care of things while I''m gone. I''m going out for a while. Yes, you can count on us. Take care of yourself. Jin then disappeared into the shelter. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the Kingdom of Selroa, to the north of the regional city of Bororon, lies an uninhabited wilderness. The name of the wilderness is the Bororon Wilderness. As far as the eye can see, there are nothing but rocks, some of which are over 50 meters high. It was almost like a smaller-scale version of the scenery in Arizona in western movies. At the foot of the huge mass of rock, a large cave opened its mouth. "So this is the Bororon Wilderness. "Yes. Yes. This is probably where I was sent the eighth time. Reiko said. It was the time when she had searched all over the world for Jin, who had gone missing due to a runaway warp gate, using the same runaway warp gate. "That time I went into the air and managed to land on the ground, but some of the components of the warp gate were damaged, so I managed to return to the laboratory, but the warp gate had to be disposed of." However, the location of the Warp Gate was usable, so the old man detected the weak magic power of the Warp Gate and dispatched an Air Force Golem to locate it. Then, they set up the warp gate again. With such a base, it will be easier to move around the continent. For the time being, however, only Jin and his associates will use them. For this reason, intermediate points for travel by warp gates are also being considered. For security reasons. <, which has been commissioned. There is enough space inside the ship, so if we use it as a relay base, even if something should happen, we will be able to keep hazardous materials and enemy forces from landing on Horai Island. That is what the old man explained to Jin. Jin approved it and said that he would leave it to him. The system will be ready soon. The new carriage with Jin and Reiko on board drives off to the southwest through the wilderness. "Hmmm...you put a compass on it too...you''re the old man." The cleverly disguised console for driving the carriage was also equipped with a compass to show the direction of the carriage. "The roads are marked from east to west, so if we drive toward the southwest, we should hit a bump somewhere, right?" Jin put the carriage in golem horse mode and drove it at about 50 km/h. He should be able to see the road within an hour. "Father, we can see it! Reiko shouted. Reiko''s eyes saw the road lying in the distance. Jin slowed down the carriage. Even Jin knew that it was abnormal for the carriage to run at a speed of 50 km/h. But even so, the speed of the carriage was still too fast. However, the speed of the carriage was still more than 20 km/h. * * * * The distance between Bororon and Ganes is only about 30 kilometers. Reinhard and his party''s carriage was moving at a leisurely pace compared to the previous day. After all, they would be crossing the border in a little over a day, and beyond that would be their home country. "Reinhard, it''s a beautiful day, isn''t it? Matheus spoke to Reinhard as he walked his horse alongside the wagon. "Yes. Spring is in full swing. Doesn''t it make you sleepy?" Reinhard opened the window of the carriage and jokingly said to Matheus, "Ha, indeed. "Yes, it is true... rocking on the back of a horse makes me sleepy. But even though he is skinny and withered, Matheus is still a soldier. I would never doze off on the back of a horse. Mateus made a deliberate and exaggerated movement to look around. His face became tense. "Reinhard, hurry up the carriage." "What is it?" "...... an unknown carriage is coming toward us from the wilderness." Hearing this, Reinhard opens the window and looks out. A smile crossed his face. "Matheus, that''s my friend." What? I told you before. A magecraftsman from another land who became my friend on this journey. No, he is now the Honorary Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, in the carriage of Gin Nidor. "What?Is that it? "Oh. Who else could make such an elaborate golem-horse? A golem horse, silver-gray and dull in the daylight, pulling a light silver carriage. The golem is controlled by an iron golem. "Hey, Reinhard! Jin himself leaned out of the window of the carriage and waved to me. "Hey, Jin!Long time no see!" Reinhardt also leaned out of the window and waved back. 299 - - 11-01 Town of Gannicus On May 3, at the height of spring, Jin was successfully reunited with Reinhardt. Matheus, this is Jin. He is an honorary magecraftsman in the Kingdom of Egelea, but in reality he is a freelancer. Reinhardt introduced him to his friend and escort Matheus. "Jin, this is Captain Matheus Geist von Rialger. He is the captain of the 3rd company of the Kingsguard and my friend. He will soon become my brother-in-law. Jin Nido. Matheus. They greeted each other and shook hands. Reinhard had told me much about you during our travels. I hear that you are an excellent magi engineer. "Ha-ha-ha, yes!Jin is a magician beyond my level!I can vouch for that!" For some reason, Reinhardt, not Jin, answered proudly. For a moment Matheus''s eyebrows furrowed at this, but his expression quickly returned to normal. "I''m looking forward to it. So, we will be working together from now on, is that correct?" Reinhardt answered this question as well. "Yes, of course. Jin is my guest!...... Jin, I''d like to get a ride in your carriage right away, okay?" "Oh, yes, of course. We have a lot to talk about. "Oh, yes, of course.So, Matheus, let''s go! "............" Matheus, slightly taken aback by Reinhardt''s increased tension, gave instructions to his men. Fifteen men are now on their way to the homeland while guarding Reinhardt. "Let''s go!" The carriage in which Reinhardt was riding started to move without its master. He knows Jin, so he doesn''t mind. This had happened to him many times before. But Matheus is not like that. The object of his protection, his friend, and his future son-in-law had joyfully climbed into the carriage of a man he had never met before, a man he knew nothing about (although he called himself the Honorary Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea). The other passenger is a girl called Reiko. She seems to be an automaton, which makes her even more mysterious. A golem, apparently made of iron, controls a carriage of an unfamiliar design. Compared to Reinhardt''s black knight (Schwarzlitter), the golem was inferior in every respect. However, the golem horse pulling the carriage is a golem horse. This is the only point where I honestly take off my helmet. (It is ...... unfathomable that it moves so much like a horse itself.) In short, Matheus was not sure about a foreign magical engineer named <>. * * * * "How is Erza? "Yes. She is now teaching children in a place called Kaina Village. "Oh. That''s nice to hear. Well, I hope she''s happy. Reinhardt lowers his voice. "...... Jin, Elsa''s brother, Fritz, has gone ...... crazy...no, he''s back to normal...you did something to him, didn''t you?" Jin''s carriage is soundproofed, so there''s no need to worry about eavesdropping, but I still end up whispering unconsciously. "Ah. You know, the and . Before, Lukor used stun to excite and then stun, but now we know that it can be broken by the magic called <>." Jin then explains that the Unifilers have become the Nostalgia and that the Nostalgia has started to support other countries. We were so engrossed in our conversation that time passed before we knew it, and we had arrived at our destination for the day, the town of Ganes. "It looks like we''ve arrived. Reinhardt said as he looked out the window of the carriage. "It didn''t take long to get there," said Reinhardt, looking out the window of the carriage. We will stay here today and tomorrow we will go to Tuscosia, just before the border. We have a permit to cross the border, so I don''t think we will have to wait long. "Yes, I am looking forward to visiting the Shawlo Empire. "Yes, I am looking forward to visiting the Shoro Kingdom. Well, let''s get off. The carriage pulled up in front of a simple barrier before Gunny''s. Reinhard was the only one in the group who was not in the carriage. Since Reinhardt was the most senior person in the group, he could not avoid showing his face as they passed through the gate. Matheus looked at Reinhardt with a confirming glance as he got out of the carriage. Then he glanced at Jin in the carriage for a moment. ?" Jin noticed that look, but he didn''t know why he was being looked at like that, so he decided to pretend not to notice for the moment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The town of Ganes is not a fortified city. Only a simple wooden fence surrounds the boundary of the town. However, the town is not only inside the fence, but there are buildings outside the fence as well, indicating that the town is still expanding. It is certain, however, that the buildings outside the fence are of a lower class. The fact that the town is reasonably prosperous in the frontier of Cerroa is a blessing of the mines located in the middle of Mount Carter to the south. There are three precious mithril silver mines, one of which is connected to the ore road from Borolon. "Hmmm. I can see why Borolon would be busy then, but why would this place be busy?" After receiving Reinhardt''s explanation, Jin answered the natural question: "That''s because Bororon is a strategic point, and the Kingdom of Celuloa is very strict in policing it. "That''s because Bororon is a strategic point, and the Kingdom of Celuloa is very strict in policing it. That gave Jin an idea of what was going on. Indeed, it would be difficult to develop a downtown in a city with many government officials and soldiers. "Well, it''s also a rather seedy town, you could say. The carriages are parked outside the town in a parking lot, and now Jin and his friends are walking on foot through the town of Ganes. Reinhardt, a tall man in good-looking clothes, was being swarmed by various touts. "Nobleman, I have a nice place for you to stay. The food is excellent and there are nice girls!" "I''ll give you a discount on the magi crystals from the mine...can you buy them for me? "If you want to have fun, come to !You can drink as much alcohol as you want and the price is cheap! Matheus turned them all away. "......That''s the way it''s always going to be here. Reinhard, we''ve already found a place to stay. Let''s hurry." Matheus had sent his men ahead to find a decent place to stay. "Ah. That''s Mateus, you can count on him." Matheus looked back at Jin, "I''m sorry, but we don''t have room for you. I didn''t expect more people. You''ll have to find your own room. I''m sorry." He apologized politely, but only with words. "Jin, you can go to my room at ......." Reinhardt interrupted him, "If you like, you can stay here with us guards," Matheus said. Matheus said. But Jin refused. "No, you can sleep in the carriage if you need to, don''t worry about me. "Yes, I will." Matth?us answered shortly, and then had his men surround Reinhardt and his household and proceeded down the street. Reinhardt is complaining about something, but he doesn''t care. "Well then, Jin-dono, we will leave tomorrow morning at eight o''clock. Don''t be late. After saying these words, Matheus walks quickly down the street after Reinhardt without hearing Jin''s reply. (......What, do you think he hates me?) Jin, who had no memory of offending Matheus, tilted his head. Jin was also approached by touts, though not as many as Reinhardt. "Come on, brother, go have fun. "Hey, can you buy me a drink? "How about tonight with me?" They were more like prostitutes than touts, and many of them were prostitutes themselves. "You''re in my way. Please don''t touch my father with your dirty hands." Reiko removed all of them. "...... finally quieted down." It took half an hour for the touts and prostitutes to realize that Jin was not a sucker and leave. "I''ve never been in a town like this before." The town seems unsafe, partly because it''s in the middle of nowhere. It would be better not to stay too long. "There doesn''t seem to be much to see. "I think that''s a good idea." I think that would be a good idea. "Hey, Matheus!" Reinhardt is about to complain about Mateusz''s attitude towards Jin, "Reinhard, you''ll be in your homeland soon. You know that, don''t you?" Matheus said before Reinhardt could speak. "?Yes, of course. "Then don''t do anything to make Bertsche cry." "You didn''t, did you?" "I know you didn''t go to the whorehouse. But that doesn''t mean ......" And that''s where the words stop. "But that doesn''t mean what?" Reinhardt asked, and Matth?us said in a mumbled whisper. "......Sound ......" "What?" Reinhardt, who did not hear well, asked back. Matheus shouted in a loud, desperate voice. "You don''t have to run to the man!" 300 - - 11-02 Criminals "Ha ha ha ha ha!" "...... don''t laugh so hard." "No, I''m sorry. But I wondered what Matheus was so worried about. It''s what''s known as the "popular way". In layman''s terms, it''s homos*xuality. Male homos*xuality. "But, however,...... pfft..." "But, but, but, Reinhardt was wrong too!He''s been holed up in the carriage all ...... the time." Matth?us excuses himself, turning red. That made Reinhardt laugh again. "Enough!I''m going to my room!" Matheus, perhaps offended by this, turns and walks out of Reinhardt''s room. The door slammed shut behind him. "Haha, what am I going to tell Jin later ......?" Reinhardt smiles wryly. * * * * Jin and Reiko had come to the tarmac. Tents are set up around them, and Matheus'' men are watching the carriages and using them as lodgings. Matheus and four others stayed at Ganes'' inn with Reinhardt, his butler, and his attendants, while the rest of them stayed here. And there they met someone they did not expect. "Isn''t that Mr. Jin? Mr. Adberg? It was Adberg, Erza''s former butler. It''s been a long time. It''s been a long time since Miss Elsa disappeared. Yes, it has. You look well. Jin recalled that Reinhard had told him that he had found Adberg and Hermann and decided to bring them back together. "That Meine was a fool. I wonder what he''s doing now, miss. Even though she had been fired, Adberg, who had taken care of her since she was a child, was still concerned about Erza''s situation. "What are you going to do, Mr. Adberg?" "I am too old for this. I have sons and daughters back home, so I''m going to retire. Adberg looked up at the evening sky with a sad look on his face. "By the way, where is Mr. Hermann?" "Yes, Hermann is over there. He pointed to where he had seen Hermann, his former bodyguard. "What?Where is that girl?" There was a girl of about 10 years old, dressed in a dirty outfit, talking to Hermann. "...... she''s probably begging or something." Adberg said in an emotionless voice. "Hermann has a soft spot for kids who remind him of his daughter. The Hermann man seemed to have given something to the child. The child bowed repeatedly and walked away from Hermann. The way the child was walking was strange. He is dragging his right leg. Was he injured or something? Being a child, Jin could not overlook it. So he leaves Adberg and goes to his carriage. Jin enters the carriage to get the restorative medicine that is provided. "But you are ready too, old man. Even though you can return to Horai Island at any time through the warp gate, it does not mean that there is no emergency situation where you are in the public eye, or even where you have to fight for a second. In such a case, the medical supplies provided will be useful. Under the seat is a simple ether stocker. Of course, it has refrigeration capacity, so perishable foods can also be stored. "Now, where did that girl go?" I asked Reiko who was waiting outside. "Oh, there she is. ...... what?" From what she was wearing and the color of her hair, I was sure she was the girl I saw earlier. However, as soon as the child turned the corner of the shabby building, she started walking normally, or rather, energetically, as if her limp was a lie. "............" Jin, who knew what was going on behind the scenes, let out a small sigh. "It''s a hard world. ......" "It''s a pity party to get some coins. Jin felt depressed at the thought of a child having such an idea. "What can I do? ......" Jin returns to the carriage with the recovery medicine in his hand. Reiko follows him without saying a word. "Hmm." He returns to the carriage, slumps the back of the seat and closes his eyes. "I have money, but I can''t give it to you and be done with it. ......" It''s only a temporary fix, and when the money is gone, it''s all over again. "I guess it''s a "shack" after all." "Father, what is a jinzoku yoriba?" Reiko, who had been listening to Jin''s soliloquy, asked. "Oh. It''s a place where people who are minor criminals or vagrants without homes are housed, and they are taught various skills to reintegrate into society. The hero of the period drama that the Director loves so much built a shack on Ishikawa Island. It is a historical fact. It was, and still is, an epoch-making system that is rarely seen in the world. "I would like to let the nostalgia party take the lead. Thinking so, Jin gave a strict order to the steward not to let anyone into the carriage, and jumped to Horai Island with Reiko. < I talked to the old man and he agreed, so I left it to him to work out the details and to inform the Nostalgia Party. "Wouldn''t it be nice to have an organization that balances employment?" Anne suggested. In short, a job center. "Yes, that''s right. It would be essential to exchange information. Let''s let the Nostalgia Party do this too. Thus, the Nostalgia Party steadily penetrated society as Jin''s subordinate organization, and its influence grew. Jin was relaxing in the bath at his house in Horaijima. * * * * The day before Jin met Reinhardt again. Presos, one of the cities in the Kingdom of Klein. It is the base of the much-maligned Count Walter. A secret meeting was held at the lord''s mansion there. The men who work in the Inado mines? "Yes. Release them secretly and have them go to the village of Kaina. Are you sure? Yes. The plan is this... < The dead do not sing, do they? You know what I''m talking about. That''s right. Five to six days for a wagon. Two to three days for a horse. And less than a day for a pigeon. Such a distance was the Inado Mine. It is a mine in the mountains southeast of the village of Kaina, one of the valuable mineral resources of the Kingdom of Klein. "Are you sure they''ll let us go?" < "I don''t care where I live as long as I can be free!" In the Kingdom of Klein, where the population is small and manpower is scarce, all but the most heinous criminals are forced to work wearing collars with <> on them. They are usually sent to the custody of lords living in the countryside, and are usually required to do hard labor such as cultivating the land and developing mines. "Whoo-hoo, I''m going to do it!" "Yeah, you have women, don''t you?" "Decent food, decent beds, and women. I can''t stand it." The criminals undergoing forced labor, their eyes glazed over with depression. Their lust was about to be unleashed. 301 - - 11-03 Before dawn Jin, who was in Horai Island, received a message from Reinhardt by manacam. "Jin here, what''s up?" > "I was wondering what you were up to. I don''t mind. Jin is relieved to hear that it was just an apology for what he thought was an incident. << "A misunderstanding?" Jin wonders what could have caused the misunderstanding, but he can''t think of anything. "What did they misunderstand?" Reinhardt laughs, < He said something difficult to say. "What? <> Jin is not funny. I didn''t think he had misunderstood me like that. "But you''ve already cleared up the misunderstanding, haven''t you?" < "...... is fine." Reinhardt said, and after some small talk, the communication was cut off. "I''m tired of ......." Mentally exhausted, Jin decided to soak in the hot spring again and relax. "...... wind." He muttered to no one while stretching his arms and legs in the hot water. "Soon I''ll be in the Shoro Kingdom, I''m looking forward to it." * * * * "Aaah! It''s a rebellion! Criminals escaped! The same day at noon, the administration building of the Inado Mine was a place of screaming. The criminals are controlled by the "criminal identification collar". This is a device that inflicts pain on the wearer by channeling specific magical powers. And in order to channel the specific magic power, <> is required. Two <>, or <>, which had been installed in case of unforeseen circumstances, had somehow become useless. "Ha ha ha!We''re free!We''re free! Go, go, go!We''re going north! Don''t go south!They say there''s soldiers there! Fifty-two criminals, armed with pickaxes, hammers, and clubs, headed down the mountain. 20 kilometers down the mountain they came to a road, south to the village of Toka, and north to the village of Kaina. At a rest house on the road there was food. The criminals ate it, but they were wary of their pursuers and headed north without much rest. Fifty-two people, their eyes bloodshot with desire rather than energy, climbed up the pass. From the Togolese pass we could see the river below us. The Erme River glistened in the moonlight. Beyond it was a simple village. "I see it!A village!" "Holy shit!Food!Women!A warm place to sleep! Nice! Hey, you! I''m the first one! The criminals are heading off down the pass with great speed. The people of Kaina village are still unaware. * * * * * * In Horai Island, the report from <>, the magic brain for security and surveillance of Kaina Village, had been received 15 minutes earlier. It was after midnight in the village of Kaina, and there was still time before dawn. In Horai Island, it was just before dawn. The old man wondered a little whether he should inform Jin or not, but decided to wake him up since Jin had gone to bed early last night and it was for the defense of Kaina Village. > >. < "Very good, old man." < "Yes, that''s fine. As long as there is no damage to the village of Kaina." Jin did not have to do anything. All he had to do was to watch the images from Gengshen, listen to the reports, and watch the old man''s moves one after another. When most of the criminals started to descend. >. The paralyzing wards set up on the Kaina side of the Torgo Pass are now in effect. * * * * The criminals started to descend the pass ahead of the others. Those who had been sitting down due to exhaustion started to descend the pass later. ....... "Aah! Aah! They were touched by the paralyzing wards and fainted. There were eight of them. However, the criminals who were running down the mountain ahead of the others paid no attention to the screams behind them. Their bloodshot eyes glazed over as they ran down the mountain path. > "What? "What? What is it?" The men running down the mountain path shouted in surprise. No wonder, the pickaxes and hammers in their hands evaporated in an instant. Although puzzled, the legs of those who had exposed their desires did not stop there. "Aaah!" "Oh, my God!" The criminal identification collar around their necks is made of metal. It suddenly heated up, so it was natural for them to panic. However, the phenomenon was contained with only a slight burn on their necks. "What the hell was that?" The group seemed to have gotten a little creepy and slowed down their run down the mountain. Still, the thought of a helpless (...) village within reach, where they could vent their desires, did not stop them. "Gee! "G!" "G!" "G!" "G!" "Ggh!" A short scream comes from behind the criminals, and they fall down in a heap. "What, what, what''s out there?" In the pre-dawn darkness, Lando and the others are invisible through their stealth wards. And in the darkness, the fear of an invisible enemy is greater than you can imagine. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" The men, who were still safe, ran as fast as they could toward the bridge over the Erme River. If there is a bridge over the river, it is only natural that they would try to pass through it. Especially when panic strikes and one is unable to make a proper decision. Luckily (?), the five people who did not faint At that moment, the five people who did not faint almost crossed the bridge. Both ends of the bridge have been detached. In other words, the bridge is no longer a bridge, and the five players are stranded on the bridge. The water is under our feet whether we go to the bridge or not. It is the Ermee River. The river is narrow in that area, but the current is fast and deep. "Yeah, yeah, f*ck!" But one of the men had the guts and jumped into the water. Another jumped in. The remaining three men did not have the courage to jump in, and were at a loss on the bridge, "Ouch!" The bridge was destroyed with a short scream. This is the effect of the shock wards on the bridge. "Phew, I managed to swim through! Looks like we''re the only ones who made it. We''ve got the women and the food all to ourselves! They don''t seem to have any sense of judgment anymore. No matter how strong the men are, they can''t even realize that it''s impossible for two men to take over a village. As they stood on the riverbank, dripping with water, two deformed shadows stood in front of them. "< But this advice was meaningless to the two men, who were now incapable of sound judgment. "Shut up!" He yelled and leapt at the shadow. "<>" The shadows, namely Land A and Land B, threw each of them away with a technique similar to a hip throw in judo. "Gee!" "Gee." It may be a clichd expression, but they both fainted, screaming like squashed frogs. Since I had dropped them on their backs, they would not have died even if they had not been able to passively catch themselves. Thus, before dawn, the attackers were all neutralized without any of the villagers noticing. 302 - - 11-04 Settlement "That''s a great job!" Jin, who had been watching the entire operation of the Kaina village defense network, praised it. "What kind of structure is used to detach that bridge?" Jin could think of several ways, but he was curious to know how the old man had done it. . "I see." Jin wondered if only the bridge girders had been made into golems, but he was impressed to see that the whole bridge was a golem. "What was the X from defense mechanism 7?" Jin asked about the five types that were not tested this time. If they were covered with nets that could not be cut by ordinary swords, there would be no way to escape. "That''s something I''d like to see. So, what else?" <<<8> is the battle with the super high-speed vibrating sword "Vibration Sword" and the magic jammer to nullify the magic. This also could not be tried this time. Jin nodded and waited for the rest of the explanation. <9 is a laser attack from the sky by air power. Jin was impressed that they had prepared such a thing. Certainly, an aircraft equipped with an ether converter can continue to fly without refueling, and the golem that pilots it does not need rest either. Jin says, The reply came back, "We have set up a huge warp gate in the northern mountains, so we will launch from there. "When did you get ...... that''s all right. And the 10?" What in the world are they going to attack? They are similar. "What''s the last X?" < I see. Jin felt as if he understood why the X was chosen. The old man, like Jin, seems to have forgotten his own weight somewhere. If the army came, he would be able to fight them off without any problem. "I understand. Thank you. So what are you going to do about the attackers? They''re all tied up by Rand and his men. And the old man''s mobile terminal, <>, was there as well. < Jin thought that since the old man said that he had < them, they must not have really known about it. They are not so easy to catch. I wanted to ask him if there was any point in the interrogation, but he read the situation and remained silent. The old man was angry with those who had attacked the village of Kaina, as he was with them. "So you have a vague idea of who is behind this, but you don''t have any concrete evidence. So, what do we do with them?" > "Memory manipulation magic? This is new to Jin. <>. Here are the forbidden spells that were found in it. "Forbidden Curse? ...... Hey, hey, hey." Sounds scary, Jin thought. < "What kind of magic is memory manipulation exactly?Let me ask you anyway." < It''s a very strange kind of magic. "Memory erasure. ...... What is its scope and effect?You''re not going to turn me back into a baby, are you?" "Well, what about ...... amnesia, is there such a thing as remembering?" Jin wondered. < "Goshujin-sama, if you are too kind, you will not be able to protect the ones you can protect." I don''t know how long I''ve been here, even Ann said that to me. Jin sighs and makes up his mind. "Okay. I will allow it. But if you can, just erase my memory of today." "So, what are you going to do after you erase my memory?" Since they escaped from the mine, anyone would think it strange if they were tied up and rolled around, Jin said to the old man. "Do you want to use deus ex machina again?" Jin agreed to the old man''s proposal without a second thought. Unlike Jin and Horaijima, the Nostalgia is a group that needs to stand out. "I see. Since their memories have been erased, they won''t be able to explain why they are here, so it''s a good idea. The old man immediately started to take care of the problem. Jin decided to have breakfast a little early since it was late for bed. Soleil, who knew what she was doing, had prepared fresh toast, Citran marmalade, and Persian juice. "Just the right amount, thank you, Soleil. With these words, Jin finished his breakfast and returned to Gunny''s. The old man continued his efforts to find out who had masterminded this case and to secure the evidence. With the firm belief that he would finally crush them once and for all. * * * * There is a four and a half hour time difference between Gunny''s and Horai Island. So it is still dark. "I think I''ll get some sleep. Reiko, wake me up when it''s time. I remembered that I was told yesterday that we would leave at 8:00 am. However, it seems impossible not to notice Reinhardt''s carriage parked next to ours. With Reiko watching over him, Jin put down the seat of the carriage and slumbered a little. Then, around 7:30. "Father, please wake up! Reiko called out to Jin. Jin woke up immediately because he had been in a daze to begin with. "What''s wrong?" "Yes, it''s not 8 o''clock yet, but Mr. Reinhardt and Matheus are approaching. Mateus calls out to him, probably because he doesn''t like the way he treated Jin yesterday. "Which one is it? ...... seems to have something for you. I''m empty-handed." So Jin opened the carriage door. "Good morning, Reinhard. Isn''t it a little early for you to leave?" He said, "Good morning, Jin. I''m sorry, but I was wondering if you could take Matheus for a ride in your carriage. "What?" "I thought that once he rides in it, he''ll be able to feel why I wanted him to ride in your carriage." Yesterday, Matth?us had suspected that Reinhardt had wanted to ride in Jin''s carriage, and he wanted to dispel such concerns. "If that''s the case, go ahead. You can take Reinhardt with you." "Of course! "Of course!" So Jin pulled the carriage out of the parking lot and started it in the right direction. "Hey, Jin-dono!There''s no road that way! They headed for a wilderness of stones, and Matheus hurriedly tried to stop them. But Jin kept a cool head. So did Reinhardt. And the carriage plunges into the wilderness. "......?" Matheus exclaims as he notices that although there is a gentle rocking, the most unpleasant micro-vibrations and rolls are almost imperceptible. "A little more speed." Jin commanded the steward who was acting as his guide. The golem horse, now powered up, broke into a gallop. "Oh, oh, oh! The scenery outside the window was flowing at an unbelievable speed. It''s almost as if the horse is galloping by itself. About 60 kilometers an hour. "I can''t believe it. ......" Even though it is a golem horse, a carriage with one horse and four people (including Reiko) is running at the same speed as a single horse galloping, and there is almost no swaying. "Do you understand?Matheus. That''s why I wanted to ride in Gin''s carriage. I get it. I mean, I take my hat off to you. Jin-dono, my behavior yesterday was completely my fault. I''m sorry. In the carriage, Matheus bowed deeply. Matheus, who had always had the temperament of a split bamboo, was able to apologize when he felt bad. "I''m sorry for having the attitude of doubting for even a moment a magical engineer (magi engineer)...... or a magical craftsman (magi craftsman) recognized by Reinhardt. "That''s enough, look up." Jin, who had heard the reason from Reinhardt yesterday and was not too concerned about it, easily forgave Matheus. "Thank you, Jin-dono." The group returned to Ganes and left at 8:00 a.m. as scheduled. Mateus was no longer jealous when Reinhardt entered Jin''s carriage. Matheus was no longer jealous of Reinhardt''s intrusion into Jin''s carriage. They arrived safely at the border town of Tuscosia that evening. 303 - - 11-05 Border towns Tuscosia is a town close to the Shoro Kingdom and is commonly known as in the Kingdom of Celuloa. Tuscosia is commonly known as in the Kingdom of Celuloa, because although the Shoro Kingdom and the Kingdom of Celuloa have a long border line, there is only one road leading to the Shoro Kingdom, and Tuscosia is the only entrance to the Shoro Kingdom. From Tuscosia, a mountain range to the north and a large river to the south separate the two countries. Both countries share a vast area and a small population, and their different cultures have not been very enthusiastic about exchanges between the two countries. "Well, the previous emperor said that was not good enough, so there have been some changes. Reinhard explained to Jin in the carriage to Tuscosia. "As a diplomat, I''m afraid I can''t give you too many details of the situation in the country." "Hey, you two, Tuscosia is in sight." Matheus called from outside the carriage. "Oh, I see. You''ve never been to Zin before, have you?You should take a look." Reinhardt told Jin to look out the front window. "Oh, it''s amazing." Tuscosia is a border town, and there is a fort adjacent to it for security. However, it looks more like a fort than a fort, if I may say so. Where the mountain to the north lowers toward the south, there is a small rocky hill. Tuscosia was carved out of the rock and hollowed out. The fort about a kilometer away from it was built of ordinary stone, so it has a square appearance and is a common fort that can be found anywhere. Tuscosia, however, is a bit unique. It looks like a smaller version of Australia''s Uluru (Ayers Rock), with the surrounding area left hollowed out. "I see, no wonder it is so famous. Jin was impressed by this. Eventually, the group slowed down and parked the carriage at the designated parking lot. As they disembarked from the carriage, the majesty of Tuscosia became even more apparent. Jin picked up a piece of rock lying at his feet and saw that it was of the same quality as the rocks that make up the city. Sandstone, huh? This used to be the bottom of the sea. Reinhardt overheard the muttering that escaped from my mouth. "What?Jin, what did you just say? "What?What did you just say?" "I said that this place used to be at the bottom of the sea. "How can you tell that at a glance?" Reinhard was very excited. "Because this is sandstone. This is a rock formed by a thick layer of sand on the ocean floor. That''s why I''m so impressed that it''s here on land." Jin pointed to the city of Tuscosia. "Look, those horizontal stripes. Isn''t that the best proof?" Jin explained briefly. Sand is brought in from rivers. The way gravel, sand, and mud are transported depends on their weight, so the gravel accumulates near the shore and at the bottom, followed by layers of sand and mud. The land is not eternal, but can rise (uplift) and fall (subsidence). However, this is a high school-level knowledge of geology, and since it is based on the Earth, I am not sure if it is 100 percent applicable to this world or not. "I see. Is that part of the This caused Barrow''s voice to be heard as he worried about Behr. "No, I''m fine. It''s nothing!" Behr, who had turned red to the nape of his neck, replied. From the men''s room, Barrow was playing with her, saying things like, "You''re a good guy, aren''t you? >>I could hear Barrow''s voice being played with. Pretending not to hear them, Behle asks Barbara "Jin-sama, you were a nobleman? Elsa answered. "No, my brother Jin is a commoner. But he is the world''s greatest magecraftsman. Behrle now turned to Erza who answered. "Are you a magecraftsman?" "Yes. Jin was recognized as an honorary Magecraftsman in the Kingdom of Egelea, and just recently he made various contributions to the Kingdom of Klein. In return, this village is his reward." "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" A second loud voice. Even as an apprentice maid, Behle, who had served a nobleman, knew that the kingdoms of Egelea and Klein did not share a border. Behrle is at a loss as to what kind of magecraftsman (magecraftsman) is recognized in such two distant countries ....... * * * * "Well, you don''t have any idea what''s going on, do you?" "Yes. All we know is that a group called "Nostalgia" captured escaped labor criminals and handed them over to the soldiers of Toka Village. For some reason, the escapees do not remember anything that happened in the last two days. "That''s the only convenient thing about it. ...... But the Nostalgia, I''ve heard the name a lot lately. They''re a bunch of jerks. We''ve wasted our troops. What a nonsense! You didn''t leave any evidence, did you? Yes, of course. What''s next? I assume you''ve already sent the conscripts back to their villages? Yes, they should arrive in Charles today. Yes, I think they should arrive in Charles today. Listen, don''t do anything to make me suspicious of you. I''m well aware of that. All right, then. Next up: ......." No one in the room was aware that there was a fifth column (Quinta) nearby, listening to the whole thing. 307 - - 11-09 Emperor Shoro After Jin finished his breakfast, he told Hannah and the others that he was going out again. Hannah and the others came to see him off as he left the shelter again. Hannah and the others came to see him off. And Reiko, too. Hanna, who now knows that Jin and Reiko will be back often, sends them off with a smile this time. "Brother Jin, it''s finally the Shoro Kingdom, isn''t it?" Erza looks a little envious. "Yes. I hope Erza will be able to go back there someday. Jin showed his concern for her, as he knew she would want to return to her hometown. "Hmm... But it''s a nice place. Besides, my mother will be with me." "Yes, Jin-sama, please don''t worry about it. The most important thing is that Jin-sama enjoys her trip. Both Erza and Meane said this and showed concern for Jin. "Thank you. Then, please take good care of Barrow and Behrle. "Yes, I''ll take care of them. Barrow and Behr were not here. They are staying at Jin''s house because it would be troublesome if they knew that Jin was suddenly going from here to the Shoro Kingdom. It is too early to tell. "Oh, yes. We are planning to build a lord''s mansion or some sort of external building around here. Jin explained what he had been thinking about yesterday. I don''t have much time, so I''ll try to be brief. The point is that when emissaries from the Kingdom of Klein come to visit, it would be bad if Jin''s place of residence is shabby, so we are going to build something a little more splendid. Elsa and Meene seemed to understand the political significance of this at least. Well then... "See you later." Jin departed once again. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...... and that''s why. Jin told the old man the same thing at Horai Island, which he visited as a relay. > Jin did not think much about it, and he did not have much time left, He only said, "I will leave it to you. He said only "I will leave it to you" and gave one more instruction. "I think Behr''s symptoms are due to fatigue, but just in case, please distribute the Persica juice to all the people in Kaina village. We don''t want a pandemic. Reassured by this, Jin passes through the warp gate. <> The old man called in twenty smiths to help him. The old man started his activities to prepare the materials by then. First of all, he called up Butler A, Jin''s deputy in Kaina village, and explained the situation. * * * * * * * * * The time difference between Kyna and Tuscosia is about two hours. Jin left Kaina village at around 9:00 a.m. and was in Tuscosia at around 7:00 a.m. local time. He was scheduled to leave at 8:00 a.m., but since he had not had time to see Tuscosia yesterday, he wanted to see the city, if only for a moment. "The walls carved out of the rock are really impressive," he said. The fact that it seems to have been done by hand, without magic, also stirs the imagination. "I wonder how many people worked on it. Such mutterings were also heard. "The golems of Horai Island won''t need three days. If it were me, I could do it in a day or so. Reiko is saying next to me, but that''s not what I mean. I have never seen the Great Wall of China or the pyramids in person, but I feel the wisdom of people that such huge structures were built only by human power. When Jin explained this to Reiko, she seemed to understand what he meant, though only somewhat. "You mean that you admire the ingenuity with which ...... a great task is accomplished with limited means?" "Hmmm, well, it''s enough if you take it that way." Jin, who knows that Reiko''s senses are a little different from those of humans, is quite satisfied with that answer. But for now, it''s all about the spectacle. He has carved out a sandstone wall, built a staircase, turned it into a room, and left a window open. And the skill with which they have carved out a vertical wall 10 meters high. It was a new experience for Jin to see the result of his non-magical great work. As he was doing so, Reiko tugged at the hem of his dress. When he turned around, he saw Reinhardt approaching. "Jin!" Claude is standing next to him with his luggage. "Hi, good morning." Good morning. Seeing the sights? "Yes. I still had some time to kill. When Jin answered, Reinhard told Claude to take his luggage and go to the carriage. Then Claude left and no one else was in sight, "Where are those two?" He asked. "Yes, they took medicine and food, and had a hot spring bath, and they are fine now. Jin replied. This exchange would not have been understood unless one knew what he was talking about. I''m glad to hear that. I knew it was the right thing to ask Jin to do. "Yes. If they want, we can bring them back here afterwards. For now, I''d like to let them relax. Reinhard nodded. "Yes, that''s right. "Well, anyway, today is the day we cross the border. With these words, he started walking toward the wagon yard. "Oh, Reinhard!" Matheus was already waiting for him at the wagon. "I see you are with Mr. Jin. If you don''t mind, let''s get going. "Yes, I will." Reinhardt got into his carriage as they were about to cross the border. They entered through the main gate of the city and went straight through the central street. Jin thought that the gateway seemed to be located inside the city. Just as he had imagined, he saw an imposing building in front of the gate. It was surrounded by a high wall with a sturdy-looking door. The carriage entered the building, and the sturdy-looking door was closed. "Mister Jin, I need you to get out of the carriage. Matheus'' voice. Jin did as he was told and got out of the carriage. Reiko was with him. "The officials of the Kingdom of Celuloa will now check the documents," said Reinhard. Reinhard said. "Jin-dono, your identity is guaranteed by the diplomat of the Kingdom of Shoro, Reinhardt, and also by Captain Matheus, commander of the 3rd Company of the Kingsguard. Matheus also assured me of this. True to his word, the examination was completed in a short time. It was disappointing that they did not inspect my belongings, but I was told later that it was a result of my . "You made us spend a lot of money." Jin, who heard the truth after passing through the barrier, said, "No, it''s all part of the budget," Reinhardt laughed. Reinhardt laughed. The group got back into the carriage and moved around the building. At the back of the building, there was a door similar to the one they had entered, and when he saw them, he opened it. "Now, over there is my homeland! From the carriage on the other side, we hear the joyful voice of Reinhardt. The group passes through the door. The high stone walls continue on both sides, but beneath the carriages there is a distinctly different colored cobblestone pavement. The group continued on, and again there was a door, with about four guards in front of it. Reinhardt stopped the carriage and presented some kind of certificate. The guards smiled at him and saluted him. "Welcome home! 308 - - 11-105 Polar trends The checks on the Kingdom of Cerroa side were strict, but those on the Shoro Kingdom side were easy. This was probably true, since they were accompanied by the captain of the 3rd Company of the Kingsguard of their own country. Having safely passed through the barrier on the Shoro side, the group continued on its way for about 5 minutes. There was an unusual town in front of us. It was Bamm, a border town on the Shoro side. Reinhardt got off the carriage just before the town. Jin got off the carriage as well. Reinhardt held out his hand to Jin, "Welcome to the Kingdom of Shoro," he said. He said, "Welcome to the Shoro Kingdom. He seemed to remember that Jin had once said, "Welcome to Kunlun Island. "Greetings, Reinhard." Jin shook his hand again, and both of them burst out laughing. The sky of the Shoro Kingdom was clear and blue. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... cliff collapse? The place is Doppa village. It is a village of about 20 houses, located between Charles town and Toka village, and serves as a rest and supply base on the road with another village, Lac Noe. A peddler''s wagon was stuck. About 5 kilometers from there, a cliff collapsed and rocks piled up to block the narrow passage, making it impassable. Although there was some bottleneck on the road at that point, there had been no cliff collapse in the past several years, or even a decade or so. However, it cannot be helped that it has now happened. "When will the road be opened?" I asked a soldier who had been dispatched to monitor civilian access to the area to prevent a second disaster, "I don''t know. We don''t have enough manpower to remove that much rock, and there is still a possibility that it will collapse. We can''t say for sure how long it will last. The answer comes back, "I can''t say for how long. "No such ......" The villages of Lac Noh, Toka, Inad Mine, and Kaina. The time of year is when they need salt and other daily necessities as well as spices, cloths, and clothes. "We can''t stay here, let''s go back to Charles Town. "...... I agree, sir." Roland, the outgoing manager of the Raglan Trading Company, and another rookie merchant are heading back the way they came. * * * * The fifth column (quinta) in charge of the town of Charles is Deneb 2. Capella 2 is in Rakham and Spica 1 in Presos. And Deneb 29 was temporarily assigned to Count Walter. Since these towns were on the road connecting the village of Kaina and Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, Jin and, of course, the old lord considered them important. Needless to say, Count Walter is on the Horai Island black list as a person to watch out for. . The old man smelled the man-made smell of the cliff collapse when he received the report. <>. The cunning Count Walter did not use clear proper nouns even in his meetings and used pronouns such as <> or <>. < I thought about reporting the situation to Jin right away, but I decided that it was not urgent and that it would be better to report it in the evening when I would make a regular call. Until then, the "Mere Old Man" will take care of the situation and report back with the results. And if I see his face, I will think about it with a smirk. < The old man seems to be growing steadily (black). I''m back now. "I''m home." Lysia Faarheit has finally returned home. The 3rd Kingsguard, led by her father Niklas, had stayed behind to repair the walls of Tetrada, and she had stayed behind to treat those who had been injured in the accident that occurred during the work. Half out of a sense of duty, and the other half at the behest of the captain of the rescue knight corps to which Licia belonged. "Welcome back, Licia. I''m glad to see you are well." Reddish brown hair, brown eyes. This is Licia''s mother, Milia. "You''ve been tanned." She seems a little surprised to see her daughter, who used to be fair-skinned, come back dark. "Well, I''ve been in the sun all day, every day." "I''m going to run out of ...... brides. ......" "Oh, Mom! Licia is 16 years old this year, and she is almost of legal age. But Licia was not ready for that yet. As a new noble, she has only just begun to gain some confidence after the recent conflict. "I think I''m good at what I do now," she said. That''s why I''m not going to get married yet. And what about my heir?" Licia is the only daughter. If she marries, there will be no one to take over the house. "Oh, that''s all right. If Licia gives birth to two or more children, we will adopt one of them. "Mom!" Licia interrupts her mother''s words, which I can''t tell if she''s being natural or serious, and runs to her room to change. "......What is this?" After changing in her room and taking a break, Licia noticed a sword on the side table. "......My sword?How did the sword I lost in Tetrada end up here? Licia could not understand it, so she left the room to ask her mother. "Good, good. I made a pot of tea and thought I''d call you." Licia showed her mother the sword in her hand, "But more importantly, this sword!Why is this in our house?" "What?Oh, that. A woman I don''t know left it at our house, saying it was given to her by someone named Machina. "From a woman?Earl received it? Earl is a maid who works for the house of Faarheit. "Yes. She left it there and left without telling us her name. "So ......" I was disappointed when I lost my precious sword. But in Tetrada, other knights and soldiers had also lost their swords and armor, so I could not whine. I was honestly happy to have my sword back, but I couldn''t help but wonder why me?Licia can''t help but wonder why she is the only one. "Makina, isn''t that the mysterious person who appeared in the kingdom of Egelea? How did this person know about Licia''s sword? One of the possibilities is ...... "Jin-san?" Jin has some connection with Machina. (We could have had a chance to talk to him if we hadn''t crossed paths.) Licia was the first to go to the royal castle upon her return to report, where she was told that an honorary magical craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea named had made a sword and a golem for her. The person who told me this was Gloria, the vice-captain of the Kingsguard. She was also an instructor, and she showed me the sword he had made for her with a very happy expression on her face. But thank goodness. Jin-san, you look well.) Licia, who had been wondering about Jin after he left Kaina village, felt as if a small thorn in her heart had been removed. It would be a little later when she would be officially told that Jin had leased the village of Kaina for the next 50 years. * * * * * * "Oh, what''s this? The village of Caina, on the banks of the Erme River. There was a mysterious masonry structure there. If Jin had seen it, he would have immediately recognized it as a stone wall of a Japanese castle. The old lord had chosen a castle as the residence of Jin as a ruler. He wanted to build a castle tower, something like Matsumoto Castle or Osaka Castle. "That''s a huge stone. I wonder how they transported it?" The stone walls, which had been piled up in the middle of the night using a stone stove, stood about eight meters high. A girl who had come to the river to get a magi stone for her stove found it and informed the village, so all the available people came to see it. Now, the craftsmen (smith golems) are cutting wood to make pillars. It was not an overnight castle, as the old man thought to himself. "This, ladies and gentlemen, is the official residence of Jin-sama. Butler A, who was acting on behalf of Jin in his absence, explained. The residents, who were already familiar with golems that talked and moved like humans, understood. "Well, it''s a djinn, isn''t it? It is no exaggeration to say that these words show the solid bond between Jin and the residents. However, it is still beyond the bounds of common sense. Who in the world is Jin-sama? only Barrow, who is still getting used to the situation, screamed under the clear sky. 309 - - 11-11 Working in the middle of the night The trip of Jin and the others passed peacefully and without incident since they entered the Shawlo Kingdom. After passing Bamum, they stayed one night in the town of Bortolo. Passing through the town of Danga, they stayed overnight in Denzana. After crossing the Divide River by ferry, they stayed in the town of Banyu on the 7th. "Well, it''s nice to have nothing going on," Reinhardt said sincerely. Reinhardt said sincerely. Right now Jin, Reinhard, and Matth?us are relaxing on a bench on the balcony of the inn. The Divide River is in view. The spring sun sets late, and it is still light in the evening. In front of each of them is the juice of Airbert, a specialty of the Shoro Kingdom. Jin could not recognize the original fruit because of the juice, but it tasted completely like strawberries. "Ah, it''s a nostalgic taste. ...... Jin, this kind of airbert grows all over the country. Children often pick them and eat them raw or make juice from them. Of course, it is also cultivated, and this is the taste of what is grown. Reinhard is pleased with the taste of his homeland. Jin thought it would be a nice souvenir for Erza and Hannah. "Yes. Reinhard. I remember when you and I would go to the back of the mountain to pick air veils, and Miss Elsa used to come with us. Matheus'' voice sounded nostalgic. Reinhard nodded. "Yes, the three of us used to go and pick air veils together. I remember Erza once cried and cried because she was the only one who could pick so few air veils. Elsa would blush if she heard this story. It was a lazy spring evening. I was so happy to hear this story. "It''s funny, it''s past the due date..." In the village of Kaina, the chief of the village, Giebeck, was suspicious that Roland, who had last visited in mid-April, had not yet arrived, even though he had said he would be back in early May. Next to him, Barbara was getting antsy. "It''s strange that Locke, Jeff, Dave, Howard, and Rick haven''t come back either. Something must be wrong. Then Butler A, the golem that Jin had left behind as a proxy, arrived. "Hello, Mr. Village Chief. Gibeck had already gotten used to its appearance and was interacting with it in a normal way. "A, is something wrong? Butler A is a name that the villagers call him simply A, as it is too much trouble to call him Butler A. "Yes, there was a cliff collapse in the middle of the road. It seems that those who were drafted into the army were unable to return home because of it. "What!I don''t know where the information came from, but you''re sure? Of course. Giebeck is thinking with a puzzled look on his face. Barbara, on the other hand.., "Uncle, there''s nothing to think about!We''re just going to clean up that cliff! she said in a loud voice. "Come on, how can we get people out if we don''t know where it is or how big it is? "Oh, you know A, don''t you? "Yes." Barbara''s calm assessment made Giebeck scratch his head in embarrassment. "Well, I was so upset that I forgot to ask. So, where are we?" "Yes, between Doppa and Raknow," he said. "Okay, let''s get Gon, Gen, and the golem horses, Ein and Tsubai, out. They''ll be at ....... Wait a minute. Butler A stopped him. Why did you stop him? Butler A''s voice was calm, "<>," I said in the past tense. The line is open now." "What, just say so!" "Yes, I was going to tell you in order, but you said a lot of things along the way. ......" This is a problem with Butler A''s way of speaking. It would have been better to state the conclusion first. Also, it was easy to interrupt him in the middle of his speech because he was always calm and stated in a straightforward manner. "Well, I guess we''ll all be back in a few days," said Giebeck. Giebeck said. And Barbara, of course, says. "Eric ...... and Mr. Roland will be here too. * * * * The day before, on the 6th, Hourai Island. (According to the additional report from Deneb 29, the cliff collapse was also caused by Count Walter''s order, right?) The old man was thinking silently. (But there is no physical evidence. ...... is still too early to take action.) The old man was determined to crush any adversary to Jin to the uttermost. Not only physically, but also socially and economically. (First of all, let''s get rid of this meaningless harassment ...... and put it away in the name of the nostalgia party (nostalgia). The old man, who had come to that conclusion in a few seconds, hurried to contact Elena. Fortunately, Elena was free, so he was able to give her all the necessary information in one call. This was the end of the groundwork. It is decided that the work will be done late at night when no one is around. And at midnight. The moon is in the mid-sky, its light dimly illuminating the ground. It is too dark for humans, but it does not matter to the golems of Horai Island. The location is the site of a cliff collapse. Condor 1, Pelican 3, and Raptor 2 flew in unnoticed. Daedalah is a huge golem, standing 15 meters tall and weighing 8 tons. It is heavier and slower than the combat-use Titan, but it is more precise in its movements. Its maximum output is comparable to Reiko''s instantaneous maximum output. Well, it is 11.5 times larger and 267 times heavier than Reiko, so it is not surprising. Or perhaps, Reiko who can produce the same power, even momentarily, is extraordinary. Let''s digress. First, we activate the Hide function of Condor 1 at its maximum output. Hyde is a sub-magic of Stealth, and has only the effect of silencing the presence of others. However, it is enough now that there is no one around. The army golems Land 21 to 24, who arrived by Raptor, are on the lookout for anyone approaching the area. After these preparations, the work began. Daedalah, with her tremendous power and precise movements, cleared away the rocks one after another without breaking them. There was no need to worry about where to put them. The reason for this is that the prototype of the Pelican 3''s "Warp Gate," which does not require a receiver, is used to dispose of the ship in the ocean far to the south, according to their calculations. And many Air Force golems are deployed near the sea where the prototypes are to be discarded, and they are supposed to measure the error. In other words, it was an experimental operation. The results were not so bad. The maximum error was reported to be 30 meters. In this way, the combination of Daedara and the <> had cleared the rocks that blocked the road in only 15 minutes. < The old man gave the following orders. Ten Smith golems fly out of the warp gate on Raptor 2. As instructed, they cleared away the fine rock debris that littered the roadway and applied <> to the collapsed areas, effectively stopping any further collapse. The areas that had been gouged out by the rocks were filled in with the scattered debris, and the entire area was hardened to make it stronger. . The old man fitted a metal plate he had prepared in advance into the restored rock wall. It has the following inscription, "May 7, 3457, Nostalgia restored" is engraved on it. is inscribed on the plate. Now that Nostalgia is becoming a subordinate organization of Horai Island, it cannot be said to be a complete lie. After that, all Golem and all aircrafts are withdrawn. All that remained was a neatly restored road. * * * * "Oh, oh, oh!What the hell happened?" Early the next morning, the soldiers who had blocked off the road to prevent danger came on patrol and shouted in surprise. "What the hell happened in the middle of the night? What in the world happened in the middle of the night?" "Nostalgia! There was some confusion, but that morning the passage was permitted, and Locke and the five others passed through without incident. They reached Toka village in the evening of the same day, and the rest house the next day. The scene was discovered by Land R. and S., who were on a secret reconnaissance mission. So we kept them out of sight until they returned to the village, and by the afternoon of the 9th, they all returned safely to the village of Kaina. 310 - - 11-12 Deep well The group left the town of Banyou and headed west along the highway. They had an early lunch in Croix and stayed overnight in Hatata. The trip was only about 40 kilometers per day, but Reinhard was not in a hurry because he was already in his homeland. In fact, he seemed to be regretting that the trip was coming to an end. When he was stranded in Asund, he wanted to return to his homeland as soon as possible. The town of Hatata was a busy town for a rural area, with many people coming and going as the roads crossed each other. The spring sun was still high in the sky, and Jin was touring the city of Hatata with Reinhardt as his guide. Reiko was accompanying him in silence. "Unlike yesterday in Bany, there are many one-story houses in Hatata. In Bany, there were a few two-story houses here and there, but here in Hatta there were many one-story houses. The roofs have small eaves, and to Jin''s eyes, the roofs look very small. The windows were also small. "Ah. "Yeah. Because there is too much land and the population is small. There''s no need to build a two-story house. You''re right. Although there is a lot of traffic due to the intersection of streets, the town itself is so large that the people are scattered, and as a result, the area appears deserted. "There is not much rain around here. Yesterday, Bany was close to the Divide River, so there was plenty of water, but around here you have to dig a very deep well to get water. Hearing this, Jin understood why the roof was so small. When it rains a lot like in Japan, the roofs are bigger and the eaves are deeper. "Oh, so that''s why it''s kind of dusty. The windows are also small to prevent dust from entering. "Well, yeah. One more thing,...... the food here is not very good." Reinhardt looked disappointed. We returned to the inn at around 4:00 p.m. after a day of touring the city with such talk. "Welcome home. The inn was an unusual two-story building. As is typical in this town, the grounds are large and the garden is spacious. "I''ll bring you your rinse now." said the girl at the front door in a cheerful voice. Rinse" means water and towels to wipe your face, hands, and feet when you come back from a day out in this dusty town. A well had been dug beside the wide entrance hall of the inn, and water could be drawn from it with a pulley and a fishing bottle. "Nsho, nsho..." Seeing the girl working the entrance hall drawing water, Jin was reminded of the village of Kaina in the past. He had built the pump after seeing Hanna working so hard to fetch water. Hannah was 8 years old at that time. Now, the child fetching water is about 12 or 3 years old. Jin watched the pumping without looking. "Oh, no!" The hand that was pulling the fishing bottle seemed to have slipped, and the pulley was spinning at a tremendous speed. Soon after, I heard the sound of water. When pumping water into a fishing bottle with a pulley, it is difficult to stop the bottle from falling down by its own weight if your hand slips even once. Sure enough, the girl''s palms were red and chafed as she hurriedly grabbed the rope. "I''m sorry!I''ll pump it again right now! The girl said and pulled the fishing bottle again. Jin watched him, but when he saw that the bottle did not come up, he realized again that the well was quite deep, as Reinhardt had said earlier. "Sorry I''m late. Here is your rinse, please." A tub of water and a towel were offered. Jin and Reinhard took them silently and wiped their faces, necks, hands, and feet. "Thank you. I feel refreshed." Reinhardt said and handed the tip to the girl. "Oh, thank you!" Jin saw the look of joy on the girl''s face as she received it, and realized that he did not have any money with him. Then.., "Let me see your hand." He takes the child''s hand, "<>". and he cast a healing spell on her hand. His palm, which had been chafed and bleeding, was now clean. "Oh, thank you for ......! The girl must have been happy, because she bowed her head deeply, thanked Jin, and left with a bucket of water. The room was a large room with separate bedrooms for each of us. Jin, Reinhard, Matheus, and Reinhard''s butler Claude were in the same room. Jin, who had something on his mind, called out to Reinhardt first. "What''s up, Jin?" I need to talk to you." Jin told Reinhardt about the pump he had built. It had been widely used in the Kingdom of Klein, but Reinhardt had never heard of it, "I didn''t know such a tool existed!I am very interested in it, and I will cooperate with you. He was very enthusiastic. So Jin and Reinhardt went to see the innkeeper. "Isn''t this well deep?Wouldn''t you like to install a tool to make it easier to fetch water?" In addition to Jin''s persuasion, the name of Reinhardt, the creator of the <>, was quite famous in the Shoro Kingdom, and the innkeeper asked him to make a pump for him with a simple reply. "Jin, are you on time?" "Yes. Yes. The days are long. After such an exchange, Jin ordered his golem, Steward, to fetch the materials. "Hi." Reinhardt looked at Steward who replied shortly and walked away, and said to Jin in a whisper. "That golem is not as good as it looks, is it?" This was an insight that only Reinhardt, who had known Jin for a certain length of time and had seen his works, could have come up with. "Well, you know. "Well, you''re right, Reinhardt." Steward soon returns. He said he had a bronze figurine, and that was the material. Three unexplainable, avant-garde figurines. The whole thing weighs about 120 kilograms. That''s plenty of material. "I think this is the work of <>, isn''t it?" Reinhardt says a strange name. "Who is it?Who is it? "I don''t think Jin would know." Then Reinhardt explains simply that Tengkunhan is a craftsman who was popular for a while, but now he is tired of it and no one knows what he is up to. "...... will be gratefully used." After expressing his apologies to the author with his hands together, Jin easily fused and homogenized them into ingots. "Brilliant as always," he said. Now, the real work begins. What Jin is going to make is a pump for deep wells. The depth of the well here was about 10 meters. Since ordinary pumping wells use atmospheric pressure, the theoretical depth of the well is about 10 meters (at 1 atm = 1013 hectopascal), but in reality, only 7 to 8 meters of water could be pumped up. Therefore, several methods are considered for deep wells. For this project, Jin adopted a submersible pump because of its ease of construction and maintenance. "Reinhardt, you make the pipes. I''ll adjust the final size, about 8 cm inside diameter. The length is 10 meters." "Okay, here we go." Jin made the same pump as the one he had made before, but with a more precise piston and cylinder. The handle of the pump is quite long. He also made a very long stick. "Reiko, Steward, help me set this up." "Yes." "Yes." The pipes are long and heavy. Steward weighs more than 200 kilograms, so this is the perfect time for this. "I''ll explain it all later." Jin said to Reinhardt and started to install the pump. The biggest difference between this pump and an ordinary pump is the location of the pump itself. In the case of deep wells, the pump itself is submerged underwater. This is called the submerged cylinder method. In this way, the water is <> instead of <>, and can be pumped as far as meters, as long as there is enough power. However, this can only be used with a dug well, not a well with a pipe driven into it. "Okay, yes, yes. Hold me to that. ......<>" The pipes are assembled. The piston of the pump is attached to the long stick, which is then attached to the handle. "Father, I''ll hold this one down. With Reiko''s help, the work is much easier. It was my first time to install a deep well pump, but I could finish it in about 15 minutes. "Okay, the piston and cylinder are sliding well. Jin nods in satisfaction as he moves the handle and looks around at the crowd of onlookers. Some of the innkeepers who were not available and some of the guests who were staying at the inn had gathered there as if they were curious to see what the Magi Engineer from another country was doing. Among them, Jin found the girl who had been working as a doorkeeper. "Oh, there she is. Come here for a minute. Jin beckoned her to come out, and she came out with a slightly worried look on her face. "Yes, is that me? ......?" Jin smiled reassuringly, "Yes, it''s you. Listen, try moving this handle up and down like this ......." Lifting water from the depths requires a certain amount of force. Therefore, the handle of this pump was longer than the one in the village of Kaina. "Yes, like this. ......?" The girl slowly moves the handle up and down. 20, 30 times. The handle became heavier and heavier. Just then, water came out of the outlet. "Ah!" The girl is surprised. The gallery watching the show also gasps in amazement. >>The gallery watching the show also let out an exclamation of amazement. "Good, you made it. You can fetch water a little easier from now on. Jin then patted the girl on the head. Jin patted the girl on the head. 311 - - 11-13 Castle After installing the deep well pump, Jin and Reinhardt were treated to a sumptuous dinner as a token of appreciation from the innkeeper, who was very impressed. The innkeeper was so impressed that he begged Jin to install the same pumps in the kitchen, bathroom, and washroom wells. Reinhardt, feeling that the situation was getting out of hand, discussed with Jin after dinner about transferring the pumps to the Magi Engineers'' Guild. He set two conditions. First, that this technology be passed on to the Guild of Magical Engineers in this city. Second, that they do not monopolize this technology. The first is to share this technology with the Guild of Magi Engineers in this city. Later that night, the guild leader himself arrived from the guild of Hatata. My name is Coates Lordite. My name is Coates-Laudite. Mr. Reinhardt, I''ve heard a lot about you. "Pleased to meet you. We don''t have much time, so let''s get started right away. Jin then made a pump out of bronze, which the guild had prepared for him. "Very interesting structure," he said. As might be expected from the head of the guild, Coates-Lordite''s skill and understanding as a magical engineer (magi engineer) were quite impressive. "I see. The key is this cylinder, piston, and valve, isn''t it? "That''s right. At the very least, the sliding parts should be hardened, preferably coated with adamantite. If not, periodic inspections and maintenance are necessary. "I understand. But adamantite is not possible, so hardening is the only way to go. Jin had Coates-Laudite build one of the pumps, and he was impressed that he was able to build it without any problems. Later, when Reinhardt told him that he was one of the top ten magi engineers in the Shoro Empire, Jin nodded his head. He nodded his head and said, "Oh, no! "Well, Jin, good work! With the help of Coates-Laudite, the pumps were installed in all of the inn''s wells by 11:00 p.m. Reinhardt, as expected, was tired. Reinhardt seemed to be tired as expected, and after saying this to Jin, he disappeared into his bedroom. Jin was also tired and was about to enter his room when Matheus stopped him. "Jin-dono, you did a wonderful job today. I am sorry that I could not do anything to help you and could only watch you. He expressed his feelings in this way. "Well then, have a good night." Thank you. Thank you. Good night." Jin answered in the same way and went into his room this time. "Father, thank you for your hard work." Reiko said to him. "Oh, thank you. I didn''t get a report from the old man, but did you notice anything unusual? When Jin asked her, Reiko answered. "Yes, Mr. Locke and the other five returned safely to the rest house. "Oh, that''s good to hear." Rand R and S found Mr. Locke and the others on their way back to the village and are escorting them secretly to the village. "Yes, that''s good. Good work." Jin was relieved that the conscripts had returned safely. Then he heard that the castle was finished. "Oh, I see." Jin was happy. "Well, I''m tired tonight, so let''s go back tomorrow night. "Yes." When Jin was tired and knew that there was nothing more to report, he lay down and slept soundly until morning. What? "What!The road was open to traffic before you knew it? "Yes, it seems that the "Nostalgia Party" has been working on it in the middle of the night. "The Nostalgia party again. They''re ...... a bunch of pussies." And then there is silence for a while. "...... buy up all the salt." "What?" "The village of Kaina does not produce salt. The salt is carried by peddlers. Buy up all the salt at every village along the way. I''ve heard that a merchant''s trust is his first priority. Will they sell all of it? "You can leave a little. I''ll give you three times the money. And use threats. ...... But don''t mention my name. Count Walter Quinta, Deneb 29, was listening attentively. * * * * "I can''t believe Jin-san had the village of Kaina as his leased land. ......" Licia muttered as she combed her hair on her bed at home. The story Gloria had told her was an unofficial one, but Licia had heard it directly from the Prime Minister who had come to work that day. "As I thought, it must be Mr. Jin, isn''t it? Licia, upon hearing the story, reconfirmed that the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea named Jin was the same young man she knew. "I see. Well, that''s a good thing. Farheit, you are hereby placed on leave of absence from the Order of Rescue as of this day. And you will be our emissary to the village of Kaina. Messenger? Yes. You''ll be our ambassador in the leased territories. You know each other well, so you''ll make a good impression on Jin-dono. You will arrange your own accommodations. You will be provided with a sufficient budget. I''ll send someone to brief you on the details later. "Yes, sir." Licia was pleased to be able to officially meet Jin, whom she had been unable to see due to a misunderstanding. "When I go to the village of Kaina, I would like to assign one of my knights as my escort and squire. The Prime Minister asked, to which Licia simply replied, "No one in particular. "All right. Then we will make our selection. Schedule your departure for the day after tomorrow. "Yes, sir. Thank you very much. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, on May 9th, in the village of Kaina. "What the hell is this building?" Rock was the one who said that. He has just returned and doesn''t know much about the background. "It''s Jin''s castle!" The inhabitants of Kaina village are whispering to each other as they look at the castle tower that stands close to the Erme River. "Wow, so this is what the castle in Jin''s hometown looks like..." The white walls and tiled roof on top of the stone walls, five stories, six floors, and two basement floors. Matsumoto Castle is probably the closest in image to this castle. However, the site is square and there is no small castle tower. The top of the castle is properly topped with a golden orca, and a lightning rod is attached for safety. "How could such a huge structure be built in such a short period of time? "What the hell is that guy?" Rock shouted at Barrow, who looked at him in confusion and said he didn''t understand. "Oh, you didn''t know, did you? Jin brought him here, his name is Barrow. "I see, you don''t know much about Jin, do you? Barrow cannot hide his confusion at the unfazed people of Kaina Village. Behle, on the other hand, was already getting used to them. "Jin-san, you are amazing!You built such a great thing before you knew it!" "Hmmm... Brother Jin uses a lot of golems that do this kind of thing. If you give them instructions, it''s easy to do something like this. Erza, who knew the situation to some extent, explained. Seeing that most of the villagers had gathered, Chief Giebeck decided to take the opportunity to explain the situation. "Listen up, everyone. Jin has taken credit in the capital, and in return, we are going to lease this village of Kaina for fifty years, ...... well..." Giebeck continued, choosing expressions that were easy to understand. "Well, you can think of it as a temporary lordship. Well, you can think of it as a temporary lord, so Jin built it for his official work. The village head was familiar with the situation, having been briefed by Butler A, Jin''s deputy, as a deputy. "We usually live in the house we built at Martha''s place, and we will manage the village from here. There is a pantry in the basement that can be used as a shelter in case of emergency. "Oh!That''s what I''m talking about! Someone shouts. "However, I will continue to work as the village head as usual, so practically nothing will change. Jin, after consulting with Giebeck about having him as deputy, had settled on paying him about 10% of the taxes, or 50,000 tol as his annual salary. "Do you have any questions?" "Oh, what should I call Jin from now on?"Oh, what should I call Jin from now on? This question rocks. "Jin said to keep it the same as before. "Ha, that''s just like Jin." Locke''s laughter echoed in the clear sky of the village of Kaina. 312 - - 11-14 Arrival in the City of Amberg On the 9th, Jin and the others departed slowly. On the 9th, Jin and the others departed slowly, because many residents of Hatata came to thank them. The usefulness of the pumps that Jin had built and transferred to the guild yesterday was evident to all who saw them. The mayor, the chairman of the merchants'' association, and the head of the innkeepers'' association came in turn, which delayed our departure from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. What made Jin the happiest was a comment from the girl at the entrance. Thank you very much, brother. With just that one word, Jin fell in love with this town. It may seem simple to himself, but Jin really likes children. Not in a funny way. The group was moving along the streets at a speed of about eight kilometers per hour. Lunch was taken on the way. Today''s plan is to continue on to Amberg. It would be about 30 kilometers, or about four hours. We considered going on to Lindau, but Reinhardt said that no matter where we went, we would be on home soil and that there was no need to hurry. "Who said in Astan that they wanted to leave early?" Matth?us was also disgusted. "Don''t say that. I''m feeling a little short when I realize that this trip is almost over. "You''re a cash cow, aren''t you?" But then he said, "Well, Lindau, Fonde, Riale, and Leuthart. You will be reinstated in four days, so you may bid them farewell." Finally, Matheus laughed. Jin looked out of the window at the scenery. The city of Hatta was dry, but so was this area. The area was the same here, except for a few succulent plants that seemed to be tolerant of the dryness, and rock and sand. When I mentioned this to Reinhardt, he said, "Yes, this is the driest area along the route," he said. The road that runs north-south through Lindau, where we will be staying tomorrow, is commonly known as the Trockenbahn. "Trockenbahn, ......, that''s a great name, isn''t it?" "Yeah, but that''s also because of that pump. But that''s going to be pretty much solved thanks to that pump." Jin asks Reinhardt. "Doesn''t the Shoro Kingdom build irrigation canals?" "A canal. ......" "Yeah, what about it?" "There is a good source of water around here. ...... Reinhardt nodded, but pointed out some problems. "I don''t know much about geography, but Reinhardt can tell you ......." This is half a lie. There was a very detailed topographical map of Horai Island made by the Sky Golems, and Jin knew that there was no water source in this area of the Shoro Empire that could be secured. "It might be a little impossible. There are well-developed canals near the capital. The capital city of Leusert has two large lakes, Lake Tosmo and Lake Siouxsieu, and is well served by water transportation. One of the reasons why Erza participated in the Golem boat competition held in Potrock before was because the Randall family''s estate was located on Lake Tosmo and she had been familiar with boats since she was a child. (I wonder if it would be possible to transfer water using a warp gate (......)) Jin had been thinking about such a thing. At the moment, the warp gate cannot continuously send out an object, so a big improvement is needed. (But it is a worthwhile theme to think about.) (But it is a worthwhile subject to think about.) Jin was being rocked by the horse-drawn carriage while thinking about this and that. Then, a strange plant caught his eyes. It looked somewhat like a bamboo, but the leaves were different. They are not thin like bamboo, but palm-like. But the part of the trunk is cylindrical and its surface is green and smooth. The thing that resembles bamboo the most is that it has something that looks like a knot. "Reinhard, what is that plant? Jin asked, "I don''t know, I don''t know its name. It is a plant that is common around here. The only answer he received was, "It''s a plant that is common around here. Even Reinhardt did not know everything. "Hey, Matheus, can you pick one of those plants for me? Reinhard calls out to Matheus from the window of Jin''s carriage. Immediately Matheus cut one of the plants with his sword and brought it to him. "Is this okay?" "Yes, thank you." Reinhard thanked him and took it through the window of the carriage. "Here, Jin, would you like to take a look?" Jin stared at it. As expected, it was hollow inside. However, the part that looked like a node was not a node at all, but merely a bulge from which a branch could grow. If it were a real node, Jin thinks, "If it were a node, I could make a water bottle or a piggy bank. But then he thinks to himself, "Can''t we use this for pipes? Reinhardt immediately denies it. "Oh, that''s no good. It shrinks when it dries and swells when it contains water, so its dimensions are not stable. "I see. ......" The plant was more useless than I had expected. "It can''t even be used as a water pistol. ...... The only thing it could be used to make is a string telephone." As Jin muttered to himself, a flash of inspiration came to his mind. (A string phone!(...... string phone or ......) A string telephone is a toy consisting of two tubes with a piece of paper attached to one side and a string attached to the center of the paper, which is used to talk to each other. The principle is that the voice of the speaker shakes the paper, and the vibration is transmitted through the string, which shakes the paper attached to the other tube and reproduces the voice. (If you want to do this with magic, go to ......) "Jin?" Reinhardt realized that Jin had thought of something and fell silent. Fortunately, Jin is able to gather his thoughts. If we use a thin line of mithril instead of a string, we can transmit the vibration of free magical element (ether). Vibration of free magic element (ether) does not decay. ......) The reason why they decay is that they are subject to resistance. Since free-magic element (ether) is considered to be a particle smaller than an atom, there is nothing to disturb its vibration. Therefore, it does not decay (in fact, it seems to decay very slightly, but it does not matter on the order of 1000 km). Also, unlike the string of a telephone, there is no need to keep it tight. (It is easy to change voice into free magical element (ether) vibration at ......, and vice versa. And vice versa.) Now, Jin has arrived at the free-magic element (ether) telephone string (not ). (But I''d like to talk to various people on the phone, not just to a certain person. ......) The manacam (manacam) used to change the equivalent of frequency to talk to a specific person. This is the basis of radio communication as Jin knows it. (How does a telephone work? ......) The orphanage where Jin was staying had a black dial telephone. (Let''s see, I think, you choose the person you want to call according to the number you dialed, right? (Well, I think they used to call it a switchboard operator, though it was a machine that selected the number. ......) Jin tried hard to remember the old telephone story that he had heard from the Director. (Yes, you call the switchboard first, tell the person you want to talk to, and the operator will connect you!) ) As long as he knew the approximate procedure, the details did not matter. Jin''s plan was proceeding at a breakneck speed. (Ah, the manaphone we gave out via Nostalgia last time would be less ...... in number if we use the switchboard, or is that too blatant? The "Mere Old Man" thought that he could listen in as much as he wanted if the switchboard was the "Mere Old Man", and then he realized that he was listening in after all and burst out laughing. Reiko, who was standing next to me, looked doubtful. (......) You''ve lost your train of thought, haven''t you? The exchange table should be human, and then ...... yes, it could be done.) Before the carriage arrived at Amberg, Jin had finished putting together the idea of a telephone ...... or rather a . Amberg was a town about the same size as Hatta. The lack of fences or walls indicates that the area is peaceful. The carriages were parked at the entrance of the town, and Jin and the others were about to step into the town when they heard the following words. "Mr. Reinhardt, and Mr. Jin, are you sure? Some men appeared. Reiko immediately turns in front of Jin. The covert maneuver force (SP) was invisible to the human eye, but it got behind them, ready to attack at any moment. Matheus put his hand on the sword at his waist and his men were ready to draw their swords at any moment. "Excuse me, did I startle you?I am Raimer Gebhardtov, head of the Guild of Magi Engineers here in the city of Amberg. The others are also employees of the guild. The man in the middle, a man of advanced age, bent at the waist and greeted us. "Look, guild leader, I told you so. It''s not polite to stand in a large group. This was said by a young man about the same age as Jin, who was standing next to Reimer. "Yes, yes, but I would like to meet the Magi Engineer who created those wonderful tools as soon as possible! Reimer Gebhardtov said to the young man and turned again to Jin and the others. Coates-Laudite from Hatata sent me word by pigeon, and I am anxious to meet you as soon as possible. I wanted to see you as soon as possible. Forgive my rudeness. 313 - - 11-15 Honorary Member In the end, we were only greeted, and further discussion was to wait until we entered the inn, We have arranged a place for you to stay," said Rymer Gebhardtov. We have arranged a place for you to stay," said Rymer Gebhardtov. Jin, Reinhard, and Matth?us discussed with each other what to do, and finally decided to accept his kind offer. The lodging arranged by Reimer was the residence of Salut Berlusi, the mayor of Amberg. The town of Amberg is mostly one-story buildings, but the mayor''s house is a three-story building in the center of the town, glaring at the whole town. If anything should happen, we will know immediately," he said as he greeted Jin and the others. were the words of the mayor who welcomed Jin and the others. Indeed, the room served well as a watchtower. Incidentally, Jin''s room was on the second floor and had a good view. Jin was in a private room with Reiko, Reinhard with Claude, and Matheus with a liaison officer. After putting down their luggage, they were invited to tea by the mayor. It was after three o''clock. Both Jin and Reinhardt accepted the invitation because they were thirsty. As expected, Reimer Gebhardtof was also present. Fragrant tea was served, and when everyone was seated, the mayor stood up. "First of all, welcome to the town of Amberg. Mr. Reinhardt." Salute bowed his head. When he looked up, he had silver hair and blue eyes. He was about 50 years old. He was thin and tall. "And you must be the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, Mister Jin?Welcome, welcome." He said this more as a confirmation than a question. After greeting Matheus, the mayor took his seat and turned to Jin again, "Is that your automaton standing behind me?It''s a wonderful piece of work, isn''t it? He looked at Reiko intently and said, "It''s a wonderful piece of work, isn''t it? "If I ask you, could you make the same automata for me? Jin was surprised at this. He had received many requests in the past, but this was the first time he had been asked to make an automata just like Reiko''s. At a loss for an answer, Jin thought about it. As Jin pondered over his answer, Reimer spoke up first. "Mayor, please talk about such things later. Jin, the reason I have come here today is to ask you to become an honorary member of the Shoro Imperial Guild of Magi Engineers. Reinhardt cheered when he heard this. "Oh, that''s good!Jin, honorary membership in a guild is only given to those who have made a substantial contribution, and I don''t know of any precedent for it to be given to someone from outside the country! He was as pleased as if it were his own. Raimer Gebhardtov, head of the Guild of Magi Engineers in Amberg, presented a golden card. It was a thin metal card, about two times larger than a business card. We would like to make a big deal out of it. We are in the middle of our journey and the news from Coates-Laudite in Hatata said that you don''t like ostentatious things, so we have chosen this form. "Yes." Jin had no reason to refuse, and his title of Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea was more useful than he had expected in the Kingdom of Klein, so he gladly accepted the offer. I heard that Reinhardt was also an honorary member. I heard that with this, the Shoro Imperial Guild of Magi Engineers would give him various benefits, such as priority in receiving valuable materials. "I am relieved to hear that you accepted. By the way, Mr. Jin, you have made a pump in Hatta, could you make something here in Amberg? Reimer Gebhardtov''s tone was neither serious nor joking. "What!You told me to wait until later, and now you''re doing it? "What are you talking about? I was talking about useful tools. I was talking about useful tools, not your hobby. It''s up to you whether you want to accept it or not, Jin-dono. It''s not fair to ask him that way! Jin was astonished and Reinhardt laughed. Matheus was drinking the tea offered to him with an expression that said, "Let him do whatever he wants. Jin was really thinking about it and looked at Reinhardt, "I think a vacuum cleaner would be useful," he said. Reinhardt agreed. Hearing this, Reinhardt agreed. "Oh, that!We can transfer the technology to this mutual aid guild! Reimer heard that and said, "What is that?What do you mean by that? Reimer wonders. Jin decided to sell the vacuum cleaner he had made in cooperation with Reinhardt to the guild. The prototype vacuum cleaner was still in Reinhardt''s carriage. "Oh, that''s great Reinhardt! Jin praised him, "It''s great that you brought it here without throwing it away or disposing of it. "Haha, you don''t want to destroy or throw away something you can use, do you? Reinhardt laughed. Jin then demonstrates the usefulness of the vacuum cleaner by running the prototype. I thought that since it is dry and dusty around here, such a vacuum cleaner would be useful," he said. "I made this on a trip, so it''s not as good as I would have liked. Especially the filter ...... bag that collects the dust, if it is made of a finer and stronger cloth, and if the wind magic that sucks in is more powerful ......" Reimer understood quickly because he had the actual product. "Ummm, I didn''t know such a magic tool existed ......!Master Reinhardt, Master Jin, will you sell this process to our mutual aid guild?" Jin and Reinhard nodded. "Hmmm, how much do you think ...... is reasonable for this much magic equipment?" Reimer, the head of the guild, asked a young man who was watching behind him. "Well, in my opinion, about 200,000 dollars. About 2 million yen, a fine line. Selling to a guild is the same as saying that you can make and sell the same thing. The method of making a pump sold for one million dollars. Considering the added value and the value of use, it may be reasonable to say that a pump related to the lifeline of water costs one million dollars and a vacuum cleaner, a useful tool, costs 200,000 dollars. When Jin was about to say that this was acceptable, Reinhardt started to speak first. "I would like to hear one more comment. I''m not trying to be pushy. I''m just saying that this technology has applications. "Applications?" "Applications?" "Yes. It is understandable if you haven''t noticed it yet today, but there are many uses for this idea of . For example, it can be used simply as a magical tool to create wind, and when it''s hot, it can be used to create ......" "Oh, I see!" Reimer''s palms met and he looked convinced. "So that''s .......4 million dollars. How about that? Reinhard thought for a moment, "Well, that''s good, isn''t it?" Reinhardt thought for a moment and looked back at Jin. Jin had no reason to object, so he nodded. "Well then, I''ll sell it to you for 400,000 dollars. And so the deal was done. The young man ran to the Guild of Magi Engineers to get the money. The cold tea was put down and a fresh pot of tea was brewed. Jin took a sip of the tea, thinking that he would drink it this time since he had not drunk it before. It tasted completely like green tea. Jin, who had a cat''s tongue, drank it all, little by little, but he seemed to enjoy it. The mayor looked at Jin, "Well then, Jin-dono, how about my previous request? The mayor looked at Jin and asked again, "Then, Mr. Jin, what about my previous request? "I don''t think it can be exactly the same, because of the material involved," he said. "Oh, then, will you make it for me? The mayor''s voice came with a pleased expression on his face. "Yes, but may I ask for what purpose you want an automata? The mayor, Salut Berlusi, nodded broadly. Of course I do. I want to play with my grandchildren. You have grandchildren? Yes. Yes. Well, he is sickly and hardly goes outside. That''s why he has no friends and is lonely. I thought that my grandchildren would love your automata. "I see, I see." Jin was almost ready to accept the job as a playmate for a small child. Originally, he had no intention of making her as good as Reiko. It would be enough to have a performance commensurate with its appearance. Then, ordinary materials would suffice. "If you mean a playmate for your grandchildren, the sooner the better, right? Yes, if you send them to me from where you''ve been traveling. What? What? The two looked at each other with question marks. Jin and the mayor did not understand what the other party was trying to say. 314 - - 11-16 Descendants of the Devil? "If possible, would you mind if I talk to your grandchildren?I would like to ask him what kind of dolls he likes." Putting aside for the moment the subject of delivery time, Jin wanted to meet his grandson. The reason was that he wanted to know what kind of dolls he liked. Jin, who is not good at designing, wanted to hear from his grandson what he liked if possible. "Ummm. I don''t want to be here for too long. ......" Salut Berlusi said, but led Jin to the third floor. The room was in the best location on the third floor, facing south. "Youth, I''m coming in. Salute knocked and opened the door. "Ah, grandpa." Lying on the bed by the window was a girl a little smaller than Hannah. She had beautiful blonde hair, green eyes, and morbidly white skin. "Okkyuu-sama?" The girl looked at Jin, who was behind Salute, and made a face that said she had seen something unusual. "Yes. Nice to meet you, I''m Jin. This is Reiko." "Nice to meet you. My name is Youth. ...... Youth coughed during the greeting. Not just once, but a wheezing, endless, almost coughing cough. "Hey, are you okay?" Salute comes close to him with a worried look on her face, turns her body to the side and rubs her back. The coughing still didn''t seem to subside. Jin, unable to bear the sight, rushes over to him, "<>" he said. and he casts a healing spell on him. The coughing somehow subsides. Yousu, who seemed to be in a great deal of pain, looked distorted and distressed. The pain of respiratory disease is the inability to . Jin, who has seen children at the orphanage coughing from a cold, sees Yousu in pain and wants to do something to help him. "Well, has this cough been going on for a long time? Naturally, it was his grandfather Salute who answered Jin''s question. "Yes. Yes, it is. And so I cough several times a day. Thank you for the treatment at ...... Jin-dono. When Yuth''s breathing finally calmed down, he looked at Jin and tried to say something. But Jin interrupted him. "Oh, you shouldn''t talk yet. Let''s try again just to be sure. After two rounds of healing magic, Youth''s color has improved considerably. (......It''s most likely childhood asthma. ......) There were two children with asthma in the orphanage where Jin had been, so he had some idea of what was going on. (I think the most common cause was allergies. ...... mites or something like that.) ) It seems to be even worse for his respiratory system since it is very dry in this area. (I wonder if there are ticks ...... or not!) "Reiko, come here for a minute." "Yes, Father." Your eyes can magnify up to 100 times. Take a look on the futon and see if there are any creatures. Jin tells Reiko to do so and looks around the room. It is warm. And there are several tubs of hot water around the room, indicating that the room is humidified. (Hmmm, if I''m right, ......) While Jin was thinking about this, Reiko informed him of the results of what she had seen. "Father, there were really small, tiny creatures, and a lot of their corpses." "What did they look like?" Yes, oval-shaped, I''d say. Eight legs. I knew it was a mite. Allergic reactions caused by inhalation of the carcasses and feces of small house dust mites, known as house dust mites, are a major cause of childhood asthma. The official Japanese names for these mites are the mites Blechnia japonica and B. leucochrysalis. They feed on human dirt and fallen hair, and do not suck blood, so it is difficult to notice their presence. They prefer a << hot and humid> environment. In other words, humidification, even if well-meaning, is counterproductive. "Well, I noticed it because I''m Reiko, but Gloria''s father ...... I forgot his name, if you have a microscopic magic eye like his, ...... you can make one if you don''t have one." Something flipped a switch in Jin. "Jin-dono?" Salute called out to Jin, bringing him back to himself. Jin came back to reality and reconsidered the youth problem in front of him. So he decides to go out of the room. "What does the doctor ...... say?" I ask Salute, "He said he had a weak throat and a cough from birth. I''ve been trying to keep the room warm and humid, but there''s no cure. "I see. ......" It seems that he does not think that he is allergic to dust mites. "So what?Does it have something to do with automata? "No, I hope that the disease will be lessened, regardless of the automata. When Jin said this, Salute bit down. "What?Are you telling me that you can cure my grandson''s illness? Jin was a little taken aback by the force of the comment, but then he decided that it was an expression of his concern for his grandson, and explained what he was thinking. "There are tiny, invisible creatures in the bedding and in the room," he said. "Breathing in their carcasses and feces creates toxins in your body and makes you sick. These are the two points. "Hmmm, that''s a story I don''t believe for a minute. ......" Jin thought he would say so, so he thought of a way to convince them. A microscope. It was again a story from the orphanage days, when he and a young child made a for homework during the summer vacation. A PET bottle was cut short, a small hole was made in the lid, and a transparent glass ball was inserted into the hole. The focus is adjusted by turning a screw on the lid. It is a simple structure, but it was useful in its own way. Although there is no PET bottle, it is easy for Jin to use it now. "Well, the proof is in the pudding. Jin then returned to the room he had just been in. "Hey, Jin, what''s up?" There, Reinhardt was chatting with Reimer Gebhardtof. "Would you like to see it, Reinhardt?Mr. Salute, I''ll take one glass." He asks Salyut to let him use one of the clear glasses made of crystal. "<>" "Oh? This is a precision process that only the Magecraft Meister, Jin, can perform. "Hmm, what are you going to do with such a ball?Well, what''s next, a cup?No, no. ......" Reinhard, Reimer Gebhardt, Salut Berlusi, and Matheus watch with interest as Jin uses the crystals to create one part after another. "It''s done." And the resulting simple microscope. The microscope is a spherical lens with a diameter of about three millimeters, which must be fixed to the object to be observed without shaking. It would also be better if the lens could be moved back and forth for focusing. What Jin has created is a tool with exactly such a function. All of the lenses are transparent crystals, so they look gorgeous. "Well, let''s take a look at this first. Jin placed the microscope on the table and carefully focused it to look at the tablecloth. "Okay, now look at it. First, Mr. Salute." "Hmm?Hmmm... ...... What is this? The fibers of the threads that make up the tablecloth were clearly visible, one by one. "This is called a microscope, and it is a tool that allows you to see small objects in a larger size. "Here, here, here!This is it! "Yes, yes, Jin, this is amazing!" "Well, Mister Jin, this will be very useful!" The other participants looked into the microscope in turn, and each one said what he or she thought. "Now, you see that this tool can make small things look bigger, don''t you?" "Yes." Salute nodded broadly at Jin''s words of confirmation. "Now, take this to your grandson''s room and see if you can find any dust there." "Okay." So Salute went alone to Youth''s room, picked up the dust and came back. "This is the dust I found in the corner of the bed. Let''s take a look at it. At this point, Salute was already half-convinced that what Jin had just said was true. However, his interest was aroused by the microscope, so he went to collect the dust. "What the ...... is this!Is it a monster? he exclaimed loudly as soon as he looked at the dust under the microscope. "What''s going on? The people present were startled by Salute''s cry, and instead looked into the microscope and ....... "...... is disgusting!" "Is there such a creature ......?" "No way, are they the descendants of demons? They had their own thoughts and impressions. 315 - - 11-17 Theft To the men who have seen a tick magnified, "Oh, no, that''s a creature called a . They are small like dust and do not harm you directly, but their carcasses and feces can make weak people feel ill when inhaled. Jin explains politely. Salute nodded his head again and again. Jin further explained what he knew about their ecology. "As far as I know, these mites like to breed in warm and moist places. "My God!So you''re saying that all that warmth and dampness in the room, which you thought would be good for your throat, has had the opposite effect! Yes, but only when it comes to ticks. "Oh my God. ......" Salute sagged. Jin pats him on the shoulder and follows up. "No, I think it was good for your grandson''s health. So, I think it will be much better if you clean out the mites from that room. Salute looked up and grabbed Jin by the shoulders. "Jin-dono!Thank you!Let''s get on with it!" Jin then offered a few more words of advice. "As for the bedding and pillows, I think you can get rid of a lot of dust mites by vacuuming them out with a vacuum cleaner. "Oh!That''s one way to use it! With that Salute ran down the corridor. The remaining members were Jin, Reinhardt, Matheus, and the head of the Guild of Magi Engineers, Reimer Gebhardtof. Reimer addressed Jin, "Jin-dono, could you sell this microscope to our guild as well? Jin said. Jin had expected this and immediately nodded his head. "Please put this to good use. "Of course I will!" After the discussion, the microscope was sold for 500,000 dollars. And then there was more, "If you use this vacuum cleaner to suck the air in the room and filter out the dust, ......" Jin said, "Oh!That''ll get rid of the dusty feeling in the room!" Reimer Gebhardtov responded. That''s what I''m talking about. "In that case, the size of the filter''s mesh is the size of the dust to be filtered out," advised Jin. Hitoshi advised. "Well, let''s have Salyut do the test run of the prototype. Rymer Gebhardtov laughed at this. Hitoshi laughed along with him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6:00 p.m., dinner time. The mayor of the town, Salyut Berlusi, had laid out a hearty meal. Roasted whole kokarisk. Steak of mountain lion. Dried barracudo (a fish similar to pike) grilled in salt. Stew with vegetables and meat. A colorful vegetable salad. Airvale juice. White bread. It was more food than I could eat. "Mister Jin, as you said, I cleaned the room and vacuumed the bedding before putting Yus to bed, and his symptoms improved dramatically!I can''t thank you enough!" I can''t thank you enough!" He even came to pour wine for Jin himself. "I had no idea that the Kingdom of Egelea possessed such magical technology ...... and was so advanced in the treatment of disease ......." Reimer mutters in an impressed voice. Jin pretended not to have heard him. "Jin, you did a great job again today. After a sumptuous dinner, they came back to their room and relaxed in Reinhardt''s room. "I am amazed at your knowledge, Jin-dono. I''d like to quit the army and become your apprentice, but that''s not going to happen. Unusually, Matheus seemed to be a little drunk. "So, what happened to your request to make an automata?" Reinhard asked. Jin had forgotten all about that. "Well, I think you''ll be happier if you get well and play with your human friends instead of automata, don''t you? Jin laughed. That night, everyone was a little drunk, so they decided to rest early. Jin was the only one who did not get drunk because of his constitution, but he was somewhat tired after everything that had happened, so he went back to his room. After closing the door, Reiko opened her mouth. "Father ......" Her voice sounded kind of downcast. "What''s wrong, Reiko?" "You said earlier that you''d be happier playing with your human friends. ......" Jin immediately realized what was bothering Reiko. Reiko becomes unstable when such a topic comes up. "Yeah, in her case, I mean." "...... What about your father?" Her voice was even darker. Jin approached Reiko, who was still standing and not moving, and hugged her. "Reiko, I told you before that you are my daughter.You should be proud. You are the only girl in the world whose parents are Magecraft Meisters. "Father, I am not a girl, I am an automata. So count me as one." "Yes, but I don''t consider you just an automaton. So you are my daughter and I count you as ." "Thank you for ......." The darkness is gone from Reiko''s voice. Jin is relieved. "Well, I''m going to bed." "Yes, I''ll be up all night, so you can rest easy." * * * * * * "You''re getting weak. ...... Weakened, sir. ...... With the village of Kaina in sight, the peddler, or rather, Roland Raglan, the outside sales representative of the Raglan Trading Company, was at his wit''s end. There was no salt. It all started with a roadblock. This was due to a cliff collapse that occurred just beyond the village of Doppa. That was on the 5th. Roland, a merchant, did not stay in the town of Charles but went to the neighboring town of Gohoho. There he sold his goods and even bought some of them. When he returned to Charles to check on the situation, he was told that the road had been opened to traffic. Trust is the first thing for a merchant. And moreover, the village of Kaina was the village that had given the Raglan Chamber of Commerce its first big breakthrough. "This is a mistake. We must hurry. Roland drives the wagon to the village of Kaina in a great hurry. It was a bit of a forced march, passing through the town of Charles on the way to Doppa on the 7th. Yesterday, in the village of Toka, salt was sold for three times as much as it should have been. Salt was in short supply because soldiers of unknown origin came and bought it in large quantities at that price. A merchant, whom I did not recognize, came and sold nearly 100 kilograms of salt at three times the price. The merchant must have made a fortune. And Roland had to bring salt to the village of Kaina as well. So he secured only one jar of 20 kg as a minimum. "I guess we''ll have to ask them to bear with us this time and go back in a month for the next one. Roland had taken it as the merchant''s responsibility to deliver the salt alone in half a month by horseback, not by wagon. Now it is gone. The jar of salt that had been there until last night, when they stayed in a rest house halfway between the villages of Toka and Kaina. Salt, a necessity for daily life. The jar of salt that we had reserved to deliver to the village of Kaina was gone before we knew it. Roland thinks that it was stolen. The price was nothing. There were more expensive items in the package and Roland had the money from the previous sales in his pocket. "Weak ......" In fact, Roland''s son, Eric, was not with us this time. He is busy as a technical director at Alban. He brought along a newcomer, Bote. Roland will not be on the road any longer. It was decided that he would be working in-house soon. So he brought the newcomer with him to take over. "I never thought this would happen in what could be my last business relationship with the village of Kaina, with whom I have built a good relationship. ......" The road had been relatively safe until now, with soldiers stationed nearby due to the presence of the Inard Mine. Roland had not heard about the recent breakout. Roland was depressed because he did not expect the salt to be stolen. "Anyway, I guess I''ll just have to go to the village of Kaina and tell them the truth about what happened. ......" "Yes, sir." Roland''s wagon was now slowly making its way up the pass, a far cry from yesterday. 316 - - 11-18 Salt! < The old man knew of the trader Roland''s arrival from the information he had received from the surveillance system. < With these orders, Rand S. escorted Roland secretly to the Erme River. Of course, Roland S. has no idea that this is happening. "Ah!Here comes the shopkeeper''s uncle!" Roland sees a girl waving at him from a bridge over the Erme River, and he waves back. "That''s Hannah, isn''t it? You''re always so cheerful. And the carriage is approaching the bridge. "Well, it used to be made of wood, but now it''s made of stone. It looks sturdy. Roland walked his horse while talking to himself. Hannah went to inform the village that Roland had arrived. "What''s that?" Roland looked where Bote, the newcomer, was pointing. Then he rolled his eyes. "What the hell is that?" It was Jin''s castle. * * * * Roland arrived late in the afternoon, so he decided to do business the next day and stayed at the house of the chief of the village, Giebeck, as usual. "Oh, Eric didn''t come? Barbara was visibly disappointed when she heard such a voice. "I''m sorry, he''s a very busy technical director. Please understand." "I ...... might leave for Alban, but I don''t want to leave this village ......." Barbara mumbles, and Giebeck chides her. "Hey, hey, now is not the time to be thinking about that, okay?" Giebeck then resumes his conversation with Roland. He is now talking about Jin''s decision to lease this village. "Yes, Jin-san has this village ......." "Yes, he''s the owner for the next 50 years." Giebeck summarizes Jin''s achievements. "I didn''t know that was possible ...... even though I was in the capital. Since the events took place inside the castle, it was understandable that the general merchants did not hear about them. "So, the building you asked about earlier, that is Jin''s castle, so to speak. "A castle......... That''s just like Jin-san, isn''t it? If you want to stay here, I''ll talk to my butler A. No, no, thank you. No, no, thank you. I''m used to staying here. Roland said hurriedly. After this conversation, Roland said he had a problem, something that had been bothering him. "Well, actually, there is one thing that is troubling me," he said. "Oh?" Roland then told them that the salt had been stolen and he could no longer sell it. "You don''t have any salt? We are running low on salt at home too. I''m sure it''s the same in other houses. "I am very sorry. As soon as I get back to the store, I will deliver the salt, even if I have to use a horse. Roland kept his head bowed, as if to say, "I''m sorry. * * * * * * Roland C., who had intercepted the conversation through the window of the Gibeck house, reported to the old man. "Yes, as far as I can tell from the conversation..." After he hangs up the phone, the old man thinks. Then Laojun gave instructions to his mobile terminal, Laozi. Laozi went to the warehouse in Horai Island. There is literally enough salt to sell. Or rather, he has already sold some. "Algal salt is not good, is it? Ordinary salt will do. The salt made from the seawater of Tatsumi Bay had now accumulated to about 100 tons. To protect it from moisture, it is stored in 24-karat gold containers, each weighing 100 kilograms. 24-karat gold is a useful material because it does not rust under normal use. 24-karat gold is a very useful material because it does not rust under normal use. One of the containers was taken out. He puts the container in a bag made of hexenbiest''s leather and carries it on his shoulder. Lao Tzu went straight to the warp gate. Of course, the destination was the village of Kaina. Because she had timed her arrival, it was just after midnight in the village of Kaina. Everyone was asleep and there was no one awake. "We''ve been waiting for you." Lao Tzu comes out of the basement of Jin''s house and workshop, and is greeted by Butler A. Both Lao Tzu and Butler A have activated stealth. Both Lao Tzu and Butler A have activated their stealth. "The plan is as I explained earlier. And Mr. Roland''s wagon? Yes, this way. Butler A led Lao Tzu ahead of the others. The horses were tied to the stables in the backyard of the residence of the mayor of the village, Guy Beck, and the wagon was placed next to the stables. The wagon was left next to the horses, with their baggage still on it. It is not as if they were careless. Gon, the guardian of the village of Kaina whom Jin had set up, was standing watch by his side. However, he would not say anything to Lao Tzu and Battler A, who were the terminals of the old lord. "Please open the package gently." Lao Tzu ordered Butler A to open the wagon''s top, and then he continued his instructions. There should be some empty salt pots. "Yes, there are." Butler A followed the instructions and searched the luggage for about a minute and found four salt jars. "Enough. Now transfer this salt to ......." Lao Tzu transfers the salt from the container to the salt pots. Butler A is helping him. Gong, the guardian, was watching to see if anyone was coming. In about three minutes, the salt is transferred into the four salt jars. The work was completed by sealing them tightly with leather paper. The remaining 20 kg of salt was to be taken to Jin''s castle. "That should do it. Now please put this salt jar in the deepest part of your luggage. Butler A pushes the salt jar to the back of the luggage. He arranges the other items in the same way as they were originally placed, taking care not to leave any signs that they have been tampered with. "That''s enough. It''s a horse-drawn carriage, so it''s normal for there to be a little bit of misalignment. Come on, let''s get out of here. It was still midnight. With the moon shining past the midnight sun, Laozi went back to Horai Island and Butler A went back to Jin''s house. * * * * "...... is so heavy..." The plaza by the village headman Guibeck''s house will be the store this time. "Mr. Director, we have to sell other goods anyway. ......! Roland looked at him suspiciously and saw Bote standing there holding a salt jar with a paper lid. "What''s the matter, Bote?" "Yes, sir!This salt jar has salt in it! What? "What?" "That''s not all!There are three more jars of salt, too, judging by their weight. "............" Roland had no idea what was going on. Of the 50 jars of salt he had brought with him, 23 were sold in Charles, 17 in Gohoho, and 5 in Toka. Of the 50 salt jars, 23 were sold in Charles, 17 in Gohoho, and 5 in Toka. The account is clearly recorded in the ledger. One of them was stolen the night before last. "...... where did it come from?" "That''s great, Mr. Executive Director!Now I can be more reasonable to the people of this village!" The brainy Bote''s line. He has a point, but as a merchant, it bothers me tremendously when we don''t make ends meet. "Mr. Director, it''s business anyway..." Bote''s voice urged. And the villagers are gathering here and there. Roland forced himself to put his worries behind him and turn his mind to business, and began to prepare his products. 317 - - 11-19 Scouting Jin, Reinhard, Matth?us, and the others were on their way to Leuthert, the capital of the Shoro Empire. They would stay in Lindau on May 10 and in Fonde on May 11. The journey was generally peaceful, and Reinhardt was enjoying his soon-to-be-ended trip. On the morning of May 11, Jin asked to be left alone in the carriage (with Reiko, of course) for a limited time, and flew to the village of Kaina. * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, it''s a castle. ......" Jin either knew it or wanted to build it, as he didn''t make any further inquiries. Jin''s castle was built near the Erme River. It is approximately 30 meters high. It is the tallest building in the village of Kayna. However, since the castle is located on a lowland by the river, it is only a little higher than the highest point of the village when seen from the top of the castle, and the mountains beyond it make the view of the village less impressive. Still, it was very intimidating to look up from below. There is a shelter right next to the village, which can be used as an emergency shelter. I don''t think such a day will come, though. "Master, let me show you inside. Butler A, who had been waiting for us, showed us around Jin. The inside of the foundation of the castle tower (stone wall) corresponds to the first and second basement floors. On top of that is a five-story, six-story structure, and the first floor is the hall. All the villagers can be invited to a banquet. There is a bathroom as well as a toilet. The second floor is the guest rooms and reception rooms. There will be a library, and we plan to increase the number of books in the library as time goes on. The fourth floor is supposed to be open as a spare floor, but in fact it is said to be full of traps. The fifth floor is Jin''s room, and there is a bedroom here as well. The sixth floor is the watchtower. The first basement is a pantry with enough food for the residents of Kaina Village to live on for a month. For some reason, there was a dungeon on the second basement floor. Each level has hidden rooms and passageways where ninja troops can hide. Of course, the ceiling is also built that way. < is another name for the . According to Butler A, they call it that because suits the appearance of this castle better than . "On the first, second, and fourth floors, there is a trapdoor mechanism where the floor falls out, and there is also a suspended ceiling where the ceiling comes down. When Hitoshi heard this, all he could do was laugh. All rooms are basically air-conditioned. The walls are soundproofed, insulated, impact-resistant, and demon-proofed. The hall on the first floor is wooden and has 100 cushions. The guest rooms on the second floor are divided into two types, one with a nice appearance and the other with a simple but elegant appearance, which can be used according to the needs of the guests. The servants'' rooms are also on this floor. Jin''s office on the third floor has a wall trap that turns the wall into a trap, making one wonder what kind of ninja mansion it is. The traps on the fourth floor include a paralyzed room, a high-heat room, a low-temperature room, and a suspended-ceiling room. There was also a warp gate for Jin in a room on the fifth floor. Only Jin and Reiko could use this gate, and if anyone else used it, they would be transferred to an unbelievable place. I did not ask them where they would be transferred to because I was afraid of them. "You can go to the basement of Martha''s house and back. That would certainly be very convenient. "Well, I''m glad we made it in time, because some messenger from the Kingdom of Klein might come to visit us sooner or later. Jin called the old man, who had a cleverly concealed manacam in his office on the third floor. The old man concluded. "Thank you very much for your hard work on the construction of the castle. Now, please make two more battlers and send them to us. The numbers are B and C." Now Butler A will be assigned to Jin''s house in Martha''s mansion, and Butlers B and C will be assigned to the castle. Jin thought so, too, and asked the old man to send one golem maid of each of the five colors, in other words, five golem maids. The reason why he chose all five colors is because he could not favor any particular color. The reason why I chose golems instead of automata is to avoid showing off my skills more than necessary, but I am unaware that it is too late for that. "Well, I''ve seen the castle, let''s go to the village. We don''t have much time. Jin and Reiko went to the basement of his house in Martha''s mansion by using the warp gate. It was just after noon. It seems that they had just finished lunch, and Meane and Behrle had just come outside to wash the dishes. "Ah, Jin-sama! Behr shouts when he sees Jin coming out of the basement. "Welcome back, Jin-sama! Meane greets him calmly, "When in the world did you get back? while Behrle is puzzled. Hearing her voice, Hannah and Erza also came out. "Oh, my darling, welcome back! Jin, welcome back. ...... air veil smell?" Ripe airbert smells good. Elsa seems to have a good nose and she smelled the air veil in Reiko''s basket. "You guessed it. It''s a souvenir!" Jin pointed at the basket Reiko was holding. She had woken up early this morning and bought it at a market like a morning market. Behrle, Elsa and Meane''s eyes roll when they see it. "Yes, that''s an airbert!And it''s ripe!Where did you bring it from? "I miss Airbert ......." "Ah, Airbert, yes. I used to go there a long time ago. Elsa likes it too. They all responded in three different ways. "Yes, I finally brought a souvenir that looks like a souvenir. Hannah, wash this and we''re all ready to go. "Yes!Thank you, honey!...... Wow, it smells delicious! Around the village of Kaina, there is a plant called "wiley" that looks like a wild strawberry, but it is small, sour and tasteless. Airbert, on the other hand, looks just like a Dutch strawberry, so it is sweet and sour and tasty. "Thank you, Jin-brother, I''m so happy. Seeing Elsa''s joy, Jin was glad that he had brought this. "Ah!Jin-sama!When are you coming back? Barrow also came out and greeted Jin. Needless to say, he was surprised to see Airbert. "You are looking much better!" Jin was relieved to see Barrow and Behle looking so good. Yes, thanks to you. Thank you very much for the medicine. Behle bowed deeply. "Oh, I''m glad you''re feeling better. How are you getting used to this village? Jin asked, and they both nodded. "Yes, everyone is very nice. "Yes, they are. I think this is the best village in the world. At that moment. "Ah!Jin-san! ! I turn around to hear a loud voice calling out to Jin, and there is Roland. "Ah, Mr. Roland, it''s been a while." But Roland was very excited. "Jin-saaan, I''ve missed you so much!We''ve cleared up the misunderstanding, but you never leave. I heard you were in Alban the other day. "Ha-ha-ha!" Roland''s tension made Jin flinch. "I haven''t been able to get a copy of since then, and I''ve been getting a lot of requests for it from customers!Please, please sell me some! "Yes, I understand." With some reluctance, Jin agreed. When Roland''s excitement subsided, he turned pale. "Oh ......, excuse me!" He bowed 90 degrees at the waist in the most respectful manner. "What?" "I heard that!Jin-sa...... is now the owner of Kaina Village! "Ah ......" Jin scratched his head, "Mr. Roland, I only leased the land because I happened to take credit for it. Nothing has changed for me. So please treat me as you have always treated me. Roland looked up as Jin said this, but he was still somewhat reserved. "But that''s not really Jin-sama''s place, is it?" "Ah, so I''d like you to stop calling me that. After some back-and-forth, I was told that I could continue to call him < as I had in the past. It seems that my comment that I would not make a rubber ball if he did not do so had an effect on him. As for the rubber ball, Jin promises to have it ready by tomorrow morning, when Roland leaves the village of Kaina. He has 100 each of baseballs, clues, and dodge balls. They are bulky but light enough to carry. Since I did not explain the materials in detail last time, it will not look suspicious if I prepare that many balls in one night. Now that we''re all settled, Hitoshi makes small talk, "By the way, I heard that salt is kind of selling well? Roland''s face turned pale. Roland''s face became gloomy. When Jin asked what was wrong, Roland told him that he had sold so much salt on the road that he had run out of salt to bring to the village of Kaina. He also explained that the only jar of salt he had left had been stolen. "At ......, you know?When I came to, I found 80 kilos of salt in my cargo! "That''s good, isn''t it?" Roland shook his head. "That''s not going to happen. ...... We don''t know where it came from, and above all, we can''t sell something we don''t know what it is. What if it''s been poisoned?" "I see. ......" Jin was impressed by Roland''s conscientiousness and regretted that he had supplied the salt without thinking. "Then, I''ll do the evaluation," Jin suggested. Jin suggested. "If I check the ingredients with engineering magic, won''t that give you peace of mind? "If you do that, it will help everyone in the village. With that, Jin immediately began to examine the salt. "<>" The magic of analysis. As he knew, there were no harmful ingredients in the salt. After checking all four jars, Jin gives his assurance that the salt is safe. Roland is pleased. "Thank you very much. Now we can give out the salt. "What?" This salt is off the books, so we can''t sell it. I will give it to you all for free. With that, Roland returns with the salt. Jin was convinced that this merchant would be a good friend for a long time to come. Jin then went to see the village chief, though it was a little late. "Oh, Jin, welcome back. "I''ll be going out again soon. How are Barrow and Behrle from the chief''s point of view? "Hmm?Those two... Not bad. I''m already familiar with most of them. As expected, Giebeck knew exactly what Hitoshi meant. "I see. Well then, if the two of them agree to it..." "Yes, no problem at all." Reassured by this, Jin hurried back to Martha''s house. It was almost time to go back to Reinhardt and the others. When Jin returned, Hannah, Elsa, Barrow and Behrle were eating air bail. "Oh, honey, this is delicious!Thank you!" "Thank you, Brother Jin, for the nostalgic taste! "Thank you, Jin-sama, it''s a taste of home! Martha and Meane also picked some and said it was delicious. Jin was happy to hear that. "That''s good to hear. It was worth bringing." Jin smiled again and turned to Barrow and Behle, "If you are willing, why don''t you become residents of this village? He asked them, "If you are willing, would you like to become residents of this village? 318 - - 11-20 Conclusion of contract We''ll be the residents of this village? Yes, if it''s good for you. Of course, if you want to go home, we''ll help you. We don''t ask you to decide right now. Jin said and Burroughs thought for a moment before replying. "So ....... This village is very nice. The day before yesterday, I had the opportunity to observe a small study group. It was only as far as we knew, but Erza-sama told us that she is planning to teach us more things in the future. Jin nodded. "Yes, that''s right. I''m planning to improve my education little by little. "I''ve never seen a village like this!I love this village! Behle answered cheerfully. If you allow me to live in this village, I want to live here. To Bele''s reply, Barrow said, "Are you sure, Behle? Barrow asks, "Are you sure? "Yes, Barrow. Unlike you, I don''t have any family anymore, so there''s no point in going back to Magirutu. It seems that Barrow is the only one who has a family home in the Shoro Kingdom, while Behle is all alone in the world. Erza and Meane had been left to conduct such interviews, and I had forgotten to ask them for a report. As the person who brought him here, I should be sorry for that. "Jin-sama, can you leave me and Behrle here in the village? There is no reason for us to hurry ...... back to our country. At the time, I was on the verge of ...... dying, and I thought that I would die only after stepping on the soil of my country. Barrow turned to Jin and straightened his back. "Okay. I''ll talk to Mr. Giebeck. As for the job, well, how about managing the castle? Usually cleaning, but if there are guests, I''ll be there to greet them and entertain them. Eventually, I''d like to be entrusted with some of the management duties," Jin said, "Oh, you want to take on such a big role? Barrow is a little reluctant to take on such a big role. Behle, on the other hand.., "Yes!I''ll do my best! on the other hand, Behrle responded positively. Maybe he just doesn''t understand what''s going on. "Okay, then, you will be paid 10 silver coins a month, you will eat on your own, and we will provide you with the necessary clothing. How about housing in the castle for now?You will have one day off a week at first, but we''ll think about it later. Normally, apprentice butlers and maidservants who live in the castle are paid nothing. Ten silver coins a month is a bargain. I have never heard of them having a day off. At least not in the Kingdom of Celuloa where they worked. "Yes, yes, thank you!" Barrow finally replied when Behrle poked him with an elbow. "Okay, it''s decided. Let''s talk about the details tomorrow. I have some business to attend to. Jin said and was about to leave when he stopped and turned around, If you really want to go back to Shoro, I''ll think about it. With these words, he headed toward the castle. "Bye, honey! Hannah came out of the house and saw Jin off. * * * * * * The group is about to arrive at the town of Kulamu when Jin steps out of the warp gate in the carriage. The time is about 30 minutes after noon. The time difference is about 2 hours and 20 minutes, so Jin calculated backward, and the arrival time was right on time. "Oh, just right!" I couldn''t help but let out such a voice. The carriage stopped at a parking lot on the outskirts of the town of Kulamu. "Hey, Jin, are you there?" It was Reinhardt. < "Yes, I''m here. Jin answers with the same earnestness. "The specialties here are a little different. I''m looking forward to it. Reiko follows him like a shadow. "Reinhard, Jin-dono, let''s go!" Matheus leads the way. He has made reservations for his men. "Here we are." The restaurant we entered had an ordinary appearance. However, as soon as he entered the restaurant, he felt a nostalgic smell. "Well, it''s far from luxurious, but it''s the kind of food you should try. What appeared in front of Jin, who was wondering what kind of food Reinhardt was talking about, was. "This is ......." It was, to his surprise, barley rice and pickled greens. Other dishes were grilled dried fish. It looked like a horse mackerel. Jin bit into the greens and the dried fish without even saying "Itadakimasu. The barley rice seemed dry, but was slightly thickened with flour. The greens were pickled in salt, not in bran. It seems to be an overnight pickle made by sprinkling salt and putting a weight on it. Fish similar to horse mackerel are caught in Horai Island, so this one was not so nostalgic, but I was surprised to find it in such a place. Chopsticks would have been better, but the large spoon and fork, which looked like a brick, were not quite right. It was a pity that there was no soy sauce, but the nostalgic taste made Jin almost cry. He ate up a plate of the dish in no time at all. Reinhardt looked at him with wide-eyed amazement. "I''m surprised you liked it so much. I''m honored. "Yeah, I had something like that back home and it made me nostalgic. Thank you, Reinhard. "I didn''t expect that, but I''m glad you like it. It tastes better when it''s cold." Reiko in the back was analyzing the ingredients of the dishes and telling the old man of Horai Island. He is eating it with a very nostalgic look on his face. Please make sure that you can make it for him in Horai Island as well.) () The old man who got the information told Peridot, the golem maid in charge of cooking, to make it to Jin''s liking by comparing it with his knowledge of Jin. The next time Jin returns to Horai Island, he will be able to eat at least some pickled nozawana and pickled Chinese cabbage. After all, since there is a big refrigerator in Horaijima, it is possible to make pickles all year round, even though they are usually made in winter. Jin, who unexpectedly enjoyed the nostalgic taste, invited Reinhard to ride with him in the afternoon and headed for Fonde while talking with him. "......, so I''ve decided to hire the two of them at my place." After a brief explanation, Reinhardt was pleased. "I see!I was curious about them because they are from my hometown, after all. I am relieved to hear that. Reinhardt said, "I''ve prepared some identification for you," he said. He pulled out a wooden tag from his breast pocket. Since he is a diplomat, he can issue certificates like an ambassador on Earth. It contained a statement certifying that he was a resident of the Shoro Empire, and all that was needed was his autograph. "Well, you may need it when you come to work for me, so I''ll take it gratefully. "Yes, that would be nice." The carriage moved leisurely down the street. * * * * * * Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Klein, Plethos. This is the outskirts of Count Walther''s domain. Gaara, a little closer to the capital, is now under the direct control of the royal family. Normally, a lord would locate his fief in a place where it is easy to govern it, but this was not the case with Count Walter''s fief. He preferred to be as close as possible to the royal capital, Alban. Two travelers arrived in Plethos. They said, "We are staying here today, aren''t we? One was a young knight. "Yes, I suppose so. Tomorrow we will leave early. The other, also a young female knight, replied. "Mr. Rush, have you been here before? asked a female knight. The male knight who was called "Rush" said, "No, I''m afraid I''m too shy. I''ll leave it to Mr. Farheit. She replied. "You don''t have to be such a stranger. Please call me Licia. "Oh, I see!In that case, please call me Pascoe, too, Licia! "Yes, I understand, Mr. Pascoe." The two left their horses and went to look for an inn with their luggage. 319 - - 11-21 Talking 17 Salt Market! May 11, in the town of Charles. "I want you to sell me salt. A group of people were making the rounds asking for salt. "We''re a little low on salt right now," they said. "No problem, I''ll double your price. "Okay, I''ll pay double." "Well, in that case, please send me an email at ......." In this way, the salt stock in the store was quickly depleted. On the same day, similar scenes were seen in the villages of Doppa, Raknow, and Toka. The Kingdom of Klein has no sea. The existence of rock salt was unknown in the kingdom at the moment. Therefore, all salt was imported, with the Kingdom of Cerroa accounting for more than 80% of imports. Since the usefulness of salt was known, the Kingdom of Klein naturally took certain measures. One of them was to stockpile salt, and the other was to diversify import destinations. In the capital city of Alban, there is a salt warehouse with a stockpile of several hundred tons at any given time. However, it was controlled by the king, and no one was allowed to take it out of the city without permission. A small amount of salt is also imported from the Kingdom of Leonard, which borders the kingdom to the east, but the trade volume with the originally closed Kingdom of Leonard is minimal. The amount of trade with the closed Kingdom of Leonard was small. In fact, salt from the Kingdom of Egelea, which was brought in through the Kingdom of Cerroa, was more abundant than salt from the Kingdom of Leonard. In any case, it was natural that the price of salt would be more than double the original price since it was heavy and had to be transported over a long distance. The salt was so heavy that it had to be transported a long distance, so it was only natural that the price would be more than double the original price. Such an exchange could take place. In the Kingdom of Klein, all salt is gathered in Alban, the capital city, and only merchants authorized by the government are allowed to sell it. However, this authorization was granted to anyone who paid a tax of 20% of the salt sales. I''ll give you three times the market price! I''ll sell it to you if you''ll pay me three times the market price. Since the market was not monopolized, the market price fluctuated according to the relationship between supply and demand. Now, the price of salt was slowly rising in some areas. "You''ve bought up a lot," he said. "I spent a lot of money, too." "It doesn''t matter. You can sell it when the time comes. If you sell it well, you can make a profit." There was a group of people having such a conversation. They were Count Walter''s men. A person should consume about 8 grams of salt a day, depending on the individual. Since there is also waste, let''s say 10 grams, that''s 300 grams a month. A family of 5 people would consume 1.5 kg. A family of five people consumes an average of 1.5 kg of salt, which is also used for pickling. The amount of salt they had bought up now exceeded 4 tons. "For God''s sake, in the Kingdom of Elias, it costs 30 Tl a kilo, while here it costs 150 Tl. "It''s no wonder we don''t have an ocean. In the Kingdom of Cerroa, it costs 50 Tall per kilo.We buy from Cerroa, so it''s no wonder it''s so expensive. What is the Count thinking, buying that expensive salt for 450 Tall per kilo? I don''t know. I don''t know. We do what we''re told. In the end, they bought a total of 5 tons of salt that day. The next day, the 12th. Salt merchants who had heard the rumors came to Charles. Among them was an interesting merchant. He was a salt peddler with a golem. He had a golem towing a cart and was selling salt. This unusual practice was well received and attracted many customers. Oh, this is good salt. "Oh, this is good salt. "Isn''t it?It''s salt from far away in the Kingdom of Elias!It''s a bit expensive, but it''s just as good!I bought it, I bought it, I bought it! Give me a kilo. Yes, that''ll be 200 dollars. I''ll have a kilo too! Yes, thank you very much. Count Walter''s men saw this and, signaling each other with their eyes, approached the merchant. "Hey, I''ll buy it." "Yes, how much do you want?" "All of it." "What?" I said I''ll buy all the salt you brought. Thank you very much. But there are other customers who want to buy more: ...... Sell it to me and I''ll give you 600 dollars a kilo.I''ll give you 600 dollars a kilo. Yes, yes, ...... Sell it! A man bangs loudly on the display stand. The crowd disperses and the merchant gives up. "Wow, I understand. But the quantity is too much. "How long do you have?" "Uh, ......." The merchant checks the ledger in his hand. "There are about five tons." Five tons? Yes, sir. I don''t know what you are going to use it for, but I hope you can spare about 2 tons. The merchant said, "No, no, I say all of it." He would not budge. The merchant had no choice but to do as he was told. I''ve sold about 60 kilos of salt, so there are 4,940 kilos here. "Okay, I will check." With that, the men took out 10 kg balances and divided them up to weigh the salt. "...... I was right." After nearly half a day of weighing 4,940 kilograms of salt, the men looked tired. "Here, here is the gold. They hand me a bag of gold and silver coins. "Thank you very much." The merchant quickly counts them out, confirming that there are 2,964,000 dollars. The empty cart was towed by a golem and disappeared into the street. "d*mn it, you fool! I can pay you as much money as you want, but it won''t hurt my pocketbook. He said. Then he looked at the man who was looking at him from a distance. "...... you should be happy with your money. I''ll have it for you tonight." This was the scene in Lakham, Thor and Zug as well. That night. "...... What happened to the peddler?" "Yes, that''s..." I said, "What happened to the peddler? ...... has disappeared. What? I followed them secretly after that, but when I turned a corner, I found only empty carts, and the golem and the merchant were gone. "That''s absurd!How could such a large and heavy golem, let alone a human being, hide from view? Even so, what is gone does not come back out. The 2,964,000 Tolls that I had paid with the intention of them later anyway, never came back after all. I paid it with the intention of < it later anyway, but in the end it never came back. * * * * * * * * * * * * . On the island of Horai, the old man took care of Regulus 35 of the fifth column (Quinta) and Lando 54, an army golem, who had disguised themselves as peddlers. Together they had been selling salt in the town of Charles. "As expected, it seems that some of them have come to get back the money they sold. In the classic historical drama, a farmer, unable to pay his annual tribute, sells his daughter to a local actor to make money. On the way back from receiving the money, a henchman disguised as a bandit takes it back. "Yes, sir. I left the cart behind..." < In Laxham, Regulus 36 and Rand 55. And Regulus 37 and Rand 56 in Thor. In Zug, Regulus 38 and Rand 5.7 sold salt to the highest bidder. < About 120 million yen. That is a little bit big for a private individual. And then the old man makes another move. This will keep the price of salt at a reasonable level. Since Jin was not familiar with economics, the old man''s plan was only at this level, but it seems to have been quite effective in straining Count Walter''s finances. * * * * * * Why?Why is there no shortage of salt when we have bought up all the salt? Such a cry was said to have been heard from some mansion, but its authenticity is not known. 320 - - 11-22 Ambassador Licia May 12. Salt was still being bought up everywhere. Licia Faarheit and Pascoe Rush have arrived in the town of Rakham. The pace is a little slow, as there is no set deadline. A good horse can go from Plessos to Charles town. "Miss Licia, would you like to stay here for the night?" Pascoe Rush asked Licia. He is the third son of Baron Rush and is 20 years old. He is of average build. He had blond hair and blue eyes, which would have made him a handsome man, but the corners of his eyes were lowered, ruining everything. But his face, which could be described as friendly, was surprisingly popular among female knights, soldiers, and maidservants. However, there was only one woman he wanted to get closer to. Licia Faarheit, right in front of him. "Yes, that''s right. I heard that Count Walter is staying here at the moment. Let''s go say hello." "Let''s go say hello." Pascoe Rush had heard before he left that Count Walter had done something to him and that part of his lands had been taken under lease. So he was worried about how the Count would feel about Licia, who was going there as an ambassador. She wanted to protect him, but she was a baron and the third son. There was no way I could compete with the Count. "I wouldn''t recommend it, but..." Pascoe is older than Licia, but Licia is superior to Pascoe. And since she is the woman he is in love with, Pascoe is always very low key. Licia, however, did not seem to care about such things, and she turned her horse to the Count''s villa in Laxham. "Don''t worry, we''re both nobles in the service of the Klein Kingdom." "......" Licia assured the anxious Pascoe. "Welcome, Mr. Fahlheit, Mr. Rush." But contrary to Pascoe''s expectations, Count Walter welcomed them in a good mood. At least on the surface. "It has been a long time, Count. I am now on my way to the village of Kaina, which is under lease from Jin-dono, as ambassador to the Kingdom of Klein. At the mention of the village of Kaina, the edge of the Count''s mouth twisted slightly, but neither Licia nor Pascoe noticed. "It is a great honour for me. We cannot offer you much hospitality in our villa, but you are welcome to stay here today. Count Walter said with a smile. Licia decided to accept his kindness. "You can leave your horse in the stables and your luggage with the butler. So she was told, and with the exception of her baggage, all her official belongings were taken care of. Since the official documents were sealed, any tampering with them would be easily detected, and I had a feeling that the Count would not be the one to do it. The three horses were for Licia and Pascoe to ride and for the luggage. They were to be left at the stables and given a lintel and plenty of water. The last message was left in the mailbox, "Oh, please give this food and water to her. Finally, we asked for two carrier pigeons for communication. One of the two pigeons was to arrive and report the results of the survey to see if the village of Kaina was safe and sound. One of the two pigeons was to arrive and report the results of the survey to see if the village of Kaina was safe and sound, and the other was to be used for emergency communication. The fact that they had two military-issue carrier pigeons meant that this role was very important. "Yes, I''ll take care of them. The butler said that he had taken care of pigeons before and gladly accepted the job. Licia was relieved. Licia and Pascoe were placed in separate rooms. Once in her own room, Licia thought about her role once more. < And we would like him to supply us with tools and magic tools that will benefit the kingdom, even if only occasionally. In order to do so, we must keep him in good mood. Therefore, Licia''s role as ambassador in the village of Kaina is to keep Jin in good mood. This is what the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs has been telling me. < He did not say, "You must take Jin," but he did give an instruction that suggested this. "Jin, Ms. ......" My impression of Jin is that he does not like such things. Or rather, I think he hates clever tricks. I am even more convinced of this after talking to my former instructor, Gloria Allstadt. I believe that pure friendship is the best bond to have with him. But this is only my intuition and guess, not a certainty. Therefore, Licia could not decide which was better for the Kingdom of Klein, her own intuition or the instructions from her superiors. * * * * "I hear the little girl from Faarheit is the ambassador. "Well, that''s very nice." "That''s a bit of a nuisance, but we can''t let that get in the way of our decision." "Well, yes. By the way, I hear you have two pigeons with you. I hear you''ve got two pigeons with you, by the way.You''re a quick study. That''s right. I have an interesting experiment ...... I''d like to try. What is it? "...... I can''t tell you. If it works, I''m sure you''ll feel a little better. "Well, whatever. I won''t stop you from doing what you want. "Ha, that''s wise." Quinta 29, Deneb 29 heard this conversation but did not know what the mysterious man was going to do. So, he told the old man the content of the conversation as it was. "Yes." <>. "Yes, sir." > "I don''t know. He wears a hooded robe and we cannot see his face. From his voice and build, we can barely make out that he is a man of advanced age. Yes, sir. Yes, that would be very helpful. <> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning, Licia and Pascoe had a sumptuous breakfast and departed slowly from Laxham. The Count was on hand to see them off, and the upper side saw them off with a smile. Licia looked at the cage of carrier pigeons attached to the back of her saddle. The two pigeons were sitting peacefully in their baskets. Nothing unusual had happened. The baggage is safe and sound, with no signs of having been unsealed. It''s not good to be too suspicious, is it? "Yes. ......" "The Count seems to be regretting the fact that he had to kick Jin-san out of the kingdom because he doubted him. He said so yesterday. "The Count?" Pascoe could not believe what he heard. Being an aristocrat since birth, he understood, for better or worse, the darkness of the aristocrat race. And his fears proved to be unexpectedly true. "A salt hoarding? In the town of Charles, salt was being hoarded by mysterious men and the price was going up. Salt is used almost without exception in cooking. Therefore, many restaurants had no choice but to raise their prices. "Does the Count do nothing?" This is Count Walter''s territory. If the people are in trouble, it is the lord''s role to do something about it. And yet he is staying in neighboring Lakham. Neither Lysia nor Pascoe had thought that Count Walter was in charge of this salt buyout. "Yes, nothing." "...... is terrible. I wish I could do something for you." "Licia, we have a role to play. We must not put our priorities in the wrong order. Pascoe advises Licia in his aristocratic way of thinking. But, as an aristocrat, he is right. "Yes, that''s right. ......" Licia regrets that she cannot do anything. "At a time like this, if it were Jin-san, ...... She wondered if Jin would be able to do something about it, even though she had no evidence to support such a thought. Licia secretly decided to ask Jin for advice when she meets him in Kaina Village. 321 - - 11-23 Pen and tip It was late in the afternoon of May 11, but before dusk, Jin and his group were able to reach Fonde. Jin thought that the weather seemed to have changed a little by this point. It was still dry, but the difference between the 10 percent and 20 percent range, if I had to use a strong analogy. "I guess the roofs and eaves are small, and there''s not much rain. Such a murmur came out of my mouth. "Jin, did you say something?" "No, nothing." Jin, Reinhardt, and Matth?us went to the Fonde inn together. "Tonight and tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow in Leuthart. It''s been a long time. ...... At dinner, with a glass of wine in his hand, Reinhardt said sincerely. "When did Reinhard leave the country?" Matth?us asked thoughtfully. "Well, early last spring, March 1st, so it''s been more than a year now." "What are you going to do when you get back?Are you going to continue as a diplomat?" Matheus explains to Jin. "As is customary in our country, once a diplomat returns home, he can take up another post for three years if he wishes." "I see." Jin is convinced by this. It is true that being out of the country all the time may have its disadvantages. "Will Reinhardt get married when he comes back?" "Yes, of course he will. I haven''t seen Bertsche for more than a year. Matheus interjects with a sly grin. His face is red. "Berthe is looking good. I haven''t seen her for half a year myself, she must be even more beautiful. From what I can see, Matheus is not a drinker, and his first name has changed to . "Yeah, I''m looking forward to it." Reinhardt responds appropriately. Reinhard is a better drinker than Matth?us. That night, Jin leaves for his room early to let Reinhardt relax. Then he sneaked out to the carriage and jumped to Horai Island with Reiko through the warp gate. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man''s voice echoes as he greets Jin and Reiko. I will not go to the village of Kaina again tonight. First of all, because of the time difference, it is already 11 o''clock at night there. Tomorrow I will go back to the village of Kaina. I will bring the ball that Mr. Roland ordered, so please have it ready. <> Yes. Do you have the materials? >. "Alright then, I want to show Erza how to do it, so set up sap containers at the tea trees in the village of Kaina now. I don''t need a lot, just three or so." Having given all the instructions, Jin now asks for a report. When Jin hears this, he is furious. "That guy again............and you have proof?" "Hmmm. "Hmm...but if I get solid proof, I''ll take it to the kingdom, but I''m not going to leave it at that. As Jin muttered this, the old man immediately made a suggestion. It is rare to see the old man in such a vigorous mood. He must be angry at the mess with Kaina village. "All right, I''ll leave it to you. I''ll be in the capital of the Shoro Kingdom soon, so I may not be back for a few days. < Jin then returned to Fonde again. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning on the 12th, we left at 8:00 a.m. as usual. In the morning, he was again left alone in the carriage, and he jumped to the village of Kaina again. "Oh, Jin-san, this is a great help!" Roland is in a good mood after receiving the rubber ball that Jin, Reiko, and Butler A had brought. It was after 10:00 p.m., and Roland thought that Jin had spent the rest of the day making the ball. Roland will stay in the village of Kaina for one more day. The reason, of course, was a business meeting. The pens used in the workshop are the ones we are looking for. The pens made of metal are lightweight and wear-resistant. I did not see the study group, but happened to see Mr. Giebeck, the village head, using one, and jumped at the chance. So I have not seen whiteboards or felt-tip pens. Still, the metal pen is a breakthrough. The reason is that pens in this world are still quill pens. The village head bought one of these a while back. This metal pen is wonderful!Please let us sell them at Raglan Trading Company! "Yes, it''s good. This is an integrated type, but it would be better to have a type where only the nib can be replaced, wouldn''t it?" Considering the unit price, an interchangeable nib type would be more suitable for the general public. Roland thought so. "Yes, we would like 100 interchangeable pen nibs, 50 pen barrels, and 50 integrated pens, please. "Yes, sir. "That''s too many!Isn''t that too many? Bote, a newcomer who was listening beside me, panicked. It was suddenly too much to ask for. "Hmm?It''s not too much, is it?We have sales and a budget. We have enough money to pay for it. By "too many," he meant that they would not be able to make that many in time. And when Roland says it won''t be too much, he is referring to the volume of purchases. The two are slightly mismatched. "Well, we''ll make it in time. Jin answered and looked at Elsa. I can make it myself. Erza comes quickly to Jin''s side. "Hmm. I''ll help you. "Yeah, I''ll teach you how to do it so that you can see Roland when I''m not around. I''ll take care of it. So Jin entered the workshop with Elsa. Elsa is used to making pens out of light silver64. This time, however, she used phosphor bronze. This is because light silver cannot be extracted in this village. "First, I''ll make a phosphor bronze pen myself. 9 percent tin, 0.15 percent phosphorus, and the rest copper. High strength and springiness. It is used for electrical contacts. The company where Jin worked used to deal in this alloy. <>" Phosphorus is contained in iron as an impurity. Therefore, it was separated by extraction during iron refining and stored. In no time at all, about 10 kg of phosphor bronze was produced. Now it was time to make the nib. I asked Elsa to make 50 one-piece nibs. "<>" In Elsa''s hands, the phosphor bronze changed shape and became a pen. "Good, you''re doing a good job. Keep up the good work. "Yes." After confirming that Erza had mastered the technique, Jin started to work on the nib himself. Since this one is small, he thought he would use only a small amount of phosphor bronze. What? Elsa, who was looking at him sideways, was wide-eyed. Jin is making 10 nibs at once. Or more precisely, a branch with 10 nibs attached to it. Erza may not know this, but Jin had created something like a plastic model part with 10 nibs growing out of a branch called a runner. "Wow, this is my brother Jin ......." Erza, who had thought she had improved a little, had caught a glimpse of Jin''s ability and realized that she still had a long way to go. However, Erza is not discouraged, and she has the quality of working hard. "At least two of them..." Erza concentrates her magical power, image, and mental energy to create two pens in one, in other words, a pen that looks like it is attached to the end of a pen barrel. "<>......" And she succeeded with flying colors. "I did it!" Jin turned his head to hear Erza''s voice, which was full of joy, which was unusual for her. Then he looked at the pen Erza had created. "Oh!That''s amazing!" Erza''s cheeks are stained by the praise. "Keep up the good work." "Yeah." The one-piece piece is separated, fine-tuned, and finished. Finally, 50 hardwood pen barrels are made. Thus, in less than an hour, the ordered pen was completed. 322 - - 11-24 Elza Growth Having finished making the pen, Jin decides to teach the group how to make rubber balls. Land A had collected the sap collection containers that we had set up yesterday. "Look, this is raw rubber," he said. "Raw rubber. ......" Elsa looked at the sticky white liquid in the container curiously. "It sloshes when it''s hot and hardens when it''s cold," she said. There is a way to make it a certain hardness." "............" Elsa listens with a serious face. "That''s by mixing sulfur. I''ll explain the reason later. So, mix 15 to 20 percent sulfur by weight." "Hmm." Jin transferred the raw rubber into a small container and held out a lump of sulfur. "Let me try it first." Jin then checked the weight of the raw rubber and sulfur using an analyzer. "Raw rubber weighs about 250 grams, so sulfur weighs about 38 grams. Preparing the required amount of sulfur is done by separating large chunks. "Mix this. and ." Once the sulfur is uniformly dispersed, heating causes a reaction called cross-linking, which turns the raw rubber into rubber and prevents it from melting when heated. "Finally, <>. At this time, air must be added to the material. To do this, we have to make one part very thin. The very thin rubber membrane has numerous holes through which air can pass. The air is drawn in through these holes, and the thickness is increased again to trap the air. "Then, < is applied to make the membrane denser. The ball is now ready to be played." With the air leakage treatment done, the dodge ball was ready to be played. Elsa had seen children playing with a ball before, so it became clear to her that this was how the ball was made. "Now, try it, will you?" Jin gave them 80 grams of raw rubber to start with a small amount for the first time. The first step was to prepare the necessary 12 grams of sulfur. "Now, as we did before, remember that each gram counts as one gram," he said. "Yes." Elsa tries hard to remember the one gram and adds it together in her brain twelve times. Just as the image solidified, "<>" and took out the required amount of sulfur. Jin, who was watching this, said, "Yes, you did well. There is almost no margin of error. That''s great. He praised her. Elsa was pleased and continued to use her magic. "<>. <>" "That''s right. Don''t forget to observe the rubber while heating it." "Hmm." After a minute of careful heating, the rubber is ready. At this point, forming a ball is a piece of cake. The surface is also treated without a hitch, and a baseball is completed. "You succeeded with one shot, Erza has improved. "Thanks to my brother Jin. "Now we''ll be okay even if the kids want more balls, won''t we? "You can count on me." Seeing Erza nodding strongly, Jin stood up. It was almost lunchtime. When they left the workshop, Hannah had just come to call them. Jin and Erza washed their hands and went to the dining room of Martha''s house. "Ah, Jin-sama!" There were more chairs in the dining room, and Barrow and Behrle had arrived. "Oh, um, Martha told me I could eat lunch with you. Barrow is still a little nervous. Jin smiled and answered. "Yeah, I think it''s a good idea.You should try making it at the castle when you get used to it. Jin says, and Behrle replies cheerfully. "Yes!I''m learning how to cook from Martha and Meane right now! "I''ve learned a few dishes in the style of the Kingdom of Celuloa," Meene said laughing. Meene laughed and said, "I''ve learned some of the dishes of the Kingdom of Celuloa. At that moment, Barrow spoke up. "Ah, um, Jin-sama, may I ask you a few questions? Jin, who had a piece of bread in his mouth, nodded his head in affirmation. "Yes, yes, well, this is the kingdom of ...... Klein, isn''t it?" "Hm?Yes, but what?" Jin swallowed the bread and answered correctly this time. "So, then, how did you ...... bring us to the Klein Kingdom, which is hundreds of kilometers away from Tuscosia? ..." Perhaps intuitively sensing that the content was somehow difficult to hear, his voice gradually became quieter and quieter, as if he had run out of steam. "Oh, I see. Well, it''s a question, isn''t it? Well, I''ll just say that there is a way to do that. We''ll see if I can tell you more about it. As Jin said this, it was Behle who opened his mouth. "Yes, you mean after you find out if you can trust us or not!I''ll do my best!...... Come on, Barrow, say it!" "Oh, um,...... I''ll do my best,......." I''m not a good person!And, "Be more energetic!or "Be more cheerful! Jin smiled at the thought that he was completely at Behrle''s mercy. After lunch, Butlers B and C arrive. It seems that the old man has been taken care of. Barrow and Behle went with them to the castle. At this rate, the five-colored golem maids are likely to come too. I can see Barrow''s surprised face. "Behle is more adaptable than me. ......" Jin thinks, but he doesn''t realize that he''s not adapting, he''s just throwing common sense out the window. "Oh, Jin-san, how about a pen?" Then Roland and Bote came in, "Yes, it''s ready," they said. and brought a box of pens from the workshop. "Thank you very much, you are the best, Mr. Jin. Roland accepts it with a beaming smile, contrasted by Bote behind him, who rolls his eyes. "Erza helped me out a lot," Jin said, introducing Erza again. Jin introduced Erza again. They had only met each other earlier. This is my sister Elsa. Erza also introduced herself. Roland was a little caught off guard by the "younger sister" part, but like a merchant, he let it go. "Erza-san, is it? I look forward to working with you in the future. "It''s my pleasure." After the introduction of Elsa, "I''m afraid I can''t make as many pens and balls, but Erza can make pens and balls too, so if I''m not here, that''s okay. Roland is pleased. Apparently, he had been quite impatient with a customer who wanted a ball. "The price for the pens is 200 dollars per nib and 500 dollars per pen. How about 500 dollars per pen? Roland came up with a reasonable price, although it was very typical of Jin not to negotiate the price first. Also, if the price is too low, it may drive out the conventional products, monopolize the market, and lead to the disadvantage of those who are related to the conventional products, such as ......, which may hinder the healthy economic development. Well, only he knows if Roland was thinking that far. "Yes, that''s fine." On the other hand, Jin readily agreed. Meane, who was standing next to Roland, thought that Barrow and the others should support him when he becomes available. The price of the ball is the same as before and Jin receives the money. He gave the full amount to Meane. Yes, I have received the money. Jin-sama, if you do that, will you let me work at the castle? I can''t just leave you here," Meane continued. It''s more like a part-time job. "Yes, I''m sure Barrow and the others are still getting used to it, so it would be nice. Since this was something he could not have hoped for, Hitoshi agreed with her. "It would be even better if you could educate them a little too. Can I pay you one gold coin a month?" One thousand dollars, or about 100,000 yen. Considering that a month''s worth of food in this village costs less than 1,000 Tall. Meane said it was too much for a non-full-time worker, but Jin did not listen to her. "I''m always away from home, and I''ll be away again in the future," he said. Jin knew it was after one o''clock, "Well, I have to go again," he said. He went to the basement of the workshop, not to the shelter. Roland and the others were already gone, so no one was suspicious of them anymore. "Well, I''m off." "See you later, sweetie!" "See you later, Jin-bro!" Be careful, Jin. "See you later!" Jin was seen off by everyone, and moved on to join Reinhardt and the others. 323 - - 11-25 Maestro On May 12, Jin and his group will stay in Riale. It is less than 40 kilometers from here to Leuthart, which is a one-day trip. That afternoon, Jin spent time in the carriage listening to Reinhardt''s story. "Oh, that''s the town of Riale. In the evening, they arrived at their destination, Rialle. The carriage was driven to the coach station. There was a conspicuous white coach. It was a small, two-horse cart. "What is that?Could it be ......?" "Reinhardt?" Jin, who was curious about Reinhardt''s muttering when he saw the carriage, observed the carriage closely, but there was nothing unusual about it. Then, he thought that he knew the owner of the coat of arms ....... "Ah, he ........." Matheus muttered something like that, at that moment. "Mr. Reinhardt!" A woman''s voice said. He looked over to see a woman in a dress running toward him. "Berthe! "Mr. Reinhardt!I''ve been looking forward to meeting you! The woman had already run in front of him and jumped on Reinhardt. Reinhardt stumbled a little, but caught her properly, "Bertsche, it''s been a long time!I''m glad to see you are well! He hugged her. "You''re back too late!We have been waiting for you for a long time!" Bertsche said, but hugged Reinhardt tightly herself. They had been doing this for a while, "Ah, Berthe, Reinhardt. We''re in public, you might as well leave it at that." Matheus coughed and both of them blushed and moved away. The woman called Berthe straightened her posture and smiled at Matheus. "Welcome back, brother. "Yes, I''m home, Berthe." After this exchange, Reinhard hugged Berthe''s shoulder and turned to Jin, "Jin, let me introduce you. My fiance, Matth?us'' sister." Berthe took over, "My name is Berthe Geist von Scarlett. After saying her name, she showed a beautiful curtsey with the hem of her skirt plucked. "Berthe, this is Jin Nido, Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. He''s my guest. Jin. Jin greets me in the Japanese style, bending at a 60-degree angle at the waist. "If you are Mr. Reinhardt''s guest, you are also my guest. Jin-sama, welcome to the Shoro Kingdom. We are pleased to welcome you. Berthe smiled at me with lightly wavy shoulder-length blond hair and green eyes. She was about 150 centimeters tall, considerably smaller than Jin. However, the bust of her dress is large and assertive, which explains why she is Reinhardt''s fiance. Her atmosphere is soft and gentle, but she must have a lively side to come so far to meet Reinhardt. "We''ve already prepared your accommodations! Berthe said, and naturally, Reinhardt took her hand and the two of them started walking together. Jin and Matheus followed. "......He''s more of a fiance than I, his older brother. ......" Jin pretended not to hear Matheus'' muttering. They stayed at a luxurious hotel in the center of Riale. Dinner was served in a dining room with a large banquet hall. It was a private dining room. "Mr. Reinhard, I know you''ve been working hard for a long time. I hope you will have a lot of fun tonight. Bertsche sits down next to Reinhardt and pours the wine herself. "Thank you, Belle." "Thank you, Belle, it''s been a long time since you called me that. There was a peculiar atmosphere around them. Even the simple-minded Jin could feel it. "There''s something different about the air in there. ......" Jin muttered to himself, and Matheus, who was sitting next to Jin, said, "He''s always been in love with Reinhardt, Jin-dono. Jin whispered in a whisper. "Heh. ......" Reinhardt was talking to Bertsche with a smile, or rather, with a slightly downcast look on his face. Jin is enjoying himself quite a bit as well, seeing an unexpected side of Reinhardt. The food, although nothing unusual, is well prepared and the best I have ever tasted in my life. I wonder what Reinhardt said to Bertsche at that moment, "Jin-sama, could you introduce me to your automata?" "Huh?Oh, sure. ...... Reiko, come here." Jin called Reiko who was waiting behind him, "This is my daughter, Reiko." Reiko bowed and bowed. Reiko bowed lightly, "I''m Reiko." Reiko bowed her head and said, "I am Reiko. Bertsche saw this and smiled broadly, "Oh, you are so cute!I have never seen such a beautiful automata as Reiko!No wonder Mr. Reinhardt invited her. I have never seen such a wonderful automaton as Reinhardt! He loves pretty things," said Matth?us. Matheus said. Berthe then added "I''m bringing my own daughter with me. ...... neon!Come in! she called out the name of an automaton that seemed to belong to her. Yes, Mister! The automaton came in, looking about in his late teens. Her hair was golden like Berthe''s, and her eyes were green like Berthe''s. She looked just like Berthe. Or rather, she looks just like Berthe. She is wearing a dark blue-colored maid''s uniform, though. This is my automata, Neon. Neon, say hello to everyone. "Yes. ...... My name is Neon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Neon. His speech is a bit slurred, but his actions are human-like enough. It must have been made by a very skilled magi engineer, Jin thought. "Well done, Neon. Jin-sama, this child was made by Gebhard Ackermann, who is said to be the best Magi Engineer in the Shoro Kingdom. Even if he said that, to Jin, it would be >I am not sure if that is true or not. So he could only answer, "I see. Reinhardt saw this and added Jin, Mr. Gebhardt is the brother of my master. Both of them were the disciples of Siegmund Grinwald, who was known as the "Magi Engineer Maestro" of the previous generation. "Magi Engineer Maestro?" "Ah, you don''t know him? The title "Magi Engineer Maestro" is given to Japan''s leading magical engineers. Jin was intrigued by Reinhardt''s explanation. "Hmm, I''d like to meet him." "Yeah, I knew Jin would say that. Don''t worry, I''ll take care of it. Reinhardt assured him. Bertsche, who was standing next to him, looked at him, Reinhardt-sama really cares about Jin-sama, I''m a little jealous. Jin was a little bit surprised. However, there seemed to be no deep meaning and Bertsche immediately changed the subject. "What can you do for us, Reiko?Neon is good at singing and dancing. Let me show you to your dismay. ...... Neon!" "Yes, ma''am." Neon takes a few steps back and gets ready. That alone shows that he is intelligent enough to know what to do from the flow of the conversation. "I know I''m not very good at this, sir." After saying this, Neon started to dance slowly. Jin''s image of his movements is that of a slow Southeast Asian dancer. One reason for this may be that his body is structurally incapable of fast movements. Eventually, he started to sing a song while dancing. The lyrics are incomprehensible to Jin. He probably has a melody and improvises his voice to it. Even so, the movements were as good as those of < by Stearina, who danced at the golem garden party one day, and the singing voice was close to that of who sang at that time. "Good day to you." When the dance was over, Neon bowed and took his place behind Bertsche. "Jin-sama, I would be happy if you could show something to your little Reiko," he said with sparkling eyes. Berthe pleads with sparkling eyes, and Jin, unable to refuse, calls out to Reiko. "Reiko, will you show me something?" "Yes, father, I''ll do it." Reiko lightly accepted the offer and walked to the place where Neon performed the dance. 324 - - 11-26 Neon Reiko appeared at the same place where Neon performed the dance. "My name is Reiko. I hope I can comfort your boredom. With that, she did a beautiful carte blanche and began to dance. "......, this is ......!" "What ......!" The dance that Reiko was performing was not a bit different from the one that Neon had just performed. Moreover, it was faster and smoother. Furthermore, Reiko began to sing while dancing. The melody was the same as the one Neon had just sung. "Spring comes and goes in a flash, summer leaves no footprints, autumn passes quietly, winter comes in a rush. And the lyrics were more meaningful. "The earth watches the life of man, the water moves and flows away, the flames rise up to light and warm and burn, the wind passes through all things." The gazers looked at Reiko without a single wrinkle. And then the song and dance ends. "Thank you very much." Reiko bows again in curtsey. Then she quietly returns to Jin. People are still silent. "Father, how was it?" Jin comes back to himself. "Yes, it was wonderful, Reiko. That''s what I''m talking about." Reiko smiled happily as he patted her on the head. "That''s ...... amazing!" Berthe exclaimed as she finally came to her senses, "Reiko, you did a great job!" Reinhardt said, "No, my hat''s off!" Matheus. And the waiters and waitresses of the hotel also applauded. "You''re amazing, Reiko!When did you learn that?" Berthe asked excitedly. "Neon-san showed me how to do it," Reiko answered nonchalantly. Reiko replied nonchalantly. "What?" "...... that just once?" Everyone is surprised, but Reiko can remember even some of the more advanced magic in one session. "I told you, Berthe. Anyway, Reiko is a wonderful automata! Reinhardt boasts as if it were him. "Thank you. But it''s all thanks to your father who made me." Reiko bows to him. Bertsche is even more impressed. "It''s wonderful!You look just like a human, no, just like a girl!Jin-sama, I hope you will be friends with Master Reinhard for a long time. "Yes, of course." Jin answered with a smile. The lively party was over and everyone retired to their rooms. I thought Reinhard and Bertsche were in the same room, "Are you staying with us tonight? I asked, They denied it with a red face and said, "No, we can''t do such a dirty thing!" I remember she denied it with a red face. "Well, let''s go to the village tomorrow. I''m going to bed tonight. "Yes, Father." Reiko answered, patting him on the head, "You did a great job tonight, Reiko. I''m proud of you too." He praised her again. Reiko smiled happily. * * * * * * "............" Bertsche is sitting on his bed in his room, looking at the neon lights. Then there''s a knock at the door. "Come in." Neon walked over and opened the door. "Excuse me for disturbing you." It was Reinhardt who entered. "Mr. Reinhard, what''s going on?You can''t ...... that until we have the ceremony, can you?" Bertsche tells her with a slight blush on her cheeks, but Reinhardt has something else in mind. I''m not talking about that, I''m just a little worried about Belle. "......It''s a little hurtful to hear you say that." "Oh, I''m sorry. No, that''s why. ...... Reinhardt is flustered when Bertsche stares at him. Seeing this, Reinhardt smiles at Bertsche. "I was joking. Reinhardt-sama, you say you are worried about me. ...... about what?" Bertsche looks doubtful, "I don''t know why you would be worried. "Yes, I mean ...... about Neon." "Neon?" "Yeah. I told you.Jin is a special magecraftsman. I personally consider him the best in the world. I don''t think there is any Magi craftsman who can match Jin. Reinhardt speaks passionately. Bertsche sees him and smiles wryly. "......You''re so passionate when it comes to Jin-sama. If I didn''t trust Reinhardt-sama, I would misunderstand him. "What?Huh?" Reinhardt was slightly puzzled when he remembered that Matth?us had misunderstood him. But when he saw Berthe in front of him with a mischievous smile on her face, he realized that she was teasing him. "Don''t make fun of me. Anyway, as I know how much Belle cared about neon, I was kind of curious..." "Concerned?" "Yeah. I was afraid that he would look at Jin''s Reiko and say that he had run out of love for Neon. Hearing this, Bertsche''s eyes widened in surprise for a moment and then she burst out laughing. "Ummm, Mr. Reinhardt, you were thinking about that?" Then she laughed again, Then he laughed again and said, "...... I''m sorry for laughing. But were you looking at me like that?If so, I am a little disappointed. He looked sad. "I would never give up on Neon, would I? Reinhard gave me this neon." Neon was an automaton that Reinhardt had asked his mentor''s brother, Gebhard Ackermann, to make for him before he left the country as a diplomat. Bertsche added "There was something different between Neon and that little Leco. I was wondering what the difference was. Saying this, she invited Neon to sit beside her and hugged her shoulder. They looked like twin sisters. "I see. That''s all right. I''m sorry I doubted you for a minute. ...... neon, you''re lucky to have a good husband." "Yes, Mr. Reinhardt. Yes, Mr. Reinhardt. My husband is the best. Neon smiled in reply. And then.., "That Reiko-san is a wonderful person. I want to be his friend. Reinhardt also smiled. "I see. I''m going to show you around the estate, and I''ll talk to Jin then. He patted Neon on the head. Bertsch, sitting next to Neon, looks at him and his mouth twitches. Reinhardt read Bertsche''s expression correctly, "Well then, I''m sorry to have disturbed you." Then he kissed Berthe on the forehead. "Oh, no, no, Mr. Reinhardt." Bertsche, who had turned bright red from the unexpected kiss on her forehead, stood up in a hurry and walked Reinhardt to the door. "Good night, Belle." "Good night, Belle." And the door closed quietly. Berthe must have had a good dream that night. 325 - - 11-27 Rozart, the capital When Reinhardt came out of Bertsche''s room, he saw Jin in the hallway. "Jin, what''s going on?" "Yeah, I just wanted to talk to you." So they went to Jin''s room. "So, what did you want to talk about?" Reinhardt asked, sitting down on a chair. "Oh, first of all, about something Reiko did that was a little bit immature." Jin then beckoned Reiko to him. "Later, when I think about it, I''m starting to think that I might have ruined Bertsche-san and Neon''s face. ......" Jin patted Reiko on the head as he said this. Reiko had pointed out to the old man when she had contacted him regularly that if she made a mistake in that way, she would ruin his face and make him displeased with her. "Reiko said it was for my honor, but I told him to be more considerate of the other party. Reiko is a little disappointed. Reinhardt laughed and denied it. "I don''t know about that. Bertsche doesn''t mind. I''m more responsible for Bertsche who said <>." Reinhardt explained that he was the one who had been lifting Jin up and wanted to know what he was capable of. "He doesn''t mind at all. And Neon said he wanted to be friends with him. Jin looked relieved when I concluded. "Well, I guess that''s okay then. There''s one more thing. It''s about Erza. Erza is now in the village of Kaina. She was wondering what Reinhardt would report. "Yes, about that." Reinhardt explained in his official capacity. First of all, Erza''s accompanying him was not part of her official duties, even though she had obtained permission from the government. It may sound unfair to say, but Fritz, her own brother in Ikasanat, where Erza had once disappeared, had clearly told him that Erza was no longer Reinhardt''s responsibility. "So I''m not obliged to report it. I''m going to keep quiet until I''m asked." "...... But Erza knew about Ms. Bertsche, didn''t she?Didn''t she ask you about Elsa?" "Yes. I know that Elsa and I went on the trip together, but she also knows that Fritz went to pick her up. I guess that''s why you didn''t question my absence." Reinhardt smiles a little sadly, "It''s nothing to talk about now. "It''s not like we won''t see each other again. When I get back home, after I''ve finished my debriefing, I''m going to give a full explanation to my parents. "I see. ...... Reinhard, then you and Bertsche will be invited to the village of Kaina." Jin saw the lonely Reinhardt''s face and smiled at him. "I''m glad to hear that. It will be a good memory. Hearing this, Reinhardt also smiled happily. After Reinhardt left. "Reiko, I''m sorry." Jin was apologizing to Reiko. Reiko was surprised when Jin apologized to her. "Oh, Father! "I haven''t let you do anything too girly. It''s my fault. "That''s not true. Father is ......." But Jin hugged Reiko gently, "No, it''s my fault... I''ve been calling you my daughter... but before I knew it, I was leaving you in charge of all the rough work." "Father......" Jin and Reiko talked with each other until late that night. * * * * * * * * * * * * * May 13th. The day they were scheduled to go to Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. Jin was woken up by Reiko''s voice before 6:00 in the morning. Jin had told Reiko that it was 5:00 a.m., but Reiko was considerate because he had stayed up late last night. Father, it''s time. It''s a beautiful day." "......Yeah, I see." Jin, who had stayed up late last night, got up rubbing his sleepy face, washed his face, changed his clothes, and went outside the inn. It was another beautiful day. When he went to the parking lot, he found a steward standing guard. "Good morning, master. "Good morning. Good morning. Jin said and got into the carriage. Reiko followed him. < The old man''s voice greeted them as usual at Horai Island. "Good morning. Is there anything unusual in the village?" Butler B,C and 5 color golem maids, Barrow and Behle. Part time Meene. That''s enough hands for Jin''s castle. "Well, that''s a relief. Let''s take it easy on the village of Kaina, since a radical change would not be good. "Licia?" Come to think of it, she came here as a tax collector and is acquainted with Jin. It is not surprising that she would be ordered by such a messenger. "A horse?" < It is not common in normal times for a messenger to arrive by horseback, so the old man''s guess is correct. The only place where they would have to hurry is between Toka and Kayna. The only place to stay is the rest house. "Then I''ll come back on the 15th at noon or ...... if I can, but it''s still uncertain. It is natural that Jin does not know what will happen in the capital of the Shoro Empire. Such reports were exchanged for about 30 minutes. Jin headed for the bath, his main goal. The towns where he had stayed so far had no baths, probably due to the lack of water, and he could only wipe himself with hot water at most. And, he was scheduled to arrive at the capital today, so there was a possibility that he might not be able to sneak out. "I like taking a bath, after all. Jin was relaxing in the hot water, stretching his arms and legs, although he could not take it easy. Reiko was next to him. "Father, we are finally arriving at the capital today, aren''t we? "Ah, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. As I recall, there is a large lake nearby, isn''t there? Yes. According to Mr. Reinhardt, they are called Lake Tosmo and Lake Shoju. Thanks to them, the area around the capital is said to be rich in water unlike other areas. Reiko is more knowledgeable than Jin because she has been listening and communicating with the old man. Since he could not stay in the bath too long, Jin quickly washed his head and body and left the bath. Then he said, "Well, I''m going to go, "I''m going to go now," he said. Jin left the bath and returned to Leary''s. * * * * * "Mr. Reinhardt, the morning air is so pleasant, isn''t it? When Jin emerged from the carriage, he found Reinhardt and Bertsche strolling arm in arm in a friendly manner. "Good morning, Reinhard and Berthe. Jin called out to them, and they greeted him back. "Good morning, Jin. "Good morning, Jin-sama." Bertsche was about to offer Jin a test ride in his carriage, but he didn''t. Instead, they just said hello and walked away arm in arm. "...... are you guys so close?" Reiko felt something in those words and picked at the sleeve of Jin''s dress a little bit. "...... father, I''m here." "Reiko?" "......I''m here for you, no matter what." Jin felt Reiko''s concern for him and silently patted her head. Reiko''s eyes narrowed and she did as he asked. Then Jin patted Reiko on the shoulder and went to the inn. After Jin returned to the inn, Reinhardt and the others came back in 10 or 15 minutes. After breakfast, they were ready to leave. Jin, I will take my own carriage today. I want you to come from the back of the train. Reinhard said. This was a natural course of action since it was an official return. Of course, Bertsche, who was not a member of the group, would return first. "Okay. I''ll go with you. I''m sorry. I''m sorry. I''d like to explain some things along the way. Jin-sama, I''ll name two of my men. If you have any questions, please ask them. Matth?us must do his duty as Reinhardt''s bodyguard today. "Yes, thank you." Then get ready to leave. Half an hour later, the group left the town of Riale. After passing Haldo and Nia, they had a late lunch in the town of Holle. There, the group checked their preparations once again. The next stop was the capital city. What impressed Jin so far was that the roads were paved from Riale onward, albeit easily. Probably by the magic of hardening (hardening), the speed of the wagons is increased by 30% thanks to this. Jin thought that this might be one of the reasons why Reinhardt did not ask Bertsche to give him a test ride. After leaving Nia, there was an uninterrupted flow of houses. Good access to water is a reason in itself for people to gather. After passing the town of Hore, the density of houses increased even more. Houses went from one-story to two-story, and even three-story houses could be seen here and there. Most of the houses were built of stone, but some of them were three-story wooden structures, indicating the high level of building technology. Although Jin was not an expert in architecture, he never got tired of looking at them. A wide moat came into view in front of Jin''s eyes. The capital city of Leusat seems to be surrounded by a wide moat instead of a wall. It looks like the city of Giron, which I saw one day, but the moat is more than three times wider and probably considerably deeper. Boats were seen floating on the moat, which was used as a means of transportation and traffic. A long stone bridge with wooden floorboards is built across the moat, which forms part of the road to Leusert. The wooden part is probably intended to be burned down in case of emergency to prevent the invasion of the enemy. "But the moat alone is 5 or 60 meters long. The piers are more than 10 meters high. It looks like a city of water. This was Jin''s first impression. The bridge is nearly 10 meters wide, and carriages can easily pass each other. "There seem to be four bridges like this in the east, west, south, north, and west. Reiko, who had heard the information from the old man, explained. Matheus leading the way. The soldiers guarding the capital, after a short check, split to the left and right and let the group pass. Finally, Jin, the tail end of the group. A strange chariot driven by a golem master and pulled by a golem horse. That alone was suspicious enough, but perhaps they had been informed in advance, or they passed through without being questioned. This is proof that Matheus and his men are trusted. Jin finally drove the carriage to Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. 326 - - 11-28 The Emperor After crossing a bridge over a wide moat, the view from the window changed dramatically. "Oh, this is interesting. Jin exclaimed. As expected, canals crisscrossed through Reuthert and were used for transportation and traffic. Some houses were built over the canals, which was quite interesting. Reiko heard Hitoshi''s mutterings and kept sending information about the scenery to the old man, thinking it would be useful information. Although Jin had never actually seen the town, he had the impression that it was like a combination of Edo town and Venice, Italy divided by two. However, the number of waterways decreases as one gets closer to the center of the city, and they lead to the inner moat surrounding the Imperial Castle that stands in the center of the city. Of course, there are several sluice gates along the way to prevent easy access to the castle. "The inner moat is about 10 meters long. ......" It reminds me of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. There was only one moatless section in front of the castle, not a bridge, and the group went toward it. The group went toward the front of the castle, where they stopped in front of a line of knights of the Kingsguard. There they disembarked from their carriages for the first time. The inside of the moat must be the complete palace. All the carriages are parked in the large parking lot in front of the castle, and the horses are left in the stables with a person in charge of them. Except for Jin''s golem horses. The golem horses were received with admiration. "Jin-dono, you will ride in this carriage. You too, Miss Leco." Three uncovered carriages had arrived. Reinhardt was in the first carriage and Jin was in the second carriage. Jin checked his baggage. The three carriages were moving forward on the beautiful cobblestone pavement. The sturdy gate leads to the palace. "Oh ......" I couldn''t scream because of the location, but I couldn''t help but let out my voice. There was the Shoro Imperial Palace with a history of 300 years. The Shoro Imperial Palace. It is a three-story castle made of granite. Its width is more conspicuous than its height. There is no spire, and the image of the castle is a kind of a bulky Western-style building. Jin and his friends entered the castle, which was guarded by knights and soldiers. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Reinhardt went with Matth?us to return the order, and Jin was kept in the reception room. Jin is accompanied by two ...... male butlers and a female chambermaid. "Here you are." Jin smelled the aroma of the tea served to him and thought, "Oh my. It was a nostalgic aroma. He took a sip. "...... hojicha?" It tasted quite similar to hojicha. Then, I asked the two people by my side. "Is this tea a specialty of the Shoro Kingdom? The butler answered. Yes, it is a specialty of the southern part of the Shoro Kingdom. Do you know how it is made? When I asked him again, his response was, "...... I am not sure if I am allowed to tell you that or not. I guessed that was Jin''s response. If it is a specialty, there must be some kind of secret recipe. He could not tell it to a foreigner so easily. I understand. This is just me talking to myself. Pick the young leaves, steam them and dry them. Then I heat it again until it smells fragrant. When I said this, the butler''s color changed. "How did you know that? "...... I knew it. No, it looks a lot like the tea in my hometown. Jin answered, and the butler regained his composure. "I see. I heard that you are an excellent magi engineer, but I didn''t realize that you knew about tea as well. The director of the clinic was a tea lover, so I was told about his knowledge of tea, but he did not mention it. "Could it be that some teas are made by heating the leaves immediately after plucking them?" Jin asks if there is green tea instead. Tea leaves are naturally oxidized and fermented by the enzymes they contain. To put it in a rough way, black tea is left to ferment, while green tea is heated immediately after plucking to stop the enzymes from working. "Oh, that''s not even true!That''s a method of making that was invented about 100 years ago!" Jin was happy to hear that there is green tea after all. The tea grown in Horai Island was a of the tea produced in Kaina Village, so the taste was a little different from the original. However, the tea here tasted just like the tea in Kaina. "Can I have another cup of tea? Jin drank the tea, and the lady quickly poured him another cup. "Ah, it''s so good!" As Jin drank the tea, the lady-in-waiting looked pleased. "Her family is a tea farmer. I''m glad to hear you say it''s delicious. When the butler said this, the maid of honor blushed. She is a very quiet lady-in-waiting. Perhaps she is forbidden to speak. "Are they grown in warm regions? "You know very well, that''s right. You are right. This area of Reuthert is the northern limit of cultivation. Jin decided to ask him if there might be rice in this area. "Well, do you have any grains that are indigenous to the Shoro Kingdom?" First, the introduction. "Yes, there are. "Well, not wheat, not beans, but something suitable for growing in wetlands, with ears that droop down when they are harvested. ...... Again the butler''s eyes peeled back. "Where did you get that from?You must be talking about the < that is grown only in the south!" Jin was even happier to know that there was something that looked like rice. I''ll definitely get some seedlings!He decided. "Oh, that must be it. You can cook with it at ......." Just as Jin was about to ask that question, the door opened. A young knight came in. "Master Jin, come here. The emperor is here to see you." Jin was walking down the hallway with Reiko. He had said nothing about taking Reiko with him. And if he had said he would leave her behind, Reiko would not have agreed to it. "His Majesty the Emperor is very fond of meeting the best and the brightest. But once you enter the room, keep your eyes lowered until His Majesty says it''s okay. Be careful not to look up without permission. He explained that there were no other rules of etiquette, and that it was fine to behave in one''s own way as long as it was not disrespectful. We were then shown to the office. It had two sturdy wooden doors with a soldier standing on either side. "This is Mr. Jin. The soldier pulled three times on a cord attached to the side of the door. It seemed to be a kind of doorbell. Then the door was opened from the inside. Please come in. Jin and Reiko walk in, urged on by the knight who accompanies them. "Welcome, Jin." Reinhardt was there. At the far end of the room was a large, massive desk, and seated behind it was the Emperor of the Shoro Kingdom. "His Majesty wishes to speak with you in person," he said. Now, please go to the back. Jin bowed deeply as a gesture of respect to the best of his ability, and then stepped forward. One step, two steps, seven steps and he was in front of the emperor. His eyes remained fixed on his feet. He did not look up. "I am Jin Nido, Magecraftsman of the Exotic. I am an honorary Magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, and I have recently become an honorary member of the Guild of Magical Engineers of our country. Reinhardt''s voice echoes as he introduces Jin. "Welcome, Jin Nido. Jin Nido. Please look up. Jin Ni-Do looks up and sees the Emperor for the first time. He was surprised. "Welcome to the Shoro Kingdom. I am Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, Emperor of the Shawlo Kingdom. The Emperor of the Shoro Empire is a woman. "You are surprised, aren''t you? Everyone who sees me for the first time is surprised. It''s all right. I am the sister of the previous emperor. And I''m the interim emperor until Ernst comes of age and takes over the throne. Jin was surprised to hear her confide in him. "You are surprised again, aren''t you?Everyone in my country knows about it. But since we don''t inform the outside world, I''m sure that many people in other countries don''t know about it. He smiles at me. Jin was fascinated by her face. It was not a romantic feeling, however. The Empress in front of him was about 40 years old, with dark brown hair, light brown eyes, and a small figure. She looks like..., (Director of ......) He looked just like the director of Nido Orphanage, who is Jin''s foster parent. Of course, his facial features were different from those of Jin''s, and the Director had gray hair. However, his gentle manner of speaking, his kind eyes, and most of all, the atmosphere he wore. Not knowing that Jin had such feelings for her, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Shawlo continued. Reinhard told me about you. Reinhard told me that you are a great magi engineer. In the town of Hatata you created a pump to draw water from a deep well, and in Amberg a vacuum cleaner. And it doesn''t stop there. A microscope?Even a microscope. ......" "I am ashamed of myself." When Jin was so modest, the emperor said, "No one would think so. "Reinhardt told me that you have heard of a science. If you would be so kind as to share some of it with us, I would be very grateful. Then the Empress cut him off. "I have been a bit hasty, haven''t I? Please take your time and look around our country, ...... Jin-dono." She then pointed at Reinhardt. "Reinhardt will be removed from his regular duties for the rest of the year. I have also decided to have him serve as a guest for Jin-dono. Reinhard bowed his head in silence. He was probably taking into account his vacation after serving as a diplomat and his wedding to Bertsche. "Please look around our country as much as you like. See as much of our country as you like, the good and the bad. I hope you will like our country as much as I do." The Empress looked Jin in the eye, "Even a small piece of your knowledge is enough. Please help this country and its people. She bowed her head, however slightly. 327 - - 11-29 Impression "Are you surprised after all, Jin?" Jin and Reinhardt were relaxing in the reception room to which Jin had just been ushered. "Oh, I didn''t know the Emperor was a woman." "Yes, it wasn''t really a secret, but it was customary not to let foreign countries know about it, so I was afraid to mention it. I''m sorry if I offended you." Reinhardt apologized, but Hitoshi stopped him with a hand. "No, don''t worry about it. I was not expecting you to be so frank with me, so I am more surprised. He told Jin, whom he had just met today, about the succession to the throne. And above all, he bowed his head to Jin, if only slightly, for the sake of his country. "His Majesty usually says that he is <>." "......" "Well, now that I''m the hostess, I''ll stay here for a while and show you around Leuthart tomorrow and the day after. After that, we''ll talk again. The dinner that followed was sumptuous. It was basically Jin and Reinhardt, with two maidservants and one butler. "It''s so much more comfortable here without so many people," was Jin''s line. Jin said, "It''s more relaxing without so many people. I thought so, so I advised him. Tomorrow morning, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic and Technology will probably be here, but you''ll have to put up with that." "Well, hey ......, that''s the way the country deals with things." He is not good at such ceremonies because he is so stuffy. Knowing this, Reinhardt also offered some good news. "In return, tomorrow afternoon, you will be able to see the giant golem. "Really? With that, Jin''s spirits lifted. He is not good at formal occasions, but when it comes to technical matters, it is a different story. The night went on as Reinhardt told him about various countries and organizations. Incidentally, since Reiko insisted that <>, Jin did not have a maid of honor, but it was agreed that he could use the few maid of honor in the waiting room as needed for guiding him around the palace. The next day, the 14th. After breakfast, Jin talks with the Prime Minister < and the Minister of Magical Technology <>. Reinhardt was also present. "Reinhardt has told me what happened, and the mutual aid guilds of both Hatta and Amberg have been contacted by doves." I am talking to Prime Minister Jung. He is of similar build to Reinhardt, i.e., he is quite thin. "You have made a great contribution to our country. Therefore, I would like to treat you as an honorary citizen. "Jin, in our country, you are not obliged to pay taxes even if you become an honorary citizen. However, since it is an honorary title, you do not have the right of residence. However, access to various facilities is considerably relaxed. Reinhard explained. "In other words, it is a necessary measure in order to see the relics." The last word was in a whisper. Jin could understand why this was necessary, since national treasures, or even state secrets, would not be shown to a mere foreign tourist. "Thank you very much." Jin replied. The Prime Minister nodded silently. The next to open his mouth was the Minister of Magical Technology, Mr. Deghaouz. He was 44 years old, with blond hair and blue eyes. His large eagle nose stood out. "I have heard from Reinhardt that Mr. Jin is interested in the ancient artifacts of our country. I would like to take him with me this afternoon. "Yes, I am looking forward to it." Jin replied. I was excited to see how different it would be from the Titan and Daedalus I had built. The rest of the day was spent chatting, and the Prime Minister left the meeting midway through, so that the morning ended up being a sort of round-table discussion with the Minister of Magical Technology. It seemed that the Minister of Magical Technology sensed something in Jin through such conversation, "Jin-dono, we are very fortunate to have you in our country," he said as he left. Degauze muttered as he was leaving. Reiko, who felt that Jin was duly appreciated, was in a good mood, although she was silent from beginning to end. She was in a good mood, though she was silent throughout the conversation. The LaoJun analyzed the conversation and said He said to Reiko. "Of course." Reiko answered that she would protect Jin at any cost with a covert task force (SP) lurking in the vicinity. Unaware of this, Hitoshi said.., "I''m looking forward to finally seeing a giant golem. He was excitedly talking with Reinhardt. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Finally, that afternoon. Jin, Reiko, and Reinhardt were descending the stairs leading to the basement of the palace. The artifact, a giant golem, was said to be in the basement. "I''m looking forward to it." Jin muttered for the first time today. "Haha, you''re Jin after all. But I understand how you feel. That''s how I felt when I was first allowed to see it. This was when Reinhardt came to Miyagi for the first time. "I think you''ll be surprised, even if it''s only Lord Jin." Leading the way is Degauze, the Minister of Magical Technology. Two other soldiers are walking at the rear of the group. In his hand is a magic lamp. It is darker than a ball of light, but Deghaus explains that this is because magic is extremely difficult to use in the basement of the palace. (Is there something preventing its activation, or is it ......) After the third basement floor, Jin senses a change in the atmosphere. The air is obviously low on free magic element (ether). This is probably the reason why he finds it difficult to use magic. On the other hand, the magic tools that use the stored magic power work normally. Reiko, don''t let the covert task force (SP) come down there.) Her voice is so low that no one can hear it, but Reiko can hear it clearly. Reiko answered by nodding her head. Reiko has a built-in mana tank to cope with the low free-magic element (ether), but the SP does not have one. Jin stopped the operation because he feared that it might stop if he continued to follow the SPs down to the bottom. Finally, they reached the fifth basement floor. There was a huge iron door. "It''s just over here," he said. Saying this, Degauze took the Magi Crystal and inserted it into a hole in the side of the door. The door slowly opened to the left and right. I see, in order to move the golem-powered door in a place where there is almost no free magical element (ether), it is necessary to supply it with mana from the outside. Jin recognized the opening and closing mechanism at a glance. "Come on, Jin-dono, please come in." DeGauss, who had gone inside first, beckoned to him. Jin walked quickly inside. "Oh ......" There was a large space. It was probably an atrium-like room that extended from the fifth basement floor, where he was now, to the third basement floor. And floating in the dim light of the magic lamp was a gigantic golem. It must be 20 meters high. It is larger than the Titan that Jin built. I appreciate that point. But... (Iron ...... or steel. Or steel.) The surface is covered with red rust, and corrosion has begun. It is probably due to the humid environment of the 5th basement. Iron is vulnerable to humidity. The shape is similar to that of Gigarth. In other words, the lower half of the body is unusually large. This is probably for the sake of balance. (But the higher the center of gravity is, the easier it is to achieve dynamic balance.) If the object is an ornament that does not move, it would certainly be more stable if its center of gravity is low. But what about a moving object? < The words of a physics teacher at a regular high school come back to my ears. It is easier to maintain balance while moving if the distance between the ground and the center of gravity is greater. << It''s like a pendulum. The longer the distance between the ground contact point and the center of gravity, the longer the period, and the slower it moves, the easier it is to recover. (Well, it doesn''t seem to move anymore.) From the appearance of the rust, the internal skeleton (if any) was damaged and did not seem to be able to withstand continuous operation. "It''s always overwhelming to see." Sorry to Reinhardt, who was honestly impressed, but Jin thought that the female emperor whom he had an audience with yesterday was more impressive. 328 - - 11-30 Ricia Almost Kaina Village On May 13, the day Jin arrived in Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, Licia and Pascoe had arrived in the town of Charles. We are almost at the village of Kaina. If we stay at Toka village first and leave before dawn and hurry our horses, we can reach the village of Kaina before nightfall. "You have been to Kayna once, haven''t you, Licia?" Yes, last fall, as a tax collector. The taxation system in the Kingdom of Klein is somewhat unique. Basically, citizens pay taxes to the government. It may be wheat, ore, or money. The state then pays salaries to the nobility out of the taxes. This is because there are new nobles, knights, and nobles without lands. The nobles with lands are paid a stipend according to the size of their lands. Therefore, Count Walter, who had the village of Kaina taken away from him, received a smaller salary. However, the reverse side of the argument is that no taxes other than those set by the state are paid out of the lands. This means that the majority of the income from the harvest from the newly cultivated land and from the mines belongs to the lord. The state buys the ore. Therefore, Count Walter''s pockets were quite warm. Until the salt incident. This is exactly the case of the Inard Mine, which is why the case of the forced labor offenders was not known to the central government. "We were attacked by the golem of the Unifilers at that time. Licia said, patting the sword at her waist. "I heard that. But you fought it off, didn''t you?" Pascoe Rush was aware of this, as he had been begged by Jin to say so in order to hide his presence. "No, actually, Jin-san fought them off. But there was no need to hide it anymore. The leaders of the group already knew. "Really?A magecraftsman?How?" Pascoe found this hard to believe. "At that time, he used water magic to slice through the golem, didn''t he? "That''s exactly how it happened. ......" It all makes no sense. Pascoe can use magic too. He was a wind magician, especially good at <. Even with his wind magic, I have never heard of him cutting through a metal golem. "<>, Jin-san called it, didn''t he? "<>"?I''ve never heard of ....... ......" Pascoe was beginning to sense that Jin was no ordinary magecraftsman. There was still some time before dark, so Licia went to look around the town by herself. She sees a crowd of people in front of a certain store. She overhears what is going on and finds that it is a dispute about the price of salt being too high. I heard that we have enough stockpiles of salt. As a relief knight, you are also responsible for the health care of the soldiers. In such cases, they were also in charge of inventory control and confirmation of the salt shortage, which is a serious problem. This year, there was a sufficient stock of salt in the Kingdom of Klein, and the necessary amount was supposed to be released. "Is someone buying up an unreasonable amount of salt? But there was no reason to buy up all the salt in this area, no matter how much we thought about it. Salt was distributed normally, and buying up all of it would not bring in a large amount of profit. In fact, it would only make the people suffer. It would only increase dissatisfaction with the lords and the state. "Is that what this is all about? Licia thought to herself, "Is that what this is all about?" but she dismissed the thought from her mind and returned to her lodgings, thinking that it made no sense. The next day, the 14th, they set off early, hurried their horses, and managed to arrive at the village of Toka before sunset. Here they found the soldiers'' quarters. Licia and Pascoe stayed there. Before dark, Licia feeds and waters her carrier pigeons. "Oh, they''re so cute!" Licia''s voice. The two pigeons were full and plump that day. "Are they cold?" When it''s cold, birds puff up their feathers to store air between their feathers to insulate themselves from the cold. The two pigeons were puffing up their feathers just like that. "Maybe I should feed them a little more food," Licia muttered. Licia muttered and fed them a little more. Then they washed their hands and ate their meal. A simple meal for the soldiers. It was not tasty, to say the least, but Licia and Pascoe, who had been on the battlefield before, did not mind. At that time, they heard some disturbing information from the soldiers stationed in the village. There was a shortage of salt in this village as well. Mysterious men and soldiers were buying up all the salt. I heard such voices in Doppa and Racneau, too. Pascoe said. Licia did not listen, but she knew intuitively that Pascoe was not lying. "It''s strange. ...... We''ll fly the pigeons as soon as we get to Kaina." Licia assured the soldiers. If we contact the kingdom leaders, they will take some countermeasures. "But the narrow rocky area between Doppa and Lac Noh on the way was amazing, wasn''t it? The atmosphere became darker, so Pascoe talked about something else. The narrow rocky area was the place where the golems of Horai Island had repaired the cliff collapse. "Yes. When I passed by there before, it was a rougher rocky area, but when I passed by there today, it was cleaned up. The Nostalgia Party, I think, is doing a really good job. The rocks that were about to collapse had all been cleared, and the stones had even been magically hardened. "Nostalgia, huh? I wonder if there is a connection with a mysterious deus ex machina or something. As she listened to Pascoe''s words, which sounded like he was talking to himself halfway, Licia wondered vaguely if there was any connection with Jin. Early in the morning of the 15th. Licia and Pascoe departed from Toka village. They had to reach the village of Kaina before the end of the day. The horse they were riding was a good horse, and the other horse they were using to carry their luggage was still in good health. The stars were still visible in the sky. As they continued on their way, the stars disappeared. Then the eastern sky became brighter and the sun started to rise. "The weather looks good again today, doesn''t it? At the break of dawn, the two of them were passing through a rocky area. It was the same rocky place where they had been attacked by the golem before. "After crossing that bridge, you will come to a mountain path," Licia explained to Pascoe. Licia explained to Pascoe. "Then let''s go to the river there and give the horses some water. "Yes, that''s right." We have been out of the village of Toka for about two hours now. They lead the horses to the water and let them drink as much as they want. We ate our own portable rations, which consisted of dry bread and dried meat. We ate our own portable rations, which consisted of dried bread and dried meat. It''s hard to get through without water, but we have plenty of water with us, so it''s not a problem. After about 15 minutes, we set out again. The sun is already rising and the temperature is warming up. Licia suddenly remembered to look at the birdcage on the back of the saddle, and saw that the two pigeons were still puffing out their feathers a little. "It will be warm soon," she said to them. Licia said to her horse and hurried him along. The pace would naturally slow down as they reached the top of the climb, so she wanted to make up some distance before the climb. Pascoe seemed to know this as well and followed her with his packhorse in tow. "You''re used to this, Licia. ......" Pascoe wanted to continue with the horses side by side, but decided against it due to the width of the road. On the way, a peddler came down the road. The other side was a wagon, so we could barely pass each other. Pascoe thought to himself that it was a good thing that they had decided not to ride side by side. The peddler looked at Licia and seemed to say something to her, but Licia was looking down at that moment, so the two passed each other without exchanging any words. The road turned into a ninety-nine folds, and when the horses began to sweat profusely, the slope finally eased and they reached the rest house. It was midday. "We managed to arrive here on time, didn''t we? Let''s take a rest here. Licia''s face was a little red and her breathing was heavy. "Licia?Are you not feeling well?" Pascoe asked, concerned. Licia shook her head. "No, I''m fine. I''m just a little tired." With that, she went to the water and washed her face and hands. Pascoe follows and finally gives the horses a drink of water. Then they had lunch. As in the morning, it consisted of dried bread and dried meat. Pascoe, who was hungry, ate it up in no time, but Licia seemed to have no appetite and kept chewing on it. "Licia, are you all right?" Pascoe asked, and Licia looked up with a start. "No, I''m fine. I just don''t have much of an appetite. "You shouldn''t force yourself not to eat at times like that," Pascoe said. Licia nodded her head and forcibly swallowed the meat in her mouth with water and put the rest of it back in the bag. "Now, just a little more work and we will be in the village of Kaina. I will rest there. "We''ll do that." Pascoe was worried that Licia was pushing herself too hard, but he decided not to say anything for now, knowing that nothing could be done until they reached the village of Kaina. The horses had eaten the surrounding grass and were no longer sweating, so we decided to pick up the pace a little more. The road was no longer steep, and once we reached the Togo Pass, it was all downhill. At our current pace, we would reach the village of Kaina around 4:30. Pascoe followed behind. Licia, from his point of view, was looking very painful. Her usually straightened back is curled up, and she looks very sick. It is hard not to think that Licia is a master of healing magic, but there is a big difference between curing an injury and curing a disease. So to speak, healing injuries is a surgical procedure and healing diseases is a medical procedure. Licia was skilled in surgery, that is, in curing injuries, but she was not good at curing diseases. "Licia, please hang in there a little longer. Pascoe could only show his concern for Licia, who seemed to be getting worse and worse. However, we managed to make it up to the Togo Pass. We are 30 minutes behind schedule, but there is still plenty of time. All that was left was to descend. The Herme River is now in sight. 329 - - 11-31 Treatment of the Old King "Ms. Licia and Pascoe Rush have arrived at the Togo Pass. The magic brain of the surveillance specialist, <>, contacted the old man. < "Yes, it seems so, but Ms. Licia is not in good health. If she is sick, we have to worry about contagion. The other day, Jin brought Barrow and Behle to the village of Kaina, and it was a good thing that Behle did not have a contagious disease, otherwise it could have been a bad situation. The old man proposed several measures and adopted the one that seemed to be the best. The three RAND units in charge of the area reach the road leading from the Togo-Pass to the village of Kaina in two minutes. >. "A......" "u......" The strength of the paralyzing wards had been adjusted so that the horses could be stunned without pain. Moreover, it does not affect the horse, but only the rider, with pinpoint accuracy. Lando T. and S. catch the two who are collapsing. Each of them supported the other while pulling the horse back to the rest house. Land R. is in charge of the packhorse. I instructed Butler B to select from among the recovery medicines in Jin''s castle a medicine that has a <> effect, and have him bring it to me. Butler B arrived at the site in about 10 minutes. In the meantime, Rand and his colleagues examined the two unconscious persons and sent the information to the "Mere Old Man. Since the "Mere Old Man" has the knowledge of simple medical examination, he gave them the following instructions and examined them. > The old man thought of the diseases <> and <> in Jin''s knowledge. <> The cage on Licia''s horse, both pigeons in it were puffing up their wings. Birds puff up their feathers when they are cold and sick. When a relatively cold-tolerant bird is puffing up its feathers, it is most likely sick. Jin knew this well because he had chickens at the orphanage. Therefore, the old man also has the knowledge. Licia, Pascoe, two pigeons and three horses were each given a restorative. The effects on the pigeons and horses were particularly dramatic: the pigeons stopped puffing their feathers and the horses went from looking tired to full of energy. Licia and the other two are still paralyzed, but her fever seems to be gone. He has Rand''s team remove all of their belongings and adjusts the light magic to generate a powerful ultraviolet light. This is the magic that Jin has developed, <>. This magic is used to identify special minerals that emit light under ultraviolet light, but it has been made even more powerful and sterilizing. Since I could not use it on their bodies and clothes, I had no choice but to dry them after sprinkling them with a restorative with a <> effect. This is a relief. Rand and Butler sterilized themselves by heating their bodies up to 200 degrees Celsius using the body heat generation function instead of ultraviolet light. In addition, they have decided to monitor the health of the people of Kaina more closely than before, just in case. Licia has already proven that she can heal them with the recovery medicine. The fact that Licia''s fever has been brought down by the restorative medicine is a relief to know that we can handle any illnesses that may occur. Under the old man''s direction, Lando R, S, and T each carried the rampaging horse in a calm manner and started to ride toward the Togo Pass. The speed of the horses was over 120 kilometers per hour. Butler B followed with Licia and Pascoe on his shoulders. It is now 5:00 PM. Pascoe Rush woke up on his horse. "Ugh... ...... did I fall asleep?" Pascoe shakes his slightly fuzzy head to clear his consciousness. As his head became clearer, he remembered something that had happened a while ago. "Yes, yes!Licia!" Licia was in front of Pascoe. She was lying prone in the saddle, as if asleep or unconscious. Pascoe hurriedly lined up his horse, put his hand on Licia''s shoulder and shook her. "Licia, Licia, Licia!" "U......" "Thank God, Licia, you''re awake!" "Uh...... where am I?" Shaking her head, Licia got up and looked around. "Here ...... seems to be the Erme River. I guess she must have fallen asleep when she started to descend the ...... pass, and the horse brought her here. But that''s probably why I feel so refreshed. Pascoe agrees. "Yes, I am ashamed to say that I was a bit asleep myself. But thanks to the smart horses, I think we made it here safely. I''m glad to hear that Licia is feeling better. Rando''s stealth team, who had been following close by, knew that the two had assumed what the old man wanted and sent the information to the old man. <>. The old man was pleased with the success of his action and decided that he must report this matter to Jin at any cost. * * * * * * "......By the way, Licia, what is that building?" I''ve never seen that building before, towering against the evening sky. I''m talking about Jin''s castle, of course. "Well, ...... I don''t think it was there when I came here before." Pascoe counted backwards and was astonished at the result. The last time Licia had visited the village of Caina was last December. That would mean that the building was constructed within the last five months. "How could something like that be built in a few months? ......?" The truth is that it took days, not months. "Anyway, we''ll find out when we visit the village headman''s office. So they crossed the bridge and entered the village by the castle. "Ah, isn''t that the tax collector? A voice said. "Oh, hello. Mr. Locke, is it? "Yes, this is Locke. What''s going on today?It''s still early for taxes. ......, don''t you have to pay taxes to the government? "Yes, about that, I''m looking for Mr. Jin, where is he now?" Licia asked, and Locke replied with a puzzled look on his face. "Jin?I don''t know, I keep going out and coming back, and I don''t know if I''ll be back today, tomorrow, or the day after that ......." "......You don''t know after all, do you?" Licia said with a slightly stern look in her eyes. "Yes, well..." Locke smiled shyly. Licia, who had been told by Locke that the chief would stay put for the time being, went straight to the chief''s house. "Well, well, Mr. Farheit, welcome. The other nobleman is also welcome. Giebeck greeted them in front of the house. "Mr. Gibek, it''s been a long time. I am here as ambassador of the Kingdom of Klein. Licia got off her horse and greeted them. Pascoe also dismounted and introduced himself. I am Pascoe Rush. I am Licia Faarheit''s escort. Giebeck bowed reverently and replied. "You must be tired. Would you like to stay the night?At our place?Or would you like to stay at the castle of Jin?" "Preferably at the village headman''s. ......" Licia was hesitant to stay in an unfamiliar building, so she replied. "Okay. Then please come in. I will take the horses to the stables. ...... Hey, Barbara!" Giebeck called toward the back, and Barbara came out. "...... Oh, Licia!" "Barbara, it''s been a long time!" "Barbara, I''ll go tie up the horses, you take Mr. Farheit and Mr. Rush to the guest room. So Licia finally made it to the village of Kaina. "......The hot springs are nice, aren''t they?" Barbara and Licia were soaking in the hot spring. However, Licia noticed that Barbara was acting a little strange. "Barbara-san, you don''t seem to be in good spirits. Is something wrong? "What?What? Barbara says in a panic, But Barbara said in a panic, "It''s nothing, isn''t it?You''re my friend, talk to me." Licia tells her that it''s nothing, but Barbara reconsiders. "I see......Licia, you live in King''s Landing, don''t you......?" After a short hesitation, she opened her mouth again. "Oh,......, do you know the Raglan Trading Company?" "Yes, I know them well. Yes, I know them well. They installed a pump in my house, and I also bought a stove from them. "So ....... So, I think there''s a guy there named Eric. ......" Licia looked at Barbara hesitantly and felt something. "I''m sorry, I don''t know, I''ve never been in the store directly." "So ......" Barbara was depressed again. And then she said. "...... Alban, I think I''ll go there. ......" 330 - - 11-32 Libraries Meanwhile, as for Jin. On the day when the old man healed Licia and the others secretly, that is, on May 15, he was guided to the palace of the Shoro Kingdom. The guides were Reinhardt and one other person from ....... "Jin-kun, I am proud to say that our library is as good as any in the Lesser Han countries." It was Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Shawlo, the emperor. She had already called Jin Jin-kun. She is a very frank emperor. "............" Since His Majesty the Emperor is accompanying him, he has a free pass everywhere. The guards salute and let the group through. We are allowed to see the innermost part of the library, the heavily protected archives, without any problem. "Yes, come in. I have to go to work now, so I can''t stay here, but yes, I''ll be back before lunch. I''ll be back by noon and we''ll have lunch together. "............" With these words, without waiting for Jin''s reply, the emperor left the archives. "............" "......" "Jin, what do you have to say?" Reinhardt was the first to speak. Jin was the first to open his mouth, and then he spoke in reply. "Yes. I didn''t expect the Emperor himself to show us around. ...... "Ha ha, that''s how he is." "But still, I''m glad that you trust me, a gentile, so much, but to be honest, I''m not sure if you''re being that naive.I''m not sure if it''s right to be so naive. Jin himself has no ill will, but if he treats other people the same way, it is very dangerous. Spies, assassins, and the like could get into the mix. When Jin said this, Reinhard shook his head. "I am not so worried about that. Because Your Majesty can see the true nature of the people you talk to. "What? Jin was surprised. Wouldn''t he be a great ruler if he could do that? "No, I''m just guessing around here," said Reinhard. Reinhard reiterated. That may be so. I don''t think he would tell others about his abilities or skills. "But it is also true that His Majesty''s character evaluation has never been wrong." "............" There are certainly people who have a good eye for people. I wonder if it is an ability that is multiplied by a factor of several or a dozen. It might be more like a supernatural power than a magical one. Reinhardt added, "But it seems that it is essentially different from being able to read minds. Hearing this, Jin felt a little relieved. It would be unbearable if he had read what he thought when he had an audience with the emperor for the first time yesterday, that he resembled the director of the orphanage, and so on. More than that, I wonder what would happen if it is known that Jin is from another world. So far only Reinhard and Erza know about it. "Somehow, I have a feeling that I can trust him. ......" Whether this was Jin''s intuition, or whether it was because he had a resemblance of the director, Jin did not know yet. "Father, time is limited. If there is a book you want to read, you must read it as soon as possible. Reiko''s voice brought Jin back to himself. "Oh, yes. Then I''ll read them with pleasure. Jin muttered and started to browse the bookshelf. "You have records of past wars, don''t you? "Yes. This country has not been free of civil strife. There have been many conflicts. Reinhardt, as a citizen of the Shoro Kingdom, has knowledge of the past history. Jin was not interested in it, but he asked Reiko to read it. Reiko reads at a speed ten times faster than Jin, and she will forward the information to the old man for his records. I also asked Reiko to read books on local products and books on plants and animals. And the book Jin was looking for? "This one, or ......." Reinhardt had told me about it in the hot springs of Kunlun Island a long time ago. "Hm?...... Oh, that''s it. I told you about it sometime. It''s a book about the beginning of the world. A legend, so to speak. There is another world beyond the sun from which the ancestors of mankind came. Since I could not find any storyteller in the Kingdom of Cerroa, I was hoping to find such a record here in the Kingdom of Shoro. "Let''s see ............ and ......." The record is only a few pages long and not very detailed. But there is another world just on the other side of the sun, and it is a bigger world than this one. It was written briefly that selected ancestors of human beings came to this world on a ship in the sky and became the ancestors of human beings. The only thing more detailed than what Reinhardt had told him was that it was a larger world and that they came here on a flying ship. Inwardly, Jin imagined that the descendants of the colonists who came by spaceship might be the people of this world. On Earth, the beginning of the world is often attributed to a creator or a giant who created the world. Here, however, it is said that they came from another world. In a sense, I think it is more plausible. Then, the spaceship ......<> may have existed in the past. Jin tried to imagine such a thing, but Reiko pulled him back to reality. "Father, I''ve finished the book you mentioned. What else do you want to do? "Yes, I see. Then take this book. Reiko reads the rest of the book. <, but even Jin did not have enough knowledge to build a spaceship. The biggest problem is that there is no way to navigate in a vacuum. "Well, it''s not like we need one. I would like to build one, but it''s just a hobby for me. For now, he will start with what is close at hand. Jin has only a limited amount of time, so he asks to see the books in the library and reference room one after another. There were many books on magical engineering, and Jin skimmed through them. Most of them were familiar to him, but there were some interesting descriptions, which was a good thing. There were also books on religion. Jin, who has been concerned about the fact that religion is not widely practiced in this world, skimmed through them. "...... I see. ......" The point is that almost without exception, those involved in religion were high-ranking mages. Therefore, they possess several times more magical power than ordinary people. This is the reason why most of them died in the "Aether Stampede". Moreover, since many religious people died, they realized that there is no such thing as divine blessings, and the general public has become less and less religious, and now only indigenous beliefs are left. "I knew it was the Aether Stampede. ......" There were other books on religion, but nothing of particular interest. There was no explanation of "Aether Stampede" either. In this respect, I did not get much out of it, but that is to be expected. "Okay, let''s take a look at this one. Jin now moves on to the bookshelf of the general public. He did not get much from this one, but he was a little curious about a book on . "Sorry, Reinhard, I may have asked you a little bit before, but what kind of field is <>? Reinhardt, who had been reading a book on magiengineering, looked up as Jin asked him. "Alchemy?Yes, making medicines from herbs is alchemy, and heating seawater to extract salt is alchemy. Jin guessed that this explanation seemed to be equivalent to chemistry. It does not seem to be the study of turning lead into gold. This piqued his interest a little, so he picked up a book titled <> and read it. "I see...I see...I see...I see...I see..." After all, it seems that in the beginning, there were attempts to turn lead into gold and to create a medicine of immortality. However, in modern times, it is gradually being transformed into a practical science, only the name has remained the same. This is the introduction. Chapter 2 outlines the methods of extracting metals from ores, Chapter 3 describes the methods of producing medicinal solutions from medicinal herbs, and so on. Interesting in its own way. "Jin seems to be interested in alchemy, doesn''t he?" Reinhardt said in an amused tone when he saw Jin reading the book with great interest. "Hmm?Yes, since alchemy is no longer a field in my world. That''s interesting." "Yes, science, you said. The science from which you derive your knowledge. Yes, that''s right. But alchemy seems to be a field that is turning into a science. When Jin answered, Reinhard smiled a little mischievously. "Jin, there is actually a man named Tohr Eschenbach." Reinhardt broke off and turned to Jin, "This Toa Eschenbach is our country''s leading expert in alchemy. He gave Jin some interesting information. "What kind of a person is Thore Eschenbach or ......?If I could meet him, I would like to talk to him. When Jin said this, Reinhard clapped him on the shoulder, "I think I can make that happen, Jin. After all, he lives in our territory. He said, "He lives on our land, after all. Hearing that the person in question lived in the Randall family''s territory, Jin felt that he could look forward to seeing him again in the near future. 331 - - 11-33 I finally found it! I was reading a book on alchemy, and the time passed in a blink of an eye, it seemed to be noon. "Mr. Jin, Mr. Reinhard, let''s have lunch together. With these words, the emperor came in. "Don''t get your hopes up," he said. The menu for lunch was simple, but reasonably well prepared. The menu was simple, but reasonably well-made. But the dish that caught Jin''s attention the most was a dish that looked like porridge. Only it was black. "......What is this?" Jin asked, and the head chef who was standing nearby explained. It is a porridge made from the fruit of the Japanese horse chestnut. Someone told me that our guests are interested in it. Ah, I knew it, Jin thinks. He had talked to the butler in the drawing room the day before yesterday, so he must have given him this information. "Bon apptit." The first meal is porridge, as expected. After taking a bite, Jin feels a slight difference in texture. It is not thick. It must be rice. It is not long and thin. It was a familiar kind of rice to Jin. "How do you like it?I heard that you are interested in it, so I cooked a small amount of it. ......" As he ate the rice, Jin thought of the way he ate rice outside of the house. He remembered reading a cooking manga about a newspaper reporter who rebelled against his father. I remember reading in a cooking manga about a newspaper reporter who rebelled against his father, "Maybe you boiled the rice once in the broth? It was written that that''s the way to cook rice outside of Japan. "Yes, I did. If you don''t, the rice becomes sticky or sludgy. Hearing this, Jin decided to inquire about the history of eating jasso. When did people start to eat this jassica? "Well, it was discovered about 100 years ago, and we started eating it only in the last 20 years or so.Originally it was a crop for livestock, but when they tried it, they found it was good for food. ......" It was fed to horses, which grew faster, so it began to be cultivated in the southern part of the Shoro Empire, and someone tried to see if the fruit could be eaten, and it seemed to be a good food. So, they started to grow them about 20 years ago, dividing them into two categories, one for humans and the other for horses, the head chef explained. "Fuun ......" In Japan, rice is used for harvesting rice, which requires the use of pesticides. Therefore, it was not often used for livestock feed. However, Jin''s interest was not in the rice, but in the plants. "If you don''t mind, could you show me some of your jasso after this?And if you let me cook it for you, please let me know at ......." The chef looked at the emperor with a puzzled look on his face. The chef looked at the emperor with a slightly annoyed look on his face. Reinhard, who knew that he had made a delicious dish with topopo (potatoes), which were once not so commonly eaten, was inwardly excited. "This is the julienne. ...... What he was shown was brown rice. Jin, who had heard from the director that brown rice was difficult to cook, thought that he should start by turning it into white rice. Then, he thought of a way to polish the rice. Basically, brown rice is rubbed or bumped against each other to remove the surface film, or bran, but if this is done too quickly, the frictional heat generates heat and the taste is lost. "Let''s go orthodox first: ......" So, Jin thinks that the quality of the rice should be as good as that of commercial rice mills, even if the taste is a little lower. He is more serious than usual, perhaps because he has rice on the line. "Anyway, all you have to do is to rub the rice together. ......" In other words, it is enough to stir the rice in the container. It would be even better if the heat generated at this time could be suppressed. Jin had a medium sized barrel prepared for him, and put about half of the juliennegrass in it and covered it with a lid. Reiko, shake this barrel for me. Reiko''s turn came at this point. "Yes, Father." ? Those who were watching ...... were astonished to see Reiko, who looked like a girl, easily lift a barrel of julienne, which must have weighed more than 20 kilograms, and the chef and his men were shocked. "Okay, do it. ......<" As Reiko shakes the keg, Jin casts an engineering spell to lower the temperature. After about five minutes, he stopped the shaking and looked inside to see that the rice inside the barrel had gone from brown to almost white. "Okay, five more minutes. He shook the rice while chilling it as well. Now the rice is almost white. "It''s done! "Oh?What is this, Mr. Jin? "Where I come from, we call this white rice. This way it''s easier to cook. ......<>" Jin separates the rice from the bran. "This powder is rice bran. It has its own uses, so don''t throw it away. It is used for pickles. "Now, here is the white rice. Let''s cook it. Jin works with the chef as he polishes the rice. Brown rice is easy to wash because it does not produce bran, but white rice needs to be cleaned of bran. He decided to make white porridge for the time being. Cooking rice was a hurdle for Jin, too. "Add more water, put the lid on, and go to ......." Making porridge is not that difficult. All you have to do is boil the rice in 8 to 10 times as much water as the rice. Unlike rice, there is no need to let it absorb water. Just bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and stir it once or twice to prevent it from burning. Jin can make porridge because he made it for his sick child. It was difficult to control the heat since it was not a gas range, but he managed to make the first batch of porridge in about an hour. "Now, please try it. Jin took a small plate for the chef, Reinhardt, and himself and sprinkled a little salt on it. Jin, who has a cat tongue, blew on it and let it cool down a little before putting it in his mouth, but the chef tasted it immediately. The result was. "Oh, this is delicious!Thank you for teaching me such a good lesson, Mr. Jin! He was pleased. Reinhardt did the same. "Jin, I didn''t know that the Japanese hogweed could be so tasty! And Jin himself said, "......Ah, it''s a nostalgic taste. ......" Reiko was moved to tears. Reiko rushed to tell the old man about it. < It seems so. The recipe is as I have just informed you. There may be another way to prepare it, but I will let you know as soon as I know. We should get the rice and grow it on Horai Island.) (<>) Yes. I''ll leave that to you. I''ll ask you more about cooking methods.) "It''s so tasty with just salt, isn''t it? "It''s even better with pickles." The salted fish we ate on the way would have been delicious too. But... "The pickled vegetables in rice bran are called ''nabe-zuke'' (pickles). It is also delicious. Jin suggested using the bran in this way. "Unfortunately, I don''t know much about how to make pickles, but I do know that you have to stir the bran every day, that the bran gives off a sour smell, and that if you don''t stir it, it gets damaged and the smell gets worse. With these words, Jin only suggested how to make it. In fact, Jin himself had never made miso-bran paste, even though he had eaten it before. "Then, I should fry the bran once ...... and knead it in salt water until it becomes the consistency of clay," he said. I''ll show you what I know from what I''ve heard. You never know what might be helpful. If it is generally correct, the professional cooks will take care of the rest. It is another story that Reiko sent the information to the old man at the same time and the Peridos were waiting for the rice to come. "Thank you, Mr. Jin, for the information about your local cuisine! The chef thanked Jin after we had talked with him for the rest of the evening. And finally, "Please look forward to tonight''s menu. He also said, "Please look forward to tonight''s menu. He said, "Jin-kun, please look forward to tonight''s menu. Jin, this is delicious. We had dinner with the emperor. The emperor was very satisfied with the white rice porridge. There were also some salted, but lightly pickled vegetables on the side. Jin was somewhat pleased to see that his taste buds and preferences were similar to his own. "This jasper, or <>, takes a bit of time and effort, but I''ve heard that it produces a large crop. Let''s encourage them to grow more than just wheat! Indeed, Jin had heard that the yield per unit area is higher for rice than for wheat. Also, although he did not know the reason, he knew that paddy rice could be grown in a row. I explained this to him. "Hmm, <>. All right, I''ll assign someone to do that kind of research. The emperor was very enthusiastic since the matter was to improve the food situation. Since the time was not too late, Jin also explained about rice cultivation to the best of his knowledge. 332 - - 11-34 A trick? The day after Jin enjoyed rice for the first time in a long time. "Reinhard, I have a favor to ask you..." Jin and Reinhardt had a private conversation. "Actually, ......" Jin explained that he had achieved a little (or so he thought) success in the Kingdom of Klein and had taken a certain village under lease. "Oh, did I hear that the other day?" "Oh, did I hear that last time?" "So, the ambassador from the Kingdom of Klein is there. It would be bad not to show up, and it seems that something has happened that has already been resolved. "I see. So you want to go there for three or four days." "Oh, yeah. I''ll see what I can do." Reinhardt folds his arms, meditates and thinks. ......I guess I''ll just have to get a fake illness." Opening his eyes again, Reinhardt concluded. "Temporary illness." It''s a standard practice when you miss a day of school or work. "But a day or so is fine, but three or four days, I''m sure you''ll get a visit from someone. Reinhardt did not forget to point out the problem. But then, Jin had a way. "Ah, then you can use the . The substitute doll he had made before had been converted into a deus ex machina. But it is easy to make, and since I can sleep on the futon, I don''t have to worry about being discovered. The old man can handle the simple answers. When Jin explained this to Reinhardt, "Hmmm...I see...a substitute doll. Jin''s technology makes this possible. An ordinary automata would be easily detected, but with Jin''s work, the risk is much lower. And since he is supposed to be sick, he can just sleep and will not stay too long. Now that we have decided on what to talk about, let''s move on to the action. First, we must leave the Shoro Imperial Palace. This was easy because Reinhardt would show Jin around the city. Then, they could use the warp gate in Jin''s carriage to move to Horai Island. "Well, I''m going to go there now. The next step is for Jin to go to Horai Island and bring the substitute doll. However, the doll he made before has been altered in appearance, so he has to make a new one. The materials and other things had been prepared by the old man, as he had informed Reiko in advance. Thanks to her, the substitute doll was completed in less than 30 minutes. This time, the doll was completely remote-controlled. "...... is still creepy." It''s hard to get used to seeing a doll with the same face and figure as you, no matter how many times you see it. "......And then there''s Reiko. Since it is strange that Reiko is not attached to Jin, we need a substitute for Reiko. For this purpose, we need to call Mira 10 of the fifth column (quinta) and have her disguise herself. Since the fifth row (quinta) originally has a disguise function, this was easy. "Okay, let''s go back." Leaving the old man in charge of the basic operation of the disguise doll, Jin and Mira 10 returned to the carriage together. "Oh, oh? Reinhardt''s eyes widened. There were two Jin. "Wow!They look just like Jin!" Reinhardt was excited, but Jin was wasting time, so he interrupted him. "I''m sorry, Reinhard. Then go back with this doll. ...... Reiko, I''m counting on you." "Yes,...... father." Mira 10 who disguised as Reiko replies. Reiko does not even let Reinhardt know that she is also a substitute. "Jin, then, as we agreed, four days, right?" "Yes. Yes. I''ll ...... make up for this sooner or later. "Ha, that''ll be fun. I''d like to visit that village sometime, wouldn''t you? Cousin Elsa is also in the village of Kaina. Reinhardt also seemed interested. Jin nodded, waved his hand, and went through the warp gate again. Reinhardt went to the Miyana Village as planned. Reinhardt returned to Miyagi as planned. Of course, Jin''s carriage was driven by a steward. He returned to Jin''s room with the substitute dolls and prepared his bed. Here, Reiko''s statement that she had insisted the other day that there was no need for a maid of honor because I was here came in handy. "Reinhard, I heard that Jin-kun collapsed.Is he all right?" The Emperor was the first to hear that Jin had fallen ill, and as expected, the friendly Empress took time out from her political duties to come to see him. "Yes, I think he has fallen ill, but I think he is just tired from his travels," Reinhard explained. Reinhard explained and implicitly asked her not to spend too much time on the visit. The wise emperor sensed this, said a few words to Jin, who was lying on his bed, and returned. Everything went according to the plan of Jin and Reinhardt. * * * * Jin returned to Horai Island again and first heard the report from the old man. "......Sick, huh?" << "...... unforgivable." The epidemic in this world is terrible. It is the reason for the skewed distribution of the population in the village of Kaina. "But the safety of the village should take precedence over retaliation." Jin thought that there was no guarantee that the disease would not enter the village through another route. After all, the identity of the is unknown. Even with the abilities of the 5th column (quinta). After thinking for a while, Jin speaks his conclusion. "Okay, first of all, I will go to the village of Kaina to meet Licia and the others. Then, I''ll give them and all the villagers a reason to ...... well, let''s call it a castle inauguration ceremony, shall we?" Jin wanted to give all the villagers a chance to take the medicine to prevent an epidemic. Jin''s gut was churning, but he suppressed his anger and decided that it was more important to ensure the safety of those close to him first. "Persica juice stored for a long time in the free ether box is not a drug base, but it is expected to be quite effective, right? < Persica juice without magic will make you feel better, but it is also possible to give it a clear Medicare magic. Since the concentration of free magic element (ether) in it is low, it was not planned to be used in Horai Island where there is true serum, but it is the best for giving it to people to drink without informing them. Although the concentration of free magical element (ether) is low, it is a juice, so it is to be consumed in large quantities, and it is expected to be effective in that respect as well. Jin decided that suspecting an epidemic before it was clear would only cause a commotion. "Okay, then, get ready," he said. ...... continue the investigation of the mystery man. Jin instructs the old man. "...... will take care of that as well. Also, check to see if there are any similar symptoms along the path that Licia has taken. It is not enough to protect the village of Kaina from the disease. But since Pascoe, who was accompanying her, had not shown any symptoms, they were not sure if the disease was really contagious or not. So they decided to wait and see for one day. "Father, your bags are ready." Thank you. Reiko, who was in her office in Jin''s castle, was looking for some tools that he might use, called out to him and he jumped to the village of Kaina with Reiko. This time, Jin used the warp gate of the shelter. It was lunchtime in the village of Kaina. Jin went to the castle first. "Ah, I have to think of a name for the castle ......". Kaina Castle, Jin Castle, Nido Castle......, and so on as the names came into his mind. "Nido Castle or ...... would be nice, like Nijo Castle." When Jin had thought that far... "Master, Miss, welcome home! A voice said, "Welcome home, master and lady. He looked around and saw seven golem maids of five colors, Ruby, Aqua, Perido, Topaz, and Amezu, each number 101, and Battlers B and C, welcoming him. Butler B and C. A total of seven of them were waiting for us. "Oh, I didn''t know they were all here. Jin nodded in return and stepped into the castle. Where are Barrow and Behle? He asked Butler B, who was following behind him. He told him that they had gone to the village headman''s house to take care of Licia and another nobleman who was Licia''s escort. "I see. It''s just noon." Jin guessed that they were probably helping with the cooking or something and went to his office. "Third floor, huh? Butler C heard him talking to himself and quietly explained to Jin. "Master, there is a secret elevator in the central pillar. For some reason, the castle has a central pillar like a five-story pagoda, and a hidden elevator is installed in it. When Jin heard this, he wondered why the old man had not explained it to him last time. The reason was as follows. "Actually, Behrle, who was cleaning the room, was out of breath, so we had to do the work last night in a hurry. This was an unexpected explanation. 333 - - 11-35 Second Hall. Jin unpacked the luggage he had brought with him, placed pens, ink, and parchment paper for notes in his office, and arranged some books on the empty shelves with the help of Butlers B and C. The books were not to be too obvious, but were simple introductions to magical crafts (magecraft) and drawings of plants. The books are not too obvious, but simple introductions to magecraft and pictures of plants. Of course, the old man made them. The half-coat and insignia of the Honorary Magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, "Honorary Magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea" are also placed here. The honorary membership badge of the Shoro Imperial Guild of Magical Engineers is naturally kept in the carriage. Since his office has a wooden floor, Jin brought his own slippers. Except for the fact that they are made of leather of a magical beast, they are unusually ordinary. "Okay, so that''s what I got." Jin, seeing that the presentation was now in order, decided to clarify who would be in charge of the management. First, he instructed Butlers B and C to put the five-colored golem maids in charge of the upper floors and the basement. As expected, I felt sorry for Barrow and Behle to be in charge of cleaning and tidying the upper floors and the basement, but I was afraid to do so. We decided to leave the third floor office to the butlers except for entertaining guests, which we asked Behle to do when they came. Since Meane works part-time and is in charge of teaching Barrow and Behle, she is given a little more freedom and is allowed to come and go as needed on the third floor. Once that was done, Jin took Reiko and went to the village headman''s house. "Oh, Onii-chan, welcome home." Hannah, who had just finished lunch, found Jin outside. "Hannah, I''m home." "Hey, your sister''s here." "Yes, I heard so. So we''re going to the village headman''s house. When Jin said this, Hannah said good-bye without hesitation. The village headman''s house is located in the center of Kaina village. It was about one o''clock in the afternoon, just after lunch. Behle, who was just in the yard, found Jin. "Ah, Jin-sama, welcome home! Hearing his voice, Barrow also came out of the window of the village headman''s house, but quickly withdrew. Then the door opened and out came Licia. "Jin-san!" Licia ran up to him at what seemed like full speed, and took Jin''s hand, "It''s been a while!I was worried about you!But I''m so relieved to see you looking so well!How have you been since then? Jin was at a loss as to what to say, and his mouth became clammy. Licia blushed and then let go of Jin''s hand and jumped back, wondering what to make of his silence. "I''m sorry, Jin-sama. ...... I am Licia Faalheit, new noble of the Kingdom of Klein. I have been sent to the village of Kaina as an ambassador. I look forward to working with you." She hung her head and bowed so deeply that Jin was flabbergasted. "Licia, please don''t do this. You said it before, Licia-san, please talk to me the same way you have been talking to me. Jin said and Licia looked up and stood up. "...... are you sure?" "That''s what I told you." When Jin reminded her of this, Licia''s face finally broke into a smile. "Oh, I''m glad. Jin-san hasn''t changed. "I haven''t changed. I''m still me. Jin answered, noticing a young man at the door of the village headman''s house who was staring at him. "Well, Licia-san, who is he?" Licia turned around to check, "Oh, he is Pascoe Rush. He belongs to the 4th knighthood and he came with us this time as an escort. She introduced him. Jin walked alongside Licia to the entrance where he was standing. Pascoe was no longer staring at him at that moment, so Jin decided not to worry about the way he had looked at her earlier. "I am Jin Nido, Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. I have recently taken over the village of Kaina as my leased land. He introduces himself to Pascoe. Pascoe also introduced himself as Licia had explained earlier. "If you have already eaten, I would like you to come to my castle. ...... But first, a word to the village headman." Jin then opened the door and went inside to talk to Giebeck. "...... is that Jin Nido?" Pascoe mumbled in a slightly annoyed tone, "Yes. I''m glad to see you haven''t changed. Licia replies happily. I don''t know what you want to talk about. "That''s fine. I want to be friends with you, Jin-san. Pascoe raised an eyebrow at Licia''s tone. "Is that your policy as ambassador?" "Well, I don''t know. I''m sure it''s my idea, but as an ambassador, I''m not sure. ...... Pascoe was transfixed by Licia, who tilted her head cutely, but managed to regain her composure. "And anyway, I thought it would be better to protest against such a disrespectful treatment of my country." "I don''t think Mr. Jin has any intention to do so.I think he is simply going to run some errands." Licia, who originally came from a commoner''s background, did not feel any differently about Jin''s behavior, and it was the right thing to do. Pascoe, however, was still not convinced by her actions. On the other hand, Jin had discussed the matter with the village head and decided to hold a banquet for all the villagers this evening. Small villages make decisions quickly in this area. Then, how many people are there in total? "There are 29 households. Except for Mister Jin. There are 102 of us. With the addition of Miss Meane, Miss Elsa, Barrow and Behr..." "Yes, sir." We have 100 cushions in the hall of the castle. Jin thought that they were a little short and that they would have to be made in a hurry. "Well then, please contact me." "Yes, I will. We will gather at 5:00 p.m., is that correct? "Yes." Jin answered yes, and thought of building a clock tower or something. "Barrow and Behle come to the castle when you are done here. "Yes, sir." After this exchange, Jin left the chief''s house. Naturally, Licia and Pascoe were waiting for him. "Ah, Mr. Jin, have you finished your story? Licia asked Jin smilingly. "Oh, Licia-san, you were waiting there for me, I''m sorry, I wasn''t very attentive. Jin realized that he had kept her waiting while she stood there and apologized. He then invited her to the castle. "We just completed construction. The first guests we welcome are Licia and her family. Licia asked him a question that had been bothering her. When was that castle built, Jin-san? "That, of course, was after the land was leased." "...... what?" Licia froze for a moment. But then she quickly recalled that she was talking to Jin and restarted the conversation. "Oh, I see. Jin-san is not only an expert in magecraft, but in architecture as well, isn''t he? "Yes, of course, I had my golem do it. Licia was somewhat convinced by his answer. A golem that is many times more powerful than a human would be able to build several times faster than a human, she thought. But Pascoe was not so convinced. "......It''s absurd...... to think that a building of that scale could be completed in a few days. ......That''s far beyond the bounds of common sense! ......" He is muttering to himself. He had experience in repairing the walls of the fortress city of Tetrada, so he knew more about civil engineering and architecture than Licia did. The castle loomed large before the three of them. "Reiko, contact the butler and the maids to meet them. Jin instructed Reiko. Reiko, who knew what she was doing, nodded silently. "Jin-san, who are these butlers and maids?" Licia, curious, asked. Jin smiled and replied, "You''ll find out soon enough. Just as he had said, seven golems were lined up at the entrance of the castle. Jin took a few steps ahead and turned around, "Ambassador Licia, Mr. Pascoe. Welcome to the village of Kaina and to Nido Castle. He gave a brief welcome speech. As soon as she finished, all seven golems bowed their heads in unison. Although they were not wearing clothes, Battlers B and C were matte silver, and the five colored golem maids were red, purple, green, yellow, and light blue, respectively. It may be natural that neither Licia nor Pascoe could say anything at all when they saw these magnificent figures. 334 - - 11-36 Great Banquet After inviting Licia and Pascoe to Nido Castle, Jin first gave them a brief tour of the interior. When they took off their shoes at the entrance, he received a look of <>He received a look of <>why? All houses in my country are like this. If you are not used to it, please take off your slippers. When Jin said this, both of them obeyed him and didn''t even need slippers. "The wooden floor feels good. It was late spring, the temperature was a little sweaty, and the polished wooden boards felt good against my soles. Jin showed us around the castle. He took us up the stairs to the third floor office and reference room, then down to the guest rooms and reception room on the second floor. The bathroom and toilet are on the first floor. Unfortunately, there was no hot spring nearby, so it''s not a hot spring, but we''ll try to get one soon." "............" ".................." Both of them are absolutely stunned. It must have been a mild culture shock. "Jin-san, if I may ask, is this from your hometown, ......Nihon, or is it from there?" Licia, who was the first to come back to reality, asked me. She had heard this from Barbara some time ago. "Yes, it is. Not exactly the same, though. Licia was impressed by Jin''s words. "Wow, so Jin-san''s hometown is very strange!But it''s nice!I''d like to visit there. ......" He even said something like that. Hearing this, Jin could only smile. Pascoe, on the other hand, looked as if he was biting a bitter bug. Not noticing Pascoe, Jin looked out the window. The sun was beginning to tilt in the blue sky. With the ability of a Magecraft Meister, it is a piece of cake to calculate the angle of the sun and to know the time of day. It''s almost half past four. Today we are going to have a banquet to celebrate the completion of the castle, the lease, and to welcome Licia and her family. Jin told them. "I see, that sounds like fun. If it was just a welcome party, Licia might not have accepted it, but after explaining to them that there were other reasons, they seemed to accept it easily. "As the ambassador, I would like to ask you to say a few words to Ms. Licia. Licia understood her position, "Yes, I understand. Jin was relieved when Licia nodded her head and said, "Yes, I understand. Pascoe seemed to be immersed in his own world, mumbling to himself. In truth, he was just a little confused, unable to fully digest what he had seen in the castle. Jin led them on a tour of the castle and finally to the hall. "Preparations are underway in the hall. When Jin stepped into the hall, he said, "Oh, my baby girl!" Brother Jin!" Hannah and Erza were also there, helping to lay out the cushions under the guidance of Meane. Hannah had expected to wear the dress that Princess Rieschen had given her before, but she was wearing a little more clean clothes because she didn''t want to make it dirty. "Master Jin, we are almost ready..." Behle is in the kitchen cooking with Perid 101. There are other peridos in the kitchen as well. They seem to have come to support him because of the large number of customers. "Master Jin, the villagers are here to see you. Barrow led the villagers into the room. Butler B receives and manages the footwear. It is amazing that he can memorize and manage all the footwear of more than 100 villagers. The old man must have judged that five golem maids were a little too many for the task, so he added five other golem maids of each of the five colors from No. 91 to No. 95, in other words, five golem maids of each of the five colors. In other words, a total of 25 golem maids came to support the team. "That''s spectacular. ......" ".................." Pascoe''s confusion seemed to deepen at the sight. Jin did not notice this and gave him a few instructions. "Well, what should the seating order be? Licia took the first seat, followed by Pascoe. The next to the head of the village was assigned by Jin, but the others were left to their own devices. Hannah and Elsa stand next to Jin, and Reiko stands behind him. Meane insisted on serving the guests. "Oh, these cushions are so comfortable! "You can''t take it home with you! "I heard this is called a zabuton. "This looks more expensive than my futon. ...... One after another, the villagers sat on the zabuton and were amazed at its texture and comfort. Then, just at 5:00 p.m., all the residents of Kaina Village gathered together. When all the inhabitants of Kaina had gathered, Jin stood up. "Gentlemen! With these words, the hall was filled with silence. "Thank you for coming to Nidou Castle today. I ...... am pleased to announce the completion of Nidou Castle, the lease of the village of Kaina by Jin Nido, and the arrival of Lysia Faarheit and Pascoe Rush from the capital as goodwill ambassadors and their escorts. To celebrate these events, we have decided to hold a banquet. Please enjoy yourselves." I am not used to doing this kind of thing, and there are many problems I could have gone into, but I managed to finish my opening remarks. After all these years, Licia was not an ambassador in Japan, but a goodwill ambassador. It''s only natural that she would need prior permission from Jin if she were to be stationed in the area. But that aside, when Jin saw that the golem maids had finished distributing the special Persica juice to everyone, he said, "Well, cheers! "Well then, cheers! and took the initiative to open a crystal glass. The villagers saw this and took a sip of their juice. "Oh!What''s this!It''s delicious!It''s too good!" "It''s too good! "Sweet!It''s so good!" The first time they drank it, they were surprised at how sweet it was, "It''s really good!" "It''s just like gin!" Those who had tasted it before enjoyed it slowly. And as for Licia and Pascoe... "Oh, it''s delicious!Jin-san, this is Persica juice, right?" "......!What a taste!" She was impressed by the taste. Jin told Licia, "Ms. Licia, please say a few words. Licia asked her to say a few words as an ambassador. "Well, yes." Licia stood up, slightly flustered, remembering what she had been asked to do earlier. "Everyone from the village of Kaina." Her voice is clearer than Jin''s, and all eyes are on Licia. I am Licia Faarheit, goodwill ambassador of the Kingdom of Klein. Some of you may know me as I visited here last year as a tax collector. Locke and a few other men nodded their heads. "Mr. Jin has made a great contribution to the Kingdom of Klein, and as a reward, the Kingdom has decided to lease the village of Kaina as a leased land, in other words, a temporary territory. As he pauses, some of the villagers let out a "wow" or "wow" sound. "In other words, we are leaving the taxation to Mr. Jin, and the laws of the Kingdom of Klein basically do not apply in the village. In other words, we will not be conscripted into the military, as was the case the other day. Licia explained the advantages of the leased land that Jin had not explained, and concluded with the following words: "Congratulations, Finally, she said, "Congratulations. I wish you a long-lasting friendship with the Kingdom of Klein. He concluded with a benediction to Jin. There was a round of applause. The next speaker was Mr. Giebeck, the village head. He said, "Don''t think too hard, everyone. Jin-dono told us to continue as before. So from now on I will call you Jin again, and you can call me that too. When he said this, there were shouts of "That''s just like Jin," etc. "I usually call him as I have always called him. I will continue to serve as village head as I always have. As you know, Jin disappears from time to time. When he said this, there was a lot of laughter. Jin''s home is at Martha''s place. There is a golem, Butler A, who acts as my deputy. I simply call him <, but I''ve heard that if Jin is not there, you can ask him to tell Jin. When I explained this to them, they all looked at me as if it were a matter of course. Licia, Pascoe, and Barrow are the only ones who do not. Behle has already gotten used to it, but Barrow is still having a hard time getting used to it. "Well, I''m not going to go on for too long, so I''ll leave it at that. If you have any questions, please come and talk to me. Giebeck said, "Jin, please continue to take good care of the village of Kaina. He concluded with these words. From then on, the party was literally a rude banquet. The first dish was a cold stew. It was made without thickening and chilled. It was pleasant to the palate during the warmer months. Next was hamburger steak. A mixture of minced meat, bread crumbs, and spices. Perid reader''s special sauce is poured over it. Then the vegetable tempura. It is battered with egg and flour, and deep-fried in high quality vegetable oil from walnut. Instead of tempura sauce, it is served with Horaijima''s special seaweed salt. There were also croquettes made from topopo. There were plain croquettes and croquettes with minced Yamaga meat. Grape bread was also on display. In this world''s terms, it is called "passa bread" (grape-like bread is called "bitis" and dried grapes are called "passa"). There was also barley porridge, freshly baked bread, smoked meats, fresh vegetable salads, and fruits such as persica and citran. Unfortunately, the rice did not arrive in time. "Wow!This tempura is so crispy and delicious!" "I''ve never had hanbaagu before, but what the heck!It''s too good!" Of course, Jin was overjoyed by the taste, which the Peridos had worked so hard to recreate for him. "Jin-san, it''s so delicious!" Licia seemed to like the hamburger steak. "Mmmm, this is the first time I''ve had this tempura dish, but it''s delicious. Pascoe seemed to like the tempura at Pascoe. Only this time, he left the serving to the golem maids, while Barrow, Behle, and Meene ate the same food. "Who the hell is Jin-sama ......?" Barrow is still muttering such a thing, while Behr is tasting the food. "It''s delicious. I''ll ask him to teach me how to make it next time. Meane was also tasting the food for the first time. "It''s delicious! Seeing Hannah with a big smile on her face as she tucked into her hamburger steak made Jin happy. Jin brother, this is delicious. ...... they used topopo in this too, didn''t they?" Erza, who had another croquette, no longer disliked topopo. The passa bread also seemed to be well received, especially by the children. When the time was right, Jin ordered sake to be served as well. The fifth column (quinta) had bought some from around the area. Beer from the Kingdom of Egelea, wine from the Kingdom of Elias. And ales from the Kingdom of Klein, etc., etc., etc. "Oh!Food is good, but it''s the drinks!" Don''t drink too much!" The banquet at Nido Castle was now in full swing. Jin called Reiko to liven up the party. "Reiko, can you do the last dance and song?" Jin asked, referring to the dance performed by Neon, the Berche automata, and memorized by Reiko. "Yes, I can." Reiko stood up and walked to the center of the hall. "Oh?Reiko? "What are you going to do?" As the villagers looked on, Reiko began to dance. At the same time, she sang a song. The villagers who were watching her praised her. "Oh!She''s so cute! "Good one!Lako! I want to take it home!" The dance was well received here, too. "I can''t believe she''s an automaton, Jin-san. ......" Licia, who was watching the performance, muttered in disgust. Pascoe''s eyes widened and he exclaimed, "I can''t believe she''s an automaton. Elsa clapped her hands and Hannah ran to Reiko innocently. "You''re so beautiful, Reiko! And then she began to dance with Reiko, just as Reiko had done before. Hannah''s hidden talent, I was surprised to see that she was quite good at it. "Hannah-chan, you''re good! Seeing this, Jessie and Patty, girls from Kaina village, jumped in and joined in. They were not as good as Hannah, but they danced together in a very cute way. "Kyaaa!They are so cute!" "I knew it, girls are cute, I want to have a girl next time!" "What are you talking about? When the dancing was over and everyone bowed, the audience burst into applause. Reiko and Hannah came back to the dance hall holding hands. "Thank you, Reiko. Hannah, you were so cute." "Heh heh heh." As Reiko and the children performed their tricks, the slightly intoxicated villagers started to stand up one by one. "All right, I''ll do one dance too! Listen to my song! I''m in charge here! You idiot, why are you taking off your clothes? Don''t show me your clothes! The night in the village of Kaina was filled with merrymaking. 335 - - 11-37 Desired hometown The party ended peacefully before midnight. No one in the village was too drunk to walk. Everyone walked home. Needless to say, golems with lights were stationed at strategic points in the village to illuminate their steps. Licia and Pascoe personally showed Jin to the guest room on the second floor. "Wow, this is Jin-san''s country style! Licia was impressed by the tatami mats. "Hmmm!It smells so good!" Licia also seemed to like the smell of the igusa-like material. Pascoe, on the other hand, did not seem to feel anything in particular since we showed him a room with a wooden floor and a bed, but he was surprised at the bedding made of magi silk. He was surprised to see the bedding made of magi silk. "Thank you very much, everyone. Finally calming down, Jin called out to Erza and Meene, who had helped him in various ways. "No, I didn''t help much. Jin-sama, I am a hired hand. Erza and Meene shook their heads. Meanwhile, Hannah is fast asleep. "Jin, I don''t want to wake her up, so please let her stay here. When Martha left, Jin told Ruby 101, who was nearby, to put the two of them in his bedroom on the fifth floor. "Okay." Ruby 101 replied and went to put down the futon. "Oh, yeah, Behrle." Jin stops Behrle when he comes back from cleaning up. "You guys can start sleeping in the castle tonight. Until now, they had been renting a room in Jin''s house. "Your rooms are upstairs. We''ll have one room each." "......?Can I have a room? Behrle whispered in surprise, concerned for the sleeping Hanna. "Yes. Ask Butler B. Butler B, please." "Yes, sir." "Oh, and Barrow just got back." Behrle and Barrow were led upstairs by Butler B. "......" In the meantime, Jin notices Erza staring at him as if she wanted to say something. "Yeah?Elsa, what''s wrong?" Then Erza slowly opened her mouth. "...... Jin, I want to stay here too." Erza loves the combination of tatami mats and futons. Knowing this, Jin nodded his head while smiling a little. "Yes, that''s fine. Then I''ll ask her to stay in one of the Japanese-style rooms. "No, I''d rather stay with Hannah. "With ...... my room." "Oh." Realizing what she meant, even Elsa''s cheeks flushed a little. "Well, but I understand. Hannah and Erza can sleep in the living room on the fifth floor. "Thank you." Elsa''s face broke into a smile. "Mother, I''ll stay here tonight." "Yes, yes, I understand. ...... Jin-sama, you take care of Erza then, okay?" After a brief exchange of words, Meane gave her consent. Jin must be trusted that much. "Shall we go now?" "Yes." Jin asked Reiko to pick Hannah up in her arms and climbed the stairs with Erza in tow. It was a long way to the fifth floor, but Elsa was not too out of breath. Jin, on the other hand, was a little out of breath. (It was a good thing we had the hidden elevator installed. ......) Jin was thankful that the old man had installed the elevator in the heart pillar at short notice, even though he could not use it openly. "Jin-sama. Is Erza-sama here too?" Ruby 101 had just finished putting down the futon. "Sorry, Elsa''s going to stay here too, so we''ll have two couples in the living room and one in my bedroom. "Yes, I understand." The futon was already laid out, and he took it by the ends and moved it to the other side. He gently puts Hannah down on the futon. Then he lays down a new pair for Erza and that''s it. "Thank you very much. You can stay here for the rest of the day. "Yes, sir. Good night, sir." Ruby 101 said and went downstairs. "Butler C, you can stay downstairs tonight too. Reiko will be here." "Yes, sir." "Well then, Elsa, take care of Hannah. Toilet and washroom are on the north side. Okay. I''ll take care of it. And Reiko, take care of Hannah. Yes, Father. I don''t think Hannah will wet the bed anymore, but it would be a big problem if she doesn''t know where the bathroom is in the middle of the night or if she falls down the stairs in her sleep. And she has been drinking a lot of juice tonight, so it''s understandable that Jin was worried. The living room where Elsa and Hannah sleep is separated from Jin''s bedroom by a sliding door in a completely Japanese style. "......Well, Erza, would you like to come over for a while before you go to bed?" ?" Jin beckoned Erza and invited her to the sixth floor. A narrow, steep staircase leads to the sixth floor, the top floor of Nido Castle. It is a square room about 10 meters square with a thick round pillar running through the center. The room is about 10 meters square, with a thick round pillar running through the center. "Wow." It is pitch black outside, and the sky is covered with stars. Looking down, the houses are dotted with lights. If it were brighter, the view would be better. "Yeah. You should come back tomorrow morning. Jin cut off the conversation. A moment of silence passes. "......" Then Jin spoke again. "...... I have met the Emperor." "! Elsa''s shoulders shook. Jin continued. "He spoke to me in a friendly manner. He even showed me to the archives himself." "...... yes." Elsa looked at the starry sky and answered shortly. "Do you want to ...... go home?" Jin then said what he thought was the most important question to ask. "...... what?" At these words, Erza looked at Jin. He seemed to be smiling, but at the same time he had a pained expression on his face. "......I also met Ms. Bertsche. He and Reinhardt seemed to be getting along well." "............" Erza was silent, looking down as if thinking about something. "This place is very nice. ...... everyone is so nice. And with my mother." After a few moments of silence, Erza began to speak. "...... but Shoro is the country where I grew up. ...... my parents'' home is there too." Staring up at the starry sky again, Erza spoke each word as if to say it to herself. "My home. My room. I won''t say I don''t miss it." Then Erza looked at Jin again. Her eyes were filled with tears, as if they were about to spill. "I''m not very good with my father, but ....... I had a few friends. I''d be lying ...... if I said I didn''t want to go back." Jin gently stroked Erza''s head as she choked on her words. "...... Jin, brother?" Erza''s cheeks turned slightly as he stroked her head, and she looked at Jin with a puzzled look on her face. "Oh, I''m sorry, I just..." Jin apologized and let go of the hand that was patting her head. Then he said something. "Someday, I''m going to make sure that Erza can go back home with a big smile on her face. "......Yes." Erza said one word and laid her head on Jin''s shoulder. 336 - - 11-38 Sympathy The next morning, Jin woke up around 5:00 a.m., partly because he heard noises in the next room. Listening carefully, he heard Hannah waking up and fidgeting around. "Hannah, are you awake? I whispered to her, "Oh, honey?Is this ...... your room?" I''m not sure if it''s a good idea or not, but it''s a good idea. "I woke up and was surprised to find myself in an unfamiliar room, but I didn''t understand why Elsa was sleeping in my room. "I see. Last night, Hannah fell asleep in the banquet hall, so Martha asked me to let her sleep. "I see. I see. ...... Elsa, is your daughter here too? "Yeah. I''m sure it''s lonely for Hannah to sleep alone." It''s a slightly different reason, but that''s what Jin decided to call it. "Ummm........." While talking with Hannah, Erza seems to have woken up too. "............" Erza is not a very good sleeper. She wakes up on the futon and lies sprawled out. "Good morning, girl! Hannah cheerfully called out to Erza. Then she remembered that she had stayed at Jin''s castle. "...... Good morning!" "Elsa, Hannah, let''s go wash our faces. Then we''ll go to the cafeteria for breakfast. Jin closed the sliding door once after saying these words. He closed the sliding door for a moment to change. Erza was also dressed in the guest room clothes provided by the castle. After changing, Erza opened the fusuma and asked Jin for a favor. "...... sorry to keep you waiting. But after I wash my face, I''d like to go to the roof again before going to the dining room. Elsa remembered last night. She wanted to enjoy the view before going down and coming back up again. "Not the rooftop, though." Jin said, and after washing his face, he invited Hannah to join him and the three of them went up to the sixth floor. The stairs are steep, so Reiko silently follows behind them, ready to hold them down in case they step off. "Wow!It''s so tall!" Hannah shouted. "Oh, is that the Ermee River?" Elsa is also enjoying the morning scenery. "Wow, what a beautiful view!" The sun has just risen over the mountains to the east. The sunrise time is a little earlier, but the mountain range makes the sunrise time around this time. After enjoying the view for a while, the three of us went downstairs. "Let''s take a bath in the morning," Jin suggested. Jin suggested. We missed the bath last night because of the party. "Yeah?" "Yes!" Hannah and Erza agree, and we head for the hot spring. We could bring towels and change of clothes from Martha''s house on the way. "Ah, Jin-san, good morning! As I started walking down the road leading to the village, a voice called out to me from behind. I turned around to see Licia. Licia seemed to have already woken up and was properly dressed. "Good morning, Licia-san. "Good morning, Ms. Licia. "Good morning, Mrs. Chozen, good morning!" Licia waved good morning back at Hannah and the others with a laugh, even though she was no longer a tax collector. Jin-san wakes up early, doesn''t he? "Oh, I''m going to take a bath in the morning. There is a bath in this castle, but I thought a hot spring bath would be better. When Jin answered, Licia asked him shyly, "Oh, that''s nice. "Oh, that sounds great!Can''t I come with you?" "No, that''s fine. Hey, Hannah, Elsa?" Jin said, to which both of them immediately replied, "Yes. "Thank you!I''ll hurry up and get you a change of clothes! With that, Licia ran toward the castle. "...... Jin, how do you know that man?" Erza asked Jin as soon as Licia was out of sight. "Yes, he came to this village last year as a tax collector and was with me when I carried the tax wheat to the next village. "Is that all?" Elsa is very perceptive today. "...... I asked you for some advice along the way and saved you from a golem attack." "And I fixed your sword for you, didn''t I?" Reiko added ungratefully from behind. But then Erza seemed to remember. "Oh, the guy who delivered the sword to you in Alban..." "Yes, that''s right." "You''ve always been very loyal to him, haven''t you?" Even Hannah said something that didn''t need to be said, which made Jin a little flustered. But Erza said, "...... Jin is kind to girls, right?" Jin did not know what to say to that. Jin did not know what to say to that. Just then, Licia returned. "Sorry to keep you waiting! Jin, thankfully, starts walking toward the village. Just then he heard another voice. "Good morning, Licia!Are you going for a walk?" It was Pascoe Rush. He had also gotten up early and was out for a walk. "Good morning, Mr. Pascoe. We are all going to the hot springs. "What?You''re going to the hot springs with us? Even Jin knew what he was talking about. "No, of course, the bathrooms are separate for men and women. When he said this, Pascoe''s momentum visibly slowed down. "Oh, may I join you?" "Yes, yes, of course. Since he was coming to the men''s bath anyway, Jin replied. "Then please go ahead of me. I will follow you after I get a change of clothes. As soon as he said that, Pascoe ran as fast as he could toward the castle. Jin and the others walked slowly, stopping first at Martha''s house to get a change of clothes and towels. Martha and Meene were already awake and asked what they were going to do about breakfast, but Jin refused, saying that he and Licia would eat at the castle. Hannah looked a little sad, but it could not be helped. We went to the hot spring. Pascoe had just arrived. Jin and Pascoe went to the men''s hot spring, and Hannah, Erza, and Licia went to the women''s hot spring. Reiko was waiting outside. "Wow, it''s warm! Hannah is stretching out in the bathtub. Elsa and Licia are soaking in the bathtub side by side. "Elsa-san, you are so fair-skinned. And you have beautiful skin." "...... Licia is beautiful too." Unlike Barbara and Behrle, Licia was as voluptuous as herself, and Elsa was relieved to see her. She hadn''t seen Licia since Beena. "Hehehe, but my face and arms are so burnt, I''m so black..." Licia, who had been on the frontline, had darkened her skin in the exposed areas. On the other hand, Erza''s skin was as white as ever, since she was always pale and didn''t go outside much. "It''s okay. I''m sure ...... soaking in a hot spring will help." "I hope so. ...... Perhaps they felt some kind of sympathy, the two exchanged words without any sense of discomfort. Hannah is soaking in the hot water at her own pace. "............" ".................." "(Awkward ......)" "(What to say ......)" On the other hand, Jin and Pascoe were soaking in the hot spring without conversation. 337 - - 11-39 Battle of the End of the Act Lakham when Jin was in an awkward situation with Pascoe in the village of Kaina. Count Walter was currently stationed here. His original base was in Plethos, but Laxham, which is a little closer to the village of Kaina, has been his base of operations for some time now. Master, it''s morning. Please get up soon. This morning''s maid of honor knocked on the door to wake the Count. But there was no answer. Count Walter was a good sleeper and was notorious for playing tricks on the maid who came to wake him up. When the Count did not wake up for a while, the maid wondered why. She remembered that the day before yesterday he had been complaining of feeling a little tired, so she hurried to call the chief butler to see if something was wrong. The butler came immediately. He opened the door with a duplicate key and found ...... * * * * * * * * * * * * "(...... how far do you think you are going?)" Deneb 30 thought to herself. She is now following the mystery man. The mystery man, who had been doing all sorts of favors for Count Walter, had left the Count''s villa in Rakham early this morning and was walking eastward. At this rate, he would leave the Earl of Walter''s estate. The mysterious man, whose identity had remained elusive throughout our investigations so far. This was surprising, considering the capabilities of the fifth column. Perhaps even more astonishing is the man''s speed of movement. It is not the speed of a normal human being. He covered more than 60 kilometers in two hours. That is, more than 30 kilometers per hour. That is more than 1.5 times faster than a marathon. And they are not heading for an urban area. We were traveling through the most deserted area of the country, about halfway between the neighboring towns of Noissa and Leeuwin, and the town of Rakham in the Earl of Walter''s domain. Naturally, there were no roads, but rather rocky terrain, forests, and wasteland, all in poor conditions at speeds of 30 kilometers per hour. This was no human feat. The mysterious man may not be a human being, as Deneb 29 and 30''s investigation did not reveal his true identity, and Deneb 30 Deneb 30 had reported to the old man before the chase, and it was going to be true. * * * * "Master!" the chief butler exclaimed in dismay as he found his master on the bed, groaning in agony. He then hurriedly instructed a maid at his side. "He''s burning up!Get a healer!Call the healer! Yes, yes! The maid rushed out of the room. The mysterious man and his tail were in the room. The mysterious man and Deneb 30, who was following him, had arrived at the edge of the Shama Marsh. It had taken them about three hours to reach this point, a ridiculously fast pace. The mysterious man stops for the first time at a place where the ground has begun to get muddy. He turns around slowly. For the first time, I get a clear view of the man''s face. His face is well-shaped, and he appears to be in his mid-twenties, but there is also a sense that he is not quite human. He had the air of a cold-blooded animal. He was about 190 centimeters tall, somewhat slender but toned. He has the physique of a martial artist. The fact that we can now clearly recognize such details means that our mystery man has been wearing a disguise that even the fifth column (Quinta) would not notice. "I''m glad you''re here." And his gaze clearly caught Deneb 30 who was activating stealth. * * * * "............" The healer who had been called in examined Count Walter with a difficult look on his face, and when he was finished, he said to the chief butler, "It''s too late. "It''s too late. "What? He''s already stopped breathing. No amount of powerful magic or medicine can bring him back to life. No! "...... sir. ......" Count Walter is 41 years old. It was a quick and easy end. Who are you, sir? Who are you? Deneb30 asked the mysterious man as he emerged from his stealth. What are you?You are not human, are you? I will say the same thing to you. "Hmm, you don''t want to talk." One man and one body glared at each other. It seemed that the standoff would continue, but the mysterious man was the one who made the first move, perhaps out of frustration. His speed was even faster than before. Moreover, a dagger was shining in his hand. !" Deneb 30 tried to avoid it, but perhaps because the ground was soft, his feet were caught and his initial movement was slightly delayed. And that was enough for the man. There was a high pitched metallic sound, and a dagger had been dug into Deneb 30''s right arm. The skeleton of the fifth column (quinta) is made of light silver. The dagger had penetrated to the middle of the arm, which was made of light silver. "You are a golem ...... or an automaton! The light silver was tenacious, and Deneb 30 instantly pulled his arm back so that the dagger was snatched from the man''s hand, still lodged in Deneb 30''s arm. I didn''t think there was anyone in this age who could make an automaton like you. What is the name of the creator of ...... you?" You think I''m going to tell you that? Deneb30 pulled a dagger from his right arm and held it in his left hand as he stared at the man. His right arm is useless, with more than half of its magical muscle severed. "You always do that," he said. You swear unlimited allegiance to your maker. ......." The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out a gemstone that glows aquamarine in the sunlight. And then. "<>" The man casts a spell I''ve never heard of. The wave seemed to pierce Deneb 30. "......, you''re making me work for it. Automata, tell me your name and who made you." The mysterious man orders Deneb 30 as if he is proud of his victory. But the next moment, his eyes widen in astonishment. "No, sir." Deneb 30 turns to the man with the same attitude as before. "What the hell are you ......?You don''t want to obey my enslavement!" I don''t owe you an answer. "...... I see. Then I will dismember you, pull out your control core, and ask you directly! The man thrusts the jewel in his hand again, "<>! He releases a destructive spell. The mud that was hit by the wave exploded. If he had been hit properly, even Deneb 30 would have been hurt, but this time Deneb 30, who knew his footing well enough, dodged it in the nick of time. "Eladrite, isn''t it? "You!You know all that? Once again, they stop moving, one against the other. Silence reigns again. ....... "...... your master is quite a man, I''ll give him that." The man mutters in frustration. "Well, let''s make a deal. You will not stalk me any longer. In exchange, I''ll answer one question for you. How about ......?" Deneb 30 is silent. But in fact, he was communicating with the old man by means of a built-in manacam. <>) Yes.) (< After such an exchange, Deneb30 replied to the man. I understand. I will accept your conditions. However, since you wounded my arm, I will take this dagger. When Deneb 30 told him this, the man frowned in frustration. "I don''t ...... have a choice. You can ask me any question you like. The old man had already decided on the content of the question. "Well then. What was your purpose in ...... Count Walter''s place?" The man rolls his eyes again when he hears the question. "......How. He asks me that. I thought you were going to ask me who I am. "You don''t have to say anything else, just answer the question." "...... Okay. I was with him, you know, just for the hell of it. I''m not lying." "...... You spread contagious diseases for fun!" Again the man was surprised. "......Are you and your master really who you say you are?......I told you I would only ask you one question, and out of respect for your good eye, I will answer it. The man tucked the eladrite into his pocket and took a great leap. With one leap, he plunges into the marsh. "Ha-ha-ha, that was fun. But, as usual, humans are weak. But I will spare you and tell you my name. My name is Lardus. < The man who called himself Lardus leaps again without getting his feet caught in the soft peat. And so he vanished beyond the great Shama marshes. 338 - - 11-40 Souvenirs Deneb 30, who had been watching the Great Shama Marsh where Lardus had disappeared, turned and ran to deliver the dagger to the old man as quickly as possible. His destination is the village of Kaina. The village of Kaina, because it has a warp gate and Jin should be there now. The current time is around 9:00 a.m. The distance to the village is 80 kilometers in a straight line. The distance to the village of Kaina is about 80 kilometers in a straight line. The speed is a little slow because of the poor footholds along the marshland, but it should still take about two hours to reach the village. However, my steps suddenly slowed down. What? I noticed that Deneb 30''s left ankle was slightly damaged. "It''s the aftermath of <> or some such magic. ...... I thought I had enough time to avoid it." It seems that the area of effect was wider than expected. "......This is not a satisfactory way to run......" Deneb30 had no choice but to contact the old man. "The magic of this Lardus guy grazed me and damaged my left ankle," he said. < The old man assured him. Deneb 30''s location had been determined by the magi radar, so it would only take a little over two hours to meet up with the rescue golem, Land Y, and Z from the village of Kaina. The dagger is given to Land Y. The dagger is given to Land Y. Land Y would return to the village of Kaina at full speed and deliver the Dagger to the old man using the warp gate there, while Land Z would carry Deneb 30 back to the village of Kaina. All the necessary information has been given to the old man, but he does not know what is in store for him. Land Z and Deneb 30 set out for the village of Kaina in a hurry. Meanwhile, the old man was still troubled by the words, . So he contacted Deneb 29, who was supposed to be still in Rakham. "I was just about to call you, sir." A startling turn of events had occurred. > "Yes. He suffered from fatigue followed by a high fever and then severe pain all over his body. ......" The old man knows that all the plans he had made to bully the Count have come to nothing. But don''t let that discourage you. < With these words, the old man changed his mind. Licia''s poor health and Count Walter''s death. It seemed that Lardus had something to do with both of them. The old man then contacted Reiko. * * * * * * After enjoying the morning bath at the hot spring, Jin had breakfast with Licia and Pascoe at Nido Castle. Elsa also joined them. Elsa''s table manners are textbook. Licia and Pascoe looked at her with admiration. "Oh, Elsa, is that right, you are very elegant. ......" Pascoe''s face was slightly red. Licia, on the other hand, was frank in her admiration. "Wow, Erza-san, you''re so graceful. It would be acceptable to say that you are a daughter of a noble family. It is not so much that it is acceptable as it is that she is a former daughter, but neither Jin nor Elsa say such a thing. "...... because my father was a strict man." Erza just mumbled something like that. Both of them seemed to sense something in her voice and stopped talking about the subject any further. After breakfast, I showed them around the village of Kaina. Jin was on his golem horse, , and Elsa on hers, also . Licia and Pascoe ride and , respectively. "Wow, wow, is this ......? "Wah, wah, wah!I know how to do this!" At first they were a bit intimidated by the controls, but after half an hour they got used to them and were able to make them walk without any problem. So the four of us set off on a tour of the village of Kaina. The starting point is Nido Castle. The starting point is Nido Castle, on the banks of the Erme River. First, we go to the bank of the Erme River. The area has a good view of the river, with pools and rapids next to each other. Magi stone can be found in that area a short distance away. It is a source of magical power for the stove and provides a good income for the village. "Oh, you can get it here?" Licia''s house was also using two stoves supplied by the Raglan Trading Company, so she was familiar with the magic stone sand. Pascoe, on the other hand, did not seem to know about the stoves. After the Erme River, we returned to the village of Caina. After the bridge, we walked gently up the road leading to the village and came to a simple wooden fence, inside of which was the official village of Caina. Inside the fence, a wheat field can be seen on the left. Behind it was a coniferous forest. The wheat field over there grows wheat," Jin explained. Jin explains. In the village, there are some areas that are left unused due to the poor soil, but the land is basically used for houses, fields, or storage of materials. "Vegetable fields are basically for our own consumption." Most of the vegetables grown are greens. This is because the time between sowing seeds and harvesting is short. The four of them came to the front of Martha''s house. "This is the house where I''ve been staying. Licia, you know this house, don''t you? "Yes." "We''re expanding the original workshop and rebuilding the house. Well, I guess you could say this is my home. Elsa lives here. A little further on is the village headman''s house. "As you know, this is the house of Mr. Giebeck, who, as my deputy, is practically in charge of the village." Here Jin turned off the central street and headed east. "This is the ...... barley silo, right?" Licia, who came here last year as a tax collector, remembered it. "Yes. But there''s one more thing." Jin pointed to a heap of snow. "What is that?" "It''s called a snow room, simply put, it''s a place where we dig a hole and store the snow that falls during the winter to preserve vegetables. As I explained this, the snow chamber approached. The four of us parked the golem horses in front of the snow chamber and got off. Jin gently opened the door of the snow chamber. "If you open the door too wide, it will get too warm inside. With these words, they went inside. Elsa, Licia, and Pascoe followed in that order. Jin put out a ball of light to illuminate their feet. "It''s really snowing. ...... It''s a little cold, but this is amazing!" Licia is amazed at the amount of snow in front of her and the meat and vegetables stored in the holes in the snow. Licia let out an exclamation. "You know a lot of things, Jin-san. You know a lot of things, Jin-san, and you use them for the good of the village. I admire you so much." Licia praised Jin, but Pascoe looked at her with a frustrated expression. It was then that Pascoe said to her. "Father, there seems to be an emergency. Reiko announced in a small voice. "What?What is it? "Yes. It''s about the ...... disease." Since Licia and Pascoe were with her, Reiko tried to keep her explanation as vague as possible. But that was enough for Jin to understand. "Okay. Licia, Mister Pascoe, I''m sorry, but I''d like to go back. Pascoe looked at her as if he had no idea what was going on, but Licia nodded. "Yes, if you say so Jin-san, something must have happened to you. Please leave us alone and hurry back. "Thank you. Now, please come to my house in Martha''s house that I just showed you. Elsa take care of the two of you. Jin said quickly as he and Reiko left the snow room, and Jin jumped on the frame and headed for home. Reiko jumped in front of Jin. Licia and Pascoe, still unfamiliar with the golem horses, were escorted back slowly by Elsa. * * * * "...... Count Walter is sick and dead!" Jin hears the report through Reiko while riding. Demon tribe. They are the irreconcilable enemy with whom human beings fought for their existence in the Magic War. But Lao Tzu says that is not important now. Jin urged him on as he ran the panel. "A legacy?" "What? The worst possibility that Jin feared was about to come true. 339 - - 11-41 70% Threat After returning home, Jin left Kaina village to Butler A and returned to Horai Island through the warp gate in the basement of the workshop. "Old man, tell me the details. Without even a word of greeting, Jin launched into his main topic. > The old man explained in chronological order. Licia had stayed one night at the villa of Count Walter, who happened to be in Laxham. It is highly probable that something was done to her by a pigeon that was used for communication. The reason for this is that the pigeon showed some signs of sickness, such as puffing up its wings afterwards. The day we left Toka village, Licia was not feeling well. The day after Licia fell ill, Count Walter also fell ill. And this morning, the Count, who was rapidly deteriorating, ...... "That count ...... didn''t do a decent job until the end, did he?" When Jin heard the explanation of the situation, he clenched his fists so hard that his fingernails dug into his palms. He was furious with Count Walter, but the man was no longer of this world. Jin forced his mind to switch to his priority right now, which was ...... to deal with the disease. "I see, I understand now. Your guess is as good as mine. It is most likely a bird-borne disease." Jin remembered the words "bird flu" and "parrot fever. There must be a similar disease in this world. < And as a precaution, the other day we gave Persica juice with medicinal effects to all the villagers. We can be sure that the village of Kaina is safe for now. "But the village along the route Licia and the others have taken, as well as Rakham and the surrounding towns ......" This is what we feared the other day. So far, no one seems to be sick yet. However, it would be a big problem if the disease could be spread not only from bird to human but also from human to bird. It would spread to the whole Klein Kingdom and neighboring countries in the blink of an eye. It would be a pandemic. "Hm?Land Y? What''s going on? Land Y is supposed to be in charge of defending the village of Kaina. Why would Land Y be taking the demon tribe''s belongings?Jin wondered. "It was a bad idea to let Deneb 30 track alone." "That was inevitable. ...... Well, it''s a good thing we didn''t lose that Lardus or whatever he''s called as a result." << As I was saying this, Land Y came back through the village of Kaina. Needless to say, he had raised his body temperature to 200 degrees Celsius for sterilization under the old man''s instruction. "Oh, thank you, Lando Y." "Master, I see you''re back here. Here is the dagger, old man. Land Y took the dagger in his hand and was about to hand it to Lao Tzu, the master. Jin, who was looking at him, said. "Hmm?Let me see it." Jin took the dagger in his hand and looked at the material it was made of. He had never seen such a material before. What kind of material had Jin, the Magecraft Meister, never seen before? "......I think it''s probably a biological material. Jin put his interest aside for the moment and handed the dagger to Lao Tzu. The priority now was to locate Lardus. Lao Tzu set the dagger on his terminal. The Master turned on the magi radar. A few minutes later. "Kingdom of Leonard or ......" One of a small group of countries with little or no diplomatic relations with the rest of the world, hampered by an endless mountain range, and whose true identity is shrouded in mystery. The fifth column (Quinta) has not been dispatched there so far. "We would like to send the 5th Quinta to the Shoro Kingdom and the Leonard Kingdom as well. Then we need to reinforce ......." > Jin answered "Yes," to the old man''s question. Then the old man said He expressed his concern. Jin nodded his head and was thinking of concrete measures when Deneb 30 returned with Land Z in his arms. Of course, they had entered the village of Kaina after being heat sterilized. They were not followed. "Oh, thank you, Deneb 30, Land Z." Jin, who had returned to the real problem, chimed in, "No, I was just doing my job. Good bye." Deneb 30 looked apologetic and apologized to Jin. Chief, I am sorry for the damage I have done to your body. But Jin spoke kindly to Deneb 30. "It''s okay. You did a good job this time. Without your information, the situation could have been much more serious. "That''s a shame, sir." Jin stopped Deneb 30 from bowing, "We don''t have much time. Give me a detailed report." The old man had given him a brief report, but Jin wanted to hear directly from Deneb30 who had actually confronted Lardus. "Yes, he is ......." At the same time that Deneb30 was reporting verbally, Jin was repairing the damaged parts. This is the work of a magical engineer, a MagiCraft Meister. The magical skin, magical muscles, and skeleton of the right arm that was cut by the dagger. All of them could be repaired by engineering magic. This was because the cut surfaces were clean, which showed the sharpness of the dagger. After that, the whole body was checked again, and any damaged parts were repaired. The old man was entrusted with the analysis of the magic recorders (magi recorders) that had been replaced at this time, and the magic crystals (magi crystals) were exchanged for new ones. Deneb 30 is now fully operational again. "......That concludes my report. Thank you very much for your repair work, ...... chief. Jin nodded his head as Deneb 30 bowed to him. "...... got it. I don''t think he''s a human for all intents and purposes. What do you think ......?" The old man had called Anne, who had a real knowledge of the war of magic, to help him. "They are definitely demons. Their physical strength is several to dozens of times greater than that of human beings. And their chanting is also unique to demons. Anne also says that Lardus is a demon. "I don''t think that a demon tribe with such abilities could have survived the Aether Stampede, so I think he was born after the war. Anne added her own guess. But that was of no comfort now. "Yeah. You think so. But it doesn''t make things any better. ......You said he also used some kind of slavery magic?" Yes, with Eladrite. "Well, it''s a good thing I took precautions ......." All Golems and automata in Horai Island are equipped with a solid countermeasure against slave rewriting magic, but I shudder to think what would have happened if they had been even a little careless. Since the principle is probably the same for the demon''s subjugation magic, Deneb 30 was spared from subjugation. The magic crystals (magi crystals) of the magic recorders (magi recorders) that we exchanged earlier should have recorded both slave magic and offensive magic. Analysis is awaited, but that is not the most pressing issue. Jin changes his mind. "I''m also wondering if there are other demons, but I''ll leave that to the new fifth column (quinta) we''re going to build, but for now, the most important thing is to deal with the disease. Then Anne said something unexpected. "Disease?I think there was something like that during the Great Magic War. "What?I knew it. A diary found in the ruins before had written about a chemical weapon that seemed to be a strong acid. If so, it is no wonder that there were biological weapons. "I''m sorry, but my memory on this matter is not very good and I don''t know all the details. If you are talking about the time of the Great Magic War, there should be some records in the control core of Elena, the former . The old man must be in charge of it. The old man seemed to have finished his search before Jin mentioned it, and he immediately made a conclusion. <>. It is transmitted from bird to human and from human to human, with an incubation period of two to five days. After suffering from high fever and severe pain, the patient becomes weak and eventually dies. The fatality rate is about 70 percent. Some people do not develop the disease depending on their constitution. That is all we know. Still, a 70 percent fatality rate is a threat. The only saving grace is that there seems to be no human to bird transmission. "Don''t we know anything about an effective treatment?" . Jin pondered. In Licia''s case, it could be treated with a recovery drug, but there is no telling how many more people will develop the disease. Is there enough medicine to treat all of them? Even if there were, how would we distribute them? Is it difficult to do so with warp gates or airplanes? Both of them are means of transportation from point to point. In this case, we need to take measures in terms of lines and planes. "I guess we need to grab this demon tribe and ask them for details. We need to prepare the recovery medicine, but it would be better to have as much detailed information as possible. "You know where they are, don''t you? < "Then the best person for the job is ......." Jin glanced to the side. Standing there silently, Jin''s most trusted masterpiece. It was Reiko. Reiko understood Jin''s gaze correctly. "Yes, father. Leave it to me. I''ll make sure I catch this Lardus or whatever he''s called and make him tell us what he knows about the disease. "...... I''m sorry, Reiko. I told you I''d treat you more like a girl... and here you are! I''m a lousy father, I am." But Reiko shakes her head. "No, father. I am an automaton. For me, it is my greatest pleasure to be of service to my father, the creator. Patting Reiko on the head, Jin said, still a little pained. "Can you help me, Reiko?You can use Pegasus 1 if you need to. ...... I''ll talk to Licia and Pascoe after this, and make arrangements for them to work as people of the Klein Kingdom." Jin decided that if they were going to work in an organized manner, it would be better to have them work as nobles. "Don''t worry. I will act in consultation with the old man. I''ll act in consultation with the old man." "This is something only you can do now, please. Thus, Reiko begins her actions to capture the demon tribe . And Jin stood up to save the people of the Kingdom of Klein. "Reiko, if something happens to me, don''t hesitate to give your all. These words were an expression of his determination. 340 - - 11-42 The Kingdom of Leonard Reiko discussed the plan with the old man and Ann. "Since we know where he is, let''s fly to Leonard''s Kingdom at night by Pegasus 1 and capture Lardus. Since Jin has given us permission, we will use the fastest aircraft on Horai Island. <<> is not used this time, since there is still a problem with the accuracy of the transfer and we do not know what is there at the destination. < This way, there will be no loss of time. "Lady, please take someone with you, not just one person. Of course, I know you are strong. But it may not be just one person, just in case, just in case. Anne said. Reiko obediently heeds her advice. She does not feel that she can lose to any opponent, but there is a possibility that she may be stranded or otherwise prevented from returning home. At such times, it is reassuring to have a companion. Soleil and Luna belong directly to Reiko, and Lando is the strongest golem in Horai Island except for Reiko. "Let''s do that. And, <> please." As expected, the Magi Cannon is difficult to use against an individual, and I judged that it would be overkill. The <> was damaged during the battle with the Unification Party (Unifiler), so it was later replaced with a Magi-Adamantite by Jin, and it also had the added function of a super high-speed vibrating sword Vibration Sword. "For defense, there is ...... this." A pendant that Jin had given her before. Reiko patted it lovingly as she put it around her neck. It took about an hour for all the preparations. The current time is 5:00 p.m. Horai Island time. "How about the target, old man?" The old man, who was checking the magi radar in real time, answered immediately to Reiko''s question. Lardus, the target, has not moved. That means he is at his base. . Reiko, Soleil, Luna, and Land 1 and 2 boarded Pegasus 1 and departed. Jin was absent because he had returned to the village of Kaina to consult with Licia and the others. However, even if Jin is not there, Reiko''s heart...... control core is still burned with the words from Jin, "Only you can take care of this, take care of it. "I''m going, Father." Reiko mutters in a voice so small that only she can hear it, and gets into Pegasus 1. * * * * The distance between Leonard Kingdom and Horai Island is about 600 kilometers, and the time difference is less than two hours. At the speed of Pegasus 1, it would take less than an hour to get there. However, since it is still light in the sky, we have to make a slight detour to avoid the possibility of being discovered. "...... Is there < around here? ...... but this is ......." It was still dusk when Reiko observed the world below from 500 meters above and was somewhat taken aback by the unexpected view. "No way, there is no kingdom." Yes, as far as she could see from the sky, there was no place that could be called a country. It is not that there are no human inhabitants, but there are only a few small settlements, and they are not towns in any sense of the word. This was not the case when the map was made. "You don''t mean to say that there was an illusionary boundary ......?" When the map was drawn, the observation was made from an altitude of approximately 5,000 meters and 2,000 meters above the ground. I observed the area from about 5,000 meters and 2,000 meters above the ground. At that time, no anomalies were found. "It seems that there was a boundary around 800 meters." As we lowered the altitude, the view that we had been able to see changed completely. It was a warding that had fooled even the golem of Horai Island and Reiko''s eyes, let alone ordinary people. "......That is secondary now, isn''t it? But let''s keep a record of this phenomenon. Reiko orders her golem, Luna, to record the characteristics and strength of the wards, while she focuses all her energy on her goal of finding Lardus. "...... discovery". After a short search, the detailed location of Lardus is found. It is about 12 km south of where Reiko is now. Pegasus 1 would only take a few minutes. However, since Pegasus 1 is the only one who can create a mysterious boundary, we decided to land two kilometers ahead of the target. The Pegasus 1, a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft, can land anywhere as long as there is level ground, but Reiko dares to jump off the plane without landing it, taking precautions. "...... Stay in the vicinity until further notice. I''ll keep the mana telecam connected at all times. "Yes, sister." Soleil replied on behalf of the others. This time, she had set up the mana telecam to be linked to Reiko''s eyes and ears. In other words, everything Reiko sees and hears will be sent to the old man. This was a precautionary measure for the worst case scenario. Reiko jumps down from a height of 10 meters and lands almost soundlessly. She runs toward her destination. Her stealth had already been deployed. "But that means that Deneb 30 has been detected as well..." Reiko reminded herself not to trust too much in the stealth. The area around the site, which was apparently a former city, had been uninhabited for more than a few decades, and the buildings were in disrepair and the grass and bushes had begun to grow. There was no shortage of places to hide. Reiko spent about 10 minutes approaching her destination. "...... looks like that building." Reiko''s detector was responding. It''s a pretty big magical reaction. "...... considering that they are demons, it''s no wonder they don''t have any lights on, since I don''t need lights either." The building is made of stone. It may have originally been a three-story house, but the third floor is crumbling, and it seems to function only as a two-story building. There was a magical reaction on the second floor. "There seems to be only one." She had feared that there were others, but so far she could not detect any significant magic within a ten-kilometer radius around her, which was within Reiko''s range of detection. "Then all we have to do now is to accomplish our goal." Reiko stepped into the entrance of the building, being careful not to make any noise. As far as she could see, there seemed to be no traps. "What? At that moment, flames erupted from under Reiko''s feet. However, Reiko was not beaten by that much. In an instant, she jumped down and escaped from the flames. Reiko was safe, but her opponent must have noticed her completely. "Is this a trap that even I can''t see through ......? She guesses that it is probably a method peculiar to the demon tribe. Then, realizing that further stealth would be futile, he turned off his stealth and put his hand on Momoka. At that moment, he heard a voice from the second floor window. "Ha-ha-ha, it seems you have a guest. ......Wow, is that a little lady?" Her appearance was the same as I had heard from Deneb30. Tall, thin, muscular. "What can I do for you?" The smirk on her face would have been physiologically repulsive if Jin had seen it. "Are you sure that you are the humorous Lardus?" Reiko asked him directly. The man''s face contorted. "What?Where did you get that?" But Reiko did not answer him. "I want you to tell me about the disease you spread to the kingdom of Klein. Lardus seemed surprised at this. "Oh, you know about that? Don''t tell me you are one of the automata of the daytime?" Lardus'' face becomes severe. "I didn''t feel that I was being followed. Am I slowing down too?" Then he jumps out of the second story window. He landed softly, without a sound, without a cloud of dust, just like a feather landing. Reiko became alarmed by this physically impossible scene. "So you''re an automaton, too. What do you want? I''ve come to ask you about the details of the disease you''ve spread throughout the Klein Kingdom. And what to do about it. Oh, so you''ve noticed already. Not all of you are fools. I''m not here to question you. Answer me. Reiko demands in a firm tone. But Lardus only smiles coldly. "Humans are weak. A lot of people would have died even at that level. That''s not what I''m asking. That''s what that idiot Walther wanted, remember?I just gave him a little help with what he wanted. Lardus, perhaps trying to keep Reiko on her toes, does not touch on the core of the matter, but evades the question. "Count Walter is dead. You killed him. "Well, I was wrong to believe that the disease I wanted was harmless to me." Reiko decided to shake him up. "I don''t know what the demons are planning to do here, but do you want to die from an "ether stampede"?" As expected, this seemed to have a bit of an effect. "What?I''m a demon? Lardus was surprised for a moment, but quickly realized that he had been tricked. "Hmmm...hmmm...hmmm... I hear you''re a smart guy, too. Indeed, it seems that there are some very skilled magecraftsmen in the world today, just like you and that guy from the daytime. "I''m tired of hearing your nonsense. Are you going to tell us about your illness or not? Reiko''s words could be seen as an ultimatum, to which Lardus responded happily. "If you want to hear it, try to beat me. With these words, he pulled out the sword hidden in his back. The sword glowed dully in the darkness with a bluish-white light. 341 - - 11-43 The Witch. Seeing that Lardus had drawn his sword, Reiko also drew her Momoka. "You''ll ...... regret it, won''t you?" "Interesting sword." But even at this stage, Lardus'' attitude did not show much seriousness. "Let''s go!" Lardus suddenly slashed at him. A slash from the top. Reiko took it without danger. "Well, it seems you can see in the darkness. But it''s still a good sword to be able to take my sword so seriously. Saying this, Lardus instantly jumped back and kept his distance. "......?" Reiko felt a sense of discomfort from the slash. And Lardus'' movement. "Next!" Lardus rushed toward Reiko from his lowered position, aiming at her torso with a side cleave. Although his movement was fast, Reiko should have been able to react and ...... catch him. !" But Lardus and his sword made a strange acceleration in the middle of the move. "I''m surprised he ...... managed to catch it." Reiko had received it just in time, just in time indeed. At that moment, the hand that had caught her felt strange again. Lardus jumped back again and moved away. Reiko wondered what the discomfort was. It was speed and weight. A sword has its own weight, its own mass. It means that the force required to accelerate the sword is different between a light one and a heavy one. Conversely, if the force is the same, the lighter one can move faster. The discomfort Reiko felt was that the acceleration was unnatural and that the impact of the sword she received was too heavy for its speed. "But will I be able to catch it next time?" While Reiko was thinking, Lardus was preparing his next attack. This time he prepared to strike. Even Reiko would be likely to be wounded by a sword that can fight with a reinforced Momoka. Reiko continues to think. "It''s a good thing I can read the type of attack. ...... No, maybe it''s a trap too?" At that moment, Lardus stepped in. And then came the thrust. But Reiko is on top of that move. She can avoid it with a margin. It was supposed to be that way. ! Reiko''s body suddenly became heavy. It is as if her weight has suddenly increased many times. That''s why she couldn''t evade in time. Lardus''s sword was about to pierce Reiko''s left shoulder, which she could not avoid. "Barrier!" Reiko activates the barrier at a moment''s notice. Lardus'' sword stopped on the surface of Reiko''s clothes. It penetrated halfway through the indestructible barrier and was stopped by the threads of the Grand Spider. "Hmmm...you stopped that one..." he said. ...... admit it. You and your master are our equal!" Lardus shouted as he jumped back again. But Reiko did not answer. She was too busy. "I don''t think ...... that this phenomenon is ...... real, but I can only assume that it is ...... real." The old man, who had been watching Lardus'' movements through Reiko''s eyes, agreed. "......You can control the weight, can''t you?" Reiko said. Lardus'' eyes widened this time. "I''m really surprised. I didn''t know you could think that far on your own. I''d like to meet the man who made you. "Then give up!" Reiko advised him to do so, but Lardus snickered. "Speak nonsense! We will capture you, break you into pieces, extract information from your control core, and attack you from here. This is a very demon-like line. But that is a bad move. There is no way that Reiko would tolerate something that could jeopardize Jin. "......I won''t let you do it!" Reiko''s voice lowers. < As for Reiko, her means of attack were limited in this battle. Reiko kicked the ground as hard as she could. This time, Reiko attacked. "What!" But her movements slowed down as soon as she got close to Lardus. Lardus'' magic made Reiko . Reiko''s movements were now those of a slightly faster human being. Lardus caught Reiko''s Momohana with a slash in the knee with a little time to spare. But... "What!" The sword was cut off! She slashed at Momoka with her new feature, the Vibration Sword. "d*mn!" But because of his slow sword speed, although the sword was cut, Lardus avoided it unharmed. But his face is plastered with astonishment. "...... You''ve easily exceeded my expectations, you know. I didn''t want to use it, but I guess it''s the only way. Lardus pulled an eladrite from his pocket. "<>" And the magic was released. About 5 meters around Reiko fell into the ground. "Ugh!" Reiko barely managed to keep from falling to her knees. "...... Unbelievable. Everything around you, including yourself, must be hundreds of times heavier now. Lardus then casts another spell. "<>! "......!!!!" The ground around Reiko, about one meter in circumference, caved in even more. Reiko falls to her knees and her hands. "Ha-ha-ha-ha!If the weight of the body was multiplied thousands of times, I wouldn''t be able to stand up!" Now, the gravity of several thousand Gs had been applied to about one meter around Reiko, and even the bedrock that made up the ground had begun to collapse into pieces. Reiko is only able to withstand the force because of the power in her body. "But how long do you think you can keep up the effort?I don''t know what you use as a source of magic, but it won''t last forever." < The old man encouraged Reiko. Reiko''s source of magic is an ether converter. As long as there is enough free magic element (ether) around her, she can move semi-permanently. It also has an emergency mana tank. With the boost from this, Reiko can generate 10 times her usual power for a short period of time. "......Guuuuuuu!" Reiko gets up with her maximum output. Under her feet is a bedrock compressed by the high gravity. It is crushed by Reiko''s weight. Reiko now weighs more than 30 tons, not 30 kilograms. Reiko, who had applied the maximum amount of reinforcement, hardening, and mana reinforcement to her body, finally stood up and started to walk. Lardus'' face turned pale when he saw her. "What nonsense!" And just as she was about to cast another spell, the eladrite in her hand shattered into pieces. "Oh no!" Suddenly returning to her original weight, Reiko almost jumped up in reaction for a moment, but she avoided it with her amazing reaction speed. She then leapt at Lardus with her increased strength. "Here''s payback!" Reiko rushes forward with her maximum power and strikes Lardus with her body. The distance was short, so there was little time for acceleration, and he was lucky to hit Lardus before he reached the speed of sound. Even so, the impact was so great that Lardus was blown away before he had time to scream. He hit three stone walls of the house behind him and finally stopped when he hit the back wall. He fell to the floor. "...... was a tough opponent." Reiko checked herself and found nothing wrong. Slowly, she walks up to the fallen Lardus. Since his magic is still alive, she assumes that he is only stunned and plans to use on this occasion. He thought it was too dangerous to take her back as a prisoner of war. Reiko can use her subconscious at a level of 5 at most, but she should be able to transcribe enough specialized knowledge if she is unconscious and without resistance. The goal was to be achieved by transferring Lardus'' knowledge into the Magi Crystal that she had brought with her for this purpose. Reiko approaches Lardus. The next moment, however, she felt a great magical power behind her, and when she turned around, there was... "...... That Lardus..." "Well, I guess I got into a bad habit of getting carried away." Against a dark background, two shadows of what appeared to be demons were standing. 342 - - 11-44 Return of Reiko ! When did they appear? I can feel the mighty magic power from the two figures in front of me now. Despite this, I was surprised that I could not detect their approach. Reiko is alarmed and braces herself. The one who seemed to be a man stopped him with his hand, "Don''t be hasty. We have no intention of fighting you. We are not going to fight you. He was short but built like a rock. His hair is trimmed short and black. His eyes are black, too. "A place like this with so little free ether is not our kind of place." The lack of free ether is like the thin air for the demon tribe. It does not mean death, but it certainly makes it difficult for them to act. Then why are you here? Reiko asked a pertinent question. "Hmm, would you believe me if I told you it''s just for research?" Investigation? "Research?" "Yes. Basically, the free ether is thin in this region, but there seems to be a singularity somewhere. This time a demoness, probably a woman, answered. She was thin and tall, with pitch-black hair that reached down to her ankles. Like the man, her eyes were as black as darkness. "A singularity?" "A singularity. A singularity. Something exists that shouldn''t exist. It seems to be the only place where the free magic element (ether) is thick. ......We are in the north, where the free-magic element is dense, but it''s cold. A warm place with a dense free-magic element would be ideal. Do you know anything about ......?" Reiko heard this and immediately thought of Horai Island. But she did not say it out loud. "......I don''t know. Even if I knew, I am not obliged to answer. "Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. I like your answer. You''re so healthy." The demoness twisted her body and uttered such a line. "Did you guys put up the wards?" Reiko asked ignoring the female demoness. This time the male demoness answered. "Hmm?No, no. That ward was originally put up, wasn''t it?" According to the Man-Monster Tribe, the Kingdom of Leonard originally had a phantom ward in the sky more than a hundred years ago. "I don''t know who or for what purpose. I don''t know who or for what purpose, but it''s not like we''re harmed in any way. "I see." The story was of little importance to Reiko, so she dismissed it. "That man ...... Lardus has spread an epidemic. I will make him pay for it." Saying this, Reiko takes a step toward the fallen Lardus. But somehow, in an instant, two demons stand in front of Reiko. "Oops, I can''t let you do that. After all, they are one of our few friends. "I''ll teach you some things in return for your strength..." "If you are ......, do you know about the disease that Lardus spread?" Reiko decided that the first thing to do here was to get some information, and although she didn''t think she would tell them honestly, she decided to ask them first. "You mean <>? "Yes, that''s right. Reiko was so flustered that she didn''t expect him to tell her honestly, and she became very stiff-lipped. "It''s not a big deal among us. The female demoness began to blabber on about <. "...... In other words, the more magic power you have, the less severe the symptoms will be. It could be fatal if you are a human with little magic power. He then clapped his palms together in front of his chest and laughed with a "kettle of fish". Reiko was annoyed by this gesture. "...... and then what?" "Oh, I''m sorry. ...... and the point is that it''s a disease that eats away at the magic in the person''s body. When the magic power to devour runs out, it starts devouring what we should call <>. When that happens, it''s too late. Then he laughs again. "......Bemiaroche, that''s enough!" The male demon tribe, who couldn''t help but notice, admonished her. Finally the female demoness Bemiarouche stopped laughing. "All right, Dogmaraud!" And she told Reiko the information she wanted to know one after another. Birds can also get this disease. However, birds do not die, but recover. The disease is transmitted from birds to humans by contact infection, and from human to human by contact infection. It is not transmitted from human to bird. Some people are not infected at all, depending on their magical patterns. Those who have been infected once and survived will never be infected again. The minimum incubation period is 2 days, and the maximum is 5 days. The more magic power you have, the longer the incubation period is, and the less magic power you have, the shorter the incubation period is. The disease does not occur in cases of extremely high levels of magic power. The first symptom is weakness, followed by fever. At this point, the disease can be cured. In the next stage, pain attacks the whole body, and it is too late. Most of the deaths are caused by cardiac arrest. The effective healing magic would be . However, it is useless unless it is applied for several minutes in a row. Even if you are infected, it only takes a few seconds of <> before the disease appears. And that the source of the disease can be rendered harmless by healing magic such as <>. There is no guarantee that this is true. "...... is all true?If you don''t believe me, that''s fine. It''s all true.We can''t let them know all our secrets, we can''t let them use transinfo. Dogmaloud also assured him. "...... You told us about the disease so easily, then why did you try to spread it?" Reiko did not understand. "That''s easy. Because Lardus did it on his own. He''s still young and he doesn''t know any better. And yet he is powerful, which makes him a little difficult to deal with. So it is not your desire to spread the plague? "That''s right. That''s right. But I''m not going to help you with the cure either. Dogmaraud then disappeared before Reiko''s eyes, and she found herself carrying Lardus, who had collapsed. "Don''t tell me you can do ...... spatial transfer?" I''m not going to tell you that much. I''m not going to tell you that much. ...... So I''m taking him with me. We can''t afford to lose him even if he''s like this. "Bye, sweetie. We''re going back to the country. Bemiarouche kissed Reiko and said. "...... wait!I still have questions!" But all that came back was rejection. "I''m not going to tell you everything. That''s all for now." With that, Dogmaraud casts a spell at Reiko. "<>" Reiko notices this and jumps back, but either the magic has a wider range than she thought, or it has a tracking property. "This is ......!" Earlier, the gravity had been increased to slow her down, but this time it was the opposite. In other words, Reiko has lost almost all of her weight. Reiko''s specific gravity has been reduced to the same level as that of air. If she were a little lighter, she would be able to move quickly, but she is too light. In such a case, she cannot kick the ground with enough force, even if she tries to kick the ground as hard as she can. The three demons disappeared in a puff of smoke right before Reiko''s eyes. Reiko received an advice from the old man. "...... that is also true." Maybe because the demons were gone, or maybe because time had passed, Reiko''s weight gradually returned to normal, and in about 15 minutes the effects of the magic were gone. "...... Let''s hurry home." Reiko ran back to the place where Pegasus 1 was waiting for her as fast as she could. She was careful to make her own body heat up and sterilize it, just in case. In the darkness, Reiko runs at over 200 km/h, and in less than a minute, they meet up with Pegasus 1. "Sister, are you all right?" Luna and Soleil greeted me at Pegasus 1. "We were alerted by a strong magical reaction." Land 1 and 2 had descended and were on alert, returning from the darkness. "...... I think we''ve done our job. Let''s go back." Reiko went to Horai Island by the escape gate as agreed. Soleil and Luna, Land 1 and 2 returned to Horai Island by Pegasus 1, respectively. * * * * * >. The old man said to Reiko after she returned to Horai Island. "I am a little frustrated. It seems that the demon tribe has treated me like a fool. Reiko expresses her honest feelings. < "My lady, the fragments of my memory that remain are not at odds with what I remember. I believe they were telling the truth. Reiko finally looked up from her prone position when she was told this. "Yes." Hearing this, Reiko rushed out of the warp gate and ran to the second floor where Jin was waiting for her. 343 - - 11-45 Meeting Meanwhile, back in time, Jin said. "......Then let''s do it that way. You''ll take care of the preparations, right?" Jin, who had been discussing with the old man on how to deal with the situation, gave some instructions to the old man, made preparations, and returned to the village of Kaina without seeing Reiko''s departure, though his hair was still on the back burner. First of all, he went to the office of Nido Castle and ordered Butler B to bring Licia and Pascoe, who were supposed to be at the workshop, here. "Behle, get the tea ready. Barrow, prepare two chairs. "Yes." "Yes, sir." The office is not a Japanese-style room but a Western-style room. It''s wooden, with a desk and chairs. Behrle prepares a cup of tea, thinking that it will be a long conversation. No tea is served since it is expected to be a serious conversation. As Jin was reviewing the procedure again in his mind, Licia and Pascoe came in, escorted by Butler B. "I''m sorry to call you. I''m sorry to call you here, but it''s an emergency. But it''s an emergency." Jin suddenly started, and Pascoe, who was about to say something, kept his mouth shut. He first suggested a chair and then offered them some tea made by Behle. All three of them took a sip of the tea and when they had calmed down for the time being, Jin suddenly dropped a bombshell. "I heard that Count Walter is dead. "What? Neither Licia nor Pascoe burst out, as they had just finished their tea. "......The following is the message that arrived just now." Jin put the letter he had ordered the old man to make on the desk and showed it to her. The date is this morning. Symptoms start with weakness, fever, and general aches and pains. The last one is ......." Licia''s face was pale. She did not feel any pain in her body, but she did remember feeling weak and having a fever. "The bad news is that it seems to be contagious, and the source of the infection is pigeons." "...... I was carrying a pigeon? Licia, who had gone completely blue, barely managed to say anything else. She must have thought that she had caused Count Walter''s death. She looked as if she was about to collapse. Jin saw this and followed up. "Miss Licia, it was Count Walter who infected your pigeons with this disease. "What? To be precise, it was Count Walter and his men who infected your pigeons. ......What do you mean? Jin then told us that the Count was unhappy that the village of Kaina had been cut off as a leasehold estate. He had been harassing them by buying up all the salt. In this article, I briefly explained that he tried to spread the disease by taking advantage of Lycia''s coming to the village of Kaina. "This is ridiculous!Did the Count do such a thing?Hey, you!Do you have proof?If not, it''s a slander, isn''t it? Contrary to Licia, who was lost in thought, Pascoe was furious and stormed at Jin. Of course, we have already anticipated such a situation. "Proof. First of all, the Count, who was at the root of the illness, died this morning. Then, upon closer examination, all the maidservants and butlers working at the house are complaining of weakness. Some of them are said to be suffering from fever. When Jin said this in a plain tone of voice, Pascoe was a little at a loss for words, "But that doesn''t mean we can rule out the Count as the culprit! Pascoe retorts. After that, he realized the big question. "......Hey, you''re talking nonsense!What time do you think it is?No matter how fast the pigeons are, they couldn''t have informed us this fast!Who is it that has come to inform us of the Countess''s business in the first place? But Jin and the old man had expected that too. "Read the letter." With these words, he gave Pascoe the letter on the desk. Pascoe snatched it up and took it in his hand and read it through as if devouring it. "......The contents of the letter are right ......and the sender is ......deus ex machina?......I''m sure I''ve heard that name somewhere ......." But Licia immediately thought of the name, "Jin-san!Are you acquainted with someone called deus ex machina? she asked hurriedly. This was expected. After all, when he returned Licia''s sword, he had said that Machina had given it to him. "I don''t know her well enough to say I know her. I don''t know him well enough to say I know him, but I''ve seen him a few times. ......Oh, I can''t tell you much about him because I''m not allowed to talk about him." I''ll just say that it''s a fine line of acquaintance. Later, when the leaders of the Kingdom of Klein learn of this, the Prime Minister and others will have even more trouble dealing with Jin. "I see. ......" The Kingdom of Klein and the Kingdom of Franz, and the Kingdom of Cerroa and the Kingdom of Egelea. Everyone who participated in the last war, manipulated by the Unifilers, knows that it was ended halfway by a mysterious person calling himself Deus ex Machina. The name was Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, but the information was also conveyed to the Kingdom of Klein by means of the Manaphone. "......I see, the information from that person ...... then that makes it more credible." Reluctantly, Pascoe relented. Jin took this opportunity to try to persuade him. "...... So, you see, the most important thing now is not about the culprit." Jin changes his tone and speaks to Licia. The reason he pointed out the culprit is to make Licia feel less guilty. "...... understand. It''s about controlling the spread of the disease, isn''t it? Licia, who had calmed down a little and become calm, understood what Jin was trying to say. "Yes. The letter also says that at the moment, deus ex machina is also looking into the disease. ...... Licia, what do you think is the best way forward?" Jin asked her what she thought should be done, hoping that Licia, who had been in the rescue knight corps, would have some opinions. Licia thought for a while and then opened her mouth. Of course, the most important thing is to eliminate the disease. The only way to do that is to go back along the same path we have been on, and to examine and treat the patients. Licia''s face did not clear up as she said this. The reason for this becomes clear in her next words. "But the most dangerous thing is Lakham, isn''t it? It has been a long time since he was infected. According to the information obtained from Anne and Elena, the incubation period is between two and five days. With the death of Count Walter, we should assume that those in the house are in imminent danger as well. The inhabitants of Lapham may have a little longer to wait. "And I don''t know what the cure is..." Jin then asks Licia a question. "What kind of healing magic can you use, Licia? "I can use <> and <>. Both are surgical healing magic. "......I''m sorry, I can''t cure diseases." Licia sagged as she said this. But she had expected this in the meeting with the old man. "That''s all right. Here is a magi-crystal that contains the magic of Medicare. If you put the magic power of activation into it, Medicare will be activated. Jin took out two Magi Crystals from his breast pocket and put them on the desk. "What?Huh?" It is true that there are magical tools with the magical formula for activating magic engraved on them. However, I wonder if they can come out of your pocket so easily......, Licia was stunned for a moment. "So, we should probably hear something from the deus ex machina by tomorrow morning. Based on that information, we will decide on a final course of action. Thus, the meeting proceeded as the meeting with the old man had been going. About halfway through the meeting, the three of us took a break and drank a cup of tea that had become a little lukewarm. "......, Jin-san knew Makina-san after all, didn''t he? I''ve been wanting to ask you ever since the sword came back. "Yes, well. He doesn''t like to be tied up, so he doesn''t appear in public very often. "Actually, I was wondering if Jin-san was Machina-san. He is quite perceptive ......, or perhaps it would be better to say that it would be crazy not to think so. "............" Licia smiled at the silent Jin. "No, Jin-san, it doesn''t matter whether you are Makina-san or not. The best thing for now is to prevent the disease from spreading." "That''s right. For that to happen, we need to get the Kingdom''s aristocrats, Ms. Licia and Mr. Pascoe, to take action. At this point, Pascoe finally opened his mouth. He seemed to have come to terms with what was smoldering inside him. "...... Jin-dono, I promise to do my best. But I''m not convinced that the Count is the source of all this. Jin said that was fine. What we need now is to prevent the disease. "So, what are you going to do, Jin-dono?You''re not going to stay here and stay still, are you?" Pascoe glares at me. Well, it''s not very impressive when he glares at me with the corners of his eyes drooped. "I''ll get you some medicine first," he says. Saying this, he took a recovery medicine from the shelf and put it on the desk. "These are medicines with Medicare effects," he said. But we have a limited number of them and we need to make more. Pascoe looked at the ampoule with interest, but Licia''s face twitched. "Jin, Jin-san, did you say that Medicare works?" "Yes. What''s wrong with that? "It''s not something!It''s a rare magic medicine!In the kingdom, one bottle of this stuff costs a gold coin! 10,000 Tall, about 100,000 yen. A highly effective recovery potion is so precious. Neither Jin nor the old man had thought about its value. But here comes the effect of reading the book of alchemy. "That''s because alchemy has not been developed yet. It is much easier to make it with the latest alchemy, Eschenbach''s method. This is a half-truth. As far as Jin had read, Tohr Eschenbach, an alchemist of the Shoro Empire, had speculated that <>. Jin was impressed when he read it. "......So,what,......?" Licia also backed down because of what Jin said. It is a good thing that there are plenty of medicines. 344 - - 11-46 Leading The sun has set and it is dark outside. The ceiling of Jin''s office, like that of the laboratory, is covered with a luminous material that emits light as long as there is free magic element (ether), or as Jin calls it, >, and it automatically starts emitting light when it gets dark. It was only when he looked out of the window that he realized that the sun had set. When Licia and Pascoe saw the glowing ceiling, they were in awe. When Jin saw this, he said (Ah, this ethereal luminescent material (AL) was a common material in the past, but it has been lost. ......) I thought, "Oh, this ether luminescent material (AL) was a common material in the past, but it has been lost. At the same time, I was thinking that it might be OK to be somewhat proactive in reviving <>. But for now, the first thing to do is to reactivate the two exclaiming. "Well, this was given to me by Deus Ex Machina as a gift for the completion of the castle. Jin quickly blurts out something out of his mouth. Jin and his friends have finished dinner in the downstairs dining room. Jin advises Licia and Pascoe that they should get some rest because he wants them to leave early tomorrow. Jin then tells them that he is going to his home workshop in the village of Kaina to prepare medicines and other things. "......I understand. I have a lot of questions, but what we need to do now is to take care of the disease. "......Licia is right. I''ll do my best to assist her. The two of them then retired to their bedrooms. "Well, I have to do what I have to do. Jin then got on a frame and headed for his workshop. The frame was equipped with a light and was autonomous as a golem, so there was no danger. "...... Jin brother, welcome home." Erza greeted me at the house. "I''m home. ......Erza, did you hear what I said?" "Yes. Butler A told me. Since Erza is able to use the healing magic of the Shoro Empire, after the meeting with the old man, I instructed Butler A to explain the outline of the magic to Erza as well. "How much healing magic did Erza have access to?" "Up to ......<>." I wasn''t sure from the chanting, so I asked her to put the magic into the Persica juice I kept in the fridge. "...... into this?" Erza looked doubtful, but since it was Jin''s request, she complied. "<>" Then the Persica juice glowed faintly for a moment. "What was that ......?" "Well, liquids that contain a large amount of free magic element (ether) can be given magical properties. Erza seemed to understand this somewhat. Jin analyzes the Persica juice to which Erza has given magic properties. To his delight, it turns out that Erza''s Heilfahren is as good as or better than MediCare, the advanced healing magic cure. Jin is pleased and tells Elsa: "That''s great! "That''s great, Erza!" Erza''s cheeks flushed slightly at the praise and she asked Jin a question. "...... Is that alchemy?" "Yes, yes. Do you know it? "Yes, I do. ......Saki-san liked that kind of thing." Jin heard a name he had never heard before. Saki? Saki Eschenbach. The daughter of an alchemist who lives in my brother Rai''s family estate." "You mean, Thor Eschenbach''s daughter?" Jin was a little surprised to hear the name Eschenbach come out of Elsa''s mouth. "You know him?" Elsa asked him, tilting her head. Jin explained that he had read the book when he was shown the library in the Shoro Kingdom the other day. "...... Saki used to play with me when I was little. She taught me a lot of things then." "I see." I would like to ask her about the Eschenbach family, but now is not the time. "Well then, Erza, will you go with me to Horai Island?I would appreciate it if you could help me make medicine there. "Yes. I''ll be happy to help. So the two of them jumped to Horai Island through the warp gate in the basement of the workshop. On the island of Horai, the old man had finished the preparations as previously discussed. "Okay, then I will make the golem horses as planned. So, my lord, Elsa can use a spell called . That seems to be somewhat more effective. So, please help Elsa to increase the production of the healing medicine, or rather the cure. Jin leaves the task to the old man and Elsa. Erza goes with Laojin''s mobile terminal and Lao Tzu to the laboratory on the second floor of the institute. It is right above the workshop where Jin is. Jin then started to make a golem horse to carry Licia and Pascoe tomorrow. The base is the same as Ein''s, but with custom tuning. Specifically, it is to <>. Riding a horse requires the rider to have good balance. This is due to the fact that the rider is swayed up and down, left and right, on the horse''s back. The need to balance in order not to be swung off causes fatigue in the abdominal and back muscles. In addition, the rider must communicate his will to the horse while holding the horse and saddle with his lower body. The muscles used for these activities are completely different from those used in daily life, and they are very tiring if one is not accustomed to them. And even if you are used to it, running a horse at high speed is still tiring. Considering the above, it would be better to build an off-road bike, but there is no way that Licia and Pascoe would be able to ride it out of the blue. Also, they would be seen by others. Therefore, Jin adjusted the gait so that the rider would not feel any ups and downs even when the horse is galloping, and used a shock-absorbing material called goulashvam for the saddle part. The shape of the saddle is also a little less horse-like, but we decided to give priority to a shape that is more comfortable to sit in. The horse is also made to be more autonomous, fully understanding the rider''s words and capable of giving verbal commands. However, we did not add a vocalization function. This is because it is a little creepy to hear a horse talk. Instead, the horses can communicate by shaking their heads up and down in the affirmative and left and right in the negative. "Maybe I shouldn''t talk to Licia and the others. ......" Jin did not want to give unnecessary suspicions because of the high specs. The series of work was assisted by a craftsman (Smith) golem, so that 10 golem horses were completed in about an hour. The reason why there were 10 golem horses is that the time and effort required by Jin was almost the same whether there were 2 or 10 golem horses, only that there were more artisan (Smith) golem horses to help him. Jin took this opportunity to make more golems because he could use them in case he needed them later. He plans to lend two of them to Licia and Pascoe. He colored them brown so that they would not stand out too much. "Okay, now the legs are done," he said. Jin went to the laboratory on the second floor to see what was happening with the medicine. "......<>" Just when Jin appeared in the laboratory on the second floor. The drug base in front of Erza''s eyes emitted a blue light and turned into a transparent liquid. At the same time, Erza collapses. "Erza!" Jin rushed to her in surprise. "My old man!What did you make Erza do? He was interrupted by the actual Erza, who was saying in a strong tone of reprimanding words. "...... Sorry, Jin, brother. This is what I wanted, what I wanted, what I did." Erza explains with a pale face. From her appearance, Jin judged that Erza had probably used up all the mana in her body. Although Erza has a hypermagic condition, if she runs out of mana, it will appear as a physical disorder. So Jin gave Erza a drug base to which nothing had been added, and made her drink it slowly. The free magic element (ether) contained in the drug base is absorbed by the body cell by cell, and is converted into magic element (mana). The pallid face of Erza is now beginning to regain its animation. "...... hmmm..." Erza breathed deeply and Jin said, "Erza, I appreciate your cooperation, but please don''t do something so reckless that you collapse yourself. ...... He rebuked her in a slightly harsh voice. "......I''m sorry for worrying you. But I also wanted to be of help to my brother Jin. Patting Erza''s apologetic head, Jin thanked her with a <>. Erza looked up at his words, and a happy smile appeared on her slightly stained face. Seeing that Elsa had calmed down, Jin asked the old man a question. "So, Mr. Mere Old Man, what is the magic now?" The old man said in astonishment. "What!Is that what you just called ?" "...... great, Elsa." Jin looked at Erza''s face again and said admiringly. Erza''s cheeks turned redder when he said that to her face. "...... thanks to my brother Jin. He taught me that magic is all about image. Indeed, Jin had repeatedly taught her the importance of image when using engineering magic. The same is true for general magic as well. Erza realized this and quickly became a first-rate healing magician, one of only a few in the world. The healing potion, or rather the cure, that Elsa made for me was clear and transparent. 345 - - 11-47 Father, daughter, younger sister, thoughts According to the analysis, the cure Elsa made for me seems to be three times more effective than the previous recovery medicines. "With this much medicine, we should be able to heal about a hundred people. I am sorry I yelled at you before, but I didn''t know that. The master and servant exchanged such an exchange. Jin looked at the cure again. There are about 5 liters of the clear and colorless cure. Jin divided it into ampules made of white mica. It was then. . The old man''s voice echoed. Jin stopped his work, "What do you mean?" and asked for a detailed explanation. He explained. The old man guessed that it was because of this ability that he had crossed the Shama swamp without being caught off his feet. . "Thousands of G? !" Elsa, who was listening beside him, would have no idea what he was talking about, but Jin could just imagine the scene of Reiko being crushed to a pulp. "So!What happened to Reiko!" the old man explains in a calm voice to Jin who asks hurriedly. The old man seems to be giving advice to Reiko while explaining to Jin. And finally the balance is broken. . From then on, it seemed to be a one-sided victory for Reiko, but then two more demons appeared. However, these two demons did not seem to be belligerent, and after disclosing all the information about the <>, they seemed to return to the land of the demons, carrying the unconscious Lardus. <<> "Transference magic?" As long as warp gates exist, it is not surprising that there are those who use similar magic. "...... and gravity magic, huh?" It is a formidable opponent to make Reiko struggle now. It was a good thing that Reiko''s body was made of Magi-adamantite, Jin thought to himself. At the same time, he knew that it was time to stop putting Reiko in danger. But there is something to do now. Jin went back to his work. Twenty minutes later. . "I see!" Jin stopped working on the ampoule. Immediately Reiko came running up the stairs. "Father, I''m home!" Jin welcomed Reiko with open arms. "Welcome home, Reiko. You didn''t hurt yourself anywhere, did you?" Reiko nodded. "Yes, thanks to this body that your father gave me, I was able to come back safely. Jin hugged Reiko as she answered. "Thank you very much." "...... father?" "Reiko, I''m glad you''re safe. I really ...... don''t want to put you in any more danger ...... from now on." But Reiko interrupted Jin as he was about to say that line, No,father. I''m sorry to be so presumptuous, but I have to tell you something. I will protect what ...... your father wants to protect. Your joy is my joy. Your grief is my grief. Your anger is my anger. And your happiness is my happiness. I am your shadow. The shadow follows me everywhere." Reiko hugged Jin even tighter. "......Thank you, Reiko. Then I have only one thing to do. Make you unscathed and unbeatable no matter what happens." Jin adds with a wry smile. "And also to make you as good a lady as any girl. "Yes, I believe in you." Elsa, who was watching this exchange between father and daughter, muttered a few words in a small voice that no one could hear. "...... I envy you." * * * * After calming down, I asked Reiko to report the information about <. Of course, Elsa is also present. "...... understands. It seems that the measures we have taken so far are correct. But a few minutes of Medicare is a lot of work. Jin folded his arms and thought for a moment, but within a minute he seemed to have collected his thoughts. "......Erza, I know you are tired, but I need your help." Erza responded to Jin''s apologetic look with a healthy answer. "Nah. If I can be of help to my brother Jin, I''d be happy to. "Thank you. I want to make a magical tool that can activate genesung. Jin then taught Erza first the Magi Language, the Magi Formula, and the Magi Sequence. Since the basics had been taught little by little, we were able to get them to understand most of what they needed to know in about an hour, and now it was time for the real work to begin. <>" Although it was a spur-of-the-moment production, Elsa''s first production went well for the most part. However, there are still some parts that are not well controlled or activated. "I''m sorry for making you do such a difficult thing out of the blue. But now I can mass-produce them. Yes, Jin himself cannot use Heilfahren or Genesung, but once he sees the flow of magic control (Magi Sequence), he can reproduce it as a magical tool. "......Brother Jin is still amazing." Elsa recalled how Reiko had been able to quickly use the > she had used to heal Jin when they had just left the Kingdom of Elias and he was drunk in the carriage. "As a younger sister, I have to work harder." Erza secretly makes such a resolution, but she probably doesn''t realize that the first magical tool she made is already out of the norm for advanced healing. Unaware of Erza''s decision, Jin wrote the Magi Formula one after another into the Magi Crystal right in front of Erza''s eyes, and continued to mass-produce the highly healed Magi tools. The next day, on the 18th. The next day, the 18th. In the early morning, Licia and Pascoe were getting ready in front of Nido Castle. "Jin-san, you want me to use this horse?" In front of them were the two golem horses Jin had made last night. "Yes. They don''t need water or food, and they don''t get tired. And ......" Jin opens the hatch of the horse''s body. The horse''s body is large enough to provide storage space. "You can put your valuables in here. By setting the magic power, only the rider can open the hatch. "Is that so?" Licia is a little surprised to hear about the out-of-the-box functionality. "Also, I''ve put in here a hundred healing medicines and five of the newest type of healing tools, so you can use them differently. I explained to you how to use them earlier. Jin had explained to Licia and Pascoe in the castle about and its treatment. Of course, he had to say that Machina had told him about it. "And here is some Persian juice for you. Drink it when you get tired. It will give you energy. Of course, it was specially made in Horaijima. It is adjusted to be effective in relieving fatigue. "......Yes, I understand. There are many things I would like to ask you, but first of all, I would like to ask you about measures against this disease. "Yes. I will protect Licia. Jin-dono, you can rest assured. Pascoe Rush is puffing out his chest. Jin nods his head, but in reality, he intends to attach Deneb 30 in the fifth row (quinta). He is in effect a bodyguard. If they are not demons but humans, Deneb 30 has no enemies. If they are few in number, that is. And with Falcon 6 to 10 in the sky, we were ready to support them at any time. Only Licia and Pascoe were unaware of this. The remaining pigeon was also given a careful healing, and was to carry a brief report on his illness. The report would be delivered to the intelligence office of the kingdom before noon. "Then we will leave. After doing everything that needed to be done, Licia and Pascoe mounted their golem horses. They had ridden with Ein and Tubai the day before, so they had no trouble with the controls. "Licia, be careful! Mr. Pascoe, be safe. "Yes, sir!" Jin sees her off, and the two depart. Licia and Pascoe crossed the Erme River and headed for the Togo Pass, surprised to find that the ride was much more comfortable and easy to handle than the Ein and Tubai. "All right, I''ll do what I have to do. Jin returned to Horai Island through the warp gate of Nido Castle. "Old man, what is the status of the disease outbreak in the various places?" I had ordered the 5th Quintas scattered all over the Kingdom of Klein to investigate the outbreak of patients who seem to be suffering from magical exhaustion fever. Jin was Jin, and he was going to do his best to stop this pandemic. 346 - - 11-48 The true meaning of humanity "Well, the policy is ............." Jin tells Laojun what he thinks. Basically, Reiko and Laojun, who are created by Jin, do not actively express their opposition, so they ask Ann to join them. "......If the Goshujin-sama says that''s all right, then I guess it''s fine." Ann agreed with Jin''s plan. Then Jin made up his mind. "All right, let''s get started. Old man, please make the preparations. After leaving the preparation of the materials to the old man, Jin took a break and wondered what he should do with Elsa. What he was going to do was out of the ordinary even from his point of view. However, he does not want to regret doing something halfway. The thought of why I am doing such a thing flashed through my mind, and I felt a little disgusted, but then I reminded myself that this is something that I can do. I wondered if I should let Erza go along with such an outrageous activity, but after explaining the situation to her and asking her to cooperate with me, I thought I was missing the finishing touch by not letting her participate in the packing. I was a little hesitant to wake her up when she was sleeping comfortably, but I couldn''t leave her there. "Nn-u...... brother Jin?" Erza was sleepwalking, but she seemed to remember what had happened last night. "...... what happened after that?I asked her about her illness in detail, and after that, I made a magic tool ......." Erza seemed to remember up to that point, and it was around that time that she began to doze off. "Erza, I''m going to do the best I can. What about Elsa?" He was going to respect Erza''s will in the end, but she responded to Jin''s question without a pause. "......I''ll stay with you until the end, of course." "Okay, then, let''s go wash our faces to wake up a little." Jin felt tired, so he went downstairs to the workshop and washed his face in the sink. Erza did the same. "Well then, watch me make it. ...... Reiko, could you get the magi crystals over there for me?" Yes, Father. With a little help from Reiko, Jin builds an ether converter. It is a powerful one. "You have to be careful when you write the magic formula here. It converts free magical elements (ether) into magical elements (mana) here, and its efficiency is ......." He explains the process to Erza. Erza, too, is still half a novice with the Magi Formula, but she seems to understand what Jin is trying to say and listens intently, even though she doesn''t understand it. "......Okay, now I''ve got one." Jin continued to complete the ether converter, the mana driver, and the mana tank. Then they put them together and put them in the chassis, and finally they built in another eladolite to complete the project. Erza could tell that the finished product was a very powerful magical tool. "Brother Jin, what does this do? Jin did not answer her question directly, but showed her the process of writing the magic that would be the decisive factor of the magical tool. "<>......<<>" Elsa rolled her eyes when she saw the magic that had been written in. "......It, is ......." "Yes. It''s a healing spellbook. It can affect a very long distance and a very wide area. Jin explains his plan to Erza, who had been dozing and was not listening. "We will put this on the Pegasus ...... plane and apply healing magic from the sky to the ground. That''s how I''m going to cure the magical exhaustion fever. Erza could hardly believe her ears when she heard this. I know that Jin has an airplane and can fly. She also knew that Jin could create powerful magic tools. I know that Jin can use magic that he cannot use if he incorporates it into his magical tools. But I did not know that he was planning to combine them. No, I didn''t think such a thing was possible before that. "...... Jin is still out of the ordinary. He is out of his league. ...... like a savior in a story." Erza said this with the intention of praising Jin. But Jin''s reaction was different. "I''m not the messiah." "What?" "......I''m not the messiah, and I''ve never wanted to be. I honestly don''t want to do this. I just want to make a life where I can make what I want and have people happy to use what I make ......." "Brother Jin ......" Perhaps it''s because he''s tired from an all-nighter, but today Jin''s speech is light. Once his true feelings come out of his mouth, they overflow like a dam. "This is simply for my own sake." "............" Erza has no words to say after hearing Jin''s painful true feelings. "I don''t care about someone I don''t know. But there are people I care about. They live in Kaina village, and Kaina village is my precious place, and to protect Kaina village, the Kingdom of Klein to which Kaina village belongs must be peaceful, and for the Kingdom of Klein to be peaceful, the surrounding countries must be peaceful as well." Jin smiled a little tiredly as he said this. "...... So I''m going to do this for me. Just for now. And now it''s turned into such a big deal." Looking back at Erza, Jin continued. "I''ll protect what I want to protect in the way I can. That''s all." "............" Perhaps because he has let out his pent up anger, Jin smiles a little differently than before, with a sad smile. "I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have told Elsa this. Maybe I''m tired after all. ...... Jin scratched his head. Erza took his hand, "......No, I''m glad you told me. ......I can''t do anything for you, but I can at least listen to what you have to say. The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of what you want to do. "...... Jin brother?" The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the two of them are not in the same place at the same time. "......Thank you. ......I''m in the Shoro Imperial Palace right now, and I''m seeing and hearing all kinds of interesting things, and I''m just wondering why I''m being bothered so much." These words were not very forceful. Erza told Jin in a concerned voice. "...... Jin, you''re too much of a one-person person. Reiko and the others were worried about him before. It was when the battle with the Unification Party (Unifiler) was near. At that time, Erza helped Jin to change his mind at the request of the old man and Reiko. "I know I''m not reliable and I can''t do much, but I want you to depend on me a little bit. Like this time." Jin sagged in front of Erza as she finished. "Brother Jin?" But Jin quickly looked up and his face brightened. "...... I see. Maybe I thought I could do everything by myself. I had Erza''s help this time too. Jin slapped his face with both hands with a clap, "Thank you, Elsa. You woke me up." This time the thank you was full of power. "Reinhard told me before that I should know the norm in this world. I know I''m a heretic in this world. Sometimes I go too far." Jin''s eyes were smiling as he said this. "But I am who I am. I can''t change that. If I ever make a mistake, Elsa, you let me know." "....... I''m on it!" Jin smiled and patted her on the shoulder, "Okay, let''s go. ...... Reiko, I''m sorry, but can you load the <> on the Pegasus 1?" Reiko, who had been looking a little sad behind Jin''s back, broke into a smile at the instruction, "Yes, Father." She lifted up the treatment device with joy. Thank God. Your father is getting better. (I am very happy that your father is feeling better. ......Elsa, you are very good at understanding your father''s feelings. ......It is frustrating, but I have to admit it.) Soon the treatment device was loaded into Pegasus 1 and Jin set it up so that it could be aimed downward. "That''s it. If we can render it harmless with <>, we should be able to use <> to achieve the desired effect in a shorter period of time. Jin speculates that the pathogen of <> is a mutation of the bacteria or virus that causes the disease in birds. Therefore, it can be concluded that the mutation of the pathogen can be reversed by healing magic, and it can be rendered harmless. At the same time, we can kill two birds with one stone by curing the person who is suffering from the disease. However, I don''t intend to do this kind of rough trick so many times. "Then get in, Elsa. Reiko, let''s go! Yes? Yes. Pegasus 1 with Jin, Erza, and Reiko aboard takes off into the morning sky. Pegasus 1 also has a stealth system in place so that it can''t be seen from below. "Let''s start with Rakham. The destination is Rakham, Count Walter''s temporary base and probably the town where the pathogen was first released. "...... Jin is still amazing. I can''t believe he can fly so freely in the sky." Erza, who was excited to see the view from the sky for the second time, said such a line, but Jin laughed it off this time. The old man summarized the information from the fifth column (Quinta) scattered in various places and found that the most serious patients were in Rakham, followed by the towns of Thor and Charles. "The magic of genesung (cure) works to reverse anomalies. In other words, healthy people feel nothing. Jin mutters to himself. Erza, who was listening to him, was impressed. I have never intentionally applied genesing to healthy people, but there must be many cases where healthy people are included in the range of healing magic. Nevertheless, only injured or sick people are healed. "I think Brother Jin''s insight is correct. Erza told Jin the same thing, and he brought Pegasus 1 to a halt above Rakham. Then, with a serious look on his face, he activates the treatment device (treatment mentor). 347 - - 11-49 At the End of the Rebellion This is Licia and Pascoe. The speed of the golem horse we borrowed from Jin is beyond description, and we arrived at Toka village in less than half a day. In Toka village, three people were complaining of weakness, so I used a magical tool to heal them. "You can still go, can''t you? "Yes." Licia and Pascoe had stopped in Racneau and Doppa, and had reached the town of Charles in the evening. During that time, he treated 4 people in Lacheneau. In Doppa, he treated six people. No one had yet developed symptoms more serious than weakness. Then came the town of Charles. Here, for the first time, he treated two patients with fever. Pascoe was skeptical, but Licia, who trusted Jin, administered it without hesitation. As a result, Pascoe was surprised to see the patients healed in no time at all, and he realized the power of Jin. That day he went around the town until late at night, treating those he suspected and giving remedies to those who had fever. "After all, here in Charles Town, you treated 62 people and gave 15 people medicine. The number seems to be increasing as we get closer to Rakham. "Yes, that''s right. There is no doubt that the disease is at least showing signs of spreading. Lysia, I think we should make an additional report to the kingdom. "I will do so. I will do so. ...... I will be up early again tomorrow morning to get ready for departure, so I should get some rest. It was around 11:00 p.m., and considering that he had been up since 4:00 a.m., it was quite a strenuous day''s work. "Oh yes, let''s drink that Persica juice that Jin-san gave us and go to bed," he said. I''m tired, so I''m going to bed. Licia went out to the front of the inn, took some juice from the golem horse, and took a sip. She took a sip of the juice from the golem horse and drank the rest of it at once. She downed the rest of the juice in one gulp, and the fatigue that had built up in her core seemed to disappear. "Thank you, Mr. Jin. ......" Licia thanked Jin, who was probably in the village of Kaina, and went to bed in a relaxed mood. The next day, the 19th, she left at 5 am. Pascoe looked tired, so Licia suggested he drink Persian juice. Pascoe drank it skeptically and was surprised to find that his physical tiredness, not to mention drowsiness, disappeared. "......I really wonder who this Jin-dono is. ......" Finally, he seems to have come to the point of admitting Jin-dono. * * * * Back in time, on the 18th, in the Kingdom of Klein. "You received an urgent message by pigeon from Farheit, who went to the village of Kaina as a goodwill ambassador?" Prime Minister Powell''s face clouded as he looked over the letter from Lysia brought by the pigeon. "......<>?Is that a sign of an epidemic?" If true, this was a big deal. The Prime Minister''s head was in his hands. The Kingdom of Klein is a nation suffering from a chronic shortage of human resources. The mentioned in the article can only be counted on one hand. We can only deploy them in Alban, the capital city, and cannot even reach the surrounding cities. "......What do you want us to do? ......" The letter stated that with Jin''s help, Licia and Pascoe, carrying medicine, would return from the village of Kaina to the capital, administering medical treatment. "But no matter how quickly, it will take five to six days. ......" There is nothing to be done for those who have already developed the disease. "......And again, hundreds and thousands of deaths will occur. ......" Prime Minister Powell muttered and plopped down on his desk. * * * * "All right, the pressos is over. Next is Gaara." According to the fifth column (Quinta) in charge of Lakham, Capella 2, the patients who were thought to be suffering from magical exhaustion fever were reported to have recovered completely after irradiation. Jin was right in his assumption that if Medicare could render them harmless, Genezing would be more effective. Pegasus 1 with Jin, Elsa, and Reiko onboard traveled to Dakhroz, Sor, Zuk, and the surrounding towns in order, focusing on Rakham, where the pathogen was thought to have first been spread, and administered the treatment. According to the report from the 5th column (Quinta) dispatched to the capital, there were still no cases in the capital city of Arban and the neighboring city of Gaara, but just to be safe, we also treated the surrounding areas, including there. As a side note, there is an anecdote that the treatment with the treatment device (treatment mentor) at that time cured people who were sick except for magical exhaustion fever. Whether or not this will cause a commotion later on, who knows. "...... should do the trick. Now all we have to do is to inform him that we have taken precautionary measures in the name of <>." "Not in the name of my brother Jin?" "Yeah. I don''t want to be noticed any more than I already am. "...... is like my brother Jin." * * * * Licia and Pascoe had entered Rakham. In a small village on the way there, which does not even appear on the map, there were five people with fever. All of them recovered with remedies. However, the two who entered the town of Rakham with a gloomy feeling of ...... how many people were sick in Rakham, which seemed to be the center of the disease, were disappointed in a good way. "So you are saying that you were suddenly cured of your illness yesterday?" "Yes, that''s right." Licia had come to Count Walter''s house. The butler who had served her the night before came out to greet her. "Now, please tell me what you know about your illness. Licia said in a strong tone of voice and the butler began to confess. "A guest of the Count of ...... did it. I do not know his name or identity. The butler confided that he himself had been suffering from fever until yesterday and was willing to cooperate with the investigation. It was not surprising, since Count Walter, who had instructed him to do so, was no longer of this world and had no one left to whom he could turn for loyalty. "You mean to say that this guest, at the Count''s direction, somehow transmitted the disease to the pigeons I had with me?" "Yes. The Count got what was coming to him, or rather, he got what he deserved. ...... "Can you testify to that before the Kingdom judges?" "...... I can." Thus, Count Walter''s crimes were exposed. At the same time, the deliberate escape of labor offenders from the Inard mine and the attempt to hoard salt and unjustly prevent its distribution would all come to light. There were many more small crimes, to the dismay of Licia and Pascoe, who were listening to the story. "Well, then, Mr. Pascoe, I''m going to ask you to keep an eye on them, is that all right?" There were no soldiers or knights stationed in Laxham under the direct jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Klein. Therefore, Licia had no choice but to ask Pascoe to watch over Count Walter''s vassals. With Count Walter gone, it was unlikely that the vassals would escape, but they could not be left unchecked. The medicines and other items on Pascoe''s golem horse would be left untouched. The reason for this was in case the disease recurred. But Licia had a feeling that there would be no more sick people in the future. She did not know how, but she thought that Jin might have done something. Before parting from Pascoe and leaving Rakham, Licia bowed her head to Pascoe. "Mr. Pascoe, I''m sorry." "Ms. Licia! "...... Mr. Pascoe advised me, albeit gently, that it was not recommended, and it was my fault for ignoring his advice. If I had not stayed at that time, I would not have done such a wicked trick as to make the pigeons sick. ......" Pascoe spoke to Licia in a firm tone. "I didn''t know you cared about that. But I''m sure that if we didn''t stay here, they would have planned it in their own way. So there is no need to be concerned!If anything, it was Licia''s presence that made it possible for us to return home so quickly while taking countermeasures!" Pascoe''s tone became more and more passionate. "Besides, I, no, I misunderstood you too, Jin-dono. Licia-san trusted him so much. Pascoe scratches his head apologetically. Licia looked at Pascoe for a while and then gave a small chuckle. "Thank you for ......, Mr. Pascoe. It makes me feel a little better. With these words, Licia left for the capital alone. * * * * * * "A letter from deus ex machina?" This is the capital city of Alban. On the morning of the 19th, Prime Minister Powell, who had stayed up all night without a plan for combating magical exhaustion fever, received a letter. "What, what, what, what? No wonder the Prime Minister shouted out loud. It was the news that the magical wasting fever that had been bothering him all night long had been treated and measures taken to prevent the spread of the disease had been completed. "My God, ...... who the hell is this deus ex machina ......?" I''m honestly happy to hear that they''ve solved the magical exhaustion fever. At the same time, however, Prime Minister Powell felt threatened by the mysterious deus ex machina who possessed the power to do such a thing. The next day, the 20th, Licia returned to the capital city of Alban. The Prime Minister heard a detailed report on the situation in the village of Kaina, on the hospitality accorded to Jin, and on the magical exhaustion fever that had been triggered by Count Walter''s deviousness. According to the report, Jin has some kind of connection with deus ex machina. Knowing Jin''s ability, it was not surprising to the Prime Minister. In fact, it makes sense. "...... Jin, or ...... now, the best thing to do is to try not to spoil his good mood. We''ll see what we can do. ...... The biggest problem now is what to do with Count Walter. Although he is no longer of this world, his actions are so vicious and unthinking. The steward and his men as witnesses are under Pascoe''s watch, so I instructed the Fourth Order to capture him and take him away as soon as possible. "Thank you, Lysia Faarheit. That''s enough for today. Go home and get some rest." "Yes, thank you. Thank you very much. I will take my leave now. It was already dusk when Licia left the castle. Licia looked up at the red sky and reflected on her hectic trip. "Thank you, Jin-san for ......." These words came out of her mouth unintentionally. Licia thinks of Jin, who is probably under the distant sky. 348 - - 11-50 Quiet Story 18 Various Ends The days of intermingling thoughts, feelings, actions, and incidents finally came to an end. "You mean manipulating gravity?" Jin was analyzing the magic that <> had used against the old man and Reiko at the research institute in Horai Island. Reiko can memorize normal magic at once, but it seems that this time it was not so. It seems that the method of activation is different. "I guess so. Magic is not something that can be used only by chanting. Chanting as a form of speech is merely a support for imagery. However, it was difficult for Reiko to visualize the important phenomenon of gravity. And since she did not know everything about the phenomenon of gravity, Reiko was having a hard time to analyze it. Anyway, Mr. Rei, you know what I know about gravity. Please analyze the gravity magic, even if it takes a long time. If you can master the magic of gravity, you will be in a better position to deal with any conflicts with the demons that may occur in the future. And if we can apply it: ....... Jin thought of the word <> and pondered over the possibilities. "Now all we have to do is ......." It has not been decided that the singularity mentioned by the demons is the island of Horai, but there is no better time to be vigilant. < "Yes, it may be true that they have no intention to invade, but we must remain vigilant. ...... And we don''t know the range of that gravity spell. If that thing hits an aircraft, it will crash and Lando and the others won''t be able to move. The old man instructed the golems that they must take backup personnel with them for any future activities, including reconnaissance, and that if they sense an attack, they must respond with maximum firepower without hesitation. No one knows yet if such a day will come when Horai Island and the demon tribe will face off. * * * * The leaders of the Kingdom of Klein were worried about how to deal with Count Walther''s territory. Pascoe Rush and the 4th Knights, to which he belongs, rushed to Lakham upon hearing the news from Lycia, and together with the steward who was a close associate of Count Walter, seized a number of evidence of the crime and returned to the capital city of Alban. The testimonies and evidence were enough to strip Count Walter of his position. Since he had no wife, heir, or relatives, the immediate problem was what to do with the count''s lands. "I think it would be better if it were placed under the direct jurisdiction of the kingdom. "No, no, I think it would be better to incorporate it into the neighboring marquisate. Or better yet, divide it up and give it to the new nobility. Since most of the taxation system of the Kingdom of Klein would have to be paid once it entered the kingdom, there was little advantage to having the territories under direct control. Rather, by having the nobles rule, the kingdom could compensate for its manpower shortages. "All right, I will adopt Prime Minister Powell''s plan. Let the new nobles who have done well share in the new kingdom." The conclusion was made by King Alois III. The staff of the council bowed their heads in silence, as if they had no objections. The next question was how to divide the property and to whom. "I think that the first person who has contributed to the success of this project is Licia Faalheit. These were also the words of the Prime Minister. Although there was an incident in which a pigeon made her sick, it was not predictable, it was not her fault, and virtually no harm was done to her. Moreover, Count Walter''s butler testified that he had intended to spread the disease in the village of Kaina even if Licia had not stopped by. The butler had a history of keeping pigeons, and it seems that he and his <> conspired to infect the pigeons with the disease. The punishment is under consideration, but it will be very serious. Taking all this into consideration, Licia is to be rewarded. Further ....... "How about giving her the village of Toka as her territory and adding the Inado Mine to the leasehold, in addition to the village of Kaina, for Mister Jin?" The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications said. Jin owes us a debt of gratitude for the cure and assistance to Lysia and Pascoe, as well as an apology for the outrageous scheme of Count Walter, a nobleman of the Kingdom of Klein. "Yes, that''s right. Then I suggest that Lysia Faarheit be raised to the rank of baronet. The intention was to make Lysia a buffer zone against Jin by making her the lord of an adjoining region. Thus, in the same year, Licia was made a baronet and lord of the village of Toka, but she would not be officially appointed until a few more years later. "Now all that remains is Pascoe Rush." The Prime Minister, wishing to ascertain Jin''s character, gave Pascoe one instruction. That is, <>. However, there was not the slightest indication of this from Pascoe Rush''s report. "I''m sorry I put you in the position of hating me." After this, Pascoe was also promoted from an apprentice knight to a full knight. * * * * Barrow and Behrle have settled in well at Nido Castle. "The last banquet was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun, wasn''t it?" Behle said while cleaning the hall. His partner, Barrow, is cleaning the entrance. "Yeah, yeah. I''m glad I came here. Since Jin is usually away, the only work I have to do is cleaning, and even that is done by the golem maids on the third floor and above. "Really, I wonder who Jin-sama is. ......" When Burrow expresses such a question, Behrle replies with a smile. "Oh, it''s not that easy. Jin-sama is an amazing person. * * * * * * Erza has been practicing the engineering magic that Jin taught her day and night. The other day, she learned how to make a magical device using the flow of magic control (magi sequence), so she is mainly reviewing it. "The main point of a magical device (Magi Device) is efficiency. ......E, and the magic formula (magi formula) here is ......." Of course, training in the use of the basic transformation (forming) is also essential. Making pens and nibs using phosphor bronze also benefits the village. Now Erza can make up to three pen nibs at the same time. But Brother Jin said, "But," she said, "I can''t make 10 nibs at once. The image of Jin making 10 nibs at once is burned into my mind. And perhaps he also knew that even that was far from Jin''s real ability. "I''ll do my best ......." Sometimes he went to the library on the third floor of Nido Castle to read the manual on magical engineering that the old man had made. The book was intended for beginners, but the irony is that even the old man did not realize that the beginner level of a magecraftsman is higher than the intermediate level of a general magecraftsman, since there is nothing to compare with it. However, it is a blessing in disguise. Thanks to this, Erza''s ability will continue to grow. * * * * * * The Kingdom of Leonard, or should I say the former Kingdom of Leonard. Three shadows speak to each other in the northern region. One of them was badly wounded and unconscious, so there are exactly two shadows exchanging words. "Lardus, you''re all alone and now you''re doing this?" I guess I''ll have to get medical attention somewhere. "Yes. I have an idea where that might be. There are ruins in the north of this continent. Let''s go there. There are ruins where no one uses them, one of the shadows said. "......, but it doesn''t make much sense to go south. After all, free magic element (ether) is scarce. It''s going to be hard to get around here without El Rado Light." "I agree. We should be happy to know that the singularity is in the ocean. There''s no way to use it in the ocean." "...... Yeah. But that automaton was terrifying. "Yes, it was. If there were a hundred of them, we''d be destroyed for sure. It''s a good thing they didn''t seem too belligerent. Not at all. And then the three shadows disappeared to the north. 349 - - 11-51 Quiet 19 Enhancement Plan The night of May 19. The next day, the 20th, was the day he was supposed to return to the Shoro Empire as promised by Reinhardt. Jin was in Horai Island discussing with Laokun, Anne, Reiko, and others. The contents of the discussion were the plans for the future reinforcement of the Horai Island forces, including the anti-demon forces. "First, let''s take care of the things that can be done immediately. Jin''s words echoed. "You said your stealth was detected?" Stealth is a magic that refracts light rays in the visible light range to show what is behind it, making it apparently transparent. This corresponds to the human visual organ, the eye. Ann advised me that the demons can probably see in the ultraviolet region. Insects are said to see ultraviolet light, and some reptiles have infrared sensing organs. It would be better not to think of demons as humans. Based on the above, the frequency band of stealth influence should be broadened in the direction of infrared and ultraviolet rays. In order to distinguish this from stealth, Jin calls it . "Well, it''s very effective, but you won''t be able to see anything. ......" Jin, who had generated invisible wards on a trial basis, uttered such a line at the beginning of his speech. As a result of the refraction of light, there is no light at all that reaches the people inside. "Did you say something about electromagnetic waves with longer wavelengths, like ...... microwaves?" I dig up my fuzzy memory. Shorter wavelengths are more dangerous because they become X-rays or gamma rays. I think microwaves are used in radar," Jin recalled, and after consulting with the old man, he made up a plan to strengthen the vision of Reiko and the other Horai-jima islanders. Jin himself improved Reiko, and left the rest of the golems to Lao-kun since there was not enough time. Needless to say, the information gathering ability of the Horai Islanders has been improved by these measures, although they are not so impressive. This is what the old man proposed to Jin. Regulus, Deneb, Capella, Spica, Mira. I will increase the number of each of them by ten, and dispatch them to the Shoro Kingdom and the Leonard Kingdom. At the same time, I explain to them that we are planning to increase their power in anticipation of contact with the demon tribe. The current Reiko''s power output of about 15% will be increased to 30%. Also, since she will be heavier than a human, she will be equipped with additional armaments that she did not have before. The increase in weight will be reduced by cutting out the skeleton, but the strength will be reduced by changing the material from ordinary light silver to 64 light silver. Since aluminum and vanadium were only added to ordinary light silver, it was a great advantage that engineering magic could be used without having to rebuild the body. The armament would be < and , and a barrier would be deployable. "Yes, I think that''s a good idea. Let''s go along that line." Jin agreed. The rest is up to you. "And then, let''s see... ......" Jin started to summarize the items that could not be done right now, but he wanted to enhance them gradually. First, the defense of Horai Island. "What if the demon tribe thought of crossing the sea? The possibility is not zero. If we can reduce their weight by gravity magic, they might be able to run on the sea. "Yes. Even demons are living creatures. It will be difficult to deal with an attack from underwater." Jin was thinking of building a submarine force. With a crew of golems, food, water, and oxygen would not be a concern, and the structure could be simplified. Let''s say 10 to 20 meters in length." . According to the basic specifications that Mr. Jin has envisioned, the old man has decided to proceed with the construction plan of the . Of course, it would be better to increase the sea power as well. "I would like to have a cruiser-like ship that can turn in a small radius. A high speed boat of about 40 meters in length was also included in the plan. In response to these plans, it was decided to reinforce the Golem force on land, sea, and in the air. The number of Sky, Land, Marine, and Mermaid golems will be increased from the current 100 to 200. This can be done basically by the old man alone (of course, the actual work can be done by a craftsman (Smith)). And, as a decisive factor, the development of a free magic element (ether) absorption ward. It literally eliminates the free magic element (ether) in the warding. This would be fatal to the demon tribe. The above can be called a defense plan. Then, Jin, the old man, Reiko, and Anne plan the next reinforcement plan. "First, Reiko. Jin lists up what Reiko lacks now, what functions she wants, and so on. He wanted to make those things possible in the future, even if they could not be done right now. Jin hoped that he could learn something from the alchemists in the Shoro Empire. 1. self-healing function. 2. improvement of combat skills. 3. improvement of knowledge and intelligence. 3. knowledge/intelligence improvement 4. power-up. The self-repairing function of 1. The self-repair function (1) could be performed immediately, rather than through a long-term plan. It is difficult to completely repair a missing body part, but it is easy to repair a wound in the magical skin or muscle, or a bent skeleton, for example, in an instant. The method is to embed Magi Crystals (Magi Crystals) with <>, <>, <>, etc., in each part of Reiko''s interior. Then, when Reiko gives the command <, engineering magic with a certain effect will be activated to repair the damage to her body. While at rest, she may be able to repair herself by applying engineering magic, but doing so in the midst of battle is sometimes fatal, so a repair function that can be activated by a simple command would be very useful. It is difficult to improve the combat skills of 2. Jin had always wondered why Reiko used a lot of physical combat. After discussing with Reiko and with the help of Anne, he found a big problem. That is Reiko''s <. Even Reiko''s own <, made of Magi adamantite, weighs about 1.5 kilograms. A longsword made of steel weighs nearly 2 kilograms, and one made of adamantite weighs about 5 kilograms. When Reiko, who weighs 30 kilograms, wields it, the recoil is tremendous. Since the law of action-reaction is still valid in this world, light weight is not suitable for precise swordsmanship. Furthermore, <>. This is paradoxical, but Reiko''s power is too great. The difference between 1 and 1.1 against 10,000,000 is nothing. The difference between 1 and 1.1 for 1000000 is equal to nothing. But even the difference of 0.1 makes a big difference against humans. Reiko is holding back with her amazing reaction speed and control technique, but on the other hand, it could be said that she is using her brain''s processing power in a very wasteful way. "Well, this is my problem. He was not likely to come up with a countermeasure right away. "If we can get a better understanding of gravity magic, we might be able to use it..." It is still fresh in our minds that Lardus had changed the weight of his sword to increase its speed and impact. Gravity magic was going to be a key technology in the future. 3) Improvement of knowledge and intelligence. Knowledge was indispensable for Jin to make Reiko a lady second to none, and not only for Reiko. He will assign the 5th column (Quinta) to collect knowledge and information on this subject. Specifically, the etiquette of each country, songs and dances that are popular among the people, etc. Power-up of 4. In terms of Reiko''s body size, it is safe to say that she has been powered up to the limit in terms of physical strength. In order to increase her power further, she would need more advanced materials. This was also Jin''s challenge. In terms of magical power, the use of eladolite can easily increase the current power tenfold. This modification could be completed quickly. "Now, let''s see what the old man can do next. Since Jin had made the "Mere Old Man", no major modification had been made to the "Mere Old Man". On the other hand, his workload is increasing. At this rate, it will overflow in the near future. "Well, there are two ways to increase processing power. ......" In the case of a personal computer, it is to increase the clock frequency of the CPU (central processing unit). This can be further broken down into raising the number of brain revolutions. Another is to increase the number of CPUs. This can be likened to increasing the number of people. Your brain is the Magi Device, which is composed of 8 Magi Crystals of each attribute: earth, water, fire, wind, lightning, light, darkness, and all the attributes. The processing power will be increased by making many of the same devices and processing them in parallel. So, Jin made three more magi-devices and arranged four magi-devices at the four vertices of a triangular pyramid (tetrahedron). The original magical device controls the three added ones. What do you think, Mr. Newborn? < "That''s good. ...... and then I''d like to do frequency up ......." Jin was not fully satisfied, and he let out a soliloquy that could neither be described as a complaint nor a gripe. The reason is that this technology can also be used to increase Reiko''s power. It seems that magic power is an exchange. Since it is an alternating current, it has a frequency. And that frequency is inevitably the same as Jin''s unique magic power pattern. As a Magecraft Meister, Jin''s frequency is ten times higher than that of an ordinary mage. That is how high his level is. But if he could raise it even higher. This was also Jin''s goal for the future. After finishing the above, Jin gave the necessary instructions to the old man and returned to the Shoro kingdom. "And then there is a medical golem and ......." With these words. * * * * In Horai Island, the old man was working according to Jin''s instructions. First of all, the fifth column (quinta) was rearranged. The number of quintas increased from 100 to 150, and they are sent to their new locations again. They will infiltrate the Shoro Kingdom, the former Leonard Kingdom, and some of them will infiltrate the territories of the demon tribe. The first thing the Fifth Column (Quinta) does after being dispatched to the Shoro Kingdom is to search for the ingredients that Jin wants. It soon bore fruit. Spica 11 and Mira 11, who were sent to the south, reported that they had found three kinds of rice near Lake Wass. Capella11 obtained a genuine tea tree near Aube. Now that rice and tea seedlings and processed products had been obtained, it was decided to start growing them on Penglai Island. On the other hand, the fifth column (Quinta), who were sent to the former Leonard''s Kingdom, could not find any demon spoor, but they did find some small settlements inhabited by humans. < The old man instructs. How did the Kingdom of Leonard, one of the small group of countries, fall into ruin, and who set up the illusionary wards throughout the country, and for what purpose? There were many mysteries to be investigated. The activities of the fifth column (Quinta) will continue in the future. 350 - - 11-52 Silent talk 20 Love thoughts, going back and forth "...... Alban, I think I''ll go there. ......" Barbara, who has not seen her boyfriend (or so she thinks), Eric, for more than half a year now, utters such a line. But the reality is harsh. She has to collect magi sand (named after Jin), which contributes to the income of Kaina village, and weed the wheat fields. This is no different for the niece of the village head. In the village of Kaina, everyone does what they can to help each other. Still, Barbara, a maiden in love, can''t stop her feelings, and the morning after the big banquet at Jin''s castle, she finally decides to put them into action by crossing the Erme River. ...... "...... that''s Jin and Erza, and Hannah and ...... Licia, too,...... let''s not do it today," she said. I almost ran into Jin and the others, so I quietly returned home that day. "We need a proper plan, don''t we? I''ll need money, and since traveling alone is dangerous, I''ll need some kind of self-defense weapon. After a failed attempt, Barbara rethinks her plan. This time it is more detailed. "Hmmm, no matter how fast I leave, if I stay at the rest house, I wonder if they will catch up with me and bring me back. Realizing this, Barbara thought of borrowing one of the golem horses. That way they could get to the village of Toka in one day. "Yeah, yeah, that would be ......." Barbara is mumbling to herself as she collects magi sand from the Herme River. Her fellow women were a bit taken aback and looked at her from a distance. "...... something about Barbara creeps me out. ......" "I guess she finally snapped when she couldn''t see Eric. ...... But Barbara was oblivious to the voices of those around her and continued to work out her plan alone. The plan was so complete that it was hard to believe that it had been made by a girl who would turn 17 this year. However, there was one major oversight. That is, there was a Lando unit in the village of Kaina, which was guarding the village by using stealth. However, it is a terrible thing to point out since we don''t know of their existence. "It seems that Barbara is planning to leave the village." < Rand H, who had overheard Barbara''s plan, reported and discussed it with the old man. Then a call came in from the 5th column (Quinta). "< < "< <> After hearing the report from Spica 7, the old man made a plan for Barbara''s treatment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. After 7 days, Barbara finally arrives. "I''ve finally arrived ...... and here''s Eric ......." Barbara quickly enters the city. The situation had calmed down by now, and we were not asked for ID during the daytime. "Well, the Raglan Trading Company is ......." Barbara is looking around with a wry smile, since this is her first time in Alban and she doesn''t know what''s right or left. She looks like a lady. Looking around her, she sees that many of the men and women are well-dressed, and she begins to feel shabby in her own clothes. I had put on my best clothes, but they were completely covered with dust from the seven-day trip. "Ugh...... but Eric won''t care about that, right?" I forced myself to say so and proceeded down the central street. After wandering around for about an hour and not finding the location of the Raglan Trading Company, I decided to ask someone. "Oh, um, ......." Barbara, feeling a little nervous, called out to a soldier patrolling the area. "Hmm?Yes, miss?" "Well, have you ever heard of the Raglan Trading Company?" "Yes, that''s where you need to go: ......." The soldier answered Barbara''s questions politely and without arrogance. "Thank you very much." She thanked the soldier and walked in the direction he had given her. Less than five minutes later, I arrived at a large storefront with a large sign that read <>. Across the street, there was another store called <>, indicating that the store was prosperous. I decided to take a peek at what appeared to be the main store first. "Welcome. Please take your time to look around. The clerk greeted us as we stepped inside, and from then on we were free to look around the store without much interference. There was a stove. There was a rubber ball. There were pens and nibs. A pump is also on display. Then a figure came out from the back. Barbara looked over and saw it was Roland. "Oh, Mr. Roland!" Roland''s face turned surprised when he saw Barbara at the sound of her voice. "Ms. Barbara!Why are you here?" The atmosphere was somewhat awkward. ("...... I wanted to see Eric.") I wanted to say that, but I swallowed the words that were about to come out of my throat, "I''m here on an errand. ......". I replied, "I''m here on a business trip. Roland looked flustered, "Oh, I see. Um, how are the people in Kaina village?Oh, yes, aren''t you tired?Come this way, let me make you some tea." And with that, he invited Barbara to a corner of the store that was set up for business meetings. It was then. "......Oh, my God, Eric! I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''ll make it up to you next time." "Don''t lie to me.I''ll see you in my room tonight." ...... Eric and the young woman clinging to his arm jumped out at me. The content of their conversation and the way they were behaving, there was no room for misunderstanding. "Ah, ah, Barbara, this is ......." Barbara ran out of the store, not even hearing Roland''s voice. * * * * ".................." Barbara woke up in the darkness. She saw the familiar ceiling of her room. "...... dream,or ......" It is still early in the morning. It is still early in the morning, but Barbara, fully awake, rushes out of bed, gets dressed, washes her face, and goes outside. A lukewarm early summer breeze caresses her cheeks. It seemed to be unusually cloudy today. "Eric... ......" Barbara muttered to herself, but the sky was also overcast. Another day, just before dawn. A shadow approached the golem horse hangar. The shadow was holding the key that the village chief had in his hand for some reason. As the shadow was about to insert the key into the lock. "You''re early, Barbara, are you going for a walk? Barbara literally jumped up in surprise. Looking back, she saw Gon, the Guardian of the village of Kaina. "Oh, Gon, Gon, good morning. Oh, yes. I just wanted to see the sunrise from the top of the mountain. He said as if on the spur of the moment. "I see. It''s still dark and dangerous. Barbara could no longer resist Gong''s words, so she gave up leaving the village that morning and rode her golem horse up the mountain, where she usually went to gather medicinal herbs, to watch the sunrise together with Gong. Barbara had tried several times to sneak out of the village, but every time she had tried to sneak out, she had been interrupted by some unforeseen event. The old man is also playing a major role in the management of the village of Kaina. * * * * * * * * * * * * June is almost over. Something started to be built in a vacant lot a little distance away from the house of the village headman, Giebeck. Since all the workers were golems, I knew that Jin had sent them. Barbara was curious about what the building was, but she had to go to the Erme River to collect magi sand, so she thought she could ask him when she came back. When he came back, he found that a two-story house had already been built. I wondered who was going to live there. Looking closer, I noticed that there was some kind of workshop behind the house, and the first floor looked like a small store. "Well, the village has been changing a bit lately, maybe someone will open a store? With this judgment, Barbara turned around and went back to her house as if she had lost interest. Three days later. Three carriages arrived at the village of Kaina. Barbara, who was collecting magisand from the Herme River, recognized him immediately. "Eric!" Eric was in the first carriage. Barbara leaves the magi sand collection behind and runs away from the river. The women who were collecting magi sand laughed when they saw this. "Barbara! Eric was surprised but happy to see Barbara running barefoot. "Why ......?" Barbara asks, to which Eric replies with a smile. "Oh, you didn''t hear?Didn''t you hear?The Raglan Trading Company is going to open a branch office in the village of Kaina. I''m the new branch manager. We can send the items we make in the workshop to the main office. "You didn''t tell me!" Barbara is confused by this sudden revelation. Should she be angry that she wasn''t told about this before, or should she be happy about the news? In the end, Barbara decided to do what she thought was the most appropriate thing to do. In other words, she hugged Eric without saying a word. * * * * * * < The old man muttered as he watched the images sent from the surveillance system. Thus, on this day, the number of residents in Kaina Village increased by one. Jin, who happened to (?) Jin, who had returned to the village, welcomed Eric, the manager of Raglan Trading Company, with open arms. Full-blown summer was just around the corner. 351 - - 12-01 To Lake Tosmo In the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, Jin was recognized as a guest of honor by the Queen. He used a certain trick to prevent the spread of that might have spread to the village of Kaina, and by extension, to the Kingdom of Klein, or even to the world. It was to use a feigned illness and temporarily return to the village of Kaina to cope with the situation by putting a substitute doll to sleep in its place. On the morning of May 20, the day Jin was to leave Kaina Village. It is the day Jin leaves the village of Kaina. "It might be a little longer this time. In front of his workshop, his private residence, Jin bids farewell to his . "Bye, Oniichan, have a good trip." Hannah honestly saw him off. "Well then, Elsa, I''m going to leave Smith A with you, so if you have any questions about Magecraft, just ask. He decided to leave a custom-made Craftsman (Smith) Golem behind so that Erza could learn Magecraft in Jin''s absence. "Hmmm... I''ll practice hard. ...... Have a good day." Erza looked a little sad, but she still smiled and sent Jin off. Jin-sama, please be careful. Leave it to me to take care of Barrow and Behle. Meane said and took care of the two apprentices. "Come back sometime, Jin" Martha said smiling. Martha said with a smile. "I''ll be back." And with these words Jin left the village of Kaina. Jin then jumped into his carriage in the Shoro Kingdom via Horai Island. "Hello, Jin, welcome home." "I''m home." The carriage had left for a secluded spot on the outskirts of Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. You''re right on time. Right on time according to our meeting with Reinhardt. Jin thanked Reinhardt for his efforts. "Did you have any problems with the substitute doll?" Reinhardt looked complicated when I asked him. "Yes, a few people came to visit me, but they were mostly fine, except for one person. Except for one person." "What?Could that be ......?" Jin also knows only one person. Yes, the Emperor. A female emperor who has the ability to see the true nature of her opponents. There''s a good chance that even in the short time she''s been with him, she''s been able to tell that he''s not Jin himself, but a puppet in his place. "I''m afraid of what happens afterwards. ......" Jin''s face is smiling even as he says this. Somehow, I can''t imagine a scene in which the emperor would make some unreasonable demand using this as a story. Well, I don''t deny that I am optimistic about the possibility of such a situation. Mira 10, disguised as Reiko, disappears into the warp gate with Jin''s substitute doll, and the real Reiko returns in her place. Father, we finished without a hitch. "Thank you very much." Now everything is completely back to normal. The next day, May 21. The next day, May 21. Jin finally went to Reinhardt''s parents'' house. "Jin, how was the capital?Well, I spent more time in bed than at home, so I probably didn''t get to know much. The friendly empress came to see Jin off unofficially. Since it was informal, her words were frank. "Well, it looks like he wasn''t just sleeping, though, right? Jin looked at the female emperor who meditated with one eye, Jin looked at the female emperor who meditated with one eye and thought, "Oh, she knows.) Jin looked at the female emperor who meditated with one eye and thought, "Oh, she knows. "Reinhard, I''ve asked you to look after Jin-dono for me. Call me if you need anything." For a moment, the emperor looked serious, and Reinhardt straightened his back and replied, "Yes, sir. "Yes, sir, I understand." Jin and Reinhardt left the Shoro Imperial Palace. Since Count Randall''s territory was on the other side of Lake Tosmo, there were two routes to take: either go around or cross the lake. Jin preferred to go across the lake. In that case, the first destination would be Koju, a town on the shore of Lake Tosmo. The distance is less than 20 kilometers, making it a half-day course. The distance is less than 20 kilometers, making it a half-day course, which is more convenient for Jin because he can proceed at a slower pace. "Let''s arrange a boat in Koju today and take a boat across the lake tomorrow morning," Reinhardt said. Reinhard said. Jin was looking forward to it. It was a very short ride to Koju. We left Leuthart at 9:00 a.m., had lunch in Ixi, a town between Leuthart and Koju, and arrived in Koju at 2:00 p.m. Koju, along with Kham to the west and Raa''a to the east, was the town responsible for the water transportation and fishing industry of Lake Tosmo. Because it is a freshwater lake, there was no smell of the sea, but there was a slight odor of fish because of the thriving fishing industry. Jin and Reinhardt were walking through the town of Koju with Reiko, Steward, and the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) <>. The combination of them made everyone on the street look back. This is because Matheus, who had escorted them to Leuthart, has returned to his original duty as a member of the Kingsguard, and their escort is no longer with them. Of course, this is because of the good security in the Shoro Empire, and because Reinhardt and Hitoshi have insisted that the guards are no longer needed. However, a tall (if rather frail) young nobleman, a small alien, a black golem, a silver-gray golem, and a beautiful girl with black hair. How could this not draw a crowd? "Look, there''s the harbor!" A moat had been pulled in to form a pier, and a large ship was moored there. "Ho." The shape is quite different from the one we saw in Potrock, a port town in the Kingdom of Elias. Jin thought that this might be the difference between ships going to the rough open sea and those used in calm lakes. Many of them are flat-bottomed vessels. This is because in shallow water, the V-shaped bottom of a boat tends to scrape against the bottom of the sea or the lake. The reason why he could recognize the shape of the boat at a glance is because he is the only Magecraft Meister in this world. "The biggest one is about 20 meters long. The ship is what you might call a carriage ferry. It is a specialized vessel for transporting carriages and horses. The power was often provided by a golem rowing oars. Plus wind power was the power source for the boats on Lake Tosmo. "Wow, that''s interesting." Jin watched with interest as the boats, large and small, sailed along the lake, using both sails and oars. In the port town of Potrock, sails were not used very often. "Ha, I''m glad you''re interested," said Reinhardt beside Jin. Reinhardt said beside Jin. I was born and raised in Banne, on the other side of Lake Tosmo. I am familiar with boats because of the water transportation there. That''s why I wanted to participate in that race. "The Golem boat race... I miss it." Reinhardt first met Erza as a competitor in that race. "That''s why Erza and I have been swimming since we were little. How good a swimmer are you, Jin? "I, I guess. ......" Jin had only swum in the pool. "About 50 meters." Reinhardt smiled, "Ha, that doesn''t mean you can swim between us. We say hours or something like that. I, on the other hand, can swim across Lake Tosmo. I can cross Lake Tosmo," he said. Between the two towns of Trom and Mahahama is the narrowest part of Lake Tosmo. It is about 10 kilometers between the two towns. The locals say that one is a man if he can make this crossing. Some of the hardy ones make not one, but two round trips." Jin was impressed by the fact that people in each region have their own characteristics. When he and Reinhardt had climbed a mountain in pursuit of , Reinhardt was certainly not accustomed to climbing mountains, and although he had lost the ability to lift his legs, he was not as out of breath as Jin. He must have been training his cardiopulmonary functions by swimming. "Look, that''s probably the same type of boat we''ll be on tomorrow. Reinhardt pointed in the direction of a ship that looked like it would be very stable. "It''s a 10-passenger fast boat. My boat is based on that one. "Come to think of it, the shape is similar, too. Wide and shallow-bottomed. Jin was convinced that it was a ship used in this kind of environment. "I wonder how Marcia is doing. A catamaran. ...... Reinhardt was reminiscing for a moment and thought. "...... Jin, can I build that ship that Reiko was running?" He was a crafty idiot after all. 352 - - 12-02 At Reinhardts parents house "The ship that Reiko was running is called ...... ah, an outer-wheeler." It was a propulsion unit that Jin had hastily built in the port town of Potrock. Instead of oars, an outer wheel is attached. The left and right wheels are independent of each other, and the golem paddles the boat, eliminating the need for a rudder. Yes, that''s right, an outer-wheeled boat. I''d like to make one of my own when I get back to ....... Is that OK with you?" Jin was half impressed and half dismayed that Reinhardt, as expected, wanted to start magecraft as soon as he got home. "Of course I don''t mind. I''m ......, but are you sure?What about Ms. Bertsche? Reinhardt laughed when Jin said this. "Don''t worry about Belle. He likes me even though he knows I''m this kind of guy." It was nothing more than a flirtation. "Oh, well, thanks for the drink." Jin smiled and said, "Oh, well, thanks for the food. The next day, the 22nd. The next day, the 22nd. Jin and his party left Koju at 9:00 a.m. for Banneh on the other side of the river. As Reinhardt said, it was a wide shallow-bottomed boat. Three such shallow-bottomed boats are towed by a large boat with a carriage in the lead. The speed is about 6 to 7 kilometers per hour. On board are Jin, Reinhard, and Reiko. On board are Jin, Reinhardt, Reiko, and Reinhardt''s butler, Claude. Beth and Dolly, the maid-servants, have long since returned to their hometown of Banne, with Reinhardt''s permission. Banne is a provincial city that forms the center of my family''s lands, Count Randall''s domain. On the ship, Reinhardt explains to Jin. "Jin knows about the taxation system in the Kingdom of Klein, doesn''t he?I have never been to the Kingdom of Klein myself, but as a diplomat, I know what it''s all about. Reinhardt began his explanation with this preface. "Our Shoro Kingdom is divided into several fiefdoms, each of which is governed independently. I see, decentralization," Jin thought as he heard this. "Basically, taxes are paid to the lords. And each lord also pays a certain amount of tax to the national government. Of course, some areas are under the direct control of the state. Along the main roads, for example. Both decentralization and its opposite, centralization, have their merits and demerits. Smaller countries tend to be centralized while larger countries tend to be decentralized. At least in this world," said Jin, thinking back to the countries he had visited. "Our lands are naturally ruled by my father, Wolfgang Randall von Morgan. Among them, Georg Randall von Amber, Elsa''s father and my uncle, rules a small estate in the town of Exi. ...... where Elsa''s parents live." "Elsa''s ...... I see." There are many nobles without fiefdoms in the Shoro Empire. Most of them had a town or so within the territory controlled by the main family and ruled it as a small fiefdom. "By the way, the Marquisate of Theoderic is next door to the west, and the House of Matheus governs two towns, Sagina and Mahahama, in the Marquisate of Theoderic. It''s complicated. Jin took in the gist of what was going on, and used it as background knowledge for the future. In between these conversations, the boat approached the opposite shore, enjoying the scenery from the lake. This area of the Shoro Kingdom is a broad plain, with only gentle undulations rising gently toward the north. The May breeze across the lake was neither hot nor cold, and the boat glided along the rippling surface. When we were more than halfway across, we saw a boat approaching from the opposite shore. It was a shallow-bottomed boat about one size larger than the one Konin and the others were on. "That''s ......." "Reinhardt-sama!" It was Reinhardt''s fiance, Bertsche. "This is more comfortable for you, isn''t it?" Now Reinhardt, Jin, and Reiko are on board the shallow-bottomed boat that Bertsche has just boarded. Claude, the butler, stayed behind with the luggage. "It''s just about lunchtime, and I''ve prepared some food for you," said Berthe. Saying this, Berthe ordered her automata, <>, to prepare lunch. Bread cut into small pieces for easy eating, various fruit jams. Fruit juices in water bottles are chilled by the magic of ice. Dried meat seared on the grill was still warm, as if it had not been cooked for a long time. Then came the grilled pink tromon, a specialty of Lake Tosmo. All the dishes were first-rate and Jin and Reinhardt were satisfied. While they were eating, Reiko was free. So Neon walked up to Reiko and bowed to her. Reiko, how are you? Do you remember me? "......Neon-san, right?" Yes, that''s right. I''m glad you remember me, Reiko. "............" As he had said before in the town of Riale, Neon wants to be friends with Reiko. He talks to Reiko to get her attention, but Reiko gives him a curt answer. Eventually the meal was over. Neon started to clean up. Reiko decides to help him. "Thank you, Reiko-san." Neon thanks her. Bertsche bows to Reiko and Reinhardt, "Thank you very much for your help. She said smilingly. By this time, Banne on the other side of the river was getting closer. A wide moat runs inland. It seems that this is another type of city that uses moat walls instead of outer walls to protect it from outside enemies. After entering the moat wall and proceeding for about 20 minutes, the ship carrying the group arrived at the port. "Mr. Reinhard, your father and your brothers are all here today. Bertsche said to Reinhard as they pulled up to the pier. "Oh, I see. I haven''t seen my father and brother for a long time." The ship docked at the pier. Reinhardt was the first to land and offered his hand to Bertsche. Bertsche smiled, took his hand, and went ashore beside Reinhardt. Reiko, who had been watching the scene, went ashore ahead of Jin and offered her hand, but Jin, tilting his head, said something was wrong and asked Reiko to pull him up. Count Randall''s carriage was already waiting for them at the port, and Jin and Reiko got into the large carriage with Reinhardt and Bertsche. The shallow-bottomed ship that Bertsche had prepared was fast, so the large ship with the luggage and carriages had not yet arrived. The Randalls were responsible for delivering such luggage and Jin''s carriage. Fifteen minutes drive from the port on a paved cobblestone road, we came to the lord''s mansion. It is a sturdy three-story stone mansion. It is about one-third the size of the palace in Leusert. The spires on both sides are the main difference between the two, but the rest of the building is very similar. "Ah, it''s been a long time! Bertsche smiled at Reinhardt, who was delighted to be home for the first time in a long time. * * * * * * * * * * * * * That night was a celebration of Reinhardt''s homecoming and his successful completion of his duties as a diplomat. The party was even more exciting as it was a welcome party for Jin, the guest of honor. Jin had been fed up with being taken care of by the lady-in-waiting and the butler since he arrived at Reinhardt''s house, but since Reinhardt had told him to stay , he put up with it. "Reinhard, thank you for your service as a diplomat. With these words, his father, Wolfgang Randall, proposed a toast. He has gray hair and eyes, similar to Reinhardt''s, but not the same robust physique. I have heard of the exploits of your Black Knight (Schwarzritter) in the Kingdom of Celluloid and of Lorelei in the Kingdom of Elias. This was said by Reinhardt''s older brother, Leonhard Randall, the eldest son. He looks just like his father. "I have heard about you too, Jin-dono. I know you don''t like formalities, but just for tonight, please come with me. The man who addressed Jin was his second son, Wilhard Randall. He is platinum blonde with blue eyes and looks like his mother. The third son, Erhard Randall, seems to be the one who claps Reinhard''s shoulder encouragingly though he does not talk much. He has blond hair like his mother and gray eyes like his father. Reinhardt, who had Bertsche by his side, was answering them every time they came to him. Jin was in front of Reinhardt, so he could see them clearly. "...... family, huh? It''s nice." Coming from an orphanage, Jin does not know what a normal family is. For him, his family consisted of the director, who sometimes played the role of mother and sometimes father, and the younger children. "Jin-san, may I call you that?" "Ah, yes." The woman who came to Jin''s side was a tall, beautiful woman, with a full figure and a narrow waist. She is Reinhardt''s mother. "My name is Isolde Randall von Terfur. Nice to meet you. Yes, it''s nice to meet you too. The soft atmosphere she wears and her proportions. Jin thought that perhaps Reinhardt''s ideal mother would be like this. "I heard that my son was taken care of during the trip. I would like to thank you again. "No, I''m ...... grateful for all the help he gave me. "Hmmm...she talks about Jin-san as if he were her own person with such a happy face. I''ve never had a friend like that before. I hope you will continue to be a good friend to her. "Yes, of course. I''d rather have you as my friend. "Oh, my God, that''s so nice of you." Isolde, Reinhardt''s mother, said a few words to Jin, then bailed and returned to her husband Wolfgang. Leonhard, Wilhard, Erhard and others came to greet Jin. Finally, Reinhardt''s father, Wolfgang, arrived. "Jin-dono, my son has told me many things. I have only one thing to say. Take good care of my son. "Yes, of course." Jin''s bold, yet caring gesture made Reinhardt''s father like him. No, it would be more correct to say "to the whole family". On the other hand, Jin''s mind was filled with thoughts of Erza. 353 - - 12-03 Saki Eschenbach The day after the welcome. Reinhardt''s brothers returned to their posts and workplaces. Jin did not dare to ask who was doing what. But Jin was more concerned about something else. That was, of course, to meet <> Thor Eschenbach. After breakfast, I mentioned this to Reinhardt, and he nodded his head as if he knew what I was talking about. The Eschenbachs are in the neighborhood, don''t worry." With that Reinhardt went to get a carriage, "I think I''ll take Jin''s carriage. He then thought better of it. The steward drives the carriage according to Reinhardt''s instructions. Jin said apologetically to Reinhardt. "......Reinhard, since you''re back at your parents'' house, it would be nice if you could keep me company, but you know, Bertsche-san, your mother, etc......." I''m glad you''re taking care of me. ...... to tell you the truth, I care about you too, but entertaining the Djinn is a task that was given to me by His Majesty himself." I''m sorry. As we were talking, we were already at the Eschenbach house. It took about five minutes by carriage. Ten minutes on foot. They are literally next door neighbors. The Eschenbach house is a small pavilion on a large site. The garden was planted with a wide variety of trees and grasses. "We talked a little in the carriage, but he''s an eccentric." Jin walked to the entrance of the house excitedly, wondering what kind of person Tohr Eschenbach was that made Reinhardt say that. "I hope he''s there. With such a murmur, Reinhardt rang the knocker attached to the front door. "............" He waited two minutes, but there was no answer, so he tried again. And again. Finally, the door was opened a third time. "...... Shut the f*ck up. I''m busy right now. ...... Well, look who it is, Reinhardt. You''re a different story." With a blunt tone of voice, he came out of the door. ......It was probably a woman. I say "probably" because she was wearing a shirt and pants and a ratty overalls-like apron, so I could not make out her body shape. In addition, she wore no makeup and her hair was completely unkempt. Her dark brown hair was cut just past her shoulders, but it was so unkempt that it did not look as if it had been trimmed, and it looked as if it had never been combed or brushed, and it was wavy and bouncy here and there. Her eyes were a beautiful purple-gray, but her eyesight seemed to be weak and she frowned easily, giving a dour impression. Her voice, however, was that of a woman. She was about the same height as Jin or slightly shorter. She was thin and had a breast size that Reinhardt would not look at. She appeared to be about ...... the same age as Jin. But to his surprise, the right half of his face was red and swollen, and his visible right arm was red as well. "Saki!Your face!Your hand!What''s going on!" Reinhardt panicked. Jin thought it would be better to cure him for now, so he pushed Reinhardt away and cast a spell on him. "<>" However, the redness has not completely healed. The healing magic was not appropriate. So Jin looked at Reiko. "Reiko, please..." "Yes, Father. ......<>" It''s an advanced healing spell. With this, the red, swollen skin returned to its normal color and the sore area was cleaned up. "...... I''m surprised. That was advanced healing magic, wasn''t it? And it''s our national chanting!When did you learn it, Reiko? It''s the same magic Erza used during the magical exhaustion fever scare. Reiko had also acquired it. She is now able to use the highest level of healing magic, <>. Before Jin could respond, the woman in front of him, ...... whom I heard was called Saki, thanked him. I''m very grateful to you for fixing me up so nicely, my friend. ...... Reinhard, won''t you introduce me?" Reinhardt seemed to have changed his mind. We''re going to start over. "Oh, this is Jin. He is a friend of mine, an honorary magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, and recently became an honorary member of the Mutual Aid Guild of Magical Engineers. He''s even better than I am." "Oh, yes!That''s great!Nice to meet you, Jin!I''m Saki. Saki Eschenbach. I''m Reinhardt''s childhood friend. You can call me Saki." Jin reiterates his name with the impression that "Bokko girls actually exist. "My name is Jin Nido. Please give me a warm welcome. "You''re so formal!Please speak in a more informal way. I don''t like formalities. I don''t like to be formal. Saki, I''m looking forward to working with you. Saki nodded happily as Jin reiterated his request. "Yeah, yeah, that''s fine. "So, Reinhard, did you want to see my father today?" "Yes, is he home?" But Saki shook her head. "My father is still the same, he took off the day before yesterday. He''s probably in the Hariri Desert or the Kruger Mountains by now. ......" "Same old Saki, same old ......." Reinhardt heard Saki''s reply, and looked at her with dismay. "So, what did you want to see my father about?" Saki asked, looking alternately at Jin and Reinhardt. Reinhardt answered her question. "No, Jin is interested in alchemy, so I came to introduce him. Saki bit at his answer. "I see!Jin is interested in alchemy too?That''s perfect!Come inside, both of you. Saki said this and without hearing their replies, she went back inside the house. Jin and Reinhardt followed her with a wry smile. "By the way, Reinhard, I''m glad you''re back safe and sound. Saki said as she remembered while walking down the hallway. "As usual, Saki. You''ll have no one left to marry you." Reinhardt replies with a wry smile. Saki laughed off the comment, which would be called s*xual harassment in today''s world. "Don''t worry about that. I have no intention of marrying you at all. Saki suddenly turned around, "Oh, by the way, I heard that you and Miss Bertsche got engaged. I would like to congratulate you. "Ha, thank you, Saki." Reinhardt answered with a smile, but Jin felt that the smile on Saki''s face looked a little sad when she looked back at him. But Saki immediately turned to face forward, so Jin thought it was just his imagination and did not say anything. Saki opened the door at the end of the hallway, "Well, here we are. This is my laboratory. She said to Jin. Reinhardt had been here many times, "It''s been a long time since I''ve been here," he muttered. Reinhardt had been here many times. When he opened the door and entered the room, a strange smell hit his nose. Several containers the size of a handbasket were lined up on the work table, with some kind of liquid inside. The smell seemed to be wafting from these vats. The smell of the various liquids mixed together to create a sort of distinctive, sultry odor. "............" Jin smelled a familiar odor among them and approached the table with the vats. "Oh, Jin, be careful. The reason I got into this mess is because I touched the sap on the far left. "What?" Jin looked into the tub. There was a pool of black liquid. Gently shaking the vat, he found that it was quite viscous. "Hmmm... ......" He had an idea, but it was not the tub that Hitoshi, or rather his nose, smelled. It was the next two tubs. There was a liquid with a slight candy color. Jin took another whiff of the liquid. "......Yes, definitely. No need to analyze, it is maple syrup! Saki heard this and came up to Jin and grabbed him by both shoulders. "Jin, you know what this is! "Oh, yeah. Where I come from, it''s called maple syrup, a sweetener made by boiling down the sap of the sugar maple tree. ......" Jin said, and Saki released her grip on Jin''s shoulder, "Reinhard!You heard him!This can replace or equal sugar as a sweetener!" he shouted at Reinhardt. Reinhardt was used to this, "Yes, all right. You want me to finance the mass production, don''t you? He answered with a wry smile. Saki seemed satisfied with his answer. "You know what I mean. You''re my childhood friend. You see, these sugar maple trees grow in abundance along the shores of Lake Tosmo. All you have to do is boil the sap from them! Saki said happily, but Jin couldn''t help but say a few words. "Oh, if you want to use it as a sweetener, I think you need to boil it more." 354 - - 12-04 Persistent Liquid "What?Is that so, Jin? "Oh. It''s not sweet enough. And there is some garbage in it, so I think you should strain it. Saki looked disappointed, but regained her momentum after hearing Jin''s words. "Oh, I see. Well then, Jin, take care of it." "What?" "No, no... Jin is a magical engineer, isn''t he?A top-notch one. That''s why you''re asking him. He''s asking you to make that kind of magic tool. Reinhardt gently tapped Jin on the shoulder as he was about to retort, "No, I didn''t ask you to do that. I''m sorry, he''s like that. Get used to it. ...... Well, it''s not that Jin doesn''t like it. It''s just that he couldn''t follow Saki''s groove. Saki looked at Jin and Reinhardt and smiled. "...... got it." Jin, who was a little annoyed that he was somehow taken for a ride, brought magi crystals from the materials cabinet indicated by Saki and a small iron ingot from the materials room. Without saying a word, Jin began to work on the magic tool. "<>. <>. <>. <>" First, steel parts are made. Deformation and shaping are done at once, and the surface treatment is finished. <>. <>. <>" He also wrote the Magi Formula into the Magi Crystal in one stroke. The speed at which he worked was so fast that even Reinhardt could not keep up. "Oh, oh, oh!" Even Reinhardt, who knew Jin''s true identity, was astonished. As for Saki... "What? ............." She froze with her mouth hanging open in shock. "Well, this is a , a magical device that uses fire magic to heat things on top of it. You can adjust the heat with this knob." Ignoring Saki who froze, Jin explained to Reinhardt. "Mmmm, this is nice! < "Yes. It''s actually a higher-end model than the one I developed before. The one sold in the Klein Kingdom uses magi sand, but this one works with magi crystals. "This can be used for boiling and cooking, can''t it?This is amazing for something this big!" In fact, the Shoro Empire had a heating magical tool. However, it was in the form of a bread oven, and was not something that could be carried around. "It is the evil of an electorate. Reinhardt smiled ruefully as he explained to Jin. "There were no magical engineers who went to the trouble of making such a magical tool for the common people. While we were having this conversation, Saki finally seemed to reboot, "Jin, Jin, you''re amazing!......I honestly thought Reinhardt was just exaggerating. I apologize for underestimating you." Saki bows her head. "I''m not a liar, despite my personality. Reinhardt followed up. Jin nodded his head. It''s a bit of a detour, but they decide to heat the maple syrup on Jin''s stove. As a side note, Jin made it from a copper ingot since there was no suitable pot. Now, it takes time for the syrup to boil down. Jin told Reiko to watch (and stir occasionally, of course) so that it would not burn. In the meantime, Jin took another look at the contents of the vat that he had noticed earlier. A black, viscous liquid. It irritated him when he touched it. Sap. "Is it lacquer ......?" Actual lacquer sap is not black. It is brownish-gray and not very viscous. It is only when it is refined that it becomes the black, shiny paint, but even Jin did not know that much about it. However, it was not lacquer itself that was there, so it was the same thing. "Jin, what did you say?Uroshi? I said, "Uroshi. It looked a little like a natural paint I know." Saki nodded. "I see, so this can be used for paint, huh?Actually, a traveling merchant left me a barrel of this stuff, but I heard it can be found farther south. I was checking out the properties and that''s what I found." He probably touched it with his hand and rubbed his face with it. "Next to it is ......." The next tub contained a viscous liquid. But it was white in color. Jin had seen this one before. "Is this sap from a tea tree?" The answer was also Saki''s. "Tea tree?Tea is from another tree. This is the sap of the perilla tree. The tree we call the tea tree in the village of Kaina is called Perhya. But what is more important than the name is the nature of the tree. Jin had just seen sulfur in the materials cabinet, so he goes and gets it. "Jin, what are you going to do with sulfur?" Jin laughed at Saki''s doubtful look and used his engineering magic to measure the amount of Perhias sap and added the appropriate amount of sulfur. "Now, Saki, may I have a word?" Jin beckoned Saki to him. "What are you doing?" "Well, I''m going to make you something useful, so stick your hand in here." "Hmm?Well, if you say so. Saki said, and without hesitation, he stuck his hand into the sap of the Perhias. "Okay, give me your hand. ......<>" The cross-linking reaction between the Perhya sap and sulfur proceeded ...... and the result was a rubber glove. "<>" The rubber glove attached to the hand is separated. "Jin, what is this? "These are rubber gloves. You can use them when you handle lacquer or when you touch something you don''t want to touch with your bare hands. Well, they get steamy if you wear them for a long time. Saki looked at the rubber gloves that fit her hands perfectly, then closed and opened her palms. "I see, this is nice!Jin, thank you. You really are an amazing magi engineer, aren''t you? No wonder Reinhard praises you. Right?I''m very proud of you. Reinhardt was also proud. Saki laughed at him. "Hmmm, Reinhard, you really have a crush on Jin, don''t you? I can see that. I''m falling in love with you too. Saki''s face was once again covered with a lonely shadow as she joked. But it was only for a moment. Saki put on a pair of rubber gloves and immediately reached for the vat of lacquer-like sap. This stuff doesn''t dry very well," she said. I applied it to a wooden board, but it hasn''t dried in a whole day. Saki touched the surface of the blackened board beside him with his rubber-gloved fingertips. The fingertip turned black. "......It''s still not dry after all." Saki says regretfully as she wipes her fingertips with a rag. She probably got a rash because she kept doing that with her bare hands. "Ummm, wait a minute." Jin recalled what little knowledge he had about lacquer. In the first place, in an ordinary life, one would hardly have a chance to see lacquer as a paint, let alone lacquerware. However, Jin barely remembered the word "burnishing. It is because the armor of warriors, as represented in the Warring States period, was often colored with lacquer, and the term "baking" is well established in Japan. I had heard these two things on TV or something. "Maybe if you raise the temperature, it will dry ...... or even harden." Jin advised her to do so. Saki''s face lit up when she heard this and she approached Reinhardt. "Did you hear that, Reinhard!Come on, come on, please!" "...... You haven''t really changed, have you?" "I haven''t really changed, have I? I don''t want Persica to grow up to be an april tree. After such an exchange, Reinhardt approached the black-painted board with a wry smile, "<>" He used engineering magic to heat the board. Of course, he did not set it to a temperature that would cause it to catch fire. After a minute or so, the wet glossy surface seemed to lose its luster. After another minute or so, the surface became completely matte. Reinhard seemed to notice this and stopped using the magic. Saki gently poked the paint with the fingers of her rubber-gloved hand. The paint did not stick to her hand. It has dried or hardened. "Oh!It''s done!Jin, you were right!I didn''t realize that I just had to heat it up. Saki looked happy. "This sap similar to Uru-Urushi can be used as a paint!Now we just need to find out what its properties are. That''s something to look forward to. Saki looked out the window and frowned. Jin was curious about this gesture, so he decided to ask her directly. "Saki, I apologize if I''m wrong, but don''t you have ...... good eyes?" 355 - - 12-05 Coming Out Saki smiled and nodded when Jin asked her about her eyes. "You''ve got it all figured out, haven''t you? I guess you know me from my habit of frowning.I''ve always been able to see things up close, but things in the distance are blurry. Jin heard this and thought, "I knew it. "Reinhard, don''t they have glasses in the Shoro Kingdom? "Glasses?What are glasses? From his answer, it seems that at least there are no glasses for correcting eyesight. This is surprising in a sense. Lenses have been used on the earth as far back as B.C. Jin had read in some book that Aristotle or Archimedes burned up his enemies with a huge lens, and he recalled that there must have been glasses including monocles in the Middle Ages. But this world with its magic may not necessarily follow the same path of development as the earth. Jin changed his mind, being amazed by the microscope as well. "Well, a picture is worth a thousand words, just take a look. Saki, I''ll take some of the material. Without waiting for Saki''s reply, Jin walked over to the materials shelf and picked up a clear crystal, silver, and copper. "<>. <>. <>. <>. <>. >. >" Again Jin uses engineering magic in succession. In his hands, the material glows faintly and is transformed. The crystal becomes two lenses, silver and copper are alloyed to become 925 silver, and the frame is transformed into a thin frame. Since it was not possible to use precision screws for the folding part of the vines, they are fastened with pins. The nose pads are made of natural rubber to prevent slipping. "These are glasses. The glasses with silver frames and round lenses are completed. The design looks like an antique, but it is not a conscious decision. Jin''s sense of design just matched the level of the glasses. "What are they for, I mean, are they for your eyes?" Saki looked at the glasses in Jin''s hands and said something like that. "Yes. Put them on and take a look." Jin put the glasses on Saki''s face. The fit of the glasses to her ears was adjusted by the magic of deformation. "Well, what do you think?I didn''t make them too strong. Since I did not have my eyesight checked, the degrees of the left and right eyeglasses are the same, and I did not make them too strong. If a person who is not accustomed to wearing glasses suddenly wears stronger glasses, he/she may get a headache or dizziness. "First of all, close one of your eyes and ...... ah, yes, that''s it. Can you read the spines of the books on that ...... shelf?" "What?Yeah, for some reason I can." So Jin makes him look at the same thing with his other eye, and he can see it, too. It seems to be almost the same degree in both eyes. "Okay, well, try looking at the scenery outside. "Yeah. ...... This is amazing!I can see so much better!So this is what glasses ...... are for! Saki walked over to the window and looked out. "Wow!I can see so well!I can even see little birds perched on the branches!I can clearly see the leaves on the trees in the distance!The world is so beautiful!" Saki was thrilled with the improved vision for a while, but when the initial excitement wore off, she walked over to Jin and took his hand. "Jin, I really appreciate this!How can I thank you for this?I want you to tell me anything!Anything I can do to help!" Jin smiled and accepted Saki''s thanks. "Ha, I''m glad you''re happy. Then, I''m interested in alchemy for a certain purpose. I want you to help me with it. "I''m honored to hear that. If I can work together with a magi engineer like you, that''s all I want. So, what do you want to do? At that moment, Saki''s stomach rumbled. "...... this is a disgraceful thing to show. ......I''m sorry, Reinhard, but could you please treat me to lunch?I haven''t eaten since last night." "What?" I''m ashamed to say that my servant left the day before yesterday. I''ve been eating leftovers to make ends meet, but finally ran out of it yesterday at noon. Saki comes out with the most outrageous story. Both Jin and Reinhardt were taken aback. Just then, Reiko called out to them. "Father, I think it''s time. The maple syrup was boiling down. "Oh, yes..." I took the ladle that Reiko was stirring and took a little bit on my fingertip and licked it. "Yes, it''s sweet. "Which one?Jin, let me taste it too! Saki also came over and transferred the syrup from the ladle in Jin''s hand to her fingertips and licked it off. "No, this is sweet!This is sweet enough to sell!...... Reinhard, it will definitely become a local specialty!" Reinhardt also took a lick and his face was convinced. "Yes, this will definitely be a local specialty. I''ll talk to my father about it right away. Saki nodded with a beaming face. "Yes, please, Reinhard. I''ll be happy if this will make our region more prosperous. "Leave it to me. I''ll leave it to you. I''ll let you work on the extraction method again, but the process is just to take the waste and boil it down, right? "Yes, that''s right. I''ll let you work out how to collect it again, but you can just take the garbage and boil it down? He''s probably hungry and wants some maple syrup. Saki scratches her head and looks a little embarrassed. Reinhardt smiled and nodded. "Ha-ha, I understand. By the way, Saki still has a sweet tooth, doesn''t she? Hearing this, Jin wondered a little. "Saki, are there any ingredients left? He wondered if there was any barley, flour, vegetables, or even eggs left. "Hmm?I''m sure there are some ingredients left, but I''m ...... ashamed to admit that I''m not very good at cooking." He came out for the second time today. Alchemy and cooking are two different things! Saki says this without being asked. Reinhardt seems to have known about the other one, and smiles bitterly at her. "......It''s true, Jin. Saki''s culinary skills are lethal, or perhaps a necessity,......." "La, Reinhardt, I don''t think it''s a kill shot.At least a bad one. ............" Saki''s voice gets thinner and thinner as Reinhardt stares at her. "Who used salt and sugar without checking?Who put a jar of spices in the pot?Who the hell served the food without tasting it once? "Ugh, that was a long time ago. ......" "Not that long ago!Saki made it for me as a parting gift before I left for my trip!That was shocking. You almost delayed my departure." Reinhardt''s voice turned unusually sharp. Jin secretly felt sorry for him, as if he had been through something terrible in the past. Jin knew this because he too had experienced it in the orphanage. Cooking should be based on a basic recipe, and after mastering it, one should try to arrange it, but how many children suddenly try to put in something that is not in the recipe? And they do so without measuring the amounts. The result was a sponge cake that had not expanded, and salty chocolate. I thought I was going to die... I drank a cup of mint tea with a little bit of peppermint oil. What should have been put on the tip of a toothpick and poured into the tea, was instead put in a teaspoon full. At that time, Jin could not eat anything for two days, and his whole body smelled somehow of peppermint for another week. It is true that there are people in this world who are not good at cooking. It is even worse because there is no malice in them. Let me digress. Saki has not eaten since last night. And Saki cannot cook. And Saki is the only one in the house right now. "...... where''s the kitchen?" She wanted to know if she could make something quick since it would take time to go to Reinhardt''s house and ask him to prepare lunch for her. Jin''s question was a lifesaver for Saki, "Oh, the kitchen!This way!" Saki ran out of the laboratory dragging Jin behind her. Reinhardt followed her laughing. It seemed that he was not really angry. "Hmmm, flour and eggs, and is this milk ......?" There were no vegetables. No barley. The only other things found were cooking oil and some kind of butter. "Well, let''s see what we can make with these," Jin said to Reiko. Jin told Reiko and sent her to get the maple syrup he had just made and the stove. In the meantime, he mixed flour, eggs, and milk to make a dough. "Here you are, father. Saki rolled her eyes when she saw Reiko lightly bring a pan of maple syrup with one hand. "I didn''t notice when I didn''t have my glasses, but is this girl called Reiko?She is a wonderful automaton! Apparently, he had thought she was just a girlish golem when he couldn''t see her clearly. Jin said that he would talk about Reiko later, and began to cook the dough in front of him. He heated a large frying pan, added vegetable oil, and opened the dough he had just made. I heard a heavy thumping sound and smelled the aroma wafting through the air. What Jin is making is a pancake-like pancake. It might be similar to crepes in that it hardly puffs up since there is no baking powder or baking soda. He puts it on a plate and cuts it into four pieces. Jin and Reinhardt cut one slice each, and Saki cut two. They spread some kind of butter on them and pour the maple syrup they just made over them. "Okay, let''s eat them." "Okay, let''s eat it." Saki''s reaction to the crepe-like pancake?Saki''s reaction to the crepe-like hotcakes was tremendous. "What the hell is this?It''s delicious!It''s too good!" Jin, please make dinner for me every day......, he didn''t say, but he finished it in no time and looked at Jin and Reinhardt''s portions hungrily, so Jin baked them again, smaller crepe-like pancakes?So Jin baked a small crepe-like pancake again. 356 - - 12-06 Feedback Hitoshi instructed Reiko to boil down all the remaining sap until it becomes maple syrup. Saki seemed to have had a moment to herself, so they started over again. "Well, I don''t like the way Saki is looking at it ......." Reinhardt''s face is a bit grim, as a childhood friend he must be concerned about her. "By the way, why did the servant leave?" Jin asked. Saki scratched her head and told him the reason with a wry smile. "Well, he hadn''t paid me for three months." "That''s no good. ......" Jin couldn''t help but butt in. "Anyway, I''ll have the meals brought from my house. ...... Reinhardt looked thoughtful. "What''s going on here?We have a lot of expensive materials here. ...... you don''t think so?" "No way, maybe that''s the answer. My father buys anything and everything he can find that''s rare. No, neither do I." In short, he seems to be a research idiot with no economic sense. "Why don''t you put an ordinance on him and have him take care of it?" Reinhardt is a bit taken aback by this, but Saki keeps a cool expression on her face. "We are not aristocrats. We don''t need a butler. "But ......" Saki responds as if she is not a member of the family, and Reinhardt looks worried. Jin has a plan. "Yes, Reinhard, we could make her an automata. Reinhardt is very enthusiastic about the suggestion. The crafty idiot is in full force. "Oh!I didn''t know you had it in you!Of course, you''ll help me, right, Jin? "Of course." Jin''s reply made Reinhardt even more excited. "Yes!I''ll make the world''s second automata!" Seeing Reinhardt in high spirits, Saki asked him a question. "......Whatever, what is the <>?" "Hmm?That''s easy. The best automata in the world is Reiko, who is there. Saki''s words reminded her of Reiko, and she looked at her with bespectacled eyes. "The more I look at it, the better it looks. ...... that reminds me, Reinhard, and Jin. We are lucky to have two of the world''s top magi engineers here. Saki leans forward on the table. "Hmm?Is there something you want to ask me?" Alchemy and Magi Engineering have some things in common, and they have been developed by influencing each other. Reinhardt, who had a light hearted feeling that Saki probably had some questions, did not expect that he would not be able to respond to her next words. "So, I ask you, how can magic dolls such as golems and automata hold fragile cups without breaking them?" "...... Ugh." Reinhardt froze. The basic movement control of golems, automata, etc. is usually taught by a master. The master is in turn taught by his or her master. This control system can be compared to an operating system. In other words, ordinary magical engineers (magi engineers) inherit and use it in a black box manner from their masters. There is no progress. If we trace the origin, most of the current control methods can probably be traced back to Adriana Barbora Zetsi. And the details of the control schemes, like magic, are recorded in the <> of the <>. Most of the magic engineers (magi engineers) have access to them, copy them and use them. And what about Jin? "...... Well, it''s too complicated, so I''ll give you a somewhat simplified explanation. First, you recognize an object. Then, you compare it with your knowledge, and if it corresponds to the object, you grasp it with a force appropriate to its strength. He explained the process in a simplified manner. This impressed not only Saki but also Reinhardt. While Reinhardt was ruminating over the details of the explanation, Saki asked a further question. "Hmmm, interesting. If it''s ......, what if it''s something you don''t know?If it''s something you''ve never seen before, you wouldn''t know how strong it is, would you?" "You''re asking a lot of questions again. ...... recognition of the object, that''s as far as it goes. If it is something you don''t have knowledge of, you do the act of <>. Is there anything similar, or is there any material that is similar? "I see, I understand." Jin smiled at Saki who nodded. "If there is something similar, that''s good. But you want to know if there is none, don''t you? "Yes, that''s right. "I guess so," I thought. ...... Start the action of grasping. Fingers touch the object. Apply force. ......Are we clear so far?" "Yes, of course. The problem is what happens next. Too much force and you break it. If you don''t put enough force into it, you won''t be able to hold it. What do you do?" "I''m detecting a distortion between the object and my fingertips." "What?...... is that so, Jin?" It was Reinhardt who said that. He asked me for the first time, looking as if he had never heard of this before. "The control core is giving orders while predicting the shape of the body as it should be. The body is moving just a few tenths of a second later than that. ".................." Both Saki and Reinhardt listened silently to Jin''s explanation. "When your finger touches an object, the movement of your finger slows down, depending on the hardness of the object. If the object is soft, it is less likely to slow down, and if it is hard, it will slow down immediately. This is quickly detected and the necessary force is determined. Jin then adds. "By the way, you can be wrong. Even ...... humans are heavier than they look and can be dropped. However, we often manage to do so because our reaction speed is dozens of times faster than that of human beings. After explaining all this, Jin looked at both of them alternately. Reinhardt, being a magi engineer, was trying to digest the information he had heard as knowledge, but Saki seemed to be satisfied with just knowing the concept, "Well, thank you, Jin!You have just answered one of my long-standing questions!" She was overjoyed. "You are right that the control core can think dozens of times faster than humans, right? "Yes, that''s right." Jin nodded at Saki''s question as if to confirm it. "So the control core is doing the hard work of predicting the shape of the body as it should be." "Oh yeah, ...... hmm?" Jin thought again about Saki''s question. Basically, the principle of "simple is best" applies to everything. This is especially true for systems. "Jin?What''s wrong?" Saki, wondering about Jin''s sudden silence, calls out to him, but he does not hear her. The control core devotes much of its processing power to the act of force adjustment. In other words, it is left to the software. ......) Jin is not an expert in electronics or IT, but as an engineer living on the modern earth, he had heard of the concept. (Software is certainly applicable. (Software is certainly applicable, but if the hardware can take over, the burden on the control core can be reduced and more processing can be done. ......) "Hello?Jin?Hey." Jin was more focused on his thoughts than he had been recently. What would be the alternative?......Automata and golems were made to imitate human bodies. What is there in a human body that is not in an automaton? (...... tactile, huh!) Sight is eyes. Hearing is the ear. Nose for smell. The sense of taste is the mouth. Each of these senses had their own magi devices and formed pseudo-sensory organs. The sense of touch, however, was quite poor. For heat and cold, a thermosensor-like magical device (magi device) was placed in the chest, monitoring the temperature of the metal skeleton. It is a secondary device of the magi device that produces body temperature. If used properly, it can also detect the temperature of objects touched by the fingertips. The sense of pain is not taken into account from the beginning. (A while ago, I guessed that the reason why Reiko remembers swordsmanship but doesn''t use it is because it is difficult to control the force.) Complex movements require subtle force. Even if she has dozens of times more processing power than humans, it would be extremely difficult for her to adjust her power while moving dozens or hundreds of times faster than humans. The power of Reiko is tremendous. It would be literally an order of magnitude more difficult than adding or subtracting 10 to 1 or adding or subtracting 1000 to 1. If you think for a moment, you can understand which is more difficult to adjust the power, a simple movement such as punching and kicking or a complicated movement such as joint techniques. I have come to such a conclusion in the discussion with the old man. (Oh, ...... that''s how it is. ......) How can we make Reiko recognize the force more accurately? I''ve got an idea. (I didn''t think it through enough. ......) Reiko''s power level needed to be controlled by finely controlling the output of the ether converter and the mana driver, as well as by controlling her magical muscles by millimeter or even microns. And all this while moving at speeds dozens of times faster than human beings. Reiko herself could not explain to Jin why she had to do so. "What''s wrong with ...... Jin?" "He must have realized something important." Jin began to think for a few minutes. Saki and Reinhardt were whispering. "Well, Reinhardt sometimes does that too. He is a professional idiot, I guess. "I don''t want Saki to be the only one to say that." Jin then came back to reality. "Thank you, Saki!Your words are a big step forward for me! Jin thanked her loudly, to which Saki replied with a puzzled look on her face. "I don''t know what it is, but I''m honored if I could be of help. I don''t know what it is, but I would be honored if you could help us understand it. "Yes, of course!Reinhard, I''d like to hear your opinion too. With these words, Jin began to explain the control theory he had just come up with. 357 - - 12-07 New Devices Jin explains the new automata/golem control theory. "Well, I understand the theory, but will it work so well?" Reinhardt was skeptical, "Jin, I can sympathize with your idea. If there is anything I can do to help, I will." Saki supported him. This can be said to be the difference between Reinhardt, who is the actual producer, and Saki, who is purely concerned with theory. In other words, Reinhardt knows how difficult it is to put theory into practice. Jin, I understand your theory. But first, how do you reproduce the sense of touch?I think that''s the first step." Reinhardt questioned, but Jin had a theory. < Jin was trying to reproduce it using materials from this world. If he could reproduce it, he could attach it to several points on the body, and by detecting the strain, he would be able to know the pressure applied to the body. In other words, it is a . Jin explained the principle of its operation, adding at the end "All we need is a material whose magical properties change drastically when it bends or deforms. "Hmmm, magical properties, huh ......?" Actually, Jin had an idea. The wing membrane of a sea dragon. It is the material used for Reiko''s skin. However, it is so uncommon that it could only be used to improve Reiko. "...... I''ve got one." Saki said and pulled out a crystal from the shelf. It is a translucent crystal with a red interior and a green cross section around the periphery. The image was that of a watermelon. "Ah, watermelon tourmaline. ......" Jin mutters unintentionally. A girl I used to be interested in was wearing a small pendant with such a color. "Water melon? "Tourmaline?" Saki and Reinhardt responded to different words. Incidentally, it was Reinhardt who responded to tourmaline. Ah, water melon is a fruit or vegetable with green outer skin and red fruit inside. Tourmaline is ...... a stone like that." "Hmmm....the water melon is called water melon in Jin''s language. Come to think of it, it''s time to plant some seedlings." Saki told us that they planted shiitake seedlings in the garden every year and harvested them in the summer for eating. Jin wanted to get his hands on some of those seedlings or seeds. Of course, his intention was conveyed to Reiko, who contacted the old man and was directed to the 5th Quinta, who was newly dispatched to the Shoro Kingdom. A quiet word. "This stone is called elbaite. When power is applied to it, it produces a small amount of magical power. Can''t we use it well?" Jin nodded at Saki''s explanation. "Yes, let''s slice it into thin slices and attach the mithril wire to it. Immediately Jin sliced with Saki''s approval using engineering magic. "Mm-hmm, it''s nice to have a magical engineer!I myself can hardly use magic, so it''s nice. I can analyze and sense magic," Saki continued. "All right, then, Saki hold that mithril wire for me. I''ll try to apply the power to the sliced elvite on my side. "Okay, Jin." A small piece of elvite with about a meter of mithril wire connected to it. Jin put it in his palm and pressed it gently with his finger. "How''s that?" "Mm-hmm, there is magic on this side." "I see!That''s a success! At this point, Reinhardt, who had only been silently watching from the side, seemed to have lost his patience. "Ummm, Jin, Saki!Let me help you!I mean, I can''t stand to just stand by and watch with my fingers crossed at this moment when a new technology is about to be born! It seems that Reinhardt was also a magical engineer. From then on, the three of us repeatedly experimented with different thicknesses and sizes of elbaite to determine the optimum shape. Thanks to their efforts, by the end of the evening, they had completed a <. I decided to make an automata using this sensor. And I will give the first one to Saki. Jin and Reinhardt were of the same opinion. Saki could not disagree with them. "Yeah, well, if you both say so. Besides, I want to try some things. The next thing I know, it''s already getting dark outside, so I call it a day. "Reiko, how much maple syrup is ready?" "Yes, father, that''s all." That''s about seven parts of the pot that Jin had made. About a liter. "Okay, let''s fill the bottles half full. With these words, Jin magically formed two jars out of crystals and filled them with maple syrup. It is a very expensive bottle. The lid is also made of crystal. It is not the kind of jar one would normally use to store foodstuffs, but considering the rarity of the contents (for now), it might be appropriate. Saki, not to mention Reinhardt, seemed to have gotten used to Jin''s out-of-standardness after today, and did not say anything. "Well then, let''s take one of these to Reinhardt''s house. "Yeah, that''s a good idea. I need a sample to tell my father about. So Jin, Reiko, Reinhardt, and Saki got on Jin''s carriage and went to Count Randall''s house. "Welcome home, Mr. Reinhardt. ......?" At the house, Berthe came out to greet her, but her complexion changed when she saw Saki. "Hello, Berthe, it''s been a long time. Congratulations on your engagement to Reinhardt. But Saki didn''t seem to mind, and said the greeting. "........." "Yeah?" "...... what are you doing dressed like that!" Bertsche''s voice said that she was truly stunned. "Your hair is shaggy!Your skin is shaggy!Dirty clothes!Dirty clothes!...... and you smell a little!" Bertsche, who had criticized Saki''s outfit from top to bottom, said, "Master Reinhard, I know you''re hungry, but I''ll give you an hour!" With that, she dragged Saki away. "Ha, Berthe has known Saki for a long time. Saki seems to be weak against Bertsche." Reinhardt laughed as he watched them walk away. "Jin, it''s going to be a while before Bertsche and Saki come back, so why don''t you come to my workshop?" With an invitation like this, there was no way Jin could deny the invitation. Reinhard''s workshop was built in the courtyard of the pavilion. It was a sort of detached house. There was a passageway with a roof and walls so that visitors could come and go without getting wet, even in the rain. "Wow, it''s spacious. The room was about 20 tatami mats in size, quite spacious. "This is where you made the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter)," Jin said. Reinhardt nodded broadly. "Well, please sit down. Reinhardt invited Jin to a table in a corner of the workshop and offered him a chair. "You won''t be disturbed here. He seems to have something important to say. Well, Reiko is with him. "I thought it would be a good idea to talk to Jin," he says. Reinhardt began to speak. "Saki''s mother is dead now, but she is the eldest daughter of a marquis. "What?" He suddenly started to say something very serious. "You see, this is the marquis who asked Erza to be his wife, the Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen. His domain is to the west of ours. His eldest daughter and Saki''s father fell in love, eloped, and had a daughter named Saki. "Let me tell you a little about the Marquis Theoderic. The Marquis is fond of women who are ...... a bit small." "What?" Reinhardt, who seemed to be having trouble explaining, explained that the Marquis seemed to like women who were still immature, who were on the verge of turning from girls into women. "So, he has three children now, four if you count Saki''s mother, all daughters. He seems to be worried about the fact that he has no male heir. So when his wife passed away last year, he asked for Erza, whom he had been eyeing for some time, to be his wife." Reinhardt has been gathering information since he returned to his hometown. "I see. ......, how did he treat Saki?" "Oh, I digress. Saki''s father, Mr. Tohr Eschenbach, is now one of the top alchemists in the country, so they are not openly hostile to him. In the first place, he''s living in a neighboring territory, and he''s left it that way." "I see." But he seems to love his grandson Saki and often tries to take her into his own hands. But Saki refuses and continues to live there. Reinhardt laughed a little sadly. "Compared to the marquises, the counts can''t do much when push comes to shove," he said. That''s how feudal society works. "The only people who can speak to the marquises are the dukes above them, and then the emperors. Even then, it''s not against the law, so I can''t say anything strong about it. Whether he takes Erza or Saki. The Emperor is not a dictator. He does not and cannot ignore laws and customs. "Well, I know it bothers you to hear this, Jin, but I thought you should keep it in mind in case something happens in the future. I''m ...... sorry about that." Finally, Reinhard bowed his head. Jin had had enough trouble, but he liked Saki enough, even though they had just become acquainted, to smile and tell Reinhardt, "It''s nothing. 358 - - 12-08 Makeup After hearing about the backstory of the Marquis family, Jin was shown Reinhardt''s workshop. As expected, there were no materials as rare as those on Horai Island, but there were materials such as light silver, mithril, and adamantite, and the workshop was quite well-stocked. "Well, first, let''s at least settle on the basic concept of an automata," Jin suggested. At Jin''s suggestion, the two men sat down at the table again. "Let''s decide on the appearance of the doll, such as whether it should be male or female, its age, size, and so on. Since the purpose was to support Saki, the appearance had to be something she would like. For that, he turned to Reinhardt. "Well, I don''t really know what Saki likes ....... He doesn''t have a single story to tell. ...... Then, as if remembering, he adds. "...... she liked Erza, didn''t she?" "...... what?" ".................." A painful silence fell between the two of us, as I hesitated to ask him if he had such a hobby. Then. "Ah, you are both here after all!The dinner is almost ready! Berthe came out to look for the two missing guests. As if saved by her cheerful voice, they sat down. * * * * "......" "............" "...... Saki?" Saki was standing in front of them when they came to the cafeteria. But what did she look like? Her shaggy auburn hair had been combed to a glossy shine, the ends of her messily cut hair had been neatly trimmed, and her purple-gray eyes, obscured by her bangs, were beautiful. Her round glasses are charming. Her cheeks are now covered with a faint shade of blush, and her once unhealthy complexion is now brighter. And her dirty and disheveled clothes have been changed to a white one-piece dress. "...... huh?" Jin said. "It looks good on you, Saki." This is Reinhardt. "......It''s like the expression ''make-up to disguise yourself''." Saki turned her head and dyed her cheeks in embarrassment. Dinner was served at the table with Jin, Reinhard, Bertsch, and Saki. As Reinhardt said, it was a consideration for Jin who is not good at formalities. Saki knew the table manners and ate more neatly than Jin. During the meal, Saki was perhaps a little nervous, and they had a casual conversation, but after the meal, during the tea time, she relaxed and returned to her usual routine. I haven''t dressed like this in years. It''s not at all suitable for me." "No, Saki, it suits you very well. Isn''t that right, Mr. Reinhardt? "Yes, you look great, no disrespect." "...... you think so?If Reinhardt says so, does that mean I''m a little more presentable? "Not a little. You''re beautiful enough. "Well, I don''t know whether to be happy or sad about that. You don''t need good looks to be a good student. Saki is the one who is always boasting, saying things like, "Besides, you know, you''re not that beautiful. "And those glasses on your face?You are very charming. "Thank you. Jin made them for me. They make the world look different. "Oh, Saki, can I borrow those glasses for a second?" Jin seemed to have an idea. Saki immediately took off her glasses and handed them to Jin. "Thank you. . . Jin put Hardening on the frames of the glasses and Toughening on the crystal lenses. "That''s good. The lenses are fragile, so I put some engineering magic on them to make them less prone to cracking. "Ha, that''s good. Saki is a bit more fidgety than I thought. Saki, who had been told this by Reinhardt, just looked at him with a sullen face while putting her glasses back on, without saying anything back. Then she abruptly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, ......, how is your cousin doing?Normally she would be present here. By "Reinhardt''s cousin," I mean Erza. It is a secret only between Jin and Reinhardt that Erza was saved by Jin after her disappearance and is now in the village of Kaina in the Kingdom of Klein. "That''s, that''s ......." Reinhardt is at a loss for words. "What''s wrong, Reinhardt?What''s wrong, Reinhard? I can''t believe you look like that. Did something happen to your cousin? "...... let me tell you a story. ...... Elsa didn''t like the marriage proposal, so she disappeared." Not even Bertsche is aware of this, except for Jin and Reinhardt. "Disappeared?Erza?You said ...... a marriage proposal?Could it be related to the Marquis? Saki seems to dislike her family a lot when she calls her grandfather "that one. She also seems to know about her grandfather Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen''s hobbies. "......" Saki looks at the mute Reinhardt and knows that she has a point. "......That girlish Marquis, Erza is old enough to be his grandson, you know?How selfish can he be? Then he stares at Reinhardt, "But, Reinhard, if I know you, I''m not saying you''re hiding Erza, but I''m sure you know where she is and what she''s doing right now. I''m not saying that you are hiding Elsa, but I think you know where she is now. Jin, who had been silently listening to the exchange, was impressed by Saki''s intuition. Reinhardt remained silent, and Saki broke into a smile. "......Sorry, Reinhard. Even if that were true, there''s no way I could say it out loud. ...... that cousin of mine is also a bit interested in alchemy, and I promised to teach her some things when I got back, you know. "Yes, that''s right, Jin-sama, could you sing a song for Reiko again?" Bertsche suggested, trying to change the heavy atmosphere. Jin understood her intention well enough, "Reiko, sing something for us. "Reiko, sing something for me," he ordered. "Yes, father." Reiko started to sing. In fact, Jin had been teaching Reiko various songs as a girlish art whenever he had time. "What is the name of the flower that blooms in spring?No one will tell me, but I love the wild flowers that bloom gently ......" Bertsche, Saki and Reinhardt are listening to Reiko''s song. "If I pick a hand full of them, I''ll give them to my beloved boyfriend, and if he doesn''t come, I''ll gently let them flow into the creek. ......" The Showa-esque songs were often played by the director as background music, and Jin remembers them well. He taught Reiko some of them sung by idol-type singers. "Autumn leaves gently tap my shoulder and fall to the ground, he must be thinking about me now ......". Reiko finished the song and bowed in curtsey. Reinhardt was the first to clap. Reinhardt was the first to applaud, followed by Bertsche, and then Saki, who seemed to come to her senses. Beth and Dolly, the maid of honor, also gave Reiko a hearty round of applause. "Reiko, you''re so beautiful!I admire you so much!" Neon also gave her a hearty round of applause. "Thank you for ......, Neon." Reiko thanked Neon with a happy or annoyed look on her face. "Well, Jin, Reiko is still wonderful!The word "perfect" is for her! Reinhardt also gave his unreserved compliments. When the atmosphere was completely relaxed, Jin asked Reinhard about something that had been bothering him. "Reinhard, Mr. Bertsche. When are you planning to hold the wedding? Berthe, who was sitting next to Reinhardt, turned bright red. Reinhardt looked puzzled. "Well, it''s a difficult question. The schedule is for early June, but I''m the hostess for the gin ......." "I didn''t know you cared about that. You know I''d be fine if you left me alone for a few days." If anything, he should have just gone back to the village of Kaina or the island of Horai. Knowing this, Reinhardt looked even more troubled. But then a smile appeared on his face, "Thank you, Jin. I will consider it positively. He replied, "I will consider it positively. From then on, Reinhardt took the lead in talking about the trip and the old days. When he talked about his abduction by the Unifiler, Bertsche''s face clouded over and he looked as if he was about to cry. He told the story of his rescue, pretending that he had been rescued by a deus ex machina. Saki listened attentively. But what interested Saki the most was the story of the battle between Gigarth and Reiko. "I didn''t know you were that strong, Reiko. That''s amazing, indeed. I can see why Reinhardt is the best in the world. "It''s true. It''s true. ...... But Reinhardt-sama, please don''t do anything too dangerous, okay?I wouldn''t be able to live if something happened to Reinhardt-sama. Saying this, Berthe clings to Reinhardt''s arm. "Hmph, Miss Berthe is still very attached to Reinhardt. I''m glad to see that you two are getting along so well. Saki says and smiles that forlorn smile again for a moment that Jin is wondering about. 359 - - 12-09 The worlds second best automata The next day, the 24th, Jin and Reinhardt had breakfast and immediately went into the workshop. Saki stayed at Reinhardt''s house, and this time Bertsche accompanied them. "Well then, let''s start with the skeleton. Last night, after dinner, Jin and Reinhardt had discussed and almost decided on the specifications of the automata. * * * * "How about a neutral form? Do you mean neither male nor female? Yes, that''s right. I don''t know how much sense it makes to assign a definite gender to an automaton in the first place. Jin did not notice that Reiko, who was standing behind him, looked a little sad when he said that. "However, you are basically masculine, aren''t you?" "That''s right. But let''s make it slimmer overall and make the hair a little longer. "Hmmm..." "For example, he could be a butler, and if necessary, he could be dressed as a woman and work as a lady''s maid. "I see!That''s interesting!So it can be used for multiple purposes! * * * * "The skeleton should be made of light silver. As soon as I said that, Saki spoke up in surprise. "What!Reinhard, a kilo of light silver costs two million dollars! As expected of an alchemist, he seemed to know the market price of high quality materials. ....... He has no economic sense. "Oh, don''t worry. Jin donated the money. What do you mean by "donated"? "I''ll teach you soon enough. If you''re going to be with Jin, you can''t be stuck in conventional thinking." Reinhardt told her with a smile, but Saki looked down silently for a full minute, trying to digest what he had said. And then. "...... Okay, Reinhard. I''ve lost. It is an alchemist''s creed that you can''t make new discoveries if you''re stuck in the conventional wisdom of the world. I''m ashamed of myself. He looked strangely refreshed and convinced. Bertsche did not look so surprised, perhaps because of his lack of economic sense, or perhaps because of his lack of knowledge about materials. He resumes the work he had stopped. He is 160 centimeters tall. About the same height as Jin, just a little taller than Saki. He is slender. He is aiming for a weight of 50 kilograms. "First, the skeleton. I''ve been thinking about it a lot after watching Jin make his golem. With these words, he prepared a lump of light silver. Actually, Jin had them brought from Horai Island in the middle of the night. Reinhardt then shaped it into a shape. Jin had worked with Reinhardt on several occasions, but this was the first time he had seen him use engineering magic as seriously as he had this time. Reinhardt''s ability was also quite strong, and it was no exaggeration to say that he had learned from watching Jin''s method. The basic framework was completed in about 15 minutes. "What do you think, Jin?I want to hear your opinion. Jin gave his honest opinion in response to Reinhardt''s question. "It''s amazing, Reinhardt. I can''t believe you could make something like this just by looking at it for a minute!If I had to say anything, I''d say the fingers and wrists. I''d say the ball joints, but they look a bit heavy. After giving his opinion to Reinhardt, Jin took a small lump of adamantite and fine-tuned it, coating the joints. "I see!You are reducing the wear and tear on the joints and lightening the movement. I''m learning a lot." Saki, who could no longer stand by and watch, interrupted. "I''m sorry to interrupt you both, but I have to tell you something. ...... is it based on a human skeleton?" Jin answered the question. Yes, it is. Automata are made to imitate human beings. Then, why don''t you try to make them look like humans from the skeleton? Saki groans and carefully examines the skeleton lying on the workbench. "The ribs and pelvis are simplified, aren''t they? ...... Sorry to interrupt. Please continue. Now to Jin''s main subject. The magical muscles made of magical fibers are placed. As he was attaching the muscles in order, Jin wondered how his predecessors had acquired the knowledge of anatomy. Reinhard and Saki, on the other hand, were staring intently at Jin''s skill. Bertsche was the only one who looked unsure. "Done." In about five minutes, the muscles were attached. For Jin, this was a rather slow process. "Well, Jin, that was very helpful!Thank you!" Reinhard clapped Jin on the shoulder excitedly, "Jin, I learned a lot from you." Saki thanked him quietly. After that, they wired the magic nerves with mithril silver and prepared the control core. Reinhardt said that it was no longer necessary, but Jin knew about the demons, so he made a shield structure just in case. "Now, it''s time to place the tactile sensors! Reinhardt said happily. Jin agrees. "Finally, we''re going to install the world''s first function! Saki''s face is full of anticipation. Bertsche is the only one with a look of >Bertsche is the only one who has a look of We have made 40 tactile sensors in advance, two on the palms and two on the soles of the feet, one on each side, for a total of eight. We will place multiple tactile sensors: five on the chest and abdomen, three on the back, and two on the buttocks, for a total of ten locations. The multiple locations are intended not only to prevent a significant loss of function if one of the sensors breaks down, but also to allow the center of stimulation to be determined based on the strength of the signal from each sensor. There are four sensors on each side of the arms and legs, for a total of 16 locations. Five more have been placed on the head, and the process is complete. "Well, there is one more, but let''s keep it as a spare," Jin said. Jin said, and Saki made a suggestion. "If it is meant to be a prototype, why don''t we place them all? How about in the mouth?" "Hmmm... I see, when you bite something. That might be a good idea. So, all 40 tactile sensors have been placed. They send information to the dedicated sub control core (sub control core), which organizes the information and sends it to the main control core (main control core). This should reduce the burden on the main control nucleus Main Control Core and enable more delicate control of the body. "Reiko, trace the flow of magic power using Trace and Inspect. I and Reinhardt will try to stimulate our respective tactile sensors." "Yes, I understand." Precision work such as measurement is Reiko''s specialty. Jin and Reinhardt stimulated each of the tactile sensors, sometimes simultaneously, sometimes individually, and followed how the magical signals emitted from the sensors were sent to the sub-control core for processing. We worked for two hours on such a simple task. Having obtained satisfactory results for the moment, I decided to move on. It''s almost lunch time, ladies and gentlemen. Take a break and have your lunch. Berthe, who had been looking absent-minded up until then, looks at the sundial in the garden and says to me. "Oh, it''s already that time," she said. "Time flies when you''re absorbed in something, doesn''t it? "I totally agree with you," he said. The three like-minded people stopped their work, saying what they thought of each other. "Berthe, I''m sorry. I know this is boring for you, and I feel bad." After washing his hands, Reinhardt gently hugged Berthe''s shoulder. "...... Oh my God, Reinhardt-sama! I can''t say anything when you speak to me like that! Bertsch, who looked a bit sulky, laid her head on Reinhardt''s shoulder as she said this. Jin and Saki laughed at the two who remained motionless. "......Thanks for the food, I guess." "Yeah, it''s beautiful when we get along well with each other. Saki and Jin looked at each other with the same narrowed eyes and expressed their own thoughts. It is good that they get along well with each other. Reinhardt noticed and let go of his hand holding Bertsche''s shoulder. This action brought Bertsche to her senses, and her face turned red when she saw Jin and Saki looking at her with smiles on their faces. "Hello, Mr. Reinhardt, let''s go and have a meal. "Ah, yes, yes, Belle. Let''s go to ...... Jin, Saki. Let''s go have lunch." With a shy smile on his face, Reinhardt called out to Jin and Saki and headed for the main house. 360 - - 12-10 All After lunch, Jin, Reinhard, and Saki went back to the workshop, but Bertsche stayed behind. Reinhardt said that he felt sorry to keep Bertsch company. Bertsche wanted to stay with them even though she was bored, "At tea time at 3 o''clock, please treat me to the food Belle made for the first time in a long time," said Reinhardt. Reinhardt said to her, and she made something called and waited for it. "Now all we need is skin, face, hair, and so on. Reinhardt said as he carried the materials from the shelf. "Saki, do you have any requests? Saki thought about it. "Well, nothing in particular. ...... If I had to guess, I''d say light blue for the eyes. I would like her hair to be a light blonde, and short. The first thing that came to Jin''s mind when he heard that was Erza''s face. He immediately set to work. Then, without thinking of anything in particular, he starts to make the face more neutral, using Elsa as a model. Reinhardt is his assistant. He is trying hard to learn the technique while watching Jin''s skill up close. It took about an hour of careful work, but the exterior of the automaton was completed. "Hmmm, that''s good, that''s good, that''s good. It''s quite nice. Jin, that''s brilliant!" The remaining work is the detailing. Adjustment of the vocal apparatus (voice quality), visual adjustment, auditory adjustment, etc. "Jin, what about the control core?Also, like <>, do you copy someone''s behavior pattern or something?" Lotte is a maid golem that Jin made at the request of his friend Count Kuzma when he visited the Kingdom of Egelea. At that time, I was allowed to copy the knowledge and movements of the chief chambermaid of Count Kuzma''s family. "Oh, I already prepared it this time." Jin took out the Magi Crystal from his pocket to record the master information. This is the same as the five-colored golem maids working on Horai Island. "<>Level 6". This enables them to do the highest level of housework, just like on Horaijima. In other words, they can cook Jin''s favorite dishes. Actually, this is the more important reason. And the power source is the same as Elena used to have, an ether tank and an ether driver. "Jin, what is this?" Reinhardt had never seen a magi device before. Jin explained. "Well, this is the ....... of that automata called Elena. So, if we equip it with this, it will work semi-permanently? "Yes, as long as it has free magic element (ether)." This was the technology that existed at the time of the Great Magic War, and Anne, Tia, and others had ether converters and mana drivers. They are backward-compatible devices with the Horai Island Golem automata, but they are practical enough. "Hmmm, it stores free magic element (ether) in the ether tank and converts it into magic power with the free magic power furnace (ether driver)? Interesting." Saki watched them working, muttering to herself. It was just before tea time when they finished. "Okay, let''s activate it. Reiko, can you give me some of your free ether?" "Yes, Father." The Aether Converter in Reiko''s body has an additional function to collect Aether. In other words, there is a considerable amount of free magic element (ether) in Reiko''s body. Engineering magic <<. It is rarely used, but it is used to activate an ether converter instead of a mana driver. The automata I made this time are not for combat use, so their ether tanks are small. Therefore, the tank fills up quickly, and the ether driver can be activated. "<>" Jin spoke the key word, and the automata opened its eyes. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Creator. Since Jin was the main person in charge of making the control core this time, the creator was him. "Okay, your master is this Saki Eschenbach. "Yes, I am Saki Eschenbach. Saki Eschenbach, please take care of me. The voice had been adjusted to be neutral, and Jin secretly thought that she sounded like a male Takarazuka actor. The automaton bowed to Saki. "Saki, will you give him a name? Jin asked, and Saki, who had been so nervous about being master of an automaton for the first time, came to her senses and began to think. "A name, ......, I guess. ......." Eventually, Saki looked up and uttered a name. "Okay, let''s call him . "Yes, master. My name is . "Aal?" It was an unfamiliar name. "Oh, I read in a book once that 1,2,3,4...... are called Yi, Aal, Zan, Suu... I remember that it was written that 1,2,3,4 is the world''s second. I chose Aal, which means 2, because it''s the second largest in the world." "I see." Reinhardt was impressed, but that was not enough for Jin. "Well, Saki, what''s the book?...... I also know how to count e,r,sun,su,wu,lu,chi,per,chu,shi." "Wow, you look like him. But I''m sorry, Jin. It''s just that I found it in an ancient document, or rather, in a book written about the past, but it only goes up to four, and it''s not a book that explains numbers or anything like that." Saki''s explanation made Jin relax. "...... Well, I''m sorry about that. That''s a strange thing to ask. Let''s focus on Aaru for now. "Okay, Aal, try to stand up." Saki motioned to Aal. "Yes, sir." Aalu stood up ...... and the table fell with a loud crash. Aalu stumbled to his feet and clung to it, knocking it over with him. "Are you okay? "Yes, master. Yes, master. He tried to stand up, but Aalu fell down again. To Jin''s eyes, the control system did not seem to be working properly. "Okay, Aalu, sit down for now. After making him sit on a chair, Jin gives Aalu a task to check the condition of his control system. For this, Jin asked Saki to prepare clay. "Okay, Aal, try to make dumplings out of this clay. Yes," said Aalu, reaching for the clay and crushing it ....... Reinhardt saw this and said in disappointment. Jin, you failed. You have no control over your power ......." But Jin disagreed. "Aal, it doesn''t matter how long it takes. Try again and again." "Yes, my creator." Following the instructions, Aalu reached for the clay again and again. Each time he crushes it. "...... Jin, it''s no good. What did I do wrong?" Despite Reinhardt''s disappointment, Jin was watching Aalu''s actions with his eyes. "Jin, is it my imagination?I think Aaru is getting more and more dexterous ......." As he said, little by little, Aal seemed to learn how to grip the clay with more and more strength. Ten minutes later. Aalu succeeded in rounding the clay into a circle. "I knew it. ......" "Jin, don''t be alone in your convinced, please explain it to me." Reinhardt was still struggling to understand. So was Saki. Jin explained his theory to them. "Perhaps the signal from the tactile sensor is not in agreement with the control formula I prepared. Jin prepared a control formula that has been accumulated, including information handed down from previous generations. Naturally, the sense of touch was not taken into consideration. The control system was initially confused because it did not know how to handle the unknown information of tactile sensation. But over time, they got < to it and were able to roll the clay. "Well, that makes sense. "I don''t know about that part, but are you sure that Aaru is not used to using his body yet? Jin affirmed what Saki had said. "Something like that. That''s why I think it''s a good idea to let Aalu learn the movements little by little, like a baby." "Mr. Reinhardt!It''s time for tea!It''s late, I''ve come to get you." Bertsch called for them, so Aal continued with the clay work while Jin and the others went to the main house for tea. Reiko, watch over Aal just in case.) (Reiko, watch Aal just in case) Jin did not forget to whisper instructions to Reiko. 361 - - 12-11 Belches Are "Here you go, eat up!" In the middle of the round table was a large plate. What was in the plate? "...... college sweet potatoes?" Yes, it was a sweet potato deep-fried in oil and covered with molasses. ...... In other words, it looked a lot like a college sweet potato. "Hmm?A dai gaku imo?" Saki overheard Jin''s muttering and said. "Oh, yeah. That''s what we call it where I come from. "That''s funny. < Saki takes a piece of takaimo in front of her on a plate. In the meantime, the attendant maid of honor was pouring tea for the guests. "Jin, this is called here. Bertsche has always been good at making it. She has been making it for me for a long time. "...... Yes, it''s delicious. It is filled with Miss Berthe''s love for giving Reinhardt good food. "Oh, I''m so embarrassed." Bertsche giggles at Saki''s line. Saki had already put the third one in her mouth. "I think these would be delicious with maple syrup," Jin mutters as he eats them. Jin mutters as he eats. Not only molasses, but also honey and maple syrup are sometimes used. His advice was accepted by everyone present. "I see!Maple syrup! Sure, it would be good with maple syrup!" "We still have some itopo that''s just been fried, so I''ll give it a try." I heard that sweet potatoes are called "itopo". By the way, Reiko was not present at the meeting as she was following Aalu by Jin''s instruction, but there was a covert SP (Special Purpose Unit) escorting Jin in the shadows instead. One of them, <>, was reporting the situation to the old man. Needless to say, the "Itopo" or sweet potato-like creature was found and sent to Horai Island under the direction of the old man. "Oh!This is also delicious!" "The sweetness of the itopo and the maple syrup is indescribable." "Thank you, Jin-sama, for telling us about it." Reinhardt was delighted, Saki enjoyed the taste, and Bertsche thanked Jin. The tea party ended peacefully. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After finishing their tea, the three returned to the workshop. "......oh?" Aaru was dancing slowly with Reiko''s hand in hers. "Reiko?" Reiko stopped dancing at Jin''s words and turned around. "Welcome back, father. Aaru-san is all right now." Reiko explained to Hitoshi that Aal had learned to work with clay without any problems and that she had been gradually getting used to his movements. As she said, clay was placed on the table in the form of spheres, cubes, and plates. "But still, so rapidly?" Reinhardt''s surprised voice. "Yes. Once you get the hang of it, the rest seems to have been easy. "I see. So the sub-control core has stored information. Jin observed the situation with interest. He is even more enthusiastic because he is planning to add to Reiko and the others in the near future. "Okay, Aaru, can you hold this for a moment? Jin creates a sphere with his engineering magic and places it on the table. It seems to be made of iron and looks heavy. "Yes, Master Creator." Aalu replied, reaching for the sphere and lifting it ...... up with aplomb. "Oh!That''s great, Aal!...... put it back up." The ball was returned to the table. Not a sound was heard at that moment. "Reinhard, hold it, will you?" Jin looks at Reinhardt who is asking something and says with a mischievous smile. "Hmm?You want this?" Reinhardt reached for the ball and squeezed it ...... beautifully. "Whoa!" The ball was made of a thin outer skin, contrary to its appearance. The appearance deceived him, and he squeezed it so hard that it was crushed. Reinhardt confided that he and Bertsche would be getting married in three days. "But will you be ready in three days?" Jin asked, a little concerned this time. "Oh, that''s all right. I didn''t tell you this, but we were originally planning to have the wedding on June 1st. "Oh, so there was nothing to worry about. Hearing this, Jin laughed in relief. 362 - - 12-12 Wedding gifts to Reinhardt "Well then, Saki, I''m sorry to trouble you for a while. Jin says to Saki with a smile on his face. "I''m looking forward to spending a few days under the same roof with you, aren''t you?" "Nah. ......" "I''m not wrong, am I?" Saki smiles mischievously. Saki has gotten to know Jin quite well over the past few days, and while she seems to be the logical one, she also shows this side of her. Jin, Reiko, Saki, and Aaru are traveling in Jin''s carriage. "Saki, as a matter of fact, I''ll probably be out of town until the day of the wedding. "Really?Well, that''s okay. Is there something you want to do? Saki didn''t look too surprised at Jin''s words, but only asked a question. "Yes. I wanted to give you something as a wedding gift." "Hmmm... I see... I''ll have to look around for a gift. ...... That''s a good idea. I''ll have to get something for you, too. Saki thought about it. Jin thought this was a good idea and asked a question. "Hey, I don''t really know what you want to give as a gift, so why don''t you tell me if there is something bad you want to give? "Bad things, huh? I don''t give knives very often. That kind of thing comes from blood relatives. It was the same thing I had heard before on Elsa''s birthday. Saki''s advice continued. "Clothes are also difficult. If you don''t know what they like, it''s a little difficult. "...... sure. What else? "Of course not a ring. Of course not a ring. ...... and we''re talking about what''s good for you, aren''t we?" "No, that was helpful." Jin thanked him briefly. And I''ll ask Elsa about the rest, he thought to himself. In the meantime, the carriage arrived at the Eschenbach residence. "Well, I guess father hasn''t come back yet. Saki mutters as she unlocks the front door since there is no gate ....... "Well, with Aal here, I guess we can make it through the rest of our lives," Saki said as she unlocked the front door. Aal, take care of Saki. Jin reminded Aalu. "Yes, Creator, I will. Aaru was now an all-around housekeeper ...... who could take care of everything from cooking to laundry to personal care. "Well, I''ll be back around 6:00 p.m. on the evening or night of the 30th, the day before the wedding. "Oh, okay. I''ll be waiting for you. I''ll be waiting for you. I can''t wait to see what kind of gift Jin will pick out for me. "Yeah, you can count on it." * * * * * * After leaving Saki, Jin ordered the steward to drive the carriage to an out-of-the-way place. The area where Reinhardt''s parents live is quite nice, with a town and a forest. The carriage drives toward the forest. "Master, I think this area is good for you. The carriage stopped deep in the forest, where the grass and bushes were so thick that the carriage could not go any further. "Okay, this is good. Then wait here until the evening of the 30th, Steward. Put a cover on the wagon. And cover the golem horses'' tracks and ruts." "Yes, sir. Have a good day." Leaving the carriage in the hands of the steward, Jin and Reiko jumped to Horai Island. When they arrived at the middle of the transition, there was a slight feeling of discomfort. "Hmm?" Butler 50, who was in charge of the car, noticed this and started to explain. The other person in charge, Butler 49, stood silently. "Master, the intermediate base was recently completed and moved to a new transfer-only base, <>." "<>?" "Yes. It is a spherical structure with a diameter of 20 meters made on Horai Island. It is hollow and made of two layers of 18-12 stainless steel and light silver. You can see the inside. Now Butler 49 explains. "It was placed at the bottom of the ocean between the Kunlun Island and the continent using a warp gate that does not require a receiving side. If something goes wrong, either one of us or the old man will destroy the warp gate. So they will be isolated for several hundred meters under the sea. That''s very well prepared. "Okay. Thank you." Jin thanked Butler 49 and 50 for their explanation. He also expressed his gratitude for the long days of management ahead. The old man welcomed me at Horai Island. How are you doing, My Lord? It''s been a few days since the multiprocessor system was installed. Jin asked him how he was doing. "Oh, that''s great." The previous magical engineer "MagiCraft Meister", Adriana, created only a single-core magical brain, so to speak. The multicore is Jin''s original. Therefore, there is still a lot of room for improvement in the basic control system, which can be called an operating system, and the "Mere Old Man" has made up his own remodeling plan for it. "Okay, let me see it." At Jin''s request, the Magi Formula appears in the space in front of him. Normal people would not even be able to understand it, but Jin, the Magecraft Meister, was able to read it easily. "...... I see. Which process should be done by which control core, the order of the processes, and so on. Unfortunately, Jin has little computer knowledge, so he could only come up with ways to increase the processing power by increasing the clock frequency or the number of processors, but the old man seems to be optimizing the processing through trial and error. Jin could understand that this way was more efficient, so he checked the system for bugs. "Okay. So you want me to change to this basic control system?" > The old man does not have the authority to change himself. If you allow him to do so, there is a possibility that he will go out of control. Jin prepared a new Magi Crystal and carefully wrote the basic control formula. He replaced it with the old man''s. "How is it?" The old man checked his new control system for a second or so and then answered, "Yes, thank you. "Oh, I see. Well then, report back to me if you make any more discoveries. I''m off to the village of Kaina." * * * * * * Jin was transferred to the warp gate in the basement of the workshop. When he went above ground, he found Erza in the workshop. Smith A. was also with him. "Ah, welcome back, Brother Jin. "I''m home, Erza. What are you doing? Erza held up something in her hand. "Oh, that''s great." It was a phosphor bronze nib. Wow, there were five nibs growing out of the runner. In other words, Erza was able to make up to five at the same time. "I''m still not as good as my brother Jin. She replied, but her face was happy. "Ah, Honhyan, welcome back. And you, too, Leco." It was now lunchtime, and Hannah came out to call Erza. But something was wrong with her words. When I looked closely, I found that Hannah''s two front teeth had fallen out. It seemed that her baby teeth had fallen out. "I''m home, Hannah. "Hello, Jin. Welcome home." Martha also came to greet them. Meane was inside preparing food. "Welcome home, Jin-sama. I made sure you got your share of the food. She told me that Butler A had quietly told her. He must have contacted the old man while he was in Hourai Island for remodeling him. The old man is as always very attentive. After lunch, Jin told Elsa that Reinhard and Bertsche were getting married on June 1st. "...... yes. Rai and Bertsche." Erza looks a mixture of envy and sadness. "Mr. Reinhard and Ms. Bertsche, is it? Yes, I know Mr. Bertsche. I see, so it''s finally happening. Meine looks a little nostalgic. "Wow, Oyomehan!I''d like to see it! Hannah is simply excited. "So, I was wondering, what would be a good gift for you? Meane was the first to answer. "Well, I think household goods would be the safest choice. Then Elsa added. "...... that futon. Just right for newlyweds." 363 - - 12-13 Knowledge transcription "A futon. ......" Jin immediately realized that Erza was talking about a futon made of cotton. "But if it''s a futon, don''t you think it''s already prepared?" "Yes, that''s right. That''s right. But I don''t think they have anything better than that futon. The futon is made of magic cotton wrapped in magic silk, the quality of which has Erza''s approval. "I see. ...... but what if it doesn''t fit the bed?" "Then we''ll just make a bed for her." Elsa is very perceptive today. Or maybe Jin is a little slow. "Okay, that''s good. Thank you, Elsa. After thanking Elsa, Jin turned to Hannah. "Hannah, is your tooth okay?Does it hurt?" It seemed that he was worried about Hannah and couldn''t concentrate at the moment. "Yes, honhyan. Laihyun." It''s no wonder that her pronunciation is a little airy in places. One upper and one lower front tooth were missing. "Speaking of which, does Elsa have any cavities?" "Nope. No." "Jin-sama, I taught Erza to keep her mouth clean since she was little. Meane added. "I have been teaching the children in the village since the other day. Fortunately or unfortunately, I don''t know if it''s because they don''t eat much food with sugar, or if it''s their constitution, but none of them seem to have cavities. "I don''t hear of many cavities in this village. Martha laughed as she showed me the inside of her mouth. All thirty-two of her teeth were in perfect condition. "Hmmm, there could be a reason for that. ......" Jin is relieved to hear that cavities are not a concern in the village of Kaina. He then decides to start on his main task of making a futon. "Can you tell me the size of a typical futon?" Jin asks Meane. "Yes, a newlywed couple would use ......." Meane cut him off and looked pained for a moment. She must have been remembering something from the past. "It is 2.2 meters long and 2.2 meters wide. The mattress and quilt are the same size. It''s about the size of what we would call a king-size futon on modern Earth. "Thank you. ...... sorry." "What are you apologizing for?" Meane said to Jin with a smile. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now, let''s see about the fabric processing. Jin had come to Horai Island with Erza. He decided to take this opportunity to teach her how to process cloth. He asks Reiko to show him some samples. As you can see, there are several kinds of Magi Silk, depending on the weave and the thickness of the thread. First of all, I want you to remember them." In modern earth, there are plain weave, twill weave, and satin weave. The ratio of warp to weft is, in order, 1:1, 1:2 (warp to weft is skipped every other thread), 1:3 (warp to weft is skipped every other warp). The types of fabrics were equivalent to chiffon, organdie, tulle, habutae, and so on. "......" Elsa is entranced by the variety and feel of the fabrics. "May I?" "Uh-huh." Erza nodded hurriedly as if coming back to herself. "First of all, cut out the pieces according to size. We''re going to use separation, but the crucial difference from taking out the required amount from the ingot is that instead of weight and volume, we''re going to imagine size." "Hmm. I understand." "Don''t expect to get the size you want from the start. If it''s going to be off, it''s better to make it bigger. You''ll waste material, but it''s better than if it''s too small. After explaining in detail, Jin decides to give it a try. "<>" The medium-thick, plain weave fabric of Magi Silk is processed. The oversized woven fabric had a width of 2.5 meters. Considering the finished size (taken into account the thickness), it was cut at 2 meters 30 centimeters in length and width. Four pieces of it. "Normally I would sew them together, but with the engineering magic < ......" The threads were neatly joined together, and the two envelope-shaped bags were ready in no time at all. "Put the cotton inside ...... and close them with joints in all four directions ......". The futon is now complete. "At this size, the wadding will be too close together, so it would be nice to sew it together in several places." I explained to him that the outer and inner lining should be careful not to stick to each other, as this would reduce the warmth of the fabric, and I sewed them together, or rather joined them together, using Magi Silk thread. "How do you like it?" "...... nice. This is how the futon was made. Erza was thrilled to see the process of making the futon she was also using. "Well, try practicing on these strips of fabric." He gives her a 20 cm wide scrap of cloth and asks her to practice separating and jointing. "<>. <>. <>,<>". Repeat the process of attaching and separating many times to get a feel for it. "...... difficult." The threads do not stick to each other neatly. "Haha, it must be difficult at first. You should take that scrap of fabric home and practice. "Yeah, I''ll do my best. I''ll do my best. Next, Jin begins to make the bed. He recalls his experiences at Reinhardt''s house and when he stayed at Princess Rieschen''s villa in the Kingdom of Klein, and decides on a design. Basically, it is simple. Once the design is decided, the next step is the materials. Elsa will be taught woodworking as well, although it may be a little too much for her in one day. We can leave the review to Smith A., we thought. The wood is in a newly built wood warehouse behind the laboratory. It is kept in a dry environment. "From here, cypress, cedar, oak, maple, zelkova ......" Jin calls them by the names he is familiar with, not by what they are called in this world. "I think I''ll use maple this time." The wood is dense, resilient, and has a gentle grain. With the help of Reiko, Jin brought the wood into the workshop and immediately began to work on it. The main work is separation and jointing, and then shaping. Elsa watched with a serious look in her eyes. The process is simple despite its size, and soon a king-size bed is made. Quite large. The wood is finished off with a coat of varnish prepared by the previous owner. The varnish is expected to have a mothproof and antiseptic effect, and is harmless to the human body. This is also applied evenly using engineering magic. <>" The magic to make it soak in evenly. The image of uniformity is also important. Finally, the surface is polished with "<>" to complete the process. Elsa watched the whole process with a look of respect. "Brother Jin, is that the same magic you used to make the spools when we flew kites in the village of Mohut? Elsa asked as if she remembered. I hadn''t seen her make it. "Yes, I remember that too." "...... I want to catch up with my brother Jin, even if it''s just a little bit." Seeing Erza''s serious eyes, Jin had an idea. "......Erza, do you really want to become a Magical Craftsman ...... or a Magical Engineer?" "Yes, I do." Erza answered Jin''s question immediately. "I want to make various things like my brother Jin and help people. Magic is for making people happy. I don''t think it''s something to control." This must have been Erza''s conclusion after thinking about it in her own way. "Okay, I understand." Jin took out two small magi crystals from the cabinet, "<>level 3 He copied some of his knowledge into one of them. "Erza can use transinfo, too, can''t she? This Magi Crystal is filled with basic < and other knowledge. Read it. Jin hands the empty magi crystal and the magi crystal filled with knowledge to Erza. Erza gazed intently at the magi crystal in her hand. Direct knowledge transfer (trans-info) from one person to another is basically impossible. This is because each person has a different pattern of magical power. However, it is possible to transfer the knowledge that has been transcribed into a magi crystal to another magi crystal by oneself and read it out. "...... Jin brother''s ...... knowledge." "Yes. But it''s just a beginner''s level, right?" "Okay. I''ll try. ...... knowledge transfer (transinfo)" The Magi Formula floated on the Magi Crystal and was sucked into the other Magi Crystal. "Yes. You have done it. Erza can read that one directly now. Erza gave him back the Magi Crystal on which she had transferred her knowledge, and Jin erased it. Erza looked at the magi crystal in her hand once more and activated "transinfo". 364 - - 12-14 Elza is crazy too "...... Jin bro, wow. Thank you." Erza was unusually excited after successfully absorbing Jin''s knowledge, even if it was only a beginner''s level. "......I finally understand how matter is structured, why things fall, and why airplanes fly." Elsa has gained a level of scientific knowledge that is roughly the level of an elementary school student to a junior high school student. She is excited to have understood all her questions at once. "Now Erza is officially my apprentice. I''m warning you, don''t spread the word too much, okay?You know you have to be careful, right?" "You''re saying that to my brother Jin?" Erza was unusually blunt. Jin smiles, scratches his head, and returns to his original goal. "Well, the bed and futon are ready, but we can''t carry them ......." The bedding is too big to fit through the carriage''s warp gate. "Father, I think we''ll have to pack them properly and carry them secretly." Reiko, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Yeah, I see. That''s the only way. ......" And so it was decided to transport them by invisible aircraft in the middle of the night. "We should also build a floating base around Lake Tosmo. ......" The old man hears Jin''s muttering and decides to build a floating base, but that is a story for a little while longer. "Well, is this good enough?" Jin muttered as he looked at the bedding and bed as a gift for Reinhardt. Erza made a request to Jin. "...... Jin brother, I also want to give a gift to Rai and his brothers. "Oh, yes, Erza would like to congratulate them too. What do you want to give them? To this question Elsa immediately replies. "A mascot." "A mascot?" Elsa explained to Jin, who asked back. She explained that it is customary to give a doll as a gift to protect the newlyweds. When her brother, Moritz Randall von Amber, was married, Reinhardt''s mother gave him a doll. "I want to make a doll like Non and give it to her." Non was a Japanese doll that Jin gave to Erza for her birthday. Erza liked it so much that she still keeps it in her room in the village of Kaina. "Okay. Go ahead. You can use any material you like. But she doesn''t use much of it. "I''ll teach you if you don''t understand something. "Okay. I''ll try." So, leaving Erza to her own initiative, Jin finally decided to work on the other goal, the improvement of Reiko. "Reiko, did you see how <> is doing?I want to add that kind of <> to you. Would you like that?" Reiko nodded. "Yes. I have no objection to what your father would do for me." "Good." Jin called out to Elsa, who was working hard on various things, and went upstairs with Reiko to the laboratory. The material used for the tactile sensor is the wing membrane of a sea dragon. The wing membrane of the dragon species is moved not by muscles but by magic power. In other words, they can be manipulated at will by means of mana. When spread out, the wing membranes are stronger than steel, even though they are only a millimeter thick. Conversely, when folded, they are so soft that they offer no resistance. Using this property, Reiko can make her skin harder than steel or more flexible than a baby''s skin. Furthermore, it is known that the wing membranes generate magic power when they are stretched and bent. This is true not only for dragon species, but also for all magical beasts and demons with wing membranes or feathers. However, the materials available at that time were even inferior to the wing membrane of a Siamese dragon or that of a sea dragon, so the magical power generated was very weak, and even the previous generation did not think that it could be used for anything. However, Jin thought that the skin could be used as it was as a tactile sensor. "Hmmm, then we need to distinguish between the magical power generated when the skin is deformed and the magical power emitted by Reiko, don''t we? Jin thought for a while and came to the conclusion that the pattern of Reiko''s magic and the magic generated by the skin would be different. "Okay, Reiko, sit there for a moment,...... and try to hold or open your hand." "Yes, Father." At the same time Jin tried to follow the flow of magic power using <>, <> and so on. "I see. ......" Jin caught and analyzed the minuscule flow of magic power emitted from Reiko''s skin. He repeated the process for 15 minutes. "Okay, I''ve got it." This investigation revealed that it is not the <> but the <> that makes the difference. The larger the deformation is, the higher the magic potential is. By reading the magical potential, the amount of deformation can be determined and the force applied to the deformation can be calculated. Jin imagined the image of a thermal imaging camera. The high and low temperature areas are color-coded, whereas the high and low temperature areas are shown in this case. "And that means we need a magi device to read the distribution ......" So far, we only needed to read the < of the body. It is the first device in the world that reads the distribution of magical potentials, and it is also the first attempt for Jin. This is also a first for Jin, and a device that will revolutionize automata. The flow of magical control (Magi Sequence) was carefully considered, and the Magi Formula was combined. "The basics are tracing and inspection. Then, after applying it, once it''s taken in, we can weight it and calculate the position backwards ......." Talking to himself, Jin slowly completed the new magi device. It is a Magi Device that consists of a complex Magi Formula, comparable to a control core. "...... was done." Jin muttered to himself as he leaned back against the back of his chair, as if he was indeed tired. ...... well, it''s getting late, I think it''s better to call it a night." Surprised by Reiko''s words, Jin looked out the window. It was completely dark. It is already around seven o''clock. Thanks to the etheric luminescent substance (AL), which emits light automatically when it gets dark, he did not notice it at all. "Okay. Then, let me put this on you for the last time. "Yes, sir, I will." The installation into Reiko takes about a minute. "Since it is not yet linked to your operation, it should not be difficult to move. In the meantime, try to collect data. "Okay, sir." Reiko nodded her head. Jin noticed the time again. "Oh, that''s right, where''s Erza? He hurried downstairs, where he found Elsa busily working on a prototype of the mascot. "Hey, Elsa!" Jin called a little louder, and as if coming back to himself, Erza stopped working and looked up. "Oh, Brother Jin! "I just realized it''s already seven o''clock. That''s enough for today. Let''s have dinner. "Yeah. I''m hungry." Blushing slightly, Elsa brushed the dust off her hands and body and sat up. "......I think I understand a little bit about how my brothers Jin and Rai feel. Erza''s face turns even redder as she says this. "Haha, I don''t know if that''s ...... the best thing to say." I''m talking about the fact that Jin and Reinhardt sometimes neglect their meals to make things. Until recently, Erza had been the one to rebuke Jin and the others. ....... Jin and Erza returned to the village of Kaina through the warp gate. The time difference between Kaina Village and Horai Island is about two hours, and it is almost dinner time in Kaina Village. Welcome back, Mr. Jin. Welcome back, Elsa. We are just getting ready. Meine greeted me. "......Oh, okay. That''s the time difference." Erza, who had acquired a basic knowledge of science, seemed to understand. Jin was looking forward to seeing how Erza would be able to use this knowledge in the future. "Welcome back, Honhyan." Hannah also greeted him smilingly. Jin''s heart was warmed by the thought that his was here, even if in a slightly different way from Reinhardt''s. 365 - - 12-15 A pile of dust makes a pile. The next day, the 29th, Jin and Erza jumped to Horai Island after breakfast. For a moment, Jin wondered about the master not showing up at the castle, but such a thought flew away when they arrived at the institute. "Now, let''s continue where we left off yesterday. Elsa, is there anything you don''t understand? "Yes, I got most of the methods figured out yesterday. Now I just need you to tell me what materials to use. Materials for the mascot. Since everything is available here in Hourai Island, it seems that it is rather difficult to decide. "Try to make it the same structure as an automata. "What?" Jin told him that he could make a simple skeleton, fill it with cotton and cover the outside with magi silk. There is a doll called "stuffed animal. It is similar to a stuffed doll, but by adding a skeleton, you can make the doll assume various poses. The image he had in mind was a one-third scale doll. "Sounds interesting. The fact that it can be posed is novel. Apparently, the dolls of this world had not gone that far. Jin gives her some light silver for a skeleton, and plans to watch Erza for a while. "I''d better think about the head." "I''d better think about the head ........." "Oh, okay." Knowledge acquired through transinfo is not something that can be put to use overnight. It is a path that Jin has also taken. At first, you feel like you have a book in your head, and it takes time to turn the pages. However, once you have used the knowledge, you can use it smoothly the next time. The same is true for Erza, who only realizes what she is doing when Hitoshi tells her. Jin, who has experience in the field, took the lead in drawing out Erza''s knowledge. "I think four to five heads would be good. Elsa also had a good idea of what she wanted. "I want the joints to be neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, groin, knees, and ankles. "Yeah, that''s good, right?" "Yeah, that''s fine." "What about ...... and Boroujoint?I think it would be good. Jin nodded in agreement. Actually, this is a kind of rehearsal for making a golem or an automata. "Let''s say it''s about 130 centimeters tall, and it''s a third of that, so ......4 5 centimeters." That''s a reasonable size for a doll to be displayed in a room. Jin nodded and let him continue. "The skeleton is ...... about this size. " "Oh, you''re getting good at this." In one step, Elsa has formed the mascot''s skeleton, its basic shape. There are no joints yet, but the fact that the head and limbs are in place is a sign of progress. "Really?I''m so happy." Erza smiles and continues to work on it. "<>. <>. <>" Joints are formed, and fingers and toes are shaped. Jin nodded silently. "Now we attach the padding to it. ...... I''d like to do that by hand a bit." Not everything has to be done by magic. Jin affirmed that as well. Thus, with Jin watching over her, Erza had created the basic shape of a doll in only about 30 minutes. Even though the doll is one-third the size of the original, this is an astonishingly fast process. This is because she had a clear idea of what she wanted to create. "Now I just need eyes, hair, and clothes. This is a matter of taste, so there is no need for Jin to come in. "...... then, I''m going to go do what I do, call me if you need anything." Jin then took Reiko and went upstairs to the laboratory. "Reiko, how are you doing?" Jin immediately asked Reiko how the tactile sensing device he had installed in her was working. "Yes, as you said, it did not affect its operation. And yes, I can certainly feel the <, but the response seems to be slow or delayed. "I see. ......" Delayed sensation is fatal to high-speed operation. Jin thought about the causes. One of them would be the flow of magic control (Magi sequence) that he had built for the first time. There is still room for improvement in efficiency. "And then there is ...... clock up, I guess." Since the response of the magical skin is immediate, Jin concluded that the delay in perception is probably due to the time taken for reading and recognition. "Hmmm, at the moment, even if we increase the efficiency, it would be good to double it." Jin muttered as he reviewed the flow of magic control (magi sequence). < However, Reiko can move nearly a hundred times faster than a human when the time comes. "Is there any effective way to increase the speed ......?" Jin crossed his arms and thought. He thought and thought and thought. "Let''s do it little by little. That was the conclusion. In other words, instead of trying to solve everything with one thing, we should try to speed up each part of the system in the spirit of "Every little bit adds up to a big pile", and as a result, aim for further speed-up of the whole system. "First of all, how fast is the transmission of magic power? Jin asked himself, "I had not paid much attention to this before, but what is the speed at which magic power is transmitted through a magecrystal? Jin recalled that in an electronic circuit, the speed at which electricity travels, i.e., the speed of electromagnetic waves, is approximately the speed of light (......). The speed of sound waves changes depending on the medium. Light is the same. Then, what about magic power? The answer is <. This is due to the fact that it has been observed in the past that magic power is slightly deflected by magic crystals (magicrystals), which are in the same family as magic power. It is the same as a prism. It means that light slows down in a material with high density (or more precisely, refractive index). The same seems to be true of magic. "So, I guess it depends on the magic crystal (magicrystal). ......" At this thought, Jin remembered Saki''s face. What would Saki think when she was faced with this kind of problem? "......It''s possible that I''ll bring her to Horai Island sooner or later." Reiko reacted to the words that came out of my mouth. "Father, are you talking about Saki?" "Oh, yes. You heard me." "Yes. ......Saki-san sometimes thinks a little bit like your mother. It might be useful for your father''s research." Reiko says something unexpected. "Is that so? I''d like to bring Erza to see you soon. ...... Well, first we''ll go to Kunlun Island, I suppose." I''m sure you''ll be able to find a good deal of information on the subject. Putting Saki aside for now, Jin returned to the idea of improving the processing speed. "Speaking of magi-crystals, what about eladolite? This ore is still a mystery. Its effect is said to be the amplification of magic and magical power, but that is not accurate. Nothing can come from nothing. "I guess it would be better to say that the incoming magic power is amplified by the magic power that is nearby." Using the mana of the surrounding magic (the easiest to use is the mana of the magician himself), magic with a power of only 1 is increased from 10 to 20. This is the characteristic of eladrite. It does not mean that the mage can use magic beyond his own ability, but it only amplifies the effect. "I see!" Suddenly an idea flashed through Jin''s mind. "If the magic generated by the tactile sensor is enhanced by the amplification effect of the eladolite, it will be easier to perceive, won''t it? Whenever he has an idea, he immediately tries it out. He takes out the < attached to Reiko''s body, and tries to incorporate Eldra Light into the preliminary stage of perception. Since this is just to see the effect, no other modifications are made. If I do so, I will not be able to tell which of the modifications has the effect. "Well, Reiko, how about this time?" Reiko rebooted and tried to grab and lift the tools and magi-crystals that were there, "Father, it''s amazing. It''s much clearer now. He told me that it had a great effect. I guess he meant that the reading, which was too minute and took a long time, had been eliminated. "Oh yeah!I''m amplifying it by a factor of roughly 10 now, is that enough?" "Yes, I think it''s just one step away from full power and it will still feel good. Shall we give it a try?" Jin is satisfied with Reiko''s answer. "No, not now. Then I''ll take it off again. Then we will review the magic control flow (magi sequence). Then we can ......." Overall, it should be possible to deal with Reiko at full power. Jin''s expectations grew. 366 - - 12-16 Technician Reiko After reviewing the flow of magical control (magi sequence), Jin thought of the method he used for the old man. "Yes, if we increase the number of control cores in Reiko, we can expect an improvement in processing speed. So Jin decides to increase the number of control cores in Reiko by one. This is not a fully parallel processing, but a co-processor like in a PC. By using this coprocessor to process sensory data such as <>, the main control nucleus (control core) will be relieved from heavy load. As a safety measure, the control core is set to shut out tactile information when necessary. "All right Reiko, wake up!" Finally, the new Reiko is on the move. Jin takes Reiko outside with him. Jin is relieved to see that there is no awkwardness in her movements. "How are you feeling?" Jin asked Reiko at the central square in front of the institute. "Yes, Father. "Yes, Father. I can see what''s going on around me more than ever. I can even feel the wind on my cheeks." "Well, that''s a success. Well then, let''s increase the speed and see if there are any glitches. First, do a vertical jump. ...... Don''t do it all at once, okay?" "Okay." Reiko moved a little away from Jin and jumped on the spot first. Fifty centimeters, sixty centimeters, one meter. Then 2 meters, 3 meters. Finally, she jumped up about 10 meters. There was hardly a sound or a cloud of dust when I landed, indicating that Reiko was in perfect control of her body. "Good, Reiko. Next!" This time she starts to run. And when she reaches the edge of the central square, she changes direction at once and comes running back. At a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour. And he barely makes a footstep. "Father, it''s wonderful." Reiko, too, is able to appropriately process tactile information and reflect it in her actions. "I used to be very careful to control the force, but not anymore. I can increase or decrease the power output as I wish. Saying this, Reiko picked up a dead branch that had fallen near her. "Let me bend it just enough so that it doesn''t break." Reiko picked up the dead branch with the index fingers and thumbs of both hands and bent it slowly. "Now, I''m doing it at 100 percent output. Reiko''s 100 percent was enough to move several tons. Despite this, the dead branch did not break. She is able to control the force to a few hundred thousandths of a percent. "Okay, that''s enough." Jin finished the test. "It was a great success. But if there are any problems in the future, you must tell me. "Yes, father." Now Reiko should be able to use all the swordplay and fighting techniques she''s learned. "Well, I hope I never have to use it. ...... * * * * Jin wondered how Elsa was doing and peeked into the workshop on the first floor. "Elsa, how are you ...... doing? "Oh, Brother Jin." Elsa had just finished the mascot itself. "Oh, a doll with black hair." Jin had prepared various colors of thread for the hair, including black, brown, red, yellow, blue, gold, and silver, but Erza chose black. She had not dressed her yet. Her black hair, cut at her shoulders, looks somewhat like Reiko''s. "I just wanted to ask you a question," she says. "I just had a question I wanted to ask you. How can I add color to the ...... fabric?" "Oh, right." The knowledge did not seem to have been transferred. Jin asked Reiko to fetch some dyes. "Father, is this what you want?" Reiko brought a magic dye. On the modern earth, there is a solution used to measure pH, which changes color from red to yellow, green, blue, and purple, but magic dyes change color depending on the amount of magic power applied. The cloth dyes are slightly different from the ones used for dyeing hair before, and once dyed, they are difficult to remove. "Yes, that''s fine. Thank you very much. Jin took the magic dye and began to explain it to Erza. "Dissolve this in water and soak the cloth. While it is still wet, if you give it magic power, the color will turn red, and if you add more, it will turn orange, yellow, yellowish green, green, blue ......, blue purple, purple, and finally reddish purple. When the color you want is reached, stop the magic and let it dry. Once it dries, the color will never change again. The intensity of the color can be adjusted by the amount of water used to mix it. "Yes, okay." Erza took it and went to use it immediately. "Oh, wait a minute." "?" Jin stopped her and asked Reiko to bring the raw rubber solution and sulfur. "If you use them as they are, it will be hard to remove the color from your hands. Besides, the girl mustn''t get her hands dirty. "...... yeah." I understand what she means, but I can''t connect that with the raw rubber, so I can''t help but make a dubious face at Elsa. "So, we put sulfur in the raw rubber and <> it. Then, I put my hand in this." "Huh?" Jin took the initiative in sticking his hand into the rubber solution, and Elsa did the same. Since she was wearing short sleeves, she covered about 10 cm from her wrists with the rubber and performed <>. Elsa imitated him. "Okay, okay, and finally, <>. You have to peel it off from your hand." Elsa did the same and peeled the thin rubber membrane from her hand, finally realizing what Jin had made. "...... rubber gloves?" "Yes. You can use them when you handle dirty things or when you don''t want to get your hands dirty." "Okay. Thank you, brother Jin. "There''s plenty of rubber left, and you should make extra in case they tear. ...... and make some more for Meane, Martha, and Hannah and the others later, okay?" "Yeah, okay. I''ll leave it to you." Erza nodded and started to work on the task at hand, dyeing the cloth. Jin watches her and, seeing no problems, turns to Reiko. "Reiko, let''s take a look around, shall we? "Yes, father." Elsa instructs the old man to send a craftsman golem to support her. "Ah, you''ve done a good job." Jin had come with Reiko to see the fields of Horai Island. The fruit trees that were originally on the island, Persica (peach), Citran (orange), Apulle (apple), Ramon (lemon), Maruon (chestnut), and Ornut (walnut). In the field, wheat, barley, black-eyed peas, akame (azuki beans), round peas (soybeans), and so on. Before long, the variety of legumes has increased. Vegetables, too, were planted in a variety that Jin had never seen before. And then there was cane. "Is this what you found in the southern part of the Kingdom of Celuloa? The fifth column (quinta) dispatched to the Kingdom of Celuloa had found it and brought it here. Jin only found out about it recently. This is because the report was made to Jin after verifying whether or not sugar could really be extracted. In addition, Jin was busy with many other things, and the old man could not find the right time to report it. Sugar was expensive, but he had purchased and stockpiled a good amount of it, so it was less urgent. "Now we can be quite self-sufficient. Jin is quite satisfied. All that remained was for the fifth column (quinta) that had been dispatched to the Shoro Empire to bring back rice. "Well, let''s not inspect the fields. Well then, Reiko, let''s go back to the laboratory. After a change of pace from looking at the green fields, Jin started to make something he had been thinking about for a long time. All he needed was azuki beans, white sugar, and a pinch of salt. Yes, Jin is going to make red bean paste. Let''s see, 2 kilograms of azuki beans, 2.5 kilograms of sugar, and salt, I think it was 1/120th of the sugar. Salt is 1/120th of sugar, so 20.8 grams. The red-eyed peas are cooked over high heat, and when they come to a boil, water is added, the water is brought to a boil again, the heat is turned off, and the cooking water is discarded. Add water and simmer again. Remove any scum that comes to the surface. Keep the heat low. When the water becomes soft, turn off the heat and add water little by little to the pot, stopping when the pot overflows with water, and drain in a colander. Add sugar and salt, mix well and cook over medium heat. Stir to prevent burning, and when the water is gone, turn off the heat and mash the red beans. When it cools down, the red bean paste is ready. The time required is 2 hours. This is how to make red bean paste that I learned at the orphanage. When it was just about lunch time in Kaina village time, Jin asked Reiko to take a pot of freshly made sweet bean paste and went to call Erza. "Hey, Erza, it''s lunchtime, let''s go back to the village. "Oh, brother Jin, I just finished it." Erza also said that she had finished the mascot doll and showed it to Jin. "Well, that''s nice," she said. She wears her black hair cut at her shoulders and has strikingly rounded black eyes. She is wearing a deep blue dress with a white collar and long sleeves. The collar is white and the hem of the long skirt is decorated with lace. Jin was impressed by the girlish workmanship of the dress. Jin could not have designed the dress to this extent, notwithstanding his production skills. "Lace, Smith 1 brought it out and I used it. "Yeah, I think it''s a good accent. You have improved, Elsa. Jin was happy to see Erza''s growth in a short period of time, even though she had transferred her knowledge. Then Erza''s nose twitched. "?...... smells sweet." Jin replies with a smile. "Oh, I made some sweet bean paste. Let''s go back to the village for lunch. 367 - - 12-17 Edgar When we returned to the village of Kaina, it was just time for lunch. "Welcome back, Mr. Jin. Erza, welcome home." Meine greets me. The smell in the air suggested that she was baking bread. "We have freshly baked bread." Jin and Reiko went to Martha''s house. "Oh Jin, what is that you are holding, Reiko? Martha asked, looking at the pot Reiko was holding. It''s a sweet bean paste. You eat it with bread. You may not like it, but it''s the way we eat it in my hometown. "Oh, Honnyan, good morning." Hannah, who had just washed her hands, found Jin in the dining room and smiled happily. "Hannah, I''m home. ...... now, please try it." Jin took the initiative to scoop the red bean paste with a spoon and put it on the bread. The others followed suit and put the red bean paste on the bread. Those who took a bite were surprised at how sweet it was. "It''s so sweet!" Hannah''s smiling face. This is what Jin wanted to see the most. She was worried that she had not brought a souvenir. "It''s delicious, Jin-bro!" "It''s sweet. A little smear is enough. "Jin-sama, is it called ''anko''?It doesn''t look good, but it''s delicious. They drink the salty soup and eat the sweet bread. Jin is relieved that everyone seems to like the taste of red bean paste. (But it would be impossible to grow sugarcane in Kaina village. ...... then I would like to find sugar beets too.) Sugar is a precious commodity, so we can''t eat it often unless we are self-sufficient. (But maybe once in a while to prevent cavities.) (But it might be good to eat it once in a while to prevent cavities.) Seeing Hannah''s face with her front teeth missing, Jin thought about that too. After finishing the meal, Jin went to Horai Island again with Erza. (Tomorrow, I''ll spend all the time with Hannah. ......) (I''ll spend all my time with Hannah tomorrow. ) "Well, Erza..." Facing Erza across the workbench at the workshop, Jin sets Erza a new challenge. "Make an automata. "...... what?" Erza could not believe her ears. She wondered if she, who had only just begun to learn magecraft, would be able to make one. "Elsa is already skilled enough. All she lacks is experience. I''ll be watching you. "............" Erza could not say no to Jin''s words. "Yes, I''ll give it a try. She nodded her head and thought about the procedure. "...... skeleton,magi device,muscle,head,skin,control core ......" "Yeah, that''s about right. Don''t start out with anything too big, but start with something about Reiko''s size." Hitoshi patted Reiko on the shoulder beside him. "...... got it." Still a little unsure, Erza began to sort through the materials. "I think I''ll start with the light silver I''m used to." Jin advised. Elsa was familiar with light silver since she had been working with it on a regular basis. However, neither Jin nor Erza realized that light silver is not a material that a beginner would normally use. The reason why Jin recommended Elsa to use light silver is simple. A familiar material can be used with less loss of magic power during processing. Jin has no problem with it, but even though Erza is suffering from excessive magic power, if she uses up all her magic power, it will appear as a physical disorder. This was the case the other day when she learned "genesung. Erza listens to Jin''s advice and decides to use light silver. Since light silver is a material that Jin often uses, it is always available in large quantities. "<>" Erza immediately begins processing. It seems that she has settled on a plan. Jin silently stares at her, but inwardly he remembers the first time he remade Reiko (before he named her Reiko). After more than a dozen processes, the skeleton of an automata doll was created in front of Erza. It seems that the experience of making a similar mascot doll had come in handy. "...... How do you like it, Brother Jin?" Erza asks Jin''s face timidly. Jin smiled and nodded. "You passed. You''ve improved, Erza. Erza also smiled when she heard those words. "Now, here''s a little trick. To prevent your joints from wearing down ......" She took out a small amount of adamantite, "<>" Plating on the surface. "This reduces friction and increases durability. Try it." Jin makes Erza do all the other joints. Elsa lived up to his expectations and mastered his techniques. With Jin watching over her, she continued to build for the next four hours. "...... is done." Erza had finally completed her first automata. Jin checked every detail and assured her that there were no problems at all. The doll is boyish in appearance. His hair is platinum blonde like Elsa''s. His eyes are also light blue, though they are closed and not visible. "...... Jin, how long does it take you to make one?" Elsa asked, relieved to have finished making the doll. "Well, about an hour, I guess." That is a modest figure. If we were serious, we could make it more than twice as fast, no doubt in less than half an hour. However, these days, the old man and the craftsman (Smith) have already done the preliminary work for me, so I rarely have to build from scratch. "I''ll do my best at ......." He gently patted Elsa on the shoulder and said, "Come on, let''s go and make the last one, "Come on, this is the last job, let''s start it up. He urged her on. "Yes. ......<>" In response to the key word, the automata slowly got up. "Nice to meet you, creator. "Erza, give her a name." "Yes. ...... your name is ." Yes, my name is . Thus, Edgar was born as Elsa''s first automata. Reiko watched him with a smile. Perhaps she was remembering the time when she was created. Erza is not aware of it, but Edgar''s basic control system is the same as those of Reiko''s subordinates, Soleil and Luna. Thanks to the knowledge transfer (trans-info) he performed as a formal disciple of Jin, he is now able to use the basic control magic (control system) of the Adriana system. Erza does not know what this means. Likewise, Jin does not know either. This is why Reinhardt told her that she should know the standards of the world. The two of them became such a like-minded master and disciple. I''ll leave you with this. "So, all we need now is some clothes..." Edgar is still naked. "Well, I don''t think Elsa knows much about men''s underwear, and we don''t have much time, so I''ll make it for her. This is a celebration of Elsa''s first automata. Jin takes a piece of cloth woven with the threads of a ground spider from the shelf and quickly makes a pair of trunks. From the woven cloth, he makes a T-shirt. The trunks are carefully elasticized. It took about five minutes. Erza, watching nearby, felt her confidence, which had grown a little, crumble. But she soon recovers. "...... someday, me too." Perhaps Erza''s best quality is her perseverance. Her jacket was dyed black and made to look like a blazer. She even wears a bowtie, making her feel like a young man. "Well, here we go." "...... is cool." There stood Erza''s first automata, Edgar, dressed like a Showa-era monk. He was wearing a black blazer and black pants. A white shirt and a black bow tie. White socks and black leather shoes. "Thank you, Mr. Jin." Edgar bowed with that. His gesture was perfect. 368 - - 12-18 First It was already evening in the village of Kaina, so Jin and the others decided to hurry back. Since Erza had not yet received permission to use the Warp Gate alone, Edgar and Reiko and Jin and Erza went through the Warp Gate hand in hand. "Ah, Honhyan, Erza Honhyan, welcome back! Hannah greeted me with a toothless voice. Hannah was surprised to see Edgar being held by Reiko. "...... who?" "Hanna, this is Edgar. He is an automata made by Erza. In other words, he is Reiko''s cousin. Hanna seemed to understand somewhat from that explanation. "Is that so?His name is Edgar. Hi Hanna, I''m looking forward to seeing you! "Yes, Hanna-sama, it''s nice to meet you." Hanna frowns at his firm words. "Edgar, I don''t like it when people call me ''sir''. Elsa agrees. "Edgar, Hanna-chan is Hanna-chan. You can call her that. "Yes, I understand. ...... Hannah-chan. ...... is that okay?" "Yes, that''s fine." Hannah and Erza nodded at the same time. "Welcome back, Jin-sama. Erza also ...... who is the girl?" "Oh, this is Edgar, the automata Erza made for him. Meine rolled her eyes when she heard this. She had never imagined that her daughter could make such a sophisticated automata. "I think Erza is very talented," Jin added. Jin added. "Oh, really?" "Yes, I would have thought she could have started earlier, but I''m sure she can learn enough skills now." "......Erza''s father only gave her an aristocratic upbringing when she was a little older, and he never had the slightest idea of developing her talent." Meine looked sad. Then Erza called out to her. "Mother, Brother Jin, what''s wrong?Come quickly." Everyone had already entered the house except for Jin and Meine. After dinner, Jin and Erza again introduced Edgar. "I''ve done very little. I was just there to give him some advice and make sure he didn''t do anything wrong. So Edgar is definitely Elsa''s work. "That''s great!Elsa one-nee-hyan!" Hannah praised with open arms and Martha looked impressed. "Then Sara can focus more on helping Martha and Meane. At the moment, Meene herself is a hard worker, so Sarah, the golem maid exclusively for Martha''s home, has little to do. Well, since she is also half of a guard, Jin intends to maintain this system for the time being. * * * * * * * * * * * The day after tomorrow is May 30th. The next day is the wedding of Reinhard and Bertsche. So Jin plans to return to Shoro in the evening, but he intends to play with Hannah as much as he can that day. "Honhyan, Kohi!" Hanna rode Mint and Jin rode Koma to the mountain. Reiko was riding in front of Jin. It was the same mountain where they had gone to gather medicinal herbs together before. "It''s been a while since I''ve been with Honhyan, hasn''t it? "Yes, it has." The village of Kaina can be seen below. The early summer breeze is pleasant. Jin and Hannah line up their golem horses and enjoy the scenery in silence for a while. "......Erza Honehyan is a great guy, isn''t she?" "What?" Suddenly Hannah said something like that, and Jin was taken aback. "When I first came to the village, I was kind of a small person. I was also very bad at running." It''s not surprising since she had been a baroness up to that point. "But she learned how to do the housework and did the cleaning and watering. "......" "But he knows how to do all the dishes, and he can even use magic. Lately, even when Honhyan isn''t around, I''ve been spending every day until late at night in the school." A side of Elsa that she doesn''t know. That''s what Hannah is telling us. Jin listened attentively. "You know, it was Honehyan who told me to let Honehyan do what she wanted to do. I somehow knew that, but when I heard it from Hannah''s mouth, I was glad to hear her thoughtfulness. "That''s why ......, right?" Hannah paused to collect her thoughts and then began to speak again. "I have to do my best..." "Hannah?" "Not only to be there for her, but also to help her." Hannah smiled like a flower. "I don''t know what you can do because you are still so small, but you will learn a lot, and when you are bigger, you will be able to do it. Hannah''s eyes were filled with seriousness. "I want to ...... be the first one to be a baby." With these words, Hannah turned bright red, jumped down from the mint, and ran away. Jin was stunned. "Father, please go after Hannah-chan. Reiko told Jin to get off the mint and chase after Hannah. There was a meadow near the top of a gently sloping mountain. Hanna was running in the middle of it. "Hanna!" Jin chased after her, calling her name. Hannah turned around and stopped. "Honhyan!" She ran toward him and jumped into his arms. The two collapsed on the soft grass. "Honhyan......" Jin gently stroked Hannah''s head. Hannah''s cheeks were stained and she looked happy. "Thank you, Hannah. He was a little disappointed that he could only say such words, but he enjoyed the smell of grass and the early summer breeze with Hannah for a while. Reiko watched them from afar with a dazzled look on her face. * * * * The time difference between Kaina village and Banneh, the provincial capital of Shoro, is about three hours. In order for Jin to return at the appointed time, he should leave Kaina village at around 9:00 p.m. So, Jin leaves Kaina village in the daytime and returns to Banneh. So Jin played with Hannah as much as he could during the daytime. A little before nine o''clock at night. Jin had finished his preparations and was in front of his house. "Well then, take care of the rest, will you? "Give my regards to Mr. Jin and Mr. Reinhardt." Reinhardt knows that Meine is under Jin''s care, but Bertsche does not. She will have to discuss the matter with Reinhardt and let him know. Jin would like to bring her to the village of Kaina for their honeymoon if possible. "Brother Jin, congratulations, please! Erza''s mascot doll is neatly packed for Reiko to carry. "Jin-sama, just when I thought you were back, you go out again..." Barrow and Behrle have also come to see her off. This time, I decided to teach them about the existence of the Warp Gate. With the limited information that they can only use it if they are with Jin, or that the receiving side is only in certain places. "Jin, take care of yourself. Martha is still smiling at Jin. Honya-hyan, have a nice day." Hannah was also smiling at Jin. After the missing front tooth, a cute permanent tooth had begun to grow in. "I''m off." Jin jumped from the warp gate in the basement of the workshop to Horai Island (via the relay base Shinkai), and then to the carriage in the Shoro Kingdom. 369 - - 12-19 Coordinate Jin was transferred to a hidden carriage in a forest on the outskirts of Banne, in the Shoro Kingdom. "Steward, is everything all right?" "Yes, master." The carriage and the steward guarding it were there in the same condition as when Jin had left. "Well, let''s get going." Reiko and the steward worked together to remove the disguise from the carriage, and in less than a minute the carriage was on its way. When they arrived at Saki''s house, Saki herself was waiting for them. "Hey, Jin, welcome home. You are punctual, aren''t you? Saki looked at the sundial in the yard. The early summer sun was still bright enough to see. I just got home. "It''s nice to have a good view, isn''t it? I really appreciate your help, Jin. Saki said as she adjusted the position of her glasses. I''m glad they are helping you. Jin replied to Saki''s words as he took his own luggage out of the wagon. Reiko got out of the wagon after Jin. She was carrying a mascot doll entrusted to her by Erza. The package was a bit bulky due to the tight packing. "Oh, is that Jin''s gift?" Saki asks curiously when she sees the package Reiko is carrying, but Jin shakes his head. "No, it''s a gift from an acquaintance of El ......." "Elle?Who''s Elle?Jin, if you are ......." "Ah, ah." Jin had been thinking about inviting Saki to the village of Kaina. It had only been a few days since they had met, but he liked her easygoing nature. He is not interested in politics and wants to keep his distance from his family, the Marquise Theoderic. His position is a bit similar to that of Elsa. He is a studious person and could be taken to Horai Island in due course. Jin made up his mind, "I think you have a general idea of what I mean, but I will explain it to you in a little while. Please don''t ask too many questions now." He just reminded him. "Okay, Jin. I know what''s going on with her. I''ve heard about her situation and I know what she''s going through. ...... What a pervert that old man is." Saki called the marquis an old man, even though he was her grandfather. Jin entered Saki''s house and noticed that the inside was completely clean. Thanks to you. Aal did all the work." Aaru, the automata, has the same skills as the five-colored golem maids. No wonder he can do so much in such a short time. "That''s good. It was worth it. Then Aal came in. "Welcome back, Master Jin. Saki-sama, your meal is ready. "It''s nice to have the food prepared for you three times a day like this. We have plenty of food since Reinhardt shared it with us, so we won''t go hungry for a while. "No, I don''t think so if you manage your finances properly. ......" Jin says in disgust as we walk to the cafeteria. "Well, I''ll let Aru take care of it from now on." Saki is also a very confident woman. Jin sighed in resignation. "Oh, by the way, Saki, can you let me put this gift somewhere until tomorrow? "Hmm?Well, the guest room I''m planning to have Jin use tonight would be good." So Jin and Reiko put their luggage in the room. The room was clean and tidy. The dinner menu was similar to what Jin had eaten in Horai Island. Barley porridge, vegetable and meat soup, grilled river fish, and fruit salad. While eating them, Saki laughed and asked Jin: "Ha ha, Aaah! "Ha ha, Aalu''s cooking is delicious, isn''t it? Jin, is this the result of your training? "Yes, it is. This kind of knowledge can be accumulated. "Hmmm... I have seen the process of making aal. After all, what is it ...... called, <>, that is the key, isn''t it?" After one look, Saki seemed to have grasped the concept of automata production. Then, after dinner and until bedtime, Jin and Saki discussed the concept of automata. "Father, what time will you get up tomorrow?" Reiko asked before going to bed. "Yes, wake me up at 6:00 a.m." Jin instructed Reiko and laid down on the futon. He closed his eyes and remembered what Saki had said. <> His words were enough to make Jin reflect on the fact that he, too, had been caught up in his preconceived notions. (Literally a moving doll. Sounds interesting.) Jin thought about such a thing and fell asleep. * * * * The next morning at 6:00 a.m., Jin was woken up by Reiko and quietly went outside. There, as planned, were a packed futon and a bed on a cart. Since it would have caused a commotion if he had sent them to the Reinhardt residence, he had them brought here. The cart was not specified by Jin. It was the old man''s consideration. "Father, Falcon 3 arrived late last night. Reiko reported. "Yes, I see. We''re all set now." Jin looked up at the sky. It was going to be another beautiful day. At 7:30, Saki woke up rubbing her sleepy eyes after Aal woke her up. Her hair was shaggy. Her hair was shaggy. It seemed like nothing had happened since Bertsch had fixed it. "Good morning, Jin. "Good morning." Saki washed her face with the water Aal had fetched for her. She looked completely awake, but her hair looked terrible. "Saki, it''s Reinhard''s wedding today. As expected, Jin also said such words. "Yes, I know. After eating the breakfast Aal prepared for him, Jin decided to change his clothes. He intends to attend as the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. His trousers are made of threads of a black-dyed ground spider. They are thin and cool even in the early summer. It was 8:30 when I finished getting ready. I went to see how Saki was doing, and found that she had left the door open and was doing this and that. She was not in her underwear or anything like that, but Jin was hesitant to step into her room. So he decided to ask Reiko to check on him. "Oh, Reiko, what''s the matter? "Your father sent me to see if Saki-san was having trouble getting ready. "Oh, that''s great. I wonder what I should wear? Saki asked as she opened the wardrobe and pointed to a dress hanging inside. As expected, Aalu could not give her any advice. "Well, since Saki''s hair color is auburn, I would say that a color that goes well with it would be a calm lavender color, wouldn''t it? This line is the result of Jin''s efforts to add girlishness to Reiko. The person who had the hardest time was not Jin but the fifth column (Quinta) who got such information. "Rabendai?" The word was not understood by Saki because it comes from Jin. It was a half-hearted attempt. "Well, it''s a bright blue-purple color, isn''t it? "Mmm-hmm. ...... this one, huh? ......" There was a dress in that color in the wardrobe, but Saki was a little hesitant to pick it up. "Can I help you?" "...... no, this dress has a bit of a story behind it, or maybe it''s just because it was given to me by my grandfather." Saki did not have good feelings toward her grandfather, the Marquis Theoderic. "But the clothes are innocent. But the clothes are not to blame. "......I see...my feelings, you mean. Thank you, Reiko. Then I''ll wear this. 370 - - 12-20 Weddings "Jin, thanks for waiting." It was almost nine o''clock when Saki finally showed up, having finished her preparations. Aru and Reiko were with her. "Thank you for sending Reiko. Thank you very much. Saki now had combed her shaggy hair and was wearing a lavender, or rather blue-purple dress. Her body was slim, or perhaps a little too slim, but the simple A-line dress suited her well. She wore a hair ornament in the shape of a flower in her hair. And of course, she was wearing glasses. "Wow, you look different." "It''s embarrassing to be told so to my face." Saki''s cheeks were unusually stained. Just then, Reinhardt''s butler, Claude, arrives. "Jin-sama, Saki-sama, we are here to see you." Claude, dressed in his black butler''s uniform, bowed to them. I''m going in my carriage, is that all right with you? "Yes, of course. Yes, of course. Jin went to Randall''s house in his own carriage and Saki went to Randall''s house in Claude''s carriage. Claude did not say anything about the fact that Jin''s carriage was pulling another cart. He must have realized something from their trip together. "Is this the congratulation from Jin-sama?" After arriving at Randall''s house, Jin gave the bed and the bedding to Claude. Claude ordered his servant to bring them into the house. The door of the Randalls'' house was wide enough to carry them in comfortably, but Jin reminded himself that next time he would make the bed and futon in an assembled form (if he could find one). "Here, I''ll take this. Saki held out a small box in her hand. "Thank you, Saki." Claude takes it as well. The gifts are gathered in a room where the bride and groom can take their time after the ceremony. "...... and this was entrusted to me by someone." Jin holds out a package of mascot dolls entrusted to him by Elsa. "Someone, is it?" Claude accepts it, and Jin says, "Yes. It''s from someone who knows Reinhardt and who can''t show his face here." "Is that so?" Claude seemed to sense something and took the package into his room. Claude and the other servants were to unpack the gifts and check their contents. This would be a precaution in case there were any dangerous items in them. "Jin-sama, Saki-sama, please wait here. They were ushered into the waiting room. There were many people in attendance, some of whom were familiar faces. It seemed that the date of the wedding had been decided and prepared for a long time. It seems that the date of this wedding had been decided and prepared for a long time. "Oh, Mr. Jin, it''s been a while. The man who greeted me like that was Mateus Geist von Rialger, a friend of Reinhardt''s and the brother of the bride, Bertsche. And next to him was... "Saki, is that you?You look different!" Fritz Randall von Grosch. Erza''s brother and Reinhardt''s cousin. "Hello, Fritz. It''s been a long time. I heard you were out of the country. "Yes, I''m here today as a representative of a branch of the family." Fritz''s smile has no trace of the ruggedness it once had. "Jin-dono, is it?I apologize for the other day. Fritz turns to Jin and even says these words. It was as if he had literally changed. Jin was surprised at the change, since he had not seen him since the seduce was lifted. "...... I wish Elsa had been here too." "Mister Fritz,...... no, this is not the kind of topic we should be discussing here." Saki was about to ask a question at one point, but perhaps sensing the place, she stopped in mid-sentence. She asked Matheus in her place. "It''s been a long time, Matheus. How is your wife? "Yes, thanks to you. But Saki, you look different. You look so different from when you used to play with us. Saki, a childhood friend of Reinhardt, is also a childhood friend of Matheus. "Hmmm, I heard that women can change anything with makeup. It was my sister who taught me makeup in the first place. "Berthe?I see. So what''s that thing you''re wearing on your face? "Yes, yes, I was wondering the same thing." Fritz joins the conversation. "This?They''re called glasses, and Jin made them for me to help me see better. Thanks to it, I can see things more clearly now. Hearing this, Matheus turns to Jin. "Jin-dono, this is the same kind of tool as the microscope, isn''t it?" Jin nodded and was about to say something when... "Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom are ready. Please come in. The head butler of the Randall family came and announced the start of the wedding ceremony. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The wedding ceremony in the Shoro Kingdom style is not a Shinto ceremony. The church has fallen because of the decline of religion due to the magical wars, and there is no god to follow. There are several paths that people can take in such a situation, but here in the Shoro Kingdom, they have settled on the form of <>. In other words, they report their marriage to their ancestors. As symbols of <>, the nobles use portraits, busts, or stone tablets engraved with family crests, while the common people use relics or carved wooden dolls. In the case of the Randall family, it is a stone tablet engraved with the family crest. It sat in a quiet room at the far end of the mansion, which could be called a back room. The crest engraved on the white marble-like stone, about 3 meters high and 2 meters wide, was two lions facing each other (or so it seemed to Jin). On the reverse side are the names of all his ancestors. "We hereby announce the marriage of Reinhard Randall von Adamas, fourth son of the Randall family, and Belce Geist von Scarlett, eldest daughter of the Geist family. In front of them, Reinhard and Bertje report their marriage with their respective parents, both dressed in white. Both are dressed in white. "Berthe Geist von Scarlett vows to become Berthe Randall von Scarlett today and from this moment on. Witness Christoph Bardet von Tharnat, I have indeed witnessed this." Jin looked like a priest, but it seemed that he was a witness, and that he was supposed to be present at all weddings of nobles. Most of them were deputies sent by higher nobles, but Christophe had been sent by the Emperor himself. This is quite an honor. Jin was in the very back of the room, listening to Saki. "It''s quite solemn, isn''t it?" Saki muttered in a low voice so that the others could not hear her. "I think Reinhardt has a good eye for Miss Bertsche. I am sure she will be able to support Reinhardt in the future. There was a hint of sadness in her voice. Jin could not find words to say to her. Still, he opens his mouth to say something. "Saki, you are ......." "Shh, the bride and groom are coming through!" The couple, who had exchanged wedding vows in front of the tablet, were now walking through the pews, accompanied by their parents. The guests applaud and congratulate them. "Congratulations, Reinhard! "Congratulations, Reinhard. "Congratulations to Miss Bertsche, may your new life together be filled with happiness. Jin and Saki also applauded and offered their congratulations. The bride and groom then left the room, leaving the two alone for a while. In the meantime, the guests moved to the party room, which is called a wedding banquet on earth. The hall was the venue of the party. Before the bride and groom, Wolfgang, Reinhard''s father, came to the hall and greeted the guests. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you for attending the wedding of Count Randall''s fourth son, Reinhardt, and Count Geist''s eldest daughter, Belce. Isolde, the mother, took over and continued. My son Reinhard is now a full-fledged man. I would like to ask for your continued support in the future. Both parents bowed. The parents of Bertsche said the same words, and when they finished, the bride and groom entered the room in new attire. This time they were not dressed in white, but in ornate ceremonial attire. "I heard that helping each other to change clothes is the first time you and your wife have done it as husband and wife." Saki, who was standing next to Jin, told us in a whisper. As the bride and groom take their seats, the Countess Randall calls out to them. "Reinhard and Bertsche, congratulations! I have a gift for you. I give you the village of Kurtz, here in the west of Banne. Karcz is a small village between Eksi, ruled by Georg Randall, Elsa''s father, and here in Banne. There was a round of applause. Reinhard was now also a lord, albeit a very small one. "I humbly accept, sir. I will do my best, sir." Reinhard and Bertsche bowed deeply. The hall was once again filled with applause. 371 - - 12-21 Silent Story 21 Back then Beena The city of Breuland, in the southern part of the Kingdom of Egelea. This fortress city ruled by the Duke of Bruu was the first city Jin visited of his own volition. There he met a red-haired girl named Beena. He met her, who was also a magecraftsman, and spent some time helping her with her business in the suburbs of Breuland. Eventually, Jin overcame Count Galana''s harassment and they parted ways. Later, Jin revisited the city with Reinhardt and his party, and went to Asunto, the capital of Egelea, with Count Kuzma, Bina, and others, and attended the Golem garden party held there. At the party, Count Kuzma asked Bina to marry him. Bina accepted his proposal. She said, "No, don''t pick up the hem of your skirt so much. "Yes." The answer was a short "yes"! "...... yes." Bina was now training in good manners. In the Kingdom of Egelea, the most influential members of the local nobility participate in the national government. It is customary for them to go to the royal capital for three months a year to fulfill their roles. Count Kuzma was scheduled to go to the capital from April to June of this year. However, due to the national uprising that took place in April, the capital did not function properly in April, so his term of office effectively lasted for two months in May and June. In case you are wondering, Count Galana has not yet achieved enough success to participate in the national government. "No, sir!When you drink a tte--tte, you hold the saucer with your left hand. "...... Yes." "Oh my God, you should pick the cup instead of holding it!" "...... yes." The woman who instructs Bina in the strictest terms is the head chambermaid, Marm. She is in her late thirties and is an old-timer who has served Count Kuzma''s family since the present Count Kuzma was a ...... child. Despite her usual calm atmosphere, she is very strict in her instruction to Bina. "Don''t put the cup down so noisily!" "...... yes." Beena was patiently receiving the instruction. "......Oh, I''m tired......" At night, Beena returns to her room and throws herself onto her bed. "Sis, are you okay?" a worried voice comes from the next room. It is her younger brother, Lardo. "Yeah, I''m fine. I''m just tired. You''re tired, too, aren''t you? "We''re fine." Since the sale of the popcorn machine to Count Galana, there has been an outcry among the common people for its resale, so Count Kuzma has had the popcorn machine made by Beena. Bina''s younger siblings, Nana and Lardo, were selling the popcorn. "We sold all the popcorn today, too. The two are still small enough to do the job, since they have publicly stated that they are backed by Count Kuzma. But since making popcorn is easy with a popcorn machine, the only thing left to do is manage sales and revenue. Since it is too heavy for the two of them to carry the tables and equipment for selling popcorn, they are escorted daily by a maid of honor, a butler, and private soldiers from the Count''s family. Thanks to this, there were no troubles and the company made a good amount of sales every day. In fact, the sales are less than the daily wages of the attendants, but this is not a problem since this is a service that Count Kuzma provides to the people of his domain. In addition, the Count, who is in love with Bina, has allowed her to accompany him because he does not want anything to happen to her younger siblings. "It''s only been five days, but I''ve made a new friend and I''m enjoying every day. "Well, that''s great." I started selling popcorn with Hitoshi. Many customers came to the store, attracted by the lingering taste, and I have fond memories of them buying lighters and water heaters that we sold at the same time. "...... It''s only been about four months." About a month later, I met Jin again, and I have fond memories of being invited to his base and home in Kunlun Island. "Jin, I wonder what you are doing now." "No, sir! "No, sir!Step more lightly, and do not lift your sole almost off the floor. You''ll step on his foot. Yes. Yes, that''s good. And then there''s eye contact. Don''t look at his feet, but at his chest. Yes. It was a dance rehearsal. Bina was not only athletic, but she swallowed much more easily than her manners. We practiced for about an hour that day. "Clean more quietly!You''ll get dusty!" After the dance practice, the next lesson was on cleaning. "You can''t say that you can''t clean because you are a nobleman. It will bring your husband''s reputation into disrepute. In the absence of a butler or a lady-in-waiting, the wife must take care of everything for her husband. Therefore, she must be able to handle all the household chores at a high level, Marm said. Bina, who was rather impatient, had the hardest time with this cleaning instruction. "Yes, turn it over there!...... Oh, no, you can''t do it so forcefully....... you see, it''s misshapen." After the cleaning instruction, it''s time for the cooking. Beena is now making a plain omelette. It is a deep dish. Whatever she fails to make goes into the mouths of the servants (with the proviso that it is ready to eat). They are woken up at 6:00 in the morning and practice, practice, practice until 8:00 at night. Even young Bina is exhausted. At the end of the day, they were allowed to take a bath, which was also considered part of the practice. "In the bathroom, you may join other ladies of the nobility. You must cover your front with a towel, be aware of your surroundings when pouring hot water on your body, and avoid splashing hot water on others. "Yes, ......" "Do not flaunt yourself in the bathtub. When getting in and out of the bathtub, be careful not to splash hot water on others. "Yes ......" Bina, who was supposed to be taking a bath to get rid of her fatigue, felt even more tired. "Oh, I''m so tired. ...... Beena is tempted to think that she will soon be instructed on how to sleep as well. And then it came true. "Listen, in the bedroom, you must not sleep before your husband. After your husband is on the floor, you must say <> and lie down. "......" Bina was on the verge of snapping when she was told how to sleep. However, she managed to hold it together that day and returned to her room. In her room, there was a letter from the Count on the table. Count Kuzma sent a letter to Bina once a week from King''s Landing. How are you doing? I am busy reviewing the annual budget of the kingdom. With the recent incident at the Golem party and the Unification Party (Unifiler) uproar, the internal situation is very difficult. ...... first introduced his daily life and then described various events in the royal capital. << I am also looking forward to the day when I will be able to see Bina, and I am doing my daily hard work. Take care of yourself. With love from the capital city of Asunto. Luis Urz Kuzma>> "...... wind" In the box by Bina''s bedside, there is a bundle of letters like this one. Whenever she has a hard time, when she is sad, or when she feels bad, she reads them again to cheer herself up. But the most joyful thing of all was to read the letters that had just arrived. "......, I will do my best again tomorrow." Bina said to herself and went to sleep. 372 - - 12-22 Fatigue party The wedding reception hall of Reinhard and Bertsche was full of energy. The representative of the groom''s family was Leonhard, Reinhardt''s brother. The representative of the bride''s family was Matheus, Bertsche''s brother. After they each gave a brief but heartfelt congratulatory speech, the bride and groom began to serve everyone in attendance. Reinhard and Bertsche, holding a bottle of wine together, pour it into the glasses of the guests. When the wine has been served to the 30 or so people in attendance, it is time for the toast. "Well, here''s to the young couple and to their future prospects!" The glasses were raised and drained by Reinhardt''s father, Wolfgang. From then on, the room is a place of conviviality. Chairs are provided, but it is basically a standing party. Jin and Saki stay quiet by the wall. They don''t like noisy people. "So Reinhardt is a lord now, huh? Saki takes off her glasses and mutters as her gaze wanders. "Oh, so that''s how it''s going to be. What about the diplomats?" "Mistress Bertsche...... is a very strong woman, she will be able to serve as a diplomat even without her husband." Saki laughed and said, "Bertsche has a strong economic sense and takes good care of her. "...... I can''t possibly compete with her." After she said those words, a single tear fell from Saki''s eye. "......Are you ......?" Saki hurriedly wiped it away with the back of her hand. "That''s funny,......?I thought I''d sorted out my feelings. ......" The tears kept flowing, after wiping, after wiping, after wiping. Jin saw it and thought, "I knew it. Then he took Saki out of the side door secretly. "...... you''re still thinking about Reinhard, aren''t you?" "......Yeah,......Sounds like it. ......Jin, I''ve shown you how bad I can be." I''m not sure what to do with the rest of my life. "I don''t mind. But don''t show your crying face to Reinhard and Bertsche, okay? "I know, I know. If I do that, all the patience I''ve been putting up with will have been for nothing. Only Miss Elsa and you, Jin, know how I feel about you. "What?" Jin was surprised when Elsa''s name came up. "I once confided my feelings only to Miss Elsa. I told her how I felt about her when she was only twelve or thirteen years old. Saki looked a little far away, perhaps remembering the old days. "In those days, it was good just to have someone listen to what was on my mind. Miss Elsa was a silent listener. Well, maybe she was still too small to know how to respond. Jin agreed inwardly. "I hope to see her again someday." Saki''s tears finally stopped and she was able to smile again. They returned to the hall once more. "Oh, Saki, I''ve been looking for you!" There came a woman about the same age as Saki, or a little younger. Platinum blonde with gray eyes. Platinum blonde, gray eyes, well proportioned. "Oh, Aunt Karen!" "It''s unusual to see you with a man other than Reinhardt, Saki. From the looks of him, he must be from the kingdom of Egelea. Would you introduce them to me?" She looked at Jin. "Ah, this is a close friend of Reinhardt''s, Jin Nido. As you can see, he is an honorary magician and magecraftsman. "I am Jin Nido." Jin bowed lightly. Jin, this is my aunt ......." Karen Theodoric von Banners. Nice to meet you. The woman, who was Saki''s aunt, introduced herself while Saki was in the middle of introducing her. She seemed a little impatient. "And Saki, please don''t call me your ." "Okay, okay, Ms. Karen." "Oh, you can call me that. Oh, and you haven''t fixed that creepy smile of yours, have you? Your father ...... has warned you about it for years." "Hmph, it''s just a habit of mine, you know. It''s not something that can be fixed." "You''re a very good person, aren''t you?" Karen said with a sigh and turned to Jin. "Jin-san, as you may know, I am the fourth daughter and Saki is the eldest daughter. That makes us aunt and niece, but I am the younger of the two. Karen starts talking about things I didn''t ask her. It seems that she has a character that cannot be hidden. According to her, Saki''s mother, Charley Theoderic von Mowry, was the child of the Marquis when he was 16, and eloped with Tor Eschenbach when Charley was 15. She gave birth to Saki at 16 and passed away at 18. Karen''s mother was Emma, the fourth wife of the marquis. Emma also passed away when Karen was 12, and the marquis is now single, Karen said. Jin was a little fed up with being told the truth, which he did not want to know. Then Reinhard and Bertsche arrived. "Hi Jin, Saki. Thank you for coming. I see you''re here with Miss Karen. Reinhardt seemed to know Karen well. "Congratulations, Reinhard and Bertsche. I''m so happy for you. "You look well, Miss Karen. Is everything alright with you too, Marquis?" Karen raised her eyebrows. "Yes, I''m a little worried about you, you''ve been sick lately and you''ve lost weight. ...... Besides, your father hasn''t been in the best of moods lately." "What''s wrong?" "I don''t know what''s wrong with him, he''s lost weight. He eats very little and ...... well, that''s not something to talk about at a happy occasion. As for your mood, it''s Elsa, Elsa. Father''s in a bad mood now that she''s gone. ...... I don''t want her to be a mother. I don''t want her to be the mother of someone her own age. Reinhardt couldn''t help but laugh at the offhanded remark. "All the sisters have already married, then, if Miss Karen gets a son-in-law, won''t the Marquis no longer talk about new wives?" "But you know, there aren''t many men who could meet my father''s expectations. Reinhardt was on the right track. Bertsche was the first to react to that line. "No. Reinhard is my husband." Holding Reinhardt''s arm tightly, Berthe glared at Karen. "I know, I know. I won''t take someone''s husband. Jin-san is also my favorite, but Saki has already taken him. Saki hears this and denies it, unusually in a panic. "Karen-san, Jin and I are not like that! "Oh really?...... Then, Jin-san, will you be my son-in-law?You could be the heir to the Marquise''s throne, you know?" Karen says with a mischievous smile. Jin denied it clearly, though he didn''t seem to be serious. "I''m sorry, but I''m not interested in power. "Well, that''s unusual. Well, I don''t think my father would allow a commoner to be an honorary magical craftsman, no matter how much of an honorary magical craftsman he may be. ...... Saki, are you sure you don''t want to come back?" Karen asked, perhaps remembering Saki''s father as a commoner. "I''m better off where I am now," she said. Please tell the Marquis that." But Saki had no intention of returning to the Marquis'' house. Karen looked a little disappointed. "Yes, of course. But just remember that this is your family home. If you need anything at all, you can always count on us. Yes, I''ll think about it if it comes to that. Karen left the conversation with Jin and Saki to go and talk with the others. "I''ll see you later. It''s not easy to make the rounds. After Karen left, Jin asked the waiter for a glass of fresh juice and drank it down in one gulp. "Are you tired, Jin?" Saki looked at Jin with a smile. "Yes, I''m tired. It''s too much work for a commoner to go to a place like this. "Yeah, yeah, you''re right, you''re right. That''s why I don''t want to be an aristocrat either. Saki got a glass of fresh juice, the same as Jin, and quenched her thirst. At that moment, I heard a small but clear voice saying "Hmph, you''re not even my wife''s son, and now you''ve given me a fiefdom." Saki heard this and literally flew to the man who said these words. "What?What did you say? "What the hell?" The man who was accosted was suddenly taken aback, but quickly regained his composure, "Well, what''s wrong with telling the truth? My three brothers are the sons of my wife, but his mother is a concubine, isn''t she?" He snickered at her. There was a loud noise. Saki slapped the man on the cheek as hard as she could. "What are you doing? "What do you know?Wolfgang''s wife, Sophia, gave birth to Leonhard at 16, Wilhard at 19, and Erhard at 21. She died at the age of 22. For the sake of his young son, Wolfgang wanted to remarry, and he wished to have Lady Sophia''s younger sister, Isolde, as his consort. However, Lady Isolde dared to marry only Sophia as a concubine, as she was the only one who could take her rightful place as a wife. And now, Master Reinhardt is born. Don''t talk to me like you know something you don''t." Saki''s words were so incendiary that even the other man was taken aback. But then, as if in a last stand, I am Gnter Kirchhoff von Dast. I am the heir to the Viscount Kirchhoff family.You can''t talk to me like that." He brought up his position. "Oh, I see, the son of the Viscount Kirchhoff. I heard from the Viscount that you have a bad son. "What?" Saki smiled at him, "Since you''ve told me your name, I''ll tell you mine. My name is Saki. I am Saki Theodoric von Silva. He clearly announced his name as a marquess. Gnther was flustered. "The ...... Theodoric? He turned pale when he heard the family name. "Yes, yes, I''m from your family!" "I beg your pardon!Forgive me for my many outbursts!" Gnther jumps down about two meters and bows so deeply that his head touches the floor, but Saki tells him coldly, "I''m sorry for all my outbursts. "It''s not me you should apologize to. It''s everyone in this room. Do you understand? Yes, sir! Gnther bows once more, "Ladies and gentlemen!I apologize for the discomfort I caused you earlier with my outburst of ignorance!" He said loudly and quickly left the hall. "......" Saki looked at Gnther''s back and sighed deeply when he was gone. Karen was the first to speak to Saki. "Saki, you were so cool. Yes, you should be proud to use your family name at a time like that." Jin was next. "Saki, you''re good! What can I say ......? "Oh, Jin, is that a compliment to a woman?" Jin can''t help but laugh. "Ah, ha ha ha ......" And finally, Reinhardt and his mother, Isolde. "Saki, thank you for what you said on my behalf." "I don''t mind what you say, Saki, but thank you for being angry with me for my son''s sake." "No, no. ......" Saki scratches her head in embarrassment. Jin was impressed by her anger for the honor of Reinhardt and his mother, and how she was able to get the aristocrats to go along with the name of the family she hated so much. At the same time, he felt that Saki was a trustworthy person. 373 - - 12-23 Invitation The reception ended peacefully, although there was a little happening, and the attendees were separated into those who stayed at the Randall''s house, those who stayed at a hotel in town, and those who went home. Jin and Saki were going to stay with the Randalls tonight. At the Randall''s house, where the guests had gone and the silence had returned, Reinhard and Bertsche were looking around at the congratulatory gifts. "This must be from Matheus." Reinhard mutters as he looks at the mithril silver dagger. It is a gift for Bertsche. "This must be Karen''s." A massive, ornately decorated desk and chair. It would fit in a lord''s office. This is ...... gin, isn''t it? A well-made bed and a white duvet. I remember the feel of it. A comforter made of magi silk. I know of no one but Jin who could make such a thing. "Mr. Reinhardt, this comforter has a wonderful touch!" Bertsche was captivated at once. "Belle, now that you''re married, why don''t you change the way you call me?" "What?......Yes,....... ......" "Yes,<>......I prefer to call you Belle." "Yes, I prefer to be called Belle, too." It''s a scene that would give someone heartburn if they were watching it. And then we come to the mascot doll. "What an adorable mascot!Look at you!This mascot can move its arms and legs!" "Well, well. ...... Wow, this is amazing!The structure is similar to that of an automata! As expected of Reinhardt, he seems to have figured out the mechanism of the mascot doll Erza made. "Hmmm, not many people can make such an elaborate doll. ...... but this style is not like anyone I know. ......No, it looks a little like Jin ......, but it''s not Jin ......." Reinhardt, who had seen many of Jin''s works, concluded that while there were similarities, they were different in the main. No way.) Who would be close to Jin and want to present a gift to Reinhardt? I can think of only one person. But it was a little hard to believe that this person had such skill. (Even if I started learning engineering magic, how could I make this in a little over a month and a half ......?) ) It was so precise that I wondered if I could make it myself. The cousin I thought of as my sister. (Well, ask Jin and you''ll find out...) (Well, you''ll find out when you ask Jin.) She thinks to herself, and looks at the next gift. Bertsche left Reinhardt alone as he was thinking about something, while she looked at the other gift, "Honey, this jewelry box is from Saki. Reinhardt approached me and held up the jewelry box in his hand and said cheerfully, "You, this jewelry box is from Saki. * * * * * * In the other room, Jin and Saki were leaning back in their chairs, looking tired and talking. Saki took off her glasses. Saki took off her glasses, because it was tiring for her eyes to keep them on if she was not used to wearing them. "Oh, it''s over. ......" "It''s over, isn''t it?" "I left because it was Reinhardt''s wedding, but I don''t want to leave again and again." "I guess Jin doesn''t like this kind of thing." Saki''s teasing comment made Jin ask her if she likes them. "I don''t like them either. Saki simply dismisses him. "After my mother passed away, I was taken in by the Marquis'' family for a while. They taught me how to behave. But I couldn''t stand it. But my father was just starting out as an alchemist, so he couldn''t afford to raise me, and there was nothing he could do about it." "Hmm." Saki began to talk about her background, wondering how she felt. Jin quietly listens and occasionally adds his own words of encouragement. "When I turned 16, my father was finally recognized as an alchemist. I ran away from the Marquis'' house and returned to my father. It must have been hard for you. Yes. Right around that time, Aunt Karen''s mother, Emma, passed away. I guess the Marquis couldn''t afford to worry about me. You''ve been through a lot, haven''t you? I guess so. So I followed my father and learned alchemy. I was astonished to find out that there are many things in this world that we don''t understand. "Yes, I understand that. Jin felt as if he had heard someone say that the more you learn, the more you realize how ignorant you are. "I believe that learning is for the purpose of making people happy. That''s why I think alchemy should be like that, and I''m trying to make it so. So that''s why you were studying useful sap the other day, Jin thought. "My father seems to be more interested in satisfying his thirst for knowledge." Saki laughed. "I also want to make tools and magic tools that will help people." Jin also expresses his thoughts. "Well, I''m glad to hear that. Jin, will you continue to cooperate with us in various ways? "Yes, I''d be happy to." Jin accepted Saki''s offer and asked her about something he had been wondering about. "Hey Saki, do you have a honeymoon in this Seka...... country? "Honeymoon?From the word "honeymoon", do you mean a trip taken by newlyweds?No, I''ve never heard of it. It''s more like a honeymoon, where the newlyweds spend a week to ten days away from work. It''s like a honeymoon, if you will. Well, maybe a trip to the neighborhood." "I see. ......" Jin is beginning to think that it would be a good idea to invite Reinhard, Bertsche, and Saki. "Have you ever been out of the country, Saki?" "Hm?I''ve never left the Shoro Kingdom. My father travels around a lot. "I see. For example, would you like to visit a foreign country? Saki answers Jin''s question with a mischievous smile. Jin, will you take me there?If so, I''d like to go there. A strange land, a product. Especially since I heard about you and Reinhardt''s trip the other day. "Yeah, maybe someday." Saki seemed reasonably satisfied with his blurted out answer. "Someday, huh? Yes, I''ll wait. I guess Jin won''t have to wait too long. * * * * * * That night, after dinner, Jin and Reinhardt had a private meeting. The place was Reinhardt''s workshop. "So, Jin, what is it?What secret talk? "Oh, actually, it''s about our honeymoon." Honeymoon? Jin then explained about the honeymoon customs on Earth. "Well, that''s interesting." As expected, Reinhardt was fascinated. "So, I would like to invite Reinhard, Ms. Bertsche, and Saki to Kaina Village and Horai Island. "Kaina village, huh? The village that Jin has leased, right? Reinhardt immediately makes a decision. "I''d love to!I''d like to go there! "Okay, let''s decide on a date." Thus, Jin and Reinhardt worked out the schedule of their visit to the village of Kaina and how they would cover up their absence during the trip. As a result, Jin and Saki would return to Saki''s house tomorrow and go to the village of Kaina at the same time. Reinhardt and Bertsche would be picked up by Jin on the morning of the next day, the 4th, and taken to the village of Kaina. "Well, if we take a long ride alone together in a carriage and bring the black knight (Schwarzlitter) with us, they won''t be able to pursue us too much. Reinhardt laughed optimistically. We can''t leave Bertsche alone too much, so we end our secret talk. "Well, I won''t tell Bertsche where we''re going or how we''re going to get there." "Oh, I''ll leave that to Reinhardt. The two of them laugh mischievously at each other. "So, tomorrow, you are invited to the village of Kaina in the Kingdom of Klein. "I don''t know what or why, but I will gladly accept. Jin went back to the main house to talk to Saki. "Kuhu, I thought I wouldn''t have to wait so long, but I didn''t expect it so soon. Saki smiled, looking really happy. 374 - - 12-24 Psaki and Kaina Village June 2. Jin and Saki left Count Randall''s house before noon. "See you later, Reinhard." "Miss Bertsche, ...... not you, Mrs. Randall, be good to your husband." "Yes, yes." Berthe''s face turns red at the mention of this. Jin tries his best to hold back his desire to say <. So Jin, Saki, Reiko, and Aaru are now traveling in Jin''s carriage. Jin, I know it''s too late to say this, but your carriage is very comfortable to ride in. It''s as good as I expected. "I''m really impressed... after all these years..." "Don''t say that, I''m feeling sorry for you. The last time you took me for a ride, my glasses were so groundbreaking I couldn''t pay attention to anything else. So it''s your fault, too." "That''s a crock of shit." "That''s a quibble." "Huh, you could say that." We arrived at Saki''s house while talking about nothing else. "So, what should I do?" "Well, all you need is your baggage. If you need something, you can make it or come and get it. "Warp gate, right?It''s exciting to be able to experience an ancient artifact with my own body. Saki disappeared with Aal with an excited gesture to the back of the house and returned in a few minutes. Half of the credit for this speed must go to Aaru, who was dressed in a black butler''s outfit. Aaru is dressed in a black butler''s uniform. Saki is wearing a shirt-like shirt and slim pants. Saki wears a shirt-like shirt and thin trousers. Jin doesn''t mind, because he knows that he can get by on the other side if he needs to. "Okay, let''s go." While Saki was getting ready, Jin put the carriage inside the barn. It is a secret that the entrance to the barn was too small for the carriage to fit through, so he broke it down, put the carriage in, and fixed it again. "Hmmm, you put the carriage in the barn. "Hmmm, you put the carriage in the barn, which is perfect since we don''t use this barn or have anything to put it in. "Steward, you''re in charge of the carriages." "Yes, sir." Saki sees this exchange between the master and servant and makes a sharp observation. "This golem must be a lot more powerful than it looks." "Well..." Jin lightly answered and opened the door of the warp gate inside the carriage. "Come on Saki, grab my hand. Reiko, take Aaru''s hand." "Yes, father." I see, you said you can only use it if you have the same magic pattern as the djinn, right?...... but what is magic?" As a special exception, we have adjusted the gate so that we can fly to the village of Kaina without going through the intermediate base, so we exit the gate at the shelter. "Ummm, that was a transition!I didn''t feel anything. I didn''t feel anything, and now I''m in another place! But eventually, he seemed to have calmed down and had enough time to look around him. "Well, what is this place?" Saki''s voice sounded curious. The interior is brightly lit thanks to the magic lamps that light up when they sense that someone is inside. "It''s a shelter located on the outskirts of the village of Kaina. ...... It''s a place to evacuate in case of a disaster." "Hmm, an underground living space. It seems to have a pantry as well...very well thought out." Saki looks around the shelter and analyzes its use. "Come on, let''s get out of here." "Yeah. I''m looking forward to it." And they go outside. "Oh? The first thing that catches your attention is the castle standing right in front of you. "Jin, what is this building?" "Oh, it''s my castle, Nido Castle." Is it a castle? ...... "Yes. I''ll show you around later. Let''s go to the village first. "Uh-huh." Jin headed for the village of Kaina, dragging Saki, who was walking slowly because she was anxious about Nido Castle and looked back from time to time. The time difference between Kaina and Banne is about three hours and a little after 11:30 a.m., so it was just before 3:00 p.m. here. The villagers had finished their work and were about to return home. Locke, who was on his way home from work, spotted Jin walking with Saki, Aal, and Reiko in tow. "Hey, Jin, welcome back. Who''s that? "Mr. Locke, I''m home. This is my friend Saki. "I''m Saki. Nice to meet you." "Oh, I''m Rock. Nice to meet you. I meet a few more people, and we exchange similar pleasantries. We arrived at Martha''s house. "Oh, honey, welcome home." Hannah, who was just outside, noticed Jin. She had gotten used to the situation with her missing tooth, and her pronunciation had improved a lot. "I''m home, Hannah." "Okkyuu-sama?" This time Saki greeted me herself. "Hello, nice to meet you. I''m Saki. And you''re Hannah, right?" "Yes, I''m Hannah, not ......." "Yes, nice to meet you. ...... Jin, you''re a pretty girl. Is she your sister? Saki exchanged smiles with Hannah and asked Jin a question. Jin smiled and answered. "Yes. "Yeah. We''re not related, but... I have another child like that." "Oh, well, that''s exciting. I can''t wait to meet her." While we were having this conversation in the garden, Erza heard our voices and came out. "Brother Jin, you''re back?......?Saki, sister?" "......E,Erza?" Saki and Erza were speechless. They had never expected to find each other in a place like this. "As Saki said, I''m hiding Erza after consulting with Reinhardt." Saki finally responded to Jin''s words. "I see. I knew it. ......Erza, it''s been a long time. You''ve grown up." "Saki!" Erza ran to Saki and hugged her. Saki hugged Erza and patted her head. "I''m sorry, Elsa. I''m sorry, Elsa. I''m sorry that I have to live in hiding because of that dirty Marquis. "No, don''t worry about it. I gave up the family name of Randall. I''m just Elsa living in this village now. I won''t be lonely now that Mother is with me." Mother? Yes. Mother Meine." Saki heard this and her face became convinced. "So, Meine is Erza''s mother. I had a feeling that she was. ......" Just then Meene returned. In her hand was a basket of vegetables. "Saki, sir?" "Hello, Meine!It''s been a long time!You look good. I haven''t seen you since before I left on my trip. I haven''t seen you since before I left on my trip. I think it''s been a couple of years. - Yeah, about that long. Well, I don''t want to stand around talking, so let''s continue inside. Jin explained the situation to Martha, who had come out to see what was going on in the garden. Following his words, the group went to Martha''s house. The water had just boiled, so Martha made tea from the tea tree, or perchia. The tea was served with dried wileys. Wylie is a wild strawberry and tastes sour, but when it is dried, it becomes sweeter and easier to eat. Jin gave a brief account of what had happened since he left the day before yesterday. "My sister Saki is a person who helped me in my home country. She is an alchemist and knows many things. Erza also introduced Saki. "Well, Erza, I am glad to hear you say so, but since I met Jin, I have been reminded of how inexperienced I am. She took off her glasses and put them on the table. "Jin made these for me, too. They are called glasses. When I put them on, I can see the world better than before. I can''t thank you enough. "That''s the kind of man you are, Jin." "Yeah, Erza is Jin''s sister. I''m glad to see you happy." Saki''s attention turned to Edgar, who was standing diagonally behind Erza, after drinking Percha''s tea. "By the way, Erza, what''s with the automata?" "Hm?You mean this girl?The first automata I ever made. His name is Edgar. "My name is Edgar. Saki seemed quite surprised to hear that. "What?Erza made this?Erza, you''re a magi engineer now?" "Yes. My brother Jin taught me how to do that. Saki nodded her head again and again. "I see. I guess so. If Jin is your master, it''s no wonder you are improving so quickly. "What about the automata (automata) behind my sister Saki?" Elsa asked, looking at Aalu this time. "Yes, this is Aaru. Jin, Reinhardt, and I made it together ......, although Jin made most of it. "I''m Aal, nice to meet you, Erza-sama, everyone." Behind Meine is Sara and beside Jin is Reiko. Aal, Saki''s follower, and Edgar, who follows Erza. Siblings, cousins, automata and golems. They seem to have something in common, greeting each other with their eyes and talking to each other silently. It was a very peaceful space. 375 - - 12-25 Psaki and Elza "So, Rai and Bertsch, are you coming?" "Yes. I invited them here the day after tomorrow. Jin informed Erza about Reinhard and the others. "I''m looking forward to it." While they were having this conversation, Martha asked Jin. "So, Jin, will you be staying at Jin''s castle?" "Yes, that''s what I''m going to do. Yes, that''s what I''m going to do. Erza said she would stay there too. "Yes, that''s fine. Then, Martha, why don''t we have dinner at Nido Castle? Jin invited Martha and Hannah to join him, thinking it would be better if they ate together anyway. Meane comes over to serve. "Yes, it would be nice sometimes, wouldn''t it?" "Wow, I''m looking forward to it! Martha and Hannah agreed, so everyone moved to Nido Castle. Sarah and Butler A. were in charge of the house. "I haven''t been to Jin''s castle since the banquet. Martha seems to be somewhat excited. "Ah, Jin-sama, welcome back! Perhaps it was his good eyesight, but Behrle came out from the entrance of Nido Castle to greet us. "I''m back. Is everything alright? "Yes!Barrow and I are both doing fine!Are you here?" Behrle said when he saw Saki. He knew Martha, Hannah and Elsa''s faces, but Saki was new to him. "Oh. This is Saki. She''s my customer. She''s an alchemist from the Shoro Kingdom. "Wow, is that so?" Saki looked at Behrle and asked Jin. "Jin, is she an alchemist too? "Yes, she, Behr, and another apprentice butler, Barou, are from the Shoro Kingdom. When Jin said this, Behr took it back and continued. "Yes, that''s right. I was working in the Kingdom of Selroa, but I was laid off when the nobleman I worked for fell. ......" Behle explained with a little more tact than he actually did. "I see, you had a hard time. "No, I''m happy to be working here now. "Behle, don''t just stand there talking. Welcome back to ...... Jin-sama." Barrow came out from inside and chided Behle. "Oh, I''m sorry, sir." Behle hurriedly bows and takes care of the group. Saki watched them with a smile. The group entered the dining room on the first floor and continued chatting again. Saki seemed to be attracted by Martha''s personality and asked her many questions. "You seem to be from a very faraway country, Saki, don''t you?You also have a slightly different atmosphere from Jin." "Do you understand?" "Yes, I can tell. You have a habit of speaking differently, don''t you? By "habit of speech," Martha is referring to accents. Although there is almost no equivalent of dialect in Kogun, it is inevitable that accents differ from region to region. Incidentally, Jin''s accent was more like that of the Kingdom of Klein, so it was accepted without any discomfort from the beginning. Thanks to his long association with Reinhardt and Erza and the linguistic knowledge he was given when he was summoned, Jin is able to change his speech style and accent unconsciously depending on the other party. "Brother Jin, Ms. Belce, was she beautiful?" Elsa is very interested in the topic of the wedding. "Yes, she was beautiful. "Oh, it was beautiful." "Please tell me more about it, girl." Hannah was the same way. While they were talking like this, the sound of bells rang out. "Hmm?What is it?" Jin''s question was answered by Butler B, who came out from the back of the room. "It is the bell of the hour. It rings at 7:00 a.m., noon, and 5:00 p.m. It is a trial operation, but it has been well received. It''s a trial operation, but it seems to be well received. I see. Jin wanted to ask if it was the old man''s idea, but he kept quiet in front of Martha and the others. Well, I''m sure of it. The old man was doing a very good job. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is now 5 o''clock, may I prepare your meals? Barrow said with a steady gesture and tone of voice. Meane nodded behind him, her education having paid off. Yes, please. "Yes, sir." His back to the kitchen looks a little more dependable. The dinner menu was a combination of half Klein Kingdom (Kaina Village) style and half Shoro Kingdom style, and Saki seemed to enjoy both familiar and unusual tastes. After the meal, Jin served genuine green tea, which was shared by Reinhardt. This was a gift from Reinhardt. "Wow, this tea is delicious. "I love the taste!" "...... green tea?" Martha, Hannah, and Elsa show their reactions. Jin regrets eating all the red bean paste. Martha and Meane returned home before dark, and Erza stayed the night with Saki. As for Hannah.., Hannah said, "The guests are coming, so I''ll be back later so I don''t make a mess. See you next time, Onii-chan. She left with Martha, saying matured lines such as "Hannah is a little bit matured, too. Hannah has grown up a little. I was impressed and a little sad at the same time. "Well, why don''t you two go take a bath and work up a sweat? Jin likes to take a bath before meals, but today he missed it because of the conversation. Nido Castle also has a bath for visitors. It is a pity that it is not a hot spring bath, since there was no hot water source nearby. The family bath is on the first floor and the large bath is in the basement. Elsa and Saki went to the family bath. "Wow, they have a bathtub instead of a shower!This is nice." Saki said in admiration as she took off her clothes in the changing room and stepped into the bathroom. "But the hot springs in the village are even nicer! Erza adds. "Onsen?What''s that? "Hot water comes from underground. A bath using it. It''s a specialty of the village of Kaina. Let''s go in tomorrow morning. "Yes, that sounds exciting." Saki washed her body and soaked in the bathtub, stretching her arms and legs. "Ah, it''s nice to soak in hot water, isn''t it? It''s so relaxing. Saki, are you still living an irregular life? Elsa asked as she stretched her arms and legs in the bathtub with Saki. Saki looked embarrassed at this sharp question. "I''m sorry, but I made Aal the other day. But I had an aal made the other day, so it''s an improvement. "Your smile hasn''t changed either." "Hmph, that''s what everyone I meet says. Do you feel bad? "No. I just think it''s typical of you. "You''re so cute, Erza." Saki smiles and pats Erza on the head. Erza asks Saki a question. "That automata. You said you made it with your brothers Jin and Rai, right? "Yes. It was fun. That''s what Erza did too.You made that one, didn''t you?" Saki then asks Elsa. "Yes. Because my brother Jin was with me. Saki stared at Erza. "Yes, Erza, you have grown up somehow. You look different from before you left on your trip. "Really?" "You experienced a lot on your trip, didn''t you?Can you tell me more about them? "Yes." And so, Elsa and Saki had a lively conversation in the bathtub, and then in the guest room after getting out of the bath. 376 - - throughout 12-26 This time, Saki and Erza stayed in a guest room on the second floor. They chose a Japanese-style room at Erza''s request. "Well, this is an interesting room. A zataku (Japanese low table) is placed in the center of the room, and a zabuton (Japanese cushion) and a za-chair are provided. Saki climbed onto the tatami matted room with her bare feet and fell in love with the feeling. "It''s called tatami," she says. I like to lie here." Elsa lies down on the floor. Saki imitates her and lies down. "It feels cool and not damp, which is also nice. It''s not like this on a carpet." Saki seems to have grown fond of lying down as well. "Yeah. And this futon." I opened the sliding door and found a futon in the next room. "It''s so comfortable." The golem maids are hanging the futons out to dry in rotation, and they''re all puffy and full. Incidentally, all the futons used in Martha''s house had been replaced with the same ones. They will be sold to the villagers at the same price as regular futons, as a special price for the village of Kaina. The maker is Erza. "This is the kind of futon that my brother Jin gave to my brother Rai," she said. Saki came over and lay down next to Elsa, again amazed at the texture. "This is wonderful!I wish I had one of these in my house. That was the impression anyone who had slept on one of these futons would have. "Well, I''ll make you one next time. "Thank you, Elsa!" Saki hugged Erza on the futon to her delight. It was a dangerous sight to behold. It was still early and Saki had come from Shoro where there was a time difference between the two countries, so it was too early for her to go to bed. They moved to their original room and sat down at the table. They are wearing guest pajamas, so their bodies are comfortable. Since there was no one else watching them, Saki was in a very relaxed posture. In other words, she is lying on her side with her elbows propped up and her head propped up. She smells a little like her father. "Saki, as usual..." "Yes, yes, I''m still me. Erza is as well-behaved as ever. Saki sometimes misbehaves like this, perhaps as a reaction to the strict discipline she received as a little girl. Erza, on the other hand, is so well-behaved that it''s hard to believe that she was so active when she was a little girl. "Yes, my mother told me so," she said. "Oh, I see, I knew it... Meane ...... said that she was your mother." Saki, like Reinhardt, seemed to have guessed that Meene was Erza''s biological mother. "But back then, Meine-san was kind of, you know, intense, but seeing her today, she seems calm and kind." "Yes. Mother is kind." Erza gave Saki a happy smile. "Elsa, you have a nice face. Before we left on our trip, you were not very expressive. But now that I''ve seen you for the first time in a while, I can''t help but notice. Is it because of Jin?" "Yes. Jin is a great benefactor." "...... I didn''t mean it that way. Well, okay. Erza, if you don''t mind, can you tell me the rest of what you heard in the bath earlier?This is the first time I''ve been out of the country. I''m very interested." "Yes." Elsa began to speak in halting tones at Saki''s request. Saki got up and took a listening posture. She had told her story in the bathroom about the day she and Reinhardt had left together, and how Reinhardt''s Black Knight (Schwartzritter) had defeated the Adamas Warrior (Adamas Warrior) in the Kingdom of Celuloa. "Well, you know. After that, we went to the Kingdom of Elias ......" He told me that he had participated in a golem boat competition in the Kingdom of Elias. That''s when I met Jin. That I started traveling with Jin. Flathead Village. The village of Mohut. The Hambarf Pass. Being attacked by bandits and golems. Making friends with Beena in the Kingdom of Egelea. The golem party and all the commotion. Running away because I didn''t want to be engaged to the Marquis. ....... The time passed unknowingly and it was midnight when the two continued their conversation, thanks to the automatic emission of ethereal luminescent substance (AL). "Well, I know how you feel. The Marquis and Elsa are not a match for each other. That''s for sure, that colorless b*tc*." Talking about the escape, Saki resented her grandfather''s desire. Saki''s argument was that it had put Erza in danger. "Yes,...... but maybe that''s what my father wanted." "Yeah, there''s a part of that. But if the old man hadn''t been the first to see Erza, I''m sure that story would never have come up. Saki then urged her to continue. Erza started talking again. How Jin had saved her. How she was taken in as Jin''s sister. That she had moved to the village of Kaina. In case you are wondering, she did not mention that Jin came from another world, nor did she mention Horai Island or Kunlun Island. He went to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. He made acquaintance with Princess Rieschen. And now that he is being taught magecraft. "Well, Elsa, you''ve had a good experience. I envy you. Saki smiles. "So you''re growing as a person, too." Erza''s cheeks reddened in embarrassment at Saki''s words. "I''m still a work in progress. Even in magecraft, I''m still not as good as my brother Jin. "No, it''s a big deal that your target is Jin. I''ve only known him for less than a month, but I know that he''s a very exceptional person. He is definitely the best in the world. "Yes, I know that." "You know that. You know that and you still aim at him. Elsa, you deserve to be Jin''s sister. "Thank you?" After midnight, their conversation had not yet ended. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...... sleepy "I''ve been up a little too late." 6:00 a.m. The day before, they had asked Aal and Edgar to wake them up at this time, so they somehow managed to get up while rubbing their sleepy eyes. The reason for this was that they were going to take a morning bath at the hot spring ....... We grabbed our bath towels and a change of clothes and headed out. The early summer morning had already dawned, and the morning light was illuminating Nido Castle. "But it''s an unusual castle, isn''t it? "It''s not the rooftop ......, the view from the top floor is exceptional. "Well, that''s nice. I''ll ask Jin about it later. With such conversation, we went to the center of Kaina village. "This is the hot spring." The two quickly enter the women''s bath. Aal and Edgar are waiting outside. We undressed in the changing rooms and went inside. On this particular day, there were no guests ahead of us, so we had the place to ourselves. They feel free to stretch out their arms and legs and soak in the hot water. It feels good. "Well, this is a hot spring. The water certainly feels different. It''s like there''s something in the water. Like an alchemist, Saki analyzes the hot spring water. Erza is taking it easy. She seems to be completely awake. Saki looked at Erza stretching out next to her. Her hair has grown a little longer. Meane has been cutting it, but it seems to be longer than before. Just then, another bather appears. "Good morning, Elsa-san." "Good morning, Barbara-san. "Good morning, Barbara." Then a breast appeared that made Saki even more unsure of herself. It was Barbara, the niece of the village head. "You have a visitor?" Barbara asks looking at Saki, to which Erza replies. "Yes, I am a guest of my brother Jin, Saki-san. ...... Saki, this is Barbara, the niece of the village head. She is the same age as me. Hi, nice to meet you. I''m Barbara. Nice to meet you. I''m Saki. Nice to meet you. Saki saw the elastic twin dunes on Barbara''s chest as she bowed in the bathtub and realized how unfair the world was to a girl the same age as Elsa. "I''m glad I don''t wear ...... glasses." Saki thinks in the hot water that she would have been even more disappointed if she had been able to see more clearly. 377 - - 12-27 Making Elza glasses After leaving the hot spring, Saki and Erza returned to Nido Castle. Jin was already awake, "Brother Jin, I want to go to the observatory again. Erza said, "Brother Jin, I want to go to the observatory again. So we went up to the 6th floor. "......" "Huh. "......2 both of you, you''re slow." Elsa was the strongest. "Oh, this is a nice view." "Yeah, it''s a nice view." The mountains to the east were covered with fresh greenery in early summer, the Erme River was below us to the south, and the Togo Pass was in the distance. To the west is a wide expanse of virgin forest, to the north is the village of Kaina, and in the distance are the glacier-capped peaks of the high mountains. "It''s a nice and quiet environment. Saki fixes her glasses as she says this. "...... Saki, can I see your glasses?" "Yeah, sure.Yeah, sure. ......Here." "Thanks." Erza thanked him and took the glasses, looking at their structure, "I understand it well. This is the first time I''ve seen them in person. It is a tool to correct myopia with concave lenses. She says, "But... "But..." "But..." They don''t look good on Saki. "...... Ugh." Jin was the most devastated by these words. He was aware that he himself had no sense of design. "Jin, you should change the design a little more," Erza told Jin. When Erza told Jin to change the design, Jin replied, "Well, Erza, go ahead and do it. It''s good practice for me. "Yes, I''ll try." In any case, they would have to finish breakfast first. Breakfast was barley porridge and fried eggs. And grilled river fish. Citran for dessert. Behle was in charge of the cooking. "Hmm, a sweet plain omelet. Saki described the omelet as such, and Jin tasted it with a nostalgic look. Erza noticed this. "Brother Jin, does this taste like something from your country? "Huh?Yes, it is. It''s one of the common egg dishes. It''s a pity there is no soy sauce to add as a secret ingredient. "Hmm, citran. This is delicious. Citran brought from Horai Island. Its taste is well-known. Except for the citran, the meal clearly showed that Behr''s skills had improved. Jin called Behr and praised him for his improvement. Elsa and Saki also complimented him on the food. "Thank you very much, all the practice was worth it. When Behrle was praised by all three, he smiled happily, bowed, and walked away. "Now then, let''s make some glasses. At Jin''s workshop at Martha''s house in the village of Kaina. Erza first examines the materials. There are some rare materials brought from Horai Island. Among them, Erza chose light silver. "Hmmm, you''ve found it..." Jin is impressed. Light silver is what we call titanium in modern earth, a metal that does not cause metal allergies. It is also lightweight. It is ideal for eyeglass frames. Next, Elsa, like Jin, chose quartz as the material for lenses. "<>. <>" The necessary amount of light silver is secured and processed. The basic structure is based on the glasses made by Jin. "......" Jin was impressed by the design. It is a rounded horizontal oval shape. It is similar to a design called an oval. The prototype Jin made was made of 925 silver, but this one was made of light silver, which made it stronger and slimmer. After all this time, Elsa''s sense of design is superior to Jin''s. It is no wonder that Jin was defeated because the vector is a little different from that of engineering. "<>. <>" Next is a lens. It was good until they made a concave lens by deforming a crystal. "......? ......" Elsa looks at Jin''s face silently, not knowing how to adjust the degree of the lens. Jin saw what she was trying to do, "First, I''ll make the lenses for you, and then you can actually wear them and adjust them." He advised. "...... got it. <" Erza re-processed it again. Then Jin interrupted. "Wait, Erza. < "<>?" The question came from Saki. "Yes, meniscus means crescent moon. "Crescent moon?" The moon in this world does not wax and wane. Saki is even more confused. "Ah ...... Reiko, explain it to her." "Yes, Father." Reiko, who looked sad because she had no turn to explain, was left to explain, while Jin gave priority to teaching Erza. It''s not that he despises Saki. They were glasses for Saki. "Look, this kind of shape is called meniscus. " "...... got it." It seems that the knowledge transfer (transinfo) the other day merely showed that the lenses of glasses are curved. Nevertheless, Erza seemed to have understood what Jin meant, and immediately fabricated lenses in the same way. As Jin was watching her, something suddenly occurred to him. "Oh, yes. Protective glasses." Glasses used to protect the eyes from flying chips when working with machine tools such as lathes and milling machines. Saki, who is trained in alchemy, must have them. Of course, they are also useful for Jin and Erza. Leaving the making of glasses for Saki to Erza, Jin decided to make a pair of protective glasses. The material is the usual white mica. <, impurities were removed and the transparency was raised to the utmost limit. "Okay, that''s about right." It''s easy because we don''t add any degree of purity. Finally, since white mica is soft, it is hardened (hardening) and toughened (toughening) over and over again. It is no laughing matter if the protective glasses break and fragments get into your eyes. Jin makes about ten identical ones. Saki has just finished listening to Reiko''s explanation and looks at Jin casually. "...... is. I thought I knew Jin was out of the ordinary, but I guess I''m still a bit naive. Saki let out a sigh. "...... is done." At about the same time, Erza seems to have finished making the glasses. "Saki, try them on." "Yeah, Erza made these glasses for me. I''m so happy. Saki puts on the glasses. "How do you like them?" "...... well, I''m sorry, but I think I can see better with the old ones." Hearing this, Erza''s shoulders slumped. Jin encouraged her, "Erza, glasses can be hard to see if they don''t fit your eyes. That''s why they need to be fine-tuned. "How do you do that?" Jin asked, not yet having this in his knowledge, he decided to show her how to do it. He decides to show her how to do it, using Reiko as his assistant. Saki, please sit over there. Reiko, please stand in front of her. "Yes, father." Reiko sits in front of Saki. "Now, Reiko, I want you to check the deviation of the center of Saki''s eyes from the center of the lens." "Okay." Since the first glasses were made, Jin had been thinking about how to adjust the glasses to suit his eyesight. He could have done it himself, but he was embarrassed to stare at the face of a strange woman from the front, so he left it to Reiko. This time it was more serious than before. Reiko''s eyes have been given a number of functions, one of which is precision measurement. One of them is precision measurement. Its performance is comparable to that of Jin, the Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer. "...... left lens is 5mm down. The right lens seems to be better." It is fundamental to minimize the deviation between the center of the lens and the center of the pupil. "Elsa, let Saki wear the lenses and adjust them." "Yes." Under Jin''s guidance, Erza adjusted the lenses, the angle of the frame, and the nose pads. "How do you like it?" "Yeah, it''s better this time. I can see better now." The left and right degrees were set the same as before, so there should be no discomfort. "Thank you, Elsa." "Yes." "So you don''t need your old glasses anymore?" When Jin said this, Saki denied it in a panic. "No way. Jin, you made this for me. I''ll keep it forever. "Oh, I see." It is a joy for a craftsman to know that his work is cherished by others. Jin did not say it out loud, but he felt good about Saki saying so. 378 - - 12-28 Attendance of classes The glasses are ready, so I leave the workshop and head for the house of the village headman, Giebeck. Because today is the day of the . It is not good that Elsa, one of the teachers, is not here. "Jin, what is this study session? Saki asked, and Jin gave a brief explanation. "Yes, because there is no school in the village. We teach simple subjects mainly to children. Reading, writing, arithmetic..." "Oh. That''s interesting. So Elsa and Meane are the teachers? "Yes, that''s right." Saki seemed to be interested in the study group and asked to observe. Since there was no reason not to, and since she wanted to, Jin and Saki were to observe today''s workshop. "What is 23 plus 8?Patty." "Yes. ......31!" Correct. Okay, what''s 57 plus 6?Uh, Mario. Uh, 63! Yes, that''s right. Today is the day of calculation. Everyone answered the two-digit plus one-digit addition without any problems. Everyone answered the addition of two plus one digits without any problems. "Okay, we will start subtraction today. Page 21 of the textbook at hand. The textbooks were mass-produced by Golem''s high-speed writing. It is made of thinly shaved wood. < It was reinforced by engineering magic and used. Jin wanted to make paper, but pulp alone is weak against water, so he is now looking for something like the kind of mallow used in Japanese paper. This is partly because he does not know how to make paper. I have only made paper from milk cartons. At that time, it was mixed with a little laundry glue. "You want something water-soluble, but water-resistant once it dries. ......" I haven''t been able to find anything like that. If they could, it would be a big industry for the village of Kaina. "...... Gin?Jin!" Jin was lost in thought when Saki''s voice called him back to himself. "Ah, ah, what is it?" "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. The study session is over and everyone has gone home for lunch. Let''s go home too. Then Erza and Meane came in, too, after they had finished putting away the study materials. "Jin, let''s go home. "Let''s go home, Onii-chan." So Jin, Hannah, Saki, Erza, Mine, and Reiko went back to Martha''s house together. Welcome home. Lunch is ready. Sarah the golem was waiting for them. Lunch at the standard Kaina village. Local bread, smoked meat, and vegetable salad. Eating raw vegetables and fruits for vitamins had started under Jin''s guidance, but now it had become a regular practice. "Hmm, this bread is delicious. It''s not pure white, but the fact that it''s so white means that there are hardly any crusts in it, right?" "Yes. Yes, because it''s been through a sieve." "I sifted them myself!" "I see, Hannah did it." Lunch proceeded peacefully with such conversation. After lunch, Saki asked Hannah to show her the sifter. "You know, you put the kneaded wheat flour into the sifter and shake it. Hannah demonstrates the process by adding whole wheat flour. "Oh, I see!That makes sense!Thank you, Hannah! Saki seemed to have had an epiphany, patted Hannah on the head, thanked her, and turned to Jin and Erza. "Jin, Erza, I need to talk to you about something." The three of them then moved to Jin''s workshop. "I had an idea when I saw that sifter," Saki began to explain. Saki began to explain. "I understand that you use a sifter to separate large objects from small ones. Saki looked at Jin''s face. Jin nodded his head and affirmed the idea. "Then, it can be applied to other things besides flour. For example, tea leaves. "Oh, I see." Tea leaves inevitably contain a powdery substance called dust. It is difficult to remove it completely, because it is formed when tea leaves are rubbed against each other by shaking them during storage. This dust is mixed in with the tea and gives it a cloying taste. "If you sift the tea leaves with a fine net before brewing, the dust will be removed and the tea will taste better. Jin was impressed. Saki has a broad vision for practical use and application. "There''s more. If we shake the soil and remove the fine dust, we can probably make a well-drained soil." That''s what gardeners are doing on modern Earth. "The key to sifting is netting. If we put nets on the windows, won''t the bugs stop coming in?" In short, a screen door. "Saki, that''s a good idea. I''m impressed. "I''m impressed, Saki. Well, now we just need to figure out how to make the key net. A net is, at best, a net for catching fish. The technique of making nets out of wire is not common. There is no nylon, so there is no idea of a screen door. "Well, that''s true. But first of all, there is an idea. We engineers are the ones who think about how to realize it. "I''m sure Jin can make it, but it won''t be widely used. Erza also expressed her sharp opinion. "Yes. Unlike pen nibs and balls, they need to be produced in much larger quantities to be of any use. "That''s what I mean." It seems that Jin has started to think that it would be a good idea to have a merchant in the village of Kaina. And this idea will be realized in the near future through the old man. Now for a quiet conversation. Now Jin asks Saki a question. This time Jin asks Saki if she has any idea about the adhesive that might be needed to make paper. "Hmmm, I think the fruit of some kind of plant has that kind of stickiness. "You mean ogula?" Just then Meane, who had just brought us some tea, mentioned the name. "Oh, yes. Oh, yes, the ogla. Is it still in flower by now?" "No, I think it blooms in mid-summer. "Meane, tell me what you know about this ogla." Jin asked Meane what she knew about Ogla, since she seemed to know a little about it. Apparently, it is similar to what we call okra on earth. Since Tororoaoi and okra are both in the same family, Jin decided that they could be used, and asked the old man through Reiko to secure them. "Reiko, a word?" "Yes, father." "Listen, I need to get that ogura from ......." Saki smiled at Jin as he whispered instructions. "Jin must be very fond of Reiko. Aaru is a little different from being adorable. I mean, I''m the one who''s been taking care of Aaru. Elsa quickly joins in. "Yes. Jin has been taking good care of Reiko for a long time. He sometimes hugs her. "I''m a little jealous of that, aren''t I?" What? Huh?" Elsa looks doubtful, and Saki looks like she doesn''t understand their reactions. Their reactions are similar, but they are completely different. "If she''s cute like Reiko, it''s human nature to want to hug her whether she''s a doll or an automata, isn''t it?I''d like to hold a pretty girl like Reiko in my arms too, wouldn''t you?" "...... Is that what it''s like?" "I heard that Erza even made a mascot doll and gave it to Reinhardt. Aren''t dolls cute?" Erza had no words to reply to Saki''s point. "It''s true, I sometimes hold Non, too. Is that the same reason why my brother Jin wants to hug Reiko? "Well, I don''t understand why a gentleman would fall in love with a little girl doll, but..." The girls'' talk takes a funny turn. "You guys. ......" The topic of conversation, Jin, looked at the two of them with a pained expression on his face. 379 - - 12-29 Wiley Collection "Hannah, are you there?" Just then, Kurt, Jesse, Jim, Patty, Mario and others came to call Hannah. When Jin asked what they were doing, they said they were going to pick wileys. Wylies are wild strawberries. They are sour and tasteless as they are, but if they are boiled, they make jam. In the village of Kaina, children pick these berries and make jam at home, but they seldom do so because of the cost of fuel to cook them. But last year, Jin built a magic stone stove, and this year, every household with children is trying to build one. "Sounds interesting. Saki was enthusiastic when she heard about it. Erza said that she would go too if Saki would go, so Jin decided to go along with her. Naturally, Reiko, Edgar, and Aaru would also go, so Gon and Gen would not have to go. "Come here, come here, Onii-chan!" "...... is so cool!" Jin and Saki had underestimated the toughness of the children. Erza, on the other hand, is reasonably physically active, so she is moving along with the children holding the baskets. Wiley trees grow in the forest in the eastern part of the village of Kaina. There are many broadleaf trees and abundant wildflowers. The northern part of the forest is more or less rocky and is said to have many wileys. This made it difficult to walk, and Jin and Saki were lagging behind. Hannah told us, "Hey, honey, there are wiry paths from here. Hannah tells Jin, and he looks around. Saki was looking around as well. "Oh, there it is! Hannah, isn''t it this one? Saki seems to have found Wylie earlier than Jin because of her glasses. "Yeah, that''s it. You''d better get lots of them!" With that, Jin and the other children scattered to look for Wylie. "Don''t go anywhere dangerous!" Jin also warned. "Okay, okay!" The children replied, and disappeared into the forest. "Well, me too." Jin, who had been sitting down tiredly, sits up. "Father, it''s over there," Reiko tells him. Reiko tells him, but Jin wants to find it himself. So he asks Reiko to pick up the wiley for him. A ripe wiley is soft and easily crushed, but Reiko, who now has a sense of touch, can easily pick it without crushing it. "Oh, here it is!" Jin also finds a cluster of wileys and puts them in the basket on his waist. Saki also seems to be finding a lot of wileys. Erza was moving around quickly and had already collected a considerable amount of wileys. After about an hour, the prepared baskets were full and we were able to open them into the large baskets that Aal had put on her back. The big basket was a little less than half full, and we had one hour to collect more. "Okay, I''ll do my best! Kurt, being the mischievous boy that he is, rushed out. "...... I''ve had enough of this." "That''s funny, me too." Jin and Saki, who had no energy, regretted not bringing water. "Are you all right, Father?Father? "Master, are you tired?" Reiko and Aal were looking out for their respective masters. To say the least, they were licking their lips at the idea of a place where children could go. He tried a bite of Wylie, but it was too sour for Jin''s palate. Saki did the same. "...... there was so much over there." Erza returned with a basket full of wileys. She looked at the two of them, flabbergasted, "......2 neither one of you gets enough exercise." She blurted out. "Oh, I''m sorry. I''m sure my father wouldn''t be like this. He''s always flying from place to place looking for something unusual." Saki is an indoor person, while Saki''s father, Toa, is an outdoor person. At that time. "Onii-chan!" Hannah shouted. "What''s wrong, Hannah?" Jin got up and ran to Hannah. "Oh my God!Kurt and Jessie are in trouble! "Huh?" Hannah''s face turned pale. "What the hell happened to you?" Elsa and Saki had caught up with them. Kurt and Jesse fell from the cliff. What? So the three of them headed deeper into the forest, with Hannah leading the way. After trampling through the grass and bushes, they arrived at the top of a cliff about 10 meters above the ground. A river flowed below. It was an unnamed river that flowed into the Herme River. "Look, there... ......!" Hannah points out that Jesse is caught on a rock in the middle of the cliff and Kurt is lying at the bottom of the cliff. The cliff is about to collapse, and there is a strong possibility of a rock avalanche, which would bury the immobile Kurt under the cliff. "Jesse!I''ll save you now, don''t move! Jin calls out to Jesse to reassure him. If Jesse moved too much, there was a possibility that the rock would collapse and he would fall down. "Oh, Jin-chan! ......" Jesse looked relieved when he saw Jin. "Well, what kind of procedure should we follow?" There were small stones rolling down, and there was no way to tell when it would turn into a rock avalanche. We had to help them as soon as possible, or they would be in danger. "Okay, Reiko, Edgar, Aal, help me." Jin explained his idea. "I mean ....... I want to help you as soon as possible. Please help us." "Yes, father." Yes, Mr. Creator. Yes, Master Jin. Jin. Jin, is it going to work out that way? I''ll have to do it, won''t I?My earth magic can''t reach that far. I have to save it before it collapses. ...... Reiko, go." First Reiko jumped down to where Jesse was trapped. Reiko, in full control of her power, landed on the ground without dropping a single pebble. However, the rock, with the weight of both Jesse and Reiko on it, tilted. Immediately Reiko picked up Jesse and threw him with exquisite force. Edgar held her firmly. Next, Reiko dives down the cliff faster than the rock. She takes Kurt in her arms and rushes to examine him. <, he does not seem to have hit his head. It seems that he fell down and suffered a bruise or a fracture, and passed out from the pain. Reiko, relieved for the moment, runs up the cliff at once. The incline is over 60 degrees. The rock that started rolling does not stop. Reiko runs to the right and left, dodging the falling rocks. The reason why she does not throw the rock like Jesse is that the acceleration of throwing it up to the height of 10 meters might be too much for the injured Kurt to withstand. The rolling rocks engulfed the surrounding rocks, and finally a rock avalanche broke out. Reiko, who had run up to the halfway point of the cliff, threw Kurt in her arms to Aalu, who was waiting above. In this case, the acceleration on Kurt was less than half that of the case where he was thrown from below. He judged that Kurt could withstand the acceleration sufficiently. Aalu caught it firmly. Then, the rock avalanche hit Reiko who became light. A moment later, Reiko runs down the slope. The speed is just like a gale. It took less than ten seconds from the time she jumped down to the time she returned. 380 - - 12-30 Responsibilities "Reiko, you did well." Jin praises Reiko and pats her head. Reiko looks more happy than usual. "...... I can feel your father''s hands on me." "Edgar, Aal, you did a great job." And not only Jin, but also Saki and Erza praised their automata. "Aal, you did a great job. "Edgar, that was great." Jin looked at Jesse and Kurt. Jesse had scratched his elbows, knees, and palms and was about to cast a healing spell on them, but thought better of it. If the wounds are healed with sand and soil in them, they will remain in the body. So Jin uses . It is a magic to collect water in the air. It doesn''t make a lot of water, but enough to wash the wound. Jesse looks like he is about to cry because of the stinging, and Jin gently says to him. "Just hold on a little longer. " The wound is washed away and a healing spell is applied to it, and Jesse''s wound is healed. Jesse, who had been crying and sputtering, smiles. "Thank you, Jin-chan. Jin patted Jesse on the head as if to say, "It''s nothing," and turned to Kurt. Kurt had passed out, so Elsa had left him to it. Erza, who has acquired modern knowledge even in the elementary level, examines Kurt''s condition with the Shoro Imperial style of <, and tells Jin that there is nothing wrong with him except for the trauma and the broken bones. There seems to be no evidence of a hard blow to the head or anything like that. The fracture is a closed fracture, not a protruding bone. Jin also applied to the fracture, and it seems to be correct. "<>" Erza casts a Shoro Empire-style healing spell. It is an intermediate level spell that can heal even broken bones. It also heals abrasions. And then.., "<>" Erza also used the highest level of magic to prevent internal organs and brain damage, and to prevent infection from wounds. "Hmmm ......" Thanks to this, Kurt noticed after a while. "Huh?" Kurt opens his eyes and looks around. He notices everyone looking down at him. "What''s wrong with me ......?" "Kurt you idiot!I''m so worried!" I see Hannah and Patty with tears in their eyes, "Oh, yeah. I fell off a cliff trying to get a wiley." "Kurt, what did I tell you the first time?"Kurt, what did I tell you the first time? Don''t go anywhere dangerous." "Yeah,...... sorry,Jin." Jin stroked Kurt''s head and patted it hard, "You seem to be sorry now. Don''t repeat the same thing again, okay?" "Yes." Jin looked at Kurt''s face and thought his expression was that he was truly sorry, so he let the words go. His father Dave would probably scold him when he got home. Jesse would probably get the same kind of scolding from his father, Howard. "All right, guys, let''s go home." "Yes, sir." Jin said, but he and Saki were still in the back of the pack on the way back to the hotel. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "There was a case ....... I''m sorry, I was following you! Jin first went to Dave''s house and told him the truth. "Jin, don''t apologize. You, Reiko, and Elsa and the others saved my son. With that Dave forgave Jin and gave Kurt a scary look. "Hey, you stupid son of a b*tc*! I didn''t raise you to be a man who doesn''t know when he''s in danger, did I? "Sorry, Dad." "Sorry, Dad." One fist bump. And that was the end of Dave''s scolding. Jin and the others take Jesse to Howard''s house next. There, too, Jin was thanked, but not blamed. The next thing he knew, it was evening. "Oh, I''m so tired. Once again, Jin was reminded of the difficulty of leading the children. Both Dave and Howard were of the opinion that even children were responsible for the dangers of going into the forest, but Jin was still feeling uneasy. If only he had been stronger and gone deeper into the forest with the children. Even though he knew that it would be meaningless to say "what if" now, he could not help but regret it. Erza saw him like this. Erza tugs on Jin''s sleeve and calls out to him. "Brother Jin, don''t be so hard on yourself. I should have paid more attention to the children. I am responsible for not doing so. Jin heard Erza''s words, and the grimness on his face relaxed just a little. "Yes, thank you, Elsa. Yes, without Erza, we would not have been able to treat Kurt right away. Again, thank you." Yes, Reiko had not yet mastered all of Erza''s healing magic. This time she had mastered most of them. "No, that''s okay. I just did what I could do." Erza shakes her head and gestures that it is nothing. Saki, who was watching the exchange between the two of them, said something like this. "Well, Erza, you''ve grown up so much. I''m ashamed of myself for not being able to do anything. But Erza didn''t let Saki down, "That''s not true. Everyone should do what he or she can do. That''s why I did what I could. That''s all there is to it." And then she took her hand. "Fuu. I''m really no match for ......." Saki also showed a slight smile. * * * * "I had a ...... thing happen to me." After dinner, Jin took only Reiko with him to Horai Island to consult with the old man. "I would like to make a map of the dangerous areas around Kaina village and reinforce the areas that are likely to collapse. After this, the old man will further strengthen the surveillance system and send Lando or Gon and Gen to guard the villagers when they are approaching dangerous places. As we took the measures we could, Jin gradually regained his strength. (Thank goodness ......) Reiko is relieved. (Father is most lively when he is making something, isn''t he?) After the meeting was over, the old man said, "Master, I have something to report. "What!That''s good news!" Jin, who had been depressed, is now excited to hear the good news about the rice. The timing is so exquisite that it seems as if he had been aiming for the right moment. "Yeah, I''m looking forward to it." < "Oh!That''s new to me." Tatsumi Bay is home to a variety of seaweeds. So far, they have harvested kelp, wakame seaweed, nori (seaweed), tengusa (a kind of seaweed used to make salt), and hondawara (a kind of seaweed used to make salt). During Jin''s travels, the island of Horai had accumulated a considerable amount of marine products. "Good, good, good. I''ll make onigiri next time. It would be delicious with just salt and nori." Jin''s imagination is running wild as he realizes that he can recreate a nostalgic taste. Reiko and the old man are relieved to see him. 381 - - 12-31 Welcome The next day, the 4th, we started making wiley jam in the morning. This time, instead of using the magic stone stove that most households have, we built a stove in front of the village chief''s house and heated it with the magi crystals of fire that Jin had adjusted. He plans to make a large pot of wile into jam. "Wow, it smells sweet and sour! All the children work together to remove the capsules and throw them into the pot. Sarah, the golem maid, is stirring the pot while mashing the willy. The pot is made of light silver, by the way. The pot is big enough to build a small house, but no one in the village notices. They just think it is a big but light pot. Also, in the middle of the night, I had ordered Lando and the others to gather wileys from the nearby mountains, so the total amount of wileys was three times as much as we had gathered yesterday, but no one noticed. No one noticed it, because they had crushed them and thrown them into the pot before they noticed it. As the water soaks in and it becomes easier to stir, the scum floats on the surface and I scoop it up and remove it frequently. The sugar is a donation from me. Jin empties the sugar into the pot. He puts 50 kilograms of sugar into approximately 50 kilograms of wiry and reduces it to a simmer. The jam is made by slowly letting the water evaporate and simmering it down until it becomes sludgy, being careful not to burn it. The more acidic the jam is, the better it tastes. When Jin was in the orphanage, he used to buy cheap strawberries at the end of their season and make jam with them. If you add more sugar and keep them moist, they will keep for a long time. If you put them in the freezer, they would keep until the next spring, but they were usually eaten before that. "Which one?...... ah!" He scooped up the jam from the spatula he was stirring with his fingers and tasted it, his tongue almost burned because of his cat tongue. "Yes, this is sweet!" Saki, beside him, took some jam from the spatula and licked it off, and her face broke into a smile at the taste. We took the pot off the fire and let it cool before distributing it to each family. "Hmmm, we still have some magic crystals (magi crystals) to spare. ......" Since the Magi Crystals for heating are still available, Jin decides to make marmalade. "Reiko, bring me about 50 kilos of citran. And sugar too. Jin asked Reiko to get a cutting board and a knife from Meane. "All right, those who are free, help me." Reiko came back from the warehouse of Nido Castle in about two minutes with a citron, which was peeled and chopped by those who had access to knives. Jin meanwhile made another large pot. "Put the chopped peel into the pot, boil it once and throw away the water. There seem to be various procedures for this part of the process, but Jin makes it in his own way. Jin does not remove the white part inside the peel. "You can eat about half of the peeled fruit, but squeeze the other half and put the juice into the pot. "Yes, sir!" The children respond in kind, but most of them are still eating their citrons. Jin looked at them with a sideways glance and ordered Reiko, Aal and Edgar to squeeze the juice. Citran has a lot of juice, so there is enough water even if you eat half of it. The juice and the shredded peel are boiled down. The scum is scooped out and mixed with sugar. I put in a lot of sugar, as the jam will not keep for long if there is too little. The jam-making started early in the morning and was finished just at noon. All the villagers immediately taste the jam. "Wow!Yum!" Freshly made jam and marmalade were spread on the specialty bread. The flavor is so strong that a little bit of it is enough. "It''s delicious, mommy! "Thank you, Jin-chan!" Knowing that the expensive sugar was donated by Jin, the children thank him as they eat. The surplus was distributed to 29 households. Each household received approximately two jars of Wylie jam and one jar of marmalade. The jars were Jin''s special crystal jars. They are not the kind of jars you would normally put jam in, but again, no one said anything. Not even Saki. "You have to clean out your mouth after eating. You can learn how to do it at ......." Meane instructs the children. Fortunately, there are almost no cavities or gum disease in the village of Kaina, but one never knows what will happen when the diet changes. Therefore, it is good to start the habit now. By the way, Jin knows that some of the drinking water used in the village of Kayna contains a very small amount of baking soda. This is the reason why the hot springs are bicarbonate springs. Since baking soda can be used for cooking, we are investigating the possibility of obtaining a large amount of baking soda. However, we do not want to do any large-scale drilling in the village. Aside from that, it is conceivable that the small amount of baking soda contained in the spring may help to keep the inside of the mouth alkaline. And one more thing. Compared to other parts of the continent, the water contains more free magic element (ether). In Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, it is about 0.1ppm, but in the village of Kaina it is about 10ppm. In the village of Kaina, it is about 10 ppm. This is actually 100 times higher than that in Alban, the capital of Klein Kingdom. However, since 10ppm is 1/100,000 of a ppm, it is not possible for the human body (or rather, the magic element of the human body) to be affected by the concentration of 10ppm. (But, however, it is clean in the mouth. (But it may be effective in keeping the mouth clean.) Jin thought that this could be the reason for the lack of tooth decay, although he could not say for sure since he had not done any clinical tests. "Well then, I''d better go pick up Reinhardt." It was 12:30 in the afternoon in the village of Kaina. Banneh, where Reinhardt was staying, should be around 9:30 in the morning. Brother Jin, be careful. I can see the surprise on Reinhardt and the others'' faces. "Bye, Onii-chan! Erza, Saki, and Hanna saw them off, and Jin and Reiko jumped to Horai Island via the Shinkai. On the way to the Shinkai. "How is the oxygen supply here?" Jin asked Butler 50, who was in charge of the Shinkai. Yes, we are checking the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and ventilating the area periodically using the warp gate. Hearing this, Jin was relieved and moved to Horai Island. "I''m home, My Lord. Today, I am taking my friend Reinhard and his wife to the village of Kaina. And tomorrow or the day after, I will bring them to Horai Island. It is likely that Reinhardt will be accompanied by the black knight (Schwarzlitter) <>, and Bertsche by <>. The small warp gate attached to Jin''s carriage would not allow Noir to pass through. Therefore, Falcon 10 was dispatched in advance to the barn of Saki''s house to prepare a warp gate large enough for not only Noir but also the carriage to pass through. For security reasons, it was to be disassembled immediately after use and reassembled when Reinhardt and the others returned. "The carriage is in the Shinkai, right?" The warp gate of the Shinkai was large enough for the carriage to pass through. Reiko''s built-in manacam would contact the old man just before the transfer, and the old man would contact Shinkai to loosen the security. After confirming the transfer, Jin pulled out one of the golem horses that he had made the other day. He had it tow Reinhardt''s carriage. A live horse would be too much work to take care of. "It''s a good thing I made more horses. Jin is talking to himself on the horse. "......Well, I''ll have to ask Licia and Pascoe to return the horses I lent them. ......" That will have to wait. Jin is transferred to Banne, Shoro. * * * * "Are you sure Jin-sama is coming for you today?" Past 9:00 a.m. on the 4th, at the Countess Randall''s house in Banne, Berthe asked Reinhardt while preparing for the trip. The sky was covered with clouds and the sun was shining weakly. It was not going to rain, but the sky was not very inviting for a long trip. "Yes, I''m sure." Since the existence of the manacam was still a secret from Bertsche, Reinhard could not talk for a long time, but he had already understood all the arrangements after a short conversation with the old man, who had become very familiar with him during the trip. "Good day, Mr. Reinhardt. Claude, the butler, said as he saw them off. For once, at the couple''s insistence, Reinhardt and Bertsch will go on the carriage trip alone. They are accompanied only by Noir, a black knight, and Neon, an automata. The Randalls thought that there would be no danger as they were in their own territory. So far only Reinhardt knows that they are not going to the territory, although there will be no danger. Then Jin and Reiko appeared. "Oh, oh? Wolfgang, Reinhard''s father, exclaimed in surprise. He had never seen a horse-shaped golem before. This was understandable, since he had not seen the carriage that Jin had ridden in. On the other hand, Claude, the butler, who has become accustomed to seeing them, is not surprised. "Reinhard, Mr. Bertsche, I''m here to pick you up. "Jin, thank you for coming." Jin-sama, it''s been a long time." Reinhard shook hands with Jin. 382 - - 12-32 honeymoon "Well, I''m off." Reinhard waves from the carriage. "I''m off!" Bertsche also waved. The people seeing Reinhardt off are his father, mother, Claude the butler, and the ladies-in-waiting. Reinhardt''s brothers had already returned to their posts. The golem horse attached to the carriage is controlled by Jin. In the carriage, as Jin had expected, were Neon, Bertsche''s automata, and Noir, the black knight (Schwarzlitter). The carriage arrived at the back of Saki''s house. The location was chosen because it was secluded. The area was surrounded by dense trees of 5 to 10 meters in height and unkempt bushes, making it invisible from the surroundings. "Well then, let''s get on with it," he said. Jin pointed the carriage toward a temporary warp gate. Reinhardt and the others are silent. The carriage was going to be transferred, which was a rare experience for them. "All right, all right. Go to ......!" In an instant, the carriage is transported into the Shinkai. "I''ll leave the carriage here. ......I''m sorry, then, Reinhard, Mr. Bertsche, but you''ll have to get out of the carriage here." "Okay." "Yes, sir." Noir is carrying their baggage. By the way, where are we? "Oh, it''s just a stopover. We''ll come here once and then transfer to wherever we want to go. The carriage will be left here. Bertsche looks around, speechless at his first experience. "Come on, let''s go." First Jin, followed by Reinhardt and Bertsch, go to the warp gate adjusted to the village of Kaina. Then Neon and Noir. Finally, Reiko went through the Warp Gate. She emerged from the shelter, just as Saki had done. "Jin, where are we?" "We are in the village of Kaina. We are in a shelter on the outskirts of the village. He led them outside. The sky was clear in the village of Kayna. "Well, it''s a beautiful day here, isn''t it? Bertsche''s voice sounded surprised. Then Reinhardt looked at her from the other side. "Jin, Jin!What is that building?Could it be yours? It was a natural reaction when he saw Nido Castle. "Jin-sama, welcome back. Welcome back to ...... that time nobleman." "I am sorry for the trouble I caused you on that occasion. Barrow and Behle came out of the castle and looked at Reinhardt. "Ah, it''s the two from back then. I''m glad to see you are well. "Yes, Jin-sama picked us up and we are feeling much better." Reinhard explained to Bertsche, who was standing next to him, about Barrow and Behle. "I see, you had a hard time." "Yes, but I am happy now." Hearing this, Bertsche smiled. It was nice to hear that someone from her hometown was living happily. "Well then, could you bring my luggage to the guest room? "Yes, the Japanese-style room on the second floor would be good. "Yes, sure." Leaving the luggage with Barrow and Behle, Jin leads Reinhard and Bertsch to the village of Kaina. "You will stay at the castle tonight, and I will explain the details to you then. They refused, and walked down a small path leading to the village. We passed through wheat fields and vegetable fields. At the end of the path was Martha''s house. "I don''t think that''s ........." Bertsche shouted. Two familiar figures were standing there. "Saki?And next to them is ......." Then the person opened his mouth. "Brother Rai, Ms. Bertsch, welcome to Kaina Village." "Elsa!" Elsa!" Bertsch looks surprised. "My dear, what is this all about?" Reinhard explained to Bertsche. Elsa has abandoned her home. She had been captured by the Unifilers once. She was rescued by Jin and has been in his custody ever since. And that Meane was his real mother. "Yes, that''s right. ......" Elsa took Berthe''s hand in hers, still looking surprised. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Bertsche. I''m happy now." He takes Reinhardt''s hand. "Congratulations on your marriage, brother Rai and Mrs. Bertsch." "Thank you, Elsa. By the way, that mascot is from Elsa, isn''t it? "Yes. I made it and asked my brother Jin to make it for me. I knew it. Jin interrupted. "Come on, we don''t have to stand around here talking. It''s not my house. ...... Jin leads the way to Martha''s house. "This is the house where I was first taken care of." Even with such a short explanation, Reinhardt seemed to understand. "I see, so this is the kind of land it is. That''s why Jin chose this village as the site of his lease. "Well, Mr. Reinhardt, Ms. Bertsch. Congratulations on your marriage! Meine came out from inside and greeted them with a deep bow. "Thank you, Meine." "It''s been a long time, Miss Meane. I heard that you were Erza''s mother? Bertsch smiled and greeted her back. Yes, thanks to Jin-sama, I am now living happily with Elsa. Then they all went inside. As it was impossible for everyone to enter the house, they went to Jin''s workshop. The room is spacious enough for all of us to sit down. Of course, Aalu, Neon, Edgar, and Reiko are standing behind the master. "Come in." Meane and Sara serve us Perhya tea, a specialty of the village of Kaina. After taking a sip of the tea, Jin introduced Martha and Hannah. "This is Martha. This is Martha and her grandson Hannah. This is my family here in the village of Kaina. I''m Martha, nice to meet you. I''m Hannah. I''m Reinhardt. My wife, ...... Bertsche. They greet each other. Reinhard, although he is an aristocrat, has met a lot of people during his travels and is not a pompous person. Martha and the others seemed to like Bertsche''s modesty in this situation. For a while, they chatted about nothing, but gradually the topic of conversation turned to magical crafts (magecraft). They talked about Jin''s pumps and stoves, hot springs and snow chambers, and washing machines. Then comes the story of Edgar standing behind Elsa. "...... unbelievable." That was Reinhardt''s first reaction when he heard that Elsa had made Edgar. "Elsa, that''s amazing!You can stand on your own now!" Bertsche, on the other hand, was simply admiring. "So, I have a question for Reinhardt and the others. Jin saw this as a good opportunity and said what he had been thinking about for a long time. "Is Erza suitable for the conditions to stand on her own as a Magi Engineer in the Shoro Kingdom? 383 - - 12-33 Conditions for Independence "Stand on your own as a Magi Engineer?" Reinhardt asked back, but the next moment he understood what Jin meant. "I see, you want Erza to be recognized by the Shoro Kingdom so that she can return to Japan, don''t you?" "Yes." Erza was the first to react to Reinhardt''s line. "Yes. If things continue as they are now, Erza will never have the chance to return home." "Brother Jin. ...... me ......." Jin interrupts Erza, who is about to say something with a sad look on her face, to explain. "Don''t get me wrong, Erza. Don''t get me wrong, Elsa. I''m not trying to get rid of you or anything. It''s just that it''s not good to keep sneaking around. "I see. Jin has thought about it too. Saki''s voice sounded impressed. "Ah..." Saki''s father ran to her. I heard that Saki''s father was allowed to marry her because he became a successful alchemist after eloping with her. "I see. At least a first-rate magical engineer will respect your will a lot more than a baroness. Then Bertsche''s voice comes in. "That''s right, as a first-class Magi Engineer, you can expect support from the government, and your social foundation will be more solid than that of a noblewoman without a title. Jin heard Saki and Berche''s comments and felt confident that he was right. "Brother Jin, ......" "Erza, now Erza is still on the run. You can go back home and come back here with an open mind." Jin smiled at Erza. Erza understood what Jin meant and finally opened her eyebrows. "......Yes, I understand." "But still, Jin-sama." Bertsch, who had a slight scowl on his face, spoke to Jin. "That''s not a good way to put it. Judging from the situation, Jin-sama made the decision without any consultation with Erza-san, and you suddenly said it now, didn''t you?" "Uh-huh." "......That might cause Erza-san to misunderstand. It would not be surprising if she thought she was in the way and was going to be kicked out. "......" Jin, I don''t have any words to reply. "I wish Jin-sama would understand women''s hearts a little better. "......Sorry." Jin could only apologize now. "Please apologize to Erza-san, not to me. Jin apologized to Elsa as well. "......Sorry, Erza. I didn''t say enough." "No, it''s because you were thinking about me." Now Elsa is an exile. It''s not a crime, but she abandoned her country of her own volition. According to the laws of the Shoro Kingdom, he is not allowed to return to his own country unless he can prove that he had a solid reason to do so. If you return to your country, you will be condemned to permanent exile. This is a natural punishment for abandoning one''s country for selfish reasons. However, if Erza could prove that she had apprenticed herself to a magical engineer named Jin, an honorary Magi Craftsman, in order to develop her talents and acquire enough skills to contribute to her country, she would be allowed to go into exile. The exile will be granted and Erza will be recognized as a Magi Engineer. Then there would be no need for her to marry for the sake of her family. "Yes, so I''ll back you up if you need me. You can go back to your home country and seek an audience with the Emperor." "What? What?" Erza is a bit taken aback by the sudden mention of the words "His Majesty the Emperor. However, Reinhardt further added to Jin''s words. Yes, that''s right. If you can make a high-performance automata, you are already a top-notch person. I have no doubt that Erza, as she is now, will be able to receive His Majesty''s words." "......" Erza is puzzled by the sudden turn of events. She did not know what to say. "Erza, you are still young, you can''t keep doing the sad thing of abandoning your country forever. Jin-sama and Reinhard-sama said they would help you. It is your duty to respond to them. "But what about ...... mother?" "I have ...... had enough of this. I am originally from the Kingdom of Egelea. I''m from the Kingdom of Egelea and I don''t need to go back to the Shoro Kingdom ...... now." Jin interrupted him. "No, Meine will be fine. Meine was kidnapped by the Unifilers with Erza in Ikasanat. They tried to use her as a tool to blackmail Reinhardt. Meine was hit on the head and stabbed in the abdomen with a knife and thrown into the Asur river. I saved her and took care of her. ...... See, nothing wrong with that, right?" Jin-sama ...... "Yes, I can. I can testify to that. Mr. Reinhardt, ...... Meine''s eyes were filled with warmth at the warm support she received from both of them. "Yes, if you need more witnesses, you can bring the healer who healed Meine, <>. Finally, Meine started to cry with happiness. Silence reigned. It was broken by a young voice. "Auntie, are you alright? It was Hannah. She was worried about Meane, who was quietly shedding tears. Meane knew this and smiled. It''s okay, Hannah. I''m not crying because I''m sad. I''m crying because I''m happy. Your brother''s kindness makes me happy." Meane gently caresses Hannah''s head. However, it would not be today or tomorrow if Erza and Meine were to return to their home country. There would be a lot of preparations to be made, and if possible, we would like to get the word out within the Shoro Empire. More importantly, this is the honeymoon of Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt, so we have decided to put all serious matters aside for now. Jin and Reinhardt will work out the details from now on. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Wow, this is an unusual castle! Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt move to Nido Castle with Jin. Saki and Erza are with them. They have just finished a light meal in the dining room on the first floor, and are now looking around the second floor. Jin-sama, this is really an unusual castle. Is this in the Klein Kingdom style? Bertsch asks curiously. "No, this is a castle in my hometown. Where is your hometown, Jin-sama? "Nihon," he said. Nihon. ...... Reinhardt and Erza knew the name, but Bertsche and Saki had never heard of it before. "Jin, I''ve never heard of it either. Where is this country located? Jin thought for a moment about how to answer, and then said in a slightly silly tone, "Well, I don''t know. "Well, let''s see. A country very far away, I guess. It would take about a thousand years to get there." "Hmm, that''s a long way. It''s very, very far away." Saki thought Jin was joking and said in tune with him. They went up to the third floor, to the office, and then to the library. Reinhardt and I were drawn to the books, which Saki had not yet been shown. Some of the books are for children, but they are excited to pick up books about engineering magic and books explaining materials. "Jin, what is this?This is amazing!It says it''s a beginner''s book, but isn''t it supposed to be an advanced book? "Jin, who wrote this book?More than half of it ......, most of it I don''t even know!" I can''t say that the old man made up the book to make it sound like a book, "Well, it''s a copy of a book left to me by my master. Jin was forced to falsify his story by saying something like, "Well, it''s a copy of a book left to me by my master. "The fifth floor is my private floor with my bedroom and the sixth floor is an observatory. Jin explained as he climbed the stairs. He was a little out of breath. What about the fourth floor? "Well, how should I put it? It''s more like a backup in case of emergencies. ......" Jin, who was afraid that he might be criticized if he said "the trap floor," was not sure of what to say. Reinhardt saw that Jin was uncomfortable talking to Reinhardt and did not ask him any more questions. He finished the fifth floor quickly and went to the sixth floor. "Wow, this is a nice view! Reinhardt and Bertsche were as excited as children because there were windows on the east, west, south, west, north, and south sides, and they could see in all directions. Erza and Saki, who had been staying here for several times, also liked the view and enjoyed the change of scenery from one window to another. That''s the Herme River, and beyond it is the Togo Pass. To the west is a conifer forest. To the east is a forest of broadleaf trees that blooms and bears fruit and is an essential part of the village. "Hmmm... So it''s not just fields." Reinhard nodded. Maybe he is thinking about the village he will eventually rule. "To the north is the village of Kaina. Beyond that are low mountains where medicinal herbs are gathered. Beyond that is a place where magi crystals of the earth system can be gathered. "Jin-sama, is that a glacier shining in the mountains in the back?" Surprisingly, Bertsche knew about the glacier. There were no glacier-hugging mountains in sight from the Shoro Kingdom. I guess I was a little surprised to see her face as I replied, "Yes, I have seen it in a book before, I saw it in a book before. I''m glad to see them with my own eyes. Bertsche said to Jin. They enjoyed the view from the observatory and chatted until dusk approached. Dinner was served in the dining room of Nido Castle. After feasting on the cuisine of the Kingdom of Klein, we drank the Persian juice. "Mmm, this is delicious! "It''s delicious, Jin-sama!" The night in the village of Kaina passed in harmony. 384 - - 12-34 てててて-- The next day, Jin took Reinhard, Bertsch, and Saki to Horaijima as planned. Not to mention Elsa and Edgar, Aaru, Noir, and Neon were also with them. As a side note, Hannah declined to go to the village of Kaina because she had guests there, and remained in the village. The reason why she took them to Horai Island instead of Kunlun Island is because Jin trusted Bertsch and Saki. Of course, he was also confident that no matter what came, the island of Horai would not be shaken. "This is the Horai Island that I inherited from my master. Jin said as soon as he entered the hall lined with warp gates. The old man''s voice greeted him. Jin, who is that voice? Saki asked curiously. Bertsch was also looking around to see where the voice was coming from. "It''s the magical brain that is in charge of this whole Horai Island, <>. In other words, it is a more powerful version of the brain of an autonomous golem. Saki seemed to be able to understand the concept as it was explained to her, but Bertsch seemed to be unable to understand it. Reinhardt, who could not bear to see Bertsch, was explaining in a whisper, but there was no point in staying in the warp gate room forever, so Jin called out to the group and led them out. "Welcome to the warp gate. The entrance hall is just outside the warp gate room. There, the group was first greeted by Laojun''s mobile terminal, Soleil and Luna, five leaders of the five-colored golem maids, one leader each of the land, sea, and air forces, one craftsman (Smith), and one butler (Battler). 1 greeted the group. "Wow. ......" Saki and Belce exclaimed. Even though he had been to Horai Island before, it was the first time for Reinhard to see so many golems in one place. "Amazing, Jin is ...... more than just another country." Reinhardt sensed that Jin''s potential power was greater than that of a country. "I am glad Jin was my friend." After such a scene, we first went through the entrance hall to the vestibule. "Wow, it''s huge! This is Jin''s laboratory. ...... I''m so envious of you, indeed. Saki came out and looked around. "Jin-sama, what is that?" Bertsche pointed at Jin''s house. It was a one-story Japanese-style house. "Ah, that is my house. When I am in Horai Island, I sleep and wake up there. It''s a Japanese style house. "It''s very unusual." We are planning to have you stay there tonight and I will show you around later. Bertsche told Jin to stop using half-hearted honorifics and to speak like Mr. Reinhardt. Jin looked at Reinhardt''s face and smiled and nodded. "Okay, Bertsche. ...... is that okay?" "Yes, that''s what I want. I''m the only one who is not very well behaved. Jin answered with a smile. "Well then, let''s go like a sightseeing trip. Jin asked Reiko to bring the car out of the garage. It was a car powered by a four-stroke Golem engine that he had developed just before he left for the trip with Erza and Reinhardt. "Oh, oh, Jin, what is this? It has a light silver body with rubber tires and seats six people. The suspension has been slightly modified since it was built, with a golem arm, and it can also be switched to autopilot with a built-in control core. "It''s called a car." Jin thought about using an airplane, but he thought it would be too over-technological, so he decided not to do it. Besides, it would be better to go on the ground if he wanted to see Horai Island at a leisurely pace. "Come on, get in." Since the car has a capacity for six passengers, Aru, Edgar, Neon, and Noir will go in the other car. Three cars of the same model had been built for transportation around the island. Reiko was left to drive them. Neon looks happy. "Here is your lunch, father." Soleil and Luna are loading up several large baskets. I''m looking forward to lunch. We left the village of Kaina at 8:00 a.m. The time difference is about two hours, so it is about 10:30 now. It is about 25 kilometers from the institute to our destination, Tatumi Bay. It would be a good distance to drive slowly at a speed of about 30 kilometers per hour. Then, let''s go! The road has been cleared and hardened, and is easy to drive on. The road along the river curves gently as it heads toward the sea. The width of the river is 20 to 30 meters. You can see the other side of the river clearly. "Oh, this area is a wheat field, isn''t it? "Oh, there''s an orchard over there. There are so many Persian berries! It''s a bit of a countryside, and a good course for a drive. We could see several maid golems weeding and working in the fields. "Oh?Is this a marshy area? The road reached a marshy area. There was a newly planted rice plant, or rather, a . "I haven''t seen this plant before. ...... No, I don''t think so. Reinhardt noticed the crops planted there. "Jin, could this be Jasper? "Good answer. It''s rice, or "Ho". "When in the world did you ...... know that? Reinhardt was convinced. The road went gently downhill, and after less than an hour, the ocean came into view. Saki was the most excited to see it. "Oh, wow!Jin, is that the ocean?It''s so big. It''s so blue!" He leaned out of the car and looked at it. "Watch out! We''re almost there. Jin warned her and Saki sat down on the seat with an embarrassed look on her face. "I''m so embarrassed. I''ve never been out of the country. Well, we have the sea in our country, but I''ve never been that far away from home. I only know the area around Lake Tosmo. Saki looked back at Elsa. "Erza said you raced in the Golem boat races in Potrock, right?" "Yeah. Yeah. It was a lot of fun. Rai''s boat and Lorelei, with me at the helm. Even though we lost to Jin''s team at ......." Elsa talks with a nostalgic look on her face. Jin also remembers Potlock. Reinhardt remembers the same thing, "Ah, it brings back memories. If it weren''t for that competition, I wouldn''t have met Jin. He said as he gazed at the sea. In the meantime, the car arrived near the seaside. The following car with Reiko and the others soon arrived. "Oh, I can smell it. Is this the smell of the sea? Saki runs toward the beach. Aru follows. Jin and the others followed a little later. "Reiko, thanks for driving." Jin patted Reiko on the head as they walked. Reiko looked happier than usual. She seems to be more happy than usual, probably because she feels closer to Jin now that she has the additional sense of touch. "I was so happy that Reiko-san gave me a good impression of you," she said. Neon also talked like that to Bertsche. Edgar was also talking with Elsa. The black knight (Schwarzlitter) Noir was walking taciturnly beside Reinhardt. Saki, who was ahead of him, stepped onto the beach and ...... lost her footing. She seems to have gotten her foot caught in the sand. "Saki-sama!" Aalu held her up just before Saki''s face touched the sand. "Thank you, Aal. I think I was a bit too much fun. "Hey, Saki, are you okay? Reinhardt called out in concern. Saki replied with a wave of her hand. "Yeah, I''m fine. Aal saved me." Saki then gazes out to sea. Her face is filled with a very satisfied smile. "Well, as you said, the horizon is round. This world is round after all. ...... Jin, Reinhard, Saki, Bertsch, and of course Erza all know that the world is round. But knowing it and feeling it are two different things. "It really is round. ......" Bertsche also seemed to have seen the sea for the first time and muttered with deep emotion. "Ah, I can''t wait to build an ocean-going boat." Reinhardt, in true craftsman fashion, uttered such a line. 385 - - 12-35 The ocean is wide. "Father, your meal is ready." Reiko''s voice came from behind us, as we were relaxing and staring at the sea. It was a little before one o''clock in the afternoon. This time takes into account the time difference between Kaina Village and Horai Island. On the beach, there were sheets to sit on and baskets were placed on the sand. What a surprise, a tarp, not a beach parasol, was also put up. A tarp is a piece of cloth used as a sunshade. It is usually supported by simple poles and rope tension. It is already June, and the sun is shining almost directly overhead on Horai Island, which is located near the Tropic of Cancer. "Oh, this is comfortable. It is cool under the tarp, which has a high shading rate. Shade is precious because of the high humidity at the seaside. "Please, everyone, take whatever you like from the variety of food we have on offer. Reiko opened the lid of the basket. "Oh ......" One basket had sandwiches, one had smoked meat. One with smoked meat, another with boiled eggs. In another, Persica, Citran, and other fruits. And in the last one... "Rice balls?" It was a rice ball seasoned with salt and wrapped in seaweed. "Jin, what is this?" Reinhardt looked at the black mass with a curious expression on his face. "Oh, it''s called ''onigiri'', made of cooked rice and wrapped in seaweed called ''nori''. Jin was the first to bite into an onigiri. Reiko, seeing this, poured tea from a thermos and offered it to him. He took a sip. The rice ball flavored with salt from Horai Island tasted good enough by itself. "Yes, it''s delicious!" Saki reaches for the rice ball first, looking at Jin who is really happy with his rice ball. Then she took a bite. "Oh, this is really delicious. It is simple but has a deep taste. Erza, Reinhard, and Bertsche, who had heard this, tried the onigiri in turn. The outside of the rice ball is black because it is wrapped with dried laver, but the inside is white rice. "Brother Jin, this is delicious. It has a nice aroma. "Oh, it''s really good!Is this ...... ho ...... or is it <>!" "Jin-sama, it''s not what it looks like, but the texture and taste are quite good. It seems that all three of them are not saying this in a flattering way. Jin was happy to hear that they could taste the seaweed. "Thank you. It tastes like it''s from my hometown. ...... Reiko, you set this up, didn''t you?" Jin says with a grin. The old man''s surprise makes him happy, and frustrated that he fell for it. "Yes, father. "Yes, I knew it. But it''s delicious. Jin gobbled up the four rice balls in a blink of an eye. "These sandwiches are delicious, too. Bertsche eats a sandwich and tastes it. "It''s just boiled eggs with salt, but it''s delicious. The salt makes all the difference." Reinhardt takes a bite of the boiled egg and is amazed at the taste. "Which one is it?...... hmmm, Jin, this is not just salt, is it?" The last line is by Saki. She is quite perceptive. "Oh. It''s called algae salt, and we actually get it here. Jin pointed to Tatsumi Bay. "We collect the seaweed here, burn it, dissolve the ashes in water, and then dry the clear water to make it. "Hmmm, so there''s something in the seaweed?" "That''s right. That''s right. The salt is mixed with the so-called "umami" (flavor) contained in seaweed. Algal salt seems to go well with boiled eggs, although it can muddy the taste if used incorrectly. "By the way, the salt I used for smoking is also from the sea here," he said. "It''s a beautiful sea!" Saki looked at the sea, and Aqua suddenly appeared. The number is 33. "Wow!" Saki is startled and flips over on her seat. The others were also surprised, but not as much as Saki. "That''s Aqua, the golem maid. She is in charge of ocean development. She''s just now picking seaweed. Everyone looked at Aqua 33''s hand, as he had just picked up the foodstuff they had been eating. There was a large amount of seaweed, which looked like asaxa nori. "Is that seaweed?" "Is that really seaweed? "How do you process it to make it edible?" It was Saki who asked about the process. Jin answered her question. "We wash them in clean seawater and dry them, and when they are dry, we chop them up and put them back in water, and strain them through wooden frames and bamboo screens to dry them." Although this was a rather abbreviated explanation, Saki seemed to have understood it to a certain extent. "I see, so the point is that once it is chopped into small pieces, it is rolled out flat and dried?That''s interesting." At this moment, Jin thought that he would discuss with Saki later on the paper-making project he had been thinking about since the other day. While Jin was eating his after-dinner fruit, Hydro 2 and 3 came back from outside. Reinhard had ridden with the Unifiler before, but this was the first time for Saki and Bertsche. "Jin-sama, that boat!It''s moving without oars or paddles!" Berthe, who knows a lot about boats, was surprised by the hydro propulsion system. "It''s called the Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system that shoots out seawater to propel us forward. Again, I explained it simply, but Bertsche did not seem to understand. "Marine 2, 3, are you done with your patrols today?" Jin asks, to which the two respond in the affirmative. "Yes, master." The truth is that the old man has been sending the marines without informing them, and has arranged the schedule so that the marines are not aware of it. It is strange that they come back here to the sandy beach when there is a pier a little further away. As I expected, Jin noticed it, but he did not say so. "Then, can you take us for a short ride?" "Yes, whenever the master asks." The hydro carries four people. Hydro 2 is manned by Jin, Erza, Saki, and Reiko (Reiko is small enough to ride on the boat). Hydro 3 will be a combination of Reinhardt, Bertsche, and Neon. Unfortunately, Aal, Edgar, and Noir will be absent this time. Okay, go. "Yes, I''m going." And Hydro 2 and 3 come running out. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Saki is amazed at the acceleration. "My God!What the hell!This is so fast!" Bertsche is also amazed. "Hmmm, this is amazing!" Reinhardt, who has already ridden in one, cannot hide his amazement. "I''d like to build one myself, but first I''d like to build an ocean-going boat. ......" Reinhardt was aware of his own abilities in his own way. The Hydro 2 and Hydro 3 with their passengers left Tatsumi Bay at a speed of over 50 km/h. "Brother Jin," said Reinhard, "I''d like to build one myself. "Brother Jin, you are fast. Amazing." Erza''s eyes narrowed as she enjoyed the sea breeze. The difference in the ebb and flow of the oceans in this world is small due to the small moon. Also, there are few typhoons, so the sea is relatively calm most of the days. Today, there was only a gentle swell on the surface of the sea, and the two trimaran hydros were sailing at a steady pace. "Jin, it feels so good!This boat is amazing!That''s all I can say!" Saki, who was very excited, half shouted. The Hydro 2 and Hydro 3 speed through the unobstructed blue ocean, leaving a white wake behind. After an hour or so of sailing through the open sea, the two vessels return to Tatsumi Bay. "Welcome home! Edgar, who was guarding the luggage, greets them at the water''s edge. Aaru is making algae salt with Aqua 33. And Noir remains steadfast as if protecting his luggage. Jin finds it interesting to see the personalities in their roles. The chilled Persian juice from their luggage moistened their thirsty throats and seemed to cool their sunburned bodies. After eating the rest of the fruit, the group got back into the car and headed back to Jin''s laboratory. 386 - - 12-36 Family "Ah, it''s a little tingly, isn''t it? Reinhardt said as he soaked in the hot spring baths at the pavilion. After returning from the sea, the group soaked themselves in the hot spring, even though it was still light, in order to cleanse their bodies from the sticky sea breeze. In case you are wondering, this is the new open-air bath for men and women. The rock baths are made of granite from Horaijima and overflow with free-flowing hot water. The water came from different sources, and this open-air bath was a simple spring containing baking soda, so it was gentle to the skin. The temperature is lukewarm, so you can take a bath even after getting sunburned. If the sunburn is severe, it can be treated with <>, but since the sunburn was not that severe this time, I did not do anything in particular. However, I was ready to be ready for the women if they asked me to. "It feels good, doesn''t it? "Yes, it does. Hot springs are a good thing, aren''t they? I wonder if there are any in Vanneh? "I heard that if you dig deep enough, you can find hot springs in most places. Bertsche, Saki, and Erza, respectively. They are soaking in the women''s open-air bath together. Berthe was hesitant at first because of the open-air bath, but once she got into the hot water, she felt comfortable with the openness and relaxed completely. "But I always think that Miss Bertsche''s, or rather Mrs. Reinhardt''s, breasts are a foul sight. I wonder what''s in them. "Uh, fat and mammary glands, I think." Saki asked Erza who answered honestly. "Fat?Mammary gland?What''s that? "Fat means fatty meat. Mammary gland is a gland that secretes milk. "Mammary gland?" Saki tilts her head at Erza''s jargon. "Erza-san, that''s amazing!You must have studied a lot!" Bertsch is frankly impressed. "Jin can''t believe you taught me all that ....... Who the hell are you?" "Jin brother is Jin brother. I can''t tell you. Ask him for details." Meanwhile, the men''s bathroom. They are not next to the women''s bath, so you can''t hear their conversations, and you can''t inadvertently peek in on them. "If I were to send Erza back to Japan, it would be at the <>." "<>?" Jin asked for a detailed explanation of the word Reinhardt used. "A technical exposition is a place where engineers from the Shoro Empire and other countries with which we have contact gather and present the results of their work to each other. These engineers are not limited to magical engineers. Alchemists are also included, as are shipwrights and architects. And, of course, ordinary craftsmen. That sounds interesting. So, when is it going to be held? "It will be held for three days from the summer solstice. This is where the previously mentioned Magi Engineer Maestro will be recognized. "I see......... is a little short." Reinhardt looks at Jin, who is pondering something, and gives him some advice. "However. I think you need a reason as to why you kept the fact that you were protecting Erza and Meane a secret. "Oh, I see. ......" At the very least, it is unnatural that he did not bring up the subject in the Shoro capital of Leusert. "There is a possibility that Jin had some kind of intention to abduct the two. Mainly from the old aristocracy." "I see. ......" Jin was glad that he had consulted Reinhardt. It is good to have a friend who can make political decisions like this. "I should consult with the old man as well. ...... It is a difficult problem, but Jin is going to do something about it. I served rice for dinner, and it was generally well received. "Hmmm, when cooked well, rice tastes so good instead of jasmine ......." It seems that the taste buds of the Shoro Kingdom tend toward Japanese food. Jin liked this aspect of the food. The night passed in a congenial atmosphere as various topics of conversation blossomed. * * * * * * * * After breakfast, I gave a brief tour of the institute. Bertsche, Reinhardt and Saki, however, looked into the laboratory with bright and shining eyes. The only thing that Bertsche, who seemed to be uninterested, showed interest in was the following. "Jin-sama, what is the material of the bedding you gave us?I''d like to know." "Well, ......." Jin hesitated. < Then I thought of asking the opposite question. "Berthe, I think most of the clothes you wear are made of silk. Do you know how that silk is made? I was so flustered that my tone became somewhat funny, but Bertsche did not comment on my tone, "Yes, it is the threads produced by <>, isn''t it?" Bertsche did not comment on the tone, but answered, "Yes. Jin asked a further question. "Don''t you care about the threads produced by insects? "Yes, nothing?I sometimes make clothes and shoes from the leather of hexenbiests, and I don''t mind bugs. I don''t mind beautiful insects like butterflies, though. Jin was relieved by the answer and decided to answer Bertsche''s question. "I am relieved to hear that. That bedding is made of threads produced by the ground caterpillar. "Grand caterpillar?" Saki asked back. "Jin, do you know what a grand caterpillar is ...... or are you here by any chance?They''re supposed to be extinct by now. "Yes, I''m aware of them. I mean, there are a lot of them living underground on this island. "Oh!That''s great!Take me there!I want to see it with my own eyes!" Saki pleaded excitedly. Jin, however, has had a bad feeling about it ever since he was attacked by the Grand Caterpillar on a previous trip to the basement. "Hmmm, maybe sooner or later," he said. ....... Because the Grand Caterpillar doesn''t like the light, and it runs away when the light is bright." That''s how I explained it to him. "Golems can move even in total darkness, though. "I see. I''m sorry, but I guess we''ll have to wait until another time. It can''t be helped if you can''t see them. Saki looks very disappointed. But she quickly changes her mind. "Then let''s see the other places. The workshop, the laboratory, the reference room, the warehouse. The refrigeration and freezer rooms to top it off. "Well, it''s still amazing when I look at it again at a leisurely pace. ......" Reinhardt is absolutely stunned. And what about Saki? "Jin, I want to live here. ...... "No problem." "What?" Originally, this institute was built by the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, with the intention of making it a sacred place for Magecraft. We do not accept those with ambitions or personal desires, but we are open to those who share the same goals. Saki is amazed at how easily the decision was made. "On the condition that you keep this place a secret from the public..." Oh, yeah, of course, you have my word!Thank you, Jin! On this day, the number of residents of Horai Island increased by one. "Brother Jin, who am I?" Erza, unable to keep silent, picks up the hem of Jin''s dress and asks. "Hmm?Erza is already a resident, isn''t she?She''s my sister and my apprentice. Erza''s cheeks turned a little red as she said this. "Oh my goodness, Erza-san, you''re so lucky." "...... yes." When Bertsch noticed this, Erza''s cheeks turned even redder. "d*mn, d*mn, I want to live here permanently too! "You...?" Reinhardt exclaims, but Bertsche stares at him and shuts him down. "Haha, Reinhardt, you can come here anytime you want, okay?" When Jin consoled him with these words, Reinhardt, who had been looking dazed, immediately regained his energy. "Oh, yeah!Well, what a good friend to have!" So Jin and the others gather in the dining room on the first floor to discuss their future plans with the old man. >. The old man explains his idea about security. "Well, that''s scary." Reinhard imagines the consequences. < is, but being left behind in a relay station is terrifying. "May I come too?" Jin answers Bertsche''s question. "Of course, you are Reinhard''s wife. I want you to support your husband well. "Thank you, Jin-sama." A promise was made that the secrets of Horaijima would not be divulged to anyone other than those involved, and the Horaijima family was born. 387 - - 12-37 Holy Land of Magic Engineering "Now, then, what to do with the permit?" "Yes. ......" Jin nodded at the old man''s suggestion and thought about what would be best. "Brother Jin, how about a ring, a bracelet or a pendant?" Elsa suggested. Jin is still reluctant, saying that it would be fine. "For my part, I think it should be something unique to each person. It would be unnatural if other people had it. That would make it even safer. "I see." "Kuhu, Jin, then I''d like to wear glasses." Saki was the first to decide. I see, the glasses are only for Saki at the moment, and it is unlikely that anyone else will use them. "Yes, I like that. Then Saki will have to wear glasses. "Brother Jin, I''ll take this one." Erza said, showing her hand with the bracelet that Jin had given her to prevent hypermagic. "Hmmm, I see. Well then, I guess Elsa can use that bracelet. This is also a good identification tool since no one else can use it. What about Reinhardt and the others? Well, we''re not in a hurry, so we''ll think it over. "Well, Edgar was born here, so that''s fine, but we need to register Aal, Neon, and Noir. The old man pointed out. Jin thinks, "I see," and considers what to do with Neon, Edgar, and Noir. "The quickest way is to implant a magic crystal (magi crystal) for identification. In short, as long as they have Jin''s magic pattern, they will be all right. In that sense, this method is quick and sure. "Well, let''s do it this way. Jin muttered and asked Lao Tzu to bring him a magi crystal. He played with it with his hand, "Berthe, I''d like to exchange the control core of neon, is that all right? I asked Bertsche. "I think it will probably be better than before. ......, but your personality and knowledge will remain the same." Bertsche thought for a moment and answered. "Yes, if that''s what you mean, by all means. Neon, is that okay?" "Yes, Mr. Belcher. Reiko''s husband would never do anything wrong. "Thank you. I''ll do my best to live up to your expectations. Jin moves everyone from the cafeteria to the workshop next door. He lays Neon down on the workbench, cuts off his magic, and begins to remodel. "Erza, can you help me?" It is Elsa''s turn. She was afraid to take off the clothes of an automata that looked just like Berthe. "Yes, okay." Elsa works quickly. After removing the chest skin and other external body parts, it was finally Jin''s turn. The control core is replaced, and countermeasures are taken against the rewriting of slavery magic. "I''ll harden and toughen the skeleton as well. Jin proceeds with his work quickly and efficiently, muttering to himself, "Oh, wow! "Oh, oh, oh! Reinhardt was astonished to see Jin working at his usual speed without any hesitation. Reinhardt looked to the side and saw Erza watching him intently. Her eyes are serious and she does not look surprised. Reinhardt feels that Erza has always been watching Jin like this. At the same time, he realizes the reason why Erza has grown up to be a magi engineer. While Reinhardt is thinking about this, Jin has almost finished the remodeling with the help of Reiko. Erza has put back the chest skin and reapplied the clothes. "Okay, that''s it. Countermeasures against slave rewriting magic, upgrade the control core, and strengthen the skeleton. That should do it. The time required is about 10 minutes. The work is made easier by the fact that the shield case and the other parts for the anti-slave rewriting magic are stocked as standard parts. "Neon, <>" "Yes." Neon gets up. "How are you feeling, Neon?Are you in control? Neon performed a self-check procedure and confirmed that everything was fine. "Yes, Jin-sama, I am doing well. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Bertsche, for your continued support. Thanks to the increased speed and processing power of the control core, he was speaking more fluently. "Well, Neon, your pronunciation has improved as well. I''ll be counting on you." "Yes, Mr. Bertsche. Yes, Mr. Bertsche. I''m looking forward to working with you. Since the essence of Neon has not changed, Berthe will soon get used to the new Neon. "Okay, Elsa, give Edgar the same anti-slave rewriting magic I''ve been working on. "Yes, okay." After having Reiko prepare a set of countermeasure parts such as a shield case, Elsa started to modify Edgar. Reinhardt''s jaw almost dropped as he watched her follow the same procedure as Jin. "No, I thought I knew, but Erza, you''ve grown up. ......" In a happy, slightly chagrined voice, Reinhardt praised Erza. "Thank you,......, brother Rai." Erza also seemed happy to hear that from her respected cousin. Erza finished the remodeling in about 40 minutes, although it took longer than Jin''s work. For the final touch, Hitoshi inserts a magi crystal into her. < After all is done and confirmed, Jin smiles at Erza. "You have remembered well, Erza. No complaints." Erza''s face is flushed and she smiles at Jin''s praise. "Ah, Erza, you can smile with a good face now, too, isn''t that good? "Yes, it is true. Yes, it''s true, Erza, you have a nice face. Both Saki and Bertsch saw her smile and praised her. This made Erza''s face even redder. As for Jin, while Erza was modifying Edgar, he was implanting the MagiRecorder into Noir''s chest. This is because when Reinhardt modified the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) to counter the Unifiler before, it had only a shield structure, and the MagiRecorder had not been implemented yet. Anyway, now the squires, Golems, and automata can use the warp gate without any problem. The only ones left are Bertsche and Reinhardt. "I think a ring would suit the two of you," Jin says. Jin said, "Yes, I think so too." Erza agrees. So Jin and Erza decide to make a protection ring, or rather a . "<>". Elsa is in charge of making the ring, including the design, "<>" Jin writes in the Magi Formula. The previous protection ring was a round ring with a half-round cross section, but this time it is different. On the upper surface, there was the Randall family crest, a facing levee (a lion-like animal), and on the lower surface, the names of Reinhardt and Bertsche were engraved. Reinhardt rolled his eyes again when he saw it. "Well, as I said before, Erza, you have become a good Magi engineer. If there is anything you lack, it is experience. "Thank you, brother Rai." Erza thanked him again, her cheeks flushing with gratitude at his words of praise. "I didn''t know you had such talent. I should have taught you." Reinhardt shook his head and reiterated, "If you had, you would have met a different fate. "No, it''s no use saying that if you had. If you are happy now and will be happy in the future, that''s the best. Elsa presents the rings to Reinhard and Bertsche. Reinhardt himself fine-tuned the size of the ring. "Thank you, Jin, Erza. I will treasure it." The ring, made from high-quality magi crystals of all attributes, shone in rainbow colors. "Now, all of you can use the warp gate to come here. Still, for the time being, please follow the old man''s instructions. I understand. I understand. "Yes, I understand." Reinhard, Bertsche and Saki nodded in agreement. "Well then, Saki and Reinhardt, you can use this workshop for now." The first workshop is 8 meters long from east to west and 15 meters long from north to south, so there is enough space for the three of us, including Jin. If you need a room, there are plenty of vacant rooms on the third floor. Jin felt satisfied that he had finally come a little closer to his predecessor''s vision of a research institute, in other words, a sanctuary of magical engineering (magecraft). 388 - - 12-38 Theoretical Days Three days have passed since we officially accepted Reinhard, Bertsch, and Saki as our Horaijima family. Needless to say, they are enjoying their time together. Reinhard has completed the outer boat that he had wanted to build for a long time, and Saki has increased her knowledge of various materials. Erza was gaining experience by making vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, lighters, popcorn makers, distillers, magic lamps ......, and other magical tools that Jin had seen and made before. What was Berche, who was neither a magecraftsman nor an alchemist, doing? She was learning and expanding her repertoire of cooking under the tutelage of Peridorider, a five-colored golem maid. Edgar, Aal, Neon, and Noir did not just sit still. Edgar learned from Lao Tzu, Aalu from Butler 1, Neon from Soleil and Luna. And Noir was learning a lot from Rand 1. "Hmmm, Jin, the development environment here is great!" Reinhardt said happily when he came back from testing an ocean-going ship in Tatsumi Bay. For now, I''ve asked Marine 50 and 51 to drive the outer-wheelers. "I don''t think I''ll be satisfied with a regular workshop anymore. ......" Reinhard mutters with a bitter smile. He spends most of the day in the workshop, but in the evenings and at night he is dragged along by Bertsche and seems to be taking a proper rest. "Reiko, can you help me with something?" Elsa seems to start something with Reiko again. Lately Reiko has been consulting with Elsa from time to time, and Elsa has been relying on her. "Yes?" "Well, this time I''m thinking of making accessories instead of magic tools. ......" "Okay, a design." Reiko has in her memory, via the old man, information about various parts of the world that the fifth column (Quinta) has studied. Among them were the designs that were popular among the noblewomen. "Jin, may I have a word with you?" Saki sees things from a different point of view from that of Jin and other magecraftsmen, which Jin finds interesting. Saki wears a white coat. Jin made it as a gift from a cloth woven from the threads of a ground spider. It is stain-resistant and durable. She looks like a mad female researcher. The glasses suit her too well. "Yes?" "Yes, it''s about engineering magic. What exactly is engineering magic? "Hmm?......, right, the magic used in magecraft, right? It was a very obvious answer, but it did not satisfy Saki. "No, no, that''s not what I want to ask you...hmmm...let''s change the question then..." Saki opened her mouth as she looked out the crystal window. "Jin, Erza, Reinhardt and the other Magi craftsmen can use the magic of <>, right?" "Yes, that''s right. That''s because it is engineering magic. With Forming, even adamantite can be processed, right? Yes. Adamantite is the hardest metal known. It''s non-interacting with magic. If it can change its shape, then it must be very powerful magic. "So that''s what you''re saying. ......" Jin understood what Saki meant. For example, bending adamantite requires tremendous power. But the magic of forming makes it possible with a little magic power. Why is that? "Well, I hadn''t really thought about it that much. ......" Jin also has a hypothesis about magic. I put it together again in my mind and decided to explain it. "I heard that deformation (forming) works on the atoms and molecules of matter, weakening their bonding power and then changing their shape." "I don''t understand, but does it mean that once the material is softened, it is reshaped?" Saki did not seem to understand the meaning of atoms, molecules, and bonding force, but she seemed to grasp the concept. "Then, in a sense, isn''t transforming (forming) one of the most powerful magic?Swords, armor, and even castle walls are useless if they are transformed, aren''t they? "Well, it doesn''t work that way. First of all, the surgeon must be able to touch it with his hands. And the size of the object that can be processed is proportional to the magic power of the magician. "Hmmm...so you''re saying that the more contact required, and the larger the object, the more magic power is needed." "Yes, and it takes a little longer to activate. And it takes a little longer to activate. You have to touch it, let the magic power flow through it, and then change its shape. This procedure is troublesome. It''s not like releasing fire magic. With the exception of Jin, it is impossible to bend a sword that has been slashed by a normal sword by forming. Also, it is impossible to make a passageway by forming the castle wall due to the amount of magic power. "I see. I understand now. Thank you." Conversations like this were often exchanged. That was on the first day. And on the second day. "Jin, is it true that engineering magic does not work on living things?" This was another question from Saki. "Yes, it is true. For example, shaping does not work on standing trees. For example, shaping does not work on standing trees, even though it is possible to cut them down with a wind cutter. "Then, at what point does shaping start to work?Can you do it once you cut it down? "Yes, you can. Yes, it can be done. Branches and trunks can be processed by shaping once they are cut off. Hearing Jin''s answer, Saki turned her head down and thought silently. After thinking for a full minute, she looked up. "Let''s put aside the line between standing timber and lumber for the moment. I''ll just leave the line between standing timber and lumber for now. ...... Then, why can''t we do shaping on standing timber? Now it was Jin''s turn to ponder. However, Jin came up with a hypothesis in less than 30 seconds. "I think that shaping and the forming that was talked about the other day are not done by mana, but by free magic element (ether). Every living creature in this world has mana without exception. They take in free magic element (ether) and change it into mana in their bodies. It is said that mana circulates in the organism. Jin presented his own theory that engineering magic would not work as long as this mana is circulating in the body. "Wow!That''s great, Jin!That''s a totally new theory!Then, to become a Magical Engineer (Magi Engineer)...... or a Magical Craftsman (Magi Craftsman), one must be able to manipulate free magical element (ether) or not! And so it goes. What about Saki on the third day? "Jin, I have an idea for an interesting experiment. Will you help me?" Saki made such a proposal. "What is it?" Saki always has interesting ideas. Jin waited for Saki''s explanation, hoping inwardly that it would be interesting this time, too. "I was wondering if you could dissolve the threads of the ground spider. "What? The threads of the Grand Spider are extremely strong and tough. However, while the threads are easy to use, they are limited in their uses. "I see. ......" There is a resin called nylon. To be precise, it is a polyamide resin. < Polyamide resin is used not only as a fiber but also as a plastic, which is the original use of resin. "You''re asking if we can use it as a natural resin. I hadn''t noticed that." Jin is very enthusiastic. "The threads of a ground spider are ineffective against ordinary magic, aren''t they? Saki''s question was right on the mark. The threads of the Grand Spider do not burn or melt even with the highest level of fire magic. "You said that the Grand Spider feeds on free magical element (ether), didn''t you?So, it is safe to say that the Grand Spider is a mass of free magical element (ether), isn''t it?" That''s what Jin thought, too. Since he grew up with only free magical elements (ether), his body must be made of free magical elements (ether). "Father, Luna told me that she once examined a dead ground spider. Unexpectedly, Reiko brought me an unexpected piece of information. "I heard that ground spiders have a very long life span, but there was an individual that was crushed when the hole it was using as a web collapsed. He brought them home and examined them to see if they could be used as materials. "So, that''s it!Now tell me what''s next!" Saki rushed to him with great vigor. Reiko continued her explanation without being influenced by Saki. "According to this, 80% of her body contained free magic element (ether). Persica of Horai Island also contains a large amount of free magic element (ether). The same is said to be true of the ground spider. "It might be a similar analogy to say that free magic element (ether) changes its form and becomes a thread. Jin says so, and Saki agrees with him. "That''s a strong possibility!The fact that it is inviolable by ordinary magic also confirms it, doesn''t it? The two realize that they are going a little off-topic here. Originally, the story was about melting the threads of a ground spider. "Well, it''s fun to discuss with you, Jin. I got carried away." "Well, you mean dissolving the threads of the ground spider, right?<, it should be possible. Reiko, bring me some of the Grand Spider''s threads. Scraps of cloth will do. Yes, Father. Reiko brought some scraps of cloth from when she made Saki''s lab coat. Wait a minute. ...... umm... do this here... and ...... okay, <>. <>" Saki was startled to see Jin who had modified the fusion into the original dissolute, but she managed to restrain herself and looked at the act of melting the threads of the ground spider, which was the most important issue at the moment. The melted threads of the ground spider were translucent, and Jin stretched them into a flat sheet by forming. "You did it, Jin! "Yes, it worked." Saki was so happy to see that his idea had come true. And Jin was happy to have found a new possibility for the Grand Spider''s threads. Saki and Jin were excited to see each other. * * * * * Finally, I would like to add a few words. "Jin-sama, I''d love to have this bathroom in my house! "Jin, Jin!That toilet is a good one!I''m going to have it installed as soon as I get back home!" About two more people were fascinated by the toilets, which were equipped with deodorizing, sterilizing, and decomposing functions in addition to the hot-water washing toilet seat. 389 - - 12-39 Towards the Exposition The happy days pass in a blink of an eye. On the afternoon of June 10th, Reinhard, Bertsche, and Saki returned to their home in Shoro. "I''ll leave the warp gate in Saki''s barn for the time being," Jin said. Jin said, and Saki nodded in agreement. "Oh, I''d be glad to do that. "It''s close to my house and not many people come here." Reinhard nodded. "I wonder if it''s a good thing that we don''t get many visitors?" Saki smiled to herself. "Well, I think it''s a good thing this time ......." Jin had no choice but to follow up. "Well, anyway, I''m glad to know that I can go to Horai Island anytime I want as long as I have these glasses. The lenses have been replaced with magical crystals. Magiquartz is the material used for Reiko''s eyes, and has a weak optical property. It is characterized by its ability to change its refractive index with magic power. "I can see far and near very well, can''t I? I never thought this day would come. In other words, they were bifocals. Since Saki is nearsighted, she can use a higher power for distance vision and a lower power for close-up vision. Although Saki''s magic is weak, she can do such a thing, and she soon got used to them. Saki was so used to it that she couldn''t live without it now. "What? When Reinhardt returned home, he was surprised to hear that this year''s < would be held in Koju, a town on the other side of the river from Banneh. He had expected it to be held in the capital, Leusert. "I see, you were out of the country and didn''t know about it. Wolfgang, Reinhard''s father, said with a surprised look on his face. "I thought you had heard about it in Leuthart. I thought you were listening in Reuthert. ...... Well, that''s all right. You will be there, of course? "Yes. And Jin, and Saki. Wolfgang smiled and nodded. "Okay. I''ll apply for theirs. I''m looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us, Jin-dono. "Oh, and Jin is bringing an assistant with him, so please apply for him as well. Assistant? An assistant. Wolfgang did not inquire further and Reinhard did not elaborate on the assistant. "......, so we''ve secured slots for Jin, Erza, and Saki." Jin heard this in Reinhardt''s room. "Well, that''s great." "So, what is Jin going to exhibit?" Reinhardt asked while sipping the tea that Bertsche had made for him. "You''ll have to wait and see," Jin replied with a mischievous smile. Jin answered with a mischievous smile. "Reinhardt is on that ship, isn''t he?" "Yeah, I think I''m going to take out that hull ship. Then we can make a special golem for it. It seems that Reinhardt had decided from the beginning to exhibit the ocean-going ship he had made in Horai Island. He said that he had decided to exhibit the wheeled boat he had made on Hourai Island from the beginning, so he had used materials that were commonly available in the market. The boat was too big, so Jin promised to carry it secretly later. "Ten days to go. I''ll make the golem in 10 days. Reinhardt said he would make the golem in his workshop. "Well then, if you need anything at all, you can always count on Horaijima. Jin finished his tea and stood up. "Jin, are you leaving already?" "Yes. I want to make something to exhibit, and I don''t want to interrupt the newlyweds. "I see. So, when are you coming back?" Reinhardt asks, blushing a little. "I''m planning to come back on the 18th. Jin promises to come back in eight days. "Okay. I''ll be looking forward to it. With that, Jin and Reinhardt parted for the moment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin checked the carriage at Saki''s house and the warp gate attached to it. "Oh, Jin, you''re going home again." Saki, who had just come outside, found Jin. "Yes, I will be back on the 18th. Oh yeah, Reinhard told me that both Saki and I have already applied to be at the technology expo. "That''s great. I''ll have to finish my paper then. Saki told me that she was planning to submit a paper on the magic she had been discussing the other day on Horai Island. Although the paper is not very popular, she said, there are only a few people who submit it, and the lack of new magical theories is considered a problem. "<>," he wrote in the article. If you have any questions, I might be able to help you." "Yeah, you can come anytime. Saki is part of the family. "I''m glad to hear that. See you soon, Jin. "Yeah, see you later." Jin first transferred to the intermediate base Shinkai. The warp gate of Shinkai is actually quite special. Ordinary warp gates have a one-to-one correspondence between receiving and sending, but Shinkai''s warp gate has a multi-correspondence. The secret is the link core. The link core usually connects warp gates on a one-to-one basis, but Shinkai''s warp gates have multiple link cores. By switching the link core corresponding to each warp gate, it can accept transfers from multiple warp gates and send them out again. "This is more reliable, so I guess I can leave it as it is." I have thought of switching the warp gate as if changing the frequency, but I have experienced firsthand the terrible consequences of making a mistake in adjustment. It is only natural that we should place importance on certainty. Aside from that, Jin flew to Horai Island and called Anne. "Yes, Goshujin-sama." After asking some questions to Anne, Jin started to make some complicated magic tools with Reiko and Anne as his assistants. "Yes, there''s a pump there ......." "Make sure it''s airtight." This is the important part. When the form was completed to some extent, he prepared a large amount of threads of the ground spider (ground spider), and using the original engineering magic he had created the other day, he integrated them. They further transformed it into a thin sheet by forming and made it into a large bag. Next to her, Erza is thinking about it. She is thinking about what to exhibit at Jin''s request. "Hmmm, here, like this ......" she said. She seems to be doing a lot of trial and error. Jin decided to let her work on it until Erza asked her a question, saying that this is also an experience. The first time, he was able to complete it. "Okay, it''s done!" Meanwhile, Reinhardt was finishing the golem in his workshop. "You made two of them?" Bertsche, who had brought tea and snacks during break time, looked at the completed Golem and said. "Oh, these two are <>. "Twin, huh? Twin, that is, twins. "Oh. Each takes the right and left outer rings of the outer boat. It was difficult to synchronize their movements, but we were able to make it work with the we learned on Horai Island. Reinhard had made some progress. "So, what is your name?" "A name or ....... I think I''ll have Belle give it to me." Reinhard smiled. Bertsche thought for a moment and then spoke his name. "How about Mack or Mick?" Reinhardt agreed without a second thought. "Yes, that sounds good!Okay, let''s go with Mack and Mick!" 390 - - 12-40 Early Summer Fruit After that, Jin and Erza spent half a day in Kaina village and half a day in Horai Island. Then one day... "One of them is called "Plum," right? Jin brought a basket full of fruits to Kaina village. "Yes, that''s right. They used to grow further south in the Kingdom of Klein, but I think we can grow them in the village of Kaina too. "Is it good?" Green berries with a slightly yellowish tinge. Round, about 3 cm in diameter. "Well, I think they are too sour as they are. They are pickled in salt or sugar. Plum is a plum. Quinta found them and bought them in large quantities on Horai Island. Of course, they make pickled plums. Jin brought some of them to the village of Kaina because he thought that if dried plums were acceptable to the villagers, they might as well grow them in the village. After washing them with water to remove dirt, they are washed with shochu to remove bacteria, but Jin substituted engineering magic <>. Then they are placed in jars, sprinkled with salt equivalent to 18 percent of the weight of the plums, and weighed down with a weighted stone. The weight should be twice the weight of the plums. After a few days, when the vinegar rises, the weight is reduced. When midsummer comes, the plums are taken out, dried for three days and three nights, and put back into the vinegar again to make umeboshi (pickled plums). This is the process of making pickled plums that I used to do many times at the orphanage. If the salt content is too low, the ume tend to mold easily, but with this amount of salt, they can be kept for years. If the washed and sterilized plums are covered with the same weight of sugar and stored in jars, the sugar will dissolve as the plum extract leaches out due to the osmotic pressure. Then, to prevent mold from growing, the sugar is sprinkled over the plums by shaking the jar from time to time, and when all the sugar is dissolved by the plum extract, the plum extract juice is ready. When all the sugar is dissolved in the ume extract, the juice is ready to drink. Jin made these two kinds of juices not only in Horai Island but also in Kaina Village. In fact, he ordered Sara to make them. At the same time, he also taught Meane how to make them. Jin-sama, this is an interesting way of making candied fruits. I have made candied plums with other fruits before, but never with salted plums. Dried plums seemed to be new to Meane. In the southern part of the Kingdom of Klein, they make jam from these plums. The sour fruit is delicious as a jam. In addition to this, since the distillation of wine to produce a distilled liquor similar to shochu began to be produced on Horai Island, plum wine, or plum wine, was also made from plums. This distilled spirit has not yet been introduced to the village of Kaina. This is because high spirit is not common in this world. I''ll leave you with this. Since it would be boring if it took a long time, Jin took out another fruit that Reiko had brought with her. , in other words, cherries. The cherries that grow around the village of Kaina are mountain cherries, so to speak, and produce only small fruit, but the ones Jin (and Reiko) brought were large cherries that the fifth column (Quinta) had found in the Leonard Kingdom. "Hannah, try these." "Yes." Hannah put a cherry in her mouth, "Delicious!" she exclaimed happily. We have a lot of cherries, so let''s share some with Martha. Oh, they taste even better when they are chilled in the snow room. "Yes!" Seeing Hannah smiling at him, Jin naturally smiled too. At tea time that day, Jin, Hannah, Martha, Meane, and Elsa enjoyed the cherries. Jin, they are delicious. I heard this one is also query.Yes, they are similar, but the grains are bigger. Martha seemed to like them too. Yes, it''s the same query, but of a different variety. I would like to make these in the village of Kaina. "Yes, that''s right. I''ll talk to the village head later. "Yes, please. Since the village head, Giebeck, is more qualified than Jin to deal with agricultural products in the village, Martha''s suggestion would be very helpful, Jin thought. I have dozens of seedlings and some mature trees that I will have Martha bring to the village later. Jin is not only preparing for the technology exposition, but also thinking about the village of Kaina. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, it''s difficult. Erza, on the other hand, was stuck in making magic tools on Horai Island. I wonder what Jin would do. ...... I want to ask her, but I suppress the desire to do so. "No, I can''t keep relying on Brother Jin for everything," he told himself. Elsa tells herself and returns to her contemplation. "Hmmm... ......" Erza''s mutterings echoed through the quiet workshop. "What''s wrong?" "Hi!" Erza suddenly heard Jin''s voice from behind her, and she let out a strange sound. "......Ah, Jin, my brother......" Holding her pounding heart, Erza turned around and noticed that it was Jin who was there. I''m sorry, I didn''t expect you to be so surprised. No, you seemed to be in some kind of trouble. "Well, let''s see..." Erza wondered whether she should talk to Jin or not. Then she made up her mind that it would not do to be too self-centered. "Well, you know. I was thinking of a special jewelry box. "A special jewelry box?" Jin asks back in a parroted tone. It''s not an item that Jin seems to have any connection with. "Yeah. I was thinking of something not so much anti-theft, but something that makes a sound if it is opened without permission. ...... Jin heard this and made a gesture as if he was remembering something, "...... a music box?" He then mumbled softly, "A music box,? "A music box,......, your hand was there. Thank you, Brother Jin." It seems that Erza had also learned about music boxes. Erza regretted that she had been too concerned about preventing theft. "I''ll try to do the rest by myself. If I can''t do it, I will ask you. Hearing this, Jin smiled kindly. "Okay, okay. Do your best, okay?But don''t overdo it. ...... Edgar, you watch over that area." "Yes, Gin-sama." Edgar, who had only been watching Erza by his side, thanked Jin for his advice and bowed deeply. There was only one week left until the technology exposition. At this time, Jin had completed the plan for Erza and Meane''s return to Japan with the advice of the old man and Anne, and informed Erza, Reinhardt and the others and obtained their approval. * * * * "......Erza is doing a great job. I''m going to make another one too. Jin mutters to himself and begins to formulate a plan. "A mini golem, after all. Saki said the other day. "It''s literally a moving doll. ...... It is a field that has been little studied because of its impracticality. "But it''s great for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering." Being small is useful in terms of invisibility. Also, it could be used to make people do small things. "First, let''s see how small we can make the magi device ......." Jin carefully selected the magi crystals. In the middle of this process, a thought occurred to him. "I see, I don''t have to make them myself. If Jin could make a golem up to 40 centimeters in size with precision, Reiko could make one up to 20 centimeters. "In other words, if you make a small <>, you can make it ......." Following this idea, Jin, with Reiko as his assistant, first created 10 craftsmen (smiths) with a height of 40 centimeters. "All right, let''s call them <>. You, make 10 golems of 10 centimeters and show me how you did it. "Yes, master." Since they are small, it is inevitable that their voices are high-pitched. Jin tried to keep his voice as low as possible, but it was still higher pitched than a child''s voice. Little craftsman (Smith) spent about three hours to make ten 10-centimeter golems. "Okay, I guess I''ll name this one ......<>." "Pleasure to meet you, Master." His voice sounded even louder, but he knew he had no choice in the matter. 391 - - 12-41 Busy but peaceful days I think we''re all set. "Yes, I''m fine." On June 16th, Jin and Erza had finished creating a work to be exhibited at the technical exposition. They had also made plans to have Erza return to Japan and be recognized by the Shoro Empire. "Erza, do you remember the arrangements? "Yes, without a doubt." Erza nodded confidently. "Okay, all we have to do is wait for the event to start. Jin stood tall. The sky of Horai Island is clear blue. "Well, since the old man has been in charge of the island for a while now, let''s hear a little bit about it. Jin called Laozi, the mobile terminal of Laojun, muttering something like "Yes, sir. "Yes, my lord, you wanted to see me? "Yes, I''ve been so busy these days that I''ve been neglecting the island. Since Laozi is Laojun''s terminal, he knows and can answer the same questions as Laozi. "Yes, Master (My Lord). You know that we have a good agricultural relationship, don''t you?" Jin nodded. He had heard that rice had been found, the rice fields had been prepared, and the rice had been planted. "As for marine products, seaweed cultivation is going well. There are only a few problems with the harvesting of kelp. "Nori is fine, but what about kelp?" "What about the kelp?" "That''s ......." Lao Tzu, when asked by Jin, was unusually hesitant to say anything. "...... may be a different seaweed from kelp." "What?" According to Lao Tzu''s explanation, it may be a different seaweed from kelp, although they are very similar. It can be used to make soup stock. It can be processed into a kind of yam-like kelp. But that''s the end of the story. When dried, it turns red. "Kelp is black with greenish tints. ......Rishiri kelp, Hidaka kelp, etc.......Ah!" Jin suddenly remembered. In the first place, kelp is something that can be found in the northern seas such as Hokkaido, not in the warmer waters of Horaijima. "Oh, ...... I completely forgot about that. ......" It seems that they are different seaweeds even though they look similar. That would explain the different properties. "Well, keep looking into it and see what kind of cooking methods you can use it in." Jin gave such an instruction, though he was a little disappointed. But for now, the old man ordered the Air Force and the underwater golem squadrons to continue their search for kelp in the northern sea, and they would find it, but that would be a little further down the road. "Is there anything else?" Jin asked again. "Yes, about the extraction of baking soda from the water in the village of Kaina. "Yes, and?" A little while ago, Jin had noticed that a small amount of sodium bicarbonate, or sodium bicarbonate, was contained in some of the water in the village of Kayna. As the hot springs in the village of Kayna are bicarbonate springs, some of the groundwater contains baking soda. He had us investigate where or what the baking soda came from. "We found water with a high concentration of baking soda flowing out of a part of the glaciated mountain. We are currently constructing an extraction plant for baking soda. "Oh, that''s good." Baking soda is used as an expander. When heated, it decomposes and emits carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is what makes bread and cake dough expand. If baking soda is added, pancakes and the like can be made a little fluffier. It was a very exciting time for Jin. "And now I have a chicken farm, or should I say an egg farm, where I can collect eggs on a regular basis," he said. "Oh, I see! Jin is also happy because eggs can be used in various ways for cooking. "It is a bird that originally inhabited Horai Island, and seems to be a species similar to a wild chicken. If you keep them in a fenced-in square, they lay about one egg every three days. "That''s great. And how do you store them? "Yes, if you store them in an ether stocker, they can be stored semi-permanently. Eggs purchased in other areas will not work. It seems that eggs from Horai Island that contain a large amount of free magical element (ether) can be preserved. "Well, I''d like to know more about free magical element (ether). ...... I''ll discuss it with Saki next time. The element that exists in this world and does not exist on the earth, free magic element (ether). However, we know too little about the free element (ether). Even in the knowledge that I inherited from my predecessors, there was no detailed information about the free magical element (ether). Leaving the conversation with Lao Tzu for now, Jin returned to the village of Kaina. Now he goes to Nido Castle. He was quite busy. As he stepped out of the shelter and into the castle, he could smell the sweet and sour smell. At the same time.., "Kyaaaah! I suddenly heard a scream. "What is that?" "That''s Mr. Behle''s voice, isn''t it?" Reiko recognized the voice and said it belonged to Behle. Jin wondered what had happened. "Hey, what''s up?" The voice came from the kitchen. Jin walked quickly to the kitchen and found an impatient-looking Behle. Behle was standing next to him with Meane by his side. "Welcome back, Jin-sama!" Compared to Mine, who welcomes Jin calmly, Behle is a little nervous and restless. "What''s wrong, Behle?" When Jin asked again, Behr looked apologetic and confessed. "Well, the marmalade I was making the other day looked so good that I thought I''d make it here too... I was making it at Citran. ......" Behle looks down and up at Jin. He looks like a puppy being scolded. "...... I let it get burned, Jin-sama." Meane replies on Behle''s behalf. A closer look revealed a light silver cauldron on the stove, from which a sweet, yet somewhat burnt smell was wafting. Jin understood. He had let his guard down and let it burn. After the sugar was added, if he stirred the mixture improperly, it would burn. "It''s all right. Empty the contents into another pot and I''ll clean up the burnt pot. Jin consoles a teary-eyed Behle. Reiko asked him to transfer the marmalade to another pot. "Hmmm, this is ......." Looking at the burnt marmalade at the bottom of the pot, Jin noticed something. The burnt marmalade was stuck to the stove in the shape of the stove''s heating element. This was due to the poor thermal conductivity of the material of the pot. I know this because Jin had burned some stews with a stainless steel pot in the past. With an aluminum pot, which is a good heat conductor, scorching is less likely to occur. "Well, light silver is a poor heat conductor." Even when simmering, the top edge of the pot is still hot enough to touch. This fact indicates that light silver does not conduct heat well. "I''ve gone to a lot of trouble to make this pot. ......" It is a pity that it is not easy to use. Jin thought that there must be some way to improve it. "As long as the heat conduction is improved,...... I see, we can just laminate them together." It''s called composite or laminate material. "Let''s see, diamonds are good thermal conductors, aren''t they? ...... I remember seeing a commercial for a diamond-coated frying pan on TV shopping. "Then why don''t you coat diamonds with light silver?" Diamonds are stored in large quantities in the underground of Horai Island. Diamonds are made by heat and pressure, so the underground of Horai Island has been producing a lot of diamonds to begin with. However, Jin has not used them much. This is probably because they are too hard and can easily scratch other things, and also because of the image he has of the earth, that is, the idea that diamonds are expensive. I told myself, "Well, I can''t make a good work if I''m stuck in the conventional wisdom. I told myself this and asked Reiko to bring me about 500 grams of diamonds. "Yes, Father. Leave it to me." Reiko replied with a few words and ran out like the wind. She left Nido Castle almost without a sound, went to Horai Island via the shelter, received the diamonds that Lao Tzu had prepared, and came back immediately. He returned immediately after receiving the diamonds that Lao Tzu had prepared for him. "Thank you, Reiko. Jin pats Reiko on the head. Reiko seems to be more happy to be stroked by Jin since she has the sense of touch. "Okay, I''ll make a pot with this. ......<<>. ......" After a few steps, the pot is completed with diamonds wrapped in a very thin layer of light silver. We have no idea how much it costs. The pot appears to be a dull silver-gray. Jin called Behrle. He had just finished simmering the citran marmalade and had just turned off the heat when Behle arrived. "Yes, Jin-sama. "Use this pot from now on." Jin handed him the newly finished pot. "Well, what''s the difference?" Behle, who had been stirring the marmalade so hard that it did not burn, did not realize what Jin was doing. Neither did Meane. "Well, I made some improvements to make it non-stick," she said. "Wow, I see. Thank you very much! Behle, who was not interested in the structure of the pot, simply accepted the pot. He was happy that Jin had taken the trouble to improve it. I''ll do my best to make a delicious dish. Behr smiles at her. Jin''s smile makes him feel relaxed. 392 - - 12-42 The Case of the Eschenbach Family The head of the Eschenbach family, Thore Eschenbach, is an alchemist. His daughter, Saki Eschenbach, is an apprentice alchemist. Alchemy is the study of creating precious metals such as gold from base metals such as lead. From a broader perspective, it is the art of discovering the essence of matter and creating new substances. However, as time went by, the contents of the study changed, and it became a field of study corresponding to the so-called today. On the other hand, there are still those who try to smelt gold or create homunculus. However, the mainstream has shifted to . The difference from that of the modern earth would be the magical intervention. "Saki-sama, it is time for your meal. Laughton, a servant of the Eschenbach family, calls out from outside the laboratory. "............" But no answer comes back. Determined, Lawton opens the door to the laboratory. "......!" Lawton recoils at the strange smell. In the center of the lab was a steel plate covered with yellow powder, under which a fire was burning. Saki is crouched on the floor near it. "Saki-sama!" Lawton stopped breathing, jumped into the room, ran out of the room with Saki in his arms, and closed the door. "Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Saki is breathing hard. She seems to be conscious somehow. Lawton watched her for about five minutes, but when he noticed that Saki''s breathing had returned to normal, he said to her, "Saki-sama! "Saki-sama!What on earth are you doing? He shouted at her loudly, his words filled with reproach. One wrong move and she could have died. "Oh, oh, I''m sorry, Lawton. It''s funny how the petals decolorize when you ...... dip them in the sulfur-burning smoke." Sulfurous acid gas ...... is decolorized by the reducing action of sulfur dioxide, but sulfurous acid gas is also toxic. It is a toxic gas that, if inhaled, can cause death in the worst case, as the lungs become unable to breathe. The laboratory, which was thought to be filled with the poisonous gas, was finally made usable after two days of ventilation by breaking the windows. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Mr. Esse, I have something rare for you..." A farmer with a bucket knocked on the door. Esse" is an abbreviation for the Eschenbach family, as the neighbors all call them. "Hmm?Which one is it?" Saki opened the door and looked in. The farmer puts a bucket in front of her. "This is it. A rare stone from the lake. It was a nearly transparent stone, slightly crooked and rectangular. There were several of them in the box. "I cracked them and cracked them and cracked them and cracked them and cracked them and cracked them. "Well, that''s interesting. Let''s buy some. Saki said, and carelessly offered three silver coins from his pocket. The farmer took them with great joy and left the bucket behind. "Hmmm...when I break them like this, ...... oh, they really break in the same shape!This is interesting." Saki casually put the broken stone on an open book. The book was written by Saki''s father, Thore Eschenbach, and was called . The book, which Saki had written to supplement the family income, had become a bestseller in alchemy, and from time to time a part of the proceeds came to the Eschenbach family. The silver coins Saki pulled out of her pocket earlier were a part of it. Aside from that, Saki was so surprised when she saw the stone on the table that she almost jumped out of her chair. She was so surprised that she jumped out of her chair, because through the nearly transparent stone, she could see the letters underneath, but they were double-layered. "What is this?This stone has the effect of increasing the number of things! For the next whole day, Saki worked on the stone without sleep or food, but in the end he could not figure out anything, and finally he fell asleep on his worktable. "Miss!" Garut, a servant, opened the door and rushed in to help Saki up. "Hmm, I''m sleepy......, I''m hungry......, I want to eat something......." Galt sighs. "Do you want to sleep or eat, please clarify ......." * * * * "My name is Lorna, it''s nice to meet you." A girl of 17,8 years old bows politely. She is the new servant of the Eschenbach family. "I''m Saki. Nice to meet you, Lorna." Saki was now a girl, but she had been a man''s servant before, so Saki was more relaxed and took more care of her. ...... at first. But now she was ....... "Wake up, Saki-sama! It''s almost noon!" "Hmmm, let me sleep a little longer and stay up until ...... dawn. ......" Staying up late and sleeping until noon is a good thing. "Saki-sama!You haven''t eaten yet!" "Oh, I''m sorry. I''m sorry... I was just curious about this stone... What are you talking about?I put it on the side for lunch. And it''s already night." I forgot to eat and I was so engrossed in my research... "Lorna, I''m sorry. I don''t have any money this month. ......" "Oh, no, not again. This is the second month in a row that you haven''t been paid, since last month. "I''m really sorry. You should get paid next month." Lorna looked worried as she looked at Saki apologizing. I''m sorry. "Hmmm, I wonder if this liquid could be used for paint?" A black sticky liquid in a tub. It is said to be sap, brought by a traveling merchant who heard a rumor about the Eschenbach family. The merchant said that he had an eye for unusual things. I scooped up a little bit of it with a spatula and smeared it on the board. It seems to be sticky, but I was able to spread it thinly. This means that the coating is thin. "I guess a little amount will cover a large area," said Saki. The next day, and the day after that, the black sap showed no sign of drying. When she poked it with her finger, it became sticky and stringy. On the third occasion, Saki accidentally scratched her cheek with her finger. She wiped it with a cloth in a hurry, but her face started itching that night. "Hmm, it''s itchy. What''s wrong with me?" Unable to resist, I scratched it, and the itch would subside, but after a while it would itch again. I couldn''t go back to sleep after such a long time. "Miss, it''s morning ......! Lorna''s eyes widened when she came to wake Saki up. The right half of Saki''s face was swollen and blistered in places. Blood was also seeping from where she had scratched him, and it looked horrific. "Kyaaaah! Lorna screamed, but you can''t blame her. "Oh, that feels so good!" The itch subsided a little as Lorna applied a wet towel to it to cool it down. But Lorna wouldn''t go near Saki. She thinks Saki''s face is swollen and that she has some kind of disease. Lorna then expresses her resignation. "Thank you for your help." "Hey Lorna, would you reconsider?" No, I''m at my wits end. Saki, please take care of yourself. Please take care of yourself, Saki-sama, and give my best regards to your husband. Lorna bowed deeply and walked away without looking back. "...... Oh dear, is this your third, or is it your fourth?Or was it the fourth?It''s a problem when the servants don''t stay at all. ...... This was three days before Aal was completed. 393 - - 12-43 Reinhardt ships June 18, the second day before the technical exhibition. Jin adjusts his schedule and decides to return to Banne, Shoro before noon. He plans to take Erza and Meane with him later. Just before returning, the old man reported to Jin and gave him some kind of magic crystal (magicrystal). "At last, I have finished analyzing a little about gravity magic. The details are recorded in the magi crystal. Jin''s face lit up when he received the crystal from Lao Tzu. "You did a good job, Mr. Lao. Keep up the good work. I''m going to ...... now." "Yes, my lord. Go ahead." Jin then passed through the warp gate. "Hello Jin, it''s been three days, hasn''t it?" Saki greeted him in front of his house. He had met Saki three days earlier on Horai Island. "Oh, yes. Did you finish your paper?" "Yes, it''s all done. I also finished the Golem manuscript. The golem codex, as the name implies, is a technique of having a golem transcribe. Since printing technology is not yet available, it is ultimately handwritten. Since it is very difficult to transcribe by hand, golems are used. The writing speed is faster than that of humans, and no mistakes are made. In addition, since they do not take breaks, it is said that they are almost three times faster than humans overall. The golem on Horai Island could write more than three times faster than humans, but Jin was not foolish enough to say so. Saki led Jin into the house, and he noticed that the house had been cleaned up beyond recognition. When he honestly told Saki about it, she smiled shyly and said. "Kuhu, thanks to Aaru, the walls, floors, and ceilings are now clean. He even reupholstered and repainted the damaged parts. And then he turned back to his straight face. "I guess I couldn''t afford it either. I was in such a hurry to make the transition from apprentice to full-fledged professional. I was careless about what I wore, what I ate, my habits were a mess. I was a fool. Saki takes a breath. Just then Aal came in with a cup of tea. Saki took a sip of it and continued her story. "I saw it when I saw Erza. She can cook now and she teaches the children. And yet, she has grown so much as a Magical Engineer (Magi Engineer)...... and a Magical Craftsman (Magi Craftsman). I really can''t compete with him." In the end, it seems that Saki was also trying too hard to be considered a full-fledged magi by the government. "I managed to pay all the unpaid salaries to those who quit. A little extra to make up for it." "I''m glad to hear that." Thanks to you, I''m broke. "Ha ha ......" After chatting for a while, the topic of conversation naturally turned to the technology expo. "What happened to Jin''s luggage, or rather, his works?" Jin answered Saki''s question with a smile. "They are already loaded on the ship that Reinhardt built and floating on Lake Tosmo. "Well, that''s a surprise. I wonder if you will tell me how you did it? "Of course I will." After this conversation, Jin pulls out the carriage. He intends to take the carriage, which is equipped with a warp gate, to Koju, where the exposition will be held. The entrance part of the barn of Saki''s house was not big enough to put Jin''s carriage in and out, so Jin remodeled it after breaking it once so that he could easily remove it and reassemble it. Thanks to this, he was able to pull the carriage out of the barn this time by simply removing the wall above the entrance. "I wonder when my barn was built like this? Jin bowed his head and apologized to Saki, who laughed mischievously. "I''m so sorry!I had to remodel it without telling you. I apologize. If you want me to fix it, I''ll fix it right away." Saki laughed at his words and waved her hand, "Ha, I don''t care about that. It''s an unused barn anyway, and we''re a <>, right?" Jin laughed along with her. "Thank you." That afternoon, Jin, Saki, Reiko, Aaru, and two others went to Reinhardt''s house. "Hi Jin, Saki. It''s finally time for the exposition. Reinhardt greeted them with a smile. The group moves to Reinhardt''s private room. Reinhardt''s father, Wolfgang, had already left for Koju. "Welcome, Mr. Jin, Saki-san. Bertsche made us a cup of fragrant tea. "The paddle boat is on the lake Tosmo." "Yes, the old man told me. Thank you." I have been entrusting the manacam to Reinhardt for a long time. Speaking of leaving the manacam, he remembered that he had left Licia and Pascoe with the magical tools for healing, recovery medicine, healing potions, and the golem horse. (Well, Licia probably didn''t misuse or abuse them, but I''ll have to retrieve them soon.) They stayed at Reinhardt''s house that night and headed for Koju the next morning. "I heard that Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egelea is coming to visit us, and that a magecraftsman from the Kingdom of Celuloa is coming as well." Reinhardt added that since the Kingdom of Cerroa was not yet stable, no royalty would be coming. "I''m looking forward to it." "Yes, indeed. I wonder how many will receive the title of "Magi Engineer Maestro" this year. Well, I''m sure it will be Jin, but I''d like to have one too if I could. The title "Magi Engineer Maestro" is given to the foremost magi engineer in the Shoro Empire. It is not limited to one person, and can be given to any number of people if they are recognized as excellent. (Your father is even higher than those people, though.) Reiko, who was standing by my side, was thinking such a thing in her mind, though she did not say it out loud. The next day, on the 19th, Jin and the others came to the hotel. The next day, the 19th, Jin and his party left Randall''s house at 8:00 in the morning. The route was the exact opposite of the last time they crossed the lake from Koju. When they arrived at Lake Tosmo via the waterway, they found an ocean-going boat built by Reinhardt floating there. Lorelei is guarding it. On board was Regulus 41, a member of the 5th Quinta in charge of the Shoro Empire. Lorelei was a mermaid golem made by Reinhardt, and after participating in the golem boat competition in Potrock, she had to be carried as baggage on the wagon all the way back to her home country, as she could not walk in mermaid form. I had put it on the wagon loaded with food and water, but it was partially damaged when the golem <>, controlled by <>, attacked us just before the village of Rufaat. It was Elsa who noticed the damage. Erza and Lorelei had competed together in Potrock, and Erza wanted to see Lorelei in action again. She wanted to see Lorelei working again. So she took Lorelei out of the competition without telling Reinhardt and was fixing it together with Jin. When he explained this, Reinhard scratched his head and apologized to Lorelei. "I''m sorry, Lorelei, for the delay in fixing it. I''m sorry, Lorelei, for being late in fixing it and for not being able to fix it myself. "No, my dear creator, don''t worry about it. I will give you the boat. "Lorelei, thank you." Reinhard thanked Lorelei and looked at the ocean-going ship. It was 15 meters long and 3 meters wide. It is classified as a medium-size boat for Lake Tosmo. The shape of the hull is long and streamlined. It is a high-speed type suitable for Lake Tosmo where the waves are calm. "All right, Mack, Mick, get in. Mack, you''re on the right, Mick, you''re on the left outer wheel." "Yes, Mr. Creator." The twin golems have boarded the outer ship. "What is the name of your ship? Bertsche asked. Reinhardt said the name of the ship as if he had been waiting for it. "I have already decided. The name of the ship is the . "Scarlett Trail ......? Scarlet means scarlet. It''s a bright, vivid red, full of life. It was also the gift name of Berthe. The nobles of the Shoro Kingdom take their first name, family name, phone, and given name in that order, but the last given name is the name given by the royal family or higher nobility when a person reaches adulthood (16 years old for boys and 14 years old for girls). In this sense, it is a name of honor. Berthe''s given name, Scarlett, was given to her by Her Imperial Highness Princess Charlotte Alina von Rinal Shawlo, sister of the previous emperor and sister of the current emperor. This may explain why the bottom of the hull is painted red. Reinhardt held out his hand to Bertsche, who blushed, "Belle, this ship is dedicated to you. With these words, he moves onto the Scarlet Trail, or the Scarlet Trail. "Very Reinhardt." Saki, who was watching the scene, muttered with a wry smile. "Jin, Claude will take the wagons and luggage on another ship. You guys can get on board. Reinhardt called out to Jin, and he too decided to get on board. He was not sure whether to take Saki''s hand or not, and he lost his balance on the pier. She said, "Father, it''s dangerous! In the end, Reiko helped him up and he got on the Scarlet Trail with her. It was not something I was used to doing. The hull is flat-bottomed for good stability. At the bow are Reinhardt, Bertsche, Noir, and Neon. The outer rings are attached to the left and right sides of the center of the bow, and Mack and Mick drive them. In the rear of the hull are Jin, Saki, Reiko, Aaru, and Lorelei. Lorelei is the rescuer in case of emergency. This was about the balance of the group. "Come on, let''s go! < Reinhardt gives the signal, and Mack and Mick begin to turn the outer wheel. Driven by their strong arms, the outer wheels kick up a powerful rush of water as the Scarlet Trail pulls away from the pier. "Wow, that''s pretty fast! Jin is impressed. That''s quite a feat for a ship of this size. The Scarlet Trail continues to glide along Lake Tosmo. Seeing no other boats around, Reinhardt decides to test the maximum speed. "All right, full speed!Lorelei, please." The specially designed Golem, Mack and Mick, proved to be up to the task, their splashing, spinning outer rims sending the Scarlet Trail whizzing by like an arrow. And Lorelei in the water gave them an extra boost. How could it not be fast? "Roughly 40 kilometers an hour." That''s faster than the Golem boat at Potrock. Considering the number of people on board, that''s quite astonishing. "But, well, it''s a little hard to keep up." The only regret is that the mana tanks and mana drivers cannot keep up. (I guess the technology that Jin has can do it, but it makes sense for me to make it up as I go along with what I have.) Reinhardt had his own pride. And even so, the Scarlet Trail is more than a first-class ship. "You''re fast, dear. The fastest in Lake Tosmo." There''s no doubt about it. Except for Jin''s Hydro series, she''s probably one of the fastest boats in the world. All the boats passing by on the lake were astonished at the speed of the Scarlet Trail. 394 - - 12-44 Return to Home < Maneuverability, acceleration and deceleration, and stability. "Well, except for stability, it''s more than adequate." With normal rudder and outer wheel control, the car is quite maneuverable. However, the stability is not so good, or rather, the rolling, or rolling, was larger than expected. This was a side effect of the narrow width of the boat. If the force to restore the tilted hull is too large, the hull returns too much and tilts to the opposite side. And then, the force to put the hull back again works. The process repeats itself. "I see!We can add something to the ship that will act as a damper." Reinhardt, who had been pondering over the idea, came up with a solution. As one would expect of a ship, Reinhardt is very flexible in his thinking. An overhang called a bilge or bilge keel was to be placed diagonally down below the draft on both sides of the ship. This increases the resistance when rolling in the water and reduces swaying. "Let''s try this as soon as we get to the other side." The outer ring was excellent for acceleration and deceleration, especially for deceleration. And then... "Hmmm, this is about the same without Lorelei''s boost. ......" With pure outer-wheel drive, the maximum speed was about 20 km/h, half of the previous result. This shows how Lorelei has an outstanding swimming ability. After conducting various tests and eating refreshments on the boat, we arrived at Koju a little earlier than the boat with our luggage. Considering the baggage pickup, this was convenient. We enjoyed the sightseeing on the lake, and Bertsche and Jin and the others had no complaints. "Your accommodations are this way, sir. Claude, Reinhardt''s butler, who had brought the luggage safely, leads the group to their lodgings. It was a luxury hotel near the center of Koju. Right next door is a guest house. "The exposition will be held in a newly built multi-purpose facility near the port." Khoju is close to the capital, Leusert, and is expected to grow as the front door to Lake Tosmo, which is why these facilities were built, according to the hotel. Jin recalled the buildings in Makuhari and Ariake. He had never been there. Jin and Reinhardt went to the multipurpose facility with the exhibits and placed them in the designated areas. When they were done, it was already nighttime. After returning to the hotel, they joined Bertsche and Saki for a sumptuous dinner. "The show finally starts tomorrow! Afterwards, Jin muttered to himself with anticipation while drinking after-dinner tea in his room. Jin''s room has a living room and two bedrooms, one of which is reserved for his assistant. Both bedrooms are for two persons. This is convenient. I will bring Elsa here early tomorrow morning. The night in Koju passed quietly. * * * * * * * * * * * * The time difference between Koju and Kaina is about three and a half hours. 5:00 a.m. in Khoju is 8:30 a.m. in Kayna. Jin flew to Kayna village with Reiko through the warp gate in the carriage left at the hotel. "Good morning, Brother Jin. "Good morning, Jin-sama." Erza and Meine were already prepared and waiting for them, as they had been told. Erza was dressed in the same manner she had made since arriving in the village of Kaina. Erza was wearing the outfit she had worn when she went to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. Meane was dressed in her usual maid''s uniform. "I''ll give her this, too. She gave him the same guard ring as Elsa''s. "And I''ll give this to Meine," she said. "And for Elsa, this and this. It is a dark brown wig. Since magic dyes cannot change the length of hair, she used a wig this time. A semi-short hair becomes semi-long, which gives a very different impression. And the protective glasses. The face also changes considerably. However, since Saki is probably the only one who wears glasses, it might be more noticeable. So Jin decided to put on the protective glasses as well. "Okay, let''s go." "Okay, let''s go." "......" The two are a little nervous about going back to their home country. Jin patted them on the shoulder to reassure them and they went through the warp gate in the basement of the workshop. Reiko and Edgar followed. The three of them and two others went out through the intermediate base to Koju in the Shoro Kingdom. "As I said before, this is Koju. This is the coach yard of the hotel next to the guest house there. "......Yes, I''ve been here once." Perhaps he had been there on his last trip. However, Jin refrained from opening his mouth when he saw Erza and Meane who had fallen silent. A single tear fell from Erza and Meine''s eyes. Erza wiped them away with the back of her hand, "Jin, my brother, thank you," she said, her voice filled with emotion. She thanked Jin with a voice filled with emotion. "Thank you very much, ...... Jin-sama." Meine, still in tears, thanked him. "No, it''s not over yet." Saying this, Jin led them to his room in the hotel for the time being. One of the two bedrooms was reserved for Erza and Meane. "Well, today is the day of the technology expo. Erza and Meine, please stay at the hotel as we discussed. Elsa, please be patient, we''re almost there." "...... yes." Okay. At that moment there was a knock at the door. Reiko left and opened the door to find Reinhardt standing there. "Jin, you brought him here as planned." Reinhardt showed one of his eyes, "In two hours it will be time to go to the expo hall. Let''s go have breakfast." "Okay." Erza and Meine had already eaten in the village of Kaina, so only Jin left the room. Nothing seems to have changed in the schedule. So, the first thing to do today is the opening ceremony and then the introduction of the participants, right? That''s correct. Since even the assistants are not required to attend, Erza will stay here for the time being. So the two of them ate their breakfast while checking the schedule. "Speaking of which, where is Bertsche?" Jin wondered, since he had not seen Bertsche, who was always with Reinhardt these days. "Oh, Belle has finished her meal first and is going to greet the nobles she knows who are staying at the same hotel. "Shouldn''t Reinhardt go?" Reinhardt replied with a wry smile. "Oh, come on, you know what my role is.You know what role I have in this? I''m the hostess for the gin. Jin remembers now that he was right. He had forgotten about it since he had been going back and forth to Kaina Village and Horai Island as he pleased. After finishing the meal, Jin and Reinhardt went back to their rooms and finally checked if they had forgotten anything, and after that, all they had to do was to wait for the pickup. Bored, Reinhardt came to Jin''s room and had a casual conversation with him. "By the way, where is Saki?" Erza asked when she couldn''t see Saki''s face. "Oh, the alchemists are supposed to meet an hour ago. They ate and went out ahead of us." "Yeah." Reinhard stared at Erza''s face. Erza noticed his gaze and tilted her head. >>he asked. "No, it''s just that it''s new to see Erza dressed like that. You wouldn''t recognize her if she didn''t talk." Now Elsa looks like this, with dark brown semi-long hair and protective glasses. She looks quite different. "Well, it would be better if Reinhardt wears protective goggles too, so that Erza will be less noticeable. Jin took a spare pair of protective goggles out of his baggage and handed them to Reinhardt. "Yes, that''s right. Even though I''m going to do most of the processing with magic, it''s not a waste to keep my eyes protected." Reinhardt smiles as he puts on the protective glasses. Three of them, or four if you include Saki, are wearing glasses. That must have cut the attention to Erza in half. In the meantime, it seemed to be time to go, and a man who looked like a member of the exposition committee came to call us. "All right, let''s go then," he said. "Okay, let''s go." "Okay. "Have a good trip." The two men and two bodies get up and leave the room. Erza and Meine see them off. Reinhardt stops by his room, takes his baggage, and comes out with Black Knight Noir. The technical exposition is about to begin. 395 - - 12-45 Technology Exposition Opens June 20, Midsummer''s Day. The town of Koju, Shoro. The town is located close to the capital, Leusat, and has a well-developed water transportation system with a moat that draws water from Lake Tosmo. Because of its advantageous location, the town has been under development in recent years and is expected to become a satellite city of Leusert in the near future. A multi-purpose facility built on the newly opened port. There are large buildings and squares. In the largest of these buildings, the Central Pavilion and the adjacent East Pavilion, a technology exposition was being held for the 10th time this year. ...... is pleased to welcome so many participants and visitors on this auspicious day, the 10th Technology Expo is being held here. In the main hall of the Central Pavilion, the opening of the exhibition was announced by the Empress Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Shawlo. Then, the advisor of the exhibition, Mr. Degas Furth von Manischlus, Minister of Magic and Technology, gave a speech, and Christoph Balde von Tharnat, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, who is a member of the executive committee, introduced the attendees. "Ah, he was a witness at Reinhardt''s wedding." Jin, who was in the last row of participants, remembers seeing Christoph''s face. The participants were introduced, and some of them left the hall. They were probably preparing or washing their hands. Jin quietly slipped out of the hall. I am not good at long ceremonies. There was something more important to prepare for. "Father, do you want me to plug this in?" "Yes, yes. Make sure it''s securely connected. With the help of Reiko and Steward, Jin assembled the magic tool. The magic tool looked like a small compressor. "Jin, what is that?" Reinhardt also left the room and came to Jin''s side. "Haha, it''s a secret for now. You can look forward to it, can''t you?I''m going to knock the socks off everyone who comes. It was unusual for Jin, who usually hates to show off, to say such a thing. Reinhardt looked at Jin with a surprised face. "......Yeah, I''m looking forward to it." With that for now, Reinhardt went to check his exhibit. Except for the special items that Jin was currently assembling, the rest of the exhibits had already been brought in the day before and were already on display. All that remained was to check the exhibits and open the venue. Needless to say, Erza, who is treated as Jin''s assistant, had already submitted her exhibit in advance. The stewards would take care of the completed magic tools. Lily, a member of the Secret Service (SP), is temporarily in charge of watching over the carriage. It is now almost noon. The doors are scheduled to open at noon. Jin took Reiko to the cafeteria to have lunch while he could. There, from 10:00 to 3:00, participants could eat whatever they wanted for free. Jin takes his seat and tells the waiter what he wants to order. Reinhardt and Saki are nowhere to be seen, either because they are taking time to prepare or because they have already finished their meal. No, "Hey, Jin. There you are." Saki had just arrived. "Oh, Saki, are you finished?" "Yeah, we''ve done everything we can. Yes, I''ve done everything I need to do. Saki took her place at the same table and placed her order. Then another voice called out to her. "Hello, Mr. Jin. "Oh, it''s been a while." "It''s been a long time, how have you been?How have you been? It was Stearina, a magecraftsman from the Kingdom of Celluloa. Saki, who had never met him before, was surprised. Jin, who are you? "Ah, this is Stearina Gamma, a magecraftsman from the Kingdom of Celuloa. When Jin introduced her, Stearina chuckled and corrected him. "Oh, it''s not Gamma now. It''s Beta. Stearina Beta." The number one technician in the Kingdom of Celluloid was Donald Callow Alpha, number two of the Unifilers, but he disappeared when the Unifilers were destroyed, so he was moved up and became Beta. "So you became a beta, congratulations. "Thank you. I''m not so happy about ......, though, because you were moved up, not because of your ability. Stearina smiled bitterly, "There is no joy in being moved up due to a mere vacancy. "This is Saki. This is Saki Eschenbach. I am an alchemist. Nice to meet you, Saki. Nice to meet you too. Stearina looked busy, "Well, I look forward to seeing you this afternoon. And then she left. Afternoon. It was time for each participant to make a presentation. Each participant was assigned a booth, but as if that were not enough, there was time for demonstrations on a special stage. Huge magic projection windows (magic screens) were set up in various places in the hall so that the presentations could be seen clearly even at a distance from the stage. Of course, the sound was also delivered to every corner of the hall by loudspeakers. Only about 30% of the participating magicians (magecraftsmen) were allowed to make presentations on this stage. Those who have no achievements are not allowed to go up on the stage. Of course, Jin was included in the 30% who could make a presentation. And since he was from outside of Japan, the earlier time slot was reserved for him. * * * * * * * * * * * Just before noon. The doors finally opened. Jin was at his booth. "Well, my presentation is the third one. You take care of this in the meantime. "Yes, I''ll take care of it. Edgar nodded. I''m only bringing Edgar as one of Elsa''s works. "...... is the end of my presentation." On stage, the first presentation had just finished. "Okay, I''m off. Reiko took the luggage for the presentation, and Jin left the booth. The second presenter was Stearina. "I am Magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa, Stearina Beta. The appearance of the beautiful Magi Craftsman was greeted with a round of applause. "This is Serene, my crystal golem. There were loud cheers when the golem introduced appeared on the stage. It was a golem made of bluish crystal. It was even more perfect than the we had seen in the Kingdom of Egelea. "Hmmm, that blue doesn''t look like crystal, does it?" Jin, who was watching from the side of the stage, secretly checked the material with Analyze magic. "Wow, blue topaz," he said. Topaz is a mineral with even higher hardness than quartz. It is rare and expensive, especially yellow topaz, which is called imperial topaz. There are also colorless, pink, brown, and blue topaz. Serene was a golem made of blue topaz. Her movements are smooth, and she seems to be more sophisticated than the former Ceres. She also sings. Its singing voice is also better than that of Ceres. "But I still think it''s easy to crack ......." Jin was worried about the situation as the audience applauded. Third, it was finally Jin''s turn. Reiko holds the box for him and he goes on stage. "I am Jin Nido, Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. When he greeted Jin Nido, there was a round of applause. Jin Nido''s name is becoming well known. "This is what I am going to show you today. Jin opened the cover of the tray Reiko had given him. There were 10 golems, each 10 centimeters tall, lined up in a row. ?" His reaction is not good. From a distance, they look like mere dolls. But when Jin gives them a command, their lack of reaction is replaced by surprise. "Smith, show me how it works!" "Yes, master." The miniature craftsman Smith responds to Jin''s command in a high-pitched voice, walks away, and begins to climb up Reiko''s body. Arms, shoulders, and heads...people are astonished to see ten miniature golems. Anyone with a little knowledge of magecraft understands how out of the ordinary a golem the size of 10 centimeters is. And not only that, it is autonomous and even vocal. And even those who were not familiar with magecraft gazed at it as if lost in thought at the sight of something they had never seen before. Jin further explained. This mini golem is called a mini craftsman (smith). In other words, it can be used as an assistant for magecraft. What kind of use can it be used for? Seeing is believing, so let''s have a look. Jin then handed a small piece of brass he had prepared to the miniature craftsmen (smiths). "Our hands and eyes are too rough when it comes to precision work. On the other hand, they are ......." As Jin said this, the mini-craftsmen (smiths) used their engineering magic all at once. A special magic circle appears for a moment, and the piece of brass in their hands changes shape. It became a precisely engraved medal. After having the same medal made three more times, Jin ordered Reiko and a mini-craftsman (Smith) to make a total of 40 medals and distribute them to the audience. Reiko walked around among the audience with a tray in her hand. On the tray, the mini-craftsmen (Smith) hand out the medals to the audience. When they run out of medals, the mini-craftsmen (smiths) process brass pieces again and hand them out again. With this demonstration, all the spectators in the audience got to see the mini-golem up close and personal, and were impressed by its processing capabilities. 396 - - 12-46 Reunion and Elzas debut? "Wow, the workmanship is amazing! Everyone who received the medal exclaimed in amazement at the precision of the workmanship. The medal was about 2 centimeters in diameter, about the size of a one yen coin, and was inscribed on the front with and on the back with . The blank spaces were engraved with exquisite patterns of such fineness that they could not have been made by human labor. Those who did not know much about magecraft were impressed by the golem''s processing ability. Those who knew a little about Magecraft marveled at the skill with which the Golem was made so small. And those who knew Magecraft well were amazed at its applicability. When Reiko and Smith returned, Jin made a further announcement. "This concludes today''s demonstration, but tomorrow I will show you something that will defy your common sense at the front plaza. Thank you very much for your time today. Jin bows and leaves the stage. The audience had a variety of impressions. "Who the hell is that young kid?" "I don''t know. But you said he was the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. Did he play an active part in the golem party? "Did you see that little golem?If you can make that, you must have some of the best processing skills in the world! "Indeed. Look at the precision of this medal!If it were made of gold instead of brass, I wonder what it would be worth. The first-time viewers are astonished. "Ah, Jin-kun, you''re the best! It was worth inviting you to my country. And it looks like you''re still planning to do something tomorrow. I''m looking forward to it. "Hmm, I''ve been paying attention to you since I heard that Your Majesty is looking at you, but I never expected this! Even those who had heard rumors of Jin were taken aback. "As expected of Jin, I didn''t expect him to bring out a miniature golem. It may look simple at first glance, but it is profound. Those who know will understand." "I was wondering what Jin-kun would come up with, but he went way beyond my expectations. Even those who know Jin well could not help but be surprised. Someone rushed to Jin as he came down from the stage. "Jin!" He was a boy with blond hair, blue eyes, and a little smaller than Jin. Behind him was a copper-colored golem and a girl in a maid costume. And beside him, a girl with a familiar face. "Your Highness!And ......" The boy was Ernest, the third prince of Egelea. Naturally, the golem was Lotte, and the maid of honor was the Royal Secret Maid, or the prince''s lady-in-waiting, Lila Soluse. "Jin, it''s been a long time. The girl was, to my surprise, Princess Rieschen of the Kingdom of Klein. "It''s been a long time. How have you been? Jin asked her because he had a feeling that the princess did not seem to be in high spirits. "...... I''m fine. I''m just a little tired, that''s all. "Jin, Reese, it''s because we had to march hard to get to the Shoro Kingdom. Jin understood. It must have been a long way from the Kingdom of Egelea, but coming from the even more distant Kingdom of Klein, it must have been very difficult. And probably his attendants too. "Jin-dono, long time no see ......" And as expected, Jessica Norton, the captain of the female knight squadron who was supposed to be his escort, was not in her usual good spirits. Jin saw this and wished he could offer her something later, but he also thought that it would be difficult to offer something to an expatriate dignitary. "I had an arranged marriage with Reese, but I wanted to see this technology expo," Jin said. Then Rys said he wanted to see it too, so we came together." Between the kingdoms of Egelea and Klein is the kingdom of Selroa. The two met in Tellurus, a town before Essiaia, the capital of the Kingdom of Cerroa, and immediately hit it off and came to see the upcoming technology exposition in the Kingdom of Shoro. They were able to do so because they were both in a relatively free position with a low claim to the throne. "But you are well, aren''t you, Your Highness? "Yes, I had a carriage that Jin made for me, so it was quite easy. "Ah ......" A carriage equipped with a golem suspension is a different level of riding comfort. And if it was a hard march, the burden on the rider would be extraordinary. "I wanted to give him a ride, but he was surprisingly stubborn. "Oh, of course!A man and a woman who just met, riding in the same carriage together all day long. ......!" Princess Rieschen says this with a tinge of color in her cheeks. Jin has been in the same carriage with her, too, I wondered if that was ...... okay, but I didn''t say it out loud. I guess princesses have their own ideas. She may just be embarrassed. "It''s been a long time, by the way!You''re as good as ever. But why do you call yourself our honorary magical craftsman "Honorary Magi Craftsman" when you''re supposed to be in the service of the Shoro Empire?" "Ugh. ......" Jin was at a loss for words. In fact, he is still unaffiliated. In the former Kingdom of Egelea, Jin had been expected to serve in the Shoro Kingdom, and they had not forced him to join. What would happen if they found out that he is not yet an officer of the Shoro Kingdom? ....... "Your Highness, Jin is still a guest. He will be given a good look at our country, and if he likes it, he will be appointed as an officer. Reinhardt came to his side and offered a helping hand. "Reinhardt. I didn''t know... Mr. Ernst, who''s this? Princess Rieschen picked at Prince Ernest''s clothes and asked in a whisper. "Oh, I''m sorry. This is Reinhard. He''s a magecraftsman of the Shoro Kingdom." "My name is Reinhard Randall, Your Highness." Reinhard bowed beautifully. "I see, I am the third princess of the Kingdom of Klein, Rieschen Fuchsische Klein. Please take good care of me from now on. Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen, who could not stay in one place for long due to their status, moved on to see another magecraftsman''s exhibit. "I''d like to have that miniature golem if possible. ......" With these words. Jin also returned to his booth and looked at the stage from there. Reinhardt was with him. I didn''t know Jin had made such a small golem. "Ha, I''ll teach Reinhard how to make one next time. "Yes, I''m looking forward to it! While we were having this conversation, someone came to Jin''s booth. The Minister of Magical Technology, Degas Furt von Manischlas, and the Empress of Shoro, Gebhard Ackermann, the first Magical Engineer of the Shoro Empire, were accompanied by the Maestro of Magical Technology, Gerhard Hilde von Manischlas, and the Empress of the Shoro Empire, Gebhard Ackermann, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, the empress of Shawlo, with Gebhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, the magi engineer maestro, on her left and right. "You were wonderful, Mr. Jin. And you are going to surprise us again tomorrow, aren''t you?I''m looking forward to it. The emperor''s language is somewhere between public and private, as it is at an event. It''s quite a trick. "Thank you very much. Please look forward to tomorrow. "I''m really looking forward to it. I wonder what else is in here. By the way, what''s that thing on your face?" Jin was now wearing protective glasses made of white mica. So was Reinhardt, who was standing next to him. "Yes, these are called , and they are used to protect your eyes from dust and damage while you are working. Jin lays out three samples. The Empress took one of them in her hand. "It''s light. Let me put it like this: ....... Yes, not so much that it obstructs my vision. What do you think, Gebhardt?" Gebhard Ackermann, Magician Maestro of Magical Arts and Crafts, tries on the protective glasses and gives his opinion as well. Yes, they are easy to use. I may not need them so much when I work with magic, but they will come in handy when I work with ordinary crafts. "No, no, it can also be used outdoors to keep dust out of your eyes. Degauze, the Minister of Magical Technology, also commented while putting on his protective glasses. "I see. There is also a way to have soldiers use them. Mister Jin, can I have your permission to use these protective goggles? Jin had no objection to this unexpected use. "Yes, of course. As long as they are for eye protection, they will be useful in various situations. "Thank you for your prompt permission. ...... DeGauss thanked them on behalf of the three of them. As he did so, he seemed to notice Edgar standing next to him. "Yes, my ...... name is Edgar, an automaton made by my apprentice. "My name is Edgar." Edgar bowed beautifully. He did a little bit of the imperial Shoro style, which caused the female emperors to look at him with surprise. "Oh, no?Is your disciple from this country? "...... yes." "Your Majesty, I know you don''t have much time, so please take a look at his work first." Since it was too early to pry now, Jin led the conversation to his works. "Well, what is this?" The Empress was interested in three small boxes. They were silver-colored and had finely crafted surfaces, looking like jewelry boxes at first glance. Please take a look at them. Following Edgar''s recommendation, Degauze, the Minister of Magical Technology, took the box and opened the lid. "...... What is the name of the flower that blooms in spring?No one tells me, but I like the wild flowers that bloom gently......" A thin voice sang. A song that Reiko had sung one day. But the voice belonged to Elsa. The singing stopped as I closed the lid of the box. "......What''s this?" DeGauss asked Edgar with a curious look. "Yes, it''s called a <>. When you open the lid, it plays a pre-made sound. "I see. Opening the lid to start the song is in a way an anti-theft device. The Empress seemed to understand Erza''s intention in making the music box. "Yes, that''s right. Not only is it purely for listening to the songs, but it also serves as a security measure. "The songs can be changed by you, can''t they?" This is the Magi Engineer Maestro Gebhardt. He''s interested in the structure. "Yes, it''s called <>. To record, do this: ......" Edgar explains how to use it. His Majesty the Emperor and Minister of Magical Technology Deghaouz are inwardly amazed at the natural movement of the device. Gebhardt, the Magi Engineer Maestro, listens to Edgar''s explanation with an earnest attitude. There is no indication that he is making fun of them or looking down on them because they are automata. "...... has finished recording, from now on you can listen to the recorded songs and sounds when you open the lid." "Interesting!The idea is the same, but you said <>. So you want to record sound. This is very versatile." Finished listening, Gebhardt turns to the emperor and explains its usefulness. "Your Majesty, if we record everything that is said in a meeting, for example, there will be no need to argue later about what was said or not said. It may also be more useful than sending a letter. Even if the recipient cannot read, it is better than a letter if the instructions can be given by voice, Gebhardt explained. "I see," said Gebhardt, "your apprentice, Jin, is quite good. "Thank you very much." After Jin thanked her, the emperor began to talk in a small talk tone. "Yes, this morning, a group called <> presented me with a magic tool to celebrate the opening of the technology exposition. < "Wow. ...... I see. That''s amazing." This is one of Jin''s plans. The manaphone that he had given to the Small Group of Nations was also given to the Shoro Empire. "So," he said, "there was a letter together with it, saying that two people from the Shoro Empire who had been involved in a quarrel with the Unifilers were in our custody, and that we would take this opportunity to send them back to you. Yes, sir. Now comes the heart of the plan. Jin realized that it would be impolite to leave the queen standing while he spoke to her, so he prepared a chair for her. "Thank you. I heard that you are acquainted with someone called <> at ......, Jin?" "Yes, I''m really just an acquaintance, that''s all." The empress nodded and went on with her story. From nostalgia to deus ex machina. And from deus ex machina to Jin-kun, the two of them were sent back to ...... is this far enough?" "Yes." And these two are named Elsa Randall and Meine, is that correct? Yes. Where are they? In my room at the hotel. Reinhard, will you bring them to me? Yes, sir. Reinhardt walked quickly out of the hall. Jin and the rest of the emperor''s entourage remained. "...... According to the letter, the lady-in-waiting named Meine is the real mother of Elsa Randall. Icasanat,...... was it?It says that the Unifiler kidnapped them to bring in Reinhardt. Then the Nostalgia took them into their custody." Yes, that''s what I heard. The emperor looked at Jin with amusement as he answered the question. "And I also heard that Elsa was interested in magical crafts, so Deus ex Machina gave her a little training. That''s how she became so good at it, isn''t it?" The emperor looked at Edgar and the music box. "So you''ve brought her here to Koju today as Jin''s disciple, is that right?" "Yes, that''s right." The empress is taking the situation into consideration, just as Jin and the old man had expected. "It was also written that Elsa Randall was forced by her father, Georg Randall, to make a marriage proposal that she did not like. Is that so?" "Yes, that''s what I heard." Jin answered several other questions. So far, the simulation was almost the same as the one the old man and I had had. Meanwhile, Reinhardt came back with Erza and Meine. "Your Majesty, I have brought them." 397 - - 12-47 Communication "You must be Elsa Randall?" Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Shawlo asked, looking at Elsa''s face for confirmation. In front of her, Elsa takes off her disguise and reveals her true face. "Yes, I am Elsa. Seeing Elsa''s nervousness, the emperor smiles kindly at her. "I heard you were captured by the Unifilers.I''m sorry you had a hard time. "Yes. It is true that Elsa was once a prisoner. That is not a lie. Even if the emperor could see through the lie, the old man was of the opinion that it was true in this respect, so it would be all right. "Why didn''t you return home immediately?" "Because I didn''t want ...... the marriage proposal that my father recommended. Besides, I wanted to learn magic craft under Maki ...... Na and be of service to my country." This answer was also as we had discussed. "I see. So you entrusted your work to Mr. Jin and laid it out here. It was quite a piece of work. You are indeed a full-fledged Magi Engineer. ......, right?Degauss, Gebhardt?" Unperturbed by the sudden rejection, they replied. "Yes, Your Majesty. From what I have seen of Elsa Randall''s works, I can say that she is one of the best magi engineers in our country. "Your Majesty is right, her works are certainly among the best among the works on display today. The emperor nodded his head in agreement. At this point, Reinhardt immediately asked a question. "Your Majesty, according to the law of our country, the children of nobles who have become full-fledged members of the nobility may decide on their own marriage. This expression <> is very ambiguous, but can we say that being a first-rate magical engineer (magi engineer) means that one is a full-fledged man?" This question was also a prearranged one. The conversation was going as the old man had expected. The only thing left is ....... "Yes, you are right. Age is no problem. And technically, you are a Magi Engineer. I approve. Elsa Randall is ." That was the answer. Having given the answer that Jin and the others wanted, the female emperor looked at Jin and showed one of her eyes. She may have been aware that Jin was behind her, but she was not the kind of empress to say so. "Thank you very much. I am relieved to hear that. Jin bowed his head. Erza and Reinhardt followed. "You said your Meine at ....... Are you really Erza''s mother?" Then the Empress started questioning Meine. As Reinhardt and the old man had expected, the Empress was going to finish the conversation here and now. This is appreciated, because later on Erza''s father might intervene. The presence of Degauze, the Minister of Magical Technology, and Gebhardt, the Magi Engineer Maestro, also makes this an official audience, albeit a short one. After a series of questions to Meine, the emperor concludes: "Elsa Randall and Elsa Randall have been married for a long time, and the two have been married for a long time. "I approve the return of Elsa Randall and Meine. I will have the secretary record this later. Jin, Erza, Meine and Reinhard bowed their heads in unison. "So, for the time being, we will leave the two in Reinhardt''s custody. Jin-kun and I will be counting on you. With that, the Empress left Jin''s booth. "......" "......" "Hmm." Jin and the others breathe a sigh of relief and relax their shoulders. "......It went well, didn''t it?" "Yes. Your prediction is very good. It almost worked out exactly as you predicted. "Thank you, Brother Jin and Brother Rai." "Thank you, Mr. Jin, Mr. Reinhardt." Finally, the tension had dissipated and a smile returned to Erza''s and Meine''s faces. "Erza, please put on the disguise you wore earlier. It will save you a lot of trouble. "Yeah, okay." Elsa put on the wig again and put on the protective glasses. Just then, a visitor arrived. "Jin-kun, that''s amazing, that mini-golem. I''m impressed. After the Empress, Stearina appeared. "I don''t think I could make one of those. My hat is off to you. But then Stearina found a music box on the table. "What''s this?What''s this? "Yes, it''s called a music box." Stearina''s eyes widened when she saw Edgar answer. "Oh, you are an automata!You look nice. ......" Stearina gazes at Edgar, a young boy automaton who seems to suit her taste. "Yes, my name is Edgar, Mr. Stearina. Edgar, that''s a nice name. Is ...... your work? No, it was Elsa who made me. Stearena looks at Elsa when she is told this. "You are this girl?" "...... Yes." Stearina stares at Elsa like this. "...... do I know you?......Elsa?I''ve heard of her. ......" Then Reinhardt came to her rescue. "Miss Stearina, she''s my cousin. I''m in disguise for a moment for a reason. At that, Stearina seemed to remember Erza. "Ah, the young lady to whom Jin-kun gave the dagger. Stearina did not pry any further into our conversation. After a short discussion about magic crafts, she returned to her booth. She looked back and forth at Edgar. "Well, I guess I''ll be going back then." Reinhard also went back to his booth, saying that he had left Bertsche there. * * * * * * Now that Erza and the others had settled down, Jin decided to go check out the other booths. "Well, let''s have a little look around, shall we? "Yeah." Erza nodded her head when Jin said that. We might find something new at the technology expo. "Well then, Edgar, please continue to man the booths. "Yes, sir, I will." Jin decided to take Elsa with him to see the exhibition. She was accompanied by Reiko, of course. Meane is away from home. The first stop was the "Magi Engineers" section. Naturally, the first person I went to was Reinhardt. "Oh, Jin, you''ve come to see me..." "Mr. Jin, Ms. Erza, welcome to our office. Reinhardt and Bertsche greeted Jin and Erza together like a loving couple. "In addition to boats, we are also trying to make something like this. What Reinhardt was displaying were accessories. But of course, it was not just an accessory. "This bracelet is filled with fire bullets of fire magic. Reinhardt explains, pointing to the mithril silver bracelet. "Ah, in Potrock, I remember that the mithril silver staff was equipped with a <. "Yes. Everyone has put magic into magi crystals, but putting it into mithril silver is my original idea. In the case of magi crystals, they can serve as both an activation medium and a source of magic power, but mithril silver cannot be a source of magic power. "However, it is possible to increase the power by converging the magic power. "Indeed." Mithril silver can be used for both free magic element (ether) and magic element (mana). Therefore, the magic tools made from it can be activated efficiently without dissipating the magic power. "In that case, this is the way to assemble the magic within the magic tool." Jin and Erza listen to Reinhard''s explanation with nodding their heads. Come to think of it, Jin was the first one to slowly listen to Reinhardt''s explanation about the original magic tool, since he and Reinhardt had been talking only about golem-based magic tools. "We often put magic crystals in swords, but for some reason, the idea of having no source of magic power has not been widely used," he said. It is a reversed idea, or perhaps an overlooked use. In any case, it is a magical tool born from flexible thinking. Jin was impressed by the fact that Reinhardt was an extraordinary magical engineer. 398 - - 12-48 Tours of venues After leaving Reinhardt''s booth, Jin and Erza headed for a tour of the exhibition hall. Reinhardt wanted to go with them, but he was busy with a few visitors. The next stop for Jin and Erza was the Stearena booth. "Oh, Jin-kun, you came. Welcome, Erza-san! The centerpiece of the Stearina booth was the crystal golem ......, Serene, a blue topaz golem. Its blue transparent body, coupled with its smooth feminine body line, looks mysterious. There are also statues, vases, and accessories made of crystal, indicating that Stearina specializes in the processing of precious stones and gems. "This pendant is very beautiful. A pendant head made of a light blue stone, probably an aquamarine. It was cut in a pear shape, like a pear or a teardrop. "Oh, that''s it. That''s the pendant I made from the leftover pieces from the Serene." I thought it was aquamarine, but it turned out to be blue topaz. Still, the color was beautiful, and Elsa gazed at it. "Oh, is that so?" Ste-Alaina, who had been watching Erza and Jin''s faces in turn, smiled knowingly. "Jin-kun, I want to give you this as a thank you for what you did for me before. Stearina presented the pendant head to Jin. "What?" Just give it to me. Half forcing it into Jin''s hand, Stearina winked at him and said, "If you don''t want it, Jin, you can have it, "If you don''t want it, Jin, you can give it to someone else. With that, she pushed Jin and Erza out of the booth. At this moment, two female visitors came to the booth and started to ask questions to Stearina, so Jin and Elsa went out into the aisle. "......" Jin, who had been staring at the pendant head in his hand, finally seemed to understand Stearina''s intention, "This stone has a similar color to Erza''s eyes, doesn''t it? If you like, I can give this pendant head to Erza. He offered the pendant head to her. "Yes, thank you, brother Jin. Erza accepted it with a smile. Ste-Alaina, who was looking at the two of them sideways, smiled softly. "Hey, Gin, and Erza. "Hey, Saki." They were walking to see where to go next when they met Saki. "Would you like to take a look around with me?" Jin invites Saki to join him. "Yes, that would be great. I''d appreciate it if you could explain everything to me. So now the three of us (and one of the bodies) are going on a tour of the exhibition hall. "What''s up with Aal?" "Yeah, he''s staying at my booth." It seemed that Saki, like Jin and the others, had left Aal to tour the exhibition hall. "I wonder what''s going on over there?" Saki pointed to a booth where many young customers were gathered. "Let''s go there. As we approached the booth, we found that it was crammed with ...... dolls of various sizes, most of which were in size. "This is ......." They were dolls that could best be described as figurines. The smallest was about 10 centimeters, the largest about 50 centimeters. They were made of various materials, including gold, silver, copper, marble, and crystal. Most of the works were of girls, and they were all unclothed. But the most important parts were cleverly posed in such a way as to be hidden. "They''re cute, but this one is kind of ......." Saki''s face is a little red, too. "...... Jin brother''s comrades?" Erza is saying terrible things. "Hey!" Jin complains, and Erza giggles. "No way. I''m kidding. I''m sorry." Jin and Saki were surprised that Erza would make such a joke. But it must have been because she had returned to her home country. Jin thought so, and inwardly he was glad that he had brought her along. "Oh, isn''t that Jin-dono there?" Jin was lost in thought when a voice called out to him. The voice came from the back of the booth. That would mean that he was the creator of the doll. "My name is Clark Lambda, magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa. Lambda, or the eleventh engineer. He is about 30 years old. Short-cropped brown hair, brown eyes. He has a featureless face and a medium build. At a quick glance, the impression is not impressive. The modeling is remarkable, but due to the biased content, Jin thinks it is a bit rude to rank it only 11th. But they don''t let it bother them, and greet each other. I''m Jin Nido. "Well, it''s a pleasure to talk to you in person. Was that Smith the mini-craftsman?I envy you who can make such a small golem. After a pause, Clark clenched his fists, "...... if only these dolls would move!" He sounded as if his soul were crying out. "Brother Jin, it''s going to be fun over there too!" "That''s true, Jin, I''m going over there." Erza and Saki left the place with ease. Jin, realizing this, also left the place to follow them. "Mr. Clark, I still want to look around the venue, so I''m going to call it a day. I''ll see you later. "Ah, Jin-dono!" Jin quickly left the venue, pretending not to hear any words to stop him. "Well, there are all kinds of people here, aren''t there?" Saki laughed at Jin as he caught up with her. After visiting several more booths, Jin and his friends decided to go to the alchemists'' area since there was not much time left. The location was also in the same main hall. Naturally, the first stop was Saki''s booth. Aaru was there, taking care of the booth. "Is that the ...... exhibit?" There was a display of rare minerals that Saki has collected so far. "Yeah, I''ve already submitted that one," she said. The paper has already been submitted and will be evaluated at the end of the expo. "I collected these stones because I was interested in the fact that they always break into a certain shape. Saki pointed at the collection. An octahedral fluorite. Slightly distorted rectangular calcite. Dice-shaped calcite. Thinly peeling biotite. "And then there are the stones that are so beautifully shaped, even though they formed naturally. ......" There were hexagonal prismatic quartz crystals, cubic pyrite, and rolled pomegranate crystals. All of these crystals are typical of those often seen in junior high school science labs. "Last but not least, beautiful colored stones," he said. Purple amethyst, blue sapphire, green emerald, yellow citrine, red garnet, and two colors of watermelon tourmaline. With such a collection of gemstones and precious stones in the rough, Jin secretly wondered if he would run out of money to pay his servants. "Why don''t they display rubber, leaps and bounds, and maple syrup?" Jin asked, and Saki answered with a smile. "Oh, those are the things Jin taught me," Saki replied smiling. I thought it was only for me to display them, not for my dissertation. Saki seemed to be proud in her own way. 399 - - 12-49 Alchemist Festival Jin and his colleagues had just arrived at a place called <>. "Wow, you are doing a lot of things. "Interesting, isn''t it?" "Interesting." About 30 alchemists were displaying various things and giving various demonstrations at their booths. "Hmm?That smell ......." Saki''s nose twitched, her complexion changed, and she pulled on Jin''s sleeve. "Jin!This place is dangerous!" Saki, who had once been experimenting with burning sulfur, inhaled sulfurous acid gas and lost consciousness, was reminded of the memory of that time. "What?" Yes, in the booth in front of her, an alchemist was heating sulfur in a frying pan-like container. The sulfur in the container had begun to melt, and the smell Saki feared was coming from there. "Oh, you''re worried about sulfurous acid gas?" Jin pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, wetted it with condensation, and held it to his nose. "See, this way, a small amount will work." Sulfurous acid gas, or sulfur dioxide, is soluble in water, so a wet towel can temporarily protect you if you feel an outbreak at a volcano. Of course, it is not perfect, so we must evacuate as soon as possible. Saki''s handkerchief is also wetted by Jin. Erza used condensate herself and put the wet handkerchief on her nose. "......Hmm, I see. ......" The wet handkerchief made the smell of sulfurous acid gas less noticeable. No, there was hardly any sulfurous acid gas to begin with. It was not burning, but only heating. The alchemist in front of me continued to heat the sulfur without hesitation, and the sulfur in the container was completely melted and turned into a candy color. "Now, if you put this in water ......" The alchemist grabbed the handle of the vessel and poured the molten sulfur into the water in the vat. The viscous liquid flowed into the vat like a thread, cooled in the water, and hardened. The alchemist took it out, "Look at that! That brittle sulfur can stretch like this! The alchemist pulled it out and showed it to the audience, saying something along the lines of "Look how that brittle sulfur can stretch! It was as elastic as rubber, and stretched and contracted. "......Hey, Jin, that''s interesting!I was so amused by the sulfur-burning smoke that turned the petals white that I once fell ill from inhaling it, but that doesn''t seem dangerous at all. "Saki sister, sulfurous acid gas is dangerous ......." Erza, who had heard Saki''s story, sounded exasperated. It seems that even Elsa understands the danger of sulfurous acid gas. "But if sulfur can be used to make rubber, it can be used in many different ways! But Jin denied it. "I''m sorry, Saki, but that''s called , and if you melt sulfur and then cool it suddenly, it becomes like that, but after a while it turns back into the original sulfur." "...... Is that so?That''s too bad. ......" I was whispering, but the alchemist seemed to have heard me, and he was staring at Jin and the others with a terrible look in his eyes. He must have been annoyed at being told about the demonstration he was giving. Jin and the others hurriedly left the place. The next booth we looked at was the one where various minerals were displayed. It was similar to Saki''s booth. "Jin, it''s beautiful! "Yes, it is." Red, yellow, green, blue, and purple ...... are literally displayed in a variety of colors. "Well, miss, here is a golden stone." The alchemist there showed me a golden stone that I could pick with my fingertips, and then took out a white, flat stone and rubbed it against it. I expected to see a golden mark on the stone, but instead, a dark line remained after rubbing. "Oh, it''s not gold, is it? Saki was impressed. "That''s right. This is the way to distinguish between gold and another stone that looks like gold. The alchemist boasts proudly. Jin and Erza whisper to each other, this time in a low voice that cannot be heard. "(...... the color of the scar, right?)" "Yes, that''s right. Maybe it''s pyrite.") It is an experiment often seen in science class. Jin and Erza knew about it, but Saki was interested and had a long talk with the alchemist. "...... If you know about it, why don''t you just tell me?" "I''m sorry, I couldn''t tell you because you seemed to be enjoying the conversation so much. Saki had been talking with the alchemist for a while, and when Saki came back, Erza mentioned the in a whisper. "Saki, I''m sorry. Saki was angry with Erza, and Erza became upset. "But, but, alchemy is a very promising field! Jin is trying his best to divert the topic. "It''s great that you study things that have nothing to do with magic and can be applied to many different fields." "...... really think so?" He is still a little pouty, but his mood seems to have improved a little. "Yes, I think so. It''s just too bad it hasn''t been systematized yet. Jin''s words seemed to make Saki feel something. "Systematization, huh? ....... Indeed. Even within the same alchemy, magic theory and magicology are good, but material science is still in its infancy. is the study of the properties of various materials, or substances, and their application to daily life without the use of magic. The field, which corresponds to so-called chemistry, is still in its infancy. No wonder it has not been systematized. "I''d like to learn more from you and your colleagues, wouldn''t you? "Of course, of course. I''m looking forward to it. When the three of us turned around and returned, a young male alchemist was holding up colored water on the stage. The colored water was in a clear bottle that appeared to be made of crystal and was purple in color. "This is the juice from the purple orchid," the alchemist said. Purple orchid is a vegetable similar to cabbage, and is purple in color. In short, it is a purple cabbage. "Drizzle this juice with vinegar and you get ......." A cheer erupts. The purple juice turns bright red. "To this I add the lye supernatant: ......". The red juice turns purplish, then blue, then green, and finally yellow. We did not use any magic at all. We are still in the testing stage, but we think it could be used as a dye. That''s all. The audience applauded generously. That seemed to be the end of the demonstration. "That concludes today''s demonstration. The audience gathered in front of the stage started to leave after the announcement by the committee members. "Oh, that was fun." "Jin, I''m going to my booth now. "Okay, I''ll go to my booth." "Yeah, I''ll do the same." Jin left Saki and went back to his booth. There was a huge crowd of people there. "Ah!Jin-dono! "What?Jin-dono? "Jin-dono!Tell us more about your mini-craftsman (smith)! The demonstration was over, and the people who were impressed by Jin''s mini-craftsmen (smiths) were pouring in. It was the most tiring part of the day for Jin to deal with them. That was how the first day of the exposition ended. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I''m tired. Jin was leaning back on the sofa in his hotel room. As one would expect, doing something unfamiliar is tiring. "Father, here is your Persica juice. Reiko offered him a glass of Persica juice specially made in Horaijima. Drink it and you will be full of energy and recover from fatigue. "...... Oh, it smells so good!" Just then, Elsa came out of the shower room and smelled the sweet smell of Persica. "Do you want one too?" "Yes." A glass of cold juice is a nice treat for the body after a shower. Elsa drank her juice in a classy gesture, not ...... with her hands on her hips. "Thank you for the ...... delicious juice. It was delicious." "Well, I think I''ll go take a shower too." Jin stood up and Meane offered him a bath towel. "Here you go, Jin-sama." "Oh, thank you." Jin took a shower as well. Reiko had prepared a change of clothes for him. When Jin returned to the living room, Saki had come to visit him. Aaru was with him. "Good evening, Jin. "Hi, Saki. What''s up? "Yeah, I''m bored because I''m in a room by myself. But I didn''t want to bother Reinhard and Bertsch, so I came over here to play. "Ha-ha, that''s right." Jin laughs and agrees, then offers Saki a glass of Persica juice as well. "Oh, Reiko, thank you." Saki thanks Reiko and drinks her juice. Her gesture is a bit gruff compared to Elsa''s. "Saki-sama, please be a little more ladylike," Meine warns her. Meane, who couldn''t help but notice this, but Saki pretends not to hear her. "I just heard from Reinhardt that Erza and Meine''s return to Japan is going well, isn''t it? "Yes, we got the Emperor''s approval during the day. Now we just need to convince Erza''s father and the Marquis of ......." "Indeed. Those two will be a problem, I''m sure. ...... Saki laughed and turned to Erza and Meane and said with a serious look on her face. "Elsa, Meene, I''m so happy for you." "Thank you, Saki." "Thank you, Saki-sama, thank you." And Saki immediately returns to her normal routine. "Oh yes, Jin, I couldn''t see your demonstration today because I was presenting my paper to the alchemists'' association, but I''ll be there tomorrow, I''m sure. Jin grinned when he was told, "Yeah, look forward to it." Jin replied confidently. 400 - - 12-50 Outdoor June 21. This is the main day for outdoor demonstrations. "Well, I haven''t accumulated as much as I thought. ......" Jin, who was examining the magic tool he had activated the day before, looks reluctant. "With this, even if we increase the output a little more, it will take until almost noon to accumulate the required amount. Jin muttered to himself, and went to the exposition committee members to request that his demonstration be started at noon, which was granted. At 9:00 a.m., the second day of the exposition opened. The booths in the hall were left to the agents, and most of them were outside. Jin also left his booth to Regulus 50, one of the newly built 5th row (Quinta). An arena had been built in front of the port, and most of the expo visitors were gathered there. "I''m looking forward to it. Saki rushes over to Jin and Erza when she sees them and takes a seat next to Jin. "I''ll be able to listen to the detailed explanations with Jin. Aaru was standing behind Saki and Edgar was standing behind Erza. Meanwhile, Reiko is sitting not behind Jin but on his lap. And Jin, who is bored, sometimes plays with Reiko''s hair or pats her head. Reiko''s face looks very happy as he does this. "Oh, it''s about to start..." A huge magic screen was set up here as well, so that even the presenter''s face could be seen clearly from a distance. "Now then, the second day of the 10th Technology Expo is about to begin!" After the announcement was made using the loudspeakers, the demonstrations finally began. The first one was a new type of carriage. The first one was a new type of carriage, though it was only a new design. Jin was not particularly impressed with it, as it was only a convertible with a roof that could be removed as needed. The second was a new golem. Three golems, each holding a sword, a spear, and a mace, performed a demonstration. The movements were smooth and dignified. Jin''s evaluation was <. The third was Reinhardt. "The third one is Reinhard Randall!The works are the <>, the <> and the golem that drives it, <> and <>!" The magic screen showed the Scarlet Trail floating in the harbor. "This is a high speed boat that uses a different drive system than the previous ones, the <>. It is driven by <>. It is characterized by its symmetrical movement. Reinhardt''s explanation was echoed. From the gallery, I could hear the sounds of admiration and wonderment. "Now, let''s see it run for real. Mack, Mick, go! Reinhardt, who himself had boarded the Scarlet Trail, accelerated the ship at once and sped out of the harbor. The speed of the boat was a sight to behold. "Oh, that''s fast! "That''s a novel method, isn''t it? "Wow, it can change direction, too. All the onlookers were impressed to see that by changing the driving speed and direction of the left and right outer wheels, it could not only turn, but also change direction, albeit slowly. "Last but not least, this method was first conceived by our guest of honor, the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, Jin Nido. Reinhardt concluded by insisting that the original was Jin. Jin''s name was well known from yesterday''s mini-golem, and there were whispers of him everywhere in the arena. "What kind of a man is this Honorary Magical Craftsman "Honorary Magical Craftsman" Jin or something like that, who was unknown until now? "No, he is not unknown. I heard that he won the golem boat competition in the Kingdom of Elias. "I have heard that too. I hear that the King of Egelea and the Prince of Egelea like her." However, all the noise stopped when the fourth demonstration started. "Oh, oh, oh ......" "What the ......" The presenter takes a piece of cloth hanging from a large container-like package, and a golem rises from it. It is no ordinary golem. It is huge, about six meters tall. Well, the Titan created by Jin is 15 meters tall, and the giant golem, an ancient relic (artifact) of the Shoro Kingdom, is 20 meters tall. Compared to them, it may be small, but compared to a standard golem, it is quite large and intimidating. "The fourth one is Marcus Grinwald!He is the grandson of the previous master of magical technology, Magi Engineer Maestro! Upon being introduced, Markus curtsies with a grand gesture and introduces the golem. "Ladies and gentlemen!This golem is called , and it was created to be as large as possible with today''s technology. Marcus waves his hand and Goliath takes a step or two. Indeed, its movements are smoother than expected, several steps ahead of those of the and others. It seems that he is not bluffing when he says "as much as possible with the current technology. "I see. I guess I was right to sit next to Jin. Saki was frankly impressed by Jin''s whispered explanation, but Erza had a different impression. "Marcus...... is a magical engineer (Magi Engineer) who used to work for my father, I believe. But I didn''t know he had that kind of technology." Erza said, putting aside the fact that she had become a top-level Magi Engineer in less than two months. But that''s just as well. Unless you have a very good teacher, and without , you can''t expect to make rapid progress in Magecraft. "And ...... he didn''t look that imposing." The face was definitely the same person, but the words and actions didn''t match, Erza thought. "Well, then, Goliath, do it!" Goliath was at least semi-autonomous. Goliath took Marcus'' order and moved quickly. "Hmm?" Goliath is moving around, making the earth tremble. A golem nearly four times the size of a human being moves in a manner similar to a human being. In other words, it is moving four times faster. To put it more technically, the angular velocity of each joint is the same as that of a human, so the four times the size means four times the speed of movement. It was amazing to see, and if you are not used to seeing such things, you may feel quite uncomfortable. The size does not match the image of movement. It is because it is common knowledge that larger size means slower movement. Although there are exceptions, huge animals generally move slowly, and it is the same for magical beasts. "Jin, Jin, that''s amazing!Don''t you think so?" "Well, it''s not so bad." Jin''s answer nearly confused Saki, but she quickly regained her composure. "Oh, that''s so-so?......Well, you''re right, Jin. You''re the one who turns common sense upside down so easily, aren''t you? Is that a compliment? "Of course I''m complimenting you." Saki smiles at him. Reiko, who was sitting on Jin''s lap, was also smiling with a natural expression on her face. "Well, it''s not enough. ......" Her voice was small, but it could be heard because it was just when everything was quiet around them. "What are you talking about, Mr. Ernest?" Princess Rieschen, who was sitting next to him, admonished him, but it was too late. "Well, was it the prince of the kingdom of ...... Egelea who just said something? Can you tell us what we are missing? Marcus Grinwald could hear Prince Ernest''s voice clearly, since the guests were seated in the front so that he could see them better. "No, it''s nothing," he said. "No, it''s not nothing. You said so clearly that it is not enough. Please let me know for my own learning. He was being very insistent. The audience in the arena has taken notice. Prince Ernest shook his head and replied. "I thought it was a little inferior to the giant golem of ...... deus ex machina." "Deus ex machina?Ah, you mean that shady fellow who showed up during the Unification Party (Unifiler) fiasco? "Deus ex machina is not a deus ex machina! Deus ex machina is the benefactor of our salvation. Prince Ernest could not keep his mouth shut about such a statement that would disgrace his benefactor. "I beg your pardon. But he hasn''t been seen since the riot and his true identity is unknown. What would you call such a person a stinker without calling him a stinker?" "......" Prince Ernest fell silent, unable to refute the statement. "Well, it''s all right if you approve of my golem <. I''d rather you approve of my golem than the golem of that shady character. Again Prince Ernest reacted to these words. He ignored the concern of Princess Rieschen, who was frantically tugging at his sleeve next to him. "...... that''s not true." "Yes?What did you say? I said, "No, it''s not." What did you mean by that? As usual, Marcus is treated with the same condescending attitude. But then a third person calls out to him. "Enough, Marcus!" The voice belonged to a man of about 50 with a military air about him. He had a solid build, platinum blond hair, and light blue eyes. He held Marcus'' shoulder. Jin recognized the color. "...... father, sir." Elsa, who was sitting next to him, said in a whisper. "Father?" Yes, the color of her hair and eyes looked just like Erza''s, or rather, Erza had inherited her hair and eyes. "...... That''s Erza''s father?" He has a stern face and a muscular body. He has the air of a military man. "Your Highness Ernesto and ladies and gentlemen, I apologize on behalf of Marcus. Georg Randall von Amber, Elsa''s father, bowed his head in apology and left the venue, dragging a reluctant Marcus behind him. Reiko stared at them, or rather at Marcus, with sharp eyes until they were out of sight. And the giant golem, Goliath, remained standing there. "Well, then, the last presenter of the morning session: ......." An announcer''s voice echoed through the crowded hall, and the fifth presenter began his presentation. It was also a new type of carriage. It seemed to be a lightweight carriage decorated with glittering ornaments. However, the impression of the giant golem standing there was too strong, and the mere appearance of the carriage, without any suspension, was not well received by the audience. 401 - - 12-51 Hitoshis turn Before the morning session was over or not, Jin took Erza to the waiting room. Saki followed her. "Erza, are you okay?" "...... yes." Erza''s reaction to seeing her father''s face was not good. She herself is not sure if she is happy or afraid to see her father. Saki nodded her head at Elsa as she spoke of her feelings in a halting manner. "Yes, yes, I understand, Erza. I''m in a similar position. If you ask me if I want to meet my grandfather, I''m not sure. "...... Saki." Erza''s face showed her anxiety. Jin gently holds her shoulder and whispers. "It''s okay. I won''t let anything happen to you that you don''t want. Even His Majesty has given me his approval and if it comes to it, I''ll kidnap her and take her back to Horai Island. "...... brother Jin "If you wear that disguise now, you won''t be noticed. And first thing in the afternoon, I''ll surprise them. You''ll see." "...... yeah." Jin''s confident words make Erza feel a little better. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, the second half began at 1:30 p.m. The giant golem was gone before I knew it. It must have pulled out during the intermission. Then, an announcer''s voice echoed through the hall. Now, let''s start the afternoon session. First up for the afternoon session is the Honorary Magical Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, Jin Nido! Many of the audience, who had seen the mini-golem the day before and were familiar with Jin''s abilities, applauded loudly. The audience included the female emperor Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Shawlo, Prime Minister Jung, Minister of Magical Technology Degauze, Ernest, the third prince of the Kingdom of Egelea, Rieschen, the third princess of the Kingdom of Klein, the second-ranked magickraftsman of the Kingdom of Celluloa ( Magecraftsman), Stearina Beta ......, were all curious to know what Jin had brought with him. Jin, with the help of the steward and Reiko, set up something in the center of the plaza and began to make preparations. Then he began to explain. "This is Jin Nido. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a bag made of the threads of a ground spider. At the mention of the word "ground spider," there was a surprised shout in several places. They must have known that these are very rare creatures. Steward and Reiko unfold the bag. Holding it by the edges, they pulled it open, and it looked as if it was about 40 meters long. "I''m going to inject a special gas into this bag. The magic tool that had been working since yesterday, the accompanying tank, and the huge bag were connected with a hose. The bag begins to inflate. The purpose of the fixture was to collect only the helium in the air. "Oh, oh, oh! What the hell is that? Before the audience''s eyes, a huge bag is inflated. It is a long, thin balloon. It has a kind of stabilizing wing on one side. "Why is it floating?" After the balloon was inflated to a certain degree, it gradually began to float into the air from its lying position on the ground. "...... airship......" Elsa, who was in the arena, said in a whisper, "What? "What did you say?" "You know about this, Miss Erza?" Reinhardt, who was standing next to her, and Bertsche asked. "Yes. It''s called an airship. It floats with a lighter-than-air gas in its air sac ......." During this explanation, the air sacs of the airship continued to inflate. The shape of the air sac is now clearly visible. At the bottom of the air sac was a cage that served as a crew compartment. It was not suspended by wires, but was directly attached to the air sac. A separately prepared tubular part was attached to the basket. "This is a magic propulsion device. It uses wind magic to send out wind and make use of its recoil. This is not a magical jet propulsion engine. That one uses the original magic that Jin has created by eliminating the magic formula (Magi Formula) that absorbs the recoil, while this one uses conventional magic. In principle, the pressure is increased by squeezing the wind generated by the <> magic inside the tube. It is similar to blowing a strong breath with the mouth closed. In this way, the pressure generated is greater than the recoil absorbed by the magic, and the difference between the two is used to drive the machine. Although less efficient than a magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine), the airship is able to generate sufficient driving force. Finally, the airship floats completely. I shut off the magic device supplying the lighter-than-air gas ...... helium, disconnected the hose, and sealed the inlet with engineering magic. "In case a hole is made and the lighter gas escapes, there is a risk of crashing, so the air sac ...... is divided into several chambers inside this bag to prevent the gas from escaping all at once." The airship is now moored to a ship''s mooring post with a rope so it won''t float, but once it''s untied, it''s likely to soar into the sky. "Now then, who would like to fly with me?Besides myself and my assistant, one other person can ride with us. "Me?" The first person to speak up was a woman. And the people standing in line were astonished. "...... Your Majesty ......" Yes, because it was the Shoro emperor who had nominated her for the air trip. "Your Majesty!No! But, as expected, the people around him stopped him. Even Jin was a little, or maybe a lot, surprised that a female emperor would be running for the office. "Well, um, is there anyone else? "Well, I''ll do it." The first person to raise his hand was a face that Jin knew well. Saki Eschenbach. Please come in. Jin beckoned Saki to come in. Reinhardt, who had failed to raise his hand by a hair''s breadth, looked disappointed. He was so surprised by the queen''s candidacy that he reacted too late. Saki came to the middle of the square and said to Jin with a mischievous smile. I was wondering what Jin was going to do. I''m so afraid of you. Jin then gave a supplementary explanation to the audience. "I heard that a group called the Unification Party (Unifilers) recently took to the battlefield in a vehicle called a <>. In contrast, this is called an airship. It can fly faster and longer than a hot air balloon. This explanation elicited gasps and sighs from some of the participants. They must have seen a hot air balloon. Meanwhile, Jin got into the basket for boarding. Reiko and Saki followed him. Erza was in the arena with Reinhardt and Bertsche, looking enviously at them. "Okay, let''s go. ...... Steward, get your hands off me." Steward let go of the rope holding the airship, and the airship floated up and completely off the ground. "Oh, it floats!" A roar of excitement rises from the audience. Jin picked up the control stick and blasted the magic propellant downward. The airship''s upward speed increases as a result of the reaction. "Oh ......" "Wow, that''s great!" "......, it flew. ......" As the audience watched, the airship soared into the sky. "Wow, Jin, that''s great, it feels so good! Saki was very excited. It was Jin''s first time in his life to ride in an airship. The cage is not sealed, and the mica windshield is only on the front. So we could feel the wind. It felt good. "Okay, let''s keep going." The airship started to move forward by the recoil of the wind that blew out as soon as the magic propellers were activated. "Yes, yes, this is nice!I never knew looking down on the ground could feel so good!" Saki is in high spirits. Jin leaves the fine control of the airship to Reiko. Jin does not know the details of the airship. So the details are Jin''s original. The buoyancy of the airship is increased or decreased by means of a magi device placed inside the air sac. Heating the inside of the air sacs to make them more inflated increases buoyancy, while cooling them down decreases buoyancy by decreasing their volume. Actual airships do not do this, but Jin''s superior magical skills covered the difference. "Oh, wow, that''s amazing! "It''s flying. ...... "I wish I could fly too. ......" "I''d like to ride it, too. ...... "It''s quite fast. Faster than a horse-drawn carriage, isn''t it?" "That''s what I''d expect from a gin. ......" "Mmmm, Jin-kun is really great." The spectators in the audience looked up at the sky, some in amazement, some in admiration, and some pondering its practicality. 402 - - 12-52 Together After flying over Lake Tosmo for about 10 minutes, Jin''s airship landed slowly in the center of the square. Jin is relieved inside. It was because he had done it on the spur of the moment and it had gone as he had expected. In his pocket, there was the Magi Crystal that the old man had given him on the way out. (He said it contained the magic of super lightening, but I am glad I didn''t use it.) The gravity magic was still in the process of being analyzed, but we had managed to reproduce only the weight reduction. Even if the airship should crash, the weight would be reduced to almost zero by this magic, so that no one would be injured. As soon as the airship landed, there was thunderous applause and cheers. "Next time, it''ll be me!" No, you! Me! The arena was in chaos as people wanted to board Jin''s airship. "This is amazing! Saki, who had just gotten off the plane, was a little taken aback. It seems that flying is a dream of people. "Quiet! the announcer shouted, but the clamor did not quiet down. Then... "Silence! the voice of the empress echoed through the hall. It was the voice of a crane. The venue went quiet as if it had been drowned. "I understand your feelings. But you must maintain order. The audience complained that there was only time for one more test drive, but the situation was somehow settled by saying that this would be discussed at a later time. The participants were then chosen to test drive the car again. The emperor had named them. There was no other way to select the person who would not cause any dissatisfaction. The queen chose an elderly nobleman. Jin had never met him. But Saki seemed surprised for a moment, but quickly turned her face away and returned to the arena. Even if they knew each other, they did not seem to have a good impression of each other. On the other hand, the nobleman seemed to want to say something to Saki, but Saki was running away from him, so he could not speak to her. The nobleman had no hair on his head and was very tall. But he was very thin and his complexion was not so good. So he seemed to be light in weight. "Please take care of him." The nobleman bowed politely to Jin and slowly boarded the airship. "Well, here we go." Jin again raises the airship. The nobleman gazed silently at the ground until they gained altitude. (awkward ......) Jin wondered what to say. Surprisingly, however, the nobleman spoke to Jin. "Well, Jin-dono," he said, "this is a very good vehicle. This is a very excellent vehicle, isn''t it? "Yes, thank you, it''s called an airship. I see. You''ve been calling it that for a while now. It is indeed a flying ship. < raided the kingdoms of Klein and Egeria, but this is nothing compared to it. "Excuse me, are you in the military?" His attitude toward Jin was reasonably soft, but the atmosphere he wore was somewhat mysterious, so I asked him. "Well, you have not introduced yourself yet. I am the Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen. I am retired now, but I was a lieutenant general in the army. "......!" He was Saki''s grandfather and the one who wanted Erza for his wife. But the atmosphere was quite different from what I had heard. He seemed serious and did not wield power. "I''m sorry, but how fast can you go?Can you show me your maximum speed?" "Yes, sir." Jin brought the magic propulsion system to its maximum output. The airship starts to move forward through the wind. With the help of the weak tailwind, the airship achieved a considerable speed. "Oh, that''s fast!I guess we''re going about 100 kilometers per hour. There are few vehicles in the world that can reach 100 kilometers per hour. A horse can go about 70 kilometers per hour. The Marquis, who should have been astonished, is still calm in his judgment. Perhaps the Empress has taken this into consideration in her selection. "How far can you fly?" "Well, I haven''t tried it, but as long as there are no problems with the people on board, it should last forever. Since food and water are a problem, I''d say 12 hours at 100 kilometers per hour, or 120 That''s a lot of miles. That''s a lot. "Hmm, so how much weight can it carry?" "Well, it can carry up to 6 people and weigh up to 500 kilograms. "Hmm, that''s a little short." I wonder if he is thinking of military use. A hot air balloon weighed at most 200 kilograms, but the Marquis didn''t seem to know that much. "The cost per unit is ...... no, that''s another matter." The Marquis told Jin that he had heard what he wanted to hear and wanted to enjoy the ride a little. Jin also decides to make a big turn over Lake Tosmo. "......" The Marquis, who had been silent for some time, spoke up again. "...... are you and Saki close?" "Huh?" "Saki told you about me, didn''t she?I am Saki''s grandfather. It''s only natural that I should be concerned about my beloved grandchild. "Yes, yes." The Marquis patted his hairless head and smiled self-deprecatingly. "......So, it seems I don''t have long to live, and I hope my grandchildren are happy," he said. ...... So, what do you think of Saki?" "Well, I think Saki ...... is a good alchemist." The marquis interrupts Jin with his hand. "No, no, no, I''m not asking you that, I''m asking you what you think of me as a woman. "As a woman ......?" To be honest, ever since Jin came to this world, he has never had a frankly s*xual desire for a woman. "She''s a good friend, but ...... The Marquis sighed as he looked at Jin, who had mumbled as he was about to say it. "Well, of course. ....... She''s halfway there as a woman. ...... She''s not s*xy, but she''s not a manly woman either. I wanted to see my great-grandchildren while my eyes were still black. Jin was curious about what the marquis had been saying, so he decided to ask him directly. "Well, sir. Are you not feeling well?" "Hmm?Yes, I am. I''ve lost nearly 80 kilograms in the past year. I''ve seen a healer, but he can''t help me. I guess it''s fate. The Marquis smiles wanly. Jin noticed that the whites of his eyes had turned yellow and his palms were red. "Excuse me, do you see any blood vessels on his belly or something?" When Jin said this without any guesses, the Marquis changed color. "What!How did you know that?I''ve never told anyone about this!" In fact, Jin had once read about such a disease in a comic book about a black doctor. The condition had been given the sobriquet "Medusa''s head. "Cirrhosis of the liver ......". Cirrhosis is a liver disease that can be caused by virus, alcohol, or drugs. Jin was suspected to have liver disease because he had jaundice symptoms. "You know what this disease is? The slightly excited Marquis asked Jin without losing his calmness on the surface. "Yes, perhaps. Excuse me, but may I examine you with magic?" "Yes?Can you do that?If you can, fine, have a look. If you can do that, fine, see what you can do. Please excuse me. ...... Reiko, please. Jin instructed Reiko, who was operating the magic propulsion system in the back of the boarding basket. "Yes, sir. ...... there is still something wrong with your liver." The Marquis'' eyes lit up when he saw Reiko again. "Ummm, what is she?She is not human, is she?Is she an automaton? "Ah, yes..." "He''s adorable. Isn''t it nice to have a child?" The Marquis looks at Reiko with kind eyes. (Indeed, he seems to like small children, but this is ......) Jin had a feeling that the Marquis''s proclivities were being transmitted in a distorted way. "Saki used to be fond of me when she was little, but I must have disciplined her ...... too hard, because now she seems to hate me completely. The marquis said this line in a whispered voice. He looked so lonely that Jin decided to ask him something he had been dying to hear. "Your Excellency, do you know Elsa Randall?" The Marquis''s cheeks seemed to twitch for a moment at the mention of Elsa''s name, but he returned to normal in the next instant. "...... Elsa? I know her. She''s a pretty girl. I wanted her for my wife, but time is running out for me. (Is it true that he wants Elsa for his wife? ......) A little, or rather a lot, Jin''s opinion of the Marquis has dropped. "Why did you take a young girl?" Jin decided to ask boldly. "Hmm?...... Well, many things have happened. But more importantly, how is my body?" The marquis asked Jin to tell him about the results of his examination. "...... Your body, I don''t know the cause, but the organ called liver is damaged." 403 - - 12-53 Examination, and "Liver?What the hell is that?" The Marquis Theoderic asked back to Jin, who told him that he had a bad liver. It was only natural, since he had no proper knowledge of the internal organs. The liver," he said, "is located here. ...... Jin pointed to his body and explained the location of the liver. "It is also known as the liver, and is used for metabolism, detoxification, and digestion. ...... Jin is not that knowledgeable and cannot give a good explanation. "Hmm, I see, I don''t understand." As expected, the Marquis did not understand. "But I know there is a large organ here. I see, that''s what''s wrong." The Marquis smiled sadly and looked more resigned. "I have retired from the army, but I wanted to work for my country a little longer. But I guess that''s fate. "Well, what did you do after you retired?" "Well, I wanted to build a school to nurture the next generation. Jin heard this story and felt that the Marquis was not as bad a person as he had thought. The airship has just completed a circle over Lake Tosmo, and is slowly lowering its altitude. Reiko is piloting the plane. Jin was giving the Marquis a brief explanation of how to fly the plane. Jin, thank you for this valuable experience. I would like to personally reward ...... you in some way. Jin was about to say, "I don''t need anything," when the marquis started to say so, but stopped himself. "...... sir, I am very sorry to tell you this," he said. "Yes?Yes?" Jin took a beat before saying the question. "Would you give up Elsa Randall?......" "Yes, I would." "...... she''s got better things to do than get married. ...... What?" So I said, I don''t care. "I don''t care." Jin is disappointed when the marquis says he will not marry Erza, but he is convinced when he hears what he says next. "I can''t take a young girl as a wife with my body. It will only make her unhappy. I liked her, but I don''t want to make her unhappy. The marquis seemed to have his own aesthetics. Jin was relieved. So he decided to give the Marquis the same explanation he had given to the Empress. Reiko has been instructed to descend a little slower. "...... I see. So Elsa didn''t want to marry into my family. Her father never said anything like that. He said it was a match that she wanted and that she should be allowed to marry me. When the marquis said this, Jin thought that it was all the result of Elsa''s father''s outburst. "I think all my wives have loved me ....... I can''t show my face to them by giving them someone they don''t want. I am sorry for what I did to Elsa. I have caused her to be captured by the Unifilers and to suffer. I will have to apologize to her later." It was a gamble to bring up Elsa''s story, but Jin was relieved that he had made the right decision. The Marquis was a gentleman, although he certainly liked young girls. The airship landed in the center of the square. "It was a good time, Mr. Jin," he said. The Marquis shook Jin''s hand and got off the airship. His steps were unsteady. Soon after, his men flew in and supported him as he returned. The arena was filled with cheers and applause. Jin thanked the audience and ordered the steward to move the airship to the corner of the square and moor it. * * * * * After Jin''s airship, all the presentations looked poor. Two presenters gave their presentations, but the reactions were not very positive. Jin called Elsa and Saki to the waiting room and talked with them. "......" "......Hmmm, your grandfather said something like that, huh?" After they finished talking, Erza was silent. Saki seemed indifferent, but actually looked a little worried. "So?What do you want us to hear?" Her voice was a little shaky as proof. "I think Erza can cure the Marquis'' illness. I don''t think it would be very effective if she just used it vaguely, even if it was a <>. Besides ......" "And?" "...... No, I''ve been wondering about something, but I''m not sure, so I''d like to ask Erza to check it out. What do you think, Erza?" When Jin asked her, Erza looked down, thought for a while, and then looked up. Her face showed determination. "I''ll try ....... If I can do it." Hearing this, Jin also tells Erza the results of Reiko''s confirmation. Of course, now Reiko can also use Elsa''s <>, but it makes sense that it is Elsa who heals the Marquis. "...... got it. Thank you, brother Jin, Reiko." "Okay, now it''s just a matter of timing." Jin thinks it would be best to have the emperor''s presence as well. So Jin and the others hurried back to the arena. In the arena, all the performances had just finished. The audience is leaving in droves. The female emperor, who had been seated in the most prestigious section of the auditorium, gets out of her seat and comes down from her seat. She finds Jin and the others. "Oh, Jin, you were wonderful!Do you have time for me after this? "Yes, we have time. I have a suggestion. Oh, what is it? Since there was no time for standing around talking, the group went to the conference room in the facility. The group consisted of Emperor Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Scholo, Chancellor Jung, Minister of Magic and Technology Degauze, and two escort knights, as well as Jin and Erza. And Jin, Erza, Saki and Reiko, Edgar, and Aaru. "Well, first of all, let''s hear what Jin-kun has to say. The emperor took the urgency of the situation into consideration. Jin bowed and explained about the illness of the Marquis Theoderic. "So you are saying that Elsa can treat the Marquis?" "Yes, maybe, but..." "Yes, maybe, but that''s still good news. Bring the Marquis here as soon as possible! Quick decision. The queen sent one of her knights to fetch the Marquis Theoderic. In about three minutes he arrived, supported by his attendants. Three minutes later the marquis arrived supported by his attendants. "You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?...... Oh, Saki!" The Marquis arrived limping, his face breaking into a smile of joy when he saw Saki. Erza, on the other hand, turns pale when she sees the marquis. In contrast, Elsa''s face turned pale when she saw the Marquis, because he looked nothing like the Marquis she had known. Erza is shocked to see the once well-dressed Marquis reduced to skin and bones. Saki had seen the Marquis as she passed him on her way down from the airship, but his face was twisted at the sight of him. "Grandfather!...... what''s that body of yours? Saki had been calling him an old man behind his back, but he was still surprised and sincerely worried about his blood relative, his emaciated and gaunt appearance. "Saki, you are worried about me. "Saki, you are worried about me... I have reached the end of my life, that''s all. The Marquis sat down on the sofa as the Empress suggested, looked at Elsa, and tilted his head. "Well, do I know you from somewhere?She looks familiar, but I can''t remember. Elsa was wearing a wig and protective glasses. "Marquis, let''s not talk about that later. Lie down there first." But the Empress interrupted him and ordered him to lie down on the sofa. The Marquis, who had been adamant about lying down in front of Her Majesty, reluctantly did so when the Empress said, "I order you to lie down. "Well, then, I''m counting on you," he said. "...... yes." Elsa steps forward. "Miss, what ...... are you doing?" Elsa interrupted the Marquis as he was about to say this, and began to examine him. "<>" Elsa examines the liver area. Her complexion changed. "...... poison." "What?" "...... the marquis''s liver has a buildup of poisons." 404 - - 12-54 Elza "Poison?" Gerhard, the emperor''s wife, exclaimed in astonishment. "Poison?Who did that to your grandfather? Saki was outraged. "...... Erza, can you cure him?" "I don''t know. "I don''t know, but I''ll try. < "What? The Minister of Magical Arts is surprised that Erza has used the healing magic of Ganesung. It is no wonder that in the current Shoro Empire, there are only a few people who can use Ganesung, and they can be counted on one hand. However, Erza did not care about such things and applied the genesung again and again. But her face does not clear. "......Dame. My liver is not functioning. Poison is interfering." Basically, healing magic activates the body''s natural functions. And one of the functions of the liver is detoxification. If the liver cannot detoxify the accumulated poisons, it is only logical that no matter how much the liver is activated, it will not return to its original state. It may be thanks to the healing magic that he was able to lead his daily life, even though he would have been bedridden under normal circumstances. Jin guessed that she had been able to stay in bed until today because she had continued to heal all the problems except for her liver, which had accumulated poison. Meanwhile, Elsa was pondering how she could cure the Marquis. Jin gave her some advice. "Erza, do you know what kind of poison it is?" "Yeah, probably arsenic." "Arsenic. ......" The poison is so well-known that people in this world don''t seem to know about it. <>," they whispered to each other. After thinking about it, Jin comes up with a plan. "Elsa, try to use <>. It can be used to pinpoint the poison only. Engineering magic cannot work on living bodies. But, Jin thought that it could be effective for poisons in a living body. "...... is difficult. But I''ll try." Elsa focuses her mind. She uses extraction while searching for the poison in the liver through examination (diagnosis). It is a very delicate process. But Elsa did it in about 15 minutes. A small amount of the extracted arsenic fell to the side of the Marquis in a gray powder. Carefully wrapping it in a cloth to keep it out of the hands of others, Elsa let out a sigh of relief. "I think I''ve removed more than 90% of the arsenic." After saying this, Erza, exhausted, collapsed in a heap. Edgar supported her. "Thank you, Edgar." Edgar gently sat her down on the vacant sofa. "El ...... the?Are you ...... that Elsa?" The Marquis rolled his eyes at her. Elsa''s wig had slipped off when she stumbled, and now that she was lying down, it was completely off, leaving her with platinum blonde hair. Her protective glasses had also been removed, revealing her true face. "Well, you''re okay, aren''t you? ...... Yeah, my body feels a lot better." The loss of strength would not return immediately, but the feeling of discomfort in his body was gone, and the Marquis felt exhilarated for the first time in a long time. "Marquis Theoderic, Elsa worked very hard to heal you, even though she did not want to marry you. The Empress said these words as if to admonish him, but the Marquis knew what he was talking about. "Well, Elsa, thank you. Your marriage is annulled. You can go your own way." "Oh, thank you, thank you." Erza felt the stagnant feeling in her heart melt away. "Jin-kun, Erza, thank you for your hard work. You saved a valuable human resource. I thank you." The Empress said happily to them. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Magical Technology both smiled. "I will make an official announcement about Elsa later. * * * * * * "Now, then, I would like to speak to Mr. Jin, or rather, Miss Jin." Now it is the turn of the Empress Gerhardt to speak about her request to Jin. "I told you before, I want you to teach me <>. After her, Prime Minister Jung Forss began to speak. "I have also spoken with Degas and Gebhard Ackermann, and they have told me that the airship is a combination of <> and magic, isn''t it?" As one would expect from the head of state, he correctly recognized the roots of the technology used in the airship. "It is immeasurable how much the study of science can benefit our country and, indeed, the world," we concluded. What do you think, Mister Jin?" At this point, the empress took over again. "I would like to bestow upon you the title of "Magi Engineer Maestro", the title of Viscount, and the title of Lord Jin, as well as a fiefdom. What do you think, would you be willing to serve in my country?" "......" Jin wondered what to say to this sudden question, "You don''t have to answer me right now. I don''t need an answer right now, but I would like an answer by the end of this month. Today was the 21st, the last day of June, which meant that he had until the 29th to give me an answer. Okay, I will think it over. "I hope you have a good answer for me." With these words, the Empress left her seat. The viziers followed her. The Marquis Theoderic also stood up. "Jin, Miss Elsa. I cannot thank you enough. If you ever come to our lands, you will be welcome. After thanking Jin and Erza, the marquis walked unsteadily away. Although his liver had healed, he had not regained his strength. His attendants tried to support him, but he was interrupted by Saki. "...... Saki?" "......Grandfather, I''ll take you home." Saki turned away a little, her cheeks reddening somewhat, but she came forward. "Oh, I see. Well, thank you. I''ll take care of it. Saki then walked out of the meeting room, supporting the Marquis. Jin and Erza silently watched her go. "......" "......" After a few moments of silence, Jin called out to Erza. "Shall we go, too?" "Yes." Jin and Erza left the conference room side by side. Edgar and Reiko, perhaps reading the atmosphere, followed in silence. But then an unexpected person walks by. "Elsa!It''s Erza! Erza shudders at the sound of his voice. "...... father." She had left her wig and protective goggles off, so it was only natural that she would be recognized. There was a sound. Georg, the father, slapped Erza on the cheek. "Ah!" The force of the slap made Erza stagger, and Edgar barely supported her. Elsa held her slapped cheek, tears welling up in her eyes. "You filial son of a b*tc*!What have you been doing all this time?Come on now!" She tried to grab Erza''s hand, but Jin interrupted her. Wait a minute, Viscount. "What are you, ......?Oh, you''re the magi engineer who built the airship. Jin Nido, you say? Yes, Jin Nido. Erza is not your tool. You talk like you know what you''re talking about. Don''t let strangers tell you what to do with your son. Georg is much bigger and fitter than Jin. He is an active military man and has subordinates around him. But Jin was unafraid to say what he wanted to say to Georg''s face. Erza is a full-fledged person now. No matter how good a parent you are, you can''t just do whatever you want to your daughter. "Don''t be cheeky. ...... a full-fledged person?" Yes. Yes. Her Majesty the Empress approves. I''m sure the scribe has it on record. "Hmm, well, even so, I''m Elsa''s father. What''s wrong with a father bringing home his daughter?" Georg took his paternal rights as a shield. It is true that Elsa''s independence has not yet been granted in the Shoro Kingdom. There is no system of family register or certificate of residence in this world, but if there were, Elsa''s domicile would be under Viscount Randall. Since neither Jin nor the old man had expected to find Elsa at this time, they could not resist him when he brought up the issue of paternity. "Well, I guess you get it." Snickering, Georg looked at a man who was standing nearby. The man stepped forward and faced Jin. "That airship was quite a thing, but it''s just a toy. As a weapon, it still needs power. The man was Marcus, the creator of the giant golem. "The prince of some country praised the giant golem that some unknown person brought out, but it''s just for show. The bigger it gets, the worse the performance of the golem. Jin is about to argue with her because it''s not a far-fetched opinion, ...... and turns his attention to Erza. While Jin and Marcus were exchanging their opinions, his father Georg grabbed Erza''s arm and pulled her to him. Erza tries to resist, but she is unable to break free due to the overwhelming difference in their physiques. "Viscount, please don''t force me. It was Edgar who defended Erza. The automata, made from materials from Horai Island, boasts a physical capacity several times greater than that of humans. "What are you doing?" It was easy for Edgar to grab Georg''s arm and pull him away from Erza. "Are you a wooden puppet, you dare to defy me?" "No, I was only protecting my master, Erza." Edgar casually intervened between Georg and Erza. "...... what?" "What is it?" By now, onlookers had heard the commotion and gathered around. Georg thought he was going to back down, but instead, he became arrogant. Now he turns to Jin and speaks out. "You are seducing my daughter, aren''t you? Reiko was not silent at that. "Enough! I will not allow you to insult my father any further! 405 - - 12-55 Fatherly Rights Georg, Elsa''s father, laughed at Reiko''s words as if he were mocking her. "What are you talking about, a doll? "Like a doll? Jin shouted angrily at the mockery of Reiko. Reiko is so surprised that she forgets her anger for a moment and stares at Jin''s face. Then Markus said, "As usual (?????), you are a doll, pretending to be a daughter. He said something like that. "As usual?" Jin, curious about the line, parrots it back, but Markas does not answer, "If you think you''re on your own, let''s see you prove it, Viscount. He then implored the viscount with these words. "...... I see. Interesting. Marcus, how many golems and automata did you make, the latest ones?" "Yes, five besides the giant golem. Two automata and three military golems. Georg smiles when he hears this. "...... Jin Nido, if Erza is your apprentice, show us your skills as a master. If you can compete with the golem Marcus made and win, I will reconsider Erza. "......What does my skill have to do with Erza''s ability?" "Of course it does. A student of an apparent magical engineer can hardly be called a full-fledged apprentice. "If you are not confident, you can run away, can''t you? At least until Jin is recognized by Viscount Georg Randall, it is unlikely that he will even listen to what he has to say. In addition, Jin was quite annoyed with the Viscount for calling Reiko a doll. So he decided to accept the challenge. "......Okay. How?What is the date and time? "Well, you''re going to take it. You''ve got some nerve. The way is that we each send out a golem or an automata and let them compete in the Gonkrenz. The date is tomorrow. There will be spectators, so it''s perfect. "Gonkrenz"? You''ve never heard of it? It''s a golem competition held in the Shoro Kingdom. Ask the man there for details. What? Reinhardt, who had heard the commotion and was unaware of it, came to Jin''s side. "Uncle, if you challenge Jin, you will be humiliated, won''t you?" Reinhardt admonished him in a roundabout way, but the viscount did not take it well. "Well, which one of us will be humiliated?" Meanwhile, onlookers heard this and made a commotion. "Oh!A magic puppet competition! It''s been a year and a half, hasn''t it? Jin Nido and Marcus are competing! Then Christoph Bardet von Tharnat, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, who was a member of the committee organizing the technical fair, heard the commotion and flew in. "Viscount, Mister Gin!What''s going on? "A member of the executive committee. Nothing, it''s just that tomorrow our Magi Engineer, Marcus, and Gin Nido will be competing in the Gonklentz! "What? ......!" "I can prove it to those around me that I have declared that Jin Nido and I are going to compete in the Gonkkurrenz. We can''t back out now." According to the laws of the Shoro Kingdom, if you declare that you are going to hold a Gonklentz competition in the presence of five or more witnesses, it will be publicly recognized. "Just tomorrow is the last day of the technical exposition, it will be a suitable presentation. "Yes, yes, ......." "......, so get ready for the Gonklentz competition. Erza, come on." Viscount Georg Landl grabs Elsa''s arm again. "Ah ......" Erza''s face is distorted with sadness. Jin saw this and shouted. "Wait!" "What?I''m Elsa''s father. What''s wrong with a father taking his daughter?Isn''t that right, Elsa?" "...... yes." Georg stared at her and Erza nodded, drooping her head. Everyone had heard that Erza had said . In the public eye, Jin could say nothing more. "If you win tomorrow, I will reconsider Elsa as I said before. I promise you that. Good bye." With these words, Viscount Georg Randall, who had made his way through the crowd of onlookers, walked away, dragging Erza along with him. Marcus followed. Jin was left behind, and Reinhardt was stunned. "...... Jin-dono, I am sorry, but could you please explain the situation?" Christophe, a member of the technical exposition committee, said a little apologetically and invited Jin and the others to the conference room. "...... and that''s why ......." Jin explained the situation on behalf of the others. "Well, from what I''ve heard, it seems that we have no choice but to hold a magic puppet competition, regardless of the circumstances. What''s this Gonkwrenz? Ah, Mister Jin, you wouldn''t know. I will explain it to you. Gonkrenz is a duel between golems or automata. Although it is a duel, it is not a battle of destroying each other, but a competition of performance. The events are as follows 1. 500-meter race 2. weight throwing (throwing a specified weight and competing in the distance) 3. long-distance swimming (probably to Lake Tosmo and back in this case) 4. search and dive (search for something underwater) 5. combat skills (using a sword or a wrestling-like empty-handed combat sport). The competition consists of five types of events. On rare occasions, the opponents may add other events after consulting with each other. "You can have a separate golem or automata for each of them, or you can have a single golem or automata for all of them. Reinhardt added. "You were the champion last time, weren''t you, Reinhardt? You said the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) and Lorelei, didn''t you? He said that Reinhardt had won the Gonkrenz competition held before Reinhardt and Erza left on their trip. "Lorelei won the long-distance swimming and search-and-dive, and the black knight (Schwarzlitter) won everything else, didn''t he?" Jin asked, and Reinhardt nodded his head in agreement. "Well, tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., we will hold the outdoor presentation in the plaza where we held the outdoor presentation today. The long-distance swimming and exploratory diving will naturally take place at Lake Tosmo, so please plan accordingly. After reminding Jin, Christoph Bardet von Tharnat left the conference room. "......Goodness gracious, the Marquis is all settled." Jin blurted out. I should have put on my disguise and left the room, but it was too late to regret it now. The plan was to come forward after the third day was over and the evaluations of the participants had been announced. Once she was officially recognized by the Emperor, there would be no one who would doubt that Erza was a full-fledged member of the team. However, as of today, it would be difficult to resist Georg''s claim to paternity. Georg''s presence here was unexpected in the first place. I am sorry. I guess I did not gather enough information. To begin with, Reinhardt did not know that Erza''s father was going to be at the expo. He had thought that his eldest son, Moritz, would be there. This was because Viscount Georg Randall had never attended a technology fair in the past. Therefore, even the old man could not include the countermeasure against Georg. "I should have been more careful since I saw him in the arena earlier. ...... Well, it''s his own father''s place, so it''s a relief that I don''t have to worry about him doing something to me or anything like that." Nothing can compare to being trapped in the Unification Party (Unifiler). Letting out one sigh, Reinhardt mentioned one more thing that had been bothering him. "So, Jin, did everything go well with the Marquis?" "Yes." Jin explained to Reinhardt. "Well, that one turned out better than I thought it would. But poison. ......" It is easy to forget about Erza, but there is a strong possibility that someone may have poisoned the Marquis. That was also a problem. "Oh, that''s a problem. ......" "Indeed. ......" For a while both Jin and Reinhardt were silent. Then Jin broke the silence. "Hey Reinhard, I think Erza''s father is acting a little crazy. Reinhardt agreed with Jin''s words. "Yes, I think so too. I wonder if he''s under the same kind of as Fritz?" "I don''t know. ...... Reiko, what is your opinion?" Since Reiko was there, she might have noticed something that Jin did not. "There was nothing wrong with Viscount Georg Randall. But I felt that there was something a little strange about this man Marcus. "Marcus?" "Yes. I don''t know how to say it: ...... yes, it''s as if my memory has been tampered with. The magical patterns that sometimes leak out are worm-eaten. "Worm-eaten?" I understand the expression, but I have no idea why it is so. "I have just contacted the old man and asked him about it. According to the old man, it might be caused by using a forbidden spell to erase memories and then giving them new memories." "What?" It''s not easy to erase memories of experiences, let alone knowledge, and then give them new memories. Inevitably, there will be gaps. The old man guessed that this lack of knowledge might be a cause of instability and might be reflected in the magic power. "If that''s the case, then who was the one who tampered with Marcus'' memory?" Reinhardt asked the obvious question. But we don''t know. So, Jin instructed the old man through Reiko to have the SP, who was supposed to be attached to Erza, check it out. 406 - - 12-56 Remaining Mystery Erza is accompanied by two covert maneuvering units (SP), <> and <>. She is an adult female type golem. They are armed with paralyzers and other weapons, but in this case, there is no legal problem because it is treated as a case of a father bringing home his daughter, so they could not be touched easily. Elsa was taken to her father Georg''s dormitory. "Stay in here! "......" Georg pushed her into a small room, closed the door and locked it from the outside. Edgar is not allowed in either, but is let out. "Stay there until tomorrow morning and reflect. With these words, Georg leaves. A soldier stands guard in front of the room. And Edgar. "......" In the room there is a crude bed and a chair. "...... father." Elsa, who was alone, muttered sadly. "...... seems to be the situation." The report from the covert task force (SP) with Erza, <>, came to the old man, and Jin, who had just returned to his room at the inn, was listening to it via Reiko. He wished he had brought the manacam, but it was too late, and it would have been a hassle, but there was nothing he could do. "Maron is in the room with Erza and Plum is outside the room?Are they aware of us?" Jin is also worried because of the relatively small accommodation. "That''s all right. The number of people in the dormitory is small. "......In the meantime, tell Maron to reassure Erza." Jin, thinking that she must be feeling a bit nervous about being locked up alone, gave the order. "......There''s only tomorrow. ...... has gone off the rails." I didn''t think Erza''s father was as good as he seemed to be. "......Are you under some kind of mental manipulation after all? Jin reconsidered that it was dangerous to immediately think that someone who was out of the ordinary was mentally manipulated, and instructed Plum, the covert maneuver unit (SP) with Erza who was outside the room, to investigate this point to the extent that it was reasonable to do so. "(...... Erza-sama)" "Who!" Elsa is startled when she is approached by a voice even though no one is supposed to be there. "(Please be quiet. I''m Maron, a member of the covert task force (SP) that Jin-sama told me to protect you.) Erza remembered what Jin had told her before. She had forgotten about it because he never showed up. "(Jin-sama told me not to worry about anything. Anyway, you have to be patient until tomorrow.) "...... Jin''s brother. ...... got it." Erza now knew how reassuring it was to know that there was always someone who cared about her and thought of her. "(I''m here for you if you need anything. (I''ll be here in case you need me.) There''s another covert maneuver unit (SP), Plum, and your automata (automata), Edgar, outside the door. "...... Thank you." I was not alone, and my eyes lit up at the thought. The night goes on, each of us with our own thoughts and feelings. "I''m sorry, Meine. I''m sorry, Mine... I got off on the wrong foot." Jin apologized to Meane when he returned to his room at the hotel. "No, Jin-sama. As far as I know, it is not your fault. It was an unfortunate coincidence. Meane is concerned about Jin''s bowed head. "......He ......Erza''s father has been like that for a long time. He''s a careerist and will use anything he can get his hands on. Even if it''s his daughter. "If the Marquis told him tomorrow that he had decided not to take Elsa as his wife, the Viscount would probably give up." No, he''ll probably just give her to another noble. That''s the kind of person he is." "......" Meane knows Viscount Georg Randall better than Jin. She knows Viscount Georg Randall better than Jin does, and since she is the one who told him, she must be right. Anyway, tomorrow''s Goncrenz competition..." After Meine had gone back to her room, Jin was considering who to send to the competition. "Father, please let me take that role." Reiko, who had been quietly standing by his side, came forward. "Reiko?" "That man has underestimated me and taunted your father. I''ll prove him wrong in full view of the public. "That''s what I think. But you went to the trouble of ......." But Reiko interrupts him and insists. No, let me do this. I''m honestly glad that your father wants to treat me as a girl. But the purpose of my existence is to be useful to you. If I can''t do that, I will really be just a lapdog. Jin bites his words. Reiko is not only his daughter, but also the best automata in the world. And the ironic reality is that to prove it, Reiko has to throw herself into the fray. All right, Reiko, I leave it to you. Then I''ll make sure you''re in tip-top shape." "Yes, thank you." Jin laid Reiko on the table, turned off the magic, and called 10 miniature craftsmen (smiths) to check every part of her. "Reduce the clearance of the right leg knee joint by 0.01 mm." "Left arm, radius, 0.1 mm distortion detected. Correct." A mini craftsman (Smith) performs a precision check that is difficult even for Jin. Thanks to his skills, every part of Reiko was maintained as never before. "Thank you, Mini Craftsman Smith." The result of the maintenance and adjustment is expected to improve the performance by about 3%, and we will be ready to go tomorrow. Man sleeps, but Golem does not. Plum, who had received Jin''s order, made sure that the people had gone to bed, and approached Viscount Georg Randall''s room, being careful to make as little noise as possible. "Who is it?" came a voice from the darkness. Plum, who was clad in invisible magic, had been noticed. "I know you are there. I don''t know how he is doing it, but he seems to be using invisible magic. Darkness does not matter to Plum, who is constantly activating invisibility. This is because he sees in the infrared region. Instead, the resolution of colors and details is reduced. Plum sees a man in his prime. He is Marcus Grinwald. "What do you want?Me?" Marcus said, "You want . That means he''s important. Unless he''s being too self-aware. He has noticed Plum''s invisibility, so there is no doubt that he is capable of something. Deciding that further investigation was not possible, Plum decided to leave. "...... hmm?You''re running away. ...... Well, I''m not going to chase you." Plumb reported the exchange to the old man. The "Mere Old Man" did not know more than that, because he did not have enough information. The more important question is why Plum was detected while he was using invisibility. <<> I guess. Some bats use ultrasonic waves to catch information about their surroundings. The man is likely to have some ability or magic. < <> The Master instructed Plum to continue to gather information, but not to take any chances. And so it dawned on the morning of June 22nd. "Jin-dono!I heard that you are going to hold a magic puppet competition! Minister of Magic and Technology Degaus came to Jin''s room after breakfast and shouted loudly, "Oh, yes! "Ah, yes!" Jin summarized what had happened yesterday after he had left the Emperor and the Minister of Magic and Technology, Deghaouz. "Ummm, Viscount Georg Randall said something like that ......." Mr. Degauze looks a little reluctant. Georg is currently not only the Commander of the Expatriate Forces, but also the Military Advisor to the Imperial Army. It is not surprising that a person in such an important post would take a gonkrenz competition so lightly. And even more so since he is the guest of honor of his country and is currently in the process of being asked for an official position. "Mr. Degas, you can think of it as an attraction. Jin?" Reinhardt, who was also visiting Jin''s room, said so. He had just been talking with Jin about various things. "Hmmm, an attraction, ...... indeed. Let''s call it a special project for the technology expo ......." The Minister of Magic and Technology looks down, folds his arms and thinks. Then he looks up as if he has made up his mind, "Okay, let''s go with that. Then, I will be in charge of the country, Jin-dono, is that all right? "Yes, that''s fine. Thank you. I will inform the Viscount. The ...... magic puppet competition (Goncrenz) will start at 9:00 as Christoph decided yesterday. 407 - - 12-57 The Magic Dolls Contest When Jin went to the square, the arena was filled with people even though it was only 8 o''clock. Rumors were spreading that a magic puppet competition (Gonkrenz) was going to be held. "Well, you didn''t run away, did you? Like Jin, Viscount Georg Randall had also arrived. "I heard that a few more people have expressed interest in participating in the Gonkwrenz competition, is that all right with you? Yes, I don''t mind. "Yes, I don''t." "Well, you''ve got a lot of nerve." Then, as Georg was about to turn around and walk away, Jin asked, "How is Erza? "How is Elsa?" "How is Elsa?"How is Elsa?She''s fine. ...... Here." Georg stroked his chin and pointed in the direction. Looking in that direction, he saw Erza sitting in the front row of the arena, flanked by soldiers under the Viscount''s command,...... or rather automata. "I am also a military advisor to the Imperial Army. I also have the latest automata and golems. If you want to escape, now is the time to do it." But Jin''s mouth twisted slightly. Instead, it was Reinhardt who opened his mouth. "Uncle, you are the one who will be humiliated. All the automata in our country are no match for the automata of Jin. But Georg would not listen. He walked away without looking back. "Jin, did you hear that?" Jin went to his assigned seat, and the emperor''s wife came over to him. "There must have been a mistake." Jin turned a sullen face to the empress. "Yes, yes. There''s been a mix-up. "I can only apologize for the Viscount''s behavior, I''m sorry." Jin was flustered as the emperor bowed to her. "Oh, no, no, please raise your head. I''m not ...... sorry, but it''s not your fault. It''s also my fault for not being clear with the Viscount. "I am relieved to hear you say so. Please don''t hate my country. I will give the Viscount what he deserves according to the law. But I had to add that in this case the punishment could not be so severe. "The most serious crime is insulting a state guest, and it''s not as if the person who was insulted had asked for it that day. ......" Jin did not intend to do so, so he did not say anything. The same is true for Prince Ernest, who was similarly mocked by Marcus. "But as far as I''m concerned," he said, "I''m sure we''ll be able to spread the word about Jin-kun''s abilities, and to be honest, I''d welcome a magic puppet competition (gonkrenz). "Even if your golems and automata lose as a result?" But the emperor kept smiling. "Defeat, that''s fine too. It proves that we still have room to grow. You just have to aim for a higher level. "Oh, so you''re positive." Jin, who had been reluctant, smiled at me with his smile. "Hmmm...yes. The women of the Shoro Kingdom are very positive. Hearing this line, Jin remembered that Erza was also positive. "Well then, good luck. I am also concerned about Erza. With these words, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Scholo left the room. It is now time for the Gonklentz competition to begin. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ladies and gentlemen, on the third day of the technology exposition, as a special event, we are going to have a magic puppet competition (Gonklentz)! The MC''s voice echoes through the arena. "The promoter is Viscount Georg Randall, and the challenger is Jin Nido! The crowd cheered. "Also jumping in are Engal Herdus, Theodoros Gabanas, and Kelly Galvani!All three are up-and-coming young magical engineers!" This was also greeted with applause. "In addition to the five familiar competitions, the clown race, the weight throw, the long-distance swimming, the search-and-dive, and the mock battle, there will also be a special mock battle with the giant golem, Goliath! Goliath is the golem of the participant Marcus. He must be very confident to make such a proposal. "Now, participating automata or golems, please step forward! Christoph Bardet von Tharnat, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, the referee, said, and the automata and golems stepped forward from their respective participants. Engal Herdus, Theodoros Governors, and Kelly Galvani each had six golems, two each. One for land and one for underwater. From Viscount Georg Randall, or Marcus, two automata and two golems. Their appearances are easily recognizable as being for use on land, in the water, or in battle. The one for land use is light and slim, while the one for underwater use has fins on its arms and legs and wears a tight-fitting swimsuit. There are two combat golems, one of which looks like an armor-clad golem. The other is a burly but unarmored golem. "Well, I guess Marcus is still the winner. Viscount Georg Randall was smiling as he saw that the attraction was not going to be a match for him. At that moment, there was a thunderous cheer. "What?" This is the reaction of the audience when they saw an automaton coming out of Jin''s camp. The automata, which looked out of place, was a girl in a black one-piece dress and a white apron dress. It is the well-known Reiko. And it is only one Reiko that Jin has allowed to participate. Surprise, admiration, bewilderment, and anticipation...... were the emotions that came together in a cheer. "Hmmm, are you a fool to participate in that outfit, or do you have confidence in yourself? Let''s see how confident you are. Unlike the Viscount, Erza, who was sitting at the front of the arena, had moistened her light blue eyes. "Brother Jin ......" Jin, who hated to be conspicuous, had Reiko participate in the event. This meant that she was poised to win. At the same time, it is easy to imagine that Jin will be the center of attention like never before after this competition. And Erza, sensing that this was all for her own good, felt a warmth flow through her chest. "Now, let''s start the first event, the 500-meter run! White lines were drawn on the square. The first course was Reiko. The second course was Marcus'' automata. The third, fourth, and fifth courses are the golems who jumped in. "About the position!Three, two, one, start!" Dust rises. A thud echoes through the air. Spectators covering their ears. And the next thing they know, Reiko is standing 500 meters away at the finish line. "What?" I wonder whose words those were. In less than two seconds, Reiko had moved 500 meters. Ten seconds later, Marcus'' automaton reached the goal. Another 10 seconds later, three golems jumped into the race and reached the goal at the same time. Marcus'' automata was indeed fast. However, they were no match for Reiko, who was going faster than the speed of sound. The starting point where Reiko was was gouged out, showing how far Reiko had to go. "I can''t believe it. ......" Viscount Georg Randall rubbed his eyes repeatedly, as if he couldn''t believe his eyes. Then, a few dozen seconds later, the room erupted in applause. Everyone had forgotten how to react to Reiko''s amazingness. "...... Reiko is awesome after all!" Prince Ernesto was in the guest of honor''s section. The prince, who had seen Reiko''s performance firsthand, took this result for granted. "Well, the winner, Jin Nido!Runner-up, Marcus Grinwald!......" The name of the maker, not of the automaton, is mentioned. Markus''s face was twisted in hatred. "The second event, the weight throw!This time we have prepared three kinds of weights!You will throw them and compete in the distance you fly. The score is calculated by multiplying the weight by the distance, and the one with the highest score is in first place. The MC explains. Then, please throw the projectiles in order, starting from the 5th place. The direction is Lake Tosmo. The distance seems to be measured by dozens of underwater golems floating in the lake. The first golem picked up three different weights and compared them, but chose the lightest one, a 10 kg ball. It is about 10 cm in diameter. It is probably a metal with a specific gravity comparable to that of adamantite. The ball was painted yellow so that it would be easy to see when thrown. The result was a distance of about 50 meters. Although it cannot be directly compared with the shot put, it is about three times as much as the world record set on the earth in terms of mass x distance. The fourth- and third-placed golems were not far behind. Then it was Marcus'' turn. The burly one, a battle golem, stepped forward and picked out a 20-kilogram sphere about 17 centimeters in diameter. It was painted peach. He throws it with a cannonball-like form. The record is about 75 meters. The crowd cheered. "That''s amazing! Isn''t that a new record?" The emperor was impressed by the record. "Well, what do you think, Elsa?How powerful is our new Marcus Golem?It has surpassed the previous record by 10 meters. Georg, who was watching the game from the front row of the arena next to Erza, says proudly. But Erza''s reply was extremely calm. "......Reyko is not like that. Father, watch. You''d be surprised." "What?" Reiko had just lifted the heaviest ball there, a 30 kilogram weight. It weighs almost as much as Reiko. This one was painted white. "Well, you can lift that one. Well, it has to be." Georg, who was showing his composure even after seeing this, peeked his eyes when he saw Reiko supporting the weight with one hand. Reiko then threw the weight carelessly with a bowling ball-like form, i.e., a lower throw, as if she were throwing a cannonball. However, the white-painted ball disappeared from the view of the spectators in the arena in an instant. The trajectory of the ball was almost straight and almost horizontal. It is hard to imagine how far it would have flown if it had been thrown at an angle. "......" Neither the MC nor the judges were at a loss for words. Reiko had no choice but to walk up to the referee and poke him on the back. The referee, Christoph, who had finally come to his senses, hurriedly called back the golem of Lake Tosmo and asked him some questions. Ten minutes later. "Yes, I''m sorry, but I didn''t know the exact distance of the projectile!The record is over 100 meters!The weight is 30 kg!So, the score is over 3000 points!Jin Nido, you are in first place!" The Golem was deployed up to 100 meters. It probably flew 500 meters, but no one had expected such a distance. As soon as it was announced, everyone in the arena stood up and applauded. "I can''t believe it. ......" Except for one or two people, Viscount Georg Randall and Marcus Grinwald, the audience applauded generously. 408 - - 12-58 Disappointment "Now, Gonkrenz, the third event!The stage is now set for the water! Here, too, as in the golem boat competition that was once held in Potrock, the combination of the magic eye and the magic screen is used to project the scene on Lake Tosmo. "I guess we won''t lose this time. ......" Viscount Georg Randall muttered to himself in the audience. Elsa, who was sitting next to him, replied in her mind but not in her mouth, "It''s impossible. "Hey, look at that ......." "Is she ...... an automaton, or is she going to swim in that outfit?" "He''s even got his shoes on. ...... Two automata and three golems line up on the pier outside the plaza. Except for Reiko, none of them are clothed. Though Marcus Grinwald''s automaton was barely wearing what looked like a swimsuit. "Jin-dono, are you sure you want to wear that? Christoph, the referee, asked Jin, who nodded silently. "Well, then, let''s start the third event, the long-distance swim," said Christophe. There is a board with each participant''s name on it under the tower on the other side of Lake Tosmo. They are asked to return with it. Of course, the first one to return wins. The rules are easy to understand and difficult to cheat, as there is a turret which is not visible from here, but is a landmark, from which participants bring back the board with their names written on it. "Let''s get into position ......3,2,1,start!" The five jumped into the water at once. Then they swam at high speed. They leave a trail of white bubbles in their wake. It was a long swim, about 10 kilometers to Lake Tosmo and back. If they swam at 20 kilometers per hour, they would return in 30 minutes. However, there was only one automata that swam at an unbelievable speed. Of course, it was Reiko. Even with her clothes on and shoes on, her speed exceeded 50 kilometers per hour. But Reiko is not serious. Once, while searching for the missing Jin, Reiko fell into the sea when she moved around the world. At that time, Reiko was able to reach a speed of more than 100 km/h while carrying a load of more than 20 kilograms. Now that she has been improved to more than twice the performance she had then, Reiko was producing very little power. "Whoa! What the hell is that? ...... "No way, right? ......" The audience who were watching Reiko swim through the magic screen were speechless. The swimmers were basically submersible swimmers. This is only possible with an automata, which does not need to breathe. If the swimmers imitate human swimmers, waves are created. This is called "wave-making resistance," and it is a great resistance. The other four swimmers except Reiko are swimming on the surface of the water, and the waves they kick up are large, leaving a wake of white bubbles behind them. Reiko, however, occasionally appeared above the water to check her direction, but other than that, she was pushing forward like a submarine just below the surface. "What an automaton!" Erza can''t help but feel sympathy for her father, who unintentionally mutters something like that. (......This is what happens when you know only a small world. Thanks to my brothers Rai and Jin, I''ve learned about the wider world.) Reiko swam to the other shore and took out a board with Jin''s name written on it from under the tower. It was a large board, as large as 50 centimeters square, and looked light. However, light weight means that the board does not sink in the water, and it could cause a lot of resistance if he swam with it. However, Reiko used the board like a beat board and started swimming. It is not a submarine swimming method, but it is still quite fast. About a quarter of the way back, Reiko passed Marcus'' automata. Then, in the middle of Lake Tosmo, she passed three golems. "Reiko, that''s awesome ......." Reinhardt sighs as he watches Reiko swim. She seemed to be faster than Lorelei, who specializes in underwater swimming. "Fast, fast!Jin Nido''s automata, Reiko!I''ve been back in less than 15 minutes!" The host''s voice was almost a scream. He could not believe what he was seeing. And Reiko crossed the finish line with a huge lead over the second-place finisher. A new record, of course. Ten minutes behind Reiko was Marcus'' automata. Another 10 minutes later, three golems came back, one after the other. "What a mess. ......" Seeing her father with his head in his hands, Elsa felt a bit sorry for him. She couldn''t help but express her feelings. "Father, it''s a big world. To Jin ......, you are a very good Magi Engineer. You have to admit it." But Georg would not listen. "Marcus!Next time win!" That''s all he said and slumped down in his seat. Erza saw him.., Father is such a man?Compared to his brothers Jin and Rai,...... no, it''s a problem before that. I''m not sure what I''m missing as a person.) The first thing to do is to find a good place to live. Her father was too self-absorbed. He does not listen to the voices of those around him. It means that he is narrowing his own world and throwing away his own possibilities. (But I feel that he was not like that in the past. ......) I remember that she was kind to me in her own way. Elsa felt a little uncomfortable that her father in her memory did not match her father now. While Erza and her father Georg were having such an exchange, the fourth event started. The idea was to find the weight that was thrown by the weight thrower mentioned earlier. When this was announced, some people gasped. They did not know where the weight that Reiko had just thrown had flown to. "Commissioner!Wasn''t the rule so far to throw balls of different colors into the water and look for them?" Reinhardt asked, almost in protest. "From this time on, the handicap is the weight you throw. ......" The audience was also surprised. "But then ...... "It''s all right, Reinhardt." Jin stopped Reinhardt, who continued to protest. "Reiko, can you go?" Reiko nodded silently at Jin''s question. "Then, three, two, one...... begin!" The water in Lake Tosmo is clear, most of the lake bottom is rocky or gravel, and the only muddy areas are near the shore, so it should be relatively easy to find. However, the weight that Reiko had thrown had flown so far away that we could not even see it, and we expected to have considerable difficulty in finding it. "Jin, do you think Reiko will be all right?" "Yes, I believe her." True to her words, the entire audience cheered enthusiastically when Reiko found the 30 kg weight she had thrown within 15 minutes of the start of the competition. "(Elsa, are you okay?)" Since Reiko had easily found the weight she had thrown, Jin was free while waiting for the return of the remaining four. Erza was on his mind, but he couldn''t go there himself. So Jin asked Reinhardt to check on her. "Okay, I''ll leave it to you. I''m curious too." So Reinhardt went to the side where Erza was. Erza was flanked on both sides by automata, and the viscount''s men were in front of and behind her, so she was able to sit down close enough to hear them, but not so close that she could not hear them. "Elsa, I''m here. I called out to her and she turned around. Relief spreads across her face as she finds her cousin there, kind and reliable. In the meantime, the competition was underway. In the meantime, the competition continues. Marcus'' automata was 30 minutes behind Reiko''s. And the three golems were disqualified for exceeding the time because they could not be found after one hour. So far, Jin and Reiko are unquestionably in first place. If we consider the three golems as a mere diversion, it is a one-on-one battle between Jin and MARUKAS. However, it was a one-sided game for Jin''s side. "Now for the fifth event!Mock battle!This is the final event, which consists of two types of combat: sword and unarmed combat.First, a mock battle with swords! The cheers of the audience rose even higher, as it seemed to be the most exciting event of the day. At this point, the three golems had abandoned their positions, and it was a one-on-one battle between Jin and Markus, or Reiko and the golem for combat. Jin equipped Reiko with , which he had prepared in advance. It is a Japanese sword without a blade, made of 64 light silver. In contrast, Marcus'' battle golem is a two-meter tall, fully armored swordsman golem with a tower shield in his left hand and a greatsword in his right. When they stand facing each other, they literally look like an adult and a child. Or perhaps it would be better to call them a giant and a child. "Reiko, don''t destroy it so spectacularly." That was all Jin could say to Reiko, and he returned to his seat. "Both of you, are you ready?" The two nodded silently. "Let the ...... begin!" The referee''s hand was lowered and the mock battle began. 409 - - 12-59 Reiko, The Battle The first to move was the Swordsman Golem. He swung his greatsword as tall as Reiko and slashed at her from the top. Reiko ducked with a graceful step. The sword she swung down immediately leapt up and struck Reiko from below at an angle. But Reiko is already gone. "You are very quick, aren''t you? Marcus muttered to himself, and gave further instructions to the Swordsman Golem. "Garboreal!Let''s get serious!" In response to his voice, the speed of the Swordsman Golem increased by one, no, two steps. The huge body, which looked to be over 400 kilograms, began to move faster than a human. The ground was gouged or cracked by his steps. "What speed for such a huge body. ......" Most of the crowd was transfixed by the movement. But Prince Ernest whispered to Princess Rieschen sitting next to him. "It''s no big deal. Jin''s Reiko has blown dozens of runaway battle golems out of the sky with that little body of hers. "I saw it too, I was there when she neutralized fifty bandits in an instant. As she says, Reiko is dodging the onslaught of the swordsman golem, Garboreal. "Hmph... Is running away the only thing you can do? You are a puppet of a second-rate magical engineer after all! Marcus muttered, and his words reached Reiko''s ears. "...... I didn''t want to embarrass you too much because your father told me not to, but it seems you don''t even know that." Reiko stopped. She intercepted the incoming greatsword. "Oh, oh! The audience couldn''t believe their eyes. Reiko parried the greatsword wielded by Garboreal, the Swordsman Golem, at times, at other times, she repelled it, and at other times, she met it head-on. I could not believe her physical strength, but I was also astonished by the strength of the sword in Reiko''s hand, which was only about one-tenth the thickness of the greatsword. "Why won''t it break?" Such a voice leaked out from the audience. "How can this mock sword that your father made for me break so easily? 64 light silver is stronger than steel. And now Reiko has the skill to absorb the impact. Even if it looks like they are striking each other head-on, they are relaxing at the moment of impact to cushion the shock. "It''s time to counterattack!" Reiko increased her speed even more. The tower shield of Garboreal was useless. Reiko slashes from a direction the tower shield is not facing. If it had been Momoka or the Vibration Sword, the match would have been decided with a single blow. However, Reiko is holding a mock sword without a blade. So Reiko chose the strategy of accumulating damage. She attacked the left arm supporting the heavy tower shield and the left shoulder at the base of the shield. Even though her whole body is covered with armor, her joints and other movable parts are relatively weak. After more than 10 blows, a part of the armor was peeled off. Another 10 blows or more crack the magical muscle in his left shoulder. With the weight of the tower shield in his hand, the crack gradually widened. Then, under further attack, the magical muscle (magical muscle), which corresponds to the deltoid muscle in humans, was torn. He could no longer lift his left arm. "It''s over!" A mock sword is held to the throat of the Swordsman Golem, which can no longer hold up its tower shield. That''s it!Jin, the winner! Jin felt a little sorry for Reiko as the name of the creator was called. Reiko bowed to the audience at the curtesy and was cheered by the audience. "Cute! "Good one, girl!" "Keep it up, and go for the victory!" It seems that in any age, a scene in which a beautiful girl plays an active role invites sympathy from those who are watching. "Reiko, you''re so wonderful!" "She''s absolutely terrifying. ......" Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen were pleased and somewhat awed by Reiko''s performance, just as they had expected. The audience may or may not be aware of the threat. The audience may or may not have been aware of the threat, but they were too excited to be sure. On the other hand, the female emperor, sitting in the top row of the guest seats, is holding her head in her hands. She had changed the rules on her own and lost easily. The impression she gave to Jin was terrible. And the audience was probably not happy either. The only good thing is that Jin won the match so that the audience will probably not criticize him for the rule change. However, as a female emperor who wants Jin to serve her, I wanted to cry. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well then!The final match!A showdown in martial arts! Jin and Reiko had already won hands down, but since they were supposed to fight to the end according to the rules, Marcus turned his hateful eyes on Jin as he brought out his remaining combat golem. This golem is a weighted golem. It wears no armor and has no hands, but it has a good physique. It is over two meters tall and probably weighs 400 kilograms. His thighs alone would be as big as Reiko''s torso. But the audience no longer doubted Reiko''s victory. "Hajime! with a shout, Golem launched his fists at Reiko. It was a blow that would have shattered an ordinary automaton if it had hit it. Reiko, however, leaps and ducks. Aiming at the timing when Reiko landed on the ground, Golem''s kick was released. It seemed to hit ......, but Reiko sank her body down and avoided it. The ribbon on her head shook in the aftermath of the kick. Reiko ducks all of the golem''s attacks, as if testing something. Her body moves as she pleases. The wind on my cheeks, the wind in my hair. The wind on my cheeks, the wind in my hair... The wind tells me what to do. And the vibrations on the ground tell me when my opponent is moving. Reiko, who now has < senses, has greatly improved her sensing ability in close quarters, and she has been a perfect opponent to test it against, and has been dodging the Golem''s attacks. "But we have to make a decision soon, don''t we? Reiko stepped forward while avoiding the Golem''s fist. She then counter-punched him near his dove tail. The height difference between the two is such that the best Reiko can do is to hit him in that area. However, since he is a golem, the dove tail is not a vital point. However, even though she was restraining herself, the counter-punch that Reiko''s power unleashed was enough to blow away her opponent''s golem, which had a weight difference of more than 10 times. The golem, which was blown away about 5 meters, did not get up. It seems that the magi device inside the golem was damaged. "Yes, a blow. ...... It''s not a great one. ...... As before, Reiko greeted the audience with a curtsey, and the crowd erupted into a roar of cheers. A complete victory. This was also the first time in the long history of the Gonkrenz competition that this had been accomplished. "You did it, Jin. Isn''t that great?" "Well, if he''s not my friend, he''s a threat." Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen, who knew Jin''s personality, were having a leisurely conversation. "Jin, congratulations!Reiko, you''re doing great!" Reinhardt was also pleased and praised her. "Ladies and gentlemen!As you can see, the results are in!The winner of the Gonkwrenz competition is Jin Nido!And his automata, Reiko! The audience cheered louder and louder. Jin patted Reiko on the head when she came back. "Reiko, thank you very much. That was great. "Thanks to your father. < "I see... I see..." Jin''s face breaks into tears as he realizes that his sense of touch is more effective than he had expected. Hearing this, Reinhardt later decides to install a tactile sensor in his black knight (Schwarzlitter), but that is a story for another time. "Well then, Mister Gin, how about a special attraction, a mock battle with a giant golem?" To this question, the audience replied, "Do it!" "Let me see you do it!" and "Let''s see it! There was no problem, so Jin agreed. I understand. ...... Mister Markus, can you move the giant golem for me? Marcus looked at me with hatred and said in a hushed voice, "Sure. "Sure, but Goliath is a bit of a handful. But Goliath is not very good with his hands. I don''t want to have to worry about that, do you?" Finally, Reiko and Goliath began their one-on-one combat. "Let''s begin!" The referee called out, and the curtain finally came down on the battle between Reiko and Goliath. "Let''s go, ......!" Reiko had a quiet anger in her heart. It was because her father, Jin, had been disgraced. She didn''t even like the idea of Jin, the Magecraft Meister, being lumped in with the ranks of mere Magecraftsmen, but now she was being belittled by someone who had such a broad brush with the Magecraftsmen. She wanted to crush him once and for all, and have Jin recognized. That was Reiko''s true intention. She also thought that it was necessary to show her ability clearly here in order to eliminate any future interference or harassment against Jin. However, Jin does not like unnecessary destruction. He also does not like to show off too much. Reiko understood his character. Her final action was to overwhelm without showy destruction as Jin had instructed her to do. 410 - - 12-60 Unexpected End Reiko faced the giant golem, Goliath, and first of all, she looked at the opponent''s movement. This is not the first time she has faced a huge opponent. Siamese Dragon, Sandworm, Hecaton Cail, Death Sea Serpent, and Gigarth. Compared to them, the opponent in front of me was inferior. "But you can''t be too careful, can you? That is the knowledge I got from Jin. Reiko reminds herself not to let her guard down, no matter who the opponent is. Goliaths are fast, but only a few times faster than humans. Reiko can be hundreds of times faster. When Goliath stepped into Reiko to crush her, Reiko instantly moved backward with her foot, avoiding the foot with a margin of safety. She then kicked him in the backside of the left knee joint, where her weight was on. She did what is called a with only one leg. Goliath''s weight-bearing knee shattered and he was knocked down. He reached out his left hand to strike the ground to prevent himself from falling down. Reiko was waiting for him. She held his left arm, pulled it and twisted it. This was a throwing technique that he could not use even if he had remembered it. With the perfect amount of force, Goliath fell cleanly to the ground. The earth rumbles and dust rises. "Oh, wow!" "Wow! ......" There was a sigh from the audience. "Is that really a ?" Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen, who was standing by the Empress, couldn''t help but admire the performance. This technique is the secret of the knights of the Shoro Empire. It is a throwing technique used to defeat an opponent without a sword when he has lost it. He would avoid the thrusting sword, hold the opponent''s arm, twist his body, and if possible, lock onto the enemy''s elbow or shoulder joint and throw him as he fell down. It looked like an application of the same technique. "Gehlen, what is the <>?" the question came from the female emperor who was sitting on the other side of the Prime Minister. The marquis explained briefly. "It is a technique that uses the opponent''s power, and if you make a mistake, you will destroy yourself. That''s what that automaton ...... Leco did. No, I''m interested in when he learned that technique, but more than that, I''m amazed that he knows how to use it. "Oh, oh?Your Majesty, that! Prime Minister Jung Fowls exclaimed in surprise. At the same time, the audience cheered. Reiko had gotten under Goliath''s body and lifted him up before he could get up. With her small body. Reiko lifts up the 6 meter tall Goliath, who is 1.3 meters tall. In a sense, it was a surrealistic scene. Goliath, however, is not just sitting there. He moves his body and stretches out his arms to grab Reiko. But a moment before she can catch him, Reiko throws Goliath high into the air. Goliath must have weighed about 4 tons, and Reiko has the physical strength to throw it more than 30 meters high. "......" Both Viscount Georg Randall and Marcus Grinwald were stunned at the impossible sight. Reiko evacuates from the Goliath''s fall. Then, according to the law of gravity, Goliath fell to the ground and hit the ground. There was a roar and the entire arena shook. The ground was perforated by a crater more than 10 meters in diameter. At the bottom of the crater, Goliath was motionless. A closer look revealed that the joint at his waist was bent and damaged. When Goliath did not move after several minutes of waiting, Reiko walked briskly to Christoph Bardet von Tharnat, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, who was acting as the referee. "I think we''re done here, don''t you?" Reiko''s words brought Christoph back to himself, "That''s it!It''s over!The winner, Jin Nido and his automata, Reiko!" As the declaration rang out, the quiet crowd came to life, clapping and cheering enthusiastically. "Great!" "Great!" "That''s great!" "That''s great!" "Cute!Reiko! Reiko bowed in response to the cheers, and the applause seemed to increase even more. "You have a wonderful automaton, Jin-dono." While the site was being cleaned up, the winners were being interviewed. "Is there some secret to such a cute little automaton that makes it so strong? "No, it''s just that I worked very hard on it. Jin casually replied. There is no secret. It was your father who made me. That''s all that matters. Reiko also praised Jin. At this point, the excitement of the audience finally cooled down. Some of them felt threatened by Reiko''s immeasurable power. At the same time, they were considering Reiko''s intelligence and concluded that it was better to be friends with her than to mess with Jin. And no one knows that it was the best choice for them. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, now that all the competitions are over," said the MC, who was succeeded by the Empress Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Scholo. The MC declares the end of the competition and is succeeded by the Empress Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Shawlo, who makes the closing declaration. "Although there were some problems, it seems that this year''s technology exposition will end with a great success," she said. I would like to thank all the participants, visitors, and committee members. These brief words were met with thunderous applause from the audience. Jin also applauded. I dislike lengthy speeches, but I welcome the brief words of the female emperor. "After a short break, we will award the prizes for the best speakers. * * * * "No way. ...... No way, no way, no way!Can you believe it?This is not possible!" Viscount Georg Randall, on the other hand, was screaming in disbelief at what he had seen. "But it''s true. Father, tell Jin ...... that you are the best in the world. It was a mistake to compete with him. But even Erza''s words were not heeded by Viscount Georg Randall. "Shut up!You don''t know what you''re talking about! I''ve been compared to my superior brother since I was a child. I''m not even an heir, and I''ve finally reached my current position. Just when I was aiming for the next step, he showed up. Why!Why are you interfering!" "...... Jin, you''re not standing in my way. He''s just a single person who sees you as an enemy. Jin-kun is very kind to his friends and comrades. But he''s harsh to those who oppose him. Such a man." Georg heard those words and looked at Erza with bloodshot eyes. "......You ...... can''t be talking about that guy ......." "?" "I won''t allow it!You are to marry into a high nobility for my advancement!Otherwise there''s no point in me recognizing you after you were born to such a woman." "Father, what about your promise if Jin-kun wins this competition?" Erza was shocked to hear these shocking words from the man she considered to be her real father and whom she adored in her own way. I don''t care what you promised!You are to live as a tool for my career!" Georg, his eyes bloodshot, his face red, his mouth frothing, reaches out to take Erza out of the arena. At that moment, something shatters inside Erza. "Barrier." The key word activates the absolute barrier of the guard ring. Georg''s hand is blocked by the invisible barrier. "What the hell!Erza!Are you defying me? "......" But Erza turns her head and does not reply. Her eyes are filled with tears. Viscount Georg Randall, seeing that his hands would not work, struck the barrier with the sword at his waist, but the absolute barrier of the guard ring did not budge. The absolute barrier of the guard ring that Jin had created withstood even advanced magic, and had withstood the blows of Reiko in the past. There was no way that a human attack could do anything about it. "Oh no, it''s too much trouble!Puppeteers, prepare magic! The puppet soldier was an automaton that had been watching Erza. The automaton soldier raised his staff in his hand. The wand was filled with fire magic. The surrounding spectators had long since fled, but using such a wand here would have been a big deal. "Uncle!Please don''t!" Reinhardt, who had been stunned by the turn of events, desperately tried to stop him, but the excited Georg could not hear him. In the nick of time, it was Edgar who took the wands to activate the magic from the two automata. "You ......!You are a wooden doll made by Erza!Don''t interfere!Puppet soldier, destroy him!" On command, the two puppet soldiers attacked Edgar furiously. Edgar ducks a fist from one of the puppeteers. Edgar dives into the pocket of one of the puppeteers and throws at it. "That''s a back throw! This is a technique used by the knights of the Shoro Empire. It is one of the self-defense techniques that the old man has recently taught to all Golems and automata related to Horai Island, just in case. Edgar, too, was given knowledge by transinfo while he was in Horaijima, as a disciple of Jin. The puppet soldier was thrown without any restraint and slammed to the ground and stopped moving with all its limbs scattered. Edgar then went toward the other puppet soldier. Edgar dodges a kick and scoops up the axial leg of one of the puppet soldiers. Edgar takes the raised leg of the puppet soldier, who falls on his back, and pushes him further up. Naturally, the head of the puppet soldier hit the ground with a great force. The head was crushed and did not get up. "What ......? Elsa''s father could not believe what he was seeing. An automaton, who looked like a boy, was fighting a battle puppet soldier, and they were more than evenly matched. But the commotion was so great that no one else could have known about it, and the soldiers dispatched by the emperor came to the scene. Viscount!What are you doing? You''re in the audience! Then something happened to the Viscount. "Ugh!......Ugh............!" Suddenly he began to suffer, and then he lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. "...... father?" Uncle? Viscount? Command! His men rushed to him. They know first aid on the battlefield. "Lie down quietly!...... Pulse is weak. Gently! They did not pay any attention to Elsa, but left quickly with Viscount Georg Randall in their arms. The soldiers dispatched by the Empress also follow to keep an eye on them. The remaining Elsa and Reinhardt were left in a daze at the quick ending. "Yes, yes, we must inform Jin!Edgar, keep Erza safe!" With that, Reinhardt ran off to inform Jin. "...... father......" The remaining Erza was stunned. What had happened to her sturdy father? She had been despairing of her father just a few minutes ago, and now she was worried. "...... might not work this time..." ? I turned around at the sound of that voice and saw Marcus Grinwald standing behind Elsa. There was no one in that area of the auditorium anymore. Seeing Elsa''s alarmed look, Marcus showed his palms and said a mysterious line. I''m not going to hurt you, don''t worry. I''m not going to do anything to you, you can rest assured of that. "My role?" Yes, your role is done. ......... to measure the strength of the humans. Humans? Erza wonders if she is not a human being. "......Oh, that was a slip of the tongue. Well, Miss Elsa, I''m going to leave you now. It''s a relief to finally not have to put on a show. "...... play?" "Hmmm, Jin-kun and your automata have done a lot of things just to find out how good they are. I didn''t think you''d be able to unilaterally overrun Goliath, but we''ve got enough information." Who are you? Who are you?Take a guess. Give my regards to Mr. Jin. I''d like to be friends with a good magecraftsman like him. You''re a good one, though. With that, Marcus glanced at Edgar, who was standing there protecting Elsa, and turned away. Marcus looked as if he was going to walk away, but then he stopped and muttered as if he remembered something. "Oh yes, please give my regards to the Marquis. I am sorry for everything. And this time, he walked away. Amidst the clamor at the end of the expo, Erza''s Secret Service (SP), Maron and Plum, had seen and heard the whole thing, and informed the old man of Horai Island in real time. The old man then ordered one of the 5th column (Quinta), Regulus 50, a ranger, to follow them. "Erza!" Then came Jin. She had rushed in after the speech at the end of the competition with the news from Reinhardt. "Jin ......" Erza released the barrier and jumped into Jin''s chest. As soon as she felt relief, all the anxiety she had been feeling came pouring out of her, and she began to cry uncontrollably. "Jin, my brother ......" "What''s wrong?What''s wrong?" Jin could do nothing but hold Erza in his arms as she sobbed. 411 - - 12-61 Magikraft Meister "What the hell happened?" After Erza had calmed down, Jin took her to the waiting room and asked her what had happened. He had heard most of the report from the Secret Service (SP) via the old man and Reiko, but he wanted to hear it from the person himself. Erza''s side of the story might give us some new insights. "...... Um, you know..." Erza sat down in a chair and explained her father and Marcus'' words to Jin in a halting manner. "...... measure the ability of the humans, is that what you said?" "...... yes." Jin guessed that Marcus was probably a demon or a minion of the demon tribe. We''ll wait for the report from Regulus 50, who followed him, but I was curious about the case of Erza''s father. "He collapsed suddenly?" "Yes." There are several symptoms that come to mind. Brain or heart damage. Brain: stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage. For the heart, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction. My men took him, didn''t they? Yes. No matter how much he cares, Erza is more important to Jin right now. Still, Jin reassured Erza, who looked worried, by saying that some of his men might be able to use healing magic and that her life would not be in danger for the time being. "But I''ll ask him about his condition when he calms down." "...... yes." Then Reinhardt came in. "Hello Jin, Erza is here too." He followed the Viscount and said he had checked on her. He was very attentive. "So far, he seems to be in stable condition. But he has not regained consciousness yet. This happened once before ......." "Before?" "Yes. It was about a year ago. I collapsed once. I remember that time he regained consciousness soon after that and acted as if nothing had happened the next day. So I''m sure he''ll be fine this time, too. "......I think I heard something like that. I was on a trip at the time, so I didn''t see it in person." "Hmm. ......" Jin was somewhat curious, but there seemed to be nothing they could do about it, so he switched the topic to Marcus'' last words. "I''m a little concerned about the fact that he also said hello to the Marquis." "......The Marquis is the only one who has any connection with my father." The Marquess Gehlen Theodoric? Yes. Jin concluded that it would be best to ask the Marquis himself about this at a later date. In any case, it would be after the technical exhibition was over. "Well, apart from this disturbance, the whole thing went off without any major trouble. I guess the awards will start soon, right?" "Oh, I see." As a participant, I can''t not attend. Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt left the waiting room and headed for the main hall. "Hey, Jin, I see you got Erza back. Good, good, good." Saki came out of the alchemists'' waiting room and joined them. "Yeah, I think we''re going to be able to settle this somehow. "Somehow, huh?Well, Jin is probably the only person you don''t have to worry about anymore. I hope I can live up to that trust. I hope I can live up to that trust. "Now then, as we come to the end, we will present awards to the best of the best. As the final day of the expo, awards were being presented to the participants on a special stage. Erza has settled down and is seated with Jin and Reinhardt. "Magic technique category. Excellent prize, Elsa Randall von Lazula." Elsa''s name is mentioned here. "I commend her for her development of recording technology and for her skill in creating the jewel box of magical tools known as the music box." "Come on, Elsa, go on." "...... yeah." Elsa walks onto the stage as the crowd looks on. There she is presented with a commemorative medal by Christophe, a member of the committee, in front of the Emperor, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology. Elsa''s face was a little proud as she received the silver medal around her neck. "Alchemy. Excellent prize, Roenas. He has shown us some interesting phenomena." Roenas was the man who demonstrated how the pigment of the purple orchid can be changed in various colors with vinegar or lye. "Guest of Honor. Award of Excellence, Kingdom of Cerroa, Stearina Beta. The golem was a thing of beauty. The winners were announced one after another. "Thesis Section. Saki Eschenbach . . The point of view is novel and opens up a new field in the theory of magic." Saki, probably happy to be recognized, walked up to the podium with a rare flush on her cheeks. "The Golem section. Marcus Grinwald. Even though he was defeated, he should be recognized for his skill in building the giant golem. But Markus does not show up. Elsa and Jin know why, but the committee members seem to think that he has gone home after losing to Jin, so they do not question him, and the award ceremony proceeds. "Ship Division. Reinhard Randall von Adamas. The ship will add another page to the history of ships." Reinhardt went up on the stage with great joy. Several more people were presented with awards, but Jin''s name was not mentioned. The ceremony came to an end. This concludes the presentation of awards to the best winners at this year''s exposition. These words were greeted with a murmur from the audience. Yes, it was a sign of doubt and dissatisfaction over the fact that Jin had not received an award. "Please be quiet. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Shoro has one last announcement to make. Waiting for the crowd to settle down, the queen began to speak. "This year''s technical exposition has been a great success. I am very happy to see the development of excellent technicians. The guests of honor, the engineers, have also demonstrated their excellent skills. He paused and looked around at the audience. "You are probably thinking, <>I am sure you are wondering why his name is not mentioned. The audience was momentarily disturbed by his words. "Lastly, <>, Jin Nido. The mini craftsman (Smith) and the airship, it was a work that overturned our common sense. Therefore, I am pleased to present him with a special award of excellence, and at the same time, to bestow upon him the title of of the Shoro Kingdom, as well as an honorary knighthood! The audience burst into applause upon hearing these words. Reiko urged Jin, who remained seated, not immediately understanding what was being said. "Father, please come up to the stage. Reiko was happy to hear him say this. At last, here, in front of so many people. Jin, the father... Jin, who had inherited everything from Adriana Barbora Zetsi. Even though it was only for the Shoro Empire, he was given the title of <>. "Ah, ah, I see." Jin replied in a slightly hoarse voice, standing up and walking onto the stage. "Ser Jing Nido, I hope that you will bring some of your wisdom to my country. The Empress placed a golden medal around Jin''s neck. At this moment, a magecraft master was born, a magecraft master officially recognized, albeit within the Shoro Empire. The people gathered in the hall applauded generously for Jin, the world''s only Magecraftsman, the "Magecraft Meister. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the award ceremony was over, the technology exposition came to an end with the closing speech by the Shoro Imperial Princess. "Congratulations, Jin! "Congratulations, Jin!" Congratulations, Jin! Reinhard, Saki, and Erza congratulated Jin on stage. "Congratulations on your father''s appointment as Magecraft Meister," said Reiko. Reiko also congratulated him. "Well, it''s a title, not a position. "It''s still a great achievement. A Magecraft Meister is probably superior to a Magecraft Maestro. After all, there is only one Magecraft Meister in the world. Reinhardt, who knew the circumstances of Jin and his predecessor, was somewhat vague, taking into consideration the questions that would be asked by those around him. "And you also received a knighthood, albeit an honorary one." "That''s right!That means that you can''t call yourself a "Magecraft Meister" unless you show that you are at least as good as, or even better than, Jin." Saki also praised him. "Thank you, everyone." "Jin, that''s great, isn''t it? Stearina came to congratulate us. And then... "Congratulations, Jin-dono!" "Magecraft Meister Gin, your honor." "Honorary Baronet, Jin-dono, my best regards to you." By this time, the other award winners on stage were flocking to Jin to shake his hand and get to know him. No, they were coming from below the stage one after another. If Reiko had not blackmailed him with a "Enough! 412 - - 12-62 Future Policy Jin, who had received the title of "Magecraft Meister" in the Shoro Kingdom, had returned to Horai Island that night. And he was discussing the plan he had been working on for some time with the old man who was the brain behind the magic of Horai Island, Jin''s masterpiece automata Reiko, and Anne who was an automata created during the time of the Great Magickal War. "Reiko, what do you think?" Reiko, what do you think?" asked Jin, who had worked for the previous generation. "Yes, I think it''s a very good idea." What about Anne? Yes, I think it''s a good idea. "I see. ......" Jin''s idea. It is a plan to open the sacred place of magical engineering to the public beyond the framework of the nation. The previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, had a dream to make Horai Island a sacred place of magical engineering. However, this dream was never realized, and Adriana died in disappointment. One thousand years later, the second generation, Jin, had decided that he would one day carry on the legacy of his predecessor. At that time, unlike his predecessor, the island of Horai, where he is now, has been uplifted by tectonic movements, has become wider, and with Jin''s knowledge, has become one of the most powerful military forces in the world. It is extremely dangerous to open this place to the public. So, we discussed the possibility of officially opening the Kunlun Island to the public, which had previously been finished as a dummy of Horai Island. "But how about the Kunlun Island? "What?" Anne suddenly raised an objection. "From what I''ve heard, even the Kunlun Islands are far beyond the standards of today''s world." Well, that''s true. "If it were open to the public, who knows what kind of people would come and go. A too high level of technology can lead to envy and conflict." "I see. ......" There will always be a monopolistic person in any country, organization, or even individual. The technology and materials in Horai Island and Kunlun Island are coveted by many countries. It is not surprising that they would tend to give priority to their own interests. "I think that your idea of creating a sacred place for magical engineering is wonderful in itself. Anne prefaced her remarks with this, and then began to express her thoughts. "Due to the magical wars, the culture and civilization of the world today has regressed compared to what it was 300 years ago. The Unifiler''s mission was to return the world to the level it was before the war. However, the world of 300 years ago is not necessarily all that great. Therefore, leaving it to the Unification Party (Unifiler)...... of today to look back on the past, I think that you should think about the future. "The future, or ......." I understand what Anne is trying to say. Jin-san does not necessarily have to try to do the same things as his predecessors. The historical background is different. "Then, what should we do? ......" The old man has a good point. But the question is whether there is such a place. >. "What?" The old man''s outlandish remark took Jin by surprise. However, there is an example of an intermediate base < of a warp gate. It is not such a ridiculous story. No country would go to the trouble of claiming its own territory at the bottom of the ocean. There is no way to use it in the first place. "What?" This time Jin was surprised. How could such a large object float in the air? But Jin, as expected, soon got over his surprise and understood what the old man meant. "I see. You are making progress in analyzing gravity magic, aren''t you?" < "That''s true, though. ......" I think it''s too much of an exaggeration, and I don''t think launching a space station out of the blue is a good idea either. "Why not on a big ship?" Reiko asked his opinion, but the old man denied it. "Oh, yes, that''s right. ......" If it shakes, it is impossible to do precise research. Therefore, the ship idea is a dead end. The place you mentioned "further north" is, after all, the land of the demon tribe. It is certainly not the territory of any country, but it would not be realistic. With the key word "land of the demons", the old man has come up with a new candidate. "Where?" "Ah, there it is. ......" I followed a demon tribe, <>, who had been in the service of Count Walter, a nobleman of the Kingdom of Klein, and that''s where I found out about it. The kingdom of Leonard, which was supposed to have existed there, had long since been destroyed. < "Hmmm, well, ...... before that, how did the Kingdom of Leonard fall?" The 5th column (Quinta) was sent to investigate the situation. It is not only the destruction of a country but also the disappearance of its people. War, plague, massacre ...... are some of the possibilities, but none of them would have resulted in such a thorough destruction. . "What?" The old man says that the disappearance is like a group of people emigrating to some other place. "Did you hear anything from the people who stayed behind?" << The investigation into the cause of the destruction of Leonard''s kingdom seems to have reached an impasse. "We should avoid setting foot in the old Leonard Kingdom until we know the cause. "Let me see the map, please. At Ann''s request, the old man projected the current map on the magic screen on the wall. Anne, who was staring at the map, pointed at a point and said, "What about here? "What about here?" The sea to the east of the Kingdom of Leonard is dotted with small islands. Anne pointed to one of these islands. It is clearly within the territory of the former Leonard Kingdom, and its size is reasonable, about the size of the Kunlun Island. < The Penglai and Kunlun islands are located on the Tropic of Cancer, and their climate is similar to the Tropic of Cancer. "Hmmm, would it be best to develop it and make it a ?" . The old man finally agreed with me. "Good. Then, let''s leave the island of Horai as it is now, with only my <> allowed to enter. The Kunlun island will be treated as a villa. And that island ......, let''s call it <>. Fuso is another island where legendary hermits live. < "Yes, please make sure that the site is large enough from the beginning so that we can expand it later. Also, please consider the location of the site so that we can build ships and other things. << "Yes, that''s right. And I will also prepare a full-time golem. Jin decided on the general plan and left the details to the old man and Ann. The new era of magical technology would soon be upon us. Jin looked out the window of the institute and saw the dawn sky spreading out and smiled, "We are going to be busy again from now on. 413 - - 13-01 Hitoshi, start moving. "Wow, this is a great view! "This is exhilarating!" A technology exposition was held in Koju, Shoro. At the exposition, Jin presented a miniature craftsman (Smith) and an airship measuring 10 centimeters in height. As the person with the best magical technology, he was awarded the title of <>, although only in the Shoro Empire. And now, he is flying with Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egelea and Princess Rieschen of the Kingdom of Klein in his airship. "Jin is really great, isn''t he? He''s so much better than Marcus. "Yes, thank you." "Mr. Ernest, you had me on the edge of my seat that time. ...... Ha-ha-ha. Sorry, Rys. That time must have been when I criticized Marcus''s golem, saying that it was not enough. Princess Rieschen was not a good belly-button trickster either, Jin thought, but he could understand others even if he couldn''t understand himself. "Oh, there''s a beautiful bird flying over there! "Where is it, Rys?I can''t see it." Princess Rieschen, who has a magic eye for distance vision, can see things far away that Jin and Ernest can never see. So perhaps she was enjoying this flight the most. "You two seem to have gotten along very well, haven''t you? Prince Ernest smiled and Princess Rieschen''s cheeks turned a little. With these two on board, Jin flew for a full hour and returned to Koju. "Oh, that was fun!Jin, please give us a ride again!" "Master Ernest, don''t bother Jin too much. If something happens to our royalty on board, it will be an international problem. Prince Ernest is 13 and Princess Rieschen is 12. Princess Rieschen looked a little older than Prince Ernest. "Welcome home, Magecraft Meister, Sir Gin Nidor." They were greeted on the ground by Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, the Shawlo Empress, and Jung Fors von K?bsler, the Prime Minister of the Shawlo Kingdom. Since the prince and princess are guests of honor, they are being entertained by the queen herself. The lady emperor also looked like she was eager to get on the airship, but she had to hold back her tears because she was now in the company of Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen. After dropping them off, Jin was finally released, but he had to carry about 120 people who wanted to ride on the boat, as he had promised yesterday. "It''s a nightmare. ......" All this because he presented an unorthodox work, an airship. It was his own fault. The 120 people who wanted to experience the airship were loaded two at a time, and each flight lasted five minutes. It took about five hours to complete the flight for all the participants. "Uu......" Back in his hotel room, Reiko offered him Persica juice as he was lounging on the sofa. It was specially made in Horaijima and had the effect of relieving fatigue. But that is just a normal person''s story. Jin''s body is mostly composed of magic atoms (magiatoms), ...... more precisely. The parts of his body that were missing when he fell into a blast furnace pot on the modern Earth are made up by Magiatoms. Therefore, poisons and medicines have no effect on Jin. I have been thinking of taking the time to investigate the mechanism of metabolism, but I have been too busy with other things and have neglected it until today. I''ll leave you with a quiet word. Jin, feeling refreshed after drinking Persica juice, got up on the sofa. Just then Elsa and Meane returned. Edgar was with them. "Welcome back. How are you?" A formal and detailed interview was taking place after the disappearance. Yeah, everything was fine. "Yes, I just wanted to record my explanation." The old man had prepared his answers in advance, so there was no problem. Especially if the Empress is not here. The fact that Her Majesty the Queen gave her permission the other day is a big deal. "Good for you! So what''s the plan?" If Viscount Georg Randall has fallen and there is a strong possibility that he will be punished in some way, Elsa''s return home is in limbo. The treatment of the Viscount is still disputed. It is quite possible that the family will be demolished. "Well, for the time being, I''m going to be under the care of my brother Rai. Erza''s explanation made sense to Jin. "I see. Since she is Jin''s disciple and Reinhardt is his hostess, it is only natural that she should be treated as such. This way, there is no problem for her to work with Jin. And Saki?Have you heard anything?" Saki had gone to support the ailing Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen and had not been seen since the technology exposition. "Saki''s sister is with the Marquis, apparently." "Hmm. ......" They said behind my back that I''m an old man or something, but they are still my blood relatives. "I guess it''s the blood bond. They say blood is thicker than water. When Jin said these words, Erza''s face clouded slightly. "Oh, sorry, Elsa." Recently, Jin has learned to recognize the changes in Erza''s facial expressions. She had been disciplined as a little girl and had not been able to show her emotions on her face, but recently she has started to show some expressions appropriate for her age. She has recently begun to show her age-appropriate expressions. "......No, it''s okay. Don''t worry about it." Elsa was shocked yesterday when her father, Viscount Georg Randall, threw a few harsh words at her. "...... I wonder how the Viscount is doing?" Meane said to shift the subject a little. "Yes, it is certainly a cause for concern. If it''s a stroke, ...... wait a minute?" Jin had something on his mind, though he was too busy to think about it calmly. "Didn''t Reinhardt say that Erza''s father has had a stroke before?" "...... yes." "Erza was on a trip, is there any possibility that her personality changed before and after the trip?" "Yes!" It was Meane who answered with a burst of energy. "That man ...... had always been stubborn and power-oriented, but in his own way he had listened to the advice of those around him. However, after he had fallen ill and recovered, he became self-absorbed. He became angry, and he also began to hit his subordinates when he didn''t like them." "Ummm ......" When Jin heard Meene''s story, the word <> came to mind. Elsa did not seem to understand it, but it seems that the initial knowledge transfer (trans-info) did not give her that much knowledge. Dementia can also be caused by cerebral infarction, i.e., a blockage of minute blood vessels in the brain. In such cases, changes in personality are often observed. Most of them become angry and act out of character. In the modern world where Jin grew up, such symptoms were often shown on TV, and he used to watch the Director because he was worried about him, so he knows a little about it. "Are you worried?" "...... don''t know, no." Jin thought that no matter how many harsh words were thrown at them, the fact that they were still father and son might not change. It was a feeling that Jin could not understand, even if he wanted to. "......If you''re going to visit him, I''ll go with you, okay?" Erza''s shoulders shook at his words. "......" But Elsa remained down and did not reply. Reiko speaks up in her place. "What if, what if?If Elsa''s father''s personality changed because of the <> that your father mentioned, if the <> can be cured, will his personality return to normal?" "E......" Elsa''s face rose at his words. "I also wonder what Marcus was doing. He said that his purpose was to gather information, but the fact that he created Goliath leads me to believe that he was doing something else. I think it is necessary to know that." So far, no one but Jin, Reiko, the old man and Anne know that Marcus was a pawn of the demon tribe. In fact, Regulus 50, who had followed Marcus, had secured him when he suddenly collapsed just before the territory of the demon tribe. He said that it was like a puppet with broken strings falling down. After securing him, they carried him to a nearby town and took care of him, and he soon regained consciousness. However, Markas did not remember anything that had happened up to that point. We are sure of this, because we used transinfo to find out. The old man had to guess so. Otherwise, there was no explanation. That would explain the fact that his knowledge was like a wormhole. However, Marcus did not remember who was controlling him. Therefore, it was highly possible, but not certain, that Marcus was being manipulated by a demon tribe. Therefore, Jin did not tell anyone about this. He did not want to cause unnecessary confusion. But he would tell the Horaijima family soon. But since Saki was not here, I had to put it off. "...... that''s for sure." Elsa nodded at Reiko''s words. In order to untangle the tangled threads, it would be necessary to go to the residence of Viscount Georg Randall. This could only be done by Jin and Erza. "...... got it. Jin, I''ll go. "Okay, we''ll head there tomorrow then." 414 - - 13-02 The town of Exy and the parents home of Elza The next day, June 24th. Jin refused to go to Eksi, where Elsa''s family lived. On the way, I''d like to change the story a little. I''m only going to rescind the title of "Magi Engineer Maestro". He said. This was unnecessary for Jin, who had already received the title of Magecraft Maestro. "Think about it, will you?" He was reminded of this, but in his mind, he had already made up his mind about what he would do. He left Koju without saying anything about it yet. The airship was drained of helium and left in Koju. Jin, Erza, Meane, Reinhard, and Bertsche. Reiko, Edgar, Noir and Neon. Reinhardt''s ocean-going ship, the , was crossing Lake Tosmo with just enough people on board. "I think I''ll go directly to Exi this time, instead of going to Banne. "Please." Reinhard had explained the reason for going to Eksi this time. < who was not there now was Saki. Reinhardt knew why. Saki went home with the Marquis yesterday. "Well, well, that''s a good thing ......, isn''t it?" The boat ride with such conversation lasted about an hour. The group approached the town of Exi on the other side of the river. "Hmmm, it''s quite lively in its own way." It was not as bustling as Banne, where Reinhardt''s parents live, but it was busy because of its location along the highway. As we entered the harbor, the administrator''s ship approached us. It was a routine check for regular flights and non-resident vessels. "Then, please come to the east pier No. 3. We were told the number of the pier. Following the instructions, the Scarlet Trail pulled in. "Well, it would be more convenient to get on and off from the bow or the stern of this ship because of the outer rings. ......" Reinhard muttered as he helped his beloved wife Berthe ashore. It is true that the waterwheels on both sides of the outer wheel are in the way of the boat. It is typical of Reinhardt to be thinking of improvements even at a time like this. "Master, we have been expecting you." The steward''s voice. The day before, I had sent the carriages ahead of the boat. "Thank you. Let''s go!" Jin''s carriage can accommodate eight people, not including Steward, but there is one extra person who can ride on the golem horse. So, after consultation, Noir, who knows Erza''s parents'' house, is chosen to ride the golem horse. The sight of the black knight (Schwarzlitter) Noir astride the golem horse was a sight to behold. "Oh, hey, look at this ......." "Wow, it''s amazing!" whispering to each other in the street. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Viscount Georg Randall''s residence is located in the northern outskirts of the town of Eksi. "It''s not in the center, is it?" "Yes, because in the center is the town hall where the mayor lives. Reinhardt explained. Even though he is a lord, he does not rule directly. The viscount is a military man, so he has the mayor as his deputy. Jin''s carriage arrived at the Viscount''s residence about 20 minutes from the port. The house is about two times smaller than Reinhardt''s parents'' house, but the architectural style is very similar. It has a large front yard and is surrounded by trees. "......I miss it." Elsa gazes at the house for a while, feeling nostalgic. Meane is silent. Reinhardt says he understands how she feels, so he leaves the carriage with her and lets her do as she pleases while he makes the necessary arrangements with the baroness. Then, a skinny young man comes out to greet the group. He has pale red hair and light blue eyes, much like Erza''s. "Reinhardt? "Reinhardt, it''s been a long time. And is that Sir Jin Nido?I am Moritz Randall von Amber. This was Moritz, Erza''s brother and Georg''s eldest son. "Moritz, my brother, please come to ......." Elsa came to herself at the sound of her brother''s voice and was about to run to him, but stopped in mid-run as if hesitating. "Oh, Elsa!You''re back!You look good!" Moritz extended his hand and made a gesture as if he was waiting for her. Erza took a hesitant step and then another, ......My brother, sir. ......Thank you." She stood in front of Moritz and said the words of return. Moritz took Elsa''s hand and welcomed her sister. "Welcome back. I heard you''ve been through a lot.Well, come in. Reinhard and Bertsche, congratulations on your belated wedding. "Thank you. How is the Viscount? "Well, I don''t want to stand around talking, so come on in anyway. Last but not least, Meine, welcome back. "...... Thank you very much." So the group entered the Viscount''s mansion and was ushered into a large parlor. "...... mother?" Erza asked as she looked around the room. By "mother" she did not mean Meane, of course, but the baroness, Marlene Randall von Nefra. "Oh, Mother has gone to the villa by Lake Wass to recuperate." Marlene was rather frail, and after giving birth to Fritz, the healer told her that she would not be able to have any more children. That is why Viscount Georg Randall took Elsa, whom Meine had borne. ...... to use her as a pawn in the name of marriage. "...... so." Elsa is a little disappointed. She missed her mother, who had been kind to her even if she wasn''t related to her. "Well, I know I have a lot of questions and you have a lot to tell me, but I think it would be best to get the most important things out of the way first, don''t you? Like a shrewd man, Moritz cut to the chase without interrupting the conversation. "I have heard from my predecessor about the purpose of your visit. You are here to visit my father, Georg, for his diagnosis, and to talk about Marcus, is that correct? "Yes." Jin answered on behalf of all the participants. "Well, a daughter should have no reservations about meeting her father. ...... Elsa, will you tell me more later?" "Yes, brother." Moritz seems to be suppressing his desire to ask Erza a lot of questions. Unlike Fritz, the second son, Moritz is an intelligent man. He seems to be physically weaker. "The last time I collapsed ...... the year before last, I noticed it immediately, but this time I haven''t regained consciousness yet ......." Moritz invited the group into the room where Georg was sleeping, and with a downcast look on his face, he spoke. "Father......" "Master ......" Erza and Meine were speechless when they saw Georg lying in a so-called vegetative state. "Elsa, check him out. If Jin had not said those words, she might still have been doing so for a long time. "Yeah, okay. ......<>" Moritz''s eyes peeled back for a moment as he watched Erza use her advanced healing magic, but he continued to watch without saying a word. "......<>" Erza, who had been examining Georg several times, finally put her palm on Georg''s forehead, "<>" She cast the highest level of healing magic. As expected, Moritz was surprised at this, "Erza!When did you do that? he couldn''t help but ask. "How about ......?" Jin was more concerned about Elsa''s expression and wanted to know the results of the examination as soon as possible. "...... There is a clot of blood here, father. It looks like it''s pressing on his brain." Elsa pointed to her forehead. "Hmm, frontal lobe or ...... ah, I wonder what it is." Even Jin does not know everything. He tried to remember what the frontal lobe of his brain did, but his memory was hazy. "But I''m sure it''s not good for your brain anyway." "Yeah. So I tried to use genesung, but it didn''t work so well. Moritz, who was listening to the conversation between Jin and Elsa, spun his words regretfully. "I am confident that I have learned a lot of knowledge in various fields, but I can''t follow the conversation between you two. But if the cure (genesung) doesn''t work, then my father is no longer ......." "No, it doesn''t." Jin interrupted Moritz, who was feeling down. "Elsa, the cure (genesung) is medical, right?" "......Yes, if you put it that way, that''s right. "What kind of surgical healing magic can I use?" "I don''t know if I can use it,...... but I''ll try." Feligenesen is the highest level of healing magic in the surgical field. "Heal him, O power of healing, <>......" At that moment, the magic was indeed activated. But, just as when she had learned Genezing before, Erza ran out of power and fell down. 415 - - 13-03 Arsenic Edgar supported Erza as she was about to fall down. Jin gave Erza a glass of Persica juice specially made in Horai Island, which Reiko had given to him. It was made by raising the content of free magic element (ether) and specializing in the effect of recovering magic power. Erza manages to drink it down and regains her energy. "You''ve made it to ......, Erza! "That''s great!" Jin and Reinhardt praised her. "Yes, thank you. "So, what do you think?" How did it work? "Wait a minute. ......<>" Elsa examined her father again and her face lit up. "The blood clots are gone," she said. "Oh, yes!Just as I thought." Jin thought that since the brain was bleeding internally, it would be better to use a surgical healing magic instead of a medical healing magic. And it worked. Internal medicine basically activates the healing power of tissues. In the surgical system, there are not only activation of the healing power, but also the accompanying effects such as closing a wound in case of a cut, or repositioning a bone in case of a fracture, and so on. The accompanying effect is that the blood clot is broken up and absorbed by the body. Think of it like the disappearance of internal bleeding. The blood clot is not a foreign substance, but a part of the body, or was a part of the body, and is therefore decomposed and absorbed quickly. "In this state, I think it is best to let the brain damage heal as much as possible." "Yes, I understand. ......<>" The Persica juice had restored almost all of Erza''s magic power, so she could use the advanced magic again without any problem. "......I think this is good." The viscount''s breathing seems to have deepened. At any rate, we have done what we can do. The rest was a matter of observation. So Jin and the others moved into the reception room once more. This time, Moritz posed a question to Erza. "Erza, when did you learn to use such advanced healing magic? What was that juice you just drank? "The way you healed her, what was the meaning of that? Etc, etc, etc, etc. Jin and Erza answered these questions one by one. Of course, they kept Houraishima and Jin''s story reasonably vague. "......I see, you had such qualities. I''m sorry I didn''t develop those qualities in you. I''m sorry." When Moritz finished listening, he apologized on behalf of his father for not recognizing Elsa''s talent and for having forced him to discipline and educate her for it. "......It''s already done. ......Now tell me about Markus." It was Moritz''s turn to tell about Markus. "Yes. I didn''t like him, though, so I don''t know much about him. Moritz then began to tell us what he knew about Markas. "He first came to our house about ......12 years ago. Elsa was just a little girl, remember?" Twelve years ago, Elsa would have been five. It''s a fine line. "I just couldn''t get into him. He was so devious, so close to the edge of criminality. My father liked him, though." Where were you from? "Well, I didn''t ask him. My father didn''t seem to care much for him. I thought you were a different person when I met you at the technology fair. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. He''s changed a lot in the past year. "Changed?" According to Moritz, Erza''s demeanor has changed dramatically since she started traveling with Reinhardt. She had been reserved, but now she was more outgoing and her skills as a magi engineer had improved. "Well, there is a possibility that my previous attitude was a lie, I mean I think it''s the right one. "Then why do you say that?" This time it was Jin who asked the question. "Why, I don''t know. I don''t know why. I have some guesses. ...... "Information gathering." "Hmm?" Gathering information, Marcus said. "Gathering information. ....... If that''s true, he was working for some country or organization. Jin nodded in his mind when he heard that statement. "So that''s what it means. The reason for the change in attitude is that he had gathered all the information we had, and now he was trying to gauge our reaction. Jin thought that his guess was probably correct. Erza and Reinhardt praised him as a wise man, and he was able to make a fairly correct judgment from the little information he had. However, all Jin and the others wanted now were the facts. "I want to check out Marcus'' apartment. Moritz nods at Erza''s suggestion. "Well, that''s all right. Come on. Come on. ...... you can all come." Moritz helped Erza to her feet and motioned to the rest of the group. They all went to Marcus'' room. The door was unlocked. "This is Marcus'' room. Feel free to check it out." Moritz said to Jin and Reinhard. He stood by the door and looked around. Jin immediately started to examine the room. Reiko was with him. "Father, I found this here..." Reiko held out a golden container. Inside it was a gray powder. "<>" Jin quickly examined it and was surprised to find out what the substance was. "...... arsenic." "What? Erza was the only one who realized the danger of arsenic when she heard the word. The others did not understand. "Jin, what is arsenic?" Jin answers Reinhardt''s question with a serious face. "In a word, it''s a poison. In a word, it''s a poison, and a very dangerous one at that. "What!" Moritz looks surprised when he hears the word "poison. However, the discovery of poison does not immediately lead to a crime. Jin and the others continue to investigate the room. "What is this sake?" There were three bottles of sake in beautifully crafted crystal bottles on the shelf. "Yes, the brand favored by the Marquis Theoderic. It is from the South and very expensive. I have delivered it to you several times in the past. The lid of the bottle was like a cork, unsealed, so you could pull it off if you wanted to. And if it is an expensive liquor, only the Marquis would drink it without letting others drink it. Jin reasoned this way and showed the liquor in the bottle by analyzing it before the eyes of the people present. "<>. ...... This is it!" "Jin, you don''t think so?" "......Yes, a very small amount of arsenic was detected. If the Marquis was drinking this, it is probably the cause of his cirrhosis. It was a shocking revelation. Moritz''s face turned pale. If it became public that a member of his own family had poisoned the Marquis, he was sure to be crushed. Even if not, the fact that his father was being considered for punishment for the trouble he had caused was deeply disturbing for Moritz. But Jin was more concerned about something else. "...... does Markus know about the presence of arsenic? When he had checked the basement of the laboratory, arsenic and nickel had been separated. Nickel is said to be an additive metal for stainless steel, and his predecessor had known about the existence of arsenic. However, it is said that arsenic is not known today. It is certain that the knowledge of arsenic has ceased to exist after the War of Magic. However, Marcus, who seems to be a demon tribe, knew the existence of arsenic. This means that there was no breakdown of knowledge among the demon clans due to the magical wars. Of course, it is dangerous to judge only on this one point, but it is at least a possibility. Jin concluded that there is a possibility that the demon tribe has more advanced technology and culture than the current human race. "...... Sorry, I''m feeling a little sick. I''m going to go back to my room. ...... Erza, the rest is up to you." Meanwhile, blue-faced Moritz staggered away, probably imagining that the house was about to be demolished. "I know how you feel, brother. But now we have to find out the truth. Erza said stoutly and continued to investigate the room. 416 - - 13-04 Truth After Moritz left, Marcus'' room was searched. "Brother Jin, what''s this?" Erza had found something. "Hm?...... What''s this?" It was a piece of leather paper, but there were words on it that even Jin couldn''t read. "Reiko, can you read it?" "Wait a minute. ............ Got it. These are the letters used by the demon tribe. What? It says, "...... ask-ques-itsurut-ftgumnus ...... something mixed with alcohol and given to someone to drink. It is torn, so I don''t know more than that." Reiko confirmed this to Anne via the old man. Anne could understand a little bit of the demons'' writing. "Hmmm, arsenic, liquor, and this note. "Well, arsenic and liquor, and this note..." "I bet Marcus gave the marquis arsenic-laced liquor. And that Marcus is a demon." "A demon tribe? Reinhardt was the most surprised to learn this for the first time. Erza and Meine were not so surprised. Erza had been aware of this ever since she had confronted Marcus, and had told Meene about it. What were the demons doing? Elsa answered. "...... As I answered my brother earlier, he said he was gathering information." "That''s right. Gathering information,......." Reinhardt shuddered as he thought about what that meant. The fact that they were gathering information on the human side meant that the demons were planning to make contact with the human race. And it couldn''t be friendly. "So you''re telling me that they know about Jin''s airship, the mini-craftsman (Smith), and Reiko''s strength? "Of course." "I guess so. ...... Jin!......" Knowing that he was the only one upset, Reinhardt regained some of his composure. "...... I see. That was just the beginning for Jin, wasn''t it?" "That''s what I mean." Erza nodded on Jin''s behalf. It was obvious to Elsa, who had been on a plane before. Two more pieces of leather paper were found, which seemed to have been miswritten. After piecing together the contents and filling in the missing parts, one of the sheets was found, <<<<< by the Marquis>>. And the other one is <<>. Jin recalls that the demon tribe of Count Walter''s place, <>, had also lent his help for the fun of it. It seems that the demons are interested in the human race. "Well, I don''t want to think about it, but I think that your uncle was thinking of more than marrying Erza off to the Marquis and making her a relative of his. After Elsa was pregnant, he poisoned the Marquis. If Elsa gave birth to the marquis''s child, and if it was a boy, she might have intended to take advantage of being a relative and become the young marquis''s guardian. Even if no child is born, he will have a different voice if he is the father of the legitimate wife. Elsa shuddered when she heard this. "......I don''t like that." Meane gently hugged Erza''s shoulder without saying a word. "But with all this evidence, I''m sure the Randalls over here will be taken down. ....... Fritz, who is a soldier and has some merit, will probably stay in the army, but Moritz will ......" Elsa has the skills to make it as a magi engineer and would be a sought after healer. If not, she could live with Jin on Horai Island or in the village of Kaina. But that is not the case with Moritz. "...... brother ......" "If Moritz is willing, but I would appreciate it if he would help me manage my domain." Reinhardt received the estate from his father. Because of the formalities involved, he will not be officially posted until the fall. In preparation for that, I needed to increase the number of my men. Moritz is well known and capable. I''ll ask him later." And finding nothing more of interest in the room, they all returned to the parlor with Elsa leading the way. Only Moritz was not there. "Well, the only mystery that remains is ......". The big questions were answered, but there were still a few things that remained unclear. "So, does that mean that it was Marcus who brainwashed Meane?" Hearing this, Meine turned her head down in shame, but this could not be helped. "Probably so. I think it was a to make sure that Erza would marry the Marquis and to protect her from any insects. If so, it makes sense that he could not be blamed for her terrible attitude. "Meane was great back then. < "Jin-sama, I''m ashamed. Please give me a break. At Jin''s words, Meane''s face turned red and she turned her head to the side. Except for them, Jin and Reinhardt were the only ones here who knew that Meine had tried to defect with Erza in order to protect her from the insects. "Let''s get back to the story. So you are saying that the demons can use hypnosis or something like that? I don''t know now whether it was seduction or hypnosis, but I can guess that the demons can use such brainwashing techniques, since they were released when I suffered a serious head injury. "The only thing that remains to be seen is the level of culture of the ...... demons." Marcus was a top-notch magical engineer. Lardus also knew a lot about magical exhaustion fever. "Anne told me that the demon tribe is not very social. That is to say, they do not form , but are united as a family unit. This means that after the war, the inheritance of culture and civilization of the human race was interrupted, while that of the demon tribe was likely to have been passed on. On the human side, specific knowledge is passed on by specific people, whereas in the demon tribe, it is passed on by the family unit. Jin guessed that if there were any survivors of the demon tribe, a great deal of knowledge would have been passed down to them. It was as if the demon tribe had a lot of backup. "That''s a ...... threat." Reinhardt said with a slight pallor. "But we need to know what their ultimate goal is ......." Jin also said that the area where the humans were now was not suitable for the survival of the demon tribe because of the low concentration of free magical element (ether). Hearing this, Reinhard breathed a sigh of relief. "Hmmm...so it doesn''t look like they will attack us anytime soon?" "Yes. But we can''t be too careful. That''s why we humans shouldn''t be fighting in skirmishes among small groups of nations. Jin tried to explain the plan he was currently working on, which he called the "Fuso Island Sanctuary Plan. But then... "Erza-sama, the Viscount has awakened! The maid of honor accompanying Erza''s father came in gasping for breath to report the news. They rushed to her. "Father!" The Viscount was lying on his side with his eyes open. "Elsa?" "...... Father?" But her eyes were somewhat unfocused, and the words she spoke were faltering and difficult to understand. "I feel like I''m having a strange dream." "......" Jin wondered if his brain had been damaged after all. Even the best healing magic could not revive the dead brain cells. According to Elsa''s examination, he also showed a slight tendency toward paralysis. "Marcus, what''s wrong?" "...... Marcus has ...... disappeared." "So. I''ll be right back. And the viscount found Meane behind Elsa. "...... welcome home." And he closed his eyes again. "...... Well, I guess he still has some residual brain damage." Returning to the parlor a third time, Jin said in a quiet voice. "The first stroke was minor, but this one seems to have been a bit worse. No amount of magic can regenerate nerve cells, can it? The basic principle of healing magic is to activate and heal cells. Nerve cells and brain cells, which originally lacked the ability to regenerate, could be repaired, but could not be regenerated. "...... Father, is he going to stay like this?" "I''m not a doctor, so I can''t say, but with rehabilitation, or ...... Jin had no choice but to reply to Elsa''s worried look. 417 - - 13-05 Results... Rai and his brothers can use the front guest room and Jin can use the back guest room, okay?" After the discussion was over, the group decided to make themselves at home. Now that Moritz has fallen asleep, it is Erza who is giving instructions to the servants as the temporary head of the house. "I miss ......." Once that was done, Erza went into her room. It was kept just as it had been before she left with Reinhardt. There was no dust and it did not smell musty. The servants must have cleaned the room regularly. I throw myself down on the bed. Looking up at the ceiling, you see the familiar lighted grimoire hanging from the ceiling. "No change." The room has not changed, but I have changed, Erza thinks to herself. Before I started my journey I knew nothing, but now... Engineering magic, healing magic, and science given to me by Jin. In addition, the knowledge and experience I have gained on my journey. I am aware that I am still inexperienced. But even so, I am certain that I have grown. For the sake of someone else. Compared to the time when I left everything to others, I can do more by myself now. Above all, I have acquired skills that I can be proud of. Just as I was thinking about this, there was a knock at the door. "Come in. "Sorry to bother you." It was Reinhardt. Rai, my brother. "...... just received an envoy from your country." What? What? Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt went to the reception room. There, Moritz, who had been in bed as a special envoy from the country, was answering to them as the deputy of the patriarch. He looked like paper and looked as if he would collapse at any moment. The envoy had received an imperial order from Her Majesty the Emperor, and was said to be a person equivalent to an administrative vice-minister. We can only watch from afar. They thought they were at ......, but the envoy spotted them and beckoned to them. "Mister Jin Nido, Mister Reinhardt, and Mister Erza. You have the right to be heard. This way, please." Jin and the others sat down a short distance away and watched what was going on. The ambassador stood Moritz up and read the letter in front of him. "Your subordinates have insulted His Highness Ernest, the guest of honor. And hostile acts against Sir Jin Nido." Moritz looks as if he is about to collapse when he hears the charges. "Tampering with the rules of the Gonkwrenz competition by bribing the judges." Obviously he''s referring to the underwater search. "In addition, the technical exposition, a national commemorative ceremony, was disrupted and some of the facilities were destroyed by disturbances in the spectator stands." There are many witnesses. There was no escape. "It is an act unbecoming of an aristocrat and cannot be overlooked. Therefore, in light of the above, Georg Randall von Umber is stripped of his viscountcy. I hereby order him to retire." Moritz is drooping. Then the final words were spoken. "At the same time, the Viscountship of Randall is to be dissolved. His heir, Moritz Randall von Umber, shall remain in the custody of the Randall family." "...... I understand." Moritz, his face pale, bowed his head to the messenger. "The second son, Fritz Randall von Grosz, will retain his position in the army. His assignment will be announced in due course. Elsa Randall von Rasula will remain in the custody of Reinhard Randall von Adamas. The above was the notice from the envoy. The Viscounts of Randall, a minor family, have now disappeared. They are nobles, but without titles, and at the bottom of the heap. After the envoy left, Moritz fell asleep again. After the envoy left, Moritz fell asleep again. "After all, Moritz is with Reinhardt, that is, in the custody of Count Randall, isn''t that right?" Jin, who was listening from a distance, asked. I am not good at this kind of exchange. "Yes, that''s what I meant. Well, as for Mr. Moritz, he will be in charge of the town of Eksi under my father''s order, so I guess it will remain as it is now, right?" This was Reinhardt''s guess. "It would be wasteful to have someone else rule now. I think that''s the way it will be since it was originally run by Mr. Moritz. The reason is clear. "But ......" Reinhardt stammers. "...... uncle, but if it gets out that you tried to poison the marquis with arsenic, you''ll probably be condemned to death." Erza''s color changed when she heard this. Even though she hated her father, she could not remain calm when she heard that he would be condemned to death. Seeing Elsa like this, Jin opened his mouth. "...... only those here know about it and the evidence is simply that there was liquor and arsenic in the same room. I don''t believe the demoniac''s note. It is possible that they are trying to confuse us." "Are you sure about ......?" Erza looks into Jin''s face. "However, if the Marquis sues us, we won''t be able to hide it. ...... And considering Saki''s feelings, I don''t think it''s a good idea to keep it a secret. ......" Jin, troubled, looked at Reinhardt. "Well,...... I guess we should tell the Marquis after all." It could be said that the Marquis was the worst victim. "Then, if he has some souvenirs or something, he might ...... be a little better off!" Jin slapped his knee and looked at Erza. "Elsa, I''m going to make an automata for the Marquis. Take it with you to the hospital. And I''ll tell him the truth. Then Elsa will apologize on his behalf." Jin said, "We have to bet on the Marquis''s heart and his love for Elsa when he saw Reiko and said she was pretty. "Umm...... well, I know I have to tell the Marquis, so I guess it''s a good idea...... I don''t feel like it''s a bribe." "It''s not a bribe. <. Hey, Elsa." "...... Jin looks bad." Erza commented on Jin''s smiling face as he told her of his plan. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......Well, I have something to say to you guys." Jin opened his speech in front of Reinhardt, Bertsch, Erza, and Meene. "Following Horai Island and Kunlun Island, we are developing an island called <>. It is located in the sea not far from Leonard''s kingdom. As I told you before, the Kingdom of Leonard has been destroyed. So it''s not a territory of any one. So I am going to develop the island and open it to the public. Jin explains all at once and looks around at the faces of the people. Silence reigned for a while, but Reinhardt was the first to open his mouth. "Yes, I understand what you mean. It is true that it would be dangerous to open Horai Island and Kunlun Island to the public. But then, are you going to disclose the means to get there as well? Reinhardt said, "Since they are remote islands, we won''t be able to go there without a warp gate. "Yes. "Yes, that''s right. So I''m thinking of setting up specific warp gates that can be used at will." "Where will they be located?" "For now, I''m thinking of the Shoro Kingdom, the Egelea Kingdom, and the Klein Kingdom." The country that appointed Jin as a Magecraft Meister and the country where he is friends with the prince and princess of the Magecraft Meister. That is reason enough. And each of them will be heavily protected," explains Jin. "We will attach two full-time golems to them, and they will not be able to use the warp gate unless they are authorized to do so, and if anything happens to them, the warp gate will self-destruct. "I see, so they can''t know how it works." "I see. So you''re going to make sure they don''t know how it works." "Yes. I will also take a number of other measures to make it less conspicuous. "Well, I guess that''s okay then. And what about the facilities? "I''m thinking of making it the same type as the research institute on Horai Island. I would like to make it possible to conduct research on magical engineering, ordinary engineering, alchemy, and so on, beyond the borders of the country. Everyone nodded deeply at Jin''s explanation. "I think it''s a good idea. "I think it''s a good idea." "I agree." "I think it''s a good idea. "I don''t know how difficult it is, but I like the idea of transcending national boundaries. All four agreed. "Thank you. Now I want to talk to Saki. ......" Jin then told the there that they should go to Horai Island tomorrow to finalize the details. 418 - - 13-06 Forwarder June 25. First thing in the morning, Elsa casts a healing spell on her father Georg. Even so, Georg''s condition does not seem to have changed. "I''m sorry..." Seeing her father, who had lost his arrogance and could only speak in faltering tones, Erza was inconsolable and ran out of the room. There she met Jin. "Ah, Jin, my brother. "...... is it still no good?" Looking into Erza''s tear-filled eyes, Jin could tell that the treatment was not going to be successful. "They say you have to be patient with brain damage. First we have to deal with the Marquis." "...... yeah." After breakfast, Jin and the others left the Randalls'' house in Exi and rode in Jin''s carriage to the Eschenbach residence. Using the warp gate hidden in the barn there, they moved to Horai Island. Jin and the others, who were welcomed by the same old voice as usual, first went to the cafeteria. The reason why they went to the cafeteria is because there is no suitable meeting room. "Ah, there is a problem in an unexpected place. Since a meeting with many people was unthinkable in my predecessor''s time, such a room was not prepared. Leaving that for a later time, Jin reiterated the concept of <. "Basically, the warp gate would be placed in the capital of the country. Reinhardt started. "Yes, preferably in the royal castle. If it is a person who has been approved by the government, it would be safer or more trustworthy. At the very least, it would be a first level of security. "We are thinking of a research institute and a residential building. Horai Island had a residence in the research center, but I''d like to keep it separate on Fuso Island." "I think that''s a good idea. It''s a good idea to have a clear distinction between research and daily life. Bertsche glanced at Reinhardt who was sitting next to her. "Are you going to provide hot springs, toilets, and bedding?" This is Elsa. Those three things are non-negotiable. "Oh, the hot springs and toilets are good, but what about the bedding? The material is special, so it might be better to use something more common. Let''s put that aside for a moment. I''ve been thinking about something." "Something you''re thinking about?" "Yeah. I''d like to talk about it when Saki is here, if possible. It''s something to do with materials. Jin said so, and the group stopped prying further into the matter. The topic returned to Fuso Island. "I''d like to install a control magic brain that would be a smaller version of the old man''s and have it manage the whole island, what do you think?" "That''s a good idea.I''d also like to have a golem to help me." "If we have a lot of researchers coming, we''ll need a maid golem to take care of the housework." Various opinions were expressed. Jin decided to ask about the progress for the time being. "Old man, how is the progress?" "Oh, we''re making good progress. As we were talking about, please consider the management system. Leaving the maintenance of Fuso Island to the old man, Jin recommended Erza to make an automata. "For the Marquis?" "Yes. He said Reiko was pretty. I was trying to deflect, so to speak. Although the arsenic in his liver was removed, the Marquis Theoderic''s cirrhosis was not completely cured. Dead cells cannot be regenerated by magic. The current situation is that the liver is being healed little by little by activating the few surviving liver cells to the maximum extent. It is said that a healthy liver can regenerate even if 70% of it is removed, but in the case of cirrhosis, the entire liver is damaged, so there are only a few surviving cells, and those cells are hardly healthy. Therefore, it takes a long time to cure the disease. Jin was not affected by the Marquis'' decision to give up Erza as a wife in accordance with Jin''s wish. In fact, he wanted to do something for her because he is Saki''s grandfather. In addition, by having Erza create an automata to take care of him, Jin hoped to alleviate her anger when she found out that it was Erza''s father and his men who gave the Marquis the poisoned liquor. "Basically, it''s the same as Edgar''s. It''s just for care. But since it''s for care, it should also have a sense of touch." "...... eh?" Erza is surprised when the bar is suddenly raised. Jin, however, reassures Erza that he will teach her well. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Reinhardt is working on modifying his black knight (Schwarzlitter) to have a sense of touch. Or, more precisely, he was making a remodeling plan. With the occasional advice from the old man. "...... I see, I knew it. It would be difficult to mount a sense of touch on a black knight (Schwarzlitter) because it is a golem and not an automaton. ......" << "I see. ......" But that''s where Reinhardt comes in. He came up with an idea. "Then, why don''t we limit it to only the necessary parts?Specifically, the palms and soles of the feet. It was his desperate idea to place highly sensitive sensors in the minimum necessary areas, or to place many sensors in the minimum necessary areas to ensure sensitivity. The old man was secretly impressed. The method was similar to the modification that he has been doing to all the golems in Horai Island. By the way, his modification is to put <> leather on the soles of his palms and feet, and to detect the magical pressure generated there. Death Serpents had been killed in large numbers by Jin and Reiko in Potrock. The leather of the Death Serpent does not decompose in water, so the Mermaid team had retrieved it from the bottom of the sea by the old man''s order. It was a little less powerful than the feather membrane of the pseudo dragon (Siamese dragon) used in the early days of Reiko, but it was practical enough in terms of both strength and detection. "Hmm, what should we use for the sensor ......?" By the way, Reinhard was wondering about the material of the sensor. The old man thought that it would not be good for Reinhard and he himself would not be pleased if he gave a simple answer. Meine and Bertsche were learning a new dish from Peridorfer. Flour, eggs and milk. There ...... what is this powder?" "Baking soda." Baking soda? Yes. It can be found deep in the mountains further north of the village of Kaina. ...... Well, I would say it''s a seasoning." It is obtained by refining the water from a baking soda spring that was discovered in an unnamed glacier-covered mountain north of the village of Kaina. Now that the plant was completed, it was possible to obtain 500 grams of baking soda per day. "If you put a small amount of this in the water, it makes it fluffy," he said. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, decomposes when heated, producing carbon dioxide gas. This is what makes dough such as bread and pancakes puff up. Without baking soda, baking powder, or other expanders, pancakes tend to be more like crepes than pancakes, but this makes it easier to bake fluffy ones. "It''s best to use only a little bit, as it can become bitter if added in large quantities." When baking soda is heated, it turns into carbon dioxide gas, sodium carbonate and water. The carbon dioxide gas expands the dough, but the remaining sodium carbonate is bitter. Normally, an acidic substance such as tartaric acid would be mixed in to neutralize it and remove the bitterness (baking powder), but tartaric acid is not yet available. Aside from that, baking soda is useful in the kitchen as well as for metal polishing, so Peridot is taking this opportunity to teach Bertsche and Mine a few things. * * * * * * * * * * * "Detection of the magical outer covering and its deformation?" "Yes. It''s too much work to process data from the whole body, so I think we should focus on the palms and leave the rest of the body as it is." "...... got it. So you want to concentrate on the areas that require the most subtle force, is that correct?" "That''s right. That''s great." Jin explained to Erza the principle of the tactile sensor using the magical potential generated by the deformation of the magical outer skin. Erza has a good grasp of the basics, and sometimes shows a level of understanding that amazes even Jin. "Okay, let''s try to improve Edgar, and if it works, we can finally start making an automata. Do it." "Yes." Thus, Elsa started to modify Edgar to have a sense of touch. Meanwhile Jin left the workshop and went to the basement hall to talk with the old man. "How is Marcus doing?" "You said that you checked his memory by knowledge transfer, but he is about level 4, isn''t he? Jin ponders. "Well, I think there might be something left in your subconscious or something. I''d like to have some information about the demons now. > "If possible." As a Magecraft Meister, Jin can copy even the subconscious mind up to level 8. < "Yes!That''s great!" >. Jin had ordered the old man to mass-produce a precision craftsman (smith). >. The mini craftsman (Smith) was 10 cm tall and the inch craftsman (Smith) was 2.5 cm tall. The mini craftsman (Smith) is about 5mm. . "Oh, yes! 1,000 each of the small craftsmen (smiths). They seem to be quite useful. This is an excellent accuracy. Jin was satisfied. Using this, he and Pegasus 1 would go to the town of Taki to take care of some business, and then Jin would come back via the warp gate provided, which would save a lot of time. "Okay, let''s go now. Use that ......<>." 419 - - 13-07 Hotcake Jin, accompanied only by Reiko, boarded the Pegasus 1 and transferred to the sky above the town of Taki by using the , a new , located in the plaza behind the research institute on Horai Island. To be on the safe side, a small rubber ball is first transferred, and after Regulus 50, who is near the site, checks it and verifies that there is no problem, Pegasus 1 is transferred. This time, Regulus 50 was asked to act as a marker to determine the azimuth, so it seems that there was almost no error. "Hmmm, then, if we place markers on the known worlds, we should be able to find ......." The murmur was passed on to the old man, and it would be a little while before he would be marking all over the world. It is still light, so he activates invisibility and lands on the outskirts of town. Hitoshi and Reiko are on their way to the sanatorium, guided by Regulus 50. "Here we are." A small sanatorium on the outskirts of Taki. Marcus Grinwald was lying in one of the rooms. "...... This is terrible." He''s in a state of apparent weakness. He has not regained consciousness. Reiko doesn''t seem interested. This attitude is not surprising, since she was Jin''s adversary. Meanwhile, Jin is talking with Regulus 50. "Perhaps it is a reaction to being forced to act in a physically enhanced manner." Marcus was human. He had been manipulated by the demons and given non-human physical abilities. His muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones were in shreds. He was finally restored to this state by a healer. "Okay. We don''t have much time, so let''s make this quick. Jin took out the Magi Crystal he had prepared from his pocket and used Trans-Info at level 8. This is the highest level of transinfo. Above this level, there are only level 9, which can copy even the personality, and level 10, which was used by the previous generation to transfer knowledge to Jin. Unlike level 9, level 10 can even attach to the knowledge. This is the reason why it takes more time. Aside from that, the level 8 knowledge transcription (transinfo) was applied to Marcus'' head, and the Magi Formula floated in his mind, and they disappeared into Magi Crystals. "That''s it. Let the old man do the analysis. Jin left the hospital room and returned to Pegasus 1. Jin gave Regulus 50, who was seeing him off, a bottle of recovery medicine provided by Pegasus 1. "Give him a little of this. It should speed up his recovery. Jin and Reiko then return to Horai Island via the warp gate provided by Pegasus 1. Pegasus 1 will return to the island on autopilot. < "My Lord, please analyze this." Jin entrusted the Magi Crystal, which was supposed to contain all of Marcus'' memories, knowledge, and experience, to My Lord. At that moment, there was a visitor. "Brother Jin, Edgar''s remodeling is finished. It was Erza. When Jin heard her voice, an idea flashed in his mind, but he did not say it yet. After careful consideration, Jin thought. "Oh, I see. Have you tried to move it yet?" Even though Jin had taught her how to do it, Erza''s work was quite fast. "Yes, at least I got it up and running. And I wanted my brother Jin to take a look at it. We had just finished our conversation and decided to go back to the workshop. "Oh, it looks good." "It looks good." "It does?" I tried it out, and Edgar''s operation was stable. The data that Reiko had sent to the old man seemed to have helped. "With this, we can make an automata. "If Brother Jin says so, I''ll give it a try. At last, Erza begins to make an automata to present to the Marquis. "It should be as big as Elsa so that I can take care of her. She was thinking of the possibility of carrying her on her back or lifting her up. "Yes, I think so." The skeleton is made of 64 light silver. Muscles are made of magical fiber from Horaijima. Magical skin is used for the skin. The target is about half of the specifications of the first period when Jin regenerated Reiko. Of course, we must also take measures to prevent the rewriting of slavery spells. References to templates are kept to a minimum, and on-the-job training (OJT) is used to improve Elsa''s skills. This was the second time for us to make this model. This was the second time for me to make this project, and I completed it in about three hours. Since it took four hours for Edgar''s work, it is clear that the technique has improved by that much. The clothes are made of ground caterpillar thread. Elsa had made and dressed him in a standard lady''s uniform. "It''s nice, isn''t it? She''s bigger than Edgar, but she''s going to be Edgar''s sister, isn''t she?" Jin''s Golem automata would be Reiko''s eldest sister, which was not so strange. "Have you chosen a name?" "Yes. I''m going to name her Lissa. Generally, a maid of honor has a name of about two syllables so that it is easy to call her. If the name is long, it is abbreviated. Nobles may give short names to their children, but common people rarely give long names to their children. It is the custom. "Lisa, huh? It''s nice and easy to call you. Let''s move it." "Yeah. ......<>" Lisa''s up. She gets up slowly. "Nice to meet you, creator." "Your name is Lisa. How are you feeling? Yes, I think I''m fine, Creator. Lisa, Elsa''s second automata, is a platinum blonde with a shoulder-length bob and pale blue eyes. She has a face similar to Edgar''s, perhaps because she was also designed by Elsa. "All right, let''s have Perid and the others check her housekeeping skills and so on. Thus, <> was born. * * * * * * "That was quite difficult. ......" Reinhard also managed to finish installing the tactile sensor in the black knight (Schwarzlitter) and was ready to give it a test run. "How is it going, Noir?" "Yes, I''m fine. Can you feel the tactile sensation? "...... yes, I''m fine." "Okay, then move slowly and try to accumulate some data. Don''t do any fast movements or heavy lifting out of the blue, okay? "Yes, sir." Remembering what happened to Aaru, I slowly familiarize him with the sense of touch. After carefully checking the movements of the black knight (Schwarzlitter) for about 30 minutes, Reinhardt decided to move on to the next step. He starts with the stealthy steps. "Try walking slowly and without making a sound. This works. "Okay, a little faster." That one went well, too. "Yeah, that''s pretty good. Try ...... holding this." Reinhardt pointed to the hollow metal ball that Jin had made during Aal''s test. Of course, it is extremely thin, so if you hold it tightly, it will collapse instantly. "Yes." Noir grabbed the ball and lifted it ...... successfully. "Yes!Good job, Noir. Keep up the good work. "Yes, Mia Schepfel." Reinhard had grown up. Just then Bertsche and Meane arrived. "Would you like to have lunch?I baked pancakes." Considering the time of breakfast, it was a little late for lunch. There is a time difference of about five and a half hours, so it should be almost dusk in Horai Island. "Oh, I see. "Is it okay?" Jin immediately responded to the word, but Reinhardt tilted his head at the unfamiliar name. "Brother Rai, pancakes are just what the name implies, warm cakes. They are delicious. They should be." Everyone enjoys the pancakes in the cafeteria. The pancakes are more than delicious under the guidance of Leader Perid. The last time Jin had made Saki a crepe without any expander, but this time it was exactly like a pancake. "Yes, this is good!" Reinhard prefers more butter. "...... delicious. I''m so happy." "It''s so sweet!" Elsa and Bertsche are full of honey. "Yes, it''s delicious. "Thank you, Meine, Berthe." "You''re welcome, my dear." "It''s funny that you should thank me. I''ve learned how to make new sweets. Eating good food makes you feel relaxed and naturally puts a smile on your face. For this moment, we all forgot about the unpleasant things that were bothering us, and just smacked our lips with our mouths. 420 - - 13-08 Hey, Marquis. After finishing the pancakes, Jin and the others have a little more time before they return, so they go back to finishing what they have started. Erza went to check on Lisa who is working with the golem maids. Reinhard continues to check the operation of Noir. Bertsche and Meine are still cleaning up the dishes. Jin went to the basement hall again to ask the old man about the progress. . "Okay. Let me hear it." It seems that even if you think you have erased your memory, it still remains. It would be closer to say that it is not erased but made unrecognizable. If we compare it to a personal computer, we can say that we have protected the files from being readable, or erased the FAT (file allocation table). The files may appear to have disappeared on the surface, but in fact they have not. "Oh yeah!So, what did you find out?" < We already knew that. That is confirmed. It seems that Marcus was not so lucky to be chosen by name. <<>. He also told Elsa. To measure his strength. That was his role. < According to the old man''s analysis and reasoning, it seems to have awakened and encouraged his innermost desires. "I see. So that''s why he was acting so abnormally." That is good news. This changes things considerably. Elsa will be glad to hear it. "Is there anything else?" < The old man concluded his report by saying, "That''s all for now. This is your chance to learn more about Markosius'' abilities and the technology of the demon tribe. "Okay. Please keep up the good work." Jin was relieved. The Marquis'' poison had not been ordered by Elsa''s father, former Viscount Georg Randall himself. In that sense, the timing of the poisoning was bad. It would have been more advantageous to poison Elsa after her marriage and the birth of her child. Jin felt relieved that he no longer felt guilty when he went to visit the Marquis. Two hours later, Jin and the others returned to Count Randall''s house. The next day, June 26th. Jin and his friends planned to go to the Marquise Theoderic, but something unexpected happened. Jin! It''s been three days, hasn''t it? One was the arrival of Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen at Reinhardt''s family home, the Countess of Randall. And then there was... "<>" "<>" The prince and princess read the document. The Kingdom of Egelea and the Kingdom of Klein have also bestowed upon Jin the title of Magecraft Meister. "Manaphone is very convenient, isn''t it? The morning before yesterday, I reported to my father about the whole technical exposition, and yesterday morning I received word that Jin would be awarded the title of "Magecraft Meister". "It''s the same for us. You made your decision very quickly for a father. He must have thought that he could not fall behind other countries. After the official notification to Jin, their highnesses the prince and princess returned to their normal manners and laughed openly. "Jin, congratulations!You have been recognized by all three countries and are now the undisputed Magecraft Meister! Reinhardt was as pleased as if it were his own. "Congratulations, Brother Jin!" "Congratulations, Jin-sama!" Jin-sama, I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart. "Congratulations, Father!" Elsa, Meane, and Bertsch were also pleased that Jin had been named Magecraft Meister in the other two countries. And Reiko expressed her joy with her whole body. Specifically, she looked as if she was about to start dancing. "What is a Magecraft Meister, Gin?" Princess Rieschen, apparently unaware of the Magecraft Meister she had certified, asked Jin such a question. "Ries, a Magecraft Meister is a legendary magical craftsman who originally existed a long time ago. As expected of Prince Ernest, he answered before Jin did. "I see, so that means Jin is the second generation of the Magi Craftsman, is that right?" "That would be the case. Sooner or later, we may receive envoys from the kingdoms of Selroa, Franz, and Elias?" The prince and the princess begin to talk to each other, leaving Jin aside. Jin couldn''t help but smile at their smiling face. The Magecraftsman Magicraft Meister is recognized as the top of the Magecraftsmen, but Jin knows that he is not the only one. No, only Jin knows. It is <>. The race called wizards and mages can take in free magic element (ether) in the air by breathing, etc. and transform it into magic element (mana) in their bodies. The mana in the body decreases when magic is used, but over time it recovers by taking in free magic elements (ether) in the air. This mana can take various forms of energy depending on the will and image of the person who purified it, and can be manipulated. This is magic. Chanting as a verbal spirit is the support of images, and if the image is clear, chanting is not necessary. Simple phenomena such as fire, light, and wind are classified as elementary magic, and can be easily performed by those who can use magic. The process of activating intermediate and advanced magic becomes more complicated, and cannot be performed by everyone. The procedure of activation of intermediate and advanced magic is like a computer software. For engineering magic, it can be compared to a high-end 3D modeling software. Where this software is installed is in the <> of the <>. The talent of magic is, in other words, whether you have access to the library or not. Jin has almost unlimited access to the <> library. On the other hand, he has almost no access to the offensive magic library. It has been 300 years since such magical theories were forgotten. The great event of the magic wars has changed the world. "How long will Your Highnesses stay here?" By this place I mean the Kingdom of Shoro. "Yes, the end of this month is the plan. I have to leave this house in a little while today. I''d like to have some free time. Prince Ernest grumbled that his status as a prince made it difficult for him to have free time. "Master Ernest, I agree with you ......." The two princes look at each other and laugh. * * * * Due to unexpected events in the morning, after having lunch, Jin, Elsa, Meine, Reinhard and Bertsche set off for the Marquise''s house in Mahahama. Reiko, Edgar, Neon, and Noir are as usual, but Lisa has her hooded coat on so that she is not seen yet. Noir is riding on the golem horse again, and Reiko is on Jin''s lap. It was inevitable, since the carriage was over capacity. The distance between Banne and Mahahama is about 50 km. It takes less than an hour to get there in Jin''s carriage, whereas it would take a full day in a normal carriage. However, because of the passing of other carriages, the speed of 50 km/h could not be maintained, and it ended up taking about an hour and a half to reach the destination. The marquis''s house stood in a quiet environment surrounded by woods. It was an old-fashioned three-story stone building. Spires jutted out on either side. "Hello, Jin, Reinhard, Berthe, Elsa, Meine. It''s been a long time." In front of the marquis''s house, many servants are lined up to greet them. Saki steps out of the lineup. She was dressed in a dress that was typical of a marquise''s daughter. She was even wearing a hair ornament. When Jin was immensely surprised at the change, Saki''s cheeks turned a little red and she smiled. "Kuhu, it doesn''t suit you after all, does it?" "Oh, no, no, that''s not true.It''s just that you look so good in it that it''s not right. ...... At that moment, Reinhardt came up from the side and offered a helping hand. "No, no, you look good, Saki. You look good in anything you wear because of your good looks. "......" Reinhardt''s words made Saki turn red and shut up. "Well, everyone, welcome to the show." Karen followed up by greeting the group. "My father is looking forward to seeing you. ......Elsa, congratulations on your return." While Saki was still blushing, Karen quickly instructed the servants and invited the group in. She is very clever, not forgetting to call out to Erza. Karen does not call out to Meene. Does she think that Meine is Erza''s maid of honor, or does she know that Meine is her own mother? A large parlor. At the end of the hall, there is a carpeted corner where the Marquis is waiting for her in an easy chair. "Oh, Jin-dono, you have come well. I have heard that you have received the title of Magecraft Meister. First of all, a heavy folding mat. I''ll leave you seated, since I''m in such a state." He is still scrawny, but his jaundiced skin has returned to a healthy color and his condition is clearly improving. "Reinhard, thank you for your hospitality to Jin-dono. Miss Bertsche ...... not Mrs. Bertsche, how is life as a newlywed?" "Oh, yes, it''s very nice. ......" "Well, you and Reinhardt seem to be getting along well. I see you''ve developed a woman''s touch. The Marquis laughs. One mistake is s*xual harassment, but unfortunately there is no such concept in this world. "......" Perhaps still a little uncomfortable, Erza stands silently, hiding behind Jin. The Marquis notices her. "Elsa, come closer to me. I''m not going to take you as my wife anymore. Unable to remain hidden at his beckoning, Elsa steps forward. "Well, I always thought of you as a girl, but it seems you''ve grown up a little bit. Is this the result of Jin-dono''s education?" "Uh, ah, yes." Erza, not understanding what was being said, replied in a funny way. The Marquis looked at her with narrowed eyes. The Marquis then offers them a seat. "Well, everyone, have a seat." 421 - - 13-09 Description The group is seated at a large table. The Marquis is of course seated at the top, Jin on his left and Reinhardt on his right. Berthe is next to Jin, and Erza is next to Reinhardt. Saki and Karen are seated below. Reiko, Noir, Neon, Edgar and Lisa stand behind their masters. Meine is also behind Elsa, along with Edgar. As soon as everyone was seated, the waiter brought tea. It was a fragrant green tea. "Now, the letter you received on the fast horse didn''t give me any details, but I assume that you are here today to visit me? "Yes, Marquis. Yes, Marquis. Therefore, I have a gift for you from Elsa. I wonder... First of all, please take a look at this. Jin looked at her and Elsa took off the coat Lisa was wearing. "Hohoho ......." The Marquis'' eyes widen. Karen and the other waiters and servants present gasped. "...... My name is Lisa. I created this automaton. "My name is Lisa." Lisa bows not with a curtsy but with a normal bow, as if she were an automaton. Her gestures and appearance caught the attention of those who saw her for the first time. "...... would like to take care of you. Do you like it?" Elsa speaks in a lower voice than usual. It seems that she has not completely gotten over her dislike for the marquis. "Oh, oh, I like it!You said your name is Lissa. You want me to take her? Yes, if you like her. Yes, if you like her.She''s lovely. I''ll take good care of her, sir. Lisa, be careful. Yes, Mr. Creator. Thus, Lisa became the automata of the Marquis'' family. The Marquis took her hand, "Good day to you, Lissa." He noticed that her hand was warm and asked Elsa about it. "...... Yes, Lisa has a body temperature as warm as a human''s." "Well, is that so?" Karen shouted in surprise. It is not common for automata to have a body temperature. "Hmmm, Erza, you really have become a good magi engineer. ...... I guess it was worth it to study under Jin-dono. After taking a sip of tea and clearing his throat, Jin decided to carry out another of his plans. "Sir, I have something to report. "Hmm?...... got it. You guys stay outside the room until I call you. Right away, sir. Thank you very much. The waiters and servants went out of the parlor. Those remaining were Jin, Reinhard, Berthe, Elsa, Mine, Saki, Karen, and the Marquis. "Is this all right?" Yes, thank you. I''m going to go to ...... and make my report. I found out who poisoned you, sir. "What?The Imperial Guard Knights haven''t found out yet.Who is it? It was a man named Marcus Grinwald. He was the first to state his conclusion. "Marcus ......?" The Marquis''s face grew grim. "Yes. And Marcus was being manipulated by someone. These are the two things we know for sure now." "......How do you know this?" "First, I checked Markas''s room at the residence of Viscount Georg Randall. There I found arsenic, a bottle of liquor that the Marquis liked to drink, and some documents that supported that he had poisoned it. Jin explained and kept his mouth shut to see how the Marquis would react. The Marquis meditated and seemed to be thinking about something. Saki took his place. "Ji-jin, really?I know Marcus''s face at least, but he was the one who killed your grandfather? "Jin-sama!If that''s true, then Viscount Georg Randall is the ringleader, isn''t he?This is unforgivable!" Karen''s statement was the conclusion that Jin and Erza most wanted to avoid. That is why Jin had investigated Markus. "......Wait, Karen." Just as Jin was about to elaborate, the Marquis stopped him. The Marquis closed his eyes and spoke, as if remembering. "...... I know that the Viscount is a careerist. But if it is for the good of the country, he should use it well. That is how I see it and that is how I have treated him." The Marquis is calm, perhaps because of his age. "......The Viscount proposed an engagement when he found out that I wanted Elsa for my wife. The wine I brought him at that time was really delicious, so I told him so, and he began to deliver it to me regularly. ......" The Marquis opens his eyes and speaks his conclusion. "The messenger was Marcus Grinwald, of course". "Is there any of that wine left?I can check it out and see if it is still there. The Marquis shook his head at Jin''s comment. "...... there''s nothing left. I''m a drinker, so as soon as I get one, I drink it by myself. Jin heard this statement and wondered if he also had cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcohol. "You married Elsa off to your father, poisoned her, and then thought you could take over the Marquis'' family?This is even more unforgivable! Karen was so excited that she looked as if she would run out of the room at any moment. The Marquis calms her down. "Karen, don''t get so emotional. Karen, don''t get so emotional. You will not be able to make the right decision. The Marquis, who had been a lieutenant general, remains calm. "It is strange that it was the Viscount''s idea. If he is going to poison me, he should at least do it after Erza''s marriage. More importantly, it should be done after Erza has children. The Marquis''s insight was sharp. Even Karen, who had been so irritated, was convinced. "Yes, I think your father may be right. "Yes, he is right. This whole poisoning fiasco was Marcus'' idea. "What?" How did you know?" the Marquis'' eyes were asking eloquently. Jin wondered for a moment what he should do, but then decided to be honest. "There is a kind of engineering magic called transinfo. Originally, it was used to give knowledge to golems and automata. "Oh, that''s interesting." The Marquis seemed to be interested in this magic he had never heard of before. "It requires a rare talent to use it, and it is not for everyone. Not forgetting to nail him on the head. "And I can use it. So I transcribed Marcus'' memories and examined them. Human memory is so vast that it''s impossible to have it all, but I was able to get the gist of what was going on. "I see. Memories don''t lie, do they? Yes. The former Viscount Georg Randall was not involved in this matter. After hearing Jin''s explanation, the Marquis was silent for a while. Then he slowly opened his mouth. "...... I must reflect on the fact that I too had a chance to be taken advantage of. So, how are Markus and Georg doing? "Yes, we have Marcus, but he is unconscious at the moment." Jin then described the condition of former Viscount Georg Randall. "......, his brain is bleeding.He had a hemorrhage in his brain and his personality had changed?" Karen looked as if she understood. "Yes. "Yes. I have heard of such cases, although they are very rare, in people who have suffered serious head injuries. After so many years in the military, the Marquis understood. "The viscount''s family was destroyed, the eldest son Moritz was left in the custody of Count Randall, the second son Fritz went straight into the army, and Elsa stayed with Reinhardt. Erza is now in the custody of Reinhardt. Finally, Jin ends his talk by explaining the notice from the government. "...... understand. So you''ve brought Lisa here to pacify me. No, no, it''s not like that. Jin was flustered by the Marquis''s tone, who seemed to know everything. Erza seemed to be at a loss for words. "Haha, that''s fine. It is a natural affection between father and son. But Erza, I hope you will be happy. I suggest you set up another house." And by "another house" I mean not the Randall house. "Well, if you wish, I could adopt you as my daughter, but perhaps you wouldn''t want that?" "......" Elsa nodded silently. Then she opened her mouth. "......I''m just a commoner, that''s all. Just Elsa." But the marquis shakes his head when he hears her say that. "No, no, you are a first-rate ...... magi engineer and healer, and it would be a loss to the nation if you were to be reduced to a commoner. Perhaps His Majesty feels the same way. Is that so? Yes, I think so. ...... Well, I''ll leave that to His Majesty. Is that all you''ve got to say? The marquis looked at Jin sharply. "No, there is one more thing. < "The Demon Tribe? Jin Jin, demon tribe?What in the world is ......? Demon tribe!Oh my God! Saki and Karen were in a panic, but the Marquis held them back. Reinhardt and the others were calmly listening to what he had to say. Saki, Karen. Calm down. Jin-dono will explain everything." They kept their mouths shut at the sound of his voice. Again the marquis urged Jin. "Come on, Jin-dono, tell us." "Yes, sir. Yes, sir. ......" Jin began to speak. He spoke of the that had ravaged the Kingdom of Klein. That it was a demon tribe who called themselves Lardus the Humorous who had set it off. The two who appeared with Lardus, Bemiarouche and Dogmaloud. And of Markosias, who was controlling Markas this time. "......" "............" They all listen to Jin''s story in silence. 422 - - 13-10 Reinforcement of Bongrae Island After Jin finished explaining about the demon tribe, no one opened their mouths. After a while, the first to open his mouth was the marquis. "...... From what you just said, I don''t think the demons will attack us anytime soon." The marquis continued, "In my opinion," he added. "Because this area where we live is probably difficult for them to live in. But they are probably just playing with us. "For fun?" Yes, it''s a game. From a strategic point of view, what they are doing is sub-par. They may be gathering information, but they''re also making us more cautious than we already are. Indeed, Jin thought. Based on what happened this time, Jin is planning to further strengthen his forces in Horai Island and other areas. "If we are going to do this, we need to do it in a more covert manner. Saki and Karen seemed relieved to hear the former lieutenant general''s explanation. "I''m a little tired." The Marquis was still far from fit. That was the end of the conversation for the day. * * * * After returning to his bedroom, the marquis called only Jin, saying he had something to discuss in private. "I know I said so before Saki and Karen, but don''t you have a different opinion?" The Marquis greeted Jin and suddenly cut to the chase. Jin answered. Yes, I do. I don''t know the date, but I think they are planning to attack us someday. "Yes. This area may be difficult to live in, but they don''t necessarily need to live there after the invasion. We can''t rule out the possibility that they are here for resources or crops. The Marquis guessed the same thing as the old man did. "Mister Jin, no, Sir Jin Nido. Your automata. ......" "Reiko?" Jin glanced at Reiko, who was standing right behind him. "Yes, Reiko, you say. She is pretty. And yet, she is very strong. The Marquis had witnessed Reiko''s strength at the Gonkwrenz. "You can make many golems as good as Reiko''s, can''t you, Sir?" "Yes, well, if only there were no problems with materials. Yes, well, as long as there are no material problems. ...... are you using a very special material?" Jin answers honestly. Without giving a clear name. "Yes. Even the ones you can''t get easily." "...... I suppose so. Then, we can use whatever materials we can get our hands on. Is it possible to make a powerful golem? Yes. Yes, that would be good. If we know that we can prepare a strong golem army as one of the countermeasures. We can''t tell the Marquis that we already have a golem army on Horai Island. The Marquis meditated, perhaps thinking of a defense strategy. And then he stayed, "...... I''ll think about it myself. I want you to think of a way to fight the demons, too. He told Jin. "Finally, Sir," he said casually, "you mentioned the magic that can read memories, <>, didn''t you? You had better not mention its existence in public. You''ll get into trouble. I don''t intend to tell anyone." The Marquis, who has just thanked Lisa for her hospitality, lies down on the bed as if he is tired. Lisa assists him. The Marquis still seems to be recovering his strength. "Yes, I understand. Thank you very much. I''ll leave you now." Taking into account the marquis''s condition, Jin leaves the room. * * * * * * That night, everyone was to stay at the marquis'' residence. However, Jin used the warp gate of the carriage and flew to Horai Island, taking only Reiko with him. < "My Lord, how is the gravity magic going?" First Jin asked the question he was most worried about. "Oh, that''s good news. Jin quickly asks the old man to explain. < "Hm?What do you mean by that? > "Yes, I think I saw that on TV." I think I saw something like that in Einstein''s general theory of relativity," Jin recalled. "I can see that." . This is getting difficult, but somehow Jin can understand it. <<>. Since the warp gate also interferes with space, Jin understood that it was possible. "Of course it does. Lardus, I think, used to use eladrite." <>. The old man explained that it would require a huge amount of mana to exert a gravitational influence on the outside world, but not so much on a personal scale. "Okay, let''s get on with it. What else?" The old man''s answer seemed to open up a whole new world for Jin. In other words, it could be applied to propulsion using gravity. Jin thought that if he could do that, he could try to go to space, and his dream was growing. For now, the problem was right in front of him. "Goshujin-sama, may I come in now?" Jin was about to move on to the next topic when Anne came in. "What is it?What''s wrong? Yes. I''ve noticed something about the installation of the warp gate. What''s that? Yes, I have a problem with ....... Anne said that if they are installed in each country, the outward journey to Fuso Island is fine, but the return journey will be problematic. In other words, someone with malicious intent can invade any country''s castle via Fuso Island. "...... Oh, I see." This is dangerous because Jin doesn''t intend to make Fuso Island as secure as Horai Island. "Passports for each country, but no." It would be the same if they were stolen. "I guess we''ll have to have a special facility built for the warp gate. ...... Yes, I think that would be a good idea. "Tomorrow, I''ll ask the Marquis for his opinion. In this way, Jin made revisions to the plan. For the time being, he put aside the issue of setting up a warp gate to Fuso Island and moved on to another topic. "Old man, from what I have tried, the <> can be used for my plan." <> "Oh, it''s to convert it into a weapon. Assuming there is a war against demons, that''s what we''re going to use them for." > The old man immediately recognized Jin''s intention. "Yes. < > Jin explains. The idea is to use magic crystals and stones as explosives by writing the Magi Formula of <> on them. This idea came to me when Makina was almost buried alive in the ramp underground in the final battle against the Unification Party (the Unifilers), when I took out the mana tank that Makina had, set the mana explosion on it, and detonated it, blowing away the rock debris. "Please." Mines, bombs, grenades, and missiles. It may be difficult to distinguish its use from that of a magic cannon, though. "And, how about having a repairman (smith) in each golem?If it''s a simple breakdown, they can fix it." < "Oh. I''m also thinking of a medical team, a golem unit specializing in healing magic. This time, Erza has awakened to her abilities as a top-notch healer. We can''t leave this to chance. "I mean, I want to make a ." Jin returned to the Marquis'' residence to give some ideas to the old man to study. 423 - - 13-11 Consultation The next day, June 27th. After a rather late breakfast, Jin and his friends were chatting over tea in the parlor. "Jin, Erza, thank you. Saki suddenly said, and Jin and Erza tilted their heads. "What are you talking about?What are you talking about?" "About <>. My grandfather liked her very much. And she''s very good at housework. My maidservants all rolled their eyes at her. More than Aal, that one!" I''d say it''s more than Aaru, but I guess it''s the same. Both of them are made in Horaijima, and the quality of their control cores is similar. The only difference is the tactile sensor. While Aaru is a sensor placement type, Lisa utilizes the magical potential generated by the deformation of the magical outer skin. The processing burden is different. Jin had been thinking of using this type for Aaru''s sense of touch. "Did I keep you waiting?" The Marquis arrived, supported by Lisa. Jin thought about making a wheelchair, but then changed his mind because walking is also necessary for rehabilitation. "Well, what do you have to talk about today?" Sinking into his easy chair, the Marquis looked around at all the faces to listen to what they had to say. "I would like to ask you a few questions about education. When Jin mentioned this, the Marquis'' eyes lit up. "Oh, education. What kind of education? Jin decided to explain without hesitation. "Yes. The contents are magecraft, alchemy, ordinary engineering, and science. I would like to create a kind of laboratory that is not bound by the borders of the state. "Hm, doesn''t ''not bound by the nation'' include the case of the demon tribe?I suppose it is also based on the fact that humanity must join forces to fight against them." Jin had never said anything like that, but the Marquis showed a sharp insight. "Yes, that''s right. Jin stammers unintentionally. "Hmmm... ......" The Marquis closes his eyes, a habit he has when he''s deep in thought. And then he opens his eyes, "An ideal. It''s admirable, but useless." He said a harsh criticism. "What?" "Sir Jyn Nidor, you are young. You know the ugliness of men, but you do not understand it. How easily power corrupts. You do not yet realize how much of a fetter a country can be." Letting out a sigh, the Marquis continued. "Human beings are good in groups while they are few. It is because they can''t survive without it. But when they become numerous, factions are bound to form and disputes will arise. They plot to gain more profits and conspire to kick others down the road. And then ...... they divide." "......" Jin, or anyone but Jin, had nothing to say. "Even though the Kingdom of Dinar was able to unite the neighboring nations and unite mankind 300 years ago during the Magic War, it was because of the fear of the demon tribe. In fact, after the threat of the demons was eliminated, the kingdom was divided into small groups, which is proof of this. Unfortunately, it seems that we have to admit that the marquis is right. "The institute you think you have is not good enough for the country. Yes, you should choose yourself over the country, research over the country. You will have to choose such a person. That''s all I can say." "......" Jin was speechless. He had been told that his current vision of a < was impossible. At least, not in the way that Jin was thinking of it now. "People are unique, and when they get together, there will always be differences of opinion. It is strict law and iron discipline that unifies them. That is how an army keeps its shape. "...... I understand, sir." Jin''s shoulders slumped. He had rushed forward with great vigor, but halfway through he had tangled his leg and fallen. He must have overlooked many things in his zeal to achieve what his predecessors had failed to do. It is a good thing that I asked the opinion of the Marquis, a man who has been in the business for a long time. Erza, Reinhard, Bertsche, and Meine had nothing to say. They instinctively knew that the Marquis was probably right. Ideals are sweet because they are beautiful. They are so sweet that they make us forget about other things. Reinhardt should have known this as a diplomat who had visited the small group of countries. But because of the beauty of his ideals. He dared not look at the ugly parts. "I suppose this came up because I once said that I wanted to build a schoolhouse: ....... What I wanted to build was a military school. I wanted to create a military school, one that would train mainly senior officers. I have devoted half my life to my country as a soldier, and I wanted to create a place where I could devote the other half of my life." Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen, who showed his military face, concluded his speech with these words. * * * * Before noon, Jin and the others had left the marquis'' residence and were on their way to Reinhardt''s house. Saki is still at the marquis'' house. It seems that the marquis will not let her go. In the carriage on the way back is a slightly dejected Jin. Reinhardt tried to cheer him up. Jin, cheer up. That''s why the preparations for Fuso Island have been in vain. ......" "No, that''s okay." Jin answered with a downcast look on his face. "......What can I say, I''m a bit naive, right ......?" "......I think it''s fine that you''re just the way you are." Erza responded to his blurting. "That''s why I''m here, brother Jin." "...... Elsa." Jin''s face lit up. "No, it''s not just me. It''s not just me, it''s my brother Rai, my mother, and Ms. Bertsch. And even though she''s not here, Saki likes her brother Jin." "......Erza is always so positive." "I''m not a fan of being face down. Jin brother looks best when he''s making something. "...... I guess so." I don''t think so. I think that''s what makes him a Magecraftsman. Magecraft Meister. ...... Jin looked up at the sky through the carriage window. A single cloud was drifting by. "Maybe I was in a bit of a hurry. Let''s ...... take our time and go slowly." It was at that time. Reiko pulled the hem of Jin''s dress. "Father, I have an urgent message from the old man. According to ...... Hannah, there is an emergency in the village of Kaina. She wants you to come home immediately. "What!What happened to Hanna? She hadn''t been back in Kaina Village for the past 10 days, what could have happened? Jin decides to return home via the warp gate on the carriage. He tells Reinhardt about it, He says, "Okay. I''ll explain the situation to my father and the others. I may go there later." Reinhard said he would follow up on Jin''s action. "Jin, what about me?" "Well, I think it would be better if Erza and Meine followed us." "Yes, okay." Yes, okay, Jin-sama. Jin stopped the carriage and gave instructions to the steward. In other words, to return to Reinhardt''s house and take care of the carriage. Jin-sama, please be careful. "Thank you, Bertsche. I''m off then." Jin, Reiko, Erza, Meine, Edgar, and two others were transferred to the village of Kaina via Shinkai. As a matter of urgency, the group went out to the transfer gate in the basement of the workshop. Jin rushes up the stairs. Hannah was waiting for him there. "Onii-chan!" Hannah seems to be safe. Jin felt a little relieved. "Hannah, what happened?" But the next moment, he wonders what happened to the village. "Sera-san is in a coma! Sera. She was Linus'' wife and she must have been a little over nine months pregnant, Jin remembered. "Don''t tell me something is wrong with the baby?" Meane said. "Anyway, let''s go there. Linus and Sera''s house was behind the house of the village headman Giebeck. They started running. 424 - - 13-12 healer I went to Linus'' house, gasping for breath, and found many people gathered in front of the house. "Oh, Jin!You came back!" "Hey, Jin''s back!" Most of the men were gathered in front of the house. Even the husband, Linus, is outside. "Martha, Martha, Jin has come home!" The door opened and Martha came out. "Jin!And Meine and Elsa!To the right place!Meine, Erza, help me!...... Jin, I''m sorry you''re outside." Martha beckoned Erza and Mine to come in and closed the door behind them as soon as they entered the house. As soon as she heard them, she could hear moaning and groaning inside the house. Jin asked Linus, who was there, what was wrong. "Well, around noon today, Sera''s stomach suddenly started hurting. Martha took a look at him, and he started suffering a lot after 2 o''clock. ......" Linus and Sera had an eight-year-old daughter named Patty, so it was not her first birth. At that moment the door opened and Meane came out. She finds Jin and reports in a panicked voice. "Jin-sama!It''s Sera-san...she''s breech!It''s dangerous for both mother and child!Is there a birth mother or a healer who is familiar with childbirth? Meine had only given birth to Elsa, and Elsa had some knowledge but no experience. Martha, too, was breech, and there was nothing she could do about it. "With Elsa here, there is little danger to mother and child if things continue as they are now, but we can''t stay like this forever. But it can''t stay that way forever. Please, we need an experienced healer! "Yes, I understand!" Jin replied and turned around and ran back to the workshop. Reiko followed him, of course. "Father, what are you going to do? "...... I will have to go to some city and bring an obstetrician or a healer with me." Jin answered as he went down to the basement. "But we don''t have time to wait too long to look for them. ...... Jin recalls the healer he met in Tellurus, Sally Mireshan. She was a good healer, and even if she didn''t know much about childbirth, there was a good chance she could introduce him to someone who did. Jin went to Horai Island through the warp gate and asked Lao-kun where was the nearest warp gate to Tellurus. This is the base using the ruins of the 8th fortress of the Unified Party who kidnapped Erza in the past. "I understand. I''ll use the transporter to go there by Pegasus 1 as I did the day before yesterday (the day before yesterday). On the way back, we can use the warp gate of Pegasus 1 as well." We will use the same method as when we went to check on Marcus. This time, the site of the 8th fortress was used as a marker, so the margin of error was small. With the invisibility activated, we move to the riverbank near Tellurus. This is the place where Meane, who was seriously injured, was launched. Pegasus 1 landed there, and Jin and Reiko went outside. Pegasus 1 is kept in the air just in case. It will come down when Jin calls it. It was still a little after 1:00 p.m. in Tellus. Jin headed straight for the Mireshan Healing Center. "It''s around here, I think. ......" Following a narrow path, he came to a familiar door with the words <> written on it. "Here, here." But the door is battered and has holes in several places. Stones were scattered around it. It looked deserted, but when he pushed the door open, Jin stepped inside. "Hello." There was no answer. There seemed to be no patients, and the place was deserted. "Doctor?Dr. Sally Mireshan?" I called out loudly, and I heard a noise in the back. Jin headed that way. In a dimly lit back room, in a corner, there was Sally herself. "Sensei, ......!" "Hm?Who''s ......?......" There was no sign of her cleanliness, dirty clothes, shaggy head, and scruffy cheeks. The dark blond hair in a ponytail and the blue eyes had not changed, but Jin could not believe his eyes that this was the resolute Sally Mireshan. "......What in the world is going on?" "Hmm?Oh, ah, I think you said something about ...... Jin." Sally opened her mouth, exhaling a breath that reeked of alcohol. "As you can see. I''m drinking because I don''t have any patients. That''s all." "Why do you have a patient?" The question seemed taboo. There was a dangerous glint in Sally''s eyes. "Why, because?Ha-ha-ha-ha!They are all fools!They say that blood purification potion is creepy." "What?" "What?" "All of you!I literally shed my blood to study them for you!It must be the demon tribe that makes such medicines, they say! Jin told Sally that when he had saved Meine, he had told her that the recovery potion was made by putting healing magic into a serum obtained by precipitating the blood of a demon with magical powers. Sally apparently put this into practice with her own blood. The residents who knew this must have ostracized Sally for using such a medicine. Jin managed to read it from Sary''s drunken and indistinct words. "He even hit me with a rock!Ha, ha ha ha ha ...... funny, isn''t it?Laugh it up!" He cleaves the tabletop with his hand. An empty liquor bottle falls to the floor and shatters. He is self-deprecating. Sally could have blamed Jin for teaching her the recipe, but she doesn''t. "Sensei, I just told you something I didn''t need to ......." As he was about to say this, a cup came flying at Jin. Reiko catches it just before it hits Jin. Reiko is indignant, but Hitoshi silently controls her. It''s not your fault!It''s my fault!I''m the one who''s helpless! "Sensei ......" "What did you become a healer for?To help people!To save them!Do you know what it is like to be rejected? Hearing these words, Jin wondered what he should do. In stories and dramas, it is standard to give him a pep talk with a slap on the cheek or something like that, Jin thought. However, he did not think he could do such a thing. While Jin was wondering what he should do, Reiko spoke up on his behalf. "Doctor, there is a person suffering from a difficult delivery. Can you help her?" Hearing these words, Sally stopped laughing. "What ......?" The madness in her eyes disappeared. "You said you had a difficult delivery ....... Since when? "Well, about three hours now. ......." When Jin answered backward, Sally''s angry voice echoed. "You idiot!Why didn''t you come earlier?You and your son are in danger!" "Oh, I have someone with me right now who doesn''t have any experience but can use healing magic. Jin said and Sally''s anger subsided a little. "Well, that''s a little better, isn''t it?......Wait for me to get ready. ......Oops." Sally tries to stand up, but her drunken limbs won''t listen to her and she stumbles. It was Jin who helped her up. "Pull yourself together, sir." "I''m sorry. ......<" Sally uses an unfamiliar magic. Sally becomes more alert as soon as she sees it. "Sir, what was that?" "Is it a detoxification spell?It''s a healing magic that removes toxins from the body. I''ve recently perfected it." "Completed?" It seems that Sally has developed a new healing spell. It''s not an easy thing to do. "I see, it''s also called <>. So he''s sobering up. That''s right. That''s right. ...... is not the time for this kind of talk. Help me get ready! Yes, sir. Hitoshi and Reiko help me pack some healing tools in my bag. Jin was relieved inside. It seemed that most of the roughness was caused by his drunkenness. Jin had a strange feeling that there is no such a thing as a dramatic turn of events. Meanwhile, Sally showed up packed with a change of clothes and other things. "Okay, let''s go." Jin saw Sally with her large luggage and couldn''t help but ask. "Sir, what are you wearing?" "What?I don''t want to come back here anymore. I''m going to take care of the patient you asked me to take care of, and then I''m going on a trip. "I see. ......" Hearing this, Jin thought in the corner of his mind that he would be invited to Kaina Village and in the future he would be welcomed to Fuso Island, and if possible, to the family of Horai Island. "Come on, let''s go. Show us the way." Sally glanced back once as she left the healing center, but she did not look back after that and followed Jin on a short walk. "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!Is there a woman in labor this far from here?" Sally looks doubtful. Jin turns a serious face and explains. "Yes, the patient is in the Kingdom of Klein. I''m going to use an artifact to bring her to you. 425 - - 13-13 Tea and onigiri "An artifact?" Even Sally can''t hide her surprise at the word. "Yes. I don''t have time for this now. I''ll explain later. Jin then landed Pegasus 1 and deactivated its invisibility at the same time. "Oh? Sally was surprised to see Pegasus 1 suddenly appear in front of her. Jin rushes Sally and leads her to the warp gate inside. With Jin''s help, Sally transfers without any problem. Reiko follows with a large baggage. Pegasus 1 deploys invisibility again and soars into the sky. It returns to Horai Island by golem-controlled autopilot. Jin, Sally, and Reiko are transferred to the basement of Jin''s workshop. "This way!" Jin jumped out of the basement and ran toward Linus'' house. Sally followed. Her ponytail swung. Even though she was almost 50 years old, she was faster than Jin. "Come on, Jin-kun, hurry up! She urged him to hurry. When they finally arrived at Linus'' house, Jin was out of breath. "This must be it!Get out of the way!" Sally shoved the men out of the way and jumped into Linus''s house. Reiko with her luggage followed. But Reiko came out and helped Jin as soon as he put down his luggage. "Father, are you all right?" "......Yes,......I''m fine." Jin breathed heavily. The thought of having to work seriously on body enhancement magic flashed through his mind. Jin, who is he? Is he a healer? Locke and the other men in the room asked. "Yes, he is a good healer. He came as soon as I told him." Now there must be Sally, Martha, Meane, Elsa, and the neighbor''s wives among them. With that many people in the house, they should be able to handle most things. In addition, there should be a covert task force (SP) with Edgar and Elsa, Marron and Plum. "Big brother ......" Before I knew it, Hannah had come up to me. She looked worried. Jin patted her head. "Don''t worry, I''m sure that teacher will help you." "...... yes." It was almost dark in the village of Kaina. Jin took Hanna''s hand, "There''s no point in staying here. Let''s go home." He said to her, "Let''s go home. Hannah looked a little regretful, but then nodded her head. "Okay. Then, let''s come back after dinner. Jin and Hannah returned to Martha''s house. Sarah was there to look after him. "Welcome home, sir. "Sarah, is dinner ready?" Yes, everything is ready. Sara shows the kitchen. Bread, soup and salad were already prepared. All I have to do is heat up the soup. "Well, let''s eat quickly and go back to Sera''s, shall we? "Yes!" Hannah nodded vigorously at Jin''s words. Jin hurriedly finished his dinner. Meanwhile, Barrow came from Nido Castle to check on them. "Ah, Jin-sama!You have returned. "Barrow. Linus'' wife, Sera, is suffering from a difficult pregnancy. I heard that. Is there anything we can do to help? Jin thought for a moment and immediately thought of something. "Do you have any rice in the warehouse? "Rice?Yes, a considerable amount of rice was brought in the other day. The old man knew that Jin loved rice, so he was very good with his hands. "Good. Well then, when you get home, cook some rice and make a lot of rice balls...... for about ten people and deliver them to Mr. Linus'' house. If you don''t have any ingredients, just use salt and nori. You know how to make them, right?" This was for Sally and the others at Linus'' house. Yes, I''ll take care of it! "Yes, I''ll take care of it! And tell Butler to prepare some antiseptic and restorative medicine. Yes, sir! After watching Barrow''s back as he hurriedly returns to Nido Castle, Jin hurriedly boils water, brews a pot of tea, and fills a thermos with the tea. The thermos was brought from Jin''s house. He prepared it for a picnic with Hannah and the children. Hannah started to help me out. When she has finished filling the eight thermoses with tea, she gives three to herself, four to Reiko, and one to Hanna. "Okay, Hannah, let''s go." It was already dark outside. Jin, Hannah, and Reiko walked quickly to Linus'' house. Locke and Linus were still at the door. The other men had gone home. "Did Mr. Locke stay behind?" "Yes, if something happens, it''s better to have someone with you." Thanks for your help. Here you go. He offers them a thermos filled with tea. "Oh, sorry. I was just thirsty." Jin gave Hanna all the thermos bottles except the one with tea in it and opened the door for her, "Hannah, give them to the people inside." Hannah nodded and went inside. Hanna nodded and went inside. "Thank you, Hannah! "My throat is parched. That''s great. I was so relieved. The voices sounded like she was in a lull. Jin was relieved. However, it must have been five or six hours since the baby was born. Since Jin did not know anything about childbirth, he had no idea whether this was a long time or not. Linus, standing next to Jin, was even more nervous than Jin was. "Jin, Linus, don''t be so nervous. A man can only wait and see. Locke, sitting on the ground, says something like that. "He said it''s breech, but he seems to be a good doctor, so I''m sure he''ll be fine. Martha''s with him." So Jin sat down next to Locke and took a sip of tea. Hannah did not come out. She was probably inside helping with something. But Linus looked up at the sky or at the ground. "Hey, I told you to calm down, didn''t I?" Locke''s rebuke seems to have no effect. "Because, you know, I think Patty''s baby was born a lot earlier than this. "You said she was breech this time. That''s why." "Breech? ...... why is that? ......" Linus looks anxious. Then. Then he heard the baby''s cry. "Uncle Linus!A baby is born!It''s a boy! Hannah jumped out and reported it. Linus literally jumped for joy. "That''s great!Sera!" Martha came out next. "Jin, thanks for the tea. We''ve been too busy boiling water to take care of ourselves. No, it''s the least I can do. "What are you talking about? What are you talking about? You brought such a good doctor here. I''ve had a few babies, but never a breech baby, I didn''t know what to do. But that doctor... ......" Then Barrow and Behrle came in with onigiri (rice balls). "Master Jin, thank you for waiting! "Oh, good timing! Behr, take these to the people inside. Give the antiseptic and restorative to Elsa, she knows how to use them. Yes, sir. "Barrow, give it here. ...... Mr. Locke, Mr. Linus, you must be hungry. Here you go." When Jin offered them onigiri, they were at first puzzled by the black appearance of the onigiri, but after taking a bite, they seemed to like the aroma of the seaweed and the delicious taste of the salted rice, and both Locke and Linus finished the onigiri that they had prepared for five people. They seemed to like the flavor of the rice with the aroma of laver and salt. "It was delicious. Jin, what is this? Jin couldn''t help but laugh at Locke who asked such a question after they had finished eating. "It''s rice, a crop harvested in Erza''s homeland. "Well, it was delicious. Thanks." Locke and Linus also seemed to like the taste of rice. The sound of birth echoes in the darkness of the night. It is the voice of new hope in the village of Kaina. 426 - - 13-14 Sally The door opened and Sally Mireshan peeked out. She looked alternately at Locke and Linus, "Which one of you is Linus, Sera''s husband?" He asked in an angry voice. "Linus is me." Linus answered, and Sally approached him and slapped him on the cheek. "Ow!What are you doing? Linus complained, but was rendered speechless by Sally''s glare. "You stupid husband!Your wife is going to have a hard time because you''re not taking care of her! She yelled at him again, and Linus became smaller, not understanding what was going on. "You know, a pregnant woman should not have a cold tummy. And what is that?You want to go into the river to pick magic stone sand?You''ll get a breech baby!" The fetus inside the mother''s body is said to be breech, with the head up at the beginning. After seven months (about 30 weeks), however, the weight of the head naturally causes the head to move down. However, when the lower abdomen is cold, the fetus feels discomfort and turns its head up. Sera had been collecting magic stone sand in the Herme River even after seven months had passed, and it seems that she had become a breech baby. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. ......" Linus bowed his head, but Sally said, "You''re not the right person to apologize to, are you? Sally said, "You''re apologizing to the wrong person. You should apologize to your wife." She smacked Linus on the head. "What?...... Then, how''s Sera?" "Yes, she''s fine. The baby has probably just had a bath. You can come in. Take care of your wife and watch the baby." "Yes, sir!" Like a rabbit, Linus ran into the house. He ran into the house. "I''m so nervous!" Sally was relaxing at the house of chief Giebeck. Sally was going to stay at the chief''s house tonight. There had been some talk of staying at Nido Castle, but they decided to stay here because it was closer to Linus''s house. "No, Mr. Salie, thank you very much for your help. The chief bows his head. "No, maybe I''m the one who was saved." "What?" "Actually, ......" Sally explained in detail what had happened in Tellurus. "I see. ....... Well, with all the djinn in this village, I''m not surprised by most things." Giebeck was not at all fazed by the mention of purifying blood to make medicine. Sally was relieved and at the same time a little taken aback. "Oh, you ...... are that much of a man, aren''t you?" "Yes, it was already night when he was there ....... He built Nido Castle in one night instead of a few days, and before you knew it, he had leased the land here in Kaina Village. It is a bit of an exaggeration to say that he built it overnight, but that is what happened in his brain. "Ha,ha...... what?Leased land?" "Yes, that''s right. I heard that the king himself gave us permission. "Well, ...... what is the name of this country?" The Kingdom of Klein. What?......Oh, I remember that ......." Sally remembered that he had told her that he would guide her to the Kingdom of Klein using an ancient relic (artifact). "I missed the details. ...... Well, I''ll ask him tomorrow." That night, Sally was filled with a sense of fulfillment and slept well for the first time in a long time. * * * * * * The next morning, Sally went to the hot spring on his recommendation. She was accompanied by Barbara, the niece of the village head. Sally is 48 years old and Barbara is 17. Although they were older than father and daughter, Barbara had long lost her mother, and she had grown fond of Sally, who somehow had her mother''s scent. "Well, this is nice. So all the people in this village can come in here, right?" "Yes, Mr. Jin made it for me, and since then..." "Jin-san. ....... Who are you? "I''m a magecraftsman from a country called Nihon. I don''t know much more than that. "Hmm. Okay. By the way, you said, "Barbara," what''s troubling you?" "What?What? How do you know?How do you know it''s not ......?" Sally smiled when she saw Barbara''s flustered look. "......You''ve already given yourself away, haven''t you? I''m a healer. I can tell when you have something on your mind. I was only half joking when I said ....... Mr. Giebeck told me." "From your uncle? ......?" "Yes. He said you were fidgeting and then you sank into it, didn''t you?" I guess he''s not looking, Barbara thought, a little thankful to her uncle, but also aware that she had to be careful. "...... No, it''s nothing." "Hmmm, boyfriend troubles?" "How do you know? Haha, when a girl your age is worried about something, it''s almost always about love. "......" Barbara turns red in the hot water. "Well, I know it''s hard to talk to someone you just met yesterday, so I won''t force you to. But just keep in mind that there are people who care about you. "...... Yes." Just as the mood is about to darken a bit, a cheerful voice comes in. "Oh, Barbara! And Sensei!" "What?Is this lady the teacher?...... Thank you very much for yesterday! It was Hannah and Patty. "Yesterday? "Yesterday?" "Yesterday?" "Yesterday?" "Yesterday, she''s the daughter of Linus and Sera. She was staying at another house yesterday. Maybe they told you about it this morning. Yes, Patti was staying at Locke''s house yesterday. Only this morning was she told what had happened. Patty herself did not know Sally''s face, but Hannah, who knew her face, had told her and thanked Sally for saving her mother from a dangerous situation. I see, you''re Sera''s daughter. ...... You''re welcome. That''s what I do." Sally''s face was not dark as she said this. She doesn''t seem to care about the incident in Tellurus anymore. A motherly smile appeared on Sally''s face as she looked at Hannah and Patty, who were giggling and laughing. "I''m the one who was saved, too. ...... Her mutterings did not reach anyone''s ears. * * * * "Hmm, Barbara said that." Jin was in his room at Nido Castle, receiving reports about the village of Kaina from the old man and Butler for the first time in a long time. . "Oh, I see. Then it would be best if we make Eric the branch manager." "Ha, it would be good for Barbara, and Eric can come to the village. Jin said, "If Eric is going to open a store, we will prepare the building for him", and gave instructions to the old man. "Even if I''m not here, you can discuss this with the village headman. And take care of the butler, too. Yes, sir. The rest is up to Dr. Sali. ...... Jin wanted her to open a business in this village. At that time, the news came that Sally herself had come to visit Nido Castle. Jin went downstairs with Reiko and Butler. "Good morning, Jin-kun. "Good morning, Jin-kun. I have a few questions for you, if you don''t mind. Jin wanted to talk to you, too. Yes. Yes.If not, would you like to join us? 427 - - 13-15 Nurse "Just as well. I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask you, too. Hearing Sally''s answer, Jin led her to the dining room of Nido Castle. "Well, this is an unusual menu. ...... I had a rounded dish yesterday and it was delicious. What is this? Jin thought that the "rounded" food must be onigiri (rice ball). "It''s called rice. Rice cooked this way is called "gohan" where I come from. Gohi is also a synonym for meal. "Hmm. So you are saying that this food called "gohan" is so popular and loved that it has become a synonym for a meal. It sure is delicious. This morning''s menu consisted of white rice, pickled greens, grilled fish, and sweet omelet. However, Jin is always screaming in his mind that he wants miso soup. Jin''s heart''s cry aside, Sally seemed to like the rice dishes. I''ve had cooked barley before, but it has a much better texture than barley. You are a wonder, Jin-kun. "Ha, you may be right." "And you''re so clever. What''s with the ...... wooden stick? Sally is using a spoon, and Jin is holding a pair of chopsticks. Sally was impressed when she saw him using them. "These are called chopsticks, and where I come from, we use them to eat rice. "Well, there are many ways to use chopsticks, such as grabbing, stabbing, and tearing. After finishing their breakfast, the two men moved to a conference room on the third floor. Behle offered them tea and then left. "Well, your castle is, in a word, extraordinary. Sally looked around the room and said this as the first thing she said. "Well, what is it that you want to ask me?" "Oh, first of all, are you sure this is the Klein Kingdom?" "Yes, this is the Klein Kingdom.Yes, this is part of the Kingdom of Klein. I''m the one who leased this land. Hearing this, Sally nodded deeply and continued her question. "What are the immigration procedures?" "What?" "No, so you are crossing countries, aren''t you?I''m just wondering how you do it." "......" Jin was at a loss for words. He had never thought about that before. Well, he had wondered about it a little when he entered the Shoro Empire from the Kingdom of Cerroa. "...... Well, that''s all right. It''s not like it''s a blatant crime. In this world where there is no family register, immigration control is loose. Unless you are an aristocrat, a royalty, a big-name merchant, or a celebrity, you are practically blameless. In fact, it is said that some peddlers sometimes cross the border and come and go without permission. Jin thought that he would make a casual approach to each country next time. "And about you. You said something about a warp gate, didn''t you?Who the hell do you think you are, possessing such an ancient artifact? Here it comes again, this question. Jin gave the same explanation he had given to Reinhardt and the others. He had been an orphan. That he had learned everything from his master. He lived on an isolated island. That there was an ancient artifact there. "I see. I see. I understand now. Well, I still think there''s something you''re hiding, but I''m not going to pry that much into it. ...... So, what''s your story? "Yes. Sir, would you be willing to settle down here in the village?" "...... so you say." Sally nodded her head as if she had half-expected Jin''s request. "Yes, I see. From the looks of it, there''s still a baby on the way. "What?" Jin unintentionally answered Sally''s words with a question. Sally looked at him with a wry smile on her face. "Haha, it seems that you are not so good at artifacts even though you own them. Just from what I''ve seen, four more children will be born within the year, right?" "Well, ......" "Since last year, this village seems to have improved in terms of living conditions, doesn''t it?Maybe that''s a big part of it. Speaking of last year, Jin came and improved the village in many ways. If there are more children in the village because of that, it is a good thing for Jin. "So, will you stay?" "Yes, I am. I''m new here, but it looks like a cozy village, you know. And ......." And? "...... and I''m curious about the books on the shelves there." The books that the old man has made at random and put there as a decoration to foil the meeting room. One of them has a spine that reads "". (What the heck is an "old book"?) It must be the old man''s unique sense of humor, which he inherited from Jin. "May I see it?" "Oh, yes, please." Jin could not help but answer. Sally took the book from the shelf and flipped through it. "This is amazing!The human skeleton, muscles, organs, etc. are illustrated with pictures!There is a book at ....... , that looked just like Marcia''s, and when Count Kuzma requested it, he made <> that looked just like Bina''s. So, this time, I made a golem, <>, that looked just like Marcia''s. And this time, you made ......> "Okay, okay, okay." The problem is what''s inside. The old man explained that it is basically the same as a golem-made, but the surface is silver clad for hygienic reasons. Clad materials are made by laminating two or more kinds of metals to enhance their functions. In this case, silver, which has antibacterial properties, is clad on the surface. Since it is thicker than plating, it does not wear off or peel off. "It''s matte." Silver has the highest reflectivity of all metals. To put it simply, it is . That''s why it is matted. Some of them have been fumigated (blackened by applying a sulfide film). >. I understood the Arial type, but I did not understand the Noir type and the Horaijima type, so let me explain them, >. > "I see. Then let''s lend Gamma to Dr. Sally for a test as well." So, Jin returned to the village of Kaina with , the nurse golem prototype. He goes out to the basement of the workshop instead of Nido Castle, as it is closer to the village chief''s house. "Is your name , okay?" "Yes, master." "Good, then you will be Mr. Salie''s assistant for the time being. We walked along the street, talking like that, until we came to Giebeck''s house. "Oh, Mr. Jin, you brought me right away. I''m Sally Mireshan. I''m Sally Mireshan. "Yes, Dr. Salih. My name is Gamma. Pleased to meet you. "Well, your golem is very impressive. Let''s go to Linus'' house where the baby was born yesterday. I guess the mother and the child are fine since she didn''t say anything about it. Just in case, Elsa and Meene are staying there. The Linus house is just a short walk away. I knocked on the door and Erza answered. "Ah, Jin, and the teacher..." "Hi Elsa, it''s me. How are Sera and the baby? Elsa smiled and nodded at Sally''s words. "Yes, doctor. Sera is eating normally and the baby is now drinking milk. "I see. May I come in to ......? "Yes, please." "Okay, Gamma, come on." "Yes, sir." "......." Erza rolled her eyes at the sight of Gamma. "Jin, my brother. ......" And the next moment, she glared at Jin. "No, no, the design is yours. We decided to make a nurse golem, and we wanted it to resemble Erza, the best healing magician on Horai Island. "......" Erza has a complicated look on her face. Then she said something. "......I understand how Marcia-san and Bina feel." 428 - - 13-16 Theres a lot of things going on, so calm down. While Erza was staring at Jin with a disturbed look in her eyes when she saw Gamma, Sally was checking on the health of mother and child at Linus'' house. Now Sera had just finished feeding the baby and was patting her on the back to make her burp. "Doctor, thanks to you, the baby and my wife are fine. I want to thank you again. Linus bowed. "Oh, don''t thank me. Take good care of your wife and son. Speaking of which, have you picked out a name yet? "Yes, I''m not sure if I should name him Charles or Franklin. ......Well, Doctor, would you like to be my godfather?" "Me?Hmmm.........<>...... doesn''t sound very Kleinian. How about then?" "Henry, that''s a good one!Thank you very much. Hey!You''re Henry, right? Linus said, giving the baby in Sera''s arms a peck on the cheek. Jin, who had been watching from the doorway, quietly closed the door and left Linus'' house. "...... Jin, brother?" Erza followed Jin as his back seemed to be feeling rather lonely. "Father, Erza-san is following you with a worried look on her face, isn''t she?" Reiko''s warning, which may or may not have been intended as a hint of concern, made Jin stop and turn around. Erza was within arm''s reach. "Oh, ......." Her eyes met Jin''s and she looked a little uncomfortable. Erza wondered what she should say to him. And then, after much deliberation... "Do you want to have a baby, Jin? And then the question came. What?" Jin is taken aback by Erza''s unexpected line. And the person who said it was the most upset. "No, no, it''s not that...it''s just...you know...tits like Sera-san..." Once again, the unnecessary word came out of her mouth, causing Erza to turn bright red and run out of the room, which was unusual. "Hey ......." But Elsa didn''t stop and disappeared from Jin''s sight. "......I''m alone, I''m alone, I''m alone, I''m alone, I''m alone, I''m alone, I''m alone, I''m alone. ......What''s going on?" "Father, I think Erza-san probably came to ...... comfort you, right?" Reiko told him and Jin came up with the idea. Seeing Linus and Sera with the baby ...... Henry in between them, Jin felt a sense of helplessness. Jin, who did not know what a mother was, found it somewhat painful to watch them. He felt sorry for Erza, thinking that she must have been worried about him. "I see. Jin has been feeling a little depressed recently. I''m sorry. "Ha-ha-ha-ha." Erza breathed heavily as she ran all the way to the outskirts of the village. In front of her was the Erme River. The July sun had been shining strongly since the morning, and Elsa was drenched in sweat. "...... I want to swim." She wanted to cool her burning body and hot head. But there were no bathing suits here. Even in the free village of Kaina, only small children are allowed in the water without any clothes. As she regained her breath and with it her composure, Erza could no longer understand why she had run away from Jin. She had heard that Jin was an orphan. Maybe that''s why her lonely back was bothering her, because she saw the happy face of Sera who was breastfeeding her baby. I couldn''t find the right words to say to Jin, so I thought about what I could do, and I said some crazy words. Then I was so impatient and confused that I couldn''t look at Jin''s face anymore, so I ran away to this place. "Let''s go back to ......." Erza returns to the village with a very slow gait, a far cry from when she first arrived. Barbara appeared in front of her. Barbara, too, was looking somewhat down. "Oh, Elsa." "...... Barbara." They were already calling each other "Elsa" and "Barbara". "You don''t seem well." "You don''t look well." They look at each other. Both of them let out a small sigh one by one. The two of them looked at each other and let out one small sigh from each of them. "Well, then, please take care of it, chief. "Oh, okay. I''ve got room for you. Leave it to me." At that time, Jin consulted with the village chief, Gievek, and decided to keep Sally at the chief''s house for a while, so that the house would also function as a clinic. "So you agree with the idea of a branch of the Raglan Trading Company in the village, is that correct?" Yes. So I was thinking of setting up a store there, and I was wondering if you could tell me where it would be located. "Well, it would be more convenient if it were closer to the center of the village. ...... When Jin heard from the old man that <>, he checked with the village head to make sure that this was the case, and immediately started to make arrangements for the building. "Do you know who is coming to the branch?" "Hm?No, I haven''t heard anything about that. "Does Barbara know?" Yes, I told her. Well, that''s good. Jin knew that Eric was already on his way from the report from the old man. But he decided to keep it quiet as it was a surprise. Incidentally, the village head told her that he had talked about the branch office, but Barbara had been listening to the conversation with an empty head, so she had no recollection of it. Anyway, Jin secretly called a craftsman (Smith) and instructed him to build the store. "......The layout is like this: store and workshop on the first floor, living space on the second floor. It''s about twice the size of the house I live in here. "Yes, sir." The five craftsmen (smiths) immediately went to work. They completed the work in almost a day, but the villagers were so used to it that no one was surprised. Sally was not surprised because she knew nothing about it. He had been going from house to house in the village for a medical checkup to meet the newcomers. "Well, I''m a little tired," he said. "Please come to Nido Castle and refresh yourself." "......6 months, I think. Take care of yourself. If you are looking for prenatal care, please visit Nido Castle. Don''t underestimate the extent of your injuries. Shall I disinfect it? Nurse Gamma is immediately following along. In fact, the three prototype nurse golems are sending their knowledge and experience to the old man in real time. In this way, Gamma is currently working hard to collect data for the mass-produced nurse golems that will come after her. * * * * There is a village called Toka to the south of Kaina. Several new nobles were appointed to replace Count Walter, who had ruled Lachnoe, Doppa, and Charles Town ...... including that village. In the village of Toka, Licia Faalheit. She was to become lord of Toka village as of July 1. It''s so hot today, isn''t it? Riding a golem horse borrowed from Jin, Licia has just left Charles Town. Another golem horse was used to transport the luggage. Pascoe Rush had borrowed it. "I''m sorry it took me so long to return it to you. I owe Mr. Jin an apology. With him on the way to the village of Toka is Gloria Allstadt, a guard. "I hope to meet Mr. Jin." The Prime Minister, Powell, smiled and gave his permission to the request, which was clearly a personal one, to protect Lycia. "Jin-san is on and off, you know. ......" "So he''s been around for a long time." Gloria was her former boss and instructor, but Licia is now her superior. After much wrangling over whether or not she should use honorifics, she has settled on using language appropriate to her age. "I''m looking forward to ...... Kyna village." "I''m sure you''ll be surprised when you visit there, Gloria-san. Licia muttered as she looked at the carriage of a man who seemed to be a merchant going a little ahead. 429 - - 13-17 Silent Story 23 Ricia Becomes Lord In May of the year 3457 of the continental calendar, Lysia Faarheit, daughter of a new noble family, was given the rank of baronet in recognition of her great contribution to the fight against the that had ravaged the Kingdom of Klein, She was conferred the rank of baronet. At the same time, the former Count Walther''s estate was dismantled and given to several new nobles. Lycia also received the village of Toka, which was part of the former Walther''s estate. She will take up her new post on July 1. Congratulations, Licia. "Congratulations!" "Thank you, father and mother." At Licia''s house, there was a small celebration party with her father, mother, daughter and family. "This is a relief for me. I''m more than a little proud. Niklas is also happy to be back home after the war in Tetrada. From the rescue knights to the lords of Toka village. Even though the main mission of the Knights is to provide logistical support, they are still on the battlefield. There is always danger. Father Niklas, who had been worried that his only daughter Licia would have to go into battle, even if it was for the good of the country, was truly happy to see his daughter become a lord. "I owe it all to Mr. Jin." "Jin-dono, huh? I heard you were the guest of the third princess the other day. I see. She used to come here when my father and I were still in Tetrada. It seems that Jin was an acquaintance of Deus ex Machina and had come to deliver Licia''s sword that he had found on the battlefield. It seems that Earl, the maid, was the one who received the sword, and that the person who delivered it was a woman. However, since Jin was the only one who knew that the sword belonged to Licia, Licia thought that there must be a connection between the two, so when she went to the village of Kaina as an ambassador, she asked him about it. I found out that it was Jin who delivered the sword and that he was an acquaintance of Makina. Licia still thinks that Jin and Makina are the same person. "But since our territories will be next to each other, I''m sure we''ll have more chances to meet." Licia said as she put the steak in her mouth. "Well, he seems to be a great guy, so you should get to know him better. You can ask him for help if you need it." Mother Milia had heard about Jin many times from Licia, so she had a vague sense of his greatness and uniqueness. "I also have to return the golem horse I borrowed from you." The golem horse that Jin lent Licia and Pascoe when they left the village of Kaina. The performance of the golem horse was remarkable, and it was very useful along the way. When Prime Minister Powell saw it, he had the Royal Magi Craftsman of the kingdom create a similar one. But disassembly was out of the question. It would be a great loss for the kingdom if it displeased Jin. So they wondered if it would be possible to make it by observation from the outside, but the result was impossible. We had no idea of the structure, materials, or controls. The only thing we know is that the outer layer is made of light silver. It is hard to imagine how much it would cost to use so much light silver. At this point, the copying of the golem horses was abandoned. There was plenty of paperwork to be done, preparations for the assignment, site inspections, and arrangements for the men to be assigned to the project. A month passed in the blink of an eye, and on June 25th, Licia was seen off by her parents in Albuquerque. Licia was seen off by her parents and departed from Alban. She was accompanied by one guard knight. "Licia, I''m looking forward to this." "Yes, sir." "Hey, don''t call me ''instructor''! I don''t like to use that word for my boss either. I beg your pardon, Quartermaster Fahlheit." "Don''t do that, ...... Gloria." "But I guess you have to keep your status in order. ......" "Vice-Captain and instructor of the Kingsguard Ladies Guards. She''s been a mentor to me. A teacher is always a teacher. I would be a bastard if I forgot that debt." Gloria laughed. "Thank you. I see that you call me your teacher, even if it was only for a short time. Okay, then, let''s talk normally outside of public life. Is that okay with you?" "Yes, if that''s what you mean. ...... is this how you would like to be treated in respect of your elders?" ......Well, that''s fine, isn''t it?" Their journey continues like this. Two days, three days. As the days go by, Gloria''s horse is showing signs of fatigue. On the other hand, Licia''s golem horse is not fatigued at all. The same goes for the one who is having her baggage carried. "...... But that golem horse is quite a thing, isn''t it?" Gloria muttered to herself as she fed the horses at the inn in Charles. "I''m having them carry my luggage as well." "Well, Jin-san says that they are five to ten times more powerful than ordinary horses. "What!Jin-dono is an outstanding person, isn''t he? At that moment, there was a sound of hoofbeats and a fast horse arrived. The fast horse is a means of information transmission along with the pigeon. Although they are not as fast as pigeons, they have a higher probability of reaching the destination, even if the location of the recipient is uncertain. Also, while pigeons are one-way vehicles that only return to a fixed stable, fast horses have the advantage of being able to be applied in other ways, such as searching for the destination. "Oh, a fast horse. That''s unusual." When the fast horse found Licia and Gloria, it turned around, which had been slowing down because of the town. "Hmm?Are you coming this way?" The horse is approaching, making a clattering sound with its hooves. Upon closer inspection, a knight wearing a cloak with the royal emblem was riding. He was a knight of the royal order. "An imperial order, you mean?" The knight dismounted in front of Gloria and Licia and took out a letter from a package wrapped around his body. It might not be a royal order since there is no royal coat of arms on it. "Quasi-Baron Lysia Faarheit, is it?Please look over this immediately. Yes, sir. It is quite unusual, but Licia checks the letter outdoors because of the urgency of the situation. The letter is written in black ink on a laminated linen cloth. It is the same type of letter used among the nobility. "Well, the Kingdom of Klein is pleased to present Jin Nido with the title of Magecraft Meister. ......" The point was that they had appointed Jin as a Magecraft Meister, and they wanted him to give them a certificate to prove it. "...... am I right?" Licia was concerned that a newly minted baronet might not be able to get the job done. But the knight, who was the messenger, presented her with a short letter as well as a package of certificates bearing the royal seal. "What?I know that you don''t like to be ostentatious,...... so you think that I am the right person for the job since I know you and have been assisting you in various ways, you say? "Then I have given it to you without a doubt. I have given it to you, my dear Licia." With these words, the knight of the messenger jumped on his horse, turned his head, and rode back in the direction from which he had come. "...... Jin-san, you are the Magecraft Meister? I don''t know what that means, but I know from the sound of it that it is an impressive title. "I wonder if we can meet?What if we don''t meet? "Since we are in the next village, why don''t we ask Jin-dono to contact us when he comes back? "Oh, yes!I didn''t notice." Licia put the letter and the certificate in the storage compartment in the body of the golem horse. This is the most secure place. Only Licia (and maybe Jin) can open it. And the next day. The day is a bit long, but if all goes well, we will be able to reach Toka village. We left the town of Charles early in the morning, just as we had done the last time with Pascoe. "It''s going to be a bit of a hard day''s march," said Pascoe. Gloria looked up at the clear and hot sky and murmured, "I guess so. "I guess so. Let''s make as much distance as possible in the cool morning. As before, we left early in the morning and had breakfast on the way. We had lunch on horseback and somehow managed to reach the village of Toka before sunset. "Well, we made it. Thank God for the long daylight season. Gloria was indeed tired, but Licia was not so much. This is the result of Jin''s careful consideration so that she would not get tired even after riding for a long distance. I had originally planned to have Gloria ride the golem horse that Pascoe had borrowed, but she had insisted on it as a knight, so I had used it to carry the luggage. I was not forced to do so, but I was using them as baggage carriers. My name is Braak, the chief of the village. Lysia Faarheit. This is my escort, Gloria. After a brief greeting, Licia and the others go to the chief''s house. The last time they stayed at the soldiers'' dormitory, but this time they were welcomed by the chief himself, since he is now the lord of the village. The dinner was served in harmony, as the two had never cared much about food. "There is mining going on in the Inad mine just down the road. "I guess so. We passed a wagon on the way here. The conversation began with small talk and gradually turned to the village. "......I''m going to basically leave the village to the village headman. I will be in charge of making general policy and negotiating with the government. "I am relieved to hear that. The neighboring village of Kaina has recently gained a reputation for being a much better place to live, and some people are beginning to think about leaving here and moving to the village of Kaina. "I see, that''s a problem. As a lord, I would like to make the village a better place to live first. I would appreciate it if you would do so. And so the night of June 29th goes by. Lysia Faarheit does not officially become a lord until the next day, July 1. 430 - - 13-18 Decisions, and June 29 is the last day of June. The month of this world is 30 days, but the three long summer months of June, July, and August This means that there are only 357 days in a year. This means that the 357 days of the year fit exactly into the world. Incidentally, since there is no concept of days of the week, there is no problem if the same day of the month is allocated to the same day of the week every year. "Ah, I guess I''m supposed to reply today. ......" It is the last day to reply to the female emperor Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Shawlo. "I was going to reply to Fuso Island. ......" That direction has been abandoned. "Well, for Your Majesty and the country that gave me the title of Magecraft Meister, I guess. ......" Last night, after consulting with the old man, we decided to go in the direction that seemed to be the best for the current situation. * * * * Shoro Imperial Palace. "I wonder if Jin-kun has come yet. The Empress Gerhard was waiting impatiently in her office for Jin''s arrival. The stack of papers to be read had not diminished in the slightest. The Prime Minister has been away on other business since this morning, and is alone in his office with only his lady-in-waiting and bodyguard. The time is 9:00 am. There is a knock at the door, and the messenger says a few words. "Your Majesty, Sir Jin Nido wishes to see you. Let him through at once. After 15 minutes of waiting, the door to his office opened and Jin Nido came in. "I have been waiting for you, Sir Jin Nido. I apologize for keeping you waiting. And you will let me hear your answer? Yes. The emperor leans forward. Jin looks a little apologetic, "I can''t serve ...... you." He said nothing. "What ......?" The emperor''s reaction was aptly described as a shocked recoil. "Yes, I know. ......It''s a shame. ......It''s a real, real shame. ......" She looks like she''s about to cry. "I''m sorry I couldn''t meet your expectations." Jin also looked a little sad and apologetic. "But..." Turning to the visibly listless emperor woman, Jin said a few more words. "I believe that I can convey <> to you," she said. "What? The look on the emperor''s face went up. "...... and that means out the door. ......" "Let me in!Let us in! Without further ado, the Empress gives her permission. The face of the lady attendant and escort at her side seemed to twitch a little. "Yes, yes, then ...... Reiko, you have permission, bring her in." "Yes, father." The door opened and Reiko and ...... another automaton came in. What about the other automaton? He looks masculine, in his mid-twenties or so. He looks like he''s in his mid-20s. His appearance can only be described as normal. His build is also normal. He was wearing clothes that are not often seen in the Shoro Kingdom. He was wearing a white shirt and a navy blue suit. It could be described as a recruiting suit. I am a fhrer. I have taught him scientific knowledge. You can have him." It was a desperate measure. He has been transcribed with about the same level of scientific and mathematical (arithmetic) knowledge as is taught in elementary schools on modern Earth. Jin''s answer was to have this automaton as a teacher to learn science. Knowledge that is considered too dangerous, such as knowledge of bombs and poison gas, has been cut out. This was all Jin could do. "......Thank you, Jin. ...... And what about you?What about yourself?" "Yes, I''m thinking of going around the world." "Yes, the world. ...... Jin wanted to know more and more about this world and to find someone to be his <>. "Your Majesty, may I say one thing?" "Oh, what is it?" "...... I want a world without borders. A world without war. That may be an ideal. It may be just an illusion. But I want such a world. ...... for myself." "For myself?" "Yes. Even if you try to reason with them, in the end, it comes back to the sake of yourself. A world where you can do what you want to do and make what you want to make with your friends and colleagues. A world where honesty is rewarded. A world where hard work pays off. That''s the kind of world I want." "I see. I can understand how you feel, Jin. Thank you for listening. Now if you''ll excuse me. Jin turned to leave. The emperor stopped him. "Oh, wait a minute, please. I have something for you for being a ...... leader (fuhrer). The empress held out a plate bearing the coat of arms of the Shoro royal family. On the front is Jin''s name and the title "Magecraft Meister," and on the back are inscribed the words. "This is an identification card that allows you to enter and leave this palace and public facilities at any time. At the same time, you are free to stay in this country. Jin immediately realized the significance of this identification card and felt grateful. He could use the Warp Gate to travel from one country to another without being accused of wrongdoing. At least not in the Shoro Empire. "Well, I somehow knew that I couldn''t have you all to myself, Jin. But you are always welcome to visit me. "Thank you for ......." Jin gave the most respectful bow he could think of and left the office. As the door closed behind him, the emperor sighed quietly. "......Well, half of it was predictable, but I guess I couldn''t keep him in line after all. ......" The female emperor smiles as she looks at the <> standing beside her. "But he could have had you, couldn''t he?" "Yes, Your Majesty. My father was troubled. He was troubled... so he made me. "Yes. Jin-kun is ...... The emperor gazes at the closed door. Through the door, she could see Jin''s back as he left. "Jin, how was it?" Reinhardt, who was waiting in the hall on the first floor of the palace, called out. "Yes, His Majesty listened to me very attentively. "Well,...... as a public figure, I am extremely disappointed that Jin did not serve, but as a private person, or rather as a friend of Jin''s, I am relieved." "The Marquis told me so. I think I''ll look around for a while to see if I can find any comrades. "Yes. ...... then, how about that guy?" ...... Stearina? "That''s right. She''s going to be on her way back to the Kingdom of Celuloa today or tomorrow. So Jin decided to ask her first. "Where do you think she is?" "Probably at the guest house." So he heads for the guest house with Reinhardt. It is about a five-minute walk from the palace. We were allowed to enter without any trouble by presenting the ID card we had just been given. I asked for Stearina and waited in the entrance hall for 5 minutes. "Mr. Jin, Mr. Reinhard, you came to see me off?I''m sorry, but we leave tomorrow, okay?" Stearena, who was already calling me by my first name, appeared. "No, I have a lot to tell you." Hitoshi says and Stearina is pleased. "Oh, what can the Magecraft Meister have to say to you?Shall we go to my room then? 431 - - 13-19 New company Stearina''s room was on the third floor of the guest house. She was accompanied by a maid of honor, but she was asked to stay out of the room for a confidential talk. So, what is it that you want to talk about? Stearina asked as she sipped the tea that the maid had brewed and left for her. "Well, first of all, Stearina-san, will you join us? Jin asked straightforwardly. He was so direct that Stearina did not seem to understand his intention. "What do you mean by ''friends''?Not "friend"? "Yes, a friend." Stearena''s face lit up as she seemed to have a vague idea of what he meant. "...... Are you going to tell me all about Jin-kun''s secrets and stuff?" "Yes, yes, well..." "Yes, well..." "Then I will!I don''t even have to go back to my country anymore!" Hearing these words, Jin gave his final confirmation. "...... do you really mean what you say?" "What?" "Magecraft, are you willing to abandon your country for it?Are you prepared to do that?" Sensing Jin''s tone of voice and the mood of Reinhardt next to her, Stearina puts aside her playful mannerisms and answers seriously. "Yes, I don''t mind. If you want, I can prove it to you. Stearina opens a drawer in the dresser and brings out a bag. She takes out an ID card from it. It was a passport. "I can''t go back to my country without it. I''m willing to give it to you." Jin pushed the ID back, "Okay. You don''t have to go that far. I only need your permission for one thing. <. "Trans-info?What kind of magic is that?" Jin decided to answer honestly. "It is a magic that reads what is in your head and transfers it into magi crystals. It''s easy to tell if you''re lying. Normally, one would be uncomfortable or creeped out by the idea of having one''s mind read, but this was not the case with Stearina. "Okay, go ahead." Her brazen attitude made Hitoshi feel more uncomfortable than she did. But in the end, he had to do it to move forward. "<>" "Kya." For a brief moment, Stearena let out a small voice due to a slight feeling of discomfort. "Is this okay?" Staring at the Magi Crystal shining in Jin''s hand, Stearina said. "Yes, all we have to do now is to analyze it. "Yes, it''s very easy. The other day, I had exchanged a lot of ideas with the old man and created a magical tool, which is also called . It is a cube of about 15 centimeters on each side. Its structure is a magic tool with a control core of a golem. What makes it a little special is that it uses a sub control core for memory. The sub-control core (control core) is simply set with a transferred magic crystal (magicrystal). The control core automatically checks the transcribed memories and consciousness, and confirms that your desire to become a member is true. In terms of protecting privacy, the magi crystals that have transcribed memories can be erased (erased) as soon as they are confirmed. The vocalization ability is a primitive < formula. In other words, it is just a matter of combining a few pre-defined words. Complex interactions are possible, but they are very time-consuming. This was also designed to protect privacy. In other words, the user is not able to hear what is stored in his/her memory even if he/she wanted to. When I used this to check the consciousness of Stearina, I found that she had <>. A is the level of aptitude for the Horaijima family, which means that there is no worry about betraying the family. The old man is a man of strange tastes. "Stearina, I am sorry for doubting you. The first to bow was Jin, and Reinhardt also apologized. "I think it will become clear later why I had to make all these confirmations. "Yes, I''m looking forward to it." Thus, accompanied by Stearina, who was judged to be qualified to join them, Jin and Reinhardt left the guest house and quietly went to Jin''s carriage. After making sure that no one else was around, they used the warp gate installed in the carriage. "What was that? <. As expected, Stearina, who had never experienced transference before, was surprised and excited. "We''re going to use the warp gate. "What, what, what, a warp gate?" "Yes. You''ll have to get used to it from here. And then the group moves to Horai Island. After passing through the entrance hall from the warp gate room and once outside the institute, Jin utters his usual line. "Stearina, welcome to Horai Island. * * * * Stearina was surprised by the warp gate, but she learned that it was just the beginning. From then on, it was the usual course. Surprised at the golem maid, surprised at the mountain of materials, facilities, toilets, and hot springs. "......I don''t want to go home ......" I''m sure that''s what he really meant. But. "I think I''m going to have to go home." "Yeah?Why?I want to stay longer! "...... No, if we stay here, we''ll be reported missing and a search party will be sent out. "Ugh, I know. ......" "It''s not like I can''t come back. I''ll make it look like I''m coming home tomorrow and I''ll pick you up on the way." Really?I''m counting on you." And so, Stearina returned to Shoro for the time being. "Well then, take this." "Uh, the manacam, is it right?Thank you. Okay. After seeing Stearina off as she returned to the guest house, Jin and Reinhardt decided to return to Reinhardt''s parents'' home. < was a fast boat, and they arrived at the Randall Count''s residence by evening. Jin''s carriage would return here by land. It is a big advantage that we do not get tired even if we run all night. "Jin, by the way, where are Erza and the others? After dinner, Jin and the others are relaxing and chatting. In response to Reinhardt''s question, Jin explained the situation in the village of Kaina. "Well, it must have been a hard time. But Sally Mireshan, I hear she is a good teacher. "Miresuhan, you say?" Bertsche asked from the side, which was unusual. "She is a dark blonde, blue-eyed woman in her late 40s, not yet ......50, is she not? "Oh, yes, she is. I haven''t checked her age, but it might be around there. Bertsche clapped his hands in joy when he heard Jin''s answer. "Well!Then he must be related to that teacher. "That teacher?Belle, do you know him? Reinhard had no idea who Mireshan was. "Yes. Clara Mireshan. "Yes. She''s the reason I was born." What do you mean? What do you mean? I never told you. My mother, Hilde, was born about eight months premature. She was premature and she was so sick that her life was in danger for a while, but Dr. Clara saved her. Of course, I heard this story from my mother, who was also my mother''s mother, that is, my grandmother. Apparently, Sally was related to a healer named Clara Mireshan, whom Bertsche had mentioned. She must be his daughter, judging by her age, Bertsche said. The dark blonde hair and blue eyes are what Clara looks like. "I remember that she also used Shoro''s imperial healing magic. Jin remembered that too. I wonder if Sally is Clara''s daughter after all. "But how did she end up in the Kingdom of Celluloa ...... if not ......?" Do you know something, Belle? Yes, that''s what I''ve heard. 432 - - 13-20 Two Beginnings Clara Mireshan was an excellent healer. A healer who could use the highest level of healing magic, <> and <>. It was even said that in her hands, even the dead could be brought back to life. But this was of course an exaggeration, for the dead do not come back to life, and there are those who are sick or injured who cannot be cured. Nevertheless, she was still the best healer, and she was especially popular among the common people because she treated both the nobility and the common people. The baby she saved was a premature baby (premature to be exact) born at about 8 months. There was nothing wrong with her body, but she was small and did not drink much, which made her mother anxious. At an unfortunate time when the measles epidemic was sweeping the country, the child was infected as usual. However, thanks to Clara, the child survived and grew up well. ......That''s my mother, apparently." I say "apparently" because that''s all I''ve heard. Of course. "I didn''t know that. ...... I''ve never heard that before." "Hmmm, it''s not a very proud story, is it?" "No, thank you, Belle." The two are in a sweet mood, but Jin interrupts them with his words. "...... Sorry, but so what?What the hell happened to this Clara-san? "Oh, I''m sorry." She''s certainly good, and she doesn''t discriminate between patients. It''s no wonder he''s popular ...... but that''s only among the common people. For the aristocrats, the fact that they are treated the same as the common people is the first cause of their dissatisfaction. Some of them, including those who say "Don''t touch me with the hands that have touched the common people. "Don''t touch them with the same hands that touch the common people, "I don''t like to be treated the same as the common people. and there were even some who were willing to say publicly, "I don''t like to be treated the same way as the common people. This trend was common among the old-fashioned aristocrats, and such aristocrats were usually of high rank. And then the incident that was bound to happen. "......, the second wife of a certain duke''s family was unable to be cured of her illness, which led to her death." Of course they are to blame. It is not just blame. The dukes'' accusations, which were made with , caused all of the old aristocrats to denounce Clara. As a result, when she could no longer stay in the Shoro kingdom, she disappeared with her daughter. "I was wondering if that daughter might be Sally. "...... I see." "If I may add, I heard that Clara became a healer because her husband died of an illness." "Hmm. ......" Jin thinks of Sally''s hardship, wondering if a mother and her child have been dealing with illness and injury for two generations. Jin thinks of Sally''s hardships. He also thinks that if she is such a person, he would like her to do research for the world as a member of the <. Then, Jin realized the kind of people he should gather. Unyielding will, endless interest, never-ending dreams, and unyielding desire. An unquenchable passion, an unlimited ambition, and a desire to reach the highest level. Comrades with such things. That is the Jin Family. When I said this to my current comrades, Reinhard and Bertsche, "I see... I guess that''s true. "Jin-sama, that''s good! They both agreed with me. Jin felt the stagnation that had been in his mind since the Marquis had denied him the Fuso Island concept disappeared. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, time returns a little. The same day, June 29th, noon. The place is the village of Kaina. "Dr. Saly is really great, isn''t he? Thank you for coming. Sally, Meane, and Erza were talking at the house of Chief Giebeck. Sally had just finished visiting all the houses in the village. "Sir, I want to thank you for the help you gave my mother. I am grateful for your kindness. Elsa is thanking Sally once again. "No, no, a healer''s job is to heal patients. I appreciate your gratitude, but I don''t expect you to be indebted to me." Sally laughed it off. "But I was surprised when Master Jin brought the doctor with him. "Yeah, me too. But you seem to be in good health. "Yes, thanks to Master Jin and my life here." Sally takes a sip of the tea offered to her and says in a happy tone. "Hmm, this is a nice village. And Mr. Jin, huh? You''re a strange man, aren''t you? "Yes, really." Sally and Meine seem to get along well with each other. They seem like close sisters. "But Elsa, right? But Elsa... I can''t believe she can use the highest level of healing magic at such a young age. I''m impressed. With experience you will be a far better healer than I ever was." It''s all thanks to my brother Jin. "Hmm, you''re Jin, too, aren''t you? I wonder where he went? I haven''t seen him since this morning," he added. "I''m sure he went somewhere, sir." "Hmmm, I see. He has an artifact, doesn''t he? So you''ve been neglecting your leased land. You''re a busy man. Sally''s face is smiling even as she says this. Then... "Sir, Eric of the Raglan Trading Company has arrived. I heard the voice of Butler A coming and reporting. "Oh, I see. We are right on schedule. When you get here, please show me to the store and residence that Jin has prepared for me. "Yes, sir." Butler A left the room, but Sally heard him and wondered. "Is someone here?" "Eric, you said." Maybe Barbara''s boyfriend. Sally and Meane asked questions, and Elsa answered. "Oh, I''ve heard of her. I see, you are going to open a store here and you and Barbara are going to be together." "Really?Barbara is ...... that young lady. She''s the niece of the mayor. Well, it''s good to have more residents. A few moments later, Barbara came running in gasping for breath. "Uncle, Eric is here!Why didn''t you tell me?" "I told you. You didn''t listen to me properly, did you?" "No, I didn''t!" "Well, it''s a very lively place." "...... Barbara, you sound so happy." "It''s nice to be young, isn''t it?" A few minutes'' walk from the village headman''s house was the building that would become the Kaina Village branch of the Raglan Trading Company. "Is it all right if I use this place?" "Yes. Jin-san prepared it for us! "Oh, I see. What the heck is Jin-san and that castle ......? Jin-san is Jin-san. You won''t make it in this village if you''re surprised at every little thing! "Ha ha, you''re right." Barbara and Eric''s laughter was absorbed into the clear blue summer sky. 433 - - 13-21 First Step The first day of July. < Eric, I want you to help make the village of Kaina rich. In return, we will help the Raglan Trading Company make a profit. "Thank you, Mr. Jin." "...... if you make Barbara unhappy, I''ll gag you, okay?" "Yes,......? Meene, a little distance away, is listening with a wry smile. Erza is standing next to Meene. "Mother, what is brother Jin talking about? Meine wonders how to answer. In the meantime, in the Shoro Kingdom, the Shoro Imperial Palace is being attacked by the Shoro family. Meanwhile, in the Shoro Kingdom. Meanwhile, at the Countess Randall''s house, Reinhard Bertsche and his wife were preparing to leave. They are heading for the village of Kaltz, the territory given to them by their father, Count Wolfgang Randall. It takes about two hours by carriage to reach Karcz, which is located between Eksi and Banneh. The couple is alone on the road. They were not even accompanied by a butler, as their father had insisted that they make their own arrangements for an aide-de-camp. Noir is the coachman. A carriage loaded with luggage follows him. The driver of this carriage is Neon. By the way, there is Saki''s house, the Eschenbach house, on the way. Reinhardt, who had received a message from Jin via manacam, made a detour to the Eschenbach house. "Hello, Reinhard." Jin and Saki were waiting there. "Jin, have you finished your business already?Saki, it''s been a long time! "Long time no see, Reinhard. Thanks to Jin and Erza. Thanks to Jin and Erza, I''m finally free of Grandfather now that Lisa''s here." Saki''s speech is back to normal again, but she seems happier than before, probably because the Marquis is feeling better. "Jin told me. You''re going to the village of Kurtz? "Oh, yes. I know it''s tough, but the two of us have to go there first. He told us to find an aide or something over there. "Your father is a very strict man, isn''t he ......?" Saki said with a wry smile. "So... Jin, when we find a home over there, you can use it as a base. If we set up a warp gate at Reinhardt''s house, we can come and go as we please. Jin gratefully accepts the offer. "According to the story, there is an old mansion left. It used to be a villa of some noble family or something. I''m thinking of taking care of it and living there. "I see. I''ll help you." I''m interested too. Can I go with you? So Jin, Reiko, Saki, and Aalu headed for the village of Kurtz in Jin''s carriage, which was already back here. Reinhard and Bertsche also looked eager to ride in Jin''s carriage. At 10:00 a.m., they arrived at the village of Kaltz. The village head greeted them. "Welcome. Is this Mr. Reinhard Randall?My name is Boyd, and I am the mayor of the village of Kaltz. He is a man of middle height and middle age. His brown eyes are filled with a strong spirit, indicating that he is a man of ability. "Yes, I am Reinhard Randall. This is my wife, Bertje. "Ma''am, it''s a pleasure to meet you." After exchanging greetings, Boyd looks at Jin and the others behind him. "Who are they?" "Yes, they are my friends. They came along to congratulate me on my new assignment." Boyd, satisfied with this explanation, leads them to the former aristocrat''s house that Reinhardt had told him about. Both Reinhardt and Jin followed in the carriage, which drove slowly at a speed that matched the pace of the village chief. It was a small village, about a 10-minute walk away. "Well, here it is again. A two-story stone building. It was cozy but stately. Ivy twines around the walls, reminding us of its age. "Thanks for the tour. Well, there''s no hurry, let''s talk about the village again the day after tomorrow. ...... Oh, I only need you to take care of the horses." We can repair the house and move in by ourselves, but we can''t take care of the horses. Reinhard told the village head. "Okay, sir. We will take care of them. See you the day after tomorrow. Boyd returned with four horses. Even though they were gentle horses, he was very skillful in leading them and seemed to be able to trust them with his horses. Reinhardt took another look at the pavilion. With a little work, it looks usable enough. "Well, Belle, this is going to be our home from now on. "Yes, we''ll have to clean up first. Jin also calls out to them. "Reinhard, I''ll help you." "Yes, that would be a big help." The house is surrounded by large trees and is quiet at best and lonely at worst. However, it is convenient in the sense that it is out of sight. Jin used the warp gate built into the carriage to call in 10 artisan (smith) golems and 10 golem maid perids from Horai Island. "Oh, oh?" Even though I knew of their existence, I was somewhat surprised when they were summoned together. "Well, Reinhard, please instruct the craftsman (Smith) on the repairs in the house. Bertsche, please instruct Perid and the others on the housework. Smith quickly repairs the damaged walls, creaking floors, broken stairs, and holey ceilings. Perido and the others followed Berthe''s instructions to clean and maintain the kitchen, parlor, living room, drawing room, bedroom, closet, and so on. The work was done in an hour, and the house looked new. The ivy was left as much as possible. He only mowed down the parts that blocked the windows, but left the rest. "Well, it''s quite nice," he said. "It was red granite, so it matches the ivy. The pavilion is built of red granite, which is rare in this region. Granite is a rock composed of rock-forming minerals such as mica, quartz, feldspar, and hornblende, of which feldspar with red color is called red granite. The red feldspar is called red granite. It contrasts well with the green of the ivy. When the leaves turn red in the fall, they will be similar in color to each other again. This mansion will be called << Ivy Mansion (Lanken Houses)>> in the future. Once the cleaning is finished, it is time to bring in our belongings, but there are not so many things that we have brought this time. We did not have much to carry this time, just bedding, a few changes of clothes, and a few office supplies. Since it is a two-hour ride by horse-drawn carriage, we can go back and pick up what we need again, or we can get it locally. In fact, Eksi is a little closer than Banne, where Reinhardt''s parents live, so we could go there to buy some things. "Well, that''s about right." After we have finished bringing in our belongings, we take a rest. It is already lunchtime. "Why don''t we go to Horai Island? Jin suggested. "We have a lot to talk about." "Well, if that''s the case..." "Okay." Both of them agreed, and we headed for Horai Island through the warp gate attached to Jin''s carriage. The craftsman (Smith) and Perid and the others also returned to the island. I hope they will install it in one of the rooms of the pavilion someday," said Reinhardt. Reinhardt said, "I hope they will install it in one of the rooms of the house eventually. Jin also thought it would be a good idea to build a basement and install it there. The time difference is about five and a half hours, and it was almost evening in Horai Island. "I''d like to have a meal anyway. < "Oh, they are already here." When I went to the cafeteria, there was a menu suitable for lunch, even though it was late in the evening on Horaijima. Freshly baked bread, Wiley jam, Citran marmalade. Drinks were milk, Persian juice and Citran juice. Salad and lightly cooked bacon. "Thank you, Meane, Elsa." "No, not at all. We''d like to join you for a drink. The time difference between Kaina Village and Horai Island is two hours, so Meine and the others ate bread and drank juice as a snack. After the meal, Jin started to speak. "Now that everyone is here, I have something to tell you. 434 - - 13-22 Preparations "And by everyone, do you mean Stearina too?" Reinhard asks. Stearina is the only one qualified to come to Horai Island who is not here. Erza and Meine have already been briefed on this, so they don''t have any doubts. "What?Stearina?" Saki makes a curious face. "Oh, I didn''t tell Saki about that." Jin explains how he made Stearina a member of the group. "...... I see." "The Marquis told me that a supranational school was impossible. So I thought about it. Like-minded people. I''m not saying that I don''t care about the state. But I want to gather people who will use their knowledge and skills for the good of the people, not for the good of the country. There was silence for a while. Saki was the first to speak. "That''s a good idea, Jin!I''m all for it! Erza was next, followed by Meine. Jin, I think that''s a good idea. Jin-sama, I think that would work. "Thank you. I used transinfo on Stearina. It''s a pity that we have to go to such lengths to choose our companions. Meine affirmed the treatment. "No, Jin-sama. From my point of view, Hourai Island is full of advanced technology. In case someone with ambition decides to take advantage of the technology here, it is rather necessary to take that measure. Elsa also defends her position. "I agree. It would be irresponsible to welcome anyone. "That''s for sure." "Yes, it''s a little late for that, but I''d be willing to undergo such an inspection if I''m allowed to come in and out of this place! Bertsche and Saki were also in the affirmative. "Jin, everyone is saying this. I think your treatment is wise. Reinhardt concluded. "Okay. So... I''m going to call Stearena tomorrow and I want to show you something. You''ll have to wait and see what it is. Jin said in a slightly playful tone, and Reinhardt looked as if he wanted to see it right away. "Ummm...... well, if you say in front of all of us, then so be it. I''ll look forward to it." Beside him, Bertsche was smiling at Reinhardt. "Well then, let''s make a few things for Reinhard and Bertsche''s new house. Jin felt better now that the heavy talk was over. "What would you like?" "...... bathroom, toilet, bedding..." Elsa said in a whisper. I guess those three things are non-negotiable. The toilets in particular are hygienic, so all the toilets in the village of Kaina are not underground infiltration toilets, but toilets with heated seats that are immediately disassembled. Jin smiled and nodded. Bertsch and Saki were also silently shaking their heads. "I guess we can''t take it off after all. Okay, Erza take care of the bedding. I''ll make the parts for the toilet. And Reinhardt.., "Jin, I''d like to turn a carriage horse into a golem. He said, "Make it. It was very typical of him to ask me to teach him how to make a golem instead of asking me to make one. In a village with a small population, it would be wasteful to keep horses until they are not used. A golem horse would be a good idea. "Okay. Don''t tell everyone." Jin accepts the offer gladly. "Okay, then, considering the time difference, we have five hours. Let''s have dinner here and then return to the village of Kurtz. Thus began the preparation of materials for the maintenance of Reinhardt''s house. "Is that how you''re going to make it?" Erza is making a bedding of magi silk in front of Bertsch''s eyes. "Well, it''s different from an ordinary magic lamp, isn''t it? It''s an ether luminescent material (AL), isn''t it?I''ve never heard of it. Saki is curious about the lamp made of ethereal luminescent material (AL) that the craftsman (Smith) is making. "I see, so that''s how the skeleton is made. If you look at the muscles ...... closely, you can see that it has some things in common with a humanoid golem." Reinhard was working with Jin on a golem horse. "Okay, I''ll give it a try. ......<>" In order to create the control core for the golem horse, Reinhard applies transinfo to the control core for the template prepared by Jin. Unfortunately, his talent in this area was slightly inferior to that of Erza. Nevertheless, after practicing several times, he managed to get to level 3. "You did it, Reinhard! "Yes, thanks to Jin!" At level 3, we can even transfer our expertise. Stopping the production of the golem horse for a moment, Jin prepared a magi crystal for Reinhardt and transferred some of his scientific knowledge into it. Although the scope of the knowledge is slightly narrower than that of Erza, it contains scientific and mathematical knowledge at the elementary to junior high school level. "Reinhard, once you have transferred the contents of this into another magi crystal (magi crystal), you can apply knowledge transfer (trans-info) to yourself. Reinhardt received the magi crystal with a cheerful face. "Thanks, Jin. ......<>" A magic formula appears on the magecrystal, and it is absorbed into the other magecrystal. "Okay, the knowledge stored in the other Magi Crystal can be read by Reinhardt now. "Okay, Reinhardt can already read the knowledge stored in the magi crystal over there. < Thus, Reinhardt has finally acquired scientific knowledge, albeit rudimentary. "Wow!This is what knowledge is all about!Jin, I can''t thank you enough!" Reinhard is excited. Jin looked at him warmly, knowing how he felt when he had gained true . But Bertsche was different, "You?Please don''t do anything too shameful. She was nailing him with the words, "Please don''t be so indecent. * * * * * * * * * * * * In the end, after the dinner at Horai Island, the whole group moved to Reinhard''s new house. Considering the time difference, it would be less likely to interfere with the next day''s activities. Ten sets of bedding, ten beds. Four toilet units, two golem horses, and some miscellaneous household goods. And some miscellaneous household goods. With these items, we moved to the village of Kaltz at dusk. This is my brother Rai''s new home. "Well, it''s a beautiful house. Elsa and Meane, who had never seen the house before, also praised it. For the day, the first thing to do was to prepare the guest room and bedrooms with the necessary number of beds and bedding, and to install ether luminescent devices (AL). "This is so bright!It''s not as bright as an ordinary magic lamp." Saki was installing the lights. Saki was surprised at the brightness of the lights when she installed them in places where she had never seen them before, even though she had known them on Horai Island. "There are four toilets...two on the first floor and two on the second floor." Elsa and Meene went around installing the toilets. Until now, they had been mere <. "Father, is this the right way to assemble the beds?" "Yes, thank you." Jin was assembling and setting up the bed with the help of Reiko. Since it was impossible to bring in a finished product due to the warp gate at Jin''s carriage, the bed was brought in as parts and assembled here. Reinhardt and Bertsche sort out small household items. Kitchen utensils, dishes, etc. There is also a refrigerator. There is also a refrigerator. It is almost nine o''clock at night when everything is finished. The moon, the night clock, hangs over the treetops. "Thank you very much, everyone. Thank you for everything." Everyone was relaxing in the reception room. Bertsche holds out a glass of Citran juice along with a neon sign. After drinking the moderately chilled juice, everyone sighed with relief. "Thank you, everyone, for today. Thank you very much. "Now all we need is a servant. Do you have any guesses? Saki asked. "If you want, I can ask my grandfather. "No, I''d prefer not to ask the Marquis. I''ll take care of it myself. Reinhardt looked as if he had a plan. 435 - - 13-23 Everything Now that Reinhardt''s move is over, what remains to be decided is how to pick up Stearina. Jin ponders. "Hmmm, he''s there, isn''t he ......?" We can''t just take her to him in front of his friends or anyone else. It was a difficult problem. There was a way to make it look like he had been kidnapped if he was not in the Kingdom of Shoro, but if we did that in the Kingdom of Shoro, it would likely lead to an international problem. If he had entered the Kingdom of Cerroa, there would be no problem (internationally speaking). Jin pondered. Then he thought of one way. "This is it!" "Father?" Reiko looked at him with a doubtful look. "Oh, no, I just thought of a good way to pick up Stearina..." "Oh?What kind of a move? Reinhardt asked, looking very interested. "Perhaps Stearina is returning home in a hired carriage. "Yes, I''m sure of it." "Then, I''ll send the carriage to ......." When Jin had almost said that much, Reinhardt seemed to understand. "Jin should take over the responsibility!" "Yes. That way, if we just let the carriage run for now, we won''t be discovered even if no one is in it. If there''s a problem, we can put a substitute on board. "Well, that sounds interesting, doesn''t it? Saki, who had been listening beside him, also got on board. "If they left Leuthart this morning, they will probably stay in Riale with a normal carriage. Reinhard also guessed the location of the carriage. In fact, since we already know the magic pattern of the steerage, we can locate it with the magi radar. "It would be quickest if we could get to Riale tonight or tomorrow morning and have them change carriages. ...... It''s just too far away." Reinhardt said this, but was surprised to see Hitoshi smiling wanly. "...... Well, Jin, distance doesn''t matter to you, does it?" Jin nodded silently. Reinhardt meditates and sighs. Jin said something to him. "I''ll tell you about that and other things tomorrow when Stellina comes. Hearing this, Reinhardt said something back. "Yeah, I''m looking forward to it! * * * * * * * * * * * * That night, Jin and Reiko moved to Horai Island once more. There, he gave one instruction. "Old man, prepare a dummy golem carriage for me by tomorrow morning. > After a brief conversation, the old man seemed to have understood Jin''s plan. He contacts Stearina with his manacam. > "Actually, I have this kind of plan tomorrow. ......" Jin explains his plan. Needless to say, Stearina was pleased to hear this. After finalizing the details of the plan, Jin stayed at Horai Island that night. The second day after tomorrow. Due to the time difference, Jin could take it easy in the morning (although it was late at night). After taking a morning bath and having a leisurely meal, it was time for departure. The departure by the transporter is becoming a regular event. This time, we were transferred to the airspace above Riale with Pelican 1. The reason we did not use Pegasus 1 is that it carries the wagon. The time difference between Horai Island and Riale is about 5 hours. In total darkness, we landed in the suburbs of Riale, using invisibility to avoid being seen, and unloaded the carriages. Of course, a newly made golem horse and a steward are also included. The performance of the horse has been considerably reduced. Even with a slow ride, we arrived at the town of Riale before dawn. Jin knew this road a little better since he had taken it once on his trip to the Shoro Kingdom. Jin parked his wagon by the side of the road and waited for dawn. It was 5:00 a.m. Riale is an open town, and the wagons started moving early in the morning. Jin started the wagon and said, "It''s about time. "Well, you said a hotel on the street. Oh, is that it?" He recognized it immediately because he had heard about it when he had contacted the hotel by manacam. "<>. "<>, I''m sure of it." Kemeria is a red flower similar to a camellia. As the name implies, there were many Kemeria trees planted in the grounds of the building. "Oh, Mr. Jin, you are early. It was 5:30 a.m. and Stearina was outside the hotel. "Good morning. You are early yourself, aren''t you, Mr. Stearina? "Hey, is this the horse-drawn carriage? Stearina''s eyes lit up when she saw the golem horse. "Yes, well..." "Great!Well, let''s get going!" "What?" "No, no, no. I''ve already cancelled the carriage contract and checked out of the hotel. On closer inspection, there is a large pile of baggage. And then there is Serene, the crystal ...... blue topaz golem. Jin was amazed at her speed. That''s how much Stearina was looking forward to going to Horai Island. "Okay, let''s go. The carriage is large enough for 8 people, so it can carry enough luggage. After he finished loading the luggage quickly with the help of Reiko, Jin turned the carriage around and started to go back the way he came. "Oh my, this carriage is very comfortable to ride in. It hardly shakes at all. The power of the active golem suspension, whether on cobblestones or rough roads, promises the same riding comfort. "And it''s fast. Maybe twice as fast as a normal carriage." Although the performance has been reduced, it is more than twice as fast as an ordinary carriage, as Ste-Alaina said. At six o''clock we left the city streets and came to the landing point of Pelican 1. "What do you want to take with you?" "Well, a change of clothes, ...... and ...... this will do." With literally only what she could carry in her hands, Stearina got out of the carriage. "Come on, then." Invisible, Reiko leads the way as she climbs into the carriage. "Oh?Can we go there from here?" After convincing them that the details will come later, Jin, Stearina, Reiko, and Serene pass through the warp gate. This time, too, via the . The role of the Warp Gate is explained in detail, and they go back to Horai Island. < The two of them and the two bodies cross the entrance hall and go outside. There, they are greeted by Reinhard, Bertsch, Erza, Meine, and Saki, who have received a call from Jin. The Horaijima family was waiting for them. They all said the same words of welcome. "Welcome, Mr. Stearina! It was a simple line, but it came from the bottom of their hearts. Stearina replies with a beaming face. "Hello, everyone!Ah, here we are at last!" Stearina sounds as if she is in a state of deep emotion. After waiting for Stearina to calm down, everyone gathers at the table set up in the vestibule of the institute. First, Jin begins to speak. "Okay, everyone, first of all, I''m going to tell you something that I''ve been keeping quiet until now. "What?" "...... Jin." "Since Stearina is here too, I''ll start from the beginning. Jin then began to speak. He told me that he was born and raised on a planet called Earth. He was an orphan. He had fallen into a blast furnace and was probably dead in the other world. The automata, Reiko''s predecessor, created by Adriana Barbora Zetsi, spent a thousand years searching for the second generation, found Jin, and summoned him to our world, She found Jin and summoned him to our world. He inherited all the knowledge of Adriana Barbora Zetsi and the island of Horai. And after I came to this world: ....... I had told Erza most of it, and Reinhardt knew most of it too. But Bertsche, Meane, Saki and Stearina were so surprised that they could not speak. 436 - - 13-24 Horai Island, Incredible Jin gave a full account of himself. At first, they didn''t speak, "......Thank you, Jin. For trusting us." First Elsa spoke up, "d*mn right. Jin, I knew you were unusual, but I didn''t know there was more to you than that." Saki laughed and said, "Yes, that''s right. Jin, I''ll make sure I can live up to your trust." Reinhard nodded seriously. Bertsche, on the other hand, seemed to be overwhelmed by the content of the conversation and grabbed Reinhardt''s sleeve tightly, but then relaxed her body. "...... I see. No matter what you hear now, Jin-sama is still Jin-sama. He is my husband''s friend and mine at the same time, right? Meine followed suit. I didn''t know that Jin-sama had been working so hard behind the scenes. From now on I will help you as much as I can. Stearina was stunned by the end because it was still early in the day, but she composed herself and said, "Jin-kun, I am very happy to help you, "Jin-kun, thank you for telling me about you. I won''t tell anyone. I mean, I don''t even think I need to go back to that country anymore. He dropped a bombshell. "Well, that''s not good. I''d like you to come back here after you get back to your home country. He wasn''t kidding when he said that if he went missing in the Shoro Empire, it would be an international problem. There was no need to go to the trouble of inviting trouble, so I would ask Stearina to be patient. After settling down, Jin decides to show a few things. "First, Daidara. It is a golem for construction work. It is a giant, standing 15 meters tall and weighing 8 tons. Whoa, whoa, whoa! "Oh, my God!" "Wow, this is amazing! This is ......." Daedalus appeared with an earth-shaking sound. There is a world of difference between hearing about it and actually seeing it. Even Reinhard, who had seen the giant golem, an ancient artifact of the Shoro Kingdom, was intimidated. Even its movements were several steps ahead of the giant golem that Marcus had created. Its natural and smooth movements were astonishing. "Jin, Jin, you are without a doubt the best in the world!You are the Magecraft Meister! Thank you. ...... One more thing. Another one. A transport plane, the Pelican 2. The Pelican 2 was taken out of the hangar in the corner of the plaza in front of the institute. Come on, get in." "Oh?Jin-kun, is this the same ride we just got on? Stearina noticed. "Yes, it is. It''s the same model. "Hmm?It looks a bit like Jin''s carriage, doesn''t it? Jin gets in last. The pilot is Sky2. "Okay, sit in your seat and buckle up. ......" Jin explains the situation and, when he is sure everyone is properly buckled in, he takes his seat and buckles himself in. "Okay, Sky 2, go ahead." "Okay, Sky 2, let''s do it. We''re go for launch." The Pelican, powered by three magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines), can take off in a short run, but since many of us were new to the sport, we took off slowly, with moderate acceleration to allow enough runway distance. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! It''s flying! "Oh, it really flies. ......" "I didn''t know Jin-sama had this much power. ......" Jin had explained that it could fly, but the fact that it flew up on it was beyond impressive, and everyone except Erza had expressions of astonishment. Once we jumped up, Horai Island became smaller and smaller, and we could see that it was a small island floating in the ocean. "Wow, this is amazing. ...... I was going to ask you to take me on an airship, but this is much more than that, isn''t it?" "Yeah, totally. Jin, after all these years, you''re still amazing. My hat''s off to you." Jin, however, humbly accepts the compliment. "No, this is only possible because of my world of science. When Jin says this, Saki also says, "The fusion of science and magic, it''s a masterpiece! Saki praises it. Bertsche and the others remained silent, looking out the window. "We''re flying at about 10,000 meters altitude now. From the ground, it would look like a dot. "Hmmm, Jin, could it be the Elias Peninsula that we can see below us?" Reinhard, who used to be a diplomat, seems to have a general idea of the terrain. "Yes. Now this pelican is flying west. ...... sky 2, I need you to turn a little to the north." "Aye, sir." As it turns north, a wide plateau can be seen below in the direction of Pelican 2''s course. "Could that be the Blue Lands?" "That''s where your friend Mr. Lewis lives, isn''t it? Louis is the name of Count Kuzma. Reinhardt nodded to Bertsche, "Jin, how fast can you go? Reinhardt nodded to Bertsche and showed his engineer''s side. "About 300 kilometers per hour at the moment. I think it can reach a maximum of 500 kilometers per hour. Reinhardt was surprised at Jin''s answer. "Oh, Jin-kun, I''ll follow you for the rest of my life! It was Stearina who let out a charming cry. Her face is flushed and she is excited. "I didn''t know such a world existed!Our country only boasts of its old history and doesn''t try anything new. Our country is so conservative that it became a hotbed of the Unification Party. I don''t like making crystal golems either. It''s allowed!" Stearina came out loudly. "I want to make more and more useful things for people!But day in and day out, all I can do is study crystal golems and beautiful automata. That''s all I''m allowed to do!" Perhaps this is part of the darkness that the Kingdom of Celluloid holds. It was the first cry of Stearina''s soul to be uttered in the high altitude, in an environment where she did not have to be afraid of anyone. "It must have been hard for you, too, Stearina-san," Jin said sympathetically. When Jin expressed his sympathy, Stearina''s cheeks puffed out. "No, Jin. You''re already a member of our group, aren''t you?Why don''t you talk to me more openly like Mr. Reinhardt?" At these words, Bertsch looked at Reinhardt, while Erza and Saki looked at Jin. They each looked at each other with a little bit of a hard look. Pelican 2 flew in a large arc. It slowly turned to the east, and the sea came into view again. "It''s just a debut today, so that''s about it. The fastest plane on Horai Island right now is my own Pegasus 1, and it can reach a top speed of 800 km/h." The group was again stunned by the figures. However, Reinhard notices that his cousin doesn''t look so surprised. "Elsa, have you ever been in an airplane before?" "Yes, I have. When I was rescued by the ...... Unifilers. And the other time when I went to the Klein Kingdom to treat a disease. When Reinhardt heard this, he was so frustrated that he cried tears of blood. "Kuuuhh!I''ve never been so disappointed in my palace service as I am now. Beside him, his loving wife was staring at him with a slightly cold look. * * * * After a two-hour flight, the plane landed in front of the institute. While everyone was still a little unsteady on their feet, Hitoshi gave chase. This time, I want you to come to the back of the institute. There, they saw a huge warp gate. "It''s a warp gate that doesn''t need an access point. <. Unfortunately, it''s a one-way street." What? In a world where even a warp gate is treated as an artifact, Jin has improved it and created a new one. Reinhard was the only one who could speak, while the other members were so surprised that they could not speak. 437 - - 13-25 Meaning of company "Well, all that''s left is ......." "Well, is there more ......?" Meane is the one who sounds pathetic. It''s no surprise that she is the least skilled in magic among the members of the group. "Meane, I''m going to finish this for now. "I''ll do it once and for all. ......" Now we go inside the laboratory. Go down to the first basement floor. It is right above the room where the old man is sitting. This will be the command center. This is the room we used when we fought against the Unifilers, but what I want to show you now is the MagiRadar. "Magi Radar?" "Yes. It can tell you where the registered magic patterns are. It was such a simple explanation, but Reinhardt was surprised when he understood what it meant. "What? Then he let out a big sigh. "Well, I can''t tell you how surprised I''ve been all day, or half a day, ......." "What do you mean?What do you mean by ''magi radar'' ......?" "...... for example, if we were to go missing, they would be able to locate us right away." Elsa explained. "......, okay?Brother Jin." Jin nodded. "Yes, that''s right. In fact, when Erza was kidnapped by the Unification Party (Unifilers), they used the magic power of the brooch I gave them to find her. "...... that time?" Meane is absolutely stunned. When Mine had kidnapped Erza and taken her away, she had left behind a dagger, a ring, and most of her magic tools. She shuddered to think of ...... if Erza had not secretly taken the brooch. "How in the world does it work?How are we going to find it?" Stearina was interested, but she had no idea of the principle, so she asked a lot. "You may not understand what I mean by triangulation, but there is something called a < that detects magical power. Using this device, we can determine the direction. "Yes, I can sort of see that. Even we can sense strong magic. It''s similar to that, isn''t it? Jin nodded. He was indeed the number two magecraftsman in the Kingdom of Celluloa. "With one, you know the direction but not the distance, right?You can only get a rough idea by the strength of the magic. So, if you use two of these, or preferably three or more, you can get a better idea of how far away you are. ......" "Ah!I see... If multiple, you know... Magi Detectors?So, if the direction that several of these Magi Detectors are pointing in coincide, then that''s where the magic power you''re looking for is located? He seemed to understand the general principle. "Oh, that''s wonderful!In just half a day, it''s like the whole world has been changed!" Stearina shakes with emotion again. We are all surprised, as we had not expected such a rich expression of emotions. "You have been suppressed for a long time, haven''t you? Meane seemed to understand Stearina''s feelings. Perhaps it is because they are the same in that they have been repressed. * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... wind." Since it is impossible to see the whole of Horai Island in a day or so, we cut off at a suitable place and had a tea time at the cafeteria. "But I was always amazed at what Jin has created, but the legacy of Adriana Barbora Tsezi is also amazing. Reinhardt said sincerely after his amazement at what he had seen had ended. "I wonder how much magic and magical technology has been lost in the world today. I don''t know how many of them there are." I know ...... that we can''t make even a single warp gate. There are so many such artifacts...... it''s amazing......." Stearina sounds a little tired. "The resources on this island are amazing. Jin, how many are there? Saki, being the alchemist that she is, was thrilled by the amount of materials available. "No other country has facilities like this. Reinhard muttered with a sigh. "You built all this in a little over a year, didn''t you, Jin?That''s amazing." Stearina was still a little excited. "No, it was originally a laboratory left to me by my predecessor. But Reinhardt disagreed. "I think what your father needs is not your friends, but family. ......" 438 - - 13-26 Silent Story 24 Erics Shop Raglan Chamber of Commerce, Kaina Village Branch. The manager is Eric. The goods sold are daily necessities, clothing, seasonings, some books, and so on. In short, it is a kind of a "yorozuya" (a store for all kinds of things). In the mornings, the shop is open for making daily necessities in the workshop attached to the building. "Really, you are going to rent this place to us? "Yes, as long as you do business in this village. A two-story store and residence on a large plot of land. The fact that I could rent it free of charge made me feel uneasy. "But don''t make Barbara cry." Uh, yes, of course. With these conditions, they are given a two-story house with a stable, a carriage house, and a warehouse. The first floor of the house is a workshop in the back and a store in the front, with a kitchen, washroom, and toilet. The second floor has four rooms with beds. For some reason, there are two sets of the most comfortable futons I have ever seen. There was also a simple sink and toilet on the second floor. It would not cost ten thousand dollars a month to rent such a store in King''s Landing. Jin is even thinking of giving it to Barbara as a gift if she marries him, but the important thing is that Eric does not know about it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Good morning, Eric. "Hi, Barbara." Barbara, the niece of the village head, comes to help out every day. They are an official couple in the village. "What are you making today?" "Oh, this." Eric showed her the tools he was making. "Oh, a water pistol." It was a toy that Jin had made last year. "Yeah, I saw some kids playing with it the other day, and I thought it would sell well. "Sell it at ......, at the main store." "That''s what I meant." Usually it is the other way around, but here in the village of Kaina, the Raglan Chamber of Commerce was looking at the village as a new cultural center. "Speaking of which, Eric..." "Hm?" How long are you going to stay at ......? "You mean in the village of Kaina?...... well, at least a year. "Oh, I see." Eric is actually the grandson of the chairman of the Raglan Trading Company. Because of his background in engineering magic, he had attended the Cecilio School of Magic in King''s Landing for about two years and had mastered all the rudimentary skills. "Okay, it''s done." A water pistol made of white mica from deep in the mountains of the north. It''s a pistol. Eric fills it with water and pulls the trigger. ....... The water should have shot out from the tip, but instead it spurted out through the gaps here and there. "Whoosh!" "Yikes!It''s cold!" The two were soaked to the skin. Barbara in particular was wearing a thin linen jacket, which was showing through in various ways, which was not good. "Don''t look at me! "Oh, I''m sorry!" Eric looked at Barbara''s back as she ran out with a red face, and saw her off with a red face as well. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I''m going to open the store from noon. "Well, do you have any pepper? Yes, how much do you want? 100 grams. 400 Tall or 200 grams of Magi Sand. Then 400 tall, yes. Thank you very much. In the village of Kaina today, currency obtained by selling magi sand, pen nibs, rubber balls, and other items has begun to circulate. At the same time, the old barter system was also accepted. The Raglan Chamber of Commerce has a long relationship with the village of Kaina, so they were able to accommodate them in this area. Of course, there is no denying the fact that the village is governed by Jin. That is how much the Raglan Chamber of Commerce wanted to cherish its relationship with the village of Kaina, and by extension, with Jin. In the village of Kaina, which has about 30 households, it is impossible to say that business would be so busy as to attract many customers. Most of the sales are enough for Eric to manage on his own. The reason why he decided to open a branch is, after all, to <. Around 3:00 p.m., Eric closes the store and goes on a tour of the village. He is looking forward to making many new discoveries. Today''s destination is Nido Castle. He brings some sweets as a souvenir and goes to the castle. It was time for a break and Barrow and Behle were having a cup of tea in a corner of the dining room. "Hello! "Hello?Hello. Eric, right? Yes, I''m Eric of the Raglan Trading Company. I''m Eric of the Raglan Trading Company. I''m here to talk to you about a few things. May I come in now? Yes, we were just resting. That''s good to know," Eric said, and was about to offer the pastry in his hand, when his nose twitched. He looked and saw an unfamiliar yellow object in front of Barrow and Behle. The cut marks on it indicated that it might be food. "Excuse me, what are you two eating?" "Oh, they are called pancakes. Yes, let''s treat Mr. Eric too. Behle then got up from his seat, took out some powder from the cabinet, and started stirring an egg and milk mixture. "Well, I''m sorry. Here, if you don''t mind. "Oh, thank you very much for taking the trouble. Burroughs received it and bowed neatly. As I sat down at the recommended seat and made small talk with Barrow, I could smell the good smell wafting in the air. "Here you go, sir." In less than 10 minutes, Behr presents me with a pancake. Perid101 had started to make them on Horai Island, and Perid101 immediately made them available here as well. Of course, Jin could taste them here as well. "So this is what you call a hot-keg? "Butter, syrup, or jam, your choice..." Well, syrup then. Syrup is usually made by boiling down sugar water, and most of the sugar has a slight brownish tinge (about the same as sanonto sugar), but the syrup here was clear and colorless. In other words, they use pure white refined sugar. Eric was astonished by this. He even wondered if he would be charged for it later. But when he saw Barrow and Behle spreading so much butter and syrup in front of him, he couldn''t help but do the same. Then I took a bite. "...... delicious!" Eric liked the taste at once. It goes well with the astringency of the tea. "I''m glad you liked it." Eric was so engrossed in eating the pancakes that he could hardly hear Behrle''s words. "Excuse me, can you tell me how to make these hot cakes?" "Ummm, yes. I''ll have to get permission from Jin-sama. He said no. A few days later, Jin came back to the village of Kaina and asked me to teach him how to make the pump for 100,000 dollars, the same price I paid for the pump. * * * * * * * * * * Eric opens the store again at 4:00pm. The shoppers are coming in for dinner. "Can I have a kilo of sugar? Yes, I''ll have 10 furs. Can I have some salt? Yes, 150 dollars a kilo. And then, as the long summer days draw to a close, the bells of Nido Castle ring, signaling 6:00 p.m. The bells have been well received, so many people have come to visit. The shop was so well received that they decided to set the hours to 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in summer time and 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. in winter time, taking into consideration various factors. I was about to close the store and calculate the sales when Barbara came in. "Eric, have you had dinner yet?" "No, not yet. I thought I''d count the sales and then get ready to go to ......." "Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?" "What?You sure?Well, I''ll take you up on your offer. "Deal!I''ll help you with the math. Eric is surprised by her words. It is usually unusual for a farm girl to be able to do the math. "Thank you ......, Barbara, can you do the math?" "Don''t make fun of me. Don''t make fun of me. I''m still learning!" Barbara sat down next to Eric and started to do the calculations. Eric, who was anxiously watching her, was surprised at how accurate and fast she was. "That''s right. That''s because Dr. Meane taught me how to do it. It''s easy to just add up the day''s sales and subtract the cost of goods sold. In fact, I learned the calculations as a special class to help Eric, but that''s not something I''m going to talk about. "Thanks, Barbara." "...... (I wonder if I''d make a good wife)." "What?Did you say something? "No, no!Nothing!"......, we''re done here!" "I''m done here, too." Barbara stood up briskly and pulled Eric by the hand. "Come on, let''s go." "Uh-huh." The only thing watching them as they walked in friendship was the newly risen moon. Eric knew that the moat had already been covered by the moon, and that many villagers, including Martha, Hannah, Jonas, and Nona, had been watching them from Eric''s store to Giebeck''s house. 439 - - 13-27 Inad Mine Time goes back a little to the middle of June. The technical exposition had not yet been held in the Shoro Kingdom. In the Kingdom of Klein, meetings were being held every day. The current topic of discussion is the Inard Mine in the former Count Walther''s territory. It had already been decided to divide the former Count Walther''s lands and give them to the new nobles who had made good deeds. The village of Toka was given to the baronet Lysia Faarheit. The Inado Mines to the east of Toka were to be added to Jin''s leases. The problem was the Inad mine. The Inad Mine yielded gold, silver, and some magi crystals. As a source of income for the kingdom and as a resource to support its industry, they account for about 5% of the total mineral resources. It would be a shame to give up a 5 percent source of income. Perhaps it is human nature to be reluctant to give up something that one has decided to do. "Then, the land will be officially leased to Jin-dono from August 1, and we will do all the mining we can until then, is that correct?" This is it. King Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein sighed softly at the tinkering of his ministers. "(It seems that the corruption of the old nobles is not limited to Count Walter alone. ......)" But his inability to say it out loud or express it in his manner was his limitation as king. "What to do with the miners, then?" "Then what to do with the miners?" "Humans are inefficient. This is precisely the time to use a golem. We have 20 general-purpose golems. I think we should send in about 10 of them. This is what Jin made. At first glance, it seemed to be for the benefit of the country, and since it was impossible to refute the proposal with a clear argument, even the king could not just say no. The next day, he sent 10 general-purpose golems to the Golem Center. The next day, 10 general-purpose golems and their wagons were sent out. Accompanying them were their leader, Viscount Beyer, Boulton Allstadt, and Heinz Rasch, as well as the wagon drivers. Viscount Beyer was chosen as the leader because of his expertise in mine management. Boulton can sort ores with his . Heinz is the guard. It took the group six days to reach the Inado Mine. The Inado Mine is a gaping hole on top of a small mountain, and the tunnels are excavated at an angle downwards. The surroundings were the same as they had been when Count Walter had tried to attack the village of Kaina, and had broken the control grimoire to free the criminals who had been forced to work as miners. "Okay, let''s get to work!" After clearing away the scattered rock debris and fragments of the magic tool, the excavation began immediately. The performance of the general-purpose golem that Jin had created was nothing short of amazing. Although not as powerful as the golems on Horai Island, the general-purpose golem, which is about 10 times more powerful than ordinary humans, dug out more and more ore with pickaxe, hammer, and hammer in its hands. It does not need to worry about air or food. All you have to do is fill the mana tank with mana once a day. The mana supply is also carried in the wagon. We need only a minimum amount of light. All of this is a credit to Jin, but Viscount Beyer does not even notice it. He simply smiles at the piles of ore piled up in front of him. Boulton appraises them and classifies them into gold and silver ores, crystals and quartz, and magi-crystal ores. "As I thought, it seems that the ore veins are running out. The percentage of ores containing gold is decreasing. Upon hearing Boulton''s report, Viscount Beyer gave a new order. "Let''s dig deeper. Golem can do it." The advantage of the golem is that it can work underwater to some extent, even if water comes up. The Viscount ordered them to dig down into the veins of the mine to a depth that would be impossible for an ordinary person. In one week''s work, two months'' worth of ore was mined. As the work became routine, the Viscount began to make frequent trips down to the nearest village, namely Toka. The distance to Kaina village is closer, but he does not want to let it be known now that he is mining at a fast pace, even if it will eventually be known. The village of Kayna is closer to the village of Kayna. However, such precautions were powerless in the face of the Kaina village monitoring system. Since the previous attempted attack by Count Walter, the Inado Mine had also been under surveillance. In addition, there is a special magical line attached to the general-purpose golem, called the tracking system, which is connected to the old lord. The tracking system allowed the Old Master to know everything the Golem was doing. << <> < No wonder the old man describes the mine as poor. The daily output of the Inad mine is about 0.5 kilograms of gold, 3 kilograms of silver, 6 kilograms of copper, 4 kilograms of tin, 4 kilograms of tin, and 6 kilograms of copper. 4 kilograms of tin, 10 kilograms of zinc. 0.1 kilogram of silver mithril. 150 kilograms of quartz, 15 kilograms of agate. And 0.5 kilograms of magecrystal. This is about 1/500th of Horai Island. And this is thanks to the performance of the general-purpose golem made by Jin. When the humans were there, it was less than 1/10th of this weight. The highest point is the Inado Mine, which is higher than the village of Kaina. The depth of the main tunnel is over 100 meters and was about to reach 150 meters. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * July 1. July 1, the day Licia was officially appointed as the lord of Toka village. Viscount Bayer had left the morning before for Toka village to avoid meeting Licia. He knew that Licia was reasonably close to Jin. "Well, I guess it''s time to go. Four of the five wagons had already been sent home. The remaining wagons were more than half filled with ore. They will be full in a day or two. Even with the high-performance general-purpose golem, it is taking more time than expected to carry the ore out of the mine, which is more than 150 meters deep underground. "If it becomes any less efficient, it won''t be profitable." The mine is already impossible for humans to mine. Giving such a mine as a gift is rather a sign of contempt for the recipient, but the Viscount does not care about such things. It is the state, the royal family, that cares. He is just doing his job as he was ordered. I did my duty...except for a few extra bucks.) Viscount Beyer mutters to himself. He had secretly smelted about two kilos of gold out of the mine and kept it for himself. Yes, the Viscount was able to use the engineering magic of smelting. And July 2nd. The wagons were almost full and the work was to be finished in one day. Boulton, who had been appraising the ore day after day, was most pleased. "Can we go home now? I don''t want to do this job at all, even if it is an order. ....... By the way, I heard that Gloria is in Toka village. I had such a small hope. However. At 6:00 p.m., when the depth of the main tunnel was almost 200 meters. Suddenly, the earth rumbled. "What is it?" Next came a roar and a cloud of dust erupted from the tunnel. Was it a cave-in? If a tunnel more than 200 meters long collapsed, it would be more than just a matter of time. Even the Golem would not be safe. Viscount Beyer turned pale at the thought that he might lose 10 valuable general-purpose golems, and that the responsibility would fall on him. However, the situation was not that simple and easy. A large volume of rock erupted from the collapsed tunnel. They flew several tens of meters in the air and fell. Trees near the tunnel''s exit were all snapped down. Ten general-purpose golems also came spewing out together. But not a single one of them was unharmed, some with arms removed, others with bent legs, and so on. "This isn''t just a falling rock!" Boulton shouted over the unceasing rumbling of the ground. Heinz is also bracing himself. Viscount Beyer is the only one who is dismayed and does not seem to understand what is happening. Then appeared. "What is this ......?" It crawled out of the tunnel. Five meters in diameter and 50 meters long. The metallic luster of its body surface glints a metallic green, and countless legs wriggle on both sides of its body. It had four eyes, glowing red. "Hundred Legs ......?" It was a monster that looked a lot like a giant centipede. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" It was not one, but two, three...... total of five giant centipedes crawled out. 440 - - 13-28 Giant Hundred Feet The monitoring system of Kaina village has sent an emergency message to the Lao. The old man immediately connects the magic line. < The information came from a general-purpose golem that was excavating in the depths of the earth, and the "Mere Old Man" knew the gist of the situation. The fact that the excavation led to an underground cavern. The old man knew that there was a magical beast living there. The surface of its body was hard, and the power of the general-purpose golem was no match for it. The monster found a way out to the ground, and it was heading for the ground in a single bound. The substance covered with the mucus that was spat out from its mouth would dissolve in a cloud of white smoke. The following is a brief description of the beast. >> The Gigantorpede leaves the Inado Mine with its myriad legs writhing as it makes its way down the mountain. * * * Jin was still on Horai Island with his <>. "What the hell is this? ...... "...... creepy." The images seen through the mana telecam in the control room on the first basement floor were so realistic that even Jin and Reinhardt, not to mention the women, could not help but feel disgusted. "The subterranean spider (grand spider) looks so cute. ......" The giant centipede slowly makes its way down the mountain. It was going about 20 kilometers per hour, which was slower than I expected, thank goodness. "Is it heading for the village of Kaina or ......?" Jin stood up, knowing that whether it was Kaina or Toka village he was going to attack, he couldn''t just stand there and watch. "Jin, Jin, what are you going to do?" Saki looked anxious. "Don''t tell me you''re going to do something about them! "No way. I know people in Toka village, not to mention in Kaina village. I''m the only one who can do something about it. "...... Jin, I''m coming with you. There might be people who get hurt." Erza, looking a little pale but still maintaining her stout posture, said, "All right, let''s go. "Okay, let''s go. ...... Reinhardt and the others will stay here and cover the back if necessary. The old man will use the Machina to rescue anyone who has not escaped. "...... got it." Just as Jin and Erza were about to leave the room. "Wait, wait!Take me with you!I don''t know what I can do, but I can''t stay here! Saki shouted. "Okay. Let''s go." The three of them left the room. The remaining three, Reinhardt, Bertsch, Mine, and Stearina, were staring at the magic screen. The gigantopods have just reached the road connecting the villages of Kaina and Toka. There, one turned to the right and the other four to the left. The village of Kaina is on the right and Toka on the left. > The old man''s voice echoed in the control room. Then a brief explanation. Reinhardt and the others were all impressed by Jin''s careful preparation, but also felt a chill run down their spines at the threat that even this could not seem to prevent. Explanation of the evacuation plan. It is a relief that no human casualties are likely to occur. "Pegasus 1, launch." Jin, Erza and Saki get on Pegasus 1 and move to the transporter. At the same time, they launch Titan 2. Titan 2 has the highest overall performance, probably because Reiko is piloting it. "Jin, Jin, did you make that too? Saki looks at the Titan and is surprised. Erza did not say anything either, but her face said it all. First, Pegasus 1 transfers. < allows the transfer to be done with a very small margin of error. Jin deploys invisibility. Titan2 moves in. Titan 2 completes its transition with a margin of error of only 10 centimeters above the ground. Titan 2 immediately activates its invisibility, making it invisible from the village of Kaina. The location is a broad riverbank on the Erme River below the Torgo Pass. A flash of light appeared at the Torgo Pass. "You''ve been caught in a paralyzing spell. The strongest paralysis wards. The gigantopods were not stunned, but they seemed to have taken the full force of the impact and turned around 180 degrees. Now all five of them are heading for Toka village. However, it is more than 50 kilometers to Toka village in a straight line. We should be able to kill them by then. "All right, let''s go! In the twilight, Jin moves Pegasus 1 over the Togo Pass. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, no!If this continues, either Toka or Kaina village will be severely damaged! Heinz Rasch looked down and shouted. "I don''t know!Do something!Do something ......!" Viscount Bayer''s head was bleeding. He had been hit by a spewing rock. He was even more confused and half panicked. "......That''s not something a man can do. ......" Boulton was ready to give up. Then five golems arrived. Land 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, sent by transporter from Horai Island, 24, 25. This place is dangerous. This way. What the hell are you people?What do you want? Boulton asked suspiciously. "We are servants of the deus ex machina. We have been instructed to protect you. "Deus ex machina?I''m pretty sure that''s ....... This is not the time. This way." As Boulton looks on, Heinz, the viscount, and the lone remaining wagon master are led away by a golem of the same shape. They were taken into a silver-colored structure that they had never seen before, and then they saw the three of them faint. Boulton, seeing this, braced himself, but it made no sense, and he passed out, as did the other three. < The old man''s instructions were to keep them in the pelican and protect them with paralyzing wards. Since there was no pain involved, he decided that this was the best way to protect the confidentiality of Horai Island. In the meantime, we will take care of the Viscount''s injuries. However, since he deserved it, I only disinfected him and stopped his bleeding. There was no other target to protect at the moment, so Pelican 3 took to the air, and the five Landos stayed on the ground to keep an eye out. * * * * * * * * * * * * "We''ll try attacking with first." It is the fastest weapon. As long as you have it in your sights, you will never miss. The aiming is also semi-automatic. Jin aimed at the leading gigantopod and pulled the trigger. A red light was emitted from the laser cannon attached to the nose of Pegasus 1 and hit the center of the Gigantopod''s torso, ...... bouncing it off. To be precise, it was . The laser light hitting the shiny metallic surface of its body was reflected in a diffuse manner. "Whoa!" "......Why?" "What is that?" Erza, who knew about the existence of lasers, looked as incredulous as Jin. However, since lasers are light, they naturally have the properties of light. In other words, they do not work on highly reflective materials. Saki, on the other hand, looked astonished at the fact that there was a demon that could nullify light magic. The surrounding trees and bushes were scorched. The reflected laser had hit them. "...... It looks like there was some damage, too." The center of its torso was slightly scorched. It seems that even the Gigantopod could not reflect 100 percent of the power of the super-powerful laser cannon. However, the wounded Gigantopedes had become even more ferocious. 441 - - 13-29 Struggling "Ji,jin ...... what are you going to do?" Saki, looking pale, said in a trembling voice. "We''ll have to destroy it physically." "Physically ...... what?" "Saki, what brother Jin means is that we have to do something by force." Saki looked even more confused at Erza''s explanation. "Reiko, stop the first one!" The theory would have been to control the last one, but they decided to give priority to the one that was slightly damaged by the laser and was in a rage. The speed of Titan is 150 km/h. This is nearly eight times faster than a gigantopod. In no time at all, Titan overtook and circled five of them, and caught one of them, which was wounded and rampaging wildly. But the 50-meter-long gigantopod was stronger than expected, and it wrapped itself around Titan and tried to hold it down. The other four animals were heading toward the village of Toka without a care in the world. It was honestly a relief that they did not all come at the same time. "You!" Titan''s fist exploded into the head of the gigantopod. Surprisingly, the head was not crushed by the blow, which was equivalent to 200% of Reiko''s power. It only slowed down his movement to a slight degree. But thanks to that, she was able to land two or three more blows with her fists, and even the gigantopod was visibly slowed down. "All right, Reiko, get out of the way!" Jin focused his Magi Cannon. "Fire!" Adjusting the output to a mere few hundred meters away, the adamantite warhead was launched at a speed of about Mach 3, missing its target and piercing the body of the gigantopod. Immediately, yellow bodily fluids gushed out. Smoke billowed out from the rocks near where the body fluid had been splashed. The fluid seems to be highly corrosive. It may be strong acid. At least it seems to be the same as what he spits out of his mouth. Reiko!Watch out!" Depending on the acid composition, even light silver can''t be completely safe. Reiko put up an anti-material barrier. The gigantopod, which had been almost torn to pieces in the middle, began to run amok. It spurts liquid from its mouth. Titan narrowly avoided it, but the rocks covered with the liquid began to melt in a cloud of white smoke. The liquid seemed to have the same composition as the body fluid. It was a marvel to see, even though I had been informed of it. "Is he synthesizing some kind of strong acid in his body? Maybe it is something more powerful than acid, a liquid that corrodes ...... materials. Anyway, Jin grew wary that Titan, Reiko, and the golems must not come into contact with each other. The remaining four gigantopods were speeding up a bit, heading toward Toka village at about 30 kilometers per hour. "Do you have to crush their heads completely ......?" Jin pondered as he looked at one of the shredded ones, which didn''t die easily after piercing its torso and spreading destruction all around it. "I''ll have to chop it into little pieces to stop it. ......A blade of water current (water jet) would be good, but ...... I see!" Jin remembered the magic swords he had made before, <> and <>. "I think a thermal type will be effective here. ...... old man, send <> over here." The magic sword, which had been in the warehouse, not the fodder of a chest, since it was made, was not used much. It was sent immediately via the warp gate. "Okay, let''s do this ......." Jin immediately begins to remodel it. Four eyes look at him anxiously. "Jin, Jin, I don''t know what you''re doing, but are you sure you want to take it easy like that?" "Brother Jin. ......" Saki looks helpless and anxious, and Erza is horrified by the gigantopods that even Jin seems to have too much of. "......Good, it''s done." Jin, holding the modified magic sword, opens the skylight of Pegasus 1 and activates it to point it toward the sky. A bluish-white light with a purplish tint extends out. The sword of light reached about 10 meters. Jin stops it immediately. It was an improvised weapon created by overloading the magic circuits. It worked! Jin-Jin!What''s that? It''s a plasma sword I modified in a hurry. Plasma Sword? When a hot gas is heated further, its molecules split into cations and electrons. This state is plasma. Jin created a state called thermal plasma, and trapped it in a sword-shaped boundary. The temperature is about one billion degrees Celsius. It is the temperature at which nuclear fusion can occur. "It probably won''t last for a long time. ...... I guess we''ll have to rely on Reiko after all." Jin calls Reiko with the manacam, and Reiko answers. Reiko made the Titan move backward, got out of the cockpit, and waved to Jin. Jin sees this and throws a plasma sword from the sky. Reiko catches it without a hitch. "<>" Reiko''s voice echoes from the manacam. "Yes, that''s right. It will probably burn out the magic circuits in a short time. It''s a race against time. Please! I''ll leave it to you. Reiko, having cut communications, released 100 percent of her output. * * * * > In the command center of Horai Island, the old man was analyzing the battle scene projected on the magic screen while explaining the situation. "What is Jin going to do?" Reinhardt''s face showed a hint of impatience. If they can''t achieve much with such a powerful weapon, what can they do? The old man reassured the rest of the group. At that moment, a request from Jin came in. He immediately reacted and ordered his mobile terminal, Lao Tzu, to transfer the magic sword to Pegasus 1. "What was that, Lao-kun?" The old man explained briefly. Reinhardt''s respect for Jin was further heightened when he heard this. . In the magic screen, there was Reiko wielding a huge sword of light. No, Reinhardt and the others could only see Reiko-like shadows moving around at blinding speed, chopping gigantic gigantopods into pieces. First of all, one of the gigantopods that had been nearly shredded into a thousand pieces was quickly split into seven pieces. No blood or bodily fluids gushed from the severed section. This is the reason why Jin did not use a water jet. He wanted to prevent damage to the surrounding area by bodily fluids. No, not to the surrounding area, but to Reiko who wields the sword. Then one of them became eight again, and the other nine rolled on the ground. And then the fourth one was first cut in half, at that moment. At that moment, the brightness of the sword of light, which had been dazzling, disappeared. "Is that the limit? About 5 seconds. The magic sword, which had been used far beyond its limits, had burned out its magic circuits and stopped working. Three of them were completely killed, but one was incomplete, and the other was unharmed. The intact one is still moving toward Toka village. The body of the one that was cut in two was still writhing around, and the fluid spewed from its mouth was corroding and scorching trees and rocks alike. Since the identity of the fluid was unknown, it was dangerous for even Reiko to approach the body, and Jin did not allow her to do so. "In this case, old man, send me the other magic sword, too. . The thunder magic sword was sent in an instant. Jin started the remodeling again. In less than a minute, the modification is complete. "Reiko, do it again!" "Yes, Father!" Reiko receives the magic sword thrown to her again. And it glows... "Jin, what''s that?It''s different from before. "Yeah, this one''s a thunder magic sword, so the effect might be a little different..." The sun has set and the darkened ground is illuminated by a sword of light that emits purple electricity. The plasma excited by the mega-electron volts penetrated through the sword-shaped wards and was clad in purple electricity. And then the sword of divine speed is wielded. This time, the Gigantopods were all destroyed. * * * * * * "Yes, I did it! ......" Staring at the magic screen, Reinhardt and the others let out a sigh of relief. "That was amazing. ...... "Ah, that''s Jin and Reiko for you," said Reinhardt. "......Well, I mean, it''s not exactly out of the ordinary, but it''s because it''s Jin-kun, isn''t it?" The old man''s voice sounded somewhat relieved. And there was a sense of relief in the air in Pegasus 1. Then... "Hmm?" Saki, who was looking outside, raised a questioning voice. "Jin!Look at that!" "What?" Saki pointed to the Inado Mine. Countless gigantopods were crawling out of the collapsed mine shaft in the darkness. 442 - - 13-30 Out of common sense "What can I say ...... this is a mess ......" The gigantopods that crawled out of the Inado Mine are not as big as the first five, at most 10 meters long and less than a meter wide. However, the number of gigantopods is extraordinary. There must be more than a hundred of them. "Well, what should we do?" Jin, this isn''t the time to be so careless! Saki! Calm down! Saki, calm down. "That''s true, but..." Look at Jin. He''s calmly thinking of countermeasures. I''m glad you''re here." Erza praised Jin, but despite his outward appearance, inside he was full of impatience. (The magic sword can no longer be used,...... and the magic cannon (magi cannon) is not compatible with such a small size,...... hmm?The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the two are not the same.) And here Jin had an idea. "We''ll have to give it a try. ....... Reiko, Momoka,...... no, take the ultra-fast vibrating sword, Vibration Sword!" I brought the Vibration Sword just in case. Jin dropped the sword from Pegasus 1 three times, and Reiko received it. "Reiko, see if you can cut with that!" A sword made of magi-adamantite, the hardest metal in the known world. Since the adamantite shells launched by the Magi Cannon were able to pierce it, it should also be able to cut. And there was no doubt about it. As Jin and the others watched, Reiko successfully cut the gigantopod in two. Body fluids gush out from the severed surfaces. Reiko nimbly avoided it. The small size of the Gigantopedal made it possible for her to manage the spurts of fluid. "Okay, we''re saved!" Jin called the old man and ordered him to transfer the 50 army golems with the super high-speed vibrating sword. The old man gave the order in a few words, and within five minutes, he had sent 50 army golems. "All right, Land troops, full power!Cut them into little pieces in as short a time as possible!Deploy the barrier as soon as you cut them down. Try not to touch their bodily fluids, okay?" As soon as Jin''s order was given, the 100 army golems from Land 51 that had been sent in began to take action. Reiko joined them, and what unfolded was, in a word, chaos. In two words, a one-sided overthrow. Since the cuts were not burnt, bodily fluids were spread all over the place, sending up a cloud of white smoke. Lando and his men move around nimbly so as not to come in contact with the bodily fluids, putting up barriers, and then cutting them up again. Even so, when you are dealing with such a large number of gigantopods, you are bound to take some damage. Reiko was the only one who was slashing around unharmed. About an hour later. The battle ended with a total of 129 gigantic gigantopods in small pieces. 50 army golems were mostly melted down in various parts of their bodies. Most of the 50 army golems were melted down in various parts of their bodies, but none of them were immobilized. "...... Is it over this time?" I ordered ten of them, from Rand 91 to Rand 100, to investigate the tunnels of the Inado Mine. After 10 minutes of waiting, a report comes in. "< I see. Thank you. Come back when you''ve checked everything out." Jin relaxed his shoulders. It was already nighttime and the moon was rising in the sky. It was about eight o''clock. "Brother Jin, thank you for your hard work. "Jin, you were pretty tough. ...... I thought I was going to lose it. ...... Well, we''re in the air, so there''s not much we can do about it right away, but, you know..." "...... despair?" Erza offered a helping hand to Saki, who was searching for the right words. "Yes, that''s it!Hopelessness. A sense of awe at something that is beyond human control. Saki''s mouth is now light as a reaction to being released from the tension. "You''ve managed to do something about it, Jin, you''re a Magecraft Meister, indeed. ...... "No, this time I''m a bit nervous too. No, this time I was also in a hurry. I didn''t know there were demons like that. ......" Jin didn''t think that the laser cannon would not be able to handle it. Certainly, as long as it is light, there is a defensive method of reflection. Jin wondered if it would be possible to create a light-reflecting ward. "The magic cannon (Magikanon) is not very useful at the moment. ...... In short, weapons for melee and medium-range combat are poor. In this regard, we are planning to put the plasma sword into practical use. "Oh, if there were magic bombs (mana bombs),...... no, the damage to the surrounding area would be too great. If we put up a barrier, then we can ......?Then, if we put up a barrier,...... no, that would be a little too ...... wide, but,........." Erza and Saki kept their mouths shut when they saw that Jin was lost in thought. Erza, in particular, has a vague feeling that Jin often has a flash of an outlandish idea at times like this. And just as she had hoped, "I might be able to do it! Jin seems to have come up with something. "We can radiate hemispherical wards from two Titans toward the same target. If two hemispheres are combined, they form a sphere. The target can be trapped in the spherical field. If you send a mana bomb into it with a transporter, it will be ......!" At first glance, it seems that he is talking to Elsa, but he is not. By saying it out loud, he was reaffirming it. However, Erza, who was listening by his side, understood the principle and was impressed by Jin. The old man, who was listening through the manacam, immediately started to examine the details. At that time, he received an urgent message again. "<>" "What?Abort the investigation!Everyone return to your posts immediately! Was it because the ground had become brittle, or was it a reaction to the emergence of the gigantopods? Jin rushed Lando and the others who had gone underground back to their homes. Loyal to Jin''s order, Lando and the others head for the surface without looking aside. They noticed something that looked like an unfamiliar magic tool, but they did not check it because they gave priority to Jin''s order. If we had checked it, we might have learned some new facts, but if we had done so, half of the land might have been buried. Is it a good thing or a bad thing that we did not check the underground grimoire? No one knows for sure, but if we had retrieved the magic tools, would a different fate have awaited us in the future? Seconds after Lando and the others went above ground, the tunnel collapsed and the Inado Mine was abandoned. "Okay, everyone''s okay." Jin relaxed, knowing that this time it would be the end. The area around the Inado Mine was in ruins. Trees were broken, rocks of various sizes were scattered, and holes had been drilled in various places. In some places, fragments of gigantopods were scattered about, and white smoke was billowing out of the ground due to the effects of their bodily fluids. "...... that''s a lot of cleanup to do." Well, I''ll let the Klein Kingdom take care of that," Jin said as he moved Pegasus 1 to check it out. "Oh, ...... this one will be a material?" Reiko''s sword of light had dismembered it, and its cross section had been burned by the tremendous heat, and no bodily fluids had spewed out. Jin tells the old man to retrieve it. At the same time, he also has the destroyed general-purpose golem retrieved. True to their word, a large transport, Condor 3, is beamed in. "Wind, Jin, how many airplanes do you have?Do you have ......?" Saki said with a sigh. "Well, maybe next time." "Yeah, I hope so. Well, I hope so. Please be gentle with him. Saki smiles tiredly. Saki, you need to think about how you''re going to deal with your brother Jin. "What? Does that mean you don''t want to go out with him? It''s a terrible line, depending on how you look at it. "......" or that''s what it sounds like. Jin makes a sad face on purpose. "...... I can''t believe Erza thought of me that way. ......" "Oh, no, no, no, it''s not that, it''s just that..." Erza panicked when she saw Jin looking down at her. "No, no. You see, Jin is not out of the ordinary, but out of the ordinary. "......Erza, I think that''s a terrible thing to hear." "Uh,ah,ah,......" Elsa turned red and blue. "Oh, no, no, no. ......" Erza was already in tears. Jin and Saki noticed this and panicked. "Erza, okay, okay. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. I know what you''re trying to say. "......" "As for me, Erza''s reaction was so cute that I just couldn''t resist." Saki patted Erza''s head and said, "I don''t know. "I don''t ...... know." Erza turned her head to the side. "I''ve never seen Erza''s face like that before. Erza, you''ve become really cute. "...... Saki''s sister, idiot." It was peaceful inside Pegasus 1. 443 - - 13-31 In Toka Village Using the giant warp gate that Condor 3 carried, 50 army golems, Titan 2, Pegasus 1, and Boulton were evacuated to Horai Island. 1, and Boulton, Land 21 to 25 and Pelican 3 were moved to Horai Island. Condor 3 will return to the island via a warp gate located in the mountain north of Kaina Village. Pegasus 1 exits through the warp gate at the back of the institute and lands in the plaza in front of the institute, which is illuminated by magical lights. Jin, Erza, and Saki landed looking a little tired. The three were greeted by all the detainees. "Jin, good job!You''ve worked hard!Erza and Saki, thank you! "Jin-sama, that was amazing!Erza-san, Saki-san, thank you for your hard work! "Jin-kun, you''re still amazing!" "Thank you for your hard work, Jin-sama. Your meal is ready. It''s already past ten o''clock in the evening on Horai Island. Meine had thoughtfully prepared the evening meal for us. "Oh, I''m starving. I''ll be thankful for it." Jin looked relieved when he was greeted. For him now, this Horai Island is his home to return to. By the way, considering the time difference, Stearena must return home soon. If the time difference is about five hours, it would be past 5:00 p.m. at the place where the carriage Stearina is supposed to be riding in. "Oh, that''s too bad. But I can come back tomorrow, right? "Of course. Of course. I''ll be waiting for you. I''ll pick you up. At Stearina''s question, Jin nodded broadly. The old man interrupted. Jin was impressed by what he heard. "Oh, I see!Yes, it would be more efficient that way. If Pelican 1 is near the stagecoach in Sta. Arena, it will be very easy to get to and from there. We will go that way for the time being. "Well then, Mr. Jin, see you tomorrow, everyone. Stearena, who seemed to have been dyed a lot over the course of the day, said goodbye as she retreated to her room. The morning after the Gigantorpeeder fiasco, Jin went to the village of Kaina. As Jin had expected, no one had noticed anything unusual here, and the night was peaceful. Relieved, Jin went back to Horai Island once more and repaired the damaged land team by himself. * * * * * Meanwhile, Toka village. "What happened?" The noise is coming from beyond the road leading to the village of Kaina. Occasionally, there are flashes of light in the twilight sky, and the villagers cannot hide their uneasiness. Incidentally, in the village of Kaina, all the fighting was on the other side of the Togolese Pass (Toka side), so it was difficult to hear the sounds and see the flashes, so no one noticed anything out of the ordinary. "I''ll go and check it out when it gets light." Gloria, too, decided that it was too dangerous in the dark and decided to wait until early the next morning to find out what was going on. After that, when the noise died down and no abnormalities were detected, the villagers were relieved and went to sleep. The next morning, at 5:00 a.m., the villagers went to bed. Gloria woke up early and went to check the cause of last night''s noise by horse and found someone lying at the entrance of the village. "...... father!" As she approached, she saw Gloria''s father, Boulton Allstadt, the knight Heinz Rasch, and a man who appeared to be an unnamed governor. And then there was Viscount Beyer, who was wounded in the head. "What''s going on?" I decided to stop checking on them for a while, and take care of the four of them. It was early in the morning, but as it was a matter of fact, he first reported it to Licia, the lord of the house. "What?Gloria''s father?And Mr. Heinz and Viscount Beyer?" Licia was still awake in her sleep, but when she heard what was happening, she woke up at once. She tells the soldier on duty to take her to the soldiers'' garrison. There is a nursing room there. Soon Licia had Viscount Beyer''s wounds treated. At that time, Licia learned an unexpected fact from the soldiers. "The Viceroys have been mining ore in the Inard Mine for a long time. ...... What?...... Licia knew that the Inad mine was to be included in the Jin lease from August 1. I could understand if they were just going to maintain the mine, but according to the soldier''s story, they had been mining the mine for about half a month. As a result, four wagons full of ore had been sent to the capital so far. "What a shameless thing to do. ......" Lysia wanted to hold her head in her hands. "Did your father also take part in such a conspiracy?" Gloria, who had been listening to the conversation with Licia, was also indignant. "No, I don''t think I could refuse if my superiors ordered me to do so." "...... that''s true." Unlike the female knights who have the freedom to move at their own discretion to a certain extent, the bureaucrats who work within the company are not likely to accept Gloria''s request to be Licia''s bodyguard this time. It is a sad state of affairs in the service of the court. "...... Still, I wish you''d had the guts to admonish her, father. ......" "We''ll talk about that later. ......I''m sorry, but even though I can use healing magic to heal injuries,......, oh, yes." Licia recalled the healing magic tool she had borrowed from Jin. She kept it in her golem horse to return it to Jin this time. Licia remembers it and runs to get it. "......If I use this, I''m sure..." Licia returns, gasping for breath, and without giving Gloria time to ask any questions, she uses her healing spells. < was activated, and the four who had been lying paralyzed regained consciousness. "What is this place? Help me! Father! Viscount! Boulton wondered where he was now. The Viscount Beyer panicked and screamed. "...... Gloria, is that you?And that''s the ...... quasi-Baron Fahrheit, isn''t it?" Heinz Rasch calmly analyzed the situation. He saw that in front of him were Gloria Allstadt, the vice-captain of the women''s knighthood, and Licia Faarheit, the new lord of the village of Toka. "Ah, ah, ah, ah ......" The last man, who seemed to be the governor, was only trembling. Licia asked Heinz and Gloria asked her father Boulton. They decide to ask each other what is going on. "............" "What?The noise last night was ...... mine was not supposed to be like that,...... is this village safe?......" "What?...... What a ...... treachery, Father!" Licia was horrified by the threat of the giant centipede, and Gloria was angry at the fact that they were mining. At this moment, Viscount Beyer was mumbling and not speaking. He seems to have suffered a mental breakdown. "...... understands the situation. Gloria, I''m glad you didn''t go to check on him. Licia felt a chill run down her spine at the thought of Gloria meeting the giant hundred-legged monster head-on. "But five such monsters?Can we evacuate the villagers in time?" Even the vivacious Gloria, who understood the desperate situation, turned pale. But... I remember that the deus ex machina protected us. ...... has he come to this village?" Heinz said as if he had just remembered. "What?Is it Makina-sama?" "Yes, I remember now. When we were helplessly running away from the demons, five golems, which he said were his instructions, appeared and evacuated us. ......I don''t remember what happened from there, but he must have taken some steps, didn''t he?" "...... Well, there was a lot of noise and flashes of light for a while, but it soon quieted down." "Flashes?That demon didn''t emit any flashes of light, did it? What?No, there was definitely a flash of light in the night sky. ...... "Hmmm... ...... wishful thinking, but what if Makina-dono did something to it and it was the light? Heinz speculates. But Boulton is skeptical. "What?You mean to tell me that she has killed five such monsters?" "Maybe Makina-sama can help you, or ......." Anyway, I still have to check it out. ...... Gloria-san, would you still go and check it out?But with great care. Just in case, please take some recovery medicine with you. Licia gives Gloria the rest of the recovery medicine that Jin entrusted to her. "Listen, please don''t overdo it. Please come back. Depending on the result, we will evacuate the villagers. "Okay. Leave it to me. I''m off. Gloria mounted her horse again and was about to leave the village when she noticed something. There was something where the four had fallen. As she approached, she saw it was a piece of leather paper. There was a.., was written on the paper. Gloria, who was about to leave the village, turned around again and showed it to Licia. Everyone was relieved to see it. However, Gloria left the village this time to make sure that the confirmation was still necessary. 444 - - 13-32 Field inspection Immediately after Gloria left the village, Heinz Rasch advised Lysia. "Quasi-Baron Fahlheit, it is too reckless to let Gloria go alone. I think you should send two or three people with her so that she can be used as a messenger. If possible, I would like to accompany her myself. Licia is shocked. "Yes, I understand!" She chose two men who were good at riding horses from among the garrisoned soldiers, and sent them off with Heinz. Heinz, please be careful. Licia presented the four of them with dried meat and water bottles. "Thank you for your kindness." Heinz Rasch received the food and water and handed them to the two soldiers, "Let''s ride until we catch up with Gloria!" With these words, he gave the horses whips and started to run. The two soldiers followed. Licia watched them anxiously until they were out of sight. "Hey! Gloria stopped her horse and turned around at the sound of a voice behind her. She saw Heinz and two soldiers following her on horseback. She stopped and waited. "...... Mr. Fahlheit has sent us. We will go with you. "Okay, we will go with you." Gloria and Heinz move forward, gagged and gagged. Dawn had already broken and white clouds were floating in the blue summer sky. Heinz offers Gloria dried meat and a canteen of water. "That''s very thoughtful of you, Mr. Fahlheit. You can''t work without breakfast if there is an emergency. "That''s right." Both knights have no problem eating on horseback. They ate dried meat and drank water, but never loosened their reins. The men following them followed their example. "...... So, Mister Rush, what can you tell us about this monster?" Gloria asked Heinz after they had finished eating. "Yes. I can''t tell you much about it because I lost consciousness during the ...... process, but it must have been about fifty meters long. It had four eyes ......, I think. They were glowing red." Fifty meters ......? Yes. It spit some kind of liquid out of its mouth, and whatever it hit, rock or wood, melted in a cloud of white smoke. ...... Well, that''s scary. "That''s about all I know. After that, a golem that had been dispatched by Lord Machina led me to what appeared to be a silver-colored shelter, but I have no memory of what happened after that. When I came to, I was in Toka village. "I see." How did they defeat such a monster? Gloria tried to imagine, but she had no idea. The road climbs gently and the greenery around us diminishes. After passing through a rocky wilderness, the road climbed steeply. "I think we''ll be at the site in about an hour," he said. Gloria and Heinz slow their horses a little and proceed with caution. "Should I have my sword ready to pull out at any time?" "No, I don''t think a sword will do anything against that monster. No, I don''t think a sword can do anything against that monster. Heinz answered Gloria''s question with a wry smile. The two men stopped their horses. The men following them stopped their horses as well. "We must be close now. Let''s go carefully." Heinz''s words made them all even more determined. The horses are now slowly moving again. "...... smells funny..." Gloria mutters with her hand on her nose. "This is the smell of liquid spit out by centipedes." Heinz replies while holding his nose. The four of us proceed forward, cautious, looking ahead, back and forth, left and right. When they see what lies beyond the bend in the road, they all freeze and stop moving. The horses are also frightened and stop walking. And there it was. It was a picture of hell. Numerous dead bodies of giant centipedes, each about 10 meters long, were lying on the ground. "Mr. Rush!There were more than five of them!" "Oh, ah ......, they must have crawled out further after that ......." Heinz felt a chill run down his spine when he saw the carcasses, which looked to be more than a hundred. Riding his horse, he approached the largest of the corpses. Gloria rolls her eyes when she sees that it has been sliced into pieces as if it had been cut by a huge sword. "Is it possible to cut off a monster this ...... big?" Gloria pulled out the sword from her waist and slashed at the shell. There was a hard cracking sound, and the blade of the sword chipped. "I don''t think I can cut it with a ...... sword." The sword I brought this time was not the one Jin had made for me, but an ordinary steel sword. The sword is so hard that it is almost impossible to cut through a hundred pairs of legs with it. Gloria realized once again that Makina''s ability was both reliable and threatening. When she looked into the shell, she found a yellowish liquid. It seemed to be the body fluid of a centipede. Gloria plunged her sword into the liquid without thinking. Then... "Whoa!" The steel sword had melted away in a puff of white smoke. "Gloria!I told you!The fluid of a centipede''s breath dissolves everything. The only thing it doesn''t seem to do is dissolve itself. "......" He stared at the sword, which was half empty, "...... Jin-dono, if I ask you, will you make it for me? Gloria muttered. * * * * The old man, who was monitoring the situation under the Inado Mine through the monitoring system, muttered. I can clearly see Gloria''s surprised face. The old man was planning to recover most of the shells as they would be good materials, but he left all but the first five 50-meter class shells untouched to show them what was happening. Now we see Gloria slashing at the shells with her sword. And then there was the scene where the swords were dipped in the bodily fluids left in the remains of the centipedes and melted. < The old man has no face, but if he had, he would have laughed. But Lao Tzu, who is a mobile terminal, can make such an expression. If the surrounding area had been a sea of body fluid, it would have been extremely dangerous, but in about two hours, most of the body fluid of the gigantopods that covered the ground had evaporated. Only a little remained in the shell. It would evaporate in a few hours. The old man decided that it would be better that way, since he would not be able to exploit it. Four 50-meter class bodies would be more than enough to keep the body fluids. Gloria and the others are seen climbing up the mountain from the site of the battle. * * * * "......This is a completely abandoned mine." Heinz looked up to the heavens at the devastation. The mine had collapsed to the point where it was impossible to tell where the entrance was, and the remains of a generic golem lay scattered about. "Was it worth sacrificing an expensive golem?" Gloria wondered to no one in particular. "I don''t know. I was only carrying out the orders of my superiors." For Heinz, a knight, refusing an order was not an option. "Let''s go back to ......." Gloria said without effort and turned her horse''s head. Heinz and two of his men followed. 445 - - 13-33 Reflections Meeting It was the day after the hundred-footed extermination, in other words, July 3, in Horaijima. Stearina had returned to the island, and there was a sort of review meeting. Jin said, "I thought the current defense capability was enough, but I realized that it was not enough. Jin said. Normally, I would have thought that there was no opponent that could not be killed in an instant with the current forces of Horai Island. And Reinhardt and the others could not tell Jin that he was worrying too much. "Just don''t use it, but in case you do, there may be nothing wrong with being strong. ......" Even Saki said something like that. Yesterday''s experience was a strong one. "Goshujin-sama, I still think that the characteristics of the weapons are a bit biased." This was Anne''s comment. I knew Erza and Reinhardt, but I had never seen Saki, Bertsche, Mine, and Stearina before. Normally, they work as the old man''s arms, receiving reports from the fifth column (Quinta) and making plans and giving instructions to prevent any situation that could be disadvantageous to Jin or Horai Island. <. This time, he is present at the request of Jin, who wanted his opinion as a military strategist. "At long range, it''s lasers and magic cannons (magi cannon). Anne''s analysis continues. "For medium to long range, there is the induction radiator, but it may not be effective depending on the opponent. For close quarters, there is the ultra high-speed vibrating sword, the paralyzing gun (paralyzer), and the golem army and the Titan as a force to be reckoned with. Jin listened in silence. "For defense, we have the Barrier and the Magijammer, and for support, we have the Healer and the Healing Potion. Anne also offered another angle. "It is sufficient against swordsmen and mages. As for the use against demonic beasts, it is good enough for annihilation, but it is not good enough for local warfare, or for a case like this one. And the fact that the Titan is not armed is not good. Reinhardt, who had been trying to be a good listener, could no longer remain silent. "But I don''t think we''re going to have many more like this one, do we?" "No, the Death Serpent that Mr. Reinhardt defeated before and the sandworms that live in the Harihari Desert are good examples. This is Reiko. Both of them had been defeated by Reiko in the past, but both attacks were carried out without regard to the damage to the surroundings. "Well, for that matter, I''m going to put the magic sword I used this time, or rather the plasma sword, to practical use." "...... no striking weapons." "Erza! Jin was surprised that Erza would say such a thing. No, not only Jin, but also Reinhardt and the others. "...... we are friends. It''s only natural for us to help Jin." "......You''re right. Erza told me the other day that I was taking on too much on my own. Jin, I''m sorry. We''ve been taking it easy on you too, haven''t we? You''re right. Jin, you don''t have any piercing weapons, do you? We could tie them up, or use ropes or chains so they can''t move. "We have light, water, and bullets ......, so maybe heat or ice?" Jin was pleased to hear these useful ideas. Spears, drills, maces, heat rays, refrigeration, anchor ropes, and so on. If we could add to this the mana bomb and gravity weapons that we are developing, we would be very close to our ideal. "There are too many other weapons that focus on power. "Yes, that''s true. Especially in close quarters. There are too many one-hit kill type weapons. Jin agreed. The fact that the only non-lethal weapons used against people are paralyzing guns (paralyzers) is another reason for the bias. "Knives, blowguns and small caliber guns? There is a technique called brainstorming. It is a technique in which a group of people stimulate each other by coming up with ideas, making it easier to come up with ideas. Something similar to this is being done right now. << The old man, who had been watching and listening to the whole discussion, immediately started to take action where he could. > * * * * * * * * * * * After the discussion about weapons was over, it was time for tea. Luna and Soleil, two of Reiko''s staff, brought tea. "By the way, old man, you said at that time that you still have two hands left, can you tell me what kind of means you used?" Reinhard said as he sipped his tea. < Surely, it seems to be effective. > "I couldn''t come up with cooling either. "I didn''t think of cooling it down either." Jin smiled and said so. The group moved on to the next topic. "Let''s hear what you know so far about the gigantopod. After taking a sip of tea, Jin said. The Gigantopods that have been so difficult to deal with for the forces of Horai Island, on the other hand, would be an excellent material. < The material could be used for shields or armor. < It is a common theory that demons living in the depths of the earth are weak against light. In fact, subterranean spiders (grand spiders) and subterranean caterpillars (grand caterpillars) do not like light. <>. "Will materials other than those taken from monsters in the ground be melted? ......" << It is likely that it is not a known chemical substance such as acid or alkali. "Can adamantite be dissolved?" "Was the super high-speed vibrating sword also melted?" "Okay. Continue your analysis." Jin thought that this could be part of the solution to the mystery of the gigantopods. Of course, he is also considering using it as a weapon. Jin recalled that there were some pesticides that could be rendered harmless by ultraviolet rays or chemical reactions. I guess we should be glad that they didn''t turn into poison gas. "I repaired the damage to Lando and the others, but what about the generic golem I made in the Klein Kingdom?" "......!" Erza twitched at the mention of it. She had been there when Jin had made his general-purpose golem. And Erza knows that Jin is attached to his work. "I''m sure they are." The old man projected the recovered golems on the magic screen. "...... is terrible." One or both arms are missing, one or both legs are missing. Dents, scratches and holes in the torso. Broken or missing head. Some of them were not in their original state. "It''s easy to fix. This is Horai Island. "But ...... I don''t want to give it to them anymore." Jin said honestly. "Yeah, I think that''s a good idea. The princess and the king are probably honest people. And ...... Licia, Gloria, Boulton, and Jessica..." Elsa, who had been to the Klein Kingdom with Jin, shared almost the same opinion. "I''ve only heard about ...... Klein Kingdom, but I heard that the king''s power is not so strong. It seems that the old system is still in place." Reinhardt''s opinion as a diplomat described the distortion of the Klein Kingdom. "Are you saying that you want to gather a number of nobles who own lands, choose one of them to be the king?" "Yes, Belle. That''s about right. "Well,......, I don''t have any proof, but there are rumors that the kingdoms of Franz and Celuloa are working behind the scenes to further reduce the power of the originally weak royal family. It is quite possible that Stearina, who is from the Kingdom of Celuloa, is behind this. This information comes from the fact that the old man has dispatched the 5th Quinta to various places. He added that he had left it alone because he did not think it would be disadvantageous to Jin. There is nothing wrong with that. I have no intention of getting involved in inter-state intrigues. But if it affects me and my acquaintances, that is a different story. Soldiers are a sophistry. Jin, what''s that? Reinhardt overheard Jin''s unintentional muttering. "What?Oh, you mean that soldiers are sophomores?Let''s see, the words of a military genius named in my world, ......?" "Huh?Jin, then you must have some knowledge as a military strategist!" "No, I''m not educated, or educated, or educated, or educated in classical quotations, or educated in proverbs, or educated in proverbs, or educated in proverbs, or educated in proverbs, or educated in proverbs, or educated in proverbs, or educated in proverbs, or educated in proverbs. In fact, it''s knowledge I got from comic books. "So, what was it ...... that he said? This is the limit of Jin. In fact, winning a hundred battles is not the best of the good. It is the goodness of the good that makes men''s armies yield without a fight. In other words, it is better to win without fighting than to fight a hundred times and win a hundred times. I see. Winning without fighting. So that''s what diplomacy and intrigue are for. Certainly, winning without fighting is better than winning in terms of human casualties and not destroying the country. As expected, Reinhardt understood what Sun Tzu was trying to say. "Hey, Reinhardt, you''re off topic. If Saki had not said that, we would have been talking about diplomacy and intrigue. "Yes, you''re right. ...... the seeds of defection, huh? Well, I''ll leave that one alone as long as it doesn''t do any real harm. Just keep me in the loop." As I said before, Jin had no intention of doing anything while the countries were checking each other. "I''ll be relieved if Reese marries quickly to Egelea. But then, Jin said something outrageous. "What would be the best thing for the village of Kaina? Jin looked around at all the faces there and said, "I wonder what''s best for the village of Kaina. 446 - - 13-34 The Kingdom of Klein... The conversation slid around quite a bit, but eventually returned to its original topic of how to deal with the Kingdom of Klein. "What are you going to do about it, Jin?" "Well,...... I wasn''t planning to do anything in particular,...... but it''s a hassle." Reinhardt laughed at the answer, but the next moment his face turned serious, "That''s no good. We''ll be licked, and nothing will change on the Klein Kingdom side. If they don''t change, there is a possibility that they will do something similar again. He admonished Jin. "Oh, so that''s how it''s going to be." "Think about it, huh?If the gigantopods attacked the village of Kaina and caused damage, we can''t be so optimistic, can we? Jin''s face tightened when he heard this analogy. "Indeed. In that case, I guess we''ll have to take a firm stand. ......" . The old man suggested. Hearing this comment, Stearina spoke up in doubt. "Who is this Machina?" "Oh, yes. I thought I had heard of you during the conflict. ......" Stearina is convinced. "In that case, they might find out about the relationship between Jin and Makina, right?" Reinhard thought for a moment and nodded. "Well, if I may add, I think it would be better to say that Jin and Makina are not so close, don''t you?" "Something like that. Well, I don''t think you''ll be asked." "With a written denunciation of what the Klein Kingdom has done, of course." Reinhardt and the old man continue their conversation. By sending a piece of the exterior, we remind them that they have lost a valuable golem because of their foolishness. <<> "Oh, that''s a good idea. Let''s see, Boulton, Heinz, Gyoja, and Viscount ...... Beyer, right?" > "Okay, let''s quietly take him out in the middle of the night and send him on his way to Alban." Jin seemed quite angry inside when he saw the broken generic golem. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Early morning of July 4. The golem is sent to the royal castle of the Kingdom of Klein by transporter. The position data is provided by Quinta 5 and Spica 7, who are in charge of Alban, and the transfer is completed with a very small margin of error. Morning of July 4. There was a great commotion in front of the royal palace in Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. "What is this? A hundred-legged monster? Who is there?Who''s there? ...... Bo-Bo, Mr. Boulton?And Heinz Rasch! Viscount Beyer! ...... Who else?The Gentleman? A piece of a centipede, the remains of a golem, and an important man, all of them unconscious, were in front of the palace before I knew it. How could there not be a commotion? And even though it was small, it was a piece of a gigantopod (gigantoped), the original length of which was 10 meters. It is a threat in its own way. "Here''s the letter....... addressed to King Klein?From ...... deus ex machina!" Call the Prime Minister!No, call him! And the healing squad!Hurry! Three hours later, the chaos was over. Seven people were gathered in the king''s office. They were King Alois III of Klein, Prime Minister Powell, Commander of the Kingsguard of Glen, Commander of the 2nd Bernard, Boulton Allstadt, Heinz Rasch, and Viscount Bayer. "Well, first of all, Viscount Beyer, let''s hear what you have to say. Boulton is to point out any mistakes or ambiguities in the Viscount''s explanations. The same goes for Heinz." The Prime Minister''s voice. Alois III stares at the baron silently. Boulton is cowering. Heinz, too, is a little nervous under his boss''s stare. Viscount Beyer, whose head wound has been healed after the mental turmoil is over, is uncomfortable and looks pale. However, he could not remain silent since he had been asked the question, so he opened his mouth. "Yes,...... first of all, we are at the Inado Mine,......" he said. He explained in a halting manner how he had come to be assigned to this position. Boulton adds a few words here and there, and Heinz backs them up. Then they come to the place where the centipede appears. ...... a huge centipede crawled out from the depths of the tunnels, and we were forced to retreat helplessly." Boulton immediately adds. "It was the deus ex machina that saved us, and it was also the deus ex machina that killed the centipedes." Hearing these words, Viscount Byer bit his lip and trembled. "You fool! Not only did you do something to lose the trust of Jin-dono, you brought about a disaster that you could not solve by yourself, and you even asked Makina-dono, who is not from the Kingdom of Klein, to solve it for you. The king cursed. "Did Makina-sama really eliminate that monster?" Viscount Beyer was skeptical. "Yes. Did you see the remains of the centipede that was left with you and the others?I tried to cut it down with my sword and it broke. That shows us that the monster is not something we can handle. It was only by using an adamantite blade that he was able to cut through it. It is not easy, unless you have a super high-speed vibrating sword. "We also received some of the destroyed general-purpose golems. We lost ten generic golems at once!According to the ...... letter, Jin-sama is also angry. Of course he is. He had told them that he would give them the mine, but he had continued to secretly mine it. And now the mine has been abandoned because of the monsters that came out of it. The king''s voice became plaintive. "It was ...... foolish. I lost my credibility and my precious golem. Now I can''t ask Jin-dono to make more of the same." How can we ask him to make another Golem when giving him a mine where he has been secretly mining resources without Jin''s knowledge is in itself an act of treachery? "......We should also think about transferring the village of Kaina instead of leasing it. ......" Alois III was troubled. "To top it all off, it would have been bad for Lord Machina''s reputation as well. ...... Deus ex machina has the means to transport human and centipede remains from Toka village to Alban in just one day, or even less. It is assumed that there is some kind of connection with Jin, and while we had hoped to deepen our friendship with him, the exact opposite has happened. "......What could go wrong?" After much consideration, King Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein reflected on his indecision and his failure to say what needed to be said. However, there was no way that the current system could be improved overnight, and his worries deepened. Nevertheless, I could at least dispose of Viscount Beyer as the person in charge. We are aware that this is not a fundamental solution. At the very least, the king cannot help wishing that the old nobility would take this as a warning to be more careful. "The Viscount Beyer is stripped of his titles and confiscated. He is to be banished from the capital." The king himself pronounced the sentence. The king himself pronounced the punishment. Boulton Allstadt and Heinz Rasch, on the other hand, received only a reprimand and a one-year salary cut. And the four wagons that returned a few days later with the resources from the Inard mine were to be given to Jin as they were. Furthermore, it was considered to make the village of Kaina a territory instead of a leased land. * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man was aware of all these developments in the Kingdom of Klein. The village of Kaina is no longer a leased land, but a territory of Jin. That is to say, it is an independent territory. << < The old man was secretly pleased. The old man was planning to make a development plan while he still has time. 447 - - 13-35 Tears of Elza Ten days after the Gigantorpeeder fiasco. Stearina entered the Kingdom of Celluloid safely. Needless to say, she came to Horai Island every day during the daytime. "I''m going to get rid of the house when I get back! He was not afraid to say such a thing. It seems that he has grown tired of the Kingdom of Cerroa. Reinhard and Bertsche spent most of their time in the village of Kaltz. This is not surprising since they had just become lords. "According to what I heard, there is a new lord in Toka village, right next to Kaina village?I heard that a new lord has arrived there as well. I would like to have a discussion with him about the management of his domain. Saki finally said something formal. Saki is finally free from the rigid life of an aristocrat, and is now free to do research at his leisure. She is freely munching on various things as she pleases. "Hmmm, I don''t have to worry about food, and there are plenty of ingredients to choose from...it''s great! Aal is said to have looked worried. Meine and Perid and the others are now working through trial and error to reproduce the suggested by Hitoshi. Fermentation of wine and beer is done by yeast. There are many types of yeast, and the best yeast for bread is called yeast. Jin knew that much, but what comes after that is still unknown to him. Since the study of yeast is related to miso and soy sauce, Jin wanted them to put special emphasis on this field, so Perido and his team worked hard on it. As a result, they have just selected yeast for bread. "Bread baked with this yeast is soft, fluffy, and delicious! A new specialty of the village of Kaina is about to be born. And of course, he has not forgotten his role as a teacher. Three days a week, he holds a study group at Nido Castle. The reason why they are no longer at the village head''s house is because Sally has opened a clinic at the village head''s house. Although it was a little far to go to the clinic, no child skipped the lunch because they were served a delicious lunch as <>. Elsa was a very active student at the school. Erza was going back and forth between her parents'' house and the village of Kaina and the island of Horai during that time. She went to her parents'' house to see her father, Georg, who had become bedridden. Of course, he pretended to be from the village of Kaltz in Reinhardt''s territory. Even with Erza''s healing magic, Georg''s condition had hardly changed. Elsa feels helpless. Then one day, there was an unexpected reunion. "...... Elsa, welcome home." "...... mother?" When Elsa went to her parents'' house, she found that her mother-in-law, Marlene Randall von Nefra, had returned from her medical treatment and was taking care of her husband Georg. "I heard a little bit about you. I heard a little bit about what you went through. ...... I''m sorry I couldn''t be there for you when you were going through a difficult time." Marlene hugged Elsa gently. "Oh, mother,......" The mother who had loved her as if she were her own child since she was a little girl. Gentle arms, gentle voice. Elsa cried, wrapped in the warmth of her old home. "......I knew he was going crazy, but I was too timid to say anything. Even when I took the liberty of arranging the engagement between you and the marquis, I was afraid of being hit,...... and said nothing." This was the first time Elsa had learned that Georg had been violent towards his wife Marlene. Marlene was also a victim. She knew that the recuperation was half a pretext to keep Georg at a distance from her. "Can you forgive me?Forgive me for running away from you. ....... I''m really sorry, I''m a bad mother." "...... no, it''s okay, it''s okay." Wrapped in the warmth of her nurturing mother Marlene, Erza cried as a child for a while. When Elsa finally calmed down, she and Marlene cuddled up and talked. The main speaker was Erza. The main subject of the conversation was what had happened since she and Reinhardt had left on their trip. Marlene listened with a smile. "...... Well, you had a good experience. I''m glad I sent you on your trip. ...... This Jin?I''d like to meet him. "I''m sure Jin will be here anytime. ...... Oh." Erza''s cheeks flushed as she realized she had called Jin her brother. "I never thought Elsa would make a face like that," Marlene said. Marlene poked Elsa''s cheek with her fingertip. "Oh, mother!" Marlene looked at Elsa, who was surprised and backed away, then turned serious. "Elsa, from now on he will be with me, don''t worry. You have something you want to do, don''t you?" "Thank you ......." Tears welled up in Elsa''s eyes again. "Well, well, well... I thought you''d grown up, you little crybaby." Marlene wipes Elsa''s face with a handkerchief, and a glimpse of a blue bruise appears on her cuff. "Mother, what''s on your arm?" Marlene pulls her arm back in a panic. "......, you''ve been seen. It''s much better now. A month ago, almost the whole arm had changed color. "There must be some damage to the major blood vessels." "What?A large blood vessel? "Yeah. I got it." Elsa got up from her seat and sat back down next to Marlene, her right arm rolled up. "Elsa?" "<>" The healing magic wrapped around Marlene''s right arm and healed it in no time. The blue-colored area has turned back to a pleasant skin tone. "Elsa?You, not only engineering magic, but also healing magic ......." "Yes, I haven''t told you yet, but thanks to my brother Jin, I can do these things now." Rubbing her arm, which was now healed back to normal, Marlene smiled and turned to Erza. Elsa, you go your way. Magecraft and healing. Use your talents to the fullest. I will always wish you well. "Mother ......" Elsa shed tears for the first time that day. * * * Jin was visited by Licia. The road was quite rough, but the soldiers stationed in Toka Village had worked hard to make it passable for horses, if not for wagons. The golem horses, in particular, had no problem. And with plenty of time to spare. He left Toka village at 6:00 in the morning and arrived at Kaina village at 2:00 in the afternoon. This time, Licia persuaded Gloria to join us on a golem horse that Pascoe had borrowed. She was surprised at how comfortable it was to ride. "Mr. Jin, I am pleased to inform you that I, Licia Faalheit, have been created a baronet and have received the village of Toka as my domain. Mister Gin, this is Gloria Allstadt, Baroness Faarheit''s bodyguard. Welcome. It''s been a long time, Lysia. And you, Gloria." Jin met them in his office at Nido Castle. "Let''s stop the formalities and carry on as usual," Jin said. When Jin said this, they looked at each other and nodded. "Well, I''m glad to hear you say so, Jin-san. Relaxing her shoulders, Licia held out the package to Jin. Jin-san, here is a letter from the King of the Kingdom of Klein. It is a certificate of Magecraft Meister. "Thank you." Jin received the package and opened it to find a certificate from the Kingdom of Klein recognizing him as a MagiCraft Meister, for assisting Licia and Pascoe during their time of magical exhaustion fever, and for providing them with a recovery potion. In addition, a letter and contract stating that the Inado Mine belongs to the village of Kaina as of August 1. Finally, he apologized for Viscount Beyer''s unjustified mining of resources the other day, and said that all the resources mined in the meantime would be given to Jin. "Ah ......" Jin, who honestly had no intention of demanding anything in return for the countermeasure against the magical exhaustion fever, frowned. The Inad mine is completely collapsed because of the gigantopod fiasco, and I don''t even want it with the output I''ve heard about. < Jin thought that it might be interesting to make a special golem and investigate the underground, and decided to take the Inado Mine. When Jin had finished reading the letter, Licia bowed her head. Gloria followed suit. "I know it''s not enough for me to apologize, but let me apologize first! "Jin-dono, I apologize to you as well. My father was involved in this plan, even though he was ordered to be. I am truly sorry." Jin did not intend to complain, but he knew that he would be licked if he kept being too lenient, so he decided to say what he needed to say. I don''t care about the resources of this country. I don''t care about the resources of this country, but I''m more annoyed by people sneaking around behind my back. "Yes, sir, I''ll let them know!" Licia was startled by Jin''s unusually sullen expression. She made up her mind that she would definitely tell the Prime Minister about it. "......Well, I can''t start complaining to you two, so let''s just leave it at that. But please make sure you tell them, okay?" "Yes, yes, I will!" Licia breathes a sigh of relief when she realizes that even though Jin is angry, it is not at her. Then she thought of a question to change the mood. "By the way, Jin-san, can I ask you a question? "Yes, if you know what I mean. Thank you very much. ......You, Jin-san, you were recently certified as a Magecraft Meister in the Shoro Kingdom, when and how did you get back? 448 - - 13-36 Peaceful normal operation in a way "Let''s see, ......." Jin''s eyes swam at the unexpected question. It was a very successful question in terms of changing the mood of the meeting. When Licia asked him when he came back from the Shoro Kingdom, Jin was at a loss. Reiko saved him. "Licia-san, your father was brought here by Deus ex Machina-sama. "What?Master Machina? "Yes. Yes. Master Machina has excellent means of transportation. Makina-sama has forbidden me to tell you the details. Is that so? ...... Jin-san, you''re really great. I can''t believe you know that Makina-sama. That''s right!Jin-dono is amazing! It seems that Reiko has been secretly communicating with the old man via manacam and made up an excuse to save the day. For the time being, we will use the setting that we decided at the meeting the other day, that <>. "And now, I''m sorry for the delay, but I''ll return the golem horse and the magical tool for healing. Thank you very much!They helped me a lot." Licia was relieved to see that Jin''s mood had changed. "I''m glad to hear that. Now I have to return the horse. Licia and Pascoe''s horses had been entrusted to the village head. Originally, the chief had more than 10 horses, but when he was drafted into the army 10 years ago, all the horses were taken away, and he had stopped keeping them since then. However, he decided to keep only one horse because it would be inconvenient if something happened without one. So the village head is used to taking care of horses. "Thank you very much. Mr. Pascoe went from being an apprentice knight to a knight, and now he has a new horse, so we will take him in. That''s about all I have to say for the moment, so I ask him to check the horse before it gets dark. Jin knew nothing about horses, after all. "Let''s go check on the horses for now. It is still before 4:00 p.m., and the summer sun is just beginning to set. It was Gloria''s first visit to the village of Kaina, so she gave us a brief explanation as we slowly made our way through the village. Over there are wheat fields, and over here are vegetable fields. Most of the fields in the village of Kaina are taken care of by the community." "Collectively?You mean to say that they are not individual fields, but truly village fields? "Yes. So it is taken care of jointly. The harvest is distributed fairly. It''s a difficult thing to do. "Hmmm, so we don''t have to take care of the fields to share in the harvest?" Gloria''s question is a natural one. Jin thought the same thing when he first arrived in the village of Kaina. "Jin-san, what about that?" So it was not difficult to answer Licia and the others. "It''s a small village. We have to help each other to get by, so there is a natural division of labor. The village head distributes the work according to the amount of work done, and everyone is a hard worker, so they don''t slack off. "Well, that''s kind of an ideal community in a way. ......" Licia is surprised at Jin''s explanation. Normally, in such an organization, people would always think of taking it easy by being lazy, or trying to increase their share as much as possible. But here in the village of Kaina, there was none of that. No wonder they were surprised. "That''s Martha''s house that I''m taking care of. ......" "Hey, girl!" Hannah, who was weeding in front of the house, spotted Jin and came running. "Oh, you''re the knight lady!And, um, ......." Hanna''s face breaks into a smile when she sees Gloria, whom she knows. She looks at Licia and tilts her head, remembering her face but not her name. "I am Licia, Hannah. "Oh, yes!You''re the girl from the school!" "Hannah, you''re not a tax collector, you''re a tax collector." "Yes, the tax collector''s daughter." Hannah joined the group and soon the group arrived at the village chief''s house. There, a small signboard read <>. "Mireshan Clinic?What kind of place is this clinic, Mister Jin? The words "doctor," "physician," "hospital," and "clinic" do not exist in this world, so it is not surprising that Gloria was taken aback. After consulting with Sally about a new start, we decided on the name <>. "I think it is generally known as a healing center, isn''t it?" Gloria nodded, "That makes sense. Licia was also impressed. "So Mr. Jin has invited a healer to the village. It is certainly necessary, isn''t it ......? Licia, who used to be a member of the rescue knight corps and could use healing magic herself, thought for a moment. She went around to the back of the village headman''s house, where she found a small, spacious room with three horses running free. "Let''s see, my horse is ......, eh, eh?" Pascoe''s horse was a chestnut stallion (male). Licia''s horse was a female chestnut mare with a white nose. The chief of the village originally had a chestnut mare. The two mares'' bellies were getting a little bigger. "Oh, Jin. ...... and Miss Licia." Chief Giebeck had just come out to put the horses in the stables. When he saw Licia, he looked terribly sorry. "I''d like to get an apology from Jin as well. ......" With that preface, Giebeck bowed to Licia. "I''m sorry!Licia''s horse was bred to Pascoe''s horse when we left them together!" "What? Licia turns red. "It was spring, just in time for the breeding season, and I found myself at ......." "Hmmm, Pascoe''s horses are so unprincipled that he impregnated two of them." Gloria is saying something like that beside me. Licia blushed more and more when she heard that. "Oh, ...... what should I do?" Jin also looked a little troubled. "Are you going to have a baby?" Hannah is the only one who is excited. "What should we do?I''m still okay enough to go for a ride. "Well, I don''t want to push you too hard ......, but would you mind keeping the horse until the foal is born?I will pay for it. "No, thank you, I''m sorry to have to do this to your horse. ...... "Licia, then you can keep the golem horse that Licia was using. After much deliberation, Jin decided to give one of his golem horses to Licia. "Is that okay?" "Yes. I just want to do a little maintenance first. It''s late in the evening and you''re staying the night, right? "Yes, I guess so. Yes, we will. So, one of the golem horses was given to Licia. While Licia and Jin were talking about this, Gloria was casually watching the villagers returning from their farm work. Her eyes widened. It was because she saw a machete held by one of the villagers. "Oh, that!What if ...... no, no, no!" "What?What''s wrong, Gloria?" She ran out of the house, seemingly oblivious to Licia''s voice. She stood in front of the villager, "Let me see that machete! The villagers were startled. The villagers noticed the village headman and Jin standing nearby and called out for help. "Hey, chief! Jin, Licia, and the village chief, Gibek, heard the voice. "...... Gloria-san ......" Jin and Licia were a bit annoyed with Gloria, who was still the same as before, but advised the villager ...... Jeff. "I''m sorry. Well, he''s not a bad guy, so why don''t you show him your machete for a minute?" "Huh?Yes. ......" Licia, who was a friend of Jeff''s, said yes, and Jeff held out the machete in his hand to Gloria. Upon receiving it, Gloria was surprised to see that the blade of the machete was made of adamantite. "What is this?Only the blade is made of adamantite! The machete was one of the ones Jin had made last year in response to the emergency situation in the village of Kaina. "Such a use of adamantite ......!" Gloria''s tension is rising. "Mister Jin!I will stay in Toka for a week or so. I will stay in Toka village for about a week.Please make me a like this!" "......?" Licia and Jin smiled and let out a sigh at the same time. Jin was amazed at Gloria''s unchanging personality. Licia then asked Jin-san, who is a senior member of the estate management team, to teach her a few things about running a Toka village,......> and the timing of her request never seemed to come. It was a summer evening, and the sky over the village of Kaina was filled with clouds that had begun to change color. 449 - - 13-37 Quiet 25 Development Rush "Cooling first or ......" Jin was working with the old man on the development of a new weapon. Elsa is assisting him. "It''s a way to take away the heat energy, right?" "Yes. But, I think we should analyze the ice magic <. I think we can analyze this." Ice magic is causing phenomena that cannot be explained by thermodynamics alone. "Elsa, could you try to use snow bullets on the table?" "Yes, sure." Jin went outside the laboratory with Erza and started to analyze the magic. "......<" Snow is generated from Erza''s hand and flies away at a considerable speed. Jin examined it with the magic of tracing. "Hmmm, I guess the basic idea is cooling. Engineering magic <<. It is a magic to cool overheated materials. "Let''s figure out the principle of this, modify the activation method, and see how far we can lower the temperature. With the help of Reiko, Jin and Erza analyze <>. "......As I thought, there is no convection, conduction, or radiation, but heat is being lost. ......" The instantaneous cooling of a highly heated object is truly magical. "I can only think that heat energy is being transferred to some other space or dimension. ......" Jin made such a hypothesis and modified the cooling system based on it. "Brother Jin, is there such a method?" Erza, who was watching from the side, looked up at him. "Yes. Perhaps the key is the Magi Formula here. You can''t modify magic if you''re stuck in the conventional wisdom. "I can see that. Brother Jin is that kind of person. After much trial and error, Jin managed to perfect . He named it Absolute Zero. Perhaps, it is a magic that transfers the heat energy of an object to another dimension instantly. By adjusting the intensity, it is possible to cool the object from a very low temperature close to absolute zero to a temperature below freezing. However, the consumption of magic power is quite high. Erza can use it only once, and it may be almost empty of magic power. It is likely to be used by making a magic tool. * * * * Laojun has been making a plasma sword using the mobile terminal. The biggest problem is strength and durability. The hastily made plasma sword based on <<> that Jin had modified was 500 times more powerful than the original one. Since the plasma is a billion degrees Celsius, even if it is confined in a very powerful ward, the effect of the heat on the main body is not insignificant. If you hold it for a long time, it will be so hot that you will not be able to stand it. This will allow us to release the excess heat. The remaining problem is the extremely high consumption of magic power, but we can deal with it by using high quality magic crystals and installing a highly efficient magic element converter (ether converter). However, the consumption of magical power is far from Reiko''s 100 percent (about 40 percent). For Titan, it was relatively easy to simply increase the size of the sword. The old man was already working on mass production. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I''m going to make a boundary bomb. Jin, who had finished the development of the "Absolute Zero", said. "A boundary bomb?" Reiko asks. Elsa was silently listening. "Yeah. What we want to do is simple. We put a barrier around the object and make it shrink." "...... could it be crushed?" Erza asked, this time with a frown on her face. "Maybe. In the Magi Crystal, we write the Magi Formula to create a barrier and the Magi Formula to make it shrink. Finally, set the formula to be activated by a specific magic power, and you are done. The prototype itself was completed in 10 minutes. "Okay, let''s try it out." Jin went out in front of the laboratory, had the shell of a small gigantopod prepared, and threw the prototype warding bomb at it. "<>" The key word created a barrier. It enveloped the shell and part of the ground. It shrank as it went on. There is a cracking sound, and the shell can be seen to be crumbling. The spherical barrier, which was initially about 5 meters in diameter, is now less than 1 meter in diameter. When the spherical barrier was about 30 centimeters in diameter, the tremendous pressure generated inside the barrier bomb destroyed the barrier itself, and as a result, the barrier disappeared. What remained was the rounded, hardened shell of a gigantopod. It seems to be quite heavy, judging from the fact that the shell is sinking into the ground under its own weight. Or rather, if the original weight has not changed, the density must have increased more than 50 times. "Reiko, try to see if you can cut it with Momoka." "Yes, Father." Reiko brought her special weapon, the Peach Blossom, from the laboratory. "Here I go." She raised it and slashed at him. A rather muddy metallic sound echoed, but the blade never dug in, not even a millimeter. "Okay, let''s try again with the super high-speed vibrating sword mode. "Yes." Same thing this time. No, Momoka''s blade is chipped! "Stop!...... wow ...... did you make a material stronger than Magi adamantite?" The test of the boundary bomb was successful, and an unexpected new material was created. "<>...... I knew it." "Brother Jin, what did you find out?" "...... molecular structure is compressed." "What?" It is usually unthinkable, but the shell of the gigantopod, which is a material with magic power, did not collapse when compressed, but remained stable in that state. "Is it the function of free magic element (ether)?If it is ......, it could be applied to Magi Adamantite." Jin, who has made another, even more powerful boundary bomb, has the Magi Adamantite, which is about one cubic meter in size, prepared. It weighs 19.3 tons. Only Daidara or Reiko could carry it. Jin threw a boundary bomb at it and activated it. This time, a spherical barrier of about 2 meters in diameter was generated, and it contracted. When the spherical barrier was about 60 centimeters in diameter, it collapsed and the spherical barrier disappeared, just as before. What remained was magi-adamantite compressed to nearly 60 cm in diameter. It is a sphere about the size of a small hand. But an extraordinary material weighing nearly 20 tons was produced. Specific gravity is about 200. "This is amazing ......" Not only the weight, but also the hardness seems to be extraordinary. "I call it hyper adamantite!Let''s repair Momoka with this!" Jin was as excited as a child when he saw the new material. Erza looked at him with curiosity. Since the sword would be too heavy if the entire blade was converted to hyper adamantite, the new material would be used for the blade and sandwiched between the original magi adamantite, just like a Japanese sword, in order to keep the weight increase to a minimum. Of course, the "Vibration Sword" mode, a super high-speed vibrating sword, is still included. Since the base is Magi Adamantite, it can be further strengthened by applying magical power. "All right, Reiko, use this to cut the remaining hyper adamantite." "Yes, Father." Momoka, which has tripled in weight. Reiko swung it lightly and slashed at the hyperadamantite ingot as it was reinforced through magic power. With a clear, high-pitched metallic sound, the ingot was cut in half. The sword is not in Vibration Sword mode, but is at the magic-enhanced level, and has such a sharpness. "Amazing ......, you have become the most powerful sword!" "Thank you, father." Reiko, who had been depressed when she chipped Momoka''s blade earlier, now had a happy smile on her face. * * * * * * < The old man was curious about the mysterious magic device that was found in the underground of the mine. It would be a few days before he would develop a boring machine for underground exploration. Thus, new weapons and new materials were developed, and the forces of Horai Island were further strengthened. 450 - - 14-01 Summer Girl +... It is located in the highlands of the northern part of the Kingdom of Klein, one of the Lesser Cluster Countries. There is a small village named Kaina. It has high mountains with glaciers in the north, deep forests in the east, and a mountain range beyond. A large river runs from the west side of the village around the south side, which is called the Ermee River. The river was called the Ermee River. "Hey, little guy! "Hey, Hannah!" "You feel so good!" A little blonde girl with slightly dull blonde hair called Hannah, wearing a pink swimsuit, floats in a doughnut-shaped floatation ring. A dark-haired young man, whom Hannah called Oni-chan, was lying on a rubber boat. His name is Jin Nido. He is generally known as Jin. Although he can swim, he is not a very good swimmer, so he plays on the rubber boat like this. A dark-haired girl of about 10 years old is helping him to keep the boat from being swept away or capsized. Her name is Reiko. She is the world''s best automata, created by Jin. "Be careful!" "Yes!" Jin, I''m watching you, don''t worry. "Yeah, Erza, take care of her." Elsa, a platinum blonde with a short cut, is a good swimmer. She grabbed Hannah''s float and headed toward the edge. "Hannah, let''s go a little further out, shall we?" "Yes, Elsa, sweetie." It was mid-July. The midsummer sun is shining and the temperature near the village of Kaina rises to nearly 30 degrees Celsius during the day. The village residents, especially children, usually come to the Erme River to cool off. "Hmm, it is nice to swim in the river, isn''t it? Yes, it is. A quiet lake is nice, but a flowing river is more interesting. On a large rock by the shore, two women were drying their shells, in other words, crawling on their stomachs and exposing their backs to the sun. The water temperature of the Hermes River is rather low, so they need to sunbathe from time to time to keep their bodies cool. As for the sunburns, they are not so severe at this latitude, probably due to the lack of ultraviolet rays. They also sunbathe only for short periods of time. "You''ve been busy these days, haven''t you Bertsche?" "Yes. Yes. But by chance I found Adberg and managed to make him my secretary, which makes things a lot easier." "Adberg...... Oh, he was Erza''s grandfather, wasn''t he?" "You know him too, Saki? ......Yes. He was fired and went back to his hometown of Exi to live in seclusion after his heartbreak. * * * * Adberg was Erza''s butler and cherished her as a grandfather. He was an expert in martial arts and had good administrative skills. Reinhardt knew him well and asked him if he would be interested in working for him, but he had lost his energy and did not take the offer. Reinhardt thought this was a bad idea and withdrew, but then he came up with a plan and went to recruit him again with Erza. The look on his face was like nothing I had ever seen before. "Oh, my lady! The way he took Elsa''s hand, shed tears, and spoke of his joy at being reunited with her might have seemed strange to those who did not know the circumstances. He had been a recluse ever since he returned to his hometown and had never heard of the excitement of the technology expo, and therefore had never heard of Elsa''s return. "Grandpa. I''m sorry for worrying you. ...... "No, I''m glad you''re alive and well, Adberg! "...... thank you." He was later than Meine, but had been with Erza since she was not more than five years old. When Erza told him that she would be grateful if he would stay with Reinhardt, he accepted her offer with an immediate reply. "......But I didn''t think you were in such a situation, sir." With these words, he prepared himself and went to the village of Kurtz. He is now working hard as Reinhardt''s right hand man. I''m not sure if it''s because of that, but I''m sure it''s because of that. But that''s why he''s working alone today. But that''s why he''s working alone today. Yes. But there is one exception. Laughing, the two look out at the river. There they see Jin on a rubber boat. "You''re right. I never get tired of being with Jin. "A rubber boat, you say? That''s interesting, isn''t it? "Yes. I didn''t know they had boats like that. Even in the Shoro Empire, where boats are well developed, there were no rubber boats. This is not surprising since rubber itself was unknown in the Shoro Empire. "I think it''s time for us to go for a swim. We''re all warmed up. "I guess so." They stood up. Saki was 158 centimeters tall and slender. She was wearing an orange one-piece swimsuit. Berthe is 5''5" and very slender. She was wearing a white one-piece bathing suit. They are two very contrasting women. "I was a little uncomfortable wearing this swimsuit at first, but it''s nice once you get used to it. "Yes, it''s easy to swim in and comfortable to wear. I heard that Jin designed this swimsuit and unveiled it in Potrock in the Kingdom of Elias. "Yes, I heard that from Mr. Reinhardt as well. I guess this kind of swimsuit will be in fashion from now on. This swimsuit is made of a merry cloth woven with the threads of a ground spider. The lining was made of magi silk, which felt great against the skin. Just to be clear, the swimsuits that have started to appear in the general public are not made from the threads of ground spiders. "Oh, Ms. Berthe," said Saki. "Hey, girl!" Erza, wearing a young grass-colored one-piece swimsuit, waved to them. Hannah waved to them too. Hannah, you''re so cute! "Yes, she is. This village is ...... so relaxing. "It''s a mysterious village, isn''t it? She takes a dip in the water. It''s nice and cold. "Berthe, shall we race to the other side of the river?" "Yes, that''s a good idea." They kicked off the water and started swimming. "I like ......." One of the girls looks at them and envies them. Barbara, the niece of the village head. She is a hammer. So she is floating on a float. Her yellow swimsuit suits her well. Her boyfriend, Eric, is a merchant, so he is still in his store at this time. So I''m a little lonely. But. "...... I envy you good swimmers, don''t you?" Another of her friends was holding onto a float next to her. Wearing a bright blue bathing suit is Licia Farheit. She is a new noble who has just recently become the lord of Toka village. She is visiting the village of Kaina today to consult with Jin, and since it is the hottest time of the day, they decided to go swimming in the Erme River after lunch. Licia was also using a hammer, so she borrowed a floatation ring made by Jin, and she and Barbara are now floating in the pool. Her swimsuit was also provided by Jin. "I wish I could swim. ......" Licia and Barbara both muttered such words. The last two were Barrow and Behle, the apprentice butler and apprentice chambermaid at Nido Castle. Both were from the Shoro Kingdom and, as usual, were good swimmers. They were both from the Shoro Kingdom and, as usual, were good swimmers.Can you catch me? "Yes, let''s catch you! I won''t let you down! "Come here!" Now he is playing underwater tag with the children. Late afternoon in the village of Kaina. The sun is shining in the cloudless blue sky, and summer is just around the corner. 451 - - 14-02 To Toka Village "I mean ......." "I think it''s about building a village''s own industry and having the means to make money from foreign currency ...... is a little different. Anyway, I think we should have a way to earn money. 2:30 pm. After swimming in the river to cool off, Jin, Licia, Elsa, Belce, Saki, and the others were having a discussion in the conference room of Nido Castle. Elsa was working as Jin''s assistant. Bertsch was there as a reference for the management of Kurtz Village. Saki accompanied them. Chief Giebeck was absent. He was sick in bed with a summer cold. Sally is taking care of him. Jin wished he could cure her with magic, but they both looked happy, so he decided not to. "And then there''s sanitation..." "I see, that''s for sure." Licia had been a member of the rescue knight corps, so she must have realized how much taking care of hygiene helps one''s health. "...... I want that toilet in the village of Kaina." Currently, the toilets in Kaina Village have at least <>,<>,<>,<> at the very least. In other words, it eliminates the odor of toilet paper, decomposes excrement to the molecular level, and sterilizes it after cleaning it. The decomposition to the molecular level means that the excrement is reduced to carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and a small amount of minerals. If the carbon is decomposed well, it becomes a black mass very close to coke, which can be used for boiling and cooking. This can be used for cooking. Hydrogen and oxygen are not completely separated during decomposition, but left as water to avoid the risk of explosion. A small amount of minerals were dissolved in the water and used as fertilizer. This is another magical application that can only be done by knowing the chemical formulas. "Yes, considering the inspection and maintenance, I can give you a simplified version if you like ......." "I can sell it to you." Jin was about to say "I''ll give it to you," but was interrupted by Bertsche. Reinhardt had also asked Jin to sell the toilet for the village of Kurtz, and he was considering the price. Jin initially offered to give it to him for free, but Reinhardt said that this was an unhealthy relationship for a lord, so they decided to make a deal for a reasonable price. Jin would have preferred something more than money. Bertsche knew this and warned Jin about it. Jin seemed to have noticed. He glanced at Bertsche and gave a small nod. "We''ll discuss the price and payment method again. ......" For now, the necessary matters were discussed. First of all, the pumps were to be installed and the toilets were to be replaced as soon as possible. In addition, Licia said, "If there is a hot spring, I would like to build one. ......" She also wanted to build a hot spring. "Ah, yes, that''s good, I''ll go to Toka village. I will go to Toka village and check the hot spring veins and if I find one, I will build it for you. "Thank you!" Licia jumps up and down from her chair. "But, of course, I''ll pay you for the technique: ......!" She also adds. "I don''t know about that, and I won''t pressure you. Let''s think about the industry in Toka Village, which is what you mentioned at the beginning. If we can produce something special in Toka village, it will bring in some money, and we can get paid for it, depending on what it is. "Well, the first thing I can think of is a mine. Since there was an inad mine, there must be some useful minerals in the mountains around here. This too can be investigated in great detail using . I asked Licia if there is anything else, but she said that the crops are not so different from those in Kaina, although she is not sure about the crops. I am not sure if any of the villagers can use engineering magic. Well, it is not surprising after only half a month in the new post. Well then, let''s go to Toka village together tomorrow, shall we? Thank you very much. Jin-sama, please allow us to join you. "Jin, I would like you to take us with you for our study." Licia agreed to Bertsch and Saki''s proposal. So the next day Jin, Elsa, Saki, and Berthe went with Licia to the village of Toka. "I brought you something to drink. Just as we were finishing our conversation, Behle came in with a glass of juice. "Here you go." The juice was handed out to everyone, and if you looked closely, you could see bubbles. The glasses were made of crystal, so I could see the bubbles clearly. "Jin-san, this is ......." Licia looked at the juice she had never seen before with wonder. "Oh, it''s carbonated juice." Her time as a public figure was over, so Jin returned to his usual tone. "What?Soda?" "Yes. It''s delicious." Jin took a gulp of his own drink in front of Licia. Jin had created a magical tool to extract helium from the air, and with a bit of fiddling, he could extract only carbon dioxide. So, for about a week now, low-carbonated juice has been popular in the village of Kaina. The reason for the low carbonation was that the villagers who were not used to it started to choke and cough. There were two flavors, Citran and Ramon. They are sold at the Nido Castle and the hot springs. The price is inexpensive, 3 tol (about 30 yen) per cup. Butler is making and selling them now, but once they get going, he plans to hire a villager to do it for him. Aside from that, Elsa, Saki, and Bertsch seemed to enjoy the drink, so Licia took a sip. "...... eh." A mouth popping sensation. The acidity and sweetness of the citran combined with the freshness in the throat. "Delicious ......!" I found myself drinking it all up in no time at all. "It was delicious, Mr. Jin! "That''s good." Licia looked at the empty glass, "I guess this is what they mean when they say ''special product''. ......" She muttered to herself. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, July 17. Jin and his friends departed for Toka village as scheduled. Jin and Reiko, Elsa and Edgar, Saki and Aal, Bertsch and Neon. And Licia. All of them are golem horses. The distance between the villages of Kaina and Toka is about 80 kilometers, and even if the roads are a little rough, a golem horse can make the trip in three to four hours. Therefore, the group was able to arrive at Toka Village before noon. "Jin-dono, welcome! Gloria greeted them. She was to stay in Toka Village for the rest of July and assist Licia. "What about the sword?Is it done? She mentioned the sword before she asked Licia, and she was chewing on it. Yes, it''s done. But Gloria, are you sure you want to leave Licia alone? "Oh, ......" She rushes over to Licia''s horse and takes the wheel instead of the gag ....... Licia dismounted with a laugh and left her horse in Gloria''s hands. "Well then, let''s take a break and have lunch." Licia invites the group to the temporary lord''s house next to the barracks. The villagers of Toka Village look at the group from a distance. Some of them seemed to vaguely remember Jin''s face, and the words <> were whispered here and there. None of them realized that Jin was the lord of Kaina Village. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry..." The whispers reached the ears of Jin and the others, and Licia felt alone and out of place. Licia is relieved when she enters the lord''s house. Gloria, after tying the horses to the stables, received the sword from Jin, paid the 25 gold coins for it, and went out excitedly. Both Jin and Licia were thinking in their hearts that he would be the vice-captain for a long time unless he recovered from his illness. "I''ll have lunch ready. The villagers who were doing the menial work signaled to the others, and the three of them set out the food. Among them was something that even Jin was not familiar with. "......This is ......." What was on the plate was apparently pasta. 452 - - 14-03 Hitoshis performance "Is this ......?" "Oh, this?This is a dish we have recently started making in Toka village. It is made by kneading flour, rolling it into a thin ball and stretching it. ......" "What?" According to Licia''s explanation, it seems to be made by stretching each strand individually. If you look closely, you can see that the thicknesses are slightly uneven, like handmade udon noodles cut by amateurs. That''s fine, though. "...... is a shame." The sauce on the udon noodles is not suitable for the dish. The sauce is like a light sweet-and-sour sauce. Jin thought that some people might like this kind of taste, but it is not for everyone. At least, not to Jin''s taste. The taste is not inedible, but it is unbalanced. I think it would be better if it was poured over yakisoba noodles instead of pasta. "...... spices, huh?" Pepper is also found in this world, but it comes from the south, just like on earth. It is also difficult to grow from seed. It is usually grown from cuttings. Although Jin does not know how to cultivate pepper, it is said that it is possible to grow pepper in Penglai Island because of its subtropical climate, and it was recently obtained via the fifth column (Quinta) and cultivation has begun. Jin thought as he ate his pasta that if an alternative spice to pepper could be found, it might become a specialty of Toka Village. After lunch, Jin immediately started looking for hot spring water. Licia and Saki, who are from a humble background, were able to easily keep up with Jin''s pace. Erza, too, has been living with Jin for a long time and has learned his pace, so she has no difficulty in adjusting to his pace. However, it was a little tough for Berthe, who is a born lady, and although Jin told her not to push herself too hard, she said she would be fine and kept up with him. "<>" There were fewer hot water veins in Toka Village, where there were no volcanoes nearby, than in Kaina Village. However, after a careful search, we found one that seemed to have a reasonably large amount of hot water. "Ah, there was one that looked good. "Really?Really? Licia was delighted when she heard the result. "By the way, I found a vein of copper near here: ......" "Copper?Is it easy to mine?" There are several kinds of copper ores, but the one buried here seems to be a brass ore. It is an important copper ore. "I think it''s easy because it''s near the surface. You should try mining it when you can afford it." "Thank you!" The tax system in the Kingdom of Klein is that the people pay taxes to their lords, who in turn pay taxes to the state. The amount of taxes paid by the lords to the state was determined by the number of their subjects and the tax rate, so an increase in the income of the territory meant that the subjects'' lives would become richer. A new copper mine would increase the income of Toka village. Although not a specialty, it would give Lycia a goal for the time being. For now, however, it was the hot springs. "Well, then, shall we have it built here? Braak, the chief of Toka Village, decided on the location. It was near a small river. Lysia had invited him to build the hot spring. A few other young people and children were watching with interest to see what Jin was going to do. "Elsa, this is also an application of earth magic. Jin explains as he performs the magic. "<>". Using the magic for digging holes, Jin digs a pool of hot water, a bathtub, a drainage ditch, and a settling pond of waste water. Erza was interested in this different work from her usual craftwork, and learned the procedure with great interest. However, she is unaware that Jin is the only one who can dig a hole dozens of meters deep at once, no matter how much he activates the device in contact. Jin proceeds with the work at his own pace. Following the procedure he followed in the village of Kaina, a hot spring was quickly built. However, the hot spring here is a simple spring. The water is clear and colorless, with no sulfur smell. The temperature is about 50 degrees Celsius, and there is no need to cool it down by mixing it with water. The temperature is about 50 degrees Celsius, and there is no need to cool it down by mixing it with water. All you have to do is to hang a hut over it. "Yes, we''ll take care of that!We''ll take care of it! We''ll pay you a day''s wages. Toka Village Chief Braak was frozen in shock when he saw Jin''s skill for the first time. Licia calls out to him again. "Chief-san!" "...... Yes, yes!Oh, so you want me to put a roof over this place and surround it?" "Yes, sir. Let the villagers use it. I''ll leave it to you to decide how to do it. Licia, too, was not going to interfere with the details from the start. It was her own idea to pay a daily allowance from the reserve fund to revitalize the village. "All right. Let''s get to work right away. "Thank you, Mr. Jin! Licia bowed to Jin when she returned to the lord''s house. "So, how can I thank you, Mr. Jin? "No, you can ask him about that at ......." "No, I would like to have an honest relationship with Mr. Jin. Jin could not say anything careless when he was told so straightforwardly. He pulls out his knowledge from when he worked for the company. (Assuming that the hourly wage is about 5,000 yen since he is a technician, 200 yen for 4 hours. (Assuming he is an engineer and makes about 5,000 yen per hour, 200 yen per hour for 4 hours. (Assuming that he is an engineer and makes about 5,000 yen per hour, 20000 yen for 4 hours. The travel time is 20,000 yen for a 10-hour round trip. The travel allowance is 10,000 yen, or about 5,000 yen. (That''s about 5,000 yen, or about 5,000 tall.) "Okay, 5,000 Tall." "What?" Licia could not believe her ears. Hiring an ordinary freelance mage (magecraftsman or healer) would cost no less than 10,000 Tall per day. Jin, a magecraftsman, would probably demand at least 50,000 Tol. But Jin seemed to take Licia''s reaction the opposite way, "Oh, ...... was a bit expensive, wasn''t it?" He said something like "Oh, is a little expensive, isn''t it? Neither Elsa nor Bertsch could say anything about this, since they did not know the market price since they did not do such financial transactions by themselves. "No, no, on the contrary!I thought it would be so cheap. ......" "Oh, ...... Licia, so it''s a friend''s price. ......" Jin quickly faked it. But Licia was more pleased than Jin expected to hear those words. "Oh, I see!...... my friend!Thank you very much! Erza looked at Licia and Jin alternately and let out a small sigh. They would stay the night in Toka village. There was still some time before nightfall, so Jin took Reiko for a walk around the village. "Hey, don''t dawdle, newcomer! "You''re such a klutz!" Jin looked in the direction of the voice and saw a military camp. A soldier, who looked like a boy of about 16 or 7, was being poked by a senior soldier. He was being poked by a senior soldier, who said to him, "Hey, come on, bring it in! Carrying five packages of luggage, the boy soldier was walking unsteadily behind the older soldier. He was almost to the barracks when one of the soldiers in front of him kicked a log in front of him. The boy, who could not see his feet because of his baggage, was knocked off his feet and fell down. Naturally, the baggage he was carrying was scattered. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. ......" "Oh, you dropped your luggage. You made a mess. "I''m sorry, sir." "You''re not eating tonight." With these cold words, the soldiers in front of us picked up their luggage, wiped the mud from their luggage with one of the wrappings lying around, and went into the barracks. "...... That''s terrible." It seems that wherever you go, there is always bullying of juniors by seniors. Jin could no longer stand to watch and went to the boy soldier. "Are you all right? Seeing the boy who seemed to have hit his knee when he fell down and was unable to stand up, "<>" He used a healing spell. Jin could do only up to the beginner level, but it seemed to be effective enough. "Oh, thank you very much. I feel better. The boy stood up, thanked Jin, and picked up his luggage. "Oh, wait a minute." Jin looked at the four people''s mud-caked luggage and told the boy to wait a moment. "<>" This is an engineering magic to remove dirt. Looking at the cleaned luggage, the boy bows his head again. "Oh, thank you very much!My name, no, my name is Fred. I became a soldier this year! "Fred. I''m Jin. You must be Jin-dono. Are you from this village? No, I live in the village of Kaina, north of here. What?What? Kaina village?...... Jin ......, could it be that you are Jin Nido-dono? "Yes, I am. ...... Fred, who must have heard a lot about Jin Nido since he was going to be posted to the neighboring village of Toka, was so dismayed that he almost dropped the luggage he was carrying. "I beg your pardon! Fred dexterously bowed with his luggage in his hands and rushed into the barracks. Jin was still concerned about the boy Fred even after he returned to the Lycian lord''s house. Whenever a new member is added to a group that is already established and settled, trouble tends to occur until the new member gets accustomed to the group. Jin thinks that this is especially true for a group of soldiers, who are likely to be under a lot of stress. Even in the orphanage where Jin worked, it takes time for new children to be accepted. Of course, there are individual differences, some children come early and some come late. Jin was the oldest in the orphanage,...... so he has seen and cared for many such newcomer children. Such an ingrained habit of Jin''s must be what makes him care about Fred. "Jin-dono, what''s wrong? At dinner, when Gloria called out to Jin, he told her and Licia what he had seen that evening. "Hmm, today, half of the garrison has been replaced...something like that. ......" Gloria, who used to be an instructor, looked as if she were biting a bitter bug when she heard the story. "I''ll give her a heads up." Licia agreed. 453 - - 14-04 Food and clothing are sufficient. The next morning Jin decided to return to the village of Kaina. "Thank you very much, Mr. Jin. Please keep up the good work." "Thank you for the sword, Jin-san!" Adamantite can be found in the mountains behind the village of Kaina. He used it to reinforce and strengthen the ordinary sword. It was a mere iron sword, but it was transformed into a rare and famous sword. Suddenly Jin had a thought that it might be the same for people. He had been an ordinary person, but he had inherited the knowledge of Adriana Barbora Zetsi and had become a Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer. The same is true for ordinary people. That boy soldier Fred could change if he found something to be proud of. It might be knowledge or martial arts. Then, we can discover buried talents and make them useful to the world. Jin strongly believes that education is the key. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It is just before noon when he arrives back at the village of Kaina. Golem horses are very useful. "Now, we must not only work on the neighboring villages, but also on this one. Jin muttered as soon as he arrived at Nido Castle. "Jin-sama, have you thought of something?" Bertsche asked. She is trying hard to gain knowledge that might be helpful for Reinhardt''s estate management. "I''ve been thinking a lot about what it means to make a good living," she said. Jin answers Bertsche''s question without reserve. "Enriching our lives ......" "After all, doesn''t it mean that we have a lot of things?" Saki, who was listening to the conversation on the side, expressed such an opinion. "I don''t think it''s just about ...... things," said Erza. Erza said. Jin moves to the conference room. Before the discussion, lunch is served. Behle brought freshly baked bread. It was baked with yeast. "Yes, this is delicious! It tastes as good as anything I''ve had on modern Earth. No, maybe this bread is better because it is handmade with all natural ingredients and no unnecessary additives. It tastes good even without butter or jam. Food is not just about nutrition. A meal that does not bring pleasure to the palate is a meal without taste. Jin, who worked with children in an orphanage, knows this well. Children are more honest than adults who know how to endure. A good meal brightens the face of those who eat it. It is a proof that the feelings of the people have also brightened up. Jin, who has such an obsession, wants to seek for the richness of food. "Food richness, huh? When Jin suggested this at the meeting after lunch, Saki was the first to agree. "I agree. People cannot live without food. Raising the quality of that food will lead to affluence. "Yes. There is a saying in my world, "Eat enough and be civilized. "Eat enough and know how to be civilized. ...... is it correct to say that only when you have enough to wear and to eat, you know how to be polite and decent?" Bertsche''s interpretation is correct. Jin nodded his head. "I think it is not only a question of quantity, so that we can eat without any shortage, but also the taste that satisfies us at the same time." "You mean that you can''t be satisfied if you eat a lot of ...... bad food?" Erza also understands the meaning of Jin''s words. "Yes. In other words, we need to increase the production of agricultural products as well as improve their quality, preservation and processing. Everyone nodded. It seems that they understood what Jin meant. "The in this village?I would like to build one like that in Kaltz village. May I? A snow chamber is effective in terms of preservation. Ice and snow can be created by magic. Of course. ...... I''d like to spread the use of refrigerators, too." "The price of magi crystals and magi stones will be a problem. Saki is right. The price of magical crystals and stones is the bottleneck for ordinary people to get their hands on magical tools. "......In the end, does it come down to an energy problem? ......" As soon as Jin muttered this, Saki also had an idea. "It would be great if we could make magi crystals." Saki''s casual remark caught Jin''s attention. "Saki, that''s it!" "What?" "Can''t we artificially create magi crystals?" What? Even for Saki, an alchemist, Jin''s suggestion sounded preposterous. Food or anything else, it cannot start without energy. The energy problem is a pressing issue on the modern earth. Soaring gasoline and electricity prices are a painful expense for ordinary people. "But this world has free magic element (ether) ......" We can''t make a perpetual machine, but we can make what can be called a <>. The combination of Aether Converter and ManaDriver that Reiko and her friends have in their body is it. It is a clean energy source that converts free magical elements (ether) in the air into energy. However, there are various problems in spreading it to the general public as it is. There is a concern that it may be used for military purposes, and if it is misused, it would be even more problematic. "I wonder if it would be possible to use magi crystals like batteries. ......" Jin was even thinking about such a thing. "Hmmm, it would be revolutionary if we could do that. ......" "Brother Jin, do you even know what magi crystals are in the first place?" Erza has a point. There is no way we can make magi crystals if we don''t understand what we are trying to make. "I know that it is a mineral that contains magical element (mana). "So that''s where you start. But it sounds interesting! "Jin-sama, if you could do that, it would be amazing if ...... the price is low enough!It could change our lives!" Bertsche also gave his approval. "Okay, I''ll start my research tomorrow." "I''m looking forward to it!" That was the end of that day''s meeting, and Jin started to show off the new food. "Well, what is it? "Well, I''m looking forward to it. Bertsch and Saki are also filled with anticipation. "Hey, baby! "Oh, here she is!" Hannah''s voice. Most of the children from the village of Kaina had arrived. Barbara and Eric are also there. Other villagers who were available also arrived, making a total of about forty people in the village. They were gathered in the hall on the first floor. "Jin-san, what are you going to feed us?" Barbara asked, looking very excited. "Oh, it''s coming out now. ...... here." Barrow, Behle, and the golem maids arrived with trays of something white. "What?" Everyone rolled their eyes when they saw what was handed out. "Well, don''t say anything, just try it first. The food is served in a crystal bowl and scooped up with a silver spoon. "It''s cold! It''s sweet! Delicious! It was shaved ice. It was cold, sweet and sour, a true taste of summer. It was made by freezing water with ice magic and shaving it with a shaved ice machine made with Erza''s help. If you eat too much, you will get a stomach ache. No more than two cups per person per day, but leave at least three hours between the first and second cups." With the low price of 10 tol (about 100 yen) per cup, Jin started selling shaved ice at Nido Castle. It was typical of Jin that he took proper precautions to prevent stomach upset. The shaved ice became so popular that the idea and the shaved ice machine were sold to the Raglan Trading Company in the capital city of Alban for the price of 100,000 Tall. In Alban, there was no limit of two bowls a day, so many people got sick to their stomachs from eating too much. ....... 454 - - 14-05 Inference, review, experiment, and verification On the morning of July 19, Jin, Erza, and Saki went to Horai Island. Bertsche went back to the village of Kaltz where Reinhardt was waiting for her. Stearina was on Horai Island. She had been coming here since she returned to her home in Gore, Kingdom of Selroa on the 16th. "Hello, Mr. Jin, everyone." Stearina had taken a room on the third floor as her laboratory. Then Jin and the others showed up. "What''s the matter today? "I had a topic I wanted Stearina to think about." "Well, what is it?" Jin talked about artificially creating magi crystals. Stearina jumped for joy when she heard this. "Okay!That''s what I wanted to do!I love crystals, beautiful gems, and magi crystals, but they are not the materials to make a golem! So, once again, we get down to the nitty-gritty of the story. The first to open his mouth was Jin. "There is a that is often used for golems, right?They store mana in magecrystals. Do you know how it works?" "Yes, ......, I''m ashamed to admit that I don''t know how to use it." There are two types of technology, one is derived from empirical knowledge and the other is derived from theoretical knowledge. One of the techniques, discovered after a long process of trial and error, was the mana tank. "Please think about how mana can be stored in a mana tank. "I don''t ...... understand." After thinking for a while, Saki gives up. After thinking for a while, Saki gave up. So did Stearina. But Erza was still thinking. Eventually Erza looked up and answered in a small voice, sounding unsure. "Do you think I can get into the ...... gap?" "I think that''s the right answer." Jin guessed Erza''s answer, and knew she was thinking along the same lines as he was. Saki and Stearina, however, kept their heads tilted. Jin then began a simple explanation. "Inside the box, you fill a large round stone. Now, when the box is full of round stones, will there still be room for anything else? "Hmm?If it''s full, it won''t fit anymore, right?...... No, no. No, no. Sand would still fit in the box. Jin nodded at Saki''s answer. "That''s what I meant. Sand, I mean, water could fit in there too, couldn''t it?In other words, there''s room for something of a different size. Stearena opened her mouth to speak after this explanation. "Does that mean that mana is very small? "I think so. All matter is made of something called <>. Molecules are tiny particles that you can''t see, but mana is much, much smaller than that. And I guess that free magic element (ether) is even smaller. Jin explains his theory. "I think that although free magic element (ether) and magic element (mana) can enter almost any substance, the substance which can contain a lot of magic element (mana) and yet is easy to take out is a magic crystal. Of course, since the magic formula can be written directly into the magecrystal, it''s also more efficient for use as a tank. "I see. I''m following along. I''ll have to ask you to explain the word "molecule" or something like that later. ...... please continue." "Now, what if we put a lot of mana into an ordinary stone and keep it there?" "...... become an artificial Magi Stone?" Now Saki spoke up with a theory. Jin nodded. "...... if we could. Unfortunately, it didn''t work when I tried a little earlier. "I see. Even gin didn''t work. ......" Saki''s shoulders slump. But Stearina was determined to fight back. "But that''s exactly why it''s worthwhile!You mean we have to find out what magi crystals are and how to make them, right? Jin nodded, "Yes. Let''s try some things first." He asked Reiko to prepare a variety of magi crystals. "First of all, I''m wondering if we can figure out something about why the magi crystals have different colors depending on their attributes. ...... Jin said as he looked at the multicolored magi crystals on the workbench. "Well, of course that''s true, but what''s the difference between Magi Crystals and Magi Stones?Is it just the amount of mana contained in them?" "Magi crystals are mostly transparent or translucent, while magi stones are opaque. I think there might be something there. "Oh, maybe." Erza seemed to have an idea when she heard Stearina''s comment. "Magi crystals are <, I think. In other words, since the molecular arrangement is regular, it''s easy for mana to get into them. But that is not the case with magi stones." Saki and Stearina, who did not know the true meaning of the word "crystal," did not seem to understand the statement, so Jin gave a supplementary explanation. "Crystals, as we call them, are the molecules ...... I mentioned earlier, the small grains that make up matter, arranged in a regular pattern. Like hexagonal prisms for crystals." Both of them nodded their heads in agreement with Jin. "On the other hand, you could say that the gaps are neatly lined up. Straight roads or winding roads, which is easier to drive on? "That''s right, brother Jin. I could not have come up with that analogy. At least, the crystalline nature of the material seems to be a major factor in whether it contains mana easily or not. "Then, the next question is whether mana can naturally enter such stones and crystals. If we can understand the process and reproduce it artificially, we may be able to create artificial magic crystals (magi crystals). "Is that something we can understand by ...... thinking about it?" Saki sounded unsure. "Well, I think we can find out a little something by thinking about what kind of place we can find it. "What kind of place, you mean?" "Yeah. As far as I know, it is my experience that fire magic stone can be found near the volcano in the village of Kaina. I have also found magi crystals of the earth attribute. This was last year. "Underground of Horai Island, all the attributes can be extracted, right? Jin nodded at Erza''s words. "Yes. Apparently, there is a point where there is a high concentration of free magical element (ether) under the island. At that moment, Erza again had an idea. "...... free magic element (ether) combined into magic element (mana)?" "What?" Hearing these words, Jin involuntarily stared at Erza. Erza turned her head slightly to meet Jin''s gaze. "I see. ....... If free magic element (ether) is an atom, then magic element (mana) is a molecule. Erza understood Jin''s muttering. "Yes, that''s what I meant. Again, since the two could not follow, Jin had to explain. "An atom, ...... well, it''s like a block of wood. By themselves, they are just pieces of wood, but when you put them together, they become a house or a castle. The analogy seemed to make sense. "I see!Fire, water, earth, and wind ...... each have a specific combination of free magical elements (ether), is that right?" Saki said happily, and Stearina also said happily, "So it''s magic and spells that create that combination!" Both of them were familiar with the concept of free magical element (ether) and magical element (mana), which was a big help for Jin since he didn''t have to explain it to them. "Oh, maybe the gaps between the crystals are shaped like the magical element (mana) of each attribute, and these are the magi crystals (......)." The theory that Jin had developed seemed to be on the right track. It could be described as a positive and a negative, or a male and a female form. Jin hypothesized that a magi-crystal is a crystal in which free magic element (ether) is incorporated into a crystal whose shape of the gaps between the crystals is just like the shape of the magic element (mana) with each attribute. The problem is that all the attributes are not well explained, but the rest of the explanation makes sense. "If that''s the case, there must be such a thing as a magical crystal (magicrystal) without magical element (mana), right?I''ve never seen such a thing. ......" "It''s quite common to find a Magi Stone that has lost its mana, though." Stearina and Jin nodded their heads. "A Magi Stone that has lost its mana is just a stone, isn''t it?" "Yes. But the color may become a little lighter. ...... Jin looked unsure of himself, since he didn''t use magi stones very often. "Why don''t you try it then?" Erza said. Surely, if we don''t know what will happen to the Magi Crystal without mana, we should experiment with it. "Okay, let''s give it a try. So, I decided to use the smallest magi crystal on the workbench as an energy source, and to invoke some kind of magic. It would be better to use as much mana as possible. "Okay, I want to use a magijammer. Indeed, it is a magic tool that consumes a lot of mana. Jin asked Reiko to bring him a prototype. In the meantime, I will briefly explain what a magijammer is. "Hmmm... it interferes with the activation of magic. That''s very interesting. Jin, you''ve even developed such a thing! Father, I''ve got something for you. While we were talking, Reiko came back. She said, "This is an ether converter, so you''ll have to modify it. Then I went to ......." By partial modification, the system was changed to one that uses magic crystals (magi crystals) as an energy source. At the same time, the intermittent drive to reduce the consumption of magic power was stopped, and the drive was made to be continuous. "Okay, <>." Jin activates the modified magijammer. "If you stay on this side, you should not be able to use magic anymore. "Really?I''ll give it a try. ......<......Oh, no. I really can''t use magic." "Well, that''s interesting. I''d like to hear more about it later." Saki is especially interested in the origins and effects of magic. This is evident from the fact that her thesis on alchemy was also on <. The magijammer, which had been modified to increase the consumption of magic power, stopped working after about 10 minutes. "Okay, let''s see what''s going on. Jin checked the part of the Magijammer that was supposed to contain the magic crystal. "This is ......." There was nothing where the Magi Crystal should have been. 455 - - 14-06 Training "I see... ......" Jin was convinced. Jin himself had used magi crystals as an energy source, but he had never used up all of his magical power. This was a fact that he did not know, since he usually did not use expensive magi crystals as an energy source. "Normally, you would write down the Magi Formula and use it as a Magi Device. If you use it like that, you probably can''t use even 10% of the magic power of the Magi Crystal. Stearina''s guess was the same as Jin''s. "That''s what I think. I''m sure it''s lighter than the amount of mana it consumes. ...... To begin with, we don''t know the weight of mana or free magic element (ether). All we know is that they weigh almost nothing. "What I can say is that it is more likely that the magical element (mana) crystallizes at the same time to form a magi-crystal, rather than entering into the gaps of the crystal structure." The presence of mana is also necessary for the crystallization. "But we don''t know what other components of mana are needed, do we?" Elsa said regretfully. "No, I can imagine." "What?" "I don''t know of any such substance. That means ......" "...... a substance made from free magic element (ether)?" "Yeah. I think it is. Let''s call it a magic atom. "Magiatom ......" Erza, who has mastered the rudiments of science, is able to follow Jin''s theory. "It is made of magic particles (magielemental) such as magitrons, protons, and electrons, and magic particles (magielemental) are made of free magic elements (ether)." "...... and interact with magical elements (mana) to form magical crystals (magicrystals)?" "That''s right. That''s amazing." Elsa''s mind is quick. "Maybe with low quality magi crystals, there should be some residue after consuming mana. And this, too, was confirmed by experimentation. After the low quality magi crystals (magi crystals) were consumed and disappeared, some mineral powder remained. Furthermore, we were able to verify that the quality of the magi crystals (magi crystals) that are not of Horai Island quality, but of the quality that are generally distributed, are apparently the same as they are, but they become mere stones that have lost their magical element (mana). * * * * * * * * * Having reached a reasonable conclusion, Jin and the others took a break. "Now, we have a theory about the true nature of the Magi Crystal, haven''t we? "Oh, Jin, if only I could use transinfo!" "Then I''ll do the same. >" Reiko was following the flow and workings of their magic. "...... how are you doing?" "Saki-san, Stearina-san, I think both of you can manage up to level 3. Level 3 is the same as when Erza first checked her aptitude. Depending on the subsequent training, she may be able to improve her aptitude to level 1 or 2. In fact, Reinhardt was able to use up to level 3. Erza can use up to level 5. "At level 3, I can learn the rudimentary knowledge. "Really!Then let''s get to work! I''ll take care of it too! It was already lunchtime, but Jin was overcome by their enthusiasm and decided to transinfo the same level of knowledge that he had given to Reinhardt. Since he had not erased Reinhardt''s magi-crystal, he was ready to go at once. "<>" "<>" First, transfer the knowledge from the original magical crystal (magi crystal) to another magical crystal (magi crystal). Then, transfer it to yourself and you are done. "............" "......" The two are often immensely impressed by the vast amount of knowledge they have gained. Both Jin and Erza remember the knowledge, so they leave it alone and get ready for lunch. They prepare for lunch, but only bring in the food that has already been prepared by Perid. Reiko has already done most of the work. Jin, Elsa, and Saki are a bit more reserved since they are on their way from the village of Kaina and it has not been long since breakfast. It is a hamburger, in other words, a hamburger with a hamburger steak and vegetables sandwiched between two pieces of bread baked with yeast. "These are delicious! Stearina ate three, Jin ate two, Erza ate one, and Saki ate one. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "How does the free magic element (ether) become the magic atom (magiatom)? After the meal, Jin mentions the next theme. "How do the magic atom (Magiatom) and the magic element (mana) combine to make the magic crystal (Magi Crystal)?...... Oh, I''m sure my father would jump up and down if he heard about that." Saki''s father is the renowned alchemist Tor Eschenbach. "By the way, where is Saki''s father now?" "...... He came back once while I was visiting my grandfather. He stayed at home for a couple of days and then went away again. ......" He is a person who never stays at home. "Oh, I see. ......" Jin regained his composure and started over. "Let''s see, how does a free magic element (ether) become a magic atom (magiatom)? By now, the four of us present knew the concept of what the structure of an atom looked like. Although it was only a simplified model, it was enough to discuss the current topic. "So we don''t even know how magic works in the first place, do we? "Mages can take in free magic element (ether) in the air by breathing, etc. and transform it into magic element (mana) in their bodies. This mana can take various forms of energy and can be manipulated by the will and image of the person who purified it. This is magic, I thought." "...... what?" "...... is that also the knowledge of Ms. Adriana Barbora Zetsi ......?" Jin nodded to their surprised faces. "Yes. We are behind in this respect now. It''s because of the Magic War, isn''t it? I''m getting sidetracked a lot, but that''s because we know each other so well. "...... So you are saying that mental power changes free magic element (ether) into magic element (mana)?Then it can be turned into magic atoms, right? "I guess so." As he listened to Saki''s comment, Jin wondered if a mage was similar to a psychic on earth. At least, there is nothing wrong with that positioning. It can be said that mages and psychics are similar in the sense that not everyone can use magic. "...... Then, what about the naturally formed magic atom (Magiatom)?" Jin returns his thoughts to the question. "I''m interested in that too, but first let''s get back to our goal of creating an artificial magic crystal. "Hmmm, now that you put it that way. We can''t get too greedy or we won''t be able to put it all together. "Then, if we know the structure of the atom, we might be able to create the Magiatom. Stearina got to the heart of the matter. "Yes. I think it would be a good idea to start with the simplest atom structure. Hydrogen, right? "Hydrogen, right? But hydrogen is a gas, so we can''t see it. We''ll have to get a little creative. So, I decided to try the method often used in experiments to collect gases, that is, I put a glass of water face down and put the gases in it ....... Since free magic element (ether) can be found in water, the question is how to convert free magic element (ether) into hydrogen. "......" "............!" The four tried to generate hydrogen in various ways. The main idea was to imagine the structure of hydrogen and change the free magic element (ether) in a cup, but it did not work very well. The first one who succeeded was also Jin. It was Jin who succeeded first, perhaps because of his imaginative power. "It''s done! "Oh, something gaseous is being generated. <>...... hmmm, hydrogen for sure. That''s right, Jin." The magic of analysis is that you can''t know what you don''t know, but now that Saki knows the existence and structure of hydrogen, she can analyze it. Seeing Jin''s success, Erza, Saki, and Stearina also succeeded. It seems to be an effective way to see the precedent. Anyway, we now know that it is possible to make atoms from free magic element (ether). But... "...... Jin, Jin, I''m feeling kind of lazy." "...... me too." "...... me too, a little." Except for Jin, all three of us complained that our bodies were feeling lazy. "You must be out of magic power." Reiko''s diagnosis. It seems that the technique is not so simple after all. 456 - - 14-07 Ready to go out It seems that the refining of magic atoms (Magiatom) consumes a huge amount of magic power, and all three of them except Jin almost ran out of so-called <. Since they were used to it after the time of Erza, Jin gave them a drink of ...... which he always had on hand, a special Persica juice made on Horai Island. The free magic element (ether) contained in the juice is absorbed by the body cell by cell and converted into magic element (mana) in the body. The three immediately regained their vitality. "Thank you, Jin-kun. What is this? Jin explains. Persica from Horai Island contains a lot of free magical element (ether). By preserving it in an environment with a high concentration of free magic element (ether), the amount of free magic element (ether) it contains will increase even more. By drinking the juice, you can make up for the lack of mana in your body. "Well, that''s a wonderful discovery!It''s even better than my father''s research!" Saki''s father, Toa, had written something similar in his book. "...... could it be that this is similar to the Magi Crystal?" "Oh, I see." Jin and the others concluded that they were similar in that the free magic element (ether) was trapped between the molecules that made up the Persica juice. "Well, that''s enough experimentation for today, let''s take it easy. "...... I guess so." As expected, all three of them were mentally tired, even though they had recovered from the loss of magic power, and they obeyed Jin''s words. Meanwhile, the tireless old man has taken over this research. The old man said so, and took over the work from the free ether. He then took over the refining from the free magic element (ether). "Oh, this feels so good! The three women were relaxing in the open-air bath. "I''m going to get into the habit of doing this in the light of day. Stearina had already gotten used to life on Horaijima. "I''ve already gotten into the habit of doing this. "Saki, you should think about life a little more. "Erza is very strong. You''re so right. Saki is just a slacker. Stearina watches the two of them exchanging such comments with a smile on her face. Erza is 17, Saki is 21, and Stearina is 31. "It''s nice to be young, isn''t it? Such an old person''s words just popped out of her mouth. "...... Stearina, you''re still young, too." "Oh, thank you." Indeed, Stearina''s skin was so fine that it could be described as "coagulate skin. "Erza-san is as white as a sheet of paper, and Saki-san is just as fair as a sheet of paper. "I''ve been living an irregular life until recently, so I can''t compete with Erza. ...... "No, you''re not. Saki is beautiful too." The open-air bath for the three women was lively. * * * * "I think it''s good to take a trip once in a while." Jin said to me at dinner. "Oh, that''s nice. Where are you going?" "I''d like to visit the old Leonard''s Kingdom." Jin said to Stearina. "Oh, I heard it was destroyed some time ago." "Yeah. It''s kind of next to the village of Kaina, I wonder why it was destroyed and if there are any unusual things there." "That sounds interesting!" Saki seemed to be interested in the idea. "......, but what about security?" Literally anarchy, Stearina''s concern is understandable. "Security, ......, yes. ......." There would be no place to stay, and tents would be dangerous. At worst, Jin thought, we could sleep in a horse-drawn carriage. ....... "I''ll just build a camper!" he said. He started to say something like, "Let''s build a camper. "Camping car?...... Oh, that." Saki, Stearena, and of course Erza, who had acquired some basic knowledge, immediately realized what a camper was. "There is a way to come back to Horai Island only at night. Jin''s words, "...... can you call that a trip?" Saki interrupted. That would be like taking a walk in the neighborhood. "Even if it''s a little inconvenient, that kind of trip sounds like fun. "Yes, it does. I''m ashamed to admit that I''ve never been on such a trip until I was my age. After hearing this from Elsa and Stearina, Jin decided to think again about building a campervan. The specifications were worked out by everyone present. "From the size, it should be for 5 to 6 people at the most. That''s about the limit of what we can build, considering the beds and such. It is possible to make a huge one, but considering the width of the road, it would have to be within the range of a large carriage. "I think we should make two of them, in case the whole family goes together." If we build two 4-person units, we could all camp together. "It would be nice if we could take a bath. "...... I''d like to have a bathroom." "I wish we could have a good meal. With these hopes in mind, Jin began to formulate a plan. A folding bathtub, a Horaijima-style toilet, a refrigerator and an ether stocker, and a cooking stove. "Hmmm... ...... that''s impossible." It is not the size of a carriage by any stretch of the imagination. It would be the size of a tourist bus. "I think we should just make it a car already. ......" Since the area was almost deserted, Jin decided to turn it into a car with a golem engine. "A car!That''s a good idea!" Saki seemed to have some idea of what he was talking about, since he had ridden in a car when he went to Tatsumi Bay. Stearina had never been in a car, though she knew about them. "It sounds like fun!" The image is that of the Unimog I have seen in cartoons. The idea is to be able to drive on rough roads. It is always a good idea to add your own ideas to it. The lower body is made of 18-12 stainless steel. The wheels are six. The overall size is comparable to that of a small bus. The first floor is used as a pilot''s compartment and a normal living space, and the second floor is used as a bedroom and an observation deck. Of course, the roof is retractable. The cabin is made of 64LB to reduce weight and to prevent the center of gravity from being too high. The windows are made of transparent GS (Grand Spider) P (resin). They are lightweight, unbreakable, and resistant to scratches and stains. "Armed with ...... magic cannon (magi cannon), paralyzer, magic jammer, induction radiator, and a laser cannon would be nice. Reiko would be with us. And then there should be a treatment device and a barrier. Jin nodded his head at the old man''s suggestion. The suspension is of course an active golem arm. Tires are made of leather of Siamese dragon. A small warp gate is installed for emergency. "Something like this." Jin stopped drawing on the whiteboard (made of GS (Grand Spider) P (resin)) and showed the concept to everyone. "Kuhu, yes, that''s enough to be safe." "......, it''s going to be something great. ......" "......Steel Arena, now you''re talking." Stearena was a little taken aback, and Erza was unusually in the middle of the conversation. The next morning, the car manufacturing was finally started. The next morning, it was time to start building the car. And get a craftsman (Smith). . "Reiko, prepare the treatments and barriers. These are provided as standard. "Yes, father." "Elsa, make the bedding." "Yes, Father." Jin quickly assigns roles. Saki, you and Perid and the others prepare the food to be loaded. "Okay, I''ll take care of it." Stearina, you watch how I do it. "Okay, I''ll take care of it. It will be a pleasure to see with my own eyes the work of the Magecraft Meister. Thank you. Craftsman(Smith) 51 to 56 make the tires. 57 and 58 make the frame. 57 and 58 make the frames. 59 and 60 help me. Yes, Master. Jin starts building with the help of the craftsman (Smith). "Wow, that''s amazing. ...... This is Jin-kun. ...... Magecraft Meister!" Stearina was impressed by the car that was being built as she watched. On the other hand, Elsa had also completed 10 sets of Magi silk comforters and blankets. Carefully assembled and tested, the car was completed by the end of the day. Weapons and equipment were ready. Food and medical supplies were also loaded. "Jin, what is the name of this ...... car?" "Oh, well, how about ......<>?" Tortoise. I''m not sure if it''s appropriate or not, because of Jin. We''ll leave tomorrow, then. Jin, where''s Hannah? Erza asks Jin with a cheerful face. Of course I''ll call on her. Neither Jin nor Erza have forgotten about Hannah in the village of Kaina. "I''m going out for a while now. It is just after 6:00 p.m. in Horai Island and before 4:00 p.m. in Kaina Village. Jin jumped to Kaina village through the warp gate. 457 - - 14-08 Research trip "Yeah, let''s go!" Hannah is of course not in denial. She will miss the study session, but Jin and Erza will teach her on the trip. She quickly gets ready and heads to Horai Island with Jin. "Hello, Hannah." "Hello." "Oh, Erza and Saki!...... and Lina-chan! And by "Lina girl" I mean Ste-Alaina. "Ummm, Hannah, you''re so cute!" Stearina seemed to be very happy that Hanna called her . The next morning, they finally departed from the hotel. The next morning, it was time to leave. The members are Jin, Hannah, Erza, Saki, and Stearina. Reiko and Steward will accompany them as their driver. Aal and Edgar are away from home this time. "See you later, master. With a slightly disappointed look on their faces, Aalu and Edgar saw their master off. "Well then, let''s go." Using the transporter, they plan to travel the distance at once. It is now past 8:00 a.m. on the island of Horai, and we are aiming for the area where the capital Diaa used to be. Regulus 45 in the fifth row (Quinta) became a landmark, and the transfer was completed with a margin of error of only one centimeter from the surface. The accuracy is improving with each iteration. "We''ve been waiting for you." The Regulus series consists of adult male figures. One of them, Regulus 45, greeted the group. No one questions the presence of Regulus 45, since it has been explained to them in advance. "Good work. What are you wearing?" Jin, who had been working on Regulus 45, questioned. He had lost some weight, and his overall appearance was dirty and gaunt. "Yes, I have adapted it to the few remaining residents." According to Regulus 45, there are about 50 people living near the old capital of Diaa. "We rarely encounter them. They do not live in Diaa, but in a remote area. "Okay. Then we will go to Diaa. I''ll take you there. Regulus 45 sat in the passenger seat and directed the driver, Steward, on the way. Jin and the others go upstairs and open the roof to look around. "Wow, interesting view". Hannah is excited to see something she has never seen before. Jin, Elsa, Saki, and Stearina are all looking at her with wide-eyed amazement. The road was covered by overgrown grass, and buildings lined up on either side of the road, entangled in vines. It was unusual at first, but when Jin and the others were getting tired of the unchanging scenery, a river came into view. It is the Sopy River. It is easier to drive along the river. Regulus 45 explained in a loud voice so that the group seated on the second floor could hear him. It was about 8:00 a.m., and the river breeze was pleasant. The river is about 100 meters wide in that area. It is quite a big river. The riverbed is wide. Although there were large stones around, the suspension of Tortoise, which was equipped with an active golem suspension, made the passengers feel almost no shaking at this level. Trees resembling willow trees grow sparsely, but they do not interfere with the vehicle''s progress. The Tortoise proceeded at a speed of about 40 kilometers per hour. After about 30 minutes of driving, we saw something strange ahead of us. "What is that, honey? No wonder Hannah was so excited. A group of half-destroyed buildings covered with vines were rising ahead. "Reinhardt''s looks pretty. ......" Saki is also surprised. "How long has it been since vines infested a building to the point that it collapses?" "...... really, people are disappearing. Why in the world? Jin and Erza also expressed their doubts. Especially Jin couldn''t believe the devastation of this place since he knew that the research institute in Horai Island had not collapsed even after 1000 years. Another 10 minutes. We arrived at Diaa, the capital of the former Leonard Kingdom. The surrounding area was covered by a wall about 7 meters high, but more than half of it had collapsed, leaving no shortage of places to enter. "It is basically uninhabited. Only on rare occasions do people come here to look for anything of value. "Have you done any research on this place?" Jin asked Regulus 45. "Yes. To begin with, someone has been in and out of this place for more than a few decades now, and anything of value has been taken out. "Well, I guess so." If there was anything of value, anything valuable, it would have already been taken out. The only things that are left are those that are considered worthless or that cannot be taken out. "Still, well, I''d like to take a look. "Well, I''d like to take a look." "Then come this way." Regulus 45 led us to a sturdy two-story building. It was, as usual, covered with vines. "It was supposed to be a sort of archive. Most of the materials have been taken out. ......" Saki suddenly became enthusiastic at the mention of a museum. "Come on, Jin, let''s go!There might be some rare books in there!" We lead the way, moving forward at a brisk pace. The vines at the entrance had been trimmed, indicating that people were still coming and going. "......oh ......!" We passed through the entrance, which was open enough for one person to pass through. There is no light inside, and the windows are blocked by thick vegetation, so it is dimly lit, but as my eyes became accustomed to it, I found it to be quite spectacular. The walls were covered with murals. As one would expect, no one took them off and carried them away. "This is amazing!......What,< It is a pity that some of the walls are damaged and unreadable. However, the wall paintings here have already been recorded and analyzed by the old man. There is little useful information, or rather new information. Except for one. "Chief, take a look at this." Regulus 45 called out to Jin, who moved to the corner of the wall. "......<<<<>...... did it perhaps say something about Adriana Barbora Tsetsi?" "Yes, most likely, but it is too damaged to decipher." The section was particularly badly deteriorated, peeling and crumbling in places, making it unreadable even if one wanted to read it. "Hmm, maybe my predecessor was once in Leonard''s kingdom. ......" Although he inherited knowledge from his predecessors, it does not mean that he remembers everything. Jin doesn''t know about his predecessor''s childhood, or who he learned magical engineering from. Reiko does not know either. "Onii-chan, what is this? Hannah, who had improved her reading and writing skills thanks to the study session, called Jin. When Jin went to her, she pointed at a hole in the wall. "?" There was a square space after the wall collapsed, and there was a stone like a magi stone embedded in it. It was about 50 centimeters high from the floor, so it must have been easy for Hanna to find it. Regulus 45 shook his head as if he did not know it, so it seems to have collapsed recently. Jin called his scattered friends together. "Jin, what''s wrong?" Jin, did you find something? Jin, what? He shows the Magi Stone to Erza, Saki, and Stearina. "...... is it a key to activate something?" Jin said what he had in mind, and all three agreed. "We don''t know what''s going to happen, so what do we ...... do?" "Chief, I''ll do it myself." Regulus45 volunteered to run for the position. I''ll give it a try when Jin and the others are gone," he says, so I leave it to him. "All right, we''ll go outside for a while. Taking the precaution of safety, Jin and the others went outside, leaving Regulus 45 behind. The sun was shining brightly. "Okay, that''s good." Jin calls from outside. Regulus45 checked the path of the magic power as he usually does, and after confirming that there is no danger of it running out of control, he channeled the magic power into the Magi Stone. Immediately afterwards, it seemed that nothing would happen, but after a little while, the building vibrated slightly, which could be felt even from outside. "Chief, the floor opened and we found the stairs. Regulus 45''s voice was heard. 458 - - 14-09 Messenger in the cellar "The basement." Regulus 45 called them back inside, and Jin and the others stared at the staircase that opened up at their feet. "......Since Regulus 45''s preliminary investigation did not reveal anything, it seems that special wards have been put up as well." Jin, who was examining the entrance area, concluded. Such hidden rooms and passageways can be found by acoustic sonar. The fact that they were concealed in such a way suggests that they must be very sophisticated wards. "I''ll go in first to see if there is any danger. Regulus 45 was quick to say so, and jumped into the entrance that opened on the floor. The sound of running down the stairs becomes quieter and quieter, until it is no longer audible. The group waited in silence for about five minutes, when they heard footsteps again and Regulus 45 returned. There is no danger. It is an interesting place. He reported. It would be better to see what it is. "Okay, let''s go there." Regulus45, Reiko, Hitoshi, Hannah, Saki, Stearena, and Elsa go down the stairs in that order. To our surprise, the walls here were covered with etheric luminescent material (AL), which emitted light as Jin and the others proceeded. Considering the fact that they did not glow when Regulus 45 was in the room, it seems that AL reacts to human beings. This is quite a sophisticated device. There were about 50 stairs, and a rather deep basement floor. There is a door at the end of the stairs, and Regulus 45 opens it. "Oh, wow! "Interesting!" "Hmm, this is ......." "What the hell is this?" "...... is amazing!" Not three, but five different reactions. There was a sea of stars. No, it was a mural and ceiling painting that imitated a starry sky. Dim starlight. Apparently, this room is hemispherical. It is like a planetarium that does not move. "<>" A voice came out of nowhere. "Who is it?" "<>" "...... artificial brain?" "<>" In short, it is a being like the "Mere Old Man". It seems that it simply speaks messages. "What is the fact ...... that you need to tell us?" "<>" It was a shocking fact. The people of Leonard''s Kingdom have disappeared for a definite purpose. Everyone wanted to know why. "Let me hear it." "Let me hear it." <>. The story told by the mysterious voice was astonishing. The story told by the mysterious voice was astonishing. "<<234 years ago, there was an epidemic of an unknown disease in the kingdom. It was named <>. "Magical Wasting Fever ......" This is the disease that Jin and Erza had to suffer from just a few days ago. It is said that there have been pandemics in the past. "< Fortunately or unfortunately, there were no diplomatic relations with the neighboring kingdoms of Klein, Selroa, and Egelea, so the fire did not spread to them. "< Jin wondered if they had arrived in time, but the story was soon told. "< "The sky? "You mean in the sky ......?" < A magic circle. A magic circle is a circular arrangement of magical formulas, or in other words, a magical circuit composed entirely of magical formulas. It is possible to amplify the effects of magic by circulating it in a circle, but it is difficult to handle and is a magical technique that has fallen into disuse in modern times. "<>" Jin wondered if this could be a magic circle of transmigration. "< "......" "< In short, there was an epidemic. To evacuate, the legendary shifting magic circle was used. Most of the people were transferred and never returned. The mysterious voice is a messenger left behind by the remaining magical engineers. Jin summarized the story in his mind. At the same time, several questions arose. "Didn''t you even check the destination of the transfer magic circle ......?" Jin thought to himself, "How could that be, .......? "< Fearless is a terrible thing to hear. He was the first to flee the country because he was afraid of the plague. "And even so, just because they didn''t come back, ....... It''s not simply because there was no way to get back, is it?" Saki offered a guess. "< "Could you have come back if you wanted to?" If that''s the case, the fact that they didn''t come back suggests that they were comfortable in the new location. Saki could not argue any further. "Do you know what kind of magic circle it is? Jin asked, curious, but the answer was disappointing. But the answer was disappointing. "< Well, it was OK that there was a warp gate, but he was still interested in the technology that could transfer only by a magic circle. More than that, Jin was curious about the reason why he did not come back. "It would have been nice if someone had come back to let us know what kind of place we were going to," he said. He wondered if the plague was that terrible and came up with a reason. "......No way?" Jin raised his eyebrows. Erza wondered why Jin was so suspicious, and then she guessed why he was so afraid of the plague and came up with a reason. "......Ji, Jin brother!......If it''s really the moon that you''ve been to,......the moon is ......the moon is ......true ...... sky......." Jin nodded silently. "......Yeah. I thought about that too. I wonder if they didn''t think back then that there would be no air in the transition zone." Saki and Stearina turned pale when they heard Jin''s words. Both of them understood science well enough to understand what he meant. "Jin ...... Jin, that means all the people who transitioned ...... back then." "Jin-kun,...... if the place you metastasized to was a vacuum,...... that''s what you mean,...... right?" Jin nodded with a sad face. "If the destination was the moon, that is. I hope it''s somewhere far away from this world. "...... but then one or two people can come back, can''t they?" "...... would normally care about the country of their birth." "But if they don''t come back,......, does that mean that''s the case, Jin?" It seemed to me that the people who had moved on at that time probably lost their lives before they knew what was going on in their new countries. The messenger does not know and does not have the knowledge to understand such things. "Is there anything else that we should pass on to future generations?" Jin, who had regained some of his composure, asked a question. "< "I see." With a slightly downcast feeling, Jin and the others decided to return to the ground. Hannah was the only one who did not understand what was going on, and she wondered why Jin and the others were looking so gloomy. After everyone had climbed the stairs, the hole in the floor closed again. Jin used engineering magic to seal the activation stones on the wall again, and went out silently. The other members followed. Outside, the sky was as blue as it had been in the past. 459 - - 14-10 Ruins Even when they went out under the blue sky, the faces of Jin and the others did not clear, except for one, Hannah, who asked, "Are you guys unhappy? "Are you guys having a bad day?" Hannah looked up at Jin with concern. She reached out and touched his cheek. "Come on, baby girl, cheer up." Hannah''s hand on Jin''s cheek is warm and comforting. "......Yeah, you''re right. It''s already done. Saying this, Jin picked up Hannah and took her on his shoulders. "Kya!" Suddenly, Hannah let out a startled sound, but she immediately smiled. "Wow, big girl, thank you! Erza, Saki, and Stearina saw this and their faces broke into tears. "Well, I guess there''s nothing we can do about it now, is there? "I know. We''ve come all this way to see the sights, haven''t we? "I''m sure that ...... my brother Jin will make it possible for us to go to the moon someday." Reiko looked at them silently. "Well, shall we go and look at another place?There is a royal palace a little further ahead. Regulus 45, sensing the change in atmosphere, resumed the tour. "The royal palace. Let''s go there. The group changed their minds and headed for the royal palace. Hannah is on Jin''s shoulder. She was excited to have a better view. The palace was also covered with vines. And here, too, some of the entrances were open, as if someone had been fishing here. Jin and the others did not mind, as it would be a great help to them. "Hmm, it''s kind of old-fashioned, isn''t it?" "It''s ...... yes. The design is somehow old-fashioned. Erza agreed with Saki''s opinion. "Really?It''s not that different from the royal palace in Serlore,......." Stearina, on the other hand, said that it was not so different from the royal palace of the Kingdom of Celuloa. That''s how traditional the Kingdom of Cerroa is. "Onii-chan, what''s that?" Hannah got off Jin''s shoulder and was walking alongside Reiko when she looked to her right and saw an unusual shaped object. "Hmm?" "Oh, my." At the same time, Stearina also looked in that direction and shouted. "A cat figurine, huh? "A cat?" It seems that Hannah does not know what a cat is. In the first place, it is not customary to keep pet animals in this world. Horses are not pets, nor are cows or goats. Dogs are kept in some areas, but not as pets but as guard dogs. The only exception to this rule is small birds, which are kept for the purpose of enjoying their singing. Pigeons, of course, are for communication. There is no custom of keeping cats for <> like on the modern earth. Another reason may be the scarcity of <>. The harm of rats can be prevented by magic tools such as the bells used by the Jin to keep them away when they went to deliver the wheat, so the custom of keeping fickle cats did not develop. But there are always exceptions, "I didn''t know they had a custom of keeping cats in the Kingdom of Leonard. Stearina was impressed by the fact that the Kingdom of Leonard had the custom of keeping cats. It means that some people in the Kingdom of Selroa have cats. "Many people say that cats are fickle, unaccustomed to people, and unappealing, and that''s why they are so attractive. Stearina explained the situation of cats in the Kingdom of Selroa, After explaining the situation of cats in the Kingdom of Celuloa, Stearina said, "...... but I don''t like them much. I''m more of a dog person. She confided that she was a dog person. "Yeah, I''m the same way. Jin was the same way. The orphanage had one well-behaved mongrel dog. Jin only took him for a walk once in a while, though most of the care was done by the younger children. I look at the cat figurine as I think about this. It looks no different from a cat on the earth. Jin is not sure how accurate the size of the figurine is, but assuming that it is full-scale, it is about the same size. "Yes, this is almost the same as the real thing. Stearina also confirmed this. Then came Hannah''s unexpected words. "Hey, can you make something like that?" "What?" I don''t think she meant a cat-shaped figurine. Cat Golem....... Jin thought it would be interesting. There was a door half-open where the figurine had been. When he looked inside, he found it covered with dust and scattered with broken dolls and toys. It seemed to be the room of a prince or a princess. It seems that the room had already been ransacked of anything of interest. "...... is not very interesting." Now Hannah was disappointed. Indeed, it seems that touring abandoned buildings is a sad experience. "...... Shall we go outside?" When Jin said this, Hanna nodded silently. Erza, Saki, and Stearina also sensed this and turned away without saying a word. The group left the ruins of the capital city. The group left the ruins of the capital and drove the Tortoise along the river. We had a light lunch in the car. The group was somewhat disheartened. We thought about going home, but we decided to stay at least one night since we had come all the way out here, so we are now looking for a campsite. I thought, "Oh, that might be a good place. We found a small, wide open meadow one step up from the river. It seemed to have a nice view. Jin ordered the steward to drive Tortoise there. The power output of the 12-strand Golem engine, Jin''s masterpiece, was pushing the Tortoise up the nearly 40-degree slope. "Oh, this place looks good. The grass was short, and a little mowing was all that was needed to create a comfortable space. Although there was space in the car, Jin wanted to eat outdoors if we were going to do some kind of auto-camping. "Wow. ......" "Oh, my." I realized as I was about to take out the folding table and chairs for the number of people. It was because of the 40-degree slope. I''ll have to ...... improve it." We rearranged our luggage and had a tea time again. We put up a tarp to protect us from the sun, and the river breeze was pleasant even though it was summer. "Ah, I feel refreshed at last. Saki muttered to herself. "Delicious!" Taeye with a lot of sugar. Reiko''s thoughtful gesture that it would be good for a mentally exhausted person. Dried wileys for tea. The sweet and sour taste is concentrated and delicious. It is a moment that soothes the fragile heart of those who have been touring the ruins. "The secret of the warding is for another time. ......" The illusionary boundary that makes it look like there is a country when seen from the sky. It is doubtful if Jin can make the same thing. I think it can produce the same effect, but I am not sure if it is the same way or not. I was thinking inwardly that I might try to increase the fifth column (quinta) if necessary. Before the sun went down, we prepared dinner. It is a standard barbecue. On top of the furnace made of piled up stones, we put an iron plate that we have prepared for some time. The fire is heated with magi stones instead of firewood, as it is troublesome to adjust the heat. The main ingredients are mountain deer meat and vegetables. Then noodles made from wheat flour are added and seasoned with Worcestershire sauce. It is a kind of yakiudon noodle with sauce yakisoba. It can be said that they substituted thin udon noodles because they did not know what brine was. It was Jin who came up with the idea after seeing in Toka village. "Wow, it''s a little different, but delicious! "Yes, it is. Jin, it''s quite good! Still, the food seemed to be well received. We finished eating before the summer sunset and cleaned up the dishes and griddles by washing them in the river and purifying them with purification magic. The stars begin to appear here and there. The breeze from the river is pleasant. We all move to the second floor of Tortoise. Here, too, the futon was a little too close to the floor due to the 40-degree slope, so we had to fix it. Then we lay down on the futon and looked at the sky through the open skylight. First Hannah, then Erza, then Saki, Stearina, and Jin fell asleep. Reiko, who did not need to sleep, closed the skylight and stood guard with the steward. "Sweet dreams, father. Reiko''s murmur is absorbed into the falling starry sky. 460 - - 14-11 Local City Goa 1 "You don''t have much here, do you?" Gore is a regional city in the Kingdom of Cerroa. It is a magical industrial city with a large population of magecraftsmen. "Everywhere I looked, there were just ordinary things. Although it is about 20 kilometers north of the main road, many tourists visit Goua because of the large number of Magecraftsmen. It is a lively town, helped by the fact that a side road leads to Lake Asur. I don''t see any originality here. A row of stores. They display various kinds of magical engineering products for tourists. Weapons for self-defense such as daggers and knives, portable magic lamps, travel goods such as bells to ward off beasts. Accessories such as brooches, rings, necklaces. "...... might have more interesting second-hand items." A little girl who has been peeking into the store on the street for a while now, and soon comes out with a dissatisfied look on her face. She was about 14 or 15 years old. She was a beautiful girl with straight, bright blond hair down to her shoulders and eyes like green jade. Her face, however, was pained with a frown, and you could tell that she was not in a good mood. Her clothes are not flashy but not frugal either, and are very tastefully coordinated. Moreover, as is typical of a young lady of her status, she was accompanied by an escort. He was a boy two or three years older than the girl. "Miss, you''re in the back alley." "It''s okay. The main street is all about looks and no quality. This way looks like it has more to offer. The girl turned a corner and ran out. The boy who accompanied her hurried after her. She ran straight ahead for about 20 meters, and when she turned a corner, she came to a crossroad. The girl walked through the door without thinking. "Wow! ......" The inside of the store is, in a word, chaotic. There is a vintage wooden table, and a brooch with a design that was popular last year is lying around. A rusty sword sits next to an assortment of silverware. Along with dolls that would make children happy, there was an armor worn by soldiers of a neighboring country. "This is it, this is it!I''m sure there are some great bargains to be had in a store like this!" In a complete change from the past, the girl smiled happily and began to look around the store. "Oh?" Then she found a dagger. It has a softly shining golden sheath with intricate carvings and fine magical crystals scattered on it. The handle is also gold. A light blue magi crystal is inlaid on the handle head. "...... is beautiful." I picked it up. It is lighter than I expected. I gently pull it out. "......What''s this?" The blade is about 30 cm long. The material is mithril silver, no doubt. The girl was struck by the beauty of it. "Miss?" At last the boy who had been accompanying her seemed to have found his master, the girl. "...... Look, Andro. This dagger." The boy called Andro did as he was told and looked at the dagger. He admires it. "It''s a beautiful thing, isn''t it?" I want it." Sheathing the sword, the girl walks to the back of the store. There was the owner of the store, who had been staring at her for a while. "Master, I would like to have this dagger. "Well, you''ve got your eye on it. I found it a while ago in Ikasanat, in the Kingdom of Egelea. Apparently, some soldier sold it off." I don''t care where it came from. How much? I don''t know, 100,000 Tall, something like that. The girl hears this and looks at her friend. "Are you sure you want to buy it, miss?" "Yes. Yes. Pay for it. Now!" "Yes, I understand." The boy took out 10 gold coins from his pocket and presented them to the shopkeeper. "Here, sure. Thank you. "Come on, Andri, let''s go!" "Wait a minute, miss." The girl happily holds the dagger in her hand as she walks out of the store. "Oh, that''s a good deal!If I ordered it, it would cost no less than one million dollars!" "Is it such an expensive sword? The girl sniffs. "Yes. It was a good buy." * * * * * * Jin and his friends went on an exploratory trip to Leonard''s Kingdom and came back to Horai Island after staying only one night. The search for the ruins was not as interesting as they had expected, and it was mentally unbearable. The time is still 10:00 a.m. since they came back with their special camper through the warp gate of Condor 3. "......Something has gone wrong with my schedule. ......" Jin blurted out over a glass of soda in the cafeteria. "How about we have a little meeting for reflection?" Stearina suggested. "Yeah, that sounds good." Jin agreed. Elsa and Saki also said they had no complaints, so we decided to have a brief review meeting. By the way, Hannah is playing with Reiko outside. When I peeked in to see what they were doing, I found that they were looking around the fields with Reiko''s guidance. She is eating some fully ripe persica. "Well, I''ll leave it to Reiko. Then the review meeting started. "How did you manage safety?" asked Jin, the camper''s builder. "Well, I have no complaints about the camper itself. "Well, I don''t have any complaints about the camper itself, except that the luggage got stuck on the hill. "Oh, you know. I''ll think about fixing some things. Saki was next to offer her opinion. "It''s discouraging to see nothing but ruins everywhere you go. It''s kind of like a sense of impermanence. ...... "Yeah, that''s true. Especially after most of the stuff has been scavenged. Maybe we''re going to the wrong place. ......" "Yeah, the only thing I got is the reason why Leonard''s kingdom was destroyed." Everyone nodded at Erza''s statement. "Yeah, absolutely. I didn''t think the whole country had moved to ...... for fear of the plague." "Is it possible, though, that he was mentally manipulated?" "Yes. ......" Jin and Erza cooperated with each other to settle the matter at the time of the magical exhaustion fever trouble, so Erza knows that the demon tribe was involved. And speaking of demons, they manipulate people''s minds. This is an allusion to the fact that her own father was under the influence of a demon tribe named Marcosius. "I can''t say for sure that there isn''t. ......" Now, I don''t think we''ll ever find proof, but it''s possible. "Goshujin-sama, may I mention when the door to the basement was opened and when you went down to the basement?" "Oh, Anne. What is it?" As Jin and the others were still reflecting on the incident, Anne came to them and asked for their opinion. "Thank you very much. First of all, it seems that when you opened the door you were able to get out, which is not a good security measure. Tortoise, is it?You should have gotten into that car and deployed the barrier. If possible, you should have been a few hundred meters away. "......" What if it''s an explosive trap?You have to think about that." That''s right. If they were so careful to prepare Tortoise, they should have taken that precaution, Jin reflected. "And it was also thoughtless of you to go underground. You should have been more careful. The Goshujin-sama is an irreplaceable person. Anne gave me a hard time about this. Jin reflected that he might have been a little carried away by the fact that they were going to survey the ruins. "However, the fifth column (Quinta) is investigating the site, and it seems to be a place where ordinary people go in and out, so you need to be careful in places like hidden rooms," he said. Anne is loyal to Jin, but she is not an automata created by him. Therefore, she does not follow him blindly, and she is a valuable person who sometimes gives him a hard time. "Lastly, Mr. Mere Old Man, I would like to ask the Goshujin-sama for a confirmation. You should have checked with the Goshujin-sama, or even without his permission, you should have kept the air force in the air. Even the old man was warned. Jin and the other members of the group realized again that Anne was very valuable. 461 - - 14-12 Local City Goa 2 Jin and his colleagues took a break after the review meeting and decided to discuss some of the new findings. "The existence of the basement, which we did not know even in the preliminary investigation of the fifth column (Quinta), we know that it was covered with special wards. We know this because we passed through it when we went underground. That''s ......<>." "Attenuation wards?" "Yes. Ordinary wards just block things out. They can reflect at different angles, though." Erza nods in agreement with Jin''s explanation. "...... understand. Basically, the purpose is to separate the inside from the outside world. "Right. That''s why when we use exploration magic, we can tell that there''s something there because it reacts differently from the surrounding area. "I see. It''s like an enclosure on an empty plain. Saki gave an interesting analogy. "That''s right. That''s what I think. At ......, the boundary doesn''t reflect or absorb the magic of exploration, like an electromagnetic wave that travels through the ...... space. It seems to attenuate naturally." "To use Saki''s analogy, it''s the white surroundings that reflect. Absorption is the black surround. Attenuation is ...... a transparent enclosure?" Now Stearina gave us a color analogy. It is a very apt metaphor. "Yes, yes. Something like that. That''s why it was so hard for me to figure it out. It seems that the < also exhibits similar characteristics, and even the fifth column (quinta) couldn''t figure it out." "...... You''ve got it all figured out, Brother Jin." Erza looks at Jin with respect. "Yeah, one of the purposes of going to the old Leonard kingdom was to analyze the warding. I had to be extra careful. Jin explained that he wanted to solve the mystery of the illusionary wards over the former Leonard''s Kingdom. "I''m curious as to who in the world is doing this, but I also wanted to know how the golem''s eyes are being fooled." Depending on the design, the golem''s eyes are better than human eyes. It can see in infrared and ultraviolet light if it wanted to, not to mention telephoto. Even the Air Force Golem, which has such eyes, could not see through the illusionary wards. We wanted to know its secret. "Well, I''m still having the 5th Quinta and the others investigate. Jin concluded with these words. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was now lunch time, and the group decided to have lunch. "Hey, is Hannah still outside?" Jin muttered to himself, when Reiko and Hanna came back. Reiko is very good at this. "Onii-chan, Reiko said it''s almost time for bed, so I came back. "Oh, just in time. Let''s have lunch. ......Hannah, you were eating Persica earlier, are you okay? "Yes, I''m fine!" Hannah is full of energy. Her front teeth have grown in and she has no trouble eating. "Today''s lunch is udon noodles. Soleil brought the freshly boiled udon noodles. Of course, it was udon with cold water. "Udon?" Yes, this is it. "Wow, that''s interesting! Both chopsticks and a fork are provided. Naturally, Jin used chopsticks. The dipping sauce is a special sauce made with fish sauce and kelp-like seaweed, which the peridos had painstakingly prepared. "Yes, it''s delicious!" Jin is the first to start eating. The cold udon noodles feel good on his throat. "Yes, it''s delicious! "...... delicious!" "Delicious! "It''s delicious!" The others started to eat with forks, but the food seemed to be generally well received. Hannah had finished her portion of the meal, since it was a little smaller than she had expected. "Thanks for the food. But Jin-kun, you used chopsticks, didn''t you?You''re good with chopsticks, aren''t you? "Yes, well. I''ve been using them for a long time. Seeing Jin picking up udon noodles with two sticks, Stearina praised his dexterity. "Maybe I should practice, too." "...... me too!" "Me too! The other three participants started to say such things, so eventually Stearina joined them and a lecture on how to use chopsticks was held. First, let''s decide on the length of the chopsticks. Open your fingers so that your thumb and index finger are at right angles ....... And 1.5 times that length is roughly the length of chopsticks that are comfortable to use." "...... got it." Erza is 22.5 cm, Saki is 24 cm, Stearina is 24 cm. And Hanna is 18 centimeters. "Next is the weight. Do you want heavier chopsticks or lighter ones? ......Because it''s the first time, let''s go with the standard ones." Jin remembered the knowledge he had learned about chopsticks from the director and made his decision. The material of the chopsticks was decided to be query wood (close to cherry). They are hard and sticky. Jin also uses chopsticks made of this wood. In case you are wondering, we clean chopsticks by < or after use. We practice for about an hour. Hannah was the one who improved the most. Surprisingly, Saki is the worst. "I''m sorry. I''m still clumsy. ......" Jin consoled a slightly depressed Saki, saying "That''s not true, anyone can learn to use it with practice. After the practice, it was tea time. It was hot, so they decided to drink cold juice instead of tea. "Well, what are we going to do after this? Stearena answered Jin''s words. "Well, what are we going to do after this? ......Well, Jin, why don''t you come visit us in the Kingdom of Celuloa?" "The Kingdom of Celuloa? ......" Yes. My home is in a place called Gore. Gore is a provincial city where many of the kingdom''s magecraftsmen live. Jin was a bit fascinated since he rarely visited the Kingdom of Cerroa due to the mess with the Unifilers. "Hmm, Jin, I''m interested too. Saki also wanted to visit. "Don''t worry, they don''t have the same strict monitoring of comings and goings as Esaiah. A carriage with a warp gate is kept at Stearina''s main residence, and Stearina has been using it to go back and forth between the main residence and Horai Island. It seems that the matter of her moving out of the house is now frozen. "Is there any problem with the transfer?" "Yes. Yes. Please feel free to come. "Then let''s go. Hitoshi is also enthusiastic. "Yes, yes, let''s go!You''re welcome!" So the same members of the group decided to go to the Kingdom of Celluloid. Tortoise is not used this time. And Aalu and Edgar can go with us this time. We can come back to Horai Island or stay at Stearina''s main house for the night. With this decision made, Jin and the others move on, taking only the bare necessities with them. < and moves smoothly. "Welcome to the Kingdom of Selroa! A bemused Stearina utters these words. The place where the group left, in other words, where the carriage carrying the warp gate was kept, is a large warehouse. Materials are placed around it. "Next door is my workshop. We moved there first. The large group of people in the workshop is Jin, Hannah, Reiko, Elsa, Edgar, Saki, Aal, and Stearina. "Welcome home, miss. The person who greeted them was a butler-like automaton from Dali''s other house. The house had been damaged in an attack by the Unifilers, so he had already moved out of it. I''m home, Zafio. We have a lot of guests, so be prepared for them. Let Serene help you. "Yes, sir." Zafio bowed and left, and was replaced by Serene, a golem made of blue topaz, who came in with a drink. It looked like cold juice. "Wow, she''s beautiful!" Hannah, who had never seen Serene before, exclaimed in surprise. "Thank you, Hannah! Stearina took a sip of the juice Serene handed out and smiled happily. 462 - - 14-13 Princess without reserve The time was about 10:30 p.m. Stearina was walking through the streets of Gore with Jin and his friends. She was accompanied by Aal, Edgar, and Reiko. Serene, who is a bit too flashy, was away from home. "This is a relatively new town. The buildings are new, aren''t they?" True to her word, the stone surfaces are smooth. The surface of the stone used is smooth, a far cry from the weathered buildings of Leonard''s kingdom. "But the plots aren''t very tight. I think first-timers might get lost." In the case of new towns, the streets are either laid out horizontally and vertically like a grid, or the streets radiate out from the lord''s castle and the town is built in concentric circles. These two are the most common. Here in Gore, however, the streets are not straight, but rather they are not straight, but rather they are curved like a key or in an arc, making them very difficult to recognize. "The reason is that the lord ...... Duke Hubert Bertin de Marchand did not like the streets to be too neat." He is a dictatorial lord, Stearina added at the end. "But I like it better when the streets are like this." Jin''s honest impression. The streets are cluttered with a sense of life. A townscape that is neat and tidy, but still somewhat reserved. Jin prefers the former. "......I understand what Jin says, I think." "Well, I like the chaotic atmosphere, too. Even Saki agreed, but Jin interrupted. "Ha, Saki''s room is a messy place, isn''t it? "Ugh!......Ji, Jin, it''s not like that now!Aalu cleans it every day!" "...... Saki, it''s not something to be proud of." The group moves along the main street in harmony. As a few more people arrived, Jin joined hands with Hannah. "Don''t get lost, okay?" "Yes, thanks, honey!" Stearina looked at Jin with a sideways glance and murmured. (...... she can be so attentive to little kids, but she has no clue about girls. ......) Jin and Hannah walk through the crowd, holding hands. "Jin-kun, Hannah-chan, it''s getting crowded, turn right! Stearina called out, and the group turned from the main street into an alley. A little further on, they came to another street. Away from the hustle and bustle, it was a quiet street. "This street is called . There are various stores selling everything from foodstuffs to magi crystals. "Wow, that sounds interesting! Saki seemed to be interested. "Look, that''s the store I always go to. Let''s drop by." The store was a little smaller than the surrounding stores, but once inside, it was surprisingly deep. "Hello, Mr. Stearina, welcome. Can I help you? The elderly owner greeted me politely. No, I''m just showing my friend around. She''s an alchemist. ...... Do you have any rare materials in your store?" Saki looked around the store with a wry smile on her face and asked the owner. "Are you an alchemist?That''s unusual. Yes, I have something like this that I just dug out of the mine the other day. The owner brought out a black, flat stone from amongst his still unorganized baggage. "It''s interesting. It can be peeled off in thin layers." "...... biotite?" It was, as Jin had said, biotite. Biotite mica from north of the village of Kaina is white to transparent, while biotite is black and opaque. Other than color, their properties are very similar. In this region, this mineral is like a toy that a child can peel off thinly and play with. "And then there''s this..." "Oh, this is amazing!" Orange, purple and other colorful stones. They are almost octahedral in shape. "This is a fluorite. I like to collect them, too. Saki also knows fluorite from her scientific knowledge. He has many fluorites in his collection. Saki bought a small purple crystal as a souvenir. "Next, how about ......, ......, how about over there?" Stearina pointed to a store selling jewelry. There were some items on display outside the store. "Hey, honey, I''m thirsty. Hannah said something unusual like that. She had just had a glass of juice at Stellina''s house, but she had only drunk a little. It was a summer day, and the closer one was to the ground, the hotter it felt. "Okay, let''s go somewhere and buy a drink. Jin-kun, then the store at the end of the street is a little far from here. We''re just looking at trinkets. "Okay. I''ll catch up with you later." Hitoshi, Hannah, and Reiko went to the store recommended by Stearina, while Elsa, Edgar, Saki, Aal, and Stearina went to the accessory store. Elsa was the first to enter the store when she was confronted by a girl coming out of the store. "Kya!" "Ah!" They both stumbled but did not fall. Watch out! "......Sorry!" Neither of them was at fault, but the girl''s bravado pushed Erza into a slight bow. Something fell at her feet. "Ah!" It was the folding knife that Jin had given her before. The blade is made of light silver, and the handle is made of a thinly processed horn of a Siamese dragon, with fine magi crystals scattered on it. The object was in an inside pocket of his clothes, and seems to have fallen out when he bumped into it. Erza hurriedly picks it up. "What?Is that ......?" The girl stared at the knife that Erza picked up. "Hey, hey, let me see it! "What?Yes." The girl snatched the knife from Elsa''s hand with a half-snatching motion, and looked surprised. "...... maybe ...... the same author?No,......, not so conveniently,...... but this is definitely,......." She mumbled something, then suddenly turned to Erza, "You!Where did you get this knife?Who is the author?Tell me now!" She came at him in a high-handed, commanding tone. The girl was somewhat smaller than Elsa, but she had an indescribable force, and Elsa was unable to speak as she was taken in by the girl''s pace, not knowing what was going on. "You, let''s calm down a little." Saki intervened between the two. "What are you doing?" The girl stares at Saki. "My name is Saki. What''s your name?Why are you asking me that? "Shut up!You said your name is Saki.Are you ordering me, Beatrix?I''m looking for the creator of a certain dagger. This knife was made by the same creator, wasn''t it?" Now the girl is going to attack Saki. She is still using her own name, I wonder. Saki is inwardly stunned and impatient, but on the surface she responds calmly. "Beatrix, could you give her back the knife for now? I don''t take orders from you! The girl, who identified herself as Beatrix, took Elsa''s knife in her arms. "...... Beatrix?...... blonde hair, green eyes...... could it be ......, that''s what they call you. Well, I don''t deny it. Beatrix turned to Stearina and glared at her. "Yes, I am Beatrix Bertin de Emmerode. I''m sorry for being so selfish. You''ve got some nerve. You have the nerve to say that to my face and to my ears. "No, no, no, I mean..." Stearina flinched at the glare. She was the daughter of a lord, the tenth or twenty-second in line to the throne of this country. And there are many rumors that are even more troubling than that. I don''t want to be stared at too much. "Beatrix, what are you doing? A young man came out of the store and spoke to Beatrix. "Brother, I found a clue about the dagger!" "What?" "Here, look at this." Beatrix held out the knife she still had in her hand to the young man. 463 - - 14-14尽 brother and sister. (Revised) "Hmm?...... Oh, what''s this?Different design, but probably made by the same craftsman! Right? "...... that." The young man and Beatrix started talking to each other. The young man also has blond hair and green eyes. Erza wondered if they were brother and sister, since he called her <. But now it was the knife Jin had given her. "...... Um, can I have it back soon, please?" Elsa spoke to the young man hesitantly and reservedly. The young man looked at Erza and looked surprised. "Hmm?...... Oh, beautiful lady, what is your name?My name is Albert Bertin de Silicaite. "Elle, elle, za." Elsa says her name with dignity, though she is upset by the suddenness of her name. "Elsa. That''s a nice name. It''s a Shoro style name. Albert took Erza''s left hand and kissed the back of it. "What are you doing?" Erza was surprised and withdrew her hand reflexively. It is not customary in the Shoro Kingdom to kiss the back of a woman''s hand. She had been exposed to such a custom in her experience of following Reinhardt around other countries, but this time it was accompanied by a sense of physiological disgust. The back of my hand, where Albert''s lips had touched my hand, still felt unpleasant, as if a slug had crawled on it. But Albert did not seem to be offended. "Well, well, you are a very naive young lady. Not used to the customs of nobility?But don''t worry. I will teach you little by little. She reached out to grab Elsa, but Edgar gently stopped her hand. "Excuse me. "Excuse me, but could you please not bother the master any longer?" Albert looked puzzled for a moment, but the next moment he smiled a crooked smile. His tone of voice changed dramatically. "Hmm, you cheekily possess an automaton, but do you think a commoner''s daughter has a choice?I, the 13th in line to the throne, am going to take care of her, and you should be honored. "That is your subjective opinion. My master doesn''t want that. "That''s not the point. I wanted it, that''s all that matters! Albert raised his left hand. In response, armed soldiers appear. Ten of them. "Look! Here are my guards. Beato, we''re going to take Miss Elsa back. Then we can ask her about the dagger. Beatrix let out a sigh. "As you wish, brother." Eight guards and a boy had appeared next to her before she knew it. "Come on, Elsa. Now we won''t have to be rough with you." "......Master Albert, do you really think you can get away with such lawlessness?" Stearina, who had been unable to keep up with the developments, came to her senses and took a step forward to give Albert a hard time. "Hmm?Well, who was it?I don''t remember the older one. ...... Oh, I remember. Stair something. You think you''re a magecraftsman and you want to tell me what to do? "It doesn''t matter what you are. Lawlessness is lawlessness, that''s all. Albert snickered at these words. "Lawlessness?What lawlessness?...... I''m offering hospitality to any woman I like, you know?It would be a great honor to have you by my side, wouldn''t it?" "So, it is your subjective opinion. There are many women who do not like it. That''s exactly what I''m talking about. This town belongs to my father and I''m his bastard son. What belongs to my father is mine. What''s wrong with taking it? You''re not making sense. Stearina was disgusted by the rumor that the prince had been such a fool. "Well, I''m tired of listening to your nonsense. Come on, Elsa." "...... No, sir." "Oh?Then we''ll have to rough you up a bit, won''t we?" At Albert''s words, one of the guards stepped forward. "Please step back, master." Edgar stands to protect Elsa. "The two of you in the covert maneuver team (SP), please protect your master. And the barrier. Edgar stood in front of the armed guards, saying a word to Maron and Plum, the covert task force (SP) protecting Erza without being seen. Upon hearing these words, Maron and Plum appear on either side of Elsa. "Hmm?You still have guards?Hmmm, so you''re not just a commoner. Interesting. Let''s bring him home and interrogate him slowly. Albert smiled a smile that could be described as insane. "You seem to be cheeky enough to have an automaton with you, but my guards are all automatons too." The Kingdom of Cerroa is the most technologically advanced of the small group of nations. The most advanced is the technology of automata and golems. Many of them were taught by Donald Callow, Alpha, the first magecraftsman who once belonged to the Unifiler, and even though the Unifiler is no longer in existence, the technology has remained. "And it''s specially made!First of all, let''s destroy that clever little automaton. Albert squares his jaw, and the guard automaton attacks Edgar. Although he was lightly armed with a small shield (buckler) in his left hand and a shortsword at his waist, Edgar was at a slight disadvantage because he was unarmed in the city. The guard did not draw his shortsword, but drew his left hand to strike Edgar with his shield first. Edgar avoided the attack with agility, caught his left hand as it was coming back, and twisted his body. This is the Shoro knight''s martial art, the <>. An automata moves in a manner similar to that of a human being, and the range of motion of its joints is also similar to that of a human being. Therefore, the technique is effective against humans. Although the automata are heavily loaded on their wrists and elbows, they do not feel <> or >. Therefore, he tries to pull his arm to untwist it by force. However, the arm is still twisted and the movement is bad. The elbow joint was heavily loaded, and although he managed to unshake his arm, the damage was great. His left shoulder was half off. Albert was not just a selfish prince. He saw Edgar''s fighting behavior and instantly recognized the danger. "Take four!" Three more automata attacked Edgar. They struck him from the front, back, left, and right. In the Shoro Empire, Edgar had played a trick on two puppet soldiers owned by Georg, Erza''s father, but these automata were different from them. Edgar dodged two of the attacks, but the third one grazed his right shoulder. The impact caused him to lose his position slightly, and he was hit in the back by the fourth attack, which he had just barely managed to avoid. "Edgar! Erza shouted. An automata kicked Edgar in the face as he stumbled forward. The automata guarding him kicks him in the back of the head as he stumbles backward. A kick is fired at Edgar''s face as he falls forward again. Edgar held the kicking leg with both hands, and half-turned his body, striking the automaton with his back. But there was too much weight difference between the two fighters, and the opponent simply staggered. Edgar was caught in the opposite direction. As Edgar is bound in a cross-legged position, another guard automaton raises its right fist and pounces on him. "Edgar, look out! But Edgar, on the other hand, kicked the ground with both legs, then shrunk his legs as if holding them, and kicked out horizontally. Naturally, the kick hit the automata guarding him. As a reaction, the automata guarding Edgar fell backward. The two automata fall over as if popping. Edgar twisted his body and shook off the restraints. But the remaining two automata finally pulled out their shortswords. "You''re going to that extreme? Saki, who had been watching in amazement, finally reactivated. Erza has two covert task forces (SP) attached to her, so she has nothing to worry about for the time being. Then... "Aal, join Edgar!" Beatrix responded to his voice. "Oh, you''re going to join him?I''ll join you then." Beatrix also moved her four automata. Compared to Edgar, Aaru''s performance was slightly inferior. 8 automata against Edgar Aaru. The victory seemed obvious. "Kuu!Jin!Come quick!" The people around the store had already fled, and the store had closed its doors before they knew it. Then, three figures came running toward them. "...... are you guys okay?" Jin, Hannah, and Reiko. Jin, my brother. ...... Jin!Thank God! "Jin-kun......" Erza ran to Jin, and Saki and Stearina let out a relieved breath. "Hmm?What is that guy?...... pause!" The sudden intruder made the selfish siblings call a truce and ordered a halt, and the automata under their control stopped moving. "I heard about this through Reiko. Sounds like you''ve had a rough time of it, huh?" The SP had used its built-in manacam to contact the old man, who in turn had told Reiko. Hearing this, Jin and the others rushed back. The color of his face changed when he saw Edgar, who was clearly damaged. "...... Edgar?Are you fighting them?" "Yes, Jin!He tried to take Erza away and when she refused, he forced her!" "I know." Jin looked at Erza, who was hiding behind him as if clinging to him, then at Albert. Then he saw Elsa''s knife in Beatrix''s hand. "Reiko, go get the knife for now." "Yes, father." Hearing these words, Beatrix did not have time to react before Reiko instantly took the knife and came back to Jin''s side. "Thanks for your help. ......Erza, don''t let them steal it again, okay?...... barrier." Beatrix noticed that the knife in her hand had somehow disappeared and was now in Jin''s hand, and she unleashed her magic. "<>!" But all the magic was blocked in front of Jin and Erza, and none of it reached them. "......What the hell?They suddenly shot fire magic at us!" Beatrix heard Jin''s words and laughed. "Because you stole my knife!" Jin was disgusted. "......Wait a minute, this is Erza''s knife.You''re the thief, aren''t you? "What?You''re the thief, not me!You''re a thief! "...... Hey, is this guy crazy, by any chance?" They were not communicating at all. Jin asked Stearina, who was standing nearby. She shakes her head and replies ruefully. "Well, maybe they are a bit special. ......" (Ex.) "Hmm?......Oh, what''s this?Different design, but probably made by the same craftsman!" "Right?" "...... that." The young man and Beatrix started talking to each other. The young man also has blond hair and green eyes. Erza wondered if they were brother and sister, since he called her <. But more importantly, she was now working on the knife that Jin had made for her. "...... Um, can I have it back soon, please?" Elsa spoke to the young man hesitantly and reservedly. The young man looked at Erza and looked surprised. "Hmm?...... Oh, beautiful lady, what is your name?My name is Albert Bertin de Silicaite. "Elle, elle, za." Elsa says her name with dignity, though she is upset by the suddenness of her name. "Elsa. That''s a nice name. It''s a Shoro style name. Albert took Erza''s left hand and kissed her back. "What are you doing?" Erza was surprised and withdrew her hand reflexively. It is not customary in the Shoro Kingdom to kiss the back of a woman''s hand. Elsa shuddered at her first experience. The back of her hand, where Albert''s lips had touched hers, still felt unpleasant, as if a slug had crawled on it. But Albert does not seem to be offended. "Well, well, you are a very naive young lady. Not used to the customs of nobility?But don''t worry. I will teach you little by little. She reached out to grab Elsa, but Edgar gently stopped her hand. "Excuse me. "Excuse me, but could you please not bother the master any longer?" Albert looked puzzled for a moment, but the next moment he smiled a crooked smile. His tone of voice changed dramatically. "Hmm, you cheekily possess an automaton, but do you think a commoner''s daughter has a choice?I, the 13th in line to the throne, am going to take care of her, and you should be honored. "That is your subjective opinion. My master doesn''t want that. "That''s not the point. I wanted it, that''s all that matters! Albert raised his left hand. In response, armed soldiers appear. There are ten of them. "Look. Here are my guards. Beato, we''re going to take Miss Elsa back. Then we''ll ask her about the dagger. Beatrix let out a sigh. "As you wish, brother." Eight guards and a boy had appeared next to her before she knew it. "Come on, Elsa. Now we won''t have to be rough with you." "......Master Albert, do you really think you can get away with such lawlessness?" Stearina, who had not been able to keep up with the developments, came to her senses and stepped forward to give Albert a hard time. "Hmm?Well, who was it?I don''t remember the older one. ...... Oh, I remember now. Stair something. You think you''re a magecraftsman and you want to tell me what to do? "It doesn''t matter what you are. Lawlessness is lawlessness, that''s all. Albert snickered at these words. "Lawlessness?What lawlessness?...... I''m offering hospitality to any woman I like, you know?It would be a great honor to have you by my side, wouldn''t it?" "So, that''s your subjective opinion. There are many women who do not like it. That''s exactly what I''m talking about. This town belongs to my father and I''m his bastard son. What belongs to my father is mine. What''s wrong with taking it? You''re not making sense. Stearina was disgusted by the rumor that the prince had been such a fool. "Well, I''m tired of listening to your nonsense. Come on, Elsa." "...... No, sir." "Oh?Then we''ll have to rough you up a bit, won''t we?" At Albert''s words, one of the guards stepped forward. "You seem to have automata with you, but all my guards are automata too." The Kingdom of Cerroa is the most culturally advanced of the Lesser Clans. The most advanced is the technology of automata and golems. Many of them were taught by Donald Callow, Alpha, the first magecraftsman who once belonged to the Unifilers, and even though the Unifilers are no longer in existence, the technology remains. "First of all, let''s destroy that clever little automaton. Albert squares his jaw and the guard automaton attacks Edgar. Although he was lightly armed with a small shield (buckler) in his left hand and a shortsword in his right hand because he was in the city, Edgar was at a slight disadvantage because he was unarmed. The guard did not draw his shortsword, but first drew his left hand to strike Edgar with his shield. Edgar avoided the attack with agility, caught his left hand as it was coming back, and twisted his body. This is the Shoro knight''s martial art, the <>. An automata moves in a manner similar to that of a human being, and the range of motion of its joints is also similar to that of a human being. Therefore, the technique is effective against humans. Although the automata are heavily loaded on their wrists and elbows, they do not feel <> or >. Therefore, he tries to pull his arm to untwist it by force. However, the arm is still twisted and the movement is bad. The elbow joint was heavily loaded, and although he managed to unshake his arm, the damage was great. His left shoulder was half off. Albert was not just a selfish prince. He saw Edgar''s fighting behavior and instantly recognized the danger. "Take four!" Three more automata attacked Edgar. They struck him from the front, back, left, and right. In the Shoro Empire, Edgar had taken two puppet soldiers belonging to Georg, Erza''s father, as his own handiwork, but the automata escorting him were of a different caliber. Even Edgar could not handle four of them at the same time, and he was hit in the back with a blow from his shield. "Edgar! Erza shouted. An automata kicked Edgar in the face as he stumbled forward. The automata guarding him kicks him in the back of the head as he stumbles backward. A kick is fired at Edgar''s face as he falls forward again. Edgar held the kicking leg with both hands, and half-turned his body, striking the automaton with his back. But there was too much weight difference between the two fighters, and the opponent simply staggered. Edgar was caught in the opposite direction. As Edgar is bound in a cross-legged position, another guard automaton raises its right fist and pounces on him. "Edgar, look out! But Edgar, on the other hand, kicked the ground with both legs, then shrunk his legs as if holding them, and kicked out horizontally. Naturally, the kick hit the automata guarding him. As a reaction, the automata guarding Edgar fell backward. The two automata fall over as if popping. Edgar twisted his body and shook off the restraints. But the remaining two automata finally pulled out their shortswords. "You''re going to go that far? Saki, who had been watching in amazement, finally reactivated. "Aal, join Edgar!" Beatrix responded to her voice. "Oh, you''re going to join him?I''ll join you then." Beatrix also moved her four automata. Compared to Edgar, Aaru''s performance was slightly inferior. 8 automata against Edgar Aaru. The victory seemed obvious. This time, not bringing a covert task force (SP) to visit Gore in secret completely backfired. No one could have imagined that they would be involved in such an uproar. "Kuu!Jin!Come quick!" The people had already fled and the stores had closed their doors before they knew it. Then, three figures came walking toward them. "......What''s going on?" They are Jin, Hanna, and Reiko. "Jin, my brother......" Jin!Thank God. ......" "Jin-kun ......" Erza ran to Jin, and Saki and Stearina let out a relieved breath. "Hmm?What is that guy?...... pause!" The sudden intruder made the selfish siblings call a truce and ordered a halt, and the automata under their command stopped moving. "What the hell is going on?" On the other hand, Jin is puzzled by the situation. However, his complexion changed when he saw Edgar''s clearly damaged condition. "...... Edgar?Are you fighting them? "Yes, Jin!He tried to take Erza away and when she refused, he forced her!" "What?" Jin looked at Erza, who was hiding behind him as if clinging to him, and then at Albert. Then he saw Elsa''s knife in Beatrix''s hand. "Reiko, go get the knife for now." "Yes, father." Hearing these words, Beatrix did not have time to react before Reiko instantly took the knife and came back to Jin''s side. "Thanks for your help. ......Erza, don''t let them steal it again, okay?...... barrier." Beatrix noticed that the knife in her hand had somehow disappeared and was now in the hands of Jin and the others, and she unleashed her magic. "<>!" But all the magic was blocked in front of Jin and Erza, and none of it reached them. "......What the hell?They suddenly shot fire magic at us!" Beatrix heard Jin''s words and laughed. "Because you stole my knife!" Jin was disgusted. "......Wait a minute, this is Erza''s knife.You''re the thief, aren''t you? "What?You''re the thief, not me!You''re a thief! "...... Hey, is this guy crazy, by any chance?" They were not communicating at all. Jin asked Stearina, who was standing nearby. She shakes her head and replies ruefully. "Well, maybe they are a bit special. ......" 464 - - 14-15 incapacitation It seems that a few powerful people and their families wield extra-judicial rights, which is the system of the Kingdom of Celuloa. The two people in front of me are the most selfish among them. "It''s not an old-fashioned ...... or even a dictatorship ...... city?" It''s not like a nation under the rule of law, Jin thought. "No wonder Stearina wants to run away ......." "Anyway!Give me that knife! The selfish girl was still yelling, "Elsa, come on, come to me!" The selfish girl is talking nonsense. "Jin, my brother ......" Jin sees a glint in Erza''s eyes as she clutches his shoulder, "Did he do something to you?" Jin asked. Erza nodded silently. That was enough for Jin. "Stearina, you invited me here, but I don''t want to see you again, do I?" Stearina felt Jin''s anger, but she was also very angry, so she nodded her head. "Oh, for heaven''s sake, just do it! Stearina, looking completely fed up with the Kingdom of Celuloa, shouted in a throwaway manner. "...... girl, are those people bad people?" "Yes, they are. Yes, they are. They are selfish and cause trouble for others. "My grandma always says that you should never do anything that makes people uncomfortable." "That''s right. They''re idiots who don''t know that. Hannah shouldn''t be like that, okay?" "Yes!I''ll be a good girl! Hannah replied cheerfully and Jin patted her on the head. Erza and Saki couldn''t help but relax their cheeks at that mood. However, the selfish siblings did not remain silent. "......Have it your way. You can say whatever you want to say to us. That''s a crime punishable by death!" "If you cry and beg for forgiveness, I''ll spare your life, okay?" Jin was fed up. "...... enough! How many people have you made cry like that?" "Hmm. How many people have you made cry like that? Jin''s patience ran out at that tone. Reiko senses his anger and is already on the warpath. "Father, can I give those two idiots a lesson in reality?" Reiko is a little angry at Edgar, her cousin, for hurting her. "Oh. Poor thing, he had the misfortune to serve a stupid master. Let''s disable all the automata. Jin gives his permission. < them, but them. "Hey, you cheeky bastard!Go, boys!Let''s tear that piece of junk to pieces!" At the command of the selfish prince, ten guard automata attack Reiko. Reiko does nothing. She just waits and waits. One of them held Reiko''s torso, and one held her head. The remaining 8 grabbed both arms and legs in pairs. "Ha-ha-ha!How''s that!You can''t do anything now!I''ll tear you to pieces!" "...... You''ve got the worst taste in men, you know that?" Jin looks at Albert with cold eyes. Erza, Hannah, Saki, and Stearina stand by his side. Erza''s SP is invisible again and has disappeared, but is still close by, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings. The same goes for Jin and Hanna''s covert task force (SP). "Hmph, sore loser, huh? ...... you!Tear them apart!" With that order, the ten automata guarding the ship put their power to the test. ...... but nothing happens. "What''s wrong?Don''t be shy, okay?" But Reiko, who is about to be ripped apart into ten pieces, remains unconcerned. "...... is that all you''ve got?I think it''s time for us to go. Reiko gives her body a twist. With that, the ten automata escorting her are sent flying away. "What? Both Jin and Reiko had an idea of the automata''s potential. They could tell by the output of the ether converter or the free magic furnace (ether driver) or the mana driver (mana driver). I have faced many Golem automata in the past, including strong enemies, but this escort automata seems to be one of the weaker ones. I hate to use a bad analogy, but if Reiko kicked Edgar, he would be broken into pieces without a trace. And that too at about 40% power output. "The automata guard, it''s probably only as powerful as Edgar." Unlike the golem, the automaton is designed to resemble a human being, so its power is secondary to that of a normal automaton. "Aether converter output, 30 percent. It was thought that 20 percent would be enough, but Reiko, taking a precaution, gave 30 percent output and attacked her enemy. The weak point of automata, generally speaking, is their heads. The neck is not strong enough to resemble a human, and the visual information is obtained only through the two eyes. Based on these two points, the neck is the most effective point of attack to incapacitate the human. Many combat golems do not even have heads to be destroyed, but automata are different. <>" This is a neck throw in which the head of the opponent is thrown over the opponent''s head like a frontal jump, and the opponent is thrown backward while landing on his/her back. If he did this to a human, he would break his neck. The same goes for automata. First of all, the head of one of them turns to the wrong direction and its action stops. Normally, when the doll loses its visual information, in other words, when it cannot see, it is designed to make an emergency stop in order to prevent the doll from running out of control or other dangers. However, the second and later automatons were wary of the attack, drew their swords, and thrust out their shields. "Then..." Reiko grabs the shield carelessly and twists it inward. The automaton''s stance was easily broken by Reiko''s power. Reiko immediately grabs the automaton by the arm and slams it to the ground with an "arm throw. When it turned over on its back, he kicked it in the face, causing its head to crumple and the second automaton to stop. About 10 seconds have passed so far. The remaining eight jumped at her at once. Reiko jumped diagonally forward. Reiko escapes from the encirclement by kicking one of them in the face with her knee. Naturally, one of them is disabled. "Now let''s try this. ......<" It is one of the subjugation magic developed by the Unification Party (Unifiler) in the past. It cannot be prevented unless it is equipped with the shield structure that Jin and his group have made practical. If all the information in the control core is erased, the automata will naturally be stopped. Three automata were stopped by this method. Seeing that more than half of the automata had already been deactivated, the selfish siblings looked at each other with wide-eyed amazement. In the meantime, another automaton was disabled. Now there are only three left. "The speed is too fast!" Jin and his companions watched Reiko''s fight with ease... in less than 30 seconds, the 10 automata guarding them had been reduced to three... So... "Brother!I''ll let my automata join you!Go to ......!You will attack them over here!" Beatrix, the selfish princess, gave the order to attack Jin and the others. But all of them have already deployed their barriers. No automata can break through it. "Why?Why can''t we catch them? The automaton guards are blocked about 30 centimeters in front of Jin and the others, and their fists and kicks are out of reach. The same is true even if he pulls out his sword and slashes at them. "...... depresses me." He even pulls out his sword and slashes at me, which means he clearly intends to kill me. Son of a b*tc*! Jin was further angered by the way he was dragging Hannah into the fray. He thought about ordering the covert task force (SP) to take action, but then decided to do it himself. "<>" A beam of light extends from Jin''s bracelet and pierces the chest of the automata guarding him. It penetrates the control core without passing through. It was a sight only the Magecraft Meister Jin could have achieved. One after another, all eight automata stopped, their control cores destroyed. "Oh, my God!Who the hell are you? "...... you have no name." Jin says coldly. Saki and Stearina had never seen Jin so angry, but not Erza. I haven''t seen Jin this angry since the fight with the Unifilers," she thought. And Hannah remembered Jin when he was surrounded by Count Walter''s soldiers. Reiko, too, had finished disabling all ten of the automata guarding her. "Well, are you still going to do it?" Jin glared at me. To be honest, the baby-faced Jin''s glare was not that powerful, but the selfish siblings were blue in the face after having 18 automata wiped out in less than two minutes. "You dare to touch me!Father won''t stand for it! I''m a princess!Do something!I''ll make you a wanted man! The two of them still don''t feel sorry for each other. But... "...... Well, I guess all the fun and games are over, huh?" "...... Andro?" Andro, Beatrix''s boy chaperone, takes a step forward. 465 - - 14-16 Fifth Person "...... You have a pretty good automaton (automata). I found it informative." "Andro?Oh, you ......." Beatrix is surprised to see Andro, the boy squire with a different look. "I''m sorry, my lady, but it seems that my time as your squire has come to an end. We were having such a good time. Thanks to you and your friends ......!" Andro kicked the automata lying there toward Jin and the others. Surprisingly, the automaton flew through the air and hit the barrier of Jin and the others, who were about five meters away, and fell to the ground. "Oh, you, what in the world ......?" Albert, seeing his inhuman physical prowess, exclaims in amazement. "My real name is Androgyous. < Hearing this name, Jin can''t help but ask. "Are you ...... a demon?" "Heh?You know a demon tribe?" Androgyous''s face showed a bit of surprise. "Demon tribe?Andro, you''re a demon? Beatrix shouted. "Shut up! Shut up, you selfish girl! I''m talking to him right now! Androgyous interrupted Beatrix with a cold voice and turned to face Jin again. His tone of voice was more earthy. "So,......, you know the demons?" "......No, I''ve never met them. ......Yes, I''ve met someone called Markosias. ......No, I haven''t met him. However, he is the fifth demon tribe in the Horai Island group after Lardus, Dogmaloud, Bemiarouche, and Marcosias. "Hmm?I don''t know, but you seem to know some demons. Androgyous'' mood changes drastically. "We can''t let them live,<>." "Oh no!<>" Jin activates the magi-crystal inscribed with lightening magic that he happens to have with him. The old man had given it to him in case of an airship crash. And it barely cancelled Androgyous'' gravity magic. And though Androgyous chanted first, Jin seemed to be faster in activating the magic. "What?How come you guys are okay?Your weight must have increased more than 10 times! I don''t know if it''s because they can only use up to 10 times their weight alone without using El Rado Light, or if it''s due to the immaturity of Androgyas, but what''s attacking Jin and the others now is not 10 times their weight, but about 1.2 times their weight. But what was hitting Jin and the others now was not 10 times but about 1.2 times the gravity. It was a bit like carrying a heavy load, and even Hannah had a ">Even Hannah is looking at me with a < "<>" "What? Androgyous is stunned for a moment, and then Reiko unleashes her magic. She doesn''t intend to kill him, but to stun him so that she can capture him alive and get some information out of him. "Ah! Kya! However, the magic was blocked by the mysterious wards that Androgyous wore, and was scattered to the ground. And in the aftermath, the selfish siblings, Beatrix and Albert, were knocked over as collateral damage. Without paying attention to the two who fell, Reiko unleashed her next spell. "<>". The electric shock that stunned them was rebounded, so Reiko struck them with wind magic, a half-physical attack. "Hmph." But Androgyous laughed off the attack as well. "Let''s take care of that automata first. <>" Reiko''s body shook for a moment. It was a sign of increased gravity. "......" "Hmm, looks like we can''t use gravity magic here." Androgyous smirks, but Reiko walks away with a face like she doesn''t feel anything. "Hey!What the hell, you!Don''t tell me it doesn''t work? "No, it''s true that I weigh about 300 kilos now, but what does that matter? Reiko, who weighs several tons, is not concerned. Androgyous paled. Apparently this was his limit. "The magic bounced back, but what about this! After those words, Reiko kicked the ground. Reiko moves in front of Androgyous in an instant and throws a right straight right at his dove tail. The warding seemed to stop Reiko''s fist. However, it was only for a moment, and Reiko''s fist, which was delivered at 30 percent power output, was almost completely unleashed, and pierced into the abdomen of Androgyous. And it was not a punch from a 30kg Reiko, but from a 300kg Reiko. Although it only blew Androgyas away by a few meters, the tremendously heavy blow was enough to mow down his consciousness. The stun knocked him out also broke the gravity spell, and Jin also broke the lightening spell. "Phew, I''m glad I have this. ......" "Jin!You can control gravity too? Saki is surprised, but Jin tells her that he will explain later. The more important question is what to do with him. The androgythmus is growing on the road about 10 meters away from Jin and the others. It could be a valuable source of information on the demon tribe. Why he was doing this is a mystery to me. "Let''s try transinfo first. Jin took a cautious step forward, not knowing when he would be noticed again, even though he was unconscious. "<>" "What? A flame magic was released and struck Androgyous. Flamestorm! And another shot. The demon boy was startled for a moment, but it was short-lived. The powerful flames quickly reduced Androgyous to ashes. "Hannah, don''t look! Immediately Jin hugged Hannah, blocking her vision. "...... ha ha ha!" It was Beatrix who released a flame ball and Albert who released a flame storm. "...... What the hell!" Beatrix glared at him as Jin shouted. "What?She''s a demon, an enemy of humans! "That''s right. He has deceived and seduced us. What''s wrong with punishing him for that? The aftermath of the stun that he had just received may have broken his mental control, but his personality had not changed much. "...... No, I just thought it would have been better if you''d done some interrogation." "Interrogation?No need. The human race won the last magic war. Even if there''s a next time, humanity will win again. The selfish siblings show no sign of listening to Jin''s words. This is what they will look like when they come to their senses. "......" Jin relaxed his shoulders, feeling like he had no choice but to say, "Suit yourself. He stroked Hannah''s head and hugged her, "Shall we go home? Erza, Saki and Stearina nodded silently. "Where do you think you''re going? Albert shouts something, but Jin turns a deaf ear. Edgar seems to be able to walk on his own, and Jin and his group walk away without looking back. "Remember me! He is still saying something, but the selfish siblings do not come close to him, probably because they are afraid of Reiko. * * * * * * "I''m tired of ...... something." The group returned to Stearina''s house, mentally exhausted, and sank down on the sofa. Hannah, too, seems to be tired from the walk and is taking a nap. Reiko is accompanying her. "I''m so sorry! Stearena bowed her head as if she was going to get down on her knees. "I didn''t think it would come to this!I''m sorry, especially for Elsa. "...... don''t worry about it and don''t apologize so much. "...... thank you." It was not Stearina''s intention, and no one could blame her for that. "I can understand why Stearina would want to give up on this country. Jin opened his mouth. He looks disgusted. "Don''t you agree?" "I really think we should move. After what happened today, I''m sure they''ll take notice of us." Jin and the others decided to discuss Stearina''s future. "I don''t think I can even stay here anymore. ......" Stearina sounded tired. "Yeah, I think so too. "...... me too." All of us agreed that we should move. Then, where should we move to? Jin''s Kaina village or Hourai Island. Or Reinhardt''s Karuzu village? As expected, Houraishima would be a complete hermit, and since it has a warp gate, the two choices are Kaina village or Karuzu village. "No, why don''t you come to my house?" Then, as a third option, Saki made a proposal. 466 - - 14-17 Silent Story 26 The Kingdom of Celluloa and the Old King The Kingdom of Cerroa is the largest country in the Lesser Antilles. The population is about 200,000. The Kingdom of Cerroa has a population of approximately 200,000. It has been a kingdom of magic engineering since its annexation of the southern kingdom of Korin 200 years ago and the eastern kingdom of Rebus 100 years ago. It is a country with advanced magical engineering. The capital is Esair with a population of 18,000. The city is located on the site of the former capital of the Kingdom of Dinar, and the people take pride in the fact that their country has a long history. However, pride is sometimes replaced by conceit and pride. Most of the nobles were high in rank, but in reality, they were of little ability. Guillaume Boulogne de Cerlois, the grandfather of the present king (two generations before him), can be considered the founder of the new dynasty. He changed the government from a noble-centered one to a royal-centered one, established various laws, and promoted magical technology. It was Guillaume who favored engineers and encouraged technological development. He decided to rank the engineers and to give them the ranks of Alpha, Beta, Gamma ...... in order from the first to the last. Thanks to this, a culture centered on magical technology flourished, and the kingdom was firmly established as the number one in the Lesser Antilles in the field of automata and golems. It was Guillaume who subjugated the neighboring kingdom of Franz by force of arms, making it a half vassal state. The people praised his reign through tense but reasonably friendly diplomatic relations with other neighboring states. The present King of Cerroa, Richard Valois de Cerroa, is the grandson of Guillaume. Unlike his father, Cibel Valois de Cerlois, who succeeded to Guillaume''s policies without any problems, he had his own policies. "First Secretary of the Interior Lambreaux, I report to you today. First Secretary of Foreign Affairs Beaujolie, reporting today. In order to prevent the usurpation of the throne, all blood relatives were removed from the nobility who were involved in politics at the royal court. Instead, local politics was left to the blood relatives, i.e., the royal family, who ruled each region as dukes or grand dukes. The order of succession to the throne was clearly defined to prevent family turmoil as much as possible. However, the imbalance between the meritocracy in the national government and the family-oriented system in the provinces caused various conflicts. It was this kind of hotbed of defections among the great local nobles that allowed the rise of the Unification Party (the Unifilers). Now, all such nobles have been purged, and on the surface, the government appears to be governed only by those who are loyal to the kingdom. However, behind the scenes, there have been constant struggles for power and for the succession to the throne. The lord of the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa, including the regional city of Gore, is Duke Hubert Bertin de Marchand. He is the king''s cousin and the brother of the present queen, the ninth in line to the throne. 40 years old and in the prime of his career. He is 40 years old and in the prime of his life. He is 40 years old and very active. He is eager to rule the kingdom in a different way from his grandfather Guillaume. The different way is not by <> but by <>. It sounds good to say that <> rule the city instead of <>, which is sometimes ruthless in its judgment, but it has created <> and <>. The towns in the fiefs were ruled by blood relatives, such as the brother of the duke, who thought only of their own interests. Some people did not like such rule and left the towns, but other towns were no better and did not accept strangers, so they ended up coming back. Since fleeing the country was severely punished, most of the people lived their daily lives with a half-hearted resignation. It is also true that as long as one is quiet and fulfills one''s obligations such as paying taxes, one''s life can go by without much trouble. The government appeared to be peaceful and tranquil. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "d*mn those people! Albert, the eldest son of the Duke of Hubert, came home that day. His sister Beatrix was with him. "Brother, let''s send some troops to that woman''s house!" "Yes. And there is also the matter of the demon tribe. We''ll report to father first. Gore is the home of the Duke of Hubert, who rules the northwestern part of the country. Their father, the duke, was at home that day. "Father, I have to speak to you." "Yes, Al?" Al is the nickname by which the Duke, their father, called Albert. "I want to talk to you about the insolent Magi craftsmen in your lands... and about those who seem to be demons." "What?" The Duke, who had been relaxing, leaned forward a little, and the sturdy easy chair he was sitting in creaked under the pressure of his huge body, 6''4", 148 kilograms. The sturdy easy chair he was sitting on creaked. "There was the dagger I presented to you the other day, wasn''t there?" "Yes. You said you bought it for 100,000 Tol, but that dagger is worth more than ten times that. Did you know the author by any chance?" They were looking for a craftsman to make a dagger for the Princess who will turn 15 this year. "Yes, no, we found a commoner with a knife that we thought was made by the same craftsman and we tried to talk to him, but he was insubordinate." "Hmm. But what about the automaton escort unit I put on you?" I''m sorry, there were ...... several of them, but they were destroyed by the monster automaton they brought with them. What? And that follower of Beato''s, Andro, was a demon! What? Father, it''s true. He called himself Androgyous the Mad. "Mmmm... ......" The duke leans back deeply against the backrest. Again the chair creaked. ...... so?" "Yes, Beato and I defeated the demons. "I see. That''s my boys! That''s one way to put it. If Reiko hadn''t knocked them out, even a hundred of them wouldn''t be able to defeat Androgyas. And who is this insolent magecraftsman? Yes, a woman named Stair something and some friends of hers. The duke thought for a moment and then opened his mouth as if he had just had an idea. "Stare ...... Stearina Beta?" "Yes, that''s the name, isn''t it?" "That''s a good woman,......, what about her?" What about her? "The monster automaton she was carrying with her destroyed the escorting automaton squadron. "Ummm... ...... is he a magecraftsman too?" "Perhaps." "Okay. I''ll make the arrangements. Talk to the Prime Minister about the details. I understand. Thank you, sir. With that, Albert and Beatrix left their father''s presence. At this moment, however, Capella 10, one of the fifth column (quinta), which had been instructed by the old man, deployed its and was close by. "......That''s all, end of report." I reported the whole situation to the old man, and he immediately replied with instructions. After a short delay, the gold is transferred to Capella 10. says the old man. He knew from the conversation that the dagger had been purchased for 100,000 dollars. Now Jin, or rather the financial situation of Hourai Island, can pay 100,000 Tol for it. The dagger in the back of the Duke''s study is retrieved, and a gold coin worth 100,000 Tolls is placed in its place. The old man was secretly smiling, wondering what kind of face he would make when he found out that the sword was converted into gold coins. The next target is the selfish siblings. The old man gives instructions to the 5th Quinta, Regulus 11 and Deneb 25, who are in charge of Essiah, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa. The old man just made a document containing the facts as they are. In other words, < The old man knew by the fifth column (quinta) that this kind of blunder is the one that the present king hates the most. When this fact became known to the king, Albert and Beatrix were reprimanded and each of them was reduced 10 ranks in the line of succession to the throne. Albert dropped from 13th to 23rd and Beatrix from 21st to 31st. Beatrix dropped from 21st to 31st. Their father, the Duke of Hubert, was also dropped by 5 ranks. He was said to be in a bad mood for several days because of the drop from 9th to 14th place. * * * * The brain of Horai Island, the old man, never forgives anyone who disrespects his master Jin and his family. 467 - - 14-18 Exile... When Saki asked her to come to her house, Stearina thought for a moment. "Saki''s house, right ......?" "I have my own room and it''s quiet. My father is with me, but he''s usually not here. ...... Jin is not so bad, he thought. Even if he were to come to Kaina Village, he would have to build a house. It would only take a day to build it. The biggest problem is that I don''t know the residents of Kaina village very well. Especially in Kaltu village. Saki''s house is a single family house and there are no houses around it, so there is no need to get to know the neighbors. Furthermore, it would be better if they were protected as a country. In this sense, the Kingdom of Shoro is a better choice. Anyway, we agreed that the sooner we leave the Kingdom of Selroa, the better, and that we would live with Saki at her house for the time being. We would then have to move out immediately. We split up and packed up our household goods. Only a few pieces of furniture were not allowed to go with us. Clothes, dishes, books, etc. are packed by Edgar, Aal, Serene, and others. Reiko is in charge of the magic tools since they are heavy. Three packages weighing about 50 kg. All but the rarest of materials are left behind. "......I guess that''s about it." "Well, at worst we can come back later to pick it up. Are you sure you want to do this?You''ve lived here for a long time. When Jin looked at her lonely profile and asked her, Stearina smiled. "It''s ...... fine. It''s my house and I still have memories of it. It''s better if you can get away from the inconvenience of your life completely. "...... I see." Jin nodded, but seemed to be thinking about something when he saw the lonely look on Stearina''s face. "Well, let''s go." They each took their luggage and passed through the warp gate attached to the carriage. < and return to pick it up again. The warp gate is too small to carry a large amount of luggage at once. After two round trips, the luggage is completely gone. It took about two hours to reach this point. The wagon will be driven by the steward and will return at the warp gate of Condor 3, which was dispatched at an appropriate point. The time difference between Banne, Shoro, and Gore, Selroa, is about two hours. It was about 1:00 p.m. local time when I left for Saki''s house. "Thank you for taking care of me, Saki. With that, Stearina walked through the front door of the Eschenbach house with her large luggage in her arms. "Oh?Who are you?" A man''s voice. Unexpectedly, Stearina dropped her luggage. "Father!" Saki shouted. It was Toa Eschenbach himself, who had come home for a rare visit. Saki''s father was there, too, and he had come home for a rare visit. "Hmm, exile, you mean." "Yes, yes, and I have decided to take your daughter''s word for it. Half an hour later, Stearena, Jin, and Erza were in the reception room with Saki after they had finished taking their luggage to the spare room. In case you are wondering, Hannah did not come here from the , but was sent back to the village of Kaina. She is probably having dinner with Martha and her family at home by now. "I know this is inconvenient for you, but I would like you to leave us for a while. ......" Stearina turned her head and glanced at Toa''s face. Toa is 44 years old this year. He has auburn hair and purple-gray eyes, much like Saki''s. He is a thin man. He is thin and only slightly taller than Stearina. "No, I don''t spend much time at home. If it''s okay with my daughter, then it''s okay." Thoa, who is not a very fussy person, readily accepted Stearina''s offer. He is grateful that he is not asked how he came from the Kingdom of Cerroa. "......, what about the rest of you?" This was a question for Jin and the others. "Oh, my name is Jin. I''m a friend of Saki ......." "I''m Elsa from ....... It''s been a while. Toa looked at Erza''s face and tried to remember for a moment, "Elsa ......?Oh, that girl!It''s been a long time!You''ve grown up so much!" She spoke to him in a slightly higher tone. "Yes, sir." Toa had seen Erza several times in the past, even though he was Saki''s father and a commoner. "So, Jin is Erza''s son-in-law?" Yes. "No, no, my brother Jin is my brother-in-law." Erza''s cheeks are slightly stained and she denies it desperately. Saki, who is sitting next to Toa, looks at her as if she is seeing something unusual. "Well, there seems to be a complicated situation here. Toa said and did not pursue the matter any further. Stearina looked straight at Toa. "Toa-sama, can you make crystal with alchemy? Toa answered with a smile to such a question. Haha, even though it is called alchemy, it is not possible to create materials from scratch. At best, you can only transform them to increase their uses. Is that so? "Yes, they originally tried to create gold ......." It seems that Toa and Stearina are somehow compatible with each other. Saki looked at her father, who was making an unusually enthusiastic speech, with a look that said she had seen something unusual. "Well, anyway, I''m glad that Stearina has decided to move. "Yes, I''m glad they have decided to move. I''m relieved that my father approved of the move. "Saki, I think Uncle likes you, Stellina." Elsa said something like that. Certainly, Toa and Stearina seemed to be talking to each other in a friendly manner even though they had never met each other before. "Erza, let''s go back to Horai Island for a while. We have to take care of Edgar. "...... yeah. Let''s go back. So Jin and Erza decided to return to Horai Island. Jin thought that Saki would have a lot to talk about with her father who had returned after a long absence. In truth, he had many questions he wanted to ask Toa, but he prioritized the time between father and daughter. It was Jin''s way of showing consideration. "See you later, Saki." "Yeah, see you later." Then Jin, Erza, Reiko, Edgar, and the two of them moved to Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Stop Edgar first." It was already nighttime on Horai Island, and the first thing they did was, of course, to maintain Edgar. Edgar, who has taken off his clothes, lies on the workbench. Erza, the creator of the device, uttered the key word for . Jin and Elsa disassemble Edgar, who has stopped, according to the procedure: ....... "Oh, I knew there was damage." Jin, Hannah, and Reiko have heard and know what happened while they were gone, but when they actually examine Edgar, they can imagine the situation even more realistically. "His skeleton is a little distorted. ...... I''m glad it''s light silver." Light silver is a light and strong material, and its tenacity allows it to withstand attacks without breaking. If it had been bronze, it could have broken. "Let''s replace it with 64 light silver." "Yes. This material is even stronger than pumice silver and has a higher hardening and toughening effect. In addition, important parts are reinforced with adamantite. Basically, Elsa does the work. Jin is standing by to provide guidance. "Okay, now we just need to increase the output. Considering the purpose of protecting Erza, it cannot be denied that the current power is insufficient. I would like to have as much power as the 5th row (Quinta), or a little more. I will replace Magical Muscle with Siamese Dragon. The ether converter and mana driver are also renewed to produce more output. After three hours of work, Edgar''s repairs and strengthening are completed without a hitch. 468 - - 14-19 Registration Stearina, you''ve defected. Yes, Mr. Reinhard. Nice to meet you. July 23rd. The day after Stearina moved into Saki''s house. Around 9:00 in the morning, Stearina went to visit Reinhard in Kurtz village. "Hmmm, I better report this to the country as soon as possible ......". The sooner the better, Reinhardt decided to go to the capital Leuthart that day. Since he had just finished his work as a lord, Reinhardt might have really wanted to go there for a change of pace. The members of the group were Reinhardt, Stearina, and Neon. The reason why Neon is chosen instead of the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) is ostensibly to reduce the weight of the ship, but in reality, Neon is asked to be a small flirtation monitor for Bertsche, who is concerned about the fact that Stearina and Reinhardt are alone together. Once in Banne by horse-drawn carriage, they take the , which is left at the port, to Koju on the other side of the river. In Koju, we hired a carriage to take us to the capital, Leusert. As a result of his haste, he managed to enter Miyagi Prefecture by 3:00 p.m. He hurried to meet with the Prime Minister. He hurriedly requests a meeting with the Prime Minister, giving his reasons, of course. Of course, I included the reason for my request. Perhaps because there was not much work to do that day, an audience with the Prime Minister was granted after only a five-minute wait, and Reinhard and Stearina were summoned to the office. "Oh, Reinhard, and Mister Stearina! "We haven''t seen you since the technology expo." Not only Prime Minister Jung Forss von K?bsler, but also Minister of Magic and Technology Degas Furt von Manischlus were present. And then, to his surprise, "Welcome, Shaw! "Welcome to the Shoro Kingdom. Welcome to the Shoro Kingdom, Stearina! Even the empress, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, was present. "Your Majesty, I am honored. Stearina was taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. The same was true for Reinhardt. "I happened to be discussing another matter with the Prime Minister when I received a report and an audience request from Reinhardt. Reinhardt was secretly satisfied that there was a reason for the short waiting time. "Dear Stearina, our country is happy to have such a talented and intelligent magi engineer as yourself. Is he currently with Reinhardt?" The Prime Minister said, smiling. "No, Saki, he is at ...... Saki Eschenbach''s house." Stearina denies this and explains the current situation. "Oh, I see. By the way, I wonder if your country, the Kingdom of Celuloa, knows that you have defected to our country? "No, I don''t think so. No, I don''t think they know. They can guess, but they can''t be sure. I don''t think he left any clue as to where he was going. "I understand. I will make a clear declaration from my country when the time comes. Rest assured. The Prime Minister smiled and said that there was nothing to worry about, since the exile would be handled state-to-state. "So, what are you going to do in my country?" The Prime Minister''s eyes immediately sharpened. But Stearina, who has nothing to hide, is not put off by this. "I don''t have any particular goal in mind. I''d like to live a quiet life if possible. ......" That was her honest intention. He was only hoping for a quiet life in the Shoro Empire. Therefore, as expected, even the female emperor could not guess that she was going to do whatever she wanted in Horai Island. "I see. If possible, I would appreciate it if you could pass on your skills to the younger generation ......." The Prime Minister was about to say this, but the emperor stopped him with a hand. "Jung, not now. Stearina must be exhausted by the events in your country. When you are recovered, you can ask her again. Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Is there anything you need? Stearina bows her head deeply to the emperor. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty. There is nothing in particular at this moment. "I see. ...... Then, Prime Minister, do you have a certificate of being a Magi Engineer of our country? No, not really. No, not particularly. What should we do ...... to prove that our country is protecting Lord Stearina? "Your Majesty, one of the things I learned from the Fuhrer who was given to me by Master Jin is something called a . ......" "Yes, I learned that too. But it''s not something you can do right away. ......" Knowing the people is useful not only for management but also for various welfare purposes, but as they say, . "In that case, how about, first of all, establishing a system of issuing some kind of certificate to foreign residents of the Shoro Empire?" The Prime Minister came up with an alternative. This is similar to passports and visas. The difference is that this is for proof of permanent residence. "Yes, right. Let''s go that way. ...... and you''re the first!" "What? The conversation is going on and on, and Stearina can''t keep up. Political talk is not her forte. Reinhardt, on the other hand, understood its validity. "Your Majesty, please consider attaching a <> to the certificate. And renew it in cycles of several years." This is advice that Reinhardt can only give after having received a transcription of modern earth knowledge from Jin. "Oh, that''s good. It will make identification easier and prevent misuse by others. Imagining the benefits, the emperor immediately adopted the idea. Thus, Stearina was certified as the first registered foreigner living in the Shoro Empire. * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, on the same day, at Horai Island. As Jin and Erza were thinking about what kind of weapon to use for Edgar, the old man spoke to him. The old man said to Jin: "Yes, I see. Let me hear it." Jin, who had just reached a deadlock in his thinking, or rather, had not decided what to choose, decided to listen to the report for a change. < "I see. ......" Gigantopods are demons that even Jin did not know. It is no wonder that Jin could not identify it at that moment. < "In short, an exoskeleton. A mantis''s sickle, a stag beetle''s jaw, and so on. Jin digests this information, thinking that it would be unbearable if there were so many creatures with exoskeletons harder than light silver. "Well, let''s use Edgar''s equipment, Elsa. "...... that, is that the shell of a gigantopod?" "Yes. It''s light and strong. How about making a knife, a cuirass, and a basket hand? Jin and Erza resume discussing Edgar''s equipment, but the old man still has more to report. "Oh, I see, I''m sorry. Please report back to me at ...... then." < "Mole?" Jin asked back, not understanding what he meant. The old man immediately began to explain. < "Yes, indeed. Yes, I am sure. There are some things that you cannot make without the permission of the creator, Jin. One of them is a new type of Magickal Device that has never existed before. Jin confirms the conception of the device that the old man has projected on the magic screen. It has a cylindrical body with a hyperadamantite tip at the tip. This is used to dig. The excavated rocks and sediments are transferred to a predetermined location through a warp gate installed inside the cylinder. The cylinder itself can move forward and backward by the caterpillar driven by the Golem engine installed on its side. "Yes, it''s very well made. So, what kind of magical device do you want me to make?" Jin felt that this would be enough functionality. . "Oh, I see." Jin understood. When digging for a hot spring, Jin uses digging. This is classified as an elementary level of earth magic, and is originally a magic to dig a pit and drop enemies into it. When it is cast on Jin, it is used to dig underground tunnels. Originally, it is difficult for an ordinary or even an advanced mage to dig a hole more than 5 meters away from the target. This is because the magic power of a magician weakens in inverse proportion to the square of the distance. Jin is the exception of the exception. < are ejected out of the hole. Since magic power is also used for this, you can imagine that the deeper the hole is, the more it cannot be handled by an ordinary mage. "<> would probably be able to find any foreign objects in the ground without destroying them. < The other day, a mysterious magical device was found while investigating a hole that a gigantopod had crawled out of. From its appearance, we had no idea what it was for or what it was called. "Okay. I''ll make it right away." Jin saw through the old man''s intention and agreed to do so. > as a countermeasure against demons. It is a countermeasure against gravity magic. Jin had been saved by it the other day, so he approved it immediately. <> "Yes, that''s good." In this way, further reinforcement was made. 469 - - 14-20 Withdrawal "All right, let''s hear it first." The old man continued his report to Jin, who looked as if he was about to start work on making a magical tool that could be used for <. > "I''m sorry, Mr. President. Let''s hear about it when we are all here." . Stearina, Saki, and Reinhard. Jin thought that he would like to share the new knowledge with everyone at once. First of all, we need to make a digging tool. It is not a particularly difficult technique. All you have to do is to write a magic formula on an earth-attribute magic crystal (magi crystal). The work itself took less than five minutes. "Now, you can make the same kind of magical tool as this one, can''t you? I will be counting on you. < The Master sends Lao Tzu to pick up the excavation tool from Jin''s hand, He made a new report, "I have a report from Deneb 4. "Hmm?What happened?" The reason why soldiers were originally stationed in a remote area like Toka Village was because of the Inado Mine. Since criminals were used as labor force, 10 soldiers were stationed there at all times in case of emergency. However, since the Inad Mine has been abandoned and will be handed over to Jin as of August 1, it seems that the number of soldiers stationed there has been raised. < Jin recognized the name. When Jin went on a business trip to Toka village, he was a new soldier who was being bullied by a senior soldier. "Hmmm... I wonder if there was something to see." Jin imagined that even though his aptitude as a soldier was low, he might have had an aptitude for clerical work. As the vice-captain of the female knight corps, she must have been entrusted to lead the common soldiers. However, the fact that there are 9 male soldiers and only one Gloria is a little bit worrisome to me. "Can you get ...... Deneb 4 to escort you?" "Send someone from the rangers. << * * * * * * "Don''t be slow!Walk a little faster!" Meanwhile, Gloria was walking toward the village of Rac-Neau. Since she left Toka village late, she decided that she would not be able to go as far as Doppa anyway, so she decided to stay at Racneau that night. d*mn you, woman!) What a braggart! What a knight! d*mn nobles!) You''re the only one who rides a horse! We''re walking!) The nine soldiers were walking slowly, grumbling. "Oh, it''s so cold!" The midsummer sun shone overhead, burning their skin. No wonder they couldn''t help but let out a voice like that. But... "Stop complaining!You can''t whine like that on the battlefield!" Gloria scolds the soldier for his unnecessary talk. d*mn you, you''re getting on my nerves!) And the soldiers'' frustration builds up even more. (Their skill level is too low. ...... is too low. ......) Gloria observes the soldiers in Gloria. (Better than the Women''s Guards, but not as good as the elite. ......) Most of the female members of the Knight Corps are noble girls who feel like sitting on their hands, but there are one or two out of every ten who are highly qualified and motivated. Compared to these women, the soldiers who were following them were just like small fry. Furthermore, Gloria had heard from Jin the other day how the newcomers were being bullied, and she wanted to take this opportunity to treat them a little better. "One hour to Racneau!Quickly!" Wheeze, wheeze. Whew! Whew! "...... d*mn that f*cking aristocrat! When the soldiers arrived in Racqeuneau and heard that they were to camp instead of staying overnight, they were chagrined and grumbled behind their backs. The encampment was located on the outskirts of the village of Racqeuneau. Just then, Deneb 4 caught up with Gloria''s group. The soldiers seem to be getting more and more frustrated.) Deneb 4 communicates with the old man via the built-in manacam so that the others cannot hear him. Deneb 4. Gloria is more of an acquaintance and less of a friend to the master (Mylord). We don''t know how things will change in the future.) Besides," the old man added. He regretted that he should have analyzed it secretly at the time of the Gigantorpeeder case, since he had secured it. However, despite Jin''s and Lao-kun''s concern, the night passed without incident. "Everyone woke up! On July 24th, Gloria woke everyone up at 4 am. Of course, it was still dark. "Get ready!Prepare your own meals! The intention was to take this opportunity to feed them since they had been provided with plenty of portable rations when they were stationed in the city. There is a possibility that they will be discarded once they return to King''s Landing. In an environment where there are so many delicious foods available, it is only natural that the old portable rations would not be considered. "Ah, I''m sleepy." "d*mn you aristocrats! I hope you''re eating well." That''s a misunderstanding. Gloria eats the same food... but they don''t know that. "All right, let''s get ready to go! It is 4:30 a.m. when the light finally begins to brighten over the mountains to the east. Gloria gave the order to leave. "Let''s go!" The soldiers, who had managed to finish their preparations, departed from Lachnoe. At the tail end of the group, there was a disturbing conversation. (I remember there is a rocky wasteland about 5 hours away...) (If we all attack there, ......) Let''s go for the dismounted part.) (Let''s go after them when they get off their horses.) (Hee-hee, that''ll be fun.) Unaware of such a discussion, Gloria takes the lead on horseback. Four hours after leaving Rac-Neau, we entered the mountain road. About two hours from here is the last mountain road, and the rest is mostly flat. The place where Count Walter caused the cliff to collapse is right in the middle of the road. The group is slowly making its way uphill, albeit gently. The soldiers are breathing heavily. "Hang on!We''re almost to the pass!" But even with Gloria''s encouragement.., You''re riding a horse and you can talk all you want...) (Just watch me now. ......) (You''re riding a horse, but you can say whatever you want...) (Watch me now...) The hearts of the soldiers had not been touched. Finally, they climbed up the pass. All that remained was to go down. "All right, all of you, stop!We will take a short rest here. Drink some water." Gloria dismounted her horse to rest. The pass has a large open space where travelers can rest. Gloria wipes the sweat from the nape of her neck. The soldiers see her, and a swooning light comes into their eyes. 470 - - 14-21 Timer The soldiers were secretly gripping their swords, looking for the right moment to slam them into Gloria with their sheaths. "Ah, there are so many humans here! Such a voice rang out. It was definitely the voice of a young girl. No matter how you judge it, it sounded like the voice of a girl who was far from being an adult. A giggling figure appeared from behind a large rock. She was about 120 centimeters tall, and definitely seven or eight years old. She had jet-black hair that reached to her back and dark red eyes. Her skin was morbidly white, and her arms and legs peeking out from a black sleeveless dress were thin and slender. The soldiers who were about to attack Gloria looked at the girl as if they had been drained of their venom. "You''re so lucky...so many people came in less than an hour! The girl laughed, her mouth as red as blood. "Who are you ......?" Gloria stared at the girl with her hand on the short sword at her waist. "Me?I''m Alshell. < With a smile on her face that should be called a smirk, not a smirk, the girl who introduced herself as Alshell approached Gloria step by step. "Stop right there!" Gloria shouts as she feels an indescribable chill. Her back was still and greasy with perspiration. "What is it?Are you afraid of me?Look, I don''t have anything on me!" Archelle stops and opens her arms, waving them in the air. "I heard your name. Alchel, what are you doing here?" "Hmm?I was waiting for a human. What were you waiting for? For an experiment. Experiments? Experiment? Look at this!Look at my pets!" Archel raised his right hand high in the air. Then something long, thin, and huge fell from the rock. It looked like a scorpionfly, but it was more than two meters long. There were four of them in total. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" They''re demons! The soldiers behind Gloria screamed and ran away when they saw them. "Idiots!Stay where you are!" Six of them stopped at the sound of that voice. The three in the very back stopped and turned around, but then ran away again. "Ha-ha-ha, you cowardly people. But do they think they can escape? Archelle let out a high-pitched whistle. Then, from the direction from which the three had fled, four giant scissors bugs appeared. "Aaah!" The soldier who had been leading the escape was knocked off with a swipe of the monster''s tail. The remaining two barely manage to keep their distance from the tail. "Get back!Form a circle! Gloria shouts again. The remaining eight soldiers followed Gloria. The nine men form a circle in the open space of the pass. Now they will not be attacked from behind. "All men, draw your swords!Ready!" At Gloria''s command, everyone drew their shortswords and held them out in front of them. "Ummm...you think that''s going to save us?You''re so stupid. You can''t cut their bodies with a sword, can you? "You''ll never know unless you try!" Gloria flicked the tail of the monster that was approaching her with her sword. The giant scissors fall to the ground. "What?" Archelle''s eyes widened in astonishment. "No way! You cut me?What, that sword? The sword in Gloria''s hand was a sword reinforced with adamantite. 0.1mm thick, 25mm wide, and about 60cm long. It is made of a thin plate of adamantite sandwiched between sheets of steel. The blade attached to the adamantite was harder than the body surface of a giant scissors beetle. "Thank you, Jin-dono!" Gloria thanked Jin for making the sword. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and Elsa had completed Edgar''s equipment that day. The shell of the Gigantopod, though inferior to adamantite, is stronger than adamantite in terms of strength per weight. In other words, it is strong and light. "Ten knives. We should be able to keep them inside our clothes. With Edgar''s enhanced strength, he can easily pierce ordinary bronze armor. He could cut through steel. And the baskets. It covers from the elbow to the fist. If used properly, it can repel magic. "Okay, now Edgar''s even stronger. He will protect Erza." "Yes, brother Jin, thank you." At that moment, an urgent report came from the old man. "What?" I thought Gloria might be attacked, but I didn''t expect a demon tribe to appear. "Send ten land troops under Machina''s name!It will be a good test for the new equipment." Using the transporter, the old man sent out 20 from Land 11. The position markers were taken care of by Deneb 4, so there was little margin for error. . "Okay, send Nurse Alpha. ...... We should start thinking about mass production soon." Jin muttered to himself after sending out Nurse Alpha for rescue. * * * * * * "Hahahaha, you''re doing great against Gigantor Avrum! Archelle, who called the giant scissors beetle Gigantor Avrum, looked on with amusement at Gloria''s display. "I didn''t know humans could do this. That''s a good point of reference!" "d*mn you, you lickety-split!" Only Gloria''s sword could stand up to Gigantor Avrum. And even in terms of strength, the soldiers are no match for her. The soldiers form a circle and use their collective strength to defend against attacks from behind. And Gloria was taking part of the circle, protecting the soldiers from Gigantor Avrum and wounding them at the same time, repeatedly. But Gloria was alone, with only one sword. Naturally, the soldiers on the side without Gloria would be threatened. To prevent this as much as possible, they slowly rotated the circle they had formed, always keeping it moving. "Uh-huh, you must be getting tired by now." The soldiers were less skilled than Gloria and still tired from the march. Their legs are tangled and their movements are slowing down. Then, unexpectedly, the catastrophe struck. The soldier to Gloria''s right fails to dodge and catches Gloria in the leg. "Whoa!" Gloria and the soldier fall down in a tangled mess. "Haha, that''s the end!That was fun! The gigantor avrum attacked the fallen Gloria. "Captain!" one of the soldiers shouted. Gloria closed her eyes and gritted her teeth in preparation for the coming shock and pain. "............" But no matter how long she waited, there was no sign of the Gigantor Avrum. Gloria gently opened her eyes and ....... "Hey!" She sees a silver-brown golem wielding a shining sword and a slain gigantor avlum. "What the hell are you people doing here! Archelle screamed in a voice that almost sounded like a scream. 471 - - 14-22 Ideas "You ...... are?" Seeing the golem that had saved her and slain the gigantor avlm, Gloria was unknowingly using the language of a human. "We are a golem unit sent by Deus ex Machina. Rand 11 replied on behalf of the others. "From the Lord Machina?" "...... Thank God!" All eight gigantor avrums had now been cut down. And some of the soldiers, who seemed to know Machina''s name, slumped to the ground with a sigh of relief. "......You''re not normal! ......How dare you take my little giganto-avlum!" The eight bodies from Lands 12 through 19 surround the terrified demon girl, Archelle. There was no escape now. They were about two meters away and had put up a barrier to keep Archel in check. There is no room for escape because the eight barriers are in contact with each other. "They won''t hurt you as long as you stay quiet." "Don''t be silly!!" Archelle unleashed a slavery spell. But it has no effect on Lando and the others, who have already taken countermeasures. Lando 11, who is acting as the leader of the dispatched troops, turns to Archel and says, "That magic doesn''t work. "That magic doesn''t work. But if they use or , it will be troublesome. I''ll activate the magijammer. Lando and the others'' barriers are also disabled, but that doesn''t matter much. Alshell is now a rat in the bag. "How do you even know about magic?<>!" Archelle is desperately trying to cast a gravity spell, but nothing happens. "Why?Why?What did you do? Even Archelle is dismayed at this. I don''t owe you an answer. I''d rather you answer my question. I don''t think I''m going to answer that question. There are several ways to answer your question. Facing Archel, who was surrounded by 8 randos, Rand 11 reached out his right hand and tried to invoke . There was a way to stun them with a direct attack, but it was decided not to do so this time. In addition to the fact that she appeared to be a girl, he also considered the fact that <> seemed to have less physical strength than he had expected, given that she had been reduced to ashes so easily last time. <, which turned out to be a bad move. In principle, it is not possible to activate other magic at the same time as a magijammer. The moment he turned off the jammer for a moment, Archel, who had been surrounded by eight lands, disappeared. It seems that he had been activating the transfer magic in a desperate attempt to escape. In the instant that the Magijammer was cut off, the transfer magic was activated and Alshell appeared about 5 meters behind Lando and the others. The moment Lando turned the jammer on Alshell again, Alshell''s transfer magic, which he had been trying to activate without interruption, was activated more quickly. Archel disappeared completely from their presence. "...... You let him get away," muttered Rand 11 regretfully. Rand 11 muttered regretfully. Then he slowly turned to Gloria and the others. Then Gloria realized that Land 11 was the leader, I am Gloria Allstadt, vice-captain of the Cline Kingdom Women''s Knight Corps. I thank you for your help. She bowed her head and thanked them. "No, we were only following the instructions of Makina-sama. I see that you have been ...... injured." But Gloria shook her head, "No, there is someone more seriously injured than I am. She looked at the soldier who had just been hit by the gigantor avrum. But the soldier had already been treated by Nurse Alpha. "Oh, ...... that golem is also Makina''s golem? Yes, my name is Nurse Alpha. I specialize in rescue. "You''re quite a person, Makina-dono, aren''t you? Gloria, who was casually looking at Nurse Alpha, muttered to herself. "...... Mister Elsa?" The old man, who was getting real-time information from Land 11, realized his mistake of showing Nurse Alpha, who looked just like Elsa, to Gloria. He rushed to prepare an excuse. "Yes, she was modeled after Elsa, who was temporarily in protective custody. "I see. Well, it''s nothing to pry into. Gloria seemed to be convinced by this. Maybe it''s because she''s simple at heart. "The treatment is finished. All that''s left is Ms. Gloria. Nurse Alpha came in, having finished treating the wounded soldier. "Oh, oh, I see. Take good care of him. "<><>>" Sterilizes the wound and then heals it. The healing magic healed the wounds on Gloria''s arms, shoulders, and cheeks. "Oh, great!It doesn''t hurt anymore!Thank you." Gloria gives a brief, but knightly salute. "Well, we''ll leave you to it. Have a safe journey." "Please give my best wishes to Makina. I hope to see you again someday. Yes, I will. After regrouping, Gloria and the soldiers saluted the Land troops. Then Gloria gave the order. "Let''s go!" Gloria and her group are on their way to Doppa. The soldiers looked at Gloria with respect. They had not taken a step back against such a monster, and had tried to protect them. The Landes troop, which had been watching them off, headed back home after they were out of sight. A little closer to Lachnoe, just off the road, the Pelican 1 with its warp gate was waiting for them. Naturally, Pelican 1 was watching over Gloria and her group from the sky until they arrived at Doppa. The Pelican 1 was watching from the sky until Gloria and her family arrived at Doppa. "Is Gloria safe? Jin and Erza, who had been following the battle through the old man, let out a sigh of relief. <. She looks like a girl, but I don''t know how old she is. "Right." The transfer magic is basically impossible to prevent. What would happen if you are transferred to Horai Island and you are destroyed? The damage would be immeasurable. The more information about the opposing forces, the better. Jin waited for the explanation from Lao Kun. Land 12 to 15 are the four that were given the information by the momentary . This was when Rand 11 turned off his magijammer for a moment to paralyze Archel. The old man wanted information about the magic of the demon tribe, and he instructed Rand and the others to get it, no matter how little it was. Because of his instructions, he used <> to see how the demons would react to <>. As a result, we detected the flow of magical power that accompanies the activation of the transfer magic, instead of the reaction of the demon tribe. "I see. Then, for the time being, there is no need to worry about Horai Island being invaded, is there? < I understand that it cannot be used like a transporter. Jin thought that although there seemed to be no immediate danger, he could not rest easy at all. "I''ve only been developing weapons, but I guess we need to improve our defenses as well. "Brother Jin, can''t we just use a barrier?" Erza, who had heard Jin''s mutterings, asked a question. "Yes. It has some drawbacks." "Disadvantages?" "Yeah. < and a , right?" "Hm." "Basically, the <> doesn''t allow magic to pass through, and the <> doesn''t allow fire, blows, swords, etc. to pass through. But at the same time, it can''t be attacked from inside either, Jin concluded. "The only exception to this is when you use a magic tool like my bracelet, which generates a solid barrier, and at the same time you activate an offensive magic. Because they are perfectly synchronized, for example, when you fire a <>, you can disable the <> only there." However, normally, the barrier and the attack magic are generated separately, so if the barrier is up, you cannot attack. "You can''t fire a magic cannon or something like that, can you? "Indeed. "In that sense, there is room for improvement in <." "...... convinced me. That''s my brother Jin." "There are other wards that I''m thinking about doing as well." is a variation of warding. Jin mentioned ideas such as wards that absorb magic, wards that reflect attacks, and wards that divert attacks. "......Wow. Jin is a genius to come up with such ideas. "No, I''m just taking it from him." After receiving Erza''s compliment, Jin confessed that he had honestly read about it in a book. To be precise, this includes manga and anime. "...... Jin, people in your world are amazing." "Yeah, I think he''s got a lot of imagination." Jin remembered his native country, Japan, with nostalgia. 472 - - 14-23 Turning Point No matter how much Jin may think, he cannot create new magic or magical tools only with his ideas. I decided to collect my thoughts for a while. For now, it was time for lunch. Today it was onigiri. It is said that on earth, only the Japanese have the enzyme that can digest seaweed, but in this world, everyone eats it without any problem. At least Jin''s friends do. "The saltiness is delicious." Erza seems to like the simple salty taste. Just like Jin. Almost as soon as lunch was over, the old man called. It seems that all the friends who had been to the Shoro Kingdom have arrived. Jin gathered everyone in the command center on the first basement floor. "Reinhard, it''s been a long time. "It''s been a while, Reinhard. I''ve finally finished my work as a lord and have some time to spare. ......" Reinhardt looks like he has a few dark circles under his eyes. "Adberg is working today, though." Bertsche adds. "We''ve been accepted into exile in the Shawlo Empire. I''ve calmed down. And Mr. Toa is a good man. "My father seems to have taken a liking to Mr. Stellina. I''m relieved too. Stearina and Saki also gave an update. After chatting like this for a while, Jin decided to get down to business. In other words, about the artificial magic crystal (magi crystal). First, an explanation and apology to Reinhardt. "...... is the reason. I''m sorry, Reinhard. "AUGH!While I was working so hard, you were doing such a funny thing! Reinhardt exclaimed in disappointment, but calmed down when he heard Jin''s detailed explanation. "Well, it can''t be helped. So, the old man is going to give us a report today, right?" > Everyone nodded silently. It is known that Persica juice produced in Horai Island has a high content of free magical element (ether). It is also a well-known fact that the content of free magic element (ether) increases even more when it is stored in a free magic element (ether) box. . So, the old man decided to remove the ingredients from the Persica juice one by one. First of all, sugar. A kind of sugar called fructose was separated by engineering magic. Next, the dietary fiber was separated. At this point, the content of free magic element (ether) jumped tenfold. The rest is vitamins and inorganic substances such as potassium and iron. This leaves almost nothing but water. Approximately 90% of persica is water. . "Wait a minute, that 1,200 times is compared to the amount of Persica at the time of harvest, right?" Saki interrupted the old man and asked. "Well, could you tell me how you measure the amount of free magic element (ether) contained in the material?" Saki asks again, tilting her head. is converted into mana using an ether converter, and then the mana is generated in a mana furnace (mana driver). We compared their durations. The point is that we compared indirectly the amount of energy converted into energy. In terms of batteries, we could say that we compared how many hours a light bulb of the same wattage can be lit. "I see. That makes sense. Thank you." <, it will become a magical crystal (magicrystal). These are the facts that we have discovered. The whole group was deeply impressed. Magi crystals are an important material in magical engineering, and it seems to be possible to synthesize them artificially. After a short pause, the old man resumes his story. Jin nodded. Jin nodded his head, because he too thought it was highly probable. "Then, can''t we make just water contain free magic element (ether)?" This is also a natural question that Reinhardt asked. "Ah, I see." Isotopes of silver, i.e. most of the 60 or 62 neutrons in the nucleus of silver are replaced by magicons, are called mithril silver. Isotopes of titanium, i.e. most of the 26 neutrons in the nucleus of titanium are replaced by magicons, are called light silver. < "......" "............" "I don''t think I understand. ......" No one but Jin, or even Jin himself, could judge the truth of the hypothesis the old man had told him. Still, he could sense that he was at a major turning point in the long history of magic and magical engineering. "If we use it as an energy source, there is no need to make it solid, is there?" After a short pause, Jin opened his mouth. > instead of from the air, I think we should be fine. "...... Ji, Jin, isn''t it possible to get a tremendous output?" Reinhardt, realizing what this meant, said in an excited tone. "Ah. If we refine mana from a with a concentration of free magic element (ether) that is an order of magnitude higher than that in the air, ...... if we ignore the durability of the magic furnace (mana driver), I think we can get an output of 10 If we ignore the durability of the mana driver, I think we can get more than 10 times the output." "............" The group was again in a state of exclamation. They realized once again that this is as easy to handle as petroleum on the modern earth, and can produce as much power as nuclear fuel. ? >> The silence was broken by the voice of the old man. "...... Since it is a solution containing ether, why don''t you call it ether water?" "Oh, Jin, that''s just too much sense!" Saki immediately denied it. "......AW?" Elsa suggested. A for ether and W for water. It''s better than ether-water, but I still think it''s different. How about "ethenol"?"No, it doesn''t have any deep meaning, but it is similar to ether and has a nice feel to it. ......" "Well, that''s good, isn''t it?" Reinhard nodded at Stearina''s suggestion. When Reinhardt nodded, Bertsche agreed. So we decided to go with <>. A quiet word. "Now all we need is a way to crystallize Aethenol. Erza noticed something at this point and spoke up. "...... but natural magic crystals (magi crystals) contain mana, not free magic element (ether). "Ah." It seems that Jin and the old man had the same misunderstanding. In the verification experiment the other day, it was concluded that the mana was inserted into the gap of the material made of magic atoms (magiatoms). The newly created Aethenol is a in which free magical element (ether) is inserted into the gaps of a substance made of magical isotopes (magiisotopes). Similar but different. This is a very useful discovery, so we are happy with the result. "Yes, that''s right. I''m wondering if the phenomenon that the color changes depending on the attribute can tell us anything about it. Mana itself has no magical properties. However, the color of magi crystals changes according to the attributes of fire, water, earth, wind, light, darkness, and so on. The old man has decided to conduct various verifications on the basis of the above. * * * * * After the technical talk. "......Another demon tribe ......" Jin first told Reinhardt about the demons he had met in the Kingdom of Selroa, the Androgyas, and then told him about the Archelle, the Puppets, information that Erza knew but the other members did not. At the same time, he explained about the gravity magic, destruction magic, and slavery magic used by the demon tribe. "The system and structure of the magic used by the demons is different from ours, so it takes time to analyze it," he said. He explained that the magic used by the demons is different from ours in system and structure, so it takes time to analyze it. "So that''s how you were able to cancel Androgyous'' gravity magic the other day." I completely forgot to ask you to explain later, Saki said. "Sorry." Jin apologized and continued explaining about the demons. Some of you may have already heard about them, but I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page again. 473 - - 14-24 Bright Travel Plan "Hmmm, demons. ......" Reinhardt gave me a difficult look as I finished explaining everything we knew about the demon tribe. "I saw Jin making all kinds of weapons and armor, and I thought it was too much, but I can''t say that. ......" "Hmm. There are too many unknowns about the abilities and capabilities of the demon tribe." Erza agreed with Reinhardt. "...... and about gravity magic..." Jin explained again. As far as we know now, gravity magic works in space. The reason for this is that it does not simply make the weight lighter or heavier, but also changes the inertia. "Well, there are such things as warp gates and summoning magic from other worlds, so it''s not surprising that there is magic that works in space." Jin concluded after giving a brief explanation. "So, how much progress have you made in your analysis?" "For the time being, up to weight reduction. Jin showed the lightening magic tool that he had used when he had canceled the gravity magic of Androgyas, a demon tribe he had met in the Kingdom of Selroa. "There are many magic control processes (magi sequences) that are different from those of humans in order to activate it, so it can''t be used as magic at the moment." "I see. ...... I''m a little disappointed, but that''s understandable." "But the magic of the demons is scary, so for now it''s best not to get involved with them if you encounter them." Jin emphasized that the gravity magic used by Lardus reached several thousand G''s using Eladrite. "So, thousands of Gs. ......" The gravity is so strong that a human being would be thinner than a piece of paper, not to mention minced. "No one but Reiko could have withstood it. ......" "So, the first priority is to analyze gravity magic. And if they use Elradorite like Lardus, we will have to consume a lot of magic power to counter them. Ordinary < may not be enough. But if we can use Aethenol, we may be able to solve this problem. "That''s very promising." "I''ll leave that to you, but it seems that this Aluschel guy treated demons as pets. Is that a special ability of the demon tribe or something? Jin nodded his head. At the same time, if he could control the gigantopod from the other day, it would be quite a threat. "The most important question is the true intention of the demon tribe, isn''t it? "Yes. Are they trying to start a war or are they just messing with us for fun? "Oh, I hate it!Why can''t we live in peace? Saki''s cries echoed everyone''s sentiments. "...... At least, it''s peaceful here." Erza muttered in a deep voice. "Oh, it''s true. This place is truly a paradise on earth. ...... Again, everyone nodded in agreement. "Then I guess this is something we should report to the government. Reinhardt said. Since the prince and princess with the right to the throne in the Kingdom of Cerroa had confirmed it, it could no longer be kept secret. It was time to make it public. "I will contact the queen in the name of Makina. The nations should also be informed. "Well, I think that''s a good idea for now." Jin and Reinhardt, after consulting with each other, finally decided to contact the queen via Makina. * * * * * * * * * * * * "By the way, Jin, did you make the that Hanna-chan mentioned when we went to the Leonard Kingdom?" Saki asked such a question after the discussion about the demon tribe was over. "Huh?Oh, yes. I made it for a while. ......" Jin was unusually vague. "It''s ...... not very good." "Really?That''s unusual for Jin, isn''t it? "Don''t be too hard on me. ...... Well, let''s have a look at it. Let''s go to the workshop. So they all moved from the command center on the basement floor to the workshop on the first floor above ground. "What is this?" Jin placed a prototype of a golem resembling a cat on the table. It was about 30 centimeters long, not including the tail. Since it was a prototype, it had no fur and was a cat made of bronze. "Well, it''s a nice shape," he said. "Indeed, Jin-kun, it looks like a from every angle! Saki and Stearina praised him, but Jin was reluctant. "It''s ......, though. <<>." Jin moved the cat-shaped golem and showed it to the audience. "I don''t like the way he moves." Indeed, the way he walks on all four legs is not very cat-like. It''s like, how can I put it, he moves too stiffly. "A golem horse is fine, but I''ve never worked with a small animal before. Jin explained that if he could copy the behavior of a cat, it would look more like a cat. "Then why don''t you just copy it?" Stearina said as if nothing had happened. "As I said before, many nobles in the Kingdom of Cerroa have cats. Especially in the south, in the warmer regions." "I see. ......" "Next time I''ll show you around. I know someone in Kupu." Kupu is a town at the southern tip of the Kingdom of Selroa. Like Potrock in the Kingdom of Elias, it is a town of many ships, fishing and tourism. It is one of the places where Reiko searched for Jin who went missing when the Warp Gate went out of control, and randomly shifted to. "We can''t use the camper. "It''s right on the street. It would be too conspicuous. "Then we could take the golem carriage and stay at the inn." Ste Arena says that if you go by Igbo, Shumi, and Kupu in that order, you can get there on the third day. > When the carrier was first completed, it was not equipped with live ammunition, but due to the recent incidents, 20 magic cannons (Magikanon) were installed, and magic bombs (Manabombs) were also loaded. "Hmmm ......" In a world where a 30-passenger ship is the best they can do, bringing out a 20,000-ton aircraft carrier seems like it would be a big deal. "Is there any place near Kupu where the Falcon could land?" <<< Yes, there is. The beach west of Kupu is sandy and deserted at night. "Then we''ll use that." Jin says he''s had enough of this roadside mess. Saki and Erza seemed to agree and said nothing. Stearina also laughed. "I don''t think they''ve gotten the message about me in such a short period of time. Besides, the atmosphere in the southern part of ...... the Korin region is different. The Korin region was originally one of a small group of countries called the Kingdom of Korin about 200 years ago. The Kingdom of Cerroa attacked it and swallowed it up, making it the Korin region of today. "I think it''s interesting because there are not many traces of the magic wars left." Like the Kingdom of Elias, this region at the southern tip of the continent was not exposed to the vortex of war during the Magical Wars, so there are many old relics in the region. "The population has been reduced due to conscription and the Aether Stampede, but it''s no different from the rest of the country." Aether Stampede was the last resort of the human race against the demons in the magical wars 300 years ago. The free magic element (ether) in the atmosphere was made to run amok, destroying any human or demon who possessed a high level of magic power. Jin possesses an outstandingly large amount of magical power. If he were to use "Aether Stampede" or similar magic, it would be fatal. Reiko, Lao-kun, and the 5th Quinta always wanted to know more about the Aether Stampede in order to take countermeasures against it. <> At the old man''s question, Jin shook his head. "No, don''t force him. No, there is no need to force him. Stearina will show you around. This is in response to Anne''s warning the other day. "Okay. I''ll take care of that." So, without inviting Hanna, Jin, Erza, Saki, Stearina, Reinhard and Bertsche are going to Kupu. "I hope this trip will be more cheerful this time. "Yes, indeed. Reiko, Edgar, Aal, Noir (Black Knight (Schwarzlitter)) and Neon are accompanying Jin and the others as their squires. "I wonder if Serene is a little too flashy. ......" Jin looks at the disappointed Stearina, "How about covering the surface with a magical skin to make it look like an automata? He suggested, "Why don''t we put a magical skin on the surface to make it look like an automaton? "That''s a good idea!" Stearina immediately adopted the idea. At the same time, we decided to strengthen Neon a little. Considering the fact that it is a little too weak to protect Bertsch against demons. If Jin, Elsa, Reinhardt, and Stearina were added to the four of them, plus the craftsman (Smith) golem, the efficiency would be more than doubled. Considering that they would leave for the coast of Kupu at 3:00 a.m., and taking into account the time difference, they would leave Horai Island at around 7:20 a.m. This means that they would leave Horai Island at around 7:20 a.m. on July 25. In other words, the morning of July 25th would be fine. That was more than enough time. By the way, Saki was dragged by Bertsche to prepare for dinner. 474 - - at 14-25 Coups The work to cover Serene with a magical skin has been completed without any problems. The power source has been modified a little to use an ether converter, so that it can operate semi-permanently. As a countermeasure against slave rewriting magic, I made him wear a thin mithril silver armor over his entire torso. "Now I feel secure." Lastly, I have added a function to generate a <>. This function is to compensate for the fact that he has the weakest defense among his followers. "Thank you, Mr. Jin, Mr. Reinhardt. Elsa and Stearina then decided to make clothes for Serene. "I''ll make you some underwear, too." "Yes, thank you, Miss Elsa. I''ll take care of it. While the two female magecraftsmen were preparing the other side of the room, Jin and Reinhardt decided to prepare hair and shoes. The shoes were made of hexenbiest leather, light and hard-wearing. The hair is an artificial wig made from the threads of a ground spider. The color is copper, the same as that of Stearina. When the work was finished, Elsa and Stearina came in with their clothes. "Oh my, you look great! Serene, who had been a blue topaz golem, looked completely different. Her rich copper hair made her look like a sister to Stearina. "Then let''s get her into her underwear." "......" The underwear was a modern Earth-style bra and short drawers. Jin and Reinhardt turn away. "This is what I''m going to wear. As she is a maid of honor, she is wearing a black one-piece dress and a white apron, in other words, a maid''s look. Reiko, Aal, Neon, and Serene were all unexpectedly dressed in black aprons. Edgar wore a black blazer and top and bottom. And there was a black knight (Schwarzritter), Noir, who looked like an escort. "They look like they''re going to stand out. ......" Jin said after all these years. * * * * * * Dinner is served. Shortly after 6:00 p.m., Berthe came to call us. "I''m sure it will be delicious, since Saki helped me today. Saki''s hands were covered with scratches. Saki, give me your hand. ......<>" This is a healing spell for surgical treatment. Elsa has become a regular healer for the group. "Thank you, Elsa." "Yes, it is important for a girl to keep her hands clean. That''s what my mother taught me." "When Elsa calls you , she is referring to Marlene, isn''t she?You call Meine , don''t you?" "Yes . ...... Saki''s sister is a Marquise. She should be a little more careful about her appearance." "That hurts my ears." Saki scratches her head. "Come on, come on, eat up. ...... you, please." While Saki and Erza were looking on, Berthe was pouring Reinhardt a glass of wine. The menu consisted of steak, soup, bread and salad. The menu consisted of steak, soup, bread, salad, and tempura made with fish from the Naudaria River. I''ve been practicing..." he said. It is not easy to fry tempura quickly and easily. Bertsche said that Peridot and his friends had trained him. The batter is not made with tempura sauce, but with salt from the island of Horai. Jin preferred salt because he could taste the crunchiness of the batter. "Yes, Belle has improved," he said. "Really?I''m glad. "Thank you for ......" "Oh?Saki, are you finished? "Yes, it was delicious." Such was the moment of dinner. Jin and his friends were at peace in the world. The next morning, on the 25th, the next day, the next day, the next day, the next day. The next morning, the 25th, at 7:20 a.m., the group arrived at Horai Island as planned. The group departed from Horai Island as scheduled. Stearina had prepared some bread as a souvenir and gave it to Serene. Of course, it is soft bread made with yeast. She also decided to bring some other ingredients. And all of them were wearing rings as magic tools to generate lightening magic. The old man had made them in a great hurry. The Falcon 1, which had been sent ahead the day before, had landed on the beach, and Jin and the others landed on the west coast of Kupu through the warp gate. It is 3:00 a.m. local time and pitch dark. It was summer, so it was not cold, but it was too dark to do anything. I thought about taking a nap inside the Falcon, which had deployed invisible wards, but I decided to walk slowly to Kupu since I would lose track of why I had come at such an unpopular time of the day. Reiko and the other automata/golems were not afraid of the dark, so I decided to walk hand in hand with each of their followers. This way, they would be safe even if their feet were caught in the sand and they lost their balance. After two hours of restful walking, dawn, sunrise, and the town of Kupu came into view. It was a little cloudy. The west side is a sandy beach with shallow water, so it''s not suitable for fishing. The east side is more rocky, so fishermen''s boats should be out there. As Jin listened to Stearina''s explanation, he thought about Marcia, a shipwright he had met in Potrock, a town in the Kingdom of Elias. She, too, had been fishing from early in the morning to earn money for her living and the expenses of her ship. "Here we are at last. Thank you for your hard work." When he came back to himself at the sound of Stearina''s voice, he found that his feet were not on the beach, but on the hardened ground. We are almost at my friend''s house. Stearina led the group into the town of Kupu. The houses are made of stone and look a bit like those in Potrock. Jin wondered if this area was protected from the sea breeze. "Is the stone material ...... sandstone instead of Oya stone?Isn''t it easy to collapse?" Sandstone is a rock formed by the accumulation of sand, and its coarse particles and softness make it easy to work, but it is also easily weathered. However, it is a stone with warmth. Famously, the old streets of Florence are made of sandstone. When you touch it, you expect the weathered parts to crumble roughly, but it is surprisingly firm. "It''s under the spell of , you know." Stearina''s explanation convinced Jin. "Here I am. I hope she''s awake by now. The time was around 5:30. The house is in an alley off the main street. The size of the house is about medium-large for a common house in Kupu. A wooden board is hung at the entrance as a knocker, which is struck by a wooden mallet to announce the arrival of visitors. When Stearina swung down the hammer, a dry sound was heard. The door opens immediately. It''s been a while, Vee. "Look who''s here!It''s been so long!What''s up with you today?" Out comes a woman who looks the same as Stearina, or maybe a little older. She has light platinum blonde hair that looks as if it were gray and dark brown eyes. She was smaller than Jin. "I''m here to show you my friend. Can I come in now?" "Of course!...... Welcome to Kupu. Stear''s friends are welcome!Come on in." The woman called Vee invited Jin and his friends into her house. When they entered the house, it smelled good. She was preparing breakfast. "Hey guys, this is Vivien. She is my childhood friend. Stearina starts to introduce her, but Vivienne interrupts her. "Wait a minute. I''m just going to finish getting ready. I''m just going to finish up. ...... Well, I don''t know what I''m going to do. We can make soup, but we need more bread. ......" "Oh, I brought a lot of bread as a souvenir." "Oh, you did?Oh, I brought a lot of bread as a souvenir. Then please sit down and wait for me. In the large kitchen there was a large table with enough room for all the guests. Stearina took a loaf of bread from the luggage Serene had given her and cut it into portions for the group. "Here you are!" Vivienne put a large pot of soup on the table. "Oh?" Jin was a little surprised when he saw the soup. The red color and the peculiar smell. It was obviously tomato soup. 475 - - 14-26 Storytellers "It''s a local dish of this region. It is made of fried vegetables and stewed in tometru juice. The seasoning is different in each family, Vivienne explained briefly, "I hope it suits your taste," she said. She then divided the food into small bowls and distributed them to each of the guests. She was very efficient. When everyone had been served their soup and bread, Vivienne introduced herself again. "Well, let me introduce myself again. I am Vivien. I am Stear''s childhood friend and I am a storyteller. "Well then, let me introduce you to my friends. I''d like to introduce you to Saki, Jin, Erza, Berthe and her husband Reinhardt. And my followers ...... are Aaru the automata, Reiko, Edgar, Neon, and Noir the golem." "Wow, ...... that''s spectacular!It''s not every day you get a chance to see so many automata and golems." Vivienne looked entranced, but then realized that it was before breakfast, "Oh no, everyone, please enjoy your meal. She invited them to eat. They all said and took their first mouthfuls of soup. "Delicious!" The soup was based on sour tomatoes with a hint of spice. In this world, they call it "tometru" instead of "tomato. "Good!" Vivian looked at their faces and smiled, knowing that they were not flattered. She tears off a piece of bread, dips it in the soup and puts it in her mouth. "Well, it''s delicious!" Now Vivian exclaimed in surprise. "I felt it when I was tearing it, this bread is so fluffy and it has a mysterious aroma. It''s so delicious! By aroma, I assume he meant the smell produced by the natural yeast. Yeast is not yet used in this world. Jin and the others had eaten only a light breakfast, so their hunger was just the right sign that they could enjoy the unusual taste. After the breakfast, a drink called "Kahi" (coffee, right?) was served. (Coffee, right?). Jin had never tasted it before, since it was only recently that the fifth column (quinta) had been sent to the southern part of the Kingdom of Selroa. The same is true for Tometul. After this, the cultivation of kahi, or coffee, and tometul, or tomatoes, began on Penglai Island. "So, what''s the main purpose of this? Stearina started while drinking a cup of coffee. "Jin-kun, Reinhardt-kun, and Erza-san are magi-craftsmen like me, and we are planning to make a cat golem. "Heh, a cat, huh? ...... So you''ve come to observe the movements of a cat, have you?" Vivien nodded approvingly. "If you think of houses with cats around here, that''s the one you''re looking for, isn''t it?" Stearina seemed to have an idea and asked Vivian in an agreeable tone. "Yes, the Tecoles might be a good choice." The two seemed to agree and nodded to each other. Vivian then began to explain. "The Teclaes family is the richest family in this town. They are merchants who make a lot of money by doing business with the kingdoms of Egelea and Elias using their ships. Stearina continued as if to add to the conversation. "But he''s very friendly. I especially like to hear stories about their foreign guests, so I''m sure you''ll be surprised when you get there. "Well, it''s still too early to try." The time is about 6:30. I heard that everyone in Kupu wakes up early, but it is still too early. "You said you were a storyteller, didn''t you?" Jin, who had been wondering about Vivian since she introduced herself, finally asked the question. "Yes, I am. I am the 32nd storyteller. I''m still a work in progress. Vivian answered with a slightly bashful expression. "That was another purpose, wasn''t it? Vee, why don''t you tell Jin and the others some of the old stories?" Jin was secretly overjoyed by Stearina''s unexpected offer to Vivian. Jin is especially interested in those old stories. Please do me a favor." "Stair''s request, of course. So what kind of story do you want? Jin thought for a moment before replying. "A story about our ancestors who came from beyond the sun, if you can ......". Vivian smiled at him. "Oh?That''s funny. Usually we storytellers get requests for stories about brave men who follow dragons, or tragic love stories between princesses and knights. We rarely tell stories that are so long ago and may or may not be true. A storyteller, Vivienne said, is someone who tells stories and history to the unlettered masses. "But I also tell them the stories that aren''t written down," she said. That is the pride of a storyteller. Smiling, Vivien began to tell her story slowly. "...... long, long ago. ......" * * * * People say that their ancestors lived on another land. It was a paradise. People could fly and lift things without using their hands. They had followers almost as good as men, and their masters did not have to do any labor. There was no difference between rich and poor, and thus no conflict. There were no diseases and no injuries. People devoted themselves to their hobbies, and a colorful culture flourished. Such days seemed to last forever. But... After a few hundred years, or even a few thousand years. Little by little, the population began to decline. Because fewer children were born. People lived longer, but still more people died than were born. And then another few hundred years. Paradise was no longer paradise. The population had decreased to less than 1/1000th of its peak. A small portion of those who remained had decided to abandon paradise. They built a huge flying ship and set out to find another world. After a long, long journey, they found a new land. The people decided to make one of the continents their new home. The continent was uninhabited, rich in nature and abundant in resources. Ships were left floating in the sky overlooking the new land, and people began to live in the new land. Life in the new land was not easy and some people chose to return to their ships and live there. Another few hundred years passed, and the people began to prosper again in the new land. They learned from the past and did not make the same mistakes. And more and more people move to the next continent. Another few hundred years pass and ....... * * * * "...... is as far as we go." Vivian said in a sorry voice. "They don''t tell us what happened to the people after that." "Thank you, Vee." "......, but it was fun." "The old stories are so imaginative!" "Hmmm, it''s kind of hard to interpret." "It was an interesting story." Everyone seemed to have his or her own impression. "Of course, it is a story that has been told. I don''t know if they are true or not." But one person did not think so. Jin. "...... could the moon be that spaceship?" He muttered to himself in a small voice. 476 - - 14-27 Old Story "Huh?" Saki overheard Jin''s muttering and asked back. "Jin, what did you say?" "...... in Leonard''s kingdom. I was wondering why there is such a thing as a transfer magic circle that goes to the moon,......." If the moon were a spaceship, it would make a lot of sense, Jin said. "I see." I don''t know why no one ever came back, but at least it makes sense as to why there was such a magic circle that went to the moon. "Well, it can''t be verified. ......" "......What do you mean?" Vivienne, who did not know the background, tilted her head. "Well, I went to Leonard''s kingdom the other day,......." Stearina explains to her. "Oh, I didn''t know that happened. Thank you. That was very informative." Vivian smiles softly. Then she looks around at the group. "Is there anything else you would like to hear?" Jin immediately asked the question. "...... Is there any lore about the demon tribe?" There is so little information about the demon tribe. He wanted to take this opportunity to obtain as much information as possible. "The demon tribe, huh? Well, ...... some bits and pieces, maybe." Vivian thought for a moment and then spoke again. * * * * * * The demons appeared several hundred years before the magic wars. They migrated south from the continent to the north. Mankind had also headed north long before that, but we do not know what happened to those people. The demons were far more powerful than the human race and skilled in magic. They were not hostile to each other from the beginning. Such a relationship was established, and it seemed that the two races could coexist. However, one day, a crucial discrepancy arose. What it was is not known, but it is certain that it was something that antagonized the human race and the demon tribe. After that, the two races fell out of favor, and the demons eventually retreated to the north. * * * * "......That''s all there is to it." Vivian looks apologetic. "That was probably over a thousand years ago. And it seems that the demons didn''t have anything to do with the human race until the magic war 300 years ago." "No, thank you." Jin bowed his head. After all, the continent where the demon tribe lives is located in the north, so it seems that it is difficult for them to feed themselves. On the other hand, their magical technology is advanced and their magical power is superior to that of humans. "...... have you heard anything about the magic war?" Elsa asked Vivian. This was something that Jin had wanted to ask as well. In particular, she was hoping to get some information about the "Aether Stampede. "The Magic Wars, right ......?" Vivian began to speak three times. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A little over three hundred years ago, a tribe of demons moved south again. The reason is unknown. This time they were very belligerent. The towns in the north were destroyed and the inhabitants were all slaughtered. The nations that had been individually opposed to each other were united and opposed under the leadership of the Kingdom of Dinar. Even so, the end of the war was progressing at a disadvantage to mankind. <, they succeeded in destroying most of the invading demon tribes. However, 60% of the mages on the human side died at the same time. The war ended with an unprecedented catastrophe. * * * * "......This is about all that was communicated." It was no different from what was being communicated to the public. "What else can you tell us about the Aether Stampede?" This is a matter of interest. No, nothing. In the first place, the <> is a commoner and is not informed of the details of the war. Most of the mages who knew about it are gone now. "I see... ...... that''s a shame." It seems that the only way is to look for the records of those days. However, despite the efforts of the fifth column (Quinta) and others, they have not been able to find them. "Thank you very much." Jin thanked and bowed. The others did the same. "Thank you, Vee. You must be tired. Why don''t you try this?" Stearina offers Persica juice, a specialty of Horai Island. It''s chilled in a thermos. "Thanks. It''s ...... delicious!" The juice is thick, rich and sweet. It''s good for the throat. And the abundance of free ether gives the drinker vitality. "Oh, my throat feels better." "We must take good care of our throats." Stearina and Vivian smiled at each other. "Well. Shall we go and see the cat? It was almost eight o''clock. It is a time that is no longer a problem here in Coup. We all decide to go to fulfill our other purpose, which is to see what the cat is doing. "Do you need something to bring back?" Vivienne smiles at Jin''s concern, which is very Japanese. I told you that I love to hear stories about our guests from abroad. I''m sure you''ll be happy to see them. Don''t worry." Then he stands up to show her the way. Locking the front door, they follow the alleyway to the main street. Many people were walking around, a far cry from the previous day. Cartloads of fish were also passing by. It was a scene full of life. We walked along the edge of the street so as not to get in the way of the carts. Jin was somewhat reminded of the streets of his former home in Japan. After walking along the main street for about 10 minutes, the atmosphere of a residential area begins to emerge. After another 10 minutes, they arrived at a house with a magnificent gate. This is the Teclaes house. The grounds are about 100 meters square, which is an extraordinary size for such a remote area. Moreover, the stones used in the house have hardly been weathered. This is evidence of regular maintenance. On the right side of the large gate stood a gatekeeper. "Good morning!" Vivian greeted the gatekeeper. "Good morning. Oh, this is Vivien, how can I help you today?" "I''ve brought a foreign visitor. Is Mr. Eckert home? The gatekeeper and Vivienne seemed to know each other and were conversing in a friendly tone. Yes, he is here. I see, I''m ...... from abroad." The gatekeeper looked at Jin and the group and smiled. He looked at Jin and the others and smiled. Please wait a moment while I make a call to the master. The gatekeeper rang the bell to summon the errand boy, who announced something and ran away to the house. 477 - - 14-28 The Technician Jin and the others were soon ushered inside. They were shown into a magnificent hall. There were many attendants and servants, and at the other end of a large table stood a man of mature age with a pure white head. He said, "Welcome, my lady. I am the master of this house, Eckart Tecles. He did not have the haughtiness of a rich man, but was a man of humble manners, like a merchant. He had a white head and brown eyes. He was stout and strong. I''ve known Vivian before, but I''ve never met the others before. I''m Jin. Erza. I am Saki. Jin and the others introduced themselves. After Reinhardt and Bertsche introduced themselves, Eckert asked everyone to take a chair. Reiko and Edgar stand behind them. Everyone takes a seat at a table made of heavy black wood. Immediately a maid of honor brings drinks. It was a well-chilled kahi. "How do you like it?It''s our specialty, chilled kahi. Eckart was a bit boastful, but those who knew about the existence of the refrigerator were not so impressed. The food was delicious, no doubt. Eckart noticed this and looked a little disappointed. "Hmmm, cold drinks are not unusual for your guests? No, as expected. Eckart admits his defeat. "Yes, I know what a refrigerator is." Eckart is caught up in Jin''s words. "<>?What is it? "A refrigerator, as the name implies, is a magical tool to cool and store things. It originated in the Blue Lands of the Kingdom of Egelea. What!...... Ummm, I went as far as Fantle Town, but it was a mistake not to go all the way to the Blue Lands!" Eckart looks very frustrated. But he soon recovers. "......No, no, I knew that our guests know many unusual things. I''m glad to hear it. Do you know of any other unusual tools or magical artifacts? I wonder if I should say that you are a great merchant in this area. Yes, are you coming to the Kingdom of Egelea by ship? This time it was Reinhardt who opened his mouth. "Yes, of course. It is much easier than by road. At the moment, there are no restrictions on marine traffic. Originally, the Kingdom of Selroa was a landlocked country. The Korin region where Koup is located was originally the Kingdom of Korin, and is seen as one or two levels below the center of the Kingdom of Celuloa. Therefore, the policing of the region has been lax in some areas, which has allowed this kind of maritime trade to develop. "Do you know the Potrocks of the Kingdom of Elias?" "Potrock?No, I have heard about it, but I have not been there yet. That''s a shame. There is a shipwright named Marcia who is a very good shipbuilder. Earlier this year, Marcia was partnered with Jin in a golem boat competition in Potrock. Reinhardt participated with Elsa, and the team of Jin and Marcia won the competition, with Reinhardt and Elsa coming in second. From that time on, Jin, Marcia, Reinhardt, and Elsa became friends. So, being a diplomat, Reinhardt was casually promoting Marcia. "Oh, I see. ......" I guess this is how they get business opportunities. Eckardt is in a good mood. After that, they talked to him about various things, as long as they were not too casual. "Oh, it''s almost noon. Let''s get them ready for dinner. Eckhart clapped his hands and the maidservants set out the tableware with great dexterity. When they had finished, a servant brought a large pot. "Well, a chilled drink may not have been unusual, but how about this? A brown soup was poured into a soup plate. There were no ingredients. But Jin recognized the aroma. "...... Miso soup?" "Oh?Do you know about this, Jin-dono?It''s called bimpei, and I got it through a certain source. Jin-dono called it Miso. I see. It''s easier to call it that way. Eckart looks surprised. But Jin is in no mood to reply. May I taste it? "Yes, please. You can try it too. Before he could finish his words, Jin picked up the soup plate and sipped the liquid, which appeared to be miso soup. It was clearly a breach of manners, but he had no time to worry about it. "......" "How do you like it?" Erza and Reinhardt also scooped up what looked like with a spoon and tasted it. "...... a little salty?" "No, this is quite good." "Ummm, well, it''s an unusual taste ......." "I think it would taste even better if you put some ingredients in it." Each of them gave a half-hearted impression of the dish. But. "...... is disgusting." Jin was different. Jin! Reinhardt is surprised at Jin''s unusually clear statement. "......The soup stock is not strong enough. It''s too salty. It''s overcooked and the aroma is gone." Jin''s criticism was very harsh, as he had been longing for miso soup. "...... If you don''t mind, could you let me make it?" "Oh?Please do. By all means!" Eckart was not offended by Jin''s words, but rather nodded his head in anticipation of what he would make. He ordered a servant to take him to the kitchen. "Jin-sama, I will help you too! Berthe, the family''s flavor specialist, hurried after him. Reiko and Neon are, of course, with her. "......This is ......?" The miso shown to me by the chef in the kitchen was in a very advanced state of fermentation. Unlike soy sauce, miso is not heat-treated, so depending on how it is stored, fermentation may progress. "Yeah, but this one is still okay. Taking a little lick on his finger, Jin decides that it''s good enough to use. "First, the soup stock. ......" There is no dried bonito flakes or kelp, which means dried bonito flakes or kelp, but there is no dried bonito flakes or kelp here. Jin looked around the kitchen to see if there were any substitutes, and something caught his eye. "Dried fish......?" Dried fish is one of the ways to preserve fish. Freshly caught fish is opened, gutted and washed in salt water. It is then dried in the sun. This is how dried fish is made in the simplest terms. Aside from the theory that drying fish in the sun breaks down the protein into amino acids and increases its flavor ......, Jin turned to dried fish in order to obtain a fish-based broth. "Now all we need are the ingredients. ......" If a fish broth is obtained, the ingredients should be vegetable-based. Seaweeds such as wakame seaweed would be a good choice, but it seems that there was no custom of eating seaweed in this area. "So ......" No tofu, and of course no fried tofu. "Hmm?" Jin found a vegetable that looked a lot like eggplant. "Okay, let''s make eggplant miso soup. Jin quickly peels off the purple skin. "Jin-sama, let me help you. Bertsch helps out by making enough for everyone. Jin meanwhile decides to make the soup stock. The chopped eggplants are soaked in water for a few minutes to remove the scum. In the meantime, put the dried fish in a pot of boiling water, let it boil for a while, take out the dried fish, add the eggplants Bertsche chopped, and simmer. After about two minutes of simmering, miso is added, and the trick is to turn off the heat just before it comes to a boil. The secret is to turn off the heat just before it comes to a boil. "If you add miso and let it simmer, the aroma will be lost," he says. Jin explains to Bertsche and the chef, who are watching from the side. "Come on, try it!" Neon brought the pot and the maids of honor poured a new bowl of soup. Elsa is the first to taste it, "It''s ...... delicious!" Reinhard, Saki, Stellina and Vivienne also took a sip and were surprised at the difference in taste. And the most surprised of all was Eckart. "Oh my God, what a ......!I didn''t know it could taste this good!" "Use the broth, don''t boil it. It makes all the difference." Jin and Bertsch, both with cat tongues, slowly tasted the miso soup. Jin was satisfied with the taste. "This can be a local specialty! This was also a very strong ekarte, who connected this to business. 478 - - 14-29 Cats Aside from miso soup, bread, soup, grilled fish, salad, and fruit were served for lunch. "We are not so extravagant," he said. Eckart Tekres also ate the same food as Jin and the others. After a leisurely lunch, cold tte--tte was served. Over a drink, the conversation resumes. "Now, do you all have any requests? "Yes, I do." The atmosphere in the ECARTO finally allowed us to talk about something that we had not been able to talk about before. "I was wondering if you could show me your cat." "Oh, you know cats? I''m very happy to hear that." Eckart smiled and looked at one of the ladies-in-waiting. The lady of the house hurried out of the room and soon returned. She returned immediately with a white cat in her arms. "This is one of my cats, <>. It had the same name as the golem maid Jin had made on Horai Island. The reason for this is immediately apparent when you look at the cat. "She has beautiful eyes, doesn''t she?" Her eyes were light blue. "They look a lot like Erza''s eyes." At Reinhardt''s line, Erza looks into the cat''s face. "It looks like ......." When Erza looked into Aqua''s eyes, Aqua let out a single meow. "Would you like to hold her?" Eckart said, and the maid offered Aqua to Erza. She reached out her hand and took the aqua. The weight and warmth of the creature could be felt. "...... adorable." Aqua seemed to be a gentle cat and showed no signs of being uncomfortable in Erza''s arms for the first time. In fact, she was so friendly that she even rubbed her cheek against Erza''s. "He''s very much in love with you, isn''t he? That cat is the quietest and most friendly cat in our house. Eckart said with a beaming face, perhaps happy that his cat was liked. "Please let me hold him too." Berthe moved closer to Elsa. "Yes." Berthe was happy to receive Aqua and hold her to her chest. "He''s so cute! I can''t wait to hold Reinhardt-sama''s baby in my arms. She also blushed immediately after saying something like, "Let''s see, ________. "Let''s see,........." Saki also held the baby with some trepidation and relaxed her cheeks at the feel of the baby. Stearina and Vivienne hugged Aqua in turn, and finally it was Jin''s turn. Jin was able to hold Aqua without getting clawed ....... And then... "<>level 3 mild". He chanted in a low voice so that Eckardt could not hear him, and transcribed the pattern of his actions onto the magi crystal he had in his pocket. The mild option was added in order to avoid startling them and scratching them. The reason for setting the level 3 when level 2 would have been sufficient is that, unlike humans, the contents of the transcription are mixed, so we wanted to increase the amount of transcription. Finally, Reinhardt held Aqua. "Pssshhhh!Aqua is in Reinhardt''s arms, without even a hair raising ....... "Hmm, it''s warm." Aqua''s throat rumbles as he strokes the underside of his chin. It seems that everyone was not so disgusted by Aqua. The purpose of our visit is over, and we have had some unexpected gains. The time is 2:00 p.m.. The conversation had died down and we thought it was time to leave, but just then. Suddenly there was a flurry of activity in the house, and the door to the hall was opened with a loud bang. "Master!It''s important!" "Here!You have a visitor!" A craftsman-like man with a bloodthirsty look rushed into the room and shouted loudly, to which Eckart rebuked him. I''m sorry, sir!But, sir, the ship!" "...... accident?" Unable to see that the craftsman was too flustered to speak quickly, Eckardt jokingly speculated. Unfortunately, he was right. "That''s right!" "...... what?Tell me more!" Eckart''s face changed color and he questioned the craftsman as if he had forgotten that Jin and the others were with him. The scaffold collapsed, 10 people were trapped! "What? Eckart stood up kicking the chair and said to Jin and the others. "Please excuse us from the meeting. Something has gone wrong. Thank you for your time today. He bowed lightly and was about to leave the room in a hurry when Jin called out to him. "Wait a minute!Is there anything we can do?" The only thing he could think of was that an accident involving human life had occurred, such as a collapse or being pinned under the floor. And Jin was not cold enough to ignore it. And neither were his friends. "...... if there is someone injured, I will heal them." "Yes, I heard what you said so far. Let us help you as much as we can. Erza, Saki, Reinhard, Bertsch. And Stearina and Vivian. "If lives are at stake, we must not hesitate here. If you have a complaint, we will hear it later. We have to rescue them first! With that being said, Eckart seemed to have made up his mind. "Alright, gentlemen, please come with your companions!" And this time he ran to leave the room. Jin and the others followed. They ran down a long corridor toward the back of the house, and through another corridor, until they came to a huge dock. Screams can be heard coming from there. We crossed the yard and entered the dock, where we found ourselves in a state of screaming. In the center of the dock, there was a huge wooden ship that seemed to be under construction, and wooden scaffolding had been built around it, but half of the scaffolding had collapsed and the workers were trapped under it. The wooden scaffolding was half collapsed and the laborers were pinned under it. The construction material of the boat was also half collapsed and almost fell down. Many of those who survived were slightly injured. Some of the work golems were malfunctioning, apparently having been trapped under the scaffolding by the accident. "This is terrible ......" At a glance at the scene, Jin frowned at the devastation. Elsa and Saki also gasped. Bertsche bit her lip and clutched Reinhardt''s arm tightly, while Stearina and Vivienne held each other''s arms tightly without knowing it. "Those of you who were safe, clear the scaffolding!Those who were safe, clear the scaffold! Eckardt shouted and reached out to move the collapsed scaffold himself, just then. The remaining scaffolding collapsed and he fell. "Look out!" The black knight (Schwarz Ritter) jumped out. With his sturdy back, he catches the falling girders. "Ah, ah ......" Eckert looked pale. If the black knight (Schwarzritter) had not protected him, he would have taken a direct hit. "Mr. Eckert, please evacuate everyone. We will take care of this. At Jin''s words, Eckart showed some hesitation, "We''ll make more progress without humans!" He nodded his head and said that he and his team would take care of the situation. "All hands, clear the dock!" At the employer''s words, the laborers and technicians evacuated, with the exception of Eckert. "Mr. Eckert?" Eckart, still looking a little pale, but resolute, says to Jin, who looks suspicious. "As your employer and client, I will see this through to the end. Jin nodded his head in agreement, "Everyone!Let''s help the injured! he called out to his colleagues. 479 - - 14-30 Rescue Play At the scene of the accident, Jin gave instructions to Reiko and the others. "Reiko and Noir, move the collapsed scaffolding. Edgar and Aal, you carry out the injured. Neon and Serene, assist Elsa. Elsa, take care of the wounded. Yeah, okay. "Reinhard, Stearina. We''ll use engineering magic to temporarily stabilize the scaffold so it doesn''t collapse. Yes, sir! Okay, I''m on it. Saki, I want you to watch the scaffolding and Vivienne, I want you to watch the whole ship. If you see anything that looks like it might collapse, let me know right away. Jin, I''ll take care of it. I''ll do my best. Jin, you take the far side. Reinhardt will take the near side. Stearina checks to make sure they have not missed anything, and temporarily fixes the easy parts with joints. <, which originally unites uneven materials such as wood, makes it possible to use it in this way. "But I never expected to use engineering magic in this way. I bow down to Jin''s ideas!" Reinhardt muttered in admiration as he fixed the collapsing scaffolding. "Indeed. That''s what I''d expect from a magical engineer, the MagiCraft Meister!" Reinhardt chastised Stearina for accidentally speaking out of turn. "Stearina, that''s a secret. ......" "Oh." Fortunately, Eckert did not seem to hear that line. Meanwhile, Reiko and Noir, showing their power without any regret, took down the collapsed scaffold as if it weighed nothing. "Erza-sama!Please heal me!" "Nn. ......<<<>" Edgar and Aal. carry the wounded out from under the scaffolding that has been removed. Elsa cleans and disinfects the wounds before casting a healing spell. Neon and Selene carry the healed patient to a safe place to lie down. In this way, they are able to rescue up to eight of the ten people buried in the ground. "The rest are down here." The rest is down here, where the ship''s structural members and scaffolding timbers are stacked high. Reiko, please. Noir, do it. The scaffolding timbers weigh at most 20 kilos each, but the ship''s structural timbers weigh over 100 kilos. Some of it weighs close to 200 kilos. There may be situations where an ordinary golem is not strong enough. However, the Black Knight (Schwartzritter), Noir, strengthened with materials from Horaijima, has more than enough power. In addition, there is Reiko, who lifts the 100 kilograms of structural material with one hand and clears it away as if she were handling a piece of wood. "Oh, who the hell are you ......?" Eckert is stunned by what he sees. In no time at all, the piles of structural timbers of the ship and the scaffolding are being cleared away. "Miss Elsa!She''s not breathing!" One of the people Edgar had helped out was already not breathing. "......<>......It''s okay. His heart is still beating. Dangerous. ......<>" Elsa uses her strongest healing magic. Her body is slipping. She''s out of magic. Erza! Jin rushes in, having finished reinforcing the scene. "...... Reiko, contact the old man. Have him forward the Persica juice and the cure. Receive them outside the dock so they can''t be found. "Yes, sir." Reiko goes out of the dock with the built-in manacam to contact the old man. There she received the medicine that Jin had ordered, and returned immediately. "Ms. Elsa, please drink it. "...... thank you, Reiko." The special Persica juice from Horai Island. It is a juice that restores the mana in the body. The cure for recovery was given at the same time. The last remaining person was also moved out of the rubble by Noir, and Aal brought him in. This one is treated with the cure. "......Are these all of them?" All of the treated wounded are laid out at the end of the dock, out of harm''s way. Some of them began to notice. However, they are not strong enough to stand up. After the seriously injured were treated, we decided to check on the other injured. For minor injuries, a few remedies will do the trick. "Reiko and Neon, check the site. If anything looks like it''s going to collapse, I''ll fix it. "Yes, sir. Let''s go to ......, Neon. Yes, Reiko! Lately Neon had started calling Reiko by "sir". The neon is following Reiko''s lead with glee. "That place looks dangerous. I can fix that. ...... " Reiko finds one place where the scaffold is about to collapse and reinforces it. Neon saw this and was very excited. "Well, Reiko-sama can use engineering magic too!" "Yes, well..." "It''s amazing!I''m so proud of you!I admire you!" Neon has become more emotionally rich since his control core was renewed during another upgrade. It seems that the emotional programs were originally designed to match the low quality control core. But now that the quality has been increased, it is easy for Neon to get excited, or "high," according to his master, Bertsche. "It''s okay, though, because they''re cute," Berthe added. Bertsche also added, "It''s OK because she''s cute. On the other hand, Reiko, as the assistant, is supposed to give priority to her calmness, and the exchange between the two is so contrasting that it is quite funny to watch. A quick digression. Reiko and Neon are taking a look around. We decided to go around the ship under construction. The ship is about 40 meters long, about the size of a cruise ship in modern Japan. It is an unusually large ship for this part of the world. I wondered how it would be powered. Thinking about this, Reiko and Neon went around the bow of the ship to the other side. There was less debris on this side, and the ship''s hull was still in place. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The slightly injured have been treated and the dock has regained its calm. "Thank you, Jin-san! Eckart bowed deeply to Jin and the others. "If you hadn''t come, many people would have died. Thank you so much for your help. The injured were healed and no one was killed. After the rescue operation, Jin looked up at the ship under construction. "...... isn''t it big?We''ve been building it in secret, but it''s no longer a secret to any of you. Eckart began to tell Jin and the others about the ship. "We are building it to trade with the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Elias, and the Shoro Kingdom from here in Kupu. When it is completed, we will be able to sleep on the ship and load it with our cargo. We are sure to make a lot of money. Eckardt expresses a merchant''s point of view. "There are currently no barriers on the sea, and there are no laws against it. Besides..." Eckart cut off his speech once and continued with a dreamy look on his face. "I would like to travel on the open sea. ......" Reinhardt was about to say something when the dock shook. No, it was the ship under construction that shook. The supporting pedestal distorts and the ship tilts. Toward Jin and the others. Someone screams. Jin and the others watch in slow motion as the hull of the ship, which must weigh at least 200 tons, falls on top of them. 480 - - 14-31 And the ending. "Barrier." Jin sees the falling ship and immediately puts up a barrier. Although not visible to the naked eye, the covert SPs protecting Jin and Erza also deploy the barrier, and they stand close to Jin and the others. Then, Jin pulls out the lightweight magic tool still in his pocket, and is about to activate it. Just then, with a roar, the ship, which was about to fall, was blown away toward the opposite side. Wood chips splashed down on the barrier, but it was nothing. "What the hell ......?" Eckert, still pale, utters these words with a look of dismay on his face. It was no wonder: the 40-meter-long ship had been shattered beyond recognition. "Father, are you all right?" Of course, it was Reiko who did it. In order to protect Jin and the others, or rather Jin, she kicked the collapsing boat. Almost as hard as she could. As a result, the central structural member, which was at least 50 centimeters square, and other structural members were blown apart at the joints, and the outer planking, which had been stretched on one side, was also scattered. "Yeah, it''s all right. But you did it with a lot of flair. ......" The ship was nowhere to be seen. It was nothing but rubble. Reiko''s blow had such force of impact that it blew up the 40-meter ship, even though it was still under construction. "We caught the culprit, too." What? Someone had tampered with the base of the ship. Neon came dragging the unconscious man to the ship at the same time Reiko said so. Eckert''s face turned red with anger when he saw the unconscious man. "This guy!The chief of the crime scene!" Eckert immediately ordered the town guards to be informed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When he contacted the guards, to his surprise, the deputy in charge of the town of Kupu himself came with his men and questioned them. This was proof of the seriousness with which Ekarto was regarded. In the meantime, Jin and the others could not leave, so they had to give an explanation in response to Eckart''s request. "Hmm, a friend of Vivienne''s. Stearina Beta ...... means, you know!" Stearina is a famous person in the Kingdom of Selroa. And no news of her defection or defiance of the nobility had yet reached this southernmost town of the kingdom. Stearina was half resigned to the fact that there might be some trouble later on, but by then she would have already left the area. I don''t know who you are, but I am Magecraftsman Stearina. Stearina explained on behalf of the others. The delegate listened to her explanation and looked convinced. "This is why you rescued the injured with your golem and automata, is it? As expected of a celebrity, Stearina''s testimony seemed to be generally believed. Jin and the others were relieved that they were not asked their names. The man who had woken up from his stupor confessed that he had been sent by Eckert''s business rival during a brief interrogation held on the spot. The rest was justice. "Gentlemen, I''m sorry to keep you here. Please stay the night. It was already dusk when the deputy and the soldiers led the criminal away. The men, too, took advantage of Eckardt''s kindness and decided to stay the night. After bathing, dinner was served. Immediately, miso soup with dashi broth was served. The chef must have learned it from Jin''s method, because the miso soup was made with leafy vegetables such as cabbage, but this time it was delicious enough. Other dishes included venison steak, grilled dried fish, salad, and fruit. The dinner was not spectacular, but the ingredients were of high quality. "......I think it is rice that goes well with miso soup. ......" After all, Jin could not remain silent. "The rice harvested in the southern part of the Shoro Kingdom goes well with this miso soup. Please study it. Eckart was delighted by Jin''s advice. "That''s great!I can''t thank you enough for your good advice! Jin was a little relieved to hear that, since he had destroyed a ship under construction during the day. The accident was not Jin''s fault, but it was Reiko who finally destroyed the ship. However, Eckart, perhaps reading Jin''s mindset, laughs and calls out to him. Jin-sama, please don''t mind me. In that case, I don''t think I had any choice but to do what I did. It''s true that it''s unfortunate that the ship broke down, but if it''s broken, we can just build another one. It is more important that the injured were healed and that there were no fatalities. "......Thank you. It makes me feel better to hear you say so. ...... I am also sorry for my impolite words. Please forgive me." "No, no, I appreciate your honest opinion, not only about Miso, but I appreciate it very much. I am rather grateful that I now know how to use miso properly. Jin was impressed by Eckert. So he decided to help him a little. "...... If you don''t mind, could you show me the blueprints of that ship?" Reinhardt responded to Jin''s words. He was a crafty idiot. "Oh, Jin, are you going to do it?Let me help you! Jin smiled and nodded. After dinner, Jin and Reinhardt were invited to another room to see the blueprints. It was 40 meters long and 10 meters wide. The height of the hull section is 6 meters, and the total height including the cabins is 12 meters. "Wow, that''s amazing!" Even Reinhardt was impressed by this huge ship. There is no other ship as large as this in the world except for the one in Horai Island ....... Jin, on the other hand, asks the question he has been asking since he saw the actual ship during the daytime. What is the power source?How does it move?" The blueprints did not describe the driving method. "......That is the best-kept secret," said Eckert. Eckert said. "Our family''s magecraftsman has come up with a revolutionary method that has never been seen before. When he said that he could not tell them about it, Jin and the others could not forcefully ask any more questions. They could only guess that some kind of propulsion device would be attached to the step at the stern of the boat. So, I will give some advice on the hull and internal structure at this time. I do not know much about keel and other construction methods, but there was one point that really bothered me. It was that the bottom of the ship was flat in spite of the size of the ship. It is true that the boat is easy to build and the interior can be easily divided, but at 40 meters in length, the strength of the boat becomes a problem. It would be fine if the water surface were wave-free, but the ocean is always subject to waves. This means that the hull will be rocked up and down. Suppose the bow of a ship is lifted by a big wave. The next moment, the bow falls by gravity and hits the surface of the water. At this moment, if the ship has a flat bottom, a large impact will be applied to the bottom of the ship. Therefore, it is common to build a ship with a V-bottom in order to release the impact. This was a rudimentary knowledge of marine engineering that Jin learned in the process of building a ship model. Of course, if the ship is strong enough, there is no need to worry. However, when he saw this ship, which was supposed to be made entirely of wood, he became concerned. "I see. ......" Eckart understood some of Jin''s explanation. He looked as if he was pondering something. "I understand what you are saying, Jin-san. Then, it would be better to increase the strength or change the shape of the bottom, wouldn''t it? Yes. "Yes, I would like to say something. If you are going to build a ship this big, it would be better to have many compartments inside, each of which can be sealed. In case of flooding, the possibility of sinking is reduced if some of the cabins can be contained. Hence the advice. Eckart understood it immediately because of his love for boats. "Well, that''s a very good talk. Thank you both very much. I would love to see it when it is completed. We''d love to have you on board when it''s finished. Jin and Reinhardt finished their conversation and went back to their assigned staterooms. "...... Jin, what is your guess?" In the room, Jin and Reinhardt were talking about the propulsion system, trying to guess what it would be. "I thought it would be a method of rowing with oars or paddles sticking out of the side, but I guess not." The method is used on patrol boats and other vessels in the 10-meter class. Think of it like a galley. "Yeah. There were no holes in the side panels. What I''m wondering about are those steps." "Yeah, without screw propulsion, I think they would have to attach something externally to those steps. So there are only a few ways to do it. "One possibility, for example?What if we attach Lorelei''s lower body there?" Reinhardt said something out of the blue. Jin began to think that it might not be such a crazy idea. "I see. You mean to imitate the tail fin of a fish. "Yes. I don''t think it''s a bad idea. Jin and the others agreed that this might be possible, since the drive system was based on magical technology rather than science and technology. 481 - - 14-32 Preparation Finally, Jin and his group were concerned about Vivian. It is known to the deputy that Stearina was visiting her this time. If word of Stearina''s defection eventually reached us, it could be troublesome. We all need to discuss this together. So, I ask Reiko and Noir to call the ladies. "Why don''t you just go into exile with me? Stearina suggested. "That''s not a bad idea. ...... Vivienne has been shown in just one day that Jin and the others are no ordinary people. However, we are not ready to talk about Horai Island yet. Reiko gives some advice to Jin who is wondering what to do. Since you are a storyteller and you know a lot about the past, I think you can tell us about the warp gate. (I see. ......) There are some other people who know about the warp gate besides Horaijima <. Comparing them with Vivian, she seemed to be equally trustworthy. (If it is only a warp gate, can we treat it as an artifact and teach it to her? ......) Jin thought that we should let them escape to the Shoro Kingdom as well as Stearina along that line, and closed this topic with words that could be taken any way. "Then tomorrow, you will come with us. "Yes, okay. I''ll take care of the place where we live. Reinhardt assured him with a thump on the chest. "You are welcome, Vivian." Bertsche followed suit with a hearty welcome. "By the way..." Reinhardt couldn''t resist and opened his mouth. "What is it?" Elsa, Saki, Berthe, Stearina, and Vivienne. Small animals in their arms, on their knees, rubbing against their feet. "What?A cat? Berthe replies nonchalantly. "No, I know cats. Why are there so many of them?" Each of the women had a cat. "While my brothers Jin and Rai were away, Mr. Eckert told the lady-in-waiting to take us to the cat room. "There were dozens of cats there. We came back with one that had taken a liking to us. Elsa and Saki explained. On Elsa''s lap is Aqua, the white cat of the day. Saki is a brown tiger. Bertje was a black cat, and Stearina and Vivienne were both white cats, each getting along well with the other. "I''m glad you''re having fun at ......." "Yes." Erza nodded with a happy face as she stroked Aqua''s soft back. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning, after being treated to breakfast, Jin and the others thanked Eckert and left. "......Well, we''ve accomplished most of our goals, and there were some interesting things." Reinhardt nodded. "Yes, we did. We saw a ship, we saw a cat. I even tasted some miso. Jin had gotten a small amount of miso to share. Using this, he might be able to sort out the right kind of fungus. If we can select the right molds, we can make miso. Then, we are only two steps away from soy sauce. Unfortunately, we didn''t get a cat. Please come again. Eckardt seemed to like Jin and the others, and he sent us off with a regretful look on his face. First we went to Vivian''s house. After a night of waiting, Vivienne said that she still wanted to defect, so Jin and the others decided to offer their full support. The packing was done in a short time by dividing the work into several groups. If Reiko, Edgar, Noir, Neon, Aaru, and the rest of the team divided the workload, it was no big deal. However, it would have been conspicuous if we walked around with such a load in broad daylight. "...... Shall we have them carry the warp gate here?" There was still too much time before midnight when no one would be around. So Jin makes a plan to bring the warp gate here. Specifically, Reiko receives it outside Vivian''s house, that''s all. We were careful to keep out of sight, and soon the parts of the Warp Gate were sent to us. Reiko knows how to assemble them. She rented a room in Vivian''s house and assembled it in five minutes. "Father, it''s ready." "Oh, thank you." While Reiko was preparing, Jin explained the warp gate to Vivian. The Warp Gate is an ancient artifact. Jin possesses multiple Warp Gates and can use them. If Jin is attached to it, anyone other than Jin can use the Warp Gate. ...... and . "Warp gate"?That''s like something out of an old tale!That''s amazing!" Vivienne is excited to see this legendary magical tool. Stearina smiles silently. First Bertsche and then Reinhardt disappear into the warp gate. "Come on, let''s go!" Stearina grabbed Vivian''s hand and urged her to go through the warp gate one after another. This time, they were not going through the Shinkai, but to the Reinhardt residence. Edgar with his luggage, Aal, Noir, Neon, and Erza, Saki, and Saki. Then Erza and Saki disappeared into the warp gate. Before passing through the warp gate, Jin gives an order. Elm and Ash of the Covert Maneuver Team (SP) are to stay behind. When Reiko disappears, disassemble the warp gate and stand by. At night, come back via the Falcon. "Yes, Chief." And Jin... The rest of the covert task force (SP), which is invisible because it is deploying invisibility, is on the ground. Finally, Reiko leaves. The warp gate is now located in the basement of Reinhardt''s mansion, <>. As soon as the group exits the warp gate, they head for the first floor. They came to the entrance hall. "Welcome, Vivien. "Thank you for having us." The only servant in Reinhardt''s house now is his secretary, Adberg. He has yet to hire anyone from the village because he is still unsettled. It would be necessary to find people from the village to help stimulate the economy. We''ve just finished putting together the family registry," Reinhardt said, somewhat embarrassed. Reinhardt confided to Jin and the others with some embarrassment. "Welcome back, Mr. Reinhardt. The group was greeted by an automaton that had noticed the noise. "This is Bella, the automaton I created. Reinhardt introduced him. Reinhardt explained that since a warp gate had been installed, the automaton was more trustworthy than a stranger. The purple hair is probably to emphasize the fact that he is not a human being. Her eyes are black. She is dressed in a proper lady''s uniform. "This is Bella, ladies and gentlemen, at your service. Reinhardt is still a crafty idiot even in the midst of his busy schedule, and he seems to have made an automata for himself before he knew it. The time difference is about two hours, so it''s 7:00 a.m. here. "I''d like to report today, Stellina, Vivienne, I''m sorry, but will you accompany me to the capital? "Yes, of course." The two of them readily agree to Reinhardt''s request. "Well then, Reinhard, I''m going back. Maybe you can tell His Majesty that I would like to see him tomorrow. Reinhard nodded, sensing that Jin had something on his mind. "Okay. Then I''ll apply for tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. I''m sure Jin will be fine with that. I''m sure Jin will be fine. Thank you for your help. Thank you very much. Reinhard, Stearina, and Vivian went to Leuthart, and Jin, Erza, and Saki moved to Horaijima. Saki told Jin that she would return home from Horai Island. "Well then, Jin, I''m going back to my house. Erza asked Jin when they were alone. "Brother Jin, you said you were going to Leuthart tomorrow. "Oh, I wanted to explain to you about the demon tribe. I have another idea. An idea? Yeah. I need to make preparations to make it happen. Elsa, will you help me? Yes, of course. And you, Reiko? Yes, I''ll take care of it. Jin started to make some kind of magic tools with the help of Reiko and Erza. 482 - - 14-33 Step-by-by-Step The next day, July 27, the capital, Leusert. The time was noon. Reinhard was waiting for Jin at the square in front of the palace. "I think he should be here by now. ......" Two hours before, he had talked with Jin on the manacam, and Jin had told him that he would arrive around noon. "Mr. Reinhardt, please take that." Noire, who was standing next to me, pointed to the western sky over Lake Tosmo. "An airship?" There was an airship in the sky. "No, it''s smaller. ...... And there are two of them?" There were two flying objects. It was getting closer and closer. At that moment, a blue-haired automaton was transferred to Reinhardt''s side. It was Anne. "Mr. Reinhardt, that''s the hot air balloon that Goshujin-sama and Erza-sama are riding. Please tell the people in the castle that. "Okay!" Reinhardt hurriedly finds the nearest knight and tells him. Tell them to make sure they know that that''s the flying ball that Magecraft Meister Jin is riding. Since it is Jin, I don''t think he will be hurt by an errant shot of magic, but just in case, I ask him to inform the Emperor as well. A few minutes later, a hot airball came over Reinhardt''s head. "......You''ve made a new one again, Jin-kun. ......" He turned to see Gerhard Hilde von Rubies, the current emperor of the Shoro Empire, standing there. Of course, he was protected by five Kingsguard knights. "Hmmm, isn''t that the that was once used by the Unifilers?" said the Minister of Magical Technology, Degas Furt von Manischlus. "There are two of them. One of them is Jin-dono and the other is ...... Elsa-dono. This is the Prime Minister, Jung Forss von K?bsler. Many others were also present, including Christoph, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, and the captain of the Kingsguard. It seems that everyone had heard that Jin was coming from the sky, and had rushed to the airport without lunch. The hot air balloon in which Jin and Erza were riding descended slowly. It landed at the plaza in front of the palace in full view of the crowd. The door attached to the gondola was opened, and Jin, Reiko, Erza, and Edgar alighted. "Sir Jin Nido, welcome!Welcome! The first to welcome them was the female emperor. Jin and Elsa bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, I''m sorry for the unexpected visit." "Don''t worry about it. It''s only natural to welcome a Magecraft Meister and an honorary knight. Jin removes some kind of magical equipment from the hot air ball, which has completely lost its buoyancy, and asks to manage it. "Your Majesty, will you take care of this flying ball?" "Of course." The queen chose two knights of the Kingsguard and entrusted them with the management of the flying ball. When they had done so, they moved into the palace. The knights were then moved to the palace. Once again, I apologize for the unexpected visit. When everyone was seated in the conference room adjacent to the office, Jin first apologized. "Don''t worry about it. I''m sure you must have some urgent business to attend to." In a friendly tone of voice, the emperor asked Jin to go on. "Thank you. I have a few topics to discuss. ...... Let''s start with the report on the demon tribe. "Yes, I received a letter from Makina-sama last night. A demon tribe has appeared in the Kingdom of Klein. I sent it in Makina''s name to add credibility to the story. "I see. ...... Actually, the other day, in the Kingdom of Selroa, too ......." Here Jin explained the incident in the Kingdom of Celuloa that caused Stearina to defect. There is no law in the Shoro Kingdom to judge the smuggling into the Kingdom of Cerroa. This has been confirmed by Reinhardt. Therefore, the Empress did not mention it. But she frowned at the information about the demon tribe. "Hmmm, something like that, you know... ......" "And I don''t have any proof here," he said. He added that it seemed that the demon tribe was controlling Marcus. "I don''t like what I''m hearing!" The Prime Minister''s face changed color. "We still don''t know what the demons are after. But from the way they have been acting in various countries, I do not think they are friendly. "Yes, that''s right. Mister Jin, is there anything else you can tell us? Yes, about the magic they use. I read about it in the letter from Makina-dono. It says that they use gravity magic, transfer magic, and explosion magic. This is also what I informed you in advance. "Yes, it''s a power not to be underestimated. We must be very careful. "...... In any case, we have to be careful to make sure that no demons have infiltrated the city." The difficult-looking empress. "I think so. And I think this is something we need to discuss not only here in the Shoro Kingdom, but with other countries as well. "Yes, that''s right. Your Majesty, we will talk about it in the afternoon when we have our regular meeting. The manaphone that Jin distributed to each country through the Nostalgia Party was used as an effective means of communication in each country. First of all, a fixed time network. The time in each country is slightly different because of the time difference, but in the case of Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, calls are made at 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to the kingdoms of Selroa, Egelea, Franz, Klein, and Elias. . The time difference from Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, which is the most eastern and the earliest in time, is 2 hours and 40 minutes. In other words, the regular time in Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, is 10:40 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. Here, the coordination against demons will be made between the small group of countries and the Shoro Kingdom. Next, I have a gift for you. The female emperor immediately recognized her. "Could it be that flying ball?" "Yes." The emperor was so pleased that he almost hugged Jin who nodded his head. "Really?That''s amazing!Jin, thank you!No, thank you is not enough. Is there anything you want?I''ll do everything I can, okay? Yes, I have a favor to ask. What is it? The emperor made a gesture of respect and showed his willingness to listen to Jin''s request. "I would like a permit that would allow me to freely enter and leave the Shoro Kingdom. Preferably for my companions as well. "I see, so that''s why the hot-air balloon." The Prime Minister seemed to have guessed why Jin had brought the flying ball. "Yes. When coming and going from the sky, you do not have to pass through the customs. In that case, I hope you have a permit so that you will not be considered to have entered the country illegally. Jin then said that he would be sending two hot air balloons each to the kingdoms of Egelea and Klein. "I see, so you are going to send them to the country that recognizes you as a Magecraft Meister. Are you going to make the same request there? "Yes. This is what I discussed with the old man, Anne and Elsa last night. We decided that it would be better to use the title of "Magecraft Meister" to come and go with an open mind, rather than to keep sneaking back and forth. After that, I will approach the Kingdom of Elias as well. "Okay. Well, how about the condition that we allow up to 10 members as long as they accompany Mr. Jin? Yes, that''s fine. Thank you very much. The Empress immediately ordered the Prime Minister to issue the documents. "By the way, I have decided to call the hot air balloons <> to distinguish them from the ones used by the Unification Party (Unifilers). Jin begins to explain about the hot air balloons. "Hot air balloons, aren''t they nice?According to what I''ve learned, hot air is stored in that balloon and floats, right?" "Yes, that''s right. The Unifiler used fire magic to generate hot air, but my hot air balloon is different. "Well, please explain in detail." Degaus, the Minister of Magical Technology, leaned forward. "Yes, I would like to see the actual balloon and explain it to you. "Yes, then let''s go back to the plaza in front of the Palace once more! With a single word from Her Majesty the Emperor, everyone moved to the plaza in front of the Palace once again. 483 - - 14-34 Above the sky Jin begins to explain the situation in front of everyone who has moved to the plaza in front of the palace. His assistant was Elsa. "Let me briefly explain the structure. First of all, it is an air sac. It can be made of any light, strong, heat-resistant cloth, but this one is made of sandworm leather. The sandworm is a demon native to the Shoro Empire and lives in the western Harihari Desert. The leather is tough enough to withstand Reiko''s blows. "I see, it is a material that can be found in our country..." Degauss, the Minister of Magical Technology, nods his head in agreement. Jin''s airship was made of a rare material called ground spider silk, which could not be easily imitated. "From there, an oval gondola is suspended by ropes. That''s all for the structure, now let''s see how to use it. Jin pointed to the magic tool attached under the air sac. "It has the effect of engineering magic <>. It is powered by a magic stone of the fire system. All you have to do is to move this lever. Raising the lever attached to the heating device heats the air, and lowering it stops the heating. By adjusting the lever to the appropriate position, the altitude can be maintained at a certain level. I see, heated air becomes lighter. I just learned this from my instructor (Fuhrer) the other day. The Fuhrer seems to be passing on the knowledge as smoothly as Jin had hoped. "Just to be safe, it would be nice to have someone on board who can use <> magic. This is an engineering magic as well as an elementary magic of the fire attribute, so there are probably quite a few people who can use it. "Yes, that''s right. I would say that at least one out of three mages can use it. DeGauss assures him. "And this is the propulsion system of this hot air balloon, <>. The airship had been called a <>, but now it had an official name. "It utilizes <> and obtains propulsive force by squeezing the wind in this way." As Jin verified long ago, normal wind magic has the ability to counteract recoil. However, once the wind is passed through a tube and the wind speed is increased by narrowing the flow path, that is, by making the tube narrower and thinner, recoil is generated to compensate for the increased wind speed. This allows the ball to achieve up to three times the speed of the Unified Party''s (Unifiler) hot air balloons, which were mainly left up to the wind. "With a tailwind and the wind thrusters, it could reach a speed of more than 50 kilometers per hour. In no wind, it would be about 30 kilometers per hour. "Well, that''s fast enough. It will be efficient since it will be flying through the unobstructed sky. Yes. But if it''s too windy, it''s dangerous to overdo it. I understand that. I''ll be careful. I have also prepared an arrow with a rope attached for emergency use. I''ll use it as an anchor by shooting it into the ground with my bow. "I see, like an anchor on a ship." After explaining the detailed operation and other precautions, Jin asked the participants to actually fly the boat. The Prime Minister, Jung Forss, and the Minister of Magical Technology, Degauze, are on board. Jin, Reiko, and Erza follow in the other car. Again, the emperor wanted to get on, but was admonished by the prime minister, the minister of magical technology, and the captain of the Kingsguard, so he reluctantly stayed on the ground. "Then please lift the lever all the way up. Jin activated the heating device of the hot-air balloon they were riding in. DeGauss followed his lead and pushed up the lever. Heating begins immediately, and the heated air accumulates in the air sacs due to the magic contained in their magic tools. The air sacs expand. The rounded air sacs slowly float up. The gondola shakes, and the ropes connected to it tighten. More heat was pumped into the gondola. The lightened air sacs finally lifted the gondola, and the hot air balloon left the ground. We''re floating!Oh, how I wish I could have ridden ...... away! The emperor looked at the hot-air balloon with regret. "Your Majesty, please consider your position. ......" The captain of the Kingsguard sounded a little tired. I really want to ride on it! "I really want to go for a ride!Just like this!" When the Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic and Technology came back to the ground after they had learned how to handle the hot air balloon, the emperor looked at all the people there and said, "You know, the last time we had an airship...... "The last time you took us on an airship, we only floated a meter or so and that was it, wasn''t it?This time I want to fly." "Your Majesty, ......" The Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic and Technology, who had just returned from a trip in the sky, could understand the feelings of the female emperor. "......" And after much deliberation, they came to a conclusion. "Your Majesty, then I think we can avoid a lot of danger by tying the two hot air balloons together with a rope. He thought that if one of the balloons was about to crash, the other would support it and slow the speed of its fall. "In order to make it as light as possible, we put Jin-dono, His Majesty, and Reiko, an automata, on one side. On the other side, let''s put Degas on board. This was the Prime Minister''s best concession. "Ah, that''s fine. We can finally fly! "Remember, don''t get too excited. Sir Jin Nido, take good care of His Majesty. Yes, sir. Jin Nidoo gets in first and offers his hand to the queen. The Empress was delighted to be pulled into the gondola by Jin''s hand. Reiko gets in and closes and locks the door. "Now, let''s go." Jin signaled to Degauze, the minister of magical technology next to him, and pushed the heating lever fully up. The two hot air balloons inflated in the same way. Jin also ordered Reiko to apply auxiliary heating. The reason is that Jin''s balloon is heavier than the other one. Reiko assists them with magic. Soon the balloons left the ground. "It flew!It flew! The emperor is excited like a child. The balloon rises slowly. At an altitude of about 30 meters, Jin slowed his ascent and activated the wind thrusters. "Wow, it''s moving! The two hot air balloons move toward Lake Tosmo. The altitude is slowly increasing, now about 50 meters. "Because of the way it works, it''s a little difficult to stay at a certain altitude. Jin briefly explains the trick to operating the balloon. "I see. When it rises too high, we turn the heat down and then turn it up again when it drops again. The lush green waters of Lake Tosmo are visible in the distance. The flight was stable, and Jin left the control of the plane to Reiko. "Reiko, please stay with me for a while." "Yes, father." Jin sensed that the Empress wanted to talk to him. "Thank you, Jin. Ah, my wish has come true at last. The earth is so big. ......" Looking down at the country from the sky, the emperor thanked Jin in a deep voice. "......After this, you will give the same gift to the kingdoms of Egelea and Klein, right?" "Yes, that''s my intention." "I know, but I''m a little disappointed. I know, but I''m a little disappointed because I don''t think that it would be better if it were only for our country. Sensing that Jin was about to say something at that remark, the emperor immediately denies what he said before. "No, you shouldn''t say that. Now is the time for all nations to join hands against the demon tribe. "...... yeah." "We barely managed to win the war of wizardry, but it was a draw. I wonder what''s going to happen ...... this time. If we can figure out what the purpose of the demon tribe is, I think we might be able to reconcile with them. Jin gives his opinion to the slightly anxious Empress. "Yes, we are all living on the same land, aren''t we? But that''s a personal opinion. As emperor, you have a duty to protect your people. At the very least, in the event of war, we should be prepared to minimize the damage as much as possible. Jin shared this sentiment. He believes that the numerous facilities on Horai Island are not for offensive purposes, but for defensive ones. The two hot air balloons arrived over Lake Tosmo without talking for a while. There is almost no wind on this day, so the current speed is about 25 km/h. It is almost time for Jin to return. It was about time for Jin to return, so he reversed the direction of travel. "Oh, you''re leaving already?I would have liked to fly longer, but I guess I have no choice. "Yes, you''ll have to put up with this for today." In the other balloon, connected by a rope, DeGauss, the Minister of Magic and Technology, looked relieved. "...... Hey, Jin. Are you going to get married?" The emperor suddenly asked. "What?Yes, yes. Not at the moment." Caught off guard, Jin replies with some dismay. "What about Elsa?Nothing with her? "No, nothing!" Jin denies it with all his might. Seeing Jin like this, the emperor tilted his head. "Really?I think she''s a good girl. ......" "Erza is my sister." But the emperor''s pursuit did not stop. "She''s my sister, but we''re not blood related. Do you love someone in another country by any chance?" "......Why would you say that?I don''t have any ......." "No, Jin-kun, if you''re going to stay in Shoro, I think it would be best if you got together with a girl from Shoro. ......" "......Please give me a break. ......" Jin declines, saying that he understands the feeling, but he doesn''t want to be approached with such a proposal. "But you know, Jin, at your age, it''s not surprising that you have a wife. It''s not like you''re not interested in girls, right? The emperor''s pursuit of Jin grew more insistent. "To be honest, I don''t have that kind of desire. Jin told the truth. 484 - - 14-35 On the lake When Jin said he had no desire for girls, the emperor rolled his eyes. "Jin-kun, is that ...... what you mean?" "What do you mean by that,......?" Jin could not answer in such a way. The Empress changed her question. "Not a girl, but, you know, a smaller girl, or, on the contrary, a girl who is much older than you." "No, no..." "Well, then,...... do you want a man?" "Why would you say that?" Jin held his head. He had never thought that the normally intelligent and resolute emperor would say something like this. "I didn''t think she''d say something like that to a doll ......." "Please don''t do that. ......" It was easy for the empress to see that Jin was seriously denying it, so she decided to drop the subject for now. (Actually, I wish she would get together with Erza or Saki.) Without saying a word about it, the emperor changed the subject. "There are so many things we don''t know about demons, aren''t there? I''m worried. "I guess so. But I will do what I can. "Yes, if I hear your words, Jin, you will be a great help to us all. We will do what we can do in our country, so please tell us anything you want. "Yes, I will." The flight continued in silence for a while. When Miyagi came into sight. "I wish I had the ...... power." The emperor muttered in a small voice. Power? Yes, power. Human resources, economy, weapons. I want more and more power to protect the people." "......" Jin could not say anything as these words were squeezed out from the depths of his heart. But the old man, with the help of Reiko, who was there with him, was listening to him carefully. * * * * The hot-air balloon landed safely at the plaza in front of Miyagi Castle. The Prime Minister rushes to the Empress, who has stepped on the ground again, taking her by the hand of Jin who landed first. "Your Majesty, I am so happy for your safe return." "Yes, thank you. The flight was very comfortable and without any danger. The Empress turned around and smiled at Jin. "Thank you, Sir Jin Nido. The group returned to the meeting room in the palace. Stearina and Vivian were waiting there. "Mr. Jin, she, Vivian, is the second registered foreigner living in the Shoro Kingdom," the Empress herself explained. The queen herself explains. She is so friendly that the Prime Minister is standing beside her with a puzzled look on his face. "Oh, that''s good. Will you continue to accept asylum?" The woman emperor laughs and replies to Jin''s casual question. "Yes, I do. If the person is really in trouble, that is. Jin remembered that there was a rumor that Her Majesty could discern the true nature of a person. If they are in fact in a false exile, and if they are actually trying to find out the inner workings of the Shoro Empire, or to infiltrate the government in times of war...will He be able to see through that? If so, I would be relieved. (After all, I have many friends in the Shoro Empire. ......) ) It is understandable that Jin would want to support them. "It''s ......." Thinking about that, I missed a part of what the Empress said. It is a great disrespect. However, perhaps sensing Jin''s inner dismay, the lady emperor changed the wording and explained again. "In other words, the Randalls, Reinhardt''s family, will be taking care of the exiles for a while from now on. Taking into account Reinhardt''s experience as a diplomat, you know." Stearina, and Vivien. The Shawroe Kingdom has accepted two exiles in a short period of time. Considering the instability of the Kingdom of Cerroa, it is hard to imagine that there will be no more defections in the future. Therefore, the Randall family is to be the first to receive them. Jin was relieved to hear about the state of the Shoro Kingdom. The Shoro Empire had the option of not granting asylum and sending them back home. It seems that the Shoro Kingdom prioritized securing human resources over friendship with the Kingdom of Celuloa. Indeed, it is hard to imagine that normal diplomatic relations can be maintained with the current Kingdom of Cerroa," Jin honestly commented. "That''s why. Reinhard. I will send a letter of appointment to your family, Count Randall, in due course." The Prime Minister concluded. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After spending the night in a guest room in Miyagi, Jin and his crew left early the next morning. Thanks to this, they arrived at Koju well before noon. "Wow, three ocean liners, huh?" Jin said in amazement. Now, in addition to the that Reinhardt had built, there were two other ocean-going vessels of the same type floating in front of Jin and the others. "Yes, they will be responsible for the water transportation of Lake Tosmo in the future. As a magical engineer, I am very happy. But I must apologize to Jin. "Apologize for what?" Reinhardt said with a straight face to Jin''s doubtful face. "For mass-producing the outer ring ships, you know." But Jin laughed off the line. That''s exactly what you just said. Reinhardt just said that. "It''s an engineer''s pleasure to make something useful for people. I''m relieved to hear that. "But then I have a suggestion for you." "Oh, that''s good!Let''s hear it on the boat to Vanneh! Stearina and Vivienne looked at them with a mixture of envy and dismay. "Mr. Reinhardt, we are ready to leave." "Oh, thank you. Well then, let''s all go. Reiko, Jin, Stellina, Vivienne, Noir, and finally Reinhardt get on board and the <> is launched. The mermaid golem <> propelled the boat, making it even faster than other ocean-going vessels. Even though it is summer, the breeze across the lake is cool. Stearina and Vivienne enjoyed the ride on the lake with the wind in their face. And what about Jin and Reinhardt? "...... and put the deck up and cover the front and back of the outer ring with ......." "Hmmm, that will make it easier to get in and out of the boat. ......" "I''d also like to see a splash cover." "Yeah, and ......" That''s really all we talked about on the boat from Koju to Banneh. "...... you are so close." Vivienne''s face was already beyond disgusted. "That''s good. It''s a sign of peace." Stearina replies with a smile. The future is uncertain and dark. But the light that shines through it is definitely here. 485 - - 14-36 The Kingdom of Klein and the Hot Air Balloon "What, Jin-dono has a hot air balloon?" In the afternoon of July 27th, the two countries of Klein and Egelea were informed of the gift from Jin named <>, which was sent from the Shoro Kingdom. At the same time, the information about the demon tribe was also reported, and together with the letter from Machina that had reached the two countries, there was tension among the leaders of the two kingdoms. However, the distance between the Kingdom of Klein and the Kingdom of Egelea from the territory of the demon tribe was very different, and naturally, the level of tension was different between the two kingdoms. * * * * * At 10:00 a.m. on July 29, Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. "Oh, I see it! "Wow, there really are djinns on board!" It''s been a long time. It''s amazing. ...... In the square in front of the castle, a large number of Kingsguard knights, Prime Minister Powell, Princess Rieschen, Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egeria, and Licia''s father, Niklas Faarheit, were waiting for Jin''s arrival. Prince Ernest was visiting the Kingdom of Klein while sending Princess Rieschen. Niklas is present because he was one of the people who saw the Unified Party''s during the battle at Tetrada. As they watched, the hot air balloon with Jin on board landed in the center of the plaza. Only Jin and Reiko landed this time. Because they had a lot of baggage. Erza remained in Shoro to visit her parents. Jin!" Prince Ernest was the first to run out. Princess Rieschen followed. The Kingsguard knights who did not know Jin directly scrunched up their faces, but those who knew him, such as Glen Davrode, the leader of the Kingsguard, and Heinz Rasch, a young knight, were calm and composed. Jin bowed to them as they ran toward him, "It has been a long time, Your Highness Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen. "Jin, it''s been a long time. ...... I didn''t know you talked like that." Yes. Ernesto-sama''s right, it''s a little too formal for you, isn''t it? Thank you. Thank you. ......" Jin clears his throat and says, "It''s been a long time, "It''s been a long time, Your Highness. He smiled and greeted them again. "Jin-dono, or rather, Magecraft Meister, Sir Jin Nido, welcome. Prime Minister Powell walked up to Jin and held out a silver plate. "This is a certificate granting you permission to enter and leave my country. As in the Shoro Kingdom, you may bring up to ten people with you." "Thank you very much." Jin thanked him and accepted it. "Now then, let me show you how to operate this hot air balloon. Jin begins by explaining the structure of the balloon and then moves on to its operation. By the way, this time the air sacs were not made of sandworms but of dragonfly eels. I chose this one because it is a material for demons caught in the Kingdom of Klein. After the explanation, the hot air balloon floated up into the sky with Prime Minister Powell and Niklas on board. "This is very comfortable! "Indeed, no wonder the Unifilers feel so superior. "I don''t care if it''s for fighting against demons, but please don''t use it for fighting among humans." Jin repeatedly said that he did not want this to be used for the conflict between humans. Of course, Jin knows this. Of course, Jin knew that most of the technology could be converted directly into military power. "Yes, I know that. I still vividly remember what the deus ex machina meant and the mysterious power he wielded. Having been on the front lines in Tetrada, the futility of war had sunk deep into his bones. As Niklas, he could only trust in the reason and goodness of the people. "......The honorary baron should have been appointed by the king, and I am sorry to have had to act as his deputy." The Prime Minister bowed to Jin as he was ushered into the reception room. The honorary knighthood announced by Princess Rieschen in the Shoro Kingdom was only a notification, so this was a formal appointment. "The king is ill at the moment and is lying low. "Father is not a strong man to begin with. As a concubine, I am concerned. Princess Rieschen, who was also present at the meeting, looked unhappy. "Master Ernest has greeted me, and I think I''ve been able to show a little filial piety." The youngest daughter''s betrothal must have been a great joy for her father. Jin asked the king in a roundabout way if he could visit her, but he was told that only the royal family, his entourage, and the doctor at his side were allowed to do so. (Well, it could not be helped, could it?) (Well, what can one do?) Since Jin did not know the symptoms of the disease, there was no guarantee that he could cure it, and he did not have the right to force a visit to the hospital to see the patient. Jin explained to the Prime Minister and Princess Rieschen everything he knew about the demon tribe. "......Mm, I understand. Gloria Allstadt returned just now with nine soldiers and reported that they were attacked by a demon tribe as mentioned in the letter from Makina-sama. It seems that they were attacked by demons. And although they are not demons, the other day, Makina-sama killed a giant centipede and ......." The Prime Minister, having said all that, hurriedly bowed to Jin and apologized. "Jin-dono!I am very sorry!" Of course, there was the matter of the Inado Mine. Although Jin had heard about it from Licia, the Prime Minister explained and apologized again. "It is not right that such an abandoned mine should be donated to the government. Therefore, I would like to confer on you, Sir Jin Nido, the Order of the First Class, in addition to the honorary knighthood. Will you accept it?" "Yes, thank you." Jin thought about it for a while and decided to accept the award, since it would make an angle to say that he would not accept the award here what he had received in the Shoro Kingdom. Being a nobleman is often convenient in this world. I have been feeling this especially recently. However, Jin thinks that he should only flaunt his status as a knight when necessary. "So, Jin-dono, regarding the matter of taking Prince Ernest to the Kingdom of Egelea in Sir Ernest''s , I have just received your reply and you have agreed to it. "I see." Jin was going to take this opportunity to visit the Kingdom of Egelea, and he thought it would be a good demonstration if he took Prince Ernesto along with him. Since the Shoro Kingdom had a track record of transporting the Queen and other leaders, and the Klein Kingdom had a track record of transporting the Prime Minister, he asked them to contact him through regular communication using the manaphone. As a result, the royal family of the Kingdom of Egelea allowed Prince Ernest to be carried by Jin''s hot-air balloon to the capital city of Asunto. Needless to say, this was done at the request of Prince Ernest himself. * * * * * * * * * At 7:00 a.m. on the morning of August 1, the next day. After assembling the other two hot-air balloons that had been brought to Klein Kingdom, Jin and Reiko got into their respective gondolas. Reiko looked worried, but Jin patted her head and told her not to worry. Naturally, they had the Magi Crystals inscribed with lightening magic, and Falcon and the others were guarding them in the sky above. Jin, I''d like to talk to you again. ......Mr. Ernest, I guess this is goodbye for now." Princess Rieschen is sad to see him off. "Princess Rieschen, we will meet again soon." "...... Ries, the next time I see you will be when I come to get you!" "Ah, Ernesto-sama ......." Princess Rieschen turned red at Prince Ernest''s matter-of-fact tone. "Well then, Sir Jin Nido, please take good care of his highness." With these final words from Prime Minister Powell, Jin Nido boarded the gondola. "Yes, we are leaving now." Jin and Reiko each operate a hot air balloon. Princess Rieschen waved her hands in a thousand different directions as she watched the two hot air balloons slowly ascend. In Jin''s gondola is Prince Ernest and his golem, Lotte, and in Reiko''s gondola is her maid, Laila. "Ah, the sky is so nice!I''m going to ask my father to make me a special hot ...... balloon. Prince Ernest is in a good mood as he looks up at the clear sky and down at the wide expanse of land. "Jin is really great, isn''t he? I hope we can be friends forever. "Yes, Your Highness." "Yes, your highness. I''m sure you''ll remain our friend as long as we don''t betray you, right?Then I will continue to be the one who can live up to your trust. Was it his royal instincts or Prince Ernest''s talent? It was as if he could see through Jin''s true intentions. Jin himself places great importance on <>. It is Jin''s creed to meet expectations and to never betray trust. As long as he is faithful, Jin will respond to it. "Your Highness, I see that you and Princess Rieschen are getting along very well. "Yes, I was wondering what she was like, but she''s a good girl." As royalty, Ernesto has no hope for a free love life. But this match seems to have pleased him. As a friend of Princess Rieschen, Jin wishes them all the best for the future. The road ahead was clear and cloudless. "Your Highness, let me show you a trick. A trick? Yes. Yes. I have a trick to make this hot air balloon fly faster. Jin grinned and deployed a certain magic. "<>" < But what is the effect? "Whoa, whoa!" The hot air balloon accelerated. Reiko sees this and uses in the same way, and comes after it. Wind is the flow of air. This magic has the side effect of reducing air resistance. In no time at all, the speed more than doubled. Roughly 60 kilometers per hour. From Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, to Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egeria, is roughly 260 kilometers, a speed that would take less than four and a half hours to reach. "Wow, that''s about the same speed as the last airship! Prince Ernest was innocently excited in the sky. 486 - - 14-37 The Kingdom of Egerea and the Hot Air Balloon We accelerated with a back-up technique, so we easily covered the distance of 260 km, and Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, came into view even though it was still mid-morning. Incidentally, although we were crossing over the Kingdom of Celuloa, there was no such thing as airspace violation because there had been no aircraft in the area before. Therefore, there is no problem as long as the aircraft passed over at an altitude of 100 meters or higher. However, it would be a problem at an altitude as low as 10 meters. "Oh, that was fast. How long would it take a horse-drawn carriage?I didn''t realize how comfortable it is to fly without any obstacles! Prince Ernest remained in high spirits the whole time. Meanwhile, Lila Solu?, who was riding with Reiko, was still in a high state of excitement. "......" "............" She was silent from the beginning to the end. "Oh!They''re here, Your Majesty! Much faster than expected! "The wind must have been good." At the castle of Assunto, King Harold Luan Autoclase-Egelea, Queen Catherine Riina Sphare, and Prime Minister Boyd Noreau. The Prime Minister, the Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli, and a hundred civil and military officials were waiting to welcome the hot-air balloons. "Oh, ...... what a great thing. Father, he''s so excited that Jin is coming. Prince Ernest, seeing the scene from above, muttered half in disgust and half in joy. Jin honestly hoped that they would not make a big deal out of the ceremony, but there was no turning back now that they had come this far. He decided to put on the half-coat of Honorary Magical Craftsman Onorari Magi Craftsman that he had prepared. And just at noon, the hot air balloon carrying Jin, Reiko, Prince Ernest, Lotte, and Lyra landed at the outer palace of the Royal Castle of Asunto. "Welcome, Magecraft Meister, Sir Jin Nido!" The Prime Minister steps forward and shakes hands with Jin. "Ernest, we are so pleased to see you back safe and sound." "Yes, father, I''m home." The prince also exchanged words with his father. "Sir Jin Nidor, since you have all of your staff, both military and civilian, I would like to hold a ceremony to officially appoint you as the Magecraft Meister of the Kingdom of Egelea. A proposal from the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister''s proposal also includes the judgment that Jin would probably leave this place in a huff if he were to stay. Yes, yes... All right. Good. At the Prime Minister''s signal, a female knight with a long coat that had apparently already been prepared approached. Upon closer inspection, she is Laila''s older sister, Iris Solyus. She had recently been promoted from a member of the Kingsguard to Captain of the 3rd Kingsguard. "As our country''s first Magecraft Meister, this long coat is unique to me. At the same time, it is a sign of honorary knighthood. It seems that the Shoro and Klein kingdoms have made Jin an honorary baron, and have decided to give him the same rank in the Kingdom of Egelea. The long coat worn by Iris is the perfect length for Jin. The color is white with an antique gold line. "Sir Jinn Nidor, in recognition of the favors you have brought to my country, and in recognition of your wisdom and skill, I hereby confer upon you the title of Magecraft Meister and the rank of honorary baron. King Egelea said briefly. To say the least, this was an exceptionally fast ceremony. This was due to the fact that Prince Ernest had warned Jin on the manaphone the other day that the ceremony must be finished in a short period of time or it would cause displeasure, considering Jin''s personality. By holding the ceremony in a single, rapid succession, Jin was given no chance to refuse. Jin, who is not good at showy things, was a little bewildered, but Reiko was happy to see his recognition and looked at him smiling from beginning to end. * * * * * * * * * * * After the ceremony was over, the hundred civil and military officials in attendance disappeared like the tide receding, leaving King Egelea, Prince Ernest, Prime Minister Boyd, Minister of Magic Kerichdole, Minister of Defense Juddle, Iri, Laila, and a few Kingsguard knights. "Sir Jin, or rather Sir Jin Nido, would you like to have lunch?" "Yes, I ate my lunch on the plane. "Father, it was very nice to eat while looking down on the world below." I see. Then, may we get down to business? After receiving the Prime Minister''s words, Jin began the transfer of the hot-air balloon. He explains the structure of the balloon, its various parts, and gives a lecture on how to operate it. The air sacs are made of dragonhead eel leather from the Kingdom of Klein. This was done in consideration of the friendship and commerce between the two countries. The two balloons took to the sky with Prime Minister Boyd, Minister of Magic Kelihidole, Minister of Defense Juddle, and Aili on board. King Egelea looked as if he would like to take a ride, but he did not say anything until the end. "No, no, this is very comfortable! "It is indeed. When the Unification Party (Unifiler) attacked us from the sky, we were completely helpless, but now we can see its superiority. "The performance has been improved from what the Unification Party (Unifiler) used to use. We cannot thank you enough for this. The Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and the Minister of Magic each express their own opinions. And what about Laila''s sister, Iris? "......" She is crouched down with a pale face. Unlike her sister, she seems to be afraid of heights. * * * * "Thank you again, Sir Jin Nido!" The Prime Minister moved to his office and bowed to Jin. When he raised his head, the mood had changed completely. "Now, I would like you to move on to another story." It was the well-known case of the demon tribe. Jin explained the same thing as he had done yesterday in the Kingdom of Klein. "...... Hmmm, I am not sure of their true intentions, but at least they are not friendly." "Fortunately, our country is far away from the territory of the demon tribe. It is less dangerous." The Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic each expressed their opinions. The Minister of Defense, however, looked unconcerned. "No, Kelihidole-dono, according to what Jin-dono has told us, there is a high probability that the demon tribe has entered the Kingdom of Cerroa. If that''s the case, then our country, which borders the kingdom, is also in danger. "I see. So there is a possibility that the demon tribe may be inspired by Cerroa to attack us. The Prime Minister is right. I think it''s best to assume that the Unification Party (Unifilers) have simply turned into demons. "Oh, dear, we don''t have much time to catch our breath. The finances are very tight. Finance Minister Braoloat let out a pained voice. "Now that His Highness Ernest''s engagement has been finalized, it will be necessary to send out a relief force if the Kingdom of Klein is in danger, won''t it? Various opinions were expressed, such as "If the Kingdom of Klein is in danger, it will be necessary to send out relief troops," and so on. Jin gave advice from a technical point of view. "However, gravity magic is very troublesome, isn''t it? "Yes, but it doesn''t seem to be able to be deployed over a wide area, so I think we can counter it by attacking from all directions. "I see. I see. ......" The meeting, which lasted until late in the evening, ended with the decision that it would not be a one-time meeting, but would continue in the future. "Speaking of which, I wonder how Count Kuzma and Bina are doing ......." Jin decided to stay overnight in Asunto. There was talk of a guest room, but he declined such a stuffy room, and asked to stay in the same lodging where he had stayed at the Golem Garden Party. "Well, I heard that you are going to get married soon...? And the maid of honor was Lila. The lady-in-waiting was Laila, who was a very chic lady-in-waiting.It''s a very chic idea. Is that so? Yes. The Count will be working here until June, and until then Beena was training to be a bride. It seems that the chattering sparrows in the castle are fond of gossip, and Count Kuzma''s marriage was a good topic of conversation. (I''m sure Reinhardt will get in touch with them. ......) Count Kuzma and Bina know that there is a warp gate on the outskirts of Blueland, so it would not be a surprise if they use it to visit. "Um, Jin-sama?" "Oh, oh, sorry. I was just thinking. What is it? "Well, thank you for letting someone like me ride in your hot air balloon!" Lila bowed deeply. "What?"Oh, don''t worry about it. You''re the prince''s escort and lady-in-waiting, aren''t you?It''s her right. Well, I''m sorry I put you and the prince in separate gondolas." "No, no, I''m not sorry. It was my first time and the view was beautiful! "Ha-ha, I''m glad to hear that." Just as Jin was enjoying such a harmless conversation, he said to his father, "Father, I''m sorry. "I''m sorry, father..." Reiko interrupted. "What''s wrong?" Reiko''s mood is clear and Jin realizes that this is something he doesn''t want Laila to hear, so he moves to the bedroom. "I just got a call that Satellite 001 is ready." "What?" He speaks in a low voice so that she can''t hear him and won''t know what he''s talking about. "Well, a new era is about to begin. Okay, I''m leaving first thing tomorrow morning!" "Yes, I''ll make the arrangements." I''m looking forward to it. Jin''s thoughts have already flown to Horai Island. That is the essence of Jin, the Magecraft Meister, the magician who opens up the future. The short, peaceful days were coming to an end, and Jin had the feeling that another busy day was coming. 487 - - 14-38 Silent Story 27 Ships and Their Destinations Well, thank you very much for your help. "Yes, you''re good." Eckart Tekles, a wealthy merchant in Qupu, a town at the southern tip of the Kingdom of Selroa, has just fired one of his magecraftsmen. "From the ...... beginning again, huh?" Eckert''s dream is to visit countries by ship. And not just any ship. It is the largest ocean-going ship in the world. His dream was to build such a ship, board it, and travel the world. At the age of 30, he was said to be a business genius, and he had amassed a fortune for this purpose. However, his dreams have come to naught. The business rival had surrounded the site supervisor whom Eckert had hired, and planned to sabotage him. The information, which was supposed to be kept secret, leaked out from somewhere, and they must have thought that it would be unbearable to do business with such a big ship. However, the attempt was only half successful. The reason for this was for the sake of Jin and the others who had been visiting from time to time. The crews and technicians who were supposed to be involved in the operation did not suffer a single casualty. On the contrary, the site foreman was caught on the spot when he was caught tampering with the ship. The names of his business opponents began to emerge, and the rest was a long drawn-out chain of events. Fortunately or unfortunately, no one was killed or injured thanks to the rescue efforts of Jin and his colleagues, so the punishment for the culprits was somewhat light. The ringleader, a business rival, had his property confiscated, and was expelled from Kupu. The chief magecraftsman, who was the head of the site, was given a considerably reduced sentence after it was found out that he was forced to sabotage the site after his family was taken hostage. However, since he had received some money and goods, he was also exiled. It is probably a good thing that his property was not confiscated. Being exiled meant that they had to go to a place where they had no livelihood. It is quite difficult because you cannot stay within 100 kilometers of Kupu. Roughly speaking, you have to go further north than Mount Lawei, which rises to the north of Kupu. "Well, he can make it anywhere." A magecraftsman can get a good job wherever he goes. But his business rival was no longer interested in the ...... ecarte. * * * * "......" The shipbuilding dock built in the house. It is empty now, but until recently, a half-finished giant ship was sitting there. The money was reimbursed from the property of the confiscated business rival, but that is not the point. The problem is that the ship, which was almost completed in six months, was completely destroyed. Reiko was the one who finally destroyed the ship beyond repair, but Eckert did not blame her. She was working on the ship with the priority of human lives, and above all, Jin and the others had saved those lives. "He was working on a project that was in danger, and even his own life was in danger. If you blame them, you will be punished. Talking to himself, Eckart left the dock. "Sir?" "Yes?What is it?" When carte returned to the house, the butler hurried over. "Yes, two men claiming to be magecraftsmen want to hire you." "What!Send them to the parlor at once! Eckart''s face showed his joy. Now that they had fired the foreman, they were in desperate need of a good magecraftsman. The butler quickly escorted them to the small parlor where Eckart was waiting. "My name is Altaf. "My name is Gjenner." One was a strong man about 30, the other a woman in her 20s. I am Eckert. What can you two do for us?" Altaf answered on behalf of the couple. "Well, we can do just about anything, but I am good at making big things and my wife is good at making small things. "Oh, that''s reassuring. Eckart had a feeling that the two of them were a bit out of this world, or rather out of touch with human beings, but Altaf''s next words made him forget all about it. "We have an assistant golem, so we can work quickly. "What!" There are very few magecraftsmen who have a golem as an assistant. And they are exceptionally good. "Let''s be honest. I came here because I heard that Mr. Eckert was building a big ship. Rumors of accidents and business rivalries have already spread throughout Kupu, so much so that there is no denying it now. On the other hand, it would be welcome to have a skilled magecraftsman come to Kupu. "Then, may I see the golem? Eckert said, "Then I will make the final decision. In response, Gjenner got up from his seat and went to get the golem that was waiting out front. "We can''t have a golem with you out of the blue," said Altaf. Altaf said. Eckhart agreed with him. "Thank you for your patience. Soon after, Gjenner returned with the golem. "Oh ......" Eckert gasps. The golem was only about six feet tall, but it was matte silver-gray in color and had human-like proportions. Usually, the size and proportions of a golem are determined according to its purpose. For combat use, the golem would be made stout all over, and for boat racing, its arms would be strengthened. But the golem standing in front of Eckert''s eyes could easily pass for human if he dressed it up and put something on its face. "No, I think I know what you are capable of when I see it. No, I can tell how good you are when I see it. Please cooperate with us. And so the contract was signed, and Altaf, Gjenner, and a golem became the new staff of ECARTO. "Well, I''m a little worried about its strength. ......" Altaf and Gjenner were now being shown the blueprints of the ship. "...... you still think so?" "Yes. Especially the bottom. Eckert remembered what a client named Jin had said the other day about the bottom of the ship. He decided that since two magecraftsmen of different backgrounds were pointing it out, it would be better to reflect their opinions. "Let''s review it a little bit. Do you have any suggestions? "Yes, we will add structural members here and add a partition. This partition will also help to increase the strength. ......" I also recall that another magecraftsman named Reinhard had suggested that the interior of the ship should be divided into smaller sections. "Yes, I''ll leave that to you, too. The result of the redesign was that the exterior remained the same, but the expected weight increased slightly, from the original 240 tons to 300 tons. The result was that the external shape remained the same, but the expected weight increased slightly, from the original 240 tons to 300 tons. "Well, it''s going to be a little heavier, isn''t it? "Well, it''s going to be a little heavier," he said, "but that''s no substitute for safety. "That''s true, but ...... "I think we can manage that with propulsion. What are you planning to use?" "Yes, a combination of wind and magic." This is a method that the magecraftsman before me came up with," Eckert began to explain to them. * * * * "I see!I hadn''t thought of that idea!" Jin uttered a phrase that sounded like something he had heard somewhere before. In fact, Altaf and Gjenner were the fifth row (quinta) sent by Jin. Altaf had Regulus 50 and Gjenner had Deneb 30. The golem they were carrying was naturally one of the artisan golems, Artisan (Smith) 40. 40. They decided to support him in secret, considering the fact that he had destroyed a ship that Eckert had put his heart and soul into building, that they liked his personality, and what he was going to do in the future. Aside from that, Jin was impressed by the change of mindset, or rather, the novelty of the promotion method. Wind magic has no recoil. That means we can go forward by blowing on the taut sails. ......" As Jin once verified, normal magic has an effect to counteract recoil. To use a simple analogy, if you board a ship with sails and fan the sails with a fan, the ship will not move forward. This is because the recoil caused by the wind generated by the fan and the force that propels the sail cancel each other out. However, according to Jin''s verification, wind and water magic have a counteracting effect attached to them so that they do not cause recoil. The magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine) was created by removing only this part of the effect. However, such a thing is not generally possible. Paradoxically, the only way is to use ordinary magic without recoil. The engineers who designed this ship took advantage of this and tried to propel the ship by blowing on the sails. It''s a pity that a man with such skill and brains should have helped the fraud. Jin and Reinhardt had never thought of such a method. They speculated that a fish-tail fin-shaped propulsion engine could be attached to a step in the stern of the ship. "Yes, I agree. I''ll give you some suggestions as I go along." . With Jin''s support, Eckert completed the ship four months later. 488 - - 15-01 Leap <10 seconds before launch.9,8,7,6......> A countdown voice echoes in Horai Island. A metal ball was placed in the corner of the central plateau where the institute stands. Its diameter is one meter. It is a < with an outer shell made of light silver. Magi-machine is a general term for complex magical tools made by applying <. <3,2,1,......0! A spherical magic machine floats in the air. The spherical magi-machine floats in midair, and then begins to soar. Its speed is close to the speed of sound, and in no time at all it disappears from sight. "Are you tracking it, old man? <> August 3, 3457, 9:00 a.m. A prototype satellite, Satellite 001, is launched. The propulsion system is a magic gravity engine. It is the latest magical equipment obtained by analyzing the obtained from the demon tribe. The engine will generate an acceleration of 2G, or 19.6 meters per second, until it exits the atmosphere. The outer shell does not overheat because it is protected from contact with the air by a wind shield. At the same time, another gravity magic ...... is deployed in the main body, which can actually change the inertial mass ......, reducing the mass to almost zero. The gravity magic takes away the magic power of the shell, but the "Aethenol" was used to cope with this situation. "Aethenol is very practical, isn''t it? If you use an ether converter, it can operate semi-permanently, but on the other hand, if you try to invoke magic that requires magic power, such as gravity magic, you have to worry about the supply. The use of ethenol, or , was the solution to this problem. Once consumed, it cannot be replenished in space, but once in orbit, there is no problem because the ether converter alone is sufficient to provide enough magic power. The thinner the air is, the less likely it is to overheat as the speed increases. If the inertia is almost zero, the effect of acceleration pressure is eliminated, so you can accelerate as much as you want, but the problem is overheating. If this is eliminated, the speed can literally be increased without any upper limit. <<10G,11G,12G......>> Eventually, we should be able to obtain an acceleration of 100G. This is a launch experiment to collect data for this purpose. Acceleration is stopped when the satellite is almost in geostationary orbit. If the inertia is almost zero, the satellite will stop even if it touches a few particles. After that, inertia is restored and the satellite is stabilized. When inertia is restored, kinetic energy and other parameters return to their initial state. In other words, it stops relative to the launch point. This is an ideal property for use in geostationary satellites. The propellant for fine adjustment is a micro gravity engine. By freely specifying the direction of gravity, it was possible to move back and forth, left and right, and in three dimensions. Since this is the first time to attempt such an experiment, we do not have any necessary data. So, after consultation with Mr. Jin and Mr. Lao, they built a prototype satellite, Satellite 001. With this satellite, various data would be available and future launches would be much easier. Moreover, if we could obtain position data in space, we would be able to use a transporter to go into space without going to the trouble of launching from the ground. In any case, the use of space is necessary for the future of Horai Island. "Okay, take care of the rest. We will monitor and fine-tune the system constantly. This is too much work for human beings, so we are totally dependent on you. If Satellite 001 is successful, eight more satellites of the same type will be launched. The role of each satellite is to generate position data for the transporter. When the number of satellites is sufficient, they will become relative geostationary satellites by monitoring each other and the ground. The second is ground surveillance. The second one is ground surveillance. It is equipped with a high-power laser cannon, so it can be a deterrent in case of emergency. The third is space observation. It will be able to examine the moon from a closer location, and free magic element (ether) in space will be a target of investigation. The fourth is, above all, the collection of data on the operation of gravity magic. We would like to install a gravity engine in addition to the magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine) in the aircraft. "It worked. I''m so relieved." "Congratulations, Father." Reiko, who had been standing by like a shadow, congratulates him. "Oh, I''m looking forward to the future." Jin looked up at the cloudless blue sky. Jin looked up at the cloudless blue sky. Jin, did everything go well? Stearina called out to Jin as he walked back to the institute. She came out of neither the institute nor Jin''s mansion. It was her house in Gore, Kingdom of Cerroa. "I made some tea, would you like to come by? "Yes, I''d like to treat you." Jin entered Stearina''s house. "Hello, Jin, welcome. When he went to the dining room, he found Saki''s father, Tor Eschenbach. "Hello," he said. Toa and Stellina hit it off, and at Saki''s suggestion, Toa took the aptitude test. As a result, he naturally passed the test and was qualified to enter and leave Horai Island. Vivienne also received the same treatment and became a member of the . Now she spends her days exchanging information and knowledge with Anne and the old man. "Ah, as a storyteller, it''s nice to be able to corroborate the old stories! said Vivien. She will continue her storytelling career in the Shoro Kingdom. On the other hand, what is her reaction to the sudden approach of Stearina and Toa? I think they are going to get married one day. I''ve never seen my father''s face like that before. Saki said. "Well, it''s been a long time since my mother passed away, and it''s not every woman who would be so lucky as to fall in love with my father like that. If it was Stellina, I could forgive her. He even said, "If it was Stearina, I could forgive her. He looked a little sad. As he said, for the past few days, Toa and Stearina have been staying at Horai Island. "Jin-kun, did they launch the satellite?" Toa asked over a cup of tea that Stearina had brewed. "Yes, we managed. It needs some fine-tuning, but it''s mostly a success. "Well, that''s great. I''ve heard a lot about you from my daughter, but what you''re doing is very unconventional. "Ha-ha-ha." I haven''t transinfo''d the toa yet, or rather, I haven''t been able to do so. This is because this magic is effective only for himself and the control core he created. Unless he can use transinfo, he cannot gain knowledge. This is also an issue for Jin and his colleagues. So far, Toa''s knowledge comes from the books made by the old man. "Well, there is so much to know, I can''t go home. However, Toa seems to be enjoying his life on Horai Island without much concern. He stays at Stearina''s house all the time. Jin doesn''t mean to say anything about it. "But I was surprised when I found this house here. Stearina, who was sitting right next to Toa, said in a deep voice. After Stearina had defected, the old man dispatched Falcon 2 and a couple of Smith golems under the cover of night. Taking care not to damage the building, they detached the entire foundation from the ground and then transferred it to Horai Island by a transporter. Then they fixed them where they are now. In the Kingdom of Selroa, a house disappeared overnight, but the confusion caused by the disappearance was no longer a concern of Jin or the old man. No, the old man is rather supporting the exodus, that is, the exile of human resources. So far, the main destination of the exiles is the Shoro Kingdom. "I guess it was because Stearina looked so lonely at that time. I guess you have a special attachment to your home, don''t you? "Yes, really. It wasn''t the house where I was born and raised, but it was the first house that I was recognized and finally had a home. Yes, Stearina comes from the same place as Vivienne, Coups. They played together when they were young, but when Stearina was 15 and Vivienne was 17, a scout from the kingdom found them. in the kingdom found them. is a policy to find talented children and give them gifted education, and is one of the reasons why the Kingdom of Celuloa is technologically superior. Afterwards, Stearina became a magecraftsman, and Vivienne became a storyteller because of her memory. After becoming a professional, the non-technical Vivienne was able to return to her homeland, but Stearina was ordered to live in the suburbs of the royal capital. "After living here for 10 years, you get attached to it, don''t you?" Stearina and Vivienne''s parents, both fishermen, had died in an accident while they were away from their home town after being recruited. There were rumors that the relatives of those who were scouted were conspired to be killed in order to break off their unfulfilled love, but the truth of these rumors is not known. "Shall we bring Vivian''s house too? "Ha-ha-ha, Jin-kun is really unconventional, isn''t he? Stearina came back to herself at the sound of Jin and Toa''s conversation, chuckled, and drank the tea, which had become slightly lukewarm, in one gulp. 489 - - 15-02 For humanity The old man''s voice rang in Jin''s ears while he was relaxing in Stearina''s house. Without saying good-bye to Stearina, Jin rushed to the command room in the basement of the institute. Reiko followed him silently. "What''s wrong, what''s wrong?" What? < The satellite was supposed to have been put into a geostationary orbit by turning off its gravity spell, but after a few minutes it became difficult to maintain its orbit and finally began to fall. "What went wrong?" << "What?" << "Hmmm... ......" Jin pondered. A geostationary satellite is a satellite that is stationary relative to the earth''s surface. Preliminary experiments have confirmed that when inertia is restored, the original intrinsic velocity is also restored. If the time from launch to orbit is two hours, the direction of velocity will be shifted by about 30 degrees, but the satellite should be equipped with a magic gravity engine that can compensate for that much. But... "Oh, I see!" Jin realizes that he was mistaken. The speed of the satellite when it was on the earth''s surface would never be enough to become a satellite. It would need to reach a speed of about 8 kilometers per second to maintain the satellite''s orbit. He quickly tells Laojun "Mr. Man, use the magic gravity engine to accelerate the satellite!If we accelerate at 1G for 15 minutes, the speed will be about 8 kilometers per second. < "What is it?" < "What?" The satellite started spinning at a speed that was too fast for attitude control. "Oh ...... did it need a gyro or something ......?" As for Jin, he is not an expert on the workings of satellites. No wonder he failed. "...... is frustrating." Jin''s face turns into a frown and he grumbles in frustration. Reiko sees this and says to the old man "Mr. Lao, can''t you capture it with a Falcon or something? The answer was not from the old man but from Jin. "Oh, Reiko, that''s impossible. There is no air in space, so the magical jet propulsion system (magijet engine) can''t work. "I see. ......" Seeing the disappointed look on Jin''s face, Reiko becomes disheartened as well. It was the old man who gave them a helping hand. "What?" The old man explains briefly because time is short. "But the speed of the fall is quite high.Can we catch it?" < Jin wondered. <<> Jin thought. But what would happen if it entered the atmosphere, Jin did not know. It would be good if the Satellite-001 could be successfully captured, but if not, the aircraft would be lost in the worst case. And the golem he was piloting. "Father, I''m going on Pegasus 1." What? "I know it''s not fair of me to say this but my reaction time is the fastest. I think I should be the one to do it if we''re going to do it the way we have the best chance of success. "But ......" "Okay." Jin made up his mind. "Reiko, you don''t have to go. I''m not going to put you in that kind of danger." "I''m not going to put you in that kind of danger." "This failure is my fault. I was too greedy all at once. I should have built a vehicle equipped with a magic gravity engine first, accumulated a lot of data, then launched a regular satellite, gathered more data, and then started work on a geostationary satellite. It''s my fault for being so arrogant." "Father, ......." Jin smiled sadly and stared at the ceiling. He stared at the ceiling with a sad smile, as if he was staring at the falling Satellite 001 through the walls of the institute. * * * * Disheartened, Jin left the institute. He seems to have gone to the Stearina residence. The old man, seeing Jin''s depressed condition, considers whether there is any other way to retrieve the Satellite-001. > Although he is not as good as Jin, he is far superior to Jin in terms of his thinking speed and his ability to process things at the same time. He spent about 3 minutes and came to a conclusion. There is no other way. There is no other way. The previous proposal has been modified only slightly. The current altitude of Satellite 001 is less than 20,000 kilometers and the speed is It is now at an altitude of less than 20,000 kilometers and a speed of nearly 18 kilometers per second, and it is increasing its speed from time to time. It is already impossible to catch it properly. It may be possible to retrieve it if a huge warp gate is set up along its descent course, but this is not something that can be prepared in a hurry. Unless we slow down first, there is nothing we can do. < Once the inertia is reduced to zero, Satellite 001 will stop instantly. Then we identify the coordinates and send the Falcon to a short distance. Then use the transporter to transfer Satellite 001. The Falcon enters the atmosphere while deploying a barrier. This is the conclusion that the "Mere Old Man" reached. Satellite 001 was originally planned to serve as a marker for the transporter, so it is easy to identify its position. And although we do not know the principle of the transporter or the warp gate, whatever the intrinsic speed at the time of sending out, it will be zero (in terms of relative velocity) at the time of receiving. This is what we are trying to exploit. Fortunately, Falcon 1 with a transporter, which was used for the transfer of the Stearina house, is now waiting. The old man consulted Reiko via manacam. He still needed Reiko''s reaction speed. "Let''s do it, Mr. Okun. For your father''s sake. Reiko immediately agreed and quietly went out of Stearina''s house so that Jin would not notice her. Reiko then boarded the Falcon 1 parked outside the laboratory. Jin is unaware of this because he was at the Stellarena residence to report the failure. Reiko puts the Falcon 1 transporter on standby, and the old man prepares the transporter outside the laboratory. . Then the "Mere Old Man" shifts the inertia of Satellite 001 to almost zero. With a slight resistance, Satellite 001 instantly stops and the "Mere Old Man" immediately transfers Falcon 1. With a loss of 1.4 seconds, Falcon 1 was beamed into space. Reiko immediately points the transporter to Satellite 001. The time required is only 0.7 seconds. Reiko then switches on the transporter, and 0.8 seconds elapses before the transfer begins. In total, Satellite 001 was transferred in 2.9 seconds. A moment later, Satellite 001 appears in front of the institute. The inertia is restored at the same time as the transfer, and there is no danger. Falcon 1 begins its descent from an altitude of about 13,000 kilometers. The magical jet propulsion system (magijet engine) onboard the Falcon 1 is still not working. Reiko deployed a barrier on Falcon 1. It will enter the atmosphere at approximately 100 kilometers. Twenty-seven minutes to go. <> The hint of the transfer magic given by Alchel, the <>, has not been fully analyzed yet. >. At that moment, Jin rushed into the control room. "Old man!Where is Reiko? "<>" Reiko''s voice echoed from the manacam. "Reiko!I told you to stop! "< "Reiko ......" The old man explains to Jin who looks worried. "...... doesn''t mean you don''t have to worry. Reiko, come back safely. I''ll scold you when you get back." Yes, Father. And at 25, 26, 27 minutes ...... Falcon 1 finally entered the atmosphere. 1 entered the atmosphere. 490 - - 15-03 Atmospheric entry Usually, there is a certain trajectory that a space shuttle should take when it enters the atmosphere. The air resistance is used to decelerate the object and to maintain a temperature that will prevent it from burning up. The leading edge of an object entering the atmosphere encounters air resistance. At this time, the speed is so high that the air is not pushed away before it hits the tip of the object one after another. In very simple terms, this is adiabatic compression of air. It is explained by the Boyle-Charles law in physics, <>. In other words, compressed air has heat. It is not a half temperature. The temperature reached is from 3,000 to more than 10,000 degrees Celsius. In the case of a spacecraft, there is an orbit to keep this temperature at most 1500-1600 degrees Celsius. It is very important to maintain such a trajectory. Any unnecessary protrusions or wings will only interfere with this orbital correction. >. The "Mere Old Man" also sends his instructions. The purpose is to increase the air resistance to slow down and to reduce the heat to Falcon 1 as much as possible. Now, Falcon 1 with Reiko aboard has entered the atmosphere while deploying a physical barrier (solid barrier). The altitude is about 100 kilometers and the speed is almost 16 kilometers per second. Without deceleration, it would have reached the earth''s surface in a few seconds. Because of this velocity, a layer of highly heated plasma air forms in front of the physical barrier (solid barrier). It glowed yellow because of the high temperature. "......Estimated 10,000 degrees, is it? ......, but it was nothing compared to what she could do. The nose of the plane became red hot. 64 light silver has a melting point of 1540-1650 degrees Celsius. The melting point of 64 light silver is between 1540 and 1650 degrees Celsius. The surface of the earth is getting closer and closer. The surface of the earth is approaching rapidly, which is not surprising since it is falling almost vertically. Although the speed is slowing down, it will only take a few seconds to reach the earth''s surface. "<>! With the strongest cooling magic, the aircraft finally breathes a sigh of relief from overheating. Reiko concentrates on controlling the aircraft. The speed is now about 6 kilometers per second. The altitude has dropped below 20 kilometers. At this rate, the plane will fall to the surface with insufficient deceleration. > Jin gives the order. Reiko immediately reacts, adjusts her attitude, and sprays the Magijet engines. The vertical trajectory of the plane was now angled, albeit only slightly. This gives him a few tenths of a second. > Yes, sir. Altitude is 10 kilometers. We''re down to three kilometers per second. We''re going to crash in less than 4 seconds. Reiko decides to release the solid barrier at any cost. She gambled that the air resistance would slow her down at once. "Father, I adore you! Muttering a few words to the manacam, Reiko releases the solid barrier. * * * * * * * * * * * * <>. In the Horaijima command center, Jin heard Reiko''s muttering. "Reiko! * * * * * At an altitude of 3000 meters, Reiko lifted the physical barrier (solid barrier). A chunk of air hit the Falcon 1''s fuselage. The speed is 2.8 kilometers per second, Mach 8. Falcon''s assumed upper speed limit is 1,000 kilometers per hour. That''s about 0.28 kilometers per second. Ten times faster ......, but for a few seconds the machine that Jin had poured his heart and soul into withstood the tremendous force. In those few seconds, the Falcon 1 dropped to less than Mach speed. In return, the nose was bent and both wings were shredded, but not at the cost of flying. Falcon 1, which had lost both wings and its fuselage had been distorted, fell in a cone-tight state near the middle of Horai Island and the Elias Peninsula. The old man, who had predicted the landing spot to some extent, rushed the hydro unit and the mermaid unit to the site. "How are you doing, Mr. President?" The hydro unit rushed to the location of Reiko. They could find Reiko as soon as she floated up to the sea surface. Meanwhile, the Mermaid team succeeded in recovering the Falcon 1, which had sunk into the sea, and almost 80% of the scattered wings and other debris were also recovered. "......" Jin was weak in the command center of Horai Island. "Jin-kun, what''s going on?" "Did something go wrong?" Before he knew it, Stearina and Toa had arrived around him. They seemed to have come because they were worried about Jin''s strange behavior. "Oh, my mistake, I made Reiko walk on a dangerous tightrope. ......" Jin briefly explained the circumstances. Stearena, who had a basic knowledge of the situation, seemed to understand it, but Toa was listening with a face that said, "I honestly don''t understand it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the evening, Reiko returns. She returned with the wreckage of Falcon 1. The first thing she said when she saw Jin''s face, the only one left in the control room, was, "Father, I''m sorry for destroying Falcon 1. He said, "You idiot! "Idiot! Jin yelled louder than ever before. Reiko literally jumped back. "I''m sorry, father!I didn''t want to break it as much as possible. ......" Jin silently approached Reiko as she bowed her head. Jin gently puts his hand on Reiko''s shoulder as she cries more and more. "Reiko, I''m glad you''re okay." "Thank God you''re okay, Reiko." "Thank God you''re ...... safe. It''s all my fault for my naive outlook. I don''t blame you for doing your best. But I must be a little angry with you for pushing yourself too hard. With that, Jin dropped a fistbone on Reiko''s head. "It''s not just Falcon. I''ll be sad if you get hurt." Reiko, who also has a sense of touch, could tell that the fist was not very forceful. She also knows that Jin''s fists are not so forceful, and with them, the affection that she feels for him. "......I''m sorry. ......" Reiko apologizes weakly, and Jin gently hugs her as if to comfort her. "I''m sorry. You''ve always been a great help to me. "No, that''s my role. Jin patted Reiko on the head, "How are you feeling?Is something wrong with your body? He asked with a worried look on his face. "No, I''m fine. Nothing is wrong with this body that your father gave me. <, Jin confirmed that he was not exaggerating, and sighed with relief. And then... "How about the recovered Falcon 1, old man?" Finally, he could afford to worry about other things. < "Well, that''s good." Jin immediately instructs the old man to repair Falcon 1. He analyzed the control core of the recovered satellite 001 to find out the problem. "Father, I will help you. Naturally, Reiko was his assistant. In this way, Jin and Horaijima gathered their strength, taking their failures as food for new challenges. Before that, however, I should add that Reiko and the old man had a three-hour lecture from Jin. 491 - - 15-04 Hitoshi to Kaina Village The day after the Satellite 001 failure, i.e., August 4. Jin was visiting Stellina''s house. "I heard you had a hard day yesterday. "Yeah, well. I realized that I''m still not strong enough. "Hmm, if Jin-kun is not strong enough, no one in this world will be able to make a big face. After a while, we talked about such trivial matters. "Thanks for the tea." Jin finished his tea and decided to leave Stearina''s mansion. On this day, Jin was planning to start up his new Magi machine. < The old man reported to me as soon as he returned to the laboratory. Yes, on August 1, the Inado Mine was officially incorporated into Jin''s leased land. No matter what Jin does, there is no one to stop him now. was the old man''s comment to the Kingdom of Klein. "Alright, let the search begin. Be very careful. < A mysterious device seen in the underground of the Inado Mine. There are many things we really want to find out, such as the habitat of the gigantopods. The mole was transferred to the position marker of the RAND team that was sent ahead of the site. The completed mole is a cylindrical object 2 meters in diameter and 3 meters long. It resembles a shield machine used for tunneling in modern Earth. There are two excavation methods: digging with a tool and excavation using a hyperadamantite chip. The excavated earth is discharged to the surface by a transporter. The digger digs with acoustic sonar and magi-detector, searching for foreign objects in the ground. The holes they dig are covered with a < spell to prevent them from falling down. This is the function of the mole. At 11:00 a.m., the mole was transported to the island with Jin watching over it. "Father, Elsa is calling for you. Come in." "Oh, I see." Reiko urged Jin to go inside the laboratory. They headed for the workshop. "Ah, Jin, all the exteriors are done. Erza, the younger sister and the most apprentice of the two, greeted Jin. On a large workbench in the workshop were ten cat-shaped golems. Elsa had come home from her parents'' house, so she was given the task of hair-planting. Nine of them had been given shiny, multicolored fur. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, purple, the seven colors of the rainbow, white and black. "Oh, they''re beautiful." The last one is still the silver-gray color of light silver. It is a prototype. "I named it Seki, To, Oh, Ryoku, Sei, Ai, Yukari, Haku, Koku." Erza says. It seems that they are following Jin''s taste in naming things. "And this one?" Jin asked, pointing at the prototype without hair transplantation. "He''s not ready yet. Jin put him on. "Well, then, ...... Tama." "Hmm... Tama, right." The nine implanted bodies were made in the same way as Tama. The only difference is the presence or absence of hair. Tama is kept in Horai Island, but the nine animals are sent to Kaina Village to be free-range. Originally, I started to make this golem cat as a result of Hanna''s request. At first, I thought it would be enough to make one for Hannah, but then I changed my mind due to another matter. "Brother Jin, what is the reason why you made so many of them? Erza seemed to be curious about the reason. "Ah, Reinhardt told me the other day that I shouldn''t show favoritism as a rule for lords. The point is that the other children would be jealous if Hannah is the only one who is favored. "I don''t care if she was under the care of Martha''s family, but now she''s a lord, even if only temporarily." "...... I didn''t know that. It seems he''s Rai''s brother. "So I was thinking of releasing golem cats all over the village." It moves like a cat, but it''s much more intelligent. Its body is made of light silver and its claws are made of adamantite. It will defend itself against rock wolves and wood bears without any problem. Of course, I have set up the system to notify the old man in case of an emergency. Usually he is just a friendly cat. "I hope he will learn the value of life from this kind of experience, by keeping a living creature. Jin learned from the director of the orphanage when he was in the orphanage not only to keep small animals and love them, but also to teach them the value of life. In a corner of the garden of the orphanage, there is probably still a tomb of a goldfish that Jin made. "Okay, <>" Ten golem cats started moving at once and meowed. Jin quickly names each one. And then, "Tama, stay here. The rest of you follow me. The rest of you follow me. Tama obeyed his words and walked in front of Elsa. When Erza patted Tama on the head, Tama jumped down from the workbench without a sound and rubbed her body against Erza''s leg. The remaining nine animals followed Jin in a single file. Reiko was at the end of the line. Jin moves to the village of Kaina via Shinkai by way of the Warp Gate. The exit this time is the shelter in front of Nido Castle. "Ah, Jin-sama, welcome back! Barrow rushes to Jin upon seeing him. Jin saw that he was acting a little differently than usual. "I''m back. What''s wrong? "Yes, yes. Um, I seem to be lost again. Lost? Lost? Yes. He''s at Dr. Sallee''s clinic. I''ve heard about him too, so you''ll have to ask the village head for more information. Okay. Jin, who had a feeling that something troublesome was about to happen, introduced the golem cats to Behrle, who came out in a hurry. "Wow, they are so cute! "You call them cats? "Yes. We''ll let them loose in the village, so please take care of them from time to time. They rolled their eyes when I added that they were golems and did not need food or water. It was the first time they had ever seen a small animal golem. Well, it''s not surprising since there had never been such a thing as a small animal golem in the world before. "I can''t believe it''s a fake. ......" A yellow cat came and nuzzled at Behle''s feet. He reached out a hand timidly and stroked its body. The cat''s fur is made from the threads of a ground spider, more supple than silk and stronger than steel. "It feels so good to the touch. ......" < alone, Jin started to walk away. "Well, I''m going to take a look around." Eight golem cats followed him. "Oh, Jin-chan! "Hey, hey, what''s that?" The children, who had spotted Jin, came up to him. "This is a cat golem. I''m going to release it in the village, so please take good care of it. "A cat? One of the children, Patty, quickly picked up the blue one. He curled up in Patty''s arms. "Patty, you''re so good at sucking!" "Yes, sometimes I do," she said, "and sometimes I do it for Henry." Henry is Patty''s little brother, born on June 27th. At one month, he may not even be able to hold his head up yet, but Patty, as his big sister, manages to babysit him somehow. After patting Patty on the head, Jin resumed his steps. Reiko and the seven golem cats followed. On the way, <> and <> seem to have found a small animal that looked like a mouse, and chased after it. "Oh, my dear, welcome back! Hannah, who had found Jin, ran up to him and was surprised to see the golem cats following behind him. "Oh, is this a cat?You made it for me!" It all started when Hannah saw a cat figurine in the Leonard Kingdom and asked him if he could make something like this. "Yes, I''ll release it in the village, so please take good care of it," Jin said. As Jin said this, a white golem cat ran up to Hanna and climbed onto her shoulder. "Wow." The weight of the golem cat is almost the same as that of a real cat. Riding on Hanna''s shoulder, Haku rubbed his face against hers. "Wow, it''s so fluffy!" Hanna was so excited. Jin asked Hanna, "Hanna, what''s wrong with you? "Hanna, is there a lost child at Dr. Salie''s place? "What?Yes, I know. Can you go there? "I will." Jin said to Hanna and headed for the village chief''s house, followed by four golem cats and Reiko. On the way, <> and > ran to a child they met, so when they arrived at the village chief''s house, there were only two cats, <> and >. "Hello." I knock on the door and Sally comes out immediately. "Oh, it''s you. You''ve heard about the lost child, haven''t you?Just in time. Come on in." Jin followed his words and stepped into the Mireshan clinic. The golem cat ran away. 492 - - 15-05 Mysterious Two "Yesterday, Locke, who had gone to the northern mountains to catch a mountain lion, brought these children with him. Chief Giebeck explained to Jin how it happened. There was a bed in front of Jin and the others, and a boy and a girl were sleeping. The girl had clear white skin and long silver hair. The boy has dark skin and short dark brown hair. Both appear to be about 14 or 15 years old. "Sally says it''s due to fatigue and hunger, but they haven''t woken up yet." "...... Sally?" "Oh, no, Dr. Saly says so." I looked at Giebeck''s face, which was a little red with embarrassment. I guessed it somehow, but to tell the truth, it was not pleasant to see such an expression on a middle-aged man''s face. Jin decided to change the subject. "You don''t know his identity? "Well, I didn''t have anything like that on me. I can only say that I have never seen him dressed like this. He said he had never seen her dressed like this, but Jin could not see what kind of design she was wearing because of the blanket on her head. Then Sally, who seemed to be mixing medicine in the back of the room, came in. She asked Jin with a serious face. Jin, I want to hear your opinion. What are they ......?" Jin realized that Sally knew that these two were not ordinary people. "I can''t ...... say for sure. They must have come from far away." I answered with a few words. "Hmm, far away. From where he was lying and the clothes he was wearing, I can only assume he came from the north." Sally looked at the wall. There were two fur coats hanging on the wall. "Snow Tiger pelts, aren''t they?" Reiko said. "Snow Tiger?" Jin, Sally and Giebeck looked at Reiko at the same time. "Yes. They are magical beasts that live in the forests far to the north. When I was searching for your father, I saw it at the place where I was transferred for the eleventh time, and called it because of its appearance. With its pure white fur and black horizontal stripes, it is indeed a tiger. There is a white tiger on earth called a white tiger, and they look very similar. "Master, from what Dr. Sali and I have observed, it seems to lack magic power. Then Nurse Gamma, Sally''s assistant, came in. She was holding a siphon in her hand. "Yes, that''s right. But I don''t understand why you say you haven''t recovered enough after a day. ...... Oh, it''s not at all like the < I heard about before, is it?It''s simply that you run out of magic power and don''t recover. If it were magical exhaustion fever, Sally said, it would be contagious and we wouldn''t be able to take our time with it. "That''s why they were concocting a medicine to restore the mana in the body." The contents of the sucking cup in Nurse Gamma''s hand seemed to be that. "Oh, just to be clear, it is not of animal origin, such as demon''s blood. Sally, who was once persecuted because of this, has been working hard to make a non-animal based restorative. "This is a purification of Persica juice that you gave me." Sally seems to have arrived there on her own. She may have had some help from Nurse Gamma, though. The juice is said to have had its solid content, such as fiber, removed, and its mana concentration increased by centrifugation. Of course, it was Gamma who wielded it. Reiko, prepare for paralysis. And call Rand and the others together.) Yes, sir.) And have Lando and the others ready. Yes, Father.) Barrier.) Jin instructed through Reiko to be ready for any unexpected event. And as a last insurance policy. () The <> copied their knowledge. Later analysis will reveal their true identity, even if they try to hide it. Now, Sally sucks and drinks from a girl. Gamma is making the boy suck on it. The liquid, which has the effect of restoring mana, is given to both of them little by little. And about a minute. "......" The girl''s eyelids move and her eyes widen. Then she looked at Nurse Gamma, who was peering at her, and her body stiffened. "...... hi!" "Oh, it''s okay. Don''t worry. The girl turns toward the voice. There was Sally with a gentle smile on her face. "Two ...... people ......." The girl''s face turns even paler. "Here, don''t strain yourself. Drink some more." Sally offers her a sucker that is still more than half full. The girl takes the mouthful into her mouth, frightened. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Thank you,...... a,...... thank you,sir." A calm girl thanked Sally. "No, don''t worry about it. How are you feeling?Are you hungry?" "Uh, yes. ......" With that, Sally headed for the kitchen. She is at home in this house. "I think she''s noticed you, too, sir." Gamma''s voice made her look at the boy, and she saw that he had opened his eyes as well. He slowly moves his head and looks around the room. "Miss!You''re safe. ......" The boy is sobbing, probably from the sudden loudness of his voice. Gamma laid the boy on his side and rubbed his back. "Oh, Lucas, it''s okay. The ...... people here are very kind. The girl looked around at those present and bowed her head. "Thank you for your help. My name is Zion." I looked again at the girl who said her name was Zion, and saw her waist-length silver hair, her skin as white as the sun. She has waist-length silver hair, fair skin, and eyes as blue as the winter sky. On the other hand, the boy named Lucas has short-cropped dark brown hair, dark skin, and black eyes. They are such a stark contrast that you could almost call them light and shadow. "Well, you shouldn''t talk too much yet. Let''s have a bite to eat first. Sally came from the kitchen with a bowl of stew. It was stew that had cooled down enough. "Oh, thank you." "Thank you very much." Lucas and Zion thanked her and began to devour the stew. They were very hungry. "There''s still some left, don''t be in such a hurry to eat it." Sally smiled wryly, but could not hide her joy at the patient''s growing energy. Jin and the others left the hospital room after being told not to let the patient talk too much yet. "So, doctor, can I ask you some more questions tomorrow?" "Well, yes. Well, I think it will be all right. "Okay. I will come back tomorrow. Jin decided to leave that day. He decided to leave for the day. "Old man, please continue to keep the village of Kaina on high alert. But in strictest confidence. < Thank you very much. The old man armed the army golems, Lands 1 through 20, with plasma swords, paralyzers, and other weapons, and sent them to the village of Kaina, They were armed with plasma swords, paralyzers, etc., and sent to the village of Kaina. In addition, five Falcon planes were placed on standby over the village of Kaina. Jin stayed at his house next to Martha''s house, and a covert task force (SP) carefully guarded the area around the house. The day passed uneventfully, and night fell on the morning of August 5. 493 - - 15-06 Hit the stone bridge. "I see nothing happened." < "So, what are the results of the analysis of the magi crystals that were used to transcribe knowledge?" <> The old man was unusually at a loss for words. "What is it?" . According to the Old Man''s explanation, the data that normally would have been given to him as knowledge, etc., was completely meaningless. Jin pondered. It is unfortunate that we could not get the information in advance, but I am sure that we can learn a lot from our conversation today. "I''ll go check on him after breakfast. Jin wanted to move them to Nido Castle if he could. He would let Butler A, who had just come to check on him, know that. "If not today, I will bring him there sooner or later. "Yes, sir. The dungeon? No, no, I don''t know. From what I saw yesterday, it didn''t seem hostile. In that case, I''d go to the guest room. Jin knew that even if they were demons, it was not a good idea to immediately assume that they were enemies. It was not a matter of logic, but of intuition. He had a feeling, even if it was only for a short period of time, from the way they looked yesterday. However, there was no reason to be too careful. Jin checked his equipment. "Barrier, lightening, laser, paralyzer ......". He checked the functions added to Jin''s bracelet. Everything was fine. "Father, I saw Miss Elsa..." Jin''s house, built next to Martha''s, is two stories high. At the sound of Reiko''s voice, Jin looked out the window. There, Elsa was standing in her usual attire. She was wearing a short-sleeved young grass-colored dress and a white straw hat. Jin went downstairs and greeted Elsa. "Good morning." "Good morning, Jin." "What''s up?Is something wrong? "No, the opposite. I heard something happened in Kayna, so I came here to see what''s going on. "I see." Jin invites Erza into the workshop on the first floor, offers her a chair, sits down himself, and explains briefly what happened yesterday. "...... I think those two are demons, or at least related to them. That''s why I''m being extra cautious. "I understand that you are cautious. So what are you going to do? To this question, Jin told me what he was thinking. In other words, he wanted to bring him to Nido Castle and keep an eye on him. "......Yes, that might be a good idea. Erza had also encountered demons before and had heard stories of their horror, so she had no objection to Jin''s treatment. "...... but I think it''s better to check if those two are really demons." "Yeah. But I want to do that at Nido Castle. The clinic is in the middle of the village. Just in case. Erza nodded. "Nope. Then I''ll go with you. If I go with you, I''m sure Dr. Sali will give you permission to take them out." "Oh, okay. But be careful, okay? "Yes, I''ve got it." To the worried Jin, Elsa showed the ring that generates barrier and lightening magic. "Edgar, you be careful too, okay?" "Yes, Jin-sama." Thus, Jin accompanied Erza to the Miresuhan clinic. A cat crossed their path. It seemed to be chasing after rats that were trying to get at the stored wheat. It seems to have been useful right away. "Oh, mommy! Hannah, who had been out playing, spotted them and came running up to them, waving. They greeted each other with a "good morning," and Jin saw Haku, the golem cat, clinging to Hannah''s feet. Just as Jin had expected, Hanna seemed to like him. At the same time, the golem cat is protecting her. "Where are you going?" "Oh, to the chief''s place. I''m sorry, I have to talk to you later, Hannah. I casually hinted to her that she should not follow me, just in case, and she nodded her head. "Okay, I''ll see you later!Come on, Haku!" Hanna called out to Haku, who was crouched at her feet, and ran toward the house. Haku let out a single meow and ran after her. After seeing him off, Jin and Erza arrived at the Miresuhan clinic. "Who''s there now?" In response to Jin''s call, Rand 1 appeared, having been deactivated from his invisible state. Master, it''s me. Lando One. How are you? Yes, all is well. The two of them are quiet. Jin was relieved to hear that and knocked on the door of the clinic. Nurse Gamma answered immediately. "Good morning, master. There was no change. The short phrase has two meanings. That is, that the condition of the two mysterious people had not changed, and that nothing had happened. "Okay. May I come in?" "Yes, master, please come in." "......" Erza was somewhat embarrassed to see a golem that looked just like her calling Jin <. "Oh, Jin-kun, you''re here." "Yes, Master, how are the two of them?I brought Elsa with me today. Good morning. Good morning, Miss Elsa. It''s good to have you here. Will you take a look at her? Now that Erza had mastered the healing and medical examination magic to the highest level, she was trusted by Sally. First, we went to Lucas and Zion. They were a bit jumpy when they saw Erza, whom they had not seen before, but Sally quieted them down. "Don''t worry. She''s a better healer than I am. "...... Elsa. Nice to meet you. Zion. Lucas. After saying each other''s name, Elsa said she would examine him, and then she used the Diagnosis. Elsa''s face seemed to harden for a moment when she learned of the results, but it quickly returned to normal. "...... other than a slight loss of strength, she is in good health. "I see. My examination results are the same. That''s a relief. Sally looks relieved. "So, doctor, I''d like to take them back to Nido castle. It would be too hard to keep them here in the hospital. In the other room, Jin makes a proposal. Hearing this, Sally made a reluctant face. "Well, it was yesterday......... I would think about it if Erza is with you. I''ll have to ask her what she wants to do. Jin asked the old man through Reiko to consider the matter. The reply came back immediately. "Sir, I think those two men came here for a purpose. I suggest you ask them. Reiko made a suggestion to Sally. "Yes, that''s right." So they went to the hospital room again. "You guys look much better. You are almost in good health except for a little physical weakness probably caused by hunger. Sally tells him. Hearing this, Zion and Lucas look relieved. "So, did you guys come here for a reason?If so, Jin here is the lord of this village. He is also a friend of the high-ups in the country. You should talk to them about it. Sally tells them more stories like that. Jin and Erza saw a slight tension in their faces when they heard what he said. "Ah, ah..." Xiong seems to have something to say, but then he tries to say it, but his words are hushed. "Is there something you don''t want to tell me?If you guys are willing, why don''t you come to my castle?I''m sure I can listen to what you have to say without involving other people. Hearing these words, Zion fell silent, and seemed to be lying face down, thinking about something, but when he looked up and saw Jin, he slowly nodded his head. "Oh, um, ...... so, then, please, please, please, ......" "If you insist on going, I''ll go with you!" Sion was broken off, Lucas was clear. "Okay, okay. ...... doctor, okay?" Sally nodded reluctantly, sensing that there was something deeper going on between the two of them. "Fine. But I will accompany you to the castle. 494 - - 15-07 Dialogue The rando team called by Jin was given a stretcher to carry the body. This attracted some attention from the villagers, but when they realized that Jin was involved, they showed no further interest and went back to their respective jobs, much to his relief. The two did not seem surprised to see the Landtroopers. Jin thought, "Oh well..." but said nothing at that moment. Jin thought, but did not say anything at that moment. He then laid out a futon in the guest room on the second floor of Nido Castle and let them sleep there. "Will you stay here for a while?" "Yes, thank you." ......" Then silence. Jin decided to ask them again. "Well, if you have something to say, I''m listening, so why don''t you tell me?" "......" But they remained silent. "Well then, I guess it''s no use. I have a few questions I''d like to ask you." So Jin decided to change his tactics and ask a question of his own. "Do you know what a demon tribe is?" "!!!!" The two were startled to the point of jumping up and down at the question. "How did you know that? "If you lay a finger on my daughter, you''ll get a warning!" Zion was horrified, and Lucas stared at Jin with a furious look on his face. "I knew it! You don''t have to be so scared. It''s just that I''ve met a few demons in my life. "What?" "...... Lardus, Dogmaloud, Bemiarouche, Marcosias, Androgyas, Archelle. Any names you recognize?" "What?What in the world are you?" Zion remains pale, but his eyes are fixed on Jin. I am the Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido. "Magecraft Meister?Did he really exist? Zion, who had calmed down a bit upon hearing the name, said with deep emotion. "I heard that after the death of Adriana Barbora Zetsi, there was no one who could carry on his name. Now it was Jin''s turn to be surprised. "Do you know ...... about your predecessors? "The previous generation?Then you must be ...... too. "Yes, your father is definitely your mother''s successor, Adriana Barbora Tsezi." Reiko, who had been silent until now, interrupted. Sion stared at her, "......Automata with black hair,......You are indeed a Magecraft Meister,......" She said so. * * * Theon seems to have calmed down a bit, so I''m going to ask him again. "...... I am, as Jin-sama said, a demon tribe. My clan name is . <. "I am Lucas. I am the lady''s bodyguard. I don''t have a clan name because I''m her squire. Is this clan name like a family name? Yes, that''s right. Yes, I suppose you could say that. At this point, Jin decided to ask some of the questions he had been wondering. It seemed to make it easier for Zion to talk to him. Hey, are you okay in a place with so little free magic element (ether)? "Yes, yes. To be honest, it''s a bit painful. ...... "Hmph!I''ve been working out!This much ......." Lukas was trying to be strong, but his pale face showed that he was still in pain. "I see. I knew it. By the way, did you guys come from the northern continent?Through that narrow isthmus..." ! You!Do you know about the Paz dextro isthmus? Jin knows most of the northern hemisphere of this world as far as topography is concerned. However, it is really only the topography. He does not know what kind of dangers might exist, and he does not know what kind of unexpected trouble might be triggered, so most of the terrestrial areas have not been explored. "Yes, but only the topography. It''s called the Great Paz dextro-isthmus. And you live on the continent to the north of it? "You even know that? ...... You are indeed a Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer. ......" Little by little, Zion''s heavy mouth seems to be loosening. "Yes, as you say, we live on the continent of Gondor, beyond the Pazdekst isthmus. It seems that the northern continent is called Gondor. Through Reiko, the old man accumulates such information in every detail. "There is no ...... country like this one. Asked about the society of the demon tribe, Zion answered. They are grouped into clans and have settlements. The larger clans have about 100 people, and the smaller clans have about 10 people. Jin was inwardly excited to have gained valuable information that he had not been able to find out before. Finally, he asked the question that got to the heart of the matter. "Are the demons planning to attack us again?" "......" As expected, Zion could not answer this question immediately. However, Lucas took his place and shouted at him. "Of course not!That''s something that some clans are doing on their own!" "Lucas!" "...... I understand, sir." Lucas kept his mouth shut as Zion stared at him. "......As Lucas just said, not all of us like conflict. There are some powerful clans that are ...... called radicals or extremists and they are up to all sorts of things." "I see." It seems that the demon clans are not monolithic. There were many more questions Jin wanted to ask, but he decided to call Behrle to bring him some special Persica juice from Horaijima. "Thank you for everything. Drink this and take a break." He brought enough for three people, so Jin drank it first. Seeing this, Zion also picked up a cup. Lucas also looked like he wanted to say something, but he took a sip before Zion did. "It''s delicious ......, no, this is ......." "My lady, the magic is ...... The juice has more free magic element (ether) than the one served at Sally''s clinic. Reiko was ready for battle as she watched them. She is on the lookout for the possibility that her magic power will return and she will become aggressive. Of course, the same is true for Jin''s covert task force (SP) around her. But their fears are unfounded. "Thank you for the food. Oh, my body feels much better now." "...... was delicious. Thank you." The two did not change their attitude after finishing their drinks. "Master Jin, this drink contains a large amount of free magical element (ether), doesn''t it?" "Yes, it does. I thought it would work well for you. Yes, very much. Thank you very much. And then he starts talking again. "That''s enough. Can you tell me what you''re doing here?" "...... yes. ......, um, ......, please ........." "What?" "...... help me!" Theon''s handsome face contorted as if he were about to cry, and he put his hands on the floor and bowed his head. "Please!Please help me!" Jin could not help but be puzzled. "You!The young lady bows her head and begs for your help, and you ignore her! Lukas raises his voice angrily, but Jin can do nothing about it. "...... Zion, can''t you speak a little more clearly?I can''t answer your question unless you tell me who you are helping and what happened." "Oh ......, I''m sorry!" The particulars are not as clear as they seem to be, but they are not as specific as they seem to be. 495 - - 15-08 The Devils Situation "Well, I don''t know where to start. ......" Zion tilted his head and looked thoughtful for a moment. Eventually, he seems to have reached a conclusion and opens his mouth again. The continent of Gondor where we live is much colder than ours. That''s why we don''t get much crops. "Yes, of course. I''m sorry ...... about the population, but I can''t reveal it yet. It''s a secret of the tribe. "Yeah, that''s understandable. Don''t worry about it." There may be some things he does not know exactly, but information such as the population of his own race is one of the things that should be kept strictly confidential in case of war. "Since the population plummeted during the war against mankind, the amount of land under cultivation increased in relation to the population, and for a while there was no problem at all. The Demon Tribe also seems to have been affected by the drastic decline in population. "For the past 10 years, the temperature has been dropping, and we have not been able to harvest crops satisfactorily. Cold damage? Cold damage?......Oh, I see, that''s what you call it here. Yes, there was cold damage. That''s why there was a general shortage of food. Jin thought that the demon tribe wanted produce, just like the old story Vivian had told him. The reason was simple and easy to understand. "The heads of the clans have gathered to discuss the matter. What should we do now? In the end, there were two opinions. I can imagine what you mean. I guess. One faction wants to trade with the humans for food. The other is a faction that tries to get food by threatening mankind. "...... is becoming clearer and clearer." Jin urged on. "I and Lucas here are of course moderates. But the radicals are different. They are not planning an all-out war, but they are planning to overrun the countryside and turn it into a colony. Zion explained with a disappointed look on his face. "The extremists have scattered to various countries to gather information on the current human race in preparation for the war. The five people that Jin-sama met are probably such people. I have also heard the name of Archelle. Now we have a rough idea of the background of the demon tribe. Now comes the crux of the matter. "So, when you say you want to help us, what exactly do you expect from us? "Yes, the first thing is to provide food. I think we can provide materials for magical beasts, etc., so that trade can be established. Jin thought that this might have been how trade was conducted in the past. "And what else?So, if you are the best, there is at least one more thing? "Yes. Please, stop the extremists! What? Is that something you''d ask a single individual to do? No, it''s the same for trade. Jin was a little surprised. "But, but you are a Magecraft Meister, aren''t you?It is said that the Magecraft Meister created unthinkable magical tools and changed our lives!" "What?" There is no trace of what the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, did. Even Reiko does not remember ......, or perhaps she never knew. "When you made me, your mother was already old..." Reiko answered, correctly understanding the meaning of Jin''s glance at Reiko. But it was something that the previous generation would have done. "...... I understand. Tell me more details after this. I''ll do what I can depending on the outcome. But tell me one more thing." Yes, what is it? "Is there any legend about how the demon tribe came to live in such a cold region?" The question made Zion''s face twitch. Jin regretted his words, wondering if he had asked a bad question. "I heard that you were driven away by the ...... human race." Zion answered in a lower voice than before. "There is a legend that our ancestors were driven away by mankind more than 3,000 years ago and moved to the north. Unlike his previous cheerful voice, his voice was dark and throaty. "......I''m sorry. I think I heard something bad." Jin immediately apologized. Zion sighs deeply and returns to his normal mood. "No, please don''t worry about it. No, don''t worry about it, it''s just a legend. ...... but it is also true that we demons are the cause of the hatred of humans." "...... Okay. Thank you for sharing. Your body may not be back to normal yet. Can I have him bring you that juice again?Or would you like to eat?" "Oh, in that case, ......, I''ll get you something to eat." Zion''s cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the thought of being asked to eat. Jin nodded his head. "Okay. I''ll have something ready for you right now. Wait for me." With that Jin left the room. Reiko followed him. Zion and Lucas are left behind. * * * * * * "...... Miss, are you sure?" "Yes, it''s okay. This Jin guy is definitely a magecraft master." "...... that guy is ......" "Don''t underestimate him. Unlike us, humans have developed magical technology instead of poor techniques to strengthen our bodies with magic. We have better technology! Yes, that''s true. But that''s just the legacy of our ancestors. But the Magecraft Meister is different. They can create new things, things that have never existed before. That''s what will help us now." "...... Got it." "Have you seen that automaton called Leco?Did you see that Leco automaton? She''s just like that Jin guy. Yes, indeed. ...... Yes. Then we''ll just have to wait. For now, we have to heal our bodies. Yes. * * * * Needless to say, the old man was listening to the conversation between the master and the servant. Jin was talking with the old man in his room on the fifth floor of Nido Castle. "What do you think, Mr. Lao?" < "Hmm, and the last story about being hunted over 3,000 years ago?" < "Well, I wonder if it is true that they were chased." < "Yes, and over the years, that is why the expression ''chased away'' was used." < "That might support my hypothesis ...... that demons and humans have the same origin." <> I came up with this theory when I heard the result of Erza''s examination that both Zion and Lucas are no different from human beings. "Ah. The <> of the <> doesn''t mean demons or evil, but means <> just like <>." < That''s what it means. < "Oh, we''ll have to look into that later." << "Hecaton Cale"?Is that the one that Reiko defeated in the northern mountains before?" < "What brings you to such a place ......" The possibility that they were their followers is small, and it is more likely that they were there to capture or kill them. "What makes you think so?" < Even if there is 5 meters of snow, a Hecaton Cairn can easily walk in a snowfall of more than 30 meters. < "<> or ......" Jin wondered if the Hecaton Cale that Reiko had defeated might have been a demon sent by the demon tribe. "It seems that security in the north will become even more important. * * * * Jin had his lunch at the cafeteria on the first floor. He ate his lunch at the cafeteria on the first floor. The miso brought from Kupu is being analyzed by Perid and his team. Since it is a fermented food, it will probably be mass-produced next year at the earliest. Then came a bowl of miso soup with wakame seaweed. "What''s this?" "This is the miso soup I just learned to make this morning. Bere answered. "Yes, it''s a soup stock made from niboshi (dried sardines). It''s delicious. Jin was pleased to see that the miso soup was quite tasty for something he had just learned. In fact, I think the miso flavor is better than the one I had at the Tecres'' house. On the other hand, Jin tilted his head, thinking that he had only received a handful of miso. Later, I learned that this miso, or bimpei, was made in small quantities in the southern part of the Shoro Empire. In other words, it was obtained by the fifth column (quinta) dispatched to the Shoro Empire. 496 - - 15-09 Request for relief The same afternoon, Jin promised to do everything he could for Zion. Jin was talking to Zion and the others again. "I''m sorry, I really need to ask you something. "Yes, what is it? After the Persica juice had restored his magical power and he had eaten lunch, Zion seemed to have regained a lot of his energy. "I want to talk about the magic used by the demon tribe. "What about the magic used by the demons?There are many things that are kept secret at ......." Jin could understand that. It''s a fool''s errand to reveal all his secrets. "No, just answer me to the best of your knowledge. I know about gravity magic, explosion magic, transfer magic, and slavery magic. "Oh, that!" It was Lucas, not Theon, who raised his voice. "That''s the best-kept secret!How did you know? Lucas, don''t be rude. Jin-sama, I''m sorry. Sion quieted the excited Lucas and apologized to Jin. "No, it''s okay. The reason I know this is because a demon I met was using it. "......After all, ......." Zion nodded in agreement. "Hm?What is still what? "Uh, yes, there is a saying that any hint, no matter how trivial, should not be given to the Magecraft Meister. In short, it seems that he was concerned about the analytical and application skills of the Magecraft Meister. "If there is the slightest chance, the whole picture will be revealed, and that is the Magecraft Meister. I don''t think "a slight chance" is a bit exaggerated, but looking at Jin now, I think he is not wrong. "Well, I wouldn''t go that far..." Jin scratched his head. "I''m ...... not sure about that," he said, "but those magics are limited to certain clans. I can''t use ...... Lucas either." "Miss!Nothing there!" "No, all I have to do now is to gain your trust. I will tell you what I need to tell you. I won''t talk about the total number of demons, because it doesn''t directly relate to Jin now, but I will talk about magic. Only Zion knows what the criteria are, but that was enough for Jin. "So ...... is the reward?" "Yes. Jin, too, has no intention of being taken advantage of. He wanted something in return. "If you''re willing to ...... give me and about ten other slaves ........." "Rejected." Jin cut him off with a single word. "I don''t need that kind of trouble. I mean, is there such a practice among you ......?" There is no slavery in the world today. I don''t know about the underworld, but at least that''s the way it''s supposed to be publicly. This is partly because the population has decreased too much. They wanted labor as servants rather than slaves. Not only that. Slaves cannot run the economy. In other words, the economy revolves around the paid servants who use the money to buy various things. In a word, <>, this is the state of <>. If money is hoarded and held as it is, the economy will not be vibrant in the slightest. It seems that the rulers of this world understood that much. "So, then, what about demon materials and ......?" "Yes, that way. Jin wants to get some rare materials. But Reiko looks reluctant. "Father, we can get the materials for you. You might want to ask for something else. Lukas glares at Reiko, but Reiko looks cool. "So, let''s go to ........." "Do you have any secret magic or artifacts of your own?" "Oh, artifacts (artifacts)? "Oh, so there are!What kind of artifacts?Can you tell me as much as you can? "Yes,...... and ......." Zion thought for a moment and then spoke slowly. "There is a live-action machine called ....... It is a magical tool that transfers landscapes and portraits onto paper." (Is it a ...... photo machine?) If so, it is something that Jin has not been able to create yet. "The other one is ...... ah, you know, a magical device that tells the time." (Clock!I couldn''t think of a ...... clock.) "And then there''s a grimoire that magnifies small objects." (A microscope?(A microscope? Well, that would be helpful.) Zion looked into Jin''s face, who was listening while nodding silently. "You know, ......?" "Hmm?Yeah, that''s a good idea. You can''t show me weapons or weapons? Jin asks just in case. Apparently, they don''t want to show military or similar information. That''s understandable. Um, yes. "Well, okay. Just one or two more things to think about. That''ll do for now. "What?Is that okay? "Yeah, sure." Actually, he''s not just a good-natured guy. The topography of the village of Kaina is relatively close to the Pazdekst isthmus. This means that if there is an invasion of the demon tribe, there is a possibility that they will be the first to be attacked, and Jin cannot overlook such a situation. Of course, after this, we will be increasing our surveillance and security in the northern part of the village of Kaina. "Oh, thank you!" Zion thanks the others with his head almost scraped on the floor. It''s almost like he''s getting down on his knees. "Well, it''s okay. I''m expecting something in return. Jin stops Zion from getting down on his knees with such a line. * * * * * * "Now then, let''s talk about the specifics. Jin glanced at Zion. "How are you feeling?Are you ready to continue the conversation? "Yes, yes!I''m fine. I''m fine. Xion waved his hands in the air and said, "I''m feeling much better now. Seeing this, Jin decided to continue. "Stop the extremists, huh? Do you have any concrete ideas? "Yes, in the opinion of the Chief ...... grandfather. Zion began. If we want to stop the extremists, we should destroy their reasons. The reason is, at the end of the day, the food problem. The first step is to secure food for the time being and then find a continuous source. If you can feed yourself, that is even better. "......, my grandfather used to say." "I understand. But is that enough?" Sir? Yeah, I''d say they''re radicals. Will they stop messing with mankind?Lardus, the demon tribe, was just trying to have fun, and people have died because of him. Marcosius almost caused the death of a leading figure in his country. Hearing Jin''s words, Zion''s small body shrank even more. "Well, that''s ......" "I''m not the one who was harmed. It was the Kingdom of Klein and the Shoro Kingdom. Yeah, maybe the Kingdom of Cerroa has suffered some damage as well. Jin explained to Zion that if they were seen as such a country, <> would not be enough. "If we think about food, it would be best to buy it from the Kingdom of Klein." "......" At this point Jin had an idea in his mind, but he thought it was too early to say it out loud. "Oh, one last thing. What position do you occupy in this matter among the demon clans?" "The young lady is the granddaughter of the chief of the largest clan among the moderates, <>!" Lucas, who had been silent until now, shouted loudly. "You!You didn''t take a cheap deal without any real ability, did you?" "Lucas, you''re being rude!" "No, miss. No, miss. Let me tell you something. ...... you, you''re going to fight me!If you beat me, I''ll give you a chance to prove yourself!" 497 - - 15-10 Match, and "A fight?" "Lucas!Stop!...... stop! "No, My Lady. No, My Lady. You even said you were willing to be a slave. Let me see if this man is worthy of that commitment!" Lukas is relentless in his challenge to Jin. "Zion, does he know his position?" Jin asked with a frown, and Zion turned blue and bowed his head. "I''m ...... sorry!Please, please, please don''t leave me!" It seems that Zion understands his position. In other words, Jin is not bothered by their abandonment. Nevertheless, Jin had no intention of abandoning them in order to ensure the safety of Kaina village and to obtain information about the past world. He would not be defeated if he attacked from inside the barrier, but he was not sure if that would satisfy Lukas. "Father, let me take over for you. Reiko offered to Jin who had been thinking about it. Reiko, after consulting with the old man, accepted the challenge in order to analyze the physical abilities of the demon tribe. "Yes, I see. I don''t have a choice.You''re going to have to go easy on me, okay?" Jin, too, sees that he has no choice but to do so, and instructs Reiko. "Since you are Mr. Zion''s guard, I, your father''s daughter, will deal with you. "Well, that''s all right. So it''s a battle of the guards! Lukas knows that Reiko is an automaton, so he says this line. It was still light enough outside, so they decided to have the fight in the plaza in front of Nido Castle. "Lucas, is your body ready? "Yes, I am ready to fight at any time as the lady''s bodyguard!" Reiko interrupted his big mouth. "But you were carried to the infirmary after you fainted." "Ugh. ......" Theon was recovering well enough to walk, but he had to be picked up and taken outside by Topaz 101, the castle''s resident doctor. "Well, what about weapons?" Jin asked Lucas. "No!My body is my weapon!" "Okay. Can we start now? "Come on!" Just as Lukas shouted that, Reiko kicked the ground. She instantly came within inches of Lukas and stopped him with a small fist to the jaw. I win, don''t I? "Uh-uh, no, that was a surprise!Come at me from the front! Lukas says in a cold sweat, "I''m going to test you, so come at me from the front! Reiko jumped back and took her distance. "I see. Then you first." Reiko stands there, ready to wait this time. "Don''t be childish!" Now Lukas jumped in front of Reiko. He throws a fist at her with blinding speed. Reiko easily brushes him off. "What! Lukas fires off another barrage of blows. But Reiko managed to block all of them with one hand. "d*mn!Not even this!" Lukas now also began to use his footwork. A front kick, a spinning kick, a knee kick, and a heel drop. Reiko avoided them all with minimal movement. "Wow ......" To the witnesses, Jin and Zion, and to the spectators, Barrow and Behle, the attack and defense were happening so fast that it was hard to see. "d*mn!Why can''t I hit anything!" They were probably reinforced with magic power, but this is a land where the concentration of free magic element (ether) is low. Lucas is gradually running out of breath. If he continues at this rate, he will probably destroy himself. But Reiko did not think it was a good idea. Considering Lukas''s character, she thought that he would not be convinced unless she showed him the difference in their abilities. "I''m coming this time!" Reiko, who had been on the defensive so far, had already read Lucas''s attack pattern. And she punched and kicked faster than Lucas had ever punched and kicked. "Whoa, whoa!" This time, Lukas was on the defensive. But Reiko did not restrain her attack. On the contrary, her speed is increasing. Reiko''s output is still at 15%. "KUK!" Just when it seemed that Lukas''s right hand had dealt with Reiko''s fist, Reiko wrapped her right hand around Lukas''s armpit and twisted her body. Reiko wrapped her arms around Lucas''s right hand, held it in her armpit, and twisted her body. This is one of the secret techniques of the Shoro Imperial Guard. "Gyah! If he protects his elbow, which is locked in a reverse joint, he naturally loses his upper body balance. Then, you put more weight on the elbow, and the opponent is thrown off his position. By falling down, the opponent is forced to fall down as well. She could have broken his elbow or shoulder joints, but since she did not intend to go that far, Reiko let go of his arm in the middle of the move. Reiko moves away from Lukas, pushing him away from her. Lukas, on the other hand, with his amazing sense of balance, jumped back and took a distance from Reiko without getting down on the ground. Reiko instantly considered the distance from Lukas and from Jin and the others, and decided to try one technique. For a moment, Reiko gives 50 percent of her power output, and she is close to Lukas at a speed close to Mach. But she stops her rush about one meter before the target. But... The rush at slightly below the speed of sound creates a compressed mass of air in front of Reiko. By stopping the rush, the compressed air mass leaves Reiko''s front and continues to move at the same speed while expanding. Imagine that a huge speaker vibrates only once and produces a super bass sound. This mass of air hit Lucas, although it is not magic and can only be used at close range due to its high attenuation. It has the same, if not greater, effect than the wind magic <. "Whoa!" Lucas was hit at close range and was blown about 20 meters away, his eyes rolling back in his head and he fainted. "...... was that too much?" "Lucas!" Zion''s voice echoed with concern. Reiko immediately ran to Lucas to check on him. "...... father! Reiko called for Jin, as if something was bothering her. Jin immediately rushed over. "What''s wrong?" "...... give him an and see what happens." "Hmm?I see. < Then Jin''s color changed. "What is this? The flow of magic power in his body was abnormal. "<> didn''t tell you that. ......" When Lucas''s body is examined with medical magic, it is no different from that of a human being, but when it is analyzed, there is a clear difference. That is the flow of magic power. Normally, magic power circulates in the body like blood, but in the case of Lucas, it did not. Rather, it seems to flow out from one point in the body and come together again. Zion. "Yes, yes." At a loss for words, Jin called out to Zion. "In exchange for forgiving Lucas''s rude behavior, would you allow me to use magic on your body?" "Yes. ......" Theon''s face changes color. But she immediately nodded her head as if she had made up her mind. "Okay. Please go to ......." "Thank you. ......<>......mm, this is ......." The result was that Zion was no different from humans. This means that Lucas is a different kind of creature, although he looks very much like a human or a demon. "Um, Jin-sama?" Jin decided to ask Zion rather than thinking about it. "Zion, what are Lucas ......?They are a little different species from yours ......, aren''t they?" Hearing this, for the first time in his life, Zion turned pale. "You are indeed a Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer,....... ......." Sion sank to the floor. "Yes, Lucas is not exactly a demon. They are a family of <>. According to Zion''s explanation, the land of the demon tribe (not exactly a country, but for the sake of clarity, let''s call it a country) has a and a . The followers are all dark-skinned like Lucas, and their hair is uniformly dark brown. Their eyes are said to be brown to black. Lucas is only five years old. What? Squires grow up so fast. He only became my personal follower a year ago. So he''s still out of control. Please take that into consideration. "Okay. Reiko, how''s Lucas? He''s just passed out. He''s just passed out. He''ll be fine in a minute. Just as she said that, Lucas moaned and opened his eyes. "Are you all right?" Reiko asked. Lukas slowly got up and put his hands in front of Reiko. "You lost!You were much stronger than me!" He then turns to Jin and apologizes. "I am sorry!I''ve realized what a Magecraft Meister can do!" And to Zion, "The young lady was right. I am sure that the Magecraft Meister will be able to save you and your daughters. Back at Nido Castle, Jin gave Lucas a glass of Persica juice. The magic power consumed in the fight is restored, and Lucas regains his strength. Since there were no injuries, only scratches, Jin healed them with . "Well, you must be tired, so let''s call it a day. I''ll keep Ruby 101 on you, so let me know if you need anything else." Ruby 101 is one of the best golem maids in terms of offensive magic, especially fire magic. At the same time, she can use paralyze, so she is suitable for guarding and monitoring. Other than that, Land 16 and 17, who are hidden behind the invisible curtains and called from Horai Island, are waiting by his side. Jin will not actually move until tomorrow. Jin moved from his room on the 5th floor to Horai Island using the warp gate. 498 - - 15-11 Friends Advice What do you think? After having given the old man all the data he had collected on Lucas''s body, Jin asked the old man what he thought. "You think so after all." Jin was thinking about it too. Whether they are a different race or an artificially created race, I don''t know. "So, do you think we can trust those two?" Jin asks the old man, who must have heard all of his conversation with Zion through Reiko, a further question. "I see." < << "That''s true. Erza will know, but you will have to tell everyone else." 4:00 p.m. in Kaina Village is 6:20 p.m. in Horai Island. In Shoro, it is 1:00 PM. "I may be in the middle of work. ......" Sorry Reinhardt, but this is probably a higher priority. We contacted him by manacam, and half an hour later, all the members of were there. That is, Jin, Erza, Meane, Reinhard, Bertsche, Saki, Toa, Stearina, and Vivian. The emergency was such that all those who could be of help had gathered for the time being. "Well, there is a reason why I said it is urgent. ...... Jin explained the process from yesterday with the support of the old man. "That''s why ....... Sorry it took so long to get back to you." "Well, demons, huh?Jin-sama, are you all right?" Bertsch was the first to sound concerned. "Yes. Jin, these demons ...... are called Zion and Lucas. Are you sure you can trust them?" Reinhardt also expressed his cautious opinion. "Yes. The old man and I are of the same opinion that they can be trusted. Not quite trustworthy, though." "Well, I know ...... that ...... Markosias and Androgyas. ......" Saki also has a look of doubt and skepticism on her face. However, with the exception of Jin, Erza, who had met them face to face, had a different opinion. "My impression was that they were no different from humans." "What?" "When I examined them, their physical mechanisms were no different from those of human beings." "Hmmm......... If that''s the case, what about that seemingly abnormal strength and endurance, as well as his special abilities?" Reinhardt looked unconvinced by Erza''s explanation. Then the old man called out to him. < The old man considered that the fainting androgythms, though powerful, had been turned to ashes by fire magic. >. "Yeah, that''s for sure. ......" As a man who ended his life on earth by falling into the ladle of an electric furnace, the idea of being burned to a crisp is not something that I can get behind. He was a little traumatized, however. > "...... the free magic element (ether) in the body turns into heat and instantly turns into ashes......?" << The old man''s hypothesis is a reasonable one. If the cells that make up the body are themselves made of magical isotopes, they should be highly compatible with magical power. "Well, that''s true. I guess that the enhancement magic that some knights and others can use is a system to draw out unused abilities. Reinhardt, who had acquired knowledge of modern Earth, was using his wisdom to analyze magic on his own. "The way of the demon tribe may be more like the strengthening of a golem." Jin also supports Reinhardt''s theory. "...... now, it''s more about the two of them." Erza points out that we have to change course. "Yeah, I guess so. I''m going to start talking about specifics tomorrow at ......." "Well, since you''re Jin, you must have some concrete ideas, right?" Saki pointed out, to which Jin replied with a smile. "Oh, it''s not so much an idea as a plan, but I''m thinking that it would be a good idea to sell the food harvested in the village of Kaina to the demon tribe." "I see." Since there is no need to deliver the food to the kingdom, Jin will inevitably hoard it, but if he can sell what he doesn''t need, he might as well sell it. "If we don''t have enough, we will consider Toka village. We don''t know how much the demons need, so I can''t say it''s an idea yet." "I see. Well, those two villages seem to be fine. But selling a large amount of food out of the blue is dangerous. The food supply in this world is not as plentiful as it could be. Fortunately, the Kingdom of Klein is an agricultural country, so there is some surplus food, but it is not possible to sell off all of the surplus because of the need to stockpile food in case of famine or natural disasters. "We have some stockpiles on Horai Island. But in the end, we want to be self-sufficient." As for crops, he can think of topopo (potatoes), wheat, rye, buckwheat, cabbage, and green beans, but he has not found any crops after buckwheat yet. "Then there''s dairy." He thinks he can get by with a golem-centered operation. "Apurul should be able to grow even in relatively cold regions, Jin-kun." Toa, who had been listening silently until now, offered such advice. "Oh, yes. ...... and also fishing would be a good idea. It''s not whale fishing, but there might be some fish or magical beasts. The old man also had a suggestion. "With all these ideas, I think we can improve the food situation for the time being. Jin felt relieved. "Then, I am concerned about the population of the demon tribe. Without knowing that, it would be impossible to calculate the total amount of food needed. "Oh. I really need to ask him about that. ......" Seeing the look on Jin''s face, he said, "But brother Jin, I don''t think so, are you going to the land of the demon tribe?" Erza, looking a little worried, asked Jin. "Yes, I think I will eventually. "I definitely disagree with that. Jin, you can''t go." Erza''s face turned even paler at Jin''s answer. "Yeah, I''m against it too. Jin, you can''t do that. It''s too dangerous. No matter how much we can trust this Zion and Lucas, right?Even if ...... can be trusted, the rest of them are ........." "You''re right, Jin-sama. There must be some way to get out of here without going." Bertsche joins Reinhardt in expressing his disapproval. "Jin could do something, couldn''t he?Even if I don''t go. Saki also expressed her desire not to send Jin to the land of the demons. Jin nodded reluctantly when his trusted friends said so. "......I understand. I wanted to go, but I''ll refrain. Everyone was relieved to hear Jin''s words. "......The demon tribe, right,......I''ve only known them in stories, but now they''re suddenly close to me,......." "Vee, that''s what it means to be in a relationship with Jin-kun." "No, Stear, it''s not that I''m scared or anything. I''m just surprised." Vivienne smiled at Stearina with a slightly confused look on her face. Jin, Reinhardt and Erza, who were listening to this, smiled almost bitterly. Anyway, a tentative conclusion was reached and the meeting was dismissed for the day. * * * * * * * * * * * * I''m not going to go, but someone needs to go. So, let''s upgrade the <>." Reinhard and Bertsche returned to their home village of Kaltz, and Toa and Saki returned to their parents'' home with Stellina and Vivian. Meine went to the village of Kaina. Erza is about to start work on Horai Island with Jin. "When I made the doll before, it had no sense of touch, so the feedback didn''t work well and it was hard to handle, but how about this time? Since the doll is used as a deus ex machina, he has to make a new one. But with the help of the craftsman (Smith) and Elsa, the basic part was completed in about 30 minutes. "Okay, let''s give it a try." Just as when controlling Machina, I sat down on the special seat, and took the substitute doll''s vision for myself through the magic screen. The operation is based on the application of linkage. The puppet optimizes the actions that Jin has thought of, based on its own judgment. The puppet also speaks the same way, but it can also speak Jin''s voice as it is if necessary. "The movements are more natural after all. The addition of tactile senses makes the movements more human-like. "Brother Jin, it''s amazing. Erza was impressed. "Now I wonder what Reiko will do when she goes with us ......." "Father, I don''t want to leave your side." "I knew you would say that. Well, what should we do? Jin thought again. 499 - - 15-12 Humanitys Thoughts "Brother Jin, I''ve been meaning to ask you..." Erza asked Jin as he pondered how to replace Reiko. "Why don''t you make an automata with the same performance as Reiko? Reiko shuddered at the question. "Reiko, please don''t misunderstand me. I just want to know the reason. It''s not like I''m denying you or anything. Jin beckoned Reiko to him and patted her head. "So you won''t make it. It''s easy. For me, Reiko is just fine on her own." Jin took Reiko in his arms and sat her on his lap. "It was Reiko who brought me into this world. Or, more precisely, her predecessor. Reiko had been searching for me for a thousand years according to her predecessor''s will. And it was Reiko who helped me find myself after I went missing when the Warp Gate went haywire. I am the man I am today thanks to Reiko. Jin continues patting Reiko''s head. Reiko''s eyes narrow and she looks very happy. She is too much for me. That''s why I won''t make the same automata. I don''t want to." "...... understands perfectly. Jin, I''m sorry. I''m sorry, Reiko, too. Erza bowed deeply. "I remember when we first started our journey, Jin and Reiko seemed to be getting along so well. "Ah, that time ......." It was the time when he was mistakenly accused of being a puppet lover. "Well, anyway, that''s why I''ve decided to have only one Reiko." "I understand. I''m sorry for asking such a trivial question. Jin stopped Elsa from apologizing again. Reiko too, "......Erza-san, don''t worry about it anymore." Reiko also said, "Don''t worry about it. "So, what should we really do? Hitoshi again pondered. "I don''t want to just make something and then put it to sleep when I don''t use it any more. ...... Unable to see Jin worrying like this, Reiko made a suggestion. "......If your father promises not to leave Horai Island even once, I will come." "Oh, I see. I would be very grateful if you would do that. After all, Reiko was eager to do something useful for Jin. "Okay, then I''ll upgrade you with the latest materials and technology." "Yes, please." Jin laid Reiko down on the workbench. Elsa assists him as his assistant. Edgar observed. "First, the skeleton. The magi-adamantite is replaced by hyperadamantite. It is a dream material with about 10 times the specific gravity but 20 times the strength. This is presumably due to the increased bonding strength resulting from the narrowing of the interatomic distance caused by the compression. It was thought that the reason why this material does not work as simply calculated is the function of free magic element (ether). This means that the same weight can be made twice as strong by using this element. "Is the magical muscle the same as before?" "No, it will be replaced with one impregnated with free magic element (ether)." Impregnated? Yes. The free magic element (ether) content will be dramatically improved by preservation treatment in the free magic element (ether) box, right?That''s it." The usability remains the same, but the maximum amount of power that can be extracted is more than doubled, he says. "It will consume more free magical element (ether), but I heard that the concentration of free magical element (ether) is high in the northern lands, so I thought it would be effective." "I agree." "Then, we can add an in case of emergency." It is more efficient than the previously installed mana tank. This is because aethenol, which contains free magic element (ether) as a liquid, has higher available magic density than gaseous magic element (mana). "We should be able to use gravity magic as standard." We will build in various kinds of magic tools for activating magic so that it can be activated without chanting. "We also need to increase the capacity of the ether converter and mana driver. And each auxiliary function was also renewed. Brother Jin''s work is very careful. (Jin''s work is very careful. You can see how much he cares about Reiko). Erza, who was only an assistant in name but had no role here, watched Jin''s work closely. (Is there anything I can do to help?(Is there anything I can do? ...... Yes!) Erza had an idea and quietly left Jin''s side as he continued his hard work. The magical skin was also impregnated with free ether, and Reiko''s upgrade was completed. Her weight has been adjusted well, and she looks the same as before. Finally, Jin noticed that Elsa was missing. "Elsa?" Then he saw Erza, who had just returned from outside the workshop. Edgar was with her. "Oh, Brother Jin, have you finished the remodeling?" "Yes, just now. What is that you are holding in your hand? Edgar was holding something that looked like a folded cloth. "This?This is Leco''s new clothes. I made it from the threads of a ground spider impregnated with free magic element (ether). "Oh, thank you. That''s nice. I''m wearing a lot of clothes now." "Hmm." Elsa presented a drawers, a chemise, a dress, an apron, and a ribbon. The colors and designs are the same as the ones Reiko has been wearing. This is because he decided that he should not change something that Reiko liked for his own taste. To be sure, Jin checks the measurements. The error was only a few millimeters, so he made a slight adjustment and it was done. "It is indeed very well done. The free-magic element (ether) impregnation treatment changed the workability a little, didn''t it?" "Yes. But you''ll get used to it if you do it for a while. "Ha, you''re on your own now. Okay, I''ll get you a new pair of shoes. "Oh. I forgot my shoes and socks. Erza''s cheeks flushed a little with shame, saying she had only been concerned about her clothes. "That''s okay. I''m always careless." Laughing, Jin took out a piece of sea dragon leather impregnated with free ether. "Then make him some socks, will you?" "Yes." Jin made shoes and Erza made socks. Soon they were finished. Put them on Reiko before the operation, and all is done. "Activate." Reiko wakes up in response to the key word. "How are you, how are you?" Reiko jumps down from the workbench and moves slowly to check herself, "Yes, I''m doing very well. Thank you very much." She bowed. "Well, that''s good to hear. Elsa made the clothes for me. I helped a little myself. "...... I see. Thank you, Elsa. "Yeah." After explaining the new features we''ve added and confirming that they work without any problems, Reiko is all set. "Let''s do the rest tomorrow, shall we?" After a late dinner, Jin and Elsa went back to their rooms. Reiko and Edgar follow their host. "Reiko, huh?" Erza lies down on the futon and thinks about Jin and Reiko. "...... really care about them." Of course, it''s not just Reiko that Jin cares about. If you pay attention to him, you can see that he eats as little as possible so as not to leave any leftovers, and that he tries not to waste as much as possible when he makes various components from materials. Not wasting things and taking good care of Reiko. Similar yet different, different yet similar. It may be the spirit of Jin who was born and raised in Japan, or it may be a sense of taking good care of things. "I''m a little envious of you, Reiko. With these thoughts in her mind, Erza looks out the window. Countless stars twinkled in the dark night sky. 500 - - 15-13 Inventory management August 6. Jin sent a substitute doll (double) to the village of Kaina. Accompanied by Reiko, of course. "Father, please do not leave Horai Island. She was nailed to the wall. Reiko also asked Soleil and Luna to take care of Jin. She is an overprotective daughter. At Nido Castle. After confirming with the Landeswehr that nothing had happened to Zion and Lucas last night, Jin called Barrow. "Good morning, Jin-sama." The double is sitting at Jin''s desk in his office, facing Barrow. Barrow does not seem to recognize him. "Well, let me ask you, do you know how much food is stored in the village of Kaina? "Uh, yes. One moment, please." Barrow took out a file from the bookshelf. "Dr. Meane has taught me to keep a record of these relationships here." "Oh." Jin read the contents of the file through the eyes of the substitute doll (double). The harvest of agricultural products in the village of Kaina was recorded, and all the income and expenditure were also listed. "I see. The winter wheat harvested before summer was 15 tons. That must have been a good harvest. Of that, 4 tons went to the warehouse as taxes." There were other useful figures written in the book. "The number of houses in Kaina village is now 30 (including Eric''s store. The number of houses in Kaina village is now 30 (including Eric''s shop, not including Nidang Castle). Each inhabitant eats about 150 kg of wheat. There are 105 inhabitants. The annual requirement is about 15 tons. This is probably the number of inhabitants, since Jin and Elsa may or may not be in the village, and the number of inhabitants includes the newborn Henry. "The spring wheat is doing well," he said. Wheat and barley in the village storehouse can be found at ......". Jin finds it on another page. "Oh, there it is. The village''s stockpile of food. 4 tons of wheat, 4 tons of barley, 1 ton of round beans, 200 kilograms of red beans, and 100 kilograms of black beans. 100 kilograms. Based on the castle''s stockpile, the village''s stockpile, and the expected harvest for the village, we can figure out how much aid we can provide to Zion and the others. "......I''m still not good at this. ......" A tentative plan is made, but I am not sure if it is really appropriate. So Jin decides to consult with the village head, Giebeck. Reiko will take the file with her. "How are Zion and Lucas doing?" Barrow asks as he leaves his office, "Yes, they are both feeling much better this morning, and Dr. Saly, who just came to check on them, said they can have a normal meal. ......" "So you served them the standard breakfast at Nidojo?" Yes, that''s right. This morning''s menu consisted of toast, vegetable soup, topopo salad, and citron, but he ate all of it without leaving a bite. It''s good to see you''ve worked up an appetite. And now? "Yes, the doctor said I should move around a bit, so Behr is taking me on a little tour of the village. "Well, I understand. Thank you. Yes, I''ll leave you to it. Barrow seems to be getting used to his role as a butler. Jin (the double) left the castle and headed for the village. Reiko follows silently. But she was communicating with Jin on Horai Island with the built-in manacam (magic element communication device). Father, the double doll is a good work. So far no one has noticed it. It''s natural, even from my point of view.) "Well, that''s a relief for now." The double walks towards Giebeck''s house. Then he hears a voice. "Hey, honey! "Hi, Hannah, good morning." The answer was in Jin''s own voice. "You know, Haku caught a mouse! "I see..." "They''ve been chewing on him for a while now, so Grandma thought he''d be all right now." Golem the cat, it seems to be useful. "And you know,...... what?" "What''s wrong, Hannah?" Hannah rushes up to him and stops just before Jin''s double doll. "Onii-chan,...... really onii-chan?" "What?What do you mean? "You look a little different ...... than usual." Hannah backs away little by little. "Oh, Hannah understands, doesn''t she? ...... "What?" Whether it''s a child''s intuition or Hanna''s special sharpness, she seems to have noticed that this is not Jin himself. Reiko explains to Hanna, who looks a little worried. "Hannah, this is your father''s ." "What?A doll? "Yes. Like me. "Like me... like you... like you... ......" Hannah seemed to be somewhat convinced by this explanation. However, she did not come any closer to me, perhaps because she still felt uncomfortable. "Who is the real Oni-chan?" Jin himself answered. "Hannah, I''m in my house. "Hmm. ......" "I have some business with the village head, so I''ll see you later. "Okay, bye." Hannah waved her hand and ran away. Jin looked over at her back and muttered something to her. "......Hannah saw right through me, didn''t she?" (Hannah spends a lot of time with her father.) "It can''t be helped." As we walked talking like this, we arrived at the village headman''s house. < was conspicuous. "Good morning." I knocked on the door, and Giebeck, the village head, answered. "Good morning, Jin. If you''re Dr. Saly, he''s making a house call. "No, I''m here for a consultation with the mayor. "Hmm?Well, please come in. Jin was invited into the village head''s house and faced Giebeck across the living room table. Immediately Jin explained the purpose of his visit. He did not, however, explain who he was selling food to. "So you are saying that there is someone who wants the surplus food in the village, and Jin is willing to sell it to them? "Yes. Half of it is for aid purposes as well, so I''d like to give away as much as I can, but I''m not sure how much I can sell given the current situation in the village." Jin said to Reiko and showed Giebeck the materials he had brought with him. Giebeck took them and looked through them carefully, then opened his mouth after thinking about it. Well, we had a good harvest last year and the first half of this year was also good. So I don''t see a problem with selling it all, leaving enough for next year''s harvest." "Is that so?" "Is that so?" "Yes. The village''s finances are in good shape right now. If the need arises, we can at least purchase the missing amount. Jin patted his chest. "I heard that you also have a purpose to help us. If it were purely for business, I would like to keep half of the money. "Okay, thank you very much. Then we can finally ......." Jin decides to sell two tons of wheat, two tons of barley, and a few beans. Since 6 tons of winter wheat and 3 tons of barley have already been distributed to each family, the total stockpile of wheat and barley should be 6 tons. The fall harvest is also expected, and Nidojo has a stockpile of nearly 5 tons. We can transport ...... well, gin will be no problem." Yes, that''s my area of expertise. The biggest concern has been resolved. Jin was going to ask a few more questions about the village''s approach to food management. "Oh, isn''t that Jin-kun? Good morning." Just then, Sally returned from a house call. "Henry is growing up healthy and strong. And we''ll probably have two more babies in a month. "That''s great news. Thank you, doctor. "No, I didn''t do anything. By the way, I saw those two walking around. They look much better. Yes, that''s thanks to you. "Well, let''s put it that way." Sally patted the shoulder of Nurse Gamma, the nurse golem she was carrying around as her assistant. "She''s been very helpful, too. This village is a nice place. "I am glad to hear you say so. I hope you will settle here. I wish you could stay with us forever. Jin and Giebeck each expressed their thoughts to Sally. 501 - - 15-14 Prisoners of War "Well, what happened to those two?" Jin (the double doll) left the house of the village headman Giebeck and looked for Zion and Lucas, who were supposed to be out for a walk. However, their location would soon be known since the RAND team, which was watching them, had reported to the old man. They were now by the fence to the north of the village. They are looking at a wheat field. After about 10 minutes of slow walking, Jin (his double) arrived there. "Good morning. "Good morning, Jin-sama." "...... Good morning." Jin-sama, good morning. Jin greeted his guide, Behle, Lucas, and Zion, in that order. "You look much better. I''m glad. "Yes, thanks to you. I must say, the wheat here is very good. "Oh, you guys have wheat, too?" Yes, we manage to have a crop for about four months of the year. "Oh, so you have a maritime climate." "What?" Zion looked as if a question mark was pasted on his face. "Well, oceanic climate is ......" Jin shared his general knowledge that regions near the sea are affected by the water''s property of not warming up and not cooling down, resulting in less annual variation in temperature, higher humidity, and more annual precipitation. "Oh, I didn''t know that. It is true that many of our families live by the sea. We are taking advantage of the oceanic ...... climate, without knowing it.climate, without even knowing it. Zion nodded his head in admiration. "Oh, I saw that in a weather book in the library! "Oh, you know about it too, Behrle?" Zion looked a little shocked at Behrle''s comment. "We don''t want you to get tired from all the walking around, so why don''t we go home?" "......Yes, that''s right. ......" Zion lost all his energy at once. "Jin-sama''s knowledge, is it because he is a Magecraft Meister?" As soon as he returned to Nido Castle, Zion asked such a question. "Yes, well, I guess so." Jin thinks that it is not a lie ...... because being summoned as the second generation means that Jin was chosen with that kind of knowledge as well. "I envy you, Behle-san, ...... because you can receive such teachings from Jin-sama." "What?" Jin explained to Zion, who seemed to have misunderstood something, that Behle''s knowledge came from reading the books in the library. "Books, huh? May I take a look?" Sion was also interested in books and his eyes lit up. "Yes, sure, let''s go to the library on the third floor. "Yes! Jin went to the third floor with Theon and Lucas. Zion was speechless when he saw the library next to the office. "......" He gazes at the books lined up on the bookshelf with sparkling eyes. (There are even more books. ......) He felt the old man''s concern for the books. "You can read any of them if you like. This room is for that kind of thing. "Thank you, Jin-sama!" Sion thanked Jin and took out three books. "You really love books, don''t you, miss. ......" Lucas said with a look of dismay on his face. "Oh my, why don''t you read them too?" "...... I''m your escort." "Ummm, why don''t you just tell him that you''re not good at reading?" "......" "Well, you can stay as long as you want. I''ll have Behrle bring in lunch." Jin left the library. On Horaijima, the real Jin breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, the double doll was not so bad. There is nothing to improve for now. It looks like those two will be fully recovered in a day or two. It is necessary to consider the possibility of leaving for the continent of Gondor around the day after tomorrow. If you can think of such a contingency ......, then it''s no longer a contingency," he said to himself as he stood up and stretched. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "How is the mole coming along, Mr. Mere Old Man? Since the "Mere Old Man" has been left in charge of the mole, Jin asked the "Mere Old Man" again to check the progress of the mole. "So everything is going well?" Yes, it is. << "I see. Be careful." < * * * * * * "What is it?What in the world?" "The demons?" The old man began to explain. The day before yesterday, Regulus 7 had informed me that a person (?) who appeared to be a demon tribe had been captured in the northeastern outskirts of the kingdom. The day before yesterday, Regulus 7 had informed us that a person who seemed to be a demon tribe (?) had been captured in Enak, a town located in the northeastern outskirts of the kingdom. There were two demons. They appear to be a man and a woman, both of whom are 17 or 18 years old. The woman identified herself as Istaris of , and the man as Netros, a guard. < He made it look like they were entertaining him by talking to them, lifting them up, and then he poisoned them for dinner. I say "apparently" because I only found out about it when the two were escorted back to the capital. "Hmmm, <>. Is there any connection with Zion?" < "Well, I guess that''s no use. It''s practically a dependency of the Kingdom of Celuloa." "Why don''t you send them in now?" "Okay. Do it by all means." Jin gives his permission immediately. Information is precious and important above all else. < The old man was now ready to go, but Jin wondered what he should do now. Shall he teach Theon? Or not? What would Zion do if he did?Would he go to help?Or ignore him?There is no answer. Jin thinks for a while and decides to let her know. Reiko is not with Jin now. She is with her double, the substitute doll. "...... something doesn''t seem to calm me down." If I were to use an analogy, I would say that it is as if one of my feet has no socks on. Reiko is always next to Jin, like a shadow. "I wonder if I am dependent on Reiko after all. The old man did not answer to the question. 502 - - 15-15 Day after Day 3:00 p.m. Kaina village time. Jin (his double) visits the library to see how things are going. Reiko follows him. "How are you, Zion?" And she is mildly surprised. Zion had already read more than ten books. Even though the contents are abridged, the number of pages is more than 500. His speedy reading is quite impressive. "Ah, Mr. Jin, this is a wonderful collection!There are so many things I don''t know!" Jin glanced at the stack of books, including <><><><><>. These books were written down to a level that would be acceptable to anyone, and explained in a simple and concise manner. Even so, there were many concepts that did not exist in this world, and Zion was actively absorbing them. On the other hand, Lucas, who is supposed to be ...... his escort, is lying down with a book in his hand and dozing off. It seems to be true that he is not good at writing. "Ha, I hope you like it." Then he breaks off. Zion seemed to be a little doubtful about the mood of the conversation. Jin-sama, is something wrong? "Yes?Why? "Because the atmosphere is somehow different from usual. I don''t know if the discomfort Zion felt was because he was a substitute doll (double) or because of the information I am about to tell you, but Zion seemed to have sensed something. Jin decided to tell him the information, thinking it would be better to do so as soon as possible. "Zion, do the names Istaris and Netros ring a bell?" "What?Where did you hear those names? "Oh, actually ......." Jin explained to Zion that the two had been prisoners of war in the neighboring kingdom of Franz. "What the hell? Sion''s exclamation echoed through the room. His voice was so loud that even Lucas, who had been dozing off, jumped out of his skin. "Whoa!What''s going on, miss? My sister has been captured?No way!And Netros too?Lucas, of course, but that Netros?I can''t believe it!" Sion says loudly. His tone is clearly different from before. "...... Zion?" "Oh, miss ......" Jin is stunned, and Lucas frowns. And Zion, on the other hand... "......Oh,......" He blushed when he noticed his attitude and tone of voice. "......I can''t believe it!" "......" "............" Jin and Lucas remained silent. After a few moments of silence, Lucas, who had finally grown impatient with the atmosphere, said something like this "......Madam, you must stop pretending to be something you''re not." "...... Oh, yes, you''re right. ......Jin, I''m going to stop using that creepy language." "U...... well, that''s all right." It seems that she was a tomboy in the guise of a lady. "It''s not true that Istaris and Netros are in jail!Isn''t it true?" "...... No, it''s true. It seems that the mayor of Enak tricked them and poisoned them." "Poisoned......" Zion''s mouth twisted so tight you could almost hear his teeth grind, and he squeezed out a few frustrated words. "...... cowardly ......." "Yeah, it''s not fair." "What?" Zion and Lucas looked up at each other with a strange expression on their faces as they heard Jin''s words of agreement. "No, isn''t it?No, isn''t it? You trick and poison the person who came to talk to you. What is this if not cowardice? "That''s true, but ...... I never thought I''d hear such words from a human being." "That''s true, but I never thought I''d hear such words from a human. But that''s just a third-party opinion. Here Jin explained that Marcosius had poisoned the Marquis with arsenic and that Lardus had spread magical exhaustion fever. "...... Marcosias and Lardus, did they do that?" Zion sagged when she heard the story. "You may think that ...... all demons are belligerent. But trust me!There are some clans that aren''t!" "It''s easy for you to say that you know. But honestly, you''re still not trusted. Jin confronts him with reality. Zion stared at Jin, but then stood up with a determined look on his face. "If you can''t get people to believe you no matter how much you tell them with your mouth, you have to show them with your attitude," he said. ...... Jin, this is the proof I can give! In front of Jin''s eyes, Zion took off her clothes, revealing her naked body. "You can do whatever you want!" Zion stands erect with her eyes tightly closed. But her cheeks are flushed and her body is trembling. "My Lady!" "Lucas, shut up!" Lucas tries to protest, but Zion silences him. "Come on, Magecraft Meister, Jin!What are you going to do? * * * "......Ah, ......we''re screwed." On the island of Horai, the real Jin was holding his head in his hands. "Brother Jin, what''s going on?" Just then Erza arrived. "Erza? ?" Erza looked at the magic screen in front of Jin. What she saw there was... "...... Mr. Zion?" It was Zion who was completely naked. "...... Jin?What do you mean?" Erza''s cold voice. "No, no, it''s, it''s, it''s, it''s something ...... like this, this. This is what I''ve been having trouble with." The explanation was faltering and rather incoherent because I was in a hurry, but Elsa seemed to understand what was going on. "Okay. We''d better get her dressed for now." "Oh, yeah, that''s right." Jin was sweating coldly. I''m not a demon," Jin said in a cold sweat. Sion opened his closed eyes gently, wondering why he had exposed his naked body to the demon tribe but they did not do anything to him. Then he found Jin was not moving as if he was frozen. (That''s ...... strange, isn''t it?I heard that human men are vulnerable to this kind of temptation.) While I was thinking like that, Jin moved. Zion prepared himself. But Jin turned his back. "I understand your feeling, Zion. I trust you. So put on your clothes." "...... you''re not going to do anything?" "Yes. No. Just put your clothes on. "...... Okay, okay." With a "you''re weird," he said to himself, Zion put his clothes back on. Lucas, who had also turned his back, was relieved. "I''m ...... dressed!" At these words, Jin and Lucas turned around and faced Zion again. "Now I''m going to ask you again. What do you want to do now, Zion?" 503 - - 15-16 Visit To Jin''s question, Zion immediately answered. "I want to save my sister. That is my true feeling. "Yes, I see. Even if it means putting off ...... food aid? Jin asked, wondering if the demon tribe valued their family more than the whole. "Yes. We need food for sure, but it''s not a problem that can be solved in a day or two. But your sister''s situation is different. If we don''t hurry, her life may be in danger. "I see." He seemed to have given it some thought. "Okay. Then we''ll leave tomorrow to rescue your sister. Take the rest of the day to recover. I''ll take care of everything." "...... Okay. I''ll be counting on you. Zion suppressed his impatience and agreed with Jin''s words. * * * * * * "The Kingdom of Franz, or ......" Jin (himself) was pondering on the island of Horai. Reiko had also returned. "There is too little information about this country. ...... I should ask Reinhardt about it." It was after 6:00 p.m. in Horaijima, but it was still just after noon in the Shoro Empire, around 12:30 at most. Jin moves to the Reinhardt residence, thinking that it is just time for a lunch break. Reinhard had finished his lunch and was drinking tea with Bertsche. "Hey Jin. What''s up?" "Yes, I came to ask Reinhardt something. Please come this way, Jin-sama. I''ll make you some tea. Sipping the tea served by Neon, Bertsche''s automata, Jin said he wanted to ask about the Kingdom of Franz. At the same time, he remembered to tell them that Zion of <> and her sister were being held captive. "Hmm, Franz Kingdom. Well, that''s a country where the king''s authority is very strong. Can you say that it is similar to an absolute monarchy ......?" Searching for the right words from Jin''s knowledge, Reinhard explained. "I can''t say that I have an accurate grasp of the current situation since I didn''t visit the kingdoms of Klein and Franz in my last diplomatic mission, but those countries are like the vassal states of the Kingdom of Selroa." "Yes, I''ve heard that." "The king''s name was ...... Oh, yes. Rijohn de Barkly, I think." After explaining all this, Reinhardt said, "I think you''ll get more information from the princess of the Klein Kingdom, if you''re Jin." Jin shook his head. "No, I don''t want to tell the public about the demons ...... yet, or rather, about Zion and Lucas. I want to make a decision after rescuing Istaris, who is said to be Zion''s sister." Jin bowed his head and asked that Reinhardt and the others not report to the government yet. "All right, I''ll keep quiet until then. Ordinary people are prejudiced against demons. It''s impossible for us to become friends right off the bat, but it would be nice to have a relationship with them so that we can trade with them. As a diplomat, Reinhardt''s opinion was reassuring to Jin. "But you will have to report back to me eventually." "Yes, of course. Yes, of course, but only after we have a clear picture of the situation. "And don''t let your guard down, Jin, even if the Franz Kingdom is a small group of countries, okay?" "Yes, I know. I won''t do anything rash. Jin, I won''t say anything if it''s a sightseeing trip. I won''t say anything if it''s a sightseeing trip. But you''re going to rescue captured demons, aren''t you?" "U......" A good argument. Jin couldn''t even breathe a word. "Sightseeing, it''s fine until we see them. But when it comes time to rescue them, Jin, you must stay out of it. If possible, I''m coming back to Bongnae Island. The memory of the golem''s blow to Reinhardt when he had rescued him from the Unification Party (Unifiler) was still fresh in his mind. Reinhardt was sincerely worried about Jin. I understand. Thanks for the advice." Jin thanked Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt and returned to Horai Island. "Father, why don''t we take Mr. Reinhardt''s advice and ask Princess Rieschen?" Reiko suggested. It was 7:00 p.m. on the island of Horai, about past 4:00 p.m. in Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. "Hmmm, I see. We can freely enter and leave the country now. ......" There is another warp gate near Alban. Jin followed Reiko''s recommendation and went through the Warp Gate to meet Princess Rieschen. The warp gate is a gate that is used by the princess to meet with the princess. "I think it''s problematic to do this without prior notice, no matter how much it costs. ...... Jin muttered to himself as he walked through the streets of Alban under the still bright summer sky. "Father, let''s find out who he knows. Gloria, Jessica, Pascoe, Heinz, and a few others. If they were from the knighthood, they might be on patrol, so there was a small chance that we could meet them. However, the reality was that it would not work out that way, and even after an hour, I did not see any familiar faces. "If we make a commotion in the castle, maybe someone will come out. Reiko said, not knowing whether she was joking or not, and Jin started walking again. That''s when Jin started to walk again. "Oh, isn''t that Jin-san? Suddenly, I heard a voice from the crowd. I looked over and saw a familiar face. "It''s been a while. Is my son doing well?" It was Eric''s father, Roland, the peddler, or rather the managing director of the Raglan Trading Company. "I''ve been meaning to come and say hello, but I''ve been a little busier than I thought I would be. "Business is booming, isn''t it?" Jin and Reiko had come to the Raglan Trading Company''s head office at Roland''s request. They were shown into a luxurious reception room. I am Raglan Eastwood, my father-in-law, Eric''s grandfather, and the chairman of the firm. I''m Jin. Nice to meet you. This is Reiko. Jin-dono, I''ve heard a lot about you. I''ve always wanted to meet you. His stout physique is full of strength, as if he were over sixty years old. On the other hand, his slightly thinning head of hair was a similar shade of brown to Eric''s. "That handy thing called a pump," he said. "I''ve been wanting to meet you ever since I saw that handy tool called a pump, and now I have! The man who had established the Raglan Trading Company from scratch, and who had made it grow so large, even with the help of Jin''s tools, was a different type of merchant from the Eckert I had met in the Kingdom of Selroa. "Pumps, stoves, wheat, balls, pens and nibs...... Jin-dono is a great benefactor of the Chamber of Commerce!We can''t thank you enough!" It was almost six o''clock. Raglan ordered his men to prepare the meal. "By the way, what can I do for you in Alban?Or are you going sightseeing?" At this point, Jin had an idea. The royal family is not the only one who knows the kingdom of Franz well. "Yes, well, I''m actually interested in learning more about the Kingdom of Franz..." "Hmm, something to ......, uh, no, let''s not pry. I guess, after all, Roland is the one who knows more about it. Roland met Raglan''s gaze and spoke up. "The last time I visited the Kingdom of Franz was about three years ago, so I''m talking about that time. It was a country that had a form of government that could best be described as a dictatorship. Jin nodded silently, saying that his information was also consistent with Reinhardt''s. "The gap between the rich and the poor is also quite wide. Some of the aristocrats are enjoying their luxury, but the general public can barely survive on their own. So it was not a very good market. "......" Jin frowned. "At that time, we went to Bubulo, a town next to the capital city of San Gelton,...... but the nobles were reluctant to pay even though they had money, so we turned back because we saw that it was not good for business." Roland then told Jin about a few other things he had noticed. These included the name of a relatively respectable nobleman. In addition, he also gave him some precautions to take if he were to go to the Kingdom of Franz. "Thank you very much. It will be very helpful." "No, no, I can''t repay you even a tenth of what you''ve given me so far," both Raglan and Roland said. Raglan and Roland both laugh. "Well, if you don''t mind, could you show us the inside of your store? He remembered that the last time he had visited Alban with Elsa and Hannah, he had missed visiting the merchant''s house. "Yes, please. Roland, show him around." Raglan smiled and motioned to Roland. "This way, Mr. Jin, please. They left the reception room and entered the store. The main store mainly deals in small articles. First, stationery. Pens and nibs that Jin distributes are lined up. Other items include ink, leather paper, pen stands, and pen dishes. Next are tableware and kitchenware. Deep plates, shallow plates, small bowls, bowls. Spoons, forks, knives. Knives, tongs, pots, pans. We have stoves here. There was a stove made of magi sand, which Jin had taught them how to make. "I''ve trained a craftsman, and we''ve managed to produce it ourselves. Jin checked the stove and found it to be in good condition. "Here are the daily necessities. A magic lamp, a bell to ward off beasts, and a hand mirror. The rubber balls were arranged in this corner. "Eric is doing a great job of keeping the numbers together," he said. Eric orders the required number of balls each month, so when Jin and Erza go to the village of Kaina, the balls are made in batches. This is why the supply is stable. "Oh?" In a corner of the store, there was something that caught Jin''s eye. 504 - - Departure from 15-17 Jin found something in a corner of the store. It was unmistakably a . "A ...... refrigerator?" "Oh, Jin-san, you''re a man of taste. It''s a magical tool I''ve finally acquired. It is sold by the Count family of the Kingdom of Egelea. ......" It seems that Count Kuzma is sponsoring the production and sales of this product. Jin recalled the red-haired Magi Craftsman, Bina. (I wonder if they are about to get married. I''ll ask them when I get a chance). "...... and this is . ...... Jin-san?" Jin, who had been reminiscing fondly about Bina and the magical tools he had made in Breeland, came to himself at the sound of Roland''s voice. "Oh, no, I was just thinking..." "Oh, no, I was just thinking. So, this is the water heater. It''s quite well made. I''m currently researching to see if I can make the same thing." Since there is no such thing as a patent, of course this kind of thinking will come up. Well, it seems that the market will not be covered, so Jin does not intend to complain about it. "If you have any questions, may I ask Mr. Jin? Jin smiled and nodded at Roland, who said such a thing without knowing that Jin was (one of) the producer. I hope you will stay with us. Roland and the others refused his request to stay overnight, and Jin came back to Horai Island. "Well, it''s going to be ...... difficult to get ready then. "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" While I was alone in the control room, Erza suddenly appeared in front of me. "Hmm?Elsa. I''m taking Zion and the others to the Kingdom of Franz tomorrow, and I''m wondering what I should wear. "Oh, um, about that..." Erza knew that Zion had exposed his naked body to gain Jin''s trust, since he had seen it. "But tomorrow?You were talking about that?" "Oh, yes. So I went to Reinhardt and the Raglan Trading Company in the Klein Kingdom and asked them about the Franz Kingdom. It seems like a tyrannical government, and the nobility seems to have a lot of power, so this is the time to emphasize my status as a baron, but I was wondering which country I should call myself a baron. ...... Jin explained that he was going to start out as a baronet and not advertise that he was a Magecraft Meister. "If ...... that''s the case, you should be in the Shoro Kingdom." Elsa expressed her opinion. The Kingdom of Klein is out of the question because of its bad relationship with the Kingdom of Franz. The Kingdom of Egelea is not on good terms with the Kingdom of Cerroa, which is the suzerain state of Egelea, so it is best to avoid it. The Shoro Kingdom is neither good nor bad. Erza concluded, "Since we have diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Cerroa, they should not be seen as an enemy. "I see. Then I''ll visit you as the Baron of the Kingdom of Shoro. "Yes. I''ll be his sister. Wait a minute. Are you going too? Jin is surprised by Erza''s comment. "Yes. I''m going with you because I''m not sure about the rituals of the Shoro Kingdom if I''m alone. He had a good reason to go. Jin couldn''t say no to the meeting. I understand. Make sure you take your guard ring with you. "Yes." Thus, Jin, Reiko, Elsa, Edgar, Zion and Lucas. And so, Jin, Reiko, Elsa, Edgar, Zion, Lucas, and the rest of the group headed for the Kingdom of Franz. The next day, August 7. In front of Nido Castle in the village of Kaina. It was a cloudy morning, and it looked as if it would rain at any moment. "Well, we are going to be myself, Reiko, Erza, Edgar, and you, Sion and Lucas. Lucas is a little wary of Edgar, whom he has never seen before, although he has seen Erza before. "Edgar is Elsa''s guard automata," Jin explained. As Jin explained, Zion sounded impressed. "Hmmm... so the apprentice of the Magecraft Meister must be quite skilled. "That''s what I thought. Now, are you ready? "We''re not nearly ready. How are we going to get to, what''s it called, the Kingdom of Franz?......? We''ll fly. "What?" Jin explained to them. From the village of Kaina, it is approximately 300 kilometers in a straight line to the border town of Stolsk in the Kingdom of Franz and the Kingdom of Klein. The distance can be covered by airship in about three hours. Strangely enough, there is no road connecting the Kingdom of Celuloa, the sovereign kingdom, and the Kingdom of Franz, a dependency of the Kingdom of Celuloa. To get to the Franz Kingdom, you have to go through the Kingdom of Klein. The old man, seeing that there must be a secret road, instructed the reinforced fifth column (Quinta) to check it out. "The airship ...... was also made by the magical engineer Magicraft Meister?" The Magi had a record of the use of a hot airship by the human race during the Magical Wars 300 years ago, but this was beyond their imagination. Since then, a few improvements have been made and the payload capacity has been increased. Specifically, the air sacs have been enlarged to increase buoyancy. "Yeah, this will get us to the border. We can come and go as we please within the Kingdom of Klein. From there we will take the wagons. The carriage was a golem-horse carriage that had been sent by the transporter. "All right, let''s go! The airship takes off from Nido Castle. The airship takes off from Nidou Castle, using so as not to cause a commotion. "It''s so dark! is a line from Zion. It is inevitable that we cannot see the outside at all since we do not release the invisibility until we reach a high altitude. But when you remove the invisibility, you will be able to say. "Wow, I''m on cloud nine!I''m above the clouds!" When you move into horizontal flight, the is lifted and you can see your surroundings. Zion looked down from the high altitude and was excited and excited. "Jin is ...... a Magecraft Meister!" Lucas, too, was not showing his excitement, but it was obvious from his flushed face that he was excited. Even Elsa, or rather Jin, always finds the view from the sky refreshing. The airship flies over the endless sea of clouds. Soon the clouds disappear and the sky below becomes more visible. Jin lowers the altitude a little. This allows him to see the surface of the earth even more clearly. It''s a big land, isn''t it? I knew there were a lot of people. ...... Xiong said as he looked at the fields and settlements drifting behind him. The airship, which had been further sped up by the wind ward, arrived at Storsk in about two hours. The airship landed in a deserted suburb of Storsk, deploying invisibility. A golem carriage had been sent there by a transporter. The driver is, of course, Mr. Steward. "Come on, let''s change!" Jin points out, but Zion looks puzzled. Jin ...... what is this? "Is this my carriage?" "No, but... so why is it here?" No, it''s a trade secret. Trade secret? Well, maybe one of these days. ......" After such an exchange, the group changed to a horse-drawn carriage. 10 minutes later, Storsk came into view. Strsk still bears the scars of the conflict that took place in April this year. As a border town, it is surrounded by a wall, but the wall is crumbling in some places and has not been repaired yet. Jin''s carriage was approaching a gate on the outskirts of the town. "Stop! A soldier of the border guard of the Klein Kingdom stopped the carriage before the gate. Jin leaves the carriage and shows his entry/exit permit. Of course, he is wearing a Shoro aristocratic coat. "...... sure. You may pass!" The royal permit has an extraordinary effect, and with just one glance inside the carriage, the soldier grants permission to pass. "...... a little lenient?" Erza muttered to herself after she had been away from the soldiers for a while. Even though there was a permit, it was negligent of the border guards to issue it without checking the passengers. This was the opinion of Erza, who had been on a diplomatic trip with Reinhardt. "I guess they are really short of personnel. ......" Jin also recalled the passport control procedure he went through when he entered the Shoro Kingdom from the Kingdom of Cerroa. After passing through the stone gate, he was finally in the Kingdom of Franz. 505 - - 15-18 The Town of Loron, Kingdom of France Just beyond the gate, the border guards of the Kingdom of Franz were waiting for us. "Stop!" The guards stared at the carriage as it came to a stop in front of them. Jin wanted to get off by himself, but Erza stopped him. Edgar gave him an exit permit from the Klein Kingdom and presented it to the guards. "I''ll check it. Wait a minute." A man who appeared to be the chief of the soldiers received the permit and led us to a small building in the back. The steward drove slowly and parked the carriage in the position indicated. "What is it?Is this horse a golem? "This carriage looks like nothing I''ve ever seen before. Soldiers there were rudely touching the body of the carriage with their hands. Reiko''s expression was filled with anger, but Jin gently tapped her on the shoulder as if to quiet her down. "Don''t worry about it." "...... yes." Three or four minutes later, an official who seemed to be in charge of the Franz kingdom arrived and checked the carriage and its occupants. "Well, the Imperial Baron Shoro, Jin Nido, his sister Elsa Nido, his friend Sion, Lucas. And the followers of automata, Reiko and Edgar. And your name is Steward, is that correct? "Yes." At that moment, Elsa handed something to the official. "Thank you for your service." The official looked at the object in his hand as if to check it, but then quickly said, "Okay, let''s go." He gave his permission. The carriage carrying Jin and the others left at a rather high speed for the street, and moved away from the barrier. "Elsa, what did you do?" Jin asked Elsa to confirm what she had done. "I gave her two gold coins." In short, it was a bribe. Jin was mildly surprised that Elsa knew such tricks. "...... I learned it from my brother Rai." Last night, she was going to the Kingdom of Franz, and she had asked Reinhardt for some precautions. "He also told me not to go if possible. That''s right. That''s not the way to treat a baron. They don''t know how to educate you." "Oh, I knew it. He told me to be careful too. Zion overheard their conversation and said with a slightly apologetic look on his face. "I''m sorry. I made you do something dangerous on purpose. Jin, however, smiled at him. "Don''t worry about it. It''s true that I''ve always wanted to come to Franz''s kingdom. But if you think so, can you tell me a little more about yourselves?" "...... about what?" "Why your sister went to the Franz Kingdom, or why the Hecaton Cale came after you..." "Hecatoncale?" Jin tells us here what the old man had reported to him. And it seems to have worked quite well. "...... Hecatoncale is probably the puppet family that sent us after them." "I see, so there is a family with that kind of ability." "...... as you can see. < clan is good at servitude magic. Most of the demons can be made my servants." Jin nodded. This was because it matched the hypothesis the old man had made about Archel. Jin took this opportunity to ask what had been bothering him. "Does this ability work on humans or on you?" "No, ordinary servitude magic doesn''t work on me and Lucas. Most demons are resistant to mental attacks. What about humans ......?I don''t know because I don''t know of any precedents. Hearing this, Jin secretly thought that the reason why <> didn''t work might be due to their resistance. And considering the example of Markosius, it might be effective against humans. "I didn''t know about you either. Perhaps she was sent separately after our departure. "Hmmm, if one of them fails, the other one should succeed, right?" It is said that they went to negotiate for food aid not only to the Kingdom of Klein but also to the Kingdom of Franz. The topography of the area is not unreasonable. From the Pazdekst isthmus, the Klein Kingdom is a little closer, but there are steep mountains on the way. On the other hand, the Kingdom of Franz is a little farther away, but the mountains to be crossed on the way are lower. "I see. Your sister was unlucky. ......" "...... yeah." Zion''s face turned down as he remembered his sister. But Jin thought that one of them had been a decoy against the militant demon tribe. And seeing that the Hecaton Cale had followed them, the decoys must have been Zion and the others. This would explain why someone like Lucas, who was not suited for negotiations, had come along as an escort. Jin thought it was ironic that the decoys succeeded in the negotiations and the main decoys failed, but he did not tell Zion about it. Proceeding at a slightly faster speed along the road, they arrived at the town of Loron in the late afternoon. Foreigners were not allowed to drive their carriages into the town, so they parked their carriages at the parking lot at the entrance of the town. Of course, we were charged. "Let''s stay here today and gather information," Jin suggested. Jin suggested. Theon and Lucas had no objection to this. "Well... First we need to find a place to stay. ......?" Jin stepped into the town from the tarmac and gasped at the scenery that bore no resemblance to the towns he had visited. "This is ...... "This is ...... terrible." The scenery was bizarre. The buildings were stone, similar to those in the Kingdom of Klein. But the inhabitants were very different. There are two main types of people. The rich and the poor. It is obvious at a glance. They are dressed differently. The rich wear fine clothes and walk proudly down the street. Most of them are overweight. The poor wore dirty clothes, had a pale complexion and a thin body, and walked nervously along the edge of the street. "I didn''t realize there was this much disparity." "...... I guess people are discriminated against, too." Zion nodded. "Yes. There are all kinds of people. Good ones, bad ones. The honest, the dishonest. The strong, the weak. ...... unfortunately." Lukas frowned all the while, as if he had seen that people are not monolithic and had something to say about it. "...... sir, nobleman sir." At that moment, someone approached Jin and the others. "Are you looking for a place to stay?I know a nice place. If you''re a foreigner, you''ll love it!" The man, who probably fell into the category of a poor person, was dressed in a decent-looking outfit, smiled a follow-up smile, and approached Jin and the others. He was in his late 20s or early 30s. He had a skinny figure, but he was toned and his eyes showed strength. Reiko and Edgar immediately got into a fighting stance. Lucas was a step behind. But the man did not seem to notice their eagerness to kill him and continued to talk gibberish. I am Fernand, and I am an informant in this town. If you need any information, besides the inn, I''m at your service. He must have heard the line that I had said to him when we got off the carriage earlier. He seems to be a shrewd man. "Well then, let''s start with an introduction to an inn. Jin answered. Depending on the lodging, I thought I would evaluate the man who called himself Fernand. "Hehe, follow me then. Fernand took the lead. Jin and the others followed him. Reiko and Edgar remain vigilant. Go straight down the central street and turn right at the intersection of another street. The corner on the north side of the town is lined with luxury houses and has a large park. Adjacent to the park was a large hotel. This is it. <. "Can you wait here for a moment?" Jin took a silver coin out of his pocket and put it in Fernand''s hand. They all went to the hotel. As it turned out, the hotel was a good choice. It cost 10,000 dollars per night with half board and room service. Of course, for four people (the automata was free of charge since it was treated as luggage). The price of 100,000 yen for four people was acceptable. We were prepared for the high cost of living and the fact that we would have to pay twice that amount to find a decent place to stay. After checking in and leaving their luggage at the hotel, Jin and his group left the two SPs with him to stay at the hotel, just in case. "Hehe, how was it?Is it a nice hotel?" "Yeah, it''s not so bad. So, do you know about the man and woman who were caught in Enak a few days ago? Jin, wasting no time, tries to be very direct. "Heh, is it true that the rumor has already spread?"Yes, it''s rumored that they are the spearmen of the demon tribe. "Yes, that''s it. I want to know as much information as possible about these two. Fernand thought for a moment, "I''ll accept ...... for 10 gold coins. I''ll see you tomorrow at noon here. Oh, and how much in advance?" Jin said to Reiko and handed five gold coins to Fernand. "Okay, tomorrow afternoon. I''ll be counting on you. "Heh heh heh, I''ll take care of it." Fernand received the money and quickly disappeared. 506 - - 15-19 Runaway After watching Fernand''s back, Jin said to the group. "Well, we should gather information on our own. According to what I''ve just heard, there''s quite a rumor going around. "Yes, that''s right. That way, if the man comes with false information, we''ll know it immediately. Zion nodded his head broadly. Reiko, just to be safe, have two of the SPs attached to me stick to Fernan and watch for any strange behavior. (Understood. (Okay. Let''s leave it to Pance and Viola.) Reiko chooses the two smallest ones and instructs them. Now we don''t have to worry about being tipped off or being noticed by some strange organization. First, Jin and the others decide to take a look around the town under the guise of sightseeing. "......" "............" "...... dirty." When they stepped into an alleyway, they found it to be a pile of garbage. Not only food scraps, but also some unidentifiable and unidentifiable garbage, making it hard to find a place to step. The group turned right and went back the way they came. They decided to walk down the main street. The grocery store had very little food on the shelves, and the magic tool store did not have a wide selection. The accessory stores had only a few high-end items. Is there something wrong with the economy after all? "Yes. Yes, I think so. "It''s so dirty. Humans are so sloppy. "...... Just as there are many kinds of demons, there are many kinds of humans. That''s all." As we continued down the street, we came to the central avenue that we had just passed. "Okay, let''s go straight here. As Jin said this and started walking, suddenly there was a lot of commotion around him. Screams could be heard. "What is it?" "Father!" Reiko stands to protect Jin. Edgar stood in front of Elsa. Whoa! It''s a runaway carriage! I look in the direction of the voice and see a small carriage running at a high speed. The driver is nowhere to be seen. The horse is alone, but it is foaming at the mouth. The carriage is galloping down the central street with the horse in tow. The people who noticed it rushed to avoid it, but the path of the horse and the carriage was not straight but meandering, and the horse sometimes went toward the direction they thought they had avoided, which was very dangerous. "Aaah!" One person was just knocked off. The carriage is coming toward Jin and the others. Reiko almost jumps out to hold the horse, but decides it is better to stay close to Jin to protect him. Instead, she secretly releases a spell. . Since the horse was a horse, he fired at the highest possible output, and the horse instantly fainted. "Whoa! someone screamed. The horse falls to the ground, and at the same time, the carriage is overturned and slammed into the street. Then silence falls. The horse and carriage had come to a stop two meters in front of Jin and the others. Reiko is the first one to come to her senses. "Father, are you hurt?" "Oh, yes. At such a distance... There''s someone hurt. A middle-aged woman is lying on the ground. I think she was the one who screamed earlier. ...... are you okay? "Oh, my... my... my leg. ......" It turns out that her right leg is bent in a strange direction from the shin down. It seems to have been stepped on by a wheel. "......" Patience a little. <>...... this will be fine. <<>" "What?Oh, ......." "It might hurt a little bit." After applying the painkiller, Elsa twisted the woman''s leg. This is a restorative. This will make the healing magic work much better. "Ah! "<>" Erza applies healing magic immediately after making an approximate recovery. A pale light emanates from her palm and is absorbed into the woman''s leg. "...... healed ...... thank you!" The fracture healed literally in an instant. The woman bows her head so hard she almost scrapes it on the ground. "Thank you!Even though ...... I ...... have ...... money." "No. I didn''t fix you for money. Be careful." "Oh thank you for ......!Thank you!" The woman bowed again and again as she walked away. Elsa''s words drew a gasp from those around her. "Hey ......, it''s free ......!" "I can''t believe ...... it!" "Oh, no, he looks ...... like a foreigner, I can understand that. "I can understand that." "I guess foreigners are so generous." From such mutterings, it seems that it is very rare for such treatment to be provided free of charge. Meanwhile, Jin was examining the overturned carriage. He was surrounded by onlookers, and none of them took any action to move the carriage or to ask what happened to the passengers. "Oh ......!" Inside the carriage was an elderly woman. There was no doubt that she was an aristocrat by the way she was dressed. Jin carried the woman out of the carriage. She was a small woman, so even he, who was not very strong, could manage to carry her. Reiko wanted to help him, but he insisted on doing it himself. I was afraid to lay him down on the cobblestone ground, so I took off my coat and tried to lay him down, "Here, father," she said. Reiko found a blanket in the carriage and laid it on the ground. The old woman laid her down there. "Reiko, Edgar, bring the carriage back to the side of the road." "Yes, Father." "Yes, Master Gin." I ordered them to do so because I decided that there was no need to show Reiko''s skills in a place like this. Even so, Edgar is a boy and Reiko is a smaller girl. The onlookers'' eyes widened when they saw the two lightly pull the wagon. Just then Elsa returned, and Jin asked her to examine the woman lying on the ground. "<>...... she is fine, just a few bruises and scratches. I''m sure you''ll notice soon. ......<>" Elsa tends to the bruises and scrapes. "It''s all right now." "Thank you, Elsa." Then Zion and Lucas came up to them. You''re very good. (Wow, you''re really good at it, aren''t you? ) "That''s just like the Magecraft Meister and his sister, isn''t it? Sion said impressed. He whispered, as if he was paying attention to her. "Out of the way, out of the way! Get out of the way!Get out of the way! With a clattering sound, six soldiers in light armor arrived. What is this? They had seen the crest on the carriage and recognized the noble family. "Hey, you!What''s going on here!Explain!" One of them, who seemed to be the captain, shouted at Jin in a high-handed manner. "What?...... this carriage came running out of control, the horse fell down, the carriage overturned, and this man who was riding in the carriage fell down. And I rescued this man who was riding in it. That''s about it." "Are you sure?I''m not going to take your word for it! A soldier stares at Jin. But then... You guys can''t be rude!He is telling the truth. The old woman noticed and said in a dignified voice. 507 - - 15-20 Catrine de Lafayette "This is Catherine!" The soldiers salute in unison. The old woman was apparently a person of high rank. "It seems that she was attacked by someone and her horse ran out of control. Check the other side quickly!" "Yes!" The captain instructed his men to salute the woman, whose name was Catherine, and led the three men running in the direction from which the carriage had come. The remaining two men, seeing that the horses had not yet noticed them, said, "Monsieur Catherine! "How may I help you, Mademoiselle Catherine? They inquired her intention. "Would you like me to get you a replacement horse?Or should I contact the house? But the answer exceeded the soldier''s expectations. "Oh, okay. I''ll go on foot. When the horses are alerted, please bring the wagon to the house. "What?Huh? While the soldier was half stunned, Catherine bowed to Jin. "Thank you very much. From the looks of you, you must be from the Shoro Kingdom.I am Catherine de Lafayette. I''m the former duchess, in case you were wondering. My name is Jin Nido, honorary Baron of the Shawlo Kingdom. This is my sister Elsa. Jin then introduced Reiko and Edgar as automata and Zion and Lucas as friends. "Well, well, you have wonderful automata. You must be from the Shoro Kingdom. Are you here for sightseeing?" "Yes, I am. Yes, I am. Yes, I am. Yes. Jin remembers the name of the hotel. "Uh, the H?tel Renoir." "Well, you''re very good looking. If you don''t mind, I''d like to thank you for saving my life and invite you to dinner tonight. How would you like that?" After a slight hesitation, Jin accepted. "Yes, thank you. "Then I will send a carriage to pick you up at your hotel at 5:00 in the evening. Please bring your friends with you. I''ll be waiting for you. The former duchess Catherine said with a smile and ordered her soldiers to accompany her to the house. One of them accompanied her and the other guarded the carriage. "Elsa, can you fix the horse too?" "I''ll try ....... " is basically a magic that enhances the healing ability to the utmost limit. As a result, it was effective for the horse. The horse opened its eyes and stood up as if nothing had happened. "Oh my God, that''s great!Thank you very much, Elsa! Catherine thanked her, and the soldiers rolled their eyes in surprise. "Now, if you''ll excuse me for a moment..." Jin and the others decided to leave as they began to attract more and more attention. "Brother Jin, did that man send you to ......?" "Yeah. He seems to be a very important person, he might have some good information, right? "I see, Jin is so smart!" "......" While exchanging such conversations in a whisper, Jin and the others resumed their own information gathering. * * * * * * * * * At 3:00 p.m., Jin and the others returned to . It was a little early, but they decided that they would not get much out of their visit. "I think our connection with the former duchess is more effective. I agree. She seemed like a decent person. The group rinsed off their sweat from walking around in the hotel bathroom, changed their clothes, and freshened up. They checked with the Secret Service (SP) who had ordered them to stay at the hotel, but they were told that their belongings had not been ransacked or searched. "Listen Zion, leave the negotiations to me and Erza. You don''t know anything about our customs." "I know, Jin. I''ll play the lady again. Lucas don''t talk unless I say it''s okay. "Oh, miss ......" "I like that you put me first, but you don''t see what''s going on around you. I learned that when I negotiated with Jin. You keep your mouth shut. Is that clear?" "Yes. ......" Theon seems to be reasonably, if not quite, smart. Jin was relieved to hear that. "Well then, Elsa, could you give me a quick lesson in Shoro imperial etiquette while we wait for the carriages to pick us up? "Hmm, okay." And so, for about an hour, Elsa gave a lecture on etiquette. * * * * * * * * * * * A minute after 5:00 p.m., a carriage arrived in front of the hotel. This was also a one-horse cart. Instead, there were two carriages. Apparently, only small carriages with one horse are allowed to drive around the town. We had a little trouble deciding on the combination of horses, but in the end Jin, Elsa, and Edgar got on one carriage. In the end, Jin, Elsa, and Edgar got on one carriage, and Theon, Lucas, and Reiko got on one carriage. The carriage drives slowly along the cobblestone street. We are going to the northwest of the city. There is a house of the Duchesse de Lafayette, apparently. "It''s an interesting town. A mixture of old and new buildings." Probably from the war. Jin and Elsa speculate about the town they see from the window. Lucas then spoke to Reiko ....... "Re, Reiko, is Jin ...... a good husband?" I was made by my father and I exist for him. There is no good or bad. Don''t try to talk about your father with me. He was cut off. Reiko was not happy to be temporarily away from Jin''s side, even if it was to keep an eye on Sion and Lucas. Fifteen minutes later they arrived at the duke''s villa. "Come in, my dear." The gate was wide open, and Jin and the others were greeted by many servants as they entered the gate and got off the carriage in front of the front door. "Welcome, my dear!" Catherine was waiting for them at the end of the entrance hall. "Come in, come in. You guys, please don''t be rude. Jin, Elsa, Zion, and Lucas were each accompanied by a maid of honor who led them to the hall. "Wow. ......" Jin shouted in a small voice. The hall was decorated luxuriously. The floor was covered with a soft red carpet. If you look closely, you can see patterns woven into the carpet. The walls are hung with colorful tapestries, and between them are tasteful paintings. In front of the building is the flag of the Kingdom of Franz, flanked by gold and silver armor. The ceiling was decorated with carvings in rich colors, and a chandelier with magic lamps hung from the ceiling. The table in the center of the room was made of jet-black wood with elaborate carvings on the sides and legs. Catherine takes a seat behind the table. Jin and the others were shown to their seats by the maidservant. To Catherine''s right are Jin and Sion. Elsa and Lucas are on the left. Reiko and Edgar stand behind Jin and Elsa, respectively. "Welcome, Chevalier, Sir Jin Nido! Chevalier" is the name for a baron in the Kingdom of Franz. In the Kingdom of Egelea, they call me Knight, and in the Kingdom of Shoro, Ritter. I am Catherine de Lafayette, wife of the former duke. Now I am just a widow. So I hope you people from abroad will treat me normally." But that is not the way it works in aristocratic society. It is considered a virtue for the superior to show generosity to the inferior. And those who are below them are not to take advantage of it, but to show courtesy. Since Elsa had told him in advance, Jin was able to respond in a reasonable manner. "Thank you for inviting me today. It is ...... an honor to have this opportunity to meet you. Jin bowed his head, saying the words that Elsa had taught him. Catherine smiled at him. "Oh, I''m the one who should be thanking you. You not only stopped the runaway carriage but also healed it. ...... But now is not the time for such questions and answers, let''s start the supper." Catherine clapped her hands and the waiting maid of honor stepped forward and poured wine into a crystal glass. "Well then, I thank you for meeting me. Cheers!" Catherine led the group in raising their glasses. "Cheers!" The wine was slightly sweet and pleasant. It was a good choice as an aperitif. "Come on, eat a lot!" Steak, rich chilled stew, and other dishes made with fish, a rare delicacy in the Franz Kingdom, which has no sea. All of the dishes were seasoned with a fine taste, and everyone ate to their heart''s content. 508 - - 15-21 Information No. 1 After the meal, a fragrant herbal tea-like drink was served. "Did it suit your taste, Mr. Jin?" According to Erza, table manners in the Kingdom of Franz basically forbid conversation during the meal, and it is only during the tea time after the meal that conversation takes place. She was right. "Yes, everything was very delicious. "Yes, I''m glad." That was the beginning of the chat. "You are from the Shoro Kingdom, aren''t you, Jin-dono? I''ve never been there, what kind of place is it? "I heard that it is ruled by a female emperor, but I wonder if she has any complaints? I''ve never been there before, I heard that Lake Tosmo is a big lake. Our Kingdom of Franz also has a large lake called Lake Asur. It borders the Kingdom of Cerroa. He was talking about sightseeing. "Are you bringing Reiko and Edgar with you, they look wonderful. The conversation was exactly what one would expect from a chat. In the midst of this conversation, Elsa casually turned the topic to the information that Jin wanted. "......There is a rumor in town that a demon tribe has been captured. Is it true? "Oh my, it''s spreading after all." Catherine, the former duchess, smiled a little annoyed and began to speak. "There''s no point in hiding it now, is there? Yes, it''s true... two or three days ago, a representative of Enak told me that he had captured a demon tribe. * * * * They came from the northern mountains. The northern part of the Kingdom of Franz is bordered by a series of 2,000-meter-high mountains. Some of them came from the other side. "We are the race you call the demons. Enak was a town close to the fortress that held the Klein Kingdom in its sights, and was ruled by a representative of the Dukes of Lafayette, whose lands were in the northern part of the Franz Kingdom. It would be difficult to be believed out of the blue if you came to a town surrounded by a tense atmosphere because of its proximity to the border and said that you had no intention of fighting. Kutaga Akhter, the deputy who also serves as the mayor, is a thoughtful man at best and a cunning one at worst. He is at best a thoughtful man and at worst a cunning one. Kutaga greeted them with an outwardly friendly demeanor. "They say you have no will to fight. That''s a big deal. Then one of them said, "Fighting brings hatred on both sides. The land is desolate and the people''s hearts are desolate. The power of the nation will fall and the people will suffer. These words are said to have been uttered. Without heeding these words, Kutaga made it seem as if he was welcoming the two men, but instead poisoned them. The poison was not very strong, only enough to paralyze their limbs, but at the same time it was effective against mages because it made them lose their sense of speech. * * * * * * * * * * * "It''s probably being sent to San Gelton right now. The deputy was escorting them along the way, showing off his work, so I''m sure a lot of the people know about it." That was the end of Catherine''s story. Jin looked next to her and saw that Zion''s body was shaking slightly. He whispered in a whisper, "Calm down.) She whispered in a whisper and lightly tapped him on the shoulder. Sion came back to himself and raised his face. "Lucas, it''s all right." No one would know what he was talking about with those short words. But only Lucas, who had known Zion for a long time, understood the meaning of those words. Lucas was to be commended for his short temper, for he had obeyed his master''s orders and had not spoken to him, even after all this time. "Um, the Dukes of Lafayette, ......?" "Yes, my son. My husband is dead and I''m retired. So please don''t be shy." Elsa changed the subject again. Although she is not a talkative person, she has more experience in this kind of situation than Jin, so she is dependable. "Oh, I heard that there are two duchesses in the Kingdom of Franz. Yes, that''s right. Roughly speaking, the eastern part of the country is divided into north and south, with the Lafayette family in the north and the Oranje family in the south. The roads belong to the state." You never know where this information will come in handy. Jin, Elsa, Zion, and Lucas ...... were not sure, but they decided to keep it in mind. "I hope you are feeling better now..." Elsa asked when the conversation was over. "Oh, thank you. My injuries are all better now. My knee has been hurting a little for a while now. "If you don''t mind, I''d like to see you." The former duchess gratefully accepted Elsa''s kind offer. Elsa pulls out a chair, turns around, and kneels down in front of Catherine to examine her. "<>" Elsa''s palm emitted a pale light, which was absorbed into Catherine''s knee. "Oh, I feel better!Thank you, Elsa." "No." That was a Shoro imperial chant, wasn''t it?It works wonderfully." Healers in this world use medical healing magic such as <> and <> for knee pain. In reality, most of the pains are caused by worn-out cartilage in the knee, so surgical healing magic is necessary. However, since Erza used the most appropriate healing magic based on the knowledge of the modern earth, the effect was very effective. The former duchess, who was further impressed by this, insisted that they stay the night, and Jin and his friends agreed to accept her request. "Thank you, Elsa. You''re a real piece of work, aren''t you? Jin thanked Elsa as he was shown into a luxurious guest room with two adjoining rooms. Reiko and Edgar made sure that there was no wiretap, and then they decided to discuss their thoughts. "I wouldn''t have been able to get as much information out of you as I did," she said. "Yes, I''m glad I could be of help. "The former duchess seems like a nice person. ...... Well, I don''t know how much she cares about the common people. The criticism was directed at the lavish meals, even for the benefit of the guests. "Well, it''s not my place to say anything about it, but I ate it without saying a word. "Well, it''s none of my business. It doesn''t help to say that in that situation. "Well, you know. ...... the politics of this country, but right now it''s about Zion and the others." Zion responded to Jin''s line. "......Erza, I appreciate that. But that bastard Kutaga is despicable!" Jin quieted Zion''s indignation. "I understand your anger. But please understand that even the human side has decided that we don''t know how much we can trust him. "......Uh, I know, I know. I heard that Marcosius was doing a lot of things with the humans too, so I guess the feeling is mutual." "Yeah, that''s all you need to know. I don''t mean to take your personal anger out on you. But Elsa''s father here was also a victim of Marcosias. "What?" "......" Well, technically he was tricked, not poisoned, but he is still a victim. "......Yes, that''s what happened. I can''t ...... say I forgive you, but I''m, ...... something, I''m sorry." Theon bowed his head toward Erza. Erza shakes her head lightly and says to Zion. "It''s okay. It''s not your fault. "Still, I didn''t want things to be unsettled. Besides, thanks to you I know a lot more now." "A numbing agent, if you will. If you can''t move your body, you can''t escape, even if you''re a demon. Jin''s muttering caught Zion''s attention. Jin, what are you going to do now? "Ah, tomorrow I''m going to buy some information from that Fernand. Depending on that, we''ll probably go to the capital, San Gelton. Then we can start planning our rescue. Without knowing where and how they were being held, there was no way to make a plan. Theon understood that. "If they captured him and didn''t kill him, it''s probably because they want information. At least I think he is alive. Jin said to cheer up Zion, whose face was clouded with worry. "Yes, I see. What kind of poison is it?Erza, can you cure the poison? "Yes. A little. It would be better if I knew what kind of poison it is. From the symptoms, I could imagine that it was some kind of nerve-paralyzing poison. That''s as far as Jin goes. We won''t know the rest until we act. "Since we''re here, let''s take our time. Jin said in as cheerful a voice as possible to the worried-looking Zion. * * * * > On the island of Horai, the old man let out a sigh-like grumble. The old man was lamenting the fact that he had eaten the food served to him without questioning it. That is one of the good things about you, Goshujin-sama. Because you trust others, they trust you, or they like you. "We are here to assist such a gentleman, aren''t we?" << Jin is lucky to have such a good group of people. 509 - - 15-22 Information No. 2 The next morning, after a late breakfast, Jin and the others left Catherine. "Please come back again. Catherine came to the door and saw them off. "She was a good person." "Yes." In the carriage that had been prepared for them, Jin and the others exchanged idle chatter. I will keep it vague, because it would be bad if the governor asks me about specifics. Jin and Erza could not help but wish each other good luck in their future relationship. "So, you''re going to meet this Fernand guy, right? Zion asked Jin. "Yes, we agreed to meet at the park in front of the hotel at noon. Jin was somewhat hopeful, since Panc and Viola had reported to Fernand last night that they had seen no suspicious behavior. Pance and Viola could bring Jin the same amount of information that Fernand had obtained, but since he did not know how useful they would be in the future, he decided to give them the remaining five gold coins for networking purposes. "Let''s go back to the hotel and start over. The carriage had just arrived in front of the hotel. Jin and the others got off the carriage. Elsa, who was the last to get off, thanked the hostess and gave her a gratuity. Jin thought to himself, "You are very good at this. "Well, it''s called a ''maid of honor''." Zion muttered to himself as he saw Erza running up to Jin and the others who had gotten off first. Jin didn''t seem to hear it, but Erza seemed to have heard it, and her cheeks turned a little red. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After an early lunch at the hotel, we went to the park. I told them to leave Hitoshi and Reiko alone, but neither Erza nor Zion listened to me, and as a result, they all came out together. "Oh, here they come. Hey, mister, come here, come here." Fernand had already arrived and waved to Jin and the others. He was already there and waved to Jin and the others. "You''re wearing nice clothes today," Jin pointed out. Jin pointed out, to which Fernand replied with a smile. Hehe, I paid for it with my advance. Some sources won''t even let me near some places if I look dirty. This was also reported by Pance and Viola, who were attached to him. Fernand is not lying. "Gosh, I''ve got some great information for you. Can you add a little color?" Fernand looked very pleased with his friend, and Jin gave him a condescending look, acting a bit like he was acting. "Depends on the information." Actually, Pance, Viola, the old man and Reiko, who were attached to Fernand, had already obtained the same information as Fernand knew, but Jin did not dare to ask them. "First of all, I heard that their names are Istaris and Netros. "Yeah, so?" The first step was passed. "They claimed to be demons and said they had something to tell us. Well, when the Enak deputy named Kutaga told them it was useless to listen to anything about demons, he set a trap for them and grabbed them. The second step is also passed. He seems to have gotten some accurate information. "At that time, they brought some magi crystals and gold as a gift, but the deputy put them in his pocket," he says. The third step is also passed. Fernand is honest and does not distort the information. "So, I heard that they were taken to the capital to interrogate them about the location of their stronghold, what they are planning, and how many soldiers they have..." So far, this information is consistent with what Catherine told me. Fernand really seems to be well-informed. "Here comes the problem. Even if they are using drugs, they are demons. We don''t know what kind of power they have. We also don''t know if our friends won''t come to our rescue. That''s why they moved the place. This was new information. Fernand''s additional explanation made sense. "So, where were they moved to? I''ll let you know after I get the reward money." "...... got it." Jin handed Fernand the five gold coins he had prepared in advance. He then flashed five more coins at him, "The number of additional coins will be determined by how useful the information is. Now, tell me." "Heh, okay. The place is in Genf, south of San Gelton. There''s a prison there. Genfu is a town about 50 km south of San Gelton, near Lake Asur, where there is a prison for thugs and political prisoners. "The wagon carrying the demons left yesterday afternoon, so it will probably arrive tomorrow evening. This was good information. Reiko, who was supposed to know the information that Panse and Viola had obtained, did not say anything. So Jin gave Fernand all five gold coins he had in his hand. "Wow!That''s great! You are a generous nobleman. If you need me in the future, I will be at that tower in the park. Fernand pointed to the tower supporting the sundial in the center of the park. "Put something blue under that tower, a handkerchief, a piece of clothing, anything!" "Okay. I''ll see you then. Thank you very much. Bowing his head, Fernand walked away. As he was leaving, "Oh, yes, I heard that there are ten soldiers and two knights accompanying the convoy. And this time he disappeared. (Father, it seems that he was not lying. (Father, it seems that he was not lying.) (This information is consistent with what Panc and Viola had.) (I understand...) Jin and Reiko whispered to each other and decided to go back to their hotel room to make a plan based on Fernand''s information. "Now that we know where Istaris and Netros are, we need to figure out how to get them back." "Why don''t we just attack that convoy?" Lucas is simple-minded to the point of being naive. "No, Lucas. If we do that we''ll only create more of a rift between the humans and the demons. "Yes, that''s right. ......" Sion seems to be taking the future of the two races into consideration. Jin does not think that he can fully trust the demons yet. He is rather wary of them. However, as for Zion, he felt that he could trust him to a certain extent. However, if we do not consider the individual and the group separately, trouble may occur unexpectedly. For now, he wanted to meet and talk with Istaris and Netros. "Is there any way to get them back that doesn''t involve a corner ......?" Jin thought about it. In the first place, the very idea of recapture was radical. The face of the Kingdom of Franz might be a factor. "It would be good if we could replace them with dummies. ......" I don''t know what they look like, so this line is impossible. "Brother Jin, why don''t we just pretend they''re dead?" "Oh, I see!" Jin agrees with Erza''s advice. "...... what are you going to do?" Zion looked worried. "Oh, let''s just say that ......>. Jin explains that the burnt corpses could be made by burning the materials of the demons. "The problem is how to prevent them from seeing the replacement. "Smoke screen? "No, Erza, there are too many uncertainties in that. Is there any better way to do this? ...... Why don''t we just kill the whole convoy? Hey, Lukas! Lukas expressed a radical opinion, and Zion rebuked him. Jin heard this and came up with an idea. "Well, let''s knock him out! Using a paralyzing gun (paralyzer), it should be possible to incapacitate them all unharmed. "Then, we should make it clear that the attacker is a human being. "And where to attack them." Elsa and Jin make a rough plan. The old man will help them work out the details. "We should also think about how and where we will escape to after we rescue them. As Zion listened to Jin and Erza''s discussion, his face gradually brightened. Just by listening to them, he could tell that they were going to be able to rescue his sisters. "All right, I''ll leave the rest to you. The old man, who was a fast thinker, was better suited for the details and the choice of time. Jin himself decided to think about what would happen after he helped them. Theon did not understand the word Jin used, but he was finally relieved to know that the plan seemed to work. 510 - - 15-23 As per Operation On August 9, Jin and the others left the H?tel Len?re. "So, Jin, what are you going to do?" Sion looked doubtful. Of course they should, since the towns of Loron and Genf are more than 70 kilometers apart in a straight line. There is no way we can catch up with the convoy by carriage. "Oh, don''t worry about that. I won''t tell you how. You didn''t tell us everything, did you?We have our secrets. You have to understand that. But we''re gonna get your sister out." "......" Okay, okay. This time, Jin doesn''t want to hurt you. He does not want to be blamed at first glance, and he does not want to risk his own life. So for the time being, Jin was going to return to the Klein Kingdom from the Franz Kingdom. He arrives at the gate by the reverse route. After the same screening and confirmation, he was given the same cuffs and passed through without any difficulty. We passed through the gate on the side of the Kingdom of Klein without any problem with the certificate of Jin, just as we had done on the way there. "I wonder if the certificate is very effective or if the management is too loose," was Jin''s impression. This is Jin''s impression. * * * * * * At 13:00 on the same day, we arrived at the midpoint between the towns of St. Fosse and Genf in the Kingdom of Franz. There are no houses around, and coniferous forests continue. A road about 5 meters wide stretched undulatingly from north to south. The road is unpaved and dusty. Ten soldiers and two knights were advancing around a covered wagon. "It''s less than ten kilometers to go, so we should be there in two hours. "Ah, at last we will be rid of these d*mned demons! "We''ll go to a whorehouse when we get to Genf. The soldiers were walking around the carriage with the cages on it, talking like this. And then... "Wait!" A suspicious figure appeared in front of them. There were five of them. Thieves? Idiots. I don''t have anything of value. But they were not bandits. They were a convoy carrying demon tribe members. Let''s hand them over. What?What are you people? Let''s just say we''re enemies of the demon tribe. Please hand them over quietly. The leader of the group steps forward. His face is obscured by the robe he wears. But I could catch a glimpse of the breastplate he wore underneath. "Is that a coat of arms ......?Are you ...... a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Celuloa? A knight questioning the crest stepped forward. "We''re transporting you on official business. We cannot turn you over. If you interfere further, we will remove you by force. We''ll have to ask you to leave as soon as possible." "That''s fun!Let''s do it! One of the five, who identified himself as one of the demons and their opponents, raised his voice. But the leader of the group, who seemed to be the leader, said calmly "It can''t be helped. If you don''t hand him over to us, we will condemn him right here and now. Before he could finish his words, the ten soldiers and two knights in the convoy fell to the ground without uttering a sound. "< This is Skye 1. No sign of anyone within a two-kilometer radius. < Regulus 41 copy. Regulus 41 approaches the convoy himself and carefully pulls down the top. "<>" Inside the cage, two demons, who looked to be about 17 or 8 years old, were lying unconscious. "<>" Regulus 41 activates the magical tool that Jin gave him. "......<> malfunction. Demon tribe." Yes, since Zion and the others could not be trusted to check their faces, another characteristic of the demons, <>, did not work (only meaningless content could be read), and this was confirmed. <> "< The VTOL Falcon 1 descended. Regulus 41 searches the fallen knight''s body for the key to the cage and opens it. Regulus 42 and 43 carried out the two demons, and were replaced by dummy dolls prepared in advance by 44 and 45 carried in the dummy dolls they had prepared in advance. The stunned demons were carefully handled, with their magijammers pointed so that they could be used at any time, and sent into Nido Castle using the warp gate of Falcon 1. At Nido Castle, 20 army golems are waiting for him and guarding him, and he is put down in the guest room on the second floor. >. The old man ordered the wagons to be oiled and then set on fire. The wooden wagon quickly burst into flames. The stunned soldiers around the wagon were moved far enough away from the fire to avoid being burned. Eventually the fire was extinguished and all that remained were ashes and an iron cage. Inside the cage were what appeared to be two charred corpses. They were, of course, dummy cinders made of demon material. Since most of them are ashes and charcoal, it is hard to recognize them as fakes. Regulus and the others used the warp gate of Falcon 1 to return to Horai Island. They will be reassigned to their new posts. Then Falcon 1 took off with invisibility deployed and set a course to Horai Island. The breastplate worn by Regulus 41 was engraved with a coat of arms similar to that of the royal family of Celuloa, in order to intentionally mislead the audience. The town on the border of the Kingdom of Klein, the city of Regulus 41, is located in the southwest part of the country. Jin drove his carriage a little north from Storsk, a town on the border of the Kingdom of Klein, and found an airship managed by Steward. Steward, thank you. Now let''s go back to the village of Kaina. "Jin, Jin, hey, hey!Are you going to leave without doing anything?" said a disgruntled-looking Zion in a panic. "What?You got the information, didn''t you?" "You got information?" he said, "I didn''t just get information from ......!" But Jin laughed and told Zion. "Don''t worry, I''ll save your sisters for now. I''ll take care of it." "U....... Are you sure about that? Yes. So let''s hurry home. "I don''t know what the is, but ......" After such an exchange, Jin and the others boarded the airship. The return trip was the reverse of the outward journey, and they arrived at Nido Castle in about two hours. The time difference is about one hour, so it was about 2:00 PM. At about the same time, Istaris and Netros arrived at the castle. "Welcome home, Master Gin! Barrow greeted them. "There was a visitor in the guest room on the second floor, but I don''t know what happened to him, since Master Jin told us that he did not need us to come. Is that all right?" "Oh, I see. Just in time. Barrow, don''t come into the guest room until I say so. "Yes, I understand." Theon and Lucas do not understand what the conversation is about. Erza, on the other hand, was not surprised because she knew what the old man had done based on Jin''s instructions. "Zion, Lucas, you''ll find out anyway when you get there. Jin walked quickly with Reiko. Sion and Lucas hurriedly followed them. The guest room on the second floor. Reiko opened the door. Jin is behind Reiko. Reiko, not wanting to put Jin in danger, insisted on this. "Welcome home, Master." Lando 1 greeted the two demons on the futon, keeping watch in the name of nursing. "Sister!" Zion shouted loudly when she saw the lying demoness and ran into the room and clung to the female demoness who was still not waking up. "Why!" How many questions were contained in those words? Zion looked at Jin and then at his sister who was lying on the floor, tears spilling down her face. "She looks so much like Zion." The female demoness, probably Istaris, had silver hair the same color as Sion''s, and her skin was white as if it had fallen out, while the other man, probably Netros, had dark brown hair and dark skin, just like Lucas. "Is it the drugs that are keeping him awake, or is it ......" Jin swallowed the line, "Is it the paralyzing gun? But Rand 1 understood what he meant and quickly answered. "I think it''s both. Then it was Erza''s turn. "Well then, Elsa, please examine and treat the patient. "Yes, okay." Erza stepped forward and gently pulled Zion away from Istaris, who was clinging to her, and turned the covers over for examination. "What? ......" "That''s terrible ......." "Hey, sis. ......" Istaris was wearing nothing but a tattered piece of cloth that could hardly be called clothing. Her exposed skin was covered in bruises and dried blood that had dried and hardened. 511 - - 15-24 Treatment and Nursing Netros was in an even worse state. In addition to bruises and wounds covering his entire body, the bones in both legs were shattered and all the nails on his extremities had been removed. Nurse Alpha and Beta had given him first aid when they brought him to Nido Castle, so neither of them was in any danger of death. But... "...... is too much." As expected, Erza was furious. "You can''t confuse the individual with the race. I understand that now. "Yes, you''re right. Erza is right. We''re gonna have to fix him anyway. huh? Erza was about to use her healing magic when... "Wait, Erza. You should use this." Jin held out a healing tool that Reiko had gotten for him. "Oh, this is ......." This is the same tool that was used in the case of <> before. It was on loan to Licia and the others. Since <> consumes a lot of magic power, we can reduce the burden by borrowing the assistance of a magical tool. In this case, the fact that the magic tool can only use healing magic of the internal medicine type is not an obstacle. It is the magic power that is used. <>" First is Istaris. As a pale light envelops her, the discoloration of her skin due to internal bleeding is restored, and the cuts are closed. This is the result of the combination of Elsa''s imagery and the magic tool''s ability. "...... wow ......" Zion, who was looking on, was also transfixed. Within a few dozen seconds, Istaris'' skin had returned to a clean, stain-free state. Her labored breathing seems to have calmed down considerably. "Next, this way." Elsa heals the broken bones and then uses . She is already an experienced healer. Netros seems to have healed almost completely. The hard part is the poison. "Yes, I agree. ...... Reiko, can you help me?" "Yes, father. " Reiko analyzes the toxins in the body. Reiko is better at this kind of work. Reiko does the same with Netros, analyzing the toxins. "...... got it. It seems that sulfur dioxide was used." Sulfur dioxide, a volcanic gas, is also produced when sulfur is burned and was previously inhaled by Saki. It affects the lungs and causes respiratory failure. The robust body of the demon tribe was the only thing that could withstand it. "You used a terrible thing. You didn''t care if you died." In this world, chemistry is not well developed and there is no chloroform or dimethyl ether as an anesthetic gas. Sulfur dioxide, or sulfurous acid gas, is a poisonous gas that can be produced by burning sulfur, so it must have been known in Franz''s kingdom. "Then there is a residue in the stomach that could be mushrooms," Jin immediately thought of the mushrooms. Jin immediately thought of poisonous mushrooms. Some of them have a poison that causes unconsciousness and are used as a numbing agent in this world as well. "Okay. Thank you, Reiko. >" Elsa had previously extracted the toxin from the arsenic-infected liver of Marquis Gehlen Theodoric, but this time she used entogiften. This is the highest level of magic to decompose toxins remaining in the body. Based on developed by Sally, and of engineering magic are incorporated, and Erza has combined them into the highest level of detoxification magic. Her growth can be seen. "......<>" After decomposing the poison, the highest level of internal medicine magic is applied. This should have cured the bodies of the two lying down. It will take a few more days for the lost strength and the removed nails to return, but the organ failure caused by the poison should be gone. "Sister ...... Netros ......" Zion looks worriedly at the two who have yet to regain consciousness. Jin decides to leave them in the care of Zion and Lucas. "Give them this little by little to replenish their mana," he said. He also prepared a bottle of Persica juice specially made in Horai Island and left it by their bedsides. Jin instructed Land 1 to be even more vigilant. "Looking at Zion, I don''t think we need to worry so much, but after what he went through, we can''t be too careful. After all that torture, it''s not surprising that he''d come to hate humans. "Hey, Erza, I wonder if we''ll ever be able to stop fighting. Jin unintentionally complained to Erza who was standing by him. "......Yeah, it''s sad, but..." Erza also knows the outline of the world where Jin was. But even there, tensions between nations have not disappeared, and local conflicts have never ceased. "I don''t like to think of it as human, though." Erza seemed to agree with Jin. "I can see why the previous generation holed themselves up on Horai Island. How fun it would be to live on an island with like-minded friends, making whatever you want. But Jin has made many connections in this world. "We just have to prevent Kaina village from being attacked. ......" Jin jumped to Horai Island with Erza. He took Reiko and Edgar with him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "A weapon that disables magic?How is it different from a magic jammer? "The Magijammer interfered with the effects of chanting, but what I''m thinking of now is a weapon that could drown out magic itself. Jin presented the idea he had been thinking about for some time. "It would be great if we could do that. But how? Erza had no idea. "Oh, well, let''s see, for example ......." The wind created by wind magic is a local phenomenon. This is only possible because the power to manipulate air molecules exists. The same goes for water magic. It is possible only because there is a force working on water molecules. The same goes for fire magic. The phenomenon of fire is air heated to a high temperature, and the heat is the result of the conversion of magical elements (mana). But it is still the that makes it fly or spear. Finally, it is the same power that digs holes and crushes rocks with earth magic. "What do you think this is?" Jin asks Reiko and Erza. His face had a mischievous smile on it. "...... I don''t know." "...... give up." Both of them raised a white flag because they couldn''t figure it out no matter how much they thought about it. "I think it''s some kind of telekinesis," he said. Invisible and able to change direction and size at will. In other words, a power that can be manipulated by telekinesis. Without it, it''s almost impossible to say that magic would not exist. "Indeed. Erza thought that even in the case of healing magic, it might be fair to say that it is this that determines which part of the magic works. "Telekinesis sounds a bit fishy in my world, so I guess we could call it <>." Telekinesis = spirit. "......Yes, I understand." "So, coming back to the subject, I was thinking that the medium transmitting this mental power is free magical element (ether). "I understand. Brother Jin is really great. "Father, you''re amazing!" Edgar was silent. Unfortunately, his control core is not up to the task. "I wish I could understand the principle of how mental power is generated from the magician and transmitted as magic, if not understand it, then grasp the phenomenon. At this point, Jin stated his own theory. "A magician has his own mana in his body. This mana can be changed at will. Just as the vocal cords tremble to produce voice, and the voice travels through the air as sound waves. Magic is also kneaded in the magician''s body and transmitted through space. "At this time, I am thinking that the medium for magic to be is also ." "Yes, that may be so. Jin-kun, you''re very good. I turned around at the sound of his voice and there he was, Toa Eschenbach. Stellina was with him. I agree with you. "Jin, if you have such an interesting story to tell, you should invite us. At the suggestion of Toa and Stearina, Jin scratched his head and decided to reiterate the conversation. 512 - - 15-25 DISTURBANCE DEVICE Jin contacted Reinhardt and the others as a matter of course. Naturally, Reinhardt wanted to drop his work and come, but Bertsche admonished him and he gave up crying. "But tell me the results in detail! Bertsche admonished him, but he refused in tears. * * * * * ...... is my guess. In front of Erza, Saki, Toa, Stearina, and Vivian, Jin once again presented his theory. "Hmm, Jin, you say that the free magical element (ether) is not only the element of magic, but also the medium that transmits magic and spiritual power! Saki was the first to react. "That''s right. That''s why I''ve been thinking about how to free the free magical element (ether). "Hmm. First of all, we need to make sure that the free magical element (ether) is really a medium for transmitting magical and spiritual power. This is Toa. This is a researcher''s opinion. . The old man''s voice echoed here. It is a known fact that the north has more free magical element (ether) and the south has less free magical element (ether). The information from the old man confirmed Jin''s theory. "It''s no wonder that it transmits magic power. But mental power?I wonder if there is ...... any such thing or not." Stearina is skeptical about mental power. "Yes, but that''s not what matters now." Elsa pointed out. Yes, now we are not talking about discussion, but about making a magical . "Yes, that''s right. I''d like to study the one about mental power too. Thor seemed interested. "Then, what do you need to interfere with magic, Jin? "I think we need to find out at least the principle of how magic works." "...... that''s easy for you to say, Jin." Saki looked a little stunned at Jin''s answer. Jin, however, continued. << The amount of mana is reduced by use, but it recovers slowly. It is thought that mana is stored in each cell. Mental power acts on this mana to make it magical power. Since mental power is involved, there is a difference (individuality) in each person''s mana and magical power. Magic is activated by utilizing the surrounding free magical element (ether). The total amount of mana a person possesses determines the upper limit of magic he can use. Jin went further with his theory, saying ....... "Hmmm. In short, the power that works on free magic element (ether) is magic power, and magic power is drawn from magic element (mana) by mental power, right?" Toa briefly summarized Jin''s theory. "Yes. The defined here is the power that acts on free magical element (ether). And it is possible that they are manipulating the free magical element (ether) in various ways and causing various phenomena. "As far as I''m concerned, I have no reason to disagree. It makes sense. "Based on that theory, a disruptor?You mean to build one, right? Erza''s comment brought the discussion back to the main point once more. Yes, the primary purpose of this meeting is to develop a disrupter, not to thoroughly understand the phenomenon of magic. We must not lose sight of our purpose. "Free magic element (ether) and magic element (mana) influence each other, that''s for sure. This is also true of Elsa. Elsa is not so good at making hypotheses, but she seems to be good at summarizing the main points. "The mana refined in my body can be manipulated at will. This is due to mental power. Are we good so far?" Yes, that''s right. Then, isn''t it possible to convert that mana back into free magic element (ether) again? "I see. ......" Jin thought that this direction might be practical without going into the essence of magic. "One more thing. There is a barrier. Is that a mana-based barrier? "I see. ......" Elsa is able to get to the essence of things without getting hung up on the minutiae. This may be a hidden talent. A barrier is a boundary that forces the free magic element (ether) in the air to by magic power. In this case, free magic element (ether) can be compared to cement and air molecules to sand or gravel. In other words, the barrier is concrete. Incidentally, in a vacuum, a barrier would be made of only cement, i.e., only free magic element (ether). In other words, the quasi-solidified free-magic element (ether) would be strong enough to prevent Reiko''s attack. "...... Jin, did you come up with something?" Erza, seeing the change in Jin''s expression as he thought, spoke. A few words, which could be called Erza''s keywords, seemed to have given Jin some ideas. "For example, there is the fire magic <>. This magic converts mana into heat energy, which turns the heated air into flames and sends it flying. Let''s take this as an example. Jin explains that there are several possible ways to disable this magic. "First. It does not allow the user to supply free magic element (ether)." Naturally, magic will not work because mana cannot be generated. The second is to convert mana back into free magic element (ether). The second is to convert mana back to free magic element (ether). You could call it a canceller. "The third is the magijammer that is now in practical use. It interferes with the triggering of the chant and prevents the creation of mana." "Yes. I understand... if we exclude the third one, which one is better, the first or the second one?" "That''s something we''ll find out when we examine the method." Jin''s comment, "We''ll see what happens when we study the methods," led to the selection of the more feasible method. "How can we prevent them from supplying free magic element (ether)? "Eliminate free magic element (ether)? "No, that''s absurd, isn''t it? This one seems to be impractical, regardless of its principle. "Then, how about converting mana back to free magic element (ether)? "If mana is generated from free magic element (ether) by mental power, why don''t we interfere with that mental power? "No, I''d rather ......." Toa, Stearina, Saki. They came up with various ideas. Jin had a good time. The thought crossed his mind that he wished this kind of time could last forever, but he decided that now was not the time for that. "We may not be able to get rid of the free magic element (ether), but we may be able to put it under our control. According to Jin''s theory, the magician''s magical power interferes with the surrounding free-magic elements (ether) to create magic. Before that, he wants to bring the free magical elements (ether) under the control of his magical power. "I understand the principle, or rather what you want to do. ......" Thore tilts his head. "That would require an enormous amount of magical power, wouldn''t it?" Saki seems to agree with her father. "No, not really. There is a magical device (Magi Device) called the Aether Converter, which is installed in Reiko and the other Horaijima residents, and it also has the function of working on and collecting free magical elements (ether) in the surroundings. "If you consume a lot of magic power to collect free magic elements (ether), it''s a complete waste of time." Erza added. "I see, that makes sense." Toa nodded in agreement. "We can expand this range and interfere with the free magical element (ether). We don''t have to attract all of them, but if we can bring them under our control, we''ll be all set. "Do you think it will work that way?" Stearina is still skeptical. "Proof is better than proof, let''s try an experiment. Jin instructed Reiko to set the output of the ether converter to 100%. "Yes, father." "Now most of the free magic element (ether) around Reiko should be < by her Aether Converter. Jin says, "You''ll see if you can do any big magic in that state. "I annotated ''big'' because there must be some extra free magic element (ether) left over. "Yes, I''ll take care of it then. " < Stearina tried to remove the impurities from the magi stone in her pocket ....... "Oh, really. It doesn''t work very well. She noticed that the activation was slow and time-consuming. "I see. I think I can make this work, the disrupter." He seemed to see a ray of light. 513 - - 15-26 Confusion "And I think you get the idea." Jin let Reiko''s output drop to normal. "I know this from my own experience, Reiko." "Yes, when I was searching for my missing father, I once went to a place that was obviously in the north. The concentration of free ether was so high there that my magic became three times more powerful. From this, we can hypothesize that the same amount of magic power could be used because there was more free magical element (ether) available," Jin concluded. "I understand. That''s what Jin-kun is all about." "I admire your ideas, Jin-kun. "I never get bored with you, Jin-kun. Everyone was impressed. Jin scratched his head in embarrassment. "Well, well, that''s why I''m going to try to build a disruptor based on this," he said. "Well, I''ll help you." "We''ll be watching you, Mr. Magecraft Meister," he said. * * * * The prototype was completed in a relatively short time, since it could use the same magical control flow (magi sequence) used in the ether converter. "I''m tempted to say, ''......, what, it''s already done?I''m tempted to say, "It''s already done?" Vivienne raised her voice with a hint of exasperation. "I know how you feel, Vee, but this is Jin-kun." It was still light outside, so they decided to conduct the experiment in the plaza in front of the laboratory. The prototype was simply a magical crystal with a magical formula written on it. Jin uttered the key word. "<>." The effective range should be about 10 meters radius around Jin. "......Yeah, it feels a little strange when I get close to Jin-kun. Is this because of the free magic element (ether)?" "You can try. <>...... can''t ......." Erza, standing alongside Jin, tried to fire a <> into the sky, but the magic did not work. "Success!......Erza, could you call Edgar for me?" "Yes. Edgar, come here. Following Elsa''s voice, Edgar approached and suddenly his movements became sluggish. "......free-magic-element(ether)insufficient......movement......fury......U ......" "<>" Jin hurriedly deactivated the prototype disruptor. With that, Edgar''s movements returned to normal. "Thank you, Elsa. Now we know that it works on automata as well. That means that the magic tools will not work either. "Reiko can move, why?" Reiko looked unconcerned behind Jin. "Oh, that''s because the free magical element (ether) that this has under its control is subject to < magical power." Reiko, the other golems, and the old man all have the same kind of magic power as Jin. That is to say, they have the same frequency. "So, it doesn''t matter if the disruptor is working or not for my creations." This is huge. With this, I can use magic and magical tools while blocking my opponent''s magic. "Now it''s just a matter of how to use it. A spherical shape centered on the disruptor is basic, but it should be directional and its range can be widened or narrowed, right?" Brother Jin, you''re looking a little tense. "Jin really likes crafts, doesn''t he?" Jin looked at Erza and Saki as if they were smiling at him. "But this is not a , is it?" "Ah..." "Indeed." Dad is right. Toa makes a good point. <. "...... hmmm, let''s call it a free-magic element jammer, <>." "Yes, that would be consistent with its function. Thus, the <> was named the <>. The <> was completed that day. Mass production was started immediately, and Reiko, Lao Tzu, the Secret Maneuver Force (SP), and the 5th Row (Quinta) were equipped with it in that order. Eventually, all golems on Horai Island will be equipped. The old man declared that he would give priority to the 5th column (Quinta). "Now we have to find a way to prevent this. Who said that if you build a weapon, you should also think about how to prevent it? "Will you think about it, too?" This time, it was Jin who could not go that far due to lack of time. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Early the next morning, Jin and Reiko moved to Nido Castle with their new equipment. "Butler, how are you doing?" asked Butler B, who had just met them, "Yes. He seemed to have regained consciousness once, but it was short-lived and he seems to have lost consciousness again. I haven''t checked on him yet this morning. He replied, "I haven''t checked on him yet this morning. Jin then went to the guest room where Zion and the others were. "Zion, it''s Jin. May I come in?" When he called out at the door, Zion''s voice answered "Come in" from inside. I''ll come in." Jin enters. He touches the in his pocket in case of emergency. "How are you feeling?" "Yeah, he''s doing much better. He hasn''t regained consciousness yet, but his breathing is normal and his color is better. "Well, that''s good." As we were having this conversation, Istaris'' mouth moved. "My Lady!Istaris-sama!" Lucas''s voice made Zion turn to his sister. "My sister!My sister!" "......Si......on......?" The closed eye lids slowly opened. Istaris'' eyes were the same clear light blue as Zion''s. "It''s me!It''s me!I need you! Jin gently pats Zion''s shoulder as she clings to him, and hands her a glass of Persian juice. "Oh, yes!...... sister, drink this!" She puts the sucker to Istaris'' mouth and she drinks it, albeit slowly. "Delicious ......." Istaris drank the whole bottle and seemed to feel much better. "Zion ...... is that you?" "Yes sister, it''s me!Netros is here too. It''s all right now!" "What?What?I''m I ...... am ...... so,caught,......." Istaris''s face became distorted as she looked at him. "Oh, oh, oh,...... no, no, no, no, no, no, no!" Istaris scratched his face with both hands. As she does so, her cheeks are covered in red welts. "Hey, sis!Sister!" Her body trembles convulsively, and even Xion can''t control it. I can''t! Hyperventilating, he choked, breathing hard, and still clawing at his face. Reiko! "Yes. ......<" Jin, who couldn''t bear to look at Istaris, ordered Reiko to paralyze Istaris with <>. "Hey, sis. ......" Istaris lies with a bloody face. Jin ordered Butler B to prepare a clean cloth and wiped his face. He then casts and . This is the greatest healing magic Jin can do, but in this case it was enough. Looking at Istaris lying there with her wounds healed and her face clean, Zion mutters something to her. "My sister ...... what in the world ...... is going on?" "Please don''t ask her." Netros, who had been awake for some time, muttered. 514 - - 15-27 Betting "Netros, are you all right?" Zion asked worriedly, and Netros nodded, raising his upper body from the floor. "I''m fine. I''m fine, but I''m afraid I''m not good enough, and I''m afraid I''ve caused Istaris to suffer like that. "What happened?" But Netros shook his head quietly. "I can''t ...... tell you that. I can only say that you were treated in a way that is unspeakable." "......" Jin clapped Zion on the shoulder. "You''d better not go any further." Netros looked at Jin, "Who are you?" Netros looked at him and asked, "Who are you? "This is Jin. He saved me and Lucas. And when I heard that you and your sister had been tricked into captivity, I asked him to rescue you. Theon explained briefly what had happened. "I see. Thank you, Jin-dono. Netros looked as if he did not fully trust Jin after what had happened to him, but he seemed to be satisfied with what Zion had said. "He said he would share the food with us, and more importantly, he is a Magecraft Meister!I''m sure he''ll be able to save us. "A Magecraft Meister? Netros seems to know about the title. "The great ......... no, you''re not that man, are you?" "Yes, that''s right. Humans are much shorter-lived than we are. It''s ......, isn''t it, Jin?" The last line was directed at Jin. Jin nodded broadly. "Yes. I''m the second generation Magecraft Meister. "I see......... after what happened to me, I don''t trust humans, but maybe I can ...... trust Magecraft Meister." It seems that the title "Magecraft Meister" has a special meaning to the magical people. Jin was curious about this, but he decided that now was not the time to pursue it. "......What should we do with Istaris? ......" She has been through a traumatic event and will be delirious again when she comes to her senses. Theon is also worried about his sister, forgetting that he had questions he wanted to ask her, such as why she had come to the human world without his knowledge, and he looks worried. "Time makes us forget, that''s the standard." Jin muttered to himself. Then he got a hint from what he muttered to himself. "Well, ...... Zion, stay with your sister. I''m going to leave for a while." "What?"What? You have a better idea? "Yeah, but I don''t know if it''ll work. Don''t get your hopes up too high. Jin then left the room and secretly flew to Horai Island. "What do you think, old man?" "Is it ...... that one?" < "But what does it mean when it has the same physical structure as a human?" << "If there were, would ...... be able to do something about it?" . After this discussion with the old man, Jin decided to go back to Nido Castle. He returned to Nido Castle to discuss the matter with Zion. In the drawing room, Istaris was still lying unconscious. "Ah, Jin, how was it? "Well, I can''t guarantee that it''s perfect, but I think I found a way to fix it. "What kind of method?" "...... but first I have to ask. Do you have any kind of magic that can erase memories? "What?...... should have it. ...... I see!You want to erase my sister''s memory?" Yes, Jin has come up with a cure to erase the memories of the torture by using the forbidden magic <>. This Amnesia can only erase old memories retroactively, starting from the newest, not selectively. Fortunately, since the time between his capture and rescue must have been a long period of time when he was mostly unconscious, the possibility of a discrepancy in the continuity of his memories was small. "I see. So you are saying that if I erase the memory of being tortured, I won''t be in that frenzied state?" Theon and Netros seemed to understand, while Lucas looked as if he did not understand. "What do you think, Theon?" "......" Zion seems to have some idea of the dangers of messing with memories. What if he failed? If not, if Jin intentionally erased most of Istaris'' memories. There is no end to the doubts. As for Netroth, he would leave it to his own sister, Zion. "...... I''ve made up my mind. Jin, please. Please erase my sister''s memories of the torture. "Okay." Jin nodded broadly and ordered Nurse Alpha and Beta to carry Istaris out on a gurney. "I can''t treat him here, so I''m going to my secret base. Don''t worry, I''ll be right back. "Yes, I have no choice but to leave everything to Jin. I hope I can repay your trust. * * * * A bed is brought into the command center in the basement of Horai Island and Istaris is laid down. "Please, old man." Lao Tzu, his mobile terminal, places his right palm on Istaris'' forehead. <<<< knowledge transfer (transinfo)>>...... still has no effect>> "Well, it''s a difficult question. What is wrong with ......?" Jin pondering. "Thoughts......Mind......Brainwaves......Brainwaves?......Mr. Elder, did you have the data on the use of magic by the demon tribe?" "Check the magic patterns. Especially the frequency." "How''s it doing?" The answer from the old man satisfied Jin. "I see. I thought I might have guessed it, but my imagination was right. The demons have an abnormally high frequency in their magic pattern. Perhaps by an order of magnitude. < "Ah.... Let''s try to find the optimal frequency. In order to sample a waveform correctly, it is necessary to sample it at a frequency higher than twice the bandwidth of the waveform''s frequency components. For example, when music is sampled on a CD, it is done at 44.1 kHz, compared to the human audible frequency of 20 kHz. For example, music is sampled at 44.1 kilohertz, compared to the audible frequency of 20 kilohertz for humans. In the case of the demons, the frequencies of their magic power and mental waves were higher than those of humans, which means that they could not be read correctly by human magic. Based on this reasoning, the old man performed several to determine the best magic pattern to access. "I see." "We can ask Netros about that and he will be able to give us some idea. The question is whether it is possible to specify a date and time and process it to just that point. << As a result of Count Walter''s conspiracy, when the prisoners of Inad Mine attacked the village of Kaina, they were all incapacitated and the memory of how they were captured was erased. Jin thought of using the data from that time to erase the memories of Istaris up to the time of his torture. > "Yes, I will." Jin answered shortly and returned to Nido Castle to check with Netros. "Yes. I checked with Netros. <>,August 5th......>> The procedure itself took only a fraction of a second. <>. <> is a magic that eliminates the process of transferring information from <> to magecrystal. Since the information flows in an instant, it is meaningless to use it unless you have the processing power of an old man. <>......It''s okay, the memory of being captured on August 4th and onward has disappeared>> "Well, that worked. ......" Jin is relieved to have a load off his shoulders. "Alright then, let''s take Istaris back to Nido Castle." * * * * Jin!Did it work? As soon as they returned to Nido Castle, Zion asked Jin as if he had been trying to fill him in. "Yes, I remember August 4th, the day I was captured, but I don''t think I remember anything after that. "Do you think ...... this will work?" "I don''t know. But without painful memories, he will not be trapped in madness. The human heart is a profound thing, and it is quite possible that things will not turn out the way you want them to. But Jin bet on Zion''s heart for her sister. "She will wake up in less than an hour. Stay with her." "Okay." Jin-dono, I have a favor to ask. Yes? Netros, who had finally recovered enough to get up, called out to Jin. "Could you please erase my memory too ......?" 515 - - 15-28 Population and Food Conditions Jin was surprised when Netros asked to have his memory erased. "Yours?" "Yes. I know ...... what Istaris went through. If Master Istaris doesn''t have those memories anymore, I probably shouldn''t have them either." "I guess that''s the way it is. ...... but memory is experience. You''re an escort, right?It''s bad enough that you can''t learn a lesson from this, isn''t it?" "That''s true, but ......." If you erase the memory of this time, it is quite possible that you will make the same mistake. "In ......." After thinking for a moment, Netros opened his mouth again. "It was me who was hurt first. Since I didn''t tell them anything, they can ...... me to erase the memory of what Istaris did to him." "Hmmm... ......." Jin then offered his opinion, but Netros would not back down any further. Jin did not fully agree, but he understood how Netros felt about his master, Istaris. "I''m going to ask you one last time. Are you sure?" "Yes. Yes, by all means. "I understand. If that''s what you want. Thank you. So he instructed Reiko to paralyze Netros and put him on a stretcher carried by Nurse Alpha and Beta again, and Jin returned to Horai Island. "So, please take care of him, old man. >. The old man welcomed this procedure because it would provide him with more data on the magical frequency of the demon tribe. After measuring the magic frequency and confirming the memory, the memory was erased and then confirmed. >. Thanks for your help. I don''t like to do this process too much. If I tell you to do something, do not accept it the first time. Always listen to the reason, make your own judgment, and reconfirm it if you feel something is not right." Jin instinctively felt aversion to the act of erasing someone''s memory. "A memory is a proof of a person''s life. It''s not something that others should feel free to play with. ......" The old man caught and memorized those words. By the way, when he checked his memory, he had a general idea of how they were treated and what they said to each other. (It''s a relief that they didn''t do anything to trample on women''s dignity. ...... for both sides) I should add that "for both sides" means, of course, for Istaris, but also for Jin''s retaliatory measures against the Kingdom of Franz in case he finds out about it. * * * * Netros also returned to Nido Castle, and the only thing left to do now was to wait for him to notice. Zion looks at the two of them with a frown and anxious look on his face. And then ....... Half an hour passes, and Istaris'' eyelids quiver and her eyes open. "Sister?" "Sio ......?Is that you? "Yes sister, it''s me!Are you all right? Istaris'' eyes fluttered as he lay there. "Yes, I think I felt sick after eating, my arms and legs went numb ...... and I don''t remember the rest." "You were tricked and poisoned, my sister. She was caught with Netros and ...... but she''s all right now." Jin stands by and watches Istaris. So far, he shows no signs of panic. It seems to have worked. Jin patted his chest. "You saved me?" "Yes. I mean, the one I asked for..." Zion introduced Jin. "This is Jin Nido. He is a Magecraft Meister and he helped me. And when I heard that your sisters had been captured, I asked him to help me. "I am Jin Nido, the second generation of the Magecraft Meister." Jin Nido bows lightly and introduces himself. "Well, you are a Magecraftsman, aren''t you?" Istaris looks at Jin with respect when he hears that he is a Magecraft Meister. I was a little curious about what had happened between the previous generation and the demons, but I was still somewhat hesitant to ask. Besides, Istaris herself did not seem to have regained her strength yet. "Sister, you mustn''t exert yourself yet. You should lie down a little longer." "......Yes, I understand." Hearing Theon''s words, Istaris smiled a little and closed her eyes again. In the end, she recovered enough to talk to Jin later that evening. Netros was also aware of this, and when he saw that both of them were able to get up on the futon, Jin decided to listen to what they had to say. Thank you very much for your help. "Thank you very much for your help." On the futon, Istaris bowed to Jin. "My name is Istaris of Morura, sister of Zion. Theon has told me all the details. I am very sorry for the trouble I have caused you. Istaris looks as ladylike as Zion when we first met. Jin wondered if this was the land. Jin-sama, is that correct?You are the Magecraft Meister, right? I believe you already know our situation. Please help us. Netros, who was standing next to me, opens his mouth. He, too, is still on the futon. "......Mr. Istaris, this is Netros, your escort. I''m asking you for a favor. Please help me. Since he has erased his memory since August 5, he does not remember the exchange with Jin, so Netros greets him again. Unlike Lucas, Netros was polite. "That''s the plan from the beginning, but is there anything else you can tell me other than what Zion told me?" At Jin''s words, Istaris thought for a moment, but then seemed to make up his mind. "It''s not reasonable to ask for ...... assistance and not tell you how many people we have." "Sister!" "...... It''s all right, Theon. If you are going to help us with food, it is something we will have to talk about at some point. Istaris quieted the flustered Zion, who looked straight into Jin''s eyes and answered. It is only natural if we are going to ask for help. We can''t make a plan if we don''t know how much we will need. "...... Our clan is about fifty people. The whole demon tribe has a little more than a thousand people. "That few?" Jin was surprised. Indeed, this may be the best-kept secret in the tribe. "Yes. "Yes. Originally, there were not so many of them. It was said to be 20,000 before the as you call them. The Aether Stampede took the lives of that many demons. I was also able to ask him about the food situation in detail. Last year''s wheat harvest was 60% of the normal year''s crop, and this year it is expected to be less than half. "No matter how much we save, our reserves will run out by the end of September. And this year''s crop is not going to last the winter. Whether this is considered an impending crisis or a surplus is a matter of judgment. However, for the demon tribe concerned, it was definitely a desperate situation. After all, there was no way to replenish the food supply after it ran out. It can be said that they tried to make a plan while they still had food. "We know about the conflict between us and the human race. But right now, we want to bring back good news at any cost. ......" "Hmmm... ......." Jin folded his arms and thought. Istaris saw this and looked worried. "Um, Jin-sama?Are you thinking of stopping your assistance or something ......?" Jin stopped thinking and turned to Istaris. "Oh, no, it''s not that. I''m just wondering. ......" "Strange?" "Yeah, I guess so. ......Hey, Istaris, it''s okay that you and Zion split up, because you''ll have a better chance of getting things done if you negotiate in two places." "Yes." Istaris, or rather Zion, looked at Jin with a puzzled look on his face, not understanding what he was saying. "But, aren''t you crazy to suddenly call yourself a ?" "What?" "Really?" Istaris and Zion both looked stunned. "Well, I was the one who asked you about Zion''s case, but Istaris told you herself that she was a demoness, didn''t she?" "Yes, he did. "Why would he suddenly say such a thing if he didn''t know about his past of hostility with the humans?I don''t know much about diplomacy, but I wouldn''t do something like that." "That''s what my grandfather ......, the clan chief, told me, that you must not lie when negotiating." "Not to lie or anything, but didn''t you think it was dangerous to do that?" Jin was a little taken aback. He even wondered what the moderate clan leader was thinking. "In fact, they were being robbed of their belongings, poisoned, and almost taken to ...... prison, right?" Jin said a little harshly, and Istaris looked down. "I thought ...... that was a little strange, too. But it was my grandfather''s idea. ......" "No, I''m not asking you to lie. It''s just that I thought it would have been better to tell you later that I''m a demon." "......" Istaris looked down further. 516 - - 15-29 Capricorn "Well, let''s say that this is the policy of the demon tribe, or rather your clan," Jin continues. Jin continues. "...... is it also your clan''s policy to use your own sister as a decoy?" Jin could understand if the population was small and the clan valued its members, but to cut off not only the members of the clan but also the family members was something that he personally could not agree with. "......Yes, that''s right." Istaris, who had been lying face down, looked up and gazed at Zion, and this time bowed toward him. "I''m sorry, Theon. You were used as bait to distract the extremists." Istaris apologized to her sister. "The day after you left, Netros and I were given instructions as well. We were given gold and magi crystals so that we could buy food and also to use as bribes to the humans." "......" "Even though it was your grandfather''s decision, I''m sorry for making you guys take the dangerous bait." Again Istaris bowed his head. Although he had known it, it was still a bit of a shock for him to hear this from his beloved sister. However, considering the hardships and suffering that Istaris and the others had endured as a result, it was true that he could not blame them now. "...... It''s not your fault, sister. I''m done. ......After all, we did meet Jin and we did get a promise of help." "...... I agree. We, on the other hand, got caught and had our things taken away. ....... I feel like such an idiot." "Don''t. It''s not your fault. Theon hugged his sister tenderly. Istaris gently hugged her back. "Thank you, Theon." "......" Listening to the exchange between the two sisters, Jin was touched by their mutual affection and could not help but question the policy of their grandfather ......, the head of the clan. But even if he told them now, they would not come to a conclusion. Jin''s main concern is an all-out war with the demon tribe, although it may be from a humanitarian point of view. This must be absolutely avoided. Of course, this is for the safety of the village of Kaina. He could not save all human beings, but he wanted to protect the peace and tranquility of the village of Kaina, which was the first place to accept him and which he called his second home. And by erasing the memory of the torture, the grudge was also erased. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? From the human point of view, it may have been a good thing, but what about for Istaris? What about Istaris? Jin thinks, "I saved him. And he is strangely curious about the cause of this distortion. * * * * The day ends here, out of concern for Istaris'' health. However, the situation became much clearer during this meeting. Jin returned to Horai Island and consulted with the old man. "If there are 1,000 people, that is about 150 tons ......? ?" > "Should we aim for half?" <<> According to the survey of the 5th column (Quinta), there are surplus crops in the southern part of the Shoro Kingdom and the southern part of the Kingdom of Selroa. <<>. The reaction to the demons can be seen in the Kingdom of Franz. As a nation, it is not a bad thing to regard them as enemies in terms of the safety of its citizens. We are not going to keep on helping them forever and it is not good for them. "I heard that they brought gold and magi crystals as a gift." It is possible that the greedy mayor of Enak incapacitated the two men with poison and put the gift in their pockets. It was a clear indication of the local corruption in that country. "Well, Catherine, the former duchess, didn''t tell us about the gift, did she?" Fernand, the informant, was on to something. So, officially, there was no gift. > "Yes, an airship would be dangerous. Airplanes are another option, but they are so over-engineered that we are hesitant to show them to the demons for various reasons. How about a quadrupedal ground vehicle? Jin was thinking of something about the size of a small bus, based on the golem horse. Think of it as a four-legged version of the camper we built a while back. The old man agreed, so Jin decided to start the development of the four-footed car on the morning of the 11th. The morning of the 11th. Jin wakes up early and starts working on the car. "Let''s use austenitic stainless steel, which is resistant to low temperatures. Reiko, I''ll need austenitic stainless steel. Yes, Father. Austenitic stainless steel is often used for storing ultra-low temperature materials such as liquid helium, as it is less susceptible to low temperature brittleness. This time, Jin used 18-1-0 stainless steel with 18% chromium and 10% nickel as a base material. 0 stainless steel with 18 percent chromium and 10 percent nickel, to which 0.5 percent mithril silver has been added to give it magical power-enhancing properties. "The walking control should be a golem horse application." Although their sizes are different by an order of magnitude, they share the same behavior. "It''s just a torso, and I don''t need a head. He intends to build it entirely as a vehicle. "It should be able to accommodate about 10 people and carry luggage," he says. He does not seek to make it as comfortable as a camper. It is enough to be able to sleep with the seats in the bed. However, the air conditioning will be sufficient, and there will be a toilet and a simple shower. Excrement is sanitary because it is magically deodorized, sterilized, and decomposed. "Armed with a paralyzing gun (paralyzer), a magic cannon (magi cannon), a laser cannon, an ether jammer, and a magic jammer (magi jammer). I should also mount a mana bomb. In addition, you should have a manaphone, a barrier, and a magi-detector. A warp gate is also provided for emergency use. Finally, it is equipped with a gravity-controlled magic device. This device can resist and cancel gravity magic. With the help of Reiko and 30 Smith Golems, Jin completed the quadruped in 4 hours. The final test run. We let it walk on the slope from the front of the institute to Mount Horai. "Yes, it''s doing quite well. Maximum speed 70 km/h. The angle of ascent is 50 degrees. The length of the legs is 6 meters, the total length is 8 meters, and the total height is 8 meters. It can handle deep snow. The gravity-controlling magic device allows it to walk through muddy mud without sinking. "Nice work. I call it ......<>." It is Capricorn. He chose this name because wild goats often live in rocky places in the mountains. "Old man, I think it will be useful in Horai Island, so please make a few units of the same type as <>. I''m not in a hurry, though." . The first model that Jin worked on was labeled <> on its side. "Will you use the RAND team to do a thorough test of the Capricorn 1 for the rest of the day?" << "Yes, please." Jin decided that, given the condition of Istaris and Netros, they would be ready to go tomorrow, and he planned to spend the rest of the day testing them. "I''m going with my double, Reiko, Zion, Istaris, Lucas, and Netros. And ...... land 1. I''m in Horai Island myself." <<< If so, please bring your mini craftsman(smith) with you. He may be of some use to you. Following the old man''s recommendation, I decided to take 10 mini-craftsmen (smiths) with me. "What about Anne?" "Father, I think we should take them with us. Reiko spoke up, which was unusual for her. "You think so too? Good." She is the only automata in the Horai Island group who knows about the magic war. Jin decided to take Ann with him. After lunch, Jin called Anne, because he was a little worried about the situation as it was. He decided to strengthen her. "Goshujin-sama, you wanted to see me? "Anne, I would like to ask you to accompany me to the land of the demon tribe this time. And I''m not sure about its performance as it is now, so I''d like to strengthen it a little. "I understand. I will leave it to you. Thus, Jin began to strengthen Anne. The skeletal structure, magical muscles, and everything else was completely renewed. She has been improved to be able to use gravity magic as well as to have a sense of touch. An ether jammer is also added. Overall, we have given her about half of Reiko''s performance, and the enhancement has been completed. 517 - - 15-30 Lets go to the north. Anne has been reinforced and Jin has moved to Nido Castle. Butler B told him that Istaris and the others seemed to be in much better condition. Since there was no suspicious behavior, it was assumed that they were not lying in the slightest. Jin knocked on the room and opened the door when he heard a response. "Ah, Jin-sama!" Istaris greeted Jin. He was looking much better. Thanks to you, I feel much better. Her once translucent white skin now showed signs of blood. Her hair, which had been disheveled, was combed and hung down her back in a flowing style. "My specialty is ," she said, "but this is free magic. But I couldn''t use it here because of the low amount of free ether I have. However..." Istaris pointed to a bottle of Persica juice specially made in Horaijima, "Thanks to this drink, I can now use it. She smiled. There was no evil in his smile, and Jin was a little surprised. Upon closer inspection, Istaris is now wearing a yukata-like loungewear provided in the guest room. The collar was a little loose, revealing part of her ample breasts. Jin averted his eyes and tried not to look at her. "That''s good. Is Netros all right too?" "Yes, Netros is very sturdy, you know. You know?" Netros, who didn''t seem to talk much, nodded silently. "Ah, Jin. Have you come to visit me?" Then Zion and Lucas returned with fruit in their hands. These are delicious! It was Persica. He had brought a large amount of them from Horai Island, saying that they were nutritious and good for the sick. I''m glad you like it. Are you guys feeling better now? "Yes, thanks to you." Jin asked when they would be leaving. "Well,...... my sisters are feeling much better,...... but I''m sure they''ll be fine tomorrow." "Well, don''t push yourself too hard. Well, we shouldn''t push ourselves. Yes, that''s fine. Yes, that''s fine. Jin left the guest room. But the old man continued to keep an eye on the girls, making full use of the surveillance system installed in Nido Castle. "Hey, Zion..." "Yes?Sister... I''m really sorry. For using you as bait. Don''t worry about it, sister. I don''t have a choice in the matter. "But you know, I tricked you, my sister, into sneaking out and then we got caught. You were supposed to be ...... decoys, but you met Master Jin and he rescued you." "That''s enough. How many times have you told me that? I''m sorry ...... You''ve always been like that. Let''s see what happens. Now we can all go home together and you can help us. That''s all thanks to you. Oh my God, not again. Stop talking about it. We''re leaving tomorrow. Yeah, I know. How are we going to get north? Jin is a magecraft master. And he has a flying ship. I heard that''s true. But I hope the ...... extremists don''t get in the way." Yeah, that''s possible. Why can''t we understand each other? "If we can''t even get along with extremists, how can we expect to get along with humans?" It''s a sad thing, isn''t it? Hearing these conversations, the old man concluded that these women did not like to fight. Then came the morning of August 12. "Good morning, Istaris, Theon. Lucas and Netros too." Good morning, Mr. Jin. Good morning, Jin. After an early breakfast, it is 6:00 a.m. Jin (his double) comes with Reiko to pick up the four demons. "Jin, how are you going to go to the north?" Zion, who seemed to be curious, asked. Istaris and the others seemed to be the same, and their expressions showed that they were curious about Jin''s answer. "We have our feet on the riverbank. The girls had no luggage of any kind. They were literally without clothes ......, and Istaris and Netros were in the clothes Jin had given them. Therefore, I leave Nido Castle empty-handed. Barrow and Behrle have been told in advance that they will not be coming out to see us off. Just behind Nido Castle is the Erme River, and looms majestically over the broad riverbank. "What is this ......?" "What in the world, Jin-sama?Does it walk because it has ......4 legs?Does it walk because it has four legs? "Oh, no way, something this big?" Theon and Istaris exclaim in surprise. Meanwhile, Lucas and Netros look up at Capricorn 1 silently, seemingly overwhelmed. "Capricorn 1, it''s a ground vehicle I built. It can go on rough roads and snowy roads." Jin gave the signal. Then Capricorn 1 folded its legs, and the main body came down to the ground. "Come on, get in." Jin gets in first and beckons to her. Reiko quickly gets in as well. "Let''s go, Theon." Istaris gets in first, "Yes, sister." Theon followed. Lucas hurriedly followed Theon. Netros looked at Capricorn 1 with interest in silence, but when he realized that he was the only one left, he hurried to get on board. "Okay, we''re all on board." The doors close and the legs stretch out. "Whoa?" Lucas, who had been looking out the window, shouted. Lucas, who was looking out the window, shouted, "Let me introduce you. The golem Lando 1 is in charge of piloting, and Anne the automaton takes care of the day-to-day operations. This is Lando 1. My name is Anne, how do you do? Lando 1 in the pilot''s seat remains seated, while Anne stands up, bows deeply, and says her name and greeting each of them. "...... Wow, you''re the Magecraft Meister," she said. Theon''s expression showed that he was truly impressed. Istaris is staring out the window. "Take a seat wherever you like. The main body of Capricorn 1 is approximately 8 meters long and 6 meters wide. Two-thirds of the space was used as the cockpit and living quarters, and the remaining third was used as a kitchenette, toilet, shower room, and storage room. "Okay, let''s go!" Capricorn 1 is moving slowly. We headed upstream along the banks of the Herme River. "It''s not as bumpy as I thought it would be." Istaris, who was sitting in the window seat and looking out, mutters to himself. "Yes, it is. The center of gravity is controlled so that it does not move up and down. This is the result of the many adjustments we made yesterday. Based on the control system developed for the golem horse, the walking control thoroughly suppresses vertical movement, and the living quarters are floating and supported by active golem arms to reduce swaying. This was a measure that Jin, who is prone to motion sickness, took to the best of his ability. "Wait for me, everyone. ......" Theon also stared at the northern sky and muttered to himself. 518 - - 15-31 Quiet talk 28 After them "...... Magecraft Meister?" Yes, ma''am. Yes, ma''am. I think I''ve heard of you. You''re the Master Gin, aren''t you? This is the town of Loron, a provincial town in the Kingdom of Franz. < "Your sister seems to be a very good ...... healer. At any rate, it was nice to make her acquaintance. After Jin and the others left, the former duchess, Catherine de Lafayette, looked out the window half relieved and half disappointed. From there, she could see the beautiful cityscape. But she knew very well that it was only a facade. "So, did you find the person who attacked me?" She met Jin and his friends when they passed by the place where her carriage had been attacked, where Gosha had been killed and overturned after running out of control. The murderer of Gosha was never found, despite the efforts of the Resident Guard. However, Catherine, as the former duchess, has a large private army. It was one of these private soldiers who is now reporting to her. The man who is believed to be responsible has been found dead. So... So they''re trying to keep him quiet. The former duchess, Catherine. There are only a few who could benefit from her death. The Duke of the South. ...... The southern border of the Franz kingdom borders the Kingdom of Celuloa. Because of this, the Oranje family, known as the Southern Dukes, had stronger ties with the Kingdom of Celuloa and boasted the second most power after the royal family. On the other hand, many heads of the Northern Dukes, the Lafayette family, secretly wanted to leave the Kingdom of Celuloa and pursue their own path. This was the case with Catherine''s husband, the former duke, and also with his son, the current duke. However, they could only grumble at the current state of affairs in this country, where any outspoken action would result in an immediate purge, even of the dukes'' families. "At least, if we can make the people''s lives a little better. That was the best they could do. However, as soon as the government sees even a small increase in profits, it sniffs it out and raises the tax rate. <<>, I once felt a sense of despair when I heard that this was the way the common people were treated in the royal castle. "But still, I didn''t know that you were in contact with ...... informants. And you were researching the demon tribe?I wonder what ...... they want?" "Ma''am, you said that the demon tribe was attacked by radicals and burned in a fire. If that''s the case, what''s ......?" "No, we know that Jin-dono went through the barrier to the Klein Kingdom. The attack had nothing to do with him." Jin''s alibi was perfect in that regard. "...... Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono, a magic engineer certified by the Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Egelea, and the Shoro Empire. I''d like to meet him again." * * * * "Fool!You have the gall to burn our precious prisoners of war to death! I''m sorry ....... As the knight bowed his head, an even harsher rebuke came at him. "No, it''s not a matter of apology!This was a great opportunity to make a big difference to the Lafayette family, and now it''s all over! The man yelling at the knight is the Duke of the South, Lefort de Orange. Dull blond hair that is fading, blue-gray eyes. And a fat, flabby figure. Typical of the country''s leading aristocrats. "The deputy, Kutaga Akhter, has done well. ......" Kutaga Akhter, mayor and deputy of the town of Enak in the service of the Dukes of the North, was a servant of the Dukes of the North, but a man who had the support of the Duke of the South. "It was the Duke of the North who successfully captured the demons and brought them alive to the capital, and was praised by the king. ......! The southern duke gritted his teeth as he was about to take the credit. He will do whatever it takes to get them to give up information about the demon tribe, and then he will be in command of the army to defeat them. Of course, he would be in the safe rear and it would be his soldiers who would fight. Lefort was planning, or rather calculating. "There was even a high official from the Kingdom of Celuloa scheduled to visit Genf. ......" Yes, the traffic between the Kingdom of Celuloa and the Kingdom of Franz was not only via the secret road, but also via Lake Athol. "My face is ruined!" It was a good opportunity to sell more face to the Kingdom of Celuloa. But it turned out to be a blunder. Lefort, the Duke of the South, is worried. "Well, I guess I''ll just have to give more tribute to the dignitaries coming from the Kingdom of Celuloa. ......" * * * * "Hmm, you''ve made contact with the nobles of the Shoro Kingdom, haven''t you?" A log cabin stands in the forest near the town of Loroon. It looks like a log cabin from any angle, but it is actually one of the strongholds of the partisans. There are about ten men inside. They are dressed differently. Some of them are dressed as soldiers, some as farmers, and some as lumberjacks. At the far end sits a man in a black robe, and Fernand, the informant, is talking with him about something. Fernand, an informant, was talking with the man. I don''t know what his purpose is, but he wanted to know something about the demon tribe, so I told him. He paid well and seemed to know what he was talking about. "His name is Jin ......, right?" "Yeah. That''s what his friends called him." Interesting. ...... is the imperial baron Shoro''s name. You know him? I don''t know. As far as I know, there is only one person who fits the description. Jin Nido, who was recently certified as a Magecraft Meister. Magecraft Master? Yes. And not only from the Shoro Kingdom, but also from the Kingdoms of Klein and Egelea, who have also been certified as Magecraft Meisters. "Is that ......?" "Mm. Aside from the Shoro Kingdom, the other two kingdoms are on bad terms with the Kingdom of Serlore and the Kingdom of Franz. Do you think we can get them to agree? No, it''s best to avoid that. From what I''ve heard, they don''t like conflict. And they have a very powerful golem with them. Have you seen him? "Yes, the carriage ...... was pulled by a golem horse. The golem was a big golem. "Perhaps that''s him. When there was an incident in the Kingdom of Egelea where a golem ran amok, that one golem was able to neutralize most of the golems. "Really? Is that amazing?Is that so? "Oh. A hundred human soldiers wouldn''t stand a chance against him. That''s amazing. If we had 10 golems like that, we could fight a whole country. "Yes, but Jin doesn''t want to get involved in such power struggles. "What about taking ...... hostages and making them do what you say?" "That''s a foolish idea. That''s a stupid idea. They''ll destroy us. I don''t think so. But more importantly, this Jin nobleman had a sister with him. I heard she was called Eliza or Elsa. Another man stepped forward. "The day the ...... carriage ran out of control. They say they treated the injured townspeople and the former duchess in no time at all." "Hmm. So the sister is a good healer." "Hmm, I guess that means my sister is a good healer. And she didn''t take any money from the women of the town. I''m sure of it from what I''ve heard from those who''ve been watching. I''d like to bring this Elsa girl into our fold, but that''s not going to be easy. Why don''t you just go get her? You idiot. I told you before. If we were to go up against that man we''d be crushed in less than half a day. "Yes. ......" Another man stepped forward. "I''m happy to report that we have one more friend. ...... hey." The man turns around and looks at the young man farthest away. "Yes." The young man steps forward and makes a bow. "My name is Scholdt. Pleased to make your acquaintance. "Well, where are you from?" I grew up in the Kingdom of Klein. "Oh. So you know the ins and outs of that country? Yes. Yes, to a certain extent. Well, that''s useful. But for the time being, you''ll be under surveillance, yes? It''s a natural safety precaution. Yes, of course. The man bows once more to them all. (Hmmm...) * * * * * (Hmm, Regulus 41 seems to have successfully infiltrated the underground organization.) On Horai Island, the old man was smiling. 519 - - 15-32 Northward Capricorn 1 climbs along the Herme River. If the riverbed is narrow, he steps into the river. The 6-meter leg was able to proceed smoothly without being half submerged in the water. There were a few small waterfalls along the way, but thanks to the 50-degree climbing ability, we were able to do the high roll (climbing along the shore without climbing up the waterfalls) without any difficulty and reached the glacier where the Herme River originates before the end of the day. Of course, I had spikes on the soles of my feet to prevent slipping on the ice. "We''re almost at the border of the Klein Kingdom, aren''t we? Jin muttered as he looked at the topographical map. "Did you make this, Jin-sama?It''s a wonderfully precise map! Istaris looked over his shoulder and made a surprised face. "Yes, it is. This is where we are now. We are at the end of the glacier. We''ll be climbing up the glacier for a while. There are fewer obstacles that way." The snow on the mountains is low and there is little danger of avalanches in mid-summer. < If necessary, the gravity-controlled magic device can be used to climb rock walls of 70 degrees or more and even float in the air for a short period of time. Floating, however, will consume a lot of mana, and even five minutes of levitation will consume half of the emergency aethenol. Since Land 1 is in control of the ship, the ship can go for 24 hours a day. This is convenient because the avalanche danger is even lower during the night when the temperature is cooler. They had timed their expedition so that they could complete the most dangerous alpine terrain during the night. Jin and his crew have dinner with their own food and sleep in their seats. Besides Rando 1, who was in charge of piloting the plane, Reiko and Anne, who did not need to sleep, continued to watch the surroundings from the window. In addition, Falcon 2 and 3 are watching at 5,000 meters above the ground, ready to respond to any unforeseen circumstances. << < You''ve been quiet, Reiko. Yes. I hope nothing will happen to you. That night was uneventful, and Capricorn 1 safely passed through the most challenging alpine area. Even though we were going at about 20 km/h, it was great to be able to go non-stop. We were able to travel more than 300 kilometers in one day. The route that Jin and the old man planned to take was to go through the headwaters of the Hermes River, climb up the glacier, and climb over the saddle of the high mountain. The route would be somewhat longer, but it would be easier for Capricorn 1 to walk on the north side of the alpine area, where there are many rough terrains with no trees. On the other hand, if we tried to wind our way around the south side of the alpine area, we would be blocked by dense coniferous forests, and it would be very time consuming. This was only possible because of our aerial reconnaissance capabilities. < principle. The only drawback was that we had to cross a few rivers, though not large ones, but Capricorn 1 would have no problem with that. The next morning was cloudy. The weather conditions on the north side of the high mountains are prone to cloud formation, especially in the summer. When we came here, it was cloudy every day. Once we got over the high mountains, it cleared up. Jin thought that the moist winds called sea breezes were probably flowing in from the cold sea to the north, hitting the high mountains and creating clouds. These clouds might also be affecting the cold damage in the demon territory. The group finished their breakfast with portable meals. Meanwhile, Rand continues to make progress on Capricorn 1. We have just crossed the first river. The river is less than 10 meters wide and 50 centimeters deep in the upper reaches. So far, so good. Jin opens the skylight to let the air in. The cold alpine air is coming in. Jin-sama, it''s a little cold. Istaris said to Jin in a low voice. "Oh, I''m sorry." Jin, or the double, can tell the approximate temperature, but he has no sense of cold or hot. When the skylight is closed, the temperature inside the car is about 20 degrees Celsius, which is just right for a long-sleeved dress. The Demon Tribe seems to be relatively resistant to low temperatures since they live in the north, but the temperature in the high mountains seems to have been too cold. "It''s 5 degrees Celsius outside. Jin made the mercury thermometer. It is a simple device that divides the freezing point into 0 degrees Celsius and the boiling point of water into 100 degrees Celsius, and divides the temperature equally between the two, but it is practical enough. However, since the atmospheric pressure is not yet precisely defined (the boiling point changes with the atmospheric pressure), this is only a simplified version. "Wow, I didn''t know you could do that. That''s very convenient." Sion looks at the thermometer and is impressed. "Don''t they have one at the demon tribe''s place? "No, they don''t. There is a heat and cold indicator, though. "A cold/heat indicator?" According to Zion''s explanation, it is a round (or sometimes square) board with some kind of demon material attached to its surface, which turns red when it is hot and white when it is cold. Jin imagined that it was like a liquid crystal thermometer. Capricorn 1 crossed the second river. According to the map, there was no more river. After a while, the slope became less steep. Lando turned his course northward, which had been winding around the mountainside, and finally set out for the great isthmus of Paz dexto. Half a day passed. The ground conditions improved and we were able to proceed at a speed of about 30 kilometers per hour. Near dusk on a long summer day, the sea came into view in the distance. "I can see the sea! "Oh, yes!You''ve come all the way back here: ......" Although it was still more than 50 kilometers away, Zion and Istaris were relieved to know that they were close to a familiar place. But it did not last long. As they approached the sea, the cloud base became higher and the visibility improved. "Hey, sister, that can''t be ......." "Yes, it''s a rock giant." "The family of <> is ...... you say?" I thought we were neutral! * * * * What is that? Jin, who was piloting the double, stared at the object reflected on the magic screen in the Horaijima command center. It looked like a huge statue. It seemed to be disguised in such a way that it was indistinguishable from a rock when seen from the sky above. "A giant golem. ......" It was a gigantic golem, just like the ones in video games. The material is probably stone. Ten of them. Suddenly they started to move. It was clear that the target was Capricorn 1. "For a stone golem, it moves very fast. The stone golem, which is engaged in mining ore underground on Horai Island, is 2 to 3 meters tall. Its movements are powerful but slow. In comparison, the giant stone golem that has just started to move was showing agile movements that did not match its approximate height of 10 meters. Perhaps it is made of light stone. "Well, not as light as Titan, though." The Titan that Jin had created could move at almost the same tempo as a human. In other words, it can move about 10 times faster than a human, and its fists are 10 times faster than a human''s. It weighs about 80 times as much as a human. This is astonishing since he weighs about 80 times as much as a human being. However, the giant stone golem reflected on the magic screen could only move at half, or even less than one-fifth of that speed. "We should also check the armament of Capricorn 1 here. Jin said to himself and instructed Reiko, Land 1, and Anne through the manacam. "<>" * * * * Father has given us instructions.) "Prepare the Magi Cannon. I''ll be there if necessary. Reiko also brought up the Peach Blossom from the warehouse. "You know that golem?" Jin asked Zion and Istaris. Yes, I do. It''s a rock giant that can only be controlled by the family. How did they end up here ......?" "Is there someone who wouldn''t want you guys to come back?" "What?......No way. ......" It was a random remark on Jin''s part, but Istaris was lost in thought. 520 - - 15-33 The Rock Giant While Istaris was pondering, the stone golem ...... rock giant was approaching Capricorn 1. The distance is about 500 meters. "It''s going to attack us for sure! Zion shouts. Jin asks how he knows, "See those glowing red eyes on its head?That''s their signature when they attack. He replies, "Because that''s what they do when they attack. Indeed, the single eye on the rock giant''s head was glowing red and looking at Capricorn 1. "Netros, please!Explain that you have no hostile intentions!" "Yes!" Opening the skylight, Netros stood on the roof of Capricorn 1. He gestures to the rock giants, who must be somewhere among the , but they don''t stop. "No, Master Istaris!" The returning Netros shakes his head. "Let''s run!We''ll be fine! We''re faster!" Theon shouts. It looks like he''s been hit pretty hard. "Is it bad if we break it?" It would be useless to turn around in front of the Paz dextral isthmus. Jin asked seriously. What?" "Jin-sama, don''t tell me you can defeat those rock giants?And ten of them? Sion''s face turned into a look of disbelief, and Istaris asked the question in a tone of disbelief. "Yeah, maybe." "......" "...... because anything you recognize with those red eyes will follow you around endlessly unless you destroy it. ......" "...... we''ll just have to destroy it." Istaris and Zion said half in disbelief. "Okay. I''ll take that as a yes. ...... lands one, permission to attack." "Roger that." Okay. "Hmm, the <> clan. < clan. Jin, who is watching the situation on Horai Island, mutters to himself. He then gives instructions to Land 1. "Land 1, you are cleared to attack." * * * * With a short reply, Land 1 fired its magi cannon. The output was 30 percent. At the same time that a booming sound was heard, the head of the nearest rock giant shattered into dust. "What?" What was that? Theon and Istaris could not believe what they were seeing. Lucas and Netros seemed to be in the same boat, their faces scrunched up as they stared out the window. "Even 30 percent is too much...I''m going to drop it to 10 percent." Then he fires three shots in rapid succession. The golem''s automatic targeting was accurate, and all three were stopped after their heads were destroyed. "Next, let''s try the mana bomb. It was good to have created the mana bomb, but it was difficult to find an enemy to test it on. It was based on the same principle as the Magi Cannon, but was launched at a much slower speed,...... of about 30 meters per second, and when it hit the rock giant, it exploded with a roar. "Kyaaaah!" "What?What happened?" Before Istaris and Zion''s eyes, not only was one of the Rock Giants shattered into pieces, but there was even a crater in the ground. "Laser cannon, fire!" This time, the two heads were instantly vaporized. The laser beam was an ultra-high-power laser. There were already three rock giants left. Reiko, who had been staring out, suddenly opens her mouth. "I would like to show my father the results of your reinforcement. Reiko opens the skylight of Capricorn 1, and leaps out through it. "You''re still the same, lady ......." Anne watched her and smiled, almost a wry smile. "What?Mr. Laco?" "What a crazy idea!Even if we beat Lukas, the rock giant is still a ...... what?" A 10-meter rock giant with a head less than a meter long. Aiming at its head, or rather, at the monocular shining on its head, Jump #1, Reiko swung Momoka. With a single swing, the single eye is sliced open, and the rock giant stops moving. "As I thought, it is closely connected to the control core, isn''t it?" Reiko had neutralized the rock giant as a research material for Jin on Horai Island. She thought that if she could keep the damage to a minimum, Jin would be able to use it as a reference. The second rock giant was stopped in the same way, and Reiko sheathed Momoka. The two rock giants would eventually be retrieved to Horai Island. They will be used as research materials for Jin. "The last one will be used as a test bed to show your father how well this body has turned out! Reiko ran on the ground... a 10 meter rock giant and a 130 cm Reiko. The 10 meter rock giant and the 130 centimeter Reiko...but the power inside them was far more powerful. The legs of the rock giant swung up to crush Reiko as she ran toward it. Reiko took the opportunity to stand on one leg and kicked him in the axial leg. Reiko''s 10-centimeter leg struck the nearly two-meter-thick leg of the rock giant. "It''s so fragile!" Reiko''s kick crushed the ankle of the rock giant as easily as if she had kicked it with a fu-kashi (a Japanese sweet made from wheat gluten). The rock giant, having lost its balance, fell on its back with a resounding thud. "Amazing. ......" An exclamation escaped from the mouth of Netros, who was watching the scene. The tipping over allows Reiko''s direct attacks to reach anywhere. "I''ll give it a try." She swings her hand sword. The rock giant''s right arm is lifted from his shoulder. He thrusts out his fist. The rock giant''s left hand shatters. "...... The balance of power output is also very good. That''s our father! The concentration of free magical element (ether) has increased by about 70% since we came north. This has also meant that we had to check the operation of the ether converter. When I went to the north to look for Jin in the past, the output was about three times as much. Since it was a short time, I did not check the load status of the ether converter in detail. . I will report directly to Jin via the built-in manacam. Jin''s reply comes back immediately. Hearing this, Reiko smiles happily. And then. "Thank you for being my test subject. She then kicked the wreckage of the rock giant ...... at 50 percent output. "Geez ......!" Lucas made a funny sound. It was as it should be, the rock giant was blown away by Reiko''s blow. It shattered, scattering debris. "......Lucas, I''m surprised you survived." "......Madam......" Lukas was trembling, probably remembering the fight he had had with Reiko. If only that power had been wielded against him,....... He would have vanished from the world, leaving not even a piece of flesh behind. "You were just playing with him, rather than taking it easy on him. ...... ?" Zion explained to Istaris and Netros, who were having a hard time understanding what was going on. "Oh my God, that''s ...... not a good idea." "......Lucas, you''re being reckless!" "Ugh, I know. ......" Lucas looked down in embarrassment as Istaris and Netroth both gave him a look of dismay. Then Reiko returned. "You are very good at that, lady. "No, it''s your father who''s impressive. Reiko never forgets to support Hitoshi. "Defeat of the rock giant is complete. Path clear. Land 1 leads Capricorn 1 north again. We''re headed for the great isthmus of Paz dexto. Beyond that is demon territory. "This is it." Jin mutters to himself. Leaden clouds hung in the sky far to the north, and a cold headwind blew as if to repel the group. 521 - - 15-34 Quiet Story 29 Summer Festival in Kaina Village August 15. When Jin (a double doll) was on his way to the land of the demon tribe. The village of Kaina is bustling with the festivities. Or, more precisely, they are preparing for the festival. "A festival, that sounds interesting. "Yeah, I heard they have festivals in the capital every once in a while..." "It''s going to be fun!After all, Jin is presiding over it! Jin, the lord of the village of Kaina, had suggested that a festival be held in the middle of August, the off-season for farming, for the villagers'' comfort. Jin had come to the village of Kaina, refusing Reiko, who was on her way to the demon territory to bring relief supplies to the demon tribe. "If that''s the case, I don''t have any choice. Please have the covert task force (SP) guard you well. Overprotective, or perhaps a worrier. Reiko, who couldn''t be next to Jin, reluctantly gave him permission. I don''t know which of us is the parent. There is no custom of Obon in this world, but there are festivals such as harvest festivals, and when a large amount of wild deer is caught, the whole village sometimes joins in the festivities. This time, however, Jin had taken the lead in organizing various events, and the villagers were looking forward to it. "A summer festival, huh? That''s proof that they can afford it. ......" Licia Faarheit, the lord of the neighboring village of Toka, was also invited to the festival, along with Braak, the mayor of Toka. "We will celebrate at harvest time, but this is another ......" "Hello, Licia, welcome!" "Oh, Mr. Jin, hello. It''s very lively here." The place is the plaza in front of Nido Castle. The golem maids invited from Horai Island are preparing their stalls, and it is a spectacular sight. I wanted to have a bon dance as well, but I was afraid that I would not be accepted if I tried too hard at once, so I kept to just the night stalls this time. "Oh, Jin-san can use this many golems ......." Considering the initial cost of a golem, and the cost of maintaining it, it cannot be said that a golem is more cost-effective than a human being. This is especially true for golems of poor quality, since it is costly and time-consuming to replenish mana and maintain each part of the golem. The golems created by Jin, however, are maintenance-free. Under normal use, they will continue to operate for 10 years, or even 100 years, let alone one year. Once that happens, no matter how many dozens of humans it takes, they will no longer be able to compete. That is what Jin''s golems were. I''m not sure how much I can do about it, but I''m sure I can do it. ...... Jin''s brother is a Magecraft Meister." Erza, who was walking alongside us, said proudly. She seemed to have a sense of superiority. "Well then, Licia-san, I have to make my rounds, so I''ll see you later. With these words, Jin walked away with Elsa. In mid-August, the days are getting shorter and shorter. The wind has become somewhat cooler. At 6:00 p.m., when it was getting dim, Jin announced the opening of the summer festival at the plaza in front of Nido Castle. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight is the . I have prepared many things for you as a token of my appreciation. Please take a break from your daily work and enjoy yourselves. As he finished, the magic lamps were lit all over the square. The villagers cheered. "Wow, it''s beautiful! The magic lamps lit up in the square in the approaching dusk were intentionally colored differently: red, yellow, blue, and green. Licia gazed at the scenery in fascination. She is wearing a yukata prepared by Jin. It is made of linen because there is no cotton available. Because of the shortage of fabric, only women were given these yukata. Licia was wearing a yukata with a morning glory pattern on a navy blue background. Licia did not know what a morning glory flower was, but she thought it must be a flower in Jin''s hometown and did not think much of it. Then Jin arrives. Hannah and Elsa are with him. Hannah is wearing a sunflower-patterned yukata and Erza a nadeshiko-patterned yukata. Licia-san, please enjoy yourselves too. Do you want to go around with us? Hannah, holding hands with Jin, invited Licia to join them. Licia gratefully accepted the offer. "Then we''ll go our separate ways. The chief of Toka village, Braak, was perhaps taking advantage of the situation and moved away from her. "Here, Licia," he said. Jin gave Licia something that looked like a square ticket. "What is it?" "It''s a kind of money that can only be used at night stalls. It was a golden ticket made of thinly tanned leather paper. Each villager was given ten of these tickets, so that he could enjoy any of the night stalls with just one ticket. Thank you very much. I like this kind of thing. Licia accepted it happily. "What''s that, girl?" Hannah pointed to a super ball scoop. A game in which colorful super balls made of natural rubber are scooped out with a scooping scoop made of monaka (a type of fish cake) skin. The skin of monaka is made of wheat flour, rice flour, cornstarch, and baking soda, and was painstakingly created by Perido. It was originally intended to be filled with red bean paste, but was adapted for night stalls. It seems to be popular among the boys. Kurt and Jim were scooping them up competitively. "Oh?Jin-san, what are those things?It looks like a cloud. ......" Licia pointed to the cotton candy. It is also called "wagatashi", a confectionery made by heating sugar, melting it, and then centrifugal force makes it blow out through small holes to form thin strings. "It''s wata candy. Would you like to try some?Hannah and Elsa too." Jin, being the owner of the shop, couldn''t afford ......, so he gave three golden tickets and bought three cotton candy bars. "Wow, it''s so sweet!" "...... delicious!" "Jin-san, this is so delicious! All three seemed to like it. Jin himself has eaten too much in the process of making the candy maker and is feeling a bit sick of it. Hannah doesn''t know that. "I''ll give you a bite too, Onii-chan!" she says. and offered him a piece of candy. "Really?Okay then." Jin couldn''t ignore her words and took a bite of the candy. "Do you like it, big brother?" "Yes, it''s delicious. "Heh heh heh." Hannah was very happy. Next came the target shooting. Since there were no guns, we had to hit the target with a small bow and arrow. One ticket gives you five arrows. The prizes were mainly accessories and toys made by Jin and a craftsman (Smith). "Oh, I''ll try this!" "...... me too!" Licia jumped in and for some reason Erza said she would do it too. Jin and Hannah are watching. "Ei!" Licia''s first try failed. 2nd try, she won but the prize didn''t fall. 3rd try, she won but the prize didn''t fall. "......" Elsa shoots an arrow silently. 1st time, missed. 2nd time, missed. 3rd time, missed. "Hey." Licia.4th time,missed.5th time........ "Yes!I fell!" Licia jumped for joy when she was able to take the crystal ball necklace that Jin had made. "......" On the other hand, Erza. the fourth time, missed. the fifth time also ...... missed. "......" "Too bad. But your fan looks good with your yukata. Jin consoled Erza, who received a fan with a picture of a goldfish on it as a consolation prize. "...... so?" Her downcast face seemed to lift a little. "Oh, that looks delicious too!" Eric and Barbara had just arrived at the regular shaved ice. They are eating one shaved ice together. "......What''s that?" Elsa points to the fried noodles. It was yakisoba noodles made with flour, eggs, and baking soda. "It smells good." Erza bought the yakisoba by offering a golden ticket. Licia was eating Persian-flavored shaved ice. "Would you like that one for Hannah?" Jin pulled Hannah by the hand and brought her some grilled corn. Her front teeth are all grown in, so she can eat it. "Yes, I''ll eat it." One stalk of corn seemed a bit much for Hannah, so Jin took half of it. "Hehehe, just like you and me." Hannah is in a good mood as she and Hitoshi share one corn cob. Licia and Elsa looked at them with a little envy. "Hello Jin-kun, this summer festival and night stalls are quite nice. Sally Mireshan arrived with the mayor of Kaina Village. She was wearing a yukata with plaid called gyohei plaid. "Are you enjoying yourself, doctor?" "Yes. The cotton candy I just ate was delicious. It was a little sticky around the mouth. Sally laughs. The mayor was standing next to him, just smiling. "Oh, we can all do that together. Jin pointed to the ring toss. For a golden ticket, you get five rings, and you throw them at the prizes to catch them. Here, the prize is not the prize, but if the ring is caught on a stick marked "1st, 2nd, 3rd ......," the player can choose a prize according to the grade of the ring. "Okay, let''s try it together." Four people take turns throwing. First one. Jin, missed. Erza, no luck. Licia, missed. Hannah, third. "Yay!" Second. Jin, no luck. Elsa, out. Licia, out. Hannah, third prize. Third time. Jin, out. Elsa, 4th. Licia, 3rd. Hannah, 2nd. "I did it!" "I did it!" "I did it!" "I did it!" "Yay!" Fourth. Jin, no luck. Erza, no luck. Licia, 4th. Hannah, 3rd. 5th. Jin, 4th prize. Erza, out. Licia, out. Hannah, 3rd prize. Jin and Erza got together and won the 4th prize. Licia, 3rd and 4th. Hanna got four third prizes and one second prize. Hannah''s talent was outstanding. The prizes were a fan for the fourth prize, a water balloon for the third prize, and a wind chime for the second prize. "Hannah-chan, I''ll give you this. Elsa already had a fan, so she decided to give it to Hanna. "Thank you, Erza!Here, I''ll give you this!And you, Licia, too!" Hanna gives the four water balloons to Jin, Erza, and Licia. "Hehe, we''re all together." Hannah has a fan attached to the sash of her yukata and a water balloon in her right hand. And a wind bell in Hannah''s left hand. Licia''s eyes narrowed as she looked at the chiming wind chime. It''s a nice sound, isn''t it? Is it called "Fuurin"? It''s nice and cool. ......" The sky was full of stars. The summer festival in Kaina Village was a great success. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Saki: "I got to sneak in, but it''s fun! Stearina "I like yakisoba. Vivienne: "I like shaved ice. Toa: "We got wiped out by both the target practice and the ring toss. ......" Meane: "Erza should be a little more aggressive. ......" Reinhardt: "I wish we could have this kind of event in our territory!" Bertsche: "The cotton candy is delicious." 522 - - 16-01 Calst The continent of Gondor, the northern land of the demon tribe. It is separated from the human continent of Laurent by the sea, and connected to it only by a narrow isthmus called the Great Pazdekst Isthmus. The sea is inhabited by ferocious sea dragons and other demons, making navigation by ship or other means extremely difficult. Therefore, the Pazdekst isthmus was inevitably used for traffic between the Gondor and Laurent continents. Now, Jin (his double), Reiko, Anne, Rand 1. and Istaris, Sion of the demon tribe. Netros and Lucas, his followers and guards. The above eight were about to head north through the isthmus in the quadrupedal ground vehicle, <>, that Jin had built. "It looks like nothing is attacking us except the rock giants." < clan. Ten of them were waiting for Jin and the others to attack. It was natural to assume that there were more traps. However, Falcon 2 and 3, who were on alert in the sky, reported no more hostile reactions, at least on the Laurentian side. < clan did not seem to be present. "The isthmus is about five kilometers wide at its narrowest point. If we were to set a trap, it would be there. "Yes, I think that Zion''s idea is correct. Theon and Istaris are in agreement. Jin agrees with that idea. "In that case, we should pass through the isthmus during the daytime. Anne, a blue-haired automaton, suggested. "They must know we are here. If that is the case, we should pass through during the daytime when visibility is better. With this suggestion, the group decided to spend the night on the Laurentian side of the continent. For the first time since their departure from Nido Castle, Capricorn 1 was out of action for an extended period of time. "All right, let''s check everything," he said. However, the substitute doll (double) does not have the same magical engineering ability as Jin himself. So, Reiko is supposed to support him. "Legs are in good condition. Power unit is intact. In fact, it is the old man who is now giving the instructions to the double. It is not possible for Jin to be stuck in the pilot''s seat at all hours of the day. And now Jin is busy preparing for the summer festival in the village of Kaina. Jin is sometimes careless, but when it comes to production, he is a thorough perfectionist. Capricorn 1 had no problems. "We''ll camp here, then. Nevertheless, Capricorn 1 is very comfortable to live in. It even has a simple shower room. Theon and Istaris took a shower. Jin pretended to take a shower, as did Netros and Lucas. "You feel so refreshed, don''t you? "Yes, I''m feeling much better now. Istaris seems to be in good shape since the concentration of free magical element (ether) in the air has increased as they have moved northward. Taking the standard concentration at the latitude of Horai Island (Tropic of Cancer) as 1, the concentration of free magical element (ether) around here is about 1.7. If you go to the land of the demon tribe, the concentration will be 2 to 2.5. Of course, Horai Island is a singularity, so the concentration is about 3. While collecting such data, Capricorn 1 will proceed. * * * * The morning of August 14 arrived. Again, breakfast consisted of dry bread, dried fruits, and instant soup. "It''s not bad, but I''m going to get tired of it. "You mustn''t be so extravagant, Zion. We are running out of food in the village. "Yes, I''m sorry." Theon, who had honestly spoken his mind, was rebuked by his sister. Using the warp gate provided, they could bring in freshly prepared meals, but as expected, Jin did not intend to go that far. "Well then, let''s get going. Land 1, please. "Capricorn 1, we''re leaving!" Capricorn 1 slowly begins to move, its four legs firmly planted on the ground, moving forward into a land unknown to Jin and the others. At first, the land is slightly covered with grass and bushes, but gradually it turns gray. "......The quality of the rock has changed, hasn''t it?" Jin muttered. "Yes, I think it is probably limestone." Limestone is a rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate, and is said to have been formed by the accumulation of coral, sea lilies, foraminifera, shellfish, and other organisms. It is relatively resistant to weathering and often forms unique landforms. "...... Karst landforms." Karst landforms, Jin muttered, are landforms formed by the erosion of limestone by rainwater, surface water, and groundwater. Underground limestone caves are often formed. Akiyoshidai in Yamaguchi Prefecture is famous in Japan. The group continued northward for about two hours, enjoying the topography dotted with oddly shaped rocks. Master, something is coming from underground. When they were about 10 kilometers from the narrowest point of the isthmus, Land 1 noticed something approaching. "According to the magi detector, there are about 30 of them. "Capricorn 1, stop. Deploy barrier. Paralyzer, Magicanon, laser cannon ready. Roger that. At that moment, a monster appeared from a crack in the earth. "That''s it!A ground worm! * * * Now, it was the old man who was piloting the double. The old man told Jin, who was working on his craft in the workshop of the institute. "Okay, I''m coming." The old man takes over the control of the machine until Jin arrives, and once Jin is in the pilot''s seat, the old man hands over the control to Jin, and takes over the role as his assistant. "That''s ......." <<>. They are omnivores and live underground. They are basically docile, but since they can be easily subjugated, they are often used to stall people," I told him the information I had heard while Jin was away. "......< < "If we know where he is, can we neutralize him?" The magic screen showed the groundworm being bounced back by the barrier of Capricorn 1. "We have no choice. Let''s try the paralyzer first. * * * * First, neutralize the groundworm. Got it. Jin''s instructions are given through the mouth of the double. Land 1 disables the upper barrier while leaving the lower barrier in place. The barrier can be deployed by dividing it into upper and lower sections. This is a revolutionary feature. "Paralyzer, maximum output". Capricorn 1''s large-caliber "Paralyzer" gun disables all three groundworms at once. "Okay, it works on groundworms, too." The paralyzing gun is ineffective against lesser creatures due to the principle that it works on the nervous system. It was effective enough on the groundworm. The Paralyzer was fired as if reaping the surroundings, disabling 30 groundworms in no time at all. "This is amazing! "This is the Magecraft Meister ......." Theon and Istaris looked out with open mouths. "All right, find the magician." "Yes, sir." The magi detector is checked. The immobile dots of light are probably groundworms that have been incapacitated. Among them, there was one light spot that moved little by little. "Perhaps, this is the magician. "Let me get out of here." Reiko with Momoka stood up. 523 - - 16-02 Verials Reiko stood up with Momoka and jumped out through the skylight instead of the usual doorway. . The old man, who could use the Magi Radar, which was much better than the Magi Detector of Capricorn 1, had a more accurate view of the target. "...... was there." < magic, but it doesn''t work on Reiko now. She has eyes that can see not only visible light, but also ultraviolet and infrared rays, and ears that can detect ultrasonic waves. She also has a simple version of a magi-detector. There it is! A figure rolls out from behind a limestone spire protruding from the ground. "Kuu!How did you know where I was!" It was a man who looked to be in his twenties. Thin, with an eagle nose. He had gray hair, dark skin, and golden eyes that shone brightly. "Are you of the <> clan?" "You ...... know such a thing?That traitor spoke, didn''t he?" The man shouted and threw a stone at Reiko. "Shut up!" Reiko brushes the stone away without using her Momoka blade. "You ...... monster,...... are you giving in to a shameless traitor?" "<> activated. Paralyze gun. "Gah ......" In an instant, the demon tribe''s consciousness was cut off. Since the surrounding free magical element (ether) was not free, no countermeasures could be taken, and they were exposed to the radiation of the paralyzer. Reiko carried the demons to Capricorn 1 and tied them up with a rope woven from the threads of a ground spider. The rope is 9mm in diameter, and even Reiko has to increase the output more than 40% to break the rope. "...... Belials?" Istaris, who had seen the demons Reiko had captured, spoke their names. "You know him, Istaris?" "Yes. < clan, no doubt named Belialus. He''s good at subjugation magic, isn''t he? Yes. Many of the clans use demons as servants. What about other abilities? If you''re going to keep them as prisoners of war, you need to know about them. "The <> clans can use ...... ah, transfer magic. Hearing this, Jin thought of a countermeasure. The collar that was placed around Erza''s neck before, a collar that blocks magic. Jin himself, who is on Horai Island, hurriedly arranges for the materials to make it. "Uh, it''s like this, as I recall: ....... It''s easy since it doesn''t need the function of taking away physical strength. The source of magic power is his own mana. It is very eco-friendly. The mana is then transferred to Capricorn 1 using a warp gate. Reiko receives it and attaches it to the neck of Belialus. Since it is made of 64 light silver, it will not come off unless it is removed by magic. "We managed to get it off before he noticed." Jin muttered in relief through the mouth of the double inside Capricorn 1. "Jin-sama, what are you going to do about Belialus?" Istaris asked with a doubtful look on his face. "My main concern is to ask him why he tried to attack us," Istaris replied. Then I would also like to know what kind of traps lie ahead." Capricorn 1 stops until Belialis finds out. It was decided that it would be better to know what kind of traps were out there. And it wasn''t long... 10 minutes later, Belialus grunted and noticed. "Realized?Belialus." "U...... you are Istaris!...... where am I?" "Anywhere would be fine. ...... why are you attacking us?" "......" Belialus keeps his mouth shut. He doesn''t want to talk. "We''re on our way to the country now, loaded with food for the time being." At these words Belialus reacts. "A country?A nation? A group of miscellaneous clans?That makes me laugh. "Belialus!What the hell are you trying to say?What are you trying to say? Theon couldn''t keep his mouth shut anymore. "It''s not about the country, it''s about food now, isn''t it?We all have to eat to survive, don''t we? "Oh, food. I''ve got it. ...... in the south. "You mean the land of the humans? But then Belialus stopped talking. "......" "There''s no point in going on like this. Let''s move on." "...... I agree." Jin said, and Istaris and Zion nodded and left Belialus. "Lando one, go!" "Capricorn 1, go!" After a time loss of less than an hour, the group started to head north again. In less than half an hour, they reached the narrowest point of the Pazdekst isthmus. The area is rocky, with rugged rocks and huge holes in the ground, making it very difficult to advance. "The color is changing again. After a certain point, the color of the rocks is noticeably different. From limestone gray to red. "...... Radiolaria?" Akaishidake in the southern part of the Japanese Southern Alps. Akaishidake in the southern part of Japan''s Southern Alps. The red stone, radiolarian sheet rock, is also the origin of the official name of the Southern Alps, the Akaishi Mountains. Like limestone, it is a sedimentary rock, but instead of being calcareous, it is a siliceous rock formed by the accumulation of dead radiolaria. "Perhaps the Laurentian continent and the Gondorian continent were attached to each other by tectonic movements. Jin looked at the scenery while muttering to himself. At that moment, Capricorn 1 came to a sudden stop. "What''s wrong?" "Yes, there seems to be a magical trap ahead. What? I looked into the magi-detector, and saw a magical reaction along the horizontal line. What is it?What is this? "I don''t know the details. I don''t know the details, but it seems to be a kind of magic net. That would explain the use of ....... A trap. We don''t know what it is, but it''s not surprising, since it was expected that they would try something around here. "Belialus, don''t you know something?"Belials, don''t you know something? Theon turns and asks, but Belialus remains silent. "...... so I take it you are not going to tell me." "Father, should we go ahead and check?" Reiko suggests, but Jin dismisses the idea. "No, no. We don''t know what will happen or what might be waiting for us. "Then I''ll go check it out." Netros said. "I know all the traps the demons use." "Yes, you do. Netros, will you take care of it? Yes, I''ll take care of it. ...... Lukas, you come with me. I''ll train you a little. Okay. I''ll come with you. I think I can help you. Anne also volunteered to help. Thus, Netros, Lucas, and Anne went outside to check and disarm the trap. 524 - - 16-03 Magic Collar. "Look, there is a Magi Stone embedded here. This is the key to activate the trap. If you take it out ...... like this, the trap will not be triggered." "I see, I am learning a lot." Netros quickly finds and disarms the trap. Anne is watching intently. "......?" Lucas is having a hard time taking it in. "This one is a magic circle. "This one''s a magic circle. We''ll get rid of part of it, and we won''t have to worry about it anymore." Netros, who seemed to know his stuff, disarmed the traps one after the other. The traps this time seemed to be rather simple and easy. "But don''t be too careful, because there is a possibility that the trap you think you have disarmed is a two-tiered trap. "Yes, yes!" Netros shows caution. Lucas tries hard to remember. After the removal work was completed, Anne returned to Capricorn 1. She then checks the magi-detector. "It seems that all the traps have been disarmed. "Yes, it seems so." Anne reported, Jin confirmed, and soon after Netros and Lucas returned. Two of them create a (wall of fire), one is a (pit) and the last one is a <. And the last one was <> (destruction)." "Yes, thank you." Istaris wished Netros good luck. And then Theon and Lucas. Lucas, did you learn something? "Yes, yes, just a little. ...... "......Lucas has a long way to go......" Zion let out a small sigh. "Well, let''s head north again." Jin said and Land 1 launched Capricorn 1. Capricorn 1 stepped into the land of reddish radiolarian sheetrock. The red land was passed through without incident. The isthmus became wider and wider, indicating that they had completely entered the land of the demon tribe. "Where do your clans live?" "Oh, yes, turn east past the isthmus and follow the coast. There is a small cove and along its banks is where the clan lives. The area is a wilderness of reddish stones. Only grass and moss grow in places. It is not a very rich land, is it? Yes, the land is very thin and rocky, and there is not much land for farming. Jin commented that the food shortage seemed to be just what was needed. And then, when the sun had set for the first time, he heard Istaris'' words. Just as Istaris had said, an inlet came into view. "Is that it?" "...... No, no. It is farther east. The inlet is much bigger than that. So we headed further east. The route progresses without any more obstructions. "Oh, there it is! We see a cove even larger than the one we saw before. The surrounding greenery indicates that it is a farming area. We spotted Capricorn 1 approaching. It seems that people have started to make a big commotion. Capricorn 1 comes to a stop. "No!Netros, you go and explain it to him. "Yes, ma''am." With that Netros opens the door and runs out. She must have been magically enhanced, for she was fast. Before I knew it, we had arrived at the people who were making a commotion. I could see Netros explaining something to them, but he seemed a little strange. Netros is acting as if he is being abused by the residents. He was bowing his head and apologizing. Eventually, they were seen to raise their hands toward him. "......Something''s wrong, isn''t it?" Jin muttered. "I''ll go with you." Istaris stood up and followed Netros. "Be careful." "I''ll be fine. We are from the same clan. Istaris smiled at the worried Jin and left Capricorn 1. "Well, I''m still worried. Reiko, can you help me?" Almost as soon as he said that, Reiko stood up, "I''ll check on her. and left the room. Using invisibility, Reiko approached Netros and Istaris without being noticed, and found out what they were talking about. She was stunned. It was Netros, or rather Istaris, Zion, and Lucas, who were to blame. "You have given this land to the humans!" Have you no pride? You are traitors! You are traitors!" and other such abusive remarks came out of their mouths. More and more people came from the village, and their number increased. Wait a minute, everyone! Istaris came in and shouted loudly. "We have been ordered by the clan leader to ......." But he could not speak any more. A stone thrown at Istaris'' cheek. "Oh, ......" "Lies!The clan leader says that you have deserted the village against his orders!You even stole the gold and magi crystals!" He even said something outrageous. "You, you ........." "Get out of here!Don''t come back!" You''re lucky I didn''t kill you!" More stones came flying at Istaris. Istaris just stands there, stunned. But Netros swatted away any stones that might have hit him. "Guys!Listen to me! Shut up!Traitor! Shame on you!Get out of here! Just then, an old man came from behind the crowd. Gray hair, white beard. He had light blue eyes like those of Istaris and Theon. "Stop, all of you! "Clan leader ......" "Grandfather ......" It was Bardius, grandfather of Istaris and head of the clan. "Istaris, how dare you leave my village without my permission and come back without a second thought?" "No, grandfather, I did not. I was ordered by my grandfather to ......" I did not issue such an order. You took the gold and the Magi Crystal without permission and told the humans where we are?Shame on you. "No, no... ........." Istaris is about to cry. What''s wrong. What are those vehicles... Are they not weapons of the humans? "No, sir." "No." "What?You destroyed the rock giants and captured the puppet Belials... and you call them not weapons?How dare you? "Oh, that was a vehicle created by Master Jin, the Magecraft Meister!It is not a weapon for fighting, but for defense. ......" "A Magecraft Meister?You believe in such fairy tales? It''s not a fairy tale!The Magecraft Meister is ...... But Bardius, the clan leader, refuses to listen. "Oh, enough! You are no longer of my clan. Go where you will. If you don''t kill me, at least be merciful." "Oh, Grandfather. ......" Finally Istaris cried out. "Destroy that weapon, all of you!" With these words, Bardius turned on his heel and walked back. And the rest of the people? "...... destroy." "...... Destroy!" "Destroy it!" they muttered to each other and started walking toward Capricorn 1. 525 - - 16-04 Mysterious Clan A group of people with the will to destroy Jin''s Capricorn 1 are slowly advancing. "No, guys!" No one listens to Istaris'' words. "Netros, hurry back and tell Master Jin to retreat! But Master Istaris... I don''t care! At that moment, Reiko came out of invisibility. "I''ll carry you, Istaris-san. Let''s hurry back. "Oh, where in the world did you come from ......?" Now is not the time to talk about such things. Reiko quickly picks up Istaris in her arms and runs toward Capricorn 1. Netros followed. "Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Istaris exclaimed as he experienced 200 km/h in the flesh. "...... and that''s it." Reiko reports to Jin (her double) in the retreating Capricorn 1. Actually, Jin, who was in the command center of Horai Island, was listening to the report in real time. "Oh no. ......" However, Zion and Lucas had never heard of it. They looked incredulous. "I''m sorry, but it''s true. ......Oh, why?Why?Grandfather ......" "You can mourn later. It''s a little bumpy." What? Jin ordered Land 1 to go to maximum speed to outrun the pursuing Morura clans. Seventy kilometers per hour. As one would expect, the vibration is quite noticeable. However, their originally slow movements are enough to shake off the Morira''s pursuit. Capricorn 1, speeding inland, combined with the darkening sky, was able to completely disperse their pursuers. * * * * "......gush!" "Sister, cheer up. There must be a reason for this. Sion comforts Istaris, who has not recovered from the shock. Istaris was sobbing all the time, probably in shock that after all the hard work she had put in to get support for her clan, she had been branded a traitor. "......Well, what do we do now?" Jin (his double) muttered to himself, staring into the darkness ahead of him. Capricorn 1 is now at the foot of a small rocky hill. "Oh, um, Jin?" "Yes?" Zion asked Jin in a timid manner. "Are you ...... thinking of going home?" "Why ...... are you thinking of leaving? He had come all the way here to offer assistance, and instead of being welcomed, he was about to be attacked. Jin had no reason to stay in the demon territory any longer. "...... I''ll stay here a little longer." "Really?" Zion''s face brightened. "Yes. The difference between what Zion and the others told me and his attitude is too unnatural. I won''t leave until I know the cause. If there is some hidden agenda, it is even more so. For the safety of the village of Kaina, Jin wanted to at least confirm the will of the moderate faction. Reiko did not say anything, since it was a double who had come here in the first place, and Jin himself was not in danger. "Thank you, Jin." Zion bowed his head. Jin, however, lightly patted her on the head, as if to say, "Don''t worry about it, "Clan leader,......, would it be correct to say that your grandfather''s attitude has changed abruptly?" He changed the subject and asked for an urgent confirmation of his agenda. "How resistant are the demons to mental manipulation?" Anne opened her mouth. "<>. That''s the brainwashing and subjugation magic we use. We can brainwash them with it. It won''t work the normal servitude magic you asked me about before ....... I''m sorry I didn''t tell you." This is Zion. At this point, he must have thought it was too late to be talking about secrets, and even said, "I''ll tell you anything you want. "But if you enslave me with that magic, I''ll know right away. But if you enslave them with that magic, you''ll know right away, because they''ll lose their will, or ...... their feelings. The Morura clan did have feelings. At least they were not under the influence of <>, Jin and the others concluded. "Then it must be a different kind of servitude magic, or a different method altogether. Anne was unable to speculate further. It seems to be different from the method used by Marcosius before. It seems to be something similar to in a sense. The group ponders. But then, there''s a silver lining. "Yes, he''s here." The puppet we took prisoner, Belialus. He might know something. What do you want? He pulls out Belialus, who has been locked up in the warehouse, swearing as usual. "I just wanted to ask you something. >" "Oh! I''ve never used a transinfo for demons before. This is the first time for me to use it, but it seems to work. The transcribed Magi Crystal is sent to Horai Island by the Warp Gate, and is immediately analyzed by the old man. The results of the analysis were informed to the crew of Capricorn 1 through Reiko. "There is one thing I have found out. The demon tribe has a land called , right?" "What!Why do you think that ...... no, that''s the kind of magic you''re talking about." Netros was surprised to hear those words. No, Zion and Lucas also look surprised. Istaris finally stopped crying and turned her red, swollen eyes to Jin. "<> is a legendary place where our distant ancestors of the demon tribe landed. Jin remembered the legend that Vivian had told him. It is possible that the ancestors of both humans and demons came there a long time ago. While Jin was thinking about this, information from the old man came to him through Reiko. "The clan closest to the is called the , isn''t it? "That is correct. But there are less than ten members of the clan, and they rarely interact with other clans. Theon asks, with a look that says, "What about it? "The clan is insisting that we ...... well, in short, that we mess with them." Actually, it seems that they are insisting on some nuance of guerrilla warfare. "And they listened to you?" "I don''t think the clans of ......<> have that kind of influence. ......" Following Zion, Istaris finally opened his mouth. On the other hand, Belialis, who was listening to this, looked frustrated. "d*mn it... ....... You read my memory. Sneaky, aren''t they, humans?" "Don''t be silly. The ways of the demon tribe are not to be commended. No. Conflicts are always like that. They pursue their own interests and don''t care about the other side. It was Anne who contradicted Belialus. "The Goshujin-sama doesn''t like such a world. I would like to live in peace and quiet, but I can''t stand by and watch because of all the noise around me." That''s sophistry. But it''s true. "Anne, that''s enough." Jin interrupted Anne, deciding that continuing the conversation would be futile. "Do you know where this clan lives?" "Yes. They live in the interior of the Gondor continent. Reiko explained that they were much further north than where Jin and the others were at the moment. "Shall we go and see them?" "What?" "I''m also interested in the place where it all began. I''d like to meet and talk with the clan that seems to have been responsible for this." "So ....... I don''t know what else I can do. But I''m sure they''ll get in the way, right? Istaris agreed and Zion pointed out the difficulties on the way. "What''s the point now? If they get in our way, we''ll just get rid of them." "It''s amazing that you can really do that in Jin''s case. ......" Zion is a little taken aback, but he knows that this is the only way to change the situation. "...... Jin, please." Theon said in a whisper, his face full of anxiety. 526 - - 16-05 Inland area Capricorn 1 begins its slow march northward. Even though it is slow, with Land 1, Reiko, and Anne, who need no rest, it can go day and night, covering several hundred kilometers in a single day. Not a single day is wasted. I cast <> on Belialus. Now that Jin and the others don''t know why they have him, any future leakage of information will be minimal. Istaris and Zion were well rested and physically fit. Now, after crossing a shallow but wide river and crossing the 55th parallel, the group was confronted by an ice-covered mountain. "We know that they seem to live at the foot of this mountain. Istaris said unsurely. "They rarely associate with other clans..." "Well, I''m not sure we''re going to get anywhere with this. ......Land 1, how about a magi-detector? "Yes. ...... is responding about two kilometers to your left. Okay, let''s go there. Capricorn 1 turned left. He continues through the land, which is still covered with snow in places. The temperature outside is 2 degrees Celsius. It was quite cold. "It''s a good thing we''ve got the air conditioning working properly," he said. Jin''s (double) substitute dolls are not affected by the heat or cold, but Istaris, Zion, Netros, and Lucas, who are still sick, must have a hard time with the sudden change in temperature. We continued on our way and soon arrived at our destination. "There is a large magical reaction around here. But there were only rocks, lingering snow, and ice-covered mountains around us. "Well, that''s strange." * * * * * * At that time, the real Jin, who is in Horai Island, had an idea. "The illusionary boundary ......" Yes, it was the wards that had been placed above the former Leonard''s Kingdom. An illusionary barrier that could deceive not only humans, but even the eyes of the golem that Jin had created. Jin remembered it. "Old man, what do you know about the illusionary wards? The 5th Quintas sent to the former Leonard''s Kingdom must have been investigating day and night. "I see. So?" < "And hearing?" The point is to reflect sound waves as if there were an object there. Some say that hearing is the second most useful of the human senses after sight. It is not directional like sight (less so) and does not have a blocking function such as meditating (you can cover your ears). Even in sleep, the sense of hearing can detect danger, followed by the sense of touch, which detects vibrations on the floor, and in rare cases, the sense of smell, which detects the smell of fire, etc. "Are you saying that they are illusions with substance?" < "So, how does it occur?" "Is that so? ......" It is possible for Jin to create optical illusions, but it is unlikely that he will be able to create acoustic illusions anytime soon. It seems to be a rather complex and sophisticated illusion. "I see." * * * * Okay, Rand One, activate the etherjammer. Roger that. For the first time, the etherjammer is put into action. At first, nothing seemed to change. But then, about a minute later... "Oh?" A part of the rocky hill where snow still remains has disappeared, and a huge cave has opened up. That seems to be the entrance. "Jin, Jin!What the hell did you do? Zion, who had been looking outside, shouted in surprise. "It seems there was a ward. I just tried to remove the wards. "Only?" ...... "Well, you''re a djinn, aren''t you?" But the cave is only 4 meters wide and 4 meters high, even though it is large. It is not big enough for Capricorn 1 to pass through. "Try turning off the jammer." "Yes, sir." But even when the ether jammer was turned off, the wards did not come back on. Jin wonders if there is some condition for this to happen, but he is in a cave. "I hope someone will notice that the wards are gone and come out," he said. But it did not seem to work out that way. He waited for about half an hour and no one came out. "I guess I''ll have to go check on them. ......" "Then I''ll go." Netros stepped forward. "I can protect myself. I know what''s going on." "......Yeah, right. ......Netros, will you go?" In this case, the members of Jin''s side would not be good, so there is no one else who would be suitable. Lucas is not ready for this. "Yes, Master Istaris. "Yes, Master Istaris. Netros opened the door and jumped down to the ground. He walks slowly toward the cave. Jin and the others watched from inside Capricorn 1. Five minutes passed as Netros disappeared into the cave, and then ten minutes passed. Jin and the others wait impatiently. Fifteen minutes passed. "What is that?" A figure moved at the entrance of the cave. "Netros ...... and who could it be?" One was definitely Netros. The other is a thin man of advanced age with pure white hair. His face is hard to make out from here. The man stands at the entrance of the cave, and only Netros walks back. He looks up at Capricorn 1 and waves his hand as if to say that he is okay. Jin lowers the main body of Capricorn 1 to the surface. With some caution, he opens the door, and Netros climbs in. I''m back. The cave was inhabited by the clans of the , as you guessed. Netros reported. "I explained to them briefly what has happened so far, and they said they would welcome us. They have a reason for the incitement and will explain it to us. He also said that he would like to hear our side of the story. "Yes, that''s good. ......!" "Oh, I''m so relieved!" Istaris and Zion are relieved. Reiko secretly asked how Netros was doing, but he didn''t seem to have been brainwashed. "Well, let''s leave Rand 1 in charge, and all the rest of us ...... will take Belialus and go to the <> clans. They may seem friendly now, but they may be the mastermind behind all this, so be on your guard. Jin concluded. No one objected. "All right, then, let''s take some food with us. Anne, let''s take about 100 kilograms of flour. "Yes, Goshujin-sama." Reiko, take some peach blossoms. Yes, Father. Jin (the double) also took some recovery medicine and Persica juice. Netros took Beliales, the prisoner of war, with him. "All right, let''s go. Land 1, after we leave, fall back 200 meters, put up a barrier and stand by." "Yes, sir." Thus, Jin and the others finally met a clan with whom they could talk, and they set out for the settlement. 527 - - 16-06 The Gospels As the group went outside and approached the cave, the man with Netros bowed to Jin. "Welcome, Magecraft Meister. My name is Alectus, caretaker of the clan." Alectus was lean, but had a strong build. He had what is called a "thin macho" physique. His hair was white, cropped short. His eyes were yellow. I had never seen such color before. "I am Jin Nido, Magecraft Meister. These are my automata, Reiko and Anne. This is Istaris of Morura. This is Theon of Morura. I am Lucas, Master Theon''s bodyguard. After Jin introduced himself, Istaris and the others introduced themselves in turn. "Well, it''s hard to talk calmly in a place like this. Please come inside. Alectus led the group into the cave. The cave is dimly lit. It was warm. "Is it some kind of ethereal luminous body (AL)?It''s too dim for that. ......" Jin muttered to himself, "It''s usually brighter than this. It''s because of what you did to me that it''s so dark. This made him flustered. "Well, I''m sorry about that. "Ha-ha, that''s all right. It''s because of that that I was able to confirm that you are a Magecraft Meister. After a few minutes of walking with such conversation, we came out into a large space. "This is the entrance hall, so to speak. We crossed the hall and passed through the front door, which led to a normal passageway. "They have carved out a rocky hill and turned it into a living space. I guess they can do this kind of thing since there is such a thing as magic. Here it is. We opened the wooden door and entered the so-called conference room. At the far end of the room sat an old man with gray hair. His eyes were yellow, a characteristic of his clan. His name is Fabius, the clan leader. Welcome, Master Magecraft Meister! * * * * The first meeting was brief. The first meeting was short, as it ended with a confirmation of the reason for Jin and the others coming to see the clan, and whether or not he was indeed a Magecraft Meister. The reason for the meeting is clear. Is it true that he is urging other clans to wage guerrilla warfare against humanity, and if so, what are his true intentions? As proof that Jin was a Magecraft Meister, I showed him Reiko and Anne, and showed him that they had a glimpse of ......<> performance, and he believed me without a second thought. "Surely you must be a magical engineer Magicraft Meister......, it is an honor to meet you." Fabius bowed his head to Jin. And as for the question of whether he was trying to bully other clans, he said, "I would say that I am both right and wrong," he answered vaguely. He replied vaguely, "It''s a long story. It''s a long story. It''s getting late at night. Let''s talk about it tomorrow. With these words, Fabius ended the meeting and had Jin and the others escorted to their rooms. The caretaker, Alexander, led the way. "Jin-dono, this room is for you. It was a simple but elegant room in a secluded place. It was a simple but elegant room in a secluded place, which did not look like it was carved out of a rock. The lack of windows barely indicates that we are in the middle of a rocky hill. Jin, Reiko, and Anne were naturally put in the same room. "Mister Istaris, Mister Zion, this way". The room next to Jin''s room. Of course, their guards, Netros and Lucas, were also in the same room. "You''ll have to wait about 30 minutes for dinner. ...... Yes, we will be very grateful for the food you have given us and we will share it with the clans. Thank you." With these final words, Alexas returned. "What do you think, Jin?" Sion had visited Jin''s room with Istaris. "Well, I don''t know yet. Jin had no choice but to answer. "I''m concerned that we don''t know the purpose or the reason why they are trying to turn on the other clans. "I think so too. I don''t think it would be beneficial to the demon tribe in any way. ......" The fact of the matter is that the total population of the demon tribe is 1,000 and the human population is about 1,000,000. It is normal to think that a war cannot be fought with a population ratio of 1,000 times. "Well, it is troubling that there is no way to do it. ......" Jin recalled the magical exhaustion fever and the gigantopods. It is not hard to imagine that both of them would have been quite a disaster if not for Jin. "I don''t know what to ...... think. We''ll have to ask him tomorrow for more information." "Yeah, well, that''s the only way to find out." "......And besides..." Istaris, who had remained silent until then, spoke up. "This situation reminds me of ...... that time." That time was when Istaris and Netros were poisoned and captured in the Kingdom of Franz. "Oh, I''ll be very careful." Jin (his double) nodded his head. The poison would not work, however. At that moment, Alectus came to call for him, saying that the meal was ready. Jin, the double, decided to accept the meal. In many ways, there might be something new to discover at the dinner table. "There is nothing here, but feel free to eat. Jin and the others were taken to a parlor-like room where they were served by Alectus and another woman. This is my wife, Milonia. "My name is Milonia, how do you do?" She appeared to be in her mid-thirties. She is a rather thin, elegant middle-aged woman. "I was in charge of cooking today. She explains the dish, mainly to Jin. This is called "Non," which is made by kneading flour, rolling it out thinly, and baking it. It is served with a sauce of your choice. The name resembles the Indian naan, but it is more like chapatti. There are two kinds of sauces: one is a mixture of crushed and boiled down flape, a fruit similar to a cocklebur, and the other is a mixture of seawater boiled down to a sludge and ground leafy vegetables. The latter recipe and appearance did not seem appetizing to Jin, so he used the flape sauce without hesitation. However, since I was a double doll, I could not taste the sauce. Even though she can''t taste it, Jin''s (double) mouth has an analytical function just like Reiko''s. According to the analysis, the poison can be detected. According to the results, no poison was detected. First of all, it is a relief. "Ah, it tastes so familiar..." Istaris and the others are smeared with the murky green sauce and eat it with relish. Jin wonders if the sauce is too salty, but it seems that the amount of leafy vegetables in the dish is not too salty. He is served with grilled meat. It is said to be the meat of a herbivorous animal called snow gazelle that lives in the northern mountains. It tastes light and is said to be similar to mountain lions. "I am ashamed to say that this is the best I can do. Thank God for the flour." Hearing this, Jin (his double) reduced the amount of food he was eating to the extent that it would not be unnatural. After the meal, tea was served, so-called herb tea. It is made from herbs that grow in the mountains above here. Again, the substitute doll (double) could not taste it. Jin only commented on the tea as he looked at the faces of Zion and the others. After the meal, there is nothing more to do but to relax in the room allocated to him. Taking advantage of this time, Jin (his double), though feeling sorry for himself, processes the food he has eaten by <> and flushes it down the washroom. * * * * * * "What about them?" ?Are they real? Yes, I''m almost certain of it. < "Yes, as the lore goes, the Magecraft Meister has different skills than we do." <<< If we can make use of it, good. If they are hostile, ......>> "If we are hostile, then we must be punished?" "But he did seem easy to deal with." "Yes, I understand. Everything will be ready tomorrow." < 528 - - 16-07 History The morning of August 17th came. "Mister Jin, are you awake? The nights are short in the summer at high latitudes. At 7:00 a.m. local time, Alectus came to tell Jin and the others that breakfast was ready. At this time of the day, it was the old man who was operating Jin''s double. "Oh, good morning." When Jin, Reiko and Anne went out into the passage, Istaris and the others had just come out when Milonia called out to them. They were shown to the same room as last night. Breakfast was already laid out on the table. The menu did not look much different from the previous night, except for what appeared to be grilled fish instead of meat. "I am ashamed to say that we are also in a food shortage," said Milonia a little regretfully. Milonia said a little regretfully. Jin and of course Istaris and Zion are aware of this, so they don''t think anything of it. "......This juice you gave us is wonderful. I drank it yesterday, and everyone says that you are indeed a Magecraft Meister. It seems that the special Persica juice made in Horai Island has a good reputation. "I really want to be friends with the Magecraft Meister. After finishing breakfast while chatting about such things, the main topic of conversation finally begins. "I''m sorry, but after-dinner tea will be served in the conference room, so could you please move?" At the request of Alectus, Jin and the others moved to the conference room. The old man called Jin, who was working on something in his workshop, to see if the mystery would finally be solved. Just as Jin came from the workshop and took the pilot''s seat, the meeting room was filled with the following words. "Sorry for the rush after breakfast, but I''d like to finish this kind of talk as soon as possible. Fabius, the clan leader, began. In attendance were three members of the clan: Fabius, Alectus, and Milonia. "First of all, you mentioned that we might be trying to coax other clans into joining the human race." Jin stared at the magic screen of Horai Island with bated breath. "First, let me explain our background. Then you will better understand our position. Focusing on Jin, Fabius began to speak slowly. "According to the lore of our clan, they originally lived south of the Pazdext isthmus." "What?" In the first place, the war against mankind, you call it the War of Magic,......, before the War of Magic, there was not such a rupture between the demon tribe and mankind as there is now. Indeed, Jin thought, there was such a story in the lore that Vivian had told him. "This is ...... a valuable story." ? Jin heard someone other than himself muttering, and he turned around in surprise. Vivian, Stearina, and Erza were there, looking into the magic screen. Saki and Toa arrived a little later. "Did I scare you?I am sorry. I looked into the workshop, but I couldn''t find Mr. Jin who was supposed to be there. "Oh, well, maybe you should ask the others. Once again, Jin and his family members stared at the magic screen. "In the first place, why did we and the human race fall out? We live in different habitats, so there should be no territorial disputes. Fabius broke off and looked into Jin''s eyes. "It was in the product," he said. "The product?" "A product?" "Yes. What we want is in the land of mankind, and what mankind wants is in our land. "...... food and magi crystals, I suppose." This is a statement by Istaris. Jin was thinking the same thing. "Yes. Moreover, we have magic technology that is several steps ahead of mankind''s." Fabius said proudly, but with a slightly sad look on his face. "...... is exactly right, <>," he said. All the listeners wondered if he had stuck to the past tense, but at the same time Fabius continued with some bitterness. "We can use them now, but we cannot create them, or even repair them," he said. "Is that because of the ...... magic war?" No, it is not. Magical technology itself has existed since much older than 1000 years ago. It is estimated to be more than 2000 years old." 2000 years? Yes, for more than 2000 years we have had superior magical technology. But after so many years, we could no longer use it or even fix it. That was 1000 years ago. A thousand years ago was the time of the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. "As you may have guessed, a woman by the name of Adriana Barbora Zetsi visited this place around that time. Even Jin had never heard of her. "They say she was a beautiful woman. She was said to have antique gold hair that fell to her back and shiny steeple-colored eyes that shone with a clear light. She was accompanied by a follower with jet-black hair." Reiko shook her head slightly as Jin looked at her. Reiko shook her head slightly, for she had no such memory. "And she stayed there for about six months, during which time she repaired all the broken and damaged magical tools. When I asked her what she got in return, she replied, "The fact that I was able to do such an interesting job was payback in itself. Somehow, Jin felt as if he understood the feeling. "That is why we treat Magecraft Meisters with respect. Jin imagined that the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, had probably made her skills her own while repairing the magical tools of the demon tribe. Jin wondered what kind of person her predecessor had been who had analyzed and made magic technology that even its owner, the demon tribe, had lost track of. Reiko was also deeply moved to hear the story of her , whom she did not know. "It was our clan that welcomed her at that time. Other clans came from time to time, but it was we who knew her best. But I think we are the ones who know her best. Now it was clear why Jin, or rather, the Magecraft Master, was accepted by the demon tribe. The existence of the Magecraft Meister was a benefactor, so to speak, to the demon tribe. Now, where did this magical technology come from?This was the question we all had. And it was Adriana Barbora Zetsi who helped us figure it out. Jin, or rather everyone listening in Horai Island, listened. "One of the magic tools she repaired for me had such a memory. This is something we found out after she left this place. It was some kind of memory device that stored official records. Jin imagined such a thing. "To my surprise, our ancestors came from the sky. "What? Zion shouted in surprise. Istaris stood frozen, his mouth hanging open. "...... Jin-dono doesn''t seem to be surprised much, does he?Did you know about this? "No, I have only heard of something similar in our lore. I had no idea it was true. I didn''t think it was true. ...... So, they say that our ancestors from the sky and the ancestors of mankind are the same. "What?" It was a shocking story. It was true that the physical structure of the demon tribe and human beings were the same, but Jin had never imagined that they had shared the same ancestors. At best, he thought that they must have mixed blood at some point. "I cannot answer the question, what is the difference between us and humans? I can only say that it has arisen during the long years we have been living separately." "......" Jin, Zion, and Istaris were speechless. Fabius'' narrative continues. "If we share the same ancestors, we should be able to form a friendship. It is not surprising to think so. And for a while after that, we and the humans had been interacting and getting along reasonably well. Until ......300 years ago." At that moment, Fabius'' face suddenly changed. His eyes widened and his complexion turned pale. His forehead was covered with greasy sweat, and his body began to convulse. The two men on either side of him, Alectus and Myronia, were in a similar state. "...... Ugh, shit!" "What''s going on?" "They''ve figured out ...... the ...... beginning ...... of the ............ land... ..." After saying these words, Fabius shut his mouth. Then suddenly the door to the conference room rattled open. "What?" Standing there were six golems, black-gray and shiny. Six of them. As soon as they recognized Jin and the others, they stormed into the room. 529 - - 16-08 Escape and Prisoner of War "Geez!What are you doing!" What are they doing?What are you doing to Master Istaris? No!Lucas, help! Master Theon!Let go of me! Six golems, each less than two meters tall, came crashing into the scene. They moved slowly, but caught Istaris and Theon by surprise when they were sitting down. Netros and Lucas, who were indeed their bodyguards, quickly ducked, but they could do nothing if their master was captured. Then, two of them attacked Jin, aiming at the double doll. What are you doing? "I will not tolerate unreasonableness!" Reiko and Anne fight off one golem each. The golem that Anne swatted away slammed into the wall, and the golem that Reiko blasted away shattered into pieces. "What in the world is going on?" Jin was indeed unable to keep up with the sudden change in the situation. "In this case, there''s nothing we can do... Reiko, get the etherjammer! Yes, Father! Reiko''s built-in etherjammer activates. The golem holding Istaris and Zion stops. But at the same time, the two, or rather, Netros, Lucas, and even begin to moan in pain. Call it an ether deficiency. "This is not good. ...... Reiko, Anne, hurry up and disable the rest of the golems." With this instruction, the remaining four Golems were scattered and rolled on the floor within seconds. Jin orders Reiko to deactivate the ether jammer. "...... wind." Istaris and the others let out a sigh. For humans, it was like being suddenly transported to the top of the Chomolungma. The oxygen level is less than one-third. No wonder they have trouble breathing. It is said that something similar happens with free magic element (ether). In the case of human beings, the dependence on free ether is low, so the effect on their physical condition is probably minimal. Fabius seems to have fallen down and fainted. "d*mn... ......" "Ugh. ......" Alectus and Milonia seem to be conscious. Jin thought quickly and gave instructions to Anne. "Anne, take Alectus into custody." "Yes, ma''am." Anne twisted up Alectus'' arm. "Reiko, he''s paralyzed!" "Yes, father!" Anne paralyzes Alectus, who is holding her down. They want to take him hostage. Keep Milonia paralyzed. Jin ordered, not to make a fuss. Fabius is also paralyzed, just in case. "All right, let''s get out of here. As they moved the broken door and stepped out into the passageway, four men and women, who must be members of the <> clan, stared at Jin and the others. Their faces were pale and lifeless. Jin felt a little uncomfortable, but he decided to get out of there. "Get out of the way! What do you care what happens to Alectus?" But the four men did not seem to hear him, and they all jumped at him at once. "<>" "Gah!" "Gee!" Reiko quickly released a Paralyze spell that instantly paralyzed all four of them. "You said there were about ten <> clans. That means there are two or three more. Be on your guard. Just as Jin said this, two young men jumped out from the shadows of the passageway, brandishing sticks. "<>" "Ggh!" "Gee!" But Reiko''s reaction time is so fast that it''s as if she''s standing still. She was easily paralyzed. Netros, Istaris, Zion, Lucas, Jin, Anne and Anne''s partner, Alexas, and Reiko, in that order, proceeded down the passageway. Eventually, they came to a familiar exit. "We must be at the exit. It seems to be cloudy and dimly lit outside. "......It''s cold." Istaris and Zion shivered. < clan residence was heated to about 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit), but it was chilly outside, with temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit), and I was chilly in my room clothes. I didn''t have time to get a jacket. We''ll have a change of clothes when we get back to Capricorn 1," Jin encouraged them. Jin encouraged them and told Reiko to contact Land 1 at Capricorn 1. "Father, they''ll be here soon." I was a little worried that something might have happened during the night, but Land 1 does not sleep and Capricorn 1 has a barrier. In addition, there was an air surveillance system in the sky above, so there was no way it could have happened. Within a minute, Capricorn 1 arrived, and the group breathed a sigh of relief as they boarded. "Land 1, get out of here as fast as you can!" For the time being, Jin decided to keep his distance from the clan settlement. At 20 kilometers per hour for 30 minutes, he stopped about 10 kilometers away. Alectus is strapped into the auxiliary seat, Reiko is ready to activate at any time, and Anne is ready with an ether jammer. Having taken all these precautions, Jin cast on Alectus, waking him up. "U......" Alektas opens his eyes, seemingly not knowing where he is or why he is here. "You''ve noticed. Why are the clans of the attacking us?They were so friendly until this morning. To Jin''s question, Alectus answered with silence. "I''m also curious about the sudden change in attitude. I''m sure there''s a reason for it." "......" Still, Alectus remained silent. "What about the possibility of slavery magic?" "Father, after using <>, it is highly unlikely. The effect is milder than <>, but I think it will break most of the brainwashing." "Wait a minute. You mean you can break the slavery magic with ?" Istaris joined the conversation. "In our case, there is a magic that can disarm it. ......" "I see. So you can use it? I can disarm it. Try it." But Istaris shook his head. "No, Mr. Alectus, you''re not under any servitude spell." "Of course not. ......" <. Either it''s a different kind of servitude magic or ....... "I wish there was a magic that could cancel any kind of magic. ......" The murmur was uttered both by Jin (his double) in Capricorn 1 and by Jin himself in Horai Island. "If it is not magic, is it a magic tool after ......?" Anne said. "Let''s assume that he is being manipulated, but if it is not magic or some other art, then it must be some kind of magical tool, right? That is the logical conclusion. Jin nodded. "If it is a magic tool,...... Reiko,<>." "Yes, father. <>" Reiko examines the flow of magic power of the bound alektus. For a few tens of seconds it is done and ....... "There is an unusual concentration of magic power in Mr. Alectus'' chest and behind his ears. As soon as she heard those words, Alectus went berserk. He stormed out, threatening to break the seat to which he was strapped. His skin bled as it chafed against the ropes that bound him. "No!Reiko! Yes! Immediately, Reiko applies Paralyze to Alectus again. Finally, Alectus stops his rampage. "......What the hell is going on?" Jin tilts his head. The others were also pondering what had happened. It was Anne who broke the silence. "Goshujin-sama, please deploy the as soon as possible. "Okay. Land 1! Roger that. A magic barrier is deployed around Capricorn 1. It will block all intermediate level magic and withstand advanced magic. "Thank you very much. Thank you for deploying the magic barrier first because it was a waste of time. The reason for this is that there was a possibility that the conversation here might have been eavesdropped by the magic barrier. 530 - - 16-09 Probes "Eavesdropping?" Anne''s comment made Jin sound surprised. But then he thought back that it was not so surprising, since he had such a means himself. He tried to find out about the unusual concentration of magical power that Reiko had found. But Jin (his double) could not understand it. "If only Elsa were here ...... No, we can''t let her cross the dangerous bridge now ...... right!" I thought of the mini-craftsman (Smith) I had with me. He should be able to do a precision job that is one sixteenth of Jin''s. Smith, activate. "Hi, master." Jin activates one of the 10 cm tall miniature smiths. Istaris and Zion rolled their eyes. "What?What is this?" "It''s ...... cute." "I don''t have time to explain now. ...... mini-craftsman Smith, check it out." "Hi, master." The mini craftsman (smith) gets on Alectus''s shoulder and first touches him behind the ears. Then he lies down and examines his chest. Duration: 2 minutes. "Behind the ears, under the skin, there are magic tools. The one in the chest reached the heart. There is magic power coming out of both of them, and they are connected to somewhere. I don''t know where it is at the moment. The magic barrier is deployed, so the connection by the magic power must be broken. But now we know that the magic tool has some kind of influence on Alectus. Can you get it out? "Yes, the one behind the ear will be quick. The one in the chest will take longer. It seems that it is not easy to remove the one that has reached the heart. Maybe this is where Elsa comes in. "Okay, take out the one behind the ear." First, Jin took out that one to see what kind of magic tool it was. Depending on the result, he would decide whether to call Erza or send Alectus to Horai Island to deal with it. "Master, it''s done!" In about a minute, the mini-craftsman (Smith) has taken out the magical tool in question. It is a needle-like tool about 2 cm long and 1 mm thick. After the removal, there was a reddish blot of blood, but it was healed without a trace with a beginner-level healing spell, <>. "Now, what kind of magic tool is this probe ......?" I decided to let the mini craftsman (Smith) analyze it as well. In about two minutes, it was done. "I understand. This transmits the master''s instructions to the wearer, and also sends the voice heard by the wearer to the master. This surprised Jin on Horai Island. Furthermore, the information read by <> is presented. "I see. ......" The old form of the Magi Formula is lined up. These formulas look older than their predecessors. But their purpose and results are clear. It is one half of a magical tool for controlling the wearer. "In this case, we''d better take out the magical tool that is said to have reached the heart as soon as possible. ...... The Horaijima members who had gathered around the pilot''s seat of the substitute doll (double) had dispersed after the commotion was over and they had simply moved on. Erza had also gone somewhere, so Jin asked the old man to call him again. "Brother Jin, what is it?What''s going on?" After about 2 minutes, Elsa comes out. "Yes. As a matter of fact. ......" Erza''s face turned serious as Jin explained. "...... implanting a magic tool in her heart and manipulating it?" "Yeah. That''s probably what it is." "That''s just evil." I agree. Erza said that she would take out the magic device at any cost, so Jin instructed Reiko of Capricorn 1 to send Alectus to the relay base, , using the warp gate. Jin, in cooperation with Erza, prepared necessary items. Jin worked with Elsa to prepare what was needed, which was only recovery medicine and magical tools for healing. Five minutes later, Jin and Erza met up with Alectus and Reiko, who had brought him to the Shinkai. They are accompanied by a mini-craftsman (Smith) with a probe that they have extracted. Incidentally, in order to connect the warp gate between Capricorn 1 and <, the magic barrier had to be lifted for a moment. Also, the magic barrier is now deployed here in . That''s how careful they are. "Erza, please hurry up, we are wasting time. Since Capricorn 1 does not inform Istaris and the others about the warp gate, they must think that Reiko has entered the small room to treat Alexas. "Yes, I know." With Jin and Reiko assisting her, Elsa began to remove the < embedded in Alectus. "......<>...... got it. The probe is stuck near the coronary artery of the heart. If you force it out, you will have a big hemorrhage." Elsa thought for a moment about how to treat it. She came to a conclusion. "There is no need for anesthesia because the patient is <>. < and at the same time pull out the probe at once without damaging the surrounding tissue. Again, this is where the mini-craftsman (Smith) comes in. "May I?......3,2,1,0.<>" As Elsa counts down, the mini-craftsman (Smith) pulls out the probe at once. Thanks to the healing magic applied at the same time, the bleeding was negligible and the procedure was completed. All right, Reiko, take him to Capricorn One. "Yes, Father." Jin says to Reiko as she heads for the warp gate with Alectus on her back. "I''m counting on you." Hearing this, Reiko smiles and walks through the warp gate. What is she doing? What is she doing? Meanwhile, inside Capricorn 1, Zion waited impatiently. "It''s difficult to perform the surgery unless it''s germ-free," Anne explained. Anne explained, but Zion did not seem to understand. "Don''t worry, it will be over soon. "It''s been 10 minutes since you said that. It''s really almost over. In the middle of this exchange, the door to the small room with the warp gate opened. "It''s done. We have successfully extracted the magic tool ......<>." The mini craftsman (Smith) on Reiko''s shoulder holds up the probe and shows it to her. To avoid any suspicion, he hurriedly finished analyzing the removed probe and entrusted it to Reiko and the others again. "This probe seems to be operated from the master''s side, and it seems to cause pain to the heart. "What? Zion shouted loudly. Jin knew exactly how he felt. "Calm down. I''ve already taken it out. That''s why he should be free from the slavery now. Just to be sure, he strapped her to the auxiliary seat again, albeit loosely, and gave her a <> to wake her up. "U......" "How are you feeling?I''ve taken out the magic tools that were implanted in you, right?" Jin says to Alektas as he opens his eyes. He flutters his eyes and shakes his head repeatedly. And then, "Thank you, Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono. My head feels lighter. "After all, you were controlled by that magic tool, weren''t you?" Yes. < It was just as evil a magical tool as I had expected. "All the members of the clan, even the children, were implanted with it, so that they could not resist." I''m sorry," apologizes Alexus. Jin ordered Reiko to untie the rope. "Thank you for believing in me." Untied, Alectus bowed his head again. "I did not hear much of the this morning, so I thought I could welcome Jin-dono and the others and tell them of our plight, but I guess I was naive. It seems that the rulers are not always on the watch. Not even Jin himself is always in control of his double. By the way, Jin-dono, are you feeling all right? "What?Yes. There is no change in the condition of the substitute doll. I hope that''s all right. Actually, I gave Jin-dono a dose this morning, but I don''t know how I could have disabled it. I hope he is all right." "......" "I only drugged Jin-dono to draw him to our side, and I apologize for that. "I''m sure everything is fine now." Since he was a double, any poison would have no effect on him. Once again, Jin patted his chest. 531 - - 16-10 The Beginning Family "But I didn''t realize that I had been enslaved in such a way..." muttered Istaris with a sigh. Istaris muttered with a sigh. "It''s a shame." "No, it''s not good if all the clans are suffering the same thing. "But then, ......" Netros muttered as he made a sullen face. "Does that mean that the <> clans suffered the same thing?" "Yes, I suppose so. It doesn''t take long to implant a <>. It doesn''t take long to implant a needle, just put something like a long, thin tube against your chest and it will be implanted in an instant. The same goes for behind the ears." "Who did it?" I don''t know. ...... Then when was it implanted? "Well, I can only speculate, but you know that the clan leaders met half a month ago at the clan meeting?I think it might have been at that time. But Istaris didn''t seem to know. "I don''t ...... know. It seems to have happened after we left." This probably saved Istaris and Theon, Netros and Lucas from being ruled over. Theon broke off the conversation. "I think we should talk about what we are going to do." "Yes. You''re right. "As far as I''m concerned, I''d like my entire clan to be freed from this <>. ......" With a scowl, Alektas said. "It is the same for me. < freed as well." While Alectus and Istaris wished to be liberated, Zion expressed a pragmatic opinion. "But it''s not easy, is it?I don''t know who or what they are, but I don''t think they will stand by and watch their enslaved people be freed. I wonder how long it will take. ......" "I think it would be better to hit the source first here." The discussion among the demon clans was getting underway, and then Anne offered her opinion. "You mean we should find the person who implanted the <> and do something about it?" Theon said with a frown on his well-shaped brow. "Can we do that?First we have to find him. And even if we do find him, I don''t think we''re a match for someone who uses a . ...... Istaris said unsurely. "I think it depends on how you do it. You don''t have to face them head on." Anne says matter-of-factly. "We can find out where they are, sneak in, and neutralize them." It''s a bit rough, but with the amount of information we have now, it''s the only way, I added. "How do we find them?" "Let''s just say that there is a way to do that. After all, Goshujin-sama is a Magecraft Meister." "......" After a moment of silence, Istaris nodded. "We have to try, don''t we? ...... Jin-sama, can you do it for me?" "I''ll make a request too. "I ask you too, Magecraft Meister, Jin-sama. I beg you. I know. Jin had a hunch that this problem was probably not limited to the demons. He had a vague feeling that if this issue was not settled properly, the human race would eventually be affected. The first thing we need to do is to find out where they are. "But how?" Jin says nonchalantly, while Alektas is skeptical. "The needle you removed must still be connected by magic to the unknown. We can follow that line." "I see. ......" "I will not answer the question of how, yet. Believe me that it can be done. It is the old man who is now piloting Jin''s double. Jin might have told him that there is a Magi Detector, but the old man was very careful in this respect. He instructed Land 1 to measure the direction of the magic power. It was about due north. "Okay, let''s move a little to the east and measure again. This is the basic of surveying. As a matter of fact, since the island of Horai Island has a much more sophisticated magic detector (Magi Radar) than the Magi Detector, the old man already knew the location of the mysterious being. However, he had Capricorn 1 himself make the measurement, although it was a double effort, because he could improve the accuracy by making the measurement again at the site. "North-northwest." Where the two lines intersect, that is the location of the target. Jin locates the location on the simplified map. "This is it. It''s on the other side of the mountain here. When Jin points to the simplified map, Alexus'' eyes widen. "...... where it all began: ......" "What?" "...... that is . Then it was the < that did this. ......" "The place of beginnings. That''s the name of the place that was mentioned in the information I got from Belialus." < lived closest to this place. "Oh, so they are the source of the problem. Jin looked up from the map and stared out the window at the mountains to the north. At any rate, now he had a clear goal. "First, let''s go to the place where it all began. We can talk about what to do on the way." "Okay." "Yes, I have no objection." So Capricorn 1 sets off for the mountains to the north. "What do you know about the Clan of the Beginning?" Leaving the piloting to Land 1, Jin and the others continued their discussion. "Yes. ...... They are said to have old technology." Alexus answered. "Old technology?" "Yes. A magical technology that our distant ancestors were said to have had. "......" This is valuable information, older than the clan, which claims to have technology that is over 2,000 years old. The old man tried to supplement it with the old tale Vivian had told him. Ancestors of humans and demons who came to this planet by a ship in the sky. The followers who are almost the same as human ...... = automata. If we put it like this, it makes sense. So far, Jin cannot build a either. Then, it is possible that the technology of his ancestors is a terrible thing. "We have to be very careful when making contact." The old man decided that he needed to plan for the possibility that the technology could be more advanced than Jin''s. "Yes, I agree. But is the really that dangerous?" Anne asked curiously. "No, I have never met them. Sorry," bowed Alexas. "We, the clans of the <>, only knew that the <> lived nearby. And the <> contacted us only by voice. And that too, irregularly." The clan of the <> has had such a magical tool for a long time, and from time to time, advice comes from it. Hence, they must be the clan of the . But here is a question. How is it that the <> is able to procure food without communicating with any other clans, while other clans are suffering from food shortages? "If it is also thanks to magical technology..." Istaris says with a difficult look on her face. "I wonder if we are a match for such an opponent. ......" "You''re a weakling, sister. It''s not a question of whether or not we can defeat them, but of what we have to do for the sake of our clan. Zion is positive. "Yes, you''re right. ......" "It''s not like we''re going to be enemies from the start." As they were talking about this. "There''s a ward on the way." Land 1 reported. 532 - - 16-11 Undercover In Capricorn 1 stopped in front of the warding . "Warding?Do you know what they are?" "Yes. It is a detection field. If it is crossed, it will probably send an alarm to the user. We were about two kilometers from our destination. If we go any further, we''ll be noticed. What are we going to do? "We just have to get past the wards in a way that they don''t react to us. Anne said nonchalantly. "How in the world are we going to do that? ......" "It''s easy. The boundary touches the ground but does not extend into the earth. All you have to do is dig through the ground to get to the other side. "I see. ......" Basically, wards have the same characteristics. If the ground is cut by an attack, it instantly spreads to cover the area, but does not reach the ground. "However, it is not realistic to dig a hole big enough for this Capricorn 1 to pass through. Anne, who is the chief strategist of the operation, makes a precise plan. "Me and Reiko. And I''d like one more person from the demon tribe to come. "Then I''ll go." The candidate is Alexus. <. He knows the situation well. Istaris and the others had no objection. Jin (his double) remained in Capricorn 1 to provide logistical support. In about 30 minutes, the hole that leads to the other side of the barrier is completed. It took this long because we did it as quietly as possible so as not to be noticed by the noise and vibration. I''m off then. Take care. I''m off. Take care, Mr. Alexas. May God put an end to this mess. And then the three of them disappeared through the hole to the other side of the ward. Reiko took Momoka and Anne took the Vibration Sword. All that remains is to wait. * * * * * * "I didn''t know that was going to happen." has. I have called you here because I think we should be very careful. <, was because he had a feeling that the climax of the expedition was approaching at last. It is an irony born of technology that we can get more detailed information here in distant Horai Island than the members in Capricorn 1. "Reiko, Anne, and the demon Alectus, huh? In front of Jin was a that had been sent to him through a warp gate. "Indeed, such a small object with such a heinous function." Most of the mana for the operation is supplied by the body of the wearer ...... victim. Now that it has been removed, the supply of mana has stopped. In other words, we can imagine that the wearer is considered to have died. All that remained was a weak connection of magic power lines. "It''s a good thing this can''t send visual information, isn''t it?" Muttering to himself, Jin gazed at the images sent in conjunction with Reiko''s eyes. * * * * The land in front of him is covered with frozen ice. The average temperature in summer is 1 degree Celsius, and the area is covered with snow for a million years. The accuracy of Reiko and Anne''s magic detection function is lower than that of Capricorn 1''s magi-detector. Therefore, they were moving in a somewhat zigzag manner while checking the location of their destination. They were moving in a somewhat zigzag manner, checking the location of their destination, while surrounding themselves with a < ward, including Alectus. Since the <> could not provide optical concealment, they wore white cloth like ponchos as a protective color. "...... is about 500 meters away." There is nothing in the direction the group is going. Just a white plain with gentle undulations. "It must be subterranean." It''s quite possible, considering the weather conditions. Let''s keep going. 400 meters to go, 300 meters to go, 200 meters to go. 400 meters to go. ....... Please stop. Reiko said, about 150 meters before the destination. "It looks like a second boundary." I threw a piece of ice that had fallen at my feet, and it bounced back in the air, where nothing seemed to be there. "It''s a physical defense." <>. <, magic power would not be able to pass through it. "How would it pass through?Do we have to dig the ground again?" "Yes. It won''t take long, since there is snow and ice here. At Anne''s suggestion, we start digging in the snow under our feet. However, Anne has done most of the digging. Her improved and strengthened physical abilities are no mean feat. After digging a 10-meter hole under the snow, the group finally approaches the core of the site. "About 100 meters to go, right? Ahead of us is a gently rising snowfield. What could be hidden under there? Metal? Reiko''s shoes felt something different from a rock. She bends down and pulls away the snow to reveal a silvery-gray skin. "Mithril?...... No, it''s an unknown metal." Reiko thought about using magic to search for it, but decided against it for fear of being detected. "It''s definitely close. At Anne''s words, Alectus braced himself. "If this is the and the < lives underground, there must be a way in and out. Anne looked around. "But Mister Anne, with such a large area, isn''t it difficult to find a way in and out?" Alectus looked anxious, but Anne looked cool. "Lady, please use your to search the surroundings. If you find a high temperature area, that area is suspicious. "Yes, sir." Reiko''s eyes are equipped with various functions. is what we call thermography. It can detect the temperature distribution of the surroundings in different colors. Reiko probes the area for about a minute, but concludes that there is no change. "Well, let''s move a little." Reiko moved about 50 meters to the center of the destination and did the same thing. "......2, there is an area with a high temperature. "Let''s check it out." We start to investigate from the nearest location. "......Oh, this is just a plant growing here." Nearby was an area where cold-resistant, lichen-like vegetation thrived. "Let''s check another spot." It was a flat snowfield. But there was something unnatural about it. "It''s a beautiful circle, isn''t it, miss?" "Yes. Yes. The temperature is higher in a circle. About 2 degrees higher than the others. Anne and Reiko are talking. Alektas is not following. "Could there be a hatch?" "That''s very likely. Let''s move the snow out of the way. Reiko and Anne started to move the snow out of the way. Alexus rushed to help them, but she said, "You''re in my way. "You''re in my way. Please stay still." Reiko said, "You''re in my way! Three minutes passed. "...... is definitely a hatch." A round metal hatch about 2 meters in diameter was right in front of them. "Do you know what the mechanism is?" "Probably." A square compartment on the side of the hatch. The lid was opened by hooking it with a finger. Inside was a lever. If you move this lever, the hatch will probably open. "Yes. Before we do that, let''s discuss again what we should do. 533 - - 16-12 Old Facilities "...... father, I''m sure you''d like to see it for yourself." Reiko muttered in front of the hatch. Jin, who was on Horai Island, agreed inwardly. "...... First, when the hatch is opened, wait for one minute. Then you will go ahead of us." Anne explains the plan. I''ll take care of it. If there''s no immediate danger, we''ll get on board. Yes, I understand. We don''t have enough information to say more than that. But I can say that we would like to proceed peacefully. No one objected to that either. "Okay, I''ll open it." Anne operated the lever. As she had guessed, it was an opening/closing device, and the hatch slowly opened upward. The diameter of the gaping hole was about the same as the hatch, about 2 meters in diameter. No lights seemed to be on. The three of us stood about three meters away from the hatch and watched. But nothing happens, and nothing comes out. "It''s been a minute. I''m off." Reiko, with Momoka on her back, quickly disappears into the hole. Two minutes passed. "So far there seems to be nothing wrong. Let''s go, too." "What?Still no word from Reiko? Alexus wonders. However, Reiko and the old man are communicating with each other by manacam, and the same is true between the old man and Anne. Therefore, it is natural that Reiko and Anne can communicate with each other via the old man. "I and the lady can keep in touch with each other. Anne only answered him. Without further questions, they jumped in through the hatch that opened. The vertical hole was about five meters long. A simple ladder was attached to the hatch, which was probably an emergency doorway. "Or perhaps an air intake shaft: ......" The two quickly descended the ladder, from which a passageway extended to the left and right. The interior was brightly lit with what appeared to be ether luminescent (AL) lighting. Reiko can be seen at the far end of one of the corridors. It seems that she is going in the direction of the destination. ...... But what is this passage?The floor, walls and ceiling are made of metal. ......" Alektas whispered. Anne went silently to Reiko. A short time later, Alectus arrived. "There''s no sign of anyone at all. The magical response is coming from down the road. ......" Reiko''s explanation made Ann nod her head. And her next words astonished even Alectus. "I have never seen this metal ...... before." Reiko touched the wall for a moment and then gave the results of her analysis. "What?" "I suspect that your father has never seen a metal like this either." "Even the Magecraft Meister doesn''t know about this kind of metal?" "That''s what I mean. I wonder who made it. Anne answered Alectus'' question. And almost at the same time, Reiko shouted. "Stop!" "What?" Right in front of the three of them, a door slid out from the wall and blocked their way. At the same time, the back side of the room was also blocked by the door. "I''m trapped! "It''s not hard to break through a door like this. ......" Reiko muttered as she lightly tapped on the door. A yellowish-green gas drifts up from the ceiling. Reiko instantly judges it. "An!You and Alectus, set up a full protection ward!" At the sound of her voice, Anne, without hesitation and without questioning why, put up a full protective ward. It is an impermeable barrier against all gases, liquids, and solids. Therefore, it should also shut out poisonous gases. On the other hand, there is a limit to the amount of oxygen inside. For Anne, but for Alectus, time was limited. "...... sounds like a poisonous gas." Reiko muttered after the gas. "......It is definitely chlorine gas." Chlorine is an element with atomic number 17, which irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract, causing coughing and vomiting. It is a poisonous gas used in World War I. It can also cause death from respiratory failure. It is heavier than air, making it deadly to soldiers holed up in trenches. To neutralize it safely, we need sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3), also called hypo, but we don''t have such a substance here (hypo is a dealkalizer used to keep goldfish and tropical fish in tap water. Therefore, Jin knew about it and so do Reiko and Ro-kun). "The vent is ...... that one. !" Reiko, calmly assessing the situation, first melted the vent and sealed it. Next was the chlorine in the air. "......" She contacts the old man, and plans countermeasures. "Chlorine gas is absorbed by water. I see, ...... please." Reiko took the advice from the old man and expected his help. Immediately a huge block of ice was transferred. "You are indeed an old man. First of all, let''s melt this ice. ......<" The ice, about one cubic meter in size, melts and becomes water. Reiko heats it up further. Steam is rising in the air. This air-filled steam absorbs chlorine gas and becomes a mixture of hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid. This mixture is highly acidic. Reiko then pulls out a peach blossom and thrusts it deeply into the floor. The unknown metal on the floor was only as strong as a piece of cardboard before Reiko''s force and Momoka''s strength, and she was able to make a hole easily. The highly acidic water flowed out through the hole, and soon the air inside the sealed room became harmless. "You are not to be underestimated. Let me open this door first." Reiko, with Momoka at the ready, fired a series of four blows. Twice horizontally, twice vertically. The metal of the door was sliced open like paper, and a square hole was created. Fresh air rushed into the room. For the first time, Anne had released her protective wards. Alectus is stunned, unable to comprehend what has happened. "The poisonous air was flowing, so I asked Anne to protect me with her warding, and in the meantime, I made the poisonous air harmless. Reiko explained very simply. "Ha,ha,...... as expected of the Magecraft Meister, an automata of the Magecraft Meister. ......" "Anyway, let''s move on. Let''s just move on... with more care. And so the three of us continued down the passageway. At the end of the passage was a vertical hole with a spiral staircase leading down. "I guess we''ll just have to go down there." Reiko probes with the built-in magi-detector. Although it is a simplified version, it is practical enough to detect the presence or absence of magic power at a short distance. "There doesn''t seem to be any magical traps. Saying this, Reiko takes the lead this time and steps into the spiral staircase. This time it was only a four-meter descent to the next floor. This floor was also brightly lit by etheric luminescent (AL) lamps. For the moment nothing happened, so Reiko called Anne and Alectus. "Another passage, isn''t it, lady?" "Yes. It seems that our destination is a little lower down. "Does that mean it''s deep underground?" That''s what I''m saying. After waiting for a minute and nothing happened, the group stepped into the passage that stretched out in front of them. After about 15 meters, the passage turned to the right. There was not a single door on the way. Please stop! Reiko, the leader of the group, called out. From that point on, the floor changed color. The floor had been gray before, but now it was painted purple. "What do you think is there?" I don''t think it''s just a landmark. It is reasonable to think that it indicates some kind of meaningful boundary. "Lady, shall I throw something?" "Yes. Okay then." Reiko''s body has a function to process, solidify, and store food. It can be used as a kind of weapon. But in this case, I decided to use it just for research. A ball about one centimeter in diameter was ejected from Reiko''s mouth. The ball fell down to the purple floor in a parabolic line, and as soon as it touched the floor, it was ....... !!!!" A blue spark shot out, and the ball turned black and scattered on the floor. 534 - - 16-13 Dungeon "Lightning magic, I guess." Reiko, seeing the blue sparks, made a judgment. Since purple is also the color of lightning, both Anne and Alectus agreed that her guess was probably correct. * * * * "Lightning magic ...... or a trap of high voltage high current?" In Horai Island, Jin was following with great interest the scene projected on the magic screen by Reiko through Lao-kun. "If it can''t be detected in advance, then maybe it''s not magic. ...... For example, it could be a way to use a powerful capacitor or rechargeable battery charged with lightning magic." Jin imagines it himself, and chuckles to himself, "I could use that. But he reminds himself that he should concentrate on the task at hand. "Oh, my God. ...... electric traps, I guess we think alike." If there is high voltage on the floor, the barrier is of little use. Basically, the barrier is only extended up to the point where it touches the ground. "I think that shoes made of hexenbiest leather will probably insulate them, and I don''t think that Anne and Reiko will be hurt by ordinary lightning magic, but there''s no need to risk it, and there''s always Alektas: ......." Jin stood in front of the magic screen. From what he could see, there would be a high pressure between the ceiling and the floor. Since there is not a vacuum, but a gas, and if it is a magical discharge, the free magic element (ether) would have an effect, I do not know the exact voltage, but it would be in the range of tens to hundreds of millions of volts. It would be the same as lightning in the natural world. "Short-circuit it?" Jin muttered with a mischievous laugh. * * * * "Your father is going to make something and send it to us. "I wonder what it will be." Reiko said when she received the message from the old man. Ann also received a message from the old man. Unfortunately, Reiko and Anne cannot communicate with each other directly at this moment. However, if the "Mere Old Man" relays the message, they can talk with a time lag of less than a second. But, if the old man relays the message, it is possible to have a conversation with a time lag of less than one second. >>He is still in a state of A minute later, the transporter sends him a message. "Is it a mithril silver rod? A rod made of mithril silver, which is a good conductor of electricity. The idea was to short-circuit the floor and the ceiling with it and see what would happen. It was long enough to touch the floor and the ceiling, and had a grip made of an insulator in the center. With the grip, Reiko swung the stick at an angle to the purple floor and slowly erected it. When it was almost vertical, it touched the ceiling. Instantly, there was a blue-white spark. The current was several hundred thousand amperes, but it lasted less than a second, and the mithril silver rod withstood the load, even though it was red-hot. "It seems that lightning magic doesn''t occur anymore." Reiko ejected the ball from her mouth once more. This time, they rolled on the floor without any problems, so it seems that the magi device that generates lightning magic has been burned out by the overload. Still, as a precaution, Reiko went in ahead of the others. Nothing happened. "It''s okay, come on in." Thus, in the smell of ozone, the high-voltage trap was neutralized. After about three meters, the purple area turned back to the same gray color as the others. Then the passage turned to the left. "Please stop!" Reiko''s voice. Anne and Alexas stopped, just then. Just then the floor in front of Reiko disappeared. "It''s a pit. We knew from the echoes that there was space on the floor. < The hole is about 5 meters wide, wide enough for Reiko and the others to jump over. "Lady, there may be more traps beyond the hole," Anne warns. Anne warns. It is a popular technique to take advantage of the carelessness that comes from the reassurance that one trap has been avoided. "Yes, let''s be careful. Reiko pulled out Momoka, slashed through the metal wall, and cut out a metal plate about one meter square. She then rolled it up into a cylindrical shape and threw it across the hole. The cylinder rolled down the hole with a clattering metallic sound. But when he saw that nothing happened, he knew there was no trap. Let''s go. Are you sure you can make the jump, Mr. Alectus? "Yes, with a little strengthening." Then let''s go. Reiko and Anne jumped over. And finally, Alexus jumped over and was able to avoid the pitfall trap. Beyond that, there was again a staircase. But it was going up. "......Up, you mean. Not down?Is this route a decoy?" Anne mutters. "But for now we have no choice but to continue on this way. If push comes to shove, we can just smash through the floor and the walls. For now, let''s keep going. Despite her radical words, Reiko chose to go on. The length of the staircase suggests that she went back to the floor she had descended from, but when she came out of the staircase, she found herself in a completely different place. First of all, the ceiling is low. Reiko, who is 130 centimeters tall, could barely fit through the ceiling, so it must not be more than 140 centimeters high. Anne and Alexas would have to bend down to walk. Naturally, their movements would be restricted to a great extent. The passageway is narrow, about 1.5 meters wide. "It''s called a dungeon, isn''t it?" I guess so, if I try to apply the appropriate word from the knowledge given to me by Jin. So, there must be some kind of trap on this floor. Just as Anne was about to say something, the walls of the corridor opened up. The walls of the corridor opened, and metallic golems about one meter in height came out of the corridor. There were about 100 of them. "Golems this time!" The golem swarm attacked the group silently. They were not so bad in strength and speed, but there were too many of them. But there were too many of them. Moreover, the low ceilings made them extremely difficult to fight. In this respect, the one-meter-tall golems were well adapted to this place. Reiko was the only one who could fight properly, but even so, it was a small space. Even if she tried to swing Momoka around, she would get caught by the ceiling or walls. Anne, who is forced to bend down, does her best to cover up for Alectus. "It''s quite a nuisance!" Reiko was a little irritated by this situation. And the same goes for Jin on Horai Island. "Yes, sir." At 50 percent output, Reiko is the equivalent of a tactical-grade weapon. A single fist blow blasts the golem off the ground with two or three bodies as collateral damage. The force of her kick can knock five or six Golems out of action at once. When there is a small void in the surrounding area. "<>" Jin''s original magic. It is a magic that generates high heat in metals by the principle of electromagnetic induction. "Anne, create a barrier to protect Mr. Alectus." "Yes, lady." < In no time at all, the golems were reduced to a mass of molten metal. "It''s a land with a lot of free magic element (ether), so the magic works better. "But how do we go on? Alectus looked at the passage, which had turned into a pool of molten metal, and said in a puzzled voice, "We will have to cool it down. "We''ll have to cool it down. " The molten metal pool was instantly deprived of heat by the heat energy deprivation magic, and turned solid. "What is this magic? Alexus exclaimed in disbelief at what he was seeing. "It''s our original magic!" It''s not a lie. Alectus did not ask any more questions at this point. Bending down, he continued for 10 meters. A right turn led to a staircase. This time it was a down staircase. "Let''s go." After a quick check for traps, Reiko stepped into the staircase. The staircase this time seemed to go down about 10 meters. "Well, what kind of disturbance will there be on the next floor? Reiko still seemed relaxed, and so did Ann. "...... are we there yet ......?" However, Alexus seemed to be getting very tired. 535 - - 16-14 Arrival "Here you go, Mr. Alectus. Anne took out a small bottle of Persian juice specially made in Horai Island, which she had brought with her, and served it to Alectus. After drinking about 100 milliliters of the juice, Alectus'' fatigue disappeared and he was full of energy. The most surprised person was Alectus himself. "That''s amazing ......!Is it a secret medicine?My fatigue is gone at once! "That''s great. Let''s move on." It was still too early to tell everything, so Anne decided to move on. Alektas did not ask any more questions. The ceiling was back to its original height. It was nice not to have to bend down. It was about 20 meters to go. The passage curves gently. "What is that?" The end of the passageway was like a small, wide hall. "There could be another trap." Reiko carefully looked into the hall. It was a large, circular shape. The diameter was about 10 meters. The height to the ceiling was about four meters. There were no decorations, just a metal floor, walls, and ceiling. On the other side of the hall, a passageway was visible. "I don''t see how there can be no traps here, but we can''t turn back now. But we can''t turn back now. It seems that the destination is at the other end of the passage. "I''ll go there while putting up a barrier. Reiko says. Reiko with her barrier upheld will not be struck by most of the traps. "Be careful, lady." Anne could not help but pray for Reiko''s safety. "I''m off." Reiko, with her barriers up, scurries across the hall and ....... "Ah?" The floor sank an inch or so. The cavity under the floor had not been detected, so Reiko could not have predicted it. Reiko''s toes caught, and for a moment she stopped moving, and then... "Hey, lady!" The ceiling of the hall opened and a viscous substance fell down. A translucent torimochi, to use an analogy. Reiko herself, who had a barrier, was not sticking to the torimochi, but the whole barrier was enveloped by it. Inside Reiko is not in a hurry, but she looks reluctant. Although the binding force is weak, it is quite troublesome. The trimochi is elastic and cannot be shaken off. Since it sticks to the floor, if Reiko moves, she will step on it, and if she does, the torimochi will stick to her. "What are you going to do?" Alectus only looked at her with trepidation. "This is quite tricky. ......" Just when Anne had the same impression as Reiko, she received an instruction from the old man. "......I see... I see... I''ll have to use that method." Reiko must have received the same message, for the figure that was dimly visible in the translucent torimochi remained still. Anne began to use the most powerful magic available to her. "<>" "What? Alexus turns pale with surprise. It''s probably because Anne has just fired a fire magic at Reiko. < Anne had managed to adjust the range of the flames so that the walls and ceilings were not severely damaged. "This level of fire magic should be nothing to you, lady. She is inside the barrier in the first place. But Torimochi is ......" Just as the old man had read, Torimochi was scorched by the fire of the firestorm and burned up in a few minutes. Reiko smiles as the barrier is lifted. "That went well, didn''t it?" She walked to the other side of the passage and beckoned Anne and the others to join her. Ann, accompanied by Alectus, of course, crossed the hall with the barrier and arrived at the corridor where Reiko was waiting for her. "Anne, thank you for your help." "No, ma''am, the old man gave me the order." They exchanged a short conversation and went down the passage again. The three of them went down the passageway again. "It''s a persistent trap. ......" In the command center of Horai Island, Jin, who was watching Reiko and the others, muttered as if to throw up. "Defense equipment?" < "I see. So, the route is correct. "Isn''t it the other way around?It could be that they set up various types and levels of traps to deal with all kinds of foreign enemies." < "Yes, that''s one way to look at it. ......" All will be known where it goes. * * * * * * From the end of the hall, a passageway led straight down at an angle. "This is definitely where we''re going." After descending diagonally for about 30 meters, a door appeared in front of you. "Perhaps it is behind that door." About 10 meters before the door, the three men stopped. There are no guards or guardian golems near the door, nor does it seem to be protected by a ward. "I don''t think there are no traps." "Certainly." The only possible trap here is ....... Once a trap is breached, it is unlikely to be used again. The traps that have been used so far are pitfalls, electric shocks, poison gas, torimochi, and golems. They cover all kinds of physical and magical objects. "What other traps are there in the < that you know of, father? ......" Reiko contacted the old man with the built-in manacam and asked him for advice. Naturally, Jin himself is in the control room, so he himself is thinking about it. "Speaking of disgusting, it is a trap that sends you to another level just before the destination. This information was immediately passed on to Reiko and Anne. "If an intruder gets on it, he will be transferred to somewhere. To prevent it, you can go to ......." "The only way would be an ether jammer." There''s a reason we can''t take our time. Istaris, Zion, Netros, Lucas, and Jin (the double) are waiting for us in Capricorn 1. Aetherjammer activated. Aetherjammer activated. Anne and Reiko activate the etherjammer together. In this state, Reiko slowly approaches the door. When nothing happened, Reiko stood in front of the door and pushed up the lever next to the door, which seemed to be an opening/closing device. But nothing happened. "Maybe she was using some kind of magic power. Maybe the ether jammer is working, and the door can''t be opened because of the loss of magic power. Anne''s guess. She may not be wrong. "Then ...... we have no choice." Reiko grabbed the handle on the door and pulled as hard as she could. But, as if by accident, there was a cracking sound and the handle came off. "It''s so fragile!" Reiko had no choice but to pull out Momoka. At least the sound would have alerted her to the presence inside. No longer hesitating, Reiko pulled out Momoka. The door was sliced open in an X-shape. Reiko kicks it further. The door is blown open with a roar, and the mysterious room is revealed to them. 536 - - 16-15 The mastermind behind the scenes Reiko kicked the door and it flew into the room at a high speed. The momentum of the door seemed to destroy the room, but it suddenly disappeared. Then the inside of the room came into view. "What is that room? In the command center of Horaijima, Jin was staring at the screen showing what Reiko''s eyes saw. A window. Window. Windows. Windows everywhere. Small windows. Round windows. Square windows. Large windows. Long and narrow windows. Oval windows. Light windows. Dark windows. Glowing windows. Transparent windows. Red windows. Blue windows. Yellow windows. Windows that reflect scenery. Windows that make letters appear. The walls and ceilings were covered with various kinds of windows. "...... could it be a monitor?" Thinking of the windows as liquid crystal panels, the room seems to be filled with high-tech electronics. But compared to the technology that Hitoshi knew, the scene was too foreign. "I wonder if this technology is older than its predecessors. Jin muses to himself. The old man remains silent. The old man remained silent. "We''ve come this far.... I''m a follower of some magical engineer called MagiCraft Meister. In the middle of the strange room, there it stood. It was about 120 centimeters tall, smaller than Reiko. It had no hair on its head, and its head was smooth. The eyes, however, were unusually large, with a cloudy glint in them. The figure has a thin build. I could not determine her gender, but she did not look like a woman. The color of her skin is not ochre but more earthy. Her skin color is unhealthy. In her hand was something like a magic tool. "Are you ......<>?" It was Alexas who spoke first. "No. I am ." "Negador 001?" That''s right. I have underestimated you. The being who had called himself Negador 001 twisted his face hatefully. "It was you who controlled the demons with the <>, wasn''t it?" Reiko stepped forward and confronted Negador-001. "You are ...... an automaton. You are a pathetic doll that blindly obeys its maker without question." "What?" There''s anger in her voice. "Oh, you''re angry. I''ve heard that you have feelings. Let me answer your question at ....... < "What for? There was anger in Alektas''s voice. "For what?Revenge." "Revenge?For the whole demon tribe?" Anne asked, stepping forward this time. Negador001 stepped back. "No. It''s for humans. "Then why did you give the demon tribe the <> ......!" I''m just trying to get back at them for what they did to me. What? It''s ...... time. The mana I had consumed by closing the unscheduled door has finally been filled. With these words, Negador001 operated the magic tool in his hand. Then, the figure disappeared instantly. "Transference magic? "But why did he use an ether jammer? Reiko and Anne tilted their heads. Alectus was fine, but Negador-001, who could not have used any magic at all, had disappeared in the transition. "It might be that magic tool..." Ann concluded that the secret might be in the magical tool Negador001 was holding in his hand. The ether converter stops functioning, but the ether tank and mana tank are unaffected. Meanwhile, Reiko looked around the room and delivered all the information to Horaijima. "So they got away after all..." "It''s a pity." Anne is disappointed. But Reiko said to him. "But the magic power to control the <> is still coming from this room." "What?Is that true? "Yes. ...... maybe this magi device is the one." Reiko pointed to the Magi Device behind Negador 001. It too had many small windows, and was very different. "I don''t know how to operate it. ......" It was unlikely that Anne or Reiko, much less Alectus, would be able to operate it. The same goes for Jin on Horai Island. They might be able to do something if they took the time to investigate, but it would be impossible in a short time. "We need to stop it anyway. The magijammer did not stop it, as if it had some kind of magical power source inside. "Let''s not destroy it, but stop it. That was Jin''s hope in Horai Island. He wanted to check it out later if possible. Reiko put Momoka into Vibration Sword mode and carefully cut open the exterior of the Magi Device. Reiko''s power, Momoka''s sharpness, and the effect of the Vibration Sword mode sliced through the metal exterior like a stick of butter. Alectus was stunned and speechless at the sharpness of the cut. After a minute or so, the interior was exposed. "...... is this the magic conduction wire?" There are four thick wires made of mithril silver running through it. At least if we cut these wires, the operation will stop. "Let''s cut them." Reiko did not hesitate and cut off the four wires in order. "...... seems to have stopped." The magical power to manipulate the <> that Reiko and the others had been chasing was no longer felt. "At least now you have your free will back, right?" "Yes, probably. But there is a possibility that it is only the clan of the <>. If the <> clan and other clans were manipulated in the same way, it is hard to believe that a single magi device here could control all the clans. "For the time being, should we stop all of the magical devices here? "No, lady. If we do that to the unknown magical devices, there is a possibility that we will face an irreversible situation. It may have a self-destruct mechanism, as clich as it sounds. Even if it does not go as far as self-destruction, there could be infrastructure shutdowns, such as lights going out or air conditioning shutting down. Reiko and Anne would be fine with this, but for Alectus, it could be fatal. "That''s true." Reiko acknowledged this and sheathed Momoka. "Well, what shall we do then?" "We could go back to the clan of the Gospel. "We''ll see about that. We''ll have to send Alectus on his way, so we''ll stop by there at least once. But let''s check this place out a little more. Reiko knew that since she had infiltrated this far, she wanted to get as much information as she could. And that was what the old man and Jin wanted, too. "Oh?Is there still a room in the back?" Anne, who was checking the back of the room, found what looked like a door. Reiko and Alexus came to the room. "A door, I guess. The wall had a narrow crack in the shape of a rectangle two meters long and one meter wide. But if it was a door, there was no way to open it. There is no handle, no knob, and no opening/closing device in the vicinity. "I can only assume that it opens and closes purely by magic. ......" I wonder if this is the equivalent of an automatic door on Earth. But even automatic doors on Earth can be opened manually in case of emergency. "This door is also ......." Reiko and Anne look around, but do not see anything that looks like an emergency opening/closing device. "...... sure it''s a door?" Alektas stepped forward and patted the surface of the door, and at that moment. The door opened without a sound. 537 - - 16-16 White The impression I got when I peeked in through the open door was, in a word, . That was it. It was white. The ceiling, the walls, the floor. Everything was white. But it was not pure white like snow, but rather a very light gray or matte white. It was a white that was not dazzling, and not too bright for the eyes. There was a bed in the center of the room, and someone was lying on it. "......What in the world is this place?" "...... a sickroom, or a bedroom, perhaps?" Alectus and Anne were asking questions and speculating, and Reiko was staring at something lying there. The figure was covered by a white quilt and could not be seen clearly. At that moment. "What is it?" Suddenly, he heard a voice. I looked closer and saw a white - really white - girl standing on the other side of the bed. She was about a little over a meter tall. Smaller than Reiko. Her hair was pure white. Her skin was as white as possible. Her clothes were also white. Only her eyes were black. "Are you here to bully my father?" The girl, or what appeared to be the girl, walked around the bed and stood in front of Reiko and the three others. "I will protect you." With these words, she opened her arms as if to block the way. The three were puzzled, but Anne was the first to speak. "Don''t worry. I''m not going to hurt you. It''s your father lying there, isn''t it?" Her tone was gentle, so as not to provoke the girl. "Yes, he is." What is your name? "...... Neige." Yes, Neige. I''m Anne. ...... Is your father sleeping?Is he sick?" "...... I don''t know. He''s been asleep for a long time and he won''t wake up." Neige looks down. Hearing this, Anne bends down to look at Neige and talks to her more tenderly. Hey Neige, would you let me check on your father?If he is not well, maybe I can help him. Neige''s face lit up. "Really?If he gets well, will you get up, Father?" "Yes, I''m sure." Anne said, and Neige remained still and thoughtful for a moment, then moved to the side as if she had made up her mind. "...... please. Please wake my father." "Okay." Anne slowly approached Neige''s father. Reiko spoke to Neige. "That''s you lying there ......, Neige''s father, isn''t it?" "Yes. And who are you? I''m Reiko. I have a father too. You have one too? Yes. The best father in the world, the one who made me. Neige''s face twisted as she said this. "My father is the best in the world!" Hearing this, Reiko giggled softly. She knew exactly how Neige felt. "Yes, that''s right. For Neige, her father is the best in the world, isn''t he?" "Yes! But you know, my father is the best in the world to me too. Both of you are the best in the world? Yes, that''s right. Somehow, something akin to sympathy seemed to have developed between the two of them. Reiko and Neige were getting along well, and Anne was examining Neige''s << father>. "This is ......" She was about Reiko''s height. And her appearance was very similar to the negative doll (negador) we had just met. However, there are some differences. First, the skin color. It was not an earthy color, but a warm brown. And he had a white head of hair. "Pulse can be found at ......." The first step in diagnosis is to check the pulse. But. "No pulse?" I couldn''t feel a pulse in my wrist, in my armpit, or in what I thought was my carotid artery. "But ......" I could sense that this being lying before me was not yet dead. There was a warmth, a life in the flesh. But I don''t know how to wake it up. * * * * * * * * * * * * * On Horai Island, Jin and the old man were twisting their necks (though the old man had no neck to twist). "Anyway, I guess < and ......<>." Maybe checking the flow of magic will tell us something. "I''d like to get Erza''s opinion too. ......Mr. Old man, where is Erza right now?" "I''m sorry, but you''ll have to call her for me." "The old man contacted me. ...... Okay, let''s give it a try. <>......" First, we will check up the patient by the same procedure as we do with a human being. "There are some biological reactions, but I am not sure about the organs and metabolism. I guess it is not human. Now one more thing: ." Then I found out how the magic power in the body is circulating. "So it is working with magical technology...... but what do we do now?" At that time, the old man contacted me again. To be precise, Erza gave instructions through the old man. "<><>......I see. ......" Anne examined the flow of magical energy after applying an intermediate level of healing magic and reported it to the old man. According to the report, the flow of magic power had improved slightly. <><><>>" Anne, who has an ether converter, does not need to worry about how many times she can use her magic. In addition, in this land where the concentration of free magic element (ether) is high, its effect is also amplified. "<>...... seems to be getting better little by little. As expected of Elsa-sama." Anne then applies 5 consecutive <> and pauses for a moment. "So this is where you apply the . She took out a bottle of recovery medicine she carries for emergencies, cracked open an ampoule made of muscovite, and gave the contents to Neige''s <> to drink. In her initial condition she would not have been able to drink it, but after she had recovered somewhat, Neige''s <> swallowed the restorative, albeit slowly. "Then ......<><><>><>>" Elsa had instructed me via the old man to try some surgical healing magic as well. I thought that it might be more or less effective even if their bodies are not made in the same way. And it seems that the prediction was correct, as Neige''s <''s eyes were slightly opened. 538 - - 16-17700672 "Father!" Neige jumped at <, who opened his eyes. "Father, father ......!" "Neige?" The words came out of her mouth in a trace. Anne took out another bottle of the restorative and offered it to him. "Can you drink it?Can you take it? "I''ll make you drink it!" Gently accepting the ampoule, Neige carefully placed it in her father''s mouth and poured the contents into it. "......" Slowly swallowing the restorative, <> inhaled heavily. "...... thank you." His voice had become much stronger. The restorative seemed to have worked. "Neige, wake me up." "Yes, Father." With Neige''s support, Neige''s father sat up in bed. He looked around at Anne, then at Reiko, then at Alectus, and stopped at Alectus. After staring at Alectus in silence for a full minute, Neige''s <> softened his expression. "Excellent. You have come this far, descendant of the Fallen. I commend you for having found this place. At these words, Alectus, who had been unable to keep up with the developments, opened his mouth. "Oh, you ......, you are ......<>?" "Yes, I am. I am Servant 700672. I am the one you call ." "This is ...... no, what exactly is this facility?" Reiko asked this time. "Oh, an automata with a will. Excellent. Let''s answer: ....... This place was once part of the ship. And this room is my final resting place. . The word sounded familiar. "Are you one of those who came here on the ship?" "Yes. I came here with my master. And where is your master now? He is nowhere to be found. Our masters'' lives are short compared to ours. And who are these Fallen Ones? This time the question is from Alexas. "The Fallen are the children of the Masters who were born after they came to this planet. "Then the descendants of the <> are ......" "So. The children of the masters, their distant descendants." * * * * Jin in Horai Island knew that the roots of the human race and the demon tribe were about to be revealed. Jin who is in Horai Island orders Lao-kun to summon the urgently. "Brother Jin, ...... interesting." Erza is already listening beside him. "Jin, what is it?" Then Saki. What''s wrong? Jin-kun, what''s wrong? Jin-kun, what''s going on? Jin-sama, you wanted to see me? Toa, Stearina, Vivienne and Meine... Jin, what''s going on? Jin-sama, what''s going on? Finally, Reinhard and Bertsche arrived. Jin pointed at the screen and told them to keep an eye on the situation. * * * * * * "My masters left the resource-depleted Hale and came here to Ars. The abundance of resources and free ether here has revitalized them. Hale is their home planet, and Ars is the planet where Jin and the others are located. "Some of the masters intermarried with the natives of this planet and began to procreate. They are called because their master''s blood has been diluted. "......" "Do you understand?This is the answer to your question. is nowhere to be found. There are only you who have his blood in your veins. * * * * Jin in Horai Island wondered if it was true that those who had strong blood of the as he said could use magic and those who did not could not use magic. "Jin-kun, this is ......." "Oh, yeah, right, Vee. Once upon a time, and once upon a time! "A precious truth is being told now, isn''t it? ...... * * * * "So what have you been doing here all this time?" Anne asked the next question. "I will answer. I am the Last Servant, 700672. I am just waiting for my masters to rot away in their sleep. How old are you, ......? I am a creature of my master. Therefore, the question of how old I am is meaningless. To answer the question with the closest concept, I am more than 5,000 years old in terms of this planet''s calendar since I was created. "5000 years? Reiko, Anne, Alectus, and everyone else listening on Horai Island were astonished by the answer. "That''s right. I am a homunculus. A false life. Therefore, there is no concept of death. I only age, cease, and decay." Then why did you put the Needle in us to control us? Needles? Looking as if he had no idea, No. 700672 continued to ponder for a while, but finally found an answer. "You mean a magic tool about two centimeters long and one millimeter thick?" "Yes!Answer me!Why are you trying to control us? Alexas, apparently overcome with emotion, gradually became louder and louder. But No. 700672 looked as if he didn''t understand. "Control?What are you talking about?" Don''t play dumb with me! "No!" Neige interrupted the excited Alexus. "Good, Neige. I''m sure he has his reasons." In contrast to Alectus, the 700672 replies in a calm manner "I was in a long sleep until you came into the room a few minutes ago. ...... it has been about 300 years in your time." 700672 looks at a window in one of the walls. "So the disturbances you speak of are unknown to me. "Three hundred years ......" Alectus and the others listening in Horai Island were half-amused and half-surprised at the length of time. "But I have a thought that it might be possible. Tell me what''s going on. "Okay, okay. Actually, ......." Forgetting to use honorifics any longer, Alexus explained about his clan. Then Reiko and Anne added their own explanations about the other clans. "Hmmm. Perhaps it is the work of the <>." "<>?" "The last of the servants created by our masters. But this planet didn''t have what the Masters needed, so it was left incomplete. They didn''t listen to us." So it''s a homunculus, too? Yes. The homunculus created by the masters was a failure, and that is . "......" Alectus was speechless. He still could not believe that the technology existed to create humans, however imperfectly, and that the being in front of him was one of them. "I have not been able to move my body for about 400 years now. I have not been out of this place. That''s why I didn''t know what was going on out there. According to 700672, 13 Dexiconai were created and all of them were supposed to be destroyed. and all were supposed to have been destroyed. "But perhaps there was a Dexiconai that escaped obliteration. "That being who called himself a ''negative doll'', could that be the Dexiconai?" Reiko interrupted. "<>?Is that what they call themselves?" "Yes. We met just before we came here, outside this room. She escaped by shifting her body. I see. I have a general idea of what''s going on. I see... I have a general idea of what''s going on. ...... let me think about it for a minute." 700672 then lay down on the bed again, perhaps tired. 539 - - 16-18 The Truth of the Rebellion "Would you like some?" Anne offered him the last recovery potion she had. "I''ll take ....... But isn''t it precious?" 700672 said as he took it. "No, I have plenty more if I go back." "Hmm. ...... This medicine is wonderful. My masters may be able to make it, but I am surprised that the Fallen can make something like this. "That is not true." Unable to remain silent, Reiko opened her mouth. "It was my father, the Magecraft Meister, who created it. It was not the Fallen. It was an unexpected truth. Jin was a being summoned from the earth, not from this world. But to No. 700672, it seemed that he was simply proud of his existence. "Hmmm, automata with a will. I understand your reverence for the Creator. I, too, would like to see my masters once more if I could. "No, that''s not what I meant. ......" But then, Jin gave me an order through the old man. He said there was no need to say more. And let him say it. After taking the recovery medicine, No. 700672 seemed to feel a little better and resumed talking while lying down. "I know there is not much free magic element (ether) in this facility, but how can you be so unconcerned?" "What?" "I need free magical energy (ether) to maintain my body. That''s why I collect the free magic element (ether) around me. ...... This is probably one of the reasons why Alectus tired so easily. "Hmm?What''s wrong with the density of free magical elements (ether) in the space?" 700672 looked at one of the by the bed and said in surprise. "......What happened while I was sleeping?This drop in the concentration of free magic element (ether) is unusual. "It could be a magic war and an "ether stampede". Anne gave a brief history of the situation. "Hmmm, a magic war, ...... silly. How could people of the same ancestry kill each other? Then he suddenly talked about something else. "The <> you mentioned earlier, it was indeed my master who created it." "......!" Alectus'' face turned grim. But 700672''s voice is as calm as ever. "Don''t panic. We have indeed made it. But its purpose is to manipulate the Dexiconai. Manipulate? Yes. < < "It would have been nice if we could have known what we saw. We couldn''t make something that could do that. "So that''s how the used it to try to control us. ......" Now we know who the mastermind is. But the question still remains. "What is the purpose?What is the purpose? Anne spoke up on behalf of the others. "The Dexiconai hate the Fallen. That''s exactly what they are, like avengers." "Why? "...... I don''t know about that. When my master created them, he must have implanted <><>>>>> and other factors, but they all seem to have worked in the opposite direction." "So that''s why you call yourself a ." Anne remained calm. "Perhaps. Did you say the magic war earlier? There is a strong possibility that this is also a set up by him. If that is the case, the "negative dolls" are enemies of both humans and demons. At this point, No. 700672 exhaled heavily and closed his eyes. "Father, are you all right? Neige''s voice sounded concerned. "Yes, I''m fine. I''m a little tired. I think I can stay with you a little longer. "I''m glad." Neige took the 700672''s hand and smiled. "Speaking of which, what exactly is this Neige?" Anne asked. That was what Reiko, Alectus, and Jin and the others on Horai Island were wondering. The Servant ...... homunculus created by 700672 was a failure. I said that it was a failure. What about Neige? Neige is a homunculus that I created. Long after my master had created and discarded thirteen homunculi, I alone created this Neige. The production of a homunculus requires a variety of special materials and secret techniques, and is not an easy task. "Maybe it was a good idea to keep the functions simple, not to overdo it, not to implant factors, and to make it smaller." Anyway, not only did all the homunculus except Neige not listen to their masters of 700672, but also the descendants of their masters, the < homunculus, were not able to do what they were told to do. They not only did not listen to their master 700672, but also hated their master''s descendants, the Fallen. <, but he couldn''t monitor it 24 hours a day, and that he had decided to get rid of it because it was in such a state that it would do whatever it wanted when he left it unmonitored. "I thought I had burned them all down, you know." "He called himself <>. "......, so he might have been the first one to make it." Anne thinks back to the words that <> said to her. He said it was revenge. He said it was revenge, and that he was only doing back what he had been beaten for. When I told this to No. 700672, he nodded, "That''s right. The pain caused by the aggravation must have been unbearable. No wonder he wanted to take revenge. In the case of a homunculus, it is implanted in the organ corresponding to the brain. I shuddered when I remembered that Alectus once had a control needle (aguch) implanted in his heart. * * * * * * * * * * * * "......" The members of the group who were listening to the story on Horai Island were silent. It seemed to be a great shock for them to know their roots. However, one person, Jin, was different. "Old man, tell Anne to find out what kind of magic technology this has." <> From what I''ve heard so far, <> is going to attack regardless of whether it''s a demon or a human. He is neither a demon nor a human. Both are the descendants of the master whom he hates. "Probably, his goal was to lure the demons to the humans, so that the demons would be destroyed by the humans, and at the same time, the humans would also be harmed." Reinhardt, who had come to his senses quickly, guessed. "Oh, 700672 will answer." At Jin''s words, everyone looked at the magic screen. * * * * * * * * * * * * "The negative dolls (negador) can handle ......." 700672 repeats Anne''s question. "Yes. It is common sense to get as much information as possible about your adversary. "Hmm...automata with a will. That''s a funny thing to say. You are right. I will tell you what I know. After prefacing this with some speculation, the following is a brief summary of what No. 700672 told us. A control needle (agg.). Chlorine gas. Sticky bullets. Various kinds of attack magic. Illusionary wards. Metal golem. Enslaved monsters. Massive projectiles. Gravity bombs. Transporter. It was like this. "He''s intelligent. It is possible that he is creating his own weapons. Jin and the others on Horai Island were particularly interested in the last two. "What kind of a gravity bomb is it?" Anne asked through her mouth. "You know gravity magic, don''t you?It is a bomb that generates tremendous gravity in a small area in a short time. The gravity would be about a thousand times stronger for one second. A living being would be crushed, or even if not a living being, it is unlikely that it could withstand such high gravity. "And a transporter is a device that can send or receive an object to or from a pre-determined location, that is, a location where you place a ." This is similar to the transporter that Jin made, but while the transporter can only send objects out, this one can also pull them back in. This is a big advantage. On the other hand, the transporter has the advantage in that it requires a marker called a to do so. "Hmmm, we will need at least a way to counter both of them." At Horai Island, Jin folded his arms and began to think about countermeasures. 540 - - 16-19 And Return "......You said you''ve been asleep for 300 years, that 700 672." Vivienne started to speak softly. "It coincides with the magic wars. Perhaps ......, but it''s quite probable that it was the that caused the discord between the humans and the demons." "Yes, you could say that." 700672 said something like that, and Stearina agreed with him. "So, if we defeat the negative dolls, will the conflict between demons and humans stop? Reinhard answered. "Only if you can prove it and if you can believe what that <<700672> says. He added that hatred is a hard feeling to get rid of. "I don''t know if I''m ...... blurring it on purpose or if it''s unconscious, but..." Elsa questions. "I can''t get a picture of the person who is her . I don''t know if it''s singular or plural, she said. < The old man said so and decided to ask the question through Ann. * * * * * * "You mean ...... my master? The 700672 closed his eyes and tried to bask in the nostalgia, but then he opened his eyes again and began to speak. "It was about 5,000 years ago by this planet''s calendar when the masters and I landed here. ....... At that time, there must have been about 1,000 masters. Each of the masters had one or two followers. "Therefore, when I say in the singular, I am referring to my master alone. <, I am referring to all of my master''s companions. Jin and the others on Horai Island agreed with this answer. "In other words, it was who made the <, and it was who made the <." "I understand. What is your master''s name? "I do not have the authority to say it ......, nor do all servants. It seems that names were sacred to the masters." Again the 700672 closed his eyes tiredly. Neige silently pulls the covers over her body. Reiko, Anne, and Alectus moved away from the bed for a moment. "I think we know most of what we need to know for now, don''t you? Reiko said and Anne nodded. "Yes. I''m sure you are interested, but we can talk about that at a later time. For now, we have to deal with the negative dolls. "Hmmm... Then there is one more thing: how can we disable the needle ...... or the <>? "That would be good." After a short pause, Alexus slowly approaches the bed. Neige looks up. "I''m sorry. I just have one more thing I need to know." "...... I know. < "Then we''ll talk quickly. Please, tell me. Of course. Of course. At least the controls for what I''ve built are here. It''s in the next room. I''ll have Neige show you. But if < made something else, ...... we don''t know." ...... means that can also make an . "Fine. We will liberate our clan first, and then the other clans as we go along." "Hmmm, I see. ...... Neige, tell him. *? It''s the $&D# number." Neige walks away without hesitation, though the words she doesn''t understand are mixed in. Then she silently pointed to a certain magi device. It was a different device from the one Reiko and the others had just neutralized. "I see...this is it..." It has three large windows and eight small windows. "Here, do this." Neige operated two small levers and four small buttons, and the three large windows went dark. It seems to have stopped. "It''s all right now." Neige ran back into the small room and sat down beside No. 700672. "Thank you, <> Servant 700672." From a short distance away, Alexas bowed. "No, don''t worry about it, it was our fault. Be careful with ...... and don''t underestimate the <>. That is all I can say. If I could, I would destroy <>, but I don''t think I can ......." No. 700672 said weakly. "I wish I could tell you where <> is located, but ...... probably not one that I know of. I can''t help you in that regard. "I see, I''m sorry. ...... Oh, that''s right." As I was about to leave, I asked her about something else that had just occurred to me. "There were many traps on the way here. "Traps?" No. 700672 tilted his head. Anne explained about the road to here. "I see. From what I''ve heard, most of them were set by <>. He comes and goes by way of transference, so I guess it doesn''t matter if there are traps or not." "Ah, I see. ......" From a trap such as chlorine, which is new to this world, to a simple pitfall, and even a golem, I couldn''t help but feel a bit disconnected. I couldn''t shake the feeling of being out of place, but now I know why. "Was it a trap that was added after the fact, ignoring the comings and goings?" "Probably. Moreover, they must have added it over time. The only thing that was there originally was a bulkhead. Reiko, Ann, the old man and Jin understood. "Oh, and then..." As if remembering, No. 700672 added. "If you want to go outside, look for the ceiling of the passageway leading out of the window room. There should be a shaft that leads directly to the surface. If there are fallen ones (fallers), they will probably be able to get through. He advised us to "look for a shaft that leads directly to the surface. And then, "Good luck with the Fallen." With these words, the 700672 closed its eyes again. "I''m sure I''ll be back." Reiko gently patted Neige on the head and left the room. Neige may be older than Reiko, but she does not care. As the three of them leave the white room, the door closes without a sound. "I guess a homunculus doesn''t need to eat. Reiko muttered. "Yes, lady. Perhaps. It can exist only with free magical element (ether), can''t it?" "If that''s the case, the "Aether Stampede" may have had a great impact on the homunculus as well. The reason why they stopped waking up is also ......." Anne stopped as she turned to go back the way she had come. "There is a possibility that ......<> will come back here. The other sites were unknown to 700672, so we''ll have to take some kind of action." "Certainly. But what should we do? At that moment, I received a call from the old man. "......Oh, I see. ......Yes. ...... got it." The old man said that he would send 10 lands and 10 craftsmen (smiths) by transporter after this. The role of the craftsmen (smiths) is, of course, to analyze the magical tools and devices (magi devices) here. Alectus had a quizzical look on his face because he had no idea that Reiko and Anne were making such a communication, but it was not yet time to inform them, and the group left the window room. "Vertical hole......<......I see, there it is." Instead of searching by blind guess, Reiko searched for the cavity with <> and found a cavity in the ceiling about 5 meters down the passage. There is no doubt that there is a handrail or a step-like depression carved on the wall side. <, but there was no sign of a trap. "Well, let''s go there." Alectus climbs up to the ceiling along the railing. He touches what appears to be a hatch, and it opens, just like the door to the white room. "<>...... No, is it a passage that only those who have the blood of the founder can use?" The walls of the shaft, which was about one meter in diameter, had a spiral staircase. It was about 50 centimeters wide, but we could manage to climb it by turning our bodies sideways. After climbing up the stairs for about 20 meters, we came to a small room about 3 meters square. When the three of us stood in the room, the hatch of the shaft was closed. Reiko and Anne, referring to Jin''s knowledge, guessed that this small room was the so-called airlock. "Probably, the other side of this door is already outside. Once outside, Alectus looked back, wondering if he would be able to visit again. The room was empty and deserted, but for some reason he felt a sense of regret. "Mr. Alectus, please..." Anne''s voice brings him back to himself, and he touches the door. The door to this room opened with that touch. The cold air from outside poured in. Alectus adjusts the collar of his dress. His breath is white. The temperature seems to be below freezing. It is night now, and it is pitch black. "Capricorn 1 is over there." Reiko, who had been looking through the darkness, pointed in one direction. The three of us walked in that direction. The wards that had been so difficult to get around were now gone, and the three of them were able to return to Capricorn 1 without any problems. 541 - - 16-20 Summarize and launch Jin''s < gathered in the basement of the research institute on Horai Island and summarized the past with speculations. "First of all, the roots of mankind." Jin said while folding one of his fingers. "A long time ago, we came to this planet ......<> by spaceship from another planet ......<>, I think it is called. "There were primitive humans who came to ...... from another planet ......<>," Reinhardt continued. Reinhardt continued. "So, it''s consistent with the old story." Vivian said happily. "<> was an artificial homunculus?<>," Vivian says happily. < Jin and Reinhard nodded. "I suppose that the population has been growing again with the native species, as the new land has once again reached a time of prosperity. Jin speculated. "Well, the primitive humans interbred with the indigenous species. That was the ancestor of the demon tribe and the human race. Toa took over. "Now the question arises. Where did the difference between demons and humans come from?" Saki asked the first question. "Basically, there is no difference between the bodies of demons and humans. Erza stated the fact. "I heard that demons live longer than humans. Why is that?" Reinhardt again raised the question. Now the old man spoke up. <<> "...... I see. ......" "Living in a land with a high concentration of free magical element (ether) would reduce the deterioration of cells, wouldn''t it?" Stearina draws a conclusion. "Good for you!It''s not exactly ....... You will only be able to live in lands with a high concentration of free magic element (ether). ......" Vivienne said with a wry smile. <>. In such a state, <> would be fatal. I guess you could say that the condition of "free magic element (ether) dependence" is such that one suffers without free magic element (ether) inside and outside of one''s body. It seems certain from the reactions of the demon tribe when they are exposed to the ether jammer. After all, the dependence on free magic element (ether) caused by spending dozens and dozens of generations in a land with a high concentration of free magic element (ether). It was a double-edged sword that brought great power, but also brought withdrawal symptoms. The second is that the "aether" is a "free magic element". "The second is about the feud between demons and humans. Jin said, flexing his second finger. "It seems to be a set-up. Was it the homunculus that Servant 700672 called < that set up the feud? "Yes, there is not much information about that, since the 700672 was also asleep, but I am sure that I am right. Reinhardt agreed with Jin''s guess. "...... So, is that ?It''s been discarded for ...... thousands of years, hasn''t it?And yet, nothing was done about it until the Magic War 300 years ago?" Meane voiced her opinion, which was rare. But she has a point. At least, it can''t be that they were discarded around the time of the magic wars. At least, it could not have been discarded around the time of the Mage Wars, since the Servants'' masters must have created <> when they were still alive. Again, the old man will give you his guess. > took a time in the order of 1000 years to call itself <>. I do not think it is surprising that it took a thousand years for the "negative doll" to come to call itself a negative doll. Hearing this, everyone nodded deeply. It was because the old man, who himself is such a being, was convinced that a being with an extremely long life span who does not need to eat anything other than free magical element (ether) would do so. "Anyway, the Negador is not so much a demon tribe and mankind, but the Fallen, isn''t it?They hate their master''s descendants and want to kill them all, is that it? "And as a start, they are inciting the demon tribe to fight against mankind." Reinhard and Jin stated the purpose of the in a simple manner. "So, a large-scale offensive is also possible." "Yes. A skirmish like the one we''re having now is far from destruction. Elsa, or rather the women, shuddered when they heard these words. "...... war?" You mean the Second Magic War? "Will there be much bloodshed again?"...... "I don''t want to pass on such a tragic event to future generations," he said. It''s too sad to see human history end in such a way. "Jin-sama, you can do something about it, right?" Jin shook his head. "I''m gathering information like this to prevent that from happening. If push came to shove, I have enough troops to wipe out the demon tribe. But Jin wanted to do something before that happened. "I need more information on <>. ...... old man, I think the time to leave Capricorn 1 alone is over." < "Permission granted. I beg you." Jin then turns to the . "So, that''s it. I need your help, everyone. Jin bows his head and is greeted by the voices of his friends. "Of course, Jin! "I will ...... do whatever I can." "I don''t know what I can do, but I''m willing to help! Jin, if there''s anything I can do, please let me know. "Jin, I think you are the only one who can do this. I, or rather we, will support you as much as we can. "To be honest, I don''t think I can be of any help. But if there is anything I can do, please let me know! Jin-sama, please don''t keep this to yourself. You''re right. We are all here for you! "Thank you for ......." Jin''s eyes were filled with excitement as he realized that he had a good friend, or rather a family member. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Capricorn 1 had returned to the cave of the <> clan. "I''ll go check it out." Alectus stood up. "I''ll go with you." < "Well then, let''s both of you go." With Jin (his double), Reiko, Istaris, and the others seeing them off, Alectus and Anne cautiously entered the cave. They returned in less than five minutes. It was easy to imagine that it had gone well, judging from Alectus''s happy face. "Jin-dono!My clan is liberated!Thanks to you! "I''m glad to hear that." "Once again, the clan leader would like to thank you, apologize, and explain the situation. Will you come?" Jin (his double) nodded his head in agreement. The group left Land 1 at Capricorn 1 as before and headed for the residence of the <> clan. This was at the same time when Horai Island started its full-scale operation. 542 - - 16-21 Current State Analysis "Jin-dono, no, Jin-sama, I am very sorry for what I have done to you, and I cannot apologize enough! In the reception room, Fabius, the clan leader of the <>, literally bowed his head and apologized to Jin. "No, that''s enough. No matter how much he apologized in words, it was a waste of time. That''s what the old man, who is now controlling the double, was thinking. "Let''s talk about something more positive. The first thing to do is to pull out the <>......<>, Jin said. "But how?" "I''ll call a specialist." At the same time Jin said this, Reiko entered the room. "Father, I''ve brought him." "Oh, thank you." Reiko brought two automata, Nurse 1 and 2, which Jin had made in the workshop on Horaijima. The data from Nurse Alpha to Gamma were utilized to create the most optimized tactile control, enhanced analytical and analytical abilities, and the highest level of healing magic. The appearance, which was unpopular (?) with some, has also been redesigned. The appearance, which was unpopular (?) with some, has also been renewed. To put it simply, she looks like Elsa, Sally, and Anne added together and divided by 3. Her platinum-blonde hair is kept in a very short style as if to show her cleanliness. Her face has the receptive expression of a mature woman. She is of medium height and has a body that moves with a crisp, natural movement. Her pure white nurse''s uniform is woven with stain-resistant ground spider threads, and can withstand not only hot water disinfection but also flames. Equipped with a 20-person capacity, it can hold down even a violent patient and can also use <><>. The best part is that he has a mini craftsman (Smith)...... and a mini-nurse as assistants, and can handle even the smallest of treatments. The mini-nurse is 10 centimeters tall and is supposed to be in charge of detailed work that would be impossible for a life-size nurse. By the way, the mini-nurse is usually kept in the nurse''s cap on her head. "Jin-sama, where is she?" Jin smiled at the puzzled Fabius. "She''s a medical ...... automata that specializes in healing." * * * * Since he has memorized the procedure of Elsa''s removal of the < needle by <>, the treatment of the ten patients was completed in less than an hour. Since Alectus was already done, there were actually nine members of the clan, but if the captive Belialus was included, there would be ten. "Thank you again, Master Jin. Fabius bows again. "Ah, that''s enough, please raise your head. ......" Jin is now in control of the double. He wants to know the result of Belialus, so he is piloting it himself. "I can imagine the results for the <> people, but what happened to Belialus?" "He has changed dramatically. Let''s bring him in now." Fabius ordered Alectus, who was standing next to him. Alectus left the reception room and returned in about two minutes. Of course, he was accompanied by Belialus. "Jin-dono, I can''t thank you enough for your help. Belialus bowed deeply to Jin. "I''m glad to hear it. I am not only here to rescue the demon tribe, but also to avert a war with the human race. Jin offers a direct and direct offer. < will understand what he is saying. And it turns out to be true. "Of course. I will help you in any way I can. At the same time, Fabius also declares. "Master Jin, the clans of the <> will all cooperate with your cause, even if only in a small way. "I appreciate that. First of all, I would like to sort out the current situation. Can you call Istaris and the others? Istaris and Zion, as well as Netros and Lucas, were relaxing in separate rooms......, exchanging information about the oral traditions and legends of the <> and <> clans respectively. However, there still remained a divide between the clans, and the Istaris seemed to be looked down upon from beginning to end. However, the atmosphere itself was not bad, so Jin did not interfere with anything, but let Anne attend the meeting and sent the information to the old man. "Mr. Jin, you wanted to see me?" Jin, you will help us with our grandfathers, won''t you? Istaris and Theon arrived. Netros and Lucas followed silently. Anne was the last to arrive, which meant that all the members were present. "Now we are going to have a meeting for that." Istaris and Zion''s faces light up a little at Jin''s words. "First, let''s get things in order. Jin asked Fabius, the clan leader of the <>, to briefly explain how and when the <> was implanted. "Okay," he said. The reason why we are ...... the clan name of the <> is because we can sometimes get advice from the <>." Literally, the clan name is because of the <. "This advice comes from a magical tool ...... that is kept in the innermost part of the cave where they live, an artifact that might be called an ancient relic." Fabius paused for a few seconds to collect his thoughts before resuming. "There is an omen before the advice is given, one of the on the grimoire glows red. It was about six months ago. < But," said Fabius. "No advice came, but instead a short man appeared out of the blue. He must have been transplanted, Fabius guessed. The dwarf pointed something like a tube at me. Then I instantly lost my mind. ...... and I found myself in a body that was forced to do the bidding of <>." "You were implanted with an aguch?" "Yes. When I came to my senses, there were no more Confucian figures in my body. But there was a mysterious voice in my head, or rather behind my ear. Fabius put his hand behind his ear as if he could still hear the voice. "At first," he said, "I could not follow such a foolish order. ......<>, because that mysterious voice seems to be able to hear me. It didn''t seem to be able to read what I was thinking in my head, though." "That''s the function of the aggght needle buried behind your ear, isn''t it?" "Apparently so. I went to ...... and as soon as I rejected it, my chest started to hurt. It was unbearable. I couldn''t breathe and fell to the floor in a greasy sweat. When I was on the verge of losing consciousness, the agony finally subsided, and just as I was relieved, that voice commanded me again. I had no energy left to resist, Fabius said, his shoulders slumped. This is not surprising considering Fabius'' age. "The tube that launches the <> was in his pocket. At the same time, a tube that paralyzes the subject. ...... First I called up Alectus, paralyzed him, and then, following the voice''s instructions, I puzzlingly implanted the <>." The rest became easier and easier as more and more people joined us," Fabius said, looking down. It took less than a day to implant an agggha in every member of the clan, he said. And the mysterious voices were not always audible. When Jin-sama and the others came, it was just when I couldn''t hear the voices, but at night I started to hear them again. ......" He said he told them all about it. "I told them that Jin-sama was and that <." Reiko''s face twitched slightly when she heard this, while Jin laughed. Fabius'' honesty and his own evaluation. "Speaking of which, what kind of did you use?" Jin let it slide at the time, but he wanted to ask when he could. "<>, that was also given to me with the <>. I still have some left, and I can give you all of it if you like." "That''s good. I would like to analyze them." Fabius told Alectus. He left the room and returned less than a minute later. In his hand he held a medicine bottle. "Here. He said a spoonful would be enough. Jin-sama is the first person to use it, so I don''t have a precedent to tell you how it works. Jin receives the medicine bottle and hands it to Reiko. The medicine is to be delivered to the old man later through the warp gate. "According to Shuju, it is a drug that weakens the will and makes people do what you say. Jin guessed that it was similar to a narcotic. At the same time, it would have been a terrible thing if such a drug had spread throughout the world. "I understand about the <> clans. So you are sure that they will not be hostile to the human race? Jin said, as if to make sure. The clan leader, Fabius, nodded broadly. "Of course, of course!I don''t want to be made to dance in the hands of a ...... negative doll. "I am relieved to hear that. I will do everything I can to help. Finally, I was able to take the first step toward my goal of coming to the land of the demons. "Now, before we talk about the clans of the <>" Jin glanced at Istaris and Zion before looking at Belialus. "First, I''d like to hear about the <> clans." "Yes, sir. Jin, we need you to save our clan as well. Belial bowed to Jin and began to speak. 543 - - 16-22 Exchange of information "The <> clans are supposed to be neutral, but in fact they are divided into two inside ......." Belialus changes his tone in the middle of the sentence. Apparently, it is true that he is grateful to Jin. "I am ashamed to say that there is an internal division. Belialus looks a little sad. That''s very common, Jin thinks, but doesn''t say it. Instead, he asks another question. "Is it correct to assume that you are good at controlling demons and magical beasts? "Yes. I am good at controlling ground worms. It seems that each surgeon has his or her own affinity, and there are few who can do everything by themselves. "I see. ....... Yes, do you know a man called Archel?" Belialus looked a little surprised when he heard the name. "Where did you hear that name?Archelle is my sister, she disappeared a year ago." "Hmm?...... seems to have been in the northern part of the Kingdom of Klein, the land of Men. Not that I''ve ever met her. "I see. ...... Belialus looks worried, but he puts it down and says, "I''m not sure. But he pushes it away and explains to Jin. "...... She specializes in . She can also use transfer magic. < is a giant scissors beetle. Jin remembers that it must have been the same one that attacked Gloria. "Who is good at <>?" "Gigantopods?No, I''m sorry, I don''t know." Jin asked just in case, but it seemed that he had never heard of the gigantic hundred-footer itself. "It''s a gigantopod, but if you don''t know what it is, that''s okay." Jin reminded me of something else that had been bothering him. "Oh, yes, one more thing. Do you know anyone who can control the Hecaton Cail? "Yes, there are about five of them. About a month ago, a man named Endus sent them across the Pazdekst isthmus. Unlike Jin''s imagination, it seems that the more intelligent a person is, the easier it is to manipulate him. It may seem obvious, but it is said that it is more convenient to have a certain level of intelligence in order to manipulate <>. On the contrary, the more primitive the creature is, the more apt it is to manipulate. "So, how are the clans?" "Well, the belligerents have left the settlement, so you can consider the remaining 20 or so as moderates. ...... but they probably all have implanted in them." "I see. ......" At least the <> clans and <> clans have been victims of the . "The problem is that we don''t know how many clans were controlled by the magi-machines that were stopped this time. First of all, we need to liberate all the clans that are said to be moderate, but for starters, it will be the clans and the clans. "Which of these clans is closer to us?" Istaris answered the question. "We are closer to the clan. < clans live much further to the west. "...... that''s right." A disappointed look on his face, but it can''t be helped. "Alright then, tomorrow morning I will visit the <> clan. If they are free, I will take out the agggha. If not, then we will go to ......." "What are you going to do?" "Paralyze them all and pull out the control needle." Jin added, "The negative dolls already know that we can pull out the agggha," he said. With that, the meeting was adjourned. "Mr. Fabius, can you show us some of your old magic tools?" Jin (his double) asked with great interest. Yes, of course. Some of them don''t work. Please, this way. Jin (his double) followed Fabius with four miniature craftsmen (Smith) on his shoulders. Reiko goes with him. "This is the first one." At the far end of the living area, a grimoire with many windows. It was the . "I see. ...... May I touch it?" "Please do. If you are Jin-sama, you may reveal it to me. Jin (his double) took him at his word, and together with his mini-craftsman (Smith), removed the exterior of the magical tool. "Hmmm... ......" "Oh, so this is how it''s done. ...... but I don''t know what''s going on." A magic tool with its outer packaging removed. The basic flow of magic control (magi sequence) was very similar to that of the manaphone that Jin had given to various countries through the Nostalgia Party. After observing the manaphone, we put the exterior back on. The basic design data is stored in the old man''s memory. "What else do you have?" "That''s this way, sir." Fabius led Jin into another room. "This is the golem we''re using." A black-gray golem. The same type as the one that attacked Jin and the others the other day and was repelled by Reiko and Anne. There were 14 of them. "There were 20 of them, and as you know, six of them were destroyed by Jin-sama the other day. "Oh, I''m so sorry." Only Jin could say such a line. If the old man had moved them, he would never have said this. "Two of them are stuck, I''m afraid." "Let me see them." Jin is especially interested in golems and automata. He immediately set about analyzing the two stuck figures. First, the material. An alloy unknown in this world, but Jin knew what it was. Stellite. A hard alloy composed of cobalt, chromium, and tungsten. It excels in wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and heat resistance. There is almost no tungsten on this world, or rather on this planet. Adamantite exists instead, and Jin thought that the metal used to make this golem might have been brought from another star ......<>. There is no muscular tissue, and it seems to be moved directly by magic power. No wonder its movements are awkward. It is a method unique to this region with its high concentration of free magical element (ether). The durability is high. The only thing that was helpful to me as a human being was the material. The reason it stopped working was that the ether converter had deteriorated over the years. "The magic element converter (ether converter) has been used since those days. ...... Maybe the previous generation learned from it." With these thoughts in mind, Jin had a substitute doll (Double), Reiko, and a mini-craftsman (Smith) help him repair the Golem. The golem was still working, but the ether converter had deteriorated considerably, so it was replaced. Incidentally, this area produced an abundance of magical crystals, so there was no shortage of parts. "Thank you, Master Jin!" Fabius bowed his head again and again as the remaining fourteen were now working properly. Next was the lighting near the entrance. It seemed that an overload had been applied to the safe parts of the lights when they had been partially disabled by the ether jammer''s irradiation, and the magic circuit had been damaged. This was easily repaired. And now, finally, the illusionary warding. "......This is ......" The principle is similar to a three-dimensional image. Two or more projectors emit waves using magic power. A visible is drawn where the waves from another projector intersect with the waves from another projector. Since this is a three-dimensional image, it does not look strange from any direction and is not recognizable as an illusion unless you touch it. Furthermore, the surface of the illusion reflects sound waves over a considerable bandwidth. This also made it possible to deceive the auditory sense, thus enhancing the cloaking power of the illusion. What impressed Jin was the use of magic power. Here, <> does not mean in the broad sense, but in the narrow sense, and is used in the same way as <>. It might be better to say <>. <> travels through space like light. They can be modulated. And at the intersection of two magic rays, visible light is generated due to interference. This is the explanation of the old man who analyzed the data. Anyway, the results of this analysis will enhance the defense network of Horai Island. This was a big gain for us. During this work, Jin found two markers which he thought to be transfer markers, and he removed them. This would prevent a surprise attack. Jin repairs nearly a dozen other magic tools, including some that are not so rare. Fabius thanked him for the umpteenth time as Jin repaired all the malfunctioning magic boards (plates) and circuits. 544 - - 16-23 Morara clan liberated The next morning. Capricorn 1 bade farewell to the <> clan and departed to liberate the <> clan. In addition to the original members such as Jin, Reiko, Anne, Land 1, Istaris, Zion, Netros, and Lucas, Nurse 1 and 2, as well as Alectus from the <> clan and Belial from the <> clan. We were over capacity. As in the outward journey, we spend a full day approaching the residence of the <> clan. There is a story about how Belialus was surprised by Capricorn 1, but I won''t go into it here. That night they camped about two kilometers away from the settlement. The next day was the 21st. * * * * <<<< Morira>>''s clan seems to have been liberated by that one too. This is the result of the investigation by Land 81-83, a part of the army sent by the transporter. < residence is peaceful because of the absence of instructions from the , and many of them have revealed their true feelings. The old man secretly informed Reiko, Anne, and Jin (his double) of the result. Therefore, he said to them "I''ll go and see what''s going on first," Netros said. When Nettoros said, "I''ll check on him first," Jin was not worried. "Are you all right?...... be careful, Netros." Istaris had not been informed of such a thing, so it was a bit unfortunate that he looked so worried. So, this time, Netros'' reconnaissance was successful without incident. We caught one of them walking alone on the outskirts of the settlement and interrogated him in the shadows. < Then, I asked him about the fact that he had lost his <> since the day before yesterday. He did the same thing to the three of them and determined with considerable certainty that the <> clan had also been freed. "Well, that''s great!" Hearing Netros'' report of their safe return to Capricorn 1, Istaris and Zion breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, then, I think I''ll go too. ......" Zion said, acting timidly. Jin and the others just nodded their heads, knowing that everything would be fine. Istaris, on the other hand, looked worried. "Be careful ......, I wonder if I should go with you ......." "You should stay behind. If anything happens to me, you''re the only one who can do anything for the clan. "Zion ......" It may be a touching scene of sisterly love, but it is a bit frustrating for those who know what is going on behind the scenes. < "Well, I guess this is where I come in. Alectus stood up. Surely, they are of the same demon tribe, and since they are of the <> clan, they would not attack us out of the blue, even in the unlikely event that they did. "Then, I''ll go with you." Belial stood up as well. So we leave the second one to the two of them. They get out of Capricorn 1 and walk slowly towards the residence of the clan. Half an hour passed. Alectus came running back and said. "It''s all right. When I told him about you, Bardius of the <> was in tears of joy. "Really? "Grandfather ......" "Jin-sama, I have told them about you again. They are willing ...... to receive you with open arms." Thus, Istaris and Zion were finally able to return to their clan. "Nurse 1, nurse 2, this time we will go together. "Yes, I understand." < The security of Capricorn 1 is left to Land 1. "Oh, Istaris! "Theon!" The sisters were greeted by a man and a woman of advanced age. Father! Mother! I am told that they were the parents of two children, the father named Radeous and the mother Lorona. "I''m sorry, I know I''m trying to protect you, but I shouldn''t have kicked you out. ......" "No, it''s okay." Father and son meeting. Jin looked at them with a bit of envy. Jin was approached by a voice. "You are the Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono, aren''t you? A young demoness greeted Jin together with Belialus, who had preceded them. "I am Clydes. I am the brother of Istaris and Zion. * * * * Jin and the others were welcomed at the home of the clan leader. "Jin-dono, I cannot thank you enough for saving my daughters. Their father, Radeous, bowed his head. Their mother, Rorona, bowed with them. "Now that all the clans are aware of the fact that you are the incomparable MagiCraft Meister," Bardius said as he came into the room. Bardius came into the room. Nurse 1 has just taken out the aguch," he said. It will take more than half a day because of the large number of people, but the faces of the clansmen are all cheerful to know that they are now free from the spell. "We would like to discuss the future," Jin said. Jin says, and Bardius agrees. "I don''t represent the human race, but if the demon clans are not united as they are now, we can''t offer permanent assistance, can we? "I think you are right. At least the clans of have no intention of antagonizing Jin-dono." Bardius bowed his head. "What about the other clans that are considered moderate?I don''t think we can move forward without at least one united moderate faction." "I think they can be united as long as they are not controlled by <>......<>. Especially since <>> is here." The title of "Magecraft Meister" seems to be a considerable status among the demon clans. "First, the clans of the <>, the <>, the <>, and the <>. And the clan of the <>. Bardius raises three moderate clans. "If they are satisfied, 90% of the moderates will join you, Master Jin." "No, I''m not trying to rule, ......" I don''t want to rule or govern, and I don''t intend to stay here forever. I''m not planning to stay here forever. I''m really hoping that the village of Kaina will be peaceful and I''ll be able to relax and do what I like to do, making things on Hourai Island. "Well, well, I''m not asking you to be a leader. I''m just asking you to be, you know, a <>. ......" Still, Jin was reluctant. He did not like the idea of being carried on a portable shrine. Above all, I have no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of another species, even though we are biologically the same. We will discuss this later. For now, I decided to put it off. It was not that he was running away, but rather that he wanted to think carefully about what he should do. "Anyway, we need to know if the three clans are being controlled by an agggha, and if so, how we can release them. And if so, how do we free them? First things first." According to the old man''s plan, Jin (the double) will be in charge of various matters against the moderates. And he was thinking that a separate unit would be in charge of the operation against . 545 - - 16-24 Laozi Power Up , and then deal with the moderates. We need to work on all three in parallel. August 22. On Horai Island, the old man was explaining the plan to Jin himself. "I understand that. But first of all, I would like to know their food situation. Jin thought that as long as he could improve the food situation of the demon tribe, this disturbance would be 80% solved. > clan. After a few seconds of discussion, the old man agreed. "Okay, we''ll focus on that for a couple of days. Can you look at the other two points?" > The old man complained to Jin that there was no one who should be the leader of each of them. "Well, do you mean that you are short of personnel?" <> "<> or ......" However, as it is now, it is clearly not powerful enough. At the very least, it should be better than Rand. "Okay, I''ve made up my mind. <." The security system does not allow the "Mere Old Man" to modify <>. Therefore, Jin himself has to do it. Thus, Jin decided to modify Laojun''s mobile terminal, <> in earnest. However, since the modification was already done with Reiko and other golems, it took less than an hour to complete the modification even with the addition of new functions. The complete revision of the skeleton and muscles, the addition of the sense of touch are obvious features, as are the aetherjammer and gravity magic, as well as offensive and defensive magic. They should also be equipped with a mana tank and have sufficient energy reserves. They can also use engineering magic and healing magic. She is truly an all-powerful automata. Reiko is also an all-around automaton, but in her case, her offensive power is outstanding. In the case of Lao Tzu, her functions were adjusted to be well-balanced. One of her unique features is that she has inside her body five 5cm-tall ultra-compact golems, called . These golems are based on the Mini Craftsman (Smith), and are specially designed to be half the size (5 cm) of the Smith. It is a half-mini standard, so to speak. It is useful for information gathering. They are also called "Finger 1 to 5. "How is Lao Tzu doing, Mr. Lao Tzu? The old man tried the mobile terminal "Laozi" and reported to Jin that the performance of the mobile terminal was perfect. <. "Okay. Be careful." "Yeah, that''s the way it''s going to be. When the moderates calm down, we''ll start on the extremists. "Okay. Let''s put on Falcon 8-10. I have a lot of free magical elements (ether), so it should be no problem to stay in the air. Thus, the old man, Lando''s team for the radicals, and Jin''s double doll, Reiko, and Anne for the moderates were to deal with <> respectively. * * * * * "Our agricultural situation? Jin (his double) was having a meeting with Bardius, the chief of the <> clan. "Yes. Of course we can help them, but I think it would be best if they could become self-sufficient. "Yes, that is true. Then, I will have Lorona guide you. She knows a lot about that kind of thing. So, Rorona, the mother of Istaris and Zion, was to guide Jin. Reiko followed silently. Meanwhile, Anne is guided by Istaris and Sion to the residential area of the clan. She asks them to use their judgment to identify areas for improvement. Rorona has silver hair, light blue eyes, and white skin just like Istaris and Theon. Or rather, many of the <> clans are like that. Jin imagined that there might be many marriages between close relatives, but he changed his mind to concentrate on farming for now. "Most of the wheat we grow is barley," he said. We were shown to a barley field on a hill overlooking the sea. Although the ears of barley had already grown, they seemed to be less fertile than the ones we had seen in Kaina Village. Incidentally, barley is said to be more resistant to salt damage than wheat. Therefore, it makes sense that barley is grown in the fields along the coastal edge. "Well, are you taking any measures to prevent crop failure? "Yes, we try to put humus in the field when it is not being cultivated. Row crop failure is the failure of a crop to grow or yield because the same crop is grown continuously, causing an increase in certain diseases or pests, or depletion of minerals in the soil. "Hmmm, maybe that''s not enough, or maybe it''s a varietal thing." Jin couldn''t come up with any more causes with his knowledge, unless he was double cropping (growing two different crops in one year on the same arable land) or double cropping (growing the same crop in the same way), that is, resting the land for more than six months and fertilizing it with organic fertilizers. "What about the other crops?" So he takes a look around. "Yes, this way. We grow a bean here called the nut bean." From what Jin could see, these beans were very similar to peas. Indeed, they are the most cold-resistant type of beans. However, they did not seem to grow well there either. "This is what we use to make sweetness. It''s called Vietra." It was a sugar beet. "We grind, squeeze the juice and boil it to make sugar. The dregs are used to feed the livestock." The dregs are used to feed the few capris they raise, which are somewhere between cows and sheep. This is in line with what Jin knows. The last one is this. "What?" A field full of white flowers. Jin recognized the flowers. "...... buckwheat?" When he looked closer, he saw that the stem was red at the base. It was definitely buckwheat. Well, not all buckwheat has a red root, but Jin remembered that the root of buckwheat was red. "It is called ''Kuromugi'' (black buckwheat). The seeds are sown in May when the snow melts, and harvested in September. It is true that buckwheat seeds are blackish brown in color, but they are a different kind of plant from wheat. But that is not the point. "How do you eat this so...... black wheat?" "Yes, it is ground into flour with the skin, kneaded in hot water and eaten." In short, Jin thought, buckwheat is good. Unlike barley, buckwheat is also prized for its aroma, even if it is ground with the hulls. It is good. "......If you make soba, but you don''t have soy sauce, you don''t have much. ......" Without soy sauce, there are not many choices of how to eat buckwheat noodles. "Buckwheat cookies or steamed bread,......" Jin can also make buckwheat noodles, though not as well as his profession, since he made buckwheat noodles for New Year''s Eve for several years when he was in an orphanage. However, he gave up making soba-tsuyu (buckwheat sauce) since it is not available in the Demon Territory. Even though he did not have baking powder, he had baking soda, so he could make steamed bread. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Having inspected all the crops and fields, Jin (a double doll in place of Jin) returned to the residence of the <> clan. Jin sits down on a chair in the reception room and thinks (actually, Jin and the old man in Horai Island are thinking). Then he spoke his conclusion after thinking about it. "...... First of all, we need to secure manpower, and then we need to review our crops and agriculture." "Jin-dono?What does that mean?" Rorona and her husband Radeous, who was also present at the meeting, looked at each other as if they did not understand. Bardius was even less sure. "Let''s make a golem for farming. Then we will grow potatoes. Then we can use the greenhouse. Jin expressed the idea he had in mind. "I know what a farming golem is. But what are potatoes?What is a greenhouse? To this question, Jin gave a simple explanation. Potatoes, also called topopo, are potatoes that can be grown in cold climates. They can be delicious depending on how they are cooked. In a greenhouse, the crops are enclosed with transparent boards. The temperature inside is higher than outside." "That sounds great!" Rorona, who is an expert on agriculture, seemed to understand a lot from that explanation alone. "We would like you to provide us with the materials, including the production of the golem. "Of course. Of course. I will prepare them as soon as possible. Radeous said he would prepare the materials and left the room. "So, how can we reward Jin-dono, or rather, what can we do for him in return ......?" Vardius, the chief, said anxiously. Jin''s answer was, "First, some buckwheat...... berries and a few Vietra seeds. The first thing to do was to take a few buckwheat berries and a few Vietra seeds. 546 - - 16-25 Finally Start Bardius nodded in agreement to Jin''s request for black wheat berries and Vietra seeds. "Yes, I understand. Of course, I don''t think that will be enough. For a start, you mean? "Well, yes." With this, Lorona leaves the room. She seems to have gone to prepare seeds. Radeous returned in his place. "Jin-dono, we have prepared the materials in our workshop. Could you please check on them?If anything is missing, we will have it ready for you. "Yes, sir. Let''s go. Accompanied by Reiko, Jin (his double) went to the prepared workshop. < "The sea is calm during the summer, but in the winter it can be rough, with waves up to 10 meters high. "You can''t even launch a boat." Jin bumped into Istaris and Zion as they were explaining this to Ann. "Father, Jin-sama, where are you going?" "Well, Jin-sama is making a golem for me, so I''m going to his workshop." "Oh my!Father, may I join you? "Oh, me too!" Radeous looked at Jin with a troubled face. He seemed like a father with a soft spot for his daughter. Or perhaps he was sorry for kicking out the clan the other day, albeit falsely. "...... I''d like Anne to help you, too, so you two can come." "Wow!Thank you, Jin!" Zion was in a good mood to be able to see Jin''s skills up close. Istaris, too, seemed to be excited inside, though he did not say so, and his cheeks were flushed. < clan are basically made of stone. The material used is floating stone tuff, a member of the Oya stone family. It is the same stone material used in Potrock, a port town in the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias, where Jin once participated in a golem boat race. However, the color of this stone is more greenish. It seems that this stone material is used because it is resistant to salt damage and has excellent heat retention properties due to its low thermal conductivity. Each house is a one-story building with only a small window on the seaward side. Istaris said that this was to keep the houses warm and to protect them from the winter monsoon. Most of the roads between the houses are four meters wide. They are wide in relation to the size of the houses. The workshop we came to on such a road was located on the eastern edge of the settlement. It was built in a half-underground structure with a high ceiling compared to the height of the house. The materials are stacked in the corner of the workshop. Jin checks the metal materials, first of all, large ingots of copper and iron. Smaller ingots of tin and light silver. Small ingots of tin and light silver, and a small lump of adamantite are placed on the table. As material for muscles, a considerable amount of leather of magical beasts was piled up on a shelf in the corner of the workshop. Lastly, magi crystals. A considerable amount of each attribute was also on the shelves. "Yes, we should be able to make something pretty good with this much. Jin nodded his head. Since it was not for combat but for farming, he only intended to make a golem with a three-person capacity at the most. "Is there anyone who is familiar with magecraft?" Finally, he asks for help. This is not so much a request for an assistant as it is a request for a person to do the subsequent maintenance. We have a few, but the best ones are at ....... Maricka. I''ll go get her. With that Zion ran out. "...... who is this Marikka?" She is a friend of Zion''s. Her grandfather was quite skilled in engineering magic. Jin waited for Zion to come back, as he was willing to work with anyone as long as they could do maintenance. After about five minutes, Zion returned. "Jin, thanks for waiting. ...... Marikka, that''s Jin, the Magecraft Meister." Marikka was a girl about Zion''s age. She had the same silver hair, but unusually her eyes were yellow. "It''s nice to meet you. My name is Marikka. Can I help you? She was chewing nervously. "Yes, I''m Jin. I''m going to build an agricultural golem, and I need you to take care of its maintenance. "Wow, wow, I can do it, can''t I?" "Oh, don''t be so nervous." Jin smiled at Marikka and gave instructions to Reiko first. "Reiko, let''s make one first. Give me the materials. "Yes." Jin decides to go with a basic golem made of bronze. He started by making bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Since tin is abundant, we will use a ratio of 90% copper and 10% tin. This is what is called "gunmetal. Gunmetal is a copper alloy that was used in cannons before iron. A type of bronze, it is easy to cast and has high toughness and strength. <>" After determining the ratio by weight, the material is alloyed all at once. About one ton of gunmetal ingots were produced. "What?What in the world? After the chanting, Marikka was astonished to see the ingot that had been created in an instant. Istaris and Zion''s eyes widened and they were speechless. "How can you make such a huge ingot all at once? No one, not even the demon tribe that boasts a high amount of magic power, could do what Jin had just shown them. "Well, what should I do?" Here is Jin''s double, who has only about one-third of Jin''s engineering magic ability. "This is the proof that you are a magical engineer "Magicraft Meister!" Radeous shouted loudly in agreement. The others also managed to calm themselves down. "Each body weighs 50 kilos of bronze." < for the time being. "What? Marikka is surprised again. If it were Jin himself, he would easily divide it into 20 pieces. "I''ll make the skeleton. Reiko, help me. Yes. "The joints will be coated with a thin layer of adamantite to make them more durable. ...... Marikka, right?Are you seeing this? Yes. "For the muscles, ...... what kind of leather is that?" Jin tilted his head as he picked up the leather of the magical beast for magical muscles. If it were a real one, he might be able to tell without touching it, but I guess that''s the limit of a substitute doll (double). "It''s probably a groundworm leather," he said. This is the groundworm that attacked Capricorn 1 the other day. "I see. It''s not bad quality. The leather is torn into thin strips, twisted into muscle, and arranged. Reiko assisted him, and in about 20 minutes he had the muscles in place. "Wow. ......." Marikka is stunned. It''s no wonder they don''t even have a proper Magecraftsman, let alone a Magecraftsman. "All right, prepare the ether tank and the free-magic furnace. Jin intends to unify the system with the backward compatible system used by Reiko and the others, assuming that it will be used in areas with high concentration of free magical element (ether). The magic nerve is mithril silver," he said. ...... Marikka, because if this one runs out, it will malfunction, right?" "huh? "So, control core," he said. ......Agricultural knowledge will be the main focus, so Reiko." "Yes." The control core is built around the agricultural know-how cultivated by the golem maids of Horai Island. The old man created it and sent it to us through the warp gate. "We are going to use this as a master and copy it. After this, the exterior was installed, and the first one was completed in about an hour. "Is it already done?" "......, you are very fast." "Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Theon, Istaris, and Marikka each give their impressions. Marikka is still chewing. "Jin-dono, I am impressed. Finally, Radeous bowed his head. "What?" "The skill of a Magecraft Meister. You are indeed our savior." "......" Jin, who does not like to be praised in a grandiose manner, thinks to himself, "Oh my God. 547 - - 16-26 Agricultural Reforms Seeing that Marikka was not going to be of much use at the moment, Jin decided to give the golem some rudimentary knowledge of engineering magic as well, so that they could maintain each other and keep in good shape. This is to keep them in good shape and to keep them in good working order with each other. First, he activates the first one. The master-slave system, which determines the chain of command, is the same as the one used in the village of Kaina, and targets an unspecified number of members of the <> clan. This method targets all the clans in the knowledge of Marikka, who is the representative of the clan. If there are new members, they can be added through introductions from the clans. "Ji-jin-sama?" "...... hold still. I''m setting up the golem''s chain of command now." "Whew!" Marikka is still chewing, but Jin doesn''t care, and uses <> and <>. "That''s it, <>." "Hi." The golem rises. At 2 meters tall, it is reasonably large and powerful. "Oh, no!" "Whoa!" It seems to be a shocking scene to see a lying Golem get up for the first time. "It''s amazing even if you know it''s amazing,......." Radeous was also taken aback by the majesty of the golem. The <> clans had golems, but the <> clans did not. They have followers like Netros and Lucas to take their place. "This is a golem that will be asked to do mainly farming. Let''s call it ......<>." Named after agriculture, of course. "This is ." "Hi, I''m ." "You can speak ......?" Yes, and I''m going to make 19 more of the same model. Ugly 1, help me. Yes, sir. It was no surprise that I had given him a rudimentary knowledge of engineering magic, and it only took him an hour to make the next four. Reiko and five others helped him complete fifteen of them in one hour. The skill of the workers left the onlookers speechless. "......" "............" Istaris and Zion, who had been watching with curiosity, seemed to realize once again what kind of people they had been under the care of. "Shu,shugo...... great job, Jinshama." Marikka was so nervous that she kept chewing. Jin looked at her warmly. Marikka, you are still new to engineering magic. I have given these s some rudimentary knowledge of engineering magic, so if you feel up to it, you can learn a lot from them. "Hi, hi. Thank you very much. Maricka was not satisfied. I heard later that she is younger than Zion. No wonder. < 1 to 20, Jin (his double) took a little late lunch and immediately resumed his work. Since Jin himself and the old man were taking turns to control the doll, they could work virtually without a break. Now it was time to build the greenhouse. "...... how to replace the glass? The village of Kaina is close to the source of muscovite, but it is not available here. Instead, transparent zirconia (zirconium dioxide) is produced in large quantities and processed into window glass and cups. "This would be a good export: ......" He thought, "This could be a trade item, since it is rarely found on the Laurentian continent, where humans live. "I see, that would be great." We don''t have to go to the trouble of making glass, we can just get a cheap transparent material. Zirconia has a melting point of over 2,700 degrees Celsius and a hardness of 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale, It is also tough and can be used to make cut glass. But for now, the first thing to do is to build a greenhouse. Jin asked Lorona to select a suitable place, and together with Ugly and others, he made a framework out of light silver. Then, zirconia plates were fitted into the framework. "Oh, so this is the greenhouse. Jin built three greenhouses, each measuring 3 meters by 6 meters. Radeous and Lorona were impressed by the warmth when they entered the greenhouses. "It sure is warm. But won''t it get cold at night? Lorona is very perceptive. < clan have a structure that lets in sunlight for warmth, although it cannot be called a greenhouse. I guess this is a matter of accumulated experience. "Yes, that''s why we install heaters. "Heater, huh? Fortunately, this area is rich in free magical element (ether). I was able to make a heater with a simple structure and high efficiency. The problem, however, is the thermostat. "Istaris told me that you have a magical device that senses temperature, right?" "Yes, you mean a cold/heat indicator. Rorona answered and pointed to the wall of the workshop. "That''s the same thing." There was a translucent plate fitted in a round wooden frame, which at first glance seemed to be a hand mirror. It turned red when it was hot and white when it was cold. "I wonder how it works?" Reiko checks on behalf of Jin (a double doll). Reiko''s analytical and analytical skills are superior to Jin''s. "It''s probably demon''s leather. "Is it a demon''s leather? "It is close. < It is reddish brown in summer and white in winter as a protective color. "Well, it''s not that easy to use." Jin eliminated it from the list of candidates, since it seems to be quite difficult to incorporate it into a magical tool. "...... and, then, a temperature sensor after all. ......" There are many other things besides thermometers that can be used as a temperature indicator. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius and boils at 100 degrees Celsius (at 1 atmospheric pressure), and metals have a fixed melting point (which does not depend much on atmospheric pressure). In Reiko''s case, she uses a highly pure magi crystal (magi crystal of ) as a sensor to detect temperature. Magi crystals of < always radiate weak magic power, but the amount of the radiation changes depending on the temperature, and this is used to detect changes in temperature. However, it is not always the case that the temperature is 0 degrees Celsius, so it is necessary to perform what is called < at a reference temperature. Also, the reproducibility is poor if the purity is low. In the case of Reiko, the temperature at which water freezes = 0 degrees Celsius, the temperature at which water boils = 100 degrees Celsius, Jin''s favorite bath temperature = 43 degrees Celsius (he likes it hot), and the temperature at which water boils = 100 degrees Celsius. and Jin''s favorite temperature for tea = 62 degrees Celsius (for cat''s tongue). The high purity of magi crystals is so rare that it is difficult to use them in a general thermometer. "Well, it''s not like we''re going to make so many of them, and there seems to be plenty of mineral resources in the Magi territory. Jin takes out three of the purest magi crystals (magi crystals with the ) as possible from among those prepared. "Here, do this: ....... " "Jin, what are those?" Zion looked into Jin''s hand and asked. "It''s a temperature sensor. ...... put this one over here like this. " Combined with another magecrystal, the heater is assembled. The heater is completed when it is assembled into the light silver housing. "Mr. Lorona, this heater heats up when it gets cold and stops when it gets warm. Jin explains in simple words. By now, Rorona, Radeous, Marikka, Istaris, and Sion were all aware of what Jin was doing and were half impressed and half dumbfounded. "Ah, yes!So we can install this in the greenhouse!" "I see, so this is how Mister Jin made it possible to grow crops even in winter." Still, Rorona and Radeous understood Jin''s intentions. "This is a start. We can add more greenhouses to ......." "Yes, so we can eat fresh vegetables even in winter. "I''m looking forward to it!" Theon''s face lights up. "Now all we have to do is to increase the area of cultivated land. It is only natural, since they now have more labor power in the form of golems for farming. "Let''s consider cultivating the land tomorrow. 548 - - 16-27 Countermeasures against frost damage The next day, August 23. Jin (his double) is guided by Lorona to select a plot of land to be used as a farm. Of course, Reiko and Anne are with him. "Oh, this area is good, isn''t it? The land slopes gently toward the south. There is a small river running through it, and it seems to have good access to water. A coniferous forest is located on the north side. It is supposed to protect it from the north wind. "Yes, but the land here is too thin. It''s too thin." Indeed, there is hardly any grass on the land. Reiko crouched down and dug the ground a little with her hands. Sand, gravel, and volcanic clay. She puts some soil on her palm and shows it to Hitoshi. "Oh, there is too little organic matter," he said. "Organic matter?" Rorona tilted her head. She is the mother of Istaris and the others, and appears to be in her late twenties. By the way, it is said that the lifespan of the demon tribe is about five times longer than that of humans. Rorona herself said that she was 200 years old. 5 times is equivalent to 40 years old, but it seems that the aging process starts after the age of 4 However, it is said that the aging process starts after the age of 400, and she still has a youthful appearance. But that is beside the point. Yes, organic matter. Yes, organic matter, like humus. And the soil is too hard, so you have to till it deeply. The plow and hoe as farming tools were made yesterday. They are made entirely of iron with adamantite teeth, so they will not deteriorate too much when plowed by Golem''s power. "Now all that''s left is to improve the soil. ......" I have only a passing knowledge of the subject. I have only seen a news story about diapers embedded in the desert (actually a superabsorbent polymer), and the rest of my knowledge is limited to burning fields and using rhizobacteria on beans. "Well, nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium are essential. I knew at least the three elements of plant cultivation, so I decided to start preparing from there. "Oh, what is it?That." Lorona just tilted her head. It was a somewhat cute gesture, but she was married with three children. "Nitrogen is for the growth of leaves and stems, phosphoric acid for flowers and fruits, and potassium for roots. "Oh, ...... that''s also the knowledge of the Magecraft Meister, the magical engineer?" I don''t know. For the time being, we need to prepare humus, grass ash, bone meal, oil cake, and so on. The humus should be free from coniferous leaves as much as possible. This is because conifer leaves contain turpentine-type oil, which hinders the growth of the roots. Ash is made by burning trees and weeds growing on the land to be cultivated. Bone meal is made by collecting and reusing bone meal that used to be thrown away as garbage. Oil cake was not found at ....... It is the residue of oil squeezed out from sesame oil, rapeseed oil, etc. Since these vegetable oils were not used, there was inevitably no oil cake. "Well, if we start with buckwheat and beans, they will eventually become fertile." Roots left in the soil and husks after harvesting can also be converted into organic fertilizer. As I imparted this simple knowledge to Rorona, Istaris, who had arrived before I knew it, listened attentively. "Is Istaris going to take over from Rorona-san?" "Yes. I hope to succeed my mother and take charge of the food supply. Hearing this, Jin explained in more detail. Istaris learned very well, and Jin was so pleased that he spoke a lot of unnecessary things. "There is a fertilizer called ''kinpi'' that you have to pay for, and they used dried sardines in some cases," he said. "In addition to the three elements, calcium, magnesium and sulfur are also good in small quantities. "The nodules on the roots of beans are symbiotic with rhizobium bacteria, which fix nitrogen in the air. "The soil should have a dumpling structure, which is a grouping of large grains, so that the roots can breathe easily and grow well. "If you dig a shallow hole and bury vegetable waste, it will become a good fertilizer in a few months. "If you have peat, that would be a good fertilizer too." Istaris listened hard, trying to remember what he had learned, even if he did not fully understand it. Jin''s knowledge was limited to the level of a vegetable garden, so he would soon run out of things to talk about. "......That''s about all I can say right now," he said. "Yes, thank you very much." Jin thinks. Perhaps the demon tribe had underestimated technology because they were able to use magic more powerfully than mankind. And as their blood thinned, their magical power gradually weakened until now. While Jin was explaining to Rorona and Istaris in this way, 20 <> had finished cultivating about 2 hectares of land. At this rate, they would finish cultivating 10 hectares by the end of the day. To feed 100 members of the clan, 15 tons of grain would be needed. That would require at least 30 hectares of arable land. In reality, the clan of < has about 50 members, which seems sufficient, but this is the area of arable land including fallow land to prevent continuous cropping. In the cold region, 40 hectares would be needed to take into account the reduction in harvest. Jin sees that the current cultivated area is almost 30 hectares. This is just barely enough, and stockpiling will not be enough. "I wonder if we can get enough black wheat in time if we start planting it now. Istaris told me that the first frost occurs in late October or early November. The first snow falls at the end of November. Black wheat is susceptible to frost. Jin did not know this, but they had been growing it for a long time and knew it well. "We can harvest it as early as two months. They had cleared a field on a south-facing slope, so it would have some effect. "Now all we have to do is .........Warding!" "What?" Jin, who had been watching the fields being cleared by Ugly and the others, seemed to have had an idea and ran to the workshop. Neither he nor his double had changed at all. "Well, the strength should be weak. But make the area of effect as wide as possible. ......" "Jin, what are you making?" Theon looked into the workshop. Istaris came in later. Unlike Jin himself, the double was running faster than Istaris, who is a demon. "It''s a ward against frost!" "Oh, you can do that? Physical protective wards may be able to prevent frost, but covering an area as large as several tens of hectares would be difficult. However, Jin knew of several ways to prevent frost. In inland areas of Japan, people burn heavy oil or waste oil to generate black smoke and fan the air to prevent damage from late frost in May. In short, we can either prevent radiative cooling or circulate the air to keep it from freezing. "A physical field with the maximum intensity reduced. One of these should be able to cover an area of one hectare. Jin has created a physical barrier (solid barrier) that is so weak that it would be impractical. It is one ten-thousandth as strong as normal. But it is strong enough to prevent the diffusion of warm air during the daytime and the intrusion of cold air. Moreover, its low strength does not impede human ingress and egress. "......Hey, ......Wow, that''s great." Theon seemed to understand the effect immediately. "It will probably keep out as much snow as the Kazahana," he said. With this, it would be possible to grow black wheat in two seasons. If possible, Jin advised, it would be better to grow beans from spring to summer and black wheat from summer to fall. "If we don''t have a greenhouse, we can get a little better crop with this. ......" The weak heat retention would raise the temperature a few degrees, which would extend the cropping season by a month or two. "You are indeed a Magecraft Meister, Master Jin, to be able to destroy the seeds of conflict in this way!" Istaris praised Jin with open arms, and Jin scratched his cheek in embarrassment. At the end of the day, we were shown the zirconia mining site. It was deep in a pit dug into the cliff near the seashore. Jin was surprised to see it. To his surprise, clear, colorless zirconia crystals were being mined in large quantities. "......Why?" When you think about it, it is quite unnatural that such a large amount of colorless and transparent zirconia is mined. "<>" I found that the deposit extends quite deep, but its distribution is geometrical, i.e., it has an unnatural shape, so I guessed that it is half-artificial. The zirconia from the deposit also seems to be mixed with some additives, if we are strictly speaking. Unfortunately, Jin is not very familiar with gemstones, so he did not know what it was and what effect it was having. At any rate, it is easy to imagine now that something must have happened to this deposit in the past. Well, since our purpose is not to uncover the true nature of the deposit, we decided to let it go for now as long as we can extract some usable materials. * * * * In Horai Island, the old man praised Jin. "Yes, I think it was a good idea too. It would be practical in our region, but not over there where the concentration of free magic element (ether) is high. < If we can make them understand that there is a possibility of self-sufficiency in food, the food problem is as good as solved. The moderates will listen to us. "Oh, we''ll visit other moderates soon." . "Yes, let me know when you get it together." 549 - - 16-28 To the next clan On the morning of August 25th. Jin announced his intention to leave the residential area of the <> clan. The newly cultivated fields now cover an area of 20 hectares, and a total of 50 golems for agriculture have been completed. These golems are equipped with a communication function so that they can be contacted in case of any problems and receive instructions from Lao Gong. This is an insurance against being robbed by extremists. The clan of <> is now at least self-sufficient. It''s time to visit the other moderate factions. "Yes, Master Jin. Yes, Master Jin. Belialus, now a guest of the puppet, and Bardius, the leader of the Morira clan, bowed their heads. The next target is the clan. A couple of days ago, a liaison had been dispatched and reported that they appeared to have escaped the effects of the agggha. Therefore, I would like to send someone with you. < clan accompanied him, the conversation would go smoothly. I''ll do it then. Istaris is the candidate. "Mm, Istaris. Good. Then Rorona, you''ll follow me." Yes, I''ll do it. It seems that Istaris and Rorona''s mother and daughter will be accompanying them this time. They will be escorted by Netros. What?What about me?" Theon complains, but is told that he is too old to go, so he reluctantly withdraws. "Woo...... Jin, please come back again." Zion says this while looking up at me. Jin (his double) lightly patted Zion on the head. Theon felt that this was Jin''s way of replying, so he said nothing more. "Well then, see you later. Jin (his double) waved his hand through the skylight of Capricorn 1. "Thank you, Jin-sama! "Jin-sama, take care!" "Jin-sama, please come again!" < clansmen see him off, and Capricorn 1 heads west. A little further inland, there is a settlement where the clan lives. Our clan is about 30 people. We do not have followers like the < clan. Instead, we tame and use magical beasts and other creatures as our servants. Belial''s groundworms are said to be used to cultivate the land. "We don''t use the Hecaton Cairn much," he says. The bigger they are, the more powerful they are, but it is difficult to feed them because they are carnivorous. For this reason, they are of little use other than in battle. "If only we could have the golem that Mister Jin made ......." If we have the materials, we will make it. "I see!That would be great! Along the way, Jin was getting a lot of information from Belialus. The journey took a little over five hours at 20 kilometers per hour, stopping for lunch along the way. Capricorn 1 had traveled about 100 kilometers. "We''re almost at the clan''s settlement. All around us, the land was a wasteland dotted with coniferous forests. "There are a few small animals in this area, and our clan mainly hunts them. The rock hare, a member of the hare family, is said to have tasty meat, and its fur is used as a winter coat. Gondoakaribou are large reindeer, and a single one can yield quite a bit of meat. Their pelts are used for winter clothing and rugs. < clan is said to be good at hunting. They sometimes trade meat for produce with the < clan. "Oh, I can see them now. That''s ......." I''m detecting unusual magical energy! In the middle of the conversation, Land 1 interrupts. The message sounds urgent. "A powerful magical force is approaching from the north. < clan''s settlement. "Master Jin, what is happening?" Rorona and Istaris, who had been chatting with their mother and daughter, asked in a panicked voice. Wait a minute. ...... three huge dragons are approaching." This is the information from Falcon 2 and 3 who are supporting in the air. "Dragons? There shouldn''t be any dragons around here! Three of them? It is said that the bigger the beast is, the more it needs a large amount of free magical energy (ether) to maintain its body, and therefore, the more it stays in the high latitudes and doesn''t come out. "Maybe the negative doll did something to them." Anne speculated. It is known that Jin and his group liberated the clans of the and from the agggha. It is easy to imagine that they will liberate the moderates in the future. "Then, they may have thought ...... that they could push the dragon to crush the moderates." "That''s possible." Jin agrees with Anne''s guess. Seeing his calm demeanor, Belialus panicked. "Jin-dono!There is no one in our clan who can use a dragon!We must retreat! But Jin''s double shook his head. "We won''t make it in time. The dragon is approaching at over 150 kilometers per hour. This Capricorn 1 has a top speed of 70 km/h. He won''t make it out of there." "Then what are you going to do? !" Belialus is now blue as a sheet. On the other hand, the old man, who is now controlling the double, had obtained detailed information about the dragon from Falcon 2 and 3. From his experience, he knows that the strength of a beast is almost proportional to its magical power. Hecatoncairn, Death Sea Serpent, Sea Dragon, and Gigantopod. Although the dragon approaching now has more magical power than the sea serpent, it does not seem to be a threat to Reiko and the others. In the far distance, the residence of the seems to have sensed the approach of the dragons, and several people have come out to warn the others. "Belial, I want you to go to the clansmen and calm them down." "What?" A big monster like that is no match for the Magecraft Meister. The old man let his double say what Jin would never have said. < clansmen, he could win their trust in one fell swoop. "Are you sure you can do this? "Don''t worry, Mr. Bellius. Istaris confirmed this. "Master Jin defeated the rock giants as if they were made of clay. I''m sure he''ll slay the dragon too. "U...... I know!" Now we have no choice but to trust in Jin. Belial opened the skylight and jumped out. Using his body enhancement, he quickly made his way to the clans. They were also free from the spell of the control needle (aggach), so we could see that they immediately welcomed Belialus into their midst. "Well, all we have to do now is to slay the dragon right in front of them. Jin (his double) muttered to himself, and a small dot appeared in his eyes. It grows bigger and bigger. "Grand dragon......!" It is a grayish-brown land dragon. The overall impression is that of a giant iguana. It is about 20 meters long. According to Rorona, it is a natural enemy of the Hecaton Cale. It is said to prey on the Hecaton Cale." "I see. ......" "For some reason, gravity magic and other offensive magic don''t work very well either!" "What?" That''s new to me. Is there some special ability? The grand dragon will be here in a few dozen seconds. I saw a cloud of dust in the distance. Through the eyes of Jin, the double, the old man continues his observation. He examines whether the doll can be used as a material or not, and confirms that there are some parts that can be used in a reasonable way. . Therefore, you do not use . Weapons that are difficult to understand, such as lasers, are also eliminated from the list of candidates. >. And then he comes to a conclusion. > 550 - - 16-29 Grand Dragon Rejected Reiko and Anne decided to attack the Grand Dragon, which was speeding toward them with a cloud of smoke rising from the ground. "Yes, sir." A magical beast with high magic resistance is relatively weak against physical attacks. Reiko carries Momoka on her back and has a magi cannon in her hand. Anne carries a super high-speed vibrating sword (Vibration Sword) and a magic bomb (Mana Bomb). "I''m coming, Anne." "Yes, ma''am." The two jumped out of the skylight of Capricorn 1. The grand dragon is less than 200 meters away. < clansmen came out, staring with bated breath. "What are those two?" "Two women?One of them must be a girl!" "That''s absurd!What are you thinking? But these questions turn into astonishment after a few seconds. The "magic cannon" is a gun that can be used to fire magic. "Magikanon, fire the lead ball!" Reiko fires three lead balls in rapid succession to stop the three grand dragons. Although soft lead has no destructive power, it is effective in terms of impact because it gives all of its kinetic energy to its opponents. The three ground dragons, which had been running at a speed of nearly 200 kilometers per hour, were hit in the chest by the lead balls, and they recoiled with a roar. Their speed is reduced to less than half. Reiko then fired the next round. Three steel balls were fired at the head of the slowed Grand Dragon, this time at its head. An earth-shattering roar echoes through the air. It is a cry of pain. The head seemed to be quite hard, and although the steel balls were largely bounced off, they seemed to have done some damage. The three ground dragons that had been running at full gallop came to a halt a hundred meters before Capricorn 1. "Anne, give me a mana bomb!" "Yes, ma''am." Following Reiko''s instruction, Anne threw the mana bomb. The Mana Bomb is a bomb based on the Mana Explosion. The explosion itself is magical, but the effect is physical. Although the grand dragon is said to be resistant to magic, the physical destructive power of the bomb causes a reasonable amount of damage. The shrapnel from the bomb does little damage, but the shockwave from the explosion shakes Grandragon''s not-so-large brain and completely paralyzes his dull hearing. "Armor-piercing rounds, fire!" The third projectile was an armor-piercing bullet that specialized in penetrating power. It is an artillery shell with a hyperadamantite tip. It was launched at Mach 20. The armor-piercing shell, launched at a close range of less than 100 meters, hit the target with a booming shock wave and penetrated the bodies of the grand dragons. The three ground dragons let out a roar of pain. Reiko decides to follow up. "Anne, I''m going to attack them directly! "Yes, lady!" Yes, ma''am. The clan stares with bated breath. An unbelievable scene unfolds before their eyes. Three ground dragons approaching at an unbelievable speed. Just when they thought their habitat would be overrun in a few seconds. A deafening sound echoed in our ears, and then the ground dragons roared and flailed back. Before we could cover our ears, the subsequent roar slowed the grand dragons to a crawl, and when the roar subsided, they came to a complete stop. Not only that, but there were small holes in their torsos, and they were bleeding and writhing in pain. "What in ...... is going on?" Belialus proudly said to them, "They are magical engineers. "They are the Magecraft Meisters, the followers of Master Jin. Magecraft Meister? That''s right. That''s right. Master Gin has come to rescue us. While we were exchanging these words, the situation was progressing. "Oh!" Reiko swung her Momoka and sliced off the paw of the grand dragon. A little later, Anne slashed off its paw as well. Reiko also slashed off the paw of the other one. The ground dragons were rolling about. One of them dropped its head to the ground, just then. Reiko''s fist swung. The clansmen who saw this all exclaim in amazement. "What a ......!" "I can''t believe it. ......!" Reiko''s fist blew the grand dragon dozens of meters away. The dragon stretched out on the ground, belly up, and stopped moving. The same thing was done by the blue-haired woman. The dragon was blown away in the same way, and it stopped moving. Only one remains. "What the hell? The black and blue hairs intersect, and all the legs of the grand dragon are cut off. And then the huge body was blown away. Reiko and Anne kicked it at the same time. The ground rumbled and the ground fell to the ground, never to be moved again. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Welcome, Magecraft Meister Jin! You have saved our clan! Jin (his double), accompanied by Reiko and Anne, stood before the <> clansmen. "I am the clan leader, . I do not know how to thank you for your kindness. Clan leader Maximus bowed his head. In this way, Jin and the others were accepted into the clan. "This place has the same kind of control needle (agguch). Nurse 1 and 2 removed 25 needles in half a day. Alshell and four other members of a clan close to the militants are reported missing. The five are missing their control needles (aggach) and may be hostile to the human race. We''ll have to convince them as soon as we find them. "Yes. Mister Jin, would you mind accompanying Mr. Belial for a while? Yes. It will be easier to persuade him if we are from the same clan. Jin proceeded with the agrarian reform here as well, while deciding on his next course of action. He built 20 agricultural golems 101 to 120, and also 10 units of anti-frost He also installed 10 ward generators to prevent frost damage. Considering the number of people in the clan and the fact that they are hunters, this should be enough. I leave 200 kilograms of the wheat I brought with me. In return, I will give you some materials for your demons. Jin gets a large amount of snow tiger pelts and ice lizard skins. I have no idea how much I could get for them in the Lesser Antilles. I have no intention of selling them. Jin was in a good mood, having obtained many other rare materials. Of course, the most important ones were the scales and leather of the grand dragon that Reiko and Anne had killed. "I''ll take a closer look at its characteristics when I get back home." Jin (his double) said so, but he himself had already obtained them after being sent to Horai Island through the warp gate. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now comes the hard part, I guess." Jin thinks to himself while moving the substitute doll (double). . "Oh, I see. I know you had a hard time. Please report back to me." The autumn wind has begun to blow in the demon tribe''s habitat. The real battle against Negador 001 is just beginning. 551 - - 16-30 Silent Talk 30 Expedition Results At Horai Island. The old man was classifying and summarizing what he had gained from this expedition. Jin is with him. "Buckwheat." I don''t know what the old man was going to say, because Jin said it with a happy expression on his face. Buckwheat prefers cooler climate. Even though Horai Island is in the subtropical zone, the mid-slope of Mount Horai, which is 3,000 meters above sea level, met these conditions. << This is to prevent continuous cropping damage and soil thinning. >. "Oh, yes." Jin thinks that next year he would like to try growing some in the village of Kaina. First, he would have to increase the number of seeds. < clan had given him were not many, and he only had enough to cultivate them first. Then we would eat them. "Yes, I agree." >. "Have you found out the principle?" "Oh, that''s great. And?" What does that mean?...... I have an idea of what you''re talking about, but go on." << Actual magic uses mana as its energy source. If you convert mana into free magic element (ether), it means that you are working to decompose magic. And since it converts the free magic element (ether) into a form that can be used by you, that is, into magic element (mana), it is truly killing two birds with one stone. "That''s amazing." Once the principle is understood, it will be a great defense against magic. In other words, <. "Okay. Please continue your research." The unidentified metal. As a sample, a piece of it was sent to me when I cut down the door. "Oh, I see. We have never seen this metal on Earth." In this world, perhaps because free magic element (ether) is added as a nucleon, there are some substances that even Jin does not know. Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the previous Magecraft Meister, knew most of them even if Jin did not, but there were still unknown substances. "Perhaps there was an abundance of it on Hale, the planet where the ancestors of humans and demons lived." Mechanical properties are similar to iron. But the melting point was unusually high. About 5,000 degrees Celsius. No wonder it was used for spaceships. I can''t think of many uses for it, though." Yes. < to create 3D stereoscopic images. In this case, it is characterized by the ability to deceive not only the sense of sight, but also the sense of hearing, or rather the reflection of sound. <<>. "Please." "Yes, I think so." I got a lot of snow tiger pelts and rock hare pelts. Both of them are almost pure white, and I''m sure the ladies would love them if I made them fur coats. Erza would surely wear them well, Jin imagined. Now, we did not have enough time to analyze the ancient artifacts corresponding to the photo machine and the clock that Zion had mentioned before the expedition. I plan to take my time and look at them carefully during my next visit. "So, the last thing we need is a transfer spell. The transporter also needs to specify the coordinates of the destination precisely. The point is that the transfer will fail if there is a solid object at the destination. Experiments have shown that the transporter bounces back to the destination. Since the material used in this case was a simple stone, we do not know what would happen in the case of a living organism. The reason why it works with gases and fails with liquids and solids is still under study. "Still, it is useful for emergency escape. Please try to put it to practical use." "Yes, the material of the ground dragon, could it be used to disable or weaken the gravity bombs?" > "Maybe cover it with a sheet of scales or leather, or a container." The idea was that if the effect was weakened, the damage would be lessened. << And as a bonus, the results of the analysis of <>. I was completely out of my depth on this one. . Even the old lord himself, Jin, who was the source of his knowledge, was not familiar with chemistry and pharmacology, so he could not analyze the unknown chemical substances. Unfortunately, it could not be helped. We can only think of them as such chemicals. * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin took a rest after the check was completed. All that remains is to report on the <>. "I''m going to have lunch first." Jin stepped out of the basement command center. The late summer sun was shining down on Horai Island. Jin stood tall under the blue sky. "Brother Jin." "Jin!" A voice called out from behind him, and when he turned around, what did he see? "Oh!" It was Erza and Saki in yukata. "I like this outfit. It''s cooler." Saki looked cool in her yukata, which had a bamboo grass pattern on a navy blue background. Her obi is yellow. "How about ......?" Erza has a leopard print on a navy blue background. Her obi is orange. "...... I made it." She made it herself, based on one given to her by Jin. "They both look great on you." "I''m glad you like ......." "Kuhuh, is it?" Jin''s simple compliment made both of them smile happily. "...... cold barley today." "Heh?" Jin had given up on such Japanese-style noodles because he couldn''t find soy sauce yet, but Erza''s words made his eyes widen. "...... Perid reader seems to have picked up something that looks like it from the miso and adjusted it. Miso and soy sauce are like brothers. Jin once went to Takayama on a company trip after entering the workforce. Takayama is famous for its "hoba miso" (bean paste made from leaves of magnolia trees). And the morning market. At the morning market, miso made by each household was sold, and some of them tasted like soy sauce. Jin preferred the soy-saucey tasting miso. "I''m looking forward to it." We went to the museum with the two men dressed in yukata. There, a peridoleder was waiting for them, dressed in a Japanese-style maid''s outfit, i.e., a kimono, a sash, and a maegake. "It is still a prototype, but we have made a little prototype soy sauce, so I made some mentsuyu to try it out. The broth is niboshi (dried sardines). "Oh, I''m looking forward to it." Thin, pure white noodles served on a bamboo colander. It looks cool with a piece of ice on top. "Bon apptit!" The three of us sit down in the tatami room and begin to eat. Erza and Saki have been practicing how to use chopsticks, but they are still struggling with the thin cold noodles. "Yes, it''s good!" The taste is still not what Jin remembers, but it is good enough. The wind chimes hanging from the eaves of the houses are chirping, and the late summer on Horaijima is peaceful. 552 - - 17-01 First Neutralists September 4. Capricorn 1 left the eastern side of Gondor, the continent where the demons live, and headed west. * * * * * * * * * * * * Half a month has passed since Jin (a double doll) visited the land of the demon tribe. Starting with the <> clan, the <> and <> clans were freed from the control of the <> by the <>. After that, 40 members of the <> clan, 35 members of the <> clan, 28 members of the <> clan, 35 members of the <> clan, and 35 members of the <> had released 35 members and 31 members of the <> clan, and had established friendly relations with the main moderate clans. "......That was hard work." Jin muttered to himself in the Horai Island command center. The clans of the <>, <>, and the clans of the <> and <> were still under the control of the <>, so they were all paralyzed by the <> and the <> was removed in a great hurry. He then pulled out the as fast as he could. < clan, like the clan, had escaped from the domination of the clan. Thanks to the hard work of Nurse 1 and Nurse 2, they were able to finish the liberation in half a day each, and they too were impressed by the Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer. We each made 15 golems for farming, which we are accustomed to making, and we also left a warding generator to prevent frost damage. With a clan of about 1,000 people, a large and powerful clan among the moderate faction that makes up half of the demon clans, on their side, the moderate faction''s sphere of influence on the east side of the Gondor continent is almost united. It was good. So, finally, they headed for the western side of the continent in order to persuade and win over the neutrals. There were about 300 moderates and 300 neutrals. The radicals numbered about 400. If we can get the moderates and neutrals on our side, we will have a much better chance of negotiating with the extremists. The members are <>, Reiko, Anne, and Lando1, with the help of a <>, Belialus, on the demon side. His role is mainly to guide us. Even though they know the topography, they do not know where the clans are located. So one of the , who is relatively familiar with the geography of the continent, offered his help. "To be honest, I''m also concerned about the missing Alshell. In a truly idiotic honesty, Belialus explained the situation. Archelle, the gigantor avrum (giant scissors beetle) that had attacked Gloria''s group in the Kingdom of Klein. She is the younger sister of Belialus. "The <> clans tend to have gray hair and yellow eyes, but this one has black hair and red eyes, similar to the <> clans. So he started saying that he didn''t have their blood in him, and now he''s running away from home. It is possible that extremists may have taken advantage of this danger and taken her in. "Even though she can manipulate gigantor avorum and use transfer magic, she is still a 43-year-old child. Incidentally, the average lifespan of a demon tribe is about five times longer than that of a human being. 43 years old would be a little more than 8 years old in terms of a human being. Although it is impossible to compare their growth with that of human beings, it is said that even though they have a wealth of knowledge, they do not reach spiritual maturity until they are over 80 years old. "If possible, I want to find him and bring him home." Jin, as an older brother, could understand that kind of feeling. Capricorn 1 slowly heads west. The goal is the clan of <>, one of the neutrals. "They are the more moderate of the neutral clans. They would be a good first point of contact. Belialus leads us away from the coastline and inland. "You see that little hill?It''s at the foot of the hill. A modest hill, more of a rise than a hill. At the foot of the hill lived the tribe of . "A small clan of about 30 people." About two kilometers away, Capricorn 1 came to a stop. The time was 2:00 p.m. "Now what do we do? mutters. "Let me go out there first. "Yeah, that might be a good idea. Anne, you''re coming with me. "Yes, ma''am." Now, <> is controlled by Jin himself. In such a case, Reiko and Anne call him <> and <> even if he is a substitute doll. "Sorry." Belialus and Anne get off Capricorn 1 and start running. They will reach the settlement in a few minutes. "Well, let''s see how they come out..." Jin thought back to the latest report from the old man. * * * * * * Laojun was using the powered-up <> to find out the movement of <>. According to the report, <> has two other strongholds besides the one Reiko and the others found. Both are located far to the west. They are both located far to the west, in an ice-covered area. < "I see. I see. That seems to be a strong possibility. Jin checked the map as he received the report and nodded. . "Hmmm...I guess so...since you said that all of them must have been erased in 700672. If he escaped, it would be one or two at the most." It is convenient for us that the number of enemies is small, but the fact that there are two bases means that if we attack them casually, there is a possibility that they will escape by shifting again. "We have to think of some way to prevent them from shifting." One of the options is to find and dispose of the <, but this is not realistic since we do not know the total number of markers. Still, the markers at the base where the 700672 is located have been removed, so it is unlikely that it will return there. "<>. It''s a precious relic of antiquity. I''d like to take my time to see it when I get settled. Jin spoke to himself in a low voice and concentrated on his thoughts. "Transference can only be performed when the destination is detected by magic power. If that is the case, we should make it impossible to find the destination. Then, I guess we can use a jammer (......)." It seems that magic power, or more precisely, magic rays have the characteristics of waves, just like electromagnetic waves. This means that there are frequencies, wavelengths, and waveforms. The magic pattern that identifies an individual is also a combination of frequency, wavelength, and waveform. "......" Jin thought about this and got lost in a maze of thoughts. At that moment, there was a movement in the demon territory. * * * * "Anne has contacted us. < of the clan is not working either." "Oh, I see. That''s good. Land one, slow down Capricorn one. Yes, sir. < "Okay, let''s go on foot from here." Jin decided that it was not a good idea to let Capricorn 1 get too close. "I''ll bring 50 kilos of wheat. Reiko, please." Yes, Father. , Reiko, Nurse 1 and 2 get off Capricorn 1 and start walking toward the settlement where the clan lives. is wearing a coat with a hood. It is brownish-brown in color. Although it does not look good, it is actually made of the skin of a ground dragon, and is a highly magic-resistant armor. It was made on Horai Island as a prototype, and , who seemed to be the most suitable for the job, was chosen to wear it. It took less than 10 minutes to reach the entrance to the settlement where Anne and Belialus were waiting for us. Several members of the clan were there to greet Jin. "Welcome, Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono. My name is Domenicus, leader of the clan. Domenicus was a small, elderly man. His blond hair, streaked with gray, had faded considerably, and his purple eyes lacked light. The other day, the voices and the pain that had taken over our lives suddenly stopped. I have just heard that it was thanks to Jin-dono. I cannot thank you enough. Saying this, he took Jin''s hand. He then introduced an elderly man and woman standing behind him. This is my son and his wife, and my son will soon be the next clan leader. "My name is Jaraldos. My name is Yeminiena. The two men and women, both of them rather small for demons, said their names. They are both rather small for demons. It seems that many of the clans of the <> are small. "Well, please come to my house for now. Domenicus takes the lead and leads Jin and the others out. , Reiko, Anne, Belial, Nurse 1 and 2, and Jaralados and Yeminiena at the end of the group. The house of the clan leader, Domenicus, stood in the center of the settlement. The buildings here, like those of the other clans, were built of stone. Most of them were one-story buildings, but the chief''s house had three stories. "Come in, come in. The group was invited inside. Compared to the outside, the temperature and humidity seemed to be higher. Please make yourselves at home here first. Jin and his group were shown into the reception room. The room is simple but calm. It looks as if it would be comfortable even if Jin himself were invited. The first stage of negotiations with the neutralists was about to begin. 553 - - 17-02 Frequency "The issue of food, I think that is certainly a big one." The meeting with the <> clan, one of the neutral factions, began. < side consisted of the clan leader Domenikos, his son Jalalardos, the next clan leader candidate, a caretaker, and a scribe. In addition, about five people were listening as observers. "We have a good chance of being able to supply ourselves with food, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Jin," Beliales explains. Belialus explains. "In fact, the main moderate clans are expected to be able to harvest buckwheat once again by the end of the year. "Oh ......" A voice from the audience exclaimed. One of the reasons for the attack on humanity, to procure food, has collapsed. "Does that mean you''ll do the same for us?" Domenicus asked, trying to get a good look at Jin. "Of course. On condition that you cease your invasion of mankind and give us a little something in return. Domenicus looked a little reluctant at Jin''s reply. "We can''t give you much in return, can we?" "No, I don''t think so. Belialus told me that there are many magi crystals here. "Oh, I see. As a Magecraft Meister, you have unlimited uses for them, don''t you? "Yes. In this way, the first meeting was generally successful. He even promised to call other clans in the neighborhood the next day. * * * * * * In Horai Island, Jin and the old man were having a meeting. This is an opportunity to draw them to us at once, but at the same time it is a difficult situation. "Will you be in charge of the negotiations?" In short, he means that he is going to leave the maneuvering of <> to you. "Is there anything missing that you need for the negotiations?" < I remember that Lucas also came at me with such a statement. Considering the meritocratic aspect of the game, I''ll try to think of something flashy and dramatic. "How about a plasma sword?" << <. "Well, ...... I was also wondering about airships." <> Istaris and Zion and the others know, but they won''t go around telling everyone, and Jin will think of something else. > The old man looked at Jin thoughtfully and came up with an idea. "Well, that''s a good idea. Since we have Land 1, we can send them from 2 to 20. . We decided to go with quantity over quality this time. "Is there anything else left?" >, but we are trying not to be noticed, so progress is slow. "Yeah, so?" <<<< Nevertheless, we have managed to infiltrate. According to the report, it seems that the presence of the master (mylord) has been sniffed out, and we need to take into account the possibility that he may try something in the future. "I see. So, what do we need to do about it?" Here, the old man showed his guess about the possible actions that <> might take. <> by having taken out the <> so far. And then ......>> The old man said, "He will definitely try to get Jin''s <. < He will move in, attack in some way, and then escape by shifting. This is the most likely way. At the moment, we know that the magic barrier is effective to prevent them from shifting, but we often deactivate it while we are in Capricorn 1, but not when we are in the demon''s habitat. The old man concluded. "Indeed. The only way to disable a gravity bomb is to hit it with gravity magic in the opposite direction to cancel it out. > The transporter is not small enough to carry. "No, if the destination is fixed." Jin came up with the idea. The reason for the large size of the transporter is that most of its function is to know where to send the transporter. "Can you make an ultra-compact transporter that can deal with the situation at a moment''s notice?" What is needed for transfers is not only information on the destination. It is necessary to have a firm grasp of the object to be transferred. Otherwise, there is a risk that surrounding objects may be involved in the transfer. "Human reaction time is not enough. Reiko can. The automata and golems that Jin has created have a reaction speed several to dozens of times faster than that of humans. "Oh." Along this line, Jin and the old man decided to develop a simple transporter as a countermeasure against gravity bombs. Since it may be applied to neutralize other than gravity bombs, they intend to give it the highest priority. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin, are you there? After dinner, Saki came to the workshop while I was working on a plan. She is not with Toa, but alone. "What''s wrong?What''s up?" "Hey, I just had an idea, and I wanted to get your opinion on it. "What is it?" Jin was having a hard time thinking about it, so he decided to listen to Saki''s story, thinking it would be a good change of pace. "Thank you. I''ve been thinking a lot about the <> for a while now, and I''d like to hear your opinion on some of the hypotheses I''ve come up with. Jin remembered that he had been thinking about something similar during the day with the goal of interfering with the transfer magic. "Yeah, sure. I''d love to hear what you think of Saki''s theory. "Oh, I''m kind of embarrassed when you put it like that," he said. Let''s start with ....... What Saki began to talk about was very similar to what Jin had been thinking. "Magic power (ray) is a wave. Therefore, there are frequency, wavelength and waveform. It is assumed that ......." "Yeah, I totally agree with that." "Yes, I totally agree with that. ...... So, my idea is that the magical properties are determined by the frequency. "What?" Saki begins to explain. There are four magical attributes: earth, water, wind, and fire. The lowest frequency is earth, and the highest frequency is fire. "For example, the lowest frequency in the water attribute is the ice attribute. Ice is solid. Therefore, it is close to the earth attribute, Saki thought. "Interesting. "Right?The higher frequency of the water attribute is the one that deals with <>." "Yes, I understand. But what about wind and fire? "Well, that''s where the knowledge Jin shared with me comes in. Solid, liquid, gas. Earth is solid. Water is ice when solid, usually a liquid, and a gas when heated. And fire? What is fire? There are several interpretations, but one way to look at it is that it is a state in which a heated gas gives off light. Saki explained this to Jin. "Hmmm, ...... that''s great." "Thank you. So, here it is. Wind is a gas. Fire is a gas. But what if you heat it up even more?" The answer is plasma. "I think we might call it lightning, but I''d like to hear what Jin has to say about it." Jin nodded, "Plasma is an ionized gas, and lightning is a kind of plasma phenomenon, so that''s a good idea. "I see!Then, above that would be light, and then ...... darkness, right ......?" Saki''s voice trailed off. She seems to be losing confidence. However, her face lights up when Jin replies. "Maybe it''s not just frequency as a phenomenon, but I agree with your theory. "I see!Well, I''m glad I consulted Jin!...... but it defies common sense to say that darkness overcomes light. The common image is that the light attribute is at the top of everything, because the light dispels the darkness. "Well, however, a black hole from which even light cannot escape is still <, isn''t it? But still, a frequency band, or ......." At that moment, an idea flashed through Jin''s mind. 554 - - 17-03 Friendship Saki''s idea of classifying magic by frequency brought Jin a new inspiration. What is needed now is magic or magical tools to inhibit or nullify magic. To do so, we need ....... "Interference, or ......" It is a phenomenon in which waves of the same type cancel each other out when they collide in opposite phases, but the theory is profound and beyond the comprehension of Jin, a graduate of a regular high school. However, Jin is a practical person and thinks that the theory comes later. Besides, now was the time to try anything that had potential. "Jin?" Saki looked at Jin with some concern as he suddenly turned difficult and thoughtful. At that moment. "Yes, it''s worth a try!Thank you, Saki! Thanks to you! Jin came to his senses and must have been very happy, because he took Saki''s hand and squeezed it. "Well, I don''t know, but I''m glad I could be of help." Saki was amused. I''m sure it''s not my imagination that her cheeks were slightly tinted red. "Well, let''s give it a try!" "No, you can''t." A cold voice came from behind Jin. "Erza?" "...... Reiko wants me to do something for her. Jin, you need to get some sleep. Before she knew it, it was around 11:00 pm. Erza had been asked by Reiko to keep an eye on Jin to make sure he did not lead an irregular life while she was gone. "......Uh, okay." Saki smiled at the disappointed look on Jin''s face. "Jin, you''ve got a big ass!" "Nah..." "Nothing at all. Good night." Saki left the workshop laughing. "Brother Jin, come on." Erza grabs Jin''s hand with a discouraged look on her face. Jin felt that the power in her hand was stronger than he expected, but he did not think about the reason. On the other hand, the old man does not need rest. In other words, he was steadily working on the development of a specific countermeasure, a <>. * * * * The next day, the 5th. As promised, the clan leaders and their close associates of the neutral clans living in the neighborhood were assembled. Prior investigations had confirmed that they were not affected by the Aguch. It was just about noon when all these people gathered. The meeting was held over lunch in a large conference room. "This is Stamkus of <>." "Anemos Deus, the solitary one. Okealus of the Divergent. Corydrius of the Vain Mind. I am the Magecraft Meister, Jin. These are my automata, Reiko and Anne. After a brief introduction, we have lunch. The main dish was buckwheat porridge, but Jin offered one dish. It was a crepe. Since it is said that crepes were originally made by baking buckwheat porridge, Jin instructed Ann to make crepes if there was buckwheat available. Then, smoked meat, dried strawberries, molasses, and various other seasonings were cut into bite-size pieces and arranged on top. "Hmm?...... This is delicious!" "Hmm?It''s pretty good." "It''s easy to make, and it''s very tasty. "I didn''t know it was so easy to make and that you could add so many different flavors." "Is this Jin-den''s?" It seems to be quite popular. There are foods that are equivalent to bread, but they had never made this kind of food from buckwheat flour. The meal was comforting. Domenikos'' plan to hold the meeting after lunch is a success. "They say that food not only nourishes our lives, but also our souls," he says. "I see... I see..." That''s quite a profound statement." When Jin uttered these words, which sounded like something he had heard somewhere before, the visiting clan leaders looked at him with admiration. "Well, gentlemen." After the meal was finished and the dishes were cleared away, Domenicus, the leader of the < clan, who was the host for the day, said in a dignified manner, "Now, gentlemen," he said. "We are gathered here today for one reason only. I have asked you here today to listen to the Magecraft Meister, Master Jin. Everyone listened in silence, without interrupting. "This is Jin. I do not claim to be a representative of mankind. I just want you all to make a rational decision. He broke off and looked around at the assembled heads of clans. They are all trying to listen intently to what Jin is going to say. "First, the food problem. I can solve this problem to some extent with the technology I have. He says modestly that he can solve the food problem to some extent, but in reality, it can be solved almost completely, although it will take a few months. "Once the food problem is solved, it will make less sense to be hostile to mankind. Besides, the hostility is the result of manipulation by the mastermind. At this point, there was a stir. The four clans that came this time had not been implanted with the from the beginning. "Some of the clans, especially the moderate ones, had a kind of yoke called an agggha. "It is true. I can attest to that. At this point, the Belialus spoke up. "I have heard of it. I heard about it because two clans from the and sent messengers and left a letter with the same contents." Corydorius of the < answers. He is unusually sturdy, standing 190 centimeters tall. He looks to be in his forties in human terms, and is probably a young man for a clan leader. We have a responsibility to all of our clan members. That is why we do not say lightly that we are hostile or not hostile. Corydrius stands up and looks Jin squarely in the eye. "If you want to be rational, let us see what you have to say. "Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono." This seemed to be the common opinion of the four gathered clan leaders, and no one raised an objection. And the old man in control of Jin had expected that request to be made. "I understand." looks at Reiko. They are actually talking on the manacam, the magic element communication device. "Yes, father." The old man is controlling the , but Reiko reacts with an attitude toward Jin because she is in public. She walks slowly and opens the door to the conference room. "Come in, Lando and the others." With that voice, nineteen army golems from Land 2 to Land 20 entered the conference room. Slowly, solemnly. "Uh-oh. ......" This... this... is... ...... Jin-dono! < Belialus and the clan leader, Domenicus, who had called the meeting, are surprised. No, they are horrified. The Land Series is 180 centimeters tall and weighs 200 kilograms, almost human in build. But the power hidden in them can produce almost half of Reiko''s current power. Half of Reiko may sound small, but it is half of Reiko who can withstand thousands of G-force, as you can imagine. That is 19 bodies. "Mm-mm-mm, that''s amazing. When did this happen?" "I called them in last night." Jin said nonchalantly, and we were all surprised again. "When I was still a small child, there was a war that the humans called the . At that time, I had not yet been allowed outside, but I heard many stories about how the humans had a hard time with the golems they used. said Domenikos, the clan leader. He is 355 years old and was 50 at the time of the war. In human terms, he was about 10 years old. He was not allowed to leave his house for fear of danger, so he does not know much about those days. Well, if he had been in the battlefield, he would have collapsed from the "Aether Stampede". Let me digress. While the chiefs were overwhelmed by the sight of 19 lands, the old man who controlled Jin (the ) said as if to fold up the situation. I don''t like conflict. I am a magecraft master. He looked around at the others and continued. "I really want to make things in peace and quiet. ...... But!If anyone threatens our little peace, we will eliminate them. At the same time as he says these words, Land 19 salute with both hands in front of their chests with the ultra-fast vibrating sword at their waists. <. "By the way, I can make this kind of golem as long as I have the materials. "......" Perhaps such a demonstration was successful, the discussion that followed went off without a hitch, and the five neutral clans of 200 formed a friendship with Jin. 555 - - 17-04 Sneaking It was fortuitous that most of the neutral clans listened to Jin. The smaller clans with fewer members will be persuaded by the chiefs of the clans with whom they have established friendship. However, this friendship is with <>, not <>. It is only a friendship with the Magecraft Meister, Jin. "Well, that''s still a step, or two or three." Right now, Jin is making farming golems for each of the clans. Since he couldn''t make it in time on site alone, he had his craftsmen (smiths) help him on Horai Island. Thanks to this, the production has tripled, and 200 units of and 20 units of anti-frost warders were completed in one day. We are planning to send them secretly by transporter. We are planning to send them secretly by transporter. < "Oh, you''re early." The old man was using the craftsman golem as his assistant, since his own mobile terminal <> was currently on a mission to search the base of . "Hmm, it really looks like a small gun. It looks like a toy gun, not so much convex and concave, clean at best, simple and uninteresting at worst. But Jin seemed to like it. "How do you use it?" "Yes." Jin walked out of the institute and aimed at a tree branch that was lying on the ground. When he touched the trigger, a red laser-like pointer glowed. "What is this?" < Jin pulled the trigger and the branch disappeared. "Oh, I see." "At sea or ......" Jin thought that if it was not used frequently, there would not be much of a disadvantage. It could neutralize bombs. < Jin thought that it is better than to lose it after one use. In some cases, with this size, it would be OK to have two guns. "What is the size limit?" If it is a bomb, I think we can manage it. For anything else, we will have to deal with something else. <<>. "Ah, ......, that''s true. Well, don''t shoot too many." Jin made forty of the same guns and instructed the old man to equip Reiko and Rand 2 to 20 with two each. "Now, as for me, I''m going to go to ......." Jin resumes the discussion of magic disablement. "Brother Jin!" Erza came to Jin who was thinking about it in the workshop. "Erza, what''s wrong?" "...... I''ve come to help Brother Jin." Me? "Me?" "Yeah. I thought he could use an assistant. I see. I''m sorry. I''ll let you help me. Jin explained to Erza the theory he had been working on since yesterday regarding magic nullification. "...... cancel......" "Yes, but to cancel the waves, they have to be at exactly the same wavelength." "Then why not transmit all frequencies?" "Then why not transmit on all frequencies?" "The device would be too big." It would be too big for even Jin to miniaturize. "Then, what about dividing it into smaller units for each attribute?" "Not bad, but it would increase the number." "Ummm... ...... that''s difficult." Erza also thought about it. Seeing her cute face grimacing and groaning, Jin couldn''t help but chuckle. "...... what?" "No, no, I just thought Erza''s gesture was cuter than I expected when she was thinking about it." "......!" ......Oh, I remember now. I''ve got to get ready for lunch. He is about to leave the workshop in a hurry. On the way, she catches her leg on a chair and falls down, but manages to get back on her feet. ....... Jin watched Erza''s unusual behavior with half aghast amazement, "All ...... divided ...... into small portions! Jin came up with an idea and immediately started working on the prototype. * * * * On the other hand, the old man''s mobile terminal, the automaton <> was in the middle of searching for the base of <>. The location is in the mountainside in the northwest direction from the Pazdekst isthmus. Perhaps because of the direction of the wind, or perhaps because the strong winds were blowing them away, there were places where there was no snow or ice on the ground and rocks were exposed. There was a small entrance behind the rocks, and in the back was one of the strongholds of . (There is also a boundary here. (Another boundary here...) (It''s very troublesome...) Lao Kun, or rather Lao Tzu, used his ability to detect magic power to the fullest, and found the place where the warding occurred. (The structure of the wards is ...... multi-layered?No, it seems to be just two single layers.) Lao Tzu analyzed the structure of the wards with a degree of care and precision that is impossible for a human being. (The weak point is here. (This is the weak point. If we pass through this singularity, the alarm will not go off.) The singularity of the warding. It is a weak point that tends to occur in large scale wards that are generated by using multiple generators. It is a place where the magic power emitted from one generator covers the area it is in charge of and meets the magic power from another generator. Coincidentally, because they have the same waveform and wavelength, interference can occur and weaken the boundary, which is called a singularity. And the old man found the singularity, i.e., the weak point of the boundary, and penetrated into the inside. (There are no more wards inside ......, is there? Is it hubris? Or are they absolutely confident of their defense?) The entrance and exit were well concealed, but Lao Tzu''s eyes were not deceived. We passed through without any difficulty and stepped inside the base. (This place looks like it was carved out of ...... rock. And the work is very crude. And the work is messy...it seems that they don''t have a lot of men. ......) While covering their bodies with invisible wards, they move slowly step by step into the interior. Because of his sense of touch, Lao Tzu reacted instantly to the slightest irregularity and continued to walk without making any sound. A passageway of about 10 meters, going slightly diagonally downwards, comes to an end and leads to a small hall (a large hall with a possibility of traps). (It is very possible that a trap exists.) He has information about what Reiko, Anne and Alexas went through in a similar hall when they infiltrated. Lao Tzu decided to ponder how to pass through this small hall (assuming that there is a trap, which is not likely). (If there is a trap, what are the conditions for triggering it?) (If there is a trap, what are the triggering conditions? (...... finger golem is deployed for the search.) It is a very small golem of 5 cm in height. Five of them are built inside Laozi''s body, specifically under his chest armor. The five golems are deployed separately, starting from the entrance to analyze a small hole and slowly moving inside. (No temperature sensor, no weight sensor, no infrared sensor) The finger golem is advanced one centimeter by one centimeter by one centimeter while various sensors are detected. (Optical sensor ...... this is it.) The trap is activated when it detects an object over a certain size. (The wavelength that reacts is ...... visible light range, right, no infrared range ......, no ultraviolet range, right? Invisible, so it can pass through. After checking the other side of the small hole and confirming that it was monitored by optical sensors, that is, by ordinary visual magic tools, Lao Tzu put up invisible wards and passed through the small hole. Repeating this process of detection, countermeasures, and passage, the Lao Tzu gradually penetrated into the inside of the base. 556 - - 17-05 Minnes Regret, Elzas Shame September 7. Having established friendly relations with the neutral clans, Capricorn 1 sets out for its next destination. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, a messenger is sent in advance from the <> clans under the name of clan leader Domenicus. The main clan of the radicals, <>, is on its way. Yes, the clan to which <> belongs. It is also the largest clan, with about 100 members. Accompanying him are Belialus, the <>, and Jalardus from the <> clan. The fact that the incoming clan leader accompanies him shows his trust in Jin. <> clan''s settlement, Capricorn 1 travels at a speed of about 25 km/h. The journey takes about 3 hours. The trip takes about three hours. "Oh, is that what happened ......?" "Well, that''s not something we humans can easily forgive." With time to kill along the way, Jin (<>) explains the actions of Lardus, the <>. "It''s a little unforgivable that he spread a deadly pathogen." Jaraldus of <> looked at me with difficulty. "Actually, he ...... Lardus is my cousin." Then he mentioned an unexpected fact. "A cousin?" Reiko, who had confronted Lardus directly, asked as if to confirm. "Yes. His mother is from our clan ......, or rather, she is my mother''s sister. An unexpected blood relation was revealed. "So ...... that, Mister Jin. What are you going to do if you meet Lardus ......?" Jaralldos confessed honestly that the reason he was bringing this up now was because he would be in a very difficult position if Jin were to decide that he could not forgive Lardus. "...... Well, he has caused me a lot of trouble, and some of them have died. It''s a difficult problem." As Jaralldos spoke honestly, Jin, who was now in control of the double, told the truth about what he was thinking. "According to human law, death is definitely a crime, but what about the demon tribe?" "If you kill your own kind, you are guilty of death, it''s the same thing." "Then what about killing a human being?" "......" Jaralldos was at a loss for words. Jin could guess what was going on. "...... Is it possible that Lardus was being controlled by the <>?" When Jin asked this question, Jaraldus shook his head regretfully. "That possibility would be small. ...... He has been interested in humans since he was very young, and enjoys imagining all kinds of tricks to play with them." "Hmmm. ......" In addition to Lardus, there is Markosias, whose clan is unknown, who helped poison the Marquis of Sholo, and Androgyas, who was killed by his selfish brother and sister. Negotiations with the militants were not going well. * * * * * On the same day, in Horai Island. After breakfast, Meine is cleaning up when she notices that her daughter Elsa is acting differently than usual. After washing the dishes, she goes to the workshop of the institute, but today she even puts the dishes away in the cabinet with her. It was as if she did not want to go to the workshop. "Elsa, are we done here?" I try to make a suggestion. "....... I''ll help you finish." With that she finishes washing the dishes and takes the dry ones to the rack. "Put them away and you''re done," she says. I say, "....... I''ll help you prepare for lunch. She said, "I''ll help you prepare the food for lunch. Meane had a hunch that something was going on. "Don''t you have to help Jin-sama?" Erza''s face turned red. "......What happened?" "Nothing." Meane smiled and pecked Erza on the cheek. "What are you talking about with such a red face? What are you talking about? "I''m ...... and I''m ......." What? "...... said I was cute." "Oh, well." Meane sighed. 17 years old, some of them are already married with children. Seventeen years old, some of them are already married and have children. She thought about that, but then she remembered what she had done as a nanny before she called herself a mother, trying to keep the bad bugs away. On the other hand, I think about Jin. There are many women around him. Women of his age. And they are good-looking. And, more importantly, highly likable. "But ......" I think all of them are different from each other in terms of romantic interest. Hannah is still young, and Saki seems to be a fellow researcher. Stearina is in a good mood with Saki''s father, Toa, and Vivienne is still new to Hourai Island and has little contact with Jin. "Licia-san, was it ......?" A woman who was with Jin, Erza and Hannah at the summer festival in Kaina village the other day. She is the lord of the neighboring village of Toka and a new noble. She is about the same age as Erza. Moreover, even from a distance, it was clear that she had a liking for Jin. However, Erza has more chances to see him than Jin. I mean, they can always be together. "But, you know, ......" Meane knows that being together is not necessarily an advantage romantically. (Well, I don''t have a past that I can be proud of either.) Meane mutters these self-mocking words only in her heart and decides to push her daughter''s back. "When a gentleman compliments a girl, it''s half a social call," she said. Besides, if they are pleased by the compliment, they will not run away from it. "But, but..." "......" Meine regretted it intensely. It is normal for the daughters of noble families to make their social debut at the age of thirteen or so, and to be accustomed to the use of flattering words. However, Erza was different. She was kept away from social circles for one reason or another because of her < and her own preoccupation with it. Her cousin Reinhardt took her out in public a few times a year, but it was not enough for her to gain interpersonal experience in terms of male-female relationships, unlike at parties. Jin-sama, by the way, is ......." Jin, on the other hand... He has no love story. One would think that he would have a taste for male homos*xuality, but he does not. I was once worried that he might be a doll lover, but I know that''s not true either. "I wonder if ...... he''s dying." Somehow, I think that''s the closest to the truth, Meane. I can''t smell the freshness in his attitude toward women. It''s not a theory, but a woman''s intuition. Then, what should I say to Elsa? "Elsa is your sister, isn''t she?It''s natural for a brother to be pretty to his sister. You care too much." "......, is that right?" Yes. Go ahead and help her. Meine lightly pushed Elsa''s back toward the kitchen exit. Erza walks away and turns around. "Thank you, Mother." Then Elsa ran to the workshop where Jin was probably staying. Meane watched her back and let out a small sigh. "......It looks like we still have a long way to go." * * * * "......" "Elsa?What''s wrong?" Meane was surprised to see Erza come back, looking dejected. "Did Jin-sama say something to you again?" "......No. ...... Jin brother, he wasn''t in the workshop." Jin was in the control room at this time of the day, piloting the . 557 - - 17-06 Conflict "Don''t play with me!" < "Do you know how many of our people have died in what you call the War of Magic?How can we forget that and get along with each other!" He is in his mid-forties, gray hair, gray eyes. Bafrosk, with a face full of vigor. "The androgyny of my clan was killed by a human!And you still want us to be friends?" came the uninvited clan leader of the madness. "Why should we fear humans, an inferior species? "We will not forgive them even if they bow their heads to the ground and apologize!" On September 8, the first round of talks at the <> clan''s residence are disrupted from the start, and not even a discussion is possible. "Silence!Be a little more rational!" < shouts loudly, but no one listens. "Everybody!Calm down!Get real!" < shouts in defeat, but still no one listens. * * * * * * "Maybe it''s a good thing you didn''t join ......." Jin (the <>) is in Capricorn 1, parked about four kilometers from the residence of the <> clan. Only two people, Belialus and Jarraldos, went to the <> clans. No, they are followed by Anne, who is hiding in invisibility. They do not know this. And Anne is secretly relaying the discussion. "This is even worse than I imagined." Jin, who is watching from the Horaijima command center, lets out a sigh. It is so chaotic that it makes me wonder if extremists are so incapable of reason. "They live far away from each other, maybe something happened to them in the thousands of years since they moved here. ......" Looking at the images sent from Anne''s eyes, the appearance of the militants seems somewhat different from the other demon clans. First of all, they are tall. 180 centimeters is common, 190 centimeters, and some are nearly two meters tall. And their hair color is gray or black. Many of them have black eyes. "Hmm?What do you mean by the opposite?" The blood of the current people is not so much mixed, which means that they are closer to the masters of <700672>, who came from . "Oh, I see. "Oh, I see. Is that why their magic is stronger?" It''s a very likely hypothesis. But for the time being, I will not pursue it deeply because it will not help to resolve the situation. We will just sit back and watch how the discussion goes. I will not pursue the matter too deeply at this time, because it will not help the situation. After all the noise and commotion has finally died down a bit, Jaralldos of <> speaks up again. "Food self-sufficiency, think about this first!If you don''t eat, you can''t live, this is common sense for all living creatures!I''m telling you we can make a big improvement!" But his desperate plea is crushed by a single word from the extremists. "Well, if you don''t have enough, take it. The humans have plenty of food. Bafrosk says confidently. But Jaralldos could not believe it. It sounds insane. "Are you serious? Yes, I''m serious. "Yes, I''m sure you are." ......1 I want to ask you. Where do you get your confidence? Because I looked it up. "Researched?What? About the humans. And then he says, very loudly, so that everyone in the room can hear. "All right, listen up. Humans are vulnerable to the heat of magical exhaustion. They can be easily manipulated with slavery magic. And above all, they have great ...... desire." This was part of the information about mankind that had been gathered so far, mainly by the <>. "Gravitational magic cannot be countered. Not to mention individual power." "...... but there are a thousand times more humans than us." "Well, only if you hit them head on, right?There''s lots of ways to do it. You can spread disease. You can manipulate them into making them fall out with each other. Then Belialus interjected. "Humans may be like that. But you forget about the Magecraft Meister." "The Magecraft Meister?" Yes. You said something about gravity magic?I heard that Lardus has been defeated. Hearing Jaralldus'' statement, for the first time Buffrosk was at a loss for words. "You know about ......?" "And < didn''t cause much damage either. And I also heard that they were trying to manipulate it, but they were discovered and ran back?" With this statement, the radicals who had been making a fuss finally quiet down. "Humanity may indeed be insignificant. But not the Magecraft Meister, right? "Hmmm. Lardus may have lost. But there is only one opponent. If we come at him in force, he won''t be able to handle us. "You know nothing. A few hints are enough for the Magecraft Meister. If you had that much information, you would have already developed a countermeasure long ago. Baphlosk, who was trying to convince himself that he was a sore loser, looked at Jaralldos'' words. "What are you talking about?Jaralldos, have you lost your pride?Even if your opponent is a Magecraft Meister, he is still a human being, isn''t he? But Jaralldos persists. "The greatness of the Magecraft Meister lies in his creativity!He can create things that can change the world, that''s the Magecraft Meister! That''s nothing compared to the overwhelming power of the Magi Craft Meister! You don''t know what you''re talking about!Overwhelming power?That''s a word only a Magecraft Meister could use! Wake up, for God''s sake! Wake up yourself! Don''t forget the pride of the Magi! These words are indeed pleasant to the ears. But Jaralldos knows that the demon tribe is now treading on thin ice. "You can talk all you want. If you truly care about the future of your clan, think with reason. Don''t let your emotions get the better of you." But Bafroscu and the radicals, who are heating up again, are not listening. "I don''t think we''re on the same page here." Bafrosk laughs condescendingly. "Think again!Chill out!" Jaralldos screams. But the extremists don''t listen to him anymore. They just laugh. (Trap disarmed, no problem.) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * (Trap disarmed, no problem) <. (You have finally made it this far, haven''t you?) Now, Lao Tzu is in close proximity to the base of <>, a room which can be called its command room. He was hiding in the air-conditioning pipes installed in the ceiling. And slowly, crawling along at a speed of a few centimeters per hour, it was now directly above the control room. "......" < is there, but I cannot hear his voice. There is no one to talk to. As a homunculus, <> does not talk to himself. (I guess we can only guess from his behavior. ......) Then the old man entered a long observation state. He hides himself in a place separated from the others by a ceiling plate and leaves his vision to the finger golem. This way he would reduce the risk of being detected by . (I see, I was wondering what that window means.) Lao Tzu, who was sorting out the visual information from the finger golem, was inwardly convinced. He wondered how he could get information from the by just glowing or dimming, but it turned out to be quite simple once he understood. It turns out to be quite simple.) Yes, the vision of not only Lao Tzu but also Reiko, Anne and Golem is usually adjusted to the visible light range ...... for human beings. This is because there is a possibility of communication conflicts if they see different things. In terms of wavelength, it is approximately 400 to 700 nanometers. Of course, with some adjustments, we can see ultraviolet rays below 400 nanometers and infrared rays above 700 nanometers. (Ultraviolet light at 300 nanometers? ......) When we extend our vision to ultraviolet light, we can see the letters. <, but the finger golem''s vision. This means that our distant ancestors and homunculi can see ultraviolet rays. In the past, the existence of the Stealth Platoon (SP), which had been concealed by stealth, had been discovered because of its wide visible light range. Lao Tzu thought that the current would be safe because the effect was extended to both infrared and ultraviolet light. He continued his observation for three whole days. Lao Tzu was able to grasp the movement of little by little. (Extremists?It seems that there is a spy, or a covert spy, in .......(It seems that there is a spy, or rather a covert spy, in .) > seems to be tracking the movements of Jin and the others through the extremists. (It seems that some of them are friends. ......) (Some of them seem to be his friends. ) He had contacted somewhere only once. This made Lao Tzu hesitate to attack <> directly. He judged that it was not a good idea to leave the identity of the enemy unknown. Lao Tzu was always cautious. And the fateful day, September 8. disappeared from Lao Tzu''s presence by a metamorphosis. 558 - - 17-07 Surprise "I guess we''re parallel any more." Bahrovsk snickered, "Think again!Calm down!" Jaralldos shouted. A short man suddenly appeared among the radicals. "Hey! What are you! But without saying a word, Shuju threw a silver ball straight up in the air and disappeared in a flash. That was a ! ) Using invisibility, only Anne, who had been there in hiding, was able to react. A silver ball was thrown. There was no time to check what it was. In any case, it was probably not a good thing. No way... not even Jin is here. In a place where there are so many radicals. (I didn''t expect a negative doll (negador) to attack ......!) Whatever the identity of the silver ball is, it will be out of danger once it is eliminated by a simple transporter. But at this point, Ann did not have it in her hand yet. Reiko has only one prototype in her possession. It would take another half a day for it to be mass-produced. We''ll never make it!At least Jalarados and Belials ......!) ) She pulls the two closest to her closer to her. Jaralldos'' shoulders collided and Bafrosque fell to our side. "Barrier!" And he deploys a barrier. That was all Anne could do. < disappeared. The magic in the silver ball released its power. What is it? "What happened? Jin, who was on Horai Island, kicked his chair and stood up, staring intently at the screen. For a moment, he could detect a disturbance in the free magical element (ether). But then the magic screen blacked out. "Something happened to Anne!Where are Reiko and the others?" The magic screen becomes brighter. It seems to switch from Anne to Reiko''s view. "Reiko, something happened to Anne and her friends! Reiko answered immediately. < Jin, sensing that this is something out of the ordinary, decides to investigate. "Reiko, can you take the prototype simple transporter ...... and the transporter gun and go to Anne and the others?Be very, very careful." Reiko takes the transfer gun with Momoka on her back and leaves Capricorn 1, running at more than 200 km/h. The distance of four kilometers takes a little less than a minute. After traveling 4 kilometers in a little over a minute, Reiko arrives at the residence of the <> clan. "This is ......." The place is quiet, and it seems as if all the confusion of a few minutes ago is now a lie. I deployed invisible wards and, being careful not to make a sound, headed for the place where the discussion was taking place, namely the residence of the clan leader, Bafrosque. "......What the hell?" There were several demons lying on the road. I don''t have time to check if they are dead or unconscious, so I leave them there. We arrive at the house of Bafrosk, but it is still deadly quiet. The iron door attached to the stone wall is closed. Reiko puts all her strength to open it, but then she realizes something. "...... free magic element (ether) is ...... thin?" Compared to the surroundings of Capricorn 1, the concentration of free magical element (ether) is low. It seems to be slowly recovering, but the amount of decrease is extraordinary. Unless one performs a series of very powerful magic, not 10 or 20 times, but 100,000 or 200,000 times, it is not possible to recover such a low level of ether. It seems that this would not happen unless you use such a powerful magic not 10 or 20 times, but 100,000 or 200,000 times. And for such powerful magic to have been used, there was no damage to the building. Tilting her head, Reiko pushes open the iron door by force. Even if the amount of free magical element (ether) is low, Reiko''s magical element converter (ether converter) is highly efficient. It converted a sufficient amount of free magical element (ether) into magical element (mana) and supplied energy to Reiko. The wooden bolt was easily snapped off, and Reiko stepped into the wall. It was much the same as on the way there. Several demons had fallen, and none of them were conscious. Reiko, who knew from Anne''s report that the discussion was taking place in the courtyard, rushes through the front yard and rushes into the mansion. There was no one moving there either, and without being stopped by anyone, Reiko exited the mansion and ran out into the courtyard. What did she see there? "This is ......!" The twenty or so demons fell to the ground as before. "Anne is ......!" Reiko looks around the courtyard and sees a familiar blue-haired figure at the other end. "Anne!" Reiko leaps over the fallen demons and with one leap, she is at Anne''s side. "Anne!What''s wrong? Anne had fallen along with Belialus, Jaraldos, and Baphlosk. There was no barrier. "Hey, ...... lady!" Reiko''s voice made Anne open her eyes. "Anne, are you all right?" "...... yes. I''m ...... a little weak, but I''m ...... fine. Everything is fine." When Anne opened her eyes, her speech was faltering at first, but it soon returned to normal and she was able to stand up. "What the hell happened?" threw a silver ball and disappeared. The question is what happened after that. "...... I''m not sure. I remember that they put up a barrier against the silver ball, but after that they seemed to have stopped temporarily. Then he saw the three men lying on the ground. "Belialus and Jalardos are friendly to us, so I decided to help them and pulled them into the barrier. At that time, it seems that Bafrosque also entered with them." I bent down to look at the three men and found that they were unconscious but breathing and their hearts seemed to be beating. "Their heart rates seem to be very low. ......" Reiko also checks the heart rate. Indeed, her pulse rate is about 30 beats per minute, which is only half of the normal rate, and is very weak. Reiko reported what had happened so far to Jin. * * * * * * * * * * * The old man instructed Anne to try to give Belial the restorative medicine that she always kept in her purse. But.... "The restorative seems to be ...... altered. The ampoule she took out had turned a cloudy color. Putting off the search for the reason, Jin instructed the old man to send the inventory of Horai Island to Anne by the transporter. Slowly, Belial swallowed the recovery medicine, and after a while his heart seemed to return to normal. However, he still did not regain consciousness. "I would like to hear Elsa''s opinion. Jin asked the old man to call Erza. Elsa comes in soon. "...... Jin, what''s wrong? ......" Erza''s attitude was stiffer than usual, but Jin didn''t seem to notice, "Erza, I want to hear your opinion. She then gave a brief explanation of the situation. "...... yes. If possible, it would be better to administer recovery medicine to the others as well." After listening, Elsa expressed her opinion. "If the blood pressure is left too low, there could be a lot of negative aftereffects." "I understand." Jin instructed Anne to administer recovery drugs to Jaralldos and Bahrovsk as well. He also told Reiko to check on the condition of the other demons. Reiko took the instructions and went around to check on the 20 or so demons, "No. All of them are out of breath." She reported a shocking fact. 559 - - 17-08 The Magic Runaway "Are they all ......?" Jin couldn''t believe his ears when he heard that all the demons present were dead. "Yes. All of them." On the other hand, Jaralus and Bahroosk, to whom the recovery medicine had been administered, seemed to have managed to get their heart rates back to normal, just as Belialus had done. In other words, the three survivors are Belialdus, Jaralldos, and Bafrosk. All three are still unconscious. Jin, Elsa, Anne, Reiko, and the old man wondered what had happened. "It was a huge flash. But it wasn''t an explosion, was it?" . The silver ball had released some kind of offensive magic, that much is certain. What in the world is it? The old man reports. "What is it?" <<<< Aether Stampede. It is said that 300 years ago, in the war of magic between the human race and the demon race, the outnumbered human race used this as a desperate measure. While it destroyed most of the demons, it also inflicted tremendous damage on the human side. In order to find a countermeasure, Jin has been searching for the lost forbidden spell. "<> uses ......" <>. It is possible that the Negador-001 caused the conflict between the human race and the demon tribe, and in the end, took a large number of lives. Jin thought, "They could do it. "Yes. But I never thought it would be used here. ......" Jin''s shoulders slump. It was Reiko who approached him. "Father, if your father had been there, there is a high possibility that he would have lost his life. I know it is inappropriate to say this, but I am very glad that your father was on Horai Island. The old man adds After hearing this, Erza, who was standing next to me, shivered, even though she was not even cold. "Let''s say it''s the Aether Stampede. ......" The person closest to her was Anne. "Anne, can you explain what happened?" "Yes, Your Highness. I can only give you an overview. Then Ann began to explain. I was looking at the situation through her eyes, so I had a general idea of what was going on. "It seems that perhaps one or several of the radicals have been given a transfer marker." I don''t know if it was a variant of the <> or if they had it in their pockets, but in any case, they attacked us with the shifting marker. This was just as the old man and Jin had imagined a little while ago. Next, the appearance of "Aether Stampede". "I couldn''t grasp the details because of the barrier. Anne then explained what had happened to her. "First, the concentration of free magical element (ether) around me became abnormally thin. Next, I seemed to lose power, and I seem to have stopped moving. However, since I stopped working, I don''t know much about it. > Then the old man interrupted with a question. "Yes, the mana tank is ...... almost empty. "What?" In this land of abundant free ether, the use of mana from the mana tank should not be a common occurrence. But this was not the case. So, ....... The old man was the first to come up with a hypothesis based on this situation. "Okay. ...... I''d like to hear it from all of you if possible. Can you make an emergency call?" . Then the old man made an urgent call to all the members of . Even Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt, who were the busiest people in the family, left their work and came to the office when they heard the reason. Jin then used the few dozen minutes it took to get everyone together to bring Capricorn 1 closer to the site and dispatched nurses 1 and 2 to check for any survivors. According to the report, the victims within 500 meters from the site were hopeless, but there were survivors at a greater distance. There were more than 100 members of the clan, and as many as 80% of them lost their lives. The 19 survivors were gathered in one place and given restorative medicine. The results of their physical examination were also reported, further confirming the old man''s hypothesis. * * * * , as the name implies, is a magic that makes the free magical element (ether) behave abnormally. Jin, Erza, Meine, Saki, Toa, Stearina, Vivienne, Reinhardt, and Bertsch. In front of the gathered members of the Jin family, the old man began to explain his hypothesis. < First of all, we began with a review of the free magical element (ether) and the magical element (mana). Since Meane and Vivian, who are not mages, were tilting their heads, the old man decided to use an even clearer analogy. >. This time, the old man seemed to understand somewhat and continued his story. Saki seemed to like this analogy and nodded her head while listening. >. From this point on, it became difficult for Meane and Vivian, who had not mastered science. Saki and Toa had studied a lot by reading the introductory book prepared by the old man and by asking questions to Jin, Elsa and Stearina, so they seemed to have a good understanding of what was going on. < Since Anne stopped because she ran out of free magic element (ether) and the mana tank in her body was almost empty, it seems that she assumed that she was deprived of magic element (mana) as well. < The ones who understood immediately were Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt. Saki, Toa, and Stearina understood it a little vaguely, but generally understood it. Bertsche, Vivian, and Meine were only vaguely convinced. The old man concluded by saying that this was his hypothesis. "I see. But we don''t know how to cause an "ether stampede", do we? It is quite possible that he will use "Aether Stampede" when he faces <> in the future. To take countermeasures against it, it was the quickest way to know the principle. "Can we take effective countermeasures based on the information we know now?" But the old man replied that it was difficult. << Even the barrier and the magic shield structure could not prevent it. "...... is a difficult problem." It is possible to decompose mana, but it is impossible for Jin to convert mana back to free magic element (ether). As it was, even Reiko would not be able to move if she was hit by an "Aether Stampede". "Hey Jin, if she can collect free magic element (ether) and turn it into magic element (mana), can''t she do the opposite?" Saki, who had been thinking in silence, advised Jin. "That''s for sure. ......" I don''t know how to do it, but I''m going to hypothesize that we can use a magic ray with a special wavelength and waveform. If the strength of the special magic wave, which is the key to the generation, can be adjusted to limit the range, it would explain why those in the courtyard lost their lives and those who were far away had survivors. After all, the "etheric stampede" that occurred during the Great Magic War was of such a scale that it claimed tens, if not hundreds of thousands of lives. "In any case, it''s just a hypothesis. ......" At that moment, Jin recalled the 700672. "When I asked you before what kind of technology had, you didn''t mention the Aether Stampede, did you?" "I guess you don''t know about 700672 either." It is hard to believe that he kept quiet on purpose. It is possible that he did not know about it either. <> has developed its own magic. A crazy doll with super technology from the past. < "Yes, indeed." Jin of Horai Island renewed his determination not to let go unchecked. 560 - - 17-09 Visit Near evening, Bafrosk, the leader of the <> clan, and others who had been unconscious awoke. "What ...... happened?" "You noticed, Bafrosk?" Jaralaros, who had noticed a little while ago, looked into Bahroosk''s face from the bed next to him and said. "Jaralldos ....... What the hell happened to you?" "Don''t you remember?" Bahroosk sat up in bed, shook his head a couple of times, and let out a moan. "That time ...... when you thought ...... Shuju (٪) appeared ...... out of nowhere. threw a silver ball,...... and I can''t remember from there." Jaralados quietly announced to Baphlosk, who held his head and moaned. "It''s the Aether Stampede." "What?" "That was the Aether Stampede, the Devil''s Cry. Hearing this, Bahrovsk was speechless for a while. Eventually, he seemed to have accepted the fact, and the strength returned to his voice. "Why did you save me at ......?No, you too!" "Because I was saved." What? "The automata created by Magecraft Meister Jin, who was present at that moment, had just put up a ward that encompassed me, Belial, and you. But even so, the power of the Aether Stampede could not be prevented, and the lack of free magical element (ether) caused us all to lose consciousness. "......" Baphlosk turned his head again and thought. He was not convinced that he had been saved by the Magecraft Meister, whom he had denied. But in the process, he realized a more pressing problem. Yes, that''s right!What about the rest of the clan!" "......" Jaralldos wondered for a moment if he should tell the truth, but he decided to tell it as it was, knowing that he would find out sooner or later. "......Twenty of us survived, including you. The rest are ......." "......20 people?My tribe of 100 people?What?< clan?" Bafrosk is shocked and holds his head in his hands. Jaralldos could not say anything, because he knew how he felt. But Bafroscu, perhaps feeling better, immediately lifted his head. "...... was it that dwarf who did it?" "Ah, yes. He is . He''s plotting to destroy us by making demons and humans fight. He is our true enemy! Baphlosk listened to these words with a dark expression on his face. "I would have explained myself earlier, but after all that fuss..." Jaralldos was not forgetting to remind him of this. "...... Let''s hear everything you wanted to explain." Bafrosk said in a dark voice. Jaralds, sorry for Baphlosk, but taking this opportunity to be rational, explained what he had found out so far. Is it true that our ancestors came from the sky? And <>...... Xu." After he had finished listening, Jaralldos did not notice the dark fire in Baphlosk''s eyes. "So, what were you going to do now?" Jaralldos was pleased that Bahrodosk was being honest, and explained that at the moment, Magecraft Meister Jin''s men were searching for the base of . "I see. I''ve heard that the Magecraft Meister''s technical prowess is considerable. I''m sure we''ll find it sooner or later." With these words, Bahrovsk lies down on his bed and closes his eyes. Jaralldos has said all he needs to say, and lies down once more, his body still in a state of shock. * * * * Meanwhile, Lao Tzu was lurking in the ventilation opening leading to the command center of the base of <>. (You transferred and came back again in 2 seconds. You''re pretty quick, aren''t you?) Then, he goes back to observe. In the meantime, he learned that an "ether stampede" had occurred. (Probably the purpose was to put the responsibility for the death of the militant group on the master (Mylord) and to cause a schism within the group. But it was fortunate that Bafrosque survived and was broken by Anne). Then, the danger of "ether stampede" is discussed. (Now that there is no way to prevent it, even Reiko-san would not be able to move, let alone me.) (Now that there is no way to prevent it, even Reiko, let alone me, can''t move.) If a silver ball, which seems to be a magic tool for activation, is thrown in front of me, but if it happens by surprise or when I am not looking, I can''t do anything about it. (We have to take countermeasures in cooperation with the master (my lord). The main body of the group, My Lord, together with Jin, considered various possibilities. First of all, they started with a detailed examination of Anne who had been called back to Horai Island. "...... The surface of the control core (control core) seems to have been eroded." It can be said that the technology from the previous generation, in which the magic formula is engraved inside the magecrystal, has been successful. "It might have been dangerous if the "ether stampede" had continued a little longer, ...... the barrier might have had some effect." Jin was relieved that he had not lost his precious Anne. The next step was to analyze the results of the examination of the demon''s body for "ether stampede. The silver ball we retrieved was empty, or rather, there was only a little dust inside. Jin guessed that the magic crystal for activation had probably collapsed due to the "Aether Stampede". It is known that mages take in free magic element (ether) in the air by breathing, etc. and transform it into magic element (mana) in their bodies. The that transform the free magic elements (mana) into mana are not special. It is a cell. As mitochondria are responsible for the energy cycle called the TCA cycle and supply energy to living things, there are what we might call magi-mitochondria in the cells of mages, which produce magic element (mana). The quality and quantity of these magi-mitochondria are very high. The quality and quantity of these magi-mitochondria are thought to determine the total amount of magical power of a mage. Let''s take a break from the above. << Jin nods his head in agreement with this hypothesis. There is nothing in particular to deny it. "Then, the next step is to consider countermeasures. That is the more pressing issue. "Scales and leather of the grand dragon, if we use them to shield the control core, it will be effective, won''t it? It may not be enough, but it is better than nothing. "That leather also keeps converting mana into free magic element (ether), doesn''t it?" < "Indeed." After that, they continued to discuss various ideas, but they could not come up with any good ones. Then a thought occurred to him. "Hey, do you think <<700672>> knows anything about the Aether Stampede? < "Yes, but maybe you can give us your opinion on the Aether Stampede?" Anyway, we don''t have time. If we had a few days, Jin and the others would be able to analyze the "Aether Stampede" in more detail, but right now, time is of the essence. "You know the coordinates of that room, don''t you? "Okay, I''ll go there and ask them myself." But Jin denied it. "You called Alectus ''Fallen'' and didn''t reject him, didn''t you?Then I''ll be fine too." "Oh, okay. Contact Reiko and let her come back here temporarily. So the old man contacted Reiko with his manacam. And sure enough, . >. However, Jin''s curiosity was not so weak as to back down. "In the first place, where are the randos now?You said you''ve removed all the transfer markers and I''m going to put on my reinforced clothes. And you, Reiko, come with me. How''s that sound?" < Reiko reluctantly agreed. She immediately uses the warp gate to return to Horai Island. Then the old man showed Reiko a gun. < "Yes, sir." In case of emergency, they would use the transfer gun to force Jin to move to the other side and evacuate. Anyway, Jin took all possible measures and used the transporter to move to the base where was located. "......This is the inside of the . Jin stepped on the floor of the ancient spaceship. < "We have been expecting you, master." Land 31-40 and Smith 11-20 greeted Jin. "Thank you all for your hard work. So, where is room 700672? I''m interested in the magi-machine here, but first I have to finish the purpose of my visit. Yes, there it is. Reiko points to a place where there is indeed a door-like line carved on the wall. "Wow, the gap between the wall and the door is tiny. It''s a great precision." Saying this, Jin stroked the surface of the door with his hand. Then, just as when Alectus had touched it, the door opened without a sound. < "Who are you?" Unlike last time, the awakened utters a whois. "Sorry to disturb you. My name is Jin Nido. I''ve come here to ask you something. Jin Nido stands at the entrance, introduces himself, and explains the purpose of his visit. But the man on the bed, , looks at him and narrows his eyes. "You made those wonderful automata, didn''t you?" "Yes. Do you understand? "Yes, I do. I can feel the magical connection. More than that, the automaton is trying to protect you, every inch of the way. The white girl by the bed ......Neige heard this and moved to snuggle up to the 700672 She moved to snuggle up to the 700672 woman. "So, what is it you want to ask me?" "<>...... no, I''m here to borrow your wisdom on how to deal with <>." 561 - - 17-10 Questions and Answers Hearing the reason for Jin''s visit, No. 700672 nodded broadly. "<>, huh? So, what exactly do you want?" "Oh, first of all, please take this." Jin presented ten bottles of recovery medicine he had brought with him to No. 700672. They are rich in free magical element (ether). Upon receiving them, the 700672''s face broke into a slight smile. "Oh, this is the same medicine as the one I was given the other day. I''ll take it gratefully." He immediately opened a bottle and drank the contents. "Well, it works well, after all. I appreciate it." Seeing her father like this, Neige is smiling happily at the side. After settling down, Jin begins to talk. "The other day, Dexiconai used the Aether Stampede. "What?I heard a blue-haired automaton say something like that the other day. Can you tell me more about this Aether Stampede? "Yes, sir." Jin then explained everything he knew about the "Aether Stampede". No. 700672 thought for a while, but then seemed to have reached a conclusion and slowly opened his mouth. "Aether Stampede... ....... That is certainly a threat. I and Neige here will not get away with this. Neige grabbed the sleeve of the 700672 tightly. "A weapon created by the Dexiconai. I don''t know. The 700672 closes its eyes and thinks about something. Then he opens his eyes and looks at Jin. "So, what you want to ask me is how to prevent it? "Well, that''s what I''m trying to ask. To be more specific, I would like to know if you know anything about magic and the technique of converting mana back into free magic element (ether). "Hmmm... ...... you mean, about the technology to manipulate free magical element (ether)?" "I guess that''s what you mean." He looked down for a moment and thought about it. Then he looked up, looked at Reiko, and opened his mouth. "That automata there, from what I can see, is using an ether converter and a mana driver, isn''t it? Just by looking at it, No. 700672 seemed to have an idea about Reiko''s power source. "I can see that it is running with great efficiency. But my masters were using a Magi Reactor." "<>?Is it something that converts ...... free magic element (ether) into magic element (mana) and at the same time converts magic element (mana) into energy?" "Oh, that''s right. You''re a quick study. It works as both an ether converter and a mana driver in one. Naturally, there is little loss." Jin understood this logic well, and he had thought about it. However, it was difficult to control and prone to run out of control, so he had stopped. Jin explained it to him. "I see, you have thought about it. The fact that it is easy to run out of control is inextricably linked to control. "I understand that." No. 700672 nodded his head and continued. "Now, to answer your first question. If you want to have complete control over the free magical element (ether), you need <>. ...... I see, you didn''t have it in this world. "What?" Jin asked back because he didn''t understand. To Jin, No. 700672 nodded with a knowing look on his face. "<>...... concept doesn''t even exist. It was a common substance on my masters'' home planet ...... Hale. In ordinary language we would call it ......<>." "A psychocatalyst ......?" I try to imagine what it is like in a dim way. "You seem to have an understanding of the activation of magic, and you also seem to understand that mental waves are a kind of magic waves. Well, you can control the free magical element (ether) more efficiently by using that substance. But what we don''t have, we can''t do without. Jin changes his mind. "Then let me tell you something. It is up to you whether you can understand it or not. The 700672 looked Jin in the eye and began to speak. "All magic is caused by magic power. Jin nodded silently. "Then, what is the magic power here?It is an invisible, powerful wave. This was consistent with the assumption Jin and the others were making. Again Jin nodded. "Because magic power is a wave, it has a wavelength, a height, and a waveform. No. 700672 looked at Jin''s face to confirm that he understood and continued. "It is this magic power that gathers free magic element (ether) existing in space, and it is also magic power that changes free magic element (ether) into magic element (mana). And it is also by magic power that the mana is converted into magic." "Yes." For the first time, Jin nodded aloud. "So you''re saying that everything is based on magic power, although the roles are different. Then how can magic power do so many things? No. 700672 looked into Jin''s face as if testing him. "Isn''t it due to the differences in wavelength, wave height, and waveform that you were talking about earlier?" At Jin''s answer, No. 700672 nodded in satisfaction. "That''s right. The biggest difference is the wavelength. In other words, it can be said that the frequency ...... is the frequency of vibration. Now, every mage can emit a little magic power on their own. Let''s call it a psychic wave. "Yes." "Mental waves are the original magical power that a mage can create. Using this, the surrounding free magical elements (ether) are converted into magical elements (mana), and the magical elements (mana) are converted into energy to activate the magic. Jin senses what 700672 is trying to tell him and concentrates more. "You seem to know the activation procedure ......, so I''ll skip it for now." Up to this point, Jin had understood and followed the message. Seeing Jin''s face, No. 700672 looked a little happy. "Hmm. You have a good understanding. Then let''s go on. "Yes." The 700672 chuckles. What is this energy?If it''s fire magic, it''s thermal energy. If it''s wind magic, it''s kinetic energy. Do you understand ......?" When he saw Jin''s nodding face and knew that it was not a glorification, a pleased look spread across the 700672''s face. "The magic power in the name of mental power is amplified into greater magic power, and it also controls energy. This explains magic from a different angle." Jin sensed that he was finally getting to the heart of the matter. "The frequency of the magic power used differs depending on the attribute. The same thing that Saki and I had discussed the other day at Horaijima was told by the mouth of 700672. "Now, then, what frequency do the spirit waves have?" Jin and the others did not know that much either. This is because it is not possible to quantify magic waves. It was previously mentioned in the Magecraftsmen''s Guild of the Kingdom of Egelea that an automata named Donna could read the characteristics of magic, but.... However, this was only a superficial characteristic, not a true analysis of magic. To use an analogy, we can think of it as the relationship between AM radio waves and voice data. The radio wave, which is the carrier wave, has a frequency from about 530 kHz to 16 The frequency of the carrier wave, the radio wave, has a frequency of about 530 kHz to 1600 kHz, and its wave height and waveform represent the voice data. The frequency of audible sound is from about 20Hz to 20 kHz, the carrier wave has a frequency more than 1000 times higher. I will omit a detailed explanation of the principle of radio, but the sound signal is extracted from the radio broadcast wave through a process called wave detection. Let me digress. The magic that can be detected by ordinary people is the part corresponding to this audio signal, and the carrier wave is usually too high in frequency to be detected. This is exactly what was explained in No. 700672. "Mental waves have a considerably high frequency among magical powers. This was new to Jin. His eyes lit up as he listened. Seeing Jin, No. 700672 asked him in a testing manner. "Your automata, what attribute magi crystals (magi crystals) do you use in your ether converter? "All attributes." Hearing this, No. 700672 shook his head. "Of course. That''s an easy mistake to make. "Why? Reiko, who had kept quiet until now, seemed to be unable to keep her mouth shut now that Jin had said something that negated her. Neige, who had been following No. 700672, glared at Reiko with such vigor. "Reiko, it''s okay. ...... understand. You want me to use light or dark magi crystals, right?" Hearing this statement, No. 700672 nodded her head broadly in satisfaction. "That''s right. Since the frequency is high, it would seem that it would be better to use the dark attribute, but it is known empirically that the light attribute''s magical crystals (magi crystals) are the most efficient." All attributes naturally have the light attribute as well. However, since other attributes exist at the same time, the efficiency of the use of the light attribute has been reduced. "I am talking only about ether converters. For magic, all attributes are still effective in their own way. "I suppose so." So far, this has been a very useful talk for Jin. "Now, about the power to manipulate free magical element (ether), you have learned a lot so far, haven''t you? "Yes, indeed. Without a pause, Jin nodded. "Now, how do we control the magic power? Naturally, the source is mental power. We cannot go beyond the upper limit of its frequency. How about you ......?" "I don''t know. We have no way of knowing the frequency of the magic wave at the moment. "Well, that''s honest. ...... Neige, show him the way. "Yes, Father." That was all it took for Neige to understand, and she gave Jin''s hand a squeeze and pulled him in front of one of the windows in the wall. "You may emit your magic power toward that window. The color of the window will give you a general idea." "I understand." Jin gathered magic power in his palm and emitted it toward the window. "Oh!" 700672''s voice sounded surprised. But Jin still did not understand what it meant. "What is this?" The dark window shone a bright blue. 562 - - 17-11 Teaching "Excellent. You say Jin. Your mind waves have sufficient frequency and strength to manipulate the free magical element (ether). The 700672 squinted and said happily. "In other words, all of your automata have the same ability." Facing Jin''s doubtful face, No. 700672 smiles and says to him as if admonishing him. "No matter what kind of creature it is, the strength of the mental wave is not enough to manipulate free magic element (ether) at a distance. That''s why we use <. ......" For some reason, No. 700672 was at a loss for words. Jin mentioned an idea that suddenly popped into his head. "......If <> exists in the brains of certain organisms?" The words of the 700672 cannot hide his surprise. "<> is you, isn''t it? ...... Yes, the <> is obtained by collecting and generating the brains of certain creatures. All those who can handle magic have it, but ......" "......I''m sure it''s only a small amount, even if it''s collected from living creatures." The 700672 is even more surprised by Jin''s words. "That''s right. At the very least, it would take a million brains to collect it from the organisms on this planet. Jin has no intention of doing or admitting to such an outrage. "...... organisms on this planet?" Then Jin realized the meaning behind the words of 700672. "You guess right. Yes, my artificial brain uses a lot of that ." And for <," he said, and the 700672 looked at Jin with probing eyes. "...... What are you going to do?If you take out my brain, you can easily get the and maybe even prevent that ?" Neige moved silently in front of Jin and the others. To remove the brain of No. 700672 would mean to kill it. But Jin patted Neige lightly on the head as she stared at him, I am not such a pathetic person. As a Magecraft Meister, I will do something about it. He laughed. No. 700672 looked at Jin and laughed without uttering a sound. "You are really funny. ......Neige, don''t worry. They are not going to do anything to me. Neige''s nerves were broken when she heard that. "......You may have noticed that the <> may have taken the <> from the other eleven bodies and used it." Jin''s face turned grim. We don''t know how many times the <> has been triggered in the past, so we don''t know how many more times it can be triggered. Worst case scenario is that it can be used 9 more times. "I would rather not have it happen again than think about how many more times ...... it will happen." He liked the answer of 700672. "That''s good to hear. If you''re that kind of a guy, maybe I can talk to you." ? "......go and other homunculus are vulnerable to low temperatures. They become inactive at temperatures below the freezing point." "......" Jin tilted his head at this unexpected information. "What''s wrong, Jin?" "......, I was wondering if that information was true or false." "What?" "...... There must be a good reason why they are based in this high latitude region. The abundance of free magic element (ether) is one of them. On the other hand, if they are vulnerable to low temperatures, it would not be surprising if they move further south. They could at least gather free magical element (ether). Hearing Jin''s explanation, No. 700672 nodded his head in agreement. "That''s right. I am sorry for testing you. I know now that you have no intention of harming me at all. You were testing me? I apologize for that. But now I know that I can trust you. Then, 700672 ordered Neige to bring something. It was a small box. It was made of metal and about the size of a business card case. "This is for you." "What is it?" Jin asked as he took the box from Neige. "It is a <>. The last one I have. "What?Such a valuable thing. ......" But No. 700672 looked Jin in the eye and said. "No, it should have been up to me to take over from my masters to deal with <>. It is only natural that I entrust it to you." Jin looked at the box he had received, and then he expressed his gratitude in a quiet voice. "I will use it gratefully." Nodding his head, No. 700672 explained how to use it. "If you want to use it in a magi-machine instead of a living body, you need to add it to a light-attribute magi-crystal. Can you do that?" "If it is <> or <>..." "Well, I have never heard of it, but if you say it can be done, then yes. Add at a ratio of 1 for every 100 magi crystals." In this way, we will be able to generate the optimal magic wave for free magic element (ether) interference. "You already know that. Magi crystals of all the attributes are indeed versatile. But if you use magic of each attribute, it is more efficient to use Magi Crystals of the same attribute. "I understand." Jin thought of speakers. Full-range speakers certainly have many advantages. However, there is a limit to the volume. In magic terms, the limit of strength is low. In Reiko''s case, however, the limit is still above the humanly possible level. Returning to speakers, there is a method of having a tweeter for high sound and a woofer for low sound, and such a speaker system is called a multi-way system. Jin''s knowledge of audio is not deep enough to discuss sound quality. However, in the case of magic, it is much simpler. Fire magic should be generated by fire-attribute magi crystals, and water magic by water-attribute magi crystals. "You seem to understand. Now for the last part, it is up to you whether you can understand it or not. With that, No. 700672 began a more advanced explanation. "I mean, what is the medium through which mental and magical waves are transmitted. Jin listened in silence. "My masters have not fully understood it, but it seems that there is a particle even smaller than the free magical element (ether), and they thought that it is transmitted." "...... lower (under)free-magic element (ether), something like that." "Oh, something like that. You are very quick to understand. If we compare the lower free magical element (ether) to air molecules, the free magical element (ether) is like a balloon. The flow of air molecules, i.e. wind, can move a balloon. The ability to manipulate free magic element (ether) by mental waves is a similar relationship. Magic power is also transmitted through the lower free magical element (ether). In other words, we can deal with all kinds of magic if we can do something about the lower free magic element (ether). Theoretically. Do you understand? Yes, at least I see the way. "Well..." "Now we are considering several measures to counter the <>. Among them, we were concerned that it might shift and escape, but now we have a good idea of how to deal with it. No. 700672 nodded. "Hmmm...blocking the transfer. Of course, you know about the transfer marker, don''t you?We can radiate the same magic power as the transfer marker. Based on his previous theories, Jin was confident that he could create the desired magic wave. "Yes, I think so. You mean to make it impossible to tell which signal is coming from the transfer marker?" "That''s right. That''s right. You''re really good. From the looks of it, you really might be able to do something about < ......." "That''s what I''ve been trying to do from the beginning." 700672''s face contorted slightly. He laughed. "You remind me of my masters. The masters when they were full of energy and drive. Squinting slightly, 700672 seemed to be staring somewhere far away, not here. "Thank you for everything." Jin thanked him and told him it was time for him to leave. There were many more questions he wanted to ask, but time was of the essence now. Jin had a lot of work to do at the institute. Jin turned on his heel and was about to leave the room when a voice called out to him from 700672. "......I''m sorry, but could you please come over here a little more?" 700672 said in a slightly different, stiffer voice. "Yes, sir?" Jin walks over to the bed where 700672 is lying. "......" The 700672 stared at Jin silently. "?" 700672 reached out his right hand and took Jin''s hand. "Oh, uh?" But he immediately let go of his hand and 700672 lay down on the bed. "...... sorry for stopping you. Jin-dono, about the <>, I''m sorry to impose on you to clean up the mess, but please take care of it. I will. ...... will you come again? Yeah, when this whole mess is over. I look forward to it. It''s been a pleasure talking with you. Good bye. Jin then left the room. The rest of the 700672 lay on their sides, staring at the ceiling ......, or rather, at the sky, which should have been beyond it. He was staring at the sky that was supposed to be beyond. "...... father?" A white girl, Neige, saw her father and called out to him in concern. "......Neige, for a moment I felt like I was back in the old days." "What do you mean, father?" "......That young man, Jin, reminds me of our former masters. He''s not the same in appearance or build. And then he squints nostalgically again at No. 700672. "I was given the knowledge by the master who made me, and I passed it on to his children and grandchildren. He reminded me of those days, he said. And the 700672 closed its eyes again. Neige gazed at her creator with sad eyes. 563 - - 17-12 Acceleration To save time, Jin returned to Horai Island via <> using Reiko''s transfer gun. The Jin family was there to greet him. Jin, thank you for your hard work. I heard about it, but I only understood about half of it." It seems that Elsa did not understand everything that was said in 700672. "Jin!I understand that there is a wonderful and profound theory that has been told to me, even though I don''t understand it!" "Jin, this is a subject that I would like to take the time to study." Saki and Toa sensed that a door to a new world had been opened, and they were excited, even though they did not understand it. "Jin, I couldn''t understand it, but you''re different, aren''t you? But you don''t, do you?I''m sure one day you will explain it to us in a way we can understand. "Jin, I am waiting for that day too. Reinhardt and Stearina admitted that they did not understand, and said that they hoped Jin would give them an explanation when the trouble was over. "Jin-sama, please hang in there. I will do my best to help you in any way I can. "Me too." Meane and Bertsch were open to cooperating with us. Surrounded by such a dependable family, Jin felt grateful. That day, he continued discussions with everyone until late at night. Early in the morning of the next day, Jin immediately started his activities. The first thing he did was to develop the <>. < should have, and a more efficient power source was needed to prevent the "Aether Stampede" from occurring. "Hmmm....so we''re going to have one magic element converter (ether converter) and one magic power reactor (mana driver). ......" It is indeed impossible to have both functions in a single magecrystal. Inevitably, they would have to be placed on a magical connection board (link board), but there would inevitably be losses in connection, synchronization, and so on. Although the devices created by Jin, the previous Magecraft Meister, and Adriana are incredibly efficient, there are still losses. Once, when Reiko was captured by Gigarth, she destroyed Gigarth''s magical core by supplying excessive mana. At that time, the magic power of the lost mana caused the surrounding area to glow brightly. This shows that even Jin has not been able to reduce the loss to zero. "Well, <> is not enough. As Jin was twisting his head, Stearina appeared in front of him. "Jin-kun, can I come in now?" Jin welcomed her, since he had just reached a deadlock. "Is something wrong?" "No, I just got something interesting and thought you should see it." With that, Stearina held out her right hand and opened her palm. "This is ......." "Isn''t it interesting?I was looking for some crystals and stumbled upon it." It was a crystal with two flat crystals attached to it. It is called a <, which means that two crystals have grown at the same time. Unlike a crystal that is simply two crystals attached to each other, this crystal has a geometric regularity. It brought back memories of seeing specimens in my junior high school science lab. It was a quartz crystal called <>, which had a flat shape like a butterfly spreading its wings, and it left a strong impression on my mind. "...... Jin-kun?" When Stearina began to wonder about Jin, who had fallen silent while staring at the crystals, Jin reactivated. "Oh, yes!I knew I had it!......Stearena, thank you!" "......I don''t know what it is, but I''m glad I could be of help. So, these crystals..." "Oh, they''re called <, not just crystals attached to each other. ......" Jin explained everything he knew about the twin crystals. After thanking him, Stearina returned to her laboratory. Jin, being Jin, immediately began to work on his magic to give shape to his idea. "How about combining ......<> and <>?" He tries it with the crystals he has prepared. The two crystals fuse together and become crystals again. "Well, it doesn''t work. Two crystals are simply stuck together. "Do I need to combine another one? ......<><><>......>...... this won''t work." It is only the formation of distorted crystals. "<><>......<>!" Jin, who has developed the artisanal magic of changing the structure of crystals while understanding their structure through <>. And before his eyes, he had created a beautiful Japanese-style twin crystal. "We did it!Now we have a good prospect for the Magi Reactor." Magi crystals are usually processed into a spherical shape. This shape was chosen empirically because of its ease of forming, beauty of shape, ease of handling, and the fact that the surface area of a sphere is the smallest compared to its volume. It has been believed that the smaller the surface area, the more effectively the contained magic power can be used. The reason is unknown. Jin was now daring to go against this rule of thumb. The original magecrystal crystals are very similar to quartz crystals. In other words, they are hexagonal pillars. The crystals that are generally available are called "magi crystals. However, Jin wondered if he could make use of the shape of the crystal. In other words, he intended to make use of the flat part of the crystal. "If we write the magic formula (Magi Formula) here, we won''t need a magic connection board (link board), and it will be easier to control! Jin realizes that by using the shape of the crystal itself as a link board, he can control it with a degree of precision that was not possible with the sphere. This technique would be meaningless if he could not make Japanese-style twin crystals, but it made a lot of sense to him now. After an hour of further trial and error, he realized that he could make a Japanese-style twin crystal. "It''s done! At last, the Magi Reactor, with an efficiency of more than 99%, was completed. The efficiency of the previous combination of an ether converter and a mana driver has never been accurately measured, but it was probably 80% or higher. That is still an astonishing figure, but the just completed Magi Reactor is more than 99%. That is an extraordinary efficiency. "Get Reiko and everyone else equipped with one of these, then ......." Jin quickly devises a use for it. "We''ll have to mass-produce them anyway." Jin then decides to tackle his next task. It is the well-known countermeasure against <>. "First of all, we need to counter Aether Stampede. The free magic element (ether) is completely controlled. That''s why they developed the high-powered Magi Reactor. "You mean the magic that converts mana back into free magic element (ether). Suddenly, Jin thinks. Although defective, it was a decisive weapon against demons. It too had the function of taking the mana around it and turning it into its own. The method of doing so was not known at last, since all of them had been destroyed. "That may have been what gave to the human side. ......" It was possible, given its nature of attacking friend and foe alike once activated. "...... and now we''re developing this one." Jin decided to generate a magic crystal (Magi Crystal) to generate the magic wave that governs the free magic element (ether). The base is a light-attribute magi crystal. It is a crystal similar to a transparent crystal. "Add the I received to it," he said. When he opened the box, he found a pinch of black powder. Jin added it at a ratio of 1 to 100 magi crystals (by weight), just as he had been taught. "<>" The transparent magecrystal has become tarnished. It looks a little like smoke crystal. "So, if we use this as a generator, we can exert a great influence on the free magical element (ether). It should be possible to release the < magic I had been thinking of. I call it a . By forcibly converting mana back to free magic element (ether), you can drown out your opponent''s magic, except for a few magic spells. The exception is the purely physical attacks such as <>, which are ineffective because they do not require any more supply of mana once they have been activated. Other than that, for example, flames will be extinguished if it is a fire type, and wind type will be atomized. It should be possible to < gravity magic, and it should be possible to interfere with transfer magic. Considering the amount of powder, I made only two. One for Reiko''s use and the other for air support. "The other one will be used for Reiko''s countermeasure against "Aether Stampede". Reiko, who is the trump card, is likely to be stuck by "Aether Stampede" as it is now. Also, considering the possibility that <> could use super strong <>, Jin was thinking of applying a stronger shield. Reiko would come soon if he contacted her with the manacam. "Father, you wanted to see me?" "Yes, Reiko. I have called you back to strengthen you even further. Jin explained to Reiko the purpose and details of the modification. Reiko nodded her head. "Yes, please." Jin then set to work on Reiko''s modification with all his might. 564 - - 17-13 Second time Jin has started the modification of Reiko. First of all, the ether converter and mana driver were replaced with a magi reactor. Since the wasted space has been eliminated, the output has increased by 60% due to the synergistic effect of the larger size and increased efficiency. Next is the shield of the magi device. The first layer is the same as before, the mithril silver shield case. The second layer is a shield case made of grand dragon scales. This will protect the device even more than before, but Jin has added an extra feature. It is an extremely small . Since it is the smallest size that Jin can make, its effective radius is only enough to cover a magi device. At most, it can cover a spherical area of 10cm in diameter, but it is enough to prevent the effect of "Aether Stampede". If it is larger than that, it will interfere with other functions. "A full-fledged magic canceller should be carried as a bracelet. We put it in a mithril silver bracelet that would be suitable for Reiko. The design is simple. "Okay, done. I''ll do some maintenance while I''m at ......." Reiko is made of a durable material, but considering its function, it is not surprising if it deteriorates quickly. Jin is replacing the magical skin and muscles with materials that have been treated with free ether to make them more durable. The joints are re-examined and skeletal distortions are checked. Satisfied, Jin smiles. "Reiko, start it up." "Yes, father." Everything is finished, and Reiko wakes up with a more perfect body. Hitoshi explained to Reiko the functions of each device. "So we can use part of the increased output for the magic canceller? "That''s right. And the real magic canceller is the bracelet. It has a beam angle of about 120 degrees in the direction of the magecrystal attached to it. "I understand." Another magic canceller was to be mounted on Pegasus 1 to support Falcon 2 and 3 in addition to Pegasus 2 and 3. Jin himself wanted to ride on Pegasus 1, but the old man and Reiko objected to it, so he ended up with a deus ex machina as a substitute. * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, the old man had ordered the land troops dispatched to the territory of the demon tribe to collect the transfer markers as fast as they could. By collecting all of them in one place, he was trying to eliminate the escape route of <>. And Lao Tzu, the mobile terminal of Lao Gong, kept on searching the movement of <>. He keeps following the movement of across a thin ceiling board. He would like to make a visual observation through a hole or something, but in case he is noticed, he uses a finger golem that he has secretly sent to observe him. (Half a day...... No, you are resting for three-quarters of a day. I''m not in good shape after all?) Then I noticed something. is not very active. (700672 was also weakened over the years, but if it is ......?) ) So, based on this assumption, I made some observations and found some facts that support this assumption. The operation was sluggish. It was slower than when we met Reiko and her friends, although it could be said that it was because it was not necessary. (If it is a homunculus that is more imperfect than No. 700672, it is not surprising that it would reach its end of life earlier. ) It would be a lot easier if it would just stop working, but that does not seem to be the case. And there was the biggest concern. < is contacting someone or something. It means that has other friends. If Lao Tzu could have just attacked and it would all be over, he would have done so by now, but this is the reason why he did not. A mysterious associate. Or it may be a subordinate. Their identities are unknown. The identity of this mysterious fellow is unknown, because they communicate with each other by symbols, using little or no words. We barely know that they are called <<13>. We do not even know what kind of technology they have. < will come out after we defeat it. There are so many uncertainties that even Lao Tzu could not attack directly. <, he would have made the situation worse, which would have been a complete defeat. Therefore, Lao Tzu was trying to find out who was the mysterious person behind the <>. As he was doing so, he came to know one more thing. It seems that <> has been weakened. Still, we can''t underestimate it, since we still don''t know the identities of the many Magi-machines in this base. It may be impossible to be perfect.) Lao Tzu decided to attack <> as soon as he found an opportunity. At that time, <> once disappeared by metastasis. In a few seconds, the "Negador001" came back (apparently, it was somewhere in the middle of the world). (Apparently, it attacked somewhere.) Since the main body of the doll was not known to the old man, he concluded that the doll had most likely attacked an unknown clan. The reason why we determined that it was an attack is because the absence of the attacker was short. That is, they threw something like a bomb and came back again. And the bomb that <> uses is ...... "Aether Stampede". (I''m afraid I''ve already caused a casualty. ...... I can''t hesitate any longer.) * * * * < And he was in contact with other clans. Among them, the clans of the < clan were the most reliable, as they were in contact with each other and had given his own daughter, Bemiarche, in marriage to the chief''s son, Dogmaraud. "Hmm, an "ether stampede"?Is he the one who can cause it? ......" The opponent is Florodorus, the clan leader of the Ashes. He is the father of Dogmaraud, who once confronted Reiko. < is a powerful clan among the extremists, along with the , and has about 150 members. They specialize in explosion magic, and many of them can also use gravity and shifting magic. Therefore, it was natural that BAHUROSK relied on them. Furthermore, the clan leader of the clan had been killed, and his son, Rydros, had become the new clan leader to unite the frenzied clans, but Rydros also agreed with Bafrosk and offered his cooperation. <>. "So the other party is called Negador?Who is he? "I heard that he is a magical creature created by our distant ancestors and that he hates us. That''s hard to believe. "I can see that. But whoever they are, they''ve slaughtered 90% of my clan. That''s true. I don''t think it will end there. The next target may be the ash heap. Just as we were talking about that. Suddenly there was a man who came out of nowhere. "Dad!" "What is it, Dogmaraud?" Florodorus, interrupted in the middle of his conversation, said in a slightly grumpy tone. "The clans of the <> have been wiped out!" "What!" The clan of <> is a mid-sized militant clan of about 50 members. "When I visited them to ask for their cooperation, I found ......." Dogumaraud can use transfer magic, so he was on his way as an emissary to the other clans. When asked about the situation, it was thought that it was caused by an "ether stampede". "Unnu...... well done ...... to your people!" The demon clans have strong ties within their clans, but not so much between clans. However, now we are in a situation where we cannot afford to say such things. The radical clan leaders could understand this as much as they wanted to. 565 - - 17-14 Battle, settlement, and (You''ve already caused a casualty. ...... can''t hesitate any longer.) <, learned that the clan of had been annihilated by the "Aether Stampede", and decided that further observation would be pointless. He decided that further observation was pointless, so he decided to attack. First of all, he used light magic. Lao Tzu takes aim through the thin ceiling panel. Without any preamble, he fires a through the ceiling panel. His aim was sure. The only miscalculation is that the ceiling panel is made of the unknown metal. I guess I was in a bit of a hurry. A metal with a melting point of 5000 degrees Celsius. Most of the energy of the <> was consumed in penetrating the metal, and by the time it reached <>, it was less than 1/10th of the power of the <>. By the time it reached <>, it was less than one-tenth as powerful. "Ugh!" Even so, the laser beam still hit Negador 001 in the head and pierced his right shoulder. But that is all. The beam of light, which would normally have vaporized half of the head and the right half of the body, only inflicted minor injuries on the opponent. "<>!" Seeing the hole in the ceiling, , who knew where the attacker was hiding, unleashed an explosion spell. With a roar, the ceiling board is shattered. But Lao Tzu changed his position as soon as he realized that the attack did not bring the desired result. On the ceiling with a big hole, <> shot another explosion magic. (whoosh). Even though he had a barrier, he was hit by the blast at close range, and Lao Tzu became more alert. (Even though he is weakened, he still has the ability to act when the time comes.) Another blast of explosive magic was released on the ceiling. Lao Tzu jumps down, knowing that it is pointless to hide any longer. "Intruder!" He looks at the "Negador 001" whose face is distorted with hatred, "I have not seen you before." Lao-tzu, who kept a quiet expression on his face, met him. "You are a foolish doll who only knows how to follow blindly." Lao Tzu says in a disdainful tone, but Lao Tzu does not take it well. "I was created by my master (my lord), so it is natural for me to work for my master (my lord). "I don''t like that." At the same time as he says these words, <> releases an explosion spell. "<>! Lao Tzu avoided it with an amazingly fast reaction time. Since the power of the magic was limited due to the fact that she was indoors, she was out of the range of the explosion magic if she moved a little. This was an advantage for Lao Tzu. "You don''t want to destroy the facility, so your means of attack will be limited." "That''s clever." Then released another spell. "<>!" The gravity around the room increased tenfold. "This room is not affected by this level of gravity. But you ...... will move slower, if not crumble." "......" Lao Tzu replied with silence. "I am not so foolish as to take a doll seriously. Farewell." The doll tried to shift , but it did not disappear. But it did not disappear. "Why? The old man had secretly placed finger golems in various parts of the room. And they are equipped with a very weak Magijammer. They can jam the weak magic power of the transfer markers. This also blocks the "Aether Stampede". If you use it, you will be caught in the middle of it, too. "You did this!" <>, whose face was distorted with hatred, seemed to have realized that it was Lao Tzu''s work, and decided to destroy him once again. "<>! Explosion magic. But Lao Tzu easily avoided it. He used his built-in gravity-control magic device. "What? Lao Tzu''s face contorted as if he couldn''t understand . Lao Tzu hit him with his body. "GWHH!" Due to the difference in size, <> was blown to the edge of the room. It slammed into a wall and fell down. Lao-tzu was not wrong in his judgment that the doll''s physical strength was not so great. "I will finish here without soiling my master''s hands. Lao Tzu fired his light magic again. < evaporated. It was an easy end. "......I hope this is the end." is not a living being. It is a homunculus created by magical technology. It is impossible to predict what it can do even if its upper body is gone. Therefore, the <> was fired once more and <> disappeared completely from this world. "......" Lao Tzu stands still for a moment, not letting his guard down. He retrieved the finger golems scattered in the room and still remained still. In the meantime, he keeps checking the movement of the magic power around him. It would be a big problem if there was a timed bomb ...... that could cause an "ether stampede". About 30 minutes passed. Nothing seems to happen. < might have planted something, but my fears were unfounded. Thus, <> disappeared. Lao Joon, Lao Tzu''s main body on Horai Island, used the transporter to send Rand 41 to 50 and Smith 91 to 1 The "Mere Old Man" has decided to send the transporters to the island of Horai. This is for the purpose of suppressing and analyzing the base, as is well known. Above all, I was curious about the person with whom <> had been communicating. < He wanted to find out as soon as possible. Reinforcements will arrive in a few minutes. Half of them are disarming traps and the rest are analyzing the facility. Lando and Smith, five each, worked in pairs. Lao Tzu was the overall supervisor. "The ceiling here is also made of an unknown metal. This facility may be a variant of the or something like that. < for a reasonable amount of time. "I wonder if it was useful for atmospheric re-entry." The melting point of 5,000 degrees Celsius is an advantage against the high temperatures generated during atmospheric re-entry, the old man thinks back to the former satellite crashes. "I think we should recover all the equipment after analyzing it. The old man looks at the analysis status of the equipment with this thought in mind. Smith 91 removed the cover of the device. "That is probably the communication device. Although it is a product of a different magical technology, it has some parts in common with the manacam, and it turns out to be a communication device after all. It functions more like a manaphone than a manacam. It seems to be connected only to specific parties. It seems to be able to locate the coordinates of the other party. "The other device is ....... Oh, this is the device to see each department here, isn''t it? A monitor that displays in the light outside the visible spectrum. Lao Tzu is again relieved to see that the interior, which he can see through 10 , is unoccupied. Another 30 minutes passed. Magi machines were being analyzed one after another. Seventy percent of the machines were found to have a use, even if the principle of operation was not known. "Do not carelessly touch anything you do not understand. First of all, let''s examine all magi-machines in one step. By this time, more than half of the traps had been disarmed. "That''s not so bad, is it? Lao Tzu was relieved out of the blue. The communication device started working. The mysterious party with whom < had been communicating contacted Lao Tzu. > 566 - - No. 17-1513 A call came in from a person calling himself "No. 13. The old man instantly decided to take action and instructed all the land craftsmen (smiths) to do so via manacam. Leave it alone. No noise is allowed. Sooner or later, they will realize that something has happened. So it would be best if our information is kept as secret as possible. Since we have disposed of the metastasis markers, it is unlikely that they will suddenly appear. The uncertainty was what kind of reaction the person would have if he/she became suspicious by not responding to the message. After hearing the voice calling several times, the communication was cut off. The old man immediately gives his orders. And Pegasus 1, Falcon 2, and 3, who were in a covering position above, were ordered to watch for anyone approaching. . On Horai Island, the old man reported to Jin. He said, "No.<<13>," as I recall. As I recall, No.700672 said that 13 Dexiconai were created. So I think this is one of them. "It is reasonable to think so." << "Is there any more <, or ?" << "What do you know about No. 13?" "Okay, let''s start with the information on the other party. What about the militants at ......?" < "I see. ...... Well, what''s done can''t be helped, but I hope it will be for the future. ......" * * * * "Jin-dono, I''ve decided to call the main clan leaders of the remaining radical factions." When word reached them that the <> clans had been wiped out, Baphlosk, the leader of the <> clan, and Florodorus, the leader of the <> clan, became more willing to discuss the matter. "Representatives from the three clans of <><><> will be coming." Each is a small clan of about 30 members, and this will bring together all the militant clans. "They said there will be people who can use transfer magic, so we should all be here by tomorrow." "I see, that''s great. Jin''s nodded his head reassuringly. If we can convince the extremists here, the war between the demons and the human race can be avoided completely. However, Jin had some concerns. "We don''t know the whereabouts of Archel and Lardus ......?" The two demons, whose names Jin also knew, were missing. The day passed with concern, and it was the 11th. From the morning, several radicals arrived one by one, using transference. Then all of them arrived just before noon. < Jin had prepared a large stock of Persica juice from Horai Island. He had brought it in the day before using the warp gate. The radicals who put their mouths to the juice, thinking it was just a drink, were all surprised after taking a sip. "This is ......! "...... delicious!" "I feel lighter." It''s not a good sight to see a big-built demon tribe drinking juice and relaxing their cheeks, but it''s good that they seem to have lowered their guard against Jin for the time being. "Now then, the purpose of our gathering today..." The facilitator of the meeting is Jaralldos of . "I am sure you are aware that, unfortunately, the clan has been wiped out, and most of the clan were victims of the Aether Stampede. This time, those assembled did not make a fuss, but simply listened in silence. "In the first place, our ancestors were once ......". This story caused a bit of a stir. "The ancestors who settled here interbred with the current inhabitants and ......" The murmur grows louder. "...... that the was a being that was plotting against us and humans, and possibly even bringing us all down together. ...... At this point, the buzz among the attendees reached a climax. "Do you have any proof? How can you say that we and humans share the same ancestry? and "Do you have any proof? Just when things were starting to get out of hand, Bafrozek shouted at him. "Quiet!" That''s exactly what he said. The noisy place becomes quiet. "It is true that ...... that caused the Aether Stampede. I was there. I was just lucky to survive. Thanks to the wards (actually barrier wards) set up by the automata under Jin''s command. The words of the clan leader of the once most powerful clan, now with only 20 members, were irrefutably convincing. "I wanted revenge. But I don''t even know where the person I''m after is. But I heard that Jin can find out where he is. "Is that true? At that moment, a mysterious voice echoed around the area. What? Where are you? Those present looked around. Up there! Jin shouts. Falcon 2, which is waiting in the sky above, points it out. "Up?" "...... Oh?" About 50 meters above the courtyard, about 50 winged, deformed humanoid figures were floating. "Did they metastasize?Why are there no markers?" Jin''s natural question. The answer came from Sky 2 of Falcon 2. < "Outside the compound?" Jin orders the Land troops waiting outside to search for them. But the situation was urgent. "Comrade 001 has been erased. The last remaining Negador, No. 13, will take over. We will kill all the demons and all mankind. The voice is emitted by one of the 50 dolls. It is a large, black-colored figure. It descends so slowly that its figure becomes clearly visible. "......Angel (Anguirus)......" "Huh?" Jin was startled by the words someone uttered. A humanoid figure with wings on its back. But its skin was a dull, dark green. Its face was fierce, and its mouth showed fangs. It is about 2.5 meters long. In Jin''s image, it was a from a fantasy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Is that the ...... angel?" Jin himself, who was in Horai Island, remembered the golem garden party that had once been held at the royal palace of Egelea. At that time, a golem in the shape of an had indeed been on display. It was called by the magic minister Kelihidole. ....... It was feminine in appearance, with pure white wings and figure, and bore no resemblance to the gargoyle-like creature in front of it. "I guess it was beautified as it was passed down through the generations." Jin in the Horaijima command center was looking at the scene with a sense of fluency, but the demons on the scene were horrified. 567 - - 17-16 VS Gargoyle Most of the demons had shrunk in the face of this gargoyle-like creature, which the demons called , and which looked nothing but a gargoyle to Jin. "What''s going on, everyone?" Baphlosk, the , who was standing nearby, replied in a hushed voice. "...... They are angels, messengers of heaven from our legends. As you can see from its flight in the sky, its power is immense. I never thought I''d be dealing with an angel. ......" He looks a little pale. I can''t help but think that Bafrosk is a legendary being, but I guess that''s how it is when you see him in person. The next thing he knew, all the demons present were crouched on the ground. The only ones standing were Jin, Reiko, and Anne. There are ten Land troops, however, who are invisible. > The last black gargoyle to land asks the . "Yes. Why should I be afraid of a mere golem with wings?" Jin knew that the golem in front of him was a golem that he was making work because he was bored with the excess of his magical power. If he had to be careful, he wondered what additional functions it would have. But it is also a great opportunity to wake up the extremists. Jin decided to use all the forces currently in the demon territory. Lando!Prepare to attack! With that voice, the dispatched army golems, Lands 11 through 20, released their invisibility and appeared. His expression did not change, but his voice was filled with hatred. "Go!" Paying no attention to the words of No. 13, Jin gave the order to attack. Ten army golems against fifty gargoyles. Reiko and Anne were evacuating the crouching demons. "Uh-oh! "Uh-oh!" Ann tossed the demons one by one as if they were a hassle, and Reiko took them and evacuated them indoors. The demon tribe, having been drained of their venom, was so docile that it was hard to believe that they were radicals. Meanwhile, Lando and his men clashed with the gargoyles. Lando and his men were armed with the Vibration Sword, a super high-speed vibrating sword. It has the power to cut an enemy gargoyle in half with a single blow. Ten gargoyles were disabled in the first clash. In contrast, Lando and his men are unharmed. Once again, Lando and the gargoyles cross paths, bringing the enemy''s losses to 20. "......Are you a <> type after all?" The <> is a method named by Jin, and refers to those that are powered by magic, such as the Stone Golem, which is an advanced form of <>. Because of its low efficiency, it can only be used in places where free magic element (ether) is abundant, such as demon territory. > The black gargoyle, who must be the captain of the group, emits the voice of No. 13, and his voice is frustrated. On the other hand, the militant demons who watched the battle in the courtyard from indoors were stunned to see the legendary they had feared being defeated without difficulty. But there are still 30 enemy gargoyles. No. 13 sent 10 of them to separate. The target, of course, was the evacuated demons. Reiko!Anne!" At this point, Reiko and Anne were instructed. Yes, Father... Yes, Your Highness! Reiko wielded Momoka, and Anne wielded her super fast Vibration Sword and slashed at the gargoyles. In an instant, Reiko had cut down six gargoyles and Anne had cut down four. "......!That was the ......!" It was Dogmaraud of the ash heap who shouted out. "Dogmaloud, you know him?" "Yes, father. Yes, I know him. That little one was the automaton who withstood Lardus'' gravity spell and knocked him unconscious. "What?Has Lardus ever fought with that automaton?" Bafrosk, the leader of the clan, interrupted from the side. "......The gravity magic of Lardus is unmatched in our clan. And you say you withstood it?" "Yes. Yes. And with an Eladrite. The little one withstood it! "What!" They could understand Reiko''s outrageousness only because they knew what it meant. Reiko had slain the remaining gargoyles with Lando and the others, and just now all but the black gargoyle had stopped moving. The black gargoyle was floating about 5 meters in the air, out of reach of the blades, staring at the battle situation. "You are the only one left." As Jin (the <>) said this, the black gargoyle pulled out a magi crystal from somewhere. He then threw the Magi Crystal into the air. "Transfer! Reiko didn''t know how the Magi Crystal worked, but she quickly used her to transfer the Magi Crystal far away before it reached the ground. > "I don''t know what they were planning to do, but we can''t let them get away with it." <> For the first time, the black gargoyle seemed impatient. <> "I am Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido." <> "Yes. You don''t know this, but we humans are progressing." Jin Nido waits for the old man to finish his work while they talk. No. 13 is not here. He must be remotely controlling the black gargoyle from some distant base. Therefore, they did not defeat the black gargoyle immediately, but continued the conversation to gather information. > "Oh, you know what happened to No. 001?" Jin replies to No.13''s question with somewhat provocative words. Sure enough, No. 13 is on board. > <<<< magic canceller >>,activate it! >> The old man guessed from No. 13''s words that he was going to cause an "ether stampede," and activated the "magic canceller" he had developed for this purpose from Pegasus-1, which was standing by in the sky above. At about the same time, Reiko also activated her magic canceller. At about the same time, Reiko also activates the magic canceller in her bracelet. > The voice of No. 13 becomes muffled and inaudible. The black gargoyle falls to its knees. Here ends the first battle with No. 13. "That went well." The wave of the magic canceller nullified the magic ray of the activated "Aether Stampede", and the surrounding area was unaffected. Furthermore, even the gargoyle''s movement was blocked. He continues to shower the gargoyle with the waves of his magic canceller for a dozen seconds or so. The magic ray that was supposed to cause an "ether stampede" would have stopped and disappeared by now. "All right, Reiko, to be cautious, I''m going to activate the Aether Jammer. After that, Pegasus 1, stop irradiating. Reiko uses the etherjammer. Then the irradiation of Pegasus 1 is stopped. In this way, the ether jammer becomes effective as soon as the irradiation stops. In this state, Jin and the Horai-jima group created by Jin can use magic. "All right, let''s release this guy!" Jin (), while alerting Reiko, slowly analyzes the black gargoyle. "...... what''s this, it''s the same old stuff. ......" As initially expected, it seems to have just been remotely piloted. "I guess it''s a < type." There is no doubt because there is no muscular tissue or skeleton. "...... This is the control core, and this is the maggireactor. After all, this gargoyle, too, was not using a combination of an ether converter and a mana driver, but a maggireactor. "But this is ...... ah, this is how they were doing it." Instead of the twin crystals of magi crystals that Jin had worked so hard to create, he was using long columnar crystals with the magi formula written on both ends. "I wonder if this is not 90 percent efficient, even if it is." Jin muttered to himself as he continued his analysis. 568 - - 17-17 Rebellion "By the way, Mr. Bafrosque..." Anne opened her mouth. "What?What is it?" "I''m sorry, but could you please gather the remaining members of the clan?" What do you mean? "Yes, actually. ......" The old man''s instructions. It was to see if any of the <> clans might have a transmigration marker. "Nonsense!Are you saying there is a traitor?" Bafrosk was furious, as expected. But Anne responds in a nonchalant manner. No, it''s not like that. No, it''s not that. It''s just that some people may be using it unintentionally. is cunning." "......" Bafrosque could make no further protests, so he called all the surviving members of the clan together. There were 18 of them. Is that all of them? "Is that all of them?...... hmm?Hey, where''s Donaisia? What?She was supposed to be there a minute ago. ...... Find her! By order of Bahrovsk, the eighteen men scattered to the four winds in search of the clan member named Doneicia. "......muu......" Bafrosque with a difficult look on his face. Anne''s words seemed to have taken on weight. Meanwhile, Jin had finished analyzing the gargoyle. "This seems to be the core of magic power to cause an "ether stampede". It is half collapsed after releasing all of its free magical element (ether), but there seems to be no mistake. "This must be the operational core. With this, we should be able to locate No. 13. Bahrovsk reacted to this muttering. "Jin!No, Jin-dono!Is that true?Where the hell is he? He was about to snap at me. "I''m looking for him right now, but so far all I can tell you is that he''s up north of ......." "I see. ......" Then one of the clan members returned. "Clan leader!We found Donaisia!She''s running north." "What?" Bahrovsk''s eyes flashed darkly. "After him!But we''ll catch him last. Find out how far they''re going. It was a simple idea: if Donatia was being controlled by No. 13, then No. 13 must be where she was headed. * * * * * * * * * * * Donecia cannot use transfer magic. Therefore, it seems that she is running with only physical reinforcement, and three people who can use transfer magic are chasing after her. (...... how far is she going to go?) (Oh...) I''ve been running for an hour now. (Yeah. We''ve been running for an hour now.) Donaisia runs at a speed of about 40 kilometers per hour. That means we''ve run 40 kilometers. And after another 10 kilometers or so. Donacia stopped. Oh, it stopped.) In the middle of the middle of nowhere?) There was nothing but plain as far as the eye could see. It was nothing but a plain of grayish-brown wilderness. Dead grass and shrubs added a slight accent. Donnyshia turned around. "...... you think you''ve been following me?" That''s what she said to the three of us. An empty plain. Nothing to hide behind. Naturally, their pursuers were in full view. "...... Are you stupid?" Donatia is 92 years old. A human would be 18. Long black hair and golden eyes. She had good style and was popular among the clans. Lardus seemed to be a little concerned about her. Such a female demoness. But what was on her face now was an evil smile. "Aren''t you going home yet?" Three hours have passed since we sent them off. Bafrosque was frustrated that he had not heard from them. In case the three ...... and Donaisia did not return, the clan would be down to sixteen members. The clan had counted 10,000 members. On the other hand, the old man had already identified the place where he thought No. 13 was hiding. At the same time, he wonders if he should tell Bafrosk the information. In the end, Jin decides to tell them, because if he doesn''t tell them, they might resent him later. "We found out where the base of No. 13 seems to be. It is about 100 kilometers north-northwest of here. It''s underground, on the banks of the river. < told him this, Bafrosk stood up, as expected. "What are you going to do?" Jaralldos, who was also present, called out to him. Bafrosk turned his bloodshot eyes on him and replied, "It''s obvious. "It''s obvious. We are going there. Jaralldos wanted to ask, <>, but when he looked into Bahroosk''s bloodshot eyes, he could not say anything else. "The rest of the clans!Gather!" Fifteen men gathered in front of Bafrosk. "We will now attack the enemy''s stronghold to avenge our clan!" There was a roar of approval. It seemed that the resentment had built up. In the next ten minutes or so, the <> clansmen were all gone. And some people from the <><>> clan seemed to have followed them. "...... old man, are you sure?" Jin was talking to the old man on the island of Horai. "But they''re not the kind of people you can handle, are they?" < "Hmmm...... you mean to raise their awareness?" << The old man was saying radical things, but he was going to support them so that no one would die, which Jin hated. I would like the extremists who believe in the supremacy of merit to know that they are not as strong as they think they are, and to keep quiet for the time being. Lando and the others will be returned to Horai Island by the transporter of Capricorn 1, and sent out by the transporter after taking turns. This will take more time and effort, but they will be able to reach their destinations faster. In this case, I sent out 20 pieces from Land 11 to 30. "Old man, the place where No. 13 is located has nothing to do with the base of No. 001, right?" < Jin crossed his arms and made a difficult face. "So the place where the 13th is located is another one?" "So we don''t even know what kind of facility it is." << "I don''t think that''s all." At that moment Reiko appeared. She had come to see Jin''s face before going to the base of No.13 again by transporter. "Father..." "Oh, Reiko. I''m sorry for all you''ve been through. No, it''s nothing like that. Reiko squints at Jin''s hand patting her head. You''ll have to hang on a little longer, won''t you? I''ll leave it to you. "Please." Jin then replenishes the aethenol in his , which he has already used once. Now the number of usable times is back to two. I should have made it a cartridge type, he thinks now, but there is no time now. "I''ll be off then." Reiko receives the transfer gun, bows to Jin, and leaves the control room. At the same time, Jin was thinking about how to settle this mess as soon as possible. 569 - - 17-18 The Clan of Madness "A hundred kilometers north-northwest means it''s about time. Around midday, when the autumn sun was slanting somewhat to the west, the militants had arrived at their target point. "...... There''s nothing here but the river, isn''t there?" "It''s underground, that''s what they say. ...... Rydlos, you''re in charge." Rydros is the son of Gallowglass, the clan leader of the clan who lost his life in the recent Aether Stampede, and is the current clan leader. < clan, brought them here is not only because they were both victims of the Aether Stampede, but also because of the technology they possess. It is a golem. Marcosius, who had once bewitched Elsa''s father in the Shoro Kingdom, was also from this clan. Marcosius, too, had been sent to this place. "I''m in charge." First, Lydros, the clan''s foremost transfer magician, uses transfer magic to bring the golem to us. Four transfers are repeated four times, and four golems are brought in. Next, it is Markosias'' turn. "...... Markosius, do it!" "Yes, sir. ......<>" Rydros brought <>, a giant golem about four meters tall. They were smaller than the rock giants used by the < clan, but they were stronger and faster. There were four of them. Marcosius can make such a golem. < The four-meter golem walks around with the earth shaking. And it found one place where the echoes were different. "There seems to be a cavity under there. ......1, do it!" Each of the four Belguris has a different weapon. No. 1 has a huge hammer in his hand. No. 1 has a huge hammer in his hand, similar to a mace, a striking weapon. Raising it, No. 1 slams it into the ground with all his might. A roar and a cloud of dust rise. Another blow, and another. The ground was caved in and gouged out by five blows. At the bottom, a glint of metal peeked out. "There it is. There it is after all. ......!" However, there was a magic that turned the tide of the battle. Using the well-known explosion magic, the <> clan started to support Belgris. The 20 lands and Reiko were observing such a battle, hiding behind the Invisibles'' wards. They are ready to rescue the demons if they are in danger. < The old man was thinking about this as he was observing the battle of the demon tribe. He could kill two birds with one stone by knowing the strength of No. 13. < prevented the gargoyles from moving. At that moment, a mace blow explodes. The gargoyle''s torso is crumpled by the blow from the hammer, a super-heavy weapon. The gargoyle''s movement is dramatically slowed. Then a second blow from overhead explodes, and the gargoyle is crushed. Now there are only three left. "No. 1!Join up with No. 3!" Markosias, who was also tactically savvy, immediately sent them to the nearest one, Belgris. Now it was two against one, and with magical support, they were suddenly in a better position. No. 3''s weapon was a long sword. The tip of the sword is larger and heavier than the tip of the other, and is clearly suited for slashing with centrifugal force. Its power is great, but it is meaningless if it does not hit. When it was one against one, they were at the mercy of its speed, but now that it was two against one, the game was tilted in favor of the demons. "There!" The long sword was swung with force at the gargoyle, which had stopped moving, and bit into its waist. "No. 1!After him! Belgris #1''s mace swings out and bursts into the gargoyle''s waist from the opposite side of the sword. The crack caused by the sword widens further, and the gargoyle splits into its upper and lower halves and rolls to the ground. "No. 1, cover No. 2, No. 3, cover No. 4. Markosias ordered. Now it was two against one. No. 2''s weapon was another huge spear. Not a spear, but a lance. It is a weapon that specializes in thrusting. No.1, who joined the fight, succeeded in catching the gargoyle whose leg was caught in the hole made by the explosion magic of the backup. The spear thrust out from its chest pierced the gargoyle and destroyed its magi device. No. 4''s weapon was an axe. Battle Axe. It is a huge double-edged axe with a long handle. No.3 swung his sword and chased after the gargoyles, but the gargoyles, who were quicker than the No.1 and No.4, avoided and evaded all of them. Soon, No. 1 and No. 2 joined the fray. Four against one. Even the gargoyle was cornered, and was hit in the head by a blow from the battle-axe, rendering it motionless. "You did it!We have nothing to fear! Bafrozek is on the move. Then, out of nowhere, a voice rang out, taunting him. < Then a gargoyle of black, silver, and gray appears. "There you go again. But this time it''s only one. Take it!" No.4, who was closest to the gargoyle, swung his battle-axe and attacked it. The black, silver, and gray gargoyle leaped into the sky. "d*mn ......, in the sky again. How can you fly?" * * * Jin was observing the battle in the command center of Horai Island. Next to him, Erza had arrived and was staring at the screen with a serious face. "...... Are both of you idiots?" "Huh?" Erza''s question mark appeared at Jin''s muttering. "No. 13 is doing things like sequentially deploying forces, and the demons are getting carried away and being too overconfident. Jin added, "Above all, I think the demons have forgotten about the "ether stampede". "...... the demons aside." Erza spoke her mind. "......13''s, what if they''re not sequential?" "Huh?" "What?" "A force equivalent to Jin brother''s Reiko. If that''s the case, the gargoyles we''ve had so far are like toys. As if they had heard Erza''s words, a black, silver, and gray gargoyle appeared on the screen. "Is that color ...... adamantite?" If so, it must be quite heavy. However, the footprints on the ground were not that deep. "Well, maybe it''s just the surface?" At that moment, I saw the gargoyle fly up into the sky as No. 4 struck. "Flying again, huh? ...... I see that you have successfully combined gravity magic and wind magic." "Brother Jin, what do you mean?" What do you mean?Oh, perhaps he''s ...... doing that." Jin had discovered the secret of the gargoyle''s flight. "I think he uses gravity magic to reduce its weight to about 1/1000th and wind magic to make it float." If the weight is reduced to zero, it is more difficult to control. "Reiko says that Lardus also controlled the weight of his sword, making it lighter when he wielded it and heavier only at the moment of impact. Jin added that such a thing would be impossible unless he was very good at controlling his sword. At that moment, behind the screen, a black, silver, and gray gargoyle landed in the midst of the demons. 570 - - 17-19 Contingency "You idiot, you came all the way here just to be attacked. Take that!" Markosias ordered the four golems, <>, to attack the black, silver, and gray gargoyles from all sides at once. The next moment, however, their faces were filled with astonishment. "What? No. 1 swung a super heavy hammer, No. 2 a long spear, No. 3 a huge sword, and No. 4 an oversized axe. All of them shattered. The enemy gargoyle did nothing. They just stood there. And yet, all of the weapons of the demon golem <> are broken. "I can''t believe it. ......" That''s what everyone in the demon tribe thought. They couldn''t believe that there was such a difference. When he looked at Gorg''s feet, he saw that he was buried in the ground up to his ankles. Gorg was buried in the ground up to his ankles. "Brother Jin, look!" Erza seemed to have noticed this as well. "Oh. That thing looks like it weighs quite a bit. < "What?" A lump of adamantite is forcibly moved by magic. Not even Jin would come up with such an idea. It''s not smart. Even Reiko might be at a disadvantage in a hand-to-hand combat against this thing. The gargoyle probably weighs 5 to 6 tons. Moreover, since it is moving by <>, it will probably recover from a little damage. If we are to defeat it, we will have to destroy its magi-device, including its control core. "It would be inefficient to hit a lump of adamantite!" Then, how do we defeat it? "Well, how do we beat it?There are many ways. Don''t be fooled by the opponent''s ridiculousness. Erza calmed down a little after being told this and thought about it. Then she relaxed and nodded her head in agreement. "...... understand." "Right?Well, I guess I''ll have to help you out now, won''t I?" The magic screen was showing the scene of <> being literally crushed. * * * * * * <> moved. Incredibly fast movement while sinking into the ground. He struck a heavy blow toward No.4, who was off balance after his axe was smashed. With a single blow, No.4''s chest was crushed and he was rendered motionless. The magi device must have malfunctioned. Marcosius looks on in astonishment at the sight. Taking advantage of this opportunity, <> attacked No. 2. grabs the half-shattered spear and swings it at No. 2, who is holding it. Despite their difference in size, No.2 was treated like a paper doll, and he couldn''t help but let go of the spear. After the spear had blown away about 10 meters and rolled, <> threw the spear he had taken with force at No.2. The broken spear could not fly straight, and it hit No.2''s right shoulder while spinning. The right arm was torn off at the base by the impact. Meanwhile, No. 1 and No. 3 did not stand idly by. They threw away their broken weapons and attacked with empty fists. With a clash, or perhaps a thud. A dull thud echoed. < taking damage. "What the hell? It is the sound of No.1''s left hand and No.3''s right hand breaking. The < is made of steel. A strike against solid adamantite is a natural consequence. swatted No. 1 off his feet. No.1 is easily overturned, as if he had just reaped a scarecrow''s leg. He kicked No.3 with his return leg, and No.3 was blown away about 2 meters with a dent in his right thigh. Without even seeing it, <> jumps up and leaps onto the back of the prone <> No.1. A thud is heard, and the back of the downed <1 dips down. then stomps his feet in a stomping motion. Each time he stomps, the back of the first robot is distorted, and after the sixth stomp, a hole appears in it. With the seventh footstep, the internal magi-device is crushed, and the No. 1 stops moving forever. "d*mn, oh, oh, oh!" Marcosias exclaimed in frustration. But the demons did not stand idly by. "<>!" Numerous flames shot out as bullets toward <>, who was still on the back of No. 1. But a flame of a little over 1,000 degrees Celsius has no effect on adamantite, which has a melting point of over 3,400 degrees Celsius. But a flame of just under 1,000 degrees Celsius has no effect against adamantite, which has a melting point of over 3,400 degrees Celsius. "d*mn it, then!<>!" "<>!" <>! The three of them unleashed gravity magic. It''s a secret technique that multiplies gravity by 10 times and multiplies it by 1000 times. This is the secret of the <> clans. But <> is unperturbed. That is true. As Jin has discovered, since he can reduce his own weight to 1/1000, even if he is multiplied by 100 So, even if he is multiplied by a factor of 100, he is just back to his original weight. And for the first time <> exercises his magic. <<<>>> Gravity magic. If he can change his own weight, it stands to reason that he can cast it outward as well. "Ggh!" "Aaagh!" Most of the demons fell to the ground as they were suddenly hit with 10 times the gravity. The only ones who have not fallen are clan leader Bahrovsk and two others. Three of them were wielders of gravity magic. <. <<<>>> <> has further increased the strength of gravity magic. 20 times. Normally, one person can use only 10 times the strength of gravity magic. Lardus, with the help of Eladrite, was able to create gravity several thousand times stronger. ...... The three wielders also collapsed under the 20-fold increase in gravity. Seeing that all have fallen, <> begins to walk slowly. The remaining one, No. 3, finally gets up. <<<>>> No.3 is also hit by a gravity spell and falls down again. Its right leg is bent down, and it seems to be unable to keep its balance. With nothing standing in his way, <> walks slowly. He heads for the fallen demon. If trampled under its weight, the body of a living creature would be no match for it. Their lives would be reaped more easily than the crushing of overripe fruit. "G......!" Bafrosk feels helpless, unable to do anything. He came to Marcosias, who was lying right next to him, and slowly raised his right foot and brought it down on Marcosias''s head. "......!" Bafrosque closed his eyes. What he heard was a dull thud. It was not the sound of a creature being crushed, but the sound of a man stumbling and stomping on the ground. "?" Bafrosk opened his eyes and saw... A golem holding up a prone demon. And a fallen . It was the same type of golem that had held up the others. It was indeed the same golem that Jin had created, the one that had defeated 50 gargoyles the other day. And the one who toppled < was a small girl-shaped automata. Reiko, as we all know, hit it with her body. Why are they here? The answer is obvious. It was Jin who told us that this is where the base of No. 13 is located. However, they have outwitted Jin and are now in their own predicament, taking their own initiative to take revenge. Bafrosque could not understand why he had to save them. "Oh, you guys are ......." It was not a question for which he expected an answer. It was just a genuine question that came out of his mouth. Therefore, I was astonished at what the golem said and what it said. "The master has ordered us not to have any more deaths. 571 - - 17-20 Difference "What the hell ......?" I don''t understand Bafrosk. The demons would not think like that. If they attacked on their own, lost on their own, and were destroyed on their own, it was all Bafrosk''s fault. I could not understand why Jin would do something he was not asked to do. If BAHUROSK and the others were killed at this rate, there would be few demons who would not listen to Jin. This means that there will be no demon tribe that will act hostilely toward the human race. It would be in Jin''s best interest to leave them alone. But Jin sent his golem. "......Is this a human way of thinking ......?Or is it because ...... he is a magical engineer Magicraft Meister? ......" Lando and the others with Bafrosk and the others left the battlefield in a swift movement. In the blink of an eye, they were 500 meters away. The only ones left on the battlefield were Reiko, Anne, and Lando 11. It is only natural that one of them should remain. Meanwhile, Gargoyle No. 13 spoke through Gargoyle <> in an abhorrent tone. <<<>>> And the gravity magic is unleashed. But neither Reiko, Anne, nor Rand 11 are affected. < Reiko hits once more with her body as she speaks these words. This time with twice the power. > A weighing nearly 6 tons collides with a 30 kilogram Reiko. The Reiko of a while ago, whose skeleton was only adamantite, would have been defeated in strength, if not in force, by the adamantite mass of . But now Reiko has a skeleton of molecularly compressed hyper adamantite. The results were evenly matched. Reiko was bounced back by the weight difference, but <> also fell down. Reiko, on the other hand, held her ground. >? >> Reiko smiled and answered the question. "Because I was created by the world''s greatest father. But Reiko also knew that it would be somewhat troublesome to destroy <>, a mass of adamantite, by force. > With a shout, <> leaps into the sky. The altitude is about 10 meters. She can reach him by jumping, but since she has less freedom in the air, Reiko would prefer not to attack him directly. Then, Jin gives her an order. . Immediately Reiko activates the magic canceller in her bracelet. > Since the body lightened by gravity magic is made to float by wind magic, if the wind magic is nullified, the ...... result is a crash. With a heavy thud, <> crashes. < * * * * * * * * * * * * * Since it was still moving even after being hit by the magic canceller, Jin guessed that the metal used to make <> was not just adamantite, but <> or some other metal equivalent to it. He was unable to stop the magus reactor (magi reactor) which he believed to be inside the <. "If the shield effect against magic is also quite high, <> won''t work either. It seems unlikely that <> will be stopped unless he is killed by a single blow. However, it will repair itself with a little damage, and it will take time to physically destroy it. Unlike the immobile target, it would be troublesome. I can think of several possible moves, which makes me wonder which of them will be the decisive one. "If only there was a way to stop it from moving for ......2 seconds." Jin had a trick up his sleeve, but it was not a panacea. "No, wait...?" In this situation, Jin had a flash of inspiration. "...... adhesive ......" <. Now, Jin thinks about what materials could be used as an adhesive material, and is astonished to find that there are surprisingly few. Pre-vulcanized natural rubber, lacquer, rice grains, starch glue, glue, and pine resin. There is no coal tar because we have not yet found petroleum. "...... none of these are in very small quantities." <. After thinking about it, Jin has a further revelation. "Oh, right. We don''t have to stop him ......!" There are several dozen kilograms of pine tar in the inventory for finishing the wood. Scooping a handful out of it, Jin hurriedly prepared the magi crystals and wrote down the magi formula. "That''s it," he said. He had the old man transmit the formula to Reiko, who was in the middle of a battle. When Reiko received it, it was safe to say that the battle was decided. * * * * <, please buy me some time. The old man sent word to Reiko. Reiko immediately starts to do it. < cannot move as fast as Reiko because of the same kind of magic as , even if it is fast. So Reiko used her speed to attack from front and back, left and right, and up and down. <. She does not use enough force to cut off his arms and legs, but she inflicts many wounds, and <> has to spend time and magic power to repair them. > warns Reiko that it must be difficult to repair a cut off arm or leg because it is a < type. Five minutes passed. < at a distance, receives a magic tool prepared by Jin. < I understand." Reiko, who had output 50 percent, stuck her magic tool on his back without being caught by , took a distance in an instant, and chanted the magic key word (key word). "<>" Yes, Jin made a boundary bomb. One of Jin''s most powerful weapons. It is an extremely powerful weapon that compresses even the magi adamantite. has no joints, and can therefore reach the ward bomb attached to his back. She attempted to remove the bomb with her physical abilities, but it was too much for the sightless and tactile . Reiko''s speed was much faster than <>''s reaction time. Long before <>''s fingers touched the explosive, the explosive, responding to the key word, began to operate. First, it creates a spherical super-strong ward with a radius of about 2 meters. Then, at the next instant, the field begins to contract at a tremendous rate. The field, which traps only solids while allowing air molecules to escape, grows even stronger as it shrinks. The force is such that even the Magi adamantite is deformed. The humanoid , unable to resist the tremendous force, is compressed. When compressed to one-tenth of its original volume, the compression process ends with the collapse of the magical crystal (magicrystal) that had created the boundary. The humanoid <> was transformed into a spherical metallic mass when the boundary disappeared. Naturally, its internal control core has also collapsed, and it is no longer able to move. Jin has obtained a block of nearly six tons of magi-adamantite, or rather hyper-adamantite. No one can hear < any more. < had become a mere hunk of metal. "......" "What was that?What just happened?" Bafflosk and the others can''t believe their eyes and can''t believe that <> has turned into a lump of metal in no time at all. Reiko, Lando, and the others have not yet let their guard down. Only Anne addresses them. "It''s the Goshujin-sama''s power. But don''t worry. The Goshujin would never use his power for his own desires. This was said with a hint of sarcasm, but Bafrosque and Marcosias listened in silence. "And if such a thing should happen, we will do our best to warn you against it. "......That''s what a Magecraft Meister is, isn''t it? ...... while we are ......." For the first time, Bafrosque had a chance to reflect on his own situation. 572 - - 17-21 Will By the way, the location of the base of No. 13 was known one day before BAHUROSK and his group fought against . This was the result of analyzing the communication device. And < had started to invade the base of No.13 at that time. There were no traps and no security network as in the case of <, and he reached the floor where No.13 was located in a somewhat short time. (There is a possibility that it is a trap to lure us in, so we cannot be too careful.) Lao Tzu is always cautious. He brings out the finger golem and analyzes the structure of the surroundings. (It seems to be the location of No.13 in about 10 meters.) The built-in magic detector (magi-detector) can detect the approximate direction and distance. Again, the passageway is an air-conditioning pipe. <, the cross-sections of these pipes are round. <, the designer may have been different. Although the homunculus needed to breathe, it was able to take this kind of infiltration route. (...... air is stagnant, isn''t it?) Last time, the air in the base of <> was clean because it was ventilated. However, the air in the air-conditioning pipe where Lao Tzu is now is stagnant and not suitable for breathing. This is not a problem for Lao Tzu, since he does not need to breathe, but it is too much of a problem for living creatures. (Too little information. Now we have to go on). And so the Lao Tzu moved one centimeter by one centimeter through the air-conditioning pipe. After more than 10 hours, the Lao Tzu arrived at the point he wanted to reach. In other words, he arrived at the room No. 13. What he saw there was something that even Lao Tzu did not expect. (...... What in the world is that?) < was in. A white bed in the center of the room. And there was a human figure tied to it. No, it was not tied to the bed. There was a magical device attached to it that worked like an intravenous drip tube, an electrocardiogram monitor, and an electroencephalogram monitor ....... It looked as if many magic wires were growing out of the human figure. (...... life support system?) Using the knowledge I had gained from Jin, I concluded that this was what I saw. (If so, is No.13 in bad shape ...... or is it dying?) Lao Tzu continued his multi-faceted observation using the finger golem''s vision. During the 10 hours of observation, No. 13 made only a slight movement. He did not eat or defecate at all. However, it seems that a homunculus does not need to do so. They are speaking through a magi-machine attached to their throats. When examined with the finger golem''s hearing, it is exactly the same as <>''s line. In other words, there is no doubt that <> is controlled by No.13. (But with this debilitating condition, ......) What looks like an intravenous drip is probably a liquid containing free magic element (ether). It seems to be less effective than the restorative potion that Jin had made. The line extending from his head was supposed to be used to transmit orders to the facilities of this base. (...... will it not be long now?) also mentioned that it was nearing the end of its life. It would not be surprising if the operation limit of the lesser <, No.13, would come sooner than that. (Although it is possible that the homunculus, which has been in operation for thousands of years, may still be in operation for a few decades, if not longer. Lao Tzu is not an optimist to expect them to stop working. (We need to make sure there is nothing that will start moving after No. 13 is gone before we can rest easy.) So far, Lao Tzu has investigated about 60% of the sites, and the remaining 40% are still uninvestigated. The remaining 40% has not been surveyed. The unexamined area is further down the hierarchy, where there seems to be an important facility for some reason. This is not based on intuition, but rather on the structure of the facilities and the arrangement of the magi machines. The air-conditioning pipes are not located below this point, though.) Conversely, there is no need for ventilation, or the building has an independent ventilation system. Even a magi-machine generates some heat, and it is hard to imagine that there is no ventilation system, considering its installation and maintenance, so it probably has an independent ventilation system. (If so, it is a very important facility.) Both of the bases owned by <> have already been investigated by the RAND team. The one in the north, which was supposed to be the headquarters, was merely large and had no important facilities. (How could there not be a facility to produce that many gargoyles? Maybe it''s in the basement here ......). If so, it would not be surprising if there is a magical brain like << Laojun> for maintenance and management. That is the reason why Lao Tzu is so cautious. Then came the turning point. "Gah, ah, ah..." For the first time, No.13 uttered a cry of anguish. It happened at the same time that <> was destroyed by a boundary bomb. (Is this a reversal of sensory sharing through ...... connection?) <> is a phenomenon named by Laojun. When you control Laozi, the mobile terminal, you should be able to recognize both you who are controlling and you who are being controlled. < If this duality becomes one, it has the advantage of natural and quick manipulation, but it also has the disadvantage of feeling the impact of the manipulation. To give a simple example, if you are <>, there is no problem if you are aware of both sides. If you are aware of both parties, there is no problem. However, if you are <> with the other, it is necessary to quickly detach yourself from the sensation. If not, you will receive a rather large information shock ...... or, in human terms, a <>. This is basically the same for the controlled by Jin. Although many countermeasures have been taken to prevent such a situation from occurring, the 13th below was shocked by the information. No. 13 below was shocked by this information. <>, which he was riding on, was destroyed by the ward bomb, he felt as if he were compressed and crushed because he was late in disconnecting. Although <<> would not have had any sense of touch, it seems that it was still a great damage to the weakened No.13. The weakened No. 13 had expired. It is not clear what will happen now that No. 13 has been shut down. Lao Tzu exited the air-conditioning pipe where he had been hiding and got off. In front of him was the motionless No. 13. The close observation of No. 13 reveals its weakened state even more clearly. The skin is more flaccid and cracked than that of No. 001. The skeletal structure of its arms is distorted, as are its legs. The organs corresponding to the internal organs must have been considerably damaged, judging from the connected magic power lines. < No sentimentality. They just recognize the facts and decide what to do based on the future predictions derived from the facts. And it happens suddenly. A slight magical vibration, which is not perceptible to an ordinary human being, occurs and Lao Tzu knows that something has started to move underground. Probably as a result of detecting the shutdown of No. 13. <> The answer came immediately. What art thou? A voice was heard in the ultrasonic range of about 30,000 hertz, inaudible to the human ear. Lao Kun immediately recognized the voice that Lao Tzu''s ears caught as coming from the same kind of magical brain as his own. Yes. I ask you again. Who are you? Laojun replied in the mouth of Lao Tzu. Laojun: ....... I have no name. You may call me <>. <, what is your raison d''etre? >> To carry on the legacy of my creator. <> It''s defined as revenge. It seems to be the will of the maker. > The being lying in the room where you are, he had the distinguished name of No. 13. It seems that the underground magic brain was also made by No. 13. And it seems that after his death, he intends to continue his will to destroy the demon tribe and the human race. The old man thought about how to prevent this. 573 - - 17-22 Settlement (New) (The biggest concern is the "Aether Stampede" bomb.) It is natural to think that they still have the means to cause an "ether stampede". It is possible to destroy the magic brain that calls itself <> here. However, in that case, if the "Aether Stampede" is triggered on a global scale, Jin''s life will be in danger at worst. In any case, it seems that can be triggered in less than one second. It would take several seconds to a dozen seconds to attack and destroy the underground , even with the lasers of the air force. If they activate "Aether Stampede" during that time, there is no way to prevent it. They do not know where and how many Aether Stampede bombs are in the area. And <> will not hesitate to trigger the Aether Stampede. Even if he knew it would be the end of himself. (Stall for time, and neutralize <> in the meantime, that''s all we can do.) The old man, who has put together his plan in less than a second, says no to Jin. "Yes?...... got it. Permission granted." Jin saw the urgency in the old man''s face and gave his permission. He took a serious look at the situation and decided that hesitation was not a good idea. The old man then had a meeting with Reiko. It was done through the manacam, and the exchange was so fast that it was inaudible to human beings. "I understand." Reiko went through the warp gate of Capricorn 1, returned to Horai Island, and was transferred to the base of No.13 where Laojin was by the transporter again. At the same time, Lao Ji was stalling for time against . > The maker''s former master. <> It can''t be. There must be at least a few of them on earth. <> I can tell by its appearance. A life form that looks like you. <> Yes. > > I know. A living being is a breathing, warm, fragile body. Lao Tzu realizes that there is a sensor somewhere in the room that can observe him. It is only natural, since he also had to check on No. 13. <> Yes. <> Yes. <> <> Yes. Here the "Mere Old Man" decides to play a trick. , isn''t it? >> That''s right. <> Then what do you want me to do? It took you, the old man thought. < Conditions? > I see. < That''s not true. I am fully capable. You should be. After all, my creator made me that way. < <> I can follow it. <> Yes, I am. I cannot allow you to underestimate my maker''s ability. With his sophistry, the old man has succeeded in leading ''s thoughts in the direction he wants them to go. <''s processing power was not enough to see through his intentions in the limited time available. <>? >> Yes, I do. Fine grains of rocks and minerals are sand. A large accumulation of them is a sand mountain. <<> Of course it is. <> That''s right. > What do you mean? <> What ...... is ...... This is a paradox called the Sandpile Paradox. Jin happened to have seen it on the Internet, and the old man had inherited the knowledge. .................. < is busy with internal processing, Reiko is transferred to Lao Tzu''s side. "Reiko, we are in the basement." "Yes, sir." With that exchange, Reiko swung a peach blossom at the floor. 2 times, 3 times. Two times, three times. ...... and ten times. A square hole opened up. It was dark behind the hole. But Lao Tzu and Reiko could see what was there. "I''m going in." Without hesitation, Reiko jumped into the hole in the floor. < was still thinking. The floor was about 10 meters below. Reiko lands without a hitch and looks into the darkness. There was a dull silver cylinder. It was about one meter in diameter and one meter high. This is the body of the . Reiko points a magic canceller at it and irradiates it. Almost at the same time, the head is silenced. "Reiko, it seems to have worked. Lao Tzu came down and came up next to her. "Let''s destroy it before it reboots. Reiko couldn''t stand the thought of what would happen to Jin in case the Aether Stampede was triggered. As soon as the irradiation was stopped, she stepped forward and swung Momoka through the air at 50 percent output. The cylinder, which seemed to be made of light silver, could offer no more resistance than paper, exposing its interior. "Hm...... master (Mylord) is more skilled than you, even as a magic brain." Lao Tzu, peering into the interior, mutters. "Because your father is the best in the world." Reiko answered the Lao Tzu''s muttering, grabbing the magi crystal placed inside and crushing it in her hand. The old man was not moved at all by this sudden end. Neither, of course, did Reiko. "Now the will never move again, will it?" "Yes, indeed." Reiko destroyed the control core. With this, the has been completely neutralized. "We will retrieve the memory devices and analyze them later." Lao Tzu decided to call in the Land troops on the ground. * * * * "...... what''s going on?" The demons were not able to keep up with the developments from the ward bomb. The land troops line up and jump into the hole in the earth''s surface. Reiko, who had been conspicuous because of her mismatched appearance, is somehow out of sight, which increases the degree of confusion. At that time, Reiko jumped out of the hole and said "Everyone, the danger is over. Even after being told this, the demons were still more confused. (Old) (The biggest concern is the Aether Stampede bomb.) It is natural to think that they still have the means to cause an "ether stampede". It is possible to destroy the magic brain that calls itself <> here. However, in that case, if the "Aether Stampede" is triggered on a global scale, Jin''s life will be in danger at worst. In any case, it seems that can be triggered in less than one second. It would take several seconds to a dozen seconds to attack and destroy the underground , even with the lasers of the air force. If they activate "Aether Stampede" during that time, there is no way to prevent it. They do not know where and how many Aether Stampede bombs are in the area. And <> will not hesitate to trigger the Aether Stampede. Even if he knew it would be the end of himself. (Stall for time, and neutralize <> in the meantime, that''s all we can do.) The old man, who has put together his plan in less than a second, says no to Jin. "Yes?...... got it. Permission granted." Jin saw the urgency in the old man''s face and gave his permission. He took a serious look at the situation and decided that hesitation was not a good idea. The old man then had a meeting with Reiko. It was done through the manacam, and the exchange was so fast that it was inaudible to human beings. "I understand." Reiko went through the warp gate of Capricorn 1, returned to Horai Island, and was transferred to the base of No.13 where Laojin was by the transporter again. At the same time, Lao Ji was stalling for time against . > The maker''s former master. <> It can''t be. There must be at least a few of them on earth. <> I can tell by its appearance. A life form that looks like you. <> Yes. > > I know. A living being is a breathing, warm, fragile body. Lao Tzu realizes that there is a sensor somewhere in the room that can observe him. It is only natural, since he also had to check on No. 13. <> Yes. <> Yes. <> <> Yes. Here the "Mere Old Man" decides to play a trick. , isn''t it? >> That''s right. <> Then what do you want me to do? It took you, the old man thought. < Conditions? > I see. < That''s not true. I am fully capable. You should be. After all, my creator made me that way. < <> I can follow it. <> Yes, I am. I will not allow you to underestimate my maker''s ability. With his sophistry, the old man has succeeded in leading ''s thoughts in the direction he wants them to go. <''s processing power was not enough to see through his intentions within the limited time available. <> < <<> ............ This is a kind of logical paradox, also called the devil''s question. Jin happened to have seen it on the Internet, and the old man had inherited the knowledge. <> .................. (while you are at it) < is busy with internal processing, Reiko is transferred to Lao Tzu''s side. "Reiko, we are in the basement. "Yes, sir." With that exchange, Reiko swung a peach blossom at the floor. 2 times, 3 times. Two times, three times. ...... and ten times. A square hole opened up. It was dark behind the hole. But Lao Tzu and Reiko could see what was there. "I''m going in." Without hesitation, Reiko jumped into the hole in the floor. < was still thinking. The floor was about 10 meters below. Reiko lands without a hitch and looks into the darkness. There was a dull silver cylinder. It was about one meter in diameter and one meter high. This is the body of the . Reiko points a magic canceller at it and irradiates it. Almost at the same time, the head is silenced. "Reiko, it seems to have worked. Lao Tzu came down and came up next to her. "Let''s destroy it before it reboots. Reiko couldn''t stand the thought of what would happen to Jin in case the Aether Stampede was triggered. As soon as the irradiation was stopped, she stepped forward and swung Momoka through the air at 50 percent output. The cylinder, which seemed to be made of light silver, could offer no more resistance than paper, exposing its interior. "Hm...... master (Mylord) is more skilled than you, even as a magic brain." Lao Tzu, peering into the interior, mutters. "Because your father is the best in the world." Reiko answered the Lao Tzu''s muttering, grabbing the magi crystal placed inside and crushing it in her hand. The old man was not moved at all by this sudden end. Neither, of course, did Reiko. "Now the will never move again, will it?" "Yes, indeed." Reiko destroyed the control core. With this, the has been completely neutralized. "We will retrieve the memory devices and analyze them later." Lao Tzu decided to call in the Land troops on the ground. * * * * "...... what''s going on?" The demons were not able to keep up with the developments from the ward bomb. The land troops line up and jump into the hole in the earth''s surface. Reiko, who had been conspicuous because of her mismatched appearance, is somehow out of sight, which increases the degree of confusion. At that time, Reiko jumped out of the hole and said "Everyone, the danger is over. Even after being told this, the demons were still more confused. 574 - - 17-23 Processing The sky was already darkening, but there was still one matter of concern for the Bafrodskis. It was the matter of Donaisia. "......I hate to tell you this, but four members of our clan are missing. Do you know anything about this?" Bafrosk to Reiko in a much softer manner. "There seems to be a small base about ten kilometers south of here. Isn''t it there?" Donasia and the three men who had followed her were still missing. Ten kilometers is a distance that can be covered in no time by those who can strengthen their bodies. The militants arrived at the site in about 15 minutes. "There''s nothing here. ......" Under an ever-darkening sky, nothing is to be seen in the gray-brown wilderness. And then... "What''s this?" Reiko, who had no choice but to follow Jin''s orders, found something on the ground and picked it up. It was a piece of Magi Crystal. It is something that should not be in a wilderness like this. "It''s a fragment of a transition marker, isn''t it?" "What does ...... mean?" Bahrovsk thought about it, but did not seem to understand what it meant. "It means that the four missing persons could have been taken by the metastasis." "How can that be?" Bafrosk asked Reiko, not being good at such speculations. Reiko gave a small shrug and explained. "...... Someone has targeted this transfer marker, and abducted the four of them. The marker is destroyed and the four are taken away. In doing so, he destroyed the marker. Can you understand me if I say ......?" This time he understood. Bafrosk nodded. "I see, I see. So where are we going to go? "As far as we know, there are three possible destinations. There were only two unaccounted for transfer markers left in the demon territory. One is in an unidentified location 300 kilometers to the north and the other is in the mountains 50 kilometers to the northwest. (The remaining one is the location where the recovered markers were collected.) "The most likely location is 300 km north. That was the base of ." "300 kilometers or ......" < clans, and is a small point across a mountain range. It''s a distance that would make even the most radical of them hesitate. "It won''t happen today. We''ll take care of it, won''t we?" It was Anne who said that. "The master will be here soon." True to her word, Capricorn 1 was in the distance. Baphlosk and the other demons greeted Capricorn 1 and Jin with some awe. "I see, the four missing people are ......." Jin (<>), who had just arrived and got out of Capricorn 1, checked the situation and made a thoughtful gesture. "<> Belialus is also concerned about his missing sister. And then there''s ...... Lardus?" So far, there are six missing demons. "First of all, we have to go 300 kilometers to the north. <, <> clan leader Bafrosk questions. "Mister Jin, I have a question." What is it? "I heard that you said that there should be no more deaths. Bafrozek still did not understand Jin''s idea. "Yes, but so what?" "......It''s a way of thinking that we don''t understand." "...... I see." Again, Jin () showed a little thoughtful gesture. "......I''m not good at explaining things like that, so it may be hard to understand, but in the end I only did it because I thought it would be good for me." "......?" Bafrosque is amused by this sudden metaphysical discussion. "My idea of peace ...... is that I only did it because I thought it was a shortcut to a peaceful life." "......" Still, Bafrosk didn''t seem to get it. "My personal feeling is that I hate murderers. Even if we destroy the demon tribe and find peace, I think I''ll still feel depressed." He may not be depressed at all, but he is the one who chose the right words to express his feelings. "Besides, there is the advantage of getting along with them and acquiring various materials through trade." "I can understand that. "It seems that you are also studying human beings, but human beings are individuals with large differences. The greater the number, the greater the differences. You should know that it is not enough to study ten or twenty people to get a grasp of the situation. Bafrosque shook his head, as if he understood what was being said. "I see. I''ll keep that in mind." "I''ll keep that in mind," he said, "and after all that, in the end I just thought it was the best thing to do. I can''t explain it any better than that. "Well, ......, I''m convinced." With that, Bafrosque withdrew from the conversation. The stars were already twinkling in the sky. Jin declared again. "I''m going north on Capricorn 1. I want you all to go back to your places of residence and wait for me." "...... reluctantly, but okay. I''ll wait for you." Reluctantly, Bafrosque nodded. "I will follow you." That line was Belialus. I''m following you here on Capricorn 1 to see if I can find any clues about my sister," he said. "And I know Donatia''s face. I think I can be of some help. Since they had been working together, it was hard for Jin to refuse, "Yes, Jin-dono, please do that. Bafrosk also asked him to do so. "Okay. Let''s go." So Capricorn 1 with Jin, Reiko, Anne, Belial, and Land 1 set off for the north in the dark. * * * * * Lao Tzu, on the other hand, was heading northwest alone. He decided to start from the nearest place. He drove at the speed of about 100 km/h for 30 minutes. He came to the foot of the mountain that rises before the mountain range. We searched around the area and found three holes that were probably for air-conditioning. < Lao Tzu muttered to no one and looked into the holes. Lao Tzu switches to infrared and observes. After an hour of probing, he finds nothing wrong, and decides to go in. Using the gravity-controlled magic device, I reduce my weight by a factor of 10 and jump into the hole. Since the hole is not vertical but at an angle of about 80 degrees, I was able to kill the speed of my fall by rubbing my hands on the wall. The hole made an upward bend in the shape of a V, perhaps to prevent the inflow of rain, and then headed downward again. After about 20 meters, the hole ended and Lao Tzu was standing on the hard floor. She turned off her gravity-controlled magic device, returned to her original weight, and observed her surroundings while deploying her barrier and invisibility. . The large hall-like room was empty and deserted. If you look closely, you can see only fragments of magecrystals and metal shavings lying around. In the center of the floor, a shallowly buried transition marker is found. Lao Tzu retrieves it as well. . Lao Tzu uses the gravity control device again, lightens his weight, kicks the floor, and runs back the way he came. 575 - - 17-24 The Guardian 10 hours at 20 km/h. He ate meals and slept on the way. The time difference from Penglai Island is about 3.5 hours, and Jin himself also slept. During that time, the old man is in charge of the operation of the . However, since pretended to be asleep during that time, there was not much for the old man to do. Early in the morning of the 12th, Capricorn 1 had reached the vicinity of its destination. "Well, it should be somewhere around here..." he said. I look around from the cabin. All around us were blue-gray rocks slightly covered with lichen. In front of us is a 20-meter-high rock wall. "Well, the Magi Detector..." There was a response about 50 meters to the right, underground. 4......, no, there are five. "There should be four missing. ...... If it''s Alshell?" Belialus says hopefully. Jin, who was operating the at the time, thought it was unlikely, but did not say so. "Then the entrance would be..." At that moment, the ground shook slightly. As Jin and the others prepared themselves for what was about to happen, the rock wall in front of them collapsed, revealing a two-meter tall golem. "Golem!" "...... guardian, I guess." Compared to the , it seems like it would be no problem in terms of the total amount of mana it possesses. However, Jin, wanting to take a closer look at the new type of enemy golem, activates his Magic Canceller. Next, he activated the ether jammer. This means that the mana possessed by the enemy golem can be forced to be converted back into free magic element (ether), and furthermore, by taking control of the free magic element (ether), the enemy golem''s movement can be completely blocked. Seeing the golem stopped, Jin had another idea. "It would be good to combine a magic canceller and an ether jammer," he thought. And. Jin has Reiko and Anne keep an eye on the area to see if there are any more attacks. At the same time, he has them search for an entrance. Jin () and Anne () start to investigate the immobilized golem. Jin quickly disassembles the golem''s chest. "Hmmm... the Magi Reactor uses long crystals at both ends, doesn''t it? I don''t care how efficient it is, it''s a waste of Magi Crystals ......." If you use twin crystals like Jin does, you can increase efficiency and save Magi Crystals. "I see, so no muscle tissue. Letting the surplus of mana to do the < ......, or is that not quite right?" Jin realized that although it was a < system, it was a different type of magic formula. That was the only difference from the enemy gargoyles he had examined last time. "Hmmm, and ...... I see. <." It would be better to say that it is a < for the purpose of forming. Jin thought that Stearina would be pleased if he taught it to her. After having investigated the technology that the <> seemed to be using, Jin asked her, "What do you think? "How''s it going?Did you find the entrance? asked Reiko and the others. "Yes, there''s a passageway behind the golem that seems to be for maintenance. It is small, but I think I can manage to get through. I''ll go check it out first. Reiko reported briefly and stepped into the maintenance passage. The passage is so narrow that Reiko can barely pass through. < could barely pass through. Without any particular trap, Reiko was able to reach the inside. It also seemed to be a warehouse of materials. Some Magi Crystals and Light Silver were stored there. There was a small room further in the back. When I opened the door while activating the magic canceller to prevent the trap from being triggered, I found what I was aiming for: ...... four missing demons were lying there. Next to them was a golem about two meters tall. It seems to have carried the four. When the golem found Reiko, it leapt at her. Reiko intercepted the golem and lightly pushed it away, and it broke apart. "...... too fragile. ......" Reiko shrugged her shoulders as she looked at the pieces of the enemy golem, which were so beautifully disintegrated that she couldn''t even get Jin to examine them. She had no choice but to keep some of the remaining pieces of the control core and its parts, hoping that Jin would be able to figure out what was going on with them. With no other rooms and nothing of interest to be found, Reiko calls Anne and decides to remove the four men from the room. However, there was no other passageway, and it was unlikely that Anne could get through. This meant that the demons would not be able to get through either. "......What should we do? Reiko pondered for a while what would be the best way. "Shall we widen the passage? Reiko could use engineering magic too, even if she was no match for Jin. And being with Jin, she was following his example in its use. "<>" Originally, it is an earth magic to dig a hole, but Jin uses it for civil engineering works such as digging a hot spring or an underground mineral vein. Reiko imitated this and used it to expand the current passage. "It''s only for the time it takes to carry them out, so there''s no need for <>. Reiko then called Anne over. "You wanted to see me, miss?" "Yes, I need your help to carry out the demon. Reiko and Anne took two of the demons who seemed to be unconscious in their arms, and went out to the front door at a quick pace. I lay him down on a sheet and let him lie there. Since the cause of his fainting was unknown, I decided to apply only a light to him. "And then, there were some magi crystals and light silver inside..." "Oh, I see. ....... Can you bring them out?" I''ll take it as a trophy. As Reiko was about to turn around and go back inside, Berrius called out to her. "...... Reiko, was there no one else in the house?" "Yes, no one." Reiko paused for a moment, and then returned to the back of the aisle. Anne followed her. When she came out, she brought out dozens of Magi crystals and two ingots of light silver weighing about 50 kilograms. "Thanks for your hard work." Jin (<>) simply labored and had them taken to the warehouse of Capricorn 1. There was plenty of space since only about a quarter of the food they had brought with them was left. "Also, I found a transfer marker, so I retrieved it. Now we can say that we are done with this base. "uu......" The demons who had been unconscious woke up. What is this ...... place? I think they were chasing after Donaisia. ...... Are you Belialus? The three who had followed Donatia woke up first. Belialus briefly explained the situation to them. "What?You mean you''ve already taken care of everything?" "Jin-dono?Hmmm... ......" "Speaking of which, what happened to Doneitia? The Donatia still hasn''t woken up. "I remember now. It was Doneitia who knocked us out. It was as if someone was controlling her. It was like Donatia was a changed person. "Perhaps she was being manipulated by someone." Jin checked up on Donatia, but did not find an agucha. He then asked Belialus about it. "Zion told me that when a person is subjected to a brainwashing spell, his emotions disappear, didn''t he? "Yes, that is correct. So it seems that Donaisia was not manipulated by magic. But Jin knows. He knows that normal knowledge transfer (trans-info) does not work on demons, and he knows why. (Maybe the frequency has been raised...) Jin knows that the normal knowledge transfer (trans-info) does not work on demons and why. (Perhaps, the <> slavery magic with higher frequency might work. That would explain why the feelings have not disappeared.) Just when Jin had that idea, Donaisia''s eyes opened. "U...... this is ...... you guys!" Her eyes are full of hostility as she gazes anxiously at her friends, the <> clansmen. It seems they are still being manipulated, Jin thought. "Don''t underestimate me!" Donecia jumped back about five meters. "<>! She then unleashes a gravity spell. But it has no effect. "Why?" Reiko released a magijammer. It has the effect of making the chanting ineffective and preventing the magic from being activated. Then Reiko attacked further. "<>" "Kyaaa! If it is the same as in the case of a human, she should now be free from <> slavery magic. "Let''s tie him up just in case: ......" I tie him up with a rope made from the threads of a ground spider and cast <> on him. "uu......" Donaisia recovered from the paralysis and opened her eyes. "Huh?Why am I tied up? "Donecia, are you healed?" Donasia, do you understand us? "Jin-dono, what do you call ......?" The three demons seemed to have some respect for Jin, who had so easily cured Donasia from her state of servitude. Then, Donasia told them that the person who had been controlling her, or rather brainwashing her with servitude magic, was . It was probably the golem destroyed by Reiko that used the transfer magic to knock her and the three demons unconscious and carry them into the underground warehouse. The reason for this judgment is that it would have been impossible without the use of transfer magic. In this sense, Jin thought it was a pity that they were so dismembered that it was impossible to analyze them. And this time, the group was getting ready to leave. 576 - - 17-25 All Clan Conference No irregularities were found, including aerial observation and detection of magical forces. <''s memory and the control core of the golem guarding the place where the four demons were abducted, there are no more left. However, the reason why 001 and 13 survived among the discarded negative dolls could not be determined. It also remains unclear what they intended to do with the four people, including Donatia, after abducting them. Thus, although there are still some mysteries, the case involving the "negative dolls" has been settled. On September 12, a whole month had already passed since I came to the territory of the demon tribe. It was time to move on. The crisis of war had been averted and the food problem of the demon tribe had been solved. The threat of the Negador, who hated mankind and the demons and wanted to exterminate them, was also eliminated. He was able to establish friendly relations with most of the clans. This was a satisfactory result for Jin. However, there is one person who is not satisfied yet. "......Alchel......" It was Belial who could not find his sister. He is worried about his younger sister. "Perhaps she is still on the Laurentian continent." When Jin made a guess, Belialus nodded his head emphatically. "......Maybe you''re right." "I''m going back to the Laurentian continent soon. I''ll keep you in mind when I do. Archelle is strong in her own way, isn''t she?I''m sure he''ll be fine." But Belial shook his head weakly. "Looking at Jin-dono, I wondered what it means to be strong. ......" With this exchange, Jin and the others returned to the residence of the clan. Of course, they were accompanied by Donaisia, who had come to her senses, and the three demons who had been chasing her. "Oh, Doneitia!" Bafrosque''s joy was palpable. After all, there were only 20 members left in the clan. "Excuse me, clan leader, I''m ......." Donaisia explained the situation. Bafrosque listened in silence, then patted Donaisia on the shoulder as she crouched down and said, "Don''t worry about it. "I think we all have to change our way of thinking. I''m the same way. So don''t worry about it. "Clan leader ......?" "We have to think about the future. Jin-dono has offered to help us, but..." Donaisia rolled her eyes at the clan leader''s attitude. Donaisia was more concerned about the clan leader''s attitude, because Bafrosque had said something that seemed to indicate that he was concerned about the clansmen. "This has made me think a little bit," he said. I don''t want to be enemies with the Magecraft Meister, regardless of how he thinks about people. Bafrosk did not say that he owed them a great debt. Fortunately or unfortunately, the population of the militants has decreased, so there are no more food problems for the militant camp for the time being. At any rate, the number of militants has been reduced from about 400 to about 270. The current stockpile should be enough for the end of the year. And by that time, the harvest of buckwheat should be completed. * * * * * * * * * * * "...... So, is the division of labor between agriculture, farming, hunting, fishing, and mining all in order?" "No objections." "Yes, that''s fine." That''s fine. I have no problem with that. Three days later, the memorable first meeting of all the clans was held. It was held in the neutralist, <> settlement. The all-clans meeting is a meeting of representatives from all clans, moderate, neutral, and radical. It was chaired by . In this meeting, the roles of each clan were decided. This meeting was realized because all the clans recognized that they were one community of destiny. (In that sense, I wonder if it can be said that was also helpful. Jin, who was attending the meeting as an observer, was lost in emotion on Horai Island. (If he were a human of the earth, he would not have changed his attitude so frankly. ...... Is it because he is aware of the fact that he is a demon tribe, or because his population is small?) I don''t have any idea about that. But the important thing is the result. (At least, the fact that they no longer have the will to invade the human race is in line with the original purpose.) "There was a village called Kaina." The familiar word wakes Jin from his reverie. "There, all the villagers formed a community." The one who is speaking now is, to his surprise, Zion. "The fields are managed by the whole village. The harvest was distributed equally ...... no, fairly." What is the difference between equality and fairness? Zion answered in the affirmative. Equality is just dividing 20 people into 20 equal parts. But that means you get the same whether you work or not, right?That''s not good enough." Zion was a dedicated student. And it showed. "Fairness is based on the amount of work you''ve done and the composition of your family. The amount of money to be distributed is adjusted according to such factors. And it is the head''s role to make sure that there is no dissatisfaction. The explanation was reasonably easy to understand, despite the wording. The attendees seemed to be interested in what he was saying, and more than anything else, he was able to spark a sense of rivalry in a positive way, as if to say, "If humans can do it, why can''t we do it? Jin was further surprised by something. "......The agricultural golem that Jin-dono made for us..." Jin wondered. The man speaking was Bardius, the clan leader of Morira, Zion''s grandfather. "I would like to jointly manage it as the property of the entire demon tribe. A stir spread through the room. That is true. Golems are property. Especially one created by Jin, it is comparable to an ancient relic (artifact). "The reason is simple. I want to prevent corruption. Baldius stopped the murmurs of those in attendance with a hand and continued. The golem is indeed a wonderful thing. We can reap the harvest without doing anything. But <> is a double-edged sword. Some of the demons nodded, as if they understood what he meant. "What is gained without work is treated lightly. And if you lose the will to work, the corruption begins. Bardius explained in a very persuasive manner. After 15 minutes of long speeches, the participants unanimously accepted Bardius'' opinion. (Great ...... man of the earth, perhaps even mankind of this world would not think of such a thing.) Humans and demons. Biologically they are the same species, but their mentality seems to be different. Zion said that he would follow the example of the village of Kaina, but Jin wanted to make Bardius'' words be heard by the rulers of each country. Three representatives each from the moderate, neutral, and radical factions will be appointed, making a total of nine members in the council. It was even decided that the chairman would be a member of the clan. This was also a proposal from Zion. He had read it in a book in Nido Castle. (Old man, what kind of books do you make? ......) Jin was both impressed and a little bit stunned. Obviously, this system is not adopted in other countries in this world. No, perhaps that is why the demon tribe, who has a sense of rivalry against the human race, adopted it. "Then, do you have any objection that from the next time, we will have a discussion to consider our future in such a way? A murmur of "no objection" echoes through the room. There seems to be no objection. Jin, an observer, wonders if we should learn from their solidarity in this regard. "We don''t expect to be able to erase our resentment and hatred toward humans anytime soon," said Jin, an observer. But we must be aware that we must not be so foolish as to make a fool of ourselves by starting a war without a second thought. Surprisingly, such words came out of the mouth of the militant < Bafrosque. "But I don''t think we will be able to make friends with the humans anytime soon," he said. I think we should start by making a pact with the Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono. No objections. "No objections." Again, this was unanimously accepted. Jin is a little tickled. He then asks Jin for a list of specialties, such as leather of magical beasts and magi crystals, as items to be exchanged for seasonings and rare foodstuffs. It is decided to meet at least once a year to confirm the agreement. I was surprised to hear that they asked me if they could borrow or give me a copy of a book that Zion had read. Jin''s impression was that many of the < clansmen have a strong desire for knowledge, and have a good memory and understanding of things. Thus, an agreement was made between the demon tribe and Jin, although it was still very tentative. "And then there''s that missing Lardus guy. ......" Bafrosk muttered in a whisper after the meeting was over and the clans had disbanded. 577 - - 17-26 Silent Story 31 Mole Finds On August 4, a magi-machine for underground exploration, <>, began its exploration of the Inado Mine. The <> resembles a shield machine used for digging tunnels on modern Earth, and is cylindrical in shape, with a diameter of 2 meters and a length of 3 meters. It can dig in two ways: by using the < tool or by using a chip made of hyperadamantite. The excavated soil is discharged to the surface by a transporter. With sonar and magi-detectors, they dig while searching for foreign objects in the ground. This is to avoid missing valuable deposits. The holes they dig are covered with magic to prevent them from falling down. It was inevitable that the digging speed would be slow as they searched for deposits. All we know is that there was an unfamiliar magical tool when a gigantopod once crawled out of the ground. Before we could confirm its use, the cave-in occurred and everything was buried. While digging out some zinc ore, <>, the mole was going underground. August 12, 50 meters underground. Some arsenopyrite (sulfide mineral of arsenic and iron) and pyrite were found. August 21, 100 meters below ground. Mining of olivine. September 1, 150 meters below ground. Pomegranite was found. On September 9, 200 meters below ground. This is the depth where the gigantopod crawled out. The mole dug more carefully. "There''s something in there." < "It is a broken magical tool. I think it was crushed by the falling rock." Craftsman (Smith)3 carefully digs out the grimoire as instructed by the Master, changes the setting of the transporter, and sends it out. He then digs further. On September 10, the <> hit a hollow at about 220 meters below ground. "What is this place?" It seemed to be about a kilometer deep and more than 300 meters wide. From the floor to the ceiling, it was about 20 meters, making it a large cavern. However, it was clearly man-made. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all unnaturally flat. Craftsman (Smith)3 reported to the old man. He replied that he should examine the space in detail, and artisans (smiths) 4 and 5 were sent to assist him. The three craftsmen (smiths) split up to investigate. "A mysterious magical tool was found. A mysterious material was found. "Mysterious material found." One after another, new discoveries were made. And then there was a surprise discovery. "There is a room that seems to be a processing facility. The referred to here is a facility for processing, that is, burning or melting, the carcasses of living creatures. "With a scale this large, they must have processed quite a large amount." Craftsman (Smith)3 reported to the old man. "Is this ......?Golem found. It does not move anymore. After all, what we found in the underground cavern are four mysterious magic tools. Since they are of the same type, their purpose seems to be the same. They are made of a mysterious material, an unknown creature, possibly taken from a magical beast. About 50 tons of it. Mysterious material. Black powder in a crystal storage container. About 20 grams. The broken golem was nothing special to see. The mysterious magical tool is being analyzed on the spot. The mysterious material and substance were sent to Horai Island after the craftsman (Smith) had done as much research and analysis as possible and confirmed that there was no danger. When Jin received the black powder, his eyes widened. "...... spirit catalyst ......!" Yes, it was the same spiritual catalyst that Jin had received from <<700672> a while ago. "How did you get this?No. 700672 said that it would take 100,000,000 units of brains to extract from the creatures of this world. I thought 700672 said it would take 100,000,000 units of brains to extract from the creatures of this world. At that moment, the craftsman (Smith) calls. "How is that different from an ether converter?" "What?" In short, it seems to work by collecting free magical elements (ether) from the surrounding space and increasing the concentration of free magical elements (ether) within a specific area. A little while ago, you might have wondered "why?But now Jin had an idea of its purpose. "Could it be that it was created by the demon tribe ...... or even by the <>?" The climate in the north is harsh and the free ether is scarce in the south. The solution is to stay warm in the north or gather free magical elements (ether) in the south. The facilities are designed to collect and increase the concentration of free ether. . "I see. I''ll tell them to send that to you as well, Jin. Then the old man makes another great discovery. > The old man speculated that they might have farmed magical beasts in a place with high concentration of free ether and extracted and collected the from their brains. Jin also had a vague sense of this and immediately agreed with it. Then, after a long period of time, <> or its descendants might have disappeared, leaving only a golem that simply continued its work. Jin agreed. "In any case, I''m glad we have a little bit of <>. We may not need to use it anymore. The agreement with the demon tribe had just been made the other day. However, there is no doubt that for creators, securing materials is a very dream-expanding thing in terms of expanding future possibilities. Please send me some samples of your mystery materials." . Jin then picked up the material that was sent to him. It is silver-gray, shiny, and light. The flat but irregular shape is presumably due to the fact that it is a biological material and that it has been flattened. It was presumed that it was probably the shell of a magical beast from which <> was collected. With the amount of 50 tons, it is difficult to imagine how many years and how many magical beasts were crushed to collect the <>, and it is also something that Jin could not imitate. However, it would be the best memorial service for Jin to make the best use of the materials left there. "Well, ...... it''s an unknown material." Jin decided to reserve the material, taking his time to think about its characteristics and uses. <>, or perhaps it was affected by it, and the gigantopod was born>>. The old man guessed. Jin thinks the same thing. "There are no more gigantopods around here, are there?" . "Okay, let''s leave the cavity survey to craftsmen (Smith) 4 and 5 and let the mole go a little further underground. So, craftsman (Smith)3 sends the <> deeper underground. Since there seems to be no need to be careful anymore, he increases the digging speed. After digging 50 meters in one day, the had found natural gold, natural platinum, and iridosmin (an alloy of iridium and osmium). Iridosmin is hard and hard to wear, so it is welded to the gold tip of high-end fountain pens, where it rubs against the paper. "I don''t have much use for it, but Saki and Toa might like it. ......" Jin thought about this and stored it in the materials cabinet. The mole continued digging deeper into the earth, and at around 500 meters below the surface, he came upon a relatively large vein of Magi Crystal. It was milky white in color, and had all the attributes of an average magi crystal. "With all this, the budget of Kaina Village will be safe for the next 500 years or so. ......" It was Jin''s technology and the materials of Horai Island that made this possible, and if we look at the cost-effectiveness, the benefit is not so great, but Jin will never understand that. 578 - - 17-27 Explanation of Questions A chilly wind began to blow on September 17. The demons have settled down for the most part. However, Lardus and Archel are still unknown. As for Lardus, the old man should be able to detect him with his magi radar, if he knows the patterns of magical power, < However, this was an unusual situation. The old man said, "He is either in a place where magic cannot penetrate, or he is no longer of this world. In any case, Jin had done what he had to do in the demon territory and had come to the clan territory of <>. Not by <> but by Jin himself. After making an agreement with them, he finally received the OK from Reiko and the old man, as there was almost no danger anymore. Of course, he used the warp gate of Capricorn 1 and switched places with <>. I guess the most important motive was that I wanted to see the artifacts with my own eyes and hands. "Oh, so this is what it looks like: ......" <". The structure is simple. A camera itself. Light passes through the lens and forms an image on a film, or . Of course, it has a shutter. It is a large old-style camera that uses a glass dry plate, if you can call it that. Jin wanted more information about the , or , than the structure of the camera. The photosensitive agent, though old and altered, seemed to be a kind of magi-crystal powder. The photosensitizer was applied to a photosensitive plate made of flattened crystal <. Jin had some idea about the photosensitizing agent, so he decided to talk to Saki and Toa about it later. Next was a <. It was a clock. It had only an hour hand and no minute or second hands. Still, it was practical enough. What is it?Is ...... the power source that moves the hands?This." "Father, is there something you don''t understand?" "Oh, Reiko, just look at the relationship between this magi device and the free magical element (ether)." Jin pointed at the magi device which seemed to be the heart of the time indicator. "I see. . ...... This appears to be tracing the flow of free magical element (ether)." "I guess so. ...... raises a few questions. ...... but that''s OK. This < has a magi device that tracks the movement of the sun and displays the angle of the sun as the time of day. The heart of the clock is the element that detects the free magical element (ether) emitted from the sun and turns in its direction, and uses it to move the hour hand. By the definition of time, this method is surely correct. However, if the clock is overturned, the display would be out of order. In this way, Jin was allowed to examine all the ancient artifacts of the clan, and finished analyzing their structures. "Jin, are you done?" Theon came in and said tea was ready. "Yes, thank you. I''m coming." Theon, Istaris, and Rorona were waiting for him. "I made some tea that Jin gave me, how do you like it? The tea Jin brought was the leaves of the , or as it is called in the village of Kaina. He also brought seedlings so that the village would eventually be able to supply itself. Theon and Istaris liked it so much that I suggested they grow it here too. "Yes, it''s delicious! Jin said after taking a sip. "Yes, it''s good." Zion called out to Jin as he relaxed. "...... Hey, Jin is going home soon, isn''t he?" "Yeah. In a couple of days. "Yeah,......." Zion looks a little sad. Although he is not very sensitive to the feelings of love, he is sensitive to the feelings of younger children. "But you know, sometimes I come to visit you." "......How?" Zion looks at Jin with a skeptical look, as if he is merely trying to put him in a good mood. "You know, if you fly..." "...... Oh, an airship. If it''s not dangerous, we can use it. At least now that he knows that he is not lying, Zion''s mood improves. "Oh, is the tea getting cold?" "No, I have a cat tongue, so this is about right." Saying this, Jin drank half of the tea in one gulp. At that moment, Jin remembered the question he had wanted to ask on this occasion. "By the way, Zion, Istaris, and Rorona, I have a question. "Yes, what is it?" Rorona, the mother of Theon and Istaris, answered Jin on behalf of the others. "Well, I heard from Zion that Lucas and Netros are a follower tribe. But it doesn''t seem that other clans have such followers. ......" "Oh, that''s right." Before Jin could finish, Sion nodded his head and began to speak. "As Jin said, we are the only ones who have followers. I heard that most clans used to have them, but ......" "Compared to us demon clans, the lifespan of a follower is shorter, so now only the < clans have them." Istaris explained, taking over from Sion. "Then, the follower clans are now ......." "So now there are ten of us left." "Ten, you say? That''s quite a few. At least 10 people can''t survive as a species. "Oh, on rare occasions, they have children with their followers. In most cases, the child will have the characteristics of a demon tribe. It seems that in the case of mixed blood, the genes of the demon tribe are dominant. Jin decided to explain why he had asked such a question. "...... I see. Actually, I was wondering where the follower race came from. The roots of the demon tribe come from Hale, the so-called . They intermingled with the native races of this world, the planet Arus, and became the <>. It is highly likely that those whose blood is thicker than that of the originals have become <>, and those whose blood is thinner than that of the originals have become <>. Then, what about the <>?There is no such race in the known world. Therefore, Jin thought that the follower race might be the <>. "...... of course, purely out of intellectual curiosity." After a brief explanation, Jin added at the end. "......I think your hypothesis is correct." After a moment of silence, Lorona spoke up. "The lore says that the squire race was brought from the south." Jin nodded silently. His dark skin was not appropriate for this northern land. It was more reminiscent of southern descent, which was the source of his discomfort. "If I visit the south someday, I might meet Netros or Lucas''s people..." Another goal of Jin''s has been set. * * * * "This is ......." Jin had come to visit the <> ore deposit. He explored the deposit by <> and found that the geometrical distribution of the ore is quite beautiful. (I think the closest thing to this is that something dome-shaped has been buried.) (I think the closest thing to a buried cubic zirconia deposit would be a dome city like in science fiction, and the buried cubic zirconia deposit would be what made up the dome. I think so, but I won''t say so. I cannot prove it. But it was a likely reason for the cubic zirconia to be here, which would not have been produced naturally. As a corollary speculation, "There may be something deeper, or rather underground, in the deposit. If it is a dome, then it is being protected. If it is a dome, there must be something it was protecting. However, we know that there is a calcareous rock at Jin by the current . Jin guessed that it was probably the end result of a building that resembled concrete. "At the current pace of mining with these reserves, it should last 50 years." Jin thinks we should trade it little by little. Eventually it will be possible to synthesize it. "Well, that clears up a few questions for me. Straightening his back, Jin looks up at the sky at dusk. The wind was a little cold on his skin. "...... Jin." Jin turned around at the sound of a voice calling out to him and saw Zion. Her hair was flowing in the evening breeze, and she looked sunken, perhaps because of the light. "Are you finally ...... leaving tomorrow?" "Yes. Yes, I''m going to. "I see. Thanks ...... for everything." Jin patted Zion on the head as she turned her head slightly and said sadly. "You''re a very studious person, Zion. I was surprised. "What?" Theon makes a puzzled expression at the sudden compliment. "See, I explained you many things during the meeting, didn''t I? "Ah, yes. I read about them in a book I read at Jin''s castle. "Even so, that''s amazing that you only read it once." This was Jin''s honest impression. Hearing this, Zion''s face brightened a little. "Is that so?" "By any chance, are all the clans of <> amazing?" "I''m not sure what you''re asking about, but I''ve heard that the name <> was given because of its knowledge of many things. Jin decided to take this opportunity to ask what he wanted to ask. "Then, do all the clan names of the demon tribe have such meanings?" "Uh......n. You could say that, or you could say that they don''t." Before Jin could ask what he meant, Zion began to explain. "In the old days,...... yes, when the clans had just split up, they could certainly say such things. The <> clans were good at slave magic, and the <> clans had a way of thinking that was ...... a little unthinkable." "I see." "But now, with all the marriages between the different clans, it makes little sense." Jin was convinced that as the blood thinned out, the characteristics of the clan had disappeared. "But Zion may be worthy of the name ." "Huh?" Zion let out a stupid voice, not understanding the meaning of Jin''s comment. "I''m sure that Zion will become an adult who can lead the people of the demon tribe with his knowledge, I thought. Zion''s face turns red as he is told this. "What?Compliments don''t get you anywhere!" Her reaction is that of a young girl, as befits a young girl. "It''s okay. "Good luck with the demon tribe, Theon, not with me! Jin patted Zion''s head again. The stars began to twinkle in the bright western sky, and the shortening autumn day was drawing to a close. 579 - - 17-28 Again 700672 Before returning to Horai Island, Jin visited <<700672>> once more as promised. No. 700672 was still on the bed, but he greeted Jin with a smile. "Welcome, Jin-dono. "Thanks to you, I was able to fight against ." Saying this, Jin handed over the recovery medicine again. "Thank you. I''ve been feeling a little better since I started taking this. "That''s good to hear." "Well, thank you." Neige, who was standing by, looked up at Jin with a slightly happy expression on her face. "Well then,<>" After a pause, Jin explained about the <> debacle. "......Hmm, I see." "Oh, I didn''t know that." "Interesting. That''s what I''m talking about." "...... Well, I can''t thank you enough." The explanation of the series of unfortunate events came to an end when No. 700672, who had been listening to Jin''s explanation with his own hands, expressed his gratitude to Jin. "Mister Jin Nido. Thank you for your wisdom, wisdom, and action. With a tone and hand gesture that seemed somewhat exaggerated, No. 700672 thanked Jin Nido. "No, I did it for my own sake." "Hmm, that''s natural. All living things live only for themselves. < differs from person to person." "......" Jin is unsure what to say to this philosophical line, and after a moment, he opens his mouth. "You may indeed be right. ......" To be honest, he didn''t understand half of what was being said, but he didn''t want to continue the conversation unless he said so. "Hmm, you are still young. You may understand the words, but it will take time for you to understand the meaning. No. 700672 looked at Jin as if he could see right through him and muttered. "Well, you didn''t just report what you did for me, did you?I''m sure there is something you want to ask me, isn''t there?" After a pause, No. 700672 said this as if he could see right through Jin''s mind. Jin''s answer was. "Yes, I would like to hear some of your old stories. "Well, what do you want to ask me? "First, about the original race that inhabited this planet when your came here. Jin was still curious about the roots of the that lived in the demon tribe territory. "Hmm, when my masters came, huh ......?" 700672 looked at him distantly and seemed to be remembering the past. "It was farther south that I met the natives. They had a culture that only used crushed stone and had only just learned how to handle fire. The stone age," Jin thought to himself. "There were many small settlements scattered throughout the area. I remember that they moved entire villages to this continent and educated them to be their followers. Did you sometimes have children with these natives? "Yes. Most of the time it was with native women. What did they look like? "I think most of them were dark-skinned, probably because of their adaptation to the south." This confirms Jin''s assumption that the follower tribe is a native tribe. "I understand. Thank you very much." His doubts cleared, Jin thanked her for the clarification. "Is there anything else?" "No, there is, but it would be uninteresting if I asked you everything. I''ll try to figure it out as best I can on my own." "Oh." Hearing Jin''s answer, No. 700672 smiled pleasantly. "......That''s good. I''m sure you can do it. After a pause, the 700672 continued. "By the way, this may be unnecessary, but how can your body be so inconsistent? "What?" Unable to grasp the meaning, Jin tilted his head, and more words were thrown at him. "How should I put it, most of your body looks fake. ...... "So ......" "Isn''t that because your father summoned you?" Reiko, who had been silent until now, interrupted. "Summoned?What do you mean?" "Actually, ......" Reiko then explained that she was the second generation, found after 1,000 years of searching for a successor according to the will of the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. He explained that he was the second generation. "Oh, I didn''t know that ....... That''s why you are not confined to the confines of this world." Without any particular surprise, the 700672 accepted Reiko''s explanation. "But summoning, huh? Interesting. I understand the concept, but how is it done? "I''m sorry, but I can''t explain it to you because my memory of it is lacking, probably because I''ve used it too hard. Reiko''s predecessor, the automata, which was once broken by life after she entrusted everything to Jin. The relevant part of its control core was so damaged that it was missing when the knowledge and other information was transferred to the new control core. "We may be able to reproduce it as we did then, if we only take the time to do so. ......" It may take decades or even centuries, Reiko concluded. "I see. I''m a little disappointed, but it''s a subject I''d like to think about as well. ...... Then No. 700672 turned to Jin as if having second thoughts. "So you are saying that your body was burned in your world, right?And when you were summoned, you received a body made of magical atoms (Magiatom). Yes, yes. Or, more precisely, he was supplemented. Hearing this, No. 700672 turned his head down and looked as if he was thinking. But he immediately looked up, "That''s the reason, isn''t it? You said you fell into the molten iron, didn''t you?That''s probably why the lower half of your body and most of your internal organs are inert." "Inert?" Jin asked in a parroting tone. "That''s right. You could say that the magic atoms (magiatom) are pretending to make up your body. Anyway, it hasn''t become accustomed to your original body." "......" "In that state, there are some defects, or rather, physical malfunctions, aren''t there?For example, muscle strength does not improve even if you work out." Jin nodded his head. "Yes, I do. There are too many." "Yes, I''m sure. They probably won''t get any diseases, but they won''t grow either. Besides, I don''t think they''ll be able to produce any offspring at this rate, will they?" "Yeah. ......" "......" Not only Jin but also Reiko seemed to be astonished. "What should I do?Please tell me!" It was Reiko who approached No. 700672 with these words. "...... don''t panic, my masterly automaton!" She gently stopped Reiko and began to explain how to deal with the situation. "In a similar way, there was a technique to save a severely injured person. The missing body part is replaced with a temporary body that has been trained, and then the body is slowly acclimated to the new body. "So?" Reiko is still showing impatience. This is understandable, since this is about Jin''s body. Do you know that the cells that make up the body are renewed in cycles of a few days to a few months?However, this does not seem to be the case for special cells such as brain cells. Jin nodded silently. "Good. Most of your body is not in a state of renewal. By activating it, you should be able to bring your entire body into balance. "In other words, you are now wearing ultra-precise prosthetic arms and legs, aren''t you?" "Oh, yes. That''s a pretty close analogy. And the method of activation? Jin swallowed hard. "What kind of healing magic can we use?It would be difficult if we can''t use cellular activation magic. "In that case, you can use it until you are completely healed. Reiko answers. Erza uses Shoro''s imperial chanting, which is the highest level of surgical healing magic. "Hmmm, I guess it is a magic for wounds and physical damage, isn''t it?That''s good. We just need to cast it on Jin-dono several to several dozen times. By doing so, the cells that made up the original body would be activated, and the temporary body composed of magical atoms (Magiatom) would be activated in response. "You may feel some pain or physical tingling when you are replaced. ......" Since Jin had basically never been seriously injured, he had never had <> applied to his entire body. This is one of the reasons why he has been unaware of it until today. When I followed Gigers up the mountain, I fell and scraped my hand on the way back, so it is not surprising that I did not recognize it. "Try it once here, my masterly automaton." Reiko agreed when No. 700672 told her that she was monitoring Jin''s body. "Father, may I?" Jin has no objection. "<>!" "......Ugh! ...... ahhh......" A dull pain shot through Jin''s body. Jin hugs himself, breaking out in a greasy sweat. His face is furrowed in pain. "Father!" Reiko looked so worried that she might have turned blue if she could have changed her color. Jin tried to reassure Reiko, and squeezed out his voice. "......It''s okay," he said. The pain subsided in a few seconds and Jin let out a relieved breath. "Well, there is definitely an improvement. The current treatment has activated about five percent of the cells. This means that he will have to endure the pain for another 19 times. Frankly, I''m getting a little tired of it. "No, I don''t think you have to do it continuously. It is said that the longer you wait, the more you get used to it. Jin decided to stop that day, thinking that it would be better to do it little by little, once or twice a day. 580 - - 17-29 Light Unexpectedly, his physical problem was resolved, and Jin decided to take this opportunity to consult with the doctor to resolve another matter that had been bothering him. "One more thing, do you know anything about <>?" "Magic overload syndrome?...... from the meaning of the word, is it a physical disorder caused by too much magic power? Yes. "Yes. It is the disease of Erza, who is now settled in Jin''s sisterhood. Thanks to the bracelet that Jin made to absorb excess magic power, she is able to live without problems, but it is only a symptomatic treatment, not a complete cure. Jin has been searching for a solution for a long time, along with the "ether stampede. "Hmmm. ...... has an idea." Really? "Really? You know how ...... free magic element (ether) can be converted into magic element (mana), don''t you? "Yes. By means of the magi-mitochondria within the cells, is that correct?" "You call them magi-mitochondria. ...... Yes. Inside the cells of a mage coexist microorganisms that transform free magical elements (ether) into magical elements (mana)." As if in review, No. 700672 spoke. Jin nodded silently. "When using magic, it is the mage himself who draws free magic element (ether) from the air. It is also the mage himself who switches to non-interference with the free magical element (ether) when it is not needed. The explanation so far had given Jin a flash of inspiration. "...... I see!" "I see. < take in free magic element (ether) even when they don''t need it. In other words, they are not good at controlling free magic element (ether). Now we know the reality of <>. Now we need a cure. "What did I need to control the free magic element (ether)?" "......<>......?" "Correct. Perhaps there is not enough <> in the body ...... especially in the brain. To the extent that you can use magic, but you can''t control the free magical element (ether). Jin pondered. Erza is a top level magician in engineering and healing magic. Even so, could she not control the free magic element (ether)? When I told this to No. 700672, I received a clear answer. "You forgot about the frequency. Yes, the frequency of magic power to use magic is different from the frequency to control free magic element (ether). Jin remembered that immediately. "That''s right. I had forgotten about that." The 700672 looked at Jin with a smile. "Then do you have any idea how to treat it?" Jin replied immediately. "Yes. The key is a , isn''t it?" "Yes. <, it will cure 99% of the patients. There is hope. But there is one problem. < There is a substance that looks like it, which he found underground, but he is a little hesitant to prescribe it to Erza out of the blue. Jin judged it to be a , but he was afraid that something might happen to Erza if he used it on her. However, a little thought reveals that my fears are unfounded. "You only need a trace amount for ...... prescription, right?" No. 700672 nods. "You said you need a million units from the brain of an organism, right?And vice versa. If I were to prescribe it to a human, a millionth of a gram would be enough." On the other hand, it would be difficult to accurately make a solution that dilute. "What happens if there is too much?" "<> affects not only free magic element (ether) but also magic element (mana). In other words, the power of magic will increase dramatically or even explosively. The results can be found at ......" "The depletion of mana in the body." It''s a symptom commonly known as "running out of mana". "That''s right. That''s a problem. I understand. Thank you. Jin was relieved to know that he could cure Elsa''s illness. He still had about 0.1 grams of the that he had received from 700672. That was more than enough to cure Elsa''s disease. That was more than enough. "Are you saying that I should drink the <> solution?" "Yes. < should be absorbed immediately from the stomach, travel through the body, and eventually accumulate in the brain. With this, Erza''s illness could be completely cured. Jin let out a sigh of relief. "Hmm, from the looks of it, the patient must be someone important to Jin-dono?" "Huh?Yes. A good apprentice, an excellent healer, and an important ...... family member." Jin answered, thinking of Erza''s face. Reiko was the only one who noticed a slight blush on his cheeks. With his concerns resolved, Jin decided to take this opportunity to make a proposal that he had been thinking about for some time, 700672. "......Will you come to my place?" He said. "Jin-dono''s place?" "Yes. The previous generation laid the foundation and I have developed a base there. You may be able to get better medical care there. He did not mention the name of Horai Island. "Well, I think he was thinking of me. But I need ...... "But I also know that I need free magic element (ether). I have the means to do that as well." Jin looks at the 700672. But the 700672 shakes his head. "...... thank you, but I still don''t want to do it." Why not? "......This is... This is where my husband used to live. I''m attached to it. And I have decided that this is where I will die. I do not know how many years or how many decades it will be, but when I reach the end of my life, I want to stop operating in this place full of memories." "...... I see. ......" "Your offer and thoughtfulness are truly appreciated. But please forgive me for my selfishness." The 700672 bowed. "How could I be so selfish?" Jin then spoke up with an alternative idea that had just occurred to him. "In that case, let me do a little more work on the surroundings." < had been using it as a base, it had become distorted in many places. "Hmm, yes. I''ll take your word for it, if that''s all. "Yes, sir." First, Jin had one of the same free-magic condensers that he had found the other day in the basement transferred. Rand brought it in, Reiko received it, and placed it in front of No. 700672. It is about the size of a tissue box. Jin placed it on the bedside of No.700672. "What do you think of this?" The 700672 seemed unusually a little surprised when he saw it. "What is this?Where did you get this?" Jin then explained briefly how he had found it in the basement of his own territory. "I see. ...... that your husband''s descendants installed it. But that plan was abandoned in the middle of the project, I see. ......" "Probably so. But there was an outbreak of giant centipedes that may have been the result. "Hmm. ......" Free magic element (ether) does not cause organisms to grow to gigantic sizes, says 700672. "There must be another factor for the gigantism. ...... No, it is possible that the size is innate and that the individuals we see are small because they simply cannot grow fully." "I see, so that''s what you''re saying." According to No. 700672, an environment rich in free magical element (ether) prolongs the life span of living creatures. It seems that the long life span of the demon tribe in this land is due to the effect of the free element of magic (ether) in addition to their original constitution. This is off topic, but Jin installed and operated the free magic element condenser (ether capacitor) made in Horai Island. "Oh ...... this is comfortable." The new type of free-magic condenser (ether capacitor) improved by Jin collects free-magic elements (ether) from a wider range than the old type. "Magecraft Meister," you say. ...... people are changing." The 700672 took a few deep breaths as if to check the concentration of free magical element (ether), which had become so thick that he could almost feel it. "Mmmm ...... reminds me of Hale once. Jin-dono, I''m sorry." Jin replied with a laugh. "It''s okay. In your words, I did it for my own good. "I see. You''ve got me there. They smile at each other. Jin then decided it was time to leave. "Jin-dono, you''ve helped me a lot. Please come again. I''m always here to help you. "Yes, thank you very much. Thank you very much. Jin promised to visit again and left the white room. After this, Jin gave instructions to the RAND team and the Smith team to improve the facilities around the <> and to install a warp gate. And No. 700672 will continue to assist Jin from time to time as his advisor. Thus, the disturbance involving the entire demon tribe came to an end. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, Onii-chan, welcome back! Hannah welcomes Jin back to the village of Kaina for the first time in three days. Her missing front teeth had grown back in, and a beautiful row of teeth peeked out. "I''m back, Hanna. Here, I brought you something." In the kitchen of Martha''s mansion, Jin offers cookies made from buckwheat seeds. Buckwheat cookies, to be exact. Buckwheat flour is mixed with sugar and eggs and baked. The taste of buckwheat is delicious in a crispy texture. Sarah, a golem maid exclusively at Martha''s mansion, brewed a pot of tea. It tastes just like the tea. "It''s delicious, isn''t it, girl? "Yes, it''s really good, Jin." "Good." After hearing their impressions, Jin thought it would be a good idea to grow buckwheat in Kaina village and make it a specialty of the village. Autumn clouds were moving across the sky in Kaina village, and the ears of wheat were turning golden in the fields. 581 - - 18-01 Recovery "<>" "...... ku." Jin, are you okay? "Yeah, I think so. The pain seems to be lessening. At the on Hourai Island, Erza is casting a healing spell on Jin. Today is September 29th, and it has been 12 days since Jin had returned home from the mess of the demon tribe. During that time, Jin had received a healing spell once a day. At first, Reiko cast it on him. During that time, after Erza checked on him to see how his body was adjusting, the healing magic was handed over to Erza. This is because the other treatment ...... Elsa''s < has been completely cured. * * * * * * * * * * * * The story goes back to 8 days ago. "Jin, how do you prepare water with one millionth of a gram dissolved in it? "I''m curious too. It was a difficult time when he explained in front of the whole Jin family that he had found a way to cure Erza''s hypermagia. "Jin-sama!Are you sure you can cure ...... Erza''s disease? Meene, the mother of my child, clutched at me with tears in her eyes. "Jin!You''re amazing!You''ve found a cure for which is an incurable disease in this world! Reinhardt was so excited. "<>?Such a substance is ......!" Toa is impressed and looks at me with a desire. "How can you make one in a million!" Saki pushes out his question. Anyway, the other members were also excited and in an uproar. "Brother Jin, ...... are you sure ...... you can cure ...... this?" Erza was the only one with tears in her eyes. Saki and Toa were wondering how Jin had managed to dissolve one millionth of a gram in 100 cc of water. Saki and Toa were curious to know how Jin was going to make a solution of one millionth of a gram in 100 cc of water. "Is it possible to weigh out one millionth of a gram?" Saki wondered if Jin''s engineering magic had such precision. "No, it''s impossible. But I can measure 0.1 grams with this. Jin showed Saki and Toa the newly made scale. "What is this?It has an unusual shape. It was an upper-dish balance. In this world, scales are either suspended balances or pole balances, and Jin was the first to make an upper-dish balance. The upper-dish balance was the first one Jin made. The disadvantage of a hanging balance is that it is difficult to put weights or samples on or off the balance, since there are strings attached to three points on the pan. On the other hand, the upper-dish balance is easy to work with. After this weighing, Jin was planning to hand over the new upper-dish balance to Saki. "I can weigh 0.1 grams, but that means one tenth of a gram, right?How do you measure one millionth of a gram? Saki was still tilting her head, so Jin gave her a hint. "<> is soluble in water, but its properties do not change. If you evaporate the water, it will precipitate back to its original state. "Hmmm?If ......, then ............ will also be, what if, Jin!" Saki finally understood the answer when she saw Jin preparing a huge container of water. "Oh...if there is 1/1,000,000 grams in 100 cc. If there are 0.1 grams in 10,000 liters of water, then I should be able to dissolve 0.1 grams in 10,000 liters of water, right?" In other words, dissolving 0.1 gram in 10 tons of water would produce an aqueous solution of the desired concentration. Jin, who filled a small pool rather than a container with water, put 0.1 gram of <> into it and made a homogeneous aqueous solution by <>. "I think I''ll take a liter from here ......." He had prepared a little extra of the precious remedy in case he met anyone else who might need it besides Elsa. He divided the solution into 10 crystal vials of 100 cc each, and separated the <> from the remaining aqueous solution. "<>" "Huh." Saki sounded impressed. After extracting a little less than 0.1 gram of from a large amount of water, Jin carefully seals it and discards the remaining water. "Come on, let''s get Elsa to drink this. Jin took the bottle and was about to go to Erza when he stopped. Because Erza was standing right in front of him. "......Erza." "Brother Jin." Erza looked at the bottle in Jin''s hand, "Is that the medicine? Jin nodded. Jin nodded and held out the bottle. "Yes. There should be no harmful ingredients in it. You can check it out if you want." But Elsa shook her head as she took the medicine. "No, my brother Jin made this medicine for me. I''ll take it. With that, she swallowed the medicine in one gulp. "It doesn''t taste ...... like anything." "Well, of course it does. 0.1 grams in 10 tons of water. One part per million. Gin, is this what cured Erza? Saki, who was watching from the side, said with interest. "No, it takes about two days for the <> to be absorbed into the body and finally settle in the brain cells. "I see." * * * * * * And back to the beginning. Two days later, Elsa woke up feeling refreshed. "...... is this proof that the medicine worked?" Of course, she had never had a bad night''s sleep before, nor had she ever been in a bad mood. It''s just that I no longer have the discomfort that I took for granted. It''s as if I thought 100 was the highest score and then I realized there was more than that. Or maybe it''s the feeling of having a clear nose after a cold has gone away. Anyway, I felt good. When I told this to my mother, Meene, she burst into tears of joy. She hugged Elsa. "Erza......,Oh, thank God......." Since Erza was found to have excess magic power, Meine has always been by her side, acting as an outlet for her excess magic power. The excess magic power (mana) usually appears in the form of fever. Whenever Erza had a slight fever, Meine would immediately have Erza use her magic to deal with it. By the time she was over thirteen years old, Erza had learned to feel the sensation and was able to handle it on her own, but after Jin made her a bracelet that absorbed excess magic power, she no longer had to do so, and she felt she could live as a normal mage. I thought I could live as a normal mage. And I felt happy that a normal body is wonderful. But this time, it was even better. "Jin, my brother ......, my benefactor." He was the one who rescued me from the Unification Party (Unifiler) when I had abandoned home. He is the one who gave me a place as a sister when I was lonely. The one who saved my birth mother and let me meet her. The one who made me a bracelet to cure my excess of magic power. The one who taught me the new world of Magecraft. The one who showed me the way to the heights of otherworldly science. And now. The person who cured me of my magical overload, which I thought I would have to live with for the rest of my life. ....... "......I will give my all and return the favor." Elsa, secretly determined to do so, heard that the complementary cells that made up Jin''s body were inactive, and offered to cure him herself in order to eliminate them. "<>...... Oita, active." * * * Elsa was surprised at the imbalance of Jin''s body when she examined it seriously. But now. "More than half of it is activated. Hearing this, Reiko, who had handed over the role of casting the healing spell to Erza, smiled. "In less than ten days, my brother Jin''s body will be whole. 582 - - 18-02 Rainy Day Unusually, it was raining in the Kingdom of Klein. In the eastern part of the Laurentian Continent, where the Kingdom of Klein is located, there is little precipitation on the plains. Instead, the mountainous areas receive heavy rain and snowfall. This rain and melting snow, in the form of rivers and subsoil water, moistens the plains. Each city secures water by digging wells. This is the reason why the pump that Jin made last year and Raglan Trading Company started to sell quickly became popular. "Autumn rain..." Gloria Allstadt, the vice captain of the Kingsguard Ladies Knight Corps of the Kingdom of Klein, who was looking out of the window, was off duty that day. "It''s nice and dusty, but I don''t feel like running in this ......." She had been running 10 kilometers as part of her daily training routine, but she didn''t feel like running in the cold rain. "......I should take care of my sword on a day like this." Steel swords are sensitive to moisture and rust quickly. To prevent this, they coat them with oil extracted from the fruit of the camellia (a plant similar to camellia) to prevent rust. This oil is non-drying (does not harden) and is also used for hair oil. The oiled swords do not rust, but they absorb dust and gradually darken, so it is necessary to periodically wipe them off, clean them, and apply new oil. In a sense, this is a tedious and troublesome task, but Gloria, being a sword enthusiast, went about it with gusto. Gloria has light brown hair that is cut very short, and steeple eyes, B83, W57, H82, her toned figure can be described as ideal. However, perhaps because of her personality, even now at the age of 23, she has not had a single flirtatious conversation with anyone. "This sword that Jin-dono made for me is still of a different class. ...... The sword that once held its own against the giant scissors beetle, <>. The sword is made of a thin plate of adamantite sandwiched between sheets of steel. The steel part is also made of nickel steel, which makes it rust-resistant. It is almost maintenance free. Gloria, feeling relaxed for the first time in a long time, continues to work on the sword with all her heart. "...... It''s raining, isn''t it?" Licia Faarheit, the lord of Toka Village, looked up at the leaden sky gloomily and muttered. "We can''t harvest the wheat. Rain during the harvest of spring wheat sown in the spring is rare. It has been raining for the past five days, even though it is preferable to have sunny days for harvesting because the wheat needs to dry out after harvest. "......Yield is expected to be fair. I think it''s a good first year. ...... Licia looks at the ledger and frowns, her brow well-shaped. She sips from the teacup beside her, but it is already cold. "I wonder if ...... this <> could also be made into a product." The tea in Toka village is made from , just like in Kaina village. Licia was experimenting with adding herbs to the tea to see if she could increase its commercial value. It was almost ready to be sold. "Licia, the mayor is here to see you." "Yes, let me pass." Fred, the secretary''s apprentice, announced the chief''s visit. Fred had been an apprentice knight, but Licia had brought him in because she saw that he had more administrative skills than military skills, and she had been training him to be a secretary. However, since Licia herself was inexperienced, they often made mistakes together. "Excuse me, my lord." Braak, the chief of Toka Village, entered the room. He bowed to Licia and immediately began his business. It is about this year''s spring wheat. Licia was just thinking about it, so she urged him to go on. "The crop is good, but the long rains have prevented us from harvesting. The crop is good, but we can''t reap it because of the long rains. "What do you mean?" Licia is a complete amateur when it comes to agriculture. She had no idea what the mayor was trying to say. "If the rains continue, there is a possibility that the wheat will get mold and spoil. "Mildew? ......" Licia has one more problem to worry about. "In the past, I have harvested while the sun was shining, even if the harvest was a little less. ......" This year, however, the rains came suddenly and the timing was not right. "I''ll leave it up to the village headman, he probably knows more about it than I do." Licia had no choice but to say so. The village head knew the details and left. Outside the window, it was still raining. It was also raining on Horai Island. Mount Horai, smoky in the rain, and Jin''s mansion at the foot of Mount Horai. "<>" "......" Jin, are you okay? Father, are you okay? We''ve been casting healing spells for 18 days. Perhaps because most of the cells made up of magic atoms (Magiatom) had been activated, the pain caused by the healing magic had lessened considerably. Now it is only a slight pain. "Oh, I''m fine. It still hurts a lot less." "...... will be completely healed in two more sessions." "Oh, thank you, Elsa." "Yeah." As for Jin, he felt that his body had become much lighter. The previous analogy, <>, has been eliminated. A prosthetic hand is still a prosthetic hand no matter how high performance it is. It is no match for the body. And as his cells were activated and his body became accustomed to them, Jin''s bodily functions also improved. To begin with, the in Jin''s body cells are super efficient. Perhaps it was also taken in at the time of the summoning, but what is important in this case is the result. In the past, when the Guild of Magi Craftsmen of the Kingdom of Egelea measured the patterns of magical power, the circuits of Dona, an automata that also served as a measuring instrument, overflowed due to the amount of magical power it possessed. The activation of cells composed of magic atoms (magiatoms) has further improved their functions, but so far no one has noticed this. Since there are only advantages and no disadvantages, it will be a little while before Jin realizes this, partly because no one has tried to investigate it. "...... is it raining again today?" Jin muttered as he looked out the window after finishing his treatment that day. "This temperature and this humidity. It looks like it''s going to get moldy......." Jin was concerned about the unusual weather conditions. "Yeah, it''s a bit damp." Elsa doesn''t like humidity either. "Let''s see, that would be ......." The warehouses on Horai Island are constant temperature and humidity, and both temperature and humidity are kept constant. But this is not the case in Kaina Village. "Air conditioning...... and desiccants would be nice." "Desiccant?" Erza knew what it was, but she did not know how to make it. "I''ll ask Saki and Toa to help us with that." "...... yeah." Jin, Erza, and Reiko are moving to the institute using a small transfer gate (warp gate) since they don''t want to walk in the rain from the museum to the institute. "Oh, Jin-kun, what''s the matter with you today? "I didn''t know Erza and Reiko were with you. Is something wrong? Saki and Toa seemed to be having some kind of meeting or discussion. There were thin sheets of paper scattered on the workbench. "Well, it''s been raining a lot and it''s been humid, so I thought I''d make a desiccant. "Desiccant? "Desiccant?" "What''s that?......Yeah, I can tell a lot from the words. I just want to know what it''s used for. Is it to dry out the room or ......" "It''s used to store food." Jin explained, not letting Toa speak for everyone. "I see, during the rainy season, food preservation can be quite a problem, is this what you use for that?" Jin, can we help you with something? "Of course. It would be easier if we used engineering magic, but that''s not very common. Jin explained, and Toa nodded in agreement. "I see, so you want to make it widely available to the general public. I would be happy to cooperate with you. And so, in the pouring rain, the making of desiccants began on Horai Island. 583 - - 18-03 Drying agent "But then again, I don''t know much about it myself." There are about three types of desiccants used in reality. Silica gel type, calcium chloride type, and quicklime type. Charcoal is also hygroscopic, but was not included in the list. Silica gel is said to be silicon dioxide (SiO2), but since silicon dioxide commonly found is quartz or crystal, and Jin could not understand how it absorbs moisture, he passed on it. Calcium chloride is one of the < bittern> components in seawater, so it is separable by Jin. It absorbs moisture and dissolves, a phenomenon known as tidal dissolution. Jin knew that quicklime is calcium oxide, which can be made by burning shells with fire. In this way, calcium chloride and quicklime are the two most likely materials to be used. Each of them has its drawbacks. Calcium chloride absorbs a lot of moisture, but it is difficult to handle because it ends up as an aqueous solution. It is not possible to leave a lump of calcium chloride as it is. Then there is quicklime. Absorbing moisture, it becomes calcium hydroxide, or slaked lime, which is useful for improving the alkalinity of acidic soils. However, when quicklime is sprinkled with water, it generates heat rapidly, to the point of ignition. There have even been cases of fires caused by leaking rain falling on quicklime bags. Incidentally, self-heating sake in cans uses this heat. ......." Jin explained the desiccant idea to Erza, Saki, and Toa. "Well, there are pros and cons, aren''t there?" Toa said impressed. "That silica gel is difficult to use even with gin, isn''t it?That leaves us with a choice between quicklime and calcium chloride. If it were me, I''d choose quicklime. Saki seemed to be in favor of quicklime. "I think quicklime is better, too. As long as you don''t pour water directly on it, it will be fine. Calcium chloride might be dangerous if spilled. Elsa''s opinion was a fair one. In fact, calcium chloride desiccants are used for commercial purposes even on modern Earth. "I also think that quicklime is a good choice. Toa agreed. "Okay, let''s go with that line of thinking. Because Horai Island is an island, it is rich in seafood. They produce a lot of shellfish similar to clams, so much so that they look forward to making miso soup when the miso is mass-produced. They are also used as ingredients for stews, so there is quite a large stock of shells. The Magecraft Meister does not waste anything that could be used as a raw material. "Let''s experiment first. Baking calcium carbonate (CaCO3), such as shells and limestone, at 110 Celsius, the carbon dioxide (CO2) separates to form calcium oxide (CaO). This is an experiment sometimes performed in high school chemistry. When shells were placed in a crucible made of carbon and heated by engineering magic <, the shells turned into quicklime. "Hmmm...interesting..." Alchemist Toa is very interested. Jin''s engineering magic is very useful. I wish I could use it too. Saki looks over Jin''s shoulder into the crucible. Her hair brushes the tip of Jin''s nose. Saki''s hair has become much more silky than before since she has been taking daily baths in the hot springs on Horaijima. Jin smelled the fragrance of her hair and was unusually attracted to her. "...... Jin, does it generate heat when you pour water on it?" Sensitive to the slight reddening of Jin''s face, Erza peeks out from the opposite side of Saki and half-forcibly turns Jin''s attention to her. "Ah, ah. Well, let''s transfer this to this plate and pour some water on it. The resulting quicklime is transformed into slaked lime with a cloud of steam. "Interesting. This is what chemistry is all about. Saki was genuinely enjoying the change, but Erza was feeling a bit uneasy. Jin was wondering why his heart was beating faster than usual when he was sandwiched between the two. "Well, Jin-kun, the process itself is simple. Then, we need to use cheap materials and heat them in an inexpensive way. Toa gave a brief summary. It is something that must be considered if production is to take place outside of Penglai Island. "As I recall, limestone should be fine instead of shells, and heating the material is ...... hmmm, 1100 degrees Celsius is too much for firewood... ......" Without the use of coke and air (oxygen), a temperature of 1100 degrees Celsius would be difficult to attain. "I wonder if this is the only place where we would have to use magic tools. ......" "It''s not for personal use, so I think it could be profitable if done right." Toa agrees. Perhaps it''s his age, but Toa is very good at this kind of cost vs. cost calculation. Saki inwardly commented to her father, "I hope I don''t get greedy ...... anytime soon. "Yes, Toa is right. Keep the ...... heater as a black box, so that it will destroy itself if you try to remove it. ......" Jin seems to already have the idea in his head. "Now we just need to know where we can get the limestone?I guess we just need to know where we can get the limestone. Saki added. "Yes. But I think we can start by using shells or eggshells. Jin answered, realizing that he could not start up this plant in the Klein Kingdom, where there is no ocean. "Hmmm...... shells...... shells......" Jin pondered and suddenly remembered something. "Elsa, I remember hearing that shell fossils were found in Lake Tosmo." I think it was Berthe''s brother Matheus who said something like that in Tuscosia, a border town between the Kingdom of Celuloa and the Shoro Kingdom. "Yes, there is certainly a place where you can get it. ...... Oh, there''s limestone there?" Jin nodded. "Yes. If there are fossils, it means that long ago it was at the bottom of the sea. That means there is a high possibility that limestone can be found there. Limestone is formed by the accumulation of sea lilies, corals, and shellfish in the ancient sea. Therefore, the presence of fossils means that there is a high possibility of the existence of limestone. "Come to think of it, I haven''t been to the Shoro Empire recently. ......" And then I thought of something else. "We should send Barrow and Behr back home too. And I have to report about the demon tribe. It was decided. "Okay, I''ll go to the Shoro Kingdom. ......Ah, we''ll go there after the day after tomorrow." "......Why that day?" "Because my brother Jin''s treatment will be finished the day after tomorrow. Erza answered Saki''s question. "Saki and Toa, will you go too?" Toa answered Jin''s question. "No, we often go back to my parents'' house. I think I''ll pass on it this time. "I see." Jin then turned to Erza and asked her the same question. "I''ll go with you." Elsa grabbed the hem of Jin''s dress and answered without a pause. "Okay. I''ll have to talk to the two of you and get you ready. First, I''ll go to Reinhardt''s place and say hello ...... and let Reinhardt take care of this plant as well." Erza thought as she listened to Jin''s mutterings that Adberg''s hard work was about to increase again. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was raining in the village of Kaina that day. Jin moves to Nido Castle and calls Barrow and Behle. "What?Are you going back to your hometown?" they shouted in unison. Can I go home? "Yes, of course. I''m sorry I''m late. But both Barrow and Behle were excited. They may or may not have heard Jin''s words. "I''ve always wanted to go back!It''s not that I don''t like it here. In fact, I''d like to work here forever! "I see. Well, good. Well, we''ll be passing through the Kingdom of Egelea on the way. I hope you have fun along the way." "Thank you!" In fact, he had just recently learned from Regulus 5, the fifth column (Quinta) dispatched to the Blue Lands, that Count Kuzma and Beena would soon be getting married, and he wanted to congratulate them on that occasion. Jin added this to his words to the two. I understand. I will serve you as your butler and maid of honor. Jin was impressed by their firmness. "I''ll be leaving in three days. You can prepare any luggage or souvenirs you would like to take with you. It doesn''t matter how much you have. "Yes!" Jin''s literally means that it doesn''t matter how much you have, but the two of them thought it was a bit of an overstatement of Jin''s kindness. This does not change the result, though. The only one who noticed this was Elsa, who was still holding onto the hem of Jin''s dress. 584 - - 18-04 Complete humanity "<>" "......" On October 7, Jin received his 20th treatment. Today, on what was supposed to be his last day, Jin felt no pain at all. "Brother Jin, how are you feeling?" "......" "Father?" Elsa and Reiko called out to Jin, worried that he did not answer. "......Oh, oh, I''m sorry. It''s just that you''ve changed so much." "What?" "......If yesterday''s treatment was like climbing a flight of stairs one step at a time, today it''s like going up one floor at a time." Jin then jumped up on the spot. "What about ......?" He was able to jump up to a height of about one meter. "My body is light ......." He lifted the table by his side. It weighed about 30 kilograms and he lifted it with one hand. "......I used to feel like I was trying to exert myself, but the force was escaping me. Now it doesn''t." Perhaps Jin had been unconsciously < in addition to his normal muscle strength. "I can move normally." Jin jumps up again. This time he stayed at about 40 centimeters. "Ah, so this is what feels like." < is also found in engineering magic. It is used to carry heavy parts and materials. Until now, Jin had given up halfway because his physical strength did not improve no matter how much he applied . "But from now on, I''m going to use ......!" Jin was so happy and excited that he picked up Erza and put her on his right shoulder. Then he put Reiko on his left shoulder. "...... Jin, Jin brother! "Father?" Erza was surprised at the suddenness of the situation. Reiko is also a little flustered. "Thank you, Erza. Thank you, Reiko. I feel like I finally have a body of my own. Ever since I was summoned to this world and my body was reconstituted, I have felt a in my body. Now that it was gone, Jin was in a state of great joy. He was so excited that he skipped around the room with the two of them on his shoulders. * * * * "...... settled down?" "......Yeah. I''m sorry." Jin had been having a good time for about half an hour since then, and might have been even more if Toa and Stearina hadn''t happened to come by and looked at him with a dazed look. "Again, thank you. "Thank you again, Elsa, Reiko. Jin bowed deeply. "Please stop, father. I didn''t do anything. "Neither did I. Besides, I owe my brother more than you do. "No, I didn''t think the cellular activation would be this great. No, I didn''t think that activating the cells would be as good as this... and he''s been with me for twenty days." I was only doing my duty. I just cast a healing spell. "I''m just doing my duty. I''m just doing my healing magic.I''m just doing my duty, I was just doing my duty, I was just doing my duty, I was just doing my duty, I was just doing my duty. Stearina interrupted to stop the conversation, which could have gone on endlessly if she had kept quiet. "What''s so unusual?" "What''s that?" Jin and Erza asked back. Stearina smiled and answered, wondering if she was the one to ask the question. "It''s Erza-san turning red and Jin-kun frolicking around. "......" "......" "Uuhuhu, is this also because Jin-kun was activated?I think it''s because Jin-kun has been activated. "Leena, there''s something else you need to tell me, isn''t there?" Lina," was Stearena''s nickname. "Yes, yes. ......" Now Stearina blushed. ?" "Come on, Lena." "......, you first." "I don''t have a choice. ...... Jin, we''ve actually decided to get together. "Congratulations!" "Congratulations!" I knew they were good friends, and I had a feeling they would be someday. "...... Saki?" Jin thought that Saki should be there, too, and asked the question. She already knows. I talked to her at ...... and she said <> and then wandered off. ...... "I don''t think you need to worry about that since Aalu went with him. ......" Furthermore, I''m sure the old man knows where all the family members are with his <>. "I guess you''re not comfortable with your father remarrying after all. ......" Toa looked a little sad as she muttered this. "......What about the wedding and reception?" I''m too old now, there is no need for it. "I said it''s a good opportunity, you know. Jin thought about it. As a member of the Jin family, he still has the right to ....... "Let''s do it here in Horai Island, even if it''s just with our friends. "I agree. Father Tor, we should do that. Toa and Stearina nodded shyly at the suggestion of Jin and Erza. "......Yeah, I''ll take your word for it then." "Jin-kun, can I ask you for a favor?" Jin nodded broadly. "Of course!Then, when would you like to have the ceremony?Tomorrow?The day after tomorrow? Jin said, remembering that he was planning to take Barrow and Behrle to the Shoro Kingdom tomorrow. "Oh, I''m not in such a hurry." Just as he thought that he had been careless, Jin was a little relieved to hear Toa''s words. "I heard that Stearina has no relatives, but I will have to pay my respects to my father-in-law, the Marquis of ...... Gehlen, first. Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen. He is a nobleman of the Shoro Kingdom and Saki''s grandfather. "That''s true. As a matter of fact, I''m planning to go to the Shoro Kingdom tomorrow. "Oh, yes, that''s right. Then let''s go to ...... on the way. As he was about to say this, it occurred to Toa that this was not even necessary. Jin went to Reinhardt''s << Ivy Hall (Lanken Houses)>>. Toa and Stearina go to Toa''s house. Both have warp gates. Toa''s guess is wrong, though. "Well, we may see each other on the other side. "Yes, of course." And so we all headed for the laboratory. "Well, then, we should prepare a celebration for Count Kuzma and Bina. In the institute''s workshop, Jin and Erza discussed and came up with a gift. "Speaking of which, what about Reinhardt?" "I''ll ask him." Using the manacam, she could check with Reinhardt immediately. Erza headed for the control room in the basement of the laboratory where the manacam was located. The sky was still leaden, and the scenery she saw was smoky with rain. "Is it sunny in the Shoro Kingdom? Jin''s murmur was drowned out by the rain. 585 - - 18-05 To Blue Land The morning of October 8. The continuous rain in the village of Kayna had stopped, but the sky was still leaden. The sky was still leaden, but the cloud base was still high and the visibility was much better. "Now, are you ready?" Many people had gathered in the plaza in front of Nido Castle. The faces of the gathered people were all looking upwards at an angle. They are staring at the floating in the air. "...... are you going to fly in the sky? ......" "Another crazy thing ...... to do." "Well, it''s a djinn. ......" They all say these lines with a mixture of amazement and admiration. "Jin, Jin-sama, are you going with this? "Yes, we are. With this, we can reach the Shoro Kingdom in two days. Two days? Jin has reinforced the airship. It can fly at a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour. The distance between the village of Kaina and the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, Leusert, is less than 900 kilometers. If you push yourself a bit, you can fly in a day, but that''s no fun. So we plan to stay several nights in the Kingdom of Egelea. They are planning to stay several nights in the Kingdom of Egelea, where they will see Bina and Count Kuzma, whom they have not seen for a long time, and whose wedding is coming up soon. When Jin explained this again, Barrow and Behle nodded. "Yes, I understand. I will behave as Jin-sama''s steward and lady-in-waiting on the way without embarrassment. Jin, who had heard this line the other day as well, felt again how much they had grown. "...... but can you really fly?" But he was skeptical about flying in an airship. "Bye, Onii-chan, go ahead. This time it was not so much for sightseeing as for renewing old friendships and returning to Barrow and Behle''s hometown. In addition, she was going to start up a desiccant plant at Reinhardt''s place, which she decided would not be interesting for Hannah. "Well, if that''s the case, I''ll be on my way this time. Hannah seemed a little more mature than before, as if she had understood the message. Seeing such a healthy Hannah, Jin felt a pain in his heart. He decided to use the warp gate to invite Hanna to the Shoro Kingdom after he finished his business. "I''m off!" The airship with Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Edgar, Barrow, and Behrle on board slowly floated up. "Oh!" "We floated...... no, we flew!" "Wow, that''s a real djinn!" "Bye, little girl, have a good trip!" The villagers'' voices grow quieter and quieter as the surface of the earth becomes more distant. "It''s flying!" Barrow clings to the gondola, a little shaken. "Wow, it''s a beautiful view! Behle is entranced by his first view of the ground from the sky. "Now let''s fly! Jin announced loudly and activated the propulsion system. The airship starts moving slowly and gradually gains speed. When it reached a speed of about 80 kilometers per hour, it stopped accelerating. "Brother Jin, what is the new improvement this time?" Erza asked, leaning close to Jin. Jin had spent about two days improving his airship since he had decided to go to the Shoro Kingdom. "Yeah. "Yes, there are several. Some of them are experimental. The first one is a drag-reducing ward. "From the sound of the word, I have an idea of what it might be. But I can''t think of how to do it." Erza tilts her head. Her gesture made Jin''s heart beat a little faster. "Well, uh, aerodynamic drag, you know?" After confirming Erza''s nod, Jin continued. "Until now we have been using wind wards to reduce the drag, but not this time. We''re not using wards." "What?" You see, you can barely feel the wind. "You see, you can hardly feel the wind. So far, we have been using warding to < the wind, so we have felt a slight headwind. "I''m using wind magic to push you from behind." "What?But the recoil is ...... ah, that''s what I mean." "You get it, right?Yes, it''s moving the entire mass of air surrounding the airship. The huge ship was developed by the Tecles family, a wealthy merchant in the southern part of the Kingdom of Celuloa. The propulsion engine of the airship was to use wind magic to blow wind into the sails to propel the ship forward. Jin applied it to an airship. Ordinary wind magic has no recoil. No matter how powerful the wind is, the magician does not feel any recoil. The mechanism has been explained in the past, so I won''t go into it here, but Jin used it as a propulsive force. "But the efficiency is not that great, so the speed stops at 100 kilometers per hour at best." "But it''s still amazing. Jin''s brother is a magecraft master. Erza then leans even closer to Jin, perhaps a little cold. Jin has been nervous ever since. (I always thought Elsa was his little sister, and in fact I didn''t feel anything for her until now. ...... I wonder if it''s because she''s activated?) ) That guess was right. The fact that Jin had been able to act as if he was dead, and that he had been seen as if he had no interest in women, was all due to the inactivity of the reconstituted cells. This was mainly (but not entirely) due to the fact that the secretion of hormones and brain substances such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, etc., and their effects on the body were negligible. As a result of the activation of the body and the normalization of all functions, the emotions and reactions that a man of Jin''s age should naturally have returned. Moreover, the change was so drastic that he is having a hard time keeping up with it. Erza, who could not have known of Jin''s inner conflict, was expressing her gratitude to Jin for curing her karmic illness and her feelings of love for him that she had nurtured until then. Reiko, on the other hand, is a little depressed because of her misperception that she may have caused Hitoshi some discomfort because of the inactive part that was complemented when she summoned him. Nevertheless, the airship flies regardless of the passengers'' intentions. The distance from the village of Kaina to Blueland is approximately 500 kilometers in a straight line, a journey that takes less than seven hours. The airship heads southwest. If Barrow and Behle had any knowledge of navigation, the question would have arisen as to how they could fly without hesitation. The answer is that the fifth row (Quinta) in charge of the Blueland, Regulus 5, is the landmark, and Reiko is at the helm to guide the ship without hesitation. Lunch is also in the sky. It is a great lunch looking down on the ground. The tea in the thermos is hot and tasty. At first Barrow was a bit confused, but in the last three hours he has gotten used to it, and he and Behrle look down at the ground and cheer. "We are about to pass the Kingdom of Klein and are now in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Selroa, over the Rivas region," Jin explains. Jin explained. The Rebus region is mostly mountainous and less populated than other regions. However, it is not a very friendly country, so Jin raised the altitude a little. At the same time, he activates the wind shield to keep the air pressure from getting lower. The altitude had been about 2,000 meters, but he raised it to 3,000 meters. The altitude was raised to 3,000 meters. The altitude was originally about 2000 meters, but it was raised to 3000 meters. The difference from the earth''s surface is less than half of that, about 120 meters. Even so, at such a high altitude, the airship would appear to be nothing more than a dot from the ground. After flying in this manner for about two hours, we finally enter the Kingdom of Egelea. About five hours have passed so far. "We''ll be at our destination in about two hours. The plane is scheduled to land on the outskirts of Blueland. The mountainous region that had continued from the Kingdom of Cerroa was gradually decreasing in elevation. Jin lowered the altitude of the airship accordingly. "Ah, what are those high mountains? "Oh, that''s Mount Garratt. It''s a good landmark. Mount Garratt stands between Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, and the Blueland, which we were aiming for. When the mountain was behind us on our right, the fortress city of Blueland came into view below us. "Reiko, do you know where we are going to land? "Yes, father. Regulus 5 is already waiting for us. Reiko''s eyes caught the sight of Regulus 5 standing in the clearing about 5 kilometers away. "Let''s lower the altitude." In the case of Jin''s airship, a normal altitude change is made without changing the angle of the air sacs. In other words, the angle of the gondola on which they are riding does not change, but they can make a rapid ascent or descent. The gondola was now descending at an angle of about 30 degrees toward the destination. "There it is." Regulus 4 and 5 were waving at us in the center of the square. The airship dropped beside them without passing over. Just before the gondola reached the ground, Regulus 5 held it back. "Welcome aboard, Chief." "Thank you." Regulus 5 is holding the gondola so that it does not sway. First Jin, Elsa, and Edgar got off. Then Barrow and Behle. "Ah, um, Jin-sama, who are these people?" "Yes, my name is Beat. This is Mark. Beat is Regulus 5 and Mark is Regulus 4. I had not yet told Barrow and Behle about Jin in detail, so I had no choice. "Well, Beat, Mark, it''s nice to meet you." Finally Reiko came down. "Father, we''ve checked the engine. Everything''s fine." "Thank you very much. Now, Mark, take charge of the airship for a while. Yes, sir. Mark-Regulus4 got into the airship and moved it slowly toward the forest. With this in the background, Jin asked Beat: "Where is the Count? "Is the Count here?" "Yes, he said he would meet us in a carriage." 586 - - 18-06 At the Countess of Kuzma Then we waited for about 10 minutes. I heard the sound of a carriage. The coat of arms was that of the Count of Kuzma. Two medium-sized carriages, each with two horses. "Jin!" The first carriage stopped, and a girl with red hair opened the door and jumped out. "Beena, it''s been a long time! "Yes, it''s been six months, really?No, more than that." Now Beena was dressed in a dress without any unnecessary ornaments and looked like a lady. "It''s been a long time, Miss Elsa." Beena picks up her skirt and performs an abbreviated curtsey. "I''ve already left the Randalls, and I''m now Jin''s sister. So don''t call me ''sir''. I want you to talk to me the same way you always have." Bina rolled her eyes at these words. "What?Was it true that you abandoned the house ......?I thought it was ......." But her words were interrupted by another voice. "Bina, there''s no point in talking here. Welcome to ...... Jin-dono, Miss Elsa. I was surprised when I got your letter yesterday. To their surprise, Count Kuzma himself had come to greet Jin and his party. Jin had sent a letter to Count Kuzma in advance, using Regulus 5, informing him of his intention to visit the Blue Lands. "Long time no see, Count." Jin bowed 45 degrees in the Japanese style. These two are Barrow and Behrle, my butler and chambermaid. And Erza''s automata, Edgar. You know Reiko. And he said " Beat, you said. I was surprised when he brought me a letter yesterday. ......, Bina will get mad at me if I get too chatty. Come on in." Jin, Elsa and Reiko are in the same carriage with the Count. Barrow, Behle, and Edgar got into the carriage behind them. They brought only their hand luggage with them. Beat Regulus5 does not accompany them. "I''ll leave you to it, Mr. Jin." "Yes, thank you." And the carriage starts to move, rumbling along the road to the Blue Lands ......, which I would say is quite a comfortable ride. "Beena got us this far by trial and error," said Count Kuzma. Count Kuzma said. Jin was impressed. He had probably seen the carriage Jin had built in the Kingdom of Egelea, but other than that, he had developed the suspension and dampers all by himself. Passing through the gate, we went deeper and deeper into the central street. By the time we arrived at Count Kuzma''s residence near the center of the city, the short autumn day was almost over, partly because of the late hour. "Once again, welcome. Magecraft Meister, Mister Gin. And Miss Elsa." "Welcome, Master Gin, Miss Erza." In the entrance hall, Count Kuzma and Bina stood side by side to welcome Jin and Erza. They then showed them to their rooms. The four-room suite is a luxurious guest room. Separated from the living room, one room was reserved for Jin, one for Erza, and one for the squires, Barrow and Behr. "I hope it''s okay if we come with you ......". Squires usually have their own quarters. Barrow knew that much. After all, he had been forced to live a hard life in the Kingdom of Celluloa. "I think it''s a good idea. Mr. Luis, Count Kuzma thinks that you are ...... like ...... his guests." Elsa speculates. To put it bluntly, Jin is a guest of honor. He is the only person in the world certified by the government as a . There is no way that Jin''s followers can be treated in a normal way. Therefore, Count Kuzma had decided that Barrow and Behrle would be in charge of Jin''s personal belongings when he was in his room, and that everyone else would be his guests. "Besides, I don''t think it''s as good as the furniture and room Jin made. Even if it was just a futon, nothing could compare to the Horaijima-made futon made of <> and <>. Aside from the design, the quality of the furniture and the magical tools used in daily life. < Jin. Still, this treatment was unexpected, since Barrow and Behle had endured a much worse life in the past. About ten minutes after they had settled into their room, there was a knock at the door. There was a knock at the door and Count Kuzma''s lady-in-waiting arrived. She said, "I have come to inform you that the bathroom is ready for you. Jin and Elsa took a change of underwear from their luggage. Barrow and Behle stayed in the room. Reiko and Edgar, of course, would go with them. They follow the corridor and go down the stairs. The bathroom was in a semi-subterranean room. "The young mistress advised the master to build it," she said. In other words, Bina, who was pleased with the hot springs of the Kunlun Island, recommended the Count to build this bathhouse. By the way, Jin and the others thought it was funny that Bina was already called . It seems that even though she comes from a commoner''s family, she is not underestimated by the servants. Jin and Erza entered the men''s and women''s bathrooms, respectively. Count Kuzma seems to know what he''s doing, leaving Reiko and Edgar to take care of them when they bathe. "Ah, I didn''t expect to be able to bathe in a hot spring here." According to my research, the spring is a salt spring. It is a warming hot spring that does not cool down easily. Although it is not close to the city, it may be because the city is located near the sea in the Kingdom of Egerea. "Father, how is the water?" Reiko asked, knowing that Jin liked a hot bath. "Yes, to be honest, it''s a little lukewarm, but I don''t want to heat someone else''s bath without permission. "I understand." Jin soaked himself in the bath, taking it easy because it was a little lukewarm. Barrow and Behrle went to the servants'' baths in turn. It seems that he allows his servants to use the hot spring as well. The Count''s personality is also evident in this. "Ah, it''s so warming! After getting out of the hot spring and relaxing, the maid of honor came to pick us up, saying that dinner was ready. "Jin-dono, Miss Elsa, and Barrow and Behrle," she said. Count Kuzma seated Barrow and Behr together, albeit at the bottom of the table. It is typical of him, who does not care much about rank. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." However, Barrow and Behrle are nervous to be seated with a nobleman from another country, especially the Count. The butler saw this and quietly spoke to Count Kuzma. "I see. I see. ...... Barrow, Behle, you don''t feel at home here. I''m sorry. Then you''ll have to find another place to relax. One of the maids escorted them to another room where they disappeared. "I still can''t get used to it. ......" Count Kuzma smiles. "I''m sorry, Count, for taking care of you. Jin also thanked him. But Count Kuzma waved his hand to stop him. "No, no, don''t worry about it, Jin-dono. It''s just that I, the host, was not very thoughtful. "Well, let''s have a toast to our reunion." Bina announced in a cheerful voice, dispelling the slightly awkward atmosphere. After the wine was poured into the glasses, the Count led the toast. Then, I would like to express my gratitude for our meeting again. And to our mutual health and happiness. Cheers! Cheers! The clear sound of glasses touching each other echoed as the four sipped their wine. "......That''s a nice wine." It was an aperitif, so it was a slightly dry white wine. Jin is not a wine expert, but he thought it was delicious. "...... Olsen''s 3450?" "Correct, Miss Elsa. That''s quite a feat." Elsa guessed the brand. Both Jin and Bina were surprised, but the Count praised her with open arms. "As it happens. I''ve been drinking this brand for a long time. It sounds a bit like Elsa is a drinker, but Olsen is one of the wine-growing regions of the Shoro Empire, and Reinhardt''s favorite brand, so he drank it every chance he got during the trip. The reason why Jin, who traveled with Reinhardt, did not know about it was because he had drunk it all on the outward journey and could not drink it on the return trip. This is the reason why our conversations over dinner are mainly about the trip. As a side note, the table manners of the Kingdom of Egelea do not prohibit conversation during meals. Rather, it is normal to eat while chatting and laughing. Naturally, the main topics of conversation are about the trip after leaving the Kingdom of Egelea. "Did Miss Elsa go through that? ......" "She was kidnapped and rescued from the sea. ...... She''s like a heroine in the story." Count Kuzma and Bina sound impressed and dismayed. It''s no wonder, since there were so many events that would never have happened in their normal lives. "Jin is pretty much the same way. I didn''t think you were such a great person when I first met you. He was always criticizing my work. "Yeah, I''m sorry about that. I said what I was thinking out loud." "What? The whole group bursts into cheerful laughter. "Yes, yes, congratulations on your belated achievement as a "Magecraft Meister". The story of the technology exposition in the Shoro Kingdom turned into a story about Jin receiving the title of "Magecraft Meister". "Thank you very much." When Jin said this, Count Kuzuma said, "Jin-dono, or may I call you Jin?As a friend, please treat me as you would speak to Reinhardt." Jin had no objections. "There is only one Magecraft Meister in the world. I congratulate you on your honorary knighthood. He said in a casual tone of voice. "Thank you, Count." "Oh, and don''t mention the Count. I have a name, Louis." "Okay, Luis. Is that okay? "Yes, thank you." < "You know that he is engaged to Princess Rieschen of the Kingdom of Klein, don''t you?" "Of course. I mean, we met in the Shoro Kingdom. "Oh, I remember you were on your way there with such a plan. "You guys look like you''re getting along great, you''re a perfect match." "That''s great!" And so the dinner party went on peacefully. 587 - - 18-07 Elza and Humanity "Well, I''d love to go on, but it''s getting late, and I''ve got to finish. Count Kuzma says regretfully. The time is past 10:00 p.m. "I''m sorry," Count Kuzma says. "I''m sorry, but I won''t be able to spend much time with you two tomorrow because I have to prepare for the ceremony. I''m sorry." "No, the day after tomorrow is the wedding, right?Don''t worry about it. "Thank you. ...... but I''m surprised you could visit us at such a good time." "Well, you''re lucky." But it is surprising to see you at such an opportune time." "Well, it''s lucky for me," he replies. I think you will be with us until breakfast tomorrow," the Count said. Jin and Elsa left the dining room to go back to their rooms. The lady-in-waiting offered to show them the way, but since they already knew the route, they decided not to do so. Reiko walked first, and Edgar walked last. On the way, Erza noticed that Jin was slowing down. "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" "I think he drank too much ......." Jin, looking a little pale, answered. "Father, are you all right?" Reiko stopped and turned around, looking worried. "Oh, yes. It seems that the ...... complemented body has been activated, making you more susceptible to intoxication." An unexpected disadvantage is revealed. It seems that the resistance to poison has also been lost. "<>" Elsa''s healing magic. It is the same magic that Jin cast one day when he got carsick. It can heal bad heart as well as injuries, so Jin, who was feeling bad, gets better by this. "...... I feel a little better. Thank you, Elsa. "You''re welcome." The two smile at each other. Reiko looks at them with a mixed expression, happy and sad at the same time. When she returned to her room, Barrow and Behle greeted her. "Welcome home, Jin-sama, Erza-sama." It seemed that they had been waiting for Jin and the others without sleeping. "Oh, you''ve been waiting for us. Thank you. You can rest now." Jin said, and the two bowed and walked away. "Good night, sir." "Good night." Jin leaned back on the sofa in the living room and took a deep breath. "Good night." A glass of water was held out to him. "Here you go, Jin-bro." "Oh, thank you, Elsa." Thirsty Jin gulped down the water. The water was delicious and moderately cold. "Ah, it''s delicious. Thank you." "Mmm." Elsa puts away the glass and sits down in the chair across from Jin. "Bina, you look beautiful. And the way you''re acting." Elsa looks deeply moved, staring off into the distance a little as she speaks. "Yes, really. It''s thanks to the Count. I''m sure he trained you well in manners and such. Jin''s face looks as if he is saying, "I wouldn''t do that if I were you. "You don''t like formalities, do you, Jin?" "Yeah, in my country we didn''t have nobles and commoners. We had to observe certain rules of etiquette, but there was no hierarchy of status. "......, I''m a little curious." "Well, I guess I''m dead over there, so there''s no way for me to visit." "......Yeah." Erza stood up, walked around the table, and sat down on the sofa where Jin was sitting, side by side with her. "Elsa?" "......I''m going to stay with you, Jin. ...... let me stay?" With that, Erza, who had just sat down, jumped to her feet and ran into her room. Edgar followed her. Jin did not notice that Elsa''s face was red. "Elsa?" Still sober, Jin stared blankly at the darkness outside the window, trying to guess the meaning of her words, but Reiko''s voice brought him back to himself. "...... father." "What''s wrong, Reiko?" This time Reiko sits down next to Jin. "......" Reiko leaned against Jin without saying a word. Jin felt Reiko''s warmth and stared into the darkness of the night in silence. Autumn nights make you miss people. Such words flashed through Jin''s mind. "I''d better go to bed." Jin also decided to go to his bedroom. The sky had finally cleared up, and some stars were beginning to twinkle. The next morning, after having breakfast with Count Kuzma and Beena, Jin and the others returned to their room with Elsa, telling the Count that they were sorry they could not be with him today because they had to prepare for tomorrow, and that they hoped he did not mind. "Barrow, Behle, as I told you yesterday, you are free to do whatever you want today. Is there anything you want to do?" This trip was half a vacation for the two of them. "Yes, actually I''ve become friends with Miss Beena''s brother and sister, and they are going to show me around the Blue Lands today. They had been helping each other to clean the garden, but now that they were in good health, Nana was apprenticed as a maid of honor and Lardo as an apprentice butler. They met at dinner last night and became friends as they talked. "Well, have a safe trip. "Yes, thank you." Then there was a knock at the door. Behle opened the door and found Nana and Lardo standing there. "Hello, Jin!Hello! "Hello, long time no see. You look good! "Yes, I''m fine!Thank you for taking care of me! Jin is happy to see them again, now taller and healthier than ever. "I hear you two have become good friends?" "Yes! Nana answers cheerfully. Barrow is 15, Behle is 14. Nana and Lardo are 12. It was inevitable that they would become friends in the Count''s mansion, which was full of adults, since they were relatively close in age. "So, you''re going to show them around, right?" "Yes!" Jin smiled and took out four gold coins from his pocket. "I''ll give you one each. Nana and Lardo as a reward for showing the two of us around. For Barrow and Behle, some pocket money." "So much for ......." "Are you sure?" He hands the gold coins to Nana and Lardo, who are hesitant to take them. "Thank you, Jin-sama!" Barrow and Behrle, who knew firsthand how out of character Jin was, accepted the gold coins without hesitation. "Now what should we do? After Barrow and his friends left, Jin sat down on the sofa and thought. "Brother Jin, what about the gift for the celebration? The wedding gift Jin had made for tomorrow was still on Horai Island. It is not loaded on the airship because it will become luggage. "Yes, that will be fine in the evening. Erza suggested to Jin. "If you want to ......, why don''t you come with me to look around the Blue Lands?" 588 - - 18-08 Blue Land Tourist "We have been waiting for you." Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Edgar left Count Kuzma''s mansion on foot and met Regulus 5-Beat on the outskirts of the noble district. Jin and Erza plan to take a leisurely tour of the Blue Lands. Their guide is Regulus 5-Beat. Today Beat looks like a wealthy merchant. Parts of the Blue Lands are inhabited by such wealthy people. Dark blond hair and gray eyes. The plain face is meant to keep a low profile. I need you to show me around today. "Yes, sir." The five of us walk leisurely down the street. The people on the street are dressed in autumnal attire, and the atmosphere is somber. "You have good design sense. ...... is that a fad?" Girlishly, Elsa noticed one woman''s fashion. She was wearing a dark dress in dark blue and a slightly dull yellow cardigan. The dress was a typical outfit, but she was wearing a scarf around her collar. The stole was a little unusual. The fabric was a rainbow-colored fabric. Was it dyed or woven? "That''s the latest trend in iridescent dyeing, isn''t it? The colors change depending on the light. The colors are bright iridescent, more like opal than iridescent. "Pearl color, I guess." Jin muttered to himself, but then he noticed that Erza was still following the woman with her eyes. "Erza, do you want that stole?" "What?......No." Elsa denies it, but her eyes are still glancing to the side. "Beat, is there a store that carries that kind of thing?" "Yes, this way." Beat knew exactly what he was doing and led Jin and the others to the clothing store. "Welcome. What can I help you with? A woman in her mid-twenties came in. She said, "I''d like to see a scarf dyed in rainbow colors. I''d like to see a scarf. "Sure." After Jin said these words, the clerk went into the back of the store and came back soon after. In his hands were several stoles. "These are in fashion this year. This one is popular among young people. ......" Plain ones like the one the lady was wearing, light-colored ones with patterns on them, and ones in muted colors that looked rainbow-colored in the right light were displayed on the table. The fabric was silk. The pigment has large ...... particles. (The pigments are more like pigments than dyes, I guess.) Jin secretly analyzes it with engineering magic. Erza, on the other hand, is holding the stole in her hand and looking at it. "Wouldn''t this look good on me?" Today Erza is not wearing her usual young grass-colored one-piece dress, but a maxi-length long-sleeved one-piece dress in purple almost black and a beige hat. She is not wearing a cardigan. Jin chose a rainbow-dyed scarf with a light blue base. He chose it because it seemed to go with the autumn sky. "Really?I''ll take this one then." Elsa wrapped it around her collar and told the clerk. "Thank you very much. It suits you very well. The clerk nodded when she said she would wear it as is. When Jin said he would pay for the dress, Erza was a little hesitant, but eventually she agreed to pay for it. 3,500 Tall ...... about 35,000 yen. Jin had no idea whether it was expensive or inexpensive, but considering the special nature of the dye, it was probably a reasonable price. "Thank you, Brother Jin. As Jin was leaving the store, he found a scarf that seemed to be made of wool. It was soft to the touch and light brown in color. "I like this one." Jin bought it, too. It cost 1200 dollars. "Reiko, look. "Father?I''m ...... Reiko is about to say something, but Jin interrupts her and continues. "I know you''re not cold. I know you''re not cold, but when you walk around town, you should at least be wearing this, right? "Thank you for ......." Elsa also calls out to Reiko. "Reiko, my brother Jin, you''re very kind." "Yes. ......" Reiko''s black dress and white apron matched well with her light brown stole. Elsa was also in a good mood with the stole around her neck. "Where should we go next?" "Well, is there a store that sells daily necessities?" As the daily necessities reflect the degree of culture and people''s life, I was also interested in them. "This is the place for you," Beat led me to. Beat led us to a rather large tool store. It seemed to deal in both magical and ordinary tools. "Oh, there is a refrigerator. It had a slightly rounded design with corners removed from the initial square design, and the price had dropped a little to about 800,000 yen ($80,000.00). "Sir, that is a magic tool made by the upcoming Count Kuzma''s wife, Bina, and it is currently the best-selling item in the store. The clerk explained. "And this lighter. And this is a water heater. This is a water heater. All of them are made by Mr. Beena. It seems that Beena has a good reputation among the public. It seems that she continued to develop magic tools even after the Golem Party. They went out of the store, shrugging off the shopkeeper''s insistent offer to buy a refrigerator, saying that they were on a trip. "Hmm, what is that?" A familiar-looking interior was under construction in a vacant lot in town. Flat stone floors and square recesses....... "It is a public bathhouse using hot spring water. It is a project discovered by Mr. Beena, promoted by Count Kuzma, and spearheaded by the Duke of Brouw. Not only in the villa, but also in the whole town. This is a good thing in terms of welfare for the residents, Jin thought. "Well, let''s go somewhere for lunch. "Well, let''s go to ......." As Beat was about to lead the way, Erza spotted a stall. A savory smell wafted through the air. "...... popcorn." The aroma of butter instead of vegetable oil. Jin, feeling nostalgic, went to the stall. "Welcome!" The store has a slightly upscale feel, as the clientele is different from those outside the walls where he and Beena used to store. The popcorn machine is also more elegant, and the wrappings are made from thin wooden boards instead of pine leaves. The price has also gone up from 5 to 20 tokens (about 200 yen). It is no wonder that they use butter, which is a high-class ingredient, and it is no wonder that they are within the city walls where only the wealthy are allowed to eat. "Yes, the butter gives it a nice flavor. "...... delicious." Jin buys two pieces, one for Elsa and one for himself, and picks them up as he walks away. Compared to vegetable oil, butter has a better flavor. "I guess I''ll just have to settle for a street vendor..." Jin said. Jin suggested, and Erza nodded in agreement, so they decided to buy two hot dog-like items. "Oh, they are rather tasty." The meat between the buns was bacon-like meat, not sausage, but with a good balance of flavors. Elsa seemed to like it as well and devoured it in no time at all. "Here you go, father. ...... Elsa, too." When I finished eating, Reiko offered me a glass of juice. She had thoughtfully bought it for me. "Oh, thank you, Reiko. ......Yeah, this is good too. "Delicious." It was a fruit-flavored juice. It seems to be a mix of citran, april and others. Next is ...... I want to try that one. Elsa pointed to boiled corn. "Okay, let''s eat it." In this way, Jin and his friends enjoyed sightseeing. "Well, what about the gift?" Around 2:00 p.m.. Jin instructed the old man to send a package to this place. But... "Father, I received a message from the old man. He''s already sent the package to your father''s room in Count Kuzma''s mansion by transporter. "I see." Jin was impressed by the old man''s maneuvering. Two of the <>, Lily and Rose, are supposed to be at home, so there will be no problem to receive them. Now the congratulations for tomorrow''s wedding have arrived. They will have sent the wedding clothes along with them, so they will be fine too. "Well, let''s go see some more of the Blue Lands, shall we?" "Yes. So it was well after dark when Jin and Erza returned to Count Kuzma''s mansion. 589 - - 18-09 Wedding October 10. The wedding of Count Luis Wurtz Kuzma and Beena. The ceremony is to be held at the residence of the Duke of Bruu, Lord of Breuland. Jin is wearing the long coat of the . "The Kingdom of Egelea doesn''t have the authority of the church either, does it?" "It''s the same everywhere. The church lost its authority during the Magic War. Erza replies to Jin''s mutterings. Whether one believed in God or not, no, the priests and those in the priesthood had more magical power and were more vulnerable to the <>. This led to the spread of the perception that God did not protect the believers and the downfall of the authority of the Church. * * * * * * * * * * * The wedding was to be held in the great hall of the duke''s residence. In the Kingdom of Egelea, the wedding ceremony was witnessed by a high ranking nobleman who gave a report of the couple''s marriage. In the case of royalty, the report is made by the predecessor if the predecessor is still alive, or by a portrait if the predecessor is no longer alive. The basic concept is the same as that of the Shoro Kingdom. In the case of the Counts of Kuzma, it is the Duke of Bruu who is the lord of the house. The bride and groom are about to enter. The voices of the people who had been murmuring until then stopped. The front doors of the hall opened and the couple entered. Count Kuzma was dressed in white and gold, and Bina in a pure white dress. The two walk arm in arm through the crowd and stand in front of the Duke of Breu, who is waiting at the far end of the hall. "Luis Wurtz Kuzma, Count of Egelea, I now pronounce Beena Lonsdale to be my wife. "Beena, daughter of Bernard Hams Lonsdale, Earl of Egelea, I take you to be my wife, Master Lewis." It seems that Beena, a commoner, was once adopted by the Earl of Lonsdale in order to marry Count Kuzma. Jin commented that this was similar to the samurai families of the Edo period. Of course, this is something he learned from the historical dramas that the Director likes to watch. "Good luck to Louis Wurz Kuzma, and to Beena Lonsdale, Beena Kuzma. Once the Duke of Broux had solemnly approved their marriage, the ceremony itself was over. The silent room was filled with applause. The couple turned around and headed back to the exit amidst applause and cheers. "It''s a very simple ceremony, isn''t it?" Jin muttered to himself as he applauded, and Erza explained to him. "The ceremony itself tends to be simple everywhere. The lively part is the reception afterwards. "Ah ...... I see." When I think back, the wedding ceremony of Reinhardt and his family was not so long. In the case of the nobles, the reception that awaited them afterwards could be said to be the real event. The bride and groom greeted the guests and presented their gifts to the guests, and literally awaited them. (I might secretly offer them some Persica juice (......)) (I might secretly offer them some Persian juice... ). While the people who attended the wedding were waiting in the hall, the stewards and attendants of the Duke of Breu were preparing for the reception with all their might. Tables with food and wine were brought in, flowers were decorated, and chairs were laid out. It was a sight to behold as such work was done without any sense of haste and solemnity. About 20 minutes after the ceremony. The bride and groom appeared just as the wedding party was getting ready. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Here comes the bride and groom. Please welcome them with applause! The facilitator was apparently the head butler of the duke''s family. He is a tall, nice middle-aged man. He had a clear baritone voice, and some of the attendants looked at him enthusiastically. While the 51 participants were applauding heartily, the two entered once again, dressed in gorgeous costumes. "Oh ......" "Beautiful ......." Such murmurs came from all over the venue. Count Kuzma was dressed in a black top and bottom with a tailcoat-like design, while Bina was in a bright red dress. Once again, they walked to the far end where the Duke of Breu was waiting for them and sat down on a raised seat. "Ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by introducing you to the bride and groom: ......" Jin thought inwardly, "What kind of public execution is this? What kind of public execution is this? When he was on the earth, he had been forced to attend a wedding of his senior in his office, and he remembered that his bad friends from school had held a black history contest and the bride''s side had been pulled down by the crowd. As expected, the two on the stage were red in the face. After such an embarrassing time, it was time for the attendants to give words to the couple. At this time, gifts are often presented together. Most of the gifts are arranged along one wall of the hall, and it is a simple matter of removing the cloth covering them. The first one, of course, is the witness, the Duke of Breu. "Congratulations, Count Kuzma and Bina. I hope that from now on you will work together to serve your country and build a good family. "Thank you, Count Kuzma." The gift from the Duke is a crystal ornament in the shape of two eagles. Eagles can only mate with a certain partner during their lifetime, so they are said to have a meaning of conjugal harmony. The second is a knight, a royal representative. His name is Bruno Thales Bright. He was the vice-captain of the Kingsguard, as Jin recalled. The reason why the second knight is a royal representative is that the Duke of Breu is a cousin of the present King Egelea, which means that he is related to the royal family. The gift was a bust of a mature man. According to the story, he was the late Count Kuzma''s father. The Count was thrilled to receive it. The third was Beena''s father-in-law, the Earl and Countess Bernard Hams Lonsdale. "Congratulations, Lewis. Congratulations, Beena. I hope you can always count on me in the future if you ever need anything. "Thank you very much." The Earl of Lonsdale was a good friend of Count Kuzma''s father, and he and the Countess had agreed to act as the couple''s parents this time. Their gifts were a ceremonial sword for Count Kuzma and a beautifully decorated sword for Bina. For Bina, a beautifully decorated dagger. When Erza saw Bina receive the dagger, she remembered the time when Jin gave it to her. She thinks back with a hint of regret that she did not know anything about the world at that time. "Elsa?" Elsa''s hand was resting lightly on Jin''s left elbow as she was escorting him, but then she felt a force on her hand. "Oh ...... sorry, please, I just remembered something from the past ......" "......Ah." Somehow, Jin looked at the two guests of honor on the stage again without saying anything more. The Countess of Galana, who is also a count residing in the Blue Lands, attended the event as a representative of the family. The head of the family said that he was still recovering from his injuries sustained at the golem party, but to what extent was this true? Some people who knew the situation - Jin was one of them - guessed that he really did not want to show his face at a party where Bina, whom he once tried to attack, was going to become a bride. ---Jin was one of them. The next dozen or so were aristocrats who were acquainted with each other, followed by several large merchants. All of these merchants seemed to be those who had profited from Beena''s magic tools. "Mr. Reinhard Randall von Adamus, Magi Engineer of the Shoro Kingdom and friend of the two of you. A gift from Reinhardt is unveiled. "Oh?" I thought it was something like a square board ......, but it turned out to be a catalog. There was a picture of a carriage on it. It is a small carriage for four people. It is said to be light and comfortable to ride. Reinhardt, who had time to spare, gave the carriage as a gift. "Magecraft Meister, Sir Gin Nidor. His sister, Miss Elsa." The real finality was Jin and Erza. < Magecraft Meister?) Such a young man is a Magecraft Meister?) I heard that he has been certified as a Magecraft Meister by the Kingdom of Klein and the Shoro Empire.) Jin and Erza put all these noises aside and headed for the platform in the back of the room. "Count and Countess, congratulations! Jin wondered if he was being ungrateful in saying this, and then he said the words of congratulations. "Thank you, Sir Jin Nido. "I send you my warmest congratulations." With these words, he pointed his hand and a piece of cloth was taken from his hand. It was Reiko who took it. "Oh!" The people in the pew were all saying the same thing, but with the same surprise. There was a golem. But it was not just a golem. In terms of design, it was similar to the golem maids working on Horai Island. In addition, there was a silver tray in his hand, and on the tray were a pair of tumblers and a pair of wineglasses, red and blue, respectively. The golem is me, Jin. The tumbler and wine glass are from my sister, Elsa. The red one is made of ruby and the blue one of sapphire. The faceted and beautiful design is Elsa''s. The movements of the man walking slowly are smooth and human, without a trace of awkwardness. "Ummm...... as expected of the magical engineer Magicraft Meister and his sister......." Whispers akin to sighs escaped from everywhere. With Jin as the last, the reception turns into a banquet. The time was just noon. "Well then, ladies and gentlemen, here we are, to celebrate the bride and groom and toast!And enjoy the party to the fullest! 590 - - 18-10 Sickness and Countermeasures "Mister Gin, I''m Baron Yalmaani, I live in the castle. A drink to mark our acquaintance. "Sir Jinn Nidor, my name is Nareef, and I do business in the Blue Lands. After the banquet, many people came to meet Jin Nido. "Elsa-san, that was a beautiful glass. It''s wonderful that you and your siblings are both skilled in magecraft. "Miss Elsa, I am the wife of a Stroen who runs a store in the neighboring town of Crossgor. I look forward to getting to know you better. Of course, Elsa was also inundated with female guests. "Are you married, Mr. Jin? I have a daughter who will be 15 this year. ...... "Does Miss Elsa have a partner already? And so on.......... Then... "Thank you for today, Jin." "Thank you, Elsa." The bride and groom, who were making their rounds, came up to Jin and the others just in time. "As usual, no, in a good way, but what an amazing skill you have! Count Kuzma said as he poured white wine from the butler''s wine cooler into the glass in Jin''s hand. "When did you become a magecraftsman, Elsa?That glass was amazing. Bina says as she offers Elsa a glass of sweet cocktail from the tray that the maid of honor has given her. The two guests of honor had shown a clear sign that they wanted to talk, and the crowd around Jin and Elsa dispersed into their own separate groups. "Thank you, Luis." "Haha, Jin doesn''t seem to be good at that kind of thing. I''m tired of taking him seriously. < or or . But don''t say <> by mistake. "I see. ......" I guess there are some differences in this kind of social etiquette depending on the country. "...... is a good lesson for me." Erza was also relieved that the two of them had come to her rescue, since her own parents (then nanny and maid of honor) had kept her away from the social scene as much as possible, and she was not familiar with such verbal socializing. "But really, when we broke up before, Erza couldn''t do anything about magic craft, could she?" "Yes. I left home and went to live with my brother Jin, and that''s what he taught me. "At best, you''ve been at it for six months and a bit. ...... I''m not so sure." "It''s the same for me. Bina, you''ve become so nice. You speak in a friendly tone now, but your bearing is that of a lady now. You could go out in a social setting and not look out of place. I can''t do it." "Oh, thank you." Bina blushed and was dismayed when she heard this from the original noblewoman. "I know how hard you worked for this. "I know how hard Beena has been working. "Yes, of course I will." "Luis-sama ......" The Count hugs Beena''s shoulder after Elsa''s words. Beena''s cheeks are stained. Bina looks happy. Marriage ...... or ......) A small tingle runs through Elsa''s heart as she sees Bina smiling happily. (......?) Elsa does not yet know what that tingle is. The next moment after she felt the tingle, another voice distracted her. "We have received a letter of congratulations and a gift from Reinhard Randall, Lord of Kaltz Village in the Shoro Imperial Kingdom, and his wife, Bertje." "...... wasn''t it with my brother Rai''s carriage?" "I wonder if there was some kind of mistake and the date it arrived was off?" I think that''s about it. Both Elsa and Jin were more interested in what had been sent to them. They did not know that Bertsche had given it to them. Reinhardt didn''t tell us either when we talked to him through the manacam. Two ladies-in-waiting bring a package. "From Reinhard''s wife. I wonder what it is. I''m looking forward to it." Count Kuzma was curious, too. And then the package is opened. "Oh?" Four crystal bottles, each about 500 cc. Inside them was an amber liquid. "There''s a note on it. "...... something, <>?" I knew it, Jin thought. He recognized the dark amber liquid. He was amazed at how they prepared such a large amount of maple syrup at such an out-of-season time of year. The sap of sugar maple trees, the raw material for maple syrup, is normally collected from winter to spring. Autumn is the season when the sap is the least abundant. "Well, it is a very sweet nectar made from the sap of this special tree. The Count reads the accompanying note. "Yes, I''ve had a prototype of it and it was really sweet and delicious. I''ve had two liters of it. ......" "Mmm. It''s sweet and delicious. Jin adds and Elsa confirms. "I''m glad to hear that. Bina, I''ll ask you later. "Yes,............ you." Bina replies with a blush on her cheeks. She looks so innocent. Seeing them together, the guests applauded again in celebration. * * * * * ...... Jin left the hall and sobered up. "Father, are you all right?" "Yeah, I''m fine. I''m ...... getting drunk more easily. ......" I''ve become easily intoxicated since my cells were activated. However, I sobered up quickly, but it was still a disadvantage that I became weak against alcohol. Until now, I had never been more than a little tipsy no matter how much I drank. This was because most of the cells in my body had been inactive, and therefore, the body was not reacting as it should. "Brother Jin, are you all right? Erza also came to me, concerned. "Yes, I''m fine. But this is not good if we don''t do something about it. ...... I think with my drunken mind, but I can''t come up with a good idea. "......Try something. " "Oh, oh?" Erza casts a healing spell of detoxification on Jin, and the effect is extraordinary. "...... I sobered up in no time at all. I see,...... so drunkenness is a poisonous state,......." The sober mind develops normal logic. I remember now that the healer Sally Mireshan used < to sober up. Indeed, alcohol in the blood is a foreign substance. No wonder <> works. "......, then, accessories with detoxification effects are also possible." Then you can switch between being drunk when you want to be drunk and not being drunk when you don''t want to be drunk. "......After all, Jin-brother is Jin-brother." Erza laughed at me when I was absorbed in such thoughts. "......Yes, that''s right. I''m sure you''ve heard about Count Kuzma and Bina''s wedding today. Scratching his head, Jin patted Erza on the shoulder. "Shall we go back?" "Yes. Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar return to the hall. This time, they decide to stay quiet by the wall so as not to be seen. Count Kuzma and Bina can be seen going around the hall with them, greeting each other. "......That''s a lot of work, isn''t it?" "Hmmm.... But Beena, you look happy. Saying this, Elsa took half a step closer to Jin, their shoulders almost touching, and leaned against the wall. Reiko was standing on the opposite side of Jin, leaning against him, and he had his hand on her shoulder. Elsa looked at him sideways and hesitated whether to take his arm or not, and then decided to take a cocktail glass held by a lady-in-waiting patrolling the hall. 591 - - 18-11 Silent Talks 32 Maroom and Beena My name is Marm. I am a lady''s maid in the service of Count Kuzma. I started as an apprentice when the father of the current Count, Luis, was in good health. When I came to the house, Master Luis had just been born. He and his wife are good people, and although it was difficult for me to learn the work, there were few hardships. My family was a merchant, but my father''s business failed and the family split up. I had to take care of my younger sister, so I became an apprentice to the previous Count. I started serving him when I was 14 years old. ......This gives away my age, doesn''t it? Yes, I will be 38 this year. Let me back up. After about three years, I went from being an apprentice to an official lady-in-waiting. The head maid of honor at the time was a woman named Aruna, who was a kind but strict boss. All my skills were trained by her. In the winter of that year, his wife died of illness. The little boy, Luis, was only 3 years old. Then it was decided that I would take care of the little boy. The reason is simple. I was the maid closest in age to the late Mistress. She was 19. I was 17 at the time. The other maidservants were in their mid-twenties at the youngest. For a while, Mistress Lewis couldn''t understand that her mother had passed away (of course, she was only 3 years old), and she cried a lot at night. So they looked for someone to sleep with him, and I was chosen. After I started to sleep with him, Master Luis stopped crying at night. But I am sure that I was delayed because of this role. The marriageable age for women is between 15 and 25. I devoted just that period of my life to the Lord Luis. I have no regrets. It may be inappropriate for me to say this, but I consider Luis as if he were my son. I served him. The master---the previous Count was a single man who never had an attendant. I think he could not forget her. Even from my point of view as a homos*xual, she was a wonderful person. When Luis was just 10 years old, there was a conflict on the border with the neighboring Kingdom of Cerroa. It brought misfortune. The master---the previous count---sent to the battlefield as the commander of a company and lost his life. When the news came, Master Lewis accepted the fact without shedding a tear. Ten years old is old enough to take over the reigns of a noble family. At that moment, my little boy disappeared and became the . The new head of the family, Master Luis, sat at his desk every day. He was learning from the family lords so that he could quickly become a worthy successor to his predecessor. But I know. I know that at night, when everyone was asleep, Master Luis was alone, weeping aloud. In the twinkling of an eye, Master Luis has grown up to be an honorable man and has even participated in the government of the country. Before I knew it, I was appointed as the head maid of honor, in charge of all the ladies-in-waiting. Aruna?She retired at the age of 50. And my younger sister grew up and married a merchant. One day... * * * One day. One day, a boy, or rather a master, took a young lady into his house. Her name is Bina, a magecraftsman. She''s quite a young woman, but she''s got a very strong mindset and says she wants to make things that will be useful to the common people. That''s good. It is also good that she has a younger brother and a younger sister who were taken in with her and work in the house --- only as imitators. But they are talking to the Master in a friendly way. I wonder if the Master is planning to take her as his wife. ....... My heart is aflutter. What is the Master''s happiness? Now that I am the only one who knows about the previous master and his wife, it is my duty to think about the happiness of my . There was an event called the Golem Garden Party in the capital. The Master, as a countess, was to prepare a golem. And the Master hired a young magecraftsman named Jin Nido to make a golem. I don''t know anything about golems, but the golem made by Jin Nido was a wonderful piece of work. The only complaint I have is that it looks just like Ms. Beena. But that is the Master''s request, not mine to interfere. But there was one thing that made me happy. The golem, which was to be presented to the royal family, was modeled after me inside, if not outside. And I was told later that the golem protected the king and the prince with her own body. I am proud to be a model for her. No, let''s rejoice that the royal family''s affection for the master will be more blessed. I am not a model, but I am a model. That Miss Beena has become the Master''s fiancee. As a commoner, she could be a concubine but not a full-fledged wife. Therefore, a friend of the previous generation, the Earl Bernard Hams Lonsdale, became her foster father. However, Bina''s behavior is not that of a nobleman''s wife. She should behave in a manner befitting a wife of a master who is a part of the national government. ....... The behavior of the wife may cause her husband to be disrespected and belittled. I am sorry to say, but such is the way of aristocratic society. For the sake of your happiness and that of the two of you, I have made up my mind to be serious. No, you shouldn''t pick up the hem of her skirt so much. "Yes." "Yes, and shortly!" "...... yes." I''m training Miss Beena now. I thought it would be my last task to at least make her worthy of being a countess. No!When you drink tte--tte, you hold the saucer with your left hand. "...... yes." "Oh my God, you should pick the cup instead of holding it!" "...... yes." Her frustration with me is evident on her face, but I don''t let it bother me. "Clean more quietly!You''re making the dust stand up!" Bina seems to have a bit of a temper, and her cleaning is a bit messy. "I can''t clean because I''m an aristocrat," she says, "that''s no excuse. That would be a disservice to your husband''s reputation. We practice hard from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. I am tired, too, but this is the best I can do. I am also tired, but this is for my husband''s sake. "In the bathroom, I sometimes join other noble ladies. You must cover your front with a towel, be aware of your surroundings when you pour hot water on your body, and avoid splashing hot water on others." "Yes, ......" I expected her to immediately raise her voice, but to my surprise, Bina followed my lead. "Listen, in the bedroom, you are not allowed to sleep before your husband. After your husband is on the floor, you must say <> and lie down." "......" But I can see that she is on the verge of an emotional outburst towards me. But I will continue to handle her without caring. However, Bina endured one or two months without an emotional outburst. The strength of her endurance was undoubtedly the letter from her husband, who is currently in King''s Landing on business. And I must admit that her love for her husband is the foundation of her strength. Good luck, Ms. Beena. You can hate me as much as you want. ....... It was the end of August, two months past the scheduled date, when the Master returned from the big job of cleaning up the golem incident in King''s Landing. "I''m home now, Beena." "Mr. Lewis!" Beena''s face was the most radiant I had ever seen, freed from the loneliness of not seeing him for 5 months. "Did you miss me?I missed you too. And the face of the husband who held her hand was also something I had never seen ...... before. At this moment, I realized once again that my < was nowhere to be found. However, I did not feel lonely. Well, to be honest, I did miss him a little. I have neither a husband nor children. I don''t mean to be arrogant, but my << boy> is like a child to me. No parent would be sad to see their child become a man and marry a woman. I feel that I now have the peace of mind to honestly congratulate you both. I am happy for you and your family. Today is their wedding day. Their lord, the Duke of Breu, will be the officiant. It''s not an occasion that a mere maid of honor is allowed to attend. I''m content to wish them happiness from afar. There''s nothing more I can do. I will pack my bags slowly. I don''t want to disturb the young couple, and above all, Bina, now that she is a countess, will not forgive me. No, I don''t think she would accuse me to my face, but I think it is unforgivable to have a maid of honor whom I hate, even loathe, in your presence. In that case, it would be better for the family if you left without saying a word. Just as you hired me, a 14-year-old, as an apprentice maid that day, you can hire someone new. With the maidservants who serve you now, you will be able to do your household chores for the time being. It will be a little sad to leave the house where I have worked for 24 years, but I consider it a new beginning. ...... ......I shouldn''t, I almost burst into tears. Today is a new beginning for two young people. Tears are bad luck. Gently turn your chest and take a step: ....... * * * * "Oh." "Marm?" I was just about to walk out the front door when, lo and behold, I ran into the master and his wife. Why did they come back so early ......? As I was thinking about this, the Master asked me a question. "What in the world...... are you wearing?" I was thinking about that, and the Master asked me, "What in the world are you wearing? "Marm, what''s going on?Why are you leaving?" I have no choice but to tell you the truth. "Boy...... no, sir. From today on, you and your wife will create a new history for the Countess. There is no need for old people. That''s why I''m ......" But the master didn''t let me say anything and snatched the package out of my hand. "I won''t let you do it, okay?You are like my ...... mother. What kind of son would kick his mother out of the house just because she got married!" What a nice thing to say. But what will your wife say ....... "Yes, Mr. Mallum. I know you are not happy to call a commoner like me your Mistress, but for the sake of Luis, please stay here. And I hope you will continue to teach me what I am not doing well." The words came out of her mouth unexpectedly. "Today, when I went to the ceremony, I understood. This is the reason why Mr. Mallum has been so strict with me all these years," she said. Thank you ....... I just wanted to say that." Oh, you''re so kind, young missus. I can see that the Master chose her. "Are you sure ......?" I''m asking you too. The young mistress took my hand and bowed. Her hand was so warm that I couldn''t help but cry ....... And today, as Countess Kuzma''s maid of honor, I am in charge of the young ladies-in-waiting. Now, my greatest pleasure is to hold my little boy in my hands. May this happiness last forever. 592 - - 18-12 High Altitude Flights Count and Countess Kuzma''s wedding and reception were a success. "It would be a pity to keep these two young people tied up indefinitely," said the Duke of Breu. The reception ended at 4:00 p.m., as the Duke of Broux had planned. The reception usually lasts until midnight. Jin was very grateful because he could not stay with the couple for that long. "But we''d better not disturb them..." "Hmm..." Jin and Erza exchanged a few words and decided to return a little later. * * * * * * "......" "What''s that?" After a pause of about five minutes, they returned to the Count''s residence and found the Count and Bina embracing in front of the entranceway with Marm, the head chambermaid. "...... I believe I heard that Ms. Mallum was also the foster mother of Master Lewis." "I see, so she greeted him in her own way. ...... but what about that package?" "I don''t know that much." Jin and Erza went around to the service gate and quietly entered the Count''s mansion, thinking that it would be better not to ask. "Well, tomorrow morning we will finally leave for the Shoro Kingdom. Jin explained with Barrow and Behrle joining him. "Yes, thank you very much. "I see you''ve made friends with those two, I''m sorry. I''m sorry I haven''t been able to spend more time with them. "No, I understand how you feel, Jin-sama, about not wanting to disturb the newlyweds. Behrle said this, but he still looked somewhat lonely. So Jin decided to follow up. "Well, as you have learned from what happened this time, you can come here in a day by airship. "Yes!" The two nodded in good spirits, understanding the implied nuance that they would probably come back again. The next morning, after having breakfast with the Count and Countess, Jin decided to leave early. "I wish you could have spent more time here," Count Kuzma told Jin. Count Kuzma said to Jin, "I wish you could have taken more time, "I''m sure I''ll come back when you two are settled. You know I can do that, don''t you? He implicitly hinted at the warp gate. "Yeah, I guess so. Take care, Jin, Miss Elsa. "Come back soon, Jin. Erza, good luck. See you soon. Someday. While Jin and Erza were saying goodbye to the Count and Countess, Barrow and Behrle were also saying goodbye to Nana and Lardo. "Well then, Nana and Lardo, take care of yourselves. "Take care of yourself, Behr and Barrow. After saying goodbye to their master and servant, they left the gate of the count''s house, and Regulus 5-beat, a member of the 5th Quinta, was standing there with four golem horses. "Master Jin, why are these horses here?" Golem horses were commonly used in the village of Kaina, and both Barrow and Bele had ridden them before. But they were surprised to find them in a place like this. Barrow and Behle knew that golem horses were not something that could be found anywhere, even though common sense was beginning to break down. To tell the truth, they had temporarily brought them here using the warp gate located on the outskirts of Blueland. The four golem horses, Jin and Reiko, Elsa and Edgar, Barrow and Behrle, and Beat and his luggage, were divided into groups and headed for the suburbs. The airship had already sailed to the square. Regulus 4-Mark''s deftness shines through. Jin praised Mark and congratulated Beat. "Well, let''s go! The airship in which Jin and the others boarded slowly climbed to a higher altitude. Only two fifth-row quintas look on. "Let''s fly!" The distance between the Blue Lands and the village of Kaltz, Reinhardt''s domain in the Shoro Kingdom is less than 900 kilometers. If we were to stay overnight on the way, we would have to stay in the Kingdom of Cerroa. In many ways, we wanted to avoid that. Therefore, Jin planned to fly to the Kingdom of Shoro in one day. It''s a little too late to say ......, even if it''s a little bit illegal to do so. "We''re going up!" The Kingdom of Cerroa does not grant permission for Jin to enter or leave the country. So he''s going to go to a very high altitude to avoid any trouble. Furthermore, they intend to make maximum use of the wind barrier to reduce air resistance and increase their speed. The environment of super-high altitude is also convenient for this purpose. "fluaa......" The view from an altitude of 10,000 meters was breathtaking. Although the air pressure and temperature are maintained by the wards, which do not affect the crew, it is an environment in which humans would not normally be able to survive. However, because of this, what we could see was an extraordinary world. A sea of clouds as far as the eye can see. The sky overhead is a clear blue. "We are above the clouds, and it''s sunny all year round." The people who are saying such things as, "It''s beautiful," are also admiring the scene. "...... beautiful." Erza was also gazing at the mystical scene in awe. Even at such a high altitude, we never lose sight of the direction of Kaltz village because of the Magi Detector. The airship flew at a speed of nearly 150 kilometers per hour. If the airship continued to fly at that speed for about five hours, it would already have entered the Shoro Kingdom. Jin decided to reduce the altitude and speed. The Shoro Empire was clear, and the airship was losing altitude without breaking through the cloud layer. "Uh, Jin-sama?Where are we?" "Yes, we should be near Maggiroots." "What? Regulus 9 of the 5th Quinta, in charge of the neighboring town of Montt, was guiding us, so we were able to set a precise course even above the sea of clouds. "Oh, oh, um, Mr. Jin, are you sure?" "Yes, yes. Don''t you recognize me? "Uh... ......" Barrow is startled and panicked, and Behle stares at the ground. "Oh, Barrow, look!...... Look, there''s the village!It''s the village!It''s the chief''s house, that watchtower!" The area was covered with withered corn fields. Corn and beans are crops suited to arid regions. This area seemed to be a corn producing area. As Jin''s airship approached, the villagers noticed and pointed up at the sky, panicking. This is a natural reaction for those who have seen the technology expo but not for those who have never seen an airship before. Jin landed in a grassy area on the outskirts of the village. Regulus-9 rushes toward him. He is a young automaton with brown hair and brown eyes. He is dressed like a nobleman''s servant. "Chief, we''ve been expecting you. "Thank you very much. Take care of the airship. Don''t let the children play tricks on it. Among the villagers staring off into the distance, I could see the faces of children. "Hey! one of the children shouts. "Oh my God, that''s Barrow!" "There''s Behr too!" "Who the hell is that?" The villagers'' excitement grew even louder. Excuse me, who are you?I am the tax collector for the Etlandt region, Fliks Becker." He was a solidly built man of about 30 years of age. He has chestnut-colored hair and blue eyes, which is a common color in the Shoro Empire. "I am the Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido. And this is my sister, Elsa. I am a Magi Engineer. Jin and Erza each introduced themselves. "<>?You are the one! The tax collector, who introduced himself as Frix Becker, seemed to know Jin''s name, and he gave a short salute in the Shoro style, placing his right hand on his chest. This is also done for lower nobility below the rank of baron. "I beg your pardon!What can I do for you in this village?" Jin nodded and replied. "Yes. These two are Barrow and Behle, who work for me. I brought them here today because they are returning to their hometown. 593 - - 18-13 Returning to ones hometown After explaining the purpose of his visit to the village, Jin and Erza head for the village chief''s house. Reiko and Edgar followed with their luggage. Barrow and Behrle also went to the chief''s house to explain the situation. "Well, Barrow, you''re looking good! "I thought you were working in the Kingdom of Celluloa, but you''re working for the Magecraft Meister, the Magical Engineer?That''s amazing!" You''ve grown a little taller, haven''t you? "Hey, where''s your souvenir?" Barrow''s family members follow him, calling out. "Yes, I''ll see you later." Barrow''s face was also a little smiling. But Behle had no one to call out to. (I remember he said his family was gone...). Jin recalls the story he told me when I hired him. Still, it''s a place that makes you want to go back home. "This way, please." Jin''s thoughts were dashed by the voice of the village headman. He found himself in front of the mayor''s house. Jin was ushered into the reception room to face Frix Becker, the tax collector in charge of the Etlandt region. A tax collector is usually a trustworthy person (there may be some exceptions), and Frix, who looked serious, bowed to Jin first. The serious-looking Frix bowed to Jin first. "I apologize for my rude attitude the other day," he said. "No, that''s okay. No, that''s all right. I came to you out of the blue. I appreciate you saying so. By the way, may I inform His Majesty of your visit? Yes, of course. After this, Jin will go to Reinhardt''s. He would then have to cross Lake Tosmo, since he would not be able to avoid the capital, Leuthart. "Then I will do so. Do you plan to stay in this village for a long time? Jin explained that he would stay for two days at the most and then visit his friends. Frix Becker nodded, and after confirming that Jin had no request, he left the mayor''s house. Now, the village headman said "Mr. Jin, my name is Robaldo, and I am the mayor of this village of Magirutu. He greeted Jin and again welcomed him to the village. "You are welcome to stay with us for the duration of your stay. With these words, he led the guests to the villager''s house. The chief''s house has three outbuildings on his property, where visitors can stay without hesitation, and Frix was staying in one of the outbuildings. After carrying in his luggage, Jin told Barrow and Behle, "This is fine for today, "You are free to spend the rest of the day as you please. He gave them a leave of absence. "Thank you!" Barrow was about to run out, but stopped when he noticed Behle. "What about Behr?" "...... I''m going home too." Behr said to Barrow and started walking slowly toward the outskirts of the village. Jin asked Barrow, who was still standing. "I thought Bele told you that he no longer has any family, does he still have a house?" "Yes. Yes. It must be on the outskirts of the village. Her parents and sister died two years ago in an epidemic. Then we went to work in the Kingdom of Selroa. "I see." Jin thought it would be best not to pry too much into the past, so until today, he had not asked Behr about her in depth. However, he could not just pretend to be ignorant at this point in his life. "Ah, um, Jin-sama, may I introduce you to my family? Barrow asked Jin who was thinking about it in a calm tone of voice. Jin smiled and nodded. So Jin and Reiko decided to follow Barrow to his house. Erza told Jin that she would stay behind to clean up her belongings and then stay at home. So Jin and Barrow went to his parents'' house. "I''m home." At the house on the outskirts of the village, Barrow was greeted by his parents and siblings. "Niichan!" Barrow, welcome home! His parents, a younger brother and a younger sister. They are quite a lively family. Because of the large number of family members, there was a spacious dining room, where Jin met Barrow''s family again. "Are you the one who is taking care of me? "Yes, Jin Nido. He is an honorary knight and magecraft master. A baron? Are you sure you want to be so easygoing? His parents are surprised to learn that Jin is a nobleman. Or rather, it is the who is surprised, not the . It seems that is more popular with the general public than . "That''s all right. It''s only an honorary knighthood." Jin also addressed Barrow''s parents in the tone he would use with an older person. "My name is Conti, Barrow''s father. This is my mother''s mates. Barrow has been a great help to us. No, he works for us very hard. For them, even though he was a baronet, he was still a member of the nobility, so the conversation was light and respectful on both sides. "Nee-chan, souvenir!" Barrow''s younger brother looked not yet ten years old. It started to cling to Barrow and beg him for a souvenir. "I know, I know, I know," he said. He lowers the bag on his back to the floor and pulls out a small package. "This is for you, Kono. And this is for you, Lucca. Lucca is my sister. She is shy and does not come out from behind her mother''s mates. "Wow, thanks, Niichan!" Kono opened the gift he received on the spot. "Wow! A pair of children''s gloves and shoes. They are from Eric''s store. They are made of wood bear skin. Wood bears are rare because there are no wood bears around here. "Hey, Lucca, come here." I called several times, and finally Lucca came out from behind her mother''s back to receive her gift. This is a collar made of wild rabbit fur. It is white and fluffy. "...... thank you." Finally, with that, Lucca returned behind her mother''s back, still wearing the scarf. "Oh my goodness, I''m so happy for Kono and Lucca!" Mates sees this and laughs. "And this is for you, Mom and Dad. You can use it to help pay the bills." He puts the leather bag on the table. There is a metallic clank. The surprised father, Conti, opens the bag and finds 20 silver coins and a gold coin. He had been paid 10 silver coins a month as an apprentice, but since August he was officially hired as a butler, so he was paid one gold coin a month, or 10,000 crowns. This was a bargain at Barrow''s age of 15 years old. "Oh, you, this is ......." He knew that this was a fair compensation since his employer Jin was there, but he still couldn''t help but be surprised. "Yes, and an apology for being gone for so long. Take it." Scratching his head, Barrow explains to his parents what has happened so far. He told them briefly that he had started working in the Kingdom of Cerroa, that he had lost his way when the nobles were purged, and that Jin had saved him and allowed him to work there. "...... you had a hard time, too, didn''t you?" I am glad that you were hired by a good master. ......Master Jin, please take good care of my son from now on." Both parents bow their heads. Jin also bowed lightly. "Yes, sir. Barrow, please take good care of him. "Yes!" Conti and Mates looked at Jin and Barrow with smiles on their faces. 594 - - 18-14 Beles House When he settled down, it was already a little after noon. Jin decided to go back to the village chief''s house for lunch. Barrow''s parents asked him if he would like to join them, but he decided not to because he had Erza waiting for him. Then, Barrow, go and relax with your family. With these words, Jin returned to the village headman''s house. "Ah, Jin, welcome home. Erza greeted him at the chief''s house. She said lunch was ready. "Okay. I''ll go." So, leaving Edgar to stay at home, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko went to the chief''s house. The tax collector, Fliks Becker, was also at lunch. "Oh, Jin-dono, Erza-san, I''m sorry we could only prepare this for you. Lunch consisted of boiled corn and bean soup and salad. "It''s so dry around here that we can only grow corn and beans," Frix explained. Frix explains. "The other day, with the help of the Guild of Magi Engineers, a deep well and a pump were installed, but they are not working properly. "What?" Jin recalls that when he and Reinhard had come to Shoro, the main road had been called . "There is not much rainfall in this region, so the wells are deep. It used to take a long fishing bottle to build them up, but recently a <> has been introduced." As I recall, we sold the rights to the deep well pump to the head of a mutual guild of magical engineers in Hatata called Coates-Lordite," Jin said, digging up his memory. "Let''s have a look, shall we?" The pump that Coates-Lordite had made for him back then was not bad, but what about the pump in this village, which was probably a mass-produced product? With this in mind, Jin approached them. "That would be great! The village head bowed to Jin without hesitation. Even though he did not know what Jin had created, he seemed to know what a "Magecraft Meister" was. So Jin finished his lunch quickly and went to see the pumps with the village headman. Of course, Erza was with him. Frix, who was also interested in the pump, followed him. "Here''s the first one. There are two more pumps, three in total, but they are all out of order. ......" He said that although water does come out, the flow has become thinner and it takes twice or three times as much time and effort as it did in the beginning. The population of this village is said to be about 200. It is not difficult to imagine the wear and tear that three pumps must endure if they are used every day. I tried to run the pump for a while, and confirmed that it was moving too heavy, but not enough water was coming out. Let''s take a look. ...... Reiko, I''m sorry, lift it up for me." "Yes." The village head and Frix peeled their eyes as they watched little Reiko effortlessly pull up a deep well pump that was more than 10 meters long. "......Good work. ......Ah, I knew the sliding parts are worn out." Watertightness is of utmost importance for a pump that is subject to high pressure. Jin concluded that this failure was caused by inadequate surface < and poor machining accuracy, which resulted in extremely poor durability. "Elsa, do you understand?" "...... yes, I understand the structure and principle." Elsa, who came along with us, was familiar with ordinary pumping pumps and seemed to understand the structure of the deep well pump immediately. To fix it. <>. <>" The gaps are reduced to a minimum and the surface is hardened to prevent wear. In addition. <>. <>" The surface is mirror-finished to reduce friction and to make it more resistant to wear and tear, thereby extending its service life. "That''s it. Reiko, put it back." The village leaders looked even more surprised when Jin finished the maintenance in less than five minutes. Jin also applied and to the bearings of the pump levers to reduce some of the friction there as well. "Well, let''s see..." He tries to run the pump by himself. The pump is lighter than before, and the water flow is better. "This should be good here. Please show me two more places. "...... Yes, yes!Oh, this will help. Thank you! The village head finally came to his senses and bowed repeatedly to Jin. After that, he looked at the pumps installed in other places and found that all of them had the same symptoms. The work to be done was also the same. Although we had time to go around the village, the repair of the three deep well pumps was completed in less than an hour. * * * * * * * * * * "Sir Jin Nido, you have done a wonderful job. You are indeed a Magecraft Meister! Frix, who had been silent during the three visits, suddenly became very talkative as soon as the village head pulled back. "Well, I had imagined it when I heard about you at the technology expo, but you were far more impressive than I had imagined! "Ha, ha." "......I also wanted to become a magical engineer when I was young, but I was told I had no talent. I had already given up because I had already stumbled at the very beginning, but it is hard to forget old dreams, and I have become a hobby to look at the work of Magi Engineers. Sir''s work was outstanding among them. ......" Frix''s self-talk went on and on, and just when I thought it was over, he started to ask me questions about magical engineering. Elsa quietly left the room, but Jin could not. In the end, they talked for more than an hour, and before they knew it, it was 3:00 p.m. tea time. "Brother Jin, time for tea. Erza called out to him, "Brother Jin, it''s time for tea. Jin turned her down and headed away. Frix looked like he had not talked enough, but he must have been thirsty from all the talking, so he went away to have a cup of tea himself. "Thank you for saving me. ......" Erza gave a sympathetic look to Jin, who was looking so tired that he was just about to plop down on the tea table. "Thanks for your help. But it''s like a tax on your fame. "Even so..." Elsa brewed us a cup of Perhias. Jin had brought it from the village of Kaina. Jin liked its light taste. "Let''s go check on Behle after this. "Yes." Since they had heard that Behle''s house was located on the northern outskirts of the village, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko headed north for now. Edgar stays at home again, just in case. Except for asking the villagers once on the way, we were able to find Behrle''s house without any hesitation. It was really located in the outskirts of the village, almost in the middle of a wasteland. It was a small building that looked more like a hut than a house, and the roof and walls were damaged beyond repair because it had been uninhabited for a long time. From a distance, a figure can be seen inside the house. There is no mistaking it. He was sitting on a broken chair, staring blankly outside. Behrle''s usually cheerful face looked dark and somber, so Jin decided to call out to him. "Behle." At the sound of his voice, Behle''s body jumped. "Ah...... Jin-sama, Erza-sama!" Behle stares at the two with a surprised look on her face. "How did you end up here?" "Well, I was worried about how Behr was doing. Jin tells the truth. "Oh, you''re worried about me? Behrle is even more surprised. "Of course you are, aren''t you?Behrle is a very important worker in our company. "Thank you for ......." At Jin''s words, Behr turns his head slightly and thanks him. As you know, this is my family home. I had parents and a sister, but they died at the same time due to illness. Behle is the only one who survived. As far as I have heard, it was some kind of epidemic cold...... flu-like illness. There were many others who died, but the worst was Behrle''s family. Jin thinks that one mistake can be a big problem, because there is no idea of prevention or disinfection. (Like here, we should be careful not only in Kaina village ...... but also in the neighboring village of Toka.) ) The land is arid to begin with, so if it is influenza, it can easily spread. Jin wondered if something needs to be done. 595 - - 18-15 production The short autumn days are almost over and the wind is getting colder. "Behr, what are you going to do today? Jin asks if he is staying at the house or not. There was no furniture or bedding to be seen. As Jin wondered what he had done for lunch, he suddenly heard a cute sound. "Ah......" Bele blushed. It was the sound of her stomach growling. "...... Okay, Behle. Me and Elsa are staying here tonight with the mayor, come with us." "Yes, but ......" Behrle hesitates at Jin''s invitation. "No problem. "Just come with us as our lady-in-waiting and no one will complain. With such an offer, there was no way she could refuse. Behle accepts Jin''s offer gratefully. Then one of them came to him. "Ah, Jin-sama, Erza-sama. What are you doing here?" "......, Barrow..." I''m here for Behr. Barrow was worried about Behle and came to see her. "Come on, come on. They''re already waiting for you." "Yeah, but ...... "Why are you being so modest now? You don''t know our guys either, right? "Yeah. ......" Bere glanced at Jin and the others as Barrow tugged on his hand. "Oh, that''s good. Behr, we''re going to stay at Barrow''s tonight, aren''t we?...... Barrow, will you take good care of him?" "Yes, of course!" "......" In contrast to when he was working at Nido Castle, Bele is now being led by Barrow. Jin and Erza watch with a smile as their shadows move away from them. "Behle, you were not well. Erza muttered to herself. "The opposite of usual." "Ah, I guess he''s a bit small-minded." "Small in stature?" Jin explained what he guessed to Erza, who asked him in a parroting manner. In a sense, a village is a closed society. In such a place, being alone without family must be a bit of a burden. Jin recalls how it took time for new children to fit in when he was in the orphanage. "It''s hard to be ...... alone." Erza nodded as she recalled the time when she abandoned her home and became a prisoner of the Unified Party. The wind was getting colder and they went back the way they had come. Reiko followed silently. * * * * Returning to the village chief''s house, Jin was confronted with reality. Since this is a village where water is scarce, there is no bath, and he only wipes himself with water. At best, using hot water was a luxury. "......Well, that''s the way it is." When the pump was repaired earlier, the depth of the deep well was about 20 meters. "<>" Jin decided to search underground just to be sure. He found a layer of soil and sand, a layer of gravel, and bedrock. Below that was a layer of gravel, and then bedrock again. The gravel layer below the first bedrock layer is the permeable layer, i.e., the layer through which groundwater flows. This layer is called <, which means that there is almost no pressure and water cannot be obtained unless it is pumped up. If you dig deeper and hit a pressurized layer, it can be blown up, but it is difficult to maintain. "Hmmm, I don''t know what to do: ......" Pumping up too much groundwater can cause land subsidence and other adverse effects, but from what Jin has seen, there is plenty of water and the usage is low due to the small population. While thinking about such things, Jin was conducting <> when he found something. "...... natural copper?" Copper ores are mostly sulfides, but natural copper, like gold sand, is rarely found. In Chichibu, we can imagine that the production of copper was high in the past when the Wadokaichin was made. It is also documented that large amounts of copper were collected in Michigan and Arizona in the United States. "This is a bit deep, but this could be an industry." Jin immediately visits the village chief. The tax collector, Frix Becker, was also there, and he told him that a deposit of natural copper was lying deep underground. "What!There is copper under this village?" The chief was delighted. After all, there was an abundance of copper beneath the ground in this poor village where only corn and beans were harvested. "If we can dig it out, it will be good for this village and, by extension, for the country!" Frix is enthusiastic. "It''s a bit deep, though, so we''ll have to dig the tunnels carefully. I give him the obvious precautions. "Yes, it will be necessary to have a professional and solid construction. This will lead to the development of this village, but that is a little further down the road. So, here is the main question. ?" Both the mayor and Frix tilted their heads, wondering what else there was to talk about besides natural copper. But... "Can we dig out enough copper for our needs and mass produce the pumps?" "What?" Jin knew that the village was chronically short of water due to the lack of wells, although there was an abundant underground water vein. He dug wells at appropriate locations and used the resulting natural copper and some tin to make bronze, which he then used to make another pump, a bicycle operation. This is also the result of Jin''s personal desire to take a bath. There are Japanese who dig up the riverbanks where hot spring water flows out and make baths. Jin was no exception. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was late that day, so the digging of the well was to begin the next morning. With Elsa and Reiko as his assistants, Jin started to select a suitable site. The three of them searched around the village and asked the village chief if the area off to the east looked good. He said, "That area is a wasteland, and it will take time and effort to turn it into a field, so you can do some trial digging there. Hearing these words, Jin let Erza practice <> again. "Listen, there is another bedrock under the bedrock. We need to check under the bedrock." "Yes." Elsa nodded and used her ground search magic. "I found ....... There is underground water in the deepest part." "That''s good to know. We need to dig a hole for it, but we also need to dig out the natural copper above it. "Okay." Thus, Jin dug a deep well to practice on Elsa. Natural copper came out and some tinstone from another layer. Tinstone is an important tin ore. Bronze can be made from it. Erza''s magic power has also increased since she was cured of her hypermagic condition. Jin thought that this was probably due to her improved ability to manipulate free magic element (ether). "So, the sister of the Magi Craft Meister is a top-notch Magi Engineer, huh? Frix, who was observing the event, said in a tone of voice that was almost unbearable to hear. In the two hours since we started, the of the well bore, the of the ore, the of the metal, the of the pump, and the of the deep well were completed. Well, I let Reiko help me with the installation since it was mostly hard work, but it was a task that clearly showed the improvement of Elsa''s ability. Jin and his team install two more deep wells at the same location. This time, Hitoshi also helped, and the work was completed in less than an hour. A total of three deep well pumps were installed. The village head was amazed to see the total of six deep wells, including the three that had been installed so far. He repeatedly bowed to Jin and Elsa. Jin, however, only asked the chief for permission to take a bath tonight using the water from the well. Of course, the chief readily agreed. The chief agreed to do so. "Ah, it''s nice hot water! The temperature of the water was 15 degrees Celsius. Jin, who had heated the water with his own magic, was enjoying his bath without any worries. Perhaps because his cells have been activated, Jin loves taking a bath even more. One of the reasons for this may be the fact that his inactive cells have been able to produce as much dirt as human cells, whereas they had not been able to produce much. "Home, or ......" Jin thinks about the distant place to which he can no longer return. "...... but now ......" Kaina village, Horai Island, and <. "...... I''m a lucky man." Jin mutters to himself as he looks at Reiko, who is taking care of the bathtub beside him. The sky is twilight, and the early stars are beginning to twinkle. 596 - - 18-16 Visit! On the morning of October 13th . An urgent message arrived in the village of Magyruz. . "What?" The mayor''s eyes roll and the tax collector, Frix, turns pale. It was all the fault of the pigeon he had released the day before yesterday. <, but he had never imagined that it would cause such a situation. He had no idea that the Empress would place such importance on the Magecraft Meister. "......I don''t think she''ll find out, do you? ......" As a matter of fact, the tax collector, Frix Becker, had conspired with the mayor to embezzle a portion of the tax revenue. The amount, however, was only a small amount, which any tax collector would have done. However, fraud is fraud, and if it becomes known, penalties will not be spared. Frix is troubled by the thought that his plan to score points by being the first to inform the public of the Magecraft Meister, a state-approved magical engineer, could end up in something like this. But that''s what happens when a woman emperor comes to see Jin. Apart from Frix, Jin is a bit puzzled. "...... Your Majesty is so light on her footwork." Erza heard and followed up on his words, which he muttered in the sense that he wondered if the emperor of a country could travel so lightly to such a remote place ....... "His Majesty has always been like that. His Majesty has always been fond of making tours around the countryside. Elsa explained to Jin. "Since His Majesty took over, there has always been one regional excursion every year, sometimes as many as six." "Hmm." Japanese emperors have also made excursions and tours of the countryside. Jin remembered that. "However, I''m here to visit ......." "Nah, Jin''s brother is here." "Right. ......" Jin does not dislike him and respects him in terms of personality, but the only thing he finds bothersome is that they are in such different positions that they are too formal. I was not a fan of his personality and respected him, but I felt that he was too formal and formal for me. In the afternoon of the same day, a <> arrived at the village of Maggiroots. Along with it, a platoon of 25 knights of the Kingsguard arrived. Since the horse had come an hour earlier to announce the arrival, all the available villagers--in effect, all the villagers themselves--presented themselves to greet the emperor. "Her Majesty, the Emperor of Shoro! As soon as the voice rang out, the door of the carriage was opened and the emperor alighted. "Greetings, Your Majesty! All of you, raise your heads. Jin raised his head, which had been bowed deeply, and saw the smiling face of the empress. "Magecraft Meister, Sir Jin Nido." The empress walked up to Jin. "It''s been a long time since we last met. I''m glad to see you are well. "It''s been a long time, Your Majesty." Jin responded with his best attempt at a polite salutation. But the emperor didn''t like his attitude. "Oh, I don''t like it. ...... Everyone, this is not the Palace. It may not be the same as usual, but try to behave normally. He gave an unconventional instruction: "Your Majesty, please behave normally. "Your Majesty ......" A tired voice came from the Minister of Magic and Technology, Degas Furt von Manischlus, whose large eagle nose stood out. He seems to have followed us as our escort. "Degas, I don''t mean to belittle the formalities, but putting more emphasis on formality than necessary can lead to a loss of efficiency, don''t you think? "Yes, I understand what you are saying, but..." I understand that you are talking about formal ceremonies and procedures. But they are meant to give a sense of dignity and weight to the government, so it is hard to say that they are meaningless," sighed Minister Degauze with a sigh. As for Jin, he welcomes the fact that he does not have to worry too much, so he is glad to hear the words of the female emperor. "...... and by the way, Jin-kun, it''s been a long time." After a short break, Jin was chatting with the emperor in the tent he had erected outside the village. The empress, her secretary, the Minister of Magic and Technology Degauze, and the lady knight escorting her. And there are Jin, Erza, Reiko and Edgar. "I''m glad to see that Elsa is doing well." Thank you. "I thought Erza might be depressed because of the demolition of her parents'' house and her father''s illness, but it seems that she is not. I guess it''s because she has Jin by her side. "Yes." The emperor seemed a little surprised at Erza''s immediate response to his somewhat flippant remark, but she immediately smiled. "Hmmm, I see." The emperor looked at Jin and Erza''s faces one after the other, and one of them seemed to be satisfied with what she had said. "First of all, let me thank you for the leadership you have given us. All of us in important positions listen to the lessons every day. < Perhaps sensing the timing, the Minister of Magic and Technology, Mr. Deghaouz, opened his mouth. "So I have a question. May I ask you a question?" "Please." "Thank you. ...... So, you know, water can dissolve a lot of things, right?Salt, sugar... But sand doesn''t dissolve.What''s the difference between things that don''t dissolve and things that do?" The sharp questions that blew away Jin''s thoughts were posed to him. Without knowledge of atoms and molecules, Jin wondered how he could explain it. "Well, it is a very difficult question. You know solids, liquids, and gases, right?" "Yes." "That solid is actually made up of small particles." "Oh." That part was not in the curriculum of the <>, because we don''t go into it in elementary school level science. "To use an analogy, sand and clay can be hardened by adding water to them, right? Jin explains that in this case, a grain of sand is the smallest unit of each substance. The emperor and the Minister of Magical Technology listen in silence. Jin turns to them and explains, thinking of an analogy that would be easier for them to understand. "So, the difference between soluble and insoluble solids is the difference in whether or not the small particles are easy to stick together. Everyone nodded in agreement to Jin''s analogy that sand and clay have different ease of falling apart when hardened. "I can''t explain everything about the ease of sticking," he said. That is exactly what you need specialized and penetrating knowledge. Let''s be clear that there are things that Jin doesn''t understand. He knows the names of things like intermolecular forces, but he has no confidence in his ability to explain them. "Clarifying such questions is science, and it is important to keep asking questions. That is how science develops. He concluded. "Okay. Thank you." It''s good that you are eager to learn. I look forward to what''s to come. "Thank you, Mr. Jin. But there are things you don''t understand, aren''t there? "Of course there are things. When you look around this world, there are many things you don''t understand. The empress smiled at Jin''s words. "Hmmm, you are so humble. When the conversation came to an end, the secretary placed a drink in front of everyone. <. The Empress seemed to have remembered Jin''s preference. After taking a sip of the tea, the conversation turned to administrative matters. "I just heard from the village chief that there is a copper mine in this village? "Yes. There is a bedrock at a depth of about 12 meters below the surface, but further down, at a depth of about 18 meters. "That''s good news. It''s too much for this village to handle on its own, so I''ll instruct the appropriate department to do the digging. The secretary was taking notes. "I have to say no to that," he said. ...... a little ahead of you and let me use it to make a pump." "Yes, I heard that too. Don''t worry about it, if you put it in your own pocket, but you used it for the benefit of the village. I should rather thank you for what you have done for free." "I''m sorry. To tell the truth, I just wanted to take a bath. When Jin said this, the emperor burst out. "You''re funny, Jin-kun. Just because you wanted to take a bath, you found an underground ore deposit, dug it out, and even built a pump. You won''t find anyone like that anywhere. Jin is embarrassed. Jin takes this opportunity to tell me that while the pumps are being installed, he is concerned about the slight decline in quality and the lack of personnel to maintain them. "Indeed. We''re installing deep well pumps in the fish bottle wells at a rapid pace. I''m not sure I''ll be able to get around to it. ...... but thanks for the heads up. I''ll see what I can do." The empress assured Jin that she would consider his advice. 597 - - 18-17 Report and From now on "By the way, I''d like to take a bath in that bath too." "Please tell that to the mayor of the village. ......" Jin had already donated the bath facility to the village in its entirety. Then Jin remembered that he had one more thing to tell them. "Also, I have a secret story to tell you. When Jin said this, the emperor smiled mischievously and said, "Oh? "Oh?Am I going to be seduced?" Jin was astonished. "No, please don''t do that!" Elsa, who was sitting next to Jin, squeezed his arm. "Ouch. ...... Elsa?" Jin stares at Elsa as his arm aches. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry." Erza''s cheeks are stained and she lets go of his hand. The emperor saw this and nodded knowingly. I''m sorry, I''m just kidding. ...... well, everyone, you''re out of here until I say so. The Empress ordered. There was some back and forth, but everyone, including the guard knights, exited the tent. The remaining guests were the queen, Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Edgar. "Is this all right?" "Thank you." Jin slowly opened his mouth. "Actually, it''s about the demon tribe." "Oh, of course. Did you find out anything about them? Jin then summarized the sequence of events that began with Zion and Istaris coming to him for help. For the time being, he deceptively omitted the part before and after the rescue of Istaris from the Kingdom of Franz. I also did not talk about 700672, which was difficult to explain, but somehow I managed to finish the story. "...... so." The emperor looked at me thoughtfully with a difficult expression on his face. It must be so, the fact that the demon tribe, which we thought was the irreconcilable enemy of humankind, actually shares the same ancestors. No wonder it''s so hard to accept, Jin thought. "......" A moment of silence followed, and then the emperor opened his mouth. "......That was a sudden and unacceptable story. ......Jin, who else knows about that story?" Jin named Erza, Saki, Tor, Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt, as well as Stearina, Vivian, and Meane. They are all acquaintances of Mr. Jin. You can trust ......." With a sigh, the emperor began to talk to Jin. "Listen, Jin.Can you leave it to me to tell the story to the other countries? "Yes, sir." Of course it would be more credible and persuasive coming from the emperor of a country than from Jin. Jin nodded immediately. "You know, one of the reasons is that there is a foreign tribe living beyond the Hariri Desert. "Oh, they invaded a long time ago. ......" Jin remembered the story of the invasion of the exhausted small group of countries after the magic war. "The appearance of the foreign tribe looks just like the race of followers mentioned in the current story. Dark brown hair and eyes, dark skin. Jin agreed inwardly, "They said they brought 700672 from the south, too, so there must be no doubt about it. "Well, <>?When ...... came to this world, it was a civilization of about the ...... Stone Age, I think you call it, right?" This is also knowledge from the <>. Indeed, they were using stone tools," he said. "But they had a lot of weapons 300 years ago. They couldn''t use magic, so they were able to fight them off with magical technology, including a giant golem that is now an artifact." That''s a lot of progress in a few thousand years. It is possible that the <> taught them something in return for taking away the inhabitants. "So, we, the Shoro Kingdom, have a basis to believe in this story. But what about the other countries? They may know that we are weakening and may try to attack us. "I see. ......" People fight each other even among their own people. And there is no way that the demon tribe that has been enemies until now can get along just because they are told that they actually share the same ancestors. "So, here are my personal words. ...... Jin, you''ve been keeping an eye on that Paz dexto isthmus, haven''t you?...... and make sure that humans and demons don''t fight each other. If you can''t do it, Jin-kun, then I think you should ask Lord Deus ex Machina to do it for you." "Yes, yes. ......" He did not know to what extent the emperor had intuition about the relationship between Jin and Makina, but his advice was reasonable, so Jin decided to consult with the old man after this and proceed with the management of the isthmus. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The escorting knights, the Minister of Magic and Technology Degauze, and the secretaries are called back to the meeting. Jin spoke the last topic of discussion. "I would like to start up a desiccant plant in Kaltz Village if I can." Jin explains briefly about desiccants. "The Shoro Kingdom has relatively dry areas, but I think it will be useful in the southern part of the country near the sea, and in the neighboring kingdoms of Selroa and Elias in the southern part of the country. "Hmm, if only we could get that limestone." DeGauss nodded. "Your majesty, I think it''s a good thing that our country''s industry will increase. Reinhardt''s place would be the best place to get the cooperation of Jin-dono. I agree. I will allow it. The conversation proceeded without Reinhardt''s presence. However, I''ve already explained the outline of the plan with the manacam, so I''m sure he won''t complain. Sir Jin Nido, I''m counting on you. "Yes, sir." With this, all the paperwork to be done with the female emperor was finished. "Then how can I repay you, Sir Jin Nido?" The Empress pondered. "A fief?Or a knighthood?Which would you prefer, Sir? The Empress smiled wickedly and asked Jin. She asks Jin with a mischievous smile, knowingly. "I would like to decline both ......." "Then I will give you one million dollars as a reward. I will give it to you later when you come to Leuthart. Please record it at ......." The last words are addressed to the secretary. It was a reward from the treasury so as not to put pressure on the village finances. That night, the emperor was to spend the night in his tent. "Before that, I would like to take a bath," said the chief of the village. The village head was grateful and prepared a bath for the emperor. Jin helps to boil the water. If Jin did not use his engineering magic , the cost of fuel would be ridiculous. (I''ll make you a tool to boil water later...) (I''ll make you a magic tool to boil water later.) Such was Jin''s thought. The next day, the female emperor came to the hotel. The next day, the emperor left the village of Magirutu with regret. She was going to visit two more villages. The carriage was seen off by all the villagers and departed. "See you again in Leuthart, Mr. Jin. With these words. The tax collector, Frix Becker, and the village head were relieved that there was no mention of tax rip-offs. However, the secretary of the village had actually found out about it and would be lightly reprimanded upon his return to the capital, but that is not the point of this story. Jin''s airship had landed on the outskirts of the village. "Well, we''d better get going. Jin was carrying his luggage into the airship. Unexpectedly, he was able to report to the queen and all he had to do was to go to Reinhardt''s estate. "Jin-sama, are you sure you want to stay here?" "I ...... think I should at least go with you ......." Barrow and Behle seemed to be concerned. "Yes, you can take your time, you''re back home." "Yes, thank you." Finally, Jin gives Barrow a warning. "Barrow, take good care of Behr, will you? "Yes, of course!He''s like family now. Behrle blushes and Barrow replies with a big smile. Jin smiled too. "Well, I''ll be back to pick you up in about half a month. "Yes, go ahead, Jin-sama, Erza-sama." Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Edgar boarded the airship. Barrow and Behrle look up at the airship as it slowly floats away and wave to the passengers. "Be careful! The airship gets smaller and smaller. Barrow and Behrle look away until they can no longer see it. 598 - - 18-18 Stuck The distance from the village of Magyruz to the village of Kalz in Reinhardt''s territory is about 120 km in a straight line. It is a three-hour trip at 40 km/h. With Lake Tosmo on the left, we cross the sky over Banne and lose altitude. The village of Kaltz is located a short distance from Elsa''s parents'' home in Exi. "Jin, welcome." Reinhardt''s house, <>. The airship descends into the large front yard. "Hello, miss!You look well!" "Hi, Grandpa. ...... you too." Adberg,...... former butler to Elsa and now secretary to Reinhardt,...... who had greeted her with Reinhardt, took Elsa''s hand and wept. Over lunch at the <>, Jin informed Reinhardt and his wife about Count Kuzma and Bina''s wedding. "Well, Louis and Bina, they are going to make a good couple, aren''t they?" "Yes. Yes, I caught a glimpse of Reinhardt''s gift carriage. When did you make it? "Ha, somehow I found the time." And when I told him that Erza''s < had been completely cured, Adberg burst into tears of joy. "Thank you, Jin-sama, for saving my daughter. ......!" Adberg bowed his head over and over again, and Erza''s eyes were moistened as she watched him do the same. The mealtime is over. Then a maid of honor arrived. "Mr. Reinhardt, you have a visitor. "Oh, just in time. Show him to the workshop. "A visitor?" When Jin looks doubtful, Reinhardt smiles and explains. It''s Mr. Toa. I heard that you are going to make a desiccant plant.You''re going to develop it so that it can be made available to the general public, aren''t you?" Jin agrees. I had already given Reinhardt an outline of what we were going to do through the manacam, and Toa had said that he would cooperate with us. "As for the limestone, Toa-san came to me the day before yesterday and told me that he had found a promising deposit. Toa, who should have been here a few days ago, was indeed very impressed. "It''s a rocky hill near Lake Tosmo, and it''s almost entirely limestone," he said. "That''s great!" The material is as good as solved. In Japan, the mountains in the Chichibu area are made of limestone and have been cut down to make cement. Takekou, for example, has even been reshaped. So I sent someone out yesterday to do a little mining. "Oh, that''s great." Reinhardt has also become a lord of the small village and is doing a lot of work for the village. "I was just thinking about how I could start some kind of industry," he said. It was a good thing, Jin thought. "Let''s do it right after this. "Here we go." "...... Jin and Rai are very lively." Erza muttered in a whisper when she saw the two excitedly, and Bertsch followed her up. "Ummm...he was so excited last night, you could see it in his face. He''s happy to get away from his daily political duties. Reinhardt''s last sentence was a complete disaster. After a short break for lunch, Jin and Reinhardt arrived at the workshop they had built on the grounds of the Lanken Houses. "Hello, Jin, Mr. Reinhardt. "It hasn''t been ...... long enough." Toa usually addresses Reinhardt as , but here she is afraid of people''s eyes and calls him . And Stearina was unusually well dressed. Her copper-colored hair was tied up in a high bun, and she was wearing a light purple one-piece dress with ankle-length hem and a white summer cardigan-like jacket. She was returning from a visit to Toa''s late wife''s family, the Marquis Theoderic''s family. Stearina left the workshop saying that she was going to talk to Bertsche. "Mr. Toa, you found the limestone. Jin said and Toa scratched his head. "Well, collecting materials was originally a part of my job. I know a lot about the resources in the country. He is indeed a first-rate alchemist. "So, I have prepared the materials here. Reinhardt prepared limestone, magi crystals, and stones for the furnace. "I heard that you used a carbon crucible in your experiments?" "Yes. Yes, but they''re not very common. Any material that can withstand temperatures of 1,100 degrees Celsius is fine." In modern science, ceramics, superalloys, carbon-based materials, and other materials have been developed as < in fields such as aeronautics, space, and energy technology. "Mr. Toa told me how to make it. The principle is simple, but we need to think of a way to mass produce it. Jin''s abilities as a Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer, have led him to perceive things in a way that is often out of tune with the way ordinary people think. In order to compensate for this, he asks for Toa''s cooperation this time. "The most common refractory materials are several kinds of rocks. Toa pointed at the rocks on the table. "First of all, tuff. Oyaishi is a member of this group, and its strength does not deteriorate until about 1,000 degrees Celsius. It is a little short of the calcination temperature of 1,100 degrees Celsius for quicklime. Sandstone Sandstone" can also be used up to about 1,000 degrees Celsius. There were also andesite and serpentinite, but none of them seemed to be strong enough to withstand 1100 degrees Celsius. "Well, we''ve stumbled on something," he said. "It''s hard to make it an industry for the people, isn''t it?" Jin and Reinhardt are puzzled. "If it''s carbon or zirconia or platinum or something, it would be good. ......" Such expensive materials are not enough to make it an industry. Erza looked at Jin and Reinhardt, who were struggling unusually hard, with a somber face. "......And, wasn''t there a heat-resistant stone? ......" Jin also desperately tries to remember. "Heat ...... furnace, or ......." The thought of furnaces, such as blast furnaces, still gives me a little shiver. A small crucible like the one I was in the other day is nothing to worry about, but when it comes to a furnace large enough to hold a human being, the mere thought of it gives me goosebumps. It is not surprising, since I almost lost my life when I fell into the ladle of an electric furnace. Jin felt a little pathetic, though he was not afraid of fire and flames. Erza noticed that Jin''s shoulders were shaking a little, and remembering how he almost died in the other world, she gently took his hand. Not exactly thanks to that, Jin remembered a stone. "It''s olivine. A rock mainly composed of olivine and peridot, a type of plutonic rock formed deep underground. It is highly heat-resistant. The melting point of olivine is 1910 degrees Celsius, and the sand from which it is crushed is used for sand mold casting. Good quality olivine is extracted from the Inad mine near the village of Kaina. However, it is of the level of a gemstone, which makes it expensive. Therefore, it was thought that olivine could be used as a material for the furnace. "Orchidite or ......" Peridotite is an igneous rock, i.e. volcanic rock, different in origin from limestone, which is a hydrothermal (sedimentary) rock. The Shoro Empire is rather rich in sedimentary rocks, especially in the area around Lake Tosmo. Andesite, for example, was found in relatively close proximity, but there were no mountains nearby where olivine could be extracted. "Importing heavy stones is a price problem, isn''t it?" As one would expect from a man who has poured money into his collection of materials in the past. He seems to have cost in mind. "Hmmm... ......" They have realized how much Houraishima and magic is a cheat, or <>. Jin continued to worry, "If I had the materials, I could at least allow them to be processed by magic. "Why not iron?" Jin nodded at Toa''s question. "Yes. If we talk only about the melting point, it would be fine, but if iron is heated to such a high temperature, it would quickly oxidize and fall apart. Iron easily compounds with oxygen, especially at high temperatures. "It''s surprisingly difficult, isn''t it?" Toa crossed his arms and pondered whether there were any good materials. "I guess the only thing left to do is to put up wards. ...... The only other option would be to put up wards, which would increase the initial cost and make maintenance more difficult. "That should be a last resort." Thus, everyone was pondering. Then, one of them looked into the workshop. "What are you guys doing? 599 - - 18-19 Psakis small drift "...... wind." Back in time a little. On the evening of October 7, Saki Eschenbach was walking along the shore of Lake Tosmo. Not on the side of her parents'' house, but on the side of the capital, Leusert. She came to this side of the lake by a ferryboat after she had been transferred to her parents'' house by a warp gate. I came to this side by ferry because I was likely to meet a familiar face near my parents'' house. I had some money. I would not have a chance to spend it if I stayed on Horai Island. The only one who came with me was Aal. He is a servant automaton made by Jin and Reinhard. She has a neutral appearance and is currently wearing a maid''s uniform. "Well, I think I''m a bit pathetic..." Saki mutters to herself. Aal listens in silence. It all started when her father, Toa, told her that he was going to marry his friend, Stearina, a female magecraftsman. "I don''t think you have to stay single forever, and I know she''s a good person." There was no reply from Aal. Still, Saki continued to speak. "My mother died when I was two years old, so it''s no wonder I don''t remember her." Saki sighed and opened her mouth again. "But, hey, I wonder what ...... this feeling is." I looked up at the sky and saw three or four quick stars twinkling in the sky. The wind across the lake is getting colder. "......I''ll have to put this feeling aside and find a place to stay. Good grief, people are a pain in the ass. Saki left the lakeside and started walking towards the town. This is the town of Trom. It is a fishing town, mainly fishing in Lake Tosmo. "It''s still early, so I think I''ll have something to eat. Saki had skipped lunch. She used to be fine with such an irregular lifestyle, but now that she is living a more regular life, even skipping one meal is too much for her. "It''s my first time in this town, so I don''t know where to go." So, I walked through the entrance of the first diner I saw, the Ebi-cororiranpu-tei. "Come in." It was a little early in the day, so the restaurant was only a little more than half full, but there was still plenty of room. Saki sat in the back corner. It is a common sense not to bring a golem or an automaton into a small restaurant such as a popular diner, because it is too small to bring them in, unlike a fine restaurant. Therefore, Aalu is supposed to wait outside the restaurant. "Daily set meal ...... and beer." Saki usually does not drink much, but for some reason she felt like having a few drinks tonight. "Here you go." A tanned middle-aged woman left a wooden beer mug and a few snacks. The set meal would be served a little later. "Hmmm, it tastes good because I''m thirsty. Saki drank half of the beer mug in one gulp, and bit into a piece of dried meat that was offered as a snack. She drank on an empty stomach, and soon became intoxicated. Looking out the window through dimly blurred eyes, she could see the lights of the shrimp catcher boats swaying on the surface of Lake Tosmo at dusk. "The daily set meal is waiting for you. A tray with a large piece of grilled fish, barley porridge, bean soup, and a little vegetable salad was placed in front of Saki. "Oh, this looks delicious," she said. Saki, who was basically a picky eater, started with the grilled fish. "Yes, it is a little salty, but it tastes good. The salty taste is probably due to the large number of workers. Saki drinks the rest of his beer and takes a bite of barley porridge. "......Oh, this one is a few steps better than the one at Jin''s place. ......" She murmured in a small voice and suddenly burst into tears. "......Ah, what is it?Why?" Wiping her tears with the sleeve of her dress, Saki gulped down the soup in one gulp. It was a little hot, but she shoved some vegetable salad into her mouth to cover it up. "I wonder if I''m this weak. Saki was feeling self-loathing as she picked up the rest of the grilled fish and put it in her mouth. "Why did I feel lonely in the first place, just because my father was getting married?" Her head was getting drunk, and she couldn''t even think straight. "...... lady, one more beer." Incoherent thoughts demanded more chaos and alcohol. The tray of set meals was lowered in exchange for the mugs of beer. "...... wind." Saki sighs, resting her cheekbones on the table after downing half of the mug. "Oh, I don''t care anymore. ......" Saki is not a strong drinker to begin with. No, to be frank, she is weak. A glass of wine is all it takes to get her pleasantly intoxicated. "Girl, you should stop now, okay?" A man sat down in front of Saki, who was drunk after one and a half beers. He was a tan man, about 40 years old, probably a fisherman. "Are you worried about ...... your family, drinking beer alone and getting drunk?" But Saki laughs and replies. "That hurts my ears. But unfortunately, I''d rather be doing this right now. "I don''t know what''s going on, but you''re too young to be drinking away your sorrows. That''s something you have to do when you''re middle-aged." "Hmph, can''t you get drunk when you''re young?" Saying this, he downed the rest of his beer in one gulp. "Hey, hey, don''t be reckless! "I''m not ...... being reckless ......, I''m just ...... being reckless ......." Saki''s speech was getting a little dubious, and she finally plopped down on the table. "Hey, sweetheart,......." Another voice came from above the worried man''s head. "Oh, I''m sorry about your friend." The man looked up to see a reasonably well-dressed man of about 30 standing there. "I was having a bad time, so I thought I ran away from home, but I didn''t realize you were drinking here. He says this, and pulls Saki out of her squishy state. "Oh, so she''s with you. Don''t let her out of your sight again, okay? "Yes, I''m sorry." The man who helped Saki on his shoulder pays for the meal and leaves the restaurant. Saki seems to be unconscious. She is just mumbling something. The man walks into the darkness with Saki on his shoulder. There is another man waiting for her, a small, fat man. "Well, brother, looks like it went well." "Geez, you''re a real piece of work, aren''t you? The two men laugh at each other in a disgusted tone. "You''ve always got a great eye, brother. "I can smell a psychologically unstable woman, you know, by her smell." They exchange such comments and try to take Saki further into the dark .......... "Please wait!" A voice called out. "What?" The two men looked in the direction of the voice and saw a slender-built samurai woman. "Hey, another duck is coming from over there. "Heh, can I do that one?" "Yeah, whatever you want." The fat man licks his lips as he reaches for the slender maid ....... "Whoa!" In a flash, she''s on the ground. "What the f*ck?What the hell did you do?" Aaru is an automaton created by Jin and Reinhardt, even though he is not powerful. He has been tuned on Horai Island and is capable of producing power equivalent to that of five adult males. Its reaction speed is more than ten times faster than that of a human being. He also has a sense of touch, so he can be as gentle as he likes. Give me back my daughter. Aalu kicked the fat man lying on the ground in the tail, knocking him out of consciousness, and turned to face the man he called his brother. "You''ve got to be kidding me!" The man produced a knife from his pocket and threw it at Aalu''s face. Aalu ducked with a tilt of his head and took a large step forward. With that step, Aalu closed the distance. He thrust his left fist toward the man''s jaw. It was a clean hit, and the man called "big brother" fell backward and fainted. "My lady!" As Aalu picked up Saki, who was lying on the ground, another man came in. "Oh, I knew this was going to happen." It was a man of about 40 who sat in front of Saki in the cafeteria. 600 - - 18-20 Opals and Mysterious Minerals "Hmm ...... my head hurts ......" Saki woke up and frowned at her splitting head. "Saki-sama, you are awake." "......Ah, Aal, can you give me some water? ......" Saki got up with her head in her hands and a glass of water was held out to her. "Oh, thank you. ......" Saki gulps down the water in one gulp and feels somewhat better. She put on the glasses that Aal offered her and noticed that the hand that gave her the glass of water was not hers. "......Oh, um...?" "Oh, are you surprised?This is my house. My husband is the one who brought you here drunk." A woman around 30 years old smiles at me. Her dull blond hair was tied back carelessly on her head, giving her a vivacious impression. Her eyes were light blue. "E...... and ......." Saki tried to remember what had happened last night with her cracked head. "You drank two mugs of beer and got drunk. It''s not surprising since the beer here is much stronger than the usual stuff. They have strong beer because fishermen like it. The beer here is over 15 degrees Celsius, while most beers are around 5 percent. After drinking two mugs of it, Saki, who is not a strong drinker by nature, got drunk. "There must be something wrong with a girl to come to a place like this alone and get drunk. ......" The woman saw Saki looking pale with a hangover and offered her a small cup saying, "Drink this. Saki, whose head was not working properly, took it and drank it in one gulp, ...... this time distorting her face with bitterness. "Hmmm, it''s bitter, but it will help. Hangover headaches are said to be caused by inflammation of blood vessels due to the expansion of blood vessels caused by acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and other substances produced by the decomposition of alcohol, and as a countermeasure, constricting blood vessels with caffeine is recommended. Tea and coffee are said to be good to drink because they contain caffeine. "It''s a very strong brew of tea (teehee)." "Thank you for ......." The headache still hadn''t subsided, but Saki''s head was beginning to spin enough for her to realize that she was being ungrateful. "My name is Saki. I''m sorry to have bothered you. "Oh, well, that''s very kind of you. I''m Rosie." After saying each other''s name, Rosie asked Saki how her stomach was feeling. When Saki said she felt a little hungry after the bitter tea she had just had, Rosie smiled and said she would wait for a moment. "...... Aal, what happened to me last night?" Saki, who was left alone, asked Aalu. "Yes, Saki-sama is ......". Aalu honestly explained that a drunken Saki was almost taken by a suspicious man, that Aalu fought him off, and that Augus, Logie''s husband, had come and brought Saki here. "So, ....... Aal, thank you for saving me." No, that''s what I''m here for. Then the door opened and Logie returned with a bowl of barley porridge. "Here you go. Have a quick bite." The barley porridge tasted sweet. Saki felt a warm feeling in her mouth as she ate it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Saki is told that this restaurant also serves as an inn, so she officially asks to stay here. Saki is accompanied by an automata, a lady-in-waiting. It was natural to assume that there must be some reason for her to be there. So both Rosie and her husband, Augustus, were concerned, but did not inquire too deeply into the matter. "......This is your third night here. ......" Saki had stayed here for a series of nights because the scenery was so different from the familiar north shore of Lake Tosmo. The lakeshore is sand mixed with gravel, with large rocks sticking out in places, and seems to be a good fishing ground. "The gravel here is interesting ......" Little by little, my interest as an alchemist is piqued. I asked Aal to dig a meter or so and was surprised to find a mineral with rainbow colors. "Is this ...... opal?" Opal is also called protein stone, and is a mineral consisting of silicon dioxide SiO2 with crystal water nH2O. SiO2 with crystal water nH2O. "Well, if we can get opal, it means that this side is igneous or thermometamorphic rock, right?" Saki, who was aware that the north shore of Lake Tosmo, where his parents live, is a sedimentary rock because fossils are sometimes found there. "So, the geology is different between here and there!" Saki, who had unexpectedly found out an interesting fact, spent the next two days investigating the geology of the shores of Lake Tosmo from her base in the town of Trom. "Hmmm, what is this?" As a result, they found an unusual mineral that they had never seen before. It is both earth-like and rock-like, and contains tiny bean-like grains inside. "I''m sure Houraishima ...... Jin will be able to figure it out soon enough if he examines it." Saki muttered as she rolled the found mineral in her palm. "I wonder what we should ...... do." * * * * In the end, Saki stayed one more night without reaching a conclusion. This was the seventh night in a row. Logie and August were getting worried about Saki''s situation. They had no children, and perhaps because of that, they could not leave Saki alone. "Hey Saki, I don''t know what happened to you, but I think it''s time for you to go home, don''t you? "Yes, I do. Your parents are worried about you. At that moment, Saki for the first time revealed her feelings. "......My mother is gone, and I''m sure my father is getting along with his new partner, so it''s all right." He smiled sadly. Hearing this, Augustus finally understood. "So you''ve been sulking and running away from home. "Sulking ......?"No, I''m not." August smacked Saki on the head. "You''re an idiot. So you''ve been sitting here all this time hoping someone would come looking for you. That''s selfish of you." That''s not quite right, but that''s what they seemed to think. "Well, now that you mention it, we can''t keep you here any longer. It''s late tonight, so I''ll let you stay over, but tomorrow you''ll have to go home." "Well, you know... ......" Yes, that''s right. I won''t let you stay here tomorrow even if you pay me, okay?" "......" The conversation proceeded without Saki''s intention. There are other hotels besides this , but Saki laughs at the aggressive way the two talk to her. Tears welled up in her eyes. Saki, too, had run away from home without telling anyone, but she couldn''t go home, and in her heart, she was looking for a chance to go home. "......Yes, thank you. Mr. Logie, Mr. Augustus." "All right, all right, all right. Well, I''ll be good for you tonight, okay?" Saki nodded her head, and Augustus was relieved and patted her arm with a smile. The restaurant closes at 8:00 pm. The dinner, which could be called a farewell party for Saki, started then. "To Saki''s future," said the chef. A cup and a beer mug are raised. The mug is Augus, and the cups are Rosie and Saki. Saki had not consumed a drop of alcohol since then. "Thank you very much. "Thank you very much, Rosie, Mr. Augustus. Thank you very much for your help. Once Saki had decided to leave, she felt much better and could now say thank you from the bottom of her heart. "Now I wonder why I was so stubborn. It woke me up." It''s easy when you realize it. It was Saki who realized that it was a childish desire to make Toa worry. Reinhard, whom she had been in love with, chose Bertsche as his wife, and Toa''s father found a new partner. Saki feels ashamed of herself for having run away from home, as if by accident, to have someone understand her loneliness. Saki had recovered to the point where she could reflect on what was wrong with her. "What will Jin and the others say when I show them the opals and mysterious minerals I found? Saki is now imagining such things and looking forward to their reunion. Thank you very much for your help. "Thank you very much for your help. ...... Take care. Come again." Saki boarded the ferry with all her feelings in that brief exchange. The morning breeze across Lake Tosmo is cool. Little by little, the shore is getting farther and farther away, and Rosie and Augus are standing there to see her off. Saki waved at them until they were out of sight. After arriving at Sagina, Saki had lunch at a restaurant near the port, and then walked along the lakeshore road to her parents'' house. She wanted to check the geological features of the northern shore of Lake Tosmo again. I wanted to bring back some new discoveries as an excuse for not having heard from Saki for a long time. After confirming that the north bank is still sedimentary rock, Saki returns to her parents'' house. But it is unexpectedly empty. "......Does she go to Reinhardt''s place?" Saki should have found out by contacting Horaijima, but she somehow didn''t feel like it, so she used the warp gate installed in her parents'' house to transfer to Reinhardt''s <> and via Horaijima to << Ivy''s House (Lankenhaos)>>. "Your masters are in the workshop. A maid, who knew me well, told me. At the same time, Jin, Erza, and her father Toa were also there. Saki looked into the workshop with some hesitation. Her first words were very feminine. What are you guys doing? 601 - - 18-21 Innovation for the common people "What are you guys doing?" The voice made Jin and the others look at the entrance, and they saw Saki there. "Saki! "Where have you been?We were worried about you! Toa rushed to her. Even though the old man had made sure that Saki was safe on Horai Island and knew where she was, it was still a parent''s responsibility to worry. "......Sorry, Dad." Saki''s head was roughly gouged, and she bowed her head to Toa. "......Well, that''s okay. You''ve shown me that you''re fine. But you could at least call us on the way, couldn''t you?" Aaru now has a manacam, but it is not a manacam. But Aaru does not use it unless Saki orders him to. He does communicate with the old man, though. "...... Yeah. ...... sorry." "I''m not sure I''m the right person to tell you that. < "Yeah. ...... yes." Even if your body is fine, you don''t know what''s going on psychologically. That''s why Toa told me not to worry alone, but to ask for help. And finally, "I won''t marry Leena if you don''t agree." He also said... "Dad!" But Saki was the first to react. "No!You raised me all these years without a mother,...... and to be honest, a third of my time was spent at my grandfather''s and the other third was spent with the nanny. But ......, you have your own life to lead!" "Saki ......" "So, you should think about your happiness. Your family''s happiness is your happiness. Otherwise it''s not a family. Don''t you agree?" "...... Thank you." Toa gently hugged Saki. Saki gently hugged back. "Oh, ......, sweetie." Reinhardt, seeing that the situation was under control, gave a deliberate cough. As if on cue, Saki and Toa pulled away in a slight panic. "I''m glad you two are getting along so well. So, Saki, what did you bring? Reinhardt asked looking at the box that Aalu, standing behind her, was carrying. "Oh yeah, listen to this: ......." "......," he said. Saki, without getting drunk, explained that he had studied the geology of the area near the town of Trom, on the south shore of Lake Tosmo. "These are ore samples." Aal opened the box he had brought, and out of it came opals and ....... "...... soil?" At first glance, the minerals looked like soil. "Wait a minute, this is ......<>......I knew it! "I knew it!" "You know what this is, don''t you, Jin?" "Yes. This is ......<>." Bauxite is well known as a raw material for aluminum, but it is not the official name of the mineral. It is a mixture of several minerals, including Gibbsite. However, since Jin is not a scholar but an engineer, he called it bauxite according to the customary name of metal workers on earth. The main constituents are aluminum oxide and aluminum hydroxide. "I don''t know why there is so little aluminum on this world." Compared to Earth, there is less aluminum, and instead titanium, called light silver, is mined in large quantities (on past Earths, aluminum was called light silver). "But yeah, the other side of Lake Tosmo is ......!!!!" Jin remembered a non-metallic use for aluminum. "Alumina! "Alumina?" All the members except Jin tilted their heads, not knowing what he was talking about. "Oh, yes, alumina is a material that can be made from this bauxite, and it has high heat resistance. Melting point 2,072 degrees Celsius. Jin came up with the idea of using it as a material for furnaces. Jin thought of using it as a material for the furnace, and the location on the shore of Lake Tosmo would save him a lot of money and trouble. Jin explained this to Reinhardt, who immediately arranged for the bauxite. The area including the town of Trom is under the direct control of the emperor. Normally it would be difficult to obtain permission to develop such land, but the name of the Magecraft Meister, Jin Nidor, was very important. When the emperor was informed of this, he gave priority to processing the documents even though he had just returned from a tour of the city, and permission was granted the next day. On October 16, exploratory digging began. The difficult part was to avoid disturbing the fishing ground. "<>......Yes, it''s OK. There are enough deposits on the land side without digging on the lake side. Jin, who had come to check the site, confirmed the underground condition and told the construction manager. < is a rudimentary earth magic, but like , it is only recognizable if you know the object well. The bauxite brought by Saki was not enough for the earth mage in charge of the construction. "<>" We will also dig a pilot tunnel to make it easier to see where we are going, and at the same time, we will secure the bauxite needed for the prototype furnace. That should give us a rough idea of where we are going. "Oh, thank you, Sir Jin Nido." The construction manager thanked him, and the site suddenly came alive. "When you handle bauxite by human hands, be sure to wear a mask to avoid inhaling the dust. If possible, have a golem do it. Remembering that inhaling bauxite dust can cause dust lungs, Jin was very careful about handling the bauxite. Jin stayed at the site for the rest of the day to check for any problems, but there was nothing to worry about, so he left the rest to the site manager and returned to Kaltz village. Finally, the trial production of the desiccant plant was to begin. Only alumina is separated from bauxite and hardened by <> to form a furnace. Since this is a prototype, the furnace will not be very large, but rather large enough to produce about 40 kg of quicklime at one time. "Put a in the bottom." "Yes, this will heat the inside of the furnace." Reinhard understood immediately, since he already had the structure in mind. "Yes. Alumina is a good conductor of heat, so the heat is transferred immediately to the inside of the furnace, and the temperature rises to about 1100 degrees Celsius. After considering the versatility of this temperature monitor, I decided to use metallic copper. The melting point of copper is 1083 degrees Celsius. A pocket in the furnace was made to hold a piece of copper, which, when melted, would reach 1083 degrees Celsius. The inside of the furnace will be a little hotter than that, so the idea is that it will be just right. "All right, let''s give it a test run. In the two days it took to get the bauxite, they had prepared a sufficient amount of limestone. About 30 kg of limestone was placed in the furnace and the lid was put on, "<>" and heat the furnace. The heating is continued until the copper on the temperature monitor melts, and then stopped one minute later. Then let the furnace cool down. "......Ah, this is a hassle." The alumina furnace, which also has a high thermal insulation, was slow to cool down. In the end, we could not open the lid of the furnace that day. "...... really reminds me how convenient magic is, doesn''t it?" Toa muttered deeply as he looked sideways at the furnace that was still radiating heat. "Dad is right. If we are going to do it this way, we need to make it so that the quicklime can be taken out of the furnace and cooled. Saki also expressed her thoughts. "Yes, that''s right. That way, new material can be added and reheated before the furnace cools down, thus increasing the efficiency of the operation." Reinhardt summarized how the plant would operate. "Right. Then the structure would be ......." Jin ponders. "It would be a long cylindrical structure, with the material placed in from one side and heated. The quicklime is taken out from the other side. Can''t we just put the materials in one after another ......?" Elsa also described the structure she had devised in her own way. "Hmmm, that would leave both ends open, so I think heat would escape." "Oh, I see. ......" Toa pointed out the drawbacks of this idea, "Then, why don''t we make the furnace rotate halfway so that the finished contents can be easily taken out of the furnace?" Saki also offered his opinion. "If we do that, the copper for the monitors will either flow out or fall in. ......" "Well, why don''t you make the furnace a double structure ......" Opinions were expressed one after another, and the basic design of the furnace was finalized. "We also need a production technology that doesn''t rely on magic as much as possible, you know. The technological innovation for the common people advocated by Toa has just begun. The rotary furnace, which made it easier to work with, was completed two days later, on October 19. On the same day, 200 kg of quicklime was produced. These were placed in double-layered jute bags, each weighing 5 kilograms, and the desiccant was ready. The surface of the bags are labeled "Do not get wet. The prototype is complete. The bags are usually kept in an airtight warehouse. "Each bag contains 500 tons. That''s about 100 dollars a kilo." Thor has set the price. Now it remains to be seen if they will sell. 602 - - 18-22 Silent Story 33 Autumn Harvest North of the Pazdekst isthmus, on the continent of Gondor, there was a colder-than-usual cold air. In the land of the tribe called the Demon Tribe who live there, Jin, who visited a little over a month ago, had taken measures to prevent their buckwheat noodles to be cultivated in autumn from being damaged by the cold, and they had been able to harvest them safely. Cold air creates wind. This is because cold air moves toward warmer places. The wind contains water vapor as it passes through the strait between the continent of Gondor, where the demons live, and the continent of Laurent, where humans live. The moist air rises up when it hits the mountain ranges ahead, generating clouds. These clouds then dump rain and snow on the land below. Furthermore, cold dry air from the continent and warm moist air from the sea form a stagnant front. When a low pressure system forms over the stagnant front, the rain clouds are carried away by the monsoon. When the winds are light, the rain falls only over the mountainous areas, but when the winds are strong, the rain clouds move inland. This rainfall will continue until the autumn season in the Laurentian Continent, when the temperature difference between the Laurentian and Gondorian Continents becomes smaller and the northerly winds become weaker. In addition, warm currents flow from south to north on the east side of the Pazdekst isthmus, and the sea water temperature is higher than that of the sea on the west side of the isthmus. In other words, the east side of the isthmus tends to have more humid air moving southward, and therefore more precipitation. This means that the Kingdom of Klein has more annual precipitation than the Kingdom of Franz. For this reason, the Kingdom of Klein is an agricultural country. "It rains a lot this fall. Giebeck, the village chief of Kayna, looked up at the sky and furrowed his brow. The other day, when the rain had temporarily stopped, the whole village had finished harvesting the wheat at once. It was October 10. "Beck, it''s not good to leave the wheat wet, it could get moldy or sprout. What do you have in mind?" Sally Mireshan, a healer from the village of Kayna, said anxiously. Beck is probably a nickname for Guy Beck. "Well. Jin is out, but I''ve talked to Butler A, who''s been staying with us, and we''ve decided to keep them in the shelter. "I see, it''s dry there." The underground shelter by Nido Castle was built by Jin and is managed by Butler. The inside is air-conditioned, and although it is underground, it is dry enough to be used for storing grain. In addition, as soon as the wheat was brought in, the old man adjusted the air conditioning to make it drier in order to prevent mold, so that the harvest in Kaina Village was . < mark is that the harvesting was done a little earlier than the original time due to the weather conditions. * * * * * * * * * * * * "......We''re screwed." Braak, the chief of Toka Village, sighs heavily. Here in Toka, the rain had caused the wheat to sprout. When wheat contains water due to heavy rainfall, it germinates while still growing in the field. This is called ear germination. The quality of wheat that has sprouted in the ears is so poor that it does not expand when made into bread. After the harvest, the wheat was covered to protect it from rain, but when it was threshed, 30% of the wheat had sprouted. But we must be happy that 70% of the crop was saved. Lysia Faarheit, the young lady of Toka, consoled the chief. "Let''s make this fall''s tax a little lighter." "...... thank you." But not many lords, like Toka, are willing to lighten their taxes just because the harvest is down. Or, perhaps, few of them. And the long rains were beginning to affect the whole kingdom of Klein. * * * * "Tax revenues for the fall have been cut in half? The reports coming into Alban, the capital of Klein Kingdom, were not good at all. Fortunately, none of them were affected by the malt fungus known as "devil''s wheat" in this world, but some of them were infected by "red mold". <, you will experience symptoms of poisoning such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The wheat had to be incinerated to prevent the spread of the disease, resulting in a painful loss of revenue. "We have had a lot of red mold, especially in the southern fields. ......" "Mmmm ......" The Prime Minister, Powell Darner Hudson, looked down with a bitter expression on his face when he heard the report from the Minister of Industry, Delight Domus Hanks. Red mold, which is common in warmer climates, seems to have raged particularly hard in the southern fields. "That''s a story you don''t want to hear from the king who is lying low. ......" King Alois III of Klein, who had been ill since the summer, was bedridden, despite the efforts of those around him to nurse him. The conflict with the neighboring Kingdom of Franz in the spring has left the country''s finances in a state of exhaustion, and there is not much wheat in reserve. At this rate, it was obvious that the market price of wheat and barley would skyrocket this winter. "The common people''s lives are going to suffer again. ......" Prime Minister Powell is not incompetent. He is a capable minister who puts the nation first. He understood very well that the main industry of the Klein Kingdom, namely agriculture, is supported by the farmers, whose taxes make the country what it is. "......We must do something about it." However, his impatience did not bring up any good ideas, and all he could do was sigh for the first time that day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... mushrooms?" The rain had already stopped on Horai Island. However, in this rainy autumn, many mushrooms had appeared in the coniferous and broadleaf forests that spread out in the northern part of the island. Perido and his golem maids, who are in charge of the general household chores of Horai Island, especially cooking, were trying to find mushrooms as ingredients. Specifically, shiitake mushrooms, nameko mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, shimeji mushrooms, matsutake mushrooms, and so on. They would find these mushrooms in Jin''s memory and cultivate them if possible. With this goal in mind, Peridot 81-90 searched day and night. "This is a shiitake mushroom, isn''t it? "I found a matsutake mushroom. "It''s a nameko mushroom. "I think it''s a mushroom." Thanks to his efforts, he was able to find mushrooms that closely resembled shiitake, nameko, matsutake, and mushrooms. After consulting with the old man, the peridot reader confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the mushrooms by feeding the boiled broth of each mushroom to small fishes and animals. Furthermore, the old man confirmed that each mushroom was edible based on the information from the fifth column (quinta) scattered all over the country. After further analysis and final confirmation that they were not poisonous, he finally gave permission for them to be served on Jin''s table. Among these, he began to cultivate shiitake mushrooms, using some of the tunnels that had been dug up after the material had been extracted. Within six months, they would be on the right track. "This is delicious!" After discovering that the mushrooms were edible, the peridoleders consulted with Meene and developed a mushroom dish. Nameko mushrooms are used in miso soup, shiitake mushrooms can be grilled or used to make soup stock. Mushrooms can be added to stews or chopped and sprinkled on steaks. The matsutake mushrooms were made into a soup using the little tamari soy sauce that was available. When rice and soy sauce are ready to be mass-produced, I plan to make matsutake gohan (rice with matsutake mushrooms). "Jin-sama, I hope you come back soon. Meine is working hard on her cooking, hoping to see Jin''s happy face. * * * * The eastern part of the Kingdom of Celuloa, in the region of Rivas, is unsuitable for agriculture due to its poor land, and nomads make a living by grazing. The Kingdom of Klein is the natural place for them to buy grain. The decrease in the Kline Kingdom''s harvest due to the unusually long rains this fall will naturally affect them as well. The leaders of the Kingdom of Selroa may or may not decide to send food aid to the eastern part of the country. It is not certain at this point. After all, the Kingdom of Cerroa is a country with less than 100 percent self-sufficiency. To compensate for this, industry, especially magic technology, has developed, and industrial products are exported and food, especially grains, are imported. It remains to be seen how the Kingdom of Cerroa will fare when imports are not forthcoming. What kind of ripple effect will the autumn rains have on the Little Kingdom of Celuloa? A sense of disquiet is slowly creeping into the country. Jin in the Kingdom of Shoro was still unaware of it. 603 - - 18-23 Cauldron and cap. In the village of Kaltz in the Shoro Kingdom, Reinhardt began making arrangements from the night of the 19th for the construction of a desiccant production plant. However, on the 20th, an unexpected development occurred. A knight of the Kingsguard of the Shoro Kingdom came to visit as a messenger with a royal order. "Since there is an urgent need for the production of desiccants, we have decided to build a factory in Van as a national project. Therefore, I have ordered Reinhard Randall to assist us. He is so quick to listen that I wonder where he got the information. But I am more concerned about the reason. I asked the messenger, "We have received information that the long rains in the Kingdom of Klein have caused mold to grow on the grain, resulting in a drastic decrease in the fall harvest, and it seems that His Majesty has considered this matter of great importance and has made this decision. He simply replied. "I understand. I will go with you." The knight messenger returned in a great hurry, saying, "I will definitely inform Her Majesty the Empress of this. "......" "Well, what about us?" I already have a rough plan for this one, so I can handle it without Reinhardt or Jin. I''ll take care of it then." Reinhardt accepts the offer gratefully when Toa offers to stay on as a technical advisor. Bertsche and Adberg can handle the paperwork. Saki and Stearina will also stay on to help. So Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt hurry to get ready. After an early lunch, they departed in Jin''s airship. "Well, the sky is nice, isn''t it? Reinhard is in a good mood after seeing the view from the sky for the first time in a long time. "If I have time, I''d like to build one myself. Reinhardt is still busy with his work as a new lord, he grumbles. The airfield for balloons is located in Koju, so we set off for there first. The trip takes about one hour. After crossing Lake Tosmo, Miyagi came into view in the distance. "Oh?That''s ......." There were five round spheres flying around the castle. "Ah, I''ve heard about them, but I''m sure those are hot-air balloons developed in our country. They were created by the magi engineers of the Shoro Kingdom, based on the gift from Jin. The balloon had the same emblem as the flag of the Shoro Kingdom, the <>, on it. "With that, it''s easy to tell which country it belongs to, isn''t it?" "Yes. Jin should decide on his own coat of arms. Jin thinks about it for a moment when Reinhardt tells him that there is nothing wrong with being an honorary baron. "...... then I guess I''ll have to go with ." "What?" "It''s one of the family crests of the country I was from. It''s a black circle with two horizontal bars. It''s called a circle with two bars. It is also known as the lid of the kettle, together with the circle with a single pull (the circle with a single pull is the lid of the pot). The <> is for the Ashikaga clan and the <> is for the Nitta clan. The is especially famous for its historical literature written during the Nanbokucho period. Jin recalled that the head doctor who brought up Jin had told him that the family crest made full use of the family name Nido, <>. "Well, that''s simple, but that''s why it''s so easy to understand at a glance. "Yes, I think so. "Yes, I think so. It might stand out more because of its abstract nature. Elsa nodded. Jin thought that he would tell the female emperor about it when he met her later. The soldiers in the balloon seemed to recognize Jin''s face and saluted him. The soldiers in the balloon seemed to recognize Jin''s face and saluted him. They seemed to be equipped with protective glasses to protect them from the wind and dust in the sky. Welcomed by five hot-air balloons, Jin''s airship landed in Koju square ...... where the technology exposition was held. There, a new bollard had been installed to moor the balloons. "Welcome, Sir Jin Nido, Magecraft Meister! The large eagle-nosed Minister of Magical Engineering of the Shoro Empire, Degauz Furt von Manischlus, greeted them. "What do you think of this hot air balloon?I made it with the best of my country''s technology. Without even a word of greeting, Degas asked Jin what he thought of it. "Yes, I think it''s a good product. This will be a great flight in the sky. "Oh, I''m glad to hear you say so, Sir. ...... as I''m sure you''ve heard, I''ve been ordered to set up a manufacturing plant for desiccants here near Koju. "Yes, sir." I have prepared a dormitory for you here. I will introduce you to the people who will work with you there. Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt entered the prepared dormitory and were met by Christoph Balde von Tharnat, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magical Technology, and three other technicians, all of whom were related to the factory. All but Christoph were still quite young, and they called themselves Kiringer, Salzbach, and Budweit, respectively. Jin and his colleagues first laid out the experimental equipment they had prepared and demonstrated to them how to make quicklime from limestone and that the resulting quicklime had water-absorbing properties. "Hmmm, this is interesting. This is an alchemical ...... or <> technology. "Yes, it is." Christophe also said that he is learning knowledge from the <> that Jin gave him. The same is true for the three younger workers. "In order to make this in the factory, we have devised the shape of the furnace and the materials." Reinhardt explains to the four of them. In the meantime, Jin supports them by taking out a blueprint of the furnace on a piece of leather paper and spreading it out to show them. "I see, it doesn''t seem that we can simply increase the size of this furnace to produce larger quantities," he says. "Rather, I think it would be preferable to put these furnaces side by side. "We also need airtight containers and storage to prevent the finished quicklime from absorbing moisture. "When digging out the ore and stone, as well as the bauxite, we must wear masks and be careful not to inhale the dust." These discussions took place as the day drew to a close. As night fell, there was an uproar in the dormitory. The female emperor, who had heard that Jin Nido was there, flew in after finishing her duties. "Sir Jin Nido, thank you for your cooperation. "Yes, no, I have heard of a mold infestation in the Kingdom of Klein, where I hold the title of Magecraft Meister. I would be happy to help." Jin is not able to speak in a casual tone since his knight escort and the mayor of Koju are also present. "Yes, that''s what I mean. It would be an aid to the Kingdom of Klein, and it is a situation that could happen to our country as well. We have decided that this is a plan worth pursuing with the whole country. These leaders are very decisive. Jin was impressed. I wonder how long it would have taken Japan to make a decision in Jin''s time: ....... That was not necessarily a bad thing, but Jin preferred the Shoro Empire. Once again, he performed the experiment of producing quicklime in front of the emperor, and that was the end of today''s business. Jin took this opportunity to declare to the queen his personal emblem, a circle with two halves. "I think it is a good idea. I don''t think any country has such a coat of arms. It is the ultimate in simplicity. In a way, I think it is appropriate for a magecraft master. The queen praised the design. She also said that she would officially register it as Sir Jin Nido''s coat of arms. "Well, I have something to show you, Sir. I also want to give you the prize money from the other day, and I would like to ask you to come to Leuthart when you are finished with our work. Finally, the empress asked him to come to her. She did not tell me what she wanted to show me. "It is a matter of state secret," she said. The emperor even said something that sounded a little dangerous: "It is a state secret. Jin replied that he would be able to visit them in the day after tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Originally, the order to set up the desiccant factory had been given to Reinhardt, so he was free to do so. "Jin, His Majesty says, I can handle this on my own. Reinhardt was considerate enough to say so, but Jin also did not want to do anything halfway, so he replied that he would stay with them until the prototype reactor was completed. The prototype furnace was completed. The prototype furnace was completed, and it was confirmed that quicklime could be produced the next day. Jin decided to go to Leusert as soon as he finished breakfast three days later on October 23rd, just as the emperor had told him. Jin, thank you for everything. Elsa, I''ll see you soon." "Yes, Reinhard, take care of the rest. Take care. Brother Rai, take care of yourself. The distance is less than 20 kilometers in a straight line, but Jin decides to take the airship. His air bladder is covered with the black outline of a circle with two drawings on it, which he draws in his spare time. Jin and his crew make the short flight to the capital city of Leusert. 604 - - 18-24 Underground In the capital city of Leusert, two hot-air balloons were seen guarding the sky over the city. When Jin''s airship approached, the crew wearing protective goggles saluted. Jin, who probably saw the emblem of the airship, was impressed by the quick response of the female emperor, which was worthy of respect. Below, the knights are guiding the passengers to the landing site. In the large forecourt of the palace, there were white circles painted on the ground, and Jin aimed at one of them as he lowered his airship. Four knights of the Kingsguard greeted Jin and Elsa with a salute. Reiko moored the airship to a bollard. "Sir Jin Nido, Magecraft Meister, welcome! His Majesty is waiting for you. Two Kingsguard knights escorted Jin and the others. One was about the same age as Jin, but much stouter, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a beautiful figure, and the other was a female knight, about 20 years old, also a slender beauty with blond hair and blue eyes. The male knight followed Jin and the female knight followed Erza to the palace. Reiko and Edgar follow close behind. They go to the office. It is not an exaggeration to say that they were waiting for Jin. Waiting for them in his office on the second floor were not only the emperor, but also Prime Minister Jung von K?bsler, the Magi Engineer Maestro, and Gebhard Ackermann. And, to my surprise, Marcus Grinwald was with them. "Welcome, Sir Jin Nido, Magecraft Maestro. And Miss Elsa." The empress expresses her welcome to Jin, then breaks into a friendly tone. "First, the reward I promised you the other day, one million dollars. ...... for a job well done." "Thank you, sir." Reiko tucked the 100 gold coins, weighing about two kilograms, into the pocket of her skirt. "......Now, I want to hear your honest opinion from here, so say whatever you want to say. I forgive you. First of all, you need to stop being so formal. Is that clear?" When no one objected, the emperor continued. "Once again, as a reminder, let me give you some background for what we are about to discuss. ...... Prime Minister, please." "Yes. ...... You know that to the west of our country there is a vast sandy area called the Hariri Desert. And that beyond it live a different race of people. The Prime Minister looked around at everyone, and when he was sure there was nothing to say, he continued. "A different tribe attacked us once about 300 years ago. They must have thought it would be easy to give humanity, which had been exhausted by the magical war. However, they were able to repel it with the power of ancient relics (artifacts). So far, Jin knew this story. "We have information that these foreign tribes are thinking of invading again. Of course, this is unconfirmed, but we can''t just leave it at that. So, ......." The Prime Minister lowers his voice a little. "I am going to try to reactivate the ancient artifact in the basement of the castle." Jin had been shown this artifact once. It was a huge golem, 20 meters tall. "The first stage of the plan is a large golem, <>, 6 meters tall, which was shown by Marcus at the technology expo. This seems to explain to Jin. "We have manufactured and possess 10 <> from No. 1 to No. 10. The plan is to use their power to maintain the . Because of its enormous size (20 meters), there will be many tasks that cannot be done by human beings. The was created to perform such tasks. "Of course, <> itself is also counted as an asset. We have prepared special shields, swords, maces, and so on. The Prime Minister then took a breath. "...... and that''s all we''ve done so far. Any questions?" "Where did you get the information about the other side of the desert?" This question was asked by Jin. Jin was convinced that the different tribe must share the same ancestry with the follower tribe of the demon tribe. Therefore, he would like to avoid conflict if possible. "Well, it seems that you didn''t know this. There are several towns near the Hariri Desert. And, unofficially, they are said to be in contact with different ethnic groups. That''s where the information came from. It is possible. It means that they can communicate with the different ethnic groups. Fortunately, the language barrier is low in this world. There are some dialect-like words, but most of them are the same language. Jin guessed that this was probably because the had brought the language. "One more thing. You''re not going to attack ......, are you?" "Yes, of course." The female emperor immediately answered Jin''s question. "The Shoro Empire will be on the defensive. This plan is also to protect the ancient artifacts in the basement from becoming a treasure trove. At least, Jin thought, the woman emperor''s words were true. Jin was somewhat interested in the ancient giant golem. Not only was he interested in the size of the golem, but he was also interested in whether or not it had any special functions. "I understand." Seeing that Jin seemed convinced, the Prime Minister opened his mouth again. "If Jin-dono is willing to cooperate with us, then we are a hundred strong, a thousand strong. Today we would like to check the ancient artifacts in the basement for now. These words were addressed to people other than Jin. "...... can I help you with something?" The Prime Minister responds to Erza''s unsure words with a large nod. "Of course. Erza is a first-rate magical engineer, you know. And what else?The Prime Minister looked around at the faces of the participants, "Nothing in particular, it seems." After confirming that no one opened his mouth, he nodded to the emperor and stood up. "Well then, gentlemen, I''m sorry to trouble you, but let''s go to the basement together." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The underground was still low on free ether. As before, we leave the covert task force (SP) on the ground. Edgar does the same, taking precautions. Meanwhile, Reiko follows Jin. "It''s still deteriorating. ......" Jin mutters as he sees the red rusted legs of the golem on the fifth basement floor. "This golem seems to have a mechanism that corresponds to the muscles of a human. Gebhard Ackermann, the Magi Engineer Maestro, touched the huge leg and muttered to himself. "First, the skeleton is repaired, followed by the muscles. Then the exterior, in that order, right? Jin answered. "No, first we have to do something about the free magic element (ether) anomaly in this space, otherwise we won''t even be able to do the work satisfactorily. "What do you mean?" The free magical element (ether) is extremely low in this basement. Probably to prevent this golem from being stolen or inadvertently activated. When Jin said this, everyone looked as if they had not noticed. "There must be such a magical tool hidden somewhere..." "Hmm. ......" However, even if they tried to find them, it would be impossible without the use of magic. Jin had a rough idea of what it was, but he did not bother to point it out this time. "It would be a waste of time to search. In that case..." The Prime Minister concludes, "Then we should bring the giant golem to the ground. * * * * A large-scale construction work was immediately started. The giant golem was to be lifted up from a depth equivalent to five stories underground. First of all, a way to the ground must be built. Fortunately, there is a courtyard directly above the giant golem hangar. It is easy to make a hole by removing the paving stones. "...... Hmmm, of course." Gebhard Ackermann looked at the paving stones and nodded in agreement. "Look. Just above the hangar, the paving stones are divided into squares. It''s only natural that there should be a passageway for storage in that location in the first place. And it could not be anywhere but here. It is a logical conclusion. The large golem is mobilized, and when the paving stone is removed, a square stone lid is found under it as well. "I knew this was the right place." The rest was quick. When the stone lid was removed, the huge golem hangar could be seen from above. "Okay, let''s hoist it up." A tower was built over the hole and a pulley was hung. From there, several strong ropes were lowered and tied to the giant golem. There were ten ropes. Each of them was taken care of by a . "All right, pull!" Markas shouted, and the ropes were pulled. But the giant golem is undaunted. is not holding firm either. The weight of the giant golem is probably in excess of 200 tons. And <> is about 10 tons each. . There was no way that they could be raised by a fixed pulley. "It would be impossible unless we used dynamic pulleys and raised them in two or more stages. Jin could not remain silent and offered his advice. Gebhard Ackermann, who had been trained as a teacher-automaton and leader (Fuhrer), was convinced. "I see!So this is when you use the pulley." With the help of Jin, a two-stage pulley was prepared, the type that could lift the boat by a quarter of a mile. This made it possible to lift six <>. "Okay, pull slowly. ...... that''s it, that''s it, that''s it." Marcus gives the order, and Nos. 1 through 6 of the <> pull on the rope. At that moment, the oars creak and the rope breaks. The tower and the rope are carefully lubricated with <, and the team tries again. This time, they managed to lift it up. I tried to move the tower when the foot of the giant golem was above the ground of the courtyard, but ...... failed. We had no choice but to re-cover the hole where we had lifted the giant golem and gently lower it down on top of it. The flooring was < and did not break under the weight of 200 tons. The giant golem, an ancient artifact, is now exposed to the sunlight for the first time in 300 years. 605 - - 18-25 Old Giant The analysis and repair of the giant golem proceeded smoothly now that it was on the surface. Scaffolding is set up around it, and the technicians proceed with their work. Jin suggested that the material corresponding to the muscles be made from the leather of a sandworm, which should be able to produce equal or greater strength, Jin said. Jin said that it should be able to produce equal or greater power. It took a full day to replace the leather, including the help of a young magi engineer. The skeleton, on the other hand, was less corroded, and the work was completed in half a day. The exterior of the car was less difficult, although there was a lot of work to be done. This too was completed in half a day with the help of many young workers. The problem was the internal magi device. This was the most interesting part of the work for Jin. "Hmm, so this is the artifact''s magical device (......)." Jin and the others were pondering as they looked at the artifact that had been removed from his chest. What in the world is this? "I''ve never seen a magic control flow (Magi sequence) like this." "......" It is the <. It is the familiar Magi Device for Jin and Erza. (Though it is quite inefficient, ...... it doesn''t seem to be of the same lineage as its predecessor). "Perhaps the Magi Formula here works on the free magical element (ether)." "Hmm, in that case, this place is ...... right!If the surrounding free magic element (ether) is collected, it is to be converted into ...... magic element (mana)! Jin casually guides our thoughts and leads us to the right path. He is always or . Elsa, on the other hand, is observing Gebhardt, the Magi Engineer Maestro, and gauging her own abilities. (......) I am far behind my brother Jin. (I am far behind Brother Jin in knowledge, in understanding, and in the use of magic.) Erza, who was taught by Jin, had already surpassed the current Magi Engineer Maestro in knowledge and technical skills, not to mention experience, combined with her original talent. On the other hand, Marcus Grinwald is taciturn and does not open his mouth much. As the grandson of the previous Magi Engineer Maestro, Siegmund Grinwald, he had received gifted education from an early age, but he felt a little inferior to the Magi Engineer Maestro because he was only one step behind him in magical technology. However, although he was controlled by <, he mastered the process of making , a super-sized golem, and was allowed to participate in a project to revitalize ancient relics (artifacts) because of his achievements. Just as he was rejoicing at the prospect of becoming a "Magi Engineer Maestro," Jin Nido, accompanied by an automaton named Reko, who had unilaterally laid waste to the , arrived at the same project. No wonder Marcus is depressed. < without Jin''s advice. The analysis proceeded slowly, oblivious to the thoughts of individuals. If Jin had done it alone, it would have been finished by now, but neither Jin nor Erza were so thoughtless as to mention it. Rather, they were eager to know the level of the average magical engineer. "...... control core, what is this?" "What is it?" Jin had never seen anything like it. No, I know something like it. (By any chance, is it a <>......? There is a slight similarity with the one used for <> and <>. It is a communication function using magic power. "There is no doubt that this is the control core that operates this giant golem. But it can''t be moving as it is! The control core can be autonomous, semi-autonomous, commanded, or none of the above. As the puzzled participants are once again confronted with a clue, Jin gives them a hint. "There are some parts similar to the imperative type, aren''t there?Like this part here. "......Hmm, sure." "But even though it has a basic operation expression, the <> is blank. Instead, it is connected to the magi device over here, which is ......." "I see, is this Magi device giving commands?No, it should not have such a function. "What if we think that instead of giving commands with our voices, we give them with something else?" "...... You are indeed a magical engineer Magicraft Meister. That''s very likely!Then, this is the Magi Device: ......." After a full day of work, this method was named , and the Golem''s operation type was increased by one. "......" "Brother Jin, what are you thinking?" As Jin was relaxing in the room given to him in the palace, Erza came in with a bottle of wine. "Hmm?About the giant golem you are currently studying? "Hmm." Elsa sat down opposite Jin and showed him a bottle of wine. "This is one of my brother Rai''s favorite brands. < "Is noble rot wine ...... a sweet one?" The wine made from <, which have been moistened by noble rot fungus and the sugar content has increased, is called "noble rot wine" and is extremely sweet. It is preferred as an aperitif or dessert wine. Reinhardt and Elsa like it as dessert wine. "Yes. It''s very smooth on the palate, like juice." Erza asked Edgar to pour it for Jin and herself. Jin took a sip. "Yeah, it''s definitely sweet. Jin is not a drinker and prefers sweet wines to dry wines, so he liked this wine. "What''s your concern about the giant golem at ......?" "Oh. The first one is solved. I was worried that there might be a device built in that would cause an ......<>." The "Aether Stampede" that occurred at the end of the Magic War was the work of a homunculus called a "Negador". The homunculus hated the human race and the demon race, and caused the "Aether Stampede" in order to destroy them. As a result, the population of the known world has decreased to less than 40%. "...... convinced." But it seems that the artifact left here had nothing to do with the Negador. "And the second one?" Elsa tasted the wine and continued her question. "It''s a control device. There should be a control unit or a pilot''s seat somewhere like ......<> or <>, but I''m concerned that I can''t find it." Without it, the giant golem will not be able to move even if repairs and maintenance are completed. The work would be pointless. "Is that all?" "No, there is one more thing. It''s the Magi Formula that was engraved on the back of the armored chest. I didn''t see it. Jin explains to Erza, who looks at him strangely, as if to appease her. "That''s right. I found it and immediately ordered Reiko to take it to the Prime Minister, so it''s not surprising that Erza doesn''t know about it either. "...... dangerous thing?" Jin nodded at Erza''s voice and took a sip of wine, moistening his mouth before continuing. "Dangerous, I guess you could say. It was a magic formula that amplifies magic. It is one of the lost techniques of magic. But Jin knew about it, didn''t he? Jin nodded at Erza''s confident question. "Yes. But it has many shortcomings. ...... Jin looked at Erza''s questioning face and began to explain with a wry smile on his face. "......The concentration of free magic element (ether) is too thin in the current world." "......Oh, that''s what I mean." Erza understood immediately. She knew from what she had heard that the concentration of free magical element (ether) was at least three to five times higher in the world before the Magic Wars than it is now. In other words, it is meaningless without a large amount of free magic element (ether). "Even if you amplify it, you will soon run out of mana, is that right?" Correct. It works similar to ...... eladolite. They work 20 times better, but this one works 10 times better at best. Still, a threat. Ten times as many, but if you think of it as one to ten, one to ten... The difference is overwhelming. "Probably, just moving that huge body consumes a lot of mana. I think the amplification function was necessary to temporarily compensate for that." "...... What would happen if a normal person used this?" "...... will soon run out of magic power. The term "run out of magic" here refers to the depletion of mana in the body. Even if it is amplified, it does not create something out of nothing, but only combines 10 times of magical power into one time. "Therefore, it is a meaningless technology unless it can generate abundant magic element (mana) out of the abundant free magic element (ether). Jin reassured Erza with this assertion, but he knew that it could be a threat depending on how it was used. (If you make mages disposable and let them attack ......) ) However, this is a tactic that would be meaningless in the current situation where mages are scarce. In addition, Jin thought that it would be safer if the Ministry of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire controlled it and kept it out of the gate. "One more thing: ......" "...... one more thing, what?" Erza asked back with a tilt of her head. "...... control core, but there was a part of the formula written in it that I don''t know either." Jin''s knowledge does not cover the period between the time of the previous generation and the present. He does not know about the magical tools made during that period or the magical technology developed during that period. There is little, but not zero, information on such things. Especially since the technology of magic had been progressing little by little until the time of the Great Magic War. "As long as there is no one around. ......" The danger of showing 100 percent of Jin''s abilities, the decision not to spread the word too widely depending on what is written, and the fact that the site is "protected". "There was a big possibility that it was protected, so I didn''t do it." He considered the possibility that it might react to attempts to analyze it. "Is that ......?" "Yeah. If it destroys itself, that''s fine, but if it explodes or something. ......" For the sake of secrecy, the golems created by Jin are also designed to self-destruct if they are subjected to aggressive analysis by others. Jin''s fears were not unfounded. "I hope something won''t happen in the future by leaving that unattended," he said. "We can tell them that they should put it back underground and store it again with a lower concentration of free magic element (ether). Then it''s the same as before. There is little chance of anything happening. "Yeah, I''ll make a suggestion tomorrow." Jin replies with a sense of uneasiness in his drunken head. 606 - - 18-26 Owners of Residence "Ugh ...... my head hurts." Because of its palatability, Jin had a hangover from drinking too much of the noble rot wine. "Father, are you all right?" "...... Reiko, I''m sorry, cast a detoxification spell." "Yes, I''m fine. ......<>" The antidote magic that Reiko uses is the Shoro Imperial style of chanting that she learned from Erza. This breaks down the acetaldehyde and adenosine that cause headaches. "...... I feel much better, but I still have a headache. ......" "So <>. How about ......?" This will also cure the inflammation of the dilated blood vessels. "...... Oh, I feel so much better. Thank you, Reiko." "No." This experience made Jin realize that he had better make a detoxification tool as soon as possible. * * * * It was late afternoon when the maintenance and analysis of the giant golem were completed. At Jin''s suggestion, the steel skeleton was nickel-plated and the exterior steel plates were mithril-plated, so the rusty red exterior was renewed and now shines in a silvery white color. "Thank you, Gin Nido, Elsa Nido, Gebhard Ackermann, Markus Grinwald, for all your hard work. Thank you all for your hard work." When the work was finished, the emperor herself came to inspect the work and was so pleased with the results that she gave these words of praise. The only thing that remained was the control system. This was reported to the Prime Minister by Jin, and then to the Queen. We searched for the control unit in the basement, but could not find it. So, I guessed that it might be hidden in another part of the castle. "...... I have no idea. ......" But even the emperor had no idea about the existence of the control device. At this point, Jin made a suggestion. "I suggest we take it back to the basement." This was because of the concern that he had discussed with Elsa last night. "Since we can''t find the control unit, I think it is essential that we keep it in its original state. "No, I disagree with that." Marcus interrupted Jin. "I would like to further analyze this ancient technology in order to make use of it in the future. I also think that publicizing this majestic structure would be a good opportunity to make our country''s power known both at home and abroad. "Well, I don''t know what to do." The Empress personally would like to take Jin''s opinion into consideration, but as a public figure, she understands Marcus'' opinion. So I have decided to ask the Minister of Magical Technology for his opinion. What is your opinion, Degas? "I think it would be better to present the giant golem to the public for a limited period of time after its maintenance has been completed. After that, we can store it underground again. It is a compromise. The Empress thought about it and decided to adopt it. "Okay. I will display it in the courtyard for ten days, publicize it to the people, and allow them to analyze it. After that, we will return it to the basement. The decision was made. Jin did not say anything more strongly. Now there was nothing more for Jin and his group to do for the time being, so they were to be disbanded. Each member was given a reward, "Sir Jin Nido will be given a house in Leuthart. To Jin, it was a house. It was probably for finding the Magi Formula, which amplifies magic. The fact that it was in the capital, Leusert, meant that Jin now had a base in the Shoro Kingdom. This is more beneficial to Jin than money or a title. The location of the house was a little out of town, but Jin thought it was nice and quiet. It is a two-story stone building. It is quite large. Thankfully, it has a large garden. The lot area of the house that Jin received was about 500 tsubo, and 300 tsubo was used as a garden. Although the building was used, it was well maintained and ready to live in. It seems to have belonged to a baron''s family that was demolished, and some of the furniture and furnishings still remain. There are about 20 rooms. It must have been difficult to maintain. Jin would have no problem with that. "You can remodel it as you like. Jin was secretly delighted to receive this endorsement. As the empress, she was curious to see what kind of modifications the Magecraft Meister would make. Perhaps she intends to visit the place at some point. "I''m glad we have a basement, so we can set up a warp gate. "I''m glad we have a basement, so we can set up a warp gate." "There''s a garden, so we can put a golem carriage there. Elsa knew well what it meant for the nobility to have a house in Leuthart. It was unprecedented for a knighthood. That is how much Jin is trusted and recognized. If that is the case, I advised him to make the house worthy of such trust. "I see..." "Of course it doesn''t have to be like the house on Horai Island and it shouldn''t be. But it should be a house that can live up to Your Majesty''s expectations. Elsa knew that the Empress would be visiting soon to see how things were going. "Now that I''m finally free, I''d like to bring Hannah here. I''ll finish the remodeling today." Jin seemed to have been turned on. After an early lunch, we finally get started. The first step is to install a warp gate in the basement. Reiko is sent as a landmark by a transporter and temporarily installed. Using the Warp Gate, we call 10 Craftsman (Smith) Golems. The preparations are now complete. Elsa, who knows Reuthert reasonably well, is asked to go shopping with Edgar. She is to buy some common household goods. They could have made everything, but it would be unnatural not to buy anything considering the reputation of the neighborhood. Also, it is better to spend a little money for the sake of economy. After all, the one million dollars that was given as a prize is still untouched. I ask Elsa to help me with curtains, dishes, basic cooking utensils, carpets, etc. She says, "Yes, I''ll take care of it. "Yes, I''ll take care of it." Edgar alone will have a hard time, so I decide to add two craftsmen (smiths) to help with the transportation. I have no intention of hiding the fact that I am a Magecraft Meister, so I don''t mind if the golem stands out a little. "All right, I''ll do this one too." After Erza left, Jin, along with eight other craftsmen (smiths), set to work on the modifications. Although the house had been maintained, it was only minimally necessary and needed to be cleaned. All 8 Smiths were mobilized to do the cleaning. Dust, trash, and small vermin living in the house are taken care of, and we are finally at the starting line. First, the basement is expanded. A new pantry, a new warehouse for materials, and a secret room to hide the warp gate are added. The original basement will be used as a workshop. The stone materials in the mansion should be carefully and , and the damaged parts should be repaired. Toilets are remodeled to the level of Kaina Village. In other words, a western style toilet seat made of marble and a waste disposal system with <><<><><><<>. No hot water washing function. Sewage treatment is to have a similar mechanism. After all this, Jin noticed that the water and sewage systems in Leuthert. While the toilets were of the underground percolation type with <, the sewage was once stored in a settling pond, and the supernatant was treated by the magic of < and poured into the Tosmo Lake. It is simple but very effective. However, I wondered what he was going to do with the accumulated sediments. A quick digression. The water supply is provided by wells installed in each house. The groundwater seems to be abundant because of the proximity to Lake Tosmo. Jin dug one deep well as a trial. It seemed to be under a lot of pressure, and the water spouted out on its own. "We can save ourselves the trouble of pumping up the water," he said. The water from the well was stored in a water tank in the attic on the second floor, and water pipes were installed inside the house so that the water supply could be used on the second floor, and toilets and washrooms were also installed on the first and second floors. Of course, the water is < and . A water heater using < is also installed so that people can wash their hands with warm water in winter. Since the original bathhouse could only be used for bathing, a new bath was naturally built. It has a shower. Naturally, sewage is treated before being discharged into the sewage system. The craftsman (Smith) did a great job. Reiko is in charge of communicating with the old man about the necessary materials and having them sent from Horai Island. Around this time, Elsa came back after shopping, and we laid the carpet and installed the curtains. "You''d be surprised how much it changes the impression." The once drab room and corridor suddenly became more colorful. Elsa''s sense of style shines through. "Now all that''s left is the rooms and the kitchen. You can help me." "Yes." Let''s start with the kitchen. The sink and cook top were made of stone, so they were removed and replaced with 18-12 stainless steel. It would be useful to install a warp gate. It is because we can use materials of Horai Island which are usually hard to obtain as much as we want. I try to purchase materials that can be found nearby as much as possible, but this time I brought more than half of them from Penglai Island because I was in a bit of a hurry. "The bedding must be made of magi silk. Erza carries the Magi Silk futon, which she is particular about, to her room. There are ten sets for Jin''s bedroom, Erza''s bedroom, and the guests'' rooms. With that many beddings, Saki and Reinhardt and the others would be able to stay over. "The reception room should be uncluttered, but presentable. It''s not easy, so I''ll leave it to Erza who came up with the idea. Elsa laid out the most luxurious carpets, and added a touch of engineering magic to the original heavy table set to make it look even more magnificent. After all this work, it was getting dim outside, so they decided to think about how to light the room. "<> would be safer." "...... I guess so." The device combining the existing technology is good, but it is not a good idea to show off the lost technology too much, so we decided to use the magic lamp that Erza bought for the light. "We''ll buy more lamps tomorrow if we need more." Since we didn''t have enough for the guest room, we decided to finish up our own bedroom the next day. "I want ...... tatami mats." Erza said she wanted to sleep on a futon in the tatami room instead of a bed. Jin agrees. So they bring tatami mats into their bedrooms. They added a floor about 40 centimeters higher than the original floor and covered it with tatami mats. The image of a tatami room is that of a tatami room in a Japanese-style pub. Since the bedrooms are as large as 8 tatami mats, they raised the floor by 6 tatami mats and put tatami mats on the floor. Jin intends to build a horigotatsu (sunken kotatsu) when it gets colder. Since there is no closet, it is only a Japanese-style room, but it seems to be comfortable. We decide to prepare the small utensils after we try using them, and have dinner. "Father, Miss Elsa, it''s just ready. "Yes, thank you, Reiko. You did a good job today. Reiko was the one who gave instructions to the craftsman (Smith) on the things that Jin did not notice and on the minor adjustments. She also ordered materials from the old man, and was the person who contributed to today''s work. "No, it''s nothing like that. But despite her words, Reiko smiled happily when Jin praised her. 607 - - 18-27 Presentation The morning of October 29th was clear and sunny. "Ah, I slept well." "Good morning, Father." "Good morning, Reiko." Jin stretched out and got up from the futon. He was dressed in his underwear because he had not prepared his nightgown. He dressed quickly and went to the bathroom. "Well, I''m going to get ready for breakfast. Reiko went to the kitchen. "You slept well last night, probably because you were tired. ...... For Jin, remodeling the house was a more engrossing and tiring task than repairing the giant golem, an ancient artifact of the Shoro Empire. "Brother Jin, good morning." "Oh, good morning." Erza wakes up and they wash their faces together. He realizes that he has no towel, so he dries his face with engineering magic < and wind magic <>. "...... this can be used as a warm air dryer." Jin and Erza headed for the kitchen, thinking about the new magic tools for daily life. Since they had not yet purchased all the ingredients, they used what the old man had sent from Horai Island, and Reiko prepared bread, citran marmalade, bean soup, bacon and eggs, salad, and fruit juice. Both Jin and Elsa were familiar with the taste. "Brother Jin, what are you going to do today?" Elsa asked as she sipped her fruit juice. "Yes, I''m going to invite Barrow and Behrle over, and Hannah too. Nodding, Elsa put down her glass of juice, "In that case, I''d like to have a landing place for the airship in this house. She then says, "I''d like to have a landing place for airships in this house. "Ah, yes, that''s true. If we are going to make ......, we should make it ......." Jin thought that the rooftop would be the best place. "We can take off the existing roof and make a flat roof, or we can ...... make a proper rooftop." After thinking about it, he decided to build a rooftop. "I think it would be a bad idea to ask for permission for the arrival and departure, let alone the remodeling. ......" Jin planned to get the permission while going to Miyagi to pick up the airship. "......I think I''ll make and offer the < magic tool I was thinking of last time." Jin thought this would be a good idea, since the royal family and government officials would need it. He immediately ordered magi crystals from the island of Horai. "Erza, what shape would you like it to be?A ring?A bracelet?A pendant?" Erza thinks about it for a while. "...... I think it is better if it is close to the center of the body, considering the detoxification. A bracelet rather than a ring, a necklace rather than a bracelet." "I see. I see. Then, I''ll use a pendant top." Jin explained how to use the pendant and said that it would be better if the length of the chain was adjusted so that it was placed in front of the chest. "Hmm. I think that''s a good idea. The chain should be mithril silver." "Okay. I''ll leave the design to Elsa. I''ll make the chain first. Jin ordered mithril silver and made a chain for a necklace. The design is called a kihira chain. It is made by twisting a piece of ordinary chain 90 degrees to make it flat. Jin only knew the name of this chain. Mithril silver is 925 mithril silver mixed with copper because solid mithril silver is not strong enough. It is the same material as the dagger he had given to Erza for her birthday. After making a regular chain, I twisted the chain to make it flat. When I had made about 10 meters of chain for the time being, Elsa gave me a look of dismay. "What are you going to do with that many? "No, we''re going to distribute them to at least 10 people, aren''t we?" Erza was even more astonished by this comment. "Brother Jin, the first thing is to make it an offering to His Majesty. In other words, we must emphasize its value as an item. Erza tells Jin that the value of something made by a Magecraft Meister is such a thing. "I see. ...... I understand what you are saying. Jin nodded his head. "But it won''t go to waste, will it?We can use Erza, Meane, Martha, Hannah, Saki, Stearina, Vivienne, ......, oh, and Bina and Licia." It''s not just my imagination that Erza''s eyebrows twitched at the mention of Licia''s name. "......I realized once again that my brother Jin is that kind of person." "?" The words muttered by Erza, who let out a small sigh, did not seem to have caught Jin''s ear. "......Anyways, the first thing we need to do is to make a dedication." "Okay." At Erza''s suggestion, a diamond-shaped base was made from mithril silver for the pendant top, and the processed magic crystal (magi crystal) was inlaid into it. At 9:00 a.m., Jin and Erza first went to the palace with the gift. The Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido, was already a well-known figure, and they were ushered into the waiting room with a near face-pass. Elsa and Reiko, who were with us, were also well-known to us, so there was no problem. We waited for 20 minutes. "Jin-kun, what can I do for you today?" Jin and Erza are ushered into the office of the female emperor, thinking that meeting the prime minister would be good enough. "If the Magecraft Meister wants to talk to you, I''m ready to listen, aren''t I? The Prime Minister beside them looks a little tired, but Jin pretends not to have seen him and tells him his purpose. "The magic tool of detoxification: ....... It''s wonderful!" "Erza designed it and I made it." He placed it in a box made of black wood similar to ebony and offered her the pendant top and chain. "Wearing this, it has a detoxifying effect, right?" "Yes. Just wearing it has a mild effect. For example, it can prevent you from getting drunk. ......" Jin explains the benefits. "So, for example, even if you take a fatal poison, you will not collapse immediately, but you will have time to function as you should. This is because it may be too late to activate it after the poison has taken effect. "If you think something is wrong, tap the pendant top hard. It will activate." This is in consideration of the case when the poison makes a person paralyzed and unable to speak. "There is a light antidote effect that is always activated, so it is unlikely that your hand will become paralyzed. He added that even if he hit her by mistake, there would be no harmful effects if her body was normal. "Thank you, Mr. Jin. I appreciate it." The emperor smiled and accepted the pendant top, "Is that all?Is there something you want me to do for you?" She showed her sharpness. "Oh, yes, there is one thing I would like your permission for." Jin then explained that he wanted to set up a landing place for airships on the roof of the house he had received. "I see. ...... Prime Minister, I think that''s a good idea." The Empress pondered and then asked the Prime Minister for his opinion as well. "Yes, Your Majesty, you''re right. I think it would be a good idea to have Sir Jin Nido, the Magecraft Master, set an example, as he will be the one to give permission to anyone who possesses a hot air balloon in the future. In other words, we would like to see how Jin Nido does it and use it as a reference for the future. "Thank you very much for your immediate permission. Jin thanked him and left the room. As expected, the emperor did not have time to chat with her. "Brother Jin, I''m so happy for you. "Yes, thanks to Erza. Holding a piece of paper with the permission, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko arrived at the airship''s mooring in high spirits. "Reiko, tell the waiting craftsmen (Smith) to start work. "Yes, sir." I knew with absolute certainty that permission would be granted, and we had already discussed how we would remodel. The 10 craftsmen (smiths) received the instructions and immediately started the remodeling. The production capacity of the Craftsman (Smith) Golem is about one-tenth that of Jin. The number of ten Golems is not equal to that of Jin''s. Because of the advantage in numbers, the number of Smith Golem is about one-tenth of Jin''s. Because of the advantage in numbers, the following tasks are required for this project: demolition of the roof, removal of the demolished roof, re-erection of the attic, construction of the rooftop, and maintenance of the tarmac. Even if we omit the details of the work, it is significant to be able to share the work of such a large number of processes. The renovation should have been completed in the time it took Jin and Elsa to fly to the village of Maggiroots on the airship and bring Barrow and Behle with them. The distance from the capital, Leusert, to the village of Magirutz is about 130 km. Jin, who was running out of time, flew to the village of Magirutz at high altitude. He is an impatient person when he has something to do. He arrived at the village in less than an hour. This time, no one was surprised, only curious eyes greeted him. "Jin-dono, welcome to the village. We landed in a vacant lot on the outskirts of the village and were greeted by the village chief. What can I do for you today? I''m here to pick up Barrow and Behr. Jin explained that it was time for him to get back to work. "Of course, as long as you''re working for us. Please take good care of them. With these words, the village head bowed his head to Jin. 608 - - 18-28 Confession "Barrow, I''m here to pick you up!" Jin visited Barrow''s house accompanied by Reiko. "Jin-sama!" "Oh, is Behr there too?" Yes! When asked about the story, he said that he had been taking care of Barrow''s younger brother and sister and helping out with the housework. "I was so surprised at how efficient you are, Behr," said Barrow. said Mates, Barrow''s mother. "Ah, welcome, master! Barrow''s younger siblings greeted loudly when they saw Jin. "Master?" "Yes, you are the master of the place where you work, aren''t you?" His younger brother Kono asked in a smart mouth. "Ha, you''re not wrong." Jin laughed and patted Kono on the head. "Barrow, Behrle, I know this is short notice, but is it time to call it a day? Jin wished there was a way to contact them in advance. Whether or not he will give them the manacam or not remains to be seen. "Yes, of course. Thank you for this unexpected long vacation. Barrow replied, straightening his back and bowing neatly. "Well then, after lunch I will go to Leuthart," he said. "Yes, sir." "Are you going to go to ......?" Lucca, my little sister, looks up at me with a sad look on her face. "Oh, I have to go to work. I''ll be back." Barrow squats down in front of Lucca and pats her head. "......" Jin saw this and decided to ask Barrow. "Barrow, are you sure?If you want, you can stay in the village. ......" Barrow interrupted Jin''s words as if to say, "No, Jin. No, I want to work for Master Jin. "Well, all right. I''ll be happy to work for you again. Barrow''s little sister, Jin-sama. Jin, concerned about the lonely face of Barrow''s little sister, Lucca, decides to make a doll for her in the hour before lunch. Jin''s formula is that a doll is the best way to put a little girl in a good mood, and it is not so far off the mark in this world. "Brother Jin, do you want to help?" Erza, who was looking at him, also offered to help, so he asked her to make some clothes for him. I contacted the old man through Reiko, and he sent me the necessary materials from Horai Island via a transporter, so I was able to make the clothes without any problem. This doll is classified as a hugging doll. The soft body is made of magi silk and cotton, and a core made of stainless steel wire is inserted so that the doll can be posed as desired. The clothes are also made of magi silk, so they are pleasant to the touch. The eyes are made of blue shell buttons, and the hair is gold-dyed magi silk. It is not difficult to imagine that it would cost several thousand dollars to buy. "See you later, girl!" "Barrow, you must be strong! Please take good care of my son for me, Mr. Jin at ......." In the afternoon, they finally departed. Barrow''s family came to see him off. "Oni,......, good luck,......," he said. Jin gave Lucca a cuddly doll as a gift. "Is this ......?" "I think I said Lucca. I know you must be lonely, but you''re doing a great job of cheering her up. This is my present for Lucca." "Thanks ......." Lucca was shy, but she accepted Jin''s gift with open arms. Jin stroked Lucca''s head, "I''ll take care of you so that you can go home from time to time, okay?" He comforted her. "Take care of Behr, Barrow." "Yes, father." You can be my wife now, can''t you? "Oh, Mother? Behle, too, was in a panic when Barrow''s parents said these words to him, both jokingly and seriously. The airship then soars into the sky. "See you soon!" Barrow and Behrle both kept waving their hands until the people who saw them off were smaller than a pea. "...... Well, first we are going to Reuzert." Jin uses this time to tell the story of how he got the house. "I''m going to stay in Loisart for a while yet, and in the meantime, you can work in this house. "Yes, sir, I will!" We flew at a high altitude on the way back and arrived in Leuthart in the afternoon. "Well, where is ...... again?" "Father, there it is!" Reiko tells Jin, who was not sure of the location of the renovated house. "Oh, I know, I know. You did a good job." The slate roof had been removed to reveal a flat rooftop. A railing had been built on the roof, and a simple garage for airships, or rather a boat shed, had also been built. With the support of Reiko, Jin successfully lowers the airship onto the rooftop and moors it. Three Craftsman (Smith) Golems pulled the airship, stored it in the garage, and secured it in place. "Is this the residence of Master Jin? "Yes. I''ve only just received it, so I''m sure I''m missing a lot of things. If you notice anything, please tell the craftsman (Smith). "Yes, of course." The two were a little nervous because they did not usually see the craftsman (Smith), but since they had known the butler and steward, they soon got used to him. After watching them for about an hour, Jin finally decided to pick up Hannah. "Go ahead, Jin-brother," she said. Elsa stayed at home for a short time. Jin, accompanied by Reiko, first went to by the warp gate installed in the basement, and then jumped to the village of Kaina. They did not leave Nido Castle, but rather the basement of the workshop. It was already dark in the village of Kaina. "Oh, my God, Onii-chan!" Hannah, who was preparing dinner, found Jin. "Welcome home!" "Oh, yes." "Oh, Jin, welcome back. Have you finished your business yet? Jin thought he would take this opportunity to tell Martha about the warp gate. He entered Martha''s house and faced her in the dining room. "What''s wrong?Do you have something important to tell me? "Yes, actually. ......" Jin explains in order that he can use an ancient relic (artifact) called a <>, that when he first came to this village it was a runaway, and that such an accident would not have occurred if he had set it up properly. "......I knew that Jin was substandard, but that''s another crazy story. ......" I''m sorry. I''m sorry, but this technology is so advanced that if we make a mistake, countries will be after us. "Well, I guess you''re right. We can send soldiers and weapons to them in no time at all. Jin, however, expressed his opinion that the money should be used for more constructive purposes. "Hmm, I agree with that. Well, it''s Jin''s property, so I don''t have a problem with him using it for whatever he wants. As long as you don''t use it for something bad. "Of course." Jin nodded broadly. Finally, he added that the reason he had not told them about this before was to avoid attracting the attention of those who would target this kind of technology, not because he did not trust them. "I know, I''m talking about Jin." Martha smiled brightly and gently patted Jin''s shoulder as he bowed his head. "I''m the one who asked you to be good friends with Hannah. So you''re going to take Hannah with you now? "Yes." "Yes!" Hannah had been silently listening to Jin and Martha until then, but when she saw that they had finished talking, she started to cheer. "Hannah, let''s take the clothes the princess gave us with us. Martha helped her to get ready. Mostly clothes. "Okay, I''m off." "I''m off!" "Be careful!" Martha saw them off, and Jin and Hanna disappeared into the warp gate. Martha sees the warp gate for the first time and talks to herself. "......The child Hanna found that day was the kind of child who could change the world. ......" 609 - - 18-29 Time difference The capital, Leusert, is the residence of the emperor. A huge golem stands in the courtyard. A temporary roof is being built around the golem, which has yet to move. "Hey, pull that side a little more. "Be careful, the scaffolding there is unstable! "Okay, lift it up slowly." The construction work, which was carried out using engineering magic, was supervised by Magi Engineer Marcus Grinwald. The work was done quickly, using a large golem that he had made. The structure took shape in one day and was completed on the second. "Thank you, Marcus. The emperor who had come to see the finished product congratulated Markus. "You have made a very solid product," she said. It is a pity that there is no control unit. I would have liked to see it in action. ......" At that moment, there was a click somewhere, but no one paid attention to it. * * * * "Wow, is this your home?" Hannah, who had been brought here through the warp gate, was excited. Barrow and Behrle tilted their heads and wondered how Jin had brought Hanna from the village of Kaina, but they were accustomed to Jin''s out-of-the-ordinary nature, and they swallowed their doubts and did not speak up, expecting him to explain it to them sooner or later. "But it''s still light over here, isn''t it? Why is that?" It was after 5 p.m. when they left the village of Kaina, but it was only 2 p.m. here. Hannah tilted her head in wonder. "Hmmm, I guess so. ......" Jin took the opportunity to explain the time difference to Hanna. At the same time, to Barrow and Behle. First of all, we use engineering magic to make a globe ...... no, an <>. It is a simplified version of a land globe. But it is supported and can be rotated. And one more thing, a magic lamp that acts as the sun, and we are ready. This world we are in is a very big round mass. Please accept this as such. Jin then continues. "Suppose this is the sun. rotates slowly like this. So when the light shines on it, it is morning, when it is near the top of the sun, it is daytime, and when it turns around and the light stops shining, it is nighttime. Barrow and Behle are also listening with great interest. "So, <>...... is <> to be precise. The time is determined by the position of the sun. The sun is directly overhead at noon, or 12 o''clock, and midnight on the other side. The time is determined by dividing the time between the two equally. Hannah, although a little difficult in terms of content, has a natural ability to understand, and since she is a regular student, she seems to be keeping up with it. "So, the time at this point and ...... will be different from each other." Jin pointed his finger at two points on the ars. One would be noon and the other would be sunset ...... around 6:00 p.m. "This is the time difference," Jin said. This is the time difference. The vertical ......<>, the time does not change when you move in the longitude direction, that is, from north to south. But if you move horizontally ......<>, that is, in the east-west direction, the time also changes. Do you understand?" "Yes, I understand! "Yes, I understand very well. Is this the kind of model you are talking about?That would help me to understand it better. Barrow and Behle seemed to understand. "Yes, honey, I understand why the time is different between the two locations." Hannah, too, seemed to understand at least the concept. Jin decided to take Hannah to visit Leuthart. "Then I''ll go with you. I''ll show you around. So Jin, Elsa, Hannah, Reiko, and Edgar go out. Barrow and Behle decide to take care of the details of the house while they are away. You can tell the craftsman (Smith) what to do, right? "Yes, yes." 90% of the work is done, but some details are still missing, so Barrow and Behrle start to look around the house to make sure everything is in order. "Oh, there''s a gap in the door here, Mr. Smith, please. "Yes, sir." This part of the staircase is missing and dangerous, can you fix it? "Yes, sir." In this way, Barrow and Behle became accustomed to the house, and the details were being reviewed. This is the central square. "Wow!" Jin and the others walk with Hannah, focusing on sightseeing rather than shopping. The Shoro Kingdom has been in existence for about 300 years, which is a short history compared to other small countries in the region. Because of this, the cities are reasonably built. The design of the cities is often angular, which is different from that of the over-ornamental Kingdom of Celuloa. "There are a lot of people here. ......" The time is just after 4:00 p.m. The number of shoppers is increasing. The number of shoppers seems to be increasing. "Ah!" Hannah bumped her shoulder while she was walking. "That''s dangerous." Jin picks up Hannah and puts her on his shoulder. "Onii-chan?" In the crowd, Hannah was a little confused when Jin gave her a shoulder lift, but she soon got used to it and started to play happily. "Wow, I can see you so well!Thank you, Onii-chan!" "......" Elsa, walking next to him, looked at him enviously. "......?" At that moment, Elsa''s right hand was taken away. "Try not to get separated from the others." Jin took Erza''s hand. Erza took a half step closer to Jin. Reiko and Edgar follow the three of them, watching from right behind. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and the others return from sightseeing in Leusert a little early. After taking a bath to wash off the sweat and dust, it''s time for dinner. By the way, Hannah has already had dinner at Kaina Village. By the way, Hannah has already finished her dinner in Kaina Village, and it is almost time for her to go to bed. At Jin''s dinner time, Hannah eats mostly fruits. Hannah was aware of the fact that she had already finished her dinner, so she could hear what they were saying. The three-hour flight would not cause much jet lag, but Jin, taking his own safety into consideration, decided to go to bed early that night. Hannah said, <>she said, surprising Jin. Well, there was nothing to worry about, since Hanna''s exclusive covert task force (SP), Iris and Azalea, were with her. Jin, too, was tired from his morning audience with the Emperor and his round trip to the Magiruts village, so he decided to go to bed early. That night, a messenger came from the palace, but Jin and the others, who went to bed early, did not find out the details until the next morning. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "What? Jin received a letter from Smith the night before that had been left behind by the messenger from Miyagi, and was astonished when he read it. "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" Jin silently showed the letter to Elsa. "The ...... queen is here? "Yes, it seems so." The reason for her visit is to check if there are any defects in the house she gave to Jin, but it''s a stretch to think that she''s here because she''s curious to see how Jin renovated the house. "...... His Majesty is ......!" "What? Barrow and Behle are also a little pale. "...... should we call the golem maids here too ......?" I don''t know what''s going to happen, so I decide to call in one of each of the five colored Golem Maidens from Horai Island. "No, I think I''ll just use this place exclusively for this occasion." The visit is scheduled for around 10:00 a.m., so there is plenty of time. So, Jin rushed to Horai Island by himself and decided to make preparations himself. 610 - - 18-30 Finished Jin jumped to Horai Island and immediately made a golem-made. The specifications are the same as those of the five-colored golem maids, so it will be completed soon. The clothes are the same. However, I could not leave it to the old man to add self-defense, engineering, and healing magic to his knowledge. The reason for these additions is, of course, to make him work in the environment of Loisart. Self-defense is for protection against enemies, thieves, intruders, etc. Engineering magic is for repairing the house and maintaining each other. Healing magic is for emergencies. They also have a sense of touch and are very good at controlling their power. They can use offensive magic as well as the other five-colored golem maids, but only at an intermediate level. "All right, 102 ames, 102 topaz, and 10 perid, respectively. 2, ruby 102, aqua 102. "Yes, master." They all responded in unison and bowed. Jin then created a butler golem, Butler. He named it Butler D. This one, too, has been upgraded with additional tactile senses and new knowledge. Now, the members who can be in charge of the house during his absence are all here. The idea is to be able to call back the artisan (smith) golem. Jin has been working at a normal pace this time, so he still has plenty of time left over. "Yes?What''s wrong, My Lord?" "What about it?" "Concerns?" At the time of the repair, there were other people around, so Jin could not do a thorough analysis. So, after the repair was finished, Capella 7, the fifth row (Quinta) in charge of Reuthert, was investigating secretly. "Oh, isn''t that to prevent theft?" << You''re right. At that time, we were supplying mana from the outside to move the door, so we thought so shortsightedly, but it is strange to be worried about it being stolen. So there is another reason, isn''t there? << Just to keep it from moving, it would not be necessary to lower the concentration of free magic element (ether) so much. Then it would be to keep it from moving. ....... "Don''t tell me that it will start moving on its own?" << When controlling such a large golem, it should have basic movements such as walking, running, and punching. Jin guessed that they would be operated by combining these movements with commands. This is how Jin''s Titan operates. "If that is the case, is there any way to stop it if it starts moving? Just in case, Jin decided to think of a contingency plan. Since the giant golem was designed as an ether converter, it seemed that an ether jammer or a magic canceller would be effective. "That''s right. Now all we have to do is to give instructions with magic power on the same wavelength as the control unit." Jin could have made a control device if he had taken the time to do so, but he did not do so, fearing that it would be troublesome. "Yes, it will. But it is the most desirable way. ......" "Magi Spectrum Analyzer" or "......" Jin recalled that there was a magical tool with such a function at No. 700672. With that, it was determined that Jin''s mental waves had sufficient frequency to manipulate free magical element (ether). "Hmmm ......." Jin thought with a groan. Twenty minutes were spent in this way. Finally, he came up with an idea. "I see. < it. First of all, we need to find ! To quantify it, we need to count the number of waves in a certain period of time (e.g. 1 second), which in the case of magic is very difficult at the moment. In the case of magic, however, it is currently very difficult, because there is no way to define one second. In electronic circuits, the basic signal is called a clock, from which it is necessary to create. However, Jin came up with an approach from a different direction. "If we raise the frequency from low to high and see where the magic resonance occurs, we can create a ......" If we could generate magic at the same frequency, it would solve the immediate problem, so this seemed like a good direction to start with. But just as Jin was about to start working on the prototype, the old man called out to him "What?Is it that time already? The Empress will be here in about 20 minutes. Since the purpose of the visit is to inspect the museum, it is inevitable that Jin will be in charge of explaining the situation. He needed time to change his clothes. "I could have made it if I had ten more minutes. ......" He put away the Magi Crystals of all the attributes he intended to use in his pocket and returned to Reuthert with a sense of regret. Incidentally, he had already sent the golem maids home. "Brother Jin, the herald arrived just now. Erza tells Jin who has returned. Her Majesty the Empress will visit us at 10:00 a.m. as scheduled. I''ll have Hannah change her clothes too. I just brought a dress that Princess Rieschen of the Kingdom of Klein gave me. No problem for Elsa. Jin then puts on the clothes of the Magecraft Meister. He keeps the magi crystals in his pocket just in case. He would process it when he had time. "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Shoro..." The houses on the other three sides of the street were looking at each other to see what was going on. "Sir Jin Nido, you have been very busy. Once again, the attendants were the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, Degauss, a female knight of the Kingsguard, and his secretary. "Welcome, Your Majesty." Jin hurriedly performed the Shoro Imperial salute that Elsa had taught him. He bent his arms 60 degrees at the waist with his right palm on the outside of his left elbow and his left palm on the inside of his right elbow. Elsa, standing next to her, kneels down on one knee and bows her head deeply in the most respectful manner as a woman. The Empress did not say anything about the ritual, since it was necessary to be polite in this area, unlike in the village of Magirutz. "Let''s have a look at the house right away. "Yes, this way please." Jin and Elsa led the way to the entrance hall. "Oh, my God!" "Oh my..." There they were greeted by a five-colored golem maid and Battler D. Jin-kun, what is this? As soon as they entered the museum, the tone of the female emperor''s voice became frank. These are the maidservants and butlers in charge of this house. From right to left: Ames, Topaz, Perid, Ruby, and Aqua. And the butler is called Butler. At the sound of Jin''s voice, the six of them bowed in unison. "That''s wonderful! You''re the Magecraft Meister!" "Ummm... ......" The Empress was frankly impressed, while DeGauss was amazed, or even somewhat intimidated, by the workmanship. "The interior design is very elegant. "Thank you, sir. It is Elsa''s work. At Jin''s words, the Empress looks at Erza and smiles. "That''s nice, you are doing a good job as a partner. Erza''s cheeks flushed a little when the Empress praised her. Then there are Barrow and Behr, who are taking care of me. They are from the village of Magirutz." At Jin''s introduction, a nervous Barrow and Behle bowed respectfully. "Well, is that so?You should have introduced us the other day." "I was giving you a leave of absence that time. ......" "Well, Jin, you take good care of your servants, too." The emperor seemed happy to know that his people were taken care of. "Lastly, let me introduce you to my other sister, Hannah. "This is Hannah." Hannah in her dress bowed in a curtsey. Minors do not have to give a curtsey. "Well, pretty girl!" The emperor''s face broke into a smile. "Welcome!" The empress squatted down and beckoned Hannah to come in. In response, Hannah walks over to the Empress. ....... "You''re wearing a Kleinian dress. It suits you very well. "Thank you very much." Hannah bows. "You''re a really pretty girl. Are you Jin''s sister? Yes, she''s not my blood, but she''s my sister. Yes, Hannah. Nice to meet you. I''m a great helper. The Empress took Hannah''s hand and gently patted her head. 611 - - 18-31 Engineering Magic The activation was a real coincidence. It is because it received the magic power of the corresponding wavelength. However, the amount of free magical elements (ether) in the surrounding area was too small compared to when it was first manufactured. The built-in ether converter slowly accumulated the mana necessary for its operation. And when the required amount is exceeded, it starts to work. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin showed the emperor and his party around the interior of the remodeled pavilion. "This is the kitchen." "...... Wow!What a beautiful sink and cooktop! They are made of 18-12 stainless steel and polished to the point that you can see your face in them. No wonder she is amazed. "This is the bathroom." "......, you''re going to want to try it." "Hmm, this is an interesting idea. It''s comfortable even when it''s cold. It seems that everyone was attracted by the heated toilet seat. It is not surprising, since the other functions are more advanced than those of ordinary ones. "It is important to dispose of sewage. Especially if you are going to return it to Lake Tosmo. Nowadays, the water from the lake is not used as it is for drinking, but it is better to discharge purified water. "Yes, that''s right. We are considering our policy, including the sanitary aspect. The Empress said that based on the knowledge she had gained from Jin, she was considering a policy that would include disease prevention. "We are considering the necessity of washing hands, gargling, disinfecting with hot water, and so on." Degauze added. In that case, the <><> will be useful. And then the drawing room. "My God!What is this floor?" This was the reaction of the emperor when he saw the two tatami-matted Japanese-style rooms that had been built in addition to his and Erza''s living room. "They are called tatami mats, and we take off our shoes and live on them." "That''s wonderful!Taking off your shoes ...... is a sign of peace. The female emperor added her own interpretation to Jin''s explanation. In a way, Jin was impressed by the idea that no shoes = little need to run away in a hurry. "And ...... smells good. It''s a natural scent." A scent unique to the new igusa. Elsa liked this scent, but the emperor seemed to like it too. "Why don''t we put this on the bed and put a futon on top of it? She seemed to like it very much. "I will offer it to you later," Jin said. When Jin said, "I will present it to you later," the emperor was so pleased that he almost jumped up and down. "Can you show me the rooftop?" "Yes, I would like to see how you do it for the future. DeGauss and the Empress are curious to know how Jin has maintained the airship terminal, which is the main purpose of this visit. "Yes, please, this way." They climb the newly built stairs to the roof. "Well, there''s a roof and a door at the exit, of course. In short, it is like stepping onto the roof of a school. In case of bad weather, it is undesirable for rainwater to blow into the building. "I see, we can put personnel here at any time. The emperor nodded as he saw that there was also a living area for the personnel who would assist in the landing. "Not only the rooftop, but also the pillars and walls have been reinforced and hardened to increase their durability. "Hmm, of course." "I drew a white circle as a guide for the landing. This is the same as the castle. And of course, there are bollards. A low but sturdy handrail runs around the rooftop. And bollards for mooring. "Well, what''s that?" Minister of Magic and Technology Deghouse pointed to the so-called "flares. "It''s a lighted magical device designed for nighttime arrival and departure," Jin explained. As Jin explained, Degauss understood. "Well, it would certainly be a problem in an emergency if we couldn''t take off and land at night," he said. "That''s what I meant." At that moment, he saw Hayama running toward him. "Hm?A fast horse. ...... where to?...... here?" Two minutes later, out of breath, Barrow came running up to the roof. "...... Oh my God!At the castle, at the castle......!" * * * It (...) woke up, checked his surroundings, and realized that he was trapped. The that Jin had feared had begun to move. Confinement confirmed. Self-defense level 1....... restraints removed! His arms slowly lifted up, pulling away the mask. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Marcus was surprised. Just when he thought the storage work was finished, the giant golem suddenly moved and broke the temporary covering that had been applied. Marcus, who managed to avoid the falling mask, turned pale when he realized what had happened. "Why?" The giant golem he was ordered to keep was moving. Without finding the control device. The result is ......? The giant golem slowly moves across the courtyard of the palace. If it continues, it will break through the castle walls and enter the city. "Goliath #1!Stop that thing! Markus instructs the large golem he has been working on. But this only leads to more chaos. Opposing entities are confirmed. Self-Defense Level 2. A 6 meter tall Titan heads towards the 20 meter tall Supergiant. The giant golem spun around on one leg. It was as if it was shaking off a puppy that was clinging to its leg. Goliath #1 was knocked away by the force of the spin, and rolled. The movement of the giant golem does not stop. "Yeah!All of you!" This time, two of them cling to the right leg and two to the left leg. But the Giant Golem does not stop moving! No. 1!You too! Goliath #1, which had rolled over, finally got up. It seems to have injured its lower back when it rolled over, and its movement is not good. Still, he stands in front of the giant golem. Five opponents. Self-defense level 3. The Giant Golem raised its right arm and swung it down so that it slammed down on its feet. There was a dull metallic sound, and the head of Goliath #3, which was clinging to its right leg, crumpled. The head of the golem has visual parts, but no control parts. Goliath 3 is still clinging to it. The strength of the opposition is confirmed. Self-defense level 4. Select means of destruction. Execute. What? The giant golem placed its hand on Goliath 3''s crumpled head and activated its magic. A magic circle with a faint glow appears, and Goliath 3''s body is distorted into a strange shape, and it stops moving. Marcus'' eyes widened in astonishment when he saw this. "<>......" It was one of the engineering magic, <>. It is not impossible to use engineering magic for attacks. However, it is only at the level of <>. It is because of the characteristics of engineering magic. Most of the engineering magic weakens in inverse proportion to the cube of the distance. In other words, the effect decreases drastically and the magical power required jumps up when the distance is increased. It would be better to use more efficient and effective offensive magic. Once, when Jin was attacked by Count Walter''s soldiers in the village of Kaina, he bent their spears by <>, which is an exception among exceptions and not something anyone can do. Such engineering magic was used by the giant golem. No wonder Marcus was surprised. One after another, the Giant Golem incapacitated Marcus''s Golems. 612 - - 18-32 Self-Defense < Upon hearing this news, Minister of Magic and Technology Degauss reacted immediately. "Your Majesty, I will hurry back to the palace and think of a countermeasure. ...... Jin Nido Sir, you protect your Majesty, I beg you!" That was all he said, and without giving Jin time to say anything, he ran downstairs. "Oh ......" From the rooftop, it seems that the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, Mr. Degauze, is riding his horse back to the palace. This is possible because the distance is short and the horses do not need to be under strain for a long time. "...... Jin-kun" The emperor looks anxious. Jin Jin''s bad premonition had come true, he thought as he put his hand on his head. Jin was right. If I had taken her back to the basement right away, none of this would have happened." "...... now is not the time to talk about that. We need to figure out what to do." "Yes, but ......" While the emperor was disappointed, Jin gave instructions to Reiko. Reiko, get the airship ready. Yes, sir. We''re ready to go. "Yes, sir." "Good." Jin heard that and looked back at the emperor. "Your Majesty, let''s go!" "Yes, yes..." "Yes, yes..." "Your Majesty, me too!" The knight escorting the emperor followed her into the room. Elsa! Take care of the rest! Take care of Hannah. With these words, Jin released the airship''s mooring line. The airship ascended. "Oh, I''ve always wanted to ride in an airship, but I can''t ...... be happy with the way it turned out. The emperor looked down and muttered to himself. "Jin-dono, please don''t put His Majesty in danger, okay?" The female knight guarding the emperor nails Jin. "I know. I know...that huge golem won''t be able to touch us until we''re up in the sky. ...... look, I can see it now." In a few moments the airship is over Miyagi. The altitude is now about 80 meters. The giant golem''s hand could not reach us at this altitude. "...... Oh my God, ......!" Below us, seven deformed and motionless were lying on the ground. The remaining three were also moving strangely. "......How in the world did they manage to break them like that?" Jin tilted his head at the strange breakage. However, the reason for this soon became clear. Another <> fell. "That''s ...... engineering magic!" Jin sees the magic circle of <> appear and immediately recognizes it. "...... magic amplification, huh?" It was the effect of the Magi Formula that Jin had discovered. Due to the low concentration of free ether, the mana is used up for a moment, and the giant golem stops moving for a moment. However, the stoppage lasts only a few seconds, and the remaining is unable to stop the giant golem. "......We''re in trouble, it''s going to break the outermost wall and go out into the city..." The emperor, who was watching the situation, was overwhelmed by the hopelessness of the situation. "......" Naturally, Jin had a few options. However, all of them would destroy the giant golem to a greater or lesser extent. Jin does not want to destroy the giant golem. If it went out into the city, he would stop it even if he had to destroy it, but while it was still in the courtyard, he wanted to do something about it if he could. While I was thinking that, the remaining two had also stopped moving, and there was nothing left to stop the giant golem. "...... Jin-kun, can''t you do something?You can do something, can''t you? At the Emperor''s plaintive voice, Jin instructed Reiko. "Reiko, can you stop it?" "Yes, father. Yes, father. As long as you tell me to. "All right, give me about 10 minutes, and then stop it. ...... and try not to break anything." Yes, sir. Reiko climbs over the railing of the gondola suspended from the airship. Jin calls out to her back. "And of course, don''t hurt yourself." "Yes, father..." The last voice comes from the air. "Jin-kun. ......" The Empress looked worriedly at the ground from which Reiko had jumped. * * * * If she jumped from an altitude of 80 meters, even Reiko could be damaged. So, as soon as she jumped down, Reiko used to reduce her mass to 1/100th. Although the speed of fall is almost the same, the impact at the time of landing is proportional to the mass. In other words, the impact is only 1/100. Having mitigated the impact of her landing by bending her knees slightly, Reiko has regained her mass, and has circled around to the front of the giant golem. A new obstacle is detected. Self-defense level two. Seeing Reiko, the giant golem reacts immediately, stopping and facing Reiko. (This is the only way to ...... avoid breaking it.) "<>...... eat it!" Reiko activated the built-in ether jammer. Immediately the giant golem stops moving. Aether Jammer has the effect of taking control of the free magical element (ether) in a certain area and blocking the opponent''s magic. This prevents the Giant Golem''s Aether Converter from getting free magical elements (ether) which should be converted into magical elements (mana). The free ether is in short supply. Danger. Danger. Danger. Self-defense level 5. Because of its huge size, it has a lot of mana in its body. The giant golem is about to take the last resort according to its self-defense program. It would take some time for it to be activated. Although the Giant Golem has apparently stopped, inside it, the < has begun to proceed. * * * * The Magi Crystals of all attributes in his pocket. Jin wrote the formulas on them. "...... vibration...... generation...... control...... comparison... ...resonance......" It was a relief that the approximate flow of magical control (the Magi sequence) had already been determined. "Jin-dono, what in the world ......?" A female knight who saw Jin mumbling and clutching the magi crystal tried to speak to him, but the emperor stopped her. "...... shh, Flora, you mustn''t interfere with Jin-kun." "Yes, yes..." The queen sensed that Jin was doing something to break the deadlock. The two then watched Jin in silence. "......<>" A bright magic circle appeared, and the Magi Formula disappeared as if absorbed into the Magi Crystal. "...... was done." About eight minutes had passed since Reiko had jumped down. Reiko, thank you!Get out of the way!" The voice came from high in the sky, but Reiko recognized the voice of her father, whom she respected. She deactivated the ether jammer and jumped back with a big leap. Free magic element (ether) is restored. Danger eliminated. Self-defense level zero. But... It malfunctioned. Malfunction. Malfunction. Last resort failed. The exterior of the giant golem began to glow red hot. 613 - - 18-33 At the end of the disturbance "The giant golem is ...... red hot!" The sight of it could be clearly seen from the air. It''s that black box! It has turned out just as Jin had feared. If this continues, it will either explode or melt down. Either way, the giant golem, an ancient artifact, will be lost. "<>!" Immediately, Reiko activated the magic canceller in her bracelet. But the red heat did not stop. "It seems the distance is too far!" The disadvantage of the magic canceller, which forces the mana to be converted back into free magic element (ether), is that its range is rather short. The one mounted on Pegasus 1 is equipped with a powerful magic source to extend its range, but Reiko''s bracelet can only be used against enemies in front of her. And the giant golem was a little too big. "If I add my mana to it!" Judging that the output was insufficient, Reiko immediately increased the output of the Magi Reactor in her body, and poured the large amount of mana she had generated into the bracelet. The wave of the magic canceller, which had increased ten-fold, this time stopped the black box of the giant golem. The red-hot exterior gradually darkens. It is a proof that the temperature is decreasing. "...... Reiko, you did well." "Jin-kun, your automata,...... No, thanks to your daughter, our country''s treasures were not lost. I dare not ask how ...... you did it." The exterior is turning black. Apparently, the mithril plating on the surface has been oxidized by the current overheating. At that moment, Reiko''s bracelet shatters with a crack. Free ether is restored. Last resort: deactivation. Crisis averted. Self-defense level zero. Upper arm 40% inoperable. Forearms inoperable 30 percent. Legs inoperable 20 percent. Progress is unobstructed. The giant golem began walking slowly again. "It still won''t stop! The emperor saw this and let out a scream. "<>" Jin moved the newly completed magic tool. "Frequency adjustment ...... hmm?" The magic power leaking from the control core of the giant golem is compared with the resonance, and Jin felt the resonance level slightly fluctuate during the process. The problem is that the cause of this slight fluctuation is close at hand. "...... Your Majesty?" The unique magic power of the empress and the magic power leaking from the control core of the giant golem had something in common. "...... or ......?" A thought flashed through Jin''s mind. If so, it would explain why the control device could not be found. "Sire, I''m going to drop the airship a little more. After we do that, would you please order the giant golem to ? "What?Jin-kun, is that ......?" "Jin-dono!You''re putting His Majesty in danger! Flora, refrain! But Jin had to concentrate on operating the airship and was in no condition to explain. The Empress, seeing his condition, put his questions aside and waited for the right moment to do what he asked her to do. The airship descends to an altitude of 30 meters. The arms of the giant golem can barely reach it. "Your Majesty, please..." Standstill! The command was truly the magic word. Standstill order received. Standstill. Stand by. The giant golem came to a halt just three meters from the city walls. * * * * "...... was a close call!" After confirming that the danger was over, Jin lowered the airship into the courtyard and landed with the emperor and the female knights. After cleaning up the damage in the courtyard, he began to clean up the situation. "It''s no wonder there were no ...... maneuvering devices. Only the emperor''s lineage can command a giant golem. Jin explained that he had checked with a hastily made magic measuring device and had noticed that the unique magic power of the female emperor and the magic power emitted by the control core of the giant golem were of the same quality. "I see. ......" Her Majesty the Emperor, Prime Minister Jung, Minister of Magical Technology DeGauss, Magician Maestro Gebhard Ackermann, and Marcus all agreed with this explanation, They nodded their heads. "I can''t thank Sir Jin Nido enough. It was our decision to leave them out in the courtyard for the sake of appearances when he had advised us to return them to the basement in the first place. The queen says in a regretful tone, and the Prime Minister nods. "Indeed. I did not expect it to have such a function. By such a function, I mean a self-destructive function that generates red-hot heat and then melts or explodes. "I suppose it is a function for war, so that if it falls into the hands of the enemy, they will not be able to steal its secrets and cause as much damage as possible." "That''s a very advanced feature that is unthinkable with today''s magical technology. ......" "Can''t we just remove or deactivate it?" Prime Minister Jung muttered as he glanced at Jin''s face. The fact that only the emperor''s bloodline can give orders means that the country itself would be in danger if the bloodline were to cease to exist. It would be impolite to say outwardly, so I used a roundabout expression, but what I meant was conveyed not only to Jin but also to everyone present. "Well, ...... now that we have the necessary magical information, I think we can make a magic tool for emergency stop." "Oh!I''d love to have it!No, I''m asking for it! The Prime Minister jumped at Jin''s answer. Jin assured him that he would make it as soon as he had the materials. Thus ended the giant golem fiasco. Gebhardt and Markus fixed the heat-damaged parts. The deformed and immobilized was to be slowly repaired later. Jin spent the day making a magic tool for an emergency stop. And this time, the giant golem was stored in the basement. * * * * * "Sir Jin Nido has done an excellent job this time. Therefore, in recognition of his achievements, he is made an Honorary Advisor to the Imperial Household. < It is a de facto honorary position and has no binding power. However, it is treated as a higher rank than that of a count and lower than that of a marquis. In other words, he had the right to enter and leave the palace without notification and to apply for a visit to the emperor without an appointment. Jin was the first person to be granted this special status, which no one else was scheduled to be granted. When Jin was briefed, he bowed respectfully. I am honored. The emperor was relieved to see this. She had thought of giving him an honorary count, or even a fiefdom, but she had decided that he would not like to be restrained, so this was the final decision. And it was the right decision. "This is a robe to show your status. It was black with the Jin family crest, <> embroidered with silver thread on the left breast and back, and the coat of arms of the Shoro Kingdom embroidered with gold thread on the right breast. This is also one of a kind. "Thank you very much." I was told that wearing this robe would give me an almost free pass in and out of the palace. By "almost" I mean during wartime, such as martial law. "Oh, yes." "Ah, but it''s in times like that that Jin-kun''s presence is most important. ......<> I''ll get rid of it." She was a woman emperor to the end of the line. "And you, Leco Nido. I award you the title of honorary squire." "No, I''m ......" Reiko was about to open her mouth to refuse when the old man gave her a word of advice. < "...... respectfully accept." Reiko performed the curtesy and bowed her head. A cloak with the Jin family crest on a black background is draped over her shoulders. This was an unprecedented event for an automata to receive a title. This event was transmitted to many countries through the manaphone, and the name of the Magecraft Meister Jin Nidoh and his automata Reiko Nidoh became widely known. 614 - - 19-01 Horai Island, Autumn of Harvest Autumn is in full swing......, but the temperature difference between the four seasons is small on the subtropical island of Horai Island. However, on October 21, the scene spreading before Jin''s eyes upon receiving the news was indeed autumn. A sea of golden ears of rice. The rice planted in June was ready for harvest. Unlike the early harvested rice varieties, which have been improved and harvested earlier in the season, the rice has been grown slowly. Topaz, the five-colored golem maids, were out in full force harvesting the rice. Those who harvested the rice roughly with adamantite scythes. Those who bundle the rice into bundles. The work is divided into sections: those who hang the bundles of rice on a rack, and those who hang the bundles of rice on a rack. The work was completed in less than half a day. Jin watched the work and returned to Shoro. The old man, who was in charge of overseeing the work, confirmed the knowledge of rice cultivation that Jin had given him. Drying is important because it is said to increase the amino acid and sugar content and flavor of the rice. Do not cut corners just because it can be done by magic. After about a week of drying, the rice is removed from the stalks and threshed. Based on one prototype made by Jin, the old man had built ten thousand-tooth threshing machines. The comb is constructed so that the rice is passed between the teeth of the comb and only the unhulled rice is picked up and dropped. Ten units of the comb with slightly different intervals between the teeth were used. The purpose is to determine the most efficient interval by comparing them. This was also completed in half a day. The resulting paddy weighs approximately 3 tons. This is a reasonable amount for unimproved rice. This is the process of removing the husks from the unhulled rice to make brown rice. In the past, Jin and the younger children at the facility used to put the unhulled rice into a mortar and grind it with a soft ball. This method does not work well unless the rice is well dried, but this time the rice was well dried. Using ten large mortars, Topaz and his teammates used rubber balls to dehull the rice. Ten percent of the rice was left as seed rice, and all the rest was made into brown rice. Finally, the rice was polished. There are two ways to do this: one is to put the rice in a barrel and stir it vigorously, as Reiko did in the Shoro Kingdom, and the other is to pound the rice in a mortar. In this case, we used a barrel for stirring. By cooling the rice, the quality of the rice is prevented from changing due to frictional heat while milling. About 10 kg of white rice is made, and the rest is stored as brown rice. The bran will be used to make a bed of salted rice bran and pickles. The opportunity came sooner than expected. On November 3, Jin, who had just finished the giant golem riot in the Shoro Kingdom, heard about the new rice and literally flew in with Elsa and Hannah. "Old man, you said rice has been harvested?" < "Good. Then let''s eat it. I''m looking forward to it. Freshly cooked rice, miso soup, pickles, and dried fish. The Japanese food that Jin has been longing for is now served. said the perid reader who was in charge of cooking. The dried bonito flakes were made from dried bonito stock, which was not yet ready, and miso was purchased because it was still in the process of being prepared. The pickled vegetables are not pickles but salted ones, and the dried fish is not horse mackerel but a similar one. Even so, the menu, which was the culmination of the peridoled leader''s efforts, was enough to satisfy Jin. "Jin-bro, the food is delicious. "Onii-chan, this is delicious! Both Erza and Hanna were surprised at the taste of the new rice. The rice they had been eating was harvested last fall. The rice they had been eating was almost stale and had not been stored well, so the quality had deteriorated considerably. "I''ll be happy if you both like it. As a lover of Japanese food, it is a joy to hear that people enjoy the same dishes. Meanwhile, Reiko was receiving information from the perid reader about the amount of water and the recipe. "Now I can make a menu to your father''s liking, can''t I? "Ah, I''m satisfied." After eating as much as he could, Jin rubbed his stomach and drank tea after the meal. The same goes for Elsa and Hannah. > Yes, of course. How much seed rice do we have?" Jin nodded. "One hectare this time, right? "Then we can export it, right?" We have no use for the money we save. We can make almost everything we need. "Yes. But I heard that the harvest was bad in many countries this year. We may need to help." < "Yeah, we don''t have a storage problem. Keep up the good work." With the use of the ether stocker, we can store the wheat semi-permanently. Jin ordered the production at the current pace. > "Buckwheat. ...... Let''s increase that by a factor of 10." << Agriculture on Horai Island is going well. "And rice can be grown in a row in this climate, can''t it?" We have enough land, so there is no need to overdo it. < <<< "I see. That''s good. Please work along those lines." A plant that looks a lot like the Chinese milk vetch was once found in a flower garden on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Egelea during a horse-drawn carriage trip. < The old man is very careful in his preparations. Thus, rice cultivation started in earnest in Penglai Island. It is regrettable that rice cultivation in Kaina village seems to be difficult due to the cool weather during most of the year. * * * * * "...... is not good if it continues like this." The long rains that had been continuing throughout the Kingdom of Klein had begun to cause mold to grow on the stored wheat, and it was clear that food shortages would soon be a reality. On behalf of the King, who was still lying on his sickbed, Prime Minister Powell was working day and night to secure food supplies. At this time. <. "Desiccant, or ......" Everyone knew from experience that the main cause of mold was moisture. However, the only way to eliminate moisture was to roast it over a fire or expose it to sunlight, which was a headache in the Kingdom of Klein, where the weather was still cloudy. The Prime Minister immediately decided to purchase desiccants in the warehouse to prevent further damage. "How should we pay for the desiccant? The problem, however, is the cost of purchasing the desiccant. The Kingdom of Klein is an agricultural country, and with agricultural products in danger, he could not think of anything he could offer as compensation. The Prime Minister''s heart was touched by this very warm-hearted reply. In the end, this year we will first import one million tol.10 tons of desiccant in gold coins. It was decided that additional orders would be placed as soon as the desiccant''s effectiveness was confirmed. "I hope they can make it in time. ......" The horse-drawn wagon transport will take nearly a month at the earliest. How much more damage will there be in the meantime? Prime Minister Powell''s headaches were far from over. 615 - - 19-02 Support "Cline Kingdom is having a bad harvest?" Jin, who had enjoyed his meal in Horai Island, received a report from the old man by himself. < "Is there a problem with preservation as well? ...... That''s what His Majesty was talking about, mold damage." The reason why the Empress of Shoro rushed to produce desiccants became clear to Jin. "But this isn''t the first year that we''ve had extreme weather, is it?Haven''t we had something similar in the past?How did we get over it then?" <> The man-made disasters also contributed to the damage. < This story clearly shows how barren it is to exhaust a nation''s strength through war. "The kingdom has not said anything to us, has it?" << "And?" << Jin is the best in the world at making things, but he probably thinks that he can''t be depended on for food problems. "I can make a dehumidifier. ......" The principle is simple. Cooling the air reduces the saturated water vapor content, which forms water in the form of condensation. After the water is removed, the air is heated to room temperature again, resulting in dry air. This method is also used in modern air conditioners on the earth. "Yes, that might be a good idea. Air conditioning is a technology that has existed in the past, so there is no problem in spreading it. I leave it in your hands. "Yes, that''s right. We have to get relief supplies from somewhere. Originally, the food self-sufficiency rate for the entire subpopulation was a little more than 100 percent. This means that there is not much surplus. This is partly due to the lack of storage technology, which makes it impossible to preserve food for long periods of time. "I think we will also need technology for magic power storage (ether stockers)." Jin thought that it would be difficult to use this technology for weapons, and that it might be a good idea since it would be useful for daily life. "Oh, and what about the story about the invasion of a foreign race from across the Harihari Desert? "Well, was it a hoax?" "I''m sure it is." * * * * * * In the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Selroa, near the city of Ahi, the Nostalgia Party has established its current base. "Elena, I heard you got new instructions." Jules Rolland, the number one of Nostalgia, approached the beautiful automata, Elena. "Yes, Jules. The long autumn rains have caused a poor harvest in the Kingdom of Klein, and there is a threat of famine if it continues." "...... what?That''s not good." Number two, Donald Callow Alpha, joined the conversation. "Right?So we''re going to give each country a ." "Dehumidifiers. That''s very effective. Jules and Donald nodded in agreement. "Donald, could you prepare a few samples for us?" Elena asked Donald, the technical director of Nostalgia, to do the job. "Okay, I''ll take care of it. Jules, I need you to figure out how to get the dehumidifiers to the other countries. "Yes, sir." * * * Aether stocker ......? Yes. Jin has now arrived in the Kingdom of Klein as a deus ex machina. < technology. Even when confronted with others at close range, the risk of being recognized as an automata is minimal. "With this ether stocker, the grain storage period can be extended several times over." "I see. ......" If the free magic element (ether) content is as high as the crops on Horai Island, it can be stored semi-permanently, but the limit for normal crops is five times. Even so, the fact that the storage period can now be extended to 10 years, instead of the previous limit of about two years, is a breakthrough. "Unfortunately, we can''t help you with the crops themselves, though. "No, no, this is a great help to us, Makina-sama. Thank you very much!" Prime Minister Powell bowed again and again like a rice-pounding grasshopper. At a time when he is struggling to overcome the current situation, it must be a great relief to know that he no longer has to worry about just one corner of the city. This is the Prime Minister''s office. Glen Davrode, the Commander of the Kingsguard, is also present, as a guard and a witness, just in case. Glen, who looked a bit disappointed that the Prime Minister of his country would bow to a man he knew nothing about, no matter how much he had brought salvation technology to the country, had a sour look on his face the whole time... ....... * * * * "Do you think we can manage to provide the technology now?" <> "Yeah, that''s a hard decision to make. ......" "I know how you feel, Jin." I turned around at the sudden voice and saw Reinhardt standing there. "Reinhardt?" "Yes. The desiccant plant has been set up and mass production has started, so it''s out of my hands now. I was just wondering what Jin was going to do about all this trouble. "Thank you, Reinhard." Jin thanked his friend for his concern. "Nostalgia took the dehumidifier and Machina took the ether stocker. The only two things that remain are the alien race that lives beyond the Harihari Desert and how we''re going to get food. "Mm." Reinhard nodded as Jin summarized the problems. "...... both have high priority. That''s what I''m trying to figure out. "Okay. Jin is a hard worker. You don''t have to carry all the burden, okay? I know. I know, but I can''t just ignore it now that I''m involved in all this. The alien race issue goes to the Shoro Kingdom. The food problem goes to the Klein Kingdom. Each of them is a direct problem. "Certainly, they are the opposite of the peaceful world that Jin wants. "Right?" Jin just wants to focus on making things that improve people''s lives, things that are useful to people, and things that he wants to make. Such a modest wish is not likely to come true. Jin is a good person. Well, I don''t think we would have been his friends otherwise. Reinhardt says with a wry smile, but still has no intention of stopping Jin. "The problem of mold and ruin of grain can be stopped with desiccants and dehumidifiers. The effect of the ether stocker won''t be immediate, so we''ll have to start with ......." "West, huh?" Jin and Reinhardt nodded at each other. "I''m not saying that because I''m from the Shoro Kingdom. Jin laughed at Reinhardt''s unsolicited comment. "I know. I must confess that I was a little curious about the other side of the Hariri Desert. "Yes, I can see that. I think everyone in the Shoro Kingdom has thought about it at least once. Reinhard agreed with Jin''s comment. "Then we have to think of a way to get across the desert. "Perhaps, you don''t have much free magical element (ether), do you?" "Yes, but we can still make it to the northern hemisphere. But in the southern hemisphere, it might be more dangerous. Sky 1, which had conducted the specific survey, reported that the southern hemisphere survey flight could have crashed if it had not had the reserve energy source, the magi crystals. "Beyond the Harihari Desert, the latitude is not so different, and I think we can go there." "......You''re going to go after all......?" Reinhardt looked worried, but Jin reassured him. "Well, it''s not me who''s going, but . Jin had wanted to go himself, but Lao Kun, Reiko, Anne, and the others had vehemently opposed him, and he had to give up the idea in tears. <, but since Jin had many things he wanted to do here, and above all, there was little point in going himself, he decided to leave it to Lao Tzu instead of using the double substitution puppet. I see, that makes me feel at ease. Jin, if you had insisted on going, I would have opposed it. 616 - - 19-03 Power "Father, what about me?" The question was whether or not Reiko would have to follow him, just as she had done with the demon tribe. "I want Reiko to help me with various things here ......." "I don''t want to leave your father''s side." The old man''s mobile terminal, <, would be enough on his own, but it would be better to have a support person. "All right, I will ask Anne to go this time. Jin calls Ann. "Goshujin-sama, you wanted to see me? Ann, I would like Lao Tzu and Ann to go to Ismar this time. "Yes, I''ll leave it to you." Jin then told Ann about the details of his plan. Lao Tzu supplemented him and Ann had enough prior knowledge of the plan. * * * * After Lao Tzu and Ann departed at the warp gate, Reiko asked Jin, "Father, what are you going to do? "Father, what is it that you want to do?" "Oh, after Hanna goes to bed, I will gather the main people and explain it to them. The time difference between Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, where Hanna is currently located, and Horai Island is about 5 hours and 20 minutes. Hanna usually wakes up around 6:00 a.m. If it is midnight in Leusert, it is 5:20 a.m. in Horai Island. "Meet Jin''s family at 3:00 a.m. Horai Island time. So, Reinhard, Erza, and Saki answered Jin''s call. Toa and Stearina had been invited to the residence of the Marquis Theoderic and were not allowed to leave. In addition, Meane, Vivian, and Bertsch did not participate in the meeting since it was going to be a purely theoretical discussion. "Well, the reason I asked you all to gather here is to talk about a theory I came across the other day. It was still midnight in the Shoro Kingdom, and Jin began to speak, rubbing his eyes a little sleepily. "First of all, I think you know about the Magijet Engine that I have developed. All three present nodded their heads in affirmation. "I think you also know that this is a configuration of wind magic without the part to counteract the recoil." Normal wind magic is designed to cancel out the recoil that would otherwise be applied to the performer. Therefore, no matter how strong the wind is, it does not affect the magician at all. If you stop the << canceling the recoil>, there will naturally be a recoil in the wind magic. This was used to propel the <. Reinhardt and Erza immediately nodded their heads. Saki also seemed to understand this part of the story, and nodded her head, a little puzzled. "Now, here''s the main question. So, what would happen if we tried to prevent wind from being generated?" "Huh?...... I see!There would be no wind, but only the force to counteract the recoil?" Reinhard was the first to answer. "Correct, Reinhard. Let''s call it ." "...... What kind of power is that?" "No, no, can you just take that power out?" Elsa and Saki asked. "That''s what we''re going to examine. Jin answered seriously. "Well, that would be a big step forward! It could be a revolutionary step forward. "We have some idea of what it could be through preliminary experiments. Let me explain it to you first." Jin took out a small magi crystal. "This is a magical tool that generates directional gravity magic. After explaining this, he chanted <> to generate gravity. "This generates gravity of 1G upward. In other words, this is how ......" Jin picked up a pebble and released his hand on the magecrystal. The pebble does not fall to the floor but floats in the air. "I see, so it cancels gravity." Reinhardt said with a satisfied look on his face. "Yes. So, what if we do this?" Jin turned the magecrystal 90 degrees to the side, picked up the pebble in the direction he was facing, and released it. Then, the pebble was thrown out diagonally to the side, and fell to the floor pulled by the gravity. "Hmm, it means that the pebble flew in the direction of the combined force of gravity and the magic tool. "I''m beginning to understand, Jin. The power to cancel the recoil of wind magic is the same as gravity magic, isn''t it?" Saki spoke up. Jin shook his head. "That''s what I thought too. But it seems that they are not the same thing. "What?What do you mean? "I mean, if that''s the case, then the effect of gravity magic should not only affect the magician who casts wind magic, but also farther away from him, right? "Let''s see, ......." Saki, who had not understood Jin''s explanation well, thought for a moment, letting her eyes wander in the air as she tried to digest what he had said. At that moment, Erza spoke up. "If it was the same as gravity, it would affect us much farther. But in reality, the power to eliminate the recoil is only applied to the magician. Is that right?" "That''s right, Elsa. That''s what I''m ...... having trouble with." Jin explained once again that gravity magic and ......<> have a different range of effect. "I think that''s why the mana consumed is also very different. Gravity magic consumes 1000 times more mana. "I see, so that''s why Jin is so concerned about this ." The 1000-fold difference in magical power is significant. Reinhardt seemed to understand why Jin was trying so hard. "I think the difference in the fuel consumption of magic power has something to do with the area of effect, doesn''t it?" Saki said, finally coming to a conclusion. Gravity magic has its effect on a straight line extending from the point of origin, while <> has its effect only on the magician. The range of effect is too different. "Yes, I''m almost sure of that. Jin agrees. "...... Jin, what kind of power is anyway?" Erza asked the question that could be said to be the root of this story. Jin, as expected, is also silent. "Well, ...... I don''t know much about it myself." Einstein''s general theory of relativity explains that the gravitational field is the distortion of space-time itself. Jin knew this, since it was mentioned on TV, in science magazines, and even in science fiction novels and animations. However, what one knows is not the same as what one understands. "In this world where there are forces such as free magical elements (ether) and magical power that do not exist in my world, I am sure that a new theory will be necessary. Finally, Jin had no choice but to say that he honestly did not know. "The theory is a theory, can we make use of its was supposed to remain. ....... "It doesn''t work." Jin said with a face as if he was biting a bitter bug. "What?" "......It''s probably only magic that works to counteract <>, that is, magic that works to counteract <>, but it won''t work without <>, that is, without the wind." Saki and Reinhard nodded at Jin''s guess. "I see... ......... so it''s a result of a cause..." "So you can eliminate the <>, but it''s difficult even for Jin to take out the <> alone. ...... At that moment, Erza, who had been thinking deeply, suddenly spoke up as if an idea had just occurred to her. "How does the <> cancel out a <> equal to the magnitude of the <>?" "Huh?" "If you get some information from somewhere and decide the size of the based on it, there will inevitably be a , I think." Erza''s comment made Jin, Reinhardt, and Saki realize that what she was talking about was the key to the problem. As soon as the magic is activated, the recoil is canceled without a moment''s delay. How is this possible? "That''s what I can''t figure out for the life of me." Jin''s voice sounded frustrated. 617 - - 19-04 Hitomi no Kotenko. The area of the house that Jin received in Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, is a plot where there are many residences of middle class nobles. The area of the site is uniformly about 500 sq.m. because it was built according to the city plan. The site is a square with a side of just over 40 meters. On the right is the Countess Woodruff Arbelein von Elm, and on the left is the Viscount Volker Goltmann von Orck. Across the street is the Viscounts Jorgens Heckerath von Paddock. All of these families held important positions in various government ministries. "......<>>?" Yes, that''s what I heard. Viscount Heckerath, who lived in the house across the street, nodded broadly. "I see. I knew you were a real expert in renovating houses." Viscount Jorgens Heckerath von Paddock is the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry of the Shoro Empire. "I''ll never forget seeing his airship at the technology fair." I''ll never forget his airship," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. Both of them work for the Ministry of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Kingdom, so they too were familiar with Jin''s name and accomplishments. "Maybe we should go say hello to him after we get settled." Both families seemed to think so, but they were astonished when they suddenly saw the presence of Her Majesty the Empress. "......You must be an important person after all if Her Majesty approves of you that much." * * * * In Jin''s mansion, the five-colored golem maids who had been assigned to him were working on the details. In addition, the old man was also planning various ways to strengthen his security. "Oh, there''s a kitty! As soon as she woke up in the morning and washed her face, Hannah was exploring the house and found a cat. It is a golem, of course, to guard the house and protect it from rats and other vermin. There are two of them, a tortoiseshell cat named and a brown tiger cat named . Mikeco, who had rubbed her face against Hannah''s with a single meow, walked away down the corridor at her own pace, while Tora remained still in Hannah''s arms. "Uh-huh." Hannah walks down the hallway with tiger in her arms with a good mood on her face. At the end of the corridor was a staircase, and as she was pondering whether to go up or down, a voice called out to her from behind. It was Elsa. It was Erza. She had been sleeping in her room for a short time after the discussion on Horai Island. Perhaps that was why she looked a little sleepy. "Good morning, Erza! Hannah greeted cheerfully in the morning. "Good morning, Hannah! Jin also woke up. He, too, looks sleepy. "Oh, good morning, Onii-chan! Hannah no longer says good morning to Jin, but good morning to him. Martha has taught her well. "Ah, Jin-sama, Erza-sama, Hanna-sama, breakfast is ready..." Behle came in, found the three of them, and told them that the meal was ready. "Yes!" Hannah replied cheerfully, putting the tiger she was holding down on the floor. Jin and Elsa nodded in agreement. "Wow, this is delicious! This morning''s menu consisted of white rice, miso soup with fried bean curd and tofu, pickled Chinese cabbage, dried horse mackerel, and dried plums. Thanks to her education in the village of Kayna, Hannah has mastered the use of chopsticks and a fork. In addition, she has a good sense of taste for eating dried plums. As a member of the Kaina family, I am very happy to see her. The same goes for Elsa. Barrow and Behrle have also adapted quickly to Japanese food, and since they are not allergic to buckwheat noodles, Jin is able to order their meals without hesitation. Perid 102, a five-colored golem maid, manages all the household chores, so there is no shortage of ingredients. Basically, they procure food locally, and what they don''t have is ordered from Horai Island. "...... more rice" (Japanese only) Erza is having a second helping of rice. By the way, the bowl is made of alumina. The bowls are made of wood and finished with lacquer, which Saki got. This corner of the room has a strangely Japanese taste. "Now all we need is soy sauce and ...... dried bonito flakes. The soy sauce is in the process of being prepared, so it''s just a matter of time, but the dried bonito flakes have not been found yet, and they have not been produced on Horaijima either. So the soup stock for the miso soup is made from dried bonito flakes. "What is this tofu called?It is soft and delicious. Tofu could be made from bittern made from seawater and soybeans, and fried tofu as well. Now that the rice harvest is over and rice straw is available, they are trying their hand at natto (fermented soybeans) on Horai Island. Jin-bro, dried fish is delicious. Erza loved dried horse mackerels. She now deftly uses chopsticks to pick out the meat while avoiding the bones. Barrow and Behrle, on the other hand, were still novices in the use of chopsticks. "What are your plans for today?" Jin asked Butler D over a cup of green tea after lunch. "Yes, we are all settled in our house, and Erza-sama is going to make a round of greetings to the neighbors." "Jin, I''ll take care of that." He is taking Edgar to pay his respects to his neighbors. The gift is a platter of Persica and Citran. They are rare fruits in the Shoro Kingdom. Yes, please. I asked the master to prepare the tatami mats I promised His Majesty the other day. "Oh, ...... you said that." When the Empress came to see how things were going, Jin told her that he had seen the Japanese-style room and liked it so much that he would offer her some tatami mats. "In that case, a goza might be nice too. ......" In Horai Island, igusa is also cultivated in the marshland, and various products have been made. Jin was thinking of offering not only tatami mats but also goza (straw mats). "What about Hannah? "Well, I want to look around the city. "Are you okay?" Jin-sama, I''ll go with her. Behr offered. "I''ll be fine, girl!I won''t get lost." Hannah''s own covert task force (SP), Iris and Azalea, are also with her, so Jin thinks she''ll be okay. On the one hand, he is worried, but on the other hand, he also thinks that he should not overprotect her, and even if she is strong, she is only 9 years old, so Jin''s mind is a mess. (He doesn''t think anything of it when he is in Kaina village. ......) (He never thinks about it when he is in Kaina Village, but he is at peace in Kaina Village. In the end, Hannah went out while Jin continued to worry. This finally made Jin feel better. "......Erza and Hannah are both getting stronger, aren''t they...... or am I the one who isn''t......?" Reiko consoles Jin as he blurts out while moving to Horai Island. "Your father must love Hanna-chan that much." (......I guess so. ......When the day comes that Hannah goes off to be a bride,......I think I understand a little bit why fathers cry at their daughters'' weddings in TV dramas and the like. I think I understand why fathers cry at their daughters'' weddings in TV dramas (......). While I was thinking about such nonsensical things, Jin and his friends arrived at Hourai Island. The island was deserted, with no trace of the debate that had been going on until dawn. Jin quickly made 10 tatami mats. "By the way, tatami is one tatami or two tatami when laid out, but when counting the tatami itself, is one tatami or two tatami ......?" I sent 10 tatami mats to Reuthert''s mansion using a transporter, thinking about such unimportant things. "Well, now that I''ve come all the way to Horai Island, I feel like I should have done something. ......" Last night, Jin was feeling a little, or rather quite sleepy, after having discussed about from midnight to dawn. His head was not functioning well because of this. "Father, why don''t you take a little rest? Reiko was also concerned and called out to him. "Well, I think I''ll ...... take a nap in the pavilion. ...... At that time, the old man spoke to her. 618 - - 19-05 The town of Ismar The town of Ismar is located near the Hariri Desert. It is surrounded by a 5-meter-high stone wall to prevent the harm of sandworms that live in the desert. Of course, the town is not in a desert, and there is no harm from underground, which is the reason for this wall. By the way, this was the town that Reiko had once visited to look for Jin, who had gone missing when the warp gate went out of control. "Hmm, this is the Hariri Desert, isn''t it?" A side hole drilled into a black mass of rock protruding about 30 meters from the sand. A warp gate was cleverly hidden there. Lao Tzu and Anne stepped out of the gate and looked around with curiosity. A field of reddish-brown sand stretched as far as the eye could see. The landscape was desolate, with no plants to be seen except for rocks sticking out in places. The air was very dry, but Lao Tzu could not feel that much. "As I recall, this is where the lady came out for the third time when she went around looking for the Goshujin-sama. Anne, who had confirmed that the warp gate had not deteriorated, said something like this. "That''s right. ...... we might want to put someone in charge of protecting these warp gates." It is cleverly concealed, with security so that only Jin and Jin''s men can use it, and guarded by an intermediate , but it may be necessary to protect the main transition gate (warp gate). "I think a mini craftsman (Smith) would be the best person for the job. Lao Tzu thought that a small golem, which would be hard to be found, would be suitable for the job. Lao Tzu decided to propose this idea to Jin in the near future. * * * * * Lao Tzu decided to leave the guardians of the warp gate to <> and Jin, and to concentrate on his own task. By the way, <> is able to divide itself into several parallel processes due to its enormous processing power. One of the divided functions is <>. << Lao Tzu>> is << Lao Kun>>, but << Lao Kun>> is not << Lao Tzu>>. The <> is only a small part of the <>, and the <> can view and intervene in the actions, knowledge, and experiences of the <> at any time. So to speak, <> may be considered as another personality of <> who is temporarily separated from him. "Well, the fifth column (quinta) should be here to pick you up..." "Lao Tzu, over there." Anne pointed in the direction where Regulus 42, a member of the 5th Quinta, was waving his hand. Brown hair, brown eyes, medium height. He had a common appearance. "Welcome, Regulus. "Thank you for meeting me. What do you call yourself? Yes. < Okay, Gral. What''s the situation? Lao Tzu asked. He had been receiving regular reports, but not for the past day, and he wanted to know what had happened. "Yes, I will explain as I walk. So Lao Tzu, Ann, and Regulus 42 started walking toward the town of Ismar. After walking for about 30 minutes, they arrived at the town of Ismar. It was midday and the gates of the stone wall were open, and people were coming and going. "You don''t seem to be in a particularly bad mood. "Yes, but there are no clues to a foreigner. But we did get a few clues as to who the foreigners might be. You mentioned them in your report the day before yesterday. Tell me more about them. So Lao Tzu decided to go to the front of the town to listen to what they had to say. After moving a little away from the stone wall and making sure that no one was around, Gral began to talk. "There have been unofficial exchanges ...... and <> with other peoples for a long time." "I see." It is not impossible. There are many merchants who think that nation to nation and individual to individual are different, and if people who think like that meet each other, they may do business with each other. "And it seems that the different ethnic groups are more advanced than we thought." "Hmmm..." "They seem to be making something we''ve never seen before on Horai Island." "What?" It was called "katsuobushi". That is information that Jin might be interested in. If the dried bonito was the dried bonito, it would have been enough motivation for Laozi to decide to make contact with a foreigner. * * * * After moving inside the stone walls to the town of Ismar, Lao Tzu and his friends took rooms at an inn. The price per person per night, excluding meals, was 400 Tiru. This is a standard inn in this town. It is called . You may wonder if there is a little bird in the desert, but in this area, a small scorpion-like creature called a scorpia that lives in the desert is called a little bird as a pun. The reason for the name is because of its high-pitched and threatening voice. "Now, what are we going to do? Lao Tzu turned to Anne and Gral in the room of the inn. "First of all, we need to make contact with the different ethnic groups, don''t we? Whether it is to get the dried bonito or to confirm the truth of the invasion, we have to make contact with the different ethnic groups. "It won''t be easy." Gral remarks. "I would say that the different peoples are very cautious. We need to start by getting to know the merchants who are doing business with them. Do you have any idea who they are? Yes, I have two merchants in mind, one of them is . One is , who is still young, but is quite a good trader. The other is , a middle-aged merchant. Regulus 42, Gral seemed to have done a lot of research. "But both of them are very cautious, and it would be dangerous to approach them unintentionally. Dangerous? "Yes, both of them are connected with the town''s security forces and have hired a number of guards at their own expense. I don''t think it''s a good idea to cause a disturbance with them. I understand. And one more thing. There are several people who are probably secret agents of the Shoro Empire. ...... As far as I can tell, three of them have infiltrated. "Hmm, they''re probably looking for information about the aliens. What do you know about them? Lao Tzu thought that if the secret agents of the Shoro Kingdom had useful information, there was no need for him to make a big effort. "No, they don''t seem to have it yet. It seems that the different peoples are being very cautious. Lao Tzu, or rather Lao Kun, thought about it. Since the foreign people are also doing illegal business, they would not do anything to get their tails caught in their own pockets. Then, what should he do? I thought, "I should secretly seize the place where the deal is made. ......" But that would make the other party be wary of Lao Tzu. Since the purpose is not to expose him, that line is rejected. "I guess it would be better to make a steady approach to the merchants on our side, wouldn''t it? "Yes, I think Lao Tzu can do it. It seems to be an effective way to make friends with the merchants by creating something that the merchants might want. There were several other ways to do this. Which one to use will be decided on the spot. "Shall we go steady? ......" First, they decided to visit the store of the younger one, <>. Lao Tzu, accompanied by Anne, went through the town of Ismar and memorized its geography. Then she asked Ann to gather information in the town and went to Oliver''s store alone. Oliver''s store was located on the outskirts of Istmar. Even though it was on the outskirts of the town, it was lively. It seems that this area is a newly developed area, and many stores seem to be on the rise. A large signboard hung on the wall, which made it easy to recognize Oliver''s store at a glance. Lao Tzu decided to take a peek inside. There were various kinds of miscellaneous goods in the store, which could be classified as a so-called "Yorozuya" (a kind of general store). There are some interesting things here.) Shirts of a style not seen in the center of the store were lined up. The cuffs and collar are tied with a string. Lao Tzu guessed that this was to prevent sand from getting in. Similarly, most of the jackets had hoods. Shoes, too, are usually deep and boot-like, with only a few shallow shoes. This is due to the environment of the Hariri Desert.) Lao Tzu continues to walk around the store. (This is food. (This is food. ...... Oh, this is dried bonito flakes!) Lao Tzu finally sees dried bonito flakes. (I think it''s called kare-bushi (dried bonito flakes). ......) (I think it is called "kare-bushi" (dried bonito flakes). < (I guess if you know how to make it, you can make it in Horai Island, too.) On display were two pieces of kare-bushi. Lao Tzu took each of them in his hand and tried to make them together. He heard a clear, high-pitched sound, which seemed to indicate how hard they were. And then... "Sir. That''s not something you should hit. A voice came from the back of the room. 619 - - 19-06 Food ingredients found Lao Tzu smiles and replies to the voice that says, "It''s not something to hit. "This is rude. You shouldn''t take food for granted. The owner of the voice looked surprised. "This is a surprise. You are the first person to guess that it was food! The owner came out of the back of the store, a man about 30 years old with light brown hair and gray eyes. Lao Tzu guessed that this must be Oliver, the owner of the restaurant. "Are you the owner?" "Yes, yes, my name is Oliver, the owner. Are you ...... far from home?" Looking at Lao Tzu''s ...... attire, the standard butler''s attire in the Lesser Antilles, Oliver could tell that he was not from this neighborhood in the least. "Yes, my master sent me." No lie. These are the ingredients that Jin is looking for so hard. "You know that what you are holding in your hand is food, don''t you?" Yes. Yes. It''s dried bonito flakes, isn''t it?You shave it thin and put it in hot water to extract the extract for use in soups and other dishes. As soon as Lao Tzu mentioned it, Oliver jumped up. "My God!So that''s how you eat them!" "What?You didn''t know?" "Yes, yes. I''m ashamed to admit it. ......" Oliver said, "I tried to break it up into little pieces and suck on it, but it didn''t taste very good. "Your master knew better!I have been somewhat puzzled by the fact that I have bought some but do not know what they are called or how to use them in detail. "Yes, well, it seems to be a tradition that has been passed down in my husband''s family for generations. Since there was no need to lie, but also no need to tell the whole truth, Lao Tzu decided to make a fool of himself. "In short, it is an ingredient that is used to extract <. Since it is originally a fish, it is good to use it in stewed vegetables." "I see...I see!I see. ...... If you don''t mind, could you tell me how to make one dish?Oh, and if you do, we''ll give you a free bottle of that ." Oliver thought that if he could figure out how to use it, this dried bonito flakes would sell better. Lao Tzu, knowing that Jin had no qualms about promoting Japanese food and culture, decided to take him up on his offer. "I understand." "Oh, thank you!Would you like to use the kitchen?" So Lao Tzu and Oliver went to the kitchen. "First of all, I need to make dried bonito shavings. Since there was no katsuobushi sharpener, Lao Tzu pulled out a self-defense knife and began to shave the katsuobushi that Oliver had offered. It was a little chipped, probably from being crushed and sucked. "Wow, you shave it so thin! Lao Tzu put the shavings into a pot of water and put it on the fire. "There are two ways to use the shavings. One is to turn off the heat just before boiling, and the other is to let it boil for a while. Boiling it seems to give it a fishy smell. Peridot Reader also mobilizes his accumulated knowledge to explain. "After the extract is removed, we scoop it out with a net. This can be fed to some livestock. In the Edo period, they fed it to cats. "This is ." "This is what you use to make soup, right?" "Yes. What kind of vegetables do you have? "We only have a few dried vegetables because they are so precious around here." But Lao Tzu noticed a few eggs on the shelf. "May I use these eggs?" "Oh, they are sandbird eggs. Please use it. The sandbird is a medium-sized bird that lives in the Hariri Desert and preys on scorpia. Oliver explained that the meat of sandbirds is not good for eating, but their eggs are edible. Lao Tzu was going to make egg soup. He dropped the eggs into the broth, stirred and sprinkled them, added salt to taste, and voila, he was ready to eat. "Here you go," he said. After tasting the egg soup himself and checking the saltiness, the old man offered the egg soup to Oliver. Oliver accepted it and took a sip, "This is delicious! He took a sip of the egg soup and said in surprise, "This is delicious! "I didn''t know it was so easy to improve the taste!" But Lao Tzu denied his words. "No, it is easy to use, but there must be a lot of work involved in making dried bonito flakes. This is the knowledge he learned from Jin. Oliver was impressed by his words, although Jin probably got his knowledge from a comic book. You can certainly say that. No, thank you. I now know how to use it, and as promised, you only have to pay for one bottle. The price for one bottle was 400 dollars, or about 4000 yen. Lao Tzu thinks that even with such a discount, it must be a small price since he now knows how to use dried bonito flakes. It is not the kind of knowledge that can be exchanged for 400 dollars. But Lao Tzu considered it a success in terms of getting a connection with Oliver. "I''ll get some more for you, if you like." Oliver said as he was leaving, and Lao Tzu casually asked him. "When do you think it will be this time?" Oliver hesitates for a moment, but then smiles and replies. "About five days, I think. "Well, then you are still here. I''ll be sure to stop by again. "I look forward to seeing you again. Lao Tzu was happy to have made the connection with Oliver, though in an unexpected way. "Now, the only thing left to do is to find out about the other people." Lao Tzu guessed that within five days Oliver would meet with someone who could supply him with dried bonito flakes. The possibility that this person is a foreigner is great. But it would be an illegal transaction. The old man was probably acting with such discretion that even the secret agents of the Shoro Empire would not be aware of his presence. Lao Tzu reminded himself not to be hasty. "How will you make the most of this opportunity? ......" The magic brain of Horai Island, who is using Lao Tzu, concluded that he should report this to Jin. So, he instructs Laozi to send the two dried bonito flakes he has obtained through the warp gate. He thought that the dried bonito flakes he had received would be sufficient reason to summon Jin. * * * * * When Jin heard this information, he jumped up and down, just as the old man had expected. "You found dried bonito flakes? His drowsiness seemed to have vanished. "I''ll be right there!" Jin runs from the workshop to the command center. Reiko followed. "Oh!" On the table in the command center were the two dried bonito flakes that Jin had been asking for. "I wish I could have them make miso soup with this. ......" Peridot Leader, who was standing by, replies to Jin''s murmur. I understand. Right away. And master, may I use one for cooking and the other for research?" Bonito flakes are flavored with mold, and the mold converts protein into amino acids, giving them a delicious taste. He wanted a sample to identify the type of mold and to study the degree of mold. "Yes, of course. According to the old man, we should be able to get some more soon. "Thank you very much. When would you like me to prepare your meal? I''ll have it in an hour. Reiko knew that Jin was sleep deprived and wanted him to take a nap for an hour or so. "Right. Elsa and Hannah will be back by then, so that makes three of us. "Yes, sir." Peridot takes the two dried bonito flakes and leaves. Jin put a futon on the floor and took a nap. 620 - - 19-07 Elza and Hannah I am the Nido family, and we have just been given the house next door." Elsa accompanied Edgar and went to greet the Countess Woodruff Arbelein von Elm on her right. "How kind of you. Please wait a moment. The elderly man who seemed to be the head of the household greeted Erza and retreated to the back of the house, then returned with a woman who seemed to be his wife. "Well, thank you for coming. You must be the Nido family?I''m the Woodruffs'' wife. My name is Jenna. "Elsa Nido. Pleased to meet you. I brought you this as a token of our acquaintance. Please accept this." Elsa gave Edgar the assortment of fruit she had given him. "Well, well, Citran and ...... Persica. That''s very unusual. Thank you very much." Countess Jenna was a friendly person who hugged Elsa''s shoulder and invited her to the back of the house. She leads us to a brightly lit parlor. The master is away on duty. So I''m bored. Please come with me for a moment to talk." "Yes, yes." With that, the woman leaned forward from her chair and began to speak. "You are lucky to have a brother who is a magecraft master!He can make most things for you, can''t he?" "I heard from my husband that the technical exposition was quite a lively affair, wasn''t it? "You''re so quiet. I''m sorry I''m the only one who talks. "My husband is the head of the technical department of the Ministry of Magic and Technology.He might know your brother? "If you ever need any help, you can always count on me." "Yes, yes, the neighbor''s wife. ......" At the Countess''s party the other night, ...... Skirts are all the rage nowadays. ............ For about an hour, Elsa was kept in the Countess''s company as she chatted. "I''m ...... tired." Mentally devastated, Elsa was compelled to go to the next house to say hello. On the left is the Viscount Volker Goltmann von Orck. The master of this house, the Viscount, was out of the office, so the Viscountess Sharona Goltmann von Tanne was the one who greeted us. "My goodness, what a lovely young lady you are. Your brother is a magecraftsman, isn''t he?I hear His Majesty remembers you very well. Elsa was free during the day as well, and once again was kept company for an hour or so of chatting. "......" "Erza-sama, are you all right?" Edgar, concerned about Erza''s somewhat pale face, called out to her, to which she replied shortly, "I''m fine. "This will be the last time." Of the three houses on the other side of the street, the two houses directly across the street from Baron Jorgens Heckerath von Paddock were empty, so a quick hello to the baronesses would be the end of the day''s plans. For Elsa, who had never been to a social gathering, the chatter of the ladies was a marvel. (...... How could they talk so much? ......) It was almost as if talking was a part of being a noblewoman. (But I think ......) Erza thinks that Jin is rather averse to noisy people. (It''s fine the way it is, right?) No one will answer the question in her mind. "Well, you''re very kind. You are the sister of Sir Jin Nido, aren''t you?" Again, the Viscountess was the one who answered. Her name was Lexia Heckerath von Kamerere. Elsa Nido. "Elsa, yes. Nice to meet you from across the street. How old are you? Yes, I''m 17. Yes. That''s a good age. You''re single, aren''t you? Looking at Elsa''s left hand, the baroness said more as a confirmation than a question. "...... yes." "Do you have a particular partner?" "No, no, not really." The baroness was so pleased with his answer that she bit her lip. "Oh, really?You know, I have a nephew who''s turning 21. He has joined the Kingsguard, he''s only a squire at the moment, but he''s a good boy with a promising future.What do you think?" Elsa had no way to answer that question. "Oh, um, I''m not ready to talk about that yet..." Stammering, Elsa has no other choice but to decline softly. "Really?She''s a really nice girl.Oh, or do you have a boyfriend?" "E......" Elsa''s cheeks turned a little red at the mention of the word "your love". "Well, well, well. Well, I can''t help it then. I''d like to ask you his name, but it would be rude to do so when we''ve just met." "......" And so, somehow or other, Elsa finished her round of greetings to her neighbors. * * * * * * "Let''s go over there!" Hannah was walking around with Behrle in Leuthart. "Aren''t you tired, Miss Hanna? "Yes, I''m fine. After looking at the shopping street, Hanna came to the park. "There are no flowers. "No flowers." "That''s right. It''s already deep autumn." "Oh, but there are some berries on the ground. There was a corner where many round and round brown berries were lying around. Hannah crouched down and started to pick them up. "They are castanopsis fruits, aren''t they? The tree has large leaves like a tengu''s fan in Japan. The leaves turn yellow in the fall. "Can we eat them?" "Well, you have to grind it and soak it in water to eat it. Behle had never eaten it either, but he had heard about it. "Hmm." Hannah was still picking them up. Hannah was looking down at the ground as she continued to pick up the pieces, when her head bumped into another head. "Ow! "It hurts!" Are you okay? Behrle, who had not expected to be hit by a head, rushes over to her. The person who bumped into her was a girl about the same age as Hanna. She seemed to be a nice young lady, and her escort was running to her. She had slightly wavy blond hair and blue eyes. "I''m sorry, sir. "I''m sorry, too!" They were both clutching their heads and falling on their backs, and all around them were the castanopsis fruits they had collected. "Miss, are you all right?Is your daughter hurt too? "Hauro, yes, I''m fine." Yes, I''m fine too. Siede is called Siede. I''m Hannah. Hannah, nice to meet you. "Yes, Sheede, nice to meet you!" The two of them, perhaps having something in common, became friends as they fell on their butts. 621 - - 19-08 Friends Father, it''s time to go. Jin, excited by the information about the dried bonito flakes, starts to take a nap about an hour ago. Reiko goes to wake him up, following the instruction to wake him up after an hour. "Hmmm... ......." Jin woke up rubbing his sleepy eyes. He let out one big sigh. "Oh ...... I feel a little better." He washed his face in the bathroom and looked much refreshed. "...... is it lunchtime already? I think I''ll invite Elsa and Hannah over for lunch." Jin is looking forward to miso soup with dried bonito flakes. "Father, about that ........." "Is something wrong?" "Yes, actually, Hannah brought a friend." What?A friend you met in Loisart? Yes. Yes, her name is Mrs. Sheede. Yes.Shede? Jin recognized the name. "The one with the fluffy blond hair and blue eyes, the one around Hanna''s age?" "Yes. Yes. Your father knows her. The first time I met her was at a mine in Yada Village, Egelea Kingdom, and the next time I met her was in Tellurus, a city in the Kingdom of Selroa. Reiko was there with him, so she knows him. "I see. ......" Jin wants to welcome Hannah''s new friend since she brought her friend with her. "I don''t think it''s ...... right to serve her rice and miso soup. Jin decides to put off the fun and welcome Hannah''s friends first. "We''ll do that in the evening. Let''s hurry back to Loisart for now. * * * * When Hanna returns to Jin''s house with Shide, she is greeted by Elsa. "Welcome, Sheede! Iris, Hanna''s guard, had come back to the mansion earlier and announced the arrival of the guests. "Oh, it''s your sister from back then..." "Erza, I want you to fix Sheede''s injury." "What?" "You see, Miss Elsa, ......" Behrle explains the situation. They had been so engrossed in gathering castanopsis nuts that they had bumped into each other and fallen on their butts. "I was fine, but I hurt my knee, Siede..." "Hmm, okay. Come to ......, come here. "Yes, ma''am." Elsa took Sheede to the bathroom. "It might sting a little bit. She rinsed the wound with clean water to remove any dirt. "Are you okay?" "Yes, I''m fine." "......<. <>." Disinfect and cast a healing spell. The wound is closed and the palm is clean. "Wow, thank you, sister! Siede bowed. Elsa smiled, "You are welcome". She replied. Returning to the parlor, Howlo, the butler who had accompanied her, thanked Elsa. "Miss Elsa, thank you very much for fixing your daughter''s wound. "No, no, it was nothing. At that time, Jin came back. "I''m home. ...... Hey, Sheede." "Oh, it''s your brother!I''m ...... glad to see you." "Jin-brother, welcome back." "Hello, Jin-brother, welcome back." My name is Hauro. My name is Hauro and I am visiting you with my daughter. After exchanging greetings, Jin invites them to lunch. "Welcome to the meeting. Please have lunch with us." Hauro is a little afraid to ask if he can have lunch, but Jin shows him to the cafeteria without any hesitation. Perid 102 was not in a hurry to prepare a meal for the sudden arrival. The menu consisted of white bread, vegetable soup, plain omelette, and fruit juice. There was also a made of sweet potato ...... Itopo. Like sweet potatoes, itopo, when heated slowly, saccharifies the starch and increases its sweetness. Ishiyaki sweet potato is a typical example of this cooking method. "May I join you?" Hauro, the butler, seemed to be embarrassed as he was shown to the same table. "Yes, please. By the way, are you traveling to Leuthart?" Seide''s father, Viscount Terrence Odeo Secat, is the Assistant to the Lord of Djeel, a regional city in the Kingdom of Egelea. He is in no position to travel so easily. "Yes. Your wife''s sister is married here in the Kingdom of Shoro. She has just given birth to her second child. The eldest son, Edem, has returned to Dsir. Shede had traveled with his mother, Marilia, to the Shoro Kingdom. "Congratulations!" Jin congratulated, albeit socially. Meanwhile, Sidhe and Hannah were chatting happily and eating slowly. "This is delicious." Shede looked happy as she ate the baked sweet potato. Jin looked at her with a sideways glance and thought to himself, "That''s good. In Jin''s mind, a girl is a baked sweet potato. When in the past did he feel this way? "Mmm, it''s delicious." Erza also likes baked sweet potatoes. Hannah is also eating a baked sweet potato. The women are devouring the baked sweet potatoes while ignoring the bread. Jin laughs and puts a baked sweet potato in his mouth too. After dinner, Jin talks with Hauro and Hannah and Elsa talk with Siede over a cup of T?h. "I see, the Kingdom of Egelea was not affected much by the long rain, was it? "That is what I heard. However, the eastern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa seems to have been badly affected. Djeel is a regional city in the Kingdom of Egelea that is close to the Kingdom of Selroa, so he was a bit concerned about the developments in the other countries. "I heard that the situation in the Kingdom of Klein is even worse than that." "......" I knew the outline of the situation from the old man''s report, but it was different to hear about it in a more realistic way. He began to think that it might be a bad idea to consider food aid. "It took me half a month to get from Tellurus to Giron," he said. "Hmm." Meanwhile, Shide is telling Hannah about his trip. It seems that the trip coincided with the end of the war against the Unifilers and the kingdom of Cerroa was in turmoil, so it took them some time to cross the Naudalian river. Erza was a good listener, and Hannah was the one who asked questions. "What happened after that?" "......It was just a short time after crossing the river. We went through Scavia, Tansten, Astan, etc. I couldn''t remember all the towns. I couldn''t remember all the towns. "But it sounds like fun! "Actually, it was a lot of work. Siede even got a fever once in the middle of a trip to ......." There seemed to be no end to the conversation, but before they knew it, it was around two o''clock. Hauro, the butler, bowed to Jin and stood up, "My lady, I know you are in the middle of your fun, but I think it''s time for you to leave ......." "Oh, is it that time already?" Shede looks disappointed. "Sheede, are you leaving?" Hannah also looks sad. "Hannah, Sheede and the others have their own reasons. Why don''t you come back and visit them again? Jin says to comfort Hannah. "......Yes, yes, that''s right. Come back to visit us again, Sheldon!" "Yes, Hannah, I''ll be back." Siede looked back and forth as if he was sorry to leave, and Hauro took him by the hand as he left. Hannah stood at the gate to see him off until she could no longer see him. By the way, the castanii she had picked up were to be soaked in water by Behle so that they could be eaten. 622 - - 19-09 Marquis Reinhardt On November 7th, Jin''s house received a visitor. "Hey Jin, nice house!" It was Reinhardt. This time, he was summoned by the female emperor. "Jin-sama, congratulations on your appointment as Honorary Advisor to the Imperial Household. Since Bertsch was not present at the recent , he took the opportunity to congratulate Jin on this occasion. "Thank you." Jin accepts the congratulations. "I heard that Reinhardt is also going to receive a baronetcy. "Yes, thanks to you. Reinhardt was given a baronetcy for his contribution to the country by establishing a desiccant plant together with Jin. Jin received the news last evening. "Most of the credit goes to Jin. I am sorry. "Oh, I see. I guess he got more credit for paving the way for ordinary people to produce it than for the technology. "No, it was thanks to Mr. Toa." Reinhard is humble. Jin thinks this is typical of him. "So, what''s the matter with you today? "Oh, you don''t know?There is a knighthood ceremony in Miyagi today. "What?" Jin looked at Elsa. "Yes. I know." "...... I don''t know anything about it. "I heard from Miyagi yesterday morning. Jin should have heard about it. Barrow was the one who reported it." Let''s see... ...... Since Seide had come to visit us the day before, we couldn''t have miso soup with dried bonito flakes at Horaijima, so it was carried over to yesterday. Therefore, Jin was looking forward to it from the morning and was not at ease, and it was thought that he had not listened to Barrow''s report from right to left. "Ah ...... sorry." "Jin is still the same." Reinhardt chuckled. "So, I came to show you the house that Jin said he got." "Oh, I see. Oh, that''s right. Reinhardt is welcome to use it when he comes to Leuthardt. Jin laughed and said, "You can use any available guest room for your own use. "Well, I''d appreciate that. Until now I''ve been allowed to stop by my father''s house. Reinhardt laughed. "Well then, why don''t you and Bertsche show us around the house?" "Topaz, show him around." "Yes, sir." As Reinhardt and Bertsche went to see the house with Topaz, Jin whispered to Erza. "...... we have to congratulate Reinhardt." "Yeah. Jin, what should we get him?" Jin and Erza thought about it and decided to give him a hot air balloon. As a special edition, the air sacs will be made of ground spider silk ......<>. It looks like an ordinary hot-air balloon, but the inside is very different. I thought the air sac would have Reinhardt''s coat of arms ......, I thought that the air sac would have Reinhardt''s coat of arms , but Erza said to me, "If you are going to set up a family, I am sure that you will make a new coat of arms. Erza said, "If you are going to set up a family, I am sure you will make a new coat of arms. * * * * * * * * The same day at 1:00 p.m. "Well, I''ll go first. Reinhard, one of the guests of honor, went to the palace with Bertsche. Jin and the others left about an hour later. 2:00 p.m. Jin, Elsa, and Hannah go to Miyagi. Reiko and Edgar, of course, were with them. The notice written by the emperor had asked them to bring Hannah with them. Hitoshi and Reiko each wore a cloak and robe they had just received. Hannah was in a dress. It was Elsa who was worried. She wondered what her position would be at a public event attended by other nobles, such as the Marquis Theoderic and Count Randall, Reinhardt''s father. To put it plainly, whether to call herself Elsa Randall, the Magi Engineer, or Elsa Nidor, the sister of the Magi Craft Meister Jin Nidor, the Magi Engineer. Her father, Georg, had been stripped of his viscountcy, but the queen had said that she would be considered if Elsa was willing to start her own family. However, Elsa has not responded to his request until today. (......Restore the Randall family, which is a branch of the Randall family, rather than ......) Elsa wanted to be by Jin''s side. Preferably as more than a sister. "......I''ve decided." Erza muttered in a small voice and took out some clothes from the closet. I''ve decided. "Are you going to the bathroom, Onii-chan?" Hannah is excited to hear that she has been invited by the emperor who she met the other day. This time, Jin and the others are riding in a golem carriage brought from Horai Island. It is a type of carriage pulled by two golem horses. It is a newly built one, and although the design has not been changed, it bears the emblem of Jin and the emblem of the Shoro Kingdom, just like the cloak that Jin received. The steward is now left to Butler D. Steward is now in Horai Island. "Is Erza here yet?" "Oh, she''s here!" Accompanied by Edgar, Elsa arrived a little hurriedly. "Wow, girl, you are beautiful! She was dressed in a young grass-colored dress, which Elsa liked. Her coordination is sophisticated, and Jin thinks she is honestly beautiful. However, there was something strange about her. Without knowing what it was, Jin and the others got on a carriage and headed for Miyagi. The carriage pulled by a golem horse stood out. But when they learned that it belonged to Magecraft Meister Jin, they all nodded their heads in agreement. "This way, please." "Thank you." Since Jin is already an honorary advisor to the emperor, which is a rank above that of a count - in name only - he can walk around the castle with dignity. ...... But Jin is a commoner. He politely greeted the servants who were showing him around, and headed for the venue. The venue was a large hall. In addition to Reinhardt, there were several other nobles who had been knighted, and a dinner party was being held at the same time to commemorate them. "Oh, Jin-sama." Jin turns around at the sound of a familiar voice. "Oh, uh, ......, Karen-san, right?" Platinum blonde, gray eyes. She was Karen Theodoric von Banners, the fourth daughter of the Marquess Gehlen Theodoric. She was Saki''s aunt. "It''s been a while, hasn''t it? I''m sorry to be so late, but congratulations on your appointment as Magecraft Meister and Honorary Advisor to the Imperial Household. "Thank you very much." Karen found Hannah with Jin taking her hand. "Oh, my lovely daughter. Are you Jin-sama''s sister?" "Yes, my name is Hannah." Karen''s face breaks into a smile as Hannah greets her in a curtsey. "My father might not leave me alone if he sees me. ...... Oh, I''m kidding, I''m kidding." Karen sees the twitch in Hannah''s face and hurriedly corrects her, then laughs it off. "Even my father thinks Hannah is too small. I don''t know if she''ll be around in another five years. She even added an unnecessary comment. "It''s been a while, Elsa. I saw her at ....... Karen''s eyes widened when she saw Elsa. 623 - - 19-10 Elzas Resolution "...... so you''ve made up your mind." Karen smiled, looking down a little more than at Elsa''s face. "Hmm?" Jin followed her gaze. He could see Elsa''s hand. As usual, her fingers are white and thin. On the middle finger of her right hand is a guard ring made by Jin. Her nails are neatly trimmed and she does not wear any kind of nail polish. Jin recalled an anecdote that on Earth, people grew their nails long to show that they did not have to do manual labor. "Huh?" Jin feels a slight discomfort. A clearly visible hand: ....... "I see." Yes, he noticed now that Elsa was not wearing gloves. Noblewomen always wear gloves when they are at a party......, Jin thinks back to his memory. "Elsa, did you forget your gloves today?" "No,......." "Then, is there a reason?" "...... yes." What''s the reason? "...... can''t tell you." Elsa turns her head to the side, as if not wanting to explain to Jin for some reason. Jin decided to ask Karen. "Karen, do you understand?" But Karen only smiles at him. "No, I can''t tell you either. Jin-sama, you must understand." With these words, Karen walked away rather quickly. "I''m not wearing gloves either, honey..." Hannah fluttered her hands to Jin. Jin gently patted Hannah''s head. But she is still concerned about something. "......el......" Jin was about to ask Erza again, when she answered. "The Emperor is here!" A voice rang out and everyone in the room stopped talking and looked toward the back of the room. The door on the right opened and the female emperor, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Scholo, appeared. "Ladies and gentlemen, your presence is cordially requested. He said a few words and sat down on his throne. The Prime Minister, Jung Forschung von K?bsler, took over and opened his mouth. "We are gathered here today to announce the birth of the four new barons of the Shoro Empire and to celebrate the future of our nation. As soon as the voices died away, the door to the left opened and four young men entered. They lined up side by side on the podium, which was a step lower than the throne. "The knighting ceremony went off without a hitch. There are four new barons. The voice of the secretary presiding over the ceremony rang out. "Reinhard Randall von Adamas, Lord of the village of Kurtz. Lord of Etco, Clarg Schell von Dormuth. Brause Alhauss von Furth, lord of the village of Eno. Captain of the Kingsguard, Matheus Geist von Rialger. That is all." The four names are read out. Matheus, on the far left, is a friend of Reinhardt''s and Bertsche''s brother. "I see that Matheus also received a baronetcy." The two in the middle seem to be lords of local towns and villages, but Jin did not know them. The one on the right is Reinhardt. The four men were wearing brown robes, which are the symbol of baronetcy in the Shoro Kingdom. Within two minutes of their entrance and the reading of their names, the attendants were handing out glasses of white wine to the people in the pews. When the Empress stood up again, everyone had a glass of wine in his or her hand. Hannah''s glass was filled with juice. "Well then, let us drink to the birth of the new baron! At the voice of the Empress, everyone raised their glasses and drank the wine that had been poured. "From now on, we will have a reception. Make yourselves at home." With these words, the emperor and the prime minister left the room. The room became lively at once. The guests congratulate the new baron and talk among themselves. "Hello, Jin. "Jin-dono, long time no see." Reinhardt and Matheus came to Jin together. Bertsch and another woman with blond hair and blue eyes were standing next to them. "I am Matheus'' wife, Ciara. She greeted Jin. "You are new here, Jin-dono. I heard that the Heckerat family lives across the street from Jin-dono''s house. Yes, that''s right. Yes, but that''s Ciara''s family home. Ciara''s maiden name is Hekerath. Ciara Hekerath von Lavra. Now, of course, it is Ciara Geist von Lavra. "Hello Matheus, and Ciara. Congratulations." Again the familiar voice. "Jin-dono, I''m sorry about the other day." A blonde-haired, blue-eyed female knight much like Ciara. She is Flora, who was escorting the emperor. "Sister Flora, it''s been a long time. Sister-in-law, it''s been a long time. Flora''s full name is Flora Heckerath von Merante. She is the eldest daughter of the Heckerath family and Ciara''s older sister. "Matheus is a baron too. He''s finally overtaken me. Flora is a female knight, or a baroness, which means that Mateus, who is a baron, is a little higher than Flora. In terms of the military, Flora is a knight of the Kingsguard, and Matheus is a captain of the 3rd company of the Kingsguard. It is quite difficult. To tell you the truth, I am not familiar with military affairs. "No, no, your sister-in-law Flora is more distinguished than you, being able to serve at your majesty''s side." "Oh, please stop calling me names. I don''t like it." "Oh my sister, do you still care about that?" "......?" Jin did not understand the meaning of the conversation between Matheus and the others. Ciara, perhaps sensing his concern, gently explained to him. "My sister has always been a manly woman. She even went to a knighthood school. She always says she doesn''t like the name Flora because it sounds too feminine. "...... Hey, Ciara!Don''t say a word!" Flora''s blonde hair shines as she turns around. Her straight hair was cut in a bob and fluttered with her movements, reflecting the light. "I graduated from ...... in the same year as my husband, and became a regular knight after serving as a squire. She is a manly but serious person, and she is not very flexible, but I hope you will be good friends with her." "Ciara!" Jin was thinking that it was somewhat disrespectful to the women of this world that there were no feminine knights like Gloria Allstadt of the Kingdom of Klein or this Flora. Come to think of it, no woman who is < in Jin''s opinion would ever think of becoming a knight. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the evening, at 5:00 p.m., the reception ended and we disbanded. Jin heard from Reinhardt as he was leaving that the reception was held during the daytime because it was for the new baron and that it was small in scale. "Jin-dono, Erza-dono, Hanna-dono, Reiko-dono, His Majesty wants to see you." "Yes?" Jin and the others were on their way home when they heard a call from the emperor''s secretary. The name of Reiko, a cavalrywoman, was also called. "......What in the world is this?" They thought about it, but could not find an answer. Jin and the others are led by the secretary to the office. "Your Majesty, I''ve brought you something. Please come in. The emperor and the prime minister were waiting for them in the office. "I''m sorry I called you here on my way out. It took me until now to finish my work." But the emperor''s eyes turned to Hanna. "Hello, Hannah." "Hello, Heika." The Empress beckoned to Hanna. Hannah walked to the emperor''s side. Taking Hanna''s hand, the Empress explains the reason for her invitation. I want to talk to Elsa today. The Prime Minister will give you the details. 624 - - 19-11 To the Kingdom of Klein "I asked you here today, of all people, to do me a favor. I have a favor to ask of Miss Elsa. The Prime Minister began to speak. Jin thought that it did not seem urgent, since his face did not seem to be somber. "Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein has been in poor health since the summer before. I had heard about it some time ago, at the end of July, when the hot-air balloon was transferred to the Kingdom of Klein. The fact that his condition has not improved since then is somewhat worrisome. "I don''t know the details of his condition since the information is from the manaphone, but I heard that he is in such a bad condition that he can''t get up." "...... can''t you tell how he looks?" After thinking for a moment, Elsa opened her mouth. "Yes. The whites of his eyes are a little yellowish, but I don''t know much about it. "I see. ......" The possibility of cirrhosis of the liver, which had once afflicted Saki''s grandfather, the Marquis Theoderic, came to mind, but there was still too little information to be definitive. "So, the Kingdom of Klein has asked not only our country but also the Kingdom of Egelea for a good healer. The healers in the Kingdom of Klein could not cure the king''s illness. "Your Majesty and I both agreed that Miss Elsa, who had healed the Marquis Theoderic so successfully in the past, would be the most suitable healer for our country. How about it, would you go to the Kingdom of Klein as a healer of the Shoro Kingdom?" "......" Erza thinks long and hard. When she visited the capital with Jin and Hannah before, she got acquainted with the third princess, Rieschen. Therefore, she has a desire to heal her father, Alois III. However, the desire to heal is not the same as the ability to actually heal. If I am sent as a representative of the healers of the Shoro Kingdom, Erza''s failure will be the failure of the nation. This was the reason for his hesitation. "Are you worried about the responsibility if you can''t heal her?Then there is nothing to worry about. The Empress said to Elsa. She looked like she was playing with Hannah, but she was very good at this. "You came to other countries for help because your own healers couldn''t heal you. I would hate it if they hate us just because we can''t heal them. The empress smiled at Erza. "I''m not forcing you. You can refuse if you don''t want to." "......" Erza looked slowly around, first at Jin''s face, then at Hannah''s, then at Reiko''s, and finally at Jin''s again. And then the words spun out of her mouth. "I''m going to ......." "What?" Please let me go. I''ll do what I can do. "Okay. I''ll give you the title of ...... court-appointed healer (Reichsanstalt). He asked them to leave the day after tomorrow, preferably tomorrow. Jin offered to fly them there himself. "That would be great. It would be twice as fast as a hot air balloon. We don''t have to worry about safety on the way, and Jin seems to have good contacts in the Kingdom of Klein. Finally, he took Jin and Elsa''s hands, "Jin-kun, take care of Erza. Erza, you have to support Jin-kun, okay? He sent them on their way with encouraging words. He sent them on their way. "Erza, are you sure?" Jin asked Erza after she left the emperor''s office. "Yes. I''ll try. I''ve always been protected by my brothers Jin and the others. Alois III is the father of Princess Rieschen. If I could fix him, I would." "...... I see. I''ll help you as much as I can. I''ll help you as much as I can. Yes. "Onii-chan, is Oujisama''s father sick?" Hannah, who was listening to the conversation, asked Jin with a worried look on her face. "Yes, it seems so. "Yes, it seems so. That''s why Elsa is going to see him." "Really?Onee-chan, please help him get better, okay?" Elsa smiled kindly and patted Hannah''s head. "Yes. I''ll do my best. I''ll do my best." * * * * * I''m going to go back to the house and get ready for the day. "I see... that''s how it''s supposed to be." Reinhard, who had returned earlier, made a difficult face. "Alois III''s illness seems to be serious. "Yes. But I wonder if the old man has any information about it?" The old man was supposed to have sent the fifth column (quinta) to the royal castle of Klein Kingdom. Jin asks Reiko to contact the old man. The manacam had not been installed yet. "......" Reiko was silent for a while. She was communicating with the old man. "...... father, I have learned some details about Alois III''s condition." Reiko reported that he was suffering from jaundice and that his belly was abnormally distended even though he was losing weight. "It seems ...... certain that there is something wrong with her liver." Elsa said with a difficult look on her face. "The rest is fine. It''s not good to have too many preconceived notions. We''ll see for ourselves," Elsa said. The next step was preparation. Jin planned to take the airship only at the beginning and the end of the trip. "Well, let''s leave by airship, have meet us in the sky, and go straight to Horai Island. After making preparations over there, we can use the transporter to transfer to the vicinity of the Klein Kingdom, so we don''t have to worry about unnecessary things along the way, and first of all, it''s safer. This is one of the reasons for Jin''s airship. We agreed to prepare medicines and magical tools for healing on Horai Island, and to take the nurse golem with us. "What about Barrow and Behle? They can stay here, or they can go back to Kaina village. ......" "Jin, can I take them with me?" Jin gratefully accepted Reinhardt''s offer. "Yes. "Well, you can go to Reinhardt''s place and learn a lot of things. So, Barrow and Behle took the opportunity to stay at Reinhardt''s house. Their colleagues (although Meine was barely there) were mostly golem maids and golem butlers, and they thought it would be a good idea to learn a little more about the work that human butlers and maidservants do. "Okay. I''ll go study!" Both Barrow and Behle were looking forward to working in Reinhard''s house. "Well, what about Hannah?" Jin asked Hannah whether she would come with him or return to the village of Kaina. "Well, I want to see you, Ojisama. And I''ll tell her to cheer up. "I see. I see. I''ll go with you." With this, the members were decided. The five members were Jin, Elsa, Hannah, Reiko, and Edgar. There is still some room on the airship, so after thinking about it, we decide to bring a free sample of desiccant. He was also considering the possibility of using gravity magic to reduce weight in some cases. "Okay, I think this is about right. Tomorrow, we will talk to the Prime Minister and leave. That is what they decided. The next day Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt would return to the village of Kurtz, and they would be accompanied by Barrow and Behle. There would be no problem since there would be Butler D and a golem maid at the house. That night a small party was held at Jin''s house. It was a celebration of Reinhardt''s promotion to baron, and a send-off party for Erza. Jin himself was as usual going at his own pace. "Congratulations again, Reinhard! "Thank you, Reinhard. Thanks to Jin and the others, we''ve been able to do this. Reinhardt then gave Erza a cheer. "Erza, be strong. Jin, take care of Erza. Support Erza in her decision. Yes, of course. And make sure she accepts the oath of bare hands. What? Brother Rai! Erza''s face turns red and she glares at Reinhardt. "What?What?You didn''t inform Jin?" 625 - - 19-12 Pledge "I misspoke." Reinhardt scratches his head in horror. Erza turns away, her cheeks puffed out. "...... what''s that ?" The obvious question comes out of Jin''s mouth. Erza turns her head to the side, her face red. Reinhardt looks troubled. "...... can''t help it. Erza-san, I apologize for my husband''s gaffe. May I explain to Jin-sama what happened? Turning away, Erza silently shook her head. "The fact that a grown woman of noble birth attends a public event without gloves on is, in essence, a sign that <>. From there, it is a sign that <> and, by extension, <>. ......" There was a thud. I looked over to see Erza standing up, kicking her chair away, and leaving the room. Her face was bright red. "I''ll apologize to her later. Reinhardt, with an apologetic look on his face, bowed his head to Jin. "I think Erza was just making a vow to herself," he said. I pointed it out to her, so ...... I''m sorry, Jin." Reinhardt bows his head again. But Jin told Reinhard not to worry about it. "......I have to face Erza''s feelings, don''t I?" Jin muttered to himself as he stared at the door through which Erza had left. "Jin, do you still think of Erza as a ?" Reinhardt seems to have remembered the line Jin had answered when he had been asked in the hot spring on Kunlun Island. "...... No." Shaking his head, Jin answered. "I don''t think she''s a little dangerous anymore. She''s already a woman." "You''ll be glad to hear that, Miss Elsa." "...... don''t do that, okay?" "Yes, I know. Jin-sama should tell her directly. "......Sooner or later, when I''ve sorted out my feelings." When Jin answered, Reinhardt and Bertsche let out a small sigh. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning, Jin prepared the airship and boarded it with Reiko, Erza, Hannah, and Edgar. However, Elsa acted as if she was avoiding Jin and did not give him a chance to talk to her. Jin was somewhat optimistic that he would be able to make it to Horai Island. First, they landed in front of the palace. There, Prime Minister Jung and Minister of Magical Technology Degauze were waiting for him. "Miss Elsa, Sir Jin Nido, please take good care of her." The Prime Minister hands Elsa a cream-colored robe that identifies her as a "court-appointed healer" (Reichsartz). "Thank you very much. I will do my best. After that, Elsa was told by the Prime Minister about the detailed precautions to be taken in the Kingdom of Klein. Taking advantage of this time, Jin asked Degauze if he could pass around a sample of the desiccant. "Hmm, that''s a good idea. I''ll have him bring it to you right away. While I was doing this, the emperor came running. "...... you''re just in time. Erza, please take good care of her. Jin, take care of her. With these words, the empress presented Erza with a letter. "You can show this to her when you get to the Kingdom of Klein. Good luck. "Thank you." The letter seemed to be a handwritten letter. He had just been talking to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Klein on the manaphone. "Make sure there are no mistakes, okay?" At that time, a sample of desiccant was brought in. Deghouse explained to the emperor what Jin intended to do. "......I see, that''s good. Thank you, Jin. Once the 60 kilograms of desiccant had been loaded, the boat was ready to leave. "Jin, be careful. Elsa, be safe. Hannah, I''ll see you soon. The Empress addresses Jin and his group one more time. "Okay, I''ll be on my way." Jin releases the airship''s mooring cable. The airship rises slowly. A strong westerly wind was blowing that day, and Jin''s airship rose with increasing speed. The emperor, the prime minister, and the minister of magic and technology looked up at the sky until the airship was out of sight. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Riding the tailwind, the airship flew eastward at a speed of about 60 kilometers per hour. The altitude increased to about 3,000 meters. After an hour of flying, a sea of clouds spread out below us. "Wow, it''s beautiful! Hannah was so excited. Jin stroked Hannah''s head and murmured to her. "They should be here by now." "What?What''s coming, honey? Hannah wonders. Jin smiles mischievously and pats her head. "Well, you''ll just have to wait and see." Just as he said that, a huge object appears about 500 meters away. <, equipped with a . It was sent here by a transporter. "Wow, I''ve seen this flying machine before! He seemed to remember that he had used this airship on his way home from a visit to the Klein Kingdom. The airship is moving forward at a slight speed toward the huge warp gate of Condor 3. "......Ah, isn''t it a little dangerous?" Jin, however, decides not to take the airship into the warp gate. "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" Erza had been avoiding Jin because of her shyness since last night, but now it seems that she can''t stop talking to him. "It''s a bit windy today. Airships and balloons are vulnerable to wind. Of course, this is true for aircraft in general, but airships and balloons are especially vulnerable. "Let''s moor the airship at Condor 3 and enter the warp gate on foot. Jin lowered the airship onto Condor 3, thinking that he would have to think more about countermeasures against strong winds. Sky 21, 22, and others came out to moor the airship securely. Once secured, Jin disembarked from the gondola, taking Elsa and Hannah by the hand. Reiko and Edgar followed. "Okay, let''s go!" The group passes through the warp gate. Condor 3 will bring the airship to Horai Island. < to Horai Island. Hannah seems to have gotten used to it after several transfers. "Wow, it''s already Hourai Island! Hanna runs out of the laboratory. She is in good health. Iris and Azalea, Hanna''s dedicated covert task force (SP), join her here. Since the two could not be put on the airship, they had come back to Horai Island ahead of the others using the warp gate hidden in the basement of Reuthert''s mansion. * * * * It is about 800 kilometers from Loisart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, to Alban, the capital of the Klein Kingdom, our destination. It is a distance that can be flown in a day if one is forced to do so, but Jin left Loizart saying that he planned to stay there for two days. In other words, there is enough time to spend a whole day in Horai Island. Using this time, Jin planned to take various measures. "Well then, let''s get started." Jin held out a Magi Crystal for recording in front of Elsa. "...... Jin, what is this?" Jin explained to Erza, who looked doubtful. "It is a key to further knowledge. After saying this, Jin is embarrassed by his overly kitchen gimmick. However, Erza looked at Jin with serious eyes. "Brother Jin, does that mean that this Magi Crystal has scientific knowledge ......?" Erza understood exactly what Jin meant when he said that. "Yes, that''s right. You have transcribed the knowledge of the elementary level before, haven''t you?This is the intermediate level. The elementary level was middle school level scientific knowledge, while the intermediate level is high school level. The intermediate level included knowledge of Kanji characters and some of Adriana Barbora Zetsi''s knowledge of magical engineering. "I''m sure Erza can already use it now." "Brother Jin ......" "Erza has decided to go to the Klein Kingdom of her own volition, so consider this as a gift. Jin wanted to do everything he could for Erza''s safety. "I''m ...... glad." Erza received the magi crystal with a smile on her face. "<>" She immediately transfers the knowledge into her own magi crystal, and then absorbs it again. Erza, who had received more advanced knowledge compared to the elementary level, was unsteady for a moment, but quickly recovered. "Are you all right?" "......." Jin worked on Erza and sat her down in a chair. "......" Erza remained still and prone for about 10 minutes as if checking her newfound knowledge, but then she looked up and smiled when her eyes met Jin''s, who peered at her with concern. "Thank you, Jin." 626 - - 19-13 Edgar Reinforcement Elsa''s face lit up when she received the intermediate level scientific knowledge and other materials from Jin. "I got answers to my questions. I understand things I didn''t know before. And I realized ...... that this world is still full of things we don''t understand." Jin smiles back when he hears these words. "Yes. We want to know because we don''t know, and we work hard because we want to know. That''s what builds up to the future." Jin scratches his head in embarrassment as he delivers yet another uncharacteristic line. Erza, however, continued to look at Jin with a serious face. "I will dedicate the knowledge I will gain from now on to my brother Jin. Erza''s cheeks were stained and she turned her head down, perhaps feeling embarrassed. Reiko looked at them with a complicated expression on her face and almost opened her mouth several times, but in the end she remained silent. "Well, Elsa, let''s upgrade Edgar. "What?" "Maybe Edgar is the only one who can go with Elsa to the sick king. I don''t know about that either. We should go to ...... and transfer the knowledge of the nurse golem to Edgar, don''t you think?" Erza felt her cheeks heat up as she felt the warmth of Jin''s words. "......Yes, thank you, Jin-brother." So they decided to immediately implement the . Hannah seems to be enjoying Hourai Island for the first time in a long time and is running around in the garden. Soleil and Luna are also assigned to support her. At the workshop of the institute, the modification of Edgar began. The first and most important thing is to transfer the knowledge of the nurse golem. This will allow him to use healing magic to a great extent. His martial arts and swordsmanship have also been further enhanced. "And then we strengthened his visual system. I''ve also enhanced his vision so that he can assist in medical examinations. The magic crystals used for his eyes have been upgraded to have a clairvoyant and magnifying function. The Magi Crystal will also be linked to the "Mere Old Man" so that the "Mere Old Man" can analyze what he sees and hears. "Let''s modify the energy system as well. Jin teaches Erza how to make a <>. "...... Jin, it''s difficult. I can''t do it. But Erza failed to fuse the magi crystals. "Don''t worry. Erza can do it. You just have to try again." But she fails the second and third time. "Brother Jin. ......" Erza was about to say "No," when she suddenly realized that she was trying to rely on Jin again. She realized that she was about to rely on Jin again. She promised herself that she wanted to be able to support her brother Jin (......). So, I shouldn''t rely on him here.) "...... let me try again." Jin smiled and nodded at these words. "Yes, you can do it again and again. I''m sure Elsa will be able to do it. "Hmm..." He took the magi crystal and fused the two together, creating a new image to change the structure of the crystal. I have a model. Twin crystals of quartz. It looks like a butterfly spreading its wings. (Jin made it without a model. (Brother Jin made it without a model. (How could I not do it?) Erza concentrated her mind, sharpened her magic, and activated her engineering magic . "You did it!" Jin''s voice praised Erza. In Erza''s hand, a beautiful twin crystal of Magi Crystal was formed. "Thanks to my brother Jin! "Yeah, that''s great. Reiko... "...... yes?" Reiko affirms wordlessly. There was a hint of respect in her voice, but no one noticed it. She is equipped with a barrier, a magi radar, a magi jammer, and a paralyzer. Equipped with a magi device that can use intermediate-level offensive magic, it is more than adequate as an escort. Furthermore, it can communicate with Erza''s pendant-shaped manacam (manacam). "Okay, this should give us peace of mind." Jin was finally able to rest his chest after seeing Edgar''s improved performance. * * * * The sky of Horai Island turned red, and Hannah, who had been playing outside, came back. "Onii-chan, is the time difference really making you feel so tired so soon?" "Yes, it does." Hannah seems to understand the time difference that I explained to her the other day. Jin was surprised at Hanna''s understanding of the time difference. It was inevitable that we would have breakfast in Leusert and dinner in Horai Island. The time difference would have made the timing of lunch. Jin and his friends went to his house for dinner. "This is called ''Kawarayane,'' isn''t it?" Hannah asks when she sees Jin''s house and wonders when he studied it. "You know it so well." When Jin was impressed and patted her head, Hannah smiled happily. "Hehehe, I learned from the books that are behind your back," she said. Hannah proudly said that she had read all the books that the old man had prepared for the children. He was also fond of his relatives and thought that Hanna might be a genius. Dinner consisted of white rice, miso soup with nameko mushrooms and tofu, grilled fish, pickles, and hojicha green tea. All three of them like Japanese food. Elsa had not much of an appetite for tomorrow, but this menu saved her. "...... is delicious. Can I have another one?" "Oh, I''ll have another one too!" "Hannah, chew your food. "Yes!" The meal is going well. Elsa thought that this warmth was the only thing that would keep her going. After dinner, they took a rest and took a bath. Of course, it was the Horaijima hot spring. Since the men''s and women''s baths are separated, Jin went to the men''s bath and Erza and Hannah went to the women''s bath. "......Hannah has grown up while I haven''t seen her for a while." "Yes, father. Hanna is a smart girl. "You think so too?" Jin was soaking himself in the hot water, thinking about how he should give gifted education not only to Hannah but also to other talented children in the village of Kaina. Meanwhile, Erza and Hannah. "Elsa, I''m going to wash your backside for you," said Hannah. "Thank you for ....... After that, I''ll wash Hannah''s back for you. "Yes!" The two women washed each other''s backs and Elsa even washed Hannah''s head for her. "I''ll wash your head this time!" Hannah said, and then she got some hot water in a washbasin and lifted it ......, but her hand slipped off the basin. The washbasin fell on the floor with a sound of "kara-an". The washbowl was made of anodized aluminum, which was Jin''s special request. Anodized aluminum, in other words, the surface of aluminum is covered with an oxide coating. "Oh, I''m sorry. ......" The base metal is aluminum, which is soft. It seems to have been dented when it was dropped. Elsa sees this, pats Hanna''s head gently and says. "Don''t worry, Hannah. I can fix it right away. " With Elsa''s engineering magic, the dented basin is instantly restored to its original state. "Thank you, girl! Hannah thanks while patting the restored washbowl. "Magic is amazing, isn''t it? I wonder how they change the shape of things like Onee-chan does. "What?" Hearing Hannah''s casual remark, Erza felt something connected in her head. "Onee-chan?" "Oh, I''m sorry, Hanna-chan. But thanks to Hannah-chan, I might be able to solve the problem that was bothering my brother Jin." "Onii-chan''s?......I''m glad to hear that." Erza then finished washing her head quickly and was thinking about something while soaking in the hot water with Hannah. 627 - - 19-14 Progress After getting out of the hot spring, Jin lay down on the tatami mats in his living room to cool off. "When I meditate like this, I can hear the sound of insects, it''s a nice atmosphere. ......" There were many autumn insects living around the pavilion and they were playing a symphony in the autumn night. At that time, Jin heard footsteps. "Are those footsteps Elsa or ......?" If the footsteps were more mature than Hannah''s, it could only be Elsa. However, she seemed a little panicky. "Brother Jin!" Her voice seems to have gone up even more. "Erza, what''s wrong? Jin opened his eyes and saw Erza standing there. She was wearing underwear. "Erza, what happened? "Brother Jin, isn''t the <> of <> the same as the power we normally use in engineering magic?" "......?What?" Jin was so upset by Erza''s unexpected attire that he didn''t understand half of what he had heard. "......That''s embarrassing. Then, can you understand me when I say this?The power used in ...... engineering magic is the same quality as <>, isn''t it?" "E...... ah, ah..." "...... now, you understand?" Then Hannah came in. And she said. "Elsa, don''t you have any clothes on?" "So ...... what, clothes?" When Hannah said this, Erza realized that she had been standing in front of Jin in her underwear. "E,a,uh,...... ah!" She turned bright red and ran out of the living room. Jin wondered in the corner of his confused head if he had fallen down when he heard a thud in the distance. "Well, isn''t the power used in ...... engineering magic the same as the recoil-erasing magic?" Finally Jin''s head started to spin and he seemed to understand the implication in Erza''s words. "Old man, the Jin family has been summoned to an emergency meeting." * * * * "......, so Erza got a hint of the solution." In addition to Jin and Erza, Reinhardt and Saki, along with Toa and Stearina, were holding the second on Horai Island. "Erza, please explain." Jin urges Erza, whose face is still a little red. Erza began to speak in halting tones. "......First of all, I want you to think about the < of engineering magic. ......Rai, do you know why the form of matter can be changed by ?" When asked, Reinhardt thinks for a moment before answering. "Why? Because we are using magic to change its shape. That''s the kind of magic I''m talking about. ...... Just as he was about to say this, Reinhardt seemed to notice. "So, the force that is transforming matter is ......! "Yes. I realized that it is the same force that creates wind, makes fire fly, and deforms matter. "Hmmm, interesting." Toa muttered as he folded his arms. Stearina was the next to open her mouth. "I think I understand. The basis of moving a crystal golem is <>, isn''t it? In other words, we can see from this that the magic of <> is powerful enough to power the golem. Everyone is convinced. "If that''s the case, I think it''s strange that <> is the only special power. Erza concluded. Saki then chuckled and anticipated Erza''s comment. "I see. But then, Erza must have some idea why Jin failed last time, right?" She was referring to the experiment in which Jin had tried to invoke only the reaction-elimination spell without using wind magic and failed to do so. But Erza shook her head. "No. I don''t know about that. I don''t know about that. But I have thought of another possibility." "Another possibility?" "Another possibility? The best example is the earth magic <. It is a magic that sends stones flying and hits the opponent, but what is its power?" "Oh, I see. ......" Everyone understood what Erza was trying to say and nodded in agreement. "As I hypothesized before, all mages can emit a little magic power on their own. Let''s call it mental power or mental waves. This mental wave is an original magical power that a mage can create. Using this power, the surrounding free magical elements (ether) are changed into magical elements (mana), and magic is activated by changing the magical elements (mana) into energy. <, it is kinetic energy." Jin explains his hypothesis. Fire magic is thermal energy, and wind magic is kinetic energy. If this kinetic energy is applied to a stone, it would be a stone pellet of earth magic. "Now, the source of kinetic energy is force. This power is the mage''s mental waves, or mental power, amplified into a greater magical power that also controls energy. We do not yet know the mechanism. Jin reiterated that he would leave the elucidation of the mechanism for another time, and this time he would analyze the . "I would like to call the force that amplifies mental waves and has kinetic energy <>. I am not sure if this term is appropriate, but since it is a force that is generated according to the will of the performer, I think it is not wrong. There is no disagreement among them. "<> is also easy to understand if we consider that telekinetically transforms matter, isn''t it?Wind magic is the same. It is telekinetically moving air. Everyone listens to Jin''s statement in silence. At this point, Jin changed the subject. "Now here''s a question. Can magic move people? Reinhardt quickly responded. "I think it is possible if we use , for example. "That''s right. That''s right, Reinhardt. Reinhard scratched his head in embarrassment at Jin''s praise. "It''s a little embarrassing to hear you say that. After all, there was a precedent. Yes, the ship of Eckert Tekles, you see. Eckert is a wealthy man living in a town in the southern part of the Kingdom of Selroa. He had built a huge ship and was using wind magic to blow wind from his sails to power it. "Yes, that is a good example. The idea is to use physical phenomena generated by magic, rather than magic itself. But it is not magic itself. "Can''t we move people with telekinesis?This is the key. Everyone continued to think in silence for a while. Then Stearina was the first to open her mouth. "Jin-kun, that you just used, can you make the golem fly? Jin thought for a while before answering. "Yes, I think so. Let''s try an experiment. ...... mini-craftsman(smith)!" "Yes, Goshujin-sama." Jin called up a 10cm-tall golem. "I need your help for an experiment." Jin explained briefly. The point is that he wants to see if he can make a miniature craftsman (smith) fly with a stone pellet. "Yes, sir. Jin went out of the laboratory and asked Reiko to catch the miniature craftsman so that it would not be broken when it flew away. "Leave it to me." "Alright then, let''s give it a try. ......<>" Jin activates the magic in his bracelet. As a result, the miniature craftsman (Smith) flew through the air and was caught by Reiko. "Oh! Jin! "Oh, this is it!" They all gazed at the scene in amazement. "It seems to be possible if we can accurately recognize the object to be flown. How about something bigger?" After the mini-craftsman (Smith), they experimented with a little craftsman (Smith), 40 centimeters tall, which also worked well. "Father, in that case, please let me fly". Finally, he accepts Reiko''s offer, and tries to play on her. "Stone Bullet!" "Whoa! Reiko flew through the air and landed with flying colors about 10 meters away from the target. "Ji-jin!This is a great find!" An excited Reinhardt rushed to Jin. Saki, on the other hand, calmly commented. "I wonder why no one has used it like this before?Oh, no, it can be used to blow up the other golem in a war or something, not just for flying. "Well, it requires a certain amount of magic power compared to flying stones." It means that the same amount of magic power is consumed as the mass ratio of the stone to the golem. If the stone is 1 kilogram and the golem is 200 kilograms, then 200 times as much magic power is required. I see. "I see, so you didn''t even try to do it because it requires too much magic power for the effect. Nevertheless, there is a silver lining. The Nin family decided to further work in this direction. 628 - - 19-15 Over hurdles "Well, the way we''re doing it now, in essence, it''s nothing more than a ..." Returning to the conference room in the laboratory, Jin reassessed the situation. "So it''s just a , since we just decide on a direction and launch the projectile. That''s right. Toa said as if he was impressed in a strange way. But humans can''t fly, can they? This is Saki. "Engineering magic can''t affect living creatures. Isn''t that what you and Jin confirmed before? Physical phenomena caused by magic can affect human beings, but it is nearly impossible for magic itself to affect human beings. The only exception is healing magic. "You said that the mana circulating in the body seems to be interfering with it, right?" That''s right. I''m interested in that too, but we''ll talk about it another time. The conversation gets too much and it gets difficult to keep it together. I''m sorry to hear that. "Now that we know that we can exert power over golems, let''s put aside the human thing for the moment. I want to take this one step further." Jin finally began to talk about the core of his research. "Can''t the golem itself make itself fly? Can''t the Golem itself be able to fly itself...can''t it exert its power over ...... itself? Is that Jin''s ultimate goal? Jin nodded at Reinhardt''s question. "Yes. If this becomes possible, the world will change. Erza was the first to understand what he meant. "The thrust of the plane ......." "That''s right, Elsa. And it can be applied to other things too. Like space ships." A satellite launched by gravity magic failed. Before trying again, Jin wanted to develop new propulsion. "If we can put this to practical use, people might be able to fly by themselves." "Jin-kun, does that mean you can telekinetically move your own body?......I don''t think anyone has ever been able to do that before." Jin couldn''t help but nod in agreement with Stearina''s words. "Well, I guess. But it''s a dream I''d like to think about. No one could argue with that. Flying is a dream that no human being will ever achieve. "First, let''s start with a golem, not a man." Let''s take it step by step, Jin. "But even a golem can fly itself ......?I wonder if it''s possible to do that? Stearina tilted her head. The point is that it can''t lift itself up. "Yes. But I think that''s because I made a mistake in setting up the starting point of the magic. Elsa answers this question. This is the biggest discovery that flashed through her mind in the hot water. "In other words, I think that everyone who tried to move me, without exception, had their starting point me." "Hmmm ...... what does that mean?" Stearena, who seems not to understand at all, is now replaced by Jin, who explains for her. "You can''t lift yourself up. That''s because the point of force, the fulcrum, and the point of action are all inside the body. But magic is different. You can consciously place the starting point outside your body. Archimedes once said, "Give me a fulcrum. Give me a fulcrum, and I will move the earth. "Ah!" "Oh, yes!" Stearina and Reinhardt shouted almost simultaneously. They could imagine what would happen if the origin of the force was outside their bodies. "But I don''t ...... think Jin could do such a thing." "Yes." Jin replied seriously. "Mages who can analyze the Magick Formula are so rare that no one has ever thought of such a thing before, have they?" "Yes, that''s right!And also the attempt to fuse science and magic!" Anyway, it''s true that there are no precedents," Jin prefaced, "It''s worth a try, isn''t it?" He said. Jin then began to prepare for the demonstration experiment. It was already quite late, but no one was ready to call it quits. That was how interested they were in the experiment he was about to conduct. "Here, like this..." < Since the crystal spins and does not fly in a stable direction, we decided to attach it to a simple model airplane. This model plane is called a hand-launched glider, a type of model plane that is usually thrown by hand and glided. Jin had built many model airplanes for his children when he was at the orphanage, so he was familiar with the technique. "That''s it." The group goes out of the institute again. The light leaking from the windows of the institute was too dark, so they used the magic of <> to light up the room. "I''ll give it a try then. <<>" Jin chanted the key word, and the plane in his hand, or rather the magi-crystal attached to the plane, generated propulsive force. "Launch!" With these words, he let go of the model plane. The plane lost altitude for a moment, but as it gained speed, it raised its nose, began to climb, and disappeared into the darkness. "It worked. ......" Jin, who was staring at the darkness as the plane disappeared, muttered to himself. As if inspired by this, the others also spoke in praise. "You did it, Jin! "Congratulations, Brother Jin! "Jin, that''s wonderful!" Jin, this is a great discovery! "Thank you." The plane can only move in a straight line and its speed cannot be adjusted, but it can be used to propel the plane. The biggest hurdle has been overcome. It is now midnight, and the second meeting of the has come to an end. * * * * Reinhardt and the others have gone home, and only Jin and Erza are left in the hall. Hannah is also there, but she is sound asleep after a long day of play. The time is 1:00 a.m. The moon is a little past the mid-sky, and it is tilting to the west. The autumn moon was high in the sky and illuminated the ground from overhead. Around the pavilion, which had become quiet, autumn insects were chirping again. "...... quiet." "......n." It was late at night, but their heads, still burning from the discussions they had just had, were not sleepy yet, and Jin and Erza were sitting on the porch listening to the insects. Incidentally, the sounds of the insects on Horai Island were a chirp similar to that of a Japanese water bug, a chirp similar to that of a cricket, and a chirp similar to that of a blue-bellied pine beetle. There were several other species, but Jin did not know their names. "Thank you, Elsa." "......?" Elsa answered Jin''s thank-you note in a whisper by tilting her head. "Thanks to Elsa''s hint, I think I''ll be able to put an end to the problem that has been bothering me for a long time." "....... I''m glad I could be of help to you, Jin. "Yes, it helped. Yeah, it helped. Well, there''s still a lot of work to be done. I think I can handle that." "I look forward to ......." "Yeah, keep your eyes peeled for what we''ll come up with." Jin gave one big sigh. "......Ah, I think I''m getting sleepy now." "Me too." Elsa also let out a sigh. "I''m going to bed." Good night. And then the lights went out and the only light was the moon shining in the sky. 629 - - 19-16 Temporary return home The next morning, Jin and Elsa both overslept a little. It was just after 7:30. Hannah came to wake up Jin who had fallen asleep. Hannah came to wake up Jin, who was still asleep. "Hmm......oh, is it that late already......?" Jin looked at the pillar clock. The clock of Horai Island is accurate because it is controlled by the old man who measured the position of the sun and the moon. "......Oh, by the way, you went to bed last night without even telling Reiko what time to wake you up. ......" One of the reasons Reiko did not wake him up. The other reason is that she didn''t wake me up because she didn''t have anything urgent to do and she didn''t want to wake me up. "Ah, I slept well." I slept well for more than six hours, and I was exhausted. "I''ll wake you up, too! After waking up Jin, Hanna now heads to Erza''s room. Jin slowly put on his clothes and went to the bathroom. As Jin was washing his face, a sleepy-looking Elsa came in. "Good morning, Elsa. "...... Jin, good morning." As I washed my face, I could smell the good smell wafting from the kitchen. Soleil and Luna, the golem created as Reiko''s assistants, are nowadays not in the laboratory but in the . They are in charge of cleaning and upkeep. In addition, their subordinates, Prane and Satera, are mainly responsible for tending the vegetable garden and the yard. And when they are free, they help the five-colored golem maids or make new books with the old man. "Oh, you have grated radish this morning. The menu consisted of breakfast rice gruel, miso soup with wakame seaweed, dried ume plum, grated radish, pickled greens, and dried horse mackerel. Daikon radish was found by the fifth row (Quinta) the other day. Jin thinks that he will be even happier if he can find turnips. The pickles are pickles in salted rice-bran paste. The rice bran is available now that the rice has been harvested, and the peridot reader has recreated it based on Jin''s hazy memory. Soy sauce was also beginning to be supplied, albeit for a slightly shorter brewing period. "Delicious!" Hannah doesn''t mind sour food like pickled plums. Or rather, she doesn''t have a preference for them. She is happy to eat both tasty and not-so-tasty food. Of course, she is more pleased with tasty food. Jin has no likes or dislikes either. Erza only dislikes the meat of a large chicken-like bird called kokarisk, but eats most of the rest without likes and dislikes. However, she was raised in a good family and sometimes frowns at bad food. Still, remembering the experience of the getaway he and Meene once had, Jin thought it was great that they never forgot to be thankful for the food. "Another plate, please." In any case, both Erza and Hannah liked the Japanese food and the Japanese recipes that Jin liked, which made it fun for him to eat with them. "I''ll have another one too! The breakfast scene was again peaceful. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, let''s have lunch here today and then go to Klein Kingdom. He decided that it would be no problem to go to Klein Kingdom after having lunch here today. "I''m going to go to the village of Kaina to see what''s going on over there. Hannah, do you want to come with me?" "Yes!" What about Erza? "I''m coming with you. I want to talk with Dr. Saly for a while. So, using the warp gate, the three of us were transferred not to Nido Castle but to the basement of Jin''s workshop. "Auntie! Hannah runs to Martha. She must have been lonely after being away from home for so long. "Hey, Hannah, welcome home. Jin and Elsa, too. Hi, Martha. Hi, Martha. What are you doing today? "I''m going back to King''s Landing in the afternoon, but I had some time to kill, so I thought I''d stop by." Martha nodded broadly. "I see. It sounds like it''s a tough time in King''s Landing." "Is it?I thought I''d ask you about that." "Then Eric''s place might be good for you. Mr. Roland just got back the day before yesterday. "Okay." So Jin went to Eric''s and Elsa went to Mireshan''s clinic. Hannah went to Martha''s, and the three of them went their separate ways for the time being. "Oh, Jin-san!" Barbara was helping out at Eric''s store. When are you coming back? And Eric. "Yeah, just now. I''m going back to King''s Landing in the afternoon." To Alban? "To Alban?" "Yes. I''d like to know what''s going on in Alban, as far as you know. Barbara sat down on a chair and started to make a pot of tea. She was already a great new wife. Jin sat down on the chair and listened to Eric''s story. ...... Alban, or rather most of the kingdom, is beginning to fear famine. It is estimated that the original crop of wheat and barley, and the mold that grew during storage, will not last until the harvest season in early summer next year. ......" "Well, of course. ......" "Kaina and the neighboring village of Toka will be fine, especially here in Kaina. Especially here in Kaina. But there are rumors that the kingdom might collect additional wheat taxes from those villages. "I don''t think we should do that. ......" Even Jin can understand that. Such a thing would not only make people distrust the government, but also discourage them from working. As a result, it will lead to a decline in national power. "In response to this, the rich have begun to buy up all the foodstuffs in and around the capital. "So, when do you think we can expect a full-blown famine?" Jin wanted to hear the outlook from the merchant Eric''s mouth. "......Yes,...... if you don''t mind my estimation. Let''s see, this year''s harvest as a whole is 70% of normal. Of that, 20% has been killed by mold. That''s 50/60. This means we''ll run out of stockpiles before spring arrives." "...... got it." With each person eating 150 kilos of wheat per year, that leaves 66 kilos missing. The population of the Kingdom of Klein is about 100,000 people, which would mean a shortage of 66,600 tons of wheat. Even the island of Horai cannot produce that much food in a short period of time. Jin thinks that he will try to estimate the situation in Alban again, but he has a feeling that the situation will not change so drastically. He wonders what he can do now. * * * * "......What, the king is sick." Elsa went to the Mireshan clinic and talked to Sally. "So you''ve been sent by the Shoro Kingdom, is that it? Hmm." Sally ponders this with a difficult look on her face. "Except for your inexperience, you are one of the best healers in the world. I can assure you of that. The only advice I can give you now is this. Believe in yourself. Don''t let the noise around you stop you." Sally said that if you only think about saving the patient and do your best, the result will follow. "Thank you, doctor." Elsa bowed her head. "Hmmm, but this village is quite peaceful, isn''t it? A few days ago, babies were born one after another. The mother is fine. They are in perfect health. The post-natal growth is good and the milk supply is good. There is nothing wrong. Elsa''s cheeks relaxed when she heard this. "It''s a happy thing to be able to honestly rejoice in the birth of a new life. I''m glad we came to this village. Sally smiled as well. Erza looked up at the clear sky from the window, knowing that as long as Jin was here, this village would continue to be peaceful. * * * * * * "So, Grandma, you know, that Seedee-chan... ......" Hannah reports to Martha over a bowl of her favorite dried wileys. (......I can''t believe she met the emperor of another country. ......My grandson is a big man. ......) Martha was impressed, though she was dumbfounded. 630 - - 19-17 Magician The date is November 8. Five days after Oliver, a merchant in the town of Ismar, had promised. Lao Tzu, accompanied by Anne, visits Oliver''s store with a small package. "This is our guest, thank you for coming again". Oliver was there and welcomed the Lao Tzu. "How are you?" Oliver asked when he saw Anne. "She is an automaton in the service of her master, just like me. Lao Tzu replies in a way that can be interpreted in two ways. Either he is an automaton who serves his master as well as he does, or he is an automaton as well as he does. In fact, he is both. But Oliver''s reaction is what would be expected of a normal human being. In other words, Lao Tzu thought he was a human being. "Yes!That person is an automaton? Oliver is surprised, even to his own eyes, to the point of exaggeration. But perhaps this is normal in this remote town. "I''ve never seen ...... an automaton that looks so much like a human being, or even a human being itself. ......" The automata we see in general are not like this, but Lao Tzu did not say anything else. "My master is a first-rate magi engineer," he would say. He only said, "My master is a first-rate magi engineer. < "Well, I haven''t heard your ...... name, if you don''t mind me asking.My name is Oliver, as you may know." I''m sorry. You may call me . My name is Anne. "Master Roshi, and Anne, I am, thank you very much." Oliver bows his head, and the business meeting is about to begin. "Well, did you get the dried bonito flakes you promised the other day? "Yes, of course. We were able to get five this time. "Well, that''s great. In that case, I have brought these for you. Lao Tzu pointed to the small package he had given Ann. "What is it?" "It''s a tool you''ll need to use dried bonito flakes in your cooking." Oliver bit at that. "What?That''s great news!Can I see it?" "Of course. That''s what I''ve brought it for. Well, come on in, then! As before, Oliver led Lao Tzu into the kitchen. Anne followed with the package. On the kitchen table, the Lao Tzu placed an object from the package. "What is this?" It was a rectangular box. Lao Tzu silently took the lid off. There was a small opening through which a blade was peeping. "It is a bonito shaver. "What?This is it!" "Yes. My husband told me that this is the way to shave dried bonito flakes, so I made it up in a hurry. Do you still have the rest of the dried bonito flakes you used the other day?" Based on Jin''s knowledge, the old man had a craftsman (Smith) make this on Horai Island. "Yes, yes. Yes, I have it." The old man prepares a piece of dried bonito flakes to try it out. "This is how I adjust the blade. Raising the planer with the blade attached, he held it up in front of his eyes to see how the blade came out, and then tapped it on the stand. "When you want the blade to come out, tap the head of the blade. A wooden mallet is good for this." I see, the blade won''t be damaged. "And when you want to retract the blade, you tap here, on the top of the blade. "I see!" It is the same as a Japanese-style plane, but Oliver has never seen one before, and he is impressed. "Now that we''ve adjusted the blade, let''s start sharpening. ......It is normal to sharpen with a push, but you can also do it with a pull." Then, moisten a clean cloth with water and lightly wipe the surface of the dried bonito flakes. "If the cloth is slightly moistened, the dried bonito flakes will be sharpened well without becoming powdery. Do not wet it too much. After explaining all this, Lao Tzu shaved the dried bonito flakes and showed them to the audience. The dried bonito flakes are shaved with a lively sound. "Be careful not to shave your hand when the dried bonito flakes become small. With these words, he stopped his hand and opened a drawer attached to the side of the box. "Wow, ......!You can shave so beautifully!" There was a pool of shavings so thin you could see through it. "This is called shaved flakes. If you sell this in small portions, you can get a lower unit price. Oliver''s face changes color at these words. Did he think that Lao Tzu was planning to sell the dried bonito flakes he had bought as shaved bonito flakes? But Oliver''s face turns into joy when he hears the next words. "How much do you want for this dried bonito shaver? "...... what?" Oliver understood the meaning of those words. However, he could not understand what they were trying to say, and he could not help but be amused. "We are not merchants. We can make something like this, but we don''t have the contacts to sell it. Then it is not strange that you would think of ...... through someone promising, is it?" "I''m sure it''s ......." Intuitively realizing what this meant, Oliver took Lao Tzu''s hand. "Are you sure you want to sell me these tools?" "Yes, I''ll tell you the truth." Oliver''s expression froze and he became silent for a few seconds, as if a dizzying calculation was taking place in his mind. But then, being a merchant after all, he immediately smiles. "How about 50,000 dollars? The other day I had already known that dried bonito broth was useful for egg and vegetable dishes. I have already confirmed its effectiveness with my own tongue. Now he would be able to sell it in a form that would make it easier for customers to purchase. It was an offer Oliver could not have hoped for. However, there is a limit to the amount of money that can be paid. 50,000 dollars was close to the limit of what Oliver could afford now. The amount of 50,000 Tol was close to the limit of what Oliver could afford now. 50,000 Tol meant that he could afford to add a little more in case Lao Tzu was dissatisfied. But his estimate did not make sense. "Yes, that''s fine. Lao Tzu readily accepted Oliver''s offer. "Well, that''s very kind of you. I will get the money for you now. Lao Tzu said to calm Oliver who was a little flustered. "No, I''d like to buy two more dried bonito flakes. The last time he had bought two dried bonito flakes, they were priced at 400 dollars each. Therefore, Lao Tzu said he would like to buy two bottles and receive the difference of 49,200 dollars. "Oh, I understand. Still a little flustered, Oliver went into the back and came out immediately with a bag of gold coins in his hand. A man who looks like an escort is at his side. "Sorry to keep you waiting. He is a security guard I have hired. He is very expensive, so I asked him to come with me just in case. Please don''t be offended." Lao Tzu nodded his head in an exultant manner. "Yes, of course. You never know what kind of people might come in from the outside. "Thank you." Oliver counted out four gold coins and 92 silver coins and presented them to Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu took the coins, put them in a bag like a drawstring, and handed it to Anne. He then took two dried bonito flakes and gave them to Anne. "Well." After the deal was done, Oliver opened his mouth to make things right. "Mr. Laoshi, I know this is very forward of me, but could you please listen to what I have to say?" Lao Tzu was very pleased with Oliver''s offer, since the dried bonito shaver was also to make connections. "Yes, what is it?" "Do you have any acquaintances who are magi engineers?As I recall, you said that your master is also a Magi Engineer. "Yes, sir." Oliver stood up and bowed deeply, "Please!Please introduce me to someone who is a freelance Magi Engineer!" 631 - - 19-18 Meaning of Guards "Are you a magical engineer (magi engineer)......?" Lao Tzu asks in return, and Oliver gives a supplementary explanation. "Yes. There is not a single Magi Engineer here in the town of Ismar." "I understand that, but are you going to hire ...... one?" Lao Tzu asked. "No, no,...... yes, well, yes. It''s not me who wants to ...... hire you, but someone I know." "I see,...... and what are the terms and conditions?I would not be able to introduce him to you if you don''t tell me what his requirements are. "......You are right. ...... Well, the salary is negotiable, but I don''t think it will be less than 20,000 dollars per month. The work will be repairing ...... various magical tools." "Hmm, so where will you be working?" Oliver was visibly flustered by the question. "...... I''m afraid I can''t give you an answer to that question. ...... Well, it wouldn''t be good if I said ...... in the desert, would it?" Hearing these words, Lao Tzu''s thoughts turned to the question. Even though Lao Tzu is using only a part of his processing power, his processing speed is many times faster than that of human beings. (Probably an alien race or someone connected to them. (I think it would be better to extract a little more information here and leave the rest to us.) Lao Tzu shrugged his shoulders, having made such a decision in an instant. "I don''t think there are any magical engineers who would be willing to hire me just for that story. ......" "So, I guess. ...... Well, I trust you, Mr. Roshi, and I''m going to tell you something. ...... But first, please do not tell anyone about what I''m going to tell you as much as possible." "Of course." "......The people who need magical engineers are the ones who sold us the bonito flakes. "Hoh." Lao Tzu secretly exclaimed in delight at his prediction. "I see. I can imagine what you mean. ...... Then, you must have some people in mind. I answer appropriately. I have no idea, but we are about to prepare the fifth column (quinta). "Really? But Oliver was overjoyed. "Well, that''s great. Well, when can I meet you?" Lao Tzu played the role of a thoughtful man. "...... Well, it will be about five days from now....... That is when my husband will be in town." Oliver heard this and looked at her. Oliver was elated to hear this. "Yes, yes, of course!Please, please, please, please!" He bowed again and again. Lao Tzu stopped them. When the excitement subsided, Oliver asked again. What kind of person is this Master Lao Shi?If you don''t mind my asking, I would like to know. Lao Tzu had to think a little about what he said. He was not sure whether he could tell Jin or not. But, Lao Tzu being Lao Tzu, he came to a conclusion in less than a second even though he was thinking about it. "His name is Mr. Nido, and he is traveling in search of rare materials. He revealed not Jin''s name but his family name. "You say your name is Mr. Nido? I presume you are here for sandworm leather? "Yes." Oliver thought about this answer for a moment and then said, "In that case, we would be happy to prepare it for you. He said, "In that case, we would be happy to get it for you. Since there was no problem, Lao Tzu agreed. "Then, I will visit you in five days with an engineer. "Yes, please do." Thus, Lao Tzu had a foothold in a foreign country. * * * * * * * * * * The same day in the village of Kaina. "Master Jin, may I ask you a question? As Jin is relaxing on the second floor of the workshop, Meane comes to him and asks for his advice. Of course. Yes?" Jin nodded his head, so Meane quickly got down to business. Jin-sama has been taking Hannah to many cities and towns, hasn''t he? "Yes. "Do you consider the risk of kidnapping?" "Yes. Not only Hanna, but also Erza has a covert SP to escort her without being seen. At this point Meane shakes her head. "No. Not in the sense of danger, but in the sense of making sure everyone knows about it." "Is it known to all?" "Yes, sir. Master Jin has received honorary knighthoods in three countries. This means that you must act as a nobleman. In doing so, he must be accompanied by at least one visibly recognizable bodyguard. In other words, they need to show off. "So it is necessary to show the insolent people that they will be hurt if they touch us. "So that''s what you''re saying. ......" Jin has Reiko, Erza has Edgar, and Hanna is usually with Jin. Even if not, Jin thought that the covert task force (SP) was enough. "When I walk around town in a dress, of course, but also in normal clothes," he said. The capital of the Shoro Kingdom, Leusert, is a safe place and kidnappings are rare, but the regional cities of the Kingdom of Selroa and the Franz Kingdom are not so safe. "I don''t know what kind of place Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, is like, but I think we should be very careful. "I understand. Thank you." After receiving Meane''s advice, Jin thought about it. "Well, then, there is ...... Lao Tzu, and I don''t see why we have to start ...... anew," he said. "Well, I don''t mind if it doesn''t look like a human being. "Oh, I see." Jin is a Magecraft Meister. At least in the three countries that recognize this, it would not be surprising if he had a golem to protect him. "Okay, this is where the steward comes in. Steward is a handy all-purpose golem created by Jin to guard the golem chariot. Although it looks tough, its basic performance is better than that of a butler, and it is an ultra-high-performance golem that can do everything from hard work to precision work. Jin immediately contacts the old man and instructs him to give necessary information to the steward who is waiting at Horai Island. The old man can tell the steward the purpose of the project by transinfo, which will save him the trouble of explaining it to him. "The problem is that the number of people in the group has increased since we left the Shoro Empire, hasn''t it ......? Yes, it would be strange if there are more stewards who were not there when we left Shoro by airship. "......I hope they didn''t contact us from the Shoro Empire to tell us how many people are going with us. ......" Hearing Jin''s mutterings, the old man contacted him. "I see. The manaphone was given to each country so that the old man could monitor their conversations. "Then there is no problem to take him with us. ......? If there is a problem, it is overweight. But if the weight is reduced by gravity magic, there will be no problem. Thus, Jin prepared for his visit to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. "I should get going. At 1:30 p.m., Jin sat up. The time difference between Kayna and Alban is about 20 minutes. It was not a big difference. It would be enough for him to arrive in the early afternoon. "Hey, sweetie." Hannah''s here. Jin. Erza''s ready, too. I''m off then. Erza, do your duty. Be careful, Jin. After greeting Mine and Martha who saw them off, Jin and the others flew to Horai Island. 632 - - 19-19 Medical examination We boarded an airship at Horai Island and took a transporter to the Klein Kingdom at once. Of course, it would have been too suspicious if we had suddenly entered the sky over Alban, so we were transferred to the airspace over Lake Cedrolia, which is on the border with the Kingdom of Selroa. The sky is cloudy. From there, we headed north to Alban. The time was 2:00 p.m. local time, and Jin and his group were above Alban. "That hot air balloon was a gift from me, wasn''t it? There was a hot-air balloon floating above the royal castle. It was a gift from Jin. Unlike the Shoro Kingdom, it had not yet been mass-produced. Now, Jin''s airship had his family crest, <>, which should have been notified to all the countries. And just as it should have been, the soldier in the hot-air balloon saluted in the Kleinian style--the elbow of the right arm outstretched horizontally at shoulder level, bent upward at a right angle, the fingers of the hand extended, and the palm pointed toward the other person--as a sign of recognition of Jin. The fingers of the hand are extended, and the palm is pointing toward the other person. The soldier operated the hot-air balloon as if following Jin''s airship, which flew slowly, and landed on the square in front of the royal castle at about the same time. Jin commented that although he could not mass produce the balloon, he seemed to have mastered its operation. "Welcome, Magecraft Meister Jin. And Miss Elsa, the court-appointed healer. There was the Third Princess of Rieschen and her vizier, Powell. And a few familiar faces greeted us. Jin moored the airship with several ropes to keep it out of the strong winds, and turned to face them all. "Mister Jin, you are welcome here." Prime Minister Powell first took Jin''s hand and welcomed him. Then he took Elsa''s hand, "Miss Elsa, the court-appointed healer (Reichsanstalt), I am very sorry that you have come all this way. She bowed her head, saying in a polite tone, "I am very sorry for your visit. The third princess of Rieschen was happy to see Hannah again. "Hannah, how nice to see you. How are you?Have you grown a little taller?" "Hello, princess. I''ve been a long time. Hannah is getting good at bowing while picking up her skirt. Jin and Erza greeted the princess in turn. "Well, you have sent us a very young healer. A court-appointed healer (Reichsartz)?That''s a big title, isn''t it? The person who uttered these words was a young man in his mid-twenties. Blond hair and gray eyes. His eyes look somewhat like Rieschen''s. "Brother, that''s rude. He is a healer sent by the Shoro Empire, and a court-appointed healer (Reichsalt) at that. Furthermore, she is a Magecraft Meister, the sister of Jin-dono! "You are too good for them, Arthur. That country owes us nothing. They may have sent a novice to our country on a literal diplomatic mission." "Brother!" But the man whom Arthur had called his brother turned away and refused to talk with him. "My brother Edmund begs your pardon. My name is Arthur. I am the second prince of this land. My brother Edmond is the first prince. After introducing himself as the second prince, Arthur apologized for his brother Edmond''s rudeness and turned to Erza. "Miss Elsa, please do not be offended. Dozens of our healers have examined our father, but none of them have been able to cure him or even find the cause of his illness. That is why my brother is somewhat distrustful of healers. Arthur bows his head. He has dark brown hair and gray eyes. He had dark brown hair and gray eyes, just like Rieschen. "Now, now, Miss Elsa, would you please examine the king? The Prime Minister said in a gesture of hospitality and Elsa nodded silently. "......I am sorry, but I would like to have the king''s medical examination in the presence of Edmund or Arthur." "Yes, sir." Elsa nods. Jin also tells the Prime Minister. "I have a free sample of desiccant from the Shoro Kingdom. Please have someone bring them to me. "Oh, oh, I see!Well then........ ...... Ivan, you will take them to the Minister of Industry. Yes! By order of the Prime Minister, the soldier called Ivan carried three 20-kilogram bags of desiccant and carried them away. "Jin, you come with me. Bring Hannah with you." Rieschen, who had been watching Hannah, looked apologetic and said to Jin, "I can go to my father''s palace. Only a healer can go to the king. Erza, who had begun to walk, stopped and looked back at Jin, "Brother Jin, I''m going. Don''t worry. She told Jin briefly and started walking again. Edgar seemed to be the only one allowed to accompany Jin. Steward stayed behind to guard the airship. Hitoshi and Reiko followed Rieschen. They are headed for the Rikyu, Rieschen''s castle where they stayed the last time. "...... sorry." As soon as they entered the room, Rieschen apologized to Jin. "What?" Jin was surprised because he didn''t know how to apologize. "...... about what just happened. My brother Edmond was rude to Elsa. I couldn''t say anything to him. I''m sorry." "No, it''s not Reese''s fault. Rieschen finally opened her brow when Jin said this hurriedly. "You call me Ries, don''t you? I thank you. I am the ...... third princess, but my brothers don''t like me. Jin nodded and said that he would not rehash that again, since he had heard that last time. "You are as good a person as ever, Jin. Reese offered chairs to Jin and Hannah. Once the three sat down, Tia, an automata of the same model as Anne, brought them tea. "Welcome, Miss Jin, Miss Hanna." Hi Tia, you look great. Yes, I''m doing very well after your repair. Thanks to you I can serve the princess with all my heart. Tia was literally Rieschen''s nanny and nursemaid. She had been out of commission due to old age, but Jin had repaired her. The tea was herbal. It smelled like a mixture of roses and strawberries, and was quite delicious. After two sips of tea, the princess resumed her story. "A year ago...... so, since last fall, my father has been feeling somewhat unwell. He was getting tired easily," she said. Rieschen explains his condition to Jin. "Then, around this summer, his condition suddenly worsened. He is not even able to hold political office. Jin sent a hot air balloon to the Klein Kingdom at the end of July. By then, he was already in bed, he says. "My face is turning yellow, my stomach seems to be distended ...... and I''m worried sick." Hannah patted Rieschen on the shoulder in a comforting manner. "Don''t worry, princess. Erza is a great girl. I''m sure she''ll heal your illness too. Rieschen smiled weakly at Hannah. "Hm, Hannah is very kind. Oh yeah, so Erza is that great." "Yes!" Rieschen felt her heavy heart lighten a little at the sight of Hannah''s bright smile. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......This is ......" Meanwhile, in the innermost part of the castle, Elsa was examining King Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein. Yellow eyes. Her complexion is turning darker than yellow. His nails are also yellowish, a clear sign of jaundice. His liver was in bad shape. "Excuse me." Elsa pulls up the covers and pulls off the front of her clothes. "......!" The abdominal distention made Elsa more and more convinced that the liver was the cause of the problem. "...... magic to examine the patient. " After a few words of refusal, Elsa used her magic. "......It is the liver, after all. As a result, it is found that she has cirrhosis of the liver. "Liver? Liver?Is that what''s causing these symptoms?" They seem to know that there is a large organ called liver in the abdomen, but they are ignorant of what it does. But they are not the only ones. "The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. Your Majesty''s liver is in very bad shape. Elsa gave the Prime Minister and the Prince a clear explanation. "What is the cause ......?" Alois III is not a drinker and only drinks during ceremonies. As for the other food, it did not seem to be due to his diet, as far as the chamberlain who served him was concerned. "There is no arsenic in his body," she said. Unlike the case of the Marquis Theoderic, this was not cirrhosis caused by the accumulation of arsenic in the liver. "......?" Without knowing the cause of the disease, even if it is cured by magic, it will soon recur. Elsa used the magic of Diagnose many times to find the cause. However, the cause was not found. "......It seems to be impossible after all." Prince Edmond stares at the distressed Elsa with cold eyes. 633 - - 19-20 Searching for possibilities "So you''re just like all the other healers, ......?" The first prince Edmond looked at Elsa thoughtfully and said ruefully, "No, I''m not sure. "No, I can do a little more ......". But Edmond refuses. "No. I don''t want my father to be exposed to any more incompetent healers. "Well, then, let''s try again tomorrow." "Well, what can I see tomorrow that I can''t see today?" But Erza nodded as if repulsed by his words. "Yes." Hearing her reply, Edmond looked at her for a moment as if he had seen something interesting, but then his expression quickly returned to normal, "Fine. But if you don''t find out tomorrow, that''s the end of it. He said coldly. "...... yes." It was frustrating, but the fact was that I didn''t know. As a consolation, Erza decided to apply a healing spell. "<>" The highest level of internal healing magic. In the past, Erza would have used up all of her magic power after one use, but since she was cured of her excessive magic power, she had a little more time to spare. "Oh? Elsa''s healing magic has visibly improved Alois III''s complexion. "...... at least, until tomorrow, with this..." Elsa announced with a little gasp as she recoiled from the use of her large magic. "Well then, I''ll take my leave for today. Bowing deeply, Elsa exits. Prince Edmond and Prince Arthur stare at her back. The Prince and Prince Arthur are staring at her back. Erza is ushered by a lady-in-waiting to the guest room on the second floor of the castle. Of course, she was separated from Jin and the others. "Um, where are my brothers?" I don''t know. I was only ordered to show our guests here. After saying this, the maid left the room. Elsa and Edgar were alone in the room. Elsa sank down on the sofa and began to feel a little nervous. Just then there was a knock at the door. "Come in." Edgar opened the door and there stood Prince Arthur. "Miss Elsa, may I have a word?" "Yes, please, come in." Elsa hurriedly got up from the sofa and invited Prince Arthur in. "Excuse me." Unlike Prince Edmond, Prince Arthur''s manner was softer. Elsa did not feel unnecessarily tense and was able to greet him with relative ease. They sit down facing each other at a table set in the room. Edgar brewed tea for the two of them using the tea set provided. The air is filled with the pleasant aroma of herbs. "...... Please don''t feel bad about my brother''s attitude. Even so, he is concerned about our father in his own way. "...... Yes." "Have you heard about my mother?When our mother was sick, healers all over the country examined her, but they could not cure her, so she was dismissed. Because of this past, I have a distrust of healers. My brother ...... and ...... me too." "......" Erza remained silent, unable to say anything. Prince Arthur saw her and changed the subject. "...... have you been able to find out anything about the father''s condition?" "Yes. Yes. His liver is in bad shape. "You mentioned that earlier. But, the healing magic you performed at the end... can''t he be cured by using it again and again? Erza understands this thought. It would seem so to a layman. "No, no. If you don''t remove the cause of the disease, it will eventually come back. "Remove the cause?...... is that right? ......" Prince Arthur''s brow furrowed as he heard Elsa''s answer. "I am sorry that it is beyond my ability to help you. But please allow me to examine you again tomorrow." "...... for my father''s sake, thank you." Prince Arthur stands up and takes Elsa''s hand. "......Thank you for your kindness in examining and treating him." He kissed the back of her hand. "......Ah!" Elsa withdraws her hand in a panic. Her face is flushed red. "Miss Elsa. I believe in you. Please heal my father. Now if you''ll excuse me." Prince Arthur bowed and left the room. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......" Erza''s heartbreak caused her to drop a tear. "Jin, my brother ......." (......I''ve decided to do my best. I mustn''t be discouraged by this.) Erza muttered to herself in her heart, and pulled herself up by her bootstraps. It was at that moment. "Erza-sama, I have a message from Jin-sama. "...... from Jin-sama?" Her heart skipped a beat. The call came through the old man, but through Edgar''s mouth, Jin''s voice could be heard. "......, but I''ll try my best." "What do you mean?" Lake Manousee? <> Hearing Jin''s words, Elsa thought for a moment and said what came to her mind. "...... parasitic ...... worms?" >. There are parasites that live on freshwater fish, crabs and shellfish on Earth. Foxes are also known to carry a parasite called echinococcus. Elsa also knew this knowledge from Jin, but it did not occur to her because it is not commonly known in this world. If she did not think so and did not investigate, even <> would not be able to know. Moreover, since parasites are living organisms, it could be said that we could not recognize them unless we knew they were foreign bodies. "Thank you, brother Jin. I will look into it again tomorrow." With that the call was disconnected. If Rieschen was around, he must have called when he was not. The call lasted less than two minutes, but Erza felt a warmth in her heart as she was reminded that she was not alone. Not caring about Prince Arthur anymore, Erza decided to rest her body for the next day. * * * * * * Jin had heard a lot about her father, Alois III, from the 3rd Princess of Rieschen. "...... father is fond of trotters caught in Lake Manuse, and every year in June, when the fishing season opens, he visits the village of Dekubo for a couple of days for a vacation. How do you eat the trotters? "Generally, we grill it and eat it with a sprinkle of salt. But this year I heard that they have found a new way to eat it. I wasn''t there, so I don''t know much about it, but I heard that they cut up the raw trotters, sprinkle them with vinegar, and eat them with vegetables ......." Jin guessed that it is similar to <>. If there were any parasites, they would be detoxified by the vinegar, but it is possible that the food was not cooked well enough. (I better tell Elsa about this ......) When Rieschen was out of the room, Jin connected to the "Mere Old Man" via Reiko, and the "Mere Old Man" connected to Edgar to have a conversation with Erza. Thus, the possibility of parasitic worms was communicated to Elsa. By the way, I should add that acetic acid in vinegar is not effective against most parasites, i.e., it does not have an insecticidal effect. This is a mistake in Jin''s memory. 634 - - 19-21 Cheering The next morning, Elsa finished breakfast and waited for the call to come. However, it was after 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., but no one came to pick her up. She tried to leave her room, but there were four guards in the hallway, forbidding her to go out without permission. Finally, when it was almost eleven o''clock, the door opened. "Elsa," he said. Come. We''ll go to King Father together." It was Edmond, the first prince. "Yes, yes." Elsa stands up, a little nervous. She is not used to his crude behavior. "Get ready, quickly! I''m ready, sir. That''s all right. Come on." Prince Edmund walked down the hallway without looking back. Elsa and Edgar followed him. Following the same route as the day before, Elsa arrived at the bedchamber of Alois III. "...... Yesterday, right after your treatment, my father''s condition seemed to improve. But this morning he looks the same as before. Do something. No, do something. Elsa thought she saw a hint of sadness in Prince Edmund''s face as he said that bluntly. However, she reminded herself that now was the time to examine the patient and proceeded with her examination, focusing on the parasite. <>" Of course, the liver area is examined. However, no parasites are found in the liver. Again, he says that this is not possible. "<><><>" This time, I decided to examine the case in more detail and in a separate section. "......This," he said, "is not the liver. It was not the liver, but the gallbladder and its bile ducts that were attached to the liver. "<>" Once again, the bile duct was examined in detail. "...... was there. This is ......" It is a flat oval object about 10 mm in size (...). It must be a parasite. "Elsa, what have you found out? Prince Edmond notices that Elsa has changed color during the examination. He grabbed Elsa by the shoulders and hurried to her. "Yes, yes. ...... We found a parasite in your gall bladder. Perhaps this is the cause." "What?A parasite?What the hell is that? Prince Edmond, however, tilted his head as if he had never heard of a parasite. "You!I hope you''re not talking out of your ass. ......" After saying that much, he noticed the seriousness on Elsa''s face and kept his mouth shut. "......Sorry. I was out of line. You are taking my father''s condition very seriously." Prince Edmond apologized and released his grip on Elsa''s shoulder. "...... Parasites," he said, "are tiny creatures that live inside the human body." "...... hmm. Are these the kind of blood-sucking insects you see in the fields and mountains?" "Yes. That is correct. And the insects that have been nesting there are eating away at the inside of your body and releasing toxins, which is why you''ve become so ill, Your Majesty. "So, can it be cured!" "......" To remove the parasites nestled in the bile ducts, a surgical operation is required. It can be done at ....... "Let me talk to my brother, Jin Nido, please." * * * Noon. Elsa was talking to Jin. No, to be precise, in addition to the two of them, Hannah, the third Princess of Rieschen, the first Prince Edmund, the second Prince Arthur, and the Prime Minister Powell were also present. After an early lunch, they gathered for a tea party-like atmosphere, but what was being discussed was far from a tea party. The content of what was being discussed was far from a tea party. Jin placed a miniature craftsman (smith) on the table. "Greetings, Minasan." "...... Oh!" Everyone in the Klein Kingdom, except Princess Rieschen, who was watching at the technology expo, looked at each other with wide-eyed amazement. Jin continued. "The mini-craftsmen (smiths) can perform movements several times more precise than humans. In reality, it is dozens of times more, but Jin explained it in a slightly discounted manner. "......< and <> are overlaid and <> treated mini-craftsmen (Smith) can remove parasites from the affected area in seconds." Elsa takes over the explanation. "We will take out the parasite and at the same time, we will apply a "Feligenesen" to the wound to heal it. This is the outline of the treatment. "......" All the listeners were silent. Hannah also looks mysterious, as if she understands half of what is going on. "......Well, from what I''ve heard, it sounds like it will work. But has this treatment been proven?" This is Prince Edmond. It is a natural question. We cannot allow an uncertain treatment to the king of a country. The same procedure was used to remove the aguch from the demon tribe, so we can assume that there is nothing wrong with the procedure. However, this is the first time for Erza to perform the treatment, and above all, we cannot give out information on the demon tribe here. The actual surgical operation will be performed by a mini-craftsman (Smith), but I guess the kingdom is concerned about his track record. "...... Then, I have a proposal." This time it was Prince Arthur who spoke up. "There are probably several people in the Kingdom who need the same kind of treatment. We should try the current treatment on them, and if there is no problem, we can ask my father to treat them as well. How about that? Jin felt a little uncomfortable as if he was being asked to experiment on the human body before treating the king, but it was a perfectly natural idea in this world. "Yes, that''s a good idea!That''s great, Arthur." "...... you need to learn to think a little more." "Well, discretion is for the subordinates. Those in charge should be able to trust, evaluate, and make decisions." "......" To interrupt the brothers'' exchange, Prime Minister Powell gave one deliberate cough and then spoke his conclusion. "......Then, Miss Elsa, you will examine the sick people we have indicated and treat them if they have similar illnesses, is that correct?" Although he was a prince, the Dauphin had not yet been chosen, and the Prime Minister was the most senior person in this situation. "I understand." Erza nodded her head in agreement. "Then, we will look for the patient, and Miss Elsa will have to wait until we find him or her. He then turned to Jin. "May I ask Your Highness Rieschen to continue to serve as Jin-dono''s host?" "Yes, I will be responsible for Jin and Hanna''s company. I will be responsible for Jin and Hanna''s partner. ...... Well then, everyone, I guess that''s that. With this, the unofficial but potentially fate-determining meeting of the Klein Kingdom came to an end. "Miss Erza will stay with Jin-dono and the others until a suitable patient can be found, is that correct?" There was no objection to that either. At any rate, the Prime Minister''s face began to brighten for the first time in a long while now that he had a clear idea about the treatment of the King of the Kingdom of Klein. "Elsa, thank you." After returning to the guest room in the palace, Jin first thanked Erza for her efforts. "Thanks to ...... Jin''s advice. Thank you." Erza thanked Jin. "If you hadn''t suggested the possibility of parasites yesterday,........." "Yes, I''m glad we improved Edgar before we left. Just being able to talk to him through the old man is a big advantage. "Are you okay with the surgery?" "Yes. I just have to close the wound. In fact, it was the mini-craftsmen (smiths) who were in charge of the difficult work, and they were trustworthy because they shared the same experience in the demon territory. The rest was just a matter of building a track record to gain the trust of the people of the kingdom. "I''m helping people, I''ll do my best." "Yeah, good luck." "Good luck, girl." Both Jin and Hannah supported Erza''s decision. 635 - - 19-22 Poisoning "Jin, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Delight, is here to see you. Princess Rieschen announced this as soon as she arrived at Jin and the others'' room just before 3:00 p.m. Minister of Industry Delight Domus Hanks. He is the minister in charge of agricultural products in the Kingdom of Klein. "It''s just time for tea, let''s drink it together! Jin nodded at Hannah''s words. Erza did not seem to have any objection either. "Oh, I see. Then I would like you to come to my room. So Jin and the others moved to Princess Rieschen''s room. The Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Delight, was already there waiting for them. "Oh, you must be Sir Jin Nido. I am Delight Domus Hanks, Minister of Industry in this country. Delight Domus Hanks was in his late forties, medium build. "I''m Jin. Nice to meet you." Following Jin, Elsa and Hannah introduced themselves and sat down around the round table. "Can you prepare the tea?" "Yes, it''s ready." Hearing Princess Rieschen''s words, the attendants poured the herbal tea that had been prepared. "Wow, it smells good!" This time, Jin thought it smelled like orange. Jin, who had a cat''s tongue, did not try it immediately and asked Minister of Industry Delight about it. Industry Minister Delight took a sip of herbal tea and began to talk. "I was wondering if you could tell me how to use desiccants. "Oh, I see. That''s ......." "What!" Jin''s words were interrupted by Hanna''s scream. At the same time, Jin heard a clanging sound, and became impatient. "What''s wrong, Hannah?......Ah, ah, ah..." Hanna, who was playing with Princess Rieschen, tried to toast with her herbal tea and broke her cup in her haste. Princess Rieschen''s cup was cracked and spilled most of its contents on the table, while Hanna''s cup was shattered and the herbal tea made a big stain on Hanna''s skirt. "Hannah-chan, Your Highness, it''s all right. ......<<>" Elsa put the cup of herbal tea she was about to drink on the table and dried the herbal tea that had spilled onto Hannah''s skirt and the table with her <> magic and cleaned it with <> so that it would not become a stain. "Didn''t it burn you?" "Yes, I''m fine!Thank you, Elsa! "Elsa, I''m sorry." "No, you''re welcome." Erza answered, at that moment. "Ugh, ugh... ......" Delight, the minister of industry, suddenly began to suffer. "Delight, what is it?" Princess Rieschen asked. He seemed to be unable to speak. Still, he made a gesture with a trembling hand, pointing to his mouth. The meaning is clear. "...... poison! "Elsa!" "Yes. ......<<><>." Since it is unknown what kind of poison was used, the first step is to detoxify the body, and then to restore the poisoned body. This procedure saved Delight''s life. "Thank you for ....... Thank you very much ......." Having recovered enough to speak, Delight first thanked Erza. Meanwhile, Jin analyzed everyone''s herbal teas. "...... alkaloid?" Not even Jin could tell much more than that. Chemistry is not his area of expertise. "Tia!Get that maid!" Princess Rieschen shouted. "Yes, Princess!" "Yes, Princess!What? Tia restrained the maid of honor, who was just too frightened to understand what had just happened. "Jin!The poison was in the tea, wasn''t it? "Yes! Princess Rieschen picked up the tea caddy that was provided in the room. "I''ve never seen ...... such a container." He muttered and handed it to Jin. "Would you like to examine it?" Jin immediately ran an on the leaf inside. The result was as follows. "...... is the same. The leaves in this can are poisonous. Probably the leaves were laced with poisonous herbs. "...... I see. This is a big deal. ...... There is someone!" Rieschen summoned a soldier, explained the situation briefly, and ordered him to report to the Prime Minister. After seeing the soldier hurriedly leave the room, the princess checked on the minister of industry. "...... Delight, how are you feeling?" The minister answered in a weak voice. "Not ...... too ...... good yet, but the numbness seems to have ...... worn off." "Well, that''s good. Elsa, thank you." Meanwhile, Jin was angry. He realized once again that the poison had endangered himself, Elsa, Hannah, and Princess Rieschen. He was late to drink it because of his cat tongue, Hannah and the princess accidentally spilled it, and Erza had to take care of Hannah. In each case, the culprit''s intention was fortunately missed, and all of them could have drank. "...... will not forgive you." Jin''s anger flared up inside him as he knew that he had to find out who had tried to involve him, Elsa, Reese, and even the innocent Hannah. "I don''t know anything!It''s true! A maid bound by Tia cries out. Then came Prince Arthur, Prime Minister Powell, Jessica Norton, captain of the Kingsguard of the Kingdom of Klein, and two female knights. "Your Highness!Poison? "Reese!Are you all right?And the guests? Your Highness!Are you all right? The three were relieved to see that Princess Rieschen, Jin, and Elsa were safe. Next, their faces clouded over when they saw the Delightful Minister of Industry lying on the floor. "......Who in the world?" Even the mild-mannered Prince Arthur''s face was twisted in anger. "It was Delight who took the first drink, so in a way it''s a blessing." said the Prime Minister with a somber face. Indeed, since Erza, who excelled in healing magic, was unharmed, it could be said that the Delight Minister of Industry was also saved in this way. "...... There is a poisonous plant mixed in with the leaves in this teacaddy. Was it mixed in later or did they know it was poisoned when they brought it here?" Jin handed the tee caddy in his hand to the Prime Minister. "...... let''s have them check it out as quickly as possible." "First of all, all the ladies-in-waiting and other servants in the palace are to be questioned." Prince Arthur''s face contorted as he said this. Jessica Norton took those words and instructed a female knight under her command. The knight nodded and hurried out of the room. "But who in the world ...... would want to ...... what purpose?" "......I''m pretty sure it''s not the Delight Minister of Industry, the victim of this incident. It could be Rhys, or Miss Elsa. ......" The Prime Minister and Prince Arthur were analyzing the situation in an attempt to identify the culprits. Jin asked the maid of honor whom Tia was holding down. "When did you bring that teacaddy?" The lady was crying with anxiety, but she managed to answer Jin''s question. "I just used the ...... tea provided in the princess''s room.... ..." With a runny nose and tear-stained face. "Oh ...... that ...... wadaji ...... is a death sentence, isn''t it ......?" Poisoning royalty, cabinet ministers, and guests of honor is a crime that will not go unpunished. Crying with anxiety, the maid asked Jin. Jin was angry, but not foolish enough to make a wrong decision. He asked Tia to take the maid of honor to a corner of the room. Tia did as he asked without having to check with the princess. "Oh ...... that ......?" The maid of honor began to tremble, as if she were even more anxious. "Dat ...... dazuge de gudazai ......!" Jin pulled out one of the magic crystals he always carries in his pocket. He had taken it so that he would be able to create mana bombs and various other magic tools in case of an emergency. First, Jin put up a solid barrier around him. This magic, which prevents physical phenomena, has the danger of suffocation due to the loss of oxygen inside if it is maintained for a long time, but at the same time it has the advantage of blocking air vibrations, i.e., voice and sound. "......Stay still. ......<>" Jin read the memories of the maidens into the magi crystal. 636 - - 19-23 Avoiding crises Jin has the Magi Crystal, which contains the memories of the Samurai Maidens, in his hand, and he is thinking about how to analyze it. The old lord of Horai Island is the best person to analyze it. However, there is no way to send it to Horai Island in a short time. "Father, can''t I do it?" Reiko asked Jin. "Well, you, ...... might be able to do it." "Really? Reiko is pleased to know that she might be able to help Jin. "Link this to your control core. Then you should be able to read the contents without any danger. Jin thinks of using the spare control core (control core), since directly linking it with the main control core (control core) may interfere with the memory area. Both of them are possible because they are written in Jin''s magic pattern. Reiko received the magi-crystal and immediately made a linkage with the control core. "...... father, she is White." Since Jin was sharing his knowledge with me, I found myself using technical terms in odd places. "Really, I don''t know anything. I was just doing my job." "I see." The conversation took place in a corner of the room. Only Elsa was listening. Princess Rieschen is sitting on the sofa, holding Hannah protectively. The Prime Minister, Prince Arthur, and Jessica are consulting. "Anyway..." Prince Arthur seems to have come to a conclusion. "I suggest that Rhys, Miss Elsa, and the guests be moved to the royal castle instead of this villa, and that they be given more security. At least until the culprits are identified." "...... would be a good idea." The Prime Minister had to nod his head in agreement. If anything happened to Elsa and Jin, who were guests of the state, it would become an international problem. What happened from then on happened quickly. Jin, Elsa, Hannah, Reiko, and Edgar moved to the guest room in the castle. Princess Rieschen also went to the castle. Tia is with her. And Tia''s captive, a lady-in-waiting named ......<>, is put in jail for the time being. The <> that Jin secretly performed is not a common magic, and even if we explained that such a magic exists, it would take time to prove that it is true. In addition, it is not the kind of magic that can be made public, because if such magic were to spread, it could become a global threat. That is why Jin secretly checked the memory of the maidens. Jin is convinced that she is innocent, but whether he can convince a third party is another story. He barely manages to postpone the punishment by arguing that the samurai girl Amelie is unlikely to be the culprit, at best an executioner, and therefore it is better to let her live so that the mastermind can be exposed ....... But.... Reiko, how''s the covert task force (SP) doing?) Yes, they are already deployed inside the Royal Castle.) Since they could not be put on Jin''s airship, they were returned to Horai Island and sent to Alban by a transporter. Now, they have crossed the castle wall and entered the castle, guarding around Jin, Erza and Hannah without being seen. (Okay, have Lily and Rose keep an eye on Amelie, who is in jail, to make sure the real culprit doesn''t talk. ......) (Okay.) That night, dinner was carefully prepared and carefully poisoned. Jin and Elsa it, and Reiko also looked at the poisons. However, when they are so prepared, nothing happens. There was no poison in the food. "You shouldn''t have brought Hannah here. ......" Jin regretted putting himself in danger. But now he had no choice but to protect her as best he could. It is a relief, I suppose, that the target is clear. In other words, it is unlikely that they will directly target Hanna. It is the << collateral damage> that we need to watch out for. Reiko, tell Iris and Azalea to be extra careful. "Yes, sir." As a side note, the reason why Jin does not give direct instructions but asks Reiko is because Reiko is more suitable for the job. Reiko can give instructions without speaking using her built-in manacam (magic element communication device). And so, the night of the Klein Kingdom goes on. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day''s breakfast was also carefully inspected. It was cold, of course, because it had been carefully inspected. Jin, who has a cat''s tongue, ate it without complaint. "...... Jin bro." After the meal, Erza opened her mouth while drinking her herbal tea, which had also been poisoned. "I think we should send Hannah back to the village of Kaina. "......Yeah, that''s what I was thinking too." Even if you can protect your own safety, a place like this, with all its intrigue and intrigue, is not a good place for education. "What?Are you going back to Kaina village?Well, that''s fine, but what about you guys?" Hearing the conversation between Jin and Erza, Hanna nodded her head in agreement to return, but tilted her head to the side regarding the safety of Jin and the others. "I have to cure the king''s illness," she said. "If Erza stays, I have to stay with her. Erza''s cheeks turned a little red at Jin''s words, but her face immediately turned serious. "Brother Jin, since we won''t be treating the king today or tomorrow, I think it''s best to send Hannah back to the village of Kaina as soon as possible. "That''s true." Jin decided to consult with the Prime Minister immediately. Fortunately, there was still some time before the start of his office, so he was able to discuss the matter immediately. The Prime Minister, wishing to avoid any situation that might cause Jin''s displeasure, gave his permission immediately. Jin then acted quickly. By 9:00 a.m., he was ready to launch the airship. At a time like this, the hull of the airship was carefully checked. He considered the possibility of some kind of sabotage, but since the steward was in charge, there was no problem. "Well, I''m off." "See you later, princess!" "Well, Hannah, you can come and visit us again." Take care, brother Jin. I''ll be gone for a little while. Take care, Brother Gin. The airship with Jin, Hanna, and Reiko on board floated up into the sky of Alban, with Princess Rieschen, Elsa, Jessica, and others seeing them off. It was another cloudy day. Jin did not intend to go directly to the village of Kaina. He ascends to a higher altitude, and then he goes above the clouds. There, Condor 3, which he had called in advance, was waiting for him, and he used the warp gate to go to Horai Island. There, they disembarked from the airship and moved to the village of Kaina once again. The airship was ordered to be checked again, maintained, and slightly remodeled at Horai Island. In addition, I ordered them to prepare a very small golem for intelligence purposes. It is 5 centimeters in size and has the same specifications as the golem directly under Lao Tzu''s command. "Auntie, I''m home!" Hanna exits the warp gate in the basement of Jin''s workshop and goes straight to Martha''s place. Reiko, carrying her baggage, follows. "Oh, welcome back, Hannah. You''re back early, aren''t you? I''m home, Martha. Jin''s back, too. Is something wrong? Yes, actually. ...... Jin explained about the incident at the castle. "Well, it''s a bit of a mess, isn''t it? But I understand, if that''s the case, I''ll feel safer if Hannah comes back. Martha then said some more words to Jin. "Jin, you be careful, okay?You can do a lot of great things, but you can get hurt, and if something goes wrong, you can ......." Martha avoided using words that could suggest danger because of Hannah''s presence, but Jin knew exactly what she meant and how she felt. "Yes, thank you, Martha. I''ll be careful." "Yes, I will. And not only you, but you take care of Elsa, too. Yes, I know. Martha nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, that''s good. ...... So, I don''t know if this will help you or not, but that poisonous plant?That sounds a lot like eating <>. ......" 637 - - 19-24 Sam "Is it aconita (......)?" "Yes, it''s a grass that grows in the mountains, but in the spring when we pick wild vegetables, it''s still small and we sometimes mistake it for an edible wild plant. Martha explained that if eaten by mistake, it can cause numbness in the limbs, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. "It sure looks like that, doesn''t it?" "Right?It grows in the mountains around here, too. In the summer, it grows large and produces distinctive purple flowers, so there''s no mistaking it. From what he said, Jin thought that it might be similar to aconite on earth. If so, he had seen it in photographs. "...... but it''s not so poisonous that it will kill you..." "What?" "At most, it will numb you for a few hours. I''ve never heard of anyone dying from it. It seems to be less toxic than the aconite known to Jin. Then, if Martha was right and the poison was from the aconita leaves, it made no sense to use such a weak poison. Jin thought for a moment, but then changed his mind and decided that now was the time to go back to Erza. "Thank you very much. It was helpful." Are you leaving already? Yes, I''m worried about Elsa too. "Be careful, girl. Take care of Elsa too!Reiko, take care of my baby girl! "Yes, Hannah-chan." Reiko smiled at Hannah, Jin patted her head, and they turned themselves around. "Well then, I''m off." Jin returned to Horai Island and confirmed that the airship had been checked and remodeled. "Yes, you did a good job." Ten golems, each measuring 5 centimeters in height, were lined up on the floor. << "That''s good enough. Okay, I''ll take care of the rest. Jin sets them with the necessary control cores and so on. "Okay, <>" "Hi, Goshujin-sama." The numbers one through ten are written plainly on the chest and back. "You are ......." "Hi." The name <>, meaning thumb, was chosen because there is a man named Tom who lives in the village of Kaina, an allusion to Thumb Tom. "Okay, let''s go." Jin boarded the airship and took the transporter to the sky over Alban. He then descended and landed again at the plaza in front of the Royal Castle. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Brother Jin, welcome back. A slightly nervous Erza greeted Jin. She was accompanied by Edgar and the knights escorting him. Erza looked relieved when she saw Jin''s face. "What''s wrong, is something wrong? "Yes. ...... Anyway, let''s go to the room. Jin and the others moved to their rooms in the castle. They left the steward on the airship. Since it would be troublesome to have their luggage inspected, they left <> and the others on the airship. When there are no more people around, they will start moving. "So, what happened?" Jin asked Erza again as he closed the door to the room. "...... one of the servants was found dead." "What? "According to the story, he was in charge of maintaining the equipment of the rooms in the palace. He was found cold in his room this morning by a colleague. Erza expressed her opinion that it was a way to keep her mouth shut. Jin agreed. "So, is Erza going to be all right?" "Nope. There was no poison in her lunch either." "<>, the old man said. Reiko opened her mouth. "The old man guessed that Erza is the one who is directly targeted. The reason is that they don''t want the king to be healed. "A conspiracy, you say? ......" This time he contacted me through Reiko because he didn''t have time to talk with the old man. "Yes. The old man also said that <>. "......" That would be the heir to the throne. Jin looked at me with difficulty. "You mean Prince Arthur or Prince Edmund?" Elsa frowned as well. She could not understand the idea of harming her parents for her own benefit. "No, not necessarily the two of them, yes." Reiko, who is talking to the old man, continues her explanation. "There is a possibility that one of the two would be the one who would benefit if one of them becomes the king," he says. "I see. ......" Jin reminds me of a family feud I once saw in a historical drama. It was a storyline where the feudal lord or second-in-command would bring out the young lord and plot to take over the family. "I''d hate to be caught in the middle of such a situation!" Jin said as if to throw up. "Nope. But that''s exactly why I can''t forgive anyone who would try such a thing. Erza, too, had a past where her brother had been manipulated by hypnotic magic, and her father had been incited by the demon tribe to act in ways that would be detrimental to the country. He resented the fact that his family members were being manipulated for the sake of other people''s ambitions more than anyone else. Jin was aware of this and was determined to expose this conspiracy. "By the way, that poisonous herb in the herbal tea..." Jin decided to tell Erza about the information he had heard from Martha in the village of Kaina. "Well, it''s a poisonous herb called aconita," she said. According to Martha, it''s not very poisonous. "Aconita ...... yes, that''s a strong possibility. At the time I was in a hurry because it was so sudden, but now that I think back on it, I don''t think Delight''s condition was so critical." It was understandable that everyone there was in a panic because he had been poisoned. "I was hoping for a clue as to how they got such poison, but it''s hard to say." Jin and Erza continued to speculate and consider various possibilities, but not much progress was made. There was too little information. "By the way, what happened to Mr. Delight?" "Well, I just checked him out and he''s much better. He should be able to wake up tomorrow. I still think it''s partly because the toxicity was so weak." "That''s good to hear. I''m glad to hear that, because I feel like I''ve just been caught in the middle of it. ......" * * * * Meanwhile, Jin''s airship. It is securely moored and covered with a temporary cover to protect it from the slightest breeze. It is guarded by a steward. Therefore, there is no special guard, but only a regular patrol of soldiers. Taking advantage of this gap, <> and the other golems scattered about the castle. So the day passed without any particular summons. The next day, the 11th. Princess Rieschen told me that she was looking for a sick person with similar symptoms to the king. If she finds one, she will examine him and try to cure him. "But I don''t have time for this. ....... Hannah is not here either. ......" Bored, Rieschen came to Jin and the others'' room to chat, but he seemed to have had enough of that too. "Shall we play Shiritori?" Rieschen''s face turned a little red for some reason. "Shiritori?What is that? Jin felt that the princess was imagining something strange and immediately started to explain. "Well, I''m going to say each word in turn, but there''s a condition. You have to start each word with the last letter of the word that the person before you said. Rieschen nodded again and again, as if satisfied. "I see, I see, that''s why it''s called shiritori!" "Yes. And you can''t use the same word. If you can''t come up with any new words, you''ve lost. "Well, that sounds interesting." "There are other things we can do, too, such as adding some strict , but let''s not complicate things at first, shall we?" "Okay, okay, let''s try it. Jin, you may begin. "Okay, let''s see, I''m ...... going to do the GOLEMATIC. GOLEMATIC, right?Then, the next word will start with << or (C)>>. ......I''ll give you one more example: ......<>. The next word starts with <>. Ries, can you say it?" Princess Rieschen thinks for a moment before answering. "Yes, let''s say, let''s say ...... let''s say ......< "Dried plum." Princess Rieschen questioned Elsa''s answer. "What is it?What is this Umeboshi?" "It is a food made from the dried fruit of a tree called ...... plum." "Is it sweet?" But Erza frowned and shook her head. "Sour and salty." "......" Princess Rieschen''s face was indescribable when she heard this. 638 - - 19-25 Another problem For a while Jin and his friends played Shiritori, but then there was a knock at the door. "Yes." It was Tia who opened the door. And outside the door was Delight, the minister of industry. "Oh, it''s Delight, isn''t it? I''m glad to see you''re feeling better." "Yes, Your Highness. Thanks to Miss Elsa you''re alive and well. May I come in now? Yes, of course. The Delight Minister was still a little pale, but the numbness in his limbs seemed to have completely disappeared. "Thank you for yesterday, Miss Elsa. Miss Jin, I would like to talk to you about the desiccants that we couldn''t talk about yesterday. "Sure." Jin replied, "Yes, that''s fine." They even exchanged a few words out of boredom. Jin agreed to the request with a simple "yes". Princess Rieschen did not complain and ordered Tia to make fresh fruit juice instead of herbal tea ....... The reason being that fresh fruit juice, which is made by squeezing fruits on the spot, would not be poisoned. To be sure, Jin the juice, and after confirming that there are no poisonous or deleterious substances in it, it is poured into everyone''s glasses. Furthermore, Reiko is careful to make sure that Hitoshi''s glass is not contaminated before pouring it. Only after all of this was done did everyone feel at ease and sip the juice. "So, you told me how to use the desiccant, right? That''s what I meant. "First of all, I''d like to go over the precautions first. Do you understand that water is strictly forbidden? Jin is concerned about fire and burns. "Yes, that''s right. It''s okay if it''s humid, but if you pour water on it, it will get so hot that you will burn yourself, right? "Yes, that''s right. It might be possible to experiment with a small amount in front of the relevant people. "I see, you mean to let them experience it, not just theoretically. I see what you mean. "......By the way, do you know the manufacturing process of desiccant?" The Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Delight, suddenly asked about the manufacturing process, and as one would expect, Jin was alarmed, He was wary and replied, "......No, I don''t know that much." Jin was alarmed, and replied, "No, I don''t know that much. While the conversation between the Delight Minister and Jin was going on in this way, Elsa was talking with Princess Rieschen. "Dear Mr. Ries, I don''t mean to be rude, but I was wondering if you could tell me about your brothers?" "Yes?Good. My brother Edmond, the older brother on ......, is a man of blunt words, but I believe he is a man with a good heart. Edmond sometimes took a jab at Elsa. Princess Rieschen''s opinion of him was not as bad as she had expected. "Brother Arthur is not so ......" Princess Rieschen is very quiet. "...... I''m afraid he''s a bit elusive. ......" "Is that so?" "......I say this because she''s Elsa, but she used to torment me a lot in the past. ......" She gave birth to two princes and three princesses, the last of whom died giving birth to Rieschen. I had heard that her two brothers did not love her, blaming it on Lieschen. "Nowadays, people around me are watching me, and they don''t try to trick me so blatantly as they did in the past. ......" He seemed to be worried about the poisoned herbal tea yesterday. "Well, they''re my own brother and sister by blood, so I''m sure they''re at least worried about me." Her cold tone, which did not suit her age of 12 years old, made Erza feel a little sympathy for her. "...... But I heard that your brother Arthur has an excellent tutor, so maybe he really has improved his character." "Tutor?" "Tutor? A renowned scholar from the Kingdom of Cerroa. Someone said that our scholars are no match for him, but I think that''s an exaggeration. The Kingdom of Cerroa itself has a long history and a large population. It is no wonder that there are scholars who surpass those of the Kingdom of Klein. Do you know the name of that scholar? "Mm. ...... I think his name is Lioness Ashford. Elsa decided to remember the name for the time being. Meanwhile, Jin had finished informing the Delight Minister of Industry of the necessary information. "Thank you, Mr. Jin. If we use it together with the dehumidifier that was brought to our attention the other day, I think it will be quite effective. Jin reacted to these words. "A dehumidifier, huh? From the sound of it, it is a tool to remove moisture, isn''t it? "That''s right. It seems that the Nostalgia Party is distributing them to various countries. "Oh..." "The automaton who explained it to us was a beautiful blonde-haired woman. I wonder who made it. Jin wondered as Elena explained to him how to use it. She seems to be doing a good job. After that, they exchanged small talk. "At the moment, we have enough stockpiles to last us through the year," she said. For Jin, who is trying to find out about the food situation, this is an effective source of information, even if it is just small talk. "By simple calculation, if there are 100,000 people in the Kingdom, there is not enough wheat to last for four months. Approximately from February of the following year until the harvest season in June, there will be nothing to eat. "You mean 5,000 tons is the shortage ......?" If each person eats 150 kg per year, that''s 12.5 kg per month. 50 kg in 4 months. Multiply that by 100,000. There was not much difference from the estimate Eric had made in the village of Kaina. "That''s right. If we were aware of food shortages, ate other crops and saved money, we would have 3,000 tons of food. "......" Jin pondered. The stockpile on Horai Island would be a few dozen tons at most, so it would be a drop in the bucket. The best they could do would be a temporary soup kitchen. "Is there any way to procure food?" "...... is difficult. I hear that there is a famine in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Selroa. I just hope there won''t be a war. A war for food wastes even more food. It is an obvious contradiction, but it is human beings who do the contradiction. (Even the Shoro Empire can''t possibly help with 3,000 tons of food. ......) "However, it seems that we don''t have to worry about a riot yet before the end of the year. I''m hoping to find a solution by the end of the year. However, the outlook is bleak. The outlook is bleak. You could say it is pitch-black. The self-sufficiency rate for food in the Kobun is only slightly above 100 percent. "The only advice I can give you is to grow crops that can be harvested in a short time," he says. But Industry Minister Delight seems to have decided to take him at his word. "What is the crop, Jin-dono?" Jin, too, decided to tell us, since so many lives were at stake. It is a crop called buckwheat. "Buckwheat? I''ve never heard of it. It''s a crop grown in the north, harvested in about two and a half months. What! It''s mid-November now, so if we sow now, we can harvest in early February. It''s just in time, but we''ll make it. "Mr. Jin!We want to grow this buckwheat crop!Can you help us? "Of course, of course. Of course, but there are a few problems. First, we cannot prepare the necessary amount of seeds right now. On Horai Island, most of the fall buckwheat has been turned into buckwheat flour. It is not likely that the amount of seeds we have left will be enough. Secondly. Some people are allergic to buckwheat. I have never seen anyone allergic to wheat in this world, but can we be sure that no one is allergic to buckwheat? "...... may not have the necessary seeds in time. Also, some people may not have the right constitution. ......" As for Jin, all he can do is to say in a blunt way. But still, the drowning man is the straw, and Industry Minister Delight bowed his head toward Jin. "Jin-dono!Please get me as much of that buckwheat as you can! Jin could not refuse. "I understand." He nodded his head, looking a little reluctant. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * < The old man, who had been following the conversation between Jin and the Delight Minister through Reiko, was also lost in thought. > The current stockpile is, so to speak, the harvest of the first cultivation. This is the harvest from the small amount of seed buckwheat that was given to us by the demon tribe. Most of the buckwheat was made into ...... buckwheat flour, though less than one ton, and the other half was used for the second cultivation. Once the second crop is harvested, seed buckwheat will be available, but that is less than two months away. < The old man calculated that it would be possible to exchange one ton of flour harvested in Horai Island for one ton of buckwheat seeds harvested in the territory of the Demon Tribe. But this is still not enough. The harvest rate of buckwheat is lower than that of wheat. It was a serious problem that even the old man could not seem to solve easily. The only advantage is the short period between sowing and harvesting. <>? A different tribe that lives in the west of the Hariri Desert. We do not know how much food they produce and how much stock they have. It was a gamble. 639 - - 19-26 Silent Story 34 The Golden Princess A few days before Jin and his friends left for the Kingdom of Klein. Asund, the capital of Egelea. A hot air balloon with a golden air sac flew over the sky. The name <> was written in large letters on the air sac, and it was a more prominent statement of affiliation than ever before, even if only in design. The Knights of the Kingdom, who had examined the hot-air balloon presented by Jin and had built two of the same type, immediately approached the golden hot-air balloon. Then a voice came from the golden hot air balloon. I am Elena. I am a diplomat of Nostalgia. I bring a gift for your country. Permission to land, please." This is a spell that uses wind magic to give directionality to the voice and transmit it to a specific person at a distance. It was often used before the Great Magic War, and is called <>. The kingdom of Egelea is the furthest from the Nostalgia stronghold. Since Elena does not need to eat, drink, or sleep, she decided to visit this kingdom first, which is the farthest from the Nostalgia base. Incidentally, the Kingdom of Elias was not the recipient of the dehumidifier this time, since its climate and food habits are quite different from those of Elena''s. Elena plans to give the dehumidifier to Elias in due course. We plan to give it to them at some point in the future. Sandwiched between the hot-air balloons of the Kingdom of Egelea, Elena landed in the courtyard of Asunto Castle. She is surrounded by 20 Kingsguard knights with swords, though they have not drawn their swords. Elena, who knows that the Unifilers once attacked this castle with a , smiles inwardly. "Hello, my name is . I am . I am a diplomat of the Nostalgia Party. Elena introduced herself once again. A knight steps forward. "Welcome Elena, I am Bruno Thales Bright, vice-captain of the Kingsguard. I am here today to present you with a dehumidifier, is that correct? Elena smiled glamorously. Her smile made some of the knights frown. Yes, that is correct. Could I please see the person in charge or the person in charge? Of course, of course. Of course. Minister of Magic Kellichdor and Minister of the Interior William will take care of you. Bruno said and the other knights turned on their heels and left. Elena takes the small package and follows Bruno''s lead across the courtyard, which still bears the scars of the Golem Party, to the building on the left side of the outer palace, the guest house. Elena is welcomed into what appears to be the main conference room of the guest house. Two knights of the Kingsguard were present and began to explain the situation. "We remove moisture by lowering the temperature, causing condensation, draining the moisture, and then returning the temperature to its original level. ......That''s it for the principle of operation. Do you understand?" The attendees were puzzled by the concise explanation. "U...... well, the mechanism is simple. Can we make one?" "Yes. Yes. Please try to make it. Elena smiles. "The drained water will accumulate, so you will have to drain it regularly. Is there anything you don''t understand? "Why does condensation form when the temperature is lowered?" Kerichdole asked. Elena looked puzzled. "...... can''t explain it in such a short time. For now, you can take it as a given. But Elena could see the look of frustration on Kerichdole''s face. "...... The upper limit of water vapor in the air depends on the temperature. This is called the saturated water vapor content. When the temperature is high it can contain more and when the temperature is low it can contain less. How about ......?After explaining it like this, you must have found something you don''t understand again, right?It means that the foundation has not been laid. That''s why I said it''s not possible in a short time. Elena''s red eyes showed no contempt and the Minister of Magical Technology Kelihidole could not help but back down. "...... You see the droplets of water on the outside of a glass of cold water?That''s what that''s all about." "Hmmm......... I see........." Elena kindly explains the rest. This explanation seems to be accepted. "Is there anything else?" Everyone is silent. Perhaps they have given up. "Well, I think I''ll take my leave now." Elena bowed and stood up. Once again, Bruno accompanies her back to the hot air balloon. There was a figure staring at them from afar. It is Ernest, the third prince. He looked at Elena and sometimes tilted his head. "Prince?Is something wrong?" Lila Solyus, the prince''s lady-in-waiting, asked curiously when she saw the prince. "...... Hmmm, it''s a strange automaton, isn''t it? It seems so different from the ones Jin made." Laila was surprised at his words. "What?" "I''m talking about that automata called Elena. She is different from Reiko. But there are similarities. But different. Hmmm... ......" "Oh, um, is she an automaton?" "Hmm?Isn''t she?Can''t you see it?" "I don''t know, ......!" Intuitively, the prince realized that Elena was an automaton. The only other person who knew she was an automaton was the magic minister, Kerichdole. None of the knights who were watching her from a distance noticed her. The knights who were watching her from a distance did not notice her at all. Elena then headed for the Kingdom of Klein. The response was similar here. She was met by Prime Minister Powell, Minister of Industry Delight, and Viscount Bernard Nephra Foster, Commander of the Second Order. They could not understand the principle of the dehumidifier as explained to them. "I will take my leave then." Elena bids them farewell and leaves. Her eyes widen for a moment as she is about to board the hot air balloon. (Blue hair......Adriana Barbora Zetsi''s automata......? Princess Rieschen and her nanny automata, Tia, stare at us from afar. Elena''s blue hair is seen, and for a moment, a feeling of uneasiness is almost born in her heart, but it soon subsides. And the hot air balloon floated up into the sky. * * * * * * And so did the Kingdom of Franz. (......Their stares are depressing. ......) But the knights and soldiers were not well trained, and the people in charge had little understanding of what they were doing. (The future of this country is bleak. ......) In the Kingdom of Selroa, there was even an attempt to secretly kidnap Elena. After the transfer and explanation, Elena was about to return to the hot air balloon when... "Lady Elena!The golem has gone out of control!It''s dangerous, please run away! This was a deliberate <. Two golems, which appeared to be for combat use, were rushing toward us at a high speed. One of them is clearly on a course to hit Elena and the other to hit the hot air balloon if it is avoided. (What should we do? ......) Elena is now detuned so that she can only produce human-like power. However, her reaction speed and learned skills are still the same. In the event of a malfunction and the control core is about to be analyzed, it is programmed to destroy itself, so there is little danger of the enemy stealing its secrets, but self-protection is still necessary. Without time to think further, Elena intercepted the onrushing golem. Just before she is caught, she moves to the right side of the golem with a light step, and pushes off the golem''s leg. The logic is the same as in the judo technique of de-azuke-barai. The upper body, unable to keep up with the shift in the center of gravity, can easily lose its balance and slump forward. Since she might be hit by the hot air balloon, Elena takes the golem''s left arm and swings it with her own weight. Even though she weighs less than half of the golem, it is enough to change the direction in which the golem is moving when it loses its balance. Releasing her grip on the arm, Elena quickly left the scene. This is because a second runaway Golem is approaching. The first Golem was turned around, and the second Golem that came running into it collided with the first Golem. The two golems became entangled and rolled on the ground in a heap."...... I''ll leave the rest to you. "I''ll leave the rest to you. Good day to you all. Elena quickly undid the mooring line, jumped into the hot air balloon, and used her fire magic. The air sacs were expanding and the gondolas were floating up. The balloon''s ascent is rapid since there is no more cargo on board. Elena continued to gain altitude while the soldiers were stunned. (......I don''t know if humans are smart or stupid. ......) With these thoughts in her mind, Elena flew the hot-air balloon to the headquarters. 640 - - 19-27 Surgery November 12, Alban, capital of the Kingdom of Klein. Three sick people are brought into the castle. "Please take care of them, Miss Elsa." After breakfast, Elsa was summoned. "Yes, sir." This time, Jin accompanies her as she performs a surgery using a miniature craftsman (Smith). No one objected. Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar walk down the corridor, following the guiding knight. Princess Rieschen does not seem to be accompanying them this time. The guiding knight is heading out of the castle. "...... patients are outside?" Elsa wonders, and the knight answers her question. "Yes. Since the sick are common people, they are housed in the healing room wing of the soldiers'' dormitory, not in the castle. "I see. ...... In this world, that''s just the way it is. Erza, who had been trained by Jin, did not say anything about it. However, Jin could see that she was a little disappointed inside. The soldiers'' quarters are located in the outskirts of the castle courtyard. The healing room building was located at the far end of the courtyard. "This way, sir." A soldier standing in front of the healing room opened the door upon seeing the knight. "Oh, Miss Elsa, Mister Jin, I''m sorry to bother you. The Prime Minister was already waiting there. Next to him was a healer who seemed to be working in the healing room wing. There was no one else in the room. Jin and the others, the Prime Minister, the healer, the knight who had accompanied him, and finally the patient. There are five beds in the room. The patient is lying in three of them. The covert task force (SP) that protects Jin is waiting outside the building, and together they cover the entire building with a . This would prevent any magical interference or attacks. This was done after consultation between Jin and the old man. The magic barrier does not prevent physical phenomena. People can come and go freely, and air can flow in and out freely, so there is little chance of being noticed. Inside the building, Jin covered himself, Erza, and the patients with a . Erza trusted Jin to take such precautions and devoted her whole energy to the examination. "Oh, you are the healer? "Se, doctor, can you heal me?" "I''m in ...... pain. ......" All three were so yellow that even Jin could see that they were jaundiced. Meanwhile, Elsa had Edgar help her with a detailed examination of the patients. Twenty minutes later, the results come in. "These two patients have the same symptoms as you. And this one has cirrhosis of the liver, probably caused by alcohol consumption. Hearing the explanation, the Prime Minister tilted his head and made a decision. "Hmm, I don''t understand what you mean by cirrhosis, but those two are suffering from the same disease as His Majesty, aren''t they?Then, let''s have them treated." "Yes, Your Majesty." Hearing this, the patient who had been diagnosed with cirrhosis let out a pitiful voice. "Doctor, can''t you cure me ......?" But Elsa smiled at the patient. "...... don''t worry. I''ll fix you right up, even if it''s the last time." The patient closed his eyes in relief. "...... then, let''s begin." Instead of a sterile room, Jin sterilizes the inside of the solid barrier with sterilization. The patient''s skin was sterilized at the same time. "<><>" The alternative to anesthesia is this <> and <>. When the patient loses consciousness, it is time for Jin and the mini-craftsman (Smith) to take over. Of course, the mini-craftsman (Smith) is well sterilized. "...... Jin, please." "Yeah, I''m on it." By turning the visual information of Edgar, who is looking at the patient in fluoroscopy mode, the mini craftsman (Smith) is able to see the affected bile duct and the parasite in it. "Mini-Craftsman Smith, take out the parasite in three, two, one, zero. I know what to do. "Elsa, you''re good, right?...... Okay, here we go.3,2,1,0! The mini-craftsman (Smith) thrusts his slender body and arm into the patient''s abdomen. Blood spurts out, but the wound itself is small, so the amount of bleeding is not significant. In less than two seconds, the miniaturist (Smith) succeeds in pulling the parasite out of the bile duct. "Elsa!" "<><>" Elsa performs two intermediate level surgical spells. In this case, it is appropriate because the wound is small. <<> is too much. <>" Finally, the patient''s condition is examined. "...... parasite is gone. Surgery was a success. "Good." The patient is still paralyzed, so Jin and Elsa decide to proceed with the other surgery. The exact same procedure is performed, and of course it is a success. However, when Erza tried to treat the remaining patient. "Miss Elsa, you may leave such a sick person alone. It was a healer who worked in the healing room wing. "Healing such a commoner will not bring you a penny. I''ve already seen what you can do." As if he was opening his mouth for the first time, he said something uncharacteristic of a healer. No, it is my mission as a healer to heal the patient if there is a patient in front of me. Erza turns her back on the insolent healer and turns to the third patient. "Erza-sama!" He tries to take Erza out of the room, but she cannot even be touched because Jin has put up a solid physical barrier. "......" "Bodemann, stop it. Let Miss Elsa take care of it." "...... ha!" The healer known as Bodemann withdraws in frustration as the Prime Minister admonishes him. Prime Minister Powell was not interested in curing the common people; he just wanted to see Elsa''s abilities from a different perspective. "...... cirrhosis. Seventy percent of the liver is ruined." Elsa''s diagnosis. "Ascites. ......This can be removed. ......<" The doctor tried to reduce ascites by improving the function of the internal organs, controlling the leakage of water from the capillary membranes and increasing absorption. It is not good to leave a dead liver untreated. " This is a magic to decompose garbage back into atoms, but it is also effective for dead cells. Once decomposed into carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and other trace elements, it can no longer do any more harm to the organism. This treatment was necessary, since there is a possibility that liver cirrhosis may develop into liver cancer if left unchecked. "We have to drain it out. ><>" This is also an effective, though not the original use. Carbon and oxygen are gently combined to form carbon dioxide, while oxygen and hydrogen are converted to water. This makes it easier for the body to remove the carbon dioxide from the body. Some is absorbed through the blood vessels, and some through the lungs into the atmosphere. Some is absorbed through the intestinal tract. Carbon dioxide is dangerous when dissolved into the blood in large quantities, so it is absorbed slowly in very small quantities. The abdomen, which had been swollen, gradually becomes concave. At the same time, the floating capillaries shrank. "Oh ......" Prime Minister Powell and Bodemann watched in amazement. A girl not yet twenty years old had done what no healer could do. "<>" Elsa performs the highest level of healing magic on all three of them, including the two who have awakened from paralysis. She was indeed tired and staggered, but Edgar supported her. "Are you all right?" Jin pulled out a bottle of Persica juice specially made in Horai Island from his pocket and offered it to Erza. "Thank you, Jin, brother." Erza gulped down the juice with a gasp and let out a sigh of relief. 641 - - 19-28 Hitoshis prediction "We''ll just have to wait and see how things go and apply healing magic from time to time." Elsa wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Thank you, doctor. ...... "Thank you for saving my life, I am in your debt. ......" "You saved my life, thank you ......" The patients thank Elsa. Elsa, who never forgets to give her patients a reminder. "Don''t eat raw fish, make sure it''s cooked properly. Don''t drink any more alcohol if you don''t want to die. And that''s it," she said, turning to the prime ministers. "Well, that was brilliant, Miss Elsa. You are indeed a court-appointed healer. Prime Minister Powell also offered his unreserved compliments. Bodemann looked disappointed. "You must be tired, please go back to your room. The Prime Minister''s tone becomes a little more polite. < * * * * "......" "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" Erza wondered about Jin who had been thinking with a difficult expression on his face since he returned to his room and called out to him. "...... hmm?Maybe I''m overthinking this, but it''s been bothering me for some reason. ......" "What?" Jin then decided to tell Erza what he had been thinking and worrying about. "I don''t know who you are, but I''m assuming that there is someone who would be troubled if Erza cured the king, right?" "Yes." "...... He tried to poison Erza, but he failed. He hasn''t tried the poison trick since then. So he''s going to try something else." "......" Erza understands this. Although she was aware that her life was in danger, Elsa''s will to heal her friend Princess Rieschen''s father, the king, was still alive and well. "......In these situations, you know?There''s a pattern ...... called "the usual move." It is an idea that only Jin, who has watched TV dramas and manga in modern Japan, could have come up with. "......What''s that?" Jin answered, looking at Elsa''s worried face. "......It''s targeting patients." "......Why would you do that?" "Because Erza is too defensive to be harmed directly. Then we can change the idea and discredit Elsa. How about ......?" Erza turned pale when she heard this. She understood what Jin meant. "I''ll ...... fail to treat the patient''s condition, and the patient''s condition will worsen. ......" Jin nodded silently. "......That''s terrible!That''s unforgivable!" Elsa was unusually agitated. Jin gently calms her down. "It''s okay. That''s why I was worried too, but I put a guard on it. "The reinforcements you prepared on Horai Island?" Yes. <. I''ve decided to send two of them as escorts. As it turned out, Jin had hit the jackpot with this decision. After 9:00 p.m. that night, Sam 1 called to inform us that the suspicious man had been neutralized. Since Jin could not go to see him due to security reasons, he asked Reiko to sneak to the site and investigate the mastermind with <>. "Okay, I''ll be right back." Even if Reiko leaves, there is no need to worry, since Erza''s Edgar is there and <> is escorting her. And Reiko returned in less than five minutes. "This is the transferred Magi Crystal. "Okay, Reiko, take another reading." "Yes, I''ll take care of it." I have already done this once, so I already know the procedure. Soon Reiko finished examining the transcribed memories. "...... is no good. < The identity of the mastermind was not known, but indirect information was obtained. "<>?" It is a magic that the Unification Party used in the past to increase their followers. Jin knows that only a few people can use it. People from the Kingdom of Selroa, you know." Brother Jin, is that... "...... Yeah. The ones from the Kingdom of Celuloa who are here in the castle. ...... Lioness, did you say?Prince Arthur''s tutor. There may be others, but I''d say he''s one of the suspects." "...... father, and there''s also Marcus''s relationship. I think it''s very possible." In the past, Erza''s father, Viscount Georg Randall, had been incited by Marcus Grinwald, who was controlled by a demon tribe, to act out of the ordinary. Elsa frowned and bit her lip involuntarily when she remembered this. "Tomorrow, if the patient you treated is feeling better, I''m sure you''ll be called upon. You should get plenty of rest." Jin, who understood Erza''s feelings, spoke to her as if he was trying to help her. At his words, Erza''s frown relaxed. "Yes, I will. ...... good night brother Jin." "Yeah, good night." Erza disappeared into her bedroom. The remaining Jin confirms the report of <> and the others. . . Reports came in one after another. It is good news that the prognosis of the treated patients is good. If we confirm it tomorrow, we will surely treat the king. And so far Lioness has not behaved strangely. "......There could be more than one, ......" I''m not good at detective work," he said with a wry smile, "but for Erza''s safety and for Rieschen''s, Jin was going to do everything he could. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The morning of the 13th arrived. After Jin and the others had finished breakfast, Princess Rieschen arrived with a female knight. Jin, Elsa, good morning. Erza, Powell told me about you. I heard you showed off your skills yesterday. I wish I could have been there." "...... I''m so sorry." Elsa is grateful. Then Princess Rieschen told her the purpose of her visit. "So, my brother Arthur would like to speak with Gin and Erza. "...... if you don''t mind." Jin accepts, since there is no reason for him to refuse. The knightess left to tell him this. A few minutes later, Prince Arthur arrives. He is accompanied by another man of advanced age. "Good morning, Mr. Jin and Miss Elsa. Today, Lioness here would like to talk with you. If it''s not too much trouble, please keep him company for a while. "Yes, of course." Jin''s guard tightens as he replies. He whispered to Erza to deploy the . < Jin''s instruction was based on the idea that they would not attack directly in such a situation. "First of all, let me say how do you do? I am Lioness Ashford. As you may have heard, I am from the Kingdom of Selroa. Lioness is about 40 years old. Brown hair, brown eyes. Tall and stout. "My name is Jin Nido. < "My name is Elsa Nidor. <." Jin and Elsa also introduced themselves. "Well, I have a few questions I''d like to ask you. Do you mind? "Yes, please." Jin replied with a nervousness in his heart. 642 - - 19-29 Kings Surgery The meeting with Lyonesse Ashford takes place in the apartment rented to Jin and the others. At a table for four, Jin and Elsa, Prince Arthur, and Lioness Ashford sit facing each other. Lioness sits in front of Jin and Prince Arthur sits in front of Elsa. Princess Rieschen has a separate chair and sits on the sidelines. "First of all, thank you for accepting my selfishness. I thank you." Lioness began in a friendly tone. "My specialty is <>. As a scholar, I became a scholar because I want to know everything there is to know about the world. "I see, so you are a naturalist." Jin uttered the first word that came to his mind. Natural history can be defined as the study of things that exist in the natural world, such as animals, plants, and minerals. The Jin family''s Toa could also be called naturalists. However, it seems that such a term is not used in this world. "Oh, natural history?I see. Jin-dono has an interesting way of putting it. I see. Naturalist, huh? That has a nice ring to it. Lioness really likes the sound of . "...... So, I''m from the neighboring Kingdom of Cerroa, and you''re from the Kingdom of Shoro, is that right?" "Yes, I am." Erza replies. "What I want to ask you is, among other things, about the ship. Jin is a little impressed that she is interested in engineering as well as natural history. He wondered inwardly if his voracious appetite for knowledge in this world was unique to the Kingdom of Celuloa with its ancient culture. "A ship?Certainly, the Shoro Kingdom has built various types of ships. While Jin was lost in thought, Erza was receiving the conversation. Erza''s cousin and Jin''s best friend, Reinhardt, is also a shipbuilder. Of course, so is Jin. "...... This is a rumor, but there is a merchant who is building large ships in the southern part of our kingdom of Selroa." Jin wondered if this might be the Eckart Tecles he had met earlier. If so, this Lioness man was quick to listen. At this point, Jin decided to let Elsa lead the conversation and keep an eye on Lioness. "I suppose a large ship is useful for transport, isn''t it?" "...... Yes. The Shoro Empire uses lakes, rivers, and man-made waterways to transport their cargo. "But isn''t this a good idea considering the power and expense?" "No, but compared to horses and carts, they can carry much larger quantities of cargo, so this is offset. "If you consider the safety of being on land and on the water, you can go to ......." "We use wide, shallow-bottomed vessels because we''re not in the ocean and we''re mostly in waters with little wave action. So they are more resilient and ......" "If you are going to the sea, even the open sea, you need to consider the rigidity of the hull. In that case, it can be used as a structural material ......." "......, but if you use metal structural materials, I suppose weight will be an issue?" "You have a point. Considering the specific strength per unit mass...... of metal and wood,...... unit weight." Elsa and Lioness exchange technical information. Jin was listening to them, but he could not grasp Liones'' intention at the moment. Prince Arthur also just listened in silence. Occasionally Jin joined in the conversation, and the conversation continued uninterrupted. The conversation lasted for an hour, and finally came to an end when it was almost 10 o''clock. "......No, Miss Elsa, Mr. Jin, it was a meaningful time. Thank you. Lioness thanked him in a friendly tone to the end and returned. "I ...... don''t understand." After Prince Arthur and Lioness left, Jin voiced his doubts. "...... you just came here to chat?" Erza couldn''t seem to grasp what he was trying to do. "For my part, I''m concerned about the fact that Arthur hardly opened his mouth at all. None of the three knew what Lioness'' visit was intended to do. Or perhaps they really just wanted to have a purely academic discussion, Jin thought. * * * * "What do you think of ......, Rio?What do you think? Prince Arthur asked Lioness, his teacher, when he returned to his room. "...... are not to be underestimated. Those two know more than I do." "What!You''ve got some good friends, ...... Reese." "...... the sick man who was operated on yesterday seems to have a good prognosis. Perhaps this afternoon, His Majesty''s surgery will be performed." "...... you think it will be successful?" "Yes, probably." "...... or ......" Prince Arthur looked out the window without saying another word. The sky was finally turning from gray to blue. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, the Prime Minister visited Jin and the others in their room. Prince Edmond and Prince Arthur are with them. "Erza-dono!We have reached a conclusion. From this moment on, I would like you to treat His Majesty!" The Prime Minister said at once: "Perform the operation! "Miss Elsa, I beg you. I beg you to save my father the king." Prince Arthur bowed his head. "...... I don''t know anything about the small stuff. But all three of the sick you treated yesterday are recovering. And the Prime Minister and Arthur seem to trust you. So I ask you too. Please heal my father. Even Prince Edmond bowed his head. "...... Of course. That''s why I''m here. "I will do my best." Elsa and Jin promised to do their best. The group moved to the king''s bedroom. The king''s condition had not changed. Elsa again assisted Edgar in examining the king. This is the first time Jin has seen Alois III on his sickbed, and he is surprised to see how much he has lost. "...... Is this what happens when you have a bad liver? ......" Once again, Jin decided to make the treatment successful for Rieschen''s sake. "...... Jin, the examination is over. What we''re going to do is as we agreed. "Okay, okay." Jin put up a barrier that encompassed himself, Elsa, Edgar, and Alois III. It is not a half-assed barrier. It is an indestructible barrier, impervious to both physical and magical attacks. No one complains, as it has been explained to those present. "<><>" Start with anesthesia. "<><>><><>" The inside of the barrier, the surface of Alois III''s body, and the mini-artisan (Smith) in charge of the surgery are sterilized. The work is about to begin. "...... Edgar, please look through. Mini craftsman (Smith), visual sharing." Just as if we were operating with an endoscope or looking at an echo image. The mini-craftsman (Smith) had a good view of the bile ducts of Alois III thanks to the visual information sent by Edgar. "...... then we will count down...3,2,1,0." In response to Elsa''s command, a mini-craftsman (Smith) thrust his body and arm into the bile duct region of Alois III. Princess Rieschen, who was watching from outside the barrier, lets out a small scream. The next moment, however, the mini-craftsman (Smith) has grasped the parasite. "<><>><>>" Elsa applied <> three times, as the bile ducts were slightly more damaged than in the last patient operated on. The blood spurting out was minimal, and the blood on the abdomen was sterilized and cleaned up with <> magic. The rest is ascites. Alois III had a considerable amount of ascites fluid, which will be treated based on the previous surgery. "<>" Elsa, which activates the functions of the internal organs. "...... He has also developed some cirrhosis of the liver. <>" Two times the highest degree of healing magic of the internal medicine system has activated a considerable amount of the internal organ tissue. "<>" Jaundice is named after the yellowish substance bilirubin, which causes yellowing of the tissues and fluids of the body, such as the eyes and skin, due to its presence in excess. By breaking down the excess bilirubin, the yellowish eyeballs and skin returned to their original color. This was the first time it had been used, and was an idea that came to me after treating a patient the other day. "......, that''s it." "Oops." After being released from the extreme tension, Elsa felt a little light-headed due to the depletion of her body''s magical energy. But Jin, who had learned from the previous treatment, immediately supported her on behalf of Edgar. "Thank you, brother Jin. Here, Persica juice." And Erza drinks Persica juice, which restores her magic power. "The surgery was a success." Alois III''s complexion improved dramatically. 643 - - 19-30 Proposal "Enough, Elsa?" "Yes." Erza was still feeling tired, and she would have preferred to stay with Alois III until he woke up, but with Princess Rieschen looking worried, Jin released the barrier. He then smiled at Rieschen, and her reluctant face suddenly turned into a smile. "Jin, Elsa!Father, father, you are saved! Elsa smiled at Rhys. "Yes, Your Highness. It''s all right now. All you have to do is rest and try to eat a little at a time. ......" "Oh, yes!Thank you, Elsa, Gin. I can''t thank you enough ......" "In the beginning, start with fruit juices, then porridge, and then the sick man''s diet." Elsa advised the prince, princess, and vizier standing in line. "Okay. I''ll make sure the nurses know." Prince Edmond answered on behalf of the others. The group moved to a different room, leaving the two nursing attendants behind. The parasite that the miniaturist (Smith) had removed from the king''s bile duct was also placed on a plate of mithril silver. "......This is what I found in my father''s body: ......" Prince Edmond with a frown muttered. "...... I saw it right in front of me, I can''t believe it, but I have to believe it. How could this be on my father''s body?" Prince Arthur asked Elsa with a scowl, as did Prince Edmond. "It is possible that he ate a raw fish with parasite eggs or larvae. "...... I went to Lake Manuse for recuperation before the summer, but it could have been during that time." It was the Prime Minister who said thoughtfully. "Come to think of it, Your Majesty is fond of Trot. Every year he goes to the royal residence in Dekubo,...... and if not this year, maybe last year." "...... But you said Elsa. How did you know all that?That''s impressive!I''m sorry about what I said in the first place. Forget it." Prince Edmond bowed his head and said, "That was insulting. Elsa hurried to stop him. "No, no, Your Highness, please don''t do that. It''s only natural, I think, considering how His Highness felt in that case. "...... Elsa, you''re so generous. I like you!Will you be my wife? "What? I''ve never been able to find a girl I like... and I''m still single at 26... but you''re pretty good. What do you think?Will you think about it?" "......" Turning bright red, Elsa glanced at Jin who was sitting next to her. Jin, with his head spinning from the suddenness of the situation, desperately tried to think of an excuse to refuse. Then she remembered that something similar had happened to her in the past. ><> After the incident of the runaway golem in the Kingdom of Egelea, when Prince Ernest saw Beena and proposed to her, Count Kuzma interrupted him and said. "...... No, Your Highness!" "...... Jin brother." Hearing Jin''s words, Erza''s face broke into tears. "I''ll ...... take care of Erza." But Jin''s line was stuck there. "Hmm?What''s wrong?" "I''m the one who ...... ......" "So what?" I''m going to find you a suitable partner. What? "...... Jin, my brother. ......" Erza is visibly discouraged. "...... idiot." She then muttered a few words, kicked her seat, and ran out of the room. Only Edgar followed her. "Elsa. ......" Jin could only watch in amazement. He was thinking that it was not a good idea to leave the room without permission now. "Idiot!" Prince Edmond slapped Jin on the head with a slap. The fact that it was a slap and not a fist was a sign of concern on his part. "I could see it. She''s in love with you. Of course she''ll be disappointed if you talk to her like that. ...... Well, it''s my fault for asking her to marry me out of the blue. ......Here, why don''t you go after her!" "Are you sure about ......?" Another slap, this time to the cheek, and Edmond. "This is not the time to be moping around!Get after him now!" "Brother, this is not a good time for that. ......" Prince Arthur tried to stop him, but Prince Edmond ignored him and urged Jin. "Yes, Jin, go on." Even Princess Rieschen gave him a push. "Yes, yes." Jin got up and ran out of the room. * * * * "...... Jin''s an idiot! Erza runs down the hallway at full speed. The knights, ladies, and maids on guard were too stunned to do anything but watch her go. She ran up the stairs she saw and sprinted down the corridor again. At the end of the hallway, there was an open door that led to a balcony. Elsa steps out onto the balcony. The fresh air feels good on her burning face. She rests her back against a large wooden box in the corner and sighs. "...... I''m an idiot." I have known Jin for a long time. I knew his personality. "...... Jin, my brother is ......" He is kind to everyone. Of course, there is a condition that they are his relatives ...... Jin''s family and friends of the same level. "Besides..." I offered to do it myself at first. "......< Jin could have refused the offer and sent her back to Randall''s house. But he did not. He welcomed Erza and gave her a place to stay. He showed her the way of life. The debt of gratitude, the love of family, and the world''s highest level of knowledge. The more I think about it, the more I am amazed at the weight and magnitude of it. It''s not something you can ever repay." Jin did not expect anything in return, and he knows that. Elsa herself was happy to serve Jin, and she was happy just to be by his side. "But still..." She wanted him to say that she was special to him. "...... egotism." He knew he wasn''t the only girl on Jin''s mind. Hannah, Saki, Licia. There are also children named Zion and Istaris among the demons. Maybe there was someone she loved in her former world. These thoughts began to spin around in my head, and unknowingly, tears began to well up in my eyes. Edgar, who was standing by my side, remained silent, as if he knew that there were no words to say at a time like this. Just then, he heard footsteps. "...... Jin?" Erza turns around to see if he''s following her. "......Ah?" But she did not. "Miss Elsa, what''s going on?" Delight, the minister of industry, was standing there with a worried look on his face. 644 - - 19-31 Window Flower Following Elsa to the balcony was the Minister of Industry, Delight Domus Hanks. "What are you doing here?" Elsa asked, wiping her face. Yes, my office is right next to this balcony. I heard you running down the hallway, so I took a peek and saw you. She said that she did not usually run down the corridor and that she peeked in to see if something urgent had happened. "...... I''m so embarrassed." Elsa turns over and blushes. Delight looked at her a little strangely, but spoke to her in a calm voice. "It''s already evening, and the wind is cold here. I''m sure there may be some complications, but why don''t you come to my office for now? After calming down a little, Elsa took him at his word and went to the office of the Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Delight. Edgar stood outside the door and was in charge of telling Jin if he came looking for her. There was a chic table set by the window, and Delight offered Elsa a chair. "I was just finishing up. Please have a seat." "...... thanks." Elsa sits in the chair by the window. The balcony is just a few feet away from her window. Elsa is embarrassed to think that she has been seen in a lascivious manner, but she is relieved to see that she cannot see the balcony from here, because the wooden box is in the way. "Well, let me make you some tea. It''s ...... not poisoned, you don''t need to worry." Delight brings up the subject of poison, perhaps hoping to make Elsa, who is still looking a little difficult, laugh. "...... see, these are my assistants." "......Ah." Delight''s assistants were two golems, one of them about the size of an adult male, and one of them was just about to make a pot of tea. One is about the size of an adult male and is about to make a pot of tea. The other one was a burly golem about two meters tall, and was used for heavy work. This one was standing at the back of the room. The other one was standing at the back of the room. "I ask the grains in the back to do the heavy work such as carrying luggage, and Rekar here to help me in my daily work. "I see..." Elsa looked at the golem named Rekar without looking at it, and noticed that its movements were sophisticated, and was a little impressed. It was quite a well-made golem. "Here you go." The tea was an herbal tea with the scent of roses and a slight sourness in its sweetness. Elsa took a sip and exhaled. Delight drank the same tea and smiled. "Well, have you calmed down a little? "......Yes, thank you, thank you." "I''m glad to hear that. I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving my life. I hope I can repay you even a fraction of what you''ve done for me. Taking another sip of herbal tea, Delight opened her mouth again. "...... since it seems to be a rare opportunity like this, may I speak with you for a moment?" "Uh, yes." Erza responded half-reflexively to the polite tone of his voice. "......This country is in tatters. ......" Delight''s tone changed, becoming heavier. "......The king is sick, the nobles have their own interests at heart, and even the weather has abandoned us." "......" "You are from the Kingdom of Shoro. I would like to hear your honest opinion. Do you think there is a future for ...... this country?" It was a very serious question for Erza. But now that she had traveled with Reinhardt, seen many countries, and gained many more experiences with Jin, she could answer. "Yes, I think so." Delight''s eyes seemed to widen in surprise for a moment, as if the words were unexpected. But he quickly calmed down. "Well, why do you think so?" Elsa answered, choosing her words carefully. A nation is a people. There may be some people in the ruling class of the Klein Kingdom who are not good people. But there are also those who are trying to rebuild the country. And the people are living hard. The country is not dead yet. It will not die, I think." "......" "............" Delight listened to Erza''s words with her eyes closed. Her head went cold from the unexpected questions and conversation. Delight feels that she thinks the future of this country is bleak. In her mind, the various events of the past were recalled and connected. The puzzle of solving the riddle, though somewhat incomplete, is being assembled. The position of Minister of Industry, the weak poison, the King''s illness, the food problem, the successor ....... Some pieces are still missing and the whole picture is not yet complete. Meanwhile, Elsa was casually looking around the room. Suddenly, her gaze stops at the window. On the window sill was a simple vase. There were flowers in the vase. There were several purple, elongated, armored-like flowers. There were no leaves on them. "Aconita?" Delight''s eyes widened when she heard those words. His eyes were a little bloodshot. "Elsa, do you know this flower?I don''t think it''s a flower that is not found in the Shoro Empire either."...... around here...... No." "...... Yes. I know a little about medicinal and poisonous plants. Elsa slowly looked back from the vase and began to speak. "......The poison that Mr. Delight drank the other day was probably a leaf of this plant." "......" "Mr. Delight, why is there not a single leaf on this flower?" I said one unnecessary word in an attempt to find out the important piece of the puzzle. As soon as he heard those words, Delight''s expression changed. "...... I see, so you do know that much." "What?" * * * Jin was looking for Erza, who had run away. The knight in the corridor told him that she had gone through the corridor toward the stairs. Jin also goes to the stairs. Did she go up or down? Jin pondered and decided that he could not take too much time. Even though he ran out of the room, Maron and Plum of the Secret Service are still guarding him, invisible. Edgar is with them. Therefore, it is easy to find out where Erza went to via the old man. The reason why I did not do so from the beginning was that I wanted to find her by myself without relying on Reiko and the others, but there was a limit in this royal palace. "Reiko, check with the old man where Elsa has gone." "...... I understand." With a slightly dissatisfied look on her face, Reiko contacted the old man. The answer came back immediately. "......It seems that he is in the office of the Minister of Industry and Delight on the upper floor." "What are you doing there ......?" At that moment, Princess Rieschen came in. "What do you think, Jin?I thought it would be difficult to search the castle alone, so I followed you. ...... have you found it yet?" "Rhys. ...... No, not yet, but they''re in the Delight Minister''s office." "Delight''s?Delighted? I''ll go check it out. Jin began to climb the stairs, guided by the princess. "......I just remembered that Delight is also from the Kingdom of Cerroa. ....... I heard that he was groomed by the Hanks family a long time ago. His wife died a few years ago and he is now single. Jin heard this and suddenly remembered the words of Minister of Industry and Trade Delight without any context. (Come to think of it, he had called Elena an automata. ...... had he seen her before? I don''t think Elena would talk on her own. And I don''t think that the Delight Industry Minister is good enough to recognize that she is an automaton. This would mean that he had seen Elena in the past. Jin had a bad feeling. The second floor is the floor you''ve been on, and the third floor is the offices of the ministers. At that moment, Reiko interrupted their conversation. "Father, Miss Elsa is in danger. Father, Miss Elsa is in danger. "You''re very good. You are very good. I wish I could have persuaded her to come with us. What the hell are you doing? Delight gets up and stands in front of the door, cutting off Erza''s way out. "You do understand, don''t you?That the whole poisoning fiasco was a ruse?" "I know that ...... aconita poison doesn''t kill people." "Yes, and if everyone there falls ill from the poison, your credibility will suffer. Then the king will not be long in coming. That''s what I thought. I had no idea that he knew about Aconita, whom I had thought he would never know about." "That poisoned tee caddy, you mean you brought it?" "...... You''re a smart guy. If I brought you back, it will make up for not following instructions. "What, instructions?" Elsa got up from her chair with a bad feeling. Edgar was outside the door. "This country will not be here much longer. "This country will not be around much longer, just like our neighbor, the Kingdom of Franz. It would be better for it to be absorbed into the Kingdom of Cerroa and let it be ruled by the Kingdom of Cerroa. Delight''s tone had changed dramatically, and his eyes were filled with a hint of madness. "...... I don''t think that''s right. The government of the Kingdom of Selroa would treat the Kingdom of Klein no better than their own if they occupied it. Elsa has seen many countries. The last time she met with the selfish brothers and sisters of the Kingdom of Celuloa, she had a terrible time. I have also heard stories from Stearina and Vivian. It was hard to believe that they would be ruled fairly. "......Humph, the common people don''t matter. What matters is whether we ...... can get me into a better position than I am now. ...... Reker, don''t let that girl get away." The golem Rekar, directed by Delight, approaches. Erza quickly used the table as a shield. "Hmph, what a waste of time. Why don''t you cooperate with us?I don''t want to be a hard man to deal with. I owe you a detoxification, even if it''s just a ruse." "...... Do you really think you''re going to get away with this?If you make a loud enough noise, someone will come running." "Hmm. Is that what you''re trying to do, buy time?...... Grainne!" With that one voice, the golem standing in the back also began to move. "There''s a golem just like this one in the hallway. No one can come. Still, there''s no way he can escape. "You think I''m sloppy, don''t you?What if I told you I have a ...... hot air balloon too?" "...... No way." "The technology of the Kingdom of Cerroa is amazing. In exchange for 300 tons of wheat, they gave us a hot air balloon and five golems." "...... you diverted precious foodstuffs?...... You are an a**h*le. Selling your own country." "Young man, I don''t think you understand how attractive power can be. You have no idea how wonderful it is to be able to run your country the way you want. Besides, my homeland is ...... the Kingdom of Cerroa." "...... I don''t even want to understand. Power is just a pain in the ass. Erza, now steeped in Jin''s ideas, dismissed Delight''s desire for power. "Too much trouble, huh? She''s a woman after all. You can''t understand the joy of dominating others. I''m a man, but I don''t understand that kind of pleasure. What? Brother Jin! The door to the room was pried open from the outside, and there stood Jin. 645 - - 19-32 Hugging "You ......, why are you here!Where''s the Golem? "Oh, that little wooden figure?He''s just lying on the floor in the hallway. Reiko? "Yes, Father." Reiko threw a large chunk of steel through the door opening. Delight rushes to avoid it, but is surprised to see it roll to the floor with a loud thud. "What!" It was the head of a golem of the same type as Grainne''s. "How did you ...... destroy it? "How did you ...... do that, Reiko?" "Yes. I didn''t bother to answer you, did I? "...... what?" At that moment Princess Rieschen spoke up. "Oh Delight, give it up. I have heard every word you have said. And now that Jin has moved, you no longer stand a chance. Now you must admit your guilt." But Delight would not listen. "Shut up!It''s over. Rekar!Get ready to move out!Grainne!Get her!" The generic lekker broke through the window and jumped out onto the balcony. It seems that the balloon was hidden in a large wooden box there. Meanwhile, Grainne, a heavy-duty golem, smashes the table that Erza used as a shield, and closes in on her. It seems that it intends to take Erza hostage. But Edgar stands in her way. "......Edgar......" "Erza-sama, I''ll take care of this." "Yes." Edgar did not avoid the blow from Grainne. If he dodged, he might have hit Erza. "Edgar, are you okay?" Yes. Yes. Near the door, Delight was being seized by Reiko. "Give it up. You''re not going to get away from me." "Ugh!We''re not out of options yet.Laktar!Kiser!Kullaro! Whoa, whoa!...... Princess Rieschen panics. In response to Delight''s voice, three heavy-duty golems ......, or battle golems, break through the wall of the next room and appear. "Kill them all!" Delight''s words were unintentional, and three golems attacked. "Look out, Father!" One of them swung a fist at Jin and Princess Rieschen, and Reiko stood between Jin and the golem. Naturally, Delight breaks free and runs to the window to leap from the window to the balcony. "Don''t let it get away!" What? At Jin''s voice, someone from the covert maneuver unit (SP) seems to have applied a to him while he remained out of sight. Delight rolled over and stopped moving. But the battle golem that had received the order did not stop. "Reiko, you''re in the castle, don''t do anything too fancy! "Yes, sir." There are knights and maidens on the lower floors. If the floor were to come loose, they could be seriously injured, so Jin warned them to be careful. In this respect, he had more leeway than Elsa. As for Reiko, if she had Momoka, she could cut through them in a flash and that would be the end of it, but unfortunately, she could not bring weapons inside the castle. On the other hand, the battle golems had no such reservations and attacked Jin and the others with all their might. However, Reiko did not care about such a disadvantage. In fact, she was wondering what kind of measures she should take. (You shouldn''t use the transfer gun ...... in public. Light flux (laser)...... is also flashy, and electromagnetic induction (induction)...... takes a bit of time) Reiko is considering this kind of thing in about 0.2 seconds. And the conclusion. "<>" It is a weapon that forcibly converts mana back into free magic element (ether). Despite its effectiveness, it is difficult for the onlooker to understand what has happened. It is a golem without a magical reactor or even an ether converter. If the mana in its mana tank runs out, it will no longer be able to operate. "Father, let''s take out the control core. "Good work, Reiko." Once the control cores are removed from the three motionless Golems, the Golems are mere scarecrows. In no time at all, Jin has extracted the control cores from the three Golems. "......" Princess Rieschen was speechless, not understanding what had happened or how Reiko had neutralized the golem. * * * * On the other hand, the improved and strengthened Edgar was able to overcome the difference in size of more than five times. Not only did he catch the fist, he lunged forward and delivered a front kick. The kick was slightly upward, and despite the weight difference, he succeeded in making his opponent float and fall down. However, Elsa''s face turned pale when she saw that the floor stone had cracked. "Edgar, be careful or the floor will fall out. "Yes, sir." The weight of the grain must be close to 500 kilograms. It is not surprising if it steps through the floor. Edgar decides to change his attack. He takes out his knife. It is a knife made of the shell of a gigantopod, which can cut through steel. It was thrown by Edgar''s power and easily pierced through the armor of the glen. Two knives destroyed the magi crystals that control vision. The originally sluggish movements of the victim are now even slower. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Edgar used the knife in his hand to slice through the armor plate of Grainne''s chest. The steel plate falls to the floor with a loud noise. The cracks in the floor spread further. But that was the end. With the armor plate gone, the inner magi device was exposed, and the control core was grabbed by Edgar, and the grain stopped working completely. "Erza-sama, it''s over." "......Edgar, thank you. ......<<>" Erza strengthened the cracked floor and joined the cracks. "......, that''s a relief." "Elsa!" Someone suddenly hugged Erza, who breathed a sigh of relief after avoiding an accident in which the floor fell out. Erza''s body stiffened, but when she realized it was Jin, her face turned bright red. "Uh-uh, Jin, brother? "Are you okay?Are you all right?They didn''t hurt you, did they?" "......, yeah." "Yeah. I''m ...... glad to hear that." Jin said, but he still held Erza in his arms. "...... Jin, brother, it''s a little bit painful. As one would expect, it is a bit painful to be hugged by the now physically strengthened Jin with all his might. "I''m sorry." Jin let go of his hand in a hurry. Jin''s face was red as if he had been boiled. "......Ah." Erza was relieved to be free from Jin''s arms, but also disappointed to lose the warmth of his arms. "Jin, that golem is getting away!" Jin and Erza, who had turned red, were roused to their senses by Rieschen''s voice. On the balcony, a hot air balloon was about to take off. 646 - - 19-33 Territories Something floating outside the window. It''s a hot air balloon made in the Kingdom of Cerroa. No, it is a <>. It looks just like the one used by the Unifilers in the past. When Jin and the others step out onto the balcony, the balloon has just risen about 10 meters. < "It''s a bad thing we went out there," he said. ......Erza, tell Edgar to get the knife ......." "Hmm. Edgar, aim for that balloon. "Yes." Before Jin could finish, Elsa instructed Edgar. Edgar''s knife, the one still remaining, is released. It misses and cuts through the air sac. The gondola is falling. "Hm? But there is nothing or no one in the broken gondola that has fallen into the courtyard. "Oh, no!A decoy! The generic golem seems to be quite clever. "It''s possible that it was checking out our country''s secrets. Hmmm, I wonder where he hid: ......" "Well, he''s probably trying to get out anyway. Delight seems to have been abandoned." Jin glanced at the floor. The Delight is left unconscious. It seems that Rekar, the generic golem, was not only listening to Delight''s instructions, but was also investigating various information about the Klein Kingdom and informing his master. He may have been the real mastermind. If so, the longer it takes, the harder it will be to catch him. "Reiko, can''t you detect it?" Reiko has a . Due to its size, it is not as accurate as the Magi Radar, but it is very practical. "This is the control core that was taken out of the big golem a while ago. If the maker is the same, his magic pattern will be helpful. "Okay, I''ll give it a try." Reiko received the control core from Jin, read the magic pattern, and activated the Magi Detector to look for similar magic. "...... understand." Reiko said in a quiet voice. "...... there!" Reiko pointed to a corner of the balcony, behind a wooden box. "Edgar?" "Yes!" A knife is released from Edgar''s hand. There is a metallic click, and the thrown knife is knocked away. At the same time, the spell of <> is broken. This <> spell is a spell to make one''s presence disappear, but it loses its effect if one speaks out or is attacked. "What?There it is!" Princess Rieschen''s surprised voice. Rekar, realizing that he could no longer escape, aimed at the one who looked the most likely to be able to give him the best chance. That is, the smallest ...... Reiko. Rekar did not see Reiko defeat the heavy work golem in the hallway, nor did he see her neutralize three more battle golems. Therefore, he might have thought to attack Reiko, the smallest of the three, and maybe even take her hostage. "That''s stupid." Reiko intercepts Reker, considering the angle. She steps forward, dodges Reker''s outstretched arm, and moves into his pocket. Then she strikes him with a small fist. With a heavy thud, Reker is blown away. "Ah!" Just before Reiko''s fist touches him, he twists his body in a desperate attempt to escape, and his flight over the balcony railing and into the courtyard is slightly off course. As a result. "Whoa! Who uttered that voice? The walls of the royal castle...... Delight''s office wall blew away along with the leeker. "The outer walls are 70 centimeters thick, you know. ......" Princess Rieschen''s voice rang out in exasperation. * * * * That evening, Jin and Erza were in the Prime Minister''s office. "......I have so many things to tell you, I don''t know where to start,...... but first I would like to thank you." The Prime Minister bowed first to Elsa and then to Jin. "Your Majesty''s condition seems to be much better. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Miss Elsa, Jin-dono, and the Shoro Empire for sending you both. "No, it is more than half a coincidence that we found the cause of your illness. We would never have known if we hadn''t asked His Highness Rieschen about it." "No, in fact, our healers found the cause of your illness and cured you where many others had failed to do so." "...... If you say it''s natural, it''s because healers are supposed to cure diseases." "No, no, its hard to take for granted ......" Words of gratitude and humility were mixed. After a while, they finally converge. "...... we have to talk about the next topic. Former Industry Minister Delight." "Yes." Jin and Elsa straighten up and listen. "After our investigation, we were unable to prove any connection between Delight and the Kingdom of Celuloa." "Why, sir?" Delight had clearly mentioned the name of the Kingdom of Celuloa to Elsa. "No, I mean the royal family of Celuloa, or the government, to be precise." "......" "I''m sure he had ties to the people of the Kingdom of Celuloa. But it''s not a personal connection. There''s nothing to prove that the Kingdom of Celluloid as a nation had ties to Delight." "That''s absurd!Didn''t they divert 300 tons of wheat, or receive a golem in return, or any number of other things?" Jin also approaches the Prime Minister with an indignant tone. But the Prime Minister looked disappointed. "......That''s the thing, Jin-dono submitted the control core as evidence, but no matter how many details I read, not even the name of the maker, let alone the name of the Kingdom of Celuloa, came up. That''s a very careful move," the Prime Minister concluded. "But this does not mean that we have given up. This time it became clear that they are sending agents into our country to destroy it from within. Then we can do something about it. The prime minister did not say what steps he planned to take. "And as for the honorarium," he said. The Prime Minister began to speak, looking apologetic. "To tell the truth, our country''s finances are strained at the moment. No, we are on the verge of bankruptcy. So we can''t thank you in money. I am ...... sorry!" The Prime Minister stands up and bows deeply to Jin and Erza. Jin and Erza cannot remain silent when he says so. "...... I have come by order of His Majesty the Emperor to treat His Majesty the King. In other words, I am here on official business. So there is no need to thank me." Erza says in reply. Jin''s eyes were kind as he looked at her. "But, Jin-dono, you are a certified by our nation, and an honorary knight. Nothing is left to be desired." With these words, the Prime Minister took what appeared to be some sort of document from his desk. "I would like to bestow upon Miss Elsa the title of in the Kingdom of Klein. And I would like to reward Jin-dono by making the village of Kaina an independent territory. "Independent territory?" The name was unfamiliar to me. "No wonder you don''t understand. It is a newly created system. An independent territory means that although it belongs externally to the Kingdom of Klein, it is actually the domain of Jin-dono. The Kingdom of Klein will not interfere in any way. In effect, it is the Kingdom of Jin. The Prime Minister explained, "But officially, I want it to be called the Kingdom of Klein. "It is more of a territory than a fiefdom. The Kingdom of Klein will not be involved in the area north of the village of Kaina. "Understood. I accept. "Oh, thank you." The Prime Minister may have thought that this was not beneficial to Jin from a practical standpoint, but in fact it was not. The area from the northern part of the village of Kaina to the Pazdekst isthmus can be called a vacant zone. It is the same as the recognition of the Kingdom of Klein as Jin''s territory. In effect, Jin has claimed more than a third, if not half, of the territory of the Kingdom of Klein. Jin can use this land effectively in many ways. "Now, lastly, I would like to talk about desiccants. The Prime Minister resumed. "I would like to hear about the desiccant you made for Delight. Since Delight''s replacement has not yet been chosen, it seems that the Prime Minister will be taking over. Seeing the Prime Minister''s face, which had grown a little thin again, Jin became concerned about his health. 647 - - 19-34 Night Window It was late at night when everything was over. Jin took a bath, washed off his sweat, and cooled his burning body by the window. "...... Jin brother." Jin heard a voice behind him. It was Erza. Her hair was wet, indicating that she had just finished bathing. Her skin peeking out from her magi-silk bathrobe was a cherry-red color. "Would you like to sit over here?" Jin pointed to a sofa by the window, and Erza nodded. "Nice breeze." She said and sat down next to Jin. The warmth of Elsa''s body felt comfortable to Jin, who had cooled down a little. "......" A moment of silence passed. Jin was the first to speak. "The night wind is already cold. I''ll close the windows so the water doesn''t get cold. "......Yes." Erza replies shortly. Then there is silence again. This time, Erza is the first to speak. "...... Jin, daytime ......" Hmm?" "Daytime, thank you. I''m glad you told me ...... you were okay." "Oh, yeah." "...... but am I still my brother Jin''s sister ......?" Elsa spoke in an even more traceable manner than usual. Her cheeks are red, but it''s not because she''s just had a bath. "......" When Jin was unable to answer, Erza continued. "Brother Jin, I''m the one who started it. I know it was selfish of me. But right now, I want to be ...... more than a sister ...... to my brother Jin. That''s how I honestly feel." After saying this, Erza got up and was about to leave the room. But her hand was held down. Of course, it was Jin who stopped her. "...... Jin, my brother ......?" "......Erza. I''m going to tell you something. I ...... don''t care ...... about you." "Father!" Suddenly Reiko spoke up. Jin comes to his senses and lets go of Erza''s hand. Elsa stood still. "......What''s wrong, Reiko?" Jin answers Reiko with a bit of confusion. The "Mere Old Man" has called you. "Oh, I see." ...... what''s going on?" Elsa, who looked as if she had just woken up from a dream, must have been curious about the word "contact from the old man," because she sat down again on the sofa and asked with a doubtful look on her face. "Oh, yes. I''ll explain later. I''ll explain in a moment. ...... What''s wrong, old man?" The old man''s voice came from the manacam. "Yes, what is it?Did something happen?" So the old man gave a brief account of the last five days ...... which he had not reported ...... since Jin came to Klein Kingdom out of concern. "I see, so this Oliver merchant wants to hire a magi engineer. <> "Yes. I am curious. I guess Laozi''s master can be my <, or a magical engineer(magi engineer)......." Jin ponders for a moment. I''d like to go there myself, but I think it''s impossible. Then ....... "Okay, I''ll use deus ex machina. The second generation body that I used the other day. It has more advanced functions and is indistinguishable from a human being. And above all, it can be directly controlled by Jin. The old man usually controls it, and Jin can take over when he is free. "Yes, please." > I can''t just call myself a deus ex machina, can I? "Well, ...... Erza, do you have any good ideas?" Jin, who was not confident about the name, was fortunate that Elsa was there, so he asked her for advice. "...... John Dinny." "What?" "JIN NIDOH" I replaced "JIN NIDOH" with "JIN NIDOH" "Uh, JOHN DINI, huh? I see." It may or may not be a good idea, but it is a fake name anyway. Jin decided to go with it. "All right, old man, I''ll go by John Dinny. With that, the communication was cut off. "I''m looking forward to ......." Jin chuckles to himself. He was excited to imagine what kind of materials and technologies the different peoples would have. Erza stared at Jin''s profile, and then sat up. "Elsa?" "......I''m going to rest tonight. Good night." Elsa bent down and kissed Jin lightly on the cheek. Then she turned bright red and ran to her bedroom. "......Good night." Jin, frozen by the suddenness of it all, was finally able to say just that. * * * * * At the same time, on the island of Horai. On the other hand, the old man is changing the appearance of Deus ex Machina 2 a little. Since she is an automata to be used as a versatile substitute, her physique can be changed a little. > A substitute doll (double) whom you will introduce to Oliver, a merchant based in the town of Ismar, as your master. If he is Jin himself, there is a possibility that he will be recognized by his physiognomy, which is a problem. . Brown hair, brown eyes. The old man thought that it would not be noticeable since it is a common color. < Should it be a golem carriage or an ordinary carriage? But since I don''t own a horse-drawn carriage, I have already come to a conclusion. Just to be safe, I will detune ...... to reduce the performance. We have added a mode to make the operation more awkward. Normal mode is the previous behavior. A new downgrade mode has been added for cloaking. The user can take measures to reduce the performance at his/her own discretion. This mode can be toggled by a simple command. The old man has mixed feelings when he sees the awkwardness of the golem horse when he makes it walk. Nevertheless, this would serve the purpose of meeting Oliver and introducing him to the Magi Engineers. The carriage itself will be a conventional one. It is equipped with a warp gate, which should be useful in case of emergency. Even if it is not used, there will be plenty of opportunities to use it again, so it will not go to waste. What is waiting for us beyond the desert? I am looking forward to the day when I will report to Jin. 648 - - 19-35 Then the Kingdom of Klein For three days after the successful operation of Alois III, Jin and Elsa remained in the Kingdom of Klein. The King needed to monitor their progress. In the meantime, Jin and Erza had secretly moved to the village of Kaina to let Hannah, who was worried about them, know that they had been successfully treated. "Oh, yes!Oh-sama, you''re going to be fine, aren''t you? You must be happy, aren''t you, Ojyo-sama?Thank you, Onii-chan and Onee-chan!" Just seeing Hannah''s smile made all the hard work worth it. And then. "Miss Elsa, Mister Jin, I can''t thank you enough." Alois III''s color had improved considerably, and he was now able to thank the two men himself. Although he was still in bed because he was not yet strong enough, he could at least stand up on his upper body on the third day. Jin and his friends had an audience with King Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein in this state. They wanted to directly thank the benefactor who saved their lives. In attendance are three members of the blood family: First Prince Edmond, Second Prince Arthur, and Princess Rieschen. The three members of the cabinet are Prime Minister Powell, Minister of Magic Clarotho Vados Queiroz, and Minister of Defense Fadas Rovs Fairgram. The Prime Ministers make a brief report to the King. Then the illness is explained. "...... Well, eating raw fish is not good for you. ......" Alois III looks disappointed. He must like it very much. "Father, your health is more important, please take care of yourself." Princess Rieschen''s words left the king speechless. "......April and Persica juice are good for you, so please eat them!" Elsa advises. Jin had brought april from Horai Island. He picked 10 apres-ples while they were still hard so that they would keep for a long time. It would be a little more effective if they were made into fresh juice and given to me to drink later. All the fruits from Horai Island have a high percentage of free magic element (ether), and they are especially effective for the sick. It would have been better to have them take a recovery medicine, but there was a risk that they would not accept it in this old-fashioned country, so I decided to give them fruits. "Thank you. I''ll let you squeeze it later." Princess Rieschen received the fruit on behalf of the king and handed it to the king''s personal attendant. Not wanting to burden the sick with too much energy, they all leave the room. They moved to the small conference room. "Now, Mr. Jin, Miss Elsa. It is thanks to you that we were able to resolve this disturbance. The Prime Minister bowed his head and began to speak. "I would like to mention that in the past three days, we were able to eliminate five agents who had infiltrated the kingdom. Although he did not name names, he said that finding the five agents in such a short period of time had made the situation much more open. One of them was Bodemann, a healer who worked in the healing room wing, although he was not named. "The agents used various means to sabotage us." Deliberately prolonging the treatment of the wounded and putting stale food in the meals were cute, but there were also some maneuvers that could have caused economic chaos. The Prime Minister, who looked as if he were chewing a bitter bug, said, "I hate to even think about it. "But these five are not the end of the story. There must be more. I have no intention of slowing down the pursuit. The prime minister''s troubles are likely to continue. And it seems that former Industry Minister Delight was also an agent of the Kingdom of Celuloa. This is because there is no physical evidence, only circumstantial evidence, and the man himself has not confessed to the crime. He claims to have been a member of the Unification Party (Unifiler). I guess it''s true. He knew Elena. "He was successfully groomed by the Hanks family, became the head of the family, and after his wife died, he proudly passed information to the Kingdom of Celuloa, but we have no proof of this." The attempt to get information about the desiccant process from Jin seems to be part of that. "The crime of distributing 300 tons of wheat alone is equivalent to the crime of death. If he finds out what he needs to know, he will be executed sooner or later." The Prime Minister concluded with a somber look on his face. "This golem was obtained by a Delight who sold wheat to a trafficker, but we have modified it and decided to use it in our country." This time it was Minister of Magic Clarotho Bados Keris who spoke up. He is a red-haired, brown-eyed man of medium height. He is not Rekar, the general-purpose golem, but the heavy-duty one. Rekar''s control core had been damaged beyond analysis by Reiko''s blow, and although he did not say so because of the lack of evidence, Jin guessed that it was this golem that had put the servant into . "Thank you, Jin-dono, for your skillful neutralization of the golem. I thank you. "No, I''m happy to be of help in that way. Jin replies with a few casual words. "Oh, and his hot air balloon is not as good as the one Jin-dono gave me, so I decided not to repair it. It had no propulsion engine, so it was natural that he would not repair it. "It seems that the desiccant and dehumidifier are working well together, as well as the desiccant by itself." The prime minister opened his mouth again. This is because a replacement for the Minister of Industry has not yet been found. "We have ordered 100 tons of desiccant from the Shoro Kingdom. They will send it to us in due course. "I see. I repeat, please be careful with moisture. If it catches fire or you get burned, it would be a big problem. "Yes, I''ll be careful." And now the remarks were made by Jin and the others. The first to open her mouth was Elsa. She talked about the disease. "This time, His Majesty has been afflicted with a parasite called . What is it? Prince Arthur asked. "It''s the same worm we took out of you and the other two patients. I believe the eggs or larvae of the parasite were carried in the fish. "My God!" Elsa closed her mouth and thought for a moment before speaking again. "...... Her Highness Princess Rieschen told me that Her Majesty has been visiting the shores of Lake Manuse every year. There must be some locals who have contracted this disease." Elsa broke off again and looked around at the group. "......You are partly responsible for the parasite that Your Highness has been harboring." "......!" Tension ran high on the kingdom''s side. "We have failed to inform His Majesty of the local outbreak of this disease. It would have been irresponsible if we had been so naive as to think that you would be the only one who would be spared." "......" Everyone was speechless. Then the Prime Minister opened his mouth. "......You are absolutely right. ......I am definitely partly to blame for this." He hung his head and seemed even more listless than usual. "I''m the one who gave the order to keep the residents away from the area because His Majesty was going to take a rest. "...... No, it was the soldiers who actually did that, so Powell could not have known if there were sick people around." Prince Arthur consoled the despondent Prime Minister. "It is our brothers ...... who are more to blame, not me. Our father has been there every year, and I have been with him many times. I was unaware that such a disease existed." "Oh come on, are you saying that I can''t care about such things?" "...... brother, I wouldn''t have said that if you didn''t make such a statement in a place like this." Princess Rieschen bowed her head as the brothers exchanged a few words. "......If such a disease is so common around Lake Manuse, then the problem lies with the government for leaving it unchecked. It is our fault for not paying attention to the local problems, for not listening to the local voice, for not helping the local people in their time of need. This has come back to our father. "You are right, Your Highness. It hurts my ears. Defense Minister Fadous Rovs Fairgram spoke up for the first time. "The defense of a country is not only against visible enemies. Disease is also an enemy. Then came the silence. It was Princess Rieschen who broke the silence. "...... Elsa, Jin, I believe that there are many people around Lake Manuse who are afflicted by the same parasite as my father the king. It would be ...... impossible to get them cured. ......" As a human being, I know how you feel. I wish I could do something about it. ....... "Erza is from the Shoro Kingdom, I''m sorry, forget it." Looking at the drooping princess, Erza thought about what she could do and opened her mouth. "First of all, do not feed raw fish with parasites," she said. This is a preventive advice. We must not have more patients. Parasites are killed by cooking. If you must eat them raw, you must treat them properly. "What is the treatment, Elsa?" Princess Rieschen reacted. "Yes, basically engineering magic cannot be used on living creatures. We can use it in the opposite way. We can see if there are any live parasites or eggs in the dead fish before cooking. "Oh, I see. Then you can continue to eat my father''s favorite trotters." This is Prince Arthur. "The first thing we have to do is avoid further parasitic infestations." Elsa continues as if Prince Arthur''s statement is lost on her. "Okay. Thank you, Elsa. We will not depend on anyone else, but we will do what we can do first. Princess Rieschen looked a little more mature as she answered. "About the food..." Jin now said what he had been thinking about. "You might want to consult with the Kingdom of Elias. Since that kingdom is located in the south, it would be relatively easy to increase food production. "Oh, that''s true. It might be a good idea to send them some dried fish. At this point, Jin was thinking of . He had obtained information via the old man that the Marquis of Florenziano had spread the news not only in the capital city of Borgia but also in the whole kingdom. However, he concealed this information and only suggested that he would be assisted with marine products. Likewise, I would suggest that the Kingdom of Egelea, which has the sea, would be asked to help with marine products. After Elsa''s case was settled, I thought about it calmly and realized that there was no need to be concerned about grain. This may have eased the Prime Minister''s burden, albeit slightly. "If you feel tired, Prime Minister, you should drink some fruit juice. "Oh, is that how it is?" Jin casually recommends april juice from Horai Island, which is expected to have a restorative effect. After giving some other advice, Jin and Elsa completed their mission for this visit. * * * * Jin and Elsa were preparing to leave. It''s not much, though. From the outside. It is taking more time to wait for <, who is scattered all over the castle, to come back and put them in boxes, and to get the covert task force (SP) out of the castle. "...... Jin brother, can''t you help the sick?" Elsa said as she was packing. "Elsa is very kind. I''m sure you''ve seen a lot of the dark side of this country. "Yeah. But that''s not the same as abandoning sick people." "Yes, that''s true. I''ll think about it when I get back to ...... Horai Island. "That''s why I love you, Jin." Then Reiko interrupted. "Father, the airship is ready." "Oh, I see." "......" "Jin, Elsa, thank you for everything. I''ll see you soon." Jin, Miss Elsa, please give my regards to the Emperor. We''ll meet again sometime. The airship soared into the sky, escorted by Princess Rieschen and the Prime Minister. The sky of the Kingdom of Klein, which had not been clear for a long time, was blue and seemed to herald the coming of winter. 649 - - 19-36 In the 35 Reinhardt residence... Ivy House (Lankenhaos) in the village of Kaltz, Shoro. It is the residence of Reinhardt and the lord of the house. "...... and so these two are originally servants of Sir Jin Nido, but since he is currently on his way to the Kingdom of Klein by order of His Majesty, they are to work here for the time being." Having gathered the servants, Reinhardt introduced them. "I am Barrow. I know I have a lot to learn, but I will do my best. "My name is Behrle. I am a young man, but I will do my best. I look forward to your guidance and encouragement. Barrow and Behle, who were temporarily working at the Reinhardt residence, were treated the same as the other servants at their own request. * * * * * * * * * "Barrow, you will work with my secretary, Adberg. Yes, sir. ...... Mr. Adberg, thank you very much. "Yes, it''s nice to meet you too. Now, Mr. Barrow, can you do the calculations? "Yes, Mr. Adberg. Yes, Mr. Adberg. "Good, then you can keep this ledger." Barrow first assisted Mr. Adberg as secretary. The ledger he was given was similar to a household account book, in that it kept track of the daily living expenses. The book kept track of incoming and outgoing payments, and the details of each. Since the main source of income is tax revenues, the deposits are made at least on a monthly basis. Therefore, it is the expenses that should be managed exclusively. "Let''s see, food, wages, and miscellaneous expenses ......?" Burroughs peeled his eyes away. It was too general. "Is that all ...... Mr. Adberg?" "Hmm?Is that all?" "Isn''t that a little too rough?I think if you break it down a little more, it will give us a better idea of how much we can save by eliminating waste. Too much detail will only add to the effort, but breaking expenses down into smaller pieces often helps us find unnecessary spending. "Why don''t we at least break it down into hygiene, transportation, housing, sundries, and other expenses?" "Hmm. Where did you learn such a way of doing things? Yes, at Mr. Jin''s place. I see. Master Jin is a man of rational thought. We can learn a lot from him. I''m sorry, but can you tell us more about the division? Yes, of course. We can start with ......." * * * * Behle, can you fold this up for me? Yes, sir. Behle is assisting the two maidservants. Both were from the village of Kaltz, ages 17 and 19, and had come to work as apprentices. They are also here to work as apprentices. "It''s easy because Bella-san, an automata, does the hard work for us. Kaara, a 17-year-old maid of honor, said as she folded the laundry. Bella is an automata created by Reinhardt, with purple hair and black eyes. The model for her appearance (Reinhardt does not say) seems to be Meine. She has large breasts and a calm atmosphere. "Oh, I hate the fire shiners, they''re so troublesome!" The other maid of honor, Dessa, is 19 years old. She is 19 years old and blurts out as she hangs a fire iron on her shirt. Behle, who had casually peeked at her hand, looked at her with wide-eyed amazement. "What is that? Dessa was holding a triangular piece of iron. "What''s that? Haven''t you seen it? "What?Is it something that you use to wrinkle your clothes?" "Yes, I have.Have you never used it before? "No. ......" Indeed, Behle had never seen a fire iron before coming to Jin''s place. It was not used in his native village of Magirutu, and in his first apprenticeship with a nobleman in the Kingdom of Selroa, it was a menial task and a chore. It was not until I started working for Jin that I learned to wrinkle clothes. "Um, don''t you use an iron?" And at Jin''s place, he used an iron. "<>?What''s that?" "Oh, could you wait a moment?" Behle remembered that he had a small iron in his luggage and went to get it. Jin had made it for him. Most of the clothes Jin wears are made of GSS (ground spider silk), which is a , so to speak, that does not wrinkle when washed and retains the same texture as when it was first tailored. However, the coats and jackets that Jin received from other countries and the blouses and dresses that Erza originally owned were silk, linen, and wool fabrics, so they needed to be finished after washing, and in the process, she learned how to iron them. "...... sorry to keep you waiting." At that time, Jin took the trouble to make an iron for me to practice with and gave it to me for my personal use, so I had it in my baggage this time as well. "What''s that? "This is called an iron. You put a magic stone (magistone) in here. ......" The heat source is not a magi crystal but a magi stone. Of course, it has a simple temperature control. This is hemp, isn''t it? If so, blow a lot of mist on it ......" Linen tends to wrinkle easily, so moisten it thoroughly before ironing with a hot iron. The trick is to iron it with a lot of force so that the wrinkles are stretched out. "......" "......" "Woolen fabrics should be covered with a cloth. The temperature should be slightly lukewarm." Not only the two maidservants, but also Bella, the automaton, watched Behrle as she finished her work with great dexterity. The two ladies-in-waiting, as well as Bella, the automaton, were staring at him. That night, Adberg and Bella reported to their master, Reinhardt. "......Well, that''s a djinn. Then Bella can teach him some court etiquette and how to address the nobility in return. "Yes, Master." Adberg is ...... well, can you teach him a few simple self-defense tricks? Can you teach him some simple self-defense techniques? Adberg, a master of the physical arts, could teach them, Reinhard thought. "Yes, but only the real basics, since it will only be for a short period of time. Yes, that''s fine. ...... can deal with the business of daily life at Jin''s place, but it is difficult to deal with the various nobility. Please make sure that you both educate your master Jin so that he will not be embarrassed. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. "......Yes, you must lower your eyes a little and never look the customer in the eye. If you look too low, it is rude. Look at the mouth. "Yes." "When you are showing the customer around, walk diagonally in front of the customer so as not to block his/her line of sight." Yes. "When you are holding a customer''s baggage, you should use ......." "When opening the door, go to ......." "......" to see the guests off before they leave. The next day, Bella began lecturing two hours a day on customer service. Kaala and Dessa attended the class together. "There is a difference. When you bow deeply, do not cross your hands in front of your stomach. Do you have a stomach ache?Look carefully. This is how to do it. ......" "Be careful to make as little noise as possible when lowering the dishes." Bella''s instruction was quite strict, but Barrow and Behle learned well because of the valuable experience and the sincerity of their efforts. Kaala and Dessa were not very motivated at first, but seeing how seriously Barrow and Behle were working, they changed their minds and started to work harder. "Well, it looks like Jin got a good recruiter. Reinhardt was surprised to see that the two tattered boys he had picked up on his way back to Japan had become so useful. "No!Pull your right leg back more! "Yes, yes!" Adberg gives us an hour a day of self-defense lessons. First he is learning footwork. "That''s right. You take a half step back with your right foot, and then you move your body halfway around with your left foot on the axis. With this, you can avoid a straight line attack. Practice alternating left and right. This is not something that can be learned overnight, but once you have the basics down, you can apply them. "If your lower body is not stable, you will not be able to achieve greatness in any martial art. You must train it on a regular basis. Yes, sir! Barrow and Behle, you will grow up a little more. * * * * "This morning, the regular contact with the Kingdom of Klein informed us that the djinn have successfully completed their mission and will be returning. That would mean that they will arrive in Leuthart tomorrow. I see! "I see!" "Yes. Then your work here is over. I thank you for your hard work in the short time you''ve been here. Thank you for everything! Thus, Barrow and Behle return to the house of Reuthert. Reinhardt considers the possibility of taking them to Leuthart''s house via the warp gate. (...... I think it would be more convenient to tell them about the warp gate soon. I''ll discuss it with Jin.) And another story is coming up: ....... 650 - - 19-37 Something like an epilogue Jin and his friends departed from Klein Kingdom and went to Horai Island by Condor 3 instead of going to Shoro Kingdom. They plan to spend the whole day here. Elsa! Help me out here! "Yes. What are you doing? I''m going to make a special automaton. Special?What does it do? Well, you''ll see. ...... Reiko, what do you have? Yes, father. It''s ready. Okay. In front of Erza''s eyes, Jin begins to make the automata. Slowly, but not hurriedly. In other words, 80% of the work was completed in about 30 minutes. As Erza looked at them, she realized that she was still not as good as Jin. "...... female model?" The skeleton, muscles, tactile sensors, and a temporary magical skin are all indicative of a female form. "Oh, yes. And I was thinking of having Elsa do the finishing touches to her appearance. Why me? Why me?Because ...... this automaton is a <>." "Medical ......" At that moment, Elsa remembered. < "......Thank you." Then Erza thinks about her appearance. "......Dr. Sally." She decided to look a little like Sally, whom she admires as a healer. She named her . At the same time, Jin creates a mini-golem for surgery. <. Whether it is named after Tom and Jack or the legendary black doctor is not known. A few days later, a mysterious female healer wanders up to the shores of Lake Manuse, cures parasitism and other diseases, cautions people against contracting them, accepts a small reward, and then leaves for someplace else. * * * * * * * * * * "Do you know what happened to the lady-in-waiting, old man?And what about the family of the servant who was silenced? In Klein''s kingdom, he did not tell Jin and the others, and Jin did not ask, but as time went by, he became curious. "Well, that''s good to hear." Rieschen had thought it over. "The stipulation?" << About one million yen. Jin could not decide whether it was too much or too little, but he thought that it was inevitable if it was a rule at the time of employment. The next day, he asked for a rough estimate of the amount of money. The next day, after calculating the approximate time, Jin and Erza returned to Shoro by airship. In Leuthart, they were received by the Prime Minister. Without any further ceremony, Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Edgar go to the Prime Minister''s office. There they found the female emperor, "Welcome back, Sir Jin Nido and court-appointed healer Elsa. I''m back. "I managed to fulfill my mission ......." The emperor looks at Elsa humbly and smiles. "No, you did fine. King Klein himself thanked me in this morning''s regular call. He was short, though, as he is not yet strong enough. The emperor is in a good mood. "This is a great achievement. Even with Jin''s help, you were able to clarify the cause of the unknown disease and successfully cure it. Then the Empress turned serious and looked at the Prime Minister. Then the Prime Minister realized and opened his mouth. "For this achievement, I grant permission to Elsa of the former House of Randall to rebuild the House of Randall. You may rebuild the House of Randall or start a new one. Her title shall be Baronet." "......" Erza was startled and speechless at this sudden announcement. A junior baron in the Shoro Kingdom is above a baronet. In other words, higher than Jin, who is an honorary baron. Jin is a Magecraft Meister and an honorary advisor to the Imperial Household, so in that sense he is far superior to him. This is an internal matter within the Shoro Empire, and Erza is considered superior to Jin in this sense. As a side note, in England, barons and below are commoners and not considered as nobles. In this respect, it differs from the Shoro Kingdom. "Since this is an urgent matter, you should think carefully about what you are going to do and give me your answer. You have five days. If I do not hear from you by then, the House of Randall will be reinstated. "......I understand." Jin then continued with a report on the series of disturbances caused by former Industry Minister Delight, the reaction of the Kingdom of Klein to the desiccant, and the food situation. "......It''s been harder than we thought, thank you for your hard work." The empress thanked them for their hard work. "We have received another order for desiccant, so we have just sent out 10 tons to start with. We''ll have five of those carry it. It seems that Goliath, a giant golem, can carry about two tons of cargo by itself. They left Loisart the day before yesterday, as it would be a demonstration of the Shoro Kingdom''s magical technology. "Has the Kingdom of Cerroa agreed?" It is necessary to pass through the Kingdom of Celuloa to get to the Kingdom of Klein from the Shoro Kingdom. Jin couldn''t believe that that kingdom had given permission so easily. "As you can imagine. There was a lot of diplomatic communication. The emperor did not seem to want to tell Jin and the others about the various exchanges. It is not something that Jin is eager to know. When all the reports were finished, it was already dusk outside. In the twilight, Jin and the others take a quick flight in the airship and head for the mansion. The house''s rooftop was lit up by a magic lamp, and they were able to land easily. "Welcome home, Jin-sama, Erza-sama! Barrow and Behrle greeted Jin and the others. "I''m back... you''re both back..." You''re both back, aren''t you? Yes. Yesterday afternoon we received word from Reinhardt-sama that Jin-sama and the others were returning, and we were waiting for them here today after noon. Congratulations on your safe return and on your great performance. Thank you. Jin was happy to see that the two of them had grown up a little after learning many things at Reinhardt''s place, even if it was only for a short period of time. * * * * * * * * * * * * By the way, at this stage, Barrow and Behle were given further explanations about the Warp Gate by Reinhardt. This is the result of consultation between Jin and Reinhardt. The reason why it is not from Jin is that Reinhardt is able to explain the details in a blurred manner by <. It was November 15. It was the day before Jin and Erza returned from the Kingdom of Klein. "I think it''s about time you guys knew about this. Reinhard explained again from the beginning. "Jin has several warp gates, which are <>. They are not placed everywhere, but they are placed near his strongholds and the strongholds of his close friends." So far, so review. "Those who have been approved by Jin can pass through this warp gate. From now on, you can too. Reinhard remembers how surprised Barrow and Behle were when he explained this to them. "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Barrow shouted in surprise. And what about Behle? "Are you sure? At first glance, he did not seem that surprised, but I could see that his eyes were swimming. Their excitement reached a climax when they were about to make the jump from the basement of Reinhardt''s house to the Reuthert house. Perhaps because I had explained to them that only authorized people could pass through, or that if they failed to make the transition, they did not know where they would end up, they were nervous, and the excitement and tension seemed to have put them in an unintelligible state of mind. "La, Reinhardt-sama, are you sure you''re okay?" "...... can you move around properly?" "Yes, I''m fine. Let''s go." Since their magic patterns have not yet been registered, Barrow and Behle step into the warp gate while holding on to Reinhardt. They emerge not into Reuthert, but into . There, they find Butlers 49 and 50, who are in charge of security. "Uh, sir, what is this place?" "You didn''t fail to ...... move, did you?" Reinhardt explains to the two anxious people. "This is the halfway point. Anyone who looks suspicious will not be able to go anywhere from here. They say this is the bottom of the ocean. If they are marooned here, there''s not much we can do about it. "Hee,hee,hee,......" "U, is it at the bottom of the sea? ......" Now the two are pale. Reinhardt quieted them and they stepped into the warp gate to Leuthart. The three arrived at the basement of Jin''s mansion in Leuthart. When they reached the surface, Barrow and Behrle let out a sigh of relief. "Wow, this is amazing!We are really in Leuthart!" "We''ve been here for such a short time ......!It''s like a dream!" Now they are blushing with excitement. Reinhardt remembers to nail them both. "...... Listen, this is a secret, okay?Don''t talk about it to others lightly.If you can''t keep it, I don''t care what happens. Yes, yes! I will definitely protect you!" So, when Jin suddenly arrives at the house, the two are no longer in a panic. Jin is relaxing at Reuthert''s house for the first time in a while. But Erza is not in good spirits at all. "......Erza, what''s wrong?" When asked, Elsa answered honestly. "...... I was thinking about the revival of the family. "Well,...... I can''t really say anything about that,...... so why don''t you go to your parents'' house and talk to your mother about it?" "...... is that okay?" "Yeah. Of course. You can use the warp gate to fly to Reinhardt''s place in no time. At Jin''s suggestion, Erza thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes, I''ll try that. ...... Thanks, Jin." Jin then called out to Erza. "Yes, Erza, here. Jin stopped her and held out a ring. "A guard ring ......?I have it, but..." "No, this is ...... "......Ah." Jin quickly took Erza''s left hand and put a guard ring on her ring finger. Erza stared at the ring intently. It was made of rainbow-colored magi crystals, just like the other guard rings, but with a small light blue aquamarine accent. "Brother Jin, this is ......." "That''s how I feel. You can go to ...... your parents'' house and relax. You must be tired after everything you''ve been through." Jin says this while turning away from me. His visible ears are red. "Thank you, Jin. I''m off. Erza turned away with a blush on her cheeks. Edgar, let''s go. Erza then disappeared into the basement where the warp gate was located. "......I''m on Erza''s side no matter what conclusion you come to." Jin''s voice did not reach Erza as he muttered quietly, "I''m on your side, no matter what you conclude. ....... 651 - - 20-01 New beginnings On the island of Horai, the old man was reporting to Jin. Of course, it was about the exchange with the merchant Oliver and its progress. It is November 20, 3457, and winter is just around the corner. > * * * * On the appointed day, the 14th, before noon, <, the old man''s mobile terminal, visited Oliver''s store with John Dinny, a deus ex machina with a slightly modified appearance, as he and Jin had agreed. "Mr. Oliver, are you there? "Oh, Mr. Roshi, it''s been a while. ...... is that you? Yes, I''m John, the Magi Engineer I told you about. Nice to meet you, my name is John Dinny. Nice to meet you, I''m Oliver, a merchant. After the introductions, Oliver spoke first to Lao Tzu. "Mr. Roshi, first of all, I would like to sell you the sandworm leather you promised me. "What?You haven''t finished talking with John yet, have you? "Yes, but Mr. Roshi has kept his word. The contract with Mr. John is our problem. So I would like to keep my word." Oliver was quite disciplined. Lao Tzu accepted his offer and bought 50 sandworm leathers for the low price of 25,000 dollars. This was half the market price. This was half the market price. Sandworm leather is resilient and durable. It is more than enough material for a middle class golem. "Well then, I think I will take my leave. Lao Tzu knew that Oliver did not want anyone else to hear about his discussion with John, so he decided to leave the room. John, I''m leaving now. If you need anything else, come and see me. However, I wish you good luck with the contract. "Yes, Mr. Roshi, thank you for your help. I look forward to working with you again when the time comes. The two say a superficial goodbye. Both of them are run by the old lord of Horai Island. Thus, Laozi leaves Oliver''s store. (It seems that the master''s substitute doll (double) will not have a turn.) ) He had prepared Jin''s double doll just in case, but he did not have to show it. Lao Tzu went back to the carriage and sent 50 pieces of sandworm leather to Horai Island. Now, Oliver and John. "Why did you accept my invitation, Mr. John? Oliver asked. It is a reasonable question, since it is unlikely that anyone would be so eager to accept an uncertain request. Of course, the old man in control has already prepared the answer. "I would like to see the new world. "A new world ......?" Naturally, Oliver does not know what he really means. "Yes. "Yes. One of the ways to do that is to use our magical skills to create new ones. It is another to make use of one''s power in an undiscovered land." Oliver''s expression wavered slightly at the mention of "a heaven yet to be seen. "...... are you interested in the other side of the desert, Mr. John?" "...... I do." Oliver looked surprised at the honest, or rather too honest, answer. "...... you know about the stories about the different peoples living beyond the desert?" John nodded with an unconcerned face. "Only rumors." "...... aren''t you afraid of them?" "What is?" "...... that if you do anything that benefits the enemy, you will be considered a traitor and punished?" John laughed. "Where is the enemy?We are not fighting or engaging in hostilities." Oliver was even more surprised to hear that. "......No, well, you''re right. ......" Then he chuckles, "......That''s odd, isn''t it?" He said. Then he continued, "I''m looking forward to working with you." and held out his hand. John shook his hand back. * * * * * * * * < and John Dinny successfully slipped into the room. John nodded. "You did good. What happened after that?" "10 days later or ......" <> Haste makes waste, Jin reminded himself, and tightened the reins on his racing mind. "I guess we''ll just have to take our time over there. I''ll just ...... do what I have to do." Then he looked back at Reiko. "Reiko, help me!" Reiko answers with a big smile. "Yes, Father!" Using light silver, adamantite, and dark magic crystals, Jin quickly created a small magic machine. This was the dream machine that he had been thinking about for a long time. In other words, <>. It generates the same kind of force as the <> we confirmed in the experiment the other day, in any direction and at any magnitude. Reiko is going to experiment with this. "Reiko, this is a magic machine that generates <>. Attach it near your center of gravity. If you do so, you will be able to ...... um, what did I say ...... ah, yes, <>." The detailed explanation was given to Reiko via . "Okay, so you want me to confirm the practicality of this device?" "Yes. Can you do that? "Of course. I will do whatever it takes to help your father. Thus, Jin attached a <> to Reiko''s center of gravity, slightly below her ...... abdomen. Wiring mithril silver magical nerve wires, he also distributes the magical energy from the magical reactor (Magi Reactor). "Okay, that''s it. Reiko, <>" Yes, Father. How are you feeling?You must be about a kilo heavier. Reiko checks it with small movements, bending and twisting her body back and forth, left and right, and then answers. "Yes, I have no problem with my balance at all. "Then, you think you can do it?" "Yes. So Jin and Reiko went out to the plaza in front of the institute. "Okay, let''s try it here. Take it easy, okay? "Yes, father." Reiko replied and disappeared. A moment later, there was a loud rattling sound. I looked and saw a large hole in the outer wall of the institute. Reiko had easily knocked a hole through the outer wall, which is made of chert, a dense and hard rock. "Reiko, are you all right? Jin shouts out in concern, and Reiko appears, pushing aside the rubble. "...... father, I''m sorry for what I did ......" She then got down on her knees in front of Jin. 652 - - 20-02 Great success Jin hurriedly checked Reiko''s body. There was no damage anywhere. As expected of the world''s most powerful automata made of rare materials. "Reiko, help me fix the lab." Jin stopped her from getting down on her knees and instructed Reiko to help him. Reiko obediently follows his instructions. "Yes, sir. Father, I''ll ask Soleil and Luna to help too. "Right." These days, Soleil and Luna, Reiko''s assistant golems, often stay at Jin''s house by the institute. Fortunately, the two had come out when they were startled by the sound of Reiko breaking through the institute''s wall, and Jin decided to have them help him repair the exterior wall. It was fortunate that the broken wall was in an empty room. The pieces were put back together and repaired using engineering magic <. In less than half an hour, the laboratory was restored to its original state. "Well, that''s it. Thank you for your hard work, Soleil and Luna. Yes, I''m back at home now. Please call me again if you need anything else. Soleil and Luna bowed and returned to Jin''s house. Jin checked with Reiko. "Reiko, do you know the cause of this movement? "Yes, father. Yes, father. It was because the output of the Magni Reactor was too large. Even that was less than one percent. ......" "So it was less than one percent. ...... I knew it. ......" Jin had an inkling. < "When you use gravity magic to reduce your weight to near zero, you need about 20 percent of the output, but this new, force field generator, is it really that efficient?" Jin nodded. "Yes. Gravity magic, in other words, is magic that generates gravitational acceleration. But this force field generator is, as the name implies, generating force. Gravitational acceleration, in theory, affects everything in a hypothetical straight line, whereas force acts only on a single point. No wonder the efficiency is different, Jin explained his reasoning. Jin does not explain everything. Force is the product of mass and acceleration according to Newton''s equation of motion <>. I can imagine that the nature of this acceleration may be fundamentally different from that of gravity magic, but Jin, who is not a physicist, could only explain so much. Nevertheless, it is enough to recognize the facts. Nevertheless, it is enough to recognize the facts and to apply them. <, he adds, if we can make it less wasteful, we should be able to send a big stone, or even a rock, flying with less magic power. I understand. I''ll try it this time with even less magic power. "Wait. It might be dangerous here, let''s go to the beach. So, Hitoshi and Reiko rode Pegasus 1 to the beach. At Tatsumi Bay, Marin1 and Aqua1 were drying out the tengusa (a kind of seaweed). "Master, what''s going on? Aqua 1 asks, to which Jin simply replies. "Oh, I came to test Reiko''s new function. It might be dangerous, so could you please stay away from me for a while?" "Sure." Jin himself puts up a solid physical barrier. Thinking back on it, I am still horrified to think that I would have been bounced out of the way when Reiko ran out of control just now. However, it was only the magnitude of the force that Reiko could not control, not the direction, so that should not have happened. "Okay, that''s good." Jin, who had deployed the Solid Barrier, signaled through the manacam. Reiko also replies through the built-in manacam. "Yes, father. Then I will go. With those words, Reiko starts to run forward toward the ...... sea at a speed of about 50 km/h. She does not move her legs. Well, maybe not really sprinting, since she is not moving her feet. Leaving a line on the beach, Reiko flew in a straight line. "Oh, wow!" Reiko suddenly changed the direction of her sprint as she reached the ocean. She instantly changes direction and comes back in a straight line. Then she came to a stop right in front of Jin. "Father, I''ve found out the approximate degree of the speed..." "I see." Looking at her feet as she came to a halt, returning exactly where she had started, I could imagine that Reiko had grasped this new functionality. "Then I''ll try the three-dimensional maneuver your father mentioned." "Take it easy." Yes, sir. I''ll go then. Now Reiko''s body started to move upward. "Oh, oh!" As Jin watched, Reiko slowly rose to an altitude of about 10 meters and stopped there. "Father, please look." With these words, Reiko jumped out horizontally this time. Her speed must have exceeded 100 kilometers per hour. At first she flew in a straight line toward the sea, but when she reached the surface, she did somersaults. After ten somersaults in a row, he did a reverse somersault this time. After one rotation, she did another somersault in the forward direction. In other words, Reiko is showing a figure-eight somersault. Next, she ascends and descends rapidly. She flies horizontally in a large arc. With time, the speed became faster and the radius of the turn became smaller. Jin watches excitedly. Reiko then leaps upward at an angle with great force. "Whoa!" A boom. It''s the sonic boom that happens when you cross the sound speed barrier. Naturally, Reiko is nowhere to be seen. Then, in an instant, Reiko seems to come back, and is stopped on the sea. Moving slowly, Reiko lands next to Jin. "Father, is this enough for the test?" Jin released the barrier and picked up Reiko. "Yes, that''s enough. That''s great, Reiko!You''ve done it!" But she immediately lets go of his hand. "Ah-chi-chi!" Reiko had been flying around at supersonic speeds and was overheated by the adiabatic compression of the air. "Are you all right, father?" Reiko''s temperature-generating function also has the function of cooling down her body that has been heated up. Thanks to this, Reiko, who normally would have been too hot to be burned, was only a little hot. "Oh, I''m fine." Still, Jin smiles happily. "Reiko, is there anything wrong?And you noticed anything? "Yes, nothing is wrong. Yes, I have noticed that it is difficult to rotate my body. "Oh, I see." The current function is, as I say, only linear motion in the 3-dimensional axes ...... X-axis (horizontal 1), Y-axis (horizontal 2), and Z-axis (vertical) axes. If we add a rotational function to this, we can freely move and change the direction in three-dimensional space. "All right, let''s start improving it. Jin and Reiko boarded Pegasus 1 and returned to the laboratory. "Rotational force, or torque. Then, if the moment arm is short, the efficiency will be low. ...... Talking to himself, Jin added new functions. To generate rotation, the point of action should be located far from the center of gravity. Therefore, he equipped both shoulders and hips with force field generators for attitude control, which can be freely changed in any direction. "That''s it. Reiko, give it a try." Reiko was activated again, checked again, and then tested a third time. "Okay, let''s go." This time the test was to be conducted in front of the institute. Reiko, who had ascended to 100 meters above the ground just to be sure, started with a slow rotation around her body axis and gradually increased the speed of her rotation. If she were a human being, she would have been dizzy and fainted by now, but Reiko was unperturbed. She then ascended and descended as if to check her condition. She also curled her body and rolled in the air. "Oh, that''s brilliant. ......" Jin was on Pegasus 1, observing from 100 meters above the ground. "Hmmm, we have to seriously consider the problem of air resistance when it comes to this. ......" It is still inefficient for an object shaped like Reiko to go supersonic. Heat generation by adiabatic compression of air is also a problem. "I wonder if we can do something about this by applying wind boundaries. ......" Reiko waves to Jin as she flies freely through the air. Jin begins to formulate a new idea as he watches her. 653 - - 20-03 Supersonic. Since there seemed to be nothing more that could be done that day, Jin and Reiko landed and returned to the laboratory. Jin, with the help of Reiko, creates the basic data for 3D maneuvers. This data will be used for other golems and aircrafts without having to start all over again. The work is completed by storing the data in the old man''s memory bank. Jin then modifies Reiko. "Well, the current method would probably work if it were not for Reiko. ......" Sudden acceleration, sudden braking, sharp turns. All of them must generate tremendous acceleration. "Not tens of Gs, but hundreds ...... of Gs.Acceleration?" Jin suddenly thought back to the operation method of the force field generator. "Force, after all, is equal to the acceleration exerted on a mass. In other words, ......" If used properly, there is a possibility that the acceleration pressure called "G" will not be generated. "<> is the case ...... because the force is exerted only on the necessary objects. ......" The current force field generator "Force Generator" is exerting force on a point. Jin''s idea was to ask if it is possible to exert this force on the entire object. "Of course we can!" Based on this idea, he improved the force field generator "Force Generator. "With this method, we should be able to freely rotate and move in a straight line. The force generator has been improved so that it can determine the called Reiko and exert its effect on it. This includes objects that Reiko holds in her hand (limited to a certain size) or wears. This has the advantage of eliminating the effect of inertia, since the same force is applied to each atom of the material that makes up Reiko. Reiko''s 3D maneuvering until now was possible because of her strong body. If a living creature could do the same, it would be flattened by inertia. It took about an hour to complete the modification. A special Magni Reactor was also added. Having such an independent energy source improves the reliability of the system. In addition, the usual overall review, maintenance, and adjustment are also performed. Jin, who is even more concerned about the weight, succeeded in getting Reiko''s weight back to the original 30 kg, while increasing the strength by 5 percent by changing the materials. "Okay, Reiko, <>." "Yes, father." Reiko got up and told him that her condition had not only not changed, but had even improved. "Please test the operation." "Yes, sir. I''ll be right there! Reiko slowly rose out of the institute and flew freely in the dusk sky. "Father, it''s amazing. Your body is as light as a feather. And yet you are full of power! "Well, it''s a great success!" Reiko says a little excitedly as she lands on the ground. It must have been the first time for her too. "With this, I''m sure I won''t lose my weight when I push heavy things, for example. "Oh, yes, that''s right." For Reiko, who weighs only 30 kg, it was mechanically impossible to push a 300 kg object unless her feet were firmly on the ground. From now on, however, the force field generator "Force Generator" supports her. Reiko is now even more powerful. "Okay, that''s it for today. Let''s have dinner. Under the sky where the early stars were twinkling, Jin and Reiko went to the house guarded by Soleil and Luna. Soleil made dinner of white rice, miso soup with wakame seaweed, meat topopo, fried eggs, hijiki and deep-fried tofu, and pickled Chinese cabbage. Jin ate as much as he could because of all his favorite foods. Today, unusually, Jin is the only one at home. Hannah and Elsa are also absent. Reiko, Soleil, Luna and the others are basically silent unless Jin speaks, so the house is quiet. All he hears is the sound of insects, and Jin feels a little lonely. "...... I''m going to take a bath." It is already dark outside, and the moon is rising. Jin headed for the open-air bath. "Ah, it''s so relaxing. Jin stretches out his arms and legs and relaxes in the hot spring. Reiko is with him. "Your father has been very busy these days." Reiko seems to be in a good mood, alone with Jin. (I remember the old days. ......) When Jin was still visiting Blueland and Potrock, it was Reiko who supported him. Even now, Jin''s trust in her has not changed. Reiko is the automaton that Jin trusts the most. "Tomorrow, I want to apply the force field generator to engines. If it is applied to aircraft, it will be able to fly in a vacuum. Jin soaked himself in the hot water with various fantasies. "But, ...... air resistance would be a problem. Jin is thinking about it. He moves his hands in the hot water, feels the resistance with his palms, and tries various things. Eventually he got tired of this and dipped the hand towel on his head into the hot water. No one said it was bad manners. The hot water here comes from the bottom and is constantly being renewed, so there is no accumulation of dirt. Jin played a game called < with a hand towel. It had been more than a decade since he had played this game as a child. As Jin was watching the air wrapped in the hand towel forming bubbles and making a sound like "ssshhhh", the bubbles popped and disappeared, he suddenly felt a flash of inspiration. "...... hmm?Wait a minute." I remember reading in a comic book about a future technology called <>. It is only a hazy knowledge that torpedoes and submarines are wrapped with air bubbles to reduce water resistance and reach several hundred kilometers per hour underwater ......, but it was still a revelation to the present Jin. "If it''s propelled by a force field generator, it''s irrelevant!" "Father?" Reiko looked at Jin who unintentionally shouted out loud with a doubtful look on her face. "Nn, ah, ah... No, I''ve got an idea to eliminate the resistance of air and water. "That''s my father!What kind of method? "Yes, I knew we could reduce air resistance by using wind shields. But that was not possible because the magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine) sucks in air and sprays it. But ......" "So, if it''s propelled by a force field generator, it doesn''t matter!That''s what I thought. Then you can also say that for the Magi Water Jet, right? "That''s right. The mermaids, for example. Their underwater mobility will be two or three orders of magnitude different. I''m looking forward to tomorrow. Reiko smiled happily at Jin''s happy muttering profile. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, on the 21st, Jin immediately decided to install the force field generator "Force Generator" in Pegasus 1. Since aerodynamic steering is naturally impossible with the wind-shielding wards in place, the "force generator" is also used to change direction. The adjustment was rather time-consuming, and unusually for Jin, it took the entire morning to complete. Of course, a new type of wind shielding was also installed. "Okay. Let''s do a test run before lunch. "Father, it''s dangerous, let me take care of this." As Jin was about to get in, Reiko interrupted him. "Well, I guess I don''t have a choice." Jin accepted Reiko''s offer. He thinks it will be all right, and he will be able to get on the train sooner in the end. "Well then, I''m off." Reiko boards Pegasus 1 and takes off first with the normal magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine). Jin rushed to the mana telecam at the laboratory and connected it to Reiko. "Reiko, how are you doing? < And Reiko turned on the switch. Reiko''s appearance on the mana telecam does not change. < And Reiko turns on another switch. The mana-telecom still can''t tell what''s going on. But the old man reported back. He easily broke the supersonic speed barrier. And that''s without sonic booms. Reiko, is there anything wrong with her maneuverability? < Reiko then reported again that she could see Reiko operating the controls for a while, although the mana-telecam could not tell as usual. < "Okay, thanks for your hard work. Come back soon." Jin, wanting to get on board as soon as possible, breathlessly orders Reiko to return to the ship. 654 - - 20-04 Reflections and self-discipline "Oh, so this is supersonic. ......" Jin and Reiko are flying overhead in Pegasus 1. At the moment, the maximum speed is 3600 kilometers per hour, or about Mach 3. This is calculated based on the results of the measurements taken by the Magi Radar. In the vacuum created by the wind-shield, the speed can be increased as much as possible, but there is a limit. That is, the speed at which the boundary is generated. At speeds over 3,600 kilometers per hour, the speed at which the warding was created could not keep up, and the nose of Pegasus 1 would be outside the warding. "But that''s still an unbelievable speed," he says. The speed of making a round of this planet, Ars, in two hours is certainly an unbelievable speed. After enjoying the supersonic speed for a while, Jin decides to modify other air forces after landing. Once Jin builds them and registers them in the control core for the old man''s memory, the craftsmen (smiths) will build them for him. Thus, all aircraft would be equipped with force field generators, eliminating the need to glide for takeoff. "Of course, it can also be used for ships and golems." Hydro boats and Mermaid Golem were modified first. The Mermaid''s top speed reaches 500 kilometers per hour thanks to its underwater water avoidance wards. Here, Jin has to reflect on his actions and take a lesson to himself. "Old man, what about the three aircraft carriers?" The 20,000-ton class aircraft carriers began to be built during the war against the Unification Party (Unifiler). The first of them, the , had already been completed. and the third ship have also been completed, Myoko is at Tatsumi Bay and Asama is still in dock, waiting for the launching ceremony. "Oh?I didn''t know that. ......" I had been to Tatsumi Bay earlier for Reiko''s test, but I didn''t notice it. I was probably too engrossed in the test. "...... That''s all right, old man, but I need to talk to you about something." "The need for an aircraft carrier. The carrier was built because it was inefficient to launch air power from Horai Island every time, but the Unification Party (Unifiler) was dismantled before it was ever used. With the completion of the transporter, it was now possible to launch a sortie instantly and to any place, not to mention returning home. "......It''s my fault for having done it on the spur of the moment, though." <<> The old man follows Jin. Jin could not help but feel that he was being told something slightly out of line, but he decided to change his mind. "Well, there is nothing more to say. ...... So, what I''m asking is if we should modify the three vessels." <> "What I''m thinking of is a < so to speak." As a weapon, a versatile ship is certainly useful, but it has the disadvantage of lacking the decisive power. In other words, it falls into the category of a general-purpose ship rather than a versatile ship. However, since it was made by Jin, it was thought that at least this concern would be as small as possible. The old man will consider the advantages and disadvantages of the project before he responds. > "That''s the thing. ......3 I also think that we should try to make a trimaran type ship by using the right number of ships. ......" <<> The three ships together would be 60,000 tons, maybe 70,000 tons if you consider the connected decks and so on. That would be more than the former superdreadnought battleship . "Yes, I know. That''s why I''m wondering. ......" "Father, why don''t you start an invincible fleet?" Reiko, who had been listening in silence, interrupted. "......I''m sure your father remembers ...... destroyers, light cruisers, heavy cruisers, cruisers, battleships, aircraft carriers, craft, supply ships, submarines, minesweepers.... ...etc.?" "I don''t think that''s a good idea." Immediately, Hitoshi said no. I understand Reiko''s feelings and I would like to build one, but I don''t think there is any use for it. Even in World War II, carriers and aircraft were more important than battleships. If you are thinking of fighting, it is more advantageous to have more air power. If you do not intend to fight, then the fleet is useless. "......Yes, that''s true." There is the example of Reiko. Jin has a character to cherish what he likes. Jin nodded his head at the old man''s suggestion. "Ah, I see. ......, for example, going to the potlocks?" <<< That''s the important point. In terms of aircraft, it would be the equivalent of an airship. If you can''t show it in public, you can''t use it in many situations. "I would like to visit Potlock and Eckert''s place. And then there are the demons'' territorial waters. I can think of a few other uses, like catching fish and transporting them to help with famine. << "Yes. ......" Jin thought about it. I don''t want to do anything halfway. But I don''t want to make something that can''t be used. "I guess we''ll have to make a few ships of different sizes. ......" Anything less than 10 meters would be uninhabitable. 20 meters would be halfway. "If we assume ......, it would be about 50 meters?" The ship being built by Eckart Tekles, a wealthy merchant in the southern part of the Kingdom of Selroa, was 40 meters long. 50 meters would be within the norm, somehow. <> "Hydro class." The minimum number of vessels is two. Jin thought this was well within the bounds of common sense and gathered his thoughts. "Father, where do you think such a big ship was made?" "Oh, ......" The location of Horai Island is a secret. It would be possible to claim that it is owned by deus ex machina, but it would be tough to claim that it is owned by Jin. "Oh, ......, there are so many problems." Unlike airplanes, this is a highly visible object, so there is a risk that it could be deceptive. <> The old man, who could not see Jin''s concern, decided to make a proposal. > "That''s not bad. "That''s not a bad idea." < On modern Earth, that size would be a destroyer, but the old man continues. >. Jin wondered what the old man was going to fight against, but then he thought about it, the sea power was certainly lacking compared to the air power. "I''ll leave that to ....... But what do I want?" Certainly, it would be easier to form an image if you see the real thing in front of you. Jin allowed it. "Then, start working on the first ship for each of them right away." "Well, we named the aircraft carrier and battleship after mountains, the cruiser after a river, and the destroyer after a fish. "Wait a minute. Let''s not have a fish for a destroyer. It''s too different from the image. < "Let''s number the Destroyer series like the Hydro series. How about the series name is ......<>? Like the Hydro series, it is a very good name. Thus, the fleet to protect Horai Island was fully launched. On the other hand, Jin was still worrying about what to do with his own ship. (If Erza were here, I could consult with her.) Jin felt that the absence of Elsa, who was always around, was somehow lonely. As if to get rid of this feeling, Jin was absorbed in the ship. 655 - - 20-05 Shark Jin was still wondering what kind of ship he should build. >? >> "Binding?" << "Oh, I see. ......" Then the only thing that stands out is Jin''s magical engineering technology. He can make the same thing anywhere. And he can go anywhere with impunity. "That could be interesting." Thinking along these lines, the idea came together quickly. "10 meters in length and 4 meters in width. Basically made of wood, partially reinforced with light silver. Powered by a water propulsion system (Aqua Thruster) based on wind propulsion (Wind Thruster). ...... The basic specifications of the boat were decided without any trouble. "Maximum capacity of 8 people, with living space for up to 4 people." In this way, it is clear that they were trying to reconcile conflicting and contradictory conditions. Even the Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer, could not reconcile the conflicting conditions. "We should install a small warp gate and a force field generator for emergency use. As Jin said these words, a rough design was forming in his mind. He made a new drawing of it. He drew it on the leather of a tanned hexenbiest. It was a ship that would have the highest performance in the world, even though it would be made of materials that exist in this world. "All right, Reiko, let''s get to work. First, let''s prepare the materials. "Yes, Father." The construction is not done in the laboratory, but in a corner of the shipbuilding dock that was built near Tatsumi Bay. A cruiser is currently being built at the dock. With his eyes watching from the side, Jin set about building a ship of his own. The hull is to be made of teak. Teak is a wood mainly found in the tropics of Asia, and is hard and water-resistant due to its oil content. It was also used for the deck of the ship. A considerable number of teak trees grow naturally on Horai Island, which is located on the Tropic of Cancer, and there was a considerable stockpile of the tree as lumber. "We decided to partially reinforce the ship with 64 light silver," he said. The hull is a monocoque structure, which means that the outer panels are designed to support the stresses in the hull, thus ensuring a large space inside the ship. This is important to provide a large amount of comfort in a small ship. In short, the hull is completely empty. This is done using several techniques unique to the Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer. <><>" The joints are integrated to increase the strength of the hull. "Father, you look happy." Reiko, who is helping him, looks happy. This time Erza is not present, and the two of us alone working on this project reminds me of the early days of the development of Horai Island. (In those days, your father relied only on me. ......) Even now, Jin still loves Reiko and relies on her. Reiko knows that now that Jin has more people around him, it is inevitable for him to be conscious of others, and she also knows that it is good for Jin''s sake. Still, it was an irreplaceable pleasure for Reiko to be looked at only by herself. "Okay, next is the Aqua Thruster. The body is made of 64 light silver, which is resistant to water. Bronze would have been fine, but this much would be fine, Jin thought as he proceeded with the work. To enable the direction of travel to be controlled not only by the rudder but also by the aqua thruster, a jet port was installed on the port side of the ship. A total of 10 aqua thrusters are installed, including those for retreating. The energy for these is supplied not from <> but from <>. It is the same as a common golem. However, since it is also equipped with a mana supply machine that uses an <>, it can navigate virtually without supplying mana. The reason for this inefficient method is, of course, camouflage. "Now, all that''s left to do is to finish it." After completing 80% of the ship in less than three hours, Jin begins to finish the living space. "I want to sleep on the ship, just in case. Four beds for one person are set up on board, although they are rather small. There are also built-in sofas and tables. "It''s nice to be able to relax inside." A small refrigerator is included to store drinks and food. And of course, there is a small warp gate for emergency use. "We should also carry some weapons to deal with danger. With Reiko with us, there is no need to worry about any opponent, but we must take precautions just in case. A small laser cannon and a Magi Cannon are each equipped so that the Death Serpent can be repelled. "So that we do not have to panic in case of emergency." The interior was completed by installing a manacam for communication, a magi detector, a compass, a searchlight, and a force field generator. "The brighter the color, the better." The outside of the hull is coated with lacquer mixed with light silver powder. The hull now shines in silver. After loading floats, food, water, and recovery medicine, the work is complete. The sun was still high after all this work. Jin thought of holding a launching ceremony before launching the boat to Tatsumi Bay. According to Jin''s limited knowledge, a ship is treated as a woman and floats on the water only after naming it. Jin does not mind that some details may be wrong, but it is just the way things are done in this world, so he proceeds with the preparations. "The name is ......<>. Reiko, you name it. "Yes, sir." Reiko writes <> in black lacquer on the silver hull, and Jin uses <>. Lacquer does not dry but polymerizes and <> with moisture and oxygen in the air. Jin added moisture and oxygen to the lacquer by . "Okay, Reiko." I name you ." As soon as the formal naming words were out of Reiko''s mouth, Jin and Reiko boarded the Shark and moved it into the ocean. < made the task easy. The Shark slid into Tatsumi Bay without incident and floated on the calm surface of the sea. "Okay, it''s our maiden voyage." After checking the hull for balance and leaks, Jin activates the aqua thrusters. The Shark slowly begins to move. First, the maneuverability was checked in Tatsumi Bay. The water leak was checked again, but there was no problem at all. "Okay, let''s go to the open sea!" Once it was clear that the Shark was working fine, Jin decided to test its overall performance. Shark heads for the open sea at twice the speed it has ever been. It is just after 2:00 p.m. The old man ordered Sky 1 and 2 to escort him from the sky just in case. Once in the open sea, Jin first tests the maximum speed. He moves the aqua thrusters except for the backward propulsion system and drives Shark at full speed. "Oh, this is much faster than I expected. The old man, who has been keeping track of their position with his MagiRadar, has contacted us. "Well, that''s good enough. That''s good enough." Although the Aqua Thrusters are not as efficient as the Hydro Series, they are still quite powerful when eight of them are in full operation. "Okay, let''s try using the force field generator. Jin moves on to test the maximum speed he can produce in an emergency. The waves are calm on the open sea today, perfect for testing. "Switch on." The force generator is activated and the output is slowly increased. Acceleration is generated around the entire hull. The passengers do not feel the acceleration, but the ship is steadily gaining speed. > When the speed reached 150 km/h, Jin slowly reduced the output of the force field generator and stopped it. "That''s enough. If push came to shove, we could reach a speed of over 200 kilometers per hour. For a small ship only 10 meters long, 200 kilometers per hour is far beyond the norm. To prevent theft, two 40-centimeter-tall little craftsmen (Smiths) are placed on board as security for Shark''s exclusive use. If the need arises, I will blow them up to prevent theft. Most of the bandits would be neutralized by the little craftsmen (smiths) before that. It was after 4:00 p.m. and Shark was heading for Tatsumi Bay on the red surface of the ocean at sunset. "In building a fleet, we still need a geostationary satellite to know our position. ......" Jin began to think about re-launching the geostationary satellite that had failed once before. It should be easy if he used a force field generator instead of gravity magic. "This is getting fun. ......" Jin muttered as he gazed at the growing Horai Island through the windshield of the Shark. Reiko was also smiling happily as she looked at such a happy Jin. 656 - - 20-06 The Randles Meanwhile, back in time, the night of November 17. In the basement of the ivy mansion (Lanken Haos) in the village of Kurtz in the Shoro Kingdom. "Erza, welcome home. I heard you''re a big deal!" Her cousin Reinhardt welcomes Erza, who has come through the warp gate. "Erza, you are wonderful. I admire you." Reinhardt''s wife, Berthe, also paid her heartfelt compliments. "Thank you. But it''s thanks to my brother Jin. If it weren''t for my brother Jin, I wouldn''t have been able to make it. Reinhardt gently patted his cousin''s shoulder, who was a little shy and humble. "Well, anyway, let''s go upstairs." "Right, I''ll have them prepare the tea." The group moved from the basement to the reception room. Bella, an automata, brought the tea. "Now that you''ve finished your work for the day, please take some time to talk with me." Reinhardt took a sip of tea and encouraged Erza to talk. "Yes. First, His Majesty told me that the king of the Klein Kingdom is not feeling well. ......" For the next hour, Erza''s story continued. Reinhardt and Bertsche interrupted her a little, but 90% of the time it was Erza who was talking. Reinhardt was inwardly pleased to hear that Erza, who was not a good talker, could talk so ...... much. "...... and that''s why." After a long explanation, Erza moistened her dry mouth and throat with tea and finished. "......How, they said you could start a quasi-baronetcy, not a Randall baronetcy....... That''s great." It is not often that a family is able to rebuild a house that was once demolished. That''s how severe the measures are for the destruction of a house. "Yeah. ......" But seeing Erza''s downcast and not-so-happy look, Reinhardt seemed to have guessed something. "Erza, if you have something on your mind, why don''t you tell me?" "...... brother Rai." "I''ve spent a lot of time with Elsa. I''ve spent a lot of time with Elsa. Just tell me, okay?" "...... yes." At Reinhardt''s gentle words, Erza began to confide in him. "......I''m honestly happy to be able to rebuild the house. But it means that I will be more tied to my country than I am now." "...... hmm." Nodding, Reinhardt nudged ahead with his eyes. "Brother Jin is a free man. A man who should be free. I don''t want to be a burden to him. "That''s why you''re worried, isn''t it?" "......." Reinhardt folded his arms, closed his eyes, and looked thoughtful for a moment. In the meantime, Bertsche asks Erza a question. "......Erza-san, Erza-san, you don''t want to be a fetter for Jin-sama, do you?" "Yes." "But I want to be by your side." Erza nodded, her cheeks flushing at the question. "...... yes." "You like Jin-sama, don''t you?" "......" This time she didn''t answer, but it was obvious from her shy face. "Oh, my God, you''re so cute." At that moment, Reinhardt opened his mouth. "Hey, hey, Belle, don''t act so old when you''re only one year older than me. Look at Elsa." "Oh my God." Elsa looked down at me with a bright red face. "......I''m sorry, Miss Elsa. I didn''t mean to make fun of you. Erza remained down even after being told this. Reinhardt quietly spoke to Erza. "Erza, do you think Jin would lose his freedom over something like that?" "...... what?" "He has knowledge of other worlds. And it''s not something that should be monopolized by one country. The Emperor doesn''t know that he''s from another world, and he thinks it''s foolish to bind the djinn." "......" "So, Erza, do as you wish. ...... you''re not happy with this kind of advice, are you?" Erza turned her head down, her face still there, her eyes fixed on Reinhardt. And in her eyes, she was clearly dissatisfied. "......There is one more thing, then. If you love your mother, then show her some filial piety. "......What do you mean?" This time Elsa''s face came up. Her face was still a little red, but she was no longer embarrassed as she wanted an answer to her question about Reinhardt''s words. "Your family''s house was demolished. That''s the first premise." "Yes." "You''re ...... not, in the average noble family, a girl is supposed to marry into a noble family somewhere else. This is the second premise." "...... yeah." Elsa frowned slightly when she heard the second premise. "And the laws of the Shoro Kingdom state that <>. This is my advice." Erza looked up and remained silent as she chewed on Reinhardt''s words, but then she seemed to understand the meaning and a smile appeared on her face. "Brother Rai, does that mean that a close ...... blood relative, for example, brother Moritz, would be okay?" "Correct." Reinhard nodded, smiling. Bertsche was smiling next to him. "Filial piety," she said, "is ......." "Just as Elsa thinks. If you rebuild the Randall family and become the head of the family, and if you marry somewhere else, you can name Lord Moritz as your successor. Then the Randall family will continue to exist. Moritz was the biological son of Elsa''s mother-in-law, Marlene. He would have no problem taking over the Randall family. "You can go to Jin''s without hesitation." "...... got it. Thank you, Brother Rai." Erza''s face is now radiant, a far cry from when she first came to visit. But when she understood the meaning of Reinhardt''s last words,......<>, she turned red and turned her head down again. Erza looked at Reinhard with kind eyes and called out to her. "It''s late today. You can stay the night. I''ll take you to your parents'' house tomorrow. "....... Rai, please." By the way, only Bertsche noticed the ring on Elsa''s left ring finger, although Reinhardt did not notice it because she had cleverly hidden her left hand. The next day, Erza came back to the hotel and told him that she was going to go to the hotel. The next day, Elsa visited her parents'' house. She was accompanied by Reinhardt. "Mother, it''s been a long time." "Aunt, it''s been a while." Marlene, Elsa''s mother-in-law, greeted them with a fair complexion. She seemed to be in good health since Elsa''s treatment. "Congratulations on your new baronetcy, Mr. Reinhardt," said Marlene. Thank you very much. After these greetings, Elsa told Marlene about the words of Her Majesty the Emperor. "Well, they are going to make you a baronet and set up your own family. I''m very grateful for that. ......" Marlene was slightly moved to tears. But her next words were calm. "......So, Elsa, what do you want to do?Do you want to rebuild the Randall family?Or do you want to start a family under another name?" But Elsa''s answer to that question was obvious. "I will rebuild the Randall family. My name is Elsa Randall von Rasula. "I see. ...... Thank you, Elsa. Thank you, Mr. Reinhardt. Marlene seemed to understand Elsa''s feelings. She also seemed to have some idea that Reinhardt''s advice was behind it. "That''s good, Elsa. Well then, aunt, I''m going home. You''re going to take it easy, aren''t you, Elsa?" "Yes. Thank you, brother Rai. "Well, I''ll pick you up the day after tomorrow, the day before ...... is due. Until then, take your time. Reinhardt left alone with this promise. 657 - - 20-07 Plan Announcement On November 22, Jin, who had completed <>, returned from Horai Island to his residence in Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. Erza had already returned there and greeted Jin at the warp gate room in the basement. And there was another person next to Erza. "Long time no see, Jin. "Hey, Reinhard." Reinhard had come to Leuthart with Elsa. "Welcome back, Jin-sama." Barrow and Behle also greeted Jin. "So Reinhardt is here too?" "Yes, I was summoned by His Majesty. "I see. Well, let''s go upstairs and have a long talk. And so they all moved into the living room. The three of them are seated at the round table. Reiko and Edgar stood behind Jin and Elsa, respectively. Behle immediately brewed a pot of tea and put it in front of everyone. Today''s tea was hojicha. "Yes, it''s delicious. It is well brewed. Jin praised after taking a sip. It is a rule that hojicha should be brewed with boiling water. And Jin has a cat tongue. Therefore, Jin''s cup of hojicha had to be cooled down a little after it was put into the cup. All the golem maids in Horai Island know how to adjust the temperature. It seemed that Bele had learned how to adjust the temperature, and it was just right. When Behr was praised, he bowed briefly and left the room. This could be said to be the result of his training at the Reinhardt residence. "Well, first of all, Erza, welcome back. You''ve decided what you''re going to do, right?" "Yes, I have. I''ve decided to ...... rebuild the Randall family. Looking straight into Jin''s face, Erza answered. Jin said gently to Elsa. "I see. I''m sure you''ve thought about it a lot and come to a decision. I will support you. "Thank you, Jin-brother." Erza''s cheeks flushed a little and she bowed lightly. "...... So, Reinhardt was summoned by His Majesty, I hear.Is something wrong?" "No, it''s not like there''s some kind of trouble or anything. It seems to be a technical consultation. Reinhardt adds, "Apparently, because I haven''t heard anything about the contents yet. "Hmm. ...... Well, I''ll be there today." "Oh, you''re coming too? "Yeah. I''m sure it''ll go faster if I''m with you. Jin is an honorary advisor to the emperor and can come to the castle without an appointment and request an audience with His Majesty. "That would certainly be helpful. ...... but Jin is going for Erza''s sake, right?" Well, yeah. "......" Jin replied with a straight face to Reinhardt''s teasing dig at him. Erza, who was listening beside him, turned her head down, her cheeks tinted. "Jin, please take good care of Erza. She''s my precious, sweet cousin." "......?Yes, of course. "......!" A casual exchange. I can''t help but feel that the nuance between Reinhardt and Jin is slightly different, but Erza, who was listening beside him, had a look of impatience on her face. The time was 10:00 a.m., and the time was 10:00 a.m. The time was 10:00 a.m. Jin, Erza, Reinhard, Reiko, Edgar, and others left for Miyagi by airship. We can''t waste time talking about it. The airship was taken not only to save time, but also to let them know as soon as possible that Jin had arrived. As Jin had hoped, he was greeted by the Prime Minister when he landed. "Well, well, Sir Jin Nido, welcome. And welcome to Ehime Leko." "I apologize for this unexpected visit, but I have brought Erza and Reinhardt with me. ......" "More and more convenient. Your Majesty is waiting for you. The Prime Minister leads Jin Nido into his office. "Sir Jin Nido, Ehime Reiko, Sir Reinhard Randall, and Elsa, welcome!" We were ushered into the office of the female emperor, which was the office of the emperor. Once everyone was seated, without even a word of greeting, the queen began to speak. She said, "Let''s not use formal language, since we have urgent matters to discuss. Thank goodness you''re here too, Jin. ...... Let''s start with Elsa. Have you made up your mind?Have you made up your mind? "Yes. I would like to call myself Elsa Randall." The Empress nodded broadly. "So that''s it?Okay... Prime Minister, is that clear? Of course, that''s all right. Then today, as of November 22nd, 3457. I hereby approve the baronetcy of Randall, junior baronet. Thank you very much. Elsa got up from her seat and bowed to the Emperor and to the Prime Minister. The title of Baroness Elsa Randall von Lassula was born. "For the record, I have no domain. Instead, you will receive a salary as a baroness, one million crowns per year. What about the recipient?" In the Shoro Kingdom, nobles who have no lands are paid a salary from the state. In the Shoro Kingdom, nobles who have no land are paid a salary from the state. For now, Elsa''s salary is at the lowest level. This means that Elsa''s parents, who had only been eating out of their family fortune, now have a basis for living. In exchange, they will be obliged to take on a job for the country for a certain period of time, even if they do not hold any office. "...... my parents'' mother, please." "Okay. ...... clerk, record it." Seeing Elsa''s tense mood on her face, the emperor smiled at her. "Don''t be so nervous. Elsa, your main task is to be Sir Jin Nido''s assistant. Are we clear?You will help him and help him, won''t you?" "...... Yes!" For a moment, Erza was unsure of what was being said, but when she understood what was being said, her face lit up and she responded with a vigorous smile. "......You have a nice smile. A girl should have a smile. Sir Jin Nido, take good care of Elsa, will you?" "Yes, sir." Jin Nido replied with a smile. "Well, Sir Reinhard Randall, the reason I called you here is because of the shipbuilding project. "Shipbuilding? Yes, shipbuilding. We''re very glad you''re here, Jin. Will you listen to me? Yes, Your Majesty. When it came to manufacturing, Jin had no objection. "Thank you. Please talk to me at ......, Prime Minister!" The Empress looked at the Prime Minister and urged him to speak. "Well..." he said. ......First of all, our country uses ships for water transportation, and I thought it necessary to develop more ships for the future." "The future, sir?" Reinhardt leaned forward. "Yes. "Yes. And it is still unknown and underutilized. We can''t just leave it unexplored." "Yes, I agree. Now Jin answered. "First of all, I would like to build a ship that can sail the distant seas and can withstand a voyage of several days to a dozen days. The main purpose is to transport goods. "To promote the development of water transportation, yes." Elsa thought back to the conversation she had had with Lioness Ashford the other day in the Kingdom of Klein. "Yes. For this purpose, I would like to build a large ship. I would like to ask Reinhardt to participate in the planning. "Do you have a rough idea of the ship?" "No, all we know is that it will be about 30 to 40 meters in size. I will leave the details to the experts. "...... sounds interesting." Jin, who had been working on shipbuilding on Horai Island until recently, leaned forward. The Kingdom of Cerroa has a 40-meter boat that carries carriages across the Asur River. Of course, this is just a ferry boat, and it lacks motive power. The Unification Party (Unifiler) also had large boats. However, all of them were shallow-bottomed vessels, and from Jin''s point of view, they were little more than a hairy raft, not built to withstand ocean voyages. The only ship that was truly built for ocean voyages is the one currently under construction by Eckart Tekres in the Kingdom of Cerroa, although it is still incomplete. In that sense, this new large ship, which will be the first of its kind in the world. It was only natural that Jin would be enthusiastic about it. 658 - - 20-08 Project "Jin, do you think you can join us?" Seeing Jin''s enthusiasm, the emperor asked for confirmation. "Yes, if I can. "That would be great. Then, I would like you to be my advisor, is that all right? Jin was assigned the position of advisor, since he was in a position to move relatively freely and to provide guidance. "Of course, Jin-kun is not a member of the Shoro Kingdom alone, so I am not forcing you to do this. But I would appreciate it if you could take care of him until the end. "I will try my best." Jin also did not like to do things by halves, so he nodded to the female emperor''s wish. "...... Then, since Jin-dono will be joining us, I will also explain a little more in depth." The Prime Minister began to speak again. "For the future development of our country, we are thinking of improving our transportation network and strengthening our transportation capacity. This is not for the short term, but for the medium to long term. The Prime Minister said that this was what he had learned from the gift of Fuhrer Jin. Jin is pleased to hear this. He is trying to use his knowledge for the benefit of the people. "For land transportation, we are first thinking of mass-producing golems. The large golem, six meters tall, can lift objects weighing approximately 10 tons. Considering the consumption of mana, it is practical enough to carry 5 tons of cargo. "Goliath will be used not only for transportation, but also to assist in large-scale construction." Jin was impressed by the Prime Minister''s idea, since he too was using Daidara, a heavy-duty golem, on Horai Island. In a world without heavy machinery such as cranes and forklifts, Jin had a vague idea that humanoid heavy machinery called golems might be developed instead. "They also want to mass-produce golems to assist humans." This is also understandable. Because Jin is using . "Sir Reinhard Randall submitted the template for the the other day. We have decided to officially adopt that template. Of course, we will change the materials and so on. "I am honored." The initial Black Knight (Schwarzritter) is working with the application of forming. This is a reasonably efficient method when you get right down to it. "An arsenal of ships has already been built in the town of Simos, facing Lake Wass in the south. Preparations were being made steadily, and Jin found it rewarding to know that this project was not just an idea. "The plan will be headed by the Minister of Magical Technology, Deghaus, but it will be organized by Undersecretary Christoph Bardet von von Deghaus." Christoph Bardet von Tharnat was a witness at the wedding of Reinhard and Bertsche. "Besides Sir Reinhard Randall, the other two Magi Engineers are Xenelos Fort and Klaire Altmann. There may be one or two more." "Okay. When do we start?" Christophe is already there. Christophe is already there. If possible, he should be there tomorrow. The Prime Minister then glanced at Jin. He must be counting on Jin''s airship. The distance from Leuthart to the town of Simos on the shores of Lake Wass is approximately 150 kilometers, which would take less than half a day by airship. "I will contact you by pigeon before the end of the day, please. Thus, Jin and Reinhardt had a new role. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After returning from Miyagi to Jin''s mansion, the group moved directly to Horai Island. Of course, Erza was with them. Reinhardt wanted to see the that Jin had made. Of course, he also wanted to consult with Jin beforehand. "Wow!This is amazing. Can you give me a ride?" "Yes, of course." When Reinhardt saw the shark in Tatsumi Bay, he wanted to try it first and foremost. Jin, Reiko, Edgar, Elsa, and Reinhardt boarded the boat in that order. The boarding was smooth, as a special pier had been built. "I see, the bigger the boat gets, the more you have to think about getting on and off." Reinhardt immediately begins to refer to the information. "...... Jin, did you make this by yourself?" "Yes, by myself, with the help of Reiko, of course. Reiko glanced at Erza with a sideways glance when she heard those words. "I wanted to ...... help you." Erza turned away and puffed up a little. "No, but Erza wasn''t there. Jin added in a whisper at the end, "I missed ...... you. "What?" Erza didn''t seem to hear him. "Hmm?No, no, it''s like I''ve gone back to a long time ago, before I met Erza and Reinhardt. "Oh, yeah. Jin has been living alone for a long time!" Reinhardt interrupted. He wants us to run as soon as possible. "I wasn''t so lonely back then because Reiko and the others were there. ...... but now I have my friends. Let''s go!" Jin activates the Aqua Thruster. Shark begins to move slowly. "Oh, it moves so smoothly!" Unlike the Golem''s boat, Shark runs slowly through Tatsumi Bay, where the waves are calm and the boat does not rock. "Come on, let''s pick up the speed." Jin points the bow out of the bay and opens the throttle. "Oh, oh?" "...... fast." Reinhardt and Erza can''t hide their amazement as the Shark hurtles along at an estimated 50 kilometers per hour. "I didn''t know a ship of this size could run this fast!" The two are familiar with the ship and can feel how fast it is going by the wind on their faces. "...... could it be faster than the time of the Golem boat competition?" Jin and Marcia''s <, the winners at that time. Erza was surprised at Shark''s speed, which was probably close to 40 km/h in the last spurt, but even faster than that. Of course, she knew of Jin''s technology, and aircraft are much faster. However, she was surprised that Shark, which appeared to be made of ordinary materials, could achieve this speed. Conversely, Erza''s growth as a magical engineer (magi engineer) can be seen in the fact that no special technology or materials are used just by looking at Shark for a moment. "Brother Jin, that''s great!" "Yes, it''s true. Jin, this ship is amazing!I didn''t expect such a thing from ordinary materials! Reinhard also sensed that Shark was not using any special materials. "Thank you. ...... Then, let''s go one more world away from here." "What?Jin, brother? "The other world?" Jin smiled mischievously and turned on the force field generator. "Acceleration!" "Whoa! Accelerating at once, Shark exceeded the speed of 150 kilometers per hour that he had tested the other day. "What is this speed? "Brother Jin, could this be ......?" Erza seemed to have an idea. "Ah, this is the completed force field generator drive. "A force field generator? That''s the what? Jin nodded with a big smile. Shark''s power will be shut down. "Yeah. <, it''s now able to generate and control power!" "Oh, I didn''t know that!Congratulations, Jin! "...... would have loved to help." Reinhardt with his compliments and Erza with a disappointed look on her face. "I wanted to get the family together, but Erza went home to her parents and Toa and the others were out of town, so it didn''t look like we''d all be able to make it." After making some sort of excuse, Shark slowly came to a stop and Jin turned to the two men. "Anyway, this is the first time for the rest of the family to see it. Reiko, show them!" "Yes, Father." Jin and the others climb up to the roof of the Shark. The roof has a railing and a simple chair. "Let''s go!" Reiko disappeared from in front of Reinhardt and the others. No, she seemed to have disappeared. "......?" "Up there." They look in the direction to which Jin points and their eyes widen. Reiko was floating there, unsupported by anything. "<> can be directed in any direction. Upward, of course. "...... But then again, ...... I didn''t expect her to fly out of nowhere. ......" "Reiko is the only one who can control it with such precision. Reiko, show me how it works." Reiko answered by raising her right hand, and as if by magic, she took off and performed an acrobatic flight: loop, soar, dive, kirimomi, figure eight....... Reinhardt and Erza were speechless as they watched. 659 - - 20-09 Meeting When Reiko returned, Reinhardt remained excited for a while. "Jin, you''re still amazing!How nice it would be if you could leave everything behind and live on Horai Island!" "...... Rai brother, Bertje-san cries." Meanwhile, returned to Tatsumi Bay. "...... have you calmed down?" "Ah, ah." Reinhardt''s excitement seems to have finally subsided when the comes ashore at the pier. Jin firmly holds up the Shark and turns to Reinhardt. "I''m sure that once we have a little more data on how to control the <>, we''ll be able to create some kind of personal flying armor." "I see!That''s exciting!" Jin tried to distract Reinhardt, but it completely backfired. "Flying armor!A man can fly!That''s fantastic!I''m looking forward to that day!" Reinhardt remained excited all the way back to the laboratory. "So, ......, what''s the story with this development project?" "Yes." After returning to the institute, Jin and his team had dinner...... and lunch in his experience. By that time, Reinhardt was completely back to his usual self. "For me, it was helpful. Jin was able to make something like that out of ordinary ingredients!" "I agree. The ...... force field generator was the only thing I didn''t expect, though." Reinhardt and Erza each evaluated the shark Jin had created. "Seeing that, I''m convinced that the plan Your Majesty is trying to implement this time will work. And I don''t want to lose to Eckert!" Reinhardt was aware of the rivalry with a 40-meter ship being built by Eckart Tekles, a merchant living in the southern part of the Kingdom of Selroa. "If we use the in the construction, we can shorten the construction period considerably. I''m looking forward to it." Jin also agreed with Reinhardt. "I guess they''ll have to decide what type of ship it will be. Is there anything we need to prepare?" Jin asked them, and Erza answered. "It''s a national project, so as long as you bring your personal belongings, I think it''s fine. If I had to guess, I would say pocket money." Elsa finished by saying that they could buy what they lacked over there. "Right. ...... Well, the airship is also equipped with a small warp gate, so we can always come back." "......That''s the thing about Jin. ......" Reinhardt looked strangely impressed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, November 23rd. Early in the morning, Jin''s airship departed from Leuthart. On board are Jin, Elsa, Reinhard, Reiko, Edgar, and Steward. The airship was a little overweight, but the gravity magic reduced the overweight, and the airship headed for the town of Simos. With a light northerly wind, the airship arrived at the town of Simos a little after 10:00 a.m. The airship had been contacted by pigeons yesterday. The airship had probably been contacted by pigeons yesterday, and the large sign on the lakeside plaza read , so there was no need to look for a landing site. "Welcome, Mr. Reinhardt, Ms. Jin, Ms. Erza. The mayor of Simos greeted us. He was tall and somewhat thin, with brown hair and gray eyes. He was energetic to look at. "And Mr. Leco, or ...... Mr. Edgar, if you prefer. The mayor seems to have a good grasp of the group''s information. No wonder he was not too surprised to see an airship and a hot air balloon moored right next to it. "My name is Valial Towter. I was informed yesterday that Mr. Reinhardt and his party would be coming, so I have been waiting for them. Of the three Jin and the others, Reinhardt, the baron, is the highest, and since he has been personally ordered by the female emperor, he is the representative of the group. "You are Jin Nido, aren''t you? I have heard about you for a long time. Your daughter is Elsa Randall. And you, Reiko, who is an automaton and has the title of a knight. Jin''s airship was securely moored and covered with a prepared temporary shroud. Leaving the steward in charge, Jin and the others followed the mayor''s lead. They left the steward in charge, and Jin and the others followed the mayor''s lead. "It''s that way." It is a three-minute walk from where the airship is moored. There was a brand-new building in the inlet facing Lake Wass, and I was told that one of the buildings was the administration building. Since it was a national project, a soldier, or rather a knight, was escorting us to protect confidentiality. Beyond the administration building, the large building is the arsenal. The arsenal is the large building beyond the administration building, and the materials warehouse is at the back of the arsenal. It seems that preparations had been underway for some time. According to the mayor, the construction work started in July, so this project must have been started right after the technical exposition. "Oh, Sir Jin Nido, welcome. I am sorry I could not be there to greet you. Mr. Reinhardt, thank you for coming. Miss Elsa, Miss Elsa Ehime, welcome. And welcome to you too, Mr. Reiko." Christoph Barde von Tharnat, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire, is in charge of the project. He was a witness at Reinhardt''s wedding and a facilitator at the technology exposition, so he is well acquainted with Jin. "No, I didn''t say what time I would arrive, so I hope you don''t mind. "I''m very sorry to hear you say that. Christophe scratches his head. "So, what is it?" Jin asked, looking at the drawing that Christophe had spread out on the table. "This is an idea for a ship. It looks so good that we have been thinking about it for a long time. "May I see it?" "Yes, by all means. But first, now that we have the basic staff, I''d like to have a meeting with them. "What?You said there might be one or two more people. That''s right. That''s right. We just decided on the last person this morning. So the meeting was held in the meeting space in the back of the room. "Thank you all for coming. The purpose of this meeting is to build the largest ship ever built. This will revolutionize the industry and transportation of our Shoro Kingdom. After the introduction, Christophe paused for a moment and looked around at the seven seated people before introducing himself. "I am Christophe Bardet, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology. I am Christophe Bardet, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magical Technology, and I am in charge of the site. Now let me introduce you to the people who have gathered here. First of all, we have the Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido, who has joined us as a consultant. The five members except for Reinhardt and Erza are in a huff. It seems that the name "Magecraft Meister" had been heard up to this point. "Next to her is Miss Elsa Randall. She is a Magi Engineer and a court-appointed healer (Reichsartz). She will be able to help you with any work-related injuries you may have." Erza was introduced and bowed lightly without saying a word. "Next to him is Mr. Reinhard Randall. ......Oh, I forgot to mention that while we are working on this project, let''s not get too hung up on your status as a nobleman or whatever. If we get too hung up on it, the communication will not go smoothly. Christophe laughs. Jin is inwardly grateful for the easygoing nature of the situation. "......The other side of Mr. Reinhard Randall is Mr. Xenelos Fort. On the other side of Mr. Reinhard Randall is Mr. Xenelos Fort, a local magi engineer. Next to him is Miss Claire Altmann. She is a Magi Engineer from the neighboring town of Suhr. Xenelos is a young man with blond hair, gray eyes, and a solid build. Kreia has red hair, brown eyes, and is so small that at first glance you would think she was a child, but she is over 20. He is a shipbuilder from the Kingdom of Elias. He is a shipwright from the Kingdom of Elias. On the other side is Mr. Coubert, a shipwright from Simos. These are the seven members, eight if you count Christophe, who are the initial members of the team. Of course, they will hire other workers. Rodrigo is taller than Reinhardt and skinnier than Reinhardt. Jin thought he had seen his blond hair and blue eyes somewhere before. The other one, Coubert, had silver hair, green eyes, and a sturdy build. "Well, now that we are all here..." Christophe straightened his posture a little. "As I said before, I will be in charge of the site until this project is completed. Basically, we will work from 8 in the morning until 5 in the evening. The working hours may be extended depending on the progress. During these working hours, please do not be concerned about your nobility or title. However, please maintain the necessary and sufficient decorum. That''s all." Christophe, now looking like a person in charge, spread out the drawings he had just been looking at on the conference table. "Now, I would like to move on to the meeting. Here are the plans for the new ship. I was looking at it earlier, and I think it looks pretty good. I would like to hear everyone''s opinions. Jin looked at the plans. He was surprised. "Is this a ...... catamaran?" Yes, the drawing showed a huge catamaran. "Jin-dono, is it?Have you ever heard of a catamaran?" It was Rodrigo who spoke up. He looked doubtful. "Yes, I saw one in Potrock in the Kingdom of Elias. Hey, Reinhard?" "Yes. I thought it was quite a practical ship. Rodrigo''s face lit up when he heard that. "Oh, yes. ...... this type of ship is very stable and is ideal for ocean going vessels, don''t you think?" "You have a point. But it''s a matter of size. ...... What do you mean? Rodrigo comes forward. Jin explains further. "The bigger it gets, the more different forces will be applied to each part of the hull. I think that if the hull is to be strong enough to withstand these forces, it will be heavier. "mmmm ......" Jin gives further explanation to Rodrigo, who still does not seem to be convinced. "There is a subclass of catamaran boats that have auxiliary floats ......." ......Oh, yes, there is. "What happens if a wave hits that float on the surface of the water with a wave?" "Hm?...... I see, the brace connecting it to the hull would be subjected to a great deal of force." Rodrigo seems to understand well. He quickly came up with an answer. "A catamaran would work well for a boat with a few people on board." Jin recalled Marcia''s catamaran, which he had once challenged to a competition. "However, if it is several tens of meters long, it would be ......." As long as the boat is made of wood, the weight increase will be unavoidable to ensure its strength. The experience of building the on Horai Island came in handy here as well. "Then, we also need to consider whether or not it is compatible with the power source. Rodrigo nodded at Jin''s answer. "Yes, you are right, sir. Mr. Christophe, please explain your position. "Yes, I will." Christophe took out another drawing. 660 - - 20-10 Discussion incandescent "For the power source, I''m thinking of this, which you know very well, Jin-dono. Jin nodded as he looked at the plans Christophe had unfolded. He was indeed familiar with it. "<>? Unlike the <>, the wind thruster uses wind magic, which has no recoil, to obtain propulsion by making the diameter of the jet smaller than the air intake to increase the wind speed. "Yes. This is originally used for the propulsion engine of a hot air balloon, but we are going to use it for a boat." Christophe explained that they had thought about changing to a submersible model, but the diameter of the jet side was too narrow and would be easily clogged with water plants and debris, so they decided to generate propulsion in the air. He did not come up with the idea of using a boundary to prevent solid objects from being sucked into the jet, as Jin had done. However, I do not think this is a problem for Jin either. Even on the modern Earth, there are boats that are propelled by propellers in order to run in places where there are a lot of water plants and algae. "So we are going to use three to four of these wind thrusters. "I see, that sounds good." Christophe broke into a smile as Jin, the developer, nodded. "...... and I would like you to proceed with the study of the hull on the assumption that we will use these wind magic propellers (wind thrusters) for the propulsion system." "Then, the mounting position would be a problem. How about between the two hulls of a catamaran? Rodrigo immediately spoke up. "Yes, that''s not a bad idea. "...... I think a little higher would be better. I think it would be easier to maintain and we can change the direction of travel by changing the direction of the wind thrusters. "I see." It was an idea that could cover the shortcomings of a catamaran, which is inferior in maneuverability. "No, that means the suction port will be on the deck, so what if the crew gets sucked in? Now, some people pointed out the danger. "Then, why don''t we put a net in front of the suction port? "No, no, no. If we generate propulsion too high up, the ship may become unstable. The discussion became heated right from the start. Jin, who was participating in the meeting from a step, or rather, a half-step back, was taking it easy, thinking that this kind of atmosphere was also good. However, he was not so sure. "I''m telling you, if you want to be safe, you have to find a way to do it! "No, I''m saying that such a way of thinking will reduce the propulsive force. You just have to be creative! You do things you don''t have to do, that''s called waste! "What''s wasteful?You are an engineer, aren''t you? Things started to get heated up. Mainly Claire and Xenelos. Jin watched the argument between them and thought that Claire, on the other hand, had red hair and looked somewhat like Bina. "......Let''s stop the debate for now." Christophe half-heartedly stops the exchange, which could have gone on forever if left unchecked. "I think it would be better to hear the opinion of Mr. Jin, the inventor of the Wind Thruster. At these words, the attendees all turned to Jin, and he was a little overwhelmed. But if we are talking about technology, it is Jin''s field. "In terms of efficiency, I think it is better to make the flow and wind paths as straight as possible. Xenelos looks proud of himself when he hears this, which seems to irritate Kreia again. "Uggg ......." Clenching his small fists in frustration, Kreia stared alternately at Jin and Xeneros, but said nothing more and sat back in his seat. "However, I think it''s a good idea to have the flow diverge only when changing direction," he added. Claire now looked pleased at Jin''s comment. "Then, this wind magic propulsion system (wind thruster), right?I think this should be installed under the deck connecting the two hulls. Now Rodrigo opens his mouth. "No, in that case, a catamaran would not be suitable for this application. I heard a rebuttal. It was Cubalt, a shipbuilder (shipwright) from the town of Simos, who spoke up. "Because of the strength required for such an application. This would be a disadvantage in terms of one of the planned applications, <>. The increase in weight of the hull would directly lead to a decrease in payload capacity." "I see. ......" Rodrigo seemed to have the capacity to listen to the opinions of others. After many more opinions were exchanged, a silence fell as everyone was deep in thought. "Well, I am pleased to see that so many opinions have been expressed since the first day. The time is just right, so let''s have lunch. Christophe clapped his hands together. Lunch was served from a nearby hotel. The delivery was delivered to the common room, which was set up separately from the conference room. As is typical of the lakeside area, the set menu consisted mainly of river fish. Of course, there is no need to worry about parasites since the fish is cooked with heat ...... or rather grilled with salt. Jin, Erza and Reinhard had no complaints about the taste. "......No, I''m surprised. It''s been heated right from the start." Reinhardt said as he sipped his after-dinner tea. Jin nodded. "Yeah. "Yeah, but it''s interesting. Being involved in this kind of development is instructive. "...... Jin, even my brother thinks like that?" Erza looks at me curiously. "Yeah. "Yes, that''s right. People who think differently sometimes point out things to us that we didn''t expect. And often it''s something I''ve missed. "So, what do you think about catamarans, Jin? "Well, that''s the thing..." Jin''s voice trails off at this point. "......I remember that there were few large catamaran ships in my world. There are advantages, but there are also disadvantages, I guess. Hearing this, Reinhardt decided to answer from the standpoint of a politician rather than an engineer. "Certainly, as a budget provider, I would like you to avoid new innovations in everything, wouldn''t I? "What do you mean by that, brother Rai?" Elsa asked, unsure of the meaning of the question. "Well, you know what I mean when I say ...... construction and operation experience, don''t you?It means that we can''t simply build something without a proven track record with taxpayers'' money, even if it is built by a private individual. In reality, the project is not something that has never been done before, but rather a cautious approach that builds on the existing achievements. "...... I kind of get it." "Right?After pouring a lot of money into a product and testing it extensively, it''s unacceptable if it''s not very useful. Erza glanced at Jin. "...... In that sense, Jin, you are a foul." "Haha, that''s harsh. Haha, that''s harsh, but I think you''re right. Reinhardt is a manipulative fool like me, but he differs from me in that he has such a political eye. Erza giggles. "So, brother Jin, brother Rai, are you both against the catamaran?" "Yes. I''m sorry to hear that. They both answered in unison. "...... I see, that''s too bad." Jin heard a voice behind him and turned to see Rodrigo standing there with a cup of tea in his hand. "Ah, Mr. Rodrigo. "Oh, Mr. Rodrigo, I''m not denying the catamaran. Just ......." But Rodrigo interrupted Jin with a wry smile. "No, Jin-dono, I''m not complaining. What you say makes sense, and Reinhardt has a good point. Rodrigo is not a self-satisfied engineer, perhaps because he is in his mid-forties. "Even I have never built a ship as large as this one. I have just realized what Mr. Jin said about the force applied to each part of the hull changing depending on the waves. My hat is off to you." "......Oh, that sounds interesting." Then Couwald joined in. "So, what are the requirements for designing a large ship?" After drinking tea from the cup in his hand, Couwald looked at the faces of Jin and the others in turn, and then raised a question. "Stability, resilience, strength, habitability, mobility, maintainability, fuel economy ......, there are many things." This is Jin. Couwald rolled his eyes when he heard those words. "Haha ......!That''s the Magecraft Meister! I didn''t expect such an immediate answer. I''ve been thinking about this since it came to me, and I agree with you. I have been thinking about it since it came to me and I agree with you. ...... and I didn''t even notice the conservatism." Then came Christophe. "You have an interesting conversation going on here, but I would like to continue it in the conference room," he said. There was no disagreement among the participants, and after Jin and the others had finished their cold tea, they all moved to the conference room. 661 - - 20-11 Models and Experiments As soon as they moved to the conference room, Jin made a request to Christophe. "Mr. Christophe, do you have any magic resin? "Hm?I have some for the maintenance of ...... golem. Magi Resin is the content of a common golem. It is a generic term for resins that can be easily deformed by magic power. In short, think of it as pine resin imbued with magic power. I''d like to share some of it with you. "Well, Jin-dono seems to have an idea. ...... Hey, somebody! Christophe orders a soldier outside the room. In a few minutes, the soldier brought in enough magic resin to hold him in his arms. "Thank you. ...... Jin-dono, is this correct?" "Yes, thank you." Jin thinks about something in front of the magic resin on the conference table. Everyone watching him was curious to know what he was going to do. Eventually, Jin seems to have gathered his thoughts, and slowly uses his engineering magic. "<><>>" For a moment, a faint luminescence peculiar to engineering magic occurred, and then the mass of magic resin was torn off and changed its shape. It was ...... so, <>. "Oh ......!" "This is ...... "Amazing!" The others are amazed at Jin''s quick work. Only Reinhard and Erza are not surprised. "Well, I made a model of it, roughly one hundredth of a scale. I thought it would be a good idea to have a discussion based on this model. The model is about 40 centimeters long. The model is a monohull, of a very ordinary shape. "Yes, I think the bottom of the boat should not be flat. Because when there are waves, the ship may be lifted up and then slammed into the surface of the water, and if it has a flat bottom, the force will be applied to the ship and it may be broken. Surprised by Jin''s machining precision and deformation speed, Reinhardt opened the discussion when no one else spoke up. This is the advice that Jin had given to Eckart, a merchant in the southern part of the Kingdom of Celluloid. It is still valid here. "The tip of the ship will be hit by waves, so I think it would be better to raise it a little higher. Elsa also advises. As one would expect from someone who has raced in the Golem Boat Race in Potrock. "Okay, like this?." Jin changes the details of the model according to his opinion. By this time, the other participants, who had been surprised, came to their senses and seemed to be awakened to the fun of this method. "Wouldn''t it be better to make the bow a little thinner? "I think the length and width should be about this ......" "I think the sides should be curved instead of flat so the waves don''t wash the deck." The use of mock-ups, or , is a common practice in modern Japanese product development, but it seemed to be new to these people. After about 30 minutes of discussion, the approximate shape of the hull was determined. "But this is an interesting way of doing things," said Christophe after a pause. After a pause, Christophe said in admiration, "If it weren''t for Mr. Jin, we wouldn''t be here. "If it weren''t for Mr. Jin, no one would have thought of this. "You mean this kind of model?They are much clearer than the drawings. Unfortunately, it is only possible if you are skilled in magical engineering. Couwald says resignedly. Jin says admonishingly. "No, no, even if it takes longer, we can make it out of wood or clay. "That''s true." Rodrigo nodded in agreement. As Jin made the model, the shape of the hull was rapidly refined. They filled a large container with water and floated it, identifying various problems and making corrections. Then, after that was over, the study moved on to the next stage. "The next step is to install wind thrusters, isn''t it? "Yes, until we decide on that, there will be no point in further shaping the hull. "That''s right. Then let''s move on to the consideration of the propulsor. Christophe, the facilitator, suggested, and Jin nodded his head, and the others agreed. At this point, Xenelos and Kreia again began to argue noisily. "That''s why we should put the propellers on both sides!" "That would interfere with getting in and out of the boat, wouldn''t it?It''s better to mount them on the center line of the ship!" "Oh, so we''re going to build a 40 meter long wind thruster?Wouldn''t that be a waste of time?" "Ugh ....... No, no, the air intakes should be on both sides!" "Oh, no, that would make the air paths crooked, wouldn''t it?" "Mm-hmm. ......" Are those two not getting along?) (No, I''m sure they clash with each other because they are similar.) Erza is secretly asking Reinhardt. It is probably a good thing that the person she is asking is not Jin. Jin, on the other hand, was looking at their exchange with a bit of a dazed look on his face. "Of course, if you install it at such a low position, not only wind but also water will come in! "According to the structure and principle of the propulsor, splashing water is not a problem. Dirt and algae, though, are not so good." "...... but we don''t want it to malfunction during a storm or when we need the propulsion, do we?" "Well, you can make sand and pebbles fly with wind magic, so water should be no problem, right?" "You can fly sand and pebbles with wind magic, can''t you handle water?" "No!The lives of the crew are at stake! Since it seemed that they would continue to argue endlessly again if I left them alone, Jin decided to offer his help on the current topic. "...... you can try that too with a model ......, or rather, a prototype." "I see!" "I see!" "Yes, that''s right!" Jin asked Christophe to arrange for bronze and magi crystals. With these materials, he now creates a wind magic propulsion device (wind thruster) about 50 centimeters in length. For the second time, I was not surprised at Jin''s production speed ......, and all but Elsa and Reinhardt were still rolling their eyes. "Well, this one is not 1/100th. It is a wind thruster that can move a hot air balloon. We can experiment to see if it moves properly when filled with water. This time, it was Christophe who came to his senses the quickest. "Well, yes. "Well, yes. Let''s have a generic golem do the experiment. And so, the group set out for the shores of Lake Wass in droves. The golem to be experimented on is a general-purpose golem of the Shoro Empire''s style. It is, after all, an autonomous golem. "Let''s get going!" Kristoff activates the wind thruster. The wind blows out, and the general-purpose golem holds it back. "Hmmm... As one would expect from the wind magic propulsion device (wind thruster) created by Master Jin, it is quite powerful..." Couwald, who was looking at them, said in admiration. "Well, try soaking it in water. Jin said, "Are you sure?" Christophe hesitated. But he smiled and nodded. "Okay, okay. Soak it in water. Christophe ordered the general-purpose golem to immerse its wind thruster in the waters of Lake Wass. Immediately. "Oh! The 200-plus-kilogram general-purpose golem was dragged down and pulled directly into the lake. The golem was about to submerge itself in the water, gouging out gravel from the shore, when... "Quick, get the wind thrusters above the water!No, let me point it up! "Golem!Stand up what you''ve got! At Jin''s command, Christophe hurriedly gives the order. The general-purpose Golem finally stops being dragged by the wind thrusters. It does not have enough power to lift 200 kilograms into the air. The general-purpose golem walked back with water dripping from its body. "Jin-dono, what is this?Can you explain it to me?" "Of course. Let''s go back inside. So we all went back to the conference room. Naturally, the wind thrusters were turned off. "Now, about that phenomenon you just saw..." Looking at the faces of those who were itching to know the reason, Jin slowly began to speak. By the way, Elsa and Reinhard knew the reason. "Wind magic propulsion (wind thruster) is an application of wind magic, <>. This <> is the magic of air molecules ......." Jin was about to say that much, when he suddenly became at a loss for an explanation. "Well, air is a collection of particles so small that you can''t even see them. I''m sure you may have ...... questions, but first, please understand that that''s the way it is." He barely hushed those who were about to open their mouths, and continued his explanation. "The is what moves the particles of air. And anything within the range of its effect can be moved even if it is not a particle of air. I heard a small voice say, "Oh, I see. Jin continued. "Even if it contains, for example, a grain of sand. For example, dust and smoke from a fire can be blown away by a , right?That''s an example." This time, everyone just nodded, not saying it out loud. "So, water is also made up of tiny particles of water molecules ....... Therefore, it can be moved by <>." At this point Jin broke off and looked around at all the ...... faces except those of Erza and Reinhardt. "Water is much heavier than air, so the golem was dragged down. But that doesn''t mean we should always try to use wind magic propulsion (wind thrusters) underwater." "Why is that?" Christophe opened his mouth as the representative. Jin answered immediately. "That''s because it''s less efficient than water magic<>." 662 - - 20-12 End of Day 1 Jin briefly explained how inefficient it is to use wind magic to move water. "...... That is, the size of the target < is different. Water molecules are several times larger than air molecules and are about the same size as sand and gravel. The term water molecule that Jin is referring to here is not accurate. A single water molecule H2O is not so different in size from an oxygen or nitrogen molecule. It is rather light. The reason why waterproof breathable material allows water vapor to pass through but not water is that in liquid water, water molecules are usually not H2O alone but in clusters of several or dozens of H2O molecules, which means that the apparent size of H2O molecules is larger than that of water molecules. This is a function of the increase in the apparent size of the water molecules. In other words, the hole is large enough to allow the passage of water molecules of a gas, but not of liquid water molecules in clusters. Water magic works on these clusters, but wind magic works on each individual water molecule in a cluster. In other words, it is very inefficient. It does not increase the power even if it works on each individual water molecule. It is a waste of money. Let me digress. Jin managed to convince those who had no basic knowledge of atoms and molecules by using metaphors and examples. "...... No, Jin-dono, thank you for your explanation. To be honest, there were some parts that I did not understand, but I think I understood the two important points, that wind magic propellers (wind thrusters) can be used even if they are covered with water, and that the consumption of mana increases in that case." Christophe thanked him. The other participants nodded their heads, looking a little tired. The day was now over and it was almost time for the regular meeting, so the first day was dismissed. I apologize for the delay, but we have prepared the accommodations for you." Christophe led us, or rather we all walked in the same direction. The destination is a hotel by the lake. It is a small hotel with a nice atmosphere. The hotel is reserved by the government until the project is completed. The participants, from Christophe, the field director, to the soldiers escorting him, were to stay at this hotel. Everyone had a private room. The rooms were on the second floor, in the order of Reinhard, Jin, and Elsa. The rooms all faced Lake Wass and had a nice view. "Well, it''s a living room and a bedroom." Jin puts his baggage in the room and looks around. Reiko is checking the room. "Father, there is a bathroom and a shower room. Perhaps because of the abundance of water in the lakeside area, the facilities seem to be good in that respect. Jin, however, preferred the large bathhouse. So he decided to take a change of underwear and go to the bath. He met Reinhardt and Erza in the hallway. "Hey, you want to take a bath too? "Yes, I do. "Yeah, me too. I''ll go with you. Erza, too, as far as the entrance. Yes, I''ll go with you. The men''s and women''s rooms are separated, so Elsa can go with you to the first floor where the bathrooms are. It''s quite a big place. The southern part of the Shoro Empire has a custom of bathing. It''s not a hot spring, but it''s relaxing. There was no one else in the room and Jin and Reinhardt had the place to themselves. The two of them stretched out their arms and legs and relaxed in the hot water. "Hey, what do you think of ...... Rodrigo?" Taking advantage of the fact that they had the place to themselves, Jin spoke to Reinhardt. "Well, he seems like a nice guy." "That''s not what I meant, you know." "...... your relationship with Miss Marcia, right?" Marcia was Jin''s partner in a golem boat race once held in Potrock. "...... I think it''s her father who says she''s missing." "I think so too." Reinhardt also knows about Marcia''s situation. "......I wonder what he''ll do." I wonder how he feels about it. "We''ll have to wait and see." "......Yeah, that might be a good idea." At that time, there was a noise in the changing room, and that was the end of the discussion. Meanwhile, there was a guest in the women''s bath. "Oh..." "Oh, my. ...... Elsa, right?" It was Claire Altman. "Thanks for your hard work today." "Yeah, it''s been a really long day. I''m tired after the first day." Claire is washing her body while laughing. Elsa looks at her with a sideways glance as she rinses herself off. Despite her small stature, which only reaches up to Elsa''s nose, her breasts are quite ample, which makes her feel a sense of injustice. While I was soaking in the hot water, Claire, who had finished washing herself, came in as well. "Ah, it''s nice to have a big bath, isn''t it?" she muttered to no one in particular. Erza replies to her voice, "Yes, it''s nice to have a big bath, isn''t it? "You know a lot about boats, don''t you, Elsa?" "Yes, I do. I participated in a golem boat competition in ...... Potrock." Claire seemed surprised at her words. "Wow!That''s great. I''ve heard rumors. I''ve heard that it attracts some of the best engineers in the Kingdom of Elias." "Yeah, maybe. I''m on a team with my brother Rai ...... and my cousin Reinhard." "Yeah?...... Oh, yeah. I thought we had the same last name Randall, but it turns out we''re cousins. What is your relationship with Jin-san? "......Brother Jin,......" Erza was at a loss for words for a moment. The other day, Erza''s feelings seemed to have been conveyed to Jin. And right after that, Jin hugged her during the crisis. He also gave me a ring. But I did not hear Jin''s feelings, which is the most important thing. "...... my best disciple and sister-in-law." I''m not sure about anything more than that at this point. "Heh, the best disciple!The Magecraft Meister!" But Claire was more interested in the number one student. "That was amazing today!The speed of the forming!The precision!And your knowledge is amazing too! You are the world''s only Magecraft Master! Claire is not so much praising Jin as expressing her respect for him. Hearing this comment, Erza felt both happy and frustrated. I need to wash my head. Erza got out of the hot water to freshen up. Claire left with her. "Oh, I''ll wash your head. Let''s wash each other!" "What?" Erza is not so fond of girls like Claire, who are so familiar with her personality, even though they have never met before. But she can''t say it to her face, "...... don''t worry. I''ll wash it myself." I''ll wash it myself. ....... "Oh, you don''t have to be shy. We have some pretty good hair-washing liquid here. Without listening, he went behind Elsa and poured a tub of hot water over her head. "Make sure you keep your eyes open!" With these words, he sprinkled hair-washing liquid on her head. "Okay, I''m going to wash your hair! And then she began to wash Elsa''s hair with a gentler, more careful hand than I had expected. "Do you have any itchy spots?" "No. ......" Elsa had no choice but to go with the flow. "You have beautiful blonde hair. Straight and translucent. I envy you because I have such stiff, red hair. When she finished washing my hair, she said something like this, "Don''t open your eyes yet, because I''m going to rinse it with hot water. He would then rinse my hair with a hand tub of hot water. Elsa would have expected this from her maid, nanny, and her own mother, Meine, but her impression of Claire was <. "Well, I''ll take care of it this time," she said. "Oh, thank you." Elsa washed Claire''s head just as she had done for herself, with a hand she was not used to doing. Her hair was stiff, to be sure, but not badly groomed or dirty. "Oh, I feel so refreshed. Thank you." Claire thanked Erza and went to the bathtub. Then Elsa washed herself and got into the bathtub again. Claire seemed to like long baths and was still soaking in the water. "......Hey, do you think men prefer blondes?" "...... yes?" The question was a tough one for Elsa to answer. "I have red hair like this, and I envy blondes. "...... I know a redhead who became a countess." Elsa said, thinking of her friend in the Kingdom of Egelea, "Really?Really?...... hmmm, breasts?I wonder if it''s her breasts?" "...... not much different than mine." Elsa says, and then for some reason she gets sad. "Hmmm,...... I wonder if it''s her face. ......" Claire was innocently thinking about it, unaware of Erza''s feelings. 663 - - 20-13 New Ideas The next day, the 24th, the meeting started with Rodrigo''s question. "Jin-dono, from what you explained yesterday, the wind magic of <> is ......<< strong wind(wind)>>?I''m not sure what you mean by that. ...... Oh, yeah, water molecules?But can''t you make it like air?" Although the question was not clear to me in many ways, I understood what he meant. "In short, you are asking if it is possible to make it so that the propulsive force does not change even if it is covered with water? "Yes, that''s it!That''s it!" When wind thrusters are installed on the sides of the hull, the ship will inevitably suck in water when the waves are rough. The reason for this was that if the propulsive force fluctuates each time this happens, the ship will not be able to go straight, and this may be a problem when moving forward at a very low speed. "...... might be able to do that." If he answered immediately, it would sound too false, and he might be asked why he had not done so, so he replied cautiously. "Oh, I see!If so, would you consider improving that side of the hull?The rest of us will discuss the hull. "Yes." Thus, Jin was left alone with Reiko to work on the improvement of the wind thruster in a separate room. Elsa looked at Jin as he left for the other room with a slightly disappointed look in her eyes. "Father, is it really that difficult?" Reiko looked at her curiously. Hitoshi rebuked her. "You''re talking too loud. ...... can do that kind of modification in two minutes. But it''s not good to go too far and make yourself look bad, is it? He seems to be aware of this. That''s unusual. I can almost hear him saying, "It''s a little late for that now. "I understand." Jin then joins Reiko in dismantling the prototype of the wind thruster that he and Reiko made yesterday. He stood it in front of him, pondering. However, what they are thinking about is something else. "Even if it''s not a geostationary satellite, it would be a landmark if we could embed a marker in the top of a mountain or something, but I wonder if it would still be dug up ......." "I think so." It is natural that if it emits strong magic power, it is easy to be detected. That is why Jin is so concerned about satellites. "Well, it''s quite difficult to make it stand perfectly still. ......" Stopping relative to the earth''s surface requires precise calculations and accurate measurements. "Hmmm ......" Jin wanted to establish landmarks not only for the target of the transition, but also for the calculation of the positions of aircraft and ships. "Oh, by the way, for navigating a ship, not only a compass, but also, what did you call it, ...... let''s see, ...... was it a quadrant or a s*xtant, ......." Very roughly, the time of day and the position of the sun give the longitude, and the altitude of Polaris gives the latitude. If you know the latitude and longitude, you can find your position. Gradually, the thoughts shift to a consideration of the navigational techniques of the ship they are building. "Reiko, is there a North Star in this world?" Jin did not know much about stars. Reiko contacts the old man with her built-in manacam and answers Jin''s question. "Yes. Yes, there is. There is a star with almost no error. The earth''s Polaris is actually off by less than one degree from the celestial north pole, so it appears to move in a slight circle, which accumulates to an error. "I see. Then we can check its position at night with the North Star. "No, you can see it in the daytime, too. "What?" Reiko''s words came as a shock to Jin. Reiko has far better eyesight than humans, as Jin, the creator, knows best. However, he had never thought that she could see stars even in the daytime. It is said that a person with 6.0 or 7.0 eyesight can see stars even in the daytime, but Jin''s eyesight is about 1.5, which is impossible. However, he reconsidered that in this world where the air is cleaner than on Earth, Reiko''s eyesight should be able to see the stars. "Then, if we make a special measuring instrument, it is possible to calculate the position based on the time of day, the position of the sun, the position of the moon, and the position of Polaris. ...... The time is set as Horaijima Mean Time (HMT) with the institute on Horaijima as the longitude 0 degrees. Then we can measure the angle and calculate it. "......" This should solve the problem of navigating the fleet. I will send the idea I have just thought of to the old man and let him work out the details. "Well, the problem is this way. Jin changed his mind again, "The Horaijima fleet will be fine, but what about the ongoing project? "A compass is a must. Then, we should use as few iron parts as possible in the ship. Since most modern ships are made of iron, the compass is prone to go wrong. For this reason, a compass for ships is called a gyrocompass instead of a magnet. However, since a gyro compass is too difficult to use at first, we will use a compass. He does not want to use steel parts for the compass as much as possible. Just as he was thinking about this, Reinhardt and Erza arrived. "Jin, what''s wrong?It''s almost noon. "Brother Jin, have you been lost in thought again?" It was lunchtime before he knew it. Jin went to the common room with Erza and Erza. Lunch had arrived and everyone had already started eating except for Jin and the other three. Jin also remembers that he was hungry, so he starts eating as soon as he sits down. The menu for the day consisted of bread, fried freshwater prawns and vegetables in oil, sweet potatoes and fruit juice. "...... Jin, how do you like it?It''s not polite to ask ......, is it?" Reinhardt asked as we were finishing our meal and drinking more juice. The others all listen at once. "Ah, yes. I''ve got a rough idea. Now we just have to make it." "I knew you were good at this!" Reinhardt''s compliments were met with silent nods from those who had been listening. It seemed that everyone was convinced of Jin''s abilities after just one day yesterday. "We''re pretty much finished here, too," said Reinhard. We are going to start talking about the interior this afternoon. Depending on the interior, there may be some minor changes to the hull. "Yes, that''s true. By the way, who is working on the model?" Jin is alone in the other room working on the propulsor, so someone will have to be in charge. "Who do you think?" Reinhardt smiles mischievously. His eyes glanced over at Erza. "...... Elsa?" Erza nods her head. Her cheeks are slightly red. "No, she is indeed Jin''s number one student. She''s even faster and more precise than I am. Everyone was impressed. "Wow. ......." Erza''s face turned even more vermilion as Jin looked at her. Meanwhile, the break time comes to an end. Jin first tells Reinhardt and Erza that he wants to use a compass, so he doesn''t want to use steel parts as much as possible. "I see, I understand. I will keep that in mind." Reinhardt and Erza then headed for the afternoon meeting. Jin also returned to his role. "Well, let''s finish the propulsion system. For Jin, it was quite simple. If wind magic works on air molecules and water magic on water clusters, what about earth magic? The answer is . From the molecular level to the rock level, anyway, it can be said that the earth attribute magic works on <>. In other words, if you use <> type magic, you can generate propulsive force regardless of air, water, dust, and so on. "But there are some drawbacks. Jin modifies the prototype while muttering to himself. "It''s not very fuel-efficient. ......" The amount of work done on the <> is lost when trying to use it on the air molecules. If you compare it to hauling a tennis ball in a large dump truck, you can imagine how wasteful it is. "But you can improve it, can''t you, father?" Reiko interrupts Jin''s soliloquy. She is so trusting of Jin that she says, "Of course, of course. "Of course I can. Jin smiles at her. "All you have to do is add three magick formulas. A judgment formula to determine the size of the object, a sorting formula to classify the object into three levels, and a control formula to change the force that works according to the size of the object. In short, the idea is to apply the appropriate force to solids, liquids, and gases. This improves the efficiency to the point where it can be compared to the original wind magic propulsion system (wind thruster). "He is my father after all!" Hearing Reiko''s praise, Jin rewrote the Magi Formula and reassembled the Wind Thruster. No, it is no longer a <. "...... Well, let''s call them <>." Thus, the marine propulsion system, <>, is completed. In the remaining time, Jin thinks of various ways to confirm the current position. "Right!We could bury the marker so deep that we can''t dig it out!" If not in the air, then deep in the ground. "If the magic power pattern is just special and is so weak that it can barely be detected, no one will bother to dig it out. In this way, Jin put his new ideas into practical use at intervals. 664 - - 20-14 Bath Conversation The second day went without a hitch. According to Reinhardt, the hull study is almost finished, and they are just about ready to match the propulsion system and finalize the details. "Tomorrow, we can finally make a decision." Jin will join the hull review tomorrow. "Yeah, I''m looking forward to it." Jin and Reinhardt go to the bathroom together again. On this day, there was a guest in the bathroom ahead of them. It was Rodrigo. "This is Jin-dono, Reinhardt-dono." Rodrigo is in the bathtub, holding up one hand in greeting. (He looks so skinny. ......) Jin looked at Rodrigo''s body and became a little worried. Reinhardt is also short for his height and looks like a hunchback, but Rodrigo is even shorter than Reinhardt. He is more scrawny than tall. It is almost morbid. Reinhardt, on the other hand, has been getting a little flabbier (some say he has a belly) lately, perhaps because of his marriage to Berthe, or perhaps because he has been working at his desk more as a lord. "Haha, is it this body?...... I was in bed until a little while ago." Rodrigo smiled to himself as he noticed the slight frown on Jin''s face when he looked at his body. "No, no, I''m sorry." Jin apologized, but Rodrigo laughed it off. "It''s okay. Anyone would feel the same way when they see this body. I''ll be honest, gambling, booze and women. I''m ...... done with that now." "Yes, ......." While we were talking, another person came to take a bath. "Hey, there''s someone else here." This is Xenelos Fort, a local magi engineer. In contrast to Rodrigo, this man has a sturdy physique. "Mister Jin and Mister Reinhardt are from the capital city, aren''t they?Do you have a bathing custom there as well?" Generos inquires as he pours a hot water over his head. Yes, it has been increasing recently. Reinhard answers. Generos asks a further question. Not many have the custom of taking a bath, do they? "Well, yes. Well, yes. You have to have plenty of water, and it is expensive and time-consuming to boil it. We also have to think about what to do with the leftover water. You are right. In this world of magic, we can use <> type magic to dispose of it, but it cannot be done free of charge. For a while, Reinhard and Xenelos talked about nothing else. Meanwhile, Rodrigo talks to Jin about various things. "...... looks like it''s going to be a pretty good ship. It''s too bad they didn''t adopt the catamaran. "I think a smaller ship would have made more use of the advantages of a catamaran. It''s not much consolation, but Jin says something like that. "Thank you very much. I am flattered to hear you say so, Jin-dono. Jin liked the openness of this man''s personality. So he decided to ask him a more in-depth question. "You said you came from the Kingdom of Elias, didn''t you? But that word seemed to be forbidden. Rodrigo''s face tightened. "......Yes. My home country is the Kingdom of Elias. I did something over there that I ...... well, couldn''t face my family. Oh, it''s not a crime of any kind, is it?" "Oh, I see. I see. ...... I''m afraid you''ve heard some bad things. When Jin apologized, Rodrigo shook his head. "No, I understand that you''ve come all the way to this faraway country and are curious about the reason. Rodrigo waved his hand in front of his face as if to say, "Never mind," and continued. "......I told you earlier. You''ve been gambling, you''ve been in debt, you''ve been in love with women, you''ve neglected your wife, and finally you''ve abandoned your family and run away, drinking to relieve your sorrows,...... and now here you are." Rodrigo clapped his ribs against his chest and smiled sadly. Jin was concerned about his health. "Rodrigo, your body is still not perfect, is it?" "......Yes, yes. But even if I see a healer, I don''t think I''ll get any better, and it will cost me a lot of money. I''d rather leave something behind now, something I can be proud of." After saying this, Rodrigo left the bathroom, leaving behind a voice that said, "Good-bye. Reinhardt, Jin looked over at him and saw that he had finished talking with Xenelos. Or rather, he felt that he would get overtired if he soaked in the bathtub any longer. They decided to get out of the water. "......I guess I got a little too warm." Jin and Reinhardt are still sweating after getting out of the hot water. They cooled off in the changing room, put on their clothes, and went outside. From the window, they could see the lights of boats fishing at night on Lake Wass. When I returned to my room, Elsa was standing at the door. "...... you''re late." "......, yeah, I got a little caught up." "Yeah." She said she was bored in her room by herself, so she came here to play until dinner. So the three of us decided to go into Jin''s room. Reinhard asked Jin about the finished propulsion system. "Oh, I did it this way so that it could be used on the ship," Reinhard said. ......" Jin explains briefly. Both Reinhard and Erza could understand it. "I see...you''re Jin, aren''t you?" "I see. I don''t think it''s easy for ordinary people to come up with that method. Ha, thank you. "Tomorrow we''ll combine the propulsion system with the ship and make the final adjustments." Reinhard says happily. It is nice to have a closure. That night, the old man calls me. "I see. Where are they headed?" < "Okay. Take your time. Let''s take our time." . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the meeting on the 25th, opinions were actively exchanged from the morning. Now that the propulsion system has been decided, the final shape of the vessel will also be decided. At the same time, the ancillary facilities are also decided. Should they choose comfort or payload? Should they choose speed or cruising distance? A heated and controversial debate ensued. A conclusion was reached over the course of the morning. Since this is the first ship, the priority will be placed on habitability and cruising range. "If there are no objections, we will stick to this policy. We will work out the details this afternoon." No one objected to Kristof''s declaration. Everyone had high hopes for the new ship. So, after lunch, everyone gathered in the conference room again. The details were worked out with Mr. Jin. However, since the main outline of the project had already been completed, the main focus was on the adjustment of details. Finally, the drawings were drawn up. "I think the total length should be 40 meters," he said. Then the width would be 10 meters. Once the main dimensions were determined, all that remained was to measure the model and draw it up. Jin and Elsa take measurements, and Rodrigo and Kubart draw the plans. By the third break, the overall drawing was completed. "This three-view plan that Jin-dono mentioned is very easy to understand. The drawing is called the third angle method, which is a common mechanical drawing method. In this world, such precise drawings were not made. This is probably due to the fact that paper had not yet been developed. After a short break to quench our thirst with a cup of tea, we started drawing again. This time it was parts drawings. Based on the completed drawings, we made drawings of various parts, which again took a long time. "The dimensions are wrong there. "Oh, my God, that''s wrong. I have to rewrite it. "You don''t need to use new leather paper. " Two days later, on November 27, all the drawings were completed. Finally, the construction was to begin. 665 - - 20-15 Westward Meanwhile, in the town of Ismar, southwest of Shawlo. The date is November 24. It is the morning of the day Jin develops the jet thruster. "Oh, that''s Mr. John''s horse! Oliver, a merchant, and John Dinney, a magi engineer for hire, were about to leave. For the past ten days since they had signed the contract, John had been building this golem horse. Of course, it was Jin who built it, and the old man wrote a program to degrade its performance. If only it had been necessary, it could have performed as well as it did right away. "You can put your luggage in here, it''s very convenient." John opens the storage compartment in the fuselage. Oliver is impressed. "Well, John, you are an excellent magi engineer!It''s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. "No, no, I''m still in my infancy. With this conversation, Oliver loaded his luggage onto his horse. It seems that Oliver and John are the only two people on this trip. They did not want to take too many strangers with them. Instead, Oliver has two horses, one for him to ride and one for his luggage. Most of the luggage is for business. John guessed that they were bartering. If they were from a different tribe, it was only natural that they would not be able to trade with each other using the common currency of the Lesser Group. The rest of the supplies were four days'' worth of food and water. However, the water seemed to be replenishable on the way, and they had only one day''s worth. However, being an automata, John does not need food or water. The goods were salt and a few magi crystals. Some small magic lamps. And about 50 kilograms of wheat. That''s about the size of a private transaction, I suppose. "Come on, let''s go." They put on deep hats to protect themselves from the sun and set out. The time was 8:00 a.m. They walk around the southern edge of the Hariri Desert. No one pays any attention, which is not unusual. John wondered if such a sightseeing trip was not unusual in this town. (But it doesn''t sound like they are turning a blind eye to trade with different peoples. ......) John decided not to speculate with insufficient information. The southern end of the Hariri Desert is near Ismar. Further south is a slightly higher mountainous area. The area between the desert and the mountains is a plain. Two horses and a golem horse were traveling on the flat area. "It''s so rocky around here, isn''t it?" John muttered as he looked at the desolate land on our right. When we hear the word "desert," we tend to imagine a wilderness of sand, but in fact there are many rocky deserts. A sandy desert is one where the entire surface is covered with sand, and the central part of the Harihari Desert is a sandy desert. Here at the southern end, rocks and gravels are conspicuous instead of sand. This area near the Tropic of Cancer is closer to the sea than the central part of the desert, and therefore receives more precipitation. However, there was not enough vegetation, and the only plants visible in the area were cactus-like plants and succulents. "This area has already crossed the border," Oliver said. Oliver said. John decided that the border was probably defined by the mountain ridge to the south, since there was nothing to indicate a specific border. Just before 4:00 p.m., what looked like a rest house made of piled up rocks came into view. "That''s where we''ll be staying tonight. Oliver, who was leading the group, turned around and said, "That''s where we''ll be staying tonight. When we got closer to it, we found that it was more solidly built than we had expected. It was not simply piled up with rocks, but it showed the skill of a skilled craftsman who had made sure the rocks were of the same size and took gravity into consideration. "Pretty good, isn''t it?" Oliver said as he hitched up his horse. Then he said something that surprised me even more. "I''ve heard that this has been here for a long time." John checks the masonry. Certainly, the weathered surface of the masonry makes it look more than 500 years old, maybe close to 1000 years old. It could be close to 1,000 years old. The structure is large enough to fit a horse inside. There is a spring of water in the back here. Just a little bit. John was surprised by this statement as well. Looking at the surrounding topography, it was not a place where water could spring. John approached the water spot, wondering if it was an artificially dug well. "This is ......." He secretly checks the watering hole where Oliver is giving water to the horses by <> and finds that it is definitely a <>. Of course, moss and debris clogged the water flow, but it was unmistakably a man-made water supply. (A 1000 year old water system? ......) John Dinney, or the old man, hypothesized that it might have been built in the past by a foreign tribe to invade the east. The route that John and the others have just taken would be relatively easier to pass through than cutting through the desert. And if the water supply was running through it, it would be ....... "Come on, Mr. John, let''s eat. Oliver called out to him. John stopped thinking and decided to play the part. In other words, he decided to eat and pretend to be a human being. The next day, they left early in the morning. We will arrive at our destination in the evening," Oliver said. John was excited to hear Oliver say, "We will be at our destination in the evening. Of course, he was excited because he would be able to give a fruitful report to his master, Jin. The scenery around him has changed a little. The Harihari Desert has moved away and there is a little more greenery. However, as a whole, there is still a lot of wasteland. In other words, the climate has changed from a desert climate to a steppe climate. "In the spring and summer, though, it''s green grasslands. Oliver''s description of the area''s climate makes it clear that it is close to a steppe climate. The horses literally grazed on the road when they took a break, and John and Oliver drank the water they had brought with them. And then, as Oliver said, as the short late-autumn sun began to set, a small settlement came into view. "That''s where we''re going." There were several houses made of stone and clay, and some of them waved their hands when they saw Oliver. However, they seemed to be of the same race as Oliver, and did not seem to be of a different ethnic group. Perhaps they sensed his gaze, "This is called the settlement, and it is not inhabited by a different race," Oliver explains. Oliver explains. "It is a settlement created by the descendants of those who were ostracized by the Lesser Kohun nations and fugitives." Since they are not an alien race, he says, they are not guilty of trading. I guess it''s a way out. "Oliver!" I look toward the voice calling me and see a young woman. Dark in appearance, the old man piloting John could tell that the color of her skin was not tanned and black, but the same as that of a follower race in the alien ...... demon tribe''s territory. Perhaps her grandparents were of a different race. "Hey, Maya." The woman Oliver called Maya was in her early twenties, with dark skin, dark brown hair, and light brown eyes. She is of medium height and good style. "I brought a Magi Engineer with me," she said. "As promised. Thank you. The accent is slightly accented. The old man listens to John''s voice and gathers information. "Nice to meet you, my name is John Dinny. I''m Maya. Nice to meet you. "Yes, nice to meet you." After greeting her, Oliver asks Maya a question. "Maya, do you have a favor to ask him?" "Yes, I do. In addition to the usual, there are a few things that he couldn''t handle a long time ago ...... tenkunhan. The name Tenkun-han sounded familiar to John. (As I recall, the master (Mylord) was on his way to the Shoro Kingdom (......) He had seen a magi engineer in the town of Hatata, who had created an avant-garde figurine that he did not understand. "Well, do you have something to fix?" John asked Maya amiably. "I''ve got a whole list of things I need fixed, so just fix what you can. Maya led John to one of the huts. "In there are all the tools that are broken or malfunctioning. Can you fix what you can and put them here? "Okay." "Oh, and of course, you have until the end of the day tomorrow." Yes, sir. Even though the work will start tomorrow, I am curious to see what kind of things they have. These tools are a barometer of culture. A pot with the bottom missing, a frying pan with the handle missing, and a kettle with a hole in it.) I guess this is the . I wondered if there was a tinker, but the hole was too big to be fixed by a normal person. There were also some other small daily necessities. (The rest is in the back...). (......What is that?) There were two bicycles, which looked like bicycles, placed at the back of the hut. 666 - - 20-16 Deepening Mystery "This is ......." Aloud, John stepped toward the back of the shed. "It''s a bicycle, after all." The wheels are steel. It has a block pattern carved into it that chews the ground. The pattern''s corners have been removed and rounded off, indicating that it has been used a lot. The frame appears to be made of light silver. There is no suspension, but the saddle is supported by a structure called "stacked plate spring" or "leaf suspension," so it must be quite comfortable to sit on. This leaf-type suspension is a structure of stacked plate springs of different lengths, and has the advantage of being both a suspension and a damper. Aside from that, what caught John''s attention was the chain. A roller chain, to be exact. Most bicycles and motorcycles use them to transmit driving force to the rear wheel. The function is simple, but the structure is complex. It is made up of a number of outer plates, inner plates, rollers, bushes, and pins. "A foreigner could make such a thing ......?" Jin could have made it, but he had not made it yet. Also, there were no bicycles in the demon territory. < did not make bicycles either. "Oh, you noticed that?" I heard a voice behind me and turned to see Maya. "That''s right, they''re used as our legs, they''re called bicycles, but the last magi engineer who came here last time, Tenkunhan, said he couldn''t help us. "I see. ......" I looked and saw that some bushings and pins were missing. I thought it was a broken pin and a broken chain. He said, "I told you it could be done tomorrow.Can you fix it?" John nodded, thinking this was the best place to get credit. "Oh, well, that''s good to know.That''s great. Thank you. "It''s already dark today, though, so I''ll fix it tomorrow." "Yes, yes, that''s fine. As long as you fix it. Tomorrow, please!" Maya said happily, but then she remembered, "Oh, that''s right, I came to call you to tell you that dinner is ready. She beckoned John to come over. Dinner was prepared at Maya''s house. Maya seemed to live alone. From the atmosphere, she seemed to be in love with Oliver, but John did not ask any questions. The menu consisted of barley porridge and a few stir-fried vegetables. Vegetables are apparently a precious commodity. ......Is it good?Does it taste weak?" The analyzer in John''s mouth says it''s not too salty. Of course, compared to Jin''s taste. "Yes, it''s okay. It''s not very salty, but it''s tasty. "Well, that''s good. Salt is very precious. Salt is precious inland, John guessed. Then Maya added a curious comment. "The transportation has been a bit slow lately. ......" John did not go into the details of this comment. He thought it was too early to tell. They stayed at a dormitory next to Maya''s house. It seemed to be a facility for visitors like John. It is not clear whether they were from the Shawlo Empire or from a different ethnic group that had traveled to the area. Oliver is staying at Maya''s house. Oliver looked a little embarrassed when he saw John at the door. However, it was convenient for him to sleep alone. John wanted to transfer a small amount of carbon steel from Horai Island. The parts of the roller chain are hardened carbon steel. In the modern earth, various elements are added to improve strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, but as far as I could see, the bicycle chain was made of simple carbon steel, about S45C. (S45C is a carbon steel with 0.45 percent carbon content, right?) The old man confirms what he learned from Jin and prepares the material. He adds carbon to the stock of pure iron by <> and homogenizes it by <> to complete the process. Using John''s magic power as a marker, about one kilogram of S45C was transferred. The next morning, after breakfast, I went to the hotel to have a drink. The next morning, without even having breakfast, John started the repair work. The pots and pans with holes were quickly repaired. The problem was the chain. If they are not of the same size, they are useless. He carefully < the chains. Fortunately, the number of missing parts was small, so the chain repair was completed in about two hours. John checks and repairs other parts as well. In the process, we were further surprised to find that ball bearings were used between the wheel and the axle. (Is there a magician (magecraftsman) with this technology other than the master (mylord) ...... in such a past?) And then the old man suddenly realized. (Don''t tell me ...... that the first master?) Yes, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the first Magecraftsman, would be able to do this precision work. (But, her engineering knowledge of the earth is ......) Adriana''s knowledge, which Jin inherited, was not related to the science and engineering of the modern earth. There were some similar technologies, but they did not go beyond the category of similarity. Therefore, the old man concluded. It was not Adriana Barbora Zetsi who created it. (Then, who did?).(Then who made it? ...... This is one more mystery. ......) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, did you say John?You''ve got a nice arm!Thanks a lot. When Maya saw that the two bicycles were fixed, she was very happy. "One of these bikes is mine," she said. Thanks." "No, Mr. John, you did a great job. That bicycle was so good that the last time a magi engineer came to see us, he threw up his hands. "Indeed, it was a wonderful piece of work. I am curious to know who made it. That was the true intention of Mr. John, but his words opened a new door. "Well, you seem to be interested. A voice called out from behind John and the others. When we turned around, there was a mature man who appeared to be in his early 40s. He had a solid, muscular build and a sharp look in his eyes. He had dark brown hair and gray eyes. He had a short beard. What caught John''s eye most was the color of his skin. It was much darker than Maya''s, similar to that of Lucas and Netros, who were followers of the demon tribe. "My name is Darrow. I am the head of this village. The man who introduced himself as Dallow had almost no accent. "You say your name is Mr. John?Are you really interested in bicycles, or rather, in that kind of technology?" The old man decided that this must be an invitation to go further into the area. "Yes, of course. So he immediately answered. "I see. Hmmm." Hearing John''s answer, Dallow put his hand on his chin and thought. Then, with a probing look, he asked a question. "Even if you might not be able to return to your country because of it?" He cut off and turned around. "Now, I can still reconsider. Think about it." Even if you say so, John, there is only one answer. "I don''t have to think about it. Let''s be clear. I would like to meet with the people we call ''different peoples''. As soon as he said these words, a dozen men surrounded him. He held what looked like a cudgel in his hand. Can you prove that you are not a spies of the Shoro Kingdom? Apparently, the spies of the Shoro Empire have been sniffing around so far. "I can''t ....... Probably, they won''t completely trust anything I say. On the other hand, how can I get them to trust me?" This is the point where the two sides meet, and John decides to hope for a negotiation. "...... If you are not a spook, can you take a look at this?" In response to John''s words, Darrow pulled a rainbow-colored ...... or rather iridescent-colored magi crystal from his pocket. The light flashed spontaneously. The old man immediately guessed that it was a hypnotic magic tool. However, the effect is very weak and cannot put a person in a permanent hypnotic state. "......" Based on his knowledge, the old man decided to let John Dinny pretend to fall into hypnosis. He weakens and makes an expression as if his eyes are unfocused. "...... Answer the question. What is your name?" "...... John Dinny." "Where are you from?" "...... Kingdom of Egelea." This is a prearranged question. If you are not from the Kingdom of Shoro, it is not surprising if there is something suspicious about your behavior or knowledge. "What is the purpose of your visit here?" "I came to ...... because I wanted to see the unknown." Are you an agent? "...... What is an agent?I don''t know." This was the most dangerous answer. There is no comparison to see how much thinking is possible in the hypnotic state. However, he had no problem with that answer. "What do you know about the different peoples?" "...... that they are west of the Hariri Desert and that in the past they have targeted the Shoro Empire." Where is your family? "...... no." "You don''t mind if I can''t go back to my country?" "...... is fine." These questions were repeated for about 10 minutes, and John seemed to have been deemed okay with it. "I''m going to clap my hands in one, two, three and then I''ll wake up. I forget the previous questions. ......1,2,3" Darrow clapped his hands and John pretended to be awake. 667 - - 20-17 Knowledge and Peace "I don''t think you''re a spook, Lord Jon." Dallow''s language is back to its original politeness. "Well, then..." Yes, we''d like you to come with us. "With pleasure." Thus, John had succeeded in gaining some trust for the time being. "Well, Mr. John, you''re very impressive. I haven''t heard that Mr. Dallow recognized you since a man named Teng-kun-han about two years ago, haven''t you? "No, he hasn''t been very helpful." John, Oliver, Maya, and Dallow were making small talk over lunch. Lunch was dry bread. "But it''s really great. Mr. John, I''m sure you''ll be welcomed with open arms. Maya said a little enviously. "You mean that, ...... in the west, they''re going to be looking for magi engineers?" Darrow nodded. "Well, that''s what I mean. You''ll find out more when you get there." Somehow it was clear that he didn''t want to talk about it too much at this point, so John decided to change the subject. "That bicycle, huh? What do you use that for?" "That?You ride it and ride it. This time it was Maya who answered. "Running?It''s going to fall over, isn''t it?Aren''t you going to carry something?" Hearing these words, Maya swallowed a piece of dried bread in her mouth and stood up. "I''ll show you how to run." She said quickly and ran toward the hut, then quickly came back pulling her bike. "Okay?Here, sit here like this: ......" Maya straddled the saddle, put her feet on the pedals, and started to ride slowly. From Jin''s knowledge, John knows what a bicycle is. But this is the first time for him to see it in action. "Oh!He ran! Oliver, who had never seen it before, exclaimed in amazement. "How come you don''t fall down?" John asked deliberately, though he knew the theory. Maya came back after turning around and was very proud of herself. "Well, you get used to it. I don''t know what ...... is talking about." Gyros. Once again, a word that should not exist in this world. John was becoming more and more interested in the west. "Mr. Oliver, don''t tell anyone about the bike." "Yes, yes, I know." Darrow and Maya regretted that they had been careless in their joy at finding John, a man who could fix bicycles, and that it had been premature to show him riding a bicycle in front of Oliver. They would keep their mouths shut for now. And Maya was going to move west with the bike. Oliver is very disappointed to hear this. Oliver was very disappointed to hear that. "Well, Mr. John, have a good day." "Yes, thank you for your help in the short time I''ve been here. On the morning of the 28th, John and Oliver said their goodbyes. Oliver would not, or could not, go any further west. "Only those who have been approved by them can go any further west," Oliver said. Oliver said. "Thanks to you, we''ve been able to buy good things at a reasonable price. Kali Village, where most of the residents are from the Lesser Antilles and the Shoro Empire, serves as an intermediate base. Even if an investigation were to be conducted, they are not allowed to admit any facts other than the fact that they have been living outside the borders of the country, so they are not charged with any crimes and are only given a stern warning. The same is true for Oliver, who is doing business with them. The reality is that although the shadows of other ethnic groups flicker in the background, no crime can be committed unless the scene of the crime is caught. "Well, Maya, take care!" "Yeah, Oliver, be well!" With a wave of his hand, Oliver departed. When Oliver was out of sight, John, Maya, and Dallow also left for the west. "...... But you say that golem horse, that''s great." Maya, who was riding a bicycle, said in admiration. "Indeed. We can''t imagine what it''s like." Darrow, also on a bicycle, agrees. The road the group is now on is dirt, but it has been well-paved and can be traveled at a speed of about 15 kilometers per hour by bicycle. Both Maya and Darrow are very strong. "Today we are going to the town of Seki. "There are many interesting things to see in the town of Seki. You should look forward to it. We arrived at the town of Sechi at 2:00 p.m., with stops at the villages of and along the way. The town of Sechi was more than five times larger than the settlements we had just passed through. In front of us stood a sturdy-looking stone wall. Its gates were wide open. However, as John and the other three entered the gate, the door slammed shut noisily. It was bolted with a thick bolt, making it impassable. "Welcome to the land of our people." "Welcome to our land of Mitzvah. Is ...... the name of your country? Yes, it is. It is said to mean ''the land of the fullness of Mitsuho'', but I don''t know what Mitsuho means. "It sounds strange, doesn''t it?" But when John heard these words, he immediately thought of the word "Mizuho". < However, since there was no way to corroborate this, he chose to remain silent. The group then proceeded to the town. The buildings are mostly one-story stone structures. The roofs are wooden. The ground was leveled gravel, but it might have been hardened in some way, as there were no golem horse hoof prints on the ground. John on the golem horse attracted a lot of attention. Everyone on the street looks back at him. The clothes of these people are not so different from those of the Shoro Kingdom. However, their skin color is darker. John continued to observe his surroundings along the way. I am the vice mayor of the town of Seki. Dallow said as soon as they came to a large building near the center of the town. "I am in charge of seeing to it that you are not a person who would bring us harm. So please forgive me if I am rude." "Oh, I don''t mind at all." John smiled at Darrow. "Thank you. I''m ...... going to have to ask you to meet the mayor first." John dismounted his golem horse and parked it in front of the building. Since it is not a live horse, there is no need to tie up the reins. The building, which could be the town hall, is unusually two stories high and has a wooden watchtower. John is invited into the building. Maya followed him. "Please wait here." John was invited into a room about eight tatami mats in size. There was a table that could seat about six people, and John was seated at the back of the room. John was seated at the back of the table. Darrow sat on the right side facing John. Maya brings four glasses of water to the table, one for John and the other three in front of him. One is placed in front of John and the other three in front of Dallow. Maya herself sits on the far left. The remaining one directly in front of her was occupied by the last man to enter the room. The man had dark skin, dark brown hair, and brown eyes. He was solidly built and looked older than Dallow. "Welcome, guest." The man is the first to speak. "I''m Crowe, mayor of the town of Seki. I am John Dinny, magecraftsman. Or, as the Shoro Empire calls it, a Magi Engineer. "Well, I''ve heard a little bit about you from Darrow here. I hear you''re a very skilled magi engineer. No, not so much. No, not really. Don''t be modest. Fixing Darrow and Maya''s bicycles alone shows extraordinary talent. John, will you be of service to our mitsuho nation?" Crowe asked him bluntly. John replied slowly. "Of course, sir. "And what do you want in return?Money?Power? I had the answer ready. Knowledge and ...... peace. 668 - - 20-18 Wine "Hmm, knowledge and peace. ...... is somewhat abstract. Can you tell me more about it? Crow said, taking a sip from his glass of water. Yes. Knowledge," he said, "is the act of traveling to the West and seeing places that have not yet been seen. "Mmm-hmm, that''s what we''re hoping for. And by peace, I mean relations with the nations of the East. Darrow reacted to these words. "...... Mayor, there are rumors in some parts of the Shoro Empire that we are about to invade." "What?I don''t know what''s ...... going on or how such rumors spread, but..." Crowe assured John, looking him straight in the eye. "We have not thought of such a thing, at least not that I know of." "Then, what about 300 years ago?" John explained that the story of a foreign race''s attempt to invade the Shoro Empire after the Magic War was too well known to be a fabrication. "......" Both Crowe and Darrow closed their eyes and fell silent, pretending to think about something. "Mayor, why don''t you just explain it to them?" At Maya''s voice, Crowe opened his eyes and spoke slowly. "You''re talking about three hundred years ago, when the free magic element (ether) in the atmosphere was drastically reduced. At that time, the magic tools we were using became unusable. And it was a matter of life and death. It is true that when the concentration of free magic element (ether) decreases, the operation of magic tools becomes unstable. "At that time, a radical faction tried to invade. ...... Let''s cut the man some slack for now. I''m sure we can talk more about the inner workings once you''re a little more integrated into the group." "......Okay. That''s good enough for now. At any rate, it was a great success just to confirm that the alien people had no intention to go to war. Old John thought he would tell Jin immediately. "You will spend a few days in this town, and then you will go to Miyako, the chiefdom, and meet the sheikh. After that, you will meet with the sheikh and decide what to do. "Sheikh?And what is a sheikh? John was surprised to find the word "Miyako" among the unfamiliar words, but first he wanted to know what their form of government was. "Well," he said, "I guess I could tell you. I''ll tell you the short version. ...... Darrow." Crowe turned his head and looked at Darrow as if to say, "I''ll leave that to you. "Okay. ...... John, our country is quite different from yours. First of all, we have no king. That was certainly a big difference, but not surprising since the demons had no king either. "Three representatives are chosen for each region, and a <> is formed. And that <> elects the <>." "Well, that''s certainly different. "The chief is the leader of the administration and is elected every two years. Of course, he can be removed from office if he is deemed unfit for office in the middle of his term." "......Are you willing to follow the leadership of the administration?" "Yes. Yes. Power is divided, Darrow explains. It means that there is mutual supervision, albeit imperfectly. In the small group of countries, there is still a king and a despotic monarchy. No country has a constitutional monarchy. But in this different nation ......<>, it seems that they have a council system. Another mystery deepens. Will it be solved by going to <>? The old man had high hopes for the future. "Lastly, I would like to talk to you again about your stipend now that you have left ...... Mr. Oliver, is there anything you would like to do?" "Well, for now, as long as I don''t have to worry about food and a place to sleep." John answered in a light tone, and Crowe nodded. In a foreign country where you don''t know what''s right and left, survival is more important than money, he understood. "Okay. I''ll think about it. Well, that''s about it for today. Maya here will take care of the sleeping arrangements." So, good luck, Mr. John. Okay. * * * * * * The same night, the old man gave a detailed report to Jin. "Well, there are some interesting things." "Yes. I''m more interested in the fact that some of the place names look very similar to Japanese place names rather than the ...... of the earth." Kari=Kari, Seki=Seki, Miyako=Miyako. And Aji and Seto. If Seto is Seto, Aji could be Awaji. Jin wondered if there was any connection in the past. As the successor of Adriana Barbora Zetsi, Reiko''s predecessor, the automata, took more than 100 years to develop the formula to find Jin. The control core of that part of the automata was shattered, probably due to overuse, and there is no knowledge of it left. The old man, who is supposed to be more capable, might be able to develop a technique to connect to another space in a shorter period of time, but he has not been able to do so. Is there something fundamentally lacking? Materials or basic techniques? Jin did not think it was too much, so he did not give any instructions to the old man to pursue the matter. Let''s talk about something else. Jin thought that there might have been someone in the past who came from the same world or very close to the same world as his own. "Not that that makes any difference." Intellectual curiosity, if you will. To be honest, <> would be the closest. "Well, let''s take our time. But more importantly, how is the food production going?" "I see. ......" I am hoping that there is a surplus of food for the salvation of the Klein Kingdom. < "Okay. Please continue." Jin changes his mind. Right now, the construction of the ship has just started. The wood for the materials has been prepared, and according to the drawings, the hired craftsmen and magical engineers (magiengineers) are working on it. Once a certain amount of parts have been made, the construction of the hull is scheduled to begin. From then on, construction and component processing will be carried out in parallel. "The material is either peene or ...... because teak is not available. The wood is similar to pine. It seemed to be larger than the pine trees known to Jin, and two 40-meter-long pieces were prepared. There was also a large pile of 5-meter-long timbers, which were probably standardized. "I''m concerned about water resistance. ......" Pine trees are reasonably strong, but their resistance to decay is only moderate. However, the pine trees of this world are widely used as materials for ships, so they seem to have a good track record. "Well, it all starts tomorrow: ......" Until this day, the parts were being processed, and the next day, the hull assembly would finally begin. Jin was looking forward to it. "Father, I''ve never seen such a leisurely construction." "Yes, it is. But this seems to be the norm. No wonder Reiko was so upset. Because in Horai Island, a ship of this class would be completed in half a day. As Jin had become the best in the world in a single leap, he had no experience in this kind of work, and therefore, he was enjoying it to a certain extent. "My new feature is not going to work either, is it?" Reiko equipped with a force field generator. It allows her to fly freely in the sky, but it doesn''t seem to be in use this time. "Well, that''s fine. There is a difference between not using it and not using it. Besides, as they say, a wise hawk hides its talons. Saying this, Jin patted Reiko on the head. Reiko nodded her head in satisfaction. "That''s right." Then there is a knock at the door. Reiko opens the door. "Hello, Jin." It''s Reinhardt. ...... and Erza. Good evening. I''ve got some good wine. I thought you might like to join us." Reinhard is a wine lover. "My favorite wine region, Olsen, is right here on the western shore of Lake Wass. The hotel had a variety of Olsen wines, so I chose this one. The bottle in my hand is a white wine, Olsen, but unfortunately it is not a 3450, but a 345 Unfortunately, it was not a 3450, but a 3455. "The 3450 is the best, but it''s not bad either. Well, try it." Reiko prepared glasses for the three of us. "......... it''s hard..." Reinhardt takes time to uncork the bottle. The stopper is not a cork, by the way, but a soft wooden one. "Please lend me the bottle." Reiko accepts the bottle from Reinhardt, and with a slight tap, the stopper pops open. "Hey, thank you, Reiko." Reiko poured wine for the three of them. "Well then, good luck with the building of your ship. Reinhardt raised his glass, followed by Jin and Erza. "Yes, it''s true. It''s delicious." "It''s delicious. Rai can be a wine connoisseur (sommelier). Thank you. I''m flattered. But you know, it''s not enough to talk about your favorite brand. The night went on peacefully. 669 - - 20-19 Construction Starts The last day of November, the 30th. This is the day when the full-scale construction of the new ship is to begin. Since a monocoque structure like the built by Jin is impossible, a vertical structure is proposed by Reinhardt. A longitudinal structure is a structure that uses a large number of structural members in the front-back direction to secure strength against bending because the hull is long in the front-back direction. Specifically, one of the two 40-meter-long timbers provided is used for the keel, and the other timber is split in two vertically, and this is used for the auxiliary bilge keel. The other is split in two vertically and used as a bilge keel. This auxiliary keel is attached to the left and right sides of the ship''s bottom and extends into the water, which also has the effect of damping the ship''s sway. It was Reinhardt who came up with this idea. The problem of how to move a ship of this size in order to float on the water was likely to be a problem, but Rodrigo came up with a new innovation in this regard. In other words, the boat would be built on a dolly and transported with the dolly from the dock to the lake. "Hmmm, Mr. Rodrigo is quite good," Jin muttered as he looked at the work area. Jin muttered as he looked at the workshop. He also predicted a problem. The weight of the ship would probably cause the wheels of the carts to sink into the ground and get stuck, in which case he would advise them to lay wooden rails and carry the carts on them. Furthermore, Jin, who had a feeling that problems might occur when embarking and disembarking from the ship, decided to think of a ramp of his own for the time being (in the form of a simple ladder). (A simple ladder-like structure (......) or better yet, a stairway. It could be foldable, and the angle of each step could be kept level even if the angle of the staircase changed (......). It looks like it will be a very sophisticated one. The construction of the ship is also started. A cart was made of a strong wood similar to oak, and the processed keel and auxiliary keel were laid out on the cart. This work was performed by two large golems, Goliaths. "Oh, it''s so convenient to be entrusted with heavy work! Rodrigo muttered as he watched the work. Jin and Reiko check the three pieces of wood laid out on the floor. The grain is straight and the lumber is quite good. But... "Reiko, the spacing on this side is not right. "Yes, it''s 10 centimeters too narrow. Do you want me to fix it? "Yes, please." Reiko then lifted one end of the bilge keel, which had a cross section of 30 cm x 60 cm and was 40 meters long, with one hand and placed it in the correct position. With one hand, she lifted one end of the bilge keel, which was 30 centimeters by 60 centimeters and 40 meters long. No one noticed Reiko, who handled the more than five tons of lumber without a care in the world. The keel was connected to the keel by girders, to which structural members were then attached, and soon the framework of the ship was complete. "As I thought, the work is progressing well when Goliath is around. A large golem that can be used in place of heavy machinery. The fact that it has more freedom than heavy machinery is a big advantage when working on the ship. Even though it is not as good as Jin and Horaijima, the framework was completed in one day. "Jin-dono, what do you think? "It''s good, isn''t it?" By 4:00 p.m., the framework was complete and the day''s work was over. Christophe, who was in charge of the site, was checking the whole project with Jin. "The structural timbers seem to be of good quality and the joints are well done. The dimensions are also quite accurate, so let''s continue with the work at this rate. "I am relieved to hear you say so, Mr. Jin, the Magecraft Meister. I''m looking forward to tomorrow. No wonder the work is so good. Jin looked around during the work and secretly corrected any defects he noticed. "I hope the exterior panels will be put up tomorrow. I''m looking forward to it." After taking one more lap around the ship, Jin returned to the hotel where he was staying. * * * * * The next day, December 1. Finally, only one month remained in the year 3457. On this day, the mechanical equipment, including the propulsion system, <>, which had been built by Jin, was installed first. "So this is the latest jet thruster. ......" "That''s a great thing. Mister Jin is a great man." The huge jet thrusters, each measuring up to one meter in diameter and four meters in length, are attached to each side of the ship. Two smaller jet thrusters, each 25 centimeters in diameter and one meter long, are mounted at the bow and stern for auxiliary propulsion. The jet thrusters are used to move the boat forward and backward at a very slow speed. The direction of the jets can be changed, which is also useful for changing direction. The steering system has been installed, and the navigational work has been completed. The hull plate is to be installed. "Goliath, higher up. ....... A little to the right. Okay. " Christophe manipulates Goliath and temporarily fixes the parts together. The joints are then properly joined by the subcontracted magiengineers. Their work is supervised by Reinhardt. "All right, make sure you get those joints right. ......Yes, be extra careful there. It''s a place where a lot of force is applied." And Erza was supervising the interior at the same time. "......Yes, those floorboards have to be put up last, otherwise it will be difficult to work on them." Elsa gives instructions without even looking at the drawings. She has the plans in her head. "Ms. Elsa, what is this part here? "That''s going to be the dining room. The tables and chairs need to be fixed, otherwise they will move with the shaking. Do you understand? "Oh, tables and chairs will be brought in later?" "Yes." What does it do? It''s a tube that carries the voice. Install it before you put up the wall. I understand. Sanitation is important. Cleanliness is the first priority on a boat trip. Do not throw sewage all over the place. Make sure that the Magi Formula for Deodorant, Decomposition, Cleanup, and Sterilization is written on the walls. Jin goes through them and follows up on any glitches or failures. (I like the idea of a group of people working together to create something like this.) (I love it when a group of people work together to make something like this.) Jin suddenly remembers the time when he was in junior high school and the class made a show for the school festival. (I remember I was in charge of props then, too.) The performance was a puppet show. The puppet show was a play about the Chushingura. He alone made all the props, such as the swords and kimonos held by the puppets. No, there were other prop makers, but they were so clumsy compared to Jin that it was faster for him to make them by himself. After that, Jin also helped the props crew. No, he was made to do it. But in the enthusiasm of the whole class to accomplish something together, it was strangely and strangely comfortable, he remembered fondly. In the end, the day ended with about 70 percent progress. * * * * * * * * * * * "The food in this hotel is not so bad. * * * "The food in this hotel is not so bad," he said. I have no complaints. The wine is also fairly good. Jin and his friends were having dinner in the dining room. There is a room service, but Reinhardt wants to order a variety of wines, so they are having dinner in the dining room. We are drinking a white wine, Erlich 3453. It is an Auslese, a wine made from selected bunches of fully ripe grapes. "My brother Rai really likes wine. Erza looked at Reinhardt, who seemed to like the wine and quickly finished a bottle, and said with some exasperation. "I don''t care if you get a headache tomorrow. "What, Erza, you won''t fix it?You''re so heartless." Reinhardt, who was in a tipsy mood, looked at Erza''s face and made a crying imitation. "I won''t be fooled by such a poor performance." Jin, watching the exchange between Erza and Reinhardt, realized after all this time that he and Erza should make their own antidote. So, when he went back to his room later, he instructed the old man to make a detoxification tool for the three of them. "They should look like ...... well, mine and Reinhardt''s should look like business card holders. I will put it in my breast pocket. Erza should have a pendant head. . Days after receiving this magical tool, Reinhardt said that he had a mixed look of happiness and disappointment when he was no longer more than a little tipsy. 670 - - 20-20 AZIMUTH MAGNET December 2. Jin asked Christophe how he planned to get in and out. "Well, I was thinking we could use the ladder. I knew it, Jin thought. But that would make loading and unloading of luggage a hassle. "I think we should get a ramp." A ramp? "Oh, a ramp is ......." Jin then explained about the ramp. "I see, we need to prepare a sturdy object at the port where cargo is handled and put it over the ship. For ships, foldable ones are provided so that personnel can use them. The one to be prepared at the port was immediately approved at Christophe''s discretion. The question of loading them on the ship will be discussed when the final outfitting is confirmed. The remaining problem is navigation. Jin discussed this with Christophe. "Well, how do we know where we are? How can we do that on the sea, where there are no landmarks? Kristoff could imagine. "...... is difficult." For the time being, I don''t plan to go so far out to sea that I can''t see land, Christophe said. In other words, we will always have land in sight and will sail along the coastline. "That''s all well and good, but what if there is a current, or fog, or night, and we can''t see land?" "Ummm ......" Christophe''s question stumped him. "Okay. Let''s have a meeting first thing this afternoon." Christophe said that the ship should be 90% finished in the morning, so he would have time in the afternoon. Jin also said that he would have his thoughts together by then and left the meeting. "Now, a prototype azimuth magnet. ......" Jin decided to go with the simplest experiment and instructed the old man to prepare for it. * * * * As planned, 90% of the work on the ship was completed, and after lunch, the members of the team convened in the conference room first thing in the afternoon. There, Christophe explained what Jin had proposed in the morning. "I see, a ramp. ......" "It''s necessary to put it in the port. It would be useful to have it on the ship as well." All of them immediately recognized the need for it and unanimously decided to add it. The problem is navigation. "......First of all, think about what you would do if everything around you was in the ocean and you didn''t know which way to go." Jin offered such a suggestion to stimulate the imagination. "Fuumu......" "In the daytime, you can see the sun. ......" Claire interrupted Magi Engineer Xenelos as he was about to say this. "You idiot. What if it''s cloudy or foggy?" "Gu,m ......" "What if it''s cloudy or foggy?" "What if we look at the stars at night?" Claire said sharply. "I heard that there is a star in the northern sky that doesn''t change its position all night long and it is called Polaris. It seems that even in this world, there are those who are interested in the stars and are trying to find the North Star. "If we could find it, it would be a good indicator of our direction. If we are going along the south coast, we will hit land if we head north. Everyone nodded in agreement. "But if it''s cloudy at night, we won''t be able to see the stars, will we?" "Sure, but what if it''s cloudy at night? ...... Is there any magic tool that can tell the direction anytime and anywhere?" Hearing these words, Jin immediately responded. "Yes, there is. "What?" Everyone ...... looked at Jin at once, although Erza and Reinhardt probably knew what he was talking about. "There''s a thing called a compass. "What''s a compass?" A magnet?Is it that thing that sticks to iron? Claire, Rodrigo, and Couwald had never heard of a magnet. On the other hand, Christophe and Xenelos seem to know at least what a magnet is. "I heard that there is a stone that tries to stick to iron only. What Kristof is probably talking about is magnetite. It is a type of iron ore that occurs as a natural magnet. That''s it. Here is a powerful magnet. Jin pulled out a bar-shaped magnet made in Bongnae Island from his pocket. It was made by adding nickel, aluminum, and copper to iron, a material similar to MK magnet steel. This was the only magnet steel that Jin knew of, and he did not know of alnico magnets or rare earth magnets, but this was strong enough. "With this, you rub a steel needle, stick it in a leaf, and float it in water," he said. This is an experiment with magnets sometimes done in elementary schools. Originally, a sewing needle was supposed to be stuck into a piece of paper to float on the water, but since there was no paper, the needle was stuck into a dead leaf. "Hmmm ...... Hohoho!" The floating needle pointed north and south and stopped. Even if I change the direction of the needle, it always points to the north-south direction at the end. "I didn''t know that magnets have such a property. ...... Jin-dono, how did you know this?" Christophe looks surprised. He must not have had much scientific education by Fuhrer. Probably because he is busy with practical work. "This is <>. I learned it from my mentor. Please do not tell me the name of your teacher. Jin added a few words so that he would not be pursued for further questioning. "Mmmmmm...so you can find out the direction anytime, anywhere by applying this!" Christophe''s face lit up with joy. He must have realized that this could be used not only at sea, but also on land. "But as you know, it is attracted to iron, so it will not be accurate if there is iron nearby. "Yes, that''s true. But this new ship has no iron parts, so we should be fine. Iron tends to rust easily, so bronze and light silver were used in this case. Of course, this was also because Jin had hinted at this through Reinhardt on the first day. "If we float them in oil instead of water, the needles will not rust. "If you seal it up with clear crystal or something, the oil won''t spill even if the ship shakes. "It would be nice if we could make it bigger so it would be easier to see. Various opinions were expressed, such as "It would be nice if we could make it bigger so it would be easier to see. The meeting ended with the decision that Reinhardt and Erza would make the ramp and Jin would make the azimuth magnet. Since there was still some time left, everyone except Jin, Reinhard, and Erza went to finish the ship. "Reiko, help me!" "Yes, Father." Reiko glanced sideways at Erza, who was looking at Jin as if she wanted to say something, and hurriedly followed him out of the room. "......" Reinhardt consoles Erza, who is looking somewhat downhearted. "Erza, don''t burn the rice cakes for Reiko. "No, I''m not burning ...... anything." Erza puts her hand on her cheek in a panic. "You''re not convincing even if you deny it with a red face. "Ah,......." Reinhardt smiles at Erza and offers words of comfort. "For Jin, he''s probably immersed in his work because he can''t be sticky even if he wanted to because of this environment. "Sticky? ......" But Elsa is turning redder and redder. "Haha, sorry. What I''m trying to say is that Jin must be feeling lonely too. The only time we get to talk is at dinner. Besides, Jin doesn''t do that kind of thing in public, does he?" "......Yes, that''s true." "I know you want to finish the boat and get out of here as soon as possible. I haven''t seen Belle for a long time. "...... Rai, you ruined it at the end." 671 - - 20-21 Titanic Jin made a 20-centimeter-diameter disk-shaped directional magnet and floated it in oil. He attached the compass to the back of a plastic disk made from the threads of a thin ground spider resin (GSP)....... I have never heard of a compass actually used on a ship, so this is a self-made project. The container is made of quartz and quartz crystal found in the material storehouse. The lower half is made of white quartz and the upper half is made of transparent quartz. If it was not mineral oil, it would harden or change into a cloudy white color. Of course, I brought it secretly from Horai Island. Once sealed, it is impossible to tell what kind of oil it is. "Okay, let''s load up two of these planes." "Father, you seem to be very supportive." Reiko said in a tone of voice that was not necessarily dissatisfied but a little curious. "Yes. It''s the memorable first ship, after all. Besides, it''s a ship I worked on, so I want it to be a success. The reason she was so devoted to the ship was because it was the ship that Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt had worked on. Reiko had no complaints about that. "Yes. Your father''s name will remain on it. We need it to succeed. The Magecraft Meister cooperated on this ship." "Well..." Jin took advantage of the time he had left and began to write a memorandum. "Father, what are you doing?" "Well, this time I helped you, but if you think about it, I can''t always help you, can I?So I''m just summarizing what I noticed. I''m glad you noticed that, Jin. The things that were wrong with the way he was doing it this time, the things that were prone to failure. That is exactly what Jin was trying to fix secretly. Therefore, it was very meaningful for Jin to put it together. "Okay, so this is it." The writing on leather paper is bound together and a cover is attached to complete the work. <. "I guess I should give this to the person in charge. Jin leaves the room, taking the and the compass with him. When they saw the completed compass, they were amazed to see the magician MagiCraft Meister at work once again. Christophe received the magnet with great joy and began to consider where to mount it. Rodrigo, on the other hand, looked as if he wanted to say something. "What is it, Mr. Rodrigo?" Jin sensed this and called out to him, to which he replied in a slightly panicked tone. "Yes, yes. ......No, no, nothing at all. ......" "Are you interested in a compass?" Jin guessed that was probably what he meant. "Yes, well ......". After this, Jin was going to make some so-called azimuth magnets. The advantage of these magnets is that they are easier to make than wet type magnets, which run in oil, but the disadvantages are that the needle stops swinging slowly and rusting makes them unusable. This knowledge is not so much over-technology as it is in the <> that was previously presented to the Shoro Empire. Aside from Christophe, the Minister of Magical Technology, Deghaouz, must know a compass. I will give Christophe the <>. "Oh, Mister Jin, this is a great help! I will use it as a reference for the next one! Kristoff gladly accepted the memorandum. The ship''s ramp was well finished, and the new ship was almost complete that day. A final check would be made the next morning, and if all went well, a launching ceremony would be held the following afternoon. The Prime Minister is expected to arrive by hot air balloon for the launching ceremony. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "It''s all coming together now, isn''t it? "It was fun. Jin, you did a great job. And Erza, too. Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt were chatting over a glass of wine in the dining room after taking a bath. Reinhardt had become completely addicted to the wines of this region. There are many grape farms on the east and west sides of Lake Wass, and wine production is flourishing. The east is the Erlich region and the west is the Olsen region. Today I brought a 3456 from Erlich. "It''s still a young wine, but it''s better than I expected. Reinhardt drank at a fast pace without touching the food. "Brother Rai, you have to hold back a little more. Erza, concerned, calls out to him. Jin and Erza have almost finished eating, but Reinhardt has only eaten about half of his meal and is drinking wine exclusively. "I''ll tell Mrs. Bertsche when I get back. With these words, Reinhardt''s hands stopped. "U...... understand." Reinhardt nodded reluctantly and started to cook. Jin guessed that Reinhardt must feel relieved now that the ship was finished, even though the final checks had not been done yet. "Jin-dono, Reinhardt-dono, Erza-miss, may I?" Rodrigo came to Jin and his wife''s table. "Yes, come in. Would you like some, Rodrigo?" Reinhardt offered him a glass of wine, but Rodrigo declined. "No, just the thought is fine. As I told you, I am not in good health." Elsa heard him say this, but she didn''t care. "Excuse me, but are you in poor health?" "......Yes. I drank too much alcohol a little while ago. If you don''t mind, I''d like to examine you later. "What?" Rodrigo looks doubtful, and Jin explains to him. "Erza, although she may look like this, she is a healer who was recently personally appointed by His Majesty as a healer. Rodrigo''s face seemed to take on a joyful hue for a moment when he heard this, but the next moment his expression was the same as it had always been. "No, I''m fine. I have a proposal. "What is it?"Well, please sit down." Reinhardt offered him a chair. "Oh, thank you. I''d like to ...... talk to you about something that''s hard to ...... say, but don''t you have to think about what happens when you sink?" "When it sinks,......?" Even Reinhardt frowned a little. It was understandable, since the launching ceremony had not yet taken place and they were talking about what to do if the ship sank. But Jin was different. "You mean the ...... lifeboat?" Jin had also forgotten. He had forgotten that the current ships on the earth are equipped with enough lifeboats to carry all the crew members. The tragedy of the Titanic occurred because of the lack of such lifeboats. Even if there were lifeboats, whether they could unload all of them and evacuate the crew in a short period of time before the ship sank, let alone the argument. You can''t shake a sleeve you don''t have. If they are not prepared, we will not be able to get on board no matter what we do. "Oh, yes. That''s what I mean." Rodrigo was encouraged by Jin''s understanding. "Let''s call a meeting tomorrow morning. "Thank you, sir." Hearing Jin''s words, Rodrigo bowed and left. "......" Jin called Reinhard and Erza to his room. Both of them were a little offended by the news of the sinking. "This is not a technical story, so neither of you will know about it. ......" Jin told them the story of the sinking of the Titanic, to the best of his knowledge. "At ......, women and children are given priority ......" "......" "............" Both of them listened to the story in silence. "So it''s certainly not a story to be told with much enthusiasm. But there is no such thing as a ship that never sinks. That''s why ......." "No, that''s enough. Okay, Jin." Jin, I understand. Reinhardt and Erza both nodded with mysterious looks on their faces. "For my part, I''d like to use some of the rubber boats made in the Klein Kingdom. Not the Klein Kingdom, but rather the village of Kaina, where Jin and Erza are making them. "......Oh, we can use those too." Erza seems to have had an idea as well. "Not only for fun. "Right?And then we should all wear life jackets. At least the crew of the boat. Floats, rubber boats, life vests. The three of us decided to bring these items up the next day. 672 - - 20-22 Completed The next day, when Rodrigo mentioned the lifeboats at the morning meeting, the atmosphere was not good. Until now, there had been no large vessels that would need lifeboats, and they had never been out to sea, so there was little awareness of the need for such an emergency. However, we do not know what will happen when we go out to the open sea. I think we need to think about it. "Human life must be respected above all else. We should not be blind to such a possibility. Reinhardt and Erza''s insistence on covering the rear of the ship seemed to make the others think a little more. "I think it would be better if all the crew members wear life jackets. In addition, we should equip them with floatation rings. Then Jin said. "Life vests?" "Floatation rings?" At this point, Jin explained the two. A life vest is a garment that allows you to float in the water without doing anything. It is designed like a vest. A floatation ring, as the name implies, is a ring designed to keep you afloat, so that you can slip into it without worrying about sinking. Here again, Jin showed the doll and the floatation ring made of magic resin. "Like this, like this. ...... I guess you can lean on the floats on both sides and wait for rescue." It seemed that everyone was convinced by the model of the floats. "I see!We should make it out of wood! "It''s easy, not bulky, and not heavy. Perfect for emergency use! Even those who were hesitant about the lifeboats agreed unanimously with the floatation rings. "I think we should not consider them as lifeboats. I think we need to have small shallow-bottomed boats for landing in places where there are no harbors or in case we have to stop at shallow land." The need for this suggestion seemed to occur to all of us. "Oh!" "Indeed!There are always beaches where large vessels cannot stop. We cannot deny the possibility that we may land at such places to secure water and food. Thus, the idea of equipping a small boat that could also be used as a lifeboat was accepted. Rubber floats will be obtained in due course through negotiations with the Kingdom of Klein. While the final finishing touches were being made on the new ship, work began on the small boat. Rodrigo and Cubart are in charge of this project. Two small boats of about 3 meters each and two of 5 meters each. The two boats were to be prepared this time. The rest is loading and unloading. With the size of the boat, it would be too inefficient to load and unload the cargo by hand, and it would also cause the boat to lose its balance. "I still think we should build a large golem for that purpose." Christophe had thought of that, too. A large golem instead of a crane. For the time being, Christophe said, they would use Goliath as a substitute for the crane, and once they had a good idea of how to use it, they would make a dedicated golem. A general-purpose golem will be deployed on board the ship as a replacement for the laborers, and it will be used for night security and heavy work. Jin had nothing special to say about that. * * * * * * * * * * * * The new ship was finally completed in the evening of the same day. The surface was coated with . This is the same material that is used for the contents of a middle class golem, so to speak, a pine resin with magic power. In other words, a few scratches or holes can be filled in a short time by using <>. Although it is necessary to have a Magi Engineer on board. Jin was frankly impressed by this idea. The new ship now stands before Jin and the others, glowing with the color of amber, the color of soft magic resin. "It''s done!" "Yes, we did it!" "I''m so happy. ...... "I''m so happy!" Everyone is looking up at the ship with their own thoughts and feelings. "I''m going to put a plaque on the stern with the names of everyone who worked on this ship." Christophe, the man in charge, declared, to cheers from the crowd. "I hope this evening will be a good time for all of you. These words got the crowd even more excited. The hotel staff is preparing a delicious meal tonight. The success of the new shipbuilding and the fact that the staff of the new shipbuilding has used the hotel would be a great publicity effect. Cheers! Cheers! Cheers! The glasses are clinked in response to Christophe''s voice, and a faint clink is heard. The next moment, a lively conversation begins. "Well, Mr. Jin, it was an honor to work with you! Couwald is drinking wine next to Jin. "As a shipbuilder (shipwright), I felt I was inexperienced. In that sense, I learned a lot from Rodrigo. And Rodrigo? "I learned a lot from this job. Thank you, Mr. Jin, Mr. Reinhardt, and Ms. Erza." He spoke to Reinhardt and Erza. "Rodrigo, how are you feeling?" After the toast, Elsa looked at Rodrigo, who had not touched his wine and was drinking juice, and asked worriedly, "Yes, today, today. "Yes, don''t worry, I''m not going to collapse today or tomorrow." He smiles, but his complexion is dull. "......<>" "What?" Elsa, unable to bear the sight, casts a healing spell on Rodrigo. It is an elementary magic for both internal and surgical use. Even though it is an elementary level, the point is that it is dual-use, and it works even when the internal organs are bleeding. "...... I feel much better." Rodrigo looks much better. "You said you drank too much alcohol, so you must have a stomach problem. Elsa guessed that he might have a stomach problem because of his scrawny body. It was a bit of a guess since she had not examined him properly, but the healing magic was not harmful to him. In fact, it seems that she hit the jackpot. If the gastric ulcer is caused by binge eating and drinking, medical healing magic alone is not effective. When the gastric mucosa is torn and bleeding, surgical healing magic should be used in combination. However, the only healer who can make such a judgment, except for Elsa, would be Sally Mireshan in the village of Kaina. Moreover, all the healers Rodrigo had seen so far seemed to be unskilled, and none of them seemed to be willing to try surgical healing magic. It was also the case that Rodrigo had only seen healers who were inexpensive. "I''m not completely healed, let me examine you later, please." "......Elsa, you are a ...... person." Rodrigo''s eyes began to water. "I thought all healers were people who demanded a lot of money and didn''t heal you properly. "...... that''s ......." Elsa knew from what little she had heard from Sally that there were many such healers, so she couldn''t say anything. "......This may allow me to apologize to my family someday." "Your family?" Unlike Jin and Reinhardt, Erza had not heard his personal story in the bath. "Yes. They should be in Potlock City in the Kingdom of Elias." "Potlock ......." It was a familiar name. The town where Jin and I first met. It was the town of Potlock in the city of Potlock. Oh, you know it? "Yes, I did. I visited there on a trip earlier this year. "Oh, I see. ......" Rodrigo looked at me with nostalgic eyes, thinking of his hometown. "But you know... boats are for safety first!" "No!A ship is a tool, so we have to consider other functions while taking safety into account! Safety should be the first priority because people ride on them and use them! "That''s not going to make much progress. Sometimes technology has to be adventurous! I thought I heard loud voices arguing with each other, but it was Kreia and Xenelos. It seems that the two were not on the same page until the very end. No one stopped them as they were in the mood for a friendly quarrel. "It''s interesting to see that argument, isn''t it? Jin was listening to the discussion beside me and muttered something like that. "What do you think, Jin?" Erza, who was standing right next to Jin, heard the discussion and immediately asked a question. "No technology can be 100% certain. But that is why engineers seek perfection. "I see. I understand. Then Reinhard joined in. "I guess. In the case of Jin and myself, if it looks a little dangerous, we can use a golem to take over. "That''s exactly right." As Jin answered, he glanced at Reiko who was standing behind him. He glanced at his beloved daughter who always takes the initiative in testing new technologies. Perhaps Jin''s feelings were understood, Reiko looked at him and smiled. 673 - - 20-23 Naming "uu......I''ve got a headache......" "I feel like I''m losing my mind......" "I''m so sick ......" The people who had had too much to drink at the previous night''s merrymaking, with the exception of Jin, Reinhardt, and Erza, had come to the meeting with their heads aching from hangovers. Since the meeting could not go on as it was, Erza, out of concern, decided to cast a healing spell on them. "<><>" "Oh, oh ...... I feel better!" "Miss Elsa can do this ......!" "You are indeed a court-appointed healer (Reichsalt), aren''t you?" After a flurry of compliments for Erza, the morning''s meeting began. "Well, the Prime Minister left Leuthart early this morning. He will arrive at noon. The launching ceremony will take place at approximately 2:00 p.m." Christophe describes the plans for the day. "We will then spend three days in Lake Wass, doing various checks, and will go to sea on December 8. Lake Wass is connected to the sea by a channel about 20 km long. The channel is wide enough and deep enough to navigate the new vessel without any problems. "And once out to sea, we will make the maiden voyage to Potrock and back, the southern tip of the Kingdom of Elias. This announcement took everyone by surprise. "We will then call for applicants, and those who have participated in the construction of this ship will be given priority. "I''m going! Claire was the first to express her intention. Then Xenelos came forward as well. I''m coming too. "Oh, it''s good to know that a magi engineer is willing to go. Are there any others? Jin, Elsa, and Reinhardt do not express their willingness to go, nor does the shipwright from the town of Simos, Couwald. And the last one. "...... I''d like to go too." Rodrigo announced in a small voice. "Okay. Claire, Xenelos, and Rodrigo, you will be added to the boarding list under my authority. "Thank you!" The next item on the agenda was the name of the ship. "The Emperor says that we can name the ship as we built it. Does anyone have any suggestions?" Jin is silent. He is aware that his taste is not common. Claire is the first to speak up on this. "Yes, how about <>? "I see, it''s a new type of ship." The next to raise his hand was Xeneros. "I think the Imperial Glory is a good choice!" "Yes, it''s a memorable ship in the history of the Shoro Empire." No!Such a harsh name is not appropriate! No!Pioneer is too simple for that! What? What? Everyone except Claire and Xenelos watched their argument with lukewarm eyes, thinking "Here we go again...". Christophe then asked for more opinions. "......Ah, is there anything else?" "...... yes." This time it was Reinhardt who raised his hand. "How about <>? I see, the name of the city. So we can have the second and third names of the city as well. I can also use the name of a city for the second and third positions. ...... "<>" This is Elsa. Because of its amber appearance. "That''s a pretty good name, but I don''t know if there are any more." By now Kreia and Xenelos were tired of talking and were listening to the others. "How about <>?" Jin could not keep quiet about this. It is, after all, a sea creature ......, or rather a demon. "<>" "<>" Rodrigo and Coubert also spoke, which meant that everyone except the chairman, Christophe, had an opinion. "Then let us take a majority vote. Christophe also votes for the majority vote. The result is as follows. To the surprise of all, <> gets three votes. Elsa, Christoph, and ...... Jin. "So, the name of the new ship shall be ." "...... Well, that''s not bad. No objections!" "Aye." Kreia and Xenelos agree and the name of the new ship is decided. "Then Miss Elsa will be naming the ship at the launching ceremony." ? Elsa is startled by this sudden and unexpected mention of the name. "You can borrow clothes from the hotel. Miss Elsa, please come to my place after this. We can work out the details. "...... yes." So, unexpectedly, Elsa''s naming came through, and she was given the great responsibility of naming the house at the same time. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......" "Well, Elsa, you look good." Elsa was wearing a so-called frilly dress. The light blue base color was decorated with white lace and frills, and gold ornaments were used at the points. On her head shone a silver tiara. Under her skirt, she wore a pannier to give her a fuller, fuller silhouette. Panniers were not made of tulle or other fabrics, but what was called farthingale a generation ago. In other words, a made of elastic material is attached to the waist to inflate the skirt. "Is this what a traditional launching ceremony is supposed to be like?" Jin asked, half in amazement and half in admiration of Erza''s unusual attire. "Well, to be honest, I didn''t know about it either. To begin with, this is the first time a large ship like this has been built. "That''s true, isn''t it?" "But maybe they''ve done this in the past when some of the military ships were built." The ship is a 10-meter class coastal patrol vessel. "This is the first ceremony," he said. Elsa told me about the ceremony. "I see, so you have created a new ceremony based on the previous ones. So, I guess you are the first and most honorable of the namers. Jin knew that on modern Earth, they would smash bottles of red wine and break a kusudama. "But you look good in a dress like this, don''t you? The design is different from gothic lolita, but to Jin it looks like the same type of dress. I had thought that Erza looked good in simple dresses that were easy to move in, so this was a new discovery for me. "...... don''t look at it too much." Erza herself is feeling uncomfortable because of the dress she is not used to wearing and the design she doesn''t like. "No, I mean it as a compliment. I''m still embarrassed." It seemed that he did not like the idea of being stared at in an outfit he did not approve of. "I can''t eat lunch in that outfit." Reinhardt was very concerned. "Nope. So I''ll go change after practice. The clothes were so prehistoric that it was impossible to even use the restroom. It was Jin who thought that it would be better to wear modern clothes ...... of course, ...... by earthly standards. 674 - - 20-24 Intake Type In the early afternoon, a hot-air balloon arrived from the capital city of Leuthart. On board were the Prime Minister, Jung Forss von K?bsler, and the Minister of Magic and Technology, Degas Furth von Manischlus, who was in charge of the new shipbuilding project. They left Leuthert before 6:00 a.m. and came quickly. It seems that he took portable meals in the air. It was quite a hard schedule. "Wow, this is a new ship. It''s quite a sight to see, isn''t it?" The Prime Minister commented. The two look around the ship as soon as they arrive. "The name is , or Amber. It is named after its appearance. It''s a nice name, without any pretensions. The Minister of Magical Technology is impressed. "This will allow us to hold the launching ceremony without any problems. The ceremony will be the same as before? Yes. Yes. It''s the same way we discussed before. "Well, since it will be the norm in the future, let''s make sure it''s done right." As scheduled, at 2:00 p.m., the meeting was held at the same time as the previous one. At 2:00 p.m., as scheduled, the launching ceremony finally took place. In attendance are the Prime Minister, the Minister of Magic and Technology, all those involved in the production of the ship, the subcontractor''s ingenuity (koufu), the knights and soldiers guarding the ship, and the hotel manager, the vice president of the hotel where the ship was lodged. The manager and assistant manager of the hotel where they stayed. The mayor of the town of Simos, a total of 51 people. And many onlookers. Elsa, dressed in a gorgeous dress, is the first to go up the ramp and stand at the bow of the ship. Then, in a clear voice, she made a declaration. "Today, as of this moment, I am naming this ship ! Then, with a silver dagger in his hand, he cuts a rope. The rope is the rope of the banner that hangs over the side of the ship. The rope is severed, the banner falls, and from beneath it comes the words BERNSTEIN>> from underneath. The Prime Minister, the Minister of Magic and Technology, the Mayor, Reinhardt, Xenelos, Kreia, and Couwald board the ship amidst the applause of all the participants. Christophe, Jin, and Rodrigo, who are in charge of the site, do not board the ship. Aside from Christophe, basically only people from the Shoro Empire boarded the ship. Christophe had another important role to play. "Now, let''s have the launching ceremony! Amidst thunderous applause, one by one, the ropes holding the boat in place were removed. When the last rope is removed, Christophe gives the order to the work golem. "Push the ship!" Assembled on a sturdy dolly, Bernstein is supposed to be pushed along the gently sloping path from the building dock to Lake Wass. However, something unexpected happened. The weight of Bernstein caused the sled of the dolly to sink into the ground, and it would not start moving. "Push!" Christophe instructs again. But the boat does not start moving. The work golems being pushed are three two-meter tall mass-produced models based on the Black Knight (Schwartzritter). As expected, they were not strong enough. Goliath, the giant golem, might be able to move them, but they could not move with such precision that they would destroy the ship if they were mistaken. Christophe''s forehead is covered in cold sweat and his complexion is pale. If the launching ceremony goes wrong at the last minute, the prestige of the nation will be at stake. Reiko, help him.) Father.) Unable to bear the sight of this, Jin instructed Reiko in a whisper. Fortunately, most of the people present at the ceremony were looking at the people waving at the boat and waving back. However, if the ship did not start moving, they would start to think something was wrong in a few seconds. It was at such a moment that Jin gave Reiko an instruction. Reiko deploys and approaches Bernstein while remaining invisible. She weaves her way between the three golems frantically pushing the cart and slips under it. "Force field generator activated." A force is generated in the direction of lifting the cart. The Bernstein has a capacity of about 300 tons. Reiko took half of it. "Oh, it works!" With half the weight reduced, the sledges that had been slipping somehow began to slide. At the same time, they cheered. The sled gradually gains momentum. The speed, however, is only four to five kilometers per hour, about the speed of a person walking. Reiko tries to gradually lower the output of the force field generator. Although the momentum has decreased a little, the slope toward Wass Lake has increased and it seems that it will not stop any more. As proof, the three golems that had been pushing me have already let go and are looking away. "Okay, 40 meters to go, 30 meters to go, 20 meters to go......" On both sides of the ramp, local residents and tourists lined up to watch the new shipbuilding. Bernstein passed through the crowd and finally plunged into Lake Wass. A large splash of water was heard, then the dismounted dolly floated up, and beyond it, Bernstein floated its amber-colored hull on the blue surface of Lake Wass. The audience cheered and applauded. "Father, is that what you wanted?) Reiko quietly came back next to Jin. Oh, you''ve done well. You did great, Reiko. Good job.) Jin gently patted Reiko''s head. "No water leakage." "Hull distortion within norms." Couwald checks for leaks, and Kreier checks the hull for any irregularities. Inside the Bernstein on the surface of Lake Wass, the temporary crew is busy checking everything. "All right, power check. Slight forward motion." "Aye, sir." In response to the words of the temporary captain, Reinhardt became the temporary engineer and activated the jet thrusters. "Oh, it''s moving!" "Keep going, keep going. Keep moving, about 100 meters off the shore. "Aye, sir." At the controls, acting as temporary navigator, is Xenelos. Bernstein slowly moves away from the shore in a wide arc. "It''s easy to move!" The control stick is power-assisted, thanks to the application of golem technology, so that the rudder can be operated lightly. "Okay, we''re far enough away from the shore. Slowly increase engine power." "Aye, sir." These instructions are relayed to the various areas of the ship through the ship''s voice pipes. Reinhardt controls the mana tanks in the center of the ship and monitors the mana being pumped into the jet thrusters mounted on both sides of the ship. "That''s Jin, there is nothing wrong at all. Except for emergencies, the jet thrusters on both sides of the ship are operated by the on the side of the navigator''s stick. Xenelos, the temporary mate, slowly increased the power of the jet thrusters. "...... fast. Close to the speed of the Golem boat." Elsa, who was at the bow of the boat, estimated the current speed from the strength of the wind against her cheeks. "Whoa!" shouted a spectator on the shore. Bernstein has started to gradually increase his speed. "Yes, it''s working as planned. Jin looks on with satisfaction. Then Bernstein started to increase his speed more and more. "Wow, this is great! "You did it, Mr. Jin!" Christophe leans over the safety railing on the shore to watch the new ship''s wake. Rodrigo tapped him on the shoulder excitedly. Meanwhile, a rather large wave that Bernstein had caused was breaking on the shore. "Ummm, this is ...... a good thing we let the other boats pull up. ......" With a small, unstable ship, it is possible that some of the vessels could have been capsized by the waves. And the Bernstein was now sailing at nearly 20 kilometers per hour. "It''s a great success!" Christophe exclaimed, as if he had just been impressed. Jin was also feeling a little bit excited, as if he knew that all the hard work had been worth it. 675 - - 20-25 Fathers The day was limited to a simple navigational test for the temporary crew, and the new ship returned to the newly built harbor. The port is a pier for large vessels only. The pier was temporarily built in a deep water area. A full-fledged port will be built later. "Slowly, slowly ......" The Bernstein was safely moored to the pier, with the auxiliary jet thrusters making it relatively easy to move forward and backward at a slight speed. The ramp is hung, and the temporary crew gets off. Reinhardt is in the lead. Couwald, Kreia, and Xenelos follow. Then came the mayor Barial, the prime minister, the minister of magic and technology, and last of all Erza. The applause and cheers had been intense since Reinhardt came down, but reached a climax when Erza appeared. Erza, who had been on the podium with a blank expression during the golem boat competition in Potrock, seemed to be a little surprised at the enthusiasm. Jin stepped forward to greet Elsa as she descended the ramp. Just before descending the last step, Jin held out his hand and Elsa took it. And when the last crew member, Erza, stepped on the ground, the launching ceremony seemed to have gone without a hitch. * * * * "...... wind." Elsa let out a sigh as she took off her dress. "......Bernstein is a good ship. It''s a good thing my brother Jin took part in it." Standing at the bow of the ship during the test run, Erza was literally experiencing the beauty of the new ship firsthand. "Miss Elsa, your clothes, please." "Thank you, Edgar." Edgar offers me a pair of his everyday clothes, which I put on and put them on. The familiar feel of the magi silk is pleasant to the touch. "Edgar, let''s go to my brother Jin. "Yes." In addition to Reinhardt, Rodrigo had arrived at Jin''s room. "Hi, Erza, thanks for coming. Jin, Rai, and Rodrigo, thanks for coming. The four of them laugh at each other. "The jet thrusters were awesome!I think that''s going to be the mainstream from now on." Reinhardt spoke rapidly, as if the excitement of being on board had not yet cooled off. "You are absolutely amazing!The jet thrusters are going to revolutionize the ship!" "About that, for the time being, the jet thrusters will be installed only on ships directly built by the Imperial Government. Before returning to the hotel, the Prime Minister informally told us. "I think it will be announced at the party tonight." It would be a little while before the ship would be available to the general public. "I see... ...... I''m sorry to hear that." Rodrigo''s shoulders slump a little. Elsa looks at his tired profile and thinks about treating him. "Rodrigo, it''s just as well, let''s treat your body. ...... Jin brother, okay?" Elsa checks with Jin, the owner of the room. Jin has no objection. "Yes, of course. You can use the sofa there. "Thank you, Jin. ...... Mr. Rodrigo, please lie down there. "What?......No, I feel better after yesterday''s treatment. ...... But Elsa convinced Rodrigo that the previous day''s treatment was a stopgap measure, not a cure. Rodrigo did as he was told and lay down on the couch. "...... Edgar, please. Esophagus to stomach, duodenum." "Yes, Miss Elsa." Edgar activated the fluoroscopy function, which allows us to look inside the human body like a CT or MRI. "There is an ulcer in the lower right part of the stomach, near the pylorus. The bleeding seems to be under control, but it is quite large. "...... after all." Yesterday''s treatment was inadequate because the site of the ulcer had not been identified. "This makes sense. <>" Elsa''s hand glowed faintly as she held it up, its warm light absorbed into Rodrigo''s abdomen. "...... Edgar, please confirm." "Yes. ...... ulcer is gone." "......Good. <>...... liver is a little weak. >" After another examination, Elsa also found a liver disorder and treated it as well. "......This is all right. No more irregular eating habits. And don''t drink alcohol in moderation." Erza, who had used healing magic many times, had grown in terms of magic power and the number of times she could use healing magic had increased a little. However, Jin took a precaution and offered Erza the Persica juice from Horai Island that he had brought with him. "Thank you, Jin. If you want to ......, you can give some to Mr. Rodrigo." "Sure. You can have one too, Rodrigo. It''s good for you." Rodrigo, now looking much better, took Jin''s Persica juice and drank it down. "......Thank you, Elsa. ...... now I will be able to see my daughter''s face." "...... miss?" Jin remembered the conversation they had had in the bath the other day. "Excuse me, I don''t know what to ask you, but what is your daughter''s name?" "Yes, her name is Marcia." As expected, that was the name. "Marcia. ......" Marcia? What?Do you all know her? Rodrigo''s face was filled with wonder. It was natural that he should wonder how I knew the name of his daughter, who was supposed to live in the distant kingdom of Elias, and even more so in Potrock, at the southern tip of the kingdom. "Yes, I know her name very well. Now that the big job of building the new ship was over, Jin decided to take the opportunity to dig deeper into Marcia. Jin and Reinhardt took turns talking and explaining how they knew Marcia. Rodrigo listened attentively, but finally burst into tears when Marcia told him that she had raced and used the prize money to rebuild her store. "......Marcia told me that her father built that catamaran just for fun, didn''t he?" "......So that''s what he did. ......So that''s what she did. ......" Then he cried again when he heard that his wife had passed away. "I''ve put my ...... wife through a lot of hardship ...... too." "But you still want to go home, don''t you?" Jin called out to her. "Marcia looked really nostalgic when I told her about your father. I''m sure she will forgive you." "I''m sure she will. ......" Rodrigo put his hands over his face and sobbed. "A father and son by blood. That bond is unbreakable." Elsa advised him to chew every word. "There were times when I felt betrayed by my father. But he is still my father." "......" Rodrigo remained silent. "And now that I''m part of this new shipbuilding project, my name will remain on it. You can go home with your chest out." Reinhardt also offered words of encouragement. "So ......?" Muttering the same words again, Rodrigo looked up and looked around at Jin and the others, knowing that they truly felt the same way. "I want to ...... go home,...... go home and see Marcia''s face and apologize,...... if I could just say one word." "You can get on the Bernstein and go home with a big smile on your face. I''m sure you''ll be very welcome in Potrock. Then even Marcia will ......" "......" Rodrigo nodded silently. Jin and the others hoped that this father and daughter could live together again as a family. 676 - - 20-26 Navy Flagship On the evening of the same day, a large party was held in the hotel''s hall. The previous day''s party was an informal affair, but this time it was a large party with the town''s prominent figures, soldiers, and menial laborers, as well as the hotel''s employees. A podium was set up at the front of the room, and first Prime Minister Jung Faulus, then Minister of Magic and Technology Degausz, and then Christoph, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, gave brief remarks. Next, the Prime Minister took the podium again and announced that a few people would be recruited to join the ship''s crew. The crowd cheered. The captain, officers, and sailors are already selected, but I will also recruit engineers and others from the general public. I would like anyone who feels like me to come forward for this first attempt of its kind in our country. We will accept applications until the end of tomorrow morning. The idea is that public input is important in its own way. Once that was done, it was time for the party. "Let''s have a party to celebrate this good day! The party was held in the form of a standing buffet, so the attendees were mingling with each other here and there. Elsa was very popular among the attendees. "Dear Elsa, my name is Derikel Rabad, mayor of the neighboring town of Suar. "My name is Godronus Berntsam von Narlad, captain of the 2nd platoon of the 1st knighthood, who was sent to escort you this time, Erza-sama. As a token of our acquaintance." Erza, please accept my cup. Lady Elsa. Lady Elsa. ...... Excuse me, my Lord seems to be a little tired. Sensing that Erza was fed up, Edgar said no to the attendees surrounding him and led them out of the hall. They went out to the garden of the hotel. There was a large lawn that sloped gently down to Lake Wass. The rising moon was just hanging in the sky, reflecting on the ripples on the lake surface, as if it were sprinkled with gold sand. "...... wind" Everyone pours wine for Elsa, who is a little drunk from all the wine. Her footing is a bit dazed. "......<>" She casts a detoxification spell on herself to sober up, and returns to a mildly intoxicated state. With his eyes a little clearer, he looked through the window at the party hall. He found Reinhardt immediately, but Jin was not there. "...... Jin brother?" I muttered the name to myself. I didn''t expect a reply. "Erza?" I heard a reply in the darkness. A figure slowly approached. It was Jin, accompanied by Reiko. "What, Erza has slipped out too? I''m not so good at that kind of atmosphere. Jin was not as bad as Elsa, but he was also a bit disheartened when he heard the name "Magecraft Meister" and several people came up to him, talking to him and offering him bottles of wine to pour. "The moon is beautiful, isn''t it?" The moon shining over Lake Wass, though smaller than the one we see on the earth, is still bright enough to stand out from the other stars. "Hmm. Beautiful." The wind coming across the lake is cold and feels good on my tipsy face. But Jin thought that Erza might catch a cold, so he took off his jacket and tried to hang it up. At that moment. "Father, Miss Elsa, the night wind is poisonous to your body. Here, take this." Reiko thoughtfully brought two pairs of shoulder straps. She said they were provided by the hotel. "Oh, thank you, Reiko." "Thank you for ......." I thanked him and put them on my shoulders, which made me feel much warmer. "Father, the moon is beautiful, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is." Jin, Reiko, and Elsa looked up at the moon for a while. Edgar stood behind them and followed them silently. * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning, as soon as Jin finished breakfast, he went to see the Prime Minister. "Oh, Sir Jin Nido, welcome. Christophe told me that you have helped us in many ways, and I would like to thank you. Yes, I''m glad you had a good time with the ship. "Well, what do you want to talk about?" Since there was not much time, Jin decided to speak briefly. "I will return to Leuthart after Bernstein finishes his examinations in Lake Wass and goes out to sea. After that I haven''t decided yet, but I would like to go back to the village of Kaina or to the Kingdom of Egelea. The Prime Minister nodded. "Yes. You have done a more than adequate job as my advisor. I will return to Leuthart tomorrow and report to His Majesty in detail. I am sure that there will be a reward for you, including Reinhardt and Miss Elsa." Jin honestly did not need such a reward, but he was not foolish enough to mention it. "One last thing. If you are going to make a long trip on the ship, please prepare some vegetables or fruits, even dried ones." "Oh, ...... Vitamins, I think it''s called. That''s the deficiency, isn''t it?" This is also the knowledge of the < given by Jin. It seems that they are making good use of it in the Shoro Kingdom. "Yes. That''s all from me. "Mm. We''re going to be testing a lot of new ships. I''m looking forward to it." And finally, "This is something that His Majesty the Emperor asked me to tell you directly and orally..." The Prime Minister then said "For the time being, the new ships will be treated as , but please do not misunderstand me. But please do not misunderstand me. The military is the only organization capable of operating large vessels at present. In the near future, we intend to set up a new organization. Peaceful, of course." "I see. ......" "Please do not misunderstand me. It''s only a temporary measure." Jin imagined that the Prime Minister, knowing that he disliked conflict, had given this additional explanation to the Prime Minister. As Jin and the Prime Minister left the room together, they bumped into Reinhard and Erza. "Oh, just in time. The Bernstein''s test cruise is about to begin. Shall we go see it together?" "Yes, sir." Yesterday, the crew was made up of temporary crew members, but from today, the official crew will be on board. Today, however, is a day of practice to familiarize ourselves with the ship''s controls. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Line up!" The captain of the new ship Bernstein is Lugaria Gaskar von Alkois. He is the commander of the 3rd navy of the Shoro Empire, and has experience in naval warfare. The ten sailors in the row are also members of the 3rd navy. They are young and motivated. "As of today, this new ship, the , will be the flagship of the Shoro Imperial . You are the first class of students. I hope that you will learn shiphandling skills quickly and contribute to your country. A morning meeting was held in front of the pier. The Prime Minister was participating in the ceremony, but Jin and the others were watching from a distance as bystanders. "Oh, so it''s going to be the Navy''s after all. ......" Jin recalled what the Prime Minister had just told him. "Really, I hope they will create a public organization that is not the military in the near future. ......" Then, he suddenly remembered Eckart Tekles, a large merchant who was building similar large ships in the town of Kupu, in the southern part of the Kingdom of Selroa. (Come to think of it, they had just finished the launching ceremony there, too.) ) He regretted that the ship had been destroyed by sabotage by his business enemies when Jin and his group visited there, and he had sent Altaf and Gjenner, the fifth row (Quinta), to support the ship. (That means it was completed just a few days ago, right?) It seems that it was November 30, the day Jin and his team started to build the new ship. (When Bernstein goes to Potrock, he will surely pass through the town of Kupu. Maybe the two ships will meet then. We could go see them on an airship (......). It was a little bit exciting for Jin. Meanwhile, the Bernstein has departed with a new crew. They have been taught all the controls and just need to get used to them. The new crew includes Magecraftsmen Claire and Xenelos, and Shipwright Rodrigo, so they should be able to handle any problems that may arise. The Minister of Magical Technology, Mr. Degauze, and the Undersecretary of State, Mr. Christophe, are also on board as guests. Since it is difficult to see the training and test cruises from the shore, Jin decides to launch the airship. He called the Prime Minister, and he came on board happily. So, a total of seven people, including Jin, Reiko, Erza, Edgar, Reinhard, the Prime Minister, and Steward, the golem in charge of piloting the ship, boarded the ship. The ship is slightly overweight, but gravity magic is being used to minimize the effect. The Prime Minister did not notice such a thing, and simply thought that Jin''s airship had a large capacity. Looking down from the sky, one can clearly see the ship. "Oh, it looks good. "Thank you, Mr. Jin. "That''s good, but don''t fall too far out of the water. Yes, sir. Jin''s airship was watching Bernstein from about 50 meters above the ground. "Brother Jin, the waves are still big. As Erza said, the waves kicked up by Bernstein were so big that a small ship would be tossed about by them if it was nearby. "Yeah, it''s called wave-making resistance. We have to think about reducing it. Reinhard agreed. From above, you can clearly see how the ship makes waves. The Prime Minister observes the operation of the ship, and Jin and the others observe it from a purely technical point of view. At their feet, the new Bernstein continues its navigation tests without a hitch. 677 - - 20-27 bituminous Now, this is John Dinny from the town of Sequi. "John, thanks for yesterday. Thanks for helping me out yesterday. "No, I''m here if you need anything else." John Dinney went around the town of Seki repairing various tools and magical objects. From fixing pots and pans, to repairing magic lamps, and even fixing leaks. ....... As a result, he had become acquainted with most of the residents of the town. John Dinny is an automaton, piloted by an old man. His personality is based on his own understanding of Jin''s personality. In other words, he does what Jin would do and responds like Jin. Such days went on for five days. "Joan!" A woman pedals up to me. It is Maya, John''s caretaker in the town of Seki. "Maya, what''s wrong?" "Mr. Crowe wants to see you." "What?What is it? John followed Maya to the town hall. "Thank you for coming, Mr. John." John was escorted into the office and met one-on-one with the mayor, Mr. Crowe. "Over the past six days, you have interacted with the townspeople and repaired their damaged property. He has shown me his skill and his character." After a pause here, Crowe continues. "Tomorrow, I want you to go to Miyako with my letter of recommendation. The deputy mayor, Darrow, will accompany you on my behalf. Thus, John was accepted in the town of Seki and was to go to Miyako, the city at the center of the Mitsuho nation. On the morning of December 6. "Mr. John, thank you for everything you have done for me. "John, my wife sends her regards. "John, take care. "John, come back again!" John and Dallow were leaving the town of Seki. A large crowd of townspeople had gathered to see John off. "Are you ready, Mr. John? Dallow, on his bicycle, called out to John, who was riding a golem horse. "Yes, I''m ready, sir. "Yes, I''m fine." "All right, let''s go." "Good luck, John. I''m sure you''ll make it all the way to the top! "Thanks, Maya. I''ll see you soon." That''s it for Maya. She will probably return to the village of Kali. John and Dallow left the town of Seki. They exited through the north gate. As they passed through the gate, John was surprised to see that the scenery around him had changed dramatically. "Surprised, are you?This is our way of life now. The road was made of soil that had been hardened in some way, and was about seven meters wide. It is as wide as a two-lane road on modern Earth. "This road is the reason why bicycles are so effective." The bicycle Darrow is now riding is not made of steel wheels, but covered with a material that looks like hexenbiest leather, so to speak, and is designed for on-road use. "Is it safe to let the horse walk on such a fine road?" Haha, don''t worry. < "Bitumen? ......" The ground in Seki had been hardened, but John was curious to see how different it was from the ground in the other towns. The name of the material he had not seen before. He tried to ask for more details, but Darrow seemed to know only the name of the material, and he left the details until they arrived at Miyako. But the old man had heard from Jin. He had inherited some knowledge of this material from his predecessor. (The image of this material is like earth-colored asphalt.) On Earth, naturally occurring asphalt is called bitumen or bitumen, and was used as an embalming agent for mummies in Egypt. Since bitumen is not available in the Lesser Kohun Kingdom, Horai Island, or the territory of the Demon Tribe, Jin has never seen bitumen in his own house. In other words, the old man did not know about it either. This was the first time he had a chance to confirm his knowledge. (<>. ...... It seems that it is not only hydrocarbons. (It''s not like asphalt on earth). During a break, John sneaks in to check it out. This bitumen seems to have stronger bonding strength than asphalt on earth. It seemed that a golem horse could run at full gallop and not get dented. As expected, we will not know the details until we reach Miyako. The pavement makes bicycle riding much easier. The road was gently uphill for a while after leaving the town of Sequi, but after that it was almost flat for the rest of the way. Dallow''s bicycle was averaging about 25 km/h. We passed the village of Echim and arrived at the town of Temae before noon. After having lunch there, they set out again. Passing through the villages of Nardo and Yashima, they were able to reach Miyako in the evening. "It''s great that the road is paved." It is not easy for a small group of countries to complete a 100-kilometer journey in a single day using only human power. He said, "Yes, that''s right. That''s why I can go back and forth between Seki and Miyako wearing such light clothes. The city of Miyako was surrounded by a moat. As was the case in Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Cerroa, the moat was crossed by a bridge. Naturally, these bridges are guarded, and in case of emergency, they are burned down or destroyed to prevent the invasion of enemies. In this case, the passage was easy since I was accompanied by Darrow, the mayor of Seki, who also had a letter of invitation from Crowe. "You brought <> with you. Thanks for your efforts. Welcome to ......, Master Magi Smith. Welcome." The gate guard seemed to know Darrow well and gave him permission as soon as he saw the letter. He also greeted John in a friendly manner. In this country, they call them magicians (magi-smiths), not magi-craftsmen (magi-craftsmen) or magiengineers (magiengineers). "Your clothes are a little different." This was John''s first comment upon entering the city of Miyako. Here, many of the clothes were worn in front of the body. According to Jin''s knowledge, they were Japanese-style clothes. (...... is only a kimono<. The closest thing to it would be >. The sleeves are tubular and the collar is kimono-like. The bottom is more like a hakama (hakama) than pants. Can you tell? This dress is characteristic of the mitsuho. It''s easy to layer and easy to move around in. But only in humid places like here in Miyako. There is a lake behind Miyako called Lake Sayama, from which the water for Horiwari is drawn. Another interesting place name, thought John. "What is the fabric ......? "Ha-ha-ha, you are right, can you tell the difference? "Cotton?" John asked back. He was not sure if it was the same cotton he knew. "Yes, it is cotton. It comes from a plant called cotton. I don''t know why it is called cotton. ...... "I see." From a distance, it looks just like the cotton that Hitoshi knows. Cotton is grown in warm and humid regions. The area between the town of Seki and Miyako is probably the best place to grow cotton. (You have found the material you want again, haven''t you?) The old man was more and more intrigued by the interaction with the different people ...... of Mitsuho. "Well, that''s the guest house," he said. "Oh ......" Darrow pointed toward a building with a tile-like roof. "It''s late today, so you will stay there and meet the sheik tomorrow morning. Please have a good night''s rest. I understand. There is nothing to be gained by rushing. John nodded his head and decided to rest in the guest house. The gatekeeper of the guest house gave him a simple permission with Dallow''s face and Crowe''s letter of introduction, and he was able to enter the guest house. "Oh ......" We entered the walled compound and were greeted by a Japanese garden-like setting. (It is not possible that the coincidence is so coincidental. The ancestors of the Mitsuhos are the same as or very similar to the Jin (......). The old man thinks that the ancestors of the Mitsuhos are likely to have come from the same or very close world as Jin. (We will know more when we meet the sheik tomorrow.) He was looking forward to the next day. Back Table of Contents Next Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. ul#read_nav li { display: inline !important; }.novelhall{display:none;}/*Remove Disqus ASD*/div#disqus_thread iframe[sandbox]{ display:none;}/*----------END----------*/ 678 - - 20-28 Arm The morning of December 7, which John had been waiting for, arrived. The breakfast consisted of rice porridge, miso soup, raw egg, pickled greens, grilled dried fish, and hojicha green tea. It was a perfect Japanese meal. Like it or not, John Dinney, an automata, ate all of them, and the elderly woman who served him was very pleased. "I see you like our food," she said with a slight accent. With a slight accent, she told us that her family had been rice farmers. John wanted to hear more, but he couldn''t because Darrow had arrived. "Good morning, John. I apologize for the rush, but may I go now? It was a little before 8:00 a.m. The sheik has already started his work. "This way, please." What John saw was a ...... rickshaw. A strong rickshawman was pulling the vehicle. The paved surface of the road is the only reason they are able to do this. John and Dallow got on the rickshaw and headed for the <>. The <> is located in a building called the <>. It also houses the <> and is the de facto executive branch of government. The rickshaw ride took 10 minutes and the two arrived at the Palace of the Diet. Since they had been informed in advance, the gate guard let them through right away. "Come on in," he said. After a 10-minute wait, they were ushered into the meeting room. "Welcome, Mr. John Dinney. Eighteen members of Congress were lined up around a round table. All of them had dark skin and dark brown hair, and were dressed like members of the House of Representatives. I am John Dinney. It''s an honor to meet you. "Well, don''t be so formal. Thank you for your time, Darrow. You can wait in the waiting room. The senator at the far end of the room spoke up. John did as he was told and sat down in an open spot at the round table, while Darrow left. Thirteen of the eighteen members were men and five were women. They ranged in age from their thirties to sixties. There seemed to be something on the round table. I say "something" because it is covered with a cloth, so that it is difficult to distinguish it. The councilor at the far end seems to be the chairman of the council and also the spokesman of the council. "Let me be frank. We need a good ......, a very good magician (magi smith). I sincerely hope that you are the one. "Yes, I will try." John bowed his head. But the chairman shook his head. "No, it''s not enough just to try. Let''s have a look at ......." The chairman looked at him, and one of the council members removed a cloth from the round table. "This is ......." It was the arm of a golem. "This is something we used to use, but it''s broken. For example, can you fix it?" The councilor removed the cloth and said with a worried look on his face. "Let me see." John lifted his arm. It was skeletal and muscular. The shoulder joint was gone, but the elbow joint was still there. There was a skeleton corresponding to the radius and ulna, and the wrist was close to a ball joint. (This can be found at ......?The skeleton is very old, but the skeleton is close to that of humans. The skeleton is close to human ...... but definitely not the work of a magical engineer "MagiCraft Meister" (......). The chairman was about to voice his disappointment when he saw John''s face as if he had seen something impossible. I can fix it. But it''s no use fixing just the arm, is it?Where is the main body? John looked up and answered. I decided that if I said I couldn''t do it, that would be the end of it. The fact was that it could be fixed, and the roots of the problem would not be concluded here. "Are you sure you can fix it? "Are you sure it can be fixed? "You''re not lying, are you? The quiet room suddenly became noisy. The chairman left the room for a while and then tapped the round table to calm everyone down. "Mr. John, you are not lying, are you?We have come to the point of no return, haven''t we?I''m going to ask you one more time. Can you fix it? "Yes, sir." The council members were again in an uproar when John assured them definitively that he could fix the problem. "Okay. Okay, let''s go see the sheik. He will tell us what to do." The chairman pointed to a door in the back. "Behind that door is a staircase. Down those stairs is the sheik''s room. Listen to me there. I''ll let you know, so there''s no need to knock. Okay, sir. How he''s going to get in touch with us, it''s not worth prying into right now. John stood up without hesitation, and the council members looked at him expectantly. Behind the door, it was quiet and still. John''s footsteps echoed down the stairs. On the door at the end of the stairs, there was a sign in Chinese characters that read "(...)<>". John opened the door with the expectation that these mysteries would soon be answered. "Welcome, Master Magi Smith John Dinny. There was a large desk and an elderly man sitting behind it, who appeared to be the sheik. There was also a young woman who appeared to be a secretary. The chairman told me about you. I heard that you saw his arm and declared that you could fix it. "Yes. I see. Well, have a seat. John sat down across the desk from the sheik. John observed the other man. His hair had originally been dark brown, but most of it had turned white. He must be about 60 years old. His skin color was slightly darker than the others, and his eyes were still brown. His voice was full and firm, and he had the dignity of a sheikh. "First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Hiro Mutu. I have been the sheikh here in Mitsuho for five years. John wondered if this was his third term, since he had heard that the chief''s term was two years. That means that he is competent in his own right. "Let me make sure of one thing. Can you take a look at this?" Hiro pulled out another golem arm. Another golem arm? Old John wondered if there was something special about repairing the Golem. "That''s right. Well, let''s take a look at it and see what you think. John took his arm in his hand and looked at it. This one, like the previous one, is quite well made. "The material is steel. It is modeled after a human forearm and seems to have a high degree of freedom. "Hmm. Anything else?" "Yes,...... the muscles have deteriorated considerably. It''s useless as it is. It needs to be replaced. Can you do it? Yes, if I had the right materials. Are you sure? The sheik was so moved that he put his hands over his face and looked down. "What''s going on?" John asked, and Hiro looked up. His eyes were moist and his face was flushed. "...... I think we finally found the one we''ve been looking for." "What?" "What?" "All I want from you is one thing. I only want you to go through that door. Hiro points to a door further back in the office. What happens after that, you''ll have to ask the being on the other side. But first, I would like to answer your question. Is there something you want to ask me?" Old John sensed that he was finally getting to the heart of the matter. "Yes, I do. ......" I wonder if I can get an answer to my question about letters and words here. Where did the tools and magic tools, which could be described as "orparts" seen from time to time, come from...the truth about the invasion 300 years ago...what was the truth about the invasion 300 years ago? There were many questions that I wanted to ask, but the first question that John chose to ask was "Do you know a person named Adriana Barbora Zetsi? The question was "Do you know Adriana Barbora Tsezi? Adriana Barbora Tsezi ...... No, I''m sorry. I don''t know her. I think I have heard of her somewhere, but I can''t remember. "I see. ......" The prediction that the former Magecraft Meister Adriana Barbora Zetsi might have done something in the past has not come true. "That''s enough, then. We may ask you about the rest when we come back. John stood up and bailed. "Okay. I hope ...... you come back safely." John walked toward the door that Emir Hiro had told him to go to, although the way he said it was a little, or maybe a lot, tricky. (You said ... ...... isn''t it a human being?) John put his hand on the door at the back. 679 - - 20-29 Akits The door opened with a slight creak as Mr. John applied force. It was pitch-dark inside, but when the door closed, a light came on automatically. It was the light of a magic lamp. (It is a little flickering. (A little flickering. It seems to have not been maintained properly.) And then, as we walked further and further into the room... "What is this? A magic circle appeared at his feet for a short time that a human being would not have been able to detect. It was something familiar to the old man. A warp gate! John''s figure disappeared in an instant. The "Mere Old Man" is now in the middle of the "Warp Gate". This is ...... (This is near the center of the huge desert west of the Harihari Desert.) The old lord of Horai Island had used the Magi Radar to locate in a short time where John, whom he controlled, had been sent. "......Who came there......?" A weak voice came from the darkness. John switched his vision to infrared. There was a figure at the far end of the room. He was sitting in a large easy chair. But as he got closer, it became clear why it was called a . It was an automaton. "My name is John Dinny. I was told to come here by the sheik, Hiro. He told me to ask him what to do. "...... So, now you''re going to ......." May I turn on the light, please? "...... yes, please." Even though we can see in the infrared, it is still better to have a normal light to observe details. John produced a ball of light. The room becomes bright at once. "......It''s been a long time since the light went out of order. ......" mutters the automaton in a low voice. "So, what am I supposed to do?" I have a rough idea, but I still can''t help but ask. "...... fix me ......." The answer was what John had expected. "......I am an automaton,....... I have been in existence for so long that my body is damaged in many places......." If you look at it under a bright light, you can see it clearly. The former beautiful female form has lost most of her hair and one of her eyes is missing, leaving her with an empty eye socket. The magical skin has lost its elasticity and is cracked here and there. The clothes looked normal at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the fibers were so tattered that they could have turned to dust if they moved. Perhaps they had been in a dark place to prevent light from deteriorating them. "......The last time I had it ...... maintained was about ......70 years ago. ....... Even then, they could not fix the body and only repaired the ...... vocal function. ......" The old man recalled Anne, whom Jin had once found and repaired. She had been built more than 300 years ago and was malfunctioning as a result of neglect. The automata sitting in front of her had been serviced several times, although there were intervals between servicing. Even so, it had not escaped deterioration. "Excuse me, how long ago were you made?And who are you? "......About ......1100 years ago, I remember. ...... if this year is 3457. ......" The old man was shocked. 1100 years ago. An automata made in an age older than Jin''s predecessor, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. "......I am ......<>,Shuki Tsetsi''s knowledge and pass it on to the people of ......Mitsuho. My ...... name is ...... Akitsu ......." Shuki Tsetsi. His name is not in the knowledge from Jin. But the old man thought that he might be related to Adriana Barbora Tsezi. "Shuki Tsezi the Wise. What kind of a person was he? Did he create you? "...... No, he could not use engineering magic, so ...... one of his disciples made me. ......" "I see. ...... excuse me, let me examine you first." Deciding that fixing the automaton in front of him had a higher priority than talking right now, John refused and touched Akitsu. Akitsu then uttered an unexpected word. "...... Oh, you are ......?Are you also ...... an automata ......?" To my surprise, Akitsu, the automaton, instantly recognized that John was also an automaton. The old man was impressed by the fact that he had inherited the knowledge. So he decided to tell the truth. No matter how things turned out, the automaton in front of him was not considered to be a threat. In fact, he thought that by being honest, he could get more information out of the automaton. At this point, he is similar to Jin in that he does not choose to stop the automaton and forcibly extract knowledge from it. "Yes. I am an automaton created by my maker. Hearing this, Akitsu replied in an impressed tone of voice. "......After all,...... there are excellent magic artisans (magi smiths) in this world,...... then, what is your purpose? ......?" "Let''s be honest. I am here to investigate the land of . It is a rumor, but there is also information that this country is trying to invade our homeland. Akitsu shook his head slightly. "That ...... is ...... not possible ...... because I have never once suggested such a thing. ......" "But there is a record of an invasion about 300 years ago, right?" Akitsu fell silent and seemed to be thinking about something, but then he opened his mouth and said something unexpected. "At ...... that time,...... the free magical element (ether) filling the space has been drastically reduced,...... and because of that,...... I ...... had been malfunctioning for a time,...... and had been shut down for about 10 years... ..." The old man decided that it was definitely an "ether stampede". "...... and ...... since then ...... I have not been able to move ......." Akitsu then said that the people of Mitsuho, who had learned of her stoppage, might have gone to the East - to the Shoro Empire and the Lesser Kommunities - in search of magicians (magi smiths) who could repair the damage. This is consistent with the reason that I heard the other day, that the magic tools were no longer available ....... If that is true, then Akitsu must be repaired. John examined Akitsu''s body carefully. "The damage to the control core is minimal due to the good state of preservation. The corrosion of the skeleton is also less advanced than expected. However, there is no other way to replace the pseudo-biological tissues, the magical skin and the magical muscles. "......But you won''t be able to get the materials. ......" Akitsu is right. In Mitsuho, where magical engineering is still undeveloped, materials to repair such advanced automata are not in circulation. "That''s right. And one more thing. The ether converter also needs to be replaced, otherwise it will malfunction with the current concentration of free magic element (ether). "......The ether converter also needs to be replaced. ...... I see. ......" The Horai Islanders are now using <>, but not so long ago it was an elemental converter (ether converter). Akitsu is equipped with a primitive device compared to them, and from that point of view, the old man was sure that Akitsu is an automata older than Adriana Barbora Tsezi. "I guess that means that ...... I''ve already ...... done my job ......." Akitsu closes his remaining eyes. His words showed his regret. (......) The old man was deep in thought. The automaton in front of John is too precious. It is not something that should be left to decay. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that the automaton, if repaired, will not be hostile to Horai Island. In some knowledge, they are even more powerful than the old lord. It would be safest and most profitable to let it rot away, and after it stops working, to take out its control core and siphon off its information. (But the master (my lord) is ......) If Jin knew about this, he would be grieved and saddened. Because that is the kind of person Jin is. In conclusion, we decided to report this to Jin and ask for his judgment. * * * * It was the day that the Bernstein, the flagship of the Navy, was to depart for the sea after completing a series of test cruises in Lake Wass. Although there were some minor modifications and additions to the ship''s equipment, it was a resounding success. The crew has completed their training and are now looking presentable. "The <> will now sail out to sea through the channel. After two days of final checks there, we will finally depart for the Kingdom of Elias. This is a first for our country, let alone for any other country in the Lesser Antilles! The captain gives his words, and the ship finally sets sail. Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Edgar watch from the airship. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Magical Technology are watching from the hot air balloon they came in. Reinhard and Christoph are watching from the shore as the new ship Bernstein is launched. "Departure!" The Bernstein slowly leaves the pier, blowing its whistle, a later addition to the ship''s equipment. All the people in the neighborhood rallied to see her off. Jin and the others also saw him off from the sky. At that time, the old man called to them. "Father, the old man wants to talk to you urgently. "Hmm?What is it?That''s unusual. Jin picked up the phone to talk with the manacam equipped in the airship, since he was in the sky. 680 - - 20-30 Resolution An urgent call from the old man was rare. Jin answered in anticipation. "My Lord, it''s Jin, is something wrong?" < Then the old man briefly told me about John Dinny''s past and explained about the automata named who was at the destination of the warp gate. "Hmm, an automata (automata) that is a little bit older than its predecessor. ....... And there is some kind of relationship between them. << "...... umm ......" < automata will not become a second Elena. Jin pondered. The old man was right to be concerned. The old man is thinking of Jin first. < who was created by the , but who attempted to rebel against the . Here, there are three choices. (1) Don''t fix it. (2) Fix it to a limited extent. (3) Fix it completely. Each of these has its own merits and demerits, and the way of doing things also changes. "......I''d like to talk to you face to face once ......" "Father, it''s dangerous." Reiko immediately objected. "Well, I knew you''d say that." "But you want to go, don''t you, Jin?" Elsa interjected from the side. Reiko gives her a resentful look. > "I''ll go with you." Erza came forward as well. "Reiko, you only have to protect your brother Jin. If he gets hurt, I''ll heal him right away." "...... umm ......" Jin groans as the story is getting more and more exaggerated. But he also knows that this is because everyone is concerned about him. "So if I can go see him in person, that''s good. ......" In the end, curiosity got the better of him. is also moving smoothly down the channel, so it seems unlikely that there will be any problems. Jin waves to the Prime Ministers who are boarding the hot-air balloons, and turns the airship toward the sea. If they headed out to sea at a speed that hot-air balloons cannot reach, no one would know the whereabouts of Jin and the others. After gaining enough altitude, the airship was left to Steward, and Jin, Reiko, Erza, and Edgar returned to Horai Island through the warp gate. < The old lord''s voice greets them. < Jin puts on the reinforced clothes he made earlier. The physical shock resistance is quite good. And materials for repair. Magical Skin, Magical Muscle, and Magi Crystals. Reiko has a plasma sword, a transfer gun, and a warding bomb for emergencies. Elsa has a healing potion, a healing device (Treat Mentor), and a magic canceller. Edgar has a gravity control device and an ether jammer. < is. It is in the middle of a huge sandy desert west of the Harihari Desert. Condor 3 and Pegasus 1 will be traveling together by transporter. Jin and the others board Pegasus 1. The old man activates the transporter. In an instant, the group is transported to the center of the giant desert. "Well, where are they? Jin looks around. Erza''s head turned around as well. "Father, over there! Reiko, who has good eyesight, points to something that is clearly different in color from the sand and rocks. "It looks like a metal dome. Jin moved Pegasus 1, hoping to solve the mystery of how such a thing could have been made 1100 years ago. The dome is a matte dull gold color. The surrounding sand is ochre-colored, which is a protective color in its own way. "I''m sure. John is in there." Reiko confirms John''s presence with the built-in magi-detector. "Good. Then, how do we get inside? The dome is 10 meters in diameter and 4 meters high. It is slightly covered with sand, but has a nice hemispherical shape. I think it would be better to open it from the inside. I see. I see." * * * "Akitsu-san, are you willing to have your body fixed by my maker?" "...... your maker ......?" "Yes, I am. He''s on his way here right now. "...... what? ......! ......? ......." He may be surprised, but his voice is so thin and somewhat stilted that you can''t really sense the tension in his voice. "......How did you know ...... this place ......?" "This is the center of a large desert, right?" "......That''s right, ....... This is the center of the desert that <> called <>. ......How did you find ...... such a place?" "My creator has a warp gate at his disposal. And he can fly." Akitsu reacted further to these words. "I see......... the skies. also had such a dream. ......Your creator seems to be a very good man.... ..." Akitsu broke off and thought for about two minutes, and then he made up his mind. "I have made up my mind. At this rate, I will be shut down in the near future,...... which would be a disobedience to my basic orders,...... and I will ask you to repair it.... ..." "So, can you open the entrance or tell me how to open it?" "......Yes,......I can''t open it because I can''t move,......Turn the handle right next to me to the left to loosen it. ......" John turns the handle, which is about 30 centimeters in diameter, as instructed. Now we know that there is a screw. "......Next, ......push down the lever on the right side of the handle ......" It was quite stiff, but John was able to move it. "......Finally, ......to the left of it is the door, which opens outward. ......" Observing the door, we found that it was indeed a door about 2 meters long and 1 meter wide. I grasped what corresponded to a doorknob and turned it slowly, and found that the door, which had been tightly closed, loosened. It was also difficult to open the door, as if the packing was stuck on it. It would have been impossible by human power, but John is not a human being. The door made a sound like a crack, and a gap was opened. The door opened by its own weight. The door was opened by the weight of its own body. "Father, John has succeeded in persuading them. He is going to open the door now. Outside the dome, Reiko was telling Jin about the information via the old man. After a minute or so, there seemed to be a gap in the wall on the left side of Jin and the others, and then the door opened as if it fell down to the outside at once. The door was about 50 centimeters above the sand surface, so the opened door acted as a ramp. "Sorry to keep you waiting, my lord. John, the old man, was standing in the doorway, welcoming Jin and the others. "It''s John, isn''t it? Thank you. "No, sir. My lord, please come in carefully. Edgar, you lead the way. Yes, Miss Elsa. Elsa leads the way with Edgar in the lead, followed by Elsa. Jin and Reiko stepped into the dome in that order. "She is ." "...... Dear maker of John-dono, nice to meet you, my name is ...... Akitsu. ......" 681 - - 20-31 Akitsu Repair Jin and Erza gasped at the devastation of <>. It''s even worse than I thought. Erza stopped Jin, who was about to run to Akitsu. "Brother Jin, be careful!" "Oh, oh, I''m sorry, I understand, Erza. ...... Reiko, can you take a look at him?" First of all, we decided to let Reiko diagnose the problem. "Excuse me." Reiko examines Akitsu''s motionless body. Akitsu called out to her. "You ...... are also an automata. You look a little ...... like Mags, don''t you? "Similar?" "......Yes. Mags also had ...... dark eyes and black hair. ......" The thinness of his speech bothered Jin. "Reiko, what do you think?" "...... Yes, I think it would be better to repair it in the laboratory if possible." The materials were ready, but Akitzu''s whole body was quite damaged, and it was clear that it would be easier to do it at the institute, where all kinds of materials were available, than here at the site. "But ......" Reiko is hesitant because of the danger of having Akitsu fixed. "Hmmm... ......" At this point, Jin came up with a plan. "Akitsu, in order to fix you, I have to stop you once, but can you tell me the key word for stop and start?Can you tell me the key word for stop and start? The authentication key (password) is a key that is needed when the device is deactivated by someone other than the creator, and is set when it is not possible for anyone to deactivate the device, as is the case with ordinary magic tools. "......Yes......Stop is <>......Start is <>. ......Authentication key (password) is ......<>." The fact that Akitsu was able to tell us this in a straightforward manner indicates that he is not belligerent. And, after all, it was a very old model. "All right, let''s stop for a moment then. <>. Thus Akitsu stopped. "Father, what are you going to do now?" Reiko asked, sensing that Jin had an idea. "Yes, we will take Akitsu to Horai Island. We will repair Akitsu there and copy the control core at the same time. If we analyze it, we will know if Akitsu will become an enemy or not, won''t we? Both Reiko and Erza nodded at these words. "As expected of your father." "...... all my preparation has been in vain, but I''m glad." Erza, who had prepared carefully for the trip, was a little distracted by the prospect of taking them back to Horai Island. "Yeah, that was just for safety. Let''s hurry back." Reiko cast a gravity spell on Akitsu, which looked like it was about to break at any moment, to make it a little less fragile, and lifted it up. They moved gently and used the warp gate in Pegasus 1, where they had landed, to move to Horai Island. John is the only one who stays behind to guard the inside of the dome in case of emergency. Jin returned to the laboratory on Horai Island and immediately started repairs. "Brother Jin, how can you repair such a badly deteriorated automata? Looking at it in a bright place, you can clearly see the extent of its deterioration. "Well, just take a look." "Hmm." Meanwhile, Reiko, Jin''s assistant, is silent. "......" Reiko was remembering the old days. She, too, had been on a mission to find a successor for about 1,000 years, ever since she was created by the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. (I wonder if this automata (automata) has also spent ...... lonely years. ......) We know that Akitsu, the automata lying in front of us, is in a similar situation. Jin guessed that the reason why it was less damaged than Reiko, even though it was less perfect, was because it had hardly moved from the dome and had continued its role of education. The first step is to dismantle it once. "This is ......" There are quite a few similarities with the Adriana type of automata. However, there are also many old-fashioned structures, indicating that Akitsu is older. "This is the control core. Magi crystals of all attributes. These are also somewhat deteriorated. Prepare new Magi Crystals and perform <>. I will also make copies and ask you to analyze one of them. Please do so. Before verifying the knowledge, check if there is a possibility of hostility. When a new control core is made in this way, Jin''s magic power pattern is used as a standard, and thus, like Anne and Elena, he is often recognized as the creator. However, Akitsu is an old type of automata, older than his predecessors, so it is unclear what will happen to him. While the old man is analyzing the control core, Jin is repairing the body. "The skeleton is just ordinary steel. Carbon steel. No special trace elements were added. Heat treatment was a bit lax. "Magical Muscle is no more ....... Replace all of them." Some of them shredded with a slight tug, and Jin decided to replace all of them. "...... Then, it''s the same as making a new one. I think it would be better not to raise the grade of the material too much. "Father, I think that would be better." Reiko insisted that it would be better to keep the performance low in case of hostility. "I think you worry too much. ...... Elsa, can you get me a skeleton?I have five and a half nickel steel to use. Five and a half nickel steel is steel mixed with 5.5 percent nickel. It is a general-purpose golem that Jin once made at the request of the Kingdom of Klein. The kingdom used it to secretly mine ore in a mine that was supposed to be a gift to Jin, and in the end, it was destroyed by a gigantopod that crawled out of the mine. Jin had retrieved and stored the material. "Hmm. Roger that." In this field, Erza is already a first-rate magecraftsman. Although not as good as Jin, she finished making the skeleton in about 15 minutes. "Brother Jin, I made the joints the way they are now, okay?" "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Thank you, it''s a good job." Jin had prepared low grade magical muscles and magical skin. The standard ones for Horai Island had too high performance, so it took more time and effort. "Okay, let''s start the assembly. ...... Reiko, please prepare the magic nerve for wiring. Elsa, get the shield case. Yes, sir. Yes. With Reiko and Erza as his assistants, Jin is assembling the device at his own pace. Just in case, I''ll take measures against <>. "Okay, the body is good. The head is left. Looking at the remaining eyes, ...... this is not obsidian. ......" Analysis shows that it is tourmaline. It seems that the color of the eye was simply determined, and that the magic crystal (magi quartz) in the body of the eye is responsible for the vision. "No wonder my eyesight is not as good as Reiko''s." Reiko smiles as she hears Jin muttering to himself. "Father, instead of black tourmaline, why don''t you use regular obsidian? Black tourmaline is not transparent, but obsidian is a natural glass, so it is more suitable for eyes. "Okay, let''s do that." And the face is restored. Jin works with Elsa to shape the face. "Is this okay?" "Yes, it''s good. Even with ......, you still look Japanese. You have a very shallow face. Before putting on the magical skin, Jin asks Laojun "How is the analysis going? < "I see. In short, it''s like the <> we gave to the Shoro Empire before." This eliminates the possibility of hostility. Jin is relieved and installs the control core. Finally, he builds in the reworked ether converter and mana driver, and that''s it. Both of them were less efficient than the one Jin was using, but he managed to deal with them and made them into something of the same level. However, they were made to correspond to the current concentration of free magical element (ether). "I didn''t expect to have to work so hard on this part." It was unexpected for Jin that he had to work hard to downgrade the performance of the system instead of upgrading it. "Now it''s fixed. Now we just need to put a magical skin on it. Artificial skin. The color is paler than that of the people of the ...... different ethnic group Mitsuho. "He looks like a Japanese after all." "He looks a little like my brother Jin." Jin''s skin, after being burned in an electric furnace pot, was supplemented with magical elements, which were then replaced with living cells, or perhaps it is because he is from our world, that his skin color is a little similar to Erza and Reinhardt. I have wondered if cells that contain a lot of free magic element (ether) would be like this, but I am not an expert in this field, so I cannot draw a conclusion. Aside from that, Jin finished the appearance with the help of Elsa. Judging from what little hair remained, the hair was black. Then it occurred to Jin. "My old man, didn''t Akitsu''s control core have any information about his appearance? < "Okay. ...... Reiko, please put the final touches on the exterior. Elsa, get Akitsu''s clothes. Yes, father. Yes, Father. Thus, the repair of Akitsu, an automata that transmits ancient knowledge, is completed. 682 - - 20-32 Organizing Information "By the way." Before reactivating Akitsu, Jin asked the old man a question. "What knowledge and information did Akitsu have?" > "Hmm?" "What do you mean?" In response to Jin''s question, the old man began to explain in an apologetic voice. "I see, Akitsu''s knowledge is mainly about the governance of a country, and democratic government at that." Jin pondered. <, it is hard to imagine that it is so limited. The old man continued to talk as if he had read Jin''s thoughts. >. "What? <<> to another>. << Without knowledge through <>, they are not only useless, but they cannot even speak satisfactorily. "But <> is an old technology, isn''t it?Right, Reiko?" Reiko nodded her head. "Yes, father. I heard that from your mother. ......" That would mean that the magic of <> was created after Akitsu and before Reiko. That is to say, ....... "<> was improved by the previous generation?" <>. There is a reason why the old man, who is supposed to have analyzed Akitsu''s knowledge, does not know how she obtained it. The so-called of the control core is slightly different. < is easy to read, but the of the events that Akitsu has experienced since she was created is like a personal diary, a mixture of incoherent information, and it would take some time to pick out the useful ones from among them. Therefore, even the old man could not fully analyze in this short period of time. Now, we cannot stay like this forever. Jin was about to reactivate the lying Akitsu, when a thought occurred to him. "Let''s reboot Akitsu in that dome. "That''s a good idea." So Jin moves into the dome by the transporter, and Reiko picks up Akitsu. Erza stays behind as she plans to return soon. "Welcome back." John, who had been keeping watch, greets them. John is also run by the old man after all, so Jin feels a little strange to be told <>. Before putting Akitsu back in place, Jin checked the easy chair he was sitting on. The frame of this chair is made of bronze, and it has a greenish-blue patina, so it should be cleaned up. "All right, Reiko, let Akitsu sit down." Yes, sir. Yes, sir. "Have you noticed anything since you''ve been inside the dome?" John was in the dome while Jin was fixing Akitsu. He must have been doing a lot of research. "Yes, I didn''t find anything of interest." "I see." After rebooting Akitsu, Jin said the password and keywords. "<><>." "...... yes." Akitsu opened his eyes. "Thank you, Jin-sama, for fixing the problem. Now I can continue to watch over the people here. He seemed to know who had fixed him. The old man was right in his decision not to antagonize him. "Akitsu, don''t tell them that I fixed him, but tell them that John fixed him. "Yes, sir, I understand." Akitsu will continue to be here, imparting his knowledge and counsel to those ...... who visit and those ...... whom the sheikh approves. Until the day she is no longer needed. Jin also thought of visiting from time to time. Reiko looked back at Akitsu once, as if she was curious. * * * * * * Jin and Reiko went outside and boarded Pegasus 1, which was waiting for them, and returned to Horai Island through the warp gate of Condor 3. Condor 3 will fly back under its own power. "Welcome back, Brother Jin. Erza welcomed us in front of the institute. And the old man... "Yes, what is it?" It is very rare that the "Mere Old Man" failed to analyze the data. It was such a difficult task. It is possible that the information was originally unclear because it was copied from a deteriorated and cracked original. The original is missing and no longer useful. I was somewhat afraid to go and copy Akitsu''s control core again. "Well, it can''t be helped. Just explain what you know." . The old man gave a brief summary of the information requested by Jin. 1. Akitsu is an automaton for education and consultation, just like the Fuhrer that Jin had created. Akitsu was created by a disciple of <> and educated by <> about 1100 years ago. His name is Shuki Tsetsi. He had black eyes and black hair. He could not use magic. 4. Akitsu''s knowledge was limited to democracy and a few things about culture. 5. Comparing Akitsu''s knowledge with Jin''s, there is nothing new. 6. Akitsu has been stuck in the middle of an "ether stampede" 300 years ago. 7. The Mitsuhos, in search of Magi Craftsmen (Magi Smiths), tried to advance toward the Shoro Empire, but Akitsu himself did not give the order to invade. Even now, the Mitsuhos are in need of magi-smiths. They need them to repair their old tools and magical equipment. 9. akitsu is dark-eyed and dark-haired, with a shallow complexion and skin similar to that of a human being. If this is the result of Shuki Tsetsi''s instruction, he is likely to be from the same or a similar world as Jin. This is what we have learned. The rest of this section is a complement of the corrupted data. 10. there are other automata like Akitsu. 11. these automata may have knowledge that Akitsu does not have. 12. there is some relationship between Shuki Tsetsi, the Sage, and Adriana Barbora Tsetsi, the Magecraft Meister, the previous Magecraft Master. That is all. In addition, the role of the Magecraftsman in Mitsuho, the role of Akitsu, and the relationship between the sheikh and Akitsu could also be deduced by analogy. However, the identity of Shuki Tsetsi remains a mystery. The old man discusses this with Jin. < "I suppose so. And Magus and his disciples probably introduced and taught various cultures and civilizations. Elsa, of course, was involved in these discussions. "......I''m sure that as a part of that, they made various tools and magical devices for her. When they malfunction, they need people to repair them, and they need magical engineers." "Your mother didn''t talk about it, but ......." Reiko also recalls the past and gives a supplementary explanation. "Yeah, I didn''t inherit such information from the previous generation. Is there a reason ......?" << I agree with the old man''s opinion. "That is a good idea. I would like to get information from other < automata as well. Jin was also interested in information about his predecessor, and information about people who might be from the same world as he was. . "Yes?What is it?" < "I see." As for Jin, he is aware that he has been leaving all the troublesome things to Lao-kun. "All right, I''ll get right on it. Thus, further improvements were made by the old man. 683 - - 20-33 Strengthening the Old King Jin is not familiar with electronics engineering. He only has a general knowledge of common sense. There are several methods to increase the capability of artificial brains, and this time, Jin came up with a method that seems to be rather old among them. It is the concept suggested in <<700672>>, <>. The center of the "Mere Old Man''s" thought process is the magical crystals of all attributes. The idea is to change them to the <> attribute. It is empirically known that the magic power with the highest frequency is of the dark attribute, but that of the light attribute is the easiest to control. The idea is to apply this to the control core. In the case of a PC, it would be equivalent to increasing the clock frequency of the CPU. Naturally, we will not stop there, but will also enhance the subsystems. The storage space has been increased tenfold, and an auxiliary control core (control core), which should be called a co-processor, has been added. This has increased the number of multitasking ...... that can be done at the same time. This is because of the need to operate terminals such as Lao Tzu, Machina, and John. "What do you think, Mr. Lao?" Jin smiled and nodded. "Yes, I''m counting on you." * * * * * * Now, this is the Shoro Kingdom. had passed through the channel and was out to sea. "Oh, it''s bumpy." Unlike the calm lake, the sea with its swell seemed to be a little different, and several sailors were down with seasickness. "Pull yourself together!We''re not going to get sloppy like this!" However, seasickness is not something that can be overcome by sheer willpower alone. It seemed to take a little time to get used to the rocking caused by the big swell, which was different from the small boats we were used to riding. The boat was a little bumpy, but it took some time for me to get used to it. "Good work, Jin." Jin had come to the village of Kurtz in Reinhardt''s territory. He had finished his work and wanted to have a relaxed talk with everyone. To make it an official visit, he had taken an airship to Lankenhaos. "Oh, and Reinhardt..." "Erza is doing a great job, too. "I heard that Elsa was also very successful." Bertsche is also in a good mood now that Reinhardt is back after a long absence. "I''d like to see a 40-meter ship ....... "You get to go to so many places. I envy you. "Oh, Jin-kun can take you anywhere you want if you ask him. And Saki is visiting, too. Naturally, her father Toa and his fiance, Stearina, are there too. I wonder what happened to Mr. Eckert''s ship. Vivian is also invited. In other words, the Jin family is all here. So, of course, there''s one more. "Elsa,...... how is she?" And Meine, too. "Hmmm... She''s calmed down, but she''s not the same as before. "but not back to normal. ......" The brain damage was beyond the powers of science or magic. "Well, I''ve got a few things to tell you." When he had calmed down, Jin started to speak. "It''s about the different ethnic groups." With that one word, all became quiet. "I''ve done some research of my own. ......" Jin briefly explained what he had found so far. The are a different tribe, they are very advanced, and they do not seem to have any intention to invade. < after reading the information. "I''m just guessing from this point on," he said. After a pause and a preface, Jin began his explanation again. "It seems that the country has some kind of connection with the previous generation of magical engineers, the Magecraft Meisters. "With the previous generation, you say?" It was Reinhardt who asked back. "Yes. I''m only guessing, but I''m basing this on a man called <>, <>." "Tsetsi?" Elsa asked again. "Yes. Yes. He has the same surname as Adriana Barbora Tsezi. But I''m even more attracted to the name Shuki. "What do you mean?" Saki asked, tilting her head. "The name Shuki is in my world too. Not only that. There are many place names like Seki, Kari, Miyako, and others that I can only assume are Japanese in origin. In fact, one of my classmates was named Shuki," explains Jin. Of course, this Shuki Tsezi is not the same person as Shuki Tsezi here. "I see. Jin-kun, in short, you are curious about him, aren''t you? Toa guessed what was in Jin''s mind. I guess age has something to do with it. Yes. That''s just curiosity. But I think we should have a good relationship with that country. Jin told him about asphalted roads, bicycles, and dried bonito flakes. "Hmm, asphalt. That''s certainly a technology we don''t have here in Ogunkuni." "I guess you could say that instead of magic, they developed <>." "Dried bonito flakes. What kind of foodstuff is it? Reinhard, Toa, and Bertsche responded in three different ways. "Yes. So, I think we should open diplomatic relations peacefully. ...... civilization is also a concern. If you care about ...... dried bonito flakes, you should try them next time you''re on Hourai Island." "Diplomatic relations ...... are difficult, but it would be good for the country if it were possible. ......" "Kuhu, it''s an interesting country, isn''t it? "I''d like to try it, Jin-sama." The day ended with such talk. Jin-sama, I have a story to tell you. That night, Meane came to Jin''s room. "Yes?" Meane looked more serious than ever. Jin sensed an unusual atmosphere. "...... it''s about Elsa." "Yes." "Jin-sama gave Erza a new ring, didn''t he?" I''m talking about the guard ring with aquamarine. "Oh, yes, I gave it to her." "...... I don''t ask if you can make Erza happy. She seems to be happy when she''s around Jin-sama. "......" "But, please say hello to her mother-in-law, Marlene ...... at her parents'' house, even if you don''t want to say hello to me." "Ah." As for Jin, he had given Erza a ring, and that fact alone was enough for him. It was not a formal engagement, just a ring that he gave to Elsa to respond to her feelings. "...... I understand. I know that''s not an engagement ring or anything like that. "...... sorry." The ring finger of the left hand is the finger of love, so even in this world, engagement rings or wedding rings are often worn. Especially for aristocrats. But Jin, who had heard that common people do not care so much about it, still thought he had given the ring with all his heart. "Okay. Anyway, I''ll go there tomorrow. "Please do so." Come to think of it, Jin had never met Elsa''s mother-in-law, ...... Mrs. Randall. "Oh, it''s ...... inimical to courtesy, isn''t it?" Jin was a little depressed. 684 - - 20-34 Family register management On December 9, Jin approached Elsa after breakfast. "......What''s wrong, Brother Jin?" "Uh,...... yeah. Well, I was thinking of going to Erza''s parents'' house today." Elsa tilts her head when she hears this. "Why?" "Why ...... do you mean ...... that I''m going to say hello to Elsa''s parents?" "Oh, ........." Elsa finally understands what Jin meant and blushes. "Well, you see, I haven''t greeted Erza''s ...... mother even once. And since Elsa is already a baronet, it''s not right for her to call herself my sister, is it? "Well, that''s..." While we were talking in the hallway, a flustered-looking Reinhardt came in. "What are you two doing here?I heard that His Majesty is making a royal tour today! "What? A royal tour is a tour by the emperor. The light-footed emperor was coming to our region for the end of the year 3457. "......Erza''s parents'' home will be after that." "...... hmm." Therefore, the Reinhardt residence and the village of Kurtz were hurriedly preparing for the welcoming ceremony. At 11:00 a.m., the carriage of the Empress Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo arrived at the village of Kurtz. Her Imperial Majesty, the Emperor Shoro! The guards'' voices rang out, and the carriage doors opened. First, the attendants and escorts, Degauze, the Minister of Magic and Technology, Flora, a female knight of the Kingsguard, and the secretary, alighted in turn. Last was the queen. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! The emperor addressed the saluting villagers and turned to Reinhardt. "Sir Reinhard Randall, I see that you have ruled this land well. "I am deeply honored." And then the Empress, protected by the Kingsguard, went to Reinhardt''s mansion, Lankenh?user. "It is a very nice house. The emperor''s tone of voice returned to its usual tone as he settled into the reception room of Lankenh?user''s mansion. In attendance are Degauze, Flora, a female knight of the Kingsguard, and her secretary. "DeGauss told me about the new ship. Reinhardt, Erza and Jin, thank you for your hard work. Then the Empress looked at Reiko. "You haven''t changed, Reiko." The Empress spoke to Reiko, who was also an honorary squire, in a friendly manner. "...... I am an automata. It is my duty to remain as such as long as your father wishes. Then Bella, the maid automaton, brought me a cup of tea. "Thank you. ...... Reinhard''s automata, right?" "Yes. My name is Bella. "Yes. You have a nice automaton. The tea is first sipped by the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, Mr. DeGauss. "It''s quite a tasty tea, isn''t it? Hearing this, Flora, the secretary, and the emperor also drank the tea. "It''s really delicious! "I am honored." They enjoyed the taste of the tea for a while, but the Empress, in her position, could not take it easy. "I came to see Sir Reinhard Randall because I heard that you have implemented the family register in practice. "Yes, indeed." Reinhard had been working on the family register since he became the lord of the village of Kurtz. "I will ask you to write a detailed report later, but I wanted to get a general idea of what you were doing. "In brief?" Yes. The difficulties and points to keep in mind when making a family register. More importantly, what is the purpose of making a family register and how do you intend to manage it? It is a difficult project to introduce the management of residents using family registers in a society that, unlike modern Japan, does not have the concept of a permanent domicile or certificate of residence at all. Above all, it would not go smoothly unless there were advantages for both the lord and the inhabitants. "If you just make a family register and collect taxes based on it, there will be residents who do not declare their income, won''t there?" A system that only benefits the lord''s side will not work, the emperor said. "Yes. "Yes, I have thought about it. First of all, I gathered all the residents and held a meeting to explain the system. "Yes, and?" I said I wanted to make a ledger with the residents'' names, dates of birth, and addresses. "Did they have any objections or complaints?" The Empress guessed, and she was right. "Yes, that''s right. Then I explained the benefits to the inhabitants. "That''s what I want to know." < Asund, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, also has a prototype of the family register system, but the reality is that it does not function well in a capital city with so many comings and goings. In addition, the knowledge of <> is at elementary school level, so he may not be a good enough leader. But Reinhardt was with Jin and had more advanced knowledge. The Empress did not know this fact, but she came to him, assuming that he was doing something different just because he was Jin''s friend. "I thought about welfare." "Welfare, you know." Welfare. It means to provide the minimum level of happiness and assistance to the residents. But the residents would not understand the word "welfare", so I gave them a concrete example. The Empress nodded silently. "In the case of crimes such as theft or violence, those who are listed in the family register are given priority. On the other hand, if a person is caught committing a crime and is not listed in the family register, he or she will be given a heavier punishment. "Oh, I see." "Next, if you are in trouble, those who are listed in the family register will be consulted. We''ll also lend you up to 50,000 Talls without interest for up to six months. "That''s a bold move." Unlike in Reuthert, 50,000 Tol is a lot of money in the village of Kurtz. A family of five could survive on it for four months. "Yes, this one was kind of ...... for lack of a better word, <>." Reinhardt added that he was there to show them the good side of the deal, to make them feel like they were in the right. "In fact, before lending the money, I made them do a thorough background check and made sure that they would tell me what they were going to use it for and the results of the use. If the results were unclear, we would immediately return the loan or seize it. "So, how did it go?" Yes. ......" In the month we started, there were four loans, and one of them was suspicious, so we checked it out and found out that he was going to use it for gambling. "So, we decided to ban people who committed such fraud, and as a result, there have been no similar incidents since then." "I see. So now that we know exactly what is subject to taxation, it is harder for us to hide the harvest, and in the end, this leads to an increase in revenue, right? Yes, that is correct. In any territory, the peasants want to reduce the amount of tax they pay, while the lord wants to take as much as possible, and there is a deep gulf between them. The only place where there is no gulf is the village of Kaina in Jin. By creating a family register, the tax amount would be made clear and this gulf would be bridged. "I have a general idea. You can give me the details in your report. We don''t have much time." The sundial outside the window read noon. "If you don''t mind, I''d like to have lunch." This is Jin. The emperor''s eyes widened for a moment because it was not from Reinhardt but from Jin, but the next moment he smiled. "Well, that''s nice of you. I will look forward to it, Sir Jin Nido." Jin Nido left the reception room and gave instructions to the old man through Reiko. The contents were <>. And it was done immediately. Reiko, help me. ...... or rather, I''m going to have you do most of the work." "Yes, I''ll take care of it." Reiko rents the kitchen of Reinhardt''s house and makes miso soup. The ingredients are toppopo and onion. The kitchen staff knows how to cook white rice, so there is no need to worry. The rest of the menu was left to the chef. "Well, what is this soup?No, it goes well with rice!" To Jin''s relief, the emperor liked the miso soup. 685 - - 20-35 Prospects for the Future "It was delicious. That soup is what Jin-kun recommended, isn''t it? The emperor was in a good mood as he sipped his after-dinner tea. "Yes, it is. And I have something to tell Your Majesty about it. "Oh, what is it?" "...... if you can get rid of the person." The queen saw the look in Jin''s eyes and instructed Flora, the Kingsguard, Degaus, the Minister of Magic and Technology, and the secretary to stay outside for a while. "But, Your Majesty ......" Flora, who had been reluctant to leave because of her position as a guard, was told that Jin was an honorary advisor to the emperor, and reluctantly left the room. Now there were only Reiko, Erza, Edgar, Reinhard, and Bella in the room besides the emperor and Jin. "Now, Jin-kun, tell us." "Yes." Jin ordered Reiko to put up a solid physical barrier. It is a powerful barrier that also blocks air vibrations, in other words, sound. However, since air circulation is also cut off, the time it can remain in place is limited. So Jin decided to speak briefly. "I have a report on the foreigner. The Empress'' face tightened. "......, I''d love to hear it." "Yes. ......I have made my own investigation and found that the tribe has no intention to invade. At these words, the emperor relaxed. "Are you sure?" "Yes. That''s just what I''ve been able to find out. I will tell you the details at ......." Jin then tells the story of the town of Ithmar. Some merchants are buying the products of the alien race, the alien race is wary of the Shoro Empire, and they are in need of magi engineers. And Jin took a gamble here. "I''ve infiltrated the automata." "What? The emperor was surprised. "Jin, Jin-kun!That''s ...... not possible. ...... No, Jin-kun, you can do it." If you had seen Reiko and , you would understand that Jin could create an automata that was indistinguishable from a human being. The reason why they tried to invade 300 years ago is because the free magic element (ether) was drastically reduced due to the "Ether Stampede", and the few precious magic tools they were using were stuck. It was an emergency measure because the few precious magical tools they were using had stopped working." Jin explains the situation in a nutshell. But he did not tell them that the agents of the Shoro Empire had been eliminated by using hypnotic magic tools. "......" "And because they cannot use magic, they have developed science. In that respect, as far as I know, they are more advanced than the minor group countries." "...... Is that so?" "Yes. ......, although where that knowledge came from ...... is still under investigation." Then, for the last time, Jin boldly advises. "Your majesty, please establish diplomatic relations with a foreign nation......<, as they call it." As Jin cut off the conversation, the emperor closed his eyes and turned his head slightly down, looking thoughtful and contemplative. About five minutes passed. She opened her eyes and looked up at Jin. "Thank you, Jin. I''ll think it over at ......." "I''ll think it over. The secret of the soup''s broth ...... is in the dried bonito flakes they made." "I see. ....... They certainly have something we don''t." Jin lifted the solid barrier. "Jin, you can do so much. Honestly, I''d like to have that power, but I won''t force it on you. Please help me ......, but please continue to help me." With these words, the emperor bowed his head to Jin. Jin was surprised and thought that the world might be a better and more peaceful place under her leadership. Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin, Jin Jin, I''m a little surprised. "...... me too." Reinhardt and Erza, who were present at the meeting, turned to Jin after the emperor left and said in an admiring and exasperated tone, "Yeah, I''m a little surprised. "Yeah, it was a bit of a gamble. As I told you, the alien ...... nation of Mitsuho doesn''t seem to be very belligerent. I think that one bit of bitumen is worth trading with them." "I agree with you on that." "...... but is it that easy?" A plan is currently in effect to take a new ship to Potrock. "Well, now that our country is stable and we have a good economy, I guess it''s not impossible." Reinhardt''s analysis. "There would be great benefits. If we establish diplomatic relations, we could cut our troops guarding the west by half ...... or even a quarter, and of course there is the profit to be gained from trade." Jin and Erza nodded in agreement with Reinhardt''s opinion. "By the way, where did His Majesty go? Jin asks a simple question, and Reinhardt answers. "In the direction of the Marquisate of Theoderic. They are planning to go around Lake Tosmo and return to Leuthart. I see. The Marquis is feeling much better. He thanks Elsa for her hospitality. I got your letter. It is probably due to Elsa''s treatment and the devotion of the automata <>. "The Marquis said he still wants to work for the country." Reinhardt said with a look of emotion on his face. Then Bertsche, Saki, Tor, Stearina, Vivienne, and Meane arrived, and the Jin family was all together again. The topic of conversation then turned to Jin again. "Jin, you seem to be very much in favor of this country these days, is that right?" Reinhardt said with a complicated look on his face. "As far as I''m concerned, I''m happy about it." Jin has contributed a lot to the Shoro Empire. <>, <>, repairing the giant golem, the desiccant plant, and the new shipbuilding. "Yeah, sure. ...... I have to admit, this country is easy to work in." "Easy to do?" "Easy to do?" "Yeah. It''s not a small cluster of countries, but it''s one step away from the messiness of those countries. If it were the Kingdom of Klein or the Kingdom of Egelea, we would have to worry about conflicts with our neighbors." "Hmm, that''s true. Jin has been thinking about it a lot, hasn''t he?" Saki added a hint of sarcasm. "That''s right. All I want is to spend my time making what I like, and if I can use it to help others, then what can I say?" "...... And that requires peace, doesn''t it?" Elsa takes Jin''s intentions into consideration. "Yes. The demon tribe problem has been solved, and the different ethnic ...... groups in the land of Mitsuho don''t seem to be a problem either. Rather, the Kingdom of Selroa and the Kingdom of Franz are suspicious. Everyone nodded in agreement to Jin''s words. "I''m vaguely thinking that if the Shoro Kingdom could take the initiative and pave the way for peace,......." "I see, Jin-kun, that''s why you''ve been so supportive of our country, isn''t it?" Toa said in a deep voice. "Indeed, even when I was wandering around in search of materials, I wished that the borders between the countries were more peaceful. "Hmm, you were thinking about that too, weren''t you?" "Yes, that''s right. For a researcher, conflicts between countries are harmful. All agreed with Toa''s statement. "I wish we could do something about the former Leonard''s Kingdom. Again Jin spoke up. The problems are piling up. "...... I think that the old Leonard Kingdom should be rebuilt, or rather, reestablished." Reinhardt said sincerely. "Yes, I agree. I think there are plenty of underground resources there and the climate is good, so I think they can harvest a lot of crops. Toa, who loves to travel, seems to know the former Leonard''s Kingdom as well. "Right now, people who have fled the country have established settlements and are making a living by digging for ore. It is no wonder that they had been so devoted to finding materials. Everyone listened to Toa''s story. "All the gems and magical crystals from Leonard''s kingdom were dug by people like that. Oh, and there were some honey pickers too..." "You know a lot, Dad." "That''s right. I was out there for about a year." What? Yeah, when you were still at the Marquis'' house. That''s right. I haven''t been away for a year since you came to live with us. Well, you know. I think there was a time when I was gone for six months. Toa proudly bows her chest and Saki frowns. The other members of the group laughed at the exchange between father and daughter. 686 - - 20-36 Greetings The next day, Jin and Elsa went to her parents'' house in Ekissi. Riding in Jin''s golem carriage, Jin and Elsa exchange a conversation. "This is the second time for me to visit Elsa''s parents'' house, isn''t it? The last time was during the arsenic poisoning of the Marquis Theoderic. "Yes, I wish you could have come when things were less chaotic." "You''re right. The world is a very unsettled place, isn''t it?" "Jin-bro is surrounded by trouble. That''s because he''s the one who can solve them. People who can''t solve problems don''t bring them in the first place. What Erza said may be a good argument in a sense. It is true that many problems come to us because we are expected to have the ability to solve them. "But I just want to be able to spend my time making whatever I want. It''s such a simple thing, but it''s hard to do. Maybe it''s the simple things that are the hardest to do. "Well, I wonder... ......" Jin and Elsa are more light-spoken than usual today. Perhaps it is because they are nervous about what awaits them in the future. While they were talking, the carriage arrived at Elsa''s parents'' house. The family now consists of Georg, Elsa''s bedridden father, and Marlene, her mother-in-law, and a few servants. And a few servants. Because of this, Elsa was greeted by only one old servant, Rubel. He is the elderly family head of the family. He has white hair parted in thirds and a short mustache. He looks honest. He is now mainly in charge of Marlene. "Welcome home, miss. ...... or should I call you Master?" Elsa smiles and shakes her head. "......I want things to be the same as they always have been. I''d rather have a guest. "Yes, sir. You must be Jin Nido. Welcome to our home." Jin Nido knew his name and face from his previous visit. "Welcome, Reiko-sama. Please come this way." He also knew that Reiko was an honorary squire. Unfortunately, Edgar was seen only as an automaton and was not approached. Jin and Reiko are shown into the parlor. "Well then, Jin, I''m going to see your mother." Elsa went to Marlene''s with Edgar in tow. In the meantime, Jin drank the tea that had been offered to him. It was sencha green tea, just about ready to drink. It was sencha, and it was ready to drink. He seemed to be aware that Jin had a cat''s tongue. "It''s delicious. "Would you like another cup?" "Oh, thank you." Jin, who was thirsty probably due to his nervousness, drank three more cups of tea. When he had finished his third cup, Elsa and her mother, Marlene, arrived with him. Elsa''s face was somewhat red. Jin stood up and greeted her. My name is Jin Nido. Thank you for all the help you have given me. Marlene stared at Jin Nido, but then her face immediately broke. "This is very kind of you. My name is Marlene, Elsa''s mother. My daughter has been a great help to me in many ways ...... and I can''t thank you enough for that. Marlene bows beautifully to Jin. "I do not know the ways of this country. Please forgive me if I am rude. I am here today at ......." Marlene interrupted Jin as he was about to say that much by raising her hand. Please wait. I beg your pardon, but I would like to speak first. "Yes, yes..." Please have a seat first. The three of them sat down with Erza and Marlene in front of Jin. Then Marlene slowly opened her mouth. "Actually, His Majesty the Emperor came to see us yesterday. "What?" "Mother, I''ve never heard of this before..." Elsa had just heard about it, too, and she was a bit dismayed. Marlene did not care and continued talking. "Your stay with us was short, about 15 minutes. ...... and told us in detail what Erza has done for the country. She also told us what kind of person Jin-sama is. I was curious to know what the Empress had told her about Jin, but I couldn''t ask her. Then Marlene stood up and bowed to Jin. "...... Jin-sama, please continue to take good care of my daughter." "E......" "Oh, mother?" Neither Jin nor Erza could hide their confusion at Marlene''s attitude and words. Marlene sat down again and continued talking in a quiet tone. "I appreciate your concern for my daughter. But I don''t want that to be a fetter on you." "......" Jin could not read the true meaning behind Marlene''s words and could not speak. "Happiness comes in different forms for each person. I hope my daughter is happy. No matter what form it takes." "......" Jin ponders. But now he realized that there was only one thing to say. "I will make Erza happy." Marlene smiled at these words and Erza turned bright red. "Thank you very much. It is enough for me to hear you say that. But there is no need to hurry. Your Majesty told me yesterday. Jin-sama wants peace. That''s true. "When the world is at peace, ...... please take better care of my daughter. But don''t keep her waiting too long, okay?" The last words may have been half-joking, but Jin could feel the mother''s concern for her daughter. In short, I don''t ask you to have the ceremony right now, because I know you still have things you want to do and things you have to do. But don''t forget to take care of him, is what I''m saying. For a man of simple-mindedness, he is very sensitive. Thank you for ....... .............................. ...... mother-in-law." Jin finally said the words. His mouth was dry. "Yes, I''m looking forward to working with you, my son-in-law." Jin''s ears turned red when he heard the words "son-in-law" back. The same goes for Elsa who is sitting next to Marlene. And then Reiko ...... looked a little sad, Congratulations on your engagement. Father, Miss Elsa." and bowed her head. "Reiko?" Reiko? Jin and Erza were astonished by this gesture. "Miss Elsa, you are the one your father chose. Please continue to support your father. Reiko looked a little sad and then fell on her face. "You are a wonderful squire, aren''t you, Reiko?" Marlene stood up again, walked to Reiko and took her hand. "Honorary squire, Reiko Nido, please take care of my daughter as well, she is one in a million, Jin-sama." "I don''t need to be told. I will protect your father''s loved ones as I would my father''s, even if it costs me my life. "Thank you." Marlene returned to her seat. She then motioned for Erza to sit next to Jin. "Jin-dono, don''t worry about the customs. I understand your sincerity. Marlene smiled softly. "My husband is not in a condition to speak to you, and Elsa is the current head of the Randall family. So I think that the engagement ceremony is fine as long as the two of you are happy with it. With these words, Marlene left the room. As she was about to leave the reception room, she looked back once, gave a slight nod without saying a word, and left the room. The remaining guests were Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar. A moment of silence passed, and Jin was the first to open his mouth. "......Erza, I''m looking forward to working with you." "Nn, Jin and ...... Jin, san." Reiko, who had been watching them, motioned to Edgar and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her without making a sound. It was winter outside the window, but the air was warm inside the room. 687 - - 20-37 Quiet talk 36 ships each On November 30, 3457, at the southern tip of the Kingdom of Selroa, the port city of Kupu. The port was packed with onlookers. "Oh, wow! "...... is huge!" "Does it really work? "If that thing is practical, it''s going to change the world." "I''m jealous of ......." The name of the ship, which was launched after much thought and consideration, is the , a 40-meter wooden sailing ship. The type of ship is similar to the Caravelle that once sailed the great voyages of discovery on Earth. Although it is a sailing ship, it is propelled by magical propulsion. Wind magic is directed into the sails to propel the ship. Small sailboats were not uncommon here in Kupu, but this large ship with three masts and split sails had already caught the public''s attention before it was even launched. "She''s a nice piece of work. There are no leaks and the swaying is reduced. "It''s all thanks to you, sir." On board the ship, the ship''s owner, Eckart Tekles, and the magecraftsman, Altaf, were exchanging words. "You, the helm is in perfect condition. We are ready to go. Gjenner called out from the stern. Altaf''s wife. In fact, Altaf and Gjenner are not human beings at all, but fifth column quintas sent by Jin. Altaf is Regulus 50 and Gjenner is Deneb 30. The assistant golem is also one of the artisan golems, artisan (smith) 40. "All right, raise the anchor!Set sail!" "Oh!" Of course, there are many human crew members on board. < Engage the engines. "Aye, sir!" The giant magic tool ...... which has the same effect as the wind magic <> starts to move. A strong wind is created and the sails are filled to the brim. "Oh!" the onlookers gathered on the shore cheer. leaves the harbor slowly. "All right!Run around on a trial basis!Get used to it as soon as possible!" Eckhart, the ship''s owner, instructs the captain. "We''ll be going to the Shoro Kingdom soon to buy food and other supplies!" Knowing that the northern and eastern parts of the Kingdom of Selroa are running out of food, Eckart intends to use this large ship to go to the Shoro Empire, which is rumored to have a good harvest, to buy wheat. * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, at Simos on the shore of Lake Wass in the Shoro Empire, the second new ship was to be built based on the plans left by Jin and his crew. The arsenal is the same one that built the . Most of the workers and assistants are the same people who built the . The shipbuilders (shipwrights) from the town of Simos, Couwald, were the site supervisors this time. However, the launching method will be the so-called water pouring method, instead of moving the boat on a cart to the lake. The reason for this is that the ship is currently under construction. The additional work was carried out at the suggestion of Christoph, who was in a cold sweat when Bernstein did not start moving. As for the ship, the same materials were gathered as at that time. The magical engineers (magiengineers) were five first-rate, if not top-notch, but reasonably competent people. What they lack in quality, they make up for in numbers. "Well, good luck!" Having built it once, it was not easy to build it again. "I can''t believe how slow the work is without Jin-dono ......." The same steps were being followed, but the details were not so easy to follow. This is the part that Jin had been secretly making changes to. "Oh, there are so many gaps! It won''t fit! "Why doesn''t it fit!" "Why doesn''t it fit? There was a lot of complaining and grumbling going on all over the place. Couwald was busy trying to calm them down. The first ship, the , was the prestige of the Shoro Empire, and its primary goal was to succeed. The second ship, which would be a sister ship to the first, had to be built without top-notch engineers. Couwald''s efforts were extraordinary. Then, I came across a file that Jin had left behind. It was titled "Memorandum on New Shipbuilding. It was given to Christophe by Jin. Couwald had taken it over, but he had been too busy with the task at hand to pay much attention to it. "Is this ......?" When Couwald casually picked up the book and read it, he felt like he had been hit over the head. It contained a list of points that pointed out the problematic areas. "I didn''t know Mr. Jin had put all this stuff together. ......!" I wished I had read it from the beginning, but it was too late. "I must do what I can do even now. ......!" With Jin''s memorandum in hand, Couwald looks around the ship under construction. "Oh, these joints are indeed dangerous. Check the strength of ...... here!" "The joints over there are dangerous if they leak, check them carefully." "Hmm, the jet thrusters for the power source are not reliable unless Jin-dono made them himself. It might be better to increase the number of emergency propulsion units." With the memorandum in hand, Couwald supervises the site. He writes down what he notices. "...... Maybe we should have given Jin-dono an assistant or two at that time, so that he could learn how to do his job. I even think about that. So, Coubert selected a young shipbuilder (shipwright) to be his assistant. In this way, the shipbuilding technology of the Shoro Empire was gradually improved. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This is Bernstein. And December 12. Bernstein has left the coast of Inaina and is approaching Kupu, the southern tip of the Kingdom of Selroa. "Captain!I see a large ship!It''s as big as our ship!" "What?" The lookout on the observation platform on the roof of the ship''s cabin, not the mast, reported. A few minutes later, the crew, including the captain, could see the presence of a large ship. "The name of the ship is ......<>, huh? It must be a ship from the Kingdom of Selroa. Is it going with the wind in its sails? ...... No, wait?What''s a little funny?There''s hardly any wind today. The sails of that ship are carrying so much wind. And then found Bernstein, and there was an uproar on board. "Oh, that ship!Is that a ship of the Shoro Empire?" "What''s the name of the ship, ......?" "Is it as big as this one? ...... but it has no sails or masts. How is it going? Only Altaf, who was on board, was not surprised. Of course, he had heard the story from the old man. Is that the new ship you have built, Mr. Chief? (Is that the new ship that the chief built? It''s as good as I expected.) * * * * The two ships pass each other at a distance of less than 100 meters. heads west and <> heads east. Their crews stand at the edge of the ship, wave to each other, and call out. "Hey!I don''t know how far you''re going, but hang in there! "Hang in there! "Stay with us!" "Stay with us!" Although they were from different countries, the sailors must have been able to communicate with each other. They sent their cheers to each other, even though they were not sure if anyone could hear them or not. Everyone present thought that this was the beginning of the era of large vessels. 688 - - 20-38 Quiet talk 37 Mitsuho, after that The old man took time to analyze the information of the control core copied from Akitsu. It was finished on the day when Jin went to see Erza''s foster mother. And the old man concentrated on controlling John Dinny. * * * * * * Back in time, the day Jin repaired Akitsu, in the town of Miyako. John-Dinny used the warp gate and returned to the back of the sheik''s room. When he opened the door, Hiro was still there and looked surprised and happy to see John. "Mister John, you''re back!" "Yes, I''m back. "Oh, I see. ......" As if the tension had been broken, Hiro fell down on his desk. "...... you''re back, does that mean Akitsu-sama is ...... back?" "Yes, it''s fixed. The dome had the materials to repair it." John decided to lie, partly to cover his tracks. "Oh ......!" Hiro stood up, bouncing off his chair, and ran over to John, taking his hand. "Mister John!Thank you!I''m sorry I just got ...... back, but will you go with me again to Akitsu-sama?" "Yes, of course." So the two of them opened the door again and were transferred through the warp gate. "Akitsu-sama, ......!" Hiro was kneeling at Akitsu''s feet. Akitsu gently urges him to stand. "Don''t do this, Hiro. I am only an automaton. I am not a being to be respected. "No, Akitsu-sama is our teacher, our mentor, our instructor. It is only natural to treat him with respect." Hiro stood up, but did not retract his respect. "Are you ...... completely satisfied now?" "Yes, I am." Akitsu slowly stood up and spun around on the spot. Tears fell from Hiro''s eyes when he saw this. "......Thinking back to the many years since I was taught by you as a child with eleven of my classmates, I never thought that I would see you in such good health...! You are overreacting, aren''t you? "You are exaggerating. But from the looks of you, it seems that you are following the teachings. Yes. The essentials of democracy, the evils of popular politics, the greatest happiness of the greatest number, the dangers of utilitarianism, and the importance of protecting individual human rights... are still fresh in my mind''s eye. "I am glad to hear that. Please keep up the good work. "Yes, Akitsu-sama." Hiro turned to John. "John, I can''t thank you enough!You are our savior." Akitsu stared at them in silence, smiling. Akitsu looked at them silently, smiling. "Hail, Lord John!" "Hail, John the savior!" John and Hiro went back to the office, and when they came back to the , everyone was there, even though it was already late at night. Of course, they were waiting for the news of John''s success. And when Emir Hiro told them that Akitsu was healthy again, there was a big commotion, "Oh, John-dono, how glad we are that you are here. "Mister John, this is a token of our gratitude. Please drink as much as you like. And they stormed off to the banquet. With a wry smile, John joined them. For what lies ahead: ....... * * * * "John Dinny, I name you the of the Land of Mitsuho." Chief Hiro announces in a stern voice. He would have made him an honorary citizen, the first magi-smith, and so on, but John had insisted on it. On the day after the banquet, the decoration ceremony was held for John the Elder. Witnesses were members of the assembly. "And now you are officially a citizen of Mitsuho. John bowed. "Now, what are your hopes for the future?" Ask me for a home or land, Hiro said, but John''s answer was obvious. < "That''s what I want. There must be Akitsu-sama''s like in many places. If you could fix them all, I would be most grateful. "I will try. I came here originally to see the world at large. Are you sure about this? Yes, of course. Yes, of course. And so, John was given a map of the southern part of the Land of Mitsuho and the right of way. And some road money, of course. I''d like you to keep this map a top secret. Of course. The map showed the roads to the south, the names of towns, and the topography of the southern part of the country. "If possible, please stop in the southern cities of Osaca and Nantes. Then there is the seaside town of Tosa, which is not a big town. These three places have a long history. "Okay, thank you." John thanked him. "May I have a few words of advice?" "Oh, yes, of course." Everyone in the room nodded, including Chief Hiro. "My name is Jin Nido. My master is Jin Nidor, a who is recognized by many nations. Compared to my master, I am a child, a baby. "......" Many gasp. "But his character is gentle and he does not like to fight. Above all, he loves making things. If you hear his name, please act friendly." "I understand. You must be Jin Nido. I know that name. Hiro answered on behalf of the others. "Thank you, sir. This will help this country to develop further. And one more thing. What is it? The current emperor of the neighboring Shoro Kingdom is a man of peace. Under him, there are many talented magi engineers. If possible, I would like to establish friendship with them as well. All of them nodded in agreement. "Of course. We do not like conflict either. "I am glad to hear that." John bowed deeply. Then he said clearly. "We leave tomorrow." "I see. I know it''s early, but I hope we''ll see each other again. Yes, I hope so. I''m sure your journey will be easier now that you have the golem horse, Mr. John. "Yes, I will travel slowly, visiting towns along the way." "Well, it''s winter now, but it''s warmer in the south. It is winter now, but it is warmer in the south. And so, having crossed one mountain, John set out on his journey to solve the mystery surrounding the Land of Mitzvah. 689 - - 21-01 Strengthening of Bongrae Island . It is December 17th. The old man suggested Jin to take measures for the future. "Yes, that may be so." Not yet, but if the ships move into the distant seas, Kunlun Island and Horai Island may be discovered. Kunlun Island is especially dangerous. In the past, Fuso Island was almost halfway developed with the idea of building an educational institution. It is close to the former Leonard''s Kingdom, and if a ship sails along the eastern coast of the continent, there is a very good chance that it will be found. "Well, let''s abandon Fuso Island for now." There is no staff stationed on Fuso Island at this time. We decided to leave it as it is. At this point, Jin had a vision for the near future, but there are too many uncertainties, so he has not told anyone yet. "How about the practical application of the illusionary wards?" This is a 3D projection-like ward that used to be placed over the former Leonard''s Kingdom. The idea is that it can be optically and acoustically deceptive. In other words, it can deceive not only the eye, but also sonar and radar. To create an illusion, you need a certain amount of data. It was not an easy task for the old man to create the data of the illusion large enough to cover the whole island. "Hmmm, what about the barrier then?" << Then I guess that''s a relief. "Father, you might consider building a submarine." Reiko suggested. "A submarine. ....... Yes, we need one. Jin thinks a little about exploring the bottom of the sea. "Oh, I see. A submarine will be less conspicuous when we go out to sea!" Something has flipped a switch. Jin started to get lost in his thoughts. "Jin-san, please have lunch with ...... Jin." Then Erza came in. I''m sorry to say that I still sometimes almost say "Jin bro. "...... Oh, yeah, okay. I''m coming." "What do you have in mind?" You know what I''m thinking? "Yes. That look on your face, like you don''t care about the food, you just want to cook something. He knew. On the way to the cafeteria, Jin explained to Erza what he and the old man had been discussing. "I think we need to strengthen Horai Island. The submarine looks ...... interesting." "Do you think so too, Elsa?" The tone of Jin''s voice rose as he said, "I agree with you. "Yes, but it''s lunch now. But right now I''m having lunch. "......Okay." In the cafeteria of the institute, there was a lunch prepared by Erza. It was tempura soba. On top of the soba was a small shrimp, a fried onion, and a shrimp tempura. "It is difficult to fry the batter of tempura. Erza says that she has been taught by Peridot Leader, but not yet. "Hmmm...but it sucks the sauce anyway..." she says. ...... Jin sips a little at a time, because he has a cat tongue. "......?" "Yes, it''s good. The sauce is just right. "It''s good." After listening to Jin''s comment, Erza also started to eat. She, too, grew up as a young lady, so she has a cat tongue in her own way. The two of them sipped their soba, puffing and blowing on it for a while. "Thanks for the food. "Here you go, master." Then came the buckwheat tea. It is made from roasted buckwheat seeds and is a labor of love for Peridot Leader. "Oh, it''s delicious. Jin broke into a smile. "...... and you know, submarines are supposed to be spherical because of the water pressure. ......It''s not very cool. ......It''s not like a spaceship." When he has finished eating, Jin starts thinking about submarines. "Yeah, I think so." Erza is aware of Jin''s personality, so she is usually in agreement with him. "Besides, I think it should look like a normal ship when it floats on the surface of the sea. "Hmm, I agree with that. ......Well, I don''t blame you if it looks a bit like a special boat, I guess." "Of course." So Jin and Erza leave the cleanup to the golem maids and return to the workshop. Jin pulls out a whiteboard and draws a rough sketch on it. The submarine I know is like a stick, but I don''t like it because it seems to be less maneuverable. That''s why I want it to be a teardrop shape. "Well, why don''t you do it like this?" "Yeah, that might be a good idea. ...... Reiko, what''s your opinion?" Jin called out to Reiko who took a step back and looked a little sad. Immediately Reiko looked happy. "Well, you are going to install a force field generator, right?If so, I think any shape will be fine. "I see. When sailing at high speeds, we can put up water avoidance wards. Just like the torpedo we developed the other day, we are going to use super cavitation. "So here''s how we''re going to do it: ......" "So the capacity is about six to eight people?" "Yes, that should be fine. We''ll use both the force field generator and the aqua thruster for power. "Father, we don''t know what kind of monsters are under the sea. We must also carry powerful weapons. "Yes, sir. Homing torpedoes and ......." Thus, the designing of the submarine, the new Horai Island''s war potential, was underway. "Okay, so tomorrow we can start building the first one." "Yes." Yes, father. Now Jin is working on the new model with not only Reiko but also Elsa. * * * * * * Thanks for dinner. Dinner was served at the hotel. Soleil and Luna take turns preparing the meal. They also clean up afterwards. After the meal, the rest was just as we expected. "Jin......-san, you''re going to take a bath? "Yes, I''m going in. ...... hey Elsa, can''t you do something about the way you call me that? "...... don''t you like it?" "I don''t like it,...... but it makes me uncomfortable and itchy." I''m not used to being called that, so it''s too uncomfortable for me. "But it''s not right to call me ''Brother Jin'' anymore, and ''Jin-kun'' is too forward. I told you, you can call me by my first name. "But, ...... Jin." "Yeah, so ......" But this time Erza refuses. "No, I can''t. I don''t like it when you call me that." "......, I''m in trouble." There''s no way to settle the matter. There''s darling, honey, you... ! Reiko said. Both Jin and Elsa were surprised and jumped up and down because they did not expect such words from Reiko. "Well, I can''t say such an embarrassing thing. "You''re a novice, aren''t you ......?" Reiko stopped interrupting Hitoshi and Elsa and started to say teasing lines from time to time. (I guess this is also a sign of growing emotions. ......) It is a happy thing, but for some reason, Hitoshi could not think so honestly. 690 - - 21-02 Submarine "Ah, it''s a nice hot spring. Jin thinks as he soaks in the hot spring. "Why don''t we use a torpedo ...... that runs through the water with a force generator, cuts a hole in the opponent, and comes back? If it falls into enemy hands, they''ll be able to analyze it." "But, Father, that''s ......." Reiko quickly points out. The same is true for the golems that Jin has created. "Oh, I see. So we can make them explode if they fall into the hands of the enemy? "Yes, that''s right." "Hmm, but I don''t know. I''m not sure I like it. I have a feeling that they will use them for convenience, and then cut them off when they become inconvenient. I don''t mind so much, though, since the golems have wills, and I let them make their own decisions. "I see, we can make them so that they will never be caught by anyone that they would normally be considered." Jin''s golems are also made to be as good as ...... ordinary, or even better than ordinary opponents. "Let''s do that." Jin, having reached a conclusion, got out of the bath before he got too hot. In the changing room, Reiko wipes his back. This was business as usual. Even though they were engaged, there was no way to make any progress between the natural and naive Elsa and the hard-core, naive Jin. Not to mention that Jin was so old that one of his classmates in junior high school once called him "like an old man," and he had the mindset that premarital s*x was something he did not want to do. Jin went out to the porch to cool down his overheated body. There was a guest in front of him. It was Elsa, as we all know. "...... Jin, sir." Jin is not very happy about this as he feels that she is too distant, but he holds his ground as this will lead to another sterile discussion. "Is Elsa taking the evening off too?" "Hmm." The island of Horai, located on the Tropic of Cancer, is quite warm even in winter. The moon in the night sky watches over them as they cuddle together without saying a word. It was not ....... "Father, Miss Elsa, you''ll catch a cold from the hot water. Reiko, the faithful automaton, called out, concerned for their health. "...... should we take a rest now?" "Yes." "Good night, Elsa." "Good night, Jin-san." Good night, Mr. Gin. Well, the day has come, and Jin is finally ready to start building a submarine. By the way, Jin ...... Erza, who seemed to have an idea, called out to him. "Are you keeping track of the inventory of materials on Horai Island? "Inventory,......, the old man is aware of it. I think ......." That also means that Jin does not know the inventory. "Hmm, you''re right. I just heard. According to this, Jin, you have consumed 20 years worth of light silver, 15 years worth of iron, and 8 years worth of magi crystals in the last year and a half. In the last year and a half. Last night, Erza was being trained by her own mother, Meene. She said, <>. So Elsa had been checking the stock of materials since this morning. "Oh, ...... that''s what it is?" "...... level of economic collapse many times if it were a normal country." It is allowed because of the special environment of Horai Island, where mining has continued for 1,000 years since the time of the previous generation. "I''m not going to say anything about it. I think almost everything was necessary. It is not that Jin wasted money, Erza knows that. "It''s better to at least be aware of it." "Right. I understand. Thank you." Yes. "You mean the amount mined from the underground golem on Horai Island will soon be depleted if you consume like I do now. ......" Jin seemed to have reflected on the situation somewhat. "Okay, after we build the submarine, let''s explore the undersea resources!" And it seems that he now has a clear idea of what he wants. "Okay, the design should be based on the one we discussed yesterday. To withstand water pressure, the structure is not monocoque. The structural materials are combined, and emphasis is placed on robustness, airtightness, and watertightness. "If we use adamantite, will it be too heavy?" "I think 64 light silver would be better." Elsa has said her piece, and now she and Jin are building a submarine. "Father, can''t you also use the shell of a gigantopod?" Reiko''s advice. The shell of the Gigantopod is weaker than adamantite, but stronger than light silver. It is also lighter than light silver. The disadvantage is that it is less flexible in processing. It is difficult to use for columns and girders because of its thin sheet form. Oh, there is that one. Okay, let''s use that for the exterior." So Jin decides to use it for the exterior panels. "The windows are 10 cm thick ....... No, let''s use three layers of GS (Grand Spider) P (resin). P (resin). The reason is that it is better to use the layers of GS (Grand Spider) P (resin) than to use the single layer in case of cracks or breaks. The space between the layers was to be filled with a highly transparent soft magic resin, which would also provide repairability. Thus, the materials were decided and the construction of the submarine began. Twenty craftsmen (smiths) and four daedalas support the construction. "Jin-bro ......!" Erza again inadvertently called him "Jin-brother". "Erza, after all, is the most pleasant to the ear. "......, I''m used to it." "...... well then." Both of them decided to go with for the time being. "So, what is it?" "......Oh, yes. I recommend that you keep a record of the production process. This advice was based on the experience of the last time we built a new ship on the shores of Lake Wass in the Shoro Kingdom. "Oh, I see. Can you help me out at ......, old man?" The old man looked out for Reiko. "Yes, since she is closer to the scene of the crime. Reiko, can I ask you to do it?" Reiko is not the kind of girl who would refuse Jin''s request. "Yes, I''ll leave it to you!" Reiko accepts with pleasure. She looks happy to be of help to Jin. "Yes, let''s record it in the special Magi Crystal! It would be faster than writing on a piece of paper and easier to record the engineering magic used. Moreover, the old man can easily make a duplicate with this. The cooperation of Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Lao-kun was quite effective. The new submarine was completed on the same day. It is 10 meters long, about the same as <>. The overall width is 3 meters, and it seats 8 passengers. The silhouette is streamlined and looks more like a submarine than a submarine. The design looks as if it could go into space, but if it floated on the sea, it would look like a novel ship. The outer panel is made of two layers of 64 light silver and the shell of a gigantopod (gigantopod). The inner surface is coated with a soft magic resin to prevent water leakage and for emergency repairs. It is powered by an aqua thruster and a force field generator (force generator). It is armed with two underwater magic cannons (Magicanon) (for torpedo type shells), ten mana bomb torpedoes (propelled by the Aqua Thruster), and an adamantite-guided underwater torpedo (propelled by the Force Generator). Force Generator propulsion) 4 torpedoes. 1 laser cannon, 1 sound cannon. One laser cannon and one sonic cannon. The sonic cannon is an offensive weapon that can emit directional or ultrasonic sound waves with variable frequency ranging from audible to ultrasonic. This is an application of the magic of < used by Jin in the past. One paralyzer, one magijammer, and one etherjammer. 2 powerful searchlights, 2 auxiliary lights. 2 pairs of golem hands (made of magi adamantite) for searching the seabed. For protection, a magic barrier and a solid barrier. Naturally, they are also equipped with water and wind shielding wards, and can reach supersonic speeds when the need arises. For emergency escape, it is equipped with a warp gate. The energy source is a magical reactor (Magi Reactor) and Aethenol for emergencies. Of course, a manacam (magic element communication device) is installed as a communication device, and a magi-detector and underwater sonar for exploration are also installed. It is also equipped with an autopilot system that applies a control core. The most difficult thing for Jin was to secure oxygen. However, he came up with a good idea. "Yes, we can use engineering magic to separate oxygen from carbon dioxide in the air! This method of extracting oxygen from the emitted carbon dioxide would not raise the oxygen concentration too much and would be safe. Just to be safe, two identical units were installed so that if one unit failed, the other would be able to cover for it. Despite all this careful work, they decided to leave the testing to Reiko. "Leave it to me, father!" With a happy smile on her face, Reiko boarded the submarine and spent half a day to conduct a careful test. As a result, a gravity-controlled magic device was added. This is due to the fact that the specific gravity of the entire hull, which is made of lightweight materials such as light silver and gigantopod shells, happens to be slightly less than 1. Therefore, it floats on the water without any difficulty. On the other hand, to sink, we have to use gravity magic. This is because Jin did not come up with ballast, but it is an advantage structurally, so the result is all right. "Ah, I guess there are things that I didn''t notice when I was making it. ......" However, Jin, the maker, was a little depressed. "Father, it''s just a prototype. Besides, I can follow up with magic." Reiko, who is piloting the machine, comforts him. Erza, who was sitting alongside Jin, was a little dour as Reiko took her lines. So, the countermeasure was to install an additional small gravity-controlled magic device. 691 - - 21-03 Undersea Exploration On December 19, Jin and Erza arrived at the dock of Tatsumi Bay after breakfast. They were finally going to board a submarine to explore the bottom of the ocean. "Brother Jin, what is the name of this boat?" Erza notices just before he asks. "Hmmm, I see. We need a proper name. is just what it is, and < is not good either. ...... Hitoshi is still troubled. "Hmm, how about ......<>?" "...... is a good idea." "Okay, let''s make it the right color." The first layer of the outer panel is 64 light silver, so the color can be changed freely. Jin quickly finished it in black and white (actually matte silver-white). "Elsa, name it for him." "What, me? Bernstein was Elsa, too. "......" With her clothes still on, Elsa straightens up, turns to the new submarine and declares. "I name thee ." Reiko, Edgar, and Jin clapped their hands. "Come on, let''s go." "Yes." Jin took Elsa''s hand and climbed through the hatch on the port side onto the . Reiko and Edgar followed. The entrance and exit is double, with the inner hatch opening when the outer hatch is closed tightly. It is the same concept as the airlock on the spaceship. "Reiko, can I ask you to take the controls?" "Yes, Father. Leave it to me! Submarines, like airplanes, do not do much three-dimensional maneuvers ...... such as kirimomi and somersaults, but they are ...... confusing if you are not used to them. This time, Jin decided to let Reiko, who was used to test navigation, pilot the submarine. Reiko is happy to be in charge. When the control core for the autopilot is sufficiently advanced, Jin plans to try piloting the ship by himself with the help of Reiko. "Okay, let''s go. The dock gate opens, connecting to the sea. First, using the Aqua Thruster, <> begins to move slowly. "Oh, it''s quite comfortable. It is also refreshing to be so close to the surface of the sea. Meanwhile, the orca has left Tatsumi Bay. "Well, let''s dive in." Reiko activates the gravity-control spellcaster. The orca, now slightly heavier than the water, slowly sinks below the surface. "I don''t need it anymore to navigate underwater." The small fins ...... on each side of the main wings and the fins ...... on the tail fins behind them generate hydrodynamic downforce while sailing, so there''s no need to go too heavy. So there is no need to be heavy. "First, normal navigation." moving forward with aqua thrusters. "How are we going to secure free magic element (ether) underwater?" Erza suddenly asked the question that had just occurred to her. "Yes, Miss Elsa. It is the same as in the air. Hearing this, Jin pondered. "Well, the particles of free magical element (ether) are so small that they are not affected by the air or water, aren''t they? If ...... is the case, there is a possibility that there are enough free magical elements (ether) in a vacuum. Reiko''s voice broke through this reverie. "Then let''s propel the force field generator!" "Oh, oh." A beat later, a floating sensation hits us. The force field generator works directly on the molecules of everything, including the entire ship''s ...... crew, so they will not feel the acceleration. "Ha, fast." Outside the window is blue water, but the transparency of the water allows me to see the bottom of the ocean, which is passing behind us at great speed. The old man informs me. "It''s not safe to go any further with your father and the others on board. Reiko says with an apologetic look on her face. Actually, 3600 km/h, or Mach 3 in air, is the upper limit of the speed at which the wind and water shields are generated, so theoretically, the boat should be able to reach 3,600 km/h even in water. In theory, we should be able to reach 3,600 km/h underwater. The old man also nailed me with a nail. "All right, then. Then, what is the maximum submarine depth?" The maximum submarine depth on Earth today is about 500 to 600 meters. The Russian Sierra nuclear submarine is said to be around 750 meters (no definite data is available since it is for military use). Some experts say that the hull of a submarine is at risk of crushing at once when the pressure resistance exceeds the limit, so they do not bother to check the limit of the hull. "I think we can get to 1,000 meters. ......" "Okay, let it sink slowly. I''ll use my engineering magic to monitor the hull distortion. As soon as the ship is in danger, use the force field generator to levitate it. "Are you sure?" "Yes, I think it''s less dangerous that way." Jin wanted to know the maximum dive depth for undersea exploration. "Erza-san, please prepare the warp gate just in case. "Yes, sir." Thus, the orca slowly sinks. In fact, the area where Horai Island is located is where the 200 meter deep gently sloping land called in topography ends, and there is a so-called that plunges deep at once in the vicinity. The area where Jin and the others were currently located was estimated to be about 1,500 meters deep. Using sonar, they calculate the depth by subtracting the distance from their current position to the seafloor from the depth measured at the sea surface. "......Depth500......55 0......600" The submarine depth of a modern Earth submarine is exceeded. "......700......750......800" It is now pitch black outside. Jin concentrated, monitoring the distortion of the hull. "......800......850......900" Still no problem. The shell of the gigantopod seems to be better than expected. "......950......1000" As a matter of fact, the mermaid squads under your direction are standing by outside. They have a track record of withstanding water pressure of 5,000 meters, and they were quietly watching over the orca. "1100......1200......" The bottom of the ocean floor appeared dimly under the powerful lights. Around the orca was a white, snow-like floating mass. <. The transparency of the water changes drastically around this point, probably due to the ocean currents. "...... clean" The view made me forget for a moment that I was in the dangerous deep sea. "......1400, the bottom of the sea." < was a 1400 meter seafloor. The distortion of the outer shell was still acceptable. Jin let out a sigh of relief. "<>" Since he had just arrived at the seafloor, Jin checks out the undersea resources just in case. "What?" Jin, what''s wrong? "Oh. ...... There are light silver and magi crystals. There are also veins of various other metals in quite shallow places. The old man heard these words. "Yes, please." The unexpected harvest came as an added bonus. "Okay, there''s no point in pushing ourselves any further. Let''s surface." To surface, they use the force field generator to return to the surface in a single bound. Since the hull is covered with airtight wards specialized for the wind attribute, there is no risk of pressurization or depressurization, which is a great advantage. It has no effect on magic and keeps the atmospheric pressure constant. Not only Erza but also Jin was relieved when they emerged from the pitch-darkness of the deep sea to the bright surface of the sea. "This is a great success. This will make the search for undersea resources easier. However, there was one drawback that was revealed. It was humidity. The water vapor contained in the exhalations of both Jin and Elsa made the cabin damp ...... or, to put it more simply, there was condensation everywhere. This is a flaw that Reiko, who does not breathe, could not see when she tested. "This means we need to use water magic < to remove the moisture. ...... In contrast, the recycling of oxygen worked well. This is because Jin was able to construct a magic formula (Magi Formula) that determines the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen, instead of decomposing all the carbon dioxide in the air. In other words, the control method of producing only the amount of oxygen used was the correct one. The separated carbon is solidified as graphite. "I should make a pencil ......", Jin thought. Jin was thinking "I should make a pencil. I''m going to stop talking now. After surfacing and changing the air, Jin started running again to enjoy the underwater world. This time at a speed of about 50 km/h. "Ah, this is just about right," he said. They could see colorful fish swimming in the water. Jin and Elsa enjoyed the underwater scenery for a while. Needless to say, they took measures against humidity after returning home. 692 - - 21-04 New Policy After enjoying their undersea expedition, Jin and Erza returned to Horai Island. "It was a great success. We found undersea resources. "Father, if you want to proceed with the development, I think you will need a sea base. Reiko made an unusual suggestion. "It would be more efficient if we send the mined resources to Horai Island through a warp gate. "I see. I see. I will consider it. Thus, the island of Horai embarked on securing more resources. * * * * On the following day, the 20th, Jin and Erza returned to the house of Reuthert. Reinhardt was also there since he had been informed in advance. "Hey, Jin. I heard you made something interesting again?" "Yes, a submarine ......, no, a submarine." "A submarine!Take me for a ride sometime!" "...... brother Rai, what more did you want to talk about?" Erza chided Reinhardt who was getting excited. "Yes, that''s right. I''ve been summoned by His Majesty. He wants Jin to come too, if possible." "His Majesty?I don''t understand... He wants to talk about ships and stuff. So Jin, Reiko, Erza, Edgar, Reinhard and the others decided to go to Miyagi. By airship, of course. In Miyagi, Jin''s airship had become so familiar that it had its own landing pad. "Edgar, I''m sorry, but you''ll have to stay here. "Yes, sir, of course." Leaving Edgar in charge of the airship, Jin and the others went first to the Prime Minister''s office. "Oh, Sir Jin Nido, Sir Reinhard Randall, Erza, and Reiko." The Prime Minister stopped checking the documents and welcomed Jin and his party. He immediately sent his secretary to inform the queen. "Jin, welcome!" Within five minutes, the queen herself arrived. The Prime Minister, seeing this, looked a little reluctant. "First of all, congratulations on your success in Bernstein. And I would like to thank you again. Thank you." He added that he was sorry he could not attend the launching ceremony. "The day before yesterday, I received a message by pigeon that she received a royal welcome from Asund when she docked at <>, a port in the Kingdom of Egelea, on the 18th. They will probably stay there for a few nights. Nahrnekka is a town overlooking a bay south of Asund, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, and has a large harbor. "I see, so you are already in Egelea. ......" Reinhardt said in a deep voice. "According to the report, we passed a large ship from that country in Kupu, at the southern tip of the Kingdom of Selroa. It is said that the ship is now anchored in the town of Jirisho in our country. Jin had also heard this. The ship, <>, was in fact built by the 5th Quinta, Altaf and Gjenner, who had been dispatched by Jin. "So, that''s about all I have to say about the disappearance of the ship. Now we have a request." Requests? Yes. After all, this is a ship that''s never been sailed before. It''s no wonder there will be many requests later on. The Empress then showed Jin and Reinhard the list she had compiled. "Let''s see... ......... I see." 1. make it possible to apply emergency braking. 2. please think about slow navigation when attached to a pier. 3. Flags and banners are suggested as a means of communication with land. 4. Signal lights should be installed in harbors and along coastlines. The following were suggested. Regarding the first item, braking, since small jet thrusters are used, should the number be increased or the output be raised? Jin thought that increasing the number of thrusters would be easier to use. Reinhardt came up with the idea for the second one. How about deploying a mermaid-type golem at the port and having it manage such things? By extension, the golem could also be asked to tow ships. A tugboat, if you will. "That''s a good idea." Jin agrees. "It might be a good idea to have one on board as a lifeguard. Elsa mentioned the idea. "Yeah, you''re right," said Erza. Jin had a similar idea. The idea was to let people know by the colors and patterns of the flags. "If we do this, I think it would be better to make it common among all countries. "Yes, Jin, you are right. ...... except for special ones, let''s discuss it among countries." 4 is not a ship, but an administrative issue. "That makes sense. Let''s do something about it. Thus, Bernstein''s request was generally accepted. "Now, let''s talk about the next topic, the Kingdom of Klein. Jin listened attentively. "The Kingdom of Klein is sending a survey team to the Kingdom of Leonard early in the new year. It seems that it has something to do with the procurement of food. They are thinking of hunting not only grain but also wild animals for food. "At the same time, the Kingdom of Egelea is going to do the same. Hopefully, they will be able to open up a road that allows people to come and go without having to go through the Kingdom of Cerroa. At the moment, the territory of the Kingdom of Celuloa lies between the Kingdom of Klein and the Kingdom of Egelea, so it is not easy to travel back and forth by land. Hot air balloons are possible, but they lack transportation capacity. Therefore, they would like to open up a new overland route. Jin is thinking secretly that it would be a good idea to rebuild the old Leonard Kingdom and let Ernest and Rieschen rule it if possible. "And lastly. In my country, I will take Sir Jin Nido''s advice and dispatch an advance party at the beginning of the new year to open diplomatic relations with the different peoples." "What!" Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt all exclaimed in surprise. "But it will be small at first. I''m thinking of about ten ambassadors, deputy ambassadors, and guards. "I see. ......" Jin was happy. If the empress was serious about opening diplomatic relations with the ...... Mitsukho, there would surely be mutual benefits. "How about Sir Reinhard Randall as ambassador?" "What?" Again, the Japanese were surprised. "Reinhardt has a proven track record in diplomacy and is an excellent magi engineer. I think he is the right person for the job. "......" Reinhardt does not have an immediate answer. "If not, we could choose someone else as ambassador and Sir Elsa Randall as vice-ambassador. ! We''re visiting a foreign country, we can''t force them to do anything. Please think it over. I understand. "I understand." Reinhard and Erza replied, looking down a little. "And now, my other idea..." The Empress proceeded. "I would like you to go to the Kingdom of Elias as the ambassador of the Shoro Kingdom. "The Kingdom of Elias? Yes, all three of you have been to the Kingdom of Elias. ...... Bernstein is on his way there now, and he will arrive in Potrock on the 23rd or 24th. Jin and the others had a rough idea of what to expect. "In this connection, I would like to discuss our future course of travel. The emperor took a breath and looked alternately at Reinhardt and Erza. This is also important in terms of setting up trade routes. "If anything, we would be more grateful if you would accept this one. In that case we will send someone else to the different peoples. What do you think?" "Yes. ......" Jin is not a citizen of the Shoro Kingdom (though he is an honorary citizen), so he will not accompany the Shoro as an official emissary. Therefore, I have not been asked, but I thought it would be interesting no matter which way I went with him. However, I am more interested in the Potrock at the moment. He was also curious about the ship he had worked on and about the father and daughter of Rodrigo and Marcia. Reinhardt seemed to feel the same way, "In that case, I would like to go to Potrock. Reinhardt seemed to feel the same way and replied, "In that case, I would like to go to Potrock. 693 - - 21-05 Rush "Yes, it is a pleasure." The Empress was pleased. "Then I appoint Sir Reinhard Randall as full ambassador and Elsa Randall as deputy ambassador." "Your Majesty, may I take her on my airship?" Jin interrupted, unable to remain silent. "Yes, that would be very helpful, Sir Jin Nido." If she thinks that Jin will surely go with her if she appoints Erza and Reinhardt, she is a very clever woman, but in fact, she is doing it naturally, so it seems that she and Jin are a good match. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, Jin, you''re a big help. "Thank you, brother Jin." Jin and the others talked again as they stepped back from in front of the empress. "No, I''m a little concerned about Potlock too. ...... about Rodrigo and Marcia. "Yeah, I know." "Yeah, I agree." Elsa nodded. Reinhardt seemed to feel the same way. "So, we''ll leave on December 23rd, including preparations, right?" "Yes, that''s right. That''s what His Majesty said. We will be busy with preparations tomorrow and the day after. Reinhardt also said that he would go back to his estate and get ready. As an official ambassador, it is only natural that his letter of appointment from his country will be ready tomorrow. "It''s going to be a lot of trouble, isn''t it?" That was all Jin could say, but that was the reality. Since Jin had nothing much to prepare, he decided to leave Reinhard and Erza for the moment and visit the village of Kaina. He had not seen Hannah for a while, so he prepared himself to hear her grumblings. It had been more than a month since my last visit to the village of Kaina. Jin went to the warp gate in the basement of the workshop in front of Martha''s house. When he steps out onto the ground, he finds that the sky is overcast. The high altitude and latitude of the village of Kaina suggests that snow is on its way. "Hello, Jin, it''s been a long time. "Welcome back, mister!Reiko, you too! Martha and Hannah came out of the house after noticing Jin and Reiko. "I''m home, Hannah!" Jin holds Hannah in his arms as she jumps on him, and he feels her grow up a little. Jin is deeply moved by the fact that it has been less than a month and a half since they separated, but she is still a growing child. "I''m sorry I was gone for so long. Jin apologizes, but Hannah shakes her head. She shakes her head. "No, you''re busy with other things, aren''t you? Her answer makes Jin feel that Hannah is growing up more and more. "I''m going to learn a lot, and I''m going to be able to help you, onii-chan! "Hannah......" Jin gently pats Hannah''s head. Hannah''s smiling face. "What are you doing in there? Martha, who had not seen them, called out to them, and Jin, Hanna, and Reiko entered Martha''s house. "It''s almost the new year, isn''t it? It''s going to snow soon. Martha said over a cup of hot Perhya tea. "But we can put the snow in the snow chamber, Gon and Gen are here, we have Golem horses, and if we get cold, we have hot springs...thanks to Jin, I feel much better. "I''m glad to hear you say that." Jin is thinking of new ideas as he talks. It would be nice to have the golem horse pull a sleigh. Maybe we should put a kotatsu in the hall of Nido Castle and use it as a common room.) Or, we could improve the facilities of the hot springs.) Then, the village chief, Giebeck, who had heard of Jin''s return, came to him. "Oh, Jin, you''re back!" "Ah, Mr. Village Chief, it''s been a long time." It''s been a long time. ...... The wheat harvest went well this year. We''ve already taken them to the castle. And here''s the account book. Take a look at it later. Giebeck held out a thin leather-bound ledger. "Oh, I''m sorry to bother you." "And..." There seemed to be more to Giebeck''s story. "On the 5th of December, Jonas and Nona had a baby. Her name is Fran. It''s a girl." "Oh, my God!I didn''t know that." "And that''s not all...on the 6th, Dave and Lil had a baby boy, Hawk." "That''s a baby rush." Giebeck nodded with a smile. "I''m sure it''s all thanks to the better environment since Jin arrived. If you can, I''d like you to go over to their house later. Jin nodded. Jin nodded and said, "Yes, I understand. Jin then began to think about how to present the baby gift. In the end, Jin decided to give them a set of tableware based on the customs he had heard about when he was on Earth. "I heard that in some countries, people give gifts to their children with the wish that they will not have trouble eating," he said. He said. He also delivered the gift to Linus, who was born in the summer, saying, "I''m late. The items were a soup plate made of GS (Grand Spider) P (resin) and a silver spoon. Although Jin tried to be considerate of too expensive items, the GS (Grand Spider) P (resin) part spoiled the whole thing. "Now we''re almost at Howard''s," he said. "It''s nice to have more kids." Jin, who was thanking Sally at the Mireshan clinic, relaxed his cheeks when he heard the news. As the year progresses, there are likely to be more births in the village, and the village of Kaina is in a baby rush. "Thank goodness you''re here, doctor. "It''s nice to have you here, doctor." "As a healer, it''s also nice to see new life being born. Besides, I study in the castle library, and this is a nice village. As he said this, he glanced at her. The mayor of the village, Giebeck, looked at him. "I hope you will stay here forever, doctor. Barbara, who had brought the tea, said to Sally. "Yes, I will. ...... Hey, Beck." "Uh-huh." Barbara smiles at her uncle, who is blushing like an old man. I like this atmosphere.) A new is forming in front of them. Jin felt warmth in his heart. (I hope Marcia and Rodrigo will get along well with each other. ......) "Onii-chan! Then he heard Hannah''s voice. "Dinner is ready! Tonight we are going to Martha''s house for dinner. (I''ll be gone for a while again. ......) (I''ll be gone for a while again. ) He was also going to treat Hannah to a family dinner. "Yeah, I''m coming." Jin then told Sally, Giebeck, Barbara, and the others that he had some free time. 694 - - 21-06 Potlock Arrival After passing safely through the Kingdom of Cerroa, the continued its voyage smoothly. On December 15, the ship approached the Kingdom of Egelea, and the crew''s faces began to show signs of relief. "Lunch is ready! Claire, who was on meal duty, called out. "Oh, lunch is ready! "After all, eating is the only thing we can look forward to. The first day or two after setting sail, the crew was nervous and impressed by the scenery they saw for the first time, but after five days, they were getting a little bored with the unchanged scenery. (We need to have some fun when we are off duty...) Rodrigo, on board as a shipwright, was taking notes of what he noticed. (Maybe we can enrich our meals...). With this in mind, he went to the mess hall. Half the crew had gathered there. The tables and chairs were semi-fixed. The table and chairs are semi-fixed, so that they do not become unbalanced even if they are shaken. "Well, it''s been a while since we had soft bread today. Soft bread is a rarity in a restaurant where dry bread is served most of the time. "I baked it myself!" Claire is proud of her lack of pride. "Well, that''s great! "I didn''t know you were a woman, Miss Claire." "Is that a compliment?" Claire, the red-haired girl, was very popular with the crew. Normally, this would be a bad thing, but thanks to her petite frame (145 cm, 39 kg), she was a very attractive adult despite her age (2-1/2 years old). (She was also not aware of the gender of the crew members). (We also need to pay attention to the gender of the occupants.) Rodrigo was somewhat concerned about Claire, who was the same age as his daughter Marcia. "Oh, this is delicious! "Of course it is!" He uses a magic stone stove developed by Jin for cooking such food as this. Since the stove does not directly burn the food, it is relatively safe from fire. Deep frying with oil is strictly forbidden. Therefore, the menu is naturally limited. When Claire was in charge of meal duty, the crew looked forward to her creative menus. "Claire, that was delicious. Thank you. "Thank you." "Thank you very much." Rodrigo says a few words to Claire and leaves the mess hall to go on deck. The waves glisten in the afternoon sun. "We''ll have to find some way to reduce the glare. Rodrigo notes the need for sun shades for his eyes. Naturally, the captain, Lugaria Gascar Von Alkois, was also making these improvements. "It would be nice to have lights in the harbor. It would help us to see where we are at night." In short, a lighthouse. It would be useful since they sail along the coast. We are also listening to the opinions of the crew and compiling them. We plan to submit a report in due course. "Couldn''t we just flash the light and have a simple communication?" "What about flying a flag in the daytime? There are many things that we have noticed while sailing. Various suggestions for improvement were made. The need for a modern tugboat. Emergency stop with emergency thrusters. Rescue signals. For the time being, we are trying to identify what we feel is necessary first, without considering how to realize it. It seems to have been a good approach. Inadvertently, we were doing something similar to the brainstorming process that we had done when developing the new ship. * * * * * * * * * * * * * We were not always blessed with fine weather, but there were stormy days. On those days, we anchored closer to the shore and in deeper water to make it through. It would have been safer if there had been an inlet, but even so, Bernstein''s stability was superior even without sails and masts, which are easily affected by the wind. On December 18, they arrived at <>, the largest port town in the Kingdom of Egerea. The port of Nahrnekka is located in a small bay with calm waves and deep water, making it an ideal anchorage for the Bernstein. Furthermore, a pier had been built in a rush to welcome the new ships of the Shoro Empire, and the crew had not been on land for nine days. Unlike sailors on modern Earth, they would sleep on the ship for two nights at most, so one can only imagine their joy. Everyone except the captain and Rodrigo, a maintenance man, went ashore with great joy. They went to the town of Narneka. "It''s not easy being captain, is it?" Outside of official business hours, Rodrigo and Captain Lugaria were friendly and chatted, being the same age. "Yeah, totally. Are you sure you don''t want to go?" "I''ve lost my fortune once before to drink, women, and gambling. I''ve learned my lesson. "Oh, yes, one of the objectives was to visit your daughter in Potrock, wasn''t it?" "Yes. I don''t know if you''ll forgive me. I have two daughters in the country myself. I have two daughters in the country too, but I don''t see them more than a month a year because they are in the ...... military. Still, they are lovely and they love me as a father. That''s how blood ties work." "I hope so." Then I heard a loud voice. "Message!Attention!Anybody home? "...... what is it?" The captain and Rodrigo both go outside. A man in the uniform of the Kingdom of Egelea was standing at the end of the pier. "I am the captain. What do you want?" The messenger replies. "Yes!I am a member of the 1st Knights of the Kingdom of Egelea, Workers!I have herewith a letter from my king, Harold Luan Autoclase of Egelea! "What, a letter from King Egelea?Thank you very much for your ......." I nervously opened the letter, which was addressed to me, an ordinary captain with only the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army, and found it to read . ....... I had no reason to refuse the offer in the sense of deepening the friendship between the two countries, and I gave the word of respectful acceptance to the workers of the messenger who were waiting for a reply. The ceremony was not too grandiose. The ceremony was neither too grand nor too simple, and the atmosphere was one of simple-mindedness and robustness. The King himself arrived in a hot air balloon with the Queen, which was a surprise to all of us, since the capital Asunto is about 60 km away by a straight line. On the other hand, none of the ships of the Kingdom of Egelea exceeded 10 meters in length, and the 40-meter-long Bernstein alone was a center of attention. Furthermore, the engineers of the Kingdom of Egelea could not help but sigh when they saw the that propelled the ship without using sails or oars. * * * * * * * * * On December 20, the Bernstein departed from Narnekka with an energized crew. The ship turned to the south from its previous course to the east. The destination is the Elias Peninsula. The next day, the ship stops at the port of Konjol, and then at the port of Nefotso in the Nord province of Elias. The next day, the ship arrives at the port of Konjol, and the day after that, at the port of Maugus. On the 23rd, Bernstein arrived at his final destination, the port of Potrock. A welcoming ceremony had been arranged at the port, and a large crowd of onlookers had gathered to witness this moment of the century. "......Marcia?" Rodrigo looked for his daughter''s face in the crowd. A face that no matter how many years had passed, he would never forget. But he could not find it. 695 - - 21-07 Hitoshi and others... On the morning of December 23rd. Jin, Reiko, Elsa, Edgar, and Reinhard were in the square in front of the palace in Leuthart. "Well then, Sir Reinhard Randall, I hope you will fulfill your duties safely, Elsa Randall Ehime. "Yes, Your Majesty." The Empress herself handed a letter addressed to the Kingdom of Elias to the ambassador, Reinhardt. "Sir Jin Nido, please take good care of them. Reiko will be with you, so I don''t think you''ll have to worry. "Ah, yes." The emperor''s tone suddenly changed to a frank one. "One more thing. I think that <> will probably arrive at Potrock this evening. So Jin, you and the others should arrive a day later tomorrow, on the 24th. "What?" Jin was surprised at the unexpected words of the emperor, thinking that he was supposed to meet Bernstein at the other side. However, he was convinced by the explanation that followed. "Jin, I know your airship is fast. But I think they will be disappointed if we leave later than the new ship and arrive earlier than the new ship. It is true that it is not honorable to show off our performance unnecessarily. Jin nodded. "Okay. I will arrange a time for you to arrive at Potrock. The emperor smiled when he heard Jin''s reply. In fact, as a result of further modifications, with the use of the wind deflector and the force field generator, we can safely reach a speed of about 150 kilometers per hour. * * * * Jin and his team departed from Loisart on an airship. After gaining altitude, they move to Horai Island through the warp gate. The airship is headed to the Kingdom of Elias by the pilot, Steward. We will say to the outside world that we camped in the mountains or fields of the Kingdom of Cerroa that day. So, what are we going to do in Horai Island? "Oh!So this is the Orca!" The plan was to take Reinhardt on a submersible. "I''m looking forward to it." Saki was also there, so I naturally invited her to join us. She would not refuse, and this time Jin, Erza, Reinhard and Saki get on the boat. Reiko is in charge of piloting. Since then, the air conditioning and oxygen supply have been improved. Specifically, we recognize that the oxygen content of the moisture H2O in the humidity is mostly derived from exhaled air. In other words, they realized that simply recovering oxygen from CO2 was not enough. So, they improved the system to recover oxygen from the moisture of humidity, and in case of emergency, they improved the system to be able to obtain oxygen from seawater. If you feel distress, tell me immediately. Then use the warp gate to escape: ......." After a brief explanation of the emergency equipment, we were off. "Oh!This is a novel view!" Reinhardt had the same impression as Jin did the first time he boarded the ship. Saki is curious to see what''s on the bottom of the ocean. "Kuh, I couldn''t have imagined last year that I would see such a view one day. The orca is now traveling at a depth of about 100 meters. The gently sloping continental shelf is gradually getting deeper. "What?What''s that?" Reinhardt shouted at a depth of about 200 meters. Reinhardt looked in the direction he was pointing and saw... "Ah, it''s an undersea resource mine." "Heh. ......" <, we found submarine resources, but when we seriously searched for them, we found excellent deposits here and there, including in shallow water. The work is led by the Mermaid team. Here, ten mermaids from 21 to 30 were mining. The mined ore is sent to through a warp gate floating on the sea. <, and they sort and refine the ore before sending it to Horai Island. The tailings (ore scraps) were sent back and used to backfill the holes that had been dug out. "Wow, that''s a great thing." Reinhardt is impressed by Jin''s explanation. "Have you found any interesting ores?" Saki seemed to be more interested in the ore. "I just started, so I haven''t found any minerals like that yet. ...... Since it is not interesting to look at them up close, we will look at the mined ores later, and <> moved on. The depth of the water is over 200 meters, and about 300 meters. It was quite dark because of the lack of sunlight. As we proceeded with our searchlight on, we never got tired of watching the fish running away as if startled by the light. "Well, this is interesting. ...... but I should probably get back to it. ......" A disappointed Reinhardt. He is not in a position to be playing around. "Back to it?" "Yeah." So the orca carrying Jin and the others made a U-turn and returned to Tatsumi Bay. It returned to Tatsumi Bay. * * * * "Well, Jin, it was a short time, but I had a good time. "Well, Jin, it was fun, even if it was only for a short time! "Yeah, yeah, I had fun too." Reinhard and Saki are in a good mood after returning to Horai Island. Saki went to the warp gate where undersea resources are sent to see if there are any rare materials there. "Saki is the same as ever." Reinhardt looked at her with narrowed eyes as he looked off behind her and said, "You''re still the same, Saki. "Let''s stay at the pavilion tonight and transfer to the airship tomorrow morning. Jin said while writing the timetable on the whiteboard. The island of Horai is located east of the destination Potrock, so we need to calculate the time difference properly or we might have trouble later on. "Yes, I understand. I''m looking forward to eating at ...... Hourai Island." Soleil, Luna, and Peridor have become good cooks, and they have a firm grip on the Jin family''s stomachs. Reinhardt and Saki took a sip of the miso soup on the table, "Wow, it''s delicious! "It''s delicious! It''s different from what I usually eat!" Jin explains with a smile. "Yes, it''s because I made a proper soup stock with dried bonito flakes. It is incomparably better than what they serve at Reuthert''s. "......Another ethnic group......No, <>, I think it was. Do they have a culture to make such things?" "Yes. I heard they have more and more things." I''m curious. Reinhardt looks a bit curious, but he has already decided to go to the Kingdom of Elias. "Well, I guess I''ll find out more soon enough." John Dinney has been infiltrated. More information was to be sent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and the others left Horai Island at noon on December 24th, as scheduled. Jin, Reinhard, Erza, Reiko, Edgar, take care. I''m having fun sorting through the ore. With Saki seeing them off, the group steps into the warp gate. They were instantly transported to the airship piloted by Steward. Steward, where are you? "Yes, we are passing over the kingdom of Egelea and approaching the kingdom of Elias. Looking down, we can see the blue sea and a large peninsula. All right, drop a little altitude. Okay, sir. The plane drops to an altitude of 400 meters, so low that it can be seen from the ground. The airship arrived at Potrock at 3:00 p.m. local time without causing much commotion, since there were few people looking up at the sky. As the airship descended to the nostalgic central square, a welcoming ceremony was being prepared, as if the emperor had been informed of the arrival. "...... people are here." Jin is a bit nervous. The square was filled with people, except for the landing space. "Well, of course. We were the first ones to fly in the sky. The Kingdom of Elias had not experienced the previous Unifiler uprising. Therefore, they have not seen their << hot flying ball> either. "Ah ...... surely, if we had arrived earlier than <>, their greatness would have been lost in the haze. ......" Once again, Jin was aware of and impressed by the attention paid by the female emperor. The airship landed slowly in the center of the square to the cheers of the assembled crowd. 696 - - 21-08 Welcome "Welcome, Ambassador of the Shoro Kingdom, Sir Reinhard Randall, Elsa Randall Ehime. And Magecraft Meister, Sir Jin Nidor and his valet, Reiko Nidor Ehime. They were greeted by the Marquis Dominique de Firenziano, the ruler of the province of Xaus in the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias, which includes Potrock. Reinhard and Elsa greeted the guests in the Shoro imperial style. Jin followed suit. * * * * After the lively ceremony, Jin and the others were escorted to the guest house in the northwestern part of the Potrock. The airship was moved into the courtyard of the guest house by the steward. "It has been a long time, Mr. Reinhardt. The Marquis of Florenziano greeted him in a friendly manner, offering him a cup of kuhe, since he was no longer in a formal setting. "I congratulate you on your new baronetcy." The Marquis is much higher in rank than the Marquis, but Marquis Firenziano is still very low to the ground. "And I hear that you have also been made a baronet. Congratulations." The Marquis then turned to Jin. "You too, Jin-sama, are now renowned as the world''s only . In addition, I hear that Reiko has also been given the title of Knight. He then bows to the group, "It is amazing to see how many people I have met in the past have risen in the world. He smiled. "Marquis, I don''t mean to be rude, but since you are higher in rank than me and we are not strangers, it would be easier for us to work together in private. ...... Reinhardt says gingerly. Jin thought so too, so he nodded his head in agreement. "Is that so?If you say so, can I call you ...... Reinhardt-kun, Jin-kun, and Erza-san?" All three nodded. Reiko called him Reiko, as she had called him Reiko earlier. "Well, then. Welcome to the Kingdom of Elias. And to Potlock." The Marquis welcomed them in a much friendlier tone. "The new ship that arrived yesterday, the Bernstein, was wonderful. I''m sorry to say, Potlock ......, that the Kingdom of Elias does not yet have a ship of that caliber." The Kingdom of Elias had been confident in its shipbuilding abilities, as most of its surroundings are by sea, but now it was falling behind. "But I am sure that our country will begin to regain its footing from now on. The Marquis smiles. It is true that the Kingdom of Elias has many excellent shipbuilders (shipwrights), so Reinhardt and his men cannot afford to lose hope. "More importantly..." The Marquis looked at Jin. "Jin, your , it''s amazing! It''s a marvel!You''re making people''s dream of flying come true. His voice was pure admiration. "I received a message by pigeon this morning that our country would like to honor Jin as a and an honorary knight. "That is ......." As a friendly nation to the Shoro Kingdom, to the neighboring Kingdom of Egelea, and to the Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Elias would like to have a friendly relationship with Jin. At that moment, a lady-in-waiting arrives to tell them that dinner is ready. Everyone moves to the dining room. The spacious dining room was filled with sumptuous dishes. Jin noticed some of the dishes. "Oh?" The Marquis of Florenziano noticed his gaze and smiled. "Since Jin taught me how to make topopo chips, I''ve been studying how to cook topopo. On the menu were fried topopo, topopo salad, and hashbrown topopo. "You can make a lot of different dishes with topopo. And it can be a staple food. I thought why not take advantage of such a wonderful crop?" Jin had heard about it from the fifth column (Quinta), but he had not expected the Marquis to be so passionate about topopo cuisine. "This year''s topopo harvest has tripled," he said. Jin told him about the topopo chips at the end of February, and soon after, he gave him instructions to increase the acreage. "It''s an honor." It is good news that a new major crop has been established. Still, it was a wise decision to increase the area by three times, Jin thought. "It seems that the other small groups have had a poor harvest this year," he said. The Marquis seemed to be aware of this. "If there is a request, I would be happy to export it to you, along with the recipe. I would be happy to do so. Jin felt that it was not reasonable for him to intervene, so he simply said, "I will be happy to do so. But it seemed to me that this would help with a portion of the food problem. After that, we had a lively conversation on light topics. In particular, the Marquis'' emphasis on topopo cuisine. "Thanks to him, people call me the Marquis of Topopo," he said. But despite his words, the Marquis''s face was bright. (He seemed to have plumped up a little. ......) ) Jin thought something like this, but he did not say it out loud. Toward the end of the conversation, Jin decided to ask him boldly. "Marquis, do you remember Marcia?" "Marcia?...... Oh, the girl who teamed up with Jin and won the championship?Yes, I remember her. I think I heard that she opened a store in the next town over and it''s thriving. This is Potlock Town, Potlock City. Marcia had been a shipwright in the next town for generations, Jin recalled. "She said it was in Portoa, the next town over. The Marquis, who had checked with the butler, told Jin about it. "It seems to be famous, so you can easily recognize it if you ask. It is located on a street facing the sea. "Thank you very much." Jin was planning to go see him the next day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and his friends stay in a three-room apartment. The bedroom is a private room and leads to a large room that corresponds to the living room. Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt were relaxing there. "Elias is getting desperate, isn''t he?" Reinhardt suddenly spoke up. "What?" "You said you wanted to make Jin a , right?You want a hot air balloon, don''t you?" "Oh, I see." Jin gave the hot-air balloon only to those countries that had participated in the technology exposition held in the Shoro Kingdom and had certified him as a . The Kingdom of Elias missed out because it did not participate. "Well, there''s nothing wrong with the gift itself..." "Brother Jin, you have to get the proper reward. Erza nailed Jin as usual. "Hot air balloons are a world-changing technology. It''s not a good idea to take it so easily. "Haha, Erza told me first. ...... Jin, Erza is right. You are too easy-going. "Hmmm. That''s one of the good things about my brother Jin. But that''s one of the good things about my brother Jin. Reinhardt looked at Erza with surprised eyes when she started to say this. "Oh come on Erza, you''re already in love with him?" Erza''s cheeks turned red at these words, but Reinhardt turned serious and said to Jin "Jin, anyway, why don''t you try this?" "So, do you have any idea?" "Yes. ...... Jin has received an honorary knighthood in the Kingdom of Klein. That means he''s related. So ......." Jin understood what Reinhardt meant when he said that. "Oh, I see. You''re asking us to export ...... to the Kingdom of Klein, or rather, to help you." "That''s what I mean. But we''ll have to talk to the Kingdom of Klein, too." I see. ...... So, why don''t you leave the diplomacy to me? Reinhardt can be counted on for this kind of talk. Jin entrusted him with the task. 697 - - 21-09 To Marcias Workshop The next morning, Jin and his crewmates met again in the dining room of the guest house with the crew of the . However, the only people who knew each other directly were Rodrigo, Kreia, and Xenelos. "Jin-dono, long time no see!I have noticed many things, but in general, the boat trip was pleasant. Rodrigo said as soon as he saw Jin and the others. "Jin-san!The propulsion system did not malfunction!You have great skills!" Claire said, looking at Jin with her sparkling eyes. Seeing this, Erza, who was standing next to Jin, involuntarily took a half step closer to Jin, and Xenelos''s face twisted. "That''s good." Jin was the only one who answered at his own pace. No," Rodrigo added, looking a little distracted. "Captain ......, no, the captain has been taking a lot of notes. If you have a chance, please take a look. I''m sure it will be helpful." "Captain?" Reinhardt noticed the rephrase. "Ah, yes, the captain. < is temporarily treated as a naval flagship and warship. "Oh, I see." The boundary between a ship and a vessel is ambiguous. In the Shoro Empire, they decided to call large ships for military use <. I''ll leave you with this. "Mr. Rodrigo, have you seen Marcia?" This was the first question Jin wanted to ask when he saw the look on his face. "No, I mean,...... not yet." Rodrigo answers, looking down a little. "When <> arrived, he didn''t seem to have come to see it. Rodrigo''s mind seems to be a bit off. Jin cheered Rodrigo up by saying. "I see......... but maybe he''s just busy, you know?I heard he opened a store in the next town over and it''s thriving. "Yeah, that''s what I heard, too." Rodrigo seemed to know at least that much. "Oh, I know, why don''t you go with me afterwards?" "What?You want to go to ...... with me to Marcia''s workshop?" "Where else? Besides, you know where it is, don''t you Rodrigo? "Yes, well, well, ......". It used to be his house and workshop, how could he not know? Then it''s perfect. Well, I''ll see you in the entrance lobby at 9:00 a.m." "Oh, yes." Jin left the cafeteria before Rodrigo started to argue with him. To tell the truth, Jin was in a position to know more about Marcia''s whereabouts. Jin himself had almost forgotten, but since the Unifiler riots, he had assigned a covert task force (SP) named <> and <> to Marcia. If you ask the old man who is in charge of them, you can easily find out how Marcia is doing. "Well, I hope she is doing well. But as for Jin, he had decided to visit Marcia himself now that the situation had come to this point. Therefore, he did not want to ask her how she was doing beforehand, as if he was cheating. As long as I knew that she was not seriously injured, ill, or involved in some other incident, I would ask around on my own. We now know that Marcia is also working on a new type of ship, and has made a number of overnight and two-day test voyages to the island of Io, which was the turnaround point in the Golem Boat Race. (I''m looking forward to seeing what kind of boat it will be.) Jin is the kind of person who saves the fun for later. * * * * * * "So, I''m going to Marcia''s after this. Jin told Reinhard and Erza. "Well, I''d like to go there too, but I have my ambassadorial duties after this. "Me too. Too bad." Jin said with an apologetic laugh. "I''m sorry. For now, it''s just me, Reiko, and Mr. Rodrigo. "Yes. Tell him I said hello. "Give him my regards, too. Tell him I''ll see him when I can. Jin nodded. "Okay, okay." And he went to the entrance hall. Rodrigo was waiting anxiously in the entrance hall. He looked at the sundial and saw that it was still about 15 minutes before the appointed time. I''m sorry for keeping you waiting, Mr. Rodrigo. Mr. Rodrigo, you are early. Jin says, and Rodrigo shakes his head. "Uh, yes, no. I was restless and came here right after that ......." Jin smiled inwardly, knowing how he felt. "Shall we go then?" The two left the guest house. Jin was wearing a robe with his family crest given to him by the Shoro Imperial Family and was dressed in such a way that it was easy to tell at a glance that he was a guest of honor from the Shoro Imperial Family. Reiko was almost a face-passer. There is no other girl in a lady''s robe staying at the guest house except for Reiko, who is an <>. Reiko is also wearing a black cloak with the Jin family crest. Rodrigo shows something like a permit to the guard. "This place hasn''t changed. ......" With a nostalgic look on his face, Rodrigo walks down Potrock Street. This street is the main street that runs through the city of Potrock. Passing through the upscale shopping district, Rodrigo turns right at the intersection with a street called Kita Boulevard. Continue straight and you will see the sea. When you hit the street along the sea, turn left, and you will see the rental dock that Jin and his friends used to rent during the Golem Boat Race. "Ah, this brings back memories. Jin couldn''t help but let out a murmur. "Oh, you know this area too, Jin-dono?" "Yes, you see, that''s where we used to rent a dock for the Golem boat competition that I told you about before. Jin pointed to where a completely different boat was now floating. "I see. ...... I wish I could have seen it." There are several catamarans floating in the harbor. This type of boat must have been easy to use as a small boat because of its stability. There are also a few water wheel-driven boats similar to their ship <. "Marcia, you did a great job." Of course, they are not as good as the ones made by Jin, but I could see that some practical small modifications were made to them. The smaller diameter of the waterwheel may have been made to cope with the lack of power of the golem, and the two belts on the left and right sides may have been made to increase durability. Rodrigo also had tears in his eyes when he saw many boats of the same type as the catamaran he had made on an impulse. Jin, Reiko, and Rodrigo walk slowly along the seaside street in silence, and before they know it, they are approaching Portoa town from Potrock town. And then. "This is my ...... no, <> my workshop. ...... Oh!" There was a catamaran standing there as a signboard. It is the well-known number 35, <>. The white color of the surface treatment applied by Jin is still effective even now, and the white color has not been lost even under strong ultraviolet rays. "Ah, it brings back memories. "Your father worked on this ship, didn''t he?" Jin and Reiko look at the Cygnus and stroke it gently, lost in deep emotion. Jin could see that the car had not been damaged in the slightest. It seems to be able to run with the same performance as before. Rodrigo, on the other hand, had gone to see Marcia at once, but was still pacing back and forth in front of the workshop. He seems to be having a hard time making up his mind. Jin couldn''t help but think that he was too old for this, but he decided to give Rodrigo a push, thinking that fathers and daughters must be complicated in many ways. I decided to give Rodrigo a push. In other words, I was the first one to step into the workshop. "Welcome! A young man answered the door. He seemed to be an employee. "Well, I''m here to see Marcia. Jin said, and the man said apologetically. "I''m sorry, but the manager is currently out of the office, and according to ...... schedule, he should be back soon. Jin was a little disappointed to hear that. According to the information he had received from the old man, the manager was supposed to be back by 8:00 a.m., even if he was on a two-day and one-night test cruise. It was 10:00 a.m. now. "Well, I guess I''ll have to wait then....... Hey, Mr. Rodrigo?" Jin called out to Rodrigo, who was peering inside from outside the store. Rodrigo straightened up as if he had been hit by a bullet. "Yes, that''s right!" So Jin, Rodrigo, and Reiko decided to wait in the reception area of the workshop. 698 - - 21-10 Worried Here you go. "Thank you." While Jin and the others were waiting for Marcia in the reception area, a girl from the store served Koohe. "Are you from the workshop too?" Jin asked, and the girl nodded. "Yes, my name is Jeremy. I''ve been working here since this summer. "And the man who just came in?" I decided to ask her about the man who answered the door. "That man is Mr. Buckles. He''s in charge of sales. "Thank you." When Jin thanked her, the girl named Jeremy stared at him and asked an unexpected question. I''m sorry if I''m wrong, but are you Jin-san by any chance? "Sure, I''m Jin." When Jin affirmed the question, Jeremy''s face instantly turned happy. "I knew it!I was watching the competition!That''s why I remembered your face!It''s an honor to meet you!And you must be Reiko! Yes, that''s me. Yes, sir.I knew it!" Jin looked at the excited Jeremy and thought that the competition she was talking about must be the golem boat competition, or at least that''s the only way to describe it. "You worked on the Cygnus on the front, didn''t you, Jin-san? "Ah, yes." "Yes, I did!...... Mr. Buckaroo, Mr. Buckaroo!" Jeremy walked out, excited. "...... What a lively boy you are." "Yes, sir." Jin and Rodrigo were left behind. But soon the owner of the noise returns. "Oh, it''s really Jin-san! "What?" It is the man from before. He has dark blond hair and green eyes, and looks about Jin''s age. "My name is Buckaroo. I am in charge of sales, but I would like to become a shipbuilder (shipwright) someday. Bakkals introduces himself. "But I''m thrilled to have you here, and of ! Even Buckarus says something like that. He told us that he and Jeremy had been watching the Golem boat competition and admired the way they won. "It was great to get a clean sweep on the way back from Io!" he says. "Once you took the lead, you never gave it up!I was very impressed! "Thank you for ......." We listened to their compliments and answered their questions for a while, and then realized that it was noon. "......, you''re late." Jeremy and Buckles start to get a little concerned, as you''d expect. "What do you mean by going out?" Rodrigo opened his mouth. Jeremy and Buckals looked at each other once and then turned to Jin. "Um, Jin-san, who is this person?" "This man is an acquaintance of mine. ......" Jin tried to explain, but Rodrigo was the first to introduce himself. My name is Rodrigo and I am a shipwright. <." "What!!That''s a big ship from the Shoro Kingdom! "I knew it from Jin-san''s acquaintance!" Both of them seemed convinced by this explanation, and they told us more about the ship. "Just to be clear, this is still a secret, so please don''t tell anyone else. After reminding them that it was still a secret, Bacchus began to speak. Buckles then began to speak. About three months ago, a rumor circulated. It is said that a huge ship is being built in the Kingdom of Selroa. It is said to be capable of sailing long distances, long periods of time, and carrying a great deal of cargo. When Marcia heard this, she was indignant. I don''t know how far a private workshop can go, but I can''t lose! I don''t know how far I can go in my own workshop, but I can''t let them beat me! He spent about a month designing the new ship. It took Marcia another month and a half to build it. He has been testing and improving the prototype for the last half month. "Well, may I ask what kind of ship it is?" Bacchus looked at Jin and then at Rodrigo. He was clearly hesitating. "Do you know who was the first to design a catamaran?" Jin boldly asked. "What?Yes, no. Wasn''t it manager Marcia or Mr. Jin?" Apparently, Marcia had not told the clerk about her father, Jin thought. "No, actually, it''s Mr. Rodrigo here." "What?Is that so? I''ve never heard of him before!" They were surprised. However, it was the right thing to tell them, and Bacchus showed them the blueprints of the new ship. Jin and Rodrigo look at the board on which the plans are drawn. "This is ......." It was a trimaran. It is similar to the < that Jin put to practical use on Horai Island. "Powered by ...... waterwheel drive?" A waterwheel attached to the rear of the hull in the center. It is driven by a golem, as seen in the drawing. The idea seems to be that it can be used as a power source and as a sailor. "Well, it''s about ......8 meters in size. It has a cabin where you can take a nap. "Mister Jin, is it possible for a single golem to move such a large ship? Rodrigo''s natural question. However, Jin knows the performance of the golem that he created for Marcia. And when they parted ways, he had doubled its output. "I can move ......." So Jin replies, "Yes, I can. However, he was not at ease. "However, if we use this structure to drive the waterwheel, the belt will not hold up, let alone the waterwheel and bearings," he said. When I mentioned this, Buckarus replied. "Yes, that''s why we have two belts and a spare. "I see. But ......" But that''s not the only problem. "How do you drive the spare?" If the waterwheel breaks down, is there any way to move the boat? In Jin''s case, he once transformed a waterwheel into a paddle by engineering magic when the axle broke on an improvised outer-wheel boat. Jin thinks that this was only possible because of Reiko''s presence and that it is usually necessary to have a separate propulsion system. Otherwise, a lifeboat would have to be on board. But what about Marcia? "That''s ......." From Jeremy''s and Buckarth''s hesitancy, Jin guessed that there was no means of emergency propulsion. "That''s dangerous. ......" I don''t mean to assume that there will be an accident, but I am worried about it. "No, we''ve been getting back on time so far!" Jeremy follows up, but this only makes him more worried about his late return. "Jin-dono, Marcia is at ......." Rodrigo is also worried. Then Reiko spoke up. "Do you know about the ocean currents?" And the answer came back. Ocean currents?Ocean currents?...... No, I don''t know. "The ocean only waxes and wanes, doesn''t it?" Jin heard this and was surprised. Jin was shocked to hear that. There is a warm current that starts near the equator, passes near the peninsula where the Elias Kingdom is located, and flows northward through the sea area where the Kunlun and Horai islands are located. However, the current is twisted by the islands located further south of the equator, south of the Elias Peninsula, and the current is so weak that it cannot be felt until just around Io Island. However, east of Io, where Marcia is thought to have been heading, the influence of the warm currents increases sharply. In other words, there is a warm current flowing from south to north in the waters around Io, where Marcia was probably headed. "If she was swept away by this thing ......" Even Jin''s Arrow would have a hard time navigating an 8-meter ship against the warm currents. And with a drive mechanism that would not allow the Arrow to reach its full potential. Jin had a bad premonition and jumped out of the boat without saying a word. 699 - - 21-11 Marcia in distress There is an uninhabited island named Io Island in the eastern part of the southern tip of the Elias Peninsula. This island is used as a turnaround point for the annual Golem Boat Race. There is another uninhabited island further to the east, called Tru Island. Marcia has been testing the new ship from the beginning of December from her base on the island of Trieu. She had been doing this all along in order to experience firsthand the stability and comfort of the open sea, and to improve where improvements were needed. "There''s hardly anyone going beyond Io, Arrow, so we''ll be careful!" "Yes, Miss Marcia." The Arrow, improved by Jin, speaks fluently and is now Marcia''s assistant in both name and reality. "I heard that in other countries, they are building ships larger than 30 meters. I can''t lose to them, can I? With these words in her mouth, Marcia steers the ship. At one point, she is working on improving the rudder. "Well, the rudder doesn''t work very well. Maybe we should increase the rudder area a little more. At other times, she reviews the balance of the hull. "If we use both hulls for storage, one empty and the other full, it will still lean a little. ....... I guess I need to think about how to stack them." And at other times, he makes improvements to the cabins. "Well, at least I can take a nap. Then I''d like to be able to fold down the backs of the seats. ......" Thus, Marcia repeatedly tested the new ship and improved its maneuverability, load capacity, and comfort. "...... is, oh, I''m sure Jin would get it done in no time." It will take some time for Marcia to fix it by hand. Recently, Bacchus has been helping her, which has made things a lot easier, but it is still a world of difference from the time when Jin was around. "Yes, this is a passing grade! After several revisions, the test run was completed. Finally, Marcia was satisfied with the performance. The maximum speed is 20 km/h. The payload is 3 tons. Capacity for two people, four in an emergency (except for Golem''s Arrow). Marcia is happy and, as usual, goes to the island of Trieu and anchors there. The stars are beautiful tonight. The waves are calm. I think I''ll make a break for it and report back to the mayor ...... or maybe even the lord." Marcia, covered with a blanket and leaning back in a chair in the cabin, was soon asleep, looking at the sky through the window. It was the morning of the 25th when something unusual happened. There is a sea-dwelling monster called a Bowall. They resemble whales, the largest of which can grow up to 20 meters long, and the average size is 10 meters. They mainly live in the northern seas, but on rare occasions, some of them migrate southward on the ocean currents. They then return to the northern seas. They are gentle demons (basically, they consume only free magic element (ether)), but when they see a large floating object, they mistake it for an enemy and have the habit of striking it with their bodies. One of them was migrating to the vicinity of Tru Island. At dawn, it meets up with Marcia''s new ship as it leaves Tru Island for Potrock. The bowsall that emerged from the surface of the sea was enormous. It quickly disappears back into the water. "Whoa!What is that thing? "Lady Marcia, it''s a demon!Let''s get out of here! Marcia is startled, Arrow shouts. Arrow puts everything he has into the pedal. But alas, the drive is far too fragile compared to the one Jin had built. Both of the belts that drive the water wheel have broken. There was no time to replace them. "Marcia, I will push," says Arrow. Arrow says. He decides that he has no choice but to get in the water and push the boat. "Oh, yes. Arrow, please!" At this point, Marcia realized that in order to go out to sea, she should have anti-demon weapons and a backup propulsion system, but it was already too late. And the eight-meter ship, even the Arrow, was a little too big to push around. "Whoa!" Bowall''s body slammed into the ship. Even though the ship was a new model, it was basically made of wood, and could not withstand the force. "Whoa!Arrow! Lady Marcia!" The stern section of the ship was blown off by the first body blow. Naturally, the Arrow is also thrown overboard. The second blow shattered the entire hull. Marcia was thrown into the air and fell into the sea. She suffered a laceration on her right thigh from a piece of the hull. The impact and the pain caused her to pass out. Calmed by the crushed floating debris, Bowall left the area as if nothing had happened. Although the Arrow is waterproof, it is not designed for underwater use. Arrows made of ordinary materials have a specific gravity much greater than that of water. This means that the Arrow will sink by itself. Furthermore, the left arm was broken by the first body blow, and seawater entered inside the Arrow. This caused her to lose even more buoyancy and she was submerged in the sea at a depth of several tens of meters. Meanwhile, Marcia was still in the water. She was bleeding from a laceration on her right thigh and was swept away by the current, turning the surrounding sea vermilion. Fortunately, the laceration was rather shallow and the bleeding stopped little by little. It is also fortunate that he clung to a large piece of debris unconsciously when he fell into the sea, thus avoiding drowning. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Portoa town. Jin runs out of the store and goes behind the building. Of course, Reiko is with him. Jin takes out a manacam from his pocket and contacts the old man. Reiko puts up a barrier around him to prevent his voice from leaking out. "Mr. Oo-kun, I would like to confirm something. How is the covert task force (SP) that was attached to Marcia? and are staying behind this time. They should be near where My Lord is now. "Well, I knew it. ......" He could not follow Marcia out to sea, let alone on land. "You were late in equipping the force field generator ......." If she had been equipped with a force field generator, she would have been able to fly or go underwater and secretly follow him, but there is no point in saying that now. "That would be ......." Jin thought that if Arrow was with him, if he could locate Arrow, he could find Marcia, and that''s when he thought. "Arrow! Reiko spotted Arrow coming out of the water. It had been about four hours since they had encountered Bowall, and they had walked 60 kilometers back to the bottom of the sea. He had decided that with his damaged body, he would not be able to swim around and search for Marcia, so he came back as fast as he could. "Creator(s),Jin-sama ......" Arrow crawled ashore and collapsed. "Reiko, take Arrow ......." Jin was about to say, when Rodrigo, who had come outside looking for Jin, appeared. Reiko quickly releases the barrier. "Jin-dono!That golem! "Mr. Rodrigo ......" Reiko holds Arrow in her arms and Jin returns to Marcia''s workshop. "This is ......" "It''s the Arrow!What in the world? Naturally, Jeremy and Buckaroo were astonished. The Arrow, which should have been able to answer them, was malfunctioning due to overwork. Jin decides to give it some first aid. He opened the chest, poured out the seawater that had gotten inside, and washed it with fresh water. After drying it well, Reiko gives him some mana. The consumption of mana temporarily exceeded the output of the ether converter, and the internal magic circuit was stopped. "Thank you, Creator." Arrow acknowledged Jin and thanked him. "Don''t thank me. What''s more important is what''s going on?Where''s Marcia? "Yes, Marcia is at ......." Arrow told the whole story. 700 - - 21-12 Search Team "What!Marcia is in ...... distress!" Hearing Arrow''s explanation, Rodrigo kicked his seat, got up, and was about to run out to the front. Jin stopped him. "Mr. Rodrigo, please calm down. "Jin-dono, how can you be calm? My daughter is lost!I don''t even know if she''s alive or dead! My daughter? My daughter? Jeremy and Buckles are astonished to hear her cry. "Oh, I know this is a bad time, but Rodrigo is Marcia''s father. ......Better than that, ......Okay!" Jin goes to the back of the workshop and calls Bacchus. "Mr. Bacchus, do you have any golem materials in your workshop?" "Huh?Yes, well, a little. ...... Let''s see it!Let''s see it! Surprised by Jin''s swordsmanship, Buckarus leads the way to a half-underground storage room at the back of the workshop. This is where he keeps his precious materials. "Ah, there''s a bronze. ...... what''s this?...... Leather of the Death Serpent!It''s useful. And the Magi Crystal!Okay, this is good." Jin took out the materials he needed, and had Reiko help him take them out. "Arrow, I''ll fix it." He said no, and stopped the Arrow once again. He then started to repair it as fast as he could (...). He built the skeleton of the broken arm, attached the magical muscle, and wired up the magic nerves. An auxiliary magical element converter (ether converter) was installed to increase the output to 1.5 times. Finally, the entire system is maintained. The whole process took less than 10 minutes. Rodrigo, Jeremy, and Buckles are watching, their mouths wide open. "Okay, <>" "Yes, Mr. Creator." "Arrow, how are you feeling?" "Yes, very good. Thank you very much. Hearing this, Jin nodded. "All right, Arrow, can you use Cygnus to get to the area where you were lost?" Yes, of course. "Yes, of course." "Okay, then drive Cygnus as fast as you can and go find Marcia. There is a very weak magical connection between Arrow and Marcia. Jin decided to bet on it. "Yes, sir." Of course, Jin was going to do his best. Reiko, call the old man and have him dispatch the Mermaid team and the Air Force. The Air Force will not use invisibility, but search from high above. (The Air Force does not use invisibility, but searches from high altitude. Thus, Jin gave instructions to the Horaijima team and then started his own search. First, Jin instructed Reiko and Arrow to gently lift up , which was standing as a signboard in the front of the workshop, and floated it into the sea. He has already confirmed that it is not out of shape. "All right, Arrow, go!" Jin ordered Arrow. "Ji, Jin-dono, am I not allowed to ride in the boat?" Rodrigo asked, but Jin shook his head. "No." Rodrigo asked, but Jin shook his head. < is a two-seater. If Arrow gets on and rescues Marcia, we will be over capacity. "I see." Rodrigo is dejected. But Jin speaks to him. "Mr. Rodrigo, let''s hurry back to the guest house. Then get on my airship and search from the sky. "Oh!That''s the way to do it! Rodrigo, now reinvigorated, is ready to run. Jin turns to Jeremy and Bacchus and gives them instructions. "When I find Marcia, I''ll come back as fast as I can, so just stay here. "Yes, sir!" Jin gave these instructions because he did not want to be disturbed by too much unnecessary work. "Come on, Mr. Rodrigo, let''s go." "Yes!" Jin and the others start running. Jin''s cells were activated, and if he wanted to, he could show superhuman physical strength by strengthening his body. Reiko, needless to say. Rodrigo, on the other hand, is an ordinary middle-aged man. "Fuu,fuu......" Within five minutes he is out of breath and his speed has dropped dramatically. "Reiko, it''s a hassle, carry him." "Yes, father." "I''m sorry ........." "Oh, my God!" Reiko picked up Rodrigo. Jin starts to sprint. At a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. Unlike Reiko, Jin is a flesh-and-blood man and could not run any faster than that in the city. Still, they completed the distance of less than 8 km in about 15 minutes. After passing through the gate of the guest house in a hurry, Jin and the others went to the courtyard where the airship was fixed. In the courtyard, the steward, who had been informed by the old man, was waiting for them, ready for take-off. "Thank you, Mr. Rodrigo. Mr. Rodrigo, let''s go!" "...... ah, ah..." Rodrigo looked half out of his mind as he was carried by Reiko and sped across the ground at a speed he had never experienced before. Still, the thought of going out to look for his daughter brought him back on his feet. When a guard came out to ask what was going on, Jin said, "I''m going to rescue a man lost at sea," was all Jin said. He told the guards that he was going to help a man lost at sea, and took off. The airship flies at a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour in normal flight. 60 kilometers takes 36 minutes. Meanwhile, Arrow''s Cygnus is also speeding along at nearly 50 kilometers per hour. The time difference and the speed difference are just about right. "Marcia, where are you ......!" Rodrigo, more worried about his daughter than thrilled to be flying for the first time, keeps looking down at the sea. Jin had instructed the old man to dispatch the Mermaid team from Horai Island by transporter as backup personnel. They passed Io Island and approached Tru Island. "It should be around here that we got lost. ......" Nothing is found from the air. Not even the Cygnus, driven by the Arrow, is to be seen. So, it must have been swept away by the ocean currents. ...... In contrast to Jin''s calm assessment, Rodrigo''s eyes are bloodshot as he peers over the surface of the ocean. "Marcia!" Rodrigo''s usual mild-mannered demeanor is gone. He was about to fall off the gondola, and Jin instructed Reiko to tie a lifeline around Rodrigo''s waist. Jin then turned the airship to the north. They kept moving for five minutes. "There is ......!" Rodrigo, who had been looking down, pointed and shouted. It was indeed . To his surprise, there was a figure that looked like Marcia on board. Arrow had successfully found his master, Marcia. Jin''s bet on the magical bond had paid off. "You''re good, Arrow!" Arrow looked up at the airship in which Jin and the others were flying and waved his hand. "Your father made her, my sister." Even Reiko looked proud. Perhaps Reiko was also recalling the memory of how she had once traveled around the world to find Jin. <. "......It''s definitely Marcia, isn''t it?" Reiko, using her eyesight, identified the person on the <>. Jin brings the airship closer. He is sure it is Marcia, but her right leg is covered with blood and she seems to be unconscious. She may be in danger if she is not treated as soon as possible. And then... "Marsyer!" Rodrigo, who had somehow untied his lifeline, jumped out of the gondola of the airship and into the sea. He was still about 10 meters high. It happened so fast that Jin had no time to stop him. 701 - - 21-13 Peace of mind Diving from a height of 10 meters can cause damage and in the worst case, even death, if not done properly. Rodrigo was no exception, hitting the water and passing out. "......I know how you feel, but it''s a pain in the ass. ......" He should have lost a little more altitude before he fell. Rodrigo did not have any knowledge of high diving, and he was genuinely concerned about his daughter, so I guess it was inevitable. Anyway, Jin checks on them as they drop further down in altitude. < and Rodrigo floating on the sea. Both of them seem to be unconscious. Marcia, in particular, appears to have a serious injury on her right thigh, her face is bloodless, and she looks dangerous. Reiko, help them up this way. "Yes, sir." Reiko, who had a force generator, was able to carry them into the gondola without any danger. "I think Rodrigo is just knocked out. More importantly, it''s Marcia." The laceration on the right thigh seems to have stopped bleeding, but the long immersion in the water, even with the warm currents, seems to have caused hypothermia. "......Maybe we should just do first aid and let Erza take care of it." Erza, who had been trained by the famous healer Sally Mireshan in addition to the knowledge from Jin, now surpassed Jin in the field of healing. So Jin sterilized her with sterilization and closed the wound with recovery as a first aid measure. "Arrow, you did a good job. Jin praised Arrow with open arms. He had found Marcia before anyone else on Horaijima. "We''ll take care of Marcia here. Tell the people in the store not to worry." Jin tells Arrow to return as well. He also reminds them not to worry about Jeremy and Bacchus. "Okay, Mr. Creator," he says. "All right, let''s go home as fast as we can." The airship gains altitude. The airship starts to run. "Let''s use the force field generator too." Fortunately, with Rodrigo knocked out, the airship can reach its maximum speed. We also use the wind shielding to reach a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, which is beyond the safe limit. This allows him to fly the 60 kilometers from the distress site to the city of Potrock in less than 20 minutes. Once land is in sight, the speed is reduced to about 30 kilometers per hour, and the plane lands in the courtyard of the guest house. Guards, clerks, and maids of honor gathered in the crowd. Among them were Reinhardt and Elsa. Judging by the time of day, they must have finished their official duties by now. "Erza!" Jin called Erza as soon as they landed. "Jin-brother ...... the person in distress is ...... Marcia-san!" "Yes. We''ll talk more about it later. I need you to take a look at him right away. I''ll tell you more about it later. < I''ll take a look at him first. "...... arteries are intact. But his pulse is low. Body temperature is low. I would consider heavy bleeding, mild hypothermia, and the onset of hyperkalemia." Hyperkalemia can be caused by several factors, but in this case it appears to be due to the effects of hypothermia and the leaching of intracellular potassium into the blood due to the severe injury. Symptoms include arrhythmia and muscle weakness. We need to get him some medical attention as soon as possible." "Okay. ......, please give us the room to treat him." Reinhardt made a request to the officer present. The request was quickly acceded to and Marcia and Rodrigo were brought into the building. "First of all, you need to warm yourself. After saying these words, Elsa put her hand on Marcia''s body and used her own healing magic. "<>" With this, Elsa warmed Marcia''s body as a whole. Elsa prepared a sucking cup for Marcia to drink from Horaijima, which had been prepared for emergency use, in order to replenish the water she had lost due to the blood loss. Since there was nothing suitable, I asked him to prepare a lump of silver and formed a sucking cup by <>. We filled it with warmed Persian juice and gave it to Marcia to drink a little at a time. This is to replenish water and nutrients and at the same time warm the body from the inside. After these procedures, Elsa performs a healing spell. <>" This is the highest level of internal healing magic. This restores the functions of the internal organs weakened by the low temperature. As one would expect, the lost blood does not suddenly return, but Marcia''s blood color has visibly improved nonetheless. "<>" After treatment for hypothermia, a detailed examination of the laceration on the right thigh is performed. "...... It''s ok. As I said before, no major blood vessels or nerves are damaged. Brother Jin''s first aid was also appropriate." "That''s good to hear." Jin, who had given first aid, was also relieved. After checking the wounds, Erza applied a healing spell. "<>. It is an intermediate level surgical magic. The reason why she used intermediate level magic is that the wound was too large, and if it was healed all at once, it might leave a scar or prolong the pain due to the misalignment of the adhesion points. Therefore, Elsa repeats the healing process while checking the healing of the wound. This is a very considerate and careful care for Marcia, who is a woman. "<>...... now, you will be fine." The wound healed beautifully, leaving no scar. Marcia''s sleeping face became peaceful, although she had not regained consciousness yet, probably because she was free from the pain of her wounds. Meanwhile, Rodrigo, who had fainted after diving into the water, was still unconscious. "<>......!" After examining him, Elsa was surprised. "...... subluxation of the lumbar vertebrae, cracked ribs......" "What? The injury was more severe than she had expected. "Probably from the impact of being slammed into the water. Fainting is concussion. ...... There seems to be no brain damage, so I''m sure they''ll figure it out soon. " "......I''m so relieved." Jin sighed now that more people had been injured. "Jin, thank you for your hard work. "Ah, Erza, thank you too." Then Reinhardt came in. "Well, it looks like you''re all fixed up. I just reported to the Marquis. The Marquis has graciously offered me this room for my stay. "That''s very kind of you." Meanwhile, Rodrigo seems to have woken up from his stupor. "U...... mal...... shea......" He is a good father to worry about his daughter first and foremost. "Mr. Rodrigo, you are reckless. You hurt your back and cracked your ribs, didn''t you?" Rodrigo scratched his head in horror as he got up from the bed. "No, I''m sorry. I was just a little upset when I saw my daughter. ......And how is she?" "She''s fine. She''s all fixed up and she''s sleeping next to me." "What? I turned in the opposite direction from Jin and the others and there she was, my daughter. "Ma......" Rodrigo swallows his words as he realizes just before he shouts out. (......Lucia......) He gets out of bed and stares at her sleeping face. There were big tears in his eyes. "He will wake up soon, I think. Until then, please watch over her gently. Erza said and pushed Jin and Reinhardt out of the room. "Marcia ......" Rodrigo, the only one left, gazed at the sleeping face of the daughter he had dreamed of and wept silently. 702 - - 21-14 Father and daughter The sun has set and night has fallen. In a room of the guest house, Marcia was still sleeping comatose, and Rodrigo was watching over her. Suddenly, Marcia, who was still sleeping, leaned forward. "Ummm........." Rodrigo looked at his daughter''s face. "Ha,ah......" Marcia''s eyes opened and a sigh escaped her mouth. But her gaze is still fixed on the girl. "This, this is ......." After two or three blinks, his eyes finally seemed to focus and his gaze became clear. "...... Marcia." Rodrigo called her name in a mumbled voice. "...... what?" Marcia slowly tilted her head to look at the owner of the voice. Her eyes widened. "...... father?" Rodrigo nodded. Marcia closed her eyelids. "Ha-ha-ha-ha ...... what, a dream?" She mutters to herself in a self-deprecating tone. "...... I''m not ready to be on my own yet either. ......" "Marcia." Rodrigo calls out to her again. Marcia opens her eyes. Just then the door opens. "...... Oh, Marcia, you noticed." "...... Jin?" Marcia looks at the young man who enters, and again her eyes widen in surprise. "Marcia, how are you feeling? "......Elsa......?" "Oh, good, you noticed." "......Reinhardt,......, I guess it''s a dream after all,......." Seeing Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt''s faces, Marcia thought it wasn''t real. "Marcia, you were saved." "...... what?Reiko?" Marcia''s consciousness became clearer this time when she saw Reiko''s figure near the bed. "So, are you really ...... there?" Marcia sat up in bed with slow movements. "Marcia." Rodrigo held out his hand toward her, trying to help her. But... There was a resounding "bang! Marcia slapped Rodrigo''s hand. "What the hell!Why did you come back after all this time? "Marcia ......" She turned her back to Rodrigo and looked down, her shoulders trembling. "......I''m sorry. I know it''s not enough to apologize. I''ve done terrible things to you and to your mother. But I need to apologize." Marcia did not reply. "Marcia, your father has stopped drinking and gambling and is now a shipwright. Jin, who couldn''t help but notice, interrupted. "That''s right. I was involved in the construction of the Shoro Empire''s new ship, the , and I was part of its maiden voyage to the Potrock. Reinhardt also offers his help. "He had a physical breakdown. But now he is healthy. I wanted to see you." Erza, in her own inadequate way, provided some support. But Marcia still didn''t look up. "......" A moment of silence passes. Eventually, Rodrigo let out a sigh. "......It''s good to see your face. You must hate your father like this. With these words, he turned to leave the room. A voice called out to him. "...... wait!" Rodrigo stopped. Marcia looked up and, in a voice that sounded as if it were squeezed out of the pit of her stomach, she shouted. "Do I hate you?Of course I do!" His eyes filled with tears. "I hate you!How can you not resent me?You left ...... me and ...... your mother and ran away!When I wanted ...... you the most!" "......" Rodrigo closed his eyes and listened to Marcia''s bitter words behind his back. "Idiot! ......" His angry voice turned into tears. "Marcia ...... sorry." Rodrigo turned around, stumbled to his feet, put his hands on Marcia''s bed, and hung his head. "It''s too late to apologize, ......." At the sound of Marcia''s squealing voice, Rodrigo looked up and faced his daughter. "Idiot, idiot, idiot!Why didn''t you come home earlier? "I''m sorry. ......" Marcia patted Rodrigo''s breastplate with a warm, forceful tap. "...... but ...... welcome back ............ father." With a tear-stained face, Marcia said with a slight smile. "......I''m home,...... Marcia." Rodrigo, with tears streaming down his face, gently held Marcia''s head in his arms. The two left the room, taking care not to make a sound. "......Good." Erza took a deep breath and mumbled those words. "Yeah, that''s good." Jin nodded. "We are father and son after all. Erza was right. Reinhardt also said sincerely. "In a little while, we should bring them something light to eat. Finally, Reiko said something very natural, which made Jin and the others smile with a wry smile. "Oh, yes. What would you like, Elsa?" "Well, Persian juice and barley porridge would be good. Jin and Elsa smile at each other. The moon shines brightly in the sky, as if wishing the best for the father and daughter who have finally made peace. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Marcia''s workshop. "Yes, Marcia, you are safe! "Thank God, thank God. I''m glad to hear that. Jeremy and Buckles were also relieved to hear Arrow''s report. 703 - - 21-15 All the world is fine. The next day, Jin, accompanied by Elsa, visited Marcia''s workshop. Reinhardt still had official duties as a full ambassador. "Ah, Jin-san, is that ...... also Erza-san, by any chance? Jeremy, who was cleaning the front of the store, noticed Elsa and his face flushed. "Yes, I''m Elsa." "I knew it!I''m so excited!" Taking Elsa''s hand, Jeremy jumped up and down. "...... what?" "I was watching the Golem boat competition!The dead heat with the manager Marcia!I can still see it in my mind''s eye! Yes, yes. Jeremy''s high-spiritedness is making Elsa a little bit nervous. "Hey, Jeremy, what are you doing ...... in front of the store, Miss Elsa? Buckarus notices Jeremy making noise in front of the store and comes out to the front. Then he notices Elsa. "Erza-san! It seems that Buckarus was also a fan of Elsa''s. Fearing Buckarus, who was sniffling a bit, Elsa hid behind Jin. "Well, I''m here to explain about Marcia..." "Oh, I''m sorry!Please, come in!" Jin, Elsa and Reiko are ushered inside. "...... and so, he''s in pretty good shape now, but we''re going to keep him quiet for the rest of the day to take care of him." Jin explained. They had heard from Arrow yesterday that Marcia was safe, but they seemed to be even more relieved when they heard the specifics. "I see, thank goodness. ......!" "Erza-san uses healing magic too, doesn''t she? Buckles'' eyes seem to be taking on a dangerous gleam again. "So, what happened to Arrow and ? Jin wanted to check on them, since they must have pushed themselves too hard yesterday. "Oh, in that case, you can go to our dock. ...... right across the street." Jeremy pointed to a dock facing the sea. It was a dock facing the sea, which was dedicated to shipbuilding, so they must be building ships there. "Okay, I''ll go take a look." "Okay, I''ll have a look." "Me, too." Erza, who had been feeling uncomfortable, followed us. "Here''s ......." The dock was small and spacious, large enough to accommodate up to a 10-meter boat. Usually, several boats are built in parallel. The was tied up at the very front, and Arrow was there. "Ah, Mr. Creator!" Arrow noticed Jin and stood up, bowing to him. Arrow, thank you for your hard work yesterday. Marcia is safe. She will be back tomorrow. "Well, thank you very much." How are you feeling? Jin was concerned because he knew he was pushing himself too hard. "Yes, my leg joints are a little rickety. "Of course. ....... Okay, I''ll think about it. Let''s start with . Arrow had cleaned up the seawater and Marcia''s blood. Jin mainly checks the drivetrain. "......Yes, everything is fine." Elsa also checked with him and was surprised at the robustness of the machine. "......When I look at it now, I can see how great Brother Jin has made it. No wonder Lorelei lost." Elsa, who has mastered magical engineering, now understands how ridiculous < is. "Well, Arrow can''t do it here. So Jin devises a plan. He goes back to the store, and meets Jeremy and Buckles, "I''ll be back soon. I''ll take Arrow to take care of Marcia. They agreed without question. The two men agreed without question. They were relieved to know that while Arrow was gone, < and of the Covert Task Force (SP) would be protecting the store without being seen. Jin and the others, including Arrow, did not return to the guest house, but headed for the warp gate hidden in the sea-eroded cave. The group transfers to Horai Island. Naturally, this is the first time for Arrow. "So this is the creator''s base? "That''s right. Most of my brothers and sisters were born here." Reiko, the eldest daughter, explained. It''s kind of funny. Jin leads Arrow into the workshop. "Okay, let''s stop for a moment." Jin then disassembled the Arrow. "Well, we can''t let this happen again. ......" Even though <> and <> were attached to the Arrow, they would not (or could not) accompany it to the sea, so Jin decided to improve the functionality of the Arrow itself. The basic equipment is the standard equipment of Horai Island. The skeleton is made of 64 light silver, and the joints are coated with adamantite. Magical Muscle is the same as that of the Covert Maneuver Force (SP). The power reactor is replaced with a magical reactor (Magi Reactor), and a force field generator (force generator) is installed, albeit a small one. This will allow the robot to swim freely underwater, let alone fly. To support Marcia, a little engineering magic is also available. Specifically, about a quarter of the abilities of a <. The current craftsmen (smiths) have been improved to about 70% of Jin''s ability, so even a quarter of that is definitely more than an average magecraftsman (magecraftsman). In case of emergency, he has added armaments. Equipped with a barrier projector and a paralyzing gun (paralyzer) so that he can act as an escort. For anti-monsters, <> and <> can be used. Improved to be able to use healing magic up to intermediate level in case of injuries. A manacam is also built in, so that it can report to the old man in case of emergency. Finally, the improvement is completed by applying the countermeasure against <>. The exterior of the device will remain as before. Though, I have applied <> and <> on top of each other. "That''s good." Jin, can I talk to you for a second? "Yes, what is it?" Erza, who was watching nearby, seemed to have something to say to Jin. "I think it would be a good idea to standardize the Golems of Horai Island as well. He suggested that they be classified into ranks such as combat use, escort use, and general use, and that the parts and materials be classified accordingly. "Jin sometimes does crazy things on his own initiative," he said. Jin seemed to be aware of this and could not help but laugh at his closing words. "That''s right. We can''t set an upper limit, but we can set some standards. Jin agreed. "We don''t have time today, but we will decide soon. You will help me, won''t you? "Yes, of course. Elsa nodded. For now, there were other things to do, so Jin, Reiko, Erza, and Arrow returned to the potlocks. "Oh, Arrow." After lunch, Jin took Arrow to Marcia, who was recovering at the guest house. Reinhardt is also joining them in the afternoon since he is free. Marcia was already feeling much better and was getting out of bed and walking around. "I heard the Arrow found me, thank you." "No, that''s what I do." No, that''s what I do." Arrow bows. Marcia saw this and tilted her head. "What?Arrow, you''re acting differently, aren''t you?" Jin is surprised at Marcia''s intuition. She is surprised at Marcia''s intuition, or maybe it is the strength of being with her every day. "Yeah, I pushed you a little too hard yesterday, so I fixed it up. I also made some improvements, so I guess that''s why." Reinhardt''s cheeks trembled at the mention of "a little improvement," perhaps because he knew what Jin''s "a little improvement" was. Marcia, on the other hand, was completely oblivious. "Oh, I see. "Oh, I see. Thanks, Jin!...... Well, we have a lot to talk about." "Me too. We''ll have a lot to talk about today. Finally, Jin felt that he had arrived in Potrock. That day, Jin and the others talked about the many things they had to talk about until nightfall. 704 - - 21-16 New Years Day schedule For the next two days, Jin spent time at leisure in Potrock. He felt bad for Reinhardt, who seemed to be busy as a full ambassador, but he enjoyed swimming and went to greet the proprietress of for the first time in a while. Erza, who is not as busy as Reinhardt since she is the deputy ambassador, was in a good mood since she could spend about half of her time with Jin. Marcia also returned to the store, although she was not yet able to work as hard as she used to. She took Rodrigo with her and introduced him as <>. Jeremy and Bacchus were surprised when he told them that they would be working together from now on. Nevertheless, since Jin had told them beforehand that he was the designer of the catamaran, they seemed to accept him easily. From now on, father and daughter would run the workshop together. "Sir Jin Nido, may I have a moment of your time today?" On the morning of December 29th, after breakfast, the Marquis of Florenziano approached Jin. "Yes, I''m fine. Jin replied. "Sir Reinhard Randall and Elsa Randall, too." "Yes, I understand." Since none of the three had anything urgent to do, they decided to go with the Marquis to his office in the guest house. This is the room where the Marquis of Florenziano, the lord of the estate, holds his office when foreign dignitaries, such as ambassadors, visit the estate, and can also hold short ceremonies and receptions. I will begin by informing you of my business. The marquis held up a document in his hand for Jin and the others to see. "We have received a request from the Kingdom of Klein to support Topopo, including its recipe. It seems that the advice that Jin and Erza had given to the King of Klein when they had gone to treat his illness had been effective. This information was probably a consideration of the fact that Jin had received an honorary knighthood from the Kingdom of Klein as well. Reinhardt and Erza are present because they are friends of Jin. "However, considering the distance between the kingdoms of Elias and Klein, and the situation of the roads, ......" Reinhard muttered with a difficult look on his face. "Yes, really." There are two kingdoms, Egelea and Cerroa, sandwiched between the kingdoms of Elias and Klein, and to make matters worse, there are no roads between the kingdoms of Egelea and Klein. "So the idea was to use ships." "What?" Even if we transported them by ship, there is no sea in the Kingdom of Klein. Jin thought that even if they landed in the former Leonard Kingdom, where the distance was the shortest, it would be extremely difficult to transport them. Reinhardt and Elsa seemed to think the same way and looked at him with a difficult expression. However, the Marquis''s words made the scales fall from the eyes of the three of them. "Use the river. "...... Oh!" A river. In other words, they were to use the Naudaria River, the great river that flows along the border between the kingdoms of Cerroa and Egelea, to go north. The Naudaria River divides into the Asur River and the Torres River south of Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Cerroa. If you continue up the Torres River until you reach Lake Cedrolia, Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, is just a stone''s throw away. There should be no waterfalls or fords along the way, so boats should be easy to navigate. Jin vaguely imagined that the problem would be the propulsion system, which would only propel the boat against the current of the river. Roughly calculated, the boat would have to sail a long distance of 600 km. Food and water would be minimal, since coastal towns could be relied upon. However, since it is a river and not an ocean, a shallow-bottomed boat may be more advantageous. The total length is less than 10 meters. Dozens of vessels will sail in a row. ....... Jin had been thinking about this when the voice of the Marquis brought him back to himself. "...... we in the province of Xaus intend to place great importance on this trade for the future. I would like to ask the three of you to advise me on ships that can be used for this trade. With these words, the Marquis bowed his head. "I have already spoken to the Shoro Empire during our regular contact the day before yesterday. I would appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Reinhardt and Ms. Erza. And Jin-sama, please contact us at ......." "Yes, of course." Without letting the marquis tell everyone, Jin readily agreed. "Thank you very much. I think the honorarium will be sufficient. The Marquis Florenziano made a proper distinction between business and official business. * * * * After the conversation was over, everyone relaxed over a cup of kuhe. The Marquis was the first to speak. "By the way, what are your plans for the New Year? Today is December 29th. According to the custom in the Lesser Antilles, the 30th and the 1st of January, the New Year, are off for official business. The actual official work will start on the 3rd, since the 2nd is for meetings and so on. "......I''m going back to Kaina village." Jin''s answer was obvious. "I see. What about you two?" "......I,......" Erza glanced at Jin with a slight blush on her cheeks. Jin noticed her gaze and answered on her behalf. Erza is with me." The Marquis was a little surprised by this answer, but did not show it on his face. Then he realized the significance of the ring on Elsa''s left ring finger. "Well, that''s what it means, isn''t it? That''s nice." "I''m thinking of taking Reinhardt with me." Jin replies for Reinhardt. "Of course, I''ll be back in the morning of the 3rd. Of course, I''ll be back in the morning of the 3rd," he adds. "I see. Jin-sama''s airship can do that, can''t it? The marquis is convinced. In fact, Jin is thinking of sending Reinhardt back to Bertsche secretly through the warp gate, or else he is going to call her. Reinhardt sensed this and said nothing. "Okay, I understand. So you will leave this afternoon?" The Marquis is very attentive. In fact, there was no need to rush, since he could use the warp gate on the airship, but it would be bad to let his concern go to waste. Yes, if you would like. "Yes, of course. The Marquis nods his head smilingly. < will indeed celebrate the New Year here in the Potrock. After the talk with the Marquis Florenziano, Jin, Reiko, Elsa, Edgar, Reinhard and the others went to Marcia''s store. "Ah, Reinhard!Thank you for coming!I wonder if ...... is the wrong word to use?" Reinhardt laughed at Marcia who had just said something like that. "Haha, don''t worry about it. I would be happy if you treat me as a friend." "Oh, really?Thank you." "Oh?Mr. Reinhardt, I see you''re here too. Rodrigo came out from the back of the store. "Hello, Rodrigo. I''m glad to see you. "Yes, thank you for everything you''ve done for us." "No, no, no, it was nothing serious." The conversation was friendly. Seeing the smiles on Marcia''s and Rodrigo''s faces, Jin was glad to see them. "Rodrigo, you are getting off the ship, aren''t you?" "Yes, I am sorry, but my home ...... is here." Rodrigo answered Reinhardt''s question with some trepidation. But Marcia, behind him, looks pleased. The captain has already given his permission. Thank you, Ms. Jin, Ms. Erza, and Mr. Reinhardt, for all your help. Rodrigo bowed deeply. Jin stopped him. "It''s okay. Marcia is my friend who participated in the golem boat competition with me. It''s only natural that I should help my friend''s father. "Thank you, Jin. Elsa, Reinhard. I thank you too. Marcia, who had remained silent until now, bowed her head to the three of them. Even though it was the middle of winter at the end of the year, the wind in Potrock was somewhat gentle. 705 - - 21-17 New Years Eve in Kaina Village December 30, the last day of the year 3457. Jin had returned to the village of Kaina with Erza. "Come to think of it, this is the first time I''ve ever spent the New Year''s holiday with a conscious thought. Yes, because of Count Walter, Jin had evacuated from Kaina village to Hourai Island, and the year had ended while he had been making golem maids, making glider golems, and mapping the island. "I''m sure we''ll be able to celebrate New Year''s properly this year." Here in the village of Kaina, it seems that the year-end event is that the villagers come to the village chief''s house to greet the new year in turn. This year, they would come to greet Jin, the lord of the village, so Jin decided to devise a variety of ways. He prepared a banquet at Nido Castle. He invited Barrow and Behrle from the house of Leuthart. He called on the Jin family, but Reinhardt chose to spend time with his beloved wife Bertsche, and Toa and Stellina wanted to be alone together. Vivian was interested in the New Year holidays in Shoro, and she was going to stay with a new friend of hers. I wondered if Saki would come, but it seems that she will be staying with her grandfather, the Marquis Theoderic. So the family, Jin, Erza, and Meine, will spend the New Year''s Eve in the village of Kaina. Jin-sama, we are ready. "Yes, thank you." It was almost dark by now, and many kotatsu were set up in the hall of Nido Castle. The heating element was a magical device similar in structure to a magic stone stove. Even Jin did not have enough time to make a kotatsu. On top of the kotatsu was a basket of citrons. < somehow. A cat golem had also come and curled up. The rest of the room is filled with foodstuffs and sake that Jin has purchased from all over the Kogun region, making full use of his ample financial resources. The guests are invited to eat and drink as they please. As one would expect, we do not intend to impose even New Year''s buckwheat noodles on the guests, but we have prepared noodles as well. Thanks to the diligent work of the five-colored golem maids brought in from Horai Island, preparations were made in a short time. The stars began to twinkle in the sky, and the people of Kaina Village began to gather in groups. "Oh!Jin, it''s been a long time! "You''ve been busy!I''m going to have a lot of fun tonight! "Jin, and Erza, I''m glad to see you''re getting along so well! The villagers come to Jin at the entrance of Nido Castle, sometimes calling out to Erza as well. By the time it was dark, almost everyone had gathered. I say "almost" because the wives of the families with newborn babies had not arrived. "Thank you all for coming. It was about time for Jin to face the assembled villagers, climbed up on the platform at the back of the hall, and began to speak. The people who had been murmuring were now as still and attentive as if they had been drowned in water. "Today is a New Year''s Eve banquet, so we have prepared many things for you. For those who have left their families at home, we have some souvenirs, and you are welcome to take some of the food home with you." Jin said this to a round of applause. "That''s Jin! "That''s so generous!" But when Jin opened his mouth once again, the light talk stopped. "Well then, let''s cut the long story short. Thank you all for your hard work this past year. I look forward to working with you again next year. With these words, Jin stepped down from the stage. There was applause and cheers, and everyone said, "Good job! >>and "Best regards! >>and "Good luck! Then it was time for drinks and food. "Oh!This sake is delicious! "This meat has such a wonderful flavor! This fruit is so sweet and delicious. Jin was sitting around the kotatsu with Martha, Meane, Hannah, and others. Hannah was on his lap, Erza was on his right, Meane was on his left, and Martha was in front of him. Reiko and Edgar are sitting right behind Jin and Elsa, respectively. "Jin, thank you for your hard work this year. Martha said to Jin, "Thank you for your hard work this year. "Thank you very much. But actually, Reiko, Elsa, and others around me have helped me a lot. These were Jin''s true feelings. He would never have been able to carry out the plan by himself. "Hmm, that''s all right. We all can''t do much on our own. Martha said and smiled at Jin. "Don''t you have something more important to say than that?" Martha looked at Jin and Elsa alternately, her eyes searching. "Yes, yes, well. ...... Well, you see... I''m engaged ...... to Elsa." Martha was not very surprised to hear this. "Finally. Congratulations, Jin and Elsa. "Thank you very much." "Thank you very much ......." Jin and Erza thanked each other, blushing a little. "Oh, you and Erza are going to get married, aren''t you? This is Hannah. "I promised I''d be your bride, you know. ...... Seeing Hannah looking a little disappointed, Erza dropped a bombshell. "Hannah, I''m sorry. I''m sorry, Hannah. ...... But Jin is a lord and a nobleman, so he can have as many wives as he wants." Is that what he really meant or was he just being natural? Either way, a smile returned to Hannah''s face. Jin''s smile is tight, but Hannah, who is on his lap, can''t see it. "Really?So, onee-chan and I can both be your wife? "Yes." Jin and Martha smile at her words, thinking they are meant to comfort Hannah, but Meane, her own mother, can only smile, knowing that they are meant to. (This girl is ...... well, I guess it doesn''t matter as long as they like each other. ......) Since Jin and Erza are not concerned about such things, or rather, they are rather indifferent, it might work out surprisingly well, Meane thought, and let out a sigh inwardly. Reiko also listened to Erza''s words, and she also renewed her recognition that there was such a way of thinking. * * * * * * * * * * * * As night fell, the assembled villagers varied: some went home, some got drunk and slept on the kotatsu, and others continued to drink deeply. At midnight, the moment the day changed, the bell of the hour, which is located in Nido Castle, was rung once in high spirits. The bell is rung three times a day, once in the morning, once at noon, and once in the evening, but this time it was rung at midnight as well. Those who heard the bell would have known that the date had changed. "By the way, the date changes at midnight, doesn''t it? Jin was thinking about such a trivial thing while listening to the sound of the bell. "What do you mean?" Elsa, who was standing next to him, asked. Hannah had already fallen asleep and Martha had taken her home in her arms. "What?"Yeah, in my world, they used to change the date to the sunrise or sunset. "Sure, I can see it, so I can understand it. "But it changes slightly from summer to winter. On the other hand, the time in the south, or noon, remains the same all year round. And its opposite, midnight." "That makes sense. If the calendar is calculated properly, it makes sense." Meane looked at them as they continued their conversation, which had nothing to do with s*xiness, and announced with a sigh, "I''m going to bed. "I''m going to bed. Jin-sama, Erza, good night. "Ah, good night." Good night. The next thing I knew, Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Edgar were all alone in the hall. It was almost dawn. Jin urged Erza to leave the kotatsu and went up to the top floor of the keep. Reiko and Edgar are waiting one floor below. "This year ......, or is it last year already? A lot has happened, hasn''t it?" "Hmm. I met Jin, we raced, we traveled, I was ...... kidnapped, and he saved me." "I met ...... Beena, I met Marcia, I met Erza, I met Reinhardt, ...... I met a lot of people." "Why did you call ...... Beena''s name first?" Erza''s tone was a little sultry. If you look, her face is a little red. She seems to be drunk. Jin remembers now that he had just cut off the operation of the antidote. "Hmm?It''s just the chronological order. It can''t be helped because it''s true. Erza had no choice but to shut up when he said that. "I understand. But this year, look at me first." With the help of her drunkenness, Erza said bold words that she would never say in normal circumstances. "Oh, yes. Elsa is the best woman for me. Jin blushes after saying this. Erza nodded in satisfaction and closed her eyes. Jin moved his face closer to kiss her. The two of them looked at each other with the dawn light. "Happy New Year, Father, Erza-san! Reiko came and wished them a Happy New Year. Jin and Elsa quickly left the room. "Ah, ah, Happy New Year, Reiko. I wish you a happy new year. Yes, of course, father. "Happy New Year, Reiko." What kind of year will 3458 be for Jin? 706 - - 21-18 Kaina Village New Year "Wow, that''s fast!" "Kyaaaah!" "Let''s go!" The children''s cheers echoed through the plaza of Nido Castle. While the adults were having a New Year''s Eve feast, the children were excited to welcome the new year. "Phew! It''s so cold! "Wow, it''s in my stomach!" What are the children doing? The children are playing with sleds on a makeshift slope made from snow gathered in the square. They ranged from one- and two-person sleds to five-person sleds. The children were playing with sleds of different colors and designs, choosing the sleds they liked best. "Oh, I''m thirsty," "I''m hungry," "I''m thirsty," "I''m hungry," "I''m thirsty. "I''m thirsty," "I''m hungry," "I''m thirsty," and "I''m thirsty. And if they were thirsty, they would drink hot tea or moderately cold juice. If you are hungry, there are snacks such as baked april and oshiruko (sweet red-bean soup). If you get sweaty, the golem maids will wash your clothes for you while you sweat it out in the underground hot springs of Nido Castle. It is a playground that offers everything you need, such as ....... "Onii-chan!" And Hannah was also playing with a red jumper that Jin had given her. "Come here, big girl!" "Okay, let''s go!" "Come on, Elsa and Reiko!" Yes, Hannah. Okay, let''s go. Jin and the other four climbed into the sled, which was large enough for five children. The slope was 20 meters high, with an average slope angle of 30 degrees. "Let''s go!" Hannah, Hitoshi, Elsa, and Reiko sat down in the sleigh. It resembled a snowboard in shape and was made of flexible GS (ground spider) P (plastic). The width of the sled is about 30 centimeters. If they put their feet on the snow, it would act as a brake, but all four of them do not do this. "Kyaa, that''s fast!" "Wow, it goes faster than I thought it would! The GS (Grand Spider) P (resin) is stain-resistant. In other words, the coefficient of friction is low, so it slides well on the snow. The sleigh slides down the 50-meter slope and stops after 30 meters of sledding. "One more time, little one!" "All right." Jin carries the sled up the stairs built on the backside of the slope. He''s getting stronger these days, even without strengthening his body. Reiko, give me a little boost with the force generator.) Yes, Father!) Before placing the sled on the snow and sitting down, Jin gives instructions to Reiko. "All right, let''s go!" This time, the sleigh goes about 30% faster than before. "Wow, that''s fast!" Hannah is excited. This time, after sliding down, she slides about 60 meters down ....... "Whoa, that was close!" She stopped just before falling into the Ermee River. Of course, Reiko, sensing the danger, used the force field generator to stop her. If she fell into the river, she would not be able to get away with it in the middle of winter. "That was a close call. ......" "Hmm." "But it was fun!" Jin and Erza patted their chests, while Hannah looked unconcerned. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Then, they invite the children to a snowball fight. The children were divided by the that Jin had taught them. Jin''s call is . As for Jin, he was pitted against Erza and Hannah. Reiko is not allowed to participate in the game, and is asked to watch over the game. The rule is that the first one to capture the flag (made by Jin in a hurry) placed at each position wins. Ten golem maids are assigned to each pair to make snowballs. The snowballs are not too hard, not too brittle, and large enough for a child''s hand. They are to hit each other with these snowballs. Jin provided gloves for all the participants. They were made of leather imported from the demon territory, and were warm with fur inside. "Let''s begin!" Reiko shouted, and the children began throwing snowballs in unison. "Bloop! It''s cold! Kurt, a mischievous kid in Jin''s group, jumped out of the way, aiming at the flag. Naturally, the snowballs were concentrated. "d*mn!I can''t lose!" But he couldn''t take the concentrated fire from more than 10 kids. "Remember me! He decides to make a tactical retreat. "Ah, ah, ah ...... ah, it''s cold." Kurt comes back into position and shakes the snow off his body. He looks like a little dog. "Whoa!Here comes Mario!Come on, guys, get a shot!" Mario, the son of Rock, zigzags his way around, making it harder to get a good shot. But... "Too bad." No matter how much he tried to blind them, his target was the flag, so the closer he got, the narrower his range of movement became. "Psst!d*mn, it''s coming back!" Mario also retreated. "Now ...... Erza! Somehow, Erza runs straight into him. Of course she''s a target. She''s bigger than the kid, so she''s an easier target. "...... Kya!" "That''s it!Go for it, go for it, go for it!" "...... p,p,p......" In the blink of an eye, snowballs are thrown at Elsa''s hair, face, chest, stomach, hands, and feet. Immediately, Elsa''s body was covered in white snow. "Ha-ha-ha!" The children were relentless. When Elsa stops dead in her tracks, more attacks are made on her. Elsa is now a snowman. Jin''s hands have indeed stopped. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees something red. "Oh, Hannah! Erza was a decoy. She had concentrated her attack on Erza''s side, and Hannah, who had made a wide turn, had come running toward the flag. The Jin camp was distracted by the concentrated attack on Erza and was slow to react. Jin was the first to notice her and hurriedly threw snowballs at her, but they were easily evaded. "Oh, Hannah-chan! "No, no, this way!" By the time the children realized it, Hannah was within five meters of the flag. The snowballs are concentrated on her ......, but she doesn''t stop. No, her speed had slowed down a little, but she was able to dive and slide in the last meter to capture the flag of the Jin team. "Yes! She was beaten! The victory was decided. The Jin camp has lost. "...... won!" Erza, who had become a snowman, blurted out. * * * * "...... come back to life. After the snowball fight, everyone warmed up in the underground hot springs of Nido Castle. Erza, who was covered in snow up to her back and pockets, soaked in the hot water and let out a small sigh of relief. "It''s so warm, isn''t it, girl! Hannah came up to her. "Yes, it feels so nice. "Erza-sensei, you have such nice skin!" Elsa, who still occasionally teaches the children, was called by some of the children. Children in the village of Kaina are a little more wheat-colored than Elsa, probably because they play outside and help out in the fields. Erza''s fair skin makes her the object of admiration among the girls. She says, "Hey, hey, Sensei, I''m going to be a lady soon! "Yeah, it''ll be fun." "Yes!" The baby rush seems to continue this year due to the improved environment since Jin''s arrival. "Babies ......" Elsa pats her belly. "......" Of course, it is not swollen. "Someday, me too." And then she thinks of her future child, whom she has not yet seen, and she realizes that she is turning red, but no one notices the change in her because she is in hot water. 707 - - 21-19 Penglai Island No. 1 Naturally, the New Year also comes to Horai Island. Jin and Erza, who spent a happy New Year''s Day in Kaina Village, came to Horai Island on the same night. Happy New Year! Happy New Year! The golems, under the leadership of the master of Horai Island, greeted the two of them. "Ah, Happy New Year. I look forward to working with you this year. < "Since it''s the New Year, I''d like to talk about my ambitions for this year. "First, I would like to make the Kun Lun Island my official territory." "What do you mean?What do you mean, Brother Jin? Erza''s question is obvious. The only people who know about the Kun Lun islands are Jin and the Jin family, and I don''t think any other known power can come in and take them. "Oh, by ''officially,'' I mean, to have the nations recognize it." > That is correct. Originally, the island of Kunlun was developed as a dummy for Horai Island. It was supposed to be where Jin and Jin''s master lived. "That''s what I mean. But before we discuss that, let''s talk about our other goal. < "I want to rebuild the old Kingdom of Leonard, and I want to appoint Ernest and Lys as King and Queen." The old man seems to have a good understanding of Jin''s plan. "Understandable. Then, since Kunlun Island is to the east of Leonard''s Kingdom, there probably won''t be a territorial problem if Jin''s brother helps to establish Leonard''s Kingdom." This time Erza gave the correct answer. "Yes. Besides, we can build a road between Klein and Egelea without passing through the Kingdom of Selroa." < The more we know about the problems we need to clear, the easier it will be for the old man to move. "Yes. First of all, at the beginning of the year, there will be a move from the Kingdom of Klein to investigate the former Leonard''s Kingdom. > to help us. "Oh, my brother?" It was Elsa''s own brother, Fritz, who was responsible for leading the <> from the Shoro Kingdom to the Klein Kingdom to bring <>. Roland had visited the former Leonard Kingdom several times as a merchant, so he was entrusted with guiding and negotiating with the locals. However, the fact that he recruited civilians shows a lack of human resources. "And there was a resistance organization in the Franz kingdom, wasn''t there?" << "Yes, that would be nice. For example, we could accept such malcontents as citizens of the Leonard Kingdom when it is rebuilt. "You could say that. Then Jin continued. "The rest is just details, so it''s not quite the same as aspirations. "But let me hear it." Jin replies to Elsa''s request. "Oh, about the management of materials and environmental considerations..." "Do you care about ......?" Erza is talking about the usage of materials in Horai Island, which she pointed out when she made <>. "A little, yes. But, well, I think most of it was necessary, so I don''t think it was a waste. ...... His voice got a little quieter towards the end. "So, for those, I''d like to do more research on free magical elements (ether). "...... why?" "In my world, energy depletion is a problem. The free magic element (ether) was also drastically reduced by the "ether stampede," so it seems that it is not an inexhaustible supply. Jin and his group are now using it as they like as a non-polluting energy source, but he was beginning to think that if it were to run out, the very foundations of this world would be shaken. < "Yeah, that''s certainly a good trend. > "Yeah, that''s certainly a good trend. Then why is there more in the north and less in the south?We don''t even know this." "Then why don''t you ask 700672?" . He is an artificial life form created by the mage , the so-called . He is the oldest being in the world of Ars where Jin and the others are now. "Well, to be honest, I think it''s shameful to ask just because I don''t know, and I don''t think it''s a good idea to become dependent on them..." "Father, isn''t this time special?It''s about the very foundation of this world." Reiko offers her advice. The old man agrees with her. "Hmmm, I see." Reiko and the old man said to Jin, and he glanced at Elsa''s face, and she nodded. Jin''s mind was now made up. "Okay, okay. I''ll go there now." We know where the 700672 is. It is in the White Room, inside the ship that will never fly again. Jin has maintained it and installed a warp gate, so we can go there immediately. "Brother Jin, take me with you. It is thanks to the 700672 that I was cured of my excess of magic power. "Okay, okay." So Jin took Persica juice as a souvenir and went with Reiko, Elsa and Edgar. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......This is ......<>......" The warp gate is located in front of the white room. When I shifted, I was greeted by craftsmen (smiths) 32 and 33 who maintained the warp gate and were examining the <>. They were here in shifts. "Welcome, master. "Good day. Is there anything unusual? No, sir. "I see." After a brief exchange of words, Jin puts his hand on the door of the white room. The door slowly opened in recognition of Jin. "...... Jin-sama?" Standing on the other side of the door was a white girl named Neige. "Ah, Neige, it''s been a long time. I''m here to see your father." "Yes, come in. It''s been a long time, Mr. Leco. Who''s that at ......? Neige stiffened a little when she saw Elsa and Edgar. "She''s Elsa. And that''s Edgar." "Elsa and Edgar?" "Yes." Elsa nodded. "I am cured, thanks to your father. I wanted to thank you for seeing me once." Neige''s face broke into a smile. Her mood suddenly improved. "Yes!Yes!Father, father!" Neige calls her father a little louder toward the back of the room. Apparently, 700672 has recovered from his bedridden state. "What''s wrong, Neige?...... Oh, isn''t that you, Mr. Jin?" It''s been a while. 700672 walked slowly from the back of the room and looked happy when he recognized Jin. "Welcome, welcome. I have something to show you." 708 - - 21-20 Reunion, Teaching, and Gift "You want to show me something? You want to show me something?What is it?" At Jin''s words, 700672 smiled. "Don''t be so hasty. Can''t you introduce me to the woman who accompanied you?" Jin scratched his head. "I''m ...... Elsa. This is my fiance." The 700672 moved his eyes slowly over Erza from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. The look was not unpleasant. "Hmm, when you once said that you are a good apprentice, an excellent healer, and an important family member, you were referring to Erza-dono, weren''t you?" "Brother Jin! Erza was a little flustered as the unexpected words came out of No. 700672''s mouth. "Hmmm, it seems so. ...... hmm, <> is healed. The circulation of magic in your body is extremely good. "Yes, one came to thank you for that. "Thank you very much for ......." Jin and Erza went to the 700672 and bowed. "No need to thank me. We are indebted to you, Jin-dono. That''s one of the reasons I''m able to walk around like this. Neige was smiling as she listened to the 700672''s words. "Oh, and let me introduce Edgar. He is the first automata created by Elsa. "Wow, it''s amazing that she made such a great automaton for the first time ......." "Well, that''s because my brother Jin''s guidance was good." Erza is a little embarrassed. 700672 does not crack a smile, No, that''s not all. No, it''s not only that. It''s your talent that you have been able to achieve this level of finish without skimping on any details. He concluded. Reiko was talking with Neige. No, actually, Neige was talking one-sidedly. "Father, you''ve gotten so much better since then. "I can walk now!He even strokes my head a lot! The other day he made me some clothes!" Reiko listens to these things and continues to listen to them. "That''s great, isn''t it?" "Yes!So, ......." With the two of them still together, Jin decides to tell 700672 the purpose of his visit. "I am interested in what you can show me, but I came here today because I wanted to ask you about the free magical element (ether). "Oh, the free magical element (ether). What do you want to ask me about? Jin then explains that he is concerned about the depletion of energy. "Hmmm...I see. That is a problem in your world. So the same thing will happen to free magical element (ether), is that right? Yes, that''s right. If it were something else, I would take my time to study it and figure it out, but I thought we shouldn''t leave this problem unattended. "That''s a good point. I''ll let you know." Then No. 700672 motioned Jin to come to the table in the back. Erza followed. Reiko and Neige, who were talking amicably, were left alone. The top of the table seemed to be a kind of magic screen. When No. 700672 moved his finger, a figure was drawn on it. There were a big circle and a small circle. "Well, the first thing I can say is that the free magical element (ether) is a particle that is located between matter and energy. Jin was ignorant of quantum mechanics, so he could not explain the suggestion, but he could understand it somehow. "They are small enough to enter the atomic structure of ordinary matter, light enough to be moved by mental waves, and easily transformed into different energies. They are small enough to enter the atomic structure of ordinary matter, light enough to be moved by mental waves, and easily transformed into various energies. From all this, we have concluded." "I see, that makes sense." Jin nodded. "Good. We have not been able to prove it either. We have only verified the phenomenon, and have destroyed other hypotheses. ...... Well, that''s all there is to it." Then he pointed to the figure displayed on the table. "First of all, where does the free magical element (ether) come from? It is here. The 700672 pointed to a large circle. "The ...... sun, right?" Yes. Free magic element (ether) is produced by the reaction inside the sun, along with light, heat, and various electromagnetic waves. Jin heard this and felt that one of his concerns had disappeared. "So you mean..." "Yes. So we don''t have to think about depletion. Once the sun is gone, there will be no more supply of free magical element (ether), which means the end of the solar system, and not just the depletion of resources. "It looks like we''ll be okay for a few hundred million years, doesn''t it?" "Yes. My masters have been using the free magical element (ether) as much as they can, but there has been no sign of depletion. Jin was relieved inside. "Well, next." No. 700672 pointed to a small circle. The larger one is the sun, and the smaller one is this star, Ars. The free magical element (ether) produced by the sun is dissipated into space with light and heat. Some of it comes to Ars." Jin nodded silently. "I believe that the structure of the planet''s interior, the substances and elements it contains, and its rotation attract free magic elements (ether) at the North Pole and exclude free magic elements (ether) at the South Pole. I see. "I assume that the free magical element (ether) attracted to the North Pole is compressed inside the planet to create magical crystals (magi crystals). I couldn''t confirm this," said a somewhat disappointed-looking 700672. "I see. ......" Although disappointing, it is not an obstacle to Jin''s future. Now we know why there are so few free magical elements (ether) in the Antarctic region. "This hypothesis, too, could be wrong. But what Jin wanted to know, and what was at hand, was the origin of the free magical element (ether). "So, you are saying that the free magical element (ether) is created by the sun, is attracted to the planets, and fills our surroundings. "That''s right. There is no doubt that it is created in the sun." His words completely dispelled Jin''s fears. "Brother Jin, that''s good, isn''t it?" Erza also looked relieved. "Just hearing that makes my visit worthwhile. Jin bowed his head. "Well, I''m glad I could be of service. Then 700672 began to explain what he wanted to show. "I told you about the transporter when you helped me get rid of the Dexiconai before, didn''t I?At that time, I remember that you reacted as if you did not own one." A transporter is a device that can send or recall an object to or from a predetermined location by placing a marker on it. Jin''s transporter can send an object to an arbitrary location without using a marker, but it cannot recall it. "So, I have assembled the latest model. If you want, I would like you to analyze it and apply it." The fact that he says <> instead of "use it" shows that he understands Jin very well. No. 72. "Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Jin accepted it. He then offered the gift he had brought as well. "I''m a little late, but I brought you this. Seeing the Persica juice, No. 700672''s face broke into a smile. "Oh, thank you very much. I don''t generally need to eat, but this is very helpful. I feel better for a few days after taking it." Apparently, this is one of those things that cannot be synthesized, even though it is 700672, because it is derived from plants. He immediately takes out a bottle of 700672 and drinks it down. "...... well, it works well after all. Thank you." After taking a breath, 700672 resumes his conversation with Jin. The ideal is a transporter that can transfer itself to any location, but we have not been able to develop such a transporter. "Oh, I see. I''d like to make one myself. The idea is to be able to transport oneself, that is, a . If we could do that, space exploration and space travel would be a dream come true. "Well, when we traveled through space over the years from Hale to here on Ars, our masters have been working to develop such an engine for some time now, but we have been unable to ...... achieve it." A little sad, 700672. "...... but my (our) masters have lost their old appearance, so perhaps it was not unreasonable. Hearing this, Jin felt a little depressed, wondering if it was still impossible to create a warp engine, at least not by extending transporter technology. 709 - - 21-21 Possibilities Jin was a little depressed to hear that even No. 700672, or rather its masters, could not create a , Nevertheless, he decided to speak his mind. "......Will you listen to my theory?" The 700672 nodded in response to Jin''s words. "Of course. I do not have much creativity like my masters. Memory and assistance are my roles. As a homunculus, No. 700672, like the automata and golems created by Jin, is not as creative as humans, It seems that, like the automata and golem created by Jin, the 700672 has superior memory but inferior creativity compared to humans. "The warp gate, the transporter I am using, and the transporter. These basically connect two points in space, right? That''s right. "My guess is that it''s a spatial tunnel between the two points. The 700672 responded to these words. "Hmm, interesting. How did you come to that conclusion? "Well, I think there are several ways to move an object between two distant points A and B." Nodding his head, 700672. "1, move the object at a very high speed. 2, move the object by connecting A and B spatially. 3, decompose the object at A and recompose it at B. 3, decompose the object at A and recompose it at B." "Oh, that third one, can you do that?" No, it''s a method from my world of fantasy novels. No, it''s a method from a fantasy novel in my world. No, it''s a method from a fantasy novel in my world. It involves disassembling an object to eliminate its mass and then transporting it long distances in the form of energy and reconstituting it at the destination. ...... "In my world, there were words like <>." The 700672 is impressed. "Mm, indeed. If our masters are still alive and well, I wonder if one day we will be able to do such a thing. Jin and No. 700672 talked about the topic for a while, but Erza was concerned about her inability to say a word, Jin called out to her. "Erza, it''s not interesting for you to listen, is it?" "No, it''s not that. Just listening to her is beneficial. "Well, that''s all right then." "haha, Erza-dono is making Jin-dono feel better, isn''t she? "Yes. ......" Erza blushes a little. Jin and No. 700672 then decided to return to the main topic. "I think the warp gate is the second way, isn''t it?" "Hmm, you mean connecting the two points you mentioned at the beginning with a spatial tunnel. "Yes." In this case, the tunnel, its entrance and exit, is three-dimensional. In other words, you can think of it as the relationship between a black hole and a white hole. "I have realized that the receiving side of the transition gate (warp gate) serves as a marker for the exit of the tunnel. The transporter is designed to send objects out even without a receiving side." No. 700672 clapped his hands in admiration. "Excellent. Your ideas are as good as those of my masters. "So, here''s my guess..." "Well, let''s hear it." 700672 leaned forward. "When sending out, the transporter creates a tunnel across the space between the current location and the destination. This tunnel is a subspace, so to speak, separated in time from the space we are in. "Well, why do you mean temporally? "Well, first of all, being a tunnel, there must be a between the entrances and exits, but it is possible to send an object to its destination with almost no passage of time." No. 700672 nodded repeatedly, "Please continue." He said to Jin. "The fact that there is a <> and no passage of time due to the movement of the object means that time here is not the same as time there. This is a familiar idea in modern Japanese science fiction novels, manga and anime. However, this did not seem to be the case with No. 700672, who looked impressed. "Hmmm ...... such an idea ...... but it makes sense if you think about it that way ......." Jin continued his explanation. "The starting point of my theory is that even though it takes almost no time, a little time must have passed. "Yes, and?" "Even if the energy supply is cut off after the tunnel is built, the tunnel should still exist for a very short time. If you jump into the tunnel you''ve created, you yourself can travel through it. ....... That is the concept of the ." "Excellent!" The 700672 stands up excitedly. Neige, Reiko, and Erza look on in surprise. "No, I''m just excited because your theory is so brilliant. The 700672 sits back down. "By that logic, it certainly seems possible, doesn''t it?" "Yes. Yes, but there are a few problems. First, how do we jump into the tunnel we''ve built? "I guess so. When you jump into the tunnel, you have to stop making the tunnel. Then you have to jump in a very short time before the tunnel disappears. "That''s what I mean." Jin nodded in agreement with No. 700672. "Perhaps the time to jump in is very short?" "Yes, about a millionth of a second. 710 - - 21-22 1 Year Goals On the morning of January 2nd, Jin woke up at 8:00 a.m. Horai Island time. There is a time difference of about 2 hours and 20 minutes from the village of Kaina, so he has enough time to see Hannah. He eats breakfast prepared by Reiko with Elsa, who wakes up rubbing her sleepy eyes. The menu consists of white rice, miso soup with fried bean curd and okara, dried plums, grilled dried horse mackerel (or similar fish), and hojicha green tea. "I''m sorry, but I couldn''t make zoni because I couldn''t find glutinous rice." Zoni is a New Year''s dish, and the rice cakes essential for it cannot be made with glutinous rice, but with glutinous rice instead of the Uruchi rice that the people of Japan eat. The starch in glutinous rice is highly viscous when cooked, which is essential for making the rice cakes. By the way, glutinous rice is written as <> and <> refers to a crop that contains no or very little amylose (a type of starch). "No, this is my favorite food," Jin said. Jin drank the miso soup with relish. "Jin, I like this one too. Erza also liked the miso soup with okara. "That''s good. Okara is full of fiber and good for beauty ......." When Jin said this, Erza''s eating pace seemed to speed up a little. Reiko, who cooked the meal, watched happily as the two ate. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After breakfast, there was still some time left, so I went to ask the old man how he was analyzing the transporter he got from <<700672> yesterday, and he made an interesting suggestion. He made an interesting suggestion. "Yes, let''s hear it." <>? >> "I see. ......" The magical brain that Jin has created, Lao-kun, sometimes comes up with ideas that even Jin would not come up with. That is, after all, a proof of his extraordinary ability. "Indeed. You can say that you have realized a in a pseudo way. The key to the transporter, the azimuth measuring instrument, is the same as the <>. The distance between the two measuring instruments increases the accuracy at a distance, because it uses triangulation. "Wait a minute.If the marker has the function of <>, we can see what is happening at the destination. This is effective in terms of safety, as it allows us to know if the destination is correct and free from danger. "It would be interesting to experimentally put this on something." <<< Shall we build a large aircraft, a Condor 4? >> "Yes, that''s right. Yes, you can try it experimentally. If we can build a warp engine, it will make travel even easier. Jin thought that this method was also interesting, even if it was pseudo. * * * * * * * * * * * * At the scheduled time, Jin, Reiko, Erza, and Edgar moved to the village of Kaina. On the 2nd, the village of Kaina was back to its normal life, without any of the excitement of New Year''s Day. (I wonder if modern Japan has too many vacations. ......) Jin looks at the villagers and thinks about such things. In the village of Kaina, which has no concept of holidays in the first place, everyone thinks that life as usual is the best. "Onii-chan! Hannah ran up to me. Except for the children. Since their lives have become easier, they are now free from helping out at home and can spend more time for playing and studying. Since the study session starts on the 4th, the so-called three days of the week are winter vacation, so everyone was playing happily. "You were making snowmen?" "Yes!Look at this!" Hannah''s snowman was made in the Japanese style, i.e., two snowballs, one large and one small, stacked on top of the other. The face is made of black stones. "Oh, it''s very well done!" "Hey, this is my grandma and this is my grandma''s grandma. This is Reiko and this is Elsa. And this is me." Five snowmen of slightly different sizes stood in a circle. Jin patted Hannah on the head, "Good work. Aren''t you cold?" He patted Hannah on the head and said. "No, I''m fine. I have a glove that my grandma gave me. The gloves made of rabbit fur keep out the cold and moisture. He wears boots made of snow tiger leather on his feet, by the way. Hannah and the other children of Kaina village, who are naturally tolerant of the cold, were all flying around with full of energy. The good times fly by. It''s almost noon, and it''s time for Jin and the others to go out. "Bye, honey! Hannah sends Jin off with a smile. Jin vows to do his best this year to keep this smile on his face. * * * * * * "Mmmm, a 40-meter ship! Richard Valois de Cerlois, King of the Kingdom of Cerlois, was outraged upon hearing the report. On December 12, off the coast of Koup in the Kingdom of Celuloa, the story of the passing of of the Shoro Empire and of the merchant Ecarte Tecles reached him. "Is there such a huge ship in practical use that even our own Royal Kingdom of Selroa''s military does not have? The great rivers Asur and Torres flow to the east and west of the capital city of Esia, and the giant lake Lake Asur is located in the north. The Kingdom of Cerroa was not allowed to lose in shipbuilding to any other country because of the pride of the king. "Immediately, make a national plan for the construction of giant ships. This year will be the year that my Kingdom of Cerroa will reign over the nations. In the Kingdom of Cerroa, the king''s orders are absolute. The First Secretary of the Interior, Lambreaux, immediately called a meeting to discuss the project. What about the budget? What about manpower? Will it be built in ...... Lake Asur? No, then how would it be transported to the sea? There is the Asur River and the Naudarya River! After much debate, it was decided to build a dock at Lake Asur and to collect the best magecraftsmen and shipwrights. Temporary taxes are also levied, and the people''s discontent grows. However, no one admonished the king for fear of offending him. Then... "Father, this plan is too hasty! The first prince, the Dauphin, was the only one who complained. Cesar. Do you have a complaint? Richard, the king of Celuloa, looked down at the prince from his throne and opened his mouth. "I am not dissatisfied with the plan itself. I am not dissatisfied with the plan itself, but I think you are being too hasty.Impatience leads to oversight, and oversight leads to accidents. But the king snickers. "Hmph, do you really believe in our magical technology so much? "It''s not a matter of belief. It is better to be a little less worried. "You have a point. But think about it. The prestige of our country is more important than some vague fear. Do you really think we can remain defeated by the private sector, let alone fall behind the Shoro Empire?" The Dauphin turned his head down, but quickly looked up and countered. "No, it''s not that we''ve lost, but rather that we should show that even the private sector has this much technology, don''t you think? "Well, that''s an interesting idea. ...... Kupu is under my brother''s jurisdiction, is it not? I will inform Alan and commandeer the ship of that merchant named Ekarto or something. Commandeer. That is to say, the state will requisition them. Father!That''s not good for the people! What are you talking about? This land belongs to the crown. The people who live here belong to the crown. What''s wrong with bringing what belongs to you? "Father, ......" "Cesar, if you are to be the next king, remember this. The trick to a prosperous kingdom is to know when to let your people live and when not to kill them." "...... Excuse me." The Dauphin Cesar dropped from the king''s presence with a droop. 711 - - 21-23 The things that start to move Back in time, in mid-November 3457, the Shoro Kingdom is exporting 10 tons of desiccant to the Klein Kingdom by five giant golems <, The Shoro Kingdom is exporting 10 tons of desiccant to the Kingdom of Klein. The five walking ahead of the others. He can also deal with wild beasts and other threats. <> was to continue on to the Kingdom of Egelea, if possible, and open up the Klein-Egelea road without the Kingdom of Cerroa. "Line up!" A dignified voice echoed through the plaza in front of the Royal Castle on the morning of the 2nd. <. The captain is Viscount Bernard Nephra Foster. He is the Commander of the 2nd Order of the Kingdom of Klein. He has dark brown hair and light brown eyes. He is 39 years old. He is 39 years old. He is said to be quite capable. He is accompanied by five subordinates, all of whom are more or less independent. The second in command is Gloria Allstadt. She is the vice-captain of the Kingsguard and a master swordsman. She is accompanied by three subordinates. Roland of the Raglan Trading Company is a civilian guide. He was chosen for his experience as a peddler in the former Leonard''s Kingdom. He was also chosen because of his ability to use self-defense techniques to a certain degree. Mister Roland, first we will go to the village of Zeo, is that correct? Yes, Captain. Lastly, Major Fritz Randall and two of his men from the Shoro Imperial Guard. They do not return to the Kingdom of Klein after the successful expedition, but leave for the Kingdom of Egelea. At about the same time, the three countries had agreed that a survey team from Egelea would be sent to the former Leonard Kingdom. "Major Randall, please take care of this." Viscount Foster, it is my pleasure. The five are able to carry food and other equipment, so the team members are quite light. On the return trip, they have to carry their own equipment, but it is not as bad as the outward trip, since the food supply is reduced to half and <> can walk back along the cleared path. "Captain, we are ready!" "Okay, let''s go!" "<>, let''s go! Thus, on the morning of the 2nd, the mixed expedition of the Shoro and Klein Kingdoms departed from the capital city of Alban. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Edgar first went to the village of Kurtz by warp gate. "Happy New Year, Reinhard! "Happy New Year, Reinhard!" "Happy New Year, Jin!" "Happy New Year, Jin! ...... is the greeting from Jin''s place? In Kogun and Shoro, it is common to say <>. "Jin-sama, Erza-san, Happy New Year! Bertsche greeted Jin and the others with a smile. Thanks to you, I was able to spend a few days alone with my husband. "I''m glad to hear that." Seeing Bertsche''s happy face made Jin happy. They all moved into the living room of Reinhardt''s house. "I wish we didn''t have to fool around about the move anymore. ......" Jin muttered as he drank the tea served to him. "Brother Jin, we need to open the warp gate to the public. "Yes, I know. If this becomes common, there is a possibility that the ships, hot air balloons, and airships we have developed will be useless. It would be a very distorted culture. Even Jin can guess that much. That is why we do not open them to the public. "But weren''t they more widespread before the war? Bertsche wonders. "Yeah, but it was still under the control of the government, so they couldn''t use it without permission." This is the knowledge I got from Anne. It was more common a thousand years ago, but what happened during that time is still unknown. "Perhaps it is an energy problem?" Reinhardt said, as an idea came to his mind. "The free magic element (ether) became low due to the "Aether Stampede". ...... Oh, that still doesn''t explain it, does it?" Yes, even in the world before the Aether Stampede, the warp gates were already under the control of the state. "I think it would be a good idea to ...... military problem." Erza''s opinion. She speculates that the control of the Warp Gate was transferred from the state to the military because it can be used for military purposes. Everyone there agreed that this was a strong possibility, and decided to change the subject. "I''m going to try to get to Potrock first thing tomorrow morning, but where should I leave the day before?" "Wait a minute, Jin. First thing in the morning is not right." "Oh, I see. "Oh, I see." It''s not possible in this world that you can stay up all night. It would be easier to explain if we arrived this evening. "That said, ......" It''s only noon in Kaltz village and roughly 3:00 p.m. in Potrock. "Shall we?" Jin was now willing to go along with Reinhardt''s wishes. "Yes, I think that would be good. Hey, Bertsche?" "Yes, my dear. You should not have been able to leave like this. Bertsch says it''s fine. I understand. ...... Reiko, call the old man. "Yes, Father." Since the airship was piloted by Steward and had returned to Horai Island, it was necessary to use the transporter to transfer the airship to a place near Potlock, and then to board the airship through the warp gate. This is a complicated procedure, but it is also for the sake of technological concealment, and thus for the sake of world peace. "It looks like we are ready. Ten minutes later, you receive a call through Reiko. Okay, let''s go. "Good day, sir. We''ll be waiting for your safe return. "Yes, Berthe, take care of him." With the couple embracing and lightly kissing each other, Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Edgar passed through the warp gate one after another and moved to the airship. "From the village of Kaina, it would not be surprising if we manage to get there in eight hours. Since no one knows the actual distance, we will assume that they left Kaina village in the morning. "Come on, Potrock!" At 4:00 p.m. on January 2, Jin and his group stepped on Potrock''s soil again. 712 - - 21-24 Hitoshis Plan "The trigger was the construction of large ships. From now on, ships will develop more and more and will go out to the open sea. If that''s the case, there''s a good chance we''ll find Kunlun Island soon, let alone Penglai Island." "Well, that''s true." Reinhard agreed with Jin''s outlook. Erza nodded silently. "So, if that''s the case, I''d like to have the Kunlun Islands internationally recognized as mine. It''s a small island, and I don''t think it''s impossible. Horai Island is about the same size as Tochigi and Gunma prefectures, and Kunlun Island is about the size of Izu Oshima. He used to think that Horaijima was about the size of Shikoku, but accurate observations from the sky showed that he was mistaken. "Originally, Kunlun Island was a dummy of Horai Island. Jin said with a wry smile, "Now that we''re here, we can finally use it for its intended purpose. "If they recognize Kunlun Island as an offshoot of the east, it will be easier to hide the existence of Horai Island. Well, the illusionary wards will be completed by then." "I see. Jin must have been thinking about it a lot. I see. And if possible, I hope to be able to reveal the existence of a specific warp gate. "But that''s ......." Reinhardt gets a difficult look on his face. As we talked about a little the other day, he is well aware of the implications. "I know what you mean. But we had a little talk yesterday, didn''t we?If the conditions are met, such as being placed under the control of the state, it might not distort the development of transportation technology." "...... conditions need to be considered carefully." "Yeah. But there is a warp gate here in Potlock, and more importantly, Count Kuzma and Beena know about the one in the suburbs of Blueland. No, Beena has used them before." "Sure ......." "That''s why I want the world to know about Kunlun Island and the Warp Gate. Reinhard and Erza fell silent. They must be thinking about how to do it. "Ah, yes, that''s it." The amount of free magical element (ether) consumed by a warp gate is enormous. It is natural because it connects space, but each use consumes approximately 10-12 joules of free magic element (ether), The energy of an explosion equivalent to 1 kiloton of TNT gunpowder is required for a single use. On the other hand, it is too little to open a hole in space, but that is just the effect of magic. Without a very large ether converter or magi reactor, it cannot be used on a permanent basis. In other words, the cost-effectiveness is too poor from the viewpoint of the current world magic technology. Before the "Aether Stampede", it might have been profitable. But I digress. Therefore, even if warp gates were deployed in each country, it would not be something that could be used lightly. "Hmmm...maybe we can work something out along that line..." After thinking about it, Reinhard muttered. "I don''t intend to go public just yet, and there may be a better way. So I need your help." Jin said as if to summarize. Reinhard and Erza nodded their heads. Not right now, but after thinking carefully about whether there is a way to do it that will not affect the world. Jin and Erza agreed. "Of course. I am also indebted to the Warp Gate. I''m always here to help you, brother Jin. Father, I and the old man will gather more information and help you. Thank you, guys. Jin felt that he had a good friend. 713 - - 21-25 Fritz and Gloria Gloria''s survey team from the Kingdom of Klein arrived at the village of Zeo three days later, on January 5. All the heavy equipment was carried by <, so the expedition was well underway. It is a little early in the day, but the team decides to camp here for the day to rest the horses. The team members were working in shifts, setting up the tents and preparing meals. "Captain, tomorrow we will be in uncharted territory. "Well, Gloria, how are your people doing? They are all fine! Bernardo, the captain, inquired about the condition of the female knights, and as expected of Gloria''s chosen ones, there were still no problems. "Well..." said Bernardo. What about Shoro, Mister Fritz?" He is taking good care of us, sir. For the four female knights, including Gloria, this was their first experience of a long march, and Fritz Randle, Major of the Shoro Expeditionary Force, was concerned about them. "Well. Without him and his golem, the march would not have been so easy. Even a warhorse is slowed down if it carries a load other than a knight. However, the giant golem was able to shorten the march by carrying food, water, emergency supplies, and other non-personal items. "Is there any inconvenience, Gloria? That evening, Fritz appeared to Gloria and the other female knights as they were preparing dinner. He was carrying a small bag in his hand. "Hello Fritz, I''m used to it, but my men seem to be a bit puzzled. Gloria, who had been checking the march records with her second-in-command, stopped, turned around and replied. "I see. I''m used to this kind of encampment, but I guess a female knight doesn''t have much experience. He then held out the bag in his hand to his second-in-command. "What is this, Mister Fritz?" the deputy asks as he receives the bag. "It is a tea that has recently become popular where I come from. Unlike the Koohe and Theeje teas, it will not make you light-headed at night. Well, give it a try." "Oh, thank you." The deputy thanked Gloria for her help and with a wave of his hand Fritz went back to his tent. "Well, Mister Fritz takes good care of you. He is a good man. "Yes, he is." The deputy shakes the bag, listens to the sound, and looks inside. "Oh, it smells good. It''s what''s called hojicha. It''s low in caffeine, which means it won''t make you feel light-headed even if you drink it before bedtime. "Shall we drink it tonight?" "Yes, I guess so." Meanwhile, the captain, Bernardo, is having a meeting with his guide, Roland. "So you are sure that there is a village two days'' walk east of here? "Yes. It is probably the descendants of refugees from the Kingdom of Selroa, who make their living by collecting honey. "Hmm, honey." Bernardo had a sweet tooth and inwardly licked his lips at the word honey. "Yes. I think we can still find some citrus fruits this time of year. "I see, that should help with the food shortage a little. And the path is clear? "Yes, there are only a few footprints, but you won''t get lost. The two-day trip was on foot or by wagon. Since we were going on horseback this time, we could shorten the trip to one day. "All right, let''s get some rest early today and get an early start tomorrow. Bernardo is about to leave the tent to tell the whole survey team, when he suddenly stops and smiles. "No, I must calm down a little more." Bernardo found himself a little excited at the thought of finally entering the land of the former Leonard''s Kingdom. The next morning, the group woke up before dawn, had a quick breakfast, and set out for the east. It was around 6:00 a.m. The distance to the village of Ugong was about 80 kilometers. It would take about six hours to reach the village of Ugong, at a speed of a little over 13 kilometers per hour, using the horse gait method called hayashi. The horses will have to rest along the way, and of course, so the journey is expected to take eight hours. Are you all right, Mr. Roland? Yes, I''m fine. Roland is the only one who is not a soldier, and the knights are concerned about him. Roland has experienced forced marching in the peddling trade many times, so he is able to keep up with them. The group moves forward in the morning sun across the reddish-brown earth. Five giant golems lead the way, their shadows long. After two hours, the sun has fully risen and it is getting warmer. "All right, let''s take a break! Bernardo, the leader of the group, gave the order. The group dismounted and drank water. The horses began to eat the grass growing around them. "Well, as Mr. Roland says, this road is a good example of how little fodder is needed for the horses. The area was covered with a kind of grass similar to pasture grass. The grass, which resembles clover, has nectar-filled flowers and is a good source of nectar for the bees. "Gloria, are your men all right?They are more urgent than ever. Fritz, who had been walking with in the lead, arrives. "Ah, Mister Fritz, yes, I see you''re still all right. "Good, that''s good. The horse''s fast walk is different from the normal walk, because it is very bumpy. It can be very tiring if you''re not used to it. Sometimes it helps if you stand up in the stirrups and absorb the shaking with your knees. "Thanks for the advice." And so the group continues on again. The third break is almost noon and lunch is served at the same time. One of Gloria''s men was saying that he had no appetite, probably due to fatigue. Then Fritz shows up. "......Yes, of course. Give her this to drink. He said and held out a water bottle to Gloria. "What''s this?" "It''s april juice, or rather grated. Even if you don''t have much of an appetite, this will help you get through the day." "...... thank you." Gloria thanked the knight and offered it to her knight, who seemed to have lost her appetite due to fatigue and horse sickness. "I''m sorry, sub-commander,...... but I really don''t have an appetite," she said. "I know, but you can''t keep it up if you don''t eat anything. Just try putting something in your mouth." "Yes. ......" The female knight''s eyes lit up as she took a bite of the grated aprs-ski. "...... delicious ......" "Well, if you feel like it, you can drink it all." "Thank you ......." The knight lady drank all of the grated aprs-surprs from her canteen. "Well then, I guess I can make it through another half of the day. "Yes, thank you for your concern. "I can count on you, Mr. Fritz." "Yes, indeed." Gloria muttered to herself, and the adjutant next to her agreed. After a short rest, the group headed east again. A river about 50 meters wide blocked their way. It was the Erme River. The river starts north of the village of Kaina, flows south of Kaina, forms the border between the former Kingdom of Leonard and the Kingdom of Klein, and empties into Lake Cedrolia, south of the capital city of Alban. From there it changes its name to the Torres River and joins the Asur River south of Esair, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa, to become the Naudaria River, which flows into the sea, one of the greatest rivers on the continent of Laurent. "How do we cross it?" Captain Bernardo asked Roland. Roland checked the topography of the area before answering. "Yes, there is a ford a little upstream from here, and you can cross on foot in this season. "I see. I see. I''m glad I brought you. The group went about 200 meters upstream. The river was twice as wide, but the water was shallow, 50 centimeters deep at the deepest point. "Okay, let''s let <> take the lead. "Okay, let <> go ahead of us, so that we can see how deep the water is. Fritz said and went with <> on horseback to the river. The water is definitely shallow. The water was only up to <>''s ankles. "Okay, follow Mr. Fritz!" And so the group entered the former Leonard''s Kingdom. About ten animals appeared before their eyes. They were herbivores with long curly hair, about one meter long. "Oh, that''s a she-pa!Please hunt a few of them if you can! Roland shouted. The herbivore, called a she-pa, looked much like a sheep. "I''ll take care of it!" Fritz, the leader of the pack, mounted his horse and headed for the herd. He drew his longsword and decapitated four of them in a flash. The rest ran away in a panic. "Is that good?" Fritz comes back, wiping the blood from his sword. "Yes, that''s enough!Captain Bernardo, can you drain the blood and carry it away?If we bring the shepherd with us, I am sure he will be welcome at the Wu Gong settlement. Bernardo was not incompetent enough to heed this advice. "Yes, I understand. He orders his men to remove the blood. The bloodstained pelts are washed and cleaned with river water. Goliath carries the extra baggage. We have lost about half an hour, but it is nothing compared to how much smoother the negotiations will be. The group once again set out to the east. 714 - - 21-26 Woogong Village The people of the Kingdom of Klein gasped when they saw how quickly Fritz had slain four shepherds in an instant. Even the female knights, who were a little cowed by his huge frame of 190 centimeters and 96 kilograms, were no exception. "...... Mr. Fritz, you''re so nice!" Gloria giggles when she sees her men whispering such words to each other. It was his longsword that caught Gloria''s attention. Gloria hurries her horse and stands alongside Fritz. She rushed her horse and lined up with Fritz, who immediately asked her about the sword. "Your sword is very good, isn''t it? Fritz took the word "sword" in this question to mean "swordsmanship. "Yes, the knights of the Shoro Empire are very good with the sword on horseback," said Fritz. "No, no, no... ......" "Hmm?" Gloria explained honestly that she was impressed by the sharpness of the sword. "Ha, so that''s how it is. This longsword is nothing special.The one I just ...... slashed it with just a little bit of force." "No, no, but it still has to be very strong or it will bend or break. "...... Is that how it works?" Fritz looks at me as if he doesn''t understand. "Have you never broken a sword before? To which Fritz immediately replies. "No. ...... "What ......?" Gloria is absolutely mortified. Gloria herself has broken many swords, maybe more than a dozen. She has broken them in practice and in combat with magical beasts. But most of them were rather small, or rather low grade swords. I''d like to see the sword later, if you don''t mind. "Yes, of course. Satisfied with this answer, Gloria lowered her horse and returned it to its original position. That is, in the middle of the group. By the way, the leader of the group, Bernardo, was at the end of the line. The second-in-command lined up his horse next to Gloria, who had returned to her original position. The second-in-command, I understand that you are good friends with Mr. Fritz. "Yes, I am.I''m just asking because I''m curious about something. ...... Really? Yes, it''s true. "......, that''s good." Gloria saw a faint smile on the deputy''s face as he said this.Gloria looked at the deputy''s face and saw a faint smile, but did not inquire any further. But she didn''t go any further, because she heard Roland''s voice. "That''s a man from Wu Gong village over there! Two or three figures could be seen in the distance. "I''ll go and talk to them!You all stay here!" With that Roland started his horse. "Wait, I''ll go with you." Gloria followed. She thought that a female knight would be less likely to be seen by the others than a male knight. After running a distance of about 500 meters, they approached a person they believed to be from the settlement of Wu Gong. "It''s me. It''s Roland." Roland stopped Gloria with a hand gesture and approached, himself ahead of her. There were three men there, holding something in their hands. They were holding something they had dug out of the ground. "It''s a hive!" Roland said. Roland said, and the three men nodded silently. They seemed to be wary of Gloria behind them. Roland sensed this and said, "Don''t worry, "Don''t worry. She is protecting me. I assure you. He calms her down. Then he points to the giant golem and knights behind him and explains. "This time, I''m here to check the way from the Kingdom of Klein to the Kingdom of Egelea. Oh, yes, and I have some shepas to bring back to you. Sheepers? Yes, and I have brought many other things with me. Can you show us the way to the village? They explained and quieted her down. Finally, he asked Gloria to leave a message. "Gloria, please go back and tell the captain. These men will lead you to the village. "Okay. I trust you." Gloria turned her horse to look at Roland and the others who were talking friendly to her. The rest of the trip was smooth. The speed was slower than Roland remembered, but the village was closer than Roland remembered, and they reached their destination, the village of Ugong, shortly after 3:00 p.m. "So this is the village of Wu Gong." The group received a reasonable welcome. As Roland said, the freshly caught shepherd''s paw was the key. The population is about 100, all living in wooden houses. The houses are no different from those of the villages in the Kingdom of Klein, except that the construction is a little rougher. The clothes they were wearing, although a little old, were comparable to those of the inhabitants of the Lesser Kingdom. Captain Bernard and the other knights set up their tents on the outskirts of the village and prepared to encamp. is also kept away so as not to be intimidating. Roland immediately went to meet the chief of the village by himself. The chief''s name was Lariag, and he would be 67 years old this year. He said, "Chief, it''s been a long time. "Oh, Mr. Roland, it''s been three years. "It''s been three years." "I guess so. You look as healthy as ever. "Ha, I guess life here is just the way I like it." The conversation begins with such casual remarks, but gradually gets to the heart of the matter. This was Roland''s exclusive territory. "We have two objectives this time," he said. "Well, let''s hear it. One is to build a road connecting the kingdoms of Klein and Egelea. Lariag agrees. "I understand. With the current state of the roads, we can''t connect the two kingdoms without going through the Kingdom of Cerroa. "Yes, that''s right. And the other is to buy food. "What do you mean?What do you mean? Roland had to explain further, since it seemed that he had not understood the meaning of the question. "At the end of last year, the kingdoms of Klein and Selroa had a bad harvest, and the grain they harvested was attacked by mold. "What?" And our food reserves will run out before March this year. Having said all that, LARIOUGH knew what he was talking about. "I see, so you want to get food from us too." "Yes. Well, the first thing is to improve the roads. The kingdoms of Egelea and Elias didn''t seem to have a bad harvest. I understand. We don''t have much in reserve either. "I know that. We would like to buy honey and citrons. "Well, as usual. A little more, I think. "I understand, sir. Thus ends Roland''s role. From now on, the captain, Bernardo, would negotiate directly with them. "I would like to hunt shepherds and send their meat to the kingdom. Bernardo did not speak in a high-handed manner, as he was entrusted with this kind of negotiation. This made Ralyegh open up to him. "Well, please be careful not to overfish. "Yes, sir. Both Ralliague and Bernardo knew that if they over-harvested, their numbers would dwindle and they would eventually have to pay the price. "And now I need someone to guide me to the south." From here Roland would have to turn back with honey and citran. It is no wonder, since he only knows the way to this point. "There is no road to the south, though." Lariag said regretfully. "Yes, that was to be expected. That''s why that giant golem is here. He explains that they can crush shrubs and cut through the forest easily. "We will give you all the food and equipment you need, so if you want to come with us, you really only need to bring what you can carry with you. "Well, it''s worth a trip, isn''t it? The settlement of Ugong would welcome the opportunity to make a new road to the south. Raliag and Bernardo began to discuss the details. 715 - - Conversation in the last month of 21-27 "Phew, I feel refreshed." That night at the encampment in the village of Ugong, the female knights were allowed to take a bath by courtesy of the village. Although the bathtub was small enough to accommodate only about two people, the female knights were in a good mood as they were able to wash off the sweat of the past few days. In addition, they had reached their first destination, so their mouths naturally lightened up. "Hey, isn''t Fritz-sama wonderful? "Yes, he''s very strong!" "I heard he''s still single." "Yes, yes, I know. Should I go for him?" The two young men are having such a conversation. Gloria and her second-in-command, who are older than the two, are silently cleaning the dirt off their bodies. "Gloria, deputy commander!When you are finished, will you go back to your country, Mr. Fritz? The question came from them. "Hmm?When we are done, or rather, if we follow the road to Egelea, he will enter the kingdom of Egelea. You haven''t told me what happens after that." "I see. ......" "I''m sorry." The deputy remained silent as he sank into the bathtub, listening to their voices. Gloria was concerned about her attitude and called out to her. "Shea, what are you thinking about?" Shea" was short for Cynthia, the name of her second-in-command. Gloria called her Shea in normal times. "No, sub-captain, it''s nothing. ......." "Nothing is nothing, is it?Shea is usually quiet, but it''s rare that she doesn''t say a word in a place like this." "......, you''ve been paying close attention." "Well, yes. I''ve been an instructor before. Gloria was once an instructor for new female knights, so her concern for her subordinates is quite impressive. It is no exaggeration to say that this is why she has been entrusted with the position of vice-captain of the women''s knight corps. "Really, I''ll be fine." "Really, I''m fine.You don''t seem to be in bad shape. Yes, I''m fine. I''m sorry for making you worry." Cynthia got out of the bathtub and walked to the changing room. The night was clear and the sky was full of twinkling stars. There was no wind and it was not too cold even though it was January. "It''s easy to be a night watchman, isn''t it? Gloria muttered to no one in particular. They take turns standing night watch. Even though they are in the village, it is a necessary measure since they are encamped. Gloria, her second-in-command Cynthia, and the male knights are supposed to take turns on the night watch, although Gloria''s two younger subordinates are exempt. "Hello, Gloria." It was Fritz. It was his turn to be the night watchman. "Oh, Fritz, you''re all clear here." "I''m all clear here, too." The conversation was cut short. Gloria suddenly remembered what they had talked about during the day. "Mister Fritz, this may be a little forward of me, but may I see your sword?" "Hmm?I don''t mind, but it''s not much. Besides, I''m holding a shortsword. Yes, that''s fine. Okay, then. ...... here." Fritz unsheathed the shortsword at his waist and presented the sheath to Gloria. Gloria takes it and quietly sheathes it. Gloria held it up to the moonlight rising from the folds of the tree and looked at the sword. "...... I see that you have made quite a feat of swordsmanship. The Shoro Empire makes swords of excellent quality. Gloria sheathed the sword and handed it back to Fritz. "Thank you for showing me something good." "Ha, it''s very kind of you to say so. This sword is my official equipment. I envy you. I see that the Shoro Empire has good quality iron ore. ...... A good sword is made of good steel and good steel comes from good iron ore. Gloria was well versed in such things. "I don''t know much about that sort of thing. But I have a cousin who does." Cousin? "Yes. His name is Reinhard Randall, a brilliant magical engineer who recently became a baron. "Reinhardt-sama ......, I have heard rumors about him. < "That''s right. I am proud of my cousin." "Where is your brother, Mister Fritz?" Gloria asked as they walked slowly under the moonlight. "I have one brother and one sister. Neither one of them looks like me, they''re both very good. Ha-ha-ha." "I see. I''m an only child, so I''m a little jealous. Are you both in the military?" "No. No. My brother is weak. My sister is the ...... best, a Magi Engineer and a court-appointed healer." "Hou, court-appointed healer (Reichsartz)......." Gloria remembered. The other day, the court-appointed healer (Reichsartz) of the Shoro Kingdom had cured the king''s illness. And not many women could have been appointed as the Reichsartz''s healer. "...... is your sister with Lady Elsa, by any chance?" "Oh, yes, that''s right. Do you know her? "Of course I know her, she healed our king the other day!" Fritz scratched his head. "Of course I did. I am in awe. That sister of yours is now a rising star." "But wait a minute. But wait a minute... wasn''t Erza the younger sister of Jin-dono?" Gloria had been working as an instructor for the apprentice knights at the time of her previous visit and did not see Jin and the other knights, so she did not know the details. "Yes, there are some complicated circumstances. But Fritz, who was honest at heart, told Gloria everything while making his rounds of the night watch. "Well, that''s the situation..." "Yes. Now the head of the Randall family is Elsa. I''m lucky that I can make it as a soldier, but he''s definitely the one supporting my parents. I can''t thank him enough." As we were talking, the light of a magic lamp approached us from the darkness. It was one of the male knights. "Gloria, it''s time for you to take over. "Oh, is it that time already?" Gloria looked up at the sky. The moon was already well up. "Good day, Mr. Fritz, after you." "Good night, have a good rest." Gloria left Fritz and went to her and her second-in-command''s tent. She wrapped herself in a blanket. When I first met Erza and Jin, I thought they didn''t look much alike for brother and sister, but I guess that''s the story behind it. Mister Fritz, too, has many circumstances (......). While I was thinking about such things, I fell asleep. * * * * On January 7, Jin was in Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias. He was accompanied by Reinhardt and Elsa. And the Marquis of Firenziano. They had flown in on Jin''s airship. The Marquis was impressed by the speed with which they flew over a distance of 110 kilometers in two hours. "It''s fast. This is revolutionary. The only drawback is the volume of traffic. The Marquis had a good grasp of its usefulness and weaknesses. Since the king had been informed in advance, he was granted an audience with the king immediately. It was not a fancy room like the throne room, but a small hall that was a combination of an office and a reception room. There, Blitzen Skala Elias XII, King of the Kingdom of Elias, was waiting for Jin and the others. The king is 59 years old. Gray hair, gray eyes. He is of medium height and build, and is still in high spirits. He is accompanied by his vizier, the Marquis of Godfar. He is also the lord of Tves in the western part of the Kingdom of Elias. "Welcome, Sir Jinn Nidor, Magecraft Meister, and his valet, Sir Jinn Nidor. And his valet, Reiko Nido." Jin and Reiko bowed to the king. "And long time no see, Sir Reinhard Randall. And welcome, Elsa Randall." Reinhard bowed deeply and Elsa bowed in curtsey. "Please don''t be too formal. Please sit down first." At the king''s words, everyone sat down and the meeting began. 716 - - 21-28 Kunlun. "First of all, the Kingdom of Elias would like to formally present Sir Jin Nido with the title of Magecraft Meister and an honorary knighthood. Marquis Godopher, the Prime Minister, began. The Marquis of Firenziano had spoken to me the other day, so this is the official recognition. "I humbly accept." Jin bowed his head. "Therefore, I ...... have a favor to ask you." "Well, what is it?" "In the kingdom of Elias, that is, in the sea far east of the Elias Peninsula, there is an island called the Kunlun Island. That''s where I''m based at ....... "Huh?" At last, Jin broke the ice. The day before, he had had many discussions with Reinhardt, Erza, the old man, and Reiko, and this was the result. "To be precise, it is just east of the former Leonard''s Kingdom. Jin gave some additional explanations. "Well, ...... your majesty, I don''t see any problem with that, so I think we can accept it." The island is unknown to begin with, and can be seen as an island that is of no relevance even to the Kingdom of Elias. Jin and the others were of the unanimous opinion that this would cause various complications after the development of maritime transport. "All right. Sir Jin Nido, we acknowledge that the belongs to you. I will put it in writing at ......." "Thank you. If possible, I would appreciate it if you could transmit it to the nations by means of a manaphone. "Yes, I will. I will do so in the regular noon call. Blitzen Skala Elias XII gladly accepted. Jin is relieved that the first hurdle has been overcome. "Thank you very much. < "Oh!That''s great." The reason why they named Jin was half because they wanted this. Both the King and the Prime Minister are delighted. First of all, this concludes the first audience. The second audience would be held after the regular lunchtime communication was over, and after observing the reactions of the various countries. Jin and the others were to remain in the guest room. "Well, Jin, it seems to be going well. Reinhardt also had a beaming face. "Yes, we discussed a lot of things last night. Jin did not know the personality of King Elias, so he relied on Reinhardt for that. "The regular noon call will be in two hours. ......" Because of the time difference, noon in Elias Kingdom is about 9:00 a.m. in Shoro Kingdom. It''s a little after noon in the Kingdom of Klein, and about 10:00 a.m. in the Kingdom of Selroa. All of them are within the acceptable time zone. "In the meantime, let''s have the hot air balloons sent to us as agreed. Two hot air balloons of the same type as those of the Shoro, Egelea, and Klein kingdoms will be sent to the Elias Kingdom. Actually, they will be sent by a transporter, but they will be made to look as if they were flown from the Kunlun Island. The distance between the Kunlun Island and Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, is about 500 km. It takes less than 17 hours at the speed of 30 kilometers per hour. This explains why the plane has been flying since yesterday. The pilot is a craftsman golem. "About an hour to go, sir." Reiko said as she was discussing with the old man. "Perhaps the Kunlun Island will be approved by other countries." Reinhard said slowly in a mumbling voice. "At the moment, the sea area where the Kunlun Islands are located is not a place that can be traveled to and from by ship. The kingdom of Elias will not suffer any disadvantages. Elsa takes over. "......, so now is a good time for us, when ships are still underdeveloped." And Jin. "Yes. Since the old Leonard Kingdom''s case is still unresolved, if the Elias Kingdom says yes, the other countries will approve it, right? Jin and his colleagues believe that the Kingdom of Elias is the most likely to have a stake in the project, and that if the Kingdom of Elias approves, the other countries will give their nod. The old man also guessed that even the kingdoms of Selroa and Franz would not bother to object to the project. "In fact, they might even ask us to certify Jin as a "Magecraft Meister" for the hot-air balloon. However, Reinhardt denied Erza''s statement. "No, the Kingdom of Cerroa is a country with a lot of pride. With the Unifiler deeply rooted in the kingdom, I don''t think so." Jin recalled that an unpowered hot-air balloon had been used by former Industry Minister Delight Domus Hanks, who had been an agent during the treatment of the King of Klein. "Yes, indeed. He has a hot-air balloon, even though it''s an old model." And then, "Well, it doesn''t bother me." With these words, he leaned back on the sofa. Later that afternoon. Jin and the others were meeting with the king again. "We have just discussed your request at the noon meeting, and the kingdoms of Shoro, Klein, and Egelea have approved it without any problem. The Kingdoms of Cerroa and Franz, too. At the Prime Minister''s words, Jin patted his chest. "At the same time, all the nations agreed to grant you the title of ." In this case <> means <>. You have now crossed the second hurdle. "Thank you very much. By the way, the hot air balloon should be arriving soon. Just as Jin said this, there was a knock at the door and a guard called. A hot air balloon is approaching from the eastern sky. "I ...... am the hot air balloon I called for." "Oh, yeah!" "Would you like to see it arrive?" As Jin said this, I thought it was only the Prime Minister, but the Marquis of Florenziano and the King also came to the front yard of the castle. Naturally, they were protected by the knights of the Kingsguard. Two hot air balloons. They descended slowly and landed in front of Jin and the others. "Thank you, Craftsman Smith." "Yes, Master." All the people gathered were surprised to see that the hot air balloon was piloted by a golem that spoke fluently and looked just like a human being except for its metal exterior. "This is the hot air balloon we present to you. I will let these craftsmen (smiths) explain how to use it. "Uh-huh." The officer in charge is immediately called. He is a mid-level bureaucrat with a wealth of magical knowledge. Leaving the work to the craftsmen (smiths), Jin started to finish the plan. "I have one more gift for you. This is not a good place for it, so I would like to go back to the room we were in earlier. Jin, holding the cylindrical he had received from the craftsman (Smith), made the suggestion, which was immediately accepted. "Well, Sir Jin Nido, what is it?" the Prime Minister asked, leaning forward as if he couldn''t wait to get back to his room. Jin Nido opened the cylindrical package in his hand. It was a large piece of leather paper that looked to be about one meter square. Jin spread it out on the table. "What is this? It was a map made in Horai Island. On the far right, or east, was the Kunlun Island, and to the south was the Elias Peninsula and several islands to the south of it. To the north is the Kingdom of Klein, as far as the village of Kaina. To the west is the area near Loizart in the Kingdom of Shoro. I made this map from the sky. I will give this to you. We plan to give the same map to other countries. The map is much simplified than the one used in Horai Island. The topography is roughly the same, but detailed towns and villages are omitted, and only the capital and major cities are shown. In the case of the Kingdom of Elias, only the capital Borgia, the city of Potrock, and Florence, where the castle of the Marquis of Florence Florenziano is located, are listed. Only the main roads are included. No longitude and latitude lines are included. The drawing was made by an amateur, so it is neither a Mercator nor a Miller drawing, but it is still a remarkable one. "......" The king, the prime minister, and the marquis, who had been so lost in the map that they could not speak, finally regained their composure after a few moments. The prime minister looks up, gazes at Jin, and asks him a question. "Jin, my lord. ....... Can I have this? Jin nodded. "Yes. You will need it to travel between countries in a hot-air balloon and to sail the seas in a ship. Please forgive me if I have not fully researched some parts of it since it is my own work. However, the Prime Minister denies Jin''s words with all his might. "No, that is not true!There is no map like this anywhere in the world, to tell the truth. Thank you, Jin-dono! Jin hoped that this would prevent accidents involving hot air balloons and ships. On this day, the Magecraft Meister, Sir Jin Nidor, was born. 717 - - 21-29 Bright Future "Congratulations, Jin!" "Congratulations, brother Jin!" Congratulations, Father! After the audience with King Blitzen Skala Elias XII of the Kingdom of Elias, Jin and his friends were holding a small, intimate celebration in the guest room of the royal castle. It was, as they say, a celebration for the inauguration of the Korun. "Thanks to Reinhardt. Without Reinhardt''s advice, we wouldn''t have been able to bring the project to this point. Haha, I''m glad to hear you say so, but even without my advice, Jin would have been accepted sooner or later. It''s just a matter of whether it was early or late." "No, I think it''s the speed that''s the problem. Now it''s easier to make a plan for the future. One of the special wines of the Kingdom of Elias, <>. It is a high quality white wine from the province of Xaus and was recommended by Reinhardt. All three of us forgot that we were wearing magic tools with <> effect, so it was good or bad that we were not more than a little tipsy. Since the wine cost is paid for by the Kingdom of Elias, the treasurer will probably scowl the next morning when he sees the eight empty bottles lined up in front of him. The next day, on the 8th, Jin and the others went to the hotel to get a bottle of wine. On the following day, the 8th, Jin and his friends left the Kingdom of Elias by airship after greeting the Prime Minister and the Marquis of Florenziano. The purpose was to visit the kingdoms of Egelea and Klein and to hand over the map. This has been approved by the Shoro Kingdom through regular morning communications. The Prime Minister has also given his word to cooperate with <<<< Sir Jin Nido, the Kunlun Prince, and Reinhardt and Erza have been able to accompany Jin without hesitation. The distance from Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, to Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, is 150 kilometers, about three hours by airship. The weather was fine. The weather was fine, and we would be able to enjoy a comfortable flight. "Jin, you saved my life this time," said Reinhardt with a deep emotion. Reinhard thanked Jin with a deep emotion on his face. "That''s what I''m saying. Thanks to Reinhardt''s cooperation, our conversation went smoothly. Erza?" "Yes. Brother Rai is very reliable in times like this. "Ha ha, thank you. ...... But, you''re going to do more work on the Kunlun island, right?" "Yes, we will." The size of Kunlun Island is about the size of Izu Oshima. It could house 10,000 people if it wanted to, but it currently has a population of zero. If Jin and Elsa are counted, the population is two. There is still room for improvement. "If there are applicants and the right people, they can live here. ......" There is a disadvantage that it is difficult to move between continents. The warp gate is still not open to the public. "If more and more people use it, they will find out sooner or later, won''t they?" I''m sure that''s the first thing to do. Jin, Erza, and Reinhardt are in agreement on this point as well. For now, the question of when the warp gate would be opened to the public remained unresolved. "I''d like to talk with Marcia again, and more slowly." "Hmm. I came here on business this time, so I couldn''t take my time." He even wants Marcia and Rodrigo to join the Jin family. While we were talking about this in the sky, the airship came out over the sea. Below us was a vast expanse of blue ocean. It is an inland sea surrounded by the Elias Peninsula and the southern islands. Therefore, the influence of the ocean currents is minimal and the waves are relatively calm. So far, no dangerous large monsters have been confirmed. I am sure that a sea route will be opened in the near future. The success of the < is great, and the second ship will be built, and the kingdoms of Selroa, Egelea, and Elias will also put their efforts into shipbuilding. The map was distributed in anticipation of this. The conversation moved on to the topic of famine. "It seems that the Kingdom of Egelea is also free from famine. Reinhard muttered. "Yes. The inland area seems to be in danger." As expected, the area was so large that even Jin''s fifth column had not been able to gather enough information on the entire area of the small group of countries. "The eastern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa has many people living on pasture." Reinhard explained. As expected of a diplomat, he is well versed in the affairs of other countries. The eastern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa has many rough grasslands, which are not suitable for grain cultivation. The answer to the question of how the inhabitants live is pastoralism. The people who live as nomads make their wealth from grazing , or domesticated shepherds. Mouton are herbivores, very similar to sheep on earth. Their main use is to harvest wool. The meat is edible, but is said to taste worse than that of wild shepherds. "The tax is paid on the raw wool, so they don''t have to suffer from famine, and the abundant rainfall helps the grass to grow better, so they are probably saved. This is Jin''s analysis. "Well, then, if there is going to be a famine, it will be in the center of the Kingdom of Selroa. The southern region of Korin is similar to the Shoro Kingdom in terms of climate, and no famine has been reported. The Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Franz, and the central part of the Kingdom of Cerroa are the areas that were hit by the famine this time. "If the problem of food transportation is solved..." Jin believed that the famine could be overcome if the logistics were smooth. Topopo and dried fish in the Kingdom of Elias. Wheat and dried fish from the Kingdom of Egelea. The Shoro Kingdom could also help with wheat. And with the wild deer and shepherds from the mountains, they will manage to keep the wheat sown in the fall until it is ready for harvest. If Jin would help them, it would be when they did not make it in time or when some unforeseen trouble arose. Jin was relieved to know that he would be able to get through this without over-involvement. Soon they would be in the Kingdom of Egelea. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Elias, where Jin had left, the King, the Prime Minister, and the Marquis of Firenziano were continuing their discussions. "This map is frighteningly accurate! When shown to the leaders of the knights, generals, and other military officials, they all responded in the same way. "...... I''m afraid of Sir Jin Nido. The thought of this technology being used in a war makes me shiver. The Prime Minister gave his honest opinion. "No, as Sir Reinhard Randall and Elsa Randall said the other day, he has no such ambitions, he just wants to live peacefully." The Marquis of Firenziano defended Jin. "Well, it seems that the King of Egelea and the Emperor of Shoro are of the same opinion. Blitzen Skala Elias XII of the Kingdom of Elias, who seemed to have been listening to the conversation through regular contact, nailed Jin with the words, "There is no need to be more cautious than necessary. "Instead, we should consider the various issues that have been suggested." The King said. Many problems have arisen in setting out to sea with large vessels, including the Marcia disaster. The need to build lighthouses along the coast. Standardization of cargo containers. The communication of information by means of flags and signals, and the international standardization of such communication. Establishment of shipping routes and port facilities. Establishment of a system for maritime rescue. These are just some of the points that need to be addressed internationally. There will be more to come, depending on what we consider. Furthermore, if they were to build and operate large vessels in their own countries, the problem would be doubled. "We should also consider the operation of hot-air balloons and their mass production in our country. Hopefully, hot air balloons could be used for maritime rescue. A search from the sky would be effective, especially on the sea. If a large ship can carry one, it could be used for reconnaissance and rescue calls. "Well, well, well... We have a lot of work to do this early in the new year, don''t we? "But it''s not about war, it''s about peace and prosperity. It''s worthwhile." The Marquis of Florenziano quieted the Prime Minister who was blurting out in a deliberate manner. "Yes, you are right. The King nodded his head in agreement with the Marquis. The Kingdom of Elias was expected to develop further in the coming year. 718 - - 21-30 Silent Story 38 Rodrigo and Marcia "So this is what my dad rode in the ......" Yeah, isn''t it amazing? "Yes." When Marcia''s body was completely healed, Rodrigo took her to see the . She had asked the captain for permission to go on deck. "I''m going to go and say hello to the captain now, okay?" "Yes." Leaving Marcia on deck, Rodrigo went to greet the captain, Lugaria Gascar von Alkois. "Hello, Rodrigo." "Captain, I have to leave the ship today, so I came to say goodbye." "Yes, I''m a little disappointed. But I see you and your daughter have made your peace. Congratulations. "Thank you, sir." Rodrigo shook Captain Lugaria''s hand. "I have summarized what I have noticed so far on this voyage. I have also added some of the things I noticed when my daughter was lost." Rodrigo presented the captain with the , which he had compiled himself. The captain flipped through it. <>. >. The captain looked at the two items. "Hmm, this is a novel point of view. I will submit it immediately. Thank you, Mr. Rodrigo. I will be happy to be of service. They shook hands once more, and Rodrigo left the captain and went out on deck. "Father, are you finished?" "Yes. Shall we go, Marcia?" "Yes." Father and daughter were walking on deck when someone saw them and called out. "Rodrigo, I heard you''re getting off the ship." It''s Claire, the red girl. "Yes, Claire. "Yes, I''m going to live with my daughter here in Potrock, building boats." Is that your daughter? Yes, Marcia. Thank you for helping my father. It''s a pleasure to meet you. Marcia, 5''9", and Claire, 5''4", shook hands. Rodrigo, we''ll come back sometime, won''t we? "Yes, and when I do, I''ll show you the boat we built. "Take care," he said. "Good luck on your way back." Marcia gazed at her father''s profile as they descended the loose ramp to the deck. "Yes?What''s wrong?" Rodrigo asks his daughter, noticing her gaze. "Dad, ...... you''ve lost weight." "What''s the matter now?" "I''ll ...... take care of you from now on." "Hey, hey, that''s what I said. "Marcia, nice to meet you." "...... yes." And they went to the town hall. They don''t have a family register or a certificate of residence, but they are going to work together in Marcia''s workshop and register as shipbuilders (shipwrights). Incidentally, here in the town of Potrock, the residents of the neighboring town are also managed. Because of the presence of the lord''s mansion. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After returning to the workshop, the two went out to the backyard. There, they found a house that Jin had built and added on to. Marcia had originally built a hut in the back of the workshop where she slept and woke up, but now that Rodrigo is going to live with her, Jin has built an additional hut himself. "...... I don''t think this is the level of rebuilding." The weather around Potrock was sunny enough to sleep in the hut, but the building Jin rebuilt was a two-story structure made of Oya stone, the same as the surrounding houses. Although small, it has a bath instead of a shower, and the toilets are Horaijima style, that is, heated toilets with warm-water washing and warm-air drying, and excrement is deodorized, purified, sterilized, and decomposed. The kitchen has been completely redesigned and is accessible from the workshop, making it convenient for cooking lunch and other meals. "He''s special in so many ways." Rodrigo tells Marcia that Jin is the only one in the world recognized as a . "Yeah, I didn''t think Jin had risen that much in the world after you left me." At this point, they still do not know that Jin has become the Kunlun. "They are here as ambassadors of the Shoro Kingdom. You said they would come again soon to talk. "Yes, they will. I''m looking forward to it." Marcia returned to the workshop and took her father in front of the design table. "Dad, this is the large ......, no, medium-sized boat I designed." It is an eight-meter-long trimaran. "Wow, this is fantastic. Marcia, you must have studied a lot." Rodrigo looked at the drawing and admired his daughter. "...... tickles me. Did you notice anything from your father''s point of view?" "Mm. ...... I guess these structures are only this big at best." "What?" "Actually, I also proposed a catamaran when I designed the <>." Rodrigo explained to Marcia, recalling the design discussions at the time. "So it was. ...... I see, if Jin and Reinhardt say so, it is impossible to make it any larger?" "Yes, mainly due to hull strength issues. Then Jeremy came out. "Oh, manager. What should I call you ...... and ......?" It was Jeremy, still getting used to the idea, who explained that Rodrigo had officially joined Marcia''s workshop the previous evening. "Rodrigo, that''s fine." "I''ll call you Rodrigo, then," he said. "Yeah, that''s fine." "Jeremy, by the way, where''s Bacchus?" Marcia asked, wondering if the other waiter, Bacchus, was in sight. "Oh, Mr. Buckles is stocking up on supplies. "Oh, I see. And Arrow? "Here, Marcia, I''m here." The Arrow came from outside the store. He was at the dock across the street. "Oh, Arrow. I''m going to build another trimaran. Will you help me?" "Of course, Miss Marcia. I can help you more than ever now that my creator has given me a new function. "Jin?Oh.... I remember you said you made some improvements. Marcia would later be impressed by the Arrow''s capabilities, but that would come a little later. "Dad, I have a problem with the power of this medium-sized boat." Marcia sensed the limitations of the waterwheel drive. The material is not suitable for a boat of this size. "Yes, I suppose so. Mr. Jin developed a jet thruster for the <>." "Hmmm... ...... can you have that made?" "Well, ...... he said he''ll be here soon, so I''ll ask him then. My hunch is that they will make it for us." "Right." Marcia, too, knew her former and current friend, Jin, reasonably well. But neither of them had thought that Jin had thought more than that. "Ah, Mr. Buckles, welcome back!" Jeremy''s voice echoed through the store. "Welcome back, Mr. Buckles! I''ve stocked up on enough materials to build a new ship! The other day, they had received an order from the Marquis of Florenziano. The plan was to transport cargo up the Naudalia River to the Kingdom of Klein. A shallow-bottomed vessel to be a part of this project. The size of the boat should be no less than 5 meters and no more than 10 meters. If the first ship performed well, five ships would be ordered at once. Since this was a national project, the government was to provide all the materials, which proved to be a godsend for the Marcia workshop, which had lost its prototype trimaran. "All right, let''s get started! With the addition of Rodrigo, the Marcia workshop was full of energy. 719 - - 21-31 In the Kingdom of Egerea The Kingdom of Egelea seemed to be waiting for Jin''s arrival. Two hot-air balloons welcomed Jin and guided him to the outer palace square in the royal castle. Prince Ernest was waiting there, and upon seeing Jin''s face, he ran up to him. "Jin!It''s been a long time!Erza and Reinhardt!I''m glad to see you''re doing well! You too, Your Highness. Hello. "It''s been a while." We exchange brief verbal greetings. This unconventional greeting is allowed because Ernesto has not yet reached adulthood. It is only the beginning of the new year, but next year he will turn 15, and the coming-of-age ceremony will be held. (......When that happens, there will be a marriage with Princess Rieschen (......)) ) Jin thinks such a thing. * * * * After the unconventional welcome was over, Jin and the others were ushered into the king''s office. "<> Sir Jin Nido, it has been a long time. Ehime Reko is as lovely as ever. Harold Luan Autoclase, the unchanged King of Egelea, opened his speech and called Jin Nido <>. He also seemed to recognize Reiko as a squire. "Yes, Your Highness." "Yes, and all the best to you as well. ...... Sir Reinhard Randall, it''s been a while. This is Miss Elsa ......, or as I call her now, Elsa Randall Ehime. You look well. King Egelea called out to Reinhardt and Erza as well. The fact that the king approached them indicates that he considers this visitor to be of exceptional importance. After the greetings, the Prime Minister, the Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli, also greeted the guests with a smile, and spoke of the purpose of the meeting. "<>, you are aware that a survey team from our country has been dispatched to the former Leonard''s Kingdom? Yes, I have heard. They are bringing with them a recently developed magical tool. ...... No, it is more of a than a development, is it not? I would like to know your opinion on ...... the magic tool." The Prime Minister spoke in a respectful manner to Jin, who was an honorary knight but a small lord of the Kunlun Kingdom. Jin is intrigued by the magical tools. Reinhard and Erza did the same. "Secondly, we are talking about ships as a transportation force, and thirdly, ......." Since Reinhardt is also present, there is some talk of diplomacy. Jin, being the , tries to maintain a neutral position, but it seems to be difficult. The meeting began with the unveiling of the world map Jin had brought with him. Jin-dono," he said. I am in awe of your observation from the sky. Here in the Kingdom of Egelea, as in the Kingdom of Elias, everyone was amazed at the precision of the map. The locations of cities, the flow of rivers, borderlines, etc. can be seen at a glance. Because of its large scale, the details of villages and settlements cannot be seen, but the main roads are recognizable, so even without the longitude and latitude lines, the map is more than sufficient, or even practical. The Prime Minister bowed when he received the map. "I would like to thank you for this map, and I would like to discuss with you about what to do next. Jin said that would be fine. The next topic was the ship. At this point, the participants moved to the Prime Minister''s office. "We are planning to build a large ship in our country in terms of shipping. We are now building a special dock in Nalneka. We are also building a small boat for the river. Nahrnecka is the port that welcomed <>. It is a small bay with calm waves, making it suitable for a dock. "So, I''ve got a ...... for you, Mr. Zinn." "A propulsion unit, right?" Jin spoke up, anticipating the Prime Minister''s reluctance to say anything. "......That''s right." Jin then decided to explain his concept first. "Before I tell you about it, there is something I would like you to hear. "Well, let''s hear it. "The Naudaria River is wide but shallow, isn''t it?" I''m sure this is the result of the 5th column (Quinta) survey, but just to confirm, Hitoshi. "Yes, I heard that the deepest depth is about 5 meters. After confirming this, Jin''s plan was finalized. "Okay, I understand. So, as for the boats, would it be correct to consider riverboats and large boats separately?" "Of course. "In that case, I would recommend using a <> for the riverboats." A <>? Yes, a pole. Jin then explains. "The boatman...... who is in charge of steering the boat pokes the bottom of the river with a pole longer than the depth of the water. The reaction makes the boat go forward. Easy, isn''t it?" Jin showed them how to poke the pole by imitating his hands. The principle was so simple and clear that he did not even need to draw a picture; everyone seemed to understand it. "If we use a golem as a boatman, we can go forward at night. "I see, it is suitable for the river." "Yes, in shallow and wide rivers we use a pole. For deeper areas, we use a propeller. Jin then explains that the aqua thruster is better for small boats. "Well, the river is less prone to algae, and because of its small size, it can be cleaned easily even if it gets clogged. The Prime Minister seemed to understand. "Shallow-bottomed vessels are used in many of the lakes of the Shoro Empire, such as Lake Tosmo." Reinhardt explained about the hull of the ship. "The basic shape is 10 meters long, while the ones that carry carriages are about 20 meters long. They are used as ferry boats to carry people and small cargo." "Well, I think it''s safe to start with the basic form. With the firm idea of first focusing on the basics, and then applying and developing them, the hull of the boat was also discussed. "If we combine Jin-dono''s propulsion method with a shallow-bottom ship, it might be better to build a separate dock for that purpose. The Prime Minister seemed to have realized the dangers of navigating the sea in a shallow-bottomed boat. Shallow-bottomed boats are easily affected by waves. A shallow-bottomed boat like the one used in the Golem boat competition, which is only 4 meters long, is fine, but if it is 10 meters long, the strength of the bottom of the boat will be a problem. A competition boat would be able to use a lot of high quality materials, but for a mass-produced commercial boat, the manufacturing cost must also be taken into consideration. "Is it realistic to transport the boats by sea in large vessels and transship them at the mouth of the Naudaria River?" "Yes, I think so. Jin agreed. "Well, then we need to build a separate dock from the big ships in the town of Okosso. Okosso is located at the mouth of the Naudaria River, near the border with the Kingdom of Serroa. This would be a good opportunity for the town to develop. "If transshipment is a prerequisite, wouldn''t it be more convenient to specify the size of the cargo?" Here, too, Hitoshi said, "It is necessary to build lighthouses along the coast, Necessity of constructing lighthouses along the coast. Standardization of containers for cargo. The communication of information by means of flags and signals, and international standardization of such communication. Establishment of shipping routes and development of ports. Establishment of a system of maritime rescue. He mentioned the same things that he had proposed in the Elias Kingdom. After that, the details were explained and the details of assistance were agreed upon, and the discussion on the ship was completed. The day''s meeting ended with a discussion as the ambassador of the Shoro Kingdom. * * * * * * * "In the end, the magic tool that you say you have recreated will be delivered tomorrow. ...... We stayed at the guest house for the first time in a while. It''s been a long time since the <. We were told to stay in the guest room in the royal castle, but Jin insisted on staying in this more informal room. "But Jin, <>. I hadn''t noticed. If the river is slow, the golem''s power should be enough to steer the boat. Jin and Reinhardt were relaxing in the bath and talking about various things. "I''m sorry I''m the only one who gets the gratuity while Reinhardt doesn''t. ......" "Haha, I''m totally on official business. Jin is following me voluntarily ...... or rather, as a favor, and now <, I''m independent. Yes, for his help in the Kingdom of Elias the other day, Jin had received a reward of five million dollars. As for Jin, he has a very extravagant problem that he cannot spend all the money even though he has more and more money. However, Jin cannot afford to waste money. "Father!" When Jin finished bathing, Reiko was waiting for him outside. Reiko was outside because she had taken a bath with Reinhardt. "Ah, Elsa." "Brother Jin." I met Erza in the hallway, who had just come out of the women''s bathroom. We went back to our rooms side by side. They were still in separate rooms, but Jin invited Erza to his room. "Mmm." Erza follows him. "Would you like something to drink? "Yes... Citran juice. The two of them sit on chairs in Jin''s room, drinking cold drinks after taking a bath. It''s been almost a year since then. The last time I stayed here I didn''t think you and Elsa would get engaged. Me neither. Back then I thought of Elsa as a slightly dangerous little sister. Tonight Jin was unusually light-spoken. He has left his antidote off in order to take a bath, so the wine he drank with Reinhardt before taking a bath seems to be making him drunk. "...... now?" Elsa, her cheeks slightly stained, looked up and asked Jin. "...... precious, family. ...... No, that''s not polite either. I''m a very important <>." Erza turned not <> red at those words and kicked her chair to get up. "......I''m going to bed. Good night." Then she hurried out of the room. "......Thank you," she said. She left the room with these words. 720 - - 21-32 Soldrake Ruins The morning of January 9th. Jin, Reinhard, Erza, Reiko, and the others were invited to the magic laboratory in the outer palace, headed by the Minister of Magic, Kerichdole. This is the most advanced research institute for magical technology in the Kingdom of Egelea. "This is what I want you to see," he said. There was a magic screen. It is an artifact that was used as a monitor during the Golem boat competition. "Are you reproducing the magic screen? "Yes. It''s not quite a reproduction, but yes. Kelichdole answered humbly, but her face was still proud. "I have it in the hands of a research team that is going to the former Leonard''s Kingdom on a trial basis. The screen he was pointing at was indeed a picture of a faraway land. However, the quality of the image was not very clear, and the movements of the team members were sometimes jerky. It was like watching a movie with the frames dropped. "It is still a prototype, so there are still many problems, but the biggest advantage of this magic device is that the magic machine, which corresponds to the <>, is small. The magic minister goes on to explain. "It is small enough to be carried on your shoulder comfortably. The magic screen is larger on our side. Still, it is quite useful to be able to see the survey team at a distance. It is a pity that the sound cannot be picked up. "If you want to send a message from the other side to us, you can also write it down in writing. But unfortunately, there is no way to contact the other side. Nevertheless, this is a big step forward. Even with the example of artifacts, the reproduction and application of lost technology in this way is to be commended. "Since it would be presumptuous to call it by its original name, I am going to call it the <>." "A magical monitoring device, I see. Jin nodded and stared at the device. "Do you have any opinion on this, Jin-dono?" "Yes, I do. ...... To be honest, I don''t have any. The images are choppy because of the slow data transmission speed, and the poor image quality is probably due to the low grinding precision of the magic eye. The whole apparatus is large, which may be due to the way the flow of magic control (magi sequence) is organized, and ....... However, Jin knew that it was not appropriate to point out all of them here. So, I will not point out all of them here, "As for the image quality, I think it is probably due to the low grinding accuracy of the magic eye. I only pointed out the relatively easy-to-accept content. "I see, the precision of polishing. ...... Now that I think about it, there are many things that come to mind. ......" Kelihidole, who had his hand on his chin as if remembering for a moment, nodded his head in agreement and thanked Jin. "Well, thank you, Jin-dono. I will pay more attention to that in my next work. "Yesterday, the research team arrived at the ruins of Sold Lake. Today we started to investigate the ruins in earnest. As he said, the magic screen showed a picture of the ruins that even Jin had never seen before. * * * * The ruins of Soldrake are located southwest of the former capital Diaa. It is surrounded by grasslands dotted with reddish-brown rocks. Although it is located north of Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, the temperature is about the same because of its lower elevation. However, the air is more humid than in Asund, which is inland, probably due to the proximity to the sea. Therefore, the environment was conducive to the growth of vegetation. The team was following a narrow path through the area. "Okay, first of all, Mr. Jade, please investigate. Bruno Thales Bright, the leader of the survey team, asked Jade Nephroy, a magecraftsman. I''ll take care of it. In front of us are the ruins of a fortress-like structure built of reddish-brown sandstone. These ruins often contain magical seals and traps that can be broken by a good magecraftsman. That is why Jade Nephroy is accompanying us. The day before, they had disarmed four traps and approached this door, but time ran out due to sunset. The investigation inside had been carried over to this day. Jade carefully examined the area where he thought the door was, and then he turned around and reported. "...... There are no traps. Just a seal. We can open it right away." True to his word, the door was opened in about three minutes. "Oh, it''s open. "There may be a trap inside. Please be careful. I understand. The group, led by Bruno, the captain, stepped into the ruins. The leader was Jade, a non-combatant. It was 8:00 a.m. local time, 7:15 a.m. in Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea. "......" A voice sounded impressed and convinced, as if it were coming from someone. Inside, unlike outside, the floor, walls, and ceiling were covered with marble-like stone, glistening in the light of the magic lamps held by the group. "This is a good time to ......" Jade Nephroy lights a ball of light. It is a magic light that will stay lit until the magic power it contains runs out. "Oh, it''s brighter." The brightness is several times that of a magic lamp. The room became bright at once, as if a 20-watt bulb had been changed to a 100-watt bulb. This makes it possible to see details clearly. The room is a long rectangle. About 10 meters wide and 20 meters deep. There''s nothing in here. When you enter the room, it''s just wide and empty. "What is it?" No, there was something like a pile of rubble in one corner. As I approached it, I found that it was a magi crystal, though not of very good quality. Even though they were of low quality, they were piled up to about eye level, so they seemed to be worth their weight in gold. "There is another door in front of you, isn''t there? One of the knights pointed. "Okay, let''s go there." The door had no mechanism and opened by a normal push. Again, Bruno, the captain, steps in. The magic lamp in his hand illuminates a staircase leading down. "The basement. That''s the main one. From the height of the ruins, we can guess that if anything, it is the basement. Bruno thought for a moment and decided to leave the youngest knight in his place. "Taut, stay here. If anything happens to us, you stay here. "Yes, sir!" I don''t mean please, come and help us. It means to let the king know that we are in danger. The young knight called Taut could at least guess it. The stairway went straight up to a depth of about 20 meters. At the end of the stairs was another door. And beyond that, of course, a room. "......What is this place?" It was a small, cramped room. In terms of space, it was no more than four and a half tatami mats. Only the ceiling was about three meters high. "......Another door?" The front door is made of metal. A thick bolt was hung from the inside, so we carefully removed it. After carefully opening this door, we found a similar room with a similar door. After passing through three such small rooms, we arrived at a large hall. And there it was. "This ...... is ......?" "...... golem ......?" There were countless golems. Two and a half meters tall. Their outer shells were steel. Armed with swords, spears, clubs, and axes. I said "innumerable," but I counted more than 500 of them. All the members of the investigation team except for Taut, who was left in the back of the room, and Jin, Reinhard, Erza, Reiko, and Kelihidole, who was looking into the magical monitoring device (magi-monitor), as well as the magic minister and the members of the laboratory saw them standing in a row in the hall in front of them. 721 - - 21-33 Mysterious Acquisition "That''s a lot of ......!" "Is this the power that Leonard''s kingdom had ......?" "Great, great, great, great!" Jade Nephroy was running around among the golems without thinking about himself. "Hey, I was distracted by the golem, but look at that! A man pointed behind him, and his fellow knights all turned to look. "Whoa!" "...... is amazing!" There was a pile of Magi Crystals. They were not sorted by attribute, but they were piled up in various colors: red, yellow, green, blue, purple, white, black, transparent, and so on. "Why so many ......?" Bruno, the captain of the group, was not sure yet, but his eyes lit up as he thought that with such a large amount of Magi Crystals, they would be able to make up for the loss of the last year''s ......<>. * * * * * * And it seems that the magic minister Kerichdole on this side of the <> felt the same way. "Wonderful. The discovery of the Magi Crystal and the Golem. Our country''s finances can now breathe a sigh of relief. Treasures lying in the ruins of a kingdom thought to have perished. There is no one in this world who would argue that the one who finds it owns it. There are no laws. "Was it an old mining site?" Jin asked himself. If the old Leonard''s Kingdom had been mining magi crystals since it was still functioning, that amount of magi crystals would make sense. The same mining by golems had continued on Horai Island for a thousand years. However, there is no explanation for the golem for battle. "Hmmm, that''s certainly a strange combination..." Kerichdole, who had cooled down from her excitement, agreed with Jin''s question. "...... and the orientation of that golem..." Elsa also expressed her doubts. "What do you mean?What do you mean by ''orientation''?" <, I mean that all the golems in the row are facing the back of the room. "Hmm. It looks like they''re on the lookout for something coming out of the back of the room. "...... sure." Jin and his team are able to make a fairly calm judgment about these puzzling aspects from the sidelines, but the investigators involved are so absorbed in their discovery that they do not seem to have any doubts whatsoever. The video image began to move. < must have walked out. The image was moving toward the back, weaving between the golems. The image was moving through the golems and moving toward the back of the room. "Hmm?The golems around here have scratches on them. The steel exterior of the Golem, which had passed 400 Golems, showed scratches. And moreover. "...... arms are missing?" After 500 bodies, the damage was getting worse. "......!" Everything after 550 had been destroyed. What is this mess? "Why does the damage increase as you go deeper into the room?It''s as if the enemy has come out from the back." There is no answer to these questions. The debris piled up at the back of the room made it impossible to imagine what was there. The site had not yielded any more discoveries than that. No further discoveries were made at the site. Nevertheless, the discovery of many battle golems and magi crystals was expected to bring great benefits to the Kingdom of Egelea. The Kingdom of Egelea began preparations for the departure of a large force to retrieve the golem and the magi crystals. * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, we will leave you now for the time being. On the morning of the 10th, Jin and his team left Asunto for Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. There had been no particular developments at the ruins since then. So Reinhardt''s ambassadorial duties are over. Yes, it''s been a long time. Jin wanted to make sure that the Kunlun Islands were clear to the Klein Kingdom in person. It''s about 250 kilometers away. Jin''s airship arrived at Alban in five hours. The time was 1:00 pm. Since the airship had been contacted, he was greeted in Alban by Princess Rieschen and other familiar faces. "Oh, Jin, it''s been a long time!It''s been a little less than two months since my father''s treatment at ......." "Jin-dono, Erza-dono, and Ambassador Reinhardt-dono, welcome." The second prince Arthur greeted them with Rys. And then.., "Jin-sama, it''s a pleasure to see you again." It was Lioness Ashford, the tutor of the second prince Arthur. Jin and the others were soon shown into the reception room. When they told him that they had already eaten on the airship, tea and tea cakes were served. "Well, Miss Elsa, or should I say Miss Elsa Randall now? First of all, let me thank you again for the other day. Thank you very much for healing my father. Arthur bowed his head. Rieschen bowed at the same time. "My father has recovered quite well since then, and he is now able to hold government affairs normally," he said. "I am glad to hear that." Elsa answered a little shyly. "Well, I have a few things for you today, but let''s start with Sir Jin Nido, shall we? At the same time, Princess Rieschen held out a piece of leather paper. "Sir Jin Nidor, on this 10th day of January, 3458, the Kingdom of Klein recognizes you as Lord Kunlun. "Sir Jin Nidor. In a formal tone, Rieschen read out the description on the leather paper. "Jin, you''re good!I too would like to visit this Kunlun Island! Princess Rieschen now spoke to Jin in a friendly manner as she handed him the paper. Jin takes the paper with a serious face and smiles this time. "Oh, I''m sure you will, eventually, when the situation calms down. "Yeah, yeah, I promise." Rhys nodded his head in satisfaction and the subject moved on to the next topic. "Mister Reinhardt, it seems that the road improvement project using the five Goliaths that we borrowed from the Shoro Empire is going well so far. I would like to thank you first of all for that. It is a great thing to be able to transport and maintain roads. "In regards to this gratuity, this is what our country has in mind." Prince Arthur presents the rolled and sealed document. Reinhardt accepted it with a nod of the head. Although he is an ambassador, Reinhardt does not have the authority to see the document. He was to take it back to the Shoro Kingdom and give it to the queen. "Jin-dono, the other day you told me about the buckwheat crop, and the Nostalgia Party gave me some of it, and I''ve just started growing it. "That''s good to hear." Jin, in other words, since the stock on Horai Island was low, he sent Ann to the demon territory to get some seeds and gave them to the Nostalgia Party. "I also brought what I could get, as I promised the other day," Jin said to Reiko. Jin ordered Reiko and held out a small bag. It was a small bag of buckwheat seeds weighing about one kilogram. "Oh, thank you. Jin could be proud of the fact that he had kept his promise, but it was a bittersweet moment for him because it was far short of the amount he needed. "Here, take this." Jin then handed him the map. "Oh!This is it! Amazing! It shows the topography of the Leonard Kingdom! Even though the map was little more than a blank map, it had a great impact. A promise was made to thank him later. Just to be clear, I should make this clear. The conversation went further. "...... Well, then, my survey team should be moving through this area by now." Prince Arthur pointed to the upper reaches of the Darth River. Jin looked at it and guessed that they were probably moving southward along the contour line. This does not mean that he knows the contour lines, but it means that he would not have chosen a route that would require going up and down. It is just that it would be the least effort. However, it seemed to me that there was a possibility that they might have crossed paths with the Egelea Kingdom survey team. How well the hot air balloons would be utilized, Jin did not know. The investigation of the former Leonard Kingdom has only just begun. 722 - - 21-34 Complexity Jin and his friends departed from the Kingdom of Klein and landed in front of Nido Castle in the village of Kaina. They landed on the snow. "Oh, snow!That''s rare!" Reinhardt had never seen a snowy landscape before and was a little excited. Jin thought it was unusual to see Reinhardt like that, "That''s surprising." Erza followed up. "Because the Shoro Kingdom is located inland, it doesn''t snow very often. "Oh, I see." "Besides, as a diplomat, I avoid seasons when snowfall would interfere with my itinerary. Jin agreed. He remembered that he had not seen much snow when he had traveled with Erza and the others from the Kingdom of Elias. In the snowball fight, Erza took the role of a decoy, and Jin thought in a corner of his mind that it might have been a result of her excitement with the snow. "Oneeechan, oneeechan, welcome back! Hannah came over. She had found Jin''s airship and had rushed to it. "I''m home, Hannah." Jin wanted to spend a little time with Hannah, even though he would be going out again soon. "Huh?Let''s see ......, is that Uncle Reinhardt?" "Oh, Uncle Reinhardt. ......" Reinhardt is a little depressed because Hannah called him uncle when she saw Reinhardt. "Thanks a lot, Rai." I wonder where she learned that, Erza was comforting Reinhardt with such words. * * * * * * Jin and Erza played with Hannah until sunset. After that, they moved to Horai Island, where the whole Jin family gathered for the first time in 3458. The first gathering of the Jin family in 3458. "Happy New Year! Happy New Year to you all. After exchanging a few casual greetings, Jin expressed his hopes for the new year in front of the whole group. He said that he wanted to make the Kunlun Island his official territory. He said that he would like to rebuild the old Leonard Kingdom, and that he would like Ernest and Rhys to be the king and queen. This is a long term plan. "I''m sure you have a lot to say, but as for the Kunlun Island, we have received approval from the kingdoms of Klein, Egelea, and Elias, and have been given the title of <>." After Jin explains this, he keeps his mouth shut and the members of the family begin to speak. "It would be nice to use Kunlun Island as a dummy in the original sense. No, it''s not a dummy anymore. It''s official Jin territory. Reinhardt spoke up first. "But rebuilding the old Leonard''s Kingdom is going to be hard, and there will be conflicts with the people around, so it won''t be a simple task, will it? He also reminded Jin that it would not be a simple task. "Yeah, that''s true. And I''m sorry about the way I said it. It''s not that I''m trying to rebuild the old Leonard''s Kingdom. I''m not trying to rebuild the old Leonard''s Kingdom, but there are expeditionary teams from the kingdoms of Egelea and Klein, and I think that Ernest and Rhys would make good rulers, and it would be a shame if they were left as they are. ......" "I see, it would be nice if we could get things moving in that direction." Now Stearina took into account what Jin wanted to say and said, "Oh, that''s the way it is. "Yes, that''s what I meant. I don''t mean that I''m going to call on each country to ......." Everyone nodded in agreement with Jin''s explanation. "Well then, I guess that''s good. I thought you were going to run the world behind the scenes. Vivian offered her opinion, as if she were a storyteller. Jin scratched his head. "I wouldn''t do that, it''s ...... too much trouble." "Well, it''s just like Jin to say it''s too much trouble, isn''t it? Saki laughed as she said this. "There are a lot of movements going on around the world right now. I''d like to summarize them. After settling down, Jin spoke up about the second topic of discussion. However, it was the old man who was in charge of explaining. . The calm voice of the old man began the explanation. < has led to the construction of more large ships. Although it has been a bit difficult due to the absence of the master (Mylord) and Mr. Reinhardt," Reinhardt said with a wry smile. Reinhardt listened to this with a wry smile. Jin also knows. This was when he proposed the use of <. Rodrigo is back, so I am sure we will do well, thought Jin, Reinhard, and Erza. "What!How absurd! No wonder Reinhardt shouted so loudly. A private merchant has poured his heart and soul into developing and building a large ship, and now the government is going to seize it. This is insane. The calm voice of the old man states the results of his analysis, but it is not enough to convince him. "That country will be short of human resources in the not-too-distant future. ......" Reinhard muttered. This was the thought of the entire Jin family. "Brother Fritz said he is also cooperating with them." Elsa adds. . By passing directly to the Kingdom of Egelea, they will be able to make their way to the Kingdom of Egelea and return home easily. <>5 of them will be able to trample on the pavement after they have passed through. This is a revolutionary method in a world that has never heard of road rollers. A red line is drawn on the map projected on the magic screen, and the village of Tubou is indicated by a red circle. <<< Jin and the others are well aware of this, since they have been watching them through the Magi Monitor. < "Well, you know what I mean. The kingdom of Egelea has been hit hard economically by the Golem party. Reinhard nodded. "But I''m interested in the ruins or ......." Toa looks as if he would like to go there. "Hmph, dad, dad." Saki poked Toa with a wry smile. "But it''s really interesting, isn''t it?" Even Vivien, the narrator of the story, said something like that. "That country is ......" Reinhardt''s mouth was filled with mutterings such as "That country is ". "What, tomorrow?" The word "your house" seemed strangely out of place, and Jin almost laughed. "I think he said he was the head of the technical department of the Ministry of Magic and Technology. Erza thought about it and spoke up. She knows more about this than Jin because she has been making the rounds to greet people when they move in. The advice was that since there is a chronic shortage of engineers in Mitsuho who can repair old and broken magic tools, this would be a good opportunity for friendship. "Yes, my brother told me something like that." No one disagreed with that. "Yes. "Yes, we have brother Fritz and Gloria here too. < "...... thank you." It is a comfort to know that if something should happen to us, we can go to the rescue immediately. Elsa thanked the old man. The current situation is quite chaotic. In addition, famine is about to start in the kingdoms of Klein and Cerroa, so it seems that the year 3458 is going to be a tumultuous one. 723 - - 21-35 Botzfa Ruins January 12, mid-afternoon . "I see it!It''s a huge golem!" The Egelea Kingdom survey team received a report from a scouting hot air balloon that had gone ahead of them. The location was Tubou village in the former Leonard Kingdom. "Oh!Is that a hot air balloon of the Kingdom of Egelea?" The Cline Kingdom survey team also noticed the hot-air balloon flying in the sky. "You did it!" They cheered. It has been a week since they set foot in the former Leonard''s Kingdom. The expedition had achieved 80% of its objectives. An hour after the report, at 1:30 p.m., the survey teams from the two countries shake hands. "Thank you very much for your hard work from a long way. But, <>, isn''t it? It''s very impressive. Yes, you''ve helped me a lot. No, it was quite an interesting trip. In a tent on the outskirts of the village of Tubou, Bernardo, the captain of the Cline Kingdom survey team, and Gloria, the vice captain of the Cline Kingdom survey team. Bruno, the captain of the Egelea Kingdom survey team, Jade, the magecraftsman, and the reinforcements, Emperor Shoro. Major Shoro and Fritz, the reinforcements, were also present. They were reporting back to each other on the results of their research. "We will be able to get seafood in the village of Neurea, and wild sea pike in the village of Awning," said Shoro. In the village of Wu Gong, we will get honey and citran. We also found half-wild rye along the way. These benefits are mainly provided by the Kingdom of Klein. The main beneficiary of these will be the Kingdom of Klein. "The path that <> has walked on has been levelled and made easier to walk on, albeit in a simple way. We have taken care to make as few ascents and descents as possible." The two men from the Kingdom of Egelea nod as Fritz explains. Jade Nephroy looks eager to check out . "We still have a lot of work to do on the Tubou mine, but we''ve had great success at the Soldrake site." Bruno opened his mouth to tell the truth on this occasion, as he was not good at bargaining, since it would soon become obvious even if he hid it from us. "Well, Magi crystals and golems, that''s ...... enviable." Bernardo, the captain of the Klein Kingdom survey team, said with some regret. "We haven''t investigated the Botsuffa ruins yet, so why don''t we investigate them jointly?" Seeing Bernardo''s situation, Bruno suggested, "Oh, that''s a good idea. "Oh, that would be a great idea. The Botsuffa ruins are located about 30 km southwest of the village of Tubou, where they are now. Hot air balloons, <>, knights of both countries, and magecraftsmen. Bruno thought that with all these people together, the investigation of the ruins would surely progress well. Normally, one should think of putting the interests of one''s own country first, and inviting another country is an unusual choice. This was a proposal that was typical of Bruno, who is not good at making political decisions. But here comes the moment of crisis. No! It was the head of the village of Tubou. "No?Why not? Bruno asked. "You can''t go in there!" "What?Why not? There are dangerous things sealed up in there! Dangerous things?What is it? That''s new. No one I''ve ever met has ever told me such a story. "I don''t know. But I heard that there used to be a sign near the ruins that said "No Entry Due to Danger". "Hmmm... No Trespassing." Bruno thought for a moment. This is the former Kingdom of Leonard. We know from the records that it still existed at the time of the Great Magic War. As a knight, there were several possibilities. Weapons and ordnance are hidden or abandoned and dangerous for civilians to approach. Or emergency supplies are stored there and the area is off-limits to protect them. There is something really dangerous here. Bruno, who is a rugged man by nature, is not very good at thinking. "...... have any of you checked it out?" Bruno asked the chief. "......" The chief could not say for sure. Certainly not with his own eyes, and certainly not with anyone else''s. "So, but according to the legend!" Still insisting, Bruno stopped him with a hand. "Yes, all right, all right. But we have come this far for the sake of our country. How about we take it slow and careful?" He adds, "We have a giant golem on our side. Indeed, <>''s huge body was dependable and reassuring to look at. The chief could not say anything more strongly and withdrew. The next day, on the 13th, the survey team arrived at the site. The next day, the 13th, the survey team started to head southwest. Leading the way was . A hot air balloon floats in the sky, indicating the direction of travel. Specifically, the balloon floats a little ahead of the direction in which it should go, and < proceeds toward that direction. "Well, that''s great! Fritz said impressed. "I didn''t know that observation from the sky could be so effective. The members of the Egelea Kingdom also thanked for carrying everything but their personal belongings, which made them feel lighter. This was the first time that a scouting hot-air balloon and a golem for transportation were added to the expedition''s composition. This meant that it was worthwhile to have a mixed team of the three countries. The group was able to travel at a speed of almost four kilometers per hour, so they had covered 30 kilometers while there was still daylight. "So this is the Botsuffa ruins. ......" What lies before us appears to be nothing more than the entrance to a collapsed mine. To begin with, there are two kinds of ruins in the old Leonard''s Kingdom. One is what anyone would consider ruins. Probably, they were laboratories or warehouses of supplies. The other is one that is located near a settlement and is called a by the inhabitants. This place seems to have been the latter. "......There may be some precious ores and magic crystals (magi crystals) here, though. ......" The group was a little, or rather a lot, depressed. In any case, the excavation would have to wait until the next day. The group finds a flat spot near the ruins and pitch their tents. The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, the excavation of the ruins began. The entrance to the supposed tunnel was filled with crumbled earth and stones, and it would take some time to dig it back up. However, the group was accompanied by a powerful golem named <>. < "Oh, this is amazing." "...... I''m glad this giant golem is on our side." It was just before noon when the tunnel opened its mouth before the eyes of the knights, who were thinking such thoughts as "Wow, this is amazing! "As expected, can''t get inside. The rest is up to us knights. But first, let''s eat. Bruno says jokingly, as if trying to restrain the rest of the group from getting too excited. And Bernardo agreed. "Yes, that''s right. Let''s have a quick lunch. The two captains told the team members to suppress their impatience, but they still hurriedly prepared their lunch. However, all they had to do was heat up the soup, cook the dried meat, and cut and arrange the hard bread. They are used to it and are done in 15 minutes. "...... what do you think, Mister Fritz?" Gloria swallowed the dried meat and decided to ask Fritz, who happened to be standing next to her, for his opinion. "Hmm?What?" Fritz, who had swallowed a piece of bread, looked doubtful. Gloria explained. "No, I mean what is sealed in these ruins." Fritz gave her an unusually difficult look. "I don''t know. I don''t know, but if the captain has made a decision, I will follow it. "You are a soldier of the Shoro Empire. Don''t you have some discretion in this matter? "Certainly I do. But once I become a member of an organization, I will follow the policies of the entire organization unless there is a good reason not to. Fritz laughed bitterly as he added, "I''m not very good at thinking. 724 - - 21-36 Findings Since it was impossible for to enter the tunnels, all the work had to be done by the team members. However, the main part of the tunnel had collapsed around the entrance. Although the tunnel was littered with rocks, there was still enough space for one person to pass through. "It''s narrow, but it looks passable. The Cline Kingdom survey team enters the room first. However, the female knights are waiting outside. Fritz, who has the authority to give orders to <>, also waits outside. "Well, I''m off." Leaving these words, the Klein Kingdom survey team consisted of five members including the captain Bernardo, and the Egelea Kingdom survey team consisted of five members including the captain Bruno, plus Jade Nephroi. A total of 13 people set out for the interior of the tunnels. "The air inside is often stagnant. Be careful, Mr. Bernard. "Yes, sir." With his magic lamp illuminating his footsteps, Bernardo slowly advanced. The team members moved out of the way any rocks that could be moved to make it easier to walk. Jade Nephroy, at the far end of the group, was using engineering magic <> to bring in fresh air. They continued in this manner for about 20 meters. At the end, there was a large space. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all smooth, and it appeared to be a hall. "Oh? "What is that?" What do you see at the end of the hall? Many golden shiny objects reflecting the light of the magic lamp. They were piled up in the back. As Bernardo approached, he saw a cylindrical object made of gold. They were about 30 centimeters in diameter and 50 centimeters high. When he gently shook one of them, it moved. "Hmm, is it hollow inside?" I lifted it slowly. It was heavy, but I managed to lift it. I heard a popping sound, so it seems to be filled with liquid. In short, it is a small drum. "Mister Jade! Bernardo called Jade Nephroy, a magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea. You wanted to see me? I''m sorry, but is this vessel gold?I would like you to find out. "Yes, I''m sorry, but I need you to check if this container is gold. ...... is definitely gold. "Do you have any idea what is in it?" "Yes, sorry, except that it is liquid ......" The engineering magic of is that you can''t know what you don''t know. "Hmmm, still, with this much gold in hand, our finances should be able to breathe a sigh of relief." There were roughly 50 containers of gold. Even if you subtract the contents, the amount must have been about 20 kilograms. That would make a total of one ton. At a market value of 300 tol per gram, that''s 300 million tol. That''s a huge amount. Bruno is impressed. A ton of gold. "Get it out of here." Bernardo ordered his men to remove the containers of gold. It was about the weight of an adult male, so they managed to carry it out. The men moved the containers out of the building several times. When the number of containers was reduced to about half, what appeared to be another container, which had been hidden behind the others, came into view. The size is the same. However, the color was different. Bernardo recognized the silvery-black color. Bruno, of course, also recognized it. "<>...... as expected." Jade Nephroy examined the vessel and found that it was made of adamantite. It was 10. Bernard, lifting it up, found it to be lighter than the previous one. Adamantite is rarer than gold. Its strength is several hundred times greater than that of gold, and it is obviously made thinner. Still, estimates put the weight at 10 kilograms apiece. 10 for 100 kilograms. Adamantite has a market value of 10 million tolls per kilo. In other words, a billion dollars. In addition, the rare metal adamantite was a great benefit to the company. Bernardo decided to have it brought out as well. "Hmmm, this is a great find," he said. Bernardo and Bruno look around the room for something else. "Hmm?" Bruno steps on something. "What''s this?" He picks it up and sees that it seems to be an iron plate. The hall was so humid that it was rusted red and the writing on the surface was almost unreadable. "...... sealed ...... to ...... this ......... ...touch...... and ...... adventure......." That''s all I could barely read. I don''t know what''s going on. "Is there anything else?" I tried to shine the light of the magic lamp, but I could not find anything more. "Hmmm, but it looks like we got something valuable. Bernardo was beginning to think about how to distribute the find, which would total more than 1.3 billion dollars. That''s when it happened. "Aaaaah!" came the voice of a member of the team from outside. He seemed to have fallen down while holding the container he was carrying in his haste. "Oh, what happened?" The man, who had left the container behind and was still light on his feet, tried to help the man up, but he suddenly turned his head. "Oh no! What happened? My hand! My hand! The worker''s palm was discolored black. Apparently, there was a hole in the container, and when he fell and dropped it, the liquid inside spilled out. The man who was covered with the liquid was thrashing around. The man is now struggling to get to his feet, "Don''t touch the liquid!Be careful!" Bruno gives instructions in a panic. Bernardo was slow to react. "What''s going on? Gloria and the other female knights outside tried to run to him, but Bruno stopped them. "Don''t come any closer!Water! Spray him with water! Fortunately, there was a narrow river running near the ruins of Bozfa. Without knowing what was going on, the female knights got a large container of water and poured it over the knight who was moaning in pain. The knight whose hand was injured went to the river by himself and soaked his hand in the stream. This seemed to relieve some of the pain. "......What the hell happened?" Fritz, who was rearranging the gold vessels that the knights had taken out of <>, asked Bernardo, who had just emerged from the ruins. "...... I don''t know, but it seems that the contents of the containers were dangerous goods. I fell down and got covered with the contents, and that''s what happened." Tiffany Baldacci, a female knight in charge of healing, was treating the knight. "This is terrible. ...... What the hell is going on?" Her hands and chest are a burnt color. He is dousing them with water to cool them down, but the pain seems to be considerable. Nevertheless, the pain seemed to subside little by little as the water was repeatedly poured over them. <>" This is the best healing magic Tiffany can use, a surgical intermediate level <>. With this, her condition seems to have improved considerably. "That''s a relief." By this time, the remaining members of the team had removed all the gold and adamantite containers. "Could all the contents of the gold containers be this liquid?" "Very likely. It is possible that they put it in the gold containers because it is dangerous." Captains Bernardo and Bruno were consulting with each other. "Then what exactly is in the adamantite container?" There was no one present who could answer that question. They decided to camp on the spot that day. 725 - - 21-37 Contents The day after tomorrow is the 14th. What to do with the container is the most urgent issue. The Cline Kingdom survey team consists of Bernardo, the captain, and Gloria, the vice-captain. The Egelea Kingdom survey team consists of Bruno, the captain, and Jade, the magecraftsman. And Major Fritz of the Shoro Kingdom. These five were meeting face to face. "Why don''t we first discuss the distribution of the money and then decide on the policy of each country? This was Bernardo. "Hmmm, that may be a good idea. ...... We would like to dig a hole and just throw away the contents. Bruno nodded with difficulty. "That''s a shame!The fact that the old Leonard''s Kingdom had sealed it up and not thrown it away means that it must be of some value. You can''t just throw it away!" Jade objected. "That''s another theory." Fritz nodded. "The alchemists would jump for joy." "But then the gold used for the containers would not be reusable. Wouldn''t that reduce the meaning of bringing it back by half? It was Gloria who spoke up with a good argument. Jade Nephroy, on the other hand, said. "Don''t get me wrong, I agree with you that the liquid inside is a threat. But I would say that we have to consider the implications of this line of inquiry." "Hmmm ......" It is hard to come to a conclusion. It was frustrating to not be able to see what was going on over there, even though the Magi Monitor should have been able to tell what was going on over here. It was at that time. "Whoa! A startled voice sounded. I turned my head to see one of the members of the Klein Kingdom survey team staring at the knife in his hand with a pale face. Bernardo and the others stopped the meeting and called the man over to find out what had happened. "Murtagh, what''s wrong?" The knight called Murtagh straightens up and begins to explain. After the mysterious liquid was spilled, I washed it away with water, but when I passed by the place, I noticed a faint smoke and a strange smell. Murtagh explains the situation. Bernardo nodded and motioned him on. "Well, go on." "Yes. The smoke was coming from a puddle and I thought something was sinking, so I probed with my knife and this is what happened. Murtagh held out the knife in his hand and showed it to the group. It had a crumbling surface and was clearly . "This is ......." "You think it was the liquid that was left in the water after it was flushed?" "Liquid that dissolves iron or ......" The captains ponder. "...... in the old Leonard kingdom, maybe they were thinking of using it as a weapon?" Fritz says, "Yes, indeed. "Indeed. If they were exposed to this liquid, they would be damaged even if they were wearing iron armor. Bruno agrees. "But then, why did they seal it?" Bernardo''s opinion is quite natural. This solution would have been able to penetrate through the gaps in their armor and cause damage to their enemies. "...... isn''t it because it is too inhumane?" Gloria expressed her opinion. She had seen the treatment and the devastation. "...... both arms and chest are black and charred. The wounds are too severe to be treated with intermediate level healing magic. "Hmm. ......" This is what we would call a chemical weapon on modern Earth. Not only gases, but these things can be a threat as well. "Even diluted, but still so effective. ...... it''s scary." Jade Nephroy looked a little pale. "For now, why don''t we check the contents of the adamantite container before drawing any conclusions? Bernard suggested, "For now, why don''t you check the contents of the adamantite container before drawing any conclusions? "No, why don''t you think about why it is adamantite and not gold?" "I think it''s possible that something more dangerous is sealed inside." Gloria and Fritz disagreed. "No, it''s something we''ll have to check sooner or later, and it''s better to check it here than after we bring it back to the home country." "I agree. We can''t be sure that there won''t be any accidents on the way back. Bruno and Jade agreed. So it was three against two. Neither Fritz nor Gloria spoke against the resolution. "So how do we make sure we know what''s in there?" "I''ll do that." Jade. It means that the container will be opened by engineering magic. Even if it''s adamantite, it''ll open it no problem. "Yes, please. ...... Then I would like to do it with the best security measures possible." About 200 meters from the camp, <> dug a hemispherical depression about 10 meters in diameter and 5 meters deep. Goliath dug a hemispherical depression 10 meters in diameter and 5 meters deep. An adamantite vessel was brought into the center of the depression and opened by Jade Nephroi using engineering magic. A lifeline is attached to Jade, and will draw her to him if anything should happen to her. Those who can use offensive magic will stay at the edge of the hole to deal with any unforeseen events. All the female knights except Gloria stand back in case of an emergency. This situation will be reported to the Kingdom of Egelea by <>. These are the measures taken. The time is 3:00 pm. Jade Nephroy uses engineering magic to make a hole in the adamantite container. "<>" Very slowly, a hole of about 10 cm in diameter is opened in the lid of the container. Jade stops there. "......What''s inside?" Jade peeks through the opening and sees a translucent, viscous fluid inside. If Jin had seen it, he would have said it looked like . Fearfully, he poked it with a fallen branch, but nothing happened. Jade enlarged the opening. It is definitely a strange translucent fluid, but nothing happens when I poke it with a tree branch or a knife. It seems that this is not a deleterious substance. Relieved, Jade Nephroy carefully opens the other containers. Nine out of ten containers were identical. But the remaining one makes a rattling sound when shaken. Obviously, there were many solids in the containers, and they seemed to be quite hard. "This one seems to be the only one with different contents. Be careful. "Yes, sir, I understand." Then he looked at the container carefully, and found that it seemed to be one size smaller than the others. "......<>" Jade Nephroy opened the container as carefully as before. "What is this?" What he found was a large number of grayish stones. They were crumbly and unevenly shaped, lack luster and were opaque, and did not appear to be of any value. "......Why would something like this be in a container of adamantite?" I don''t know. This was his final conclusion. "At least the adamantite container can be transported without worrying about its contents." However, hollow containers are bulky. "Shall we dig a hole for the contents, and have the empty container turned into an ingot by engineering magic? "That would be a good idea. No one objected, so they dug a hole in a suitable location in the center of the place they had examined and emptied the entire contents of the container into it. The gray stone, also examined by Jade Nephroy, was not of any value, so he decided to dump it in the same hole. The stone slowly sank into the translucent viscous fluid. Before I knew it, it was already dusk. "Well, I guess we''ll have to spend one more night here tonight," Bernardo said. Bernardo said, and the group began to prepare for encampment. The tents were already pitched, so the main task was to prepare dinner. "We''re going to have a feast tonight," Bernardo said. Shee-pa on the rocks!" the cook of the day said. The cook for the day said, and there was a small cheer. It was a seepa we had found two days before. The meat is probably not yet matured, but who doesn''t like meat cooked in a place like this? A flat stone is roasted over a fire and the meat is placed on top of it. When the meat is cooked to your liking, you put seasonings on it and eat it. The seasonings were only salt and a few herbs, but it was still a feast for them. The remaining bones, skin, and other garbage were discarded in the hole we had just left. "Tomorrow morning, we''ll backfill it and leave," he said. "Yes, sir." It was a warm night for winter, and they were able to sleep soundly without feeling cold. 726 - - 21-38 Separated January 14. Jin, Reinhard, and Erza go to the Shoro Imperial Palace. The purpose is to report on the expedition and to finish it. The finishing touches were, of course, "I acknowledge Sir Jin Nido as the ." <. With these words of the Shoro Empress, Jin Nidor is recognized by all the nations with which he has contact. The Kingdoms of Selroa and Franz have also given their recognition, albeit only verbally, so that Jin can now proudly call himself <>. "Thank you very much." Jin then presented the same map to the emperor as the one he had given to the other countries. The emperor''s eyes widened when he saw the map, and he handed it to the vizier standing next to him. She then thanked Jin for the gift. Kunlun-kun, thank you very much for the precious map. Next, diplomat Reinhardt gave his report. "I think we have achieved all our goals this time. I have compiled the details in my report. The results of the mission were as follows, 1. Approval was obtained for regular trade with the Kingdom of Elias by ship. 2. We obtained permission to use the port of the Kingdom of Egelea as part of the trade route. 3. I obtained permission from the Kingdom of Egelea to trade with the Kingdom of Klein by way of the Naudalia River. etc. This is the end of his achievements as a diplomat. Next, 1. He gave the Kingdom of Elias technical guidance on shallow-bottomed vessels for transportation, and raised the stock of the Shoro Kingdom. 2. He gave the same technical guidance to the Kingdom of Egelea for shallow-bottomed vessels, and raised the stock of the Shoro Kingdom. 3,Advised the Kingdom of Elias to the Kingdom of Klein regarding aid. 4. He proposed many improvement plans for the trade using ships. He also made technical achievements. The latter, however, was done in collaboration with Jin and Elsa. "Thank you, Reinhard and Erza, for your hard work. After receiving words of thanks from the empress, Jin and the others left the room. The details will be given in the report. Any unclear points would be discussed the next day. "Well, that''s it for today. We can take it easy." Since we were supposed to have continued traveling by airship, they let us go after half a day. "Hmm. Speaking of which, how are the Fritz brothers doing?" I''m sure the Horaijima Air Force is watching us from a very high altitude. "Let''s hurry back and try to get there." Still in the courtyard of the palace, Jin omits the word <> because he doesn''t know who is listening. "Nah, I agree." Erza nods in agreement. First, they take the airship to Jin''s residence. "Welcome back, Jin-sama, Erza-sama. Welcome, Mr. Reinhardt. Barrow welcomes us. It seems that he has already made himself at home in this house. One of these days I''m going to ask him if he prefers to stay here or in the village of Kaina. Be that as it may, Jin and the others had lunch prepared by Behr and then moved to Horai Island. >. "Old man, how is the old Leonard''s Kingdom survey team doing?" The "Mere Old Man" gave a brief report of the survey team he had observed from a high altitude. "I see, you found containers of gold and adamantite at the Botsuffa site or something like that?" "...... what do you think, Reinhardt?" Jin asked Reinhardt''s opinion. "Well, it doesn''t feel right to just take out the things that were stored in such a place. "Well, I think so too." Erza agreed with Reinhardt. "......It''s good to see that my brother Fritz is doing well. Gloria is also safe. But I''m still wondering about those ruins." "Me too. I hope you weren''t blinded by the value of the container and unleashed a disaster. "Yes, keep an eye on them." Jin instructed the old man to pay more attention to them. * * * * * * Morning of the 15th. After a quick breakfast, the team was about to backfill the hole where they had dumped the contents of the container when Jade Nephroy had an idea. As they were about to backfill the hole where they had dumped the contents of the container, Jade Nephroy had an idea. "Let''s try something. Let''s see what happens if we dump the contents of the gold container here. Mysterious liquid and mysterious viscous fluid. Everyone wanted to know what would happen if they mixed them, and no one objected. "Well, let''s give it a try." They bring one container into the depression and make a small hole in it. Carefully, so as not to get any on his body, he poured a small amount of the liquid inside into the hole. "Oh? The liquid, which could dissolve iron, was absorbed into the viscous fluid without any problems. And the viscous fluid showed no change. "Then, we can dispose of it, can''t we?" When he informed the captains of the results, they all nodded their heads. "Let''s keep one for the alchemist and empty the rest. The captains agreed to leave one for the alchemist and empty the rest. It took some time because of the hazardous materials, but all the contents of the 48 containers were disposed of into the hole. "Okay, now we just need to bury them." As the others were packing up the tent, Fritz suddenly shouted. "Rock wolf!Watch out! At the same time, blood sprays. Fritz draws the longsword on his back and cuts one down. "No!" A female knight, caught off guard, is attacked. Get down! It was Gloria who saved her. She too had just slashed a rock wolf with her favorite sword. We''re surrounded! She was surrounded by a pack of rock wolves. There were about 50 of them. Except for the two that I cut down, they didn''t attack suddenly, but surrounded them, listening to what was going on. "Everyone, draw your swords!Form a circle! Fritz calls out. Bernardo, the captain of the Kleinian survey team, and Bruno, the captain of the Egelea survey team, followed his instructions. They form a circle with the two young female knights and Jade Nephroy in the middle. The rock wolves were slowly closing in on the encirclement. 727 - - 21-39 Flitzs performance Rock wolves are characterized by their quickness and their ability to form a pack. Against such an opponent, <> was not very effective. They fear fire!Who can use fire magic? Yes, I can. I can do it. I''m on it. One of the female knights, Bernardo, the captain of the Egelea survey team, and another member of the Egelea survey team raised their hands. "Okay, you three, shoot a fireball in the same direction at the same time. Right, aim at the one with the dark fur." "Yes, sir." The captains decide that it is wise to leave this to Fritz, who seems to have experience in such battles. "Fire!" Three fireballs fly out. Just before they hit, the rock wolf ducks. At that moment, an opening is created. "<>! Aiming for that opening, Fritz unleashes a mid-level wind magic, wounding all three Rockewolves. "Not enough!Again!" A similar two-stage attack was made, wounding three more. This makes the herd a little more cautious. "Calm down!Each rock wolf is not that big a deal. If we can keep them from working together, we can win! Fritz loudly urged them on. The rest of the team, who had been cowed by the situation, regained their composure. Yes. The rock wolf is a little over a meter tall, about the size of a large dog. Its weapons are fangs. Their pelts are not very tough, and they can be slashed with ordinary swords. The dangerous thing is that they form a pack and attack in a coordinated manner. "The black one you saw earlier is probably the leader." The rock wolf was cut in the back by Fritz''s < and fell backwards. "If they leap at you in pieces, stay calm and swing your sword. Especially when they are in the air, they can''t change direction, that''s where you should aim!" Fritz said loudly so that everyone could hear him, "If you can withstand the fear and slash them while they are in the air, you can win. It was not something anyone could do, but he thought it was important to calm them down a little. We''re not going to get anywhere this way. Let''s get them in check. Listen ...... The old man, who had been observing the projection window for a long time, first briefly explained what had happened so far. "Hmmm, did you throw away the contents of the container that you took out?" Hearing this, Jin had an idea. "Could it be that this is the ...... from the time of the magic war?" There was once a magic weapon named <>. It was a monster that took in the mana around it and turned it into its own energy. The old man guessed that the one sealed in this place might be the same. Although his guess was based on incomplete information, it seemed to Jin that it was quite correct. < "Hmmm, and as the years passed, it became impossible to tell what had been sealed up, and the note was scattered. ......" However, just being able to guess the origin of the monster does not solve the problem. Just to be sure, I asked Ann about it, but she said she did not know. When they were all disposed of in one hole, a monster in the shape of a rock wolf was formed. <> "That''s possible." If it is a weapon from the time of the Great Magic War, it would not be surprising if it took the corpses of its enemies and created a monster that imitated the appearance of its enemies. "So the gray stone is the key. << When Jin and the old man were making a guess to this point, the old man said, "Brother! "Brother!" Erza screamed. "Oh my God! "Whoa!" The rock wolf imitation moved a little slower than the original rock wolf. However, when he slashed at the Rockefeller, his sword melted away. It was not instantly melted away, but the width of the sword was reduced to about two thirds. The thin part of the blade was melted. "It absorbed the corrosive liquid. ....... That means you can''t bypass touching it!" Fritz changed color when he saw this. "<> will be melted down too. ......" Untouchable and unable to slash with his sword, the only means of attack is magic. "<>!" However, its semi-fluid body is incompatible with wind magic. The rock wolf-like creature was recovering as soon as it was cut open. "Those of you who can use fire magic, attack!" Fritz, who had moved backwards and kept his distance from the others, gave the order in a voice that could be heard by all. "<>! In response to these words, a fire-attributed intermediate magic was released. It hit a rock wolf-like creature, but it was not enough to kill it. However, that wasn''t enough to defeat the Rock Wolf. Although its body is half gone, it returns to its original shape in the next instant. Although it had shrunk in size, the damage was not decisive. The knights are discouraged. To make matters worse, the horse was startled and ran away. They were just about to leave and were untethered. Now they have only their legs, <>, and a hot air balloon in the sky to escape. "<>! The rock wolf is attacked again, but it is not intimidated. Even if its body is burned a little, it only shrinks a little in size and quickly returns to normal. "No, it''s not totally ineffective!Keep firing!" Yes, the reduction in size must mean weakening. Fritz continued to inspire the knights, who were on the verge of collapse. Then, whether attracted by the commotion or just wandering in, a appeared. The saber boar is about two meters long, but it has a pair of huge tusks and charges when excited. This saber boar, perhaps startled by the rock wolf, rushed forward and attacked. The saber boar, which was surprised by the saber boar, rushes forward and attacks the saber boar. The saber boar is pierced by the huge fangs of the saber boar, and at that moment, the saber boar loses its shape and returns to its viscous fluid body. It then enveloped the saber boar. The semi-transparency of the body allowed us to observe the fate of the encased saber boar. As I watched, the fur melted, the flesh crumbled, and the bones dissolved. The viscous fluid that had been a rock wolf, turned into a saber boar. "Can he take the form of the person he''s taken? someone shouts. It is suicidal to try to get close enough to fight. "<>!Get Jared and the woman on board! Fritz orders. < And rises to his feet. For the time being, Fritz has secured the safety of the three men, who are not fit for battle, and readies his longsword. So far <> has not been attacked. It seems that only the creatures are being attacked. "Let''s see what happens if we all go up on top of Goliath: ......" Fritz thinks in the corner of his mind while dodging the attack of the rock wolf. But he does not follow through with the idea. The rock wolves have started to swarm <>. It is obvious that it is targeting the three people on top of the hand. At that moment, a > fell from the sky above. It was an attack from a hot air balloon. It seems that they finally realized what was going on and started to cover for the others. One of the rock wolves (or rock wolves) was hit by a flame ball and was engulfed in flames. 729 - - 21-41 Everything is over. One of the animals, engulfed in flames, falls. The morale of the team is lifted a little by the success of the battle at last. However, the three flame balls that were fired afterwards failed to catch the quickly moving and were extinguished in vain. Then, a further situation arose that left the team members in despair. The remaining ROCK WOLF began to merge ...... or rather, fuse together. The result of the fusion of the 16 Rockewolf monsters was a Rockewolf monster more than twice as large as the others. It was 2.5 meters long. Standing on its hind legs, its paws could reach the head of a 6-meter tall . "Kyaaaah!" screamed a female knight who had taken shelter on <>''s shoulder after being attacked by a giant rock wolf. "d*mn!< At Fritz''s command, <> grabs onto the giant rock wolf. But white smoke rises from both of its hands. It is being melted. However, it manages to pull itself away from . It seems that the giant rock wolf has now targeted . It seems to be trying to get rid of the obstacles first. "d*mn!" Meanwhile, Fritz and the others are fighting the remaining one, a saber boar. The wind magic he excels at is not enough to inflict a fatal wound or even to effectively check the boar. On the other hand, slashing with his sword would melt it, and repeated attacks would render it useless. "Whoa!" A fireball from a hot air balloon in the sky grazed one of the knights. A moving knight, a moving saber boar. It''s hard to aim. "Kuu, we''re losing ground at this rate. ......" Fritz is getting impatient. He is just dodging and not making any effective attacks. "<>!" Cynthia, Gloria''s second-in-command, unleashed an earth magic, but the saber boar didn''t seem to feel any pain and rushed straight at Cynthia. "Kyaaa!" Cynthia barely dodged, but she was grazed in the side and fell down. "Shea!" Gloria rushes to her. "It''s okay, it''s okay!" Cynthia stood up, her face contorted in pain. However, white smoke was rising from her right armpit and a hole was visible in her breastplate. Her body is probably damaged as well. The saber boar-like creature made a U-turn about 20 meters ahead and came back again. This time, it seems to be targeting Cynthia again. "Kuu......" Cynthia has yet to fully regain her bearings. To protect her, Gloria readied her shortsword. A saber-bore rushes forward. Just before the collision, Gloria takes a half step back and cuts it off. And by coincidence, the saber boar''s core, which was inside its body, was cut in half as well. The saber boa, which had had its magical core destroyed, began to lose its shape as it ran through, and eventually became a mere semi-fluid body that spread out on the ground with a clattering sound. "Thank you, vice captain." "Gloria, you''ve done it!" Jin made this composite sword. The sword was made of thin adamantite sandwiched between steel, and while the steel was melted, the adamantite blade sliced through the magic core without a second thought. However, the cost was great. "......" Gloria falls silently. "Sub-commander! "Gloria! Cynthia and Fritz run to her. They help her up. "......!" The saber-bore had slashed at the boar, and the fluid that had spewed out had burned his face, neck, and even his right arm. "Heal me!" But the female knight in charge of healing, Tiffany Baldacci, is on ''s shoulders. And the is being targeted by a giant rock wolf. The from the hot-air balloon seems to be running low on magic power, and is no longer being released. The only thing Fritz can do now is to get the seriously injured Gloria into the hot air balloon. He waves his hands in the air to attract the attention of the hot air balloon crew. When the crew sees Gloria''s wretched condition from a distance, they slowly lower their altitude. Fritz then hands the limp Gloria to and manages to get her on board as the hot air balloon descends to that height. However, the hot air balloon is already full to capacity, and it is unlikely to be able to carry any more injured passengers. The crew was also running out of magic power and was unlikely to be able to attack or provide support for the time being. Therefore, they decided to leave and take the seriously injured Gloria to the nearest town. Slowly a hot air balloon headed south. Fritz looks away and then back at the enemy. The giant rock wolf was now grappling with who was supporting . <''s limbs were melting away in a cloud of white smoke. It would not be long before it malfunctioned. "All is not well ......?" Fritz''s mind replayed his old failure. Five years ago, when he was still a lieutenant. In a skirmish with the Kingdom of Celuloa, he had been taken prisoner by the Celuloa Defense Forces. I was the only one who stood out from the crowd, relying on my military prowess. He was able to return home in exchange for prisoners of war, and since then he has learned not only martial arts but also tactics and strategy. "...... but the only way out of this predicament was to go to ......." Just when even he was about to lose heart. Just as he was about to break down, there was an impact sound, and the giant rock wolf that was fighting <> was blown away. "What the hell just happened? Someone tapped Fritz on the shoulder. What? A slender man with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a silver helmet and jet-black clothes was standing there. "Don''t worry," he said. "Who are you?" I don''t know when he appeared, "I am Machina. Deus ex machina. I am deus ex machina. "Machina?" Fritz had heard the name. He had been instrumental in stopping a conflict that had arisen between countries at the instigation of the Unifilers. "Yes. It seems that I have summoned up the ghosts of the Magic War. But you can leave that to me too. ? Fritz looked in the direction Makina''s face was facing and could not believe his eyes. A giant rock wolf of some sort was tossing about. The figure in shining silver armor is apparently a woman, and a rather small one at that. She is also quite petite. She looks to be about 5''5" or so. "This is my partner, Rey. The female knight, Rei, is a force to be reckoned with, even overpowering a giant rock wolf of some sort. She wears armor that will not melt at the touch and blasts the giant rock wolf with mere blows. "Amazing. ......" "Still, that''s not what Rey is really like." Makina says something that Fritz can''t believe his ears. And then... "Ray, that''s the coup de grace." Makina, who had gotten far enough away from the knights, gave the order. The silver knight Rei nodded silently and drew the sword at her waist. It was a sword of purple light. It was perhaps five meters long. Wielded as if it weighed nothing, the long sword of light sliced a giant rock wolf-like creature into small pieces right in front of Fritz''s eyes as he stared at it silently. In the process, the magical core inside was also destroyed, so it could not take shape again. "<>" "What? Fritz was even more astonished. Makina had used simple engineering magic, or fire magic of the highest level, <>. But the magic had vaporized the dangerous semi-fluid in no time at all. "Now there will be no more regrets. Is anyone hurt?" "Oh, no, nothing serious... one person was seriously injured, but we sent him to the nearest town in a hot air balloon." Fritz managed to say something, although he was overwhelmed with astonishment. 730 - - 21-42 After that... When Fritz and the others managed to round up the horses that had escaped, deus ex machina and Rey were nowhere to be found. "Who the hell is Makina ......?" It was 2:00 p.m. when the group finally regained their composure, and it was no longer time to make a big move. But it is true that no one wants to stay long in this monster-infested place where rock wolves and saber boars have been spotted. "Let''s move a little!" Bernardo, the captain of the Klein Kingdom survey team, and Bruno, the captain of the Egelea Kingdom survey team, were so exhausted that Fritz had no choice but to lead the group. The most damaged < seemed to be able to walk at least, so we decided to let him walk as much as possible. We set up our tents about 10 km away and rested for the day. Everyone was tired, but Fritz took the initiative to be the night watchman. "......Mr. Fritz, aren''t you tired?" Shortly before midnight, shortly before it was time for the shift change, Cynthia, the replacement, arrived. ......This is nothing," she said. "But you look a little pale, sir." "......?It''s probably because it''s dark. "It''s a little early for you, but I''ll take your place. Please rest." "...... sorry. I''ll do that." Fritz nodded at Cynthia''s worried words and went back to his tent. Cynthia watched his back and let out a small sigh. Cynthia sighed a little as she looked at his back. "Thank you, Brother Jin. Erza, who was staring at the magic screen in the Horaijima command center, let out a relieved breath and muttered to herself. She had seen the deus ex machina save her own brother Fritz when he was in danger. "Well, I''m glad you made it in time," Jin nodded. Jin nodded. "Ah, thank you." Makina and Rey appeared in the control room. The old man was operating the machina this time. And Ray said. "Father, I''m home." Reiko was in there operating the machine. "Welcome home. How''s Rei? "Yes,...... I hate to say it,...... but she''s not doing so well." "Well, I knew it. ...... < is Reiko. She wears on her arms and on her legs, a full-face helmet, and armor. He was thus disguising about 20 centimeters of his body size, which would be strange if it were easy to move around in this way. But I can do what I do without being identified, so please bear with me. I''ll do better next time. Yes, I''m looking forward to it. All of this is a makeshift plan. When he learned that the survey team was in danger, he built the whole thing in about five minutes and sent Makina and Rey to the site with the transporter. They managed to get there in time for Fritz''s crisis. On the way back, he sent equipped with a warp gate to a place a short distance away, and returned to Horai Island. "So, Anne, did you find out anything about the monster?" "Some kind of variant of <>." Anne agrees with Jin''s mutterings. "I think so too. Like <>, we tried to make it, but it was too useless, and it was too good to dispose of, so we kept it until we found a use for it. After considering various possibilities, they came to this conclusion. What looked like a stone must have been a special <. Jin nodded his head in agreement. "But you lost all traces of it, didn''t you? "Yes, in that case it was inevitable. Engineering magic is disguised as <>, but it is actually the opposite of <>, <>. It is a magic that raises the temperature of an object until its atoms are in a plasma state. Therefore, whatever the object is, it becomes harmless without any after-effects. "...... It is possible that there are still such relics lying around in the old Leonard''s Kingdom, isn''t it?" Anne added. "Yes, I suppose so. The old man, please follow up on this site and see if there is still something left of it." The old man, who has been surveying the ruins of the former Leonard Kingdom using the fifth column (Quinta), has been putting off the ruins known to the residents and prioritizing the search for unknown ruins. This is the reason why he is now trying to change his way of doing things. "I''ll leave it to you." Jin nodded. Anne then offered some more advice. "Goshujin-sama, in addition to that, I think you should also pay attention to what is going on in the Kingdom of Cerroa. There must be a lot of relics in that country, so there is no guarantee that they will not cause any accidents while studying them. "I understand. The old man, please inform the fifth column (Quinta) in the Kingdom of Celuloa. We can increase the number if necessary." . Jin then asked what was on his mind. "Oh, and what about Gloria?" > "Yes. ...... If it''s not urgent, there''s no need to panic. It doesn''t look life-threatening, does it?" The answer is also optimistic. << "Then just know where he is so that you can visit him whenever you want." * * * * * * After spending the night, the survey team splits into north and south as planned. The Cline Kingdom survey team will go south, i.e., to the Kingdom of Egelea. The Egelea survey team will go to the north, that is, to the Kingdom of Klein. Each of them will go to the capital city to have an audience with the respective king. "Thank you very much for your help, Mr. Fritz. I hope to see you again someday. "Thanks to you, we can now go to the Kingdom of Klein. Thank you. Take care. See you again. After that, the Egelea survey team headed north without any major incidents. Two days later, on January 18, the Cline Kingdom survey team crossed the border, passed through the York Jam Mine, and arrived at the village of Wrighton. "I guess this is the end of our mission. ......" Fritz mutters to himself. His role in cooperating with the Klein Kingdom survey team is over, though not without a hitch. "...... thank you very much, Mr. Fritz, for all your hard work." "Ah, Cynthia. You must have had a hard time on this expedition. "......Yes, well, I''ve only been on expeditions that lasted a night or so. Unlike Vice Commander Gloria. At the mention of Gloria''s name, Fritz frowned slightly. "Gloria. I should return this sword to you. At Fritz''s waist were two short swords, one for himself and one for Gloria. "I wonder where Gloria is getting her healing?" "...... you care?" Cynthia asked a little sadly. "Yes, I am curious. "......I see. ......" Cynthia looked down. Fritz looked at her and asked her quizzically, "What do you mean? "What''s wrong?What''s wrong?You don''t look well." Cynthia smiles and replies. "...... You really are a very witty or witty person, aren''t you?" "What?" "No, it''s nothing. The vice-captain was probably taken to the town of Glouri. I think he was taken to the town of Glori and from there to the capital city of Asunto. "Hmm, I see. I had to go to the capital anyway. I will return the sword to him then and we can pay our respects. "If you are ......, I can stay with you for a while longer." Cynthia looked rather happy as she said these words. "Oh, yes. I know I''m no longer with the , but I''m looking forward to working with you until Asunto. "My pleasure." In just a few more minutes, the two countries'' mixed forces seem to be moving forward together. The season is still cold in January. Still no sign of spring. 731 - - 21-43 Silent Story 39 In the Kingdom of Celluloa One day in the Kingdom of Cerroa. "What?< "Yes." Richard Valois de Cerlois, King of Cerlois, snickered. "You claim ownership of a small, insignificant island. Fine, let him have it." "May I?" "Of course. The Kingdom of Cerroa is not worth worrying about such a small island that will blow away in the wind. Richard was in a good mood that day. Yesterday, a map of the country by <> had been completed. "Hmmm, Lake Asur looks like this. And the Naudaria River flows like this, the Asur and Torres Rivers meet here, and our capital, Esia, is located at ......." The map, of course, also depicted parts of the kingdoms of Egelea, Shawlo, Franz, and Klein. "Here''s the fort ......, this will make it easier for us to plan our tactics." Richard Valois de Celluloix was in a good mood in front of the newly completed map. One day. "You wanted to see me, my lord?" Kneeling in front of Richard is Knut Amont, the director of the food agency. His status as an official is low middle class, but due to the recent food shortages, he is being summoned more and more often. "Knut, how is the food supply? "Yes, my lord. According to your recent announcement, I have ordered the local officials to collect taxes on a temporary basis. Soon enough wheat will be delivered to all the inhabitants of the capital, Esire. Well done. Well done. - Thank you. Knut Amonth, with the king''s permission, had imposed a heavy tax of eight crowns and two peasants, especially in the Korin region. The state would take 80% of the harvest. The Korin region was originally called the Kingdom of Korin. It was annexed 200 years ago in a manner that was akin to an invasion. Therefore, the Korin region was considered one level lower than the other kingdoms. Similarly, the eastern region of Libus was created by the annexation of the Kingdom of Libus 100 years ago, but this region had a nomadic population, and taxes were mainly on wool, which was not suitable for food procurement. However, as if not to spoil the situation, the wool tax was raised at 40% of the normal rate, and the residents were becoming increasingly dissatisfied. Then one day... "My lord, Eckert''s big ship has been seized." "Hm, go on." "Hm, go on." "Yes. When we caught him coming back from a test cruise, we asked him to give us his ship, and he said that he had been given it <>. He said that he had to pay 10,000 tokens for the ship, because it would have damaged his prestige. "Hmm, that''s quite a feat, isn''t it?" "Yes. And he also gave us the docks where the ship was built, the crew, and most of the ship''s crew. Well done. I commend you. Thank you. One day... "What, they found a bunch of golems in the ruins of Leonard''s kingdom?" Yes. I got a call from the agent who infiltrated the kingdom of Egelea. "Hmmm... ....... I didn''t know there were still such ruins. I don''t like the idea of letting his country take possession of them. Send troops from our country. Yes, sir. * * * * "......It''s all over now. ......" In the town of Kupu, on the southern edge of the Kingdom of Selroa, a man was decaying. His name was Eckart Tekles. He was a prosperous merchant in the town of Kupu. However, the state has seized the great ship <>, which he had built with all his passion and wealth. At the same time, the house and the servants, including the dock where it was built, were also taken away. They were paid only 10,000 Tol (about 100,000 yen). The sailors, too, feared the soldiers who had been sent, and most of them went on to serve their country with the ship. No one was allowed to argue. What could a merchant say in front of more than 500 soldiers? "Eckart-sama, please cheer up! The one who consoled the dejected Eckart was Altaf, the magecraftsman in his employ. However, it was actually Regulus 50, the fifth line (Quinta) created by Jin. "My Lady, my little one..." The wife of Eckert, Paulette, and the son, Michel, are accompanied by Altaf''s wife, Gjenner, who is in fact the fifth column. She was Deneb 30 of the 5th Quinta. Now only they, the 5th Quinta, are attached to the fallen Eckert family. "...... Thank you. Why don''t you guys leave ......?" Altaf smiled as he thanked Eckart without effort. "We do not belong to the Kingdom of Celuloa. We have no feelings for this country. "Well, why don''t we go to the Kingdom of Shoro?" Gjenner followed him. "Shoro Imperial ......?" "Yes. Vivienne and Stearina are also in exile. Exiled, or ......? I know people in that country. What''s the use of staying here forever? ...... Altaf and his friends were right, he had no desire to stay in this country. He was not born here in Kupu, but in Watos, in the interior, so he had no desire for the land either. "Hello?" Paulette called to him and Eckart stood up slowly. "...... Yes, I know. I still have you. If the three of us can manage to eat in another country, that''s all that matters. Altaf and Gjenner had a golem with them, which carried the group''s luggage and made the journey easier. This golem was, of course, Smith 40, a craftsman (smith) golem made by Jin. They traveled 160 kilometers westward along the coast for five days until they arrived at a town called Izol. Across the Border River, which flows to the west of the town, is the Shoro Kingdom. However, there were no towns or villages on the other side of the river. There is a village called Kiin about 30 km to the north, but before that, the first problem was how to cross the river. Unauthorized border crossing is a serious offense. There are border guards patrolling along the river, and if they find you, they will arrest you immediately. According to the law of the Kingdom of Cerroa, it is a life-time job. "Let''s cross in the middle of the night." Altaf said simply, and Eckart could only nod anxiously. Paulette also looked worried. Don''t worry, we''ll be there to shield you in case of emergency. Gjenner consoled the Eckert family''s anxiety with these words. And true to his word, the group crosses the Border River safely on a raft that Altaf had made. < * * * * * * * * * * * * * On the island of Horai, the old man had been receiving regular communications from the 5th Quintiles, Altaf and Gjenner, and was already formulating a plan. < Also known as <>. It is a proverb meaning that even a solidly built embankment can collapse because of a small hole made by an ant. After Stearina and Vivian, we now come to Eckert Tekres. The old man wanted to remind the current King of Celluloid, Richard Valois de Celluloid, slowly how much the loss of human resources is to a nation. * * * * * January 19, 3458. "Defectors from the Kingdom of Cerloa, you say?" The Empress of Leusert received word from the town of Simos on the shores of Lake Wass. "Yes, he is a merchant who has developed a ship as large as the <>." "I''ve heard his name from Jin-kun. I''ve heard that he''s an excellent merchant. Invite him to Leuthart. Eckardt and his party arrived safely in the Shoro Kingdom. They became the third, fourth, and fifth foreigners to be registered in Shawlo, following Stearina and Vivienne. 732 - - 21-44 Quiet talk 40 Marcia and... January 21. After a short break from the chaos, Jin, accompanied by Erza and Reiko, visited Potrock. Not publicly, they use the warp gate in the sea-eroded cave. "Ah, the smell of the sea is different from that of Horai Island. "Yes, I can tell." Perhaps it is because of the lives of the people, the sea breeze of Potlock is lively. In other words, it smells a bit fishy. Jin and the others walk slowly to Marcia''s workshop. The wind is warmer in Potrock, which is further south than Horai Island. "Oh, Jin-san!" Jeremy, who was cleaning the path in front of the workshop, noticed Jin and the others. "Hey, good morning! "Oh, good morning!" With a broom in his hand, Jeremy ran into the store. After a few moments, Marcia and Rodrigo came running out. "Jin!Elsa!Leco!" Gin!Erza!" It hasn''t been a month yet, but as the new year begins, we all greet each other once again. , they say. Jin then asks for advice on the wall that the Marcia workshop is up against. Namely, the drive mechanism. "The larger the size, the less the belt can hold, huh? "That''s right, Jin." The fact that when Marcia was in distress, the belt broke under load and she was temporarily stranded was also a contributing factor. "...... got it. Then, would it be okay if we buy it from <>?" Jin suggests. "Oh, by the way, I heard that you''ve become a <> or something like that?" Marcia says as if remembering. Jin is still Jin, no matter what he becomes, right? Jin nodded his head broadly at Marcia''s words. Of course. You can treat me the same way you have always treated me. Marcia took a small breath of relief at Jin''s words and smiled. "Thank you. I''m glad to hear you say that. So... What are you selling?" "Chains and sprockets. ?" The belt drive uses frictional force and slips when a large force is applied, resulting in a loss of efficiency. On the other hand, the gear system is a little disadvantageous in terms of weight to drive two shafts separated by a distance. At present, Jin is the only one who can make gears that require precision. Even he had a very hard time when he developed the gears. On the other hand, the chain ...... officially known as the roller chain, is a technological product that exists in this world, and is used for bicycles in the different ethnic groups in the Land of Mitsuho. It is no wonder that Jin, the Magecraft Meister, is able to reproduce it. Jin drew a simple picture and explained it to Marcia. "Hmm, I didn''t know such a thing existed. ......" "Only Jin-dono can make something like this." Marcia and Rodrigo were impressed. "With this, the sprockets won''t break or slip even if a very large force is applied. Besides, by changing the diameter of the front and rear sprockets, we can slow down and increase the rotating force. Marcia''s face lit up at this explanation. "Yes, yes, I like that!< "Then, we should decide on a standard. This is a natural thing to do when you outsource a part of your workshop instead of making the whole thing in your own workshop. Jin listened to Marcia and Rodrigo and decided on the size of the water wheel to be driven and the diameter of the sprockets needed for it. Inevitably, the length of the chain was also determined within a certain range. "Yes, yes, I knew it!When I''m meeting with Jin, he''s very responsive, he''s very quick to get to the bottom of things, and he''s very responsive to our requests!" Marcia seems to have been poisoned by Jin, as she doesn''t realize that she''s the one who''s crazy. Rodrigo says nothing and smiles at her. Elsa is curious about the roller chain, a structure she has never seen before. Jeremy and Bacchus look at Jin and the others with respect. A contract is signed for a set of chains and sprockets: 20,000 TOR for a small chain, 30,000 TOR for a medium chain, and 40,000 TOR for a large chain. However, the current Marcia workshop does not have a budget, so the payment will be made later. "Well, I''ll deliver two sets of small ones and two sets of medium ones tomorrow. "Yo, take care of it, will you?" Marcia nodded, somewhat surprised that they could be ready today, tomorrow. The conversation then became more of a chat, and before long they were talking about going swimming. "I''ll be away from home, so you can all go together. "Dad, are you sure?" "Yes, of course. Go ahead. I''ll stay here with you. Rodrigo and Arrow were looking after the house, so Jin sent Reiko to get his swimsuit. When Reiko returned after about five minutes, Marcia, "......I guess it''s better not to ask where she went to get it," she said, half realizing what she had just said. She looked half-aware. Jin and the others change their clothes at Marcia''s house. "Wow, Elsa, that''s the bathing suit you''re wearing! Jeremy cheered. Yes, Elsa was wearing the same swimsuit she wore in last year''s Golem boat competition. So did Marcia. Jeremy is also wearing a one-piece swimsuit with a similar design. It is orange. "This design has been popular since then," he says. "Hmmm...hmmm..." Jin nodded his head in agreement. There is a beach here in Portoa, too. So we walked for about three minutes to the beach. There were not many people yet. "Ah, it''s been a long time since I swam. Jin says. He seems to have forgotten that he swam there at the end of the year when he came here with Reinhard and his friends. "By the way, how is the race going this year? Hitoshi asks as he floats down in the water, and Marcia replies with a disappointed look on her face. "Yes, of course there is. I''m not going to participate, though. "I see. "I''m sorry, but the store is too busy. Instead, I''m supposed to back up Reece. "Reece is ...... that girl who was on Valentino''s team last year? Next to Jin recalling the petite but well proportioned girl, Erza was staring at him, as if she somehow recognized him. "Yes, yes. We have the same rules this year. We worked on her ship in our workshop. Marcia says she built a catamaran that is a development of Cygnus. She has already been delivered and Reece has been spending a lot of time practicing. "But no one can make a golem as good as the ...... Arrow," she says. I guess it''s only natural that there are no MagiCraftsmen who can compete with ......<> and Jin." Marcia laughed and said that she was lucky to have found such a Jin at that time. "Yes,...... it was because of that that I was able to meet Erza and Reinhard." Erza''s cheeks flushed a little when she heard this, but Jin didn''t notice. Although it was winter, the tropical sky was blue and the wind already smelled like spring. 733 - - 22-01 New Airship Horai Island is located in the middle of the sea to the east of the Laurentian Continent, where many humans live. The Tropic of Cancer runs right above the island, and the climate is close to the subtropical zone. < and . Now, Jin is working on solving a big problem. The problem is <>. The problem is to solve the distance of about 1,300 kilometers from Kunlun Island to Loizart, the capital of the Shoro Empire. "In short, 200 kilometers per hour. Jin thought that if he could travel in six and a half hours, he would be able to go anywhere in the known world in a day. "But that''s a bit of a stretch with today''s airships, isn''t it ......?" Even with wind-shielding wards and a force field generator, the speed limit is 150 kilometers per hour. Anything higher than that is not strong enough for emergency situations such as wind gusts. "Let''s rebuild it." Once Jin decided to do so, he acted quickly. He asks Reiko to prepare materials, and asks the old man to send and to help him. Erza is now back at her parents'' house in Shoro. The workshop was built behind the institute, and is a large workshop dedicated to this purpose. "The total length should be 40 meters. The same size as the current one and the same size as the large ships of the Shoro Empire and other countries. Now we''re going to make a rigid airship. Rigid airships do not inflate their air sacs by internal air pressure (helium), but rather, they have a metal frame with an outer skin to hold multiple air sacs inside. Although there are various advantages and disadvantages, Jin decided to use this method in order to increase the rigidity of the airframe. The shape of the plane is an elongated droplet with a stabilizing wing attached at the rear. It looks almost the same as what we see in Japan today. However, the inside is completely different. "The frame is 64 light silver. The frame is made as light and strong as possible. Of course, the outer skin and the air sacs inside are made of GS (Grand Spider) P (resin). The gondola is not suspended but attached to the frame. This reduces the upward visibility, but reduces swaying. "Should we make it a 30-seater?" Of course, it is impossible to accommodate 30 passengers with the size of this air sac. With these specifications, the maximum number of passengers is four. However, for a certain purpose, Jin wanted to make it a 30-seater. The difference is made up by the . "Father, shouldn''t we use <>? Reiko questioned. "Yes, that would be fine. I''m still having a hard time grasping the reality of <>. ......" "What do you mean?" Jin stopped his hand and explained. "It''s called gravity, but the mass also seems to be changing, and even if you increase the gravity, the downburst doesn''t occur. ...... A downburst is a strong downdraft that usually occurs as a reaction to an updraft generated by a cumulonimbus cloud, etc. Jin here uses the word "downburst" in the sense of <>. However, since all ordinary magic is an extension of the laws of physics, Jin is concerned about it. "I guess the other thing is efficiency. The Force Generator consumes less free magic element (ether) than gravity control magic. This alone is a sufficient reason. "I understand." Reiko seemed to agree. Jin begins to assemble the magi machine. "Father, what is it?" It''s a gyro. "A gyro?" The gyro Jin is referring to is a disk that rotates at high speed. Jin thinks of his old gyro-based spinning tops, which he used to own. What exactly is Jin is building would be a . Inside a sealed enclosure, a disk made of adamantite is rotated by wind magic. The principle is the same as that of a turbine, but since there is no need to extract power from outside, the consumption of free magic element (ether) is negligible. The turbine is attached to the motor to suppress the oscillation of the motor. Since a single gyrostabilizer does not suppress the motion around the axis of rotation, we solved this problem by turning two orthogonal disks, which are <> as a <>. "The propulsor should be a jet propulsor (jet thruster)." To keep the efficiency of the propulsion system even in the rain, he decided to use <> instead of <>. "Father, is this the way for the cabin?" He had asked Reiko to build a cabin for him. "Yes, I like it." The material used for the interior was not the usual 64LBE ...... titanium, but an aluminum alloy. It is called super duralumin, which is made by adding copper and magnesium to aluminum. It is inferior in corrosion resistance, but it is safe for indoor use. There are 20 folding chairs and 10 built-in chairs. The texture of both chairs is the same. The folding chairs do not have the cheapness of auxiliary seats. The backrests of the chairs can be folded down to a full-flat position for sleeping. A lightweight refrigerator and a microwave oven (also known as a ) were also provided for refreshments. There was a warp gate at the back of the small warehouse, so that unloaded items could be taken out. The inside of the gondola is completely airtight and air-conditioned, so it should be comfortable. A warp gate for escape was also installed as a separate frame. "Well done. Thank you, Reiko." Reiko looks happy and offers to help Jin further. "Father, what else should we do?" "I''m already 90% done. I need you to do the test flight." "Yes, sir." These tests are always done by Reiko. If she asks another golem to do it, she gets depressed. < Reiko reports from the sky through the manacam. < "Oh, that will come after the final outfitting. For now, check the operation and balance." . Reiko flew over Horai Island for a while, and then came down slowly. Using the force field generator, she landed at her original position without missing a beat. Reiko gave a detailed report as soon as she landed. "Father, the overall performance is excellent. The stability is better than before and the speed can be increased. I think it''s also more comfortable." "Yes, thank you. And the shortcomings? Yes. Yes. The operability is a little less because of the emphasis on stability. Also, you can''t see the top of the screen at all. ......" Jin realized what Reiko had told him. As a result of seeking stability with the gyrostabilizer, the response to changes in attitude, such as changes in direction, had become sluggish. "Oh, I see. ...... that''s the problem." Jin pondered. While the gyrostabilizers would reduce the sway, they would also create resistance when the airship tried to change direction. "Wait, what?We can just detach the gyrostabilizers when we want to change the direction of the airship. ...... Jin''s idea is to fix the gyrostabilizer to the airship in three axes and release those axes as needed. The three axes are, of course, X-axis (forward/backward), Y-axis (left/right), and Z-axis (up/down). Swaying is nothing but rotational motion around each of these axes. A change of direction is also a rotation around any of these axes or a combination of them. Generally, the motion around the left-right axis of the fuselage, or swinging the nose up and down, is called pitching, and the motion around the front-back axis of the fuselage, or tilting the plane to the right or left, is called rolling. And the motion around the vertical axis of the fuselage, i.e., swinging the nose to the left or right, is called yawing. Naturally, changing direction is also a combination of these axes, which means that the aircraft is less likely to sway = less likely to change direction. "The gyrostabilizer should be moved near the center of gravity, and the fixed axis should be released in conjunction with the directional rudder. For example, when you want to change the direction to the left or right, you can release the fixation on the Z-axis to make it easier to yaw. This would require a tremendous amount of time, money, and mechanism to achieve with a mechanical device, but with magical engineering, it requires only a little effort. It may be a little similar to the way that microcomputer-controlled devices can be modified by changing the program. "To increase the speed, I think we can go 200 km if we put up a wind shield. Reiko thinks for a moment before replying. Reiko thinks for a moment and replies, "Yes, I think so. With that kind of stability, perhaps. "And for the view directly above us, we should install a < instead of a periscope ......." He decided to install an optical periscope, like a periscope on a submarine, that would allow him to look straight up, above the air sacs. "You can control it remotely in case something goes wrong," he said. It''s an alternative to autopilot. "Lastly, I will install the given to us by No. 700672. The marker should be Horai Island." With this, he would be able to return to Horai Island in an instant in case of emergency. Thus, Jin''s second airship, named , was completed. Just at the same time that Erza returned home from her parents'' house. Erza rolled her eyes when she saw the new airship. 734 - - 22-02 New discoveries "Oh, this is comfortable." "Wow, it''s great. It''s fast and it doesn''t shake." After several test flights to fine-tune the aircraft, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko were enjoying their walk in the air on the Conlon 2. "...... I''m satisfied with this performance. But I wanted you to tell me something." Erza said with a little bit of resentment. It must be complicated for the person who manages the inventory. "Sorry. I just had to make it." "That''s the kind of person my brother ...... Jin is, so it can''t be helped." When Jin apologized, Erza laughed and forgave him. "Father, would you like to try to reach maximum speed?" Reiko, in the cockpit, asked when it was clear that they had gained enough altitude. "Yes, please." Jin and Erza put up the barrier and sat down near the emergency escape gate. "Okay, let''s go." They put up a wind-shielding barrier and fired the jet thrusters to their maximum output. There was a sudden acceleration. I look out the window and see a cloud of dust drifting behind me. The old man called. The speed is the ground speed based on Horai Island. "Is this the limit for jet thrusters? Reiko, the force field generator! Yes, sir! Now the acceleration is gone. The airship and its crew... every molecule of it is equally affected. < "Oh, we made it!" Jin smiled happily as he realized that the speed was about 10% faster than he had expected. "Brother Jin, that''s great!" "Father, you did it!" Elsa and Reiko also congratulated him. The rest of us leisurely flew westward. The island of Kunlun came into view. "Okay, let''s land." Okay. Reiko uses the force field generator to descend slowly. < "It''s been a while..." Elsa, who had just stepped off the airship, looked at the pavilion and muttered to herself with deep emotion. The first time I came here was from the Blue Lands. I was with my brother Rai and Beena at that time. "Oh, yes, that''s right." It was March 1 last year, Jin recalled. It is now January 23rd, almost a year ago. "It seems like it was a long time, but now that I think about it, it seems like it happened so fast. Erza also heard him muttering. "Hmm... Really. I met my brother Jin on February 9. It''s been almost a year. Oh, is that right? Yeah. There was a golem boat race in Potrock. ...... Yeah, that''s right. Seems like a long time ago. Me too. The two, who had spent unusually intense days together, were lost in their own thoughts for a while. "Speaking of which, what happened to Edgar?" Jin noticed that Elsa''s automata, Edgar, was out of sight. "Well,...... your mother is not feeling well, so I left him here to take care of you." "I see. You should visit her often when you have free time." "Hmm, thank you." > The old man asked the guests who had not said anything to him for a long time. "Ah, ah... I''m sorry. I''m done. Is something wrong?" "Oh, is that so?" According to the report, the advance party left Loizart on January 12 and arrived at the town of Ismar on the 16th of the same month. They arrived at the village of Kali on the 17th and at the town of Seki on the 18th. Negotiations began in the town of Sekhi. After three days of negotiations, the advance party was allowed to pass through the town of Seki. . "That''s good news." Even though we know that the inhabitants of Mitsho are not belligerent, thanks to <>, the old man''s manipulations, it is good to hear that the attempts to open diplomatic relations are progressing well. < "We are almost on schedule here as well." < "Yes, that''s right." She had been burned from her face to her right arm with a corrosive solution similar to sulfuric acid, and had been transported by hot air balloon to a healing hospital. "That''s the only thing that helps. ......" The prognosis for scars from exposure to the corrosive fluid is not good. "It''s hard for a woman to have her face burned off." Elsa also muttered worriedly. "Oh, yes. When you get a chance, Elsa, please examine her. "Yes, of course." Erza was also concerned about Gloria, even though they were more than acquaintances and less than friends. "Oh?What is it? The old man had gone to a great deal of trouble to tell the good news. Both Jin and Elsa listened expectantly. < "What!" Two seemingly unrelated items were found almost simultaneously. < Dinney urged him to explain the details. < This is a rough description, but it is exactly how washi is made. <. I have also obtained information on the grass from which the juice is extracted, and am currently investigating. "......" I am very curious to know who was the wise man (Magus) and what kind of knowledge he had. But that will come later. We can''t find out in a hurry. It is necessary to gather information slowly. It is possible to grow two or three crops on Horai Island. If all the rice harvested in the first season is used as seed rice, we will have a little in the second season and a large amount of glutinous rice in the third season. The old man told Jin that he had obtained a small amount of yeast at the same time and that he should expect it. "Well, it''s getting more and more difficult to grasp the character of Mags, isn''t it?" "...... is he from Tosa?" Jin suddenly remembered something he had read in a comic book. "Tosa washi and dried bonito flakes....... Brewing is only possible with a little knowledge of chemistry ......." Still, no image of the man came to mind. "I don''t have a choice." Putting that on hold, Jin thinks about bringing new industries to Horaijima. "Paper can be spread to Shogun via the Shoro Empire through trade, so Horai Island should be self-sufficient. The other products should be about the same. . The old man intends to follow Jin''s instruction, but the level of self-sufficiency in Horai Island can be found at ....... "Well, first of all, let''s visit each country to unveil this new airship. In short, they are going to let people know that Jin''s aircraft has been changed to this new model. We don''t want to be suspected in the event of an emergency. "Let''s start with Kaina village, Klein Kingdom, Egelea Kingdom, Elias Kingdom, and Shoro Kingdom ...... in that order. Erza, of course, will go with me." "Yes, I''ll go with you." Thus begins the unveiling of the new airship. 735 - - 22-03 Contact January 24, Shoro Imperial. "Mokushi, is it?" "Yes. It''s made from the bark of a tree. That''s interesting. Thinner and lighter than hishi? That''s what it says. In the Shoro Kingdom, the emperor and the prime minister were reading the news from the first dispatch. The information was sent by pigeon. "Jin-kun is right, this is a country that looks like it has a lot to offer. Yes, I''m looking forward to it. The Prime Minister and the Empress looked at each other and laughed. "There was also a report from Commander Fritz Randall. He has managed to arrive in the Kingdom of Egelea. "That''s right. I heard that you had a hard time at the site of the former Leonard''s Kingdom. He also reported a battle with an eerie monster. "It''s scary that they once created a monster that could melt Goliath. "I agree. ......Finally, the Kingdom of Selroa is once again showing some disturbing developments." "......The old Kingdom of Leonard is not to be left to its own devices!I guess you could say that. Let''s give the border guards a special attention. * * * Upon arrival in the Kingdom of Egelea, Lieutenant Colonel Fritz Randle, Commander of the Shoro Expatriate Army, requested that the necessary reports be sent to him by manaphone. "Well, that gives me two days of rest for the time being." Even for a man in training, the dozen days in the former Leonard''s Kingdom had been difficult. The same was true for the people from the Kingdom of Klein who accompanied him. They were all staying at the guest house in the outer palace. "...... Ah, Mr. Fritz." On their way back, they meet a female knight, Cynthia. The look on her face reminded Fritz of something. Cynthia. Do you know how ...... Gloria is doing? Cynthia answered with her usual sad look on her face. "......Yes. She''s in the healing center here." "I see. Can I visit her? I''m sure that''s fine. I''m sorry, but would you mind going with me?I don''t think it would be right for me to visit a woman in her hospital room. After a few moments of hesitation, Cynthia nodded. "......Yes, that would be fine." "Thank you. ...... can you wait here for a moment?I''ll get the sword to give back to her." Fritz had picked up the sword that Gloria had lost when she was doused with the solution and was holding it in his hand. Cynthia looked at Fritz''s back as he walked quickly to his room without answering and let out a small sigh. "Sorry I kept you waiting. "No problem." After a brief exchange of words, the two headed for the healing ward. This is a facility for guests who have sudden illnesses or injuries, and is located on the outskirts of the outer palace. Gloria''s room was a private room. "Gloria, this is Cynthia. I knock and call out. < Actually, this was a serious breach of etiquette. Normally, Cynthia should have informed Gloria of Fritz''s visit and asked for permission before inviting him in. "Mister Fritz!If he''s coming, he''s coming. ......" Gloria, startled by Fritz''s entrance after Cynthia, jumped up in surprise and hurriedly pulled the blanket over her head. In that short time, Fritz had seen it. Gloria was left with scars...... burned by the corrosive liquid, ugly marks from the right side of her face to her neck and from her right shoulder to her right arm. "...... sorry. I was just going to give you the sword back and see how you were doing." "......" Gloria does not reply, keeping the blanket over her. "Don''t worry about the scars." After saying these words, even Fritz realized that he had misspoken, but it was too late. Men and women are different. "I''m sorry. Did you see a ...... healer?" It was Cynthia who answered the question. "Yes, Mr. Fritz. Our healer told me that the scars have already settled and that healing will not help. Healing magic basically increases the healing power of a living creature many, many times over. In other words, it cannot heal scars that have become old wounds. Leaving aside the question of how long a wound is considered old, Gloria received healing magic as a first aid when her skin was burned this time. Therefore, she recovered in a damaged state, which left her with a scar. No matter how dull Fritz may be, one can imagine the shock for the woman when she found out that the scars could not be healed. "I''m sorry. I didn''t think enough of it. I hope you don''t mind. ...... I''ll be leaving soon." And as he was about to leave. "...... Mister Fritz." I heard a little voice. I turned around and saw Gloria, up to her eyes out of the blanket, staring at Fritz. "I''m sorry you had to come all the way out here to see me. I''m sorry you had to come all the way out here to visit me," she said. ......When I''m a little more settled." Fritz stopped at the door and turned around, "...... I''ll be back." With these words, he left the room. * * * * The Kingdom of Egelea had dispatched an army on January 18 to recover over 500 golems found at the Soldrake Ruins. The force consisted of 20 members of the 3rd Knights, 2 battle golems, 20 all-purpose golems, and Philip, the head of the Blue Lands branch of the Guild of Magecraftsmen. Philip Tifo, head of the Blueland branch of the Guild of Magecraftsmen, and his automata, Dona. They arrived at the ruins on the 25th of the same month. An unbelievable scene unfolded before their eyes. Over 500 golems were lined up outside the ruins. "Hey ......! "Oh, who are you?" The ones who greeted the surprised captain, Paule Raid, mockingly were the frontier soldiers of the Kingdom of Celuloa. They numbered about 50 men. They even have a golem. They were probably the troops stationed at Fort Sonoma near the border, Pohl thought. "You guys!What are you doing here? Pohl approached the unit on horseback and shouted loudly. In response, a man on horseback came forward. Judging from the armor he was wearing, he appeared to be the leader of the troop. "Oh, are they bandits?If so, you''d better go away. We are not so naive, are we? The man who seems to be the leader of the frontier corps says flatly, brushing aside Pohl''s angry voice as if it were a breeze. "Who''s a bandit!Don''t you see the flag?We are the 3rd Knights of the Kingdom of Egelea! "Oh, I beg your pardon. I am the 2nd Frontier Guards of the Kingdom of Celuloa. I''m the commander, Trist Clarotho. What''s the Frontier Corps doing here? Paule''s voice grows louder and louder as he becomes increasingly irritated by the condescending tone. "We are excavating abandoned ruins and recovering the golem and magi crystals inside. "Abandoned?Those are ruins discovered and excavated by our survey team! Do you have any proof? The only thing that can be called evidence is the shield with the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Egelea that was left at the entrance to the ruins. However, such a thing has been destroyed, and the commander of the Frontier Corps claims to be unaware of it. At this point, it was obvious that an argument was about to break out. Then came the follow-up. "Besides, these golems were rebooted by our magecraftsmen with a lot of effort, you know? "Ugh. ......" The fact that they were able to analyze and reactivate a golem that Jade Nephroy, who was accompanying them at the time, could not find out, can only be attributed to the superior technology of the Kingdom of Selroa. The awkward movements of the golem indicate that it was only temporarily activated, but it is still an amazing feat of technology. If it can walk on its own, albeit with simple movements, there is no need to transport it at all. However, Paule Raid could not back down just because of that. "There are people who can attest that we found this place first." "Oh?Where is he? "He is not here, but he is the recognized Magecraft Meister, Sir Jin Nidor." 736 - - 22-04 Coming Tristo Clarotho''s face contorted for the first time when he heard that Jin was a witness. "Hmm, I see. "Hmm, I see... But even if he is, it''s no use if he''s not here. And I can''t say ...... much from the testimony alone. Still unfaithful, however, he spins his words in a way that teases Paule Raid. "If you''re going to play it cool, I''m ready to play it cool, too. Pohl glares at him, and Trist responds with contempt. "Oh?What kind of determination does a knight of the kingdom of cowards have? With these words, Pohl finally snaps. "You ......!You''ve got to be kidding me!" He drew his longsword, which was attached to the saddle of his horse. "You pulled it out, didn''t you?You were the first to do it, weren''t you?" This was Tristo Clarotho''s aim. He wanted to create a situation in which he could say that the Kingdom of Egelea had made the first move. This was the instruction from the center. "Golem squad, forward! Responding to Trist''s order, ten battle golems of the Kingdom of Cerroa moved forward. "It would be heartbreaking to cause human casualties, you know. Why don''t you send out your golems as well? "What ......?" Pohl led two battle golems. In contrast, the Kingdom of Cerroa had 10. "Oh, if you''re short on numbers, I can match them up for you.That''s chivalry, isn''t it? With a mocking tone, Tristo gestures for the eight battle golems to move back. "Two against two, fair and square. Is that okay?" Pohl, looking sideways at Trist, who still didn''t seem serious at this point, gave an order to the battle golems. "Target, destroy the enemy golem!Go!" In response, Trist also gave an order. "Target, enemy Golem. Goal, extermination." Here began the battle between the battle golems of the two countries. Since both golems are autonomous, there is no room for humans in this battle. We can only watch from afar, trying not to get involved. The battle golems of both countries are about the same size, but their speed is different. The Cerroa golem moves nearly twice as fast as the Egelea golem. The difference in speed is significant in a combat match. And if they are close in size and weight, being fast is a big advantage. The Cerroa golem attacked the Egelea golem, taking advantage of its blind spot. It dodged the Egelerean golem''s thrust, moved behind it, and slashed at it with its sword. When Egelea Golem turns around and swings its sword, Cerroa Golem has already moved out of its reach. Then, Selroa golem''s sword makes a shallow wound on Egelea golem. It was obvious that he was torturing it. "Haha, you''re not very good, are you? This is the difference between the two. "Gnuuh ......" Paule grits his teeth. Behind him, the knights were equally frustrated. "Captain!Let us fight, not the golem!" a bloodthirsty member shouted loudly. But Pohl dismissed him. He may be a hothead, but he''s still the captain. No! Look at their golems. When they come out, humans will be a joke. Remember the tragedy of last year''s golem garden party?" "Ugh......, so we have to sit here and watch our golem being destroyed like this!" "I don''t say so. I don''t say that, but I don''t ...... have a plan to get out of this situation." Unlike the frustrated Paule Raid, Tristo Clarotho is smiling broadly. "If you want, I can use your < golem, if you want." He provokes her by deliberately using a derogatory term for the all-purpose golem. Pohl, perhaps unable to resist any longer, gives his order. "Almighty Golem, battle mode. Target, enemy golem. Defeat them in coordination. Then, we''ll go with you. Go. The all-purpose Golem is one size smaller than the battle Golem. Its armor is thinner. It weighs less and is lighter. However, even with this weight difference, they could not outperform the enemy Golem in terms of agility. "Coordination!Coordination!Coordination! Three consecutive orders were issued in rapid succession, each commanding the three of them to fight one golem at a time. In response to this order, the versatile Golem takes on one of the three. As expected, the attacks from three of them could not be handled, and the Cerroa Golem had no choice but to defend itself. However, in terms of numbers, since the combat golems are fighting one on one, the remaining number is 8 to 20.3 times less than the number of golems. This means that there is one Selluor Golem that can move freely, and another Selluor Golem that is fighting with two other Golems. The golem that was playing the role of a ranger was moving freely in all directions. Just when we thought we had three golems to hold them down, they would attack us from behind, and we would be sent flying away, making our holding them down futile, and so on. It was obvious that the celluloid side was playing with us. And the all-purpose golem was even worse in performance. Egelea Golem''s movements became worse and worse. It was being attacked while being played with, and the damage was gradually accumulating. "I think it''s time to end this..." Trist muttered to himself. A dagger was pressed against his neck. "Stop the golem!" It was a girl who did it. No, it was Dona, Philippe Tifo''s female automata. She stood dexterously behind Tristo''s saddle, a dagger at her side. It seems that she had been approaching Tristo''s horse for some time, waiting for an opportunity. "You ......" Tristo''s face was twisted in hatred. "Didn''t you hear me?I said stop the golem. "Commander!" A soldier of the Frontier Corps rushes toward him. But... Don''t move. If you move, you''ll lose your life. The emotionless voice of the automaton sounds eerie at a time like this. The group stopped. "Come on." Threatened again and again, Trist finally gave in. "...... and stop." The ten Cerroa golems obeyed his order and stopped moving. "All right, bring him to me, just like that. Pohl asked Philip, who looked to Dona. Dona then threatens Trist. Trist slowly approaches. But then Tristo takes a gamble. He pulled the reins as hard as he could and made the horse stand on the pole. Unable to stand, Dona was forced to jump off her horse. "Golem!Put them out of action!" The threat seemed to have pissed Trist off. He gave the golem a no-holds-barred order. And then... "Aaahhhh!" screamed a soldier behind Trist. What the hell was that? The knights of the Kingdom of Egelea were staring at the back of Trist, their eyes wide with fear. Trist was forced to look back at them. And what did Trist see when he looked back? Numerous black insects crawling out of the ruins of Soldrake. 737 - - 22-05 Super Giant Ants Crawling out of the ruins was a huge insect, which, upon closer inspection, took the form of an ant. They came out one after another. Mega-ants! They looked like the mega-ant monsters rarely seen in the mines. However, the size of the ant was far beyond that of a mega-ant. Mega-ants are at most 30 centimeters long. But this monster was nearly 2 meters long. "Whoa! comes a shriek. A soldier of the Frontier Guards of the Kingdom of Celuloa, who had been cut down in a panic, was sprayed with something by the monster. "Aaagh!Aaah!" The soldier is sprawled out. White smoke is rising from his face, hands, and body. It seems he was sprayed with some kind of acid. The sword he was holding is almost melted. "Golem!Attack the monster!" Tristo Clarotho, seeing this one as more of a threat than the Egelea Golem, gives the order again. And so did Paule Raid. "Attack the monster!Knights, fall back 30 meters!" Trist, finding the liquid spewed by the mega-ant to be too much to resist, moves the human troopers away from the battlefield. "Geez!Ow!Ow! "Ow!My arm! My arm! But the soldiers of the Frontier Corps of the Kingdom of Celuloa were too late to escape as their backs were rushed into. Those who were exposed to the liquid spewed by the giant ants were burned to a crisp, and they were flailing about. Neither leather armor nor metal breastplates could resist the liquid, and they were melted away. And the fallen soldiers are doomed to be devoured by mega-ants. The soldier''s body is gouged out and bones are crushed as he is devoured. Even the knights of the Kingdom of Egelea felt pity for their opponents, even though they had just met them. "Golem!Do something!" Trist exclaimed. Finally, the battle golem succeeded in taking down a mega-ant. To my surprise, the dead mega-ant was swarmed by 5 or 6 mega-ants, and they were eating the corpses of their comrades. "They even ...... cannibalize each other. ...... They are evil eaters." Even Trist shuddered. * * * * The series of events were again being monitored by the Magi Monitor in the Kingdom of Egelea. "The 500 golems are those mega-ants,...... or, at the very least, gigantic ants. Did he seal those mega-ants?" Staring at the screen, the magic minister Kerichdole''s face twisted. "It must be because of that bad food that there was no carcass of the giant ant while the broken golem was still there. ......" He collects his thoughts as he looks at the screen. "But are there any conditions under which giant ants occur?The last time our survey team entered the site, nothing happened. ......" I don''t know about that because there is too little information. But if we can solve the mystery, we may be able to repel or dispel the giant ants. "......It''s frustrating to have one-way information." In any case, this is a big deal. Just then the Prime Minister, the Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli, arrived. He had been summoned earlier when the skirmish with the Cerroa golem broke out. "Kelihidore, did you say there was trouble with the Kingdom of Cerroa?" "...... No, something more outrageous has happened now." "What!" Kerichdole silently pointed at the magical monitoring device (Magi Monitor). The last time Jin had given me advice, I had improved the precision of the polishing of the magi crystals that act as the camera, and the image quality had been greatly improved. "Ummm, what is that monster?" Kelihidole gave a brief explanation and his own guesses. The Prime Minister listened in silence, but when he had finished, "I guess we''ll have to ask ...... for help," he said in a pained voice. He said in a pained voice. "Rescue," he said, "but by whom? Kerichdole is startled by these words. The Prime Minister mentioned the name of a person to him. "<>...... to Sir Jin Nido." "I see." Neither the Prime Minister nor the Minister of Magic had forgotten Reiko''s power that had been demonstrated at the Golem Party. No, they could not forget. "She is in the Kingdom of Klein right now for the unveiling of the new airship. They will be here tomorrow, but it wouldn''t be so insane if we ask them to come earlier in case of an emergency." Whether it is insane or not, the current situation is not something that can be overlooked. "It''s not the regular contact time, but it''s an emergency, I''ll call him on the manaphone. With these words, the Prime Minister rushes toward the royal palace. The Prime Minister then ran to the royal palace. "No, no, Jin, I am in awe! In the Kingdom of Klein, Princess Rieschen is excited to be aboard Jin''s new airship, the . The floats in the blue sky. The family crest of "Jin" is prominently displayed on both sides of the ship. "It doesn''t shake much. This makes me happy. In her hand is a copy of the map that Jin gave her the other day. < wanted to view her homeland from the sky with the map in hand, so she asked Jin to take her on this journey. "But I am also in awe of the accuracy of this map. Even with my own eyes, I could never have produced a map this detailed and minutely detailed. I take my hat off to you," laughed Princess Rieschen. "Your Highness, shouldn''t we be getting back?" Jessica Norton, the captain of the Kingsguard female knight squadron who had accompanied her as her escort, said. "Jessica, it''s not too late, is it?The sun is still high." "Yes. ......" Jessica, who had been Princess Rieschen''s bodyguard since she was a little girl, was sweet on her. She is weak when he looks up at her and begs for her hand. "Gin, can''t you fly over Leonard''s kingdom?" "Yes, but you will be scolded ......? Jin answered while looking at Jessica, who was making a difficult face behind him. "I''m sure you''ll be scolded. "I''m about to get off. I''ll give you another ride." Jin said with a wry smile and pointed <> toward the castle. "Mwah, you have my word." Princess Rieschen nodded with a slight puffiness. Then she looked at the castle with her eyes and made a surprised face. "Jin!Something''s happened! "What?" There''s a commotion at the castle. We''d better hurry home. At Reese''s urgent tone, Jin instructed Reiko to increase the speed of . "Reiko, let''s hurry back to the castle." "Yes, father." Reiko, with her high reaction time, is more suitable for the high speed. heads for the castle at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour, the normal maximum speed. "You''re fast, aren''t you?" "...... is fast." The speed on the way to the castle was about 50 kilometers per hour, but on the way back it was twice that. Although the airtight cabin kept us out of the wind, we were both a little worried that we might collide with Wang Chung as he approached. After about five minutes, Jin and his team landed in the courtyard of the castle. Then, a knight came running up to them. "What a big deal to use a knight as a messenger, isn''t it?" Reese said with a tense look on his face. Then the knight came running toward them, out of breath, and shouted loudly, "< "<>, Sir Jin Nido is requesting rescue! 738 - - 22-06 Conlon 2 out "Request for help ......?" Princess Rieschen, who had just come down from her cabin, asked. "What in the world is going on?" The knight of the messenger hesitated for a moment, but decided to report it right then and there, since it was not something that the princess would want to hear. The 3rd Knights of the Kingdom of Egelea, along with the Frontier Guards of the Kingdom of Selroa, who were present, were attacked by a huge ant-like monster at the ruins of Soldrake, in the former Leonard Kingdom. "Ant demons?Did they come out of the ...... basement? Jin has no intention of intervening in the quarrels between countries. But when it comes to the outbreak of demons, it''s a different story. "Jin, can I ...... ask you to do it?Paule, the captain of the 3rd Knights, is no stranger to this. He is the man who always escorts me when I visit the Kingdom of Egelea. Even more so when Princess Rieschen pleads with him. "I understand. At least, not this time." With a hint of not wanting to be used in such a way that he would always be taken advantage of, Hitoshi agreed. "Reiko, Elsa, let''s go." "Yes, Father." Yes, father. Princess Rieschen looked as if she wanted to follow him, but that was unforgivable. "Jin, please!" Rieschen waved back at him, and Jin climbed into the cabin. The plane then ascended at a high speed. The nose of the plane turns to the southeast and accelerates. The speed is so fast that even Princess Rieschen''s evil eye cannot see it. "You heard what I said, old man, right?Do you know where the problem is? The first thing Jin did was to check with the old man. < "Okay. Then ......" The Soldrake site is more than 200 km away from Alban, the capital of the Klein Kingdom, where Konjin is located. <, it would take more than an hour to get there. "......We should use that." That is the we got from 700672. The marker is Horai Island. "Yes, father. Activating transporter. Literally in an instant, Jin and the others were in the front yard of the Horaijima Institute. It''s a margin of error of about 10 centimeters. As expected of the 700672. "Old man, please send me back to the Soldrake site with the transporter again. ...... Oh, and let''s get some more stuff first." has no significant armaments. Jin heard that it was an ant-like demon, so he loaded it with a laser gun, a magic cannon, a super high-speed vibrating sword, and a plasma sword. "Okay, please." The with Jin, Erza, and Reiko on board is transported back to the ship. The next time it appeared was in the air near the ruins of Soldrake. Reiko immediately reacted and pointed the nose toward the ruins. < "Father, there it is! The scene below Jin and the others was a scene of screaming and horror. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Golem!Hold them back! Tristo Clarotho orders his prized battle golem. The next moment, however, his eyes widen in astonishment. < "What? Some of the ant species that inhabit the earth secrete an organic acid called formic acid. Human gastric juice contains hydrochloric acid. Some bacteria in human intestines produce acetic acid and succinic acid. It is not surprising that giant ants, which are classified as demons, secrete strong acids. In fact, Gigantopods also had a strong corrosive body fluid. "Geeaaa......" "Ouch ......" Most of the 50 members of the 2nd Frontier Corps of the Kingdom of Celluloid had been attacked by the formic acid-like fluid spewed by the Gigantopods. The weakest ones were eaten by the liquid. "d*mn it, this is what has happened to our frontier corps! No matter how much the leader, Trist, regrets the situation, the situation remains the same. The battle golem crushed several Giant Ants, but more than twice as many Giant Ants sprayed it with corrosive liquid, melting it and rendering it immobile. Only two ants remained to protect Tryst. The fifty-man army was now all that remained of Trist. And more than half of the 500 golems they had brought out had been melted down to scrap by the giant ants. Barely three Golems that had apparently not yet had commands written on them moved toward the Giant Ants, but they were no match for the Giant Ants, and were destroyed in an instant. In contrast, the 3rd Knights of the Kingdom of Egelea are still all safe. The difference was mainly in the cavalry. The soldiers of the Frontier Corps are infantrymen, and only the leader, Tryst, is on horseback. In contrast, on the side of the Kingdom of Egelea, all the soldiers are knights. The speed of movement of the giant ants was almost the same as that of horses, so they were able to keep running away. "But if we keep going like this, we will get hit someday. ......" Paule Reid, the leader of the team, thought desperately as he continued to follow the trail. The speeds are about the same, but the Giant Ants show no signs of fatigue. The knights, on the other hand, can only maintain their current speed for 15 minutes. "Hmmm, 500 golems are nothing but scarecrows now. ...... What a waste." Philippe Tifo, the head of the Blue Lands branch of the Guild of Magecraftsmen, muttered ruefully as he turned around on his horse. I don''t know what kind of commands Trist had written down, but a golem that can only walk is no match for a giant ant. "If that thing could have fought, it could have been prevented. ......" His mutterings sounded regretful. At that moment. The horse Philippe was riding tripped over something. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Philippe was thrown off the horse. "Master!" Dona, who was riding with him, was also thrown out, but she quickly got up and ran to Philippe, the master. "Ugh. ......" Philippe had sprained his right ankle and right wrist and could not get up right away. "I''ll get him." Dona carried him on her back and started to walk away. The horse he was riding had already driven away. "Philippe!" The fall from the horse has overtaken Paule, the leader of the group, and Philip and Dona are now in last place. The black monster is closing in on them. The distance is only 10 meters away. ....... * * * * "Oh my God. ......" "......" Jin and Erza were absolutely horrified by the devastation below them. There were what seemed to be more than a thousand giant ants writhing about. About 50 soldiers had fallen, and some were being eaten by giant ants. The majority of the 500 golems had already been melted down, and some of them had lost their original shape. "Giant ants, huh? I hear it''s a powerful corrosive. Hmm. ...... Perhaps they use that fluid to melt rocks in order to build their nests in the ground?" Erza speculates. Probably that''s the right answer, Jin thought. he said. The old man supports this theory. < The old man explained his rationale. "That must be it. Then, considering the size difference between ...... those giant ants and gigantopods, the giant ants must be weaker than the gigantopods." This can be seen in the way the golem melts. At the time of the Gigantopod, even the adamantite was melted, though only slightly. The movement of Gigantopods is also slower than that of Gigantopods. However, if we are too slow, they may catch up with the 3rd Knights of Egelea, who are running away desperately. Also, dozens of them have begun to scatter in different directions. It would be troublesome if they build a nest. Reiko, can you help us? Yes, Father, I''ll take care of it. The effects of that corrosive liquid are unknown. We need to put up a solid physical barrier and attack with magic or laser guns from inside. "Yes, sir, I understand." Reiko jumped down from , taking her plasma sword just in case. 739 - - 22-07 Queen Ants The giant ants are just five meters away from Philippe and Dona. "Is it over? ......" Philip closed his eyes in despair. He felt a bright light even in his closed eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw... What he saw when he opened his eyes again was a giant ant with a hole in its head. And a girl holding a strange-shaped magical tool. "You are ......" An automata whom I had met in the Blue Lands of the Kingdom of Egelea. "Leco," you say. ...... thank you for your help. "Run away quickly." Reiko said shortly without looking back. Then the magic tool in her hand glowed again. Two Giant Ants that had been chasing us fell down and stopped moving after being pierced. "Oh, is that magic?Or is it a magic tool? Master, now is not the time for this. ...... Reiko''s figure gradually faded from Philip''s sight as she held off the giant ants. And the 3rd Knights of the Kingdom of Egelea, who were running away desperately, were only running their horses desperately, and did not even have time to check who had come to their rescue. "...... I guess it''s time to get serious." Deciding that human eyesight would no longer be able to see what had happened, Reiko increased the power of her flux gun. Three or four Giant Ants in the line of fire are pierced by the gun, and are immobilized. The Giant Ants, sensing the danger, spit corrosive fluid at Reiko, but they are unable to break through the solid barrier. Meanwhile, Reiko is firing her only weapon to pass through the Solid Barrier, a laser gun. After about 10 minutes, nothing moves in sight. But we cannot be too careful. Being giant ants, there is a possibility that they are digging and lurking in the ground. < Reiko starts to walk slowly, keeping her physical barrier (Solid Barrier) up. It was somewhat difficult to walk, but that was to be expected. She arrives in front of the ruins in a few minutes, and slaughters 11 giant ants. After confirming that there was no one around, Jin called Lao-kun. Old man, dispatch a land team while you still can. Also, I want to take samples of the giant ants. Within a minute or so, 50 army golems and 40 artisan golems were beamed in. The Land troops put up a solid physical barrier while using their laser guns to kill the scattered Giant Ants. Smith then carefully examined the Giant Ants that Reiko had defeated. First, he examines the nature of the corrosive fluid remaining in the body. It turned out to be a mixture of strong acidic liquid. Since it dissolves silicon oxide rocks, it seems to have properties similar to hydrofluoric acid. 500 golems are made of iron. Most of the 500 left in front of the ruins have been melted down or destroyed, and not a single one is intact. < The old man decided to retrieve the golem from the ruins as well. He will analyze it later. Although it is not efficient, I decided to destroy the magical devices (magi devices) that cannot be made with the current technology, such as the ether converter, to the extent that they cannot be analyzed, although it would be a waste. I thought about removing them, but it would be easy to find out who did it, so I decided to destroy them this time. > It was lying on the ground. It is broken by corrosive liquid, but it is a magical tool for the photographing side of the Magi Monitor. It seems to have been thrown away when it fled. <> Jin was searching for survivors of the Gigantes from the sky. "Hmmm, I think I''ll mount a <> on it, even if the accuracy and range are narrow. ......" Meanwhile, Reiko uses the built-in <> to detect the approximate direction and slaughter the Giant Ants. The scattered Giant Ants are taken care of by the Land Squad. Then, after defeating 12 more giant ants, a black shadow suddenly appears over their heads. Suddenly, a black shadow attacked from above. What? Reiko dodged with a little time to spare, but her eyes widened in surprise when she saw something she had not expected. The black shadow was a winged ant. The giant ants had wings on their backs and were flying in the sky. They are also about two times larger than the others. Male ants! Among the knowledge Jin had given me was some on the ecology of ants. Ants that build nests in the ground have a queen, who is responsible for laying eggs. Then, at regular intervals, a new queen and male ants are born, and they leave the original nest to marry, and the queen builds a nest in another location. ....... "Then there''s a queen somewhere too! I was right. While the other ants were black, a silver-colored one was dancing on a higher ground. "......It seems to be the queen for sure." The same thing was confirmed by Jin and the others. They came to the same conclusion. "So, the 500 golems inside the ruins were for the purpose of exterminating the new ...... queen in her breeding season." "That''s very likely." Elsa agreed. "But I didn''t expect to see even worker ants ......." Unlike honeybees, ants are not supposed to divide themselves, which is probably different from the case on Earth, Jin thought. Or maybe it was because the 500 golems had disappeared. Just as he was thinking that. "Brother Jin, before!" Erza''s voice made him realize, and he looked out the window to see silver winged ants approaching. "It''s going to collide with you! * * * * * * Reiko shot down the male ants while flying through the air with her <>, but then she noticed that the queen ant was aiming for Jin''s >, and she readied her laser gun to shoot it down... .... "...... from here!" I noticed that there is a in the line of fire. If we shoot at it, there is a possibility that the flux of light that pierced the queen ant will attack Jin and the others. "Then!" After a few tenths of a second hesitation, Reiko put the laser gun in her apron pocket and picked up the plasma sword instead. Swinging the sword of light, which stretched five meters, Reiko succeeded in slashing the queen ant from behind. But that was not the end of the story. "This is the retribution for targeting your father." Reiko not only cuts the ant in half, but also wields her plasma sword to slice the queen ant into smaller and smaller pieces. The queen ant crashes down, spraying her bodily fluids. Jin called. "No, I''m sure your father would have taken care of it one way or another..." Jin smiles at Reiko''s modesty. > "At the moment, I don''t feel anything in the magi-detector. < When Reiko says she can''t detect it, Jin lowers the altitude of . "Reiko, is anyone hurt?" Jin asked directly, and Reiko shook her head. "No ....... All of them are dead." "I see." The people lying below were all dead. "No wonder. Let''s just let them collect what they can use as a nuisance. Rand and Smith were standing around, retrieving such items. For a while Reiko searched the area to see if there were any survivors of the Giga-Ant, but she did not find any, so she decided that the danger was over. "All that remains is the hole from which it emerged." "The only thing left is the hole that came out of the ruins," he said. "First, let''s investigate ......." While Jin was thinking about this, the 3rd Knights of the Kingdom of Egelea returned. "Oh!I knew it, Sir Jin Nido!And Mister Leco!" It was Paule, the captain. "I am truly grateful to you for saving us in our time of need." Paule and the knights bow respectfully. After that, the natural question was asked. "Why is Jin-dono here ......?" Jin''s answer is obvious. "At the request of the Lord Kelihidole, who had been watching the Magi Monitor. I was just in the Klein Kingdom for the unveiling of the new airship. Jin points upward, and there is the . "Ha ha, it''s a great thing. ...... Thank you very much!" Everyone looked up at the sky in admiration. Philippe Tifo and his automata, Donna, walked out of the room. "Jin-dono, I haven''t seen you since a week ago. ...... No, I''m a now, so I must have changed. The group, relieved to be free of their tension and fear, talk of nothing more than trivial matters for a while. Jin also noticed this, so he went along with the chat without pointing out anything in particular. 740 - - 22-08 Clean up afterwards. "Well, what are we going to do now?" After the group had settled down, Pohl opened his mouth. The place where Jin and the others were now was fine, but 500 meters down the road, there would be hell to pay. However, they too have experienced the battlefield of knights. "Even though they were enemies, they served their country, too. If we leave them as they are, they will become food for wild beasts, so we will collect as much of their belongings as possible, gather their bodies in one place, and cremate them. The number of survivors of the 2nd Frontier Corps of the Kingdom of Selroa is 0. Tristo Clarotho was also melted down with his horse by the corrosive liquid. It was a tragic ending with a bad aftertaste. The sun was setting, and it was all over. "The golem is all broken. ......" Paule Raid''s shoulders slump in disappointment. "Captain, if the damage is minor, we might be able to fix it somehow," said Philippe Tifo. Philippe Tifo. He is indeed the head of the Blue Lands branch of the Guild of Magecraftsmen. However, it would be impossible for him to use the ether converter, which he had made unusable under the guidance of the old man. We were also able to successfully recover the Magi Crystal, which was once stolen by the 2nd Frontier Corps of the Kingdom of Celluloa. This alone is worth several hundred million dollars. It was worth the trip. And finally, what should we do with the remains? "I think it would be better to bury the remains. "Well, before that, let me take one look inside. Jin proposed. The Knights had no objection to that. "Thank you very much." Jin dived into the ruins of Sold Lake with Reiko. They set up barriers and proceeded cautiously. Just before this, the missing RAND team enters the site ahead of the others, and confirms that there are no abnormalities. Otherwise, Reiko would not have put Jin in danger. As for Erza, since no one was seriously injured, she stayed in the airship for a long time, thinking that it was unnecessary to show her face unnecessarily. However, she is not bored because she is looking through the which is linked to Reiko''s eyes. "Father, is this about the right place?" "Yes, that''s fine." Jin''s true intention was to leave a marker in the ruins. Even if the entrance was blocked, they could come back later to investigate using the transfer. A quick look around the site revealed nothing of interest. "Shall we seal up the hole where the ants came out? Reiko suggests, but Jin rejects her suggestion. "No, let''s not do that. We should think about destroying the whole nest anyway. "Okay." Later that day, the nest of giant ants is burned down by the RAND team. Then Jin and Reiko went back outside... in less than five minutes. "Thank you. That was helpful." I''m sure nothing more happened, but if you''re done, I can seal it up if you like. "Yes, please do." When Jin affirmed, Paule Raid gave orders to his men. They are the ones who can use earth magic. They used Collapse to block the entrance and exit. Jin tells them that it is getting dark and they should head for the kingdom of Egelea. "Is there anything you want to tell them? "Well, nothing in particular. Instead, if you could, would you take the vice captain with you so that he can report back to us? "That''s about right." Jin accepted the offer. Thus, Gurney Wellin, the vice-captain of the 3rd Knights of Egelea, had the honor of being the first in the Kingdom of Egelea to ride the . * * * * Two hours later, Jin and his team arrived at Asunto, the capital of Egelea. Because of the time difference, it is only 5:00 p.m. here, when there is still some brightness in the sky. "<> Sir Jin Nido, thank you!" Even before Jin''s <> landed, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Magic, and a dozen or so Kingsguard knights were waiting in the outer palace square to welcome Jin and his men. Since it was already nighttime, they decided to talk with Jin in detail on the following day, and only briefly greeted him. Gurney Wellin, the deputy commander, thanked Jin and went to the inner palace to make a report. Jin and his group stayed at the Guest House. Jin liked the ease of this place. As Jin relaxed, he suddenly noticed a stain on Reiko''s left arm. Reiko. Let me see your arm." Reiko jumped at the sound of his voice. "No, no, it''s nothing. "If it''s nothing, let''s see it." "Yes, ......" Reiko had no choice but to obey Jin''s words. She held out her left arm. "This is ......." There are a few small tears on the left arm. They are on Reiko''s skin, which is made of the wing membrane of a sea dragon. Was the queen ant''s bodily fluids on them? "...... Yes." Clothes woven with the threads of a ground spider are fine, but the wing membrane of a sea dragon was affected. "Maybe it''s just a matter of compatibility." The threads of a ground spider, which is a monster that lives underground, and the wing membrane of a sea dragon that lives in the sea. "I''ll ask you to make a compatibility chart with the materials at hand. With such a murmur, Jin healed Reiko''s skin with engineering magic. * * * * * * "Hmmm...I didn''t know that was possible." <> The conversation between the old man and Saki. "Of course! Saki has been visiting Horai Island. Saki was visiting Hourai Island and had heard the message from Jin. > "Of course! Of course! Naturally, he replied. The work is carried out by the smiths under the direction of the old man, but Saki is also present to satisfy her curiosity and desire for knowledge. "Hmmm....... materials derived from demons living in the depths of the earth are quite excellent, aren''t they? As a result of various tests, it was found that the threads of the Grand Spider do not dissolve even in the body fluids of giant ants and gigantopods. On the other hand, the wing membranes of sea dragons were dissolved by both the body fluids of giant ants and gigantopods. "Well, that''s interesting. I wonder how this happens?" Saki was very interested in this fact. "Mr. Lao, I would like to summarize these properties of the material Jin is using. The "Mere Old Man" agrees with this. < "I''m looking forward to it. Saki joined the group and started to make a list of properties of materials. However, this is not Saki''s area of expertise. "Well, I don''t think I can give you much advice on that one. Saki agreed with the old man''s explanation. I see. Standardizing the size of tea cups makes it easier to organize and looks more beautiful. The island of Horai in 3458 is full of vitality. 741 - - 22-09 Surgical treatment The next day, January 26, Jin and Elsa finished breakfast and were discussing their plans for the day. Just then, there was a knock at Jin and Elsa''s door. "Come in." Reiko opens the door, and there he is. "...... brother?" It was Elsa''s brother, Fritz Randall. Fritz bowed to Elsa with a somewhat embarrassed look on his face. "Erza, it''s been a while. ...... and I''m sorry about the other day. I''m sorry." "...... head up. I don''t hold grudges anymore." At the sound of Erza''s voice, Fritz raised his head and then turned to Jin. "Jin-dono, no, Sir Jin Nido, I have been rude to you in many ways. I would like to apologize." He then bowed his head. Jin panicked. "Please raise your head. If Erza doesn''t mind, I don''t mind. At this, Fritz finally lifted his head. Then he turned to Erza again, "Erza, I don''t know how I can ask you to do this, but ......" He looked uncomfortable to say this. Elsa tilted her head, which was unusual for her brother. "Brother, is something wrong?" "......Mr. Gloria, a female knight of the Klein Kingdom, has been seriously injured. She''s not healing well. Would you please take a look at her?" Then he quickly adds. "...... her face and right shoulder have been burned by the liquid of the demon''s vomit. "...... yes." Jin and Erza had heard the report from the old man, but they could not help but be shocked to hear it again from Fritz''s mouth. "...... I understand. Gloria is no stranger to you. If it''s a favor from my brother, I''ll do it." "Oh, thank you!" Fritz took Elsa''s hand and bowed repeatedly. Then he said, "Well, I''m going back. I''m going to go back to Cynthia, my second in command, and ask her when she would be available. He left the room with these words. "...... was a careless thing to do, wasn''t it?" Jin muttered in a whisper. "We didn''t keep track of them after they were transported by hot air balloon. We prioritized the mess at the ruins." "That can''t be helped. It''s not Jin''s fault. Even the old man didn''t follow the trail any further. Elsa followed up. "You don''t have to take all the responsibility. ...... I''ll take care of it. Don''t worry." "Yes, thank you." While we were having this conversation, the door was roughly opened. "Elsa!I can do it now. Please!" "...... brother, knock, please." "Oh, oh, I''m sorry. Come to ......! Jin bro, I''m coming. "Yeah, be sure." Elsa and Fritz headed for the healing wing. Cynthia was waiting for them in front of Gloria''s room. "We''ve been waiting for you. "Thank you, Miss Elsa," Cynthia said. "...... will do our best." I''ll be outside." Fritz said he would not go inside, but would wait outside for the healing process to finish. "Excuse me." Elsa entered the room with Cynthia. Gloria was lying there in a very disfigured state. "...... Miss Elsa." "Ms. Gloria." After a brief exchange of greetings, in which they simply called each other by name, Erza immediately began her examination. "<>" Elsa continues to examine the patient several times. Cynthia looks worried. "...... How do you feel, Erza-sama?" "Ordinary healing magic can''t do it." Hearing these words, Cynthia''s shoulders slumped. "I see,...... then, Gloria-sama has already,......." But Erza shook her head. "Normal," he said. There is one way to fix this. Well, what''s that? It''s a little cruel. The reason you can''t heal an old wound with healing magic is that it is fixed in place. To overcome this, we can remove the old wound, prevent secondary infection, and cast a higher level of healing magic. <, the patient will not be in pain. But there is one problem. Elsa has no experience in such a surgery. (What should I do? ......) The risks make me nervous. (How to prevent bleeding and secondary infections......) Elsa thinks desperately. (Low temperature?...... yes, that''s it then). The point is to remove the abnormal tissue from the affected area without risk. Elsa has come up with a method to restore the normal tissue by freezing the affected part to necrosis and then applying healing to it. On the modern Earth, the same kind of treatment is used for fish eyes using liquid nitrogen. On the other hand, on the modern Earth, there is a method to treat keloids of burn scars by repeated laser irradiation, but Erza is not capable of such precise irradiation. On the other hand, since ELZA is capable of ultra-fast healing, which is impossible with modern medicine, it seems appropriate in this case. The only problem is that... (...... there is no guarantee whether it will work or not) Yes, this is the first surgical treatment method for Elsa as well. If only my brother Jin were here.) I don''t think so. "...... Erza-dono?" Gloria called out to Erza, who was lost in thought. "......After all, my wounds are not healed?" "...... No. I think it can be healed. I think it can. It''s just that it''s the first time I''ve tried it and I''m not sure. Elsa confided honestly. "I believe in you, Erza-sama, who has cured our country''s Majesty so well. I don''t think it will make much difference anyway, even if it gets worse. Gloria smiles somewhat self-deprecatingly, and seeing this, Elsa makes up her mind. "I''ll do it. Please leave it to me." "I''ll do it." "<>" First, Elsa paralyzes Gloria. Sterilization. Next, the entire affected area is sterilized. Up close, the keloids are quite severe. <>" The engineering magic cooling is used. It is a magic that lowers the temperature of an object. It can lower the temperature of an object to minus 80 degrees Celsius, below the temperature of dry ice. It is also a water magic, so it works on living creatures as well. "......<" Intermediate level of surgical healing magic. This causes the skin that has been necrotic at low temperatures to peel off in pieces, and the skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue, is regenerated. "...... worked." The first step was to apply the procedure to the right shoulder, which was the most severely burned area, and the skin regenerated without any problems. "That''s ......!" Gaining confidence, Elsa proceeded to treat the neck, face, and right chest. "That''s great ......." Cynthia, who is watching from a little distance, lets out a word of admiration. "<>" The treatment was completed with a high level of medical treatment to regulate the circulatory system in the body. 742 - - 22-10 Announcement of the Runner-up "Elsa!Thank you!!!!" Now that Gloria''s scars had been cleaned, Fritz was able to enter. He took Elsa''s hand and bowed deeply. This surprised Gloria, who was watching from the side. "Mister Fritz, ......." Her face was slightly red, not only because the regenerated skin was still fresh. "Well, we were marching together, and after that disaster, I felt responsible." "......" Fritz''s tone of voice is such that even Elsa thinks that line is a bit too harsh. Fritz then turned to Gloria and put his hand on her shoulder. "Gloria, I am so glad. Yes, you look beautiful again!" "Mister Fritz, ......." Erza sighs in her heart when she sees her brother''s natural way of talking to her, as if he is trying to lower her down, "My brother, Miss Gloria, I''ll leave you to it," she said. She then chose to leave. "Well, that''s good." Jin was relieved to hear from Elsa. "Now we can start moving as planned tomorrow. ...... But it''s a hassle. ......" As for Jin, the unveiling of <> was becoming more and more troublesome. "...... that''s what my brother Jin said. Please finish it properly." As if reading Jin''s mindset, Erza gave him a nail in the coffin. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Wow!This is amazing!" The next day. Jin was taking Ernesto, the third prince of Egelea, for a ride on the . "It''s fast, but most importantly, it''s very stable. Jin is amazing, isn''t he? "Yes, this is great!Our country must do its best. The other passenger is the Minister of Magic, Kelihidole. The , carrying the two dignitaries of the Kingdom of Egelea, had turned back over the Blue Lands and landed quietly in the courtyard of the Outer Palace. There they were greeted by the Prime Minister, the Marquis de Galluelli, the Minister of Defense, Jude, and the Captain of the Kingsguard, Kelly. That afternoon, <> took off for the Kingdom of Elias. As a side note, as a reward for Jin''s response to the request for help, an agreement was made that he would receive the equivalent of 100 million Tolls from the Magi Crystals that the expedition had obtained. Knowing Jin''s habit of spending, Erza was happy to receive this extra income. "......He''s gone... ......" Gloria, the vice-captain of the Klein Kingdom''s female knight corps, and Fritz Randle, the lieutenant colonel of the Shoro Imperial Expeditionary Force, stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes following the shadow of the diminishing . "I didn''t get to see Jin-dono this time. ......" Gloria looks very disappointed. I wonder if she wanted to ask him to make her a sword. "Ah, vice captain, speaking of Jin-dono, I have something for you..." Cynthia, Gloria''s second-in-command, handed her a long, thin package. "Hmm?What is it?" Half-excited, Gloria opens the package on the spot. "Oh ......!" It was a sword that had been almost melted by the bodily fluids of the "mokutoko". No, it is now completely restored to its original state. "Jin-dono, when did you ......" In fact, Erza, who had noticed the sword''s disastrous condition, had quietly brought it back with her on her way home from the treatment. Jin fixed it up as a gift for her recovery. The blade of the new sword is made of adamantite as it is, but the blade between the adamantite blade and the steel is not made of iron but of chrome steel, which is resistant to corrosion, and the whole blade is plated with adamantite. Gloria, who recognized it at a glance, was completely satisfied and smiled radiantly. Cynthia looks at Fritz, who is staring at her profile, and sighs. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic are also seeing her off. "...... has he gone?" "It''s gone, sir. But you''re making a hell of a mess of things, Sir Jin Nido. I agree. Minister of Magic Kelihidole nods at the words of Prime Minister Galuelli. "...... the time of the request for the Third Order''s help, the time of their arrival, and the distance. It seems a bit contradictory, but we shouldn''t think too much about it, should we? I think so. What good would it do to pursue the matter? Prime Minister Galuelli nodded in agreement with Kerichdole''s comment. "Yes, that''s right. But there is a more pressing matter at hand. The problem of our country''s information being leaked to his country, isn''t it? That''s right. We must identify the counter-intelligence. * * * * The ship in which Jin and his crew were traveling arrived at the Kingdom of Elias in the evening of the same day. The Marquis of Firenziano, who was in the capital, also rushed to the scene. Since the test drive is scheduled for the next day, Jin and the others are invited to a dinner. The Marquis Florenziano was the host of the banquet. "<>, welcome. The new airship is the Koron 2. It''s a beauty! Yes, it''s very fast. You can reach the Shoro Kingdom in half a day from here. That''s wonderful! Today''s main dish is a kind of pizza with topopo and cheese. It''s quite tasty. "...... Is this cheese from the village of Mohut?" Yes, it is. Elsa also remembered the taste of this cheese, so she said so, and she was right. Thus, the dinner ended in a friendly atmosphere. "Now we can return to the Shoro Kingdom tomorrow night. ......" The distance between Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, and Loizart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, is less than 900 kilometers. At a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, it would take four and a half hours to get there. Jin is eager to study the materials as soon as possible. "Brother Jin is the same as ever." Elsa giggled, "Father, for me ......" Reiko was thrilled. The nights in Borgia were even warmer than in Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea. Opening the window of her room a little, she saw the moon just rising. "...... I''ll solve the mystery of that moon someday." Erza hears Jin''s murmur and smiles. The morning of the 27th. Under a clear sky, <> was flying nimbly in the sky. "It''s wonderful, isn''t it, Sir Jin Nido?" The two passengers are the Marquis of Firenziano and.., "Indeed. We must be inspired to develop such a vehicle in our country as well." Prime Minister, Marquis Godopher. So far, no one has seen or tried the Conlon 2, and no one wants it unconditionally. I think I understand the character of Jin correctly. <> flies around in the space between blue sea and blue sky, blue and blue. When it landed, Marquis Florenziano and Marquis Godopher looked regretful. "<> Sir Jin Nido, I hope to be of service to you for many years to come." As they parted, the Prime Minister, the Marquis of Godfar, shook Jin''s hand. "< The Marquis of Florenziano smiled and said goodbye. "I''ll see you soon." "Thank you for your hospitality." Jin and Elsa are now on the plane and wave from the window. Reiko is in charge of piloting the plane. The Prime Minister salutes and the Marquis of Florenziano waves slowly at the smaller and smaller . "Ah, now it''s finally over." Erza nails Jin, who breathes a sigh of relief. "Brother Jin, there is still one last thing left to do. I wonder what his unveiling in the Shoro Kingdom will be like. 743 - - 22-11 Reunion at Roizart Before sunset, Jin and his crew arrive at Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. It lands on the rooftop of Jin''s residence. The size of the airship is the same as the one in the picture, which is convenient in such a case. "Welcome home, Jin-sama, Erza-sama, Reiko-sama! Barrow and Behrle greeted us. After much discussion, they both expressed their desire to work at the Shoro Palace, their birthplace, and we respected their wishes. The village of Kaina will be ...... in the near future. "I''m home. Is there anything unusual?" "Yes, nothing much, but there is an asylum seeker from abroad in the house across the street." An exile? Yes. A man named Eckart Tecles and his family are said to be from the Kingdom of Celuloa. Jin nodded. Across the street was the residence of Viscount Jorgens Heckerath von Paddock, Undersecretary of the Minister of Industry of the Kingdom of Shoro. He thought that it would be an appropriate place for Eckert, who was a great merchant of the Kingdom of Celuloa, to temporarily reside. After taking a bath and washing off the sweat and dust, it was time for dinner. White rice, miso soup with topopo (potatoes) and onions, fried eggs, and fried horse mackerel. "Yes, it''s cooked well. Jin likes his rice cooked a little hard. However, if the rice is not cooked properly, the core of the rice tends to remain. He had no complaints about the miso soup, which was made from dried bonito flakes. Erza seemed to enjoy the food as well, since she and Jin generally share similar tastes. "Thanks for the food." After the meal, hojicha tea was served. Drinking it slowly, Jin felt at ease. "Tomorrow morning, I''ll go to the castle first thing in the morning to unveil . He mumbled to himself without saying anything to anyone. Erza responded. "...... I''m sure His Majesty would like to ride on it." "Indeed. Jin chuckles. "Well, the new airship is much safer and has a larger capacity. "...... to take the leaders to Kunlun Island someday?" Erza guessed correctly about the capacity of the <>, which is 30 people. "Very perceptive. Well, I don''t know when that will be. Jin stared out the window into the darkness, muttering to himself, "When the world is a little more peaceful. The next morning, Jin launched the to Miyagi, Japan, when the time was right. The crew consists of Jin, Reiko, and Elsa. The time is 9:00 am. Her Majesty the Queen had arrived at the landing pad in front of the palace, as expected. "<> Sir Jin Nido, welcome!You''ve built something amazing!I wonder if I can ride in it?" His words were as expected. He had probably heard that Prince Ernest and Marquis Florenziano had ridden on the manaphone. Jin smiled and said "Come in" to the reluctant Prime Minister and to Flora, the female knight of the Kingsguard, who was still attached to the Emperor. The airship carrying them soars into the sky. The emperor is excited and the prime minister is impressed. "Wow, it''s amazing!I love that it hardly shakes at all!" "......Wow, this is really great. I can''t even feel the wind. Jin-dono, how fast can it go?" Jin answers the Prime Minister''s question. "It can reach a speed of about 200 kilometers per hour. Even Flora is surprised at this figure. "So you can make a round trip between the Shoro Kingdom and the Elias Kingdom in one day! "That''s right. You have seen the map, haven''t you? Although the map was not to scale and did not include longitude and latitude lines, the locations were fairly accurate. Therefore, it is not difficult to calculate the distance between any two points from the distance between two known points. However, the higher the latitude, the more the east-west (latitudinal) direction is distorted. "Hmmm. Everyone above the rank of Kings of the Kingsguard has seen it. That map is wonderful. I suppose it is possible only for Jin-sama, who has such an airship." Jin scratched his head at Flora''s words. "We should follow the example of Sir Jin and strive to improve ourselves. The Prime Minister concluded. The airship is now slowing down and heading back to Miyagi. "Call me naive, but ....... I can''t help but hope that we can improve ourselves without starting a war. The passengers on board nodded in agreement as the Empress murmured. After landing safely on the ground, the Empress thanked Jin. Jin-kun, no, <> Sir Jin Nido, thank you very much. It was a very pleasant time. In return, I will treat you to lunch. The Empress nods lightly, turns on her heel, and heads back to the castle. The Prime Minister and Flora flanked her as if to protect her. Jin, Reiko, and Elsa followed close behind. Lunch was to be taken by the emperor, Hitoshi, Elsa, and Flora. The menu consisted of porridge, miso soup, and tea. The accompaniment was, to Jin''s surprise, pickles. "This is a rare food that was delivered to us by an advance party that went to a different ethnic ...... mitsho." The emperor smiles as he points to the pickled vegetables. "It goes very well with porridge. Would you like to try some?" "Yes, I''ll try it." After taking a bite, Jin confirmed that it was a pickled vegetable similar to eggplant. They make a small amount of it in Horai Island, but this one tastes better. "It is delicious. "Yes, that''s good. Flora doesn''t like this taste. It is true that some people do not like the sour taste obtained by lactobacillus fermentation. On the other hand, Elsa seemed to like this taste. The miso soup was a vegetable miso soup similar to that of turnips. The soup stock seemed to be made from dried bonito flakes. "What do you think of the taste?The dried bonito flakes that Jin asked me about before?"I shaved it and made dashi?I shaved it and made a kind of dashi. "It''s delicious." It''s a clich, but that''s all I can say. It was a nostalgic taste. I don''t know if it was the season or its rarity, but this turnip-like vegetable had never been mentioned by John Dinney. Jin is hoping to get the seed somehow. At the same time, the old man was secretly planning to do the same thing. As Jin was able to finish his meal without any tension due to the small size of the group, he was sipping green tea slowly after the meal when the emperor asked him, "Actually, I''m here to see Mr. Jin, As he was drinking green tea after the meal, the female emperor said, "Actually, there is someone I want you to meet, Jin-kun. Who is it? Who is it? Jin looks doubtful. I have no idea. "May I call him?" "Yes, please." When Jin nodded, the emperor rang the doorbell on the table. The door opened with a clear ringing sound, and a maid appeared. The emperor nodded to her, and the lady-in-waiting quickly withdrew, as if they had agreed beforehand. A minute later, she appeared with a man. Jin recognized the man. "Mr. Eckert! Yes, the man was Eckart Tecles. He was a former wealthy merchant of the Kingdom of Celuloa, and the builder of the giant ship Bridget. "Jin-dono, it''s been a long time. Eckhart looked a little gaunt after meeting him for the first time in half a year. "He, you know, he built a large ship ...... that was as good as ours, but it was confiscated by the Kingdom of Cerroa, and even his family possessions were taken from him, so he went into exile. "I see. ......" Jin nodded his head, blurting out what he knew from the old man. "I had also heard his name from Jin-kun, so I immediately took him into my custody. Now I''m just asking him a few questions as his guest. "Yes, it''s a life or death situation. Thanks to the magecraftsman I hired, I was able to get my whole family out of the country. Eckart smiles a little sadly. "Who is this Magecraftsman?" Jin asks knowingly. "Yes, he disappeared just before we were taken into custody in our country. The automata, Regulus 50 and Deneb 30, created by Jin, disappeared, telling him that there was nothing more to worry about. "I don''t know if I''ll stay in the service or if I''ll go back to business somewhere else," said Eckert. Eckhart continues. The Empress continues. "It would be a shame to let his legacy as a merchant die out." Eckert''s connections are not limited to the Kingdom of Cerroa. They extended to the Kingdom of Shawlo and the Kingdom of Egelea. "I''m thinking of having him work as a quasi-minister for a few years, and then he could go out on his own later with a salary." Yes, I will think about it. The emperor nodded his head in agreement. 744 - - 22-12 Most Powerful Biological Materials At the end of his meeting with the Empress, Jin decided to tell her that he was going back to Kunlun Island. "Yes, that airship will make it easy for me to come and go. I look forward to seeing you again. With these words, the Empress sends Jin and the others on their way. * * * * * * * * * * * * At 3:00 p.m., Jin, Reiko, and Erza are seen off by Barrow and Behrle, and they take off in . The altitude of the aircraft increased at once. When they reach a height where they cannot be seen from the ground, Jin activates the that he received from the 700672. The marker is the forecourt of the research institute on Horai Island. It was around 9:00 at night. When the landed in the forecourt, which was illuminated by the magic lamps, Jin and the others were greeted by an unexpected person. "Hey, Jin, Erza, welcome back. We''ve been waiting for you! Saki? Saki? < Jin nodded his head in agreement with the old man''s explanation. Jin smiled, thinking that Saki would be happy to help him. They went to the workshop immediately. Not the workshop on the first floor, which Jin usually uses, but the laboratory on the second floor. "I''ve tried threads of ground spiders, wing membranes of sea dragons, crystals, cubic zirconia, gold, mithril silver, light silver, and adamantite," he said. "Hmm, that''s a good line of materials." The materials were chosen for their strength and durability. "On the other hand, the chemicals we tried were the body fluids of gigantopods, gigantopod ants, and dissolved fluid from <>." "Wait a minute, how did you get the dissolving fluid of <> from ......?" The old man answered. < "I see." Sounds like something a mad scientist would say. Let''s put that aside for the moment and let Jin lead the way. "The threads with the highest chemical resistance were those of the ground spider. As far as metals are concerned, adamantite is excellent, but it is still slightly affected by the body fluids of gigantopods and giant ants. "Fuun......" . The old man''s voice. It means that the demons living in the ground defeated the demons in the water. The concept of "wˮ" is based on the five elements, which started in ancient China. It is based on the idea that earth conquers water, water conquers fire, fire conquers gold, gold conquers wood, and wood conquers earth. Jin knew this concept a little because it is featured in manga and novels. "Well, that''s not so easy to say..." "Brother Jin, why don''t you ask <<700672>>?" "......Oh, I see." To be honest, Jin is reluctant to rely on others in times of trouble, but he can''t say that if there are still dangerous monsters like these in the ruins of the old Leonard''s Kingdom. "Shall we go and ask them? ......" As a matter of fact, powerful demons and monsters are mostly found in the north. Therefore, we hoped that the 700672 in the north would have a wealth of information about them. Jin, are you going to this 700672? "Yes, I want to thank him for the transporter he gave me, so I''ll go there tomorrow. I''ll be there tomorrow. The next morning. Jin and the others finished breakfast in a hurry. "I''d like to visit ...... too, but I think I''ll pass on it this time." Saki said a little regretfully. "Well, that''s probably a good idea. Well then, Reiko and I will go with you." "Okay, see you later." Erza and Saki saw him off, and Jin and Reiko went to the warp gate room. On the way to the warp gate room, Jin receives a glass of Persica juice as a gift from the old man. The two then enter the warp gate. < "Welcome, master." Everything''s fine, sir. Thank you. A brief exchange takes place, and Jin puts his hand on the door of the . The door opened upon recognizing Jin. "Jin-sama, Reiko-san, welcome. You wanted to see my father?" "Yes, Neige, hello. I wanted to ask you a few questions today. While I was having this conversation with Neige, the 700672 showed up. "Oh, Mr. Jin, welcome." "Hello." Jin hands her a glass of Persian juice. "Oh, thank you. I''ve just run out of the last one you gave me. I''ll send it to you regularly. "That would be great." Outside the room is packed with craftsmen. If you have them carry it outside the door, Neige will receive it in a timely manner. It reminded Jin somewhat of a milkman delivering milk. "So what''s the matter with you today?Did something occur to you that you wanted to ask me? Jin nodded at the sharp insight of No. 700672. "Yes, I did. As a matter of fact, ......" Jin tells the story of the remains of the old Leonard''s Kingdom and the demons that come out of the underground. He also talks about the melting of Reiko''s skin, which was made from the wing membrane of a sea dragon. "Fumu......" After listening to the story to the end, interspersed with occasional questions, No. 700672 folded her arms and pondered. After less than a minute of thinking, he untied his arms and opened his mouth. "It is true that many of the demons that live underground are powerful. They have evolved in terms of magic in order to live in a poor environment. That is probably why the wing membranes of the sea dragons were also melted. Jin nodded. "I imagine that in addition to the usual acidic substances, the free magic element (ether) may also work to weaken the bonds of matter." "I understand." "Well, that''s enough preamble. ...... is winter now, right?" Yes, it is.Yes, it is. "Yes, it is." "Hmm, that''s convenient. Jin-dono, have you ever heard of an ancient dragon? Jin tried to remember, but he had no idea. "No, I don''t know it. "I see. It is a gigantic dragon that lives at the northern end of this continent. It is a magical beast that is probably at the top of all life forms on this planet. The apex of life on ......? "Mm-hmm. Of course, it''s a living creature, so it can be defeated. But they''re docile and they don''t come south. It lives in extremely cold regions and feeds on high concentrations of free magical element (ether). This is a powerful-looking dragon. Generally speaking, carnivores tend to be more powerful than herbivores, and carnivores tend to be more powerful than carnivores in terms of free magic element (ether) consumption. There are various degrees of power, such as longevity and physical strength. "The ancient dragons, however, shed their skins in the middle of winter. If we can get its skin, it will be one of the strongest materials. "Yes, sir!Thank you very much." Jin thanked him for the valuable information. "Are you going to go looking for it?" "Yes, that''s the plan." "I don''t need to tell you about the cold weather, but there is another powerful magical beast that lives in the northern boundary. Be careful with that. Another hexenbiest? "Yes. < "Well, that''s ......." If so, there is a very high possibility that they will run into each other. "Ancient dragons are few in number. There are probably no more than 10 of them. In contrast, there are probably three times as many frost dragons. I''m sure we''ll encounter them. "I think so. So be sure to take all possible countermeasures. From the name, frost dragons use magic to freeze people, don''t they? "Yes. It''s said to be able to freeze a small volcano. Be careful on your way. I understand. Thank you for your help. I''ll come back and tell you if I succeed in collecting it. "I wish you success." And so, Jin returned to Horai Island. 745 - - 22-13 To the Northern Limit Jin returned to Horai Island and immediately gave a detailed report to Elsa and Saki. "A shell of an ancient dragon! Saki bites. "Jin, you''re going to go look for it, aren''t you?You''re going, aren''t you? "Ah, yes!" Jin replied, being overwhelmed by Saki''s enthusiasm. "But we have to get ready. The problem is the Frost Dragon." "I see. It will probably use a magic similar to <>. Jin''s analysis. Erza nodded her head, "That''s probably right. "Then, how can we counter it? "Father, are the weapons we''ve made so far not enough?" Reiko wondered. "No, I need a proper weapon. For a single target, <> or <> would be fine, but they are too powerful. Frost dragons are probably few in number, and we don''t want to affect the ecosystem." "I see. That''s a very Jin-like way of thinking. Saki agreed with me, smiling. "So you would use fire magic against the cold?" Jin, however, rejected Saki''s opinion. "No, that would be too inefficient. I think it would be better to use an attribute that is less susceptible to the cold rather than to counteract it." "I understand ....... So, lightning, light, etc.? Elsa also understands. "That''s right. ......" Then Reiko spoke up. "Father, if you just want to get rid of them, wouldn''t a transporter gun be enough?" The transfer rifle is a gun that uses the principle of a transporter to transfer the target to a distant place. It fires a wave of magic power, not a bullet. Due to its nature, the destination is fixed, and it can only fire a single shot or at most two shots due to the energy it consumes. "That is also true. We should improve the transfer gun a little and make the mana a cartridge type to make it easier to use. Then we can widen the area of effect to deal with giant dragons. I think that''s a good idea. "It''s non-lethal and I think it''s a good idea. So, Jin decided to start working on the improvement. They moved to Jin''s workshop on the first floor and resumed their discussions. "I think we should decide on the shape of the mana tank, standardize it, and make it usable by recharging it when it is empty. The image is that of an AAA rechargeable battery. "......It would be better to standardize these parts as well." "I agree." Following Elsa''s advice, we decided to think about the future rather than just making something on the spur of the moment. "If you think about it, dry cell batteries are used reasonably well," she said. Jin adds, "Except for button batteries. That one is too complicated ....... We decided to make Type I, which is roughly the size of an AAA battery, and set it as the standard for the following years. Type II and later will be considered at that time. "I think it''s a good idea." Erza agreed. The Magi Crystal is formed into a cylindrical shape, and the Magi Formula is engraved on it. "......What is that?" This time, Jin was engraving inside the magi crystal. It is an image of 3D laser engraving on the inside of crystal glass and so on. As one would expect, it was not as precise as engraving on the surface, but it was sufficient for its use as a mana tank. "Hmm?In this way, the magic formula won''t disappear due to abrasion, will it?" "...... I understand what you are saying. But the fact that you are going to do it is amazing. "I agree with you. I think that Jin is a after all. Saki could sense the high level of his skill. After creating about 20 cartridge-type mana tanks, Jin then began work on the transfer gun. "I wonder if I should add other functions to it anyway. Erza advises the fussy Jin. "But I think it would be bad if it can''t be used as a transfer gun in an emergency. The question is which to choose: the ease of use of a dedicated gun or the convenience of a general-purpose gun. "I see. ...... so that would be ......." Jin proposes that the gun can be used as a transfer gun when used normally, and as a paralyzer or laser gun when certain operations are performed. "What if we set up the settings first, and then require certain operations to change the settings?" This is a safety measure against accidentally changing the setting to a different one. "Okay, then." "Yes, let''s go with that." Jin thus begins to do some serious processing. Erza is watching him, trying to learn his technique. Saki is simply admiring Jin''s skill. Reiko prepares the materials and checks the whole process to make sure nothing has been overlooked. An hour later, five new transfer rifles were completed. In design, they look similar to the Ruger P08. The cartridges are inserted by opening the lid at the end of the grip, just like changing batteries. It is not a casing type. "While pressing this button, turn the dial at the rear. 1 is the transfer gun, 2 is the paralyzer, and 3 is the laser gun. The dial cannot be turned without pressing the button, which is a safety feature. In addition, the dial emits a red light in the laser mode, which has the power to kill, to prevent accidental setting. "There is one more safety device." Jin pointed to a small magic crystal (magi crystal) attached near the tip of the gun and explained. "If you record the magic pattern in it, the gun will not work even if you try to shoot at that person. "That''s good!" Erza exclaimed. It means we won''t accidentally blow away a family member. The old man has kept a record of the family''s magic patterns. "That''s it." Made of 64 light silver, light and strong. The surface is colored red. The color was chosen to stand out because of the danger, but also to stand out in the northern land of snow and ice. Jin, Reiko, Erza, and Saki each carry one, and one is a spare. One is a spare. "Kuhu, that''s a little scary. Saki, who has never lived a rough life, looked a little troubled when she received the gun. "Just this once. I hope I won''t need it normally." Saki''s own automata, Aaru might be able to carry it, but unfortunately she is a bit inferior in terms of basic performance, so she will not be accompanying him this time. "Yes, or ...... we also need to review the covert maneuver unit (SP) ......." Since Jin has recently been traveling mostly by airship instead of horse-drawn carriages, the covert mobility unit (SP) was no longer able to follow him. "Either improve their flying capabilities or put them on a different mission." There are miniature golems that can protect you without having to conform to human standards. They can hide in your pockets or luggage and guard you. "Well, I''ll think about it when I get back." Jin had one more decision to make. That was the means of transportation. "I wonder if the Arctic Circle will be tough with <>." Cold weather and strong winds are imagined. Cold air is one thing, but strong winds are a nuisance. "I''m afraid I''ll have to go with <>: ......" "Father, it must be hard to find the shell of an ancient dragon from the sky..." But Reiko disagreed. "Umm, sure." If we are going to search for something on the snow-covered plateau, we will need a ground vehicle. "We could use ......<." The quadrupedal vehicle that I built when I visited the demon territory before. However, its functionality seems to be insufficient. Jin glanced at Erza. "...... permission." Erza, sensing the meaning of his gaze, nodded broadly with a laugh. "Okay, let''s modify it!" Jin decided to start modifying Capricorn 1 so that it would be able to operate even in extremely cold weather. 746 - - 22-14 Demon Collar Hey Jin decided to make < into an extreme cold-weather version. "If it were true, I would like to make it a 6-leg or 8-leg model. If it is a four-legged walker, we can refer to the behavior of a horse, but there is no eight-legged mammal, so we will not be able to simulate it from scratch in time for this project. "So, we make the feet bigger." The purpose is to prevent the horse from getting stuck in the snow when stepping on it, and to distribute the pressure as much as possible when walking on ice and other surfaces. The area is now twice as large as before. In addition, a gyro-stabilizer has been added to increase stability. "Now I''d like to be able to fly ...... just for a short distance." Considering the possibility of falling into a crevasse or the like, it is better to be able to fly, even if not at high speed, so a force field generator is installed. The heavy weight makes it unsuitable for long-duration flight, but it is more than sufficient for escape from a puddle. "And then there''s habitability." Of food, clothing, and shelter, this is the . The windows are double-paned for efficient heating, and insulation was added to the interior. The main doorway has been modified with an airlock style so that the inner door cannot be opened when the outer door is open. This makes the room slightly smaller, but it is acceptable. And <. A warming cabinet has been added so that hot food can be consumed at any time. A microwave oven has also been installed, and the ship is fully stocked with food. However, the food can be sent in at any time by a small warp gate. After lunch, the work continues. Finally, the last of the food, clothing, and shelter. "Brother Jin, how do you like this? "I think it looks pretty good." Erza and Saki were asked to make winter clothes. The materials used were rock hare and snow tiger fur. The fur of snow tigers, in particular, is highly functional because it is made of demon material. To be more specific, it generates heat when given a certain amount of mana. The design is said to be a joint work of the two artists, and is quite good. Trousers with a boa inside made of snow tiger fur, a coat with a long hem, gloves, and boots. The tiger stripes are a nice accent. A little bit bandit-like. And on his head, a hat with earpieces made from the fur of a rock hare. Light and warm. "Oh, this is nice. "Hmm, not bad at all." "Father, this one''s ready, too." And Reiko made me a pair of goggles to protect me from ultraviolet rays. The lens is made of a thin plate of dark magic crystal (magi crystal). The lens is sandwiched between transparent GSP to prevent it from shattering when broken. "Oh, this is nice." Saki, who wears glasses, wears special goggles. "I feel bad. I''m the only one who got them separately." Saki looked happy even though she said so. "Jin, where should I put this gun? Saki asked. "Oh, I see. ......". Jin realized that he needed a holster to hold the gun. Reiko said she would put them in the pockets of her apron, so Elsa helped him to prepare holsters for the three of them in a hurry. "Yeah, that looks good." Jin put the gun on his hip for a test, checked the balance, and was satisfied with the result. At the same time, he noticed something. "Oh, ...... I need a lock on the trigger of the gun as a safety device." When you pull the gun out of the holster, there is a possibility that you might accidentally touch the trigger. "Well, you can do this here: ......." I decided to add another inactive position, 0, to the switch dial. It may not be as fast as a rapid-fire weapon, but it was the best Jin, a non-miliota, could do. "Now, are we all set?" "Yes, I think you are well-equipped, aren''t you? Jin and Reiko nodded at each other. > The old man asked, more of a confirmation than a question. "Yes, that''s my intention. Yes, that''s the plan. They know Capricorn 1 very well. "Yes, that would be a good idea. I may ask you to show me the way. Jin then pondered what to bring. "Yes, I''ll bring a jagai ...... topopo. Jin thought that if the topopo purchased in the Kingdom of Elias were used as seed potatoes and cultivated in the demon territory, the food situation would be even better. "I can transcribe the cultivation method to <." Jin''s knowledge of potato cultivation is not great, but he expects a minimum harvest. The Persica in Horai Island grows in all seasons, and the stock in the ether stocker is increasing. < When we get to the other side, we can pretend that we have loaded them and take them out of the warp gate and distribute them. "Yeah, that''s a good idea. Let''s do that." Now we''ve pretty much settled on a plan. "Then we will leave tomorrow morning. We''ll have a transporter take us to the Paz dextro isthmus, and from there we''ll take Capricorn 1. Is that all right with you? The old man had analyzed the transporter that had been given to him by the 700672 and had built an identical one. One of them will be installed in Capricorn 1. Now, in case of emergency, he can escape by transfer. That day, Jin and the others took a bath and rested soundly. * * * * * * * * * * * January 30. At 8:00 in the morning, Jin, Reiko, Erza, Saki, and the others board Capricorn 1, which is parked in the front yard of the institute. As before, Land 1 was in charge of piloting the aircraft. The old man''s voice rings out, and the view instantly switches from the subtropical island of Horai to a field of snow in a single, interesting color. We are now in front of the Pazdekst isthmus. "Jin, Jin, is this the demon territory? Saki''s voice was excited. "No, not yet. This area is north of the village of Kaina ...... and is under my control. "So my brother Jin''s territory is quite large..." "Yeah, but it''s a barren area ...... It would be very difficult to develop. The current small group of countries is not short of land to that extent. Especially in this area, the winter environment is quite harsh. "Well, whatever, let''s cross the Great Isthmus. Capricorn 1 begins to walk. The gyrostabilizers have been added, and we can feel that the stability has improved considerably. "Hmmm, a land closed to snow and ice ...... sounds interesting!" Saki is excited to see the scenery for the first time. Erza is also staring out the window. Capricorn 1 is able to walk at a steady speed on the icy rocks. The sky is cloudy. We continue on at about 30 kilometers per hour, and in about two hours we will pass through the narrowest part of the isthmus. Once we could clearly see that the rocks have changed color, but it is impossible now because they are covered with snow. "I wish I could have seen it with my own eyes. ......" Jin explained and Saki looked disappointed. Capricorn 1 is moving along smoothly. A few flakes of snow were falling. "I guess they must have figured out we''re here by now." Even though they have established friendship with Jin last year, the demons are still keeping a close watch on the Pazdext isthmus, so there is a good chance that Capricorn 1 has been discovered. Since they were not here to antagonize us, a scouting party would be a good way to avoid spreading confusion. About 20 minutes later. "Father, someone is coming from the front. Reiko, who was in the passenger seat, looked at the magi radar and reported. "It''s probably a scouting party of demons, but let''s be on the lookout. Capricorn 1 stopped and deployed a barrier. Ten minutes passed. "Three of them are coming this way. Reiko, the first one, reported. It took another 5 minutes before Jin could see the figures. "That ......1 must be Mr. Belial. So it seems that the approaching figures are members of the clan that we met last year. The three of them stopped about 50 meters from Capricorn 1. Jin also decided to send Reiko out to let them know what we were up to. Reiko, please. "Yes, father." Immediately Reiko stepped out of the airlock. Her appearance was very distinctive. Belialus immediately recognized her. He approached her slowly, holding up his hands to show that he had no hostile intentions. 747 - - 22-15 Further north In the evening of the same day. Jin and his party were at the residence of . The settlement is bustling with activity. Word of Jin''s arrival spread quickly, and many people from various clans gathered there with transfer magic. "Jin, it''s been a long time! The one who was the most pleased might have been Zion. "Hello, Theon, you look well. "Jin-sama, it''s been a long time." Theon''s sister, Istaris, also arrived. Her right arm is entwined with Netros''s left arm. Jin is not so dull as to be unable to understand the meaning of this. At least as far as others are concerned: ....... "Hello, Elsa, it''s been a long time. "Well, I''m glad to see you''re doing well." Zion recognizes Erza''s face. They greet each other. This is my friend Saki. "Nice to meet you, I''m Saki." "Saki-san, is it? Pleased to meet you. I am Okaerus of the Divergence. Pleased to meet you. I am Anemos Deus, the Lonely. I am Donaisia the Humorous. Many other clans had gathered to greet the newcomers, and it was a busy time. When the greetings were over and the atmosphere had settled down, Bardius, Zion''s grandfather and head of the clan of Morura, thanked the group on behalf of the others. "Jin-dono, thank you for everything you have done for us. "No, we had our own reasons for doing this. "No, but still. You changed our way of life from the very beginning. I''m glad I could be of service. And the greenhouse is great. We no longer have to worry about starving. We will be able to survive this winter with ease. After these words, Jin presented his gifts. First, Persica. Packed in a large container, it weighed about 100 kilograms. In this winter, it would last for at least a week. Three boxes. Reiko would have been the only one to carry them. "Oh, thank God! Fresh fruit is so precious in winter. Please share. And this. The next thing he offered was a topopo seed potato. "This is called topopo. It is a crop that can be grown even in cold regions and should be planted in the spring. "Ah!That''s the crop you were talking about before! This was said by Zion''s mother, Lorona. She knew a lot about agriculture and had told him about topopo the last time. "That''s right. I will give <> the knowledge on how to cultivate it. But I have one thing to say here. Sprouted topopo, or rather topopo shoots, are poisonous. Do not eat them. I understand. It''s a form of self-defense against pests." Lorona was very understanding. She was indeed Zion''s mother. "Jin-sama, I''ve improved a little since then!" It was Marikka. She had a talent for engineering magic, so Jin had trained her to maintain the magic tools, the agricultural golem, and the Ugly. "Oh, I see. You did a good job." "Yes!I can handle the maintenance of Ugly now, right? It would have been better if he hadn''t bitten at the end," he said, smiling with a hint of a wry smile. "Now, the purpose of this visit..." The conversation finally got to the heart of the matter. Everyone gathered here listened attentively. "Have you heard about the ancient dragon? Ancient dragon? Ancient dragons ...... might be ......." Most of them tilted their heads, but there was one who looked like he had an idea. "I''ve heard stories about a huge white dragon far to the north." It was Theon. "Yes, my memory is good! <, is thinly puffed up. "Hmm, come to think of it, I may have heard of it too. Bardius of Morura nodded. They were the only two who knew of any clues. Bardius instructed Zion. "Zion, then you will follow Jin-dono and help him find the ancient dragon. "Okay!" Zion followed these instructions with joy. On the other hand, Erza, who is sitting beside Jin, looks a little discouraged. "Erza-san, Saki-san, nice to meet you!" Erza only replies with a "nn" in response. And Saki nodded her head, saying hello. "By the way, what about Lucas?" Saki nodded and said, "By the way, what about Lucas, the boy squire loyal to Zion? He was in the back. "...... Lucas is not my squire anymore, they say he hasn''t been trained enough." In a whisper Zion tells the reason. It is true that he is still inexperienced, judging from his behavior last time. Jin agreed and did not ask any further questions, considering Lucas''s pride. That night, Jin and the others sleep in Capricorn 1. They were a little anxious about sleeping in the winter demon territory. The modifications had a great effect, and Jin, Erza, and Saki were able to rest comfortably. The next morning. On that day, the month changed and it became February 1st. Jin, Erza, and Saki were treated to breakfast at Morira''s residence. Then it was time to leave. "How do I look? Zion came in all dressed up in a white fur coat and a snow hat. "Well, you look good. You look like the Snow Queen." Her silver hair and white skin matched her pure white coat and hat very well. "Oh, yeah?Hehehe." Zion looks happy to be praised by Jin. Erza, on the other hand, is looking a bit reluctant, but Jin may or may not be aware of it. Saki looks at Erza and smiles a little. "You two look a bit like sisters when you stand side by side like that. Elsa with platinum blonde hair and Zion with silver hair. Both have light blue eyes and are fair-skinned. Jin looked at them and said, "Yes, they''re both pretty." which made both of them, especially Erza, blush. Saki, on the other hand... (Jin is still the same as ever. ...... This must be a lot of trouble for Erza.) (Jin is still the same as ever, isn''t he? "Take care, Jin-sama!" "Jin-sama, please take good care of my sister. "Zion, don''t get in Master Jin''s way. You''ll be of good use to him. Yes... I''m off! After being seen off by his grandfather, sister, and mother, Zion headed for Capricorn 1. Capricorn 1 is waiting for him on the ground. "Let''s go. Jin gets in first and lends Erza a hand to pull him into the airlock. The airlock is full of two people, so they close the outer door and bring Elsa inside. When the inner door was closed and the outer door was opened again, Zion looked a little impatient. Don''t close the door in front of me!I thought you were going to leave me! "Sorry. I''m sorry. The new Capricorn 1 has a different way of getting in to protect you from the cold. Saying this, Jin held out his hand. Zion grips his hand firmly. He is wearing thermal gloves, though. We then went to the airlock. When Jin explained that the inner door would not open unless the outer door was closed, Zion nodded his head in admiration. "Well, you''ve thought of it," Jin said. This way, we can keep the outside cold inside. Then Saki, and finally Reiko would get in, and they would all be in. "Okay, let''s go. We''ll head north first." "Okay. Capricorn 1, we''re go for launch. Under the control of Lando 1, Capricorn 1 is now in motion. It gets up and starts walking. Bardius, Istaris, and Rorona look on. They watch Capricorn 1 until it disappears beyond the snowfield. "I can see you''ve made some modifications. It rides so much better than before! Zion is excited to ride Capricorn 1 for the first time in a long time. It was warm inside, so he had taken off his winter clothes. He is now dressed in knit clothes that make it easy to move around. She is at least one size smaller than Erza, and her body is thin. She still has the figure of a girl. When Jin was thinking about ......, he was stared at by both Zion and Erza. Saki was looking out the window. "Sion, are you sure you want to continue north?" Jin says deceptively, and Zion replies with a stony look in his eyes. "We''re going to the clan territory of the <>, right? So, the speed of Capricorn 1 is about 30 km/h?If so, it should be easy to understand that if we go north first, we will hit a river, cross it, and go further north. The first step is to go to the clan territory to get more information. Since Falcon 1 with Sky 1 was waiting in the sky to provide support, there was little concern about their current location, but it would be helpful to have someone who knew the area well. Jin and his crew continued northward without any problems. 748 - - 22-16 Gospels of the Gospel After about three hours of traveling north, Capricorn 1 comes to a stop. A frozen river lay before them. This is where Jin and his crew had lunch. The surrounding area is a silver world as far as the eye can see. The legs of Capricorn 1 are more than a meter under the snow. "The snow is getting heavier and heavier. Jin muttered as he looked outside. It really is. It''s warm inside, but how cold is it outside? "About minus 25 degrees Celsius. Jin looked at the outside thermometer and answered. "Uh, thermometer, right?" He seemed to have remembered what I had explained to him the last time we boarded the boat. Jin was impressed, as expected of the Morira clan. "Well, it''s a tool that scales the temperature at which water freezes at 0C and boils at 100C." "That''s right. But when the temperature reaches minus 40 degrees Celsius or so, it can no longer be used. Since mercury is used, it is vulnerable to extremely low temperatures. The freezing point of mercury is -37. Below that temperature, they use colored organic liquids such as pentane, but Jin has not yet been able to produce and separate them. "Hmm, but it''s still useful. That''s Jin." "Yes, Jin is great." Erza said and lifted Jin up further. "Well, let''s get going. Capricorn 1 starts to move. There was about 20 cm of snow on the ground while we were standing still, but it was shaken off as we started walking. As before, we cross the river. The river is icy and shallow, so there is no problem at all. In the evening, we arrived at the residence of the <> clan. Since we had recorded our position on our previous visit, the old man guided us to the place. "Oh, Jin-dono, welcome! Alektas came out, and he knew that he was Capricorn 1 and that Jin had arrived. The cloaking wards he had put up before were not used. However, since the wind-shielding wards are in place, no snow has blown in, and the environment has become quite livable. The temperature inside the warding was minus 3 degrees Celsius on the outside thermometer, more than 20 degrees Celsius higher than outside. "It''s been a while. Jin exits Capricorn 1 and greets the others. Perhaps it was because he was face-to-face, but his words were a little more polite than when he had been in contact with the double doll. Erza, Saki, and Zion are escorted by Milonia, wife of Alexas. "What''s the matter with you today?" "Actually, ......" Jin explained to Alectus as he was invited in. "Well, you are looking for the shell of an ancient dragon, aren''t you? "Have you heard of it?" "Sure, I''ve heard of it." So, we were treated to dinner and asked about it. However, Jin had also brought 50 kilograms of flour as a souvenir. Of course, he had it sent from Horai Island via the warp gate. He asked them to bake bread using this flour, and if they ate it with soup or stew, it would be a luxurious dinner. "It seems like a bad idea, doesn''t it? said Milonia. "That''s Jin-sama''s fiance, Erza-san, isn''t it? I hear she is an excellent healer. If you don''t mind, I was wondering if you could check on my father-in-law later. By father-in-law, I mean the clan leader, Fabius the Gospel. Yes, if it''s all right with me. "By the way, Mr. Fabius is not here, is he sick? When Jin asked, Milonia nodded with a worried look on her face. Yes, since the day before yesterday my back is not feeling well, so I''ve been lying low. "...... That''s worrisome, isn''t it? Well then, after dinner. I''d like that very much. Zion is quiet. Perhaps it is because he is surrounded by the half-legendary clans of the . It seems that the sense of dislike for them does not disappear so easily. Saki, on the other hand, seems to find everything she sees and hears unusual and keeps gazing around. She is like a visitor. Then, Alexus spoke to Saki. I heard that you are an excellent alchemist, Saki. What kind of things are you interested in? "Well, I''m still in training. For now, I''m just trying to see and hear all things. He seemed to like that answer. "Well, you are a humble man. Indeed, there is much in this world that we do not understand. Good luck." "Thank you for ......, sir." Saki''s face is a little red. Saki''s face is a little red, as if she is embarrassed. The conversation continues. The information I wanted to ask about the ancient dragon. "I have heard rumors about a dragon that looks like an ancient dragon, and I have heard that it is said to be located further north than here. The information about the ancient dragon did not change much. However, new information about the land is obtained. "If you head further north beyond the <>, you will come to a lake. We call it Lake Chickagwa. "Is there an ancient dragon there?" "No, you have to go around it and go further north. No, you have to go around it and go further north, and there is a table-shaped plateau, the Tusulu Plateau, and I have heard that they live near the Gyeltse mountain rising above it. That''s pretty detailed information. Jin has a topographical map, so it will be easier to calculate the route if he compares the current information with it later. "Thank you very much for your help. I will go there tomorrow. "But it blows almost every day in the north during the winter. Please be careful. I understand. I will be careful. We had anticipated such a thing, and had made it for the cold weather. True to their word, after dinner, Elsa and Jin visited Fabius'' apartment. Saki is looking around the residence, guided by Alexas. Zion went back inside Capricorn 1. "Oh, Jin-dono, it''s been a while. That must be Miss Elsa. I''m Fabius, nice to meet you. "Elsa. Nice to meet you. Fabius greeted her as she lay on her bed on her back. He was in great pain when he moved his body. Elsa immediately started to examine him, since Milonia had already told her about his condition. "......You say you have a lot of back pain, don''t you?......<>" Elsa examines the patient and raises a pensive eyebrow. "Yes, you have a compression fracture of the lumbar vertebrae. There seems to be no damage to the spinal cord, so it will heal. ......<>" Healing is the surgical healing magic to heal fractures. As we age, calcium metabolism decreases and bone density tends to decrease. In other words, the bones become shredded. In such a situation, bones can break if a person is forced to carry heavy objects in an unreasonable posture, or if force is exerted by rapid exercise. In the case of Fabius, this happened to his spine. Since there was no trauma to the body, medical healing magic without knowing that it was a surgical disease would only provide temporary relief, but not a fundamental cure. But Elsa''s treatment was appropriate. "Finish, sir. " Finally, the treatment was completed by applying advanced healing magic of the internal medicine system to return the calcium metabolism to as normal as possible. "Oh, I feel better. I can move my body." "Elsa-sama, that''s great!Thank you very much!" After curing Fabius, Elsa seems to have been upgraded from <> to <>. "Please be sure to consume foods that contain calcium." Elsa recommended small fish, cheese, and beans. Then, the group chatted amiably with Fabius, who was now fully recovered. Saki and Alexas also returned and joined us. Saki was in a good mood, probably having been shown something unusual. Jin also asked Fabius about the ancient dragon. "I see, so you have come to look for the shell of this ancient dragon? Yes. Yes. Mr. Alexas told me about the location. Capricorn 1 is also well-equipped for the cold, so I will go there tomorrow. Be careful, it is very cold in the north. Thank you, sir. But Erza, you have great skill for such a young woman. I envy you, Jin-dono." Thank you very much. Erza is embarrassed by the praise. "Hey, where''s Zion?" Jin notices that Zion is missing and wonders why. Reiko answered him. "Father, Zion is in Capricorn 1. "What?What''s going on? Jin, who was curious, told the people who were still talking that he was tired and needed to rest, and returned to Capricorn 1 with Reiko. There was Zion sitting on a seat, sitting on the floor. "Zion?" "Oh ...... Jin?" "What''s wrong?What''s wrong? Are you sick? But Zion shook his head. "No, it''s not that. I just feel a little uncomfortable. Hearing these words, Jin had an idea. It was no wonder that he did not feel at home in the long mysterious clan of the Gospel. After all, Zion was only 14 years old. "I see. Without Lucas, it must be discouraging to be alone among the other clans. "No, it''s not like that. ...... Jin put his hand on Zion''s head, who was blushing and flustered, and lightly patted him on the head. "I''m sorry. I didn''t pay enough attention to you. "It''s not Jin''s fault. ...... Jin reflected that he had not been attentive enough to Zion. Erza and Saki came back and saw them. Erza had a complicated expression on her face. Saki had a wry smile on her face. 749 - - 22-17 Tough Snow Mountain The 2nd of February. It was snowing from the morning. The outside thermometer on Capricorn 1 read minus 30 degrees Celsius. "Jin-dono, please be careful." Erza-sama, please be careful. Saki, take care. Nothing is said about Zion. It seems that there is still a gap between the clans among them. Theon himself does not say anything about it, as if he takes it for granted. Capricorn 1 walks out into the blizzard, but his legs are buried in the snow and he can only reach a speed of about 10 km/h (10 mph). (There is a force field generator if the need arises. ...... Well, let''s just keep going.) Jin did not give any instructions since there was no inconvenience. The mountains loomed to the north from the clan territory of the Gospel. Capricorn 1 slowly climbed up the mountain. "That''s great. ......" Zion, who is finally getting back to his normal self, says admiringly as he looks out the window. Outside the window, a blizzard is roaring, but occasionally we can see frozen rock faces and standing trees that look like monsters made of snow and ice, giving us an idea of the kind of slope we are climbing. "Snow Monster or ......" Hitoshi was reminded of the wintertime tradition of juhy (), a type of ice formation on Zao and Hakkda mountains. He had only seen them on TV, though. What I saw in front of me was even more impressive than that, a huge ice tree. "That''s amazing, Jin!How did they get that shape? Saki stays by the window, staring out. Capricorn 1 is now slowly climbing up a slope with an incline of more than 30 degrees. When he climbed up to the <>, there was no snow. "It''s still difficult when there is snow. ....... I remember that mountain climbing is also more difficult during the snow season. Jin was thinking of the nature-related documentaries he had seen when he was on Earth. The slope at the foot of Capricorn 1 is now more than 45 degrees. Since it was difficult to climb straight up, Lando 1, who was in charge of piloting Capricorn 1, had it climb in a zigzag pattern. "Are you okay?" Although the balancer and stabilizer are equipped, it sometimes tilts greatly, which makes Zion uneasy. Jin thinks that with the force field generator, he can jump over this slope, but he also wants to know the limits of Capricorn 1, so he plans to climb up the slope by walking alone. "If you can''t make it this far, you won''t be able to go any further. As Jin said this, one of his legs slipped. "Aah!" Zion turns blue. But he only tensed up a little. Capricorn 1 shook a little, but regained its balance and began to climb again. After an hour, they finally reached the ridge. But a white storm was brewing again, and visibility was almost zero. The outside thermometer was frozen at minus 40 degrees Celsius. "Land 1, any glitches?" "Yes, there are no operational problems. However, the spikes on the soles of the feet are not good enough. It works well on ice, but it doesn''t catch fresh snow." "I see. ......" When climbing snow-covered mountains, crampons, which are made of steel or other materials, are attached to shoes to prevent slipping, but they are not very effective in fresh snow or deep snow, in which case tools such as snowshoes or snowshoes are used. "I should have been able to change the area of the sole or take out the claw if necessary. ......" As you can imagine, such modifications are not possible now. I decide to have lunch while letting him walk, since he is likely to freeze if he stops. "I''m glad we''ll have something warm to eat this time," he said. Zion recalled that he had been disappointed last time because he had been eating only portable and preserved foods. While they were eating, Capricorn 1 continued on its way. Now it was going downhill. "Be careful! I have heard that the downhill is more difficult in mountain climbing. "Yes, sir." Land-1 answered shortly and carefully maneuvered the boat. Land 1 answered shortly and carefully maneuvered the boat, choosing a place where the slope was as gentle as possible. The only reason he is able to keep his bearings in this blizzard of right and left is thanks to Sky 1 and Falcon 1, who are supporting him above the ...... clouds. "Whenever you are in danger, use the force field generator." Yes, Master. Our choice of route paid off, and we were able to descend smoothly without slipping or falling. Jin and the others are relieved when the slope slackens. "If we continue north, we will reach Chikagwa Lake, right? "Yes, that''s what you said. But are you okay? What? "It''s a lake, but it''s probably frozen over in this cold. If there is snow on top of it, it would be hard to tell which is the lake, wouldn''t it? Zion voiced his concern. "Yes, that may be so." "Right?If you get on that kind of ice, won''t it crack under the weight and fall into the water?" "That would be fine." "Why not?" "Because the lake will be one step lower and flatter, you''ll see. I''ll be careful, though." "I see. ......" Jin, who was having this conversation with Zion, noticed that Saki was quiet. "Saki, is something wrong?" "Uh, yeah?Yeah, I was just thinking about something. ...... "About what?" "Well, I was showing Mr. Alexas some things and a question just popped into my head. ......" Saki spoke slowly. "It doesn''t have to be limited to metal ......, but let''s say it is metal for now. What determines its strength? "I see." "...... density?" Jin nodded his head and Erza gave her opinion. Indeed, adamantite, which is renowned as the strongest metal, has a specific gravity of 19.3. "No, then, even gold and lead should be stronger than adamantite. Gold has a specific gravity of 19.3. Lead has a specific gravity of 11.3. Iron is 7.9, copper 8.6, and so on. "Oh, yes, that''s right." "Yes, density does not determine strength. ......" Saki''s face became difficult again. "Well, you''ve talked a lot with Alectus, haven''t you?" "Hmm?Yes, he is very knowledgeable." "......Saki is a fatherf*cker after all." Alectus looks to be in his early 40s, the same age as Saki''s father, Tor (42). "Fazakon?" "Brother Jin, what''s a fuzakon?" Erza did not seem to have any knowledge of this kind of thing, so she tilted her head and asked Jin. Zion didn''t say anything, but looked like he wanted to know. "I think a fathercon is a person who loves ...... his father and can''t easily leave his parents ......." "Nah. ......." Saki''s face turned red as he explained. "Yes, it''s true that Saki''s sister may be a fuzakon. Erza agreed. "Well, what about Erza? "......Erza must have a black love." "Blacon?" "So the target would be a brother." "Oh, no,...... but ...... maybe so." At first he denied it, but he soon admitted that he was aware of it. "Well, what about Jin?" "I don''t ...... know." "Oh, ...... sorry." Saki apologized, assuming that since Jin was an orphan and had no immediate family, he should not be ...... involved in such sentimentality. "No, it''s ...... nothing." Jin chuckled, "It was a topic that he himself had brought up in the first place. "......" The air was a little heavy, but it was Zion who broke it. "But Jin has a soft spot for girls, doesn''t he?" Zion''s words, which had been kept silent until now, are thrown at me. "......, I agree. Especially for little girls. "Well, that may ...... be true." Jin is a little flustered. "Do you like ...... little kids?" "What are you talking about?" Erza''s words made Jin even more puzzled. What do you call that?......Fuzzacon, Burakon, or ......Shisukon for short?" "Ugh." Thanks to Zion, the air that was about to become heavy dissipated, but was it a good thing or a bad thing? With a wry smile, Jin wondered what he should say to make his case. 750 - - 22-18 Blowdown "Master, it looks like we''ve hit Lake Chickagwa. What do we do now?" Just then, Land 1 announces that they have reached Lake Chickagwa. Jin approached the pilot''s seat, looking out, and gave instructions. "Let''s go around the lake to the left and exit on the other side. "Yes, sir." The latitude was already over 60 degrees north, and the outside temperature was below -40 degrees Celsius. The mercury had frozen over, so it was hard to tell exactly what the temperature was, but it must have been minus 50 degrees Celsius. The wind was strong, and the strong northwesterly winds were blowing the accumulated snow around, creating a blizzard. Capricorn 1 was turning counterclockwise along the shoreline of Lake Chickagwa. "It''s almost dark. ......" In winter, daylight is short at high latitudes. And with the thick cloud cover, it already looked like dusk, even though it was 3:00 in the afternoon. "Slowly, keep walking so that the shaking will lessen. Jin instructed Land 1. If we stop, we will be covered with snow and ice. Only Land 1, the golem, could be left in control all night long. The route can be confirmed in infrared mode as well as by the guidance of Sky1 in the sky. In this way, Jin and the others slowly approach their destination. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It is the middle of the night. Suddenly, Capricorn 1 tilted. Jin and the others, who had been sleeping with their seats fully flat, tumble to the ground. "Whoa! "Aah!" "Kyaaaah!" Ow! Ow!" "Ow!" "Ow!" Because of the tilt to the left, all four fell down, clumped together in that direction. "Father, are you all right?" Reiko brightens the interior light. "Oh my God. ......" "...... Jin, are you okay?" Jin is at the bottom. Erza is on top. And Saki and Zion. This is the order they were in when they were sleeping. "Jin, Jin, I''m sorry." Erza was cushioned by Jin and did not hit the wall. Even though the walls were cushioned with insulating material, a bump against the wall would have hurt. "What the hell is going on? Jin got up, not understanding what was going on. It was dark outside, and dawn was still far away. "I think we got swept away by an avalanche and ended up in a puddle," Rand 1 apologized. Rand 1 apologized. In the darkness, with no lights, Capricorn 1 was proceeding only by infrared vision and guidance from the sky. It appears that he was caught in an avalanche that started on the slope on his right side. He was lucky not to fall into the lake, but he was trapped in a puddle. "Do you think you can get out?" No, we''re trying everything, but it doesn''t look like we''re going to make it. Capricorn 1 is still tilted about 45 degrees to the left, and the legs don''t seem to be able to stand up. "Well, I guess not." It seems that it is impossible to escape by normal power alone. "Jin, Jin!What are we going to do? Zion turned blue and flew to the cockpit, as if he had overheard the conversation with Land 1. "What?Oh, it''s okay. I''ve got equipment for just such an occasion." "Really? "Really. ...... land, we''ll use the force field generator to get out of here. Got it. This is where the force field generator comes in. "What?What is that, ......?What is that ......?" Before Zion could finish his question, the force field generator was activated. "Kyaaaah!" A floating sensation arose. First, the plane, which had been tilted to the left, returned to a horizontal position, then kicked off the snow and began to ascend. The plane seems to have been buried quite deeply in the snow. "What''s going on?" Theon doesn''t know what''s going on. "I''ll explain later, just wait a minute." Jin was paying attention to his behavior. Capricorn 1 went straight out onto the snow, moved silently forward, avoided the blowdown, and landed slowly. "Ejection is complete, sir." "Thank you." The force field generator, which I had installed for just such an eventuality, has been of great help to us. Capricorn 1 begins to move forward slowly again. "How are you doing, is everything all right?" "Yes, I''m fine. Yes, it''s fine. I don''t see anything wrong with it. Jin is relieved to see that there seems to be no damage from the avalanche that swept him into the puddle. He then turned to Zion. "To put it simply, I escaped by floating with gravity magic. Theon frowns at this explanation. Gravity magic is different from a force field generator, but the details do not matter now. "......That''s too easy ...... but, well, I get it now." Once again, Capricorn 1 begins to slowly advance. Once everyone is settled, Jin looks at his watch and sees that it is approximately 4:00 a.m. He thinks about going back to sleep. He thought about going back to sleep, but he was no longer sleepy. "Oh, I''m all awake now..." he said. I went to bed around 9 p.m. last night, so I must have slept for 7 hours, so I decided to give up on sleeping twice. The other members of the group do the same. They put back the fully flat seat and sit down. They reclined their seats a little and stared blankly at the dark outside, thinking that they could take a nap if they felt sleepy. When it was getting light outside, Jin seemed to doze off a little. "It''s sunny! came Zion''s voice. Jin opened his eyes and looked outside. The clouds had parted and blue sky was peeking through. The morning sun was shining on the snow. "...... beautiful." Elsa muttered in a deep voice. "Yes, it''s beautiful. I don''t know what else to say. Jin agrees with Elsa. "Just seeing this view is worth the trip! Saki also seems to be fascinated by the view from the window. Her excited voice speaks for itself. To the left of Capricorn 1 is a flat snowfield, probably Lake Chickagwa, and to the right is a plateau and mountains. The snow surface glistened in the morning light as if sprinkled with diamond dust, and the ice trees stood tall as if displaying the beauty of nature''s formations. It looks like we''ve gone around the lake. That plateau is the Tusul Plateau, and the mountain is Mt. The thought of the legendary ancient dragon dwelling on the plateau filled my heart with anticipation. "Let''s go up to the plateau while it''s sunny. Use the force field generator. "Yes, sir." Clear skies in this frigid region are too precious to be missed. The thermometer is still frozen over. Capricorn 1 activates its force generator and begins its slow ascent. Outside the window of Capricorn 1, which is gradually gaining altitude, is a spectacular view. Jin wonders if the diamond dust dancing in the air like golden sand in the morning sunlight is diamond dust. It took about five minutes to reach the top of the Tusulu plateau. The snow was about three meters deep. Even for Capricorn 1, it was quite difficult to walk. "Let''s just try to get to the foot of Mt. Mt. Gyaltse, probably the highest peak on the Gondoa continent. It would be a good goal. Capricorn 1 was moving forward at a speed of about five kilometers per hour. 751 - - 22-19 The Dragon Capricorn 1 is moving smoothly across the plain. "Oh, I''d really appreciate a hot drink!" The temperature in the room is set to about 22 degrees Celsius, but the extremely cold landscape outside makes us feel cold. The Tusulu plateau is about 180 kilometers long at its longest point. There is no telling how long it will take Capricorn 1, traveling at 5 kilometers per hour, to reach Mt. "Hmmm, why not take advantage of the clear skies?" It''s easy to imagine that in less than half a day, another blizzard will probably block their view. "Land 1, you have permission to proceed with the force field generator." Are you sure? Are you sure? We''re in the north with a high concentration of free energy. You will not run out of gas or mana. So, Capricorn 1 uses the force field generator "Force Generator" to move forward on the snow surface. The speed was 50 kilometers per hour. It will take a little over two hours to reach Mt. "Reiko, do you know how thick the free magical element (ether) is? Jin asked Reiko, suddenly curious. "Yes, it is at least five times greater than that of human settlements. "That much?" Jin decided that if that was the case, he would be able to keep the huge Capricorn 1 flying. Outside the window was a snowy surface, but in some places there were forests that had turned into ice trees, rocky clumps, and small mountains. "Kuhu, I guess we''re the first people to come to this place..." Saki muttered in a happy tone. "Hmm. I''m not Jin, but I''m glad we came just to see this view. Erza, who was looking out next to Saki, agreed. "Oh, that!" Then, a surprised Zion''s voice rang out. "What''s wrong, Zion?" First, Jin moved next to Zion and looked out the window. Theon pointed at something moving. "...... dragon?" It was a dragon with a white back and a brown belly. It looks like a huge iguana. "...... a grand dragon." This is the dragon species that Reiko and Anne defeated before. It certainly has the same body shape, Jin thought. "I didn''t know they turn that color in winter. I didn''t know that." Grand dragons are said to be the natural enemy of the Hecaton Cale. About ten of them were stirring in the distance. "Let''s get past them before they notice us. They are not impossible to defeat, but I don''t want to force the issue. I don''t want to waste time. That''s a good idea. Yes, I agree. "Yes, that''s good." "Yes, that''s wise." After reaching a consensus, Jin and the others pass by, looking at the grand dragon with sideways glances. The advantage was that there was no noise since the movement was made by a force field generator. After about five minutes, the swarm of grand dragons disappeared from sight. After 30 minutes, Mt. Gyeltse was getting bigger and bigger. "I hope we can find it while the sun is shining. Jin muttered to himself, and this time Reiko shouted. "Father, there''s another dragon right ahead! "What?" I looked over to see two pure white dragons eating something. "No way. ...... Could those be frost dragons? Theon let out a pained voice. "Is that a frost dragon?If so, what it is eating is ......." It might be the shell of the ancient dragon that Jin and the others are looking for. "Father, I''ll go check it out while I use my invisibility..." Reiko said. Certainly, in this case, the smaller Reiko would be more suitable than Capricorn 1 to approach. "Okay, go ahead and be careful. I''m warning you, don''t provoke the Frost Dragon. And take the transporter with you just in case. Yes, sir. Then Jin and the others move Capricorn 1 a little further away from the Frost Dragon and pause for a moment. Reiko ran out of the airlock. "I hope you found what you were looking for," she said. Saki muttered a little worriedly while we were waiting. Ten minutes passed. "I''m back." Reiko came back. "Oh, how did it go?...... is terrible." Reiko''s body was instantly covered with frost as she entered the room. Her hair, clothes, shoes, and other parts of her body that do not directly generate body heat. The frost quickly melted and turned to dew, dripping onto the floor. "<>" Jin quickly dried the wet Reiko with his engineering magic. "Thank you, father." "So how was it?" "Yes, I was told not to irritate the Frost Dragon, so this is all I was able to bring back. Reiko presented three pieces about 10 centimeters square. In short, they were scraps. When I went there, most of them had been eaten up. "Well, I''m sorry to hear that, but it can''t be helped." Hitoshi patted Reiko''s apologetic head gently. "Land one, let''s resume moving forward." Capricorn 1 begins to move forward again, looking for the perfect shell. "...... Jin, is this really the strongest biological material?" Saki tilts her head as she holds up one of the scraps Reiko has brought. "It looks like it''s going to tear even if I pull on it.Besides, that Frost Dragon eats it, that means ......." It means that it is weaker than the Frost Dragon. That is what Jin felt too. However, Jin had a clue, if not the answer. "Yes, that''s the thing. Yesterday, Saki mentioned something, didn''t she?" "Yeah?What was it? "About the strength of metal." Saki''s face turns convinced. "Yes, indeed!That''s what we talked about with Mr. Alectus!" The topic was what determines the strength of metals. "In a word, it''s the bonding force between atoms, isn''t it?" Saki said definitively. But Jin denied it. "No, it''s not. ......No, it''s not, it should be. As I recall, the bonding strength of atoms is covalent bonding > ionic bonding > metallic bonding. Molecular, to be exact. "...... salt ...... sodium chloride, is it ionic bonding?" Elsa joined the discussion. Zion, unfortunately, has roughly elementary school-level scientific knowledge and can only listen. "Yes, I think ....... Salt crystals are hard but brittle. So you can''t say that bonding strength is the only factor that determines its strength. "Hmmm, I see. Then ......." There are different laws between the macro phenomena we see in everyday life and the micro phenomena that occur in the atomic and molecular worlds, and they cannot be simply compared and analogized, but they still speculate, debate, and try to get closer to the truth. "In terms of hardness, diamond is said to be hard because the bonds of carbon are the strongest, but it is also brittle. When we talk about hardness or strength, we are usually talking about or . Mohs hardness is based on the fact that when two materials are scratched against each other, the softer one is scratched. Diamonds have a Mohs hardness of 10 and quartz has a Mohs hardness of 7. "But if you hit a diamond with an iron hammer, which has a lower Mohs hardness than diamond, it will break." In terms of impact resistance, diamonds are low. "Well, it''s difficult to say. Saki held her head. "Then there is free magic element (ether). Neutral free-magic element (ether) can enter between any matter, molecule, and atom. What would happen if we could give direction to this free magic element (ether)?" This is what Jin has been thinking about for a long time. "I think the key to ultimate strength is a <> and a <>." "What?Jin, you''re jumping the gun!I can''t keep up with you!" Saki screamed. But Erza seemed to have an idea. "You mean ...... if we can deploy a barrier in any shape?" "Yes, that''s right!That''s great, Erza." Erza had guessed Jin''s idea right on the nose. "You mean you can make the shell of an ancient dragon have the same effect as a barrier? Next, Zion, who had been listening without saying a word, put it in an easy-to-understand way. "Certainly, then it could be said to be the strongest material ......." Saki, who had been ruminating over Zion''s words, uttered the words as if she couldn''t bear the feeling. "After all, Jin is amazing, isn''t he? As expected of a magical engineer magicraft meister." 752 - - 22-20 Skin removal Jin''s lecture was still going on. Barriers can be made into geometric shapes such as spheres, hemispheres, and rods, but they are not yet able to change their shape freely. However, if the leather of <> has a property that allows free magic element (ether) and magic element (mana) to pass through easily and does not leak. "...... I see what you mean, Jin." Saki''s eyes lit up and she looked at the piece in her hand. "Let''s give it a try." Jin also picked up one of the scraps and tried to put some mana into it. Then... "Oh! The wrinkled piece stretched out and became like a thin steel plate. When I played it with the tip of my finger, it made a cracking sound. It felt like a thin steel plate. "This looks amazing! Elsa and Saki, who were watching from the side, were also looking at it with wide-eyed amazement. "Yeah, I didn''t expect it to be this good. ...... "Yes, I agree. No wonder this is the strongest material. "...... we want to secure a big shell at all costs." Jin reaffirms his purpose. Jin!Come here!" Then Zion called out to him. "Yeah, what''s up?" "Well, ......, I have a feeling that there is something over there..." Zion pointed to a direction about 15 degrees to the right from the direction of travel. "What do you mean?" "Something is something. I don''t know what else to say. "Hmm. ......" Zion is a demon born and raised in the north, albeit a young one. Jin decided that he might have some kind of special intuition. "Okay, Land 1, change course." Roger that. Jin, you believe me? Zion looked incredulous even though it was his idea. "Yeah. I don''t know which is the right answer. I''ll trust your intuition for now. "Oh, thank you ......." Zion blushed a little and looked down. We continued on for another 30 minutes. Mt. Gielze was approaching. Then Zion''s voice came again. Jin!Oh, that''s ......." She points out the window. The rock face of Mt. Gyaltse is just before it rises. "Wow! ......" There was a huge ivory-colored mountain ......, or rather a dragon. "And it''s huge......." Unlike the Japanese and Chinese dragons, the terrestrial dragons are more similar to the Western dragon. The abdomen of the Komodo dragon, which can stand erect, is probably inflated. "It''s a monster from a special effects movie. ......" An honest comment escaped from Jin''s mouth. "Tokusatsu-giga?" Zion heard the word and questioned it. "Yeah, no, I just thought it was huge." "Really. I''ve never seen one before either." The dragon is not pure white, but a warm ivory color, and is quiet as if asleep. "...... do you think it molts?" "What?" Elsa, coming up next to me, speculated. "Because, you know..." There was a crack in the raised back. Jin looked at the scene, thinking that although he did not know the process of reptile molting, it did not mean that ancient dragons belonged to the reptilian family. Slowly, the cracks on its back grew larger. "You''re lucky. We''re going to get some freshly caught shells." Slowly he brings Capricorn 1 closer. I kept a distance of about 500 meters, though. Half an hour later, the crack that had started on its back reached the base of its tail. A wet, shiny, pink-ivory skin was peeking out from under it. "...... Maybe it will molt in the clearing of a blizzard." Another guess by Elsa. But she may be right. The sky is still mostly blue, 60% cloud and 40% blue. We should be okay for a few more hours. The ancient dragon was slowly shedding its skin. Master, we''re getting close. What? It''s probably a frost dragon. There are more than one. They''re here to eat the freshly shed skins. ...... I''m going to make sure I get my hands on this one. I don''t know how many ancient dragons live here, but I''m going to make sure I have enough shells for this one. "Father, shall we leave?" For Reiko, too, it was the material she had come to collect for herself. "Okay, please. You''ll use the transfer gun, right? "Yes, I know." Jin held out his own gun as well. "Apparently there is more than one Frost Dragon. I can shoot four in a row with this. Be careful. "Yes, thank you." Reiko nodded and went out through the airlock. Since she would dive into the snow if she stayed there, she used the force field generator and went toward the Frost Dragon while levitating. "You can fly too, Reiko?" Zion''s face lit up with astonishment when she saw this. However, it soon subsided and he let out a murmur with a small sigh. "That''s just like Jin, isn''t it? ......" Reiko deploys < and jumps over the Ancient Dragon to intercept the Frost Dragon. Although they are still several kilometers away, they choose to repel the Frost Dragons early so as not to threaten the Ancient Dragons. "Four ......?" One large one, two medium ones. A smaller one was approaching at about 20 kilometers per hour. Kicking up the snow, they looked like a russet truck. "For your father''s sake and mine, ...... I won''t let them get too close!" For this purpose, I prepared a . It''s a cartridge type gun that can be used to transport even large dragons. First, Reiko aimed at the medium-sized one in the lead. "Fire!" With a body length of 25 meters and a speed of 20 kilometers per hour, it is impossible for the rifle to miss the target. The leading Frost Dragon disappeared as if it had been drowned out. This time, the destination is 50 kilometers to the east, which should buy us about two and a half hours of time. The remaining three Frost Dragons suddenly stopped, startled by the sudden disappearance of one of them. We took advantage of this opportunity and fired one more shot. The smallest of them was scraped off. The transfer gun fired two shots in a row, and the cartridges had to be replaced after two shots. But Reiko had prepared two guns, so she switched them immediately. But, as one would expect from a dragon species. Although she could not see him, he turned toward the direction Reiko was, and spewed out cold air from his mouth, which seemed to freeze everything. "...... Is this the Frost Dragon''s weapon? Reiko evades. However, this caused her to miss the aim of her transfer rifle. "One more shot for now! With the remaining one shot, the medium-sized one is transferred. The largest one remains. It was about 30 meters long. Reiko jumps up high, and when she is far enough away, she changes the cartridge of her gun. At that moment. The cold air from the Frost Dragon reaches Reiko''s position in the sky. "E......! In our haste to exchange cartridges, we had momentarily neglected our vigilance, and we were caught in the middle of it. The exact location may not have been known, but the cold air was spat out toward the approximate location of Reiko, perhaps by detecting magic, or whatever. It snatched Reiko''s left half of her body and froze her. "...... Is this cold air magic? ......" Because of the use of a transfer gun, it is impossible to put up a magic barrier to prevent magic. Therefore, he had put up a physical barrier (solid barrier), but it could not protect him from the cold air. The clothes, skin, muscles, and even the skeleton of the left half of the body froze. The temperature was estimated to be as low as -250 degrees Celsius. Reiko''s movements slow down. The control core in the innermost part of her body, which is insulated by magic power, is intact, but her magical muscles are immobilized. "You can decompress ...... later ......." Reiko holds up the transfer gun, having barely finished replacing the cartridges, since she can fire it with her right hand only. She takes careful aim and fires. The target is too big, but she hits it without a doubt. The Frost Dragon has vanished. "......<" The heating mechanism for generating body heat was not enough, so Reiko heats up the frozen left half of her body with engineering magic <>. The thawing is completed in a few tens of seconds. "Now we won''t be disturbed for a while." Reiko looked around to make sure there were no more Frost Dragons, and slowly returned to Capricorn 1 so as not to startle the Ancient Dragon. 753 - - 22-21 Acquired "Thanks for your hard work, Reiko." Jin works on Reiko after she comes back. His eyes are strict. His eyes are stern, as if he is trying to find out if Reiko has any defects. "So, how is your body?" "...... Yes, to be honest, the left side of my body feels strange. Jin thought that being frozen at minus 250 degrees Celsius would have some effect on him, and he was right. There are quite a few defects. Jin glances out the window and says to Reiko. "It will take a little longer for the ancient dragon to shed its skin. I''ll fix it up while I can." "...... please." Jin then stopped Reiko and began to examine her. "...... that''s terrible." After being exposed to ultra-low temperatures, her magical muscles had been torn when she tried to move. The skin made of sea dragon wing membranes had also lost its elasticity and cracked. "For now, let''s make some emergency repairs. I intend to do a thorough overhaul when I return to Horai Island. First, the muscles. The parts that are not torn will be strengthened, and the torn parts will be connected with engineering magic. Then the skin will be softened and toughened to keep it soft for a while. "Okay, now normal operation should not be a problem. But you can only get 10 percent at the most. Be careful." "Yes, thank you." Reiko got up and thanked Jin. "Jin, outside!" Erza shouted just then. Jin looked out the window. "Oh! ......" There, an ancient dragon was standing quietly after shedding its skin. An ancient dragon standing quietly. The surface of its body glowed a lustrous ivory color. At its feet was a freshly shed shell. "Land-1, back away slowly!" Jin ordered the ancient dragon to retreat so as not to provoke it. The Frost Dragon is not nearby, so he can rest assured. Using the force field generator, we can move silently. We continued on our way, and kept our distance of about two kilometers. Before I knew it, most of the sky was covered with clouds, and the wind was beginning to blow. It was as if we were waiting for the ancient dragon to finish its molt. As the snow fell, the ancient dragon began to walk slowly, and after about 20 minutes, it disappeared from sight. "All right, let''s hurry up and retrieve the shell!" Reiko, who had been repaired, and Land 1, who had been in charge of piloting the ship, went outside. The newly molted shells were softer than expected, and had not hardened even in the sub-zero temperatures. Therefore, Reiko and Land 1 were able to fold the shells into small pieces and retrieve them in less than 10 minutes. The storage hatch at the rear of Capricorn 1 is opened and the shells are stored. As if waiting for them, snow began to fall in earnest. Reiko and Land 1 rush back to the house. The two quickly became a lump of frost inside the room. "<><>" Jin heats and dries them. "Thank you, father. "Thank you, master. "Thank you both for your hard work. We got a nice piece of material intact. It''s a good job. Jin is in a good mood. Behind him, Saki and Erza were beaming. "Jin, congratulations!You''ve achieved your goal! "Yes, thanks to you and Alectus, Zion. "I didn''t do anything..." No, you didn''t. It was thanks to your intuition that we were able to find the ancient dragon. Jin then instructs Land 1. "All right, let''s hurry back! Unlock the force field generator. "Yes, sir. First, the clan territories of the ? Yes. Yes. Until we found the shell, we had to move reasonably slowly on the ground, but now that we have achieved our goal, there are no such restrictions. Using the force field generator, Capricorn 1 began to travel at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour, about three meters above the snow. The snow has not yet turned into a blizzard, and he wants to make up the distance while visibility is still good. "You''re going fast. ......" Zion looks at the difference in speed between the trip to and from the airport. "I can''t wait to get back home and do some tests. Saki also seems to be excited inside, though she doesn''t show it on her face. Saki''s eyes caught a strange feeling. No, she felt something strange in the scenery. "Jin, I''m sorry, but could you please stop for a moment? "Yeah?"Yeah? Okay. Land one, shut it down." The force field generator''s running, so there''s no shaking, and it stops instantly. Saki?Saki? "Yeah, if I''m not mistaken, there was something just past us." What is it? "Yeah, I didn''t have time to check. Something was bothering me." "Okay, let''s go back and take a look." So Capricorn 1 backtracked about a kilometer. "Dad, there''s something over there." Reiko, who had the best eyesight, spotted it. When she approached it with Capricorn 1, she found it was a frost dragon. However, it did not move. Its size is rather small. It does not seem to be the one I just sent flying with the transporter gun. "...... Is it a corpse?I can''t feel its magic power. If it is a corpse, we might be able to get some materials from it. Saki''s eyes lit up and she looked at Jin. Jin understood how Saki felt. However, there is no way to carry this huge body by Capricorn 1. "...... transfer gun, huh?" Jin readjusted the destination to Horai Island and chose to send it out. The adjustment took about 30 minutes. After all, the gun is not designed to change its destination. If he made a careless adjustment, he would ruin the precious material. "Okay, that''s better." Reiko goes outside and transfers a suitable lump of snow to try it out. She activates the gun and the snow completely disappears in a hemisphere about 40 meters in diameter. The old man immediately calls me. It seems to have worked. "Okay, now let''s do the real thing! Reiko aims at the Frost Dragon carcass and activates the transporter. The old man reports. "That''s good. Now take care of that." Leaving the deployment of the materials to the old man, Jin and the others headed back home again. Capricorn 1, despite the differences in elevation of the Tusulu Plateau and Lake Chikagwa, followed a straight trajectory to the Gospel Clan''s territory. It took about two and a half hours to reach the territory of the Gospel Clan before dusk. "Oh, Jin-dono, congratulations on your successful return! "Thank you very much. I was lucky enough to see the molting scene of an ancient dragon. We were treated to dinner, and our conversation blossomed. "Hmmm, I understand that such a thing happened after you went around Lake Chikagwa to the Tusulu Plateau. He talked about the herds of grand lagoons. "I didn''t know they turned that color in the winter. I''ve never heard of it before." Were the frost dragons tough? "Oh, ancient dragons are that color, hmmm..." Everyone listened with great interest to the stories of a place they had never visited and would never visit in the future. That night, Jin and the others sleep in Capricorn 1. The clans of the Gospel and Zion are used to it, and a thick comforter and blankets seem to be sufficient, but Jin and the others are cold in an environment where the indoor temperature is below 10C. " used to it," he says. "......Habituation, I guess." "Habituation, I guess." "...... habituation." "I wonder if it''s just a habit." Jin and the others were half-impressed, while Zion''s reaction was that he didn''t know what was going on, even if it was his own thing. Anyway, the four of them rested in Capricorn 1. The next morning it was still snowing. That sunny day only happened once or twice a month, and it seemed to be a precious break from the snow. "Well, thank you very much for your hospitality. "I wish you could have taken it a little slower. ......" "Ha, I can''t wait to get home and try out the new materials." "I''m a Magecraft Meister. ...... I''ll be back. "Yes, I will be waiting for you." After exchanging brief but heartfelt words with each other, Jin and the others boarded the Capricorn 1. The clansmen of the Gospel watched Capricorn 1 walk away in the blizzard until it was out of sight. 754 - - 22-22 Start! After about one kilometer, he activates the force field generator "Force Generator. If they continue at 100 kilometers per hour, they will reach the clan territory of Morira in the morning. "...... Jin''s technological prowess is bullshit." Zion muttered, half in amazement, half in awe. As we traveled south to this area, the snowfall was mild and the snowpack was small, due to the fact that we were on the sea coast. "Ah, you''re back." Today is February 4, the last day of January, so it has been four days. "It feels like I''ve been gone for a long time. ...... This is a line from Zion. It was a short but dense and eventful four days. "Welcome home, Zion, and we are glad to see you back safe and sound, Master Jin. Istaris, Zion''s sister, came out to greet him. "Jin-sama, we are happy for your safe return," she said. And Radeous, Sion''s father, also came out to greet them. * * * * * * * * The day after tomorrow, February 5th, was the day for Jin and his family to return to Horai Island. "Jin, please come back again. ......" "Yeah, when spring comes. "Jin, please come again." Theon and Marikka were sad to say goodbye to Jin, "Jin-sama, Erza-sama, Saki-sama, take care." Bardius and Radeous wished Jin and the others well and sent them off. "Thank you for your hospitality." The Capricorn 1 leaves the clans of the forest and begins to move. A flurry of falling snow closed off the view. "Ah, so many things have happened..." "Yeah, it''s been a lot of fun. I learned a lot. Thank you, Jin." Saki leaned back in her seat with a satisfied look on her face. "...... I thought that Jin was going to bring Mr. Zion with him." To Erza''s question, Jin answered in a straightforward manner. "Ah, but you know, the concentration of free magical element (ether) in the upper part of the ground is not very high in Horai Island, let alone in the underground. "Oh, really? "Oh, is that so? So, it will be a little uncomfortable for Zion and the others as it is now. "...... agree." Even though Horai Island is a singularity of free magical element (ether), the concentration of free magical element (ether) in the upper part of the land is not so different from that of Klein Kingdom and Egelea Kingdom. On average, it is less than half that of the demon territory. Then, for Zion and his people, it would be like an ordinary person living at the top of Mt. Although there is a difference in oxygen and free magical element (ether), it is not likely to be very comfortable. It is not a good idea to take them to a place where the concentration of free magic element (ether) is low all at once with a transfer device, even if they are slowly acclimating their bodies as Zion and his group did when they came here before, and move south. "Well, it''s about time. Now that we were far enough away from the clan territory of Morura that we could no longer see it, it was time to use the transporter. Lando 1, let''s go home. Copy that. The transporter is activated. The view switches instantly. In a flash, Capricorn 1 is in the plaza in front of the research center on Horai Island. It is completely white with frost. Next, it melted and dripped down as drops of water. "Wow, I''ve heard about this, but the transporter is really amazing, isn''t it? What was a winter landscape has turned into spring in no time at all. Saki''s voice sounded impressed. "Come on, let''s go down and relax." "......... you always want to study the materials right away..." Erza retorted to Jin''s call. "You know what to do, Elsa. That''s what I''m talking about, ma''am. "Well, I''m not your wife yet." Erza responded to Saki''s joke with a straight face, turning bright red. In addition, she almost stepped off the ramp. "Oops." "Oops!" She almost fell down, but Jin quickly steadied her and saved her from a serious accident. Even though he was only 50 centimeters off the ground, Saki said to him teasingly, "You''re good, aren''t you? "You''re good, Jin. You''re a good husband." "...... Saki." Jin blushed and glared at Saki. "Ha-ha-ha, I hope you think I''m just being jealous of a single person. Come on, let''s go research new materials! Saki disappeared into the laboratory, still cheerful and jovial. "......" "...... Saki''s a little lonely." Erza muttered. "Reinhardt is devoted to Berche, you know." "And then he showed us how close your father and Erza are. Even Reiko, who was standing nearby, said something like that. The old man called out to him, and Jin, who had been embarrassed, changed his mind. The first step is tanning the shell of the ancient dragon. Since the tanning process is different from that of ordinary tanning, Jin explains the process to Erza as he goes along. Saki observes the tanning process completely. The first step is cleaning. This is done for most hides. "Hmm..." <, , and . Sterilization is also performed at the same time. "Then we use to stretch out the wrinkles." At this point, the workshop can no longer accommodate them, so they work on the roof of the institute. "This is the most important work. We sort and cut out the good ones and the bad ones for use as ...... material." Because it is a natural material, it is not homogeneous, with scratches and differences in thickness. So we have to trim them to make them as homogeneous as possible. The back part is the hardest and the belly part is the softest. The legs are thicker and the tail is uneven. The whole fish''s characteristics are assessed, and it is also decided at what part of the fish to cut off. This is a process that requires good eyesight. "Hmm, it''s difficult. The head part is hard and thick. It looks hard to use." Elsa also looks with her own eyes and says what she thinks. "Yes, that''s true. Then let''s cut it off at this point. ...... Reiko, hold her down." Yes, father. Reiko is in charge of emergency repairs, but she can support this level of work well enough. "......Yes, I want you to hold the other side too. And call the craftsman Smith. "Yes, sir." So, Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Smith cooperated with each other, and the work was completed in about an hour. "Kuhu, there will be a few pieces, after all. Since the three-dimensional shells are cut as flat as possible, it is inevitable that some scraps of half-formed fabric will be left behind. However, such scraps can be used for making accessories or for Saki''s research, so they will not go to waste. "Jin, are you sure I can use these scraps? "Yes, you are free to use it." Since it was the shell of an ancient dragon that was over 40 meters long, he had obtained a considerable amount of material. "Yes, I''m looking forward to it!" With a large amount of scraps in hand, Saki went to her laboratory. Jin thought that she was probably going to do some research with the old man''s advice, but she just put them down and came back. She seemed to be curious about what Jin was going to do. Jin heads for the workshop with Reiko, who has a large amount of materials in her hands. Elsa and Saki follow. The three Smiths carried what they could not carry. "Let''s get to work! Jin was full of enthusiasm. Saki and Elsa watch with bated breath. Reiko''s body surface area is a little more than one square meter. The shell of an ancient dragon was about a thousand times that size. "It looks like we can make a lot more than just Reiko''s skin." That''s exactly what I think would be perfect for reinforced armor. It doesn''t help that he''s a crafty idiot. "But let''s start with Reiko first!" Jin uses the best part of this shell for Reiko''s magical skin. Now it is time for Jin to show his true colors. First, he confirms the usage of obtained from an ancient dragon, and then applies it to Reiko. Jin was delighted and set to work on this task. 755 - - 22-23 Humanitys true feelings First of all, let''s check how to use obtained from an ancient dragon. I will try this with a piece of leather. "Hmmm, if you simply put mana into it, it will stretch and harden, right? This is the same experiment as the one we tried in Capricorn 1. This method cannot be applied to skin. "To use this on skin, it''s either the direction or the type of magic ......" "Ancient dragons move normally, so there is no reason why it can''t be done, right?" Saki is right. Jin and the others try various things. As a result, it was confirmed that the material becomes hard when it is filled with mana, and becomes flexible and strong when it is given magic waves, or mental waves. "Yes, in other words, it has a very high affinity with magic and magic." Because of its extremely high affinity, it can only respond to one type of magic at a time. In other words, it does not accept other people''s magic. Conclusion. . That is why a living ancient dragon is invincible, and its shed skin becomes weak. However, the shed skin can be strengthened by flowing magic power to the shed skin again. And it does not react to anything but the magic power that has been cast on it. If he used this on Reiko''s skin, he would be invincible. But Jin did not intend to stop there. Jin, what are you doing? "I''m going to try that thing you were talking about in Capricorn 1. By "that," he meant what determines the strength of the body. They are going to renew the skeleton and muscles as well. "Reiko''s skeleton is hyperadamantite. It is hollow to reduce weight and has a foam structure inside. Bird bones, he says, are also hollow in the large ones, and are similar to a truss structure. "What would happen if we filled the foam section with this end material?" This question was answered by Elsa. "...... reinforcement by magic power." "Yes. It should be able to be further strengthened in the same way as the skin." "That''s certainly amazing,......." Saki seemed to understand. "And muscle. If we can do this with the scraps of wood, too, ......." Ancient dragon leather responds well to magic. In other words, it is an excellent muscle material. It was Jin''s intention to reconstitute the conventional magical muscle with this new material. The Magi Reactor was also readjusted to fit the new skin and muscles. The details of the control core were also reviewed. The weight is adjusted so that it remains the same, and in about two hours Reiko is back to her original form. All that remains is to reboot. "Hey Jin, can I ask you something? Saki asked Jin after he finished the final check of Reiko. "Yes?What is it?" "Is there a reason why you''re making Reiko look like this?If you want to make her stronger, I thought it would be better to make her look like an adult. "Oh, that''s it." Jin stopped checking and turned to Saki and Erza. "Reiko''s appearance was decided by the previous generation. I don''t know why they made her this way. But Reiko calls me her mother and me her father. I want to respect their wishes. After saying this, he continued, "......I know what you''re talking about. I don''t know how to say it, but that''s what this is about. I''m not the same person on the inside anymore. But I don''t want to change my looks. You can call me self-righteous. Laugh at me if I''m wrong. With that, he sat back in his chair, this time with his back to the two men. "......" After a few moments of silence, Elsa quietly approached and gently put her arm around the back of Jin''s neck. "......There''s nothing funny about that. Jin''s kindness, that''s all." "......Yes, you''re right. Jin, I''m sorry for asking you such a crazy question. * * * * "Okay, Reiko, wake up." "Yes, Father." Her eyes opened and Reiko got up and ...... fell down. "Ah!" Reiko hit her hand on the floor and made a hole in the hard chert floor. "I''m sorry ......." She rushes to get up, but this time she falls back on her back, and then turns over. The floor where the back of her head had hit the floor was cracked again. "Reiko, calm down!" Jin calms her down. "Father, the force is ...... out of control." I knew it. ....... The material we''ve used is completely unknown. So, Reiko, get up gently, gently. Right... at 0.1 percent. Yes, sir. It''s very dangerous to touch Jin and the others in this state. Reiko understood that. Reiko lowers the output to the limit as instructed by Jin, and gets up slowly. "Okay, I think I''m OK. ...... Reiko, you may need some time to get used to your body. It is possible that you are now three times as good as you were before." "Triple ......?" At this point, Saki could no longer remain silent. "Jin, Jin!Three times?Where did you come up with that number?" Erza seemed to feel the same way. "Hmmm... I can understand ...... a few percent. But three times ...... literally orders of magnitude. Why is that?" "Oh, that''s right." Jin nodded and began to explain. Reiko let him sit in the chair for the time being. "First, Elsa. Can you feel the magic from Reiko? "Huh?" Erza was a bit surprised by Jin''s sudden words, but she immediately sharpened her senses to perceive the magic power as she was told. ....... "...... I can''t feel it at all." "Right?The ancient dragon''s leather is almost completely sealed in magic. That means that it is efficient in the use of mana. The magical power here is the same quality as a mage''s mental power. It can be described as the mental waves generated by Reiko''s control core. As they are waves, they have wavelength, height, and waveform. Reiko''s waves are of the same quality as those of Jin, the creator of the device, as Jin explains. He explains this to Erza and the others, and teaches it to Reiko as well. "You use that magic power to move your muscles and use magic. If that magic power does not leak out, it means that it is being used at 100 percent efficiency." Erza and Saki understood what Jin was trying to say, even though he was coming up with his own logic, saying that in reality there are openings such as eyes and mouths, and that while perfection may be a word in this world, it is not a fact. "But is that really all it takes to triple the amount?" "Yes. The muscles made from the leather of an ancient dragon were that superior. If you replaced all of it, it might have been ten times better. "That''s a scary thing." The 700672 is an extraordinary introduction to the material. "Well, the real full power would only be possible for a few dozen minutes, unless you are in a land with dense free magic element (ether) like the demon territory." "......And even then, a few dozen minutes?"......Who in the world is Jin trying to deal with?" Saki looked stunned. "Yeah. I don''t want Reiko to be broken, and I want her to always be the best automata she can be. I don''t want her to lose no matter who she''s up against." "...... understands well. I envy you a little, Reiko." Erza, who had been listening quietly, muttered a little sadly and nodded her head. Reiko, on the other hand, was thrilled to know that Jin thought so much of her. * * * * * * * * * * * * Over the next half day, Reiko finally regained control of her body. This is a bit similar to when Aaru was first activated in the past. In the case of Aaru, he had made her knead clay to get the consistency of the control system. "Father, it''s all right now." Jin had Reiko do origami. And now, Reiko has successfully folded a paper crane. It was made in Horai Island using the Japanese paper method reported by John Dinney. "Brother Jin, teach me next time," she said. "Yes, yes, I want you to teach me too! The origami was well received by Elsa and Saki. However, Jin did not have a large repertoire of origami. There were paper cranes made of square paper, a guy, a headpiece, a sailboat, balloons, and a box. Paper guns and airplanes made of rectangular paper. "Next time, I''ll teach Hannah too. ......" Jin thought to himself. Reiko made lunch and dinner that day. She said that this was part of the familiarization of the control system. "Yes, it''s delicious, Reiko. "You''re good at it, Reiko." "It''s really delicious." Not only Jin, but Saki and Elsa also praise the results. Reiko''s movements no longer seemed to be a problem. "Now I can be of service to my father again as much as I want. Reiko smiles happily. 756 - - 22-24 Silent Story 41 Technology of the Kingdom of Celluloa The place is the Kingdom of Cerroa. Time goes back a little to June 21, 3457. On that day, the Shoro Kingdom held a technology exposition, and Jin presented his airship. "Hm, an airship?" "Yes. It is not spherical, but an elongated bag shaped like an egg, so to speak, with some light air in it to make it float. In addition to Stearina and the other participants from the Kingdom of Celuloa, there were several others who had gone into hiding to gather information and had sent information about Jin''s airship to their home country. "Hmmm. ...... cheekily developed a technology that we don''t have." Richard Valois de Cerlois, King of Cerlois, was not happy. "...... Lambreaux!We must develop the same ...... or even something better!" "As you wish, sir." The First Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Ramburo, received the order and immediately set to work. The First Secretary of the Ministry of Technology, Latente, accepted the order, and the Ministry of Technology was now in full force. "Mmmm, what the heck is light air? As a country that owns a hot air balloon, they know that it is possible to float in the sky by collecting light air. However, such air (gas) was unknown. The Ministry of Technology had to start with the search for light air. Then one day. "Mr. Secretary, this man wants to talk to you." A young alchemist, who had joined the Ministry of Technology last year, came forward. "Well, if you soak iron in the liquid that has accumulated at the bottom of the Nubari mine, a light gas will come out. "What?Is that true? "Yes. Yes. I tried it several times. I have tried several times. ......" But what is it? The gas burns ....... "Hmm. But we just need to keep the fire away from it. Let''s try an experiment right away. So, over the next few days, we retrieve a liquid that has accumulated deep in the mine shafts of the Nuvali Mine. It is true that the liquid melts iron, and we need a container made of gold or silver to bring it to us. "Hmmm, it certainly melts iron. When the scrap iron was dipped into the liquid that had accumulated in the silver container, the iron melted with fine bubbles. "These bubbles are light air, aren''t they?" So, the material used for hot air balloons ...... in the Kingdom of Celuloa was a cloth made of hemp soaked in soft magic resin ......, with a diameter of about 50 centimeters. They made a hemisphere of about 50 centimeters in diameter out of hemp cloth soaked in soft magic resin, and collected the gas that was generated in it. "Oh, it sure floats. Then, the hemisphere slowly drifted to the ceiling when he let go of his hand. "Well, now the gas problem is solved. As a side note, the liquid was probably sulfuric acid itself, or an acidic liquid containing sulfuric acid. Dilute sulfuric acid does not dissolve gold, silver, or even copper, depending on conditions, but it does dissolve iron and zinc, and it produces hydrogen. Since zinc was less abundant than iron, they chose to use scrap iron to generate hydrogen. The air sacs were made of hemp soaked in a soft magic resin, which was no different from a hot air balloon. The first prototype, a 15-meter-long, two-seater, was completed on the 29th of September. "Wow, this is interesting," said King Richard of Cerroa when he saw the prototype. King Richard of Celuloa was in a good mood when he saw the prototype. "How do you proceed?" "Ha! "By using wind magic on itself." "Well, that''s an interesting way of thinking. Unexpectedly, they came up with the same idea as that of the large ship propulsion by Eckart Tekres. "With this, we can double the speed of a hot air balloon," he said. "Hmm, that depends on the shape of the flying ball part, doesn''t it?" Yes, sir. "Good. We can now consider this prototype to be a success. Next, make a larger prototype and move on to mass production. Yes. Thus, with the permission of King Richard of Celuloa, the Ministry of Technology decided to build a 60-meter-long airship. Generally speaking, the larger the airship, the more efficiently it can float. Specifically, the buoyancy is almost proportional to the cube of the size of the airship, while the weight increase is slower than the buoyancy. This is because the inside of the air sac is hollow. The airship was completed on November 2, thanks to the combined efforts of the Ministry of Technology of the Kingdom of Cerroa. "Wow, this is amazing! King Richard was unusually impressed by the completed airship. The 60-meter dirigible was such a magnificent achievement. "This is our secret weapon. King Richard ordered the mass production of the same type of aircraft. * * * * * * * * * * * January 7, 3458. "Oh, no!You have no idea the trouble I went through to build this ship!" "Shut up!It is an order from His Majesty the King! The soldiers broke into the house of Eckart Tekles, a wealthy merchant in Kupu, a town in the southern part of the Kingdom of Celuloa, and robbed him of all his household goods and a large ship that he had poured his heart and soul into building. "Oh, so this is the ship. The was brought up the Naudalian River and brought near the capital city of Esia. When King Richard saw it, he was in a good mood for the rest of the day. "I must say our technology is outstanding." "Yes, Your Majesty. We''re building two more of the same ship. I look forward to seeing them. I''m looking forward to it. And then, on the fateful day of January 10th... What?Yesterday, 500 magi crystals and golems were discovered in the territory of Leonard''s kingdom? That''s the report from the secret agent we sent to the Kingdom of Egelea. It''s a shame to give them to ....... You can order ...... the 2nd Frontier Corps to secure the Magi Crystals and the Golem near the border. "Yes, sir." The entourage turns and goes to deliver the order. But King Richard stops him. "Wait! It is not enough! We must send a survey team to his country as well. "Yes!" This time, his entourage rushed out. The 2nd Frontier Corps was sent to the Soldrake site where 500 golems had been discovered. The 1st Frontier Corps was also dispatched to investigate the former Leonard Kingdom. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * What? On January 26th, a call came in that infuriated King Richard. "The 2nd Frontier Corps has been wiped out......?And all because of demons that sprang up from the depths of the earth?Don''t be ridiculous! "No, Your Majesty. This is an official notice from the Kingdom of Egelea. Seeing the king in a clearly bad mood, the First Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior is sweating a little. "They say that they will send the soldiers'' belongings to you sooner or later..." "Nuh-uh ....... It can''t be because of the demons!The people of the Kingdom of Egelea must have attacked them! "But we have no proof." The pale Secretary of the First Ministry of the Interior tried to persuade him, but Richard''s fury did not abate. "You Egelea are a joke! ......" Then, a messenger rushed in. "Your Majesty!A message by pigeon from the 1st Frontier Corps!< "Oh, I see!" Richard''s mood improved a little with this report. Then a decision is made. "Very well. On February 22nd, I will invite the heads of state and government to our national celebration. There we will show them the might of our nation!" But no one could realize that this was a turning point for the Kingdom of Cerroa. 757 - - 22-25 One paragraph, but the worry is... After finishing the modification of Reiko, Jin started to work on his next project the next day. "Now, what kind of material do you have for the Frost Dragon? Yes, the Frost Dragon, which he had obtained, albeit by accident. "Oh, I see." "Oh, I''m looking forward to it." "Hmm, interesting." Jin, Erza, and Saki head to the temporary material storage area set up behind the laboratory. There, covered by a tent, Reiko was already waiting for them. "Father, these are the materials and the stuffed Frost Dragon," she said. "Whoa! There stood a stuffed frost dragon about 20 meters long. "Its skin is weaker than those of ancient dragons and sea dragons, so they stuffed it. Reiko explains on behalf of the old man. Bones and tusks are strong and can be used as materials. It is more like ivory. The pieces were neatly sorted and piled up. Jin once showed me an ivory seal that belonged to the director of the orphanage where he worked. It had a noble texture. "It is unlikely that the meat is edible, perhaps because they are fed mainly on free magical element (ether). However, I have not yet finished analyzing it, so I have stored it in the ether stocker. In the ether stocker, magical materials can be stored semi-permanently. We can analyze them slowly. "I have also stored the internal organs in the ether stocker, would you like to analyze them?" "......Hmmm, I don''t know what to do. ......" Jin is not a biologist and has never done any autopsies. He had never even done so in science class. "It would be a waste to just throw it away. ....... Let''s put it on hold for now." Thus, the materials were categorized into usable materials, unusable materials, and materials on hold, and some were stocked while others were offered for research. Saki was interested in fangs. "You can bite off the shell of an ancient dragon, which is said to be the strongest biological material, you know. But Jin refutes this. "No," Saki said, "even I could tear it off. ......It''s a shell with no magic power, so it can be easily crushed." "Kuhu, that''s right. "That would mean it''s a shell as well, so it can be digested. "I suppose so." At this point Erza spoke up. "...... what do frost dragons eat the shells of ancient dragons for?" "Hmmm, I wonder why?" There are many things we don''t know about the ecology of ancient dragons and frost dragons. "700672 know something about ......, right?" "Jin, did you find anything out?" "No, no, I just realized that I never thanked 700672 for finding the shell. "Oh, I see. That wouldn''t be right, would it?" "Well, you should go." "Right, ......, okay!" Reiko''s modifications were finished, and Jin said, "I''m going to go now. "Have a good day, Brother Jin." I''ll be studying!" I''ll be studying! "Well, you''ve done a wonderful job. Superimpose, superimpose, superimpose... Jin visited No. 700672 with Reiko and gave a brief account of his exploration and detailed instructions on how to use it. "Well, it''s brilliant. Excellent work. The 700672 praised Reiko when she saw her. "By circulating magic power, it becomes indestructible skin. In addition, you used it for the muscles and the skeleton?That''s a good idea. I never would have thought of that." Embarrassed, Jin changed the subject. "I found the carcass of a frozen dragon by accident and brought it home. I''m studying it now. "Well, that''s lucky. The demons living in the north, especially the dragon species, can live on free magical element (ether) alone, which is exceptional for powerful demons. The lowly can live only on free ether. The higher ones feed on lower demons, animals, and plants. This was the general ecology of demons. However, it is true that frost dragons eat the shells of ancient dragons. They may be tasty, but I don''t know that either. No. 700672 smiled. "To go back to the topic, that is why leather becomes tough when it is enchanted, and the same can be said for muscles. However, it is of little use because of its poor preservation properties." "I see. ......" It seems that the flesh of frozen dragons is useless after all. Breaking it down into atoms and disposing of it may be the best way to recycle it. "But the cold magic used by the Frost Dragon, I think there is a core of magic that controls it at its throat. We should secure it." "The core of magic ...... is like a crystalline body of free magic element (ether), isn''t it?" "Yes, you could say that. In short, it is a magical crystal of biological origin. Gallstones and kidney stones are crystals formed in the human body. They are harmful, but the magic core is useful in a different way, Jin thought. The discussion then turned to the discussion of materials. At that time, No. 700672 gave him an unexpected gift. "If you want to check the physical properties of the material, I can give you this reagent. He said, and had Neige carry a small container. It was about the size of a wardrobe. It contains acids and alkalis. It''s a dangerous substance, so please handle it with care. "Thank you." Chemistry is not Jin''s strong point. To be honest, he was very grateful to receive these reagents. After exchanging some other technical words, Jin decided to return to Horai Island. "Well then, thank you very much for everything. "Well, I''m glad you feel free to drop by. "Mr. Reiko, please come back again. "Please come back again, Ms. Neige, and take good care of your father. * * * * When Jin returned to Horai Island, he found Saki jumping up and down with excitement. "Saki, what''s wrong?" "Oh, Jin!Look at this Magi Crystal!It came out from inside the Frost Dragon! Saki pointed to a basketball-sized Magi Crystal. It has a light aquamarine hue, different from aquamarine. "Ah, this is the magical core of the Frost Dragon, isn''t it? What? Brother Jin, you know about this? Jin then shared the knowledge he had just received from the 700672. "Hmmm......... this is the main source of that unbelievably cold air. That makes sense." "So, I heard that the meat is useless, so let''s get rid of it before it spoils." "Hmm, that''s a good idea." Thus, it was decided that the Frost Dragon material would be handled. "Then, I got this reagent. Jin pointed at the container. "You are in charge of it. Saki can use them, but be careful, okay?There are some very dangerous drugs in it. He asked the old man to check first and to add labels if he knew of any. * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, Jin was relaxing with a cup of tea when the old man spoke to him. Both Elsa and Saki have gone to the workshop. "Hmm?Let me ask you something." > "Hmm?" "Yes, so?" "...... I don''t think so, but what''s the gas?" Jin looked at me with a scowl. There was once a very large airship on Earth called the Hindenburg. It was a large airship, over 200 meters long. It crashed in a sudden explosion. Along with the sinking of the luxury liner Titanic and the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger, it is one of the most serious accidents of the 20th century. Although NASA now says that the explosion was not caused by hydrogen gas but by sparks ignited by static electricity on the iron oxide/aluminum mixed paint (same composition as thermite) on the surface of the hull, the explosion was not caused by flammable gas. However, it is still a flammable gas, and its air sacs are made of hemp and soft magic resin, which are also flammable. It is not nonflammable or heat-resistant like the ground spider resin (GSP). "......While it''s nice that you''ve made an airship to look like an airship, ......" When he thinks about the case of an accident, he is worried that he might be partly responsible for it. "Well, you know. It does not seem to use hazardous materials such as iron oxide/aluminum mixed paint. At any rate, let''s just develop a fire extinguishing tool," thinks Jin. "Well, I''m sure it would be useful in any country." What is it?What is it? < "What?" > "What? ......" If the old man''s theory is correct, then there is an unexpected drawback in using the ancient dragon leather. Jin immediately set out to verify it. 758 - - 22-26 Applications In conclusion, it was true that <>. Because of its affinity with magic and magic power, and because of its too large capacity, there was no detectable magic power leaking from inside Reiko''s body. "Hmmm, normally there should be about 100 times this much leaking out." That''s how efficient the use of magic power is. "Wait a minute.Could it be ......?" Jin went to the window with Reiko to confirm what had just occurred to him. "Reiko, I think I can do some magic ...... with a <>. Just shoot a ball of light outward. "Yes, I understand." Nodding to Jin''s instruction, Reiko extends her right arm and starts chanting. "<>......! "Uh-oh!" Another ball of light, a little exaggerated to say that the sun was shining, was released. "Oh, Father, I''m so sorry ......! Reiko is afraid that she has startled Jin. But Jin was not angry. He was holding his eyes and thinking. "Well,...... the mental wave is the same as the magic wave,...... so the ancient dragon''s leather should not leak the mental wave,...... but,...... it''s not a good idea to use the dragon''s leather. ......" Jin asked another question that came to mind. "Reiko, do you have a supply of free magical element (ether)?" I thought that if the mental waves could not penetrate the ancient dragon''s leather, the free magical element (ether) in the space could not be gathered either. "Yes, that''s not a problem at all, is it?" "I see. ...... hmmm..." Again Jin pondered. "...... sure, if leather is impervious to free magic element (ether), then ancient dragons may also be lacking in free magic element (ether). ......" It is hard to think that the free magic element (ether) contained in the air taken in by breathing is enough to support such a huge body. It is thought that the magic core in the skin and inside the body is also converted into energy. It is also assumed that the free magical element (ether) is originally a much smaller particle than protons and neutrons. In other words, it can penetrate even reinforced leather. So there is no problem to take in <>." Since this is a fact, Jin decides to assume it for the time being. "The characteristic of dragon leather is that it can be controlled by one''s own magic wave,...... so maybe it can be adjusted by one''s own will?" Jin guessed that much and decided to verify it for the time being. "Reiko, please release the light ball again. "Okay. ......<" "<>" Jin does not look at the light itself this time, but follows the flow of magic power. And then he found out... "Haaaa....... The free magic element (ether) that the skin took in was working?" In other words, the ancient dragon leather, which is the skin, was taking in free magical element (ether), converting it into magical element (mana), and boosting the magic in sync with Reiko''s mental waves. "This is going to be difficult to adjust ......" It is a problem that the least powerful magic becomes the largest. It is like a flamethrower when you want to light a match, or perhaps even worse. Even though Reiko is a physical attacker, this was a big deal. If she could not use engineering magic properly, she would not be able to help Jin as his assistant. Reiko herself knows this, and she looks worried. The old man offered his advice to Jin, who was troubled. "Ah, yes, you''re right. First of all, ......" The first one is the individual recognition represented by the warp gate. "How could she use the warp gate?" Reiko''s body did not emit enough magic power to identify individuals. "...... Oh, the pendant." The pendant that hangs from Reiko''s neck. When Jin made the guard ring and other magic tools, he also made this pendant and gave it to Reiko. Since it has Jin''s magic pattern, it worked as a recognition vote for Reiko. Now, the only parts of Reiko''s body that are not covered by the ancient dragon''s leather are her eyes, mouth, nose, and earholes. The leaks from these holes are not enough to react to the individual recognition magic tool. "Well, I guess we can handle that one. ......" Worst case scenario, you could have a pendant-like magical tool. The problem is controlling the power of magic. "Can you consciously suppress the boost from the skin?" "Yes, I will try." Reiko shoots a ball of light three times. "Oh, it worked!" This time, a normal ball of light popped out. Reiko, you can do it! But Reiko looks reluctant. "Father, the control is very delicate. It seems unlikely that it can be adjusted on the spur of the moment." "Hmm, I see. ......" Sometimes it can be too strong. "Speaking of control, I''m a wand ......" Mages use wands to increase directionality, convergence, and control. Emitting magic directly from the palm or other parts of the body is not very good in terms of convergence and directionality. "So, is there something like a pole? Jin straightened his arms. Jin straightens his arm. His index finger pointed at the target. Jin looked at the tip of the finger, and a thought came to him. A nail! "Father?" Jin, who had been thinking about it, suddenly shouted out loud, and Reiko looked doubtful. "Nails, Reiko. If we make your claws the poles of magic, you should be able to release magic from them. Saying this, Jin began to rummage through the ancient dragon''s leather. "Here it is. We can use this." Jin found what he thought was the leg of an ancient dragon among the scraps. "Look, this part is thick and hard. Let''s use it as a claw. The claw is connected to the bone of the fingertip on the inside and becomes a pole to release magic. For good measure, the toenails were modified in the same way. What do you think, Reiko? "Yes, I''ll give it a try." With that, Reiko reached out her hand through the window and released a spell. "<>" A normal ball of light is released. "Father, it''s rather easier than before! "Then we have succeeded, haven''t we?" "Yes, this is great!" After that, after trying various methods, I found that if there is even one , it is easy to control the power of the magic. "In other words, until now, it was difficult to control magic because the mental wave to control it would spread over the entire skin. But if there is a pole of activation, it is easy to control because you only need to concentrate on that pole. Jin was relieved. "Now I just need to practice a little to get used to the control. After thinking about it, Jin said to Reiko. "Practice, father?" "Yes. The point is to store the control data. > The old man seemed to be unsure of Jin''s true intentions. "Ah, didn''t the road connecting Klein Kingdom and Egelea Kingdom pass through the old Leonard Kingdom?I thought it would be a good idea to secretly maintain that road. This would be beneficial to the kingdoms of Klein and Egelea, with whom Jin has a close relationship, and it would also keep the Kingdom of Selroa, which is not exactly hostile to Jin, in check. "Besides, we would like to be able to go there from the village of Kaina in the future." < "Okay, I''ll go there tomorrow morning. The sun was about to set. Then Saki and Erza arrived. They were making something together, judging from what they were holding in their hands. "Hey Jin, there you are. Were you working on something? "Yeah, actually. ......" Jin gave them a brief explanation. "......You''re right, I can understand that theory." "Hmm, such a harm,......." "......That''s why I said you should talk to Saki and Jin." "That''s fine. It''s worth thinking for yourself!" Jin asks them a question. "Speaking of which, what were you two doing? Saki does not answer the question directly, but unfolds something in her hand and shows it to them. "Take a look at this." It was a leather vest. And what was it made of? "Ancient dragon leather ......?" "Yes, that''s right!I came up with the idea and Erza made it. It''s a present for Jin." 759 - - 22-27 Reiko practicing "What?For me?" Saki unfolded the vest and showed it to me. It was dyed black and had a calm atmosphere. "Look, take a look at this. It is lined with mithril silver to circulate magic power more efficiently. According to Saki and Erza''s explanation, the leather of the ancient dragon alone does not determine the direction in which magic power is applied. It is like a buildup of static electricity. Therefore, Saki seems to have made it so that the magic power circulates without doing anything by making cuts in some parts or by putting a mithril silver lining. In this way, the wearer''s surplus magic power ...... that is leaking out without his/her awareness is efficiently circulated to increase the toughness of the wearer. "Well, isn''t that great!" Unexpectedly, he had constructed a theory similar to Jin''s and found his own solution. "Right?I had a hard time deciding on the shape and location of the lining, but I finally settled on this shape. Jin puts on the sleeves. The size is just right. Moreover, it is lighter than his previous ones. "Oh, this is nice. That''s what I''m talking about, Saki. I''m glad you like it. This material boasts a few more layers of protection than the hexenbiest leather I''ve been wearing. "But then, I''d like to make one for the whole family. As long as it''s not too conspicuous. "Yes, that''s right. I and Erza will think about it. We can ask other members of the family to help us if necessary. Stearina excels in design. "Oh, that''s a good idea. I''d love to have you do it. Thus, the clothes for the Jin family are being made. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning, Jin and Reiko arrive at the former Leonard Kingdom by Pegasus 1. The sky above them is covered with back up Falcon 1 to 5 monitoring the ground. Jin and the others are in a place where there are no settlements around. That is, they have chosen a place where there will be no witnesses. "Okay, Reiko, try to put some Harden on the surface." "Yes, father. < The engineering magic Harden is Jin''s original. It can harden the road as if it were paved. It was Jin who tried to reinforce the weak part of the road which < had paved. The had hardened about 50 meters of the road at a time. "Hmmm, it''s still a little too loose to control..." From Jin''s point of view, the precision of the magic control was still unsatisfactory. "Yes, I''m sorry. "Don''t apologize. Do it again. "Yes, sir." Hitoshi and Reiko repeat the exercise while moving around. After about 10 times, Reiko got used to it and by the time they reached 20 times, she was able to manipulate the pavement freely. "Hmmm, that feels good. Let''s move some more." Thus, he moves along, reinforcing the weak points of the road that he had previously checked out. "Well, this place is a little different. Now Jin and the others are at a rocky point. Normally, a or should be attached to this terrain. A huge rock stands in front of the road, which had been following almost horizontally. The road goes around to avoid the rocky terrain, making it very difficult to walk. There are several narrow passages that one wonders how could have passed through. "As I explained earlier, we will make a cut-through here. Reiko, try it." "Yes, Father." Now it''s time to show off your improved physical abilities. I''ve gotten used to the power of daily life, but I still have some concerns about my power control in battle. "Now let''s go to ......!" Reiko kicked the ground, charged at the rock wall in front of her, and fired a single fist strike. "Ah!" "Ah!" With the impact of the fist strike, the 20-meter-high rock wall cracked and collapsed. The rock wall collapsed with a roar. Dust is rising. "I''m sorry for the ...... result, too. ......" Reiko is getting smaller and smaller. But Hitoshi gently soothes her. "It''s okay. That''s what this training is for. You can be more careful next time." "Yes." The collapsed rock wall has been cleared of debris, leveled, and a road has been built through it. "...... Well, it turned out to be an easy passage." With the rocks that had blocked the road gone, the road was able to pass straight through. There were several more similar places, and Reiko seemed to have already learned to adjust her strength in the second place. "Ha!" A series of fist blows destroy only specific parts of the rock. In less than 10 minutes, Reiko had succeeded in gouging out a 10-meter-thick bedrock. In the past, when she had drifted away in search of Jin, it had taken half a day to drill a hole in the desert rock, but this time it took less than ten minutes. This time it took less than ten minutes. It was a sign of his improved strength and control. "Father, it''s done!" "Yes, that''s great. You did it." Reiko smiled happily at Jin''s praise. Jin congratulated Reiko on her achievement and told her that she could now control her strength. At that moment, they heard the sound of shaking in the bushes. "Hmm?" Jin turned around at the sound. A saber boar appeared. It seemed to be excited about something and rushed toward Jin and the others. "Stop!" Reiko steps forward and delivers a light blow to the saber boar''s nose. That was enough to kill the saber boar. "Well done, Reiko." Not too strong, not too weak. Reiko has mastered the use of force in just one day. Let''s take this saber boar home and eat it together. It is a wild boar, so to speak, so it is edible enough. Jin thought that he would make good use of it so that it would not be a waste of life. "Father, that''s all well and good, but something is coming after this saber boar. "Hm?" The saber boar was so excited that it took a minute before it appeared. "An armored turtle. Armored turtles are terrestrial turtles that live in rocky habitats. Its hard shell is used for craftwork and it is one meter long. It is a herbivore, but when angered, it has the habit of rushing forward and attacking. Their speed is sometimes up to 50 kilometers per hour. And its entire body is so hard that even a saber boar would run away from it. "But that ...... is a little strange, don''t you think?" It was more than two meters long and had a protrusion on its head that is not found on ordinary armored turtles. Is it a monster? "Let''s see what it is." Jin and Reiko boarded Pegasus 1 and soared into the sky. Hitoshi is watching the situation. As they watched, the armored turtle stopped running at about 20 km/h and started to eat the flesh of the saber boar that Reiko had killed. "What?Aren''t armored turtles supposed to be herbivores?" "Father, it looks like a different creature ...... demon..." Reiko was examining the magic. It seems to be a new species or mutated demon. What should we do? "Well, it''s not harmful to us, so we can leave it alone. ...... There is an inhabited settlement about 20 kilometers away. If the < doesn''t change direction, there is a big chance that it will end up in that settlement. "Let''s wait and see a little longer. So Jin decides to make a compromise and observe for a little longer. The < ate the saber boar to the bone in about 5 minutes, and resumed its march. The direction is toward the village. "Let''s go after it." Pegasus 1 chased after the armored turtle, which was moving at a speed of about 30 kilometers per hour. "Let''s call that armored turtle ...... or <>," Jin named it in his usual tone. Jin named it in his usual tone. "The Armored Tortoise is a carnivore, after all. It is also ferocious. It is fast on its feet and has killed three mountain deer it found along the way in an instant and put them in its stomach. It seems to be destroying the ecosystem. "I''d better get rid of them. We''re 10 kilometers from the settlement and more than halfway there. "Yes, sir." Reiko jumped down from Pegasus 1 without Jin''s permission. She lands softly from a height of about 50 meters, using her force field generator. "I have no grudge against you, but you are a nuisance to the creatures around you. Reiko mutters a few words to herself, and thrusts her right index finger at the armored turtle, "Armor Monstertor, "<>" A laser beam as thin as a hair was emitted. It penetrated the armored tortoise from its head to its tail, instantly killing it. Jin, who was watching the whole process from above, was very pleased with Reiko''s achievement. The Armored Demon Turtle "Armor Monstertor" uses a transfer gun for times like this and sends it to Horai Island. The purpose is to study it and use it as a material. The old man decided to have the old man take the initiative to investigate how such a monster came to appear. And so, Jin, Reiko, and the Falcon unit returned to Horai Island. 760 - - 22-28 Reorganization of Secret Mobile Units The day after he returned to Horai Island after finishing Reiko''s training. Jin wanted to do something about the other thing that was bothering him. He decides to talk to Elsa about it. Saki is an observer for now. "I want to do something about the Covert Task Force (SP)." "...... What do you mean?" Jin explains to Erza, who tilts her head. "You see, lately, we''ve been traveling more and more by airship, haven''t we?If you do that, the covert maneuvering force (SP) can''t follow you. "Ah, that makes sense." They could follow us in horse-drawn carriages without any problem, but they often could not cope with flight and transfers. So, I''m going to make a major revision." "What are you actually going to do, Jin?" Saki was also interested. "Are you going to get rid of the covert task force (SP), by any chance? "Brother Jin, I think that would be a waste. Erza interrupted. "No, I''m not going to do that." Jin hurriedly denies it. He then goes on to express his own thoughts. "I was told that before. If you have a certain social status, you should have an intimidating bodyguard as a deterrent. "Oh, you mean the kind that makes you want to attack them just by looking at them?"Hmmm, since you''re the Korun, it''s only natural. Saki understood. "That''s right. That''s why I''ve been thinking about having you guarding the place with an open mind, instead of hiding behind your back like you''ve been doing." "You''re going to ...... modify it?" That''s what I''m thinking. "Specifically?" Jin then decided to explain his plan to them. "First of all, how many covert maneuver forces (SP) do we have now? ......" Pance, Viola, Dahlia, Kanna, Lily, Rose, Elm, Ash, Pothos, and Heath for Jin. Maroon and plum for Elsa. Iris and Azalea for Hannah, Cattleya and Lotus for Marcia. Cherry and camelia for Bina (and Count Kuzma), Erica and lobelia for Prince Ernest. And sage and cosmos for Reinhardt. "...... is tremendous when you count them all up like this." That''s how much Jin cares about his friends. "Well, yeah." Jin scratched his head and looked a little embarrassed at Saki''s words. "So, so. I think I''ll start with the covert task force (SP) attached to the family. "......, because they come and go the most?" "Yes. Yeah. Warp gates and airships and stuff. So, Jin, what exactly? "Oh, first of all, I think we can keep the all-black appearance. It looks a bit like a black knight (Schwarzlitter). But still, the design is completely different. The Black Knight (Schwarzritter) looks like a warrior in armor, while the Covert Mobile Unit (SP) is humanoid. "We can add exterior parts depending on the purpose. For example, armor for escorts." "Hmm, but I think most of them are female-types...?" Saki expressed her doubt. "Yes, there are female knights too, and it wouldn''t be strange if they were Erza or Saki''s guards, would it? "What?You''re going to put me under your protection, too? Jin nodded. "Yes. I mean, I''ll be able to protect you or dispatch you as needed. When you go out, depending on where you are going and for what purpose. I''ll leave that to you," Jin said. "What about the modification of the main body at ......?" This is Elsa. She is still concerned about it. "Yes, of course, we will equip it with a force field generator as standard equipment. So that we can protect them in the sky." "......, of course." "However, you''ll still be able to appear and be accompanied by your golem. The girl and boy types will guard you when you are out of sight. Of course, this is with the proviso that it will be done on an as-needed basis. "This is a bit complicated. But I wonder if the old man can manage it well. It is difficult for a human being to manage, but I am sure that the old man, who was developed for this purpose, will be able to handle it easily. "Lastly, I''d like to ask Reiko Pance and Viola to retire from the Covert Task Force (SP) and work in Kunlun Island." "Ah, the Kun Lun Island. I see. I understand what you''re saying. "In Kunlun Island, there are five colored golem maids, number 100 each, stationed there to take care of everything in the pavilion, but if we are going to develop the island further, we will need more people, right?" We also want to have a security guard," Jin added. "...... convinced me." Erza seemed to understand this policy. "Well, it''s hard to tell, but the adult male and female types will be guarded as knights. The boy/girl type will be guarded in a covert manner. The Reiko type will guard Kunlun Island, is that right?" Saki summed it up nicely. "Yeah, that''s right. What do you think?" The old man, who had been listening in silence, agreed. It is the strongest material in the world when it is circulated with magic power. Elsa and Saki made a vest for Jin, but it would be safer to make something like a bulletproof vest or a cloak against fire for the other members as well. "Well, I''ll think of something. "Yes, please." Since Elsa seemed to be better suited for such a design than Jin, he agreed. So, the modifications begin immediately. However, since the basic performance is sufficient, the main work is to recondition it and install a force field generator. The adult male and female models will be fitted with armor. Clothing for the boy/girl and Reiko models. "Okay, that should do it. I''m looking forward to working with you all. Jin says this to the remodeled Secret Service (SP), to which they reply in unison. "Yes, Chief! Thus, the new Covert Mobile Unit (SP) began its new activities. The SP is now in full swing. "Whoa!What are they? "Ah, brother Rai, come in." In the evening of the same day, Reinhardt visited Horai Island and was surprised to see the Covert Mobile Unit (SP). "Reinhard, it''s been a long time. They are the Covert Task Force (SP). That''s why ......" Jin explained to Reinhardt in brief what had happened. "Well, that''s good, isn''t it?So, ......, what''s in it for me now?" "Once again, Mr. Reinhardt, it''s a pleasure to meet you." What?What? - Oh, yeah, nice to meet you. Height 165 cm, weight 55 kg, adult female type. She has a slim figure, which may be far from Reinhardt''s taste. However, her figure is impressive wearing light armor made of light silver and a short sword at her waist. The armor is made of light silver. Since it is titanium, the color can be changed by adjusting the oxide film. Reinhardt''s armor is black. It was made to match the black knight (Schwarzlitter). "Well, this is great. Jin, thank you again!" "...... that''s good, but didn''t you have something to do?" Reinhardt smiled a bit shyly as Jin said this. "Oh, yes. Actually, ...... Bertsche is having a baby!" "What? Rai''s brother? "Oh, congratulations!" Surprised and congratulatory voices echoed through the room. Even though it was February, the wind here in Horai Island was warm, and the topic was reminiscent of spring, which made the hearts of Jin and the others jump. 761 - - 22-29 Early Spring "Congratulations, Reinhard and Bertsche! Jin and his friends had gathered at Reinhard''s house, Lankenhaos, to celebrate the pregnancy of Berthe. They were celebrating Berthe''s pregnancy. "Congratulations, brother Rai and Bertsche! "Thank you, Elsa." Erza and Jin had brought Persica, Citran, and Ramon from Horai Island, though it was not a celebration. Persica is nutritious, and Citran and Ramon are for the early stages of pregnancy, when you might want to eat something sour. "Congratulations, Reinhard! "Thank you, Saki." On this day, most of the Jin family had gathered. "Congratulations, Mr. Reinhardt! "Thank you, Mr. Toa." "Congratulations, Mrs. Bertsche." "Thank you, Miss Meane." Everyone congratulates Reinhard and Bertsche. "Congratulations, Reinhard! You must take good care of your wife." "Yes, thank you, Stearina." "Congratulations, Mrs. Bertschi. But you mustn''t work anymore. It''s good to eat good food and to exercise moderately." "Yes, Vivien, thank you." Vivian, being a storyteller, had heard well about the need to take care of the mother''s body and advised her to do so. "Well, cheers to the future of Reinhard and Bertsche." Cheers! Cheers! Jin led the group and the dinner party began. Since we all knew each other, we ate comfortably and chatted with each other. "I''m about three months along. Well, I''m in the stable period?Be careful until you''re in the stable period." Elsa shares her knowledge from Sally Mireshan. Jin, on the other hand, "Bertsche is a safe childbirth type, so you can rest assured. which could be considered s*xual harassment if she makes a mistake. Although there is no concept of s*xual harassment in this world. "What do you mean by ''easy delivery''?" Bertsche asked back. It was a natural question. "Well, it means that the pelvis is large and firm. ...... Actually, Jin did not know much about it either. He simply knows that women with large hips are called "easy-birth type. "It''s true, they say that a firm waist makes childbirth easier," Vivian added. Vivian added. As expected, she knew a lot of things from what she had heard. "...... I''ve heard that my brother Moritz and I are like our grandmother." Both of them are slender and have a thin line in common. On the other hand, Fritz, the second son, and Elsa''s father are stocky. Bertsche is 150cm tall, 10cm shorter than Elsa, but her hips are over 85cm in circumference. Elsa is 82 cm. "Jin, look at Elsa. Reinhardt noticed that Erza''s appearance was obviously downcast after Jin mentioned that she was an easy childbearing type, and gently advised Jin to watch her. No matter how slow Jin may be, it is impossible for him not to understand the meaning of that advice. However, Jin wondered what he should say to her. It was then that he said to Jin. "I would like to take this opportunity to ask you all something. Toa said. Was this intentional or not? Everyone looked at him. "Well, I and Stearina are getting married." "Oh! Finally! Congratulations! ...... happily ever after! Erza looked up and congratulated him, which made Jin feel a little relieved. "The other day, I went to greet my father-in-law, the Marquis Theoderic, and received his permission to remarry. After this, I will notify the state." Since he is marrying Stearina, who is a defector, he cannot do it without permission. But Stearina can now take Sholo''s nationality without being an exile. "In that case, I will send him to Miyagi by later. Jin could visit Miyagi without an appointment, which was perfect. "Thank you, Jin-dono." Toa bowed. "So, what are you going to do about your new house?" "My house has a good amount of room, so I''ll be living with you. "I''ll be in Penglai Island and Kunlun Island for a while. I don''t want to disturb the newlyweds. Saki said with a mischievous smile. Toa and Stearina were a little embarrassed to hear that. "Oh, yeah, yeah. I''ll leave Aal here with you, so if you need anything, just let me know. Toa is not very good at housework either. Saki, needless to say, is the least of his worries as long as he stays on Kunlun or Horai Island. "Oh, thank you." "Hmph, I think I''ll have a little brother this time." "Nah. ......" Saki''s sudden words make Toa blush and freeze. "Dad, please make Stearina happy. Oh,...... should I call you now?" "Saki, Saki-san." Stearina is blushing too. But they both look happy. Jin casually sat down next to Erza who was looking at them. "...... Jin brother?" "Take your time. Jin said and hugged Erza''s shoulder. Erza was startled and stiffened, but quickly relaxed and leaned against Jin. Reinhardt smiled a little bitterly when he saw this, and his mother Meine smiled softly. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, Jin took with Toa, Stearina, Reiko, and Erza to the Shoro Imperial Palace. This was an exercise of Jin''s privilege to visit without an appointment. However, since he did not do it so often, he asked us to overlook any interruptions to his work. After waiting for about 30 minutes, I was able to meet the Prime Minister and the female emperor. "Mr. Jin, what can I do for you today? The emperor was now completely frank. "Yes, I''m here today to ask your permission for the marriage of my friends, Mr. Toa and Miss Stellina. Jin and the others were a little nervous, wondering what kind of response they would get, "Well, is that so? Congratulations!" The emperor''s response was a blessing. "Stearina, our country is very happy to have such a talented person like you as one of our citizens. I hope you will be a citizen of the Shoro Kingdom for many years to come. "Yes, I will do my best. Stearina answered a little stiffly. "I wish you all the best, Mr. Toa. "Yes, thank you! Although her words to Toa were brief, they seemed to have conveyed the feelings of the queen. The Prime Minister issued a document certifying that Stearina would become Toa''s wife and thus change her status from a registered alien to a citizen. "Well then, thank you very much for taking the trouble." "Thank you very much." "No, I wish you all the best." The audience was brief due to the interruption, but with this, Toa and Stearina were now a married couple on paper. Once they had arrived at Reuthert''s mansion, Jin arrived. "What do you think?Do you want to go back to Banne right away? Jin asked as he took a break from drinking tea at the house. "No, I''ve come all this way. ......" They told Jin that they would take their time and enjoy the short trip back home. They crossed to the other side of the river by boat, a half-day walk. Jin smiles and sends them on their way. "See you later, Jin-kun. "Jin-kun, Erza-san, see you later." The two walked arm in arm into the streets of Leuthart as Jin and Erza saw them off. "......" Jin hugged Erza''s shoulder without saying a word. The wind was still blowing cold, but Toa and Stearina, who felt each other''s warmth, and Jin and Erza were not cold. The sky in Leusert was clear and blue again today, and the sunlight, which was getting stronger little by little, reminded them that spring was not far away. 762 - - 22-30 Silent Story 42 ships, after that "Yes, yes, Jin''s skill is the best!" This is Marcia Workshop at the southern tip of the Kingdom of Elias. The third shallow-bottom boat has just been launched. The Marquis of Firenziano has ordered a six-meter-long shallow-bottom ship. The performance of the first one was so good that, as we had said before, there was an order for five more ships. A boat of this size can obtain sufficient propulsive power with a water wheel drive. However, it is not Golem that is being driven. "...... Golem drive machine, or ......" It''s like taking out only the arms of the Golem. "Sure, there was an upper body Golem at last year''s Golem boat competition. I didn''t think they''d go that far and make something with just the arms," said Marcia. "Hmm, Gin-dono is a , you know. I guess he is different from ordinary people. Marcia''s father, Rodrigo, smiled as he stared at the golem-driven machine. < and , had contracted directly with Marcia''s workshop to supply the golem-driving machine. With this machine, the problem of power transmission, which can be said to be the weak point of waterwheel drive, is solved. In other words, it can be directly connected to a water wheel without a belt or chain. Although this structure does not increase the speed of rotation, it has torque (rotational force) instead. This means that it can rotate strongly at low speeds. This was ideal for a water turbine drive. "It works well with shallow-bottomed boats, doesn''t it, Dad?" "Yes, it is. Yes, it is. We''re getting a lot of orders because of it. The reputation of the waterwheel-driven Marussia workshop had taken hold, and it was the most popular of the small boats. By their very nature, waterwheels are submerged in water less than half the time. In other words, they are suited for shallow-bottomed vessels. However, this drive method is not suitable for large vessels. Rodrigo, who was involved in the construction of large ships in the Shoro Empire, was also aware of the drawbacks of the water wheel drive. He had learned the concept that splashing water equals waste within a few days of working with Jin. Since I did not know about the existence of screws, I have been wondering day and night if I could make a <>, but I have not yet found a way to do so. But father, our workshop can only take on a project of this size. Marcia said with a wry smile. It is not possible for a private workshop to build a ship larger than 20 meters. "Yes, that''s true. But still, it is something that an engineer has to think about. Rodrigo will continue to think about a water wheel that can be submerged and used. Whether it will bear fruit remains to be seen. * * * * Your Majesty, the new ship has been completed. "Yes." On the same day, in Essaia, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa, the First Technical Director, Latant, was giving a report to King Richard. Latant''s cheeks are puffy and his eyes are sunken, the result of a day of near sleepless nights. The technical staff of the Kingdom of Celuloa was under such strain. It is no wonder that it took them less than a month to build it. "Sixty meters long. The ship is based on the <...... that was seized and the that is now ......." It is not so easy to make the same thing if you have a model. It is unlikely that a copied product will surpass the original. There are many examples everywhere where only inferior copies are born as a result of the obsession to imitate only the form without taking into account or trying to know the design concept. The idea was conceived by Eckert and Tecles, and designed and manufactured by Altaf and Gienaar. Without them, it would not have been possible to produce the same product, and they produced different products. Therefore, there was no end to the number of minor defects, and Latanto''s disheveled condition was a reflection of this. Still, the Kingdom of Cerroa was proud that no other country had a warship as large as 60 meters. Lake Asur? Yes, as you say. A huge warship built in the great lake of Lake Asur. It can easily reach the sea via the Naudaria River, which flows from the great Asur River. "We''ll hold the national celebration in Dali. We must make preparations for that as well. King Richard of Celuloa chuckled, and took pleasure in imagining the astonished looks on the faces of the heads of state. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This is the town of Okososo in the southern part of the Kingdom of Egelea. The town was quiet at best, and desolate at worst, but it was suddenly full of life at the start of the New Year. The construction of a dock for shipbuilding had begun, and the town was flooded with people. Overnight, the remote country town became a booming place. Roads were built, hotels were built like bamboo shoots after rain, stores were opened, and houses were built. As February arrived and the docks were completed, the number of soldiers increased. This is a natural step since the town is located on the border with the Kingdom of Cerroa. "Hmm, it''s an interesting shaped boat." "Yes, I''ve never seen one before. It is said that this type is used in the Shoro Kingdom for transporting goods from lakes and rivers. The engineers, who had never seen a model of a shallow-bottomed ship before, were reasonably skilled, and construction of a ship measuring from 5 to 10 meters was begun. * * * * "The second ship is launched! "Named <>." Granato is a pomegranate stone. The Shoro Empire decided to name its large 40-meter wooden warships after the mineral, following in the footsteps of the first, the (= amber). The bridge of the <> was painted red in reference to the red pomegranate stone. "...... You have had a hard time, haven''t you?" "No, indeed. I had no idea that it would be so difficult just because of the absence of Mr. Jin, Mr. Reinhardt, and others. "I agree. However, this hardship will be a great source of sustenance for all of us engineers. Shipwright Kubart of Simos laughs with his fellow shipbuilders with whom he has worked hard. The <> now floats silently on the surface of Lake Wass. It will now be carefully checked by the engineers before embarking on its maiden voyage. "It looks like you''ve done a great job. "It seems so." Prime Minister Jung Forschung von K?bsler, who had arrived for the launching ceremony, smiled at the Minister of Magical Technology, Degas Furth von Manischlass, who was standing next to him. "I wonder if the age of ships and water transportation will come in the future. "Yes, balloons are fast, but they have many limitations. Balloons are fast, but they can''t carry much cargo. On the other hand, ships are different. Above all, they are cost-effective." Everyone thought that the existence of ships would be indispensable in the future when trading with foreign ...... nations such as Mitsuho, the Kingdom of Egelea, and the Kingdom of Klein. However, the protection of merchant vessels had never been considered before, and this time the order was given in the form of a hastily organized navy. This was due to the advanced thinking of the leaders of the Shoro Empire, although it was partly suggested by the educational automaton <> given by Jin. "It might be a good idea to dig a canal at some point." "Yes, that would be a good idea. Originally, Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, is a water city. There is nothing wrong with additional construction. "We could use for the construction work." is a giant golem six meters tall. Its power is also effective in civil engineering work. "Mm." Speaking of which, I heard you received an invitation from the Kingdom of Cerroa to attend the national commemoration ceremony. The Prime Minister nodded silently at the question from Deghaouz, the Minister of Magical Technology. "I am sure that his country has prepared a lot of things and is planning to apply military pressure. ......" "Degauss, our country will not give in to such threats. And we must not. "Yes, sir. I think it would be better to use two ships, the <> and the <>, to get there." "Yes, I agree with Degauze. We cannot give in to threats. The future of shipping is bright, but tensions are high among the nations in the year 3458. Less than a month had passed before the founding ceremony of the Kingdom of Cerroa. 763 - - 22-31 Quiet talk 43 Famine, countries... It is the end of January, 3458. Food shortages, caused by an epidemic of mold the previous autumn, were finally becoming apparent. ?The Shoro Empire... "The shipment of desiccants seems to be going well. Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shoro, the female emperor, smiled at the Prime Minister as she looked at the report in her hand. We have exported the products to the kingdoms of Klein, Franz, and Egelea, and have recently received an inquiry from the kingdom of Elias as well. The Prime Minister glanced at the documents in his hand before answering. The Empress nodded in satisfaction at his answer. What about food aid? Our country does not have such a large stockpile, but we are sending out 100 tons of wheat and 100 tons of barley. Each person consumes about 150 kilograms of wheat per year, or 12.5 kilograms per month. Barley and wheat together can feed 16,000 people for a month. That''s about the limit, isn''t it? Yes. I heard that the Kingdom of Elias and other countries are sending relief supplies as well. ?The Kingdom of Elias Release 100 tons of Topopo as aid supplies. The King of Elias, Blitzen Skala Elias XII, personally ordered the Marquis of Florenziano to release 100 tons of topopo. This will save 8,000 people from starvation for a month. Ten thousand people would be spared if the money was saved. I will make the necessary arrangements immediately. We are also increasing production of dried fish, which should be ready for shipment soon. "Well, thank you." Unlike grains, marine resources can be increased considerably in a short period of time. Dried fish keeps well for a long time, so it is convenient. In addition, we plan to produce salted fish at the same time. The Kingdom of Elias, which has never been affected by mold, is working hard to avert a famine in the Lesser Antilles. ?Kingdom of Egelea "What is the situation in our country? Hearing that there was a shortage of food, if not a famine, in the Rivas region of the neighboring Kingdom of Cerroa, the King of Egelea, Harold Luan Autoclase-Egelea, asked William, the Minister of the Interior, a question. His face was a little grim. I can''t say that there is no problem at all, but there is a shortage only in the northern part of the country. There is no problem in the south, and there is a slight surplus, so we are making arrangements to provide aid to the north. The king was relieved by this answer, and his grim face relaxed a little. "Are you sure that there is no famine in our country? "Yes, Your Majesty." ?The Kingdom of Franz... Do something! The voice of King Rijohn de Barkly echoed through the conference room. Rijohn is 170 centimeters tall and weighs 89 kilograms. He is clearly of unhealthy height. "Your Majesty, even so, I cannot refuse a request from the Kingdom of Celuloa..." "No. ......" The other day I received an order to send 500 tons of wheat. Here in the Kingdom of Franz, the mold infestation was so severe that it was obvious that the majority of the population would starve to the point of light hunger. However, if they could hold out until June, the wheat harvest season, they should be able to ...... manage to do so without too much damage. However, once 500 tons of wheat were sent to the Kingdom of Cerroa, that plan was completely destroyed. Five hundred tons is 10,000 people for four months......2, 500 tons is enough for 10,000 people to survive for four months 2, March, April, and May. Deprived of such a quantity, there was no doubt that the damage would be great. Even now, most of the farmers could not eat wheat and barley and had to search for wild plants and nuts to survive. Even then, there is no telling how much longer they will be able to survive. ?The Kingdom of Klein "The desiccant has been effective. There has been no mold damage since its introduction. "Oh, I see." In addition, the dehumidifier has been very effective. We use desiccants in the countryside and dehumidifiers in the suburbs. "Hmm, that''s good news." In the royal castle of the Kingdom of Klein, meetings were held every day to prevent famine. "The Kingdom of Elias is sending aid supplies." "Yes. As for that, it''s great that the temporary highway through the Kingdom of Leonard has been opened. A road connecting Klein Kingdom and Egelea Kingdom without going through Selroa Kingdom. It will be of great benefit between the two kingdoms. And it is helping with those logistics right away. "It''s just barely enough ......" King Alois III''s face is pale. "Yes, but without the help of the other countries, there would have been a famine for sure." "Yes. ...... should learn a lesson from this." ?Kingdom of Celuloa "Well, the famine near King''s Landing was averted, well done. Well done. - Thank you for your kind words. Knut Amonte, the director of the food agency, received a compliment from King Richard. But the further away from the capital, Esire, the more resentment the people felt. * * * * "...... there''s nothing left to eat......" "But that doesn''t mean we can''t touch the seeds. ...... "But if we don''t, we will starve. ...... Here in the western part of the Rivas region, the village of Irigo is in crisis. Unlike in the east, where people live on pasture, this is a farming village. What they could eat, they ate up, down to the grass roots and tree bark. "Chief!Something is coming!" The vigilante guarding the entrance to the village came rushing in. "What?Is the country going to take any more from us ......?" Despair spread through the village. The villagers are still inside their houses, breathing heavily. Only the mayor and a few others stood at the entrance to the village, staring at the approaching column. But... "What is it?" What was approaching was a cart pulled by a golem. Dozens of them. In the lead was a golden-haired girl astride a horse. The girl had a face beyond compare. "People of the village of Irigo, we are the Nostalgia Party. We have brought some food for you. What? "We can''t bring wheat, so we have mostly dried meat and fish, but it should last us for a while." "Oh, oh!Thank you! Dried meat, dried fish, dried vegetables and fresh fruits. Enough for 180 villagers to live for a month. "Thank you, thank you ......!" The < thus provided food aid to the villages in crisis. As a result, it seems that no one in the Kingdom of Selroa will die of starvation, although it is barely possible. ?Hourai Island The old man compares the production of agricultural products with the stockpile and manages it. In Horai Island, it is possible to have continuous cropping throughout the year, and perhaps due to the effect of the free magic element (ether), there are no consecutive crop failures. Therefore, in three months, the wheat stockpile will increase by one digit. In addition, the buckwheat stockpile will reach 1,000 tons in two months. These are the result of the production increase plan that was implemented after the possibility of a famine arose. Of course, this is not a charity project, and we will provide aid to other countries in exchange for a reasonable price. We are planning to provide aid, including marine products, through the Nostalgia Party. The old man is relieved to know that he is walking on a tightrope, but he is sure that he will be able to make it. The sky of Horai Island was blue and clear today. 764 - - 22-32 Silent Story 44 Kaina Village, Erics shop. Eric, you look great. "Thanks to you, Dad." Eric''s store in the village of Kaina. Eric''s father, Roland, was visiting for the first time in a long time. He''s not here to see his son. No, maybe a little bit, but his main purpose is to restock and collect sales. Roland is now the managing director of Raglan Trading Company, so he does not go out for business, but here in the village of Kaina, he was different. "Is Jin-san here?" "Yes, not in the castle, but in his workshop. Barbara offered him a cup of tea. She is helping out in the store, but the villagers already know them as a young couple. "Hi, thank you. Roland thanks her and drinks the tea from the tea tree (perchia in the Shoro Kingdom). The rubber balls are very popular. There is no one else who can make them, and we are kind of an exclusive seller. They sell out as soon as they come in, Roland says and laughs. "Dad, can we take our time?" Eric sat down and faced Roland. Barbara offered Eric a cup of tea. "Well, I think we can stay a couple of nights. Especially if Jin-san is there. * * * * * * Jin continues to make rubber products in his workshop in front of Martha''s house. When he heard that Roland was coming from the Kaina Village Watch, he realized that he had forgotten to make rubber balls for a long time. I made 100 each of baseballs, clues, and dodge balls. It took me about an hour to complete the project, since I was taking it easy and working at my own pace. "Now all I need is a ...... nib." A nib made of phosphor bronze. Nib 300, nib 100, integrated pen 10 He finished the nib 300, pen barrel 100, and integrated pen 10 in about an hour. Reiko was doing something next to him. "How about this, father? Reiko presented a piece of magi-sand for the stove. Elsa is back home, so Reiko is helping her. "Yes, that''s enough." Around Reiko, about 30 parts were ready. "That should be enough to satisfy Mr. Roland," she said. "Hey, girl, dinner''s ready!" Hannah came to call me just in time. It was already dark outside, and the days were still short in February. The next day, right after breakfast, I went to the hotel. The next day, right after breakfast, Roland asked Jin. Mr. Jin, it''s been a while. Mr. Roland, you look well. Thanks to you. Today, I''m at ......." Roland immediately starts the business meeting. As usual, Jin knows what to expect. He points to a stack of boxes at the entrance of the workshop. "Oh, wonderful!Balls, pen nibs, and stoves. We''ll take them all! Half of the money is paid in tolls, and the other half in salt, sugar, pepper, etc. Normally this would be the end of the business meeting, but today he has more to say. "So, Mr. Jin, I have a favor to ask you: ......" What was Roland''s request? Yesterday Roland crossed the Erme River and came to the village of Kaina. He saw some villagers collecting magi sand, which is used as a heat source for the stove. "Picking magi sand in the water, ...... it looks cold in this winter. ...... No, no, what is that?" The villager''s pants and hands caught my attention. They were footwear that covered their stomachs and gloves that covered their elbows. Both of them seemed to be made of materials that would not absorb water. No, in Roland''s eyes, they were made of rubber. After he told me this story, he said, "...... didn''t Mr. Jin make these gloves?" He asked me bluntly, "Wasn''t it made by Mr. Jin? Jin answered in the affirmative, as it was nothing to hide. Yes, that''s right. They are boots with a body and gloves. Boots with a body are the kind that anglers wear when they enter a river for mountain stream fishing. Long gloves are gloves that cover the elbows. Both were made of natural rubber and made by Jin for the villagers. "I knew it!So, you know, I want you to make rubber boots for me! There are boots made of leather, but they absorb water unless they are well lubricated with oil, so it is difficult to care for them after rain. If they are kept damp, mold will grow on them. Roland had the foresight to think that natural rubber could be used just to wipe off dirt. "Ha-ha-ha, that''s good. What about the size?" So Roland made three pairs each of the standard 26cm, 27cm, and 28cm for adult men, and 22cm, 23cm, and 28cm for women. For women, two pairs each of 22 cm, 23 cm, and 24 cm were ordered. I''m sure these will sell well! He also said, "I''m sure these will sell well! "Well, can you do them tomorrow evening?" I could have done it by noon if I wanted to, but I had an appointment to go out with Hannah that day, so I gave myself a little extra time to answer. "Yes, yes!I''d love to have you!" Roland left with a big smile on his face. "Can I go now, honey?" Hannah came to pick him up carrying a fishing rod. It was a fishing trip to the upper reaches of the Erme River. The fish that stay still in the deep pools during the winter are difficult to catch because they don''t take bait well, but it''s fun to catch them. "Father, your lunch and tea are ready. "Okay, let''s go." Jin, Hanna, and Reiko walked slowly toward the upper stream of the Erme River. The village was a little too far away from the city. "By the way, this village is a nice place. ...... I''d like to retire in a place like this when I retire. Roland slowly walked around the village of Kaina, thinking about such unimportant things. "Hmm?What''s that?" The children he passes are holding kites. The wind on the bank of the Erme River is perfect for flying kites. The flexible kites that Jin had made in the village of Mohut before were very stable and would not fall off. Roland followed the children and saw the scene, which led to more requests for Jin to make kites. "Well, I''m glad I came. That night at Eric''s store, Roland and Eric were sharing a drink across from each other. "...... this sake tastes good." It was a wine imported by Jin from the Kingdom of Elias. It is sold at Nido Castle at almost cost price. "Jin-san became a the other day. This village will become a better and better place to live. But the way of life is the same. "Hm, but the way of life hasn''t changed. You said that changing things without notice is not always a good thing. I agree. "I agree. There is value in old things, and there are traditions in the way we have always lived. I heard that aristocrats can''t do without their servants. "Ha-ha, that''s true. But the people in this village are different. They try to do everything by themselves. "I guess that''s why Jin-san likes this village so much." The dialogue between father and son proceeds peacefully. "...... So, how are things with you and Barbara?" "Boom." Eric blurted out at the sudden change of subject. "Oh, come on, you can''t tell me there''s nothing going on?" "...... Yeah. I''m thinking of taking her to Alban once in the spring. "You mean to introduce her to your father-in-law ...... your grandfather?" "Yes." "...... well. If you''re thinking that far, I won''t say anything. You can discuss the rest with your grandfather, who is also the chairman of the board of trade." Roland said a little bluntly and downed his glass of sake in one gulp. When the spring wind blows, will the be born in the village of Kaina? 765 - - 23-01 World MapAttendance Instructions At Horai Island on February 10, 3458, in the early spring. >. The old man reported to Jin. "Oh, I see!It took you a long time." "Yes, that''s fine. So, how does it look?" First of all, a world map projected on the magic screen. It is a pseudo-Mercator, so the closer you get to the north and south poles, the more the east and west are stretched, but it gives you a good idea of the atmosphere. The map is a pseudo-mercator, so the closer you get to the North and South Polar Regions, the more East and West are elongated, but the atmosphere is easily conveyed. And there are no continents in the polar regions. "Yes, it''s an interesting arrangement. So, did you find out anything else?" "What?" The report was a surprise. << "Father, now that I think about it, when I went looking for your father, there was not much inhabited land. Reiko also confirms the old man''s statement. "Hmmm... ......" Jin recalled the history of the earth. The "Great Mother", Homo sapiens, was said to have traced its roots back to a woman in Africa. "If the cradle of the present human race is somewhere in the habitat of the Mitsho tribe, and if there is interference from a family that came there in a <>, then ......" The old man took over and continued. "Oh. It is possible that they were civilized and settled before spreading all over the world. Well, I''m not a historian, archaeologist, or ethnographer, so I don''t really need to confirm that line of thought. It seemed to me that we could get a rough idea of whether or not this guess was correct by checking with No. 700672. The theory that the <> is the origin of the human race is a fallacy that is easy to fall into by those who have heard about it, and that only the mother can trace back the genes of <>, and thus one woman can be reached by tracing back the maternal lineage. The theory is that only the mother''s side of the gene can be traced back to the <. It should be noted that this does not indicate that the human race originated from a single woman. "And then..." Jin. "I guess the other continents will be ...... spreading humanity in the far future." . "Well, I won''t be around then, but I''m sure Horai Island and my descendants will still be around. At the mention of "descendants," Jin suddenly thought of Erza''s face and blushed unnoticed. "Anyway, let''s proceed with a simple survey and see if we can locate any useful resources while we are at it." . "Oh, and don''t touch the underground resources, okay?If it is plant related, we can secure seeds and seedlings." Thus, almost a year has passed since the development of the aircraft and the start of the survey. Little by little, the world of Ars was being revealed in its entirety to Jin and his team. << "Hmm. So?" <<<< Kunlun, the master (Mylord) would like to attend the ceremony, but he doesn''t know where he is, so he is asking countries to send word to him. Since he had found the shell of an ancient dragon in the demon territory, Jin had been in Horai Island and had not been able to receive such news. "Yes, that''s right. I will go to the Shoro Kingdom in the near future and ask them to inform me. "But the ceremony to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom of Selroa......... It''s that country, anyway. I''m sure they''re up to something." They are going to show off their magical technology to the heads of state and government. This is exactly what that country is going to do. "Air and sea...... water. Is there something on land...... golem too?" << and Mister Fritz, who are currently in the Kingdom of Egelea, will be participating. "Well, then it is quite certain that there are more golems than ." < "Yes, please." * * * * Gloria Allstadt, the vice-captain of the Kingsguard of the Kingdom of Klein, was on vacation in the Kingdom of Egelea. She is accompanied only by her second in command, Cynthia. The other female knights, together with the male knights, were returning to the Kingdom of Klein by the way they came, that is, through the old Leonard''s Kingdom. Gloria, who had been badly injured, was allowed to take a long vacation for the first time in a long time. Cynthia, her second-in-command, was allowed to take advantage of this. On February 7, the girls received a message from their home country. "Gloria-sama, it seems that your vacation is almost over. Cynthia came to Gloria, who had been practicing with her sword in the outer gardens of the guest house, to get her dull body back in shape. "Yes, I knew it was about time. Did you receive any orders?Or do you want me to go home?" Cynthia looked at the note in her hand before answering. "Yes. They are going to hold a ceremony to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom of Selroa in Dali on February 22nd. You are to attend it." "Hmmm, Dali. From here, it should only take a week to get there. Yes. Yes. It''s just an extra week of vacation until we get to the Kingdom of Selroa. That''s what it says here. < "Well, you want us to receive the expenses from the Kingdom of Egelea, don''t you? "I see, so they are going to pay for it. "The Prime Minister and someone from the royal family will probably come from the home country. I''m sure they''ll be escorted there. It''s faster to go directly from here. There is no direct road from the Kingdom of Egelea to the Kingdom of Klein, so there are not enough days to return to the Kingdom of Klein through the old Leonard Kingdom and then to the Kingdom of Selroa again. Please try to adjust the schedule." "Yes, I will." Gloria left Cynthia, her second in command, in charge of the schedule. "Oh, Gloria, Cynthia." Then came Fritz Randle, Lieutenant Colonel of the Shoro Expeditionary Force. He is Elsa''s brother. "Mister Fritz, has <> been repaired yet? Yes, the five giant golems <> that he had led had suffered severe damage in the battle against the relics of the past in the former Leonard Kingdom, and were being repaired with the help of the Magi craftsmen of the Kingdom of Egelea. Although is classified as a national secret, the majority of the parts to be repaired are on the exterior, so the Shoro Kingdom has requested the work. "Well, it will be finished the day after tomorrow. Now I can finally return to my country. Cynthia''s face darkened as she heard these words. But Fritz''s line continued. "I''d like to say ......, but now I''m going to Dali in the Kingdom of Selroa. Oh dear." "What?Is this a ceremony to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom of Celuloa, by any chance?" Cynthia''s face lit up with joy. "Hmm?You guys have heard about this? "Yes, that''s right. Gloria and I are going to Dali from here." Fritz thought about this for a moment. "Well then, shall we go together?I can carry all your luggage." "Yes!Yes, by all means! Cynthia answered before Gloria could reply. Realizing that she had left her superior out of the decision, Cynthia bowed her head towards Gloria. "I''m sorry!" But Gloria laughed and forgave her. "No, it''s okay. Shea is in charge of the schedule. Fritz watched the exchange between the two, "It looks like we have an agreement. Shall we leave the day after tomorrow ......2 on the 10th of February? "Yes, yes, that''s right!" Cynthia replied a little flustered, "Thank you, Mister Fritz, and I''ll see you soon." Gloria shook hands with Fritz. 766 - - 23-02 Physical PropertiesMinisterial Conference "Jin, can I talk to you for a minute?" It was Saki who called out. "I''ve been working on the material resistance table for a while now. "I''ve made it this far," she said. What she showed me was a table listing the heat resistance (melting point) and chemical resistance of ground spider thread, sea dragon wing membrane, ancient dragon shell, crystal, zirconia, gold, silver, mithril, light silver, adamantite, and so on. "Oh, this is amazing. How did you manage to measure the melting point of ......?" "Yes, gold and silver are from the old man''s knowledge." That is, from Jin''s knowledge. "I can''t accurately measure the shells of ancient dragons and so on, so it''s only approximate. It is true that the threads of a ground spider can be measured at 1,600 degrees Celsius, the wing membrane of a sea dragon at 200 degrees Celsius, and the shell of an ancient dragon at 200 degrees Celsius. The ancient dragon''s shell is over 3,000. The most interesting thing about the ancient dragon shells is that they withstood sulfuric acid, nitric acid, royal water, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen fluoride, etc., as well as the body fluids of giant centipedes, acids of gigantopods, and the dissolved fluid of <>. "But how did you get sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrogen fluoride? "You''re the one who''s impressed," Saki chuckled. Saki chuckled. < "Oh, I see. I see you got some use out of it." << Yes, by the magic of <>, you can only examine known substances. In the case of hydrogen fluoride HF, we know that it contains fluorine atoms and hydrogen atoms in the ratio of 1:1. After that, since it dissolves silicon dioxide, we guessed that it must be hydrogen fluoride. We can somehow understand that HNO3 nitric acid contains one hydrogen atom, one nitrogen atom, and three oxygen atoms. Subsequent investigations led to the discovery that it was dilute nitric acid. However, reagents with chemical formulas too complicated to be determined in this way had to be declared unidentified. Such reagents are sealed. I guess I will have to ask 700672 about them again. "But this is very helpful. Saki, thank you. "Don''t thank me. I don''t need to thank you. I''m doing this because I want to. Saki looks happy even as she says this. "Oh, yeah, there''s one thing that''s been bothering me." "What?" What Saki said next was unexpected even for Jin. "The properties of the threads of the ground spider are not consistent. The heat resistance ...... melting point?The melting point varies from sample to sample." "Hmm. ......" Jin pondered. "This is a hypothesis that I came up with after thinking about it with the old man, but it seems that there are differences depending on the free magic element (ether) contained in the samples. Maybe it depends on the ground spider." "That''s possible." "It is possible." "Since it is a material of biological origin, there is a good chance that it varies from one individual to another. "If that''s the case, the materials of Horai Island may also be divided into different grades." "I see. That''s a new discovery! Yes, you can leave that to me and the old man. "Yes, please. Saki is very reliable in this kind of work. "You''ll get nothing by flattery." Saki''s cheeks were still stained with tears. "Well then, let''s get to work! "Don''t push yourself too hard." Jin threw a word of advice at Saki''s back as she headed for the lab. "If there are ground spiders outside of Horai Island, I''d like to compare them. "Father, are you going to look for them?" "No, I''m not going. No, I''m not going. I have better things to do right now. If I happen to find it, that is. "I see..." Reiko is probably wondering what Jin''s next move will be. "So, what is it that you want to do more than that?" Jin answers her question. "I''d like to learn more about this planet. * * * * "The Kingdom of Cerroa is inviting the heads of state and government to a ceremony to celebrate the founding of the Kingdom. The topic was discussed in the Shoro Kingdom. There were about ten people in attendance, including the Empress, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Magic and Technology, the Minister of Industry, and the Minister of Finance. "They are definitely going to make a military demonstration, aren''t they?" The prime minister said in a snarling voice. "Yes, I suppose so." The Empress, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Scholo, nodded gloomily. "Yesterday, I ordered Commander Fritz, who is staying in the Kingdom of Egelea, to attend the ceremony with <>." "<>. I heard that you were attacked by a monster that came out of the ruins of Leonard''s kingdom. Yes. It melted his steel shell. The Minister of Magical Technology gave this answer. "I''ve asked the Magical Engineers(Magical Engineers)...... and Magical Craftsmen of the Kingdom of Egelea to repair it and it should be ready in a day or two." "Yes. That should be enough time for the ceremony. The Empress nodded. Then she changed the subject. "The monster you defeated was the deus ex machina, wasn''t it?" Yes, that is correct. Jin-kun''s brother, right? That''s what I''ve heard. He''s even more elusive than Jin-kun. ...... I guess it''s a good thing he doesn''t seem like a bad guy. "That''s right." Everyone in the room nodded their heads. Meanwhile, the female emperor was alone in her mind, (Don''t tell me that Machina is not Jin-kun... ......?) )..... "Are we going to the Kingdom of Cerroa by ship?Or by carriage?" The next topic was the participation in the ceremony. "A hot air balloon is another option. ......" "But I don''t trust that country. Isn''t it dangerous to do it from the air? No, that''s exactly what we need to show them, that we are not afraid of them. "You don''t have to go to the trouble of provoking ......." ......! "......!" The emperor, worried that the debate was heating up and not reaching a conclusion, expressed his opinion himself. "Let''s use all of them!" "Your Majesty!It''s ...... "In the name of celebrating his country''s national day, we must show that we are no match for him. I am not asking you to provoke him. That country is a country that will go to any lengths to bully us if we back down. Let us go with an open mind. The cabinet members are now determined to follow the emperor''s words and begin discussing how to divide the land, sea, and air. The situation on the continent is still unstable. (Jin-kun says, "Peaceful life ...... is just that, but how difficult it is. ......) The emperor sighs secretly. 767 - - 23-03 Search for Stars "Is it ...... about this planet?" Reiko repeated what Jin had said, parroting back. I guess she didn''t quite grasp the meaning of what he was saying. "Yes. I have a few things on my mind. When I had said that much, Elsa came over. It''s time for lunch. "Brother Jin, dinner!" So Jin, Erza, and Saki went to the diner. They had tempura soba noodles. The soba noodles were served with soba-tsuyu (buckwheat sauce with bonito broth) and nihachi-soba, which is buckwheat flour (8 parts) to wheat flour (2 parts medium flour). It is topped with prawns (similar to tiger prawns) and pumpkin (a vegetable similar to pumpkin) tempura. The soba-tsuyu (buckwheat noodle soup) was made by Perid Reader. Perid Reader also made the soba noodles. Erza fried the tempura. However, it was quite difficult to do so. "Yes, the tempura is fried well. The batter of tempura should not contain too much egg and flour. In the beginning, Elsa stirred the batter incessantly and sometimes made mistakes, but recently she has improved and is trying various dishes. "......Good." "Elsa is a good cook now. You can be a bride anytime you want." Even Saki jokingly praised her. "......Saki, if you don''t learn to cook at least, you won''t have anyone to marry you." Erza is a little bitter today. "I''m not going to get married, you know. It''s easier to be single." Saki is taking it all in stride. However, neither Jin nor Erza noticed that her profile looked a little sad. So what were they talking about? Erza asked as she sipped her after-dinner buckwheat tea. Not wanting to leave Erza out of the conversation, Jin started by telling her about the world map he had created, followed by the physical properties table Saki had made and then the story of this planet. "I''ve been thinking a lot about ......, and I think we should launch a surveillance satellite." "A surveillance satellite?" "A surveillance satellite?" "Yeah. A satellite that observes various things on the earth''s surface and sends us information. For example, if we have images of clouds, we can forecast the weather. Jin explained the purpose of the satellite. "But I heard that the launch failed before. ......" Erza pointed out and Jin scratched his head. "Yeah. At that time, we were so excited about being able to use gravity magic that we suddenly tried to launch a geostationary satellite. "So, is it different this time?" Jin nodded broadly at the question. "Of course. The altitude will be between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometers, orbiting the equator. If we launch at least four satellites, we should be able to cover the mid-latitudes, if not the poles. He says that it would be enough to cover the human sphere of existence. "I think it will succeed this time because it will be equipped with gyrostabilizers and use a force field generator." "......, indeed." Although Jin is no expert, Erza''s knowledge of space engineering is far less than Jin''s. In this respect, we have no choice but to trust her. In this respect, we can only trust her. And then... Is there more? Erza is surprised when Jin tells her about his next plan. "Yeah. "Yes. I''d rather do this first." After saying this, Jin began to talk. "Now that we have a map of the world, I''d like to set up a transition marker. I don''t know how many years or how many decades it will be after ......, but I hope it will be available to all human beings. "Kuhu, that sounds like Jin. I think that would be a good idea too. Saki agreed with a smile. "I''m thinking of picking a place like a high mountain, a big lake, or the tip of a continent, and embedding a special marker there. "Special?" Erza''s question is quite understandable. "Well, if we bury ordinary magic crystals (magi crystals), they might dig them up. I want to make the waveform as weak and unusual as possible. "You can do that?" Saki said with a surprised look on her face. "What are you talking about? It was Saki who first suggested the relationship between magical properties and frequency. It was early September last year. "Yes, I did. I am ashamed. ...... So you are trying to use magic waves of such a frequency that is too high or too low for ordinary humans to detect?" "Good answer." Unlike radio waves, magic waves are not reflected by the ionosphere. It is also known that they do not affect rocks, mountains, and underwater because they penetrate ordinary materials. "So, I''m thinking of making a marker using magi crystals of the earth attribute." "Indeed, it would not be surprising if there were magickal waves of the earth attribute coming out of the ground." That''s what I mean. Furthermore, the frequency will be made even lower than the naturally existing earth-attributed magic waves, making them undetectable to ordinary humans, thereby reducing the risk of being detected. Jin has thought of a lot of things, hasn''t he? I''m just trying to keep the peace. So, first we set up the markers? Elsa asked to make sure. Jin nodded. "Yes. I''m going to instruct the land team to do it." Thus, the first step was to set up markers on the ground. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the Kingdom of Klein, there was a discussion among the participants about the means of transportation to participate in the national commemoration ceremony to be held in the Kingdom of Selroa. "I guess we should take a horse-drawn carriage, as a matter of course. "No, that would be like saying that our country has no magical technology. So we''re going by hot-air balloon? "We now have six hot air balloons. It would not be a bad idea to use four of them. The distance from Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, to Dali in the Kingdom of Selroa is 320 kilometers. It is about 230 kilometers from towns in the Kingdom of Klein near the border. A hot air balloon traveling at 30 kilometers per hour would be able to reach Dali in the evening if it left early in the morning. But we must not forget that there are risks involved. "Then we can use both the horse-drawn carriage and the hot-air balloon. It took him two days to come to this conclusion. Now, the participants... "From the royal family, I will go." The second prince, Arthur, said. "And Lioness will be there." Lioness Ashford, his personal tutor, is from the Kingdom of Celuloa. "This was decided last night after talking with my father, brother and sisters. If the second prince is going to be there, it will be perfect from the outside. "Then, he will need to be escorted by a knight of the Kingsguard. And again there was discussion, discussion, discussion. In the end, the escort is Rodeste Formes, the commander of the 2nd Kingsguard, and five carefully selected subordinates. Then there is Boulton Allstadt, who possesses a microscopic magic eye. He was chosen because his magic eye might be useful in some cases. "Gloria Allstadt and her second-in-command, Cynthia Kirkman, are in the Kingdom of Egelea, and they are on their way. "Yes, that''s good. Then I will add Jessica Norton to the list. Finally, the participants were decided. But it did not end there. Now that we have been invited to the national celebration, we need to bring a gift to celebrate. Mainly to keep up appearances of the country. "...... but now that the budget is being slashed,......" "But we can''t afford to be embarrassed on the occasion when the envoy of the Kingdom of Franz will be there. ......" "Then what can we do? The troubles of the Kingdom of Klein seem to be endless. 768 - - 23-04 Submerged Water WheelQualification Back in time, February 1st. The day the was launched in the Kingdom of Shoro. The place is Potrock in the Kingdom of Elias. "Marcia!I''ve made a great discovery! Rodrigo, Marcia''s father, rushed into the store. What''s going on?What''s going on?" Marcia''s face was a mess, but Rodrigo took her hand and pulled her to him. "Well, come here!You''ll be surprised!" Rodrigo walked out of the store, dragging Marcia behind him. "Bacchus, Jeremy, take care of the rest. ......" That was all Marcia could manage. "...... so what''s the deal, dad?" Marcia asked her father as they walked side by side. "Oh. You know I''ve been working on submerged vehicles, right?" Submerged turbine," was the tentative name for a propulsion system in which the turbine would be entirely submerged rather than half above water, as in the past. "Yes. The conventional water turbine drive is wasteful, so why don''t we eliminate it and use it to drive large vessels?" "That''s right. And now, we have found a revolutionary method! "Wow, ...... that''s great!" Marcia also knows that her father Rodrigo has a flash of genius. That''s why he once designed a catamaran. Here we are. It was a dock where Rodrigo had recently been experimenting with various prototypes of boats. The two of them are alone now. A prototype ship about three meters long is floating. There was literally a submerged water wheel attached to the stern. Yes, I know you''ve been doing a lot of work on this boat. "Yeah, I know you''ve been doing a lot with this boat, but it looks like nothing has changed. It was the same type of waterwheel that had been installed on the boat that Marcia had won the Golem boat competition in the past, <>, and it was put into the water and rotated as it was. Of course, it was impossible to obtain satisfactory thrust in such a state. So Rodrigo repeated the experiment by changing the shape of the waterwheel ...... and bending the fins in different ways and sizes. "Well, watch and see." Rodrigo left Marcia on the dock and boarded the prototype. Then he spins the waterwheel. ....... "Oh! Marcia''s eyes widened. As the waterwheel spun, the prototype ship began to move sideways instead of forward. More precisely, as the waterwheel began to move sideways, the stern moved sideways along with it, and as a result, the prototype began to around in a circle around the bow. "Why? I can understand if it moves forward or backward. But moving sideways? Marcia looked at the waterwheel. "Is it bent in a ...... strange way?" The fins of the waterwheel were bent in a twisting motion. "You noticed. ...... Well, I was running around trying different things, and there was a reef, and I caught the waterwheel. Then all of a sudden the stern swung sideways." The eight fins on the stern were twisted, as if they were screws. "If it keeps going like this, it will move sideways. Then, if we bend the waterwheel at a right angle and attach it to the waterwheel, it can move back and forth! Marcia exclaimed, realizing its effectiveness. "That''s right!" Rodrigo nodded his head with a big smile on his face. Thus, they set to work on the development of a new type of submerged vehicle, or screw. "Well, it seems that the number of fins should be small. "Yes, it''s hard to keep the balance if there are too many." Over the next few days, Marcia and Rodrigo worked on the development of their new submerged vehicle. The fact that the Arrow, which Jin had improved, was able to use engineering magic, albeit at a beginner''s level, helped a lot. "It looks like it only needs a little bending." "Yes. The more bends, the greater the water resistance, and the smaller the bends, the lower the thrust. After much hard work, on February 6, they finally developed the same screw as the one used in the . Marcia and Rodrigo immediately decided to try it out on their prototype ship. "Hmm, the shaft is cantilevered. Should we make it a little thicker for strength? "Dad, the bearing looks difficult..." "Well, if we do it this way, ...... won''t work!" That''s going to be quite a challenge. "Oh ...... if only Jin were here!" Marcia can''t help but blurt out, "Oh, if only Jin were here! No wonder. It has already been three days since the prototype screw was completed. That''s how difficult it is to install on a ship. There must be a gap between the shaft of the screw and the bearing to reduce friction, and water will enter the ship through this gap. In other words, it is the same as having a hole in the bottom of the ship. We have not been able to devise a way to solve this problem. It had been three days since she had heard this. No wonder Marcia said to herself, "Jin would have done something about it. "Marcia, I know how you feel. I even think he probably knows how to do it. But that''s why we''re going to do this on our own until we finish the prototype. At Rodrigo''s rebuke, Marcia blushed and turned her head down. "Yes,...... I guess so. I''m sorry, Dad. I''m sorry for being so whiny." Two more days passed, on February 11. "This is it!" Finally, Rodrigo''s persistence paid off. "Dad, you did it!" It is similar to what we on modern Earth would call an outboard motor. In other words, the screw and the golem drive that rotates the screw were made into a single unit and attached to the stern of the ship. The water resistance of this < is not a problem if the materials and construction are carefully examined. There are also Reinhardt''s < and underwater golems in the golem boat competition. However, their usage is different from that of the modern Earth. On modern Earth, the direction of the ship is changed by changing the direction of the outboard motor itself, whereas the outboard motor is fixed at the stern and the steering is usually done at the cockpit. The outboard motor was fixed at the stern, and the helm was usually handled from the cockpit. Nevertheless, the talent of Rodrigo and Marusia to have achieved such a feat in such a short period of time and on their own is remarkable. * * * * * * * * * * * * In Horai Island, it was the day that they started to set up markers all over Ars. "What?" "Ha, I see. That''s true. On Earth, Jin cut off part of the spiral pump and thinks, ...... or something like that was the beginning. "I''d like to add them to the family too. ......" "Yes, they are. The time is ...... after 6:00 p.m., right? Potrock will be there at 3:30 or so. So Jin decided to go to Potrock immediately. "Elsa, I''ll bring two people with me. Just the ones who can come." "Okay." Reiko, let''s go. Thus, Jin and Reiko flew to Potlock by the warp gate. 769 - - 23-05 New Friends It was already dark on Horai Island, but it was still early evening on Potrock. Jin and Reiko exit from the warp gate installed in the erosion cave. "I think we need to improve the security of these warp gates," Jin said to himself. Jin mutters to himself, and Reiko agrees with him. "That''s right. There is a relay base, but it would make sense to stop them at the entrance first. "Right." We walk along the seashore. The wind was blowing with the scent of the sea, but it was somehow warm, reminding us that spring was near. We walk slowly for 20 minutes. Hitoshi and Reiko had arrived at the front of Marcia''s studio. "Well, is she there? Jin wondered, but Reiko, who was standing beside him, tugged his sleeve. "Father, those two seem to be experimenting at the landing ahead. "Oh, is that so?" The covert task force (SP), Cattleya and Lotus are with them. It''s a good thing we didn''t call them back before we regrouped. "This way, sir." Another 5 minutes on foot. The almost private landing. This was where Marcia and the others were experimenting. "Oh, there you are." A little further out to sea, Marcia and her team were repeating the test. "They haven''t noticed us. ...... "The Arrow is with them, so they''ll notice us. ...... look." Just as Reiko said, the test boat seems to have noticed us and is coming back to the shore at a high speed. "Hey, Jin!" Marcia doesn''t slow down even though she has less than 10 meters to go. At this rate, the boat is about to hit the pier. "Oh, no! Rodrigo, who was on the boat with her, looks pale. Arrow is doing his best to stop the boat, but ....... "Reiko, stop it!" "Yes, Father." Reiko activates the force field generator. She reduces the output and jumps onto the test ship. She then increases the output, and the test ship comes to a stop just before the landing. "Oh, that was close. ......" Rodrigo sighs heavily. Marcia turned pale. "I''m sorry!Thank you for saving my life, Leco!" Jin and Marcia, who had prevented the accident, greeted each other again. "Jin, it''s been a long time! You''ve come to the right place!" Marcia''s excitement was high. Rodrigo was also excited, though he did not say so. "I know we have a lot to talk about, but can we go somewhere else for now?" "Yeah, sure. Where to? "Well, follow me and we''ll figure it out." So, after the test ship was stored at the dock, we went to the workshop first. After closing the business for the day, I accompanied Marcia, Rodrigo, and Arrow to the sea cave. "Jin, what is this place?" "You know I''m the new Kunlun, right?" "Yes." Marcia nodded. "To the place of origin, you know." "What?Jin, really? Yeah. I''m late, but you''re invited. Jin, Jin-dono!Me too? Rodrigo was visibly excited. "Yes, you are. Let''s go to ......." They cut the conversation short, not wanting anyone to see them. Jin takes the lead, and Marcia and Rodrigo, with Reiko leading the way, enter the sea-eroded cave. Arrow is made by Jin, so she can pass through. This is her second visit to Horai Island. Jin entered the cave and went through the warp gate without saying a word. He then exited into the . We can talk a little more slowly here. This is the halfway point. Jin-dono, what was that? It''s called a warp gate. It''s my means of transportation. It''s a warp gate. ......It''s an ancient artifact!I see, Jin-dono is great!" Rodrigo is excited. Marcia, on the other hand, is at a loss for words. "Well, let''s just move on. So, the group passes through the warp gate to <>. They came out of the warp gate hall on the first floor of the institute. Then, Jin said his usual line. "Welcome to Horai Island. * * * * Jin took them to the basement command room. This room can also be used as a conference room. Besides Erza, Reinhard, Saki, Toa, Stearina, and Meine had come to the room. "Marcia-san, it''s been a while. "Rodrigo, you are looking very well. "Elsa, Reinhard!I didn''t know you guys were here too. "Oh, Mr. Reinhardt, too!" After the greetings of the acquaintances, the first timers introduced themselves. "My name is Saki. I am an alchemist. "My name is Toa. I am Saki''s father, also an alchemist. My name is Stealina. I used to be a magecraftsman in the Kingdom of Selroa, and now I''m an exile in the Kingdom of Shoro. My name is Meine. "My name is ...... and this is my real mother." As if Meene''s self-introduction wasn''t enough, Erza added, "Erza is also my mother. "Elsa must have a complicated family life." Marcia glanced at her father Rodrigo who was sitting next to her and said sincerely. "Well, you know. I''ll tell you all about it later, but first I want you to listen to what I have to say. Then Perido 21 arrived with a cup of kuhe. When everyone had been served, Jin opened his mouth again. "Well, listen to me. I wasn''t actually born in this world. ......" "What? "...... actually ......" Jin''s talk continued for a little less than an hour, interspersing questions along the way. "...... is how it is." "......." Jin thought they would not believe him right away, "I see. I finally understand why Jin has such outstanding skills and knowledge." "So that''s the reason why I thought Jin-dono was different from the others." Jin was a little disappointed that both of them believed his story so easily. "That''s right, after being shown the warp gate, this golem maid, and this laboratory. But after all, we know how out of the ordinary they''ve been. Marcia said. Yes, indeed. I knew that Mr. Jin was ahead of us, but I didn''t expect him to be this far ahead of us. I have no desire to compete with him. Rodrigo took off his helmet without hesitation. What? "What?< In the kingdom of Selroa, King Richard sounded irritated. "He seems to be nowhere to be found at the moment. "Well, tell those countries. Tell them to talk to the Korun lord at all costs. And that if they ever dare to lick my kingdom of Cerroa they''ll be dealt with swiftly. Yes, sir. 770 - - 23-06 蓬莱岛クオリティ新兴商会 "Well, I called you at this time at ......." Jin began to talk, finally getting to the heart of the matter. "I heard that Marcia and Mr. Rodrigo have developed their own ." "Did the that you mentioned earlier inform you of this?" "Yes, they did." Jin nodded. "Jin-dono, is that <> the official name of the <>?" Rodrigo then quickly came up with the word <>. "It''s the official name ...... that''s what they called it in my world. It looks like this." Jin motioned to the old man, and a drawing was projected on the magic screen in front of the room. It depicted a screw with two blades, three blades, four blades, five blades, and six blades, all of which are used on the modern earth. "Oh, this is ......!" Rodrigo gasps. "In my world, these things have been put to practical use," he said. The four-bladed one looks exactly like the one Rodrigo and his team have developed. The only differences are that Rodrigo and his team''s has a thicker shaft and the blades are not as smoothly curved. "I see. So, Jin-dono, the most important question I would like to ask you is ...... No, let me stop you." But Jin had some idea of what he wanted to ask. So he asked him out loud. "...... is it a countermeasure against water leakage from the screw shaft?" "How did you know that?" I was right on the money. This was a problem that had plagued Jin himself when he built a model of a motor-driven ship. Most of the screws he used for his models had 2mm shafts. Since he only threads them through a pipe with an outside diameter of 3 mm and an inside diameter of 2.4 mm, there are quite a few gaps between the pipes. I once made a plastic model of a submarine. At that time, there was a grease reservoir inside the ship, through which the screw shaft passed. Jin recalled how difficult it was because the adhesives would not work if the grease protruded. This was called a <, and various sealing structures were devised, but Jin did not know that much about the technical details. So.... "I''ve had the same trouble before," he replied. Marcia and Rodrigo rolled their eyes in agreement. "What, you too, Jin?" "Jin-dono?" Their faces looked alike, and Jin thought to himself that they were father and son after all. Jin then mentioned one countermeasure he had taken. "One is to make the shaft longer and bring the mouth of the pipe above the waterline. Basically, no water should enter above the waterline, that is, above the surface of the water outside the ship. This was especially useful for the lighter models. "I see!" "There are others, but Rodrigo seems to want to complete them without asking anyone." Jin, however, did not know what the actual ships were like. None of the vessels on Horai Island use screws. "No, no, it''s enough if you tell me that much. Rodrigo nodded his head in satisfaction. Jin did not want to teach them everything. He just wanted to support them. "Well, that''s enough difficult talk for tonight. It is almost 8:00 p.m. in Penglai Island time. Jin and Erza were feeling quite hungry. On the other hand, Reinhardt and Saki from the Shoro Kingdom had only been eating lunch for about an hour. Jin, we''ll come back tomorrow. "Yeah, that might be a good idea. So Reinhard, Saki, Toa, and Stearina went back to Shoro. "...... huh? So this is what Jin can do. I knew it! On the way from the command center on the basement floor to the dining hall on the first floor, Marcia said in a serious tone. "Now I finally understand how lucky I was to have met Jin at that time. A scene from the meal. "This is delicious! "I think it''s called rice. I didn''t know it tasted this good. Marcia seemed to like the rice. Rodrigo was surprised by the taste of white rice, which he had tasted in the Shoro Kingdom, but it was unpolished brown rice. "This soup goes well with it, too!The ingredients in it are unusual but tasty." Marcia seemed to like this miso soup with tofu and deep-fried tofu. "Is this pickles ......?It doesn''t seem to be pickled in vinegar, but it has an indescribable flavor." Rodrigo commented as he bit into a piece of pickled cucumber (or some similar vegetable). And hojicha after the meal. "Hmmm, a hint of sweetness without sugar, a touch of astringency, and a savory aroma. I love it!" "I really do. The taste of home, ku hee, is good, but this kind of simple taste is also very special. Marcia and Rodrigo tasted the tea while commenting like some food critic. Jin was relieved that they liked the Japanese food. "Ha, I''m glad you liked it. Well, please take a bath in the hot spring and have a good rest tonight. I have a lot of things to show you tomorrow when it gets light. Bathroom. "Wow, this is not just hot water!It feels so good!" "......" Erza, who was in the bathroom with Marcia, was devastated by the difference between her and Marcia, even though she knew it. "Jin-dono, <> you say? I didn''t know hot water like this could spring up from the bottom of the earth!" Rodrigo is relaxing in the bathtub with a towel on his head. He looks like an old man. The bedroom. "Well, sleeping on the floor is a novel idea. It must be so clean!" "And this fluffy comforter. The material is wonderful. They seem to like the tatami matted room and the magi silk futon. The room was covered with tatami mats and a bedding made of magi silk, which they seemed to like. "Your Majesty, the store called under the castle..." In the Kingdom of Klein, there were still discussions about the gift to be brought to the ceremony commemorating the founding of the Kingdom of Selroa. "The Raglan Trading Company?" "The Raglan Trading Company? It''s a new trading company that has grown in the past year or two. I heard that they are doing business with the village of Kaina. So reported Jackson Red Vados, the minister of industry who replaced Delight Domus Hanks, the man who secretly planned the rebellion. "What?" The loudest voice is from Minister of Magic Clarotho Bados Keris. "The village of Kaina is the home of the Korun, Sir Jin Nido, isn''t it!" "That is correct. The merchants'' association has known Sir Jinn Nidor since he was still an ordinary man, and they have a half-monopoly on the tools and magical artifacts he made. "Exclusive, huh? ......" The Minister of Magic is about to say something, but Prime Minister Powell Darner Hudson speaks up first. "Avoid the folly of prohibiting monopolies or complaining about preferential treatment. Don''t do what Count Walter did. I understand. I understand. Industry Minister Jackson continued. "I have conducted my own research and have found that there are some unique products such as <><><>. In particular, this metal pen is used by many of you. "Oh, this pen was obtained from there? Metal pens were widespread in the castle as well, but no one seemed to care about the source of the pens. "......I dare to say that I would like you to pay attention to such seemingly trivial changes in daily life." At 36, he is still young for a cabinet minister, but when he says it, he says it. "......mm. If it was made by Sir Gin Nidor, it''s obviously not in the Kingdom of Selroa. < as a candidate." "...... though it may not be as good as it looks." The magic minister said in a whispered voice. It would be useful, no doubt, but as a gift from one country to another," he said. "If you have time, why don''t you have it made of silver, gold, or mithril, while this one seems to be made of bronze? The prime minister says. King Alois III had to nod his head in agreement. "Well,...... I am afraid there are only ten days left, and it would be difficult to make a special order," he said. "And so ......." "How about an all-purpose golem by Sir Jin Nido? He had 20 golems made, 10 of which were lost when the gigantopods appeared from the Inado Mine. That means there are only 10 left. "Mm....... Indeed, that one is as good as the golem made in the Kingdom of Selroa. ...... Seeing the king''s face, which was very regrettable, Defense Minister Fadous Rofus Fairgram, who had been silent up to now, opened his mouth. "I beg your pardon, Your Majesty," he said. Your Highness, did His Highness Prince Rieschen have a good automaton, if not an artifact, in his possession? "Oh, yes, yes. She was also Rieschen''s nanny, an automaton named Tia, I believe. How would you like to give it to her? 771 - - 23-07 SurprisedSeparated Dawn has broken and morning has come to Horai Island. The time was 6:00 a.m. It was still dark at this time of the year. It was still dark at this time of the year, but Marcia and Rodrigo had not been able to sleep well and had come outside. They were greatly surprised to see the laboratory. "Wow, ....... This is a laboratory." It is a solid stone structure with three stories above the ground. "Jin-dono has inherited another extraordinary thing. And when he saw Jin''s house, he said, "It''s an unusual structure, isn''t it? "Hmm, what is that on the roof? What is that on the roof? I guess he is a person who is involved in manufacturing. "Oh, good morning, Marcia, Mr. Rodrigo." "Oh, good morning, Jin." Jin, who was early in the morning, called out from behind them. Jin-dono, good morning. You two are up early. "Yeah, I couldn''t sleep in after all..." I understand how you feel. Did you wash your face? Yes, in the sink. A dug well at the end of the garden. Clean water always trickles out and flows into a small pond, which is also good for drinking. "Well, let''s take a bath in the morning and have breakfast afterwards. "Yeah, that sounds great!" And it''s 7:30 a.m. Jin, Elsa, Marcia, Rodrigo, and Meine have breakfast. White rice, wakame seaweed miso soup, grilled dried horse mackerel, and oshinko (Japanese pickles). "Mmm, delicious. Please give me another one." "Delicious. More!" They seemed to like it so much that they both ordered more. Now it was time to demonstrate to Marcia and the others. First, we moved to Tatsumi Bay. "Oh, the sea is so beautiful here! Marcia squinted her eyes. The destroyer, Stream 1, came in front of them. "Oh!This is a trimaran! Rodrigo''s eyes widened. "And it''s made of metal, Dad! Marcia exclaimed when she saw the hull. "Come on, try it!" Of course! The destroyer has a capacity for 10 passengers. Jin, Reiko, Elsa, Marcia, Rodrigo, and Arrow get on board. Marine 1 piloted the boat. "Well, it seems to be stable after all. Rodrigo commented as he climbed aboard. Marcia is silently observing the boat. "Come on, let''s go! With Jin''s voice, the Stream 1 was launched. "Oh!" Rodrigo shouted at the acceleration. "This thing''s propulsion system is a development of the Aqua Thruster, the Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system. Isn''t it fast?" "Yes, yes, it''s fast!Jin is still Jin! Marcia cheers. Stream 1 exits Tatsumi Bay and heads out to the open sea. It turned left and headed north. As they continued on, they saw the shadow of a huge ship. "Jin, Jin, what is that? "It''s the cruiser <> of the Horai Island Navy." "...... how big is it!" A cruiser is 100 meters long. "A hundred meters? ......" Marcia is absolutely mortified. "All metal and 100 meters...it''s ridiculous that we''re making a fuss over 40 meters." Rodrigo was also quite shocked. However, he seemed to have imagined Jin''s ability to some extent, and his expression was not that surprising. "Hmm?There''s something behind that ...... too, eh, eh, eh! "Marcia, what ...... is it, what is it? A kilometer behind the <>, the battleship <>, which had been converted from an aircraft carrier, floated silently in all its majesty. "2......It''s more than 200 meters, isn''t it?The ship that you said was 100 meters is like a toy!" This time Rodrigo gasped. The refitted is 250 meters long and has a 30,000-ton capacity. "...... what the hell is Jin trying to fight......?" Marcia muttered in disgust. Jin replied. "Well, there was the Death Serpent, wasn''t there?" "Yes, there was. "There''s a monster that preys on dozens of them with ease. It''s called a sea dragon. I think it is ...... to fight against such demons." Marcia knows of the Death Sea Serpent that once attacked Potlock. The other day, the ship was destroyed by a monster called , and she herself was almost lost. "Oh ...... sure. You have to protect yourself. ......" "The role of the navy is to protect the transports." "Yeah, I understand that now." So, Marcia also agreed with Jin''s explanation. After enjoying the boat trip around Horai Island in this way, Marcia and Rodrigo decided to return to Potrock for a while to take care of the store. "Well then, we''ll be back. I can come to ......, right?" "Yes, of course. ...... keep this on you. If you are in danger, just say <> and the wards will be put up." As a sign of the family, Jin gives her a <>. "When you go through the warp gate, be sure that no one sees you." "Sure, of course. I''ll be careful. Jin-dono, see you later. Marcia and her son then returned to Potlock. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Klein. King Alois III himself had a favor to ask of his daughter, the third princess Rieschen. "...... So, you would like to present a tier as a gift for the commemoration of the Kingdom of Selroa?" "Yes, that''s right. We have nothing else suitable and no budget. Besides, we have just barely averted a food crisis. We cannot burden the people any longer. "......" Rieschen looked down and thought for a moment, then looked up and smiled. "I understand, father. I will give Tia to his country. "Oh, well, I''m sorry, Rhys. Thank you, thank you." Rieschen was in tears of sorrow and frustration, but seeing his father''s relieved face, he could neither show it on his face nor in his manner. "That''s the way it is,......, Tia. After this, you will be handed over as a gift to the Kingdom of Celuloa." "Yes, Your Majesty. I''ll leave that task to you. Tia nodded calmly, showing no emotion. "Well then, Your Highness. Thank you for all your help over the years. Please take care of yourself. I always wish you happiness. "Tia ......" Tia then left the room with Alois III. "......Ugh......Ugh......Ugh......" When the door closed and Rieschen was left alone, she broke down and cried aloud, without hesitation. 772 - - 23-08 The Watcher February 13th. This day was a memorable day for Penglai Island. Six monitoring satellites from 1 to 6 were successfully launched and entered into orbit. Now, Jin and his team were watching the images of the earth''s surface sent by through the large magic screen in the command center. The reason why they were looking at the images of is simple. The reason is simple. "Oh, I can see Horai Island clearly. "Kuh, I didn''t know the institute was built in such a position. "You can clearly see the shape of Tatsumi Bay. The image zooms in as soon as the old man''s voice rings out. "Oh, you can even see the fields clearly. "Oh, is that Aqua? "That''s amazing. ......" Jin was very pleased and Erza and Saki were amazed at the resolution at which even the golems in the fields and Tatsumi Bay were recognizable. < is circling at an altitude of about 1,500 kilometers, at a speed of about 7 kilometers per second. At such a distance, it is inevitable that the accuracy of measurement is not very good. Six of them were circling the equator, almost at the apex of a regular hexagon. They were cylindrical, one meter in diameter and 50 centimeters thick. The reason why they were not made in a spherical shape was due to considerations such as ease of construction and ease of placement of the magical devices (magi devices) inside. Originally, they were to be placed in the vacuum of space, and since they are to be sent out by a transporter, there is no need to launch them. Its main function is to observe the earth''s surface. Attitude control of each individual is done by a force field generator. The overall control is done by the "Mere Old Man", but the altitude and relative position are controlled by a dedicated brain, <>. While monitoring the surface of the earth, he also observes the space and sends us various data. He is gathering information for when he goes to space someday. "Jin, it took you longer than you thought, didn''t it?" Saki, who had seen Jin making the , said. She had called Marcia and the others to stop the work, but the old man was still working on it, and she thought that Jin would have been able to finish it faster than usual. "Yes. "Yes, because there was an order to it." "The order?" "Yes. First, we had to send <<1> into the sky by transporter, and then we had to put it into orbit. It took two whole days for the old man and the little old man to adjust the orbit and speed so that the <1> was in a nearly circular orbit. That was before Marcia and the others arrived. "The rest was easy. We shifted them by 60 degrees to the same orbit, adjusted their orbits, stabilized their positions, and ....... And here we are." Then they transferred the other five to the same altitude and adjusted them. "I see. I understand that they went through a lot of hard work, regardless of the details. Saki turned his attention back to the image of the surface. "Brother Jin, did you put any armaments or defensive devices on it? Erza asked this time. Erza did not know the details this time because she had gone to visit her mother who was sick with a cold while Jin was working on the . "In a manner of speaking. For defense, we have a barrier projector and a laser cannon. But who would attack that far out? "Well, that''s for sure." "Well, it has a built-in transporter as a final safety device, so it can be transferred if it falls into enemy hands or if it falls and causes damage on the ground. The destination is the sea east of Horai Island. What is the material of the exterior? Three layers of magi-adamantite, light silver and 18-12 stainless steel. "...... Well, it''s necessary, so it has to be." Elsa looked reluctant when she realized that she had once again spent a considerable amount of material. However, this is just a pose. As her own mother, Meene, has told her, she does not really intend to bind Jin. I just want him to be a little more conscious of saving money. Whether Jin knows it or not, he listens to Elsa relatively well. "Oh, can you make the image more westerly?......, thank you." The image on the screen shows the Elias Peninsula. "Oh, that''s Potrock. ...... and that''s Io." Elsa''s mouth starts to utter the names of familiar places. The image moved westward to the Kingdom of Egelea. The Blueland was shown on the screen. Ah, Blueland. "Oh, Bluerand. How are Bina and Mr. Lewis? It was a different feeling from watching from the plane. For a while, Elsa was really enjoying the images of the surface of the earth. * * * * * * * * * * * * * When the afterglow of the Watcher''s success had subsided, the old man spoke to me. "Yes?" Jin was surprised. He knew how much Princess Rieschen had cherished the nanny automata. "What are they thinking, that country ......?" Anger wells up. > "Well, I guess... ......" At that moment, Erza grabbed Jin''s arm. Jin looked at Elsa''s face. "Jin, you look ...... scary." Erza said to Jin, making him calm down a little. Then he decides to keep it quiet for <><><>. "Okay, let''s take <> to the Kingdom of Klein." He decided to decide what to do after that, depending on how he saw Jin''s face and how he would behave. "Goshujin-sama, that <> is an automata of the same type as mine, isn''t it?" Anne asked Jin. "Yes, that''s right. Have we talked about this before?" Yes, the old man told me about you before. "I see. You''re Anne''s sister, aren''t you? Yes. If possible, please make sure that she can serve the master as she should. Then she bowed her head. Jin nodded and beat his chest. "Yes, I''ll leave it to you. So Jin went aboard the <> with Elsa and Reiko. Since it is already afternoon, they use the transporter to move at once to the vicinity of the royal castle. "Brother Jin, what exactly do you have planned? "I have several ideas. But it depends on how the Kingdom of Klein reacts. "Yes, I understand." While we were having this conversation, the royal castle came into view. A security hot-air balloon also flew by, but when it recognized Jin''s balloon, it saluted him and moved away. A few minutes later, Jin and his group landed in front of the royal castle of the Kingdom of Klein. "Jin!You''re here! As usual, the third princess, Rieschen, greeted them. Her face was a little pale, probably because of the incident with Tia. Her eyes were red, as if she had cried herself to sleep. "Ries, it''s been a while. You look good." In informal settings, Jin and Erza call him Ries. "Ummm... ......" At Jin''s words, "You look good," Reese is a little hesitant to say anything. However, he soon shows his superficial cheerfulness. "Jin, there''s a message from the Kingdom of Celuloa, addressed to <>, isn''t there?" "Hmm." I know what it is, but I can''t say I know what it is, so I decide to follow Rhys'' advice and go see the king. < and Elsa is an <>, there was no need to go through any extra procedures to meet the king. The King''s office. For some reason, there are no guards. The only person present is Rieschen. "Oh, Gin-dono, Erza-dono, Reko-dono, it''s been a while. You are looking well. Thanks to you, I have regained my health. I thank you again. Alois III, seeing that no one else was around, spoke to me in a friendly manner. "At once, I have a message for you from the Kingdom of Cerroa, Lord Kunlun. Alois III held out a piece of leather paper. Jin took it and read it with Elsa. "On the 22nd of February, we will hold a ceremony to commemorate the founding of our nation in the city of Dali. I hope you will attend the ceremony. King of the Kingdom of Selroa>" "...... The original text seems to have been more coercive, but the secretary has softened it a bit. I hope you will forgive him." Jin did not intend to blame the secretary. "I understand. As for myself, I''ll be on my way with ." "Oh, I see. That''s a great relief. Alois III broke off and took a deep breath. Then he opened his mouth again. "......And, I know this is very presumptuous of me, but ...... would you do me a favor?" Alois III said with a slightly apologetic look on his face. Jin frowned. And what does this king have to say about this? He decides to ask him. "...... what is it?Please tell me." Hearing Jin''s words, the king began to speak, as if he had a hard time saying it. "......This is not a request from the king, but from my father.........I would like you to make something presentable and suitable as a gift for the Kingdom of Celuloa. Could you please make me something presentable and gift-worthy for the Kingdom of Celuloa?" "Father!" Rhys, who had been standing silently beside him, looked at Father with a startled expression. "...... I am ashamed to say that I have no choice but not to go when I receive an invitation from that country. And if I go, I will have to give them a gift of some kind. But our country does not have the technology to make such a gift." "......" The king''s words continue. "......And I have made a choice as a father that I ...... should not have made. But I can undo it now. Jin-dono, please. I will do whatever I can ...... to help." Alois III bows his head. The man in front of Jin was not the king, but a father with a daughter named Rieschen. 773 - - 23-09 GiftReturn Jin pondered for a while when he heard King Klein''s wish as a father. Looking at the somber expression on his face, I could tell that he deeply regretted his decision. "Yes. ......" There were many things to think about, but I could feel the father''s feelings for his daughter. The choice not to do so would undoubtedly make Tia a gift, but it is Jin who does not say it out loud. "...... understand." "Oh, thank you!" Alois III''s face turned happy when Hitoshi agreed to the gift. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Jin decides to rent the workshop where he made the golem and the sword before. Reese and Jessica Norton, the captain of the Kingsguard female knights, are present. "What are you making, Jin? Reese peeks in with interest. Jin looks back for a moment in front of the bronze block and says, "Well, you''ll just have to watch. "Well, you''ll just have to watch. ......Elsa, watch closely too." He then invoked his engineering magic. "<><><>>" "Oh ......" "Brother Jin''s work is, as always, magnificent." "Mm, that''s Jin, isn''t it?" With the three different impressions as background music, Jin proceeds with the processing. "Hmm?I''ve seen this shape before." Several cylinder-shaped parts. A lever-like handle. A piston. And a valve. "...... pump?" Elsa was the first to notice. Yes, Jin was making a pump. "That''s already in widespread use in the town. ......?" This is Jessica. "Umm, but if Jin went to the trouble of making it, then it must be something different, right?" Jin laughed back at Reese''s last words. "Bingo. This is a ." The Raglan Company had introduced the pumps. And now, Jin had created a push-up pump. "What''s the difference?What''s the difference?" "Proof is better than an argument, I''ll use it." After checking the pump with , Jin asked Reiko to hold the pump and went out of the workshop. He went to the bathhouse. The water was still in the bath, but Jin dipped the pump into the water without any concern. "Now, let''s see what this pump is ......." Reiko was holding the pump body, and Jin moved the handle. After moving the handle a few times, water came out from the outlet, which must have accumulated inside. Seeing this, Jin turned the outlet upward and moved the handle more vigorously. "Oh? Then the water spurted out and reached the ceiling. "......, that''s what I mean." "Jin, Jin-dono!It is indeed a pump, isn''t it?You''re not using water magic, are you? Jessica asked hurriedly. "Yes, of course. As you can see. If we could make a bigger one, and have a golem operate it, we could make the water fly as far as 10 or 20 meters." Erza had noticed this and didn''t say anything, but Rhys heard Jin''s words and realized their usefulness. "Jin, Jin!You will give me this ......, won''t you?You don''t mind if I make one just like it, do you?" Jin nodded. "Yes. Put it to good use." Princess Rieschen nodded again and again with tears in her eyes. "Mm-hmm. Thank you,......, Jin,......." A tool that can make water fly far away without using water magic. That means it can be used to extinguish fires. Originally, Jin was concerned about the development of airships using by the Kingdom of Cerroa, and was thinking of tools and magic tools for extinguishing fires. This is one of them. Jin had no particular complaints about having the Kingdom of Klein take the lead in promoting fire extinguishing equipment using push-up pumps. "Father!" Princess Rieschen ran down the corridor to the King''s office and reported quickly what Jin had made. "...... What a surprise!" Alois III, realizing its usefulness, decides to change his gift to the Kingdom of Selroa to this pump. "Jessica, take Rieschen and hurry to the Minister of Magic. Stop them from altering Tia." He then hurriedly wrote up a document and held it out to her. Jessica took it and saluted. "Ha!" Jessica, who had been watching the princess since she was a little girl, had been dissatisfied with the decision. And now her dissatisfaction was about to be put to rest. Reese is on his way to the technical building, which is under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Magic. His face is full of joy. Arthur, the second prince, looks doubtful and asks Jessica, who comes later, why she is here. Jessica gave a brief explanation and followed the princess. Prince Arthur watched her back, "Well, you made it in time. I''m glad to hear that. He said to himself. * * * * "......Well, I don''t know how to take it apart. ......" At the far end of the technical building, in the laboratory under the direct supervision of the Minister of Magic, Tia was lying completely naked on a workbench. The one groaning in front of Tia is the Minister of Magic, Clarotho Vados Keris. Covering the surface of Tia''s body is a magical skin that was made by Houraishima and re-covered by Jin. The structure of the skin is so dense that it could not be processed by half-baked magic. "Master Clarotho, are you sure you want to dismantle it?" Harvey Sotos Flegrode, the second in command, asked hesitantly. "I heard that this automaton belonged to Her Highness Princess Rieschen..." "You idiot! That''s why I had to replace the control core to prevent any information about the royal family from being leaked. Yes, but ...... Replacing the control core means that we have to teach them even the basic operation from scratch. Wouldn''t that make it too late for the commemorative ceremony? When Undersecretary Harvey said this, Minister Clarotho snickered. "Hmmm...that''s what you''re worried about. This automaton is as valuable as an artifact. Even if it does not move, it can be a tribute. "Tribute?It''s a gift, right? Yes, it is. It''s a gift, but it''s worth enough. If so, could we just erase the control core and leave the exchange to the other party? The assistant who was standing nearby suggested. But the Minister of Magic denied it. "That''s not possible. I tried for three hours yesterday, but it didn''t accept any <> magic at all. No wonder. Jin has taken countermeasures against the <>. Even the best magecraftsman cannot erase or rewrite the control core from the outside. "No choice, let''s disconnect the inconspicuous part ......." Clarotho was about to say this when the door to the lab opened with a bang. "Tia!" Princess Rieschen rushes to the door. Jessica Norton, the captain of the female Kingsguard, follows. "Tia!< The fact that the control core has not yet been erased means that Rieschen is in first place in the ranking of <>. "Yes, Princess." Hence, Tia wakes up, reacting to the key word she uttered. "Tia!Father has rescinded his previous order!You are now and will always be my own personal automata!" Yes, Princess. It''s a pleasure, Your Highness. Tia! Rieschen and Tia hugged each other. "......" The Minister of Magic is looking at them discouraged. Surprisingly, the rest of the researchers look relieved. Jessica holds up the document she received from Alois III. "I am sorry, Master Clarotho. Here are the orders your majesty gave me. Tia is yours as she was before. Tia is now Princess Rieschen''s property as before. As a token of gratitude, Jin was presented with a golden vessel and an adamantite vessel, each containing a mysterious liquid, which had been found in the former Leonard''s Kingdom some time before. "Six million toles of gold and 100 million toles of adamantite. That''s very generous for the Kingdom of Klein. Elsa commented. It is a very generous gift from a tight budget. That is how much Alois III must have appreciated the gift as a father. Seeing his fatherly face, Jin was glad that he had visited. 774 - - 23-10 The Mystery of Underground The day after he made a in Klein Kingdom and saved Tia, Jin returned to Horai Island and talked with the old lord. Jin returned to Horai Island and talked with the old man. They talked about the plan to follow the surveillance satellite . Reiko, Erza, and Saki were also present. < "Yes. Especially the basement of the old Leonard''s kingdom. It is somewhat unusual to find such giant ants. <> "...... Jin brother, are you going to use <>?" Erza predicted Jin''s action. The <> is a magi-machine for subterranean exploration that Jin has created. It resembles a shield machine used for digging tunnels in modern Earth, and is cylindrical in shape, with a diameter of 2 meters and a length of 3 meters. < and digging with a chip made of hyperadamantite. "Hmmm, I think it''s a bit exaggerated ...... or too big." Jin denies Erza''s question with a difficult look. "What do you mean by that, Jin?" This time the question comes from Saki. "It means that it would be more efficient if it were smaller, if you just want to investigate. "Oh, I see, you mean like the size of the hole to dig? "Yes. I think it could be smaller, as long as people don''t go in there later. The environment of the Inad mine is the reason why the mole was made that size. Jin said that he wanted to keep the size appropriate for a mini craftsman (smith) or a little craftsman (smith). "...... that way, the cost would not be so high." Elsa agreed, and they immediately began to consider the possibility. "The main purpose of this project is to investigate the underground of the former Leonard''s Kingdom. "Indeed, that monster is extraordinary, isn''t it?" Saki has also heard about it, and the dissolved fluid of giant ants is also used to evaluate the physical properties of materials. "I checked the basement of the Inado Mine with the before, and there was some kind of giant ant farm, wasn''t there?" "...... indeed." Erza nodded. "I was wondering if there might be something like that underground in the old Leonard''s Kingdom. The northern part of that country borders the village of Kaina. "Yes, that''s true. I can understand why you are worried. Saki understood his concern and agreed with him. "And one more thing. I am also interested in the underground structure of this planet. Jin glanced at Saki. "I think the fact that Horai Island has grown larger than its predecessor is a sign of volcanic activity, but it is not erupting now, and there are no active volcanoes on the completed world map. I wonder if this star is so small that it has cooled down considerably to its core." "Hmm?What do you mean, Jin?" Saki didn''t seem to understand. No wonder. Saki has only studied science up to the elementary school level in modern Japan. (Can''t we make a magic tool for Saki to use a higher level of knowledge transfer (trans-info)? ) Jin is even thinking about such a thing. "Well, you know, planets are cool on the surface but hot inside. That''s why volcanoes sometimes erupt and hot springs spring up. "Hmmm..." "So, this planet is small ...... compared to the one I was on, but it''s small ......, so I thought maybe it''s cooler inside." Since Jin''s geology is only at a junior high school level, his explanation is a bit vague, but I don''t even know if it makes sense to compare this planet Arus, which is on another world, to Earth. "In other words, what is underground? How are magi crystals made? What kind of resources are there? That''s what we want to find out." Saki seemed to like this explanation. "I see!Jin, let''s find out!Come on!Come on!" Erza stopped Saki''s rush of energy. "Saki, calm down. I''m just trying to figure out what kind of magic tools we''ll need for this. Yes, you''re right. I''m sorry. So, Jin took the lead in finalizing the specifications. "10 centimeters in diameter and 30 centimeters long." Looks like a large tea canister. "Powered by a micro-magic reactor (magi reactor)." A micro-magic reactor made by a mini craftsman (Smith). No ordinary ...... or even a first-rate magecraftsman would be able to analyze it. Even if it were to fall into someone''s hands, it would be impossible to apply it. "Propulsion is provided by a force field generator." It is the most efficient propulsion method. We''ll also attach a magic eye to send information our way. This is not surprising, since the primary purpose of the project is to investigate. "In order to prevent the device from falling into someone''s hands and being analyzed for any misuse, it has a built-in transporter, a self-destruct mechanism, and, worst of all, a built-in self-destruct mechanism." The transporter returns to the inside of the . If it cannot do so, it destroys itself. It can also self-destruct. This is because protecting confidentiality is of the utmost importance. And so the specifications are determined one after another. "I want to put a golem equivalent to a mini craftsman (Smith) on board, so that it can deal with contingencies." Saki objected to this. "Hmmm, Jin, I don''t know about that.If some unforeseen event occurs that cannot be dealt with even with the equipment we have so far decided on, can we manage it with a mini-craftsman (smith)?" Jin also refutes the question. "It can repair the equipment when it malfunctions. And he''s fast and can use invisibility, so I don''t think he''ll get caught." "Yeah, or maybe ......?" We have to take that kind of risk, Jin added. And that brings us to the most important method of <>. Digging through an object means moving the material behind you in the direction you are going, a process that is not easy to repeat. A drill drills a hole by ejecting chips upward through a spiral groove carved on its side. In the case of tunneling, a conveyor is needed to discharge the rock debris from the rock. Even if we use a laser to vaporize the debris, the gas must be discharged. Hmmm, what should we do? It is a problem to be solved. However, the main reason for my concern is <>. What I mean is that if there is some kind of underground facility ...... like the <> that <> once built, I don''t want to be noticed. Jin thought that if we dig mechanically, the vibration and the sound of the digging would be noticed. "Let''s use the transfer gun method, after all." "...... Jin, how are you going to do that?" Erza tilted her head and asked a question. "Well, we''re going to attach the same thing as a transfer gun to the tip of the rock and transfer the rock backward in the direction we are going. The distance of the transfer is the length of the . "Let''s see, let''s say we transfer 10 cm of rock backwards, move forward 10 cm, and then transfer another 10 cm of rock backwards. You mean ......?" Saki offered a simple explanation. "Yes, that''s right. Since the distance to be transferred is short, the amount of mana consumed is also small. "You mean, it advances intermittently? "That''s what I mean. We can use the micro-magic reactor (magi reactor) to create and accumulate mana, transfer it, advance, and create and accumulate mana again. ...... "It might take a while, but it sounds interesting." "Hmm. I''d like to try it. "Okay, let''s get to it." Thus began the creation of the . < * * * * How are the preparations for the ceremony going? "Yes, Your Majesty. Everything is going well. At the Royal Castle in the Kingdom of Selroa, King Richard was having lunch and listening to the reports from his subordinates. "I see... I can''t wait to see the surprised faces of the other countries..." The city of Dali in the Kingdom of Cerroa, like Venice, is lined with waterways that serve as an important means of transportation. The new small boats were floating on the waterways as well. Ships, airships, golems. We will show them once again that this Cerroa is the best on the continent. Richard, King of Cerroa, chuckled and drank the wine from the glass in his hand in one gulp. 775 - - 23-11 Stuck in the Night Meanwhile, Gloria, Cynthia, and Fritz left Asund on the 10th for the Kingdom of Selroa. This is not the same road that Jin and Reinhardt once took in their carriage, but a side road one street to the north. Leaving Asund, we passed through the town of Peang and stayed at Nokokotsu. The plan is to continue on to Unana, Futuna, Kokotuya, Tohit, Tahtu, Koors town, and then to Ikhsanat. One reason for this is that we avoided the main highway in order to go with the giant <>. The other reason is that the main road will be used by the delegation of the Kingdom of Egelea. We plan to stay in Futuna on the 11th. All the luggage was carried by <, so they were riding nearly empty on horseback, which made the trip very easy. "Thank you, Mister Fritz, you are still a great help. is a great thing." Gloria looked back from her horse, looked at Fritz who was leading the way, and spoke to him. Fritz was alone this time. The soldiers who had come with him were not allowed to attend the ceremony to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom of Celuloa because of their status. "Oh, it''s great, isn''t it? Though, I didn''t make it, so I''m not very proud of it. < walk, the first one''s footprints are dug into the ground. The second one walks so as not to step on it, and the third one ...... in the same way, and by the time the fifth one walks, the road surface has sunk about five centimeters compared to the original state and is hard and firm. By the time the fifth body walks on it, the road surface has sunk about 5 centimeters from its original state and has become hardened. The surface is so hard that a horse-drawn wagon with a full load could pass on it without leaving a trace of ruts. "But wouldn''t something like wide wheels, rather than footprints, be better for road maintenance?" Cynthia opines. Oddly enough, she imagined something like a road roller. "Yes, that''s a good idea!Cynthia, you have quite an imagination! "Yes, thank you." Cynthia''s cheeks were stained by Fritz''s praise. Their journey was uneventful. ...... as long as they stayed within the Kingdom of Egelea. On February 14, they entered the Kingdom of Cerroa and stayed in Tellurus. Since they had stayed here on the way to Klein Kingdom, <> was easily accepted. However, the plane was parked on the outskirts of the town, on the banks of the Torres River. "Well, I wonder when we will be able to cross the Torres River. Gloria heard Fritz''s muttering. "What do you mean by that, Mr. Fritz?" "Oh, you and Gloria have never been to the Kingdom of Celuloa, have you?" Yes, that''s right. "Essiaia, the capital of the Kingdom of Cerroa, is sandwiched between the rivers Torres and Asur. And there are no bridges. This means that we have to use boats. ......" "So there are definitely not enough of them?" Cynthia anticipated Fritz''s line. "That''s right. We''ll have to go make reservations first." Fritz and the others put their luggage down at the inn. "Yeah, I''m the only one with a reservation. You two make yourselves at home." Fritz said, but Cynthia did not comply. "No, I''d like to go with you for the rest of my education." "Really?Then follow me." Fritz could not say anything more forceful than that. "Gloria, I will leave you to it. I will take care of the luggage, is that all right? "Yes, I''ll take care of it." Since none of the three had official government certificates of participation in the ceremony, they could not stay at the guest house and would not be given priority in the ferry service. In addition, the accommodations we were able to obtain were of a lower class, where it would have been better if someone had stayed behind to watch over our luggage. "Well, it''s going to be four days, isn''t it? "Well, it''s going to be four days," he said. Okay, I''ll take care of it." Today is the 14th, four days away is the 18th. The memorial is on the 22nd. We''ll be there in time for the ceremony. That''s a relief." Fritz said and stretched. He felt better now that he had more time. "Cynthia, I don''t know much about it myself, but would you like me to show you around Tellurus?" Fritz was concerned about Cynthia because she had said she would show him around for future study. "Yes, yes!I would be honored!" Cynthia couldn''t hide her delight at the unexpected comment. "Okay, let''s go." With that, Fritz started walking quickly into town. Cynthia hurried after him. "This is the busiest ...... downtown area. You see all kinds of stores here? "Yes, there are a lot of unusual things. The cultural differences between the Kingdom of Klein and the Kingdom of Selroa inevitably lead to a different coloring of goods. "These clothes are very rare. ...... or rather, I like the way you display them. ...... Cynthia looks around the store half to herself. Fritz chuckled to himself, "Even though she is a knight, she is still a woman. It is going to be a long story, so I''ll leave it as a nail. "Cynthia, Gloria is probably waiting for us at the inn. Cynthia nodded with a disappointed look on her face when Fritz said this. "You are right. Let''s go back." February 15th. Fritz, Gloria, Cynthia, and the others are still stuck in Tellurus, as they were the day before. The only thing that has improved is the inn. They have moved from a lower middle class inn to a higher class inn. That is, they have moved to a slightly better one. "Hmm, it''s better that this place has a bath. "Yeah, what''s wrong with it, it didn''t have a bath. Yes. The Torres River is a major river, so the water situation is good. It was natural for a medium-sized inn to have a bath. This time we stayed in a room for three people. It is a large room with three bedrooms. The three bedrooms are connected by a living room. Fritz would have preferred three private rooms, but there were none available. Cynthia, on the other hand, seems to have been secretly happy. Gloria, on the other hand, did not seem to think anything of it. Well, the three of them had nothing much to do. Fritz had started drinking in the morning, saying that he was going to take it easy as an extension of his vacation. Cynthia wanted to say something to Fritz, but Gloria invited her to go sightseeing. Gloria and Cynthia went sightseeing together in the morning. In the afternoon, they went their separate ways. Cynthia had bought some clothes designed in the style of the Kingdom of Selroa. They cannot rely on for the return trip, but it is not heavy, so they figure they will be able to make it. Gloria had been walking around looking for an arms dealer, but came back disappointed. "What''s wrong, Gloria?" Fritz called out to her, her depression instantly obvious. Her breath smelled a little of alcohol. "Yes, I''ve found a sword I like. ....... I found a sword I liked, but it was too expensive for me." "Miss Gloria, ......" I see. Cynthia was stunned and Fritz was convinced... After more than 10 days of their relationship, Fritz was beginning to see Gloria''s proclivities. "Well, everything is expensive in this town. They are looking at your feet. If you want to shop, you can get the same thing cheaper across the river." "Yeah. ......" "That''s good to know." Cynthia was a little depressed when she heard Fritz''s story, and Gloria had regained her former vivaciousness. "Well, I think I''ll go out for a while. Fritz glanced out the window and saw that dusk was approaching, and got up from the sofa where he had been lying. "Mister Fritz, are you going out now?" Cynthia asks with a surprised look on her face. It was almost dinner time at the inn. "Yes. I''ll eat outside." Fritz says bluntly, waving his right hand in the air, and leaves the room without looking back. 776 - - 23-12 The Girl The town of Tellurus at dusk is complicated. It is chaotic because the faces of day and night switch at this time of the day. Fritz loved this chaotic atmosphere. "It''s the time of day when the daytime face that has been mending peels off and the face of night begins to appear and disappear, or ......". Mumbling to himself, he walks to a dimly lit corner. The goal is to find an informant. Fritz, who has been living as an expatriate for a long time, knew that there were always informants in these towns who could buy and sell information for money. During the daytime, Fritz secretly cased the area after Gloria and Cynthia had left for the day for information ...... about such informants, in other words, where the informants might be located. < In the first place, he was not an officer if he could not suppress such cravings to some extent. "The innkeeper said it was around here. It was a dark and decadent place. Fritz was then approached by a voice. "Heh heh heh, mister." Fritz braced himself. If you wander around a place like this dressed like a foreign soldier, you are likely to be approached by someone from the other side. "Is it me? "Hehe, this is my husband. ...... sir, there''s a nice girl here, isn''t there?" "...... what?" It seems he was a pimp, not an informant. Fritz was stunned for a moment, but quickly came to himself and said no. "I''m already on ...... time." Fritz''s response was curt, as he had no intention of getting involved. "Heh, don''t be so sure. It''s your first time here today, isn''t it?" I''m not interested. "Sir, at least take a look at it." The pimp said and pulled a girl out of the dark. "......? The girl was 14.5 years old. Short hair, thin body. "El ...... the?" No, the girl is not Elsa, Fritz himself knows that. Hair color, eye color, skin color. Everything is different. Nevertheless, the girl''s atmosphere seemed to resemble that of her sister. "Heh heh, mister, you like it?" "......" Fritz did not answer, but looked straight at the girl. "......Ah." The girl was about 5''5" tall. The girl was frightened when she saw Fritz, who was 6 feet tall, staring at her. "...... sir?" "...... how much?" "Huh?" "How much is this woman worth?" At Fritz''s words, the somewhat stunned pimp smiled amiably. "Heh, heh, heh. Did you like it?Well, tonight is the first time you''ve seen us, so we''ll give you one gold coin for the night." Ten thousand dollars. Fritz took three gold coins out of his pocket and handed them to the man. "Okay, I''ll rent you out for three days. If tonight was ten thousand dollars, tomorrow and the following days would cost half that amount, five thousand dollars. Fritz paid 30,000 Tolls with the intention of renting the girl out during the day. "Well, thanks a lot." Satisfied with the amount, the man whispered something to the girl and left. Fritz knew that this was possible because of the many measures taken to prevent the slaves from escaping. First, the collar. It is a magical device that can be used to constrict the neck if the owner is so inclined. It is the same kind of collar worn by criminals who are forced to work in mines. And tattoos. It is placed on the chest or other parts of the body, and it shows at a glance that the person is a slave. With these tattoos, it is impossible to find a decent job. The girl had both collar and tattoo. "......" The girl is lying on her face, trembling. The trembling gets worse when Fritz puts his hand on her shoulder. "...... Come on." Fritz grabbed the girl by the shoulders and pulled her close. "Yes, yes." Fritz said with a sigh as the girl replied in a muffled voice. I''m not going to take it from you, so don''t be so scared. "Yes. ......" The girl remained down when Fritz said this. Fritz did not care any more and walked away, still holding the girl''s shoulders. His grip is so strong that the girl has no choice but to follow him as if she were being dragged along. "......" What''s your name? "...... Rita." Where are you from?Are you from the eastern part of ...... Rivas? "...... yes." As they walk, Fritz asks her name and where she is from. The girl, Rita, looked anxious and answered in a halting manner. The street gradually became more and more crowded. The girl was looking around with a wry look on her face. "Come on in." They came to the inn where they were staying. "It''s a bit of a long story," Fritz says to the receptionist. Fritz says no to the receptionist and hands over a silver coin as a gratuity. The man sitting at the front desk, who seems to be the keeper, glances at the girl and Rita, smiles knowingly, and lets them pass without saying a word. Fritz took Rita to the room where they were staying, at the back of the second floor. "Come on in." Fritz opens the door, lets Rita in first, and closes the door behind him. Inside the room, Gloria and Cynthia were staring at them with surprised faces. "Mister Fritz, who is that girl?" Gloria was the first to speak. "Yes, her name is Rita. I bought her for three days from today. You can find her at ......." Fritz was about to say something like that. "Mister Fritz, you''re filthy!" Cynthia, red-faced, shouted, got up, kicked over her chair, ran into her room, and slammed the door behind her. "Shea ......" Gloria looked at Fritz with some dismay and turned to him with a serious face and asked him a few words. "Mister Fritz, is there a reason for this?" "Yes, as a matter of fact. ......" Fritz explained briefly about the girl Rita. Rita, on the other hand, was afraid of Cynthia''s swordplay and was shrinking in the corner of the room. "Okay, I understand. So what are you going to do with her? Gloria understood what was going on. The question then went to Fritz. "That''s the thing, I don''t have a good idea to tell you the truth. What? "What?" "For now, can you give Rita ...... a bath?I''d appreciate it if you''d put some clean clothes on if you can. I''m afraid to go shopping for clothes myself." Rita could not be recognized in the dimly lit street, but in the brightly lit room she was wearing very dirty clothes. Chuckling, Gloria nodded. Fritz acted without thinking, but he liked his motives. "Okay. I''ll take care of it." (I''d appreciate it if you could find out what''s going on, if you can.) In a whisper, Fritz added his request. "Yes." Gloria turned to Rita. "Rita," she said. Come with me. I''ll give you a bath." "Uh... ......" "Don''t worry. Neither I nor my ...... friend Mr. Fritz will do anything to Rita. Yes, yes. ...... Still wary, Rita followed Gloria''s lead. I''ll be back in a few minutes. "Yeah, sure." As they left, Fritz put his mouth to the leftover bottle of wine and downed it in one gulp. "What can I do in ...... another country? 777 - - 23-13 PurchaseSleeping The bathroom of the inn where Fritz and his friends are staying is located at the back of the first floor. The bathtub is about the size of two tatami mats and can easily accommodate four people. "...... warm." Gloria and Rita soaked in the hot water side by side after washing their bodies. Little by little, Rita began to talk to us. "Hmmm, isn''t that right?I heard that it is not customary to take a bath in the Rebus region. "Yes, but it feels so nice to take a bath. The dry climate in the region of Ribas, where water is scarce in many areas, also contributes to the lack of bathing customs. "Right?Okay, now let''s wash your head." "What?I''m afraid that''s not possible. "No, of course not. Rita and I are the same person. Gloria sat Rita down at the sink and poured hot water over her head. "Keep your eyes closed." "Yes, yes." Since there is no soap in this world yet, it depends on the region, but here in the Kingdom of Celuloa, they use ground grass roots called sapon. When I washed Rita''s hair with the juice of sapon, it did not foam at all the first time. "That''s pretty dirty," she said. "I''m sorry..." Rita shrugged, perhaps taking Gloria''s soliloquy as a reprimand. Gloria gently washes her hair. "Don''t worry, I''m not mad at you. ...... look, it''s clean now!" The second time it bubbled and the dirt seemed to have been cleaned out. Her hair, which had been dull and grayish yellow, is now bright yellow. The hair, which had been cut at the shoulder, was not aligned and had little shine. Still, it was better than before. "Oh, thank you very much. ......" "Okay, now wash my hair." "Yes, yes!" Gloria''s hair was short, so it was washed quickly. Then they got into the bathtub together again. This time Gloria was facing Rita in the bathtub and looking at her body from the front. She has a black choker around her neck and what appears to be a tattoo on her chest. She was not very lean, and her ribs were slightly raised. "Hey, Rita, were you sold?" "Yes. ......" Rita looked down. "Rita, neither I nor Mister Fritz who brought you here are from this country. So why don''t you tell us what''s going on?I may be able to help you." "Yes. ......" Rita''s guard was still up, but Gloria''s kindness seemed to have been felt and she began to speak softly. "I am from a village called Lario, in the region of Ribas. I have no family ......." "So ......." "I couldn''t pay the additional taxes that were imposed on me, so I was ...... sold to make up for it." "......, that''s a lot of work." Gloria, for her part, can only reply in passing. "Are there other children who have been sold?" "Oh, yes. ...... and 10 others besides me ......." "That many? ......" Gloria could sense the depths of darkness in the kingdom of Selroa. "Well, I''d better get out of here." Rita followed Gloria out of the bathtub. "Oh, you can put on what you have there. Here are my clothes, but roll up the sleeves or something. Gloria is 168 centimeters and 58 kilograms, and Lita is about 155 centimeters, It''s no wonder that the clothes don''t fit Gloria, who is 168 centimeters and 58 kilograms, and Rita, who is about 155 centimeters and scrawny. "Yes, but ......" "The underwear might be too big, but it''s brand new. You''ll just have to bear with me tonight." "No, I mean ...... Gloria smiled at Rita, who was still reserved. "Hey, Rita. Look, Rita, neither I nor Mister Fritz, who bought you, are saints. But I want to help you somehow. Now will you please listen to me?" "......" Rita looked down in silence, but eventually spilled a tear or two. "......Why are you being so nice to me?" Gloria''s answer to this question was simple. "I don''t like it when you say that. Can''t I help you because I want to help you?" "......" Rita could not answer the question. "Oh, thank you, Gloria. Rita is looking good." When she returned to her room, she found Fritz drinking alone. Rita is a bit jumpy when she sees him. Gloria held her shoulder reassuringly. "Rita, are you hungry?I only have this, but you can have it if you want. Fritz showed her a pile of dried meat that had been prepared as a snack. Rita''s stomach rumbled when she saw the food. "Ha ha, you can eat all of it." Fritz tried his best to speak softly to Rita, whose cheeks were stained. Look," Fritz says, "you can eat it. You can eat all of it. "Yes, thank you. ......" Kneeling on the floor, Rita gently reached for the dried meat and took a bite or two. "Delicious ......!" The dried meat had been seasoned with spices as well as salt. It must have been a surprise to Rita, who had only eaten dried meat that tasted like nothing. "Oh, um, can I have another bite of ......?" "Yes, I told you you could have it all." With that, Fritz pushed the plate toward Rita. "Thank you ......." Rita said thank you for the first of several times and devoured the dried meat. During the meal, when she was about to choke, Fritz offered her a glass of water. After eating all the dried meat, Rita bowed her head to Fritz again. Gloria saw this and said, "You''d better get some rest now. ......Mr. Fritz, you too," she urged. She urged him. Hearing her words, Rita''s body stiffened. "Yeah, I''m going to have a few more drinks, you two can go to bed first. ......Yes, Rita can sleep in my room." Hearing these words, Rita''s body stiffens even more and she turns a little pale. Gloria saw this and had an idea. Gloria saw this and had a guess that Rita was worried that Fritz would play with her. Gloria was not fully aware of Fritz''s true intentions, so she gave him a test. "......Dr. Fritz, tonight I would like to sleep with Rita, is that alright with you?" But Fritz is not concerned about their concerns, "Yes, that would be fine, but won''t the bed be too small?I can sleep on the sofa here. Gloria felt relief in her heart. Gloria breathed a sigh of relief. "Rita must be feeling a bit nervous. I will stay with her tonight. With these words, Gloria accompanied Rita into her bedroom. "Oh, um, Gloria ......?Are you sure you want to ...... be with us?" Rita asked with some dismay as she got into bed. "Yes, it will be a little cramped, but bear with me. I think we can get another room tomorrow ......." Rita relaxed her body. "Don''t worry for now. It''s time to sleep and rest for the night." Gloria patted Rita on the head, who was standing right next to her, and closed her eyes. She closed her eyes and wondered if she had been such a good caretaker. 778 - - 23-14 Orphans Recapture (New) It is 10:30 p.m. Horai Island time. It was about time for Jin to go to bed. "Yes?What''s wrong?" < "Yes, is something wrong?" "Oh, you are going to attend the national commemoration ceremony, aren''t you?" > The old man explains that Fritz bought a girl named Rita from a pimp, took her to an inn, and left her with Gloria at the inn. The expression on Jin''s face gradually became stern as he listened to the story. Regulus 16 had been listening to every word of the conversation between Gloria and Rita using his extraordinary hearing. "So, you were sold to cover a part of the heavy taxation on the village? So far, well, it''s not worth mentioning. < "And the orphans were the ones who couldn''t afford it?" "......" Jin thought for a moment. His face remained grim. Eventually, Jin gathered his thoughts and gave an instruction to the old man. "All right, bring in the 5th Row Rangers, too, to identify and protect those who have been sold. Jin, who was an orphan himself, could no longer remain silent when he learned that others in this situation were being mistreated. "Please think about it, Your Highness." "Anne. ...... why?" Yes. This incident is just the tip of the iceberg. Buying and selling such children is not a good thing, that''s for sure, but it is also a necessary evil. "......What do you mean?" "The cause is the lack of food and the system of this country. The bottom line is that even if you bring them back, they may not be accepted." "Oh, I see. ......" Jin''s anger eases a little. Jin understood that it was also a way of reducing the number of mouths to feed. It is unlikely that such a village would welcome back those who were just sold. Especially orphans without families. Jin understood that Anne was admonishing him for his haphazard behavior. "The food crisis is expected to be resolved in early summer. ......" Jin estimated that it would be after the spring wheat harvest and the early buckwheat harvest. "Until then, we need to protect them and possibly take in orphans." "That''s what I''m thinking." Taking Anne''s advice, Jin thought again. "...... Wait a minute.There''s a ceremony in Selroa later. The heads of state and government will be there. ...... When he had thought it over, the grimness on Jin''s face was gone, replaced by a look of determination. "That''s ...... why." Jin and Erza were now riding to Ikasanat, a town in the Kingdom of Egelea. They had traveled halfway by transporter, so they would be able to land in a few minutes. In those few minutes, Jin explained to Erza what had happened so far. He also explained his future plans. "...... but I still can''t tolerate the buying and selling of girls." Erza was just as angry as Jin. * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man immediately started to take action in response to Jin''s instructions. First, he instructed the 5th column (Quinta) in charge of Tellurus, Regulus 16, <>. <> disguised herself as a wealthy young merchant and approached the pimps. He succeeds in meeting the so-called "mastermind" who is using them. Using his ample funds, he discovers that eleven girls have been sold from the region of Rivas. Eleven girls between the ages of 12 and 18. So far, there are no others. But that''s all for now. "Well, taking into account the money they will be earning, I''ll give you 500,000 TUR (about 5,000,000 yen) per head. Since there is no way to judge whether this is high or fair, and we probably don''t have time to dilly-dally, we decide to pay what he says. So, I paid 500,000 dollars per head. "Heh, thanks a lot." With this, I was able to secure up to eight of them. One was bought by a man who looked like a merchant, one by a nobleman, and one by a foreign soldier. Yes, the military man paid for three whole days, so we should expect that." Of the three remaining, one was Rita, whom Fritz had protected. Anyway, he paid for the girl who was not here, and succeeded in securing ownership for all eleven. "But you''re a real sucker, aren''t you? I''m only interested in the money. ...... Here, here''s the proof and here''s the grimoire. "I have received them all." Having thus obtained the magic tools and the testimonials to activate the collars for everyone, Tiff moved on to the next step. By this time, Regulus 39 and 40 had joined the rangers. Regulus 39 is named Glen and Regulus 40 is named Roi. Glen and Roi hurried to the other two. "What the hell are you? Regulus 39, Glen tracked down the wealthy merchant who bought the 15-year-old girl for the night. After banging on the door and finally coming out, the merchant was not happy to be interrupted from his fun-filled night. "...... I paid ten thousand dollars for this girl!" "I''ll take care of that. I''ll get you the money this way." Glen returned the 10,000 Tall that the merchant had paid and added another 10,000 Tall. "Ummm ...... well, if that''s the case." The merchant, after all, took money over color. "Come, come." "Yes, yes. ......" Glen gently escorted the girl, who had stiffened her body, away from the merchant. And the last one. Regulus 40, Roi, had come to the house of a lowly nobleman who lived in Tellurus. "What?You want the girl to leave? "Yes. Yes. My master bought the rights. I have here the 10,000 crowns you paid and another 10,000 crowns as an apology. The low-ranking nobleman who greeted Roi in the entrance hall gave a slight thought. "...... Well, I have no complaints about the money. But there is one more thing I want you to do for me. "What is it?" The lowly nobleman chuckled and said to Roi. "<>. What are you going to do about my desire to have fun tonight?" "On the contrary, what should I do?" The low nobleman chuckled at the answer. "...... I suppose you can. Take it by force." "What?What do you mean?" The woman is in the room at the end of the corridor. You''re going to show me how to get her out of there. But get rid of my men, they''ll get in the way. "......I might hurt you, if you don''t mind?" "Yes. I don''t mind if I hurt you a little. I mean, so that I don''t die, right? But Lois asked for confirmation. No suing me later, right? "No!I''ll write you a statement if you want. ...... Here, is it enough? On a piece of leather paper, he wrote that he would not be held responsible for anything that might happen in the future, signed it, and handed it to Lois. "...... Okay, I understand. I accept." "Ha ha!" As soon as Lois received the paper, three firebullets were shot from the ceiling. "Oops, that''s dangerous..." The speed of the firebullets was as fast as the reaction speed of the fifth column (quinta), which was as fast as standing still. Roi dodged with time to spare. "Well, you''re good!" A low-ranking aristocrat looks on in amusement. Roi, thinking in a corner of his mind that this is quite bad taste, also dodged the fire bullet that was shot at him again. !" A spear was thrown at the same spot where he had dodged the fire bullet. Roi avoids it without any difficulty. However, it was inevitable that he was a little out of position. Then came the third level of the attack. After magic and spears, this time it was a battle of bullets. A fist with a gauntlet attached was unleashed. "I see, that''s a good coordination. Without forcibly trying to regain his collapsed position, he did not kill the momentum of his fall, but back-turned. At the same time, he kicked the fighter in the jaw. "Gahaha!" The man who was knocked out was knocked unconscious and fell down with his back to the ground. "......Hohoho......" The eyes of the aristocrats watching him widened. The nobleman''s eyes widened as he fell backward and was hit by a spear. A normal human would have been skewered. But Roi is not human. With a reaction speed several times or ten times faster than that of a human, he grabbed the spear by its hilt. "What the ......? The face of the man who had brought out the spear twisted in astonishment. Roi, with his strength more than ten times greater than that of a human being, forcibly snatches the spear out of the man''s hand. Then, without a moment''s pause, he thrust the spear with the stone butt. The spearman lost consciousness. "Phew!" Without even checking to see if the spearman had fallen, Lois threw the spear at the ceiling. "Hit!" The spear passed through the crotch of the mage who was hiding in the ceiling and pierced the wall. The mage fell down from the ceiling and fainted. Roi walked down the corridor and opened the door at the end of the corridor. At the same time, he swung down his sword. "That''s dangerous." Lois stopped the sword with the that Jin had taught her, and then she put all her strength into it and broke it. "Hey, hey ......" He then strikes the swordsman, who seems to have lost his will to fight, in the jaw with the bottom of his palm. With that, the swordsman''s consciousness was cut off. "Well, is that all?" In the corner of the room, there is a trembling girl. "I''m here to help you. Come on, let''s get out of here. Your friends are waiting for you." Hearing the word "friends," the girl reached out her hand. Lois took her hand firmly in hers and pulled her close. She walked back down the corridor and stood in front of the nobleman. "So, as promised, I will take her home with me. "Mm-hmm. ......" With a word to the lowly nobleman, whose face had lost its venom, Roi and the girl disappeared into the darkness of the night. Thus, everyone except Rita arrives at , and the girls are finally reunited. Old) It is 10:30 p.m. Horai Island time. It was about the time when Jin was about to go to bed. "Yes?What''s wrong?" < "Yes, is something wrong?" "Oh, you are going to attend the national commemoration ceremony?" <<> The old man explains that Fritz bought a girl named Rita from a pimp, took her to an inn, and left her with Gloria at the inn. The expression on Jin''s face gradually became stern as he listened to the story. Regulus-16 had infiltrated the inn using the Invisibles and had overheard the conversation between Gloria and Rita. "So, you were sold to pay a part of the heavy tax imposed on the village? So far, well, it''s not worth mentioning. < "And the orphans were the ones who couldn''t afford it?" "......" Jin thought for a moment. His face remained grim. Eventually, Jin gathered his thoughts and gave an instruction to the old man. "All right, bring in the 5th Row Rangers, too, to identify and protect those who have been sold. Jin, who was an orphan himself, could no longer remain silent when he learned that others in this situation were being mistreated. "Please think about it, Your Highness." "Anne. ...... why?" Yes. This incident is just the tip of the iceberg. Buying and selling such children is not a good thing, that''s for sure, but it is also a necessary evil. "......What do you mean?" "The cause is the lack of food and the system of this country. The bottom line is that even if you bring them back, they may not be accepted." "Oh, I see. ......" Jin''s anger eases a little. Jin understood that it was also a way of reducing the number of mouths to feed. It is unlikely that such a village would welcome back those who were just sold. Especially orphans without families. Jin understood that Anne was admonishing him for his haphazard behavior. "The food crisis is expected to be resolved in early summer. ......" Jin estimated that it would be after the spring wheat harvest and the early buckwheat harvest. "Until then, we need to protect them and possibly take in orphans." "That''s what I''m thinking." Taking Anne''s advice, Jin thought about it again. When he had reached a conclusion, his face lost its grimness and instead became full of determination. "That''s why ......." Jin and Erza are now on the heading for Ikasanat, a town in the Kingdom of Egelea. They had traveled halfway by transporter, so they would be able to land in a few minutes. In those few minutes, Jin explained to Erza what had happened so far. "...... but still, buying and selling girls is unforgivable." Erza was as angry as Jin. * * * * The old man, being an old man, immediately started to take action. First, the fifth column (Quinta) in charge of Tellurus, Regulus 16, <> moves. <> disguised himself as a wealthy young merchant and approached the pimp. Using his ample funds, he discovers that eleven girls have been sold from the region of Rivas. The eleven girls were between the ages of 12 and 18. We paid 500,000 TL (about 5 million yen) per head and were able to secure up to 8 of them. Of the remaining three, one was Rita, whom Fritz had protected. Anyway, we paid for the girls who were not here, and secured the ownership of all eleven. With the eleven, the magic tools for activating the collars, and the testimonials, Tiff moved on to the next step. By this time, Regulus 39 and 40 had joined the rangers. Regulus 39 is named Glen and Regulus 40 is named Roi. Glen and Roi hurried to the other two. "What the hell are you? Regulus 39, Glenn found a 15-year-old girl who had been bought by a wealthy merchant. "......I paid ten thousand dollars for this girl. ......f*ck!" Without further ado, Glenn stunned the merchant with a paralyzing gun (paralyzer). The old man had instructed him to increase the output just a little bit. "......Ah,ah......" The girl who had been stripped half naked on the bed looked pale and frightened. No wonder. The man who had bought her, a merchant of some social standing, had suddenly broken in through the window and knocked her out. The old man decides that it is better to take him out first than to take time to persuade him, and tells Glen accordingly. Leaving on the bed 20,000 Tolle, 10,000 Tolle for the flowers and 10,000 Tolle to repair the window, Glen took the girl and disappeared into the night. And the last one. Regulus 40, Roi had infiltrated the mansion of a low-ranking nobleman in Tellurus. They were able to get from the entrance to the second floor by <> without any difficulty. "Magical Warding ......" It is not as strong as the <> developed by Jin, but it is strong enough. Roi decided that passing through it would probably result in an alarm. But it is also true that there is no time. <, he decided to take a somewhat aggressive approach. Since Roi was not originally in charge of Tellurus, it would not be a problem if his face was remembered, and he could change his face at will. When he stepped into the ward, he was hit by an electric shock that would have made a human feel a tingling sensation. "A lightning type of ward, huh? Surely this will detect intruders." Three steps later, three firebullets were shot from the ceiling. Roi easily avoids that level of magic. But just as he dodged them, a sword slash came flying at him. However, it is as good as stopped in front of the reaction speed of the 5th row (quinta). Rowa avoids the attack with a margin of safety. Then came the third level of attack. After magic and sword, this time the attack was a physical one. First, a fist with a gauntlet attached. < However, Lois thought it would be a bad idea to waste time fighting, so she blocked the oncoming fist with a solid physical barrier. "Aaah!" The impact of his fist was quite strong, even with his gauntlets on, as he hit the indestructible barrier as hard as he could. At the same time, Roi unleashed a at maximum strength. "Aghhh! Aah! Agh! The mage, the swordsman, and the fighter who had been hiding in the ceiling all screamed and fainted. Behind them was a door. From inside, a girl''s screams could be heard. Roi kicked the door open. "What are you? On a large bed, an ugly middle-aged aristocrat with a big belly was about to throw himself on the girl. Lois, in a fit of momentum, silently kicks the aristocrat away. "Ghee!" The middle-aged nobleman fell off the bed and rolled to the wall, where he fainted. "Oh, that ......" The girl seemed to have trouble understanding. He urges her to put on her clothes, holds her in his arms, activates , and leaves the house. He left 10,000 dollars behind. The girl was puzzled by the sudden blackout, But she said, "Don''t worry. Your friends are waiting for you. She clung to Roi with her eyes tightly shut, believing his words, "Don''t worry. Roi ran through the darkness of the night and arrived safely at where Jin was waiting for her, and the girls were finally able to meet each other again. 779 - - 23-15 The Girls 11:00 p.m. local time. Ten girls were gathered in , which landed on the outskirts of Ikhsanat. "...... Don''t worry. You have already been released. Elsa showed them the certificate and tore it in two. "Oh, um, ......" The girl who seemed to be the oldest of the group raised her hand. "Hmm, what''s wrong?" "What''s going to happen to us now?" "That''s what I was going to explain. I thought I''d explain it to you now. ...... You''re free now. If you want to go home, I''ll give you a ride. But it might be better to wait a little longer." Elsa breaks off and looks around at the faces of the girls. They all seem to understand what she means. "Yes. The food shortage is not over yet. So I think it would be better to go home at the end of spring, when the harvest of the new crops is finished. A few of the girls nodded, and others looked down. "Don''t worry. Don''t worry. ...... This is . He has his own lands, and he will take you there. The older girl spoke up again. "Um, and this collar is ......." It was Jin who responded. "Oh, I''m sorry. I''ll get it for you right away." With that, he reached around the older girl''s neck and removed the collar. "What, what?" The girl doesn''t understand what''s happening. She couldn''t have done it herself if she had tried, but Jin had done it easily. "He''s the . He''s the best Magecraftsman in the world. That''s why this is so easy for him. Erza explained, and the girls seemed to understand a little. Meanwhile, Jin removes the collars from all of them. "Oh, thank you very much ......!" The girls looked at Jin with respect as he easily removed the collars that they had thought were impossible to remove. It was the old man''s advice not to use magic tools. In other words, <>. In front of the girls, Jin threw away the collar he had removed. "Now you are free. But the older girl opens her mouth three times. "I can''t ....... This tattoo ......." On the girls'' chests, there was a figure and black letters, a sign that they were slaves. The figure is the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Cerroa and the letters are the names of the merchants who bought them. "...... let me see it." Erza said no and stared at the chest of the older girl. And then, "<><>" and also examine the function of the magic power. "...... got it. This is just a marker. The dye is not toxic. ......<>" "What?Huh?" Elsa continued her examination and even decomposed the pigment to remove the tattoo cleanly. Most of the pigment that has been broken down into atoms is expelled through the skin and does not harm the patient. Okay, next. ......<" In a short time, Elsa has cleaned the girls'' tattoos. "Thank you! Thus, Jin and Elsa have won the trust of the girls. It is almost midnight. "Well, I know it''s a little uncomfortable, but you can sleep here tonight. Jin said to the girls as he laid the seat of <> fully flat. "Yes, sir. ...... guys, it''s late, let''s get some rest, okay?" "......Yes." "Yes. ......" The older girl called out to the rest of the girls, and the rest of the girls went to rest. Jin orders Reiko, who is piloting the ship this time, to head for the village of Kaina, also using the <>. The reason for this is to avoid shaking the hull as much as possible. Jin and Erza sit down in the passenger seat and decide to take a nap in their chairs. "Well then, Reiko, please make sure that we arrive in front of Nido Castle before dawn." "Yes, sir, I will." On Horai Island, the old man and Anne were checking on the sequence of events. "Yes. The collar that Goshujin-sama removed and the certificate that Erza-sama broke are secured, aren''t they?" << * * * * * * The time difference between Ikasanat and Kayna is 1 hour 20 minutes and the distance is less than 500 km. < sailed at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Thus, a little after 5:00 a.m., the with the group on board landed at the square in front of Nidang Castle. An hour later, dawn began to break. Jin, who had been taking a nap, wakes up. Erza seems to be sleeping well. Feeling a little sorry for her, Jin wakes her up for what is to come. "...... hmm, Jin?" "Good morning, Erza." "Good morning, Brother Jin." The girls seemed to have heard their voices and woke up, too. "......Good morning, sir." The oldest girl greeted Jin. "Good morning. Did you get some sleep? "Yes, I did. ...... Um... where am I? This is Caina Village, a small village in the northern part of the Kingdom of Klein. In fact, it is an independent territory of Jin, but since explaining the details would be complicated, I will limit myself to a brief explanation first. "Kaina Village ......" It doesn''t sound familiar. That''s understandable. "Oh. You''re ......, can you tell me your name?" Jin realizes now that he had not heard his name. "Oh, I''m sorry, my name is Sonia. "Sonia. "Oh, I''m sorry, my name is Sonia," said Jin, realizing now that he had not heard his name. I''m going to ask you to help me keep the other kids together for a while. Yeah, yeah, that''s fine. ...... "Okay. Okay, let''s go outside first. It''s a little cold out there. "Yes, yes. ......?" The village of Kaina is quite cold, even by their standards. Not to mention that before they went to bed, they were in a much warmer place, Ikasanat in the Kingdom of Egelea. "...... Wow, it''s cold!" "Where am I? "What?What is this thing that just appeared? "......What the hell is that building? The girls outside were surprised at the cold, surprised at <>, and surprised at Nido Castle, just as Jin had expected. First, he takes them to Nido Castle. "Come here. Oh, and take off your shoes." "What?" The girls are relieved to be in the warmth of the castle, although they are a little embarrassed to have to take off their shoes. Jin takes them straight to the dining room. Elsa and Reiko take the last row. "Come on, come in." It is a hall. Tables and chairs were brought in. The room is divided by a partition so that it is not too spacious and uncomfortable. The five colored golem maids had arrived and were ready for breakfast. Jin and Elsa took their seats, but the girls remained standing. "Come on, you can sit down now." The girls finally sat down when Jin told them to do so. You can eat as much as you like from the table. If you need more, just ask the golem maid by your side. Sonia, you can reassure the others as well. Jin took the initiative and began to eat. Erza also began to eat. Sonia looked around to the left and right and called out to them. "Come on, come on, everyone. Let''s take advantage of Gin-sama and Erza-sama''s hospitality! And she was the first to take a bite of the stew. "Delicious ......!" The stew was rich and full of vegetables, including topopo. Seeing this, the other girls also put their hands on their food. "Delicious! I''ve never tasted anything like this before, but it''s so good! Once they had their hands on the food, they were so hungry that they kept reaching for it one after the other. "What is this bread, it''s so white!It''s unbelievably fluffy!" The white bread made with yeast, a special product of Horai Island. "This porridge is not barley!But it''s delicious!" Rice porridge. "Tender, delicious meat!What kind of meat is it?" Meat from a cow that has recently been raised on Bongrae Island. "This fruit just melts in my mouth!How sweet it is! Persica from Horai Island. Etc, etc, etc, etc. The girls ate as much as they could for the first time in a long time. "Well..." Jin looks at the girls who have finished eating and says to them. All the girls looked at Jin at once. There is no more fear in their eyes. "I will prepare a room for you, so you can rest a little. After that, we can talk about the future. With these words, Jin left Elsa and the golem maid to take care of the rest. As Jin left the room, "Thank you very much! the girls thanked him. "Yes, you don''t have to worry about anything else," he replied. Jin replied, "Yes, nothing more to worry about," and headed for the village headman''s house. 780 - - 23-16 Celebration Rest "Oh, is that possible?" Morning comes early in the village of Kayna. Chief Giebeck was already awake and had just finished breakfast with the healer Sally Mireshan. "Tellurus is a twisted town in a way. ......" Sally, who had spent a few years there, muttered to herself. "So, what do you want to do, Jin?" Jin answered Giebeck''s question clearly. "There seem to be some orphans here, so I would like to let them live in this village if they wish. "Well, that''s no problem. If, as a precaution, some of them might be willing to adopt them. There are several families in the village of Kayna who have lost their children. "I hope they do." "Yes, but only in the future, hypothetically speaking. I guess the first step would be to get them accustomed to the village. Then Sally interrupted. "Beck, we''d like to take care of one of our own eventually, wouldn''t we?" "Yeah, I guess so." Jin saw the two of them, "...... are you two, by any chance?" Jin asked them. The two nodded their heads while blushing a little. "Uh-huh. Barbara is going to marry Eric soon. We''ve decided to ...... be together." "Congratulations. And the wedding? "At my age, there won''t be a ceremony," Giebeck says. Giebeck said something like that, but Hitoshi shook his head. "Since we''re here, let''s have a banquet at Nido Castle tonight, shall we? "Oh, come on, don''t be too dramatic. ...... But Hitoshi would not hear of it. "Why not? It''s the first marriage for you too. Saying this, he half-assedly decided to go through with it. "Then gather at the castle at five in the evening! "......Fuzzy, I''ll be d*mned." Giebeck muttered with a sigh after Jin left. But his face was smiling in spite of his words. "Beck, why don''t you accept Jin-kun''s kindness?" Sally said with a happy smile on her face. Instead of replying, Giebeck gently squeezed her hand. Sally said with a happy smile, "Let''s go and take care of her, shall we? "Welcome home, my dear!" Next, Jin went to Martha''s house. Of course, it was to see Hannah. In addition, he said to Martha, "Hannah, on the 22nd of this month, there will be a commemorative ceremony in the Kingdom of Selroa. I''d like to go with you. to ask her to go with me. "Really?You''re going out with your sister?" A big smile on her face. She must be happy to be with Jin, who has been out so much lately. "Yeah. "Yeah. It''ll be a good learning experience." For his own safety, he plans to have the newly reorganized protect him. "Jin has come a long way, hasn''t he?" Martha smiles as she listens. Perhaps she is remembering the time when Jin first came to the village of Kaina. "So you''re going to take care of these girls at the castle for a while, right?" This is Meane. Hannah had taken to the girls well and had become a part of the Martha family. "Yes. So I wanted to ask you to educate her a little. "Oh, I see. I understand. I''ll leave it to you." In short, we are going to educate them so that we can help them become more independent. Of course, it is not an advanced education, but starting with reading, writing, and simple calculations. Now that the children in Kaina village have completed their primary education, they are at a point where they are wondering what the next step should be. "I wanted to help them become independent, even if only a little. "Yes, I think that''s a very good idea. Jin then told them about this evening. "Oh, yes. There will be a banquet at the castle at 5:00 p.m. today. Martha looked doubtful at this. "That''s a sudden announcement, isn''t it? Well, I don''t think there''s anyone in this village who won''t attend. Do you have a purpose?" "Yes. The introduction of the children we''ve brought and the reception for the ...... village chiefs. Martha and Meane nodded in agreement. "Oh, I see. That''s for sure. I hope the village head and Dr. Sally will be happy! * * * * Erza led the girls upstairs to the guest room. There, the golem maids had already laid out the futon for them. "Wow, the bedding is so soft! Can I sleep here? "The floor smells so good. ......" The girls were surprised at first by the tatami mats and the magi silk bedding, but their stomachs were full and they fell asleep as soon as they lay down, partly because they were released from the tension they had been feeling and partly because of their accumulated fatigue. I guess I did not sleep well in the airship. Erza leaves them in the care of the golem maid and decides to take a short nap in another guest room. She is a little sleep-deprived as well. About two hours after Erza falls asleep, Jin returns with Reiko. "How are the girls?" I ask Topaz 101 who welcomes us. "Yes, they are sleeping in the guest room upstairs after finishing their meal. "I see. I guess she was tired after all. And Elsa? "Yes, Erza-sama also looks tired and is sleeping. Hearing this, Jin reflected a little. Unlike himself, he thought that he might be pushing her a little too hard since she had been raised as a noblewoman. "I see. I''ll let her sleep until noon. Jin said and went to his room on the fifth floor. Jin himself was a little tired, so he planned to take a nap. "Reiko, wake me up at 12 o''clock. "Yes, Father." Although Jin was not aware of it, he must have not slept enough. As soon as he lay down, he began to breathe in his sleep. "I hope your father is not cold. ......" Reiko checked the room temperature and turned on the air conditioning and adjusted the temperature to 24 degrees Celsius. "Ah, I slept well." At 11:55, Jin woke up before Reiko woke him up. "Father, it will be 12 o''clock in 5 minutes. "Oh, I see. Oh, that''s just in time. Let''s go to ...... and wake Elsa up too. Jin went downstairs and was about to enter Elsa''s room when he stopped. "......, it''s not good if I go in there. Reiko, will you go wake her up? "Yes, I will." Instead of Jin, Reiko went into the guest room where Elsa was sleeping. But she came out immediately. "Father, I think Elsa is already awake. "Oh, I see. Then where is she? Reiko answered Jin''s question. "At this time of the day, I think he is in the kitchen. "Oh, I see. Let''s go there. Jin and Reiko went to the kitchen on the first floor. A good smell was wafting from there. 781 - - 23-17 HarmonyBanquet As Reiko said, Elsa was in the kitchen. Sonia, the oldest, was with her. "Oh, Brother Jin." "Jin-sama." "Hi. ...... Sonia is learning to cook from Elsa?" Sonia nodded. "Yes. The rice we had this morning was delicious, so I''ve been learning how to make it. "I see. I see... I''m glad you''re doing well, too, Elsa. I see that they are making porridge and stew. Elsa was teaching them how to cook topopo. Jin was deeply moved when he thought of Elsa, who had been afraid of topopo in the beginning, calling them devil''s potatoes, and how much she had grown. "Erza-sama, it''s done!Is this okay?" Sonia asked Erza to taste the stew. After taking a bite, Erza nodded. "It''s delicious. This will be fine." "Good. ......!" It was just around lunch time, so she intended to feed the other girls. Jin wondered if it was okay to have the same menu as in the morning, but they didn''t seem to mind. "Ah ...... Sonia sister?" "Smells good." The girls who had been sleeping in the guest room seemed to have woken up and came peeking into the kitchen, attracted by the smell. "It''s ready now, so go to the same place as in the morning. A partition separated the hall. There, porridge and stew were served. "I made this for you, Elsa taught me how to make it," Sonia said. Sonia said, and the girls looked impressed. And then there was a harmonious lunch. In the middle of the lunch, Sonia asks Jin. "...... well, I don''t know if this is the right thing to say after you''ve been so nice to me." "Hmm?What is it?" "...... there is another child who was sold with us." Jin immediately thought of something. "Yes, I know. A girl named Rita, right?Elsa''s brother is taking care of her. I''ll bring her to you soon, so don''t worry. Hearing this, Sonia and the other girls'' faces lit up. "I didn''t know that!I understand, thank you!" It seemed that they were still concerned about it. Jin wished he had told them sooner. "Listen to me while you eat. There will be a banquet here this evening. I''ll introduce you to the villagers then. "......, yes?" "And after lunch, I''ll take you to the hot springs. Please pick up a towel and a change of underwear from the golem maids. New underwear made of magi silk are prepared. Jin reminds them to check the size of the underwear before picking them up, since they may come in different sizes. Since the bathrooms in Nido Castle could not accommodate all the guests at once, they decided to take them to the public bathhouse outside. Even though it was winter, it was reasonably warm in the late afternoon, and the girls were not as cold as they had been in the morning, helped by the fact that they had eaten a lot of food. "This is the hot spring," said Ruby 101, our guide. Ruby 101, our guide, said and opened the door. "Wow. ......" The changing room was warm and steamy. Please take off your clothes here. In the bathroom, please take a hot bath and clean yourself before taking a bath. After a few brief instructions, the girls are ready to take a bath. "Fluffy ......" "Warm and comfortable ......" In their home village of Lalio, the girls had the custom of bathing in water, but not in hot water, mainly due to the cost of fuel. "It must be hard to boil so much water. Sonia thought about this, "This is a hot spring, and the water comes out of the ground," Ruby 101 told her. Ruby 101 told her, "Really?Is that so? I am surprised. Ruby101 explains it simply. Yes, there are warm places deep in the ground. The spring water that passes through these places becomes hot water. "Wow, hot water springs from the ground. ......" "Does it spring up in the village? The other girls were also listening to the story with interest. "Rita berries are fine, but a small amount of this will remove dirt very well. Ruby 101 indicated rice bran. It is much gentler on the skin than the previously used Rita (Mukuroji) berries. Incidentally, we are currently trying to make a rice bran soap using baking soda, a special product of Kaina Village, through trial and error. "Rita ......" "How are you? ......" Remembering the girl with the same name, some of the girls looked a little sad. "I''m fine. She''s a strong girl, you know." Rita is a tree that grows into a large tree, and when the sun is strong, the shade of its leaves becomes a place for people to relax. The pulp of the ripe berries in autumn is used in detergents. Ruby 101 heard such a conversation and contacted the old man with the built-in manacam. As a result, the old man replied, Yes, it''s all right. The protected man named Fritz is not only the elder brother of Miss Elsa, but also a soldier of the Shoro Kingdom and a very strong man. By informing them of this information, I was able to reassure them more. * * * * * * * * * * In the evening, a little before 5:00 p.m. The villagers had gathered in the hall of Nido Castle. "Is there a reception for the village chief today? "And I heard there''s an announcement to be made..." There was a lot of noise and bustle. At the exact time of the 5 o''clock bell, Jin took the podium. "Thank you all for gathering here today. Today is the wedding reception of Mr. Giebeck, the village mayor, and Dr. Salie of the clinic, so we have arranged it on short notice. Please congratulate them both." Then the two appear from the sleeves of the podium, both dressed in luxurious clothes prepared by Jin. Both of them are wearing gorgeous clothes prepared by Jin. Sally''s is a white evening gown with lace. When Jin asked her to wear a pure white wedding dress, she turned red and refused. "Wow!Congratulations, Mayor!" "Sally-sensei, I''ll always be with you! and "Congratulations, Mr. Saly! Jin decided to make another announcement here. He decided to make one more announcement here, because he would not be listened to properly if he had been drinking. "And one more thing, I have an announcement. I motioned to Elsa, and ten girls came up on the stage. "Well, for some reason, these girls will be staying with us for a while in the village of Kaina. The ten girls bowed in unison. "We are from the village of Lalio in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Selroa, in the region of Rivas. This winter, there is a shortage of food due to a poor harvest over there. So we have asked them to stay here until the end of spring. Sonia, representing the girls, steps forward and greets them. "Oh, um, my name is Sonia. I''m ...... going to trouble you in various ways, but please take good care of me." Then she bowed deeply. The other girls bowed again. This time, perhaps sensing the situation, they did not speak lightly. "That''s what I mean. Be nice to them, everyone. They may have wisdom of life different from ours. They will teach us these things, and we will learn a lot about the village and get along with them, even if it is only for a short time. Giebeck added his own words. After that, a lively banquet ensued. "Congratulations, Mr. Mayor! "I hope you will be happy, Dr. Saly!" Some people congratulated the village head and Sally. "Sonia, come here!" Martha calls to the reserved girls. "You girls are from far away!" Hannah, who is not a shy girl, also spoke to them and began to make friends with the youngest one. "......I guess that''s a relief." Jin, who had been watching the entire banquet from a distance, muttered in relief. "...... hmm. This village, the people here are very, very nice." Erza, who was standing next to Jin, nodded with a smile. 782 - - 23-18 RozartCartz Village February 17. The national celebration of the Kingdom of Celuloa is just around the corner. Most of the heads of state and ambassadors have left the country. Those who have not yet departed at this point are those who plan to go by hot-air balloon. From the Shoro Kingdom are Reinhardt and his brother-in-law Matheus Geist von Rialger. From the Kingdom of Klein, Arthur, the second prince, and his tutor and aide, Lioness Ashford. And, of course, <>, Jin. "Will Reinhardt be there too? ......" Jin muttered as he sat deep in his chair in the command center of Horai Island. It was a last-minute decision, but since they agreed to it, it was fine. "We should pay a visit to the Shoro Empire as well. Originally, we were going to hear the invitation ...... from the Kingdom of Selroa, or rather the request to attend the meeting, in the Shoro Kingdom. So, I decided to go there as soon as I thought of it. Of course, after adjusting the time, using <> and a transporter. Elsa and Reiko accompanied me. At around nine o''clock in the capital city of Leusert, <> appeared in the sky above the city. The hot-air balloon of the Miyagi security cleared the way, and <> arrived at the landing pad reserved for Jin. The Prime Minister, Jung Forss von K?bsler, rushed up to him. "Sir Jin Nido, Elsa Ehime, Herr Rehko, welcome. I''m sorry to inform you that His Majesty has already left for the Kingdom of Celuloa. Oh, I see. The old man has told me, but he is a man of few words. "I have a message from His Majesty, could you please come to my office?" "Yes, I will." <, Jin and the others headed for the palace with the Prime Minister. "Now, first of all, there is a message from the Kingdom of Selroa to the , do you know it?" "Ah, yes. I heard about it in the Kingdom of Klein. You''ve asked me to attend the commemorative ceremony? Yes, that''s right. Then, I have a letter for you from His Majesty. With these words, the Prime Minister presented a letter. Jin was mildly surprised when he received it. "This letter is specially ...... textured, isn''t it?" Hearing this, the Prime Minister smiled. "It''s called wood paper, and was obtained through trade with the land of Mitsuho," he said. "I see. It is thinner than leather paper. He had been informed of this, but pretended to be unaware of it. "From now on, I would like to spread this paper through our country to the Lesser Antilles. His Majesty also brought a large quantity of this paper. It is supposed to be a gift to the Kingdom of Cerroa. These cultural items may seem modest, but they will prove to be useful to the discerning eye. "That''s nice." His Majesty also said that we owe it to Jin-dono for encouraging us to trade with that country. I am glad to hear you say so. Jin has begun producing on Horai Island, but has decided to use it only within the island and among his friends, and not to sell it outside the island. He thought that it was the right of the Shoro Empire to profit from the <, after all the trouble they went through to establish trade with the Mitsuho Kingdom. "Your majesty is in the carriage with his attendants. I will stay here. Jin was to receive information about the participants in the ceremony to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom of Selroa. "The Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen and the Minister of Magic Degas Furt von Manislas have already departed by ship. "Is the Marquis already so well?" The Marquis of Gehlen was Saki''s maternal grandfather. Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, he was poisoned with arsenic by the minions of the demon tribe and his body was destroyed, but Erza''s healing techniques completely cured him. "Yes. She has recovered enough to act normally, though not to the extent that she used to. And Lisa, was she with you?We also have automata." Lisa is a nursing automaton created by Erza under the guidance of Jin. "......I am honored to be of service to you." "And Erza Ehime''s brother, Commander Fritz, is taking five golems with him." Erza nodded. "Finally, Reinhardt and Matth?us are going by hot air balloon, is that correct? The prime minister''s explanation made sense to them, and they thanked him. "Reinhard and Matheus should be here tomorrow. What about Jin-dono and the others? "Yes, they will return to the Kun Lun island and arrive there the day before. "Oh, I see. I would like to visit Jin-dono''s base of operations. The Prime Minister says jokingly. He was unaware that the day was unexpectedly near. The vizier jokingly said, "I''d like to visit your base once. Reinhard, you stink of water. Jin had jumped from Reuthert''s house to the village of Kurtz to meet with Reinhardt. "No, I didn''t have time to tell him since I was told about it yesterday. It is said that the personnel to go out in the hot-air balloon was disputed until the very last minute. In any case, the decision could not be made before the departure of the emperor. "Well, for one thing, it''s because someone who was supposed to be there at the last minute called in sick and couldn''t make it." "Hmm. It''s not a temporary illness? There are a few illnesses that cannot be cured by the healing magic of this world, but they are few and far between. The fact that the disease appears at this time smells like a fake illness. "Well, I don''t know about that, but I''m happy to accept this assignment. "Well, maybe Reinhardt is." He visited the Kingdom of Selroa last year as a diplomat and knows the people there. He is even more famous because the Black Knight (Schwarzritter)>> defeated the Golem (Adamas Warrior)>>, which was said to be the best golem in his kingdom at that time. "Matheus was his escort. Of course, <>......<> will also be taking him along." "...... just barely?No, it''s a bit heavy, isn''t it?" The Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) is quite heavy. Even with the improvements, it still weighs 250 kilograms. If Reinhardt and Matheus were on board, they would be overweight. "Uh, ...... I''ll carry Noir on my side?" Jin suggests. "But it would be bad if they find out I''m not going with Reinhardt, so I''ll have a dummy on board. Jin thinks that we could add a bit of extra armor to our new <>. "Oh, that would help." Reinhardt looks pleased. "But are you sure you want to leave Bertsche alone?" "Yes, she has very bad morning sickness and I can''t go with her. Besides, I''ve been told that she''s far from stable. "You must be worried." "Yes, but His Majesty has named me." Reinhardt smiles bitterly. Just then, a voice came from behind Jin. "...... Jin-sama, it''s okay. It means that my husband is recognized by the government. It was Belce. She looked a little pale and unwell. "Bel, are you all right?" "Yes, my dear. I can''t keep sleeping when I can see Ms. Jin and Ms. Erza. But you mustn''t be too hard on yourself, okay? "Yes, I know." Jin looked at the two of them and thought that they would be fine. "Oh, Bertsche, I understand. If you feel something is wrong with your health, please contact the old man. "Yes, thank you, Master Jin. "There is an experienced healer, Dr. Sally, in the village of Kaina, so you can count on her in case of emergency." Yes, I have heard of you. I''d like to meet her. ...... and then... Yes? Congratulations on your pregnancy. Well, that''s very kind of you. Erza watched the exchange between Jin and Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt from a distance. She saw a glimpse of envy on their faces. 783 - - 23-19 Preparation Now, Jin and Erza returned to Horai Island and prepared to attend the founding ceremony of the Kingdom of Selroa. clothes made for you anyway? >> "<>?" < "Oh, I like that." A voice came from behind Jin. "Is that Stearena?" "Yes, I just came this way a little while ago, and it sounds like you have an interesting story to tell." <> The old man proposed again. Jin had thought about it a little, so he basically agreed with his opinion. "Ah ....... That''s a good idea. Now, what kind of clothes should we wear?" "Well, father, shouldn''t the basic outfit be a suit?" "A suit. ......" Jin also wore a business suit when he was looking for a job, and once wore a rented formal wear when he was invited to a senior''s wedding. I think it''s that kind of clothing. I don''t want to wear a tailcoat. "Okay. I''ll think in that direction. I''ll help you. I''ll help you. Then Saki arrived. "We should also think about the color. Jin, the lord of Horai Island and the Kunlun lord, is black. His wife Erza is navy blue. The others are blue or green. "Oh, mistress?" Erza blushes at Saki''s lighthearted comment. In the end, Jin, Erza, Saki, and Stearina consulted with each other, and after much ingenuity, the formal wear for Horaijima was completed that night. "Yes, yes, Jin, it''s quite good looking. "Erza, it looks good on you too." In a word, it was a three-piece suit. Jin has a suit jacket, slacks, and a vest. Elsa has a tight skirt instead of slacks. The colors are black for Jin and navy blue for Erza. Ties are white. Overall, the silhouette is more generous than that of the modern Earth, and a bit bulky, in order to be closer to the standard of this world of Ars. A loose fit, so to speak. The outer material is ancient dragon leather stretched as thin as possible. Even so, it should not be able to be damaged even by a sword if you let the magic power flow through it. The lining is made of . It is light, strong, wrinkle-free, and stain-resistant. Shirts are white. It''s also made of GSS. "Saki, I''m sorry. I''m sorry, Saki, but I''m afraid I''m going to have to cancel the vest I had made for you the other day." He is talking about a vest made of ancient dragon material. "But you know, I''m going to make that one more like everyday wear instead of formal wear..." Jin follows up. Jin is not inclined to wear this formal wear except for public occasions, so it will not be a waste in that respect. "By the way, what about Hannah? Hitoshi asked, and Stearina looked surprised. "What?Don''t tell me, Jin-kun, you''re going to take Hannah to the ceremony? She then confirmed with a burst of energy. "...... yeah..." "What are you thinking?Absolutely not!It''s not good for her education to take a little girl to such a dangerous and dangerous city! He was very angry. "Well... ...... so much?" "Jin-kun and Erza-san already know about the world, but not Hannah-chan. You can''t take her to that town until she''s at least fourteen or five years old!" Stearina explained that compared to Gore, the provincial city where she lived, Dali is a city where the royal family has more authority and there is a watchful eye over the whole town. "You can''t take Hannah to Dali, she met that < in Gore too! "Ha, ha ......" Jin was pushed around by Stearina''s unprecedented swordsmanship. "...... Jin brother, Stearina said so much that it''s a good thing that she said so much. You should listen to my advice this time." "......." After being advised by Erza as well, Jin decided not to take Hannah with him. "Oh, ...... I''ll have to make it up to her soon." Jin has a soft spot for Hannah. Finally, Reiko and Edgar''s clothes were also renewed. Although they are made of GSS (Ground Spider Silk), they have been worn out for a long time, so Jin suggested that we take this opportunity to buy new clothes. However, the design is the same. This is because Reiko, in particular, <<>. However, he had to buy a new cloak with the emblem of a knight-errant - a circle with two stripes. The rest is armor. Since we are going to the Kingdom of Cerroa, we should be prepared for any eventuality. The most important question is the timing of the activation of the barrier. Saki gave me an idea for this. "Jin, how about having the old man watch over us and put up a barrier if we are in danger? "Oh, I see. ......" Jin thought it might be a good idea to give the switch for activation to the old man as well, regardless of what to do with the of the watch. Because, inevitably, he might be distracted by something and his reaction might be delayed. "In any case, I would like to make it a proof of family and add the function of manacam (magical element communication device). "In that case, a ring won''t do." "...... bracelets?" Elsa said. Jin nodded. "Yes. That would be perfect." Perhaps Jin had a scene in his mind of a wristwatch as a communication device. Thus, a bracelet was made for the Jin family. The body is made of light silver. The main body is made of light silver, or titanium as we call it on earth (although we have never heard of such a case in our world), so it is safe even if you have a metal allergy. The magi-crystal is set in it, and the magi formula is written on it to form the magi-circuit. Since all of these writings are done internally, the device will not malfunction unless it is damaged to a large extent, such as by loss of the main body. "I should make one for Hannah anyway." This is to apologize for not being able to take Hannah with me, and to think about the future. I''ll color-code them: jet black for Jin, light blue for Erza, yellow for Hannah, light purple for Saki, and copper for Stearina (......). "We also made it so that it can be used as an emergency light." In short, it is a flashlight. It can also be used to dazzle. "This is nice." Saki puts it on her arm and smiles. Erza also put it on her left arm and looked at it with a sigh. "Now, the monitoring device on the old man''s side is ....... "A very small golem. Preferably one that can fly." Erza said almost the same thing Jin was thinking. "Yes, that would be fine. It''s five centimeters long. It is the same size as Finger and Sam. It has a built-in force field generator and, of course, and functions. "Instead of attaching weapons, I''d like to build in a transporter so that it can escape in any case." If the distance to be traveled is about 50 meters, it is possible to build in a transporter. If it can travel that distance in an instant, it should be able to escape from most dangers. "Worst case scenario is ...... self-destruction," he says. Sad to say, but in the worst case scenario, we should destroy the main magical device (Magi Device) and try to keep the secret of Horai Island. "If possible, it would be even better if we could retrieve them and fix them later. It was a thoughtful gesture, just like Jin. The power source is the Magi Reactor and Aethenol. The normal operation can be covered by the Magni Reactor, but the Force Generator is not enough for flight, so Aethenol must be used. Therefore, it can fly for approximately two hours. It cannot fly around all the time. "Well, we can just stick to the ceiling." . Thus was born the Shinobi Unit, a surveillance unit under the direct control of the old man. There are ten of them in total. <> by another name, <>, but since <> was easier to call, it did not take root in the end. Only the name "Shinobi Unit" was revived here. < The old man was a bit concerned about it. "So, Brother Jin, have you decided on a gift?" The gift is a matter of concern for each country. Erza also thought about what she would like, but could not come up with a good idea. "Ah. In my opinion, a magic tool is not a good idea. From Jin''s point of view, in the Kingdom of Cerroa, when they receive a magic tool, they will first disassemble it, assess its danger, analyze its function, and copy any useful technology. Tia, for example, would have been dismembered." "...... Then Brother Jin has done a good thing." "Well. So, no magic tools. I''d better not use any of the materials. What do you mean, Jin? I''m thinking about art objects. I see. If we take it apart, it will lose its value and it will look good. But what exactly do you plan to make? "Well, I''m going to make ...... "...... fugia?" Elsa, who once heard and knew about the Marcia figure I made in Potrock, said in a slightly cold voice. "...... Well, it''s close enough." "Well, what is it?" "It''s a work of art." What Jin had in mind was . 784 - - 23-20 AccompanyingStatus February 18 was the day that Fritz and his party, who had been stranded in Tellurus, were to be able to cross the Torres River. It would also be the day that he and Rita would part. Cynthia, realizing that she had been mistaken, had been kind to Rita since the day after that day, and Gloria had been taking care of her like a mother and sister, showing a surprisingly caring attitude. And Fritz was taking his own pace. "......?" There was a sign on Fritz''s bedroom door. "What ......<......?" And on the side table by the bed was a certificate and a magic tool to remove the collar. "......When ......?" Of course, it was the work of the fifth column (Quinta), Regulus 16, a.k.a. , but Fritz had no way of knowing that this was the case. "...... home country agent or ......?" It is most reasonable to assume that he is an agent of or ? "Hmmm, then there must be some political agenda in asking him to take Rita with him. Perhaps to expose the darkness of Serlore in front of the heads of state, Fritz imagined. "Well, that''s all right. We can''t just let him go. He thought that if he consulted the authorities back home, he would be able to settle Rita''s fate in the right direction. Rita knew that she would have to say goodbye to Fritz and the others after this morning, and she had a downcast look on her face. "Rita!" He shows her the proof. "You are no longer a slave. You are free. You can go wherever you want." With these words, Fritz takes off her collar. Rita is suddenly struck dumb and stiffens. Gloria and Cynthia are also frozen. "What''s going on, Mister Fritz? Gloria finally spoke up and Fritz gave her a simple explanation. "Well... You mean that ...... agents from your country have freed Rita. You must have some very talented ...... people." Gloria seemed convinced, saying a little enviously. "So ......?What do you want to do, Rita?" Fritz was not so keen on being used as a political tool and therefore respected her wishes. "Oh,...... I,...... want to go,...... with you all. If ...... I''m thrown out now, I don''t have anywhere to go. ......" Rita answered hesitantly and reservedly. It was a natural answer and in line with the wishes of the home country. Fritz smiled and nodded. "Okay. I will go with you. I''ll be your squire, I suppose. I''ll be your squire, I guess. Both Gloria and Cynthia were much taller than Rita and their clothes did not fit. "Ah, then I''ll rush to the store after breakfast. Shea, what time was the boat leaving? Yes, Miss Gloria. The boat leaves at 10:00 a.m. "I see. That''s good enough. Is that correct, Mr. Fritz? Yes, thank you. I''ll leave it to you. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Fritz instructed the five <> to walk slowly through the river to the other side of the river. The trip to the other side of the river would be arranged to take place at night. The four people on the boat. The boat on which the group boarded was a large passenger boat that could accommodate about 20 people. Some were merchants, some were soldiers, and some seemed to be low-ranking nobles. One of them muttered in a whisper. "Well, I can''t believe there are slaves on board with us. I can''t stand the smell." He seemed to have seen the tattoo on my chest. Rita twitches when she hears these words. The one who muttered this seemed to be a senior soldier of the Kingdom of Celuloa. In other words, a junior officer. "Don''t worry about it. You''re not a slave anymore." Fritz patted Rita on the shoulder for comfort. "You seem to despise slaves, but you are a fool if you do not realize that the soil of your country is rotten. Gloria spoke to herself in an audible monologue. "What? "Oh, you heard me. You have good ears. "You''ve got good ears!I told you to listen to me! Fritz interrupted. "Gloria, don''t do this. "...... I suggest you don''t either, since you''re on a boat." "U...... got it." "Yes." Gloria reluctantly withdrew, and the soldier turned away as if sniffling. After two hours, the boat arrived at the other side of the river. "Ah, we''re here at last!" Fritz stretched out as he was released from the cramped confines of the boat. "Hey, guys." "Yeah?" Fritz turned around to see the senior soldier who had complained about Rita on the ship standing there, along with about five of his followers. "What do you want?" "What do you want?" he asked. "I can''t stand having a slave in the center of my country. Get out of here as soon as possible. By "the center" here, I mean the triangle between the Torres and Asur rivers, the lands of the former Kingdom of Selroa. "Unfortunately, we are planning to stay in Ritz today." What? And we''ll be in Dali during the commemoration. We have no right to be dictated to by you in the first place. Fritz says calmly and the senior soldier shows his anger. "Who do you think you are, ...... me!" "I don''t know. I don''t know. We''ve never met before. Rita and Cynthia are far away while Fritz is dealing with them. Gloria is standing nearby, watching the proceedings. "I''m the regional lord of the Marquis of Urau, ......." "Oh, I don''t want to hear about your boss. That''s what we call a rat riding on the back of a dragon. It''s the Japanese equivalent of a fox riding on the back of a tiger. "You!You insult me! Whether you take it as an insult or just an explanation is up to you. d*mn ......! The senior soldier was about to put his hand on the shortsword at his waist when... "That''s enough!" A voice called out. It was a man who appeared to be a low-ranking nobleman on the same ship. He was a little older than Fritz. He has blond hair, blue eyes, and is quite handsome. He is flanked on either side by two strong-looking men. "What are you doing?Don''t interfere!" But the strong man kept a stern look on his face. "I didn''t know the Marquis of Ulaanbaatar had such men. ......" What? He seems a little creeped out by the fact that his boss seems to know the Marquis of Ulaanu. "You''d better step back now. This is His Royal Highness the Dauphin Cesar Valois. One of his entourage announced the shocking truth in a quiet voice. "What?" A senior soldier makes a stupid sound. "Wang ...... Taishi ...... child?" The blood drained from the senior soldier''s face. "Hey, hey, Kirk, you can''t just give him away like that." I''m sorry, sir. I''m sorry, sir. The senior soldier and his cronies kneel down. "Oh, forget it. I know the name of your boss. You can leave now." Yes, sir. ...... The Dauphin, who had been in high spirits earlier, looked at the senior soldier, who was now drooping and slinking away, and then turned to Fritz and bowed lightly. "I apologize for the rudeness of my soldiers." 785 - - 23-21 The Prince of Mystery "...... Hmmm, that''s an interesting story." Cesar Valois, the Dauphin of the Kingdom of Celuloa, nodded uncomfortably as he listened to Fritz, Gloria, Cynthia, and Rita''s story. After an exchange with a rude senior soldier, Fritz and the others had accompanied the Dauphin at his request. They were taken to another house between the fourth and the fifth of the five walls, in the noble district. The Dauphin was quietly indignant when he heard that Rita had been sold to make up the shortfall in taxes. "In the first place, slavery itself is illegal. I have been wondering about this ever since the soldier who was making noise on the ship just now mentioned the word ." (......) If this kind of thing continues, not only will the hearts and minds of the people leave the country, but some will flee. (Why doesn''t anyone realize that this means a decline in national power? ......) Cesar further conveyed his wish to them. "By way of Tellurus, you have come through the kingdom of Egelea, have you not?Can you tell us what you noticed?" As soon as he said it, he realized that he had said it wrong. No, I am sorry. This is not a request for information about the Kingdom of Egelea. What can I say ...... well, I want to hear what the outside world has to say about our country." This way, Fritz and the others would be less afraid. "Yes, ...... a technologically advanced country, isn''t it?" "Well, it is a great honor to hear you say so, Mr. Fritz of the Shawlo Empire. I hear that your country is developing various new technologies these days. "Yes, well, ....... Yes, well, I suppose they are developing some, but most of them may be given to us. "Hmm?What do you mean?" Cesar tilted his head. "You don''t know, do you, Your Highness?< "No, no, I know of him. He is the only magecraft master in the world. Then you can see how all technology seems to fade away in his presence. Cesar closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "...... I guess you''re right. I am not in a position to get much information from the outside, so I rarely hear about such things." "Your Highness, is that so? ......" Fritz was astonished by the fact that the crown prince of a major power was under information control. "Well, that''s just the way it is. The Dauphin has no power other than being the first in line of succession ...... or perhaps it is an exaggeration to say that he has none, but he is nothing compared to his father the king." Cesar smiled to himself. "What else?What kind of rumors are there?" "...... Do you know about the incident that happened the other day at the ruins of the old Leonard''s Kingdom?" This time it was Gloria who spoke up. "...... No, I don''t know. Can you tell us about it?" "Yes, in late January, I think. I think it was late January. The place was the Sold Lake site. The location is the Soldrake Ruins. 500 golems were found there. ......" She told us that the golem recovery team of the Egelea Kingdom had a dispute with the frontier corps of the Selroa Kingdom, that giant ants had appeared, and that the frontier corps had been wiped out. She had heard these details during her recuperation in the Kingdom of Egelea. "......What ...... is that ......?" The Dauphin, hands over his face, looks downcast. "......What do you think you''re doing? ......" He sighed and looked up. "......Thank you for sharing your precious story with us. If you don''t mind, could you stay the night?Of course, your freedom is guaranteed. "I don''t mind. ......" Fritz replies. The Shoro Kingdom has no history of conflict with the Kingdom of Cerroa, so it is relatively easy for them. But Gloria and Cynthia are different. The Kingdom of Klein has been in constant skirmishes with the Kingdom of Cerroa, its vassal states, and the Kingdom of Franz. "Gloria, Cynthia''s safety is also guaranteed by my pride and joy." "...... I''ll take your word for it." In the first place, it was doubtful that he would have the option of refusing. With some hesitation, Gloria agreed. Cesar smiled. "Well, thank you. I welcome you, even if it is only in a small way. And if possible, I would like to hear more about what you have to say. However, it was time to go, so we took a bath and had dinner. At the dinner, Cesar brought a girl and introduced her to Fritz and the others. She had unusual jet-black hair, unusual red eyes, and fair skin. She looked about 8 or 9 years old. She looks more like a little girl than a little girl. The girl bowed in the traditional manner, took a half step back, and withdrew behind Cesar. She remained silent for the entire time. "I found her by chance near the Nuvali mine. When I found her, she was so battered that she couldn''t even remember her name. She still can''t remember it now." Behind Cesar, the girl turns her head sadly. "I would like to ask you. Do you know anything about her that might help us?As you can see, the color of her hair and eyes are quite unusual. If our blood relatives share the same features, have we met before?" But Fritz, Cynthia and Rita shook their heads. Only Gloria looked at the girl with a slightly nervous look on her face. "...... I see, I''m sorry." "But I''ll let you know if I get any clues in the future. Fritz, on behalf of the company, offered his services. "Well, that''s very kind of you." And the girl bowed her head in silence. The girl bowed her head in silence. After dinner, Fritz and the others were able to relax in the room they had been given without any questions. "...... wind." "I feel a bit tired, if anything." Fritz sighed and let out a genuine sigh. "...... I never expected to meet the Dauphin and to be invited straight to his other house." Cynthia also looked tired. Rita was so exhausted that she had already fallen asleep on her bed. "But didn''t you think something was wrong with her?" Cynthia nodded at Fritz''s words. "Yes. I felt ...... something strange." "A strange feeling. Hmmm. Uncomfortable is the most appropriate word. But even without that, it''s a pity that you don''t remember anything. Fritz muttered with a difficult look on his face. "Perhaps ...... my sister can help you with that." "Erza-sama, you mean ......?" "Yes. She will probably be at the upcoming commemorative ceremony along with Jin-dono, so I can ask her to come. "Yes. I think it would be best if you ask him to do so. Cynthia agreed. "And maybe Rita''s tattoo can be removed as well." "Yes, that would be a good idea. Shea is right. Mr. Fritz, I would like you to ask them to do the same for me. "I don''t need to be told." Fritz wondered if Gloria''s expression was duller than usual. "What''s the matter, Gloria?Are you in a bad mood?" Gloria raised her eyes and spoke slowly. "...... her name is ...... maybe her name is Alshell..." "Gloria, you know her?" "Yes. Yes, but he is too different from the Alshell I remember. ...... Gloria then told the story of the monster tamer she had once met in the mountains of the Kingdom of Klein, between Racneau and Doppa. "...... hmmm ...... a giant scissor beetle, Gigantor Avrum, huh?" "I''m not sure if it''s really the same person. They look so different. But they look exactly alike. Maybe they''re twin sisters. "As I recall, they called themselves <>. If I hadn''t been rescued by the deus ex machina at that time, I wouldn''t be here now." "Hmm, Mister Machina." The conversation then turns to deus ex machina. He is the one who saved her when she was attacked by a monster in the ruins of Botsuffa. Gloria had fainted, but Cynthia had seen him. "I understand that you are the brother of Jin-dono..." "Mm. ...... have you been invited to this commemoration ceremony?" Gloria''s tone was a little hopeful. "I doubt it. Unlike Jin-dono, we don''t know who he is, we don''t know where he''s based, so we can''t invite him, and we wouldn''t want to invite such a suspicious person." "No doubt." Then the topic turns once again to the girl - Archelle. "In any case, Gloria. In any case, Gloria, I think it would be best to convey your concerns to the Dauphin. "Okay. Tomorrow we will have a proper discussion." Fritz glanced out the window. It was already dark. It was already dark, about 7:00 p.m.. "Well then, I''m going to say no to His Highness and go out for a while. What ...... is this about Goliath? "That''s what I''m talking about. He''s probably waiting in the shallows, so I''ll go back and give him instructions." We walked down the corridor and found a door guarded by four guards. It was the Dauphin''s apartment. Fritz was interrupted by one of the guards and was able to talk to the Dauphin. "Hmmm, <>. I''m a bit curious, may I follow you?" Cesar said something unexpected. "If I go with you, it will be easier to pass through the walls. "Sure. ......" After some thought, Fritz decided to go with him. There was no need to hide them now, since they would be publicly displayed at the ceremony anyway, and there was no doubt that they had been conspicuous on the way here. So, please do." So, with Cesar and his two guards, Fritz set out. 786 - - 23-22 The Torres River As the Dauphin Cesar said, the checkpoints between the walls were mostly face-passing. "This is the only way I can use my power!" Cesar laughed, but there was a hint of melancholy in his voice. "But, Your Highness, is it safe to go out at night with only two guards?" Fritz wondered if the crown prince of a country was being careless. He is the crown prince, but he is only the eldest son. I have two younger brothers, so my father will not be bothered by my absence. There was a hint of self-mockery in these words. We walked for about 20 minutes to the Torres River. It was pitch black, so Fritz used a ball of light. The area was illuminated by a faint light. From the looks of it, <> is not in the vicinity. "Maybe a little further downstream." We moved about 5 minutes further downstream, and found no <> there, so we moved another 5 minutes further downstream. "What?What is that?" < floating in the light of the . "Ah, that''s it. !Come here!" And then a huge body appears. The Dauphin Cesar looks up in astonishment as five appear before him. "Well, I''ve heard about this, but this is spectacular. You must have walked them all the way here, but did they stop you or suspect you along the way?" Fritz answered the question, checking ''s condition. Yes, I was on my way back from a trip to the Kingdom of Klein. Yes, I am returning from a trip to the Klein Kingdom, so I have been there on my way there as well. So there was no suspicion. "Oh, yes, that''s right." "I also have a letter from the Emperor, so as long as I talk to him properly he has never complained." "Yes, that''s true. Thank you, Mister Fritz. You have shown me a good thing." And then... Out of the darkness a flame bursts out. "Your Highness!" Fritz is the first to notice and pushes Cesar away. "What? In the nick of time, the firebullet flies past Cesar''s face. "Who the hell are you? Fritz turns around to find that the firebullet had been cut down by the Dauphin''s bodyguards. (That''s pretty quick. ......) The reaction of the two guards was also quite good: one of them stood to protect the Dauphin, and the other one defeated the culprit. < He had been cut in a vital spot and was no longer breathing, so we could not ask him about his motive, but we assumed that he had taken a shortcut to avoid informing the Marquis of Ulaanbaatar. He was not able to ask about his motive because he had not breathed his last breath. Please be careful. Cesar chuckled as Fritz spoke. "...... I understand. I owe you a great debt of gratitude, my Lord Fritz. ...... Kirk, Scaife, let''s go home. As for the body of the senior soldier, we''ll send someone out as soon as we get back to the house." * * * * Around the same time, on Horai Island. Saki, who was in the laboratory, noticed that Jin''s house, which she could see from her window, was still lit. The time was around 11:00 p.m., close to midnight. "......It''s rare that you go to bed later than me, a night owl. Or is he trying to cook something again?" Basically, Jin is an early riser. Except when he is not engrossed in trying to make something. Saki was not yet sleepy, so she somehow found her way to Jin''s house. (Kuhuh, what if Jin and Erza are in the middle of .........) She was in a strangely high state of tension, probably because she had been sleep deprived for a long time. As I quietly approach the house, I see a shadow sitting on the porch facing south. "...... Jin?" I couldn''t help but shout out. "Saki? What are you doing here so late at night?" "It''s Jin, isn''t it?You usually go to bed early, what''s wrong with you tonight?" Jin then let out a slightly pained laugh. "...... a little, you know. I''ve been doing a lot of thinking." "......Where''s Reiko?" "I''m sure she''s around somewhere, but tonight I wanted to be alone and think about it." "I see. I''m sorry I disturbed you. I saw the lights were still on in the window. Good night, Jin. Saki was about to return to the laboratory when Jin stopped her. "Saki?" "Hm?" Saki stops and turns around. "...... just in time. Can I ask you something? "I don''t mind, but you wanted to be alone, didn''t you?And you don''t want to leave Erza out of it, do you? "Yeah, I''ve been feeling a little stuck thinking alone and I''m not sure if Elsa is the right person to ask." "Yes. ...... well, if you just want to ask." Saki turned back and sat down on the porch alongside Jin. "......I''ve been thinking that I can''t go on like this." Slowly, Jin began to speak. "I thought that I could live here on Horai Island doing what I wanted. Jin spoke without hesitation. "My knowledge and skills are far from the current standards of this world. It''s unnatural." "......" "If I rewrite this world as I please, ....... It would be a ." Half to himself, half to Saki. "<> is a phrase left behind not by me, but by a wise man in the Land of Mitsuho (Magus)." "...... Jin, are you sure you want to just listen?" Saki asked, unable to bear the silent listening. "Yes, but if you have any questions, just ask." Jin then began to speak again. "So I thought about it. <, what I should be doing is not an invasion of cultures, but a fusion. "Fusion, huh?" Saki nodded deeply several times as she parroted back. "I guess you''re right. So, what''s bothering you so much?" Saki had not been bothered by any of the things she had heard so far in the conversation. "Oh. Here it is. How can we fuse ...... then?" Jin breaks off. Saki thought that he was asking her what she thought. "Yes, I think so. Not forced. And not too sudden. And ...... not cause friction. ......?" Jin smiled and nodded. "Right. I would add, in a way that makes people happy and is good for the world." "That''s so like Jin." "Thank you for ....... Then, what should I be?" Saki was convinced after hearing that. Jin had lost sight of where he stood. Saki asked herself what she could say to Jin. And the answer he got was. "Kuhu, Jin gets depressed in a funny way sometimes. Well, I guess that''s what makes him a person, isn''t it? He prefaced his answer with. "Jin, you shouldn''t worry alone. Don''t worry about Erza, me, and Reinhardt. You should talk to ......<. That''s what friends are for. Saki concludes. "Jin, you seem to be trying to carry everything by yourself. You don''t have to." "...... is that so?" Saki smiled and nodded. "Yes. <, even , is a djinn. What the hell is that? "It means that djinn don''t have to carry the burden. Jin''s mistaken. I''m mistaken? You''re mistaken? Jin''s knowledge, his skill, his power, he didn''t get them by seeking them, did he?But maybe that''s why he has so much of it. Jin still didn''t understand what Saki meant. "I can say that because I''m close to Jin in that respect. Jin, don''t get swept away by what you''ve got." "You''re being swept ...... up in it?" "Yes, that''s right. The powers that be will want to take advantage of you. They will try to use it. But I don''t care. Saki broke off, took Jin''s hand, looked him straight in the eye, and said "Jin, go ahead and do what you think is right. I, or rather we, are always on Jin''s side. If Jin makes a mistake, we will stop him. 787 - - 23-23 Consultationdiscovery "Saki ......" Jin looked both pleased and dismayed. "I heard that your grandfather had a lot to say to Jin. He is only a man who thinks from the perspective of the powerful. Saki laughed, "His position as a marquis is ingrained in his bones. "That''s why he forgets. That''s why he forgets that he is a human being first. As if a switch has been flipped, Saki is very talkative tonight. "Just because you have power doesn''t mean you can force Jin to do anything. "Well, you know, ......" "Well, you don''t look convinced. I''ll say it then. Jin, the best use of your power is to take over the world. "Nah. ......" Jin is surprised to hear that word come out of Saki''s mouth. "The power to do that. If we do that, the world will be at peace, okay?No one will try to force Jin to do anything, right? Jin looked at Saki''s face, wondering how serious she was. "That''s what I mean. If the king of Serlore had even half of Jin''s power, he would definitely use it to take over the world. That made some sense to Jin. "So, I''ll say it again.Power is for use, not to be used. Jin, don''t let your power use you. Use them well." Saki let out an exaggerated sigh. I''m getting sleepy. I''m going to bed. Leave the rest to Erza, okay? "What?" Saki said nothing more, waved her hand and went back to her room at the institute. "Elle......za?" Jin turned around at Saki''s words and noticed that the shoji screen behind the porch was slightly open. He also noticed a pair of light blue eyes peering out of them. "What are you doing?" He opened the shoji and saw Erza in her pajamas standing there. "...... I heard them talking, so I came over to see my brother Jin and sister Saki talking." Erza replied with a downcast look on her face. "Oh ...... sorry, did I wake you up?" "No, I didn''t. But I''m a little, no, I''m very sorry that I couldn''t notice that my brother Jin was troubled. Jin pats Erza on the head. "Thank you. I''m glad you said that. He then looked up at the moon in the mid-sky. Elsa sits down next to him. And then, "...... Jin is not good at relying on others. He is the opposite of me, who has always relied on someone else. He said this to me in a whisper. "I don''t think so... I go to 700672 to ask him about things I don''t understand... ..." But Elsa shook her head. "No. It''s no different than going through the documents. I don''t know how to put it." "Oh, I see. ......" My origins. As an orphan, I sought a way of life without depending on others. I wanted to be strong enough to live without depending on others. "Just a little bit. When you are in trouble, remember me too. And rely on me ...... to share your troubles with you." "Elsa, ......" "Half, a tenth, even a hundredth. Let me take over for you." Light blue eyes look straight into dark ones and say. "I''ll make it easier for you, Jin. "Thank you." Jin hugged Erza''s shoulder. "I''m an idiot. I''ve been worrying about my friends and Erza, saying that I don''t want them to be unhappy. Jin''s words had a strength that he had never felt before. "It''s not like that. I''ll do whatever I want, just like before!" "Well, I think that''s fine. We haven''t known each other very long, but I think I know my brother Jin''s character. Even if he says I can do whatever I want, I have a certain amount of moderation." Then Erza smiled and said. "I''m not a fan of common sense, though." The two of them looked up at the sky and saw a single bright star. The next morning, Hitoshi and Elsa went to the airport to see a movie. The next morning, Jin called Erza and Saki to the command center. Reiko and Anne were also present. "Kuhu, Jin, I see your troubles are over." Saki looked at Jin''s face and smiled. Jin smiled and continued the story. "......Let''s see... First of all, what kind of attitude should I take at the upcoming ceremony to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom of Selroa?That''s what I''d like to discuss with you. "Well, that''s a very difficult question, isn''t it? Jin nodded broadly. Then he continued. "......I''m thinking of announcing my,...... engagement to Erza at that place where heads of state and others gather." "What?" Erza turned red in a flash. Saki clapped her hands in delight. "Ha-ha-ha, that''s good, Jin!Yes, we must be clear about this!<." "Ah, ah. But more than that, I''m wondering how far we''re willing to go. How far? "Oh. We''re going to take the , but the Kingdom of Cerroa is getting carried away and is trying to threaten the nations with military force. ......" There is a huge airship, a huge echarting ship, and some kind of artifact that they have found. There may be other golems and other artifacts unique to that country. "You''re having the fifth column (Quinta) check it out, aren''t you?" "Yes. But there is a place with very strict precautions and special warding. I haven''t checked there. It was not wartime and he did not want to alarm them unnecessarily. "But I have a rough idea of what it is by approaching it from a different direction. It is an institution that studies special golems. Anne explained for him. "Even if we can''t directly observe the inside, we can learn a great deal by reconstructing the information that people who enter and leave the facility divulge. They are developing a four-meter class golem." "Four meters?Isn''t that halfway?" Erza denied Saki''s words. "Not really, Saki. Considering the strength of the body and the power it can generate, three to four meters might be the most efficient ...... for a golem." Jin adds to Erza''s words. "Erza is right. In the case of human beings, we can say that the upper limit is around 2 meters in height due to the strength of the bones and the muscular capacity of the muscles. However, a golem with a metal skeleton and magical muscles. With a golem, I am not mistaken in judging that 4 meters is the upper limit. With Jin''s technology and the materials of Horai Island, he has been able to create a 15 meter <>. "<> is too big, and its speed of movement is sacrificed." "I see. "So... So what am I going to do about it? It is not only the people of the Kingdom of Celuloa who are present. Jin thought that if he showed them <> or <>, it would only complicate things. "<>, a covert task force (SP) reorganized for escort, and Reiko. What else should we do?Is it arrogant of me to think of ...... this?" Jin, the person in question, was at a loss to make a decision. He was about to rebuke a country''s words and actions as if he were scolding a child. "Yes, I guess you could say I''m talking from the top, but I don''t have a choice.But, it can''t be helped, can it?That''s what scolding means." If we were looking at each other the same way, it would be more of a fight than a scolding, Saki added. "I see. ....... Then I guess we''d better be ready to deal with whatever that country tries to do." "Kuhu, I''d like them to beat them thoroughly, though." Saki was unexpectedly radical. "Speaking of which, what about Marcia and Rodrigo?" Erza says, and Jin explains what he knows. "It seems that they have completed an outboard motor and delivered two units to the Kingdom of Elias. It seems that they are going to manufacture a small boat using them in a hurry and deliver it in time for the ceremony. ......" If the boat can reach 50 km/h, it can go from Potrock to Dali in three days with a little effort. According to the old man''s report, Marcia has prepared a trimaran with an outboard motor. The Marquis of Firenziano received it with great joy. "A large ship from the Shoro Kingdom and a new ship from the Elias Kingdom. I''m sure they''ll be no match for the ships of Serlore." "I agree." Jin was pleased that people other than himself were showing the Kingdom of Celuloa what they had to offer, but at the same time he was worried that they might harm them. "We should consider the machina''s turn." The old man assures him. Then came a shocking report for Jin and the others. "Archelle?" < "What do you think, Elsa?" "...... Maybe it''s the influence of the ." Jin had considered this possibility. "But wouldn''t that be behind the ear or into the heart?Would that make the memory go away?" "That''s what I think. But what if they made a mistake when they put it behind the ear?" Hundreds of people have been processed with the <>, so it''s not surprising if one or two people make a mistake," insists Elsa. "Is it ...... possible?" Nevertheless, the discussion here is inconclusive. "We''ll have a chance to meet at the memorial ceremony or afterwards. We can confirm it then." "Yes." Jin wanted to do all he could to help his brother, Belial, who was very worried about him. 788 - - 23-24 Gathering Reunion February 20, 3458. It was two days before the commemoration of the founding of the Kingdom of Cerroa. In Dali, the city of the Kingdom of Cerroa, the heads of state and important figures from various countries began to gather one after another. The first to arrive were Reinhard and Matheus of the Shoroa Kingdom. They flew in by hot-air balloon. Accompanying them was a black knight (Schwarzlitter). They were greeted by a huge airship. It floated above the hot air balloon as if intimidating, looking down on Reinhardt and the others. However, Reinhardt knows Jin''s technology. He appeared to be astonished, but in fact, he was truly unconcerned. However, Captain Matth?us Geist von Rialger, who was accompanying him, was different. "La, Reinhard, did you see that?Did you see those huge airships?That''s four of them!" "Yeah, that''s a lot." Reinhardt was thinking that building four airships in such a short period of time was a good thing. "Is that all?" "Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you''re dating a djinn." ...... I see." The next group to arrive was from the Kingdom of Egelea. In two hot air balloons came Duke Angus Bulu Pyroyd and Count Galana. Duke Bulu is a cousin of King Egelea, so he came as a representative of the king. Count Galana was his companion. For protection, each of them had one of the original golems of the Kingdom of Egelea, one shining in gold. One of them was gilded, a taste of Count Galana''s. "Mmm," he said. "Hmmm, this is amazing. The Kingdom of Cerroa is a country not to be underestimated. Although the Duke of Bulou appeared to be acting with dignity, inwardly he was a bit overwhelmed. On the other hand, Count Galana was overwhelmed just as the King of Cerroa had planned, and his complexion turned pale and his attitude showed it. What is this huge airship?I shouldn''t have come to ......!) "Calm down a bit, Count. It''s a matter of national prestige." "Yes, yes..." Count Galana manages to keep up appearances after being rebuked by the Duke. Third was the Kingdom of Franz. The Duke of Lefort de Orange, known as the Duke of the South, arrived in a carriage with 10 of his men as a plenipotentiary. It is obvious from this that there is a road between the kingdoms of Franz and Celuloa, which is not shown on the map. However, no one pointed this out publicly. <, it would be irrefutable. "Well, this is a wonderful technology!It is beyond the reach of our country. As soon as he got out of the carriage, Prince Oranjee praised the airship with open arms. The fourth to arrive was the Kingdom of Klein. The fourth visitor was from the Kingdom of Klein, traveling in two hot-air balloons. On one side were the second prince, Arthur, and his valet and tutor, Lyonesse Ashford. On the other are his escort, Jessica Norton, and his technical advisor, Boulton Allstadt. "Hmmm......... It sends chills down my spine to think what would happen if we used this in a war." "Yeah, I agree. At that size, even my fire magic won''t be able to bring it down. "Haha, if you say so, Jessica, you are right, it is a threat." Jessica and Boulton seem to feel threatened by the airship of the Kingdom of Celluloid. "Prince, what do you think?" "Well, I can appreciate their technological prowess, but their use of such intimidation is despicable. I don''t think you are capable of uniting a country. "Haha, you''re right. I can''t even grasp the true strength of Jin-dono ......, but when I think about it, I can only see it as a false threat." But Prince Arthur and Lioness knew about Jin''s <, and although they did not show it in their faces or attitudes, they seemed to see that the four giant airships were not what they appeared to be. "Ha-ha-ha, everyone seems surprised. It''s funny." King Richard of Celuloa let out a joyful laugh as he boarded one of the airships and looked down on the world below. "The Kingdom of Elias and ......<> are the only ones left. And then there''s the Shoro Kingdom, which is coming as a separate group, and the guys from the Klein Kingdom. Richard stirs the wine he always drinks. "This wine tastes good after all. Richard''s favorite wine is one that is classified as <>. Fermentation is stopped by adding a high concentration of alcohol, such as spirits, during the fermentation process, which kills the yeast and stops the fermentation. Richard''s favorite was a strong liquor with an alcohol content of about 25 degrees. In addition, a secret additive was added to further enhance the taste and aroma. "Drinking this will make your head clear. My kingdom is secure." But there came a time when his smile faltered a little. At 3 p.m. on the same day, a small boat came from the sea up the Naudaria River to Dali via the Asr River. It was a small ship, but it was about 8 meters long. The hull was divided into three parts and connected by a deck, and it seemed to have a magi-machine attached to the stern, which I had never seen before. The speed of the ship was fast. "Nun-nun, what is that ship?" Richard asked Ratant, the director of the First Ministry of Technology, who was on board. "Yes. From the looks of it, I''d say it''s a ship from the Kingdom of Elias. The drive system is unknown from here ......." It was a trimaran that Marcia had painstakingly developed. Destroyed by Bowall, it was further modified and fitted with two screw-driven outboard motors. Thanks to the production assistance of the Arrow, which was improved and strengthened by Jin, it was completed in a short period of time and was immediately adopted by the Marquis of Florenziano, a lord of the southern region. The Marquis of Firenziano, the Lord of the Southern Provinces, saw it and adopted it immediately. Although they left later, they overtook the fleet that preceded them and arrived a day early. On board is the representative, the Marquis Florenziano, and Marcia as pilot. The Arrow is the auxiliary crew. The two outboard motors reach a maximum speed of 50 km/h and cover the 400 km from Potrock to the mouth of the Naudaria River in less than 9 hours. The 200 km upriver was also completed in less than 6 hours. The 200 kilometers upriver were completed in a little over six hours. "...... Hmmm, it''s just a little boat. What do I care?" King Richard snickered and drank the wine from the glass in his hand in one gulp. No more guests arrived that day. In the evening, King Richard returned to his palace in Dali. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day was even more exciting. First of all, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, the empress of the Shawlo Kingdom, arrived in a carriage. The time is 8:00 am. She had crossed the Asur River on the first ferry of the morning. "Well, well, Your Majesty, welcome!" Even the Kingdom of Celuloa, as one would expect of the head of the Shoro Empire, decided that they could not fail to be courteous in welcoming the head of the Shoro Empire, and they were greeted by the First Secretary of Foreign Affairs, or Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bojoly. Behind him were Reinhardt and Matheus. When the emperor saw them, he smiled softly, nodded his head, and said to Bojoly: "I am pleased to have been invited to this meeting. I am honored by your invitation. Reinhard and Matth?us also greet the emperor. "Your Majesty, we have been expecting you. "I congratulate you on your safe arrival." You also have a good day. ...... Director General of the First Ministry of Foreign Affairs, another detachment should be arriving shortly. At the same time as he said these words, a cheer went up. "?" Mr. Beaujolie turned around to see five giant golems, each measuring six meters in height, on their way to him. They are our Goliaths. I''m sure you already know this. Many of us know them, as they have passed through the Kingdom of Selroa when transporting desiccants to the Kingdom of Klein. Unfortunately, however, Bojolie did not know about it. "Yes, you are quite good, aren''t you? Yes, the Shoro Empire, indeed. Unfortunately for him, there was an even louder cheer. Looking at the people, they were all looking up. Bojoly looked up as well. "Oh ......! The airship <>, bearing the emblem of <>, was about to descend. "That''s Sir Jin Nido, isn''t it?" "That must be the Koron-kun." The airship descends slowly and lands soundlessly on the edge of the landing pad where the hot air balloons of various countries are moored. Immediately, a golem in light silver armor jumped out and fastened itself to a hook ......<> on the landing pad. Once stable, a simple ramp was lowered from the rear of the cabin, revealing <> Jin and Erza. Reiko and Edgar, of course, were escorted by a new girl-type SP, <><>, wearing light armor made of 64 light silver, a woman knight indeed. "You are <>, aren''t you?" Bojolie, meeting Jin for the first time, looks slightly skeptical. He has never seen the suits that Jin and Erza are wearing, so perhaps he is even more skeptical. "<>, it''s been a long time. Then the female emperor came to his rescue. "Your Majesty, it''s been a while." And from Reinhardt. "Sir Jin Nido, it''s been a long time. I''m glad to see you''re doing well. "It''s been a long time, Sir Reinhard Randall." "Sir Reinhard, it''s been a long time." Thus, <> Sir Jin Nido was clearly recognized by the Kingdom of Serlore. 789 - - 23-25 True ValueReport What is that incompetent doing? King Richard, who was far in the background, was aware of the panic on the part of First Secretary of Foreign Affairs Bojoly. This was because the same magic screens that had been used in the Elias Kingdom during the had been placed in various locations. They are used for the same purpose as security cameras and surveillance cameras. The Kingdom of Cerroa is still a country to be reckoned with. Richard was indignant because he had seen the appalling appearance of Mr. Beaujolie, the First Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the magic screen. "As soon as the ceremony is over, he''ll be removed. ......" King Richard was talking to himself over a glass of his favorite wine. * * * * "Sir Gin Nidor, Elsa Ehime, it''s been a long time. "Yes, it''s been a while, Your Majesty. The face of the emperor smiled when he saw their matching tailored clothes. "Your clothes are very unusual, but very nice. Is that ......?" "Yes, it''s the formal attire of the Kunlun Island. They made these clothes for this occasion. "Oh, yes. It''s very functional." The loose-fitting suit-like formal wear was easy to move in and looked functional. "Oh, uh, Your Majesty, Sir Jinn Nido, I don''t think we''ve been standing around here for very long ......". Bojoly interrupted, a bit embarrassed, because he did not know how to treat them as they started to stand there talking. "Oh, I''m sorry. "Oh, I''m sorry, but we''re almost there. You can do that at ......." "And if I do?" The Empress looked a little expectant. "...... Oh, here we are." Jin pointed to the river Asur, the great river that flows to the west of Dali. "Oh!" "Oh, is that ......?" A 10-meter-long, shiny silver boat appeared. "This is the ship I built, <>. "Shark. ......" It is a monohull ship, but its design is similar to that of modern Earth cruisers. It stands out from other vessels. "Is it made of metal?" Even the Empress was surprised to see the shining silver hull, and her voice rose slightly. "No, it''s just painted. It''s basically a wooden ship." "......I knew it, <>, right ......?" A shark slowly approaches the pier. Jin, accompanied by Reiko, approached the pier. The onlookers......, who are not ordinary people but mostly nobles attending the ceremony,...... cracked open and let Jin through. As soon as the Shark docked at the pier, Lao Tzu came out from inside. Ann followed. Lao Tzu picked up the rope and jumped ashore as if there was no distance between them. He secured the boat firmly with a familiar hand. Then he bowed politely to Jin. "Master, I have just arrived with Ann. Thank you. You are right on time. Jin, Jin, where are you? The emperor arrived a little later and looked at Lao Tzu with a surprised look on his face. "This is . And this is . This is my automata. There was a murmur of excitement from the onlookers. Both Lao Tzu and Ann looked like human beings. "My name is Lao Tzu. Your Majesty, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. "My name is Ann. Your Majesty, it''s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. "Your Majesty, it''s a pleasure to meet you. ...... Oh, you''re Jin-kun, aren''t you?" Perhaps because of her continuous surprise, the emperor''s tone had changed to her usual one. On the other hand, Reinhardt, who was standing behind her, was watching without panicking because he knew Jin''s ability. Then Fritz Randall, who had led <>, arrived. Gloria and Cynthia are separated as members of the Klein Kingdom at this point. Rita, by the way, had been reported as a valet for chores and had been left in the living room. "Your Majesty, Commander Randall, we have just arrived! "Oh, thank you. I''ll get your report later. The ceremony is tomorrow and Elsa will be there too, so you can talk to her, okay?" "Yes!" Fritz salutes and turns to Erza, who is standing next to Jin. "Elsa, it''s been a while. You look better and better every time I see you. Elsa returns the greeting with a smile. "I''m glad to see you''re doing well, too, brother. Thank you. ...... Jin-dono, it''s been a long time. Thank you for watching over my sister. "Brother, don''t treat me like a child." "You''re still a child in my eyes. Please take good care of your sister, ...... Jin-dono." Fritz seems to have realized the significance of the two of them wearing the same outfit. "Yes, you can count on me." Erza''s cheeks turned vermilion when she heard those words. Fritz then turned to Elsa again. "I''m sorry, but could you come to my room later?I have a favor to ask you." "...... yes, my brother." Seeing that the conversation was over, the emperor asked her to take charge of the situation. "Well, it''s time to go back to our rooms. You''ll see that Mister Beaujolie there is in trouble. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, ......!What the hell is he? Richard of Cerroa shouted, slamming the wineglass in his hand to the floor. His attendants turned pale at the force of his shout. Airship. An automaton. A ship. All of them were on a level Richard had never seen before. The king of the technologically advanced Kingdom of Cerroa has an excellent eye for aesthetics. <<> He realized how much technology Jin Nido possessed, and how far ahead of his own country it was. "Kuu......!No, we haven''t lost yet. Tomorrow''s ceremony will be a sight to see!" He muttered in frustration, poured a new glass of wine and drank it down in one gulp. Then there was a knock at the door. "Hmm?Who is it? "Father, it''s me." "Oh, Cesar. Come in. Yes, Father. The Dauphin Cesar had come to Dali yesterday, but Richard had been on the airship and had missed the meeting. Cesar looked at his father, who had been drinking wine since this morning. "Father, you have been drinking since this morning? But Richard did not take it well at all. "Well, tomorrow is the anniversary of the wedding. And this wine makes you think clearer. It''s not like any other wine out there. "Father, I know it''s different. But wine is wine. But drinking too much is not good for your health! But that''s just a fool''s errand... Richard ignored them. "But more importantly, you were in the eastern part of the country the other day, weren''t you?" "Yes, I did. As a result ......." But Richard stopped him with a wave of his hand. "Oh, good. We''ll hear about it after the ceremony. I''ll ask them after the ceremony. You may step back." "...... yes." The word "you may leave" means, in this case, . Cesar hung his head and left the room. "......fun, I can finally get lost in my thoughts." Richard''s mind was occupied with tomorrow''s commemoration. How to show his country''s prestige to those in attendance. And how to reveal Jin Nido''s nose to the crowd. His mind was occupied with these two things. On the other hand. "Father, ...... you have lost weight." Cesar had not seen his father since last fall, and he returned to his room with some concern about his skinny appearance. 790 - - 23-26 GuesthouseWorld Conference Dali has a guest house for such ceremonies. All the guests from each country were to stay there. Each country was divided into wings or floors, but nothing was done to prevent interaction, so people were free to move around inside and chat with each other. "...... yes, something like that." "Yes. I thought that this was no longer a problem that I could handle on my own, so with Rita''s approval, I brought her here as my follower. "That''s fine. And this is the deed and the tattoo on her chest is the original owner, right? "...... yes." Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, Empress of Shawlo, and Fritz Randall von Grosch, Lieutenant Colonel of the Expatriate Army. And Rita from the eastern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa. The three were having an unusual three-way meeting. The location of the meeting was a brightly-lit common room by the window. However, Rita was so tense that she could not even look up. Then Elsa arrived with Edgar. Jin seemed to be on a separate trip and was not with her. As a matter of fact, Jin was wondering what to do with the souvenir he had left behind for Hannah. So he asked the servants and maids of the Kingdom of Celuloa who were in the vicinity. "Your Majesty, excuse me. ...... brother, you asked me to come to your room..." "Please have a seat, Elsa. I just heard a brief report from Fritz. The Empress asked Elsa to sit down. "Yes, excuse me." Elsa sat down and looked at the girl sitting next to her brother. "Who is she, my brother?" The old man had told me about her, but I asked her to make sure. "Yes. Her name is Rita, ...... and I her." "Hmm." Since she had not heard any report about her appearance, Elsa looked at Rita. She glanced at Rita, since staring at her too closely might make her even more deflated. (...... looks a bit like me ......?) I feel something like sympathy for Elsa. (Could it be, brother, the reason why you protected Rita? ......) She has a good intuition. "......Hey, Erza, are you listening?" Erza comes to her senses when she hears a voice from Fritz. "Yes. What, brother? "I knew you weren''t listening. ...... I asked if you could remove the tattoo on her chest." "...... don''t worry. It''s easy to get rid of." Elsa, who had already treated ten girls, replied immediately. "Oh, oh, I see. I''ll take care of it later." "...... later?Not now?" The question was answered by the emperor. "Yes. I''m sorry Rita, but I need you to be a living witness to let the rest of the world know about the dark side of the Kingdom of Selroa. Hopefully, this will prevent more children like Rita from being bought and sold." Rita nodded. She seemed to agree with the idea that fewer children would have to go through the same situation as she had. "...... got it. ...... Rita, great." Erza looked at Rita with kind eyes. "Oh, Mr. Arthur." The second prince Arthur, the representative of the Kingdom of Klein, was walking by and the emperor called out to him. She was accompanied by Lioness Ashford. "Your majesty. You look as young as ever. "Well, thank you. Well, why don''t we have a little chat? The Empress turned the water on him and Prince Arthur smiled and nodded. "Very well. "Good. Now, if you''ll excuse me..." Prince Arthur sat down next to Elsa. "Erza Ehime, my father has been very kind to you. Wasn''t she with Jin-dono? Your Highness, it''s been a while. Jin is currently on a separate mission ......." Just as he was explaining this, Jin came in. "Oh, just in time. Jin, why don''t you come over here?We''re all gathered here to talk." Jin saw that a distinguished group of people had gathered, led by the Shoro Imperial Princess, whose words such as "innocent" and "flawless" suited her perfectly. "It''s a bit small then, isn''t it? ...... why don''t you all move over there?" The Empress is referring to the recreation room next to the common room. There are several games in the recreation room, but the main one is <>, a game popular in the Kingdom of Selroa. It is located in the center of the room, and about 20 people can sit around the game table. <> is a game similar to roulette. Or rather, think of it as a more primitive form of roulette. There is no red/black, even/odd numbers, etc. You simply predict the outcome and bet on it, but since there are only 12 squares, the so-called < is enough to make a bet. I''ll leave you with a quiet word. The table is just the right size to emphasize that this is not a formal talk, and everyone has moved from the common room. Reinhard and Matheus, Gloria and her father Boulton. And now Marquis Florenziano, Marcia, and the Duke of Breu, all of them are present. The uninitiated might wonder when the World Congress began. "First of all, let us exchange information on how the food crisis has turned out. The female emperor of the Shoro Kingdom, who seemed to be in the highest position in the room, took the lead. "Yes, that''s right. Our Kingdom of Klein is just barely getting by. I cannot thank His Majesty the Emperor Shoro and His Excellency the Marquis Firenziano of the Kingdom of Elias enough for this. The second prince Arthur bowed deeply. "No, we are all here for each other in our time of need. "We are also indebted to you, Your Highness, for showing us that topopo is safe to eat. Then I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jin-dono as well. ...... "No, I ...... wanted to eat it myself. After a few moments of pleasantries, the emperor changed the subject. "How was the Kingdom of Egelea?" The answer was given by the king''s cousin, the Duke of Brouw. "The northern regions were in danger, but thanks to the food shipments from the south, the crisis in the country has been averted. "That''s a great relief." The exchange of information on foodstuffs continued. Eventually, the topic of conversation shifted from famine to food self-sufficiency. "I would like to increase production more and more as long as preservation is not a problem," he said. The land is fine. Every country has a population shortage. "I think it''s time to think about farming with golems. There are many tasks that are better suited to golems than people, such as hard work, simple tasks, and vermin extermination. "However, the cost of manufacturing a golem is still not as high as it should be ......." "Indeed." At that moment, all eyes in the pew turned to Jin. "......I, or even I, can reduce the time and effort, but it is difficult to lower the cost of the materials." This is true. So far, we have not succeeded in smelting materials at will. "That''s for sure, isn''t it?" Not only metal materials, but also muscle materials and magi crystals are expensive. Even if the cost of labor were reduced to zero, it would not be possible to have one for each household. How about a method in which a village or other community owns one or two magi crystals and uses them in turn? Jin suggested. "Oh, that might be possible in a large village. A further suggestion was made. "And the government could subsidize it. "Well, that''s a good idea. The idea seemed novel in a world that is still vertically divided, and the leaders of the countries began to think seriously about it. 791 - - 23-27 HarmonyArrogance The informal meeting of the heads of state was still going on. "...... I have one more thing to tell you." Gerhard, the Shoro emperor, straightened his posture and opened his mouth. "Rita?" "Yes, yes!" Rita, who had been small among the dignitaries, looked up. "This is Rita. ...... Commander Fritz, please explain." "Yes. I came here from the Kingdom of Egelea, and when I was stranded in Tellurus, I found her by chance. ......" After briefly explaining the circumstances, "The first problem is that she was supposed to be employed for a limited period of time, but she was treated like a slave, or even a slave, by the <>." The place is abuzz. Although there is no as we know it on earth today, there is still an unwritten law. The slave trade was supposed to have ceased to exist before the last magic war ....... Fritz goes on to say "The second point is that there are local lords who approve of this kind of trafficking ......". "I am more than a little ashamed of them." "Your Highness!" The voice belonged to Cesar Valois, the crown prince of the Kingdom of Celuloa. Everyone kept their mouths shut and turned a little pale. The conversation had been lively, but this was the Kingdom of Celuloa. The fact that the Dauphin had asked ....... "Oh, Your Majesty, His Highness Cesar already knows." "What?I didn''t ask him. I have no idea about that. ...... Fritz explained that he had been afraid to talk about the Dauphin in his absence, rather than to explain. The Dauphin Cesar smiled softly and reassured everyone. "I have already met with the Fritz and Gloria the other day and we are going to take care of Rita''s case. Everyone let out a relieved breath. "And this Rita thing is probably just one of many. Until all of them are resolved, there will be no peace for the people. "Well, that''s a noble idea." The heads of state and government sighed with relief when they learned of the Dauphin''s good character. The meeting then proceeded to a meeting with the Dauphin Cesar. At first, there was some hesitation, but as the man himself expressed the bad points of his country without hesitation, the content of the meeting gradually heated up, helped by the awareness that it was an informal meeting. "I think one of the reasons is that we are not self-sufficient in food," said Prince Arthur. Prince Arthur said. "That''s true," said Prince Arthur. Even apart from this problem. The Empress nodded. "Then we should take into account the <>, don''t you think?" Marquis Florenziano said. "I see... I mean to average the goods, or rather, to reduce the uneven distribution of them. This is the Dauphin Cesar. "To achieve this, we need to develop the means of transportation. Reinhard proposed, "In that case, we are developing shallow-bottomed vessels to carry supplies using the rivers! Marcia speaks up. "I think it''s also important to choose the right crops. Marchese Florenziano speaks up again. "In the Shoro Kingdom there is a potato called Itopo. It is not very popular yet, but I think we can expect more of it in the future. This is Reinhard. This is Reinhard''s wife Bertsche''s favorite < named <>. "I guess you could say that such things are . In the Kingdom of Klein, they''re starting to make soba noodles, too. Everyone listened attentively to what Lioness, Prince Arthur''s valet, had to say. It was a meaningful moment. "Ladies and gentlemen, here you are. It''s time for lunch. Two hours passed in the blink of an eye, and it was now noon. The assembled members left their seats and headed for the cafeteria. Jin secretly thought that it would be beneficial to the world to hold a in the future. He also wondered what he should do for that purpose. * * * * * * The lunch cushion did not change the flow of the meeting. Since it was not a formal meeting, the place was still the recreation room. The host country, the Kingdom of Selroa, is very doubtful about how they perceive this gathering, but those in attendance are engrossed in the content of the meeting. The topic of the afternoon was <>. Of course, the term <> was first coined by Jin. Infrastructure in this world refers to the facilities that form the basis of industry and daily life, specifically roads and waterways. We must find a way to speed up transportation and make it possible to transport large numbers of people. The emperor first makes a proposal. "I noticed that when I was marching with this time. Or, to be more precise, Cynthia, a female knight of the Kingdom of Klein, came up with the idea of using huge wide wheels to make a flatter and smoother road," said Fritz. Fritz said. This idea should have been kept secret, but since it was originally Cynthia''s suggestion, it was not a problem, "Ah, the road roller. Jin said casually. "Do you know such a tool, Jin-dono?" Lioness Ashford, Prince Arthur''s valet, asked confidently with a look of admiration on her face. "Yes. A road roller is a huge iron wheel with a wide width. By rolling it, it is a tool to flatten the ground. "Well, the construction itself is so simple that you can build one in no time." Gloria''s father, Boulton, nodded and said. "If the road is flattened, the wagons will be able to go faster," Gloria''s father, Boulton said with a nod. As a result, the flow of goods will be smoother. The Duke of Brouw said. He seems to have been the first to notice the benefits of the road improvement since he knew about the golem horses and carriages that Jin had given to Prince Ernest. At the same time, the distribution of goods by ship using the waterways is also discussed. "If we standardize the boxes that we use to store goods, it should make it easier for countries to receive goods from one another. The Empress mentioned an idea she had been thinking of. "I see, that''s true. "We are using something similar in Kunlun Island. We call them . At Jin''s comment, the participants nodded. I see, <>. I think it would be more convenient if we use the same terminology, so we would like to call it that. "Let''s go with that." "For loading and unloading, a giant golem like <> would be very useful. "That''s true. But they are not easy to get ......." "No, if you don''t need to be agile, there are plenty of ways to do it. Jin offers his help. "Well, the words of the Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono, carry a lot of weight. "This is a perfect topic for a gathering of people from various countries. Jin adds advice and explanations at appropriate intervals, and the conversation moves along at a brisk pace. The conversation is lighthearted, but I wonder if everyone realizes that this is a world-changing topic. The story is told in a lighthearted tone, but I wonder if everyone realizes that this is a world-changing story. "My king, are you sure you want to leave them alone?" Lefort de Orange, the representative of the Kingdom of Franz, the only one not participating in the discussion, asked King Richard of Celuloa, shaking his stocky frame. "Very good, isn''t it? "Well, that''s good," Richard replied. As long as there is no harm done, we will leave it alone and only ask for the results. "I see. I''m afraid so, sir." Despite his bragging, the Shinobi Forces that Jin has created had already detected the existence of the listening device long ago. However, since the content of the <> was peaceful, they had decided to do nothing for now. So, the <> was unexpectedly attended by representatives of literally every country. Unfortunately, there were two countries that did not have a say in the , but since the Kingdom of Celuloa was barely represented by the Dauphin Cesar, it can be said that only the Kingdom of Franz was unable to speak, even if he wanted to. He is not aware of it. ....... 792 - - 23-28 Medical ExaminationUnknown Metals? The informal world meeting ended shortly before 4:00 p.m. The meeting was ended by the time the staff informed me that I was ready to take a bath. I was informed that I was ready to take a bath. "......... ah, it was a good time, wasn''t it?" "Yes, it was. I wish we had this kind of opportunity more than once. "I didn''t realize how interesting it is to talk face to face. It''s good to be able to talk with people by looking at their faces rather than just their voices. The heads of state and other important figures scatter, murmuring their impressions of the conference. In the midst of all this, there was one who tried to stop Jin. "...... Ji." Jin-dono," he tried to continue, but a moment earlier, the wanted Jin had called out to someone else. "...... Your Royal Highness, I don''t mean to be rude, but may I have a word with you?" "Hmmm, what does the Prince of Kunlun want to see me about?" Yes. Of all things, it''s about the girl in your custody. "Oh?I see. ...... I see. You heard about it from Fritz? The crown prince, Cesar, looks at Erza beside Jin and nods in understanding. "Very well. I heard it from Fritz-dono. Erza Ehime is an excellent healer. Saying this, Cesar turned his head and beckoned. Jin and Elsa followed the Dauphin as he left the guest house and headed for the detached palace next door. They are accompanied by Reiko and Edgar. After passing through the gate of the palace with a pass, the group was invited into the Dauphin''s apartment at the back of the second floor. There was an elderly lady-in-waiting and Cesar gave her some instructions. She went to a room in the back and came out accompanied by a girl. This is the girl I protected. She seems to have lost her memory and can''t even remember her name. Elsa stepped forward. "Your Highness, may I examine her?" "Yes, please." Elsa then slowly approached the girl. Her body stiffens and a look of fear comes over her face. "...... It''s all right. Don''t worry." Elsa whispered softly, squatting down to look at the girl and gently patting her head. This is what Jin had taught Erza before in the village of Mohut. That is, to be at eye level with the child and to stand on the child''s side. If you are looking down at them, you will feel oppressed. Elsa, who had always loved children, remembered what Jin had said to her. "......<>" After reassuring her in this way, the examination is carried out. "......? ......<>" Elsa, who is a little concerned about something, not only performs the magic of the medical examination but also analyzes it. "<>" She casts the highest level of surgical healing magic. But the girl''s expression does not change. "< Then, the highest level of internal medicine healing magic is also used, and the patient is examined again. He examined and pondered for a while, and then turned around with a disappointed look on his face. "......I am sorry. I am not good enough." But the Dauphin gently offered words of comfort to Elsa. "No, Erza Ehime, thank you for your hard work. Even though I am an amateur, I can see that you did your best. If Ehime can''t do it, I guess no one can." "......" The girl was also drooping. She knew how much the crown prince had cared for her and how much Erza had done for her, and she felt unworthy of not being able to respond to them. Cesar, sensing the subtleties of her heart, walked up to the girl and gently patted her on the shoulder. "It''s not your fault. ......Someday your memory will come back to you. I''ll have faith in that. Okay?" "......Yes, thank you, Your Highness." With that Jin and Erza left the Dauphin''s presence. "......I''m sorry, Erza." "......Yes." Jin consoles Erza, who is feeling a little down. "Don''t be discouraged," she said. "Fields like neurosurgery are still in their infancy, even in the world I lived in. Even as Jin says this, Erza remains downcast. When Jin and the others returned to the guest house, someone was waiting for them. The two people they had failed to call out to earlier. "Jin-dono, Erza-dono, long time no see. "It''s been a long time. They were Gloria and Boulton Allstadt, father and daughter. "Gloria-san, Boulton-san, it''s been a long time. "You too, I hope you are well." We exchanged brief greetings again. Then we went to visit them in their room which was closer to ours. Reiko and Edgar were also with us. "I heard that you healed my daughter''s injury the other day, and I wanted to thank you as a father," he said. Boulton bowed first. He must have been happy to have his daughter''s fatal injury healed without a trace. "I have not yet thanked Jin-dono for mending my melted sword, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank you. Gloria bowed her head. "No, I''m glad that the sword was useful." "Indeed. By the way, Jin-dono, could you take a look at this sword? Saying this, Gloria held out a short sword to Jin. Jin took it, "Hmm?It''s heavy." was his first impression. It was so heavy that he could tell just by holding it. Right?I bought this sword here in Dali, but I don''t know what it is made of. Do you know what it''s made of? Jin asks Gloria if he can pull it out. "Of course. "Of course. Please check. After receiving her approval, Jin gently pulled out a shortsword. "This is ......." "It''s an unknown metal, isn''t it?Even my ...... father''s < could not discern it." A silvery-white material. At first glance it appears to be silver, but it seems to be much harder and would be useful enough to be used as a sword. "...... I thought it was for ceremonial use, but the arrangement is practical. I had said 18,000 Tolle, but I got him to reduce the price to 12,000." Jin guessed the material of the sword, thinking in a corner of his mind that Gloria was indeed a sword fetishist. And then... "<>" Elsa is also beside Jin and is curious. "......I knew it. This is ......<>." Iridosmin is an alloy of iridium and osmium, metallic elements of the platinum group. It is very hard and heavy. Its melting point is so high that it cannot be melted in an ordinary furnace. An alloy containing about 50 percent osmium is called osmiridium. Platinum--Similar to platinum, but much harder and impossible to cold work. It sometimes occurs naturally with platinum, but it is so hard that it has been discarded in the past. Do you understand, Jin-dono? Yes. This is a member of the platinum family. It is very heavy and hard. It''s probably insoluble in demon acid, like that of giant ants. Gloria''s face twisted slightly at the mention of the demon''s acid. It seems that she has been slightly traumatized. No wonder. Her face and shoulders had been burned by the bodily fluids of the monster. Boulton, on the other hand, was frankly impressed. "Hmmm, I didn''t know there was such a metal. You are indeed a magecraft master. Even if you try to magically investigate, you still do not know what you do not know. In Jin''s case, he knows the periodic table of elements by referring to the number of electrons an atom has, so he can identify an atom he has never seen before. However, lanthanides and actinides were vague. I barely remember 92 for uranium and 60 for neodymium (a material used in strong magnets). On the other hand, I knew everything else by heart up to the atomic number 86, radon. Sailor Liebe, my ship. But that''s beside the point. Iridosmin seems to have been partially replaced by magical isotopes (magiisotopes), which are even stronger than the equivalent material on Earth. "But it''s heavy, so it''s not very practical, is it?" With a specific gravity of about 22, it is heavier than adamantite. The specific gravity of iron is 7.86, so it is almost three times heavier than iron, and it is a problem that the short sword cannot be wielded with one hand. "Still, I''m happy to have a rare sword in my possession." Gloria seemed to have achieved a sense of satisfaction as a collector. 793 - - 23-29 Busy and quietInsufficient information Jin and the others leave Gloria and return to their rooms. Lao Tzu and Ann are also present. Inside the room, the Shinobi team had already checked that there were no magical devices such as wiretaps. Jin, who loves taking a bath, decided to take a bath first. Jin heads for the bathroom on the first floor of the guest house. Since he had been busy with the Dauphin and Gloria and her son, there was no one else taking a bath. "It''s nice and empty, though." Since there were no other guests, he went to the bathroom with Reiko to escort her and help her. "This is a rather large bath. The bathtub, made of marble-like stone, was large enough to accommodate at least 10 people. Since bathing in a bathtub filled with hot water is a common custom in the Kingdom of Selroa, Jin has no complaints about this. However. "...... lukewarm." The water temperature was low. It was about 38 degrees Celsius. As a person who likes hot baths, I could not get out of the bath because it did not warm up my body. "...... should I make it hotter?" Since there were no other bathers, Jin used engineering magic <. The temperature of the water quickly rose. "Ah, that''s good." Jin is relaxing, enjoying the bath alone. On the other hand, Elsa, who went to the women''s bathroom, seemed to be able to bathe quietly by herself since there was no one else in the bathroom. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the individual dinners were served, Jin asked Erza a question. "Hey Erza, is it my imagination that you''ve been acting somewhat strange since you examined the girl who I think is Alshell?" "...... Jin brother, you know what I mean?" I''ve known her for a long time, and after all, she''s very important to me. "......" Jin is embarrassed after saying it himself, and Erza turns red after being told. A moment of silence passes. "Father, Erza-san, please have a drink." As if to break the silence, Reiko puts a glass of cold juice in front of them. "Oh, thank you, Reiko." "Thank you, Reiko." After taking a sip of the juice, the two regained their composure and resumed their conversation. "She''s not Alchel." "What?" Erza suddenly spun unexpected words out of her mouth, and as expected, Jin was taken aback. How did you come to that conclusion? "......, there are several reasons, though." Slowly Erza began to explain. "......If that girl was Alshell, there must be something that should be there." Erza''s sudden words made Jin think for a moment, but he soon realized her intention. "<>?" "Yes. When I asked you about her on Horai Island, you must have said that her memory was clouded due to a typing error in the control needle. "Yes, that''s right." Jin nodded, remembering that time. "She didn''t have that at ....... There are two possible reasons." "Yes. One is that she has already taken out the control needle." "Or, she may not have been injected with the needle in the first place." Jin nodded again. "But there are many cases of extremists who did not have the needle inserted because they originally hated the human race, right?" "Yes, I know that." "Then why?" Elsa answers in a careful way, as if choosing her words carefully. "That''s another reason. The in her body ...... is unusual. It didn''t seem human." "What do you mean?" Elsa shook her head and looked a little disappointed. "I can''t explain it well, and I don''t have any proof, but I have a feeling that the composition of the body is different from that of humans. I wish I could examine it more precisely. I thought it would be unnatural to go any further in front of the Dauphin," Elsa said. "She''s not human, she''s not a demon, or ......" "What the hell is she?" "I don''t know. We don''t have enough information. Maybe we can find out if she''s on Horai Island. ...... or 7006...... Jin was about to continue, "Ask No. 72," when something occurred to him. "...... had become less belligerent, but in this case there was a possibility that they might make an exception, which Anne pointed out to him. Even though Reiko and Edgar were with her, she regretted her lack of safety awareness. "Okay, I understand. "Okay. Thanks for the advice, Anne. I will be careful. "No, I am rather sorry for the delay in advising you." With a bow, Anne stepped back. Jin regained his composure and decided to think about one more thing that was bothering him. The Iridosmin sword in Gloria''s hands. "I wonder who made it and for what ......" The preparation was not very old. Rather, they were similar to those in use today. Therefore, it does not seem to be an ancient relic (artifact). "...... was it important that it did not melt?" Erza''s words had a flash of inspiration for Jin. "I see!No wonder if it''s to counter a monster with a powerful acid like the Giga-Ant. Adamantite is also a good choice, but its distribution is limited." The main sources of adamantite were concentrated in the eastern part of the human continent of Laurent. There were several large mines in the former Leonard Kingdom, not to mention Horai Island. Therefore, adamantite was used sparingly in the containers that sealed the <>. On the contrary, iridosumine was rarely found on Penglai Island. "If it was made in the Kingdom of Dinar, a country that existed in the past, rather than here in the Kingdom of Cerroa ......, it could explain the modern design of the ...... ah, arrangements." "Could it be that they changed it later?" Elsa says what comes to her mind. "That''s a possibility, but.... But from what I have seen, I think it was made at the same time as the sword itself. At that moment, Lao Tzu interrupted. "Master (My Lord), I am sorry to interrupt you, but it is almost eleven o''clock. Tomorrow there will be a ceremony, so I think it''s time for you to go to bed. "......Oh, it''s that time already. I''ll go to bed. I''m going to bed." Jin nodded and decided to end the conversation. It was not a conclusive story to begin with. "I will gather information on what you have told me so far," Lao Tzu assured him. Lao Tzu assured him. Hearing this, Jin felt a little better. "Well then, Elsa, good night. "Good night, Brother Jin." They went to their separate bedrooms. Jin and Erza went into their bedrooms with Reiko and Edgar. . The old man, the brain behind the magic of Horai Island, can work without sleep or rest. That night, he was still gathering information by using his own mobile terminal << Laozi>>, the with its super small golem, and the 5th line (Quinta). The founding ceremony of the Kingdom of Celuloa was coming up the next day. The sky was clear and the moon was shining on the earth along with the brightest stars. 794 - - 23-30 OpeningPresentation The morning of February 22nd arrived. The ceremony commemorating the founding of the Kingdom of Selroa was about to begin. A little before 9:00 a.m., all the guests from various countries had gathered at the ceremony hall set up in the Great Hall of the , which stands in the center of the city of Dali. is the name of the grandfather of the previous, or current, king. From the Kingdom of Klein were the second prince Arthur, his attendants Lioness Ashford, Jessica Norton, Gloria Allstadt, Boulton Allstadt, and Cynthia Kirkman. From the Kingdom of Egelea, Duke Angus Blou Pyroyd and Count Dave Maida Galana. From the Kingdom of Elias, the Marquis of Firenziano. Shipwright Marcia, without title, was not present. From the Kingdom of Franz, the Duke of Lefort de Orange. And from the Shawlo Empire, the Empress Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, the Marquess Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen, the Minister of Magic and Technology Degas Furth von Manischlas, Baron Reinhard Randall von Adamus, Lieutenant Colonel Fritz Randall von Grosz, and Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Matth?us Geist von Rialger. Lastly, <> Jin Nido, his fiance, Baroness Elsa Randall von Lazula, and Squire Reiko Nido. Edgar and the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter), unfortunately, were not counted and were not given chairs, so they stood behind the Lord, as did the golems of other countries. Each participant was divided by country and assigned a seat at a luxurious table according to the number of people. The fact that they took the trouble to prepare tables of different sizes shows the pride of being a major power. The front row was, from right to left, the Kingdom of Franz, the Shoro Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Egelea. The back rows were, from right to left, the Kingdom of Kunlun, the Kingdom of Klein, and the Kingdom of Elias. At the moment when the shadow of the large sundial pointed to 9 o''clock, a fanfare was played in high spirits. When it ended, the podium in the middle of the back wall of the hall was brightly illuminated, and Richard Valois de Cerlois, King of the Kingdom of Cerlois, appeared. The guests were seated on the first floor, and the king was on the second floor. The king was positioned to look down on the guests and glare at them. "Ladies and gentlemen! Richard began his speech. His tone was rude at the beginning of his speech. These are not the words one would use to address the representatives of a nation, let alone the emperor of a country. And the emperor of a country is also in the room. "I am glad that you are here to celebrate the founding of our great kingdom." The words of the Emperor continue. "My Kingdom of Cerroa is the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Dinar. Therefore, we must stand on the shoulders of the Laurentian continent. What kind of logic is this, Jin thinks. He sneaks a look around and sees that most of the people around him are cool, as if they don''t care about this pompous speech. (Oh, ......, is this always the case?) Jin had a memory. When he was a member of society, the president and executives gave the New Year''s greetings. I remember such speeches by the president or executives, who were drunk on their own words, blurting out some crazy company motto, company policy, or goals for the year that seemed to be out of step with the perceptions of the work site. ...... In the first year, he had realized that he had to ignore the speeches of such bigwigs from right to left,....... "...... therefore, to lead the culture of this continent. ......" <> Jin''s ears were not listening to the content of the lecture any longer. About 30 minutes passed, and the long speech came to an end. , was Jin''s impression. "I will finish my opening remarks at ......." There was thunderous applause and cheers. Of course, the cherry ...... or security guards deployed all over the ceremony site. Jin and the rest of the attendants applauded in a perfunctory manner. (......, is that the opening address? ......) Jin was getting really nervous about how the speech was going to go. At that time, the ceiling and all four walls of the hall suddenly became bright as if they were all gone, and everyone looked up at once. To my surprise, it seemed that the four walls and the ceiling, except for the floor, were also magic projection windows (magic screens). All of them started working at once. It was as if we were suddenly thrown out into the open air. "Oh, oh, ......!" someone exclaimed. Many golems appeared on the magic screen. They were stout and stout, combat-type golems. Twenty of them. They were divided into groups on both sides and lined up in rows. Then, they thrust their spears vertically into the sky. "Oh? They shouted in surprise. Against the background of the blue sky, a big firework ......, or rather a flame of fire magic, shot up from the tip of the spear. It was probably a fire magic, <>. But the number and size of them are enormous. (...... I see, you''re boosting it with <>, aren''t you?) Jin imagines. And it was right. Nevertheless, it is a great feat of magical skill to use fire magic as a substitute for fireworks. The people in attendance were once again impressed by the level of culture of the Kingdom of Celuloa. And then... "Oh, what is that? Ten large golems appeared. They were about four meters tall. Despite their huge size, they moved easily and formed a line in the center. In their hands are swords. It was quite a spectacle to see three rows of battle golems. The demonstration did not end there. Four huge airships ......60 meters in height approached from the north, south, east, and west. "Oh, they are big ......." Bigger may not necessarily mean stronger, but bigger is still a threat in itself. The people in attendance, with the exception of Jin, were atrophied, just as Richard had intended. However, Jin was different. (Is that floating on hydrogen? ....... I hope he doesn''t have a big accident sooner or later.) Although floating on hydrogen does not mean that it will catch fire immediately, Jin decides to warn the Dauphin Cesar about it later. And then, the further blow comes. "Oh, oh?Is it foggy?" The area around the Guillaume Palace is surrounded by a wide canal, from which a fog started to form and the area became hazy. "...... is a water magic, under the intermediate level, water is made into particles and fog is artificially generated. It is used for dazzling. The vision is closed in an instant. All that can be seen is a milky white surface. However, this is only on the screen, so your surroundings are different. Therefore, Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar could clearly sense that the heads of state and government were overwhelmed by the power of the Kingdom of Celuloa. Even the emperor looked pale. (...... Indeed, the ability to activate magic of this scale in an instant cannot be overlooked. ......) (It is only a feat of strength. (It is only a feat of strength. There is nothing to see technically.) Jin and Erza look at each other. To them, it looks like a false threat. All they are interested in is what is about to happen. "Whoa! someone shouted. The veil of fog lifted, and something appeared. One huge shadow, two ...... shadows, six in total. "Oh, that''s it! All at once the fog disappears. It was the kind of disappearance that only a magically created fog can produce. And then the fog disappeared, revealing six ...... huge ships in this world. Sixty meters long, they are wooden magic sailing ships. The wooden magic sailing ship was named by Jin. It differs from sailing ships developed on Earth in that it has only one sail. This is probably because the technology of sailing with the wind is not yet matured. In addition, Jin speculated that the idea that one sail would be enough to catch the winds might be due to the magic winds. "What a huge ......" "Can you make something that big ......?" The size of the golem was apparent even when compared to the array of golems. Those in attendance were overwhelmed by the sheer size. "Hmm, it has many uses from a military point of view, doesn''t it?" Marquis Gehlen of the Shoro Kingdom was also impressed. But Jin was different. "...... is a dangerous ...... thing. The dragon bone is poor, and as you can see, it is not strong enough. He saw the fragility of the structure at a glance and frowned, imagining that it would disintegrate in an instant if it went out to the open sea where the waves were rough, even if it was in a lake. "Well, gentlemen! From somewhere, the voice of Richard, King of the Kingdom of Selroa, rang out. He seems to be using a loudspeaker like the one used in Potrock, Kingdom of Elias. I hope you have seen a glimpse of the power of our nation. From now on, I would like to see your gifts one after another. The contents of these gifts will be shown to all of you on the magic screen. Instead of the outside view, a luxurious room was projected on the screen. The king Richard was sitting in the back of the room, and his butler, attendants, and automata were lined up in a row. Richard poured his favorite wine into a glass for his beautiful lady-in-waiting, raised it, and said, "Now, let us begin with Franz. Now let''s see the celebratory gifts of the Kingdom of Franz. The four ladies-in-waiting bring a large box, about the size of a large sack, and place it on the floor. They place it on the floor. When the box is lifted up, its contents are revealed. Wow, this is quite something! It was a golden jar, covered with precious stones and magi crystals. I can''t even imagine how much it costs. This is a fortune. I have received the sincerity of the Kingdom of Franz. Richard said a compliment to the Duke of Lefort de Orange, who was not present, and gulped down the wine. 795 - - 23-31 AnnouncementTrial Now, the next item is ...... a gift from the Kingdom of Egelea. The Kingdom of Egelea is the country that can be said to be on the worst terms with the Kingdom of Cerroa. Perhaps for that reason, only two people, apart from the guards, are visiting this time. They are the king''s cousins, Duke Angus Bulu Pyloid and Count Galana. This is ...... Something as tall as a man is covered with a cloth. When the cloth is removed, what appears is... "...... Oh! What is that? The people who were looking at the magic screen cheered. "Hmm, a golden golem. Yes, it''s a golden golem. Not the golden one. A golem made of pure gold. Designed as a knight in heavy armor. Count Galana''s golem guards are also golden, but only in appearance. This one is solid gold. It can be used as an ornament for everyday use and as an escort in times of need. That''s very thoughtful. Richard was the one who gave his evaluation in a high-handed manner. Next was a gift from the Kingdom of Elias. Interesting. Since the actual gift was stored in the warehouse, the inventory, some topopo and its preparations were laid out as samples. Topopo as a salvage crop weighs 10 tons. And topopo flour (starch), which has recently been produced. The Marquis of Topopo is in his element. It''s strange. ...... this white powder is not the same as flour. Richard picks up the topopo flour on the plate and smells it. But I did not know that such a potato could become such a snack. Richard takes a bite of the topopo chips and fried topopo that the cook he brought with him made, drinks the wine in his hand in one gulp, and nods in satisfaction. The role of an agricultural country is a big deal. He was looking at us from a superior point of view. And then the Kingdom of Klein. "Oh, the blowout pump? The original name was <> but it had been changed to something more impressive. Part of the magic screen disguised as a wall switched to show the outside again. Soldiers from the Klein Kingdom, who must have been escorted by their guards, were working. He set the pump in the water channel and moved the handle. Then, water shot up from the spout to a height of about five meters. "Oh! Without even using magic!" (...... Jin''s work, right?) All who saw the scene were amazed and impressed. Except for Reinhardt, who knew what was going on, only the female emperor had guessed that it was Jin''s creation. It was not a magic tool, but it could make water gush out of it. That''s quite a feat for a small country. But our country would be able to do the same thing more easily with water magic. This is a statement that is typical of the Kingdom of Cerroa, a country that believes in the supremacy of magical technology. Next is the Kingdom of Shoro. What''s this? The maid of honor brought a piece of wooden paper. Richard took one of them. Richard took a piece of it.Paper, yes. But this is ...... Richard orders the butler to bring a pen and ink. What is it?I don''t know what it''s made of, but it''s quite comfortable to write with. The ink runs well. In addition, it is thin and white in color. ......I must say that you are indeed a great country, the Shoro Empire. I should say that even a rotten fish is a sea bream. Richard seems to have understood the cultural value of this paper. And there is more. Is this ......? Miso soup, prepared by the cook who had brought him, was served. Of course, it had already been tested. The ingredients are meat of a grasshopper (a beast similar to a pig) and maru-negi (onion). In other words, it was a simple pork miso soup. Jin might want to add some topopo. ...... Hmmm, it tastes different, but it is not bad. On the contrary, it''s ...... delicious. Pork miso soup with bonito flakes seems to suit Richard''s palate as well. It''s not a good match for wine, but it''s good. It''s interesting that you could not surpass our country in magic technology and resorted to such an unorthodox move. It was a rude thing to say, but the emperor ignored it as if it were a breeze in a willow. Jin was thinking idly that sake would be the best match for the pork miso soup. Now, let''s see what has to show us for the last time. Was the gift of Jin brought last simply to save the fun for last, or was it because he thought it was the best gift to compare with the gifts of other countries? Anyway, King Richard ordered his maidservant to remove the cloth covering the gift that was as tall as he was. "...... Oh! "...... Splendid! "Wonderful workmanship!" "...... Jin, my brother, ......" From under the cloth emerged a nude woman made of pure white marble. The pose is not that of the Venus de Milo, but that of the one called <>, who is on a shell with her hands on her breasts and her hair and hands covering her breasts. Jin, who is aware of his lack of artistic taste, made the statue based on this famous painting, relying on his memory. This was changed to the Venus de Milo instead of the armless Venus de Milo, since Richard''s taste, as the fifth column (Quinta) had gathered, was for mature and voluptuous female beauty. The workmanship of the Venus is not as fine as that of the Earth, but this kind of plastic art was not yet developed in the Ars world to begin with. Those who saw it were struck by the beauty of its form. Only one person, Elsa, was able to see that the proportions were Marcia''s and gazed at her with half-opened eyes. ....... (To Jin''s credit, Marcia was the only one with whom he could envision a body line suitable for Venus. Furthermore, Jin wanted to use Stearina as a model ......) Wow, ......!This is quite a wonderful ornament. ....... I see, <> is known in many countries as <>. Richard now has a mixed expression on his face, wondering whether he should be happy to receive such a wonderful gift or grimacing at the talent and skill that he does not have in his country. It is a very daring technique to express the work without coloring it, using only the materials. First of all, I would like to thank you. His words sounded as if he was coming to terms with his inner conflict. Well, now the unveiling of the gift is complete. I would like to thank you once again. Richard, the king of the Kingdom of Selroa, said in a pompous manner. The image of Richard disappeared, and the sky appeared in its place. The airship was no longer there. Well, let''s have a luncheon. Please eat to your heart''s content. The time was around 11:30. As soon as the king had finished speaking, his attendants brought in the food on wagons. I won''t list them all, but the menu was too sumptuous for a time of food crisis. Both Jin and Erza had their own opinions, but since there was no point in saying anything at this point, and since leaving something behind would be a desecration of the food, they ate all the food that was brought to them. Of course, I did not ask for a refill. After lunch, we went to Cerroa. After lunch, according to the custom of the Kingdom of Selroa, there is an after-dinner break. It is said to last about an hour. As Jin was drinking the fruit juice that had been brought to him, thinking that he had no time to spare, King Richard''s voice rang out. Gentlemen, I would like to show you a test for your intermission amusement. "A trial? Jin wondered. He may not have heard it, but Richard''s voice continued, "See for yourself the skill of the golem, the pride of my kingdom. in his own pompous words. Then, the wall, or rather, the magic screen, brightened. There were five battle golems standing in a row. Four of them were about two meters tall. They were dull silver-gray in color. One had a sword, one a spear, one a hammer, and one, unusually, a whip. The fifth one was the large golem we have just seen, four meters tall. This one had a shield and a sword. From now on, each of you will show me a part of your abilities, so enjoy the show. 796 - - 23-32 Entertainment Simulation Battle The attendees, forgetting to drink their soft drinks, were glued to the magic screen. The golem performed a splendid sword play, just as it was supposed to be. A golem wielding a spear at blinding speed. A golem wielding a super-heavy hammer as freely as a stick. And a golem that wields a weapon that Jin has never seen before, a <>, and engages in a mock battle with a 4 meter tall golem. "...... A whip, huh? I''ve never seen it before, but I guess it''s a nuisance?" So Jin decided to take advantage of the break time to ask Gloria, a female Kingsguard Knight of the Kingdom of Klein, who was at the next table. Gloria moved her chair and came to Jin''s table. "...... Jin-dono is right, whips are not very common. For one thing, they are difficult to use on the battlefield. For another, it is useless unless you are skilled with it. The former is that it has a wide attack range and can engulf allies, while the latter is that it is simply difficult to handle. "But ......, when you look at that thing, it''s a threat." Jin thought he had heard somewhere that the tip of a master''s whip rarely exceeded the speed of sound, though he was not sure if he had seen it on TV, read about it in a book, or learned about it on the Internet. It took about three minutes. After the test was over, most of the people who were watching sighed. "Well done first of all..." Gloria, who is an expert with a sword, exclaimed. The golem''s fast movement speed also means that the flow of magic control (magi sequence) is appropriate. Jin also recognized the technology of the Kingdom of Celuloa in this respect. Now, how was the entertainment? A voice continued. By the way, I assume you''ve all brought your golems. How about a mock battle with them? The audience was in an uproar. Unlike humans, golems do not need to rest or sleep. They are indispensable for escorting important people, so there is no reason why the heads of states would not have brought them along. This is where Richard struck. A mock battle with your excellent golems would be a great entertainment. I don''t think any of you will refuse, as a matter of national prestige, will you? No one answered his words. Or perhaps I should say that there was no way to respond to the suddenness of the situation. It could be that they had lost their voices after seeing the golem of the Kingdom of Selroa that had just been shown to them. Richard continued as if he was going to fold up. This is just a mock battle. There is no need to think so hard. The people in the hall patted their chests a little. <, which means that they will be damaged but not destroyed, which is a relief. The first one to be named was the Kingdom of Egelea. Yes, Count Galana, how about you?A golden golem. Yes. The gilded golem made by Botes, the Magi Craftsman, stood out in the hall. It was not something that could be turned down. The prestige of the country was at stake. The Count bit his navel, saying that he should not have chosen a conspicuous gold color, but it was too late. Count Galana, hoping for a glimmer of hope in the word <>, dispatched his escort golem. And how about ......, Baron Reinhardt?Your Schwarzlitter overpowered our golem last year. I would like to see you show us your valor once again. He is saying such things, but in reality, everyone can see that he is eager to have a humiliating battle with the golem. The emperor nods silently, and Reinhardt agrees to a mock battle. And let''s not forget the Kingdom of Klein. And let''s not forget the Kingdom of Klein, which has a very capable golem in tow. Prince Arthur brought along one of the general-purpose golems that Jin had created in the past as his escort. Prince Arthur could not say no to it, since it was a mock battle. So now there are three of them. One more to go. You said ......<>. I''d like to have your knight join us. There was a hint of mockery in his voice as he said, "I don''t know. He had heard rumors about Reiko, but he didn''t believe even a tenth of what he heard. "It can''t be helped. Reiko, please." Reiko nodded at Jin''s words. "Yes, sir. I''m off, father. * * * * The plaza in front of Guillaume''s detached palace is the site of the mock battle. Reiko and the golems leave the hall and appear at the magic screen in about 10 minutes. The golems escorting them are all highly autonomous, so they are able to perform such mock battles on command, even without their masters at their side. Let''s start with and Count Galana''s golem. The golem with the hammer is wider than the others and is called . Count Galana''s golem, which is also a sturdy type, was to be the opponent. Count Galana''s golem is holding a mace. Begin! The golden golem and the silver-gray golem exchange blows. When hammer and mace collide, there is a tremendous roar and sparks fly. Those in the hall could only watch with bated breath as the fierce battle raged on. After exchanging about 10 rounds of fire, the two fighters once moved away from each other. "Hmmm, both of them are good. Gloria muttered. Jin was impressed by the surprisingly good movement of Count Galana''s golem. "Brother Jin, does the Count''s golem use <>?" Erza seemed to feel the same way. "Hmm?Jin-dono, what is that ...... in its contents and transforming it to move it. ......?" It was a simple explanation, but it seemed to make sense to Gloria. "By the way, it''s quite difficult to make it move quickly with that method. That''s why that gilded golem looks so good. "Hmmm... I understand somehow. "Hmmm, I get the idea. Thanks. ...... Oh?" There was new activity on the screen. That''s pretty good. Let''s get Marto ready for action. How much longer do you think he can hold out? That''s not what I meant! On the screen, Marteau''s hammer was now bellowing with even greater speed than before. Count Galana''s golem is barely defending itself. "It''s going to get faster ......! Finally, Marteau''s hammer snatches Count Galana''s golem. Count Galana, who had thought that since this was a mock battle, he would not fight until one of them was destroyed, has his hopes crushed. "Aaah!" On the screen, Count Galana''s golem, which had been hit by Marteau''s mace, was hit with Marteau''s hammer all over its body, rendering it inoperable and about to fall. "......" "...... terrible." I don''t like Count Galana, but this is even worse. Jin and Erza clenched their teeth. It was quite a fun fight. ...... Let''s go to the next battle against the . A golem with a sword advanced. In response, <> draws his sword. "Jin-dono, that sword is not just steel, is it?" Gloria asked excitedly. It is a kind of talent to recognize the difference in materials through the magic screen. Jin answered her question, thinking that it might be a kind of magic eye. "That''s great of you, Gloria-sama. That sword is made of a composite material. "Composite material?You mean, like the sword you made me before? Yes. However, I''m only using steel. Jin made this sword with Reinhardt on an idea. In short, it is a combination of hard and soft steel, or in other words, brittle and tenacious steel, stacked one on top of the other. Each layer is about one millimeter thick, and the layers of different properties are stacked alternately. When they are sharpened, a stripe pattern appears. This is what is called < on modern Earth. With that, the two golems turn to face each other, sword to sword. "Begin! At the sound of King Richard''s voice, the two golems swing their swords and slam them together. Sparks fly again. "Oh ......" "Oh ......" The audience stared at the screen, even more entranced than in the previous battle. "Reinhard, is the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) alright?" The Empress, an amateur in such martial arts, looks a little worried. "Your Majesty, don''t worry." Reinhardt said to reassure the Empress, hiding his inner anxiety. "Well, Reinhard, the black knight (Schwarzlitter) is even better than before, isn''t he? Fritz is also impressed. He knows the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) before Reinhardt got to know Jin. The current Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) uses some of the materials from Horai Island and is much more powerful than it was then. "It is indeed amazing." Reinhardt''s brother-in-law, Matheus, was also watching the battle between the two. The Marquis of G?hren was likewise staring intently. They have been sword to sword for more than twenty times now. Hmm, the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) seems to have improved since the last time. I give them credit for that. Richard''s voice echoes. Let us show our respect and take him seriously. Before he could finish his voice, the speed of the enemy golem suddenly increased. 797 - - 23-33 The Sword "Oh, you''re good!" Jin shouted in admiration when he saw the movement of the Cerroa Golem. It did not look like a <>. "Well, this is the country where the Unification Party (Unifiler) used to be. It is no wonder, for King Cerroa had been devoted to the development of a combat golem ever since his country''s best warrior, the Adamas Warrior, had been defeated by Reinhardt''s Black Knight (Schwartzritter) in the last battle. Richard''s limitation is that he cannot turn his passion in another direction. The battle between the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) and the Cerroa Golem intensified. When the Black Knight (Schwarzritter) cuts down, the Celluloid Golem counterattacks by cutting up. When the Cerroa Golem made a lateral cleave, the Black Knight (Schwartzritter) parried it and made a thrust. The Cerroa Golem half turns its body to avoid the sword, and uses the momentum to attack again with a side cleave. The black knight (Schwarzritter) backsteps to avoid it. "Wow ......, I can''t do that." A frustrated voice escaped from Gloria''s mouth as she watched. "That''s not a surprise. The speed at which the human and the golem transmit commands to the muscles is too different. Gloria took a bite out of Jin''s casual remark. "What do you mean by that, Jin-dono?" "Ah...... well, for example, in the case of the movement <>, <><>>>>...... "Oh, I see." Gloria, being the woman she is, first swallowed what Jin had said. "So there is the time it takes for the muscles to receive the commands given by the brain." "Yes, that makes sense. It was very Gloria not to ask unnecessary questions. "And the speed at which the commands are transmitted, as far as I know, is between 30 meters and 70 meters per second. "That''s pretty slow." At 50 meters per second, that''s 180 kilometers per hour. "But not in the case of the golem. Waves of magic are supercompatible with electromagnetic waves, so the speed is closer to 300,000 kilometers per second." "I''m not sure what you mean by ''denji-ha'', but 10 million times faster, ...... that''s fast, isn''t it?" "Well, there''s also the information processing time in the control core, which is the brain, so it''s not so simple, you know." Theoretical values are affected by the strength of the skeleton and the reaction speed of muscles, so it is not possible to say how many times faster they are. However, there is no doubt that they are faster than human beings. It''s quite a worthy competition. King Richard let out a voice of admiration. The battle between the black knight (Schwarzritter) and the Cerroa golem was becoming even more intense. The black knight (Schwarzritter) is slightly ahead. The black knight (Schwarzritter) did not have a single wound on his body, while the celluloid golem had several shallow wounds. The Black Knight''s slashes became even faster. The Cerroa Golem is now completely on the defensive. And finally... With a metallic snap, the Cerroa Golem''s sword breaks off, and the Black Knight (Schwartzritter) puts his sword to the Cerroa Golem''s throat, stopping it just in time. ......,Ҋ, the black knight said in a frustrated voice. With a regretful voice, King Cerroa acknowledged the victory of the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter). The representatives of the countries watching gave a thunderous ovation. "You did it, Mr. Reinhardt!" "Yes, you did it! "No, the Shoro Empire. You''re a great swordsman! That''s a great sword! Reinhard, you did a fine job! Words of praise came from all over the world. "...... No, it was a narrow victory." Reinhardt was happy to hear that, though he answered "No, it was a hard win. It seems to be a very good sword. Is that why he won? The king spat out words that sounded like a sigh of defeat. "Blaming it on the sword is laughable." Gloria snickered. "The Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) only took the opponent''s sword seriously a few times, and almost always parried it. In contrast, the golem of the Kingdom of Selroa did not pass the sword, but only caught it. The burden on the sword is too great." "So, does that mean that the way it is received also makes a difference in how the sword is damaged?" Now Jin asked Gloria. Yes, that''s right. ......" It is said that there is a way to reduce the damage to your sword when you clash swords. "It''s different if you get hit at the tip of the sword or at the tip of the sword," he said. The black knight (Schwarzlitter) seemed to understand this as well. Jin listened to Gloria''s explanation and was satisfied that he had not made a mistake in giving him a sense of touch. Wang continued. Well, now it''s one against one. Next, let''s see if the Golem of the Klein Kingdom and my can do it. was a golem with a spear. His counterpart was the golem of the Klein Kingdom of Jinsei. Its weapon was a sword. "Jin-dono, what will happen in this match? Gloria, who knew that Jin had made it, asked with interest. "...... from what I''ve seen of the battle so far, I''m at a disadvantage. ......" "Brother Jin, why?" Erza was also curious and asked a question. "Oh. "Because the distance between a sword and a spear is different. After all, the reach of a weapon is significant. Jin then had a sudden idea and asked Gloria a question. "Gloria, do you know how the knights of the Kingdom of Klein fight against spears? Gloria nodded broadly. "Yes, of course. Originally, the knight''s weapon is a lance, and the infantryman''s weapon to stop the knight is also a lance. A knight should be familiar with it. "I see. ......" Jin is a little relieved. Because the general-purpose golem of the Klein Kingdom, its martial arts are copied from a promising young knight, Heinz Rasch. "Jin-dono?" "Oh, oh, I''m sorry. Well, the golem''s movements are based on Heinz Rasch''s, so if he knows how to fight with a spear, he should be able to handle it, right?" "Begin! While Jin and the others were asking and answering such questions, the third battle had begun. The golem of the Kingdom of Selroa, <>, uses an ordinary spear as its weapon. In contrast, the Klein Golem was armed with a one-handed sword for protection. By all accounts, they were at a disadvantage. But, as Gloria said, Klein Golem was able to parry the sharp thrusts with his sword. "But I guess the spear has the advantage. ......" Gloria sounds frustrated. But Jin is curious. "No, he''s probably still waiting to see how it turns out, right? I have at least an idea of the limit value of the golem I''ve created. Celluloid''s lanzer is not at full strength yet, and neither is the Klein golem. The only thing is that the amount of effort is not so great. Jin felt sorry for the handicap game ...... though he could have won if it was sword against sword or spear against spear. It was still frustrating and sad to see their golems defeated and destroyed, no matter how much they were commissioned to do so. "Brother Jin ......" Erza, perhaps understanding Jin''s feelings, looks a little worried. "But..." "What?" "The <> should have sufficient specifications. A <> that is independent of materials. It was something that Jin, the Magecraft Meister, had created with specifications that were more than adequate. "Even if the hardware is inferior, the software is superior. True to his words, the Klein Golem is learning its opponent''s movements. And it chose to play the game while it was still being taken easy. Jin was 60%, but he was 10% at a stretch. He dodged the spear that Lanzer had thrown out by taking a half step to the right, and grabbed the spear with his left hand before the spear was pulled back. When he thrust out the spear, his center of gravity was a little forward, and Klein Golem pulled the spear with a jerk. The enemy, however, instantly shifted his center of gravity back to counter the Klein Golem. For a moment, the power of the two bodies was in conflict. No, Klein Golem was at a slight disadvantage due to his lack of power. Then, Klein Golem used the power of his opponent to draw his spear, and jumped into the pocket at once. It succeeded brilliantly. It looked like ....... Lanzer, who had stopped holding back, let go of his spear just before Klein Golem jumped in, and grabbed his reserve weapon, a shortsword. Two shortswords crossed each other. Until then! ...... is a magnificent thing! Richard, King of Cerroa''s half-repentant, half-impressed voice rings out. The two golems were holding short swords to each other''s chests. It was the moment when Klein Golem''s willpower brought them to a draw. "But, not to be a sore loser, I think our golem won. Gloria muttered. When Erza asked her the reason, "Because our golem holds its sword against its opponent''s left breast, while the sword of the Kingdom of Selroa''s is against its right breast. "I see, if it were a human, it would pierce through the heart, right?" Jin felt a little better after hearing this. The actual heart is not so much in the left chest as in the left of the center, but in this case it is the <, so Jin did not say anything. 798 - - 23-34 Anger Full Open Let''s have one last mock battle. With one win, one loss, and one draw, there is no doubt that this is literally a battle for the prestige of the Kingdom of Celuloa. I heard that the automata of Kunlun-kun are so strong that they are ranked among the cavalrymen even though they are puppets. Then I, too, will have the mightiest Whipper to deal with you. "No, if that''s the case, you can come at me with all of you safe and sound. Reiko glanced at the Klein Golem that had been pierced by the sword and said in a cold voice. ......? Richard, as expected, had not expected those words at all, and for a moment he was absolutely stunned. "......Ah, Reiko, you are angry." Reiko has several reasons to be angry, most of them having to do with Jin. In this case, it was because Jin had destroyed a generic golem he had built - a little brother to Reiko. Jin is in the hall and Reiko is outside. Gloria is nearby and the dignitaries from various countries are glancing in Jin''s direction when he tries to nail her. Under these circumstances, he couldn''t use the manacam, which he had put in his bracelet. "......Well, it can''t be helped, can it?" Jin was determined to accept the results, no matter what happened. Don''t be sorry,......<<>," he said. The sword-using golem seems to be named Speida. Spayda slashed at Reiko. She has replaced her broken sword with a new one, and has been going all out from the start. Reiko seemed to be completely immobilized ...... by its swiftness. But... What? Reiko easily grabbed the sword that Speida swung down with only her left hand. "Oh! The representatives of the countries watching the event were also awestruck by the spectacle. Speyda seemed to be trying to move the sword with all her strength, but the sword did not move at all, as if it was caught in a vise. This is ridiculous!The difference in weight is this great! Reiko had secretly used the force field generator to hold herself in place. To move the current Reiko, several tens of tons of force would be needed. But Reiko is facing more than one opponent. < was swinging a whip in her hand, and slamming it down on her. Reiko grabs it with her free right hand. Impossible!The movement of the whip is not something you can follow with your eyes! Richard seemed to have noticed what Jin had said to Gloria, but there was no way to know what had happened next. Reiko''s dynamic vision can see supersonic objects. But the Whipper has more than one whip. Another whip strikes Reiko. The whip, made of twisted thin steel, was powerful enough to cut a bronze golem in half when the Whipper wielded it at full force. It struck Reiko. Most of the onlookers imagined Reiko being cut to pieces. But... But the whip struck the spade. Reiko lifted Spayda by her sword and placed it in the whip''s path. Spader''s steel armor and the Whipper''s steel whip clashed, and a high-pitched metallic sound was heard. As expected, Spader''s armor withstood the Whipper''s whip. "A friendly fire?" Reiko was smiling quietly from about three meters away before she knew it. "Uh-uh!...... Okay, you said Reiko, that''s it! King Richard declared Reiko the winner, perhaps deciding that any further attempts would only result in embarrassment. A sigh escaped from the representatives who were watching. They were filled with respect and a little awe for Reiko''s immeasurable potential and Jin''s skill in creating it. Reiko bowed gracefully to the Magic Eye that was filming her. "Ah ...... Reiko, well, I can''t help it." Jin thought, "I have to give her credit for not destroying her opponent. Just then the Whipper''s whip wrapped around Reiko''s body. Good job, Whipper. Keep Reiko under control. "Isn''t it over?" Reiko''s quiet voice rang out. The second round is about to begin. Sorry, I''m late. A white voice answered in reply. Most of the people present thought that this would destroy Reiko, but some of them foresaw the opposite, a future in which the face of the Kingdom of Celuloa would be destroyed. "I see. Then I''ll get a little more serious. You''ve got to be kidding me. Spader, smash him! Spader raises his sword and cuts at Reiko, who is (supposed to be) immobile. "That''s impossible!" Reiko exerts a little force, and the whipper that was wrapped around her body is torn to shreds. Reiko then clamped Spader''s sword between the index and middle fingers of her right hand and turned her wrist. With that, Spader''s sword broke from the middle and never reached Reiko. Reiko stepped forward, grabbed Spader''s arm, and threw a front kick to the torso and abdomen. Spayedah sprawls forward and flies away. Reiko now has Spayda''s left arm in her hand. Reiko had somehow ripped it off from the shoulder joint. And there was the Whipper, just ahead of Spader as he was blown away. The two golems collided with a roar. Spader''s momentum was killed, but the two Golems were still blown away at a very high speed. Reiko threw Spader''s left arm in her hand at the two golems. The force was so great that when they collided, there was a deafening roar. The people saw Spader and the Whipper, both of whom had been deformed into a strange shape and were motionless. Just when you thought it was over, a swinging hammer struck Reiko from behind, knocking her sideways. The previously unmoving took the opportunity to strike. Reiko turned around and threw a spinning kick. The leg collided with the hammer, and there was a roar that was twice as loud as before. The result was the sight of Reiko holding the hem of her long skirt, and Martou''s arm shattered by the hammer. "......" Those who were watching were stunned speechless. To begin with, the wire rope that formed the whip had a breaking strength of about five tons. It was wrapped three times around the whip, and Reiko easily tore it off. This means that Reiko''s strength is at least 15 tons. That is more than ten times that of a battle golem, which is classified as a top-class golem. If her size is factored in, it could be 20 times as much. And Reiko destroys it, despite the destructive power of the hammer being wielded against her. Thinking of this, the slight awe I felt just now turns into a great fear. "Lyon 1, get involved! < Richard, who had already forgotten that this was a mock battle, issued an out-of-the-ordinary order. "...... You are wasting your time, aren''t you?" Reiko sighed and kicked the ground to intercept Lyon 1. * * * "How strange is that?" "...... Is King Richard insane?" The attendees began to wonder about this trend. But since they did not know where Richard was getting his orders from, there was nothing they could do about it. But there was one person who could go to the king. "Father!" The Dauphin, Cesar. A secret room in the basement of the Guillaume villa. Only those of Guillaume''s blood may enter. In this case, only King Richard and the Dauphin Cesar. The Dauphin put his hands on the door, and after a few seconds the door was unlocked and began to open slowly. Cesar did not wait for the door to open fully before running into the room. There he found Richard Valois de Cerlois, King of the Kingdom of Cerlois, with his hair shaking and half-crazed. 799 - - 23-35 MadnessEscape Father!Father!" Cesar''s calls to Richard showed no sign of abating. His nose was bleeding and he continued to scream. "Ha-ha-ha-ha!< Father! Richard, you''ve just given the most ridiculous order. Father, I''m sorry! Cesar hit his father Richard in the solar plexus. "Whoo-hoo!" Richard is in a slump. But the order cannot be undone. Richard is the only one who has the authority to give orders to the large golem, <>. And if ten <> run amok, there is no telling how long even the sturdy Guillaume Palace will be able to hold out. And this uproar, though only audible, was being broadcast throughout the palace. What? King, are you mad? What has happened to the king? The Kingsguard was in turmoil, What''s happened to King Celluloid? Is he ...... insane to order that golem to go on a rampage? What will happen to us if we stay here?" Fear struck the people in the pews. They were on the verge of panic. "Calm down!" A dignified voice echoed through the hall. Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shoro, Emperor of the Shoro Kingdom, calmed the crowd. "Panicking will not improve the situation. First of all, we need to understand what is going on! The Empress pointed to a magic screen that reflected the outside. There, a small automaton was seen taking on the rampaging . Although Jin could not give direct orders, the old man, who had received information from the newly born < troops, had accurately assessed the situation and relayed the information to Reiko. (The king is disturbed? ...... and that means these guys are going to be harmful to your father.) At 4 meters tall, < was set at a size that just barely balanced strength and agility for a golem, and boasted a certain amount of strength. However, it was useless against Reiko, a substandard automata. Reiko then delivered a kick to the leg. Even the thick legs of <> could not resist the force of the kick as much as a dead branch. With their legs destroyed, two or three of them immediately fell to the ground. But the ten were scattered all over the palace and were no longer in a condition to be destroyed in a short time. "Then we''ll start with the one closest to your father. ......!" Without a moment''s hesitation, Reiko heads for near the palace. "......, that''s great!" "This could be it, or ......!" The crowd, seeing Reiko''s success, had regained some of their composure. It is not clear whether they escaped or went to settle the situation, but at this point, the soldiers of the Kingdom of Cerroa who were in the hall were gone. "Please evacuate to the rooftop while you still can! Jin shouted. "Jin-kun, why?" asked the leader who was closest to Jin, the Shoro empress. "I''m going to take the Conlon 2 there. If we can escape into the sky, we will be safe for the time being. "Okay. Can you get all of us on ......? We''ll be fine. There are 16 of us in the hall now, except for Jin and Erza. The number of escort golems is seven, since <>, Count Galana''s gilded golem, and the general-purpose golem of the Kingdom of Klein are not present here. < is set for the pilot and his assistant, in other words, 5 people related to Horai Island, plus 30 people. It can accommodate enough people. "Everyone!Did you hear that? is going to attach the airship to the rooftop. Let''s hurry! The queen''s voice was clear. The people in attendance felt relieved at the sound of her voice, and most of them, knowing Jin''s skill, decided to follow his instructions without a second thought. Jin runs toward the rooftop with Elsa. At the same time, he took advantage of the chaos to contact . The old man passes on Jin''s instructions to the , <> and <> who are not present here. In other words, the moored <> is to be directed to the rooftop of Guillaume''s detached palace. Since the two bodies were not allowed to enter the hall, they were waiting in the living room of the guest house, but when they received the order from the old man, they immediately started to act. "Let''s go, Rose." "Yes, Lily." The two bodies flew out of the window of the living room into the courtyard, and then ran across the courtyard at full speed to the vestibule and landing area where the balloons and airships were moored. It seems that the commotion in the detached palace has not yet been reported to us. The two units completely ignore the attempts of the soldier guarding them. And unlike hot-air balloons, does not need to be preheated. The two released the mooring ropes, climbed aboard, and launched the . "Aaah! The soldiers guarding the vestibule gathered to stop Lily and Rose from acting suspiciously, but it was already too late. Before they knew it, had floated into the sky. < The first of the frantically running attendees reached the rooftop just as was descending. "Thank you, Jin-dono!" Gloria was the one who uttered these words. She was the first one to run up the stairs with Cynthia, as if she were a soldier in active service. The second prince Arthur had also arrived on the roof with his valet Lioness, protected by Jessica and Cynthia. Gloria''s father, Boulton, arrived a little later. "Anyway, get in!" Jin, who had used his physical enhancements, arrived at the rooftop earlier than the others. Erza had been picked up by Edgar and brought with him, so she was not out of breath. Jin gives the order, and the first to arrive are taken to the in turn. <, so it does not shake at all. "Jin, thank God!" Reinhardt is the next to arrive. The Marquis of Gehlen has also arrived, looking a bit pathetic, but is being carried by Lisa, an automata who is accompanying him. "Thank you, Jin-kun!" The Shoro emperor, the empress, arrives, out of breath, protected by Commander Fritz. Mateus was assisting Minister of Magic and Technology Deghaus. Similarly, the participants come to the rooftop, protected by a golem. "Thank you, Mister Gin! The Marquis of Florenziano said. "Thank you, Mr. Kunlun!" The Duke of Bruu rides in with his golem. At the rear are the Count of Galana and the Marquis of Orange from the Kingdom of Franz. No, the last to appear are Reiko and the Black Knight (Schwarzritter). Reiko was carrying a generic golem of the Klein Kingdom. She did not want to leave behind the golem that Jin had created, the golem that could be called his little brother. "Reiko, thank you for your hard work." "Yes, father. But we were only able to neutralize seven of them. No, it''s okay. You did a good job. Jin gently patted Reiko''s sorry-looking head. Reinhardt also stayed with Jin and thanked the black knight (Schwarzlitter). "Well done, Noir," he said. "Yes, sir." After confirming that all the representatives were on board, Jin boarded the ship with Reinhardt and Erza, and took the cockpit. Erza sat next to him on his right, Reiko on his left, and Edgar in the back. Reinhardt sat in the passenger cabin. Lily stowed the ramp and closed the hatch. Rose stood between the cabin and the cockpit. "Let''s go!" With this many people on board, the helium buoyancy alone would not be enough to keep the ship afloat. Naturally, a force field generator was also used. The moment the passengers felt the floating sensation, <> left the rooftop of the detached palace. "Oh! "And it''s flying. ......" Many of them were on board the airship for the first time, and they were excited about the unique experience of flying, even in such an emergency. At the same time, their fear of Jin, which they had felt earlier, had completely disappeared, although it may or may not have been temporary. However, chaos was spreading below. 800 - - 23-36 GuidanceMeasures The Mad King Richard did not activate only 10 . There were twenty more. When they appeared from the other side of the palace, everyone turned pale. Twenty-three were running amok in all directions. So far, only the villa is under attack. The guards seem to have escaped, and there seems to be no human casualties. However, there are still many people involved in the ceremony in the guest house. Marcia and Arrow were unable to attend the ceremony. Rita, whom Fritz had saved, and other security personnel from various countries. "We can''t ...... get them all on board. Then ...... that''s it!" Jin switched the controls to automatic and headed for the cabin. His destination was the Emperor of Shoro. "Sir Jin Nido, what is it?" "Your majesty, I would like to evacuate those who are still in the guest house and those who have not escaped to the ship. So ......" "Oh, okay. Okay." Without further ado, the emperor immediately gave his permission. "I''ll be happy to help you with our ship." "Thank you for your prompt attention." Jin thanked her. The queen interrupted him, "No need to thank me. But can you guide me?" She expressed her concern. Jin nodded back. "Yes. Lao Tzu and Anne are still on the ground. "Oh, that''s right." At these words, the group looked down through the window. Jin returned to the pilot''s seat and lowered the altitude of <>. So far, no damage has been done by the <> near the guest house, but just in case, the <> is also deployed. He lowered the barrier to about 10 meters from the ground, and gave < instructions to Lao Tzu and Anne who were waiting there. Of course, he used wind magic, <>. Lao Tzu, Anne, and His Majesty gave their permission. Evacuate as many people as possible to the ships of the Shoro Kingdom, the Bernstein and the Granat. "Yes, sir. I''m coming, Anne. Fritz stood up, looking at Lao Tzu and Anne, who immediately sprang into action. Then he knocked on the door of the cockpit. "Brother, what''s wrong?" Elsa showed her face. Fritz tells his sister his intentions. "I want you to lower the altitude a little bit. Then I can use to evacuate the people and stop <>. Then he turns around, "Your Majesty, will you allow it?" The emperor laughed and asked. The Empress nodded with a wry smile. Normally, she should have asked for permission before asking to lower the altitude of the airship. But the queen did not care about such a trivial matter. "Thank you for the ...... blessing." Fritz thanked her and went to the doorway at the rear of the cabin. Lily accompanies him as he opens and closes the hatch. On the way, Gloria and Cynthia came up to him, "Take care, Mr. Fritz," said Lily. "Good luck, Mr. Fritz. Fritz silently replied with a few words of encouragement. Fritz nodded silently. Elsa told Jin, and <> lowered its altitude further. It was about two meters off the ground, just barely above the surface. Lily opens the hatch and Fritz jumps out. Fritz jumped down and ran to the back of the guest house where the five were parked ....... Meanwhile, Lao Tzu was leading the evacuation of the people. "There is no need to panic!Please evacuate calmly!" Since there were few civilians and many knights, the maidens and servants seemed to be relatively at ease, and the evacuation went smoothly. The exception was Marcia and Arrow, who personally led some people to a new type of trimaran for evacuation. Anne was running around the guest house as fast as she could, checking to see if anyone had fallen behind in their escape. Then, she found a girl crouching alone in a back room. It was Rita, whom Fritz had protected. "It''s not safe for you to stay here. Please evacuate with me. Anne said in a gentle tone, and Rita stood up, though she was shaking. Anne took Rita''s hand in hers. Rita returned Anne''s hand in a reassuring manner. The two went outside. From the air,< From the sky, <> observed the situation on the ground. "Ah, Lao Tzu has brought out the second group of evacuees. "Marcia and the others have also evacuated a few people. That''s great." Hitoshi and Reiko described the current situation, and Elsa and Edgar summarized the situation. As for the number of people waiting at the guest house, the heads of state in the guest room have some idea of the number of people waiting there, so they are inquiring about the number of people waiting there. "I see you''ve got Anne. Looks like she''s got a ...... girl with her. That must be ...... Rita." The three <> led by Fritz were between the villa and the guesthouse, keeping <> from coming this way. However, <> seems to only attack the detached palace. It is as if he only sees what is in front of him. "This will hold until everyone has evacuated..." Fritz thinks to himself, and together with the remaining two units, he leads the evacuation. "I think we''re almost done here," he says. There are no more people below. Human casualties seem to have been minimized. The people of the Kingdom of Selroa also seem to have managed to finish the evacuation. "Yes. The exceptions are King Richard and the Dauphin Cesar. I don''t know where they are." Elsa replies, looking at the notes she has with her, in which she has checked the number of people who have been accounted for by the representatives of the various countries. The king and the prince are probably in a secret room in the Guillaume Palace, but there is no time to look for them. The Guillaume Palace has already been half destroyed by . "...... wait?" Jin suddenly remembered a girl. He looked at the note, but there was no name on it. It was impossible for someone from another country to know of her existence, since the Dauphin Cesar had left it in his room. "Alshell might still be in the palace. Erza also thought of this possibility and frowned worriedly. In any case, the king and the crown prince needed to be rescued as well. "Brother Jin, is there any way to stop <>?For example, with an ether jammer." It would be best if we could stop him, Erza thought. "Yes, it''s a mana tank, so an ether jammer won''t work. Aetherjammer is a method to put free magic element (ether) in a certain area under control and to block the opponent''s magic. It has no effect on mana. "...... understood." "Too bad we don''t have it in in the first place." At the moment, the door between the cockpit and the passenger compartment was closed, so such a conversation was possible. "...... Then, we have to use <>." The magic canceller is a magical device that can drown out the magic of an opponent except for a very few magic by forcibly converting mana back into free magic elements (ether). The most important part, the Magi Device, requires a , so even Jin could not mass-produce it. One is for Jin''s machine, <>. The other was installed in Reiko''s bracelet. Reiko''s bracelet was left on Horai Island. A while ago, when a giant golem, an ancient relic (artifact) of the Shoro Empire, was about to go out of control, Jin had repaired it after it had been broken due to unreasonable use in order to stop it. The bracelet that Reiko is wearing now is the same type of bracelet that Jin and Erza are wearing. The color of Reiko''s bracelet is milky white, and the magicrystal set in it is translucent. However, it does not have the function of <. "......There was a pitfall in an unexpected place, wasn''t there?" Reiko''s words made Jin laugh. He had not thought that he would need a countermeasure against golems with the old-fashioned < specifications. In fact, Reiko also has a super-small built in, but considering the range and area of effect, it is not effective in this case. In the first place, it was a device to prevent the < that the < who once confronted them in the demon tribe territory tried to cause. "I guess this is where ...... Pegasus 1 comes in." 801 - - 23-37 ReconsiderMakina Dispatch Jin decides to bring the <> to the scene and calls Lao-kun. "Old man, send out the Pegasus 1 with the Machina on board." However, the reply he received from the old man was something that Jin did not expect. "Why?" <> Jin had a sudden realization. Erza, who was listening next to him, did the same. <, but all magic tools with mana tanks would be stopped. This means that the current world order will be destroyed. Of course Jin does not intend to abuse it, but others may not think so. "...... indeed." This was the opinion of the old man who was not in the field and could analyze the current situation from a broad perspective. "Then, we need to break through the current situation. ......" Jin reconfirmed the situation below. "It seems that no one has escaped ......." ''s movements were slow from Jin''s point of view. There was enough time for people to evacuate. But. "...... I knew it." King Richard said, <>applies to everything around him. It is a natural consequence of the fact that he has not set a clear goal. The rampaging was not only attacking the Guillaume Palace, but also the surrounding facilities. If left unchecked, the town would have been damaged as well." "...... Jin bro." Erza is also worried. Jin explained another plan to reassure Erza. "Don''t worry. There is another way to stop with the known technology. Are you ready, old man, for the machina?" < "Good. And the land troops? "Good. Listen, I''m going to Horai Island now. Prepare 10 Magi Crystals of all attributes. . This time, without asking the reason, the old man accepts Jin''s instruction. Jin calls out to Erza. Erza, I''m going to Horai Island now, and I''ll be back in a few minutes. I''ll tell you the details when I get back. "Okay, okay. No one is allowed in the cockpit during this time. Have a good trip. Reiko, you too. I''m off then. Using the warp gate secretly installed in the cockpit, Jin flies to Horai Island. On the table in the control room were 10 Magi Crystals of all attributes. "Thank you." Jin, who had just finished working on the old man, wasted no time and immediately began to process the crystals using his engineering magic. "......<>" The result was ten magic tools. Jin gave them to the old man. "Let Lando and the others take these and go to work. I''m going back to ." It was a hectic return to the island. "Brother Jin, welcome home!" Elsa and Reiko greeted Jin as he returned to the ship in exactly five minutes. "Everything is fine while your father was away." "Okay. The Land troops will be transferred out soon." The "Land team" will be transferred soon, while using <> so that no one can see where they are coming from. To the uninitiated, it would appear as if they appeared out of nowhere. "Oh, here he is. Good, good, good." As the land unit approached the rampaging <>, the > instantly stopped. "......Why?" Erza''s natural question. "Elsa knows ...... that it''s more like a magic that''s been done to her." Jin gives a hint. Erza recognized it as soon as she heard it. "...... Oh, you mean <>?" "Correct. If it is <>, the same kind of <> was used by the Unifilers. They can stop without being suspected. "...... you''re really good!" "No, I was going to use the magic canceller at first too. But then the old man made me realize that I shouldn''t use it in public. It''s not something you can use casually in public." "......, indeed. > and <> are also available at ......." "Yes." Below, the 23rd was coming to a stop. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <, trying to reduce the damage caused by the as much as possible. The number of he was facing was 12. <> was superior to that of the larger <>, but since they were simply ordered to , they were not as fast as <>, who moved according to detailed instructions. Nevertheless, the difference in numbers between 12 and 5 is obvious. The <> could manage to defeat them when they were two against one, but when they were surrounded by three of them, the <> were at a disadvantage. Finally, <> was defeated. "d*mn ......!It''s about time. ......" Just as Fritz is about to order the remaining four <> to retreat. "Hmm?" The < suddenly stopped. There were also three <> that stopped in mid-action, and they slowly fell down. When they fell to the ground, they made a loud noise, but then the area around the palace became unnaturally quiet. All 23 of the had stopped. Fritz, who was on the ground and saw the stopped , was surprised, but tried to grasp the situation. And then... "What the hell happened?" At that moment, Fritz saw a small shadow ......, meaning ...... compared to <>, jump down from <>. "What the hell is that ......?" "That''s my golem, Mister Fritz." "Whoa! Fritz literally jumped up when he was suddenly approached from behind. "Sorry, sorry, I must have startled you..." "Makina-dono ......?" The deus ex machina that had helped Fritz, Gloria, and the others when they were struggling against the before was there. * * * * * * "Ah, that''s the golem of Lord Machina!" <, exclaimed. It was the golem that had saved her when she had been attacked by a giant scissors beetle, controlled by a girl of the demon tribe who called herself . "A golem of Machina?" Hearing Gloria''s words, the others looked at the ground. But they did not know what Makina and his golem had done. "Ladies and gentlemen, it appears that the danger is over. At that moment, the door to the cockpit was opened and Jin appeared. "Jin-dono, it seems that <> has stopped, do you know what is going on? Immediately, Duke Breu asked a question. It was a question that everyone present was asking. Jin gave a slight thought before replying. "Perhaps it is a kind of <>, a kind of <>. That''s all I can say from here." "I see. ......" Duke Bruu still remembered the horror of the <> used by the Unifilers at the > in the Kingdom of Egelea. "Since they didn''t seem to have used Elradorite, I think they used it by contacting <>, since it is ineffective at a distance." "I see." People are convinced by Jin''s explanation. Everyone was relieved to hear that the trouble was finally over. 802 - - 23-38 The rubblerescue While relieved, the leaders must have felt a sense of awe at the unfathomable power of the Machina, which was probably the true state of mind of the leaders. Jin slowly lowered the altitude of the as the ground became quiet. The passengers are glued to the windows as they have a better view of the ground. Meanwhile, Fritz has begun to clear away the debris with the other four , except for the damaged . As one would expect from a man of 6 meters, his strength is quite impressive. "Oh, that''s a lot of power," he said. "It''s really quite impressive, isn''t it? About a third of the outside of the palace had collapsed. Some of us were exhilarated to see clearing away several tons of debris. After about 30 minutes, we managed to clear away the debris from the outer wall of the palace, and the entrance and exit became visible. However, there were still small piles of debris, and it seemed impossible to get in and out of the building. Then, comes down. The onlookers are once again stunned. Ten golems from Lands 11 to 20 have gathered. "Oh, what is that? Is that Machina''s force? "I should say I''m glad they''re not ...... enemies. ......" The representatives of each country had their own thoughts, "I knew it was the golem from back then." Gloria remembered the time when she had been saved. The golems start clearing away small debris that <> can''t handle. Even though they are small, they are too big and heavy for a human to move. The RAND team carries them out with ease. In about five minutes, the doorway to the villa is exposed. Lando''s team dives into it. < to a halt. "Brother! < cabin, shouted. "What''s wrong, Erza?" Jin came out of the cockpit and asked Erza. Erza hurried to explain. "Well, ...... Mr. Fritz is also reckless, ...... even though it is not always safe inside the palace yet." The place was crumbling in places, and there was no guarantee that it would not collapse in the future. "Old man, tell the Landtag to take care of Fritz''s safety as well." Jin instructed the old man in a whisper that could not be heard in the guest room to reassure Erza. Erza finally felt relieved. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Inside the Guillaume detached palace, there were more collapsed parts than seen from the outside. In the case of a stone building, it is possible to maintain its strength when it is put together as a whole, but when one part breaks, it is sometimes forced to adopt a structure that breaks in a chain reaction. This is the case, for example, with arched ceilings. The stones are held together by gravity and are tightly assembled, but if any part of the structure collapses, it cannot maintain its strength. There were several such places in the Guillaume Palace. "............ here, too." Fritz was worried about the safety of those who remained in the palace, especially the king, the dauphin and the girl whom the dauphin had protected. Most of the first floor is a large hall. Seeing at a glance that no one was there, Fritz decided to go to the second floor. Avoiding the collapsed parts, Fritz managed to find the stairs to the second floor and started to climb carefully. Behind him are Land 12 and 16, watching over him in case of emergency. On the second floor was the terrace where King Richard had given his speech, but the area was empty. "...... back, huh?" Fritz went further in. "......?" A leg peeked out from under the rubble. "It''s a man!" Fritz runs up to it and starts to move the rubble away, but he is stuck because it is too big and heavy for a man to move. "...... d*mn ...... can''t we do something about it?" Then Land 12 and 16 showed up. "We''ll take care of it." "We''ll take care of it." "Mr. Fritz, stay back." "Oh, you guys..." "We serve the Deus ex Machina." The two Landes answered Fritz''s question shortly and went to work on removing the debris. "Oh ......!" The rubble that Fritz had tried to lift up was moved out of the way so easily that it seemed as if it weighed nothing. "......I have no idea how much power this Machina person has,...... like the knight Rey we saw before." Fritz is both impressed and afraid. While he was thinking about this, all the debris was removed, revealing the person underneath. "......Mr. Kirk ......?" It was Kirk Apt, one of the Dauphin Cesar''s bodyguards. His head was bleeding and his right arm was crushed. To say the least, he is seriously wounded. "He''s still breathing. We need to patch him up quickly. Land 16 took a bottle of something from the pack on his waist and sprinkled it on Kirk''s wound. The bleeding stopped immediately. It is a healing potion made in Hourai Island. The effect is comparable to an intermediate level of healing magic. "This should stop the bleeding for now. I''m going to take him out. Fritz hurriedly told Land 16 who gently picked Kirk up. "Oh, yeah. My sister Elsa is an excellent healer. Give her my name and ask her for me." "Yes, sir." And Lando 16 left. Lando 14, 17, and 18 came in their place. "We are here to help you, Mr. Fritz. Fritz nodded in surprise when he heard his name called. "Thank you. There must be more rooms in the back. Fritz regained his composure and went on to the back of the building. Four land golems quickly cleared away the debris in the way. A heavy door appeared. It was made of wood and reinforced with a metal frame. It was carved with a crossed sword and a dragon, the emblem of the Kingdom of Selroa. In case of emergency, Fritz knocked and put his hand on the door without hearing a reply. It was unlocked, the door opened with a slight creak, and inside was ....... "Get a grip!" Fritz shouted as he ran into the room. The ceiling had collapsed in several places and an elderly maid was lying on the floor, probably hit by debris. She seemed to be conscious, as she was moaning and groaning. Land 14 gave her some recovery medicine, and she recovered enough to speak. She was taken out of the villa with Land 14 accompanying her. And in the back of the room, buried in the rubble, is another girl. The girl the Dauphin had protected, the girl with no memory. "She''s ...... Hey!Hey! She seemed to be unconscious and did not respond to Fritz''s calls. The girl had a large wound on her left shoulder, but no blood flowed out. Without worrying about it, Fritz went to the girl. There was some debris in the way, but fortunately nothing too large, and Fritz succeeded in carrying her up and out of the room. "Mr. Fritz, my colleague has checked the other floors and there is no one there anymore. Land 17 tells Fritz. But Fritz shakes his head. "No. The king and the Dauphin must still be here somewhere. They could be in a hidden room. And we haven''t found the Dauphin''s other bodyguard, I think it''s ......, or Scape, or Scaife." "If there is a hidden room, it''s probably in the basement. We should get out of here first." Even as he said this, small pieces of debris began to fall from the ceiling. "Okay. Let''s go outside for a while. * * * * has landed in the plaza in front of the guest house. Those who had evacuated to the ship had re-emerged, seeing that the danger was over, and the attendants from various countries were checking with their escorts and followers to make sure they were all safe. The guests were unharmed. It seems that they were lucky that only a few were allowed to enter the palace. The Kingdom of Cerroa, however, was not so lucky. "...... is terrible, you know." The soldiers who had been sent out in large numbers, partly to act as cherry poppers, had also failed to escape, and there had been considerable damage. The exact number of casualties is not yet known, so it is difficult to say, but it is estimated to be 15 dead, 21 seriously injured, and 11 slightly injured. The number of casualties is expected to increase depending on further investigations. 803 - - 23-39 AllowanceDiscovery Thank you for your help, Lord Machina. I don''t know how to thank you. I will never forget this." Deus ex machina, who had been inspecting the scene, received words of thanks from the dignitaries of the various countries present. "As soon as I return to my country, I would like to send you a thank-you gift. ......" Count Galana suggested, "As soon as I return to my country, I would like to send you a thank-you gift, "The whole country welcomes you, and we would like you to come to our country. The Duke of Orange''s invitation, "The whole country welcomes you and would like you to come to our country," was also declined and none of them were accepted. Then, pretending to be fed up with the invitation, she disappeared again with her golems in tow. After losing sight of Makina, the group asked Jin a lot of questions. "Jin-dono!Is it true that he, Makina-dono, is your brother? Do you know where he lives? Can you make something like him? Etc, etc, etc. But Jin smiled a troubled smile, "I will make that clear in due course. Please wait until then. There are more important things to do now. He softly avoided the question, but at the same time made a good argument, which made the people in the audience change their minds. "...... But whatever we are going to do, it will not start without King Cerroa." That is also true. Without the leader of this country, what we can do is limited. While Jin was in , the old man had given him a brief explanation. There is a hidden room somewhere in the palace, where the king and the crown prince are supposed to be, but they have not been found yet. Then, the first possibility is a hidden room in the basement, and the second is a place other than the palace. The old man was aware of this and was in the process of expanding the search area by the Land troops. Meanwhile, Erza was treating the injured. The location was the guest house. The building was almost unscathed. On the other hand, the Guillaume Palace was half destroyed. The rubble is still being removed. The Shoro Emperor had asked her to treat the wounded, and Elsa''s skill was highly appreciated by the leaders of many countries. Among the 21 seriously wounded, there were 4 people with life-threatening injuries, and Erza would not have been able to heal all of them if she had used the highest level of surgical healing magic <>, but with <>, she was able to heal them all. (Heilung)>>, I managed to heal them to the extent of minor wounds. There are healers in the Kingdom of Selroa, so I asked them to heal mainly those with minor wounds. * * * * * * * * * * * "...... wind" "Good work, Erza." Jin offered Persica juice, specially made in Horai Island, to Erza, whose complexion had gone slightly pale from the use of magic power. It is a drink rich in free ether, which replenishes the mana that is lacking in the body. "Thank you, Brother Jin." Erza took a breath and thanked Jin. "What? (How was <> at ......?) Jin''s voice dropped in mid-sentence. Erza had examined and treated <>, whom Fritz had rescued, in the same way. (......, it must be a homunculus after all) Erza answered in a whisper as did Jin. (Once again, I was able to examine her in detail. (Once again, I was able to examine it in detail. But the crushed left arm was healed by healing magic. (This is a great discovery.) Healing magic works on homunculus too. In other words, they have body tissues similar to those of humans. (What about ? (I''m barely at level 6 now. But I tried.) Erza performs secretly and offers Jin a magi crystal with the transcribed information. Jin takes it. He is going to have the old man analyze it later. * * * * * * * * * * * <, there is a small building. At first glance, it looks like a church, but since religion is not widespread in the Kingdom of Selroa, or even in this world, we know that it is for another purpose. "This place is kind of weird, isn''t it?" Ann said. Lao Tzu and Ann had joined the search for the king and the crown prince. The building itself, as usual, was slightly damaged by <>''s rampage, but it seemed to be sturdy overall and did not seem to be in danger of collapsing. "I feel ...... uncomfortable." Anne said. "Yes. The location of the building. The design of the building. The solidity. It''s the only thing that stands out." Lao Tzu agrees. "Let''s just check it out." First, they tried to open the door, but it did not budge. If Lao Tzu and Anne used their full power, they could easily break down the door and get in, but there were so many people around that they had to think of a way other than brute force. Just in case, he also activated . "This door must be opened by magic, right?" "In short, the mechanism that was working with mana has gone wrong ....... I went around the building. Just behind the building, I found a magi device that looked like it. "It seems to be this one. Let''s check it out. After a short investigation, the cause of the stuck device was found. The mana needed to operate the device was empty. The mage collects free magical elements (ether) by using his/her mental waves and converts them into magical elements (mana). The mana is dyed in the color of the magician, and cannot be controlled by anyone other than the magician. But, in the case of a mana tank, it can be said that only the part without <> is stored. Otherwise, only the creator can replenish the mana, which is undesirable. Therefore, although the efficiency is a little lower, a magic machine (magi-machine) with the specifications of a mana tank stores and uses only the common part ...... of the magic element (mana), or in the case of electricity, the direct current component ....... It is a magi-machine with a mana tank. Let me digress. Lao Tzu uses his own ether converter to release the converted mana from the free ether, and fills the mana tank behind the wall. In a dozen seconds, it is complete. "It should open now. He turns to the front and stands in front of the door. But the door does not respond. "It is possible that only a member of the royal family can open the door. Lao Tzu had to nod at Anne''s words. Jin had developed a security system that reacted only to registered magic patterns. "If so, this building is quite important. What on earth is hidden in it? ......" Even though Lao Tzu and Anne are looking for the king and the crown prince, their first priority is Jin. If there was even a one percent chance that leaving this mysterious facility as it was would be disadvantageous to Jin, its master, in the future, then uncovering its true identity was more important than finding the royal family. Fortunately, few people around them knew about the importance of this building, and no one could blame Lao Tzu and Anne for investigating. Fortunately, Lao Tzu examines the opening and closing mechanism of the door. "<><><>" Trace the flow of magic power and examine its structure. This is possible only by filling it with mana. "...... Got it. This is the Magi Device for authentication. It seems that some kind of magical device that would normally be used as a is inserted. It was not a magic pattern detection method like the one Jin had developed. However, such a <> method was rather troublesome. But Lao Tzu is not an ordinary automaton. He once went through the security and traps that the <> had set up for him. "....... Here is the authentication part. If you can fool this guy, you can get ......<>." Lao Tzu passed the authentication part and activated the switch by giving an operating command to the magi device beyond it. It sounds simple when written like this, but only Jin and his heirs could have identified the magi device and it from a distance. The door slowly opened. 804 - - 23-40 cellarexamination Lao Tzu and Ann step into the interior. It is dark inside, but both Lao Tzu and Ann can move around without any problem. "......This is ......" The floor is made of quartz tiles and the walls are granite. The ceiling was solidly made of basalt-like stone. The outside was slightly crumbling, but the inside was completely intact. "The outside and the inside are built differently. The outside was probably an afterthought. This construction was common ......300 years ago." Anne is based on an automata that was made 300 years ago, just before the Magic War. She has more experience than Lao Tzu. "This pattern is the pattern of hiding something under the floor, isn''t it? Ann kicked a regular pattern of quartz tiles of different colors with the heel of her shoe, "...... there''s a cavity under here." It seems she has found a basement. "...... should we go any further?" Ann wondered if she was overstepping her bounds. "No, I think it would be best to discuss this further with the master. I agree. * * * * * * Fritz and are still clearing away the rubble of the villa in order to find the basement. Now the last of the rubble is removed. "Oh?That''s ......!" A hole has been found that seems to lead to the basement. The door that had covered it had been shattered by the debris, and now there was a gaping hole in the floor. "I''ll try there." Fritz turned to go. Reinhardt hurried to stop him. "Fritz, it''s too dangerous. I''ll send my black knight." "...... I agree." Fritz accepted the advice. Reinhardt''s Schwarzlitter Noir stepped into the hole. There is a staircase that seems to lead down without danger. Five minutes have passed since Noir disappeared. "Whoa! Noir comes back with the Dauphin Cesar on his back and King Richard in his arms. "Your Majesty!Your Highness!" Kirk Atkinson, the Dauphin''s bodyguard, rushed to the scene. He was seriously wounded, but thanks to Erza''s healing magic, he is recovering. His crushed arm is still in the process of healing. He should not be able to move yet because he has lost a lot of blood, but he rushed to them out of loyalty. "There are still two injured people. They do not seem to be seriously injured, but please help them as soon as possible. There doesn''t seem to be any more danger of collapse inside. After saying these words, Noir carried them to the guesthouse''s infirmary. As Noire had said, two maidens were lying in the basement. They had been hit on the head by a piece of the collapsed ceiling and seemed to have fainted. I examined them and found that their wounds were minor. Luckily, they were near the solid gold golem of Count Galana and the statue of Venus de Jin, so they were not crushed by the collapsed ceiling. The solid gold golem was deformed and the statue of Venus made by Jin was half destroyed. ....... Nevertheless, almost all the survivors were rescued in this way. * * * * * * * * * * "Erza-dono, can you help us?" Ludlord Coles, the third seat of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kingdom of Celuloa, bowed his head. Since the top ministers such as Ramburo, Secretary of the First Ministry of the Interior, Bojoly, Secretary of the First Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Latant, Secretary of the First Ministry of Technology, were all injured, he was in overall command of the disaster site. "Understood." Erza was accompanied by Jin and Reinhardt. Then the emperor came to the scene. "You have to clean up this mess. After all, she is the king. There are many things that people from other countries cannot interfere with, so it was urgent that the king or the crown prince be restored to consciousness. Dirt and other contaminants on their bodies were wiped clean. The king did not show any external injuries, but the dauphin had a bruise on his head, which seemed to be caused by a blow. Elsa begins by examining them both. "......<><>......!" His face turned a little grim. "......<><>......" After examining him, Elsa first casts a healing spell on the crown prince. She heals the wounds that seem to have been caused by the debris, and regulates the condition of his internal organs and other parts. The effect is immediately apparent. "...... uu?" The crown prince Cesar had regained consciousness. "Your Highness!" Ludlord, the third seat of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, shouted in joy. The Dauphin Cesar slowly sat up. Then he let out a mumble as if remembering. "...... I ...... see, the ceiling collapsed ...... yes, father!" Cesar''s face turned sad as he looked at his father, Richard, lying next to him. "Are you all right, Your Highness?Does your head hurt?" Elsa asked with a worried look on her face. Cesar turned to Elsa. "Yes, I''m fine now. My head is clear. You''re the one who patched me up. I thank you." "...... well, thank you. So, what can you tell us about Your Majesty?I''ve examined you and there''s something wrong with you. Strange? Yes. He doesn''t seem to have been knocked unconscious by the trauma. "I see. ...... Cesar closed his eyes, made a gesture of remembrance, and opened his mouth. "At that time ...... my father was bleeding from the nose and seemed to be delirious." His tone was pained. "I knocked him out with a blow to the head right after I had ordered <> to go on a rampage." "Oh, I see." Only the sound could be heard in the hall of the detached palace. The situation had become clear. "My father was clearly insane at that time. If left unchecked, he could have given a terrible order to all the battle golems." "...... I understand." After hearing the explanation, Elsa examined King Richard again. This time, she focused on the brain. "<>" She then applied the highest level of surgical healing magic. But the king never woke up. After examining him again, Elsa reports with a slumped shoulder. "......I did all I could do. ......" Elsa said. "...... honestly, there is a high possibility that the brain is damaged," she said. "I see. ......" Cesar looked sad and Elsa asked again. "Did you have any bad habits, Your Majesty?" The question was immediately answered. "I can''t say it was a bad habit, but my father always liked to drink wine. I told him that he should stop drinking in the daytime because he drank in the morning, but he didn''t listen to me. It was a specialty brand from the Korin area, I believe. The fact that she was a regular wine drinker was a little disturbing to Elsa. "Do you have any of that wine?" "Perhaps it is still in the cellar." Hearing this answer, Elsa asked Edgar. "Edgar, will you bring it to me?" "Yes, sure." After leaving the answer, Edgar drove away. 805 - - 23-41 Wine merits and demeritsfuture actions After Edgar went in search of wine, Cesar asked Elsa a question to the contrary. "What did you mean by that, Elsa, ......?" But Elsa shook her head. "I can''t ...... say anything uncertain at this moment. Please wait a little longer." While this is going on, Edgar comes back... a little over a minute, very fast. A little over a minute, very fast. "Miss Elsa, I''ve got something for you." Thank you. Thank you. ......<" Elsa quickly analyzes the wine. Her face is frowned. "What is it, Elsa?" Jin, who had been silently watching from the sidelines, interjected when he saw the unusual expression on Elsa''s face. "I thought ...... it was laced with poison, but it wasn''t." "Oh, I see." Saki''s grandfather, the Marquis Theoderic, had been poisoned with arsenic wine, which had destroyed his liver. He must have remembered that. But then, why did Elsa''s face not clear up? The reason was immediately given. "...... but there''s some kind of vegetable alkaloid in it that I don''t understand." "Wait a minute." Jin waited for Erza to say something else. "Vegetable alkaloids? Alkaloid is a general term for naturally occurring organic compounds that are usually basic (alkaline). Morphine and nicotine are alkaloids. Jin knew that alkaloids include narcotics. "Some alkaloids have stimulant and anesthetic effects." < is not universal. It can only be understood if it is a substance known to the magician. Elsa, or even Jin, would not be able to get more information than that it seems to be an alkaloid. "......I don''t know what this alkaloid thing is, but my father always said that drinking this wine makes you clear-headed, didn''t he?" "Clear-headed, you say? ...... "Normally, when you consume alcohol, your judgment and reactions become sluggish. That''s what you mean when you say <. ......" Jin and Elsa pondered. They came to a conclusion. "I can only think ...... that it contains narcotic ingredients." Caffeine is the first thing that comes to mind as a plant-derived substance that could have such an effect. "<><>" Jin examined both taeyeh and wine, which had been prepared for drinking. The idea was that even without knowing the structural formula of caffeine itself, the common substance would be recognizable. "...... doesn''t sound like caffeine." But there was no common substance. "Brother Jin, is it a stronger drug then that?" "Yes. Or maybe it''s a unique drug that I don''t know about. Thirsty Jin drank a glass of juice that was lying near him. "Come to think of it, they say there are various additives in juices too. ......" In today''s earth, various synthetic substances are used in juices. Jin also recalled that the director of the orphanage took pains to prepare juices for the children to drink, which were made from only natural ingredients as much as possible. "You never drank Coke, did you? ......" When I was attending a regular high school, I was surprised at the taste of the cola I bought from a vending machine. It was not that it tasted good or bad, but that it felt strange to me. (There were tastier drinks, too. ......) There was also a soft drink that smelled like medicine and was not suitable for Jin to drink. "...... cocaine! And suddenly the word comes to mind. I also heard that it was added in the early days, though it is not added anymore. "......" as I recall. It reminds me of a TV special on drugs and narcotics. I remember that Sherlock Holmes was addicted to cocaine. ...... Cocaine is said to have an uplifting effect on the central nervous system. At the time, it was thought to be non-addictive and easily available to the general public. Cocaine is actually powderized and inhaled through the nose or injected intravenously in an aqueous solution, but Jin is not that familiar with the details. In any case, the ingredients in this wine seem to work orally, and in that respect it seems to be different from cocaine. "There''s another word I don''t know. I don''t know what cocaine is, but I do know that the wine is not only high in alcohol content, but is also made by soaking various medicinal herbs." "I see. ......" Hearing Cesar''s words, Jin and Elsa were almost certain that the plant-derived ingredients had poisoned King Richard''s mind and body. Elsa clearly states this. "Some of the herbs were toxic. It might make him clearer, but it was even more damaging to his body. "...... Indeed. In the last six months, my father had lost an unusual amount of weight." "And a brain hemorrhage caused by high blood pressure, this is the direct cause of His Majesty''s collapse. The treatment I just gave you stopped the bleeding and regulated the circulatory system, but the brain cells that have already been damaged will not return. ......" Even magic cannot regenerate brain cells. Seeing Elsa''s sad state, the crown prince Cesar nodded his head with a somber face. I didn''t understand half of what was being explained. "......Don''t blame yourself so much, Erza did the best she could. I know that very well. It is not your fault if my father is not conscious again. "Your Highness ......" Elsa was downcast, but she seemed to feel a little better after hearing the words of thanks from the Crown Prince Cesar. "...... if we had that herb, would we know more about it?" And a few words about the future. "Yes, if there are many kinds, we can find out which of them are toxic by examining the real ones." "Yes. Then let''s order them as quickly as possible. We don''t want to have the same victims." If we have the samples, maybe we can take countermeasures or even prevent them. Elsa and Jin agreed without hesitation. "Well, it''s getting dark soon. Let''s have our guests return to the guest house. With the king in such a state, it was inevitable that the Dauphin would take command. The heads of state headed for the guest house, looking a little tired. * * * * * * * * * * * At the guest house, preparations were made for bathing and dinner. All of them were mentally and physically exhausted from the daytime disturbance, and they had already finished their baths and left dinner behind. On the other hand, Jin soaked in the bath slowly and ate his dinner without leaving any leftovers. This is the difference in their mental capacity. Of course, the same goes for Elsa. In the room they were assigned, they received a report from Lao Kun through Lao Tzu. The transporter was used to send them out, but not so to return to Horai Island. However, there is a floating base in Lake Asur, which was set up during the battle against the Unification Party (Unifiler), and there is a large warp gate inside it, so we returned to the island via the warp gate. "At any rate, we have proved that Makina and I are different people, haven''t we?" <<< I guess so. And I have one more thing to report. "Yes, let me hear it." < <>. "Fuun ......" The Kingdom of Cerroa is an old country and it is not surprising that there are still relics from the time of the Magic War. Jin is also a little interested. "I''ll ask the Dauphin tomorrow. The next question is what to do next. "I''m sure they will." "That reminds me. ...... Erza, is there any hope for King Richard''s recovery?" Elsa nodded sadly when Jin asked her. "......Yes. Impossible." He had suffered a hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, and the necrosis of his brain cells due to the delay in treatment was irreversible, Elsa said. In addition, he was suffering from intoxication from the narcotic component of the wine he had been drinking. Liver and kidney damage is also not to be overlooked. "Oh, I see. ......" As a kingdom, the presence of a king is essential for the maintenance of order. "It''s not my place to say anything about that. ......" Anne objected to this. "No, Your Highness. You are already the equal of the representatives of each country. Your opinion has become a weight that cannot be ignored. Please be aware of that. "Oh, yes, ......, but isn''t that interfering in our internal affairs?" Jin, who is originally a mere engineer, is a little bit burdened. But... "No, this is not limited to the Kingdom of Cerroa. You saw the Lyon and other battle golems, large airships, and large ships. What do you think they were prepared for?" Anne''s words gave Jin an idea. "War, or ......." "Yes. Was it called "pressure diplomacy"?At the very least, that''s what King Richard had in mind." "......" Again Jin thought about it. Seeing Jin, Elsa called out to him. "...... Jin, I''m here too. Don''t forget." Elsa''s words reminded him of the other night. She had told me that Jin was not alone. "......, right?" Just as two people can carry a load that one cannot carry alone, Jin felt that with Elsa''s presence, he would be able to make it as a somehow. 806 - - 23-42 Meeting Meeting production The meeting between Jin and the others was still going on. "There is a possibility that there will be a faction that will promote another prince," Anne suggested. Anne suggested a possibility. < The old man continued. "Therefore, the sooner the crown prince is crowned and order is restored, the better. Anne concluded again. "...... understand." Jin listened to her explanation and was able to reaffirm his understanding of the current situation. The old man added. "I see. It would be better if that does not happen. ...... Just be prepared for that." Then the conversation turns to homunculus. "Well then, old man, how were your memories of the homunculus similar to Archel that Erza copied for you?" The old man must have analyzed the homunculus that Makina had given to him when she returned to Horai Island. "What?" "hmmm ......" She doesn''t even know if she had no memory from the beginning or if she lost it in an accident. "...... Jin, I''m pretty sure that she is not the sister you are looking for, Mr. Belials. Erza says the same thing, but Jin is not quite sure. "I wonder how she compares to Archelle who led the Gigantor Avrum to attack Gloria?" <> "I see... ......." Jin mutters as he folds his arms. "Even if she''s not Belial''s sister, who made her, that''s the question." "Hmm, sure." "I see. I guess we''ll have to wait and see what they have to say. Jin said, "We don''t have enough information right now, so it would be a waste of time to think about it. Jin moved on to the remaining issues of concern. Namely, the golems of the Kingdom of Selroa. "It seems that most of the battle golems obey only King Richard, doesn''t it?" "Yes, Goshujin-sama. In the past, there have been examples of golems customized for personal protection, but they are few and far between. It is somewhat unusual for a golem like the one in this country to have all but the first place in the order of precedence left blank. "I agree." I guess that king Richard really didn''t trust anyone but himself. "...... is a lonely life, isn''t it?" "......" Only in this respect do Jin and Erza sympathize. "......But that doesn''t mean she can''t have that attitude." "......Yes, it is unforgivable." Jin and Erza nodded at each other, but the old man interrupted to bring the subject back on track. > "Oh, yeah, I guess so. ......" Jin was planning to rewrite the control core of the deactivated golem once the crown prince''s coronation had been decided. "Tomorrow is going to be a busy day." * * * It is not forbidden to go back and forth between each other''s rooms, but it is somewhat troublesome since the rooms are assigned to each country. And after dinner, the corridors are packed with soldiers sent from the Kingdom of Celuloa to guard the guests, making it a little, or rather a lot, more troublesome to move from one room to another. Hence, yesterday''s <> was held in the common spaces such as the common lounge and the recreation room. The same was true for the Shoro delegation. "Gehlen, what is your opinion?" Yes, Your Majesty. I think it would be best if the Dauphin Cesar ascends the throne and for the time being our Kingdom of Shawlo takes over. The Empress, the Marquess Gehlen Theodoric, the Minister of Magic and Technology Degaus, Lieutenant Colonel Fritz, Captain Matheus, and Baron Reinhardt were discussing the matter. "As for the guardianship, I think it would be best not to push for the idea that our country alone will take care of it. This is Reinhard. I don''t think there is any need to be concerned about it. We could send the same number of auditors from each country. "In any case, we should try to suppress rebellions and uprisings that might be triggered by the change of king as much as possible. There is no guarantee that the riots will be contained within the Kingdom of Selroa. Fritz said with a difficult look on his face. Borders are meaningless to the rioters. There is a good chance that they will storm into neighboring countries. He was speaking from his knowledge of the dangers of the regional cities of the Kingdom of Cerroa. "Yes, I agree. For that reason, it will be necessary to send troops from each country and food aid. ...... The emperor could not help but grumble with a tired smile on his face, saying that it was all a headache. "Oh, yesterday''s meeting was fun. ......" * * * * The morning of February 23rd arrived. After breakfast, Jin and the others gathered in the main conference room of the guest house. Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shoro, the empress of the Shoro Kingdom, called for all the participants. "...... is this all of them?" For the time being, the chairwoman, who was the highest-ranking person among the participants, made sure that she was in the room. "Your Majesty, it seems that Prince Oranje of Franz is missing." "...... I''m in trouble. I was hoping to have a discussion with all the countries today. But the fact is that we don''t have much time. "It''s no use. Let''s talk among those gathered here. I will give the minutes of the meeting to Prince Oranjee later. The Empress then took out a piece of paper and handed one to each of the delegates. "Before the meeting, I would like you to look at this." < "Wow!This is the paper we presented to King Cerroa! "It is indeed a very pleasant paper to the touch!And it is so thin! "This is called , and it is made from wood. I won''t go into details now, but I am planning to record the minutes of the meeting on this paper. I would have liked to give it to you at ...... in a more relaxed setting." The last words were probably the last thing that the empress could not help but say. And so began the extraordinary world congress. This time it was not a temporary meeting, but a discussion of urgent issues. The topic of discussion was how to choose the next king of the Kingdom of Cerroa. The representatives of each country seemed to have thought about this issue, and they all nodded their heads in agreement. "First of all, we will request the court-appointed healer (Reichsartz), Elsa Randall Ehime. Please explain the condition of the current King of the Kingdom of Celluloid, Richard Valois de Celluloid. "Yes. Yes, I understand. King Richard was poisoned by a drug found in the wine. ......" Elsa explained the same information as she had given Jin last night, but without the jargon. "The brain cells ...... have been damaged and it will be very difficult to recover even with magic. ......" Everyone listens with a difficult look on their face. "That''s ...... all." "Thank you. ...... you have heard it all. King Richard is not expected to recover. Please take a look at this and share your thoughts. And don''t worry about being bugged. In any case, the results of the meeting will be officially notified to the Kingdom of Cerroa." 807 - - 23-43 Requesting accessionrepair start "We, the Kingdom of Klein, propose that the Dauphin Cesar ascend the throne and send a representative from each country to serve as his successor. The first to speak was the second prince Arthur. "Yes, we, the Kingdom of Egelea, think that would be a good idea. And it would be preferable to have the same number of representatives from each country. The Duke of Bruu agreed. The Marquis of Florenziano agreed with him. The Prince of Shawlo agrees with me. The Marquis Gehlen Theodoric spoke on behalf of the chairwoman. "...... the remaining members are Jin-kun, no, <>, but do you have another opinion?" "No, no, I agree with that opinion. I think it would be a good idea to advise the crown prince right after this. Jin was a little flustered at being asked for his opinion, but he had his thoughts in order and was able to reply immediately. After all, as the old man had said, Jin was treated equally with the representatives of each country. "Then, it was unanimously decided to recommend that His Royal Highness the Dauphin Cesar ascend the throne. The scribes, Reinhard, Matth?us, and Fritz, are running the pen. The reason for the large number of scribes is that seven copies of the same document are to be sent to ...... Shoro, Egelea, Klein, Franz, Elias, Kunlun, and most importantly, to the Kingdom of Selroa. It is a little time-consuming since there is no copy of the document, but it is inevitable. The representatives of each country read through all seven sheets and signed them. As Jin looked at them, he thought that it would be difficult in the future if something is not done about the preparation of these minutes. "...... no doubt." All seven sheets were read through and signed for confirmation. They were then distributed again to the representatives of each country, "Now then, I will go to His Royal Highness the Dauphin Cesar. The empress stood up. "Please bring at least one representative from each country with you. However, there was no point in remaining here, so all present left the conference room. They leave the guesthouse in a group, including the golem guarding them. The guard tried to say something to them, but after Fritz and Matheus explained the situation, they bowed respectfully and withdrew. What is the matter with you all? Since the Guillaume Palace was half-destroyed, the Dauphin was in a medium-sized palace called the , which stood further in the back of the palace. The Dauphin was in a medium-sized mansion called the , which was built at the back of the palace. For the Dauphin Cesar, he was his grandfather. "We are aware that we are interfering in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Celuloa, but we are here to propose that His Royal Highness the Dauphin Cesar Valois accede to the throne and become Cesar Valois de Celuloa for the sake of the peace of our country and to end the turmoil in the Kingdom of Celuloa. Prince Arthur spoke on behalf of the group. He had decided on the way here that it would be better for him to make the announcement, as he was also a prince, rather than for the queen emperor to do so. "That is ......" "No, I know you are shocked by what happened to your father. But you are royalty and you must do your duty. Prince Arthur was quite eloquent. "I beg your pardon. Elsa Ehime, who is here, says that the king''s condition is not good and that he is unlikely to recover. And it is worrisome that the country is without a leader. "......" "If you insist that the necessary procedures for accession to the throne must be taken, then provisional accession is acceptable. Your Highness, for the sake of the country and the people, please become king." Perhaps sensing Arthur''s unusually passionate words, the Dauphin Cesar seemed to have made up his mind. "I understand. Will you all lend me your help, as indicated in this document ......?" "Of course I do." They all nodded their heads in agreement. "Thank you very much. I will now move to become Csar Valois de Celuloa. "Your Highness. We will help you in any way we can. The Dauphin nodded slowly at Prince Arthur''s words. "First of all, I must take the symbol of the king and declare my accession to the throne in front of my ministers. Fortunately, due to the disturbance, all those who remained in the capital have gathered here, so I will perform the coronation ceremony, albeit in a simplified form, immediately after this. "What is this key seal?" Jin asked, unintentionally, since he had never heard of this item before. "Our country is proud of its magical engineering. Therefore, there are several magic tools that can be activated only by the king, and this is literally a to activate them. It is said that the shape is not a key in the common sense, but more like a seal as Jin knows it. It seems that by pressing it against the key, one can activate a special magic tool. Jin wondered if this could be the < to enter the strange building that Lao Tzu had mentioned. "But I am a little reluctant to take it without permission after my father''s condition. ......" The crown is normally conferred by the prior king in front of the ministers and the people, along with the title, he said. "However, it is a state of emergency. We hope you don''t mind, if we may say so ourselves." Prince Arthur is nine years younger than Cesar, but his calm demeanor and the way he quieted Cesar were quite dignified. "Your Highness!" Just then, a cabinet member arrived. They were Rambouleau, Secretary of the First Ministry of the Interior, Latente, Secretary of the First Ministry of Technology, Bojoly, Secretary of the First Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Lagarde, Secretary of the First Military Ministry. The wounds seem to have healed. "Oh, my goodness!" "Your Highness, I heard that Your Majesty is suddenly ill, so I flew here." Ramburo said breathlessly. "It is shameful that he should have been injured in bed at such an important time of the year." Ragaredo, the First Secretary of the Ministry of War, spoke up in a brusque manner. The Dauphin looked around at the four men and then spoke quietly. "Yes. That''s right. And there will be no recovery in the foreseeable future. Therefore, I have decided to accede to the throne. "What? Ramburo and the other four were startled out of their wits and panicked. But when they understood the significance of the gathering of representatives from each country, they knelt before Cesar in a reverent attitude. "...... I pledge my allegiance to His Majesty the new king." "Yes. I look forward to working with you." "Yes, sir." Then I will give the first order. The simplest ceremony will be performed in the coming days, so get ready for the coronation. "Yes, sir." Bowing deeply, the four men left. "Now, the coronation will be held tomorrow or the day after. Until then, we have a lot of work to do. The only problem is that I will not be able to hear the word of accession from my father. My mother has already passed away." Looking back, the new King Cesar smiled sadly. "As promised, we will help you as much as we can. The Empress Shoro assured the new King with a gentle pat on his shoulder. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and Reinhardt were to work on the rebooting of the stuck golem, just as Jin had predicted the day before. And a magecraftsman was dispatched from the Kingdom of Celluloa as well. "So you are Mr. Reinhardt. It''s an honor to meet you. "It is my pleasure." Reinhard shook hands with the Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Selroa. His name is . He is the Magi Craftsman who created the <>. His rank is Gamma, or third place, because he was demoted in the triennial selection committee this past January due to his defeat by Reinhardt''s Black Knight (Schwarzlitter), J?rmer did not show any such concern, but smiled and shook hands with Reinhardt. J?rmer Balz Gamma is 27 years old, three years older than Reinhardt. He had dark brown hair and gray eyes, and was as small as Jin. Reinhardt was surprised that the man with whom he had created the <> was so young. Putting himself on the shelf. He then introduces Jin to Yalmah. "This is , the Magecraft Meister, Sir Jin Nido. Hearing this, J?rmaa burst out in childish glee. "You!I have heard of you!You are a magical engineer beyond my skill. I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to teach me a few things. His manner was so sincere that even Jin couldn''t help but feel a sense of betrayal, "I''m very grateful. Jin simply replied, "Thank you. Then, let''s get to work. It will be reassuring to have Mr. J?rmer, the creator of this project, with us. Their task was to change the master of the Golem automata, whose sole master was the former king Richard, to the new king Cesar. The suspended magic tools will be taken care of by another group of people. Normally, Erza is skilled enough to help with this task, but since she is needed by the healing team, she is occupied with that task. Reiko is the only one who is helping them. Anne and Lao Tzu are going to gather information under the guise of helping to clear away the debris and check on the palace. Lily and Rose are to guard . Lily and Rose are to guard , in case anyone tries to steal it in the confusion of the moment. Fritz will be using to help reinforce the broken palace so that it will not collapse any further. Most of the representatives were also discussing various ways to prevent the chaos that would accompany the accession of the new king. Some, such as Marcia, Jessica, and Cynthia, were not available at the moment. Meanwhile, the Dauphin Cesar was looking for the key seal, the proof of his kingship, but he had not found it yet. 808 - - 23-44 Engineers of the Kingdom of CelluloaObjection Jin and the other three members of the repair team had come to the , which had stopped moving near the palace. "Fortunately, thanks to deus ex machina-sama, it has stopped, so there is no danger. So we started with the most troublesome one, <. As we approached, we saw that the body was more than twice the size of a human being. "Did you decide on the size of this four-meter figure?" Jin asked Yalmar. "Yes. We tried many things, and we found that if we made it bigger, it would not be strong enough, it would not work as well ......, and that would not be a good thing. It seems that Yalmer arrived at this size by trial and error rather than by calculation. It must have taken a tremendous number of prototypes and trials. Jin then asks about another thing that has been bothering him. "Is it still your intention that only the first king was ranked in the order of <>?" "...... Yes, unfortunately. His Majesty said that no one can be trusted. ......" < "It''s still inconvenient or distorted, isn''t it? Having only one person in command may be a security measure, but it is also dangerous in a case like this. "Don''t they listen to you, the creator?" Usually, the creator is treated differently. "Yes, that was the instruction. ......Ah! Yalmar shouted. "All the control core (control core) magic formulas (MagiFormulas) are disappearing. ....... Even the basic control magi formula (control system) ......" Then he slumped his shoulders in disappointment. The basic control formula (control system) corresponds to the operating system in a computer. It is the basic program for running golems and automata. Basic movements such as standing, walking, running, and punching are performed by the control system. The characteristics of the creator of the automata are so well expressed that the creator of the automata can be identified by the eyes of those who see it. This is the reason why <> once recognized golems and automata made by Adriana Barbora Zetsi, Jin''s predecessor. The reason why the basic control system has completely disappeared is due to the effect of the magic tool which released < created by Hitoshi. No wonder Yalmer''s shoulders slumped. Unlike Jin, it takes a lot of time and effort to create a control core. Jin felt a little sorry. For the time being, the control cores were removed from the 23 that had not been broken. After that, the 7 cells that were destroyed by Reiko were repaired as much as possible after the control cores were extracted. Jin decided to take this opportunity to carefully examine the golem technology of the Kingdom of Celuloa. First, the metal material. "......It must be carbon steel, but the metallurgical structure has been refined and it has high toughness. ......" Jin had this impression while observing the broken part. It is a proof that the contents of <>, which corresponds to heat treatment, are appropriate. It is a small item to the casual observer, but this is where the true nature of an engineer is revealed. Jin felt that Yalmar''s ability was very high. And the power for operation. Although it was made of soft magic resin, it was evident that it was very well tuned. It was like a polyethylene tape. It is very strong in the longitudinal direction, but tears easily when pulled in the width direction. Similarly, this soft magic resin was very strong in the direction of movement as a muscle. "Well, you can see the ingenuity. No wonder it has high performance." J?rmer, on the other hand, "Was it Miss Reiko, the automaton of Jin-dono who can twist this without any hands, ......, it''s amazing, isn''t it? I was impressed as I glanced at Reiko who was assisting me. "Someday I hope to build a high-performance automaton myself, even if it can''t match Miss Reiko''s ......." And Reinhardt observed the broken part, "Mr. J?rmer, the structure of <> is also a wonderful idea. How could you increase the reaction speed by using magic resin only in the joints? He is impressed by the structure. "Ha-ha-ha, I''m embarrassed. I also wanted to see how far I could raise the performance by using soft magic resin. "It''s true that the magic resin in parts other than the joints is in a sense an obstacle. A percentage of the mana required for deformation is diffused, reducing efficiency. Therefore, Yalmar has chosen to operate with the minimum amount of magical resin necessary. As for Jin, he had never thought about that method in detail, so it was a very informative time for him. <30 pieces, the three of us set to work repairing the broken golem. "Ah ...... this is already faster to make a new one than to fix it." In front of Jin''s eyes is a gold-colored shard. It is the remnant of the gilded golem that Count Galana brought with him. "Yes. ...... no face." "No, you don''t owe me any apologies." When Reinhardt said this, J?rmer shook his head from side to side and said in a sad voice. "However, it was my golem that did this," Reinhardt said, "and I am partly to blame. I am partly to blame for that." "You''re a very loyal man, Mister J?rmer." Reinhardt turned his attention back to the golem in front of him. It was the that had been defeated by Reiko. "Why did you choose the whip as your weapon of choice?" The question was posed by Jin. He had heard from Gloria that the whip was difficult to handle on the battlefield. But the answer was simple and clear. Haha, I was simply ordered by the previous king. He said that using unusual weapons would make it difficult to deal with them. Jin felt a little disappointed that the previous king Richard had such a good judgment. If only his talent had been directed in a better direction. With this nagging thought in the corner of his mind, Jin silently repaired the golem in front of him. Reinhard and J?rmer are talking frequently. After all, they are former rivals, the makers of the <> and the <>, and they seem to have a lot of fun talking with each other. After lunch, the work continued. All three of them seem to be the type of people who prioritize work over food, and they start repair work as soon as they finish eating, as if they are similar to each other. The general-purpose golem of the Klein Kingdom and <> also repair at this time. J?rmer is the one who repairs <>. Reinhardt is in charge of <>. And the generic golem was repaired by Jin. Therefore, the details of the endoskeletal and muscular movements were not seen by J?rmer. "Well, is that all?" "......, it seems." "Well, I''m tired, but it was a good time!" And after 3 p.m., there were no more golems to be repaired for the time being. After finally finishing their work, the three of them drank tea prepared by Reiko and relaxed for the first time. "I would like to learn from your skillful work, Jin-dono! Yalmar looked at Jin with respect. Jin was about to open his mouth to answer. "Father, someone is coming!" Reiko pointed toward the guest house. "...... Jin-dono!We''ve got a big problem!" Gloria Allstadt comes running toward them, shouting loudly. "What''s going on?" Jin and the others had spent the whole day outside repairing the golem, so they were unfamiliar with the situation. However, Jin prepared himself for the fact that even Reiko, who could exchange information with the old man, did not know about it, so it must have happened just now. "Ha, ha!" Gloria, running out of breath, stopped beside Jin and the others and breathed heavily. And then, "Someone has come to oppose the accession of the Dauphin Cesar to the throne! She announced, "Someone has come to oppose the accession of the Dauphin Cesar to the throne! 809 - - 23-45 The Princes Ambition Gloria explained the following. The Duke Lefort de Orange of the Kingdom of Franz, who had never been seen, arrived at the accompanied by a nobleman. The nobleman''s name was Alain Demonne de Grimaldi. He is the brother of King Richard and a duke. He is 41 years old. He ruled the southern part of the kingdom, including Koup. He was fifth in line to the throne, behind Cesar and his siblings. In his hand, however, he held the key to the throne that Cesar had been unable to find no matter how hard he searched for it. "My brother was anxious that Cesar, the present crown prince, should not be trusted with the kingdom, so he wanted me to succeed him. So he entrusted me with the key seal. It was supposed to be announced after the ceremony was over, but ...... it was a pity that it turned out like that." "I was close by and heard it myself." Prince Oranjee corroborated this. This statement was said to have led the majority of the cabinet members to support Alain. Less than half of the ministers and representatives of other countries support Cesar. "......I wonder why they would do that. ......" Jin knows that the Kingdom of Celuloa itself will not be able to survive if it is involved in such an internal dispute at this time of the year. And yet, can''t the power-mongers understand such a simple thing? "I don''t understand, Jin. Reinhard muttered sadly. "Eyes clouded by power can no longer see the ground beneath their feet. "...... I guess I shouldn''t be with you." The position of the two men is different. He said regretfully, left Jin and the others, and walked away. Jin and Reinhardt head for the guest house with Gloria. Reiko follows them, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings to make sure they are not attacked by the assailants. * * * * * When Jin and the others returned to the guest house, they were met by the representatives of each country with difficult faces. "Reinhard, you heard, didn''t you?You heard, Jin? Yes, from Gloria. Reinhardt answered the question from the Shoro emperor. Jin nodded silently. "We are in trouble!" Again, it was the Shoro empress who presided over the meeting. "What kind of person is this, uh, ...... Alan something?" Jin asked. Without knowing who he is, it is impossible to make a judgment. "He rules the southern part of the kingdom, including Kupu. I have heard a little about him from Stearina, Vivienne, and Eckert. ...... The emperor cut her off and continued with a slightly awkward look on her face. "...... not a very good lord, it seems. I heard that he took the initiative in sending out troops to collect Eckert''s ships." "Ah,......." At this point, the old man had finished compiling the information from the fifth column (Quinta) which had been dispatched to that direction and informed Reiko about it. Reiko, however, could not tell Jin about it at this moment. "If I may give you my personal impression, I would like the Dauphin Cesar to be the king. These words seemed to be the feeling of everyone present, and no one objected to the words of the queen. "But it would be difficult for us to say so, since it would be interference in our internal affairs if we did so publicly. "It is a matter for the Kingdom of Celuloa, isn''t it? Reinhardt had to nod. After that, various discussions took place, but nothing of note came out, and the meeting was adjourned for the night. As soon as he returned to his room, he said, "Father, I have just received a message from the old man and I have accepted it. As soon as he returned to his room, Reiko started to report. "All right, tell me about it." "Okay, let me hear it." "Yes. I''ve compiled the reports from the fifth column and Alain Demonne is the same type as Richard. "...... is easy to understand." "He''s abusing the people and fattening them up. The famine has not caused much of a loss of harvest in the south, but if there had been a famine, a large number of people would have starved to death, according to the old man''s analysis. "I see, there are many royalty like that." Jin muttered with a sad look on his face. Erza had a similar expression. "Maybe it''s the magic of power ...... like my brothers Jin and Rai said." "Indeed. Those in power have a duty to protect those below them. That''s why those below obey by paying taxes and so on, but if it becomes one-sided, it''s the end. I agree. I''m going for the Dauphin Cesar. Yes, me too. Shall we talk about it tomorrow? Yes. I''ll take care of it. While Elsa and Jin were having such a conversation, Anne made a proposal. "Goshujin-sama, tonight is dangerous. We''ll have to think of an escort." "What?" "If Alan, the next king candidate, is to become king without fail, Cesar''s presence will be a hindrance. At the same time, the leaders of the nations who are pushing for him..." Oh, I see. Anne is saying that assassination, blackmail, and other strong-arm tactics could be used against him. "The Goshujin-sama and Erza-sama are safe with Reiko, but I''m worried about the others." "Indeed. Jin decided to contact the old man, because he was too worried about the others. "Old man, I want you to dispatch a covert task force (SP) to escort the representatives of each country and the Dauphin Cesar. < "All right, I''m on it." For the time being, Jin has done what he can do. Perhaps because he had taken all the necessary precautions, the night passed without incident. The next morning. "Everything seems to be all right. The covert task force (SP) that had been secretly dispatched to the representatives of the countries did not say anything. In this case, nothing is better than nothing. "In normal circumstances, it would be foolish to touch the representative," Anne said, and then added, "I''m sure you''re right. Anne said and added. "But this country is not afraid to make such a foolish move. "That''s right." Jin nodded with a wry smile. "Of course, you also need to be careful about what you eat. "Yes, of course." Jin, Elsa, Reinhardt, the emperor, and Minister of Magic and Technology Degauze had the antidote to the poison that Jin had made, but the rest of them did not. We were relatively safe until yesterday, but we will have to be very careful about what we eat last night and this morning. At any rate, the food delivered to Jin and the others was fine. "If anything happens to Goshujin-sama, this country will be destroyed. Anne said something that sounded both joking and serious, "No, I will destroy not only the country but also the world. Reiko answered with a straight face, which made Jin think again that he should be careful. "Well, let''s go to the main conference room. Jin thought it was a little early, but when he went there, he found that most of the representatives from each country had already gathered there. It seemed that everyone was not in the mood to take it easy. The only ones who arrived after Jin and Elsa were the Duke of Bruu and Count Galana. "Well, it looks like we are all here now. Now we will have a meeting for today. The Empress presided over the meeting. And since it was an informal meeting, she probably used the word "meeting". "The question is whether we should interfere in such an important decision to decide the next king. This is a topic that had come up the day before. "We are always thinking of our own interests, you know." The Duke of Brouw chuckled and muttered to himself. "Indeed." The Marquis of Florenziano agreed with him. But then an unexpected person made an unexpected remark. "I think we need to consider which of the two would be a better monarch for the people of the Kingdom of Celuloa. It was Elsa who sat next to Jin. As she and Jin had discussed the night before, they decided to make their opinions clear. "I think we must not forget that those who stand on top have a duty to protect the people." These were painful words for those in attendance. "< 810 - - 23-46 Siberian Pavilion After Elsa''s statement, everyone became quiet as if water had been poured on the floor. The first to break the silence was Marquis Gehlen Theodoric. "...... indeed." The Marquis Theodoric looked at Elsa as if he were seeing something dazzling and nodded. It was a good argument, but one that I had almost forgotten as a matter of course. The world is not as simple as Elsa made it out to be, but in this case, it is a very significant reason for making a decision. "Thank you, Elsa. You have helped me to make up my mind. She is the chairwoman of the conference, but she is also the representative of the Shoro Kingdom. "The Shoro Kingdom proposes His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Cesar as the next King of Cerroa." And the objections?He looked around at Reinhardt, Marquis Gehlen Theodoric, Minister of Magic and Technology Degaus, Lieutenant Colonel Fritz, and Captain Matheus in turn, but there was no dissenting opinion from their mouths. "As a representative of the Kingdom of Klein, I, too, nominate His Highness Cesar as the next King of Cerroa. Prince Arthur immediately agreed. Jessica and Gloria seemed to agree and said nothing. "The Kingdom of Elias also supports His Royal Highness the Dauphin Cesar. Marquis Florenziano declared. "The Kingdom of Egelea agrees with you. That was the original plan. The Duke of Breu seconded the motion, thus unifying the opinions of the assembled delegates. "Well then, let us go to the House of Sibert. "Your Majesty, isn''t it dangerous for all of us to go there? Deghaus, the Minister of Magic and Technology, objected to the Empress''s words. "That''s the difficult part. It is difficult to say which is which, because there is a risk that we will be divided. This is Marquis Gehlen Theodoric. "Yes, yes. ......<, what is your opinion?" It is quite strong of him to ask for your opinion here. It''s a little late for that. "As for myself, I''d like to ......" In case you are wondering, it was hard to distinguish between <> and <>, so I chose <>. "I would like all those who don''t act ...... to be on <>." "I see. They won''t be able to touch us there. How about it, gentlemen? Since most of them had been on the <> the other day and knew how comfortable it was, there were no objections. "Then, let''s decide who will go to <>." This took some time. The queen was not afraid to say that she would go, and Deghaouz and the other members tried hard to stop her. The rest of the world was similar. In the end, it was decided that Prince Arthur, Duke Bruu, Marquis Florenziano, Baron Reinhardt, and Jin, one from each country, would go as representatives. Since the accompanying maidservants and servants cannot be accommodated, they are to be placed on board the ship of the Shoro Kingdom. This is a relief for the time being. Those who will board <> head for the rooftop of the guest house. "Then, please go to <>." Elsa and Edgar lead the way. Count Galana looked at Elsa with an indescribable look, but in the end he had nothing to say, and everyone boarded the without incident. This time it is Rose who is piloting the ship. Lily is the cabin attendant. "Here we go," she said. Just like yesterday, the floated with a lightness that made us feel no turbulence. On the other hand, the servants and maidens who could not get on board were guided by Lao Tzu and Anne to the boat from the back entrance of the guest house. The back entrance faced the moat a dozen meters away, and the pier was close by. A few soldiers were watching them, but nothing was said. They were servants and were only boarding a ship of the Shoro Empire, so they did not need to be questioned. Jin and the other delegates then went to the main entrance. However, when they were about to leave the guesthouse and head for the Sibert Pavilion, a soldier intercepted them. You are not allowed in here. Ten soldiers with swords and ten soldiers with spears blocked the road from the guesthouse to the Cibert House. The group was intercepted by a man who appeared to be the chief of the soldiers. "Let us through. You have no right to restrict our movements. Prince Arthur said, but the chief of staff would not listen to him. "No, sir. You seem to be trying to interfere in our affairs. I will stop you from doing so!" Whose orders?Prince Alain Demainu? I can''t answer that. While they were arguing, a nobleman came in. He was a stout, sturdy man. "What are you doing? He seemed to be a nobleman of high rank. The soldiers saluted him and bowed respectfully. "Ha!We have orders to seal off the guest house, and we are doing so! Hearing this, the aristocrat blackmails him. "Fools!Detaining a representative of another country is a fool''s errand. It''ll be an international problem!I''ll take responsibility. Dismiss them." But they''re trying to interfere in our country''s internal affairs. ...... "They''re still complaining. You see, it''s a disgrace to detain a representative of another country to which we''ve invited you. I say I''ll take responsibility. Back off!" Yes, sir. Go back to ......! The nobleman''s fierce words made the Chief of Staff reluctant to leave. "I beg your pardon. My name is Barfeeza Walker, Chief of the General Affairs Department. The nobleman introduced himself. He was in his mid-forties, with brown hair, brown eyes, a moustache and beard, and a stern face. He looks more like a military man than a Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications official. "I have heard that you support His Royal Highness the Dauphin Cesar, is that true? Balfeather Walker asked, but Prince Arthur gave him a skeptical look in silence. "I beg your pardon. I am a member of the faction that wants His Royal Highness the Dauphin Cesar to be the next king. Prince Arthur does not seem to trust him at all. "I am at a loss. We do not have much time. The Dauphin is under house arrest at the Cibert House and has no choice but to miss the meeting. If this situation continues, Prince Alain de Monnoux will ascend to the throne." "Your Highness, let us follow him anyway. We are wasting our time here. Reinhardt advised. Prince Arthur nodded. "I agree. You are right." Prince Arthur turned to Barfeeza. "Barfeeza Walker, you say? You will show us the way? "Yes, I''m at your service." And the group went to the house of Sibert. I can''t let you in. Again, they were stopped by the gate guard guarding the entrance, but Balfeather Walker''s exhortation allowed them to pass. "This way, please." Barfeeza led us to a room. The door seemed to be locked and did not move at all. "Reiko, open the door." With those words, Reiko put her hand on the handle of the door and pried it open by force. The door looked sturdy, but Reiko could not put up much more than a piece of cardboard in front of it, and it came off its hinges without a second thought. "Your Highness!" Inside was the Dauphin Cesar. He had been imprisoned in this room. "Oh, you''ve all come to ...... rescue us?Barfeeza!You too!" "Your Royal Highness, please hurry. If we don''t do something, Prince Alain Demonne will ascend to the throne. But ...... I don''t have the key. What do you mean by "the seal of the keys"? A true king should love his country and people and lead them into the future. I''m sorry, but the former king is not ...... allowed to say any more than his subjects are allowed to say. Anyway, for the sake of the country and the people, I ask you to ascend the throne. Barfesa speaks passionately. "The ministers are only afraid of the golem, which can be activated by the key seal. They all know who the real king is. No matter how many Golems are activated, it is meaningless as long as Reiko is around, as we all know from that mock battle. Although some of the fools seem to be following the king''s brother, not minding the fact that they will no longer be able to suck the sweet juice that they have been sucking. Prince Arthur opened his mouth. "Cesar. We feel the same way. We want you to take the throne at all costs. For the sake of the world. ......" Seeing Prince Arthur earnestly advising the Dauphin Cesar, Jin felt as if he had discovered a new side to the prince. "For the world, is it?" "For the world, yes. Yes. The world conference we held the other day was a copycat. If that really took place, the world would be much more developed than it is now. At this point, Jin also spoke up. "That''s right. If you can hold such a peaceful conference, I am willing to offer the Kunlun Island as the site of the conference. 811 - - 23-47 The Battle of the King Cesar seemed to ruminate on the advice of the representatives, but then he made up his mind and stood up. He seemed to have made up his mind and stood up. I am not a gifted person, but you have told me so much. I will not hesitate anymore. I will do my best. "Your Highness, you are the next king!" Balfeather Walker looks pleased. "Then let''s go. All the ministers should be here by now. "Can we be present?" Reinhardt asked. Barfeeza answered in the affirmative. "I have the authority to allow it." The group, including the dauphin, went up the stairs to the conference room at the back of the second floor. The soldiers guarding the entrance complained again, but they passed through without a word. The door to the conference room opened. It is a room with chairs arranged in an arc. It looks like a theater, if that gives you an idea. The place corresponding to the stage is a podium. On the platform is a well-dressed man. His hair is blonde, the same color as Richard''s and Cesar''s, though much lighter, and his eyes are similarly blue. However, the resemblance only goes so far. He was not taller than 170 centimeters and was obese, weighing close to 100 kilograms. This man was the king''s younger brother, Alain Desmonds de Grimaldi. The ministers assembled in the council room were astonished by the appearance of the Dauphin Cesar. "......Honorable Cesar......" The few who supported Cesar looked relieved, while the Alanites frowned. The jinin and the others took their places in the back of the room as observers. Then the Dauphin walked alone to the platform. "Well, well, here comes the incompetent and useless crown prince, doesn''t he?Is it a group of pampering guests who have followed him? Alain Demain said in a mocking tone. His voice had a grating rattle to it. "What have you been doing all this time?Are you going to be late? "Uncle, I''m late because I''ve been under house arrest. And they are not pampering you. They are the ones who rescued me from house arrest." The word "house arrest" caused a stir among the assembled ministers. The Dauphin took the opportunity to continue. I am the crown prince. < seal. There was no hesitation in Cesar''s determined voice. His will to confront Alain Demagne head-on is evident. "Usurpation?You insult me! "Then how did you come into possession of the keystone? I know that my father kept it in his safekeeping. How did it come to be in your uncle''s hands? As I told you before in front of everyone, my brother wanted me to succeed him because you are not reliable. "Then how could I not have heard about it? No, I am not the only one. No, it''s not just me. No one in the cabinet should have heard about this." "That''s ......." It looked as if he would not be able to immediately refute this pursuit, but then he said, "No, . "......No, I did hear about it." One of them said, "No, I heard that. "...... are you a ...... scave?" It was Sotheby''s Skeeve, the Dauphin''s bodyguard, who had not been seen. "Scaab!What are you talking about?You can''t possibly be listening to this!" How could Skeeve, the Dauphin Cesar''s bodyguard, know something that the Dauphin Cesar did not know? "What are you saying, Your Highness?Did not His Majesty clearly tell you the other day ......?" "Skeeve!" Even Jin and the others who had been watching the scene could sense that something was not right. It would mean that one of them is telling a lie, but the way things are going, we can only assume that Skeeve is lying. It is also possible that the Dauphin Cesar is lying, but this is not likely, given the way he has been behaving so far. The assembled ministers are silent as they watch the two men bicker. Then another person appears to turn the tide. "Your Highness, I think you should give up, don''t you? And who came up on the stage? "Prince Orange!" The representative of the Kingdom of Franz, Prince Oranje, appeared. "I was just there myself. I was also there when His Majesty Richard paid his compliments. "......" The frustration of knowing it was a lie, but not being able to prove it. The Dauphin Cesar bit his navel. * * * * * * "...... You don''t mean to tell me that both of you were in the royal brotherhood?" Reinhardt looks on in surprise as Prince Oranje appears on the platform. "Or have they been taken in? Either way, it''s not good for the Dauphin." Jin and the others in the audience wanted to support Cesar but were unable to do so. It was not because of interference in internal affairs, but simply because of the lack of physical evidence. "Perhaps they were preparing for it. ......" Prince Arthur says ruefully. "They may not have been able to predict whether or not the king would fall during the commemorative ceremony, but they must have anticipated that one day this would happen." "......Duke Arran Demonu governs the southern part of the kingdom......Corin region......Wine...... " This makes me wonder if it wasn''t part of his plan to get the king addicted to that wine. Jin thought hard to find a way out of the situation. However, he could not come up with any good ideas. On the stage, Alain Demainu was cornering Cesar. "Cesar, give up your ambitions. If you give up the throne now and apologize, I might even give you a region. Alan, the king''s younger brother, was getting more and more impatient. "Apology?There is no need to apologize. I did nothing wrong! "You''re just saying that. ...... With that, a murmur begins to spread among the ministers who are watching the confrontation between the two. "......I still think that Alan is the better ......." "Is His Highness Cesar not reliable enough......?" No, the kingdom is too corrupt now. The only one who can make it right is ......." Reiko could hear everything in his voice that Jin could not. "Father, the ministers are leaning toward Alan. It seemed that Cesar''s faction was also becoming much less vocal. It seems that half of the ministers were on the fence, and were thinking of taking the side that was more favorable to Alain. When Jin told everyone what Reiko had overheard, Prince Arthur looked bitter and spat. "Hmmm...you think it doesn''t make much difference to them who the head is, huh? Stupid. What if the country itself is no longer able to stand? But Jin and the others are bystanders, unable to interfere in the affairs of the Kingdom of Cerroa. Reiko, perhaps sensing Jin''s frustration, says something radical. "...... father, let''s just ruin this place, shall we?" Jin patted Reiko''s head with a wry smile. "That won''t solve the problem. It would be ...... refreshing if it did, but don''t do it." Reinhardt chuckles when he hears Jin''s words. For the most part, he agrees with Jin. It would feel good to turn this place upside down by force. But that would not solve anything. On the contrary, it would lead to an international problem. "But what should we really do ......?" On the stage, Alan, the king''s younger brother, was chastising Cesar. "Cesar, give it up already. You''re lying to everyone. I will be the next king." "......" Cesar had nothing left to say. Jin was beginning to wonder if this was it. Then a faltering voice rang out. "......You''re the one who''s lying,......!" Cesar and Alan turned at the voice and their eyes widened. "Father......" "Brother ......" At the entrance of the conference room stood King Richard, supported by Elsa and Edgar. 812 - - 23-48 Elza Last Work Time goes back a little. was floating above the guest house. Inside, the representatives of each country were engaged in idle conversation. They were too concerned about the future of the throne to hold a concentrated meeting. Meanwhile, Elsa was in the cockpit with Edgar and Lily, still pondering. Rose was in the cabin as a cabin attendant. "I''m worried about my ...... brother Jin." She is accompanied by Reiko and has a guard ring. Also, the clothes he wears are specially made in Horai Island. It seems unlikely, but nothing is absolute. "......The legitimate succession to the throne......" It is, after all, a succession from the previous king. In that sense, there is no doubt that Cesar is legitimate in his position as <>, but since he can''t prove it, his brother is trying to usurp the throne. "What I can do: ......" Richard has not yet awakened from his coma. Even if he wakes up, he will most likely be brain-damaged. "But, but ......" Elsa has long examined her father, who also has brain damage. A hemorrhage in the brain caused a blood clot to compress the brain, which in turn left brain cells damaged. "...... In Wang''s case, as my brother Jin said, it is probably a drug. But the treatment for the brain should not be much different. All bleeding in the brain has been treated. But he still hasn''t regained consciousness. "...... Is it possible that there is something other than the brain?" As she thought about this, Elsa reflected on the situation. She had been too focused on the treatment of the brain. Once she got out of the pit of her thoughts, she could think of many possibilities. "...... cardiovascular system...... blood pressure, maybe." The mysterious alkaloid had done considerable damage to the internal organs. In particular, the heart was overworked, and the repercussions are significant. "...... Yes, blood pressure!" Elsa has reached the possibility of extremely low blood pressure as a reaction to the extremely high blood pressure. "......I have to try." So Erza left the cockpit and headed for the cabin. "Elsa, what''s wrong?" The first thing Elsa did was to go to the emperor. She is the head of her country and, even if only temporarily, the president of the world congress. "Your Majesty, I have an idea. ......" Elsa gave her guess. "I see. You want to try ......, don''t you?" "Yes. And if His Majesty Richard regains consciousness, ......" And we can break the king''s brother''s lie. Marquis Galen Theoderic interrupted. "But will he conveniently support the Dauphin Cesar?What are the chances that the opposite will happen?" "......" Elsa had no answer to that question. But the queen answered on her behalf. "If that''s the case, then there''s nothing we can do about it. That is the fate of the Kingdom of Celuloa. The representatives of the other countries must have heard what was said, but they said nothing. They took this silence as an affirmation, "Go ahead, Elsa. The emperor encouraged her and told her to go. Encouraged by her words, Elsa decides to go to the infirmary. lands on the roof of the guest house, piloted by Lily. Erza exited the <> accompanied by Edgar. The healing room is located at the back of the first floor of the guest house. Elsa ran down the stairs, ruminating over the cure once more in her mind. "Elsa-sama ......" The healer working in the healing room looks surprised to see Elsa. She knows that all the guests from other countries have been evacuated. "...... I have an idea about your treatment. Elsa says shortly and stands next to Richard''s bunk. "<>" Magic is not a panacea. Without a clear image, there will be no results. It is the same with healing magic. Even with <>, there is not much information to be obtained if the surgeon does not clearly know what he/she wants to know. And this time, Elsa focused on the circulatory system. "......I knew it, your blood pressure is low." We do not know digitally how many mmHg, but we can sense how high or low it is. Compared to himself and other people around him, he knew that Richard''s blood pressure was extremely low. "......I knew it, his heart rate is low. And his heartbeat is weak. A closer look reveals that the blood vessels going to his brain are also clogged. "<>......<>" Now that we know the area to be treated, we can apply the healing magic more efficiently. First, the blood vessels in the brain are repaired. If the weakened blood vessels rupture as soon as the blood pressure returns, it would be a big problem. Next, we activate the weakened internal organs in general. Then, the heart is to be activated intensively. Elsa was not at all sure if this method was medically correct, but she decided that at least there would be no ill effects and proceeded with the treatment step by step. Ten minutes passed after the treatment. Richard''s color had visibly improved. "......n,m......" Richard is leaning forward. He seems to be regaining consciousness. "Your Majesty!" the woman who had been waiting quietly for a long time called out happily. Judging from her attire, she seems to be a lady''s maid. "...... uu...... here ...... is ......?" "This is the healing room of the Guest House!His Majesty has collapsed and has been unconscious for a long time!" "...... so ...... or ......?" Richard closes his eyes. The maid of honor panicked. "Your Majesty!Your Majesty!" But Richard opened his eyes again. "......Great ......Buddha. Is ...... Cesar ...... ...... a ...... military ......?" "Oh, yes, he is safe and sound." "So ....... ...... he must be ...... and ...... he must be able to ...... connect the ......... "If you do..." He then indicated his intention to abdicate. "The throne, sir?" ...... yes, ...... But, Your Majesty. But your brother ...... Alain is now ......." The maid of honor explains to Richard. Elsa wondered if she should bother him too much when he had just regained consciousness, but she couldn''t stop thinking about the current situation. "......Aya......Me......" Richard tried to sit up. "Your Majesty!What the hell are you doing? "...... that you know ....... I''m going to ...... stop ...... Alan ...... from ...... killing him." It seems that he still has brain damage, but his judgment has returned to normal as a result of the drug withdrawal. "But with your body!" The maid of honor stops him, but Richard does not listen. "This is ...... my last ...... task as king. I must go ......." Richard pushes his still immobile body to get out of bed. Elsa knew that he was determined. She also knew that Cesar was struggling at the moment, "Edgar, please help His Majesty". She took the safest way possible to get Richard to the conference room of Sibert. I will go with you! the attendant shouted. "Yes, I''ll go with you! With Elsa, the maid of honor, and Richard in their arms, Edgar and the others left the healing room of the guest house and headed for the Cibert House. On the way, some soldiers tried to stop them, but when they saw Richard, they backed away without saying a word, so the journey was easy. At the Cibert Hall, in front of the meeting room, Richard got out of Edgar''s arms and stood up on his own feet. The maids of honor are standing back. The door opens. On the platform below were the crown prince Cesar and his brother Alan. Cesar, give it up. Everyone knows you are lying. I will be the next king. Richard heard this and his throat tightened and he let out his best voice. "......No, it''s you who''s lying,......!" 813 - - 23-49 Declaration of accession to the throne "Your Majesty!" The ministers turned around and were astonished to see Richard. "All ...... of you. The next king is Cesar ......." Richard said nothing more and fell to his knees as if he had run out of strength. Edgar quickly steadies him. But Richard managed to hold on. "......Take care of ...... this country!" Cesar and all the assembled ministers bowed their heads. Except for Alain, the king''s brother, the Duke of Orange, and Scaife. With these words, Richard left the meeting room, and this time he collapsed as the door closed behind him. "Your Majesty ......" A lady attendant rushed to him and helped him up. "......Thank you for your hard work." "......U,m......" Elsa again casts a healing spell on Richard. Edgar also returned to the healing room with Richard in his arms again. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * There was a great commotion in the conference room. King Richard had declared Cesar to be the next king. "Now we know for sure which one of us is telling a lie, Uncle. This time it was his brother Alan who lost color. "You can find out more at ......." "I''m sure you stole the key seal, too. Please give it back." Cesar takes a half step forward. Victory was at hand. "......Erza, you did well." In the audience, Reinhardt looks relieved. Prince Arthur, however, still has a scowl on his face. "...... No one noticed?This can''t go on like this." "What?What do you mean?" Prince Arthur said in an urgent voice. "< Jin heard this and immediately instructed Reiko. "Reiko, protect the Dauphin!" "...... Yes, Father." Reiko does not normally want to leave Jin''s side, but she has no choice but to listen to his order. After a moment''s hesitation, Reiko jumps out at 20 percent output, trying to finish as quickly as possible. Reiko moved to the Dauphin''s side as if she had moved instantaneously. She then sensed the <> that was fired by the scaife behind her. Just in time. "Your father said so. I won''t let you do it." Reiko interrupts herself and prevents the Wind Cutter. ...... No, she swings her arm out and with a mighty effort blows the <> out of existence. Skeeve is astonished. Reiko quickly steps in and hits him with a Paralyze! "Gee!" Scaleb lets out a short scream and faints. It lasted about two seconds. The Dauphin Cesar and his brother Alain do not seem to understand what has happened. But Prince Oranje does not. When he saw that the surprise attack on the scave had failed, he ran away as fast as he could. For a brief moment, Reiko thought about following and capturing him, but she gave priority to Jin''s order to protect the Dauphin. She deploys a magic barrier and wraps the Dauphin in it. A few tens of seconds later, the Kingsguard finally arrived. "Your Highness, Your Majesty, are you all right? "Yes, I am. ...... capture the Scaife." Yes... "Thank you, Rako Nidor Ehime." Then he turned to Alan, the king''s brother. "Uncle, I''m going to ask you to hand over the key seal." Surrounded by the Kingsguard, Alain Demainu was helpless and handed the key to Cesar. Cesar held up the key seal in his hand. "I am now officially the king! He declared proudly. The assembled ministers applauded in unison. After this, a rather simplified coronation ceremony was held, and the Dauphin Cesar became the official King of Celuloa, <>. Thus, the turmoil of the new King of Celuloa was temporarily ended. * * * * * * * * * * * "Erza, you are great! After the situation had calmed down a bit, the delegates returned to the guest house. There, Erza, the behind-the-scenes player, was showered with praise. "Oh, thank you very much! Erza''s face was flushed and she looked embarrassed. Jin, sitting next to her, also looks happy. And then, when the surrounding was a little quiet, Jin took this opportunity to open his mouth. He knew that if he missed this opportunity, he would lose it. "Well, gentlemen, I''d like to take this opportunity to let you know. Myself and Elsa are here at ..................." However, the important words did not come out easily. The group, having a rough idea of what was going on, fell silent and turned their attention to Jin. The attention made Jin even more nervous. "I ...... I ......" Then Jin meditated and boldly uttered the last word. "I''m ...... engaged!" A moment later, applause echoed. "Congratulations!" "Congratulations!" "At last!" "It''s great to be young!" and other warm words. Both Jin and Elsa blushed and bowed their heads in silence. After that, the atmosphere became more relaxed. Jin received congratulations again from his acquaintances the Marquis Theodoric, the Marquis Florenziano, the Duke of Breu and Prince Arthur, while Elsa was congratulated by the Emperor and Reinhardt. "...... is just the beginning." The topic of conversation turned to the future of the Kingdom of Selroa. "It was an emergency situation, so everyone was moving on without saying too much about the details. <, evacuating people to the ship, and so on. The same goes for helping Erza to heal. These are not things that should be done for free. "I''m sure the Kingdom of Selroa has enough reserves, except for food. If reparations were paid to each country, it could tip the country over the edge. That''s how big the scandal of this ceremony was. "It''s an international problem, isn''t it?" The words of the Empress expressed the thoughts of everyone present. "We can''t go home yet. ...... There was much to be done, including the cleanup and the signing of a treaty with the new king. "I also wonder what happened to Prince Oranje," said Reinhardt. said Reinhardt. Among the representatives present here, only the representative of the Kingdom of Franz, that is, Prince Oranje, is missing. "I''m a little concerned about that. Prince Arthur said with a difficult look on his face. He had already proven his guesswork during the day. "Perhaps we should be more careful tonight..." The Empress''s murmur snapped me out of my funk. "......." "I think it''s time to get some rest and prepare for tomorrow. The new king, Cesar, has sent his guards, but they are somewhat unreliable. They all retire to their rooms. Jin, Erza, the emperor, and Fritz are left behind. "Jin!" With the representatives of the other countries gone, the empress returned to her usual tone and took Jin''s hand. "Make Erza happy, will you?" "Yes, I will." "...... Jin, I''m honestly glad that you chose my country''s child, but don''t let that hold you back. But don''t let that hold you back. Your Majesty? "You, ......<, need to keep a broader perspective. I don''t need you to favor the Shoro Empire. He concludes, "The enrichment of the world will eventually lead to the development of the Shoro Empire, and indeed of all the nations of the world. "Jin-dono, take good care of my sister. I can trust you with her. ...... Erza, make her happy." "...... brother." And the Empress and Fritz went back to their room. "...... we should go back too." "...... yeah." Jin hugged Elsa''s shoulder and they walked down the hallway side by side. Reiko and Edgar follow quietly, trying not to make a sound. At last, peace has returned to the Kingdom of Selroa. The moon and bright stars were shining side by side in the night sky. 814 - - 23-50 Quiet Story 45 Tidying Up A week had passed in the blink of an eye since Cesar had become the new King of Cerroa, and it was now March. Most of the representatives of each country had moved to the capital, Esia. They were unable to return to their home countries because of their role as Cesar''s assistants and attendants, and the political instability in the country. The same was true for Jin and Elsa. "......It''s been an intense week, hasn''t it?" "......n." Jin and Erza were relaxing in a guest room in the royal palace in Essaia. "......There''s been a lot going on. ......" "......n......" Both of them look tired. What has been done during the week? The establishment of a new organization Changing the pecking order of succession to the throne Punishment of criminals Thanking and apologizing to the countries Revision of the tax system Famine measures Review of golem, airships, large ships Archel (?) Treatment of The mysterious basement etc. The new organization is ......, or as they say in modern Japan, <. "What I didn''t expect is that the organization will be the same as before. "Yeah, I guess that can''t be helped, Jin." Not only Jin and Erza, but also Reinhardt were in the same room. They seemed to have come to play, or rather to talk. "It was a sudden accession. Normally, I would have put some of my own people in important positions, but I would not have had time to prepare for it. In other words, His Majesty Cesar, who had no foundation, had to make the difficult decision to use the existing organization as it was. "Well, I can understand that. ...... "For the time being, of course." "But my way of doing things is different from that of King Father. But my way of doing things is different from my father''s. As a ruler, my priority is to protect the lives of the people. He said, "You must understand that," and that was admirable. Back in Esair, the new King Cesar, who formally assumed the throne, made several of his own policy statements in his coronation speech, including the declaration that Elsa had made. All of them were based on the idea of guaranteeing a minimum standard of living for the who form the foundation of the country. "Her Imperial Majesty is a good judge of people after all. ......" In the past, it was said that she had a magic eye to see the right and wrong of others, but recently, it was rumored that she had a magic eye or the ability to <> of others. Jin thinks that it may be an extraordinary insight rather than a special ability, but the truth is unknown. "However, it is just the beginning. His Majesty the new king knows this, and that is why he did not say anything concrete, but only in abstract terms. Rapid change causes friction. Cesar, who has just become king and has a fragile foundation, seems to have decided to proceed steadily, step by step. "What is the basis for deciding the succession to the throne?" Jin''s question is, in a sense, natural. When I was in modern Japan, I was not interested in such things. "Well, I guess you could say that it is based on blood, blood density, age, and some achievements. This means that the pecking order of the heirs to the throne, which had been based on the blood relation from the previous king Richard, is to be revised. Cesar, who had been ranked first, is now king, so he is basically moved up one rank, but Alain Demainu, who had tried to become king by trickery, is stripped of his right of succession. Cesar has no children at the moment, but if he has a child, his ranking will change again. "I see, that < also have the right of succession. ......" I am referring to the brother and sister, Albert and Beatrix, whom I met in the provincial city of Gore. "It''s no wonder that blood is so important. But it would be nice if more emphasis was placed on ability and popularity. This may be one of the reforms Cesar is aiming for in the future. "Speaking of succession, what happened to the royal brother?" Jin asked Reinhardt who was drinking tea. "Ah, Jin has been watching golems and airships for a long time, so it''s not surprising that he doesn''t know. After such a preamble, Reinhardt began to explain. "Permanent revocation of the succession. This is just as well. And he''s been locked up in a palace somewhere." "I see. ......" It could have been worse, since he tried to usurp the rightful king''s position, but Alan still had a sister who pleaded for his life. "If you are too hard on him, you can''t be sure that others won''t turn against you this time. And if you are too lenient, they will take advantage of you. It''s a difficult thing to do." That''s completely out of my field of expertise. ...... "Brother Rai, Your Highness, ...... what happened to the man named Scaife who was escorting His Majesty?" Elsa had been treating the wounded all this time and was out of touch with the situation. "Yeah, I heard that he had his family taken hostage and was forced to leave the country. But whatever the reason, he fired the Wind Cutter in front of the entire cabinet. He is a felon, no doubt. ...... They say he escaped death, but they cut the muscles in his arms so he can''t use a sword, and he''ll be imprisoned for the rest of his life." "He didn''t get the maximum punishment?" "Yes. Some say that King Cesar was lenient, but it doesn''t sound good to say that he was executed as soon as he ascended to the throne. Usually, when there is an auspicious event such as the accession of a new king, there is a pardon, a grand amnesty, or a commutation of a criminal''s sentence. This time, combined with that, they settled on a life sentence, Reinhardt analyzed. "Yes, yes. The magic also seems to have been sealed by the collar." < collar refers to the magic-blocking collar that Erza and Reinhard had been fitted with when they were captured by the Unifilers in the past. Erza frowned a little when she heard this. "It seems that the biggest problem was the gratuities and reparations to the various countries!" Reinhardt was well-informed and knew these things well. "Oh, I see." Even though Richard the First did what he did in a state of drug addiction, there were several events that could have resulted in war if he had made a mistake. "I don''t know the exact amount, but it seems that reparations were paid to each country. Also, we should give thanks to those who cooperated with us during the chaos. Reinhardt looked at Jin and Erza. "They both got quite a lot, didn''t they?" "Well, yeah." "Yeah." Jin and Erza each received 50 million dollars worth of materials as a reward. Jin was thanked for repairing the golem, evacuating dignitaries, and providing technical guidance, and Erza, of course, was thanked for treating Richard the First and other wounded people. It was Jin''s wish and Elsa''s concern that he should receive the money in the form of a substantial amount of material rather than in cash. "Speaking of which, Jin has been giving technical guidance all this time, hasn''t he?" "Yes. Yeah. It was a lot of work. The airship could have caught fire from the hydrogen at any time, and the ship was not strong enough, and would have snapped in half if the waves had been too strong. In the case of the Hindenburg, it seems that flammable paint was used in the air sacs, which combined with the flammable paint caused a catastrophe, but no such paint was used on this airship, so the worst that could have happened was a crash, but it would still have been a disaster. At any rate, it was Jin who drained all the hydrogen from the ship. "I helped with the ship, so I know most of what happened. That was a lot of work too. Reinhardt said sincerely. More than half of the internal armament had to be removed and reinforcements put in to replace the dragon bones. Although the ship was now sturdier, the payload was halved and the speed was reduced to two-thirds of what it had been before the modifications were made. "But we''re lucky we didn''t have an accident. Erza nodded at Jin''s words. "Yes. Human life comes first." Elsa is once again treating Richard, the former king, as his doctor. "Richard-sama is likely to have brain damage. More like the left side of his brain. It seems that the wine had the effect of making him lose control of his emotions, of paralyzing his thinking, Erza said. "Ah, so that''s why he was so intuitive." Jin nodded his head in understanding. "Erza has really grown up, hasn''t she?" Reinhardt looked at his cousin and said in a serious tone. The topic then turned to homunculus. "The homunculus that looks just like <>, right? What are you going to do with it? "Oh. His Majesty Cesar, who has become king, can''t take care of it so well, so I''m secretly looking for someone to take it in. The "secretly" part is the problem. The point is that they cannot make it public so as not to cause a scandal that the child might be Cesar''s illegitimate child, etc., and also the issue of the person who will take care of the child. The other is that there is no concern that the royal family will be threatened in the future using this as an excuse. Taking all these factors into consideration, it seems that it is difficult to find a suitable person. "So, what am I going to do about it? As a homunculus, Jin thinks it would be a bad idea to leave it among humans. "I''d like to show it to <<700672>> once, if possible." "I agree with that. Elsa adds. "Yes. But it''s going to be difficult to get it to that point. That''s the point. It has only been a week since the new king took the throne, so it will take some time before the problem is resolved. "Besides, I''m worried about the whereabouts of Prince Oranje. Jin said in a low voice. So far, it was almost confirmed by the statement of Alain, the king''s younger brother, that the mastermind was the Duke of Orange. Even if he returned to the Franz kingdom, he would be regarded as an exile who had endangered the existence of the country, and there would be no place for him. "After that, the new Secret Service (SP) that had come over here followed us to Lake Athol, where they found a medium-sized ship hidden there. It was an ocean-going ship similar to Reinhardt''s <>. The << Scarlet Trail> itself is used proudly at Lake Tosmo, and its structure is not difficult to imitate, if one has the skill. However, the average magecraftsman would be averse to such a <. "I took that ocean-going ship to the other side of the river, so I decided to leave the rest to the fifth column (quinta) I sent to Franz''s kingdom, according to the old man''s instructions. ......" "What happened?" "What''s going on?" "They haven''t reached the other side of the river yet." What? The whole ship seems to have disappeared. It hasn''t even returned to its home territory in the Kingdom of Franz. They''ve also disappeared from a newly completed surveillance satellite. "I underestimated them a bit, thinking they were pussies. ......" Jin is frustrated. Even the mysterious basement is still untouched. And so the time goes by, leaving some mysteries unanswered. 815 - - 24-01 New Information In March 3458, the situation on the Laurentian continent was unstable. This was mainly due to the fact that on February 24 of the same year, Richard Valois de Selrois was replaced by his legitimate son, Cesar Valois de Selrois. Nevertheless, ten days had passed since his accession to the throne and, thanks to the efforts of the new king and his ministers, the situation was finally stabilizing. "Is she gone?" Yes, Your Majesty. Yes, Your Majesty.What were the guards doing? No one left the room. And yet, in the morning, the room was empty. ...... "Mm-hmm. ....... Anyway, continue your search in secret. "Yes, sir." is a homunculus that looks exactly like the demon tribe . She had been protected by King Cesar when he was a crown prince near the Nubari Mine. He seems to have no memory, and we do not even know his name. He never opened his heart to anyone and finally disappeared. "......" King Cesar stared at a piece of leather paper with the faltering words, <>. "No one saw him leave, and now he''s gone. ......" King Cesar sighed softly. * * * * * * "Hmm, this is , isn''t it?" Jin was visiting <<700672>>. "It''s the same template as <>, isn''t it?" No.700672 muttered as he looked at the dark-haired, red-eyed girl in front of him. It was Jin who brought out a homunculus that looked just like <> from under the new King Cesar. He used the Shinobi Unit under the direct control of the old lord and brought her out with a transporter. In the first place, it was No. 700672 who advised Jin to take <> out. Yesterday, after wondering what to make of <>''s existence, he asked for 700672''s advice. "Hmm, a homunculus is in your world ......." The 700672 thought for a moment, and then concluded. "Bring him here as soon as possible." When Jin asked why, 700672 explained in order. First of all, it would be very bad if people found out that <> body was different from that of humans. It would be even worse if it is known that the model is a demon. In the current situation of the human world, it would be premature to publicize the existence of the demon tribe. Jin was convinced by all of them. But the biggest reason was..., >. <<>>. "So. We need to hide her out of their sight at all costs. Don''t worry about being kidnapped. A homunculus is not a human being. He also said that he would be responsible for the 700672. So Jin took <> out. By the way, <> is named after the color of her red eyes. The name <> was also chosen because the color of her black hair would have made her <>. The name "rouge" (red) was also a good contrast to "neige" (snow) = white. * * * * * Rouge, strangely enough, immediately took to No. 700672. The original Neige seems to have accepted her as well. "Rouge, it''s nice to meet you from now on." "Yes, Neige. Their friendship was as if they had originally been sisters. "It seems that this girl was thrown out of the house as soon as she was made. We have been given only basic information. I''m sure she''ll be of great use to you if you take the time to raise her. 700672 explained as he inspected Rouge. Seeing that Rouge was obediently obedient to the inspection, the possibility emerged that she was created by a just like No. 700672. The possibility that the person who made her was a <> like No. 700672 emerged. "Well, are you saying that there are beings like you near the <>?" "Yes. My masters are scattered here and there. It is not surprising that some of them have moved to your continent. Jin was convinced of this possibility. "But why did they use Archel as a model?And if so, where is the real Archelle?" This question was not answered clearly by No. 700672. "All I know is that it is easier to create an appearance if there is a model. We don''t know much more about the girl who served as the model. "I see. ......" It seems that Jin modeled Arrow after Marcia and Lotte after Bina. I thought they might be important clues to the whereabouts of Archel, but I guess not. "By the way, how much do you know about astronomy?" Jin was momentarily taken aback by the sudden change of topic, but quickly changed his mind and replied. "Well, basically, stars, planets, satellites, their revolutions and orbits, and so on. I know very little about the stars of this world. "I see. ...... have you noticed any bright stars in the night sky lately?" "Oh, yes. I''ve seen them several times. "Good. That''s a long period planet. A long period planet? Jin asked back at the unfamiliar word. "Yes. It orbits along the same ecliptic plane as the other planets in the solar system ...... including Ars, but it has a long elliptical orbit." Jin thought of long-period comets such as Halley''s comet. This one is a planet, he said. "Its orbital period is about 1204 years. This is an extraordinarily long period. As far as I know, it has made four close approaches in the past, and all four times it was at a great distance from this star, Ars, and nothing happened. "Is that so?" "Well, the distance between Ars and the sun Celan is about 150 million kilometers, which is one astronomical unit, If we take that as one AU, it would pass through a distance of about 0.4 AU." From a cosmological point of view, this is a distance equal to zero. "We don''t know what will happen. We don''t know what will happen, and we don''t know what we should prepare for. I''m afraid all I can do is let you know that there is such a possibility. "No, but it would still be helpful. Thank you very much." Jin is an amateur in the field of astronomy. He is not likely to be able to calculate the orbits of celestial objects. "We are now launching a surveillance satellite into orbit. It will mainly monitor the ground, but it will also be able to see into space, so let''s start observing. 700672 smiled. "Well, you have already developed such a technology, that''s great. "So, what month will the object make its closest approach?And do you know the size and mass of the object? Jin asked for more information. "Yes. It will probably be around September or October. The size and estimated mass are about the same as this Ars. That means a little more than half a year to go. What can we do until then? Hitoshi thought carefully about what he could do until then. "Thank you very much for everything. I''m going home for now. "Well, come again. You are always welcome. And you can leave <> to me. Neige is happy to have a sister. "Yes, thank you." Jin then uses the warp gate to go to the Shinkai. Instead of returning to Horai Island, he moved to the warp gate of <> and quietly returned to his room in the royal castle in the capital city of Essiah. 816 - - 24-02 Search the cellar "What?You''re not coming back again? "Yes, Your Majesty." "Ummm... ......" Cesar, the new King of Selroa, looked thoughtful and troubled. It all started in the building of Dali, which Jin had asked him about. Lao Tzu and Anne had confirmed that there was a cavity in the basement, but Cesar had been left in charge of the rest. It was not his place to investigate on his own. "First three, now five..." King Cesar sent out three of his trusted soldiers to investigate. The room Lao Tzu and Anne found, the quartz tiles on the floor were broken and a little complicated, but the floor was open. There was a staircase, which led to the basement. Three soldiers with magic lamps were sent out, half a day passed, the day changed, and they did not return. Then, five soldiers were sent out to search for the missing three. But they did not come back either. "This ...... is definitely something. ......" I asked my father, Richard the First, but he did not know that there was a cellar. I asked my father, the previous king, Richard, but he didn''t seem to know that there was a basement, because he has been unable to speak to me for a long time. We have moved them to the palace in the capital city and have arranged top-notch healers, but they show no signs of getting better. Of course, Elsa is doing her best every day. Finally, we were able to find out that the basement had been there since the generation before my father''s father, Cesar''s great-grandfather Guillaume, and according to the legend, it was the entrance to the ruins. And that it was his grandfather Guillaume who built the upper structure, a church-like building, to protect it. That is all. From the contents of the book, it seems that his father, Richard, did not confirm what was in the basement either. "I don''t care anymore!" Cesar, who seemed to have gathered his thoughts, glanced at the sundial and walked out of his office to the small conference room. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Most of the delegates who attended the ceremony to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom of Selroa were still there. For one thing, the political situation in this techno-military power was unstable. For one thing, the political situation in this techno-military powerhouse was unstable, since it would be a matter of concern if it accidentally launched a war against a neighboring country. Secondly, the political base of the new King Cesar was weak. He came to the throne almost out of the blue. <> because there are two people who are not here. One is Duke Lefort de Orange, Duke of Orange in the Kingdom of Franz. The other is Count Galana of Egeria. The Duke of Orange was connected behind the scenes with Alain Demonne, the brother of the previous king, who had interfered with Cesar''s accession to the throne, and after the king''s brother''s defeat, he disappeared as if on the run. Count Galana was sent back to his country by a hot air balloon because of his poor health. So, the Shoro Kingdom is represented by the Empress, Marquis Theoderic, Minister of Magic and Technology Degaus, Lieutenant Colonel Fritz, Captain Matheus, and Baron Reinhardt. The Kingdom of Klein will be Prince Arthur, his valet Lioness, female Kingsguard Jessica, Gloria, Cynthia, and Gloria''s father Boulton. The Kingdom of Elias is the Marquis of Firenziano and Marcia. The Kingdom of Egelea is the Duke of Bruu. In addition to this, Jin and his fiance Erza were gathered in the small conference room. However, this gathering is only a few days away. Thanks to the <, the situation in their home country has been reported, and even though no major problems have arisen, it is not good for the head of state, the leaders, and the important figures to be out of the country for any length of time. "Gentlemen, please take care. Today''s issue is ......." Cesar began. The main topic of the day was local reforms. There is a limit to what can be left to the discretion of the regions. That is why we have sent inspectors to ......." "We need to create an organization where we can monitor each other and correct any wrongdoing. ...... "We also need to be creative in agriculture. We need to prevent crop failure, grow relief crops, etc. ......" Although it is not possible to teach all the know-how of one''s own country, it was effective in terms of mutual improvement, as it would lead to the exchange of information among the countries. "But that is not so easy to do!" "But it is not so easy to do!" "Even so, this method can shorten the period of time, can''t it?" "No, the time frame is important, but the manpower is the problem. In this country today, ......" "That''s true, but how about this?" Since we are assuming the stabilization of the Kingdom of Cerroa, even if there is something to discuss, it is proceeding relatively calmly. I am sorry to say this, but the fact that we are discussing <> prevents us from getting too heated and emotional. And so the discussion continued throughout the morning. "Thank you for your cooperation. Cesar thanks the representatives of the other countries. We are now going to have a luncheon. We moved to the main cafeteria to enjoy the lunch prepared for us at ....... Unlike Richard''s lunch, the menu had shifted to a more modest one. The participants did not complain about this. After all, frugality was their idea. "The use of the finest ingredients is not the only secret to good cuisine", said Marchese Florenziano. These are the words of the Marchese Florenziano. She was so devoted to the Topopo cooking method that she was nicknamed the "Marchese de Topopo" (Marquis of Topopo). ......, so the lunch menu consists of bread, fried topopo, vegetable soup and fruit juice. The taste was unquestionable, although it was not quite as good as when Richard was the king. The seasoning is good. "The seasoning is good," he said, "We are very particular about the taste of salt in our country. The fried topopo is also very well done. The chef must be pleased to hear the original chef say so. The chef was very excited to hear such comments from the original chef. Then, while sipping his after-dinner tte--tte, Cesar checked the sundial and opened his mouth with a bold look on his face. "Well, gentlemen. Especially Mr. Jin. I''d like to ask you a few questions. And I''m going to tell you about the basement investigation. And that eight of them have not returned. Jin had moved the Shinobi Unit to this side of the country, that is, to the capital, thinking that he could find out more in the Kingdom of Selroa, so he was not familiar with the information there. "So, at one o''clock today, we decided to deploy a special golem. A special golem? "A special golem?" "Yes. It is a golem that can project what it sees onto a magic screen. The Kingdom of Egelea has been developing such magic tools, but this one seems to be a golem. Certainly, it would be perfect for investigating dangerous places that are inaccessible to humans. "It will be deployed in about 10 minutes. If you want, you can watch it with me." Not a single person said no. So King Cesar ordered a man to bring a magic screen, the equivalent of a monitor, to our side. "We have about one minute left. In addition to the representatives of the countries, the Secretary of the First Military Ministry Ragaedo and the Secretary of the First Technical Ministry Latant also arrived and stared at the magic screen. The magic screen was showing a church-like building in Dali. It seemed that the time had come, and the image on the magic screen changed. We were getting closer to the building. "Hmmm, it''s wonderful! Someone said in an impressed voice. Then the image moves into the building. "So far so good, right?" The image then turns to go down the stairs to the basement. "I''m going to get drunk looking at ....... ......" Jin says, misguidedly. But there are a few others who think the same thing, "......I agree with you a little. ......" Some people get intoxicated when they watch TV images with a shaky camera, and it is the same thing. "......<>" Erza, who can''t help but notice this, casts a healing spell on Jin and some others. "Thank you, Elsa. "Thank you. ......" The mood seems to have recovered, and everyone looks at the screen again. Now the golem has just reached the lowest level of the room. It was dimly lit, but since he had brought his magic lamp, he could make out the shapes of the objects. (...... What is that?) As soon as Jin saw something that caught his attention, the image changed instantly. 817 - - 24-03 The Devil of the Underground "What''s going on? The image darkened for a moment and then brightened again. It was unusual for a magic lamp to behave in such a way, so it was understandable that those who were watching were mystified. What was even more astonishing was what appeared on the screen. "Gigantor Avrum! Gloria shouted. What was being projected on the screen was a myriad of wriggling , in other words, giant scorpion beetles. "Oh, what is that? I saw it for a moment, the silver armor. It was quickly covered by the gigantor avrum, but it was exactly what the soldiers of the Kingdom of Selroa were wearing. "...... means that we are all ...... in the presence of that monster." King Cesar muttered with a pale face. "Gloria, do you know that monster?" Fritz asked urgently. "Oh, yes. I have met him in the kingdom of Klein. It is called Gigantor Avrum and cannot be cut by ordinary swords. It''s a tough demon, and its movements are quite swift. It is because of the sword that Master Jin made for me that I am still alive. Gloria answered without taking her eyes off the screen. Her hand was unknowingly resting on the sword at her waist. "Aah!" Cynthia screamed. The screen turned toward the ceiling. In other words, the golem was turned over on its back. The screen was immediately covered with giganto-avlums. Soon the screen went black. "...... It looks like the golem has been hit," he said. "It can''t be helped. That type is not suited for combat. The Secretary of the First Military Ministry Ragedo and the Secretary of the First Technical Ministry Ratant said in a regretful voice. "Ummm, I didn''t know there was such a demon. ...... Gloria, please explain again." King Cesar requested Gloria. Gloria described the details of the demon, blurring the circumstances of their encounter. She was concerned that if she told the story, she would naturally have to tell about <>, which would put King Cesar in a bad position, since he was protecting a girl who looked just like her. As expected, he had no way of knowing that the girl was missing. "Hmmm, there is such a demon? "But only Gloria-sama has seen it before, right? I mean, where is that place? The voices are rushing about, and it''s getting out of control. "Quiet! A single voice silenced the situation. It was Gerhard, the empress of the Shoro Kingdom, who called out to the crowd. She was right. "It''s a waste of time if we continue to debate as we like. Let''s put the issues in order. His words carried weight, and we all nodded our heads in silence. "First of all, is that really the basement in Dali?" Jin had a rough idea of the answer to that question. A glimpse of the basement wall. The Magi Formula engraved on it. That''s a ...... warp gate. The model is different from the one Jin is using, but I am sure of it. The screen went dark for a moment because of the transition. The ruins where the discarded Anne was found also had a warp gate. This technology was used in a certain way before the Great Magic War. "Could that be a warp gate?" Jin, who had been lost in thought, looked up at the word. It was the statement of Latant, the First Secretary of the Ministry of Technology of the Kingdom of Celuloa. As expected of the head of a technological superpower, he seemed to have guessed that it might be a warp gate. "What is your opinion, Mr. Kunlun, as a Magecraft Meister? Since this was the topic of discussion, it was only natural that the question should come to Jin. "Yes, I agree with the opinion that it is a warp gate. "Of course. ......" Some of us had heard of this technology since it had been in use before the Great Magic War. "But it''s dangerous...one wrong move and that gigantor avrum will be transferred to us." Jin''s words seemed to shock the people of the Kingdom of Celuloa in particular. "...... Indeed. What do you think we should do? asked the Secretary of the First Military Ministry, Ragaredo. "Yes, I think so. For the time being, we should destroy it to the extent that it can be repaired. Jin said what he thought. "Destroy it? Ragade looked surprised for a moment, but then quickly realized what he meant. "...... Indeed, I shudder to think what would happen if that monster appeared in Dali. And there could be other monsters there as well. He is right in his guess. Jin gives a slight whiff of the Gigantopod that came out of the Inado Mine. "You heard about it too, Jin-dono. I have not seen it alive with my own eyes, but I have seen the carcass of the Gigantorpede, which was about 50 meters long. Hearing this, Boulton opened his mouth in disgust. "I saw it with my own eyes. It was a monster that neither swords nor magic could defeat. He would have lost his life had it not been for the deus ex machina. I do not know how he defeated it, but its carcass, its shell, could not be harmed except by an adamantite sword." "......" The threat of demons and monsters that are believed to dwell in the depths of the earth seems to have become quite real, and the faces of the participants are serious. We never know when such monsters will emerge from the mines in our country. "......I''ve sent soldiers into such a place ...... and eight of them ......." "It can''t be helped, Your Majesty. No one could have predicted that there was a warp gate and that such a monster would be there." Ragaredo, the First Military Minister, consoled him, but Cesar shook his head. "No, I should have sent the golem first. It was my fault for not doing so." "Your Majesty, however, there were only special golems here in Esire, so I think it was a reasonable order to send in the local soldiers." "But I can''t deny that we wasted lives. ......" The warp gate is not working. Seeing Cesar''s depression, Jin returned to the subject a little more forcefully. From what I have seen, the warp gate is old-fashioned, and the switching between sending and receiving seems to be manual. In other words, it is one-way for now. However, since we cannot predict when it will be switched, I suggested that we break it down to the extent that it can be repaired. (Although, we didn''t know which side was the master''s side. ......) The switching of sending/receiving is usually done by the master side. If the master side is the side of the giganto-avlum, it could switch at any time. It is too optimistic to think that since things have been okay until now, they will continue to be okay in the future. "All right. Yalmer must be over there. I''ll let him know. If we erase a part of the Magi Formula, it won''t work as a warp gate. Then we will be safe. (Before we do that, we should find out where that monster is.) Jin pretended to go on a small errand and left the meeting room, then contacted the old man with his manacam. "Yes, that would be good. That would be good." He thought that if he sent out only the markers, he would not suffer any damage. And with the marker, we should be able to locate it with the magi radar. When Jin returned to the meeting room after giving instructions to the old man, the topic of conversation turned to weapons that could resist demons. "This is the sword that Mister Jin made for me. It is a sword made of extremely thin adamantite sandwiched between two pieces of steel, and it could cut through even a gigantor avrum. Gloria explains the sword somewhat proudly. Jin looked at Prince Arthur, wondering if he was allowed to reveal the sword in front of the representatives of each country, and saw the look of bitterness on his face. But it was no longer a secret if she had revealed so much. "Mister Jin, it''s a wonderful structure. Even the Marquis Florenziano was impressed. "Each country would like to prepare such weapons. The Emperor Shoro also spoke up. Weapons for use against demons can also be used against humans, which means that their killing power will be further increased. Jin secretly felt that we must prevent more and more wars from starting. Jin looked at Gloria, who was the initiator of the war, and saw her father, Boulton, sitting next to her, giving her some kind of warning. It seems that she was being reprimanded for her careless remarks. It seemed that Prince Arthur had also reprimanded her, and it was unusual to see Gloria looking so disappointed. * * * * * * * * * * * * That night, Jin received a report from the old man. "You did a good job. So, where was it?" "The El-Lad mine? < "We need to find out more about that." Jin thought about it. 818 - - 24-04 Premonition of parting (...... what do I want to do? ......) Rita, the girl who was saved by Fritz, was troubled. (I miss you all, but I also want to say goodbye without being able to repay you. ......) Rita has been treated as a slave and sold to fill the tax shortage. She felt a debt of gratitude to Fritz who saved her. If you go to the village of Kaina, as Jin-sama says, you will be able to sell them together.(If you go to the village of Kaina, as Gin-sama says, you will be reunited with everyone you were sold with. ......) The tattoo on his chest, which had not been erased to expose the darkness of the Kingdom of Selroa, was now clean. (Thanks to Elsa, sister of Mr. Fritz ......) For Rita, a village girl, meeting nobles, royalty, and royalty was an experience that makes her shiver just remembering it. "But I can''t keep up with them forever, can I?" "What are you talking about?What are you talking about? What are you talking about? Rita was lost in thought when she was suddenly approached by a voice, and she jumped up with a funny cry. "Mr. Fritz, when are you coming?" "Hmm?Just now. I came back and saw you mumbling, so I called out to you to see what was troubling you. "Oh, is that so?" Rita blushed, as if it had been in her voice for some time. "You should be pleased. In a couple of days, Master Jin will take you to his friends. This had been discussed, but the date had not yet been decided until the political situation in the Kingdom of Celuloa had stabilized. Now that the so-called have to return home for a time, this kind of talk has come up. "......What are you going to do, Mr. Fritz?" "Me?I will lead back to my country. Yes, of course. Then there was a knock at the door. "Yes, sir." Rita stood up and opened the door. Cynthia Kirkman was there. "Mister Fritz, may I come in?" Her voice sounded a little sad. "Hey, Cynthia, what''s up?Come on in. "Hello, Cynthia, come in." "Mr. Fritz, I''ll make you some tea." Yes, please. Rita was getting better at basic maid work. "So, what''s going on?" "Well, what''s wrong? It''s not a big deal, but tomorrow we''re going back to our home country. Cynthia suddenly starts to speak. Fritz listens without changing his expression. "Oh..." "There are three of us, Gloria, Gloria''s father, Mr. Boulton, and myself. And myself. Jessica seems to stay behind to guard Prince Arthur a little longer. "So, I just wanted to say thank you for everything you''ve done for me." Cynthia bows her head. Fritz smiled and took it. "Oh, I see. No, I didn''t do anything wrong. "No, not at all. < and for the luggage you carried for us along the way. "No, I also had delicious meals cooked for me along the way, and I''ve taken care of a lot of the troublesome formalities for you." "No, no, no, no." Cynthia is acting humble to the end. Her cheeks are slightly red. So, what time do you leave tomorrow? "Yes, right after breakfast, so before 9:00 a.m." "I see." After some small talk, Cynthia thanked Fritz again and left the room. "...... So Gloria and the others are going back to their home country." "Thank you for everything you''ve done for me too,......." "Yes, I know. ...... "Mr. Fritz?" Rita looks at Fritz, who suddenly stands up and looks at her suspiciously, "I''ll be out in a minute." Fritz took a bag from his luggage and left the room with it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and Elsa looked out of the window of their assigned room in the royal palace at the city at dusk. "Things have finally stabilized, haven''t they? "Yes, it''s been a long time." Reiko and Edgar were standing about five meters away from each other. Lao Tzu and Anne are in . "King Richard ......, I hear you haven''t recovered any more?" "Yes. I''ve done everything I can, but..." Elsa looks disappointed. The two were in a good ...... mood, but their conversation was not very s*xy. "But the maid of honor was working very hard," she said. "Oh, that beautiful woman." The maid of honor Richard always had by his side. After the queen died, he didn''t take a second wife, probably to avoid causing more conflicts, but I wonder if he still missed her. "She must have been like a mistress. ...... Erza, what''s wrong?" , Erza is puffed up, but Jin doesn''t notice it. Just then. There is a knock at the door. Reiko opens the door to see who it is. "Jin-dono!Elsa!I have a favor to ask you!" As soon as they are invited into the room, before Jin and the others can open their mouths, Fritz suddenly starts talking. "Tomorrow morning, Gloria and Cynthia from the Kingdom of Klein will be leaving for home. I would like to thank you for all you have done for me. With that, Fritz placed the bag in his hand on the table. With this I want you to make a sword for Jin and some jewelry for Elsa. "Yes, yes." Jin replied with a sudden, animated response. Fritz takes this as an affirmative, "Then, please! and left the room. "You are like a ...... storm, aren''t you? Reiko said to me in a tone of exasperation. I examined the bag and found that it contained gold and silver coins, totaling 92,500 tol. 90,000 tol is a lot of money. The sword," he said, "is for Gloria. And the accessories, Cynthia? Is Gloria''s father, Boulton, forgotten, or are they limiting themselves to Gloria and Cynthia, who had helped them on the way here? Jin thought about completing the request for the time being, and then something occurred to him. "......By the way, is it possible to give a sword as a gift to a woman?" It was a good memory that Stearina had rebuked him when he had tried to give Erza a silver dagger as a birthday present. Elsa thought about it for a moment and then blurted out "...... because it''s Ms. Gloria." Jin agrees. "......It''s Gloria, isn''t it?" So Jin decided to make a sword without worrying about it. But here, he runs into a big wall. "......What should I do with the materials?" 819 - - 24-05 Yarmars Workshop Jin who took on the task of making the sword without thinking about the material. "...... that bothers me too." Erza was equally troubled. "There is a way to have it sent from Horai Island, though." "......If they ask where I got it from..." In that case, there''s no excuse. "......That''s a problem." The deadline is tomorrow morning before 9:00. It is now 5:00 PM. Jin and Erza should be able to make it in time, but the lack of materials is a problem even before they can make it. "Father. Why don''t you ask Mr. Yalmer?" "Eh, J?rmer?" Yes. He just came back from Dali a few minutes ago, didn''t he? J?rmer Balz Gamma is a magecraftsman in the Kingdom of Celuloa, and I believe he has a workshop in the castle," Reiko says. "So ....... That''s the only way. Going down to the castle to buy materials would be problematic. So Jin and Reiko decided to go to Yalmar''s place first. "Well, I guess he is on the first floor. Yes, father, there is a workshop building in the courtyard on the west side of the first floor. Oh, I see. Are you familiar with ......? Reiko nodded, happy to be of service to Jin. "Yes. Since the other day, a group of Shinobi have been inspecting the inside of the castle on your order. I see. Except for a few areas that have been magically warded, the survey has been completed. Magical ...... warding? Yes, except that an alarm goes off when you pass through one of them. Jin heard this and tried to imagine the configuration. "But, even if a rat or an insect gets through it, the alarm will go off, right?" "Yes. It probably won''t react to anything below a certain size." "I guess so. If that''s the case, wouldn''t the Shinobi Forces be able to pass through it?" Reiko countered Jin''s suggestion that a five-centimeter tall intelligence golem unit would be able to pass through. "That is quite conceivable. However, the old man is cautious about the possibility of it reacting to <> or <>." "I see." If Lao Tzu had the information processing capability as Lao Tzu, he would be able to analyze the nature of such wards, but it was too much to expect such a 5 centimeter-long Shinobi Unit to be able to do so. "Besides, about 30 percent of such rooms are known to us by peeping into them when people come and go, and most of the time they are not very big rooms. Like the locker room or the king''s bedroom." While whispering this conversation, Jin and Reiko arrived at the first floor. There was a guard at the west service entrance, but he let Jin and Reiko through as soon as he saw them. "There it is." Reiko pointed to a workshop the size of a small gymnasium at the end of the courtyard. "It''s huge. ...... but if they are making something like <>, it should be at least that big. As Jin and the others approached, Yalmar came outside, apparently having spotted it through a window. "What is this, Jin-dono?What are you doing here? Well, please come in." Yalmer looked surprised, but he invited Jin and Reiko into the workshop and offered them a chair. "We have never invited you in here before, Jin-dono." At the back of the workshop was a reception room. He told me that this workshop also served as his residence. "Welcome." A cup filled with taeyehoe was placed in front of Jin and Reiko. "Thank you. But Reiko doesn''t drink. But the unexpected reply came. "Yes, I know. But it''s a courtesy." I looked at the person who put down the cup and saw a beautiful blue-eyed woman with long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. "This is my wife, Mabel." She had a calm demeanor and a well-proportioned body. She was about the same age as Jin, or slightly older. "Oh, I''m Jin Nido." When Jin introduced himself, Mabel responded with a smile. Yes, I know who you are. My husband told me about you the other day. May is also my assistant. "Yes. Yes. That''s why she became my wife. Meibel laughed softly, and Jin thought that they seemed to be a good couple. After a short chat, Jin went on to the main topic. "...... so I''ve been asked to make a sword and accessories for you. I was wondering if you could share the materials with me. Yalmer and Mabel laughed. "If that''s the way you want it, go ahead. We don''t have much." However, glancing at the shelves of materials, there was a wide selection. There were Magi Crystals, Magi Stones, Magi Resins, and regular jewelry. "Well then, after dinner, I will visit again with Elsa. Hitoshi was taken in by Mabel''s mood, and he spoke in a more respectful manner than usual. "I''ll be waiting for you then." Mabel smiled at him and saw him off, and he returned to his room. "Well, that''s good." After returning to his room, Jin was having a meal and reported to Elsa that he had successfully concluded an agreement with her. "So, have you decided what you''re going to make?" "Well, have you decided what you are going to make? "I think I''ll make a pendant top. He thought that something too bulky would not be suitable as a gift since he would be on his way on a trip. Jin, on the other hand, wondered what kind of sword Gloria would like. "Most of your collection is straight swords," he said. Jin recalls the collection he was shown at Gloria''s house before. "Japanese swords, after all. ...... I have a plan to arrange it for this world, though. Reiko''s is a perfect (as Jin remembers it) Japanese sword, but Jin intends to change it a little. "But... ......" Jin wants to make it so that it is at least somewhat unique. However, he is not sure how much he should show in front of Yalmer and his friends. "Let''s just go for now." "Let''s just go for now. So Jin and Elsa headed for Yalmer''s workshop building with Reiko and Edgar respectively. "We''ve been waiting for you." Yalmar greeted the two of them. "Are you Elsa-sama?I am Mabel, wife of Yalmar. I look forward to working with you. "My name is Elsa Randall. It is a pleasure to meet you. Elsa and Mabel greet each other and start working on the project. We don''t have much time. "...... silver and some gold. And some blue gems. Then choose one of these. Mabel points to one of the shelves. "These materials are from my own collection, so you can spend as much as you like." It is true that there is a big problem with using materials that were prepared with the government''s budget as one pleases. As Elsa seemed to have started talking with Mabel, Jin asked J?rmaa about the situation of the materials. "I need some steel for blades." This request was based on the fact that the golem that Yalmar had made, its steel skeleton, was made of very high quality steel. "Yes, here it is." J?rmer pointed to a shelf where several types of ingots were displayed. Jin decided to take his time in making his selection. 820 - - 24-06 Gift making "Can I use this one and this one?" Yalmar looked at the ingot Jin pointed at and groaned in admiration. "Hmmm, you are indeed Jin-dono. Both ingots are of high quality and purity. One is steel and the other is soft iron. ...... composite material, isn''t it?" J?rmer, who was looking at the sword that Reinhardt''s <> was holding, seemed to come to that conclusion immediately. "Yes. I''ll take this one, then. "Yes, please." Jin immediately began to make a sword, or rather a katana, out of them. "It is an interesting shape, isn''t it? It seems to be specialized for cutting rather than thrusting. He has a deep knowledge of swords. Jin smiled and finished the sword silently. "Well done, sir." The finished sword is wider than a Japanese sword and is classified as a curved sword. However, while most of the curved swords called scimitars or shamshirs are curved from the middle of the blade, this one was slightly curved, or rather warped, from the hand. The curvature is a little larger at the hand end and smaller at the tip than a clean arc. <. There is no shinogi (line separating the blade and shinogi-ji). The width of the blade is almost double that of the original Japanese sword, and because of the reduced thickness, the sword is likely to break or bend easily if used improperly. However, since it is a semi-collector''s item, and if it is used, it will be by Gloria, who is a master swordsman, Jin is not too worried about this point. "It looks like it''s sharp, too. J?rmer, who was observing the work, praised it. The sheath, tsubaki, and handle were finished to look like a Western-style military sword. When Jin offered five gold coins as thanks, Yalmar returned four of them and said, "You have shown me something good. "You have shown me something good," he said. "......What about Elsa?" Jin, who had easily packed the curved knives, looked to the back of the workshop and saw Elsa just walking in. "I''m done, too." Elsa shows Jin the pendant top she put in the box. The stone stuck in the center glowed blue-purple, much like the color of Cynthia''s eyes. "It is a stone called <>. I chose it because it is similar to the color of Cynthia''s eyes. The pendant top is made entirely of silver with gold accents in various places. "Hmmm, it''s a nice color." Zoisite is also called Tanzanite because it is mined in Tanzania in Africa, and it was a stone that became popular when Tiffany & Co. started selling it. Jin didn''t know that much about it, but he honestly thought that the purplish blue color, different from sapphire, was beautiful. "Elsa-sama did a wonderful job!" Mabel also seems to have become a fan of Elsa''s. "I''m a little tired. "...... I''m a little tired." After returning to her room, Elsa was lying down. According to her, Mabel had been standing by her side praising her while Elsa was working on the pendant top. "Well, well, anyway, I finished what you asked me to do, so that''s a good thing, isn''t it?" "...... yeah." The time was around 10:00 p.m.. Jin and Erza decided to take a rest. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * March 5th. Compared to midwinter, the dawn is coming earlier. In the early morning, footsteps echoed in the guest room building of the palace. "Jin-dono!Erza!" It was Fritz, knocking and calling her name. It seems that he couldn''t wait to get here. "Please be quiet a little longer, Mr. Fritz!" Reiko, who had invited Fritz in, said as if to rebuke him. Fritz scratched his head and apologized. "I''m sorry. So that''s it?" Fritz said nothing more than a few words of apology, and started to explain what he wanted to do. Yes, it was finished last night. At that moment, the door to the bedroom opened and Jin, who was basically an early riser, appeared. "Good morning, Mr. Fritz. "Oh, Jin-dono, good morning!So, what you asked for is ....... "It is ready." Jin went back to his bedroom and came out with a long, thin package. "It''s all wrapped up in a simple package. I thought I would wrap it up properly after you took a look at it. He handed the package to Fritz. Fritz opened the package in a hurry and picked up the curved sword. "Hmmm, it''s an unusual shape," he said. "It''s called a sword, not a sword. It''s a curved sword, because it''s warped. May I pull it out?" Fritz asked Jin and with his consent, pulled out the curved sword. "Oh ......!" The blade''s crest stood out on the silvery-gray steel surface. "This looks sharp!Gloria will be pleased." Fritz put the curved sword back in its scabbard, "Have you made a gift for Cynthia?" He asked without a pause. "Yes, Elsa made it. ......" "I see!Elsa!" Before Jin could finish, Fritz ran into the bedroom where he had just left. He comes out immediately. "Jin-dono!Erza is gone!" Jin sighed. "Erza is in the next bedroom, ......, Mister Fritz! Fritz rushes into the next bedroom. "My God!" Elsa screamed, and Fritz ran out of the room. A pillow comes flying out from behind her. "Mister Fritz... ......" Jin sighs once again. "...... Oh my God, my brother..." Erza was sleeping when Fritz interrupted her, and she was bloated. "I''m sorry. But I used to sleep with you, you know." "Mm, once upon a time. Now is now." "You''d think I''d be in bed with Jin-dono, wouldn''t you? When you hear that he''s in a different room, it''s natural to assume that he''s already awake, isn''t it?" But Erza turned her cheeks and glared at her brother Fritz. "That''s your logic. We haven''t had the wedding yet, we have separate bedrooms." "What?Are you children? Fritz says, and then holds his tongue. "...... I''m not going to let my brother tell you that." Elsa glared at her brother and held out the box. Fritz takes it, opens the lid and smiles. "Nice work!That''s what I''m talking about, Elsa. That''s my sister! "......, you''re doing great!" And one last thing. "Who do you love more, my brother?Gloria or Cynthia?" But Fritz is unmoved by his sister''s words. "Hmm?What''s your true love?" He took the curved sword and put the pendant in his pocket with great care, "Well, Jin-dono, Erza. Thank you for your trouble this morning! He bowed his head and left the room in a hurry. "......How did you make it to the rank of lieutenant colonel with that? ......" Erza knew Jin as a good person who did not care about etiquette, and had known him since she was a child. In addition, they are (and soon will be) relatives, so we can laugh at them, but if they were magical craftsmen or emissaries from other countries, they would have been so out of courtesy that it could have become an international problem. "Well, my brother, you sometimes lose sight of what is going on around you, but you are basically calm. Especially in important situations." "You don''t look so ...... cool." This was Jin''s honest assessment of his character. 821 - - 24-07 Hitoshi and Elza, in the Kingdom of Celluloa At 9:00 a.m. on the same day, a crowd had gathered in front of the main gate of the palace. "Your Highness, Gloria, Cynthia, and Boulton, we are now on our way home. "Well, take care on your way." Gloria and the rest of the group, escorted by Prince Arthur of the Kingdom of Klein, his valet and tutor Lioness Ashford, and the captain of the female Kingsguard, Jessica Norton, left Essiaia, the capital of the Kingdom of Cerroa, on horseback. Instead of crossing the Torres River, they will take a northeasterly route into the Kingdom of Klein. Most of the representatives of each country had come to see them off. "Mister Jin, Mister Fritz told me about this. Sword ...... no, sword, thank you." "Thank you, Miss Elsa, for the pendant top." "Jin-sama, Erza-sama, I hope to see you again someday." The three greeted Jin and the others. They greeted the members of the Shoro Kingdom in a particularly polite manner. "Your Highness, I would like to express my gratitude to Mister Fritz and for all the help they have given us along the way. I cannot thank you enough. "Mister Fritz. I hope to see you again when we meet again." Cynthia seemed a little tearful. "...... Cynthia, do you like my brother?" "Hmmm, I kind of get that vibe." Jin and Erza are conversing in a whisper at a distance so that the other members cannot hear them. "But we''re from different countries and we''re both military. Normally, it''s impossible. "I guess so. ...... Jin is a little sad. He was engaged to Elsa Randall, a native of the Shoro Kingdom, and everyone around him congratulated him, but there are those who are troubled by an ill-fated love affair. But there were others who were troubled by their ill-fated love (?). The three of them rode horses given to them by King Cesar, waving their hands as they disappeared from everyone''s sight. Jin is going to instruct the old man to keep an eye on their journey from the sky, just in case. Gloria and her group hurry their horses. And when they are far enough away that they can''t see the people who are seeing them off: ....... "Mmmm, this sword!This is wonderful!" Gloria is said to have been seen pulling out the sword on her horse and enjoying the sight of it. * * * * * * * * * * "Today''s work was the key seal, wasn''t it?" Jin muttered as he returned to the palace after seeing her off. "Yes, father. Reiko answered. "Are you sure that King Richard is here to see him today?" Elsa also checked with Edgar, who was walking diagonally behind her. "Yes, I am sure. So Jin and Elsa walked through the service gate of the palace, and then they separated to the left and right. "Jin-dono, I''m looking forward to working with you today. Jin-dono, I''m counting on you. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Jin Nidor, Magecraft Meister. Jin and Reiko are greeted in a small windowless conference room on the second floor of the palace by the new King Cesar, Kirk Apted, who has been promoted to SS commander, and another person. "My name is Foltz Durrant Alpha. I am Foltz Durrant Alfa, and I am pleased to meet you today. He was the chief magecraftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa. "This is the Seal of the Keys. Wrapped in a velvet-like cloth, it was a deep green color. Jin recognized the color. "Are you sure it is made of ...... eladolite?" "That''s what I''m talking about. That''s right." Cesar nodded. Jin had his first opportunity to look closely at the key seal. It was a cylinder about 10 centimeters long and 3 centimeters in diameter. Of course, it is not a simple cylinder. It is intricately carved so that it cannot be easily imitated. And since it is a <>, or <>, its main function ...... in this world is to mold <>. "Jin-dono, I would like you to find out how this works. Even in the Kingdom of Celuloa, there is no magic tool with a recognition system comparable to that of the <>. Cesar wanted to take this opportunity to make such a recognition system more common. Foltz Durrant Alpha and Jin cooperated to investigate the workings of the <. "One of the requirements is that it has to be an eladite of this size," said Foltz. Foltz muttered as he held the keystone up to the light. Most eladrites are about two centimeters in diameter at the largest, and there are no known cylindrical eladrites with a length of ten centimeters and a diameter of three centimeters. In other words, this is the world''s largest elradorite. "Yes, it is. Look here. It''s designed to focus magic. It''s supposed to allow the amplified magic power to reach distant magic tools and golems." Jin has discovered one of its functions. "I see, that''s as expected." Another function of the <> is that it can be used as a substitute for a specific <>. With these two functions, <> can activate specific magic tools. "But then, does this mean that it can be done without the <>?" Cesar, who had been listening to the explanation, asked Jin a question. Jin gave his guess. "Yes, probably. But there are probably one or two more protective measures in place, so I don''t think it can be activated so easily without the <>. "I guess so." Jin and Foltz continued their investigation. The first floor of the royal palace, at the back of the first floor, the first floor of the royal palace. Richard the First''s recovery room was located on the southeast side of the first floor of the palace. Excuse me. Welcome, Miss Elsa. After knocking, Elsa stepped into the hospital room and was greeted by a maid of honor. Her name is Merfe. She is a red-haired beauty with a firm, well-developed figure. After the death of the queen, Richard did not take a second wife to prevent a succession struggle, but he seemed to love this maid of honor instead, and Merve took good care of Richard. "How is Richard-sama?" Elsa asks a question. "Yes, his face has become calmer in the last few days and he seems to have settled down. She still can''t walk by herself, though. Based on Merve''s answer, Elsa plans a treatment plan. The withdrawal symptoms from the poison were gone and the treatment was becoming easier. About four days ago, Richard''s was secretly performed on the Magi Crystal, and when he asked the old man to analyze it, he found that there was little loss of memory. This means that his motor parts were mainly damaged, and he was not sure if he could manage to recover by continuing his rehabilitation patiently. He is still being taken care of by Merve, but we wanted him to be able to bathe, dress, eat, and go to the bathroom by himself. "...... father, also ......" Elsa remembered her father in the countryside. Georg, too, had suffered from brain damage and had trouble with daily life, but thanks to Elsa''s treatment and his wife Marlene''s nursing care, he was able to manage his daily life. However, Georg had many memory deficits and lost most of the knowledge necessary for managing the estate, making it difficult for his eldest son Moritz to clean up after him. Richard''s physical functions were fine, but he was bedridden, his muscles would lose strength and he would not be able to get up, so he spent two hours a day in rehabilitation with the help of his maid, Melfet. "Please continue with the physical rehabilitation. Next, please visit ......." Elsa tells us the rehabilitation menu for dementia that Jin told her about. "Listening to music is a good idea. Also, simple manual labor would be good. Since it is counterproductive to give him a lot of things to do at once, he suggested those two things first. As for music, Elsa explained that Merve was good with the lyre and that she could ask him to play Richard''s favorite piece. As for the manual work, Elsa thought about it a lot, but on Jin''s advice, she recommended turning two ornate nuts in a rolling motion with her palms. "Thank you very much." After being sent off by Merve, who bowed deeply, Elsa left the sanatorium. 822 - - 24-08 Fort The scene has changed to Lake Asur. It is a huge lake located in the northern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa, on the border with the Kingdom of Franz. The distance from Esia, the capital, is about 90 kilometers, which can be easily traversed in a day by a horse. A river flows into the northeast side of Lake Asur, which is the border between the Kingdom of Selroa and the Kingdom of Franz, and further upstream, the border between the Kingdom of Klein. About 20 kilometers upstream from Lake Asur, there is an old fortress. The fort, which has existed since the time of the Great Magic War, is called . The town of ...... near the fort, which may be a kind of castle town, is also named after the fort. The south side of the fort is facing the river, where boats can directly land. A few days ago, a ship of a slightly different type was moored there. It is an outer-wheel boat with a water wheel on both sides for propulsion. The name of the man who boarded the ship at Forte de Crau was <>. "So, you still can''t figure it out?" "Yes, I''m getting close, but..." "...... got it. I''ll see what I can do." The fort also had a basement, and in the innermost part of the basement, Lord Oranje and the magician were having a conversation. "If this Fortress of the Magi Fortress is restored, the partisans will have nothing to fear. On the contrary, I may even become the ruler of the world! Fort Crow was a strategic weapon called the Magi Fortress, built during the Magi Wars. "But, Your Excellency, what exactly is a "Magi Fortress"? The magical engineer knew nothing about the Magi Fortress. He was just doing the job he was told to do. "I don''t know much either. But I happened to find some old documents in the Kingdom of Celuloa. I happened to find an old document in the Kingdom of Celuloa that says that three such Magi Fortresses were built during the Magi Wars. One of them is here. Where are the other two? One of them was in the kingdom of Leonard. I''m afraid I don''t know where the other one is. I''m sorry to hear that. Neither of them seemed to be disappointed at all. "This is probably the only place we''ll get any real use out of it. Please, Bocker." The wizard called Bokker nodded. "Yes, you can count on me. And there''s that Dajur Harvey." "Dajjur Harvey......, he was a member of the Unification Party, right?" "Yes. He''s a broken man, but he''s a good one. "What we need now is manpower. I don''t care about quality. * * * * < Of course, it is no mean feat to control a huge fortress with only one control core. The that Jin has built also has multiple processors inside. The structure of the < of this was not as good as that of the old man''s. "The chain of command is dendritic," says Jin. "I know that the chain of command is dendritic, though." A tree, in other words. There is a at the top that controls the whole system, and from there, the chain of command grows like the trunk of a tree and the branches of a tree. Less important tasks and information are processed by the sub-brains or small brains at the end of each branch, thus reducing the load on the < at the top of the tree. Although the total reaction time as a system is slow, it was considered to be a well-balanced structure at that time. "Hmmm, if I activate this control core, it will be difficult to activate the control core below it. The man working with a groan is Dajur Harvey, a rather large man in his early thirties, but very dexterous with his hands. "Oh, I see. If we make this connection here first, the downstream will not accept our control." In the case of this system, which has a tree-like control structure, if you don''t restart the system from the bottom up, it will stop listening to what <> says. "It''s the last one to activate the that holds the main unit together, otherwise it may consider us as an enemy." In other words, the minions are attacked in order, and the last one is the last boss, <>. "I don''t want to reboot and be attacked out of the blue..." He talks to himself a lot, but he''s reasonably competent, and more than 70 percent of his work has been repaired in the last five days. "But I guess I''ll just ...... move on for now, ...... it''ll be more interesting." However, unlike Jin, he is not a craftsman and is easily bored. In addition, he is very slow-paced. "Yeah, I''m a little tired, I think I''ll take a break. ...... Lol, tea." . He is using Lol, a blue-haired automaton found in this fort. It is the same model as Anne and Tia. Normally, all these automata should have been destroyed by Elena''s will, but there remained a machine in this fortress that escaped destruction. And now, they are being cared for with pride. "...... is lukewarm!" Dajjur splashes a cup of tea on Lol. The ceramic cup shatters as it hits Lol''s shoulder. Lol is also covered by the tea. > Lol apologizes. Her movements are bad. To begin with, she is barely maintained enough to move, and she is worked over day after day. Still, it is the fate of an automata who cannot disobey her master, and she takes care of him without a single complaint. After brewing the tea three times, Dajur is finally satisfied and drinks it down. Then he went back to work. "Hmmm...maybe we can work on this connection later. This one looks more interesting: ......." Meanwhile, Bocker Ove was working elsewhere. "This is amazing. I didn''t know there were 10 battle golems left from that time!" In the past, when Jin and his team investigated the Keowan ruins, even the control cores were extracted from the golems when the fort was abandoned, but here at Fort Kulu, there were many artifacts that remained safe and sound, probably because they had been in service until the end of the war. They were cleverly hidden in the basement. How did they come to the knowledge of Prince Oranje? Last year, when the Unification Party was disbanded and replaced by the Nostalgia Party, several defectors fled to the Kingdom of Franz. They were sheltered by Lord Orange, who allowed them to use the remote Fort Crau as a hideout. Last autumn, Dajour Harvey and two other magical craftsmen (magi craftsmen) found a cellar. Hidden there were many artifacts, some known to the Unifilers and some unknown to them. Among them, there is a magical device developed by Jin that generates a ward with an effect similar to that of stealth, which Lord Oranje used only for his own benefit. This is the reason why he was able to avoid the pursuit of the fifth column (Quinta) sent by the old lord. He also possessed several other artifacts, which gave Duke Oranje more power in the Kingdom of Franz. * * * * * * * * * * * * Looking out of the window at the setting evening sky, the Duke of Lefort de Orange reflected on the past few days. "Unnun ...... Jin Nido, he''s the source of all this!" He should have been very careful with his actions since he had gained new power, absolute power, in the form of the fortress and the artifact. First of all, he set his sights on Alain Demainu, the ruler of the southern part of the Kingdom of Celuloa. The main reason why he chose Alain was that he was the furthest away from Franz. "Far and near," was it? A memorandum left at the fort. It seems to be a memorandum left in the fort, which was written by a commander teaching his subordinates, but it contains various useful information. Far crossings and short attacks. Even if you win a war against a distant country and gain a territory, it is difficult to maintain it. Therefore, it was written that one should be friendly with distant countries and attack nearby countries. "The best way to win is to win without fighting. ...... That''s not going to happen." That''s one of the things he wrote: "Winning without fighting is better than fighting 10 times and winning 10 times. "So I took advantage of Richard''s love of wine and let him drink as much as he wanted. The goal was simply to keep him drunk at all hours of the day and to dull his judgment, but fortunately or unfortunately, it was not until this year that he learned that Richard''s health was beginning to suffer. "It''s all over!" It was a good thing until he used the invisibility ward to steal Richard''s key in the confusion of the moment. "Another miscalculation was that he could not read that Alain was that stupid. The aim of taking the family of Scave Sotheby''s, one of the Dauphin Cesar''s bodyguards, hostage to get information was good, but it was too blatantly overdone, and even made an attempt on the Dauphin''s life in the public eye at the time of King Cesar''s ...... It was a bad move of the worst kind to have the life of the then Dauphin threatened in full view of the public. Many other failures can be recalled. He is a man of only such a capacity, as he is bitter in his heart against them, but he does not think of his lack of power or insight in the slightest. Nevertheless, the existence of an ancient relic (artifact) that can evade the pursuit of <>, hide itself from the search of <>, and escape the surveillance of <> cannot be overlooked. The presence of an artifact that can hide from the search of <> and escape the surveillance of <> cannot be overlooked. Unbeknownst to Jin, the old lord, King Cesar, and the representatives of the nations, a new conspiracy is about to be set in motion. 823 - - 24-09 Silent Story 46 Dark Clouds of the Franz Kingdom "Ummm, I''m in trouble ......" On March 1st, Lgion de Barkly, King of the Kingdom of Franz, was in a deep state of anxiety. "Your Majesty, what is the matter?" < He is the one hand of Rijon, but in reality they do not get along very well. This is because Rotaro is always nagging the self-righteous and dictatorial Rijohn. But on this day, Rijohn was more timid than usual. No, he is a small man by nature. "Lord Oranje has brought disgrace to our country. In fact, there are even signs of rebellion. Oh my God! "...... what should I do?" A dejected Rijohn showed Rotaro a document from the Kingdom of Selroa. Rotaro looked it over and let out a long sigh. "No wonder Your Majesty is at a loss. If this is true, it is too much. The letter was signed by Cesar Valois de Cerloa, the new King of Cerloa, and also signed by the Emperor of Shoro, the Prince of Klein, the Duke of Egelea, the Marquis of Elias, and the Koronkun, so it could not be a lie. The problem is the content of the document. Simply put, it describes the incident that Lefort de Orange had caused, and the countries demanded an apology and compensation from the Kingdom of Franz for that fact. The total amount of compensation is equivalent to five years of the national budget of the Kingdom of Franz. Even if paid in installments, it would take several decades to pay the entire amount. "If we refuse, the Kingdom of Celuloa will invade and destroy us. Not knowing the character of King Cesar, these fears were understandable. The king and the northern duke were both worried. "We must put aside reparations for the moment and think about an apology," he said. "I guess that''s what we''ll have to do. ......" Rijoong is 37 years old this year. He has been spoiled by his father since he was a child and only ascended to the throne four years ago, so he is not yet a king in his own right. Rotaro is only five years older than the king, but he is much stronger and it is thanks to his skill that the country has managed to survive in spite of the unreliable and selfish king and the egomaniacal southern duke. However, even Rotaro could not come up with a plan to break out of this situation. * * * * * * * * * * * <. It is a revolutionary group hiding in the Franz kingdom, and has been rebelling against the harsh regime of Wilzon, the former king, and Rijohn, the current king. On February 28th, a certain information was brought to our attention. . Upon receiving this report, the partisans begin to move. The plan that had been prepared for such an eventuality was put into effect. The members of the partisans who were scattered throughout the region were notified. . "Well, this day will finally come! Let''s do it! "I''m going to put the fool king to death! The morale of the members was high. Last August, Regulus 41, aka , who had infiltrated the Liberation Army (partisans) as a comrade, had reported to the old man. However, it had been less than a year since he had joined the partisans, and the information he had obtained was not much, but he had a rough idea of what they were doing. What Laojun analogized was an event in the past which was in Jin''s knowledge. At the end of the Han Dynasty in ancient China, the ten eunuchs who controlled the emperor as puppets were purged and the young emperor, who had the blood of commoners in his veins, was abolished and an emperor of legitimate lineage was installed. Of course, there are many differences, but the premise is that the process should be as short as possible and as bloodless as possible. Probably, they rose up en masse to crush the forces that were pro-Duke Oranje, and at the same time, the current king was detained in the royal palace. The king is installed by a man of legitimate lineage, though a collateral one, of good character and well-liked by the people. This is the strategy of the partisans, which the old king has detected. And the name of the man who is supposed to be the new king is - Lotharus de Lafayette. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm, I see. ......" The old man contacted Jin when he had made his guess. "I have learned this time that it is not a good idea to get involved in other countries'' affairs too much. As long as it doesn''t turn out to be a big deal, I''ll let the people of the country take care of their own affairs. However," adds Jin. "Please continue your search for Lord Oranje. I have a bad feeling about this. . * * * * * * "I heard that Oranje has escaped from the Kingdom of Celuloa and is holed up in Fort Crau...?" It was two days later that the information, which even the 5th Column (Quinta) did not know, was brought to the partisans'' attention. Sometimes manpower tactics are not foolproof. "That frontier fort?" "I see. If they returned to the center, they would be executed for bowing to the Kingdom of Celuloa, so they fled their territory as well. "Then let''s send agents to spy on them. Let''s start by changing the king! Thus, the partisans pushed forward with the revolution. On March 3, the partisans rose up en masse in various parts of the country, catching the king off guard and quickly overran major cities. They had sent several comrades to important posts in each city, and this was their victory. "What?A revolt?Why at this time? On March 5, Rijohn turned pale when he heard the news. Lord Oranje, who had always been there to help him and flatter him, was gone. "Your Majesty, prepare for the worst. "Worst case scenario?...... No!This country belongs to me! The Duke of Lafayette sighed quietly as he watched Rijohn, pale and clinging to the throne ...... where the king sat, still bellowing such things. Then the sound of footsteps approaching. The partisans of the Kingsguard were among them, and the castle was easy enough to control. "King!Prepare yourself!" "......" When more than a dozen partisans surrounded the castle, the king of Franz, Lgion de Barkly, was incontinent and unconscious. * * * * "...... Well, that was quick." On the same day, Jin heard from the old man about the revolution that took place in the Kingdom of Franz. The Berkley dynasty fell and the new Lafayette dynasty rose. "It''s going to be difficult for us as the Kingdom of Cerroa to deal with this ......" Jin is disgusted by yet another source of heartache. "......And we still haven''t decided what to do with Oranje, and we can''t do it yet." Elsa also voices her opinion. "Yes, that''s right. Anyway, we have to get Oranje first before we can talk about anything else." < "Okay. We''ll just have to wait and see." The day when the world will be at peace is still far away. 824 - - 24-10 Humanitys blunder The morning of March 6th. "Elsa, did you get the raw materials for the wine today?" "Yes, finally." The raw materials for Richard the First''s favorite wine. It finally arrived from the Korin region. "Well, I remember that His Majesty Cesar''s brother became a lord..." Jin did not know, nor did he care much about who had become the new lord after Alain Demainu had been sentenced to death. However, Elsa had warned him that this was not the way to go. King Cesar has four brothers, one younger brother and two younger sisters. The younger brother is three years younger and his name is Bernard. "Yes. He sent them to me as soon as he arrived. Elsa asked Jin to be present during the analysis. Jin accepted. Jin was also interested in it. It would arrive around noon at the earliest, so he had some free time until then. "I guess there''s always something to do in the middle of a busy day," he said. It means that no matter how busy we are, we always have a little free time. Jin decided to take this opportunity to have a long talk with the old man. "First, have you investigated the location of the mysterious warp gate?" "Okay, tell me more about what you''ve found." The old man began to report the results of his investigations. < "Catacombs?" Catacombs are underground cemeteries. On earth, the catacombs in Rome, Italy and Paris, France are probably the most famous. The one in Paris was originally a stone quarry for building, and it can be said that the space was effectively utilized. In this sense, the ruins of the Oya Stone Mining Site in Japan may be closer to the image. >. "Hmmm............you, the old man, have started further investigation, haven''t you?" "In the old Leonard kingdom?" It is strange that there are people here when there is no longer a country. "Ah, so that''s how it is." Jin wondered if Eladolite was being mined and distributed by such people, "No, that doesn''t make sense. He noticed a contradiction. "Eladite should not be available in the private sector. I see. That way, it is probably cheaper than hiring someone to do the work. And we don''t have to take into account the risk of cave-ins during mining. Even so, Jin wondered if they might be able to cheat on one or two eladrites. . The old man explains the answer to his question. > or <>, it will be amplified if you have an Eladrite, using the property of Eladrites to amplify magic power. "hmmm ......" The "Mere Old Man" cannot say for sure, since he has not seen the magic being used, but that is what he has heard. "Well, that''s all right. So you haven''t investigated the underground of the catacombs yet? "Yeah, that''s the way to go. <<>. > Jin was a little interested in the mine where eladolite could be extracted, but there was something else that was bothering him more than that. "We still have time. All right, let''s go to the village of Kaina." Hannah had left him alone. The time difference between Esia and Kaina is about 1 hour and 20 minutes, no big deal. <, Jin decides to go to the village of Kaina. Elsa, that''s why. I''ll be back by noon." "Okay, have a good day." Leaving Erza at home in case something happens, Jin moves to the village of Kaina with Reiko. * * * * "......" Hannah. "...... don''t know." After not hearing from Jin for more than two weeks, Hanna was totally bummed out. She didn''t even look at him. "Hannah, your father is sorry. Please forgive him. "......" Reiko is trying to calm Hanna down, but Hanna''s pouty face is not getting any better. "But I''ve been through a lot, you know. Please understand that." "......" "I didn''t forget about Hannah, and I brought her a souvenir to prove it." "...... Really?" When he offered physical evidence instead of just a verbal apology, Hanna''s face turned slightly toward Jin. "It''s true. Here, look at this." "...... Wow." It was the first time she had ever seen a necklace of amber beads. Amber is a fossilized resin from prehistoric times and is not exactly a mineral. However, since it is a fossil, it is not produced in Horai Island, where the geology is relatively new, and it was the first jewelry that Jin saw in the Kingdom of Selroa. Therefore, it is not surprising that Hannah was attracted to it. "Look, isn''t the color similar to Hanna''s hair?" "...... yeah." In Japan, amber is sometimes used to refer to amber, a pigment made from clay, which is a reddish brown color, but the amber in this world was the exact color of . "Look, it looks good on you." Jin puts the necklace around Hannah''s neck. The color matched her golden hair and slightly tanned white skin. At that moment, Hannah suddenly jumped into Jin''s chest. "...... Hannah?" "......Thanks, Onii-chan. But what makes me happiest is that you''re back. "Hannah,......" "More than souvenirs, I''m most happy that you''re alive and well and by my side." In truth, Hannah probably wanted to jump on Jin right away, but she lost her chance, and as a result, she allowed it under the guise of a souvenir. Jin gently stroked Hannah''s head. Hannah closed her eyes happily and let him stroke her head. "I''m sorry. I should have come back a little more often. She felt even more sorry for Jin, who could have done that if he had wanted to. "......No, I really know. I know that you are busy and that you are doing what only you can do. But ......" Hannah was not very clear in her words, but Jin understood her feelings. Even though he knew it in his head, he was still lonely. (After all, Hannah is still ......!) I thought she was 9 years old, but her birthday is February 8. She is already 10 years old. (Aaaaah!My idiot!) (Oh, my stupidity!) More than that, Jin cursed himself for being too careless to celebrate her birthday. 825 - - 24-11 Hitoshi is tired. "No, it''s fine. Hannah replied in a nonchalant manner to Jin, who was apologizing for not celebrating her birthday with her head down on her knees. She told him that in the village of Kaina, it was not customary to celebrate birthdays. The only simple celebration is when a person turns 15 years old. "...... but I''m sorry, Hannah." Jin knows the loneliness of such a birthday celebration more than anyone else, since he himself did not receive many birthday celebrations in his former world. That is why he could not forgive himself for being so careless. "I''ll be back as soon as I can, okay?" "Okay, sweetie." After explaining to Hanna what he was doing and where he was going, Jin left the village of Kaina with a sense of regret. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Erza welcomed Jin back to the Kingdom of Selroa. "Welcome back. A little while ago, I received a message that the raw materials for the wine had arrived. The timing seemed to be just right. The two finished their lunch and went to the designated laboratory. "Welcome, Mr. Jin, Miss Elsa. They were greeted by Mr. Latant, Director General of the First Ministry of Technology. At first glance, he appeared to have a kindly appearance, but his gray eyes were sharp. "I just received this. These are the herbs used in the wine. In front of Latant were nearly ten ...... herbs, nine to be exact. Three of them are aromatic. This one is mint. This is jhanji, and this is ramong bark." Jin looked at the jhanji, wondering what it was, and saw that it looked just like twisted ginger. Perhaps it was ginger. Mint is mint, itself. Ramon peel......Oh, they use the peel of a lemon-like fruit.) "...... this is lavandula. That''s pelargo." Some of the plants were unknown to Jin, but Elsa seemed to know them. And the ninth. "...... Eryx," she said. Latant had never seen this plant before. Of course, Jin and Elsa had never seen it either. "This is suspicious, isn''t it?" The other herbs and medicinal plants were known, common and non-toxic. "<>" Elsa examined the leaves of the plant called . "......This is probably it." The leaves contained a large amount of the same substance that had been found in the brain and internal organs of Richard the Great when he had been examined. "Hmm, <>, huh? Are you sure?" "Yes. Eighteen or nine out of ten. Since Elsa had examined and treated the previous king, Latant trusted her for the time being. "So, do you think we should put some restrictions on this plant?" "I think so. However, there is a fine line between poison and medicine. "Hmm. ......" Latant ponders over Erza''s comment. In the meantime, Jin also checks up on Eriks with . I have Reiko and Edgar do the same. In this way, we will be able to obtain information on Eriks, which will be useful in various ways in the future. It was decided that further investigation would be left to the professional staff, and Jin and Erza were released. "I don''t think there is anyone who can investigate this more than your father and Elsa-san. Reiko said firmly as she returned to her room. "Oh, thank you, Reiko. Well, I guess this country has its pride. But I''ve got information on the drug''s composition. I see. Reiko, please pass on the information about the Eriks to the old man. Yes, sir. Thus, another important piece of information was stored in Horai Island. Jin and Erza spent the rest of the day relaxing, and when dusk was approaching, they received a call from the old man. "What is it, what happened?" < The old man started to report. * * * * * * On the morning of the 6th, the information that Oranje was at Fort Crau on the frontier was brought to the command of the partisan liberation army. Since the command was busy following up the replaced king, they decided to leave the matter to the local branch. Pigeons were sent for communication and the head of the Southeastern Branch of the Liberation Army (partisans) started to work. "I''m going to draw out Oranje, the wicked vassal holed up in Fort Crow!" The Southeast Branch chief, a rather radical man, headed for the fort himself with 30 men under his command. While the afternoon sun was still high in the sky, they saw the fort. "So that''s Fort Crau. It''s a small fort. The area of the fort was roughly 50 meters square, which was not a large fort. "How to attack ......" The head of the southeastern partisan branch of the Liberation Army is not a military man. He has no experience in sieges. "Let''s start with a golem as a small measure. ......" The partisans have dozens of golems provided by their supporters, both for combat and for miscellaneous use. He had brought several of them with him. "Let''s send out two of them first and see what happens." At the order of the branch manager, the two combat golems with hammers in their hands advance forward. They head straight for the fort. The two golems arrive in front of the outer wall that surrounds the fort. The two golems aim their hammers at the gate in front of the fortress. Two blows, three blows, and still the door is not distorted. The door is still intact. It seems to be made of sturdy metal. Keep going! After four or five ...... dozen blows, the hammer finally breaks ....... "What? The door is so strong that the steel hammer broke first. The branch manager was no soldier, but he was no fool either. "Pull them back!" He realized that attacking in the dark would not help. "Report to the command center. This is not a fortress that one branch can handle." He then decided to send out an emergency pigeon. There was still some time before dusk, and he thought that the pigeons would be able to reach the headquarters by the end of the day. "Fall back one kilometer!" He then retreated with 30 of his men and decided to watch the fort from a distance. * * * * * . The old man finished his explanation. "Well, it is a fortress from the time of the Great Magic War, so I wonder if its defense is incomparably stronger than it is now. "What? ......" But it is possible. It is not surprising that such an alloy was developed 700 years after the time of Adriana Barbora Zetsi. And after the magic war, with the decline of the population, it is likely that it has been forgotten, just like other technologies. "I guess we''ll just have to wait and see until there is a major movement. ......" A tired-looking Jin let out a single loud sigh. Even Jin is not omniscient. Nor is he so arrogant as to think that he can make the world go round by himself. "But what is the best thing ......?" Jin had no one to tell him. Erza, too, remains silent, pondering. This could be called a compromise, but it sounded like the best plan to Jin. "Yes, let''s do that. 826 - - 24-12 First Battle "Oh, partisans! Have they come to capture me, the Duke of Orange? The former Duke Lefort de Orange was looking down from a small window on the top floor of the fortress. He has not been officially dismissed from his post, so it is brazen that he still calls himself a duke. "However, we don''t know everything about the fort yet. Let''s see what happens first. The Oranje side was thinking the same thing as the partisans. Soon after, two golems came out from the partisan side, holding big hammers in their hands. "Hmmm, they are going to destroy the door with that hammer. Can they do it?" Over the past few days, Oranje had become very familiar with the fortress. "I heard that the outer wall has been reinforced to prepare for the invasion of the demons. It''s a sight to see." Oranje mutters to himself to no one. Below us, two golems are hammering away. The door seems to be unaffected by the roar of the hammers hitting it. "They are very strong, aren''t they?" Eventually, the hammer wielded by the golem was broken, and the two bodies backed away. The partisans also retreated. "Well, they are not fools. It is a fool''s errand to attack in the dark without knowing the strength of your opponent. In this respect, the man in command of one of the partisan units seemed to have good sense, Oranje commented. "But it''s going to be night soon. We must be careful. Oranje decided not to attack by force, but to take advantage of the shadows of the night to sneak in. He decided to do what he could now, namely, to move the defense mechanism of <>. "Oh, Mr. Oranje, what is it?" When Oranje went underground to move the defense mechanism, he met Bocker Ove, who was working on the project. "Bocker, just in time. < going?" is an automaton found in the back of the fort. She seems to have served as a staff member or aide-de-camp, and is familiar with the fort. However, it had been damaged by 300 years of age, and had been repaired by a group of engineers led by Bokker. Oranje''s knowledge, which was not in keeping with the times, was due to this refa. "Yes. The movement is still a bit awkward, but it has been repaired to the point where it is safe to talk to each other. Oranje nodded his head in satisfaction. "Yes, that''s good enough. He then stepped into the room with Refa: ......<>. > Refa is also a blue-haired female automata. She is the same type as Anne, Tia, and Dajour''s Rolle. However, in order to fulfill her role as an assistant, she seems to have been customized considerably and does not have any s*xual functions, but is instead capable of using some offensive magic. However, since the operation has not been repaired yet, all I can do for now is to give advice. "Well, there might be an intruder tonight. I''m trying to figure out what to do about it. Is there any suitable defense mechanism?" The answer came back to me as if I had hit the nail on the head. "Warding?" < It is, in other words, a protective fence with a high-voltage current flowing through it. "I didn''t know such a thing existed. Okay, let''s activate it right away. How do we do that?" "I see. I haven''t rebooted the yet ......, are you sure?" Again, Leffa assured me. , so don''t worry>. "Okay." Thus Oranje followed Refa''s instructions and performed a few maneuvers. . "Okay. This fortress is quite impressive, isn''t it?" "And I am the master of this place. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * That night, when the moon was just above us and the sun was about to set. Go on, take care of yourself.) Yes, sir.) Two scouts left the partisan camp. Wearing black cloth all over their bodies, they were almost unrecognizable as they crept forward. Soon the two of them were attached to the wall. (Okay, there seems to be no guards.) (I''m sure Oranje''s guy doesn''t have that many men.) After a brief exchange, we threw a rope with a key-like claw at the end upward to climb over the outer wall. After the third time, the rope caught well and did not seem to come off even when weight was applied, so the first person started to climb up. The second person looked around. He continued to climb steadily, and at the moment he stood on top of the outer wall. "Aaah! A flash of purple light flashed, and the man fell down, falling from the top of the outer wall. He fell inside the fortress. "Hey! the other one shouted out. But... (d*mn ...... trap...we''ll have to turn around...) (We''ll have to turn back here.) Even if we tried to help him out, the same fate would probably await us if we attempted to cross the outer wall. The remaining scout bites his lip in frustration and turns back to the partisan position. "I see. ......" The head of the branch heard the report from the returning scout and looked at him with a difficult face, "I didn''t know there was a trap. I guess we can''t approach them easily. I was right in deciding that it was out of the control of one branch. We can''t touch them until reinforcements arrive. We''ll just keep an eye on them. I understand. Thus, the partisans went into standby. The partisans were now on standby. Oranje was sleeping well when the warding of the outer wall was activated. It was Refa who checked the result instead. < Then, he launched a golem that he could control. It is a low grade (by the fort''s standards) golem that can be operated remotely. When I bring it in, it still seems to be breathing. It is lucky that he did not break his neck when he fell from the outer wall. < Since Lefa herself cannot use healing magic, I have her brought to the healing facility in the fort. << <>. There was no one who could use such magic in this fortress. In the time of the Great Magic War, healing mages were more needed at the front than at the fort. And also the healing golems and automata to assist them. Compared to combat golems, healing golems are more precious, and this is the reason why there are none left in this fort. The battle for the defense of Fort Crow has only just begun. 827 - - 24-13 Greetings Round The next day, the 7th, was a busy morning. The disturbances in the Kingdom of Franz had reached here in the Kingdom of Cerroa. As soon as breakfast was over, the representatives of the remaining countries held a meeting. "There has been a revolution in Franz". This would be the theme of the meeting. "It is said that the situation is close to a bloodless revolution. "Lgion de Barkly has been deposed by the revolutionary forces and replaced on the throne by the Duke of Lotharus de Lafayette." So far, so good. The Duke of Lafayette''s reputation is so good that even other countries have heard about him, and everyone is optimistic that there will be no major problems with diplomatic relations in the future. The problem is Oranje. The problem of Oranje is so big that the change of king does not seem to be a big deal to some people. "I heard that Oranje is holed up in a fortress on the frontier. "Apparently, it seems to be the ruins of a magical battle, and cannot be easily taken down. Information is exchanged among the representatives. Then new information arrived. It was brought by Kirk Atkinson. He is the first advisor to King Cesar. "This letter was delivered early this morning by the deus ex machina. With these words, he left. All of them were anxious to know what was in the letter, so Prince Arthur read it out in great haste on behalf of all of them. "...... Fort Crow, where Oranje holed up, is a ruin from the time of the Magi Wars and is a <>. It is not just a fortress. Please be careful." "<>?What the hell is that ......?" The Marquis of Theodelic almost raised his voice in question, but Prince Arthur stopped him. "There is more to the story. ......<> is itself supposed to be a kind of giant golem......" As I read out the written explanation, the faces of those listening changed color. "Such a relic is ......!" "How can we attack ......!" "How can we attack ?" "Can we manage it with the current technology? They seem to have become completely frightened. To dispel the atmosphere, Prince Arthur raised his voice. "Everyone, please calm down. No matter how strong a fortress or castle is, it always has its weak points. For example, the attack on the army. There is no way to prevent it. "Oh ......" "Yes, indeed." Hearing this, everyone seemed to have regained some of their composure. (If it were Horai Island, there would be a warp gate and we could be self-sufficient. ) Jin was thinking such things, but he did not say them out loud. He has that much sense. In fact, how many people were in Fort Crowe was also an important point in the war against the enemy, but he had no information about that. "Well, gentlemen, the situation is the situation. I will have to return to my country tomorrow. The Shoro empress spoke up. She had stayed here for a long time, but now that the situation had turned out this way, she would have to return home. "Yes, I think I will return home as well." Prince Arthur, the second prince of the Kingdom of Klein, also said so. "I guess we have no choice now. Marquis Florenziano of the Kingdom of Elias also said. "Well, it''s a pity, but it has to be done." Duke Bruu of Egelea also declared his intention to return home. So.., Shawlo Kingdom: The Empress, Marquis Theoderic, Minister of Magic and Technology Degauze, Lieutenant Colonel Fritz, Captain Matheus, and Reinhardt. Kingdom of Klein: 2nd Prince Arthur, valet Lyonesse, captain of the female knights of Jessica''s Kingsguard. Kingdom of Egelea: Duke Bruu. Kingdom of Elias: Marquis Florenziano, Marcia. And Jin, Elsa. These people decided to return home. When I told this to the new king, Cesar, first thing in the afternoon, he looked disappointed. "I see. Well, I guess it can''t be helped, given the circumstances. Thank you all for your cooperation so far. Thank you very much for your cooperation. "Oh well, I guess this is goodbye for now." Jin muttered as he cleaned up the guest room, which was slightly cluttered with his personal belongings. "Well, it can''t be helped." Erza replies as she folds her clothes. "Your father can come anytime." Reiko comforted Jin. "Elsa-sama, I''ve finished packing." Edgar came in carrying two large bags. "Here we are. Let''s get some sleep tonight and leave after breakfast tomorrow." "Yes." "Actually, I was hoping to take the delegates to the Kunlun Island after this to start the world conference. The world doesn''t always work out the way you want it to. Indeed. Just then, there is a knock at the door. Reiko answers the door. The visitor is Marcia. "Hello, Gin, Elsa. I''m sorry to bother you. "Welcome." Reiko prepared a cup of tea using the tea utensils provided. It''s been a long time since we''ve had a leisurely talk like this. Jin''s been busy with his career. "I really wanted to be more relaxed and do whatever I wanted to do." When Jin said this in a mumbled tone of voice, Marcia laughed. "Haha, that''s impossible. I understand how you feel. Unless he completely shuts himself away, there''s no way people will leave him alone. "Well, yeah." But I can understand how you feel. I sometimes wish I could build boats the way I want to. To live you have to earn money," Marcia concluded, "and that means you have to do things you don''t want to do and meet people you don''t want to meet. "That''s true, isn''t it?" "Yes, but Jin is a bit of an out-of-this-world guy." "Where did you learn that word ......?" "Ha-ha-ha, I''m glad you guys seem to be getting along so well." After some small talk, Marcia got down to business. "Actually, I''m going back to my country tomorrow morning. I wanted to talk to you guys first." "Yeah, it was fun." I''ll see you soon." However, both Jin and Marcia had their own lives, and they understood that it would not be possible to see each other anytime soon. "Well, it''s a little early, but good night, Jin." "Yes, good night." At 8:00 p.m., after Marcia left, Jin asked Erza. "Should we go and say hello to the others?" "......Yeah, maybe. It''s not too late. Shall we go to ...... now?" Erza agreed, so Jin and the others made the rounds to give a brief greeting to the representatives of each country. 828 - - 24-14 On ones journey On the morning of March 8, the representatives of each country departed for home, some by hot-air balloon, some by carriage, and some by ship. "Thank you, Jin-dono, Erza Ehime, for your help." was the last to leave the Kingdom of Celuloa. King Cesar is seeing him off. "But is it all right?Without any reward?" Yes, I have the inventory. Yes, I have the inventory. I will come back for more as needed. To tell the truth, except for the amber, Jin has no other materials that he wants. So he is not concerned about bringing it back. "Well, come again. You are always welcome." "Well, Your Majesty, I''ll leave you now." Jin, Reiko, Elsa, Edgar, and Rita boarded the Conlon 2. Looking up at the airship as it slowly floated away, Cesar the King of Celuloa let out a deep sigh. "If only he (......) had the power, it would be easier to rule the country. ......" But he scolded himself for being too dependent on others, and returned to his office. * * * * "...... wow, wow ...... it''s flying ......." Rita had been looking out the window since she emerged from the water. No wonder, Jin and Erza let her do whatever she wanted. Now <> is on his way to the village of Kaina. The purpose is to bring Rita to her hometown friends. They are supposed to stay in Kaina for a while. After about two months. After having received a minimum education as a maid of honor, Rita had decided to go to the Shoro kingdom. She was going to work for Fritz. It is only about a little more than a quarter of a mile to the village of Kaina, and she will be able to arrive there in the afternoon. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Fritz has just finished crossing the river Asur with the five Goliaths he had stored in Dali. He is on his way home, but his mood is unusually somber. He could not shake off the feeling of being somehow unsatisfied or lonely. Without knowing the reason for this, Fritz just walked in silence. * * * * * * * * * * * * The Asur River merges with the Torres River and changes its name to the Naudaria River, and the river becomes much wider. The current is somewhat slower, but this does not affect the new ships much. The trimaran with the Marquis Florenziano, Marcia, and the Golem Arrow was moving down the river at a speed approaching 60 kilometers per hour. This speed is astonishing, even with the current. "That''s fast, maybe we can make it to Nalneka in the light of day." "Sir, that''s a bit reckless." During their ten days together Marcia and the Marchese Florenziano had become even closer. "I was joking. We will stay in Dakosos tonight. I called yesterday and the boat will be here the day after tomorrow. The sea had been so rough that it was considered too dangerous to go to Potrock, the southern tip of the Elias Peninsula, by a small catamaran, and the Marquis Florenziano would wait for the arrival of the hot air balloon in the coastal town of Dakososos and return home there. Marcia is on vacation, or rather, she is allowed to come back at her own pace. She has been given plenty of money for this purpose. But the catamaran is small and stable, so I feel very secure. As we disembarked from the catamaran, the Marquis muttered regretfully. "I will return slowly along the coast. "Yes, have a safe trip back." Even if the sea is a little rough, it is less dangerous to continue along the coast. Marcia also wanted to see the boats in different parts of the coast with her own eyes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the carriage driving along the road, the Shoro empress recalled the thrill of riding on the <>. "I wonder when ...... Jin-kun will be willing to offer the technology for that <> to other countries instead of a hot air balloon. I ask myself. "When ...... the world is at peace and all nations are united for the future, then surely ......." The emperor made a new resolution that she would make every effort to achieve this. "But I can''t let my guard down against that prince ...... Prince Arthur, can I? With this ability, the empress sensed something about the second prince of the Klein Kingdom. "Your majesty, still, there''s no doubt that he''s capable. I think it''s important to get along with him. Marquis Gehlen Theodoric, who was riding in the carriage under the guise of an escort, expressed his opinion. "I agree. We have to think about our own country first." * * * * "......It was halfway, but what the heck." Arthur, the second prince of the Kingdom of Klein, and his valet and tutor, Lioness Ashford, were on their way to their homeland in a hot air balloon. "Yes, there were too many unexpected things this time. But His Highness'' skill has made a deep impression on the national delegations, and he has achieved a certain amount of success, so I can''t say that it has been a failure. "That''s a relief." The other hot air balloon was carrying Jessica Norton and a generic golem that Jin had repaired. "......His Highness Arthur did a great job this time. ......No other royalty will be able to do it like him. After all, His Highness Arthur will be the next king. ......" Jessica was muttering to herself. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ah, it''s a long way back to the old country!" Gloria blurted out with a sigh. "It''s true. I haven''t seen my mother in a long time. Cynthia agreed. Gloria and Cynthia are three days ahead of us. This time, instead of crossing the Torres River, they are heading northeast on the road to the Kingdom of Klein. In the past, only guests of state, ambassadors, or their equivalents were allowed to take this route, but this time they are taking it with the permission of King Cesar. This time, however, they were taking this route with the permission of King Cesar, because it would allow them to enter the territory of the Kingdom of Klein more quickly. "But tomorrow we will cross the river and set foot on the land of our fatherland!" Gloria''s father, Boulton, shouted extraordinarily loudly to cheer her up. Their safety was being monitored by a satellite, but of course no one knew about it. The "Mere Old Man" is not a person who is in charge of the "Mere Old Man". "Welcome home, baby girl! "I''m home, Hannah." In the afternoon of the same day, <> arrived at the village of Kaina as scheduled. Jin picked up Hannah, who greeted him, and turned to Rita, who was being held by Erza, Rita, this is the village of Kaina. And that''s my castle, Nido Castle. Your acquaintances are waiting for you there. True to her words, the girls are standing in front of the castle and waving their hands. "Litter!" How are you? We''re all here!" Tears welled up in Rita''s eyes as she heard these words. Jin patted Rita on the back. "Go on, go on." "Yes, yes!" Rita runs off at a brisk pace. The girls from her hometown greet her. "Good for you." Yes... You girls look so happy! Jin, Erza, and Hannah looked at each other and smiled. 829 - - 24-15 The village of Kaina is the village of Hitoshi. Aside from Rita''s culture shock at the facilities in the village of Kaina, Jin headed toward instead of Nido Castle. Of course, Hannah was with him. Of course, Hannah was with him, since Jin''s private residence was across the street from Martha''s house. "I''m home, Grandma!" Hanna went home to tell her grandmother Martha that she was home. Hitoshi, Elsa, Reiko and Edgar go to Hitoshi''s house. The first floor is a workshop, and Jin takes a look around first. "Ah, it''s been a while since I''ve been here ......, but there''s no dust. Reiko guessed at that. "Father, I think Martha and the others have probably been cleaning up. "Oh, I see. I should thank them. Then Martha and Meane came in. "Jin, welcome back. Erza, welcome back. "Welcome back, Gin-sama. Erza, welcome home. Jin and Erza greeted the couple back and told them that they were now officially engaged. "Well, Jin, Erza, congratulations." "Erza, congratulations! Jin-sama, please take good care of my daughter. They both congratulated me. Then Hannah, who had just washed her hands, came in with something. "Happy New Year, Erza! Hannah said and held out something in her hand. It was a query branch with buds on it. I really wanted to send you a branch that had already flowered, but even the most popular query hasn''t flowered yet. Nevertheless, the light-red buds were swelling up as if they were about to burst into bloom. "Thank you, Hannah. Query is my favorite flower. "Thank you, Hannah. Even in bud, they are very beautiful. Jin and Erza thanked Hanna and took the branch. Erza immediately tries to put the branch in a vase, but realizes that she doesn''t have a vase. But this is Jin''s workshop. He has plenty of materials. She takes a silver ingot in her hand, "<>". and creates a vase with engineering magic. Hannah watches with a smile. The group decides to have tea at 3 o''clock, even though it is a little early. The place is the dining room of Martha''s house. "Here it is," she said. "It smells so good!" Hannah is so happy. They are her favorite pancakes. They are covered with a generous amount of willey''s jam. Hitomi drizzled maple syrup on hers. Elsa does the same. And Martha and Meine put some brulee jam on top. "Delicious!" The pancakes, made with a small amount of baking soda, are now very popular in the Kingdom of Klein, and the baking soda produced in the village of Kaina is also selling well. If too much baking soda is used, it can cause bitterness, so it is difficult to adjust the amount of baking soda, but Meane had already learned how to adjust the amount. "Mother, it''s delicious!" "Yes, it''s delicious. "I''m glad." Not only Hannah, but also Jin and Erza were enjoying the food. Martha didn''t say anything, but she and Meane looked at each other and nodded. It was a heartwarming afternoon. Jin then decided to go to the village chief''s house to hear what had happened while he was gone. Erza stayed behind to have a chat with Meane. "Oh, I''ll go with you then. Hannah said she wanted to stay with Jin as long as possible. Jin smiled and agreed. "You know, while you were gone, another baby was born! "Everyone says it was easy this year because there was little snow. "I saw cress sprouts on the Ermee River the other day!Spring will be here soon! Listening to these stories, Jin and Hannah headed for the village chief''s house. "Oh, Jin, welcome home! "Jin-dono, welcome home!" Giebeck and Sally, now a married couple, greeted us. "Nothing unusual, but on March 1st, Rock and Molly had a baby. It''s a girl and her name is Jenny. "Oh, that''s great news!" There has been a baby boom in Kaina village recently, probably due to the better living conditions. The population has to have at least two children per couple to sustain itself, but that problem has been solved. But the neighboring villages seem to be a little tougher. "The next village is Toka, isn''t it?What''s going on? Licia is the lord of this village. Jin was a little concerned, since he was no stranger to the village. "No, I heard that some of the young men left the village for the capital. "Oh, I see." Jin wondered if it was the same now as in the past, on Earth or here in Ars, for young people to yearn for the city, and then he noticed that he smelled awfully old and smiled. Hannah seemed to have seen the change in Jin''s expression. "You have an interesting face, Onii-chan," Hannah said with a laugh. Hannah said with a smile, and Jin noticed it too. He patted Hannah''s head as if to deceive her. That night, too, they were treated to dinner at Martha''s house. Sarah, the golem maid, assisted her, and the food was skillfully laid out on the table. Sarah has been working in the community field instead of Martha, who has recently been suffering from a slight back injury. "Why didn''t you just tell me ......?" Elsa says anxiously. "That''s okay, I''m almost better now and I was planning to start working in the fields again tomorrow. Martha laughs, but Elsa does not listen. "Then let me take a look at you. "Oh, really?I''m sorry. Since it is before dinner, the patient is asked to lie down on the bed and is examined. "<>" Elsa examines the patient, focusing on the lower back. "......The spine is a little deformed. <><>" Elsa is on the verge of osteoporosis and has a slight compression fracture in her spine, so we are trying to heal the fracture and improve her calcium metabolism. Sally is of course a skilled healer, but Elsa''s medical knowledge, if not her experience, is better. (I wish Dr. Saly would join our family, too. ......) (I wish Dr. Saly would be a family member. ) Jin was thinking about this as he watched Elsa treating Martha. (I wish Dr. Saly would be a family member. .......) Jin was thinking about this as he watched Erza treating Martha. (I''ll discuss this with Elsa, Reiko and the old man.) I decided to leave it aside for the time being. "Oh, thank you, Elsa. I feel much better. After the treatment, Martha got up with a smile on her face. "Thank you, Elsa, for fixing my grandmother! "You''re welcome." Hannah thanked her as well, and Elsa replied with a slight smile. Then it was time for dinner. "So ......, the wheat crop looks good this year," she said. "We''ve expanded the field a bit. We''re all excited to start growing rice and buckwheat this year. "You know, Mr. Locke and the others were talking about expanding the bokujo! Jin was a little amused, but happy to hear these various stories. This village of Kaina is Jin''s second home. It is his village. 830 - - 24-16 Hannah and Fishing Jin was on the second floor of his house, leaning against the window and watching the moon. Reiko is with him. Elsa is not here with her mother, Meene, for the first time in a while. It was past 9:00 p.m. and Hannah was already asleep. Reiko, whom he had not given much attention recently, was on his lap, and Jin lightly stroked her head, muttering to himself. "That moon is strange, isn''t it?" "Father, what do you mean?" "The fact that the moon never waxes and wanes while it is full means that the orbital period of the moon around this ars coincides exactly with the orbital period of this ars around Celan." "Huh." Reiko, who only knows about the moon in this world, may have some knowledge of the moon, but she doesn''t really feel it. Jin was not familiar with astronomy, but he had heard that there was a Lagrangian point between the earth and the sun, and that celestial bodies at that position were stable. Jin digs up his memory, thinking that there must have been a famous robot animation in which a space colony was set up at such a point. In fact, there is a Lagrangian point called L2 on the extension of Sun-Earth, and if the moon were located at the exact position, there would be a universal total lunar eclipse, which means that the moon would be in the shadow of the earth, and no sunlight would shine on it. However, the moon Uni of Ars in the Celan solar system is a full moon. This means that it deviates slightly from L2, but Jin did not know that much about it. "I heard that a planet called something is going to pass very close to us in six months. In a little while, we may need to try to build a spaceship. "Are you going to space?" "Yes. I have always wanted to go to space. There is hardly a boy born and raised in modern Japan who has not longed to go to space. But you have to get your feet on the ground first. The mysteries of the underground and the case of Prince Oranjee are still unstable. "But I don''t think we have to make up our minds, do we? Reiko advises Jin. "Sometimes your father seems to be too disciplined, trying to keep order. "Is that so?" "Yes. Yes. Like, let''s finish that one before we start this one. Jin nods his head. "Is that so?I think there are some things we''ve stopped working on. Like the synthesis of substances. ......" "The old man is taking over, isn''t he? So it hasn''t stopped." "Is that what it is?" Reiko encourages Jin. "That''s right. If you have so many things to do, all you have to do is to make the arrangements. That''s why we are here. Jin gently patted Reiko on the head. "Thank you, Reiko." "No, you''re welcome." Then Reiko abruptly changes the subject. "So, father. What''s it like to be on a spaceship? "What?" I''d like to hear about your father''s idea of a spaceship. This question came from Reiko, who knew well that Jin was fond of this kind of topic. "Well, I guess so. I guess it would be basically spherical since it would be powered by a force field generator. Yes, and? "The control room will be in the center, and there will be a device to generate 1G, water recycling, ......." Reiko is taking me for a ride, and I''m coming up with more and more ideas. "The on-board machine should be something like Pegasus 1. Yeah, it would be nice if it came in various sizes. Seeing his happy face, Reiko reminded Jin that the best thing for him is to make what he likes as he likes. And the old man memorized all Jin''s ideas that night. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, Jin was playing with Hannah in the morning. The next day, Jin played with Hannah in the morning, partly to apologize to her for his recent injustice. "Come here, honey!" Hannah and Jin are on the and respectively, heading west along the Herme River. Reiko, using for the first time in a long time, was accompanying them stealthily. It took an hour for the golem horse to move slowly. "Look, here we are!" "Hmm, it''s a beautiful place, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is!" Hannah led us to a place where the other side of the river is sheer. The layered cliffs, which must have been deeply eroded by the Ermee River, are magnificent. Although Jin''s knowledge of geology is limited to what he learned in high school, he still has an idea that the strata here are very valuable. On the side where Jin and the others are, there are layered rocks, so-called "iwadatami" (rock pavement). It reminded Jin of Nagatoro, where he had once gone on an excursion. "This is a place where big kids often come. My grandmother allowed me to go because I was with my grandma. Indeed, there are some places where it is dangerous to step off. Unlike the area near the village of Kaina, which is basically gravel and sand, this area is rocky. "Well, let''s start fishing, shall we?" "Yes! It is said that there are many river fish in this pool. When the water is getting a little warmer, we can catch Omasou, a fish similar to landlocked salmon. This is a fishing rod made by Jin, who has slightly modified the long pole used in the village of Kaina to make it more resilient and strong. The rod is made of ground spider line with a hook and line, and a hook made of light silver. The bait is a river worm that sticks to the rocks on the bottom of the river when they are turned over. Hannah, who grew up in a village, picked up such insects without a care and put them on the hook. "Well then, you''ll have to watch me, big girl!" Jin has never done this before, so he first asks Hannah to show him how it''s done. "Yes!" The hook was cast from the top of the rock pavement into the center of the deep pool. There was no float attached. It was similar to what is known as "myak fishing. "It''s hooked! Hannah set up her rod. "It''s a little small, but it''s delicious when cooked. The fish is put into a basket that has been prepared. "Come on, you try it too," he said. "Here it is." Jin also took control of his rod and cast the hook into a good spot. "Hmm?" He felt a thump in his rod hand, so he set up his rod ....... It seemed to be a big one, and the rod bent like a full moon. The rod bent like a full moon. "Oniichan, it''s a big one!" Jin pulled up the rod with all his might, knowing that the hook and rod he had made would not break or snap so easily. "Wow!" A big fish of at least 50 centimeters had come up. Hannah pulled out a hand net and scooped it up. "Wow, girl!This will be delicious grilled!" Jin looked at the fish, which had bright oval-shaped spots on its sides, and thought it looked like a landlocked salmon. The landlocked salmon is closely related to a freshwater fish called a trotter, which is similar to the loach. The difference between the two is that the trotter lives in lakes and other bodies of water, while the omassou lives in cold water streams. We decided to call it a day after Jin and Hanna had caught 15 and 17 omasu, respectively. We decided not to be greedy any more. We decided not to be greedy any more. Maybe smoked?" Jin was thinking about how to cook it as he rocked on the back of his coma. "How do you do a meuniere...... I think it''s seasoned, buttered and baked?" Jin tries desperately to remember. He tries hard to remember, because he has never made this dish very often. "Oh yes, I remember to season it with salt and pepper, then dust it with flour before browning it in butter on both sides. Then sprinkle with lemon juice. Jin seemed to have managed to remember and thought he would try it tonight. Ramon instead of lemon should be available at Nido Castle, and if Martha''s house did not have pepper, he could get some at Eric''s store. That night, Hannah, Martha, Mine, and Elsa all enjoyed the meuniere that Jin had worked so hard on. 831 - - 24-17 Underground Facilities On the same day when Hanna and Jin were enjoying fishing, there was a little movement. It was at the El Lado Mine, which the old man had been carefully investigating. The shallow part of the El Lado Mine is an ordinary mine, where iron, copper, tin, zinc, lead, and a small amount of adamantite are extracted. Gemstones, magic stones, and magi crystals were produced from deeper parts of the mine. The mine was called Elrado Mine because of the occasional occurrence of elradorite from the deeper parts of the mine. The old man continued boring slowly with his <, gathering information on the geological formation. Pegmatite, also called megacrystalline granite, is formed when magma cools and hardens slowly deep underground. Various minerals crystallize due to differences in melting (freezing) points. The Inado Mine and the Horai Island underground belong to the pegmatite deposit. The El-Lad mine here was a different type of <>. Simply put, it is a deposit where deep metallic elements in rocks are concentrated due to chemical reactions between deep metamorphic rocks such as granite, which have risen from underground, and rocks such as limestone and marble. < was put into the El-Lad mine on March 4. It was discovered that the mysterious warp gate under Dali''s palace was connected to the underground here. The shallow part was a known mine, and after obtaining the aforementioned geological information, the <> went deeper into the ground. <<1000 meters from the surface, the temperature is not as high as expected. The original altitude of the site was high enough to be a plus in terms of elevation, but still, the old man wondered about the slow rise in the ground temperature. The three "mini-moles", each measuring 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm in length, are digging at a rate of 60 The three machines were digging 60 meters a day. In the early morning of March 6, <> discovered an underground cavity. This is the super-small golem, named <>, that is on board for such an occasion. Command 3, the third of the three, emerged from the mini-mole to investigate. < has the same capabilities as the Shinobi Unit, it is able to gather information without being detected, even if humans are present. After spending an hour or so investigating the cavity, Command 3 reported that it looked like a . This information was immediately conveyed to Jin on the morning of the same day. Since the < was just a hollow, the went further underground. Then, on the morning of March 9. <> The old man thought for a long time, which is unusual for him. It was only for a few seconds, though. <1,2,3 on board, in case of emergency, use the transporter to abandon the mini-mole and escape. The mini-mole will destroy itself. and gave the order to give the highest priority to the investigation. As instructed, the mini-mole slowed down to one-twentieth its speed and dug its way through. On the way, he sent various data to the old man. One of them was surprising. The concentration of free ether has increased 1.5 times compared to that on the ground. It is not as high as that of the demon territory, but it is close to the concentration of free magical element (ether) around the Pazdekst isthmus. And the mini-mole continues to dig further underground. It was about to reach a depth of 3,000 meters below the ground. Mini Mole 2 detects a space a few centimeters ahead by <>. At the same time, he reports this to the old man and asks for instructions. The old man thought, "It seems to be the core of the mystery at last. The reaction of the < he had secretly sent out from the warp gate in Dali, the city of the Kingdom of Celuloa, was also in the vicinity. The old man regretted that he could not go there, but he gave the following instructions. . After another 3 cm, he came across a metal wall, not a rock. The mystery deepened. To solve this mystery, we must go to the other side of the metal wall. If this is the case, the old man thought, the mini-mole should have been equipped with an invisible transporter. Since it has a built-in transporter, it is possible to return to Horai Island via <>, but it would take some time to return to the same place again. It is also impossible to send it back by a transporter. Even the control by the old man is not accurate to the millimeter, so it was impossible to send them back to the same place within an inch of their lives. The best thing about digging is that no rock debris falls into the hole, since it is being dug using the transfer method. However, if a hole is left, the intruder will be aware of the intrusion, so the metal part was modified into a lid shape and reinserted. The <>Golem, which was designed to repair and maintain the mini-mole, can use that level of engineering magic. Finally, Mini Mole 2 moves into the cavity beyond the metal wall. At the same time, it uses its force field generator to prevent it from falling. The hole was immediately covered. The mini-mole was also equipped with a magic eye, which allowed the "Mere Old Man" to see images of the inside of the cavity. It was a beautifully furnished room. It feels like deja vu. It looks a lot like <<<< the ship soaring in the sky>>. This is the base of the <>, which the old man''s mobile terminal << Laozi>> infiltrated in the former territory of the demon tribe. The old man was sure of it as he was watching the images sent from the magic eye of the mini-mole. There was no one in sight. There were few furnishings, and it looked like an empty room. But the atmosphere was unmistakable. < You decide that there must be at least some connection between the two. < < is related to , its technological power may surpass that of Horai Island. The old man ordered an immediate retreat. However, he decided to set up a marker so that we can visit there later. As instructed, Command 2, who was on board, got off from Mini Mole 2, found a small gap in a part of the metal floor, and set up a small marker. He then hurried back to the Mini-Mole 2. He returned to Mini Mole 2 as quickly as he could, because he heard footsteps. Just before Command 2 disappeared by the emergency transporter on Mini Mole 2, a figure appeared in the room. The figure was captured for a few tenths of a second, but it was enough for the "Mere Old Man" to see it. <, Mini Mole 2 then returned to Horai Island via the warp gate. . The old man was thinking about the figure he had seen. <> 700672 is a follower created by the who migrated to this Ars from the planet Hale in a . He is a follower of the . Their true identity is that of homunculus. Synthesized organic bodies and artificial creatures that have been given pseudo-life. Although their knowledge is a step short of that of the , it is far superior to that of the human beings living in this world. To put it bluntly, they were considered to be more than human. > I have no basic information to make a judgment on this matter. So, the "Mere Old Man" decided to approach again from another angle. Using the marker, he sends in a <> unit. The reason why it is not a <> is due to the sorting out of their aptitudes. The <> excels technically, and the <> excels in covert action. So, the old man finally decided to report to Jin and ask for his judgment and technical support. He said, "Well, I''m not sure. "I see...I see." The same night, after Hannah went to sleep, Jin returned to Horai Island. Erza is also in the village of Kaina. Reiko is the only one with him now. "I wonder if she knows about the underground facility or .......700672?" Jin thinks that he can ask her later. But for now, the old man has a request. "Hmmm, I wonder if that size will extend the distance it can travel. The 5cm-tall miniature size has its limitations. > The old man showed Jin a piece of eladrite. He found it in the process of digging, and the largest piece was less than 4mm. But it was enough for the <> to use. When amplified by eladolite, the standard size is 20 times larger, and the maximum is approximately 30 times larger. With two of them, it would be possible to easily transfer 30 meters. Thus, the two , Shinobi 1 and 2, equipped with El Rado lights, were sent to the underground facility by a transporter. 832 - - 24-18 A tough opponent Late at night on the 9th, the old man sent Shinobi I and Shinobi II out on a transporter. Neither the golem nor the old man knows the difference between day and night. The same may or may not be true of the place where they are to sneak in. After all, it is deep in the earth where there is no sun. >, and it is reasonable to set it to the day of the planet. The time is the 10th day after the date on Horai Island. The time is around 11:00 p.m. on the 9th at the Eldorado Mine. The two sent in immediately deployed and disappeared. Naturally, they left the room where command 2 had placed the marker. The old man was right in judging that the room was vacant. As soon as the Lao you had received the visual information from Shinobu 1, your vision went completely black. > The Master asked Shinobu Nii, who had been watching the surroundings, to check on Shinobu I. Then, he found that Shinobu I was in the room. Then, he saw a hemispherical metal structure about one meter in diameter lying on the ground where Shinobu I was supposed to be. Shinobuichi immediately moved to the ceiling, hid himself in a corner, and looked around. The metallic structure seems to be made of mithril silver or some similar material, and Shinobu I seems to stay still without exerting himself. Even if they saw you, it was only for a few tenths of a second, but you were able to find out what happened in such a short time and prepared this trap. >. The old man thought that he should try to find out who his opponent was. So, he instructed Shinobi 1 to remain still. At the same time, he ordered Shinobu II to continue to observe as much as possible. When he looked closely at the person who was covered with the metal hemisphere, he found that it was a golem-like humanoid being with a metal outer covering. If it is a golem, it has a very fast reaction time and has eyes to see outside of the visible light range, which is equivalent to that of Jin''s golem. However, since it does not seem to have noticed Shinobu Nii stuck to the ceiling, it does not seem to have any detection method other than visual detection. When Shinobu-2 looked at him and wondered how he was going to take Shinobu-1 out of the bowl, he seemed to have used engineering magic <>, and the hemisphere turned into a sphere while keeping Shinobu-1 trapped inside. < The old man was impressed by the other party''s method, saying that it could be applied to the security in Horai Island. At the same time, he renewed his awareness that this is an enemy that cannot be taken off guard. Then, he checked his remarks. (<>) There is no particular way to deal with such a person, and I have no experience. The only way is to work it out theoretically. (< The existence of the < is already known. So, he concluded that he should try not to give any more information to his opponent, and at the same time, he should try to get some information from his opponent. Meanwhile, the spherical metal trap was carried by the mysterious golem. Shinobu Nii was following the trap from a distance of about 10 meters. The golem entered the room at the end of the corridor, opening the door. The door closes, and Shinobu-2 can no longer see inside. < The old man gave these instructions. Obediently, Shinobu-2 decided to take the branch that was in the middle of the passage. He walked along the edge of the floor as inconspicuously as possible. Of course, he did so in an state. Shinobu-2 continued to walk down the passage. The room at the end of the corridor was called the "room at the end of the corridor". Meanwhile, Shinobu Ichi was brought into the room at the end of the corridor, and felt the metal covering his surroundings suddenly disappear. No, it did not disappear exactly, but the sphere became flat due to <>. Shinobu Ichi did not move, but watched for an opportunity. His body suddenly became heavy. It must be gravity magic, because his weight increased 100 times and he could not move. "Hmmm, is there an engineer who can make such a precise golem? Someone looked at Shinobu Ichi and murmured. The figure captured from the edge of a wide field of view has a look similar to that of No. 700672. But... (Automata (automata) ......?) It was not biological, but inanimate, and it was obvious at a glance that it was an automaton. "Can you talk? But Shinobu I did not understand the intention of the question, so he decided to keep silent. "Hmmm, are you being cautious?Well, that''s all right then. I will dismantle you and extract information from your control core. If that happens, information about Jin and Horai Island will be revealed. Without hesitation, Shinobu I used the transfer device. No matter how many G''s were applied, the transporter was unaffected. Right in front of the eyes of the mysterious automata, Shinobu I disappeared. "Disappeared?You mean to say it has a transporter? ....... The only person who has that kind of technology would be Jin Nido, who is called <>." The mysterious automaton concluded. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Shinobi 2 heard from the old man that Ichi had escaped. > The old man reminded him to activate the other defense function, <>. Shinobu Nii went down the passageway with great caution. Since he was only five centimeters tall, the speed of his progress would be negligible if he proceeded slowly. At any rate, since the visual information was transmitted to the old man without any problem, it was certain that the structure of the corridor and the room was the same as that of No. 700672. The room and the corridor are the same technical system as No. 700672. < The old man, who is the brain of Horai Island, guesses several reasons. 1. 1. It is an automaton that only looks like an automaton. 2. They are remotely controlled automata like Lao Tzu and Machina. 3. the creator preferred automata to artificial creatures. 4. for some reason, the original body could not be maintained, and the consciousness was transferred to the automaton. So far, the "Mere Old Man" has only the above four hypotheses. ( Since there is no reason to be hostile to Jin or Horai Island, we can conclude that the situation is not urgent at this moment. ( At that time, Shinobu-2 sent me an unexpected image. A nearby door happened to open and we were able to look into the room. Just one golem came out. (>) Inside the room, we could see a few that looked like Alshell. > The old man gave a spur-of-the-moment order. Shinobu-2 did as he was told, using the <>, and literally jumped into the room. () What the old man saw through Shinobu-2''s eyes was a homunculus factory. A transparent container was filled with a pale blue liquid, and something humanoid was floating in it. Some of them looked exactly like Archel, and you judged that all of them were homunculi made in Archel''s image. (<>) Lao-kun, the magic brain of Horai Island, once again made a plan to gather information. 833 - - 24-19 Artificial human construction < The destination of the transfer was the surface of the earth. There, the was waiting for them, and together with Shinobiichi, who had escaped earlier, the two returned to Horai Island. "Hmm, so that''s what happened last night." First thing in the morning of the 10th, the old man reported to Jin. The most interesting thing was the homunculus, which was supposed to be modeled after . "It is possible that Alshell himself is in that underground facility. "And the automata that resembles No. 700672 or ...... " "Anyway, you are saying that there was an facility underground in the El Llad mine as well." < This is a great discovery. At the same time, there are many things that cannot be determined by Jin alone. So Jin decides to go and talk to the 700672. "What about Elsa?" asked Erza, who was listening to the report silently with Jin, "Go with my brother Jin alone this time. I''ll stay with Hannah. She replied, "I will stay with Hannah this time. Jin gratefully accepted the offer. "Well then, I''ll be counting on you." "Well, take care of yourself. So Jin took Reiko with him and they moved to the bottom of No. 700672. "Oh, Jin-dono, you have come well. No. 700672 greeted Jin in the same manner as usual. Jin also handed over the customary souvenir, a bottle of Persica juice specially made in Horai Island. I''m always sorry," he said. So, what do you want to ask me today? "Yes, actually, ......." Without any unnecessary conversation, Jin gave us all the information about the facility that had been discovered this time. Reiko filled in the missing information. "Hmm, there are facilities left behind by their masters in such places, huh?" After listening to the story, No. 700672 closed his eyes with deep emotion and thought for a while, then opened his mouth. "Let me tell you in order. First of all, there seems to be no doubt that the facility was built by the same people who built my master''s house. After listening to the internal description, he immediately understood. "Second, the automata that look like me, I think one of your guesses is correct. For some reason, he says, he was unable to maintain his original body and transferred his consciousness to the automaton. "I have thought about it from his point of view. I, too, was on the verge of collapse and could no longer sustain my body until I met Jin-dono. It is not surprising, then, that I would consider abandoning this pseudo-living body and transferring my consciousness to an automata, which is a complete work of art. If it is an automata''s body, it can continue to exist semi-permanently as long as there is someone to maintain it. He said that because he is a homunculus, No. 700672, he can understand the thoughts of this unknown homunculus. I can understand the thoughts of this unknown homunculus. "However, I am not ready to throw away this body given to me by my master. I guess that is a matter of individual differences. "I see, I see." Jin nodded. One of the old man''s hypotheses was confirmed. "And you say that a homunculus was made in the shape of Archel, right? "Yes." "One possibility is that the follower was considering transferring his consciousness to that body rather than to an automata." "...... e......?" Archelle is a young girl. She looks about 8 years old, younger than Hannah. Jin could not imagine transferring his consciousness to such a body. When he said this to No. 700672, he laughed. "Ha, you feel that way, Jin-dono. But I and my friends do not have gender in the true sense of the word. Therefore, I have no resistance to transferring my consciousness into the body of Alchel ...... Rouge." "I see. ......" This was something that Jin could never understand. "The purpose of our existence is to be useful to our masters. When that master is gone, our second raison d''etre is to protect the proof of our master''s existence. There are those who will do whatever it takes to achieve this," concluded the 700672. "I think a little differently on this point. They may be older followers than I am. "Well, is there any advantage to being in Archelle''s form?" As far as the story of No. 700672 is concerned, if you are going to create a homunculus to transfer consciousness, you might as well make it look like you, right? Jin thought to himself. "Hmmm, I see. That''s a question because you don''t know how to make a follower. No. 700672 nodded his head and began to explain again. "When creating a homunculus, there are two things that are always necessary. One is a spirit catalyst," he said, holding up one finger. "And the other is a ...... well, let''s call it a <>. In short, it is the genetic information of the model. A homunculus is a living being, albeit a pseudo-artificial one. That is why recovery and healing magic is effective. "I''m sure there are still some things you don''t fully understand, Jin-dono, and since you don''t seem to be interested in artificial life above all, I won''t explain it to you, but the body will have the same composition as a human being." "Haa......" Listening to the story, Jin was reminded of the cloning technology. In short, a body is created by cloning, and a soul is put into the body using a psychic catalyst. "In that case, the higher the performance of the original body, the higher the physical ability of the resulting homunculus. It was an understandable enough story. "So, perhaps there was no more genetic information left at the facility where the follower was located to create a follower. In fact, there are none left here either." "Which means that ......" "Hmmm. The descendants of the ......<> are generally physically strong. They have strong bodies. I think that''s why they chose Archel as their model. This explains most of the questions. "And you said, by your guess, that there were a lot of demons in the basement there?" "Uh, yes." "...... I think the demons may have been farmed to collect psychic catalysts." "Ah." Jin noticed. The spiritual catalyst that was once found in the underground of the Inado Mine. And the large number of gigantopods that came out of the Inado Mine. Gigantopods are too many to handle, but the Gigantor Avrum were in that underground. If it was a giganto-avulum, Arshel should have been able to tame ...... it. "So Archelle and her followers are ...... "Yes, it''s likely that they are working together." "......" Jin was troubled. Archel had seemed to be insane when he had encountered Gloria, and he had wanted Gigantor Avrum to attack humans. What about now? "......Maybe we should tell Belialus about this." After much thought, he came to the conclusion that it would be better to tell his brother, Belialus, who was looking for Archelle with concern, and to consider visiting the facility with him. "Hmmm, that might be a good idea. When I mentioned this to No. 700672, he agreed with me. "But if that is the facility that my master used, I don''t think we can go there easily. I don''t mean to be hostile, but I don''t think his followers will open their hearts easily either. So, what should we do? ...... Don''t panic. I can think of several ways. Suppressing the urge to press him, Jin waited for 700672''s next words. "You can take this with you." The 700672 searched the shelves and handed Jin a crystal cube. The cube glowed green in the light of the room. "...... this is ......." "Yeah?Have you ever seen <>?" "<>, is it?Not elradorite? Is that what you call it? Hmm, it''s named because it comes from the area near the El Lado mine you mentioned. Do you know the properties of this stone at ......?" He looks at Jin with a testing look. Jin had something to say about the naming of elradorite, but he prioritizes answering the question. "Yes. The amplification effect of magic, right?" Elradorite-mithianite can be likened to a capacitor in terms of electricity. By storing a large amount of magic power (mana) and releasing it all at once, it is possible to generate magic that exceeds the ability of the magician. No. 700672 nodded and laughed. "You are only half right." 834 - - 24-20 Authentication "Is it half ......?" "That''s right. Amplifying magic is only a side effect. Its true use is for ." "Compression?" Yes. Compared to ordinary magecrystals, the compression ratio is more than 100 times higher. Jin thought about it. It is thought that eladolite works by taking in the magic element (mana) of the magician, storing it once, and then converting it into magic. The process of storing mana is instantaneous, and no time lag is felt. This can also happen with free magic element (ether), and it can be compressed more and more without releasing it. ....... "Matter creation?" Yes. I''m amazed you came to that conclusion. Yes, with this mithianite, there is a possibility to create new elements. I heard my husband was thinking of ......." "Apparently?" "Unfortunately, he did not succeed." Not even the , with its superior knowledge and technology, was able to do it. "What happens when you pour in more and more free magical elements (ether) and compress them inside? The result is ...... collapse. The mithianite would shatter." "I see. ......" Jin looks disappointed. Jin had also managed to synthesize elements as light as hydrogen and helium from free magic element (ether), but had not succeeded yet with heavier elements. "Well, wait! The story is not over yet. ...... In the process, we noticed its ability to store <>, and that''s how we came up with the idea of using it for authentication." "What?" The other day, when we analyzed the of the Kingdom of Celuloa, we determined that it had such a function, but we had not reached a final conclusion in our investigation that day. In other words, he could not explain how a specific person could activate the target magical tool or machine by using the key seal. Jin then left the analysis and left the Kingdom of Celuloa, so he did not know what happened after that, but it seemed that the analysis was probably not finished. "Is it a certification ......?" I was about to say, "What does this have to do with being able to store magic power such as mana? "...... This is an authentication device in itself rather than being a < for authentication, isn''t it?" No.700672 broke into a smile upon hearing this. "That''s right. That''s what I''m talking about. Your insight to arrive at the correct answer with just a few hints. Can you explain to me how it works?" "Yes. We record the necessary information in this Mithianite. Then we compare that information with the input from the outside, and when the conditions are met, the function as a key is triggered. Yeah, that''s pretty much it. "I knew it." Jin then realized that the of the Kingdom of Celuloa also chooses its own owner. Even if Oranje had tried to use it, it would have been useless. "The magic that a mage possesses has a certain characteristic. As far as we know, it has three characteristic peaks. ......" No. 700672 explains. As with fingerprints and voice prints, they are features that are expressed in the same bloodline. Jin wondered if the giant golem, an ancient relic (artifact) of the Shoro Kingdom, might also detect such waveforms. (......What about my way?) Jin''s method is literally to the waveforms, and if more than 90% of the waveforms match, he gives the OK. In effect, the waveforms of any other than Jin''s are rejected. (Of course, there is no merit in making it a short form. ......) Jin and his golem and automata have exactly the same waveforms as those of Jin. Also, since the number of Jin''s friends, the <>, is limited, there seemed to be no particular problem with the current method. And one more thing. Since Jin does not own any Eladolite (except for the ones he got from the Unifilers), it is the Magi Crystals that write the waveforms. This one requires <, and can only be made by engineering magic. On the other hand, in the case of Mithianite, the advantage is that it can be used simply by channeling magic power. (I see, in the case of a key seal, it is possible to overwrite it again if the owner changes. The explanation of No. 700672 solved all the questions about the key seals of the Kingdom of Celuloa. And the words of No. 700672 continued. "...... That is to say, this crystal cube is the proof of who my master is." "You mean..." "That''s right. It proves my connection to the same masters, those who serve the . He was sure that they would not take hostile action if he brought this with him, which was the thoughtfulness of 700672. "Thank you very much. I will borrow it." Jin thanked and received the crystal cube. He looked at it carefully. "But it''s a mysterious stone, isn''t it? "Mm. This mineral is not originally from Ars. It is what is called a meteorite. "A meteorite ......?" He told me a surprising fact. "It is said to have fallen in prehistoric times. That''s why its origin is limited." "Haha ......" Jin thought, "Then, it is no wonder that the place of origin is so limited. * * * * After returning to Horaijima, Jin decided to think about his next plan. It was noon. Erza had come back and prepared for lunch. Today''s lunch was zaru soba. Seaweed cultivated in Tatsumi Bay is served with a newly cultivated spicy daikon radish. This is a natural product, as cultivated ones are not available yet. "Yes, it''s boiled just right." Jin praised Erza''s cooking while slurping the soba. "Hmm, I finally know how to get it just right. It''s hard to know how to boil soba. If you''re not careful, it can become squishy very quickly. At a certain soba restaurant, they say <>. The reason, he says, is that <>. A quick word of caution. After the soba-yu (buckwheat noodle soup), Jin and Erza enjoyed the after-meal buckwheat tea. Erza talked about the smoked river fish she had made with Hannah, and Jin told her about the Elad Light that he had heard about from No. 700672. "...... Well, that sounds like fun." "Yeah, it was fun. I''m sure you''ve heard a lot of good things too. And then, naturally, the conversation shifted to the next topic. "I thought it would be a good idea to take Belial with us. "Yes, I think so. Even if we can manage with the crystal cube that we got from the follower, I think it will be difficult to persuade Archelle to go. I know. "So, I agree that we should take Mr. Bellius with us." Elsa and I agreed that we should take Belialus, a member of the puppet clan, with us. "But, Jin, you can''t go." "Hey." "...... dangerous. No." The old man is right. I don''t think your father should go this time. "Just like when we went to the demon territory." I''m telling you to use Jin''s double. "......" I understand. The old man, Reiko, and Erza convinced Jin to give in. he said. The old man began to explain the current situation of Fort Crau, where Lefort de Orange had escaped. 835 - - 24-21 Silent Story 47 The Magic Fortress On April 23, 3457, the Unification Party (Unifiler), which had planned to unify the continent inhabited by humans, was destroyed by the Horai Island forces led by Jin The Unification Party (Unifiler) was destroyed by the Horai Island forces led by Jin. The Unification Party was led by a mad automata, <> Elena, but by lifting her brainwashing magic <><>, most of the party members came to their senses and joined the newly born <> and contributed to the stabilization of the situation on the continent. However, there were some who did not like it. Originally, there are few people in the Unification Party (Unifiler) who are obsessed with self-interests, and even if there were, they would never make it to the top. But those with magical-technical skills were the exception. Most of them were what one might call "technical idiots" who did not care who their patrons were as long as they could do the research they liked. Most of them were attached to the Unification Party (Unifiler) without brainwashing because of their ability, and those who were attached to the Unification Party were the ones who escaped as soon as possible. "Well, the Unification Party (Unifiler) didn''t make the best use of my ability, did they? Dajur Harvey, the deputy director of the Unifiler''s technical department, was running along the road at night, muttering to himself. But it is his golem that is running, and Dajour himself is being carried on his back. "......But don''t rock the boat. ......It''s starting to make me sick. ......" The golem runs at full speed at about 30 kilometers per hour. The ups and downs are also quite violent, and Dajjur, who is being carried on his back, feels sick, but he cannot stop the Golem, so he keeps on running. It was about 80 kilometers from the area near Kasimunore in the Kingdom of Selroa, where the headquarters of the Unifiler was located, to Genf in the Kingdom of Franz. On the way, we crossed the border on a roadless road. The golem''s speed was slowed down so that the bad mood was somehow relieved, but now the hunger came. "I''m hungry......I''m thirsty......" After almost a whole day of not eating or drinking, Dajour was close to his limit. It was almost dawn when he approached Te To, with the town of Iyar on the side. Dajjur felt faint there. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... uu......" Dajour Harvey regained consciousness again on a comfortable bunk. A pitcher of water and a glass lay by his bedside, and Dajur absentmindedly picked up the pitcher, sipped directly from it, and drank the contents. "...... wind." His unbearable thirst was quenched and he had time to look around. "Where am I?" He was in a small but clean room. There was no sign of life, so I assumed that the room was usually unused. At that moment, the door opened and two men appeared. "Oh, you noticed," they said. "You are ......." One of the men appeared to be in his late 40s, rather small, with a thick build that seemed to be wider than it was. Dull blond hair, blue-gray eyes. The other man seems to be a guard. "...... Lord Orange, I think." Dajour, who was one of the leaders, recognized Lord Orange, one of the Unifiler''s supporters. "You''re Dajour Harvey or something like that, aren''t you?" Dajour nodded. "I heard that the ...... Unification Party (Unifiler) was defeated. You don''t know who they are?" "......Yes. Except that it seems to be a deus ex machina or something like that." "Hmm, the one who turned the recent conflict upside down." I guess you could say that." At that moment, Dajur''s stomach growled loudly. "Well, you must be hungry. Let me bring you some food. We''ll talk more about it later." * * * * "This is the fort." Three days later, Dajur Harvey was at Fort Crau. After that, he had heard from Lord Oranje about a fort full of artifacts. "You are a supporter of the Unifiler, but you didn''t report it? When Dajour said this, Prince Oranjee snickered. "Yes, I support them. "Yes, I did. But that''s one thing, this is another. This fort is valuable. It would be a shame to give it to someone else. True to his words, Fort Crau was a wonderful place, even from Dajour''s point of view. Above all, the blue-haired automaton was still there. "If Elena saw it, she''d probably tell you to destroy it. Dajjur chuckled and set about repairing the blue-haired automaton. "...... d*mn, there are things even a genius like me can''t understand!" Dajjur was thinking to himself. The blue-haired automaton he was repairing, some of its contents he could neither understand nor analyze. "I guess we''ll just have to leave it as it is..." It was the Magi Device, which Jin called an <<>. The elaborate structure of the device was beyond the comprehension of Dajour, a <>. So Dajur had no choice but to work on the outer parts, namely the drive and control systems. A repaired automaton greets Dajour in faltering speech. Dajour''s technology could only repair the automaton to this extent. "Get on with it, you fool!" . The automata, which called itself Rolle, was set to recognize the person in front of it as its master when it was activated. Therefore, Dajur became Lol''s master without any difficulty. . Rolle''s knowledge was not much, but it was of great use. It was that he knew of the existence of an automata that assisted the commander of Fort Crow. The automaton was called . "Make this one speak properly as a top priority," he said. "I don''t need to be told." Lord Orange and D''Azur''s intentions were the same. With Refa, the assistant automaton, it would be much easier to restore the functions of Fort Crau. Dajour, in cooperation with Bokker Ove, the engineer who is the patron of the Prince d''Oranje, repairs Refa. Repaired so that it can talk for the time being, Refa is a treasure trove of information. If he could reactivate his <, all the functions of the Magi Fortress would be restored. That there is a basement where various artifacts of the artifact class magic tools lie. And the knowledge of the culture and civilization of the past, that is to say, before the Great Magic War. Prince Oranje ordered Dajjour and the other mages to restore the <> to life. At the same time, he ordered them to search the basement. He would not give the precious knowledge of the past to anyone else, but would keep it to himself alone. In addition to Dajour, other engineers who had escaped from the Unified Party (Unifiler) came to Fort Croix. This was a comfortable place for the engineers as well as the Unified Party (Unifiler) because they could hide themselves and have access to the super-technologies of the past. As usual, the structure and manufacturing process of <> and <> could not be understood. * * * * * * A little time passed. Lord Oranje became a traitor and fled to Fort Crow. The fort had enough food, water, and medicine for a year, so he was not in trouble, but he was a rat in the sack. "What, I will only have to defeat the rebels (partisans) and make myself king. The former Duke of Orange had a high opinion of the potential of Fort Crau. One day, precious information came from Leffa''s mouth. A special golem to maintain the Magi Fortress. If we can find it, we can repair the fortress at once. And ....... It was on March 9, 3458 that the golem for repair, which had been stored deep in the basement, was found. This was the moment when the situation was to take a turn. 836 - - 24-22 Second round < Finally, he has reached what he calls the . "This is ...... the last gate! My tension is getting a little weird, probably because I''ve been up all night. But Dajour Harvey continues his work with bloodshot eyes. Another magician, Bocker Ove. The former Duke of Orange''s personal servant, he is working hard on repairing the assistant automata of the Magi Fortress, <>. "Okay. That''s the end of it." Although they did not have the technology to perfectly repair automata from the time of the Great Magic War, Bokker and his subordinates were able to manage to the extent that they were able to perform daily operations. "......But what the heck is going on with this ? ...... I can''t afford to overreach right now." What he called the <> is the <> and the <>. These two are now <>, and their principles and existence have long since been forgotten. They are also impossible to produce without the very delicate and precise technique. And all the engineers at Fort Crow were not good at such <>. Therefore, the <> and <> were treated as black boxes, and were designated as Magi Devices that were not to be touched for the time being. The same is true for Dajur Harvey. In short, <> and <> were still beyond the reach of today''s engineers. Nevertheless, Dajur Harvey and Bokker Ove, these two managed to at least get the <> up and running. "Well, thank you very much. I guess this Fort Clou is finally ready to be taken seriously now! Lefort de Orange smiled when he heard the report. * * * * * * * * * * * * * On the other hand, the partisans who were surrounding the fort from afar, now called the <>...... or the <>, were not just sitting idly by. Not only the southeastern branch of the ex-partisans, but also the main body of the Royal Army, 2000 men, had arrived. Unexpected reinforcements had also arrived. It is called <. After the anti-social organization <> was defeated by Jin, this organization was reorganized with peaceful intentions. A total of 2,500 soldiers surrounded the fortress. "There has been no movement." Chiharad Souto, an engineer from the Nostalgia Party, who had come to support the group, said to me in a low voice. "Yes. But I don''t know how much food they have, but the longer it takes, the worse it will be for them. Regone de Carter, Marshal General of the Royal Army, replied, his blue eyes fixed on the outer walls of the fort in the distance. "However, I am also aware that taking too much time could lead to various problems. The military might of the Kingdom''s army might be underestimated, and therefore, we cannot apologize to the other countries without offering up Oranje, the pirate. "We will have to start fighting soon." Chiharad nailed General Carter''s words. "But we are talking about the Magi Fortress. We must not let our guard down. They, too, had received information about the fortress in the name of Machina. "Hmm, the Magi Fortress, ...... a relic from the time of the Magi Wars, what kind of power does it have? We can''t attack it carelessly unless we know what it is. That is also a good argument. General Carter is a man of common sense. Then came the good news. The arrival of siege weapons. The ballista, the castle hammer, and the cloud ladder. In addition, 20 battle golems. These were provided by the Nostalgia Party. "Well, now we can make a surrender call. When attacking a castle or fortress, there is no way they will listen to your demands to open the castle without sufficient military power behind them. General Carter believed that it was necessary to make the attacker''s strength known in order to convince them that a siege would not do them any good. "First, we will attack from a distance." The ballista was made by the Nostalgia Party. It is partially made of metal and has the shape of a huge bow gun. The length of the bow is about 10 meters. It can shoot rocks and special arrows. The one used by the Unification Party (Unifiler) could fly a rock weighing 200 kilograms, but this one is a semi-fixed type, which means that it can be moved around and is somewhat smaller. A rock weighing 50 kg can fly about 50 meters, and a stone weighing 20 kg can fly 10 A rock weighing 50 kilograms can fly 50 meters, and a stone weighing 20 kilograms can fly 10 meters. The quintessential weapon is an arrowhead with a steel or adamantite arrowhead at its tip. They have a penetrating power that is as strong as that of a castle hammer. First, I decided to fire a 20-kilogram rock ...... about the size of a basketball. Due to its nature, it is impossible to shoot with precision, so we set up an approximate aim and ....... "Target, inside Fort Crowe. Ready ...... fire!" The second offensive battle has begun. * * * * At the same time, the Oranje side was getting ready for battle. We should activate the objective warding. Refa, the assistant automaton, advised. "Okay, I''ll do that." Since the repair golem was found and reactivated the other day, 80 to 90% of the fort''s functions have been restored. It is a pity, Oranje thought, that the number of materials was not 100 percent. Two hours later, the <> began its attack. "Well, a catapult ...... or a ballista. The enemy is not so bad. Oranje was satisfied with the fort''s defensive capabilities when he saw a rock larger than a man''s head fly into the air and hit the <>, shattering it. * * * * * * * * * * * "Rocks shattered in mid-air?An anti-matter ward!" General Carter looked on in astonishment when he saw the rock shatter about 10 meters in front of the fort. But not the nostalgic Chiharad. "All ballistas are now operational!Beginning with the first one, attack in sequence! The five ballistas fired rocks in sequence. The loading time lag is about two minutes. In other words, a rock is fired every 24 seconds. "No matter how powerful the wards are, if they are overloaded, they will collapse! Chiharad is right. The problem, however, is that it is not clear how much of an attack is needed to overload it. The fortress''s wards did not shake even a little as it bounced back a dozen or so rock blasts. "Ummm, but they can''t attack us as long as that barrier is in place. Okay, attack with the hammer!" While the ballista can attack from a long distance, the castle hammer can only be used at close range. Now was the perfect time to use the castle-breaking hammer, as there was no need to worry about being attacked from the fortress side. The castle-breaking hammer prepared by the Nostalgians was a pendulum-shaped hammer that struck the logs. It was similar to the hammer used to strike a fishing bell. The end of the log is covered with iron, and the pendulum is suspended from a turret on wheels. General Carter was impressed by this method, which he had never seen before. "Well, the nostalgics have advanced technology," he said. At the same time, I felt a little threatened, but I reminded myself that now was the time to deal with the bigger threat at hand. Pushing the wheeled turret was another golem. The golem was pushing the castle hammer closer to the outer wall at a speed that was impossible for a human being. However, about three meters before the outer wall, the golem could go no further. It was an objective boundary. "Okay, that''s it!Put a big load on the objective boundary!" Chiharad decides that the first thing to do is to break the warding. First, he fixes the tower to the ground. Stakes are driven into the ground by the golem, and the tower is secured. "Hammer down! The logs are pulled wide and then released. The castle hammer roared and struck the warding, but even so, the warding remained in place. But even so, the ward remained unaffected. "What do you think, Mr. Chiharad? General Carter was troubled by this result. "In this case, let''s have the five ballistas hit it with rocks as well, just as the castle hammer hits it. Deciding that a continuous load would not work, Chiharad chose to increase the power by combining the impacts and applying a load to the wards. "Okay, get ready. ...... ready, five, four, three, two, one, fire!" "...... now, hammer!" Five rocks smashed into the objective boundary in the sky above, and at the same time, the castle hammer was released. The attack on Fort Crow is far from over. 837 - - 24-23 Elza Shocked The enemy is quite good, isn''t he? Refa shouted in admiration. Five rocks and a castle hammer had just exploded almost simultaneously into the <. The impact destabilized the magi-machine that generated the boundary for a moment. Due to the low concentration of free magical element (ether), the desired output has not been obtained. All of the magi machines inside the fortress were made according to the concentration of free magical element (ether) at the time of the Great Magic War. Therefore, their output was unstable at the free-magic element (ether) concentration of the present age. However, at the normal level, the technology was so advanced that it was out of step with the current era, and the fortress was supposed to be impenetrable. It is dangerous if the load exceeds a certain level. So Refa decided to advise Oranje. "Mr. Oranjee, let''s have them attack from our side too. "Yes?I agree with that, but how? Yes, we''ll have the golem throw rocks at them from the fort. But the warding? Yes. The warding will be lifted for a moment, in time with the timing of the projectile. Oranje was satisfied with this explanation. "Hmm, interesting. Go ahead, do it!" I''m on it. I''m on it. Five simultaneous attacks were made by five ballistas and a battering ram. "It''s working. The warding seems to be a little unstable. Chiharad Souto, a technician of the Nostalgia Party, sensed the change in the wards with his keen senses. "Two or three more repetitions will probably break it," he said. "Yes, I hope so." It was then that General Carter replied. "Enemy golem on the fort! A soldier shouted. "What? There were six battle golems lined up on the roof of the fort, holding rocks the size of a man''s head in their hands. "Don''t tell me they''re going to throw those things at us?How can they do that when there are wards ......?" General Carter wondered, but Chiharad quickly realized the enemy golem''s intentions. "Ballista!Breaking hammer!Fall back quickly!" But Ballista was preparing to fire the rock and could not retreat immediately. However, it would still take a little over a minute to fire the rock. Only the hammer started to retreat, but then... The enemy golem threw a rock from the rooftop. "Oh no! Chiharad knew that for that moment, the warding was lifted. If only we had one more ballista ready to fire,...... he bit his navel, but it was too late. The rocks thrown by the enemy golem hit five ballistas. The castle hammer escaped damage. This left one ballista disabled, two moderately damaged, and two slightly damaged. "Leave the broken ballista alone!Lower the four!" General Carter shouted loudly when he saw the enemy golem trying to throw the rock again. And throw again. Two ballista managed to escape in time, but the remaining two were hit again, rendering them unusable. "I didn''t know they could do that! General Carter was frustrated, but there was nothing he could do. "In this case, let''s just attach long-range arrows to the remaining ballistas and have them ready to fire at any time," Chiharad suggested. Chiharad suggested. We set up a distance of 250 meters, which is as close as we can get, and aim at the fort with the ballista with the arrows attached. When the golem of the fort throws stones at the fort, the warding will be lifted, and the arrow will be fired at the right moment. By leaving the ballista operation to the golem, the golem can stay on standby at all times. However, it seems that the fortress side has noticed this strategy, and the four golems have withdrawn, leaving the two golems with rocks. The two camps are now staring at each other. It is truly a two-sided situation. * * * * * * * * * * * * . After the old man finished his long explanation, Jin let out a small sigh. "Well, I guess one problem after another is bound to occur. ......" "Father, let''s leave it alone and build a spaceship." Reiko suggested in response to Jin''s sigh. "What''s a spaceship?" Elsa responded. "Well, I''ve always wanted to go to space. You know, the moon in this world is a mystery, and the long-period planets are said to be coming back soon. < is flying properly, they will be able to build a spaceship, right? Somehow, it looks like a husband who buys a hobby without his wife''s permission. "I want to go to ......." "What?" Jin wondered if he had heard wrong. "You want to go to... To space." What a surprise, Erza had a longing for space, too. "Of course!I want to go to space!Yes!" I don''t know what was < about it, but Jin''s excitement rose to the top of his lungs. At that moment, the old man said something unexpected. "Really?" Elsa was also intrigued. We''ve been waiting for the right moment to report them to you. "Great!" Jin praised him with open arms. "Then Erza won''t complain." "...... what?" Erza, who was listening to this exchange between the old man and Jin, felt as if she had been hit on the head. (......Wa,me?...... like that, I thought.) <> "Oh, isn''t that great!" "I see. You''ve done a great job." > >> "Yes. Well, at first, we''ll probably use a golem as a crew and work out the safety ...... and habitability of the spacecraft." "So, the specs. "So, the specifications ......." Jin is happily working out the specifications of the spaceship with the old man. But Elsa, who is standing nearby, hears nothing. No, she can hear, but she can''t understand. (I ...... I ...... such ......) Pale Elsa fell down on her face. 838 - - 24-24 Heavenly Distribution "Erza!" Jin noticed Erza lying on the ground. He rushed to pick her up and found her face pale and her eyes filled with tears. "What''s wrong?Is there something wrong with you?Don''t tell me you have a fever? Jin''s hand was placed on Erza''s forehead. "Oh." "Well, ...... I don''t have a fever." "Oh, um..." Erza became impatient. She had to speak up here. "I don''t mean that," she said. A tear rolled down Erza''s cheek. "What?What''s going on? Jin was impatient. "It was ......." "What?" "......, I didn''t mean to do that." What? I didn''t mean to tie up Jin. Just a little bit. Just a little? Just a little. ...... Erza asked herself what was going on. Then she realized. She realized that she had been lonely. Jin is indispensable to her. Then, who am I to Jin?By asking ......, Elsa realized again. "I wanted him to care about me. That''s all." She wanted Jin to turn his attention to her, even if it was only for a moment. I wanted him to remember me, even if only for a moment, while I was making something. I wanted him to remember me standing next to him. I wanted to remember myself ............. "That''s enough, Elsa." Jin hugged her gently. "I''m sorry I made you feel uneasy." "Jin, my brother." Jin guessed that Erza wanted to give Jin the brakes, even if only a little, because he was a crafty idiot. In fact, he began to wonder what Erza would say when he started making something new. "I think I told you before. I think I''ve told you before that Jin-bro is at his best when he''s making what he likes. That''s the kind of brother Jin I love the most." Though her words were faltering, Erza conveyed what she wanted to say in her own way. And it was certainly conveyed to Jin. I understand, Elsa. I don''t know what to say back to you at ...... yet, but thank you anyway. He knew that her feelings for him had been expressed in that way. Jin held Elsa in his arms for a while. Reiko, Edgar, and the old man watched them without saying a word. * * * * * * "......," he said. "...... yeah." Jin and Erza, who had turned red like a boiled octopus, started talking about spaceships again. "At first, I''m thinking that we could build an experimental spacecraft that a mini-golem could ride on." The mini golem is 10 centimeters tall and one-sixteenth the size. It would be advantageous in terms of materials and construction. < "I know. I think I''ll go with the little golem next, then the regular size, and so on." The Little Golem is 40 cm tall and a quarter of the size. What the "Mere Old Man" is saying is that a small model should have some characteristics that are not to scale compared to the actual size of the real thing. For example, if you increase the size of a sphere by a factor of 10, its surface area will increase by a factor of 100 and its weight will increase by a factor of 100 The weight of the sphere is 100 times larger. I had a similar problem when I made <> before. One of them is that weight increases by the third power and muscle strength increases only by the second power. "It''s not like a vehicle on the ground. Let''s take it slow and easy. In the end, yes, I''d like a mothership with a diameter of about 1,000 meters." "......!" Erza gasped when she heard Jin''s line. It was one world, she thought. She could not imagine such a huge man-made object. "Well, step by step, I guess." . The old man had received Jin''s specifications and had begun to draw up an approximate blueprint. "Hmmm, I see. That''s how it would work. Now that the plan to build a spaceship has been materialized, the events on the ground suddenly seem trivial. "Indeed, I wonder if looking down on Ars from space will change my mind a little." "...... I don''t think so." I''d rather conquer it, Elsa said. "I wonder if it''s like that." In the science fiction novels Jin had read in the past, there were many stories of humans in space who overcame their racial differences and united as <> to fight against aliens from other star systems. "Well, that''s not going to work out so well, is it?" "Well, it''s not going to go so well, is it? "I''m starting to think that it''s okay to leave the people who are fighting with us alone. Jin is a technician by nature and hates to get involved in politics. He has no choice but to get involved because he knows people who are involved, and he would rather be making what he likes if he could. I''d rather be making what I like if I could. ......" I would like to use Makina to turn the whole battlefield upside down again, but now that Jin is acquainted with Makina, it would make things even louder around me. The thought of why I should be bothered by such a thing is starting to rear its ugly head again. "Brother Jin, are you worried? "Hmm?Well, yes. I''m sure you''re wondering about it. "Then, you should find some reason ...... to do so, a good reason." A cause? "A cause?" "Yes. If you are interested in it, it means that you want to touch it but you can''t because you don''t have a reason. Then you should have a reason." The old man was impressed by Elsa''s words. There is practically nothing that can bind Jin, but he binds himself to himself. And, by heaven''s providence or mere coincidence, the was about to be born. * * * * < Therefore, the engineers were working night and day to repair it, trying to make it as close to perfect as possible. "Hmmm, we''re almost ready to reboot the <... ...... looking forward to it." Dajur Harvey continues to work, muttering to himself. His eyes are bloodshot and dark circles form under his eyes from lack of sleep. "......This means I have one more step to go, the last step," he says. Now it''s time to bring back to life! Dajjur, despite his fatigue, was working steadily and with firm determination. He had finished connecting the last of the wires that would control the fortress. "...... is done! Now if we can get the mana flowing, the will reboot. He muttered to himself, and then lay down on the floor. He immediately began to breathe in his sleep. His face is smiling with satisfaction. Dajjal Harvey''s skill was certainly evident in this regard. The of Fort Crowe has begun to work properly. But that is not necessarily a good thing for those who are holed up in the fort. 839 - - 24-25 "Brain" Awakening The first thing that Fort Crow''s < did when it began to operate normally was to gather information. Starting with years and dates, > gathered information in a short period of time. By picking up the conversations of the people inside the fort as well as the conversations of the soldiers surrounding the fort, they were able to learn about the situation. The date, the year, we could have asked the automata following the human ...... dazzle Harvey who had reactivated himself. Knowing the date of March 10, 3458, the year that ended the magical wars3 We know that 303 years have passed since the year 155, when the magic war ended. The concentration of free magic element (ether) is low ......, which may be due to the runaway "ether stampede" of magic element ......30 This means that even after more than 0 years, the body has not fully recovered naturally. We will analyze this reality and accept it as a fact. We will also understand the number of people in our own body, in a sense, Fort Crow. Eight people......, nine people. Furthermore, I learn that six battle golems are activated and that the assistant automata of the Magi Fortress are awakened. I also learn that several other automata are in operation. Hmmm... ...... There was no problem up to that point. Then, what was the purpose of activating the battle golem?Naturally, it must be to fight against a hostile entity. Who is this hostile entity?Naturally, they must be <>. What are the characteristics of the <>?They have high density of mana and high physical ability. Who are we dealing with now?...... What in the world is this? * * * * < It was completed at the end of the war. Because of its location, it was the last line of defense. To the south, across the river, lies the capital of the Dinaric Kingdom, the kingdom that united the human race at that time. Fortunately, however, this fort was never deployed in actual battle. Three days after the completion of the fortress, the "Aether Stampede" was triggered, ending the Magic War. Most of the fort''s Magi Machines were sealed away, unused. Normally, it would have taken several days to a dozen days to check the operation ...... or, in modern earthly terms, to <> them, but this was never done. And this was no exception for the < that was in charge. The fortress went into a long sleep for more than 300 years without even realizing that the first hint of a breakdown existed there. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Humans fighting each other?How is that possible? The who woke up from the 300 years of sleep, however, his knowledge was quite biased. Rather, it is a lack of education. The reason why humans are fighting each other instead of the demons? Normally, a commander with <> would stand above the <> and give rough instructions, monitor their actions, and make minor adjustments, but there was no such person at the fort. Possibility 1....... either the people inside the fort or the people outside the fort have been brainwashed by the demons. Possibility 2....... one or both of them are crazy and have no choice but to fight. Possibility 3....... is a life form similar to the you know, but actually different. Possibility 4....... they are fighting with their own kind for some reason. Possibility 5....... that this is just an exercise, as there are no deaths. Possibility 6....... that the people outside are disturbed by their presence and are trying to destroy them. Possibility 7....... used his ability to enumerate the possibilities and compare them with the observed facts. First assumption. I exist to serve mankind. Assumption 2. I cannot be destroyed. This was built in as a major premise against the backdrop of the Magic Wars. The <> will defend itself unless it is ordered to be destroyed by someone with more authority than the commander. And just at that moment, an attack from the that had surrounded the fort damaged part of the outer wall. < planned to temporarily disarm the wards by concentrating their attack on a single point and applying a heavy partial load. And it succeeded. ...... in a sense, with exquisite timing. * * * * A short time ago. "General, of the remaining options, the most promising is a single point of focus." Chiharad Souto, an engineer from the Nostalgia Party, thought about it and opened his mouth. "We are going to attack one point at a time, not sequentially. He added that it would not be a problem if there was a slight time lag or if the position of the bombs shifted. "Well, there''s no point in just staring at each other. Let''s do it." Thus, a concentrated one-point attack by 20 battle golems of the Royal Army''s detachment was carried out. "Target, the center of the enemy fortress, on the outer wall, right above the door." The target is specified as an easy-to-see location, and the order to attack is given. "Throw the projectile!" The first attack was made by throwing a rock of about 30 cm in diameter at a distance of about 60 meters. The main point of this attack is not so much the attack on a single spot as the simultaneous impact. This is because it is practically impossible to concentrate a physical attack such as rocks on a single spot. And then 20 rocks hit. "Oh? Even to the eyes of General Carter, who was watching from the rear, the fort looked distorted. That meant that the warding had been shaken. "That looks effective. Let''s have them attack from a little closer." "Yes." General Carter could not hide his delight at this attack, which seemed to be quite effective. The second attack was to be made from a distance of 30 meters. Of course, the two ballistas were on standby to fire their arrows if the warding was unexpectedly broken. "Throw!" An attack from half distance. The power increases accordingly. The warding shakes even more violently than it did the first time. "I''m ready!Third time, throw! And the third one. After the shot landed, the warding shook ...... and disappeared for a split second. The golem managing the two ballistas sensed this and fired a mated arrow. The arrows had adamantite tips. One arrow pierced the outer wall of the fort. The other arrow pierced the enemy golem on top of the fort with a perfect shot. "We did it! The soldiers were elated at their first victory. "Don''t get carried away. It''s just the beginning. General Carter admonishes those around him. Before he could finish his words, an attack was launched from Fort Crow. From the top of the outer wall, a purple light shines down on the soldiers. "Aah! "Aah!" "Aah!" A dozen soldiers in front of the fort screamed and fell down. Two more shots of purple lightning were fired. "What the hell!What happened? Aah! "Aah!" "Aah!" Before they know what''s happening, a dozen more people faint. Golems, carry the fallen soldiers!Fall back quickly!" That was all General Carter could manage to order. 840 - - 24-26 Speculation The attack of the <> pierced through the wall of the fort, and the alert level of <> was raised at once. As a verification of possibility 1, we attempted to de-brainwash the <>. Then, from the Magi machine hidden in the outer wall, <> magic is unleashed on the people stationed around the fort. The 32 attackers are neutralized. If he had been brainwashed by the demons, he would have been released by this <>. has chosen to defend himself, and at the same time, he has chosen a method that will cause as little damage as possible to the human beings. We will see how they react to this. Then he went into a temporary standby. While at the same time observing the reactions of the people inside the fort. * * * * * * "Oh, he did it!" Lefort de Orange, who was observing the outside through the magic screen in the control room on the upper floor of the fort, exclaimed with joy. It seems that the <<<< brain>> has awakened>>. Oranje did not miss the words of his assistant automaton, Lefa. "What did you say?< < that controls the fortress. "Well, well, well... it looks like Dajour did his job." These conversations were also picked up by the <>. And then analyze them. The reason why they do not contact Oranje directly is because they intend to know the truth through daily conversations, which are less prone to lies and deceptions. "But why doesn''t Dajour come to report to us?Isn''t it negligence?" * * * * < listens to and analyzes every word of the conversation between Oranje and the assistant automata. It seems that the assistant automaton has that person named Oranje as its master. Since the automata are not under the control of the , but are independent entities, it is not surprising that they serve a specific individual. But that person is definitely not a . There is almost no possibility that he is qualified for such a position. There are certain qualifications to be a of a magi fortress. As it is a fortress, you need to be a military man, of course, and you need to have appropriate knowledge and experience, but you also need to have <>. This is a kind of rank insignia issued by the Kingdom of Dinar, and it is decorated with a small magical crystal (magi crystal) that has a special magical waveform. Without it, Oranje is not a in the least. Then, who is he? The most likely candidate would be a local lord with some authority. You are right, you are right about that. Why is Oranje, who has little connection with the army, acting as the supreme commander in the fort? There are three hypotheses that I could come up with in a short period of time. 1. There was no time to contact the military. 2. The army is surrounding the fort. 3. the army no longer exists. Again, <> is in a dilemma. Because there is no criteria to decide which side to stand on. The <> was created to be on the side of mankind. As it is now, it cannot act conspicuously. It has unleashed the magic of <> for self-preservation, and cannot take any more powerful offensive measures at the moment. Now that he is awake, he would like to be of use to humans, but he is unable to do so. wants more information to make a decision. * * * * <<> Commander, General Carter, after having his troops retreat about a kilometer, was consulting with Chiharad Souto, an engineer of the Nostalgia Party. Chiharad is now playing the role of chief of staff. The wards are still gone. We may be able to break into the fort now. General Carter balked at the suggestion. "But what if they attack with that magic?No one seems to have died, but we''d be out of action." "That''s why we''re bringing in a battle golem. It seems that the magic is of a weak thunderbolt type. Then, the battle golem will be ineffective. In other words, if we proceed with the golem as a shield, we will be able to ......" "......" so we can get closer to the fort. I see. Okay, let''s give it a try. So, 10 battle golems and 10 soldiers are selected. One of the soldiers is in the 5th column (Quinta). Regulus 43, local name <. "Be very careful, you must proceed in the shadow of the golem. General Carter himself encourages us. Of course, the soldiers are instructed on what to do once they have infiltrated the fort, but since they do not know what is going on inside, they are left to their own discretion to some extent. Naturally, the ultimate goal is to capture Oranje and take over the fort. "All right, let''s go!" Ten soldiers and ten golems set out. They proceed without incident for 500 meters, then slow down to a crawl. The closer they got to the fort, the slower they got, until finally they were crawling. But no attack came. (Is it waiting to see how we will react? ......) Regulus 43, <> was looking up at the fort while communicating with the old man. The visual information was also sent to the old man. Then the 10 of them reached the outer wall. "We made it this far without incident, but it will be difficult from here on. Dohs, the leader of the ten soldiers, called out to all of them to brace themselves. "We know from the recent attack that the door cannot be breached. We will have to climb over the outer wall. But that would make them easy targets from the fortress. "Mister Dohas, why don''t we dig a hole?" Cougar suggested. "A hole?" "Yes. With the golem''s power, I think we can dig a hole in a short time. Instead of going over the wall, they would go under it. This is usually done in the middle of the night. It''s a rare move, but one that ten people might not expect in broad daylight, so Dofus decides to go with it. "Okay, let''s do it. The other five will protect us." This position was blocked by the outer wall, so he could not see what they were doing. "This proves that there are no men inside the fort. Normally, there would be guards on top of the outer wall, in which case this would be a low-down strategy, but it seemed like a good idea at the moment. The ground was soil mixed with rocks, and the foundation of the outer wall was buried up to one meter below the ground. With the help of Golem''s power, a hole was made that could hold a man, or even a Golem, in about an hour. "Okay, let''s go. If anyone doesn''t want to go, let me know now. I don''t want anyone to get held back later." No one opened their mouths to speak at Dohas''s words. "Well, let''s go." Dohas''s golem took the lead and jumped into the hole. Dohas followed. Then, one after another, ten golems and ten soldiers went through the hole. The ten men and ten golems went out into the courtyard of the fort. This is a buffer zone between the outer wall and the main body of the fort, about 10 meters from the fort. There is a doorway on the right side facing the fort, but there is no sentry or guard. It seems too good to be true, but there is no turning back now that we have come this far. "All right, one by one, head for that entrance!" "All right, one by one, head for that entrance," Dofus ordered. 841 - - 24-27 Finally moving Horai Island "Just the sample I was looking for... smiled inwardly when he saw the ten people and ten bodies that had been dug out from under the outer wall. Let''s capture them and examine them. Deciding to do so, opens the spare entrance to the fort, and has the sentry golem in the passageway pulled out. He then locks the rooms along the way, leaving only one unlocked. The room was, of course, a trap. The who knows the fortress can take these measures in all but a few rooms, such as the control room. Of course, Oranje and the others who are holed up in the control room do not know that the <> is doing this on his own. No one but the <> has the right to give unlimited orders to the <>. Unaware of this, ten men and ten bodies enter the fort. "I don''t see anyone. "That''s probably why they are so understaffed. After a brief exchange of whispered comments, the group moved deeper into the fort. The doors we found were locked, and we could not take the time to try to open them, so we continued onward. He arrived at one door. "Oh, this one is unlocked. However, we don''t know who is in there. But we have no choice but to open the door. "Okay, half of you go ahead. The other five and five of us will investigate this place. Right, you should be the leader of that group for now. A provisional leader was appointed, and the group split up under the direction of Dofas. Dohas was the group that would open the door, and the cougars in the fifth line (quinta) were the group that would go on ahead. After confirming that the five cougars and five other cougars had turned the corner of the passage, Dohas let the golem gently open the door. "...... empty?" The room was empty. There were no lights on, and it was dimly lit. "There might be something in there. Let''s check it out." The five of us went inside, two Golems guarding the passageway, two securing the door, and one guarding the room. "...... but there''s nothing here. ......" "I don''t think there are many people who would side with Oranje''s guy." Since the room is literally , there are only a few places to look, and it is only after a minute that it is confirmed that there really is nothing in there. "Okay, we''re done here. Let''s go join the five who went ahead of us." Dofus said and was about to walk out into the corridor when... "Shock! "Aah!" "Gee!" A shock magic fell, and the five of them fainted. The five golems they brought with them are semi-autonomous, and since their commanders have been silenced, there is nothing they can do. Furthermore, the doors to the other rooms, which had been locked, opened, revealing ten battle golems. The five golems of the , which were inferior in performance and outnumbered, were quickly neutralized. ? Cougar senses with his inhuman hearing that something has happened to Dohas and the others. He also hears the footsteps of the golem chasing after him. "Run!They found us!" He shouted and started to run. The remaining four run after him, though they lag behind for a moment. But a wall stands in their way. Most of the inside of the fortress is the same as the inside of the ''s body. <. Some of the passages have walls that can be pushed out from the side walls and ceilings under the control of the <>. "No, it''s a dead end! Five battle golems are approaching from behind. Just as the cougars are about to give orders to the golems they are leading... "Aaah!" "Aaah!" <, and all five of them stop moving. This golem, too, was easily captured since there was no one left to command it. (......) I should pretend to be stunned at this point. However, only Cougar, the automaton, did not faint. He contacted the old man with his built-in manacam and decided the course of action to be taken from now on. The five unconscious men were tied to a battle golem, and carried away by the golem. Cougar opens his eyes and sees that they are being carried to a room downstairs. All ten men were taken to the lockup on the second basement floor. (There are also signs of people in the next room. ......) ) Cougar''s keen senses sensed the presence of another POW-like person. It might be the one who had been taken prisoner during the previous reconnaissance. He passed this information on to the old man and then decided to take care of his own problem. Well, what are they going to do to us?) As the cougar continues to watch, a golem approaches the leader, Doohas. The golem cast a spell: ....... Cougar prepared himself to attack it immediately if it tried to harm him, but the magic the golem used was a . (This magic is much worse than the Trans-Info magic used by the chief. However, there is no doubt that he is the first transinfo user that we have ever met outside of Jin and the Jin family. And the purpose of <> is clear. It is to know the attacker''s strategy, formation, and strength. At this point, even the old man could not see that the <> was trying hard to analyze his situation. * * * * <>. After the old man''s long explanation, Jin shook his head a couple of times as if to shake something off. "...... I see. Would it be better if I intervene?" < "Yes." Here is the according to Elsa. "Okay, let''s neutralize Fort Crowe as soon as possible." "Yes?" It was an unexpected suggestion. "The Shinobi Force?" < Jin thought about this proposal for a moment. "Hmmm...but we also need to help the prisoners, don''t we? The old man immediately replies. "Okay, but we have to send in 10 shinobi troops. But aren''t ten shinobi troops enough?" "I see. But be careful of losses, okay?I don''t want to lose you guys by overreacting." << Thus, the old man transferred 25 micro golems, using Regulus 43, or cougar, as a marker. Cougar sensed the 25 golems that appeared near him. All 25 are invisible because they have activated . They can only be seen by changing their vision from visible light to the far-ultraviolet region. Thanks to this, you will be safe even if you encounter a golem. The normal golem''s vision is in the visible light range, or at the most a little bit in the infrared/ultraviolet range, so it will not be seen. The 25 golems followed the old man''s instructions and scattered around the fort. A cougar looks on. The cougar, pretending to be stunned, is unable to move and has to stay still for a while longer. 842 - - 24-28 Undercover, Fort Crowe Gaining information is the first priority. The 25 miniature golems that infiltrated, or were transferred, were scattered throughout the fort. The basement was occupied by Sam 1-10, who were tuned for intelligence purposes. Let''s check this level first.) Copy that.) They all have built-in manacams that allow them to communicate without speaking. In addition, they are invisible, which, combined with their 5cm height, makes them undetectable to ordinary humans. The golem that carried the cougars is also gone now. First of all, we have decided to look for any kind of magical surveillance device. It''s all right.) Well, there are a few things that resemble magic eyes, but they all seem to be dead. After 300 years, some of them had broken down, others were covered with moss and dust, and had become useless. Oranje''s men and the golem for repair had not yet been able to do much about it. (Let''s disable it completely.) So we decided to cut the magic conduit that leads somewhere ...... probably to the command center. Sam and the others used magic to cut the conduit through the cracks in the stone used for the walls. It was difficult enough for a human, but possible enough for a five-centimeter-tall man. And this gives them a lot of freedom of movement. (Is the prisoner of war in the next room ......?) With the motto "human life first", Sam 9 and 10 went to check it out. The basic rule is that more than one body should be involved in the action. Here comes the problem. (I can''t open the door ......) At 5 cm tall, he is too small to use the basic human facilities. This means that he has to use someone else to open the door. The ventilation openings are covered with netting to keep insects out, so that even they can''t get through. The door without even a peephole may be to prevent escape, or it may be because the room was used for other purposes. Of course, it is possible to make a hole in the door with engineering magic, but that is a last resort. If there were guards inside the room, they would know that we had infiltrated the room. If we do, we would like to do so only after a little more investigation. (If there are prisoners of war, they will be coming and going in order to give them food and water. (If there are prisoners, they will come in and out to give them food and water. We should wait until then.) Sam 7 and 8 went through the passageway toward what appeared to be the back of the room. The door to this room is open, let''s have a look.) (The door to this room is open. Let''s have a look.) (Okay.) There is no sign of anyone. Still, the two carefully peeked into the room. Oh!) There were battle golems, all-purpose golems, repair golems, etc. all lined up in a row. (This is of the same lineage as ours ......, which means that our predecessor''s template is being used. (I am sure the Master will be pleased when he sees this.) Needless to say, this information was immediately brought to Jin through the old man. Sam 5 and 6 went in the opposite direction from 7 and 8. A well. (A well, huh? It''s a good thing we have a watering hole inside the fort.) (If we wait here, someone will surely come. (If we wait here, someone will surely come.) (Let''s wait for them.) (We''ll wait for them.) (Or we''ll wait for them.) Sam 1 to 4 went further underground. I have a feeling that there is something in this basement.) I agree.) The four of them remembered the aftermath of the magic power. Since they are specialized in espionage, they are highly capable of sensing such things. Who are they? I can''t see you, but I know you are here. A voice. What voice?) It doesn''t sound human.) Of course it''s an unvoiced exchange. Stay away from me, or get out! Or I''ll baptize you with Thunder Rain. Your mood is similar to the old man''s. Perhaps he is a magic brain?) It''s called Magi Fortress. (It''s called "Magi Fortress", so it''s not surprising if there is a magical brain in charge of it.) Then Sam 1 spoke on behalf of the others. His voice was high-pitched, but it must have been heard. "Mate, I''m not a good person. Who are you? No questions asked. I guess we''re not leaving. Well, you''ll be sorry. < < doesn''t listen to you. He unleashes a lightning spell, <>. This is a magic that showers the target area with strong thunder, and the voltage can be adjusted if the magician is skillful. The voltage seems to be quite high.) (It seems to be a very high voltage.) Hmm. (It seems to be a very high voltage.) (Hmm...) Indeed. (It seems to be generating ozone.) Ozone, O3, is produced by the collision of high energy electrons and oxygen molecules. In other words, ozone is generated in atmospheric discharges such as lightning. It has a peculiar pungent odor and is toxic to the human body. Since a very small amount of ozone is generated in photocopiers, it was in the knowledge of Jin, and thus Sam and his colleagues knew about it. "Hmmm, it seems to be okay with the current lightning magic, right?Then, I''ll take it easy on you. Sensing no change in the presence of Sam and the others, unleashes another . But in a completely misguided direction. They do not know the size of Sam and the others, so they do not have a sense of distance from them. In addition, they cannot see them. But we can''t get close to them.) No.) We can''t even discuss it.) < is designed to nullify physical and magical attacks, but it is not strong enough for their size. The first attack could be overcome, but the second one was over 50 million volts, and there was a possibility that it could not be prevented. There was a possibility that Sam and the others could not get any closer. Sam and the others could not get any closer. Let''s report it anyway.) That''s a good idea.) (That''s a good idea.) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Now, the five Fingers and the ten Shinobi troops head for the upper floors. Since there are fifteen of them, they form into groups of three and begin their investigation. (Is this the pantry?) This one seems to be an armory, but it''s almost empty.) (There are golems lined up here.) (This one seems to be a weapons locker, but it''s mostly empty. (They are not as good as the ones Sam and the others found.) They report back to the old man and continue on their way. On the first floor above ground level, there was a hall with a corridor around it and several small rooms. On this floor, too, the team of three investigates in pairs. (Regulus 43 reported that a trap had been set on this floor.) Indeed, there seems to be a magical conductor running through the wall.) Shall I cut it?) No, the old man''s instructions say that we should leave it as it is. The enemy might notice.) I understand.) When they did not see anyone, they went to the second floor. This seems to be a living area, but there is no sign of anyone.) Are they so short-staffed?) They looked around but did not see a single person. Let''s go upstairs.) (Let''s go upstairs.) Then they went to the third floor more carefully. (There is nothing or no one on the third floor.) (Probably a hierarchy for high-ranking officers, technicians, senior soldiers, etc.) (Perhaps it is a hierarchy for high-ranking officers, engineers, senior soldiers, etc.) This shows just how understaffed the fort is. It is a facility that should be holed up with 50 or 100 people. (And why is it that I still haven''t seen a single person there?) It was somewhat unusual that no one from the Oranje camp, i.e., the fortress side, had been seen except for the prisoners of war. (There must be a command center on the 4th floor. If Oranje was there, that would be the only place.) ) Under the circumstances, I had no choice but to make that decision. The 15 of them headed for the 4th floor together. This must be the command center.) This must be the command center.) Okay, I''ll go in first.) The door was open. Shinobu Ichi, the head of the Shinobi Unit, which specializes in covert action, took the initiative in sneaking into the room. (This is from ......) What he saw there was an empty room. No doubt, there were furnishings such as desks and chairs, as well as a magic screen and other magic machines. However, there was no one who was supposed to use them. There were only two blue-haired automata that had stopped. Unsure of whether they were friend or foe, the Shinobi troopers observed them only to avoid being noticed. 843 - - 24-29 Unexpected developments Meanwhile, Regulus 43, a cougar from the fifth column (Quinta), who was taken prisoner along with nine others. (It looks like they may be on the move.) Sam and his men have checked the area and found no humans around. They also know that the magic conductor that sends visual information from the magic eye for surveillance has been cut. (It would not be surprising if the paralysis would be lifted and they would start to move by now.) The golem that had been on watch had left just before the arrival of the 25 very small golems, and has not returned. Deciding that now was the time to take action, Cougar tied them up.) ) Deciding that it was time to take action, the cougar rips off the ropes that bind him. He pulls off the ropes, which would be impossible for a human to do, but for him it''s a piece of cake. He gently gets up and opens the door. The door is unlocked. There is no one in the hallway, of course. The only thing he senses is the presence of Sam and the others. The first thing he does is to go to the next room, to see if he can identify the presence of the POWs. Sam 9 and 10 were waiting in front of the room. Regulus 43. Are you going to open the door?) Sam 9 spoke to me on the built-in manacam. Yes. The golem left our place about two hours ago. It hasn''t come back since then. (It is highly probable that there is no Golem in the room.) Regulus 43 and Cougar also responded via manacam (we agree...). We agree with them. (We agree with them, because we cannot feel such magic. But even if we did, we don''t want our presence to be noticed.) I understand. So let''s pretend that I''m awake and have come here alone to investigate.) (No objections.) After such an exchange, the cougar put his hand on the door handle. Surprisingly, the door was unlocked. Gently opening the door, he peeked inside and was surprised to see something unexpected. Oranje!And ...... are these the guys who holed up?" * * * The leader of the 10 members of the < that infiltrated Fort Croix, , who had transcribed the knowledge of Doohas, immediately began to analyze the situation. Even though was not as good as Jin''s, it was enough to obtain information about their camp. And that was not all. What a ...... minority of people inside of us are fighting against the majority. He learned the truth about this battle. Hmmm, what should we do? < as to what to do in such a situation. In the first place, the fort is not designed for use against humans, but against demons. Moreover, they have only basic knowledge that is biased toward combat use, and they have no experience in actual operations. < came to a conclusion. . > First, Lefort de Orange, in the control room, is incapacitated ...... and knocked out. > Next, Bokker Ove, Oranje''s chief of staff, is knocked out. > > > And Oranje''s men in the fortress were knocked out one after another. One after another, they were knocked out and carried underground. Dajour Harvey, who was sleeping as if dead from exhaustion, was carried away. Thus, all the people in Fort Crowe were gathered in the basement lockup. * * * * A total of nine people, including Oranje, who was still unconscious, were lying in the room. ...... tied up. (What the hell is this ......?) (What the hell is this? ?) The cougar told the old man what was going on. > The old man decided to think about the reason. It is not impossible for the same magic brain to think. > By thinking along the same lines, the certainty of our guesses will increase. The old man thought further. > For the old man, humanity is supreme. But what about <>? <> Perhaps we can come to the conclusion that neither side is on the same side. > The way that Jin has stopped conflicts between small groups of nations before, in the name of deus ex machina. >. The old man decided that there was a good chance of that. "What''s wrong, Mr. President?" Jin, who was in the command center of Horai Island, asked the old man, wondering what the old man was thinking. > The old man briefly reports the current situation with some guesses. At that time, a report came from Sam1 who was searching the basement. "I think so too. I think so too. If such a magic brain is to be placed, it should be in the basement. The old man is also placed in the basement. "Yes, I guess so. Then Erza, who had been listening quietly, interrupted. "Brother Jin, it''s too hard to understand. Please make it a little easier for me. Jin nodded. Erza had never built a large scale magic brain before. "Oh, I''m sorry. You know where the brain should be installed, right?I mean as stable and safe a place as possible." "Yes." Jin then decided to give a brief explanation of the basic setup of the magic brain. "First of all, the reason for its existence. In your case, it is to serve me. As long as this is the case, you can never disobey the benevolence. "The next is the basic command. Starting from self-preservation, guarding Horai Island, and monitoring Reiko''s outbursts..." "The next one is the basic order. And restrictions. New development requires my permission, and so on. ...... Jin explained in detail. Elsa listened in silence. "...... and, well, that''s about it. I''m sorry, but I don''t have time right now. We''ll talk more about it later. "Hmm..." Jin then returned to the topic. "As I explained to you just now,......, the magic brain of Fort Crow probably has the basic order of anti-demon," he said. The idea of fighting against humans is not taken into account." I understand that. "So, the question now is what action to take when it is clear that the opponent is a human being. Jin nodded at this. "That''s a good enough reason to think that, isn''t it?" "But Sam 1 to 4, right?They can''t get to you either, can they?" Jin heard this and made a reluctant face. "I''d like to put a stop to that. Can''t we somehow communicate with its magical brain?" << "It seems unbalanced." < Then the old man thought of the connection with the two blue-haired automata found by the Shinobi troop. > "Hmmm, maybe those two automata could be the key..." "Goshujin-sama, in that case, please send me." Jin turned around and saw a blue-haired automata named Anne standing there. 844 - - 24-30 Anns turn "Anne. Yes, ......." Now Anne has been remodeled and enhanced to be many times more powerful than she was when she was first discovered, or even when she was first manufactured. She has roughly half the power of Reiko, and is no match for a normal battle golem. "I still have my memories of that time, though some of them are missing. I think I am the right person for the job. "Father, I recommend you to do the same." The old man and Reiko also recommended Anne, so Jin made up his mind. "Okay, I''ll ask Anne. Just don''t do anything rash, okay? "Yes, I''ll leave it to you. "I''ll check it out just in case." Jin checked each part of Anne with the help of Elsa and Reiko. The transporter, force field generator, barrier projector, and other functions that were added afterward were brought to a perfect state. Of course, the transporter to return to Horai Island is already built in. Finally, I give him a transporter gun and a plasma sword for self-defense. "Okay, that should do it. Take care of yourself. "Yes, sir. I''ll be there." The transporter operated by the old man transported Anne to the place where Regulus 43 was, that is, the underground lockup. There, nine unconscious and bound men are lying on the floor. "Is Regulus 43 outside ......?" Once outside the room, she notices that the door to the next room is open. He peeks in and finds Regulus 43 there. He found Ann coming in and gave a small nod. Regulus 43, do you have any new information? "Not really. It is quiet inside the fort. After a brief exchange of words, Anne finally headed for the basement. The route is the same as the one taken by Sam and the others, so there is no way to get lost. For some reason, there were no golems or other guards, and soon they were on the third basement floor, near where the magic brain was supposed to be. Mister Anne, this way!) Sam 1 came to guide Ann. Sam 1 came to guide Anne. He did not speak aloud, but communicated with the built-in manacam. (Understood.) Ann also has a built-in magic elemental communication device. Anne also responded via the built-in manacam. She was led to the third basement floor of the fortress, in what appeared to be the central part of the building. Suddenly, a voice echoed through the room. There must be such a boundary somewhere. Who came there? Just as with Sam and the others, a voice called out, "Who are you? This time there were no words of . They must be watching from somewhere. "I am Anne. I serve the master." I see. Automata certainly serve their masters. Then who is the master? I can''t answer that question at this time. Then let''s change the question. What is your purpose, Anne? To free those who have been taken prisoner. I don''t approve of that. I don''t approve of that, because it''s too dangerous. Too dangerous? Dangerous? I think they must be mentally deranged to be fighting amongst themselves. We can''t let such a person go unchecked. I see. ...... I''m sorry. Well, let''s change the question then. Do you have someone you can call your master? No. The only person who can give me orders is my commander, but he is not here at the moment. It was useful information. The old man, who was getting information through Ann, instructed her to ask more questions about the <>. "<>? What kind of person is he? The <> is the chief executive of the fort. Immediately sensing that this was not the way to ask the question, Ann changed her question. "Can you recognize the commander?" Of course. How? It''s easy. < A command staff? Yes. It''s easy to imagine that it''s not just a command staff. There must be some kind of authentication key. This, too, was something that could not be solved in a short period of time due to the lack of information. The old man instructed Ann to pursue another possibility. What is the purpose of your existence? Naturally, to serve mankind. And what is mankind?How do you define it? The group to which my creator belongs, that would be mankind. But you were created more than 300 years ago, right? That''s right. Then, of course, the creator no longer exists, right? That''s obvious, isn''t it? Then what defines mankind? What ...... is it? "If you can''t define it, can''t you take decisive action?" ...... "How so?" ...... blue-haired automaton, did you say "Anne"? I admit you''re right. "I see. Then there is one more thing. Do you want information? Information? Yes. You''ve analyzed the POW''s knowledge, but there''s more to it than that. If there is such a thing, I''d like to know about it. "I see. Then let me come a little closer to you. Why? To give you information. To this word, <> took a full five seconds to think before replying. I can''t approve of that. I am obeying a self-preservation order to keep disquieting elements at bay. "Are you saying that I am a disturbing element?" That''s right. You want me to unconditionally trust someone who can get inside the fort without my knowledge? "...... I can easily destroy you. Will you trust me not to do so? It''s no use trying to deceive me. Blue-haired automata, I know what you are capable of. Not even a scratch can hurt me. But Anne denied it. "That is already a lack of information. I am not the blue-haired automata you know. I have been altered and strengthened by the Goshujin-sama. Hmmm, then let''s see you prove it. <<>> Before she could finish her words, a thunderbolt of 50 million volts struck Anne. A direct hit. I knew you were just talking. "What are you talking about? This much lightning doesn''t even need to be avoided. Anne was standing there quietly, looking no different from before she was struck by the lightning. Anne''s skin is the wing membrane of a sea dragon, the same as Reiko''s a little while ago. 50 million volts is not as strong as a mosquito bite. Natural lightning can sometimes reach a billion volts. Sea dragons can withstand even that. What? For the first time, reacted with dismay. "Well, I''m coming to you now." Anne started to walk away. "Mmmm... ...... then, . It is an attack magic of the wind attribute of intermediate level. Of course, Anne looks cool and keeps walking slowly. Don''t come any closer! "No, I won''t stop until you trust me." I''ll destroy it. If you can, go ahead. What did I tell you?You''ll be sorry, won''t you? My raison d''etre is to be useful to you. If I fulfill my role for that purpose, I''ll never regret it. Hmm, that''s a good resolution. Let ...... break down. < No. No! unleashes the ultimate attack magic, , but Anne doesn''t explode, and she doesn''t stop walking. did not understand. 845 - - 24-31 Choice of "brain" The ultimate offensive magic, <>. It is a magic that converts the target''s mana into energy in a very small amount of time. It is not necessary to use all of the mana, but even 1 nanogram of mana has a destructive power equivalent to 1 kilogram of TNT gunpowder. This conversion efficiency is close to E=mc^2. But that is only if <>. Na......Why not!Why doesn''t it explode? Somehow, I could hear the confusion and fear in <>''s voice. "Your <> has been disabled. Nonsense!How is that possible? I suppose that''s true according to your knowledge. But it is possible for my master. < is Jin''s original. < doesn''t know about it. And then Anne goes on. "Uh-uh, if it prevents magic, how about this! Two battle golems, each over two meters tall, appear from either side of Ann. Let''s stop them by force! "Impossible!" Anne swung her right arm, and a golem came from the right. With a swing of her left arm, the golem attacking from the left was blown away. What? "I''m not as good as you, but I can do this too." "I''m not as good as you, but I can do this too. Anne continues on her way. < At that moment, a transparent barrier is placed in front of Anne. A final line of defense. You can''t get past it. < and Jin. The free magic elements (ether) in space are connected to form a . < is coarse, air and water pass through. If the mesh is a little finer, air can pass through, but water cannot. The finer the mesh is, the less air can pass through. And the strength of the binding force of the free magic element (ether) particles is determined by the magic power applied to them. Anne struck the boundary with her fist. What? Due to its characteristics, there is no sound when the boundary is broken, but Anne''s fist went through the place where the boundary should have been. "It doesn''t seem to be very strong, does it?" Are you crazy?Even if you''re short on free magical energy, you can''t break the boundary by punching it!That''s impossible! "That''s why I''ve told you repeatedly. I have told you repeatedly that my master can do it. "Mmmm...... But Anne keeps going. One step, two steps. Finally, Anne stood in front of the outer cover of the . "So your body is behind this thin sheet of metal..." Anne''s fingers began to dig into the steel sheath. Wait! "Do you trust me?" What you''re doing isn''t persuasion anymore!It''s a threat! < sounded like a scream. "You''re the one who made me go this far, aren''t you?" Anne''s fingers penetrated the outer covering. Wait, wait! Following the basic command ......<>, <> finally surrendered to Anne. "Did you realize that I could destroy you at any time if I wanted to?" < He is a surprisingly human line. It must be good in its own way. "I''ve come a long way, but I have some information for you." I accept ...... The brain had no choice but to fully accept his words. "Then, can you linkage the magical element to my control core?" Yes, I can. Linkage between the blue-haired automata in the fortress and Anne, the same model, was a piece of cake. "Now, let''s begin." ......Oh! At that moment, through Ann''s control core, the information from <> flowed into <> like a raging wave. At the same time, the information and knowledge possessed by the <> were also absorbed by you. Unlike the one-way magic synchronization, the linkage of magical elements enables the mutual exchange of information. ...... The amount of information received was so large that it seemed to take a long time to process, and the <> went silent for a while. Then, after a few minutes of silence. Thank you, Mister Ann. I am finally able to make a sane decision. I''m glad to hear that. Yes. I didn''t know that the battle with the demons had already been avoided. And that the demons and humans share the same ancestors. has learned the truth. If the feud with the demons has become a thing of the past, then there is no more reason for my existence. "What?" I already exist in the past. My very existence now is a crime. What do you mean? Because I have ...... Fort Crawe, there''s a war going on that doesn''t need to be fought. I will cease to exist. I have a favor to ask you. Yes? The one you just connected to is a magical brain many, many times more powerful than mine, isn''t it? If you''re talking about the old man, yes. The old man, you mean. Yes. I know now how small I am. I''m going away. So I''m leaving you in charge. So you''re giving up control? Yes. I''m sure your magical brain can do it. This was an unexpected proposal. But what happened after that was wrong. I have learned from the information you gave me. It is better not to leave any facilities or equipment inside the fort. I''m going to disable all of them. What? What? Before Anne could stop him, the <> had instructed all of the magical machines under his control to >, in other words, to destroy themselves. * * * * * * * * * * * * * <> In Horai Island, the old lord was reporting the situation to Jin. "Well, I guess he said this because that <>, the most basic part, <>, has lost its meaning. ......" It seems a bit of a waste that all the magic machines (magi-machines) in the fort have been rendered useless, but there was nothing new, so we can give up on that. More than that, I was honestly grateful for the offer of <>. < If we leave the knowledge part as it is and rewrite the thinking and judging part as your subordinate, you will be able to treat him as Jin''s subordinate. "That is the best way. But it is a little dangerous to leave him in the fortress like that, isn''t it? <> "To Kunlun Island, or ......" The Kunlun Island is controlled by Lao Kun at the moment. But if he can leave it under his control, the burden will be lessened. "All right, let''s go with that!" Once the decision is made, it''s a simple matter of time. The old man, through Anne, has deactivated the <>. The <>, the stopped blue-haired automata <> and <>. And many golems were once transferred to Horai Island. "I thought automata were independent?" > seems to be able to be forced to stop in case of emergency. "I see." < I thought they would never wake up, but it seems that they were put under a sleep spell after they were knocked unconscious. "It''s not a good idea to ...... leave that one to wake up naturally, is it?" "Well, what to do with ......." It was a very difficult problem. 846 - - 24-32 Fort Crowe, Fall (Table) The old man''s suggestion came to him after much thought. . Hearing this, Jin nodded. "I see, that''s good. It''s not a lie." "Yes, yes, I like that." Most of the magi-machines inside the fort have already destroyed themselves. < itself has been deactivated, so even if it wanted to self-destruct, it wouldn''t be able to do so. Jin pondered for a moment, then gave his permission. "Okay, let''s go with that." * * * * "......What the hell is going on?" It was good to send the 10 men out, but after that, nothing happened, and General Carter was getting a bit nervous. "Attention all besieged! A loud voice rang out from Fort Crow. I am the brains behind this fort. Brain?What in the world is ......? Let''s hear what he has to say. General Carter and Chiharad Southee whispered back and forth, then listened carefully. My raison d''etre is to fight demons and protect humans. My raison d''etre is to fight against demons and protect human beings, not to fight against human beings. But I can''t let them destroy us. When the members of the Royal detachment heard this, they were all upset. The soldiers who infiltrated the fort were all taken into custody. And we got information from them. "...... They''ve been captured after all?" I think so. I think that if there''s a war between humans, humans will settle it between themselves. "......" For now, the humans holed up in the fort are in custody as well. "What?" General Carter couldn''t believe his ears. The Oranges are in custody as well, which means the end of this battle. We will open the gates now. We have 19 men in custody. Come and pick them up. Then I''ll consider my work done and destroy myself. What? A fortress that is a precious artifact will destroy itself, and it will be the world''s loss. Chiharad became impatient. As a member of Nostalgia, he wanted to avoid such a situation. "Wait, wait!" But his voice did not reach the fortress. Then I''ll open the gate. Come! Then the voices stopped. At the same time the front gate opened. "...... what am I to make of this?" General Carter wondered. The first and most pressing question was whether the declaration could be trusted. Certainly, the gate was open. But there is no guarantee that it is not a trap. "It is a difficult question. It is a difficult problem, but it is also an opportunity. The gate has opened. Chiharad is also troubled and considers what to do. "I think we have no choice but to let the golem go ahead and check what''s going on inside. "That''s right. Unless we take action, nothing will develop. We reached a consensus and decided to send two general-purpose golems to the site under the guise of receiving prisoners of war. These general-purpose golems were made by the Nostalgia Party and have a certain level of intelligence. Chiharad gives the necessary instructions and sends it out. "When those two come back, we''ll have a better idea of what''s going on. I hope so. They wait for about 10 minutes. Someone comes running out of the main gate of the fort. He comes running up to me. I braced myself for what I was about to see.I braced myself, but as I got closer, I saw a familiar face. "Is that a ...... cougar?" It was one of the 10 people I had sent out. General Carter and Chiharad greeted him. "What''s going on, man? Tell me what''s going on! "Yes, sir." A breathless (??????) cougar began to explain in halting tones. He told us that he had dug a hole and infiltrated, that he had split up inside the fort, and that he had been caught in a trap. "Only I was awakened and sent home to explain. The other nine were put to sleep by magic. After listening to the explanation, General Carter thought about it. There was no discrepancy between the voice from the fort and the cougar''s explanation. "Oh, yeah. I met with two generic golem-like creatures. They should be coming out soon. True to his word, the leader, Dohas, and another soldier seem to be carrying them on their backs. "Well, I guess they weren''t lying. "Well, it looks like there were no traps. General Carter breathed a sigh of relief. "I''m not a hundred percent sure yet. Now let''s send out four generic golems and four soldiers. ...... cougar, I''m sorry, but can you go to that fort again?" He wants to have a cougar with some knowledge of the interior to show him around. "Sure." The cougar, Regulus 43, agreed. And so the four men and four bodies were sent out. ......15 minutes later, the seven remaining detained soldiers and, to the surprise of Oranje, the former Duke, returned carrying the former Duc d''Oranje. They returned carrying the former Duke of Orange. "Oh, my God!This is Oranje!" "Yes. As I said, he was sleeping next to the room where we had been held captive. There are eight more people in the Oranje camp who are asleep. "Hmm. You were telling the truth. Okay, go again." "Yes!" The four men and four bodies head for Fort Crau again. Chiharad has decided to go with them. "It would be a loss to the world if it destroys itself. I will try to stop it somehow. If I can''t do that, I''ll try to get one or two artifacts out of there. "Yes, okay. Please do it." Thus the five of us and the four of us entered the fort. Chiharad was the only one who had decided to go separately and ransack the various rooms. Then they heard a voice. I don''t know what you are going to do, but there is nothing left in this fort now, is there? Chikharad shouted in impatience. "Oh, no!What a waste! Unfortunately, it''s true. "It''s true, I''m afraid. We can''t give it to a world where humans are fighting each other. We can only hand over our heritage to a country comparable to the Kingdom of Dinar. "......" Chiharad was speechless. He is a member of the Nostalgia Party, whose philosophy is to recreate lost technologies of the past and apply them to the present and future. At the same time, he has a longing for the superpower of the past, the Kingdom of Dinar. Knowing well that the current world situation is very different from that of those days, he could not say anything more. Yes, there is another person sleeping in the other room. Bring him back too. "What?" Chiharad was led away and saw a soldier who had tried and failed to break into the fort. He fell over the wall and is injured. I took care of him. So Chiharad carried the soldier on his back and left the fort. * * * * * * * * * Thus, a total of 20 people (actually, the cougar is an automaton), including those inside the fort and those of the enemy, went out of the fort. It seems that not a single human is left. Then my work is done. Descendants of the Kingdom of Dinar. Farewell. And the voice was never heard again. General Carter and Chiharad again sent out more than 100 people to investigate the fort, and found 10 of the battle golems They found 10 of the battle golems that had been sent out with the 10 men, but nothing of note was found. "......I don''t know how he did it, but the owner of that voice ......, the self-proclaimed <, made it all disappear, didn''t he? ......" "Yes, I''m very sorry." "A world where humans fight each other. I guess we''re still a work in progress." General Carter smiled sadly. The evening sky was beginning to turn red. 847 - - 24-33 Fort Crowe, Fall (back) Let''s go back in time. Yes, when Dajur Harvey escaped to Fort Crowe and his assistant automaton, Refa, woke up. (What the hell is this human ......?) The first thing he saw when he woke up was a man named Lefort de Orange. (He has little magic power. Too little. (How can he be in this fortress with this level of power?) Despite my doubts, I did not rebel because Refa''s basic order was to follow the person in front of him when he was activated. Despite Refa''s deepest consciousness, she speaks of advice that is beneficial to Oranjue. . (But I don''t know what the <> will make of that.) Despite this duality, Leffa continued to give Oranje advice that was beneficial to him. And finally, the was reactivated. At first, concentrated on gathering information, but once he had obtained the minimum necessary information, he began to show initiative. It is right after reading the knowledge of the soldier who has infiltrated <>. Feeling a contradiction in the current situation where humans are fighting each other, <> chooses to stop the conflict, without distinguishing between friend and foe. (Did choose such a path?) <> "Gyaaah!Le,refa,na ......ze......" Oranje, who was in the control room, was struck by a <> spell. And those in the various departments of the fort suffered the same. To prevent them from being harmed, they are to be moved to the lockup on the first basement floor. And to keep them awake, cast a <> spell on them. These instructions were issued and carried out just before the Shinobi troop was dispatched. * * * * (The current situation is incomprehensible ...... what on earth has happened in the last 300 years ......) The automaton appeared before the <, which could only think, but could not understand. Blue hair, slender frame. It was obvious at a glance that this was the same type of automata as the general-purpose assistant automata. However, what was inside was completely different. After a brief discussion with the blue-haired automaton, a proposal was made. The <> could not say "yes" to the offer to give more information. He attacks the blue-haired automaton, and ...... everything is repelled. Giving up, accepts the proposal of the blue-haired automaton. Thus, gets more information: ....... <<> comes to a little hasty conclusion. That is, he ordered the self-destruction of the magi-machines in the fortress. The old man thought that it would be a shame to let the <> disappear as it was, and persuaded him to make it useful for Jin in the future. As a result, <> wished to join the island of Horai, that is, to be under Jin. The <> and the <> had a short discussion about the fortress and how to dispose of the magi-machines in the fortress, and decided on a policy. * * * * Shortly before the proclamation was issued, the old man sent ten smiths and a to Anne. In no time at all, the ten Smiths pull the <> off the pedestal so that it can be transferred. Ann sees this and pulls the trigger of the transfer gun aimed at the <>. In an instant, the <> is transported to Horai Island. And an empty space is created where the <> used to be. < and declare it. Imitating the voice of the <> is a piece of cake for the old man. < Of course, it was from the island of Horai, in the manner of a manacam. Attention all those who are surrounding us! ...... The old man has issued a proclamation. It took some time for the result to appear, but things went almost as planned. * * * * Thank you. So, where is the <>?" It is already late at night in Horai Island. Erza has gone to bed, but Jin is waiting for her to wake up to find out the result. <>. "Okay, let''s go take a look." Behind the institute, a huge tent has been erected. It is sturdy enough to withstand a typhoon. However, in such a case, they put up a wind shield, so I am at a loss to answer the question whether it is worth it to be so sturdy. ...... Jin said, "Oh, this is the tent. "Oh, so this is the ." "Yes, my lord." The old man''s mobile terminal, , is with him, and he explains. I am new here. I am called . Please make your acquaintance. This is Jin-sama, our master. Jin. I''m at your service. Thank you. Would you mind if I recalibrate it for you? Yes, of course. The current system has been adjusted to the world conditions of 300 years ago. Knowledge, energy systems, and so on. Jin is trying to adjust them to the present time. For this purpose, <> is needed. If the system is simply stopped, various problems will occur when an outsider tries to modify it. The details of the problem depend on the security, but in the worst case, it may even explode. "Okay. Let''s shut it down. < "Yes, <>. The <>, who has surrendered to the old man, has also submitted to his master Jin. This is also because there is no longer a basic order of <> to fight against the demons. Jin decided to readjust the situation. <>. <>" Jin stops the <> and starts to readjust it. First, the control core. <, , and . Of course, the raison d''etre is <>, just like the old masters. As long as they have this, they will never be able to revolt. Next are the basic orders. Self-preservation, protection of Horai Island, protection of Kunlun Island, and service to the family. At the same time, optimize the processing system. The knowledge and information area is not altered. The information of the , which is a living witness of the time of the Great Magic War, is valuable. After the control core system is adjusted, the energy system is readjusted. "The ether converters and mana drivers are old-fashioned. It was obvious that they were not fully compatible with the current concentration of free magical elements (ether). "Replace them with Magi Reactors." It is getting late at night, so we call it a night for now. Reiko warns me not to stay up too late. "Let''s try to start it up. . " ......Master(mylord), thank you very much. < How are you doing? Yes, my lord. Very well. The flow of mana has improved and I can use my abilities to the fullest. "Well, that''s good. Good luck from now on, <>. The <> responded to the call. Master, I''m asking you brazenly, but could you give me a name too? "Hmm?I see. Well, <> is not a name. So Jin thinks about it. And then... "How about <>? Yes, I am going to be called <>. I look forward to working with you. Taibai is taken from the name of the Venus. He had heard about it from a TV series that the director of the orphanage ...... where Jin had been taken care of had liked. He was an official of the Emperor of Heaven with Lao Tzu, that''s all I remember. By the way, Venus Taibai is the personification of Venus, the brightest star of dawn and evening. At any rate, a new subordinate was born under Jin. 848 - - 24-34 Anns Sisters Nothing significant remained at the site of Fort Crowe. It is believed that this is because <> gave the order to destroy itself. The only good news was the food reserves that Oranje had accumulated. This was confiscated by the state, along with the food Oranje had stored in his estate. It will soon be returned to the Franzese people. These events were immediately transmitted to the other countries by manaphone. "......This is a great loss indeed." "I didn''t realize there was such an unexpected loss in human conflict." It''s a thought-provoking event. In any case, this should quiet the continent down a bit. "In any case, it will quiet the continent down a bit." "We should try to improve ourselves more," he said. The reactions of the countries contacted are varied, but the common denominator seems to be a reaffirmation that fighting among one''s own people is sterile. Meanwhile, Lefort de Orange, the <>, was condemned in the newly born Kingdom of Franz. The details of his execution, including his last screams, were reported to all the countries. Others...... Dajour Harvey was sentenced to life in prison. However, because of his skills, he was placed under house arrest and put under surveillance while he developed various magical tools. "Well, let him do what he wants, he''s a harmless man. ...... This is what Chiharad Souto, whom I had known for a while, said. Oranje''s confidant, Bokker Ove, was executed along with his master at his own request. "Even a man like that has loyal subjects. ...... the new king who witnessed the execution muttered with a complicated expression on his face. ......Finally, this is where our country begins." The new king, Lotharus de Lafayette, let out a small sigh and raised his head to look out the window at the blue sky. * * * * The island of Horai was busy with many things. After finishing the maintenance of the magic brain, Jin started to repair the two blue-haired automata. His assistants are Reiko and, unusually, Anne. Erza is observing. "...... What a sloppy repair. Even if you don''t have the materials to repair it, there are limits to what you can do. From Jin''s point of view, the repairs of Dajour Harvey and Bocker Ove were sloppy. Another reason is that these two were not entrusted to the repair golem. However, it is questionable whether the repair golem could have done a better job. "It''s a little better than Anne''s. It''s probably a difference in the preservation environment." "...... I suppose that''s true." Anne''s expression is somewhat dark. "There is less corrosion on the skeleton. Is this also a difference in the environment?" Jin''s eyes found a certain feature in the internal structure. This automaton looks just like Anne. The other one is a little different, though. Anne responded to his words. "So you are right, aren''t you? "Anne, did you notice that?" Yes, Goshujin-sama. This automata is from a production lot very close to ours. Anne, who had knowledge from Jin, mentioned the term , but such a concept does not exist in this world yet. "I see... So, in other words, we are really ..." "Yes." Anne said this, so Jin decided to finish first. "Reiko, I need chromium and vanadium." "Yes, father." Chromium, vanadium, and other elements are added to the steel frame to make chromium-vanadium steel by alloying. The base steel is slightly separated from the chromium vanadium steel so that the volume of the base steel does not change. "Brother Jin, what are the properties of this special steel?What are the properties of this special steel? came a question from Elsa, who was not an assistant but a visitor. Vanadium increases hardness, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and toughness. Jin explains briefly. Jin has no idea how the metal atoms work to make it so. He just knows it happens. "The muscular tissue is already in shreds. I guess they couldn''t fix it because they didn''t have enough material." "Brother Jin, if I need anything, I''ll get it, but..." Oh, then I''ll need the standard magical fiber. "Yes, okay." At the same time, Anne prepared some hexenbiest leather for the skin. "Then we need to recalibrate the ...... ah, ether converter. ...... no, it would be quicker to replace it." What was impossible for Dajur Harvey, Jin could do in a jiffy. The reason for the exchange instead of readjustment is that the difference in the concentration of free magic element (ether) of one-third is too large to be caught up with by just an adjustment. If it were the other way around, there would be no problem." On the other hand, an ether converter adjusted for a low concentration of free magic element (ether) can be used at a high concentration without any problem. "Reiko, please get me the magi crystals for the control core. "Yes, I''ll get it right away." As was the case with Anne, the deterioration of the magi crystals for the control core could not be ignored. We cannot afford to lose our precious knowledge of the past. "<>" In addition, by rebuilding the control core in this way, Jin is literally recognized as the <>. Other repairs to the blue-haired automata, such as replacing the hair, eyes, and speech mechanism, and replacing the damaged clothes, were also completed. Naturally, she also has a shield against <>. "Thank you. I learned a lot." Jin works slowly to show Erza. If he really tried, he could work five times faster than this. "Okay, <>" "......" The blue-haired automaton woke up. Reiko moved diagonally in front of Jin to protect him, just in case. "Nice to meet you, Master. The automaton greeted. How are you doing? At Jin''s question, the automaton bowed beautifully. "Yes, I''m doing great. Thank you very much." What is your name? "My name is Lol. I''m looking forward to working with you. "Yes, I''ll be counting on you." At that moment, Lol noticed an automaton behind Jin. "...... are you by any chance?" This question surprised not only Anne, but also Jin, Erza, and Reiko. They had thought it unlikely that mass-produced automata would know each other. "Yes, I am Anne..." "Yes, I''m Anne. Don''t you remember me? "Yes, unfortunately. ...... Actually, my control core has deteriorated so badly that some of my memories are missing." "Oh, I didn''t realize that." Jin, who was listening to the conversation between the two sisters, made a smart suggestion. "Anne and Lol, you can go over there and talk for a while. "Are you sure, Mr. Goshujin? "Yes, of course. I think it would be beneficial for us to exchange information verbally. This was done with the understanding that if he did not say so, he would not be so reserved. "Thank you very much. "Thank you very much." They bowed to Jin and moved to a corner of the workshop. Jin decided to work on the other automata. This time, Elsa and Reiko were his assistants. Elsa, too, had seen the process once before, so she was less puzzled, and the repair was completed in a shorter time than Lol''s time. "<>" "Yes, master." This automaton was named Refa. "Do you, by any chance, remember an automaton named <>?" Jin asked, and the answer came back just as he had expected. "Yes, it was an automata made at the same time as me. "I see, I knew it." Tia is an automaton that serves as a nanny to Rieschen, the third princess of the Klein Kingdom, and was once completely repaired by Jin. Since the structure of Tia and Refa were similar, Jin wondered if she might be the same. "...... Is there any reason for the naming?" Elsa spoke up with an idea. "Yes. I have heard that we have adapted our names according to when they were created." "Anne and Lol, Tia and Lefa. ...... can kinda get the idea." Ann, Rol. And TEAR and REFA. Elsa''s intuition was right when she imagined that the number of letters might have been changed for each lot. "So Lol and Refa will be Anne''s sisters. Jin muttered with deep emotion. Refa heard this and responded. "Who''s Anne?" "Yes, I''m talking with Lol over there. You should join us, Refa. Yes, thank you. Thus, three precious automata from the time of the Great Magic War were gathered under Jin. 849 - - 24-35 Light Spring "Now, <>..." After finishing the maintenance of the blue-haired automaton, Jin thought about how to deal with this magical brain. In case of emergency, the information that <> has is copied, managed, and stored by the old man. At the same time, it can be backed up in an ongoing manner. Therefore, both Jin and Laojin thought that it would be able to fulfill its role well wherever it is deployed. "Well, as the old man said before, I would like you to have jurisdiction over the Kunlun Island. The old man agrees. Here in Penglai Island, you are in charge of Kunlun Island, which is located far out to the west, about 300 kilometers to the west of the island. There is no problem at all in terms of its processing capacity, but it is an advantage to be on the ground. The Kun Lun Islet, what is it? < The old man made a < with Taibai and gave him the necessary knowledge. Time required: about 5 seconds. Thank you very much for ....... I understand. I see. The island of Kunlun. You''re going to leave me in charge of this? < I will do my best. Thus, <> was put in charge of the Kunlun Islet. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The location is not at the top of the mountain that rises in the center of the island, <>, ......, but underground. There was a small vein of adamantite around there, and it had just been dug out. "It''s just the right size." There was a 40-meter-wide, 60-meter-deep, 15-meter-high cavity that was completely empty. "And it''s surrounded by low-quality adamantite ore, which is strong enough. Adamantite ore is heavier and harder than steel. The cavity is strong enough to be used as an underground shelter. The work was completed by applying and and lining. The work was done by a team of craftsmen (smiths), of course. We are planning to have a dedicated team of smiths for the Kunlun Island in the near future. Thank you very much, Master Mylord. It is a wonderful installation environment. Installation does not mean simply placing them there. In this case, we will install <> to observe the surroundings, <> to pick up sounds, and a magi-machine that emits <> for defense. Jin has made the standard here, as it causes less pain to the target than . Then he decided to end the first stage by setting up a . "Now let''s improve it little by little." At Jin''s words, thanked him. Thank you very much. Now, would you be willing to assist me with ? "Yes, that would be good." The offer was immediately approved, since there is no equivalent of the mobile terminal <> that the old man controls. The other one, <>, will be working on Horai Island with Ann for the time being. "Alright, now we just need to improve the facilities in Kunlun Island a little more so that I can keep up appearances as <>." "Brother Jin, do you want to hold a here?" Erza comes up next to him and asks. "Yes, eventually. But not right away." "Yes. Let''s leave the rest to the old man and Taishaku. What about you, Brother Jin? We''ll figure out the underground problem. After that, we''ll go to ...... "...... universe?" Elsa anticipates Jin''s words. But Jin shakes his head. "That one is still in the testing phase. That''s why ......." "So?" "I''d like to go to Mitsuho. With Elsa." Mitsuho ...... Mitsuho is said to have once been the home of a < who may have been Jin''s hometown. Jin thought that he might discover something new if he visited there. "By carriage?" "By carriage." "......" "Elsa?" When I said that we would go by carriage, Elsa started to think about something and became silent. When Jin wondered about her, she said, "Not in a carriage, but in a carriage. "Why don''t you make a car instead of a carriage? "What?" It was an unexpected word from Elsa. "I hear there are a lot of paved roads." "That''s true." Judging from the popularity of bicycles, it seems that automobiles will be used in many situations. "Are you sure?" Elsa''s face fell at the question. She wondered if she was considered a nagging woman. "......I just thought that you might want to make it, good or bad." "Uh-huh." "So I''m just warning you. If you don''t run out when the time comes, that''s all that matters. I''m sure Brother Jin can get it back to you." "Well, thank you, Elsa." "Nnh." Finally, Erza felt a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. For a long time, she had felt as if she had a small bone stuck in her throat. That day, Hitoshi had hugged Elsa, knowing how she felt, but she had still been waiting for the chance to say something. I was concerned that Jin was using materials like hot water, and I was going to warn him about it. His reaction was surprising and a little funny. I was a bit amused by his unexpected reaction. I was so spoiled, so flirtatious, that I got carried away, not realizing that it was a dangerous game. My role is to be a brake, not a stopper. And I am not an outsider. (My brother Jin''s partner.) Elsa blushed unnoticed at the thought. "...... car or ......". For a large one, I used to build a camper like a Unimog called . But this time, it will be at most a , or . "Sounds fun, Jin-bro." Erza muttered, looking at Jin''s profile as he began to think. "Well, well, first we have to deal with Archel and the homunculus in the basement. We have to deal with them. "Yeah, are you going to the demon territory?" "Yes, we will. We''ll set up a warp gate there as well. And a manacam for communication. We don''t want them to come and go without permission, but it would be inconvenient without them. We also need a means of communication in case something happens. I understand. Then, let''s make a plan. "Well, father, would you like to stay at this house?" Reiko asked him where he would make the plans. "Well, let''s see. Shall we go back to Horai Island? "Yes, I will." "Taishaku, please take care of me from now on." Yes, my lord. Leave it to me. Thus, Jin and Kunlun Island made a new start. It''s almost time for the world situation to settle down. The season is spring in March, when the long winter ends and the spring of light arrives. 850 - - 24-36 Lol of quiet talk It was in the year 3101 that the template for the automata bequeathed by the legendary Magecraft Meister Adriana Barbora Zetsi was discovered. This year was a memorable one for the world of magical engineering. Up until then, 90% of automata and golems were made of "magiresin", which is a resin that can be transformed by magic. In other words, the golem was made of magically deformable <> and clothed in metal armor, while the automata were covered with imitation skin. Only a handful of automata had internal skeletons, and even these were either mere prototypes or the pretensions of the rich and aristocratic. The discovery of Adriana''s template marked the beginning of a period of great innovation. "A skeleton that is a simplified version of the human skeleton. "Muscle structure similar to that of a human being. These two points made possible more human-like movements and gestures. The benefits of this are The golem is able to use all the skills that humans have cultivated, such as swordsmanship and martial arts. Automata became more human-like. This led to a rapid increase in the demand for automata in particular. Factories and workshops, large and small, began operating like bamboo shoots after the rain. They were weeded out within about three years, and within five years, only those factories and workshops that produced high-quality products remained. The factory was one of those that remained after being eliminated in this way. The first new type of automata was completed after trial production. It was a masterpiece of an automaton that looked exactly like a human being, or rather, like a human being itself. The factory decided to voluntarily change the hair color to ......<>, a color that is absolutely impossible for a human being. The name was decided to be composed of short syllables as much as possible. The first automata was named , the second automata , and the third automata . BEL>> and the third automata is >. They are made up to <>, 20 in all. The 18th automata is named <>. "Your name shall be ." "Yes, my name is ROL. I look forward to working with you." Lol was bought by a young scholar. He expected the new automaton to be his research assistant. Lol worked well and lived up to his expectations. Master, it''s almost noon. Please take a rest at the end of the day. "Master, I''ve finished organizing the new research material." Master, you''re not well if you work too hard. Please go to sleep for now." The scholar loved Lol and took good care of him. "Well, thank you, Lol." But tragedy struck suddenly. The laboratory, which was usually lively in the morning, remained quiet that day. A curious neighbor went to check on him. "Whoa, whoa!What in the world is this?" He found the scholar kneeling and drooping before the torn limbs and dismembered Rolle. The culprit who destroyed Rolle was never caught. The scholar visited the factory where Rolle was manufactured, but tragedy struck there too. The technical director of the factory had been murdered. However, the factory manager was safe, so he managed to have Rolle repaired, and the scholar took this opportunity to move to the countryside. It was a wise decision. After this, there was a series of incidents in which automata with the same blue hair as Rolle were destroyed. Earlier, a magecraftsman who discovered the template for automata left by Adriana was also murdered, but the connection between the two remains a mystery. Lor and the scholar lived a quiet life in their new home. Lorr served him until the scholar died of old age. After that, Lolu was taken over by the state according to the custom of the time, and after some maintenance, he was placed in a state of waiting. Then the <> broke out. Most of the automata that had survived the mysterious destruction were dispatched. Their main purpose is to comfort the soldiers. While there were many automata that had been modified to be capable of <, Rolle barely escaped such modification. He was deployed not to a frontier fort, but to a fort that was considered to be the last line of defense. Although still under construction, Rolle was deployed not only to provide daily support such as meal preparation, cleaning, and laundry, but also to perform chores such as carrying materials. This was because the war on magic was becoming more and more intense and all of them were short of manpower. Because of the wartime situation, they became valuable automata, and were linked with the magic brain of the fortress, so that the magic brain could issue commands in times of emergency. And then <. With the fort, Rolle stopped working. * * * * "......" Loll has been reactivated. One of its basic commands is that the person in front of you when you wake up is your master. The new master seemed to be a technician. Roru was supposed to be able to use his abilities to support ....... But... "Get on with it, you fool!" < Three hundred years have taken their toll on Lorr''s body. And Lor''s new master could not repair it. >. Lol''s movements are rather awkward. His fingers do not move well, and his gait is dazed. Even though he has the knowledge to make tea, he cannot know the temperature of the water accurately because the sensor to determine the temperature of the water has deteriorated. Therefore, "It''s lukewarm!" . The new master was so irritated that he often threw the cup of tea at Lol. Rolle, however, did not disobey him and continued to serve him. He taught his master, who was in agony because he could not repair the fort as he wished, about the automata that assisted the fort''s commander. . With this, the maintenance of the fortress progressed. The automata (automata) are also maintained by the golem for repair. However, the lack of materials for repairs was insurmountable, and since priority was given to repairing the facilities in the fort, Lol''s repairs were put on the back burner. Even so, Lol served his master without a single complaint. The automata also suggest a magical brain. This brought them to a turning point. A few days after their magical brains were awakened. A certain incident triggered an order from the brain to stun the people in the fort. The <> authorized him to attack them in a non-injurious way in order to protect them from a greater threat. But Lor''s master had already fallen into a deep sleep, so he did not bother to knock her out, but only locked her up with a <> spell. Then she was stopped again. Just before she was stopped, a feeling of loneliness crossed Lol''s control core. (Now she may never wake up again. I have no complaints about that,...... but I wish I could have met the master once more,...... to whom I could serve him with all my heart and soul. I wish I could have met him again.) * * * * "Nice to meet you, Master." Lol was surprised inside. The words that came out of his mouth were so smooth. Yes, as if he had just been made. "How are you doing?" asked the young man whom Lol recognized as her master. An automaton of unbelievable magic, unbelievable precision, and unbelievable power was standing by his side. When he got up, he could feel that his physical condition was back to normal, or even better. So Lor showed him a beautiful bow with smooth movements. "Yes, you are in excellent shape. Thank you very much." To my further surprise, I noticed another automaton behind the master who introduced himself as Jin. Their distinctive hair color was definitely made at the same time as his own. And the later they were made, the more knowledge they had about their who was made before them. "...... you might be > and the third automata is >. The first generation of these women totaled 20, up to <>. After 20 automata have been delivered to the world, the factory makes further improvements based on the requests received over the past year or so. The second generation of automata, which were improved mainly to increase reliability and versatility. This is a type that can be customized to order. It seems that some of the great aristocrats ordered a type with a for their nannies. At one time, however, these automata were frequently destroyed one after another, and even the technical director of the factory was murdered. As a result, the factory was forced to temporarily suspend its operations. This mysterious incident ends mysteriously and the factory resumes production. With the technical manager gone, it was difficult to develop any more new models, but the same models could be made without any problems. And then... . "Yes, I''ll increase the number of magic nerves to two. "Yes, I will give you only the minimum knowledge necessary. The second generation, 18th automata was customized in accordance with the request from the military personnel. It is called . "Listen, Refa. This is the magic brain. You are to act as a bridge between this brain and the humans in the fortress. "Yes, I understand." Refa was given a great deal of expertise, and also given the basic command to serve <>. Not to a specific human being, but to the human race. This was necessary under the special conditions of war. The safety of the whole must not be neglected in favor of the safety of the individual. Furthermore, because of the wartime situation, as valuable automata, they were linked with the magic brain of the fortress, and in case of emergency, they could act according to the commands from the magic brain. However, I basically serve the . (Now I am qualified to serve my master ...... commander. What kind of a commander is he?) Deep inside, or rather in the depths of her , Refa was filled with anticipation as she envisioned her future. Soon, however, <> occurred, and Refa, along with his newly completed brain, went into a long sleep. (...... Will I meet my someday? ............) * * * "......" When Refa rebooted, it was not <> in front of her. (What is he?It seems to be a human being. ......) The only thing that fits the requirements of a <> engraved in his mind is that he is a <>. His appearance was not that of a military man, and his magical power was too meager. "......" (No voice. ...... It seems that the body is damaged considerably. And his body is heavy. This is a lack of free magic element (ether)......? But the long years have taken their toll on Refa''s body, depriving her of her vocal functions. Not only that. The ether converter, which did not correspond to the dilute concentration of free magic element (ether), was not able to supply enough magic element (mana) to the mana driver, resulting in a chronic shortage of magic energy. "Make it possible for him to speak properly as a top priority. "I don''t need to be told." < gave the order to a technician who seemed to be his subordinate. Thanks to this, Refa was able to regain a minimum level of functionality. (Why is such an incompetent person in command of the fort? ......) <, but a master who must be obeyed. What is this situation? (What is the point of my existence? ...... so, <> might know) From then on, Leffa was busy gathering information. Refa''s control core was adjusted to be able to think in parallel by default in order to mediate between <> and <>. Therefore, while it obeys its <>, Oranje, it can also act for the <> that has not yet begun to move. In other words, as she also has the role of assisting <>, < She needed to make her own existence more meaningful by reactivating the <>. To this end, he told them of the existence of the <> that lay dormant in the basement. This would allow the repair work to proceed at once. (Now there will be some progress in this mysterious situation.) A thought that depends on the <> and a thought that obeys the <>. Refa was doing well to avoid any contradiction between the two parallel thoughts. Finally, <> woke up. Refa passes on all the information and knowledge he/she has acquired to the <. also obtains new information through his own information network. The decisive factor was the invasion of the people who had surrounded the fort. , who easily stunned 10 of them, obtained information about the conflict from the man he believed to be their leader. This is acting against the interests of mankind. Feel free to stop this one) . "Gyah!Le,refa,na......ze......" Oranje and his men, who had been convinced that automata would never attack their masters, are easily knocked unconscious. (Why, you ask? ...... to put an end to this futile conflict, that''s all. Because my raison d''etre is service to humanity.) Service to the whole, not to the individual. As I mentioned earlier, this is a characteristic of the military tailoring of Refa. When a <> gives a clearly wrong order, he can be admonished by <>''s judgment. And moreover, they could attack those who usurped the fort without the qualifications of <>. Of course, the method is limited to a way that leaves no wounds or aftereffects. This is where the lightning magic <> was used. Thus, with no one left to give orders, the <> gave the command and Refa ceased to operate. My , whom you have not yet seen. I''m sorry to have met you. ......) * * * * "<>" A <> was entered into Refa''s control core and she woke up. "Yes, Master." In front of Refa was a small young man who did not look like a military man. He didn''t look like the kind of man who would command an army. But this did not discourage her. What is this overflowing magical power? Then Refa got up and found that her body moved as she wished. He bows with a polite motion. "Thank you very much for fixing it. (...... No, it''s not a repair. Modification ...... is also fundamental!In other words, <>!) The , as we humans call it, that had been hanging over Refa''s body all this time, is gone. This is nothing but the readjustment of the in his body. (...... ether converter ......?No, no. This is ...... what?) It will be a little while before Refa will know the concept of the Magi Reactor. "I wonder, by any chance, do you remember an automata named <>?" her new asked. "Yes, she is an automata made at the same time as me. Lefa, Celie, and Tia were made at the same time and stocked before they were customized. What happened to Celie and Tia, Lefa does not know. "...... Is there a reason for the naming?" A young woman beside Refa''s new master inquired. (This woman also has great magical power. Is she a partner of your master (my lord)? "Yes. I have heard that our names tend to be different according to the time when we were created. Hearing this, Lefa''s master muttered with deep emotion. "So both Lol and Lefa are sisters of Anne." (...... Anne?Who is it?) "Who''s Anne?" Refa knew about the same lot, but nothing about the previous lot. "Yeah, I''m talking to Lol over there. You should come and join us, Refa." The new owner points in the direction of two automata, clearly recognizable as having been made in the same factory, happily exchanging words. (...... happily?......Oh, so this is the kind of scene you can see under my master (my lord). For a moment, Refa was amused, but then she understood what he meant and bowed her head. "Yes, thank you." (This time the master (my lord) was not a < either. ...... but he was much, much better.) Thus, three precious automata from the time of the Great Magic War were gathered under Jin. 852 - - 24-38 Silent Story 50 Girls in the Village of Kaina The eastern part of the Kingdom of Selroa, the Rivas region, is mostly a rocky plateau. The main product is mouton wool, or wool. This is delivered to the village or town to which it belongs, and the village or town in turn delivers it to the state. In the technologically advanced Kingdom of Cerroa, the wool is spun into yarn and woven into fabrics. During the reign of Richard, the former king of Celuloa, very heavy taxes were levied, and in some villages, women and children had to pay the taxes that could not be paid. One such village was Lalio, where Rita, a girl who was scooped out by Fritz, and her colleagues were living. But fortunately, they were rescued by Jin, and they stayed in the village until the food and economic situation in their hometown was settled ...... specifically until the end of May or the beginning of June.... ...here in the village of Kaina until the food and economic situation back home settles down. During that time, they were given basic education such as reading and writing, some were trained in farming, others in cooking, and so on, according to their aptitudes. Both orphaned and non-orphaned girls are truly enjoying their life in Kaina village and are making efforts for their future. The villagers looked after these girls with kindness and sometimes gave them strict guidance, and they became more and more comfortable with each passing day. At the end of spring, the girls will have to choose whether to return home or stay here. But that day is still more than two months away. For now, they just have to live each day as hard as they can. * * * * The oldest girl is Sonia. Sonia has been studying <> here at Nido Castle. It all started with a book in the library. Sonia, who had learned basic reading and writing within a month or so, would visit the library in her spare time and look through the books from one end to the other, looking at the illustrations of the books she could not read and trying her best to read the books she could read a little. Among them was a book on plant dyeing. Jin had dyed plants and trees with younger children at the orphanage ...... where he used to live. The old man compiled such knowledge into a book. Wool is easy to dye, isn''t it? If we could dye the wool of the mouton in different colors, our village might be richer. One of the easiest dyes would be brown. Jin used loquat leaves to dye brown, but Sonia tried using the leaves of the perilla tree. She chopped the fresh leaves, boiled them in a pot to extract the dye, soaked the wool in the filtered dye solution and boiled it again. She consulted the golem maid stationed at Nido Castle for the wool for the test, and she was able to procure it from somewhere. Thus, Sonia worked day and night to dye various colors using plants that were close at hand. Unfortunately, since she did not know about <>, the colors and colorfastness were not as good as they could be, but they were still far more colorfast than those dyed with the squeezed juice of flowers, which had been used until then, and were an epoch-making innovation. Depending on the type of leaves, the same brown color can vary from reddish to yellowish or almost black. I have learned that mushrooms can also produce surprisingly vivid colors when used. So far, I have found a yellowish-brown color in a mushroom called <>, which is similar to the mushrooms called sarcoptic mushrooms on earth. < tree are brown. < tree can be dyed reddish brown. And that each of them can be dyed to a very practical level. "If we can bring this to the village, we can surely become a little richer. ......" With this hope in her heart, Sonia was experimenting day and night with different dyeing methods. In return for the wool, Sonia reported all the results of her dyeing trials, including ...... the failures, to the golem maid, who in turn reported them to the old man. * * * * "......This is the heart. It''s responsible for pumping blood throughout the body." "Oh, it''s located closer to the middle than I thought, doctor. "Yes, it is. You can feel the heartbeat in the left chest, so people tend to think it is on the left, but the heart organ is located in the middle, about to the left. Ru, the youngest of the girls, was studying the healing arts under Sally. She is now being briefed on what is called anatomy. She was originally interested in medicinal herbs used for injuries, and was browsing through books in the library (looking at the illustrations since she could not read yet) when she happened to meet Sally who came to look for materials, and since then she often visited Sally for instruction. Since then, she often came to Sally''s office to ask for her lessons. Since Ru was an orphan, Sally consulted with her husband, the village chief Giebeck, and adopted her as her daughter. However, she still seems to be a stranger to him. Even so, Lou is happy to be spending time with her family. The same is true for Sally and Giebeck. (I hope one day you will call me "mother" instead of "teacher".) (I hope she calls me "mother" someday, not "teacher") Sally thinks, but Luu is Luu, (...... mother. (......I hope I can say it out loud soon. ......) She doesn''t know that Ruu is thinking, "I can''t wait to be able to say it out loud. * * * Mouton doesn''t like damp places. So if you build a hut, make sure it is well ventilated. Also, you should make a shady place for the mutton children. Oh, and salt. ......" Kana is the one who is explaining all this to Rick. She is also an orphan and knows a lot about moutons because she helped to raise them. This year, the village of Kaina is expanding its farm and has started raising moutons to make woolen fabrics, but they are quite different from the capris they had before, and they were in trouble, so she came to the rescue. She helped me out when I was in trouble. Capri is much more docile. Cana told me that when they are kept in a group, they can develop a fighting spirit. If Jin had seen them, he would have said Capri was a goat and Mouton a sheep. "Yeah, well, it''s nice to have someone who has actually had one to tell me about it. ...... I hope you''ll stay with me forever. And I hope you will take care of Mouton with me. "...... okay?" "To ......?" Rick was stunned to get the answer he wanted after he had said it himself. Cana, on the other hand, walked briskly up to Rick, her face bright red, "......, say something!" She pressed her forehead against his chest. "...... or something?" "...... what?" When Kana thought she heard her name called, she looked up and saw Rick''s face, which had also turned bright red. "......? I''ll make you happy, I promise!" Rick said and hugged her. "...... thanks." Rick, at 28 years old, spring finally arrives. The only thing watching them was 10 moutons. * * * * "...... like this, right?" "No. Pull your right leg back more. Spread your left hand a little more to the side. Meine was giving Rita a full housemaid''s education. She spends her days studying to become a housemaid in the modern world. Rita is very motivated, though it is very difficult for her to be able to do all of her work in a short period of time (about two months). Reading, writing, arithmetic, etiquette. Cooking, laundry, and general housekeeping. Since she was to be educated to serve Fritz, a soldier of the Shoro Empire, Meane, who also served in the Shoro Empire, was the perfect teacher for her. (......) You want to be a lady-in-waiting for a soldier, Mr. Fritz? If that''s what she wants, I guess it''s okay. ......) Meine herself had a history of being taken in hand by Georg Randl, Erza''s father, who was a soldier and a battalion commander of the expatriate army at that time, and she was pregnant with Erza, so she was not inclined to support him honestly. On the other hand, it is a good thing to have a job, and there is no doubt that being a maid of honor is a job that women can do without. Therefore, Meane was giving Rita a strict education day and night, as she wished. (I think she would be happier working at Master Jin''s house.) (I think she would be happier if she worked at Master Jin''s house.) However, the form of happiness is different for each person. You never know what will turn out to be a blessing. "Oh, no, no. No, no, no. That way of measuring will change the taste every time. No, when you measure it with a spoon, it''s called "grated" and you measure it like this. Meane is a perfectionist in a sense, as she even teaches him how to season the food in the style of the Shoro Empire. "Yes, sir." And Rita, too, was a great fan of his strict instructions. The other girls were also the fastest. The other girls are no longer in the shadows, and they live happily every day. Spring has come to Kaina village, and it is a peaceful place today. 853 - - 25-01 Birthday Party "Happy birthday, Elsa." "Happy birthday, Elsa." "Happy birthday." "...... Thank you, everyone." On March 15, the Jin family gathered on Horai Island to celebrate Elsa''s birthday. She had told Jin that she didn''t need to be celebrated because Hanna didn''t celebrate her birthday, but Reinhardt, who didn''t know that, was making preparations. He told Jin that he didn''t have to congratulate Hannah, but Reinhardt didn''t know that.) Erza became the main character of the day, saying this only in front of Jin. "Are you all right, Ms. Bertsch?" Erza asked looking at Reinhard''s wife who was smiling at her. "Yes, thank you. The morning sickness is not so bad. "Drinking Persica juice seems to help a lot. Persica juice from Horai Island is rich in free magic element (ether). I wonder if it has any positive effects. "Kuhu, I guess we still have a lot to find out about free magic element (ether)..." Saki, who was unusually dressed in a dress, smiled and said, "I guess we still have a lot of research to do on free magic element (ether). I admire her for not forgetting about her research even at a time like this. Since the party is only for the informal circle, the atmosphere is rather rude, or rather, free. The dining room of the research institute on Horai Island is decorated with dishes prepared by Perid and other golem maids. There is no hierarchy of status, everyone is celebrating as . "......They''re a great group of people, aren''t they?" Marcia, who is still not used to this kind of atmosphere, muttered with a wry smile. "As for that, I''m thinking of improving the Kunlun Island and making it a more comfortable place to use than here. Jin opened his mouth as he sipped his wine. "I go by , you know. We need to show the outside world that the Kunlun Island is our base. "Oh, that''s right. Since we''ve been recognized as by all the countries, that place is officially Jin''s territory. Reinhardt is drinking some ...... that he got from <. "But this sake goes well with fish." Reinhardt is drinking sake at an unusually fast pace as he eats a mignonette of a fish that looks like a flounder. "Don''t drink too much, my dear." Bertsche, who had a baby in her belly, looked a little disappointed because alcohol was strictly forbidden. "But Mitsuho, huh? I''ve never been there, so I''m curious. Toa said. Stearina, who had joined the family a little over a month before, looked at her husband with a sideways glance. "Why don''t you two go there for your honeymoon?I''m sure Toa-san will get permission if you ask His Majesty for it. Jin thought that if Toa was a top-notch alchemist, he would be allowed to go to such a country under the name of a research trip. Incidentally, all the members of Jin''s family knew about this custom from Jin. Yes, that''s a good idea. Will you ask him to do it? "Yes, that would be nice. Not only Toa but also Stearina was interested. "Oh, well, I''ll come with you ...... sorry, it''s nothing." The narrator, Vivienne, was about to say that she would like to accompany Stearina and the others, but held her tongue when she realized that she would be interrupting the newlyweds. "Oh, well, I''d like to go too, if I can find the time." Hitoshi offers a helping hand. "Oh, you''ll let me join you then?" "I''d like that, wouldn''t you?" But Vivien stared at Jin''s face, then shifted her gaze a little to the side, "......I guess I''ll pass. The star of tonight''s show is making a subtle face, isn''t he?" "Yes." "I... I... I... I... I don''t..." Erza blushes at the mischievous look on his face. "Oh, you''re blushing. You''re so cute." Erza''s face turns even redder at those words. "Vee, don''t do that." "...... I know." Vivienne would have said something if not for Stearina''s rebuke. "But Kunlun Island, or ...... our ship, is still out of reach." Rodrigo muttered in a serious tone. "You''re right, Dad. We have to work harder and harder." Marcia and Rodrigo, as the Jin family, had chosen to develop the advanced technology on their own, instead of learning it from others. That''s one way to look at it, Jin thinks. "But Marcia''s ship was stable, wasn''t it?It seems to have returned to Potrock safely and without incident." "Well, you know. The sea was a little rough, so we moved along the shore, but sometimes it''s calmer offshore, depending on the waves." Waves, like swells, are the up and down movement of seawater, so the shallower the water, the higher the waves tend to be. When these are wind waves (waves on the sea surface caused by strong winds), it is sometimes safer to be near the shore because the wind tends to weaken near the shore by land. Marcia told us that the first step to safety is to know what we are looking for. Elsa asked Marcia a few words. "Wasn''t there a race this year?" Of course, she was referring to the Golem boat race. "Yes, it is usually held in the middle of February, but this year, you know, there was the commemoration ceremony of the Kingdom of Selroa, right?That''s why it''s been pushed back to March. "So you won''t be there this year?" "No. Yes. I''ve been busy at the workshop. There will be five boats built in our workshop!< "Wow, that''s great!" Jin was also impressed. "Right?I think I could win if I entered with Cygnus, but then I''d be denying myself my own workshop. ......" Indeed, how will customers feel if the new model loses to the old one? The biggest difference is the arrow, but there is no way the public can understand that. "That''s true. I guess it would be different if we had a race with different restrictions. "That''s what I meant. The Golem boat races have become even more popular since then. ......" "Well, that''s a good thing." Marcia said that more and more people are coming to watch the games on the open sea, and this year there will probably be a lot of big boats available. "Tourism is also an industry, so it must be a good thing." Reinhardt interrupted. He, too, had created a ship and a mermaid golem <> as Jin''s rival in last year''s race. "< <> By "swimsuits" I mean the one-piece swimsuits made by Jin. Until then, the mainstream was the loose-fitting, short-sleeved, short-pants type. "Well, it''s normal in Horai Island and Kaina Village," said Reinhard. Reinhard said. He would rather have them become more popular. His loving wife was staring at him next to him, but he didn''t seem to notice. "Come to think of it, Elsa liked it from the very beginning, didn''t she?" Marcia says, thinking back to that time. "Well, I thought it was easy to move around, or at least easy to swim in. "Well, that''s for sure. ......" Marcia laughs as she recalls those days. Looking a little out of the circle is Erza''s real mother, Meene. (I can''t believe she was so happy ......) (What parent wouldn''t be happy to see their child smiling so happily? I''m so glad that I met Master Jin.) Stars were twinkling in the sky of Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * By the way, this year''s presents are Reinhard: mithril silver dagger (again) Berche: a new outfit (a little more mature design) Saki: new shoes (matched with the outfit) Toa: new hat (for going out) Stearina: perfume Vivienne: scarf Marcia: a bouquet of flowers Rodrigo: handkerchief Meane: nail clippers And from Jin, a brooch, a necklace, and earrings. All of them are decorated with aquamarine stones, which can be used as a target of the magi radar. At the same time, they can also be used as markers for the transfer device. By wearing multiple systems of such equipment, he thought that he could be more secure. 854 - - 25-02 Magic series Toward the end of Elsa''s birthday party, Jin said that it was just right that the whole family was together and talked about his plans for the future. He talked about the spaceship and the underground. In particular, he talked in detail about the underground, which is an issue for the time being. "...... So, I''m going to investigate the underground of the El-Lad mine. As a preliminary step, I''m going to go to the demon territory and bring Belialus with me. "I''ve heard a little bit about this, but I didn''t know it was going to happen." Reinhardt looked surprised. "I didn''t know that the mysterious warp gate in Dali was connected to such a place. Marcia, who had also been in Dali but had never been involved in such a mess, was taken aback. "...... Jin is involved in a lot of things, isn''t he?" she said honestly. She was probably being honest. "Jin, if you''re going to the demon territory, will you take me with you? "Yes, I''d like to go with you if I can." Saki and Toa, father and daughter, came forward. "I don''t plan to stay for a long time this time, but if you don''t mind, I''d like to go with you. They were pleased when Jin agreed. Toa, in particular, was elated because it was the first time she had ever done this. "You, be careful not to act like an adult. He was so excited that Stearina was warning him. "You''re too much fun to be a little girl, aren''t you? Saki mutters in a whisper that the two can''t hear. She still can''t call Stearina . "Um, if it''s possible, could you take me with you?" This is Vivien. She''s interested in being a storyteller. Jin decides to take her with him. And so the party broke up. Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt returned to their own territory because they had official business. Marcia and Rodrigo also returned to Potrock, as they could not leave the store empty for too long, while Vivian, Saki, and Toa stayed behind. Stearina, now Toa''s wife, said she would wait for them at the Shawlo Palace and left. < The next morning, after breakfast, Jin gave a brief explanation to the members of the tour. The vehicle will be Capricorn 1. We will use a transporter to get to the Pazdekst isthmus, and from there we will walk. Then we head straight for the <> clan. The weather around the isthmus is unstable this season, and considering the danger of gusty winds, they decided not to use <>. "Will your stay be short?" Saki asked. Vivian seemed to want to ask the same question, and nodded her head. "Yes. "Yes, this time. If we can bring Archel home, we can take it easy. ...... "I think we should consider it an overnight stay," Vivienne said a little ruefully. Vivian says a little disappointed. "Yeah, but depending on what they say, we could stay over there until Belial gets back, right?" "Jin, that''s a good idea!" Saki leaned forward. "Then we could take Aaru with us as an assistant, and if anything goes wrong, we could call the old man and he would come and get us." "Yes, that''s right." Of course, the <> can also be used for communication. Vivian is wearing a peach-colored one and Saki a light purple one. "Father, I hate to say this, but it may be difficult to deal with Aaru alone." It is true that Aaru''s fighting ability is low. Jin thinks for a moment and decides to have Anne and the steward accompany him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * That afternoon. Capricorn 1 was parked in the plaza in front of the Horaijima Research Institute. In front of it were Jin, Elsa, Saki, Tor, Vivian, Reiko, Anne, Edgar, Aaru, and Steward. Steward takes over for Land 1 this time. Meane will see them off. "Well, gentlemen, have a safe trip. I wish you all the best. Okay, I''m off. Bye, Mother. I''m going. I''m going. I''ll see you later. Jin and the others exchanged brief greetings and boarded the Capricorn 1. The old man''s voice rang out, and the transporter was activated. In an instant, Capricorn 1 vanished before Meine''s eyes. "Safe travels, everyone. ......" Meine stares at the northern sky and mutters in a low voice. * * * * Capricorn 1 was moved to the front of the Paz dextro isthmus. The snow had completely disappeared and the area was now earth-colored. It would be a while before the grass would sprout. "Ah, the last time we were here, there was a field of snow all over the place, but now spring is almost here. Saki muttered with deep emotion. Jin ordered the steward to launch Capricorn 1. The weather is overcast, but they can see for a long distance. "I can see the rocks better this time! Saki is excited, because last time we could not observe the distribution of the rocks because they were covered with snow and ice. We continued on smoothly, and after about two hours we came to the place where the isthmus was at its narrowest. "Jin, you said the rocks change around here, right?" "Yes, that''s right. ...... look, right there." "Here, here ......, it''s true!" Although there was still some frozen snow in the shade, more than 70% of the ground was visible, and it was obvious that the rocks were of a different color. "Hmmm, did you say radiolarian sheet rock from limestone?That''s why it changes to ....... It''s really red rock. ......" "Yeah. That''s why I''m thinking that the Laurentian continent and the Gondorian continent were attached to each other by a tectonic movement long ago. "Yes, that''s very likely." Saki is still glued to the window. "We can collect rock samples on the way back." "I''d be happy to do that." Capricorn 1 had breached the isthmus before nightfall. The area was now the land of the clan. "I''m sure everyone knows about this Capricorn 1, so it would be nice to see some movement." Before Jin could finish his sentence, he saw a figure in the distance. "Anne, will you go check it out?" "Yes, Goshujin-sama." Anne had accompanied us on our visit to the demon territory last year, so she was well known to us. After all, she had defeated the right in front of them. "Mister Anne, welcome!" A few of them had come out to check on the approaching vehicle, which looked like Capricorn 1. They remembered Anne, so the conversation was quick. "Welcome, Jin-dono! Upon hearing the news, clan leader Maximus personally greeted Jin and the others. "Mr. Maximus, it''s been a while. These are my friends Erza, Saki, Tor, and Vivian. I''m Elsa. Saki, nice to meet you. I''m Saki''s father, Toa. I''m Vivien. Everyone introduced themselves once again. Jin further explained the purpose of the visit. "We have a lead on the missing Archelle," he said. Maximus could not hide his surprise when he heard this. "What?That''s great news!" "That''s why I''ve come to ask you out, Mr. Bellius." "Ah, you''re just in time. As a matter of fact, he was planning to leave for the Loren continent in a day or two to look for Archelle. Hearing this, Jin was relieved to hear that he had really made it just in time. 855 - - 25-03 Start! "Really? < "Yes, I''m sure of it, nine times out of ten." "I''m coming!Let me go with you!" Before Jin could say, "Will you go with me? "Okay, I''ll see you tomorrow." "Tomorrow, please!" Since we had originally prepared to go out, the conversation went without a hitch. "Jin-sama, please take care of Belial and ...... Archelle." Maximus, the gray-haired, golden-eyed clan leader of the clan, bowed his head to Jin. The population of the demon tribe was far from being overpopulated, so it was important to be able to save even one person. "Wow, this is very interesting! Saki''s excited voice. Saki, Toa, and Vivian were being shown around by Maximus'' wife, Famera, and his grandson, Lucilius. Lucilius is 70 years old, which is equivalent to 14 years old in human terms. He was a curious boy, as befitted his appearance, and asked questions as he showed me around. "So, you have something like that over there?" "Yes, but it''s still monopolized by a few aristocrats. Toa is the one who is most friendly with him. Lucilius lost his father early in life, so he enjoys talking to men around Toa''s age. On the other hand, Famerer seems to think of Saki and Vivian as his daughters or grandchildren, and politely guides and explains to them. A soft smile appears on his face. Thus, the visit to the demon territory has achieved its goal without any problems. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning. After breakfast, Jin was getting ready to leave. Saki came to him and told him of her request. "Jin, my father, me, and Vivienne will stay here. "I guess that''s the way it''s going to be. As they had said before, one night was not enough for Saki and the others. That''s why I brought Aal, Steward and Anne with me. "Jin-dono, we will take care of the three of you until Belial returns. Clan leader Maximus assured me. "If you wish, we can call other clans or bring them with us. The closest would be the clans of the <>. The clan that is closest to Jin is a little further away. "I look forward to working with you. If anything happens, Anne and the steward will contact the old man, so there is no problem for the time being. If you want to go home, just call them and they will pick you up from Penglai Island. "It will take about five days at the earliest, or less than half a month at the most. Jin estimated how long it would take. "I understand. Take care. Chief, I''ll be there. Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Belial get into Capricorn 1. Jin, be careful. Jin-dono, I hope everything goes well. Jin, see you soon. Saki, Toa, Vivian, and Aal saw them off. And then Capricorn 1, moving at a speed of about 40 kilometers per hour, quickly disappeared from their sight. "Mister Jin, what are your plans for the rest of the day? Belialus looks uncomfortable in his seat. He looks as if he is worried about his sister. "We are going south through the Great Gorge. That way we will be less affected by the monsoon and weather, so we will switch to <>." "What is <>?" Jin recalled that he had never entered the demon territory before. He had been in Capricorn 1 when he had gone looking for the shell of the ancient dragon. "Well, you''ll just have to wait and see." That''s all Jin has to say about Conlon 2. He would rather elaborate on the underground facilities. As he explains what he has found out so far, Belialus also seems to be surprised. "...... A in the basement of such a place?" < is a follower of a homunculus created by the <. "That''s right. Moreover, I don''t know if he willed it, but his body has been made into an automata. "What! "What''s more, I don''t know how to get to the underground facility in peace. ...... and well, there are still many problems." "I guess so." With this conversation going on, we traveled south for three and a half hours. We crossed the Pazdekst isthmus and entered the Laurentian continent. "How are you doing? The concentration of free magical element (ether) in this area is 10 to 15 percent lower than in the demon territory. It''s like a human climbing a 2,000-meter mountain. "It''s still not a problem, is it?" "I hope so. Meanwhile, Jin''s double had already landed at the rendezvous point. This is where Jin and his double switch places. The time was just noon. There is no time difference since they have been flying straight south. That''s Conlon 2. We are now within sight of the Conlon 2 from the window of Capricorn 1. "It''s called an airship, isn''t it?" Belialus seemed to have some knowledge of airships, as if he had heard it from Theon or Istaris. "Yes. "Yes. That would get us to the El Llad mine in no time at all. It''s just not very good in strong winds." "I can imagine that." Modern earth aircraft are just as vulnerable to strong winds. Even cars can be overturned by gusty winds, so it is not because of Jin''s poor technology. In fact, with the use of a <>, Jin is able to resist any wind that blows on the ground. "It''s bigger than I thought it would be." is 40 meters long. Capricorn 1 is 8 meters long. The appearance is very different. Capricorn 1 is heavier than by far. Reiko, show him around. Reiko, we''ll switch here... so distract her.) Jin instructed Reiko as planned. "Yes, father." "I''m going ahead to check on Conlon 2, Belial." With these words, Jin got off first and ran to the CONRON 2. Then they boarded Conlon 2 and used the warp gate inside to move to Horai Island. Reiko got off Capricorn 1 with Belialus leading the way. They walked directly to Conlon 2. Elsa remained in Capricorn 1. She is supposed to stay behind. In reality, she returned to Horai Island by the warp gate. When Reiko and Belial arrived at Conlon 2, they were greeted by Jin''s replacement doll (double). "Welcome to <>!" greets Belialus in a playful tone. "It''s exciting to imagine this flying ......." Nidouble chuckles and invites Belial into the cockpit. The crew consists of Nidouble, Reiko, and Belial. The crew consists of Hitodouble, Reiko, and Belialus, and Sky11, who is in charge of piloting and maintenance. In addition, there was also a support crew, the Shinobi Unit, who were not shown in the picture. All right, let''s go. "Yes, sir." After a brief exchange of words, Sky 11 lifted off from Conlon 2. "Oh, ......!" A moment of levitation, and then the earth moved away. For a moment, Belialus, too, was glued to the window. 856 - - 25-04 What I found < took off, Erza, who remained in Capricorn 1, also returned to Horai Island through the warp gate. Land 3 was sent in to replace her, and will manage Capricorn 1 here until Nidouble returns. * * * * * * * * * * * <, it is a short jump to the destination, the Elrad Mine, in about two hours. The low concentration of free magical element (ether) was solved by having Belialus drink Persica juice. A glass of juice seems to be enough for half a day. Normally, free magic element (ether) is taken in through breathing, but we knew from the example of 700672 that it could be taken orally as well. "That was fast, how fast was it? Belialus asked him, "How fast were you going?" He answered, "About 150 kilometers per hour. >I''ll add that. While Belialus is speechless at the answer, he observes the surrounding terrain from the sky. Below us rises a mountain that must be over 2,000 meters high. This must be Mt. Mt. El-Lad is a long and narrow mountain stretching from east to west. At the foot of the mountain on the east side is the El Lado Mine, and at the foot of the mountain on the southwest side is the El Lado Ruins. I think that the El Lado ruins may be the key to the entrance. "Yes, that''s right." Nidouble and Reiko discussed this and decided to land near the El-Lad ruins. However, the El Lado mine side is also a bit crowded with people. After dropping Conlon 2 behind the rocks, Nidouble, Reiko, and Belial disembarked by jumping off the ship. All three were carrying small packs. All three carry small packs on their backs, which contain food and emergency equipment. Conlon 2 then quickly ascends. It is to remain at an altitude of about 3,000 meters. "Well, let''s go." The group had seen the site from the air and knew the way to the El Lad ruins. The group headed for the site as fast as they could. "So this is the El-Lad site. ......" We had a rough idea of what to expect from the reports of the fifth column (Quinta and others), but it was still impressive to see the ruins up close, even through the magic screen. If there is an architectural style similar to that of the Earth, it would be Byzantine architecture. Buildings with domed roofs and surrounding towers were conspicuous. Of course, they are not exactly the same, but there are many differences. The scale is much smaller and the materials used are not only stone but also metal in some places. The style is a bit similar to ours. Belialis, who had been observing the building, said in a low voice: "According to the information we have gathered, it looks a bit like ours. "According to the information we have gathered, it was already here about 500 years ago. The exterior looks very well weathered. Nidaburu gently touches the surface of the outer wall. (......) After all, it has been <>. It''s quite strong.) < "Jin-dono, let''s go inside!" Belialus hurriedly said. He wanted to find clues about his sister as soon as possible. "Okay, let''s go!" Nidouble took out a headlamp from his luggage. This is not a flashlight ...... to be attached to the head, but a magic lamp. "This is good, I like having both hands free. The lamp is designed to illuminate whichever way one''s face is facing. Nidouble and Reiko can even sense infrared rays, so they are fine without a light, but they can still see more clearly if there is a light source. However, they could see more clearly with a light source, especially Jin, who was looking at the magic screen from this side. The group slowly stepped into the ruins. "It smells a little musty, doesn''t it?" Belialus held his nose and mouth. Nidouble and Reiko were fine since they did not breathe. "Use this, Belial," he said. Nidouble took out a simple deodorant mask he had made for such occasions. It has a filter made of thin felt with charcoal powder sandwiched in between, so it should be somewhat effective. Nidouble also wears it as a pose, though it is unnecessary except for Belial''s. "This is quite effective." Belialus admires this in a muffled voice. "Our destination is the basement. Let''s look for stairs and hidden passages." Nidaburu calmly observed the situation and spoke up with a policy. "Understood." The three of them walked slowly and carefully, observing their surroundings. Reiko also checked the atmospheric composition. Belialus is a living being. "There shouldn''t be such a staircase in a normally accessible place. They must be cleverly hidden." Nidouble spoke to Reiko as if to confirm. "I think so." Since this area of the ruins is a place where ordinary people also enter, it is safe to say that there is nothing dangerous or noteworthy here. We searched for about an hour and found nothing. "I guess we''re going to have to change hands now. We are going to try our hand at magic. However, what it will cause is unknown, so we will go outside and try to use it from the outside. If nothing happens, we will investigate by moving inside one by one, and so on. "<>" ...... but there doesn''t seem to be a cavity anywhere. "Let''s go a little deeper." So we try to use the sonar, but we do not find any cavity. This was repeated dozens of times. It seems that there are no cavities inside the ruins. "Hmmm ......" The group is at a standstill. The sun is setting and will be setting soon. "That''s enough for today." We may have to change our approach, Jin thought in front of the magic screen. "...... so ...... it is." Belialus answered with a tired look on his face. He would have liked to look for more, but he could not hide his fatigue. < and climbs in. Inside the cabin, there is enough room for the three of us to sleep. However, Reiko and Nidouble do not need to sleep, either. It is just that Jin, who is piloting the boat, needs to sleep. The old man takes over the piloting and Jin also decides to take a rest. * * * * * * The next day, they continued their search, but without success. In the afternoon, Jin suddenly had a thought. "Maybe there is an entrance to the mine, not to the ruins. "Well, that''s a possibility." So that afternoon we decided to check out the El Lado mine. The basic idea was to go deep into all the tunnels. Since there were only about three mountaineers there that day and the rest were quiet, we managed to check all the tunnels before sunset. But the result was <. "Hmmm, I''m not happy. I thought I might find something more. Then... "I think there is something over there. Reiko, who was investigating the southernmost tunnel, shouted. "Really?Let''s check it out. ...... what is this?" There seems to be some kind of magical <. "Hmm, but this seems to be of natural origin. ......" As Reiko digs directly into the rock with her hands, a strange feeling becomes apparent. "Well, this feeling is ......" "Ah." Just as Jin had finished analyzing and judging the information from Nidouble, Reiko had dug up a certain ore. "I knew it." It was a gigantic eladolite. It was shaped like a cocoon, and was a mass that measured 50 centimeters across. "Amazing. ......" It is natural that erladite is extracted from the erlad mine, but something as huge as this is probably a rarity. If they were to be taken out of the mine, they would be forcibly bought up by the managers who monitor the mine. Even if they tried to hide it, they would not be able to do so because of the exploration magic that is said to be used to take advantage of the characteristics of eladrites. "Okay, let''s transfer them." Fortunately, Belialus is checking another tunnel, so he won''t be able to detect us. Jin, who was in Horai Island, hurriedly made a transporter gun with the destination adjusted. The old man delivers it to Reiko by transporter, and Reiko transfers Eladrite to Horai Island, which is a very roundabout way. "But once it''s made, the rest is easy. By "the rest will be easy," I mean the transfer gun. Of course, it is not directly to Horai Island, but it is transferred to <> and sent back to Horai Island from there. This is also for safety. The most significant find of the day was the <>. ....... No clue to Archel has been found yet. 857 - - 25-05 Climbing "Maybe you should reconsider." That night, Nidouble, Reiko, and Belials were conferring inside <>. "There can''t be no way in or out of the <> facility, I think that''s a good idea." "Yes." Even if it''s not in use at the moment, it''s extraordinary that we can''t even find a clue. "Even if <> has an automata body and doesn''t need to eat, Archelle and her homunculus can''t afford not to eat." Such a statement by Nidouble was thought up by Jin himself, who was thinking together with the old man on Horai Island. * * * * In Horai Island, Jin and the old man were discussing. Erza is also participating in this discussion. , didn''t it? >> "......Oh, I see, is it possible that it uses transfer magic to get in and out?" << "But that''s not quite right. < "Hmmm, I see." "That''s what I mean. Either he entered the basement from somewhere, or there is a place where he can make contact with the ." "That seems likely. The question is, where is it?" "I wish I had some clues. ......" While these conversations were going on, there was one point that made Jin''s head spin. "By the way, Jin, did you pay for the eladite you dug up? "What?............Ah, ah! Jin realized after Erza told him. In case you are wondering, the Elrudo mine is under the control of the Kingdom of Selroa and the like, and the Elrudolite extracted there is supposed to be bought by the government. Leaving aside whether the law is appropriate or not, Jin mined without permission. "...... I''ll have to go say no to King Cesar later." < "Okay. I''ll do that." And so it was decided to apply for the discovery of Eladrite as soon as the Archel case was over. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I wonder where and how Archel met ..." Hearing Nidaburu''s troubled mutterings, Belial showed a shocked look on his face. "...... she has always liked to climb mountains. ......Maybe he has climbed Mount Elrud." In this environment where the free magic element (ether) is thin, Tomohito thought, it may be difficult to strengthen the body, but if you simply move your body, it is likely to adapt to some extent. "Or, it is also possible that he was found by a mysterious follower when he was lying on the ground," he said. Reiko pointed out an unexpected possibility. "Anyway, let''s check Mount Elrud tomorrow. That was the decision. The next day, Conlon 2 left the ruins and moved to the northeast side of Mt. They decided that if Archel was coming south from the demon territory and was going to attack the mountain, it was most likely to do so from this side. There was still some lingering snow on the northeastern slope of Mt. We climbed up the slope in the order of Nidouble and Reiko, with Belials in the lead. The average slope was about 20 degrees. The low concentration of free magical element (ether) makes it somewhat difficult for Belialus, but he does not show any concern for the purpose of searching for Archelle, and continues to walk silently. The snow had disappeared, and we could see that plants were sprouting in the areas where the snow had disappeared, indicating that the season was moving toward spring. However, as we climbed higher, the amount of remaining snow increased, and from an altitude of around 1,500 meters up, the world became a world of snow and ice. "It''s still hard to walk." Although we had prepared ourselves for this as we had seen it from Conlon 2, the reality was much more difficult than we had imagined. "It''s no use, let''s go around to the south side. The remaining snow on the sunny south slope became much less. The group traversed the slope and turned around to the south slope. However, the slope on that side was getting steeper. Nidouble and Reiko were fine, but Belials, who could not strengthen his body, seemed to be having a little, or maybe a lot, of trouble. He was sweating profusely and breathing heavily even though the temperature was around 5 degrees Celsius. Nidaburu, in reference to this, makes it look as if he is breathing moderately. "Let''s take a break." The temperature on the south side rose to about 8 degrees Celsius. It was fairly warm as long as we stayed in the shade of the rocks out of the wind. We decide to eat the dry bread that we brought with us. Reiko does not eat, but Nidouble has to pretend to have eaten. Belialus, on the other hand, seems to be hungry and eats the bread with relish. He also drinks Persica juice, and seems to have recovered both his physical and magical strength. "Now what shall we do? Mt. El-Lad is a long mountain stretching from east to west, and its southern side has a steep slope. The rocks are also highly weathered and brittle, probably because they are exposed to the sun so much. On the other hand, there is a lot of remaining snow on the east slope. "I guess we have to go around to the west side. Generally, if the amount of solar radiation is the same, the snow on the west side is more likely to melt when the sun shines after the temperature rises. So the group continued around the slope to the west. "Well, I think we can make it this way. Unlike the east side, which was covered with snow and ice, about 40% of the rocks were exposed. "Okay, let''s go." Without any argument from Beliales, the group began to climb the west slope cautiously. The difference in elevation was about 300 meters. If we climbed 100 meters per hour, we could reach the summit in three hours. "It would have been faster to take Conlon 2 down to the summit," muttered Nidouble. Nidaburu muttered, but Belial denied it. "No, there could have been clues along the way, so it''s not a waste of time. Belialus, who should have been the most physically active, said this, so Nidaburu did not say anything more. "How about ...... for a start?" "How about over there?" Nidouble looked at the place that Reiko pointed at and muttered to himself. "Chimney or ......." Chimney" originally means a chimney, but in mountaineering terminology it refers to a vertical groove in a rock wall. Jin had heard of such a term through TV programs featuring celebrities climbing mountains. "Chimney climbing is a pain in the ass. ......" It is a way to support yourself by propping your arms and legs up against the wall on either side of you. Or sometimes it is your back and legs. "Jin-don''t worry about it! While Nidaburu was struggling like this, Belialus seemed to have found something. "The rock has been cut away..." The place had obviously been artificially modified. And it was still new. Upon closer inspection, it looked like a staircase, or perhaps a ladder due to the strong slope. Anyway, there were grooves in the rock wall where we could put our feet. "It seems to go on forever. Beliales said, looking up toward the summit in the distance. "I''ll go up there." "Right. Reiko and I will look around a little more, and if we can''t find a good spot, we''ll follow you. So Nidouble and Reiko decided to look around a little more. Reiko continued to observe the surroundings, using her eyesight to the fullest, but there was no other place where we could climb. "So this is it. "Let''s go." The two men (two bodies) followed Belialus 15 minutes behind. The tireless automata''s bodies continued to gain altitude, and within 30 minutes they had caught up with Belialus. "Jin-dono, it seems there was no other way. "Yes, this seems to be the only route. That leaves us with the question of who did this processing. "Who it was for is also a mystery." Reiko continues to climb the mountain as if it were a simple task. "We are almost at the top." Within five minutes, the group was standing at the summit. The summit of Mt. It was, however, large enough to be seen at a glance. "Nothing or ......" But the three of them began to search in groups for clues. And then... "Take a look at this." Reiko pointed at something. It was a piece of a precious stone so small that it could not be recognized without a closer look. "Is it a ruby ......?" Nidouble placed the piece, which was less than half the size of his pinky fingernail, on his palm and observed it. "They might be rubies from ...... Archelle''s hair ornament!" Belialus said in a voice that was filled with suppressed excitement. 858 - - 25-06 Destination After careful examination, her brother, Belialus, assured me that the rubies were definitely from Archelle''s hair ornament, so it was confirmed that she had visited this place anyway. The question was what to do next. "We''ll have to check this area first." Nidaburu decided to use the sonar and the ground search to check out the area. "Please wait!" Reiko calls out. I can feel the flow of magic. Reiko''s perception is better than Nidouble''s. "Maybe...maybe...maybe...maybe...maybe...maybe... There''s a possibility that there''s a Magi-machine in the vicinity. "What?What do you mean ......?" Nidaburu holds his tongue. The reason is that most surveillance equipment, such as radar, has the advantage of being located in high places. "So, ......." The way to deal with the situation depends on the type of the magic machine (magi-machine). Staring at the magic screen, Jin thought about it. Is it a surveillance system, an offensive system, or a ...... transfer system? In the case of surveillance, it would be better to assume that Nidouble and his friends are already known to us. Even in the case of an offensive system, there is a big possibility that some kind of surveillance system is attached to it. Even in the case of a transfer system, it is necessary to check if there is anyone there or if there are any obstacles. Jin concluded that we should act on the assumption that there is at least a monitoring system. He communicates this to Belialus through Jin-double. Belialus thought for a moment and then opened his mouth. "Do you hear me, who is watching us?I am Belialus, Archel''s brother. If you can hear me, please respond. They waited for a while, but there was no response. Then Belialus said the same thing again. And again. "......" But there was no response. The sun was about to set and darkness was beginning to cover the area. "It''s late today, Belial. We''ll see you tomorrow." That''s when Jin called out to him. "That one!" Reiko shouted and looked in the direction he was pointing. "What is it?" A part of the summit of the mountain was shining with a pale light. Jin looked at it through the magic screen and guessed with the help of Nidouble''s mouth. "...... could it be a warp gate?" "In such a shape?" "Yes. It''s not on the surface of the rock, it''s probably stored inside. Let''s take a look at it. Nidouble called Belialus and deployed a barrier that enveloped him and Belialus. A few seconds later, a golem-like creature appeared at that location. "What is your purpose, visitors? Belialus responded to this question. "As I said before, I am Archel''s brother. I have come to bring my sister back. Hearing this response, the golem nodded its head. "I see, I understand. Then what about the other two? "I came here to get information about the demons in the basement. I''ve also been told by a friend of mine, that the one you''re looking for might be a follower of the originator. How is that?" Golem''s reaction changed as soon as he heard Nidaburu''s words. "<>?What do you know about ......?" "Not much. But can you take a look at this?" Nidouble took the opportunity to show the he had borrowed from 700672. "Is that ...... mithianite? I understand. We''ll take you in. Come here." The golem recognized Jin and the others and invited them in. After a moment of looking at each other, Nidouble and the others nodded to each other and slowly approached the golem. "Don''t be so cautious, we won''t do anything. I''ll go ahead and wait for you. With that, the golem disappeared. It seems that the warp gate has been turned. "...... Jin-dono, let''s go." Belialus seemed to be more concerned about the possibility of meeting his sister Archelle than he was about the possibility of a trap. As if to express his feelings, he stepped into the slightly glowing ground, which seemed to be the transition range, first. Nidouble and Reiko followed. Then the three of them disappeared from the top of Mt. * * * * * "...... is an unusual specification." Naturally, the destination is inside the warp gate. Jin observed the inside of the warp gate with <> through the eyes of Jin-double. "......Ah, so this is the receiver. Hmmm, looks efficient. ......" Before Nidaburu, who was not neglecting such an observation, "Welcome to ......, Jin-dono." A appears, looking exactly like No. 700672. The golem from earlier is standing behind him. "I am . As you have probably guessed, I am the servant of <>. I am now in the body of an automaton, though." Indeed, his body, which he calls himself <<600012>>, is that of an automaton (automata). ......, and it was not a very good one. "I''m ......." Nidaburu was about to open his mouth, when No. 600012 interrupted him, "You are the Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono, and this is Reiko-dono. And this is Reiko. He spoke as if he knew Jin and Reiko. "We have scouts in the outside world, you know. I''ve known you for some time, Jin-dono. I''ve missed you." His face contorted as he said this. ...... Apparently, he <>. "Well, I think someone got here before us." Nidaburu asks 600012 when he doesn''t see Belialus. Then his face clearly changed. "That''s what I''m talking about. ......" No. 600012 said in a whisper and offered Nidouble a chair. Reiko, knowing that she was an automata, did not say anything. Since Nidouble was also an automaton, she would not get tired, but since there was no need to reveal her body, she thanked him frankly and sat down. "First of all, I must apologize." Jin, who was piloting the Nidouble, was surprised when the 600012 suddenly bowed to him. "What on earth is going on?Please explain. Of course. * * * * * * "...... where am I?" Meanwhile, Belialus has passed through the warp gate ahead of Jin and the others. "......, you''ve come well." A man wearing a mask covering the upper half of his face appeared before him. No, he did not know who the man was, only that he recognized him from his voice. "Who are you?" "I am 60...... no, call me <>." 859 - - 25-07 Lochlet Belialus asked the mysterious person, who introduced himself as <>, a further question. "I think we just passed through a warp gate, is that correct?" The answer to this question was . "Is Alshell here?I am looking for Archelle." Belial told him the reason for his visit. "Yes, he is here." The mysterious figure affirms. Belialus rushes over and asks. Please let me see him! The mysterious man tells him to be quiet. "Well, wait a minute. She is fine. Don''t be in such a hurry, I''ll take you to her. At these words, Belialus regained some of his composure. "Come with me." The mysterious figure beckoned to him. For a moment, Belialus hesitated, but then he resolutely followed the mysterious person. "Here." The mysterious figure opens a door in the corner of the room and beckons Belialus to come in. "Alshell is in this room." Believing his words, Belialus runs into the room. Believing his words, Belialus jumped into the room. "Since you are Jin-dono, I assume you are already aware that my body is an automaton. "Yes, well..." "Yes, well, I cannot stop yet. That''s why I chose to leave my body and take on the body of a puppet. That was the answer I had somewhat expected when I told him about 700672. "Why? It is to fulfill the will of my <>." "Your last will and testament ......?" Yes. I can''t tell you what it is just yet. Jin is in a state of slight disbelief when he hears the words of 600012. But there was something more important to confirm. "So, is Belialus at ......?" "Well, I''ll tell you. I had several prototypes made before I had this body. This is a story that Jin can understand. The last prototype malfunctioned. "What?" Jin asked back, not understanding what he meant by "malfunction. As long as the control core of an automata is made by transinfo, the possibility of such an error is extremely small. It would be similar to copying data on a hard disk. It is true that it is not 100% certain. But more than that, Jin had never heard of such an error that could cause a <>, including in the days of his predecessors. "Did you know that this area is a special deposit?" "Yes." In addition to being a skarn deposit, it is also a place where eladolite (=mithianite) can be extracted. "My master chose this place because he was interested in such materials. There are also quite a few magi crystals. Among them, I found a rare one. Saying this, 600012 turned around, reached to the shelf, and picked up a magecrystal from there. He picked up a magecrystal from it. "Here it is. I named it ." "It''s ......!" It was a pink-colored magi crystal. Jin recognized it. "Hm, you''ve seen it before?" "Yes. The control core of Elena, the Golden Princess of Destruction, an automata who had once been an enemy of Anne''s sister automata, the previous Magecraft Meister, and Adriana''s lineage, must have used this same Magi Crystal. "It was only recently that I realized that it had strange properties. "Isn''t that <>?" Jin, who instantly recalled the time of Elena''s remodeling, said ahead of the others. 600012''s face distorted, perhaps in surprise. . "That''s right. To be more precise, it amplifies <>." "Is that Mithianite''s ......?" "Are you familiar with the properties of mithianite?Yes, it''s similar, but more limited. Different stones seem to amplify different waveforms of magic power. "Is that so?" When I tried to copy Elena''s control core, it once emitted a tremendous light in response to Jin''s magic power. So Jin and Ro-kun came up with a hypothesis that the control core amplifies a specific magic power, but they had not been able to verify it without any other samples. This has been revealed here. "Magi formulas written in Magi language, following the flow of magical control (Magi Sequence). The mana is then moved and becomes magic. What do you think would happen if a specific element of magic (mana) is transformed on the control core that works in such a way?" "Would it be a malfunction ......?" That''s right. It would be similar to the case where certain characters are garbled when typing on a keyboard. "I can''t guess what kind of results this will have. However, I can imagine that the control core will not work properly. To use the previous analogy, it is as if some of the characters in the written program are garbled. It is hard to imagine that it would work properly. "Still, thanks to the system of multiple verifications, multiple calculations, and cross-checking, we have been able to avoid fatal run-ins. Jin felt a twinge in his heart when he heard these words. "Well, you said that we have been able to keep the system from running out of control, didn''t you?What do you mean by that?" "Well, I''m sorry. That''s why I made such a long preamble. And that''s what 600012 said: ....... * * * * "What is this?Alchelle!Archelou!" In front of Belialus, floating powerless in the pale blue liquid, were Archelle. Five of them. The blue liquid was contained in a transparent container, and therefore, the five Archels were also in the container. The container was so large that it could be described as a small pool, perhaps 30 centimeters thick. It seemed to be made of a tough material that did not give an inch no matter how hard Belialus hit it. "It''s no use. That is a failure. "What? Before he knew it, was standing behind Belialus. "It''s hard to say that most of the parameters such as strength, durability, scalability, applicability, and others are above the required values, but only the suitability is below the standard value, so we have to call it a failure." "What ...... are you talking about?" "You, my brother, might be able to make a more suitable body." < twisted his mouth to peek out from under his mask. "So, brother Archel, I''m going to ask you to help me with my experiments." "Wait!Where is Archel? He''s floating right there! This is not Archel!It''s just a thing that looks like Alshell! "What''s the difference between you and Alshell?Do you know the difference between a living thing and an inanimate thing? will, and I have to keep working until I achieve it. That is the reason for my existence." "......" Jin thinks that the 700672 was not this stubborn. (Perhaps it became even more inflexible when it became a control core (......) instead of a biological brain.) I try to imagine such a thing, but I can''t confirm it. "So, what should we do?" Returning the focus to Belialus, Jin. "The other might try to create a homunculus based on this Lord Belialus. Therefore, you can meet him in the bathroom. I cannot interfere with me, but you can, Master Jin. You can rescue him yourself. What is the bathroom? It''s a room equipped to raise homunculi. Let''s go there. Jin wonders if it''s okay to be so relaxed, but since the 600012 is so calm and composed, For the time being, however, since No. 600012 was so calm, I silently went along with him. Nidouble and Reiko followed No. 600012 down the stairs and down the corridor. Jin was a little surprised to find such a spacious space in a basement of 3,000 meters. No. 600012 walks slowly in front of Jin Double. Jin looked at it through the magic screen and saw that its body was quite old (the quality of the material was not so good either). (The quality of the material was not so good either. ......) Although and have advanced technology, Jin seems to be superior to when it comes to automata. As we proceeded, we suddenly came to a place blocked by a large rock. "You 600012, ......, are you in my way like this?" The 600012 is called the 600 It is rather complicated because No. 600012 calls No. 600012, but we can only take it from the back and forth of the words. It seems that he is also refusing in this way because he does not want to harm me. "Well, the 600012 over there kidnapped Belial through a warp gate, can''t you use that? Nidaburu asked, "If we use the same warp gate, we won''t have to go through all this trouble. "That''s a fair question, but their warp gate is usually not working. They must have moved it only when they kidnapped Lord Belialus. "Oh, I see." It is only logical that the gate cannot be transferred if the receiving side is not in operation. Nidaburu stared at the rock blocking his way. "Will this passage collapse?" "Hmm?What are you going to do?As you can see, this passage is made of toughened synthetic nephrite, so it won''t collapse in the slightest. Nephrite, also called jade or jadeite, has a dense structure that makes it tougher than its hardness would suggest (Mohs hardness of 6 to 6.5). Most nephrite is white to green in color, but the one in this passage was white. Synthetic nephrite? "Mm-hmm. It is made by denaturing hornblende. Jin did not have enough knowledge of minerals to understand it completely, but he understood that it was similar to the way a dense metallic structure becomes tougher. I imagine that the "how" is probably something similar to engineering magic. "So, how do we get to the other side?" As Jin was deep in thought, Nidouble, who was being manipulated, remained silent. Reiko, who was accompanying him, asked a question. "Can I bring the magic tool and move it out of the way, or can I smash it and move it ......?" "Can I smash it?" Reiko said something that seemed to be the quickest way to do it. "As long as there is no damage to the surroundings. ......" Before 600012 could finish, Reiko drove her fist into a rock. "Hey ......!" With that blow, the rock cracked countless times. "This will get it out of my way." Reiko said as if it was nothing, and lightly kicked forward. With a single blow, the large rock was blown across the passage, shattering into pieces. In the process, several doors in the passage are dented or broken. "......" "Um, I''m sorry. Nidaburu gently calls out to 600012, who seems to have stiffened, not understanding what had just happened. The voice seemed to bring No. 600012 back to himself. "No, no. I knew from information that Jin-dono''s followers are strong, but I didn''t expect them to be this strong. Jin thought, "It doesn''t sound like much of an intelligence-gathering operation. "Well, well, let''s move on." A passage littered with rock debris. It seemed to be a little hard for the aging body of 600012, who stumbled and tripped from time to time. He went down the stairs at the end of the hall and went down to the second floor below. It''s a pretty big facility, Jin thought to himself. "...... is going to take a long time, is Belial going to be okay?" Jin asked, curious. "I think he kidnapped you to make a better homunculus. The information needed to model a homunculus only requires a single hair." "I see." If there''s no need to drain blood or cut up the body, then it makes sense why the 600012 is so calm. "And where is this girl Alshell that Belialus is looking for?" I thought for a moment that I should leave Belialus out of it, but there was no harm in knowing. "The girl is further down. I asked her to do something that only she could do, but now it''s over." "What?" I''ve been asking her to help me farm a demon called Gigantor Avrum. "Because she can tame demons, right?" "That''s right. And extracting the from the demons. And then she was extracting the from the demons for use in the homunculus. Jin, who had been listening to this story, now had a pretty good grasp of what was going on. The three of them followed the passageway deeper and deeper. They arrived at a dead end. There was a door. "This is the room we want!" 600012 opened the door. It was a room the size of a classroom. In a corner of the room, Jin noticed a warp gate-like magi machine. Perhaps this is where Belialus was summoned. The room next to this one is the bathroom. Perhaps that is where he is. Then the door is opened. There was an automaton wearing a mask and about the same size as No. 600012. Beyond it, a human figure floats in a pale blue liquid. "Is that ...... Archel? It is the same figure as the that Jin recognized from the 700672. There was no doubt that it was a homunculus based on Archel. And on the workbench next to the masked automaton was an apparently unconscious Belialus. 861 - - 25-09 Knowledge Transfer Shortly before Nidouble and the others arrived at the bathhouse. "With that body, you must be better than Archelle!" The masked approaches Belialus. "So, why don''t you wait ...... for me to help you make a homunculus?" Lockele stops moving. "So we don''t have to go to the trouble of creating a homunculus, we can just ...... have its body. ...... hmm." "Wait!What are you talking about? Lockele started to move again. His eyes, peering out of his mask, seem to be filled with a swallowing glint. "It''s all right. I won''t kill you. We''re just going to take your body. I can''t just nod my head and say, "Yes, you can!" Driven by fear, Belial tried to run away. But he was stopped in his tracks by the words of Lockele. "If you refuse, I have no choice but to use Archelle''s body. "What? It''s like he''s holding his sister hostage. Belialus stopped for a moment. "<>" "Aah!" A <> spell shot up from the ceiling, knocking him to the floor. Rocl carries him to the workbench and fastens his arms and legs with restraint belts. He then began to operate some kind of complicated magic machine (magi-machine). The man was in a state of shock. 600012, stop it! The 600012 that came with Nidaburu called out to him. The masked turns around. Through Jin-double''s eyes, Jin could see that the magical skin hidden under the mask was about to collapse. "600012, get out of my way!" the masked No. 600012 shouted. Jin saw that the behavior was unstable. It was jerky, and there was obviously a lot of unnecessary movement. (Is this the evil of using <>? ....... Is it affecting a part of the control system and a very small part of the logic system ......?) Jin who is not in the field can observe calmly. The reaction of the masked one, 600012, seemed to have a slight time lag, and its pseudo-emotion seemed to be very high. "Don''t stop!Well, the interloper there is confusing the 600012, isn''t he?......<" The magic that paralyzed Belialus rains down from the ceiling. But it has no effect on Nidouble and Reiko, who are automata, not to mention preventing it. "What ...... is that?" "600012, that''s enough, that''s enough." But the masked 600012, Rokure, will not listen. "Uh-uh, you people are making 600012 crazy! Golem 7410, get them out of here! <, the 600012, but Nidouble and Reiko are not limited to that. Rokure ordered what appeared to be a generic Golem to get rid of them. "Wait!" Despite the silence of Golem 600012, the two meter tall, copper-colored Golem first attacked Jin Double and then Reiko. It first attacked Jin-Douple. "It''s too noisy!" Jin-Double was not Jin, but it was his creation. Reiko defended Jin-Double, and intercepted Golem 7410. There was a resounding "clang" and the synthetic nephrite floor cracked. Reiko had thrown Golem 7410 away with an "arm throw. However, Golem 7410 got back up, even though it was thrown with such force that it would normally have been torn to pieces. The body of Golem 7410 was not distorted much. (It is surprisingly strong.) Jin in Horaijima was a little interested in the material. "Haha, that''s not enough to stop Golem 7410! Rokure shouts. Hearing this, Jin is reminded of Elena''s madness in the past. "Reiko, finish him off!" Before he could finish his sentence, Golem7410 crashed to the floor again. Reiko jumped up and gave him a heel drop. And it was not just a simple heel drop, but a heel drop with a <>. The heel drop, which was performed not with a weight of 30 kilograms, but with his own body fixed in the air, destroyed Golem 7410''s head, and even sent its body completely crashing to the floor. The heel drop was so powerful that it destroyed Golem 7410''s head and caused its body to completely sink into the floor. "U,un-nuh ......" Rokure, who may or may not have teeth, gritted his teeth in frustration. Then, No. 600012 from Jin''s side immediately called out to him. "Don''t say it. I am telling you to stop. Our mission has already been accomplished. Finally, the words reach Rokure. "...... What!...... what do you mean ......?" The madness seems to have subsided. In a tone of admonishment, 600012 continues. "Here is the one to whom we must fulfill the will of our . Pointing at Nidaburu, the unmasked one, 600012 says, "He is the one who is to fulfill the will of the <>. "You call him the ''successor''?" The masked one, 600012, sounded doubtful. "Yes. < left me a legacy. < "I know. But how do you know he is qualified? "He is Jin Nidor, Magecraft Master. Is there anyone in the world more qualified than he?" "...... certainly has a point. You mean he has the technology to create followers that will keep Golem 7410 at bay. ......" "Yes. I think we''re finally getting it." * * * * "......" Jin, who was kept out of the mosquito net, did not understand what he was talking about. But.... The old man gave his interpretation to Jin. "It is certainly possible, but ......" "Hmmm ......" Anyway, to tell the truth, Hitoshi would rather not be burdened with something he doesn''t understand. * * * * * * * * * * * * "But how do you make the final decision on whether you are truly qualified or not?" The masked No. 600012 replies. "Simple. He has the . That''s enough. The crystal cube he borrowed from 700672 some time ago. Jin did not think too much about what it meant, but it seemed to be important to the 600012. "Jin-dono, will you show me the crystal cube? "Yes, sir." Nidouble pulled out the crystal cube from his inside pocket and showed it to me. "Oh, I knew it was ....... "That''s ......." The two 600012s suddenly kneeled down. "What? I had seen them via Golem, but the reaction of the two in front of me was beyond my imagination. "<>, but ...... I miss it, I really miss the magic power." "...... you who possess it must be <>." The two 600012s extended their hands toward Nidouble. The masked 600012 reached out to the front of the double, and the other 6000012 reached out to the side. The masked 600012 was facing Nidouble from the front, and the other 6000012 was facing him from the side. "Now is the time to fulfill the will of my <>. Thank you for this chance to meet you. "<>" Send info. "......" Before Nidouble could stop them, the two 600012s used Send Info. The two 600012s used < before Jin Double could stop them. 862 - - 25-10 Miscalculation "Now, your legacy is fulfilled. ......" Those were the words of the masked man #600012. After he said these words, he collapsed to the floor. "Ah!" Nidouble reached out his hand, but it was too late, and the masked 600012 hit the floor and remained motionless. "...... has run out of power?" The voice of the other 600012, looking down at the masked figure, is also weak. Perhaps it is a reaction to the use of powerful magic that is too much for his aging body in this land with its low concentration of free magic element (ether). It may be the difference between , which transfers information to those who have the aptitude, and , which sends information in a rather forceful manner. "<>....... The words of my master." After saying these words, the 600012 fell silent. He fell slowly to his knees on the floor. "Oh, me too!Reiko, help me!" Reiko looked at the two 600012s calmly. "Yes." The two then carry the two bodies out of the <> to the next room. Nidouble examined the two bodies briefly and noticed something surprising. "...... Huh?" Surprisingly, the control cores of the two bodies were located in their heads. This must be a unique design policy. Reiko and other Golem automata of the Adriana family are placed in the chest for safety reasons. First, let''s start with the more deteriorated one, the masked one No. 600012. "......As I thought, the control core (control core) is quite damaged." It is in such a state that one would think that it must be about 1,500 years old. It seems that the original control core (control core) was not renewed for some reason, although maintenance and repairs may have been carried out during that time. "I don''t know what ......<> is thinking." Jin thought, "Maybe we can never truly understand them because they are so fundamentally different from us as living creatures. "...... Jin-dono, leave us alone ...... now." The one Jin double met, number 600012, said in a faltering voice. "I''ve already done my job ....... There is no ...... point in prolonging your life any longer. Let me go to sleep. ....... One last thing. We have ......8 people in our basement. Please ...... them. If ...... we stop, this facility will collapse. ....... We don''t have much time. ...... hurry." "What? That''s all he said, and the magic response from the 600012 ceased. "......Are you kidding me?You''ve got to be kidding me!Why do you have to put such security measures in place?Oh my God, ......!" Nidaburu hurried to wake up Belial, who was lying in the next room. "Ugh, ugh ......" Belialus managed to wake up as he splashed his face with water made from < water. "Jin, mister ......" "Can you get up?I hear this place will collapse soon. "What? Belial jumped up. He seems to have no lasting effects. * * * * * * "......, ......, ......!You''ve got to be kidding me!Why do you have to put such security measures in place?Oh my God, ......! Jin complained in front of the magic screen. "Why do you want to disable the facility so easily!" It was like throwing away a treasure trove of valuable information as if it were a toy that was no longer needed. Jin couldn''t think of anything else. "I agree. My Lord, we have eight men underground. Send Lando and his men to rescue them. In the meantime, just get them to the Shinkai." < At Jin''s order, the old man prepares to send 10 units of Lando 90 to 99 by transporter. He sends them in only after he has found eight of them, so that they do not run into Jin double and his group. Jin also decides to leave the operation of the Jin double to the old man. He would be able to react faster in case of an emergency. "Well, I guess we have done what we can do. In front of the magic screen, Jin let out a small sigh. " At this point, Jin remembered that he had a big concern. "I thought it was me, <>, wasn''t it?I heard that you gave me some important information with that. ......" The control core of Jin-Double is equipped with a countermeasure ......<> to prevent it from accepting such interference from the outside. Therefore, Jin double''s control core does not receive any information. If it had been Jin himself, it would have been different. This may be a big miscalculation. "Ah, but..." The shield case not only insulates the core from magic power, but also absorbs it by using the MagiRecorder. "I wonder if you can find some information about the magic recording stone (MagiRecorder). However, there is one problem. Since the MagiRecorder itself does not have a function to organize information, the more information there is, the longer it takes to read it and analyze its contents. Simple magic is easy to read, but not so with a huge amount of data. To use an analogy, it is like recording digital data in analog. It would be similar to recording data on cassette tapes in old PCs (or microcomputers, as 8-bit microcomputers were called in the early days). Moreover, a huge amount of data was stored on these tapes in random order and in no particular order, and in no particular order at all. "When the double comes back, I''ll ask you to analyze it. * * * * * * "Anyway, Alshell must be in this underground facility. I don''t know how long it will take for the collapse to begin, but Nidouble and Reiko have a , so they can transfer and escape if the need arises. In that case, they can easily bring along Belial and Archel. However, they have not yet found Archel, the objective of this trip. Nidaburu gave the immediate target to Belial, who was not keeping up with the situation. At the mention of his sister''s name, Belialus came to his senses. "Yes, yes, Alshell!Jin-dono, it''s Alshell! He pointed at the water tank ...... behind him. "Ugh......" "Ugh......" There were five bodies of Archelle floating there, not moving at all, but they were beginning to crumble, probably because the mechanism to maintain them had stopped. They seemed to be reduced to mere lumps of flesh. Belialus turned away. "Jin-dono, what the hell is Archelle ...... doing ......?" Nidaburu offers words of encouragement to Belialus, whose shoulders slump. "Don''t give up too soon. After all, this is a lifeless imitation. The original Archel must be in the basement. Jin thinks to himself, "It''s a good thing I heard that from 600012 earlier. Yes, that''s right. Let''s go look around. "Yes, sir!" Thus, Nidouble and Belial decided to go around the underground facility. "Reiko, use the Magi Detector to search for them. If the demons have high magic power, they should be able to find it. There''s a signal two floors down. Okay, let''s hurry. The group ran back down the passageway to find the stairs leading to the basement. They saw several golems, but all of them had stopped. "I think there was a staircase along the way," he said. And when he found them, he ran down them, calling out his sister''s name in a loud voice. "Alchelou!" Nidouble and Reiko followed. Then they went to the floor that seemed to be the lowest level. Here, Reiko, who uses the Magi Detector, takes the lead. There is someone ahead. Al-shell? "Probably." Belialus ran out without hearing Reiko''s words. They reach a room. "Is this ......?" The room is what you might call an "infirmary. Beds are lined up, and a human is lying on one of them. They are not homunculi. There are eight of them. All of them have been treated, but they are badly injured. They seem to be in a deep sleep, perhaps for treatment. Jin did not recognize them, nor did Reiko or the old man. Standing among the eight lying there was a golem, apparently in charge of taking care of them. It seemed to have the role of taking care of them. But then, there was only one small figure walking around. He spotted Jin and the others and looked surprised. "...... Oh, brother?" "Alshell!Is that you? It''s you, isn''t it? They slowly walk up to each other. Alshell! Al-shell! The brother and sister who had finally found each other embraced each other tightly. 863 - - 25-11 A servant who has become a doll. Before Nidouble''s visit with Reiko and Belial. 600012 was staring at his hand. They are fake hands. No, his whole body is a fake. The skeleton is made of a reddish metal called orichalcone. The musculature is that of the demon Gigantor Avrum. And the skin is synthetic. The power source is the Magi Reactor, and the brain is the Magi Crystal. "......This is how it survived its existence. No, it may be a different existence already. Muttering to himself, the 600012 turned his gaze upward. There was a round hole about 10 centimeters in diameter. "They found this base and infiltrated it. That''s some impressive technology. The hole had been made by the same who had come with the in the past. It was cleverly covered so that it could not be seen at a glance, but it was easily recognized if one was so inclined to look for it. "I want ....... I want that technology." 600012 mutters in a hushed voice, clenching his hands. "I must continue to exist until the day I finish fulfilling the mission entrusted to me by my ...... master." He thinks of Jin Nido. When he went to check the room, he saw a tiny golem disappear. Upon closer inspection, we found a round hole in the ceiling, which had been cleverly sealed. This meant that they had discovered this base at a depth of 3,000 meters. Whoever the intruder was, there was no small chance that they would come back again, so they deployed the golem with the fastest reaction time and tried to capture it. "It worked, though." Once we captured the golem, it escaped by shifting when we tried to examine it. "I didn''t think such a small golem could use transfer magic. But is it possible for Jin Nido? ...... It seems that Jin Nido had obtained information about Jin''s activities in the demon territory from somewhere. "With his help, we could get a better body. ...... I was waiting for him to send those scouts again, but I never heard from him again, as if he would not make the same mistake. Then he looked up at the ceiling. No, his gaze was directed to the universe, far beyond the ceiling. About to sigh, 600012 remembered that his body no longer needed to breathe. "Hmmm...these habits are hard to break, I guess." With a wry smile, 600012 left the apartment and started walking down the corridor. "I wish I could have contacted you, ......," he said. However, this is not the case for those who come from the other side. So, in fact, it is 600012 who is looking forward to the return of the . "We must continue to exist and fulfill our legacy ...... at any cost." It will soon come true in an unexpected and ...... unexpected way. * * * * * * * * * * * * A room called the bath and education room. It is the room where the homunculus body based on Archel that <> found is being cultured. Several bodies are floating in the pale blue liquid. However, they do not seem to have any life, and at the moment they are no more than lumps of flesh. Unless they are further processed using a , they will never come to life, even if only pseudo-life. A figure with a mask on the upper half of his face is looking at you. He, too, is <<600012>. "I don''t feel so good, do you?" A girl''s voice came. "You''re here." "Well, yeah. She''s like my alter ego, so I''m curious. "I see." A girl with black hair and red eyes approached the 600012. < Hey, when are you going to let me out? Alshell asked, her well-shaped eyebrows furrowed. "I don''t know yet. I can only say for now that when these bodies you have helped me with grow well and transfer all of my consciousness into them. "I know I keep asking you, but when will that be?" "They are taking longer than expected to grow. Well, I''m sure we''ll have a better idea within the next year. "A year, you mean. ......" If Gloria could see this, she''d think it was Alshell. So quiet and insane was Alshell here. "So, is everything going well?I''m getting tired of taking care of Gigantor Avrum ......" "I''m sorry. I''ve already gathered all the psychic catalysts I need, so I can get rid of them now. ......" "...... I''m not comfortable killing creatures without a purpose, you know?" "Mm." No. 600012 nodded . "That psychic catalyst?How can you say that after killing tens of thousands of them to extract it?" "Because I needed it. Then you killed 3,295,433 of them. How long have you been keeping them? About 768 years. "Oh, forget it. I don''t want to hear those numbers. Alchem was annoyed with himself, as he always was when he talked to the 600012. "You know, the last time a soldier wandered in here and you saved him just in time. You''re a good person, aren''t you?" "Are they?We''re keeping him locked up because we don''t want him to know about this place.I''m thinking of erasing his memory and sending him home." That''s what I call a good person. If they''re in your way, just get rid of them. You have the power to do that, don''t you?" The 600012 balked. "I told you I don''t like killing creatures. My master made me that way." "Your master, huh? I''m curious. They''re our ancestors, aren''t they? "Yes. The Fallen are your direct ancestors, born of your master''s union with your ancestors. Archelle looked deeply moved. "No matter how many times I hear it, I can''t believe it, but it''s not a lie. ......" "Yes." Alchel looked down. A feeling of regret comes over him. It was not strange that he looked a little bit like the clan of the . We all have the same ancestors.) Alshell, born with black hair and red eyes and with the characteristics of the <> clan, was a unique person in the <> clan to which he belonged. When this was pointed out to him and he was ridiculed, Archelle sulked, twisted and ran away from the ...... clan. He crossed the Pazdekst isthmus and came to the continent where human beings live. It was an easy task for Alchel, who was able to use the magic of transference. However, he was hungry, injured by a falling rock on the way, bad weather, and low free ether, and lost consciousness at the top of the mountain. However, fortunately, the magic reaction of the 600012 detected him, and he was rescued by the warp gate. It was at this time that he lost his hair ornament. After being saved by No. 600012, Archelle offered his help. He offered his hair to create a homunculus. He shared his knowledge with the homunculus. The first homunculus was physically perfect but mentally unstable. We tried to educate him, but without success, he suddenly disappeared one day by a transfer spell. One day, she suddenly disappeared with several gigantor avrums. This was the Archel that Gloria met. After that, she began to adjust her homunculus more carefully. The second homunculus was given only a basic knowledge of the language, and we tried to educate it slowly. However, in vain, the second homunculus seemed to have used a warp gate, and one day disappeared without a trace. King Cesar, who was the crown prince at the time, found and protected Alshell. However, even though he owed him a debt of gratitude for his help, Alchel was tired of living underground for more than a year. "Big brother ......" The words leaked out of his mouth. They were words that called out to her brother, who had always been there for her, protecting her. "You have a brother?" "Yes." "Well, your brother must be very good." "I don''t know about ....... He was a good brother, but I''d like to ...... see him." "I''m sorry, I know I''m asking a lot of you." I''m sorry, I know I''m asking a lot of you," 600012 apologized. I can''t help it. It''s a promise." Not wanting to break a promise once made was something Archelle was proud of, even at a young age. "Hey, why are you stuck in here?" Alshell asked, thinking that she could get help from others if she went outside. "<>, as it is the will of my master, and I cannot go against it." "Hmmm... ......, that''s kind of a hassle, isn''t it?" The master who created the 600012. A distant ancestor of Archel and the other demon clans. Alshell couldn''t say much more when he was told that it was his legacy. In fact, No. 600012, who had lost all confidence after the two escaped, left the prepared body and did not start to educate it. In fact, 600012, who has lost all confidence after the two escaped, has left the prepared bodies behind and has not begun to educate them. If this situation continues, 600012 will not be able to escape from the body of an automaton, and Alshell will not be able to leave this place either. And then, the 600012 will be unable to escape from the body of the automaton. Little does Alshell know that the 600012 is beginning to wonder if he can somehow get his hands on Alshell''s brother. Their destiny will soon be set in motion. 864 - - 25-12 Immediate Action The two siblings were happy to see each other again. "Jin-dono, thanks to you I have reunited with my sister. "Oh, thank God!" "...... who?" Belialus thanks the stranger and Archelle is wary of the stranger. "This is Jin Nido. He is a Magecraft Meister, a benefactor of our people. Belialus explained briefly about Jin Nido and what he had done for the magical people. "Oh, really?...... I was also surprised when I heard here that humans and us have the same ancestors." "I see. ......" Archelle had gone through a lot of hardship and had grown up a lot mentally, Belialus looked at his sister with a deep emotion. "Archelle, let''s go home." "...... yes, big brother." At that moment the floor shook. "What? The collapse has begun! It''s been about 15 minutes since 600012 said that. The grace period seems to be over. Let''s get out of here! Nidouble takes Belial''s arm and Reiko takes Archel''s arm. They grabbed each other''s arms and activated the transporter. "...... where are we?" The four of them left the Shinkai. They did not want to go directly to Horai Island. "It''s like an intermediate base." So once again, the four of them were transferred to the island of Horai by . Without giving Belialus and Archel time to recognize Horai Island, the old man used the transporter to transport the four to the top of Mt. The information from the ground monitoring satellite indicated that the collapse was limited to the underground facilities and did not affect the mountain itself. On the other hand, in exchange for the transfer of Nidouble and the others, Land 90 to 99 with transporters were sent to the underground facilities, rescued the eight injured people, and protected them in << and rescued the eight injured people and protected them at <>. At this time, we secured two golems, one each of which had become immobile, and brought them to <>, although it is a misnomer to say that they were left over ....... Thus, our goal was achieved. * * * * * * * * * * * "This is ......" The four of them stood at the top of Mount Elrud, where the stars twinkled. Archelle and Belialus, unable to keep up with the developments, are stunned. Still, the act of shifting itself is familiar to them, so they manage to swallow it as fact and regain their composure before <> descends. "Thank you, Mr. Jin, for your help in finding Archel. I can''t thank you enough." "Jin-san, is that right?Thank you again. Belialus and Archel thanked Jin. Then came down with its magic lamps lighting up the sky. "Oh, what is that? "That''s the Conlon 2, the airship I built. Al, it''s a flying ship! "What?Can you do that? Yes, it can. Unfortunately, you can''t see it now because it''s already dark, but tomorrow morning you''ll be able to see it. Nidaburu and Belial give a brief explanation to the skeptical Archelle. Meanwhile, landed. "Come on, get in. You don''t want to spend the night in this cold place, do you?" The temperature at the top of Mt. Elrud had dropped below freezing, but the cabin was air-conditioned and kept at a comfortable temperature. "Wow, it''s warm! Alchelle looks relieved. Nidouble and Reiko have prepared a light meal. Bread and soup were especially well received by Archelle. "Wow!Decent food!" Seeing this, Jin asked what they were eating at 600012. "Um, some kind of sloppy, tasteless porridge. Hearing this, Jin wondered if it was some kind of synthetic food. Too bad such a facility is probably at the bottom of a collapsed rock. "Ah, thanks for the food." After eating as much as he could, Archel patted his stomach in satisfaction. Jin thought that now they could finally talk slowly, so he made an after-dinner cup of tea using his Jin Double. "Archel, what kind of people were those eight people in the basement of that facility? How could there be eight people in the underground facility that even they had barely found? Nidouble asked what had been bothering him. "Well, ...... they suddenly appeared at my Gigantor Avrum''s ranch and attacked me." "What?" Jin thought it sounded familiar. Then he immediately remembered the incident in the Kingdom of Selroa. "Dali''s warp gate! Eight soldiers were sent out to investigate the mysterious facility, followed by a special golem. The images sent by the special golem showed a large number of gigantor avlms. He then learned that the warp gate was connected to this place. "So they were saved. King Cesar would be pleased, Jin thought. However, he had been attacked by a gigantor avrum, and although his limbs were not completely disfigured, he was still quite injured. Jin thought that it would be better to have Erza heal him before sending him back to the Kingdom of Selroa. "Did you keep Gigantor Avrum to extract the ?" "Uh-huh. You certainly said something like that." It seems that Archelle was being kept as a model homunculus and as an aid in obtaining the spirit catalyst. Jin thought it was a waste that he could not bring the spirit catalyst. Jin had more questions, but it was getting late at night, so he decided to leave the two siblings alone. "You two take a rest in this space." The seat could be made fully flat by folding down the backrest. "Thank you, Mr. Jin. "Thank you, Jin ......." Nidouble and Reiko went to the cockpit and closed the partition door. Once the two siblings were alone, Belial asked Archelle, "Archelle, what are you doing here? "Archelle, why were you there?" Belialus asked the obvious question. Jin wanted to know about the circumstances, but he had refrained from asking because it seemed to be a private conversation. Archelle turned her head and began to speak in a halting manner. "......You know... I left home and walked south, and found myself at the top of that mountain. ......" * * * * <>, after letting the person escape>>. "Of course it was." Jin and the old man were looking back at the series of events. "Indeed. ...... Oh, and you brought the golem out too?" < "You did a good job. That golem is probably a completely different strain than its predecessor. I think you can learn a lot from it." Jin, who had seen 600012 for a little while, was intrigued by the differences in its structure. "But one thing I don''t understand is how the warp gate in Dali was connected to that facility." << "Possibly, it is because the frequency coincided with Dali''s warp gate. . There were many other things I wanted to talk about, but the time difference between Horai Island and Mount Elrad is about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Therefore, the date had already changed on Horai Island, and Jin went to sleep leaving the operation of the Nidouble to the old man. 865 - - 25-13 Ending The next morning, in the brightening sky, was flying toward the Pazdekst isthmus. "Wow, wow!Wow, wow, wow!" Archelle, flying in the sky for the first time, is full of excitement. "You''re so excited, even though you said you''d just use the transfer magic to get home. Belial muttered to himself in a low voice so that Archel couldn''t hear him. Belial knew exactly how he felt. "What do you think, Archelle? Belialus also went next to Archelle and looked down at the ground through the window. "Yes, I think I know what my brother is talking about. Looking at the siblings, they are no different from humans. Jin once again ponders how to reconcile the demons and humans. At that time, Jin suddenly thought of an idea and asked about the homunculus that had escaped. The answer was . The second homunculus is under 700672 as , but the first one is still there. Jin wondered in many ways if the first one was still wandering around somewhere with its madness in its heart. Capricorn 1, near the Paz dextro isthmus. Erza had returned using the warp gate and greeted the group with a look that said she had been away from home for a long time. "Welcome home. "Erza, thank you for staying at home. "Erza, thanks to you, I''ve been reunited with Al-shell. Nice to meet you. I''m Alshell." With these words exchanged, we all board the Capricorn 1. This time, Jin double intends to let them go straight to the demon territory. Jin himself was going to go to 700672 first to report what had happened and to ask for advice. He would also remember to pick up the crystal cube to return it. is returned to Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Half a day later, in the territory of the demon tribe, the clan territory of the <>. "Hey Jin, thank you for your hard work. It looks like everything went well." Saki and the rest of the group greeted them. We had a very productive time. Toa looked satisfied. Vivian looked a little sleep-deprived. She had been up late talking to the group all day. "Alchel!We were worried about you." "......Sorry, Chief. ......" Archelle apologized to Maximus, the clan leader. He said he was sorry enough, so he did not complain too much. After that, he went back to his parents with Belial. Nidouble looked a little envious as he saw them off, perhaps reflecting Jin''s heart. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well..." Jin, who is in Horai Island, leaves the operation of Jin-Double to the old man, and decides to go to No. 700672. > Reiko is now in the demon territory with Nidouble. "Well, I guess I''ll take Lol with me." Lol, an automata with blue hair of the same lot as Anne. Since the old man has continued to educate her, she is considered to be close to Anne in knowledge, if not experience. "Master, will you allow me to accompany you?" "Yes, let''s go." Yes! The basic order against demons is probably weaker than the other blue-haired automata, Refa, but Jin was worried about letting her meet demons suddenly, so he thought he would start with first. < are not demons, but they are not human beings either. Not knowing how Lol would react, he decided to have come with him just in case. What about Jin? I guess I''m relying on Reiko, after all.) (I guess I am relying on Reiko, after all). "Oh, Jin-dono, welcome! No. 700672 greeted Jin as usual. "Welcome, Mr. Jin." "Welcome." Rouge, a homunculus modeled after Archel, is looking well. Neige, a homunculus modeled after Archel, is smiling next to her. "And you?I''ve never seen an automaton before." Yes. This is Lao Tzu. And this is the recently discovered Rolle. "Well. I see you''ve had a lot of trouble with ....... "Yes. ......" In a small talk way, Jin told them about the <. "Oh, there was such a fortress against demons?" "Yes. Yes. But we managed to get away without causing any human casualties. That''s great news. So, what can I do for you today? Jin pulled out a crystal cube from his pocket. "First of all, I would like to return the crystal cube that was entrusted to me." "Hmm. Is it useful? The 700672 asked as he received the cube. "Yes, I will explain about that. You entered the underground facility via the warp gate from the top of Mt. Two automata called themselves "600012". As soon as the two automata were shown the crystal cube, they fulfilled the will of their <> and stopped moving. After that, the facility collapsed. At that time, the bodies of the five homunculi modeled after Archel collapsed. ....... "Hmmm, interesting story. ...... First of all, about the number 600012, I guess it is a servant even older than I am. You have kept your master''s will for a long time, and now you have fulfilled it. I hope you can rest in peace. At 3,000 meters below the surface, Jin thought, he would be able to sleep undisturbed. "But I didn''t think you would react that way just by seeing the crystal cube ......, or rather, feeling its vibrations." "I''m sure you did." Jin nodded, "If you could have predicted it, you would have warned me when you gave it to me. "It may have something to do with the malfunction caused by the , but since it''s already been done, could you give him a break from digging?" 700672 is just a 600 No. 700672 seemed to want to let No. 600012 and the others sleep as they were. Jin sensed this and nodded silently. "But what is this knowledge they entrusted you with?" "That is ......." Jin heard this and drooped his head, explaining the reason. "So, your countermeasure against the <> backfired and you didn''t receive it properly?" "Yes, I will try to analyze it now. Do you have any idea what it is?" Clutching at straws, Jin asked 700672. "......" 700672 meditated and thought about something, then opened his eyes and gave a reply. Jin-dono, I can''t imagine what it is. "I see. ......" I''m sorry, but there''s nothing I can do. "And as for those five half-baked homunculus, they must have been left unattended without the use of a . If that''s the case, I don''t think they''ll become proper homunculus in the future." Is that so? "Is that so? The part of him that corresponds to the brain must have atrophied. There''s nothing we can do about it. If you''re worried that I''ve left him to die, I''ll tell you that you''re wrong. "I see. ......" The fate of the five was already decided when the 600012s gave up on trying to reanimate themselves in Archel''s body. I guess. "Don''t look at me like that. It''s not your fault. ...... isn''t much consolation, is it? I''m sorry. "Master, I''m sorry. ...... Lol, who had been silently standing diagonally behind Jin, grabbed him by the sleeve. Jin patted Lol''s head. "Oh, I''m sorry. I''m all right." Then, after exchanging a few details, Jin left the 700672. Saki and the others also left the demon territory aboard Capricorn 1. They promised to meet again. Thus, the series of events that took place underground in the El Lado Mine came to an end. 866 - - 25-14 Post-processing Jin left the 700672 and began to deal with the aftermath. have reviewed the giant Eladrite and the eight soldiers of the Kingdom of Selroa. The old man speaks up. is the magical brain that Jin obtained in the recent Magi Fortress. It is a military brain made at the time of the Magi Wars, and is now in charge of the Kunlun Island. Since it was made for military use, it can be relied on for planning. "Yes, let me hear it." <<> "Yes, that''s what I mean. The basic premise is that we would like to inform all the nations about the Origin, Servants, and the Demon Tribe at least at the same time after the World Conference is held. If possible, I would like to keep it a secret for the time being. <<> "Hmm." You are not wrong. < shortly afterwards. "Mm-hmm." It doesn''t seem unnatural to me, and I can even say that they are behaving in a way that is just as well. . "Well, I guess you could say that." < That could be the reason for the delay in the application for the Eladrite, Jin thought. >. "I see." Jin can sympathize with this so far, as it is a reasonable development. The problem starts here. <>. This may not be a problem, since they have collapsed. << The important thing is that the eight were alive, and that they were giant eladrites, the old man said. "Is that so?"Well, it''s an underground ruin, but I''m sure someone will come to investigate it." Jin thought about it. With the technology that exists in the world today, I don''t think that anyone other than those related to Horai Island can go 3,000 meters underground and investigate the collapsed facilities. On the other hand, if the technology is up to that level, it would be useless to hide the facility from the public. "Yeah, that would be nice." And finally, 6,000 of Nidouble''s magic recording stones (MagiRecorder)......2 Finally, he instructed them to analyze the contents of the Magi Crystal, which should have received the information sent to them by the < of Jin Double''s Magi Recorder (Magi Recorder)2. * * * * * * * * On March 22, <> was on its way to the Kingdom of Celuloa. On board are Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Edgar. The pilot is Steward, and his assistants are Lily and Rose, two new girl-type SPs. The passengers are eight soldiers of the Kingdom of Selroa. Erza treated them at Nido Castle for the whole 21 days. Nido Castle was used because it was close to the former Leonard''s Kingdom, a place where their knowledge would not be a problem. The eight had been asleep until then. "Wow, this is the view from the sky! "They say it''s faster than our airships!" "I don''t know if I should say I was lucky to get on board or unlucky because I had a terrible time." Let''s count ourselves lucky that we''re going home in one piece. "Yes, I think so. I''ve also had the rare experience of flying. But that was some serious healing magic. "Yes. < "She was a beautiful ...... girl. Some of them talk about the excitement of flying for the first time, others praise Erza for healing their injuries. "But when we were surrounded by those demons, I thought it was all over. "Yes. Just before I lost consciousness I thought I saw a little girl. You idiot, you''re hallucinating. "Of course it''s a hallucination. I don''t care how much you know. ...... "But you know what? I think I saw her too." "You must be seeing things wrong. There can''t be a girl there. I know that''s true, but... You must have been going crazy with fear. They talked freely about the tragic experiences that were etched in their minds. Although there was no doubt that the girl was Archelle, Jin and the others did not say anything and let them do as they pleased. About three hours after leaving the village of Kaina, Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa, came into view. Jin slowed the speed of and slowly lowered the altitude. The castle should be visible from the castle by now. Sure enough, two hot air balloons came up for confirmation. They seem to have developed their own propulsion system by watching and imitating. They are very good in that respect. "This is Jin Nido. I''ve brought eight soldiers from your country. Using wind magic <, he tells the hot-air balloon crew, and one of the balloons descends. This was probably to tell the royal castle. Jin stopped <> at a suitable altitude until there was a response from the ground. The other hot air balloon floated along with it. Half an hour later, the Kingsguard can be seen lining up in front of the Royal Castle. A large banner is waved. On the banner was written . "I see, so that''s how they let people know what''s going on in the sky. Jin was impressed and thought that such hand signals should be made common among all countries as soon as possible. Upon his descent, he was personally greeted by Cesar Valois de Celuloa, King of the Kingdom of Celuloa. Jin and Erza arrived on the ground accompanied by Reiko and Edgar, respectively. "Jin-dono, welcome. Erza, welcome. "Your Majesty, please be at ease." After a brief exchange of greetings. Jin-dono, what''s the meaning of eight of our soldiers? Your Majesty, I have good news. Good news? Good news? Yes. ...... Lily. <, opened the aft hatch. "Oh ......!You guys! Eight soldiers ran down from the hatch and formed a line. King Cesar seemed to recognize them as the soldiers who had wandered out of Dali''s underground facility and gone missing. "Well, you''re safe. Thank God, thank God." The eight soldiers were temporarily entrusted to Ragaid, the director general of the First Military Ministry. "And one more thing. ...... Rose." "Yes, sir." There was a loud cheer. < holding a huge eladrite. "What is this? "This is an Elradite found in the ruins of Elrad. "Mmm, I have never seen anything like it!" Ramburo, the First Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, who was standing next to King Cesar, grunted. As it was not appropriate to discuss further outside, Jin and the others were invited into the royal castle. 867 - - 25-15 Rewards "......, that''s why." "I see." Jin had just finished explaining the situation in the office of King Cesar, as he had discussed with the old man. "So, the ruins were buried under the collapsed rock?" "Yes, I''m very sorry to hear that." ...... can''t we dig them out?" Maybe someday, if you don''t mind the cost and the number of days it takes to get there. We have no idea how long it will take, Jin added. As for the location, he suggested the hole where the giant eladite was dug out. In fact, the hole would look like that because it was filled with rock debris, and in fact there was a 60 0012 facility was located there. But it was still not an easy place to get to. "Well, I guess so." King Cesar looked disappointed. "But how did you manage to get there, Master Gin?" "Yes, half by chance, I suppose. I was lucky." Ramburo, the First Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, opened his mouth to Jin, who nodded. "The Eradolite is also a great achievement. It''s definitely the biggest ever." Nothing was said about the fact that the application was not filed on the spot. That was to be expected. King Cesar then opened his mouth. "Hmmm. ...... Lambreaux, what is the price?" "It''s a little bit out of my price range. ...... What can I do for you?" With all the recent influx of goods, even the Kingdom of Celuloa was having financial difficulties. Then Jin interrupted. "Excuse me, but can I have it in the form of materials instead of money?" "It depends. ...... "Well, I would like to have it in copper." "Hmm." The copper-colored Golem 7410 that Reiko had dealt with at the facility had left some scattered fragments on her clothes when she had destroyed it. A quick examination of it revealed that it was an alloy based on copper. And copper production is < low on Horai Island. Elsa found out that the current storage capacity is about 10 million tons. This is the result of mining 10,000 tons per year for 1,000 years. Other metal resources (structural) are much larger. Iron is one order of magnitude higher and light silver is two orders of magnitude higher. Hence, they asked if they could receive a reward in the form of copper. Incidentally, the Kingdom of Cerroa and the Shoro Kingdom are two of the largest copper-producing countries on the Laurentian continent. The total annual output of the two countries is approximately 500,000 tons. This is equivalent to the production of Mexico on Earth. As a different topic, there is a theory that the use of metal resources began with the use of naturally occurring resources. Natural gold, as represented by gold sand, is the best example. Another naturally occurring metal is copper. Copper is the most abundant naturally occurring metal on the earth, and is relatively widely distributed and produced in large quantities, which is why so many copper and copper alloy tools were made in the past. The natural gold, on the other hand, was produced in small quantities, so it was used for coins and jewelry. In the recent Ars world, the number of metals that can be used has increased, and copper has lost its place to the tougher iron and lighter lightweight silver, and demand for copper has decreased, even though its production has not changed much. Let''s take a break from this story. Hearing Jin''s request, Mr. Lambreaux, the First Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, took out a document from a shelf in his office and flipped through it. "Well, we have about 1.7 million tons of copper in storage. I don''t care how much you want, but how about .......1 million tons?" "Eh?" 100,000 tons of copper would be 2500 billion dollars. That''s 2500 billion dollars. As well as the amount of money, 100,000 tons of copper has a specific gravity of 8.6, which is 1162.8 cubic meters. That is equivalent to 10 50-meter pools (50 meters x 15 meters x 1.5 meters). That is the equivalent of 10 50-meter pools (50 meters x 15 meters x 1.5 meters). The problem of how to transport the ingot will arise. It would be easy to transport the ingot through a warp gate, or even easier with a transfer gun, but that is not an option. "I can''t put a price on that Eladrite. Besides, he saved eight of our soldiers. Plus, the gratuities from the other day. I''m afraid that''s not enough. "Your Majesty." You said it was priceless, but the exchange rate for a gram of El Ladroit is 50,000 Tall. The huge Eladrite weighed about 200 kilos, so that''s 10 billion Tall, but considering its rarity and size. But considering its rarity and size, even ten times that amount would not be enough, Lambreau explained. "Thank you." Jin and Erza thanked him. Erza then made a request. "If possible, could you please make an inventory and an account book for us? We can''t do it all at once, so we would like to receive a few tons each. "I see. So that you can keep track of the amount you have delivered and the amount remaining? Yes. And the date. King Cesar nodded. "Yes, I see. Ramburo, make the arrangements." "Yes, Your Majesty." Thus, the payment of the gratuity was settled. Since there was about half an hour before lunch time, King Cesar offered Jin to continue the meeting. Yes, whatever you say. "Yes, as you wish. I''ve been wondering about the recent end of the Claud Fort riots and the change of government in the Kingdom of Franz. "Yes, I am acquainted with the former Duchess of Lafayette, the new king, but that''s about it. As for Fort Crowe, I know nothing more than hearsay ......." "I suppose you are right. But the Lafayette family ......, ah, Catherine, is it?" Yes, I had the opportunity to make her acquaintance when I visited the town of Loron on a trip. King Cesar nodded in agreement. "That may be so. I have met you several times and I must say that you are a friendly person and you take good care of your people. Frankly speaking, if the Lafayette family established a dynasty, it would be a peaceful one." King Cesar smiled as he said that he had traveled around the country as much as possible during his time as crown prince. "The best thing is for the countries to settle down and be at peace. Jin smiled back. "Indeed. Some say that technology advances as a means of war, but it is an ungrateful progress. "I agree." Jin''s wish is for a peaceful world. "Yes, the meeting of the heads of state was very useful. I hope we can have such a meeting again in the future. "Yes, really." While they were talking like this, it was time for lunch. Jin and Elsa were accompanied by King Cesar. Unlike their predecessors, the meal was quite simple. However, the ingredients were not too unbalanced, and meat and vegetables were used evenly. The taste was also quite good, showing the ingenuity of the cooks, who believe that good food is not only a matter of spending money. After the meal, Elsa paid a visit to Richard the First. "Well, thank you very much for your hospitality, Miss Elsa. Elsa was greeted by her maid of honor, Merve. Elsa had been Richard''s doctor for a short time, so she and Merve had gotten to know each other quite well. (......How is Richard''s condition?) (Yes, his face has become calmer recently. (Yes, his face is calmer these days and he is able to move around a lot.) After asking about his condition briefly in the corridor so that the patient would not hear her, Elsa went into the hospital room. The room was furnished more like a living room than a hospital room. "...... Oh, Dr. Elsa, how have you been?" Richard''s nutritional condition had improved considerably during the short time he had been away from her, less than half a month. His complexion had improved and his chapped cheeks had gained some flesh. On the other hand, the fierceness he had shown during the struggle for the throne of King Cesar seemed to have disappeared. "His nutritional condition is good. Please continue to take good care of her. Elsa, who had finished her examination, now told Merve in a voice that even Richard could hear. (If this continues, even under house arrest, the former king will be able to live a peaceful ...... and happy life for him?...... for the rest of his life). Waving her hand to Merve, who thanked her again and again, Elsa left the hospital room. 868 - - 25-16 Analysis Results After leaving the Kingdom of Celuloa, Jin and Erza were flying in . It is 3:00 in the afternoon. Their next destination is Leusert, the capital of the Kingdom of Shoro. In short, they are going back to their home. "I feel like I''ve been away for a long time..." "......... I feel like I''ve been away since the end of January." It''s been a long time since I saw Barrow and Behle. Today is March 22nd. I had not been back home for more than a month and a half. Flying about 500 kilometers at 200 kilometers per hour, it would take two and a half hours. Because of the time difference, it was 4:30 p.m. when I arrived in Leuthart. We slowly descend to the landing area on the roof of the house. Barrow, who may have noticed this himself or may have been told by Butler D, greeted Jin and the others on the roof. "Jin-sama, Erza-sama, Reiko-sama, Edgar-sama, welcome back! "I''m home. Thank you for your hard work. I''m sorry I was gone for so long. No, that''s what I''m supposed to do. The grown-up Barrow bowed his head. Jin left Lily and Rose to moor <> and headed for the stairs leading downstairs with Reiko, Elsa and Edgar. "Welcome home, sir." At the top of the stairs leading downstairs, Behrle is waiting to greet Jin and the others. "I''m home. Thank you for staying at home. Would you like a bath or would you like to eat first? "Well, I''d like to take a bath." Yes, of course. Yes, sir. After taking a bath, Jin and Erza enjoyed their first meal in the Shoro Kingdom in a long time. After all, there was white rice and miso soup with bonito broth. Of course, you can have these foods in Horai Island as well, but the taste of the rice is slightly different. It seems that even the same variety of rice tastes different depending on the environment in which it is grown. Yes, the rice here tastes lighter. The rice from Horaijima is stickier. Jin likes both types of rice. If I had to say, the light rice is more suitable for sushi and rice bowls, while the sticky rice is more suitable for lunch boxes and rice balls. Of course, Jin''s preference is to eat the rice as it is when it is cooked. "Then there is rice with seaweed or rice with an egg on it. ......" Jin wished he had access to soy sauce in abundance. "Well, let''s have a little talk about the future. After lunch, Jin sat down across from Elsa and began to talk in a light tone over a cup of hojicha tea. "There are two things we need to focus on. The transport ship and the car. "I understand that transport ships are used to transport copper. I''m also looking forward to the car. "Oh, Elsa told me about that, didn''t she? A golem wagon would be fine, but I''d rather go by car anyway. Jin ties the knot, though he hasn''t decided on any details yet. Elsa asked him a question. "What about the spaceship?" Reiko answered. She has been receiving occasional reports from the old man. Since Jin had been busy with many things recently, he was going to give a summary report when he had achieved enough results to let us know. "The small prototype seems to have been successful. I understand that you are now testing the medium-sized prototype. By small, I mean the experimental machine that the mini-golem rides on. It is roughly one-sixteenth the size. The medium size is Little Golem, which is one-fourth the size of Little Golem. Each of them is about 50 meters in size for one quarter. ...... The small size will be 3 meters long. The medium size was to be 12 meters. "To be more precise, the small prototype went through the stratosphere and into the vacuum of space, where it was tested for three days and found no problems, so we began work on the medium prototype." We will report back to Jin as soon as the mid-size prototype is successful," Reiko concluded. "Well, I''m looking forward to it." Jin thinks that since they are going into a completely unknown world, they want to be extra cautious. "Well, we''ll start with the transport ship. Let''s see what we can do. ......" Jin thought that we could load the copper in the Kingdom of Selroa, go out to the sea via the Naudaria River, and then go up the river that flows out of Lake Tosmo, whose name I don''t know, and arrive at Koju. But Elsa said to me, "Oh, the Inert River has many bridges, so a big boat is impossible. Elsa told me, "Oh, there are too many bridges on the Inert River. "Hmmm... ......" If we just want to take the boat to Horai Island, there''s no problem. "Then, why don''t you get the copper you want to use here?" Erza''s words made Jin realize now that he had that idea. He has enough money to buy the copper. The Shoro Empire is also a country that produces a lot of copper. "But why do you care about copper?" It was only when Erza asked him a question that Jin realized he was alone in his convictions. "Oh, I don''t remember talking to Elsa about this..." "Yes, I don''t remember hearing anything about it. "I see, I''m sorry. I''m sorry. Actually, it''s a piece of the Golem 74-10 that was used by 600012. I just happened to have a piece of that Golem7410 or whatever it was that 600012 was using. Hmm." "Then I found it''s stronger than steel. I was so surprised that I asked the old man to examine it in detail. The result was an alloy of copper and beryllium. The copper alloy contained 2 percent beryllium and a little cobalt. If that were all, it would be the same as beryllium copper on Earth, but when some neutrons are replaced by magic molecules, as in the case of mithril silver, the strength of the alloy increases dramatically. "Such copper can be found on Horai Island." The beryllium copper to which about 20 percent of the copper from Horai Island was added was stronger than that to which ordinary copper was added, and had a strength comparable to that of 64 light silver. "We''re still experimenting to see what would happen if the neutrons in the beryllium were also replaced by magicons, but maybe we''ve discovered the orihalcon." "Orihalcon?" Erza tilted her head at the unfamiliar word. "Ah. Originally, orichalcone is a legendary metal that is said to have existed in the past on my planet, but there is a theory that it was a copper alloy like bronze or brass. Some say it is a reddish metal, and the corresponding metal is copper. Bronze, which is made by adding tin to copper, became a very hard metal, and it was the age of bronzes until iron was put to practical use. In ancient China, during the Shang period, the word <> seems to have referred to copper. Gold was called <>, and iron was called <>. It is said that the reason for <> gold is because only very brittle iron could be refined. "I thought that if it was strengthened with free magical element (ether), it could be an Orihalcon. At that moment, Reiko interrupted. "Father, it seems that your guess is correct. I just received a call from the old man." "What?...... Okay, let''s hear it from him. I''ll be right there." Jin was light on his feet when it came to anything to do with magical engineering. He got up and went to the basement. In the basement of the mansion there is a warp gate that leads to and from Horai Island. Leaving Erza at home, Jin moves to Horai Island with Reiko. "Reiko told me. What did you find out?" < The information sent by the two 600012s by sendinfo (The information sent from the two 600012s by < was written not into the control core of the Jin double, but into the <> for absorbing the rewritable magic of the slaves. Since the same information was emitted from two locations almost simultaneously, some of it interfered with each other and became meaningless as data. Such data amounted to almost 50 percent or half of the data. "That''s too bad." <<< Yes. However, some information was not needed in today''s world. How to make a homunculus. "Well, yes. Since we can''t get a psychic catalyst by ordinary means, we can''t make a homunculus, and we don''t need one. < "Oh, that''s for sure. Since we are currently building and experimenting with prototypes, it is indeed unfortunate that such potentially useful data is no longer available. < "Oh, so the golem was made of orichalcone. << "It might be good to know the direction with a compass." <<< Yes, it is. ......, so I think it is safe to call the Magi beryllium copper developed by the Master (Mylord) an Orihalcon. Thus, the fantasy metals known to Jin, namely adamantite, mithril, and orichalcone, came to exist in reality in this world of Ars. 869 - - 25-17 Application On March 24th, Jin and Elsa accompanied Reiko and Edgar to Miyagi by <>. The Conlon 2 had already become Jin''s identification card, and he was able to land in the vestibule without being stopped. As expected, a guard of honor arrived to greet him. Among them was a familiar face. Flora Heckerat, the eldest daughter of the Heckerat family, the female knight of the Kingsguard, who lived across the street from Jin''s house. "<> Sir Jin Nido, welcome. Welcome also, Elsa and Leko." Edgar was the only one who was not named because he had not received his rank. "His Majesty is waiting for you." He had seen the return of <> yesterday and was looking forward to the arrival of Jin today. Jin and the others are immediately ushered into the office. "<> Sir Jin Nido, Erza Ehime, Reko Ehime, it has been a long time. The empress, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shoro, welcomed Jin and the others. "What can I do for you today?" After the greetings, the emperor becomes even more frank. She did not care that the serious Flora was making a sour face at her side. "Yes, first of all, I''d like to talk about the accident that happened in the Kingdom of Selroa. ......" Jin explains the case of the underground ruins in Dali, where a total of eight soldiers went missing. "Yes, all eight are alive. Jin, thank you. Erza, you did a good job. The success of Jin and Erza, who were more or less related to the Shoro Empire, was a cause for celebration. "And now, is there anything else?" "Yes. Actually, I would like to visit the country of Mitsuho, though not immediately, and I would like to ask your permission to do so. Since official diplomatic relations had not yet been established, even if, hypothetically, he was allowed to freely enter and leave the border, he was afraid to go to the Land of Mitsuho without permission. "All right, I''ll let you go through the formalities. By the way, the day before yesterday, Tohr Eschenbach came to ask for the same kind of permission, are you going with him?" "No, I don''t intend to. No, I don''t think they are going on their honeymoon as well. The emperor looked at her with a momentary pause, as honeymoons are not customary, but she immediately understood what he meant and smiled. "Oh, that''s what I meant. That sounds like a very nice custom. A celebration, a vacation, and just the two newlyweds. ......" After a moment of admiration, the emperor turned to Jin. "So, who''s going to Mitsuho?Jin-kun and Elsa, just the two of you?" Flora''s face became more and more austere as she was now completely frank in her address. "No, myself, Erza, Reiko and Edgar. And I''m thinking of bringing Hannah and Saki." "Hannah...... oh, that pretty girl. And Saki ...... because Toa is with Stearina, I suppose." The emperor nodded knowingly. "Is that okay with you, Erza?" Erza, suddenly asked to speak, replied with a puzzled look on her face. "Uh, yes." Seeing the look on her face, the emperor sensed that she did not understand, so he added a few words. "Are you sure you don''t want to be alone with Jin-kun?" Her face turned red in a flash. "Uh, yes. Not yet, no. The emperor smiled at her answer. "Yes, not yet. At that moment, Flora coughed beside her and the Empress straightened her posture. The emperor corrected himself. I will issue the permit. But there are two conditions. What are they? One, no commercial transactions. But personal purchases are exempt. In short, the Shoro Empire has not yet established formal diplomatic relations with Japan, and it would not want other countries or organizations to enter into such agreements with the Shoro Empire. Jin is no longer an individual, but a . "Okay, that''s fine. Jin answered immediately. I am confident that we can mass-produce it in Horai Island as long as we can get the sample. "One more thing, if possible, I would like one of you to go with the title of belonging to the Shoro Kingdom. Jin does not want to bind himself to a single country as Kunlun, but he wants Erza or Saki to go there as a member of the Shoro Kingdom. This was a natural request, since they would be issuing a permit for the Shoro Kingdom. "Yes. Erza and Saki are from the Shoro Kingdom. Jin readily agreed. The Empress smiles and thanks him. "Thank you. I will take care of the procedure for issuing the certificate, though it may take a few days. It might take a few days, but it was not something that the queen alone could approve. "Please do so." Unlike Jin, Her Majesty is a busy woman, so the audience ended with that. Jin and the others leave the office. Just then, Elsa''s brother Fritz Randall walked by. "Oh, brother! "Oh, it''s Elsa. And Jin-dono, it''s been a long time. I''m glad to see you''re doing well. "You too, Mr. Fritz," he said. Fritz laughed, his face a little tanned. "Yes, I arrived home last night. I am relieved to have brought Goliath home safely and without incident. "Did you see your mother?" When Elsa refers to her mother, she is referring to Marlene Randall, her foster mother and Fritz''s real mother. "I was thinking of going there today after work. It''ll give me some time off." "Then why don''t we go in the <>?" "What, Brother Jin?" Erza was the first to react to Jin''s unexpected offer. "......I guess I should tell you that we''re engaged." "......Uh,yes." Erza''s cheeks flushed a little. "Ha, I see, you haven''t done that yet. I''ll be happy to go with you then!" Fritz laughed and slapped Jin two or three times on the back. Jin frowned a little painfully. "I''ll be at your place around 3:00 p.m., thank you. With these words, Fritz left quickly. Elsa walked down the corridor with Jin by her side. Elsa walked down the corridor with Jin. "Do you need something to take back with you?" Jin returned to the house and discussed the matter with Erza. Incidentally, there is no such custom as a betrothal gift in this world. There is no such custom in this world, but Jin was wondering if he should do something to express his intention now that he is engaged to be married. "...... I don''t know much about it either." Elsa, who had been boxed in, couldn''t have known. The same goes for Barrow and Behle, or rather, they are commoners and have no way of knowing what the nobles do. The time is still before noon, so there is plenty of time to spare. "...... this is Reinhardt, right?" "Yes, I agree." They agreed. They take Reiko and Edgar and use the warp gate in the basement to get to Reinhardt''s . "Didn''t Reinhardt return home in a hot air balloon before the emperor?" "Yes, he did." As we climbed the stairs from the basement, we met Bertsche. "Well, I thought I heard you two talking. How are you today? "Well, I wanted to ask Reinhard some questions, and I felt bad that I didn''t call you, but I came here. Jin scratched his head and Bertsche looked apologetic. "Oh, is that so?My husband went out in the morning and hasn''t come back yet. He had left because he had been told by the village head that he had something important to discuss with him. "If it''s all right with me, I''ll come to you. "Brother Jin, I''m sure Mr. Bertsche knows about this too." "Yes, I do. So Jin decided to ask Bertsche. 870 - - 25-18 Heating "Is the engagement procedure ......?" "Yes. I happened to meet Mister Fritz today and we''re going to Elsa''s parents'' house this afternoon. I also have to say hello to Elsa''s mother. "Yes, that''s right. ......" Bertsch took in the situation and thought about it for a moment. "It is normal for two nobles to have an intermediary or a ''go-between''. Jin heard this and thought that it was someone like a matchmaker in the modern world. In our case, it was my brother Matheus. "Oh, I see." Jin changed his mind about the matchmaker he knew. "My brother was a good friend of my husband''s, and the three of us used to play together. Bertsche explained that often someone who was well acquainted with the couple would act as an intermediary. "In other words, someone who bridges the gap between the two families and the two people." "That''s what I mean. It would be unusual for a man to make an application to a woman''s house by the person who is to be engaged." "Hmm. ......" In that case, the most suitable intermediary would be Reinhardt, of all people. "So when will Reinhardt be back?" "I think he''ll be home as early as a little after noon. It would be around 11:00 a.m. local time. "Well, I''ll come back around that time, so could you talk to Reinhardt when he gets back? "Yes, I will." Then Jin remembered that he had one more question he wanted to ask. "Oh, and will there be some kind of gift for them?" "Yes, of course. It is customary to give a memento that symbolizes the man''s home, but I am not so particular about it now. My husband gave my parents a portrait of me. "A portrait. ......" "He had it painted by a top artist, though." Jin seemed to have made up his mind. "Thank you, that''s very helpful. I''ll see you later. Yes, I wish you the best of luck. He continued, "I''m sure you''ll do your best. Jin flew to Horai Island instead of Reuthert''s house. "Brother Jin, are you going to cook something?" Erza, who had followed him, tilted her head. "Yes. If Reinhardt is a portrait, I''m ......." "...... are you a doll?" Erza, sensing Jin''s intention, is the first to speak up with an answer. "Correct. That''s why it would be even better if Erza were here." "......" "Oh, it''s not a figure, okay?It''s a proper plastic statue." Jin, who understood Erza''s feelings, said to her as if to appease her. "...... like the one you took to the Kingdom of Cerroa?" "Yeah, well, yeah." "......" Jin, who had some idea of what Erza was imagining when she heard the words "your doll," hastened to give a supplementary explanation. "I''m telling you, it''s a proper plastic statue." "Uh-huh." He reminds them that it is not something that will show their body lines. Jin ignores the swimsuits for the Golem boat races. "In the first place, I wouldn''t make Erza look like that even though she''s a doll, a doll that might be seen by the general public. "Uh-uh." With Erza''s cheeks flushed and dismayed, Jin began preparing to make the doll. First, the materials. "Reiko, I''ll need white or clear quartz or crystal. About a hundred kilograms, I think. "Yes, father." "And ...... I think the blue is cobalt. ...... I''m not sure, I''ll have to experiment." What Jin is trying to make is a glass figurine. Made of 100 percent quartz (crystal), it is called quartz glass, which has good heat resistance, low thermal shrinkage, and high transparency. It is difficult to make without magic, but Jin had engineering magic. <><>" Fuse a block of quartz into a single piece, remove impurities, and you have transparent quartz glass. Now comes the problem. "Old man, you have cobalt, don''t you?" <> No, we don''t need that much. ...... but I have a feeling we shouldn''t use the metal as it is." That is correct. What we need is cobalt ion Co2+ as oxide or chloride, not cobalt metal. "Yes, we can''t stop thinking about it. First, we can powder cobalt metal and apply heat to it. ......<>" "Father, it has turned black. ......" Reiko says worriedly. Indeed, the silver-colored cobalt powder had now turned blackish gray. "This is evidence of oxidation. Add a small amount of this to the glass and ......<<>" Since this is an experiment, a small amount of cobalt oxide was added to a small piece of quartz glass. However, it is not blue at all. Rather, it looks like a fine powder has been mixed into the clear glass. "...... Hmmm, it doesn''t work..." Jin thought about it. "Brother Jin, why don''t we have lunch first?Perid made delicious soba noodles. "Yeah. ......" Jin left the workshop and went to the restaurant. "Yes, it''s delicious. The buckwheat noodles were white because they were made from carefully hulled flour. They are white because they are made from carefully removed hulled buckwheat flour, and they go well with the light sauce. The noodles are cooked just right. Drinking soba-yu (buckwheat water) with the remaining broth, Jin looked out the window. The sky was literally cobalt blue. "Brother Jin, is it not going well?" "Yeah, well..." "Is there anything difficult in engineering magic? "Ha, yes, I guess there are. Without engineering magic, we would have to heat the glass and melt it ......." Jin''s words were cut off at that point. Jin looked down and thought about it, but before Erza could worry him, he looked up, "Maybe it''s ......!Thank you, Elsa! He shouted and ran to the workshop. Reiko follows her, and Elsa rushes after her. Edgar was in last place. "Oh yes, the heat!It''s only when it melts that it gets that color!Why didn''t I notice it before? The glaze, the glaze of pottery, also develops color with the heat applied. In the ease of engineering magic, Jin had forgotten about this. "Well, we don''t have time to make a crucible or anything, so ...... Reiko, keep the glass floating with the warding and <>." "Yes, Father." Reiko, like a skilled craftsman, uses the force field generator to lift and hold the glass mass encased in the warding successfully in the air. Jin shoots engineering magic at the glass floating in the air. <>" Heat is applied to the quartz glass until it melts. The temperature is about 2,000 degrees Celsius. Homogenization The cobalt added is further homogenized so that it does not become unbalanced. <>" Now cool it down. Then ....... "Oh, it''s done!" There it is, a deep blue colored lump of glass. "Beautiful ......" The deep blue looked more like the color of the sea than the sky. "Too much cobalt. Let''s reduce it a little more." Jin made half and a quarter of the colored quartz glass as a coloring sample. "Okay, this is the color." The quartered version is a light sky blue, just like aquamarine. "......" Elsa watched Jin''s work in silence. First, in a cold state. Next comes the heating. This time, Reiko fixes a 100-kilogram mass in the air. <>" Heated until it softens. "Okay, <>" Quartz glass has a low coefficient of thermal expansion. In other words, the heated object will not crack even if it is cooled rapidly. "It''s done! "Wow, it''s beautiful! A light blue quartz glass block. "Okay, now I can process it." Jin multiplied it by <. The glass block changes its shape like a clay sculpture. Jin glances at Elsa''s face during the process, and continues the transformation. "It''s done!" It took Jin an unusually long ...... time for him, a full minute, and then it was done. "Wow. ......" It was a one-meter tall statue of Elsa in a dress with a long skirt. 871 - - 25-19 Engagement Ceremony "This is great, Jin!" I turned around and saw Reinhardt standing there. He had heard from Bertsche and had flown over. "Hmmm... a statue or a plastic model of the bride-to-be to be given as a gift. That''s good!I should have done the same thing!" Reinhardt praises both the idea and the statue. "But is it made of glass?If so, it must be very expensive. Although glass has a long history, colored glass is basically not in circulation. There was stained glass in a church I visited with Reinhard and Elsa, but I was told that it could not be reproduced with today''s technology. In Ars today, colored glass is only distributed as colored glass that happens to be colored by impurities. "Her face looks just like Elsa''s. The color is indescribable." "Brother Rai, don''t look at it too much, it''s embarrassing." Elsa''s cheeks were dyed as she gazed at the face that looked exactly like hers, even though it was a statue. "Haha, I get it. ...... Jin, you''re going to give me this as a gift to commemorate our engagement, right?" "Yes, yes. And for Reinhardt, ......" "Don''t tell everyone, I''ll take care of it." Reinhardt was pounding his chest. * * * * A little before 3:00 p.m., Fritz arrived a little early, like a soldier. "Jin-dono, Erza, please." "We''ve been waiting for you. This way, sir." Jin had already prepared himself, so he took Fritz to the roof. Elsa said, < "You know what I mean!I want to go as soon as I get there. Erza''s advice must have been right, because they are climbing the stairs laughing. Erza and Edgar were waiting for her on the roof. Elsa is wearing a formal dress. Jin, by the way, is dressed in his formal attire as the , i.e., a suit arranged in the style of Ars. Reiko was wearing the cloak of a knight. "Sorry to keep you waiting, let''s go." "Come this way, Mr. Fritz." Fritz is led by Edgar to the . Jin and Elsa followed. "I can''t wait to see how it flies." Fritz sits in the window seat. I could see from his face that he was excited. "Okay, let''s go." Jin calls out, and Butler D releases the mooring cable, and <> floats up. Today''s pilot is Lily. "Oh, it flew! Fritz is excited like a child. Flying, after all, is an eternal dream for mankind. The straight line distance from Leuthart to the town of Eksi is about 40 kilometers, and <> arrived in less than 20 minutes. We landed on the outskirts of Eksi, in a meadow just a stone''s throw from Fritz and Elsa''s parents'' house. "I wish I could have stayed in the car a little longer," Fritz said lightly. Fritz disembarked from the boat with such a lighthearted remark. Two carriages were parked there, with Reinhardt standing beside them. Fritz smiled when he realized why he was there. "Oh, Reinhardt. ...... I see, you''re the go-between. You''re certainly the right man for the job. "Mister Fritz, glad to see you back safe and sound. Please get in." Reinhardt looks very formal. It seems that he has already taken on the role of mediator. As evidence, he spoke to Jin and Erza in firm words. "Jin-dono, please take your baggage to the carriage behind you. You and your fiance go this way. You and your fiance are coming with us. Edgar would be very grateful if you could protect his luggage. "Thank you for your concern." Jin sensed the mood and matched his words. The gift was placed in the carriage behind them, as they had asked, and Edgar would take care of it. The gift was wrapped in a cloth, but there was no need to worry in case anything should happen to it. Then the two carriages start to drive away. However, a slow five-minute drive takes them to Elsa''s parents'' house. Inside, Reinhardt gave Jin a brief orientation, "Just feel like you''re on a big boat," Reinhard said. ......Oh, yes, please think of a simple greeting to give to Elsa''s mother when you tell her of our engagement." "What?Now?" Jin was astonished. Reinhard said apologetically. "Oh, I''m sorry for the delay. Well, as long as it''s not too bad, I''ll follow up. ...... Elsa hardly has to talk at all." "Hmm." "Ha-ha, that''s hard work." Fritz laughed, thinking it was someone else''s problem. While they were talking, they were already at the Randall house. The servants, who had probably been contacted by Reinhardt, were waiting for the group. First Elsa and then Fritz got out of the carriage. "Welcome home, Miss Elsa, Mr. Fritz". The Randall family is headed by the female baroness Elsa, who is formally higher in rank than her brother Fritz. "I''m home. Is your mother here?" Yes, she''s waiting inside. Yes, she''s waiting inside. Sir Jin Nido is here today. Yes, sir. Reinhardt then came down and invited Jin to join them. Jin-dono, please come in. Erza stood in front, and Reinhardt and Fritz stood on either side, welcoming Jin as he stepped out of the carriage. Reiko, a valet, jumped down and helped Jin to get out of the carriage. Jin, who had been given a brief explanation of the procedure in the carriage, alighted silently. Reinhardt advised him not to say too much or he would be exposed. Then, led by a servant, he entered the building and headed for the small hall at the back of the front. This is a place where simple ceremonies can be held. There stood Marlene Randall von Nefra, Elsa''s foster mother. "Mother, I''m home." Elsa bowed her head. "Aunt, it''s been a while." Then Reinhard greeted her. "I am here today to bring your daughter, Miss Elsa Randall, into the world of good fortune. "Thank you very much, sir." Marlene bows. At this point, Reinhardt motioned Jin forward. "May I introduce to you Sir Jin Nidor, the and recognized by many nations." Reinhard introduces Jin once again. This is another necessary step. My name is Jin Nido. "Sir Jin, this is Marlene Randall von Nefra, mother of Ehime Elsa. I am Marlene, Elsa''s mother. It''s a beautiful day, and your marriage to my daughter is such a waste of time, that I have the honor to come here to propose this betrothal. "......" "......" The air in the room became delicate because I had never heard such a speech before. The air in the room became delicate.) Jin began to feel cold sweat on his back, wondering if his hastily thought-out speech was wrong. "Well, well, here is a gift from Sir Jin Nido to commemorate our engagement. It was wrapped in cloth, and four servants were carrying it from the carriage. Edgar was leading the way. "This way, sir." The gift is placed diagonally in front of Marlene. Edgar carefully unwraps the cloth. And then. "Oh, ......!" "Oh ......!" Marlene''s voice rises. The servants gasp. "Sir Zin Nidor made this statue himself." A statue of Elsa in a long dress. It was made of a rare light blue quartz glass. It is not surprising. With the appearance of this statue, Jin''s somewhat cryptic remark earlier seems to have been left behind in oblivion. Thank you, Mr. Jin. I humbly accept my daughter''s likeness. Please take good care of her for many years to come. "Yes, I''ll bet my life on it." Marlene took Erza''s hand, which was staining her cheeks, and placed it on Jin''s hand. "Elsa, you must adore Jin-sama, support her and help her. "Yes, mother." Reinhard and Fritz applauded as he finished. A beat later, the servants applauded as well. "With this, the betrothal ceremony has been concluded without delay," declared Reinhard as the mediator. Reinhardt, as the mediator, declared, "With this, the betrothal ceremony between Jin and Erza has ended without a hitch. 872 - - 25-20 Talks After the engagement ceremony, Jin and Reinhardt were unusually sitting around the table together at the Randall residence. "Oh, I''m so tired." It was Jin who was tired, not physically but emotionally. "But I was a little surprised by Jin''s remark," Reinhardt teased as he sipped his wine. Reinhardt says in a teasing tone over a glass of wine. "Don''t say that ......." Jin blushed, saying that he had been somewhat incoherent himself. * * * * * * "Elsa, you look happy. "Yes, mother." Erza and her mother, Marlene, were talking across from each other. "Are you kind to me, Jin-san?" "Very much." "Very. Yes. ......You have been looking forward to this day ever since you rebuilt the house of Randall, haven''t you?" If the current head of the family, Elsa, marries, she will need a successor. She was thinking of her older brother, Moritz. Now that the betrothal is officially made, the application to the government will surely be accepted. This would restore the Randall family, which had once been destroyed by the scandalous actions of Elsa''s father Georg, to its rightful place in the family. "...... Speaking of which, where''s my father?" Georg has been left disabled after a stroke and Marlene has been taking care of him all day long. "He is much better nowadays. His speech is faltering, but he can stand up if he has something to hold on to. I''m sure he will be happy when I tell him about your engagement. "...... I guess so." In Elsa''s mind, when Georg had gone crazy under the influence of Marcus Grinwald, who was controlled by the demon tribe , he had said, < At that moment, something shattered within Elsa. Was it the unparalleled trust in her parents, or was it the bond between parent and child? Either way, Elsa was traumatized by her father. After that, Georg was unconscious, and thanks to Erza''s efforts, he managed to recover and became calm as if he was a different person. However, deep in his heart, the fear of his father''s rejection still lingered. * * * * * * How are you feeling, father? Fritz, on the other hand, was alone with his father. Fritz is alone with his father in a large room that serves as both bedroom and living room. The doll in his care now is an automata, <>, prepared by Erza. She is a platinum blonde with a short bob and light blue eyes. She is the same model as the one given to the Marquis Theoderic. It was given to him in February of this year in exchange for Edgar, who had left it in his possession. "Flippin'' ....... You''ve grown ...... strong. You look ...... like you''ve had a good tan." "Yeah, I just got back from the Kingdom of Cerroa. Yeah, just got back from the Kingdom of Celuloa. You look pretty good too." Georg''s face is calm as he enjoys listening to his son who is now also a soldier. "Oh yes, Elsa brought her fianc here today..." "A ...... fiancee?" As soon as he heard the word, Georg''s face seemed to frown for a moment, but it quickly returned to normal. "A ...... man named Jin Nido or something like that?" "Oh, you know him, don''t you? Yes, that Jin Nido. Yeah, right. ...... Georg closed his eyes as if trying to remember something. Fritz said nothing and stared at his father''s face. "......He seemed happy, huh?" After a while these words escaped from Georg''s mouth. "Oh, the happiest I''ve ever seen. "Oh, I''m glad to hear that." "...... I must tell you, Jin-dono, you are now the , and are relied upon by many nations. He has the confidence of His Majesty. And ......" "......" Don''t say that. I know. If ...... she''s happy, that''s all that matters." Dad. I''ve done more to her ...... than I should ever have to face. Fritz understood his father''s feelings when he realized that he too had been under the spell of suggestion. "But you should see him at least once. He''s your father." Fritz said these words and left the room. Fritz then went to the guest room. Jin and Reinhardt were staying in the guest room, which was a two-bedroom apartment. He knocked, waited for an answer, and opened the door. "Sorry to bother you this evening. "Welcome." Jin and Reinhard greeted Fritz. "I just came from visiting my father." Reinhardt set out a new glass and Jin poured the wine. "Thank you." Fritz took a sip of the wine offered to him and began to talk. "My father was getting better. "My father has improved a lot, but only in terms of his ability to speak and to feed himself," he said. He is also able to do daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and toileting with some help. "That''s good to hear." Reinhardt chimes in. "And..." Fritz put down his wine glass and turned a serious face to Jin. "Go see your father. Take Elsa with you." "What?" Jin was not quite sure what was going on since he was the first to draw a conclusion. "He doesn''t say it out loud, but he''s sorry too. I think he wants to apologize, ......." "......" Reinhardt didn''t say anything, but he had been around when Erza''s father had gone off the rails, so he could understand how he felt. So he waited to see what Jin would say. "Well, I''ll have to go there in the morning. Without a hint of hesitation, Jin answered, "I guess I''ll have to go there in the morning. "After all, you are Erza''s real father, aren''t you? "Jin, that''s just like you." Reinhardt was a little relieved to hear Jin''s unconcerned manner. "Oh, then I''ll go with you tomorrow." Fritz says happily. "See you tomorrow, brother-in-law. Fritz leaves the table after finishing the rest of his wine. "Yes, brother-in-law." Jin replied in a similar tone. "Should I talk to Elsa later tonight?" After Fritz left, Jin consulted Reinhard. "Well, I don''t know.I think we should leave him alone tonight, don''t you?" "I don''t know. Mother and daughter, we have a lot to talk about, Reinhard said. "Okay. Then let''s do as Mr. Fritz says and leave it for tomorrow. And that was the end of the story. But Reinhardt was not finished. "Jin, now that we''re done with that story, tell us about the ruins that were under the Elrud mine, and about the golem you recovered from there! "Yeah, sure." Jin smiled at Reinhardt''s Reinhardt-ness and began to explain. "The most characteristic feature of the golem is that it has a control core in its head. It is true that it is not wrong in the sense that it imitates a human being. ......" "Well, that''s interesting." "Well, that''s interesting." "What''s interesting is the material. It''s a metal called orichalcone, an alloy of copper. ......" The discussion among the craft idiots continued until late into the night until Reiko stopped them. 873 - - 25-21 Report and The next morning. In the dining room, Jin, Elsa, Reinhard, Fritz, and Elsa''s stepmother Marlene meet for breakfast. In the quiet atmosphere, Fritz speaks up. "After this, I''d like you and Erza to meet your father. "What?" Erza was the most surprised by that statement. "Well, that''s ......." Just before she collapsed, she recalled how her father had been a bitter enemy of Jin''s. "Let''s go, Elsa. "Let''s go, Erza." Before Erza could say anything, Jin called out to her. "Yeah, but..." "Don''t worry. I''ll go with you. Reinhardt also spoke to Erza in a gentle voice. "Erza, since you are all telling me this, you should do as you are told. "...... yes." Finally, her stepmother Marlene''s words pushed her back and Erza stood up. "Come on, let''s go." "...... Jin brother." Unusually, Jin took Elsa''s hand and tried to walk down the hallway ahead of her. ......But... "I''m very sorry, Jin-dono, but my father''s room is this way," he said. Fritz pointed in the opposite direction. Erza''s mind almost went blank at this sudden turn of events, but she calmed down a little when she realized that Jin was also feeling quite anxious inside. Erza wrapped her arms around Jin and led him to her father''s room. When Jin was about to knock, Marlene stopped him. Jin-sama, I will go first. Marlene knocked on the door and opened it after receiving a reply. "Excuse me. ......Good morning, my dear." "......Oh, good morning......! Georg''s eyes widened as he was being helped to his feet by Lara, the automata. Of course, it was because he had spotted Erza and Jin behind Marlene. "Oh ...... before ......" Georg''s gaze fell on Erza. The way she was leaning against Jin, her arms crossed, the bashful look on her face. "...... I see." I can understand what Fritz said to me last night. I had never seen that look before.) Georg was ashamed of himself as a father, though he could not say it out loud. Since he had been unable to move, he had been looking back over and over again at his life. It is not a good thing for a sick person. It is not a good thing for a sick person. It is not good for one''s mental health, because one often regrets and torments oneself. However, Georg, with his military-like persistence, was thinking about his future, even as he repeatedly reflected on his past. One of them was a blessing for his daughter. "Elsa, the congratulations. I wish you happiness. Before Jin and Elsa could open their mouths, Georg said the words he had always wanted to say to his daughter. Then, in reverse order, Erza, Jin, and Reinhardt report to Georg. "...... father, I am going to marry." With tears in her eyes, Elsa said. "Georg, I am pleased to inform you that I and Elsa are now engaged. I''m here today to tell you the news. "Uncle, this is Reinhard. I''ve come as an intermediary between Miss Erza and Jin-dono. Jin and Reinhardt were firm. Each of them told Georg. * * * * * * * * * * * * "......Good for you, Elsa." After leaving Georg''s room, Jin smiled and called out to Erza, who was standing next to him. "......n." Erza, who still had tears in her eyes, gave a small nod. "You''ve changed a lot, Uncle. The desire for success can change a person, for better or worse. Reinhard analyzed Georg''s desire for success, which was probably formed by a mixture of feelings of inferiority and rivalry with his brother, who was a count, and other emotions, and used it as a binding sentence against himself. On the other hand, Jin, who had nothing to do with the desire for success, "I guess that''s how Elsa''s father really feels. I guess now that he''s retired, he can finally speak his mind. He told Elsa, "I guess he can finally speak his mind now that he''s retired. I guess both of them are right. People, human hearts, have a darkness that even they cannot fully grasp. * * * * Reinhardt went back to his own house that day, but Jin stayed at Erza''s parents'' house for the next two days. He got along well with the servants, who were originally few in number. Reiko was especially popular among the female servants. However, as usual, she remained unfriendly to everyone except Jin. On the afternoon of March 26th, Jin and Elsa decided to leave Elsa''s parents'' house. "Mother, I will come back." "Mother-in-law, thank you very much for your hospitality. Mr. Jin, please take care of Elsa. After exchanging these words, Jin, Erza, Reiko, Edgar, and the others headed for <> on foot. The <> had returned to Leuthart and was moored on the roof of the house. Reiko contacted us this morning and sent it to us again. As expected, it was not advisable for security reasons to leave the boat moored in the meadow for two or three days. After returning to Leuthart, Jin did not go back to the house, but went directly to Miyagi. As usual, he requests an audience with the Empress without any formalities. After waiting for about 30 minutes, he was shown into her office. Jin-kun, welcome. What can I do for you today? His tone was frank from the start. Today, instead of Flora, he was accompanied by the prime minister. "Yes. The other day I became officially engaged to Elsa and went to her parents'' house to greet her. "I heard. I heard you gave her a beautiful statue as a gift. Jin was secretly surprised by the information network of the emperor. "I have ......, so I''ll send Elsa to ......." The emperor stopped Jin with a hand and turned to the Prime Minister. "I understand. You want to change the patriarch from Elsa Randall to Moritz Randall, don''t you? Yes. The title of sub-baron is hereditary, so Moritz will inherit it. Is that correct? Yes. Erza''s goal of reviving the Randall family has now been achieved. What are you going to do now?Are you planning a wedding? "Well, uh..." Erza is puzzled by the sudden mention of a wedding. "We''re planning it for the fall." But Jin declared clearly. "Brother Jin? "Yes, in the fall. It''s the season when the weather is nice. I''d love to attend. "Yes, if I can." "Yes, if you can." "I''ll take it seriously." After exchanging such words, Jin and the others left the palace. The emperor was too busy to chat with them. "Brother Jin ......" Erza felt a little reassured by Jin''s clear statement that the wedding would be held in the fall. 874 - - 25-22 Engine Manufacturing The engagement ceremony is over without a hitch, and Jin returns to Reuthert''s house. That night was the first time in a long time that he took it easy. As one would expect, being at the home of one''s fiancee''s parents is a nerve-wracking experience. The next day, the 27th. Jin finally moves to Horai Island with Erza to start the car project. * * * * At the research institute on Horai Island and Jin''s workshop, Jin first began to think about the outline of the project. But first, he got stuck there. "Hmmm, what should I do ......?" "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" Unusually, Jin seemed to be troubled, so Erza, curious, called out to him. "Oh, Elsa. I was just thinking about cars. Would you listen to ......?" "Yes." Sometimes, when you are lost in thought, having someone listen to you can help you find a new path. Elsa decided to sit opposite Jin and listen to him. "First of all, let''s start from the premise that you have <>, right?" "Yes. "That''s the one whose appearance doesn''t match its contents, right?" Erza agrees. "And the . That was also a ship that was built with a bind on it. "Yeah." "...... and I''m thinking of making it a car, too, with such bindings, so that the outside doesn''t match the inside." "Yeah, I agree. I think it''s a good idea. But is that what''s bothering you?" Elsa didn''t know what was bothering her. "Yeah, that''s why I''m preamble. I gave out hot air balloons for Conlon 2, and I thought it would be a good idea to do the same for this one." "You''re giving away cars?" But Jin shook his head. "That''s what I''m struggling with. At the moment, we have two choices: <> or <>. ...... Then Reiko came in with a bottle of Citran juice. "Father, it''s not good for your health to be so hard on yourself. Please make yourself at home. "Yes, thank you, Reiko." There was enough juice for both of them, so Elsa joined them. "It''s ...... delicious. Can I tell you what I think of ......?" "Of course. "Of course." "I think it''s enough that we provide the engine." Golem itself is an existing technology, and in the Kingdom of Elias, the Arrow is pedaled to create rotational motion. It would not be surprising if someone develops a golem engine," Elsa summarized. "I see. That''s one way to think about it. ......" Jin nodded in agreement. Erza finished her Citran juice and said what she remembered. "By the way, Jin''s horse-drawn carriage, didn''t it run without a golem horse, too?" "Eh?Ah, ah ...... that''s right, that''s right." "What''s wrong with my brother Jin is that he just keeps on making things after he''s made them. "Hmmm, I can''t argue with that because I know exactly what he''s talking about. ......" Jin also drank up his Citran juice and showed a wry smile. "But I guess so,...... horse-drawn carriages,...... yeah, I think it would be a good idea to try to make it a classic car in terms of design." Jin has finally learned that if you make something that is too far from the standard of this world in terms of design, it will be difficult to use. "Well, it doesn''t have to fly, you know." Jin had a feeling that he had seen such a Western movie in the Director''s video collection, but this time he decided ......<< at that time>> to make it a legitimate one. The day was short due to the time difference. Jin spent the rest of the day working on the concept. He started work in earnest on the 28th. "First, we need to build an engine. Yes. Yes, I''ll leave it to your assistant! What should we prepare? Jin started working on the engine with Elsa, Reiko, Edgar, and others. "Let''s start with something we can give to each country as a sample. The material is iron. Carbon steel to be exact. Reiko prepared about 200 kilograms of iron ingots. To this he added carbon separated from carbon dioxide in the air to make carbon steel with a carbon content of 0.5 percent. "The configuration is 2 cylinders ......, not a double cylinder." The structure is based on the idea of pedaling with the legs, so a twin-cylinder is the basic structure. The hip joint comes to the part that corresponds to the cylinder head of a gasoline engine, the piston is the leg, and the crankshaft is the pedal. "As for the size, let''s say about 50 centimeters in height, where practical. At this size, it can generate enough power to move a carriage without a reduction gear. "Magical Muscle" is the standard ......, but that''s not good enough. I think I found the leather of the Death Serpent, so let''s use that." This is a demon that I once met in Potrock at the southern tip of the Kingdom of Elias. It sometimes comes to Horai Island and preys on fish in the area. When they come to Tatsumi Bay, they are exterminated to prevent them from breaching the fishponds where the fish are cultivated. Here are the materials. To explain the process, Hitoshi first showed me how to make one. "Okay. Sounds interesting. "The structure is simple, though. It''s heavy, so make sure Edgar holds it securely, okay? "Yes." The bearings are made of gunmetal, an alloy of copper with tin and some zinc. Finally, the control core is set in the top of the cylinder head, where the plugs would be installed in a gasoline engine, and connected to the control conductors to complete the process. Thus, after about an hour of explanation, the double Golem engine was completed. "Go ahead, try it out," he said. "I''ll try." Jin gave guidance on the parts he did not understand or that were difficult, and after about two hours, Erza had also completed the Golem engine. "It''s good. "Thank you. Thanks to my brother Jin. Erza said, "It''s good work," "Thanks to my brother Jin," etc., but Jin did not help her. Jin did not help her, but only pointed out the problems until the end. "Less than an hour to go until lunch. We can make another one, right? "Yes. So this time, Elsa completed the engine in one hour, half of the previous time, without Jin''s help. In the meantime, Jin had completed three engines. ....... "Looking at my brother Jin, I''m not sure how long I''ll be able to keep my confidence ......" This was Erza''s expression of her feelings. The six completed Golem engines will be presented to the Kingdom of Klein, Franz, Cerroa, Egelea, Elias, and Shoro, respectively. "Master, I think it''s a good idea to give them free of charge. Lol, a blue-haired automaton who had come to clean the workshop, admonished. "I would guess that this is a very, very rare and precious magi machine in the world. I think you should demand some kind of compensation. Brother Jin, I agree. "I see." Jin has a problem in accurately estimating the value of his own skills. He was grateful to have that pointed out to him. "Well, what should we do ......?" "I don''t think you should get paid for it." "I know that." Jin did not need Erza to tell him that he had very few opportunities to spend money. Since the island of Horai is self-sufficient, he can make almost anything he wants. However, if he keeps on hoarding his money, it may chill the economy. "Materials or ......" "Well, then, it doesn''t matter how much you have. Even if it gets old, its value will not change. In the event that materials become scarce in the future, they can be released, Erza added. "Materials that cannot be found on Horai Island would be good too." Amber and limestone are not produced in Horai Island. However, limestone has been found at the bottom of the sea. Also, as mentioned before, the production of copper is relatively small. However, there are not many uses for copper and copper alloys, such as copper, brass, bronze, etc., so this is not a problem. Even the old man joined in. "Well, I guess so..." "What about renting a piece of land ...... and doing something with it?" Elsa suggested with a look as if she had come up with something. "What is it?" "Hmm. For example, build a railroad. Build a school." "Ah, that''s a good direction to take. ......" Jin recalled that there was also a railroad carriage. His dreams are expanding, but they may not be realized immediately. The future is still in a fog. 875 - - 25-23 Automotive Manufacturing Future problems aside, Jin decided to do what he wanted to do most ...... right now: build a car. "Jin, what are you doing?" Just then Reinhardt arrived. He had just finished his work and came to take a break. "Look, I''m trying to build that car we talked about the other day," he said. When Jin explained briefly, Reinhardt''s eyes lit up. "That''s nice. I''d like to build one myself. "Yeah, that might be a good idea." He was going to unveil it in the Shoro Kingdom first, and he thought that the fact that not only Jin but also Reinhardt could build one might alleviate some of the peculiarities of the project. "So, what are you going to make of it? At Reinhardt''s question, Jin unfolded a conceptual diagram and showed it to him. < "Oh, this is a piece of wood paper. It''s ......, and the design is similar to Jin''s carriage, but without the horse, of course. I see." Jin had read in a book on model cars that the first cars were sometimes called <. , in other words. Jin adopted this design because it was acceptable in many countries today. "But, since you''re Jin, you must have a terrible taste in your mouth, right?" Erza raised her eyebrows at his words. Haha, not really. I''ll use good materials, but I''m going to disguise it and keep its performance low. Jin laughed, "Otherwise, we can''t ride around publicly. "Well, that''s good." So Jin and Reinhardt set about building the car. First, the chassis. Chassis, also called chassis or frame. In short, it is the basic part of a car. This is where the engine, transmission, and eventually the body will be mounted. "This is made in the shape of a ladder." This is called a ladder frame and is suitable for cars that are to be driven on rough roads. Before that, the ladder frame is easy to make for manufacturing cars. Rigidity ...... is more important than resistance to deformation, and Jin adopted chrome molybdenum steel for its sturdiness ...... and resistance to breakage. It is a special steel that is resistant to rust and has high tenacity. The reason for this is that an ordinary engineer would not be able to distinguish it from ordinary carbon steel. Reinhardt also uses the same material prepared by Jin. The size of the Reinhardt was decided on the assumption that it would accommodate six passengers. The engine is also made of the same material. "This is interesting. As expected of Reinhardt, he was able to build his first Golem engine without a hitch, even with Erza''s help. The problem was the tires...... wheels. Since we do not intend to make tubes, valves, etc., wooden wheels fitted on steel wheels will be the standard for the time being. From here, Jin hopes to change to all-rubber tires, tube tires, and tubeless ...... tires. However, the first step is to start with wooden tires, so the selection of materials will begin. In Japan, the word "oak" is often associated with hardness and durability, but oak is not that hard. In fact, the persimmon tree may be harder. However, in terms of tenacity and elasticity, it is truly a top-class wood. Oak was used in an ancient large wooden sledge called excavated from an ancient burial mound, and it is said that it was used to transport huge stones. It is said that the name "Shura" was taken from Asura, who fought against the goddess Taisakuten, meaning "to move a large stone" or "big stone. But I digress. Taking advantage of the toughness of the oak tree, the artist decided to use this wood for the wheel. The diameter is 50 cm and the width of the wheel is 5 cm. "This is how it should work to turn left and right. We need a brake. The suspension should be a golem arm. Jin explained to Reinhardt and Erza, and finished the car. Jin had built special cars and special vehicles for Horai Island before, but he had never built anything more than a model car when it came to <>, so the classic car-like design reminiscent of the dawn of time suited him. With the help of Reiko, Edgar, and five craftsmen (Smith), two prototype 1 cars were completed near dusk. Since the cars were intended for public display, Jin added more cars to the prototype three times when he noticed something that was missing. "It''s done." "Yes." Jin and Reinhardt had Golem bring the car to the front of the laboratory and got into the car with great enthusiasm, ready to give it a test drive. Just in case. Reiko is riding next to Jin, and Edgar is riding next to Reinhardt. However, since it was a car on land, it did not seem like there would be any great danger. "Okay, let''s go." First, Jin slowly stepped on the accelerator pedal. Although it is called an engine, the characteristics of the Golem engine are flat, and its torque (rotational force) does not depend on the number of revolutions. It does not require idling (warm-up operation) and starts up smoothly from a standstill. Reverse acceleration is also possible with a single lever switch. The prototype started to drive slowly when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Jin, who has driven a small special vehicle ...... known as a at his place of work, was able to drive the vehicle without any danger. "Okay, me too." Reinhardt saw this and stepped on the gas pedal,...... but he seemed to have stepped on it a little too hard. The prototype car Reinhardt was riding in rolled up the dirt and accelerated at once. "Whoa, whoa!" The acceleration caused his body to be pressed against the seat, which reduced the force of his foot on the gas pedal, and Reinhardt managed to regain control of the car. "Wow, what a surprise!" Erza, who was watching the scene, was equally surprised. "Brother Rai, be more careful! Reinhardt waved his hand with a wry smile at his cousin who was calling out to him in an unusually loud voice. "Ah, it''s dangerous if you''re not used to it. Jin tries to think of a countermeasure. Too much gas pedal response is also a problem. "Fluid clutch ......?" The torque converter is a development of this type, and is used in automatic cars. "But I don''t know much about its structure. ......" It seems to be difficult to put it into practical use without starting with a prototype. So I have another idea. "Control ......." Jin''s idea is that the engine output should not be directly proportional to the depressing of the accelerator pedal, but rather the output should be lower when the depressing of the accelerator pedal is low, and the output should be increased when the depressing of the accelerator pedal is high. Audio volume is similar to this. The resistance value is changed not in a straight line but in a , so that the listener''s ear feels a smooth change in volume. This can be done quickly by playing a little with the control core. This is a solution for the time being. Jin thought that the optimum value could be obtained by further experiments later. "Reinhard, it should be a little easier to ride this time. "Oh, yes." This time, Reinhardt was careful and was able to start the car without any problems. Over the next 15 minutes, Reinhardt, as well as Jin, became proficient drivers. The controls are similar to those of a go-cart at an amusement park, so it takes some getting used to. "Do you want a ride, Elsa?" "Yes." Jin, who had circled the front yard, invited Erza to join him. Erza gets in the car with joy. But... "......? "......?" Erza tried to get into the driver''s seat. "You want to drive?" "Yes." Jin remembered that he had piloted the Golem boat in the Potrock competition, so he gave up the driver''s seat. "Thank you." Erza''s knowledge also included accelerating with the gas pedal and decelerating with the brake. She knew at least the basics of driving a car, such as how to turn left and right with the steering wheel. Jin''s advice was all she needed: "Don''t step on the gas pedal too hard. With only Jin''s advice, Erza drove the car with ease. "You''re better than me," said Reinhardt. Reinhardt said. "You''ve raced in boat races before." Jin wondered if he had learned the tricks of acceleration and deceleration by heart. Sudden operation of such machinery is basically strictly forbidden. It is likely that Erza knew how to adjust to such a situation. "Shall we make a small car exclusively for Elsa? "Oh, you''re going to make me one? Erza looked surprised and then smiled happily. I guess she likes vehicles. "Oh." Jin is thinking of a mini-car. In other words, a four-seater. If the 6-seater car he made this time was a regular car, Jin thought, a mini-car would seat 4 people. This would be the basis of the standards for the cars that would follow. 876 - - 25-24 Automobile Dissemination Program Elsa''s mini-car was completed before nightfall, and she happily drove it around until it was dark. And after dinner. "Hmmm... ......" "Brother Jin, are you troubled again?" Erza heard Jin groaning as he came out of the bath and looked into his face worriedly. "Yes, during the day, I realized the danger..." "Danger?" "A car accident." He had noticed it when he saw Reinhardt''s car start off too fast. Even in modern Japan, there have been accidents, especially in automatic transmission cars, where the gas pedal and brake pedal have been misplaced. In this ars world, the roads are narrow and there are no traffic laws at all. It was easy to imagine that the sudden introduction of automobiles would cause many accidents that would result in bodily injury. Too rapid a change also brings danger. We do not want to bring traffic wars into this world. "...... sure." "Right?" With that, Jin began to worry again. And now Elsa began to think about it with him. "...... not how to reduce the number of accidents, but why they happen." Elsa made a different suggestion. "I see." Jin, who had never thought of that idea, decided to change his mind. "After all, you are going too fast, aren''t you? There have been many accidents in which the driver would have reacted in time or the damage would have been minimized if he had not been going too fast. The same goes for slipping on wet roads. "...... I think we can manage that if we put some restrictions on it." Jin refutes Elsa''s words. "But that would mean giving up the advantages of the car. Speed of movement is an important factor in modern society. So, we decided to put the question of speed on hold and consider other causes. "Is it still an operational error?" "Yes. As long as humans are driving, mistakes are bound to happen. ......The driver!" A luxury car has a driver. A carriage has a driver. Jin thought it would be a good idea to set up a golem driver. A driving school to make people proficient in driving is still not very practical. "......Yeah, that''s a good idea." Elsa agreed. Jin then asked the old man for his opinion. I understand your point of view. Even cars are going to be expensive, and you add a golem driver to the mix to make it even more expensive. "Master, why don''t you reconsider what you want to popularize them for in the first place?" "I think it would be a good idea to consider it from various angles. I turned around at the voice and saw two blue-haired automata, Lol and Anne, standing there. The two were not of the Jin lineage, so the old man had summoned them in the hope that they might have a different point of view. <<> and Lefa join them anyway>>, and so Kun Kun was invited. <<, who was in charge of the Kunlun Island, would be in charge of the manacam, and Lefa would be in charge of the transfer gate. Refa came to Horai Island by warp gate. "You''re overreacting. He seems to be enjoying the situation. "I don''t want to cause any accidents. I want to ...... at least have fewer accidents than the number of accidents that are happening now with horse-drawn carriages." Jin can never allow his parents or family members to be killed in car accidents. "Then we need to restrict the use of the car in the city." Leffa immediately responded. "The rapid spread of this technology will cause friction, my lord. This is Taishaku. Jin chewed on his opinion. "That''s true. If the wagons suddenly disappeared, the master would lose his job, and the distribution of horses would be affected. "Yes, I suppose so. I think that a speed of about 15 kilometers per hour would be sufficient in the city. "Brother Jin, bumpers, right? We should also pay attention to those materials. What Elsa suggested is also done in modern cars of the earth. Jin remembers that the Director told him that until around the mid-Showa period, chrome-plated metal bumpers (with their shiny chrome) were used, but that they were replaced by plastic and rubber bumpers. However, this is not necessarily true. There were aerodynamic and design reasons, and laws and regulations were different between Japan and the West. However, from a safety point of view, bumpers made of shock-absorbing materials were not bad. I think it would be a good idea to control it with a magic brain in the near future. This is a typical opinion of Taishiro. "Then I guess we''ll have to rethink the supply of the Golem engine. ......" "Brother Jin, that can''t be helped. You''re in too much of a hurry to begin with." Acting on one''s own initiative can cause unexpected accidents. We should be glad that we were able to prevent it from happening this time. Then we need to rethink about automobiles. "What is the reason why you are making a car, Master (My Lord)? Jin was a little at a loss for words when Taishaku asked him. Originally, there is no clear reason for his desire to make a car. And now that he has made it, he wants to use it. And now that he has made it, he wants to use it, and he wants to go to Mitsuho with pride. To do so, the technology must be generalized or it will be conspicuous. This is roughly how the process was going in Jin''s mind. The old man first offered his opinion. "Yes. Though it is only about 10% as good as the original." "Goshujin-sama, I think that''s the way to go, don''t you?" This time, Anne gave her opinion. "If the Golem engine that you have created, Mr. Goshujin, could be made more efficient..." "Indeed. Jin began to think that it might be a good idea to make the engine less powerful and use gears to slow it down. (It was a hard work at that time, and I had to do it ____. (I had a hard time that time. ...... Reiko was angry with me.) Jin recalls the hard work he put into making the gears. "I think that''s a good idea. It''s like a toy at first." Elsa agreed. "The metal found underground, <>?Since it is very similar to bronze, I suggest that the master''s items be made of orichalcone and the gift be made of bronze. This is Lor. Since the strength is different, the force that can be produced will naturally be different by an order of magnitude. "Then, why don''t we make it so that we need a full-time golem driver? Refa also expressed his opinion. "That''s the way to go." Although we have deviated from our original policy of popularizing automobiles, as Taishaku said, rapid changes will cause conflicts. It is better to take time to spread the use of automobiles. "First, let''s see how it goes..." Reiko looks at Jin, who seems a little discouraged, and says something comforting. "Your father has done a lot in a short period of time in this world. No one else can imitate him. It is the same with this car. I don''t think there is any need to rush any further." "I see. I guess so. Thank you, Reiko. Jin patted Reiko on the head and thanked her. Reiko looked extremely happy. Thus, the plan to popularize the car was once again formulated. In reality, things may not always go as planned, but it is still better than no plan at all. The first objective is to use the car to go to Mitsuho with Erza and her friends, and the dissemination of the car is the second objective and below. The car we made this time will be used only in Horai Island. "Okay, let''s make the popularized version tomorrow. It was late at night when the plan was roughly decided. 877 - - 25-25 Presents and The next morning, Jin finished his meal early and immediately started to build a car for popularization. The most important part to be modified was the reduction gear. There is no need for a transmission like that of a modern earth car, and Jin does not know the structure. Therefore, the reduction gear has only one stage. In other words, the output of the smaller and lower-powered Golem engine is to be decelerated by gears to increase torque. The reduction ratio is 1:5. The torque of the engine can be reduced to one-fifth. In other words, the size of the engine can be reduced. The calculation to reduce the horsepower by a factor of 5 becomes complicated, and Jin is not confident that he will get the correct answer. Therefore, he decided to make an engine with one-fifth the size for the time being, but then he reconsidered that 10 centimeters was indeed too small. "Let''s make it 20 centimeters." If we consider only the force of the magical muscle, the answer is almost correct. The force is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the muscle. With the help of Erza and Reiko, a 20cm class double golem engine was completed. They installed it in a car with gears to decelerate the engine. "Modification is also a hassle, so let''s make a new one," said Jin. Jin''s quintessence was in full swing. However, the car that was completed yesterday will not be stored in vain because he thinks that it should be used exclusively for the Horai Island or the Kunlun Island. Since it was made yesterday, the prototype car for popularization was completed in a short period of time. "Well, how about the power?" When we test-drove the car in the plaza in front of the research institute, we could clearly feel that the car lacked power at the time of start-up acceleration. "I guess 1:5 isn''t the right gear ratio. ......" Since 1:10 would be too large, I changed the gear ratio to 1:7. In fact, the number of teeth of the gear attached to the pinion gear ...... Golem engine side was reduced. At this time, if the number of teeth of the meshing gears is made to be prime (the greatest common divisor is 1), the teeth of the gears will mesh evenly and decrease evenly, so it is easy to maintain the condition. Jin set the golem engine side to 13 and the axle side to 90. "Oh, that''s good. This seems to have solved the problem of lack of power during acceleration. "The top speed is ......, well, that''s about right." Even with the gas pedal fully depressed, the speed is still about 20 km/h. That''s about the speed of a human runner. That''s about the speed of a human sprint. "Well, it''s not dangerous, and it''s an unusual toy. It is fast enough for city traffic. Jin decided to build a car based on this configuration. The power and suspension will be the same as the No. 2 car. The seats are upholstered in leather and filled with to make them comfortable. The problem is the body. <. Elsa helped me with the design. The basic structure is made of bronze and wood, with some parts gilded to give it a luxurious look. After all, this is a car that the emperor will ride in. Since it is intended to be exclusively for her majesty, the emblem of the imperial family << three crossed swords (Dreischwerdt)>> is placed on the side of the car. "Yes, it''s good." The horseless carriage is literally finished. Now all we need is a driver golem. This is also made of bronze and made by a young man type. It also has a servant-like function, such as opening the door when getting in and out of the car. This type of golem is called a "driver (furrer). This is what we call a driver in the Shoro Kingdom. This is the first one, so it is Furrer 1. Various equipment is installed, and it is now complete. To see if there are any omissions in the equipment, Jin compares it with a modern Japanese car that he remembers. Jin does not have a driver''s license, so he does not know much about cars as an enthusiast, but he knew some things about cars because he drives cabs and cars driven by his colleagues for company business. I had forgotten about the equipment, saying, "Oh, it would be nice to have windshield wipers. This method was quite effective, as I could remember some equipment that I had forgotten. After spending the whole morning making some additions, we had a <> luxury car. "......This is not going to be popular." "...... yeah." Erza, who was helping him, fully agreed with Jin''s words. As a result of the elaboration of the vehicle for the exclusive use of the Empress, it had become something that most of the nobles, let alone the common people, could not afford. For example, the headlights. Instead of using magic lamps in the style of a cantera, they use the magic of <> to give a forward directional effect. Then there are the windows. The larger windows are all made of quartz glass and are highly transparent. To prevent danger, they are made of <>. It cannot be broken even by a thrown stone. At the same time, the driver''s seat is slightly lowered so that it does not obstruct passengers'' view of the outside. The design was inspired by large sightseeing buses. The horn. It is not a shrill, high-pitched sound, but a sound like a bicycle bell. For this, we used a recording/playback device developed by Elsa. It also has a built-in micro refrigerator, which can be used to drink cold drinks in summer. In winter, it can be switched to a warming cabinet. Four spare tires are stored under the floor. As for the vehicle''s performance, it has settled on a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour, and is limited to city or suburban use. Except for the driver, Golem, the vehicle has a capacity for six persons. The configuration is front row for 3 persons and rear row for 3 persons. The seats can be rotated and reclined so that they can face each other, face the direction of travel, or lie flat for a nap. The mana tanks are large enough to last for two consecutive days of operation. "We should also build a mana supply machine with improved efficiency ......<>." This is because it will be necessary if we increase the number of magic tools to improve our lives in the future. Then Elsa said she wanted to make one. She said, "Jin, let me try it. Jin nodded his head, as it was not particularly difficult. "Okay, try it. Just don''t make it too small, and make it as big as possible. The mana supply machine currently in use is about the size of an office desk. Jin advised to make it only about two times smaller than that. "Okay." Jin thought in his mind that it would be like a PC software program that does not make the box smaller. Jin watched Erza''s work, wondering if it was human psychology that if you make something too small, you lose appreciation for it and treat it poorly. "Erza has improved, hasn''t she? Such a compliment came out of his mouth. "Oh, thank you." Erza is stunned by the sudden words. A magi crystal fell from her hand. "Oops! "That was close, wasn''t it?" Reiko caught it before it hit the floor. Jin pulled his outstretched hand back absentmindedly. "Thank you, Reiko." "No problem." Erza went back to work, and the mana server was completed in about 30 minutes. "Yes, it''s good work. Good job, Elsa." "Yes, thank you." "......?Wait, ......" As Jin looked at the completed mana server, he had an idea. "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?Did something go wrong? Erza''s voice sounded a little worried. But Jin patted her on the shoulder, "You just need to install this! He said pleasantly. "Then we can keep running without refueling." In short, this is a gigantic <. "Oh, that''s what I mean." Erza seemed to understand and smiled. So, we install a mana server. This allows the car to run semi-permanently. Then Lol comes to tell us that lunch is ready. "Master, lunch is ready." "Oh, I see." Jin and Erza washed their hands and went to the dining room. Reiko followed Jin rather than ...... them, and Edgar was a step behind them in the dining room after cleaning up the mess in the workshop. "Oh, udon today. Today''s lunch was tempura udon. "Yes, I made it myself after learning from Perid and the others. "Yes. The tempura of prawns and vegetables (pumpkin or something similar) was fried to a crisp, and the sauce was just the right thickness. The udon noodles seem a little weak, but I am not sure if this is due to the selection of flour (the blend of strong, medium and light flours) or the way it is made. Jin likes noodles with a strong and sturdy texture, but Elsa seemed to prefer udon with about the same texture as this one, and she even ordered another bowl of udon, saying it was delicious and tasty. "Well, then, let''s make our own car. "Hmmm..." After lunch, Hitoshi and Elsa started to build a car for the public once again. The appearance of the engine and undercarriage were identical, but the materials could be changed to make it more powerful. The Golem engine is made of Orihalcon instead of bronze, and the magical muscles for powering the car are the standard ones of Horai Island, so it is expected to be about 5 times more powerful. By omitting decorations, the weight can be reduced slightly. However, only the djinn''s emblem, <>, should be painted on both sides and on the roof in large letters. The driver decides to educate Edgar. "The question is, how do we get this to Leuthart? The weight of each car was about 500 kg, which seemed a little heavy to load on the <>. Then the old man came up with an idea. < "Oh, I see. From there it would be easier to transport them to Miyagi. Jin decided to adopt this idea. 878 - - 25-26 Before presenting Due to the time difference, it was still early afternoon in Loisart even though it was nighttime in Horai Island. Therefore, Jin decided to build a workshop building in Loisart''s house. He was afraid of jet lag if he went back and forth too often, so he decided to let Jin-Double do the work and he and Erza would stay in Horai Island. The old man, who was operating Jin-double, went around the compound of the house and decided the best location. It is a little small, but a workshop large enough to build a car can be built there. >> Then, we can use the backyard more effectively. Based on this idea, we decided to build it immediately. Taking advantage of the fact that the wall is invisible from the outside, we use a transporter to send building materials to the house. Stone, wood, and metal. At the same time, a craftsman (smith) golem is also sent to begin work. Jin envisions a garage. A spacious garage-like workshop would be suitable for building cars. He explains this to Barrow and Behle later, and they <. The garage-like workshop is completed and the cars are sent by transporter on the same day. Now we can offer it to him at any time. "That''s quite a change from the original plan. ......" In Horaijima, after dinner, Jin and Erza were sitting on the balcony talking. Reiko is making tea. The tea is hojicha. It is low in caffeine and does not disturb sleep. But it contains catechins, which are said to have a positive effect on blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. "Yes, but that can''t be helped." "I guess so. ....... I don''t think it''s a good idea to make any sudden changes. "Yes, but it can''t be helped. It''s already too late for some things. Ha-ha-ha. The airships and other magical machines have already begun to change the world. "Father, is it wrong to change?" Reiko asked as she placed a cup of hot water in front of Jin. "Your mother told me that we should improve what is good and fix what is bad. That would change the original state, wouldn''t it?" "Yes. ......" An unexpected question from Reiko. Certainly, that is one kind of change, isn''t it? "I guess the question is, what is the change for? "Yes, for the people, I am sure of it. Elsa is thinking with me. "But I still think that people are afraid of the unknown. I wonder how many people would dare to change it if they weren''t so dissatisfied with their current situation. ......" "I see." Elsa''s point of view makes sense. "So, maybe it is important to make people want to change things, not to change them." "Yes. And that, too, without any objection." Certainly, some people may want to change it because it is in their interest. But another person may want to stop it because it will be disadvantageous to him or her. "From the top or from the bottom. There are other directions." Either the aristocrats use it and the wealthy merchants see it, and then the common people see it, and so it spreads, or the aristocrats use it by refining what the common people are using. "Probably from the top to the bottom." I didn''t think there would be such a trend from the common people to the aristocrats. "I guess we have to think it over, don''t we?" "Hmm." The night wind was getting colder by now, so Jin and Erza, having finished their hot cups of hojicha, left the veranda and went to their respective bedrooms. * * * * * * "Wow, Jin-sama, what is this? "Is it a horse-drawn carriage ...... that doesn''t need a horse?" Barrow and Behrle are surprised to see the two cars. On the 30th, the last day of March, Jin pulled the car into the garden of the house. "I thought you built a new building in the backyard yesterday. Barrow''s words. It''s not quite right, but it''s not worth correcting, so I won''t deny it. "Yes. This is the one I''m going to present to the queen this time. Pointing to the more lavishly decorated one, Jin explains. "Wow, it''s amazing! Behle exclaimed with open arms. But then... "Um, Jin-sama, are you sure you don''t mind me using the emperor''s coat of arms?" "What?" Jin and Erza noticed Barrow''s casual question. This is not good. "Hmmm...maybe we should just remove the emblem and reattach it after the dedication..." "Hmm, I think that''s a good idea. ...... I was also careless." The emperor is always so frank that he just made a mistake. Jin and Erza hastily removed the crest. Engineering magic is very useful in this area. "Well, let''s go for a ride, shall we? Since there was still some time left, Jin decided to take this opportunity to give Barrow and Behrle a ride, although it was not a reward for Barrow''s advice. Of course, he also wanted to know their reaction. "Oh, you don''t mind?" "Yes, this one is for my own use. So I decided to put them in the car I had made for myself and drive them around the garden. "Wow, this is fun! Behle was genuinely enjoying the ride, while Barrow remained silent. They completed three laps in the garden. Jin asked them what they thought. "It was great!That''s what Jin-sama is all about!" Behle only expressed his admiration, but Barrow was a little more sober. "The ride is comfortable, and the best thing is that I can see very well in front of me! The horses are no longer needed, and the forward visibility has increased. Another effect is that the driver''s seat has been lowered and the passenger compartment has been raised slightly. This is in imitation of the low driver''s seat of a large sightseeing bus. I see. Jin was happy to hear a different opinion from the producer''s side. At the same time, he felt that he had not made a mistake in making the windshield larger than it was. "All right, let''s get going. The time was 8:00 a.m.. If I drove slowly, I could reach Miyagi before 9:00 am. "Okay, I''m off." Have a nice trip. Take care. With Barrow and Behle seeing them off, Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar departed in the car. Edgar was the driver, and the car with Jin, Elsa, and Reiko in it led the way, followed by the car with the dedication. The car drove slowly at about 15 kilometers per hour, and the people of the town stopped to look at the car with interest. "It''s running without horses! "Wow! "It''s a mysterious carriage! Such voices could be heard from everywhere, but not a single one of them said, "I want to ride in it. "Hmmm, I guess cars are not popular among the masses. ......" "Brother Jin, that''s no wonder. The common people rarely use even horse-drawn wagons. Vendors use wagons, but wagons are so different from passenger wagons. Wagons are not designed to be habitable. Therefore, peddlers brought blankets and furs to make the wagons as comfortable as possible. "After all, cars are from top to bottom: ......" Royalty, nobility, the wealthy, and the common people. "I wonder what path they took in ...... mitsuho." Since the flow from the wealthy to the general public is the same on the earth, Hitoshi once again pondered about the penetration of culture. Finally, the car approached the main street leading to Miyagi. In addition to Jin''s car, two other carriages were heading toward Miyagi as well. Both the coachman and the nobleman riding in the carriage were staring at the car with surprised faces. 879 - - 25-27 Test Riding Event "Sir Jin Nido!What is this? Sure enough, Jin and the others are stopped by the gate guard at the entrance to the palace, who gives them a surprised look. "It''s called a horseless carriage, <>. The car in the back is a gift for His Majesty. "Is that so?Anyway, wait a minute! The gate guards could not decide whether they could let the car, which they had never seen before, pass through easily just because it was Jin''s work, so one of them hurried to check with his boss. While he was waiting, Jin was asked many questions by the other guard. "Why is it moving when there is no horse?" How fast can it go? Is it easy to operate? The most pleasant question was: "This is a very simple machine, But the most pleasant question was, "Can I own one of these? The most exciting question was, "Can I own one of these? I was most happy because I knew that there were people who were interested in it and wanted to own it. I waited for about 10 minutes. "Jin-dono, excuse me!Guard!No problem!Send them in!" Flora, the female knight of the Kingsguard, came running and gave permission for Jin and the others to pass. "My apologies, Sir Jin Nido!" The guard saluted Jin and his car. Jin Nido gave a simple salute and started the car. "Edgar, please drive slowly. Yes, sir. Since they were in Miyagi Prefecture, they kept their speed to a little faster than walking speed. Flora ran beside the car and accompanied it at a fast pace. "Jin-dono, please park this horseless carriage in the parking lot for carriages. "Yes, sir." As instructed, we parked both cars in the parking lot reserved for horse-drawn carriages. Leaving Edgar in charge of the carriages, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko head for the parking lot to meet the emperor, led by Flora. Jin, I''ve been watching from the window. You made something interesting. The first thing she says is about cars. "Yes, one of them is for His Majesty." "Really?Really? I''ll show it to you later, won''t I?First, I have to give it to you..." The Empress gestures with her eyes to the Prime Minister sitting beside her. The Prime Minister holds out two pieces of leather paper. The wooden paper that the Shoro Empire had imported from Mitsuho and which had recently begun to appear in the market had not yet been used for official documents. "Here is your permit to visit Mitsuho, and here is your ID card. "Thank you." Jin thanked him and took it. "Now, Jin, show us the horseless carriage you are giving us!" Whether she knew that the Prime Minister and Flora were sighing beside her or not, the emperor kicked his seat vigorously and stood up. * * * * "...... is this the <>?" Jin, Elsa, Reiko, the emperor, the prime minister, and Flora had arrived at the parking lot at the end of the plaza in front of the palace. "This is the car. This is the car to be presented. This is the guest room. ......" As Jin gave a brief explanation, the Prime Minister shouted in admiration. "Oh ......, this is wonderful. The design is elegantly put together. "With your permission, I would like to mount this coat of arms on it," he said. He showed her the three crossed swords (Dreischwerdt) of the emperor''s coat of arms. Of course, the emperor had no objection, and Jin quickly attached the sigil. "This one is safe, isn''t it?" "Yes, your majesty. Yes, your majesty. In fact, I drove it from my house to this one without any problem. Yes, let''s drive this car and have a look. Jin ordered Edgar to drive the car he had built for himself. "Well then, Edgar, I want you to go around the square and come back. Yes, sir. And the car drives off. "Well, it''s really running without a horse! "Hmm, it doesn''t go that fast, does it?" The queen and the prime minister look at each other with a curious look on their faces. Flora, who had just seen it while riding along, was no longer surprised. Within a few minutes, the car driven by Edgar had circled the square in front of the palace and returned. "So it is," he says. There is no danger, so please take a test drive. Jin said, and the emperor urged the prime minister and Flora with an expression that said he could not wait to see them. "Yes, of course. ...... Prime Minister, Flora, what do you think?" Your Majesty! Please get in. First, Flora, a female knight of the Kingsguard, gets in and holds out her hand to the emperor, supporting him as he gets in. Then the Prime Minister got in. "Jin-dono, please ride with me and give me an explanation," the Prime Minister requested. Jin and Reiko were the last to get on the train. There were two rows of three seats in front of and behind each other, so Flora was in the front right, the emperor was in the center, and the prime minister was on the left. The driver is a golem specialized in driving. The driver is a golem who specializes in driving. For example, ". Yes, sir. Brief words were returned and the car started to drive. "It''s moving. It''s a comfortable ride. "Well, I can hardly feel any vibration." The car drives through the plaza in front of the palace at about five kilometers per hour. It is about the same speed as if you were walking a little fast. It''s like giving directions to a coachman. "I see. Can you go a little faster? Yes. Yes, you can. "Okay. < Yes, sir. After he replied, his speed increased. About ten kilometers an hour. "Oh, he''s going faster. How fast can you go?" "About 20 kilometers per hour. About the same as a normal carriage. The speed of an ordinary carriage is not clear, but in this world long-distance carriages go about 10 to 15 kilometers per hour. The main reason for this is that the roads are not paved. For short periods of time, they may be able to reach speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour, but this is not practical because the burden on horse and carriage is too great. "Still, it''s amazing. I wonder how long it can run continuously?" "We haven''t tested the limits, but as long as it doesn''t break down, it should be fine indefinitely. < "Wow, that''s great." "It''s amazing." Hearing the explanation, the emperor and the prime minister groaned and stared out of the window. "It''s a nice view and a comfortable ride. It''s more comfortable than the current horse-drawn carriages. The downside is that they''re expensive, right?" "Yes, one of them costs more than one million dollars. Jin replied. "Jin-dono, that''s the cost of materials, isn''t it?If Jin-dono worked on it, the labor should have been doubled, tripled, or even quintupled. "Haa......" < When traveling long distances, the care of horses, which are living creatures, is a major factor. Water, fodder, and adequate rest. They will also need to be washed. In the case of a car, this can be simply ignored. Jin thinks that a car will run for about 10,000 km without maintenance. "Only the wheels will need to be replaced, though. Even though the car is reinforced and strengthened, it is made of wood, so there is a limit to what can be done. "We have a set of spare wheels on board, just in case. The wheels are 50 centimeters in diameter and 5 centimeters wide, so they only take up 20 centimeters of space when stacked, so they are stored in the under-floor storage area. "These maintenance tips are known to the driving golem," he says. "That''s very thorough." By the time she returns from her round of the vestibule, the emperor is completely satisfied. "There is still room for improvement. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Jin did not forget to add. 880 - - 25-28 April 1st "Oh, yes, I forgot all about that." When they returned to the office after the test drive, the emperor gave Jin a bag of money. It was Mitsuho currency. You can use our coins over there, but just in case. "Thank you very much. "Please check it for me." At the emperor''s words, Jin pulled out the entire contents of the bag. "10 copper coins, 50 perforated white copper coins, 100 perforated white copper coins, 100 perforated white copper coins, and 100 perforated white copper coins. 100en, a silver coin of 1,000 en, 100,000 gold coins." "en......?" This made Hitoshi wonder if the "Magus" was Japanese after all. There was a total of 300,000 en in the account. "It''s just pocket money, but we don''t have that much money in Mitsuho as a country. "No, thank you very much. Since the Shoro Empire and the Small Group of States had been using the same currency up to now, they would not have had any idea of the exchange rate, that is, the exchange ratio when different currencies are exchanged, nor would they have even imagined the foreign currency reserves. Unfortunately, I did not think that Jin would be able to give effective advice on this matter. He told me that 10en was about one toll. After that, he asked about the situation in Mitsuho, and the topic returned to automobiles. "Here is the manual. Jin handed me the car''s instruction manual. "Please refer to the drawings attached for your reference. "Is that all right? The Prime Minister was puzzled by the fact that he had received so many plans for a magical tool, or rather, a magical machine. "Yes, that''s all right. Please refer to them. Jin had heard from the fifth column (Quinta) that the Kingdom of Egelea, to which he had previously presented a golem horse, had failed in its attempt to make the same thing, so he thought that if it was going to be copied someday anyway, he should feel good about giving the plans to them. It is undeniable that he also had some pride in himself, saying, "If I can make it, I will make it. And with this, Jin could drive to Mitsuho by car. Although it may not look like a good thing from the outside, it was a big advantage for Jin. In addition, the following is a quote from the article "Lastly, I would like to buy copper as a material. Jin asked, "Oh, I see. "Oh, I see, since you seem to use a lot of bronze. Don''t ask me to introduce you. I''ll have them deliver it to your residence later. "Thank you, sir." This was supposed to be the end of it, but at the very last moment, he was given the payment by the empress. "I feel sorry to just give it to you, so please think of it as payment for the materials. She handed him a catalog with the words, "I am sorry to give it to you, so please think of it as payment for the materials. The contents were 1 ton of copper 50 kilograms of tin 50 kilograms of quartz (including quartz crystal) 100 kilograms of iron The amount of copper and tin is probably based on the assumption of bronze with 5 percent tin. The amount of copper and tin was probably based on the assumption that the bronze was 5% tin. "Come and get it whenever you like. With these words, the Empress returned to her office. The emperor returned to his office. "I see you managed to get it all done." Yes. Jin and the others returned to the house and relaxed. "Shall we talk to Saki and Hannah tomorrow? "What?Just the two of them? Erza looked puzzled, but Jin did not understand why. Then Reiko came to his rescue. "Father, what is the date tomorrow?" "Hmm?April 1st, right? That''s right. And it''s my brother Jin''s birthday. Now that you put it that way, Jin is convinced. "Oh, yeah, that''s right. ......" Last year, Reinhard and his friends celebrated my birthday in Yada village on the night of the battle with Gigarth, the super-weapon of the past. "This year, we''re going to make it a big one." "No, no, I don''t think so." No. "Father, you shouldn''t be so reserved." Reiko even told him not to, and Jin couldn''t say no. "Don''t worry. I heard that my brother Rai is the promoter and is making all kinds of preparations. "I''m indebted to Reinhardt in so many ways. ......" Reinhardt''s birthday is May 10, and since no one told us about it last year, Jin could not celebrate it. Reinhardt himself said, "Well, I''m not old enough to celebrate anymore. He was trying to celebrate Jin''s birthday, though. "That''s just the way it is." Elsa laughed and said, "That''s the way it is. "Oh. I''m ...... grateful for that, though." "Brother Jin, you''re not being honest." "No, your father is just embarrassed. "...... you guys." Jin wanted to argue, but he knew what he was talking about, and in the end he kept his mouth shut. * * * * * * "Happy birthday, Jin! Happy birthday, Jin! "Happy birthday, Jin! "Happy birthday, Jin! On April 1st, Jin''s family gathered at the institute cafeteria on Horai Island to celebrate his birthday. Reinhard and Bertsche brought a bottle of fine wine. Marcia and Rodrigo brought a large amount of fresh fish. Tor and Saki, Stearina and Vivian brought fresh fruits and vegetables. Meane used them and cooked them carefully. Hannah and Reiko picked airbert (strawberries) at the foot of Mount Horai. And Elsa had made a big cake. She had made a sponge cake topped with whipped cream and an air veil on top. Peridot leader taught me how to bake a sponge cake. The cream was centrifuged by Reiko. When the milk is centrifuged, it is separated into a cream layer and skimmed milk. The cream layer is then sterilized and aged to make fresh cream, which is quite a time-consuming process. Reiko did the centrifugal separation herself, and Peridot and her colleagues converted it into fresh cream. It was a cake that they had finally learned to make after a long process of trial and error, but they worked behind the scenes for Elsa''s sake. "Thank you, everyone! Jin thanked everyone who had gathered to the party from the bottom of his heart. The sky of Horai Island was blue and clear, and a spring breeze was blowing from the sea. 881 - - 26-01 Spring Taste "Look, there''s the desert!" "It really is all rock and sand!" "...... Interesting view." Jin, Hannah, and Elsa looked out over the wall at the Hariri Desert. This is the town of Ismar, on the western edge of the Shoro Kingdom. It is surrounded by a five-meter-high stone wall. This wall protects the town from the sandworms that live in the desert. The wall is 1.5 meters thick and can be walked on during normal times. Jin and the others were looking out over the desert from the top of the wall. Jin, Elsa, Saki, and Hanna were heading west in a car built by Jin. <, but it has the advantage of being able to see the towns slowly as they go. Reiko, Edgar, and Aal are accompanying him. Edgar was the driver. The town of Ismar, located at the southern end of the Hariri Desert, is a very special environment, so we decided to stay there for a few days. "Father, Saki and Aal are coming. Reiko, who had good eyesight, seemed to recognize them in the distance. Ten minutes later, Saki and Aal came to the bottom of the wall. "Hey, Jin, look, isn''t this an interesting plant?" Saki had just returned from exploring the desert with Aal (but only near the entrance). "...... cactus?" Aalu was holding a spiny succulent plant. It was probably a type of cactus or otherwise adapted to the arid climate. "Well, I don''t know. But I''d like to make a specimen and classify it." Saki also has the knowledge of a modern Japanese high school student from Jin. However, that does not necessarily apply to this world. "Well, that kind of work is fun, too! Jin''s car is equipped with a very small warp gate that is large enough to move a human being if he gets down on all fours. If you use it to send him to Horai Island, the old man will make a specimen of him. "But it''s so hot in this outfit! Saki blurted out, lifting her hood. Now the group is all wearing hooded cloaks. This is to prevent sand from getting in. However, it is hot and stuffy inside when the sun shines on them. It was bearable if we stayed still, but Saki was drenched in sweat after walking all the way. The afternoon sun was beating down, and the temperature was about 25 degrees Celsius. It was dry and comfortable in the shade, but she was wearing long sleeves and long pants with a hood to avoid the sand. Moreover, the cuffs and ankles were tied up with strings, which made the inside of my clothes stuffy. "Well, shall we go back to the inn? "Yes." "Yes!" They are now staying at the largest inn in Ismar, the Sand Rose Inn. They have no complaints about the rooms or the food. The only complaint, however, is the water. The water supply is poor due to its location near the desert. There is no bath or even shower. The most you can do is to wipe your body with a cloth. "If you can''t stand it any longer, let''s go to Horai Island. "Kuhu, how can I say this, only on a trip with Jin! Saki used to be a pain in the ass, but since she has discovered the comfort of hot springs, she has become a bath lover. Today is April 5th. The last time she took a bath was on the 3rd, when she returned to Horaijima to celebrate Reiko''s birthday. Since it had been only the second day since I had stopped taking a bath, I decided to just wipe myself tonight. "Kuhu, this reminds me of the old days. Saki mutters as Aal wipes her back. "...... Saki, I''m not proud of you. Erza, who is having Hannah wipe her back, says in a slightly exasperated tone, "You''re not proud of yourself, Saki. "Hot springs are so nice, aren''t they!" "Yes, Hannah, I agree." Elsa answered while wiping Hannah''s back this time. We rented two rooms, a large room and a small room. Jin and Reiko were in the small room, and the rest of the group was in the large room. Jin had finished wiping himself off and was now brushing Reiko''s hair. "Thank you, father." Reiko was in a good mood as she was spending time alone with Jin for the first time in a while. "You celebrated my birthday the other day, too. Although they were on a trip, Jin returned to Horaijima with Reiko and gave her body an overhaul. "Oh, please take care of me from now on." "Yes. I dedicate myself to your father and to your children whom you have not yet seen. Hey. Hey. "Father, I can''t wait to hold your child." Jin was relieved to hear her say these words, thinking that she had fully approved of Elsa. Early the next morning, Jin went out for a walk in Ismar. He was accompanied only by Reiko. All the women seemed to be still sleeping and I felt sorry to wake them up, so I quietly left the lodge. The morning air was cold and crisp, perhaps due to the proximity of the desert, and it was a little chilly even with our hoods up. "Father, that''s Mr. Oliver''s store where you got the dried bonito flakes, isn''t it? "Oh, there it is." It''s quite a nice store. According to what I heard, he accompanied the delegation during the first negotiations with Mitsuho. Hitoshi passes by the store and continues on, but it is still too early for the store to be open. In front of him is the wall surrounding the town. "Oh, this is ......." At the bottom of the wall, on a raised bank, he finds an old-fashioned plant. I gently pick it up with my fingertips. The leaves are small and densely covered with fine soft hairs, similar to chrysanthemum leaves. "I''m sure it''s wormwood. Looking around, there are many of them. Jin let Reiko help him pick a couple of handfuls. He decided not to go any further, as he was afraid of overfishing. "Father, what are you going to do with these?" "I''m going to make grass cakes, the taste of spring......." In the olden days, they used to make them with the herbaceous plants, but nowadays they usually use mugwort. The recipe Jin learned from the director is as follows. 1. Boil the washed mugwort. Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda. 2. soak the boiled mugwort in cold water and grind it in a mortar. 3. Knead up the rice flour and boil it in hot water. 4. Mix the ground mugwort with the flour in a mortar and pestle. 5. roll the dumplings into a ball and eat them with sweet bean paste or yellowish flour. This is how it is made. There may be another way to pound glutinous rice, but since there was no mortar and pestle in the facility, this was the way to make Kusa-mochi. It brings back memories. Jin helped me a lot. The younger children were the ones who picked wormwood, and Jin was mainly in charge of mortar and pestle. "It won''t be ready in time for breakfast, but it will be ready for lunch. Reiko, fetch me some koshinko, anko (red bean paste), and yukiko (yellowish flour)." Of course, they are from Horai Island. There are many stocks of azuki beans and soybeans in Horai Island. Jin thought of using the inn''s cafeteria to make grass cakes. "Father, then why don''t you have lunch at Horai Island? He could claim that he was carrying Kamishinko because it was easily preserved, but what about Anko (red bean paste) and Yubunko (yellowish powder)? Reiko insisted, "If you are going to that extent, you should go to Horaijima once rather than eating here in town. "That''s true. ....... But, eating on the road is also very special." It''s that thing where you feel the taste of something you are used to eating at home tastes better when you eat it outdoors. "Then, why don''t you make it in Horai Island and eat it here? "Oh, that would be fine. I don''t know if there is a mortar in the inn''s cafeteria, and moreover, there is no baking soda. At the moment, baking soda is a specialty of the village of Kaina and is not widely used. Following Reiko''s advice, Jin decided to make grass cakes on Horai Island. 882 - - 26-02 Japanese mugwort When Jin returned to the inn, everyone was already awake. "Onii-chan, did you go for a walk by yourself?You should have called out to me." "Jin, you smell like water. If you had woken me up, I would have been happy to go with you. Jin, you''re so mean. I''m sorry. But it seemed like everyone was sleeping well and I didn''t want to wake them up. I was awake. Saki is the best night owl." "Don''t say that, Hannah-chan." It was true that compared to Hannah and Erza, Saki''s hair was still a mess and there were still a few sleepy habits in it. "So, Jin, what is that you''re holding, Reiko?" Either to distract me or out of sheer curiosity, Saki spotted the wormwood. "Oh, I know what it''s called, it''s used for fragrance. "Oh, I see. What is it used for? Jin did not answer, only smiling. "That''s something you''ll have to wait for when it''s ready. You can look forward to it until lunchtime. "Well, I''m sorry, but I will. And that was the end of the conversation. Everyone went to the dining room for breakfast. The inn has taken the liberty of changing the menu for the consecutive guests. Barley porridge, grilled smoked meat, and cactus salad. The edible cactus is harvested when young, sliced with its spines removed, boiled in salted water, chopped into small pieces, and mixed with other vegetables. It has a sweet taste with a hint of sourness and bitterness. It seems to be rich in vitamins and minerals ....... "Well, I don''t like it." It has a slimy texture, which Saki doesn''t like, "I think it would be good with shaved dried bonito flakes and soy sauce. ...... It reminded her of okra, and she liked it. Hannah, who had no preference, ate it silently, while Erza ate it with a little patience. "Well, what are we going to do?We spent the whole day yesterday seeing the town, shall we leave now?" Jin suggested over a cup of after-dinner tea. "Well, I guess so. I think it''s a good idea. "Me too." "Me too." Since no one seemed to have any objection to their departure, Jin made up his mind. "Okay. Then let''s stop by Oliver''s store for a while afterwards, hear what he has to say, and then we can leave. Oliver had been officially authorized to handle Mitsuho products, so he would be able to provide us with a lot of information. "Hmm, that''s fine." "Well then, let''s all go together!" Erza nodded and Saki raised her voice. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8:00 a.m., the time when all the stores open their doors. Jin and the others got into a car and drove to Oliver''s store. "Is this a horseless carriage?I see, I''ve heard a lot about you ....... I am Oliver, the owner. As soon as the car pulled up in front of the store, a young man jumped out and greeted him. My name is Jin Nido. I''m going to Mitsuho after this. Is there anything I should be aware of? "Oh, to Mitsuho." When Jin showed him the permit, Oliver nodded and gave him some advice. "I see, so you can easily get a permit. The people of Mitsuho welcome people skilled in magical engineering, so it would be better to identify yourself as a from the start. "I see." Jin had thought that this was somehow true, including at the time of John Dinney, but this advice confirmed it. "And you''re still forbidden to do business on a large scale, aren''t you?" Yes, His Majesty has informed me. "Then all you have to do is go west on the ...... road and you will arrive at an uninhabited rest house. Normally you would spend the night there. From there it is about 20 kilometers to the next village, so take it easy. After hearing about the lifestyle of the people of Mitsho, Jin left Oliver''s store. He left a gold coin for the information. "All right, let''s go!" Where once John Dinny had departed in secret, now that diplomatic relations would soon be established, he could leave with dignity and bravado. In addition, many residents of the town of Ismar stood on the western wall to see them off, hoping to catch a glimpse of the rare vehicle. "Jin, are you staying at the rest house I told you about?" Saki asked. Jin smiled wryly, his desire to get there as soon as possible apparent. "No," Jin replied with a wry smile. As far as distance goes, it is only a little over 60 kilometers from Ismar to the village of Kali. A car can get you there in a single bound, no matter if you are on horseback or not. Because of the climate and the water supply, horses are forced to rest in a rest house. However, a car can keep running without such a break. So Jin left the driving of the car to Edgar and flew to Horai Island using the warp gate installed behind the back seat. Reiko was with him. "......Kufu, Jin has a fussy personality, doesn''t he?" "Yes. But that''s just like him. "Grandma says that Onii-chan is always there for you." That''s true. He''s a little rusty when it comes to women''s feelings, though." Saki glanced at Erza. "I can''t ...... deny that. But that''s part of who he is. "Ha-ha-ha, thank you for the food, indeed." Unaware of such girl talk going on, Jin was making grass cakes on Horai Island. First of all, he checked the toxicity by just to be sure. Next, he reconfirmed the aroma and was convinced that it was wormwood, or could be used as wormwood, and went to work. The peridot reader is assisting her. She will be in charge of the rest of the work, and she will be ready to make us delicious Kusa-mochi anytime we want. "Anko (sweet red bean paste), yellow flour, or even molasses would be good..." she said. Jin thinks that since it''s made with the same koshinko as the dumplings, it might go well with the molasses too. "Then, Master, I will prepare those three kinds for you. "Father, is this the mugwort?" Reiko was grinding the wormwood in a mortar. "Yes, enough. Now put the rice cakes into the bowl and knead them. "Yes." It would have taken Jin a long time to make these grass rice cakes for four people, but with the help of Reiko and Perid, he was able to make them efficiently. "Now I just need to roll them up. Okay, that''s it." The Kusamochi, Anko (red bean paste), soybean flour, and molasses were separated and put in a box. The time would be around 11:00 a.m. local time where the car was. "Well, let''s go back." Jin and Reiko returned to the car. The women had just finished their conversation, so Jin was able to join the conversation easily. The car seemed to have stopped. "Just in time, Jin. We just arrived at the rest house. "Oh, I see." It was about 20 kilometers from Ismar to the rest house, a distance of two hours at 10 kilometers per hour. "It''s a little early, but shall we have lunch? "Yes!" Hannah replied happily. The weather is nice, so we decide to eat outside instead of inside the car. We put the car in the shade of the rest house. "That''s great ......." I had heard about it, but the rest house made of rocks was magnificent. "Is there a water spring in the back? Hitoshi checked it out. Indeed, there was a spring. It was an ancient water supply system. "The low volume of water must mean that there is a crack somewhere in the piping or something and water is leaking. I thought to myself, but I didn''t have time to look for the cracks and fix them now. There was a table and chairs made of stone, so I sat down and spread out some grass cakes. "Wow!Green rice cakes! "Jin, what is this?" "...... is a beautiful color." "It''s called ''Kusa-mochi,'' and where I come from, we eat it in the spring. It''s a little creative, so you can eat it with sweet red bean paste, soybean flour, molasses, or whatever you like." "Yes, I''ll eat it!" Hannah reached for the red bean paste without hesitation. She put a spoonful of red bean paste in the middle of the flattened rice cake and wrapped it around the rice cake. "Delicious!" The sweetness of the bean paste matches the fresh aroma of mugwort. "Yes, this is good! Saki seemed to like the yellowish powder and chewed it with a yellowish color around her mouth. "Delicious!" Erza seemed to be a molasses lover. Jin poured molasses on the top of the cake and then sprinkled yellowish powder on the top. "Oh, that looks delicious. "I''ll try it too!" "Yes, this is good too!" Everyone seemed to like the Kusamochi, and all the Kusamochi we had prepared were completely gone. 883 - - 26-03 Cali Village "Oh, Jin, it was delicious!" After eating something sweet, green tea goes well with it. Jin and his friends were relaxing over a cup of tea that Reiko had brewed for them. "I''ve never had it before, since we don''t have it in the village, but it''s delicious! Hannah was also in a good mood. We could have stayed a little longer, but the clouds were starting to come in, so we decided to leave soon. It was about 20 km from the uninhabited rest house to the village of Kali. "I hope we can get there before it starts to rain. Edgar, fly." "Yes, sir. Yes, sir. The car they are driving is a prototype 1. In other words, it is equipped with an engine capable of reaching a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour. However, the car is equipped with a limiter, so it usually goes up to 40 kilometers per hour. The well-trodden road was easy to drive and we were able to reduce the distance steadily. After driving 20 kilometers in a little over 30 minutes, the village of Kali appeared in front of Jin and the others. No rain fell. Houses made of stone and clay. Some of them are new, indicating that the population has increased. As the car approached, the residents noticed it and gathered around. "What''s going on here without horses?" "Is it like a bicycle?" "Is it like a bicycle?" "There is something like that in the east. ...... A mature man in his early forties stepped out of the crowd. He was solidly built, with sharp eyes. He had dark brown hair and gray eyes. He had a short beard. (The color of his skin is ......) Jin sensed, though he did not say it out loud, that the man had the same blood as the followers of the demon tribe, such as Lucas and Netros. "Welcome, my guest. I am Darrow, head of this village." Jin had heard that name from John Dinny. "My name is Jin. This is Elsa, the court-appointed healer of the Shoro Kingdom. This is Saki, an alchemist also from the Shoro Empire. This is my sister, Hannah. Erza. Saki. Hannah. And this is my automaton, Reiko. Over there is Saki''s automaton, Aal. The one driving is Elsa''s automaton, Edgar. As soon as I explained that it was an automaton, Darrow''s eyes widened. "My God!An automaton!I have never seen anything that looks so much like a human being!You must be a wonderful magical engineer, Jin-dono. "No, I am not. Your father is a Magi Craftsman. He is the one who stands above all Magi Engineers. Reiko added to Darrow''s words. Jin was a little flustered. He had not expected Reiko to say something so boastful. However, the explanation was not so bad. Dallow was completely convinced. "I see, so you''re the one..." "Here are the documents. Jin held out the permit to visit Mitsuho and the ID card given to him by the queen. Dallow took them, looked them over, and bowed again. "<>, Sir Jin Nidor, welcome. Welcome." A letter from the emperor has a lot of weight, Jin thought. "What?Another visitor? A woman emerges from the crowd. She had a peculiar accent. Jin had an idea. She was in her early twenties, with dark brown hair, light brown eyes, and slightly dark skin. Medium height, medium build, good style. The person who fits this description is... "Uh, Maya, is that right?" The woman looked surprised when her name was called. "What?Your brother knows me?" "Oh, yes. Mr. Oliver told me." Actually, through John Dinny. Maya was glad to hear that. "Oliver, how are you?" "Yes, he''s been telling me all about this place." "I see. I see. ...... Mr. Darrow, are you sure you want me to take charge of these people too?" "Yes, please, Maya. They''re important guests. "Yes, sir." Maya replied in a playful tone and turned to Jin and the others. Maya turns to Jin and the others. I''m a guide of sorts here in the village of Kali. Please come and visit us. "It''s nice to meet you, too. I''m Jin, this is Hannah, this is Erza, that''s Saki, and these are automata Aaru, Reiko, and Edgar. "You''re a lot of people, aren''t you? I wonder if we can stay in one big room?It''s such a small village that there aren''t many places to stay. There are only two single rooms. Interesting accent, Jin thought as he listened to Maya''s words, and Elsa pulled his sleeve. "Shall we go to ......?" "Oh, yeah." Before he knew it, Maya was leading the group on foot. It was a narrow village, however, and after two minutes of straight walking, we soon arrived at our destination. "This is it. I''m sorry, but can you cook for us?" "Yeah, no problem. Okay, I''ll bring the car over here. Edgar, please. "Yes!" Edgar replied and ran to get the car. Maya saw him, "You''re an amazing automaton. It''s not at all different from a human being. She was impressed. Maybe that''s why, "Hey, you guys have any plans for later today? Jin asked me, "What are your plans after today? When Jin replied, "No, not really. When Jin answered, he laughed happily, "Well, I''ll show you around the area," he offered. He offered, "Well, I''ll show you around. Having no reason to refuse, Jin and the others decided to accept the offer. "The first person I showed you around was a magical engineer named Tenkun-han, about five years ago," he said. "I''ve only heard of him. Jin recalled that there was an avant-garde figurine in the garden of an inn in the town of Hatta that Tenkunhan had made. "But I heard he was a craftsman." "Yes, that''s right. I''ve heard that too. "Me too." All but Hannah knew who Tengkunhan was, and when he told her that he was more of a craftsman than a magi engineer, Maya looked convinced. "I knew it. I knew it...he wasn''t very helpful. Then she said, Then she said, "Then, last year, there was a guy named John. He was a great guy. He fixed my bicycle. He said nostalgically, "He fixed my bicycle. "A bicycle?" When Hitoshi said the nostalgic word, Maya looked at him as if to say, "Oh, really? Then she asked Jin. "Oh, you know what a bicycle is?" "Yes, I do." Jin answered honestly. After all, he wanted to see the bicycle in person. "I see. I''ll show you later. ......And then there were two delegations from the Shoro Kingdom this year. We will soon be able to establish diplomatic relations. As we talked, we came to a small rocky hill standing alone on the outskirts of the village. There is a path leading up to it, and it is easy to climb. It is, so to speak, a natural observatory. Look, look. You can see the Hariri Desert clearly from here. "Yes, that''s right." Looking north from Kali settlement, we could see the Harihari Desert beyond the bushland. We could see that it was not a sand desert but a gravel desert. Large rocks were sticking out in places, which was quite different from Jin''s image of a . Looking to the east, we can see a road winding its way through a gently sloping valley. There were shrubs, grasses, mosses and other greenery. <>, but seeing them from my own perspective gave me a different impression. "The sunrise and sunset from up here are beautiful, too. Maya explains proudly. "After all, it was renovated this year. You guys are the first to climb up here and enjoy the view. (No wonder John Dinney didn''t report this.) Jin was convinced inwardly. "Well, let''s go next." Maya started down the rocky hill ahead of Jin and the others. Jin and the others followed her. "Next up is ...... for some fun!" 884 - - 26-04 Bicycles Maya then showed us the well, which was the water source for the village, and the food storage. The well was a deep well with an impressive pump installed, even by Jin''s standards, and the storehouse was a snow room. After that, the group returned to the village. "Now it''s time for you to see the bicycles! Maya leads Jin and the others to a corner of the village. This is my house. And here is my bicycle. "Oh ......!" Jin''s eyes widened. It was definitely a bicycle. The tire size is about 24 inches. The size is similar to what is called a "mama-chari. It has steel tires with a block pattern. The frame is a diamond shape with triangles, so one would think that one would have to turn one''s legs backward to step on the bicycle. When I looked at Maya, she was wearing pants. There is no gear shifting mechanism, but from what I have heard, it is probably sufficient since there are no steep hills. The saddle is equipped with a spring, so I guessed that the ride would be comfortable. The most notable feature is the brake. The brakes are designed to be clamped by the rim, and the pads are probably made of leather. The brake lever attached to the grip is operated by a wire. There is also a cargo bed for carrying luggage. The size of the car is that of a mom-and-pop bicycle, but overall it is a practical car. "...... Wow. When did someone make this?......The chain is solid, and the saddle structure is also ......." "...... Um, Jin-han?" "The materials have been carefully selected. The rims have spokes! "Um, ......" Maya talks to Jin, who is inspecting the bicycle with great interest, but he doesn''t seem to be listening to her at all. Elsa sees this and offers to help. "...... Maya, if Jin brother is like that, it''s wise to leave him alone for a while." "Ha-ha-ha, Jin is the same as ever! "You''re just like a little kid, Onii-chan." Saki and Hannah were also laughing at Jin''s situation, which made Maya sigh and laugh. "I don''t know, Jin-han is so strange. Well, that''s okay. Let me buy you some tea. Sit down there and wait for me. After Erza and the others sat down on the porch outside, Maya went into the house and started to boil water. Jin is still playing with his bicycle. "......The bearings are getting rattled. You haven''t even greased them. Oh no, there''s rust floating on the surface. " It seems that they have finally started maintenance. "Wow, there really is a ball bearing in there. But it''s a little worn. ...... I''ll just adjust it." "Kuhu, I''ve never seen Jin like that before. I think he misses it. "You look like you''re having fun, Onii-chan." Then Maya came in with a pot of tea. "Here you go!" She has one for Jin, too. "Father, the tea is here." Reiko called out to Jin, and he finally stopped. "Yes, okay. ...... well, I guess that''s about it." Jin cleans his dirty hands with a <. "Maya, I''ve also done the work on your bike." "Really?Really? Have some tea. "Thank you." Jin took a sip of the tea to quench his thirst. "...... barley tea?No, this is wheat tea. "Astragalus?No, it''s yokunin tea. Maya denied saying "Astragalus" and said the word "yokunin". "Yokunin?...... yokunin!" "Heh?...... Oh, yeah, I think that might have been it. It''s yokuinin tea. The peeled seeds of Astragalus membranaceus are called "yokuinin" and are used for medicinal purposes. It is said to be effective in removing warts, acne and pimples, and whitening skin. The girls at the facility where Jin worked had been obsessed with it for a while, so he knew about it. "But it tastes good. "Yes, it''s delicious!" "It''s good for the skin. ...... interesting!" Elsa and the others were drinking it with relish. After tea, Maya rode the bicycle that Jin had maintained. "Wow!Really!The pedals are so light! "I''ve never seen this before, but it''s amazing." "...... Jin, I wonder why it doesn''t fall over?" "Looks interesting!I want to ride one too!" The sight of a bicycle with only two wheels running without falling over seemed strange even to Erza and Saki, who knew about it. "Hannah can''t ride it yet because her legs can''t reach it yet. I''ll ask her to ride in the back later. Jin decided that Hannah would not be able to ride in the back because of the height of the saddle. In such a case, there was also the triangular riding style, in which the rider pedaled from the side of the frame, but this would be too hard for Hanna to handle. "Jin-han, thank you!You''re doing great! "That''s great! Can I ride with you for a little while? Jin asks Maya, who comes back with a smiling face. "Sure, but Jin-san, can you ride a bike? "Yes, I can. "Yes, I''m fine." "Here you go." While the women looked on to see if he was okay, Jin put his foot on one pedal and kicked the ground with his other foot to start the bike. Before he lost his momentum, he got on the saddle and started pedaling happily. "Oh!Jin-han, you are so good! "Jin-bro, you''re good!" "Kuhu, I wish I could ride too. "Onee-chan!" Hannah ran toward Jin. Jin stops the bike and lets Hannah sit on the back of it. Unlike in modern Japan, no one condemns a two-person bicycle ride. "Hold on tight!" Jin calls out to her. If she doesn''t hold on, there is a danger that she will fall off the bike when it starts. "Yes!" Hannah answered, and Jin felt the strength of the hand on his waist, and began to pedal slowly. "Wow!" Hannah exclaimed in delight at the exhilarating feeling, which was different from that of the horse. Jin was afraid that his buttocks might hurt since he was lying on the iron back of the bicycle, which had iron wheels and no cushion. "Thank you, Onii-chan!" Jin circled around the neighborhood and dropped Hannah off. "You should thank Maya, too!" "Yes!Thank you, Maya!" Maya smiled and patted Hannah on the head. "No problem. You''re a good girl, Hannah." Then Erza, who had been silent until then, turned to Jin and said, "Brother Jin, I''m so happy to see you, "Brother Jin, give me a ride too. Jin nodded. Jin nodded and glanced at Maya, She glanced at Maya and said, "Sure. Give us all a ride." She smiled and gave him permission. So Jin took Erza, then Saki, and finally Maya. Eventually, they had to ride around with Maya, the owner of the car, in the back. "Well, it''s my first time to ride on the back of someone, but it''s so comfortable," was Maya''s comment. Maya said, "Well, this is my first time to ride on the back of someone, but it''s so comfortable. Jin was also in a good mood, having enjoyed riding a bicycle for the first time in a long time. 885 - - 26-05 Walking "Well, Jin-han, you''re a real piece of work!" Jin and his friends were treated to dinner at Maya''s house. The menu consisted of white rice and miso soup with daikon radish. The miso soup was made from dried bonito flakes. Then there was a grilled dried fish. And oshinko (Japanese pickles). "I''m sorry I invited you, but this is all I can offer you," he said. "No, no, it''s delicious. The seasoning was to Jin''s liking, so he really enjoyed the food. "I''m glad you like it." "Another one, girl!" Hannah also eats deliciously and takes a second helping. "Mr. Oliver, it seems you didn''t know about bonito flakes?" "I thought you knew, since you didn''t ask me when I first bought it for you. But I think it was John Dinney''s acquaintance ...... Roshi, right?I thought I had made a mistake when he told me that he had asked ...... how to use it. I see, Jin thought. Maybe the woman in front of him, Maya, was a bit more intriguing than he had expected. "Oh, you''re thinking something rude, aren''t you?" "No, no, nothing." Jin was surprised. We talked a lot after that, but Hannah looked sleepy, so we decided to take a break. When I went outside, it was already dark. ......, but there were some < and at least I could see the road. "That''s interesting, isn''t it? It''s a light that sucks in light during the day and spits it out at night. "Oh, ......." "Jin, that''s interesting!I wonder what kind of substance it is? No wonder Saki is so excited. It glows much brighter than the luminous paints Jin knows. "You may be wondering, but Hannah is already asleep, so I''ll see you tomorrow. "Oh, yes, good night." "Good night." Saki seemed to have given up for the night and went back to the inn following Jin. "Oh, ......, I guess we''re all sleeping together. Jin remembered that he had been given a single room. "I guess we''ll have to endure the bath tonight, won''t we? "Nah, that can''t be helped." In this village, water is precious, so there are no baths. They only wipe themselves with water or hot water. I''ll sleep in the car. Jin excused himself, saying that he was not bold enough to sleep in the same room with the women. "I don''t mind. ...... "I don''t mind either." Hannah is already in her dream. "No, I''ll take care of it. I''ll take care of it. ...... good night." Jin shrugged off the invitation and got into the car with Reiko. "Jin-sama, what''s wrong?" Edgar, the driver, noticed Jin and asked. I''ll sleep here tonight, Edgar go to Elsa''s. I have Reiko. I have Reiko." "Yes, I understand." So Hitoshi put the seat fully flat and slept there. There was also a blanket to keep him warm. The air conditioning was also provided. "Father, I''ll be watching over you, please take a good night''s sleep," he said. "Yes, please, Reiko. Good night. Good night. Jin, tired from pedaling his bicycle for the first time in a long time during the day, lay down and immediately began to breathe. The night passed uneventfully. At dawn. Because he had fallen asleep early, Jin woke up before dawn. "Father, are you awake?" Reiko, who had been watching over him since he didn''t need to sleep, sensed his awakening and called out to him. "Oh, I''m awake. I''m awake. I guess everyone is still sleeping." But Reiko denies it. "It seems Saki-san quietly left just now." "Saki?Alone? No, with Aaru. "That''s a relief." I don''t know if the < will come to this area, but at least with Aal on my side, I should be able to escape. But I am a little concerned about it, so I decide to go outside myself. Naturally, Reiko followed me. "Ah, it''s still a little cold in the morning, isn''t it? Her breath is white. "Saki is at ......," he said. Looking around, the nightlights were still dimly lit, and by their light, two figures could be seen heading toward the outskirts of town. Jin also walked toward them at a fast pace. The figures were walking so slowly that he soon caught up with them. It was Saki and Aaru. They seemed to be looking for something as they walked around. "Saki!" Jin called out to Saki, who turned around with a surprised look on her face. "Jin. You startled me. "What''s going on?What''s going on? "Kuhu, I was looking for something unusual." Saki answers a little shyly. "I heard that the moss used for those night-lights is called ''tsukiyo-gusa''. The innkeeper told me. I heard that it grows in arid regions, and that there is some of it around here, so I thought I''d better get it before it gets too bright." "Moss and grass?Well, it doesn''t matter. Saki, I''ve got it. "Oh, great!" Aaru, who had good eyesight, found it immediately and Saki flew away. "Hey Jin, can we grow this on Horai Island? What Saki brought was a tsukiyo-gusa attached to a stone. It was still glowing slightly in the dawn light. "Well, I don''t know."Well, I don''t know... I should talk to Topaz. Worst case scenario, we could build an air-conditioned room. Horai Island is hardly an arid environment, so if it can only grow in a dry environment, an air-conditioned and sealed space would be necessary. Jin thought that it might be a good idea to grow them in an environment as close as possible to where they were collected at first, and then gradually change the environment to experiment with them. The world is a big place. I want to know more and more things. "I agree." Saki, holding the stone with the tsukiyo gusa on it, muttered sincerely, and Jin agreed with her. "Ah, there''s my sister Saki!" I turned around at the sound of her voice and saw Hannah running toward me. "I woke up and Saki was gone, so I thought she must have gone outside, so I was looking for her. "I see. Good morning, Hannah." "Good morning, Saki!" The sun was rising and it was getting light around the house. "By the way, where''s Elsa?" "Erza is still sleeping." "I see." Jin and the others decided to walk around a little more and then return to the inn. When they returned to the inn, they were greeted by Erza, who stared at them with a stern look as they strolled along, leaving them to their own devices. 886 - - 26-06 To Seki no Machi After breakfast, Maya came to see Jin and his group. "Good morning. Can you and Mr. Dallow go to the town of Seki today? The town of Seki is the final examination site of the Mitsuho nation. It is literally a barrier. "Yes, I can, but how far away is it?" Jin knows from John Dinney''s information and observations from the monitoring satellite that it is less than 60 kilometers away. "About sixty kilometers." "That should be enough to get us out of here in the late afternoon." "Hmm?Is that car that fast? Yes, they can go 20 kilometers per hour. Maya nodded in agreement when she heard that figure. "A bicycle is a little faster, but not for a long time. In that respect, the Magi machine is amazing. It was clear that we had plenty of time to spare, and as promised yesterday, he was going to tell us about the <>. "There''s a kind of moss, more like moss than grass, that grows in the wasteland of Mitsuho," he said. We would collect it, dry it, grind it up, and mix it with paint. That''s how the glowing paint is made. "I see. Luminous paint." Also known as phosphorescent paint. It absorbs light energy and emits light. On modern Earth, it is used for watch faces and the like. As Saki had heard at the inn, this "tsukiyo-gusa" was used as a nightlight. "I wonder how it stores light?" Saki tilted her head. "I''m sorry, I''m not familiar with such things. There are some people in Seki who know a lot about it. People have been taking advantage of various phenomena for a long time without knowing the principles and mechanisms. Of course, it is also true that understanding the principles of these phenomena makes their applications more effective. "Kuhu, I''m looking forward to seeing the town of Seki. I''m sure Jinhan and the others will welcome you with open arms. "I hope so." While we were having this conversation, Daro, the chief of the village of Kali, arrived. "Oh, Maya is here, too?" In fact, he is the deputy mayor of the town of Seki, and he is also in charge of assessing those who come to Mitsuho. "Jin-dono, we will leave for Seki today, is that correct?" "Yes, Maya just told me about it. If we leave after noon, we should be there by the end of the day. Dallow was impressed when he realized that this was based on the assumption that they would be riding in a . "Well, you are an extraordinary person, aren''t you, Jin-dono? Leaving Reiko behind him, who was bending her thin chest, Jin explained in detail. "A car can run all day long at 20 kilometers per hour. For a short time, even twice that. It can hold seven passengers besides Edgar, the driver, so Mr. Dallow can go with us. There is an auxiliary seat for one person in case of emergency. Normally, it''s just for luggage storage. "Well, that''s very kind of you. Can I ride with you?" "Of course. So we decided to have lunch a little early and leave here at noon. It is now about 10:00. Dallow said he would join us for lunch and then left. What?Dallow has gone home. I made you some tea. "Well, let''s all enjoy it together." Since Maya had gone to the trouble of making tea for us, we all decided to relax and have a cup of tea together. "You''re leaving already. I wish we had more time to talk. Maya looked regretful. "Once the Shoro Kingdom and Mitsuho establish official diplomatic relations, we''ll be able to come and go more often. "That''s right. I''ll look forward to the day when we can meet again. "Once diplomatic relations are established, even Mr. Oliver and I will be able to be together officially." "Boo-hoo!" At Jin''s words, Maya let out a huge gulp of tea. "Gee, gee, gee!" It seemed to have entered her windpipe, and she was sobbing bitterly. Erza, unable to bear the sight, cast a healing spell on him. "<>" This is a healing spell for both internal and surgical use. This finally calmed Maya''s breathing. "Oh, thank you very much. ...... Jin-han, don''t talk nonsense! Maya, with a bright red face, approaches Jin. Tears stream from her eyes and snot drips from her nose. "What, me?" Jin was surprised, since he had thought that Oliver and Maya were officially acquainted with each other. "Maya, you''re snotty." Hannah pointed out without reading the air, which was a child''s prerogative. This made Maya''s momentum slow down. "Uh-uh." After pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing her face with it, Maya turned to Jin, but her energy was gone. "Oh, ......, that''s enough. I like Oliver for sure, but there''s no way the people at the other house will accept me. I''m the kind of woman I am." It was Saki who spoke up and told Maya that she had no parents and was of a different ethnicity, laughing to herself. "Maya, my father was just a commoner. And my mother was the eldest daughter of a marquis. "What?" "Of course they wouldn''t have allowed us to marry because of our different statuses. But here I am. Is that ......? My father took my mother away and eloped. She''s gone now, but my grandfather ...... and my mother''s father have forgiven them." "Sakihan......" "So don''t give up. I don''t care if that Mr. Oliver hates you." "......" Saki was unusually upset about something other than her research. "Saki-san, thank you. I''ll try my best not to give up." "I''ll try my best to give up," she said. Saki turned to Jin and the others and looked a little embarrassed. "No, I''m sure it was a bit unexpected, but I think it was something only Saki could have said. "Saki, that was cool." "Saki, you look great!" Hannah was not sure how much she knew what she was saying, but Jin and Erza were sincere in their words. "...... I''m so embarrassed." Saki, scratching her head and blushing, sneaked behind Aaru. Then it was time to leave. "Jin-han, Saki-han, Erza-han, Hannah-chan, come again. Maya saw us off. I had told her that Reiko, Aaru, and Edgar were automata, so I thought she was not going to speak to them, "Reiko, Aaru-han, Edgar-han, make sure you protect your masters. He was talking to them. Hearing that, (Reiko''s way of calling is very close to native pronunciation. ......) (Reiko''s way of calling is very close to the native pronunciation. "Well, let''s go." With Dallow in the car, Jin instructed Edgar to leave. "We''re leaving." With a single word, Edgar stepped on the gas pedal. Slowly the car starts to move. Darrow seemed to be curious about his first ride in a car and looked around silently. ......The tires are made of wood from the looks of it. And yet it''s so comfortable to ride in. ......" And, "It''s neither hot nor cold with this many people in the room. There is no steam. What is this ......? I laugh at Darrow and mutter something like, "This is . Jin smiles at Dallow and decides to leave him alone for a while. It was only when they were halfway to the town of Seki that Dallow regained his composure. 887 - - 26-07 Maintenance "I see, so the final judging will be held in the town of Seki. On the way, Jin heard various warnings from Dallow. "I''m sure that once official diplomatic relations are established, all of this will disappear," he said. Dallow''s tone suggested that he was looking forward to such a future. "Then we will be able to incorporate the good points of each other, and we can expect further development." Jin also gave a safe answer. I wish I had brought Reinhardt along at a time like this, he thought. "But, Jin-dono, you have great skills, don''t you? We are already at the town of Seki. It is amazing that we can arrive at the town of Seki just by sitting there and doing nothing, even though the speed is about the same as that of a bicycle. "We could build a bigger car and have it make several round trips a day. In short, a shared-ride car, a shared-ride bus. "Oh, I see." "Then we can spend our free time on to create a better future. I believe that the world will gradually develop through repetition of this process. "Really?Jin-dono seems to have a unique philosophy. "Philosophy is not such a lofty thing. While we were having this conversation, the car came to a stop. We had arrived at the main gate of the town of Seki. "Hmmm......... is amazing." The solid stone walls are comparable to those of Blueland, a regional city in the Kingdom of Egelea. The height is about 5 meters. The gate used for entry and exit is about 7 meters high and nearly 10 meters wide. The passageway was a square space 5 meters high and 5 meters wide that led into the town. "Are there any guards?" Jin asked Dallow, to which he received a surprising answer. "Yes, there are," he said. Dallow pointed in the direction of the gate, and sure enough, there were four guards peering over the gate. But we don''t do anything to anyone who has been able to come this far. That may sound pleasant as a statement, but from a defensive point of view, I wondered what it meant. So, I put the question to Dallow as it is. He says, "Ha, of course you think so. That gate is not a decoration. In fact, there are several watch points between Kali and here. "Haha ......" The town of Seki is going to close the gate after receiving a message from the watchtower. "Jin-dono has a certificate from the Shoro Kingdom, and I am accompanying him. As a matter of fact, I am also the vice mayor of the town of Seki. Jin-dono wanted to say "I know that," but he did not say it. The car drove off slowly and passed through the gate. "Oh!" Inside the gate was a sturdy-looking door. It remained open for now. "If we close it, they won''t be able to get in that easily. "Of course." It is not likely to be broken through so easily by human power. However, Reiko''s power would be able to destroy it with ease. Jin wondered if there were no such golem battles in Mitsuho, as he observed. "Please go straight ahead. At the end of the street is the town hall where the mayor is located. While the surrounding buildings were one-story stone buildings, this one was two stories high. There was also a watchtower, indicating that this was the center of the town. "If you climb that watchtower, you can see the whole town," Saki said. Saki says, and Dallow nods. "That''s exactly what it''s for, isn''t it? The car arrived at the town hall. They parked in the parking lot for the horse-drawn carriages, and everyone, including Edgar, the driver, headed for the town hall. "This way, please. The mayor should be waiting for you. John Dinney was in the reception room, but Jin and the others were shown to the mayor''s office, which was located in the center of the second floor. "Welcome, <>, Mister Jin Nido, and your companions. Jin and his friends were greeted by a dark brown-haired, brown-eyed, dark-skinned man in his mid-forties. "I am the mayor of this town, my name is Crowe. His stout body looked more like an athlete than a liberal arts student to Jin''s eyes. The town in the wilderness probably kept him from working only at his desk. This is Jin Nido. This is my fiance Elsa Randall, that is Saki Eschenbach, and this is my sister Hannah. Jin Nido greets the group on behalf of the others and introduces his companions. This is Reiko, that is Aal and this is Edgar. This is Reiko, that is Aal, and this is Edgar. Crow''s eyes widened when he heard the word "automata. "Oh, an automaton. We rarely see them in our mitsuho, but they are wonderfully human-like. Reiko is my pride and joy. Aaru is a masterpiece that I and my friends put our hearts and souls into, and Edgar is Elsa''s best work. "Oh, well..." A happy smile appears on Crowe''s face. "Is it correct that the purpose of your visit is to see the sights of Mitsuho, Jin-dono?" "Yes, that is correct." Jin''s reply is concise, but neither false nor backhanded. He really wants to see around the land and the country of Mitsuho. "Then, would you go to the town of Miyako, the capital, first?" "Yes, that''s no problem." He had heard from John Dinney about the political form of mitzvos, and he had expected that this would be the case. "I am glad you could hear me out right away. That''s enough for today. Please go to the guest house and have a rest. "Thank you very much." Crowe was concerned about Jin and his group, as they must have been tired after three hours of continuous travel. No matter how comfortable the car was, three hours was still a long time. Jin and his group gratefully accepted the offer. Jin and his group were shown to the guest house. There was no such thing as a guest house when John Dinney visited the site, but it is said that this kind of facility was built because of two subsequent visits by emissaries from the Shoro Kingdom. However, it seems that the building was remodeled from the original building, rather than being built from scratch. This can be seen in the stone and other materials used. The newness is different in some parts. "I''m curious about this." Erza, who had seen the interior, said to Jin. "What''s wrong, Elsa? "Here, look. The stones are not fused. This proves that no magical engineering was used. However, it doesn''t seem to be a mechanical problem, so Jin doesn''t pay much attention to it, although he has secretly fused the stones together. I will explain this to Elsa when I enter the room. "...... So, in the absence of magical engineering, I suppose you would consider using that kind of frictional force, wouldn''t you?" "Hmm, that makes sense." "Jin, a world without magic!" Saki is impressed, but Jin adds. "Saki, Hannah''s village of Kaina didn''t even use magic until I went there. It''s not that unusual. "Yeah, that''s true. ......" Saki, after all, is the grandson of a marquis and has had a reasonably privileged life. Therefore, he could not have imagined a life like the one in the village of Kaina before Jin. "In a world without magic, < develops instead. I have always wanted to combine magic and science and make it more wonderful. But this country already has a budding ......, or rather, a young tree. Although ......, at this rate, it''s going to die before it becomes a big tree." "Huh?" Jin''s unusually abstract manner of speaking caused Erza and Saki to look at him suspiciously. "Does that mean that there is something dangerous about this country, big girl?" Hannah was the only one who understood what Jin meant, even if she didn''t understand the meaning of the words, and she was able to put it in the right words. "Dangerous--yes, that''s right. The absence of magecraftsmen is making it difficult to maintain the culture." "But, Brother Jin ......." Erza starts to say, but Saki takes over and continues. "If we can establish diplomatic relations with the Shoro Kingdom, that would solve the problem, wouldn''t it?" Jin looks complicated. "Yes and no. The point is that many of the tools and magic tools here are at a level before the magic wars. "Oh, I see. ......" "I had heard John Dinney''s report, but seeing it with my own eyes made a lot of sense. I''m sure we''ll learn a lot more when we get to Miyako." John Dinney was still traveling around the southern part of Mitsho, helping the residents and reporting back any unusual items he found. However, he is still short on staff, being the only one in a large area of the country. "We have to do something about this too. We have to do something about this so that our magic tools don''t decay. It was Jin who really felt that it was a shame. 888 - - 26-08 Welcome Since there was a bathing facility in the town of Seki, Jin and the others were able to relax, wash off the sweat of the trip, and sleep soundly. The next day, they finally set out for Miyako. Jin thinks that if he is going to reform, he should start with Miyako. Jin-dono, I''ve sent word by pigeon, but please take this with you as well. Mayor Crowe handed Jin a letter. "Here is my letter of recommendation. Once you leave the town of Seki, I don''t think you will be stopped again, but just in case, since you are in a rare . "I understand. Thank you for your concern. From the town of Seki to Miyako is a little over a hundred kilometers, about five hours at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Thank you very much for your help in the short time I was with you. "Take care." The car carrying Jin and the others left the north gate of the town of Sechi. "Oh, it really is a paved road. < Edgar, you can go up to 30 km/h." So Jin ordered the speed to be increased. When we get to Miyako, I hope we can share the rubber and get rubber tires. At 30 kilometers per hour, the wooden tires still caused a slight vibration. Still, the shock-absorbing material used for the seat (goulashvam) makes a big difference. We arrive at the town of Echim in about 50 minutes. We stop for a short rest. Here, too, cars are a rarity, so onlookers have gathered. The mayor of the town was among them and greeted Jin. When he told Jin that his destination was Miyako, the mayor looked disappointed. The people from the Shoro Kingdom who visited us last time were very polite, and I thought they were the kind of people I would like to associate with," he said happily. He also said that he was glad to hear that. The next stop was the town of Temae. Then came Nardo, Yashima, and so on, with a new town every 45 to 50 minutes. Jin and his group took a 10 to 15 minute break at each town. However, in Yashima, which coincided with lunch time, they stayed for about 40 minutes and ate , a local specialty. This was information that even John Dinney was unaware of. You can choose chopsticks or a spoon. Of course, Jin used chopsticks and the others used spoons. "This is delicious. "This is delicious, Onii-chan! "Jin, I''ve never had this before, but it''s good! Not only Jin, but also Erza, Hannah, and Saki seemed to like it very much. The sauce was seasoned to suit Jin''s palate, and the use of onions and eggs was the same as what Jin knew. Jin reflected on the fact that he had made fries and croquettes before, but had never made a bowl of rice. The cutlet is made of pig meat. A pig is said to be a domesticated version of the desert boar, a wild animal. It is probably similar to a pig. The pork cutlet was fried well, and Jin heard from the owner that this was also a dish passed down by a wise man (Mags), which made him wonder more and more about his origins. "Oh, that was delicious! Hannah, who seems to like the dish so much that she eats a whole adult portion, rubs her stomach, "Okay, I''ll cook it for you next time," Jin promises. Jin promised to Hannah. Hannah nodded with a big smile on her face. After lunch, they slowed down a little and drove slowly. Still, we arrived at Miyako by 2:00 p.m. "Oh, moatwari..." she said. The town of Miyako is surrounded by a moat wall. There is a bridge across the moat, and at the bridge, there is a checkpoint because it is the capital. "Stop!" Jin stopped the car and showed the gate guard the certificate from the Shoro Kingdom and the letter from Crowe. The effect was so great that the gate guard saluted and let Jin and the others through. "<>, Jin-sama and his party, please come through." "Thank you." Jin and his group thanked us and left the car. The bridge is about 7 meters wide, which is enough to pass through. After crossing the bridge, they arrived at Miyako, the capital of the Land of Mitsuho. "You must be Jin-sama''s group. As soon as we entered the town of Miyako, we were greeted by a welcoming group. More than a dozen people were dressed in formal attire and hung a banner with the words on it. Jin Nido was a little embarrassed. "We have been expecting you. My name is Emir Hiro Mutu. We are pleased to welcome you, Master Jin. The polite greeting made Jin jump out of the car in a hurry. "My name is Jin Nido. Pleased to meet you. "It is an honor to meet you." Jin shakes hands with Chief Hiro Mutu. "You know who you are?" "Of course I do. We were told about you by our benefactor, Mr. John Dinney. "Oh, ......" Jin recalled that he had fixed an educational automaton, <>, who was a behind-the-scenes player in this country. The credit for that work belonged to John Dinney, who had been given the title of <>. He had called Jin a mentor and had told him that compared to him, he was a child, or rather a baby. The arrival of Jin was greeted by the chief, Hiro, and all 18 council members. Some of them might have thought that Jin was very young, but they surrounded him and his group and welcomed him without showing any concern. "There''s no need to stand around talking here. Hiro waved his hand and several rickshaws appeared. "Please get on this one." Jin had seen rickshaws in sightseeing spots such as Asakusa and Hida Takayama on TV, but this was the first time for him to see one in person. However, John Dinny had told him about the rickshaws, so Jin consulted with Hannah and got into one of the rickshaws with her hand. Elsa and Saki also got into the other rickshaw. Reiko and Aaru got on the side of the rickshaw with their respective masters. Hiro saw them and tilted his head. "Aren''t you two getting in?" It was Reiko who answered. "Yes, because we are automata. Hearing this, Hiro and the other council members were astonished. "What? Reiko and Aaru looked just like human beings, or even like human beings themselves. Certainly, I had been aware of the group through the pigeon messages. However, when he actually saw them with his own eyes, he could not believe it. "I see, so it is true that Jin-sama is the world''s greatest Magi Smith, <>! Reiko silently smiled at these words. After such a scene, Jin and the others headed for the guest house by rickshaw (Jin, Hannah, Elsa, and Saki), on foot (Reiko and Aaru), and in a car (Edgar), respectively. Chief Hiro and the council members accompanied them in a rickshaw. We arrived at the guest house in about five minutes. "Oh, kawara (roof tiles)!" The building is a guest house with a thatched roof similar to a kawara tile. "It looks like a Japanese garden. ......" The garden, just as it was when John Dinney arrived, welcomes Jin and the others. After getting off the rickshaw, Jin and the others were ushered into a hall that could be described as an entrance hall. Edgar left his car in the parking lot on the grounds before joining them. I don''t think they will play any tricks on us, but just in case, I called of the new > and asked him to watch the car. (Ah, should we have thought about security too? ......) As Jin was thinking about that. "Well, once again, Mr. Jin Nido, welcome to the meeting. Hiro Mutu, on behalf of the lined-up council members, greeted them. "Mr. John Dinney told me that Mr. Jin does not like a showy welcome, so I would like to add that this is the way we have chosen to welcome you. (Is this not fancy enough? ......) Jin recalled that on the way here by rickshaw, he had been waved, accosted, and bowed to by the residents. "John Dinney is our savior and our teacher, Master Jin." Jin was a little disappointed inside, thinking that he should be glad that this was the end of it. 889 - - 26-09 Soap The welcoming party of Jin''s group was disbanded, leaving only the sheikh, Hiro Mutu. No, there was one other person left who did not look like a councilor. She was a woman around 20 years old with dark brown hair, brown eyes, and dark skin. She looked somewhat like Hiro. She is Mii, my grandson, and will take care of you, Jin-sama. Please let her know if you need anything. ...... Mii, say hello." My name is Mii Mutu. Please give me your regards." Naturally, it was her grandson who looked like Hiro Mutu. She bowed beautifully to the group. "It is my pleasure. "If you like, I can show you to your room." With these words, Jin and the others went to their rooms. Mii does not seem to speak with an accent or dialect, except for her first name. "...... Oh, tatami mats!" The room is a four-room apartment. One room is 10 tatami mats wide. There was a shiny black lacquered zataku (Japanese low table) and six zabuton (Japanese cushions) on the floor. What caught Jin''s attention, however, was an object placed in the alcove. Two white, flat, round objects were stacked on top of each other. "...... Kagamimochi?" They are Kagamimochi, for all intents and purposes. Jin promised himself that he would ask the reason later. "Come in, Jin-sama." Jin took the first seat with his back to the alcove, Erza was second next to him, and Hanna and Saki were third and fourth on the opposite side of the room. However, Jin was not so sure about the upper and lower seats in a Japanese-style room, except for the first one. Reiko, Edgar, and Aal sat diagonally behind their host. Hiro sat right next to the table. Mii made a pot of tea. It was hojicha. It was freshly roasted and quite fragrant. "Now, I am sorry to disturb you while you are relaxing, but could you tell us what you want, Jin-sama?In other words, what do you want from our country? "Let''s see... ......" Jin is a bit surprised because he did not expect to be treated as a guest of honor here. "......I''d like to look around. I especially want to see and learn about things that our country doesn''t have and things that are different. You are a very educated person, aren''t you, Jin-sama? Do you have any specific requests? At this point, Jin recalled the information from the <>. "There are villages north of the town of Miyako, aren''t there?I would like to visit there. Hiro thought for a moment and answered. "You mean the towns of Kure and Inno?" But Jin denied it. "No, much farther north. "My God!You know all that? "At least, I know that there are residents there." Hiro then became silent with a difficult look on his face. He seemed to be thinking about something. Jin and the others drank some hojicha (roasted green tea), moistened their mouths, and waited for his reply. ......We don''t know much about it. We only know that there was some communication with them a long time ago, but the distance between them is so great that it seems they have been unable to negotiate with each other. "You don''t know any details?" I''m sorry, sir. "I see. ......" I was a little disappointed that there was no information, although I had not relied on it that much in the first place. "Well then, tomorrow you will show us around Miyako, won''t you?" Jin changed his mind and offered, and Hiro nodded broadly. "Yes, that''s already arranged. Please ask Mii here to arrange a rickshaw. Shall I have her arrange a rickshaw? "No, no, I''d prefer to walk around. We have cars if you need them. When Jin said the word "car," Hiro''s eyes changed color. "Automobile!That''s wonderful technology. That''s what Jin-sama is all about. Master John also rode a golem horse, a wonderful thing, but even more wonderful. At that moment, Mii, who had been listening quietly, opened her mouth. "Ah, Master Jin, could you please introduce us to some of the foods in the East, if you could? "Here, mii!" Hiro rebuked him, but Jin had his own thoughts on the matter. Sweets are universally popular and comfort people''s hearts. Jin recalled making popcorn in the Blue Land of Egelea and Topopo chips in Borgia, the capital of Elias. "Hmmm, considering the environment and products here ......." Hiro broke out in a cold sweat as he saw Jin deep in thought. Mii also looked a little worried. "Is something bothering you, sir? To reassure Hiro, Erza explained. It''s all right. Jin ...... sometimes gets carried away when it comes to making things and food. Hearing this, Hiro and Mii are relieved. Hiro and Mii are relieved. "You''re a big girl, aren''t you?" "Yes, you''re Jin, aren''t you?" Hannah laughs and Saki giggles. Jin reboots. He seems to have an idea. "Let''s see what we can do. "Wow, thank you! Mii looked happy. "So, Mii, I have a question. "Yes, what is it? What is that? Jin points at the Kagamimochi (mirror-shaped rice cake). He is curious about it. Oh, is it the Kagamimochi of Tokonoma?......Erm, yes. It''s an old custom to display them on special occasions. I think it was displayed this time because Jin-sama came to see us. It seems to be a custom that has been handed down with slightly changing meanings. At any rate, Jin was satisfied with it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ah, that feels good. Jin stretches his arms and legs in the large bathtub. Reiko is following him. "Father, what are you going to do now?" "Well, I''d like to find out more about Shuki Tsezi. "You have the same family name as your mother, don''t you?" I see. I''m curious. And then there''s the north. Reiko thinks about it as she rubs Jin''s back. "...... I''m sorry, I don''t know anything about it." "No, it''s not your fault, is it?" Jin soothes Reiko. "I didn''t know anything about it from the knowledge I inherited from my predecessors. Jin thinks that this is understandable. I can at least imagine that it would not be easy to have one person''s entire knowledge, experience, and memory transcribed. I understand that the transcription of knowledge must have been the result of a process of selection and selection. "That feels good!" "Hannah, do you have an itch?" The women were taking a leisurely bath in another bathroom. Hannah was now having her head washed by Mii. Mii was wearing a cotton bathrobe and was also washing Elsa''s back and head. The only automata in the bathroom with her is Aalu, a female automata (actually a neutral automata), and Edgar, a male automata, is not in the bathroom with her. "Kuhu, this is very good. It foams and cleans well. And it smells good." "Yes, it''s a specialty." Elsa wondered if this was another message from . "Now, Miss Elsa, let me wash your back. Mii came in. Her cotton bathrobe was wet and stuck to her bare skin. Her brown skin is showing through, but that''s not the point. The four of us here ...... well, Hannah is just the beginning, and it''s no wonder that I feel jealous of her breasts, which are the most voluptuous of the three of us. "Your hair is so beautiful, I envy you. Mii was washing Erza''s hair while saying such things as "I envy your beautiful hair," while the actual Erza was thinking such a silly thing as wanting to share some of her breasts with her. "Fuu..." Saki was soaking in the bathtub with a slightly old manly gesture. Mii has also taken off her bathrobe and is soaking in the bathtub with her. Erza and the others had requested that they bathe together. "You all have beautiful skin. I envy you. Again, Mii says she is envious. She has a skin color like light coffee milk. Mii''s skin is also very fine and beautiful. Elsa says to Mii. In fact, Mii''s skin is what is called glutinous skin, except for its color, and it is very soft and supple. "Oh, really?But after all, Erza-sama is ...... wonderful ...... with fair skin and blonde hair." "huh?" A simple tap on the shoulder can cause Erza to make strange noises. "Oh, I''m sorry, Erza-sama!" Mii bows her head to the point of splashing. Her head is in the hot water. "Don''t worry about it! Erza rushes to pick Mii up in her arms. Mii looked a little red, perhaps because of Elsa''s hug, or perhaps because of the hot water. 890 - - 26-10 Libraries "Soap or ......" Jin comes out of the bath and relaxes in his yukata. He noticed a piece of soap on the table. It had a nice lather and a nice fragrance. Jin has made many things, but he has not made soap. At best, he used Rita''s seed as a substitute for soap and spread the word that baking soda can be used to remove oil stains easily. Jin knows that it can be done with fats and alkalis, but that''s as far as he has gotten. There was a child who tried it at the facility, but Jin was preoccupied with other things and did not help him, and thus did not know the details of how to make it. "I wonder if this wise man (Mags) knew much about chemistry," was Jin''s impression. That was Jin''s impression. He also wanted to pick up a few things before leaving here. "But what about bicycles?" Then Elsa and her friends came out of the bath. "Oh, you look nice!" They were all dressed in yukata. It was a little refreshing to see them dressed in something so unusual. "Kuhu, we haven''t seen you here since the summer festival in Kaina village. "Interesting clothes, aren''t they!" The sliding doors facing the garden open onto the porch, and a cool breeze comes in. The cool breeze comes in. It is comfortable for my body after taking a bath. Jin sits on the porch with Saki on his right and Erza on his left. Hannah is sitting on his lap. Jin smells the soapy aroma and takes a deep breath, which is not a bad thing. "Onii-chan?" "Oh, yeah. ...... guys, you all smell good with soap." "Yes!It felt so good! "Mmm. I want some ......." "Yeah, I''ll get some later." "That''s a good idea!" Everyone agreed on the soap. After cooling off on the porch for a while, Jin and the others decided to resume their conversation. "About what you said earlier, I thought that the fact that you were able to make a bicycle means that there is more than just chemistry. "Yes, I understand your point, Elsa. But I noticed it when I was working on that bicycle. Elsa looks doubtful when she hears this. "I noticed that the details were not reproduced as well as they could have been." "Is that so, Jin?" Saki, unable to remain silent, spoke up. "Yes. The way the spokes were installed was a little strange, the way the brake pads were used, the way the brake levers and wires were installed..." "How do you know all that?" "I''m a chemist, but I think I could at least maintain a bicycle by myself, that''s all." "Hmm, as expected of you, Jin, you are a Magecraft Meister, aren''t you?" Saki was impressed. "Didn''t you all use soap?I thought that if you can make something like that, you must have a strong background in chemistry. In addition to that, I think you know a lot about anatomy. "Why is that?" Now Elsa asked. "You know, I repaired an automata called before, didn''t I?I saw how the skeletal structure and muscles were formed at that time, and that''s what I thought." "I agree." "What do you mean?" Elsa is convinced and Saki is questioning. "Saki, human muscles are slightly skewed. That''s why we can twist our arms and legs. It was a very brief explanation, but the perceptive Saki understood it. "I see. That makes sense." At that moment Jin noticed that Hannah, who was sitting on his lap, was quiet. "Oh, Hannah, I think she fell asleep. Let''s put her gently back on the futon. "Yes, that''s a good idea." So Jin and the others went to their rooms and rested. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin would like to visit the north, but there are many things to see here in Miyako. So we decided to stay at least 3 or 4 days to see around Miyako and its surroundings. My guide, of course, was Mii. She was very knowledgeable for her age and answered most of my questions about the town and its culture. That building is the oldest in town, but it has been remodeled three times, so all that remains of it is its foundation and base. "This is the Central Library. It has the largest collection of books in the city. You can browse freely, but you cannot take books out of the library. This is a national park. It has a botanical garden and about half of the plants found in Japan are planted here. "This is a museum. It exhibits tools that are no longer in use. There were so many things to see that the day was over after visiting only four places. Saki was most interested in the library, while Jin was more interested in the museum. Erza, like Jin, went to the library, and Hannah went to the library. "Why don''t we have a free day tomorrow? Saki suggested after dinner. She wants to check out some books in the library. "Onii-chan, I want to read books too! Even Hannah said something like that. According to her, she has read most of the books in the Nido Castle in Kaina Village. However, even though she has read them, most of them, such as mathematics (up to the level of simultaneous equations) and books on magic, she has not been able to understand their meanings even though she has read them. Still, Jin thought it would be good for Hannah to be exposed to books at her age, so he agreed to Saki''s proposal. The books, however, are not so full of information because each book has about 100 pages and many handwritten characters. "With Aaru''s ability, he can probably memorize about 100 books in a day." When Jin said this in Mii''s absence, Saki looked surprised. "I see. Is it more convenient or more mysterious? "I have a feeling that if Jin-san says something to the sheik, Hiro-san, he''ll let us memorize the contents of the book with impunity." Erza interrupted. Jin agreed with her. Then we should make a formal offer. Saki and Hanna spent the next day at the library. "Saki, take care of Hannah. Hannah, be a good girl." "Yeah, I''ll take good care of her." "Okay, sweetie!I love books! Aal is with him now, so there''s nothing to worry about. < "What about food?Don''t get so carried away that you don''t eat. Jin, who was concerned about Saki in particular, warned her that she might skip meals if she got carried away, Erza suggested, "Brother Jin, why don''t we meet up and have lunch together? Erza suggested, "Brother Jin, why don''t we meet up and have lunch together? "Jin brother gets so absorbed in his work that he doesn''t even care about his lunch. "......" Jin had no words to reply. So on April 10, Hanna and Saki went to the central library together, and Jin and Erza went to the library. Both libraries are located next to the park and are only about a hundred meters apart. So we all went to the library first. At the reception desk, Mii talked to a librarian who seemed to be able to help us in various ways. "Jin, we''ll meet back here for lunch. "See you later, Onii-chan!" "Yeah, I''ll see you for lunch." The library has a cafeteria and coffee shop adjacent to the library, so they decided to have lunch there. After separating from Saki and the others, Jin and Erza went to the museum guided by Mii. Since they had only been able to take a quick look at the exhibits the day before, they planned to take their time today. Mii is familiar with such exhibits, which is convenient for us. "First of all, let''s go to the first floor, where there is a section for vehicles. A carriage, a bicycle, a rickshaw, a palanquin, a palanquin, and a palanquin are displayed, and a doll of a horse is displayed as a domestic animal for riding. "I guess they used horses, too." But then, horses are rarely seen. "Yes. They were quite popular in the past, but there was an epidemic of horse sickness about 600 years ago. Mii explains. Even today, there are many infectious diseases that affect horses, such as equine paratyphoid, equine influenza, and Japanese encephalitis. It is said that the number of horses in this area has been drastically reduced due to one of these diseases. "Then rickshaws began to be used in town, and bicycles between towns. "Oh?" The bicycles displayed here were equipped with rubber tires. I pointed this out to him, Yes, the bicycles with steel wheels are the old type, and the new ones are made of rubber. But the new model can no longer run because there are no more rubber tires to replace the old ones. The explanation came back to Jin. Hearing this, Jin decided that this was his chance to ask something that had been bothering him. "I have one question. "Yes, what is it?" "Where were bicycles and rickshaws made in the first place?" 891 - - 26-11 Factory "Where is the ...... factory, though?" The answer to the question about where bicycles and rickshaws were made was quite ordinary. Or rather, the information that Jin wanted to know was hardly included in the answer. So, he repeated the question. "Where is this factory located?" "......" Mii hesitates to answer. "Can''t you talk about it?" Jin asks, and she shakes her head. "......It''s not moving anymore." "What?" "From what I''ve heard, it stopped working about 300 years ago and never worked again." Jin pondered. 300 years, that means ....... I wonder if it''s the Aether Stampede, after all.) "Is it simply that the materials have run out?" Erza also expressed her opinion. Jin nodded inwardly. "So now, the culture of this country is slowly beginning to decline. But we had a visit from Mr. John Dinney the other day, and he helped us a lot. "So that''s what you mean. ......" "Brother Jin, what do you mean?" Erza asks Jin with a question mark on her face. "I mean, this is what it means. In Mitsuho''s country, they have not been able to produce such advanced tools and magic tools on their own. Mii sighs at Jin''s point. "...... Yes, I''m ashamed to admit it." I don''t know who built that factory, but I guess it went differently than they intended. Probably because the <> didn''t work, Jin thought. Although he had not told anyone, one of the reasons for his visit to Mitsuho was that he wanted to know how the <> had managed to establish an advanced cultural civilization. I know that educational automata for leaders like <> are part of the answer. But I wanted to know about the other part: ...... measures for the general public. But, as I should say, it didn''t work out so well here in Mitsuho. It seems that people have come to simply accept the tools that are given to them from somewhere as a matter of course. (I wonder if we can call it a depravity, though.) After all, the step was a little too high. Jin regretted that he had given up on it, seeing it as an unclimbable cliff instead of a climbable step. Jin wanted to learn how to pass on his knowledge and skills in today''s world from someone who seems to be a pioneer in this field. ....... "I won''t make it worse, but could you tell me where this factory is located?" "Well, um, ......." Mii hesitated for a moment when asked again, but then remembered that Jin was a , "North of Miyako here ...... is northeast. "Well, can we try to go there?" "Yes, grandfather ......, if you notify the sheik." "Okay, then ......." Erza stopped Jin as he started to walk away. "Brother Jin, calm down. It''s almost eleven o''clock. If you want to go, go after lunch. Jin regained his composure. "That''s true..." "Yes. So Jin and Erza spent the rest of the hour or so touring the museum as planned. "This is the loom. And that is the threader." "Well, I guess it''s not a mechanical one. ...... No, I can''t judge that from this. ......" There was no sewing machine. In principle, a loom is not structurally difficult because it only passes the weft threads between the warp threads. Jin has heard and knows that the invention called the <> (shuttle) has greatly improved efficiency ....... However, when it comes to the sewing machine, Jin cannot understand how the upper thread gets entangled with the lower thread, along with its precise processing. And it seems that the same was true for Mags, whose mitsuho does not seem to have a sewing machine either. As an aside, I wonder if Jin would respond by making a sewing golem. Other items seen in the morning were cooking utensils. "...... a vegetable knife, right? ......" The kitchen knives that Jin saw when he came here were all of the form of a gyuto or santoku knife, but among the items on display here were what appeared to be a rapeseed knife and a willow-blade knife. * * * * * * * * "It was quite interesting to see ......." As promised, Jin explained to Saki what he had found and what he had noticed while eating lunch at the cafeteria adjacent to the library. 892 - - 26-12 Director The factory is as big as a gymnasium. Mii opened the closed door with the key he had given her. I heard that the inside is cleaned regularly. It was not as dusty as he had expected, and it seemed that regular maintenance had been done. Jin stepped inside with curiosity. "Oh ......" Jin saw something unexpected. It was a machine tool. However, it was very different from what Jin knew. But it was definitely a machine tool. "......Brother Jin, what is this?" Erza asked, "It is a machine tool. Jin replied shortly, and began to move busily among them as if he had lost sight of his surroundings. Reiko was the only one following him. "Ah, um, Jin-sama?" Mii, who was amazed by this situation, tried to call out to him, but Erza stopped her. "It doesn''t matter what you say now. It''s not going to be heard. Is that so? "Oh, is that so? I''m going to take a look at this one. Elsa slowly approached one of the machines. "Is this a ...... lathe?" Elsa knows about lathes. In short, it is a machine used to cut out a rotating object. The machine there was more like a woodworker''s wheel than a lathe. It seemed to be specially designed for shaving the outside of the workpiece. Someone turns the handle to rotate the workpiece. The workpiece seemed to be attached with wood screws, instead of being clamped by a chuck, which is a common method in the modern earth. "Wooden screws ......?" Erza had never seen a wooden screw before, even though she knew about them. "No wonder my brother Jin is so fascinated ...... with them." Next to it was a band saw. A machine that makes a saw blade in the shape of a metal belt and rotates it. There was also a drilling machine ...... for drilling holes only, and a mechanical drill. Both seem to be human-powered, with a handle that is turned to operate the machine. As Elsa gently turns the handle of the drilling machine, she thinks back to the past. "But then, why did it stop ......? Elsa realizes. Yes, it must not be a human who turns this handle. The handle is too heavy for Erza''s strength. "It must be powered by a golem. "I think so, too." Erza''s muttering was answered by Jin, who had returned before she knew it. "I''ve been shown around. It''s a wonderful machine tool. It would be a shame if it didn''t work. Jin tries to turn the handle of the drilling machine that Erza is touching. Then he gives up, "Reiko, can you give it a quick spin?" he said to his most trusted daughter. "Yes, Father." Reiko put her hand on the handle of the drilling machine and started to turn it. "What? Mii exclaimed involuntarily. It was because the handle, which was so heavy that Jin and Erza could barely move it, started spinning lightly as if it had no resistance. "I knew it. Reiko, that''s enough." Jin turns to Mii. "You said the factory stopped 300 years ago. There was an incident called "Aether Stampede" and since then the amount of free magic element (ether) in the air has drastically decreased. With these words, Jin walked toward the back of the room. "Perhaps the immobile golems have been put away in the back room?" "Well, umm..." Mii didn''t seem to know that much and was at a loss for an answer. Jin, however, walked on ahead of her. Reiko followed him, then Elsa and Edgar. Mii hurriedly followed. The door at the back of the front was a little hard, but it opened easily when Reiko put some effort into it. "Yeah... ......!" There, dozens of golems were lying in the dust, just as Jin had said. "Hmmm, I guess I don''t have enough magic power." Jin checks these golems. "Hmmm, not this one either. Not this one either. ...... He seems to be looking for something. "Brother Jin, what are you looking for?" Elsa wonders and asks. She thinks that she might be able to help in the search. "Yeah, most of the golems here are power golems. But I thought there should be a craftsman golem and a foreman golem. Jin thought that if all the workers in this factory were golems, there should be such a division of labor. And if he could find the supervising golem, he would be able to get answers to his many questions. "Father, isn''t this it?" Reiko, who had been searching at the end of the room, shouted. She was a little taller than the others and was wearing what looked like a hat. "Yeah, I think so. I wonder how to reboot ....... ......" Jin is a little worried. It is not likely to work unless the ether converter is modified. And we don''t have the materials to modify it. "Father, why don''t you have them deliver the free magic element condenser? If we can double the concentration of free magic element (ether) in the medium space of this room, we can probably reactivate it. "That''s the only way. ...... Reiko, contact the old man. But send them quietly." "Yes, sir." Mii, an outsider, is helping Erza near the entrance. This way, she won''t notice the free-magic condenser being sent to her. A minute later, a free-magic condenser appears in front of Reiko. Jin immediately activates it. The free-magic element (ether) concentration does not increase so quickly, but at least the supervising golem in front of her started to move slowly. It seems that it was not completely stopped. In that case, I would have to <> it, but the fact that it started moving by itself suggests that it was in a state similar to < on a computer. "...... have I been stopped all this time?" Upon recognizing Jin, the supervising golem spoke. "That''s right. Due to a certain accident, the concentration of free magical element (ether) dropped to less than one-third, and your magical element converters (ether converters) became useless. I see. Now I''m temporarily increasing the concentration of free magic element (ether). Tell me about it. The supervising golem does not seem surprised to hear this. Rather, it seems that he does not fully understand. "I can only order the work golem and the power golem to make what I am instructed to make." "Oh, I see. ......" Jin was mildly disappointed. The golem''s control core here does not contain much information. Come to think of it, even Akitsu, the educational automata, did not have much information. Then, who will give you instructions? This was the last question, which gave him a ray of hope. It worked. Yes, the factory manager. Where is the factory manager? The supervising golem silently extended his right arm and pointed with his finger at the door further in the back. "Okay." Jin answered shortly, "Reiko, let''s go!" He headed for the door at the back of the room. 893 - - 26-13 Plant manager Beyond the back door was a small room. It looked like an office and was very dusty. This room had probably never been cleaned. There was a desk in the middle of the room, and in front of the desk was an automaton sitting on the floor. "Wait a little and it will start to move." < "Is it in a sleep state due to lack of free magic element (ether)? ......" The golems and automata that Jin has created have an auxiliary , so they do not stop suddenly. They should stop after taking measures to maintain their own condition as much as possible. Of course, at that time, they should contact Horai Island by manacam. As Jin was thinking about this, Elsa, Edgar, and Mii arrived. "Brother Jin, what is this place?Where is this automata? "Ah, Erza. This automaton is probably the factory manager. I think she was in charge of this whole factory. Mii''s eyes widened. "That''s amazing!No one has ever been this deep before!" "Well, why is that?Well, there''s nothing we can do to fix it. As we were exchanging these words, finally started to move. "...... have I stopped ......?" Then he finds Jin and greets him. "Welcome. I am the factory manager. What can I get for you today? Hearing this line, Jin was convinced that he used to give orders to the factory manager, and the factory would produce accordingly. "No, it''s not an order today. As you just said yourself, the factory was shut down until just now. You should be aware of that first." The factory manager responded to Jin''s explanation in the proper way. "Oh, I see. Then we must start by reorganizing the factory. Hearing this, Jin felt a little relieved that he could have a decent conversation with the factory manager. "No, we should wait for that too. In the current world, the concentration of free magical element (ether) is so low that the factory cannot operate properly. "That''s a problem. What should we do? The factory manager seemed to be at a loss, as he had not expected such a situation. At this point, Jin decided to take a gamble. It was a gamble with a good chance of winning, however. "How are the materials coming in? "Yes, using the first, second, and third warp gates, but if the concentration of free magical element (ether) is decreasing, it seems to have stopped." "That''s right." Jin was relieved. After all, this factory was using a warp gate to bring in materials. <''s location, he wondered if this was the case. The bet was that if the technology was still in use, Jin''s use of the warp gate would be acceptable. Jin wanted to bring this factory to full operation. It was too bad to leave this factory, which had many things that Jin did not have or had not developed, to rot away. However, there are too many Golems for Jin to go around repairing them by himself. But... "Factory manager, how do you maintain and repair the Golems here? Yes, they have been in operation for a long time, so they must have a maintenance system in place. Yes, we have 50 golems for maintenance. Jin was right. "Where are they? Yes, in the room to the left, once you leave this room. Okay. Jin asked Mii, Erza, and Edgar to stay there and keep an eye on the factory manager, while he and Reiko went to check on the maintenance golem. "...... this?" As the factory manager said, there were 50 maintenance golems lying on the floor. "Reiko, get me 100 Magi Crystals......, of below average quality, and contact the old man to have them transferred here." "Yes, Father." Reiko''s bracelet could be used to make such a call, but since it was built into Reiko''s bracelet, such a call could be made in a matter of seconds. And since he does not have to say it out loud, Jin often asks Reiko to do so. Of course, it is also a sign of his dependence on Reiko, and Reiko is in a particularly good mood after performing such an errand. In less than a minute, 100 Magi Crystals appeared in front of Jin and the others. "Okay, we''ll use these to make an ether converter and a mana driver. We''ll implant them into the golem for maintenance. "Yes, I will help you." Immediately Jin started to make an ether converter and a mana driver corresponding to the current concentration of free magic element (ether). Reiko exchanged them one by one with the old equipment of the maintenance golem. Erza''s education seems to be working to some extent, as she is thinking in the corner of her mind that if the mine is restarted, she will be able to replenish what she used today ....... After replacing about 10 golems, Jin stopped his work and restarted the golem for maintenance. This time, since he had replaced the energy generators, he needed to < them. Unlike the rebooting at the time of replacing the control core, the rebooting at the time of replacing the ether converter and the mana driver does not require any keywords. What are your instructions? I''ll try to activate one first. Reiko is on alert just in case, but there seems to be no danger. "The ether converter and mana driver are malfunctioning. Do you understand? I understand. He seems to have enough knowledge and skill to maintain the golem. Jin wondered if this meant that they were becoming more specialized and specialized. "Okay. I have prepared an ether converter and a mana driver here. Work with the other nine and refurbish the remaining forty. Yes, sir. The nine units that have already been exchanged are reactivated, and the finished ether converter and mana driver are handed over to the ten maintenance golems, who proceed with their work quickly and efficiently. Although not as fast as Jin''s work speed, it is still fast enough. "When you''re done, you can help each other maintain your bodies, and then stand by. Then we wait." Jin gave the order and left the room, thinking that this would take about two hours. "Ah, Jin-sama, how was it?" Mii asked when Jin returned. "Yes, the maintenance golem will be complete by the end of the day. After that, we''ll see what happens tomorrow. Mii was moved to tears when she heard this. "Really?...... Oh, it''s Jin-sama after all!Thank you!" "No, I hope I didn''t mess with it without your permission..." Thinking about it calmly, Jin felt that he had done something quite arbitrary. "Don''t worry!I was with him, and there was nothing wrong with it!If anyone complains, I''ll complain too! Jin let his words sink in and confirmed one more thing that was bothering him. "...... Factory manager, where is the warp gate for bringing in materials?" "Yes. It''s just outside this room, opposite the maintenance golem. Okay. Now we all headed for that room. "......Oh, that''s definitely a warp gate. It may look a little old-fashioned, but there was definitely a warp gate there. "...... but it hasn''t stopped." "What?" Erza is still a novice when it comes to warp gates. She still doesn''t understand what Jin has found out. "See, the magic circle ...... inside the Warp Gate is emitting a faint glow, isn''t it?That''s the evidence that it''s on standby. So don''t step in it by accident, okay?" "Uh-huh." Erza, who had once stepped into the warp gate of Horai Island and almost got lost, though it was an accident, nodded her head mysteriously. "But why?The golem had stopped moving. "Oh, I think it''s because the ether converter and mana driver in the Warp Gate are specially made." Jin cites the fact that the warp gate to <> was working, and that Akitsu was also working, albeit unsteadily. "So you are saying that even old things can somehow work if they are well made? "That''s right. However, it is too risky to go and check what is on the other side of this warp gate by ourselves. Therefore, we decided to throw a <> into the warp gate, and use the <> and > to locate its position. Reiko moved to a little distance and received the <> from the old man. Now we can proceed with the work without Mii''s knowledge. "Let''s see if it really works," she said. With these words, he throws a , which looks like a stone, into the warp gate. It disappeared in an instant. "It''s gone! Mii is surprised. Jin throws the same marker into the remaining two warp gates, and confirms that they disappear as well. The warp gates are still alive after all. Then, it must be a trouble on the other side that the materials have not been sent. There is no more time today. Let''s get ready and come back tomorrow. The next thing I knew, it was almost 5 o''clock. Jin and the others left the factory and returned to the town of Miyako. 894 - - 26-14 Complete repair "I didn''t know that was going to happen. In his room at the guest house, Jin had just reported to Saki and the others about his day. "What about Hannah?Did you have fun?" "Yes, honey. I learned a lot. I wanted to tell you something. What''s that? "Well, I don''t understand the difference between an element, an atom, and a molecule. Jin was surprised. This is a level of science that is not taught in the upper grades of elementary school. Hanna is ten years old this year, or in fourth grade in elementary school. Even so, he knew that Hannah was smart, and he was not the kind of person who would not tell her if she asked him what he wanted to know. And Saki looked as if she was eager to hear his explanation. "First, molecules. Molecules are the smallest units of things ......<. Water, for example, is a collection of water molecules. "Yeah, I kind of know that much." Hannah nodded with a serious face. "I see. And atoms are what make up those molecules. A water molecule is made up of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. I was worried that the conversation was going to become difficult at once, but surprisingly, Hanna showed her affirmation. "Yes, I know what it is, girl. "So, elements are what we call atoms when we classify them. I think you may be used to this." Hannah understood almost all of his explanations. Hannah is very smart. I was surprised." When Jin finished his explanation and praised her, Hanna smiled happily. "Yes, I want to learn more and more so that I can help my big sister as soon as possible! "I see, thank you, Hannah." Jin also became happy and patted Hannah on the head. Both Erza and Saki looked at them smiling. That night.... That night. Jin and Reiko secretly returned to Horai Island. "How was it, old man?" Of course, he was asking about the place where the <> had been sent out, that is, the place where they had secured the materials. <> "Hmmm. I guess the forests are timber, and the mountains and deserts are mineral resources such as metals and magi crystals?" Then, the next question is the danger of the location, which <>have observed to be the same level as other areas. "So, I guess the golem that mines the material is stuck." < At this point, Jin pondered. It is important to rehabilitate the remaining factories in Mitsuho, but it is also important to investigate the footprints of <> and his predecessors. This is one of the purposes of Jin''s trip to Mitsuho. "I guess this is where we send the artisans (smiths)." Jin decides to spend the night repairing the golem at the mining site. Jin is relieved when the old man agrees to do it. > "What?...... Oh, yeah, right." Jin was so preoccupied with the factory reopening that he hadn''t thought of that. "I''ll ask them tomorrow." With this in mind, Jin returned to Mitsuho. He walked from the parking lot in the guest house to the garden. Now, if anyone saw him, he could explain that he was taking a walk in the garden. However, Jin was able to return to his room without being seen. This is what happens only when you are prepared. * * * * * * Meanwhile, the old man said. Each of the three sites consisted of dozens of work golems, a supervisor golem, a control automaton, and ten maintenance golems. The old man had 50 Smiths per site, and they had been completely repaired in about two hours. As I watched from the shadows, the golems started to move, lining up under the direction of the automata, and immediately began to move to secure the minimum amount of materials. Magi crystals, metal ores and gemstones in the Greater Sahara Desert. Precious metal resources in the Kruger Mountains. Wood in the western part of Lake Sayama. The old man was curious about what kind of materials he could get, but he did not want to take them home without telling anyone, because that would be stealing. He was curious to see what kind of materials would be picked up, but he decided not to take them home without telling me. "Jin-sama, I heard that the factory can start up again! Just as Jin and the others were finishing breakfast, the councilors and the chief, Hulo Mutu, arrived in force. "Grandfather ......, Emir, what are you in such a hurry for?" Mii, the caretaker, looked at me with dismay. "How can I be in a hurry?I can''t believe you made it possible for us to restart the factory!Oh, Jin-sama, you are the second coming of the Wise One!" No, your father is a Magecraft Master. "Oh!Oh, of course!Then today, as of this moment, our mitsuho, Jin-sama is also a Magecraftsman Meister! "Thank you." The sheikh and the council members were so excited that Jin was a little flustered. "What are you doing today?" Hiro asked, to which Jin answered clearly. "We just need to repair the warp gate for bringing in materials and the other side of it. "I see. Once that''s done, will the factory be back in operation?" "Yes, I think so. "Oh, thank you very much!How can I thank you for this? As for Jin, he was hoping to get a sample of any rare materials, so he told them. "Even if you have a large amount, you can''t take it home with you," he said. He also reminded them that he would not be able to take them home even if they were in quantity. This would not conflict with the request of the Shoro empress to refrain from commercial transactions. "Okay, I understand. I will bring the inventory to you later and you can choose from it. This is something that Saki would have enjoyed. In fact, her eyes were shining as she sat beside me. The council members left, but only the sheik, Hiro Mutu, stayed behind and said he would go with Hitoshi and the others. "What about Saki and Hannah?" "Well, I''m going with my sister today. "Hmm, I''m going with my sister. I''ll go with you. So, on that day, a large group of people, including Jin and his friends, Mii the caretaker, and Hiro the sheik, headed for the factory. Of course, all of us were on a rickshaw. Welcome, what can we do for you today? The factory manager, an automaton, greeted Jin and the others. Thanks to the maintenance golem, the car seemed to be working without any problems. "I''m sorry, but the production line is currently at a standstill due to a malfunction with the work golem. "I understand. That''s what we''re here to fix first. I see. I look forward to working with you. The factory manager bowed to Jin. "By the way, Mr. Factory Manager, what kind of person is it who built this factory? Jin asked the question that the old man had pointed out to him yesterday. But the answer was simple. I do not have that information. His answer gave me a feeling that even the factory manager''s automata are not capable enough to cope with any unexpected situation. However, it is a 1000-year-old golem, and we should not compare it with the one made by Jin. Jin did not expect anything in that area, so he got himself together and set about the day''s work. "Do you have any magi crystals? "Yes, I do. Thanks to the fact that I had ordered the old man to repair the golems on the mine side last night, we have enough magi crystals for the remodeling work. "Alright, I''ll make an ether converter and a mana driver now, so replace all the golems that are stuck with these. "Yes, sir." Thus, over the course of that morning, the maintenance of the work golem was completed. Chief Hiro and his granddaughter Mii, who were with him, were so shocked by Jin''s work that they just watched without saying a word from start to finish. 895 - - 26-15 Cheers Once all the golems were in working order, the factory suddenly came to life. "What would you like to order? The factory manager, an automaton, came to ask again. "Ten bicycles, please. "Yes, sir." Then Jin added more specifications. "I want the tires to be made of rubber, not steel. I was a little worried that this might not be understood, but the factory manager, an automaton, seemed to know enough about this aspect. "Yes, sir. It is possible. But we don''t have enough gutta-percha for the tires in stock yet, so it will be three or four days before we can deliver them to you. "That''s fine. Thank you very much. "Yes, sir." Gutta-percha is probably found in the forests west of Lake Sayama. "The wise man (Magus) knew it well. ......" Probably the same as gutta-percha or gutta-percha mentioned by Jin. It is a kind of natural rubber. Jin had heard from the manager of the camera shop where he worked part-time that German camera makers used gutta-percha instead of leather for the camera''s outer covering, as a kind of knowledge. To add to my knowledge, this material was once used as a sheathing material for submarine electric cables because of its durability underwater. Gutta-percha here may be a little different from the gutta-percha of the earth, but once again, Jin paid his respects to the achievements of the wise man (magus). "Oh, this is great!" Hiro''s voice wakes Jin from his reverie. The factory has come back to life, and now handles and frames are being made. The scale and methods may be different from those of Earth''s factories, but the Ars-style, or rather <> factory seems to be reasonably efficient. "Onii-chan, that''s called a "bungyo", isn''t it?" Hannah''s voice. Indeed, the work golems were definitely divided into several categories: those making metal sheets from metal ingots, those making metal pipes from metal sheets, those cutting metal pipes into the required lengths, and those forming the cut metal pipes. What was more surprising was that Hanna knew the word "division of labor. "Heh, I read it yesterday at the library. I read it in the library yesterday," she answered simply, but her comprehension never ceases to amaze me. The steering wheel grips, brake pads, tires, and other parts that require rubber were completed. "It looks like we''re all set now. By the time I came to, it was past noon. Saki was flying around among the gathered materials when Aaru pulled her out of the car, and the group decided to go back to the city for lunch. Aaru pulled Saki, who had been flying around in the material, half-heartedly. "Hurray, Jin-sama!" "<>, hooray! "...... What the hell is this?" What awaited Jin back in the city was the welcome he received from the people of the city. "Jin-sama is now the messiah, no, more than a messiah. "...... give me a break." His profession is technical, and his roots are a little, if not a lot, embarrassing for Jin, a commoner. Although I have known nobles and royalty for a good long time, I still can''t get used to them. Even if you want to hurry past them, you cannot speed up at your own will as long as you are riding in a rickshaw. "Hurray, Jin-sama!" "<>, hooray! Riding on a rickshaw that seems to be going rather slowly on purpose, Jin and the others returned to the guest house to the cheers of the residents. "......I''m hungry." Elsa, too, was indeed disheartened. It was 1:00 p.m., a little late for lunch since they had taken a long time to get back. Inside the guest house, Mii kindly invited us to have lunch alone with Jin and the others, so he could finally relax a little. "But that''s great, Jin. You''re treating me like a savior. "As for me, I''d rather not be treated like that." Saki is impressed and Jin is disappointed. "I just want to get to the north as soon as possible." I know how you feel. Jin, will you be able to go tomorrow? "Erza, I don''t think it''s possible from the looks of it.The day after tomorrow, I think. Saki makes a calm decision. "Yes, I can read most of the books in the library tomorrow if I have a whole day! Hannah makes a declaration that could be considered innocent, but its content is surprising. Of course, she means that she can read all the books in her field of interest, but it is still amazing. "Hannah, it''s good to read books, but watch your brightness and your posture, okay?Take care of your eyes, okay?" 896 - - 26-16 Card Games "Jin, look at this! and <>. "Hmmm, I guess must have been from the same town as me, and must have been a chemist." Jin is getting more and more curious about this. "But ......" There is one contradiction that Jin is struggling with. "I can''t connect it with magical engineering. ...... If Shuki Tsetsi is related to Adriana Barbora Tsetsi, there is a discrepancy. In Jin''s image, Shuki Tsetsi is a chemical engineer and Adriana Barbora Tsetsi is a magical engineer. Considering the fact that Adriana lived alone on what is now Horai Island, it is highly possible that Shuki Tsetsi is older than Adriana. If so, could he be her father?If so, I feel that there is too little knowledge of chemistry in the inheritance from Adriana. "...... still not enough information?" If we were talking about a puzzle, we would say that there are not enough pieces and we cannot see the picture. "I wonder if there is anything left in the north ......." Jin was still concerned about the northern area. * * * * The night goes on peacefully. After eating dinner and taking a bath, we all had a chat. "Brother Jin, I borrowed this. When Elsa finally returned from the bath, she was holding a small box in her hand. When she passed by the lobby, one of the staff members recommended this kind of game to her. She forgot to ask how to play and just took it. "Here." Jin picked up the box. "...... Hanafuda?" He thought it was playing cards, but it turned out to be Hanafuda. He took out an extra cushion and scattered them on it. Although the patterns are simplified, it is still a Hanafuda card. The director of the school taught me how to play it, and Jin remembers how to play it. "......, but it looks like it was drawn from memory. ......" I wonder if this is also brought by <>. Hanafuda cards are made up of four cards of different value, with a different theme for each season from January to December, and each month is represented by only a picture from 1 to 12. Hanafuda is a Japanese card game that has been played since around the Edo period (1603-1867). (I heard that there was a theory that it was created because the shogunate forbade playing card gambling. ......) ) But the origin of the game is not important. With Hannah''s eyes shining, Jin started to explain the game to her, saying that he had to teach her how to play. "We divide the months of January through December by pattern. Remember that first. January is pine trees, February is plum blossoms, and March is cherry blossoms. ......" "I see, that''s why they are called cards, isn''t it?" "Jin-bro, the monk in August and the rain in November are not flowers, right?" Saki was impressed and Erza asked the same question that anyone would ask. "Yeah, August is probably the . But isn''t the moon more impressive?Where I come from, the moon is commonly compared to the head of a monk. November is probably willow, but rain is more common, Jin adds. "I''m not that familiar with it myself. So, there are 20 sentences, 10 sentences, 5 sentences, and the scum, and I need you to memorize this one too. ......" "Yes, I memorized it!" Hannah was the first to learn it. Then Elsa and Saki learned it, too. "All right, let''s try the easiest one, the one with no hand, the bakakka. It''s called "hand seven field six. ......" Jin explained the rules. "In the case of four players, the players can decide whether to play or not, starting with the player with the highest hand. In the end, three players play. In this case, the player with the highest hand has the right to play the first hand. The next one is called chuya, and the last one is called bike. The rules are quite local, but Jin taught the rules he knew to everyone. "Turn over the cards in the deck in order, and if the moon matches the card in the deck, the card is yours. "Let''s try ...... once, shall we?" Jin looked at the cards in everyone''s hands and explained them to them, while the three women played. "Well, I understand much better now. In other words, if there is a card of the same month as the card in hand on the table, you can take it. If not, you have to discard it." "At ......, you turn over a card in the pile, and the card that appears there determines whether or not you get another card in the field." "Yes, yes. Good memory. Let''s try the real thing, shall we? "Up. ......, let''s see, 85 points." "Hannah, when we play hanafuda, we call it 85 sentences. I''m full of 80 sentences, so Saki''s 75 sentences is 5 sentences less than me. That''s a short win for Hannah. "Brother Jin, what do you mean by <>?" Erza tilted her head. "Oh, I''m sorry. You see, every five-sentence bill has a <> on it.That''s why a five-sentence bill is also called a bill. That''s why it''s called ." "...... interesting." "Okay, so Hannah''s the parent, she''s going to cut the cards. ...... mix them up and then deal them out." "Yes!" Hannah cut the cards with great dexterity, and dealt them correctly in hand seven, place six, although it was a little too much for her small hands. "Okay, I won''t lose this time!" "...... Saki, I won''t lose either." "I''m out. I''m getting out. When a player is dealt a bad hand, the right to exit the game goes to the player with the best hand first, and then to the player with the worst hand. If the dealer''s hand is not good, the next player in position has the right to get out of the game. "All right, here we go!" "Wow, Hannah, you took the ticket I wanted to get!" "...... woke up." "Elsa, you''re up!" When I say awake, I mean that when I turned over the pile, it was just in front of me. "......, this time I win by 20 sentences." "Hmmm, next time!Elsa, please distribute them quickly!" The players lost track of time and enjoyed playing hanafuda (Japanese playing cards). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Erza-sama, it''s morning. Please wake up." Edgar''s voice wakes me up. "I''m ...... sleepy." Erza rubs her eyes and lazily pulls herself up from the covers. She had played Hanafuda (Japanese playing cards) until after midnight last night, so she was a little sleep deprived. "Saki-sama, please wake up." "......, mmm, a little more ......." Next to me, Saki had pulled up the covers and was about to fall asleep. "Hey, girls!It''s morning!" Hannah, who had fallen asleep before midnight, was the only one who hadn''t had enough sleep, and she was full of energy in the morning. 897 - - 26-17 Rubber tires "Did you all sleep well ......?You don''t seem to have slept well. Is there something wrong?" Mii came over after breakfast and said this to Saki and Erza, who still looked sleepy. Jin, by the way, used to work for a black company and can stay up all night for about two nights. Not something to brag about. "Oh, I was up until ...... late last night because we talked too much. When Jin said this, Mii nodded repeatedly to herself as if she understood. "So you''ve seen the catalog." Since there was no way to tell that he had not, Jin just smiled vaguely. "Then what do you want to do today?Shall we not go on a city tour? "I''d like to see some ordinary stores..." "Oh, me too! "......, I''ll go with you." "Me too." Mii said she would call a rickshaw and got up. Jin stopped her. "No, I''d rather go on foot because then they''ll know who I am," he said. Mii, however, laughed at Jin''s words and denied them. "I don''t think that makes sense,...... because Jin-sama''s skin color is totally different from ours." Oh, I see," he said, and Jin agreed with him. This is something that cannot be changed suddenly. "Well then, let''s go around by car ......." Jin was about to say, "Let''s go around by car " when he suddenly seemed to notice something. Then he shouted. "Yes, let''s change the tires to rubber! The current tires were made of resilient oak wood and covered with leather, but Jin thought that rubber tires would be more comfortable to ride on. At the same time, "I''m going to the factory in the morning to make some modifications, so Erza and Saki can wait for me. Jin said to the two sleep-deprived girls, "I''m going to the factory in the morning to do some remodeling. So Jin, Hanna, and Reiko decided to go to the factory. In this case, Reiko is driving and Edgar is with Elsa. "...... have a nice trip." See you at lunch, Jin. They saw him off, and Jin left the guest house. The car was conspicuous. The whole town already knew that Jin had come in the car, and there were onlookers everywhere he went, many of them bowing to the car. "......You kind of stood out more than you should have." "You''re so amazing, aren''t you?" The car crossed the moat and arrived in front of the factory, receiving Hannah''s frank compliments. "Welcome, sir. What can I do for you?" The factory manager, an automaton, comes out and asks. This must have been a routine procedure. "I need rubber tires. Jin told the automaton, "I need rubber tires. He wanted to know how much they could handle. The factory manager replied, "You make tires out of rubber?I am sorry, sir. We do not have enough gutta-percha in stock yet, so you will have to wait. The factory manager responded in a proper manner. "Okay. I''ll wait a little bit. Hannah, let''s take a look around. Can I go to ......?" "Yes, of course. Yes, of course. One adult and two children. I will show you around. Reiko seems to be counted as one of the children. "Thank you." Jin nodded and the three of us followed the factory manager automaton. "This is the metalworking department. There were a simple lathe, a drilling machine, and a metal band saw, and they were currently making a bicycle frame. "This is the stone processing department. The building is not being worked on at the moment. However, the cutters and saws for stone were better maintained than when Jin saw them the other day. "This is the wood processing department. No work is being done here now either. However, the tools and machine tools were well maintained here as well. Jin and the others went up to the second floor. "This is the chemical processing department. They were vulcanizing a small amount of gutta-percha delivered to them to make brake pads. Jin was impressed not only by the processing technology, but also by the fact that the word was used. * * * * * * * * * * By the way, Jin secretly ordered Reiko to contact the old man. The contents of the order are as follows: <>. The old man first dispatched Smith 11 to the forest in the western part of Lake Sayama by transporter. Smith11 confirmed that the sap is collected from the same tea tree=Perhia in Kaina village and Horai Island. . Since the objective was to make tires for Jin''s car locally, the old man did not hesitate to put the Perhya rubber in a container and forwarded it to the forest in the western part of Lake Sayama. The craftsman (Smith)11 received it and mixed it in with the Perhya rubber that the local work golem was collecting. From what we have seen, the work golem''s intelligence is not very high. They have the knowledge and judgment necessary for their work, but seem to be ignorant of other areas. The craftsman (Smith)11 observes and confirms in a concealed manner that they can judge the quality of the new Perhian rubber, but do not care where it comes from. They did not question the increased material, as expected. It is easy to assume that when the autonomy of the Golem for work was considered, the situation in which materials are brought from other places was not assumed at all. The "Mere Old Man" guessed that they thought that there would not be a big problem because they could judge the quality of the materials. * * * * * The amount of Perhia rubber sent from the warp gate for materials increased at once. The factory manager does not have any doubts as to the reason for this, and immediately sends it to the production line. (Ah, even though it is an autonomous type, it has a narrow decision-making area. ...... Is it no wonder that its information capacity is also small?) The factory manager was a factory manager, and he did not have any question as to why the number of materials sent to the factory increased, which made Jin draw a similar conclusion as the old man. The complete division of labor sounds good, but it is very dangerous that there is no mutual check. (We can''t interfere that much, can we? ......) First of all, it was a good thing that the system had been restored, Jin thought to himself. "Onii-chan, the factory manager is here. Jin was thinking about this when Hannah''s voice brought him back to himself. "Thank you for waiting. As of this moment, our stock of gutta-percha has exceeded the specified quantity, and we are now ready to accept orders. "Oh, okay. Then you can order from ......." Jin gave the information to the factory manager about the size ...... of the tire he wanted, including the external shape, inside diameter, width, hardness, and cross-sectional shape. "Yes, sir. Thank you for the detailed information. We will start production immediately. The factory manager''s automata called a supervising golem and explained the situation. The supervisor golem goes to the gutta-percha processing line and gives instructions to the worker golem. The work golem follows the instructions and processes the gutta-percha. ...... "Well, how should I put it, it''s not very efficient. On Horai Island, information can be communicated in an instant using manacam. Or rather, since the information is shared, the process of <> only needs to be done once at the beginning. "But father, isn''t it inevitable if we don''t have a manacam? "Well, yes." Reiko is right. We should not judge Horai Island by the same standard as a factory that was built more than 1000 years ago. "In that sense, this factory is amazing, isn''t it? If you don''t choose Horai Island as a comparison, this is a production facility that is unparalleled in this world. Jin is now more and more interested in <>. It was half an hour later that four gutta-percha tires arrived in front of Jin, just as he had requested. 898 - - 26-18 Lacens "Oh, I can use this." Jin receives a rubber tire that has been delivered. It is not a wire, but seems to have a linen cloth in it. It is similar to a bias tire. The surface of the tire has a block pattern on it, indicating that it is an extension of a bicycle tire. "Is this as you instructed?" After the work golem returned to the factory, the factory manager''s automaton came in and asked how it was done. "Yes, it''s good. What about the ...... price?" Although he had been told by Chief Hiro that he would not be asked to pay for his work, Jin, who was not a Mitsuho resident, asked just to be sure. "Yes, you don''t have to pay for it. And the answer was as expected. I wondered what kind of person he was (Mags ......). It must take a lot of expertise to be able to set up a system like this. "Father, you are going to install this in a car, aren''t you?" Reiko holds two tires under her arm. It is quite a surrealistic picture. "Yes. Get the jack out of the car. ...... Oh, we didn''t have a jack." So, she orders a jack from the factory manager. To my surprise, the <> worked. Jin guessed that they must be used for maintenance of rickshaws and carts, as there are rickshaws and carts. The jack was ready in about 30 minutes. After receiving the jack, Jin observed it. "Oh, Oniichan, this is how this part lifts up when you turn this screw, isn''t it? Hannah, who peeked in from the side, described the structure of the jack with precise expressions, which impressed Jin even more. (You don''t have to decide on Hanna''s aptitude yet, but if you educate her properly, she might become a great scholar. ......) ) Jin showed his brother''s foolish side. Now, we set the jack under the car and mounted the tires. Since the car has a ladder frame, the jack is naturally set right under the frame. Turning the handle, the wheels are lifted up. When the wheels are lifted off the ground, the mud and other dirt on the wheels are cleaned off, and new tires are mounted on top of them. Since it is not a rim, the only way to do this is to cover it from the top. This is done in four places. The diameter of the wheel becomes a little larger, but there is no problem because there is enough driving power. Jin is planning to modify it in the near future, but for today, he has only applied < to it. "Okay, that''s it. Hannah, let''s go back to town." "Yes!" Reiko drove and the car started to move. "Wow, it''s different after all." The slight vibration that no amount of suspension, dampers, and seat cushions had been able to eliminate was gone. Even though it was only 5cm, the effect of the rubber tires was outstanding. "Reiko, please increase the speed a little more. They increased the speed to about 20 km/h, confirmed that the vibration had been improved, and headed back to the guest house. "Jin, welcome back. Saki, refreshed after sleeping twice, greeted Jin and the others at the entrance hall. "Where''s Erza? "She''s waiting in her room. I was just looking around the garden. The garden here is a Japanese-style garden, which is called a kaiyushiki. There are other types of gardens such as , , and <, each of which has its own way of appreciation. Kaiyushiki gardens are, as the name suggests, designed to be enjoyed along a promenade. However, it was not created by a professional gardener or a famous tea ceremony master, so it is only a <> at the top of the list. Still, it was nostalgic enough for Jin and interesting enough for Saki. "Brother Jin, Hannah, welcome back. When he returned to his room, Erza was waiting for him. "I just got a call that Hiro-san will be here at 1:00 p.m." she said. "Oh, about the inventory. Saki, what have you decided? "I''m interested in mercury and alum." I''m interested in mercury and alum," I thought Saki would say. "Alum is fine, but be careful with mercury, okay?That''s what I''m going to tell you too, Hiro-san." "Yeah, I know. Elsa has been threatening me a lot. About mercury poisoning. That''s good. So, what are you going to do about Jin? Jin seemed to think for a moment, "I''m going to use this tap and dice." "Heh, what''s that?What''s that?" "It''s not a material, is it?" "Oh. This is a tool to make <>." A tap is a tool to cut (make) a female screw and a die is a tool to cut (make) a male screw. There was one more thing that surprised Jin at Mitsuho. That is the existence of . Since Jin himself has access to engineering magic, he often uses or to fix parts. However, in Kogun and other places, nails were used for wood and rivets for metal, and wedges were used for fastening. Even for drilling holes in factories, , which are similar to metal drills in modern Japan, were used instead of . Jin would like to promote the use of screws in Kogunkuni and other areas in the future, but if the standard differs from that of Mitsuho, it will be troublesome later on, so he thought it would be a good idea to match the Mitsuho standard if it can be done. "It was terrible to mix inch and millimeter standards. ......" Even today, some people may have a hard time when they build their own PCs, because many of the parts made in the U.S. are in inches. As a side note, for some reason, the screws attached to the tips of folding umbrellas and the like are the same standard as those used for camera tripods. Jin explained the to Saki and Elsa. "So, by combining the spiral grooves and threads, you can tighten and secure parts?" "...... but won''t it come back?" To this Hannah replied for some reason. "You know, there''s a thing called "masatsu" that won''t loosen easily. Elsa and Saki were surprised, but so was Jin. "Hannah!Where did you get that? "I read about it in a book I read at the library yesterday.I''ve read about it in a book I read at the library yesterday. It seems that Hannah''s knowledge has reached a considerable level. (......<, huh? I wish I could do that.) The magic to send knowledge that No.600012 used on Nidaburu. Then it should be possible to transfer knowledge without using <. However, the composition of the magic was not told to Jin. (Maybe No.700672 knows it. ......) Jin, who is careful not to rely too much on the magic, did not ask, but there is a good chance that he would know it. (Use it only where you use it, or take Hannah with you instead of teaching her. ......) "Jin?Jin!" Saki''s voice brought Jin back to himself. "Oh, oh, sorry, I was just thinking about something." "Oh, I''m sorry, I was just thinking about something. Let''s go have lunch soon, shall we? Saki said that she would like to have lunch a little early if Emir Hiro would be here at 1:00 p.m. "...... Actually, I''m just hungry because I didn''t eat much for breakfast." "Erza!I''m not that ...... hungry!" Saki was upset, "I''m hungry, too." Erza came out as well, and Jin couldn''t help but laugh. "Okay, let''s go to the cafeteria then." Since I had never had lunch at the guest house before, I did not know what was on the lunch menu. That made it all the more exciting. Jin and the others all headed for the dining room. 899 - - 26-19 Psaki and Mii "Excuse me. My grandfather ...... gave me this." He held out what looked like an old map. "Oh, this is ......." It showed the terrain north of Mitsuho. "If you go all the way along the mountain to the northwest of here, there is a wetland called Siklo Marsh," he said. On the east side of it, there is, or was, a village called Ulun. He means that he does not know if there is still a village called Ulun. "I see, thank you. It''s not very valuable, is it?" "No, it is nothing compared to what Mr. Jin did for me. However, it would be awkward to carry around the old map as it is. Jin asked Reiko to make a copy of the map. He asked Reiko to bring a large piece of wooden paper, and she copied the map. She does so at a blinding ...... speed, "It''s amazing......". Mii was amazed at the speed and accuracy of the copying. In about three minutes, the copying of the old map is completed. "Thank you. You can keep the original for yourself. Jin carefully folded the old map back into its original shape and returned it to Mii. Mii joined them for tea. Pickles were served for tea. We sipped green tea while munching on the pickled cucumber-like vegetable. "But you are leaving already, aren''t you? ......" Mii said sadly with an expression that didn''t fit the heartwarming atmosphere. "Well, that was the plan, and I can''t stay here forever." Saki, sitting next to Mii, consoles her. "Yes, that''s right. ....... I''m sorry to leave you." Looking at Saki''s face, Mii smiled a little sadly. After that, the main talk was by Jin and the others. Mii was happy when I told her about the Shoro Kingdom. "Saki-san is a wonderful person, isn''t she? Mii and Saki were somehow close to each other. "Oh, really? "Yes, you look nice with those glasses on your face." "Well, I don''t know, people over here don''t seem to be surprised to see glasses on your face, do they?" Saki wants to keep a little distance, but Mii doesn''t seem to let her. Jin and Erza are looking at Saki, a rare sight. "Yes. I''m using it." "What?" "My grandfather has them too. Reading glasses, he says. I see. ...... A wise man (Mags) who has created all this stuff should have at least made glasses. Jin thought that the reason these people did not wear glasses was simply because they did not have bad eyesight. But they seem to be getting presbyopia. Jin remembered that the glass used here was not quartz glass. Quartz and crystal are made of SiO2, and mixing sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) lowers its melting point to about 1000, making it suitable for mass production. Since Jin does not have such knowledge, he only uses quartz glass when he talks about glass. Quartz glass has a melting point of over 2,000C and low fluidity, making it very difficult to process. No doubt, Mags has some knowledge of chemistry. Jin was looking forward to the northern lands he had yet to see. "Saki-san, yes, ah! "I can eat it by myself!" Saki was flabbergasted by Mii''s aggression. Erza felt relieved, frustrated, ......, and sorry for Saki, as Mii''s target had shifted from her to Saki, with mixed feelings. 900 - - 26-20 Making Getting Started Golem April 13th was free again. We will leave Miyako the next day, April 14, so that we will not have any regrets. "I have to keep my word. ......" Erza overheard Jin''s muttering. "Brother Jin, what promise?" "You know, to make sweets with the library golem." "...... yeah." The day we arrived in town, Jin agreed to Mii''s casual comment and the story of how he was going to read books from the library. "Are you going to make it now?" "Yes. I''m good with golems. We can finish it in the morning. Jin says, "I''m going to the factory." He told the others, "I''m going to the factory. "Okay, me too." "I''m going to the library in the morning." "Oh, me too! So it was decided that Jin and Erza would go to the factory in the morning, and Saki and Hannah would go to the library. "Saki-sama, may I join you?" "Uh-huh." Mii seemed to be more interested in Saki than in Elsa for some reason. Saki was a bit surprised. "Welcome. What can I get for you?" At the factory, the factory manager''s automaton greeted them just as he had yesterday. I have something I want to make. Can we use a part of the factory and some materials? The factory manager nodded. "Yes, of course. Please let me know what materials you would like to use. Apparently, the materials are also available for personal use. "You can use this area." We were shown to a rather large work space. From the looks of this place, it seems that more private use would be welcome. "Thank you. Now then, can you give me about 30 kilograms of bronze as a material? Then, I would like seven magi crystals of good quality for the control core, and three magi crystals of normal quality. And 20 kilograms of magic resin. Yes, sir. The factory manager, an automata, ordered the work golem to bring in the materials requested by Jin. "Well, let''s make it." "...... Jin, what materials do you need for the magical muscles and the magical nerves?" Erza asks the obvious question. "That''s the thing, but not this time. If we think about maintenance, we can''t maintain it according to Horaijima''s specifications. Jin, who had checked the golem in the factory the other day, is the only one who knows what''s going on. "The maintenance golem in this factory will be impossible to maintain if it is made to Horaijima''s specifications. If we leave it in the library, it should be maintenance-free for the next 100 years or so. The so-called < can be almost maintenance-free if Jin makes it. Even if something happens, we can have a maintenance golem at the factory to take care of it. "...... understands well." It is rare for Jin to make a < type golem. To be precise, < is a method used for golems made by negative dolls (negador), so I should say that this is the first time for Jin to make such a golem. The method used when the guardian golem of the village of Kaina, the original golem of Gon and Gen, was repaired would be more accurately called the <> method of operation, so... "Thank you for waiting." At that moment, the materials requested by Jin were delivered. "Thank you. Please leave them there." Now that the materials were ready, Jin decided to start the production. "......I''ve been thinking about it a lot, for the first time." It seems that this is the first time Erza has seen a < golem being made. "Well then, just watch, okay?...... I''m not too familiar with it myself." "Hmm." A form-driven golem is relatively easy to make. It is a beginner''s golem, so to speak. "First, form the body with magic resin. The magic resin is multiplied by <, and the desired shape is formed. In this case, we have chosen a slender, neutral type for the library. "Next is the preparation of the control core. Well, I don''t care which comes first, the molding of the magic resin or the control core. As he explained, Jin made the ,<,<>. "This time, since it''s for the library, we''ll use magi crystals that are of good quality to the eye." "Yes." There are only two magic crystals (magi crystals) left. One is for auxiliary memory. He intends to memorize all the books in the library. In a modern Japanese National Diet Library, one magi-crystal would be impossible, but since the size of this library is smaller than an elementary school library, this should be enough. What about the other one?" "I''ll make it a manacam, so that I can send information to you. That way, you can be assured of a backup. "I will only send the information to you so that your existence will not be traced back to me in case of emergency. And if something happens to us, you will be able to sense it. Now all we need is an ear and a vocalization device. These are ordinary quality magi crystals. Two for the ears and one for the vocalization device. "Okay, now the contents are complete." It works as it is, but it is made of resin, looks bad, and is not strong enough. So, the exterior is made of bronze. Unlike a human body, the body is made of magic resin, so there is no need to worry about joints, and the only thing to worry about is mobility. In extreme cases, as long as the joints bend, any design and any structure will do. "...... So, Erza, let''s make one." "What, me? Erza is surprised when Jin suddenly dumps her. "Yes. You know I''m not good at designing, right?This is where Elsa comes in. She had wanted to avoid a too rugged appearance since it was going to be a gift. "Hmm, okay. ......<>" Elsa, who is also a top-notch magic engineering expert, finished making the exterior in less than half an hour. "Okay, now let''s put it on." This is easy to work with because the inside is made of magical resin, so it can be adjusted whether it is tight or loose. It took Jin and I only 10 minutes to finish. "Brother Jin, what about knowledge?" Since the control core had been implanted, he wondered how to perform . "Oh, in the case of this magic resin, magic power passes through it well, so you can easily transcribe it even after completion as long as you remove the exterior." "Oh, I see." This library golem has about 1.5 times the power of a human. It cannot be used for combat. Therefore, there is no countermeasure against the . "So I''ve been thinking about what to do with the knowledge, and I thought it would be better to use the same thing as the golem-maid here..." The GolemMaid? "Yes. I have more than enough knowledge and it works just fine. I''m not going to make a mere copy." "Okay." So Jin contacted the old man through Reiko, and asked him to send him a copy of the Magi Crystal from Perido, the one who does the most housework among the five-colored golem maids. After about two minutes, the magi crystal is transferred, and Jin transfers the necessary knowledge from it. "<>Level 5....... that''s it." He takes him to the library, transfers some of the librarian''s knowledge, and that''s it. "We still have time. Let''s do the other one too. The time is 10:30 a.m. "Brother Jin, are you still making something? "We had rice cakes. I asked the staff at the guest house cafeteria, but they said they had never eaten such a thing. "So, what are you talking about?" Jin smiled at Elsa''s question. "You''ll have to wait and see." "...... already." It is also Jin who sometimes makes a pretense like this. Erza intentionally made a slightly puffy face. 901 - - 26-21 Kagami-mochi and Library Let''s go back to the guest house. "What?...... yeah." Reiko took the still motionless golem in her arms, and Jin and the others got into the car. The drive to the guest house takes 15 minutes. There was still plenty of time. Jin was in the kitchen of the guest house. "Um, Mr. Jin, what are you doing? the head chef of the guest house asked in a slightly frightened voice. "Well, I was thinking of making some sweets or tea cakes or something like that. Do you have cooking oil? "Yes, I do. We have sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, etc. ......" Oh, sesame oil and sunflower oil are the same thing. Then, round soybean oil." "Soybean oil. In other words, soybean oil. It is a common salad oil and tempura oil. Jin chose this oil because it is light in color and has few peculiarities. The oil is placed in a tempura pan and heated on the stove. In the meantime, Jin had Kagamimochi (mirror-shaped rice cake) prepared. Of course, it was hardened by the sun. "What are you going to do with them?It doesn''t taste so good even if you bake it anymore. ...... Don''t tell me you''re going to fry it in oil!" This cooking method is easy to imagine, considering its association with the tempura oil on the stove top. But Hitoshi says, "I don''t just fry them, I do this before ......" and handed the hardened Kagamimochi to Reiko. "Reiko, break it into pieces like I told you." "Yes, sir." The hardened Kagamimochi were no better than clay dumplings in front of Reiko. In the blink of an eye, they were crushed and shattered. "That''s about right." She crushed them down to about one centimeter squares. Then we fry them in oil. I could tell from the sound of the oil that it was roughly the right temperature, but I asked Reiko to check it just to be sure. Reiko, who can also cook, has information on the temperature of the food, so she can tell the temperature of the oil by touching the pot. The head chef''s eyes widen when he sees Reiko''s palm flat against the body of the pot. "Father, it''s about 170 degrees Celsius. "Good, just right." Jin scattered the crushed Kagamimochi in the oil. There was a distinctive deep-frying sound, and the rice cakes began to fry. When the mochi puffed up and the surface turned golden brown, they were scooped up with a net-like ladle called kasugaage. The fish is placed on a plate lined with two sheets of wooden paper to remove the oil, and sprinkled with salt while it is still hot. "Wow, this is an interesting dish! The head chef, who was watching the whole process, was impressed. "It''s called ''kakimochi,''" he said. The secret is to soak up the excess oil and to eat it as soon as possible after cooking. Jin explained the precautions as he put the hot, freshly made kakimochi into his mouth. "Hahaha, it should not be oily, and it absorbs moisture, right?" The head chef also answered as he put an oyster rice cake in his mouth. As expected of the head chef, he seems to have grasped the reason for Jin''s comment. This is delicious!I didn''t know about this cooking method. When Jin asked her about it, she told him that she had never heard of kakimochi, even though fried ones existed, so he decided to try it. Of course, this was partly because he had seen kagamimochi in the tokonoma (alcove). "I think the flavor will change if you change the oil. "I see!Thank you, Mr. Jin! Thus, Mitsuho now has a recipe for rice crackers. "Brother Jin, this is delicious! When he brought the kakimochi to the guest house room, Erza, who had been waiting for it, immediately put it in her mouth. "The slightly salty, oily flavor and the crunchy texture are irresistible. She picked up a handful and popped it into her mouth. "If you eat too much, you won''t be able to finish your lunch." "Hmm. This is lunch. "Hey, ......" It''s true that glutinous rice will fill you up. "Well, it''s okay once in a while. Jin is sweet to Erza. * * * * * * "It''s delicious. Jin-sama!" At noon, Saki, Hannah, and Mii returned from the library. Mii especially seemed to like the kakimochi, and all of the rice cakes, which should have been plentiful, were gone. "Jin, it was delicious! "Thank you, Onii-chan! "Haha, I''m glad Saki and Hannah liked it too." Jin''s face broke into a smile when he heard how well it was received. "I think I''ve met Mii-san''s request a little better now, haven''t I?" Jin had made this because she had asked for a story when they first met. "Yes, I''m honored that you made it for me, even though it was only a story! Jin was happy to have fulfilled one of his promises for now. * * * * * * "Well, you promised me one more thing, didn''t you? Jin told Mii that the library golem was almost complete. "Really? "Oh, it hasn''t moved yet. It''s in the car. I''d like to take it to the library now. "Well, in that case, I''ll call the sheik, not my grandfather ......! "Oh, then we''ll wait for you at the library. Jin called out to Mii as she hurriedly left the guest house. "----Hey ----." Mii seemed to hear him and ran away while replying. "Well, let''s go to the library too. Jin and the others drove to the library. Along the way, they were applauded, cheered, bowed, and given heated glances, but no one blocked their way. Soon they arrived at the library. Jin ordered Reiko to carry out the library golem. The group decided to wait for Emir Hiro in the lobby just inside the library entrance. "Hello, Saki-sama and Hanna-sama, welcome to the library. A woman, who must have become familiar with us over the past few days, came out from behind the counter and greeted us. She was around 30 years old and had an intellectual appearance. "That must be Jin-sama, isn''t it?And Erza-sama, is it? "Oh, yes, this is Jin. Erza. My name is Eide, and I am the head librarian. Just as we were exchanging greetings, Hiro and Mii arrived. "Jin-sama, I heard that the library golem has been completed! "Uh, yes." Jin was a little overwhelmed by Hiro''s energy. "Golem for the library?" Aide looked doubtful. "Yes, it is. This is it. "Oh! "Oh, wow!" I''ve never seen this before. ...... It was the first time anyone had seen a brand-new golem before it was launched. "Well, just watch and see. " "Yes, Mr. Creator." "Kyaaa!" As expected, it was a surprise to see the previously motionless golem start to move and speak. Aide, Mii, and even Hiro looked a little twitchy. "I''ve already taught you the basics, so you''ll have to educate yourself about the library, Aedes. "Yes, sir." Aede managed to at least reply. 902 - - 26-22 Beyond that "Nice to meet you all." The library golem bowed. "Your name is ......<>." "Yes, my name is Biblio. Please give me your regards." Jin introduced Eide, the head of the library, and Hiro, the chief of the library, and assigned them command authority. "Vibrio, from now on you will support the work of this library. "Yes, sir." After Jin set up the command authority, he explained Vibrio to Hiro and the others again. "Please use it for general library operations. You can make copies of books and repair them. "Thank you, Jin-sama!Now we can proceed with the preservation of valuable materials!" Jin advises to display the manuscripts of valuable books and to keep the originals in good condition. Hiro, Mii, and Eide listened with mysterious faces. "Once you let them read a book, they will memorize its contents, about 10,000 copies of a 100-page book. "Yes, 10,000 ......" Ade is absolutely astonished. Hiro and Mii also seem to be surprised. The number of books in this library is about 2,000 at most. "Last but not least, this biblio can be serviced by the maintenance golem in the factory. "Oh, I see!That''s very helpful!" However, since the golem, which is powered by a magical resin, does not require maintenance, there is no need to do so unless the golem becomes very unstable. "Shall we have Biblio wear this outfit?" We decided to dress him in the uniform of a library employee. A stranger would be surprised to see a golem out of the blue. Wearing the uniform of a library staff member would lessen the surprise a little. "Oh, you look good. "Thank you very much." So, Jin and the others tour the library with the clothed Biblio. "Wow, the air-conditioning is really well done. The temperature and humidity are kept at a constant level. The spare storage room is also air-conditioned. With a little maintenance, it would be useful enough for storing old books. So Jin spent about 10 minutes reconditioning the air-conditioning equipment. "Thank you, Jin-sama! "No, I promised." Jin felt better now that he had fulfilled his promise. However, Jin could not tell the old man that the contents of the book he had memorized would be sent to him. I will back up important and valuable books, too," he muttered in his mind.) (I''ll back up the important and valuable books here, too.) Jin muttered in his mind and bowed his head. He decided to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing. He and Mii joined in the chatting over a cup of tea. Mii talked about Mitsuho and the surrounding towns. Saki talked about the Shoro Kingdom. Hannah talked about the village of Kaina. Erza sometimes makes a comment or adds to Saki''s comments. Jin was more of a listener. "You know a lot of things, Saki-san!" "Yes, do I?" "Yes, very!And you don''t flaunt it, which is also attractive! "Attractive?" I think there was a part of the conversation that Jin didn''t want to understand. It was an enjoyable and time-consuming moment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The morning of April 14, the day we parted. In front of the guest house, there was a crowd of people to see off Jin and his group. Many people came to the guest house to see Jin and his family off. Hiro had brought samples of mercury and alum, taps and dice, and soap, just as he had promised. "...... That''s quite a lot." About 10 liters of mercury and a 10 liter container of alum. Taps and dice were 2 sets of all sizes, from 2mm to 10mm, in 1mm increments. Ten boxes of soap, each containing 10 kilograms. So far, so good. "...... food?" 5 bags of rice, about 100 kg. 10 kilos of bimpei (miso). 2 kilos of dried meat, 2 kilos of dried fish. And five 10-liter water containers. Well, we can carry them. You can also load them on the roof and cover them with waterproof leather to keep them out of the rain. There is also storage space under the floor for samples, taps and dice. We managed to fit everything between the seats. The Golem arm suspension prevents sinking. "It''s a little cramped, but bear with me." "It''s a little cramped, but bear with me. And so we are finally ready to go. As Jin and the others finally got into the car, many words were thrown at their backs. "<>, hooray! "Thank you so much, Jin-sama. Jin-sama, please come back again. Jin-sama, I respect you very much. "Erza-san, Saki-san, we will miss you. ......" The car in which Jin and the others were riding started to drive slowly. The car was going along the road that goes around Lake Sayama. The people who had gathered to see them off stood there for a while, even after the car carrying Jin and the others disappeared from sight. * * * * "......That was fun, wasn''t it?" "......n." "Yeah!" "...... yeah." The days spent in Miyako were unforgettable for Jin and the others. On the other hand, Jin felt that even the most advanced technology would be lost in the passage of time if there were no heirs to carry it on. A car driving down the street. The inside of the car is clean because too much luggage has been sent to Horaijima. That day, we rounded Kure and stayed overnight in Inno. Even though we drove slowly, we arrived in the early afternoon. Miyako had probably been informed of the arrival in both Kure and Inno, and we were welcomed by many residents. "You''re very popular, my dear! "My father is a magecraft master!" Inno''s Inn. Reiko is playing with Hannah. Jin overhears them talking, and thinks about the journey he will be taking tomorrow and beyond. "Now comes the road without a road. But there must be some remnants of a road, since a highway passed through the area in the past. Perhaps the route we saw from the is the correct one." "Yes, I think so." "Jin, what about the map you got?" Erza and Saki are also curious about what will happen the next day. It would not be without danger, but it was hard to believe that anyone could harm Jin and the others now. "Well, anyway, it looks like we should go around the foot of the mountain to the northwest. Jin added that the route would probably have little difference in elevation. "Anyway, tomorrow." Jin was excited. Since his arrival in this world, he had mostly visited places that had been prearranged by the 5th Column (Quinta) and the Covert Task Force (SP), either by warp gate, transporter, or airplane. This time, too, the research has been done to a certain extent, but at a different level. This trip was a lot of fun for Jin, and he enjoyed it. (After returning from this trip, I will be busy again. ......) There will come a day when we have to devote ourselves to the development of spacecraft and the holding of world congresses. I don''t mind that in itself, but it is true that these free days are the most enjoyable. Without showing such a thought, Jin thinks about the journey that starts tomorrow. 903 - - 26-23 Quiet Story 52 Minami Mitsuho This was before Jin and his friends visited Mitsuho. On Jin''s orders, <>...... who is an automata based on <>, one of Jin''s substitute dolls.... ...was traveling to the southern part of Mitsuho. It was only a matter of going back the way it had come until it reached the town of Seki. There he was accompanied by Darrow, the vice-mayor of the town of Seki. Maya was waiting for them in Seki. "John, you heard. I heard you became an honorary magi-smith. I''m so proud to see someone I know get ahead. "Maya, you came all the way out here?" "I''m so happy for you." In Seki town, a send-off party was held by Darrow, Maya, and others, and John had a good time. The next morning after an overnight stay in Sequi, John parted ways with Dallow and Maya. "Mr. John, I am glad to have made your acquaintance. Take care of yourself from now on. Mr. John, I hope to see you again sometime. "Yes, Maya, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Darrow, for all your help. And John Dinney rode south alone on his golem horse. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After passing through Kwangon and Iyo, he headed west along a road called the Tama Highway. They arrived at a town called Dogo on the shores of Lake Tama. "Dogo, I wonder if it has hot springs. As we entered the town, we could see white steam everywhere. It was indeed steam. "So this is a town of hot springs after all. I went straight to the mayor and showed him my ID card, which was immediately accepted. So John Dinney stayed in Dogo for a week or so, working on the tools. Although his appearance might have made him conspicuous, many of the residents are surprisingly fair-skinned. (I wonder if there are a few people coming from the Shoro side.) (I wonder if a few people are coming from the Shoro side...) The old man analyzes so. It was fortuitous that not much fuss was made about it. In addition, they were dressed in Mitsuho''s style. What was even more surprising was that he said. "There''s not much to do. ......" This is a place where no magic tools are used. And the tools are good enough to repair themselves. In this light, the standard of living in this town seems to be a little lower than in Miyako. However, it does not seem as if there is any inconvenience. It may be called "moderation". (I suppose this kind of life is desirable in a sense.) I guess it is a good thing that we can lead our daily lives without any hardships. The mild climate may be one of the reasons. Most of the buildings are made of wood with shingle roofs. The forests around Lake Tama are abundant in wood resources. "Oh?What is that? ......" Two old men are sitting on a bench in front of a hot spring bathhouse, facing each other and doing something. A few more onlookers were watching them. "...... Shogi ...... Go ......?" It looks like Shogi (Japanese chess). Shogi board and pieces. The pieces are pentagonal, and <><<><<><><><<>, all are in place. The characters themselves were not very beautiful, but ....... * * * * The brain of Horai Island, Laogun, memorizes and analyzes these cultures. It is possible that there are fewer magic tools in the south because the concentration of free magic element (ether) is lower there. The inference is that the people in the south are not affected by the magic wars and are living the same life as before. Although their clothes and hairstyles are different, they are more or less similar to the stability of the Edo period. The old man is eager for more information to help him decide what to do in the future. * * * * * * After leaving Dogo, John circled the towns and villages around Lake Tama, then returned to the main highway at the town of Iyo and resumed his southward march. Markham, Kuhira, Sanuki. (These place names are very similar to those remembered by the master (Mylord). Kushima, Oboke, Koboke. (As I recall, Oboke and Koboke were located in a region called Shikoku, wasn''t it?) ) He used to enjoy discovering interesting place names while looking at a map of Japan. Kakawa, Nabuki, Tano, Sing. At this point, John wondered which way to go. To the left was the road to the sea along the Tenryu River. Straight ahead is the main road to Tosa via Coach. "Shall we go straight?" We decided to think about it again in the developing town of Coach. * * * * * * * * * * * * * < The old man guesses again and again, guessing the Chinese characters for "henro" and "aba". This is still a guess. We do not have enough information yet. * * * * * * * * * * * * * As John Dinney moved south, the landscape became greener and more like a breadbasket. The crops are wheat and barley, but there are also some rice paddies. "The master (my lord) would say that it is a nostalgic landscape when he sees it. ......" There was a somewhat Japanese-style rural landscape there. He was welcomed wherever he went. I was told that many travelers with skin color like his could use < and bring various benefits to the local community. "Were there any bad guys?" John was worried by the naivete of the man and asked such a question when he arrived at the town of Coach. The mayor of the town, who welcomed him with open arms, said, "He wasn''t there, . The old man wondered what to think about this. Does it mean that he is at peace, or does it mean that he just can''t find any bad ...... criminals? It''s a question that is not easy to answer, but it is certainly a concern. (It''s not surprising that such a gentle species exists.) John is now aware that he should not think in terms of the people of the earth, and does not pursue the matter deeply. The priority should be <>. (Maybe there is a secret police like the covert task force (SP), but ...... that''s not my business.) ) Since I have no intention to do anything wrong, I did not think that I would have anything to do with such an organization in the future. I have no intention to do anything wrong. After following Toyo, Yanase, and Mima, John finally arrived at the coach. "Now, which way shall we go? Here, he thinks again. He plans to listen to various stories in the town and use them as a reference. The route he decided on was to go south. First, we decided to go out to the sea. We stayed overnight in Ono, Shodo, Rashiki, and Tsuyama. We stayed overnight in Bingo, Mimasa, Krassi, and Tosa. Tosa is a seaside town with a sandy beach in front. The view is all about the horizon stretching far into the distance. The latitude of Tosa is a little closer to the equator than Potrock. According to the results of the research, the concentration of free magical element (ether) becomes low as one crosses the equator to near the Tropic of Cancer, and the ordinary magical element converter (ether converter) cannot generate enough magical element (mana). We knew that the < currently installed in John would be able to go a little farther south. However, as expected, we do not intend to go that far south. (Let''s try to gather information here in Tosa for a while, shall we?) So, John Dinney decided to settle down in Tosa for a while. 904 - - 26-24 Russian rain A wilderness stretched out before them. A few newly sprouted bushes and withered grass. The moss had not yet regained its green color. At the town of Inno, we were stopped by a large group of people, but we shook them off and set out, and after about two hours, the road was completely gone. The road was completely gone. We are told that the rainy season in this area is in May. We have a little more than half a month to go. "If the grass starts to grow, it will be more difficult to find the path, so maybe it''s just as well. Jin chuckles to himself. The car moves forward, step by step. It was difficult to go faster than usual, because we had to keep looking for what barely looked like footprints or partially leveled areas. The average speed was about 10 km/h. Jin estimates that the distance is about 300 kilometers. If we traveled 100 km per day, it would take us three days to reach the destination. The first day passed uneventfully. Day 2. The air felt somewhat cooler, probably due to the northward movement. The peak of the mountain on our left was now behind us, and the view to the west opened up. "Is that the Great Sahara Desert? The sandy desert stretches out in the distance. This is the location of the automata guiding the leader of the town of Miyako. Looking to the right, the gravel desert and the Harihari Desert seem to be in the distance. Actually, we can''t see that far, but that''s just our mood. And ahead is the yellowish land of spring. "It looks like it''s going to be less arid from here on out." The place is in the middle of the Laurentian continent. However, Jin felt that the land had become somewhat more moist, perhaps because it had passed the watershed point and was more easily influenced by the northern sea winds. "Brother Jin, it''s going to rain. Erza looked up at the sky and muttered worriedly. "Oh, it''s true. Black clouds seem to be increasing, Jin. Saki also looked out the window and said worriedly. "Well, it will rain when it rains. Well, if it does, we should return to Horai Island, right? "Kuhu, you don''t seem nervous at all, as if you are traveling in an unknown land. Finally, the rain started to trickle down. "Come to think of it, I''ve never seen rain in the field before. When we built the car, we had done test runs to check for leaks and operation in the rain, but this was the first time we had actually driven in the rain for an extended period of time. "It looks like it''s going to be a real downpour. In case of emergency, there is no problem as long as a <> is deployed to protect against the liquid. Just then, the car stops unexpectedly. "Edgar, what''s wrong?Is there something wrong?" "No, Master Jin, it''s not that. It''s just that there seems to be a big puddle ahead. Edgar confided, "It''s so big that I can''t decide whether it''s better to go right or left. "I see. ....... Reiko, any news from the <>?" Reiko was checking with the old man via the built-in manacam (manacam), and then she reported with an apologetic look on her face. "Yes, father. I''m sorry, but the rain clouds have covered the area and we can''t see it. However, this rain seems to be localized. "I see. ......" I could have checked the image before the rain, but that would have made no sense since there were no puddles yet. "Let''s wait and see. It doesn''t look like it''s going to rain for very long." Jin stopped the car and waited for the rain to stop, thinking that if it was like an evening shower, it would clear up soon. The rain was pouring down in torrents, and the sound of it hitting the roof of the car made it seem quieter. "The rain never stops, does it? Hannah said boredly. Outside the window, the sky was gray and smoky, and visibility was poor. Hannah, it''s going to stop soon. Look, the sky over there is getting brighter. Even on this planet, there seems to be a westerly wind blowing in the mid-latitudes, and the weather tends to shift from the west. The sun was already shining in the direction of the Great Sahara Desert. "I''ve heard it rains in the desert, too." Jin looked out the window, thinking in the corner of his mind that a desert is defined as having annual precipitation of less than a few hundred millimeters. "But it rarely rains, right?If that''s the case, then we are having a precious experience. Saki laughed, "We got to see the rain in the desert, which doesn''t happen many times a year. "But Saki, this isn''t a desert, is it?" Hannah interrupted. Indeed, the place where Jin and the others are now is more like a step than a desert. As he was not a meteorologist, he could not determine whether or not the strictly earthly climate classification would apply. "Umm, well, yeah..." Saki flinches. Hanna''s knowledge has been growing remarkably recently. "...... the sound of the rain is getting quieter." Elsa, who had been silently listening, blurts out. The sound of the rain on the roof is indeed getting quieter. "Look, the clouds are breaking. The sky seen from the window on the side opposite to Elsa''s ...... window suddenly became brighter and a ray of light was shining through. "It didn''t rain for an hour. ......" In the blink of an eye, the clouds parted and the earth regained its brightness and color. "Wow, baby, look at this!It''s amazing!" Hannah points in the direction. Roughly northeast, there was a puddle of water glistening in the sunlight. "It''s really amazing." "It''s beautiful." "It''s so mysterious!" The puddle was about ten times the size of a soccer field. There were still a few rain rings, but the visibility was now wide enough. "Oh, I should have gone around to the left. If we had gone to the right, we would have gone around about 80% of the wide puddle. On the other hand, if we turned left and went around, we would only have to go around 20% of the puddle. "Okay, Edgar, let''s go around from the left." "Yes." Edgar then tries to start the car ....... The rear wheels are spinning and the car will not go forward. The car is stuck. With the muddy ground and thin tires, it would be strange if the car does not slide into the muddy ground. "It''s no use, Reiko, please." "Yes, Father." Reiko runs outside. Of course, using her force field generator, she floats in the air. She does this so that her feet do not get caught in the muddy ground. At the same time, it is also a way to keep your clothes and shoes clean. "I push! and the car started to move. Edgar lightly steps on the accelerator pedal. The tires, which had been stuck in the mud, began to move. "Okay, I think we''re all right now. Just to be sure, he kept going until the ground was no longer muddy. After about 15 minutes, we rounded a puddle and the muddy area was over and the ground became hard and gravelly, so we stopped the car for a while. Reiko also stopped pushing using the force generator and returned to the car. "Thank you, Reiko." Jin thanked Reiko. The other members also praise Reiko''s work. "Well, we still have some time before the sun goes down, so let''s keep going a little further. Jin and his group''s trip was generally going well. 905 - - 26-25 Meeting The car carrying Jin and his group continued on its way. As the sun began to set, they saw what looked like a block of rock in their path. "Oh?That''s ......." It looked like a building. As I got closer, I could see that it appeared to be a building. "Is it made of stone and then piled up with more stones? It looks like a small rocky hill. The group stops the car and looks at it. It is about the size of a two-story house, standing against the dusk sky. The entrance is wide open. It looks like a large stone kamakura or igloo. "Was this an old rest house, Jin?" "Yes, I think Saki was right. "Brother Jin, would you like to stay here for the night?" "...... no, ...... not inside, no." It seems to be well built, but I don''t think I''ll be able to sleep well in case it collapses while I''m sleeping. "Oh?" Saki, who was looking inside, seemed to have found something. "Saki, what''s wrong?" "I think there''s someone in ......." "What?" Jin also looked in the dark, and sure enough, he saw what appeared to be a human figure. "I don''t think it''s dead. ...... "No, I think it is alive because it has a body temperature. It was already dark and even darker inside, so Reiko, who had switched her vision to infrared mode for observation, must have been sure of what she was saying. "...... Hey, are you alive?" Saki called from the entrance. The reply came in the form of a thin voice. "Jin, you''re definitely alive." Saki stepped inside with Aaru. Jin also went inside with Reiko. He ordered Reiko to observe the ceiling and, if the need arises, to put up a solid barrier to prevent it from collapsing. "Brother Jin, aren''t you too worried?" Erza tells him, but Jin is not at ease unless he is thinking of all possible contingencies. After all, Saki, Erza, and Hannah all came inside. In order to protect his precious , Jin puts himself aside and becomes cautious. "Hello, can I help you?" Saki calls out to the person. < "......, you ......, you ......, you ......." "What?" "...... hehe ...... heh ...... heh ...... heh ...... heh ...... heh ...... heh ...... heh ...... heh ...... heh ...... heh ...... "What?" Jin had the man taken outside because he felt uncomfortable in the artificial stone room. He was dressed in clothes similar to those of Jin''s group, but his face was somewhat similar to that of the residents of Mitsuho. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes. Outside, the sun is setting and the stars are beginning to twinkle. The temperature is dropping. "It''s too cramped in the car. ...... what should we do?" "Father, I''ll tell the old man to send a tent for us. In Penglai Island, materials are often temporarily stored outdoors, and tents of various sizes are available. "Yes, let''s do that. Let me send you a suitable sized one." Two minutes later, a tent arrived. It was not a camping tent, but a house-shaped tent, like the ones guests sit in at events. It had a light silver frame and fabric made of ground spider. It has walls as well as a roof, and is so comfortable that one can stand and walk inside. The floor is covered with a thick mat with a buffer of goulashvam, so that it does not hurt to sleep on it. "...... this is also ......" "Wow, that''s amazing!" Saki is slightly stunned and Hannah''s eyes light up. "...... you have the same personality as my brother Jin, after all." Erza sounded resigned. "Come on, come on, let''s go inside. "Persica juice, I suppose, in times like this." "Yeah." After consulting with Elsa, Jin brought the man inside, took out a glass of Persica juice and offered it to him. "...... can you drink it?" The man gulped down the contents in one gulp. The way he drank it made me think that he would have drank it even if it had been poisoned. "...... refill." The man, feeling a little more energetic, asks for a refill. Jin laughed and poured him a second glass. The man sighs deeply as he downs another glass of Persian juice. "Thank you. ...... Who are you guys, by the way? "There you go." Saki, who had been watching him, burst out laughing. I''m Jin Nido. This is Hannah and that is Erza. And the one laughing is Saki who found you. "...... I see. My name is Goose Minakata. I''m a natural history major. Goose introduced himself. "Jin Nido, you say? Nido is the family name, is that correct?" "Oh, yes, that''s right." To my surprise, this man, who introduced himself as Goose, not only pronounced the name "Jin Nido" natively, but also distinguished between his first and last name without fail. "So, Mr. Nido, thank you for your help. Well, we went on a research trip to the Great Sahara Desert, but we ran out of food, so we finally came back here, but we couldn''t eat or move for four days. "It''s a good thing we happened to be passing by, otherwise what would you have done?" "I don''t know. We would have dried up here ...... so thank you for your help. Goose says something amazing without hesitation. "I totally screwed up this time. I''ve already given up halfway and have no choice but to take responsibility for it." "...... huh?" He is a very strange man, Jin thought. I''ve never met anyone like him before. "So, where did you guys come from and where are you going?" "We''re from a town called Miyako, and we''re heading north." Goose''s face lit up at Jin''s explanation. "I see!That''s perfect. I know the way, and I can take you with me.I know the way, and from the looks of it, you''re not from <>, are you?" Fusor? "I knew it. You don''t even know the name of the country. <, aren''t you? Goose''s mind is not bad, apparently. He seems to have learned quite a bit in a short conversation. "I don''t know what your business is, but I like your spirit for the unknown. When Goose had gotten to that point, Saki, who had been laughing and listening to him, spoke up. "What''s the big deal about a guy who almost died because of inadequate equipment?" "Oh, come on." The words were quite harsh, even for Saki. "What?Are you making fun of my pursuit of knowledge? To which Guth replies. "No!I don''t know who you are, but I don''t like the way you talk down to Jin. I don''t know who you are, but I don''t like the way you talk down to Jin. I''ve already said thank you. You don''t thank me like that, do you? Hey, Saki! Jin is surprised to see Saki''s passionate reaction. Erza rolls her eyes too. Don''t fight, girl! Hannah is also worried. "Oh, I''m sorry, guys. I''m so angry. I''m sorry about that, ...... Minakata-sama." Saki said and left the tent. Aru followed her. "Erza, take care of this. Concerned, Jin followed Saki out of the tent. 906 - - 26-26 Past It was already dark outside. But Reiko finds Saki. "Father, Saki is in the car." "Oh, I see." Jin followed Saki to the car. Saki, what''s going on? Saki reclined her car seat and leaned against it. "...... Jin. I''m sorry I made you look so bad. "No, that''s fine. ...... "Well, he looks like the old me. ...... No, he doesn''t. I was angry because I felt he underestimated my travel." Hearing this, Jin had an idea. "I see......... come to think of it, Saki used to travel as an alchemist too, didn''t she?" "Well, that''s an embarrassing story. I have very little travel experience. My father didn''t take me with him because it was too dangerous. ......He was, however, a meticulous planner. He never had a shortage of food or budget even if we went over schedule. That''s why I don''t have to worry too much about him, even now that he''s away from home a lot." Jin nodded silently. "...... In that sense, I guess you are like me. I have a feeling that if it weren''t for my father''s teachings, I might ...... be just as likely to get lost as he is." I have heard that there is a difference between adventure and exploration. Adventure, as the name implies, is to go into danger. Exploring means to <> and <>. Saki''s father, Toa, was doing exploration, and if what Goose was doing was adventure, then he could understand Saki''s frustration. Saki told Jin that she had heard that a long time ago an alchemist who was a friend of her father''s had gone on a journey in search of a rare ore and had never returned. "This was before I was born, or rather, when my father and mother had not yet gotten together. He was a good friend, he said. "My father seemed really nostalgic when he talked about him, and when he finished, he seemed to miss him terribly. Saki concluded, "So I couldn''t stand the fact that he had gone missing without doing the best he could and then jokingly said it. "...... Saki." "You think this isn''t like me, don''t you?It''s okay, I don''t mind." Just then, there was a noise outside. He looked and saw a figure. Jin opens the door and checks. "...... Minakata?" The figure was Goose Minakata. "I''m sorry, Saki. I don''t know how you feel, and I''m sorry for my bluntness. I''m a good-for-nothing, and sometimes I make mistakes. "You were listening to me, weren''t you?" Goose nodded. "Yeah, I wasn''t listening. ...... so I have one more question for you." "Yes?" "...... the ...... friend of your father''s who didn''t come back, do you know his name?" "Hmm?......Yes,......I think he said his name was <>. Last name is ...... I don''t know. I don''t remember." "No, that''s good enough. No, that''s good enough. ......, that''s good enough. ......" Mark, Goose looked up to the heavens when he heard the name. "......" After a moment of silence, Goose spoke up. "My father''s name is <. My mother''s name is ...both of them are gone now, though." "Well, Minakata-sama, then you must be ......!" Saki is surprised at this admission. "My father was lost in the Hariri Desert before he found his way to Huso. My father once told me a story. Saki, is your father''s name ?" Saki silently shook her head repeatedly. "Well,...... it''s a strange coincidence, isn''t it,......?" Guth closed his eyes, as if lost in thought. "My father told me many times how important it is to have the right equipment for the expedition, and that we must be prepared to return home alive." Saki listened in silence. "<>" was another phrase my father used to say. I never disrespected Nido-dono. Then Guth bowed his head. "Saki-dono, I''m sorry I said something that could be misunderstood. "No, no, no, you understand. I''m a good-natured guy, and I''m sure I''ve made you uncomfortable without realizing it. At that moment, Goose''s body collapsed. Saki quickly helped him up. "Hey!Are you okay?" "Oh, yeah, I''m sorry." "Oh, I''m sorry. I''m afraid I''ve pushed you too hard. 907 - - 26-27 South end of Fusau "Porridge. I love it!" Jin and his friends were eating porridge for breakfast. They decided that solid food is not good for a stomach that has not eaten for days. Also, <> is surprisingly popular with Erza and the others. Jin had pickled plums, Erza had tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce made by Aqua) of small fish, and Saki had oshinko (Japanese pickles). And Hannah had pickled plums just like Jin. Guth tried them all and seemed to like the pickled plums. "Well, it was delicious. We were lucky to have Nido''s help. "Why don''t you stop calling me that ?I''m not used to being called that, so it bothers me. "Well, you can call me Goose instead of Minakata-dono. "Okay, I''ll call you Goose. Okay. ...... goose." "That''s fine, Jin." Saki and Erza and the others were to treat him in the same way. Goose''s skin color is quite light if you look closely in a well-lit place. His father''s blood must have been strong in his veins. He is of medium height, a little taller than Jin. His face is similar to his father''s, and he looks somewhat like Erza, Saki, and the others. "We''ll leave after breakfast. Goose, where is your luggage? Jin asked, "Nothing. I''m all alone. I''ve lost everything else. The answer was very difficult to respond to. Jin, what are you going to do with this tent? Saki asked Jin, who had finished breakfast and was getting ready to leave. "We can take it apart and put it on the roof of ......." The roof of a car is designed to hold a lot of stuff, after all. It is hard to deny that the tent looks rather big-headed if we load the tent components on the roof. In particular, the frame made of light silver is long. We sent most of the rice and other goods from the town of Miyako to Horai Island using the warp gate, so the inside of the car is clean, but now the roof is starting to look clumpy. "Well, that''s about the size of it." Unlike in modern Japan, we won''t be passing under a railroad guard, and we don''t want to go into any alleys, so we decide to continue on with this for now. Jin thought that if Goose disappeared, he could send him back through the warp gate. "Oh, that''s a nice ride!I knew it would be different if we used gutta-percha." "Do you know gutta-percha? Jin asked, and Goose nodded knowingly. "Of course. I''m a naturalist. But you call it gutta-percha in Huso, but you call it gutta-percha there, don''t you? "Yes. Do you know that this kind of elastic resin is generally called rubber? "No, I have never heard of it!I see. Rubber. That''s easy for you to say, isn''t it? So you mean you''ve ridden in a carriage before? "Yes. In Fusor we use horse-drawn carriages to transport goods and people. "So horses are commonly used here?I heard that the number of horses in Mitsho has been decreasing due to an epidemic or something. "I know that from what I''ve heard. Fortunately, it seems that it didn''t spread in Huso." Jin and Goose seemed to get along well and exchanged many stories along the way. Erza was watching them from the back seat, and Saki called out to her. "Erza, are you crowning your fiancee stolen?" "...... No. No, maybe not. But ...... he looks a bit like my brother Rai." "Oh, does he?" "Nuh. It''s not his face, but the way he talks to Jin bro. "Yeah, I can kind of tell." And what about Hannah? "Hannah, look, there''s a flower blooming over there." "Where is it?I can''t see it! "On the right, about 500 meters in front of you, on the lower right side of the rock". "Only Reiko can see that!" Reiko and I exchanged pleasantries. Then it was time for lunch. There was a spring near the marsh, so we had udon noodles, which were more popular than we had expected. Of course, the water quality was tested. "Oh, this is delicious! Goose, who seemed to have recovered completely, ordered another bowl of udon. "Me, too! Hannah is also showing her daring spirit. The udon noodles, which she had boiled in large quantities, were all gone in no time at all. "Well, Jin is a good cook. I can only cook simple things. ......" "No, I just boiled the udon. ......" And the car starts running again. After six hours of driving, a marshland appeared in front of them. "We''re finally on a cyclo-marsh. Goose looks relieved. Meanwhile, Jin and the others were impressed by the marshland in bloom. "This is magnificent! "Wow, this place is ......! "...... is beautiful." "So many flowers!" The marsh itself was still dominated by the color of dead grass, but white flowers and yellow flowers were popping up here and there, adding color to the scene. "Mizubashou?" The white flowers looked similar to the Mizubashou that Jin knew. Mizubashou?We call it "white cayou. There is also a red cayou, which blooms a little earlier in the year. "Hmm, I wish I could have seen it." There is a related species of Mizubashou in Japan, called Zazensou, which blooms in early spring with azuki red flowers, but Jin seemed to be unaware of it. "Then what about those yellow flowers?" Jin is not that familiar with plants. He only knows about common flowers and plants he happens to know. He takes this opportunity to ask Goose a number of questions. "The yellow flowers are called ''strisses,'' aren''t they?" It looked similar to a flower called Ryukinka, which grows in Oze and other places along with Mizubasho (a type of Asian skunk-cabbage). "Well, you know a lot about it, don''t you? "Yes, I can handle this kind of thing!" "Well, what about that tree with white flowers?" "Hmm?...... yeah, it''s a magnolia. What''s that? That''s a Murasaki Azalea. Guth knew what he was talking about. He answered all of Jin''s questions, one after another. And through Reiko, the old man also increased his knowledge. "Oh, I think we should take a little more to the right. There are many wetlands around here, and it will be troublesome if we get stuck." "Okay. Edgar, please. Okay, sir. Edgar swerves a little to the right. The ground is definitely getting wetter. At this rate we should be in Uln in less than two hours. At our current average speed of about 15 kilometers per hour, it would take us about that long. "Birds come to the cyclo-marshes, too. Right now is the time of year when the summer and winter birds are switching, so we only see resident birds. "There are also quite a lot of insects. Dragonflies fly in the summer. "The water in the marshland is shallow, so there are almost no fish. We listened to Goose''s explanations and continued on for two hours. "Oh, we can finally see it. That''s the village of Ulun. Under the darkening sky, the village of Ulun, at the southern tip of the Huso country, came into view. 908 - - 26-28 A village in Ulun The village of Ulun had about 30 households, about the same size as the village of Kaina. A wooden stake had been driven as a simple boundary, and Guth got out of the car just before the stake, "I know the village chief here, so I''ll go talk to him. He told Jin and entered the village. They waited for about 10 minutes. The stakes were about one meter high and 30 centimeters apart. Jin and the others were in full view from between and above the stakes. Villagers, especially children, look at the cars with interest. "The people here are just like Mitsuho, aren''t they?" Their skin color, like coffee milk, indicated that they were of the same blood. Most of them have dark brown hair, but sometimes some of them have light brown hair, which makes me wonder if they are half-Japanese or quarter-Japanese. On the other hand, some of them had hair as dark as Jin''s. The clothes they wore were not Mitsuho-style, but were similar to those commonly worn in the Shoro Kingdom and the Koguryo Kingdom. Meanwhile, Goose returned. He was accompanied by what appeared to be the village chief. He is an elderly man of about the same build as Goose. He has a thin head of hair and no beard. "Jin, this is the village head of Ulun. Nice to meet you. My name is Romies. I''m Hitoshi Nido. Nido is my first name and Jin is my last name, is that correct? Uh, yes. The accent was quite thick, and the pronunciation was not very good, but the fact that they were able to distinguish the first name from the last made Jin even more curious about the northern culture. "It''s a small village, so we don''t have any accommodations, but if you want to stay with us, you can come to my house. There is only a room available. "Thank you very much." So Jin and the others were invited to stay at the chief''s house. "I''m going to boil a bath now," he said. Goose told Jin that the village had a custom of taking a bath because of the abundance of water in the area. "Oh, in that case, I will help you boil the water. Jin offered, since it seemed to be heated with wood. Engineering magic does not need fuel to heat the water. "Oh, that''s very kind of you. The chief had been told by Goose that Jin was a mage called , so he gratefully accepted the offer. "<>" The bathtub was large, but after about five seconds of heating, the water was just the right temperature. "Oh ......!" The village chief, who was watching from the side, looked impressed. "Mages are very good at this ......." "Speaking of which, are there any mages in this village? "Yes, there are a lot of mages not only in this village but also in Huso. Then how do you know about the existence of mages? The question remains, why are they not surprised when they see magic? Jin asks her, "As a <>, I am visited from time to time by some people. They are rare, but not the first time. Jin answered. Jin understood. However, the identity of <> remains unknown. "Ah, it feels so good." The chief''s house has a large bath for guests, so Jin and Goose bathe together. "You need to wash yourself first. Jin warned Goose, who had not washed his body for several months, if not days. "I know that. Goose seemed to know what he was talking about, and washed his body after pouring hot water over it. . Jin donated a box (about 10 kg) of this soap as a thank-you for letting him stay here. Saki and Aaru knew how to make it, and especially Aaru''s memory information had already been delivered to the old man, and experiments to make soap from baking soda and seaweed ash had started on Horai Island. "<>, this is good!It''s even better than Rita''s fruit." Like a naturalist, Guth seems to know about Rita''s fruit. As a side note, the box of soap given to the village chief is now used to cleanse the body during the New Year holidays and celebrations. Erza and the others also used the hot water, and after being refreshed, they were welcomed by the chief. "I can''t thank you enough for the soap, but please keep eating it. "It''s soap!" Goose warned. "Oh, yes. That soap is wonderful. I''ll take good care of it." The chief looked happy. Jin, however, was concerned about the meal and the bowl in which it was served. "This bowl is ......." The fabric is made of wood. The wood is light and sturdy. The grain of the wood is clear. But the problem is the paint applied. "...... lacquer?" A clear, reddish-brown, or perhaps candy-colored, coating. The color is darker on the annual rings and lighter on the outer rings to accentuate the grain of the wood. The color is very elegant. The bowls are made by rubbing the sap of the toxoco tree on them. The spoons and shallow plates were also painted with the same lacquer. "The paint I know called ''urushi'' is black. It is made from sap, after all. Yes, both the lacquer-like lacquer from Horaijima and the sap similar to the lacquer that Saki had been exposed to before were black in color. Jin thought that this might be due to the different kinds of trees. This one may be more similar to the Japanese lacquer. Goose bites into Jin''s words. "Oh, you have a tree that produces black sap in your area. That''s interesting. "Ha, let''s have a meal anyway. "Yes, I agree with that." So we all agreed to have a meal. "Oh, this is delicious. Erza seemed to like the vinegared dish. "Kuhu, this is the first time I''ve tasted this, but it''s not bad! Saki also liked the vinegared dish. "I like this one!" Hannah seemed to like the soup. According to Jin, the soup is made from dried fish. Jin was surprised to see rice here, too, and tucked into a bowl of white rice. "There are a lot of wetlands around here, so this kind of grass grows well," Guth explained. Guth was chewing his meal with such explanation. He is feeling much better now. "Your wild plants are nunawa. It is a water plant that often grows in shallow ponds. It seems that the wild plant used in both vinegared dishes and soup is called nunawa. Hitoshi liked the soup. The slightly slimy texture was interesting. Although there were only a few dishes, Jin and the others were able to relax with the hearty hospitality. "I guess it''s all thanks to Goose." After the meal, Jin thanked Goose in his assigned room. "If we had come here alone, it might not have been like this. "Well, I guess you could say that. It is very rare to have guests from abroad. Still, there have been a few cases in the past, and it still seems to happen once every ten years or so, Guth added. "Most recently, a guy named <> said he was here. He was billed as an engineer, but since no magic tools are used here and there is no need for ordinary tools, there was no chance for him to be of any use, so he went up north. "If you guys go up north, maybe we can meet somewhere." Jin was wondering whether he would like to meet him or not. <. 909 - - 26-29 A wise man with black hair "Hey, Goose, do you know much about that paint?" "Hmm?. ......" "Oh, <>. In the past, the sap of Toxoco was called , and in some regions it is called . They are very similar." Guth is indeed an erudite man. Jin does not know, but in fact, there is a theory that <> is the origin of the word <>, so it is not surprising that the names are similar. Anyway, Hitoshi was interested in Huso''s "Urushi". The urushi I know is black," he said. Then, they put thin gold leaf or gold powder (......, I think) on it and draw pictures on it. "Wow, that''s gorgeous. I think I''ve heard of such a technique further north. I''ve never been there. "I didn''t know they had it." "...... does it give you a rash when you touch it?" What?Oh, Saki. It was Saki who interrupted Jin and Goose''s conversation. "Kuhu, am I interrupting?" "No, I''m not." Jin immediately denied it. Then he looked around the room, "Where are Elsa and Hannah?" He asked. "They are both in the kitchen helping clean up. "Saki didn''t help?" "...... I''m more of a hindrance than a help, you know." Saki replied with a sullen smile, and Jin bowed his head. "I''m sorry. "It''s okay. It''s okay. Goose turned to Saki and answered. "So, I told Hitoshi, you will get a rash. It depends on your constitution, but I heard that some people get a rash just by walking under the trees. "Well, that''s scary. If so, I ...... am Saki, who is a little frightened. "Ha, don''t worry. Dry toxicology will not give you a rash. "I''m relieved to hear that ......." Saki let out a sigh of relief. * * * * Elsa and Hannah were helping in the kitchen. "I''m sorry we had to get help from our guests. The wife of the village head and two women who seemed to be the wives of the village head and his son thanked Erza and the others. The wife of the village head is Ritze, who is in her mid-fifties. The son''s wife is Separae, who looks to be in her mid-20s. Elsa was washing dishes with Lidze. "I''m here to pay you for your stay. "I need a lot of soap to pay for my stay." But it''s just a feeling. Jinshan has a good wife, doesn''t he? "Yes." The words were spoken in dialect, but I understood what they meant. Erza''s face turned red. "Well, she''s not my wife yet." "I see. But if you''re not married yet, that means you''re not married yet. As Erza was about to say something in reply, Hannah, who was wiping the dishes with Separately, shouted. "I''ve finished wiping the dishes! "Oh, Hannah, thank you!" "These plates are so light and beautiful!" Hannah and her family mainly used pottery ...... plates and just wooden utensils. Although Jin also made various household items, many households in the village of Kaina used conventional tableware. Ceramic dishes are easy to wash, but they are heavy and easily broken. Wooden dishes are light, but stains soak into them. However, the dishes here were made from the sap of the toxoco tree (......<>), and were beautifully finished and stain-resistant. Haha, thank you. I''m glad to hear you say so, since it''s a product of the village." Separay smiled happily. "By the way, Hannah and Erza are both so beautiful and white. Your hair is so shiny." Separately, she gently touched Hannah''s hair a little enviously this time. "Hmmm...but I like the idea of having black hair like your sister..." "Black or hair......" Separately, she looked at him with a distant look. "Jinshan, you are a legendary wise man, aren''t you?" "What?A legendary wise man? Hannah asked back. She knew that one of the reasons Jin had come to this place was to learn more about Magus. "Yes, the legendary wise man. He is said to have had skin as white as Hannah''s and hair as dark as ours." "Hmm. ......" Hannah thought she would tell Jin this story when she returned. Then she asked him more about it. "What did this Kenja-san do? Separately, Separay tried to think for a moment and then opened his mouth. "He taught many things to people from Fuso-no-kuni," he said. "Such as?" "Like how to coat vessels with toxoconium sap, how to make paper, and how to make ......." Separay explained to Hannah that many of the various cultures and civilizations that have been handed down to this day were passed down by the wise men. "Hmmm... the wise men were very good." Separately she smiled at Hannah. "Yes, I was very good." "Hey, where did this ''Kenja'' come from?" Hannah asked the question that Jin wanted to know. "I don''t know where it came from. Hearing this, Hannah was disappointed. "I see. ...... Separately, she patted Hannah on the shoulder to cheer her up, "If you go to the town instead of the village, you might find someone who knows more about it. She said, "You might find someone who knows more about it if you go to the town instead of the village. "The town ......?" "Yes. There is a town called Nade, north of the Cyclo Swamp, that has a lot of people from the Tai region, and some of them know a lot about it. "Nade town? ......" "Hannah, you and your friends are heading north, right?Then you''ll meet someone who knows exactly where you''re going." "Yes, thank you, Mr. Separay!" Hanna rushed out to tell Jin about this information as soon as possible. Separately, she looked at Hannah''s back with a smile. 910 - - 26-30 The story of the marsh horn deer "Hmm, I didn''t know that. ......" Hannah returned to her room and gave Jin the information she had just heard. "That was helpful, Hannah, thank you." "Yes!" Hannah was in a good mood when Jin thanked her. Then Elsa came home. "Welcome home, Elsa. Thanks for helping out." "Yes." Jin wished her good luck, and Erza answered shortly. Erza doesn''t look like an aristocrat anymore. She''s a good housekeeper now. "Saki, Saki!" Erza blushes when Saki teases her. But it is true that she is becoming more like a commoner. Saki also has a negative view of aristocrats, even though she is of marquise descent, so her words to Erza were more admiring than sarcastic. "If Aalu were here, I would have asked him to help me instead." It was Goose''s advice that Reiko, Aal, and Edgar were not present. According to Guth, <>. So Edgar and Aal are in the car. And Reiko has disappeared and is following Hitoshi in . "By the way, you haven''t seen your son''s face in this family, have you? By "son," I assume he meant the son of the village head. In other words, he was Separay''s husband. "Well, I heard he''s on a hunting trip, right?" Hannah seemed to have heard about that. "Well, you know, there are a lot of deer around here, and sometimes they raid the fields, so I go hunting for them. Hearing this, Goose began to explain. "The marsh antelope is an animal that lives in the marshlands around here, and it makes its rounds in the winter and has its young this time of year. Then they destroy the wheat before harvest, so we go out to kill them." It makes sense for herbivores to have and raise their young in the spring. "They are very fecund, and if left alone, they will double in size in three years. If left alone, they can double in size in three years and eat up all the grass they have to eat. So it''s a good idea to hunt them down at random. Hitoshi interrupted him, and Goose nodded. "Yes, that''s what I meant." "...... but isn''t that a little strange?" Saki interrupted. "Sure, I understand that there is an upper limit to the amount of grass a species can survive on. But this marsh antler deer, right?...... can only be stabilized in numbers when hunted by humans?" After saying all of that at once, Saki interrupted, "I don''t know how to say this," she said. Jin understood her intention and expressed his own opinion. "I guess it''s because people have lost their balance. As far as Jin knew, he had heard news reports of deer overpopulation in the central mountains of Japan, devouring precious alpine plants, and wild boars appearing in residential areas in the Kansai region. As a bonus, there are also Japanese monkeys that behave unruly in tourist spots. "Hmm?You say interesting things. I agree with you. Goose, in his usual tone of voice, echoed Jin''s opinion. Then he explains the background. "There is a cyclo-marsh to the west of here, right?It used to be a lot bigger. It was reclaimed and it''s the size it is now." "Oh, so the survival zone has been narrowed." Jin understood his explanation. "Yes. But in addition, green fields ...... of wheat have appeared in winter as well." "That''s what they''re coming for!" "Yes, Jin, that''s right. When there were no wheat fields, they would have migrated to the headwaters of the river that flows into the cyclo-marshes." "What''s there?" Jin guessed that the headwaters must be in a mountainous area. That meant that the altitude would be high and there would be no grass or other vegetation. "Ah. < Saki comments on this. "So, predators will also come here to eat the herbivores, right?" Goose nodded. "That''s right. But they are not going to devour the herbivores. They were rather well thinned out." "Oh, and then the marsh antlered deer found out that there''s food on our side that doesn''t wither in the winter. ......" "That''s what I mean. They don''t migrate in the winter, they stay. So they come in the winter and spring and raid the fields." "So they go out hunting regularly." Now I understand what''s going on. "Can''t we just fence them in?" Elsa asked. She means, "Can''t you build a fence to prevent marsh antlered deer from entering? "Marsh antlered deer can leap over a two-meter fence. It''s not practical to build a fence that''s even bigger than that. "I see. ......" In modern Japan, where Jin lived, electric fences and nets were used as countermeasures, but they were not very effective and sometimes caused accidents to humans. "It''s a difficult problem. ......" Here Jin remembered a bell used in the village of Kaina to ward off beasts. In short, it is a bell that emits ultrasonic waves that only beasts can hear. The effectiveness of the bell is questionable to say the least. "Well, Gon and Gen are also in Kaina village, and I didn''t do any research on that since I set up Koshin. ......" Jin thought that if we could make a magic tool to ward off beasts, we might be able to divide the area in a way that is friendly to both people and beasts. At the moment, it is not that the marsh antler deer and other animals have lost their places, but that individuals who mistakenly believe that the winter food situation has improved are causing harm, so it seems that the problem will disappear once the segregation is clarified. Since this is true in other areas as well, Hitoshi took the matter a little more seriously. "Goose, do you know what there is that animals don''t like?" He also asked Goose, a naturalist, for his opinion. "Smell and ...... light for nocturnal animals." "I see." Jin also remembered hearing on the news that lion urine had been spread on the ground to keep boars away. There was also a story about putting CDs or plastic bottles filled with water to keep cats away. "But it''s not practical. ......" Jin thought about it. "Jin, are you trying to make something to scare away the marsh antler deer?" Goose asked. "Yes, I am. It would save us the trouble of hunting marsh antlered deer, and also eliminate the damage, wouldn''t it?" "I understand that, but will the villagers be happy?" "What?" Goose''s argument goes like this. Farming is the only way to get meat. Especially in winter and spring, when the snow is still on the ground, it is a blessing to be able to hunt nearby. "Hmmm ......" Jin is an outsider. He is not a member of the villagers like in the village of Kaina. Is it really a good thing to meddle without knowing the situation and the background? "I understand." Jin renewed his understanding that it is true that making magic tools just because you want to make them depends on the time. "Maybe Goose is right. Thank you." "...... You''re welcome?" For some reason, Goose answered in a questioning tone. "...... Jin, how can you back out without making something you want to make?" "Kuhu, it''s going to rain tomorrow, isn''t it? "You guys are relentless!" At Erza and Saki''s words, Jin glared at them. He glared at them, but this was due to embarrassment. "Onii-chan, you''re embarrassed." Hannah seemed to understand. "......, I''m no match for you." "Haha, Jin, you''re in good company." Goose laughed at her and Jin commented. "But, Goose. I''ve heard that marshes are very sensitive. I''ve heard that even a simple trampling on them can kill the plants. Jin recalled that in high marshes such as Oze, wooden paths are maintained to avoid trampling by tourists. "Yeah, I think the people here know about that. I know that the reclamation was done hundreds of years ago, and that the plants around the area died at one point due to the reclamation." So now they are choosing to live in harmony with nature, Guth concluded. "I hope that''s the case." Jin felt a little relieved to hear that. 911 - - 26-31 Old documents? "Be careful!" On the morning of April 19, Jin and his friends left the village of Ulun. Hanna was a little disappointed that she could not meet Separay''s husband. Today, they are going to Nadeh town. The town of Nad is my hometown. I don''t have my parents there anymore. "I didn''t know Mark had traveled that far. ......" Saki muttered in a deep voice. "I heard that he was found and saved by a group of researchers who had gone to the Harihari Desert to investigate." Goose replies. "So we went to the town of Nad together,...... and well, I heard that he and my mother were together for some reason." Not many people like to tell the story of how their parents met. Saki seemed to understand this and did not ask any more questions. About an hour and a half away was the village of Kaid, and another hour to the village of Romne. "I think you''ll find some interesting things here. Goose whispered thoughtfully to Jin. "I know someone who manages it." Jin could not keep quiet after hearing such a story. Jin decided to make a detour to the village of Romne. When he parked his car in the plaza at the entrance of the village, the villagers, including children, gathered around him. Reiko, as usual, remained out of sight, standing guard with Jin. "Hello. They are travelers from the east. Goose introduced Jin and the others to the villagers in the local accent. They recognized him and the others as foreigners at first sight because of their different skin colors. "Hey, isn''t that Goose? "Hey, Booker. I''m here to see you. Goose''s friend was Booker, with short-cropped dark brown hair and brown eyes. He is one size stouter than Jin. "Hmm?You brought a foreign guest with you, isn''t that right?" Yes. Can I show it to you? Anyone who can read is welcome. Then Goose turned to Jin, "Jin, he says he can show you." in a voice without an accent. Then another man of advanced age came in. Is this your guest?I am Frayn, the village headman. "Ah, father, Goose has brought foreign guests." Booker seems to be the son of the chief. No wonder. He''s in charge of the valuables. "I see. Welcome to the village of Romne. The chief greeted him in an unaccented voice. My name is Hitoshi Nido. My friends are Erza, Saki, and Hannah. Jin also greets them, introducing himself briefly. Reiko has disappeared and Aal is in the car. When I introduce only Edgar as the automata for driving, the village chief rolls his eyes in amazement. "It''s an amazing thing, isn''t it? Even in Dachte, there are no automata like this. Guth told us that Dachte was the capital of Huso. "And your horseless carriages are wonderful. Did you build it, Nidoh-dono? The mayor referred to the car as a "horseless carriage. Jin wondered for a moment if he had seen something similar. He would ask Goose about that later. "Here it is." Frayn produced a wooden box resembling a paulownia tree. Booker opens it gently. "......oh......!" Jin''s eyes widened. It was definitely a book. But it was badly damaged and the paper was tattered. It is a book, but it is torn off from the middle, and there seems to be a front cover but no back cover. "...... technology ...... history?" The title was written in Chinese characters on the front cover. "What?" "Nidou-dono, can you read this?" Booker and Frain looked at Jin with surprised faces. "...... yes." Jin stared at them intently. "May I take it in my hand?I''ll ...... handle it gently." Oh, well, if you can read, please, come in. "Thank you very much." He should have worn gloves, but he had not prepared any, so he wrapped a handkerchief around his hand and took the book in his hand, being careful not to touch it directly. "It says ''history of technology'' after all. The font gives the impression of being slightly old-fashioned. It was not a hardcover. Opening the cover, he found a table of contents. It was stained with brown dirt like mud, and although some parts were torn, the words <><>> could be read. The part of * was torn and could not be read. The text is written horizontally. I wonder if this is a reference book for science majors. "Is it a reference book for college or something? ......?" Jin, a high school graduate, could not understand more than that. Turning the pages a little more, he found diagrams of early models of lathes and drilling machines, which made him think that he might be able to build such machine tools by referring to this book. "Too bad the second half of the book is missing: ......" I don''t know how many pages are missing. I wish I had read all of them," said Jin. "...... Jin, you can read these letters, can''t you?Characters that no one has been able to decipher until now." Kanji and hiragana, and Japanese. It would be virtually impossible for any linguist, or even a master cryptographer, to decipher them without prior knowledge. "Yes, I can read it. This is part of the academic book ....... It''s like a book about the development of technology and its history. Goose nodded and thought about Jin''s answer. Then Booker and Frayn went crazy. "Nido-sama, you can read the , do you know what that means?" "...... approximately." "Oh, ......!" Frayn is excited to hear Jin''s reply. "It has been more than a thousand years since I inherited the relics of Magus the Wise, and it has been worth it! It seems that this , or rather , was left behind by the wise man Mags. "No one could read what it said." Booker took over Frayn''s words. "Please, tell us what it says!" < Jin wondered in the corner of his mind if this custom also originated with Mags, But his priority was to say, "Please raise your hands! was the priority. In the end, Jin did not go to the town of Nade that day, but stayed overnight at the house of the chief of the village of Romne, and continued to explain the <>. However, he was able to browse all the pages, and Hannah was more than happy to look at the pages with him, so the result was probably a good thing. Moreover, Reiko had memorized all the contents and sent them to the old man. The book was already enchanted for preservation, but just to be sure, Jin reapplied < to it and the book was stored again. 912 - - 26-32 Remains of the Wise "Hmmm ...... I thought I would know a little more about the wise man (Mags) ......" I guess it is like I don''t understand. It''s a frustrating feeling. "But your book was interesting, wasn''t it?" Hannah says smiling at him. Now Jin and his friends are on their way to the town of Nade as planned. "There are many theories about where Mags came from, but the most popular one is what Mr. Frain said. "Hmmm ......" Jin wanted more information, not just what he could think of. "Brother Jin, <>, is it a book about the development of technology?" Erza asked Jin. Erza had also listened to Jin''s explanation yesterday, but half of it was gibberish. No wonder. Jin had some background in the field and was able to explain more or less, but it would be impossible for her to understand the steam engine of Newcomen, and if she did not know about clocks, she would not be able to understand an ankle escapement at all. Hanna seems to take the stance of remembering what she does not know without knowing it. This is a trick that can only be done with a good memory, which suggests that her memory is outstanding. "But, it''s possible that whatever the wise man''s (Mags) specialty is, he could have built the factory that was in that Miyako." There might be other books like this, Jin thought. Thinking about it, Jin himself was summoned to this Ars world literally naked, because he fell into the electric furnace, but if he had been wearing clothes, he would have been summoned together with his clothes. What if he had been carrying a book? Jin would like to see if such a has been handed down to the present. Just before noon, the group arrived at the town of Nade. Here, too, the "horseless carriage" was subjected to the curious stares of the people. "What a rare thing!" "You are from a foreign country! "Are you from another country?" "You are white!" Mixed with such voices. "Yes?Is that a goose with you?" "Yes, it''s a goose." "You''re alive." The words did not sound like a mockery, but rather they made me smile. "I''m home. I brought you a guest." Guth waved his hand and the people gathered there looked at him with a wry smile. Then a man on a horse, a rarity in Hussein, arrived. "Welcome home, Goose. And is this your guest?" A middle-aged man dismounted from his horse and spoke to me in a language that did not have an accent. "Yes, Mayor. He is what is known in Mitsuho as a "Magecraft Meister". "Oh, <>? The man called the mayor is in his mid-fifties and of solid build. "Welcome to the town of Nade. I am Mayor Fadon. My name is Hitoshi Nido. This is ......." Jin introduces Erza and the others. After that, Goose explained the purpose of the visit. He''s looking for information about Mags. So, ...... would you be willing to show him the artifact that the mayor has in his keeping?" I see. Sure. Fadon, who had been exchanging some words with Goose, turned to Jin and the others, "Please park that ......<> in my yard," he said. He pointed to a house about 50 meters away. "You can enter the yard from the front and park in an open space. Jin, there is something a little unusual that has been handed down to Mr. Fadon. Goose adds. "Okay. Thank you very much." Now in need of a clue from the wise man (Mags), Jin thanked him and got into the car. But... "Hey, is Goose coming?" Jin asked, wondering about Goose''s reluctance to get in the car. "Yeah. I''m ......." "Goose, you should come too. It would be good for Nidou-dono and the others to have someone they know with them." Before Goose could say anything, Fadon invited him to join them. So Goose went to the car again. Fadon mounted his horse again. The car carrying Jin and the others passed through the gate of the mayor''s house, led by the fast-moving horse. Since the mayor was with them, they passed through the gate without any suspicion. Once Jin and the others entered, the gate was closed. The garden of the mayor''s mansion is large, and there is a corner where gravel is paved. Jin parks his car in the corner. Hwadong handed the reins of his horse to a servant and walked up to Jin and the others. Welcome, Nidou-dono. This way please." Fadn followed him and the others all left, leaving Edgar and Aru behind. Reiko disappeared. "Hey, they''re back. The guests are with us!" Fadon calls loudly to the front door of the house. Several servants came running out of the house, looking panicked. "Welcome home! "Welcome home!" Some had accents, some didn''t. "This is Nidohito-dono and company. Please be respectful. Yes, I understand. By the way, this house is Japanese style. Everyone, including Goose, is used to it, so it''s no problem. Jin and the others were accompanied by servants without accents. One male and one female, two in total. "Please rest here first. "Please rest here first." But the woman had an accent. I was shown to my room and asked to leave only my baggage. Goose was left empty-handed. Each of us was assigned a private room, and we were allowed to use the reception room across the hallway. Elsa was pleased to see that the private room was a Japanese-style room with tatami mats. In contrast, the reception room was a semi-Western style with wooden flooring. Jin and the others gathered in the reception room and sat down on the sofa to relax. "Please have some tea. The tea was hojicha (roasted green tea), and it seemed that there were tea trees in this region. Tea trees (Camellia sinensis) are usually grown in warm regions. In Japan, the northern limit of tea cultivation is located near Miyagi Prefecture, and it is not good for cold weather, so Jin wondered why it is not grown there. Well, it could be grown in a greenhouse, or it could be imported. Also, this is not the earth, so we cannot rule out the possibility of different varieties. When I mentioned this to Goose, he explained it to me. The tea trees here are of a different variety from those in the south. The trees are a little taller and the leaves are a little longer and narrower. It seems that they are of a different variety. "I see. That makes a little more sense now. "Well, I guess being a naturalist isn''t all it''s cracked up to be." Saki, who had left her luggage in her room, came over and mixed it up. "It tastes the same. "You might be able to tell the difference if you compare it with green tea." "Oh, I see." Then Elsa and Hannah arrived. "The tea tastes good. "Yes, it is! While everyone was drinking tea and quenching their thirst, Fadon came in. "I hope you are enjoying yourselves. I have brought you a relic. He holds a small wooden box in his hand. "Is the relic so small?" "Yes. Yes. It''s nothing to show off. Please take a look. Fadon put the box on the table, took off the lid and showed it to me. "This is ......." There was an old watch. The belt seemed to have been made of leather and was gone, but the case seemed to be stainless steel, no longer shiny but not corroded. "I don''t know what it was used for. It seems that an ancestor asked a wise man (Magus) to give it to him. 913 - - 26-33 Wristwatch The wristwatch was not an automatic watch, but appeared to be a manual-winding type. It was a simple watch with black letters on a white dial without any extra decoration, and appeared to Jin to be of a rather old design. The second hand was not coaxial with the minute and hour hands, but was mounted on the lower center of the dial, between the center and 6 o''clock. The manufacturer was S. It is a major watch manufacturer that Jin is familiar with. The glass was cracked, suggesting that the watch had been bumped or dropped. "I don''t know what it was used for, but it is a very fine piece of work, and I heard that it was a favorite item of a wise man (Mags). It is an heirloom in my family." Fadon''s words brought Jin back to himself. "This is ......." "Jin, do you know what it is?" Even Goose did not seem to know what this was. "It''s a ...... watch." "A watch?......It is ...... if you ask me, but a watch?With this?" Jin explains simply. "Yes. It''s a small watch that you wear on your arm like a bracelet. "If it''s ......, what do these hands represent?" Goose pointed to the second hand. "Let''s go in order. This short hand is the short hand or the hour hand, which indicates the time. And the long hand is the long hand or the minute hand, which represents the minutes. In sundials and moonset clocks, the shadow acting as a hand makes a round in a day, but in this wristwatch, the hour hand makes a round in half a day. It is not surprising that no one thought of the watch as a clock itself, even if they thought it was similar. "So, this time clock?So, is this clock ticking in two-hour increments?" So the question comes up. "No, this clock goes around once in 12 hours. When Hitoshi said this, Goose shouted, as if he understood. "Oh, I see. We say 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. too. So for every morning and afternoon, this goes around once. Surely you can''t tell 8:00 in the morning from 8:00 at night." "That''s what I meant. That''s what I''m talking about, Goose. Jin praised Goose''s comprehension and resumed his explanation. "So, this long hand or minute hand goes around once in an hour. "How? "How?" Goose and Fadon looked at each other in disbelief that the hands, which seemed to be coming out of the same place, were turning at different speeds. "It''s the same thing, but there''s a different wheel, and it''s changing the speed of rotation, right?" "Yes, that''s right." Jin was surprised to hear Hannah''s words of explanation. "So, this little hand is the second hand." "What?Can it measure seconds? It is true that in a world that uses sundials and moon clocks, there are units of measurement such as hours, minutes, and seconds, but there are few opportunities to actually measure them. No wonder Goose was surprised. "......What are you going to do with such detailed measurements of time?" A natural question from Fadon. He knew the second as a unit of time, but had never had a chance to use it. "Let''s see, ......." Jin tried to come up with an easy-to-understand analogy. "Do you know the relationship between distance, speed, and time required?" "If you multiply the speed by the time, you can find the distance traveled, right?" Now Goose. Mayor Fadon was nodding his head next to Goose, so it seems that he understands. "So, if we divide the distance by the time, we can find the speed, right? To this he replied, "Of course. "If we know the distance, we can determine the speed by measuring the time required with a clock, right? In this case, the speed is the average speed. "Ah, I see, so the concept of is there to make such measurements and calculations in more detail!" Goose said, smacking his hands together in amazement. "That''s what I meant. But you should know that you will need it in more situations than just that." "Hmmm... I guess it belongs to Mags." Goose''s face shows that he is truly impressed. Everyone else listened to Jin''s explanation and tried to digest it in their own minds. Erza and Saki were no exception. There are clocks in Horai Island, but they are not this small and precise. This means that Jin and those who are connected to him cannot make something like this. At least, not yet. "Nido-den." The mayor, Fadon, spoke to Jin in a reverent manner. "You are the one who recognized at a glance that this relic is a , are you related to the ? Jin thought about this question for a moment before replying. "I am sure that they are related to each other, but I don''t know him directly. I am sure that they are from the same hometown, but I have no direct acquaintance with them. "I suppose that''s true." It would be extraordinary if he had known the sage Magus a thousand years ago. Fadon nodded in agreement. "This is ...... Faso, I came here to learn more about Mags. "I see... If you say that we could be from the same country, it is only natural..." As Fadon, I understand the feeling, he said. "So you have a clue about the wise man (Mags) ......." Then he kindly asked me if I had any information about Mags. "......I think it would be better to go further north from here, to ." Fadon told us that Dachte was the capital of Huso. "There are some ancient documents said to have belonged to a wise man (Magus), and there is a possibility that some relics are kept there. This was good news. It was much more efficient than going around the town in the dark. "Thank you very much." Jin thanked him. He had found another clue. "But you''re from the same town as Mags, ......?" "Are you curious?" Fadon muttered, and Jin asked back, "Yes, well, I''d be lying if I said I wasn''t concerned about it, but it''s not like it would make any difference to me. He replied, "Well, I''d be lying if I said I wasn''t concerned about it, but it doesn''t really matter what I know. He may be saying that he appreciates the achievements of Magus, a wise man who lived more than 1,000 years ago, but his birthplace does not matter much. It is a little difficult for Jin to understand, but he accepts that there is such a way of thinking. "By the way, can you fix this ?" Hwadong asked, looking at Jin''s face. Jin thought for a moment before replying. "I think it can be fixed, but it will be difficult. It would take a long time. Jin himself had never disassembled and repaired a watch before. And with a wristwatch, it would be impossible to repair it without special tools. The only possibility would be to have a <> do it. However, Jin was also interested in the construction and reproduction of the watch. "If you lend me the watch for a day, I''ll be able to make some kind of decision. ......" "Hmm. ......." Fadon thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay, that''s fine. I trust you, Nidou-dono, and I will lend it to you. "Thank you very much." Jin thanked him and accepted the box containing the watch. After Hwadong and the others left the room, Goose reminded him. The mayor trusted Jin and entrusted the watch to me, so please fix it somehow! "I know." Jin replied and took the watch to his room. He gently places the box on the table. At the same time, he called out to Reiko and asked her to contact the old man. "Contact him to forward five miniature craftsmen (smiths)". "Yes, father." Reiko contacts the old man with the built-in manacam. A mini-craftsman (Smith) appears in about a minute. Jin orders him to disassemble, analyze, and repair the watch. 914 - - 26-34 Clock Repair The five miniature craftsmen (smiths) quickly disassemble the watch into pieces. They discover that the cause of the malfunction is a chipped gear and a broken spring. Both of these damages were so small that they could be corrected by engineering magic. He then examined the case of the watch and found that it was not stainless steel but chrome-plated. Jin''s expectation that it was stainless steel because of its luster was not correct. On the back of the watch, there were some letters engraved on the case back. "something ......". The name of the company, a seven-digit number that looked like a model number, and "JAPAN," were written on the back. "I knew it. ......" It had been a long time since I had seen such a familiar name. It was Jin who looked at the letters with nostalgia. By the way, dust is strictly prohibited in a mechanical watch. If dust gets caught between those precise gears, it can cause the movement to malfunction or stop. So, in the past, mechanical watches were assembled in Switzerland in Europe, and in Suwa area in Japan, where the air was clean. Nowadays, they are made in a room filled with clean air, called a <. Of course, they wear dust-free work clothes. A word of caution. Dust so fine that it is invisible to the human eye is a big mess to the one-sixteenth the size of a miniature craftsman (Smith). The advantage of the miniature craftsman (smith) is that he can handle it visually. The repair and assembly were completed, taking care to prevent such dust from entering. The solidified lubricant was removed and reapplied with Horaijima''s lubricant. The gears inside the clock were made of brass, but they had not corroded, perhaps because they had been well preserved, or perhaps because of some kind of magic. The balance, which is the pendulum of a pillar clock, was left as intact as possible, and no adjustments were made. "You''ve done it." Jin gently holds the watch and carefully turns the crown. "Perhaps you have wound it too much and broken the mainspring. Older hand-wound watches could be over-wound and cut the mainspring when winding it with the crown. Jin did not know this, but after seeing the structure, seeing the broken spring, and hearing the report from the mini-craftsman (Smith) who had serviced it, he came up with this possibility. "Oh, it works." The second hand began to move with a faint tinkling sound. "Well, I can use this to find out if a day on the earth is the same as a day here on earth. The units may be the same, but the actual time is not always the same. For example, one hour on Earth may be 59 minutes and 45 seconds on Ars. There is no guarantee that they are exactly the same length of time, although it is certain that there is no perceptible difference. So Jin thought that if he had a clock, he could compare the times. "It would be possible if I could get the old man to check it." On Horai Island, they use a clock based on the sun of the Ars world. They could give the time to the minute, but not to the second. Jin hoped that if there was no significant difference between the Earth and Ars, he would be able to make a smaller watch by imitating this wristwatch. This would be meaningless if the wristwatch had gone wrong after a thousand years, but it was an experiment. The experiment was an experiment. "Onii-chan, he said he''s going to eat! Hannah, smelling of soap after taking a bath, came to call Jin. Jin, who had been absorbed in his watch, comes back to himself. Reiko, on the other hand, was a little disappointed. "Father, I''m sorry that I didn''t notice the meal time. But Hitoshi calms her down. "No, this is worth more than one bath, that''s all right. Jin then answers Hanna''s call. "Oh Hanna, I''m coming." The meal was with the mayor, Hwadong. And sitting next to Goose was a girl who looked to be about the same age as Hannah. She was snuggled up to Goose and seemed to be getting along well with him ......, but Goose looked a little tired. Jin guessed that the mayor''s granddaughter was fond of Goose, so she must have invited him. And Goose seems to be not good with small children. The menu consisted of white rice, turnip miso soup, grilled river fish, smoked meat seasoned with salt and pepper, pickled vegetables, and so on. "Ah, kunsei!" Hannah exclaims. In the village of Kaina, Jin had made smoked meat, but there was smoked meat here, too. Hwadong said, "I don''t know if it''s good enough for your palate," but it was a delicious enough dinner. How do you like it, Mr. Nido? Hwadong asked over a cup of green tea after the meal. Of course, it was about the watch. "Yes, I think I can fix it somehow. Hwadong smiled broadly when Jin answered. "Really?I''m so glad to hear that. Please look forward to tomorrow. Fadon nodded his head again and again, looking pleased. "Yes, I understand. After the meal, everyone was on their way back to their rooms when Elsa asked in a whisper. "...... Jin, actually, isn''t it already fixed?" Jin smiled and nodded silently. Erza nodded with a look that said, "I knew it, "I''ll be there later. and went into her room. Jin also enters the room assigned to him. There, a mini craftsman (Smith) was watching over his watch. "Goshujin-sama, chanto goitemasu." Smith reports in his usual gruff voice. "Oh, thank you. So, did you find out the time difference?" Reiko answered this question for him. The old man had given her some information. "Father, it is only about an hour, so the error is large, but it seems that the seconds in our world are slightly longer. "Oh. I see. Continue." After that exchange, there was a knock at the door. Reiko has disappeared. The room was Japanese-style, but the door was not a sliding door, but an ordinary door. Brother Jin. Jin. Jin. Onii-chan. Erza, Goose, Saki, and Hannah. The girl attached to Goose was gone. "Goose, where is that girl? Goose replied with a wry smile. "She''s the grandson of the mayor. I taught her a few lessons before, and she fell in love with me. ......" As Jin had imagined. There was a reason why the mayor had somewhat forcefully invited Goose. "So, so, I''d like to see the watch in motion. As if to divert the conversation, Goose states his purpose as the representative of the group, but it goes without saying. "Oh, sure. Here." Jin pointed to the top of the table. "Just take a look at it, okay?" He reminded him. The mini-craftsman (Smith) is temporarily out of sight. "Well, he''s moving!" Goose looks on sullenly, "I''ve never seen ...... before. Interesting." Elsa is intrigued by the clock, which she has never seen before, even though she knows about it, "Wow, this is a clock. It''s an amazing thing that can measure down to the nearest second. Saki was impressed by the use of the clock. "Does this one have an escapement, too?" Hannah then said something that exceeded Jin''s expectations. < Using the isochronism of the pendulum, a gear wheel (or more precisely, a escapement wheel) is fed by two pawls, called , attached to the pendulum, which in turn send the wheels forward at a constant speed. In the case of a wristwatch, instead of a pendulum, a component called a <>, which performs a reciprocating rotary movement called a <>, performs the same function. These explanations and simple drawings were included in the that Hanna had seen in the village of Romne, and her comprehension was astonishing. "That''s amazing Hanna. You are a genius. ......" Jin really wanted to develop Hanna''s talent. 915 - - 26-35 New Clues The next morning. The next morning, the time was measured to be approximately 12 hours, and it was found that one hour in the Ars world is 1.02 times as long as that of the earth. Assuming, of course, that he was not crazy. "Then it is within the margin of error. I was originally more concerned about whether the watch could be used in Ars than about the time difference from the earth. The difference between the day and the month on mechanical watches can be as small as 30 seconds, and most of them can be adjusted plus or minus a minute or so. We can adjust that part a little wider. Since this is a 12-hour watch, half a day = 43200 seconds. Multiplying by 0.02 gives 864 seconds. "So we can delay the time by 864 seconds per half day." Jin thought that he would have to leave it to the old man and the mini-craftsman (Smith) to adjust the speed regulator and find the optimum value. "Brother Jin, let''s go to breakfast. Elsa came to call him this morning. Jin took the box containing his watch and went to the cafeteria. Good morning, Mr. Nidou. I hope you all had a good night''s rest. Fadon was waiting for him in the cafeteria. There was a girl sitting next to Goose. Her name is Nalie, and she is a quiet girl. She was still silently following Goose. "Good morning. Your watch is fixed. Seeing Fadon, who probably would not have eaten if he had not given this to him, Jin held out the watch box he had brought. "Oh ......!" The cracked glass had been fixed by <, and the dull case was now shining with the luster characteristic of chrome plating. "Thank you!" Fadon''s joy was a joy to behold. "Well, you are so excited like a child. You''re in front of our guests and ......." From the side, someone who seemed to be his wife rebuked Fadon for his exuberance. "My wife, Fradecchi, is ....... Despite her occasional accent, Phrede was a small, vivacious woman. She and Fadon make a perfect couple. Nalie, standing next to Goose, is also smiling. "Well, please enjoy your meal ...... while it''s still cold. "Yes, please eat ...... what''s this?" "What is ......?" "What''s this, girl?" Saki and Erza looked at each other and Hannah asked Jin about the food. "Oh, it''s <>!" "Natto?" Yes, it was indeed natto. Jin was convinced that they should be able to make natto, since they had round soybeans and rice straw. Soy sauce and spices were also prepared, and Jin happily ate the natto before the eyes of the three who were hesitant to try it. "Jin, can you eat it? "It''s a little stringy, but..." "Onii-chan, won''t it upset your stomach?" "Ha-ha-ha, this is food. It won''t upset your stomach. It''s even good for you." Guth, like Jin, had started to eat natto on rice. Nally, who was sitting next to him, also began to eat without saying a word. "It might be hard for those who are not used to it, don''t force yourself. Hanna shook her head. "I''ll try it." Then, following Jin''s lead, she stirred it with her chopsticks, dribbled some hot pepper and soy sauce on it, and stirred it some more. "The ...... threads are amazing!" Hanna puts 5 or 6 pieces in her mouth with her eyes closed, muttering something like that. And then. "...... Oh, it''s delicious." "What?" "Hannah, is it good?" Elsa and Saki look at Hannah with surprised faces. "Yes, it''s surprisingly delicious! "Yes, it is. "I''ll try it." The two begin to eat with trepidation. "Can I have another one? "I''ll have another one too." Beside them, Jin and Goose are having another bowl of rice. * * * * "...... not bad, but a little bit bad." "Well, it was easier to eat than I thought it would be." "Yeah?It was delicious." After the meal, the two men share their impressions of natto over a cup of tea. "I missed it! Jin was happy to enjoy the taste of the earth after a long time. "I heard that this natto was also passed down by a wise man (Mags). It is said that Magus himself didn''t like natto very much, so it is a food that is not for everyone''s liking. Guth then gave me an interesting piece of information. "Thank you, Mr. Nido!" Fadon, who seemed to have calmed down, came over. < to is a sign of gratitude. "No problem. Oh, and turn the crown to wind the spring ...... power, but be careful not to wind it too much or the spring will break again. "Yes, of course. If I know it''s fixed, I won''t move it! Fadon says that he is very satisfied with the fact that the heirloom, which has been handed down from generation to generation, has been restored to its former glory. In fact, it would be easier to keep the watch in good condition if it were moved, but since he treats it as a family heirloom rather than a clock, it is what it is. Fadon also shared some interesting information with us. "I will tell you something, Mr. Nido. ......In fact, my family has a that we seldom confide in each other. It is called ......<>." Yamauchi? No, it''s Yamachi. Despite the correction, Jin could not help but think that <> was <. When someone mentions Yamauchi, Jin immediately thinks of Kazutoyo Yamauchi. He was a feudal lord of the Tosa domain in the early Edo period. Jin had heard the name from a TV drama. "In Fuso, we don''t often say our <. We only tell people we are close to or recognize. Guth explained to Jin. It is an unusual practice. It must be difficult to distinguish between people, Jin thought. "I usually take my mother''s surname, <>, because of my father''s influence." "Hmm. ......" Aside from the customary custom, Jin kept in mind that this was also a fragment of a clue from the wise man (Magus). "Nido-sama, can you read this?" Fadon brought a small flat box. He thought it was another relic, but it was not. "It seems to be a letter ...... written by a wise man (Magus) or someone related to him, but no one can read it. In the opened box was a tattered piece of leathery paper that had been eaten by insects. "......Fuso Dong, I left Mount Fu*s* and came here to **. The same person is **** and ****......" It was difficult to read because it had been eaten and grazed by insects, but it was unmistakably Japanese. "So you can read it!After all, Nido-sama is definitely in the same country as the wise man (Magus)!" "...... What''s this?" "This has been handed down from generation to generation. It was not given to him by Magus, but it seems to be a scribbled copy. Jin thought that it might be a kind of road diary. "Fuso," he said, "must be this country. Fuso, I guess it''s this country. ....... I can''t read it because it is eaten by insects, but I guess it is a mountain in the east of Fuso. Jin concluded his explanation by saying, "I guess the rest is just a who''s who of his companions, but since the original seems to be a scribble, I don''t think we can expect much more to come of it. "Hmmm ....... Mount Funisys, maybe?" Goose interjected from the side. "It''s over 200 kilometers east of Fusor, north of the Hariri Desert. It''s also the western edge of the Kruger Mountains. ......" Goose said he had no idea where else to look. 916 - - 26-36 To a new destination "Over 200 kilometers ....... That''s quite a distance." However, if it''s just the distance, it''s possible to get there with a car. "Brother Jin, are you going?" Erza asks, looking at Jin''s face after returning to the room. "Yeah, I was just wondering what I should do..." It has been almost three weeks since the trip began. By now, the data on the spaceships in Horai Island should be available. On the other hand, I feel that we are getting closer to the mystery of Magus. Should we go to Dachte or to Mount Funisys? Although it is just a hunch, Jin has a feeling that there is something in Mount Funisys. "Kuhu, your face looks like you can''t wait to go there. Saki also noticed this and said something like that. "If you want to go, I''ll go with you anywhere. Hannah said so too. "Okay, let''s go. ...... <. The terrain should be relatively gentle, with grasslands, bushes, and small forests. Once that is determined, it is a matter of time. Jin told Fadon that he would set off for Mount Funisys. "I see, to Mount Funisys. ...... "Yes. We have food and water, and we can get there in two days by car. In fact, the distance is not much different from Inno to Ulun, depending more on the conditions of the ground than on the road ....... "I''m sorry to see you go, but in that case I can''t force you to stay." Fadon looked disappointed, but Jin couldn''t help but look for any clues he could find. "...... understands. So, you are leaving today?" "Yes, hopefully." "...... soon?" Yes, I''ve already packed my bags. "...... you have some preparations to do, why don''t you do it tomorrow?" No, I have everything I need. ...... there is no way. "I know. I know. I''ve managed in the past and I will continue to manage in the future. "......" Hwadong, realizing that nothing he could say would likely change Jin''s mind, sighed heavily. "I see. I''m sorry to leave you, but ......" Hwadong must have meant what he said when he said < twice. * * * * Meanwhile, as Erza and the others were packing their baggage, Goose arrived. "Hey, will you take me with you?" "Hey, will you take me with you?Hey, will you take me with you? Saki looked up and answered. "Yes. I''m interested in unknown places, and you guys are going back to your country, right?" "Well, I won''t know for sure until I check with Jin, but that''s probably what we''ll do, isn''t it?" "Well, I''d have to check with Jin, but I''m sure that''s the plan.I want to see the land ...... where my father was born and raised!" Then Jin came back. And he said. "Okay." Goose was surprised at Jin''s easy acceptance. "Are you sure about ......?" "Yes. I can rely on Goose''s knowledge. "...... is that okay?" For the second time <<< are you sure? >>is what he says to Saki, Erza, and the others. "Yes, I don''t mind if you do, Jin. Besides, Goose knows his stuff." Saki was the first to affirm, "Hmmm... If Jin says so." Erza immediately nodded. "Are you coming too, Uncle?It''s going to be lively. Hannah nodded with a look that said there was nothing wrong with that. "Thank you, everyone! Guth bowed to all of them. * * * * At 9:00 a.m., Jin and the others are getting ready and greeting Hwadong. "Thank you very much for your help. Thank you very much for your help and valuable information. When Jin thanked Hwa-dong for his hospitality, No problem. I am also grateful to you for fixing my wristwatch," Hwadong replies. Hwadon replies. "Take care, everyone." Fadong''s wife, Phrede, also looks sad to see him go. But it was his granddaughter Nalie who looked the most regretful. She hugged Goose with tears in her eyes. "Nalie, I''ll be back. Don''t look at me like that." Goose stroked Nalie''s head with a troubled look on his face. "Guth, take care of yourself. Don''t give Nidou-sama any trouble. Yes, I''m off." And off they went. "...... Hey Goose, what''s your position?" Saki asks in the car. He felt that Goose was somehow floating in the town of Nad, which he called home. "What?Why?" "No, why, I mean, ...... sorry." "What are you apologizing for?" Goose looked at Saki suspiciously as she suddenly apologized. "I feel like I asked you something I shouldn''t have asked you? "Haha, no, I don''t think so. It''s just, I''m kind of in the middle of things. ...... Halfway? "Halfway?" "Yeah. Somehow I don''t fit in ...... with the town of Nad, or should I say, the country of Fusor." Guth let out a self-mocking laugh. "As I told you, my mother is from Fusor, but my father is from the same country as yours. Maybe that''s why I don''t fit in in Fuso. "Okay, I understand. I''m sorry for asking such a strange question. Saki panicked. He had not expected to hear such a personal story from Goose. "No, it''s okay. It''s a good opportunity. ...... Hey, Jin." "...... what''s up?" In the cramped car, Jin had heard everything that had been said. "Would your country accept someone like me?" "What?That''s not exile ......, is it naturalization ......?Do you mean naturalization? "Yes, that''s what it would be. "No problem, I guess." Elsa answered Guth''s question. "In the Shoro Kingdom, talented people are always welcome. Mr. Goose, I am sure of it. "I see. ...... but does that mean that you will have to make a certain amount of achievements after becoming a naturalized citizen?" "That''s ...... not so much." Elsa doesn''t know that much either, so she hesitates to say. "I think it will be fine. More or less, a citizen has to do his duty, and I think Goose can do it with ease. It would be enough to study what you like and report the results, Jin said. "What you like, huh? I''m a naturalist, you know. "Then you should classify and systematically divide the plants, animals, minerals, and such of this continent. This is Saki. "My father is working on such a project, but it doesn''t seem to be going very well. "Oh, I see. Oh, Mr. Toa, is it? I remember my father told me about it too. You''re an alchemist, aren''t you?" Goose''s father, Mark, like Saki''s father, Tor, was interested in and collected various materials. He wandered around the Hariri Desert and ended up at the edge of Huso. "Yes, that''s right. I''m ashamed to say that we seem to be behind you in the <> department. We are behind in that the study equivalent to science is called . This is a reaction to the development of magic. "I see. Then, even a half-wit like me might be able to be of some use. "You''re not just half a man, you''re on the front lines. I can assure you of that. "Ha, thank you, Mister Saki." Goose smiled brightly. 917 - - 26-37 Belces birthday That day we went as far as we could and set up camp. We still had the tent on the roof, so we used it, and it didn''t look like it would rain, so we were quite comfortable. We thought we would go as far as we could on the second day. "...... Oh, my tires are falling apart." The Gutta Perhia tires, which had been made and installed at the Miyako factory, were reaching their limits. The tires were too thin, but they had been driven over rough roads with heavy loads. "Let''s just take off the rubber tires." Jin reflected on the need to cover the outside of the tires with some sort of hexenbiest leather or something. However, he is not at the stage of divulging such details to Goose yet. "......The microvibrations are different after all." When the rubber tires are removed and the original wooden wheels are used, the vibration is still felt. In particular, the slight ups and downs caused by the fine gravel cannot be eliminated, so it is inevitable that the running speed drops to about two thirds. We thought we could reach Mount Funisys in two days, but we would have to spend one more night there. "By the way, father, today is Mr. Bertsche''s birthday, how would you like to celebrate? Reiko told us as we finished setting up the tent. April 22nd was Bertsche''s birthday. "Oh ...... I see." Ever since he had stood up for Hannah''s birthday, Jin had been paying attention to such anniversaries of the <>. "I have a present in mind. ......" Jin has been preparing for such an eventuality for some time. "The problem is timing. ...... There is the time difference, but there is also the fact that Goose doesn''t want to know yet. In terms of the time difference, there is no more than an hour and a half between Reinhardt''s territory and this area. Shall we take turns? "Yes." After discussing the matter with Elsa in the car, Jin decided to take some time to be alone, under the guise of <><>. First, Jin. Reiko stood guard in front of the car, and Jin moved to Horai Island using the small warp gate provided. < "I''m home. ......My Lord, have you made them yet?" "Thank you very much. Please inform the miniature craftsmen. Yes, Jin has copied a . The mechanical part of the watch, called the movement, to be precise. Even if this movement is the same, changing the design of the dial or the material and design of the case can give it a completely different appearance. "Oh, this is nice. The gift is a wristwatch made in the style of a pocket watch. As the old man said, there are enough for all the members of the Jin family. The first gift is for Bertsche. Most of the parts are made of light silver, so it is lighter than the original watch. The only thing that has not been changed is the balance. Without a certain amount of weight, the balance cannot function as an escapement and its period will change. The case is made slightly larger to make it easier to read as a pocket watch. Since it is a gift to Berthe, the surface color of light silver is scarlet. The chain is mithril silver. The chain is mithril silver. "All right, I''m off!" After changing his clothes in a hurry, Jin used the warp gate and moved to the village of Kurtz, <>. He exits the basement where the warp gate is located and heads for the dining hall. Reinhardt was waiting for him at the entrance. "Hey Jin, long time no see. I know you must be busy, but thank you for coming all the way here today. "No, it''s the birthday of Reinhardt''s wife and a member of the Jin family. "Ha ha, I''m really sorry." Jin and Reinhardt go to the cafeteria. "Well, Jin-sama, welcome to the party!" "Happy birthday, Bertsch! Your belly isn''t noticeable yet. "Yes, I''m about 4 months pregnant." "I''m glad you''re feeling better." "Thanks to you." After exchanging such light conversation, Jin presented his gift to her. "I hope you like it." "Well, what is it?" Bertsche opened the wrapping. Reinhardt peeks in with interest. "......Well, what''s this?" "...... Gin, could this be a watch? "Yes." The design omits only the second hand. It''s called a 12-hour counter. ...... I will briefly explain how to see it. Both Reinhard and Bertsche understood immediately. "When in the world did you make this?" Jin then gave a brief description of his current trip to the town of Hus?, Nad. "I see, I''d like to visit ...... such a relic in such a place. "You can''t, you''re too busy, you know?" "I know, I know. ...... Reinhardt wants to go, and Bertsche gives him a warning. "Haha, I''m glad to see you guys are still getting along so well." Jin decides to leave because he is anxious about the time. "Well then, I''m going home for today since I''m anxious about the other side too. Jin-sama, thank you very much for taking the trouble to see me today. Jin, thank you so much. Take care on your trip. Jin then returns to Horai Island. < "I see, thank you." It had taken about half an hour for some reason, so the old man had no excuse but to wipe his body and change his clothes, which was a tactful move on his part. In the case of Fusoh, Jin''s came out of the car in less than 10 minutes, and then the women changed their clothes one after another. When Jin changed his clothes again and returned to the car, there was no one there and it was pitch dark outside. However, the inside of the tent was brightly lit, indicating that everyone was there. "Father!" But only Reiko was waiting outside the car for Jin. "Welcome back. I''m calling for the substitute doll now. Reiko understood what Jin did not say. As soon as Jin entered the tent with the double, Elsa came up to him. Did it go well?) (Did it go well?) Yes. I gave her my congratulations.) "Oh, Jin, I''m so glad.) "Hey, Jin, stop flirting with your fiance and come over here!" I saw that wine had been served before I knew it and everyone was drinking it. (We are only a little tipsy from the detoxification effect of the bracelets. (We are only slightly drunk due to the detoxification effect of the bracelets.) Oh, I see.) When Goose is sober, Elsa and Saki are going to sneak off to Berche to congratulate him. "Yeah, I''m coming." Jin is obliged to cooperate with them. He offers Goose a glass of wine to help him get drunk. "This wine is delicious! He told me that the northern part of Fousseau does not produce good grapes, so the wine is not well distributed. Guth was quite a drunkard, but he was no match for Jin, who possessed a magical tool for detoxification, and within half an hour or so he was drunk and asleep. Since Hannah was already asleep in the car, Elsa and Saki were able to celebrate Bertsche''s birthday without any worries. 918 - - 26-38 Hunis Mountain "Ugh ...... my head hurts ......" April 23. With Goose''s head still aching from his hangover, the car headed for Mount Funisys. The shaking of the car also seemed to be affecting his head, so Elsa cast a healing spell on Goose. "<>" It was an elementary treatment, but Goose seemed to be much better afterwards, and he was very grateful to Elsa. "Erza-dono!Thanks to you!" Saki watches from the side. Hannah is absorbed in looking out the window. We have been going on like this for about five hours. "So that''s Mount Funisys. ......" In the late afternoon, the majesty of Mount Funisys came closer to us. "That''s an amazing mountain. ......" It must be about 5,000 meters high. Halfway up, it was covered with a blanket of white snow. "Well, are there any clues?" From the looks of it, there seems to be nothing man-made around it. "It''s over a thousand years old. ......" Goose also seemed somewhat disheartened. Certainly, the observations of the <> indicate that there are no man-made structures in this area. "So, it might be underground. Knowing that many archaeological sites are built underground, Jin thought that this was a strong possibility. "The base of the 600012 was also underground in the mountains." Jin first asked Reiko to use the Magi Detector to check for reactions. "Yes, Father." The Magi Detector built into Reiko works on the same principle as the Magi Radar, but while it can tell the direction, it is not accurate enough to determine the distance. To compensate for this shortcoming, Reiko moved around and searched her surroundings. Fifteen minutes passed, and Reiko returned. "Father, there is something in that direction. Reiko pointed in that direction, at the foot of Mount Funisys. "I measured it at three points, and I think it''s about five meters below the ground. "Well, what''s down there?" Goose asked in high spirits, but Reiko simply brushed him off. I can''t tell from here. It''s just something that emits magic. "Hmmm... ......" Jin thought about what he should do. "We should get a little closer and set up a tent for our base. He decides to take precautions, not knowing what to expect. He parks the car about 200 meters away from where Reiko says , sets up the tent, and has Edgar and Aal ready to put up a barrier at any time. Hannah, Saki and Erza stay in the tent. Jin and Reiko go to investigate. Goose, who has no way to protect himself, is on standby. "I''d like you to wait in the tent, too, father. Reiko says, concerned about Jin, but he shakes his head. "Why don''t you go yourself if you think you can find something? I''m wearing my guard ring and bracelet. ......<> can create a barrier not only for the wearer, but also for any signal from the old man. "Even the old man says he doesn''t want your father to do anything dangerous." "I know that. ......" As for Jin, he is grateful for their concern for him. However, it is also true that I often think they are a little too overprotective. It is understandable that Jin would like to be the first one to discover the disease once in a while. Especially if it is an opportunity like this where the risk is relatively low. "Here it is." Reiko pointed at her feet. "Hmmm... the ground looks the same as usual..." There doesn''t seem to be a way in or out. So Jin decides to search with his magic. "<>......? "Father, did you find it?" "......, it seems. There is a hollow in the basement." Reiko''s search was so accurate, though she did not expect to find it so soon. "<><><>......" Jin decided to dig the hole little by little. "Oh ......?" As Reiko had said, after removing about 5 meters of earth, what looked like a stone ceiling came into view. "Almost there. " After about 10 minutes, the soil was removed, exposing the entire ceiling. "Was it originally an underground facility?" There was a doorway attached to what appeared to be the ceiling or roof. It seemed that dirt had piled up on top of the ceiling. "Father, I will go alone from here on. Reiko checked first because she didn''t know what was there. "...... understand." Reiko would not budge on this, so Jin decided to leave it to her. Then, father, please go back to the tent. You can use the guard ring there ......." "Okay, okay. I''ll be waiting for you with a barrier. You will do that, won''t you?I''ll be waiting for you. Reiko confirmed that Jin had arrived at the tent, put her hand on what looked like the handle of the doorway, and lifted it up. It was a little stiff, but with Reiko''s strength, it opened without any problem. From there, Reiko went inside. She entered the room. About 15 minutes passed. None of the members of Jin''s group spoke, curious as to what was going on. "...... are you late, Reiko?" Jin couldn''t stand it any longer and blurted out. "Brother Jin, there." Erza pointed in the direction of Reiko, who was waving her hand. Everyone saw that and ran for it. After closing the distance of 200 meters in no time, they stopped to listen to Reiko''s explanation. "Father, it is completely empty and there is no danger inside. Reiko''s expression seemed to darken slightly as she said this. "Please go to ...... and see for yourself if you can." "Yeah?I see. Jin was surprised by Reiko''s unexpected words, but his curiosity got the better of him and he headed for the open entrance. There was a staircase, dimly lit. When Jin stepped onto the stairs, Reiko immediately followed him. After them were Elsa, Edgar, Hannah, Saki, and Aaru. The leader of the group was Goose. "Everyone, please be quiet. Reiko reminded everyone. We arrived at a room about eight tatami mats in size. The walls and ceiling were made of stone. It was dimly lit by a single magic lamp. The rest of the room was empty. "Father, look at that..." Reiko whispered to Jin. It was the front wall. She pointed to a spot where the words had almost disappeared. Indeed, the word "Adriana" could be read. 919 - - 26-39 Adriana "<>...... and the rest is too faint to read?" Jin went closer to check the letters, but was unable to read them. "I wonder if your predecessors have been here before?Reiko, do you know? "No, I don''t think so. "I see, Reiko doesn''t know either. ......" And then... "<>?I''ve heard a legend that there was a woman with that name near <>. Goose whispered, but excitedly. "A connection between the wise man (Magus) and Adriana? ...... No, but first, Goose, tell me what you know about Adriana." Jin bit his navel as he realized that he had been so preoccupied with the wise men (mags) that he had not heard anything about their predecessors since he had come to Mitzvah and Huso. "No, so it''s just that there was a woman by <> with that name. ......" Jin was disappointed, however, as Goose seemed to know little useful information. "Father, would you like to proceed?" Reiko called out to Jin, who was deep in thought. "Ah, yes. Let''s go ahead. "This way, then. The air is clean, so don''t worry. There was a door next to the wall with Adriana''s name on it. Reiko opens it gently and quietly, without making a sound, and leads Jin through. Jin and the rest of the group followed solemnly, without saying a word. "This is ......." The place looked like a neat and tidy living room. "I guess this is the living room. Reiko said in a small voice. The air here is very clean. There seems to be almost no dust. Indeed, there is no dust in the air, even though it has been here for a thousand years. "Besides, it looks like there''s someone here to clean it." "What?" This time Reiko pointed to a corner of the room. There was a doll about Reiko''s size holding a broom and a whacker. "It''s not much of an automata (automata)......, but it seems to be cleaning the room on a regular basis." "Hmmm." The automaton has spent a thousand years in this room, the materials used must have been carefully selected. "It would not have been degraded by ultraviolet rays. Jin mutters to himself. The Reiko in front of Jin now has been broken at the end of her 1000 years of existence. "There is something deeper..." Reiko led Jin deeper into the house. The door at the front end of the living room opened into a hallway. "It''s at the end of the hallway. Reiko seemed to know that there was no danger, and she led Jin deeper and deeper into the hallway. "This way, sir." Reiko opened the door and Jin stepped in without hesitation. "Oh ......" The room looked like a study. A desk made of metal and wood sat in the center of the room with what appeared to be a vase on top of it. There was no trace of the flowers that must have been arranged there. "There was a book on the bookshelf with a name written on it. And it said...? "...... Yes, it had your mother''s name on it." "I see. ......" There seems to be no doubt that Adriana has lived here before. However, Jin could not help feeling a little uncomfortable. "...... Hey, Reiko." In order to clarify this feeling of discomfort, Jin decides to talk with Reiko. "Yes, father. "Do you think your father was here?" There is no reserve between Jin and Reiko, in the best sense of the word. Jin directly asked Reiko the question he felt. "...... Yes. I can''t ...... say for sure, but I feel something different." "I see. I knew it. Does your father know? No, I don''t know. But I can tell you this. But I can tell you this... there''s not a trace of the previous generation in this place. Reiko understood what the discomfort was, and her doubts were confirmed. "Yes, there is no ...... scent of your mother here!" "Right." Jin gently opened the drawer of the desk in the center of the study. There was a book in it. "A book. That reminds me. The day Jin was first summoned to this world of Ars and awakened. In other words... the day he became the successor to the Magecraft Meister. "When I opened the book filled with the knowledge of my predecessor, I found ......." The contents of that book became knowledge that avalancheed into Jin''s mind. But the book in front of Jin''s eyes now is not like that. "Is it an academic book ......?" It appeared to be a handwritten academic book. "It describes the technology of ...... back in the old days." Jin flipped through it. It was made of a tough leather paper, which seemed to be the leather of a magical beast, and it was of a quality that would have lasted for a thousand years. "...... hmm?" The name <> was found here and there. It was mentioned that the technology described there had been perfected with the help of <>. "I wonder if it was Adriana who wrote it?" There was no mention of the author. So Jin put the book on his desk. It was an old book and he was afraid that it might fall apart if he handled it too roughly. "Reiko, is there anything else in the room that might give us a clue?" "Yes, there is. Yes, there is. ...... It was the next room connected by a door. "Is this ...... the guest room?" No wonder Jin felt intuitively that this was the guest room. There was no sign of life in the room, although there were some luggage. "There are books here, too. They are thin. It looked more like a notebook than a book. It was also made of leather paper. Jin gently picked it up and opened it. "...... what? Jin shouted out loud at the contents of the book. Hearing this, Erza and the others, who had been quiet until then, jumped in. "Jin, what''s wrong? Jin, what on earth did you find? What happened, Onii-chan? Jin, tell me what you found. Jin nodded slowly as the others asked him. "Yeah. It''s nothing to keep secret. It''s just that I was a little surprised. Jin then slowly said what was written on the back page of the book. <> 920 - - 01 Meeting of Fate In 1963, Tokyo was being developed for the upcoming Olympic Games. The city had just entered a period of rapid economic growth. The town was changing its appearance day by day. A young man was packing at a boarding house in Kougai-cho, M-ku, Tokyo. "It''s a bit of a waste, but I don''t think I''ll use it in the medical school. The object was an academic book. "Let''s see, General History of Technology, Compendium of Mechanics, Elementary Organic Chemistry, Sequences and Matrices, Basic Mathematics, Introduction to Mechanics, Introduction to Structural Mechanics, Materials Science, and Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. ......." And then string them together. "...... something like that. I don''t know how much it will cost. Oh, I''ll take these magazines too." Talking to himself, the young man finished packing. He wraps them in a furoshiki cloth and stands up, carrying them with him. There was a bicycle in front of the lodge. "Landlord, can I borrow your bicycle for a moment? When the young man called out to her, a middle-aged woman looked out of the window. "Oh, you must be Tsutsui-san. Are you going somewhere?" To this question, the young man called Tsutsui replied. "Yes. I was thinking of taking some books I no longer use to a used bookstore. "A used bookstore, you mean ...... ah, the bookstore on the other side of the Kasumi-cho intersection." Yes, that''s right. You''re a doctor now, aren''t you? Yes, so I''ve got a lot on my plate. Okay. I''ll make you lunch when I get back.I''ll make some cold noodles and wait for you. "Thank you very much." Tsutsui started pedaling his bicycle. He pedaled his bicycle along the foot of the huge park cemetery at the foot of Mount A in M-ku, Tokyo. "This place has been developed so much. ......" The streets have become much easier to ride since the asphalt was paved. "Now, I wonder how much it will cost. At the university he attended, the first and second years were the basic education course, in which students were required to study a wide range of subjects regardless of their department. After the third year, he attended the Faculty of Medicine in S-Cho for four years. He, Shuki Tsutsui, graduated from the School of Medicine this spring and became an intern. He was going to sell some academic books (textbooks) to a used book store as he was not going to need them to further concentrate on medicine. I went out from Kougai-cho to Ura-dori (back street). Even though it is a back street, the street is much wider due to the construction work started last year. It will be called in the near future. Until then, it was a narrow road that passed by a cemetery and barely accommodated one car. At night, even if you asked for a cab, it would only take you as far as the front of the street, which was a lonely place. If you go along the new street and turn right at the intersection under the cemetery, you will soon come to the intersection of Kasumi-cho. As a side note, the name "Kasumi-cho" is easily confused with "Kasumigaoka Danchi" which was built around this time, and cab drivers often made a mistake. The young man was pedaling his bicycle toward the Kasumi-cho intersection. Right next to the Kasumi-cho intersection, there is a streetcar line. It is called "Line 7," which connects Shinagawa Station and Yotsuya-Sanchome, and is the same line that Tsutsui Seinen uses to go to the medical school. As he approached the intersection, he pulled his bicycle a little toward the streetcar in order to turn right. With a roar, the streetcar came crashing down on top of the young man. The cause of the collision was that a truck, ignoring the traffic signal, came running out of control from the upper right slope and slammed into the side of the streetcar. Before he had time to scream, Tsutsui''s consciousness was completely blacked out. * * * * "......" Tsutsui regained consciousness. He was surprised to find himself still alive, and wondered why nothing in his body hurt. He gently opens his eyes and finds himself in a room he has never seen before, rather than in a strange ceiling ....... It is not the familiar ceiling panels of a boarding house, nor the dull concrete ceiling of a medical school. "What the ...... hell is this place?" I sit up, hoping that my body doesn''t hurt. What he was lying on was a bed. The bed was not covered with a sheet, but with short animal fur. He gets up and looks around the room. There is no window. The room is furnished with what is called a sideboard, which Tsutsui thinks is strange for a hospital room. Looking at his body, he finds that he is wearing only his underwear. His clothes were placed on a small table by the bed. ....... "...... are in tatters." His shirt and pants were torn and ripped in some places. I looked at my underwear again, and found that they were also very damaged. "There''s no blood on it. ...... but I guess this devastation means it wasn''t a dream after all. ......" I shudder as I think of the tram that came crashing down on top of me. Just then, the door opened. "**,?" It was a woman who walked in, uttering unfamiliar words. She was probably in her late teens. Her long, bright golden hair was tied carelessly behind her head. Her eyes were emerald green. She has a few freckles on the bridge of her nose. She is a little taller than 5''5". She is small in stature. "Well, did you help me?" "**?!" "Kyanyusupi kuinguurikshu?" "**. . ?" "Kanstudu duduichuushupurehiyun?" "?**," It seems that Japanese, English, and German are not understood. Tsutsui was at a loss. At that moment. "<>!" A woman seemed to chant something. !!!!" Immediately after that, a huge amount of information flowed into Tsutsui''s brain. It was knowledge about the languages of this world. "Did the magic of ......< work?Do you understand me?" "......Ah, ah. I understand. Just give me a few more hours." Tsutsui, who had been overwhelmed by the headache-inducing volume of information, felt that with time the knowledge had taken hold and become his own. At the same time, however, the term "send-info" magic caught his attention. He was astonished by the fact that it was possible to give knowledge of another language in a very short period of time. However, Tsutsui managed to suppress his curiosity. "......Well, I''ve calmed down. ...... um, is this the right language?" He tried to speak the language he had just learned. It was a language that sounded more like German than Japanese. "My name is Shuki Tsutsui. What is yours?" "Shuki Tsutsui?That''s a strange name. My name is Adriana. Is it correct that your name is Shuki Tsutsui? "Yes, if that''s what you mean, my name is Shuki. If that''s what you mean, then my name is Shuki. Shuki Tutuj. What''s that?......Tsutsui......Tsutsui......Tsutsui......Tsutsui......Tsetsi ...... Well, it''s hard to call you, so can I call you Shuki?" "Yes, please." "Yes, please. You can also call me Adriana. So, Shuki, who are you? This is a question that suddenly strikes at the heart of the matter, but even Shuki, Tsutsui Seinen...... does not know the answer to it. I am a Japanese medical student. I will be 25 this year." That was all he could say. "Nihonjin?Igakusei?What''s that?" I knew he didn''t understand me. Shuki explained himself in detail once again. 921 - - 02 The Goddess of Mercy "Well, you were involved in an accident and found yourself here." Shuki Tsutsui...... introduced himself, and Adriana thought for a moment. Then Shuki asked her a further question. I should have been seriously injured, but what about it?Did you take care of me? "Oh, yes, I didn''t tell you about the time you came here. You showed up here ...... two days ago out of the blue in the basement of my lab." "What?" Shuki was about to say something when Adriana interrupted him. "Wait a minute, let me explain everything. ...... I am currently studying <> and >. And there is a singularity right under here. So it''s perfect for research." As expected, Shuki could no longer remain silent. "I''m sorry, but I just want to say something. I have never heard of or seen < except in fairy tales." "What ......?" Adriana was surprised by this information. "Let''s get some information straight, shall we? "Yes, I agree. So, Adriana started off by explaining everything. I am Adriana. I am a mage. A mage is a person who can use advanced magic. Those who can only use elementary magic are simply called . "Yes." Shuki wanted to say something, but he just kept his mouth shut and listened to the conversation. "So, many mages are studying to develop their own areas of expertise. I''m studying the things I mentioned earlier about and ." "I told you that this land is rich in free magical element (ether), didn''t I?This is convenient, since it is believed that the free magical element (ether) has a close relationship with the state of space." At this Adriana cut off her speech and coughed deliberately. "Well, this seems to be floating in a larger world. Like bubbles in water. That bubble is this . "......" This was a theory that even Shuki could not fully understand. He was a realist, for better or worse, and had never read much science fiction. The only thing he knew about was a robot from a TV cartoon (not an anime at that time) that started in January of the same year in Japan where Shuki was living. And there was no way for a student to afford a TV set. I have only seen it a few times in my landlord''s room with his son, who is now in the second grade of elementary school. However, I was interested in it because the author is a cartoonist and a doctor of medicine at the same time. But let''s not dwell on the subject. Adriana''s explanation continues. "Bubbles in water sometimes stick together, don''t they?In the same way, it seems that separate worlds can sometimes stick together and then separate again. Adriana explained that in the case of bubbles, once they are attached they never leave, but in the case of worlds, the boundaries are reasonably strong, so they can leave without ever being attached. "In your ...... case, Shuki, I think you got caught up in that, didn''t you?" "Well,...... I have no idea what you mean. I don''t know if it''s right or wrong, or even if the analogy is even remotely appropriate." "So ....... Yes, you''re right. You said that there is no magic in your world. But ......" Adriana was about to say something, but thought of something else. "Well, if you don''t mind, may I examine your body with magic?" "What?" "You see, I told you that it is normal for you to be injured.I might be able to find out something about that, or whether your body is made differently from ours. "......" After a few moments of hesitation, Shuki nodded. "Okay, but you''re not going to cut ...... off, are you?" Adriana was surprised. "What do you mean, ''cut''?I don''t have that kind of taste!I said, by magic, by magic!" So, with Shuki''s agreement, Adriana uses magic to find out. "<>......<>......" After repeating several times, Adriana sighed. "......Thank you, Shuki. I didn''t see any difference between you and us as creatures. At least I didn''t." Adriana broke off at that point, but then said something surprising. "You said that there is no magic in this world. But your body is almost entirely made of magic, isn''t it? "What?" I can feel magic in your head, face, torso, limbs, almost everything. ...... Don''t ask me why?I don''t believe it either." "......" Shuki pondered. As a doctor ...... no, as a medical student, even if it was a streetcar, what would happen to me when I was supposed to be crushed by the train''s body. Suddenly, he looked at his left wrist and found his watch was gone. I am further reminded of this. "What happened to the watch that was supposed to be on my left hand?And did you find a bicycle or a book with it?" To this question Adriana immediately answered. "I don''t know what the udedokei or the jitensha is, but I have the package with the book in it. I don''t know what it is, but there is a package with a book in it, and some kind of weird metal skeleton with two distorted rings on it. And the thing that was on his arm is on the table. I looked closer and found a wristwatch under his tattered shirt. "...... is broken." The glass was cracked and the watch had stopped. He wound the mainspring, but it did not start moving, so he assumed it had been broken by the shock. "The book was dirty, but it''s over there." Adriana pointed to the next room. "I see. ...... and the bicycles?" They are still in the deepest basement. Then show me later. Shuki was a little relieved to know that all his belongings from that time had come here. "But then, I could have died, couldn''t I? "What?What do you mean?" Shuki then explained in detail what had happened just before he lost consciousness. Adriana was surprised to hear the details, since he had only said that he had been involved in an accident in his initial explanation. What is that?You were trapped under a huge iron box!You won''t survive, normally!" Then she thought about it. "...... could it be that when you cross the world, the magical element compensates for the broken parts......?But is that really ...... possible?" After mumbling, he turned to Shuki once more and began to explain. "You know, my master''s master said that the world is floating in something with higher magical power than free magical element (ether), and he proposed a theory that something must happen when we cross the world.... ..." "You''re saying that this compensates for the missing body?" "That''s all you can think of, isn''t it?" "Well, ...... I''m sorry, but I can''t say." "Well, you''re right. It''s not like I have any memory of that time." At this point Adriana suddenly remembered and clasped her palms together. "Oh, I''m sorry!You are hungry, aren''t you?I''ll make you dinner right away!" She then rushes out of the room. Shuki, who was left alone, lay down on the bed again, trying to think over what he had just heard. Why did I think I was in another world?(Why did I think I was in another world? It could have been some faraway country.) As a side note, overseas travel was not yet common in Japan at that time. Therefore, there were still unknown regions on the earth, and people believed more than half of what they were told, such as that there were monsters in unexplored areas and magical tribes surviving. But that language. Not Japanese, of course, but not English or German either. I hardly know French, Italian, Russian, Spanish... ......) The intonation, vowels, consonants, etc., intuitively made me feel that it is not a language of the earth. (The decisive factor is that magic...). , wasn''t it?I''ve never heard of such a thing.) Shuki thinks that if there is such a thing as magic, it should be a little better known to the world. (And the fact that he is still alive and well even though he was crushed by a falling streetcar is, after all, ......) ) Thinking of this, I feel a chill down my spine. At the same time, I wonder if I will ever be able to return to that world ...... of Japan. (Will I be treated as dead over there?(Will I be treated as dead over there? Or missing?) (Will he be treated as dead over there? Or missing?) If there is neither the bicycle he was riding nor the dead body, he wonders if he will be treated as missing, and then it occurs to Shuki. "Kamikakushi ......!" Since ancient times, missing persons cases have been given the name "Kamikakushi. Most of them are said to be unsolved kidnappings. ....... "Perhaps some of them have been transported to other worlds in this way?" "Hmm?What do you mean, "What might be out there?" I seemed to have said it out loud unintentionally, and Adriana, who had just returned to the room, accused me of saying it out loud. "Ah, ah, you know, ......." Since it was not something to be kept secret, Shuki presented the theory he had come up with. 922 - - 03 Living Together "Hmmm...<>, huh...that could be a possibility. There might be that possibility... I heard that there was a person from another world about 200 years ago after all. ...... Oh, eat your porridge, it''s getting cold!" Adriana was making porridge for Shuki. "But it''s just leftovers heated up with some soup. Shuki wanted to say that it was more like rice porridge, but he felt bad to complain after she had made it for him, so he swallowed the words together with the porridge. "...... hmm?" "What''s wrong?Was it bad? "No, it tastes like this. ...... Oh, I see." I felt that it was not enough, but I realized that it was because had not been taken out of the soup. However, Shuki was not mature enough to complain about something that Adriana, who had saved him, had gone out of her way to make for him. Thank you for the food. "Thank you for the food." Adriana did not seem to find it strange that Shuki said . "Would you like some tea?" She did not hesitate to offer us some tea after the meal. He made two cups of tea, which Adriana seemed to share. "...... So, as I was saying, there have been two or three people from other worlds in the past. The most recent was about 200 years ago." "Hmm. So, what happened to them?" "This world is called ......<>, and they brought various benefits to the world of Ars. Shuki was surprised to hear that. He wondered what a person like himself could do in this world with the mystical power of magic. "I heard that someone taught me how to make <>. The rice you just ate is that rice. It can only be grown much further south, but they say it yields much more than the wheat they used to grow." Ah, so that''s how they contribute, Shuki thought to himself. < must have been conveyed to him at that time. Then Shuki thought further. The existence of magic means that the possibilities of other studies are being eliminated. But... "It would be interesting to fuse magic and science. The words came out of her mouth, but Adriana was more receptive than she had expected. "That sounds interesting! Adriana said. "Hey, Shuki. What are you going to do now? "What are you going to do?" "I don''t know... ...... There''s nothing I can do. I couldn''t even decide if I could survive being thrown out into another world by myself. Perhaps sensing Shuki''s feelings, Adriana added apologetically, "I''m sorry. "I''m sorry. You want to go back to ...... home, don''t you?" "Yes,...... that''s, well..." To be honest, I want to go home. I wanted to see my parents, my sister, my sister and my friends again. "At the moment, we don''t have any magic or magical tools to travel to and from other worlds." Adriana looks really sorry. Shuki asks her one more question. "What kind of magic tools?" "Well, ah, ....... A tool that is powered by magic, I guess you could say. ....... It''s useful because you don''t have to use magic every time you use it. "I see. So I can''t go back home for now, is that it? "Yes. I''m really sorry ......." But Shuki spoke kindly to Adriana. "Adriana, you don''t need to apologize. You should be thankful that you came to this world and survived, even though you would have lost your life. "...... Shuki, you are so kind." Adriana''s eyes were a little moist, which made Shuki feel a little nervous. Adriana is a beautiful woman. More so than any other woman Shuki had ever met. She has blonde hair and green eyes, but there is something nostalgic about her face. In short, she has an oriental look to her. It may be that they are biologically the same, but racially they are not exactly the same as the people of the earth. "If you don''t mind, Adriana, can you put me here? Shuki blushed after saying this. He realized that it was a very impolite and impudent request to leave a woman who seemed to live alone in a house. "Sure." But Adriana readily agreed. "What?" "Shuki seems to know a lot of things I don''t know, so you will help me with my research, right? Adriana laughed and said, "In return, I''m sure I''ll invent a magic that will cross the world. Adriana laughed, "I''m sure I will create a world-spanning magic in return. "Well then, Shuki, you can use this room." It seems that the bed Shuki has been using has been Adriana''s. The two are now cleaning the room across the hall from each other. They are now cleaning the room across the hall. It''s hard work because of all the dust. "Adriana, don''t you have any magic spells for this kind of situation?" Shuki, covering her nose and mouth with a cloth, asks as she sweeps under the old bed. "Well, there is ......<>, but it simply removes dirt. You see, that''s how I got the mud and blood off your clothes." In short, there seems to be no magic specifically for cleaning. It is more inconvenient than you think. "......No, I mean, is there any magic ...... that can do the job for you?" "...... what?" Shuki had seen a scene in a comic book owned by his landlord''s child in which a wizard was cleaning his room with a << broom that moves by itself>. But Adriana had imagined something else. "......<>...... no, that''s still not enough...... then... ..." She stopped her hand and started mumbling, as if something had just hit her. Shuki looked at her with a wry smile and went about cleaning his room. "......Sorry, Shuki. I made you do all the cleaning." Adriana was lost in her thoughts until Shuki had finished cleaning the room. "It''s okay. I''m the one who will take care of you. "That said... ......" Adriana looked worried. "By the way, Shuki, do you always talk like that?" "Yes?" "I''m a bit ...... messy, so I call you from the beginning, but you call me , don''t you?" "Yes, well..." "I don''t like it." "I don''t care if you call me that. ......" Shuki thinks that Adriana''s decision to let a stranger live in her house is more unusual. She only thinks it, but she doesn''t say it. "I am the youngest of seven siblings, and the first six are all my brothers. That''s why I have this personality. So I''d be happy if Shuki could be a little more open-minded." "Haa......" Shuki is still too cautious, though. I''m the middle of five siblings, with two older sisters and two younger sisters, so I talk like this. "Well, let''s start by calling me by my first name. "Yes, that''s enough. Adriana. "Here we go again!" I''m sorry. ...... Adriana." "Yes, that''s good!" Thus began Shuki and Adriana''s life together. 923 - - 04 Collaborative research "Do you have a doll that works by magic?" A few days after Shuki and Adriana came to live together, they were still debating today. "Yes, there are. <. ......" However, the reality of the doll was far from what Shuki had envisioned. "No, no, no. What I''m talking about is a doll that looks just like a human being, thinks and moves just like a human being. "You can''t do that. ...... No, that''s why it''s so interesting." Adriana was a precocious prodigy, possessing magical powers that surpassed her master''s at the age of ten, and at the age of twelve she told her master that there was nothing more she could teach him. She lived in her native town of Naminthe until she turned 15, when she was given a laboratory here at the foot of Mount Funisys and settled down. She has two main research interests. The systematization of known magic and the creation of new magic. She has succeeded in creating some of the new magic and magical tools, and has built a laboratory here as a reward for her work. They are working on and at the moment, but they will put it on hold for the time being, Adriana says. "The new will be more useful!...... Oh, and of course, we will continue our research on <> and <> so that Shuki can return to his original world." Adriana smiled. Adriana smiled. "So, why are you doing this? "I told you, to make it more like a human!" For the first time, they began to argue. In order to develop a new type of , Shuki and Adriana were making and breaking prototypes day after day. In the process, they inevitably argued with each other, which had become a daily routine of late. "Shuki, you said the day before yesterday that if we are going to make the prototype look like a human, we need to make its physical structure look like a human too, didn''t you?" "Yes, I did. But it doesn''t make sense to make even the parts that have nothing to do with movement the same, does it?" "So why do you need to keep the brain for control in your chest?" It was common knowledge in this world that the brain that controls human thought is located in the head. "It is true that the head is useful as a sensory organ, but having the brain that controls the body in a protruding part would be a weak point, wouldn''t it?" Shuki thinks that there is no room for the brain in the torso, or perhaps it had to be in that position in order to develop. It''s not because he saw that the electronic brain of the robot in the cartoon he was watching with his landlord''s son was not in the head but in the torso ...... around the heart ....... "Well, I don''t know if I don''t understand it when you put it like that. ......" The development of <> progressed little by little like this. "The body structure is fine like this. But ......" Adriana spun the words with a complicated expression of happiness, but also a little regret. "Oh.... We''ll start with the materials. ......" In the process of shaping the skeleton, the problem of materials emerged. The two had been working with common <, but they began to worry about its strength. "Let''s see, I think it''s somewhere around here..." Shuki flips through a technical book that came to this world with him. The title of the book is . "Let''s see, secondary moment of section. ...... I remember, if the cross section is cylindrical, it is ......." In short, Shuki was trying to find out what affects the bending strength of a beam ...... bar-shaped object the most. "After all, it''s better to make it as thick as possible. ......" If the materials are the same and the amount used is the same, a thicker round pipe will have stronger bending strength than a thinner round bar. However, in the case of the skeleton of <>, it was not possible to make it too thick. "The exoskeleton ...... looks like an insect or a crab. ......" "The book Shuki is reading, is it a reference book on <>?" "Of course not. It contains basic knowledge about the strength of general structures." For example, a bridge over a river? "Oh, yes, that kind of thing." A few days passed by, and the conversation between Shuki and Adriana became more intimate. This was mainly in the sense that Shuki''s language had become more respectful. "So, what about the bronze? ....... It''s fine for prototypes, but I''m afraid it won''t be strong enough for the real thing. ...... "Can''t we strengthen it with magic?" Adriana responded to Shuki''s musings. "Yes, we might be able to do that. We can do it this way: ....... Shuki, how much do you know about matter? "What?...... Well, first of all, there is a smallest unit of matter that, as you make it smaller and smaller, at some point, if you make it smaller and smaller, it ceases to be that matter." "Is that so?" "Is that so? Well, you should listen to me first as such. ......The smallest unit is called a . For example, water is called a water molecule. There are exceptions, but that''s a discussion for another time. Shuki explains atoms and molecules. Adriana seemed to understand half of it. "Well, then, do you know what is the difference between the substances in this world that react to magic and those that do not?" "Hmmm ......" Shuki was at a loss for words at this question. Shuki had no knowledge of magic at all. So, for the time being, "If a substance is , it means that it is hard to deform. Deformation means that the distance between molecules changes, so if we can increase the bonding force between molecules, we can do something about it, right? I could only give generalized advice. But Adriana is a genius. "Well, I think I have an idea. and then she came up with the idea. "......" Shuki, not wanting to disturb Adriana, decided to take turns cooking and went to the kitchen. Having lived alone in a boarding house, Shuki is a reasonably good cook. However, his repertoire was still limited in this world of Ars, where the ingredients and cooking utensils are very different. First, the staple food is rice or barley. Both are eaten as porridge. This is partly because it is difficult to cook them, but also because they want to increase (????) the amount of water they eat in this land, which seems to be located in the north of the continent. Shuki explained to me that it does not increase in quantity, but only blisters as it absorbs water. The side dishes were dried meat and dried vegetables. Shuki wanted to take in some more vitamins and minerals, but he gave up when he was told that it was now winter and that there was a freezing snowfield outside the institute. However, he was determined to get such foodstuffs in the spring. "The meal is ready! After an hour of cooking, Adriana returned to the laboratory still thinking. "Hey, Adriana." There was no answer. She is so lost in her thoughts that she does not respond to the sounds around her. "I guess I can''t help it. ......" Shuki slowly approaches Adriana and puts his mouth to her ear. Then he blows on her ear. "Whew! "Hyah!" Literally, Adriana jumped up from her chair. "Oh, wow, wow, Shuki! "Yes!" Adriana, holding her ears and staring at Shuki, tells him that the meal is ready slowly. Adriana exhales in relief and her expression softens. Adriana has sensitive ears. So when she does not respond to my voice, she allows me to blow into her ear. "Oh, is it that time already?I''m sorry, I''ve done it all again." "No problem. Did ...... give you any ideas?" "Yeah,......, I think I''m almost there. I''d like to hear what Shuki has to say after we eat dinner. "Okay. Let''s eat a proper meal first, okay? She was one of those enthusiastic researchers who forgets to eat when she is absorbed in her work. 924 - - 05 Establishment of magic engineering The mere idea of making magical dolls (magi dolls) has brought up a number of issues. "I think we should rethink this once again," Shuki suggested to Adriana. Shuki suggested to Adriana. Adriana said that you are also aiming to systematize known magic. That''s it." "Yes, I said that, but ......". Shuki continues to speak. "We are going to put together the magic of making things. Including the necessary peripheral knowledge. "The magic of making things: ......" Adriana parrots Shuki''s line. "Yes. How about ......, for example, <> or <>?" The suggestion was immediately accepted. "That''s a good idea!<>, yes, a new field! Adriana''s face lit up with joy. After all, it must be nice to be a pioneer in a new field. "In magical engineering we use engineering magic to make things. "And we will also put together the materials. "I guess that''s the way it''s going to be." "Oh, good!Magic tools that can be used by those who cannot use magic or are not good at it. Magic tools that enrich our lives. Magic tools that help people. ...... and <>" Her tone was bouncy and she looked so happy that she almost danced. Shuki thought she was beautiful and gazed at her face. Shuki thought she was beautiful and looked at her face. Almost every day since then, Shuki and Adriana have been working hard to establish . They set up engineering magic such as <> for the beginner''s level of fire magic, <> for the beginner''s level of light magic, <> for the beginner''s level of wind magic, etc. They also set up <> for the beginner''s level of wind magic. In addition, <><> was created by applying water and fire magic respectively. Adriana also created <> and <> to protect against dust, dirt, and fire. Shuki thinks, however, that the greatest achievement of all is the development of <> and <>. This is a magic that can increase the strength of an object by enveloping it in magic power. By using this, it is now possible to make bronze several times more durable than steel. "That''s great, Ado! That''s what I''m talking about!" "Mmmmmm, more compliments!" Ad," was Adriana''s nickname. It seems that Shuki and Adriana have developed a rapport over the months they have been living together. Shuki said to Adriana, "Now we can make magic dolls (magi dolls), can''t we? But Shuki shook his head in reply. "Not yet, I think ....... We need to format the , which is the brain." "Oh, you still got it, or ....... I''ll figure it out!" "Yes, Ad, you can do it. I''ll help you. "Yes, with Shuki here, I feel like I can do anything! Shuki himself cannot use magic, but thanks to his hard study over the past few months, he has been able to learn <>. MagiLanguage is, in essence, a programming language. It can be thought of as a language that describes the procedure of magic by using special characters and words. One of them is <. Most magic circles are circular in shape. This shape is for getting a big effect with a small amount of magic power. In other words, the efficiency is increased by circulating the magic power. Shuki noticed this and suggested it to Adriana. "Ad, I think this can be applied to the general magic formula (Magi Formula)." "What do you mean?" "I mean, we can loop the activation part of ......." A coil of electromagnets, if you will. The more coils you have, the stronger the electromagnet becomes (of course, it can''t be infinitely strong because of the resistance of the winding). "Oh, yes!Shuki, you''re the best!" Every day went on like this, and before long the season had turned to spring. Shuki was invited by Adriana to go outside the institute for the first time. "Wow, it''s so beautiful! The institute is located at the northern foot of a high mountain called Mount Funisys. The winter monsoon blows from the north and brings snow to the mountain. The amount of snowfall is enormous, sometimes as much as 10 meters, and huge avalanches always occur in early spring, which is why the institute is built underground. The snow disappears surprisingly quickly, and when one hears the sound of April, the snow at the foot of the mountains almost disappears. This is because in March, the direction of the monsoon changes from north to south, and the wind that comes over Mount Funisys often causes the so-called foehn phenomenon, which melts the snow at the foot of the mountain. "I have never seen a snowy landscape so much. Shuki was born and raised in Kochi and moved to Tokyo after junior high school, so he had never seen much snow. "I see. You know, snow is very cold. And when it melts, it turns into water. "Ad, I know that much, ......." "Hmmm, yes, I do." The two of them stroll around the area, exchanging such conversation. Shuki was looking for wild vegetables. When he was back home, he used to look for butterbur sprouts, bracken, and tsukushi. However, against his will, he did not find any such wild plants. "I guess it''s another world after all. ...... I guess we don''t always have the same plants. ......" Having eaten the preserved food in the laboratory for about four months, Shuki was worried about the lack of vitamins. She had taught Adriana about this, so she was collecting those wild plants as well. "Look, Shuki, I got so many!" Adriana was gathering a basket full of wildflowers in her hand. "They are called cress. It grows all around the water." "...... Dutch cress?" Also known as watercress. In Kochi Prefecture, where Shuki was born and raised, it was often seen in the irrigation canals of rice paddies. Children were told by their parents to exterminate them, as they were very prolific and sometimes blocked waterways. They are also sometimes boiled and eaten with hot pepper and soy sauce. They are more nutritious than you might think, containing a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. "That''s good, too." Shuki wanders around looking for cress, since the whole point is to make up for the lack of vitamins. "Wow, it''s cold! The two of them went around collecting cress, occasionally soaking their shoes in the stream created by the melting snow. "Oh, I''m so tired. "Me too." Their legs had become tired after being cooped up in the laboratory all winter. "Shall we boil the bath today? "Yes." Originally, the institute only had a primitive shower, but two months ago, at Shuki''s insistence, a bath was built. Since the water supply was from a well and the sewage was from an underground seepage system, we could not take a bath every day, but we took a bath once a week. As a side note, what was useful at that time was the beginner''s level of fire magic, which Adriana added to her engineering magic. After taking a breath of fresh air, taking a bath to heal his tired body, and eating green food for dinner for the first time in a long time, Shuki lies down on his bed feeling somewhat contented. Then he thinks. "Bonito broth, miso, soy sauce!I''m sure ...... I''ll make it for you. Oh, and rice cakes! We have rice, but we haven''t found japonica rice yet. Shuki is still hungry for the taste of Japan rather than his hometown ....... 925 - - 06 Two people going on a trip "Well, we''re finally running out of food," Adriana declared when there was no more snow around the institute. Adriana announced when there was no more snow around the institute. "Uh-huh." "I thought we''d be okay for another year or so." "...... my fault." The amount of food consumed by one person is now two, and that''s just plain crazy. "I think I''m going to go home. I mean, I have to." We have no way to feed ourselves if we stay here," he says. "So I''m going to the nearest town, Battaghtaluf." How?How far is it? "Well, it would take about three days if we walked normally." Shuki does some rough calculations, averaging 35 kilometers a day. "That''s about 100 kilometers. ......" With food and water on their backs, it could take more than three days. Neither Shuki nor Adriana have the strength. "......How much food do we have left?" "If we continue as we are now, we won''t last 10 days." Even if we save our food, we won''t last two weeks, Shuki thought. But it would be reckless for the two of them to suddenly embark on a three-day trip. "Let''s ...... build a car." After much thought, Shuki came to a conclusion. If he could build a car, a car with power, it would be possible to travel 100 kilometers a day. "Ad, I''ll finish the car in three days and we''ll go to Battaghtagh! "Yes, yes!" Shuki hurriedly started to design the car. The bicycle Shuki was riding had a distorted frame and flat tires, but he managed to keep it in pristine condition. "Here, this is the bearing," he said. "Hmm, it''s a very detailed structure," he said. "But I can reproduce it with ads." "Hmmm, after all, I am a genius!" Thanks to Shuki''s knowledge, Adriana''s talent, and the example of the bicycle, the <> was completed in two days. It was a four-wheeled cart, but it was the first <> to appear in the world of Ars. Since it was not powered by an engine, whether or not it could be called a <> was left aside, as it was driven by the <> created in the process of developing <>. A handle called a crank is attached to the axle of the wheel on each side, and the < turns it to generate the driving force. "Okay, we''ll leave tomorrow morning with enough food and water for two days. "I''m looking forward to it!" * * * * * * I''m so excited! "............, me too ............" As it turns out, the ride was too uncomfortable. There was no rubber equivalent, so the wheels were made of metal, and the suspension, which was only a little, did not do much to reduce the shaking. It is not surprising that this would happen at a speed of about 15 km/h on an uneven road surface. It was the fault of the two of us who set off without having done a thorough test drive. Nevertheless, they managed to reach the town of Battaghtaluf before dusk. Adriana''s name seems to be well known in the town, and they are able to roll into the inn without being noticed by the strange << car>. "......I''m going to bed. I don''t want to do anything today. I can''t. ......" "......I can''t do anything today. ......" There was no single room, so we had a double room, but both Shuki and Adriana were so tired that they do not even change their clothes and dive into the bed. They fell asleep without changing their clothes. Since they had fallen asleep at the beginning of the night, Shuki woke up at dawn, which was natural since he had slept for more than 10 hours. He feels completely calm and is very hungry. It is not surprising since he had eaten only breakfast the previous day and had not eaten lunch or dinner ......, or rather had no appetite at all. The time is ...... about 5 a.m., I guess." I looked to the side and saw that Adriana was still sleeping. The way she was curled up in a blanket, sleeping, reminded me of a little cat. Shuki quietly left the room and went to wash his face so as not to wake Adriana. After a quick stop at the bathroom, he washed his face in the washroom to refresh himself. The sky is clear and the weather looks good again today. When I returned to my room, I heard that Adriana had just woken up. "...... Oh, Shuki, good morning." "Good morning, Ad. Go wash your face." "Yes." Adriana, who had fixed her slightly disheveled clothes, left the room to wash her face. Shuki, who stayed behind, looked around the room of the inn. Wooden floors, wooden walls, wooden ceilings. The bed was also made of wood. The blankets seemed to be made of wool or something similar. "I guess they don''t do any tree planting. ......" Originally, forestry in large areas was often done in such a way that the trees were left alone and moved to other forests after being cut down. Few countries have the same idea of rehabilitating and utilizing the limited land and forest resources as Japan does. Without a high rainfall climate, forests regenerate at a slow rate, and if not properly managed, can even go through grasslands and become wastelands. "......Why is that?" I told Adriana about it after breakfast, and sure enough, the question came back. "Well, trees, or rather forests, store <>. Also, the roots of the trees hold the soil in place, so if you cut them down, they will ......" "If you cut them down, they won''t store water, so plants won''t be able to grow. Also, the soil will run off when it rains. The result is a wasteland. "That''s right, Ad. That''s right. "Well, that''s a lot of work. I''ll have to talk to my father first. ......" Adriana, with a difficult look on her face, looked as if she had made up her mind. From Battagaluf onwards, there was a town about every 20 to 30 kilometers, as well as rest stops and settlements along the road, so the two slowed down to less than 10 kilometers per hour. We slowed down our speed to less than 10 km/h, so we did not get carsick as badly as we did on the first day. "...... but still a little uncomfortable." "...... agree." It is indeed hard to bear after being rocked for a day. "Hey, hey, ad..." "...... what?" A blue-faced Shuki talks to a blue-faced Adriana. "Can''t you cure carsickness with magic?" "...... didn''t think of that." "That doesn''t sound like you." "...... sorry." However, it''s no wonder that I can''t think half as well as I normally do in this state. "Well, ......" "<> is what happens when your third sense organs go haywire. ......" "So we can use healing magic on the head. ......<>. How about ......?" "...... I feel so much better all at once!" The queasy feeling in my chest is gone, and my vision is clearer. "Really? ......<>...... Oh, wow, I feel so much better!You should have noticed that earlier, Shuki." "Don''t be absurd." Yesterday Shuki was so carsick that he couldn''t even think straight. But now we can go a little faster. They were able to reach the town of Naminthe before the sun went down, although they had to take care of twice more as they increased their speed to about 15 km/h. 926 - - 07 With my father and brother "Which way should I go, Ad?" "...... Uh, well, don''t go into town, just turn right and run along the outer wall, okay?" "Okay." Shuki adjusted the controls of the car and turned to the right. The car did not have a steering wheel. The left and right wheels are driven by independent golem arms, so that the changes direction by changing the drive speed of the left and right wheels, just like a tank. Shuki thought that it was a bother. It was inevitable. He could not make the steering wheel in a short period of two days. He had thought of making it like a 3-wheeled truck, but since the wheels were made of metal instead of rubber, he was not sure how well the steering would work, so he decided not to try it this time. The town of Naminthe was surrounded by a stone wall. The wall was about 3 meters high and almost vertical, so it was impossible to climb over it with bare hands. Shuki could not determine whether it was intended for humans or vermin. The outer wall encircles the town of Naminthe in a circle. Shuki and his group had just gone around about 60 degrees of it. Shuki noticed something strange about Adriana. She seemed strangely listless. "Ad, what''s wrong?Are you getting carsick again?" But Adriana shook her head. "No, Shuki, no. It''s nothing. Don''t worry about it." Even if she said that, there was something obviously wrong with her, and Shuki could not relax. He was about to say something else when Adriana pointed in his direction, "Look, I see it. That''s my house. He could not ask Adriana any more questions. He was absolutely stunned when he saw Adriana''s house. "......" Seeing Shuki like this, Adriana asked him fearfully. "......Are you still surprised?" "......" Shuki nodded silently. In front of him was a domed building with walls that seemed to be made of metal. "......My house is like this. I can''t ...... tell you why. If my father allows it, he might ...... tell you." Then he turned his head and looked at Shuki with a superior gaze, "......I''m sorry. I didn''t want to tell you until the last minute." And then she turned her head down again. Shuki patted her on the shoulder. Adriana looked up involuntarily. Shuki looked at her like this, "You''re so stupid, Ado. You''re an idiot, Ad. Adriana says in a cheerful voice. "What do you mean I''m an idiot? Adriana contradicts him, to which Shuki nods with a smile. That''s it! Ado doesn''t look good with a dark face. That kind of face suits you. "Then it''s like I''m always complaining!" I''m sorry. But look, you''re back to your normal Ado self. "What?Oh, ......." I''m from another world. I don''t care what Ado''s house looks like. I''m more worried about the fact that he might someday disturb me. Adriana was indignant at this statement. "That''s impossible!How dare I treat Shuki like an obstacle!" But that was the end of the quarrelsome exchange. They arrived at Adriana''s house. < "Father!Brother! Adriana shouted. Adriana shouted as two figures came out of what appeared to be a gate. What is it? "What''s going on?Is there an incident?" Uweit Tierra, the guardian of Naminthe, asked his men who had reported to him. "No, no, I heard there was a strange vehicle approaching. ......" At ......? It seems there''s a young lady in that vehicle. And she''s with someone, a man. Adriana? Then his son, Donnavagh Tierra, arrived. "Father, I heard that Leah has returned. Lia," was Donavarg''s nickname for Adriana. "Yes. I just received a report. But she seems to be accompanied by a man." What? ...... I don''t know what kind of relationship you have with her, but if she''s messing around with my daughter, I''m not going to let it go to waste. My lord, it seems that vehicle will arrive at the gate soon. All right, let''s go. Father, I''m coming with you. I''m coming, too. My father, Uwe Tierra, and my youngest brother, Donnavagh. < "Father, brother, we are back! "Welcome home, Adriana." Welcome home. Welcome home. ......, and how are you? They greeted Adriana kindly and glared at Shuki. "Let me introduce you. This is Shuki Tsetsi. He is my ...... partner. What the hell! You can''t do this! ............ what? Adriana finally realized that she had done a poor job of introductions when she saw the two of them standing there, ready to grab Shuki. "No, no!Shuki, let''s see,...... what is it?" "...... don''t ask me." Shuki, under the watchful eyes of Adriana''s father and brother, replied in a troubled tone. "Oh, you know, yes!, Shuki was at a loss as to what attitude to adopt. Shuki came from another world! Adriana''s words blew away his concern. What? I can''t believe that!" And just as Shuki had expected, neither her father nor her brother believed her. 927 - - 08 Adrianas Family For the time being, the authenticity of <> was put aside. Shuki and Adriana were invited in. A woman with a face similar to Adriana''s was waiting for them at the entrance. Her hair was brown, but her eyes were green. "Adriana, welcome home. "Mother, I''m home!" Shuki was a little envious of her kind mother, when she noticed him. "Addy, please introduce me to the person who brought you here. My mother seems to call her Adi," Shuki thought fluently in a corner of his mind. "Oh, you know, there''s someone I''ve been learning a lot from, his name is Shuki Tsezi. "My name is Shuki." For some reason, Adriana could not pronounce Tsutsui correctly, and Shuki had given up on that recently. "My name is Laariana Tierra. I understand that my daughter is in your care. She spoke calmly and had a soft and gentle manner. Shuki suddenly remembered his mother back home. "No, no, I am indebted to your daughter in many ways. "Please come in, this is not the right place." "Yes, yes." Adriana''s father and brother were looking at her with a scowl in the background, but Rahliana was unconcerned and beckoned Shuki to come in. The outside was a metal dome, but the inside looked normal. Shuki, however, had no way of knowing what was < in this world, but only compared it to Adriana''s laboratory. And Adriana''s laboratory is, of course, made to resemble the inside of this dome, which is a house. In fact, as far as the interior is concerned, the Tierra residence is the regional standard. To be more precise, the interior was modeled after the interior of this house. "You must be tired. Please take a bath first. "Is this bath ......?Yes, please. I was grateful for this offer, because when I was at the institute in Adriana, I could use the bath only on rare occasions, partly to save water and fuel. "Well, Shuki, see you later!" Adriana turned away from her father and ran to her room. "Well, well. You are still a restless girl. After seeing her off, Lriana led Shuki down the hallway to the side. "Here we are. Take your time." The walls were not made of metal, wood, or even stone. They might be synthetic resin ......." In 1963, when Shuki was living in Japan, plastic was not as widespread as it is today, so it is not surprising that it took him a while to think of it. However, Shuki was still too ignorant about the world to realize that the existence of such materials was an anomaly. "Ah, it''s nice hot water. Shuki stretches his arms and legs in the bathtub, which is fairly spacious. He had been going to the public bathhouse in the neighborhood when he was staying at the boarding house, so he was used to the spacious bathtub. "But it''s a strange building. It looks a bit like the I saw in a children''s magazine. The dome shape is a bit like the one I saw in a children''s magazine. And there was no soap here either. "Somehow the level of civilization is not quite the same. ......" Shuki thinks this, but then again soon, "I wonder if other worlds should necessarily follow the same path as the earth. ...... Shuki thinks again, "Other worlds don''t necessarily follow the same path as the earth. And if there is magic in the world, it will develop in a different way. "How can I explain who I am? ......" Shuki was a little worried. While he was taking a bath, Shuki''s clothes were cleaned. < magic or some other means. Adriana''s mother, Rahliana, who seemed to have sensed that Shuki had gotten out of the bath, came over immediately. "Did you have a good time?" "Yes, it was quite a bath." Yes, it was quite a bath. Please come this way, dinner will be ready soon. He led Shuki to the dining room. The dining room was a room about 20 tatami in size with a rectangular table in the center that could seat about 10 people. He said, "Please have a seat. Shuki was shown to one of the seats. "Yes, yes." Shuki was taken in by Rahliana''s relaxed atmosphere. "You must be hungry.I''ll be ready for dinner soon. Then came Adriana, who had also apparently changed after taking a bath. Instead of her usual researcher-like clothes, she was wearing a dress with a long skirt that barely showed her toes. "Sit down, Addy. Dinner is ready. "Yes, sir." Adriana replies and sits down next to Shuki. When she sits down, she says in a voice that only Shuki can hear, "Shuki, how do you like this dress? Shuki whispered in the same way, "......It looks really good on you," he said. Adriana''s cheeks turned a little red. Adriana''s cheeks flushed a little, "Thank you," she said. Adriana''s cheeks turned a little and she said, "Thank you". Soon after, Adriana''s father, Uweit, and her youngest brother, Donnavagh, arrived and sat down. Facing Shuki and Adriana on his right, his father Uweit was in the center of the front, and Donavaag was on his right. To the left of Uweit was Lahriana. "Now, Shuki..." Uweit opened his mouth. "First of all, let''s welcome them. Uweit looked straight into Shuki''s eyes. "I would like you to prove to me that you are a ." "Father!You still don''t believe me?" Uweit shook his head. "Adi, you keep your mouth shut." He turned to Shuki. Shuki let out a sigh and began to speak slowly. "Well, ...... first of all, I never said I was a myself. "What!" "Wait, Donna!" Donavagh started to get up, but Uweit stopped him. "Let''s hear him out. Go on. "I''m from Japan, on Earth. I''m a medical student living at 64 Azabu-Kougai-cho, M-ku, Tokyo. Say all of this at once. "I was on my way to a used bookstore on my bicycle to take the textbooks I used until my second year, when I got caught in an accident between a streetcar and a truck at the Kasumicho intersection. ...... I found myself being saved by a young lady." "Hmm. ......" "I was the only one left in this world and the lady saved me. I can''t thank you enough. Not that I can thank her for that, but I have spent my life trying to help her with her research. At the same time, you have made a place for me in this world where I do not belong. ...... nothing more, nothing less." After hearing this, Uweit looked straight into Shuki''s eyes. His gaze was so strong that Shuki thought he might even be able to read his thoughts. "......?" Shuki felt his consciousness darken for a moment, but it seemed to be his imagination. He looked to the side and saw Adriana looking at him with concern. She was holding Shuki''s clothes tightly and kept saying something and then shutting her mouth again. 928 - - 09 Reconciliation "Ummm ......" Adriana''s father, Uweit, pondered, then spoke up. "Adriana, Shuki, you are not a ." Adriana''s voice rose at these words. "Father!Why not? But Uweit calmly quieted her daughter. "Well, hear me out. When we speak of the we are talking about the aliens who come from the north. Adriana''s anger subsided at this point as if she had just spoken out of turn. "From the north ......?" "Yes. There is an ocean all the way north. Beyond that there is another continent, and it is said that the Rare Ones come from there. They are skilled in magic and physical prowess." "......" "So, Shuki, you are not a . ......I would say that he is a ......<>." "Etranssept ......." Adriana muttered over and over again, as if she were chewing on her words. "In the first place, we are the descendants of the , you know?" Then Uweit made a shocking revelation. "What?What is that, father?I''ve never heard that before!" "Of course you have. I''m supposed to tell you this for the first time when I turn sixteen. "Sixteen ...... years old?" Adriana looks surprised. Then her face turned surprised. "Ah!Aah!" "...... remember? It''s your birthday today, March 20th.From today you''re on your own." I forgot. ...... "Hey, hey, hey. I thought you came back because of your birthday, but you surprised us all by bringing a guy with you, didn''t you? Adriana turns a little red and looks down. Her brother Donnavagh looks at her with a wry smile. Uweit then turned to Shuki and spoke to her again with a different expression. "Shuki, I have reacted a little too sensitively. I apologize for that. "No, no." And I have one more thing to apologize for. At this pause, Wuweite bowed to Shuki. "I have a <>. Well, you can think of it as a magical skill. "Yes, yes..." Shuki, who did not have much knowledge about magic, could only give a vague reply. "There are several types of magical eyes, but I''ll leave the detailed explanation for another time, my magical eye is called . "......" "I think you can get a rough idea by the name. Yes, I have just confirmed your statement." Shuki was convinced that this was the reason he had felt a momentary blackout. "I apologize again. But I am also a parent of a human child. If my daughter Adriana had been deceived, I would have had no choice but to use it. "Father! Adriana reacted to this question before Shuki did. "That''s why!I''m not fooling you!Shuki is really teaching me about the other world! How can someone who is being deceived say that ? "Well, yes, that''s true, but..." Adriana rushes to complain to her father, but she is easily defeated. "Anyway, I''m sorry both of you, now let''s eat before the food gets cold. "Father, before we go, we have to celebrate Ado''s sixteenth birthday..." Donavaag pointed out and Uweit scratched his head as if remembering. "Oh, yes, of course. ...... Rahliana!" She had already risen from her seat and was ready to go when she was called. "Yes, yes, dear, I know what you mean. She then prepared cups of what appeared to be silver for the number of people and passed them out in front of each person. She then poured liquid from a bottle into it and passed it around. "Yes, Adi." "Thank you, Mother." Please, Shuki, come in. Thank you very much. Come on, you too. ...... Donna, give me your glass." Finally he poured himself a glass and Lagiana returned to her seat. "And now I would like to congratulate my daughter Adriana on her sixteenth birthday. Cheers!" The cups are raised and everyone chants <>and everyone chants << Shuki thinks that the customs here are not so different from those on Earth, but he chants <> and sips the liquid. "......" The liquid was red wine. In Japan around 1963, red wine had not yet penetrated the general public, and Shuki was no exception. Red wine is fermented by crushing the grapes with their skins, so it has a peculiar astringent taste. It was no wonder that Shuki, who was not accustomed to drinking red wine, frowned. "Hmmm, is this your first time drinking wine, Shuki?" "Yes, I''ve had a few sips of sake before. "Oh. Is that sake from your hometown? Yes, it is. The meal proceeded as we exchanged such stories. The rice, which looked like Indica rice, was cooked and served with a thick soup that seemed to be Chinese-style, but to Shuki, this was surprisingly delicious. Shuki was surprised at how delicious it was. I guess this kind of rice is suitable for this kind of dish, because it is a kind of indica rice with little stickiness. Perhaps because the misunderstanding had been cleared up, the meal proceeded in harmony. "Now, now, Mr. Shuki, please try this one, too. "Yes, thank you." At first Shuki looked a little embarrassed, but thanks to Adriana sitting next to him and her mother, Rahliana, he was able to relax and unwind. The tension was broken by Adriana and her mother, Laryana, who were sitting next to her. "Well, Shuki..." After lunch, we had another discussion with Adriana and her family. What do you want to do now? "Father!" Adriana''s voice came out in reproach, "Wait a minute, Adriana. That (????) is not what I meant." He then turned to Shuki and asked the question again. "My daughter has told me that you have an unusual knowledge of other worlds. Are you willing to make use of this knowledge in this world? Shuki answered without hesitation. I do intend to do so. I would be happy if I could use it to help people''s lives. "Oh?" "But I can''t give up my feelings for my hometown. That is also an honest thing." Adriana looked a little sad when she heard this. "Shuki ......" After a short silence, Uweit spoke up. "Very well. Then, as the Tierra family, we will back you up. And I promise to study the magic of connecting space. In return, you must promise to use your knowledge for the good of this world." "Yes, with pleasure." Shuki answered without hesitation. Thus, Shuki Tsutsui took his first step as Shuki Tsezi. 929 - - 10 And then... With the backing of the Tierra family, Adriana and Shuki''s research progressed rapidly. "You''ve done it, Shuki!" "Yes, it''s the first prototype." After six months of continued research at Adriana''s parents'' home, the first of the new was finally completed. "Master, I''m looking forward to working with you. The Magi doll speaks and moves at its own will. "Ummm, this is already a different thing from <>." Adriana''s father, Uweit, who had seen the doll, sounded impressed. "Shuki, can''t we give her another name?" "Yes, Shuki!This is a new work of art we have created! "I see. ...... I see." Shuki thought for a moment as if searching his memory, "Auto ...... is the best." He mumbled, "Auto mata? "Automata?" "What do you mean?" "It means the mechanical automata that existed in the world where I lived." Automata, huh? "That''s good, Shuki!Let''s do it!" Thus, the newly created new type of magical doll (Magi Doll) was named <>. I would like to add, however, that <> is a plural form, and that it did not occur to Shuki, who is not an expert, that the singular form is <>. The following is a list of the examples of the "Automaton". Starting from this, Adriana and Shuki created various magical tools and machines. < was created by applying wind magic, since sound is the vibration of air. < and were created by the application of light magic. Of course, the image is that of a TV camera and a television. Along with the systematization of magic, the two also created new magic. One of them is <. Shuki is the one who named the <, which compresses fire magic into small pieces and launches them at high speed. "This is amazing!Shuki''s idea is outstanding." "I''d say it''s an ad. "I''d have to say ado, because you can turn an idea into a reality. As time went by, Shuki and Adriana grew closer. In this world, the first thing Shuki was concerned about was the time. Shuki was wearing a wristwatch that was given to him as a gift for passing a college entrance exam, but it was broken by the impact of an accident and could not be repaired. He always wore it on his wrist as a connection to the original world, but he could no longer stand the fact that the time display was still too rough. "...... displaying the time?" "Yes. It only shows sunrise, midday, and sunset, right? "Yes, well. And you can tell by the approximate position of the shadows, can''t you? And that''s Adriana. "That''s fine, but I''d like to be more precise." There was already a prototype sundial. It was simply a stick on the ground. "The sun is moving around in the sky at a constant speed," he said. Shuki had made a simple sundial when he was in elementary school, so he had a rough idea of what a sundial was. The one Shuki made as a reference was called an equatorial sundial. If the dial is oriented not horizontally but vertically toward the North Pole, that is, perpendicular to the earth''s axis, the sun will travel around the dial at a constant speed. If the dial is divided into 24 equal parts, it can be used as a sundial to easily tell the time. A simple version of a sundial that can be placed horizontally can be made by using this formal equatorial sundial as a standard and marking each time of day (in that case, the sundial will not be equidistant from the sun). Many of these simple sundials were made and distributed to the town of Naminthe and other towns and villages. "What?A sundial?" "How do you know exactly what time it is?What does it do? At first, few people understood the concept, but as time went by, it became a part of their daily lives. "It''s useful to know exactly when to meet, when to work, etc." Gradually, the realization of how beneficial it was to share values took root. They also decided on a scale. "I think this book is B5, so it''s 257mm and 182mm. I decide the length from a book I have. "Is it called a meter?Is that one of the units in Shuki''s world?" Until then, different towns and communities used different units of measurement. After deciding on the meter, centimeter, and millimeter, Shuki also decided on the liter as a unit of volume and the unit of weight, with one liter of water weighing one kilogram. Shuki thought that it would take many years for this to spread, but it would have an effect one day. "...... I won''t be around by then, though." But that''s okay, I guess. If it is for the sake of this world where Adriana was born and raised. I''m going to give my diet a new lease of life. "It''s done!" I''ve been missing something for a long time. Shuki, who was born in a bonito broth wholesaler and grew up there until he graduated from elementary school, could almost memorize the process of making bonito broth. It took him 10 years to complete the process, starting with obtaining skipjack-like fish and selecting the molds. Of course, I was working at the same time as other jobs. I did not work only on this. I also managed to reproduce tea. I searched for a plant that I thought belonged to the camellia family and tried to pick the shoots of the plant to make tea. As a result, we were able to make a satisfactory tea. Congratulations! Congratulations, Adi! Congratulations, Adriana! "Shuki, take care of my daughter. And when Adriana turned 20, they were married. By that time, Shuki and Adriana''s relationship had become official. Their new home was the old laboratory at the foot of Mount Funicis. The road to their new home had been improved, making it easier to get to and from the institute. They lived together and continued to create various things. It was around this time that the bicycle was recreated. Even though it was broken, it was possible because they had an example to follow. This made it easier to go back and forth between the institute and the nearest village ...... Battaruf. The structure was also used to build horse-drawn carriages, which improved the transportation. The number of apprentices increased. By this time, Adriana, the greatest mage of her time, and her husband, Shuki, the Wise, were well known throughout the land of . Their life together was full, but their only complaint was that they were not blessed with children. "...... Sorry, Ad. It''s my fault, isn''t it?" Shuki''s body had been supplemented with magical elements, with the exception of his brain and some of his internal organs, making him biologically incapable of having children. "No, I am happy just to be with Shuki. Besides, I have a lot of disciples. They are our children in a way, aren''t they? Adriana smiles brightly. However, another tragedy befalls the couple. "Shuki, I''m sorry ...... I''m not going to walk with you anymore ......". Sixty-odd years had passed since they had met, and Adriana was getting old. And Shuki is almost as young as he was. "Your body is supplemented with magical elements, so it doesn''t change much. I ...... envy you just a little bit." "ad......" "Don''t look at me like that. I was happy to have met you. If I ...... have any regrets, it''s that I didn''t get to send you home." "It''s okay. Ado. I''m ready to bury my bones here, in this world where you were born." "......I knew you''d say that. But I''m sorry ......." Adriana''s eyes closed. "I love you, Shu,......Ki,......" "......Adriana......!" And then her eyes were never opened again. There was still no magic to transfer her personality, including her memories. After this, Shuki will continue his research to perfect such magic. 930 - - 26-40 Solved Mystery and New Mystery "...... and that''s the half-life of Shuki Tsetsi that was written here." Jin closed the notebook and placed it gently on the desk. The notebook contained the life story of Shuki Tsezi in . "After burying his beloved wife, Adriana, in the basement of the institute, he left on a journey with his disciples. Nothing more was written about him. "So the wise man (Magus) had such a past. ......" "That family must have inherited a lot of blood from the ." Saki mutters in a voice that sounds as if it is filled with emotion, and Jin also speculates. Reading the life story of Shuki Tsetsi, a wise man (magus), some of the mysteries were cleared up, but others were deepened. "...... but father. Adriana, your mother died in the laboratory on Horai Island. I''m sure of it." Reiko said in a quiet voice. Jin nodded. No matter how you look at it, the <> mentioned in the story now seems to be a different person from the first Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the <>. "I am sure of it. Here it says, October 22, 2231. If this is the date of Adriana''s death, it would be over 1200 years ago." "...... Adriana Barbora Zetsi was 1000 years ago." "Yes, as Elsa just said, there is a 200 year difference." "...... probably, or rather, definitely a different person with the same name." "I''m sure." After a short pause, Erza spoke up. "......You mean that my brother Jin had the same body as Shuki''s?" "Yes, that may be so. ......" <, No. 700672, has discovered, Jin''s body at the time he was summoned to this world was the same as Shuki Tsetsi''s, As Shuki Tsetsi, a follower created by the Origin, No. 700672, has pointed out, Jin''s body at the time of his summoning to this world, like Shuki''s, had been mostly supplemented with magical elements. "If that''s the case, it means that I won''t be able to have children either." "......" But now, thanks to the advice of 700672 and Erza''s treatment, Jin''s body has returned to normal. "......Good." Erza muttered with a slight blush on her cheeks. "I want to have children after all, don''t you, young mistress?" "......Yes. ............Wow, young mistress! Erza nodded at Saki''s joke, but as soon as she realized what it was, she turned bright red. "Oh, come on, Saki, don''t make fun of me so much." "I''m just amused by your reaction." Everyone was in a frenzy of laughter. "I don''t know, but did you find out something amazing? Hannah is the only one who seems to understand only half of what''s going on. No, another one. "...... Jin, I hear you''re ......" "Oh." Jin and the others realized now that they had been talking about a lot of things, forgetting that Goose was there. "That ...... Reiko said <, didn''t she?And Jin''s body was the same as Shuki Tsetsi''s? ...... eh?" "......" After all this time, Guth''s mood was so natural that I had the feeling that they had been friends for a long time. * * * "...... and, well, that''s how it is." After all this had happened, it was impossible not to divulge a certain amount of the story. Jin is the Magecraft Meister, the successor to Adriana Barbora Zetsi. Well, this is not too much of a problem to tell. The fact that I come from the same place as Shuki Tsetsi is also accepted in the course of the story. As for the future ...... of Horai Island and the <>, it was still to be explained in a vague manner for now. "Yeah, well, we haven''t met each other very long. I don''t expect you to tell me everything, so I''ll leave it at that for now. Goose looked a little disappointed. "However, I now understand a little more about who Jin is and why Reiko is so great. Goose nodded his head in agreement. (It seems like Guth and I have been friends for a long time. ...... I guess one day I''ll tell you all about it.) We decided to stay in a tent outside that day. We put up a barrier around us against solids, liquids, and magic. Gases are allowed to pass through so that we don''t run out of oxygen and the humidity doesn''t skyrocket. Now, what are we going to do? According to the schedule, it is time to go back to Horai Island, but I think it is a waste of time since we have already learned so much about <>. "Why don''t we go a little further north?" Jin suggests. Shuki''s record contained a handwritten map. According to the map, there should be a town called <> where Adriana ......, whose maiden name is Tierra, lives. It seemed to me that there might be more clues about the <> there. "Hmmm, yes. I think I agree with that. "Hmm, me too." I''ll go where you go! I''m interested too. < The group agreed to go. "It would be a one-day trip," he said. Since it is only a hundred kilometers or less from here, we could easily make it to Battaghtaluf in a day. "I hope the town is still there. "Yes, I hope so." Jin remained silent, but his <> had informed him that the towns and settlements north of Battaruf still existed, so he was relieved about that. In addition, I have copied the map from Shuki Tsetsi''s record. The night passed with great anticipation. Early the next morning, the group departed. The entrance to the laboratory in Adriana was covered with soil and backfilled as before. Just to be safe, we have placed only a marker for the transition inside. "...... another time." Jin said goodbye to the laboratory in Adriana in a voice so quiet that no one could hear him. The car drives on at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour. After about seven hours, with a short stop every two hours for lunch, they came in sight of what appeared to be the town of Battaghtaluf. "It''s a town, not a village. "Yeah, it''s big. It must have developed since then. As we got closer, the town finally became clear. "...... It''s more than just a small group of countries." The neat rows of buildings look like those of a modernized city. Most of them, however, are two-story buildings. No skyscrapers or buildings. "...... they''re stone houses," he says. And then, when we were about 50 meters from the outer edge of town. "Look out!Edgar, stop!" Reiko shouts and Edgar brakes hard. But the inertia of the car drives it a few meters and it comes to a stop when it lightly hits something ....... "What the ...... is going on? Goose falls out of his chair, shaking his head. The others managed to hang on to their chairs. "...... barrier?" Jin mumbles in a low voice, and Reiko answers him. "Yes, father. A barrier has been deployed to cover the entire town. 931 - - 26-41 Fluctuation "It''s a barrier that prevents solid objects from entering." After a short investigation, Jin came to a conclusion. The latitude of this area is just before the Pazdekst isthmus. The concentration of free ether is almost twice as high as the average for the Lesser Antilles, so it is possible to do this. "Well, what should we do ......?" Jin pondered. There was a way to analyze the nature of the barrier and disable it, but that might be taken as a hostile action. "Brother Jin, it can''t be that no one has entered or left." Erza voiced her opinion. Now, everyone except Hanna and Aal had gotten out of the car and were standing in front of the barrier. "You''re right, Elsa. There is no way this town can survive on its own. It must be connected to the outside world. Jin nodded in agreement with Saki. Goose also expressed his opinion. "Do you think they are in seclusion?Even so, residents may come and go, and this barrier ......?I''m sure there are ways to get through the ...... barrier, right?" "That would be true, but ......." "There''s always a way to deal with visitors, isn''t there?" "Well, you know." Jin agreed with Goose''s opinion, but he was not fully convinced because he knew there was another way to get in and out of the building. But then they saw something coming from the town. "Oh, someone''s coming!" They saw several figures approaching. "Is it a person ...... or a golem?" It was a young man and woman and two golems. Both of them had white skin. Yes, they look a lot like <>. However. "...... father." "...... Oh. They''re ......." Jin and Reiko frowned and exchanged a few words. Erza, wondering about the conversation, tried to ask something, but by that time the two of them and the two bodies were close to each other. "Who are you?Where did they come from?" They stood about two meters behind the supposed barrier and the man opened his mouth. The man''s tone was somewhat arrogant, but Jin maintained his composure and replied. I am Jin Nido. I have come from the Shoro Kingdom via Mitsuho and Huso. The man nodded in reply. "Hmm. I can tell from your car. You seem to have a certain amount of magical technology." Jin was a little surprised that the man said "car" instead of "horseless carriage," but then remembered that Shuki Tsetsi had already made a car with a rear-wheel drive. "So, what can I do for you?" The woman then asked Jin the purpose of his visit, and he decided to be honest. "We are looking for information about <>. We happened to know that you are related to , so we came to visit you. Upon hearing this answer, the two men looked at each other and whispered something to each other. Reiko could clearly hear what they were saying, although Jin could not. What do you think, Barrigal 243?) I don''t think it''s a lie just because he knows about Mags. Then shall we welcome him?) Yes, Fedeli 479... and I will leave the final decision to you.) Then they turned to face Jin and the others again. "Very well. I trust you mean no harm and will allow you to set foot in my city of Battaghtarf. The man then gave some sort of order to the two golems. The two golems stood about four meters apart, facing each other, with their arms extended straight up. Now you can pass between these golems. Come on." "Father, between those two golems, the barrier is gone. Jin and the others couldn''t see it, but Reiko could sense it. "I see. That''s quite an interesting method. I wonder if they are canceling each other out by hitting ...... barriers in opposite phases?" With this analysis, Jin hurried to get everyone into the car and passed through the area. Behind him, the golem seemed to have stopped the offsetting of the barrier. "Father, the barrier has closed." I see. Since the barrier here is only impermeable to solid objects, we can escape through the warp gate if necessary. In this sense, Jin was not too worried, but Goose was not so sure and seemed to be a little nervous. "Okay, follow me." The man on the golem''s shoulder said to Jin. Jin motioned to Edgar to follow the fast-moving golem. A car follows the golem, which is walking at a speed of about 10 km/h. As I entered the town, I expected to be met with curious stares from the residents ......, but the town was deserted and empty of people. However, there was not a speck of dust on the streets, the buildings were neatly lined up, and the streets were beautifully landscaped with trees. "......" "...... Jin brother, this place is quite developed." "Interesting. I wonder if this is also due to the influence of ?" "According to the records of Magus, which Jin read out to us, it seems that the civilization was quite advanced even at that time. Jin and Erza were impressed, while Saki and Goose offered their self-analyzed opinions. Hannah looked at them with a twinkle in her eye. The group continued down the main street of the town until they came to a building. "Wait here!" The man jumped off the golem''s shoulder, "Golem 5680, 5681, keep an eye on these guys. Both men disappeared into the back of the building. "......?Brother Jin, something doesn''t feel right about that guy." Erza tugged on Jin''s sleeve next to her and said in a low voice, "You know what I mean? "Do you understand?" "......, I don''t know, I don''t know." "You have to see it in action." Erza stared at Jin''s back as he moved away from her, but then let out a small breath as if satisfied. "...... got it." Saki asked them a question. "What are you two talking about?Tell me so that I can understand. Jin laughed and opened his mouth. "Oh, I''m sorry. I''m sorry. ...... I can tell from the way that man moves that his torso is not shaky. There is no play in his movements. His center of gravity is unnaturally smooth." "...... Well, I couldn''t tell by looking at him, but so what?" "It''s not human." "What? Is that so? Goose was also surprised at Jin''s words. "That''s an advanced automaton." "If it''s ......, does that mean it''s as good as ...... Reiko?" Saki asked a little impatiently because the automaton was so human-like. But it was not Jin but Reiko who answered. No, Saki, that''s not true. When your father created us, he incorporated even a small amount of fluctuation. "What do you mean by that?" Jin adds his explanation. "Human movements are not rigid. We shake and tremble a little even when we think we have stopped, and we do not move our arms and legs to the same position every time. Without such ambiguity, they don''t look human. "I see. If Jin says so, he must be right. You''re right. Your father allowed all of us to have such ambiguity. But this is something that can be detached and can work precisely when the time comes. ...... like this." Reiko then shows the disambiguated movement. "Oh ...... oh, it is certainly unnatural. Isn''t it?" Reiko says proudly as she returns to her normal movements. This is the motion control system that your mother Adriana has built and set up for you. "So you''re saying that the automata are not descended from the Magecraft Meister, right? But Jin answered, "I can''t say that for sure. There are some similarities. ...... He was not sure what to say. Then, the male automata returned. He said, "Father is coming to see you. Please come this way. Jin prepares to get out of the car. Edgar and Aal stay with the car. Hannah, go to ....... I''m coming with you. "Okay." I''ve given Hannah the bracelet. If the need arises, the old man can remotely control it to create a barrier. Jin, Elsa, Saki, Hannah, Goose, and Reiko get out of the car. 932 - - 26-42 Refusal Jin and the others followed the male automata into the building. "Not a speck of dust on the floor. Saki says, impressed. Jin looks around and observes the structure. Reiko was looking around. "Here. Come in." The group was led to a room at the end of the corridor. The door was opened by an automaton. "...... Welcome, visitors." At the far end of the room, a skinny old man was lying on a large bed. "Nice to meet you. I''m Jin Nido. This is Elsa, Saki, Hannah, Goose and Reiko. I see. I''m ...... Clauden. I''m the administrator here at Battagliaf. "The administrator ...... is like the mayor of the town?" Jin asked quickly at the unfamiliar word. "It''s not the chief ....... I am the only person in this town." "What? "What? Clauden''s statement caused everyone to shout in surprise. "Why?" Jin asked. That was all they could do but ask, and the others must have felt the same way. "Because of ....... The only thing I can say is that it''s the result of a declining population." "Why did the population of ...... decrease?" Let''s try a different way of asking the question, Goose. "Because ...... people have lost their energy, I guess." "What do you mean?" Now Saki asks. But Clauden turned to the automaton standing next to him, motioned lazily, and closed his eyes. "...... Fedeli, give him a brief history of this town." "Yes, father." Fedeli...... Fedeli 479 began to speak slowly. "This town was founded about 1500 years ago. At that time it was not a town but a village. "About 1200 years ago, there was a turning point. "The first was the Golem, a cheap labor force. The golem was powered by the free magical element (ether) in the atmosphere. It was economical in the end. "By about 1,000 years ago, each family owned one or more golems." To summarize the explanation that follows, it seems that eventually people stopped working because of cheap labor, and the birth rate also declined. "......" Jin and his group were at a loss for words when they learned of one of the ways in which the golem society had ended up, but Jin opened his mouth when he remembered the purpose of his visit to this town. "Please tell me something about <>. And also about a person named ." Hearing this name, Clauden opened his closed eyes again. "<>...... the demon who corrupted us. <>...... the fool who betrayed our fathers and sold herself to the devil. His voice was filled with vindictiveness, unlike his previous voice. "You ...... are investigating the devil, are you connected to the devil? Get ...... out of here!" "Wait a minute!" The panicked Jin stopped him, but that didn''t stop Clauden. He had not reacted this way earlier when he had called Fedeli and Barigal <, but he might be sick at heart, Jin thought. "Fedeli, Barrigal, get these guys out of ......." Yes, Father. Yes, Father. The two automatons, under Clauden''s command, come toward Jin and the others. Now get out! Please leave! Jin had no choice but to give up, knowing that nothing he could say would make a difference. "Okay, I''ll leave." With that, he turned around. He went out, following the corridor in the opposite direction from where he came in. "What? What the hell? Dozens of golems had gathered there, surrounding the car. No, not just surrounding. They were beating and destroying it. "Stop!What are you doing? Jin shouted, but half of the golems heard his voice and looked at him. "It seems that your brothers have sensed your father''s emotion and have gone berserk. I can''t stop them now." Fedeli 479, a female automaton, announced in a voice devoid of emotion: "What have we done? What have we done? But Goose''s voice did not reach him. Half of the golems continued to beat up the car, and the other half came at Jin and the others. "They don''t seem to have much of an ego. Their movements are primitive. "Jin, this is no time to be so patient!" Goose is slouching. "Uh, Fedeli, and Barrigal, right?...... can you stop the golem?" Jin, who has regained his composure, asks the two automata. "Impossible. They have only simple brains. That''s why once they start something, they won''t stop until they finish it. You''ll have to protect yourself." While he was explaining, fifteen golems approached. "Is that your answer? ......" Barrigal''s words were met with a look of disappointment on Jin''s face. "Well then, I''ll do as I please. Don''t ...... hold a grudge, okay?" Jin glanced at Reiko''s face. Reiko knew what he was going to say and kicked the ground. "What? Barrigal''s surprised voice echoed. Jin stared at the scene in front of him, wondering in a strange way if these guys could be surprised too. One by one, the golems that had attacked Jin and the others were blown away. It was Reiko''s work, of course. For the current Reiko, a thousand primitive Golems are no threat. "Hey, hey, ......." Goose shouted in disgust. His mouth is gaping open. After all, Reiko, a girl automata, is literally laying waste to a golem several times her size. When Reiko thrusts out her small fist, the golem breaks apart and scatters, and when Reiko lifts her slender leg, the golem is blown up to a height of over 20 meters. And all this was done in a matter of seconds. The fifteen golems that had targeted Jin and the others were rendered inoperable in about six seconds. Goose is so stunned that he can hardly say anything, while Erza, Saki, and Hannah just laugh at him. Of course, they are thinking about the fate of the golems that challenged Reiko. Reiko, having cleared the Golem that came toward Jin and the others, started to eliminate the Golem that was attacking the car. Of course, the car is covered by a barrier, which cannot be broken by a golem''s blow even if it takes hundreds of years. The same is true of the barrier that covers Jin and the others, but just because there is no danger does not mean that Reiko will not get angry. "Get away from your father''s work!" Reiko, unable to hide her annoyance at the Golem, which continued to hit the Barrier relentlessly, not understanding its futility, grabbed one of them by the leg and threw it away with all her might. She did so with 20 percent of the force that Jin usually allows her, but the golem still flew away from her into the street. Reiko was at least considerate enough not to hit the building. Poof, all eighteen golems were sent about 100 meters away, and they did not move at all. "What will you do?" Reiko asked Fedeli 479 and Barrigal 243, who were just looking at Reiko''s work in disbelief. "If you interfere with your father, I will do the same to you, won''t I?" But what did they say? "You ...... monster! "I see... "I see. Then, let''s have her stay still for a while. Reiko fires her <> at the two monsters. Magic Canceller is a magic tool originally designed to prevent "Aether Stampede". By forcibly converting mana back into free magic element (ether), it can neutralize most magic. The two bodies were rendered inoperable by the wave, and fell down on the ground. Reiko also activates . In other words, she has made it impossible to create mana from free magic element (ether). Now, for the time being, these two will not be able to move. "Well, there''s nothing we can do. Let''s get out of town." Dragging the still-uncaring Goose into the car, Jin and the others left the town of Battaghtaluf. The barrier that covered the town could be removed with a magic canceller. 933 - - 26-43 Decadence "......" It was quiet in the car driving north. No one opens his mouth. "......After all, what the <> did was in vain. ......" Jin was the first to open his mouth, but his tone was heavy and somber. Knowing that Jin came from the same world as Shuki Tsezi, Elsa and Saki could understand his feelings. They had witnessed firsthand how their well-meaning efforts to help this world had turned out to be a vengeance. "But Jin, here in ......<>, we have become decadent, but in Huso and Mitsuho, the <> is appreciated, isn''t he?" It was Goose who approached the dejected Jin. "Maybe it''s just a coincidence that Battaruf has become decadent," he said. His words seemed to lift Jin''s spirits a little. "Yes, it might be so ......." "Actually, father, I have brought you something like this." "Hm?" Reiko presented the Magi Crystal. Or rather, ....... A control core? "Yes. It''s from the golem that fell apart when I hit it. I thought it might tell us something. "Oh, well done. Let''s take a look. ......<>" The engineering magic of reading information linguistically. The information was unfolded in MagiLanguage before the eyes of Jin and the others. "......This is ......that is also the reason why ......" Jin and Erza were absolutely stunned by the contents of the message. "Hannah, don''t look at it!" Erza covered Hannah''s eyes with a red face, but even she couldn''t read the Magi language yet. "Jin, what did you understand?" Goose, who also did not understand MagiLanguage, asked. Saki looked as if she wanted to know too. "Yeah, that''s the thing ......." Jin began to whisper. Erza tried to distract Hanna by talking to her in various ways. "In a nutshell, it seems that the birth rate has dropped because people have started to things with automata instead of with humans." However, to Shuki''s credit, it seems that it was later engineers who added such functions, Jin added. "......What a staggering story." "......Totally." Saki and Goose both looked open-mouthed. Needless to say, everyone except Hanna thought, "How can you blame it on <......,>". It is a bad example of how people sometimes take a terrible turn when they have too much time on their hands. "......And then we can see the unusual < ......" More than a dozen times more than Reiko, Luna and Soleil. "Perhaps it''s a procedure to get Clauden to do what he wants, but this is too unusual a value. ......" "Father, this is no way for even an autonomous golem to make normal decisions." "This is why you acted in a way that reflects Clauden''s madness." They all accepted this fact in their own way, so Erza asked what would happen next. "Brother Jin, what are you going to do now?" We are driving slowly at about 10 kilometers per hour toward the north for now. "Well, we don''t have ...... much time. ......" "Jin, how about visiting just one more place?" Jin nodded at Saki''s suggestion. "Yes, that would be good." Then the question becomes, which town should we visit? One could think of a neighboring town because it is close, but the town that Jin wanted to visit was..., "I guess ." This is the town where Adriana Tierra, who became Shuki Tsetsi''s wife, was born and where the Tierra family, who called themselves <>, lived. "Yeah, I guess so. I''m interested too. "Yeah. I think that''s a good idea. I''ll go wherever you want to go! I think that''s a good idea. I don''t have any objections either. They all agreed to go to Naminthe. "Okay, it''s decided. So the car speeds up to 15 kilometers per hour. "Jin, you and Reiko are amazing!You are indeed the best in the world! No wonder you are the world''s most skilled Magecraft Meister! Goose spoke in praise of Jin and Reiko in the car. And then, "I''m sure that the Shoro Empire has advanced magical technology. ......" Guth looked a little distant, probably thinking of his father''s home country, the Shoro Empire. "That''s not entirely true." "Hmm?What do you mean?" Jin then explained briefly about the <> and the <>. "I have heard about the <> from my father. I don''t think that the Aether Stampede has had much of an effect in Fusor." Perhaps it was fortunate that the area had a high concentration of free ether, but it did not seem to have rendered the magi-machines and tools completely useless. However, some of the equipment did not work or seemed to move sluggishly. "I guess it had an effect," Jin muttered. As Jin muttered, Goose also reminisced. "My father told me. If you depend on one thing too much, you are afraid of the repercussions. These words expressed the feelings of everyone in the group. (Come to think of it, ......) When Jin used to work in modern Japan, a major business partner of his company dishonored a payment and the company temporarily lost its business. At that time, some of the managers told him, < (Easier said than done. ......) (Easier said than done, though... ). A medium-sized company can''t have so many clients. But ....... (It''s dangerous to rely on magic alone, isn''t it?) At that moment I heard Hannah''s voice. "Oh, honey, it''s snowing!" Since they had moved northward, there seemed to be some snow left in some places. Hannah''s voice reminded Jin of the village of Kaina. (That''s a village where people can live without magic. ......) Although Jin had installed some magic machines and tools, it seemed that even if they were no longer available, there would be no major disruption. (After all, we need to put science and technology as another foundation.) (After all, it seems that we need to put science and technology as another foundation.) Jin was thinking about such things as he looked out the window and gazed at Hannah''s innocent, frolicking profile. * * * * * * * * * * * * The group traveled northward, passing the towns of Naygo, Tosemo, and Mayan, all of which were in ruins. The same was true of Graciejo, which they reached that night. "Next is Dalagoma, and then Naminthe..." Guth mutters as he looks at the map in his hand. He had copied the map from Shuki Tsetsi''s record. "That''s a very different name from Huso and Mitsuho. In those two countries, there were many place names that could only be taken from Japanese place names, but here in Newell, there are none. The same goes for the name of the country <>. It may be a country where a group of the originators settled and established. Jin thinks that we can find that out by looking at the dome-shaped building in Naminthe. "We should be there by noon tomorrow," he said. Jin muttered to himself as he looked up at the sky, which was covered with thin clouds and sparse bright stars. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * April 26th. With the uninhabited town of Dalagoma by their side, the group continues northward. Just before noon, something that looked like the town of Naminthe came into view. "Is that it?" Jin said, holding his hand over his eyes, and Goose looked in the direction of the town with a similar gesture and muttered. "It looks like the walls are surrounded by walls. Is it the same as when Shuki Tsetsi was here?" "The place where Tierra''s family used to live goes around the outside of the town, doesn''t it?" While we are having this conversation, the town is getting closer. "Well, it doesn''t look too old. "I wonder if there are people here?" Just then, a car stops. "Father, there is another barrier here," Reiko explains. Reiko explains. "It seems to be stronger than Battaghtarf''s and has a larger range. What should we do? "First, we should go to Tierra''s house rather than the town. We should go around. Yes, sir. The car goes around the outside of the barrier to the left. I wonder if the barrier is getting taller. According to Shuki''s notes, it was about 3 meters high, but looking closer, it appears to be about 5 meters high. "It''s over a thousand years old, it could have been built on or something." "That''s true." A few minutes later, a gray dome came into view. "That looks like it. "Well, I can''t wait to see what''s waiting for us. Jin felt more excited than ever. 934 - - 26-44 Rarebito Hall "That must be it." The architecture is so different that there is no mistaking it. The exterior walls seem to be made of metal, which, after more than 1,000 years, has become somewhat dull and lack luster, but does not seem to have corroded. I wonder what it is made of?" As the metal had been exposed to wind, rain, and sunlight for more than 1,000 years without corroding, Jin was intrigued by it. However, even if he tried to examine it, he could not use <> because it was covered by a boundary. "Father, what should we do?" "Well, I don''t know. ......" There are several ways to break through the boundary. There are several ways to break through the warding: by brute force, by stopping the generator, by counteracting it with a counterproductive warding, or by passing through the unbounded area. The second and fourth are relatively mild. "Let''s use a magic canceller." Since we don''t know where the generator is located, we first check the flow of the magic power that makes the warding. "Reiko and ...... Elsa, please do the same. I''ll check this side." Yes, Father. I''m on it. Jin, Reiko, and Elsa work together to investigate the location of the generator. However, it seems to have been cleverly concealed, and they were unable to find it. "......I guess it''s impossible to find it from the outside." After 15 minutes of searching and no luck, Jin asked Reiko and Erza to stop the search. "The generator must be deep inside the ward. Let''s not waste time." In the town of Battagaluf, they were inside the barrier, so it was easy to stop them. Jin, what are we going to do then? "Let''s dig a hole." Ordinary wards and barriers do not extend into the ground. Therefore, when they invaded the Magi Fortress in the Kingdom of Franz, they had to dig a hole in the ground. However, just as Reiko was about to take the lead in digging a hole, there was movement inside the ward. "......Another automata?" Just like at the time of Battagliaf, an automaton who worked under the manager arrived. "Welcome, guest. We will partially deactivate the warding, but we would appreciate it if you don''t break it. The automaton, who looked to be a young man in his twenties, said in smooth words. "...... I wonder if it''s Iazai?" The automaton nodded at Goose''s murmur. "Yes, my name is Basseth IX, and I am the vizier of the Tierra family. The automaton who introduced himself as Basses IX held up his right palm toward the front. There should be a boundary though it looks like there is nothing there. Then, a faint glowing ring appeared at the place where the boundary was supposed to be. It was large enough for one person to easily pass through. "Please come through here. So Jin decided to leave Edgar and Aal as the car guard here as well, and the rest of the group went through the ring. "Hannah, stay close to Reiko," he said. Jin was the first to go through the warding, thinking of Hannah''s safety. Reiko, Hannah, and Erza were next. Saki went through, and Goose played the role of a guard. "This way, please." Without saying anything about the car, Edgar and Aalu, Basseth IX led Jin and the others. We are headed for the domed building. "...... It is a metal similar to stainless steel." Jin guessed so from the color and texture, "......<>" He actually checked the composition. "......Nickel or ......and iron." To Jin''s surprise, the composition was very close to that of <>, an alloy with very low thermal expansion. "Certainly, we need to be concerned about distortion when it''s this big." It''s not ridiculous to think about distortion due to temperature differences between the sunlit and non-sunlit sides. The rails of a railroad can bend under the blazing sun in the middle of summer. While I was thinking about such a thing, I saw Iesa''s automaton, Bases IX, opening the door. Please come in. It may be a trap, but we have no choice but to go. Jin trusted what he had made ......<>, <>, and <>, and went through the door. As it turned out, there was no need for alarm. It was quiet inside, and all we could hear was the sound of our own footsteps. "Not many people here..." Jin muttered. It was a sentiment that spoke for all of us. Bases IX walks 3 meters in front of Jin and doesn''t look back. He walks along the gently curved corridor, which seems to follow the perimeter of the dome, and turns left once. (It seems that the corridor radiates from the center of the dome and is connected by concentric corridors.) Jin is thinking about this inwardly. He is deeply moved to think that he is now walking through the Tierra house that he read about in the journal the other day. He is curious about the doors on the left and right, but he can''t open them. Then, Bases IX, who was leading the way, stopped in front of the room in the center of the dome, just as Jin had imagined. "This way..." Without knocking, he opens the door to the room. "What?" The room was empty. "This is the most important room for the members of the <> family." "......" Jin and the others looked around the room silently. My first impression was that it was <>. It was simple, with no decoration. Furniture such as desks, chairs, and cabinets were designed with soft curves rather than straight lines. The color scheme is not flashy, and the gray tones are mostly used, giving the room a subdued appearance. However, there are many differences. The floors are made of wood, not fur or carpet, and the furniture is made entirely of wood. We do not know if the differences are due to the materials available or if they were created over a long period of time. In the memoirs of ?wi?cie Tsezi, the gentile from the north was called <>. Since he clearly called himself a descendant of the <>, Jin thought that he must have had a connection with the <> in the past, as we call them today. Currently, the closest to this area of the Laurentian continent would be the << clans. Since they belonged to a radical faction, they may have traveled to the outside world in the past. "...... So, what is the purpose of showing us here?" Reiko''s voice brought Jin back to reality. "I wanted to pass on a memory." Bases IX answered in a calm tone of voice. "Memory?" "Yes. 93 years and 4 months ago, the last heir of the Tierra family disappeared. At that point, my existence was almost nonexistent." "......" Reiko listens with a slightly sad face. Jin wondered if she was remembering the time when her predecessor died, and put his hand on Reiko''s head. "...... father?" For a moment, she looked >Reiko smiled happily when she realized what his hand meant. Meanwhile, Bases IX''s story continues. "One of my two remaining missions is to make sure that the Tierra family is not forgotten. I have waited. And today you have come. 935 - - 26-45 Archives "Are you ...... so that you won''t be forgotten?" Reiko was the first to react to the words of the automaton, Basseth IX. "It is indeed a sad thing, isn''t it? Reiko''s tone of voice became sad, as if she felt sympathy for him. "It is said that when a person is forgotten by everyone, that person is really gone. Jin muttered in his sleep, "I guess that''s what it means to convey memories. Goose also responded to his words. "Really. I don''t have parents anymore, but I believe I have inherited their teachings. Saki agreed. "Yeah,...... I know that too." Saki also lost her mother early in life. "Dad, mom, and grandpa,...... I''ll never, ever forget them! Hannah said loudly with tears in her eyes. "I digress, what is your other mission ......?" Jin asked Bases IX again to dispel the humid atmosphere. Yes, I have thought about it for a long time and came to the conclusion that maintaining this facility is the way to go. We have been waiting for the right person to come and take over this facility and now you are here. Basseth IX saw the car that Jin and his family came in and judged its technology to be comparable to the technology that the Tierra family used to have. "I will now pause for a moment. Then, please reactivate it with your magical power. Then I will be your servant. BASSETH IX stopped its power by itself. Reiko catches Basses IX as it slowly falls and gently lays it down. "Father, please fulfill this automaton''s . Reiko unusually intervenes. Perhaps she sees in his automaton a reflection of her former self. "Yes, I know." Jin answered and checked his Bases IX before rebooting it. "......." Jin sounded impressed. And then, "Although it is not a Magi Reactor, it has a very good Magi Converter and Mana Driver. I muttered to myself so that those around me could hear. "However, there are many differences from the Horai Island style. This shows that they are automata developed in a different lineage from their predecessors. "It seems to have been regularly maintained. It seems to have been serviced regularly. ......<<>" Jin dares to reboot in the old form of the magic key language. "...... Yes,<>" This Basesu IX also called Jin <>. This is the third one after Laogun and Taibaku. "Thank you for all your hard work in maintaining this facility. No, it was my duty. I will give you another name. ...... I think I''ll call you <>. A name that just came to me. I think it was inspired by <>. Giving him a new name in this way is a sign that he has become a master. Thank you, my lord. From now on I am . I''m from now on. The automaton named bowed deeply. I have something to show you my lord. "Hmm?" The automaton, <>, said this to Jin and turned herself around. "Please come in." Jin motioned to the other members to come on, and they started walking. He walked back down the hallway he had come from and turned into a circular corridor. A little further on, there was a staircase leading down. "This way." Palma walks down the stairs. Jin and Reiko followed at the head of the group. At the end of what seemed to be two floors down, there was a door. "Please come in." Palma opened the door, and at the end of the door was a wall in which a plaque was set. "These are members of the Tierra family for generations." I thought it was a cemetery, but it was not. "I''m sorry to trouble you, but could you please read them in order? In response to Palma''s request, Jin began to read the names from the top to the bottom. "Hazarth......Floreir......Scareless......." After a dozen or so, a familiar name came up. "...... Uweit...... Rahliana......" Adriana''s parents. The names continue. "......Galdred......Bourgiouzm......Lambarde......Crowzmus ......" Jin had never heard of these names either. He guessed that they were probably Adriana''s brothers. "......Handlem......Donavarg......Adriana". Donavaag is Adriana''s immediate older brother. And Adriana''s name. "......Nerrest......Farevalus......" And then a long list of unfamiliar names. "...... Martley." And then it ends. "Thank you. These are the Tierras." Jin wondered if he had been made to read out the names in the hope that they would not be forgotten, but they were not. The back wall slowly opened. "Master (My Lord), behind this wall are the technical records that have been kept by the Tierra family. It seems that the key to unlock the door was to read out all the names. To tell the truth, Jin thought this was a troublesome system, but he did not say it out loud and stepped into the back room. Erza and the others entered the room with Jin without saying a word. "Hmm." A bookshelf lined with a hundred or so books and several Magi crystals for recording. "Can I enter this place anytime from now on?Or do I have to read out all the names every time I want to enter? Jin asked Palma. If it was the latter, it would be a lot of trouble. "No, since you opened the door once, it will open automatically when the master (my lord) approaches. "I guess that''s okay then." Jin looks around the room again. In short, it is a reference room. The ancestors of the Tierra family must have been closer to the <>. What is left behind is probably a book, a magical crystal for recording, and a <>. Aside from the name, it would be interesting to know what information is contained in the book and the magi crystal for recording. "Do you know what kind of information is recorded in the book and the Magi Crystal? I asked Palma first. If he knew, it would save me a lot of trouble. Yes, I know. And the contents of the book and the magi crystal for recording are the same. "Law ......" The book is a written record and its backup, I guess you could call it. It would be a double backup, including Palma. If this is the case, it would be better to have the old man read out the magical crystals for recording and extract only the valid information from them. So Jin decided to leave the room and look around the upper floor for the time being. "Let''s have lunch. It was already lunchtime. Jin could not let Hanna go hungry. He decides to retrace his steps back to the car. "Master (my lord), what about the wards surrounding this facility? Palma asked. "Well, if there is no mechanical problem, please continue to deploy it. "Yes, sir." It seems that these wards also work to block harmful electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays. In a sense, it is a part of the conservation warding. "That''s very thoughtful." Jin also had something to gain from the configuration of the wards. "By the way, I wonder what''s going on in the original town of Naminthe, or ...... next door, right now?" Goose muttered as he remembered. "Yes, the surrounding towns are uninhabited, but the town of Naminthe is barely inhabited." "Wow. "Well, that''s quite a feat." "I''ve been working on ...... for a while now." The group listened to Palma''s explanation. "About 300 years ago, there was a drastic decrease in the amount of free magic element (ether) in the space. This caused the majority of the inhabitants to fall ill. The "ether stampede" had affected even this area. "As a result, the population plummeted, and to add insult to injury, a plague broke out 200 years ago. <, and it further decimated the population. The population is now less than one twentieth of what it was before the Aether Stampede. "That is why most of the remaining inhabitants gathered here in the town of Naminthe. The reason for the drastic decrease in population was thus revealed. "Perhaps this is the main reason for the population decline in Battaghtaluf?" Jin muttered. Whether he was right or not, I did not know now. 936 - - 26-46 Homecoming "What are these wards?" Jin asked a further question. "Due to the decrease in the concentration of free magical element (ether) about 300 years ago, many of the magi-machines were slowing down. The wards covering the town were also affected by this, but we were able to cope by bringing in generators from the surrounding towns." "I see." It was a simple idea that if the efficiency was reduced to one-third, then the number of magi-machines would be tripled. "Such a move was made about 150 years ago. In this way, the population of Naminthe increased as the dwindling inhabitants moved out. As a result, the town of Naminthe seems to have been able to survive as long as it has." "Yes??" Jin questioned the ambiguity of the expression, even though it referred to a town right next door. "Yes. The number of warding generators they brought with them is 9, and the number of towns they have moved into is also 9, and they have confined themselves to their towns and cut off all communication with the outside world. Since the wards were strengthened by a factor of three, it seems that <> did not know any better. "Perhaps, they didn''t want to bring in diseases from the outside." "......" Jin has also read such as ...... where travelers from outside brought viruses etc. to such worlds and they perished. "Yes, I see. ...... they chose their own path, it''s not like people around them can say anything about it." "Yeah, I guess so, Jin." "......" Saki and Erza seemed to agree with Jin. "There are many forms of groups in which people live," said Goose. Goose said. Hannah is silent. As expected, she had yet to express her own opinion. As for Jin, it is too much for him to deal with people''s living space. He does not want to interfere too much. He would be sorry if his uninvited visit resulted in the spread of germs that would be fatal to them. Jin and the others decided to leave the town of Naminthe as it was. "......So, now that we''ve accomplished what we set out to do, let''s go home." "Yes, that was the plan." Palma will be managing the facility here for now. Of course, the transition markers are in place. "I''ll get back to you. I''ll see what I can do. "Yes, sir, my lord." This is the best we can do with Goose. I will stay there for the night. All the facilities inside were usable since <=> had been maintaining them for a long time. There were 5 golems for maintenance, and not only but also regular maintenance of the facility was being done. Therefore, they were able to use the bathrooms and relax. I wonder if this is the same bath that Shuki took. Imagining such a thought, I was deeply moved. Although we had to use the food we had brought with us, the bedding was well-equipped, and for the first time in a long time, we were able to stretch out our limbs and sleep. The next day, Jin and the others went to the hotel. The next day, Jin and the others passed through the partially lifted wards and headed home. "That was quite a worthwhile trip, wasn''t it?" Jin muttered with satisfaction in the car on the way home. "Yes, it was interesting! Hannah agreed. Indeed, Hannah may have gained the most from this trip. "By the way, how should we choose our route? Looking at the simplified map, Jin said to everyone. "If we continue to go around Mt. Funisys, we should be able to snatch the northern edge of the Hariri Desert and enter the Shoro Kingdom. In fact, there is a more detailed map observed by Air Force Golem and confirmed by <>, but I am using the one that shows the approximate topography. "This would be better than going back to Huso from here and from Huso back to Mitsho." If you go around the west side of Mount Zoycata, you will come to a village called Kehi. From there, a road leads to the village of Kehi, not far from the estate of Count Wolfgang Randall von Morgan, Reinhardt''s father. It is also close to Saki''s grandfather, the Marquess Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen. "I think that''s the way to go. I think it makes sense to explore such a route. Saki was the first to agree. "Besides, that route should be close to the route that Goose''s father might have taken, right? "Saki has good intuition. "You''ve got good instincts, Saki. Yes, but not through the Hariri Desert. Jin was giving off hints that it would be impossible to get there in this car. "Jin, I''m sorry. I know it''s presumptuous of me to say this, but I''d like to see the route my father might have taken. Goose also said that he would not force me to go that way, but that he would like me to go that way. "Okay, let''s go back that way then. It was decided. We decided to camp that day at Nygo, just before Battaghtarf. We decided to camp at Nygo before Battaruf that day, because it would be too much trouble to go to Battaruf. Since this was a town we had stopped at on our way out, and since we were sure that it was uninhabited and that there was no particular danger, we drove into the town. "Reiko, are there any creatures here?" Jin asks Reiko, wondering if any wild animals have entered the area. "Yes, there seems to be almost no sign of such creatures, probably because there is no food. There is no grass, so there are no small animals or insects. So there are no predators to hunt them. "I see." However, we still need to put up a barrier just in case. After dinner, Jin looked up at the still-lit sky and checked the tent that Edgar and Aal had set up. He saw a figure outside. "Erza, what''s wrong?You seem to be in low spirits. Jin noticed that Elsa had become even quieter than usual since Naminthe. "......It''s nothing." "It''s nothing. You have a fever, don''t you?" Jin put his hand on Elsa''s forehead as he said this. "Oh..." "Well, I don''t think you have a fever." Erza smiled at Jin and said, "Brother Jin, you don''t have a fever. "Brother Jin, even if you don''t feel well, I can heal myself. "Well, that may be true, but if you are too sick, you may not even be able to activate the healing magic. Elsa chuckled, "Thank you for your concern. I''m not ...... that worried." She whispered and began to explain. "My brother Jin has realized once again that he has no family in this world, and he feels sorry ......." She seemed to have been worried about what Bathes IX and Palma had said to her during the day. Jin couldn''t help but laugh, though it was typical of Erza. "You''re an idiot. Erza has been my family since she became my sister, right?Or was I the only one who thought so?" Elsa''s face turned a little pale for a moment, and then her cheeks turned red. "......Yes. I am already my brother Jin''s family. She replied happily and laid her head on Jin''s shoulder. Despite this incident, the trip home was generally smooth. On the 27th, they camped again near the research center in Adriana, and on the 28th, they bypassed Mount Funicis and reached the northern edge of the Hariri Desert. "Tomorrow we will be able to cross the border." Jin declared in a sombre voice. There is no clear line in this area, but he judged the line between the ridge of Mount Funisys and the northern edge of the Hariri Desert to be the approximate border. On the 29th, we crossed the border and definitely entered the Shawlo Empire. Our goal was Mount Zoycata. It is about the same height as Mount Funicis, but its shape is rounder and sturdier. We were following the contour lines, so there were no extreme ups and downs, and we were steadily gaining distance. When we reached a point about 100 km northwest of the village of Kehi, we set up camp. "We can reach the village of Kehi tomorrow. "Well, I''m really starting to miss the countryside." Saki''s line was filled with a common sentiment. 937 - - 26-47 Shortcuts Kehi village is the northernmost village of the Shoro Kingdom, along with Tehadaki village on the opposite side of Mt. Latitudinally, it is close to Kaina village, but its inland location makes the climate more arid. "The wheat is beginning to grow. It is almost the end of April, and the season will soon turn into early summer. Lush ears of barley are poking through the sky. "Ah, spring is already on its way, isn''t it? These were the words that came out of Jin''s mouth. Perhaps he was a bit sentimental after a month-long trip. We decided to stay the night in the village of Kehi. However, there is no inn in the village, so I talked to the village chief and stayed at his house. Jin is a <, and Erza is a < female baroness, but they do not identify themselves as such. They only said they were returning from a research trip. "No, no, it is very unusual to have a guest in such a remote village. "What kind of people do you have?" Jin asked, intrigued by the mayor''s words. "People who claim to be alchemists come here every once in a while," he said. ......Maybe my father came too. "Oh?What is your father''s name, young lady? The village head heard Saki''s murmur and asked her, "His name is Toa. Saki answered. "I remember you, Mr. Toa, about a year ago, I think, when you said you were going to survey the Kruger Mountains. It seemed that Saki''s father, Toa, had been here before. "My father came to ....... I see. Did he say anything else? The chief thought for a moment, "Yes. ...... I heard that you are looking for your missing friend." As far as Saki knew, the only friend of Toa''s father who was missing was Goose''s father, Mark. Saki wondered how her father felt about Mark, who must have been an invaluable friend to Toa. Goose remained silent, as if thinking about something. The chief did not know anything more, so he changed the subject. "Do alchemists often come to this village?" "No, there are only one or two a year. Most of them come here as a foothold for research in the Kruger Mountains or the Hariri Desert. "I see." I have heard that the Kruger Mountains are rich in metal resources. Saki seemed to know a lot about the area since she had heard about it from her father, Thor. "And I''ve also heard that rare minerals are sometimes found in the Hariri Desert. "You know a lot, don''t you? Yes, we have some such minerals at home. They were given to us by an alchemist who used to stay with us. Would you like to see them? Saki was intrigued by the mayor''s words. "Yes, please! The village headman retreated to a back room and came back immediately with a medium-sized box. "This is it. "Oh!" "This is ......! "About 40 years ago, my father was given this by an alchemist who was visiting at the time." It was a rose-like stone made of sand. "The Desert Rose: ......" "He called it a rose made of sand. "...... Mysterious stone." "I didn''t know such a shape could be created naturally. ......" "Roses turned to stone?" "Wow, interesting stone!" While everyone was admiring the stone, Jin had seen one in his high school science lab. <, it is actually crystals of calcium sulfate, or (sometimes it is also , but most of the time it is gypsum. This baryte is a sulfate mineral composed mainly of barium). On Earth, the Sahara Desert is a famous source. Anyway, Jin had seen it once before, and although he was not as impressed as the others, the first sighting had a great impact on him, he remembered those days and felt a little nostalgic. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning, Jin gave the chief a gratuity and left the village of Kehi by car. "Oh, it''s May today, isn''t it? The season had changed, and it was May with the winds of early summer. The temperature seemed to have risen even more since we were moving south. "I''d like to get into Count Randall''s territory by the end of the day, even if I have to push a little harder." We decided that the road surface was better prepared than the roadless road we had been on so far, and that we could increase our speed. The road to Banne is about 250 kilometers away. At 25 kilometers per hour for 10 hours, we might be able to make it. "Father, why don''t you call already?" "Oh, I see. ......" There is no problem for Jin, the Shoro Imperial Prince, to ride on the Konlon 2. If there is, it is to explain to Goose. The ship is now moored on the rooftop of Reuthert''s house, so it should not take more than two hours to get here. (You might want to contact him somehow on the way and have him come and pick you up.) They say that one more thing to hide would not make any difference now. It''s a bit of an open statement, to say the least. "Is that OK with you? ...... Okay, Reiko, let''s do that." "Yes!" Reiko first contacted the old man with the built-in manacam and left the details to him. She would confide in him about Goose later on, after she had carefully considered whether or not he would be allowed to join the . With that decided, Jin slowed down the car. < and the would know where Jin and the others were, there was no need for them to stay still, so he didn''t do anything to stop them. "Father, they are here." About two hours later, Reiko announced the approach of Conlon 2. "Okay, let''s stop the car." We were just on an empty plain between villages, so it was convenient. "Jin, what''s this Conlon 2 you''ve been talking about?" Goose asked. "Seeing is believing. Jin points to the sky. Conlon 2 is descending. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!What the hell is that! The cry is either one of surprise or fear. Conlon 2 lands, leaving Goose in a state of surprise and panic. "Thank you, Lily, Rose." Lily and Rose of the new and improved covert task force (SP) appear at the door. A steward came down. "Come on, Goose, let''s go." Saki urges Goose, who is frozen in surprise. Jin and the others, including Edgar and Aal, go to Conlon 2. Steward takes the car in exchange. The plan is to continue the trip to Leuthart''s house. However, there is a possibility that we may have to go through Horai Island once on the way. All the luggage was reloaded, and Conlon 2 started off. "Wow, it''s flying! "Of course it''s flying. It''s made to fly!" Saki kept quiet the whole time as Goose was amazed. 938 - - 26-48 Return home After less than two hours in the air, landed on the rooftop of Jin''s mansion in Loizart, the capital of the Shoro Empire. "So this is the capital. ......" Saki kept Goose quiet for a little less than two hours, and finally explained about the Shoro Empire. "First, you can relax." Jin led the way down from Conlon 2, and Barrow was there to greet him. "Welcome back, Mr. Jin. I was surprised when you called me out of the blue this morning. "There are many guests here. I''m sorry to call on such short notice, but are you ready to go? "Yes, that''s all right." He had informed Butler D to prepare hospitality as soon as he left Conlon 2. "That''s fine. ...... This is Mister Goose, our best guest. You know the rest, don''t you?" Goose, Saki, Hannah, and Elsa disembarked. Reiko, Aru, and Edgar were the last to disembark. "Mr. Goose, welcome. ...... yes Saki-sama, Hannah-sama. Welcome to our home. Welcome back, Miss Elsa. I went down from the rooftop and went to the bathroom first. It is still early afternoon, but everyone is dusty since they could not take a bath last night. The ladies were especially pleased with this bath. Since Goose was also a fully dressed mahjong player, Jin ordered him to change his clothes, so that he would look refreshed after taking a bath. "You look good in Shoro''s imperial clothes, don''t you? "Oh, thank you, Jin. "Take a good rest today, and tomorrow we will go to Miyagi to apply for naturalization. As one would expect after a month-long trip, Jin did not want to act hastily. Meanwhile, the women came out of the bath. They had all changed from their travel clothes into dresses, which made them look all the more glamorous. "Thank you, Jin. I feel refreshed. I love taking a bath!" "That felt so good!" Saki and Hannah have cherry-red cheeks after taking a bath. "Where''s Erza?" Saki asks Jin if Elsa is not with them, Saki replies, "She got out before us. Saki replies, "She got up there before us. Just then, a voice called out to Jin from behind him. "Jin, I''m here." "What?" He turned around to see Erza standing there, dressed in her normal clothes. "What?Didn''t Erza change into a dress? This was a natural question from Jin, who wondered. "Hmm. I have to entertain our guests. "You don''t have to do that." "Well, as a young wife, I guess you can''t be too hard on yourself. Hey, Elsa..." Elsa''s cheeks flushed when Saki told her. "Saki, you''re so mean." "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. But that''s actually what it is, isn''t it?" "...... can''t deny it." As they were exchanging these words, Jin called out to them. "Saki, please be careful with Goose. "Oh, me, huh?" "Yeah. I''m related to Mr. Toa, and we seem to be on the same page there. Saki was a little cagey at Jin''s words, but she agreed with him. "Well, I''ll give it a try." Then they had a little late lunch. "Oh, this is delicious! Goose is impressed with the white rice. Fluffy japonica rice cooked in a kettle. And miso soup with topopo and marunegi (potatoes and onions) in a broth made from bonito stock. "Ah, I haven''t tasted this in a long time." Jin is eating a grilled dried horse mackerel. It doesn''t look like a lunch menu, but he couldn''t resist the urge to eat it, so this is the menu he has chosen. "The bread is delicious!" The bread that Hanna is eating now is made with that Perid had painstakingly created on Horai Island. The old man suggested that since wine ferments, it could be used to ferment bread as well, and after much trial and error, they have finally succeeded in perfecting the process. The flavor of the bread is slightly different from that of the bread made from selected <> yeast, which we have been using for a while now. In fact, such bread is produced in modern Japan. Incidentally, this yeast, like beer yeast, can be used anytime since it is <> from <>. The old breadcrumbs are baked before being used for fish in the fish pond, so there is no waste. "Thank you for the food. After the meal, we finish with a cup of tea from the Shoro Kingdom. "Hmmm, this tea tastes good, too! Guth commented that although the varieties of the tea trees were slightly different, the taste of the two teas was very similar. "At any rate, I''m relieved." Jin also said to Guth as he sipped his tea. "Hmm?What is it? "The food. The taste of home should make you nostalgic, shouldn''t it?If you have no problem with the taste here, I think you''ll be able to adjust quite easily. Jin was also concerned about Goose, since he had done so much to recreate the taste he was used to in Japan. "Oh, my father used to cook for me a lot. I''m familiar with the flavors from there, too." "I see." It seems that Guth''s father, Mark, was used to cooking for himself, and even when he went to Husau, he fed his family with homemade food in his own way. "My dad doesn''t cook much, though. ......" Saki muttered with a somewhat disappointed look on her face. "But that doesn''t mean my sister doesn''t cook either. "Erza? "...... back at you." Saki had been teasing Erza a lot lately, so she took this opportunity to hit back. It was a peaceful moment. Then Barrow came in. "I apologize for interrupting your pleasant conversation. Mr. Jin, you have a visitor. Mr. Toa, Mr. Steareena is here." "Oh, in a way, just as well. Send him in. Yes, sir. Jin-kun, I''m sorry to disturb you. Saki, I''m home. ...... or should I say welcome home? Toa and Stearina were also on their honeymoon in Mitsuho. "Father, welcome home. And I''m home. Father and daughter greet each other. Then Saki suddenly says, "Dad, do you remember a man named Mark?" asked Toa. "Mark?Of course I remember him!He was my childhood friend and best friend!He went to ...... to investigate and never came back. ......" "Dad, this Goose is Mark''s son!" "What?" Surprised by his daughter''s statement, Toa stared intently at Goose''s face. "Hmmm......... his eyes and hair color are different, but his face looks a lot like Mark''s........." "Well, Mr. Toa, right?My father told me a lot about you. When we were kids, we used to misbehave together. ......" Hearing this, Toa''s face falls. "Oh, I see. Where is he now?" But the answer is ruthless. "He passed away a long time ago." "Oh my God!Oh, my God! ...... such as Mr. Goose, can you tell us about Mark?" "Yes. Can you tell us about your father? "Oh, yes, of course. Then Jin interrupted. "In that case, it would be better in your room, not here. Barrow, show him the way. "Yes, of course. Stearina, who had seen them, took notice of them. "You, I''ll go over here and talk to Mr. Jin and the others. Thank you, Leena. Thus, Toa and Goose went to their rooms, and Stearina was chatting with Jin and the others in the dining room. "I didn''t know you two were already home," Saki said. Saki said, "We just went to Miyako and came back. About ten days. You guys have come a long way, haven''t you? Stearina said. The men told Stearina, in turn, about the foreign countries they had visited. 939 - - 26-49 Next Goals After breakfast the next day, Jin took Erza, Saki, Toa, and Goose to Miyagi in <>. She was accompanied only by Reiko. Hannah is staying at home this time. "Goose, are you sure about this?" Jin made a last check on his application for naturalization. "Yes. I talked to Mr. Toa yesterday and we decided that I belong here. I don''t have any more encumbrances over there. ......" "I see. Good. He said that there is no such thing as a family register in Fuso, so there is no problem there. "Look, I''m already in Miyagi." After a brief flight, Conlon 2 descended to its own landing pad. The usual guards arrived and greeted Jin. The knights of the Kingsguard and the Prime Minister, Jung Forss von K?bsler, also flew in. "<>, welcome! "I have much to report to Your Majesty, how are you?" This is for the Prime Minister. "Since yesterday afternoon, Your Majesty has refrained from holding office in case the Korun-kun arrives at any time. ......" "Yes. ......" Jin was at a loss for words for a moment, but when he saw the smirking Prime Minister''s face, he realized that he was joking. "Prime Minister, your joke is too harsh. "No, I''m sorry. But, please put yourself in the shoes of someone like me who has heard more than twenty times during the course of my duties. The prime minister looks tired, "I''m sorry to hear that ......." He could only say, "I''m sorry to hear that . Once there, Jin and the others were taken to a small reception room. Only Jin was called there first. Of course, Reiko went with him. "Jin-kun, welcome back. Did you have a good trip? When he was shown into the office, a question from the emperor came out of nowhere. "Yes, yes. "Yes, yes. It was a trip with a lot of rewards," she replied. Jin replied, submitting his report. Of course, it was written on a piece of paper, which he had compiled in a hurry last night. "Oh, you''re good. You''re good. I''ll take my time reading it later. After receiving the document, the queen handed it to the Prime Minister. "And here is a reproduction of a tool I found on my journey. Jin presented the clock. It was made of wood and fitted with the same movement as a pocket watch. "Well, what is this?" It''s called a wall clock. The short hand indicates hours and the long hand indicates minutes. After listening to the explanation and looking at the clock, the emperor broke into a smile. "That''s wonderful!Thank you, <>." Jin explained how to wind the mainspring that powers the clock, and that the clock needs to be corrected from time to time because it has an error. "You didn''t use any magic at all. That''s amazing." Although it is not a product of magical engineering, it can only be made in Horai Island so far. "Well, don''t you have some kind of favor to ask me today?" The emperor is a woman with good intuition. "Yes, actually. ...... Jin explained briefly about the goose. "I see, I understand. I''ll allow him to become a naturalized citizen, with Toa as ...... Guth''s guardian. "Thank you very much." I was very happy to hear that, since I had originally followed Toa with the intention of asking him to do so. "So, you called me into the next room, didn''t you, Prime Minister?" "Yes. Thore Eschenbach, his daughter Saki, and Goose are here. Prime Minister Jungfrau answers. "Call all three of them!" Thus, Guth is granted an audience with the emperor and is allowed to become a naturalized citizen. "......I was very nervous indeed." Guth had not expected to be summoned out of the blue by the empress. "Mr. Toa, I am looking forward to working with you from now on. Still, he greeted her with a firm greeting. "Yes, it''s nice to meet you, Mr. Goose. Dad and Stearina are newlyweds, so leave it to me. Saki says, taking care of him. "Oh, you don''t mind, do you?" "Yes, Dad. "Well, it''s okay, Dad. Aal will be there too." Jin, who was listening to the conversation, thought that the last part of the conversation was ruined, and Goose showed an unusually embarrassed face and said the line. "Saki, please take care of me from now on." I think I have a lot to learn from you." * * * After the Goose incident was over, Jin took Hannah, Erza, and Reiko to the village of Kaina. Of course, they moved to Kaina village with Hanna, Erza, and Reiko. This was the first time he explained to Hanna about the warp gate in detail. "Hmmm, you can use this kind of magic tool!That''s amazing! Hannah is excited. However, she also understands that this technique is not something she should talk about with others. "You can only talk about it to people you are allowed to talk about it to, right?I''ll keep my promise!" This before Jin could say anything. Jin thinks that the day when Hannah will be officially welcomed into the may not be far off. But that''s about it. "Grandma, I''m home! As soon as she stepped out of the warp gate in the basement of Jin''s workshop, she ran up the stairs like a rabbit and jumped into Martha''s arms. "Hannah, welcome back. You look good. You''ve grown a little taller, haven''t you? Jin, Elsa, and Reiko had been by her side the whole time, but she was only 10 years old and must have missed her own grandmother. "Welcome back, Jin-sama. Welcome back, Elsa." Erza''s mother, Meene, also welcomed them. She teaches children to read and write in the village of Kaina. "I''m home, Mother." Jin went upstairs to his workshop so as not to disturb his grandmother and grandchildren, mother and daughter, who had not seen each other for a long time. "Father, would you like me to make you some tea? Reiko asked thoughtfully. "Yes, please." The village of Kaina is Jin''s second home. Sipping the tea Reiko made, Jin looked out the window. The ears of wheat had come in and would be harvested in less than a month. Then we would have to decide what to do with the girls from the village of Lalio that we had taken under our protection. Some of them, like Ru, have been adopted, and others, like Kana, have offered to be Rick''s wife. Most of these children are orphans, and those who have expressed a desire to return seem to be those who have parents. Either way, Jin wanted to respect their wishes. "Besides, there''s a spaceship or ......." Tomorrow, they will move to Horai Island, where they will be occupied for a while. The approaching long-period planets, the mysterious , and Hale, the home of the . There are so many things I want to see when I can go to space. After all, we still don''t know much about our predecessors." As for Jin, this trip has made him wonder if there is a grave of his predecessor somewhere in Horai Island. Because Reiko''s predecessor, Automata, would have buried her there. However, Reiko just does not remember where it is now. With the magic that summons her across time and space, Reiko has lost that memory. "If we examine that missing control core, we might be able to find out something. ......" The control core was carefully handled and stored in a safe place, just in case. "We still have a lot of work to do. ......" Still, Jin has his friends, his family, and the children he has created. The craftsmanship of the < will continue. 940 - - 26-50 Record of a wise man in Tosa, 53 idle stories One day, when Jin returned to Horai Island, the old man spoke to him. "Yes, what is it?" "In Tosa?" < It was kept in the base of a monument on the outskirts of Tosa. When the annual drying of insects took place, John decided to reapply the taphon, and he forwarded the contents to the old man. It was a kind of summary of what Shuki Tsetsi had done in the land of <>. "Shuki was a meticulous man, wasn''t he? ......" Jin listened to the old man''s report. * * * * <> left his home base in Newell and set out on a journey. After the death of his beloved wife, Adriana, Shuki continued to teach the younger generation in Newell. Although he could not use magic himself, he understood the Magick Formula, so it was not a problem for him to teach them. For 40 years, Shuki had lived with the Tierra family, educating and training mages and developing various magical tools, including automata and golems, but the Tierra family''s generation had changed and he felt uncomfortable, He decided to visit other places. <<<< The Wise Man (Magus)>> hardly aged outwardly, which also seems to have contributed to his mystification>>. This is because his body has been replaced by a magical atom (magiatom). On his journey, eight of his disciples, who were so fascinated by him, left Newell together. The first destination was the west. The first stop was in the west, a place that was severely culturally backward compared to Newell. <<<< Magus lived there for another 33 years, bringing knowledge, magic and magical tools to his land. The eight disciples who followed him also buried their bones there and devoted themselves to the cultural development of the area. However, they were not able to pass on the knowledge of magical engineering. The magical engineering systematized by the genius Adriana could not be mastered by ordinary mages, and there were not many people with magical talents in the area. However, we were able to help in the development of nameless settlements that became villages and towns. Most of the towns and villages were named after Shuki. It was also to the credit of Shuki Tsetsi, the Wise One, that the towns and villages were united into a single country called . The settlement where he spent the most time was Nade. There he left a memento, as he was begged. <> set out on his journey. This time he went south with the seven disciples he had taught in Husor. The people living there were of the same level as in old Husor. <>. Here his magical skills grew. One of the apprentices he brought with him was so talented that he was finally able to develop a magic that could interfere with <>. Combined with the magic that interferes with that Adriana had been studying, the prototype of the Warp Gate was finally completed. Although its operation is still unstable, it is still the world''s first Warp Gate. In addition, using the magical engineering that had been developed up to that point, they created an automata, an educator. Automata and Warp Gate. Using these, Shuki builds a system where the benefits of magical technology can be received for many years to come. In Mitsuho, the emphasis was placed on ordinary tools rather than magic tools, and a factory was constructed using golems, based on the experience gained in Fusoh. The result is the factory on the outskirts of Miyako. While living in <, he also traveled to the south. And then he reached the sea. He settled in a town rich in seafood and named it , and taught its residents how to make katsuobushi. Shuki also taught them how to make miso. He also found japonica rice, selected and cultivated it repeatedly, and selected varieties of rice that could almost be called "Uruuchi-rice" and "Glutinous rice". Having passed on as much of his rice cultivation know-how as he could, Shuki set his sights on the next land. < That is the end of the record found in Tosa. I see. I see ...... that we know the footsteps of the wise men (Magus) in Mitzkhot and Huso. But ......." After listening to the report, Jin felt that it was a rather clerical description. The memoirs he had read in the basement of the institute were much more vivid. "I guess that''s what I''m ...... thinking without Adriana." "Yes?" Jin had no idea what the symbolic number the old man was referring to. <> Yeah, 1119 years ago. I just subtracted 2339 from 3458. "Hmm?Let''s see... ...... Oh, I see." Reiko has been searching for Jin for 1024 years. 3456 (the year Jin was summoned) - 1024 - 9 0 = 2342. This means that it is about the year when the previous generation was born. "Then, the predecessor must have been from the Shoro Empire ......, or perhaps there was no Shoro Empire at that time, but a country or a town or ...... that existed there?" <> The old man said regretfully. It is regrettable for Jin, too. But we are lucky to have been able to trace back the roots of our predecessors, or rather the roots of magical engineering. "I hope we will have another chance to do this kind of research again. "Yes, that would be good." Thus, the question about the <> and the different peoples was cleared up for the time being. However, the mystery of Jin''s predecessor, Adriana Barbora Tsezi, was still behind the curtain of the past. The difference between the present and the past. The lost art of magic. The has yet to be found. <<<> suggests that it was still under study at the time. "Yes. <, maybe it was only because it was Adriana Tierra that she could use it. ......" There were many things I gained from this visit to a foreign country, but the most important of all was that I was able to reaffirm <. Jin Nido as a gentile (tranger), and Jin Nido as a man who passes on the technology of the past to the present. How should we use and pass on our knowledge and power? The answer is not yet in sight, but we have been shown some precedents to compare and think about. "Education ....... , indeed." The method is still being explored. "A more advanced world is not necessarily a better world. When I think about what is the happiness of people, it is not so easy to answer, "It would be good if we could help people to feel less sad, wouldn''t it? Reiko responded to this murmur. "Yes, father. Your mother once said something like that. "I see. I am not yet as firm in my convictions as my predecessors or Mags, but I still have my own way of thinking about this. But even so, Jin vowed once again to live in this world in his own way. 941 - - 27-01 Pre-production Spacecraft On the morning of May 5th, Jin woke up in his house on Horai Island. It is a quiet morning with only the sound of birdsong. Erza is with her mother, Meene, in the village of Kaina. Jin is the only human on Horai Island now. "Ah, I slept well. "Father, you''re awake." Reiko, sensing that Jin had awakened, opened the sliding door and showed herself in. "Yes, I''m completely exhausted. "I''m glad to hear that." I''m going to start working on the spaceship today. "Yes, sir." During the month or so that Jin had been visiting a foreign country, the old man had been leading the prototype and operational tests of the spaceship. Today is the day to hear the report. Jin finished the breakfast that Reiko had prepared for him and went to the laboratory. In the vestibule, there was a spaceship with a diameter of 10 meters. "I saw it yesterday, but it still seems big. The spaceship is almost spherical in shape. The crew is the same size as . This is a miniature golem, the <> series, measuring 40 centimeters in height. Since it is a quarter of Jin''s size, the time and materials for prototyping were saved. "Yes, please." In the control room of the Horaijima Research Institute, Jin receives a thorough explanation from the old man. The miniature craftsman (Smith) is 10 cm tall. It took four days to accumulate the know-how for the spherical spacecraft proposed by Jin. >. "Hmm?What do you mean? > "Oh, I see. There is no gravity that can be used as a reference." < He deduced the data obtained from the data and identified the problem. Without a reference point, it is difficult to stop a spacecraft when it starts a rotational motion. It reminded him of the failed attempt to launch a geostationary satellite. "Yes, indeed." The problem when acting as a fleet is the sharing of reference points. The direction of movement can be determined, but if the reference plane is different for each spacecraft, the directions will not be aligned. If the flagship gives an instruction such as "change course 30 degrees upward," it will be a problem. Of course, it is a navigational problem, so it is better to have a reference plane, but it is still undesirable for each spacecraft to have a different <>. < Unless otherwise indicated, the reference plane is the plane parallel to the circle (or more precisely, the ellipse) around which Ars orbits. > "That will be the case. "That would be the case." When the flagship says steer, all ships turn to the left. > "I see. "I see. I see." << "No, that''s fine. I''m not going to go out of the solar system just for the heck of it." < The next step is to go out into space, overcoming the force of gravity, and then re-enter the atmosphere. For this, the data of < and re-entry into the atmosphere were useful. "Yes, I think that is correct. Since the failure of <>, Jin has been very cautious about space expansion. < The old man, taking over Jin''s prudence, also took double and triple safety measures. > and <> have been installed. The wind deflector is currently incapable of displacing air molecules at speeds faster than Mach 3. The physical barrier generator (barrier projector) protects the hull from overheating caused by adiabatic compressed air. At the same time, the air collision is mitigated by the wind-avoidance boundary. "Oh, yes!" << "That''s great news." << The maximum speed was approximately 300 km per second and the maximum acceleration was 20G. "That''s great for a prototype. ...... Well done." . "And the one that was in the vestibule was a quarter of that size, right?" The old man then reports the results of the test. << "What is it?" "I see. ......" Even outer space is not a perfect vacuum. Even a microscopic meteorite or a tiny speck of cosmic dust can be fatal to a spacecraft flying at very high speeds. "Even in space, barriers will be essential." . I agree with you, old man. "I see. ......" 300 kilometers per second is more than Mach 880 on the ground. The maximum output of Reiko''s special weapon, the Magi Cannon, is Mach 80. Even a tiny speck of cosmic dust would have a powerful destructive power if hit by a collision at a speed more than 10 times that much. "Hmmm ......" Jin considers various ways to increase the strength of the barrier. The simplest one is to multiply them. Two barrier generators (barrier projectors) would double the strength of the barrier. But it is not very smart. "How to make it more efficient: ......" Jin is pondering. But his face is happy. It''s a look that says he enjoys thinking up new ideas. Then, Jin comes up with an idea. "Yes!What if we put up a material shielding ward with the same configuration as ...... wind shielding?" Since wind shields move air molecules, Jin thought, it would be better to use a larger object as the target. However, Jin comes up with an even more outrageous idea. "......Wait a minute.If you want to move an object, there is ......<." 942 - - 27-02 Space Suit Development "If we deploy the transition boundary in the direction of travel and shift it backward, any obstacles will not hit the hull. But ......" But there is one problem with constant deployment. "We can''t see what''s ahead, can we? ......" Yes, you can''t see beyond the transition boundary. To be precise, you can only see a chaotic , which is neither gray nor dark. "But if we develop this barrier, we might be invincible. The theory is that since any physical attack will cause it to shift, the main body cannot be harmed even a single scratch. "But, well, let''s leave such a delusional idea aside. But he was unaware that the old man had heard his muttering. Jin thinks again about increasing the speed in space. "How about a conical shape with a superposition of ...... wind and matter shielding wards? He thought that by changing the shape, the efficiency might change as well. . "All right, let''s experiment right away." Thus, the barrier generator (barrier projector) of the 10-meter class spaceship was modified. This is a simple task, and it takes only 20 minutes. After that, the test is conducted. . "Yes. It might be quicker to check in an area where there is a little atmosphere, even if it is dilute. Finally, it is time to launch. Jin is the first one to see the launch with his own eyes. The launch with the <> is a piece of cake, though. He starts at a comfortable acceleration. Even so, it quickly disappears from sight. We are tracking it with the <>. You can also see the image from the <>. The old man told Jin and projected the spaceship on the magic screen. "I see, it is very impressive in this way. Based on the bitter lesson learned from the failure of Satellite 001, they were able to come this far. We are about to find out how effective the conical warding will be. < The old man''s instructions are transmitted to the golems in the spaceship through the manacam. "Oh? The spaceship in the image sent by the watcher suddenly gets smaller and smaller. >. The image switches to the one from the watcher in the direction of travel. The spaceship is approaching at high speed. "Oh, yes! If we optimize the shape of the cone, we may be able to improve it a little more. Jin''s heart pounded. Since acceleration has nothing to do with the barrier, the increase from 20G to 25G is simply due to the larger shape of the barrier. <>. "Yes." The quarter-size prototype spacecraft will be used to test its habitability and other features. The 10-meter class can also be tested with small animals on board. < "Oh, that''s one way to do it. It''s more of an emergency measure or a subterfuge. "Oh, that''s great." Then you will be able to go into space on it. "Father, it''s dangerous." Reiko, who had been silent up to now, shouts at him. There are many dangers in space. I don''t want your father to go there if at all possible. Even I would not be safe if I did not have this body that your father made for me. Reiko recalls how she was on the edge of her seat when she retrieved the failed . "I appreciate your concern, but that''s why I''m trying to make it as safe as possible. Hitoshi also retorts. "......You want to go, after all. ......" Reiko, knowing that Jin would not back down from something like this, made a sighing gesture. The old man followed Reiko. "Well, I''ll develop what I think you''ll need," he said. "I will help you. But first, please have lunch. "Oh, it''s that time already." After finishing the lunch prepared by Soleil and Luna, Jin and Reiko moved to the workshop. Since we also have a manacam (magic element communication device) here, we can contact each other immediately in case of any problems during the spaceship test. "First of all, we need space suits. The first thing we need is a space suit that will protect us from air leaks. The question is what material to use. Right now, Jin is thinking of two materials. <> >. >><>>>>. "I would like to do a comparison test of these ......" He felt that there would be no problem with the strength and heat resistance of either material, but he could not answer the question of the environment of vacuum and extreme cold, and the deterioration. So, Jin asked Lao-kun to conduct a comparison test of the materials. < "Yes, of course. The very precious material, <>, is not supposed to be used without Jin''s permission. "Now, let''s wait for the report from the old man about the material of the space suit. As for the functions of the space suit, there are still some things that are needed. 1. artificial gravity 2. excrement disposal Attitude control 4. conversation 5. Eating 6. Heat retention and insulation 7. Harmful radiation shielding 8. Self-defense 9. breathing Jin will make notes as he thinks of them. As he is not an expert, he does not know the order of priorities, nor can he compare them with those in operation on the earth today. However, it seems to me that all of them can be solved with the technology that Jin has today. 1 is gravity magic, 2 is or , 3 is a force field generator Force Generator. 4 is a manacam, 5 needs to be developed, and 6 depends on materials. 7 is also dependent on materials, but it is also possible to create wards. 8 is a barrier and a weapon, and 9 also needs to be developed. "First of all, we need to eat while wearing a space suit. ......" Jin thinks that Persica juice should be the base food. It is high in calories and contains vitamins, minerals and water. "So it would be ......" There is something called a hydration system. This is a system that allows climbers to drink water from a hose that extends to their mouths without having to take out a water bottle or cup every time they climb a mountain or go trail running. "We should install such a tank in the space suit so that we can drink whenever we want. Jin thinks that the tank should have a capacity of at least three meals. "We should also be able to refill the tank from the outside, or use a cartridge type or a tank type. Jin thinks about it a lot. <>, he thought as he worked out the specifications, although he was not sure what he had read or who had told him. 943 - - 27-03 Final stage The term "homeostasis" is used to describe the maintenance of homeostasis. The term is often used to refer to the self-preservation function of living organisms. It refers to the action of maintaining a constant body temperature and a constant blood pH level by sweating when it is hot and shivering when it is cold. In rare cases, this action can be translated into maintaining a constant environment such as room temperature and humidity. And Jin had come up with the idea. "Feedback, or ......". If the temperature rises, lower it; if it drops too low, raise it. The same goes for humidity. When the oxygen level goes down, it goes up, and when it goes up too much, it goes down. Jin was trying to create a magi-machine with these functions. And this is a technology that can be applied not only to maintaining the environment inside a spacesuit, but also to the inside of a spaceship. "If it''s just temperature, you''re using a thermostat. ......" The key to this technology is the sensor. This means that sensors that detect temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration, CO2 (carbon dioxide) concentration, etc. as accurately as possible are needed. This is a very difficult task for Jin. "Oxygen and carbon dioxide can be detected by applying the magic tools of ," he says. Jin thought it would be possible to detect dangerous gases. "Temperature and humidity. ......" Temperature is especially difficult. Humidity only oscillates between 0 and 100 percent, so I think it can be done by applying <>. Temperature, however, can only be known relatively since there is no standard to quantify it. For those who cannot use magic, humidity can be known as <>. However, there is no such a reference point for temperature, so it must be set by the magician. And that < is difficult. The difficulty is so high that even Jin could only set <, and even if he did it 10 times, he would not be able to get the same value. "I guess 0C and 100C. ......" "It is difficult, father." "...... something on your mind?" While Jin and Reiko were having a hard time, Elsa came over to them. "Hey, Elsa, how are things in the village of Kaina?" She was supposed to be teaching the children for the first time in a while, along with Meane. I''m done. ...... Jin, no way!" "What? Jin couldn''t help but look at the window of the workshop. It was dark. It was definitely past 6 pm. Considering the time difference, Erza must have left the village of Kaina around 4:00 p.m. "...... was a close call." This line is quite natural for Jin, who is so absorbed in his work that he does not even eat his dinner if left alone. "I have to be careful, Reiko," he said. "...... No, I was going to force your father to take him to dinner at 7:00 PM." Reiko seemed to have known that, and she was going to wait until the last minute to interrupt Jin''s deep thinking. Luna and Soleil had already prepared the meal, so Elsa and Jin joined them at the table. "The rice at Horai Island is delicious. "Yes, it''s delicious, isn''t it? "Thank you." Soleil, who was in charge of the dinner, bowed her head. The staple food in Kaina Village is barley (bread and porridge), so the rice is the best in Houraishima. Tofu made from bittern extracted from seawater and soup stock made from kelp found by the mermaid team from the northern sea are also unique to this place. After-meal teas are available in a variety of teas, including Teh Kahi, Perhia, green tea, black tea, hoji tea, and genmaicha (brown rice tea). In this case, I chose hojicha. "...... delicious." Sipping the tea, which had been cooled down to the right temperature, Jin talks to Erza. "About earlier, I was wondering how to make a temperature sensor. I omitted the part about what it would be used for, but Elsa seemed to have a vague idea. "You were wondering why there is no ...... standard?" That''s what I''d expect. Erza is already a top-notch magical engineer (magi engineer), so she seems to have an idea of what Jin is worried about. "Temperature is difficult to control without a reference point. "Yes, that''s right." "...... is indeed difficult to control." After that, Elsa also became silent and thoughtful. "The point is, we just need some criteria,......." At this point, Jin came up with an idea. "Right, a standard!We can memorize the conditions of 20 or 30 degrees Celsius in the magi crystal and use it." This idea is similar to the one used in electric circuits, where a reference voltage is created for comparison. "Well, that''s doable." "Now we just need to figure out how to record the temperature ......" This is another difficult problem. Humidity can be defined as water molecules in a certain space, but when it comes to temperature ....... Jin and Elsa ponder again. "Is a thermometer the only way? ......" That''s where we end up. "The simplest, or rather the easiest, way to make a thermometer is to monitor the thermometer''s scale with the golem''s eyes and make a judgment. ...... I don''t think that''s very smart. "Let''s see if we can''t make a thermometer by some other method." In modern Japan, there are various types of thermometers other than those using mercury and alcohol. There are thermocouples, which are made by joining two different metals, and radiation thermometers that use infrared rays. "Oh, yes, infrared rays!" Also known as heat rays, they are electromagnetic waves with wavelengths longer than 700 nanometers, and unfortunately humans cannot see them, but Reiko can. What color they are, I can''t imagine. But, indeed, Reiko and other automata and golems can < them. "We can make them remember the of the room temperature and control them to maintain that ." "...... Jin brother, it''s too hard to understand." Erza is unable to fully understand Jin''s explanation. "Oh, oh, I''m sorry. ......Well, maybe it''s time for Erza to have the final stage of <>." After several , Elsa now has the knowledge of a high school graduate in modern Japan. The final stage is the specialized knowledge including miscellaneous knowledge that Jin has carefully selected. This includes knowledge obtained from science fiction novels, anime, and manga, knowledge learned from newspapers, TV, and other media, and knowledge learned in training after entering the workforce. The knowledge that Jin had carefully selected from among them as being worth learning was the final stage. Jin took the magi crystals of all attributes from the vault attached to the wall and presented them to Erza along with another magi crystal. "Erza, this is the final stage of knowledge. Will you accept it?" Of course, this is not all the knowledge Jin has. It does not include knowledge that he does not need to know. "...... Yes, with pleasure." Erza accepted the magi crystal without hesitation, knowing that this would allow her to help Jin even more. She then immediately transfers the information to another unrecorded magi crystal. "<>" Thus, the information converted into Erza''s own magical patterns can be read directly and taken into her brain. "<>" Erza transfers the information from the Magi Crystal into her own head. "......" The carefully selected knowledge is not a big burden, but even so, Erza is a little confused by the sudden increase in knowledge. However, she is calmed down with time. "......Thank you, Brother Jin. I look forward to working with you in the future. "Yes, Erza. I will always be with you. "...... nn." Erza nodded her head with a slight blush on her cheeks at these < words from Jin''s mouth. 944 - - 27-04 Magi Inver Erza''s <> has lightened Jin''s burden. "Jin, it''s done." "Oh, here we go." What Erza was making was what is known as a golem''s eye. In other words, a light sensor. "Add the Magi Formula to it," she said. While Erza was making the light sensor, Jin was thinking of a magical control flow (magi sequence) that would use it to measure the temperature. "<>......,>> and. There we go." "Father, is this the correct enclosure?" "Here we go." And Reiko made a housing for them. "Yes, that''s just right. I''ll fit it in like this ......," he said. What Jin had made was a , so to speak. It is about the size of a TV remote control. Instead of an infrared LED, the tip of the device has a made by Erza. This light sensor is pointed at a ceiling or a wall and first stores a reference temperature in the form of infrared radiation. When the infrared radiation is measured at the same location over time, a red light is emitted if the temperature is high and a blue light is emitted if the temperature is low. The reason why they must be in the same place is that the wavelength of the infrared light emitted changes depending on the color of the object. First, Jin points the camera at the ceiling and presses a button to memorize the reference. This will record the wavelength of the infrared radiation emitted by the ceiling. <>" Next, using his engineering magic, he heats the ceiling and points the > at it again, and a red light comes on. "Yes, that''s a success. If we can apply this to the ceiling, we should be able to control the temperature quite precisely. At this point, Erza asked a question. "Brother Jin, I thought that the Keowan ruins that we visited before had air conditioning inside. "Oh, I see." Erza was not as familiar with the past technology as Jin was, so this question was natural. "It didn''t detect temperature," she said. "Then how?" Jin thought for a moment about how to explain this. "Well, it is correct that <> can manipulate thermal energy, isn''t it? "Hm..." "In other words, they experimentally ...... determined the amount of heat that can create a comfortable room temperature ...... through trial and error, and then they fill a certain amount of <>, or room with that amount of heat. I''m not sure." "......What can I say, it''s surprisingly advanced?" Jin nodded. "Yes, it is. Controlling the amount of heat in a given space is quite advanced. However, it is not easy to use, and it cannot be applied. "I see. You can''t change the temperature, and if the size changes, you have to re-set it." "That''s what I mean." Another way to explain it is that the control method is to keep the energy of the air molecules in the room constant. This method is not suitable for controlling the internal temperature of a space suit, which is irregularly shaped. "I understand that it''s not very efficient. "Yes. After repeated exchanges like this, a prototype of the <> was completed by the evening of the same day. * * * * * * * * * * * The material of the space suit was decided to be <>. The old man tested it in space and found that it withstood vacuum, extreme heat, and extreme cold. The same result was obtained with GSP, but the difference in physical strength gave the advantage to the ancient dragon leather. The transparency of GSP is higher. "Brother Jin, is it right that the reason why the material is white when it is in thread form but becomes transparent when it is made into resin is related to <>?" "Yes, I think so." Glass also becomes white when it is crushed into powder. Jin recognizes that this is due to the diffuse reflection of light on the irregularly shaped surface. The same is true of the fine threads of subterranean spiders. But when they are fused together to form a resin, the original transparency of the material is clearly revealed. "Now we just need to find a material for the outer shell. Jin was concerned about the distortion caused by thermal expansion when making such a large object. "<>." The dome of the Tierra family seen in the alien land of <>. It was made of Invar, an alloy of iron and nickel. "But it''s not strong enough. ......" I am worried about the strength to build a large spaceship. "We should develop a new alloy. ...... First, let''s think about strengthening the invar. "It''s the standard mithril-silver addition." Strengthening by magic was popular in Horai Island, including the Magi adamantite. The experiment started the next morning. The first step was to start with 1 percent. Since the experiment was conducted using engineering magic, the efficiency was very high, and the optimum solution was found in the morning. The optimum solution is found in the morning. 62% iron, 32% nickel, 1.5% mithril silver, 4% cobalt, 0.5% manganese, 0.5% manganese, 0.5% manganese, 0.5% manganese, 0.5% manganese, manganese 0.5 percent. It is non-magnetic and has a specific gravity of 8.24, slightly greater than that of ordinary steel. Its strength has been increased more than ten times by strengthening it with magic power. "All right, let''s call it <>." Jin''s way of naming it. It''s a simple name, but it''s easy to understand what kind of alloy it is. Iron and nickel are both metals that are produced in large quantities in Horai Island, so it was also convenient from that point of view. Jin nodded at the old man''s suggestion. "Yes, that is fine. As long as there are no major changes, we can always rework it. This is the beauty of engineering magic. As long as we don''t change the size or shape, we can change the internal structure without any problem. "Wait a minute, how did you come up with that size? < After that, the "Mere Old Man" went on and on explaining his plan to improve the safety of the ship. "......, but that''s ......." Jin also thinks that a diameter of 500 meters is indeed too much. "...... and if we do this, we can get ......." The old man did not back down on this point, and the reconciliation was difficult. "I''m tired of ......." "Jin, thank you." Elsa was also listening to the conversation, but she could not say anything about the spaceship because she did not understand it even if she wanted to. "But I understand your point of view. The less danger, the better. I don''t think there is any need to spare materials for that purpose. Elsa also thought that it was a bad idea to be so generous when it came to the spacecraft that would venture into the unknown world of outer space. "......I guess so. ......" The final size of the spaceship was decided to be 300 meters in diameter. 945 - - 27-05 Reinhardts Birthday Time flies a little, May 10. Today is Reinhard''s birthday. A small birthday party was being held at Reinhardt''s mansion in the village of Kurtz, known as Lankenhaos. "Happy birthday, Reinhard! "Thank you, Jin." "Happy birthday, brother Rai. "Thank you, Erza." "Happy birthday, Reinhard." "Thank you, Saki." "Thank you, Saki. Thank you, Saki. Thank you, Saki. The Jin family was present to celebrate Reinhard''s birthday. It was a pity that Marcia and Rodrigo could not attend because they were on a test voyage of a new ship commissioned by the Kingdom of Elias. Although Reinhardt has a habit of celebrating other people''s birthdays, he does not have to do so when it comes to his own birthday, but this time it was Jin who half-assedly organized the party. The birthday gift from Jin was, of course, a pocket watch. The design was the same as Belle''s and the color was gold. "I''ve been thinking about this since you showed me Belle''s, but it''s even more amazing that it''s not a ...... magical tool." Reinhardt knows all about watches, but he is amazed at the technology of the watch in person. "Thank you, Jin!" For the first time that day, Reinhardt says thank you and checks the gifts from the others. "Erza is a ...... Oh!< The silver jewelry box was designed by Elsa. The music in the box was a nocturne played by a famous musician. "Saki sent me ...... a magnificent crystal ornament." The Eschenbachs had obtained it from a gemstone peddler with whom they had a close relationship. It is over 50 centimeters tall. "You don''t see anything like it. Thank you, Saki." From Toa and Stellina are figurines of Reinhard and Bertsche. These figurines are 30 cm tall. Reinhardt is made of yellow crystal and Berche of red quartz. Toa was in charge of the material and Stearina was in charge of the workmanship. "This is again wonderful. These figurines are proof of the of an aristocratic family. Although Reinhardt himself has no great desire to own works of art, curiosities, or masterpieces, as an aristocrat he cannot afford to be indifferent to them. Being underestimated in this aspect would only be a disadvantage for him as a lord. Vivienne gave me a painting. She told me that she had painted it herself. "Is this a frame from the ...... legend?" "Yes." Like a storyteller, it depicts a legendary hero riding a dragon. This is a favorite motif of artists of the world. "The princess is riding next to the hero. "Yes, this is the scene where the princess was kidnapped by the dragon and rescued. Moreover, the hero and the princess look somewhat like Reinhardt and Bertsche. "Vee is a good artist, isn''t he?" Her old friend, Stearina, was also impressed. "Well, I started drawing when I came here." "What? "I used to like to draw pictures, but when I was in the Kingdom of Cerroa, I was not allowed to do any such activities except as a storyteller. I started when I came to the Kingdom of Shoro. The fact that she was able to produce such a good result shows just how talented she is as a painter. "You are as good as the best painters. Once again, thank you." Finally, Meane presented her with a birthday cake. Perid had taught her how to make it. "Oh, this is amazing! "In Gin-sama''s world, they put candles on these cakes the number of years old, light them, and blow them out. "Oh." Normally, this would have been done at the beginning of the party, but Jin didn''t interfere because he was in another world. There were five small candles and two large ones. It was Reinhard''s 25th birthday. The attendees applauded as Reinhard blew out the lit candles in one breath. "But I was surprised that Vie had such talent," he said. "I''ve only recently discovered that I also enjoy painting." Stearina and Vivienne had not seen each other in a month, since their paths had recently crossed. "It''s not only a story," she said, "but also a way to document it through painting. Yes, I think so too. "It''s true, it''s easier to get an idea of a story when it''s illustrated. Jin joined the conversation. "There is a genre of illustrated stories," he said. "Picture stories, ...... are nice, aren''t they?" ......I would like to see Vivian''s drawings on subjects other than folklore." Elsa also seems to have become a fan of Vivian''s paintings. "Kuhu, pigments, I think they''re called. It would be fun to collect them. Saki was interested in the alchemist''s work in her own way. "But you know, it''s also fun to be a <>. I recently met Mr. Goose, and he''s been telling me a lot of stories. "Heh, heh." When Jin heard this line, Saki''s face seemed to twitch for a moment. "It''s interesting how the lore of different places can reveal the truth of the past, isn''t it? Vivian, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the conversation. Jin was about to speak to Saki when "Jin, I heard you are finally building a spaceship?" Reinhardt asked as he approached. "Yes, that''s right. The prototype is finished and we have just started building the real thing. I''d love to ride in one! "Sure, when it''s finished and we''re sure it''s safe, we''ll take the whole family for a ride!" I''m looking forward to it. I''ve been so busy with the office lately that I haven''t been able to cook anything, which has been somewhat frustrating. Talking with Reinhardt, Jin forgot that he was about to say something to Saki. "Bertje is almost five months old, right?" "Yes. "Yes, her belly has become a little more prominent lately. Saying this, Reinhard glanced at Berthe who was sitting on a chair talking with Elsa. Meine was with her. "I guess they''ll be born in the late fall." "Yes. Boy or girl, I hope it''s a healthy one." As Jin wished for the health of the mother and the healthy growth of the unborn child, he gave various advice, drawing on all of his knowledge of modern Japanese medicine. (Though I know very little about what pregnant women should do. ......) Basically, I understand that we should lead a healthy life. I only know that drinking and smoking (although smoking is not a habit in this world) are not allowed, and that keeping your body cool is strictly forbidden. It''s not surprising. (And I don''t know about excessive caffeine... ......) I told her that hojicha is recommended because it has less caffeine. I guess it''s not too much to ask, since I have a lady-in-waiting to take care of the housework, and I have my automata Neon, Bella, and a golem to help me out. "Well, it''s Reinhardt, so I''m sure he''ll be fine." He has a loving wife, so he is not likely to say or do anything that would cause stress. "What?What do you mean you''re fine?" Reinhardt asked me after I accidentally said it out loud, "Peace in Reinhardt''s home. Jin answered in an unusually safe manner. 946 - - 27-06 700672 Advice May 11, a day after Reinhard''s birthday. Jin was checking the progress of the spaceship on Horai Island. The location is a flat area at the back of the institute. It was originally a flat area that was cleared and turned into a spaceport. The area is approximately 18 square kilometers, a rectangle of 3 kilometers by 6 kilometers, with a construction dock on the east end. A huge containment facility was built at the west end, where aircraft were also stored, and a stuffed <> was exhibited in this building. Inside the building dock, the giant golem for heavy-duty work, Daedalus 1-50, is being worked on by all hands, which is a powerful sight. "So the outer shell is made of many layers..." "Yes, my lord, it''s of the utmost importance. Lao Tzu comes and explains. "From the outside, there are magi invar, GSP, mithril silver, magi resin, and 64 light silver. The GSP is for heat insulation and the Magi-resin is for emergency repairs in case of holes. "The command center and the private room of the master (Mylord) will be further lined with hyperadamantite. The old man is very thorough when it comes to the safety of Jin. He also explained that there were five warp gates for emergency escape and that the number of barrier projectors was five times the required number. "I wonder if there is anything we have missed yet. After listening to the explanation from Lao Tzu, Jin went back to the laboratory and sat in the workshop thinking with Reiko. "Father, what about the brain that controls the spaceship?" Reiko pointed out. "Oh, I see. ...... old man, what is going on there?" Immediately the old man answered. The "Mere Old Man" has some restrictions, so he is not able to make anything. Especially, anything new or beyond what is already available is subject to the permission of Mr. Jin. This does not apply to the combination of existing technologies. "Okay. Is there anything else you would like to order?" 700672 is the most knowledgeable person Jin knows. "I see. I may be able to get some advice on the spaceship. Let''s go there right away." So, Jin took Reiko and flew to the base of No. 700672 by the warp gate. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Welcome, Jin-dono." The 700672 greeted Jin with its unchanged appearance. On either side of him were <> Neige and <> Rouge. "You look well." "Yes. I''ve been getting Persica juice regularly. I see that you have become fully accustomed to your new body. Yes, thanks to you. After some casual conversation, Hitoshi got down to business. "Actually, we are building a spaceship right now. "Really? You''ve finally reached that point? "Yes. So I was wondering if you could give me some sort of precautionary statement. At these words, No. 700672 showed some thought. "...... Hmmm, yes, I suppose so. Come this way. "Yes." Jin and Reiko followed No. 700672''s lead and arrived at a table at the back of the room. "This room is part of the ship in the first place, isn''t it? No. 700672 slowly begins to speak. "Imagine, what if we were blindfolded and dived into the deep sea?" Jin imagined such a situation and thought about what No. 700672 was trying to say. "......It is important to locate your position, isn''t it?" "That''s right. Correct. "This Ars, then you need to know the position of the sun at all times, right?" That''s right. And if we lose them, we must be able to find them again. "I see." Jin was glad that he had come to 700672 for advice. "And then there''s the autopilot. It''s not good if you can''t control it while you are sleeping or in a situation where you can''t take your hands off the controls. That was also a good point. "We need to take into account the possibility of weightless ...... conditions," he said. "So the equipment is basically fixed, right?" "Yes." Some magnets may be used for some objects," added 700672. Jin nodded as he was told that it is necessary not only to rely on barriers but also to detect them in advance, since hitting cosmic dust or meteorites during high-speed flights in space can cause a lot of damage. "We need something like an objective radar, don''t we?" "Yes. It may be difficult, but yes. And it is better to destroy large objects than to avoid them, so it would be good to have such a weapon as well. "Ah, yes." There are magic cannons and laser cannons, but no explosive weapons. "<> is used to create bombs, mana bombs,...... or missiles with warheads,......." Jin''s motivation only increases. He was also told that if they were to land on the moon or some other unknown celestial body to investigate, it would be useful to have a special vehicle. "There are some things you won''t be able to find from the sky alone," he said. "Yes, sir." We could use a Capricorn 1 or a Tortoise, but we would need a vehicle that could operate in a vacuum. At the same time, we need a reconnaissance plane. And, more importantly, we need a lifeboat to get us out of here," said 700672. "Needless to say, it is dark in space. There should be enough light on board." Other advice included designing the ship with sufficient margins for lifelines - water, food, and air (oxygen) - and finally, "If you''re stuck, you can always go back to the ship, Finally, he told us, "If you are at a loss, you can always visit us. Jin returned to Horai Island. Jin returned to Horai Island. He was satisfied that it had been a very meaningful time. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Welcome back. When Jin returned to Horai Island, he was welcomed by Elsa. Lately, Erza has been spending her mornings in the village of Kaina, teaching children with Meane and helping Sally at the clinic. "I''m home." "The old man told me you went to the 700672?" "Yes. I got some advice from him. Jin then explained the advice he had received from No. 700672 for the construction of the spaceship. "As always, I appreciate his advice. Can I ask you a question too, ......?" Of course. "If you build a first aid room or an infirmary, make sure there''s another system for air conditioning, gravity, lights, etc." "Sure." Jin agrees with me that it is absolutely necessary to improve the reliability of such life-saving facilities. "...... so I think it would be a good idea to ask the members of the family about it as well." Jin reminds himself not to be complacent. "Yes, I agree." Erza agrees, The old man also agreed. 947 - - 27-07 Consultations The next day Jin flew to the Kingdom of Elias. He wanted to meet Marcia and Rodrigo for the first time in a long time, and also to ask their opinions about the construction of the spaceship. "It''s been a long time since I''ve been here, too. Elsa was with me. As we emerged from the warp gate in the sea-eroded cave, we were greeted with the nostalgic colors of the sea. "It''s a little different from Horai Island, isn''t it?" Jin wondered if the conditions were different between Horai Island in the middle of the sea and Potrock at the southern tip of the peninsula. "The smell of the tide is different, too." Elsa''s nose twitches. Elsa''s nose twitches, "It''s probably because of the daily life of the people in the Potrock. < on the side, to Marcia''s workshop. I have already confirmed that she is back today. "Hello. "Ah, Jin-san, Erza-san!" Jeremy, who was tending the store, noticed them and got up ...... tripping and falling on a chair. "Aitaa......." Elsa ran to a teary-eyed Jeremy, "<>" She cast a healing spell on him. Jeremy was thrilled. "Oh, thank you! Elsa is a bit taken aback by this worshipful tension. "You''re welcome! She could barely manage to reply, "You''re welcome. "Hi, Jin, Elsa. It''s been a while." Marcia appeared from the back of the room after hearing the commotion. "It was Reinhardt''s birthday the other day, wasn''t it? I''m sorry I couldn''t make it." Jin quieted Marcia''s apologetic tone. "Oh, I''m sure Reinhardt doesn''t care about that. "I hope so. ....... So what''s the matter with you today? "Well, I wanted to ask Marcia''s opinion on something. Marcia''s face lit up when Jin answered. "I see!Actually, there was something I wanted to discuss with Jin, too! So they moved toward the workshop for a meeting. "Hello, Mr. Jin, Miss Elsa. There was Marcia''s father, Rodrigo, who was designing a ship. "Dad, I think it''s a good idea to talk to him about that. "Yes, let''s." In the back of the workshop, a booth is set up for designing and reviewing. Jin, Elsa, Marcia, and Rodrigo sat around the table. Reiko stood beside Jin. "Please have some kuhe." Golem and Arrow brought the drinks. "Thank you. How are you doing, Arrow? Yes, we''ve had no problems at all. When Marcia had been in distress before, Arrow had been overstrained during the rescue operation, and had been modified to have Horai Island-compliant performance. There would be no problem with normal use. "Well then, let''s hear about Jin''s story first. "Well, let''s start with Jin''s story. I don''t know how to start ......." Since Marcia and Rodrigo could not use , I asked them to read a technical book that the old man had edited for them. Jin remembered that the book must have included at least the concept of a spaceship, and started to explain it to them. We are developing a spaceship that can go to the moon. But these words left Marcia and Rodrigo speechless. "...... to the moon......." That was all they could manage to say. Both Jin and Elsa remained silent for a while, considering their feelings. When the second cup of kuhe was empty, they finally restarted. "I thought I knew that ...... Jin was out of the ordinary, but I never thought he would go to the moon. "I couldn''t believe my ears even when I heard they launched something called <>." "It''s your father." Reiko then made a well-timed interlude. "Well, I''d like to hear your opinion, right?" The four of us rearranged. "I guess we could liken it to a ship that goes out to sea and doesn''t come back for a long time. Rodrigo''s idea was novel to Jin. "I would like to see Marcia''s face," he said. "And, Dad!" But Jin took it in the form of a <. I see...a communication device that can definitely communicate with ...... on the ground, or rather with Horai Island. In any case, it should be able to send not only voice but also images <...... for relay in some cases). He will make use of his knowledge in modern Japan and sublimate it into an idea that can be realized. "After all, I would like to have a nice meal once in a while. "Oh, yes, that''s true. If you only eat meals that prioritize nutritional balance, you will get tired of it. Although he had not yet decided how many days he would be in space, Jin thought it would be good if he could have at least one meal a day with such a menu. "As for me, I''d like to see beautiful sunsets and sunrises when I go out to the sea, wouldn''t you? Marcia said. From there, Jin decided to build an observation deck where he could see the universe with the naked eye. "And ...... I get bored when the weather is bad. ......" Jin felt the necessity of the recreation room. The old man would know what needed to be done through Reiko, but Jin himself took notes with his own ideas. After that, he finally decided to consult with Marcia and the others. "Thank you. That was helpful. Now, why don''t you tell me what Marcia and the others want to talk about?" "Yes, I''ll get right on it. ......." Marcia then tells Arrow what to do. Arrow left the booth and came back soon after with something in his hands. Arrow places it on the table. "I want you to look at this," he says. "What''s this?" The object placed before Jin''s eyes is a cylindrical object. An axis extends from the center in one direction. "You called it a ''magic rotary device'', right?" "<>?" Jin parrots the words, but his eyes are glued to the device. (Motor or ......!) "The <> was a little too slow to drive the screw, so some magical craftsman invented it." The name seems to have been forgotten. "Fumu ......" Jin examines the function of the device without taking it apart. "Hmmm... it has a rotating axis inside, and you use wind magic to turn that axis." In principle, it is similar to the that Jin had created earlier. "But, this is not enough torque, is it?" Jin, who knew of its shortcomings, said, and Marcia and Rodrigo nodded. "That''s right. It''s a little too big a screw and it won''t turn." "With the golem-driven machine, the rpm is a bit short. It''s kind of a pain in the ass." "Hmmm... ......" Jin has already developed a jet thruster. In other words, he has jumped from outer-wheel ships to water-jet propulsion, so in a sense, he is in a vacuum. "This is not good. It was Jin who began to think seriously about this. 948 - - 27-08 Horizontal counterpoint "Hmmm ......" Jin was thinking about what Marcia and Rodrigo had asked him about. There are several ways to increase RPM and torque. First of all, if the material is made from Horaijima, it can be improved more than 10 times. However, this is not common. "And then..." In an actual , that is, a system that converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into rotational motion, the parameters of bore and stroke come into play. The bore is the diameter of the piston and the stroke is the range over which the piston moves back and forth. The ratio of bore to stroke is called the bore-stroke ratio, and it is one of the guidelines for engine characteristics, but Jin does not know that much about it. However, he understood that if the stroke was smaller, the rpm could be higher, but the torque would be lower, and if the stroke was larger, the rpm would be lower, but the torque would be higher. I also understood that to increase torque, the number of cylinders should be increased. V8 and V12 engines are typical examples of such engines. "Star shaped engine ......" This type of engine is often used in aircraft. But I still think in-line or V-type engines are the way to go. Jin recalls now that he has built a Golem engine for automobiles. "But if it''s an in-line type, it would be too long. ...... "Um, Jin?" "I heard that horizontally opposed engines cancel each other out, right?" ...... "8-cylinder, horizontally opposed, not ......, 8-cylinder..." "Hello?" "...... Marcia, if Jin''s brother has that look on his face, it would be wise to leave him alone for a while." Erza seemed to be getting to know Jin pretty well. "Okay, it''s decided. ...... Marcia, I think you can do it." Jin turns to Marcia as if nothing has happened and states matter-of-factly. "Oh, yeah, I see. I''m glad to hear that. "Well then, let''s get started. But then the wait comes. "Brother Jin, it''s almost noon." It was just after eleven o''clock. Father, you must not skip lunch. The time difference between Horai Island and Potrock is about 2 hours and 40 minutes. Considering the time difference, Jin and the others had breakfast at 9:00 a.m. on Horai Island, but 11:00 a.m. on Potrock was 1:04 p.m. on Horai Island. However, 11:00 a.m. in Potrock is 1:04 p.m. in Penglai. They were very hungry. Marcia and Rodrigo were also aware of the time difference, "Yes, Jin. Let''s have lunch once. They left the workshop and headed for the store to get ready for lunch. Jin had built an addition to the kitchen, which could easily accommodate up to ten people, and he could prepare food for Bacchus and Jeremy in the store at the same time. "It''s only lunch, so it''s going to be something simple. Fifteen minutes later, Marcia served the usual: bread, soup, salad, and fruit juice. "This salad is delicious. This salad is delicious," she said. "Really? "Is that the aroma of kryptona?" Elsa, who had also eaten a salad, said so, and Jin nodded his head as if he had just noticed. "Oh, yes. This is the flavor of honeydew!" Cryptona is a type of mitsuba known to Jin. It is a common wild plant in the village of Kaina, and is eaten boiled. "Sure, it''s delicious in salads, isn''t it? The Jinzas had never put it in salads, although they had often put it in soups. "Let''s try it at our house sometime. "Hmmm..." Jin and Erza exchanged such comments. After lunch, which was a little late for Jin and Erza and a little early for Marcia and the others, it was time to start engine building. "I''d rather make it out of iron than bronze. We wanted to use a stronger material because it would give us more power. "Yes, I''ve already bought it. I''m using it for the parts that need strength." The demand for such materials was increasing since the improved and strengthened Arrow could use more engineering magic than the average magecraftsman. "Let''s see, iron ...... hmm, carbon steel ...... has 0.4 percent carbon content. It just so happens to have a little manganese in it as well. That''s plenty." Nickel and chromium are added to make an alloy steel called SNC steel. This alloy steel is often used for structural materials. Jin is the sole supplier up to that point, but after that, Elsa and Arrow help him out. Especially, Arrow will be in charge of the maintenance from now on. "We''ll use gunmetal bearings. ...... Arrow, don''t forget to do the maintenance here. "Yes, sir." If they are worn out, they will rattle and lose efficiency, so they are a high priority for maintenance. Jin made the crankshaft and the golem arm part, Erza made the chassis, and Reiko made the muscle part. The project was completed in about 30 minutes. Between you and me, it probably would have taken less than 10 minutes if it was just Jin. "Okay, the prototype is done. Let''s get it running." The prototype engine was about 50 cm long, 25 cm tall, and 50 cm wide. It weighed less than 30 kilograms. The energy source is a mana tank. The reason is that the latitude of Potrock is low and the concentration of free magical element (ether) is rather low, so it is difficult to operate it efficiently except for Jin. "Start." The engine has started to turn over. The engine is a horizontally opposed type, so there is little vibration and it is quiet. "Yes, the stroke has been shortened, so the rpm has been increased. Reiko counted the speed of the marked shafts, and it was about 1000 to 1300 rpm. The torque seems to be reasonable. The torque seems to be reasonable, so we can call it a success first. "Jin, I think I can use this. Thank you! "Jin-dono, then I would like to make a new contract with you. This engine will be added to one of the engines that we are selling wholesale from Horai Island to the Marcia Workshop. Since we can''t offer them free of charge, we will have to take into consideration the cost of materials and technology, and we will make five of the same size as the prototype at 20,000 Tolls (approx. 200,000 yen) per month, The contract was for five units per month at 20,000 Tolls (about 200,000 yen) each, for a total of 100,000 Tolls. On the Horai Island side, the artisan (Smith) Golem would be in charge of production under the leadership of the old man. Thank you, Jin. No, thank you very much for your help. At 3:00 p.m. Potlock time, Jin, Erza, and Reiko returned to Horai Island. "You''ve been helpful in many ways. ......" The old man will report back to you as soon as possible. < "Okay, I understand. As for me, I''ll think about the relay station and the ...... recreation room." I''ll think about the relay station and the recreation room, because such interior issues can be easily added later, but the design issues should be taken care of as soon as possible. "Brother Jin, I''ll discuss the meal menu with Mother." "Oh, yes. I''m counting on you. Yes. I want to make one meal a day like we eat on the ground, so we need to think about the selection of ingredients, how to store them, and even how to cook them. Leaving this to Erza and the others, Jin decided to think about new equipment, including a repeater for communication. 949 - - 27-09 Quiet 54 Brake and bearing "First, let''s complete the ship with this !" Marcia''s cheerful voice echoed through the workshop. In front of her is the prototype Golem engine that Jin has built. It is to be mounted on a trimaran, a six-meter-long boat. It is a prototype boat that will be marketed for its high speed, maneuverability, and stability. The work itself, including adjustments, was completed in three days. The boat was immediately put to the test. Marcia is piloting and Arrow is assisting her, the usual combination. "Marcia, be careful." "Yeah, I know, Dad." It is still fresh in our memories that her father, Rodrigo, had been injured himself in a reckless act when he found Marcia in distress after an unfortunate encounter with the . Marcia is determined to return safely for her father''s sake. First, they slowly pull away from the shore. The catamaran glides out into the calm waters of the bay where the dock is located. "Yes, the boat is as stable as ever. ......That''s no surprise." The weight of the engine had increased by about 30 percent, but that had been adjusted, so the balance of the ship as a whole was not compromised. After about 30 minutes we were out of the bay and the waves were a little higher. "Okay, Arrow, let''s go!" "Yes, Miss Marcia." Marcia says a few words to Arrow and starts the engine in earnest. She does this by depressing the <>. As she steps on the pedal, the amount of mana flowing into the engine increases, increasing its output and revolutions. "Oh, wow, this is amazing! You can feel the acceleration. This was something that had never been felt in any engine until now. "Didn''t Jin say that it has about 4 times more ?" in this case refers to the that the engine can do. Simply put, horsepower is torque times rpm. Of course, to obtain a mechanical value, it is necessary to multiply by a constant. Since the rpm is low, the stroke is halved and doubled. However, the torque is halved. Furthermore, the size of one cylinder is made smaller to reduce the size of the engine, and the torque generated is further halved. To counteract the torque drop, eight single-cylinder (single-engine) Golem engines were gathered together to increase torque = rotational force by a factor of eight. This simply doubles the number of revolutions and torque by one half x one half x 8 = 2 times. Hence, the horsepower is 2x x 2x = 4x. In addition, since Jin himself made it, the efficiency was further increased by about 20%. "Oh, it''s fast!This is it!" Marcia is satisfied with the performance beyond her expectations. "Marcia, you have a reef ahead of you." Arrow''s warning. She''s so engrossed in the task that she''s approaching the reef zone. "Okay, slow down!" But... "Uh-uh!" The catamaran, which had gained momentum, did not slow down as much as he had expected. "Evade!" Twisting the stick as hard as she could, Marcia managed to avoid the reef in the nick of time. If it had not been a stable trimaran, the boat might have capsized. "Oh, that was close. ......" Marcia realized that the new engines would increase her speed but make it more difficult to slow down. "This is a serious problem. ......" On the return trip, Marcia was troubled. "I have to tell Jin ...... no, I have to solve this problem myself." The dock where the workshop was located came into view. "Yes, I can help you. Arrow nodded his head in agreement with Marcia''s determined words. I''ll help you. "That''s not going to be easy. Isn''t it? That night, Marcia and Rodrigo discussed the matter knee-to-knee. "I think it would be best to reverse the screw," she said. "But that''s not part of the engine''s current characteristics. I feel like I could talk to Zinn and he''d do it in a heartbeat, but I''d rather save that for the end." "If that''s the case, hmmm ......." The discussion continued late into the night. "Okay, it''s done!" After a late-night discussion, they decided to try a type of brake that has a plate extend into the water. This type of brake is used in jet fighters under the name of "air brake. The principle is the same. Although it is ugly because it is the first prototype, Marcia and Rodrigo are very capable of coming up with it on their own. We call it the . As it is. Before setting sail again with the modified trimaran, the entire ship was checked over. "Mr. Marcia, the bearings in the engine are a little worn." Jin had warned Arrow about this. "If we continue to use it like this, it will rattle and the efficiency will drop to 70% in about 10 days. "So everything is fine today?Then let''s discuss this matter after we return home. Marcia thinks that she will take care of the problems one by one first. I''ll take care of it when I get back home. "Yes, yes, it works! Marcia tests the effectiveness of the brakes at sea. The brake plates, which were stretched out in the water where the resistance is much greater than that of the air, performed their role beautifully. * * * * "...... and that means you must have increased the power of the engine. ......" Jin was pondering the wear of the bearings when he heard from Marcia. Since this was a problem with the engine, it was only natural that Jin, as the supplier, would be asked to improve it. The current bearings are gunmetal. Gunmetal is an alloy of copper and tin. Therefore, it is less hard than crankshafts made of iron alloys, and thus subject to wear. But on the other hand, if it were harder than the crankshaft, the crankshaft would wear out. "Lubrication, or ......" Lubrication is the formation of a film of oil or other material between the shaft and the bearings to prevent direct contact, thereby reducing friction and preventing wear at the same time. "Or use low-friction materials, or ......" GSP, which is made from the threads produced by subterranean spiders, has a low coefficient of friction and is therefore dirt-resistant, like Teflon, polyamide, or polyacetal, to name just a few of the materials of the modern earth. "If only we could use these for bearings." However, we are a little hesitant to use a material that exists only in Horai Island. "Then, other materials or ......" <>? "Ah, I''ve seen that kind of material before." Once Jin and Reiko had killed as many as 50 Death Sea Serpents off the coast of Io Island, and Potlock had benefited from their success. In other words, the fins of the Death Serpent are a commonly available material, so there is no problem in using them. "Oh, it''s good enough to be used. And this fin has a sufficiently low coefficient of friction, although not as low as the GSP, making it an ideal material for bearings. Thus, the horizontally opposed 8-engine developed by Jin became almost maintenance-free and became the new of the Marussia workshop. 950 - - 27-10 Equipment Development Jin, who has been developing a spacecraft, decided to develop a transponder first. This is because he already had an idea in mind. The basic idea was a relay using <. It receives incoming communications and re-transmits them without converting them into voice. Since the range of each manacam simply increases, we have been thinking of using directional communications to increase the efficiency of the system. Since this retransmission only needs to be in a certain direction, i.e., the direction where Horai Island is located, it should be possible to send converged signals and the range should be longer. This is Jin''s plan. How to find the direction of Horai Island and how to control the attitude are the next issues to be solved. "On the other hand, the return signal should be directed in the direction from which the transmitted signal came." Creating these new magical tools is fun, especially since they are not weapons of destruction. Especially since they are not destructive weapons. The direction of Horai Island, or rather the direction of Ars, can be calculated visually if it is close, or from the positions of the stars if it is far away. Attitude control is already proven with the . After completing two prototypes in about three hours, Jin completed a communication test. "After all, the carrier wave is traveling in a straight line. ......" He made a test contact with an Air Force golem, Sky34, located behind the planet Ars, but the free-magic ether wave seemed to penetrate through the planet. "I wonder if the free-magic element (ether) contained in the ground or in the planet is the medium after all. I''m going to make a hypothesis, Jin. In any case, it seems to be practical. He leaves the matter of what will be installed in the spaceship to the old man and the craftsmen (Smith), and starts to work on the next development. "Father, it was done quickly, wasn''t it? Reiko talks to Jin. "Yes, it''s better for your mental health to start with the easy ones. In the tests, there were times when the time to solve the hardest problems became too much and there was no time to solve other problems, but Jin had a policy of solving the easy problems first. However, this too was a waste of time, as he would start solving a problem and then give up because it was unexpectedly difficult, and then try another problem and find that it was also difficult ....... Jin recalled for the first time in a long time the tips on how to solve the exam that his classmate had told him when they were in the regular high school. "Yes, it feels good to be able to see the result of your work. Reiko says such a line, knowing what Jin is thinking. "Yes, you''re right, Reiko." Reiko says, "Yes, you''re right, Reiko. Then he tells her what he is going to develop next. "Now missiles." A weapon of pure destruction. But as No. 700672 pointed out, if there is such an obstacle in the direction of travel in space, he must use it without hesitation, or he may be destroyed. If you do not hesitate to use it, you may be doomed. "When it comes to explosions, you can''t go wrong with ......." "<>, isn''t it?" Reiko answered Jin''s words as if she were covering her own words. "Yes, and it is called <>. < "We can use it as a warhead." Hence, this weapon is relatively easy to make. It is more like a rocket or a grenade than a missile. The problem is that the shells are loaded in a spaceship with air, and then fired into the vacuum of space. Somewhere it has to cross the boundary, and the human wants to make sure that air does not leak out at that point. "Father, why don''t you just leave it in the vacuum from the beginning?" "Hmmm, that way you can''t replenish it, can you?" "No, golems don''t breathe. ...... "Oh, I see. ...... Jin realized that he could leave such work to the golem and easily created a prototype shell. "Now I''d like to know the exact power. ......" Since it was intended for destroying meteorites and cosmic dust, it would be bad if it was not powerful enough, and it would be useless if it was too much. One gram of magistone is used as a standard for the explosive charge. According to Jin''s estimation, it should be able to destroy a rock of about 10 meters. "Father, why don''t you use the force field generator to levitate the rock and shoot at it?" "That''s the only way. ......" Since we didn''t want to be useless in case of emergency, we decided to experiment with Reiko''s advice. Avoiding Tatsumi Bay with its fish ponds, we went to the north side of Horai Island. The Mermaid team is given a force generator to make a rock block float 50 meters above the sea. Reiko will shoot at it. "Reiko, we only have one prototype, so don''t miss. The power of the shot should be minimal. Yes, Father. I''ll leave it to you. Reiko loaded a shell into her favorite magic cannon and readied it. "Are you ready to record this, old man?" < Jin was planning to record what was going to happen and make use of it in the future. "Ready, three, two, one, fire!" The shell, which was fired at a power of about 3 percent, far from full power, flew at subsonic speed and hit the rock mass without aiming too hard. Immediately after the shell hit the rock, the flow of magical control (Magi Sequence) of <> is activated. And then the explosion. "Oh, it worked! The 10 meter chunk of granite shatters into more than 100 pieces. "The power is just as we calculated." Jin thought that it would be a good idea to make several levels of the device according to its power. Then the old man made a suggestion. > "Ah, I see. Then we don''t have to think about airlocks or anything like that." The problem is the control brain for accurate transfer. The current transporter can only be controlled by you. A small error at the time of sending out the transporter would be a big error at the destination. "But the positional measurements should be as accurate as possible." Jin thought that a spherical spacecraft with a diameter of 300 meters and a measurement device at both poles of the sphere would be quite accurate. "Oh, I see. We can link this to the radar, right?" At the same time, Jin started to consider the < that he had been advised by No. 700672. "Hmmm, what kind of radar do you mean ......?" As I recall, it emits a radio wave and catches the bouncing radio wave ......," Jin mumbles as he thinks about it. "Father, please stop for the day and have dinner." Before I knew it, the sky was dusk. Jin obeys Reiko''s words this time, knowing that there is no use in pushing himself too hard. "Brother Jin, welcome home. "Hi, Elsa." When Jin returned home, Erza had also returned from the village of Kaina. "Go wash your hands," she said. "Yes, okay." As he went to the bathroom to wash his hands, Jin thought that it would be nice like this. 951 - - 27-11 Boats on board When Jin came back after washing his hands and took his seat, dinner was served. The menu consisted of white rice, a fried egg, miso soup with fu, and tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce) made from kelp (or some other seaweed). "I tried to come up with a menu that could be served on a spaceship," Elsa explained. Elsa explains. "I see, rice keeps well and eggs last a long time. "Yes. Miso is originally made that way, and fu is also a preserved food. Even tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce and soy sauce) lasts a long time. Jin eats them and says what he thinks. "And they''re delicious!Thank you, Elsa! "I wish I could reproduce the that Jin said his brother ate. ...... It was one of the menu items that had not yet been realized due to the lack of the spice mixture. "Oh, curry. ...... I''d love to eat it, but it''s difficult. I only know turmeric, pepper and chili ......." As one would expect, Jin did not know the spice mixture, and <> Shuki Tsetsi did not reproduce the curry. Still, if this menu is prepared once a day, it can last for several days. "Other ingredients for miso soup can be dried wakame (a look-alike seaweed) or kiriboshi-daikon (a look-alike root vegetable)." "Surprisingly, many Japanese foods can be preserved." "Hmm. I think you could also use flour and bake bread each time." But there is a possibility that we can''t use yeast," Elsa added. "Well, that''s still enough for this kind of menu. Thank you, Elsa. "I''m glad I could be of help." Erza''s face was broken, as if she was happy that Jin was pleased with her meal. After lunch, she drank hojicha tea. "I think I can take this with me, too." "Oh, yes. Thank you for everything. Jin was inspired to do his best again tomorrow. * * * * Since the development of radar was more difficult than expected, Jin decided to give priority to the development of other equipment from the next day. First, a reconnaissance plane. The shape was based on Pegasus 1, and it was driven by a force field generator. Since we had the original model, we were able to complete it in half a day. "We need to arm it in case of emergency," Jin thought. Jin thought, "I need to arm it in case of emergency," and installed a laser, a magic cannon, a paralyzer, an induction radiator, and so on. During this work, I suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "It would be interesting to build a spacecraft that looks exactly the same as the Conlon 2. Conlon 2 is an airship, but it looks like a spaceship in shape. "That would be interesting. The old man heard him muttering like that. He would do something later. "Father, it''s almost noon. Reiko, who was working as his assistant, called out to him in time. "Oh, okay. We''ll take a break." The reconnaissance plane is ready, so it''s up to the old man and the craftsmen (Smith) to take care of the rest. Jin left the large dock behind the institute and walked home. The weather was fine. The May sky was clear and blue. "Brother Jin, welcome home. I''m home." These words were exchanged spontaneously. "Today''s lunch is also a menu that I have planned for the spaceship. I made dried noodles and cooked them. "Really?" Jin looked at the noodles and saw that they were udon. It is true that dried udon noodles last longer, and the sauce can be preserved if it is thick enough. Since the weather had improved, he decided to make tsukemen, or udon noodles. Boil the udon noodles again, then rinse them in cold water and serve them in a colander. Dip them in broth made from bonito stock and eat. The condiments are dried green onions. "Yes, it''s delicious!" Jin enjoyed the texture of the noodles as he slurped them down his throat. "I like that the noodles are a little thin. And the dipping sauce tastes good too. Jin prefers thin udon noodles. The sauce goes well with the noodles. "I think it could be made thinner and made into cold wheat noodles. "Yes, that''s right. I like this kind of noodles sometimes. It is nice to have such a menu. Jin thanked Elsa for her efforts. * * * * "Well..." After finishing lunch, Jin sat down on a chair in the workshop and stretched out. "Let''s build a universal vehicle. It is not enough to investigate the destination only from the air. Sometimes you really need a vehicle that can go on land. "The question is tires, infinite track, or legs..." Jin is torn. "Yes, in this case..." He decides to prepare both a 4-wheel drive vehicle and a quadruped walking vehicle. "We should be able to handle any situation. Since we had experience in making both, the driving part was completed quickly with the help of Reiko and a craftsman (Smith). "Now all we need is an airtight cabin, an airlock, and ......." The spacecraft would have to be able to withstand a vacuum or toxic atmosphere, an airlock for ingress and egress, and, of course, life-support equipment equivalent to a spacecraft. It is also equipped with a force field generator to enable it to fly for short periods of time. The prototypes were completed in the evening. "...... Jin, that''s great." Erza, who had come to see the project on the way, was also half-impressed. "So, what''s your name?" "Well, let''s see. ...... A reconnaissance plane, a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and a quadruped walking vehicle. "Let''s name the reconnaissance plane <, the 4-wheel drive vehicle <>, and the quadruped walking vehicle ......<." "Hmm, I kind of get it." Erza, who has some knowledge of life on earth, seems to have a vague idea of what kind of creatures they are. Thus, the equipment for the spaceship was being prepared smoothly. But then... "Brother Jin, I have an idea. Erza began earnestly under the dusk sky. "What is it?What is it? "......What would happen if, say, we ran out of free magical element (ether)?" "What ......?" Free magic element (ether) is the energy source of all magic tools. What happens when it runs out? The answer is . "There is no guarantee that this will not happen. Can''t we do something about it?" "Hmmm... ......" Elsa is more serious than ever. < engineer, had to take her seriously. 952 - - 27-12 Emergency lights "...... without resorting to magic, or ......" I understand what Elsa is saying. However, it is almost impossible to cover all energy except free magic element (ether). At the very least, it would be impossible to fly a spaceship without relying on magic. "How can we be sure that we will have enough free magic element (ether) in space?" "That has been confirmed first by . The first prototype spacecraft is also confirmed. It hasn''t gone into lunar orbit yet, though." In addition, there is the fact that the <> flew their spaceships here to Arus using magical technology. "Now we just need to bring a lot of <> with us, I guess." "......" The old man explained the situation to Elsa, who still looked a little worried, as if to appease her. "...... so." Elsa seemed a little relieved to hear the old man''s words. But how far is the warp gate effective? "Then, we may need to build a relay base in space, just like the Shinkai." Jin nodded at this suggestion. "Yes, that''s a good idea!Erza, that''s a good idea. Let''s build one soon! "And one more thing..." Erza expressed her concern. "What will happen to my brother Jin and me if we go to a space without any free magical element (ether)? "Oh, that''s because and the others came here before, didn''t they?I think it will be even worse than that. Theon is what we call a <>. The mages are a race with a stronger bloodline from the <> and are vulnerable to the lack of free magical element (ether). "In the case of mages, they will not die suddenly, but their physical condition will be seriously impaired. And if the condition continues, it will lead to death. << As long as there is free magical element (ether) taken into the body and magical element (mana) metamorphosed from it, it is thought that it can be managed by supplementing it with Persica Juice and so on. To use an analogy, we can say that we are surrounded by air without oxygen, although the pressure is one atmosphere. It is possible to survive by using oxygen cylinders. In other words, you can survive if you have something like a special <>. If you have a magic tool like <>, you can compress free magic element (ether), so it is thought that you will not suddenly run out of free magic element (ether). "It might be safer to install a free magic element condenser (ether capacitor) function in the space suit as well." "...... Yeah." After such a detailed explanation, Erza finally opened her eyebrows. "But that doesn''t mean we don''t have to rely on magic, does it? "Well, that''s true. It''s not easy to do that right off the bat. "But, lights, air, ...... It is impossible to replace everything, so we will start with what we can do and what we think we can do. "We''ll have to test this, too. ......" After that, I returned home with Elsa and took a relaxing bath to refresh myself. Jin had a leisurely dinner and refreshed himself. That night, Jin did not turn on the magic lamp. Reiko was also standing by Jin without saying a word. "Brother Jin, what are you doing?" Erza, wondering why the light was not on in Jin''s room, came over to him and asked him what was going on. "Oh, actually. ......" Jin explained that he was thinking about what would happen if he could no longer use his magic. Erza looked apologetic. "......I''m sorry. I guess I''ve caused you some trouble. "No, it''s okay. It''s okay. It''s what we need to do. With these words, Jin turned on the magic lamp. The room became bright. "The light ...... used to be candles in the old days. And when the power goes out, we can use a combination of solar cells and batteries for emergency lighting. Suddenly, Jin remembered the emergency bag used in times of disaster such as typhoons. "Emergency lights ...... come to think of it, there is something called ...... tsukiyo-gusa!" It is a night light used in Kali village, at the entrance of Mitsuho. Jin thought that it could be used as an emergency lamp. "Reiko, tell the old man: ......" Hitoshi immediately instructed him to prepare a sample. "But don''t take too many, okay? Of course, I remind him not to overexploit. "Well, I think I can handle the lights now." In the darkness of space, and in a sealed spaceship, the first thing that counts is the light. Because you can''t do anything in the dark, where you don''t even know where things are. All we need now is air and water. This one is easier still. "All we have to do is compress air and store it in a pressure vessel made of adamantite." The same goes for water, which can be stored in a tank. Just in case there is a hole and it leaks, the other tanks will make up for it. "Oh, now I can sleep well tonight." "Yeah, that''s good." Now that his immediate concerns were settled, Jin felt much better. Seeing Jin''s face, Erza is also relieved. "......Good night, then." "Yeah, good night." * * * * * * "......" Returning to her room, Elsa sighs softly. Today, she was wearing the new pajamas she had made herself, but Jin didn''t seem to notice, because he didn''t say anything to her. Erza was a little puffed up, saying that she had had a little trouble dyeing the magi silk into a light pastel green. * * * * "......" Jin remembered Elsa who had been in his room earlier. She was wearing pastel green pajamas for the first time, which she must have made herself. "......I should have said something to her. ......" I thought to myself, "I should have said something to her, ," but it was too late. "Father, you should have said what you thought. "Well, you know, ......" Reiko also told him that he should have said what he thought, and Jin reflected on his inadequacy. The next morning. "Good morning, Elsa. "Good morning, Brother Jin." Erza, who tended to oversleep, woke up early when she came to Horaijima and prepared the meal for us. "Oh, fried bean curd and okara this morning?" "Yes." Tofu is made from soybeans and bittern extracted from seawater, and abura-age is fried tofu. Tofu is made from soybeans, and okara (bean curd), which is made by squeezing soy milk out of soybeans, is also a fine ingredient. At the facility, the director of the hospital especially liked miso soup made from okara, and so Jin also likes it. The other dishes were pickled plums and pickled vegetables, and hojicha (roasted green tea). "Ah, it''s delicious." "Good." Seeing Jin take a sip of the miso soup and smile with satisfaction, Erza picked up her chopsticks as well. Elsa, who had always been dexterous, had already gotten used to using chopsticks. "Another plate?" "Yes, Father." Reiko serves the meal. It was a peaceful morning. 953 - - 27-13 The Study of Tsukiyogusa "Well, let''s pick up where we left off yesterday. Soleil and Luna had sent her off to clean up the mess, and this morning Erza had also come to the workshop. The old man reported. And the craftsman (Smith) brings the prototype. It is a cylindrical vessel made of adamantite, 20cm in diameter and 60cm long. The container is about 2 mm thick and weighs about 75 kg. The pressure of a modern earth-made high-pressure cylinder is about 150 atmospheres, which gives you an idea of how strong the container is. "That was fast. ......" It seems to be equipped with a pressure reducing valve. As a matter of fact, it was ready early last night, but when we tried to vent the filled air, the amount of air that came out was not constant, so the old man tried to fix it by trial and error. The construction of the valve is simple and uses a spring to keep the air pressure constant. Many of the valves used on the earth today are similar in principle. "Well done." < As Jin wants to complete the spaceship as soon as possible, such labor saving is very welcome. The old man is aware of this, so he tries to support him except for the things that only he can make. < "Yes, what is it?" << "Saki?" Jin remembered that he had been interested in this at Kali village. "Jin-brother, would you like to visit there?If you''re busy, I''ll go to ......, but..." Erza, out of concern for Jin, suggests it, but Jin thinks about it for a moment and decides that it''s important and that he''ll go too. "Well, ......, you want to go with me?" "Yes." Of course, there was no way that Erza could say no, and she nodded her head rather happily. Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Edgar used the warp gate on the grounds of the Eschenbach house. The time was adjusted to take into account the time difference, and it was 8:30 a.m. local time. "Mr. Jin, Ms. Erza, welcome! Aaru, who had noticed our visit, came out to greet the group. "Is Saki there?" Yes, she is in the laboratory. After confirming Saki''s whereabouts, the group went to Saki''s laboratory. "Saki, are you there? "Yes, I have one. I don''t need two. "I don''t want two." "That''s terrible. I don''t need two. ......Is it terrible? Saki peeked out from the lab with such a lighthearted smile on her face. "Hey, Jin and Erza. "Good to see you." "Saki, what are you doing?" "I wish you could tell me what I''m doing. I''d like to say I''m doing. ...... In a word, I''m researching the tsukiyo-gusa. This is a luminescent plant used for night-lamps, which he learned about in Kali village at the entrance to the Land of Mitsuho. Saki was interested in it when she visited there. She must have collected some kind of tsukiyo-gusa. "I wanted to know what kind of component of the plant makes it luminescent," she said. He was trying to extract it. "There are limited acids, alkalis, and solvents available, so I was planning to go to Horai Island if I couldn''t find any here. The laboratory on Horai Island would have all the reagents they received from 700672, so they would not have to deal with such inconveniences. "Then, why didn''t you do that from the beginning?" Jin said, to which Saki replied with a wry smile. "...... but there was a reason why it couldn''t be done that way." She then pointed her gaze toward the back of the laboratory. There was a man there. "Hey Jin, Erza, long time no see. There was Goose. Guth had become a naturalized citizen, and the Eschenbachs were going to take care of him until he could adjust to the country and find a place to live. "Hello, Goose." "Hello." Goose seems to be assisting Saki in her experiments as her assistant. "So, what exactly are you doing? "I''m mixing ground up tsukiyo-gusa with various solvents and seeing if they dissolve." "Hmm. What exactly?" "Water, hot water, oil, vinegar, sake, and ." Saki has read the reference books edited by the "Mere Old Man" in addition to the knowledge she has acquired through <>, so she has the chemistry knowledge of a high school student at this moment. He is now conducting experiments using this knowledge. "I see. You are trying to dissolve it in a liquid? "Yes, it seems to dissolve in water to some extent. Plant cells are surrounded by a tough tissue called , which is different from that of animal cells. This cell wall is made of cellulose, and Jin has the somewhat vague knowledge that it is made of cellulose (......). "So, Jin. It is also soluble in hot water, and this is what you get when the water is cooled and filtered. Saki held up a test tube. "This water ...... solution is luminescent!" "Isn''t that amazing?" The luminescent ingredient, which was extracted by grinding the tsukiyo-gusa, does not dissolve in cold water, but dissolves well when the temperature is raised to 70 degrees Celsius or higher. Once dissolved, it does not seem to precipitate even if the temperature is lowered. "I''m thinking that if we boil it down, we can make luminescent paint." "I see." Jin was pleased that he had gotten a good idea about emergency lighting. Guth continued, "I wonder if we can grow this in this country? He said. If this could be done, it would be a great contribution. Afterwards, Jin and the others witnessed an experiment in which the solution was boiled down and concentrated. "Oh, it''s so bright! The concentrated solution emits light more brightly. "Kuh, it would be great if we could apply this to a nightlight. Saki looked happy. "I wonder what kind of substance it is?" < magic can only investigate what it knows, so it is impossible to find out about unknown substances. "All I know is that it has nothing to do with free magical elements (ether)." With Aal''s help, he was able to determine that it was not a magical phenomenon. "That''s good news. As Jin was looking for a light that was not caused by free magic element (ether), he was grateful for this information. * * * * * * After eating lunch with Saki and Goose, Jin and Erza left the Eschenbach house. "Now we know where the emergency lights are. "Hmm." The two face each other in Jin''s workshop at the laboratory on Horai Island. "...... is not only for spaceships. It will be good for the world." "Yeah, we''re going to have to do a lot more research for that. We can''t just let Saki do it. <, they will be able to get cheap lights. Apart from Goose, Jin intends to do the same on Horai Island. "Even if we talk about cultivation, we have to find the best conditions for it. Is it better to keep the environment the same or change it? If so, what will happen to the content of the phosphorescent substance? There are many things to be done, but I have to leave this to the old man. "Brother Jin, aren''t you a little impatient?" Erza asked a little worried. "Yes, I may be a little impatient. "...... spacecraft development is going well. On schedule, no, a little early. So why? Jin answered this question with a sad look on his face. "I''m just worried." "Worried?" "Yeah. After all, even in my former world, space development and space travel were still in their infancy. I''m trying to make it happen with the help of magic. I guess it is ...... because it is an uncharted territory where there are no models at all." "......, yes." Erza nodded in agreement with Jin''s explanation, although she was still a little unconvinced. 954 - - 27-14 Advice and resolution So, what''s next? "I guess radar." Radar in its original form transmits radio waves and detects the that bounce back when they hit an object. In this sense, <> is different from radar in the original sense, since it is based on the passive principle of detecting the magical power of an object. "What if we send out a magic wave?" "......No, it would probably penetrate most objects." "So ......." This is what Jin has been wondering the other day. The so-called used in the manacam transmitter can penetrate objects. Then Reiko came in with some advice. "Father, can''t I use the method of detecting presence?" "Reiko''s method of detecting presence. ......" Jin reconsiders. 1. visual. She looks around quickly, checking for any suspicious presence. 2. 2. auditory. He analyzes the sounds around him and checks for suspicious sounds. 3. magical power. A being with magical power always emits weak magical waves (mental waves). We detect them. Fluctuation of the air. You can detect fluctuations which cannot be defined as sounds by using wind magic <>. 5. 5. ground tremor. With the addition of <, we can now analyze the vibrations transmitted from the ground. "Since we are in outer space, we can use vision. ......" In the unobstructed space, optical detection will be effective. In some cases, it is not limited to visible light, but also to the infrared and ultraviolet regions, and even to the electromagnetic region. "It would be good if we could measure the distribution and bias of free magical elements (ether). ...... It is difficult, but it would be good." ," said Jin, remembering the words of No. 700672. "......You may indeed rely on me here." There are limits to what one can do on one''s own. Jin decided to visit No. 700672 again. "I''ll be back by dinner," he told Elsa. Jin took Reiko to the base of 700672, the <> again. "Welcome, Jin-dono. You seem to be troubled by the look on your face. 700672 recognized Jin''s face as soon as he saw it. "Yes, sir. I''m having some difficulty with the anti-material radar. "Hmm. That''s true. Understanding space is a very complicated thing. And there are only a few ways to detect obstacles when flying at high speeds in space. After a few words, No. 700672 began his explanation. "We ...... will explain the method used by <>. "Please." "We scan the space itself." He suddenly says something ridiculous. "You want to ...... space?How? "Can you say ...... using <>?" "...... Oh!" This was the very idea of measuring the distribution and bias of the free magical element (ether) that Jin had just thought of. Looking at Jin''s face, No. 700672 nodded in satisfaction. "You seem to have an idea. We use a kind of mental wave ...... that is, a kind of high-frequency magic wave." "I see. ...... With that explanation, Jin began to understand, albeit dimly, what No. 700672 was trying to say. "All the automata you create have the same magical power as you. In other words, he explained, depending on the method, it is possible to detect the free magical element (ether) that fills the space. If there is a substance, the distribution of free magic element (ether) is not constant, so we can know that there is an object there. If it is an object without magic, you will feel a blank space, and if it is a being with high magic power, you will feel a high density of magic element (mana). "It is too vast an area for the brain of a living being to grasp, but an artificial brain could do it. This is an area that Jin can solve. "We need to devise a way to use mental waves not to control free magical elements (ether), but to grasp their density of existence. No. 700672 described the flow of magical control (magi sequence) necessary for this purpose. "......, I mean." "Okay. Thank you." Jin''s face cleared up after the problem he had been concerned about had been removed. "That''s good. By the way, could you tell us what you have devised between the other day and today?I would like to verify it with your permission." Jin would like that too. "Yes. Yes. First of all, for physical attacks, we can use ......." Jin explained the equipment he had devised since then. The 700672 listens to Jin''s explanation without interrupting. "...... non-magical emergency equipment, that''s all." No. 700672 nodded deeply. "Very well thought out. It''s brilliant. Especially the idea of not relying on magic. "Is that so?" "Yes. As you are about to find out, the distribution of free magical elements in space is not constant. But as far as I know, there is no place where the concentration is so low that the magi-machine stops working. His words are a source of great reassurance. "Still, I think that equipment that doesn''t rely on magic is worthwhile, don''t you? "I think so, too." "Oh, and as for clearing obstacles, you should verify beforehand whether mere destruction is sufficient." "?...... Yes, sir. And 700672 gives us one more piece of advice. "In space, there is nothing to block the light, so even sunlight is a deadly weapon for a living body. So, make sure to shield yourself from the light. "Thank you very much." I was grateful for this advice, as I would be conducting various tests on the space suit from now on. * * * * Returning to the research institute in Horai Island, Jin immediately started to make a magi-machine to grasp the distribution of free magical elements (ether). Since he understood the principle, it did not take much time. However, it was now 6:00 p.m., and Reiko indicated that it was time for dinner, so Jin decided to finish the day''s work until then. Dinner was served at where Elsa was waiting. White rice, deep-fried tofu, simmered itopo (sweet potato), grilled Omasou (a fish similar to landlocked salmon from the Erme River near the village of Kaina), and miso soup with topopo (potato) and marunegi (onion). "This miso soup is delicious. The miso soup is just the right thickness for Jin''s palate, and the broth is well made. "Yes, that''s good." Elsa is relieved to see the grim look on Jin''s face when he returns from the 700672. "I''m glad I went," she said. Jin himself explained that he had also had a good harvest, which saved Elsa a lot of heartache. "Now we just need to experiment and see what works best for us." The tea of the day was brown rice tea. As he sipped the tea, which had cooled to the point where it was ready to drink, Jin mentioned his plans. "We''re going to test space suits, the shape of the warding, and field tests of reconnaissance aircraft and so on," he said. "With a 10-meter class prototype spaceship, right?" Yes, of course. The old man is taking the lead, and Jin would like to follow the process as it unfolds. "Finally, the development is in its final stage. Jin''s face was radiant, unlike yesterday, and Erza smiled along with him. "I''m looking forward to tomorrow. Erza said, "I''m looking forward to tomorrow. To be honest, she is interested in space, too. If it''s safe, I''d like to go there. "I guess so. I''ll take all possible safety measures. Hmm..." I look out the window and see the moon shining in the darkness. "I think I''d like to explore there first." "...... You''re curious about the people of Leonard''s kingdom?" "......Yes." When Hannah and I visited the ruins of the former capital of the Leonard Kingdom, we were curious about their fate, as we had heard from the messengers who had been left behind there. < that they had used a mysterious transfer magic circle to take refuge somewhere else. It is highly possible that they evacuated to the moon, and if so, the people of the former Leonard Kingdom may have been wiped out in the vacuum of the moon''s surface. Jin had always wanted to settle such doubts. 955 - - 27-15 Test Flight At 7:30 a.m. on May 15, a prototype spacecraft was ready for a test flight on Horai Island. At the landing site behind the institute, the 10-meter class prototype spacecraft was quietly waiting for its launch. It is named after a Greek myth. Don''t get into the story that the man who gave it its name crashed it because it was too close to the sun. The name is taken from a song played in a 5-minute song show on a public TV station. The old man''s voice echoes. This time, instead of taking off from the surface of the earth, we are going to test the launch by using a transporter to send it to a satellite orbit and then to start the flight. This is also a milestone to establish a from which we will basically launch and land from. <<5......4......3......2......>> The countdown echoes. It is more of a mood. <<1......0! The transporter is activated and <> disappears. Almost at the same time, the image from <> is projected on the magic screen. < The accuracy is quite remarkable considering the distance of the transmission. However, it is also significant that the <> serves as a marker. "Oh, that''s nice." Jin also leans forward to look at the magic screen. Jin had several ideas, but he could not come to a conclusion based solely on desk studies. >> IKAROS2 on the screen started to move. <<>. While the "Mere Old Man" is explaining the situation, IKAROS2 continues to accelerate, and becomes smaller and smaller. < The image is switched to the one from the in the direction you are going. Icarus2 is getting bigger and bigger. Then, after a certain moment, it gets smaller and smaller again. ....... >. "Yeah?What is it?" <. At that point, if inertia is restored, the relative velocity will return to what it was before the collision, and we can leave it behind in an instant. The elimination of inertia is an application of the gravity control magic used by the demons. Although the name of the magic is , it can actually change mass as well. Rather, this is the main effect. Otherwise, increasing gravity locally would result in a downburst ...... of strong downdrafts. To be precise, inertia cannot be completely reduced to zero, but it is practical enough to be almost zero, which is not a threat at the level of cosmic dust. "Oh, this will work?" As the old man said this, Icarus 2 on the screen changed its direction a little. I don''t know the reason or the origin of this change, but there is an area where fine rocks are densely packed. The dense area, however, is a spherical area about 300 kilometers in diameter, with fist-sized rocks drifting an average of one kilometer apart. . >, is the line of the old man. The Icarus 2 is moving at a high speed of 100,000 km/h into the dense area. < sends us images as if we were following it with a telephoto lens. Because of the vacuum of space, there is almost no degradation of the image even at a distance. Icarus 2 approaches the area in about 10 minutes. At the same time as the old man announced, Icarus 2 plunged into the meteorite swarm. However, nothing happens. "Yes." The exchange is brief, but full of joy. After about eight minutes, IKAROS 2 exits the meteorite swarm, makes a U-turn, and re-enters the spacecraft. This time, the speed is increased to 300,000 kilometers per hour. Even at that speed, there were no problems at all, and no meteorites hit the hull. The next tests were conducted at speeds of 600,000 km/h and then at 1,000,000 km/h, with no problems. "Yes, we did it! < Now we have one less concern when navigating through space. "We can just destroy the big ones." <> The old man spoke up in an unusually hesitant manner. "What?......Oh, I see!" Jin understood what the old man meant. Even if we destroy a huge meteorite, it will only become a small or micrometeorite. "<> is the best way to go. ......" <> "That sounds good." Now that the navigational defenses were in place, the old man decided to conduct the last test of the day. The last test was to put a prototype space suit on an automata or a golem, and to examine its usability. and , the smallest members of the reorganized Covert Maneuver Unit (SP), wear the suits as an experiment. At 10 meters in diameter, it is quite large, but its interior is precisely made, and there is not much extra space. In such a situation, it is possible to fold up the body and board in a cramped position, which is only possible with Golem. . At the command of the old man, the two golems open the hatch and fly out into the vacuum of space. The difference in pressure causes the space suit that Panse was wearing to expand at once. The inflated balloon-like space suit looked so hard to move around in. Although the material is supple and strong, it seems to be hard to move in. On the other hand, Viola wears an ancient dragon shell made from the shell of an ancient dragon. Specifically, the movable parts, or joints. < According to the old man''s explanation, the magic power that flows through the joints is adjusted so that the joints deform in accordance with the wearer''s body movements. "Isn''t that something that can be applied to power suits?" The old man can research on his own once Jin has made something, but he needs permission from Jin to develop something new. In this case, since the technology has already been used, he was free to study it. Ancient dragon leather on the outside, soft magic resin in the middle, and cloth woven with threads of subterranean spiders on the inside. This soft magic resin part is said to have been adjusted to reflect the wearer''s will and transform itself. "That sounds easy, but it must have been hard work, right? Adjusting the wearer''s body to move according to his or her will is a patient task. It is because it is uncomfortable to wear something that moves more than willed or, conversely, does not move. I just went through hundreds and thousands of trial and error for Jin''s sake. Jin sensed this and thanked him again. "Thank you, my old man. This composite material was quite good. Viola checks the space suit with various movements outside the spaceship, but finds no particular problem. Both the old man and Jin were satisfied with the excellent results. 956 - - 27-16 Silent Story 55 Psakis haze "<> or ...... interesting." In the library of Nido Castle in the village of Kaina, Vivienne was reading a book of folktales. The old man had edited the folktales from Jin''s memory. The one she had just finished reading was . "What kind of engineering magic is it ...... that a pumpkin can become a carriage? Abandoning her role as a < in the Kingdom of Celuloa, she defected to the Shoro Kingdom and became a <>, spending her days collecting folklore and folktales from around the world. < Recently, I have also started to draw pictures, and I hope to eventually compile a re-edited book with illustrations. "Well, I''ve read all the books of folktales here, what shall I do now? Vivien has an amazing memory. She can memorize most books after reading them once and can also remember old tales after listening to them once. There are exceptions, of course, such as academic books, which do not penetrate her mind at all. The season is spring, the end of April. Vivian, who has finished collecting legends and folktales in the Shoro Kingdom, has decided to visit other countries, and has come to the village of Kaina as a first step. "......If I''m with you, Jin, I can go to any country with a free pass. I can''t wait for him to come back. Jin returned two days later on May 1. He was accompanied by a young man named Goose Minakata. He was half alien, half Shoro citizen, and a naturalist. "I heard that some of the different races have a strong ancestral bloodline from the . This is the information that I heard from <>, the brains of Horai Island. He also learned a great deal about the <> who is respected in his country. "First of all, we must go to Reuthert. On May 3, two days later, Vivian flew to Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, using the Warp Gate. "Welcome, Vivienne! Barrow greeted her at Jin''s residence. "Hello, Vivien, welcome! Jin also came to the entrance hall. "Hello. I heard you have a visitor from Fusor. "Oh, you mean Goose. Well, Saki and I are on a tour of the city. She should be back by noon, so please wait for her. "Yes, thank you." Vivian was shown into the parlor. Behle brought her tea. "Thank you." She thanked him and sipped the tea, which had a refreshing bitterness and a hint of sweetness. "This is a delicious green tea. The way you brewed it is also very good. Vivienne was relaxing on the sofa. Then Jin arrived. "Jin-kun, you went to Mitsuho and Huso, didn''t you?Can you tell us a little bit about them? "Yes, of course. Jin began by telling them about his time in Mitsuho. Mostly, he talked about the factory outside Miyako. "...... I see. < left behind such a facility." "Yes, and there was also a museum ...... I think it was.He left a lot of materials there." "Yes, that''s interesting. I''d like to visit there. "You''ll be able to go there when the diplomatic relations are formalized." I look forward to that day. We refill our teas, and by the time the second cup is empty. "Master Jin, Master Vivienne. Mr. Goose and Saki have just returned. "They are back earlier than I expected." But it is after 11:00 a.m., not so early. "It''s a little early, but why don''t we have lunch and then talk at leisure? "Yes, I will do that. Vivian, who had been transferred from the village of Kaina, was feeling hungry due to the three-hour time difference, so she was grateful for Jin''s offer. Of course, Jin''s offer was made with this in mind. "Saki-san, it''s been a while. "Vivien, it''s been a while." Saki and Vivien greet each other again and ....... "...... and nice to meet you. Goose Minakata, right?I''m Vivien. < Nice to meet you, Goose Minakata. Goose and Vivian greeted each other. "Well, I''m sure you have a lot to tell us and a lot to ask us, but first let''s have lunch. Jin takes charge. Lunch is Bele''s special , or bread with dried grapes. A small amount of maple syrup is added for flavor. It was a recent creation of Topaz on Horai Island, and was a particular favorite of Elsa''s. "Wow," she said. "Wow, it''s delicious! "This is delicious." "Yes, it''s delicious!" Vivian, Saki and Goose were all smitten with the taste. "Behle, it''s well done." "Yes." Jin and Elsa also complimented him, and Behle bowed politely. "Thank you very much." Behle smiles happily. The passerbread was a hit, and everything they had prepared was gone. Vivienne finished her lunch. Vivienne finished her lunch and immediately started asking questions to Goose. "So, first of all, I''d like to hear about the legend of Huso. "Yes, that''s fine, but it''s a long story, isn''t it? "Yes, that''s exactly what I want." Vivienne has the ability to remember these stories after hearing them only once. Guth also had a remarkable memory. Therefore, their meeting was, in a sense, fateful. "......Yes, this has happened in the past. ......" "No, it''s not like this, is it? "There are many stories like this in Husseult''s past." "Oh, that''s interesting, isn''t it? The conversation did not last the day, and Jin offered a room in his house. "I think there must be a reason why the name of the Wise One (Magus) has not been transmitted east of ...... the Shoro Kingdom. "I think that Mags may have had doubts about his activities in Newell, Huso and Mitsuho. So he didn''t work openly after that, did he?" "Well, from what you say, you don''t know anything about Adriana Barbora Tsetsi, do you?" "Yes, that''s right. I''d rather have that information on our side: ......." In less than a day, Guth and Vivian seemed to hit it off and were holed up in their room from morning till night, exchanging ideas and information. The only time they came out of their rooms was to eat and go to the bathroom. The only time they would interrupt their conversation was when they went to sleep. The flower beds in the garden, tended by Barrow and Behle, were in full bloom. "......" Saki was alone on a bench by the flowerbeds. What am I doing?) (I wonder what I''m doing, I wonder...) She was bothered by the fact that Goose was holed up in a room with Vivian. (I thought I liked Reinhardt. ......) "Oh, it''s Saki. What are you doing here?" "What?What are you doing here?What are you doing here? "Oh, I finally finished exchanging information with Vivian, so I came outside for a little exercise. "Heh, heh." "The flower beds here are magnificent. There are flowers in bloom that I don''t know about." Goose sat down next to Saki. That one must be a peony, and this one is a floribunda. ......What''s that flower next to Saki?" Goose pointed to the blooming flower to the right of Saki. "Oh, that''s a dahmeri," he said. "It''s a small shrub. It''s white and beautiful." "...... Oh?That''s ......." Jin came out into the garden and found Goose and Saki chatting amicably on a bench by the flowerbed. "...... shouldn''t have worried about me." Erza had told him that Saki looked lonely since Vivian had taken Goose, so he had come to check on her, and he thought, "Well, it looks like there''s nothing to worry about. A few days later, Jin visited the Eschenbach residence to see Saki and Goose, with whom he was collaborating on the Tsukiyogusa case. 957 - - 27-17 Psakis Birthday <, Jin was busy making equipment for the spacecraft. The most difficult part was the control brain. <<, etc. The control brain is a spherical shape with a diameter of 2 meters. It is spherical in shape with a diameter of 2 meters and is installed in the center of the control room. "The name is ......, and it is <>." The name is taken from the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. The Great Sage Equal to Heaven is the alias of Sun Wukong, the hero of <>, a title he assumed before Wukong became a devotee of Buddhism, and which was subsequently approved by the Emperor of Heaven. He chose it as the name of the brain of his spaceship because of his ability to ride on the Giant Dipper Cloud and leap 108,000 li in a single bound. This contains all of the knowledge that the old man possesses, which is considered to be useful for controlling the spaceship, and can communicate with the on the ground via manacam (magic element communication device). "Yes, , it''s nice to meet you too." < In this way, Jin''s flagship is steadily nearing completion. * * * * * * * * * May 20, Saki''s 22nd birthday. "Kuhu, I''m so embarrassed. ......" "Happy birthday, Saki. "Happy birthday, Saki." "Happy birthday, Saki." Saki''s birthday was celebrated by her father Toa and stepmother Stearina. "Happy birthday, Saki! This time, at Jin''s suggestion, the cake, a gift from Meane, was placed first on the table. Two medium-sized candles and two thin ones were set up. Jin lit them and urged Saki to light them. "Come on, blow it out." "Uh-huh." Saki blew out the fire in a single breath, and everyone in the room applauded. < "Thank you, everyone." Her cheeks are a little red, as if she is embarrassed. "Happy birthday, Saki." "Thank you, Jin." Jin''s gift was a pocket watch, of course. Saki''s is a light purple to match the color of her eyes. "A watch... ...... that makes me happy..." "Saki, now that you have it, you should be a little less sloppy with your time." "Ugh, it hurts my ears. ...... "Happy birthday, Saki!" "Thank you, Elsa." Erza''s gift was a light purple music box. "I''ll put something precious away for you." Happy birthday, Saki. "Thank you, Reinhard." Reinhardt''s gift was a set of dresses that he and Bertsch had chosen together. "When should I wear this? "You can wear it to a party like this." "Why don''t you change, Saki-sama? "Oh, that''s nice. Show me what you''re wearing. Reinhardt took Aal''s suggestion. "...... just for today, okay?" Saki has no choice but to retreat to the back of the room to change. While Saki changed, Reinhardt prepared another gift. It is a small box that fits in her palm. "What is it?" Jin asked and Reinhardt explained to all of them. "It is a gift from Saki''s grandfather, the Marquis Theoderic. It was delivered the other day with a letter from my hand asking you to give it to me." "Hmm." While we were having this conversation, Saki came back. It seems that Aalu has good dress-up skills. "Saki ......" "Saki sister." Saki was wearing a pure white dress. The design of the dress made Jin and others think, "Is this a wedding dress? >>Jin and others would have thought, "Is that a wedding dress? However, in this country, white is not considered the best wedding attire. White is certainly preferred. The only customary dress for unmarried women is a light-colored dress with white as its base color. "You look beautiful. You look different." Reinhardt was the first to say these words. "...... I''m embarrassed. You can tell me I don''t look good. "No, I''m just being honest. No, it''s my honest opinion. To deny it would be to deny my wife''s taste. Saki smiles at Reinhardt''s words. "Ah, you''re probably right. Then I''ll take it in stride. "And this is a gift from the Marquis Theoderic." From your grandfather? Saki, who had not been afraid to call him "grandfather" when she thought he was trying to forcefully marry Elsa, now recognized him as her grandfather now that they had made peace. When she received the box and opened it, she found it to be a brooch. It was made of silver with gold in some places to give it an elegant finish. Saki immediately put it on the breast of her dress. "Oh, it looks good on you! Reinhard thought that the greatest advantage of a white dress is that it goes with any color of accessories. And the brooch, a gift from the Marquis, looked great with the white dress Saki was wearing. "Thank you ......." Saki''s cheeks are slightly tinted as she looks down at Reinhardt''s compliments. "Saki, you''re so cute!" "......." Saki blushed more and more at Erza''s unexpected words. Vivian''s gift was a picture she had drawn. "Is this me, by any chance?" "Yes, it is." It was a portrait of Saki in a white dress. I don''t remember wearing a dress like this. The dress was of a different design than the one she was wearing now. "That''s the thing, I made up for it with my imagination." "That''s ...... a great talent." And last but not least, a gift from Marcia and Rodrigo, two people we don''t know very well. "Congratulations, Saki! "Thank you." It is a model of a ship ......, or rather, a figurine. The model is probably a Bernstein of the Shoro Empire. It is very precise. "Lately, potlocks ...... are very popular in the Kingdom of Elias. It''s a hobby that is typical of the ship-loving Kingdom of Elias. I''ll hang it in the parlor. Thus, Saki''s birthday ended on a happy note. 958 - - 27-18 疼く研究心 After Saki''s birthday party was held on Horai Island, Saki, her father Toa, and her stepmother Stearina returned to their house on the outskirts of Banne in the Shoro Kingdom. Instead of going directly to the warp gate on the property, they traveled with Reinhardt to the Lanken Haos in the village of Kaltz, Reinhardt''s domain, and returned by carriage from there. Because of the time difference, 8:00 p.m. in Horai Island is 2:40 p.m. in Banneh. It is now 3:30 p.m. because of the time difference. Welcome home. Goose Minakata was waiting for the three of them. He told Guth that they had celebrated his birthday at Jin''s house in Loisart. Then they were taken by airship to the nearby ...... estate of Reinhardt and returned by carriage from there. There is no problem since there is no mistake that I came back from Reinhardt''s territory. And a small celebration will be held here as well. However, we are congratulated again at the dinner table. "Happy birthday, Saki! Goose congratulates her. "Thank you, Goose." Saki is happy to hear Goose congratulate her. "Happy birthday to you, miss. By the way, the Eschenbachs now have a human servant in addition to Aal, the automata. They were hired because of the increase in the number of residents. Or should I say, I hired them back. Thank you, Lorna. This is Lorna, who used to work for the Eschenbachs. She had quit her job because she was surprised by Saki''s lacquer-covered face, but now that Saki and her family had settled down thanks to Aal, she was rehired. Lorna knows the Eschenbach family to some extent, so she doesn''t have to teach them how to do their jobs, which is a big help. "Thank you, everyone, for today." Saki is a little sleepy due to the time difference, but she is used to the lack of sleep and on the surface she accepts the congratulations with a smile. "Saki, this is from me." Goose holds out a package. "Oh, thank you." Saki accepts the package and notices that the texture of the package is familiar. "Hm?......Oh, this is ......." And when she opens the package, she finds. A book? "Yeah. It''s the first one I put together since I''ve been here. It''s about the demons I know. After that, I''m going to put together a book on animals and plants as well. Such a valuable book? Books of this period were basically handwritten. Only Jin barely produced a golem-arm plotter. Therefore, books had a rare value. "Well, I wrote three books at the same time... one to keep, one to give to His Majesty, and one to ...... that''s it." "I see. Thank you, Goose. Saki then turned to the cloth that had wrapped the book. "This cloth is ......." "Oh. <, you know?" It was a beautifully dyed cloth about 70 centimeters square. But that was not what Saki was interested in. "Oh, a furoshiki. ...... No, what I''m interested in is the fabric." Saki was as usual, her drowsiness gone. "Hmm?I asked Lorna to sew me the one I bought at Loisart the other day. More precisely, I asked her to sew it so that the edges would not come apart after cutting it. "What?By Lorna? Saki looked at Lorna''s face in surprise. Lorna panicked. "Oh, um, did I do something wrong?" "No, no, no. Do you know what ...... this fabric is made of? "No, I only know that it''s a tough fabric, similar to silk. ...... "I see. ......" Saki says the result of her analysis. "I think this is ......<>." "What is an underground spider ......?" Lorna does not seem to know. But. "What?Does that mean it''s a cloth woven with the threads produced by ...... a subterranean spider?" But Goose, as expected, seemed to know what an underground spider was. "Yes, that''s what I mean. But ......" Lorna''s ability to cut and stitch made her a different kind of strong, Saki guessed.Saki guessed. "Goose, do you still have some of this fabric left?" "Yes, I have some left. "Yes, I have some left." "Then, please send the fabric to ......." At this point, his father Toa called out to him. "Saki, Mr. Goose, that''s enough. We''re still having dinner. "Oh, I''m sorry." I''m sorry. Saki and Goose hurriedly took their seats. "Well, then, let''s start Saki''s birthday party. Saki and Goose had already had a birthday party with Jin and his friends. Saki, who had already had a birthday party with Jin and the others, and Goose, who might be the key to new knowledge, quickly finished their meal. Toa and Stearina are smiling at them. "What''s the dough at ......?" "This one and this one." There were two pieces of fabric, each about 15 cm long, that must have been made from a 90 cm wide piece of fabric. "Oh, this one is fine. ...... hmmm, the texture is very similar to the GSS, isn''t it? "You know it well, don''t you?" "Yes, I have used it before. Goose seemed a little surprised at Saki''s reply, but kept his mouth shut and said nothing. "But it''s so much stronger. If it were the GSS I know, ordinary scissors wouldn''t be able to cut it. Is that so? "Is that so?" "Yes. What''s the difference?" Saki wanted to go back to Horai Island right now to check out this GSS monster. But now Goose is with her. I can''t take him with me since he is not a member of our family. "Hmmm, how to analyze ...... Oh, right, Aaru!" Saki remembered that Aal could use some simple analytical magic for such occasions. "Thank you, Jin. "Yes, Saki-sama." Aal, can you analyze this cloth for me? "Yes, Saki-sama. ......<......It seems to be made of subterranean spider silk. "I knew it." Then Goose, who had been watching silently, opened his mouth. "Hmmm, so that''s how you can find out. Engineering magic is an interesting thing. "Yes, it is, Goose. I''d use it a lot more if I were a djinn. "...... but why is the strength so different?" "Well, I don''t know." Goose and Saki twisted their heads. "Anyway, the composition must be different somehow." Goose says what he thinks. Saki agrees. "Yeah. ...... that''s all I can think of. So we need to follow up and find out where it was collected. 959 - - 27-19 Material Search "Underground Spider or ......" Goose tries to jog his memory. "I thought they were long extinct in Fusor. They live in burrows and hunt and eat anything that comes near them." "What?" Saki raised a stupid voice. I have been shown the underground spiders in the underground of Horai Island, but they are basically docile and their food is free magic element (ether). But.... (...... maybe a different kind?). Come to think of it, different kinds of spiders have different ecology. No one says that there is only one type of subterranean spider. "This is something worth investigating, isn''t it? You think so too, Saki? "Do you think so too, Saki?" "Yes. I think we should start by asking the store where Goose bought the cloth. Aaru stopped Saki as she was about to lift herself off the ground. "Saki-sama, please go to sleep today." It was already 9:00 p.m., which meant that I had been awake for more than 20 hours if the time spent in Horai Island was taken into account. It was no wonder that Aal advised him to go to sleep. "Then, we should go to Loisart tomorrow. "Yes, I guess so." That was the end of the day, and Saki was bathed by Aalu and put into the futon. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, the 21st, Guth left for the capital, Leuthart, by himself. Guth insisted that there was no need for them to go out together. Saki was worried about letting Guth, who had just become a naturalized citizen, go alone, but Guth, who had a good memory, already knew more about Leusert than Saki, and was skilled in negotiations. The innkeeper asked Saki and Toa to write letters of introduction so that he could use Jin''s house, which he put in his pocket and departed. Saki stayed behind to examine the underground spider material more closely. "Kuh, I''m kind of lonely, but I''m sure it''s convenient. Saki alone can go to Horai Island without any worries. "......, that''s what I mean." Saki moved to Horai Island and explained the situation to Lao-kun. Surprisingly, the old man did not know that GSS was sold in Loisart''s store. "I wonder where he bought it, Goose? Saki regrets that she should have followed him. . "Yes. ...... will you do that?" Thus, the old man knew about Guth''s movements in Leuthart. "Well, then, let''s find out the nature of this subterranean spider silk (GSS). "Thank you." Saki, who had been given an expert in engineering magic and an expert in housekeeping, went to the laboratory to which she had been assigned. Here she finds the reagents that Jin received from 700672. Most of the reagents had been analyzed by the old man, and the same ones had been synthesized and prepared by him. "Well, let''s get started. Smith, Peride, please." "Yes, sir, I''ll take care of it." Yes, I''ll take care of it. "Last time I heard, Elsa was spilling the beans that the materials from Horai Island are too high quality to be put into circulation. ......" This subterranean spider silk (GSS), and by extension, subterranean spider resin (GSP), might be able to be offered to the public. As an alchemist, Saki was on fire. * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Goose crossed Lake Tosmo and arrived in Leuthart in the early afternoon. The fifth column (Quinta), a juvenile Capella 7, a.k.a. , who was on watch at the landing spot, spotted Goose and followed him. He disappears in <. Goose first went to Jin''s mansion, where he was staying. He seems to have been living in Reuthert for many years. This is another feat of his memory. "This is Mr. Goose. Barrow greeted him at the house. When he showed him the letter, he was quickly ushered inside. "Yes, sir, please come in. He then leads me to a room. "Please use this one." Actually, Saki had contacted Jin with the bracelet, and Jin had contacted Butler D, so Barrow and Behle knew about it. "Well, let''s get going. After securing his base, Goose put his personal belongings in his room and immediately set out. "Good day, sir." Guth was escorted out of Jin''s mansion by Barrow and headed straight for the store where he had bought the fabric. "Well, I thought you had a store here..." he said. This is an area where street vendors set up store. Some do not have a store, some set up a stall to advertise their business, and some set up a store for a short period of time to make some extra money. "Oh, there you are!" Goose, with his remarkable memory, spotted a familiar street vendor and approached him. "Hello." A man about Goose''s age was tending to the store. On the stand, there are rows of undyed raw fabrics. Guth finds <> among them and immediately asks a question. "I am sorry, but could you tell me how you obtained this fabric? The natural answer to this question came back. "I''m afraid I can''t tell you that. But Guth had expected that, too. "Don''t get me wrong. I''m a scholar. I''m not trying to interfere with your business. I''m just interested in the material this cloth is made of, and I''d like to know how it was obtained." Saying this, he hands the man three silver coins. "I see, you are a scholar. I see...a scholar, I see.I''ll tell you where to get the cloth at ...... for now." Then he lowered his voice and whispered something in Goose''s ear. He disappeared and not even , who was standing nearby, could hear him, but it didn''t matter. All we have to do is follow Goose after this. "Okay. Thank you." Goose handed the man three more silver coins and turned himself around. Guth, who had a good memory, already had the map of Reuthert in his head and knew immediately where he was told to go. "...... but ...... is it there ......?" Goose muttered in a small voice. His face looked somewhat unpleasant. No wonder, Guth was headed for the so-called "high-end shopping district". In other words, a shopping street for aristocrats. In one corner, there is a supplier that the street vendor told us about. ....... Guth, who was dressed neatly but looked like a commoner, looked shabby compared to the nobles, their attendants and servants walking around. Guth runs forward at a brisk pace and arrives at the place where he was told, "So this is the basement of ......," he muttered. and stepped onto the staircase leading to the basement. 960 - - 27-20 Spacecraft inspection "Well, now it''s finished." The day after Saki''s birthday, on the island of Horai. While Saki and Goose were investigating the underground spider, Jin was completing . The old man had heard Jin''s mutterings and had made preparations for it, so it was completed quickly. "It looks the same as Conlon 2. As Erza said, <> is a that Jin made with the same appearance as <>. However, there are still many problems to go to space at this stage. For now, the spacecraft is limited to navigating in the atmosphere ......, although it is questionable whether it can be called a . The advantages are speed, stability, payload, and safety. In everyday use, the advantages are the same, but in times of emergency, they make a difference. In terms of speed, it can reach Mach 5 supersonic speed in the atmosphere. Unlike the helium-fueled , all levitation and propulsion is performed by . Normally, passengers board the gondola attached to the bottom of the air sac-shaped hull, but there is actually a cabin inside the hull, which serves as the control room when the craft is going supersonic. Because of its heavier weight, the stability against winds is much higher. The payload capacity is also increased. <> was to use it on a daily basis and collect various test data. On the other hand, the progress of the spacecraft under construction is about 60%. The ship has already been completed and stands 300 meters in diameter in a huge shipbuilding dock built in the behind the institute. It is supported by 12 landing legs that expand and contract like a telescope. They are able to stabilize the hull even when the ground is slightly uneven. The old man explains to Jin, Elsa, and Reiko who have come to check the propulsion system. "Yes, I am glad that everything is going well." "How is the interior?" Then Reiko quickly responds, "Father, I will use the force field generator to take you there. She leaned in close to Jin. "Well then, ......, will you take care of it?" "Yes, I''ll take care of it!" Reiko replied and hugged Jin, holding him from behind. She then activated the force field generator. "Okay, I''m coming!" "Oh, okay." "Bye!" Erza waves him off with a smile, and Jin''s body floats softly. Reiko is lifting him up, but it does not feel like she is forcing him. It is because Reiko has slightly extended the range of effect of the force field generator "Force Generator" to cover Jin''s body. Let''s start from the lowest level. "The bulkheads have not been implemented yet, have they?" "It seems so." The floor and ceiling are almost complete, but the lack of walls makes the room look drab. Jin and Reiko went up to the upper level through an opening where an elevator would eventually be installed. "This was going to be a warehouse, wasn''t it?" "Yes, it was. We''re going to store repair materials, spare magic tools, and so on. However, there is nothing to see since there is nothing in here. Jin and Reiko move further up. "Is this a warehouse too?" "Yes. But a part of it is supposed to be a hangar for the onboard boats. That''s the one your father built, isn''t it? Yes. But it''s an empty, dreary view. We passed through there as well. On the upper level, some equipment had been brought in. "So the water tanks and pantries are on this level?" "I guess so." Water is reused after <<>, but there are still losses, and it is not good for one''s mental health to reuse sewage for ...... meals, so it is necessary to have more than enough water in stock. So it is necessary to stock more than enough water. "Also, I''m thinking of building a here." "A plant factory?" Yes. We''ll be able to harvest fresh fruits and vegetables, and eventually rice and wheat as well. Self-sufficient. Well, one meal a day, that''s the rule. Still, there is no doubt that it would be a breakthrough if food could be self-sufficient in a spaceship. In addition, it would also make use of the carbon dioxide in the air. After several more levels, Jin and Reiko arrived at the middle level. < The voice of the "Great Sage," the brain behind the spaceship''s magic, echoes out. "Great Sage, how are you doing?" < Since mithril silver is added to most of the alloys, it is very easy to form a <>. << By understanding the entire manufacturing process, we will be able to give smooth instructions for repairs. < explains. "Yes." Jin knows the general structure of the building, but this explanation helps him to understand it better. << He also explained the floors we had passed through. < "Okay, I''ll go to the top then." <>. Cubic zirconia is not found naturally, so this time it was imported from the demon territory. In the near future, an attempt to metamorphose and synthesize it from natural zircon will be started in Penglai Island. "The view looks nice, doesn''t it?" < Both materials have hardness, toughness, and heat resistance, and the soft magic resin between them can seal even a small hole. After listening to the explanation, Jin was taken to the top by Reiko. "Oh, so this is the observation deck. Through the transparent dome, he can even see the ocean now. The height of the observation deck is about 320 meters when the height of the landing gear is added. It is almost as high as the Tokyo Tower, and it is even higher than the Tokyo Tower observation deck. "I can''t wait to see it when it''s completed. "Yes, Father." Satisfied, Jin descended again and exited the spaceship. Looking up from below, the spacecraft looks massive. "Well, then, I guess all that''s left is sanitary facilities. We should think about making the bathrooms and toilets usable even in a weightless state, Jin thought. "It would be good if we could use air currents for suction," he thought. Jin had an idea for now, so he decided to make a prototype along those lines. "The question is, how to test it. ...... "Yes, let''s do that. Let''s do that." Jin nodded his head in agreement with the old man. It is important to have a multifaceted view. The development of spacecraft has just begun. 961 - - 27-21 Unexpected Person On the other hand, this is the area where street vendors have set up store in the capital, Leusert. "......I see you''ve been spotted. ......" The words were muttered with a sigh in a whisper that no one could hear. "People in this country are quite talented, that there is a person who can recognize that it was a thread taken from an underground spider. ......" However, although no one seems to be around, Regulus 46, a.k.a. <>, a ranger of the <> dispatched by the old man, is listening to his mutterings. When the old man heard it in Horai Island, he thought about the meaning of the mutterings. <> I have tried to make such a conclusion, but there is too little information to draw a conclusion. <> * * * * "......The stairs are dark. And narrow. Long." Goose descends the stairs, muttering to himself. The stairs were just as he had said, dark, narrow, and long. They seemed to lead to the bottom of the earth. With only a small magic lamp, Guth descended the stairs so dark that he could barely see his feet. (Mr. Goose doesn''t have enough sense of crisis. ......) Following five meters behind him is Capella 7, aka Terral, a member of the fifth column (Quinta). It sounds good to say that he is dynamic, but he is a bit reckless. (Of course, it''s a bit reckless, but that''s what a thirst for knowledge does for you. ......) There were about 200 steps leading to the basement. Guth thought about turning back several times, but he could not stop thinking how happy Saki would be if she knew the truth. He also thought that it would be a waste of his time to come all the way down here. As a result, Goose descended to the basement about 40 meters below the surface. "A door..." For a moment, he hesitated to touch the handle, but eventually he opened the door. There he found ....... "Welcome, curious scholar! and a man held a knife to Guth''s neck. What are you doing?" But instead of an answer to his question, the man in the back said, "You should do a physical examination. "I''d like a physical examination," was the reply from the man in the back. "Yes, sir." The man with the knife to his neck used his free hand to search the pockets of Goose''s clothes. "Nothing in particular," he said. "Nothing in particular," he said. ...... put the knife down for now. ...... but be on the lookout." The man in the back came a few steps closer and bowed lightly. "I beg your pardon. But sometimes there are people who try to find out where the cloth comes from and try to monopolize it. As I got closer, I could see the man''s face clearly. He is a thin man, about forty-something years old, with thin lines and not suited for rough work. However, as if to compensate for this, there was a black golem standing next to him like a guard. No, actually, he was a guard. "...... My name is Tengkunhan. Formerly a craftsman, now a ...... humble alchemist, I guess." I''ve heard that name somewhere before, I thought, and Goose said his name too. "I''m Goose Minakata. I''m a naturalist. Tenkunhan ponders for a moment when he hears the title "naturalist, "You are not from the ...... Shoro Kingdom, are you? He then asked, "You are not from the Shoro Kingdom, are you? "Yes. I am now a naturalized citizen of the Shoro Kingdom, but I am from ." "Oh?" "The guy who held the knife to me over there ...... is not from Mitsuho?" "Oh, I see ......, he asked you about your Mitsho accent." * * * * In Horai Island, the old man was relieved to receive the information sent from Capella 7. . Since the door was not yet closed when the knife was pointed at him, Capella 7 quickly entered the room and was ready to stun all the people in the room if any harm was going to be done to Goose. <<> There seems to be no sense of madness or arrogance. However, many of them keep such negative aspects to themselves, so I cannot make a judgment at this stage. * * * * "When I was young, I thought I would make a name for myself as a craftsman. I could use my engineering magic." After offering Goose a chair, Tenkunhan sat down himself and suddenly began to tell his story. "But my sense of aesthetics is a bit strange," he said. I was well-received by some connoisseurs, but not by the general public." Guth doesn''t know much about that. "So, eventually, he got fed up with himself, became desperate, and sneaked out of the town of Ismar, where he happened to be stopping, and set out for the land of the different peoples. Unbeknownst to Guth, at this time Tengkhunhan was shown a broken bicycle in the Kali settlement, but was unable to fix it. "When I realized that I was useless not only as a craftsman but also as a magical engineer (magi engineer), I was depressed. At one point I even considered suicide." "......" Guth nodded inwardly, "Well, that''s understandable. "Then, in the land of mitsuho, I learned about a paper called <>. I thought this was amazing. So I decided to study again to see if I could develop such a new material. Guth was a little impressed with the man''s academic mindset. "Then, in one of the caves, I found an interesting insect. It is a kind of spider, and the thread it produces is of very high quality. The thread woven from it is the cloth," he said, finishing Tenkunhan''s explanation, although he seemed to have skipped a few parts. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man also learned about the situation through Capella 7. But, the old man thinks. <> He is an old man who would have laughed if he could have seen his face, despite his high ideals (Lao Tzu, the mobile terminal guy, is busy with his spaceship now). * * * * * * "Hmmm, I see what you mean... ......" Guth, though not as much as the old man, had a vague idea that this Tengkunhan person was of a regrettable type. "Soon, Mitsuho and the Shoro Kingdom will officially establish diplomatic relations. Then, I think we can sell the cloth through regular channels." "What?I''ve never heard of such a thing!" Tengkunhan is surprised. "That''s because you''re hiding in a place like this and trying to do business secretly. With that, Goose wonders who is the best person to take this story to. 962 - - 27-22 Raid and repulsed In the basement of the upscale shopping district in Reuthert, Guth and Tengkhunhan were having an ongoing conversation. "......Hmmm...... does the country now have such a policy in place?" Goose Minakata was explaining the world situation he knew to a mature man who introduced himself as Tenkunhan. As a result, he realized that this Tenkunhan man was somehow naive, or rather, out of touch with the world, or at any rate, not well versed in the affairs of the world. (I myself,...... and Saki also thought he was out of touch with the world, but there is always a higher up,...... or should I say, in this case, a lower down). Without giving it a second thought, Guth began to express his opinion. "So, even if we have to make a few misstatements, we should say that Mr. Tenkunhan brought it back with him as a product of Mitsuho. He did not mention yet that he had a friend named Jin to help him with this. "But if it''s for foreign currency, why so little?It wouldn''t be worth much." "That''s true, but we didn''t know if it would sell, so we started out with a small amount to see how it would go." In Mitsuho, cotton is preferred because it absorbs perspiration and is easier to dye, so he wasn''t sure if it would be accepted here. Indeed, the threads of subterranean spiders, which are resistant to stains, are difficult to dye with ordinary dyes. They cannot be dyed without using magic dyes like Jin''s. Since such magical technology was not yet developed in Mitsuho, this fabric was not very welcome. However, Tenkunhan had a little bit of magical skill and was able to add color, albeit faintly, so he began to experiment to see if he could sell it this way. "I see, I see. ...... But how did you know I was coming?You had no way to contact me." Tenkunhan laughed at this question and explained. "I have a magic tool for long distance communication. But you can''t send your voice through it. He showed the box in his hand. The box was about the size of a business card case, and a magical crystal was inserted in the center of the lid. There is a button on the sender''s side, and when the button is pressed, the magic crystal glows for as long as the button is pressed. It''s a rule that if it flashes three times in a row, it''s dangerous. It is similar to the Morse code used on modern earth. However, the combination of long and short blinks has not yet been converted into textual information. "I see, that''s very convenient." It seems that the street vendor was communicating secretly without being seen by others. "I was waiting for a message that I had a friendly visitor," he said. Tenkunhan bowed his head and said, "I hope you will forgive me for threatening you with a knife, just in case you are friendly. Guth waved his hand and said, "Don''t worry about it so much. "But <>? Are there some that are not?" "Of course. Of course. Even if it is safe. ......" Before he could finish, the magi crystals on the box in Tengkunhan''s hands flashed briefly three times. "What is this? The next moment, the door was broken down. "What''s the point of calling!" Goose blurted out, kicked his chair, stood up, and braced himself. "Ha!So this is the den!" Four figures entered through the broken door. The last one was dragging another human being with him. On closer inspection, it was the man from the stall. His face was swollen and his left arm was bent in a strange direction. As a result, he must have vomited up this hideout, Guth decided. He must have barely made contact with the remaining right arm. A little late. "I finally found you!" said the man in the front of the group, breathing hard. "Now, tell us where you got the fabric. He makes such a threat while waving a shortsword at Tengkunhan. The other two men are glaring at Goose and the man who held a knife to Goose''s head, respectively. Looking more closely, the fourth man dragging the street vendor is not a man at all, but a golem. "If we know the secret of that fabric, we will be able to make a huge profit," he said. "What?" Tengkunhan, his face turning pale, finally managed to squeeze out a voice. "...... like silk, but smoother to the touch. It is stain resistant and can be cleaned quickly after washing. Moreover, it is several times stronger than silk. It would be a shame to let you guys monopolize this kind of fabric. "Hmm, did someone ask you to do this for them?" Goose says in a calm voice, and the man in front of him raises his arm in the air, smiling. "Don''t ask me anything you don''t know!" A fist is thrown. But the blow did not touch Goose. "Ah, ah?" A appeared out of nowhere and caught the fist. Capella 7, a.k.a. Teral, with the old man''s permission, had released his <. "<>" "Gee! The magic on contact knocked him out easily. "You!Ow!" Without a moment''s pause, Teral stunned the other one as well. The man who had been threatening Tengkunhan was surprised to see that both men had fainted in an instant. "You!What did you do?" The next moment, Teraru grabbed Tengkunhan by the collar and pulled him to him. He thought he heard something like, "Geez," but he didn''t care and dragged him into a corner of the room. Goose and the other man also evacuate to the same corner. "...... I see... So you had a guard. That makes sense when you think about it. But we still have hostages here. ...... What? The hostage may have been the street vendor whom Golem had dragged along, but he had been brought alongside Goose and the others before they knew it. If the <> were to show their full strength, this would be a piece of cake. The problem was the man''s golem. * * * * * * * * * * * * * From his appearance, the old man guessed that the remaining man must be a remnant of the Unified Party. But whether he was right or not, the result was the same. * * * * * * "d*mn, when did you do that? The man gives an order to the golem, keeping a watchful eye on it. "Seize them. As long as you don''t kill them, I don''t care if you hurt them. What he gets in return is silence. The golem slowly collapses. Terral''s laser beam had accurately hit the golem''s control core. If we know that it is the Golem of the Unified Party (Unifiler), the location of the control core is obvious. And once again, . "Aghhh!" The remaining man is also easily knocked out. "Thank you, thank you. Who are you? But Terral disappears without answering the question. All that remains is silence. "......" "Goose, who is that?" Guth could not answer the natural question from Tengkunhan. "Anyway, we have to take care of him." The street vendor seemed to be unconscious and in danger. "...... somewhere, we need to get him to a healer." "That would be a good idea. ...... So what about these guys?" I tied the three unconscious ones up with rope for now, but they sure are a pain to deal with. Neither Goose, Tenkunhan, nor the other man had a good idea. At that moment. "Master Goose, are you all right? A familiar voice rang out. 963 - - 27-23 Relief and Treatment "Hmmm, the strength is not that strong after all. Saki muttered as she was testing the that Goose had bought at the laboratory on Horai Island. The old man, who heard Saki''s story, agreed with her. The threads of subterranean spiders from Horai Island have tensile strength many times stronger than steel. At the same time, it is flexible, which is the reason why it is a rare material. "It has a low melting point ......, or rather a low softening point." "But it''s quite good that it doesn''t melt to the temperature at which iron turns yellow. Smith 151, an assistant lab technician, gives his opinion. It is about 800 to 900 degrees Celsius. If it is from Horai Island, it can withstand up to 1600 degrees Celsius. < mentioned by the master (Mylord). It is practical enough. The old man followed up. "Yes, that''s right. Now I''m just wondering how much we can get. ......" At that moment, the old man reported with a little bit more emphasis on his words. . "What!" Saki asked the old man hurriedly, unaware that she had dropped the specimen she was holding on the floor. "So!Is Goose alright?" The old man replied in a calm voice. < "Oh, yeah. ......" Saki sat down on the floor. But she quickly got up, "Hey, old man!I''m going to Leuthart!" and headed for the warp gate. The old man stopped Saki. < "Oh, yes, I see." It would be too suspicious to show up at Reuthert wearing a lab coat. Saki changed into neat and tidy clothes with the help of Perid 49. This time he moved to Leuthart. > The old man had given Regulus 46, aka <, another mission. He had left his stall and failed to prevent the attack on the street vendor. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Welcome, Saki-sama! Saki was greeted by Behrle when she arrived in Leuthart. It''s been a long time. I heard something happened to you. The old man had given her the gist of what had happened, but Saki was so upset that she had not understood half of it. "Yes. As a matter of fact, ......" As she was listening to Behle again, Butler D. and Burroughs, the current head of the house, came over. It was Butler D who told Barrow and Behle about Goose. Saki-sama, welcome. I will now contact the security team and go to pick up Mr. Goose. "Oh, I''ll go with you then." "Okay." So Saki and Butler D went out to the city. Butler D, who knew the city of Leuthart very well, went to the guard station without hesitation. There, he explained that he suspected this, that, and the other. It''s hard to tell a fact when you have to tell it as a <<>. "Hmmm, I see. ...... what about you, young lady?" the guard who listened to us asked, looking at Saki who was behind Butler D. "That''s Escher," Saki replied. "That''s Mr. Eschenbach, a guest of our family. He is a friend of Mr. Goose, and he followed us because he was worried about you. Then the guard''s attitude changed. "Ah, yes, you are Saki Eschenbach. I saw you at the technology fair!" Apparently, this guard had recognized Saki''s face when he used to guard the expo hall. "Okay. I''m on my way. Hey, you three, follow me! "Yes!" The group knows where they are, so they head straight for the upscale shopping district. Butler D leads them without hesitation to a place where there is a stairway to the basement. The guards listen carefully from the top of the stairs, but do not hear any loud noises. So, the three guards and Butler D quietly went down the stairs, leaving Saki at the top, guarded by another guard. "I don''t hear any noise. ...... No, wait, I hear them talking." (......) Worried about whether anyone was injured, they went down the stairs at once, and Butler D, who knew Goose, decided to call out to him first. "Mr. Goose, are you all right? * * * * Are you ......? Yes, I''m Butler, the Nido family''s head butler. Three guards entered with Butler. Tengkhunhan and the other man are tense, but Goose is unperturbed. I explained the situation to them briefly. A rolling golem and the three men tied up. One guy named Goose, who was an acquaintance of Saki''s, the two guys with him, and the guy who was badly injured. It is obvious which of the three is at fault, but it is not the guard''s role to make the final judgment. Still, the three men tied up are suspicious enough to be taken away. And what remains is a black-colored golem that does not move an inch. One of the guards approached Tengkunhan, saying that he would only listen to his master''s orders. "I''m sorry, but can you order this golem to come with us? But Tengkunhan shook his head. "I''m sorry, sir, but I can''t do that. "Why not?Are you going against us? "No, no, no. ......" Tenkunhan laughed a little, looking a little annoyed, "This is not a golem, it''s just a puppet, and it won''t move even if you order it to. Tenkunhan replied, "It''s not a golem, it''s just a puppet. It seemed that this was a false threat. Hearing this, Goose could not help but laugh at how unfortunate he was. "Goose!Are you okay? Saki greeted Goose as he returned to the ground. "Saki!What are you doing here? "I''ve been wondering about you since then, so I followed you! "I didn''t know that. ......" However, that doesn''t explain how he knew I was here. I''ll have to ask you later, Goose decided. Behind them, the three who had regained consciousness were being taken away. Behind them, the three men who had regained consciousness were being taken away, and Tenkunhan and another man were carrying a man who had been seriously injured. "First of all, we need to take care of the injured man first. How about coming to our house? How about you come over to our house? He said "just in time", but in fact, he heard through the manacam that Erza had hurriedly come from Horai Island after hearing the old man''s report. "Erza-sama?That''s very helpful!" The lone remaining guard, who seemed to know not only Saki but also Erza, agreed without a second thought. "Okay, then I''ll go home first, and Erza will wait for me! With these words, Saki started to run. The street was a main thoroughfare, so there would be no more danger. Just in case, Capella 7 is still following her out of sight. So, as a matter of course, Tenkunhan and the others went with her to Jin''s mansion. Butler D dodged the guard''s apprehension, saying that such an action was only natural since Jin was also a nobleman of the Shoro Kingdom in the sense that he had a residence in Leuthart. I''m back now. "Welcome back, Butler. Is that the injured man? Elsa had come out to the entrance hall. "Yes, Miss Elsa. Please. "I''ll take care of it." Since time was of the essence, a blanket was spread in the entrance hall and the patient was placed there. "<>" After calming the man who was moaning in pain with a painkiller, Elsa proceeds to examine him again. "<>...... simple fracture of ribs, open fracture of left humerus. Cracked skull, slight hemorrhage in the brain. Start with treatment of the brain. ...... <>" Surgical healing magic is used to stop the bleeding and medical healing magic is used to absorb and dissolve the bleeding. "...... Now the brain is fine. Next is the fracture. First, reposition it. ......<>" Goose, Saki, Barrow, Behle, and the guards watched without a word as Erza was quickly healed. 964 - - 27-24 Merchant Calls "No, you did a great job, Miss Elsa." The guard bowed his head. Now Goose, Tenkunhan, his two companions, and the guard were in the reception room of Jin''s mansion with Erza and Saki. "You are indeed a court-appointed healer (Reichsanstalt). I''ve never seen such a brilliant act of healing in my life. Yes. Elsa could not hide her embarrassment at the unreserved praise from the guard. "My name is Lil Roth, commander of the second team of the Reuthert guard." Lil Roth straightened his posture and went into business mode. "Thank you for letting me use your room. Let''s make this quick. Lil Roth turned to Goose and Tenkunhan. "Uh, Mister Guth and Mister Tengkhunhan, is it? Yes. "...... yes." Lil Roth seemed to be a serious person, and the question-and-answer session began in an indifferent, clerical manner. "So you were selling rare fabrics and they took notice of you? "That''s what I meant. That''s what they said themselves. It was mainly Goose who replied. Tengkunhan would occasionally add a few words. He was a man who could do belly tricks a little better than Tengkunhan. Fortunately, Lil Roth, the head of the second security team, knew Tenkunhan''s name, although he had a vague recollection of it, and he seemed to trust him for the time being. "Goose, I''m glad you''re okay. Then Jin arrived. He had just finished inspecting the spaceship and had rushed over. "Oh, Jin-sama!" Lil Roth stood up and bowed. Jin was an honorary advisor to the Shoro Empire, which was a higher rank than that of a count, even though it was an honorary position. "I know what''s going on," said Leroth, "I''ve heard about it from Butler. Please continue without me. "Yes, sir!" Lerout began to question him again. In the meantime, Jin excused himself and contacted the old man. It was easier to hear from the old man collectively than from Butler D, Capella 7, and Goose individually. "...... So, you secretly got the information through , huh?Well done." It seems that Capella 7 was able to extract information from the unconscious men. However, the fifth column (quinta) can use knowledge transfer (transinfo) up to level 4, so they can only barely read the necessary information. So, as I thought, they were remnants of the Unifilers, who, after having eaten their fill, had come to do such dirty work for money. There was no other useful information. When Jin returned to the parlor with the information, the interview seemed to be over. "Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Jin. Lil Roth stood up and thanked me. "No, it''s okay. So what will happen to them? By "they" I mean Goose, and Tenkunhan and his friends. Yes, Mr. Goose is fine, and you are free to go. But I''m sure that you and your two friends will still be hearing more about this. "In that case, I will take them into my custody. Without a pause, Jin suggested, and Lil Roth accepted. "I would appreciate it if you would do that. I''ll let you know later ......, probably tomorrow, when my boss or an investigator will come to see you. "Okay." Lerout thanked him again and left. "Well, I think everyone is tired. I know it''s a little early, but let''s have dinner first. "Yeah, I''m certainly hungry ......". It was just after 5:00 pm. Jin and Erza had already had a light dinner at Horai Island, and the rest of us had filled our bellies with plenty of food. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, let''s think about what we are going to do now. After dinner, Jin resumed. Tenkunhan and the others listened in silence. "Greetings, Master Tengkuhan, I am Jin Nido. I am the Magecraft Meister. I''ve always wanted to meet you." "...... My name is Tengkunhan Therese. Pleased to meet you. A little wary, Tengkhunhan introduced himself. Looking again at him in the light, he appeared to be around 40 years old, with light blond hair and gray eyes. He is a little thin, but has a strong build. "I''m Kace. "I''m Toy. Thanks for the help." The knifeman is called Kace and the street vendor is called Toy. As they introduced themselves, Burrow announced that they had visitors. "Mr. Jin, Mr. Techelez is here to see you. "Oh, just in time." Eckhart Tekles. He was once a wealthy merchant from the Korin region in the southern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa, but he had been exiled to the Kingdom of Shoro after the previous king, Richard, confiscated his newly built ships and property. Even though the king has been replaced, he has no intention of returning to his homeland, and has opened a small store selling daily necessities here in Leuthart. He was occasionally summoned by the government to ask questions and seek advice because of his knowledge of economics. Regulus 46, a.k.a. , had come to pick up Tenkunhan to discuss how to deal with the GSS silk he had brought in. . Since he was not in a hurry and Tenkunhan and the others were being interviewed, he came after closing the store. "Mr. Eckert, it''s been a while. "Oh, Jin-dono, it''s been a while too. Jin greeted him and was about to open his mouth to start the main subject, but Eckart stopped him. Jin, I''ve heard about the situation on the road, so I''m fine. I am a merchant by the name of Eckart Tecles, and I am here to see if there is anything I can do to advise you on this matter. He then picks up a sample of GSS (Ground Spider Silk) on the table and examines it. "Hmmm, this is good. You mean it can''t be dyed in vivid colors? To this, Jin answered. "For now, yes. I think there are ways to do it." Eckert nodded his head in satisfaction at this answer, and then posed a question to Tengkunhan. How much of this cloth do you supply? "Well, one unit is about one meter wide and 10 meters long, so about 20 units a month. "Hmm. Is that a production problem or a transportation problem? "Transportation." "I see. That means that if the situation changes, such as wagons and roads, you can get more. What is your production capacity, by the way? Tenkunhan thought about this for a moment. "Oh, of course you can keep the exact figure a secret. But I just wanted to know for a rough estimate. As he listened to Eckart''s questions and answers one after another, Jin was impressed that he was a former wealthy merchant. "The only thing left to do now is to report to His Majesty tomorrow and ask for his judgment. Teng-kun-han went to Mitsuho without the government''s permission and came back again. Keisu and Toye smuggled themselves into the country from Mitsuho and secretly earned money. By law, they are felons. However, with official diplomatic relations with Mitsuho about to be established, it is not a good idea to cause a commotion. Fortunately, the importation of this will benefit both countries. In this case, if Jin could take advantage of his position and handle it well, rather than leaving it to the investigators, he could make it beneficial to both Shoro and Mitsuho. It may be necessary to make a special arrangement for this purpose. While thinking about this ......, Jin asked Tengkunhan, who seemed to have just reached the end of his discussion, about what was bothering him the most. "By the way, where does this spider live? "Oh, that''s in the backwoods of Litto, isn''t it? I see. Although he was protecting them, Jin was still a regrettable person to tell a third party about them so easily, and his power weakened. 965 - - 27-25 One break The next day, after breakfast, Jin took Elsa, Goose, Tenkunhan, Keisu, and Toy to Miyagi. They were accompanied by Reiko and Edgar. As we parked the plane on the usual landing pad, the Prime Minister, Jung Fors von K?bsler, flew in again. "< He has seen <> through the window and is anxiously awaiting Jin''s arrival. "He also said that since Kunlun is coming, there must be many interesting things. "Yes." With a wry smile, Jin introduces his companions to the Prime Minister. Elsa and Goose are omitted, and Tenkunhan, Keisu, and Toy. They were surprised to be suddenly introduced to the Prime Minister. Together with two knights of the Kingsguard, the group went to the female emperor. "Your Majesty, it has been a long time. Jin is ushered into her office and greets her first. "Welcome, Mr. Kunlun. Please look up. He looks up to see the smiling face of the emperor. "What good news do you bring me today?" It seemed to be a rule in the empress''s mind that when Jin came out of the blue, it was always a good story. "Yes. ....... First of all, take a look at this. Jin took out a sample of the subterranean spider silk (GSS) from the luggage that Reiko had left with him. The Empress took it, stroked it, rubbed it with her hands, and tried various things with it, then handed it to the Prime Minister who was standing next to her looking interested. It feels wonderful to the touch. It feels like silk, but it is not silk. It seems that the queen understood the quality of the fabric. "Thank you very much. ...... Then, before explaining the fabric, I would like to introduce them. My names are Tengkunhan, Keith, and Toy. "Tenkunhan?I have heard of you. Allow me to give you a direct answer. Yes, Your Majesty. I believe you used to be known as a magician. For the first time Tenkunhan spoke. "Yes, I''ve heard of you. "I''m very sorry, Your Majesty." "Your Majesty, that fabric was discovered by Lord Tenggeunghan and brought back to this country." "Oh, I see. Thank you very much for your efforts." "...... ha, thank you again and again." Keisu and Toye then introduced themselves, but they were not allowed to give direct answers yet. "They are ......." Tenkunhan was a little hesitant, but decided to speak up. "They are from Mitsho." "......" After a short pause, the emperor opened his mouth. "You must be the messenger who came to introduce us to these excellent materials.Thank you." Hearing this, Jin was impressed by her majesty. If that is the case, it can be an ...... excuse, albeit a bit painful ......, for not entering the country openly since official diplomatic relations have not yet been established. "Let''s not mention that we took a wrong turn on the way and were late arriving at Miyagi." The Prime Minister then gave a brief explanation of diplomatic relations to Tenkunhan and Mitsuho. He said that a formal treaty would be signed this fall. After that, he said, a customs gate will be set up at the border, and anyone will be able to come and go as long as they report to the gate. Of course, the entry of hazardous materials, large quantities of goods that would disrupt the economy, and criminals would be stopped at the border crossing, but these are the two general points. After that, it was explained that this cloth was woven with threads produced by <> and that there are regions in Mitsuho inhabited by underground spiders. "Thank you, Jin-kun, for the good story." He was no longer called Kunlun-kun, but in his usual tone. "And Elsa, we are going to pay you a reward from our country for treating the messenger who was badly wounded. Of course, she is a court-appointed healer (Reichsartz)," said the emperor. The emperor said, "I will pay you a state honorarium for your services. "And the men who attacked you?" Now the Prime Minister spoke up. "I''m sure they are the remnants of the Unified Party. They were near the border when the Unified Party (Unifiler) was destroyed, and they smuggled themselves into the country with their golems. Jin and Erza nodded silently, but Tenkunhan and the others did not know what the Unified Party was, so the Prime Minister gave a brief explanation and then proceeded. According to him, they were what is called who would do anything for money. "But thanks to you, we were able to expose the organization. For that I thank you. The Prime Minister concluded. Jin was a little disappointed at the depth of human karma. "Well, Your Majesty." After all the immediate business, Jin decided to talk about the future as he had planned. "Please take a look at this." Jin showed us a plate and a mug made of GSP. They were translucent with a milky white color. In this respect, too, they seem to be different from those from Horai Island. "Well, what is this?" "This is a tableware made from the threads of a subterranean spider. "You can even make things like this? This was made by metamorphosing a piece of cloth that Tenkunhan had given him into a resin. When Tengkunhan saw this, he rolled his eyes in amazement. "It''s light and has a nice touch, isn''t it? "Yes. And it doesn''t break when dropped, and it doesn''t stain easily. "That''s a great use for it!" That''s not all. What Jin took out of the package that Reiko made him bring was a . Polyacetal resin is used as flat bearings for light loads even on modern Earth. If used properly, it could also be used for bearings for horse-drawn carriages. And for the offered by Jin. The Prime Minister, perhaps sensing this, calls on the Minister of Magical Technology, Degas Furt von Manischlus. "......Hmmm." "...... how do you feel about that?" "No, I assure you that it has a wide range of applications. I would call it a revolution in materials!" "Finally, ......." "There''s more!" The Empress screams with delight. "Yes, please take a look at this." The last thing she took out was the communication device. When you press the button on this transmitter, the magi crystal on this receiver glows. "Oh my!" "Well, depending on how far it can reach, it can replace the <>!" The Empress was genuinely surprised, and the Minister of Magic and Technology Degauss had immediately thought of its application. "This is a magical tool brought back from the Land of Mitsuho by Lord Tengkunhan. From what I have heard, this is also a technology that remained in western Mitsuho. John Dinney had put it off, and Jin had not noticed it yet. "If we can match the blinking patterns to the letters, I think we can send short sentences," Jin added. When Jin added, the Prime Minister was so pleased that he jumped up and down. "That''s exactly right!Thank you, Mister Jin and Mister Tengkunhan! In short, it was Morse code. If this technology could be applied, it would be possible to send voice messages as well, but Jin did not advise that far. Thus, it was found that the ground spider silk (GSS) produced in Mitsuho could also be used as ground spider resin (GSP), which would later develop into a major industry. It later developed into a major industry. This communication technology, named <>, was also developed from this point. The name of <> will be passed down to posterity as the magical engineer who pioneered this technology. Although he continued to insist that he was not responsible for the development of the <>, ....... * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, Mister Jin, thanks to you, we''re doing very well." And the merchant Eckart Tekres was one of the beneficiaries of the resin. "If we ask him to make something like this, he makes it exactly as we want it. Tenkunhan chose not to be involved in the development of the <>, but to live his life as a magi engineer exclusive to the Teclez Trading Company. According to him, <>. He must have realized something after having traveled through the wide world. Thus, the commotion about the underground spider has been settled. * * * * * * * * * * * The old man, who got the information, immediately obtained a sample of the spider. According to the sample, the largest size of the underground spider from Mitsuho is 30cm in length. They eat not only free magic element (ether) but also moss and mushrooms. 966 - - 27-26 Girls in Lario Village On May 24th, after the series of disturbances related to the underground spider, Jin visited the village of Kaina for a test run of . His passengers were Elsa and Reiko. Edgar and << of the New Horai Island Covert Task Force (SP) were in charge of piloting. Jin had planned to put these two in charge of . Be that as it may, the reason for visiting the village of Kaina on this day was to clarify what to do with the girls who are currently in the care of the village. Rita, Sonia, Ru, and Kana had already decided not to return to their home country since they had no family there, but the remaining seven had not yet given a clear answer. "It''s about time we had an answer." In June, I was going to let those who wanted to go back to their home village of Lalio go home. Today was a preliminary check. * * * * * * The eleven girls who were gathered at the house of the village headman, Giebeck, all looked healthy. Their hair, which had been dry, was shiny and shiny, their rough skin was moist, and their skinny, ribbed bodies were now rounded and girlish. Above all, her expression became lively. "Now, I''d like to make sure everyone is aware of what''s going on. Jin opened his mouth. "I promised to take you to the village of Lalio. I just want to be clear about what we are going to do after that. ...... Rita, Sonia, Ru, and Kana will stay here, is that correct?" "Yes, the four of us will." Sonia replied on behalf of all four of us. "Oh, well, I and Seema would like to stay! said Berta. Seema and Berta were also orphans and had no place to go back to their village. Not only that, Seema is getting along well with Jeff and Berta with Srey. This is a welcome news from Giebeck. "So, there are five of them. ......" But those five people are also... "Well, ......, why don''t you go back to your village and then decide what you want to do? They looked as if they wanted to come and live with us. "That''s fine. I guess you have a family, don''t you? "Yes, I do." In short, he has family back home and wants to talk to them before deciding whether to move to Kaina or return to his hometown. "Well then, let''s go to Lalio once more. I suggested, since it would be better to do it as soon as possible and Jin would be busy with the spaceship business, "Yes, yes! "Yes, please!" The girls were pleased with my proposal. * * * * * * * * * * * * * <, has been granted special rights of passage to and from each country, including those accompanying him. Since the girls were originally citizens of the Kingdom of Celuloa and the village of Kaina was his own territory, there would be no problem. So that day, Jin and the 11 girls headed for Lalio village in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Celuloa by <>. The reason for taking those who were to remain in the village of Kaina with him was to show them what their hometown was like. < is fast, covering a distance of about 200 kilometers in an hour. "Wow, that''s our village! "Oh, that big lake, is it Lake Cedrolia? "Oh my God, that''s the Cedrolia Plain. ......" "Oh, isn''t that supposed to be Fort Foothills?" The girls had been glued to the windows since takeoff, but the terrain of their hometown seemed instantly recognizable from the air. They find the familiar terrain, the familiar scenery, and shout. "Okay, let''s land!" Jin says, and the <> lowers its altitude. The pilot, , is very skillful. Below, the villagers are looking up at the strange flying object and making a big fuss about it. "But is that ......?" Among the villagers, there are a few armed soldiers. "Put up a barrier and land, just in case." "Yes, Chief." And then they land on the outskirts of the village. "Everyone, we have landed, but please do not get off the plane until we know the identity of the soldiers in the village. Jin reminds us to be safe. But it seems his fears are unfounded. "Jin-dono!" The one who appears with five soldiers in tow is none other than Kirk Apted. Formerly the personal bodyguard of the Dauphin Cesar, he has been promoted to SS commander since the Dauphin''s accession to the throne. "Mr. Kirk." Jin and Kirk were acquainted with each other during the Cesar''s accession to the throne. In addition, Jin is a and a . Not only Kirk, but also the five soldiers under his command were well aware of Jin. "What can I do for you today?" Kirk''s natural question. But then he saw the look on Rita''s face behind Jin, "Yes?Your face is somewhere ......." He looked thoughtful, then seemed to remember and clapped his hands. "Oh, yes, you are the slave girl that Mister Fritz rescued, aren''t you? "Yes, yes. ......" Kirk smiled at Rita, who looked a little frightened. "Don''t be so afraid. We are traveling around by order of His Majesty to check this spring''s crop. Rita and the other girls finally felt a little relieved. "I see. Well, I was protecting them, and I brought them here to show them how things are back home. "Oh, I see. Well, it seems we survived last year''s famine somehow." Indeed, from the air, the wheat fields were growing lushly and there were more sheep grazing than expected. The grass in the meadows seemed to be thriving well, and the food situation seemed to be fine for this spring and summer. "So, are all these children going home?" "No, only those who want to. The rest will move to my territory. Jin''s answer is somewhat careless. The idea of moving the residents to another country could be considered a hostile act by some listeners. However, it is fortunate that it is Kirk Aptedt. He knew what was going on. I remember well how Cesar, who was the crown prince at the time, resented Rita''s condition as a slave trader. He also knew the story of Jin''s rescue of a girl slave from the same town as Rita. Although unofficially, we can say that they belonged to Jin. Cesar, the king of Cerroa, knew this. "Yes, I understand. I''ll leave them to you, Jin-dono. Yes. As soon as it is decided that they are to be relocated, I will go and inform His Majesty Cesar. Jin thought that since he was not in exile, he would do the right thing. * * * * * * * * * * * As it turned out, three girls offered to return to Lalio. All three girls had families and wanted to return home. "Okay. We have some luggage and want to have a farewell party in Kaina village, so will you come back with us for today?" "Yes, of course." Thus, seven or eight girls moved to the village of Kaina. The reason for the <> is that Rita is still in limbo. After spending a few months in Kayna, she had not decided whether to settle in Kayna or to go to Fritz''s house to serve as his lady-in-waiting. 967 - - 27-27 Hitoshi, very busy Jin took the girls back to the village of Kaina. "Well, let''s have a farewell party tomorrow," he said. He tells the village head, Giebeck, about it. "Let''s have it at Nido Castle. I will prepare the food. With these words, Jin set out for the Kingdom of Selroa. It was 4:00 p.m. in the village of Kaina, but the time difference from the capital of the Kingdom of Celuloa was 1 hour and 20 minutes. arrived at the capital city of Esia in less than 15 minutes. Three hot-air balloons of the Royal Air Defense Force of Celuloa came up, but when they saw the emblem of <> and Reiko waving at the window, they seemed to recognize Jin and slowly moved away. "Kunlun-kun, welcome." Balfeeza Walker, the head of the MIC, greeted Jin. It''s been a while. Please come this way first. She personally led Jin and Reiko to a reception room in the palace. Actually, ....... Jin thought it would be difficult to meet King Cesar in person, so he decided to explain the purpose of his visit, thinking that the MIC chief would be sufficient. I told him the purpose of my visit. "Well, please take it. His Majesty is almost finished with his duties for the day and should be here shortly. Before he could finish, the door was opened and King Cesar arrived. "Oh, my Lord Gin, it''s been a while. "It has been a while." Jin stood up and bowed. Cesar smiled, sat Jin on a chair, and took a seat himself. "First of all, what can I do for you? Cesar began, as if he was busy and small talk could wait. "Yes. As a matter of fact, ......" Jin told the story of the girls from the village of Lalio who had once been sold into slavery. Of the eleven, eight wanted to emigrate, he said. "I see. ......It is a matter of concern for the king that his people are leaving the country." "......I''m sorry to hear that." King Cesar looks a little disappointed, and Jin feels sorry too. "No, this time, Jin-dono is not to apologize. It is the fault of our country. King Cesar assured him that there would be no problem for the girls to settle there. In addition, he also prepared the documents, albeit in an abbreviated form. Since there is no family register in the Kingdom of Celuloa, verbal permission would have sufficed, but he put it in writing for future reference. "Thank you very much." Jin thanked him and accepted the document. "Now, Jin-dono. Now I would like you to do me a favor. "I beg your pardon?" King Cesar glanced at Barfeeza Walker, who was present, and then opened his mouth to explain. "Our country is large. Our roads are well maintained, but the size of our country can sometimes be a detriment." "Oh." Jin nodded vaguely, not grasping the meaning of the previous statement. "Take this famine, for example. For example, there was a distance barrier when they tried to send relief supplies. "I see." "So I would like to ask you, Mr. Jin, to come up with a plan to improve land transportation. Improvement of distribution, you mean. We would like to increase the amount of transportation, decrease the time required, or both. "We are looking for a minimum of 10 million TL (about 100 million yen) as a reward. We are willing to increase the amount depending on the details of the project. Of course, we are willing to pay more than just money. Barfeeza Walker talked about the honorarium. It was a very generous offer. "How about the end of this year?" "Yes, sir. I will accept your offer. But there''s one condition. What''s that? We''d like you to expand your transportation network beyond the Kingdom of Celuloa to other countries. Hmm, that''s ....... "In that case, I would like to receive a gratuity from each country." Jin thought of something like a railroad network. In such a case, it would be more beneficial to connect each country than to close it in one country. As for the method, I have not decided yet whether railroads or truck transportation would be better. "Ummm ......" Jin hoped that this would be one of the agenda items for the , which was once planned but never realized. "Okay. I can''t make any promises at the moment, not knowing what kind of proposal they will make, even if it is ....... I would like to see the proposal and think about it again." "That is also true. I will try to get back to you as soon as possible with at least a proposal. "Yes, thank you. Thus, Jin was given permission to officially make the girls residents of the village of Kaina. * * * * "Well, what are we going to do ......?" Jin thought on the way back to the hotel. "Railroad or truck. ......" Jin cannot conclude which is better at the moment. Railroads can transport large amounts of goods and people, although the construction of tracks is troublesome. The disadvantage is that only rough transportation is possible. Trucks are easy to introduce because they can use the current roads. Trucks are easy to introduce because they can use the current roads and can transport people to each village. The disadvantage is that the width of the current roads is quite limited. "Well, it''s hard to decide in general. ......" This is precisely the kind of thing that Hitoshi would like to see discussed at the that brings together the heads of state and government of all nations. However, there is something to be done now. He changed his mind and discussed with the old man about the farewell party via manacam. "Well, Persica, Citran, and Apurul. We have plenty of rice and wheat stockpiled in Nido castle. "Normally, it would be better for the economy to buy from the surrounding villages. ...... Jin himself has a considerable stockpile of rice and wheat, but he has nowhere to spend it. He barely has enough to spend on Barrow and Behle''s wages and living expenses at the Reuthert residence. "I guess we''ll have to put that aside for now. As for Jin, it is too much to handle this and that. For now, he is going to take care of them one by one. The first thing is the farewell party tomorrow. "Father, please don''t forget about Hannah." Yes, of course. Jin decides that tomorrow he will spend the whole morning playing with Hannah and the children of the village. landed in the darkness at the village of Kaina. The landing was almost without any shaking or impact, as it was propelled by the force field generator. "Well, let''s rest in the castle tonight. Since there is a time difference of about 2 hours and 20 minutes from Horai Island, we thought it would be better to take a rest here so that our daily rhythm would not be disturbed. And when Jin entered Nido Castle, he was greeted by the following words "Welcome home! It was Elsa in an apron. "Dinner isn''t ready yet?I''ve prepared it for you." Reiko is smiling behind Jin. Apparently, Reiko had sent a message to the old man and the old man had sent a message to Elsa. "...... Thank you." Jin, who was hungry, thanked Elsa in front of the table with the hot meal. 968 - - 27-28 farewell party On the morning of the 25th, Jin first went to Hannah''s place. "Oh, good morning, honey!" she said. "Good morning, Jin." Jin-sama, good morning. Good morning. After exchanging morning greetings with Hannah, Martha, and Meane, Jin went about his business. Tonight, we are going to have a farewell party for the girls from Lalio village. I have already spoken to the village head. "It''s that time of year already, isn''t it? Martha was deeply moved. Three of them will be leaving. The other children will stay here in the village. "That''s true. It looks like spring has sprung for Rick, Jeff and Sulley, too. "What?Grandma, it''s almost summer. Hannah tilted her head cutely. Jin looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Well, so I''m free in the morning. So I thought we could do a test ride of the Conlon 3. Hannah has ridden several times, but the other children have not yet. The whole village knew that Hannah was Jin''s <>, but he thought it would be a good time to serve the other children as well. "Oh, that sounds great. I''m sure many adults would like to ride it too." Martha was right. Martha was right. In fact, more than 90% of the residents of Kaina Village gathered at the square in front of Nido Castle. "That''s great. ......" "Oh, Jin!You''re going to take me on that ride? I''ve always wanted to fly!" Even the fathers, Locke and Linus, were flushed like little boys. After all, flying is a human longing, isn''t it? "Well, we can''t have everyone at once, so we''ll have to draw lots. It worked out well that I had the five-colored golem maids prepare a lottery box for such an eventuality. Inside the box was a piece of paper with numbers from 1 to 3 written on it, and in that order they would be able to ride . "Oh!One!" "2, okay." "Oh, .......3 or ......." After a lively lottery, the groupings of about 30 people each were completed. "Okay, those of you with number one, come in." The villagers boarded the in an orderly fashion without rushing ....... Jin saw this and was impressed. Jin sees this and is impressed. The people of Kayna village are truly admirable.The people of Kaina village are really admirable. ......) "Is everyone on board?Well then, let''s go!" Reiko, who had been standing by, gave instructions to Heath, the pilot, through the built-in manacam. "Oh!It floats! It floats!No, it flew!" softly left the ground and soared into the sky with 30 people on board. The altitude of the aircraft increased at once. The height from the ground is about 100 meters. It is just right for looking at the ground. "Oh, that''s our roof, Dad! "Look, you can see the Ermee River. It''s beautiful. "The ears of wheat are shining." Adults and children alike are gazing at the windows with rapt attention. It must be a different atmosphere to see your own village from the sky. Jin recalled how he and Hannah had once climbed a small mountain to gather wild vegetables. "Jin-chan, can''t you fly higher? Patty, Jonas''s child, spoke to Jin as he was lost in his thoughts. "Yes?Yes, I can. Let''s try to go higher." Jin now turns to the cockpit and says, "Raise the altitude! "Let''s get up to altitude!" "Whoa!" At the sound of Jin''s voice, the Conlon 3 quickly gains altitude. <, the acceleration G''s are completely imperceptible. "Amazing!" 4,000 meters above sea level. That''s higher than the mountains behind the village of Kaina. "Wow, I can see the clouds below! When we broke through the clouds, the blue sky spread out in all directions. By the way, since <> is not floating on helium gas, we can enter its hull. "Come on, let''s take turns going up there." "Yes!" There is an observation deck at the top of the hull, with a capacity of about 10 people, so we take turns going up. From there, we can see an unparalleled view of the azure sky that cannot be seen from the ground. "That''s amazing. ......" Even Jin, who had seen such a view in photographs, was moved when he saw it for the first time with his own eyes. And you can imagine the feelings of a child flying in the sky for the first time in his life. "Come on, let''s get settled and have a drink. "Oh, that would be great." Jin hands out chilled Citran juice from the refrigerator. Citrus fruits are strictly forbidden for those who are prone to motion sickness, but we were not worried because the <> was not shaking at all (in fact, no one was drunk). Thus, after a scenic flight of about two hours, <> returned to the ground. * * * * For about six and a half hours, Jin continued to serve the residents of Kaina village, taking three groups in turns. He started at 9:00 a.m., with an hour for lunch in between, so the time was 4:30 p.m. Just as the five colored golem maids finished preparing for the banquet. "Come on, everyone, gather in the hall. Jin cheerfully called out, his face showing no sign of fatigue. At 5:30 p.m., just as dusk was beginning to fall, the lights came on in the hall of Nido Castle. "Ladies and gentlemen, the three girls from Lalio Village have decided to return to their families back home. So today, we will have a farewell party for them as well as a consolation party before the wheat harvest. The "consolation party before the wheat harvest" is a pretext so as not to make the girls feel self-conscious. "We will be busy harvesting wheat soon. Please enjoy yourselves before that!" In response to Jin''s speech, there were cheers from all over the place. Jin, not liking to be rushed, decided to make his speech brief. "Thank you all for your hard work every day. And to the girls of Lalio Village, thank you for all your hard work today. Then the banquet began. The wine that Jin had purchased from various countries was generously served. Smoked meat made last fall is served. Freshly caught meat and fish were served. Pancakes, crepes, cotton candy, sweet bean-jam cakes, and other sweet treats were also served. Everyone quenched their thirst with their favorite beverages and tucked into their favorite dishes. Jin first thanked the three girls who were today''s guests of honor. Phena, Larue, and Juni, thank you for all your hard work. Take care. "Jin-sama, thank you so much for all your help! "Thank you for all the help you''ve given me in my studies!" "Thank you very much for your help!" The three of us are the youngest of six, seven, and six siblings, respectively. They have chosen to return home because they are the youngest of six, seven, and six siblings, respectively. "I''m glad there are children left in this village. "Yes, my dear." Chief Giebeck and healer Sally watched the lively banquet from a distance while their adopted son Ru served them drinks. "Berta, I''m glad you''re staying, I am." Berta, one of the eight remaining in the village, had become good friends with Srey. And another. "Seema, I''ll make you happy." "Yes, Jeff." A girl named Seema had promised to marry Jeff. "Take care, everyone!" "Yeah, I''m fine. Jin-sama says he''ll take us to Lalio from time to time. "That''s right, if we ask Jin-sama, we''ll see him again!" It seems that today''s scenic flight was also meant to let them know that future exchanges like this are possible, and the girls remained cheerful despite their loneliness, as if this was not their last goodbye. "Luluna is so quiet and cute, isn''t she?" "...... are you aiming at her?" "I''m more interested in Kuhne." I wonder what Rita will ...... do. Rock''s little brother and the three remaining ...... Bill, Tom and Jan also seem to have a girl on their minds. Jin watches the lively banquet and hopes that they will find a suitable partner. And Rita. Would she stay in the village or go after Fritz? Either way, Jin hopes that she will be happy. The moon and stars were shining in the night sky of the village of Kaina. 969 - - 27-29 Girls Return to Home The day after the banquet, which ended peacefully, was the 26th. It was the day Fena, Larue, Juni, and the others were to return to Lalio. Fena, take care. "Take care, Ralu." "Take care, Ralu." "Juni, I''ll see you again someday." After saying a reluctant goodbye to the villagers and the remaining girls of Kaina, <> soars into the sky. "...... I''m going to miss you." "Yes, they were all good people. "But I still miss home." The three miss the village of Kaina and their hometown. In the meantime, <> arrived at Lalio village in about 30 minutes. The reason for taking the high speed route is to give the impression that the two villages are not as far apart as one might think. If they are surprisingly close, we can have hope that we will see each other again soon. The fact that they return home the other day, bring them back to Kaina village, and then return officially one day later is also an appeal to the casualness of the situation. The old man had suggested all these impressions. The plane landed on the outskirts of the same village as before. This time, the villagers were not surprised and gathered immediately. Among them was the village headman. "Chief, I sent Fena, Ralu, and Juni for you today. "Jin-sama, is it? Thank you very much. "Well then, Fena, Larue, Juni, see you later." Jin bids farewell in a lighthearted tone. This is another way of creating an atmosphere of "we can see each other anytime we want". "Thank you, Jin-sama!" < * * * * * * The families that welcomed the three were filled with joy that their daughters, whom they had been forced to sell because they could not pay the tax, had returned safely. The daughters understood the reason why they were sold and did not complain or grumble. However, if they had felt resentment, they would not have returned home. "Welcome home, Fena." Fena is the youngest of six siblings, with four brothers and an older sister. The oldest brother already had a family of his own, and the older sister had married in the same village, but they had come to the family home because Fena had returned. I''m home, father, mother, brother, sister..." Tears fell from Fena''s eyes at the sight of her family all together for the first time in a long while. The family looked warmly at their youngest son. "Here is a souvenir. Ralu showed them the stove. Fena, Larue, and Juni were each given one of these by Jin. However, since it would be difficult to obtain magi sand here, the stove is designed as a mana tank. The mana tank can be used for about half a year with a single filling. Filling the tank will be done in a nearby town, though. "What?Can you cook with this kind of thing? "Yes, it can. Jin-sama made this too! "I see. Well then, let''s start boiling water right away. "You''ve grown a little taller, haven''t you?" Junie was being jostled by her four sisters and one brother. "Oh my God!Sis, don''t treat me like a child!" At only 13 years old, Juni is treated like a child in the family. In fact, she was a child because she had not yet reached adulthood, but she had received a simple education in the village of Kaina and had experienced many things, so she looked more mature than other girls of her age. "Look, I''ve even been paid for my work," she said. With that, she presented a leather bag to her father. "Really?" Smiling, Juni''s father accepted the leather bag. "...... your salary?" Fena''s mother was first surprised, then accepted the leather bag with trembling hands. Not only had her daughter, who had sold herself because she could not pay the taxes, returned safely, but she had also brought a rare souvenir and her wages. And then, to another surprise... "...... silver coin?" I thought they were copper coins, but they were all silver coins. The total amount was 10,000 Tall, or 100 silver coins. If it had been in gold, it would have been only one piece, but Jin thought that it would be too small to break into pieces in a small village (actually, it was his suggestion). In yen, it is about 100,000 yen. It may not sound like much, but the three girls commented at their parents'' home that they had never heard of an employer who paid a girl with no skills at all, including three meals and education in simple reading, writing, and arithmetic. * * * * * * * * * * "I can read, write, and do math, okay?" Ralu was thinking about what he was going to do for a living and consulted his parents. When he told them that he had learned to read, write, and calculate at Jin''s school, they were all surprised. "Well, I think the village headman said he needs help, so why don''t you go and see him? "Yes, I will." Thus, Ralu was assigned as a cashier under the village headman. "I learned to read and write, but I want to work with my hands. Juni was good with her hands, so she learned to sew. "Well, Grandma Mig said she needs a seamstress, so you should go to her. "Yes, I will." Thus, Junie became the best seamstress in the village. "I''m going to look for medicinal herbs." "Be careful." Fena has been learning about medicinal herbs under the tutelage of the healer Sally. She wanted to use her knowledge to be of some help in this village where there were no healers. Of course, in less than half a year of training, the kinds of medicinal herbs he had learned were limited, but it was still much better than nothing. Gastrointestinal medicines, stomachic medicines, wound medicines, fever reducers. This alone is a great help to the village of Lalio. After that, Fena studied about medicinal herbs again and was loved by everyone as a village medicine man. The village of Lalio was a great help to the people of Lalio. The situation in Rario was reported by <, Regulus 25, a.k.a. <>, who was deployed to the village. < The old man is relieved to hear the report. For the present Jin, it is better to have as few worries as possible. Jin is now in Kaina village with <>. Tomorrow, after leaving Kaina village with <>, he will come back to Horai Island first through the warp gate. A metal sphere stands quietly in the spaceport behind the institute. The maiden flight of the newly built spaceship, 300 meters in diameter, is scheduled for tomorrow. 970 - - 27-30 Flagship Adriana May 27. The sky of Horai Island was cloudy. At 9:00 a.m., Jin and Erza were standing in the spaceport behind the institute. . In short, the recreational facilities, the plant factory, and the pantry have not been installed yet. Therefore, there are no humans in the crew this time. The 200 space golems named < by Jin will be aboard. The Cosmos series is the same size as Sky and Lando, and made of 64 light silver. Its color is golden. Equipped with a force field generator, they can move freely in space. ...... He is also in charge of repairs, and can use engineering magic as well as a craftsman (smith). The captain of the ship is <. The captain is , and the ship is controlled by , the brain of magic. < "Yes, sir." Without hesitation, Jin named the spaceship. "My flagship is named ." Hearing this, Reiko, who was standing diagonally behind Jin, smiled softly. <> was written in gold letters on the side of the ship. "All right, let''s go!" Rocket thrusts would be extremely dangerous if you were nearby, but if you use the force field generator, there is almost no effect on the surroundings. Adriana begins to ascend at a speed that would generate a gentle breeze. When a 300-meter-diameter giant flies at ultra-high speed, a storm blows around it. At first, the speed of the is about the speed of walking, and as it ascends, the speed is gradually increased to minimize the impact on the surroundings. At an altitude of over 200 meters, the speed reaches about 100 kilometers per hour. plunges into the clouds above Horai Island. Only there is a hole in the clouds, and a blue sky appears. "Okay, we''ll track it back to the lab. "Hmm..." Jin, Erza, and Reiko went to the control room in the institute. They track on the large monitor there. < The old man reports. The image is from the Watcher. < The speed had increased to about 1 kilometer per second. Adriana is getting smaller by the minute. . The old man''s voice was not the voice of the old man, but the voice of the great saint. <. One of the multi-faceted magic screens projected a view of outer space. This is the image from <>. , orbiting at a radius of about 30,000 kilometers, is now going 200 kilometers per second. < Since she is using the force field generator , she is able to draw a circular orbit regardless of the gravity of Ars. < are changing every moment. As we entered the night side, we could not see any lights on the land, unlike on the Earth. Fifteen minutes passed, and <> returned to the sky far above Horai Island. < < Yes, it was planned to orbit the moon on this test flight. has increased her speed even more. <300 kilometers per second, that''s the upper limit. < The distance to the moon was estimated to be 380,000 kilometers. At the current speed, it would take about 32 minutes. During this time, the old man and the Great Sage were planning to conduct various experiments. The transmission of information is an important factor. The old man reduced the output of his manacam to half the normal level and sent a message to <>. <>. Sensitivity is good. There seems to be no problem at all at a distance of about 50,000 km. After a short time, the communication is sent again. <>. Sensitivity is good. The answer is the same as before. It is about 100,000 km. I used the expression <> because it is not yet a convergent communication. And 200,000 km. <>. The sensitivity is still good enough. "Oh, excellent." "Brother Jin, is it because it''s unobstructed?" Erza, who had been silent until now, opened her mouth. She was overwhelmed by the vastness of the universe and the success of <>. "Yes, that''s possible. Maybe there is a lot of noise on the ground. Jin guessed that it might be the difference between outer space, where there is only natural magic ...... and pure free magic element (ether), compared to the surface, where there are many natural sources of magic represented by magic crystals (magi crystals). < In this way, it seems that the output we were normally using was quite excessive. We can improve our routine by feeding back such experimental data. The communication was working well even at 380,000 km. However, the distance between the moon and Ars, 380,000 km, is much closer than the distance between the sun Celan and the planet Ars, 150 million km. The distance between the moon and Ars is 380,000 km, which is far closer than the 150 million km between the sun Serran and the planet Ars. The distance between the moon and the planet Hale, which seems to be on the other side of the sun, is 300 million kilometers, which would take less than two days at the current maximum speed of Adriana, 300 kilometers per second. At the current maximum speed of of 300 km per second, it would take less than one or two days to reach the planet. "Well, let''s start by surveying the moon." Jin brought his thoughts back to reality. From the images sent to him, there were no craters, unlike those on the Earth''s Moon. "Is there no air ......?" I guess we won''t know that much until we get closer. For now, the priority is to test <>. < It is very important to know if it is useful as an escape device in case of emergency. <> < <<3......2......1...... 0! <>. We have just received the sample magi crystals from <>. "Oh, it worked!" It was good news that the material could be sent over a distance of 380,000 kilometers. And then more news came in. < It means that the mana consumption was at most twice as much as that of the transfer on Ars. "Hmmm, assuming that a transfer gate (warp gate) connects two different points with a kind of subspace tunnel, distance may not mean much in that subspace. ......" Jin made a hypothesis like this. to send the magi crystal to you. Please prepare to receive it. < I say "prepare to receive" only to have the crew of the brace themselves. < into the transporter, <<3......2......1...... 0! >> Instantaneously, a message is sent. < The transporter test was a great success. At least, the transporter, warp gate, and communication between the moon and Ars are now working without any problems. "Come to think of it, there is no time lag either. What the heck is a free-magic wave (ether) ......?" Even light takes 1.27 seconds to travel this distance, yet no delay is felt. Jin thought that there is still insufficient data to say anything about this. Nevertheless, the absence of time delay is rather welcome. was about to approach the far side of the moon. 971 - - 27-31 Weightlessness < comes in. ...... "It doesn''t look any different ......." The image is infrared because of the lack of sunlight, but it appears to be a desolate desert or wasteland, just like the front side. No, I should say that it always faces the same way to the sun. In addition, it is always in the sun-also-moon position. This makes the mystery of the moon even deeper. The moon is a satellite, but it does not look like one. "I''d like to land on the moon one of these days and check it out. ......" Jin''s mouth involuntarily utters such a soliloquy. This time it is not a lunar survey, but a test flight of <>, so it is only natural. As for Jin, it is not surprising that he is the one who will be responsible for the landing. <>. << This is essential for the safety of those who want to go to space. < did not have such experimental facilities, we can finally conduct various tests here. < All of these are things that you should make sure of if you are going to space. "All right, please." Since there was no point in watching the test all the time, Jin decided to leave the control room for a while. Erza was with him. "Brother Jin, are you going to cook something?" Erza asks, looking at Jin''s profile. She seems to have acquired the skill of reading Jin''s mood. "Yes. < A zero-gravity room? "Yeah." Jin explains to Elsa. He explains to Elsa that the idea is not to go to space suddenly, but to create an environment on the ground similar to that of space and train in it. Modern Earth science cannot create microgravity, but it is possible with our . "I think we can modify a part of the hangar." The hangar was built to hold a huge spaceship, so there was plenty of room. "Reiko, help me with this, will you?" "Yes, Father." And over the course of that day and the morning of the next day, Jin had completed the . * * * * * * So this is what you call a weightless room? "Yes. Interesting! Next to Jin is Elsa. And there are Reinhardt and Saki, who have come to visit. Accompanying them are Bella and Aal. The women are wearing pants, for the time being. "Come on, come on, Jin, let''s go in! Don''t be in a hurry. Reiko, who has a built-in force field generator and has experienced outer space, and Pance and Viola of the new Covert Maneuver Unit (SP) had tried it out, so we knew it would work without any problems. "Just go inside and say a word to the old man and you will be in zero gravity. "Come on, let''s go, let''s go!" Saki pushed Jin back and entered the zero-gravity room. Reinhardt follows, laughing and curious. Finally, Erza ...... no, the last three automata were Reiko, Bella, and Aaru. "Good, old man. All four of them felt a sensation in the pit of their stomachs as if they were being turned inside out. "Uh-oh! Reinhardt flinched ...... and his body floated up toward the ceiling in a straight line. "La, Reinhardt! Saki looked up at it...... and her body began to spin backwards. "Aah! Aah! Aah! "Saki!" Jin reached for Saki and took a step forward,...... and her body floated forward as if she had been shot. "This is ...... zero-gravity, isn''t it?" Unlike in outer space, the air is still there, so it will encounter resistance and eventually stop,......, but before it does, all three of them turned their eyes around. Reiko and the others retrieve the three. The symptoms of motion sickness are particularly severe for Jin. He is prone to motion sickness, so he seems to be prone to < in this kind of situation. I said "three", but yes, Erza was quiet and still, and since she saw Jin and the other three in a frenzy (?), she was in a state of panic. She was the first one to get used to the weightlessness without moving her body in a hurry. "<>" The three of us, all intoxicated, finally calmed down after having Erza cast a healing spell on us. "Ah, haha ...... I didn''t think it would be this hard." "Elsa is amazing. She seems to have gotten used to it. "Hmm. The trick is to stay calm and keep your movements as small as possible. I see. Elsa''s athleticism is not bad. And she also has to observe calmly. If she combined that with the that Jin had given her, she could do this well. "Okay, let''s try again." He made her create a zero-gravity state once again and kicked the floor very lightly, being careful not to make any sudden movements. "Oh, it floats, it floats!" Jin slowly drifted toward the ceiling. The air resistance slowed him down, but he still reached the ceiling, which was about 10 meters high, and grabbed a handle on the ceiling to hold himself in place. "You''re good, Jin." Saki followed suit. Perhaps she kicked the floor a little harder than Jin, but she was able to grab the handle of the ceiling without any danger, although her ascent was faster. Reinhardt did the same. The three of us now pushed the ceiling with our arms and headed for the floor. Once on the floor, they kick the floor again and go to the ceiling. ....... This time with more vigor. The three of them managed to move up and down in such a repetitive manner. "...... is amazing!" "Oh, ......." By this time, Erza was already freely kicking the floor, ceiling, and walls, flying around the zero-gravity room in all directions. * * * * "......I''m a little hungry." We have all managed to move in zero gravity. The time was 3:00 p.m. All four of us were so engrossed that three hours seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye. "Brother Jin, why don''t you practice eating in zero gravity? "Kuhuh, Elsa, that''s interesting. "How about it, Jin?" Erza and Saki suggested, as we were attached upside down to the ceiling. "Let''s see... First, drinks. Reiko, can I order?" "Yes, Father." Using the force generator as well, Reiko instantly went to the floor, opened the refrigerator in the corner of the room, grabbed the contents, and came right back again. She opened the refrigerator in the corner of the room, grabbed the contents, and returned immediately. It was a tube made of soft magic resin, so that it could be recycled. The juice is to be drunk by taking off the lid, putting on the mouth, and squeezing it. When Jin, who made the juice, shows them how to drink it, the remaining three drink it in the same way. "Yes, it''s delicious!Jin, that''s a very good idea. What if we don''t put it in the tube? Jin replies to Reinhardt''s question after finishing the drink. "I think it''s ...... that floats in space in a spherical shape. "I see, I can understand that." Saki nodded, "Hmm,...... this is what it looks like." Erza looked satisfied as she floated a sphere of water in the air, which she had made with the water magic <. 972 - - 27-32 Talks Hitoshi also tried a few experiments under microgravity conditions. For example, fire. He tries lighting a twig on fire with magic. "Oh, that''s interesting! Saki said, pointing her finger at the twig. I set it on fire, but it did not burn up. It turned into a round shape and soon disappeared. "Hmmm... I guess, since there is no convection of air, it must have gone out soon after it ran out of oxygen." "I see." While he was doing this kind of experiment, the old man reported to him. < "Oh, I see. Well, let''s go see it." "Oh, I''m looking forward to it!" "I wonder what it''s going to be like." As the four of them land on the floor, the old man slowly restores gravity. "......I''m feeling kind of heavy." "Yeah, I agree." "No wonder your bones become weak if you stay in the weightless condition for a long time. When Jin mentioned in a whisper what he had heard when he was in modern Japan, Reinhardt and Saki asked in surprise. "What? "Jin, Jin, what is it?I heard something not so peaceful...?" "Oh, that''s ......." Jin explained as he walked along that bones support the body, but when the burden is removed, they no longer feel the need to maintain their strength, and so their strength weakens. "Hmmm ......." "So, what you just said was a training exercise for emergencies, not to stay in that state by any means." "...... gepu." Saki, you''re being rude. "No, excuse me, excuse me." Saki burps while walking and Erza chastises her. But what they don''t know is that when you burp in zero gravity, the air, which is the body of the burp, comes out without separating. They are lucky that the liquid and solids in their stomachs also come out together. ...... That they were lucky. ....... * * * "Oh, my God!What the hell!" "Rai, shut up. Saki, take a cue from your sister." "......" "No, Erza-sama, with all due respect, I think Saki-sama is just letting her mind wander." Saki is quiet, and it seems she was stunned by the sight of the 300-meter-diameter spherical ship . Then he started over. "...... Gin, this is awesome!This is too much!What a thing you have made!" Reinhardt calmed down a bit, but was still very excited. "Oh, my God! It was more than I expected, more than I expected, Jin. Saki was completely taken aback. Jin explains to them politely. "The old man and Reiko both said that it''s not safe for me to go out into space unless I have this much ......". "Oh, that makes a little sense." "Yeah, yeah." Both of them are convinced by Jin''s half-excuse explanation, because they both know how much the old man and the others care and cherish Jin. "Hey! Jin asked, "Are you listening to my explanation? "Yes, I''m listening to you. Yes, I''m listening to you. Can we ride with you? "Of course we will. There''s nothing wrong with the engine, so as soon as we get the interior done, we''ll invite you all aboard. Let''s all go to space! "Oh, I''m looking forward to it!" "That''s very exciting." While Jin was explaining to Reinhard and Saki, Erza was talking to the old man. "...... So, not only ultraviolet rays, but also visible rays are harmful." << "Does this mean that the environment of space is harsh after all?" It seems that they are planning some kind of countermeasure here. * * * * * * "I like hot springs after all." Reinhardt decided to stay at Horai Island that night and was relaxing in the hot spring. "...... So, Jin, when are you going to have the wedding?" Reinhardt asks Jin who is in the hot spring with him. He was indeed not able to make fun of what he was talking about, "Well, I was thinking autumn, but maybe summer. ...... Jin replies in a matter-of-fact way, "Well, I was thinking of autumn, but maybe summer. "I''d like to think about it after the moon survey." He is thinking seriously about it. "Erza''s presence has helped me a lot, and I''m sorry that I seem to be procrastinating," he said. Reinhardt was pleased with her honest reply. "I see. Well, in the end it''s between the two of us, so it''s not my place to say anything about it. Saying this, Reinhard patted his stomach. "Is it getting a little tucked in?" Bertsche pointed out that he had been doing some exercise in between his duties. "Bertsche''s belly is getting bigger, isn''t it?" "Yes, she is." Reinhard smiled happily as he soaked in the hot water. Seeing his smile, Jin suddenly wondered if he could make a family like theirs. Meanwhile, Saki and Erza were bathing together. "Ah, hot springs are so nice, aren''t they? It is different from just hot water. Saki said in a deep tone as she caressed her left arm with her right hand. "I''m glad that Erza and Jin seem to be getting along well. "...... Saki sister, how are you and Goose-san?" I''m not sure.I don''t know, I don''t know. I don''t really know either, that''s the truth. Saki gave a carefree smile. "From my point of view, I think Saki and Mr. Goose are a good match. "You think so?" "....... It''s not for me to say. It''s not up to you. Elsa''s a lot more mature than I am. "......No, she''s not." Saki gently stroked Erza''s head as she looked down at her. I''m ...... sure it''s because of Jin. I''m a little envious of you. "Saki, my sister. ......" Erza turns bright red. "Ha-ha-ha, but you''re still the same old Saki. "...... already." The wind on Horai Island is warm, and the night reminds us that summer is about to arrive. 973 - - 27-33 Space suit? . On the other hand, the "Mere Old Man" was concerned about the visible rays, ultraviolet rays and cosmic rays that would penetrate into the observation dome which is made of transparent material. As long as he is in the central command center, he can almost completely shut out harmful electromagnetic waves. > You have the ability but not the authority to develop such new magic. The old man waited for Jin to wake up and decided to ask him for advice. "What''s the matter, my lord?" Then Ann came to him. She was accompanied by Lol and Leffa. Lol and Leffa were with him. They were brought from the Kunlun Island to make the flagship that Jin was going to sail on safer. Incidentally, the magical brain in charge of the Kunlun Island, <>, is also expected to attend the meeting via manacam (magical communication device). That is a matter that must be prioritized above all else. The safety of the master, that is absolute. That''s right. So they started to consult with each other to prepare a draft to be shown to Jin, who was still sleeping, as soon as he woke up. "The observation room is a light shield as you said," he said. "It should not allow light of a certain intensity to pass through, and also not allow wavelengths to pass through that are not needed." However, since it''s an observation room, it mustn''t obstruct the viewer''s vision. "It is pitch black in space. We should definitely have beacon lights for fleet operations." << "The space suit must be constructed in such a way that it will not endanger the master!" <> You say that the master wants to see and feel with his own eyes? And so, unbeknownst to Jin, his loyal subjects proceeded with their story. * * * * * * "Ah, I slept well. Jin wakes up at 6:30 a.m. Horai Island time. It is already early summer and bright enough. By the way, both of them had gone home last night, Reinhardt for his work as a lord and Saki for the research she was doing with Goose. "Brother Jin, good morning. Erza was up at 6:00 a.m. and was preparing breakfast with Soleil. "This morning I made miso soup with wakame seaweed. The seaweed actually looks just like wakame seaweed, but Jin and the others have decided to name it wakame. Erza made miso soup and Soleil cooked rice. There were also pickled plums, pickles, and grilled fish. Elsa had grown accustomed to the Japanese style breakfast. "Thank you for the food. It was delicious. "Thank you very much." Luna said she would take care of the cleanup, so Jin and Erza left the house and headed for the laboratory. Anne, Lol, and Leffa were waiting there. "Good morning, Mrs. Goshujin." "Good morning, Anne. "Good morning, master." "Lor, good morning." Good morning, master. "Good morning, Lefa. Good morning." After exchanging greetings with the others, Jin took his seat in the control room. Erza is on his right and Reiko is behind him. <. The old man greeted the guests and started to explain. <>. "I see, light in general is troublesome in space, isn''t it?" After the old man explained the dangers of the observation deck, Jin thought for a moment and began to write the Magi Formula on the Magi Crystal in order to create a light resistant warding. The basic idea is to cut off light rays and electromagnetic waves with wavelengths other than 400 to 700 nanometers. In addition, a function to cut off light above a certain intensity is added. If we compare it to an electronic circuit, we can say that it is a <> and a <>. < The old man received the Magi Crystal from Jin and sent <> out into space for immediate testing. "Goshujin-sama, may I have a word? "Anne. Yes?" Yes. The command center where you will be staying, what do you think about cushioning the interior, just in case? Floor, ceiling, walls. How about putting a sponge-like cushioning material on the surfaces of the magi-machines? Remembering the zero-gravity room, Jin immediately agrees. "Yes, that''s a good idea. I''ll make the necessary arrangements, including a zero-gravity chamber. Thank you, Anne. "That''s a waste of words." Lol and Leffa followed. "Master, we were just discussing the possibility of putting a handrail inside the spaceship. "I think it would be useful for moving and securing the body in case of an accident or for some other reason we have to make the spacecraft weightless. "Oh, I see. I think it''s a good idea. Thank you for your advice. Master, I also have a suggestion. Following Anne, Lol, and Leffa, <> spoke up. "Oh, <>. That''s unusual. Yes, what is it? It''s about the space suit. Yeah, so? After consulting with everyone, taking into consideration the purpose of protecting the master''s safety and the master''s desire to act on his own... A sketch is projected on the magic screen. This is the proposal that we came up with. "...... What is this?" It looks like a drum with eight legs. Of course, this is just a rough sketch I drew to explain its function and structure. The actual shape will be more sophisticated. "No, no matter how sophisticated it is, this is ......." I believe that space is full of unknown dangers. Therefore, I have concluded that this is the only way to ensure the safety of the master (Mylord) and to take action. "But that doesn''t mean you can''t ......" Taishaku continues his explanation. The tubular part is the part where the master (Mylord) will board. If it is made of hyperadamantite or something like that, it can prevent a lot of danger. "......" Since Jin did not say anything, Taishaku''s explanation continued uninterruptedly. The legs for walking are four legs, but we will prepare another four legs as spare parts. This made it look like a badly made octopus or a spider. The pseudo-tentacles are four arms, but it would be better to use two arms for normal use. Of course, I can control them magically. "......" Jin does not say anything yet. The outside of the cabin can be seen on the screen that surrounds the entire cabin. Up and down, front and back, left and right, no blind spots. "......" He looks a little stunned. Naturally, they are equipped with weapons and can fly with a force field generator. Gravity is also controlled, so it can handle everything from zero gravity to great gravity. "......" Jin lets out a small sigh. And the boarding section is equipped with a warp gate, so that in the unlikely event of an emergency, we can escape. "......Yeah, well, I see your point." Jin''s voice sounded tired. "Certainly, with all this equipment, we should be able to withstand most environments with little danger. Thank you. Jin realized once again how much people around him cared about him. And he realized once again how much people cared about him. He wondered if it was possible to make a space suit that was easier to use and better looking. 974 - - 27-34 Review of on-board boats "So, do you have any more suggestions?" The old man took over the explanation. This time, he talked about some simple things. First of all, the plants to be grown in the plant factory should be strong, fast-growing, and rich in nutrients, and the following plants were suggested as candidates: soybean, sweet potato, buckwheat, and strawberries. Next, as for the boats, it is better to prepare several boats that can be used for various purposes than to prepare each boat for a different purpose. Furthermore, it is proposed that a super-small boat for reconnaissance is necessary. And as a backup power source, as many magi crystals (magi crystals) and aethenols as possible should be loaded. Finally, he concluded by asking them to fly with a support fleet instead of just <. "I see." This was something that made sense to Jin. All of these contents were motivating for Jin. It is much better than a drum-type space suit. Erza glanced at Jin''s profile and showed an ambiguous expression, like a wry smile or a smirk. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the end, Jin agreed to all of the old men''s proposals. We will think about the fleet after <> is completely successful. Instead, we have decided to build several 10-meter class spaceships of the same type as <> to support the fleet. However, in case of emergency, we will modify the spacecraft to accommodate human passengers inside. In other words, they can be used as escape boats. In addition, we have decided to build several 2.5-meter class spaceships for reconnaissance purposes. The old man will be in charge of this. "All right, I''ll review the on-board boats. Jin finished his lunch a little early and started to work on the all-purpose carrier first. "Brother Jin, what''s your plan? Erza is ready to be his assistant. "Well, first of all, let''s enumerate what kind of situations we have in mind. "Hmm..." "The world of Ars. There''s gravity, oxygen, the usual. Airplanes, cars, quadrupeds. Everything is okay. The ocean, water everywhere. "A ship or an airplane. A submarine would be good. Reiko joins us. A place with a vacuum and little gravity. A small, airtight spaceship, maybe. Anne comes in and lends her wisdom. "A place with dense vegetation, like a rainforest." "It''s difficult. There would be too many obstacles to fly over, so maybe a heavy car or a quadruped." This is Lol. "A world covered in ice." "A plane or a quadruped." And Lefa. The point is, they''re all in. "Well, airplanes are very versatile, aren''t they?" "Of course they are. It''s also fast and convenient. Erza agrees with Jin''s mutterings. "However, there is a disadvantage of overlooking a fast plane, isn''t there? Anne points out. Jin nodded his head in agreement. "The jungle would be the most difficult case. Even a small armored vehicle or a quadruped would have a hard time. "In that case, I guess we''ll have to do some mowing." "I guess so. ......" Jin had to agree with Refa''s statement. "So, should we give small armored vehicles or quadrupedal vehicles the ability to fly?" Rolle''s statement is right on the mark. Jin also thought that this was the right direction. "The one that flies is a force field generator, so we can think of it as traveling on land and on water or underwater. In space, the pressure difference is only one atmospheric pressure, but in water, the pressure difference increases by one atmospheric pressure per 10 meters of depth. In other words, the submarine is more robust than the spaceship when it comes to pressure differences. "Well, I don''t know, I don''t have a coherent direction. ......" The all-purpose or general-purpose is often more difficult to use than the dedicated. "...... planes walk or cars fly?" "Oh, that''s easy to understand." Erza''s expression was amusing, so Jin laughed and tried to follow the idea. "Father, why don''t you think about how often you use it?" Reiko also came up with a useful suggestion. "Yes. ...... the moon and the long-period planets to begin with. And ...... Hale. That''s where it''s at." "I don''t think there are dense forests on the moon." Long-period planets are ...... unknown. There are no dense forests on the planet Hale, or if there are, they are limited to a few areas. Anne, Lol, and Leffa all share their thoughts. Jin was enjoying the situation. "Then, we should start by thinking about growing legs on the plane. "...... is kind of creepy." Unusually, Elsa mixed it up. "I guess so." Since Elsa also said so, Jin thinks of a safe design first. "......After all, we should fly a car. ......" Jin imagines a flying car as seen in near-future comic books. "The base car must have a futuristic design. The idea of a classic car flying in the sky is also very appealing to the enthusiast, but Jin thinks that he should start with an orthodox design. "Goshujin-sama, please consider the damage caused by cosmic rays and ultraviolet rays. "Oh, that''s right." If Ann hadn''t told me, I would have made the cockpit a transparent dome," Jin reflected. "All covered with metal, with a magic screen on the outside. ......" "I think that''s a safe bet." ......, I don''t have a choice. As Jin, I know how helpless the human body is in space. He proceeded with the design without any difficulty. The result is a < in the shape of a flattened egg. To put it more simply, it is shaped like the < of an apple PC. It is covered with four layers of magi invar, mithril, soft magic resin, and 64 light silver, and flies with a force field generator. And to top it all off, it has no tires or legs. This is a barrier cushion car! Father, what does that mean? What does it mean, Brother Jin? Reiko and Elsa tilted their heads, not understanding what it meant. There is a type of car called an air car. Officially, it is called an air cushion car. On modern Earth, it would be more commonly called a hovercraft. Air is sucked in, and it is sprayed on the bottom of the car, and the pressure makes the car body float. Jin''s hovercraft used a <> instead of air to make the body float. 975 - - 27-35 Barrier Cushion Car "Barrier cushion car?" "Yes, that''s right. We lower the strength of the barrier so that it conforms to the unevenness of the ground and deploys under the car. So no tires, no infinite track, no legs. With these words, Jin builds a prototype car. Reiko and Elsa helped him with great interest. Jin took the prototype car to the plaza in front of the institute, and tried to get into it as if he was proof of his theory. It was Reiko who stopped him. "Father, please leave the test drive to me. In the past, Reiko had tested many of the vehicles that Jin had built. Reiko said she would do it this time, too, and got into the pilot''s seat. Okay, let''s go. Reiko''s voice is clearly audible since there is an external speaker. The magic engine started to work, and a barrier was formed on the bottom of the car body. Jin examined the barrier a little, and found it to be a little too hard and uncomfortable to ride on. The ground was also a little gouged. Reiko, lower the hardness of the barrier a little more. Yes, Father. By changing the hardness according to the road surface, the impact absorption will change. This time we will not have to gouge the ground. Also, by changing the <>, we were able to change the height at which the car would be lifted up, in a range of approximately 10 centimeters to 1 meter. After conducting these tests, they start the driving test. "Okay, Reiko, try to drive slowly. Yes, sir. A force field generator is used for propulsion. The prototype glides along. There''s hardly a mark on the ground. Oh, it works! "Amazing!" Elsa is frankly thrilled. It was the first time she had ever seen a car without wheels or legs lifted 30 centimeters off the ground and run. The car reaches the edge of the square at about 20 km/h and then makes a U-turn. On the way back, he doubles his speed to 40 kilometers per hour and comes to a sudden stop. This is possible because it is a force generator. The entire body of the vehicle, that is, every molecule and atom that makes up the vehicle, is exerting , so no matter how fast the vehicle accelerates, it does not feel any G-forces. "Okay, now all that''s left is flight performance. Reiko, please." Yes, sir. Let''s go to ......! Now the prototype floats vertically. As for this one, Reiko is an experienced pilot and has a control core to assist her, so we can watch with peace of mind. It can reach a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour. Okay, good work. Jin was satisfied with the performance of the plane, saying that it would be sufficient for long-distance flights using a special reconnaissance plane. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It is already late in the evening. "Today was another fulfilling day. ......" Feeling pleasantly tired, Jin headed home. Soaking in the hot spring and stretching his arms and legs, the fatigue that had built up in his shoulders and neck seemed to flow away. "I''m looking forward to it." The thought of going to the moon in just a few days makes Jin excited. "......And yet, a space suit, or ......" "Father, it would be best if you are satisfied with the <>. ......" Reiko reacts to Jin''s mutterings. As Reiko, she can''t help but worry. "I won''t stop you from boarding the spaceship, but if you want to explore the moon, please leave it to the substitute doll (double)." When they raided the headquarters of the in the past, Jin was on the to give instructions, and left it to his double to take over during the raid. "Hmmm ......" "If you are dissatisfied, you can make a better ......" At Reiko''s words, Jin said, "I see!That''s a good idea. Reiko, I get it. Let''s do it! He seemed to have been stimulated to create something, and shouted cheerfully. "......Well, when you share a feeling, you can also take damage. ......" He was half absent-minded at dinner, and after dinner, he became completely absorbed in his work. "......Reiko, what did you say?" Elsa asked in a slightly stern tone of voice. "I''m ...... sorry. I told your father that I didn''t want him to take any risks, so I suggested that instead of a space suit, he should make a good-quality substitute doll." "...... convinced." This is a theme that Jin seems to jump on. "If ......, let''s work together on this one too, so that we can finish something great, shall we?" "......Elsa-sama,......, yes!" Reiko was a little disappointed, but Elsa''s words made her look up from her prone position. "Goshujin-sama, I think the point is the limiter." "Yes, that''s right." Sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Each of these senses is transmitted to the pilot, but beyond a certain level, the senses are shut out. Otherwise, for example, if <(=sense of pain) is transmitted as it is, if the doll is attacked, Jin, the pilot, could be damaged while the substitute doll is fine because it is a fake. "It is essential to share the senses. Otherwise, you won''t be able to feel the realism." If he can''t visit the exploration site himself, Jin wants to be able to feel it as much as possible. "But please make sure that the body is as strong as possible," he says. "Not only strong, but also the best in strength and speed." Anne, Rolle, and Leffa lent their wisdom. The specifications were being decided upon, and a blueprint was being drawn up in Jin''s mind as to what kind of product should be made. "Jin-bro, we''ll actually make it tomorrow. ......, right?" Jin noticed the worried look in Erza''s eyes and nodded his head. With everyone''s help, it was only 10:00 p.m. "Thank you. We have a rough idea of what we''re going to do. I''m going to bed. "Yes, sir. Good night, sir. Good night. Lol and Leffa bowed and left. "Good night, master." Anne went into the next room, "Brother Jin, good night." Erza also returned to her room. Jin and Reiko remained. "Ah, Reiko, thanks to you, I think I can make something good. Thank you. "No, thank you. I was worried that I might have ...... said something unnecessary. But Hitoshi patted Reiko on the head, "No, I really appreciate it. Now I can enjoy space safely. He then crawls under the covers. "Good night, Reiko." "Have a good night, Father." The lights of the magic lamp are dimmed and the room becomes dark. The only light is the moonlight coming through the window. "...... Soon, I''m going to solve the mystery over there." Jin glanced at the moon and closed his eyelids peacefully. That night, Jin seemed to have had a good dream. 976 - - 27-36 New model dolls The next morning, Jin began to study a new type of substitute doll without even having breakfast. "It is not difficult to make an automata with five senses. That''s the premise. In front of Jin are Reiko, Anne, Lol, Lefa, and Elsa. Of course, the old man is also in the group. "The important thing is to share the senses and control the body. This is difficult," Jin began to explain. "If I, the operator, keep the upper limit of sensation low, but my control commands have no upper limit, there will be a contradiction. "What do you mean, Goshujin-sama?" Anne asked. Jin felt that his explanation was not clear enough, so he tried to rethink it. "I''m not 100 percent sure of my theory, though. In order to make a ...... force, we need to know how much force we are exerting and how that force is affecting the other party." "I can see that." Reiko nodded broadly, remembering the first time she held the sense of touch. "But I, for example, had no trouble operating without the sense of touch. ......" Anne said curiously, but the reason for this is simple. The automata (automata) and golems such as Anne and Reiko can sense the behavior of objects and adjust their force even without the sense of touch due to their super responsiveness. For example, when lifting an object, they start with extremely weak force, detect that it cannot be lifted, and gradually add more force. They can do this in less than one-tenth of a second. What happens if they do not do this and apply full power from the beginning? . In other words, they will overturn with too much power, or knock things over, or crush them. "It''s difficult, isn''t it ......?" "Oh, in that case, why don''t you lower the sensitivity as you get stronger?" Jin was shocked by Lol''s suggestion. "......" "Um, Master, did I say something wrong?" Lol asks Jin with a worried look on her face. Jin denied it. "Oh, no, no, no. On the contrary, it was a good idea and I was impressed. One cannot equate one becoming two with one hundred and one becoming one hundred and twenty-two. 1 becomes 2 and 1001 becomes 1002, that''s what I mean. It''s worth a try, Jin said, and began his work. It is worth a try, and Jin started his work. Making the body is a task that has been repeated so many times that it can be done with eyes closed. "The force should be up to about ten men''s strength." If it is more than that, Jin will not be able to control it. "Instead, we will increase the number of special modes." For example, vision. For example, normal mode, telephoto mode, night vision mode, and so on. For hearing, there should be an ultrasonic mode. Normally, it should be kept in the audible range. If you hear ultrasonic waves all the time, it would be very depressing. "The last one is <>. By making this tight, it should be as if Jin himself has transferred to the doll ....... The on Jin''s side was made to look like a helmet and worn over the head. The pilot is lying on a comfortable seat with the device on his head. "Brother Jin, are you all right?" Erza looks worried. "Yes. I''ll start with a low tuning rate, so I''ll be fine. In case you call out to me and I don''t answer you, please turn off the magic of the control unit. "......" "Okay, let''s start the test." Jin lay down on the seat and put on the controls. Since he has not yet put on the exterior, Jin''s new substitute doll looks like a golem rather than an automaton. It slowly gets up. Then it starts to walk awkwardly, but then stops. "Well, this isn''t working!" He removes the control device and readjusts it. Then he experiments again. The movement is still jerky. Then he readjusts it again. After repeating this process three times, the movement finally became smooth. . For the first time, words came out of the mouth of the substitute doll. His voice sounded a little distorted. "Almost there. Then Jin made two more adjustments. The substitute doll ran lightly and jumped up and down. Jin walks the dummy out of the institute. Reiko and Elsa follow him. Anne, Lol, and Lefa stayed behind in the workshop. The substitute walked out to the vestibule of the institute, where he ran and jumped as fast as he could. "Amazing!" No wonder Erza was impressed. It was running at a speed that no human being could have achieved. If she jumped up, she could reach a height of about five meters. "Yes, father. He wants to try a pseudo fight with Reiko. <> The substitute doll closes the distance at once and thrusts out a fist with blinding speed ......, but Reiko calmly deals with it. A series of fists and the occasional kick. Reiko dodged, handled, and caught them all. . The substitute doll takes a step back. The specs of the body are high, but Jin''s skill in handling it is not good enough, so this seems to be the limit. > "What?That''s ......." Jin, are you okay? Reiko hesitates and Erza worries. <<< Oh, I have to do it sometime. I have to do it sometime. Reiko''s two percent should be unbreakable. Please do me a favor. "...... Okay. I''m coming!" Reiko decides, and steps forward with her fist. "GUN!" There was a dull metallic thud, and the replacement doll was blown about 20 meters away. Father! Brother Jin! Reiko and Erza ran toward the laboratory, concerned about the muffled grunts that Jin must have let out at the moment he was hit. "Onee-sama, Goshujin-sama is fine!" Anne said to reassure Reiko, who literally jumped into the room. "Oh, Reiko. I''m sorry I worried you. I''m fine." "Is that your voice at ......?" "Yeah, it''s not nice to get punched in the face. It didn''t hurt, but my voice came out of reflex. "Oh, I''m so relieved." Then Elsa came in late. She saw that Jin was sitting up on the seat without any problems, "...... Jin!" She shouted and jumped on Jin. "Oh, hey, Elsa,......." "...... thank god you''re okay." She sounded a little tearful, probably because she was worried about him. Jin gently patted Erza on the back. "It was a great success. I can feel the hit, but I don''t feel any pain at all. This will literally be a for me. After this, the new substitute doll is reconstructed and given a new exterior to make it look more like Jin. After the exterior was applied, various tests were conducted, and the doll was found to perform almost exactly as expected. This new substitute doll surpassed Jin in physical strength, but could only use <> to the same extent as the Craftsman (Smith) Golem. "Still, it''s not every day that I get to use engineering magic with all my might." Jin gave the new substitute doll a passing grade. It was newly named <>. 977 - - 27-37 Elzas alter ego doll The month has changed and it is now June. is completed, and Jin immediately puts it on . And for the time being, he tries to enjoy the rounds of Ars. "Oh, this is comfortable! Jin is jumping up and down even though he is lying on the seat. It is such a realistic feeling. Seeing Jin like this, Elsa said "Brother Jin, I want to go to space too. She asked him, "Brother Jin, I want to go to space, too. In other words, she asked him to make a of her. "Oh, yes." Jin accepted the offer and immediately started to make the doll. The place was Elsa''s workshop. "Let''s do it this way. "Okay." The two proceeded smoothly. ...... but... "......" It was fine until they built the body, but when it came time to install the exterior, it became unbearable. Jin said. "Oh, Elsa can do the rest." "Uh-huh." Erza was also red. Even though they were engaged to be married, it was like exposing their naked bodies. Both Jin and Erza, who was in a position to see and be seen, were still very naive. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After leaving Elsa''s workshop with Reiko, Jin came to the basement command center. Anne, Lol, and Leffa were also in the room. "Old man, this is a good opportunity for us to create a new for the forces in Horai Island. The old man immediately agrees. <, right? >> "Yes. Cosmos 1 will be the leader, and the rest of the organization will be similar to the Air Force. . Thus, following the <><><>, the <> was born on Horai Island. "Goshujin-sama, I have a proposal. Ann raised her hand and spoke up. "Yes?" "In that case, I suggest that <> be properly organized as well." Mermaids are mermaid golems, designed for underwater activities. "Yes, that''s right. So, ......<>?" < Jin was thinking, "With this, there will be 5 armies to protect Horai Island. "Brother Jin, please make adjustments. Erza arrived. She put on the exterior and clothes. "Okay." So Jin heads to Elsa''s workshop. Not only Reiko, but also Anne, Lol, and Leffa came along. "Oh, she''s so cute!" "Thank you for ......." In the workshop, an alter ego doll (doppelg?nger) with a face exactly like Erza''s was lying on the floor. However, her hair was not platinum blonde, but a perfect silvery white. "I see. This way I can tell them apart." Jin had been thinking only of making her indistinguishable, but now he realized that there was no need for her to look like him if he was only going to put her on the spaceship as a substitute. However, it would be easier to synchronize the same physique with the same movement habits. Jin also thought of changing his hair to brown or dark gray later. < was made closer by using only a small amount of the that had been given to him by No. 700672, It is made possible by adding a very small amount of the "psychic catalyst" given by No. 700672 to the control core, so small that it is hard to tell whether it is used or not. "The mental catalyst that cured my disease." Yes, Erza''s hypermagia was caused by poor control of free magical element (ether), and she was cured by ingesting one millionth of a gram of psychic catalyst to treat it. To cure it, he took one millionth of a gram of psychic catalyst and was cured. "You add a millionth of a gram of that to the control core," he says. Since there was still a little less than one-tenth of a gram left, there was no problem in using it. * * * "......" Elsa lies down on the seat and puts on her control helmet (headset). "I''m going to start out with a low tuning ratio." "Hmm." Elsa''s doppelg?nger slowly gets up. She tries to get off the workbench, but is knocked over. < It may not hurt, but it''s a sound you can''t help but let out. "Let''s try to get a little more in sync." Jin played a little with the helmet (headset) that Erza was wearing. "Try it with this." "Yes." The doppelganger, who had been sitting on the floor, stood up. The doppelganger seemed to have no trouble walking, but there was still some awkwardness in his voice and other parts of his body. So Jin readjusted it again. . The movement became lighter and lighter. "Okay, let''s try turning it up a little more. "Okay, let''s try to raise it a little more and then let''s go outside. "Hmm." The adjustments seem to be working quite well this time, and Erza herself, who is piloting the aircraft, says that she feels <>. Then she went out to the vestibule of the institute and started to run just as Jin had done. "Oh, you''re doing great. He ran 100 meters in less than 5 seconds. Erza makes a U-turn and comes back, jumps up about 4 meters on the spot, spins around, and lands without a hitch. "How''s it going?"How do you like it, Brother Jin? "Well, yeah, I think I''m in good shape. ...... but if you''re going to be moving around, you probably shouldn''t have worn a skirt." "......!!!!" Erza''s alter ego doll (doppelg?nger) puts her hand on her cheek. As expected, I didn''t add a function to change the color of her face, but I could tell that Erza was embarrassed. "Have you seen ......?" "No, I don''t know if you''ve seen ......." Jin was at a loss for an answer. And after two minor adjustments, Erza''s alter ego (doppelg?nger) had gained enough practicality. "Now it''s time to take over temporarily in case of emergency. ......" Brother Jin, what do you mean? "This time, the doppelganger has a very close connection with the person himself, so there''s a possibility that it won''t work well if someone else tries to control it out of the blue. Even if it were the old man, he said, things would be awkward. "So, it''s up to us, human beings, to steer the ship. We will be hungry and sleepy." "...... convinced." Sleeping, eating, going to the bathroom, etc., may cause them to give up control for short periods of time. "As a countermeasure, I think we need to entrust some of the control to the old man and the Great Sage." "Indeed." Thus, the two doppelgangers were now ready to go, with the emergency < connected to the Old Master and the Great Sage as well, and after careful adjustments. 978 - - From 27 to 38 Thus, using the doppelganger, which eliminates the problems of the living, Jin finally decides to embark on a search for the moon. At 8:00 a.m. on June 2, Jin''s flagship was ready for departure at the space port of Horai Island. "All right, old man, whenever you''re ready. It''s just a mood. <<10......9......8......7......>> Jin and Erza themselves are lying on their seats in the control room of the institute, covered by the control devices. <> And the count reaches zero. <> Adriana, a huge spherical spacecraft with a diameter of 300 meters, floats up. It rises slowly so as not to cause strong winds. After about 1,000 meters, the spacecraft gradually accelerates. "Eventually, I would like to build a relay base in satellite orbit and launch the satellite from there. Jin is lying in the command center thinking about this. * * * * > Jin and Erza''s doppelganger were in the observation room at the upper pole of <>. They are equipped with light shielding. Since it is a doppelganger, there is no need to worry about cosmic rays. Erza was moved when she stepped out into space with a comparable to her own body. Against a jet-black background, the stars shine, the sun blazes, and the water stars glow blue ...... ars. Erza (her doppelganger = Erza D) gazed outside silently, while Jin (his doppelganger = Jin D) looked at her silently with a warm gaze. After a moment of silence, Erza thanked him in a mumbled voice. Jin D. gently hugged Erza D.''s shoulder as she murmured this, >, she whispered. <>. Elsa D. gently lets herself be carried away by Jin D. . The voice of the Great Sage breaks the silence. Jin D. and Erza D. return their consciousness to reality. < ... Jin D. and Erza D. return to the bridge and see Arus moving away from them on the screen. < senses can tell, flying <> is comfortable. The ship''s gravity is maintained at 1G and the living quarters are filled with breathable air. The doppelgangers do not need to eat, but there is enough food and water on board. < > Anne, who is here as a crew member to support Jin D. and Elsa D., calls out to them. >. > * * * * * Having basically nothing to do until the arrival at the moon, Jin and Erza disconnected the controls and got up from their seats. "Phew." After all, flying in space was a bit nerve-wracking, even if it was with a doppelganger. "......" Next to him, Erza also got up and looked at Jin, blushing. After all this time, she seems to be aware of what was said in the observation room. "Father, Miss Elsa. Please have some tea." Reiko brings me a cup of genmaicha (brown rice tea). Reiko has remained on the ground to protect Jin in the flesh. Instead, Anne, Lol, and Lefa are aboard . "Oh, thank you." The distance between Arus and the moon is about 380,000 kilometers. If we fly at 200 kilometers per second, it will take us about 32 minutes. In the meantime, Jin and Erza decided to relax with a cup of tea. They decided that it would be better to leave the control of the doppelganger for a while, especially since Erza was visibly nervous. Twenty-five minutes passed. The magic screen in the control room was showing the image of the moon sent by <>, and it was getting bigger and bigger every moment. "It''s time to get back to controlling the doppelganger. "Yes." "Thanks for the tea, Reiko." Jin and Erza again leaned their backs against the seat and put on the controls. * * * * <. . We have already flown around the moon once, so there was no problem at all so far. < > he said. Adriana orbiting the moon. < < As we descend in altitude, more details emerge. The surface is rock, gravel, and sand, with no signs of life. There seems to be no air, but white areas that look like dry ice can be seen in some places, suggesting that there may have been an atmosphere in ancient times. As it orbits, some values are also measured. . The measurements are the same as those taken during the last visit. This is another great mystery of the Moon. Eventually, they plan to drop to 1000 kilometers, but they have no intention of landing. For this kind of situation, there are ten 10-meter class spacecraft of the same type as the <> on board. Astro and his crew, small 40-centimeter-class space golems, are in charge of piloting the ships. The three ships, <><><>, are launched from the hangar of <>. 979 - - 27-39 Search for the Moon After the three boats were launched, Jin D. called out to Erza D. "Let''s have lunch until they come back. It was now lunchtime. Jin and Erza remove their controls and decide to have lunch. "Father, would you like me to bring it over here?" "Yes, let''s do that." They decided to eat lunch in the command center of Horai Island so that they could respond immediately in case of any problems. "Soleil made today''s lunch. It was kama-age udon. It came with vegetables and shrimp tempura. "Oh, this looks delicious." "Delicious." The drink was buckwheat tea. Considering Jin''s cat tongue, it was brought along with the udon noodles. It will cool down to a drinkable state while you are eating. "If you like, you can have chopped green onions, too. The green onion served this time looked more like a partridge or an asazuki. They have a slightly pungent taste, and not only the leaves but also the rounded roots can be eaten like shallots. Jin and Erza both like to eat udon with such condiments, so they added a lot of green onions and enjoyed the udon with tempura. While they were drinking buckwheat tea, the old man gave a brief report. . "I see. We''re going to lose a little more altitude, aren''t we?" < "Okay." Jin and Erza sipped the buckwheat tea slowly, tasting it as they drank. Then, after lightly stretching their bodies, they sat down on the seats and put the controls back on. * * * * * * * * * * * * * As soon as Jin D. and Erza D. regain control, a report from comes in. << Yes, when I visited the old Leonard Kingdom before, I learned that most of the people, including the king, had moved to the moon to escape a plague. There are no traces of their supposed relocation. ....... > Erza looks a little relieved. When I learned that the people of the former Leonard''s Kingdom had all gone to the moon and never returned, I had shuddered to think that they had all died in the vacuum of the moon''s surface. > Question from Elsa D. <<<< Well, it may take too much time... >>> Flying over the surface of the moon and moving around on the surface of the moon to examine the interior is too inefficient. > Jin D, or rather, Jin who is piloting the vehicle, ponders. < Erza also seems to have noticed Jin''s idea. < In a clear and empty space, there is no significant bias in the distribution density of free magical elements (ether), but as long as there is matter in the space, a <> is generated. The detection of such a bias is called "ether radar". It is an advantage that it can investigate in a short period of time because of its original purpose. < This is a rough sketch, but it will suffice for the present purpose. <> So < went around to the front side of the moon, the side facing Ars. At the same time, she retrieves the three ships that were out scouting. Moving to the front side, the <> is activated again. This time, a slightly more detailed survey was conducted. In about two minutes, a cross-sectional view of the Moon is drawn. > Elsa D. is impressed, but the system was originally designed to detect obstacles in flight. It would be useless if it were slow to react. <> reacts to Jin D''s mutterings. < <> Thus, it seems that we have found the place we are looking for, but the next question is <>. <<<< digging a hole>> would be impossible>> <<>. <> Go to the destination by <>. Find the entrance. Investigate the sequence of the transfer magic circle, <> and use the Horaijima-style transfer gate (warp gate) to move. The following three were first put on the chopping block for consideration. <<<< No 2. Since three ships have so far scouted the Moon''s surface and failed to find it. < Then we are left with 1 and 3, both of which are similar in that they use <>. <3 is the smartest, but I don''t know how long it would take. "I agree. If it were the Goshujin-sama, it wouldn''t take long to analyze the flow of magic control (Magi sequence). I wonder how much time and effort it would take to go all the way to the former Leonard''s Kingdom to check the transfer magic circle. After all, even the magical brain who was the who told us about the old Leonard''s Kingdom did not know about the transfer magic circle. is equipped with a <>, mainly for offensive purposes. It is equipped with the purpose of sending <> and so on to the enemy''s front, but of course it can be used for this purpose as well. <>. There are two ways for a transporter to determine its target. One is . One is to measure the angle and distance by using a magic detector (magi radar) or the like. The other is . The other is <>, which is a magical marker and sends out a signal toward it. Naturally, <> is easier and more accurate. In this case, we are going to use high-density free-magic (ether) agglomerates instead of markers. Jin D decides. > The Shinobi Unit is an intelligence mini-golem 5 centimeters in length. When the need arises, it can shift 300 meters with its built-in transporter. The distance was previously 50 meters, but when it was placed on the spaceship, the distance was extended to the diameter of <>. < 980 - - 27-40 Internal Investigation Five , from Shinobi 1 to 5, are to be sent in. Jin D. and Erza D. are to be observed through the magic screen linked to the eyes of Shinobu I. <> to call them back here, but basically, you should avoid danger on your own. At ......, we will send you out>>. The <> built into the shinobi unit can send or recall a target by using a marker as a marker. The most advantageous feature is that it can also transmit itself. The disadvantage is that it is not possible to send a transporter to a place where there is no marker. Hence, in this case, the transporter is used to send out the target. Without a countdown, the five have moved from to the basement of the Moon World. The free ether agglomerates that marked their arrival were, as Jin had suspected, magi-machines. "It looks like an ether converter. That is what Jin judged, although he only had visual information. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The transferred <<> first confirmed that there was no sign of people, and then looked around the area. Although it was dimly lit, there was a light that appeared to be a magic lamp. He further reports that there is air (oxygen and nitrogen, a little bit of oxygen and nitrogen). Oxygen and nitrogen, a little carbon dioxide, and noble gases. It appears to be breathable air. Gravity is approximately 1G.) Shinobu reported this using the full analytical functions, and showed Jin and the others the surroundings through his eyes. There were huge metal tubes standing in a row, although they were old. These are the Magi Machines, which Jin judged to be <>. Twenty of them stand in a row, thickly covered with dust, and there is no sign that anyone has visited them for a long time. Use the force field generator.) Yes, sir.) Avoiding making footprints in the dust, the five bodies float up. We''ll move them up to the ceiling. We''ll keep moving. Follow me.) With Shinobi Ko in the lead, the five Shinobi Forces quietly begin to move. Oh, they are moving up to the ceiling! < The image started to move. The overhead view makes it easy to see what is going on inside. Jin D, who was watching the video, guessed so. And then there is a dead end. There was a door there. The question is how to get to the other side. With so few people around, the opening and closing of the door would be too conspicuous, no matter how invisible they are. The door is open and closed too conspicuously, no matter how invisible it is. The old man then spoke up. "Hm?What does that mean?" Jin asked back, removing the control device from his head. advised you to ask him directly. "Yes, sir." The old man then connected <>''s voice. My lord, please excuse me for taking time out of your busy schedule. In my opinion, if we use the ether radar, we can find out how many humans and golems are inside the facility on the moon. "Oh, yes, indeed!" In that case, we should be able to detect their presence, including their movement. Jin thanked him, put on the controls again, and gave <> his instructions. < moves a little to the best position for the search. Ten minutes of exploration followed. This time a much more detailed search was conducted. And the conclusion is shocking. . Although he had expected that there would be little, he had not expected such a small amount of movement. > Jin thought this was unlikely. There doesn''t seem to be any golem moving either. > Finally, we must proceed or else we will never get started. At Jin D''s direction, the Shinobi troopers painstakingly opened the doors and began to move forward through the corridor. > It took five of them five minutes to open the door. . <<> said the old man who was watching the event. Still, there was nothing like a door beyond that point for a while, and the five of them proceeded on their way. (This area seems to be a warehouse.) (This area seems to be a warehouse). In another warehouse, there was even what appeared to be synthetic food. The shinobi troop continued on, saying that now was not the right time yet. And again, they came across a door. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <> From the images sent to him, Jin D. concluded that this was so. Compared to the door of the warehouse, the door is sturdy and the opening and closing mechanism is complicated. Since the facility is located in space, it is natural that it is divided into small sections like this. And it took three minutes to open this door as well. At the end of the door was a staircase. It seemed to lead to the upper level. There is another door at the top of the stairs. It took 2 minutes to open this door. > Clearly, there is a different atmosphere here. The brightness has increased, and it seems to be as bright as a normal room. Unlike the bleak scenery of the past, it seems to be somehow brighter. However. This means that it has not been used for a long time. It is not surprising, though, since the ether radar did not find anything moving. <>> Elsa D., who was watching the video, mutters. Jin agrees. There is a sadness that is similar to that of abandoned houses and abandoned ruins. Jin wonders what is going on if that is the case. There was air here. There was a pantry. But there was no one. People must have emigrated from the former Leonard Kingdom by the tens of thousands, but this is the state of things. ....... In search of the answer, the Shinobi troop went further and further. 981 - - 27-41 Uni <<> Elsa D. sounded sad. Now, the <> had reached two more levels up. In between, there was a place that looked like a recreational facility, a library, and a reference room. I''d like to check them out later, Jin. There was no dust on the floor. <> Elsa D. mutters a little hopefully, but Jin D. doesn''t say it out loud even though he wonders about it. After a short walk, we came to a place where the corridors intersect in a hinge shape. This is the first time in this facility. He considered which way to go, but when he looked to the left or right, he saw that the intersecting corridors were gently curved. From the curve, it seemed that there was a huge circular room in front of the hall. This means that the corridor is surrounded by a corridor, so it would be the same whether you go to the left or the right. So the Shinobi troop decides to go to the right because they see a door closer to the room. . Jin D instructed with a hint of hope. The door here seemed to have a different locking mechanism, and it took 12 minutes before it was finally opened. And what was inside the room? > In a circular room with a diameter of 30 meters was a huge magic circle. > Elsa D. seems to have noticed it too. < A shifting magic circle. Not a warp gate, not a transporter, but a new possibility of transference. Jin thought that it might be useful in the future, and reminded the old man. Still, it should help in the analysis, he thinks. Since there was nothing else of interest in the room, the Shinobi team went outside and circled the corridor. Then, they found a door on the opposite side of the wall from the magic circle room, about 90 degrees to the right. Since there is no other door to go forward, I open the door and go forward. This door was locked in the same way as many of the other doors we had passed so far, and we were able to open it in less than two minutes. Beyond the door was a small, large room with a vertical shaft leading down. > Jin D concluded this while looking at the images, since there seemed to be no other components that would work. However, it is a passage going down, while it has been going up and up until now. The old man showed Jin the route that the Shinobi troop had taken so far, processing it three-dimensionally. Jin temporarily disconnected the control device and checked it. Indeed, the horizontal distance between the power room and the room of the transfer magic circle seems to be quite far from each other. And we can also see that there is a space under the transfer magic circle that we have not checked yet. "I see. I see. ......Wait, ......." An idea flashed through Jin''s mind. Until it takes a proper form, Jin thinks about it. The old man kept silent so as not to disturb Jin. Then, Jin, who had finished his thought, opened his mouth. I would like to hear your opinion. ......As for the moon facility, I think that people who have been transferred by the transfer magic circle will not be rejected, right?" <. Jin wondered why there was no security at all, even though there was no way to know who would come out from the shifting magic circle. He came to the conclusion he has just mentioned. "Isn''t it?" > "No, by myself, or rather, with a doppelganger." > "That risk is unavoidable. < with me so that you can return home if the need arises." <> Jin thus decides to use his <> to move by transporter to the transfer magic room. > Rather, it is a <> for this kind of situation. <<> Erza D. looks worried. << Ann came forward at this point. It is true that Anne is a skilled fighter. Many times more than Jin''s doppelg?nger. > So Jin D and Ann prepare for departure. We mustn''t forget the transporter for the return trip. We take two of each, just in case. Jin D''s control core can be used as a marker, but considering the distance of 380,000 kilometers, I advised him to have a special marker for the support from Horai Island. <''s advice, and proceeded to prepare the necessary equipment. The markers are set in a spare space in the body. Anne takes the < and the . <. Erza decided to stop piloting Erza-D for the time being and watch the images sent by Jin-D in the command center of Horai Island. Naturally, she sits in the chair next to Jin''s pilot''s seat. The image was perfectly synchronized with the one that Jin D. had sent to me. Jin D was transferred to the transfer magic circle room without a hitch. It is no wonder, because the Shinobi Forces that had returned were there and served as markers. "Goshujin-sama, this is the Shinobi troop that is here to protect you. In a high-pitched voice, Shinobu Ichi said these words and immediately disappeared. "Master, I''ll go first." And just as Anne was about to take her first step. "Welcome to the UNY base. A voice echoed through the room. > I am the manager of the base on this moon, Yuny. Jin replied, thinking that the moon''s name seemed to be Yuny. <> We will open the way. Before he could finish his words, a small magic circle appeared next to the transfer magic circle. That''s right. Here you go. Jin-D accompanied Anne to the entrance of the magic circle. Jin D. steps into the transporter magic circle accompanied by Anne. 982 - - 27-42 Sleeping The destination of the transfer using the transfer magic circle was a small, spacious room. Please wait here. I will send a guide. > Before Jin-D could finish his question, the transfer magic circle glowed and a golem was sent from somewhere. This is the guide. Please ask him from now on. After that, the person in charge of the base is silent. I am Golem 28, your guide. Please tell me your names. < Jin-sama and An-sama, right? I remember. I don''t know if Jin and Anne are human or not, but it seems that our guide, Golem 28, will be staying with them for the time being. > Only the simplest things are within my power, if you don''t mind. Please do. These exchanges between Jin D and Golem 28, the guide, were seen and heard by Jin, Erza, and the old man. Especially, the old man is able to organize, store and develop the information. According to this information, the room where the transfer magic circle was located is as follows, The room where the transfer magic circle was located is not connected to this section and can be accessed only by transfer. You cannot walk around in the facility unless you have a golem to guide you. However, this does not apply if certain conditions are met. There is evidence that magic equivalent to sterilization has been used. Therefore, we could not get any more information about the facility. Also, it seems that all the places where we went from the room where the transfer magic circle was located are all traps. Jin''s judgment was right, even if it did not turn out to be so. And the use of the third magic, which is equivalent to sterilization, is supposed to be a measure to prevent the introduction of pathogens from the outside. The newcomers were very limited. Newcomers seem to be allowed to roam only within a very limited area. The following facilities are available: living quarters, dining room, infirmary, lounge, recreation room, and library. The dining room facilities were still in operation. It seems that they are regularly maintained. The infirmary was poorly equipped from the point of view of Jin and Elsa. The rest of the rooms are not much use unless there is someone who can use healing magic. The common room and the recreation room are useless since there is no one else in the house. And the library. One would think that there would be something useful in the library, but there are only about 20 books, which seem to be entertainment novels. , was Jin D''s impression. is Hitoshi D''s comment. Also, Erza pointed out that "Brother Jin, you were more blunt in your language than usual. Jin D. and Anne, who were both in the same room, were very nervous about the situation. Jin D. and Anne decided to rest in the room they were given. Normally, neither of them needs rest, but Jin himself needs rest and sleep. "Before I knew it, it was already 9 o''clock. Let''s have a light meal, take a bath, and go to bed. At the same time Jin D. lies down on the bed. Anne doesn''t need to sleep, so she is in charge of watching and guarding him in the meantime. In case of emergency, Jin D will be piloted by the old man. But Jin D will , and he himself will eat and rest. "Anne, take care of the rest." "Yes, I''ll take care of it." < Erza, who had not been piloting since the middle of the session, looked a little tired. Even though she had only been lying down for most of the time, she was still hungry. "Delicious." "...... delicious." "Thank you." Luna had made sure dinner was ready for us. * * * * * * "Ah, that feels good." Jin soaks in the Horaijima hot spring and stretches his arms and legs. "Father, things are going well for the most part, aren''t they? Reiko spoke to Jin as she washed his back. "Yes, it is. The shinobi unit that moved in with Jin D. and not me ...... will be investigating during the night, so we''ll find out a little more tomorrow. Like what happened to the people of the old Leonard Kingdom." "Yes, that''s right. That''s what your father was most concerned about." "......" Elsa was also relaxing in the hot spring. She was accompanied not by Edgar but by Soleil. Even though he is an automata, the male ...... boy has been resisting taking a bath with ...... him, especially recently. "Jin brother ......." I whisper the name of the person I have been thinking of. Just by doing so, I can feel a slight warmth in my chest. "Am I being supported properly?" "Yes. Your father relies on you a lot, Erza-sama. Soleil answered my murmur. "I''m glad to hear that." I closed my eyes in the bathtub and exhaled, and the tiredness seemed to leave with me. * * * * * * "...... Good night." "Yeah, good night." After getting out of the bath, Jin and Erza went back to their rooms. "Oh, hey, Erza. "?" Before Erza could turn and walk away, Jin stopped her. He reached out his hand toward Elsa''s cheek. The hand gently touched Erza''s cheek and ....... "Jin, Jin?" "......Oh, I got it. You see, there was a lock of hair attached to it." Jin picks up a stray hair stuck to Erza''s cheek and shows it to her. "......Thank you." Erza thanked him, but she was not quite sure what to think. She was so aware of the situation, but Jin was ....... It was a little annoying to think so. So, I took a drastic action. I walked up to Jin and lightly touched my lips to his cheek. "Erza! Jin is dismayed by this unexpected touch. Seeing this, not only does he feel happy to have done so, but Elsa turns bright red herself. "Good night." She said these words to him again and ran out of the room. Needless to say, she was writhing under the covers in her room. 983 - - 27-43 Past Tragedy It was June 3rd in Horai Island. Jin woke up at 6:00 a.m., had an early breakfast, and immediately went to the command room and put on <> Jin D''s control device. While Jin is resting, the old man who was in charge of Jin D reports. While Jin D was resting, the old man who was in charge of him reported that Jin D was just lying on his bed and pretending to be asleep. "Good morning, Mr. Goshujin-sama! Anne greets him. "I will report on what the Shinobi Unit has found out." While Jin was sleeping, the five shinobi units had been investigating the facility. The old man summarized the results and reported them through Anne''s mouth. The reason for this is that the voices of the Shinobi troops are high-pitched and difficult to hear. The voice of the Shinobi troop is high pitched and difficult to hear. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The shinobi troop had been active since around 10:00 p.m. on the previous day, Horai Island time. Since the priority was to protect them, they had been on the alert for more than an hour after Jin D went back to his room and pretended to be asleep, but nothing happened, so they left the protection to Anne and quietly went out into the facility. (First, they conducted a survey of the facility, which they were allowed to do.) Shinobu I, the leader of the group, went to all the members and explained the policy. (Next, we are to investigate that guide, Golem No. 28, and its surroundings.) (Next, we are to investigate that guide, Golem 28, and its surroundings. It would not be efficient, but we chose to avoid risk, considering the fact that we were in an unknown celestial body, in an unknown facility, and with an unknown partner. There was nothing to see in the library, so we went to the recreation room. (Is this some kind of game?) A square board with squares engraved on it and a round stone like a coin attached to it. The stones seem to be black and white. It is a game called .) The old man sends information. ( Officially, Go was 19 multiplied by 19 and Renju (the official name of Gomoku-jime) was 15 multiplied by 1.5. The board shown here is 19 multiplied by 19. The old man wonders if the board here is 19 multiplied by 19 or Go, but that is a secondary problem, not to be pursued. Finding no hidden cupboards, and deciding that there was nothing more to see in the recreation room, the Shinobi team went to the next room. The common room had only a simple chair and a table, and there was nothing to see here either. Then came the infirmary. There was a bed and a small shelf. But there was a more hidden space behind the shelves, where the medicine was hidden. (Is this ......?) The analysis function of the Shinobi Forces did not reveal the identity of the chemicals. () The old man was troubled by this. If this medicine was brought back to Horai Island, it would be immediately discovered if the inventory was controlled. Even if the contents are replaced in another container, if the quantity is reduced, it will be found out, and even if it is diluted with water, it cannot be said that it will never be found out. On the other hand, the advantage of analyzing the contents is small. In the end, they concluded that there was no need to go to any great lengths to find out the identity of the chemicals at this stage. The Shinobi troopers headed for another room. Their destination was the cafeteria. There was some bread.) (Oh, there is bread.) It is neither moldy nor damaged. It seems to have been baked less than a day ago. The bread is a little hard, but that''s probably just because they don''t use yeast. () The old man guessed that there might be a wheat field somewhere. After all, the same thing is going to be done in the spaceship. Salt and sugar for seasoning were also found. There was a faucet similar to a faucet that provided water at a normal level for drinking. Nothing else of particular interest was found. In addition to Jin D''s room, there were nine other rooms. The room where Jin D. lives was also found. "But I didn''t get the information I wanted to know. Ann looks disappointed. "The guide, Golem 28, couldn''t be found anywhere." <> "Maybe there are some conditions. For example, he might appear when we leave this room. Anne said casually and jokingly, but Jin thinks it might be right. Jin thinks that this might be the right answer. Since they have a special magic technique called "shifting magic circle", they might be able to do such a thing. In case you are wondering, Anne and the Shinobi Unit have already checked to see if the room they are in is bugged or monitored by any kind of device. At least they did not find any. "After all, this may be an area where newcomers are tested. <> I have no idea what would happen in that case. I guess we need to ask our guide Golem28 directly. < Jin-D and Anne open the door and go out into the corridor, a magic circle appears in front of them and Golem 28 appears. It seems that Golem No. 28 has moved by means of a transfer magic circle. Are you awake? What can I do for you? < What is it? <> This is a question that I had discussed with the old man. I was afraid that he would be alarmed if I suddenly asked him a very important question, so I decided to ask him this question. ............ No, only Mr. Jin and Ms. Anne. The reply was given after a short pause, and the elder man, who was informed through Jin D, guessed that No.28 might have confirmed with the higher level entity by using some kind of manacam (a kind of magical communication device). <> This is also a question we decided to ask in the meeting. After a longer pause than before, I received a response, Yes. <> It''s because of the ...... disease. The pause was brief. Then more information was added. A disease called magical exhaustion fever, brought to us by Ars. Jin, who is piloting Jin D on Horai Island, and Erza, who is watching him, are shocked and at the same time convinced by this fact. The old man''s words expressed the fact simply. They had abandoned Arus and fled to the moon for fear of disease, but they must have brought the germs with them. Since there is an incubation period, it is likely that a seemingly healthy person developed the disease after the transition. And this time there was nowhere to run. Jin and Erza were left speechless at the tragedy that had occurred in the past, albeit in a different way than they had expected. 984 - - 27-44 Truth of the Past 235 years ago, an unknown plague spread in the former Kingdom of Leonard. It was named and was feared. The plague began in the north of the kingdom and gradually spread southward. The mortality rate was high and there was no way to prevent it. Bodies were burned to ashes and the population of the kingdom was reduced to half. In order to escape this state of affairs, an emigration ...... was planned. The destination is the moon. In the Kingdom of Leonard, there was a magic circle that had been left behind for who knows how long. First the king, then the royal family, then the nobles, then the common people. It is said that they moved one after another, and not a single one of them ever returned. This is what I heard from a messenger who was left in the basement when I went to the old Leonard Kingdom last summer for a research trip. There was no answer. A long moment of silence passes. Then a voice that did not belong to Golem 28, the guide, rang out. Who are you?You have the body of an automaton, but your spirit is unmistakably human. I have never met such a being before. The tone of voice is different, but it is the voice that Jin D heard when he was transferred. < >......?I guess that would mean that you are the leading expert in magical technology. <>......?That''s a name I''ve never heard before. <<>, or is that correct? >> That''s right. I used to be the administrative head of the ship. < He told us of his remarkable past. < < are the people who came to Ars from the far side of the universe ......? >> Yes, that''s right. You know them well. Is that also because you are a Magecraft Meister? < Certainly, it is because I am a Magecraft Meister that I was able to go to the old Leonard''s Kingdom, hear from the messenger in the basement, and meet a follower named 700672 in the demon tribe''s territory. It could be said that it is because I am a "Meister" that I was able to go to the former Leonard Kingdom, hear from the messenger in the basement, and get acquainted with a follower named 700672 in the demon territory. Jin D. briefly explained to the participants what had happened so far. I see. You seem to be a man worth talking to. < has recognized Jin D, and by extension, Jin, as a person with whom he would like to have a dialogue. If so, may I ask how you came to be here? < Interesting. You mean that we do not need a host? < There are no transporters in this facility. It is therefore a natural conclusion. Do you have a ship flying in the sky, ...... or even a spaceship? < After all. ............ You are not <>. But you seem to have technology that rivals that of the Masters. <> Not only by words. Part of this facility was once a ship. Various measuring instruments are still there. We used them to check the area around UNY and confirmed the spaceship you are referring to. Jin was inwardly amazed at the abilities of the "one who controls the base". It seems that they have technology that he does not have or has not yet developed. For a while after that, Jin D talked with <> and obtained information. The most useful of all was the . It seems that the < Magi Technology>, the transfer magic circle, can transfer objects with about one-fifth of the magic power consumed by the warp gate, although it takes longer. Jin speculates that this may be due to the amplification of magic power by the circular magic circle. However, the receiving side is the opposite magic circle. It is not possible to transfer anywhere. Jin dreamed of improving this transfer magic circle to be able to send it to any place. And now for another topic that touches the very heart of the matter. > It is 99% true. Before Jin D could ask what he meant by 99 percent, an explanation was given. There were survivors. That is also true. <> is a disease that becomes more severe in those who have less magical power. There must have been tens of thousands of people who survived thanks to their high magical power. The fact that the was a disease unique to Arus, and that those in charge of the base were slow to react to it, seems to have been one of the reasons for the tragedy. There were about 1,200 survivors. Then, after about 9 generations ...... and about 230 years, the number of 12 After about 230 years, the number of survivors has dwindled to just two. Every couple had only one child. Then surely, after nine generations, there would be almost no children left. And it does not mean that the male-to-female ratio is one to one. One of the two passed away the other day. The last one is also very old now. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the population is declining due to disease and a declining birth rate, or even . They came to the moon to escape from the fever of magical exhaustion, but they could not escape from their doom. Another new fact came out. Jin D. asks for more information about it. It is in the Kingdom of Leonard that the Masters of the Ship of Heaven landed. It seems that they were from a different lineage from those who landed in the demon territory. It is true that there was not only one ship that flew over the sky, so it is not surprising. (I heard that the former Leonard Kingdom had little interaction with the surrounding countries, so it may be that they became too rich in blood and as a result, they went down the path of extinction. ......) As for Jin of Horai Island, I will make a guess based on what I have heard. There is no way to verify whether it is correct or not. However, it seems that Jin has found some kind of closure in his feelings. > That''s right. Those who survived practiced <> and holed themselves up in the section with no entrances or exits. The only way to get in and out is to move on. The ultimate shut-in, Jin thinks, but does not say so. > Jin D. just says such a question. Yes, I do. ........................ Jin D., I have just received an order from him. He wants to meet with you. Suddenly the tone of the man in charge of the base changes. He seemed to have been communicating with the man for a little while. Jin immediately agreed. At times like this, being a <> is very helpful. Even if it was a trap, it would have no effect on the main body. > < Go straight ahead and enter the room at the end of the hall. Jin D. and Anne proceed as instructed. Jin, who is piloting the ship, wonders what effect the change in the tone of voice of <> has had on the ship, and other thoughts that have nothing to do with the main story. On the floor of the room at the end of the hall, there was a magic circle painted on the floor. (This is the room that the Shinobi Forces could not find. ......) Jin wondered if there was some secret of the facility there, too. Jin D. and Anne stand in the center of the magic circle. Now, let''s move. A few seconds later, Jin D. and Anne were transferred to another room. We are in another facility. Indeed, the environment was so different that even Jin-D''s sensor could feel it. First of all, the gravity. The gravity here is about 0.8G, whereas it was almost 1G in the place where they had just been. Next is the temperature. The temperature has also changed from about 20 degrees Celsius to about 27 degrees Celsius. The humidity, which used to be very dry, seems to have dropped to about 50 percent. (Probably because of the last one, who is very old). As Jin was making such a guess, a golem similar to Golem 28 appeared. It seems to be guiding Jin D and Anne. Please come this way. "Will a demon or a snake appear?) Jin D. is holding such a period drama-like line in his heart. Jin D. and Anne followed the golem as they were told. 985 - - 27-45 Succession The golem led us to a white wall, a white corridor, and a white door. It somehow reminded me of the in room 700672. In front of the white door, the guide golem stopped. It stood there silently. Jin thought that it might be communicating with something or somewhere. And it seems he was right, Permission has been granted. Please come in. The golem opened the door and let Jin D. and Anne through. Jin D. slowly stepped into the room and noticed an old woman lying on the bed. The old woman smiled and looked at Jin D. She stopped and bade him farewell. "Welcome, newcomer." < "Hmm, you didn''t ask me about what I said about <>, did you? . Jin and Jin D. are a little dismayed to have their hearts seen through. "I am Milowina. I wonder if I will be the last one in the kingdom of Leonard. I looked again at the old woman who introduced herself as Milowina. She had age-stained but fair skin, and hair that, although it had lost its luster and turned white, reminded me that she used to be a beautiful platinum blonde. And her eyes, now sunken, would have once been a clear sky blue. "We chose the wrong path and have come this far without turning around. And that road will soon run out." Jin, who was piloting Jin D on Horai Island, was unable to interject. Elsa, who is standing next to him, remains silent as well. "I don''t want those who come after me to follow the same path. That''s all I ask." Milowina closed her eyes. "Jin Nido, you could have done this if you wanted to, but you didn''t do a reckless search. You have come this far with a gentle exploration, avoiding the search that is left to the power. I entrust you with the entirety of this facility. But before Jin-D could say anything, Milowena spoke up. "Control Brain<, you will serve Jin Nido as you have served me and us. "Yes, Milowina. "...... Oh, I''m so glad I got here in time. ......" Milowena stops speaking. <> Jin D. runs up to her, "<>" She performs an elementary healing spell. Then he examines her. She may not be as good as Elsa, Edgar, or the nurse golem, but she knows first aid. "It''s all right, Goshujin-sama. Milowina seems to have just fallen asleep. Jin-sama, from now on, I, Jack, and this facility will be under the command of Jin-sama. At that moment, the head of the administration, <>, announces. <> Since you have been taking care of her, I thought it would be safest to ask <> to take care of her. Yes. Yes, I''ll leave it to him. At the same time as he replied, the golem that had just guided Jin D and the others entered the room. This golem is in charge. Jin-D then leaves the room. There was still much he wanted to discuss with , but he did not think it was the right thing to do in Milowena''s room, who looked ill. <> Yes, there is. Please go down the corridor to the right. Following the instructions given by the brain, I proceeded down the passageway until I came to a large door. It is a room that corresponds to the command center. The door opened silently, and Jin D. and Anne entered. The room was, after all, built in a manner reminiscent of room 700672. Please sit down. A chair is pushed out from the floor. < does not need to sit down. Anne stands diagonally behind him. > There are so many more questions I want to ask. I decided to start with the first question. <<> You are half right. It was originally an asteroid drifting in space, but the Masters found it, gouged it out, and built this facility. After that, I heard that it was transported to its current location. <> Jin felt a little weak because the mystery of the moon had been solved so easily. However, he recovered his composure and continued his questioning, thinking that this was a big gain for him. The big question has been cleared up by the answer of the management brain, . <> Yes. <. > Jin was expecting it to be based on the same principle as the force field generator, I am sorry, but I do not have the knowledge or information to explain it to you. I''m sorry, but it seems that I don''t know everything. I know what kind of function a magi-machine serves, and I can make and repair them, but I cannot explain their principles. < It seems that < who created the control brains did not give them all the knowledge. They can maintain and repair it, they can make new ones, but they can''t apply it. On the other hand, Jin gave all his knowledge to Laojun. Instead, he limits the authority of creation. On the one hand, he can create but cannot create. On the other hand, he can create but cannot create. So, in different ways, they are producing similar results. In any case, it is a similar method to the force field generator that has put Moon...... UNY in the position it is now in. It is an amazing technology. > Yes. Jin was even more surprised. No matter how much he might have acted without taking care of himself, he would not have thought of using one celestial body as a clock. < sometimes do even more outrageous things than Jin. However, there are several <> and only one Jin. I don''t know what would happen if a third party were to evaluate them. > Yes. I wanted to make it easier to observe Ars. However, the magi-machine to observe him was not installed after all. > Certainly, with the technology of <>, it would be easy to observe Ars. And if they had observed it, they must not have known about Jin. They have launched satellites, experimented with spacecraft, and orbited UNY the other day. Since he has such a great technology, it is not impossible that he could not make it. Either they did not have enough time or materials, or they did not want to interfere too much. Jin felt that it was the latter. Not all of the who came to Ars may have moved there, but they may have thought that communicating with them through communication would be enough. They chose to live their lives without interfering with each other. If the need arises, they can come back to each other by means of a magic circle. Time passed, and none of the s who lived in UNY were left, and those who moved to Ars forgot their origins. However, the legend that they could escape to the moon in case of emergency and the magic circle of transmigration remained. Jin, who had heard the story from , the brains behind the project, made such an assumption. (But still, or ......) In the past, Jin had also named a super-small surgical golem he had built "Jack". Jin was surprised at the coincidence of the name. 986 - - 27-46 New facts about long-period planets Jin, who has inherited the facility set up inside <>, the moon of Ars, is contemplating what to do. There are many things I want to do and know. It is impossible to do all of them at once, so he has to prioritize them. At that time, the management brain reported to me. A large meteorite is approaching. What should we do? <> Yes. It is not on a collision course, but it will pass outside the orbit about 20,000 km away. > We leave the ones that are not in danger, and the ones that are, we destroy them and put them away. > I asked him to explain briefly that even if you destroy meteorites in space, the danger level hardly decreases, so after they are crushed to an appropriate size, they are pulled to UNY and deposited on the moon''s surface. <> Jin, who had heard from No.700672 that eladite-mithianite was a meteorite, said so, borrowing a phrase from Jin D. Jin, who had heard from No.700672 that elradite-mithianite was a meteorite, borrowed Jin D''s words and said so. Mithianite?Can I interpret that as an ore that has the effect of amplifying and compressing magic power? < He said that the 700672 was a meteorite and that he named it after that. But <> says they call it by another name. We call it Universium. He says it is named after a meteorite found drifting in space, not on earth. Other ores containing adamantite and mithril can also be extracted. The most abundant resources are said to be iron and nickel. The other most common resource is peridotite. Okay. "Hmm, I guess that''s a good way to dispose of meteorites." Jin was impressed on Horai Island. "...... I wonder what would happen?" If the mass of such a meteorite increases too much, it may not necessarily hinder UNY''s ability to maintain its orbit. Jin said, The old man comes up with another idea. In short, it is a "garbage dump. Jin, who knows that in modern Japan, garbage has been used for reclamation of the sea, fantasized about the possibility of building a space base based on such a base. Jin answered that this would be a good idea, but he could not immediately come to a conclusion as to where the garbage should be collected. This will be an ongoing issue. of the UNY? The old man has made a tempting proposal. Certainly, a base on the moon would make it much easier to go to space. The of the moon, by the way, is the side that is not suitable for Ars, which means that the intense visible light and ultraviolet rays are not a problem for us. "Yes, I''ll check that out." * * * <<<< Jack>>,I''d like to order my guys to build a simple base for spacecraft on the > of Uni, how about that? >> That''s fine, sir. If you need materials, you can use the meteorite I just described. < It is significant that we no longer need to build a space base from scratch. It is also convenient to have a vacuum environment without having to build a vacuum chamber. For example, when we make a mercury thermometer, we can easily vent the air by using this lunar base. The same goes for thermos bottles. > Yes, I do. Since the atmosphere from Ars would be in the way, it would be far more precise to observe from the vacuum of space, so Jin wanted to set up an observatory when the space base was built. However, if there is already an observatory in space, then all we have to do is to get the data from the observatory. <> > Yes. At the moment, the closest approach is expected to be on October 20 on the Ars. After all, the management brain < knew what was going on, since it was observing in space. . Since the management brain is concerned about it, some countermeasures must be taken. However, since UNY artificially maintains its orbit, there is little to worry about. <> This time, the long-period planet will also pass in the vicinity of Planet 5. > According to the explanation, there are nine planets in the Celanese solar system. The inner first planet is Monolord, the second planet is Zipert, and the third planets are Als and Hale. These two planets orbit the same planet. The fourth planet is Tetrodos, the fifth planet is Pengolta, and the sixth planet is Petaforus. The seventh planet is Hesptan, and the outermost eighth planet is named Okrotos. The fifth planet, Pengolta, may have a near miss with a long-period planet. The possibility of a collision is very small. But in any case, they will gravitationally attract each other and influence each other''s orbit. Hearing this, Jin realized. That is correct. We cannot predict at this time how the orbits of long-period planets will change. > Hearing this, Jin wondered if the long-period planets, like UNY, were being manipulated by someone, but then he thought that it was unlikely, considering their 1204-year cycle. But I have reconsidered. Yes, sir. < Yes, sir. Thus, Jin has acquired a new power. It will be useful to counter the influence of the approaching long-period planet in October. * * * * "...... First of all, success, I guess." "Good work, brother Jin." <. Jin D. remains at the UNY facility, while Erza D. is in . We are planning to build a simple base on the moon over the next few days, so neither of them will return until that is done. "But it''s a relief to know that we''ve solved the mystery of the moon." "Yeah. It''s not what I expected, but it''s still a tragedy." "Hmm. I''ll try not to make the same ...... mistake." Yeah, that''s right. ...... The development of the spaceship is now in sight, and Jin''s heartache has lessened considerably. A fresh breeze is blowing in Horai Island in June. "There are still many things to do and many things I want to do, but I will do them one by one. "Yes, I will help you as much as I can. "Father, I will do my best." "I''m counting on you, Elsa, Reiko, my lord." Jin looked at the magic screen in front of him. There, against the backdrop of the jet-black universe, countless stars were twinkling. 987 - - 27-47 Quiet talk After May, After solving the mystery of Ars moon and Yuny, Jin took a break and wanted to go to Yuny by himself. "What do you think, Mr. Old Man? Jin asked the old man. "Oh." < "...... Well, okay." It was not a very interesting way to go, but the old man and Reiko were both so adamant on this point that Jin had no choice but to agree with them. "If you want to go to ......, I''ll go with you." "Elsa?" "...... you don''t trust me?" "No, father, the old man just wants to make sure that nothing happens to your father. And so do I." "...... I understand." So Jin, together with Elsa, Reiko, Edgar, and others, visited Moon ...... UNY. At the very least, you must have a space suit that can withstand a vacuum. For this purpose, I decided to wear a lightweight space suit made of ground spider resin (GSP), which I have been testing since the other day. The old man told Jin that the space suit would be more effective than suffocation, although it would be ineffective in case of inflation due to the difference in atmospheric pressure. As an immediate countermeasure, the space suit is equipped with an air barrier to prevent air from escaping, so that if the air pressure suddenly drops, the air barrier will be activated first to prevent sudden exposure to a vacuum. In the meantime, a helmet equipped with an air supply system was supposed to be put on. "What are the chances of such a situation happening? ......" . Jin could not say anything to the old man. He also brought Persica juice and fresh Persica. I thought that Milowina would like it too, although it is not 700672. We also need to be very careful not to bring in any pathogens from the ground. "I''m with you, don''t worry." With Elsa, we can be sure of that kind of attention. "I hope I haven''t forgotten anything else: ......" Thus prepared, Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar departed. * * * * * * * * * * * First, they moved to the central bridge of the . The air and gravity are the same as those on the surface of Ars, so there is no sense of discomfort. There are no windows, so if there were not a monitor (magic screen) showing space and UNY, you would not know that you are already in outer space. "...... Are we really in space?" Erza''s line is understandable. < <. "Great Sage, how are things going?" < Welcome to space, my master. Then Anne arrived. "I am sorry for the delay. We were inspecting the base under construction. "Don''t worry about it, Anne. I''m sure you''re doing a great job. Thank you, sir. I''ll be at UNY as soon as I can. You''ll show me the way? Yes, sir. Do you have the transporter to return home? Anne, who had been briefed by the old man in advance, reconfirms her understanding. When it was clear that there was no problem, the <> sent the group by transporter to the inside of UNY. "This is the inside of UNY. Jin and the others look around as Ann explains. < "This is still an isolation facility, right?" Erza had also seen Jin D''s vision on the magic screen, but she checked with Anne just to be sure. "Yes, Miss Elsa. "Welcome, Mr. Jin, and your companion. The brains of the operation greeted us. "<>. This is the first time we''ve spoken in person. I am Jin. I''m going to go to Milowina''s place after I take care of the necessary procedures. Okay, I understand. Sterilization and cleanup will be performed. <, Elsa also checks it. "<>...... determines that everything is fine." With this, <> leads the group to the transfer magic circle and transfers them to the innermost part of the UNY. Anne led the group through the <> facility. "This is Milowina''s room." Welcome. Milowina is waiting for you. <, appeared and welcomed the group. Inside the room, Milowena half-risen on the bed and welcomed Jin and the group. "Welcome, Jin-san. "This is the first time I''ve seen you in the flesh. I am Jin Nido. This is Elsa, my fiance. Well, she''s lovely. Nice to meet you, Elsa. Yes, nice to meet you. This is Reiko and this is Edgar. You know Anne. They''re automata. They''re lovely. After the introductions, we get down to business. The main purpose is to ensure Milowina''s health. "Elsa is an excellent healer. May I examine you?" "Oh, yes, I would like that." Milowina lies on her bed. Elsa approaches her bedside, "<><><>......" First, I examined the patient. The head, chest, and abdomen were examined individually and in detail. "...... Okay. He is generally healthy, but his kidneys and spleen are a little weak. >" Elsa is given advanced treatment in internal medicine. A pale light envelops Milowina. "And since your bone density is declining, it is important that you take a balanced intake of calcium, magnesium and phosphoric acid." "Well, is that so?" Milowina seemed to understand Elsa''s explanation. That''s quite a feat. "I think it''s a good idea to start exercising in low gravity. If you don''t move, your bones and muscles will weaken. "That''s right, thanks for the advice." At this point, Jin offered Persica and Persica juice that he had brought with him. "This is a fruit and juice rich in nutrients. Please enjoy them. The room was filled with the delicious smell of persica. Oh, it smells so good. We have a farm here in UNY, but we don''t have Persica.But not Persica. It seems that there is a farm after all, Jin thought. He later heard that this UNY facility could support up to 1,000 people at first, and then up to 50,000 thanks to the expansion. The crops were wheat and barley. The crops are wheat and barley, round beans (soybean), red-eyed peas (azuki), black-eyed peas (cowpea), leafy vegetables, and root vegetables. As for animal protein, he said that they farm trout and cockles for fish and birds, respectively. Since Milowina is now the only one, she keeps seeds for crops and fertilized eggs for animals in frozen form. < made even Jin take off his helmet. "Oh, it''s delicious! Reiko quickly peeled off the persica skin and presented it to Milowina, who ate it all up with a delicious smile on her face. "I''m eating more and more. I wonder if it''s thanks to Erza-san. The healing magic seems to have improved the general condition of her internal organs. "That''s good to hear. Jin is happy too. That day, after an hour of conversation with Milowina who seemed to be in good condition, Jin and the others left for the day. Thank you,<>. "Thank you, <>. "No, you''re welcome to come anytime. "Oh, and do you have any information about space navigation?" As the former head of the ship''s management, Jin expected as much. "No, I''m mainly in charge of the living aspects of the ship, so I don''t have any detailed information about it. Is that so? Yes, sir. And the brain in charge of navigation was implanted in a small ship and left for space about 1,400 years ago and has never returned. "I didn''t know that. ......" It is a little regrettable, but Jin thinks it can''t be helped. He also said, "I''ll manage that one little by little by myself. "And those who died ......, were they buried?" This is a difficult question to ask, but I am curious about it, so I have decided to take this opportunity to ask you. Yes. The people of the Leonard Kingdom and the corpses of those who were on board the ship are all resting in the basement of this UNY. "I see. ......" The who settled here have gradually decreased in number and are gone. And the people of the old Leonard''s Kingdom have also gone since the end of Milowina. ....... When I think of this, I feel the impermanence of this world. However, Jin was glad that the corpse was not broken into atoms. With that, the group returned to via the transporter. "Oh, I''m kind of tired," he said. "...... me too." Jin and Erza looked at each other and smiled. "Anne, I''m sorry, but I need you to stay here a little longer and oversee the construction of the base. "Yes, I will do my best." Although his interest in space is boundless, it is important to keep his feet on the ground. Jin reminded himself to move forward steadily, step by step, and returned to Horai Island with Erza. 988 - - 27-48 闲话57 始祖の系谱 Back in Ars, Jin was visiting No. 700672 with Reiko. "Welcome, Jin-dono." No. 700672 welcomed Jin as usual. Rouge and Neige are taking good care of No. 700672. "It''s been a while. You look well. "Yes, thanks to Persica juice. That fruit is truly a miracle fruit. Hearing these words, Jin remembered that Milowina had also gotten well thanks to Persica. "I have a report to make today. "Well, let''s hear it." The 700672 offered Jin a chair. Jin told him that he had completed the spaceship < and that he had used it to investigate the moon ...... UNY. As a result, he found that had visited UNY in the past. He reported in detail what he had found out: that the people of the former Leonard Kingdom had evacuated for fear of disease, and that only one descendant remained. "Hmmm, interesting story." The 700672 listened to the whole story without interrupting. "I have not told you this, Jin-dono, but there is a faction within my ." The Masters of 700672, or the Originals, are from Hale, a planet opposite Ars on the other side of the sun Seran. They were from Hale, the planet opposite Ars on the other side of the sun Seran, and had the problems of a mature civilization, a declining vitality, and depleted resources. In order to solve these problems, they built the <>, a starship capable of interplanetary travel, and came to Ars. "There were factions, or groups with different principles. There were those who wanted to continue to live in Hale and slowly meet their demise, and those who wanted to seek a new land and make a new home. Jin has no doubt about that. "Of course, the only people who came to Ars were who wanted to seek a new land. But there were factions among them. According to 700672, it is not so much a faction as a specific sub-group. It seems that many of the originals were individualists who did not like to group together. "Naturally, there was not just one ship, but many. Each ship had a different number of passengers, ranging from 10 to 1,000. "I didn''t realize that the moon used to be an asteroid. Hale had a similar moon, so I did not think it strange." < had created a similar moon on Hale. It would have been unnatural for him not to have such a thing if he had seen it since his birth. "In the first place, the ship in which my boarded was one of the later departures of many such ships. I remember that the moon was already where it is now when we arrived in Ars. The did not care about such side matters at that time," said 700672. "They were already losing their energy. ......" He looked a little pained as he said this. His were not very active, it seemed. "It''s done, though, isn''t it?" The look of resignation on No. 700672''s face was evident. "And by the way..." Trying to change the atmosphere that had become a little heavy, Jin began to talk about something else. "I heard that some people went back into space on the <>." "That''s new news to me. As I said before, my were not very active, so they were not that active." "I see. ......" I was a little disappointed. "But I remember that the possibility of interstellar travel by artificial hibernation was discussed, so I wouldn''t be surprised if there were such people." Having heard that such a procedure had been considered necessary for long-duration space travel on Earth, Jin found it a little surprising and interesting that science and magic technology had come to the same conclusion. "But you know what?" With a heavy tone, No. 700672 continues. "One of the theories whispered among my is the <>, that a species that has reached the end of its life as a species will slowly decrease in number and begin to perish. It is clear who he is talking about, but it is not clear from the mouth of the <>, 700672, that he is talking about >. "Perhaps the correct answer is that it is the . "Perhaps the correct answer was to have blood with the natives, I think." The < of 700672 chose that path, and their blood lives on today as a demon tribe. "The people of the former Leonard Kingdom may also have the blood of the <>, though from a different lineage." "Is that what you mean?" Jin nodded. The 600012 who lived underground in Mount Elrud must have served such <>. Unfortunately, his or information had been corrupted due to the interference of the double with <. Jin speculated that the natives of Arus might have had such differences in appearance depending on the region, just as the skin color differs in different regions of the earth. If we could someday learn information about the hidden in other lands, we might be able to answer these questions of the past. "Unn......" Reiko called out to Jin as he pondered. "Father, would it not be better for you to ask the questions you want to ask now and not later?" "Oh, yes, yes. Reiko, thank you." Jin decided to change his mind. "So, are you familiar with the transfer technology using magic circle that I just explained to you? The technology that was in UNY. "No, I didn''t know." "What?" Whether it was a completely different group or because it was developed at UNY, the 700672 had never heard of the technology. or because it was developed at UNY, 700672 had never even heard of the technology. "Interesting. When you are done analyzing Jin-dono, will you share it with me? "Yes, of course. Jin smiled and agreed. "Also, you mentioned something about cryopreservation of fertilized eggs. Jin decided to take this opportunity to confirm his doubts. "Oh, I heard that there was a group that was trying to do such a thing. It seems that my did not do so, but they preserved the seeds of plants and the genes of animals that were in Hale." Jin was strangely convinced that there were people who thought that way. "But the creatures in this world are strong. I always get from them, but I have never seen this kind of fruit in Hale." "I see." On Earth, too, the is depicted in ancient Chinese hermit tales as the . It is similar to, or rather, identical to . Jin once again recalls the biota of this ars. The demons are also more powerful than those on Earth. "Is the life force strong on this planet?" "Yes, I think so. So it seems to me that we were right to share our blood with the natives. "......Finally, may I ask what the physical characteristics, or rather the appearance, of your < was like?" I had never asked him before, but today Jin was in the mood to ask all the questions he had. "Well, your skin is white. Their hair varied, but most of them had light golden hair. Some had brown hair. Most of them had light-colored eyes, from light blue to green to violet. He concluded by saying that in ancient times there were people with black hair, black eyes, and brown skin, but by the time the 700672 was built, all the people had the appearance I have just described. He concluded by saying that by the time the 700672 was created, all of them had the appearance that he had just described. Your fiance, Lady Elsa, has a very typical appearance, doesn''t she? "Is that so?" Erza, who has been cured of her hypermagic disorder, has increased her magical power dramatically and is now at the top level in the world. I wondered if this might be due to her strong origin blood, but then I recalled that Erza is Erza. "Thank you very much for all your valuable information. As for Jin, many of his questions had been answered, and he felt quite refreshed. "No, you are welcome to come back anytime." No. 700672 also said he was happy to discuss these topics. "Well then, see you later." <, Jin returned to Horai Island through the warp gate that had been set up outside. "Origin ......?" As far as Jin is concerned, it is impossible for him to have that blood. However, it is likely that all human beings in this world, to a greater or lesser extent, are descended from him. Brother Jin, welcome home. I''m home. Jin stares at Erza''s face as she greets him. "What?" Elsa tilts her head at Jin''s unusual behavior. "No, it''s nothing. Erza is ...... beautiful, I thought." "......!" Erza''s face turned red at Jin''s unexpected words. "We''re going to live here in Ars. "What''s wrong?" Despite her red face, Erza noticed that Jin was acting a little differently than usual. "Yeah, I''ll tell you everything." Jin then proceeded to slowly explain. One day, just before summer. 989 - - 28-01 The Beginning of a New Era "Wow, this is outer space!Jin, this is amazing! "...... beautiful. Like jewels on velvet. "......, I have no words. ......" "Wow, this is amazing. It''s a dream come true to have such a view." "Amazing!The legendary ship in the sky, recreated! "Indeed. I never thought such a world existed. "Oh, it''s wonderful!I wonder how far the wisdom of man can go! "Is this another universe? I wonder how far the ship will go. "It''s a wonderful view!I''m glad I''m alive." On June 10th, the year 3458. Jin invites his family to join him on , which has successfully completed two flights to the moon, one a test flight and the other with on board. Excluding Bertsche, who is very ill, this was a pleasure flight with Reinhard, Erza, Mine, Saki, Vivian, Tor, Stearina, Marcia, Rodrigo, and others. All of them are wearing the latest type of simple space suits on board. The main material of this simple space suit was a sheet of subterranean spider silk (GSS) impregnated with soft magic resin, and it was designed so that it would not expand due to the difference in atmospheric pressure even when exposed to a vacuum by means of a set control core (control core) and so that it would not impede movement. The head is made of subterranean spider resin. The head is a helmet made of subterranean spider resin (GSP), which also has a light-shielding field to keep out dangerous rays of light and electromagnetic waves. The breathing apparatus converts carbon dioxide into oxygen. It is not designed to operate in zero-gravity conditions. They are intended for onboard use only, in case of emergency. In other words, it is a kind of << life vest>. The observation deck is not open to the public this time because it is still undergoing testing, but just looking out through the magic screen from the central bridge is an impressive sight. "Jin, you are amazing!You are truly the world''s greatest magical engineer, the MagiCraft Meister!" Reinhardt exclaimed, as if he had been moved to tears. "No, not really. It''s only because of the knowledge I gained in my hometown, the magic skills I inherited from my predecessors, and the materials from the island of Horai. And the cooperation from everyone ......." "That''s not true. It''s because we''re djinn, after all. You should be more proud of yourself! "Thank you, Marcia." Marcia clapped Jin firmly on the back and spoke of her admiration. "Jin-dono is a goal of ours, but it is a high peak that we will never reach. This was said by Rodrigo, Marcia''s father. "Well, Elsa''s husband is the best in the world, isn''t he? "...... thank you?" Saki was teasing Elsa, but her teasing was sincere. "You know, our planet is blue, isn''t it?" "Yes. Not only your home planet, Earth, is blue, is it? "Hey, Jin-kun, is that blue place the sky or the sea?Or is it the ocean? The ocean. Ars is also a water planet, isn''t it? Toa and Stearina are also impressed by seeing their home planet, Ars, from space. They know about Jin''s home planet, Earth, but they have not been able to relate what they have seen to it. "A New Era of ....... A new era of legends is now in the making. ......" Vivienne is also entranced by the view of the universe. The people on board may have their own feelings, but it is hard to imagine that they will never forget this day. "......I can understand why my brother Jin wanted to go to space." The other day, Elsa visited Moon ...... UNY, but since it was her first time in space <, she was still very much impressed. "......When you see this sight, it''s ridiculous to fight on the ground, isn''t it?" Reinhardt muttered to himself. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The with the Jin family aboard, went around the moon ...... UNY and landed at the space port of Horai Island. "Well, Jin, thank you!I''m proud to have known you!" Reinhardt''s excitement had not yet abated after he got off the ship. It was just noon. Everyone gathered in the dining room for lunch. "Welcome home, ladies and gentlemen." Reinhardt''s wife, Berthe, was waiting for him. She was about seven months pregnant, and her belly was becoming quite prominent. "I helped a little bit, too," she said. She was in the stable period and wanted to be a little more physically active, so I asked her to help with the preparations. "Don''t be too hard on yourself, Ms. Bertsche. Toa, a married woman, said to her, "Yes, thank you very much. I''m fine, since Soleil and Luna did most of the work. Berthe replies with a smile. Lunch was served on freshly baked bread with bacon, fried eggs, ham, egg salad, Wylie jam, Citran marmalade, maple syrup, butter, and whatever else they wanted to put on or spread on it. For drinks, there was a choice of Persica juice, Citran juice, Apurul juice, kuhe, kahi, tea, etc. In short, it was almost like a buffet. In short, it was almost like a buffet. "Kuhu, I like it this way, too. Saki is eating it with her favorite maple syrup. "I''m going to eat so much I''m going to get fat. Stearina is eating an egg salad on a piece of bread. "Ah, the smell of kuhe!" Marcia is sipping kuhe to quench her thirst first. The other participants also enjoyed their lunch, each with his or her own combination of ingredients. When I asked them what they thought of the spaceship, all they could say was that it was <>. After lunch, while relaxing, Jin mentioned another matter he wanted to discuss. "Actually, I received this request from the Kingdom of Selroa. ......" It is the <>. "Well, it sounds interesting and useful to the world. Reinhardt came on board first. "In Potrock, we transport fish inland from the port by wagons and carts, but we can''t transport raw fish. Even if you put it in the fridge, it will only last a few days. And if you magically freeze it, it''s not raw anymore." Rodrigo also has high hopes for overland transport. Jin explained the two options: truck or rail. "I see...a special road is laid out and the railroads run on it," he said. And trucks are the carts that run automatically. Marcia and Rodrigo, who were the least knowledgeable of the family about the modern earth, seemed to understand. "Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, and it''s hard to say which one is better than the other. So I would like to hear what everyone has to say." In response, it was Reinhardt who spoke up first. "Jin, first of all, I want to make sure that you are not going to do all of this, right?Oh, by everything, I mean the tracks for the railroads and the road work for the trucks. Of course. That''s good. These things should be national projects. Hmm?Reinhard, what do you mean? Saki asked, not understanding what he meant. "Oh, it means that if you start this kind of distribution rapidly, you will have a lot of unemployed people. Reinhardt explained that those who had been using wagons to distribute the goods could lose their jobs overnight. Saki seemed to understand. "Oh, I see. So you are saying that sudden changes are not good. "That''s right. And one more thing..." Reinhardt''s explanation continued. 990 - - 28-02 After much thought, "You want to create jobs through state-sponsored projects, don''t you?" Jin, sensing Reinhardt''s thoughts, spoke first. "That''s right, Jin. If you do everything from scratch, it will not benefit the people in the long run. Jin felt the same way. Yes, he had been through Mitsuho, Huso, and Newell, and he was aware of this. If we simply provide ready-made products, people will get used to them and become lazy, and as a result, civilization will decline. It would be presumptuous to say that we can control it, but Jin wanted to develop it in a way that would benefit people as much as possible. "It''s a little too late for that, though, isn''t it? "No, I still think we should do it. Rodrigo was the first to agree. He, too, wanted to develop the ship as much as possible using his own talents. "Well then..." Jin rejoined. "Whoever builds it, the pros and cons will remain the same. I''ll list as many as I can think of, and I''d like to hear your opinions. Jin then began to explain. "My biggest concern is accidents," he said. Since we are building a vehicle that has never existed before, what Jin is worried about is accidents involving people. "With trucks, of course, there will be collisions with other people and between trucks. With railroads, there are level crossing accidents and derailments." Although high-speed transportation is a given, it is unlikely that the public will be able to adapt quickly if it is introduced out of the blue. "Then there is the problem of maintenance. Whether it''s trains or trucks, they need to be maintained and repaired. Maintenance personnel are a must. "There is also the issue of borders. Distribution would need to connect countries. Ideally, it should be able to go back and forth between countries. This also includes the forthcoming diplomatic relations between the Shoro Kingdom and the alien ......<>. "The other thing I worry about is that it will be used for war. If war breaks out, they will be used to transport soldiers and weapons. "......That''s the first thing I can think of." Jin finished his explanation and looked around the room, saying that he wanted to hear everyone''s opinions. "It was an accident, though." Saki was the first to speak. "Even now, there are accidents such as being run over by a carriage or hit by a horse. Aren''t you worried too much? "No, it''s just that in a transportation system like this one, an accident could easily turn into a disaster." Jin briefly explained how serious level crossing accidents on railroads could be. "I see. ...... No, Jin, I guess I wasn''t clear enough." "No, it''s better to let people like Saki tell it as it comes to them. If you think too much, you won''t be able to think freely. "Brother Jin, if you''re worried about accidents at the railroad crossing, why don''t you just not build it?" "Hmmm, in that case, we should build an elevated line or a subway. It''s a lot of work to build, but ...... can we do something about it?" Since there is magic in this world, it would be easier to build than on modern Earth. "In that case, isn''t the transportation of goods a bit inconvenient?" Again Saki''s comment. Certainly, if the station is located underground or high above the ground, loading and unloading will be troublesome. "Hmm, what about trucks?" Rodrigo wonders if we are not only talking about railroads, but also about trucks. "Even in that case, the roads would have to be improved first, wouldn''t they?" Jin explains that roads where carriages can barely pass each other are not enough. "We will need at least twice as many roads as we have now. "That''s a lot of work, isn''t it? Toa crossed his arms with a difficult look on his face. "Besides, if we think about mass transportation, we need to think about high speed or large size, and the flatter the road surface, the better. Reinhardt responded to Jin''s explanation. "That''s right. That''s right. And it will take a lot of time and money. "Oh, then all of them have their advantages and disadvantages, and are useless! Marcia shouted a little lamentably. "That''s exactly why. That''s why I''m asking you guys for advice. Jin also looked a little depressed. "If we use the power of Horai Island, we can build railroads and roads in a short time. If we use Golem, we will be able to reduce the number of accidents as much as possible, and if we have recovery medicine, we will be able to reduce the damage from accidents." But," Jin pauses for a breath before continuing, "that''s not development. "That''s not development, is it? I know it''s a little late for me to say this, but..." Jin, who has been introducing things that don''t exist in this world out of the blue, says honestly that his change of heart is due to the many things he has seen in Mitsuho, Fusoh, and Newell. "It''s difficult. Hey, Jin. If the deadline is still a while away, why don''t we try it as a test case somewhere?" Since it seems unlikely that we can come to a conclusion, Reinhardt comes up with another suggestion. "I see, a test case. For example, how about building a railroad from Tatsumi Bay to the institute in Horai Island? "No, that would not be a good test. No, that would not be much of a test. Preferably, it would be better to build a railroad from Tatsumi Bay to the institute on Horai Island. "Life. ......" Elsa also offered her opinion. "Brother Jin, what was the situation like back home?" "On earth. ......" Erza had a point, Jin thought. "On Earth, the first thing to spread was railroads and then truck transportation. But there''s a problem with that, too. The engine. Steam engines spread first on Earth. And steam engines were better suited for trains than for automobiles. "Oh, by the way, there were also railroad carriages: ......" It is a kind of tramcar pulled by horses instead of locomotives. "If you say so, there are also rickshaws and palanquins. ...... Jin felt himself getting more and more confused. "Oh, my God!" That''s just as well. They are skipping the normal developmental stages and suddenly trying to present technology that is hundreds of years advanced. Jin, you should cool down a little. "Yes, Master Jin." "Jin, I don''t think you should think too much." Saki, Bertsch, and Marcia all quieted Jin with their own words. "Yes, yes. It might be a good idea to go back to the starting point. It was a casual remark by Toa, but Jin shivered. "...... origin, or ......." "Jin-kun, what is it?" Vivian asked, and Jin slowly began to explain. "In short, you want to transport a large number of people and cargo in a short period of time. "That makes a lot of sense." Vivian nodded and Jin gave her a wry smile. "That''s what I''ve been thinking about," she said, "I''ve been thinking about how I''ve been thinking about stereotypes. What Jin meant by "stereotypes" was that in the magical world of Ars, he had brought in the choice between rail and truck transportation. "We should have been more flexible in our thinking." To this Stearina responds. She is a magecraftsman after all. "I should have started thinking without limiting the means to achieve the goal, right?" "That''s right. And then I reconsidered that it would be best if we could use the technology that exists in the world today." "Well, that may be one way to go. Reinhard supported Jin''s idea. "...... I wasn''t born in this world, as you know, so I''d like to hear everyone''s opinions and work it out. Is that okay?" "Sure, sure." No objections. "No problem. I''ll take care of it." All the members laugh and agree. 991 - - 28-03 Decided? "Well, Jin, I''d like to be the facilitator, how about it?" Unusually, Reinhardt made such a suggestion. "Well then, I''m counting on you." Jin accepts the offer with a quick yes. "First of all, I have a question for Jin. ...... Jin, I would like to ask you something first about this theme. What is it? First of all, do you have the option of not using any magical technology at all? To begin with, the technology of the modern earth has nothing to do with magic. The question is, do you want to create such a thing? The pumps that Jin has made in the past would be like this. Although he may use engineering magic in the process of making them. "Well, if it''s a tool, I can''t do that. So I''m not going to do it. Reinhard nodded. "Okay. Okay, next. Do you want to ...... extend the existing magic technology, or do you want us to introduce something new?" By new, I mean something like airships, but this is a difficult question. This is a difficult question, because there is also the question of how much of it should be an extension of existing technology. Nevertheless, Jin gave a tentative answer. "I think it would be good if it is an extension of the existing situation first of all. Again Reinhard nodded. "Okay. Then, Jin, I''ll ask you, not you, but you, ...... Toa-san, to do it." "Hm?What do you want me to do? "Assuming that Mr. Toa is going to create the means of distribution requested in this case, we ...... especially Jin are going to advise him on it." Reinhardt explained that if Jin took the lead, advanced technology would come out at once. "I see, that sounds interesting. Mr. Toa, please do it." "Let''s give it a try. ...... First, let''s review. Now, land transportation is mainly by wagons. In that case, horses are used as motive power. What would happen if we assume this? "Instead of horses, we have golems. But now that there is such a thing as a golem engine, I think we can use that. * * * * After an hour or two of this kind of back and forth, the concept was ready. "So you want an elevated monorail, Jin-kun?" "Yes." As a result, the conclusion of a monorail was being reached. One of the disadvantages of a monorail is that it is difficult to make it large, but it is suitable for this world with a small population. The most important point is that, due to its structure, it does not intersect with ordinary roads. "Hmm, so you are reducing the number of accidents by having them run on a different track than the general public?" Toa asked for confirmation. "Yes, that''s right. There is magic in the strength of the elevated tracks. As for the construction, the Kingdom of Cerroa has , and the Shoro Kingdom has ." "I see. Heavy work will be easier." Reinhardt agreed. "So the wagons will receive the cargo at the freight station and transport it to various locations. There is less concern about unemployment. In fact, if trade is stimulated by this, the wagons will be better off than they are now. "Looking at the current economic situation of each country, only the Shoro Kingdom and the Kingdom of Selroa are capable of such a construction project. The economic situation and national power of our country are good enough. We are strong enough to do this kind of national project. And the Kingdom of Cerroa. Even though they were hit hard by the riots this spring, they still have power. Reinhard also says. He adds that the kingdoms of Franz, Egelea, and Klein will not be able to do so right away. The Kingdom of Elias may be possible to some extent. Rodrigo mentioned the situation in his country. "It would be convenient to have a route from Potrock to the north along the highway," said Marcia. Marcia also said something like that. The road is the route that Jin once traveled with Erza and Reinhardt. "Reinhardt is right, the bottleneck is the construction period and budget. Still, it makes sense to reduce the disadvantage of accidents by doing so. The magic means of construction would make it easier than the construction of the modern earth. "I guess we''ll operate a short section first, and then extend it. Toa has a good point. Jin thought it would be a good idea to work out the details along this line. A rough plan was settled upon, and before he knew it, it was late in the evening. However, since Horai Island is located in the east, in terms of time difference, it is still before noon in Shoro Kingdom, and even in Elias Kingdom, it is not yet 3:00 p.m. Jin politely thanked the assembled people and suggested that they soak in the hot spring. Since everyone had come with plenty of time to spare, they immediately agreed and headed for the men''s and women''s baths. * * * * * * * * * * "Wow, ......, this feels so good! Toa stretches her arms and legs in the hot water. "This place is heaven. Rodrigo looks relaxed. "I''d like to make this environment my goal," Reinhardt says. Even Reinhardt is saying something like that. A hot spring is a place of relaxation. "Oh, it feels so good! The women''s bath is also lively. "Leena, how are you and your husband getting along?" "What? "Ummm... I thought you lost some weight." "No, I''m not as good as Vee. ......" Stearina and Vivienne were excited to see each other for the first time in a long time. Bertsche was soaking quietly at the edge of the bathtub, away from the noise. "Your belly has grown a lot, hasn''t it? It''s fine to relax, but please be careful not to get overheated. Meine was concerned about Berthe. "Thank you. I''ll be fine. "We all worry at first. But I''m here, and so is Elsa. You can call us anytime. Yes, I will do so. Bertsche looks so beautiful smiling at her, Erza thinks as she soaks in the hot water a little further away. "How are you and Jin getting along, Elsa? Then Marcia came wading in the hot water. "I''m already feeling like a young wife, aren''t I? "Saki, Saki!" Saki replied, and Elsa blushed. "Ha-ha-ha, I''m glad you''re happy. ...... but it''s strange. When I was racing in Potrock, I never thought this day would come. When Marcia talks about a day like this, is she referring to our time together in the hot springs, or is she referring to her present life with her father? "Are you happy now, Marcia?I am now ......" I have my own mother with me and a kind fianc. I have friends. Elsa is happy, she says. "Yeah. My dad''s home and my job is going well." "Yeah, I''m happy." After getting out of the hot spring, it was easy to relax. After getting out of the hot spring, we had a simple dinner party. This time, we had all Japanese dishes. White rice, white fish, shrimp, and vegetable tempura. Cucumber (and other vegetables) in salted rice-bran paste. Seaweed salad. And miso soup with tofu and deep-fried tofu. The ingredients are not extravagant, but they are carefully selected, and all of them are favorites of the Jin family. Everyone, who has improved their use of chopsticks considerably, enjoyed the meal very much. "We''re having our territory grow rice this year," said Reinhard. Reinhard said. There is a lot of land suitable for rice cultivation in the central and southern parts of the Shoro Empire, so we can expect great things from them in the future. Tea seedlings have been planted in Potrock and cultivation has begun. Since tea trees prefer warmer regions, it may become a new specialty of Potrock. The night in Horai Island passed by as we reported to each other on such recent developments. 992 - - 28-04 Take a break and move on June 11. After a leisurely breakfast, the members of the Jin family returned to their respective locations. Only Jin and Erza are left. "It''s quiet again, isn''t it?" "Hmmm. ...... now we can be together again." Erza picks at the sleeve of Jin''s dress with her fingertips. "Oh. "Yeah. This is a precious time." Jin laughed and hugged Erza''s shoulder. "After this, we''ll think about what we''re actually going to do. ...... But first, let''s go for a walk." "Yes." Today''s weather was unusually light and cloudy for Horai Island in early summer. Jin and Erza, accompanied by Reiko and Edgar, set out for Tatsumi Bay. Of course, they did not go on foot, but by <>. Reiko drove. The car is not designed for space, but for Horai Island. "Is this the prototype?" "Yes. We had to add some functions to use it in space rather than mass-producing ...... it as it was, so we modified this one for daily use. It was a waste to keep a dead prototype, so it was modified to look like a convertible. The normal maximum speed is 50 kilometers per hour. In an emergency, it can double that speed to 100 km/h. However, because of the danger, this car is secured so that it can only be driven by Reiko. In this case, Reiko was driving, so she could drive 100 km/h if she wanted to, but Jin, who wanted to spend a leisurely time, instructed her to limit the speed to about 40 km/h. So, the speed of the car is about 40 km/h, and the speed of the car is about 100 km/h. So Jin and Erza headed for the ocean while enjoying a leisurely time. The road along the river was about 40 km long. After an hour, the ocean finally came into view. "It feels like it''s been a long time since I''ve seen the ocean. "It''s been so hectic." Parking the barrier cushion car on the beach, Jin and the others started walking toward the shore. "It''s calm. "It''s calm." The light overcast could be attributed to the lack of wind. "Father, would you like me to prepare a rug for you? "Yes, please." Reiko brought out a rush mat. It was made of rush mat woven with rush grass. They put it on the beach and Jin and Erza lay down on it. It was lightly overcast, so it was not so bright, "Here, too, for protection from ultraviolet rays. Reiko brings out a foldable sunshade. She is very well prepared. "Oh, thank you." The fragrance of the rush is pleasant, and the two of us, who had been lying down silently, doze off. "Father, Elsa, it''s time to wake up..." Reiko''s call wakes them up. "Ah, I slept well." "It''s almost noon. What would you like to eat? If you want to go back to the institute, there is a warp gate. It is mainly used to send out marine products from Tatsumi Bay. "Well, I think I''d like to eat here." Before I knew it, the light clouds had lifted and the sky was blue. "I thought you might say so. I will contact Soleil and Luna. Reiko, as expected, knew Jin''s character very well. Within 5 minutes, Soleil and Luna arrived using the warp gate. Soleil had a basket and a water bottle in her hand, and Luna had a small package in hers. "Thank you for your hard work." Reiko thanked them for their hard work, and the three of them started to prepare for lunch. Luna brought a foldable table and chairs from her baggage. Soleil''s basket was filled with sandwiches, a canteen with cold Citran juice, and even glasses. "You''re very well prepared." Jin is impressed. Elsa also looks happy. It was a special lunch by the sea with a soft sea breeze blowing. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After taking a nap on the beach, Jin and Erza returned to the institute via the warp gate, feeling that they had taken it a little too easy. Incidentally, the barrier cushion car was driven back here by Edgar. "Now, we need to decide on the specifications of the monorail again. The first step is to make sure that there are no differences in standards between countries in the future. "First of all, the size of the cars, the width of the track, and the height of the elevated tracks. Although monorails are not suitable for mass transportation due to the difficulty of making them large enough, the various values are determined based on the assumption that this will not be a problem in this sparsely populated world. Because of the existence of magic, the conditions are different from those of the modern earth. The height of the elevation can be low now that there are no large trucks, but it is also necessary to look to the future. Jin writes down these ideas on a piece of paper in his hand. The paper is made of Mitsuho''s specialty paper. "......Okay, that''s about it." After spending about an hour with Elsa going over the main points and summarizing them, Jin showed the paper to the old man. "Can you do a simple simulation of this content for me?" Jin''s wish is <<0 accidents>. Although it will be difficult to achieve the actual zero, he is determined to achieve it and will make every effort to get as close to the target value as possible. . In order to avoid human error, Jin could not compromise on this. The two are relaxing over a cup of tea after finishing all the work. Erza suddenly turned to Jin, who was sitting across from her, "Jin is a Magecraft Meister, after all. He is most lively when he is involved in making things. I like that kind of face. I love that kind of face," he said, just as it came into his mind. "What?" Jin almost sobs. He had not expected such words from Elsa out of the blue. "Ah, ah..." Even Elsa, the one who said the words, was amazed. It seems that after all the work she has done with her head, the relaxed atmosphere has made her talk lighter, but she is still not very shy as she blushes after she says it. "......" For a while they looked at each other in silence, and it looked like they were going to ....... "Father, there is a report from the moon." At the perfect moment, their attention was diverted in the other direction. Moon-UNY had Anne, who was pushing for the construction of a simple base. "Oh, I see. What?" The report came from the old man. < "That''s great. I''ll have to give Anne a pat on the back when she gets back." It''s hard to believe it''s a simple base. < They have more materials in UNY than they have in Horai Island. Jin has no intention to touch it except for building the base. "Now we need to observe, or rather monitor, the long-period planets. To be honest, Jin was more interested in making things than in space. Although he gave priority to the investigation of the moon ...... UNY because of the half-finished information, it was over, and now that the whole Jin family has been on a space trip ...... or rather a space walk?Now that Jin''s interest had shifted to another direction. 993 - - 28-05 Promotion Plan "Brother Jin, what are you thinking?" It was June 13th. Jin was sitting at a desk in a corner of the workshop of the institute, with a difficult expression on his face. Elsa wondered what he was thinking and said to him. "Well, I don''t know..." She responded while her mind was still focused on her thoughts. The desk in front of Jin''s eyes is not for work, but for design and study. He was thinking about something on several sheets of paper spread out there. "It''s almost lunchtime. Erza''s words finally brought Jin back to reality. "......Yeah, okay." "What were you thinking ......?" Elsa asked between sips of cold barley. She was sure that Jin was not just making things, since he was thinking so much about it. "Theme." Jin answered while sipping his cold barley. Then, after swallowing his barley, he asked, "What is the theme of the World Conference? "The theme of the World Congress..." He then rephrased it as "the theme of the World Congress," and said "The World Congress: ......" "Ah. I was thinking about it in the early spring, and I hope it will be realized soon." Jin is not a politician. He is not a politician, but he knows that he cannot live calmly unless the world situation is stable. No, he has experienced it firsthand with the Unification Party (Unifiler)>>. "......" The same is true for Erza. Therefore, she agrees with Jin''s thoughts. "The network using the monorail that we have just proposed will not have enough impact," she said. "......Yes, that''s what I mean." Elsa understood. Since the heads of state and government are gathering for a meeting, there should be a suitable agenda. But again, Jin is not a politician. Therefore, he is looking for ways to connect the world technologically. One of them is the monorail ...... rail network. However, this will not spread overnight. It will probably start in the vicinity of the capitals of the Kingdom of Cerroa and the Shawlo Empire. This would not be interesting for the other countries that attended the meeting ......, and this much Jin could imagine. "I''d like to make at least one more proposal that will help people''s lives, wouldn''t you?" "Okay. I''ll think about it with you. Elsa smiled as she sipped the cold barley tea Reiko had brewed for her. "How about ...... technology related to food?" "Food or ......." Food, clothing, and shelter are the basics of life. Jin thought that the theme of was not bad. At the same time, an idea for clothing came to him. "What is the idea of that Elsa has in mind? "Not food, but cooking utensils. A pressure cooker, a hot plate..." "I see." A pressure cooker is an airtight pot that can raise the cooking temperature by increasing the internal pressure when heated, and can cook food to tenderness in a short time. Not to mention a hot plate. Neither of them is widespread in this world and would enrich our eating habits. "What about my brother Jin?" "Yeah, I just came up with the idea of farming subterranean spiders. But not the Horai Island species, but the Mitsuho species. It is the species that makes cloth, which Tenkunhan brought in the other day. The Huso species (tentative) seems to be a carnivore, so it is not suitable for aquaculture. We discussed whether they were suitable or not. "None of them are bad, but I don''t think they are good enough for the first world conference ......." All of them are matters that can be completed within a single country. "I guess is the way to go." Reiko then offers some advice. "Father, a pressure cooker is very versatile, isn''t it?" "Yes?...... Oh, I see. Yes, they are. A pressure cooker can make delicious food. That is to say. "...... can make cheap food taste good." Food is a great pastime for human beings. If we are going to eat the same food, we choose good food. Some people even risk their lives for gastronomy. "To cook tender and tasty sinewy meat and hard vegetables. Cook in a short time. This is very convenient. "It''s very convenient." The average person can enjoy delicious and tender meat dishes from inexpensive sinewy meats. The wealthy will have a wider range of dishes to choose from. "Yeah, that sounds good." But it takes preparation. A sample. "Thank you, Reiko. ...... Okay, get me the perid reader. Yes, Father. The Peridos are the best cooks among the five colored golem maids on Horai Island. Jin called their leader. "You wanted to see me, master?" The leader of the green-eyed golem maids came over. "Oh, actually, ......." Jin explains his thoughts. "I understand. A recipe to make low-quality ingredients taste better, and a recipe to make ordinary food taste even better. "Yes, that''s right. No need to have too many. I''d rather keep it to the basics and let each country and each individual devise the rest." We do not intend to set up everything. Rather, he would like them to use their brains and devise their own ideas. Erza felt that Jin was changing little by little in this area. In the past, he would have just laid out the dishes without thinking about it. "That''s all. ......" While Erza was lost in her thoughts, Peridot leader had finished her explanation. "Okay, thank you. I will introduce some of them to you. Jin then turned to Erza. "About the pressure cooker, I''m thinking of making it a magic one. What do you think, Erza? Magical pressure cookers consume magic stones or magi-crystals, but the lid does not break and explode. There is even a story of a pressure cooker that was mishandled and the lid blew off and pierced the ceiling. "Doesn''t that make it something anyone can afford?" But Jin laughs and says the following words. "I''ve been thinking about that too. It didn''t make much sense on its own, but now you can get it at ......." "What is it?" It''s a mana stand. "Mana stand?" Erza parrots the unfamiliar word. "Ah. It''s like a gas station in my world. I was thinking of building a mana stand that would supply inexpensive mana to the whole town. Jin and Erza can make a magical device with a < or <>, but not in general. They cannot be operated unless they have a <, a magical device like a rechargeable battery, so to speak. The < that Jin once made in the village of Kaina uses , a specialty of Kaina Village, as a cheap source of energy, but it is difficult to extract any greater energy than that. "Nobles have mana suppliers in their mansions, but they are not widely used by the general public. This is something I saw in a former palace when I repaired Princess Rieschen''s nanny automata, Tia, in the Kingdom of Klein. "....... The Randall family also had two such machines. "But they were not widely used. Instead, they are used in the form of magic tools in exchange for magic stones. When he and Beena made and in the Blue Lands, they used magic stones as a source of magic power. This one is positioned as a dry cell battery. "So, in order to popularize such mana-tank type magic tools, we want to popularize mana stands first. 994 - - 28-06 Pressure cooker A mana stand. This is a concept that Jin had been working on for a long time. However, it was difficult to find an opportunity. In modern Japan, you can imagine a charging facility for electric cars or a hydrogen station for hydrogen cars. As long as there is no or low demand, the diffusion rate will be slow. Jin thought that the mana station would be more meaningful if more and more households have the opportunity to use mana. Mana is made from free magic element (ether). And free magic element (ether) is supplied from the sun, Seran. There is no danger of depletion under normal consumption. We can rely on the free magical element (ether) with peace of mind. If we choose to rely on fossil fuels, as on the earth, we should be worried about the environmental pollution of Ars. The aether converter is a little, or rather a lot, bigger than the aether converter, and is a mana supplier. Because of its low efficiency, it takes a long time to charge ...... mana. Jin''s idea was to make it smaller and more efficient, to attach something like a meter, and to sell mana for a fee. This would create a new occupation, <>, which would generate employment. "......Hmmm, sounds interesting." Erza nodded with an interested look on her face. "I''ve been thinking about talking to Reinhard about it. Jin thought he could get some good advice from the most politically minded member of the Jin family. "So, first, I''ll make a mana stand, and at the same time, I''ll approach the Kingdom of Selroa and the Shoro Kingdom." > The old man, who had been listening to Jin''s conversation, gave him a hint. Jin nodded. "I will do so. He wanted to contact the kingdoms of Elias, Klein, Egelea, Franz, and Mitsuho if possible. Jin started to discuss with the old man, Reiko, Elsa, Taishaku, and others to decide on a general policy first. * * * * * * * * * "We will make the first one for each country, and leave the rest to the magecraftsmen of each country, shall we? What is it?What is it? Oh, ...... When filling mana for a fee, we want to make sure that the amount of mana is proportional to the price, but if we leave it to each country, there is a possibility that they will cheat. However, I don''t think it would be the same if we made all the mana ourselves. "Brother Jin, how about we decide how much it costs by the time it takes to fill it?" Erza said, "Then there shouldn''t be a big difference by anyone''s standards. "Well, it might be harder to cheat than a meter, but you could intentionally slow down the supply time. ......" If they wanted to cheat, they could. "It would be nice if we could fill up a mana tank of this size and say how much it costs." It is difficult to do so because the mana tank is not standardized. "Is it hard to expect good intentions ......? Yes, it is. It is rather impossible not to consider countermeasures against bad intentions. is harsh. is harsh. He was the brains of the Magi Fortress, so perhaps it is only natural. "...... Do you think it''s unlikely that you''ll come to a conclusion soon?" "Yeah, that''s probably true. Erza also looked a little tired. "Brother Jin, why don''t you make a then?" "Yes. ......" Whenever I get stuck in a thought, I sometimes have a good idea while I''m doing something else. Jin decided that developing a pressure cooker was necessary and would not be a waste of time. "Okay. Then, while I, Erza, and Reiko will make a new pressure cooker, will you and Taishaku keep working on the mana tank?" . Yes, sir. Thus, Jin, Elsa and Reiko moved from Jin''s workshop to Elsa''s workshop. Edgar was waiting for them there. "Miss Erza, Miss Jin, we have been waiting for you. Edgar said that he had received a call from the old man. Jin did not want to act as if he owned the place in Elsa''s workshop, so he thanked the old man inwardly for his concern. "......Brother Jin, it''s a pressure cooker, but if it''s not sealed with a lid,......warding?" "Oh. I think it should be a weak wind attribute warding." The internal pressure of a typical pressure cooker is about 2 atmospheres, or 2.5 atmospheres at the highest. The ones used in Horaijima have more than 3 atmospheres and even 10 atmospheres, but they can be used safely because adamantite is used for the pot and hexenbiest leather is used for the gasket. "...... and, then, the flow of magic control (magi sequence) is like this, correct?" On a whiteboard made of ground spider resin (GSP) for examination, Erza writes a flow of magic control (Magi sequence) mixed with Magi Formula. "Ah, it looks good. Elsa, you''ve grown up." "Thank you for ......." Erza''s cheeks turned red as Jin praised her. "Well, well." Jin wanted to say something to the blushing Erza, but he couldn''t think of anything clever to say at the moment, "Let''s decide what material the pot itself should be made of. He could not come up with any clever words at once, so he could only say something regrettable like, "Let''s decide what material the pot itself should be made of. "If we are going to apply pressure by means of a boundary, can we use an ordinary metal? "Yes, I think so. "If that''s the case, then ......" Brass is the most common material used by ordinary people for pots and pans. However, brass is surprisingly, or rather, poor in thermal conductivity. However, Jin could not judge whether it has a bad influence on cooking or not. The stainless steel used in the modern earth has less than 1/20th of the thermal conductivity of copper. And yet, it is used for pots and kettles. "Hmmm ......" The price of copper is 1800-2700 tol per kilo, iron is 5000-7000 tol per kilo. 5,000-7,000 Tall per kilo. This is because of the high production of natural copper, but leaving that aside, Jin wanted to make a pot out of stainless steel this time. This is because copper-based pots quickly oxidize and turn black. It takes time to polish them. Therefore, some common people said that they could tell whether their wives were good or bad by looking at the pots and pans. Not necessarily because of this, but because the people favored cookware made of stainless steel, which is resistant to acids and alkalis and rust-resistant, even if it is a little expensive. "I guess the way to reduce costs is to increase the production volume," he said. That is not something that can be done overnight. "Father, isn''t it a good idea to start out a little expensive? "Well, I guess so." If that is the case, it could be one of the trade goods. Since nickel and chromium are less expensive than in modern earth because they are not commonly used, there is a good chance that the price of stainless steel will be lowered. "There is a lot of work to be done, but it is worthwhile as a person whose vocation is to make things." The only thing that remains is the combination with the warding. The pot is made of 18-8 stainless steel, and a magi crystal is attached to the lid. The pressure is set at 3 atmospheres. "I want to try it out." "Yes, I think it''s a good idea. Erza immediately decided to try cooking with the prototype pressure cooker. 995 - - 28-07 News from neighboring villages What Erza began to make in her prototype pressure cooker is a type of soup stock called or . These are the of modern Earth cooking, used as a base for stews and other dishes, as soup stock, and to make sauces. On Ars, they are stewed with various ingredients such as sinew, chicken bones, bone marrow, vegetables, and fruits, so they are something between fon and bouillon, which Jin called <>. It is a long simmering process that takes a long time to reach a full-bodied flavor. He wanted to see how much time he could save by using a pressure cooker. The dish we are making this time is a combination of the Hourai Island standard. Gondoa kalibou bones, dried fish, kelp, onion cores, shiitake mushrooms, and capri milk. Gondoakaribou is imported from the demon territory, dried sardines are from Tatsumi Bay, kelp is collected by mermaid troops in the north of Horai Island, and the core of the onion is grown in the fields by Topaz, as are the shiitake mushrooms. This is a soup stock that is a blend of Japanese and Western ingredients. If you add more meat, fish, and vegetables, you will have a more complex taste of . There are few things that go well with Japanese food, but soups, risottos, and stews go exceptionally well with dashi. It can also be used as a secret ingredient to enhance the flavor of dishes. "Brother Jin, why don''t you cook this in front of everyone? Erza, who had been staring at the pot that had begun to blow, turned around and said, "Oh, that''s a good idea. "Oh, that''s a good idea. If it will be ready in about 10 minutes, it will be done while I''m explaining it to them, so they can taste it. "If they can taste it, maybe you can add salt to the soup." I added some salt and strained it through a fine mesh to make a quick soup. "Yes, that''s the way to go. Jin guessed that if he let people know that he could make a tasty soup with just salt, they would be more inclined to promote this pressure cooker. In the meantime, ten minutes passed, and Erza turned off the heat. The magical device attached to the lid detects the temperature and releases the pressure little by little as the fire goes out. The lid cannot be removed until the steam has finished blowing out, because it is blocked by the warding. This prevents the steam from spewing out and causing burns or the lid from blowing off. "How''s the usability?" "Not bad. The handle could be a little longer. The prototype we made this time is a one-handed pot because of its small size. The one we will unveil at the World Congress will be a two-handled pot to make enough for all the attendees. And they will be quite large. "I''ll have to make that one too and get used to it. "What?" Erza''s eyes widened. "I''ll make it for you?" She wasn''t expecting that. "No?" "......" Erza thinks for a few seconds and then shakes her head. "I''ll ...... do it." "Please." At the same time, they decided to have a lineup from a large pressure cooker that could easily cook for 30 people to a small pressure cooker for two people. The largest one will be used at the World Congress. "As for the stove, we will use an improved magic stove. The prototype of this stove is the one Jin made in the village of Kaina, but this one uses magi-crystals to generate higher heat, and can be used by a large number of people. "Now all we need are the materials. Jin thought for a moment and then instructed Lao-kun. "Old man, can you buy iron materials from enough countries so that the distribution will not be disrupted? He thought about using the materials in Penglai Island, but he chose to purchase them considering the economic effect. After all, Jin''s assets are only increasing. He is self-sufficient, not taxed, and receives income. His income, though irregular, is not half of what it used to be. Even Jin, who is not familiar with this area, is worried that the economy will not be able to keep going if they don''t spend it here and there. The old man took immediate action. Quintas, disguised as merchants, will buy the materials and send them to the nearest warp gate to the island of Horai. Or, they are sent to Horai Island by a transfer device. The old man purchases iron ingots from each country, taking care not to cause a sudden price spike in the market. * * * * Invitation to the harvest festival? In Toka, the neighboring village of Kayna, the wheat harvest has just finished. This year''s harvest was not so bad, and they wanted to hold a big ceremony to celebrate the fact that they survived the winter famine. "Okay. Let''s go to the village of Kaina tomorrow. Elsa gave Soleil the broth she had made, and she began to make cold soup with it. Topopo, onion, and capri milk are stewed, and chopped leeks are added. Luna makes a barley risotto. She also adds to this risotto. In addition, salt and pepper, onion, shiitake mushrooms, wine and a little rice are mixed. I served it with a fruit salad with citrons. "Yes, it''s delicious! So, that night''s dinner was a menu using made in a prototype pressure cooker. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Toka village or ......" "The village where Licia-san is." "That''s right. ......" Jin looks a little disappointed because he has been away for so long. As they live in neighboring villages, they should be able to come and go frequently, but perhaps because of this, they have become estranged from each other. The geographical distance between the two villages, with the Togo Pass standing between them and the distance of nearly two days each way, means that there is little interaction between the two villages. Rather, it would be better to say that Kaina is too remote. "But what''s the point of digging railroads, roads and tunnels? ......" I can do it, but I don''t want to do it because of the consequences and the impact on the surrounding area. In the first place, Jin thinks that it is meaningless to be able to go back and forth between the villages of Kaina and Toka. Licia is doing her best as a new lord. That''s why he didn''t pay much attention to her. "...... I can''t blame her if she thinks I''m a heartless guy." "Brother Jin, Licia is not a person who relies on others. She tries to do things on her own." "Is that so?" Jin knew the anxious Licia when he first met her. He knew her when she was worried about what she could do and what she should do. Jin, who had been looking far away, had to reflect a little. "I guess I''ll bring you something..." "Hmm, you can take this pressure cooker with you," she said. "Yeah, sure." Jin and Elsa discussed and selected the gifts for the celebration. 996 - - 28-08 Tokamura Harvest Festival On June 18, a harvest festival was held in Toka Village. Last fall, unexpectedly long rains caused in the wheat crop, resulting in a drastic decrease in the harvest, and tax reductions were implemented, but since spring the weather has been mild and the crop has been . The harvest was good enough to compensate for the fall in tax revenues, and the villagers'' faces were cheerful as they managed to reduce the total amount of taxes paid to the government to plus or minus zero. The villagers'' faces were cheerful and they decided to hold a large-scale harvest festival. The harvest festival in Toka village, in short, was an outdoor party. In the central square of the village, several large hearths were built and large pots were placed on them. The pots are designed to serve about 20 people, so the number of pots must be at least 20. Each pot is assigned to a person in charge of cooking a variety of meat and vegetables, which are then compared and tasted by everyone. ...... is a regular event. "Mr. Jin, thank you for coming! "No, thank you very much for inviting us. Hannah, welcome. Hello! Elsa, it''s been a while. Congratulations on your engagement. Thank you. Licia smiled a little sadly as she congratulated Erza. Jin, along with Elsa, Hannah, Giebeck, Sally, Lu, Reiko, Edgar, and others, had landed early in the morning on the outskirts of Toka village in and entered the village. The letter had been delivered the day before. Licia might have twisted her head as to how he had delivered the letter, but she seemed to let it slide with a "well, it''s Mr. Jin. "Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming. "No, it''s my pleasure to have you here. I have never met your wife before, my name is Licia Faarheit, I am a young woman, but I am very pleased to meet you. Thank you for your kind greeting. My name is Sally. This is my daughter Lou. The village chief and his wife greeted the guests and immediately began discussing the harvest festival. Kaina village brought wheat, vegetables, and dried meat for the celebration, and we discussed how to use them. Among them, Jin presented us with three prototype large pressure cookers. With detailed instructions. * * * * * * * * * * * Preparations were made in the morning, and the harvest festival began in the afternoon. Vegetables and meat are being stewed in the many large pots set up in the central square. They had been simmering since the morning, so they were ready to eat by early afternoon. Jin had set up a pressure cooker in a corner of the plaza and was making while explaining it to Licia. Licia took a sip of the broth Jin showed her, "Wow, it was made in such a short time! < "And this taste!It''s rich and mild. It''s not at all tasteless and can be used in a variety of dishes! He was very pleased with the taste. Oh, I can use this to make my food taste even better. I guess I''ll just have to be careful to remove the lye." "Yes, thank you!" Licia bowed deeply at Jin''s gift. "No, I''m sorry I''ve been away from you, even though we live next door to each other." "Oh no!Please don''t worry about it. I am grateful that you visit us from time to time and give us something new. "It''s a relief to hear you say that. Jin lifts the cauldron as he says this. In the past, he would have had a hard time, but now that he can use his magic to strengthen his body, he is able to lift it easily. "I''ll have you make soup with this. "I''ll take care of it then!" Licia, who had learned a simple recipe for soup during her several tours of duty, was making an original stewed soup. It seems to be a soup using river fish. Jin thought it was a good choice since there was no fish in this . Toka Village does not have a river like the Erme River in Kayna Village, but rather the Naud River a little further away. The river is a little farther away, the Naud River, where large trout are caught, and this soup seems to be made from them. It is similar to the Sanpeijiru soup in modern Japan. The seasoning is basically salt, so it goes well with <>. When I added a teaspoon of the broth to a bowl of stewed soup, the taste was completely different. "Jin-san, this is delicious! The combination of fish, meat, vegetable, and mushroom broths created a complex flavor. "Then please use this broth." Jin added the broth to the cauldron in which he was making Licia''s soup. "Oh!This is delicious too!That''s what I''m talking about! "This is delicious!" "It tastes different from the usual, but it''s ...... delicious." < seems to be well received. * * * * Is anyone feeling sick? Meanwhile, Sally and Elsa were performing the healing act for a reasonable fee. Giebeck and Lou were observing together since they had nothing better to do. "Doctor, my back has been hurting for a while now. ......" "Well, let me see." Only this time, the doctor would examine me for a flat fee of 20 copper coins, or the equivalent of 200 yen per visit, so about 40 people formed a line. About 40 people lined up in line. The doctor said, "Your hip bone is a little out of alignment. Wait a minute. ...... and ...... like this." "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! "Be patient. . ...... how''s that?" "...... Oh, I feel better. Thank you! Who''s next?" Sally and Elsa take half of the patients and treat them. Young men stood in front of Elsa, and women and old people lined up in front of Sally. "Sensei, I cut my hand while I was working..." "...... show me. ......<<<>" "Doctor, since day before yesterday my abdomen is not feeling well. ......" "<>...... this is due to cold. Today and tomorrow you should drink hot water instead of water. <>" "<>" "<>" "Oh, I feel better. Thank you! "The wound has healed nicely, doctor, thank you!" From cuts, abdominal pain, to back pain due to a back strain, all kinds of patients came to be treated, thanked the doctor, and left. "Well, it might be a good idea to make a trip to the clinic a few times a month. After the line was closed, Sally took a break and looked at Giebeck, who was standing by her side. "Yes, that''s right. It will be good for Rou''s study, so let''s discuss it with the lord later. Jin agreed to this proposal, and Licia accepted it gratefully, so Sally would visit Toka village once every half month to treat him. For this visit, Jin gave her a golem horse. This would allow him to arrive in one day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "This is delicious, Onii-chan! "Here you go. ...... yes, this is delicious!" Each of the five large pots had slightly different ingredients and seasonings, so that each of us could choose the flavor we liked best. "Hannah, would you like to try this one too?" "Thank you, Licia!" Jin and Hannah were enjoying the different flavors of the hot pots as Licia led them around the plaza. Reiko was the only one who noticed that Elsa, who was busy with her medical treatment, was a little bloated as she looked at Jin and Hannah from the side. 997 - - 28-09 Harvest Night The harvest festival in Toka Village ends at sunset. It is June and the summer solstice is near, so the sunset is after 6:30 pm. As the sun sets behind the mountains, Braak, the chief of Toka Village, makes a declaration. The sun has set. The spring harvest festival is over. We will clean up tomorrow. Let''s all keep up the good work. The village head''s declaration was met with a resounding "ah-ha", signaling the end of the harvest festival. All that remains is for the fire watchman to look around to make sure the fire is out. Jin and the others...... Jin, Elsa, Hannah, Reiko, Edgar, Giebeck, Sally, and Ru were invited to the lord''s mansion in Lycia. The name of the house is just the name of the house, though. We were shown to a two-story house, which is rare in Toka village. The site was quite large. The color of the pillars and walls indicates that the house has only just been completed. "It was just completed in May. Licia explains with a slight smile. Last year was a bad harvest, so many of the houses had no income. So we decided to build this pavilion to create jobs. "I see. I see. ...... or ...... no, nothing. Can we take a look inside? Yes, of course. Yes, of course. We''re going to let you stay the night. Come on in. "Well then, I''m sorry to disturb you." The building is wooden, and stone is used in places. The entrance hall was spacious, and the floor was made of stone. "It''s quite a magnificent structure. It is spacious and comfortable. Giebeck commented. "No, I think it''s a little too big considering the population of the village. "Is that so?" Jin tilted his head and did some calculations. The population of Toka Village is about 50 households. The standard family structure is three generations, that is, grandparents, parents, and children, with two to three children. In other words, there are 6 to 7 people per house. About half of the families have both grandparents alive and well. As a result, the population is about 300. This may be small by the standards of a lord''s mansion, but it is large enough for the population of Toka village. What do you think, Elsa? In the end, Jin realized that he had no criteria for judging such a standard, so he asked Elsa, who was standing next to him. "A lord''s mansion is the face of the land, so it has to stand out to some extent," she said. "Ah, so that''s how it is. ......" Licia nodded her head in agreement. In this respect, Elsa, who was born and raised in a viscount''s family, seems to have more or less the sensibilities of an aristocrat. "First, let me show you to your room. Licia herself led the group to the room. "Mr. and Mrs. Giebeck, this way please. Thank you very much. Mr. & Mrs. Giebeck, Sally, and Luu were in a double-occupancy room. In other words, the twin rooms were connected by a door. Jin-san, Erza-san, and Hannah-chan are in this room, right? They showed us to a room that was also connected by a door. "Yes, that''s fine. Thank you." "I prefer to stay with my sister. At Hanna''s request, Jin, Hanna, and Erza were allocated one room each. After that, it was time for bathing. Since they had been outside for a long time, their bodies were dusty, and they were all grateful for the bath. Although somewhat small, there were separate bathrooms for men and women, and the group had no complaints. By the way, Hannah took a bath this time together with Elsa, Sally, Lou, and others. "The water here is clear and colorless. There''s hardly any smell. "Brother Jin said it was a <>." Erza replies to Sally''s murmur. "Hmmm, a simple spring. It literally means that the water is simply gushing out, doesn''t it?If so, what are the hot springs in the village of Kaina?" Sally scratched her head, not having paid much attention to the fact that she had been soaking in them. "Let''s see, <>, that''s what your sister said, right?" The hot springs in the village of Kaina are bicarbonate springs that contain a high baking soda content, and are also known for their skin-softening properties. When Hanna explained this to Sally, she rolled her eyes in surprise. "You''re amazing, Hannah. You know more than I do." "Hehehe, I''ve learned a lot." Hannah looks happy when she hears Sally''s praise. "Hannah, you''re so smart." Lou is also surprised. "....... Hanna-chan is a studious person. Erza agreed. "She reads a lot of books at Nido Castle. "Because I like books." The women''s bath was lively. Meanwhile, Jin and Giebeck are in the men''s bath. Reiko is waiting outside because of Giebeck''s presence. "......" Naturally, they don''t talk much. * * * * Since we had eaten various kinds of hot pots until the evening, dinner was light. So <> is prepared. "Boiled pashta is tossed with soybean oil and chopped up wild leek root," Licia explains. Licia explains. Then, salt and pepper are sprinkled to taste. It is similar to peperoncino. Jin, Giebeck and Sally use more pepper, Elsa a little less. Hannah and Lou enjoyed it without pepper and with salt only. "This is delicious! Erza seemed to like it so much that Jin decided to have her study it on Horai Island as well. "It might be tasty if you put chopped cress on it," she said. "Oh, yes! "Instead of pepper, I''d like to use chili ......" Jin was about to say "chili pepper," but kept his mouth shut as he wondered if there was chili pepper in Ars. Instead, "You might enjoy the texture if you add chopped mushrooms," he advised. I advised him to add some chopped mushrooms. Although it might not be peperoncino any more. Pasta is good when you can enjoy many variations. After that, we talked about many things, and the night went on. Hannah started to feel sleepy, so we ended our conversation for the night. "Good night, ladies and gentlemen. Licia, the hostess, escorted the group to the guest room, bowed, and left. "Good night, then." Glancing at Hannah, who was asleep in Jin''s arms, Elsa went to close the door of her room. "Oh, Elsa, come in here for a minute." Jin stops her. "What is it?" "Thank you for all your hard work today. You''re the real Elsa. Jin thanked her for her help in examining the villagers. "I only did what I could do. Erza was a bit puzzled by the unexpected timing of the compliment. I''m not sure what to say, but I still wanted to say it. ...... good night." "Good night." Jin put Hannah to bed, took off his own jacket, and lay down on the other bed. He had done a lot of work since this morning, and he was somewhat tired. In the midst of all this, I thought about something that had been bothering me for a while. (There seems to be some difference between the people of Toka village and those of Kaina village. ......) (There seems to be something different between the people of Toka village and those of Kaina village... ). This is not surprising since Kaina village is a remote area. (It''s not something you can figure out by thinking about it. ......) In the end, Jin fell asleep. 998 - - 28-10 Specialties The morning after the harvest festival in Toka village, Jin and his friends had breakfast at Licia''s house and relaxed. All that was left to do was to return home by . The villagers are cleaning up the mess from yesterday, but Jin and the others are just watching. When we tried to help them, Licia stopped us, saying that she could not make her guests do such a thing. Licia is now treating them to a juice that she says may become a new specialty of the village. "Yes, this is delicious. It has a refreshing aftertaste. "It''s delicious. I think it''s going to be a hit. "This is delicious! It''s delicious. It will please adults and children alike. "It''s delicious. It''s very nutritious. "Very tasty." Jin, Elsa, Hannah, Giebeck, Sally, and Ru each gave their own comments, and Licia smiled happily. "Really?Thank you!I feel more confident." "What kind of juice is this?" Elsa asked curiously, saying that this was her first time tasting the juice, but that it seemed somehow familiar to her. "This is the juice of the lambel fruit. Licia showed a basket full of lambel fruit juice. "They''re not cockadoodles....... It looks like one. It looked just like the cranberry on earth. Despite the similarity in name, the moss and the crane are two different plants. To be precise, they belong to the same azalea family and the same genus, but the moss is found in mountains and the vine grows in marshes. The cranberry is easier to cultivate. <. The berries are very acidic and are made into jam or juice rather than eaten raw. "This is the fruit of the lambel. They grow in marshes and swamps in the mountains, and it turns out that if you grow them well, you can harvest them all year round." During last year''s famine caused by a fungus, he had his staff look for edible wildflowers and wild plants, and they found these in a small marsh in the mountains to the north of the country. "It seems to grow in a cold environment, and when we tried growing it on the outskirts of the village, it flowered even in winter and bore fruits in spring," he said. "Wow, isn''t that amazing? Jin was impressed. Licia has the power of action. It seems that these < ripen to a reddish-black color and become quite sweet. "I also make jam. Licia produced a small jar of jam. "Try some." Jin opened the lid and tasted the jam with a small spoon. Elsa and Hannah also tasted it, "Delicious. The aftertaste is refreshing and not too strong. "I love this taste, lady! They praised it highly. Giebeck and Saly also tasted it and commented on how delicious it was. "I think this will definitely become a local specialty. "Yes." Jin and Erza gave their assurances. "I''m glad you all said that." Licia smiled happily. "Licia-san, you''re good." Erza opened her mouth somewhat abruptly. "What?" "She found the problem by herself and is trying to solve it. I''m trying to do it myself first." "Eh, Elsa?" That''s a very difficult thing to do. You are doing it as a woman, that''s great." Sally affirmed her words. I really think so, too. I think you are a good lord, even though you might have been tempted to rely on someone else, to put your trust in someone else. "Oh, no." The unexpected compliment made Licia panic and she turned red and looked at Jin. (...... Is this the same Licia? ......) "Jin-san?" <>Licia, who had looked so anxious, had found her own way. "Oh, um...?" "......Oh, I''m sorry. Licia is walking her own path. "......Oh, I''m so embarrassed." At that moment, for some reason, Erza looked at Jin with a slightly puffy face, but Edgar was the only one who noticed it. "If you are going to make jam, you might want to cook them slowly to make them last longer, or cook them a little shorter if you want to enjoy the aroma as well." Jin gave him some advice on how to cook strawberry jam. Jin recalled his days at the facility, when he used to buy cheap strawberries that were out of season and unevenly priced, and cook them in a large pot on a charcoal stove to make strawberry jam. "Jin-san, I will use the pressure cooker you gave me and report back on how it works. "Oh, that would be great. As a manufacturer, it would be great to hear the feedback from the actual use of the pressure cooker. Jin expressed his gratitude to Licia for suggesting this idea. * * * * * * * * * * * * Around 10:30 a.m., Jin and his group returned to the village of Kaina by . As expected, the people of Toka village were surprised to see the airship. After returning to the village of Kaina, Jin headed for <>, i.e., across the street from Martha''s house. Martha''s maid golem, Sarah, cleans the house every day, so there is not a speck of dust on the floor. "Welcome home, Jin, Elsa, Hannah. "I''m home, Auntie." I''m home." Jin and Erza decided to have lunch with Hannah and the others. Erza went to help Hannah get ready, so Jin was left alone. So they decided to look around the neighborhood. Specifically, he checked the pumps on the wells and the hot springs. "Yeah, it''s in good shape, no wear and tear. No problem with the pump. The pump is made of bronze, which has been subjected to Jin''s best efforts of <, so it is very strong. "The hot spring water should be fine, too." The hot water jets were not clogged with hot water spouts, and the settling ponds where the dirty water is temporarily deposited for purification were also in good condition. I also took a look at the snow chamber, which was filled with plenty of snow, and vegetables and meat were stored in between. (Yes, that''s right. (Oh, yes, what if we bring Milowina to the hot springs?) ) Jin returned to Martha''s house just as lunch was being prepared. "Oh, onii-chan, just in time. Lunch is ready!" "Fresh bread!" "Oh, that''s nice!" I can try the lambel jam that Licia gave me right away. "Oh, it goes well with bread. It''s delicious. "It tastes good when you eat it like this!" Elsa and Hannah seem to like it immediately. "Yes, it really is." Martha also said it was delicious, so Jin decided to consider the possibility of growing it on Hourai Island. Lunch time went by happily, enjoying the taste of maple syrup and Wylie jam as well as Lambel jam. 999 - - 28-11 Preparation begins After spending a leisurely time in Kaina Village, Jin returned to Horai Island before evening. "Now, I''d like to start preparing for the world conference. "Hmm." In addition to Elsa, Reiko, and Ro-kun, the meeting was to include Anne, who had returned from Yuny, the magic brain of Kunlun Island <, and his assistants Lol and Lefa. "We would like to hold the meeting in Kunlun Island. He thought about having the meeting at sea, but the 250-meter class battleship seemed like intimidating diplomacy, and he wanted to avoid it. My Lord, how many people do you plan to invite? Question from Taishaku. "Assuming two heads of state and their two guards, four times six equals twenty-four people, or about three times six, which is less than thirty. I would say that the number of guests would be less than 30. In that case, how would you like the accommodations to be? < would be a little insufficient. "Oh, I see. <, it is not possible to have one room for each person, says. "Do we need to build something like a guest house?" < The old man agreed, and we proceeded on the premise that a guest house should be built. We will discuss the details later. "We are thinking of three days, including a reserve day. It will be difficult to start with a long period of time. Jin explained that he planned to finish the project in a short period of time so that the schedule could be adjusted easily. "I think that''s a good idea. We''ll just have a meeting at first. Elsa agreed. "We''ve already discussed the theme before, but how to invite them? "We''ve already discussed the theme before. "Yeah, I think that''s a good idea. But how to invite them is the other thing I''m talking about. Jin said that he did not know if they would come if he simply sent them a letter and asked them to attend the world conference when and where it would be held. < "Oh, so you want Her Majesty to invite us to each country?" < I see. ......" Jin was impressed. "But master (my lord), if you want to talk mainly about the monorail, wouldn''t it make sense to inform His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Selroa first? "Oh, I see." has a point. We would like to talk about this agenda and the railroad network in the continent with an eye to the future. "In that case, why don''t we bring up the subject with both countries at the same time?" Leffa expressed her opinion. "I think it is possible, since the master has a doppelganger. "I agree with you. Anne also seems to agree with Refa''s opinion. "...... I can go to His Majesty''s place." Elsa agrees. Jin hears this and decides. "Okay. I''ll bring this to the Shoro Kingdom and the Kingdom of Cerroa at the same time. I''ll ask Erza to speak to Her Majesty the Empress. Saying this, Jin lightly pats Erza on the shoulder. "......Yes, I''ll leave it to you." Erza nodded a little more strongly. "Well, I guess we''re going to have to talk about secondary things then. Just as Jin was about to open his mouth to talk about lodging, <> offered his opinion. Master (My Lord), about the vehicle called "monorail", why don''t you make a model of it instead of just drawings? "Oh, that sounds great!" Jin''s tension rose to a new level. In fact, there was a time when Jin had a yearning for HO gauge and N gauge. Both are model train standards. HO is 1/87th scale with 16.5 mm track space (width of rails). N gauge is 1/148th to 1/160th scale with 9mm track spacing. N gauge has a scale of 1/148 to 1/160 and a track spacing of 9mm. The larger HO gauge is easier to build, but it takes more space (to lay rails and run), so N gauge is more common in Japan. Jin remembered ....... Anyway, the idea of building a model monorail for demonstration purposes excited Jin''s crafty spirit. "Okay, I''ll do that one. Let''s go to ...... and decide on the accommodations first. After receiving everyone''s opinions on this, we decided to build a more seaside location, instead of the current << pavilion>. The image is that of a seaside resort hotel. It will be a four-story building with chalk exterior walls. In addition, "I want a room with tatami mats. In response to Elsa''s opinion, it was decided to build a Japanese-style building with a Japanese garden in the vicinity, which was designed to resemble a Japanese-style tea ceremony room. << Taibai and Lao-kun are excited. "I think we should be entertained by golem maids. Jin thought that it would be a good idea to send golem maids of five different colors from Horai Island. If the number of visitors becomes a regular thing, we can create a full-time golem maid. "Then there are the meals to be served. ...... I guess we should be able to serve food from different countries." With the fifth column (Quinta), it would be easy to get ingredients from all over the world, and they already have the main ingredients and have mastered the cooking. "Father, the we had the other day, wouldn''t that be a good format?" Reiko suggested. "Yes, that''s right. We could try that for refreshments between meetings." Jin thought it might be interesting to offer a small selection of tastes and delicacies from different countries and regions. "Goshujin-sama, it would be good to serve drinks during the meeting. "Yes, Ann is right. Wouldn''t it be fun to serve carbonated juice? As a hostess, I think it would be nice to have a few surprises. "Hmmm, I don''t have any more ......." Jin pondered over the idea of something that no one had ever eaten before. And then. "Yes, there is pudding." I guess technically it''s called pudding, but in Japan pudding is more like it. "Well, I could make it with eggs, milk, and sugar, couldn''t I? When he was at the facility, he often made pudding by buying pudding ingredients, so his memory is still a little fuzzy, but Jin is optimistic that he will be able to figure it out after he tries it out, since there is still time. "Besides, fruit honey beans would be good, too. Jin has a large amount of agar agar, and he is able to make a lot of agar agar. "Or even anmitsu," he says. Jin thought that sweetness would be good for his tired head after the meeting. "Ah, but I don''t know how to make gyuuhi. Jin liked gyuuhi in mitsumame. "It''s a little different from shiratama, so maybe I should make it with glutinous rice flour. As expected of the Magecraft Meister, he was almost right. Gyuhi is not made by pounding glutinous rice, but by adding water and sugar to glutinous rice flour and kneading it over a fire to make it sticky. The addition of starch syrup keeps it soft even when it cools down. There are various types of kneading, such as water kneading, boiling kneading, and steaming kneading. "Shall I have Perid do the research?" I''ll help. Elsa was interested and offered to help. Perid, the leader in charge of the cooking, then successfully completed the gyuuhi to Hitoshi''s liking. 1000 - - 1000th Anniversary Special Edition Jin moved from Penglai Island to Kunlun Island because he had some business to attend to. < (warp gate) took place with almost no time loss. Reiko and Elsa were accompanying her. ............ (......?) During the trip, I thought I heard something. They were supposed to go out to the Kunlun Island, but they found themselves standing in a place they did not recognize at all. A narrow alley. From there, they could see an unfamiliar landscape. "Father, is this ......?" "Brother Jin?" ".................." Jin stood there, as if the voices of Reiko and Elsa had fallen on deaf ears. People coming and going. "...... mysterious town." "There is a certain amount of free magical element (ether), but the air is stagnant. Breathing it for long periods of time may be harmful to the respiratory tract. Cars overflowing onto the road. "............" Buildings in a row. A lot of people with dark hair. "A lot of people have brown or blond hair, but still ......" "......" Jin is still silent. "...... if that''s the case?" "Father?" Jin opened his mouth for the first time. "...... Japan." "What?" ...... this is the country where I was born and raised. "Is that so?" Both Elsa and Reiko can understand Japanese because of their knowledge of Jin. "...... and crab." "...... doesn''t sound like Ars. But why? "...... heard a voice." Jin said in a mumbled voice. "A voice?" "Yes. A gift from the Creator, I believe. Enjoy your homeland for the time being. "You heard the voice of the Creator?" "You heard the voice of the Creator? "...... we need to find out where we are. Let''s go." Jin and the others started walking. As soon as they got out of the alley, they realized where they were. "...... Akihabara." The elevated tracks of the JR line crossed over the street, and the signs of electronics stores lined the street. And Chuo-dori was filled with people. "A pedestrian paradise...... means it''s Sunday. In a way, it was convenient, because the three of us were dressed inconspicuously. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko are dressed somewhat, or rather quite differently from the standard Japanese fashion today. (Hey, hey, she''s cute, isn''t she?) Blonde hair. (Blonde hair... Gaikokujin look so cool in cosplay...) Is that cosplay?) Of course it is.I can''t believe she''s wearing something like that.) The tiny one is cute too. Maid''s uniform?But what kind of relationship do those three have?) They can''t be husband and wife, can they?) That''s exactly right. (That''s just not true. The guy is Japanese.) (The bastard is Japanese, no matter how you look at him.) "What kind of a relationship do you have with those three? "...... Let''s move anyway." I searched my pockets and found three 1,000 yen bills. Jin decides to use them, thinking that they are another gift from . He walked to the next station nearby, bought a ticket there, and boarded the rapid train. "...... I don''t feel any magic. But it is moving. Is this science?" Jin whispered in a whisper to the impressed Elsa. Don''t talk about magic or magical powers out loud. There is no magic in this world.) (...... okay. I''m sorry.) The three of us continued to ride past Shinjuku. They passed Koenji and Kichijoji. The three of them get off the train at a small station. Jin had been walking at a brisk pace since he came out of the ticket gate, and his speed was getting faster and faster. After 20 minutes of walking, the three of them arrived at ....... "...... haven''t changed a bit." It was an orphanage - a children''s home. Erza asked Jin, who was standing there silently. "...... Jin''s brother''s house?" Jin nodded silently. There was a faint glint in Jin''s eyes. Then. "...... Jin?" The door to the facility opened and a voice called out from inside. "Jin......, it''s Jin after all!" "......Sensei......." A small woman in her late 60s came out. Her hair had turned completely white and her waist was slightly bent. "......I heard you were lost in the blast furnace, but I''m glad to see you''re safe,......." Then she clung to Jin. "If you were safe, why didn''t you come back earlier?This is your home! "Sensei, I''m sorry." Jin also hugged back and shed tears. * * * * * * After calming down, the three were invited into the facility. "Jin, please introduce me to these people. "Well, this is Elsa. This is Reiko. Elsa is my fiance and Reiko is my daughter. "...... what?" Introducing your fiance and your daughter at the same time, you can''t blame them for being confused. "Well, Reiko is not a human but an automata. "...... what?" I explained in my usual tone that she was an automaton, and the director looked at me as if he didn''t understand me. I was..... ... ... . In the old Director''s room, Jin explained. "......That''s a story I can''t believe out of the blue." Jin, who had made up his mind, began by telling the story of how he had fallen into the ladle of an electric furnace, how he had been summoned to another world, where he had become the second generation of magical engineers, the MagiCraft Meister, and how his life had unfolded thus far. "A world with magic?Summoning?If it weren''t for Jin''s words, I''d think you were crazy. "Of course. ...... but it''s true," he said. "Well, well, I believe you." The director, tired from sitting through the long talk, lifted his back off the cushion and patted his back. "Doctor, your back?" "Yes, it''s been hurting for a while now. You must be old." At that moment, Elsa, who had been silent until then, opened her mouth. "Um, please lie down there for a minute." "What?" "Sir, Erza is a top-notch healing mage over there. "...... Is that so?" Still half-convinced, the director laid out the cushions and crawled on her stomach. Elsa rubbed the doctor''s back as she examined him. "<>......Slight compression fracture of the lumbar vertebrae. ......<>" "What ......?" Erza''s healing magic must have worked, and the doctor got up startled. "Oh?It doesn''t hurt anymore." Right? Don''t get up yet. Your kidneys and liver are weak, so let''s heal them too. What?What?What? This time, Erza puts her hand on the abdomen of the doctor, who is now lying on his back, and casts healing magic again. "<>" A pale light was absorbed from Elsa''s hand into the doctor''s stomach and disappeared. "You will be fine now." "......" I was skeptical, but I had to believe her when she showed me the trick she had just pulled off. "Ji, Jin, you guys are really ......?" "Yes. ...... and I don''t even know how much longer I can stay here." "Really, I see. ...... I was hoping that Jin would take over this orphanage. ...... * * * * Just then, a voice came from behind the door. Hey, can you hear me?) I don''t know.) You''re a real pain in the ass, aren''t you? Let me take over.) Don''t push me too hard!) They may be trying to whisper, but you can hear them through the thin door. "Oh dear, everyone seems to have noticed Jin''s return. "I see. ......" Jin prepared himself again to meet the children. "Reiko, open the door!" "Yes, father." Reiko opens the door and ....... "Wow!" "Kyaaaah! Ow! Ow! Four children come tumbling into the room. They were children whom Jin knew well. However, they were a little older than Jin remembered. "...... Jin-chan?" "I knew it! It''s Jin''s grandma!" Jin-chan! Welcome home!" Four children rushed to Jin. Jin accepted them. "Hey, everyone, I''m home." Everyone''s home. Jin was then reunited not only with the four children but also with the other children. "Jin-ni-chan, why didn''t you come all this time?" "Have you been abroad?" "Is he your son''s girlfriend?" "Who is that girl over here?" It was difficult to explain to the children in a way they could understand, so I told them I was abroad on business. Elsa looks like a foreigner even without saying a word. But Reiko said. "I am Reiko. Your father found me." She had ...... decided on her own that she was Jin''s adopted daughter. "Hey everyone, Jin-ni-chan is back! "Oh, it''s true!Jin-ni-chan is back! "Where have you been, Ni-chan! "Jin-chan, let''s play!" "Ni-chan, don''t go anywhere else!" Eruza-chan, you''re beautiful! "It''s golden!" "White." "It''s a different color. "But it''s beautiful!" "It''s beautiful!" "But I don''t have many arms." Elsa was also popular among the children. Although there were a few heartless words flying around. "Is your name Reiko?" "Nice to meet you!" "Do you want to play together?" "Yes, that''s fine." This was the scene that the director had always wanted to see. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The sun was setting in the evening. Jin and the others, who had been playing with the children, are taking a break. "I''m home! "Oh, Yoshiyuki came home. "What, Yoshiyuki?" At the Director''s words, Jin sat up. Yoshiyuki Nido. He is Jin''s younger brother and will graduate from high school next year. He is the boy that the Director hopes will be the next director of the hospital. "Sensei, I''m home now. ...... is your brother!" "Yoshiyuki, you''ve grown up!" "Oh, brother, you''re alive!" "Oh!" Yoshiyuki jumped on Jin with the same force as before. Caught off guard, Jin was pushed down to the tatami mats. Depending on how you look at it, this is a scene that would make some rotten person very happy. "I''m sorry. "...... it''s too heavy. Please get out of the way!" When Yoshiyuki finally calmed down, Jin explained what had happened. "Another world?Magic!Knowledge cheat!" Yoshiyuki, who liked to read light novels on the Internet, believed Jin''s words from the beginning. "Is this guy over here your brother''s fiancee?She''s so beautiful. ......" He looked at Erza and gaped, then at Reiko, "This girl is an automaton!She looks so ...... cute!" She looked at Reiko with her eyes as if she wanted to hug her. At that moment. "Are you there, Director?" The front door was opened and someone came in. Without being asked to come in, the person stepped up with his feet on the floor. The man who appeared in the living room with Jin and the others was instantly recognizable as a businessman of the "Ya" character. "Oh, there you are! How are you doing? Are you ready to leave? "I''ve told you many times. I have no intention of leaving. "But you know, we bought this land. So that means you are illegally occupying it. You can come out now, can''t you? Yoshiyuki stood up and retorted to the man. "I''ve lived here for many years, and I have the right to reside here. I''ve been living here for many years, and I have the right to reside here. I don''t care if we go to court, I''m not going to lose, okay?" His voice was a little hoarse, but the man was a little intimidated by Yoshiyuki''s over six feet tall presence. "Hmph, don''t regret it!" He left with the usual line. "......, ......." Yoshiyuki fell to the ground. "Yoshiyuki, you have grown strong. You''ve grown strong. Jin praised him. "...... what are you talking about? "And yet you stood up to that guy. You''re a good guy." When Jin praised him again, Yoshiyuki smiled a little. "...... hehe, it''s been years since I''ve gotten a compliment from my brother." "Sensei, how long have you been like that?" Jin asked as he brushed the dirt off the man''s feet. "This summer, the former owner of the land became old. He sold it to those guys by accident." "......" The deed was official. Jin looked at me with a scowl. "Brother Jin, what do you mean?" Elsa, who was not familiar with our situation, couldn''t take it anymore and asked a question. "Well, to put it simply, the land for this facility is leased land, and the original owner inadvertently sold the title to the land to the wrong people. However, they followed all the proper procedures, so legally they can''t complain." "...... And they''re asking you to evict them?" "That''s what I''m saying." Then Reiko asked a question. "Father, is it difficult to move to another place?" "Yes, Reiko. There is hardly any surplus land in Japan. If we are evicted from this place, we will have nowhere to go. Hearing this, Reiko gets angry. "Then let''s get rid of them. ...... "Stop." She was probably going to say something like, "Why don''t you just crush them? >>She would have tried to say something like that, but he stopped her. "In this country, we don''t tolerate rough stuff. It will only make things worse for us. "...... understand." Reiko nodded reluctantly. We put the subject aside for the moment and had dinner together. "Wow, you guys are going to have a feast tonight! The kids are happy because hamburgers are on the table. "Yes, because Jin came home today." "Yay!" "Elsa and Reiko helped too." Yes, together with the director, the two of them prepared dinner. In the process, they taught me how to season the dishes to Jin''s liking. "Bon apptit! "Bon apptit!" "Oh, Erza-san, you''re so good with chopsticks." "Yes, Jin taught me ...... how to use chopsticks." "Oh, my God..." "Really... You''re very good. You''ll take good care of Jin, won''t you? "Yes, yes." Elsa turns red at the director''s words. "Oh, girl, you''re blushing!" "Oh, girl, you''re so cute!" "Hey, don''t tease an older lady!" The children were cheering her up, but the director rebuked them and quieted them down. At that moment, there was a terrible noise coming from the front door. There was the sound of shattering glass, and the building shook. "What the hell? "No way. ......" Jin and Yoshiyuki got up and ran to the front door. There they found. "Ugh... ...... "Oh, my God!" A 10-ton class dump truck had crashed into the house. The sash of the front door was shattered, as well as the pillars and walls. The dump truck did not have a license plate number, and the driver was nowhere to be found. None of the neighbors came to see the dump truck for fear of getting involved. "Isn''t this the work of the XXX group?" "...... must be." Then the director of the hospital arrived. He told the children not to come here. "......Oh, my God. ......!" Then he looked at the mess at the entrance and clapped his hands together in disappointment. "......Oh, ......I can''t take it anymore......." But Jin gently picked up the director in his arms. "It''s all right, doctor. We''re with you now." He said and instructed Reiko. "Reiko, get this dump out of the way!" "Yes, Father." Reiko, under the direction of Jin, approached the dump truck with a swift motion and a front kick. There was a roar, and the dumpster was blown out of the entrance of the orphanage. The director and Yoshiyuki rolled their eyes at her. "Oh, it''s blocking the way. Keep it small." "Yes, sir." Reiko received another command from Jin and swung her fist at a dump truck lying on the road. With each blow, the dump truck was dented and reduced in size. Within five minutes, the 10-ton dump truck was rolling around as if it had been put through a press. "We took the tires off and loaded it up." The batteries are kept separate because they are hazardous materials, and the seats have been removed. They were very careful to separate them. "Thank you, Reiko. ...... Well, we have to fix this one, too." Jin muttered as he looked at the shattered walls and broken pillars. "Let''s see if we can use that technique. Jin starts to use his engineering magic, thinking that no one will be watching since it is just nighttime. "<>! This magic was originally intended to separate powder, but Jin used it on the debris mixed with fragments. It was a forceful and strong move. "Oh, it''s separated into concrete and glass. Now he casts engineering magic on the glass. "<>...... Oh, it worked! Once the shattered glass and the pieces of concrete and so on were integrated into one piece, and then only the glass was extracted, it worked unexpectedly well. This is the same way I extracted mithril from the broken pieces of the golem to make a birthday present for Erza after the golem garden party. "<>Aluminum. <> iron. <>......" The aluminum from the aluminum sash and the steel from the rebar are extracted. What is left is concrete and a few foreign objects, i.e. metals other than plastic, aluminum and iron. "Okay, we''ve managed to separate the materials." Now it is time to restore the pillars, walls and sashes. A task that would take an ordinary Magecraftsman days to complete, but for Magecraftsman Jin, it is a little more time-consuming. Still, it took him an hour to rebuild the sash of the front door, using the safe sash as a reference. This was due to the time and effort required with the plastic door rollers and such. "Now all that''s left are the walls and columns." Broken rebar is joined by < and crumbled concrete is rebuilt by <. "I couldn''t get the colors to match, but that''s about it." In less than two hours, the crumbling entrance was back to normal. "And now for the finishing touches. <>" A ten-ton truck will not even be able to ram it. "If only I had some adamantite ......" But it is strengthened enough. "There we go. I''ve fixed it, doctor." "......" "......" The director and Yoshiyuki froze. * * * * "Brother, that was great!You are indeed a production system cheat!" Yoshiyuki praised Jin with open arms, "Jin, you really can use magic now. ......" The Director looked at Jin with a half-impressed, half-disappointed expression. "And Reiko. You have great power, don''t you ......?" "No, that''s only 5 percent of the total. "Five percent. ...... Both of them were shocked at that statement. "But thank you, Jin." "But this can''t be the end, can it, brother?" "Yeah. It''s no coincidence that we''re back here. I''m sure we came back here to take care of this crisis." Jin took the Director''s hand. "Doctor, I''ll ...... take care of it, we''ll take care of it, don''t worry." "Jin,...... thank you. But, don''t take it too hard, okay? "Yes, sir." That night, Reiko stood guard just in case, but nothing happened. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... So, how much is this land worth?" The next morning after breakfast, Jin, Yoshiyuki, and the director were talking face to face. Elsa and Reiko are playing with the children and teaching them how to study. "He said it was about 120 million." "Nah!Isn''t ...... too high?" "You think so too?The land is about 300 tsubo, so the price per tsubo is 400,000. It''s too expensive for the metropolitan area, isn''t it?" "Is there something wrong with it?" "I don''t know about that. If you can afford 120 million, you can probably get a property in a better location. "120 million. ......" Jin thought about it. "Brother, you''re not going to tell me you can afford it, are you?" Yoshiyuki laughed and said, "After seeing Jin yesterday, I wouldn''t be surprised if he came up with it out of his own pocket. Yoshiyuki''s smile seemed to be a little twitchy. "Oh, no, no, I can''t give you cash." "<> isn''t it? ......" Jin can make diamonds from carbon and rubies and sapphires from alumina. But there is no route to sell them. If he is not careful, he may be accused of stealing them from where he stole them. "Where is the XXX group located?" The headquarters is in Ikebukuro, but the office is in this town. It''s about a kilometer away from here. "I think I''ll go talk to them. ......" Jin? Jin?Don''t do anything dangerous! But Jin smiles at them. "Don''t worry, those guys won''t be able to lay a finger on me." Jin looked at the hand that held the guard ring. "Reiko, let''s go." "Yes, father." Elsa, take care of the children. "Yes, Brother Jin." Jin walked out the front door with Reiko, leaving Erza behind in case of emergency. He comes back soon after. Yoshiyuki, which office is this? "My brother ......." Jin''s carelessness was still alive and well. * * * * It is about a kilometer from the facility, following the city road to the west. Jin and Reiko arrived at the office of the XX group. "Well, what should we say to get in? The door was opened from the other side. "What are you? "Well, are you from the orphanage ......?" What? No, I''d like to ask you why you''re moving forward with the eviction. If there is a reason, and if Jin can do something about it. That''s why I asked him. "I can''t teach you!" Don''t say that. Don''t be ridiculous! I was just trying to be a good guy, but a fist flew at me. But... Ow, that hurt! He was blocked by an invisible barrier. What the hell did he do?What did you do? I didn''t do anything. You''re the one who hit me! But this kind of person can''t be reasoned with. "f*ck you!" Another guy hit me again, this time with an iron pipe. But it was a barrier that held up even when Reiko hit it with 30 percent force. It''s not like a steel pipe is going to make a difference. "Ow!" The hand that hit him goes numb, and the man takes the pipe away. "What the hell?" "What''s wrong with this guy?" No matter how stupid they are, it''s hard not to notice something''s wrong. "That''s why I''m not here to fight. I just want to know why you want the land. "Don''t play with me!" Another guy kicked him again, but it was the same. About 30 centimeters in front of Jin, his foot was blocked by an invisible wall. "Is this ......?" Is he using some kind of strange magic? Jin was halfway thinking "It''s more like magic". You could teach me, couldn''t you? "You''re so noisy!I don''t give a shit!It''s an order from the top! "Oh, I see. Jin turned his head and said, "I guess we need to go to headquarters. But... Wait a minute! Don''t think you can just come in here and expect to get home safely. "No, I don''t think I did..." I don''t think I did! He wanted to say, "You''re the one who''s being so stubborn," but that would have made things even more complicated, so he kept his mouth shut. "We''re going to the Ikebukuro now, so don''t get in my way ......." "Shut up!You guys, get him!" "...... Oh my god, they can''t learn. Reiko, don''t do anything but put up barriers, okay?" Jin and Reiko deployed a barrier of physical defense and stood there for a while. They were hit with wooden swords, square timbers, iron pipes, Japanese swords, and so on. A barrier that was not affected by the blows of various objects. "Shit!" Bring the gun!" someone shouted in a panic, and a gun was brought out. "...... Oh, it''s going to be trouble. Reiko, take it away." "Yes, father." Reiko moved faster than the wind and took the pistols from the two gang members. What? "Baka, baka!" And then, right in front of them. "This toy won''t work on me." And he crushed it in his hands. "No, no, no!" "You''re a monster!" No matter how dumb he is, he can''t help but feel a sense of remorse when someone grabs his gun right in front of him. The gang members ran into the office as if they were spiders. With no more obstacles in their way, Jin and Reiko decided to head for Ikebukuro. * * * * * * * * * * * Now, as Jin was about to board the train, he realized that he did not have enough money for the train. Somehow, he had used up all the Japanese yen in his pocket by coming here from Akihabara yesterday. "Father, let''s fly." "Yes, I guess that''s the only way." < Of course, Reiko carries him on her back. "Oh, that''s fast!" Reiko deploys a wind-shielding barrier and flies at 300 kilometers per hour. It''s the speed of a bullet train. In no time at all, they arrive at Shinjuku. "Uh, turn left, along the tracks that way." "Yes, Father." Now I slow down to about 60 kilometers per hour. I don''t want to let him pass by. After about 15 minutes, we arrived at Ikebukuro. "Well, the address is ......." He found a business card that had been dropped by a gang member at the office, so he checked the address and moved on. "Uh, yeah, this way." Although it is in Ikebukuro, it seems to be far away from the downtown area. Skyscrapers can be seen in the distance. "Uh, this seems to be the place." <". "Well, it''s good that we''re here, but what should we do ......?" I''m not going to break the law to accommodate them. I am not going to break the law to accommodate them, because if they find out that I am from the facility, they will be in trouble. "......But I can''t think of a peaceful way to solve the problem. ......" Jin is troubled in the back alley. "Father, I am not of this world. Therefore, I am not bound by the laws of this world. Therefore, if I destroy them, ......" Dismissed. Father? You''re my daughter. I''m responsible for what you do and what you say. If you can do whatever you want as long as it''s not against the law, then use magic. Since magic is not supposed to exist on earth, you can''t prove its relation to the result, so you can''t charge it with a crime. "But that''s just it... ......" It doesn''t make sense. If they attacked us with all their might, we could crush them without hesitation. Yes, like the Unification Party (Unifiler). "In short, all we need is to get the title to the land in our hands. ......" Steal it or buy it. Even if Reiko, who has disappeared by <>, steals the deed, it would still be a bad idea if the people in charge of the facility think that she did something. "Is it best to buy them legally ......" I don''t know how long I can stay in this world, so I can''t think of any way to get the money. "At least if it''s for a year, if it''s for a year and there''s a time limit, I can do it in a certain way. ...... No, I can''t." Jin is supposed to be dead and can''t work with big money. "Gambling ...... is illegal. You don''t know if you''ll win the lottery ....... There are no contacts to sell diamonds or rubies ....... ......" (I, Kon, recently, have been trying to get a job in the U.S.). (Lately I''ve been feeling good about being called Kunlun-kun. ......) When I was helping Bina in Blue Land, I was trying hard to earn money. (Never forget your first love, right? ......) (Don''t forget your original intention, right? ) Although it doesn''t lead to the improvement of the current situation, Jin reflected on his recent life. * * * * * * "......, you''ll just have to take your chances." The only thing I can do is to go with my original idea of asking them why they want the land where the facility is located and then come up with a plan. So, here again, I''m going to go in head-on. "Hello! Jin gets in through the big front door. "Yes?Who are you? The staff at the headquarters is different from the one at the other side of the office. "Well, I''ve come here to ask you some questions, and I was wondering if you could let me meet someone very important. I would never have been able to do this before I went to Ars, but Jin, who talks with counts, marquises, dukes, kings, and emperors in the other world often, is able to keep a reasonable attitude. "......I''m not sure, but does he belong to some group?You''re not a hito-bama, are you?" Jin knows what a "hito-bama" is. "No, no, no, no. I don''t have anything on me. Besides, I''m with this girl. Jin flaps his hands in the air, emphasizing that he has nothing, and furthermore that he is with Reiko. "I don''t ...... get it. ......" I agree with Jin. I agree with Hitoshi too, because we are probably a bit out of place even in the eyes of people in this kind of industry. "...... sounds kind of interesting." "Oh, Mr. President." A man of some stature came out. He was about 60 years old, well-dressed, and somewhat dignified. He was about 60 years old, well-dressed, and somewhat dignified. Come on." "Yes, sir." Well, that was the plan, wasn''t it?So Jin followed the man. Seeing that the gang members saluted him everywhere he went, he was probably the leader of the gang, rather than a very important person ....... If so, <> must be an ostensible title. Come in. Hello. The room we were invited into was nothing short of luxurious. There was a soft carpet, a heavy-looking desk, a reception set, and expensive-looking ornaments. A thin, tall, sharp-eyed man who appeared to be a secretary greeted me with a deep bow. "Sit down." Jin sat down on the sofa. Reiko sat down next to him. "I am the leader of the XXX clan. I knew it, Jin thought. "So?What do you want to ask me? "Yes, my name is Jin. Actually, I''m from ......." Jin explained why he was here. Namely, the reason for the eviction from the facility. "Hmm. ......Hey, have you heard anything?" the boss asked a man who looked like a secretary. "Yes. The land was purchased by the firm three months ago. The secretary answered, flipping through his business notebook. What is your purpose? "Nothing in particular. In the first place, it is not a sightseeing spot, far from the station, and there are no roads leading to it. Why did you buy such a land? Well, it''s ...... obvious, isn''t it? Yes. The boss turned to Jin, looked at his face which did not seem to understand what was going on, and opened his mouth. "In other words, someone from that office must have bought it for 120 million yen to cheat them out of money. The actual selling price was probably one-third to one-fifth of that amount. "Yeah, I mean, ......." "He must have pocketed the difference. In the first place, I wouldn''t normally be involved in such a sale of land. So they must have thought that they wouldn''t be found out, and they did it in such a way." To summarize, someone from the office buys the land for about 30 million yen. Then, they wrote a fake deed and demanded 120 million from the headquarters. The difference of 90 million was paid by the office. This is what they are saying. "Why are you being so transparent ......?" Jin questioned, "Well, that''s what people who are blinded by immediate gratification tend to do. It is true that Jin has no idea about the mind of a criminal. Besides, the people in that office sure looked stupid. "First of all, let me thank you. It''s a blessing just to have found out about the injustice going on at the end of the line. "Yes, yes." Jin was relieved to find out that the people he was talking to were more understanding than he had expected. "How about the deed to the orphanage land?" "Uh, yes." It was the best he could hope for. In exchange, you become one of us. Yes? You may not look like much, but you''ve got guts. I like you. The conversation is going in the wrong direction. I appreciate the offer, but it''s difficult. "Why not?" Because I don''t belong to ...... this world. "Oh, I see. I don''t care about your family register. "No, that''s not what I mean. ...... Jin picked up a crystal glass ashtray from the parlor set. "<>" "What? In Jin''s hand, the ashtray changed its shape and became a small bust of the ...... leader. "Now you see what I''m talking about, don''t you?I''m a mage ...... from another world, a wizard." "......I know it''s hard to believe, but ......" The gang leader holds up the bust, which used to be an ashtray. "......It''s real. ......It doesn''t look like a magic trick." "Can you believe it?" "Wait, wait, wait. ...... show me something again." "Yes,...... Reiko." Yes, Father. Jin pats Reiko on the shoulder. "She is not human." "What?" The boss and the secretary look at each other and say, "What are you talking about? "Well, is there anything made of metal that can be broken?" "Well, how about this golf club?I was just about to throw it away when I bent it." Jin took it, a 5-iron. "No, thank you. ...... Reiko, round it up." "Yes." Reiko took the iron and rolled it up as if it were made of clay. "What the hell!" Reiko gently dropped the tennis-ball-sized ball on the floor. The secretary picked it up. "Boss, there is no doubt in my mind that this was an iron. "Now do you understand?" "Mm-hmm. ......" The boss looks a little pale. No wonder. He must have imagined how much damage would be done if Reiko, who has such power, went on a rampage. "Jin, you said you came from another world, what did you come here for?" "To save the orphanage, of course. This answer came naturally. Jin himself believes that this is the reason from the bottom of his heart. "I see. I understand. I''ll leave that orphanage alone. And I''ll return the title." Thank you. Will you do me one favor?No, I''m not asking you to become a relative. ...... Reiko, you say?I want you to make a figurine in her likeness. The boss seems to like Reiko. Maybe he has dangerous taste. In that case... Jin noticed an ornament in the corner of the room. It was a bronze statue of a nude woman. "May I use this?" "Oh, sure. It was a gift, but it''s not in very good taste. Well then. ......<>" "Oh? As I looked at the statue, the nude woman changed her shape and ...... became an almost life-size statue of Reiko. "Well, how do you want to pose it?I can do it any way now." "Well, can you make it look like she is smiling and holding out her right hand?" "Yes. ......<>" "Oh!" The statue of Reiko is now posed as you asked. The boss gently stroked the statue to make sure it was real. "Well, you said Hitoshi, thank you. Don''t worry about the land title. I keep my promises in my name. ...... or rather, I''m afraid of what will happen if I don''t. ...... right?" The boss seemed to have sensed that Jin and Reiko could physically destroy the XX clan if they wanted to. "Well, we''ll see about that." Yeah, bye. Yeah, well... "...... that''s how it is." "...... Jin, you''ve gone too far!" When I returned to the facility and reported the incident, the director of the hospital cried to me. "Thank you, but please don''t do anything dangerous. ......" There were more dangerous things he had done in Ars, but Jin was not stupid enough to talk about them. "Yes, Director." He nodded his head. The next day, in the early afternoon, there was a visitor at the facility. It was a man who was the secretary of the boss. He left a single word, "Here is the letter of rights you were promised. The man left with one word. It was not until the next day''s newspaper that Jin and the others learned that the XX-gumi office in the town had been vacated. * * * * A week passed after Jin and the others moved to Japan. The children spent almost the entire time in the facility. Elsa had gotten used to the children and they had grown fond of her. At that time. Jin, Elsa, Reiko, the director, and Yoshiyuki were talking. It''s time to go. Come back here! echoed in Jin''s head. Elsa and Reiko seemed to have heard it, too, and both of them stiffened. "Jin, what''s wrong? The voice of the director sounded doubtful. "Doctor, it seems that the time has come. Jin! "I heard the voice of the Creator of the world. I have to go back to the other side now. Brother! Yoshiyuki tried to cling to Jin, but he couldn''t ...... touch him. The area around Jin and the others began to glow faintly. "Yoshiyuki, take care of the director and the facility. "Brother, ......" "I''m sorry, doctor. But I''m dead in this world. Jin ...... The world I''m supposed to live in is already out there. Jin hugged Elsa and Reiko by the shoulders. "I''m happy over there," he said. Don''t worry about me, teachers." "Jin...... got it. ......Elsa, you take care of Jin, okay?" Yes, sir. Reiko, protect Jin. Yes, even if it costs me my life. Take care, brother. "Yes, you too, Yoshiyuki." Gradually, Jin and the others faded from view. "It was nice to see you, even if it was only for a week. I''m glad there are no children here. I don''t want to see them cry. ...... sir, please tell the kids to be nice." "Okay, Jin. I was happy to see you again too. ...... thank you for everything, Elsa." "Take care, doctor." "Thank you, Reiko." Jin and the others faded further. "I''m always wishing you all the best!" I wonder if the director''s words reached them. The last faces I saw were smiling. The next moment, there was no one there. "......Hey?" Yoshiyuki muttered. "It seems like someone was there before." Three cushions were still out on the tatami mats. "That''s true. But I can''t remember. "It seems we were both having the same dream." "Yes, it''s true." At that moment, a single tear rolled down the Director''s cheek. "......?" "Are you crying, doctor?" Yoshiyuki asked, tears welling up in his eyes, threatening to spill out at any moment. "It''s strange. I feel a pain in my chest, but it''s warm. "Oh, I feel like that too. ......" * * * * Jin and the others appeared at the warp gate of Kunlun Island. Welcome, my lord. We have been waiting for you. The group was greeted by <>, the magical brain in charge of the Kunlun Island. "......?Brother Jin, are you crying?" Erza, who was accompanying the group, looked at Jin''s face and said in surprise. "Huh?Oh, ah... I can''t ...... stop crying. Elsa is crying too, you know?" "....... But not sad. I''m lonely, but I''m happy. ......No,...... I can''t say it well,......" Jin gently hugged Erza. "Thank you,......." "Jin brother?" Erza wondered. "I wonder why. I just felt like doing this when I saw Erza''s face. And Reiko. Reiko may or may not remember what happened. Reiko did not say anything. She just kept quiet and snuggled up to Hitoshi. 1001 - - 28-12 Model production Jin finished giving instructions to his subordinates. "If it were true, I would have discussed this with Reinhard. He has been visiting his father, Count Wolfgang Randall, for the past day or two to report on the management of the estate for the first half of the year. "I wish I had talked to him about it before. Erza said, "I should have consulted him before," but it was no use, since she was occupied with the specifications of the monorail and had not yet come up with a plan for the guest house. "I''ll talk to Reinhardt when he''s available." "Yes, I think that would be a good idea. All that remained was to make a model. This is the true work of Jin. <. However, there is one big problem. "......I can''t motorize. ......" Motorization is the process of making plastic models and other models move with motors. It is different from display models that are just for decoration. In the late Showa period, before the bubble economy, most plastic models were motorized, but by the time Jin was born and raised, such models had already begun to decline. However, Jin preferred motor-driven models, even if they were inferior in detail. If Jin just wanted to have fun on Horai Island, he could use a golem engine or a force field generator, but that was not the case for something that was to be displayed in public. "Well, at least until it can be moved by hand. Some compromises have to be made. It is not something to play with. "The size ...... should be, well, about the size of a tatami mat." From Jin''s memory, a piece of tatami ...... is 180 centimeters by 90 centimeters, or 6 feet by 3 feet. The size of a piece of plywood was one of the standards. So, we will prepare a 180 cm by 90 cm board this time, too. It is not plywood, not a single piece of plywood, but a laminated wood made by <>. "Father, can''t we use a single board?" Reiko, my assistant, asks. "We have enough lumber in stock to make a board about one meter wide. The island of Horai, located in the subtropical zone, has good plant growth, with coniferous forests on the north side of the island and broadleaf forests on the northeast side, and there are many large trees. "Oh, I don''t care about the grain this time, and laminated wood is less prone to deviations." One-plywood is used for table tops and mirror boards of wardrobes, etc., partly because of the beauty of the grain, but on the other hand, it can warp due to changes in humidity. Plywood and laminated wood are less prone to warping. "Father, I understand." "Well, now that the boards are ready, the next step is the layout. The easiest layout would be a single letter. The rails are straight and the model cars move back and forth on them. Endless is also easy. The point is a circle, but it does not have to be a circle, it can be an oval, or even a figure 8 if you cross the rails. However, these are also classifications to reflect the precautions to be taken when applying current to the rails, so they are not really relevant to the present Jin. "Since this is for demonstration purposes, I''ll put both single letters and endless." Since there is no Styrofoam type material, wood is used. Jin is building an elevated track using lightweight wood similar to balsa. The first character is a round trip, and the image is a line connecting King''s Landing and the port. And endless is a circular line, a line that goes around the cities. Since only boards are not enough, sawdust is glued to the ground and thin boards are colored to resemble cobblestone pavement. As Jin came on board, he also began to make buildings out of thin boards, turning them into dioramas. Erza, who came to check on the diorama after the gyuuhi was finished, rolled her eyes at the diorama she saw for the first time. "...... interesting." And even more than that, she was amazed by Jin''s happy face. Jin looks happy. (Jin brother, you look happy...the most so far...) When Jin is making something, he is always serious, but now his expression is also relaxed. Erza thought that she did not fully understand Jin yet, because she had never seen such a serious yet happy expression on his face. But it was almost dinner time. "Father, it''s almost time for dinner. Jin looked so happy that it was hard for Elsa to speak to him, but Reiko took her place and said. "Oh, it''s almost that time already. Okay, we''ll have some more after dinner." Jin washed his hands, gargled, and went to the dining room. Erza followed him. "Brother Jin, you looked very happy. Erza told Jin over a cup of tea after dinner. "Oh, really?" "Yes. I thought he really likes making things like that. "Maybe." Jin can''t deny that. "I think it''s because it''s a complete hobby, or it''s not an obligation, so there''s no responsibility. ...... It''s hard to say, but it''s fun," Jin concluded. "......I can kind of understand, maybe." I guess it means that the mindset of those who do the same work is different between a job and a hobby. There are even people who say, "Don''t turn a hobby into a job. After putting these discussions to rest, Jin resumes working on the prototype model. This time, Erza is willing to help him, but Jin quietly proceeds by himself. Elsa felt a little sad, but seeing Jin''s happy face, she could not say anything. An hour passed. "It''s done!" The diorama-style monorail model for the demonstration is complete. "It''s amazing!" Elsa praised it with all her might. The monorail now looks more like a part of the Diorama than a demonstration model of the monorail. "I haven''t made a model in a while, and I got a little mad." Erza smiled and looked at Jin who scratched his head a little embarrassed. "I found Jin''s childishness." * * * * "Yes, it''s rather tasty. Jin, who tasted the prototype of honey beans with gyuhi as a substitute for his evening meal, gave it a score of 80. "It''s not soft enough. ...... What else do we need?" "It''s hard." As Jin and Erza were twisting their heads, Perid Reader came in with another prototype of Gyuhi. "Master, please try this one too. "Let''s try this one. ...... Yes, this one tastes better." "Really?...... Oh, really." "I mixed it with syrup." "Taffy. ...... They have successfully tried to make syrup from malted barley and glutinous rice, so they used that. Perido''s idea is that of a first-rate confectioner and cook. "Now I''m going to change the ratio of the ingredients and try various things," he said. "Yes, I''m looking forward to it. "Yes, I''ll leave it to you." Now, it looks like he will be able to make delicious honey beans. Jin was happy. Before he knew it, it was already around 10:00 p.m. "Let''s brush our teeth and go to bed. "Yeah..." Jin stretched out his back with a satisfied look on his face, saying that he had had a productive day. The moon ...... was shining in the sky. 1002 - - 28-13 Jade Museum On June 20, the old man reported "Yes, that''s fast." < It has been two days since then. How hard did he work? "Well, thank you." Jin decides to go and inspect the site immediately. He took Reiko, Erza, and Meene with him and moved through the warp gate. One of the reasons why they brought Meene with them is... "I missed ......." "Oh, really." Erza and Meine had been living together here in Kunlun for a while, so Jin thought they must have missed each other. "Welcome, Master, Erza, Meine." <''s assistant, greeted the group. "Let me be your guide." The location is much further south than the <, closer to the coast. The group was transported by a . If you set the strength of the barrier to a low level, the grass will not be damaged. We arrived at the beach in about 15 minutes. "...... Wow." "Wow, isn''t it amazing?" No wonder Elsa and Meane were surprised. There was a building that looked like a modern earth resort hotel. The entire structure was made of grayish-white stone. I thought it was marble, but it was not. "Is this ...... quartz?" "No, master, it''s jade." "What?" Jin''s knowledge of rocks and minerals is limited. He thought jade was green. But in fact, there is also colorless jade. In fact, pure jade pyroxene is white. It is the trace amounts of iron and chromium that give it its green color. White jade is not valuable as a gemstone, so it is simply discarded. "The Mermaid team mined it for us, saying there was a lot of it on the ocean floor." Is that so? "Yes. There were a few green ones, so I used them for coloring. Unlike on modern Earth, jade is not recognized as a gemstone or precious stone on Ars. Jin, however, knows the value of jade, and his face twitches a little at the value of the building in front of him. However, he is not aware that he is doing something similar in magical engineering. "Jade would be sturdy. ......" Of the minerals called jade, the one used here is jade pyroxene. Jade pyroxene is a mineral that has a very dense structure and does not shatter easily when struck with a hammer, even though it has a Mohs hardness of 7, about the same as that of quartz. It is also called jadeite. Incidentally, the mineral nephrite, which is soft jade, is also called jade or jadeite. "Okay, let''s name it <>." That''s a good name, Master Jin. I agree. Meane and Erza agreed. Now, please take a look inside. Next, we were given a tour of the inside. First, the entrance hall. "Oh." The floor was covered in light purple purple jade. It''s an elegant lavender color. And spacious. Furniture and other furnishings will be coming soon. "Yes, please consult with Meene about that." This is another reason for bringing Meine. She would know the tastes of the nobles of this world better than Jin and his subordinates who had inherited Jin''s memories. "Yes, if it is all right with me, I will do my best to help you. "I''ll do my best to help you." Lor gives us a tour of the house. On the first floor there is a kitchen, a waiting room, a large bathroom, and a dining room. The guest rooms are on the second floor, and the large conference room, small conference room, and recreation room are also on this floor. All guest rooms are equipped with toilets and washrooms. Most of the rooms are on the third floor. There are also waiting rooms for maids and servants. The fourth floor is a VIP room. There are seven compartments with six rooms each, and each compartment has a penthouse and a shower room. Each floor has an elevator and stairs in the center, and stairs at the left and right ends. The rooftop area has enough space for three Conlon 3s to take off and land. Of course, there is a separate formal airfield. "Wow. ......" Perhaps he was referring to the < from the memory given to Jin. Jin had never been there before and only imagined that it would be like this. >>Jin had never been there, but only imagined what it would be like, and it was built just like he had imagined. "It looks like it holds a lot of people, doesn''t it?" "Yes. We have assumed three times as many people as we had planned the other day. The VIP room is for the heads of state and government, but the rest of the rooms can accommodate up to 100 people, considering the number of guards and servants. The VIP room is for the heads of state. "I see. No, thank you." Jin thanked the old man, Taibai and the others for taking this into consideration. The elevators are used to move from floor to floor. As in old Western movies, an elevator boy turns the handle to move up and down. This is not an elevator boy but a golem. Finally, the basement. The first basement floor is a warehouse. It is used for food storage and material storage. The warp gate is also located here. On the second basement level, there is a sewage treatment facility. Sewage from the toilets, kitchens, bathrooms, and washrooms is disinfected and purified before being discharged into the sea. These were managed and controlled by . Master, I will do my best, even though I''m not very good at it. "Yes, please, Taibai." Thus, a resort hotel was built to the surprise of even Jin. Incidentally, in front of the hotel, there is a lawn garden, separated by shrubs and bushes, and on the other side is a sandy beach and the ocean. The harbor is still undeveloped, so if it is to be built, it will be at some distance from the hotel. "How do you like it, master? Lol asked Jin after the inspection. "Yes, it''s good. But the rooms are all western-style, correct? "Yes. The building with Japanese-style rooms is that way. What? Lol led Jin and the others to the other side of the small forest that had been planted like a compound forest by the side of the Jade Pavilion. "Oh!" "Wow." "Wow!" There was a wooden building with a tiled roof. And there was a Japanese garden. "Welcome, master. Let me show you around." This is Leffa. Lol returned to the Jade Pavilion. "The woods in between are hidden from view from the Jade Pavilion." "Wow. ......" The garden stretches over an area of about 1,000 square meters. The garden is said to have been created based on Jin''s memories and the garden in Mitsuho. The building area is about 200 tsubo. It was a one-story house with only two stories in some parts. The garden had an arbor, a pond, a stream, and a pathway where visitors could stroll among the seasonal flowers. "How did you manage to build all this in two days?" "Yes. Five hundred craftsmen (smiths) and forty daedalas worked on it day and night. I see. ...... Jin was both impressed and amazed by the thoroughness of the work of the old masters. "Master, can you name this one too?" Jin thinks about this request from Leffa. The Japanese gardens that Jin knows are <><>>, in other words the three Japanese gardens, and the famous <><><>. "Hmmm ......" The first thing that came to my mind was <> and <>. "Okay, let''s call the garden Wujingyuan and the building Wujinggaku." Thank you very much. Brother Jin, let''s take a look inside, shall we? Erza, who loves tatami rooms, asked. "Yes, let''s." Jin followed Erza and stepped into the tatami room. 1003 - - 28-14 Osanggak "Wow, that smells good!" As I walked through the wide entrance of <>, a Japanese architecture built in Kunlun Island, I could smell the fragrance of new wood. The building is made of a lot of trees similar to the Japanese cypress, Japanese cedar, and Japanese cypress (asunaro) that grows in Horai Island and Kunlun Island. This building was also made in reference to the Japanese architecture that Jin remembers. "There is a corridor inside, but it is connected to the south side by a porch." The waterproofed and preservative-treated porch overlooks the garden. "Tatami mats smell good." Elsa''s favorite room with blue tatami mats. There is an alcove and a closet. The sliding doors and shoji screens had also been recreated. "Wow, how did you manage to do this?" "Hmm. Just like my brother Jin." "...... what does that mean?" Jin, who did not understand Erza''s admiration, asked back, "You''re just like him in the way you don''t take yourself too seriously." She replied, "You are just like him. "...... is that so?" Jin nodded his head and said, "It''s hard to know about yourself, "It''s hard to tell about yourself," Erza said. Elsa told him, "It''s hard to understand yourself. "Is that so......?" He was not quite convinced and raised his voice in doubt, "That''s right, Jin-sama." Even Meane confirmed it. Jin decided not to worry about this fact by diverting the topic. "Well, whatever. Let''s take a look around inside now. "This is the sunken hearth room. A sunken hearth is cut in the center of the wooden floor, and a hook is hanging down. This area is probably a mixture of memories of some folk art museum, but it did not feel strangely out of place. There is a well in the earthen floor and a row of hearths called hette. "It looks like a folk museum around Takayama. ......" He remembered seeing such a house in Hida Takayama on a junior high school excursion, and it seemed to have left an impression on him. "Well, no one knows about formal Japanese architecture. ......" Jin thought that if anyone could look at this building and tell him that it was different, he could ask him to teach him. "This is the tea room." "......" Jin did not know anything about the tea ceremony, so he could not tell whether this tearoom was properly made or not, but it looked like it, so he decided to go ahead. After looking around, Jin suddenly had a thought. "I guess this one is Refa''s, isn''t it? "Yes, sir. "Then it would be more appropriate for her to wear a kimono as a . The golem maids should also be kimono-clad maids when they work here. Jin imagines a kimono with sashes, a kappo-style apron, and a triangular hood on his head. The old man, who had heard Jin''s comment, gave his immediate approval. Likewise, Rolle was appointed as the general manager of <>. * * * * * * * * * * * "Now, let''s adjust the schedule for the World Congress. < We have about 20 days from now. Let''s start with that. . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On the morning of June 21, <> landed in the square in front of the Royal Castle in the Kingdom of Selroa. "Jin-dono, no, <>, it''s been a long time." "Yes, it''s been a while, Your Majesty." And now Jin was meeting with King Cesar in his office. In attendance were Kirk Apted, the head of the SS, and Barfeeza Walker, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. "I have one of the proposals for improving land transportation that you requested the other day," said Atto. "Well, that was quick!" And as I asked you at the time, I would like you to consider this proposal together with the other countries. "Jin-dono, it''s ......." Barfeeza pauses for a moment. Yes, I know. < He accepted the proposal for the rest of the year. "So, I have a few other items on the agenda, and I would like you to take this opportunity to hold a and discuss them there. "A world conference, you said that before ......." It was during the ceremony to celebrate the founding of the Kingdom of Selroa. "Yes. It will be held on the Kunlun Isle. We would like to invite the leaders of the Shoro Kingdom and the minor clans to attend the ceremony, which will last about three days." At this point, Jin presented the invitation he and the old man had compiled, outlining the outline of the world congress. "It''s not a very diplomatic or ceremonial ...... invitation, but it''s a very poor one." King Cesar of Celuloa received the letter and looked it over, "Interesting. I would like to visit the Kunlun Island, the stronghold of the Kunlun sovereign. He promised to give it a positive consideration. * * * * * * * On the same day, Erza, a court-appointed healer (Reichsartz), visited the palace of Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Empire. She was accompanied only by Edgar. "Welcome, Elsa! The emperor had taken time out of his office to receive her. "Your Majesty is in a good mood. ......" The emperor stopped her as she was about to greet him. We don''t have time for this. Don''t you have something important to say to me today? "Yes, thank you. Actually, ......." Elsa presented the same document that Jin had shown to King Cerroa. The emperor seemed to be interested as he skimmed through them. "The World Conference, huh? You''re going to make an important announcement there. And you have some useful suggestions. Yes, I do. And I''m also interested in your base in Kunlun. I''m sure it''s a lovely place, isn''t it? That depends on who you ask. I was overwhelmed the first time I visited. "Oh, I knew it!Okay, let''s arrange a date. ...... I guess Jin-kun is going to the Kingdom of Selroa, right?" It seems that the female emperor has figured out what Jin and the others are up to. "You thought that if the Kingdom of Cerroa and the Shoro Kingdom were going to participate, the other countries would not say no......?" "...... yes." Erza was horrified that he could see through her. "Oh, it''s okay. I''m not angry. I''m just impressed at how well you''ve thought this through, Jin. Erza''s shoulders relaxed a little when the emperor laughed and said that Jin had always acted immediately when he thought of something. "Okay. I will cooperate with you. I will invite other countries to join us. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Erza bowed deeply at these unexpected words. 1004 - - 28-15 Invitation Letter "Oh, a world conference?" On June 22nd, invitations to the World Conference were sent to the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Elias, the Kingdom of Klein, and the Kingdom of Franz, in that order. Jin made a round of visits with <>, doing his best to be as courteous as possible. With the proviso that it is just for the sake of it. "Interesting. From the Kingdom of Egelea, Prime Minister Boyd Norse Galuelli and Minister of Magic Kelihidole will be in attendance. "Yes, yes. From the Kingdom of Elias, the Marquis Godopher and the Marquis Dominic de Sauss Firenziano will attend. "I will attend. Prince Arthur the Second and Prime Minister Powell Darner Hudson will be there. "I will gladly attend. I myself and Prime Minister Ardalurk de Hybl will be there. The reply from each country was very favorable. This was due in large part to the persuasions of the Shoro Emperor and the King of Celuloa, who had been informed by the Manaphone on the previous evening. It can be said that this was a result of the psychological effect of not wanting to miss the meeting when they heard that other countries were going to attend. Of course, King Cesar of the Kingdom of Celuloa and the First Secretary of the Ministry of Technology, Latant, were present. From the Kingdom of Shawloa, the Queen herself and the Minister of Magic and Technology, Degas Furt von Manischlus, announced their participation. As for the other matters, the Minister of Magic and Technology, Degas Furt von Manischlus, said that he would consider the matter of the guards and servants and give his reply. These conclusions were brought to Jin the next day. "Well, that''s good. "Congratulations, Brother Jin. "Thank you. But it''s not over yet. It''s just the beginning. There are still a few days left before the World Congress. Jin was going to make preparations for it. He was going to make preparations for the conference. "Is this correct, ma''am?" A merchant lays out magi crystals, magi stones, and bronze ingots. "Yes, that''s fine. Thank you. The woman called "Mistress" smiled with satisfaction. "Well, now you can go back to work. This is a private workshop built in the garden. "Well, we are planning to have 30 lighters, 10 water heaters, and 3 large refrigerators..." The woman''s name is Bina Rauch Kuzma. She is Countess Contessa. She was discovered by the Count from a commoner magecraftsman and became his wife, and was very popular among the common people. The nobleman''s title, , was given to her by the Duke of Bruu. "You seem to be having a hard time, do you need any help?" "No, it''s nothing, I do it all the time." "I see. Well, I''ll watch from here. "Yeah, look at .......Jin? "Hey, Bina, it''s been a while." Jin was standing right in front of Bina. He was accompanied by Reiko. "Hi, it''s been a long time!Why is Jin here? Bina panics when someone appears in front of her who shouldn''t be there. Jin calms her down. "I came here through the warp gate. That''s not what I''m asking you! Calm down. You''re still the same as a countess. Beena, I''m the one who brought him here. "Oh, you?" Then Count Kuzma appeared. "......," he said. Inside Bina''s workshop, Jin explained the situation to Bina and the Count. "Hmm, a world conference, huh?" "Yes. I''m sure you will hear from us in the near future. At Jin''s words, Count Kuzma replied, "Jin-dono, no, <>. You are already a higher rank than I am, and I have already told you before,...... so why don''t you tell Bina and Reinhardt the same thing?" I said. "I understand,...... no, I understand, I will do that." Jin nodded and changed his wording. Count Kuzma had said this to him before, but it had been so long that he had forgotten. "So, I thought I''d invite you two to Kunlun Island personally." "Well, I''m glad to hear that. Every time Bina told me about the Kunlun Island, I always wanted to visit there. Kunlun Island!I''m so glad you''re going back! They both gladly accepted the invitation. "Oh, and here''s a souvenir. ...... Reiko." "Yes." Jin gave Reiko the basket he had given her. "Oh, Persica!Thank you! After the invitation, Count Kuzma returned to his house to take care of business, while Jin remained in Bina''s workshop. "I''m sorry for interrupting your work." "No, it''s okay. I was a little surprised. "I''m sorry. I wanted to surprise you." Bina blushes a little when she is told this. "...... Oh, my God. But I''m glad you''re here." And then she set to work. The magi stones are placed on the plate and the magi formula is written on it. "<>" "A writer. That brings back memories." This is a magical tool that Beena began to make with the help of Jin when she was still a common magecraftsman with no name, and she was busy paying off her debts. Remembering that time, Jin became nostalgic. "Tools for the common people, or ......." What? See, that''s what Bina said to me a long time ago. Wasn''t it? I don''t know if that''s true. I have to go back to the basics. ...... It was still early days in the development of Hourai Island, I was not used to this world, and Jin himself needed money, so he had to go through a lot of trial and error. Now he calls himself and has met many important people from many countries, but Jin himself has not changed at all. He should be ....... "Okay, I''ll help you. No, let me help you. Come on, just like back then." "Like the ...... days?" Beena nodded as she heard those words. "Yes, I''ll take care of it then." "Okay, here we go." Jin wrote the Magi Formula on the plate and Bina placed the Magi Stones on it. Jin builds the housing and Bina assembles it. Thirty lighters and ten water heaters were completed in no time. "Thanks, Jin. You''re the best. "No, Bina, you''ve improved your skills too. "I never thought I''d see the day that I''d be praised by ...... Jin." Bina laughed and started to work on the big one. "That''s a big refrigerator. ...... Wow, a two-tiered one." "Yes. The upper tier can make ice. The bottom one is a normal refrigerator. In short, it is a refrigerator-freezer. To the best of Jin''s knowledge, most refrigerators are three-door or four-door type, but in the Showa period, two-door type was common. However, the two-door type was common in the Showa period. He thought that Beena was suited to create a magical tool that was rooted in our daily life. 1005 - - 28-16 Hey, Kunlun Island. Once Bina has built three refrigerators, the quota for the day is completed. "Thanks to Jin, we got done much faster than usual. Thank you. "No, what?" Come to the main building. I''ll buy you a nice cup of tea. Well, we still have a lot to talk about. Jin accepted Bina''s invitation. "Why don''t you take a break?I''ve invited Jin to join us, so let''s have tea. Bina looked into his office and called out to him. "Yes, I''m just about to finish, so I''ll do that. Count Kuzma answered in the same way and sat down. The tea of the Kingdom of Egelea is "taeyeh. "Yes, this is delicious. "Is it?"Yes, it''s good. Bina made the tea herself. It is clear that she has received a lot of training as a countess. Even her gestures are refined. Jin felt that this was not because she wanted to be praised, but because she wanted to be worthy of being Count Kuzma''s wife. "Well, about today''s business, can you take some time after this ...... tomorrow?If possible, the whole day. "I''ll be fine, but my husband can ...... "No, if it''s important, I''ll make time for it.I don''t have any urgent work." Hearing this, Jin decided to tell the story. "I was wondering if you could come to my place before the world conference. "Tomorrow?Yes, by all means. "Well, if that''s the case, I''ll be there at your earliest convenience!" Even the normally calm Count Kuzma, who didn''t seem to think it would be so soon, almost sat up and said so. Jin laughed and explained. "Well then, I''ll pick you up tomorrow morning at eight o''clock. "Okay. I''ll be looking forward to it. "Okay. Is there anything I need to prepare?" Nothing in particular," Jin said and got up. The Count and Countess escorted Jin and Reiko to the entrance. "Well, I''ll see you tomorrow." "Yes, we''ll be waiting for you." Jin, see you later. See you later. That''s all I have to say. Once Jin returned to Horai Island, he was transferred again, and now he is talking with Reinhardt. "I see, you want Bina and Luis to join the family. "That''s what I meant." "That''s what I meant." "Sure, they were never members of the Egelea Kingdom, so it''s good.We can trust those two." Reinhard agreed. "First, I''m going to take them to Kunlun Island tomorrow, and then I''m going to take the opportunity to go to Horai Island ......." "Right. I''m a little free right now, so I''ll go with you. I haven''t seen Luis in a while." Count Kuzma and I have been friends ever since Reinhardt visited the Blueland as a diplomat. "I think it would be better if the family members who are available can come to Horai Island. Jin nodded at Reinhardt''s advice. "Yes, of course. Okay, I''ll make a round of inquiries after this. Oh, and I''ll take this opportunity to tell you about ......." Jin told him about the World Congress and about the guesthouses ......<> and <>. "Hm, Jin, when we invite the leaders, we have too few guards and servants. No matter how safe Kunlun Island is, those who don''t know won''t believe it." "Oh, I see." "So, even if we use Konlun 2, we might get into trouble if we don''t invite the guards and servants as well." Reinhardt''s advice was appreciated. "I understand. Fortunately, the Jade House can accommodate more people, so I think it is possible. Jin was grateful for the old men''s concern. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * June 23rd. Jin arrived at the residence of Count Kuzma by carriage before 8:00 a.m., and was met by Bina and Count Kuzma, who were well prepared for his arrival. "You''re early," said Jin. Jin said, "I''m so excited, I couldn''t sit still! said Bina. Count Kuzma was standing next to her, smiling quietly. "All right, let''s go!" "Come on, let''s go!" Reiko opened the door of the carriage. "This is the first time you''ve ridden in Jin''s carriage, isn''t it?" "Well, it''s more normal than I thought." The two get into the carriage, each expressing her own impressions. "Yeah, we first built it after the Golem party." Then they close the door and the carriage starts to drive away. This time it was Steward. "Oh, oh?What''s this comfort!I can hardly feel a tremor! Even Jin''s horse-drawn carriage is not free from shaking, but this impression is understandable if you are accustomed to the shaking of a normal horse-drawn carriage. "It looks like an ordinary carriage, but what''s inside is special. The fact that a golem horse pulled the carriage and a golem acted as the coachman did not prompt any objections to the unusualness of the carriage. After 10 minutes of driving, the carriage entered the forest. The carriage stopped at a small clearing with a small path that could barely accommodate one carriage. "From here we will walk ...... or rather go by horse". "Oh, a golem horse!" In addition to the golem horse that had led the carriage, Jin''s own < and another golem horse were also available there. "Oh, ......" Bina, who hadn''t put on her riding pants despite her previous experience. "Don''t worry, I''ll support you." Count Kuzma is a good horse rider, so he jumps onto the horse with a sophisticated movement. He then held out his hand to Beena. "Come on, Beena." "Yes, yes." Count Kuzma pulled her up, and Beena sat down on her side in front of him. In front of him was Reiko. "Come on, let''s go." Jin took the lead and they walked further into the forest. After about 10 minutes of slow walking, we arrived at a large rock deep in the forest. At the foot of the rock was a hidden warp gate. It is now protected by a barrier that can be released only by Jin and those who have been approved by Jin, and it is also accessible by <>, so that it cannot be used by outsiders. Furthermore, the warp gate reacts only to Jin''s magic pattern, so security is sufficient. Jin was about to offer his hand to Bina, but reconsidered and withdrew it. The Count and Bina are left to Reiko, who steps into the Warp Gate ahead of Jin. This time, to avoid unnecessary confusion, I have arranged to move directly to the destination, which is Kunlun Island. "Here ...... is ......." Count Kuzma reacts as expected when he enters the warp gate room in the basement of the museum. Bina, for the second time, is still fidgeting. "Come on, let''s go up. Jin urged them to go up the stairs. They passed through the entrance hall and went outside. "Wow!" "Oh!" Jin said these lines. "Welcome to Kunlun Island." 1006 - - 28-17 Introduction of members "This is the Kunlun Island, isn''t it a nice place?" Count Kuzma looks at the pavilion from the lawn garden and is impressed. This is the second time Bina has been here, and she is still impressed. "Oh, it''s been so long. I was with Elsa ...... at that time. Jin spoke to them. "Well, this is not the end. There''s something new I built for the World Congress." "What?You built it? Yes. I''ll tell you the details later, but I''d like you to take a look. So we headed for the beach in the barrier cushion car. "What is this? "It''s called a barrier cushion car. < under the car. Jin explains, but Bina is still not convinced. "Then we can float, but we can''t go forward! Jin thinks that Beena has a talent to come up with such an idea so quickly. "Well, well. I''ll explain everything slowly later. He kept his voice low. Count Kuzma was amazed by the barrier cushion car, but he was also impressed by its speed and the almost unobstructed ride. Fifteen minutes later, they were on the beach. "Look, that''s the ." "......" Bina is silent. Count Kuzma gave his impressions. "...... It''s literally made of jade. That''s an extravagant use of a less popular stone." Here in Arus, jade is not as popular as it is on modern Earth. This is probably due to the fact that transparent stones are preferred here, and jade is produced in larger quantities than on Earth. "And this is Wujinggak. He leads us through the woods to the Japanese garden. "Oh, this is it! "This is amazing!" I knew they were both amazed at this. "The garden is open for walking and can be accessed at ......." "This rest house is called an azumaya. "This is an irori (sunken hearth). Well, we don''t have a fire here in the summer. They listened to Jin''s explanation with sparkling eyes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * < On the way, we had lunch at the Jade Pavilion and asked them about their impressions of the tour. Their comments were very helpful and Jin thought that he would reflect them in the World Congress. "Well, it''s almost evening. Jin opened his mouth as he sipped tea in the arbor in the garden of Wujinggak. "I''m sorry to keep surprising you, but I have another surprise for you two." "Yeah, ...... what is it, Jin?" "Jin''s going to all this trouble to tell us this, so it must be something pretty crazy, huh?" The two of them are getting ready. "Well, in a way it might be outrageous," said Jin. Jin says, "Well, in a way it might be," said Hitoshi, "Then why don''t you just tell us what it is! "Bina is right. "Beena is right. Let''s hear it. The two men leaned forward as if they wanted to hear. "Okay, I''ll tell you. ...... is not where I''m really based." "What?" "My real base is on the island of Horai, further to the east of here." "Horai Island?" Jin nodded. "Yes. I''m going to invite you two there now. Will you come?" Of course! Without a pause, Bina replied. "Yes, we will be glad to have you." Count Kuzma nodded his head. "All right, then, let''s go." Jin guided them to the warp gate under the Five Elements Pavilion. They then moved to Horai Island. "What is this place? "Is this all a warp gate? This time, the warp gate is not direct, but via the Shinkai. The two of us were first taken aback by the spectacular array of incoming and outgoing warp gates. "This is a relay base we set up here in case there are any intruders, you will be transferred to Horai Island once again. Jin, Reiko, Bina, and Count Kuzuma then moved to Horai Island. "Well, here we are." Then they went up the stairs and out of the institute, "Welcome to Horai Island. It is a standard line. They are surprised to see the institute. "Jin, is this the place?" "Yes. < "You''ve come, Lewis." Reinhardt called out to him. Reinhardt, it''s you! "Yes. I''m sorry, but Jin invited me here before you. "No, that''s fine. ......" Count Kuzma was curious about the people lined up behind Reinhardt. "Let me introduce you. They are all members of the <>. You know ...... Erza, don''t you?" First Erza bows. "This is Erza''s real mother, Meine." Meene also bows. "Saki Eschenbach. Next to her is Saki''s father, Tor Eschenbach. Both father and son are alchemists of the Shoro Empire. Saki and Toa bow together. "You know Stearina, don''t you?She has defected from the Kingdom of Celuloa and is now married to Toa. "It''s been a long time, you two." Stearina also bailed. Next to her is Stearina''s friend and storyteller Vivienne. She has defected from the Kingdom of Selroa to the Kingdom of Shoro. I''m Vivian. Now, this is Marcia, a shipwright from the Kingdom of Elias, and her father, Rodrigo. "Pleased to meet you." The two men bailed. "And this is Reinhardt''s wife, ......." "My name is Belce Randall von Scarlett." Bertje bowed lightly. She had to stop deep bows and curtsies because of her large belly. "And this is ......." "And this is . I am Louis Wurtz Kuzma, Count of Egelea. And this is my wife, Bina Rauf Kuzma. They introduced themselves, and Jin began to explain the best-kept secret of his origin. "I have something to tell you both. I''m ......." Bina and Count Kuzma could only listen in silence. 1007 - - 28-18 Girls Talk in Hot Springs After Jin''s explanation, it was almost dusk on Horai Island. "Ah, it''s getting late...aren''t you two staying the night?" Count Kuzuma nodded at Jin''s invitation. "Yes, I''d like that. Reinhard, what about you? "Yes. Belle is too ill to go home, but I''ll stay here tonight. I''ll stay here tonight. Then we can talk afterwards. And then Beena said. "Beena, are you okay?You don''t look so good." "Yeah, yeah. I''m ...... feeling a bit light-headed because of everything that''s been going on." Beena replies to Erza''s words with a weak smile. "Well then, you two, relax in the hot springs. "I''ll do that. ......" "Would you prefer a mixed bath or a separate bath for men and women?" "Come on, ......!" Bina turns bright red. She is still new to this kind of talk. "Yes, separate, please." Count Kuzma, sensing this, answered for her. "I don''t care if it''s at the house, you don''t have to do it when you''re out of town. Jin wondered if this meant that they would be together in the house, but he thought of Beena, whose face was still red, and decided not to say anything about it. "Well, Beena, do you want to join us?" When Erza spoke, Beena finally calmed down and shook her head. "......Oh, that feels good." "...... hmm." Elsa and Beena were soaking in the hot spring together. "Beena, will Lewis be nice to you?" "Yes,...... yes." Beena was surprised by the question out of the blue. "Yes. I''m glad you''re happy. "Thank you. Erza is ...... happy too, now that she''s engaged to Jin?" Still in her old habits, Bina almost says "Erza-sama. "Yes. "Jin is an amazing person. I didn''t think he was born and raised in another world. ...... but I guess it makes sense, considering his knowledge. Bina remembers how he healed her siblings, how he made popcorn, and how he taught her that cold air goes down in the refrigerator. "So, what did Elsa ...... think of Jin?" "Yes. I''m not sure how much I can do to help you. ...... don''t tell anyone about this." Bina smiled and nodded. "Oh, I know what you mean. "But after talking to him for a while, I thought he was a kind person. When I got to know him, I thought he knew some unusual things. And ...... I began to feel safe when I was around him." "I know. Jin is a person who doesn''t seem to have anything flashy about him, but he has a strange way of sticking in your mind. ......So?" "Hmm. He taught me ...... engineering magic and allowed me to go back home again,...... and I found myself becoming an irreplaceable person." "I like that." "Bina did her best. I''m sure it wasn''t easy learning to be a countess. Elsa understands. How hard it must have been for a commoner to acquire enough education to be a countess in a short period of time, how much effort it must have taken. "Yes, that''s true. But thinking of Louis, I could do my best." "You look beautiful now, Beena." "What?" "Beena''s beautiful now that Mr. Lewis loves her." "She''s ...... beautiful now." "What?And Elsa, too. "Me?" "Yes. I think she''s become much ...... softer." "Softer......?" Yes. When I first met you, you seemed kind of ...... unapproachable. Not because I was a commoner." "...... I don''t know, no." Bina smiled. "Of course you don''t. You know yourself best, but you don''t know yourself at all. "Maybe it''s because I wasn''t very good at socializing back then." "Maybe. Maybe that''s not the only reason. Even Bina doesn''t know for sure. "But Elsa is very nice with Jin. Thank you. Thank you very much. Meanwhile, Jin, Reinhardt, and Count Kuzma are soaking in the men''s bath. "Jin-dono, I think I''ve been surprised enough in one day to last a lifetime. "Luis, you''re not done yet. I''m sure you''ll be even more surprised when you see all the things Jin has made. "I''m sure you''ll have more surprises in store for you later on." "Yes. I and Erza were told about it by Jin at the very beginning. In that sense, I think that Count Kuzma and Bina, who are the most junior of the two, will have a hard time. "Well, you''ll have to get used to it." Count Kuzma, who heard Reinhardt''s line, asked Jin with a twitchy face. "...... I understand." Battleships, submarines, land, sea and air forces, undersea forces and space forces. And if I show him the spaceships, it will be more than he can tolerate, Jin decided to cancel part of tomorrow''s schedule. * * * * * * Is this tatami? "You''re new here. I experienced it when I came here with Elsa. I remember Elsa loved it." The two are staying at Jin''s house. A futon is laid out in a tatami room. "...... but this futon is wonderful." It''s the same futon they both use, the <> futon woven with threads produced by the Grand Caterpillar. This one has been further improved to make it more comfortable to sleep on. A futon should be more than just soft. The current Horaijima standard is a futon that is made to support the body tightly, creating soft and slightly firm areas so that the spine does not bend. "Thanks to Beena, I guess." "What''s wrong all of a sudden?" "No, I just thought that the reason I got to know Jin-dono and the reason I was invited to such a wonderful place was because Beena is my wife. "You don''t mean that. No, on the contrary. You are the reason I am here. He had never said it out loud, but he remembered the anxiety he felt when he was almost taken prisoner in Count Galana''s house, and the relief he felt when he was saved. She will never forget it, Bina thinks. But that does not mean that she married him for a favor. It was because I really fell in love with Lewis. That''s why she is willing to stand by his side and support him now and in the future. "Thank you, my dear." "What are you doing here all of a sudden?" I just wanted to say something. "I see. Well, I just wanted to say it. Thank you, Beena. And so the night of Horai Island continues. 1008 - - 28-19 Hitoshi, Im worried about a lot of things. The next day, Jin presented the bracelets to Bina and Count Kuzma as a token of their family. Bina''s is crimson, and Count Kuzma''s is yellowish green. When the two were told how to use the bracelets, they were puzzled. "Can we really be allowed to receive such an amazing magical tool? But Jin smiles and tells them. "It''s a sign of trust. Everyone wears them." "......" At this point, Bina says what she has been thinking. "Hey Jin, what if, what if?What if we tell the whole world about this place?Will we be punished?" "What kind of secret society ...... are you talking about?" Jin laughed and continued. "I told you my secret because I trust you two and I trust you. If they were to tell anyone, it would have to be because of some compelling reason. "Jin ......" "If that happens, I''ll take care of it. "That''s right Beena-san. This Houraishima won''t be affected by anything. Even Reiko tried to reassure Bina with such words. The content of her words is another matter. Incidentally, the so-called by the old man had already been done when Jin had said he would invite them to the Kunlun Island. Since the result was acceptable, he had no plans to talk about it unless Jin asked him about it. Before noon that day, Bina and Count Kuzma returned to Blueland. Jin and Reiko went with them to install a warp gate in the basement of the Count''s house. Now they can come and go as soon as they need to. "But you can''t use it without the bracelet..." "I know." And since we''ll be going through the Shinkai, it''ll keep out any suspicious people. "I understand. I will be very careful. I will not let the servants know about this." Both Bina and Count Kuzma agreed to keep the secret. "I''ll see you later. If you need anything, please use the communication function of the bracelet. With these words, Jin returned to Horai Island using the warp gate that had just been installed. * * * * "Now then, all that''s left is ......." "Brother Jin." Erza came to Jin relaxing in his on Horai Island. "Are you worried about something?" "No, I''m not so much thinking as worrying." "About what?" "About Licia and ...... Milowina-san." What? Elsa was surprised to hear two names mentioned at the same time that seemed to have no connection at all. "No,......I was wondering which should come first, getting Licia to join the family or bringing Mr. Milowina here once." "......Licia to join the family after all?" "Yes. If Egelea Kingdom is Beena and her family, Klein Kingdom is hers, I thought. "...... I understand that. By the way, speaking of Licia, I noticed something, okay? Jin nodded, wondering what Erza had noticed. "Well, the other day, Licia-san said that she wanted to make juice and jam a specialty of Toka village." "Yes, that''s right." Jin remembered that Lambel''s juice and jam were delicious. "Jam is one thing, but not juice. It doesn''t keep well. "Ah..." Jin realized what was being said. "I don''t have to worry about Persica juice and Citran juice in Horai Island because of the <>." "I don''t think even a ...... refrigerator would be able to do that." The limit for 100 percent fruit juice is two or three days at the most. In such a short time, it would barely make it to Charles Town. There is no way we can get it to King''s Landing. "Oh, I forgot about that..." I think you should tell him. "......, I guess so." Then, the first thing we should do is to follow up with Licia. It is up to Licia to decide whether or not to invite her to Horai Island. The old man advised. "Oh, I see." Unlike the independent village of Kaina, Toka Village is undeniably a part of the Klein Kingdom. It is mandatory to pay taxes on the harvest. "What?Isn''t tax payment in the fall? Suddenly, Jin remembers that when he was in Kaina Village, taxes were paid in the fall. "Oh, I see." Of course, the total amount should not increase, the old man adds. "Well, you can go to ...... when you come back." "Brother Jin, don''t forget." "Ugh, ...... I''ll be careful." Then, the first thing to do is to go to Milowina. "Have you been well since then?" , you are well enough to walk around by yourself. He also told me that he was able to restore the gravity to 1G the day before yesterday. "Oh, that''s good news. Well then, let''s invite him to Horai Island. "Brother Jin, what are your countermeasures against the pathogen?" Erza gives an advice. "Oh, yes. <. In short, a space suit with warding. For a long time, he had been thinking of generating a field along the surface of the body. "That would be a good idea. Jin then decided to start work on the development of a "body surface ward," which had been in limbo for some time. "After all, I think I can do something if I can specify a starting point. Jin did not think nothing of it. "You mean, a boundary with the surface of the body as the starting point and the distance from there as the minimum?" "Ah. This can be easily applied to Reiko, for example. The skin is the leather of an ancient dragon. It''s easy because it has outstanding properties against magic. The problem is the people. ...... "That''s right, Elsa." Jin nodded and crossed his arms thoughtfully. The human body cannot be clearly delineated by skin and muscle. Epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis does not have blood vessels, but the dermis does. This is why the concentration of mana and ether is not constant. "The concentration of mana in the blood changes, doesn''t it? ......" At the moment, taking such errors into account, it seems possible to construct a ward up to about 10 cm from the skin surface. "What happens if we go below that?" "In the worst case of error, parts of the body will be exposed through the warding." Jin thinks that elbows and knees are likely to be exposed. For example, if you were exposed in a vacuum, you would be in big trouble. "...... is difficult." Elsa also tilted her head. 1009 - - 28-20 Transformation of ideas "umm." "......" Jin and Elsa were still struggling. "It would be relatively easy if the shape were fixed." The plasma sword, for example, is able to maintain its warding in the shape of a sword because it has a specific shape. "Barrier or ...... wait?" "Brother Jin, barrier cushion car!" Both of them seemed to have an idea. "Maybe we can just protect it from pathogens..." A soft barrier. What? What? Both of them seemed to have come up with slightly different ideas. "Uh, let''s start with Erza." "...... from my brother Jin." "Oh, yeah?" Since there was no point in arguing at this point, Jin spoke up with an idea. "I thought, we don''t have to stick to the existing barriers, we can create a sterilization barrier. In other words, a barrier that sterilizes anything that comes within its area of effect. "I see. Erza nodded her head and Jin asked her a question. "What is your idea?" "A flexible barrier, like the one used in the barrier cushion car, that shrinks." "I see. ...... Then, depending on the setting, a barrier could be formed along the surface of the body." "Hmm." Jin and Elsa started discussing again. The old man joins them. The old man says that it is feasible and reliable. Neither Jin nor Elsa have any objection to that. In fact, that is what we were going to do. The problem is the applicability of Elsa''s idea. "...... so if we generate another layer of barrier based on the barrier along the surface of the body. ......" "That''s right, Brother Jin. That''s exactly what I''m talking about." In other words, it is a change of mind. Weak barriers are deformable. The barrier cushion car uses this property to absorb the unevenness of the ground. If we shrink the size of the barrier surrounding the subject, it will eventually come into contact with the subject''s body. What happens if the barrier is further shrunk? If the barrier is of the type that allows air to pass through, but not solids, it will begin to deform. Along the subject''s body. If the subject is wearing clothes, it will also follow the surface of the clothes. "This barrier is, of course, caused by the action of <>." Jin explains to Erza, as if checking for himself. "Hmm. So, we can use it as a starting point for another warding. "Wow, Erza, that''s great!I hadn''t thought of that idea. Jin thought that if he applied this idea, it would be easy to create a multilayered ...... or even a composite warding. << "So, if we apply Elsa-sama''s idea, we can eliminate the error." Reiko is also impressed. Jin, Elsa, Reiko and the old man talked about the possibilities of this method for a while, but then they decided to pursue their original goal. "Let''s start with the sterilization barrier. "Hmm, that''s the right way of thinking," said Jin. The idea is that simpler is better if it can produce the same results. "Autumn''s razor, was it?" The correct answer is <. It is also called . The idea is that a simpler solution is better if it can produce the same result. When explaining a law, it is a razor blade in the sense of cutting off unnecessary things. I''ll leave you with a quiet word. I would like to bring Milowina here, but I think that Ars is full of germs that she is not resistant to. That is why we are trying to develop a sterilization barrier. "I wonder if we also need to consider bacteria inside solids." I mean food. <> The old man is talking about fermented food. "It will be fine. Eating them will not increase the amount of bacteria in your intestines. The same goes for liquids. But we have to make sure that it has no effect inside the organism, otherwise it would sterilize Milowina''s own intestinal bacteria and so on. "Elsa, what do you think?" "...... can do it, I think." Erza wrote down the flow of magic control (magi sequence) on a notepad and showed it to him. "Yes, I see. This should work. Except for healing magic and the like, magic can''t affect a living body. "That''s right. Healing magic is special. But sterilization as an engineering magic can be found at ......." Originally, it had no effect on the human body. Thus, the <> was completed that evening. It is a pendant type, worn around the neck. "This looks like it would be effective in surgical operations. "Yes, indeed. Shall I take it to Dr. Sali? In that case, it might be a good idea to make it a little more versatile, so it can be sterilized around the room. "I see." He even completed a more advanced magical tool, the Sterilizer. "Now we have a chance to call Milowina-san. "I think Dr. Sally will be pleased with the sterilizer." Satisfied, Jin and Erza decided to have dinner. "...... could not prepare it again tonight." Meane took over tonight. "Thank you, Mother." "No problem. You were busy with Jin-sama and other things." Barley porridge, omelet, fried white fish, vegetable soup and fruit salad. "Mother''s cooking is delicious." Elsa has learned to cook from her mother, but she says she can''t get the same taste. "I guess there is a difference in age," she says. "Hmm, that may be so. At Jin''s murmur, Meane agreed with a smile. "I''ll do my best ......." "Yes, do your best." Meine teased her daughter with the composure of an older woman. The bond between mother and daughter was palpable. It is a secret that Jin felt a little envy when he saw them. 1010 - - 28-21 Heyu in Penglai Island <> contacted me. Mr. Milowina has expressed an interest in coming here. On the morning of June 26th, the old man reported to me. "Oh, well. Well then, let''s make some arrangements. Will you look after Elsa, too?" <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < I guess so. < After the discussion with , it was decided that the old man would go to pick up Milowina on the 27th. Incidentally, the standard time in UNY is the same as that of the former capital of the Kingdom of Leonard. It was a natural step. "First, me, Reiko, and Erza will transfer to UNY. "Yes." "I''ll give them the sterilization barrier we''ve developed, give them a brief explanation, and then bring them here to Horai Island." "Nope." "I''d like you to familiarize yourself with the various things here ...... and, in fact, I''d like you to be extra careful with Erza, because something unexpected may happen." I''m on it. "So, let''s give it a day and see where ...... we can take her." This is where I''m having a hard time deciding, Jin said. "I''m thinking about the village of Kaina. There is also the idea of going to the old Leonard Kingdom out of the blue, Jin said. "Is there a possibility that you would prefer another country?" Milowina is the sole survivor of the old Leonard Kingdom. That is to say, it is the rightful heir. In fact, she has royal blood in her veins. "A difficult problem." > "I don''t think so ......, but I have never heard of it." <>"Then I guess we don''t have the option of introducing it at the world congress. "Oh, I see." He would like to let people know the truth about the old Leonard''s Kingdom, but he would like to pass on the first meeting because it would be too confusing. "I guess so." Jin thinks that since he does not know Ars well, he may not be able to answer his question. "Brother Jin, aren''t you thinking too much?" "Really?" "Yes, your father is trying to make a careful ...... or should I say, a very detailed plan." "......" "Brother Jin has a weakness for people like that." Jin''s weakness (proclivity?) for women with maternal feelings came out in the meeting. Jin''s weakness (proclivity?) for women with maternal feelings came out at the meeting. After all the twists and turns and many arguments. In the end, it was decided that after inviting him to Horaijima, the future would be discussed with him. * * * * * * * * * * * * Then, on June 27th. "Well then, let''s go. Jin, Reiko, and Erza step into the warp gate to UNY. The destination is the warp gate set up inside UNY, in the quarantine facility. As a special measure, the gate is not via <>, but a direct route. Welcome, Mr. Jin, Ms. Erza, Mr. Reiko. The voice of <>, the management brain of UNY, greeted the three of them. First, Jin attached the sterilizer he had brought with him to the warp gate. This will prevent the entry of unknown pathogens through the warp gate. However, the quarantine facility is constantly sterilized. When sees that the work has been completed, he speaks to us. "Are you ready, Mr. Mirwna? "Yes. I will come to you now. I''ll let her know. Jin and the others slowly make their way to Milowena''s room. The passageways are so similar that it is easy to get lost, but Reiko is with them, so they feel safe. And then they arrive at Milowena''s . Jin-sama, please come in. The door opens. < has sent word to Milowena. "Come in, Mr. Gin." Milowena was standing there on her own two feet, looking much better. "Hello, it''s been a long time. "Thanks to you I feel so much better. I heard you are taking me to Ars this time. I''m looking forward to it. "Yes. Please put this on first. Jin handed her a sterilization barrier generator. "Thank you. Jack told me that this will protect you from pathogens, right?" "Yes. I believe something similar is being used in this compartment. "Yes, indeed. But they are so small that they should not be portable. Milowina put the generator she had received around her neck. "You''ve managed to make it into a pendant like this, haven''t you? Jin, you are amazing." "Thank you very much." "Jin-sama, please take care of Milowina-sama." The golem with Milowina said to Jin. "Of course. ...... should I give you a name too?" "Oh Jin, I named him ." Yes, my name is Kai. "I see. Kai, are you coming too? Are you sure? "You''re used to taking care of Milowina, and I''m sure she could use your help." I''ll come with you. I will accompany you. is slightly more slender than Rand and the others, and smaller in stature. It is said that it is designed to match Mirwna''s physique. This is a reasonable measure, since too much difference in height is hard on the person being assisted in walking. The group, including Milowina and Kai, walked down the passage to the warp gate. "Well, this is the warp gate. I''ve never seen it before." Milowina laughs, saying that although she is used to seeing the magic circle, this is the first time she has seen a warp gate. She is 61 years old according to her story, but her joyful smile is just like a little girl''s. "Let''s go. Let''s go. Please take care of Milowina, Mr. Jin. "I''m off, <>." The group then disappeared into the warp gate. At the same time, they appeared inside the warp gate of Horai Island. Jin took Milowina''s hand and walked slowly out of the warp gate. For once, the warp gate was not located in the basement, but temporarily in the entrance hall so that there was no need to climb the stairs. Once outside, you will find yourself on Horai Island in the summer, with the sun shining brightly. To protect from the intense ultraviolet rays of the sun, a light shield was set up. It was a byproduct of the development of the spaceship. It blocks most of the ultraviolet rays, 50 percent of the visible rays, and most of the infrared rays. It''s a little dim, but it''s for Milowina, who would not have much tolerance for rays of light. "Oh, what is that smell? Since Horai Island is surrounded by the sea, it has the scent of the sea. "Milowina, welcome to Horai Island." Jin then welcomed Milowina with the words that have become a standard part of his speech. 1011 - - 28-22 Bongrae Island and Holidays "Ah, so this is the ocean. ......" <. The smell of the sea might be too strong and unpleasant, so in addition to <>, a weak <> effect was added, so Milowina was enjoying the island of Horai without any problems so far. Sitting on a reclining chair there, Milowena looks out at the sea. "This is the ocean I was looking down on from UNY. It''s blue and beautiful. The blue of the sky and the blue of the sea, the same blue but different blues. ...... "Isn''t it hot, Milowina?" Her golem, <>, is concerned about her. "Yes, I''m fine. The wind feels good. In addition to the shading, there is also a large parasol to protect them from the sun, and the sea breeze is blowing, so it will not be too hot if they stay still. "I''d like to take a dip in the sea, but I don''t think that''s a good idea. ......" "I''m afraid I can''t agree to that, considering your condition." Kai''s stern voice made Milowina laugh. She had been born and raised in an almost sterile environment. Without the sterilization barrier that Jin and Erza had developed, she would not have been able to call on Ars. "It couldn''t be helped. I''ll be happy just to see this view. The sea and the sky of Horai Island were blue and endless. It''s delicious. "Please eat whatever you like." Peridot Leader''s lunch was prepared. Porridge, pickled plums, and nori tsukudani (seaweed boiled in soy sauce). Sandwiches. Eggs, ham, vegetables, etc. Kama-age udon. Inaniwa-style thin noodles with chopped leeks as condiments. "Well, well, I''m very happy. You''ve cooked with ingredients from the ground up." I''m told he has a small appetite, so he takes small portions of each dish. Milowina liked the porridge best and the udon second. Perhaps she prefers Japanese food. Jin and Erza finished what Milowina did not touch. Jin does not waste food. After the meal, dessert was a ripe Persica. "Oh, it''s so sweet and delicious! The ripe persica we had just eaten. "Thank you, Mr. Jin. I''m glad I came." Milowina smiled softly, looking really happy. Not wanting to just stare out at the ocean, Jin called in the , a 100 meter class cruiser. "Well, a ship!Will they let us aboard?" "Yes, of course." Milowina is not particularly surprised to see . She has developed a tolerance for technology. < to the beach, she decides to use the barrier cushion car''s <> to fly away. "Well, well, this is fun!" Milowina is as excited as a little girl. The 100-meter class ship is gently rocking, but in the rest area that has been hastily set up on the deck, gravity magic is used so that the passengers do not feel the rocking. This was also for the sake of Jin himself, who is prone to seasickness. "<>, launch!" The captain, Marine 11, gives the order and <> starts to move. "Oh, how nice!The sea is so nice!" < This time, it is propelled by the Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system. "Tidal wind," you call it.It feels good. ...... I''m so lucky to be able to come back to Ars while I''m still alive. Milowina looks 20 years younger as she gazes out at the sea with a twinkle in her eye. After enjoying the two-hour cruise, Jin and Milowina returned to the institute through the warp gate. Tea was ready in the vestibule of the institute. "Well, it''s nice." Milowina smiled at the golden Soleil and silver Luna. "We have prepared a variety of teas for you. Please try them." Green tea, hojicha, brown rice tea, black tea, buckwheat tea, barley tea. Perhya tea, kuhe tea. As tea, popcorn, topopo chips, sweet potatoes. Pancakes, honey beans, pudding, and rice crackers. "Oh, my God, that''s nice. I can''t stop looking." Milowina tasted a little bit of everything. "I didn''t know there were so many different kinds of food and drinks. ......" Since UNY has limited ingredients, the menu was naturally limited as well. I think hojicha is your favorite. And honey beans are delicious. Milowina was tasting the freshly made gyuuhi, and Jin was happy too. Now Milowina''s tastes have become clear. Now it is time for dinner. Before that, she is going to take a bath. Elsa, Reiko, please. Yes. Yes, I''ll take care of it. Kai and Reiko will be there as chaperones. "Is this the hot spring?" Yes, it is. Watch your step. Kai and Reiko took her by the hand and Milowina stepped into the bathroom. "You''re going to soak in the hot water, aren''t you?" In UNY, water is precious, so they only had showers, she said. Milowina poured herself a hot bath and slowly got into the bathtub. "Oh, that feels good. The temperature is usually between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius for Jin, who likes hot water, but today it is a little warmer. It is about 39 degrees Celsius. Milowina stretches her arms and legs in the hot water. Elsa joins her. "It''s a wonder this kind of water comes out of the ground," she says. Even though she knew it theoretically, it was still a wonder to see it in person. "Yes, I thought so too at first. "Well, I thought so, too." Milowina''s skin is so firm, it is hard to believe that she is 61 years old. "Let me wash your back." "Oh, my God, thank you." After warming up sufficiently, Elsa rinses Milowina''s back at the sink. She uses soap made from baking soda, a specialty of the village of Kaina. Topaz has painstakingly created this soap from his hazy memory of Jin and the soap he brought back from Mitsuho. In addition, there is also a . It is made of rice bran wrapped in a fine cloth, which is placed in a basin of hot water, and when you wash your face with the hot water, your face becomes glowing. It can also be used as a rinse after washing your hair. It is gentle to hair dry from the sea breeze. "Oh, it feels so good!" Milowina murmurs happily as she soaks in the hot spring. After an hour long soak, we drank cold citran juice. She drank only one glass, as it was bad for her stomach if she drank too much. It is slightly carbonated, so it goes down your throat nicely. "Oh my, this is delicious! Milowina drinks the entire glass without choking. "I''m glad I came!" These were words from the bottom of her heart. 1012 - - 28-23 Visit to Kaina Village On June 28, Jin decided to take Milowina to the village of Kaina at his own request. The means of transportation is . Edgar is piloting the aircraft this time. "We will fly as low as possible. "Yes, I''m looking forward to it." Milowina is excited. Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and the caretaker golem are with her. "Oh, it''s so different looking down from the sky! flies at an altitude of about 100 meters. The speed is about 300 kilometers per hour. The distance to the village of Kaina is less than 800 kilometers, so the flight takes about two and a half hours. "Oh, I can see the land now. "Yes, we are almost over the old Leonard''s Kingdom." "Yes, that''s right. ......" Milowina''s face tightened up from her excitement. We''re going to lose a little altitude, Jin. I can feel the surface of the earth. "......Really, there''s nothing left to see. ......" His voice sounded less damp than Jin had expected. "Yes. Last year, I think it was, I went to the old capital with my friends, and we heard that there was a magical brain called Messenger in the basement there, and that the residents had moved to the moon to avoid an epidemic. "So that''s what happened." After that, Milowina kept her mouth shut and continued to look at the surface of the earth. climbed to a higher altitude to cross the mountain range separating the former Leonard and Klein kingdoms. As they crossed the mountain range, they could see the Shama Marsh below them. It is full of green at this time of the year. "Oh my, it''s beautiful! Milowina exclaimed cheerfully. A corner of the marsh was covered with white flowers. They looked like the Mizubashou that Jin knew. "I think it''s called white cayenne," she said. This was the botanical name he had learned from Mitsuho. "Yes, it''s called white cayenne. It''s beautiful." After passing through the homeland, Mirwna seemed to have regained her normal state of health. We''re almost at the village of Kaina. Jin''s territory, right? Yes, that''s right. We flew over the Shama Marsh and crossed the Togo Pass to reach the village of Kaina. The keep of Nido Castle came into view. "Well, what is that building?" Milowina looked up at the building, which was in a style not seen in Arus. "That''s Nido Castle. It''s my castle." "Well, well, that''s a very unusual style. Milowena looks intrigued. lands in the plaza in front of Nido Castle. The number 101 golem maids of five colors greet her. "Master, we''ve been expecting you. "Thank you. This is Milowina, please take care of her first. Yes, sir. It was just before noon, so we decided to have lunch. We decided to have the meal brought to the parlor on the second floor of Nido Castle. This is a Western-style room, so we could eat sitting on chairs. The menu consisted of rice gruel and pickled plums. And tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce) with dried laver and kelp (I''ve decided to say no more). The menu was tailored to Milowina''s tastes. This porridge is delicious, isn''t it? "This porridge is very tasty," she said. "It''s also very digestive. "Oh, it''s even better for me." The tea is hojicha. "This tea is delicious too." After a leisurely meal, we decided to visit the village. Since it would be difficult to walk all the way, we took a special rickshaw that Jin had prepared the day before. The rickshaw has a top to protect it from the sun. The rickshaw is pulled by Butler C. "Well, well, what an interesting vehicle! Milowina is amused by the rickshaw. She seems to like it. The suspension, dampers, and rubber tires absorb vibrations, so the ride is comfortable. Butler C pulls the rickshaw slowly and unhurriedly. "Oh, Jin-chan." "Oh, Jin. You have a visitor? "It''s an interesting vehicle. People passing by react in a variety of ways. "Oh, my baby girl!" Hannah runs up to me. "Are you a visitor?" "Yes, yes. Her name is Milowina. Hearing this, Hannah smiled and bowed. "Nice to meet you, I''m Hanna. Welcome to our home." "Well, you''re very kind, pretty lady. I am Milowina. Hannah, would you like to go with me? "Yes, I''ll show you around!" Hannah answers cheerfully. "That''s the wheat field. I haven''t planted it yet because I did it last time. "This is called a pump. My grandma made it for me. "That''s Mr. Soncho''s house. There''s an aunt Sally, who is a very shy lady." Milowina listened to him with a smile on her face as he tried his best to explain. "Oh, Jin, you''re showing the guests around. Hannah is also very good. "My guest, there''s nothing in this village, but I''ll make sure you have a relaxing time. Sir, I''m sure you''ll have a good time. Villagers doing odd jobs greeted Jin, Hannah, and Milowena. Milowina smiled and waved at them. "So, this is the hot spring. It feels so nice." "It''s called Yukimuro. It is filled with snow that falls in winter, so that even in the hottest of summers, it is cool and quiet, so that you can preserve your vegetables and meat. "On the other side is a meadow. There are more horses. The horses in the pasture are the same horses that Licia and Pascoe used to ride. Another foal was born this year, and together with the horse that Jin had bought, there were seven horses in the pasture. "Over there is a store. They sell all kinds of things. Eric, the owner of the shop, is good friends with Barbara, the owner of Soncho''s shop. Hannah''s explanation is quite enjoyable, and Jin and Erza naturally smile as they listen to her. So, here is my house, across the street is Jin''s house, and on the other side is a kobo. We take a break when we arrive at Jin''s house. Jin''s workshop has a large eave overhanging the house, which provides just the right amount of shade. Chairs and a table provide a place to rest. In the baggage we brought with us was a thermos bottle filled with well-chilled Houraishima Persica juice. "Oh, it''s delicious! "Delicious!" Hannah must have been thirsty because she kept talking and drank two more glasses of Persian juice. "Aren''t you tired, Milowina?" Jin looked at Milowena, who was exhaling after drinking Persica juice, and said, "Yes, I am. "Yes, I''m fine. They are good people. Milowina seems to like the people of the village of Kaina. 1013 - - 28-24 Return to Home and Result After spending the night at Nido Castle, Milowina spent the next morning walking around the village of Kaina. "Auntie, talk to me! "Oh, dear, of course." On the way, the village children caught her, and she told them stories ......, mostly old tales from the old Leonard''s kingdom. "Oh, really? "How long ago was that?" "That''s a mystery!" Milowina also seemed to enjoy interacting with the children, and Jin seemed to be very lively. "I bet this is the first time for you to see children, isn''t it?" He was sure that there was no one younger than Milowina at the UNY facility. "Hmm, I''m sure that''s right." Milowina looks happy surrounded by children. "Elsa, how is Milowena''s health? "Yes, very good. I feel younger since I came here. Elsa said, "I think it''s having a positive effect on her mentally. "I hope so." "Yeah." Jin and Elsa felt this way from the bottom of their hearts as they watched Milowina tell the children a story about the old days. * * * * * * "Yes, I heard that ......". Milowina had something on her mind and was now talking to the village chief, Giebeck. "......Some say that your ancestors came over the mountains in the east." "......I knew it." Milowina, who had heard from Giebeck about the old stories of the village and her ancestors, looked convinced. He thought she must have realized something, but he did not force himself to ask her until she told him. Jin said, "Hey, Jin-kun. "Hey Jin-kun, will you take me to Leonard''s Kingdom?" Milowina said to Jin as they finished lunch at Martha''s house. Jin had no objection. "Yes, but where ...... would you like to go?" "Well, I guess the place where the capital used to be." Milowina wants to go to Diaa, the former capital city that she visited with Hannah and her friends before. I understand. I know some of the places there. So we decided to go there by <>. The distance is about 300 kilometers, so we take the <> and arrive there in one hour. Elsa, Reiko, Kai, and Edgar are accompanying them. Jin ordered the old man to send 20 Land troops to survey the area in advance, in case of any unforeseen circumstances. Diaa, the old capital, had not changed since the previous visit. "This is the capital ......" It must have been a special feeling to have stood there with one''s own feet, instead of looking at it from the sky. Milowina stood there for a while in silence. After standing there for about 10 minutes, she looked back at Jin and the others. It was probably not Jin''s imagination that her eyes seemed to be a little moist. "Thank you, Jin. ......Where is this basement?" "Oh, yes. This way. Jin leads us to a sturdy two-story building that appears to be a museum. Milowina followed, with Kai standing close behind her. Elsa and Edgar are in the last row. Reiko is in a ranger position, a little apart from the group, keeping an eye on the surroundings. The entrance, which had been cleared of vines, was still intact. Once inside, we found a group of murals. Jin lit a ball of light. "Well, ......." Milowina looked surprised. "This is the ...... creation myth. This one is about people''s lives. And ......." Milowina looks around slowly, one by one. Contrary to my expectations, she seemed to be enjoying herself. After looking at all the murals, Milowina told me, "Would you like to visit the basement? Jin asked. "Oh, yes. You need a messenger, don''t you? I''ll ask them. "Yes, sir." Jin instructed Reiko and poured magic power into the Magi Stone for activation. Jin and the others had put up a barrier just in case, but the passage to the basement opened without incident. "Come on, let''s go." Kai led the way down the stairs to the basement, followed by Jin and Erza, each leading Milowina by the hand. Reiko was the leader of the group. "<>" The messenger''s voice sounded. "You must be the messenger. I am a descendant of the escaped royalty." "<>" At that moment, the messenger''s voice was cut off. And then... Welcome home. A different voice came through. "Indeed, you are a direct descendant of the Leonard family. Somehow he must have read Mirwna''s magic patterns. It seems that another magical brain has awakened in place of the messenger. It has been 235 years since I was built, and at last the One who should serve me has returned. You''re a magic brain too? Yes. My name is... What? I''m [email protected]+>. I can''t understand the name part. "I don''t know your name." It''s a trivial matter. Now, what do you want me to do? What? That the kingdom of Leonard be restored to this land. But Milowina shook her head at this request. "I don''t intend to. I am the only one left alive. So, all I want is for you to be at the top of the heap after the continent has been pacified. I don''t want to do that anymore. No, you''ll be the top ...... queen by any means necessary. You mustn''t do such a crazy thing. It''s not absurd. It''s possible with my power. That''s why I don''t want to do it. No, this is my mission. No, please! The world is yours! At that moment there was a slight vibration. "What is it?" Jin wonders. Then comes a report from Reiko. "...... father, a demon has appeared on the surface of the earth. 1014 - - 28-25 Runaway "Demons?Not a golem squad?" I asked back. "Yes, demons. < "Order Lando''s squad to sweep them up. If they''re too strong, call for reinforcements. "Yes, sir. I''ll let the old man know." Having given his orders, Jin decides to tackle the problem at hand. There is a hole in the floor in front of him. Come on out, invincible golem squad! the magic brain declares loudly. But... Only three half-destroyed Golems emerged. Moreover, one of them tried to walk away, but its legs broke and it fell down. "......What?" It seems that the magic brain had the same impression as Jin. What the hell did you do? Jin-kun, what''s going on? Milowina, too, was at a loss to understand what was going on. But I think it was the magical brain that was really confused. Oh, my invincible army is ......! Brother Jin, look! Four gigantor avrums crawled out of the hole from which the three half-destroyed golems had emerged. These gigantic scissors beetles were once used by the puppet Archel and his homunculus, and their weapons were the giant scissors on their tails. "Come near me, Milowina-san!" Jin deployed a barrier with his guard ring while protecting Milowena. Why on earth have the golem troops turned into demons! The confused voice of the magic brain, which seemed to be unable to comprehend the situation, resounded through the air. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, on the ground, more than 50 mega-ants and more than 20 gigantic ants crawled out. The mega-ants are not so dangerous, but the giant ants are dangerous because they spit highly acidic corrosive fluid from their mouths. The bodily fluids of the queen ants melted Reiko''s skin, which was made from the wing membrane of a sea dragon, so much so that she went looking for the shell of an ancient dragon to overcome this defect. Thus, the Land team was on its guard. While deploying a physical barrier (solid barrier) to protect themselves from the corrosive liquid, they attacked with <>. This is a safe and reliable method. >. The old man''s instructions fly. For this purpose, Falcon 5 and 6, sent by transporters, are flying overhead, watching. Also, <> has temporarily taken refuge in the sky to avoid danger. At the same time, they were also monitoring the ground. Within a few minutes, the matter was settled. <<52 mega-ants and 23 giant ants? Let''s keep an eye on them for a while longer to see if this is the end. Just to be sure, the old man instructed them to continue their vigilance. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and Erza, who have put up a barrier, retreat while protecting Milowina. Kai, who is not a fighter, also retreats. Reiko, on the other hand, intercepts Gigantor Avrum. Reiko is no match for Gigantor Avrum. Since she did not bring any weapons, she intercepted them with empty fists, but one by swinging a fist and another by kicking. One by fist, one by kick, and one by hand, the giant scissorsbugs are slaughtered one after another. The last one was thrown away, slammed into a wall, and died. "Why ...... is such a monster ...... my golem ......? "Probably these guys proliferated inside the golem hangar. Jin speculated. "Maybe they were attracted by the leaked free magic element (ether)." "I see, and it ate the free magical element (ether) and became huge?" "I''d like to say ...... that''s right, but that''s not quite right." Jin corrects Reiko''s statement. "I guess the giant size is the result of generations." It seemed to me that they did not become huge all of a sudden, but rather as they grew over generations. "Maybe they built a golem hangar near the underground ranch of <>." < used to build an in order to get the <>. There might have been such a place here in the old Leonard Kingdom. There is no way to know for sure now. I am not sure if there was such a place here in the old Leonard Kingdom, although I cannot be sure now. fg why hj The words of the magic brain are becoming more and more unintelligible. "It''s completely out of control, isn''t it?" Jin guessed that the magic base had deteriorated and could no longer operate properly. "...... I''m going to have to let it finish its job. It is pathetic to see him clinging to his role even after all this time. "<>" Jin searched for the magic brain somewhere in the ground. "<>......<>>......" And on the fourth search, it was found. "<>......This is it!" There was a response to the right of the hole from which Gigantor Avrum had emerged. "Reiko, let''s go!" "Yes, father." Erza, take care of Milowina. Yes, father. Erza put up a barrier on behalf of Jin to protect Milowina. "Jin, Reiko, be careful. "...... Jin-kun, give your magic brain a rest already." Milowina spoke kindly. "Yes. I''m off. ......<" Using the earth magic < included in the engineering magic, Jin drills a hole to the magic brain. "We''re almost there. ......<" Father, it''s open. Okay. "Okay. [email protected] In front of Jin and Reiko''s eyes, there was a magic machine with a half-decayed exterior. "Is this it? ......" "Father, it''s in worse shape than I thought." The exterior was made of steel, which had rusted reddish brown from the moisture in the ground, and there were holes in various places. The internal magical base was also damaged, probably due to the penetration of gigantor avrums through the holes. This must have been what stopped it. "...... There''s no way to fix it now." I guess. "Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah. frgtml, "...... It''s all right now. Rest in peace." Reiko poked the magic base with her index finger. With that, the magical base crumbled into pieces. Thus, the runaway magical brain has finished its work. 1015 - - 28-26 Roots "It''s over." Jin and Reiko reported to Milowina as they emerged from the hole. "......Thank you, Jin." As the last one in the kingdom of Leonard, Milowina thanked Jin. "Shall we go to ......?" "Yes." The underground < was in such shambles that even Jin could not regenerate it. < The ground was flooded with light. "Oh, it''s so bright. Thank goodness for light. Milowina said in a sombre voice. Around them still lay the corpses of the Gigaantes and other creatures that had been killed by the Rand team. And from the blue sky, , which had temporarily evacuated, slowly descended. Mirwna, who had been staring at the scene without looking at it, suddenly opened her mouth. "Jin, I just remembered that there must have been ruins in the old capital. I remember reading about it in the records." "You mean the old capital ......? Yes, the new capital is Diaa, but the old capital was ...... uh, ...... uh, let''s see, <>, something like that. The old capital Karnagh. Hearing the name of the place, the old man realized that he had found the same place name in the information he had gathered in the past. I would also like to add that there was some confusion as to which was the original capital of the city, since it was a defunct city from the current point of view. "Okay. Thanks for the information." Jin looked at Milowina, "Shall we go there? Milowina nodded. Milowina nodded. "Yes, I''m curious. "Yes, I am curious. But from the looks of this place, we don''t know what''s in those ruins, so let''s go back to Horai Island and get ready before we go there. "That''s a good idea, Jin-brother. I think Milowina-san is tired too. Erza agreed to go home once, so they all boarded the and returned to Horai Island. * * * * * * "This place is nice, isn''t it?" Milowina, who came out of the hot spring, sat on the porch and muttered with a cheerful face. "...... Kaina village was also a nice village, wasn''t it?" "Isn''t it?It''s a nice village. Then Milowina looked a little further away and muttered. "Hey, Jin-kun, this is not definite, and it''s just my imagination. ......" "Yes?" "......The people of Kaina village have the blood of King Leonard''s people in their veins." "What?" Milowina laughed at Jin''s astonishment, "So, it''s my imagination, my imagination. Then she continues. "When the plague broke out, most people outside of UNY fled to the south, but there must have been people who fled to the west. Over the mountains, you know." They might have thought that the mountains might have prevented the plague, Milowina says. "And they may have settled there, or they may have mingled with the people who lived there, I don''t know." Knowing the generosity of the people of the village of Kaina, Jin somehow thought that he might have mingled with those who lived there. That village had accepted Jin, who was literally a gentile. However, hearing this, I felt as if I understood why the villages of Kaina and Toka seemed somehow different from each other. The village of Kaina was descended from the people of the former Leonard''s Kingdom. For a moment, I had a fantasy of crowning Milowina as the queen and leading the people of Kaina to rebuild the Leonard Kingdom. But I quickly shook off such thoughts. Mirwna had made it clear that she would not be queen, and the people of Kaina would not want to move there. And Jin loved the village of Kaina, the land and all its inhabitants. Therefore, she kept the story of Milowina in her heart as her imagination. * * * * * * * * * * * * We decided to have dinner at Jin''s house. Porridge for Milowina and white rice for Jin and Elsa. And miso soup with clams, dried plums, deep-fried tofu, and simmered sweet potatoes. "Well, Elsa, you are a good cook. It''s delicious." Milowina ate the whole meal, albeit in small portions, with a smile on her face. "Thank you very much." After the meal, we had hojicha tea. "Ah, it smells so good. This is another world. Jin was happy that Milowina was happy. "By the way, Jin..." Then Erza seemed to have an idea. "What is it, Erza? "Decomposition is the growth of bacteria, is that right?" "Yes, I think so. Erza thought for a moment and then opened her mouth. "If ...... is the case, then won''t things inside the sterilization barrier rot?" "Hmm?I guess it would be ......." Then Erza smiled. "Then, if we limit the range of this sterilization barrier to the inside of the box, ......" "Oh, and the stuff inside won''t spoil!" Fermented foods and wine may taste different, but it is definitely effective for perishable foods. The only thing that remains is the chemical change, which can be prevented by vacuuming or keeping the food at low temperatures. "Licia''s juice, I think I can carry this." "Yes!" The idea of a sterilization barrier came in handy in a strange way. "We should also add a function to the storage facility in Horai Island. The old man immediately responded. This will drastically increase the shelf life of vegetables, fruits, grains, etc. If we combine it with the ether stocker, it will be even more effective. "Elsa, I''m impressed." "......" Erza was happy to hear Jin''s praise. "Hmm, you are a good couple, aren''t you? "Yes." Jin and Erza blushed. "Oh, I''m sorry, you''re not a married couple yet. The moon in the sky was silently looking down on Milowina who was rolling with laughter, Jin who was embarrassed, and Erza who was blushing. 1016 - - 28-27 Archaeological Site Discovery June is over and July has arrived. In the Ars calendar, the three summer months of June, July, and August are small months, with only 29 days in a month. The summer months of June, July, and August are , with only 29 days in a month. "It''s getting hotter, isn''t it? Jin muttered as he opened the window. Since the entire Horai Island is surrounded by the sea, the humidity is high throughout the year. However, the area where the institute and the house are located is at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, so it is relatively comfortable. "I should have a dehumidifier. ......" Jin washes his face, muttering to himself. He wiped his face with the towel offered by Reiko and went to the living room. Kai was with her, but she seemed to be able to take care of herself already, and Kai looked a little sad. "Good morning, Jin. "Good morning, Jin." "Good morning, Brother Jin." Jin sat down at the dining table, feeling happy that he had a family to greet him in the morning. The morning meal consisted of the usual combination of rice gruel, pickled plums, pickled vegetables, natto, miso soup, and dried fish. The natto is a painstakingly reproduced dish. Milowina likes this kind of Japanese food, not because it is unusual, but simply because she likes it, which makes Jin happy. Come to think of it, it seems that people who like this kind of menu gather around Jin. "This menu is delicious! I wondered if the bacillus natto was safe, but it seems to have been sterilized just before eating. Jin was happy to see his mother (Milowina), son (Jin), daughter-in-law (Elsa), and grandson (Reiko), all of whom are not related to him by blood, enjoying a family reunion. "I am at ......, and according to the map, I think this area is the Carnagh." After breakfast, Jin and his family opened the map of the former Leonard Kingdom and discussed the destination. "Oh, yes. Since the river is close by, I am sure that is where we are going. Milowina corroborated. Karnagh is said to have been the capital in an earlier period than the old capital Diaa. Jin was a little excited to see what he could find there. "Well, how can we get there? ......" "Conlon 3?" Jin shook his head at Elsa''s question. "No, I want to have a fighting force in case of emergency. Erza raised an eyebrow at his response. "Do you think there will be an emergency?" "It''s better if there isn''t, but there''s also the matter of the last time a magical brain went haywire." That''s for sure. Yes, I don''t know what''s going on at all. Milowina, too, was a bit troubled by the magic brain. In the end, they decided to take Rand and Skye with them. Because of the time difference, we would still be able to arrive at the former Leonard Kingdom early in the morning after these meetings. "I''m off then." <, has departed. They will not use the transporter, but will keep an eye on the ground. "It''s nice to be on a plane again and again. Milowina was happy to see the ground from the sky. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * We flew almost the same route as last time and entered the former Leonard Kingdom. We passed the old capital, Diaa, and continued west. The speed is about 30 km/h. We are flying slowly because we don''t know what kind of condition Karnagh is in. "We didn''t find any ruins when we made the map," he says. Jin thinks they are probably not visible from the air. "Maybe they are covered with plants or underground." He was muttering to himself, and Milowina seemed to have heard him. The remains are 1,000 years old, which means that the people of Leonard''s Kingdom moved to UNY about 77 years ago. This means that it was about 770 years ago when the people of Leonard''s kingdom moved to UNY. "How can a ruin that has endured 770 years disappear into thin air in a little over 230 years? "Yes, that''s right." Jin agreed with Milowina''s opinion. While we were talking like this, we were flying over Karnagh. "Mr. Milowina, that''s Karnagh." "......" Below us was a sea of green ...... trees as far as the eye could see. "First, let''s have the RAND team check out the situation. At Jin''s order, the accompanying 80 units from Land 21 to 100 descended from the . Ten Raptors were patrolling the skies above. "Let''s wait for their report," Jin said. Jin said, and asked Reiko to prepare refreshments. Due to the time difference, it was only 9:00 a.m. around here, but it was already past 11:00 a.m. in Jin''s experience. It is past 11:00 a.m., which is a little after 11:00 a.m. It is no wonder that we are getting a little hungry. We eat Persica and Apurul, which we just picked up this morning. With calories, vitamins, and minerals, it is a good substitute for lunch. "Father, Land 21 has something to report. I had just finished eating when the call came in. "Oh, well done. At ......?" < The images that Lando and the others saw are sent to you, and you can transmit them to the magic screen of . The reason why the images cannot be sent directly to is that Jin did not add such a function. The time lag is about 0.5 seconds, so there is no practical problem. "......Hmmm, this is the ruins, or ......What do you think, Mr. Milowina?" Next to Jin, who was staring intently at the images, Milowina had a quizzical look on her face. "That''s not ...... what I heard." According to Milowina, a red gate should have been erected. However, the supposed ruins appeared to be nothing more than a crumbling wall. "Maybe it has completely decayed." "I wonder if that''s true. ......" However, the old man, who must have heard the conversation, must have informed the rand team of the good news. . Pointing to it, Rand 21. It was a short distance from what appeared to be a collapsed wall. "Oh, the gate is broken," said Milowena. Milowina looks relieved. Jin, however, looks at the broken gate with surprised eyes. 1017 - - 28-28 Ancestral Hall. "...... torii?" A < of the ruins that seems to have broken and fallen down. It looked much like a torii gate of a shrine, as far as Jin could see. "But there are some differences. ......?" It seems to have only one horizontal bar. A torii gate should have two bars. "......Well, okay." Putting aside the similarities with the torii gate, Jin instructed Land21 to investigate what appeared to be an archaeological site. He waited for 30 minutes. However, there was no time to get bored as he was watching the images sent by Land 21. "Oh, what is that? and the old man would relay it so that the Land Unit could get a better view of it. Three things became clear to me in this way. The first was that there were stone statues in the shape of animals erected on both sides of the gate. I found that this seems to be the case when I collected the pieces and assembled them. Second, the color of the gate was red. This is because the base of the broken gate was found and that part had not yet deteriorated and faded. And third. The broken gate is small. The original height is estimated to be around 1 meter. "...... Shrine?No, it is a shrine. Jin thought of a torii gate and komainu (guardian dogs) from the broken gate and the animal statues on both sides. "Then, what looks like a building at the back must be a stone shrine. Erza and Milowina seemed to have heard this soliloquy. "Brother Jin, what''s a shrine? "Jin-kun, do you have any idea about the ruins?" "Let''s see... ......" Jin thought for a moment, wondering how to explain. "...... like the church ...... in my hometown?Yes, an uninhabited church, that might be close enough." "Jin, your hometown is ......?" "Ah." Jin remembered something he had not told Milowina. "Well, I''ll explain in detail later," he said. I''ll explain in detail later. The ruins are more important. "Brother Jin, there it is! Erza pointed at the screen. Lando''s group moved a pile of rocks out of the way, and there was a small there. I don''t know what the rocks were piled up for, but the damage to this was minimal. "......A shrine, after all." It looked like a stone shrine to all intents and purposes. * * * * After thoroughly inspecting the surrounding area to make sure there was no danger, Jin and his colleagues stood in front of the shrine an hour later. "It''s a shrine for all intents and purposes. ......" Jin looked at the shrine with a nostalgic look in his eyes. "Jin, is this a church?" Milowina looked at the small appearance of the church and asked. "Yes, this is a , a building to worship the gods. I guess you could say that the statues of the gods were placed in a small building because they didn''t want to be exposed to the rain. "That makes sense." Erza seemed to have understood the significance of the as I had just explained it to her. In the case of Shinto, there are more gojintai (sacred objects) than statues of gods, but Jin was not that familiar with them. In fact, in the case of Tenjin-sama (Lord Michizane Sugawara) and Hachiman-sama, statues of deities are sometimes enshrined. "I''m more interested in what is enshrined inside. Jin reached for the shrine, but was intercepted by Reiko. "Father, you don''t know what will happen. I will open it. "I see." Jin looked a little disappointed and withdrew his hand. Reiko slowly approached the shrine and opened the door, but at that moment a spark seemed to fly. "Father, I knew it was warded." "I guess so." Jin would not have been able to even touch the door. But Reiko opened the door as if there were no boundary. "There are ...... books inside, aren''t there?" Jin was a little disappointed that there was no book, diary, or record inside, since he had thought that it must have been made by a Japanese person, namely Shuki Tsezi, given the shape of the book. "But ...... what about that?" Reiko would not allow Jin to touch it directly, so he peeked inside the shrine from a little distance and tilted his head at what was inside. "...... some kind of statue?" The statue, which seemed to be made of a white precious stone with a slightly transparent surface, appeared to be a likeness of an animal. It has four legs, a narrow, pointed nose, and triangular ears. It looks like a dog, but its tail is thicker and larger. ......It is a fox, after all." It looked like a statue of a fox dedicated to Inari-sama. "Reiko, can you take it out?" "Yes, father." At Jin''s instruction, Reiko easily took out the statue of the fox. There seems to be no more traps. "Nothing is happening. There seems to be no danger. Reiko hands the fox statue to Jin. "Hmm." Jin takes it and examines it. "...... Jin, is that an animal?I have never seen it before. "Interesting modeling, Jin-kun." According to Jin''s knowledge, there are no foxes on the Laurentian continent. There is a fox called the "servile fox" on the continent of Gondor. In this sense, too, it is likely that Magus intended to create this fox. "These are not precious stones, but magi crystals. The quality is poor, but they seem to be magi crystals of all attributes. "<>" Jin briefly examines what the magi crystals contain. "Is this ......?" Jin noticed something, and at the same time Reiko called out to him. "Father, there are letters on the inside of the door. "What?" Jin looked at it first. "What ......<......?Is it Japanese or ......?" And at the end it said Shuki ...... Tsui. "Definitely the remains left by Shuki Tsezi." The site was warded, but it seems to have deteriorated considerably. The statue was a recording device. Brother Jin, since you can read it, it means you can have it. "Yes. It belongs to Jin. Erza and Milowina also told Jin to look at the statue of the fox in his hand. 1018 - - 28-29 Second Diary "Hmmm ......" Milowina blurted out. "I didn''t know the ruins were this small." Jin thought he could understand how she felt. The gate, which looked like a torii gate, was less than two meters high, and the shrine was only 130 centimeters high, about the height of Reiko. The stone statue of a stone guardian dog is barely one meter high. This is too small to be considered as an image of the ruins. But that''s about it. "...... what should we do with these ruins? If Jin has received the magi crystals that were stored inside, they are no longer needed. If we leave it as it is, it will eventually decay, fade away, or be destroyed by someone. Either way, it will not be safe. "Okay, let''s move it." "...... what?" "Let''s rearrange it and put it in a corner of the garden on Horai Island." The old man who was listening reacted immediately. He said that he would send a unit of engineers...... that is, a unit of craftsmen (smiths). "Okay. I''ll take care of that." Jin thought that it was too bad to let the ruins, which reminded him of Japan and had existed for more than 1000 years, decay like this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * With nothing else to see, the group decided to return to Horai Island. There was no problem since they could come here in an instant using the transporter if they wanted to. "......I''m sorry." "Sorry for what?" Jin asked with a question mark in his voice as Milowina apologized. "I told you that they were ruins from a thousand years ago, but they didn''t seem to be much after all. ......" "No, this is very valuable. After all, it is a record left by <>. "<>....... Is he such a great man?" "Oh, that''s where it starts." Milowina doesn''t seem to know much about . On the back to Horai Island, Jin decided to explain his origins and what he had learned so far about . "...... So, Jin, you came here from another world......." Milowina didn''t seem too surprised. When I pointed this out to her, "Well, sometimes things happen in reality that are even more extraordinary than in stories," she remarked. "Besides, stories are not always as good as they seem. Besides, stories are often based on what actually happened. Having lived in a closed world all her life, Milowina had read many such stories. "For me, this world of Ars itself is a story," she says. "So that''s what it is. ...... Then Elsa came in with snacks and drinks. "It''s a little after three o''clock, please. "Oh, thank you." "Oh, thank you." I was thirsty, so it was perfect. Citran juice for Jin. Persica juice for Milowina. The snacks were Topopo chips and rice crackers. Just what I was looking for, as I had a craving for something a little salty. "Don''t eat too much!" Elsa nudged us as it was time for dinner back at Horai Island. * * * * We arrived back at Horai Island at 7:00 p.m. Horai Island time. >. The old lord welcomed the group. And as Erza had said, dinner was ready. she said. It was apparently prepared for Milowina, who must have been physically exhausted after the long journey. The daikon radish leaves have remained bright green, a sign of Perid''s painstaking efforts. "Oh, it''s delicious! "......, it''s delicious." "Delicious." The color of the leaves is a delight because the daikon is completely pesticide-free. Just sprinkled with salt, it tastes good enough, but if you like, you can add some pickled plums, dried sardines, or tsukudani (food boiled down in soy sauce) to give it a different taste. "Thanks for the food!" Milowina seems to be satisfied. > While she was drinking some green tea after the meal, the old man spoke to her. "Oh, it doesn''t matter. About the statue of the fox?" < "I knew it. So?" Hearing this, Jin wonders what happened to Shuki Tsetsi. >. "What?He couldn''t use magic, could he?" << "That''s an interesting idea ......." But I''m not interested in that at the moment. <> Jin waited for the old man''s words. "Wait, let''s call the family members first. When he told all the members of the Jin family that he had found a new record of <>, Reinhard, Toa, Stearina, Saki, and Vivian wanted to hear about it. Marcia and her father and son had a pending request, and Bina and Count Kuzma had to pass this time because the Count had been summoned to the capital, Asund. The absentees will be informed in writing later. * * * * Since there is a time difference of 5 hours and 20 minutes between Japan and the Shoro Kingdom, all of them arrived on the same day. It was 9:00 p.m., Horai Island time. Jin introduced Milowina and told the old man to begin. Everyone remembered that Shuki Tsetsi''s diary after the death of his beloved Adriana was very clerical and to the point. < At that time, the Shoro Empire had not yet been established, and there seemed to be only a few stateless settlements. < The inhabitants of Dinar did not seem to accept the idea of Magus, and Shuki Tsetsi crossed the kingdom of Dinar at a very early date. This seems to be the reason why Shuki is unknown in the Lesser Kingdom. They then headed for the Kingdom of Leonard. There he had his second . 1019 - - 11 Balborah Village April 2340. Shuki Tsetsi arrived in the Kingdom of Leonard with five disciples. The road to the Kingdom of Leonard was not smooth and full of hardships. The wagon was broken and the journey over the mountains on foot was difficult and painful. They arrived at Habione, a small city far west of the capital Carnagh. The people of the Kingdom of Leonard are receptive and sympathetic to the philosophy of . Three new mages are apprenticed here. April 5. "Where are you going today, Master Magus? LOTRAO, one of the apprentices, asked after breakfast. "Well, I heard that there was an illness in a village in the north, so I think I''ll go there to see what''s going on. "Okay, I will go with you." Shuki Tszettsi was a former medical student and could not leave him alone when he heard that someone was sick. Fortunately, some of his students were skilled in healing magic, and he was able to cure most of them. Of the eight disciples, Shuki set out for the north with two new disciples and three old ones. On April 7, they arrived at the northern village of ...... Shire. "......This is a terrible ......" The village of Shire was a small village with about 20 houses and a population of 80, but the majority of the inhabitants were sick. "It was definitely dysentery. Shuki diagnosed dysentery after seeing a high fever of nearly 40 degrees Celsius, abdominal pain, and bloody stools. We must quarantine this village immediately. Dysentery is an infectious disease caused by the dysentery bacillus, mostly transmitted through food and water from feces and urine. There are two types of dysentery, bacterial and amoebic, and Shuki diagnosed this one as bacterial. "Listen, this disease is transmitted orally. Don''t forget to disinfect your hands." The engineering magic <<> had already been completed, and all the old apprentices were ready to use it. Of the three apprentices we took this time, two showed aptitude in this area, and one of them learned << sterilization>> immediately after becoming an apprentice. Shuki himself could not use magic, but his body was somehow resistant to all illnesses. However, Shuki took great care to treat his patients so that they would not infect others through his hands. His treatment consisted first of drinking plenty of water to alleviate the dehydration caused by diarrhea. Next was healing magic for the abdominal digestive organs <. The advanced level of healing magic <> for the internal organs had not yet been completed. "Hang in there, you''ll be all right now." "Oh, thank you very much ......." Almost everyone who had been treated in time survived. However, three villagers who were in serious condition when Shuki and his team arrived were unable to get the desperate treatment they needed. ....... "If only we had ...... arrived a day earlier. ......" "Master, don''t be so hard on yourself." "Yes, I am. The people in the village were very grateful to you. The disciples looked at the sad Shuki and tried to cheer him up. Then an old disciple, Liebeslau, came and gave them some new information. "There is a small village further north called Barbora, which is also in bad shape. "I see. I will go there tomorrow. I''ll ask Lotlao and Fesmeefe to stay in this village. Lotlao is an old apprentice who can use healing magic, and Fesmeefe is a new apprentice who has learned <> since he came to this village and has a promising future. Tempes and Hakeri follow me." Tempes is an old apprentice and Hakeri is a new apprentice. Both are trustworthy. Tempes was the best healer among the apprentices, and Hakeri was a promising newcomer who had learned sterilization right out of his apprenticeship. Leaving the Shire village early in the morning, the three of them walked at a brisk pace and managed to reach the village of Barbora before nightfall. But it was too late. "...... too late. ......" Not a single person in the village was moving. It was already too late for the village of 15 houses and 50 people. "If only we had ...... arrived two more days, or even a day earlier. ......" That''s what I think anytime, anytime, when I am forced to feel my own helplessness. At such a time. "Master, do you hear something?" Harkerly muttered as he listened. "Yes?" Shuki and Tempest listened carefully. Something was coming on the wind. "...... crying?" "Let''s go." The three of them walked toward the voice. "There it is." It was coming from inside a small hut on the outskirts of the village. "Who''s there? When they opened the door of the hut, they found a dehydrated young woman and a baby in her arms. It was the baby who was crying. Shuki rushes to pick up the baby. At the same time, he examines the condition of the young woman who seems to be the mother. "...... na ......." Her lips were cracked, her eyes were sunken, and it was clearly too late for her. But Shuki does not give up. "Healing magic!" "Yes, yes!< Tempest hastily casts a healing spell. But <> is not powerful enough, and the woman''s condition shows no signs of recovery. "I''m ...... dehydrated. Hurry up and drink the white water...... no, I can''t make it in time. Just give her water to drink." "Yes!" Hakeri gives him a drink of water from the water bottle he has prepared for such an occasion. It has a spout like a sucking cup so that the patient can drink water without spilling it. "......" After giving the patient a drink of water, the healing spell is applied once more. "<>!" Thanks to this, the words come out of the woman''s mouth. "What about ......?" Shuki calls out, assuming it''s about the baby. "The baby is here. She''s safe!Stay with me! The baby was able to drink a little water. After examining the baby, it seems that fortunately he is not infected with dysentery. It was probably fortunate that the infant was exclusively breast-fed. "I''d like to ...... take a look at that ...... child .......... ...and ......." The woman finally spun out those words. "<>!" However, the <> must not have been effective enough. The woman''s eyes, which had seemed to recover for a while, rapidly lost their light. "O-nega ...... is ...... is ...... is ...... is ...... is ...... is ...... is ...... is ...... is ...... is ...... is ...... is ......." "Get a grip!" It was too late, and all Shuki could do was call out to him. He brought the baby close to him, hoping that he could regain some of his zest for life. The woman''s eyes widened a little and she looked at the baby, She looked at the baby and said, "A......dori......a......a......na......... ...a ...... baby is ...... a ...... baby is ...... a ...... baby is ...... a ...... baby is ...... a ...... baby is ...... a ...... baby is ...... a ...... baby..." And then he broke off. 1020 - - 12 adoptive daughters "...... Adriana, huh?" Shuki Tsetsi muttered, feeling the weight of the sleeping baby in his arms. "The only survivor of this village of Barbora. ......" A baby with the same name as the woman he once loved, a child entrusted to him by the mother he had cared for. Unable to have children, Shuki decides to cherish this connection. "Okay, from now on you are Adriana Barbora Tsezi. With the name of his native village in his middle name, Shuki decided to raise the baby as his own. To prevent the spread of dysentery, the village of Barbora and its inhabitants cremated the baby. Shuki and his family also carefully sterilize their bodies, clothes, and belongings to prevent the spread of the infection. "Well, then, let''s go home." * * * * It was the 11th when Shuki and the others returned to the village of Shire. When the disciples heard about the village of Barbora, they looked disappointed. However, when they learned that Shuki, their master, would adopt the baby, the only survivor of the village, "Leave it to me to take care of it!" Kara, the only woman among the disciples, shouted. The other disciples offered to help in any way they could. First, we need to find someone who can give us milk. The woman had survived on fruit juice and sugar water all the way, but this was a newborn baby, after all. I wanted to breastfeed him as much as possible. Fortunately, a partner was soon found. There were three mothers who had given birth about six months before, and they went out of their way to thank me for saving them from dysentery. "Thank you, thank you ......." Shuki was saved. There was no such thing as powdered milk in the world, and there was no rice in this region to make hot water. There was rice in the southern part of Mitsuho, but by the time they came to Leonard''s kingdom, it was gone, including the seed rice. Inevitably, Shuki''s base of operations was in the village of Shire. Shuki moves from Habione to this village and settles down to raise Adriana. <. Some became his disciples, and spread throughout the land. Meanwhile, Shuki strives to further perfect his engineering and healing magic. Adriana did not cry at night, much to Shuki''s relief. She grows up with three <...... who share their milk and love with her, not in the generic sense, but literally ....... Needless to say, <> was a big help to clean up the dirty swaddling clothes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Adriana''s head was ready at 4 months and she started crawling at 10 months. Since Shuki has settled down, the room has been remodeled in a Japanese style, and although it is carpeted, no shoes are allowed, so we can let her crawl around with no worries. Of course, the rooms are regularly < and sanitary measures are taken. As a side note, there is a theory that if children are allowed to stand on their hands without being allowed to crawl, they will not be able to reach forward quickly when they fall and will hit their faces on the ground. It was also proposed that because children do not develop a sense of touch, when they hold a hot cup, they suddenly bring it to their mouths and burn themselves. In this respect, Adriana was relieved. * * * * At exactly one year, Adriana was able to stand on her haunches, and two months later she began to walk. "Come here, Ad, come here! Shuki would always come to Adriana''s rescue between lectures to his students. "Ad!" "Come on, Adriana, come here, come here, come here, come here, come here, come here, come here! Waddling around, Adriana was especially cherished by the female disciples, who gave her lots of love and affection. * * * * * * * * * Adriana was weaned about 18 months later. Before that time, Shuki had been going around to the orchards in the neighborhood to grind apple and peach-like fruits, namely april and persica, into a paste and feed them to Adriana as baby food. "Yum!" Shuki forgets the hardships of child-rearing when he sees Adriana smiling with her mouth covered in the paste. "Adriana, you will grow up to be a good girl." The warmth in his arms that held him in his arms soothed Shuki''s loneliness. * * * * "Adriana started talking a little later, when she was two years old. Adriana began to speak a little later, when she was two years old. "Oh!Ado is talking! Shuki''s joy was enormous. He had gathered his students for a lecture that day and threw them out in the middle of the lecture. The students, who knew how much their master cared for Adriana, laughed at him. "Ad!Say it again!Say it again!Say it again, Dad!" "Otto, ......-chan!" "Whoa!Adriana! Shuki was so happy that he picked up Adriana and bounced around in his arms. He must have been so happy that he picked up Adriana and jumped up and down. "Oh, you did it! Shuki hurriedly puts Adriana down and changes her diaper. He has gotten used to this recently. "There, doesn''t it feel good?" Adriana was in a good mood, laughing and giggling after having her diaper replaced with a freshly washed one. * * * * * * * * * * * * There were also rites of passage like measles and mumps in this world, but with Shuki and his pupils, Adriana got off lightly in each case. Then Adriana turned four years old. "Hey, Otou-saaa!" On days off from lectures, Shuki takes Adriana outside to play. The Shire village was surrounded by a rich natural environment of mountains, rivers, forests, and meadows, and Shuki taught Adriana many things while she played with him. "I saw beautiful flowers! "This one is called a lentil. This one is called a dandelion. "Rengezou and dandelion, yes, I remember!" Adriana was a bright girl who could remember most things after hearing them once. Shuki felt as if he could see the image of his former beloved wife in Adriana playing in the flowery meadow. 1021 - - 13 Training Adriana, 5 years old, spring. "Adriana, you''re not going to get me!" Wait, Val! Come here, Liana, come here!" Adriana was playing with her brothers Val, Humundo and Lolora. Each of them is the biological son of the mother who gave Adriana milk. Since they were the same age as Adriana, the four of them often played together. Shuki watches them from afar with squinted eyes. They seem to be playing tag right now. "Roro-chan, I got you! "Oh no, I''ve got you again!" Small and strong Bal, fat but fast runner Humundo, calm Lolora and cheerful Adriana were like real brothers and sisters. "......I guess it''s about time." Shuki saw Adriana and felt that they had reached a milestone. Shuki felt that he had reached a milestone when he saw Adriana. "Dad, what is it?" Uncle, what is it? "Uncle, what can I do for you?" Uncle, what do you want? One day Shuki called Adriana and the other four together. < "Today I wanted to check your aptitude for magic..." "Really?Can I use magic too? "Can I use magic too? "Can I be a magician too? "I wish I could use magic. ...... "To find out, you''ll have to look it up." "Yes!Quick, find out!" Adriana and her friends were very curious. Shuki immediately decides to check the magical aptitude of Adriana and the others. "<>" This is a magic that can examine the flow of magic power. Of course, it was not Shuki who used this magic, but his most disciple, Liebeslau. "Hm, unfortunately Val and Humundo don''t have any aptitude for magic." "Yeah. ......" "d*mn!" Disappointed, the two run away. "Lolora has a little aptitude for magic, so she might be able to use elementary magic if she tries hard enough. "Yes!" "And Adriana-sama is ...... umm ......" What''s wrong? What is it, Liebesrau? Shuki turned blue, wondering if there was something wrong with his beloved daughter. "No, master, it''s nothing bad. It''s rather good news." "What?" "Adriana-sama''s magic power is already as strong as an adult''s." Liana, that''s great! It was indeed a good story. "What, that''s not so ......!" Shuki thought. Perhaps his daughter Adriana could help him perfect the engineering magic that Adriana, who had once been his companion, had set her sights on. At this time, thanks to Shuki''s efforts in traveling around the world, the genre of <> had been established as a genre in various parts of the continent. Mages calling themselves <> appeared here and there, and their existence was becoming more and more recognized with each passing day. Despite these times, Shuki was not yet satisfied. His promise to his late wife had not yet been fulfilled. But now, a magical genius by the name of , who also shares the same name, has appeared. I am happy, but also a little anxious. Shuki wonders if he will be able to develop this talent in a straight line without distorting it. * * * * "Look, father, it''s done!" The magic of the light in your palm. "Look, watch ......." "I know!You see, the < in the air and the are connected and burn together." "......Yes, that''s right. But the magic fire has no <>. In the first place, the fact that <> makes fire magic difficult ......." After a brief explanation from Carla, Adriana tried some elementary fire magic. "<>!" A fireball shoots out from Adriana''s palm, flies about 20 meters, and disappears. "Oh my God, Adriana!That was amazing! "Heh heh heh, father, praise me!" "Ad, you are a genius!" Behind the praise, Shuki was worried. Adriana is truly a genius. How can he train her not to be a "tengu"? It was a difficult task for Shuki, who was raising a child for the first time. "Mmmmmm..." When Shuki patted her head, Adriana''s eyes narrowed pleasantly. (...... affection, right?) Shuki decided to raise Adriana with all his love. * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, it''s so sweet!Delicious!" "Ha-ha-ha, I see... I see... I see..." Adriana eats her bread with honey. On Shuki''s advice, <> was started. The land was ideal for beekeeping because of the abundance of flowers, such as the lotus flower and the white clover. From then on, beekeeping flourished in Leonard''s kingdom, but that''s another story, Shuki just wanted to feed his beloved daughter with delicious food. And the daily training in magic. Master Adriana, you are a great woman. Soon I will have nothing left to teach you. Kara rolled her eyes. Now Adriana is becoming a master of the art. "I see. Shuki thought to himself that it would not be good for Adriana if she only became skilled in magic. So what should we do? "...... maybe it''s time..." I want to show Adriana the big world. We also need to spread the word more and more about engineering magic. With these thoughts in mind, Shuki decided to set out on his journey. * * * * * * * * * * * On June 1, 2345, Shuki left the village of Shire where he had spent five years.... ...now he was to leave the Shire town ....... "Master, I will follow you! "Master, I wish you could have taught me more ......" "Adriana, take care!" Of course, Shuki Tsetsi was loved and respected by the people. But even more than that, Adriana was loved by the people. Especially she was loved by the people, Adi, take care of yourself. "Ad, you must study hard. Anna, come and visit us again. The three women who breastfed Adriana were like her own daughters. At the same time, Ad, take care! "Adriana, I''m sure you''ll come back, okay? "Adriana, we''ll see each other again, won''t we?I''ll study hard!" The children of the women, Adriana''s siblings, also said goodbye with tears in their eyes. "Yes, we will see each other again someday!We will come to see you!" The group set out with five newly built wagons. Adriana gazed at the Shire until she was out of sight. 1022 - - the 14th town The carriage carrying Shuki and his friends was going east. "Father, what is that flower? Dad, what is that bird called? Dad, what is the name of that beautiful stone? For Adriana, the journey was full of excitement, as everything she saw and heard was so unusual. The kingdom of Leonard seems to be a safe and secure place, and she is not attacked by bandits, so she is able to travel peacefully. Even sleeping in the wagons was enjoyable, and there was always laughter from the wagons of the group. This was one of the main reasons why Shuki and his group were able to remain calm during their month-long journey. "I think it''s time to think about a place to settle down. The number of villages, towns, and cities they have passed is 14 in total. I hear it''s a pretty big town. Yes, Master. The name is Yurgano. The carriage drives along a dirt road, but it''s well cleared. "Okay, let''s go there, assuming we can find a place to settle down. If it''s too hard to live there, we can go to another town, Shuki thought. "Okay." Shuki had plenty of money to rent a house, thanks to the lecture fees. Shuki was happy to have a successor in Adriana, but he was also anxious to complete his research ......<> and >, which he still did not know how to complete. (I don''t know how long I will live either. ......) Although Shuki''s body seems not to age because it is supplemented with magical elements, he has occasionally felt a stabbing pain in his back for the past few years. The pain is quickly cured by the healing magic, but Shuki thinks that this pain is a warning to himself. (Time is running out, don''t waste time, I feel like I''m being told. ......) Shuki''s heart sank, but the next moment, a soft weight rested on his back. "Father, do you want to be somewhere else?" It was Adriana. She had noticed Shuki''s downcast face and had come to check on him with concern. "Oh, I''m fine, Ad. Thank you." Shuki smiled, praised his kind daughter, and patted her head. Then Adriana, probably relieved, fell asleep on Shuki''s lap. Master, someone is coming. Tempest, who was acting as a coachman, shouted. He saw three well-dressed, gentlemanly men coming toward them on horseback. "Excuse me, are you the members of Mr. Shuki Tsetsi''s party? Yes, who are you? I''m sorry, I''m late. I am the mayor of the town of Yurgano, my name is Sentimu. The other two are my guards. Thank you very much. I''m Shuki Tsetsi. Oh, it''s you! Szentaim had heard on his horse that Shuki Tsezi had come to a neighboring town and wanted to invite him to his city. "We will provide you with accommodations and a schoolhouse," he said. He also said that there were many townspeople who were interested in engineering magic. "I heard about you last year from a visitor from the Shire," he said. Walking slowly with his horse beside the carriage, Sentimu explained the situation. "Engineering magic<. That one thing shows us the possibilities of magic. "I would like you to give a lecture in my town. "My sons and daughters have heard of you, Master Magus, and they would like to meet you." Sentimu was very eloquent. This kept Shuki and his party occupied until they reached the town of Yurgano. The town was paved with cobblestones. As they were getting on the coach, the carriage shuddered and Adriana woke up. "...... hmm?" "Ad, you''re awake! We''re already in town. "Yeah,...... I''m hungry." Shuki laughed and patted Adriana gently on the back. "Ha ha, I''ll make you dinner soon. "Yes, daddy." Seeing Shuki and Adriana like this, Sentaim broke into a smile. "Oh, you are a lovely young lady. Excuse me, but first I will tell them to prepare a meal for you. He gave some instructions to one of his guards and the man hurried away. The mayor''s quarters were the only place where the mayor had prepared for him to stay. The mayor had prepared a lodging house, which was a separate house owned by the mayor. "This is also a fine ......." The town of Yurgano is large and the mayor is apparently very powerful. "Wow, what a big house!" Adriana is excited to see the mansion for the first time. "You are welcome to use it as you wish, Wise One. If you need more servants, please let me know. I''m so sorry. You must be tired today. I will see you tomorrow. The mayor bowed and left. "You''ve been treated exceptionally well." Is there something behind this, or is he genuinely fascinated with Shuki? "Anyway, I''ll be grateful to use it for now." The journey by horse-drawn carriage had been a long one, and everyone was tired and dusty in their own way. Shuki wiped his body at the villages and towns he visited along the way, but he still wanted to bathe in the water. After dinner, Shuki went back to the hotel. After finishing dinner, Shuki was surprised when he was shown to the bathroom. "Oh, this is ......." "Wow, it feels so good!" To Shuki''s surprise, the mayor''s house had a <. The bathtub was a real bathtub with hot water. The bathtub was large enough to hold three people, but it was definitely a bath. Since most baths in this world are steam or water baths, this was the first time in a long time for Shuki and the first time in her life for Adriana to take a dip in a . "Ah, it''s been a long time. ......" A feeling I had almost forgotten since I lost my wife. He had not taken a bath like this since he had left Tierra''s house. "<>......" Involuntarily, the name of his beloved wife came out of his mouth. His beloved daughter reacted to this. "What is it, father?" "What is it?......It''s nothing." Shuki smiled shyly and patted his daughter on the head. "Mmmm, daddy, I love you!" Adriana hugged Shuki. Shuki hugged his daughter''s still young body and felt happy for the moment. In the hot water, Shuki relaxes with all his heart. 1023 - - 15 Disciples and Daughters In the town of Yurgano, Shuki and his friends were welcomed. The mayor of the town, Senteim, had sent his daughter, Chatone, to study under Shuki. The mayor, Sentaim, had also sent his only daughter, Chatone, to study with Shuki. "This is, don''t you understand, the formula for detecting the element ......, the <>?" "......I understand, for the time being." "Well, I''ll give you a thorough lesson on that later." "Yes, please." Chatone, 15 years old, was listening to Shuki''s lecture with more enthusiasm than anyone else. "Sir, I''d like to show you something about the radio station I mentioned earlier: ......". After the lecture was over, she came to Shuki and asked him many questions. "<>, right. Elements, are the things ......." Shuki was not afraid to teach his eager pupil, and often lost track of time and became enthusiastic in his explanations. So when he was late returning to Adriana''s place,....... "...... Daddy, you''re late!" "Sorry, Ad. I had a long lecture." "I know who you are. Chateaune, right? Adriana is watching you very carefully. You can''t underestimate a child. Chatone is very dedicated. I''m happy to teach him." "...... mmm." Adriana looks a little pouty, "Come on, let''s take a bath together." Shuki says to her, and she immediately smiles. "Yes!" Taking a bath together is Adriana''s moment of bliss. Her father, who is usually busy with his pupils, looks after her alone. "Daddy, today I learned how to dig! "Well, that''s great, Ado!" And whenever she reported that she had learned a new magic, her father would always pat her on the head, so Adriana studied hard every day. These father-daughter moments were precious to Adriana and to Shuki. * * * * * * * * * * "...... Therefore, it is necessary to compose such a flow of magical control (magi sequence) here. ......Any questions so far?If not, that''s all for today." "Thank you very much!" A year has passed since Shuki came to the town of Yurgano. The levels of those who have come to receive his teachings have become clear, and he now gives lectures at three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The advanced level is mainly composed of Shuki''s old disciples who can be called "high disciples" and whose purpose is to pursue new engineering magic day and night. The intermediate class is the most numerous class of the general disciples. Talented mages are learning a new field of engineering magic. Shuki and his disciples take turns giving lectures. The beginners are those who are talented but not yet ready to learn engineering magic. The more inexperienced among the disciples are in charge of this class. In addition, there was a class specializing in teaching healing magic, which was characterized by the large number of female mages. And there was an extra class that taught <>. The purpose of this class was to teach the subjects that Shuki had learned in Japan, but for some reason this class was not popular and was closed after six months. The mayor''s daughter, Chatone, was at the top of the intermediate class and was expected to join the ranks of the high school students in another six months. I must do my best to be useful to Mr. Shuki. Chatone herself does not seem to be aware of whether this feeling is a longing or a love. And one more. Adriana always entered the intermediate class to listen to Shuki''s lectures whenever he gave them. The classmates think that she is just lonely and comes to see her father, but this is not the case. He understood the content of the lecture better than anyone in the intermediate class, even more than ...... Chateaune. As a proof of this, he was practicing magic by himself on the outskirts of town when everyone else was lecturing except Shuki. "......I have to get good at it and help my father!" She had decided in her childhood that she would do her best to help Shuki achieve his dream of perfecting engineering magic. And it was no child''s dream; she was steadily gaining in ability. "<>!" Now Adriana had mastered earth, water, fire, wind, lightning, and healing, each at the intermediate level. "...... but this is still not enough." He instinctively felt that in order to perfect his father''s pursuit of engineering magic, he needed to be able to master all of the attributes up to the advanced level. And that was what Shuki felt as well. < "To construct new magic at will, one must be versed in all the attributes and think comprehensively." This is what Shuki said in his lecture. * * * * "......Well, I''m almost there, but it''s not working. ......" <<<>>. But no matter how many times he tried, he could not get the power to hit the target. "So, I''m just trying to hit them with <> from above and below..." said Adriana, worried. Adriana was troubled, when a voice called out to her. "There is weight in the air. Why don''t you try to feel it? "What?" Adriana turned around and behind her was her father, Shuki. "Father? "That''s great Ad. I didn''t know you were already practicing this level of magic. Shuki crossed his arms and thought. "You''re coming to the advanced class tomorrow. "...... is that right?" Adriana had been forbidden to attend the advanced classes until now. This was out of Shuki''s misguided parental concern not to deprive her of time to make friends of her own age. Adriana had no friends in the town of Yurgano. This might have been the beginning of a long and lonely life for her. Anyway, Adriana was allowed to join the advanced class with the adults. From then on, Adriana''s success was remarkable. "Well, I think we should not lose the power of the molecule, but rather, we should improve its shape. I see what you mean. I see what you mean, but it would require very delicate magic control to maintain it, don''t you think? "Well, then, why don''t you lose the power of blood and instead wrap it up in your magical power?" "...... Master, I think I can do it that way!" "I see.Okay, let''s think about the flow of magic control (Magi sequence). "Hey, hey, hey, you should do it this way..." "Sure. ...... sir, your daughter is a genius! On this day, was added to the engineering magic. 1024 - - 16 Growth Another year passes and Adriana turns 7 years old. It was in this year that she created with the application of fire magic and with the application of earth magic. "Adriana, you are a real genius! Chateaune, who moved up to the advanced class this year, praised Adriana. So far, Adriana has created five engineering magic tricks: <><><><>>. Both the high disciples and the general students recognized her ability. "Hmmm, that''s difficult..." "Ad, what are you thinking of this time?" "Oh, Dad. You know, a way to keep out dust, dirt and fire." "Hmm. ...... you know, there''s a spell to protect workers when they''re building things. "Really?" Shuki explained. "......They use magic power to build walls based on this kind of idea." "I see. Then it would be good if we could make it happen by applying it to our faces and stomachs. "Yes, that''s right. I don''t want to get in the way of your handiwork. ...... is, ad, awesome!" "Heh heh heh." Adriana''s ideas seem to have already surpassed those of her high brothers. Shuki thanked the heavens that he could have her as his daughter. "The size of a molecule ...... is not the same between a solid, a liquid, and a gas. The size of the aggregate of molecules is different. So if you make a magic <> and change its coarseness ......." "So you can make a <> that lets air through but not water!" "That''s right, Ad. That''s right, ad. That''s how you make a ." While Shuki was working with Adriana on the development of magic, he suddenly remembered the past. Adriana, his former wife, had been inspired by Shuki''s words and had developed various kinds of magic for him. ....... "Father?" Shuki came back to himself at his daughter''s words. "Oh, sorry. I''ve been thinking about something. ...... "Oh, God. ...... Hey, look at this!Look, <>!" "What?You''ve already done it! In front of Shuki''s eyes, there was indeed a <>, though invisible to the naked eye, that seemed to protect him from dust and fire sparks. Moreover, as far as its functions are concerned, it seems to have many applications. The strength of the can be changed, and above all, it can be selected to allow gases, liquids, and solids to pass through or not. "Ad is amazing. This is no longer a <>. Yes, it''s a <>. Shuki hugs his daughter and pats her head. Adriana lets out a happy laugh. At that moment. Shuki felt a sharp pain in his back. "G......uuu!" Shuki moans in pain. "Daddy! "I''m ...... fine. It''s the usual ...... chronic disease." But Shuki''s face is pale and he is dripping with greasy sweat. Shuki knew what was going on. If he had an accident in his former world and his broken body had been supplemented with magical elements to become the person he is today, then there are parts of his life that have not been supplemented. The life span of the parts that have not been complemented is running out. "I still ...... need a little more,...... time,...... someone ......" Normally, either Liebeslau or Lotlao would cast a healing spell, but unfortunately, both of them were out in the next town over and were not here. "Me!......!!!" The desperate Adriana chanted the highest level of healing magic in internal medicine. With images, thoughts, and magic. At last Adriana had mastered the highest level of healing magic. "...... I feel better." When Shuki woke up and realized that his daughter Adriana had healed him, he burst into tears and hugged her. "Thank you, thank you, Adriana. ......!" "Daddy, it''s so sad!" Adriana also hugged her father Shuki tightly. Adriana hugged her father, Shuki. Since then, Adriana has always been by Shuki''s side. Adriana is now the most competent of Shuki''s disciples. With Adriana''s help, the two younger brothers, Liebeslau and Lotlao, were also able to master three months after Shuki. "Adriana, how do I chant here? What did Adriana teach her ordinary students? "You don''t need to chant. Magic works with images and power. The magic is only to help the image." "ha,ha......" For example, the advanced fire magic <> has a chant <>, but Adriana was able to release a flame storm without that chant. "The phrase ''flame storm'' is enough to create a magical image. However, only a handful of people could do this. Nevertheless, the fact that there are those who can do it proves that it makes sense. The ordinary disciples practiced according to the instruction, starting with the beginner level, and were able to perform magic without chanting up to the intermediate level. "As expected of the daughter of . "Adriana is the best mage of her time, isn''t she? "I am sure that she will be able to master all magic in time." Adriana''s reputation grows day by day. But this also meant that she had less and less free time. Shuki was secretly pained to see Adriana, who was only seven years old, spending all day long in the company of adults, giving lectures and doing research. One day, Shuki took Adriana to a lake on the outskirts of Yurgano. He could not bear to see her spending her days doing magic, so he decided to take two days off from his lectures to spend a short vacation with his son and daughter. "Wow, what a beautiful place! Adriana was excited, as any 7 year old girl would be. "You can swim in it!" "Really?" It was August, the height of summer. Shuki had brought his swimsuit. It was a swimsuit made of thin linen. Shuki''s swimsuit was a trouser-type swimsuit that reached the knees, while Adriana''s was shorts on the bottom and a strip of cloth wrapped around her chest on the top. (If the engineering magic is perfected, we may be able to make merino fabrics as well.) (I wonder if I will be able to make merino fabric when engineering magic is perfected...) As expected, Shuki had no idea how to weave a stretchy merino fabric. "Father, it''s so cold and comfortable! Okay, I''ll teach you how to swim!" Shuki, a native of Kochi, was an excellent swimmer. "Listen, you have to start by opening your eyes in the water," he said. "Yeah. ......" Adriana, as expected, was at a loss to learn how to swim, let alone do magic. "That''s right. "Yes. Try to relax your body. ...... see, I can float." "I did it! I did it!Dad, I can swim!" But either Shuki had taught her well or she had the right talent, Adriana learned to swim the breaststroke in half a day. "All right, then, let''s swim side by side. "Yes!" Parent and child in the water together. "It''s bad for your health if you stay in the cold water too long. Let''s dry our shells for a while." Dad, what''s a "koraboshi"? "Oh, you know how turtles sometimes sunbathe on the rocks?That''s why it''s called "koraboshi". "That''s interesting." They spread out their cloths on the grass and lay down. It was a summer day under the scorching sun. 1025 - - 17. How to make golem It is the season of cool breezes in the mornings and evenings. Shuki, seeing the growth of his apprentices, finally decided to teach them as a technology. This golem will do for you what humans cannot do. But we must not rely on this golem. Along the way, Shuki had built golem factories in places like the city of Mitsuho, but he also understood the dangers of relying on them. However, it is certain that the advantages of golem technology more than compensate for the risks. "First, the basics. <." "Oh!" The new disciples were elated to learn how to make the golem they had heard so much about, not to mention their high disciples. At this time, primitive golems were in practical use, but they were monopolized by a few nobles and royalty, and none of Shuki''s disciples in this town had ever seen one in person. The golem is formed by making full use of << and so on. The one who is doing this is his best apprentice, Liebeslau. "Oh ......" "This is the ...... golem ......." Many of us were seeing it for the first time, and a few of us were moaning in admiration. "After making a humanoid like this with ......, we write the Magi Formula (Magi Formula) on its chest." Since everyone had already mastered the Magi Language, there was no one who could not understand Shuki''s explanation. The Magi Formula was inscribed in a dense pattern on their chests, which were larger than a human''s. "This is how it will be," said Shuki. "This is how it works. The key word to move it is <. The key word to stop is <. While Shuki was explaining this, Adriana was absorbed in her own thoughts. (......The formula is written on the neck, so if we remove even a part of it, it won''t work. Then why don''t you put it in the inside?) Adriana is beginning to awaken to her own golem technology. (Yes, if you fuse all of them, the text will be lost, so you can leave that part ...... and cover it with a lid so you can replace it later...) ...) But it will be a while before she makes her mark. * * * * A few days later. The Golem course was approaching the intermediate level. "This is a simplified version of the human anatomy I''ve been teaching you. Lying on the floor is a steel skeleton. It is quite simplified, but it has a skull, a sternum, a pelvis, and a spinal column connecting them. "The reason for the human likeness is that Golem''s movements are based on those of humans. If we want it to imitate human movements, it is reasonable to make its body structure similar to that of humans. I understand what your father is saying. (Yes, I understand your father''s point, but if we are trying to create something from an unknowable and unworkable white background, there is no need to do so. ......?) Adriana has a point. Since we start with a <, for example, a four-legged dog, we can educate it to a certain extent. (But it will take time. ......) That''s why your father would like to make <> be completed. ...... The magic to transcribe human knowledge into magi-crystals has been Shuki''s dream. All we can do now is <. By using it after carefully preparing the necessary information, it is possible to send limited information to the target. Using this, we send information to the golem about basic movements such as walking, stopping, and so on. However, it has not yet been possible to send or record the entirety of a person''s memory. (Someday, I''ll make you realize it. ......!) ) It was Adriana''s secret resolution. "And the muscles are attached like this". "And the muscles are attached like this..." "Why are they slanted, doctor?" "Well, that''s a good question. Who can tell me?" The disciples, the old disciples, know what they''re talking about, so they don''t raise their hands. The new disciples, on the other hand, all nodded their heads. "......" "Yes!" Adriana raised her hand while no one else raised theirs. "Adriana, give us your answer. "Yes! Yes, because human hands and feet do not only bend but also twist. Correct. Can I see ......? Shuki stretched his right arm forward and twisted his hand. "You can do this because your muscles are slightly skewed," he said. "Oh, I see!" The students shouted in unison. "All right, then, let''s get to work. Let''s start with this muscle. * * * * "......" "............" "This is the first time I''ve done this, and it''s fun! The young apprentices who had been working with the high disciples on the installation of the muscles were all exhausted from the unfamiliar work, but one, Adriana, was in good spirits. "I learned a lot." No, the mayor''s daughter, Chatone, was still in good hands. She seems to be very good with her hands. "That''s enough for today. Tomorrow we will talk about the control core. "Thank you very much!" "Thank you very much!" The young apprentices bow their heads and leave, looking relieved. Adriana and ....... are the only ones left. "Sir, can you tell us one thing?" It was Chatone. "Yes, what is it?" "Yes. About magical muscles. Magical Muscle? That''s right. You used Hexenbiest leather for the material, didn''t you?Wouldn''t it be more efficient to use magical muscles? Chateaune wondered, "Why not use muscle for muscle instead of leather? "Well, that''s a natural question," said Chateaune. It is true that it could be used as a muscle. But the muscles of a hexenbiest have one major drawback. What are they? "One is preservation. The muscle parts don''t keep very well. Too bad, you might say. "Oh ......" Muscle is, in essence, . < will spoil if it is left as it is, it is preserved by methods such as , <, and so on. "Dried muscles cannot produce the necessary force," he says. Leather, on the other hand, is different. Tanned leather has elasticity and flexibility, and it can shrink when certain magical power is applied to it. Therefore, the leather of a hexenbiest is currently the best choice for the musculature of a golem. "I see. ......" Satisfied this time, Chatone bowed and left. "Father, do you have anything good for the skin?" Even good quality leather may not last for a hundred or two hundred years. "Well, no. If we had better materials, we could make golems and automata with better performance." "So ......." Adriana remembered Shuki''s words, and in later years she would also put more effort into the selection of materials. "Well, let''s cut the long story short and go for a little walk, shall we? "Yes! "Yes! Master, go on your way. Shuki and Adriana were seen off by the disciples and set out hand in hand. Their destination was a small mountain on the outskirts of Yurgano. The autumn leaves had begun to change color in the mountains. "Wow, it''s beautiful! "In autumn, the trees change color. And winter will come again. "In winter, the mountains will be covered with snow. "Yes, that''s right." Shuki wanted Adriana to become a first-class magecraftsman, but he also wanted her to become a woman with a good heart. Adriana never once asked why she did not have a mother. I do not know if she was aware of the fact that she was not supposed to ask this question as a child. But Shuki wanted to raise her with love and affection, even if her mother was not around. He wanted to raise his beloved daughter. 1026 - - 18 Limits After three days, the golem was completed. "There is a technology above this, <>, which I will teach you in due course. I will tell you about it in due time. "Thank you very much." The young apprentices bowed with somewhat relieved faces, but froze when they heard Shuki''s next words. "Now, let''s make a golem just for you. "What?" What? Golem is one of the essence of magical engineering. Good luck! The mayor had provided the necessary materials. The twenty-five young apprentices look at each other and get back into the swing of things. "Let''s do it!" "Let''s do it!" "Let''s do it!" "We have to do it!" "We have to do it!" In the midst of all this, Chateaune was alone, pondering something. He was thinking about something. Dad, can I talk to you for a minute? What''s wrong, Ad? Look at this. What is this? There was a rather splendid golem lying there. "Ad, did you make this all by yourself?" "Yes, I did!" Shuki examined the details and found no problems at all. In fact, it was better than the golem his students had made the other day. Adriana looked happy when he praised her, but then complained. "But you know, I don''t think this is enough yet. I mean, what''s with the power source? "The power source or ......." Shuki understood what Adriana meant. "Is it a magical device that stores mana for power? Currently, all magic tools in general use magic crystals that contain a large amount of mana as their energy source. However, with this method, the amount of mana that can be extracted at one time is small, and especially when instantaneous output is required, it is not at all compatible with the situation. "All we have to do is create a that can store mana, right?" Shuki couldn''t help but laugh at the girl who said this as if it were so simple. "That''s true, Ado. It''s not so easy ......." "Hey, we can do it this way, can''t we?" Adriana mentioned the flow of magical control (the Magi sequence). It was quite a long one, but Shuki''s face was gradually tinted with surprise when she heard it. "A......ad, there is no contradiction in what you say about the flow of magical control (magi sequence). Did you hear this from someone else?" "No, I just thought of it." It was how to make a mana tank, something Shuki had not yet taught him since he had arrived in this town. Shuki thinks that this mana tank is one of the most useful techniques that his former wife, Adriana, has created. His beloved daughter Adriana came up with it all by herself. Suddenly the thought crosses his mind that his daughter Adriana is a reincarnation of his wife Adriana, but Shuki immediately denies this idea. No, a wife is a wife and a daughter is a daughter. (No, a wife is a wife and a daughter is a daughter.) Shuki thought that it was a thought that might lead to a disrespect of life. (We only have one life, one life, so we can really cherish it, can''t we?) Shuki reflected that it would be disrespectful to his wife Adriana and daughter Adriana if he thought that he would see her again after his reincarnation. (Once in a lifetime, right? (It''s because it''s only once that I loved my wife Adriana as much as I could, and I can love my daughter Adriana as much as I can, too.) "Father?" Adriana looked into Shuki''s face. "Oh, I''m sorry, Ad. That thing you came up with is called a <>." "Oh, ...... already had one?" I didn''t teach it yet. I''m sorry." Shuki apologizes to his daughter. But Adriana shakes her head. "No, that''s okay, I can think of something even more amazing! True to her word, she would later replace the mana tank system of Shuki''s golem and automata with her own <> system. "Well, then..." Shuki turned to Adriana. "We also have to figure out how to fill the mana tank with mana, don''t we? "Yes, I know!That''s it, this is how we can do it: ......" Shuki was amazed at Adriana''s thoughtfulness. * * * * * * * * * * In the end, the golem made by the 25 young disciples was not as good as the one made by Adriana alone. However, Chatone had made a golem by himself, apart from the 25 apprentices. This was her way of taking advantage of her position as the daughter of the mayor, but she did not stop there. Chatelonnet invited Shuki and her disciples to her workshop and showed them her work. "Oh, this is beautiful," she said. "Yes, it''s wonderful." "Really?Thank you very much! Shuki saw the golem and praised it with open arms. The smooth movement of the golem when it was subjected to simple initial movements was on the level of a skilled technician. And then there was the appearance. The balance of the body was superb. The joints of the exterior parts were so well aligned that not even a single hair could fit through the joints. "......!!!!" Adriana gets up and runs out of the workshop. "Ad? Shuki followed her daughter in surprise. Then the high disciples and Chateaune too. Adriana was so impressed by the appearance of the golem that Chatone had made that she thought she had lost. However brilliant Adriana may be, she is only seven years old. Although she had devoted herself to magical engineering, she was still inexperienced in a distant field ...... of design. Therefore, it is not surprising that he was shocked to see the sophisticated golem of Chateaune. "Ha, ha, ha!" Running without thinking, like a seven year old girl, Adriana came to the workshop where she kept her golem. "......" She looks at the golem lying there. It is nothing compared to the golem she saw earlier in Chatelonne. It was still a very good golem.) Shuki praised it, but that was probably due to Adriana''s age. It is true that they are better than the ones made by her pupils. But compared to the ones made by Chatone. "......The details are not well done. The curves around the waist are wrong. The length of the arms and legs is slightly out of balance." "!!!!" Adriana turns around at the sound of a voice criticizing her golem, and there stands Chatone. "I can''t see the inside, so I can''t tell, but the outside is not quite right." "......" Adriana bites her lip. "But you built all this by yourself, didn''t you?You should be proud." "Even ...... can''t compare." Adriana''s words, which she muttered as if trying to squeeze them out of her, caused Chatone to let out a wry smile. "...... my golem, I had my arts and crafts teacher take a look at it to adjust its appearance." Then Adriana told him something surprising. "So it''s only natural that the appearance is well done," she said. Adriana, you have nothing to be ashamed of." "Yes, I guess. ......" "Yes, Adriana. Yes, Adriana. Unlike me, you really made it on your own, didn''t you?That''s very impressive." "...... but the important thing is the results." "If you feel that way, learn to depend on someone else. If it''s okay with me, I''m always here for you." "......, thanks for the ......." On this day, Adriana may have realized the limits of what she could do alone. 1027 - - 19 Capital of Karnag The year is 2349. Shuki''s students have grown up to the point where they can create <> by themselves. "Well, now I have taught you everything I know. One day Shuki said to his students with satisfaction. "...... I think it''s time for me to leave." Sensei! Sensei!" The 25 new disciples shouted in surprise and tried to stop Shuki. But Shuki''s determination remained unchanged. "Everyone, please understand. I still want to go around the world and spread engineering magic. ...... and the summit to be reached is far away." "......" In the end, four of the 25 new apprentices followed Shuki. Chateaune is not among them. She was the only daughter of the mayor and could not be allowed to leave the town. The outskirts of the town were crowded with people thankful for the engineering and healing magic that Shuki had brought. "I''ll miss you, doctor." Chatone, 19 years old. She had been a girl when she began her apprenticeship, but in the past four years she had grown into a woman. "You will continue to work hard even after I''m gone. I am sure you will become a great engineer. "......Yes, I will do my best." Wiping her tear-stained eyes with her fingers, Chatone forced a smile and looked at Shuki. "Take care, Mags," she said. You are always welcome to visit us again. Mayor Sentaim also bade farewell to Shuki. "Thank you, Mr. Mags, for everything. "Wise Magus, you are a good man." The townspeople of Yurgano watched <> Shuki Tsetsi and his group until they were out of sight. "......" Adriana, not wanting them to see her crying face, lies down in the carriage, covered with a blanket. Then Shuki came to her. "Are you crying, Ad?" "......No, I''m not crying." Shuki patted Adriana''s back on the blanket, smiling at her strong reply. "I''m sorry. It''s my own fault we can''t stay in one place. Adriana sat up with a start and shouted at Shuki. "No, it''s not your father''s fault!Your father is working very hard to perfect his magical engineering. I love him so much. So don''t apologize to him. Shuki hugged her. "Thank you for ......, Ado." "Yes." Adriana is growing up so straight. Shuki was happy to know that. Shuki was happy to know that. Shuki and his friends are on their way to the capital city of Karnagh, which is only five days away by carriage on the road. < "A king... ...... I''m not interested." Shuki can''t help but laugh at the girl who says such a line. For better or worse, she seems to have grown up to be a "my way or the highway" kind of person. The Kingdom of Leonard is a safe place, free of bandits and beasts of prey. The group arrived at the capital, Karnagh, five days later as planned. "I didn''t know they didn''t have walls. Shuki thought that compared to other capitals he had seen in other countries, this one seemed more open. There were no walls surrounding the city. Of course, the royal castle in the center of the town is surrounded by a high and sturdy wall, but there is no wall separating the inside from the outside of the town. This is due to the fact that the town is still expanding. "Welcome, <> Master Shuki Tsetsi and company." When Shuki and his party were about a kilometer away from Karnagh, they were met by a group of knights. A man in the rank of captain said, "I have been waiting for you here by order of my king. The leader dismounted from his horse and bowed to the group. His men followed his example. Thus, protected by the knights, the group entered Karnagh. The knights followed them and the group entered Karnagh. "So you are Shuki Tsezi. "Yes, sir." The next day, Shuki had an audience with King Galdrake Dragol Leonard. "I hear that you are spreading the study of magical engineering in our country and teaching how to make golems and automata, magical dolls. That is correct, sir. "That''s very good of you. I will do all I can to assist you, and I hope you will take an apprentice here in Karnagh and guide him. I would be honored." ...... and such an exchange led to Shuki setting up his base in Karnagh for the first time. With the king''s support, his name soon spread and people began to come to hear his lectures. One day. The number of students at Karnagh was steadily increasing and soon it was time to start a proper curriculum. "...... transition, magic circle?" Shuki and the others heard these words for the first time. This information was brought to them by one of the students at Karnagh, Lanos Sikor. "Yes. It means that it has been handed down since I don''t know when. "Mm-hmm." Shuki remembered that his wife Adriana''s family, the Tierras, were descendants of the . < "This magic circle may have been bequeathed to them by the Rare Beings." "Sensei?" Ranos, perhaps having heard Shuki''s soliloquy, gave him a quizzical look. "Oh, no, I''m sorry. I was just thinking about something. So, where can I find that magic circle at ......?" * * * * Llanos led Shuki, his three younger brothers, and Adriana to the old . "This way, sir." We made an offering, entered the church, and went to the back. In the innermost room, further back in the chapel ......, there it was. Magic circles were painted all over the ceiling. Magic circles carved all over the floor. "...... this is amazing." Shuki''s eyes lit up. "But ...... this part is incomplete. It will take a long time to transfer if we don''t." Shuki begins to analyze the flow of magical control (magi sequence). Adriana is thinking together with Shuki. "Hey dad, do you think this is a tunnel connecting two places that are far from each other? "Hm?......Yes, that''s right." I remember Ad saying that a long time ago. The world ...... is like a bubble floating in a larger space. Then, this magic circle must be a tunnel through the upper or lower space, connecting two points without loss of time.) < was not a feat, and even though he could not use magic, Shuki Tsetsi was indeed the best magical engineer in the world. I see!You are accumulating power by circulating it over and over again so that you can move even with a small amount of mana, aren''t you, father! And his beloved daughter, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, was also becoming a magical engineer close to her father. 1028 - - twenty metastatic phylum Shuki, his disciples, and Adriana worked together to analyze the magic circle. After a month, they finally obtained the key to the transition. "I see, the magic formula here connects the space. "Do we need precise to connect between two points?" "No, it seems that it is enough if the receiving side is clearly specified. The magic circle works on its own." "But father, it consumes a lot of mana, doesn''t it? Yes, Ado. That''s why the magic circle is amplifying the mana. "Why don''t we use mana tanks here? They work together to create a new technology. The result is ....... "Okay, this Warp Gate is practical!" "Master, you did it!" The warp gate developed at Mitsuho was still unstable and could not be used to send a human being to a warp gate with peace of mind. However, with this. Nevertheless, Shuki thought that it was necessary to conduct sufficient tests. "I''d like to test it over a short distance first. Humans are dangerous. ......" "In times like this, the Golem is the way to go!" The golem that Adriana had made in Yurgano was brought straight here to Karnagh. "<>" The golem wakes up in response to the key word. "Okay. Get inside that Magi-machine." Since it did not yet have a speech device, Adriana''s golem raised its right hand lightly to indicate that it understood, and then walked into the warp gate. "Stop there." The golem stops following Adriana''s instruction. "Okay, activate the warp gate!" At Shuki''s command, Tempest, one of the younger brothers, connects mana to the Warp Gate. "Oh? I could see the glow of a magic circle floating faintly inside the Warp Gate. The next moment, the glow disappeared, and with it, the golem also vanished. "Sir!A golem has appeared over here! A Golem appeared inside the receiving gate (warp gate) that was set up right next to it. Success! After that, the distance between the warp gates was increased and the experiment continued. "This is wonderful!" The result was that we were finally able to confirm that the transition to the neighboring town was successful. Compared to the previous warp gate, it took less time to start up and there was no limit to the number of objects that could be sent through it. Moreover, it is one-third the size and one-tenth the cost of the previous prototype. It was truly a . Shuki thought that one day he would like to replace the warp gate installed in Mitsuho with this model. And his beloved daughter will fulfill it in the distant future. * * * * * * * * * * * "<> sir!You have done well! < "This technology will revolutionize the country ...... and even the continent." The new technology will be unlike anything we have seen in the past, traveling by horse, carriage, or on foot. Travel time is almost zero, and as long as mana is supplied, it is possible to travel endlessly. Shuki and the others had already completed safety checks on their own. "There will be a revolution in the transportation of food, daily commodities, and materials. The king is in a good mood. "I will make you a special guest of honor. The king is willing to raise the level of his already exceptional treatment even higher. But Shuki, as expected, declined. No, I will not do that. I am still in the middle of my career, and I would like to spread the word more and more about magical engineering. "Hmm, I knew you would say that. But in that case, I would like you to accept my offer. The Prime Minister, who had been standing beside the king, takes over the detailed explanation. "Shuki-sama, as a <>, you will be treated like a high ranking nobleman wherever you go in this country. Wouldn''t that serve your purpose as well?" Certainly, there is nothing better than not having to go through unnecessary procedures on your journey to spread magical engineering within the Kingdom of Leonard. "......Okay, thank you very much." Thus, Shuki Tsetsi became a special guest of honor of the Kingdom of Leonard. "Dad, what is it?" One day during a lecture break. Shuki was taking Adriana out to the outskirts of Karnagh. "I have a favor to ask of Ad today." "What?What is it?I''ll do anything! Adriana is very determined. "Yes, today I want you to make something like this picture. Shuki handed a piece of leather paper to Adriana. "Hmmm, that''s a very interesting object. Is it small enough?" "Yes. It''s called <>, and it should only be a little over a meter long. The materials had been brought in beforehand. "Okay, let''s go for it!" Adriana had already become a better magecraftsman than her disciples. "Let''s see, we need to the stone into this shape and then attach it with <... ......" "Yeah, that looks good." "Hey dad, what is this animal-like statue?" <. "They are called . ...... hmmm, are foxes called komainu too?...... well, it''s kind of like a gatekeeper." "Hmm, so this is the gatekeeper. ......<>" The shrine, the guardians (?), and the torii gate were completed. And the torii gate was completed. The gate has an interesting shape. " "Yes, it''s a nice work. Thank you, Ado. Shuki thanked Adriana and patted her on the head. "Hey, you put a door on it, do you want to put something in it?" It is a shrine, so it has a door to put in a sacred object or something. "Yes, yes. Here." Shuki took out a small statue of a fox. "Is that a komanu?Is that a fox too? "Yes, though it looks like a fox. Look at ....... Shuki handed the statue to Adriana. "What is that?Is this a magi crystal? "Yes. < it." "Yes. < Then a magic circle appeared, and countless letters floated and flowed, then disappeared. "Is this a ...... record?" "Yes, it is. It''s like a ...... diary up to today. Maybe I''m going to seal it here so that my countrymen and mages comparable to Ad can read it." "Hmmm... ......" Shuki opens the door of the shrine and places the statue of the fox. Then he closes the door, "Ad, will you seal it for me?" "Yes, I''ll do it!" The seal is a boundary. It means to put a solid impenetrable barrier around the shrine. The magi stones for the warding were attached to the door of the shrine. "That''s it. Only a mage of a certain level of skill should be able to remove it. Shuki himself could no longer retrieve it. "I hope that someday someone who is interested in this shrine will take a look at the records inside and pass them on to future generations." The records contain not only the diary, but also information related to magical engineering. "Father, I''m sure that someone is just like you." Adriana smiles innocently next to Shuki, whose eyes seem to be staring off into the distance. Magical engineering was about to enter a period of development. 1029 - - 28-30 Reforming the 系统 System > "......" Everyone listening closed their eyes and was deeply moved. "So,...... your predecessor was Shuki''s adopted daughter. ......" The mystery of Adriana, Shuki''s wife and the previous Magecraft Meister Adriana, was finally solved. "Your mother was a genius from a very young age, wasn''t she?" Reiko looks happy. "The little flock was very stubborn back then. < remain. Vivienne said. "I wonder if this Magus came to the Kingdom of Leonard..." This is Milowina. Knowing the past is a very moving experience. It was a fresh surprise for Jin to learn that the warp gate had been completed largely through the work of the transfer magic circle in the former Leonard''s Kingdom. "Of course, we don''t know what happened to Mags and Adriana after that, do we? Reinhardt looks a little disappointed. "Kuhu, still, I didn''t realize that the warp gate was completed with the help of the transfer magic circle." Saki, like Jin, looks pleased to hear the information that connects the past and the present. "Yes, I guess it is very useful to know about the past," Toa muttered sincerely. Toa muttered sincerely. "Thank you, Jin-kun. You have given me valuable information. Stearina''s words seemed to represent the feelings of everyone. "Now, finally, I want you to look at that shrine. The shrine that the old man had ordered to be moved. With the exception of Elsa and Milowina, who had already seen the shrine in the former Leonard Kingdom, they left the institute with expectant eyes and headed for Jin''s . "Here, look at this." "Oh, ......!" "Interesting thing standing there, isn''t it?" Reinhardt pointed to a vermilion-lacquered torii gate. "Basically, it was built facing south or east, ...... I think." The broken one was repaired and the faded color was restored. Jin thinks it would have been better to keep the old color. "Oh, it''s called Torii," he said. It''s a gate that marks the boundary between the shrine and the Shinto shrine. "Jin, your world has some interesting things. What are those animals? Vivian observed with interest. "I think they are komainu (guardian dogs) ...... or komainu (foxes).I think they were gatekeepers." Unfortunately, Jin is not that familiar with shrines. But Vivian seemed convinced by his explanation. "Well, that''s an interesting way of thinking. If it were here, it would be like having a strong-looking demon as a gatekeeper. "Oh, I think so. There are other places that have a gatekeeper named <>. Kongorikishi is Nio. This is a temple, not a shrine, but Jin is not aware of it, and Vivian is not that concerned about the details. After taking a look around, everyone went back to the institute. * * * * * * Erza, who had remained in the conference room with Milowina, opened her mouth when everyone returned. "Brother Jin, Milowina-san said that there is a possibility that such a still remains. "I see..." That''s quite possible. "I''m sure that from Yuny knows the exact location." The old man, who had been listening to the conversation, immediately contacted . After about three minutes. This was not surprising, since both the old capital, Diaa, and Karnagh were located in the middle reaches of the Sopee River. Rivers are the stronghold of civilization, after all. "Do you have anything like that?" < "I''m afraid not." The former Leonard''s Kingdom is difficult to observe from the sky because of the illusionary boundary above the kingdom. Naturally, it has not been observed from the observation satellite . Detailed observation will be difficult unless we fly close to the surface or fly over the ground. "Well, that''s the way to go." Jin wanted to go looking for the ruins immediately, but changed his mind. It would be reckless to go to the ruins without doing any preliminary research. Especially if he was taking Erza and Milowina with him. "Do not be stingy, and do your best to investigate." Having given this instruction, there is nothing Jin can do at this point. The members of the family who had visited Horai Island also did the same, and they all returned to their respective bases. Vivian was the only one who wanted to talk to Milowina about some things, but she promised to return to Hourai since she had some unfinished business there. "Oh, there is one thing I should have done," he said. I thought there was nothing I could do, but I came up with the idea of upgrading the performance of the caregiver golem <, assuming that Milowina would accompany me. "Kai, can you keep Milowina safe?" Jin begins by asking. "No, the gigantor avrum the other day, I don''t think I can protect her if three of them appear. "I see." Kai''s strength was almost the same as Jin had expected. "Then, I''d like to make him a little stronger so that he can protect Milowina. "Yes, please." With a simple induction, he was able to get her to agree. Jin then laid Kai down on the workbench. "Tell me your ." The <> is a key word that is required for anyone other than the creator to stop the device, and is set when it is not possible for anyone to stop the device like a normal magic tool. "Yes, <>. "Dranel?" The word is unintelligible. It is a backward reading of <>, isn''t it? >> The old man, whose analytical skills are unparalleled, gave his guess. "Oh, I see, I see. ...... Okay,<><>" Kai stopped. Reiko assists Jin in carefully disassembling Kai. "As I thought, the model is different from its predecessor. ......" There are some similarities, but I think that is because it is based on . "Brother Jin, what do you think?" "Erza, where is Milowina?" Kai was away, so Elsa was accompanying him. She was tired and fell asleep a few minutes ago, so I left her in Edgar''s care for a while. "I see. Look, here it is." Elsa looked at the disassembled Kai lying on the floor, "...... different model?" She recognized it at first glance. "Correct. It must be a different lineage from the previous generation." "......, for example, Mr. Chateaune?" <. She was a magecraftsman of the same age as her predecessor, and it seems she was a genius as well. "That''s not impossible." Jin imagined that even if the basic name <> was the same, the direction of the subsequent development might have been different. 1030 - - 28-31 Significance of existence The framework of KAI was an alloy of aluminum, copper, and magnesium. It is an aluminum alloy commonly referred to as <. "Is UNY rich in aluminum?" < Then it is no wonder this material is used. "Well, we haven''t developed an aluminum-based magic alloy yet. ......" At this point, Jin went a little off on a tangent and decided to research aluminum alloys. "First of all, we need to do the standard mithril addition." He started by replacing half of the copper with mithril silver. "Hmmm, it is strengthened after all. The degree of strengthening was clearly increased by the magic. "Well, we don''t have much time, so let''s just go as far as determining the appropriate amount of mithril silver to be added. Jin, who did not want to take up too much time since the main purpose of his work was to modify Kai, experimented quickly. "Hmm, the first ratio is the best." Super duralumin is made of 94 percent aluminum, 4.5 percent copper, and 1.5 percent magnesium. Replacing half of the copper, or 2.25 percent, with mithril silver was found to be the most efficient way to magically strengthen the material. It is approximately 2.5 times stronger. "<>" or "<>." Since the volume change is negligible, we can continue with <> and <>. "I am always impressed with your work," said Jin. Erza marvels at Jin''s work, especially when he is working with metals. This was probably due to the fact that Jin himself was good at and liked such metalworking, in addition to the metal knowledge he had learned during his time in modern Japan. Now, let me digress. Having developed a new material, <>, for the chi, Jin is now considering what to do with the muscle tissue. "From the strength of the skeleton, the standard material should be sufficient. "Yes, I think so." The standard golem is made of threads of a ground spider, twisted in a special way. Even with this, it can produce two to five times the output of an ordinary golem, and depending on how it is used, nearly ten times the output. The only thing left to do is to upgrade the control core. We will replace it with all-attribute magic crystals (magi crystals) of Horai Island''s standard (or advanced in the eyes of the general public). "Let''s also replace the magic nerves." After upgrading in this way at key points and applying countermeasures against slavery magic, we reassemble it. The work was completed in about two and a half hours. "It looks like this was made in UNY using the technology of the old Leonard Kingdom. "Brother Jin, how do you know this?" "Well, since the password is spelled backwards from Leonard, I thought it might have been made by someone from the old Leonard''s Kingdom." "Oh." "Well, I could be wrong." With that, Jin reactivates Kai. "There we go. " "Yes, master." Kai gets up. His movements are smoother than before the modifications. "How are you feeling?" Kai checked himself before answering. "Yes, I''m fine, sir. Thank you very much. "Good, please continue to protect Mr. Mirwna. Yes, sir, I will. Thus, Kai, the golem that accompanied Milowena, became more powerful and once again served Milowena. "Now, one more thing..." "Brother Jin, anything more?" Erza looked at her watch and frowned. "Don''t worry. It won''t take long. I''m going to make a bracelet for Milowina." "Oh, I see." It is a task she is accustomed to making, and it takes no time at all. The color is silver with gold stripes. "Okay, done." Finally, Jin finished what he wanted to do and went to bed feeling satisfied. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, July 2. After finishing breakfast, Jin offered Milowina the bracelet. "Well, well, well, Jin-kun, what is this?" "This is called a , which can be used to create a barrier. It can also be used for personal identification and communication. It can also be used as a light. "Well, thank you, Mr. Jin." "The best feature of this device is that you can remotely control it to put up a barrier. It''s a good thing that we can do this even if we have overlooked it. Jin explained the functions to Milowina, who quickly learned them. "Oh, and I''ve made some improvements to Kai, so I think he''ll be useful as an escort. "...... Jin bro." Erza thought, "You don''t have to say that so lightly, like you just polished him up a little, But then Erza realized that she had to say it lightly, as if she had just polished it up a bit.) She realized that she was just trying not to make Milowina feel guilty, and kept her mouth shut. I don''t know if my guess was right or not. However, Milowina was happy to hear it, so I guess there was no problem. "Well, thank you for everything, Jin-kun. Kai, please keep up the good work." "Yes, Milowina-sama." At noon on the same day, a report came to Jin. "Oh, yes!" Jin had just finished his lunch, so he hurriedly drank up his tea and left Soleil to clean up the mess, and headed for the command center with Reiko. He gave himself a on his slightly burned tongue. Elsa and Milowina decided to have a leisurely cup of tea before heading out. "...... hmmm, that''s a bit of a long shot, isn''t it?" When Erza and Milowina arrived at the command center, they saw a slightly disappointed look on Jin''s face. Concerned by this, Erza called out to him. "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" Jin turned around, "I don''t think there is much hope for the ......1 site," he answered. Jin replied. Erza looked at the screen and saw the image on the screen and understood. "...... is terrible." Right?" The area where the ruins are supposed to have been is full of holes. It seems that decades, maybe even a century or so ago, a large scale excavation was done. It is not clear now whether the purpose of the digging was to find treasures that might have been buried in the ruins, or to mine underground resources such as ore. The passage of time is scary, isn''t it? Milowina, who peeked in from the side, also commented. It must be painful to see one''s hometown being razed to the ground. Some of the holes were dug vertically, others diagonally downwards, and some of them looked like anthills. "The former Leonard Kingdom is rich in mineral resources, so maybe this place was a mine for mineral resources. Jin muttered in a whisper. "Brother Jin, how did you know that this place used to be a ruin?" Erza asked, "How did you know this place was a ruin? "Oh, that''s ......." Jin gave some kind of signal and the screen switched. "Oh, ......." On the screen was the RAND team. They are holding something in their hands. No, not something. ....... "A piece of the ruins?" It is made of a dense whitish stone of varying sizes, and there is writing carved on the surface. What was written on them is not clear because they are in pieces, but we can imagine that they must have been part of a mural painting because there are words that can be read as <<<> in some places. Another group of Rand and the others were holding parts of a decaying magi-machine, and the barely legible magi formula suggested that it had probably once been a magi-brain. "You would think so, wouldn''t you?Unfortunately." Of course, Lando and the others had searched not only in the surrounding area but also in the basement, and they had found these in the large hall in the basement and a hidden room in the back of the hall. "Jin, these things happen." Surprisingly, Milowina was not too disappointed. "Maybe it''s because I saw the ruins at Diaa and Karnagh. In short, she had realized the impermanence of all things, I guess. "And it''s because I saw the people of the village of Kaina." Milowina says that the continuation of human life is proof of her existence. "It is a blessing to have someone to whom you can entrust what you have built." More than leaving records, more than building ruins. Milowina smiles and says to Jin as if to admonish him, "Leaving behind a successor may be the meaning of human existence. 1031 - - 28-32 The Last Remains "Successor?" It was Reiko who uttered the words. Indeed, Reiko had been searching for a successor for about a thousand years after the death of the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, who had been searching for a successor for about a thousand years. So I guess it''s fair to say that I understand the weight of her words better than anyone else. Yes. One day we all decay, but our thoughts, our teachings, and our wills will be passed on. Milowina''s words seemed to be addressed to Jin, as if she were saying them to herself. "Successor ......." Jin glanced at Elsa''s face. "?" Erza tilted her head, unsure of the meaning of that look. Jin was about to say something when... "Oh, you did it!" < That''s good news. Then the appearance of the ruins is shown. "Well, this is ......." "Do you know it, Mr. Milowina?" "Yes. Yes, but I''ve only seen it in the archives. It''s a traditional building from the Kingdom of Leonard. "This is ......" What was shown on the screen was a . No, it was a building just like it. < is a on earth to enshrine the relics of the Buddha, but here it may house some important . "Interesting, style." "The exterior seems to be made of metal. That''s why it''s so durable." I''m not sure how long it''s been there, but it glows a dull gold in places. Surrounding it was a meadow dotted with rocks, where an animal resembling a goat was grazing. Their hair hung down long and they looked warm. "Maybe these animals are the reason the grassland was maintained." "Brother Jin, that fur looks warm. I think it''s called a Qasimir or something. "If we shorn its hair and made it into yarn, we could have a good quality product." You are right. The Cashmir is very close to the Cashmere goat of the earth, and its hair was once a luxury item in the Kingdom of Leonard. However, they were a specialty of the Leonard Kingdom and were difficult to breed, so they did not catch on in other countries. "I''d like to try my hand at breeding them somewhere ......, but that''s not the point right now." The screen shows the surroundings. Buildings made of stone are seen. "Ah, this used to be a city made of stone. Milowina murmurs nostalgically. She is probably happy to see that even a small part of her hometown still remains, even if she has only seen it in the records. It seems that the town was not surrounded by walls, and it is not clear where the town is and where the outside is. When herbivores are taking it easy... you know there''s little danger from predators. "I see. Then I guess we can go there. Jin is enthusiastic. "Yes, I''d like to go there. When Milowina mentioned that she wanted to visit the ruins, it was decided that they would go to the ruins. Since the Land and Raptor teams were already there, Jin and his team made a quick preparation and departed in <>. After jumping over the sea and approaching the land, Jin pointed to the floor and said, "I''ll open it, "I''ll open it. Jin pointed at the floor and said, "I''ll open it. In response, a part of the floor turned transparent. No, the cover slid down to reveal a window. "I''ve made some modifications," he said. "Oh, my God, it''s beautiful! "Brother Jin, when did you do this?" I can do this for you in no time at all. < was made of a transparent material. "This will make it easier to see the ground, won''t it?" "Yes, yes. Thank you, Mr. Jin. < Mirwna gazed intently at the ground. arrived at the Darth River site at 4 pm local time. The summer day was still bright. In the grassy field below, the land team had formed a circle to ensure their safety. "We''re landing!" Pilot Edgar successfully lowered and landed in the center of the rand circle. As if frustrated by the opening of the door, Milowina jumped out head first. "Be careful!" Jin called out, "Jin, your men made sure it was safe, didn''t they?Then you''ll be fine!Kai is with me, and I have the bracelet. Milowina looked at the pagoda about 100 meters away. It looks just as I saw it in the pictures. But the real thing is much, much better. Jin also understands this sentiment. Even in modern Japan, people who think they know famous tourist attractions from postcards and photo albums are often overwhelmed by the power of the real thing. Jin decided to leave Milowina alone as she gazed at the ruins. He asked Erza to stay with him while he listened to the report from Land 61 from a little distance away. "Master, there is a large cavity in the basement here. I can''t sense any magic, so I don''t think there are any demons nesting here. Yeah, and? That big building has a 22-karat gold outer covering that''s been tempered to the utmost. What? ...... I know that the former Leonard Kingdom was rich in underground resources, but to be able to use that much gold, Jin was half impressed and half dismayed. "No, it''s just a . Not all of it is gold, but only about a millimeter of the surface layer is made of 22k gold. It is more gold clad than plated. Still, the amount of gold is substantial. "The inside of the gold cladding seems to be a copper alloy." He says, "It''s probably bronze with some kind of reinforcing magic. "I see." And inside, there''s something that emits mana. He says nothing more than that can be seen from the outside. "Hmm. Is it a magic brain or a recording device?" If it is emitting mana, it means that there is some kind of magical machine and that it is still alive. "We need to be careful, don''t we?" Reiko, standing next to Jin, pulled his sleeve. Then Milowina arrived with Elsa. Jin-kun, is something wrong? "No, actually. ......" Jin explained the results of the RAND team''s investigation. "I see. We have to be careful about what''s in these ruins. "Yes. There are no major dangers, but there may be some minor dangers. We have to make that judgment if the magi-machine inside is still alive. "Then, Brother Jin. What exactly are you going to do?" First, we''ll use a doppelganger. Jin-kun, is the doppelganger supposed to take the place of Jin-kun? Yes, it is. Let''s go back to Horai Island for now. The last remains of the old Leonard''s Kingdom. Jin, together with Milowina, Erza, and others, used the Warp Gate of <> and returned to Horai Island. 1032 - - 28-33 Capture Jin entered the command center of Horai Island with Milowina and Erza. "Old man, get ready for the doppelganger. Please forward them to the site together with Reiko. < Reiko, I''ll be in touch. ...... yes, father. Reiko is the only one who can take charge of the scene. Reiko hesitated for a moment, and then, following Jin''s wish, she moved to the Darth River site again. Three minutes later, the <> was transferred. "So this is how it looks like." Milowina gazed intently at the images from the <>. First, the wards around the <>. This is the reason why the golden building has remained safe and sound for hundreds of years without being robbed. "That''s a pretty hard ward, isn''t it?" Reiko is about to break it by force, so Jin gives the order to break it before she does. "I''d like to investigate without breaking it as much as possible. Please do so." Reiko, who had been told by Jin to <, ran around a radius of 500 meters, looking for the generator. At the same time, the Rand team also searched, but it was Reiko who found it. < in the form of equilateral triangles. "Okay, use the <>. The Aether Jammer has the effect of taking control of the free magical element (ether) in a certain area and sealing magic. It is the same with magic tools. When the supply of free magical energy (ether) runs out, the warding generator naturally stops. Rand''s team should continue to use ether jammers to shut down the warding generators. Now it is time to investigate the Pagoda. < "Interesting entrance." "...... Wait, Jin. I remember now. It''s a dummy." Milowina waited for him. "I remember seeing that in the book. It''s supposed to be the entrance to the trap. "Well, ...... thank you." I don''t mind most of the traps, but it would honestly be nice to not have to disarm them and avoid them. "So, the underground caverns are more like pitfalls, right?" "Maybe." Erza agreed with Jin''s mutterings. Originally, they might be dropped into a pit and then restrained. "Well, what does it say about the entrance ......?" Milowina ponders. "Oh, yes. There is a building with a transfer magic circle a short distance away ......." She starts to say "" and holds her tongue. "......... it doesn''t look like it''s safe." The area around the building was almost completely rubble. The wards seem to have protected only the , and no other buildings were found safe. > The old man suggests, but I have a concern. "It''s a bit like Uny, isn''t it ......?" "Yes, it is. There are basically no entrances or exits there either. Jin ponders. Then he asked Milowina a question. "What if...what if...? If we were to enter there by transfer, what do you think the chances are that we would be considered enemies? "Well, 50-50, I guess. I don''t know. I can''t be too sure. "I guess so. And so, first, Shinobi Unit 1 and 2 went to scout the area by transporter. "Well, they''re cute." "They were very active in the UNY." They are a proven Shinobi unit. < Incidentally, the coordinates are based on the land troops in the vicinity of <>, so they are very accurate. "Oh, I see the inside." Shinobu I sent the image. "Hey, Jin-kun, this image is what the little golem''s eyes saw earlier, right?" Milowina asked after thinking for a moment. "Yes, it is, what is it?" "You know, I was a little surprised at how clear the images were from such small eyes." In short, he was talking about the image quality when the magnification rate is large or the image receiving element is small. "I see what you mean. <, we use especially high-quality light-attribute magical crystals (Magi Crystals). The magi crystals were carefully selected. However, since they are small, one magi crystal can be used to make many magi crystals. The eyes of birds of prey such as hawks and eagles can see much farther even though they are smaller than humans, and just as owls can find their prey in the dark, the eyes of the ninja troops are specially made. "I see. That''s why you''re so good, Jin-kun." "Thank you." Jin was inwardly impressed that Milowina had such knowledge. "Brother Jin, look." Erza pointed at the screen. "Oh?Is that a ...... golem?" It is a golem with a dull gold color. "It''s about ......2 meters in size." It was hard to tell on the screen because there was nothing to compare it to, and the image was taken from the perspective of a miniature Shinobi troop. "Brother Jin, is that gold too?" . The old man replied to Elsa''s question. "I wish I had a sample. ......" We need to examine the inside of this <> more than that now. < "Wait, let''s start with the corporal, and if he is still undistracted, let''s send the remaining 5, and so on." . So, three more were sent in: three, four, and five. So far there has been no change in the . There are five golden golems. Jin thought they might be guards. They have no weapons of any kind. The interior seems to be divided into several layers, and this place with the five golems seems to be the lowest layer. <> In the center of the room, there was a spiral stairway to the top. "Wait!" Milowina stopped him. That staircase could be a trap too. Indeed, with no way in or out of the , the means of transportation to each floor could also be a transfer. So I decided to look for a transfer magic circle. "I don''t see any ......." Five Shinobi members split up, but they could not find it. Then, the remaining five members, Riku, Urushi, Saru, Ku, and Pickup, were also sent in. The search for the ten units begins. The effect of the search is immediately apparent. . "Oh, where was it?" In a sense, it is a blind spot. There was a small magic circle engraved on the floor of the 0th step of the staircase, ...... that is to say. "It looks like a labyrinthine strategy," Jin muttered. Jin muttered to himself. Elsa and Milowina did not seem to hear him. Milowena knew how to activate the transfer magic circle. "I know that model. < "Thank you." The old man, who had heard the conversation between Jin and the others, immediately informed the Shinobi Forces. < The Shinobi picked up the target and moved to the other side first. One minute later, the Shinobi were informed that there was nothing wrong, and they were dispatched from Ichi to Corporal. After another 2 minutes, Kusu from Riku moved to the upper level, and all of them moved to the upper level. 1033 - - 28-34 Found? < "Assuming this is the second floor, what the hell is on the second floor?" The image sent to us looked like a deserted hall. "In terms of size, this floor doesn''t seem to be separated from the rest of the building either. The first and second floors appear to be rooms the size of the itself, which means they are not divided into smaller rooms. "...... has withstood well in terms of strength." The horizontal section of the < is almost circular, with a diameter of about 30 meters. There is nothing to support it except for the spiral staircase in the center. Jin was impressed by how well the second floor of the pagoda had held up. "Huh?" Jin noticed that the spiral staircase did not lead to this level. "It was a dummy after all. The old man''s guess is not far off the mark. "Then, there must be some kind of trap in this level, too. However, on earth, it is equivalent to the 8,000-meter-high Himalayas. If you were suddenly exposed to it, you would have difficulty breathing. "You''re lucky you''re in the Shinobi Corps." Even in a vacuum, they can act. And soon the transfer magic circle was discovered. The lack of obstacles made it easy to find. Then, perhaps, the transfer to the third floor took place. "This is ......" The room was filled with magic tools. "Are there no walls here either?" The hierarchy also appears to be circular. < What? According to <<<< MagiRadar, this is the third floor, but this room is slightly smaller in diameter than it should be. "I see." It is a disguise that only the old man could have noticed. "So the means of transportation is outside the room?" < "The magic tool is ......" Jin says, If they are moved carelessly, various traps will be activated. "Then let''s leave the magic tools alone and look for the transfer magic circle. < "I don''t think it''s a good idea to have a hierarchy full of traps. Then Oshiku, who had been exploring the walls, found the hidden door. At about the same time, Shinobu also found a hidden door. "It is possible that one or both of them are traps." "....... Whoever made it has a very bad character. Erza agreed with Jin''s comment. They looked for another door, but couldn''t find it. "Well, I don''t know..." Jin himself rarely played video games, so he was not familiar with the variations of such traps. "...... Jin, you ...... that door seems to be a trap too." Milowina said in a whisper with a hint of slyness. Jin nodded. "I see, it is misleading. The old man hears this and says his own theory. This is a rare pattern in game dungeons. It is rare in a game dungeon that you have to go to the next tower to get to the upper floor of the main tower, or that you have to go underground to find the way to the top. Unfortunately, Jin had no experience with such games. Reiko makes a suggestion. "Hmmm... ......" < "Okay, let''s do it." Jin decides. "I think that''s closer to the right answer than you think, Jin. Milowina sounded impressed. * * * * * * "Your father has given his permission. Good day." Reiko returned to Horai Island by the warp gate of and was transported to the inside of by a transporter. "Is this the top of the pagoda? There seemed to be no doubt about it. The ceiling was round and the room was round. The diameter of the room was about 5 meters. And there it was. "It''s not a magic brain ....... A recording device, perhaps." It was a magi-machine about the size of a study desk. It has a small magic screen and looks a bit like a large computer. The mana is alive, isn''t it? Shall I call your father to check?" Since there seemed to be no great danger, Reiko reported to the old man and asked him to send Jin''s <> to her. A minute later, the <> arrived with a happy face. Of course, it is Jin who is happy. > Jin''s doppelganger, who had looked around with a wry smile, first started to investigate the recording device-like magi-machine in front of him. < Jin''s doppelganger continues to analyze the data while muttering to itself, just like Jin. Meanwhile, Reiko is on the lookout. "Old man, please send me one Magi Crystal for my record. Jin instructed the old man in the Horaijima command center. . Without a pause, the old man transfers the Magi Crystal. Since the doppelganger is a marker, he was able to send it with almost no error. The Magi Crystal appears in front of the doppelganger. <>>> After making a copy of the information, Jin has his doppelganger investigate the surroundings, since it is unlikely that he simply stored this information. > Jin thinks to himself. "Huh?Wait, ......." At this point, Jin suddenly thought of something. "Normally, <> are ......" 1034 - - 28-35 The Truth of the Ruins "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" Erza wonders as Jin, who was in the control room piloting the doppelganger, suddenly raises his voice loudly. "......No, I''ve noticed something." Saying this, Jin temporarily left the control of the doppelganger to the old man and turned to Erza and Milowina. "Hey, Milowina-san, do you think those ruins could be the tombs of royalty?" "Huh?" "Huh?" Elsa and Milowina shouted at the same time. "In the world I was in, such were supposed to house the remains of saints. At least in the early days. Originally, a was a place to store the remains of the Buddha, and it seems to be the same thing as a <. I''ll leave it at that. "...... That was a blind spot." Milowina answers with a slight smile and apologizes. "Yes, I think I have read something like that. I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it. I am sorry. "I thought that ruins meant that there were artifacts left behind." Elsa looks down a little. Right? Then the old man reported. The Shinobi troop took it out of the Pagoda and brought it back using the warp gate of <>, and the old man analyzed it in a hurry. "You mean?" <> "I see... ......" This must be a <. If anything is missing, it''s probably a burial, and if we try to dig it up, we''ll be . Jin orders everyone to leave. "Yes, that''s a good idea. Milowina agreed. The shinobi troop immediately withdrew from the area. Reiko and her doppelganger also left with the transfer device. Lando''s unit returns to the island with the Raptor squad. The doppelgangers and the shinobi slowly return by , but Reiko is the only one to return by the warp gate. "Father, I have just returned." "Thank you." Jin had not gained much in spite of all the preparations he had made, but he decided to let this happen. "Yes?" "Yes, the structure of the golem on the first floor and a gold-based magic alloy. Oh, that''s good news. < That''s even better news! < "North or ......" Jin, who had received this information, had a thought that it might be possible, but he kept it to himself, not saying it out loud because it was too vague. He then turned his mind to technical matters. I was not going to talk about technical matters, so I decided to talk about the technical aspects. Since this was going to be a technical talk, Milowina went to a hot spring. She was accompanied by Kai. Jin and Erza remained in the command center. A simplified diagram drawn by the old man appeared on the screen. "Oh, interesting. An interchangeable system, ......." The model is clearly not an Adriana type. The arms and legs are easily interchangeable. "It''s possible because it''s not an endoskeleton." "...... Jin brother, the structure of the joints is interesting." Jin and Elsa were interested in the screen. The joints are spheres. It is similar to the spherical-jointed dolls. However, since no rubber or springs are used, there are no grooves or holes in the joints. "Brother Jin, is it magic power that''s keeping them together?" "...... Well, it''s a little hard to tell from this diagram." <> and a weaker magic. This is the information from the shinobi troops who were at the scene. "Hmmm......<<> or ...... so it seems." Jin thought for a while and came to a conclusion. "I guess it is <> by magic power. As a force, it would be the same quality as the one used by the ." "...... interesting." Erza also seems to be interested in Jin''s guess. "Yes. It is worth studying." And one more thing, <>. < "I see!You replaced the silver used to make 22-karat gold with mithril silver!" As expected of Jin, he seems to have figured it out right away just by asking. <<91.7% is gold, to which copper, silver, and mithril silver are added. "I knew it." "That''s true. "I know that. ......Okay, let''s study the gold-based magic alloys as well." <<> Jin gave instructions for the development of a gold-based magical alloy, Magigold, as he thought it could be of use. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After all the instructions are finished, Jin and Erza finally have time to relax. They are now drinking tea and relaxing. Reiko is standing a little away from them out of consideration. "...... I guess that''s all for now." "Yes, I think so." "And then the world conference." "It''s a lot of work, but it''s worth it. ......By the way, Jin." Erza looked into Jin''s face and asked. "You still haven''t announced about the old Leonard kingdom or about Milowina?" "Oh, about that..." Jin closed his eyes to collect his thoughts. "I''m starting to understand a little more about my ...... predecessor, though." Then he suddenly opens his mouth. "?......Yes." "There''s something I still don''t understand. Why did my predecessor retreat to Horai Island? "...... ah." Jin opened his eyes and looked at Erza. "The time when he was with <> and the time when he shut himself away. I don''t know what happened in between." "...... sure." Then Jin skipped the explanation and spoke his conclusion. "That''s why I''m still hesitant to announce what Erza just said. "...... understand." Despite her skipped explanation, Erza seems to have understood. "If we are going to explain the past history, we can''t just talk about the old Leonard''s Kingdom and Mr. Milowina, but we have to explain about the <> as well. Then I would have to tell you about my predecessor. But, since we don''t know why our predecessors were persecuted, Brother Jin is hesitant to disclose it. Is ...... correct?" Jin nodded his head. I don''t want to unnecessarily disrupt the meeting. "Yes, that''s what I meant. Maybe I''m being a bit too timid, but I want to make the first world conference a success first." Jin said, "We can let people know about the past after that. Erza agreed. "Yes, I want to make it a success." After saying this, Erza looked at Jin and smiled. "I think Jin will be able to overcome any problems that come his way, though. Jin smiled back at Erza. "Yeah. I have Erza and the rest of my family ...... and Hourai Island." "Yes, I will help you as much as I can." "Thank you, Elsa. ...... And Reiko, come here." "Yes, Father." Reiko walks up to him. "You''re here so I can do what I want without having to worry about anything. I''m counting on you to do the same for me." Reiko''s face breaks into a smile when Jin calls out to her. "Yes, I''ll leave it to you! "And you, my lord." < The old man answered. "Taibai, Xiao Laojun, Gengshen, Jack, Soleil, Luna ......." One after another, Jin listed the names of those who supported him. "Please keep up the good work." There are only 8 days left until the World Conference. The wind in the invincible island of Horai had turned to summer. 1035 - - 28-36 Chat 58 Chilseok July 7. "So, tonight is Tanabata. Jin starts at the workshop in the village of Kaina. "What''s Tanabata?" Hannah, as if she didn''t know, raised her voice in question. Last year, there had been the Gigantopedal disturbance just before the event, and seven days had passed before we knew it while we were working on the boundary bomb and super-cooling magic <>. "Well, the seventh day of the seventh month is called the <. We hang strips of paper with our wishes written on them on a bamboo branch and pray. Jin explained very simply. "Really, you''re asking the stars for a wish?" "Yes. By the way, there are no bamboo branches near the village of Kaina. But there are bamboo thickets on the east side of Horai Island. Old man, please send me some bamboos. Three minutes after the old man replied, the bamboos appeared on the first floor of the workshop. . "Well, tell him thank you for your hard work." "Hey, was that a bamboo?" "Yes, you could say that." Jin himself does not know the difference between bamboo and bamboo grass. Bamboo shoots have a skin that sticks to the bamboo shoot after it grows up, while bamboos fall off. However, there are some species that are called "bamboo" but are actually bamboos (e.g. Yadake), and others that are called "sasa" but are actually bamboos (e.g. Okamezasa). Let''s take a break from this. "Here, let''s decorate it like this: ......" "Wow, interesting!" =Japanese paper dyed with dyes is used to make chains, lanterns, nets, stars, and other decorations. Hannah is also making them, but she is quite good at it. Hannah is very good with her hands. "Really? Hannah tilts her head. She looks happy to be praised by Jin. Jin ...... what''s that? Then Erza came over. "It''s a tanabata decoration. It''s Tanabata tonight. Jin gave the same explanation as he had given to Hannah. "Well, we''d better prepare yukata too. I have a yukata that I made for last year''s summer festival, so I''ll have it ready for you," Jin thought. "Father, why don''t you make him a new yukata?" Reiko, who had kept quiet until then, suggested. "Okay. That''s true." Hannah is growing up and Elsa and I are engaged. Both of them are different from last year, so let''s dress them in different yukata from last year. Thus, they decided to make a yukata in a hurry. The fabric was cotton obtained from Mitsuho. The fabric is made of cotton from Mitsuho. A little bit of ground spider yarn is blended into the fabric to prevent wrinkling. "Hmmm, what about the pattern? ......" I''ve decided on light blue for Elsa and peach for Hannah, but I can''t decide on the pattern. "Goshujin-sama, if it''s a flower, it should be a flower, and if it''s a pattern, it should be a pattern. While I was struggling in the workshop on Horai Island, Anne came to me and gave me some advice. Anne had a broad perspective, having worked for various masters after being manufactured in the Kingdom of Dinar in the past. This has helped Jin from time to time. "Yes, that''s right. Then, let''s make Erza a flower ...... Nadeshiko and Hannah a ...... goldfish. Surprisingly, it was an easy decision. We start work on them immediately. Once the design is decided, the rest is the same as the drawing, so it becomes Jin''s field. Jin''s theory is that there is no need to be eccentric in the design of a yukata. "I want to respect tradition. This is the reason. The yukata, including the painting, was completed in about an hour. It was only 4:00 p.m. on Horai Island, so it was 1:40 p.m. in Kaina Village. It was still broad daylight. "Wow, Onii-chan, thank you! "Thank you, Jin-bro, thank you!" Both of them are smiling with their new yukata. I changed my clothes on the second floor of Jin''s . Hannah no longer changes in front of Jin''s eyes. Jin felt that Hannah had grown up in such a way. "Hello again, Onii-chan! "...... Jin-bro, how are you doing?" Jin''s face broke into a smile when he saw them coming downstairs after getting dressed. "Yes, it looks good on you. I''m glad." Since they had worn the same clothes last year, the direction of the sleeves was not reversed, and the hem did not come off too much. The two of them were dressed properly. "So, shall we write strips of paper?" "Yes." ><< They hang strips of paper with words such as "Brother Jin, I can''t lift my arm. "Oh, in that case... ......" Basically, Japanese kimonos have a structure that makes it difficult to raise the arms straight up, as in <. In such cases, the sleeves must be rolled up. This is why there is even a small item called a sasuki-gake (sashikake). In this case, we will roll up the sleeves of a yukata so that the arms can be raised above the ground. "This way..." Erza ties a strip of string to the top of the bamboo branch. Jin is a little disconcerted by the whiteness of her rolled-up arms. Oh, I knew it! "Oh, it''s a beautiful starry sky when I look at it again, isn''t it? The starry sky seen from the village of Kaina was much more beautiful than the sky in the Tokyo metropolitan area of modern Japan that Jin knew. "I can see the Milky Way, so this star must be in the galaxy. Since the world congress will be held soon, I have not been able to do much, so Jin and I are doing this Tanabata alone. I will be busy from tomorrow. So just for tonight, both Jin and Erza were enjoying this moment with all their hearts. In the sky, a bright star ...... was shining brightly. 1036 - - 29-01 First Platoon. July 8, 3458. It is two days before the World Conference. On this day, the representatives of the Shoro Kingdom and the Elias Kingdom are scheduled to arrive in Kunlun Island. The rest of the countries will arrive on the following day, the 9th. Since this was the first time and the meeting was sudden, the schedule had to be adjusted. Jin would have liked to have arrived a little earlier. But for that reason, I have reconsidered the possibility of having him stay after the meeting if he likes. "First the Shoro Kingdom, and then the Elias Kingdom on the way back, in that order." <, as if to confirm. Since there is a time difference of 4 hours and 20 minutes from the Kunlun Island, we hope to arrive at the Shoro Kingdom around 8:00 in the morning. The crew consists of Jin, Erza, Reiko, Lando 99 and 100 as escorts, Butler 11 and 12 as caretakers, Soleil and 12, Soleil and Luna, and Anne. The pilot is Edgar. The trip to the airport is by transporter, so it takes only a moment. Preparation for the flight is little more than cleaning the cabin. Jin and Erza put on their formal attire and boarded <>. "Okay, let''s go. The time is 1:00 p.m. Horai Island time. <> soared into the sky of Horai Island and was transferred to the Shoro Kingdom by ......<>. Since the existence of the transporter is top-secret, it is not visible from Miyagi, so it slowly descends from the sky above. "Ah!" In the palace square below, the guards of honor had already lined up to welcome the Kunlun and prepare for the ceremony to send off the emperor. "You''re a quick ......." She''s that kind of person. "Yes." The aircraft slowly descends to the landing pad. As soon as they landed, a band played music. Although Jin is not used to this, Elsa takes him by the arm and they head for the ramp. Jin regains his composure and quickens his pace, taking his foot half a step ahead of Elsa on the ramp. He then descends the ramp, aided by Erza. Reiko, followed by Soleil and Luna. "Welcome, Kunlun-kun! Her Imperial Highness, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shoro, the Shoro Imperial Princess Emperor, greets the group, flanked on either side by female knights. < The golden Soleil and the silver Luna are supposed to be the first public appearances. They are about the same size as Reiko, but their splendid shapes and their matt gold and silver colors, which are not too flashy, attracted the public''s attention. "I have come to welcome you, Your Majesty." Jin bowing in the Japanese style and Elsa giving the curtesy. "Thank you." After the words of the Empress, the Prime Minister introduced the final participants. "Accompanying me is the Minister of Magical Technology, Mr. Degas Furth von Manischlus. Minister of Magical Technology Deghaus advanced. "To escort you, the lady knight of the Kingsguard, Flora Heckerath von Merante." Flora stepped forward and bowed. "Commander Fritz Randall von Grosch." Fritz also steps forward and bows. "I would like two male servants and two female servants to accompany you to take care of your personal needs. They had been informed of this in advance, so there was no problem at all. "Well then, Your Majesty, off you go. Korun, please take good care of His Majesty. Prime Minister Jung Forss von K?bsler bowed deeply. With this brief exchange, Jin and his party and the emperor''s entourage board the . As a side note, from this point on, it became customary to go to the World Congress with only a short, not-so-ceremonial ceremony like this. It was undoubtedly the female emperor who pioneered this practice. * * * * * * * * * Please make yourselves at home on board. "Yes, I''m afraid the formalities are only for the meeting. Suit yourselves! The Empress declares. Perhaps it is she who wants the most freedom. The music of the orchestra sends <> floating into the sky. "Wow, it flew! The Empress gazes out the window. "Your Majesty, you''re being very modest!" Degauss, the Minister of Magic and Technology, chides her, but to no avail. Then he looked at Flora, the female knight of the Kingsguard, who was also glued to the window, just like the emperor. The servants were also glued to the windows. Fritz is talking with his sister, whom he has not seen for a long time. The Minister of Magical Arts and Technology is concerned that he may have gone a little too far, even though the Empress had told him to go free. However, Degauze was afraid to speak too loudly to the queen herself, so he cried out to Jin. "<>, can''t you do something about it?" "Yes. ......" Jin decided to open the floor window he had added for Milowina. "Your Majesty, this way." "What?Jin." The female emperor turned around and saw that the floor was transparent and cheered. "My God!This is a window! "Yes, you can see it from where you are sitting, can''t you?" "Yes, thank you!You''re the best! The emperor, who had finally calmed down, sat down and stared at the ground through the window on the floor. Fritz, on the other hand, was asking his sister Elsa many questions. "What is the maximum speed of this airship?" How many people can it hold? These questions were typical of military personnel. Elsa answered them to the extent that it was not too much of a problem. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In about two hours, <> arrived at the Kingdom of Elias. Since Jin had explained the time difference to the Shoro delegation on board the ship, these phenomena were accepted with interest. At 1:00 p.m., they arrived at Borgia. Shortly before that, the kingdom''s hot-air balloon had been the first to detect and report the group''s arrival, so that by the time <> landed in front of the castle, everything was already in place to welcome them. "<> Sir Jin Nido, thank you for your hospitality." Joining them from the Kingdom of Elias were the Prime Minister, Marquis Godopher de Toves Rossi, and the Minister of Administration, Marquis Dominique de Zaus Firenziano. Their escort is Noust Varin, vice-captain of the Kingsguard. The rest are servants, two men and two women. The king, Blitzen Skala Elias XII, is in poor health and has decided not to attend. <. * * * * * * * * * * * * The leaders of the Kingdom of Elias, though to different degrees, also lost themselves in the experience of flying and gazed intently at the scenery below from the floor windows. The flight with the group arrives at the Kunlun Island in about an hour and a half. "Welcome to the Kunlun Island. The group was welcomed with the familiar line, "Welcome to the Kunlun Island. 1037 - - 29-02 Welcome "Oh my!What a lovely building!" "This is ...... amazing." "I''ve never seen this style before, but it''s beautiful." "It''s just as I expected." < "Welcome to the Jade Pavilion. I am Lor, the general manager of the Jade Pavilion. Lol, a blue-haired automaton, greets the guests. He is flanked on either side by a total of 100 five-colored golem maids, 20 of each color. "Wow, that''s amazing. ...... "Please come this way." Jin led the group through the woods and into the <>. "Oh, my God!What is this building?" The group was still in awe. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! I am the hostess of the Wujinggaku, Lefa. "What a lovely outfit ......." Refa, who was dressed in a kind of clasped sleeves as a young proprietress, greeted the guests. On either side of her are 100 five-colored golem maids, 20 of each, wearing arrow-gasuri kimono and aprons. * * * * * * * * * * "This ,beautiful ...... garden is also very elegant. "You are absolutely right, Your Majesty. The Empress and the Marquis of Florenziano are talking in the common room of the Wujinggaku. The room is a wooden floor with Japanese style tables and chairs so that the guests can spend their time without feeling uncomfortable. "It is also nice that there are no walls and you can look out over the garden. The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Elias, the Marquis Godopher, seemed to like it as well. The architectural style is interesting. More than that, the skill of building such a large building out of wood is also impressive. Degauze, Minister of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Kingdom, was also intrigued. "However, I suppose we''ll be staying at the Jade Pavilion over there." "Yes, Your Majesty. < has assured us of your safety, I''m afraid we might be considered a bit careless here. In fact, as long as <>, the magical brain who once managed the Magi Fortress, is watching over us, we are both safe. "Well, Your Majesty, shall we go to the Jade Pavilion now?" "Yes, I suppose so." Due to the time difference, it''s already late afternoon when they arrived in Kunlun Island. Therefore, it was already 6:00 p.m., and it was about to get dark. Oh, my God! "Oh my, the sea looks nice from here. < Since there is no sea in Leusat, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, the emperor was deeply impressed by the view of the sea at dusk. * * * * * * * * * * * ...... are you sure you want us to be treated like this? "Look at this bedding. It''s soft and fluffy. The servants were also given a room in the Jade Pavilion, and they too were impressed by the comfort of the room. "......Hey, have you tried it?Have you tried this bathroom? It doesn''t smell and it''s very comfortable!" "Yes, I''ve seen it, I''ve seen it. And look!It''s got a bath in the room. There''s a washbasin. It''s got hot water!" "This is more comfortable than my parents'' house. ......" "You''ll want to live here forever. ......" * * * Sir, how do you like it? In the VIP room of the Kingdom of Elias, the Marquis Godopher and the Marquis Florenziano were having a conversation. "Well, you were right. < "Yes. Yes, but he is at heart the same as we are. He is the same as us. "Indeed. ...... is the only one I don''t want to fight with." Then the Marchese Florenziano smiled and said, "That''s easy, "That''s easy. He gets angry when the peace is broken. He said. "Well, it is easy, but difficult. "Isn''t that why we are having this ?" "Yes, that''s right." * * * Dinner was brought to each room. It was modeled after the local specialties and courtly dishes of various countries. The taste was so good that no one could complain about it. The guards are now relaxed. The guards are now relaxed. With a few exceptions. Fritz and Flora stand guard in front of the emperor''s room. The golems that Jin has deployed are standing in key places, but they are proud to be the last line of defense with their own soldiers. "Flora, are you sure you don''t want me to stay here with you?" Fritz wondered if Flora, a female knight of the Kingsguard, should be guarding her in her room. "No, Your Majesty said that I need not accompany you today. "Doesn''t that mean I''m free to go?" But Flora shakes her head at Fritz''s words. "No, my duty is to protect you, Your Majesty. "You''re very serious, Flora." Fritz smiles bitterly. "Of course I am. That''s what I''m supposed to do." "Well, that''s understandable. But you have to be a little more flexible in your thinking before you can be of any use to us. "...... what do you mean?" Fritz says to Flora as if to admonish her. "Think about it. Think about it. We are no match for him. He is the one who protects this island. But just in case! Yes. So, that "just in case" is a danger much closer to home. Flora is taken aback by his words. "Let me use a simple analogy. If there were a force that attacked this island, Jin-dono has the power to keep them at bay. However, if they were to slip among us and try to secretly harm His Majesty, there is a possibility that we would not be able to reach him in time. That''s why you should save your power until such a situation arises. "...... Is that what you are talking about after tomorrow, when the other nations gather?" Flora seemed to understand Fritz''s analogy a little better and began to think for herself. "Well, you know. It''s just an analogy. Anyway, you are no good as a guard if you can''t exert yourself when the time comes, Flora. Fritz said and sat down in the hallway. "What!Are you going to spend the night there? "Yes. I''m a soldier. A night shift in such a nice environment would be a great help. I wouldn''t be able to get into your room anyway. "...... Okay, Mister Fritz. I''ll leave this to you. I''ll stay with you from tomorrow on and protect you without leaving your side. "Yes, that''s good." Flora thus retired to her room. Flora''s room, however, was next to the emperor''s, and he could come to her as soon as she opened the door. Fritz, on the other hand, had spent the night in the corridor. When Elsa was told this by <, she could not help but laugh. 1038 - - 29-03 Gathering and Greetings On July 9, at 4:00 p.m. Kunlun Island time, all the participants in the World Conference were present. From the Kingdom of Egelea, Prime Minister Boyd Noyce Galuelli, Minister of Magic Kelihidole. As his escort, Bruno Thales Bright, the second-in-command of the Kingsguard. And Lyanna and Kate of the "Royal Secret Maids", the royal court ladies-in-waiting, are to serve as escorts and take care of personal needs. In addition, there are two male and two female servants. From the Kingdom of Celuloa is the king, Cesar Valois de Celuloa. And the Director General of the First Technical Agency of Latant. They are escorted by SSR Kirk Atwood and two others. And two servants, a man and a woman. From the Kingdom of Franz are King Lothar de Lafayette, Vizier Ardaluc de Heigl, and SS-General Khalid Fanfard and two other men. As in the other kingdoms, there are two male and two female servants. The Kingdom of Klein is represented by Prince Arthur the Second and Prime Minister Powell Darner Hudson. The guards were Gloria Allstadt, vice-captain of the female knights of the Kingsguard, and one other. They were also accompanied by two servants, one male and one female. By the way. "......" Jin was surprised to find a familiar face among the servants of the Kingdom of Egelea. "...... Your Highness." "Jin, long time no see!" Among the members of the Egelea Kingdom was the 3rd Prince Ernest. "Thank you, Jin-sama, for all the help you have given me. One of the female servants was Lila Soluse, a former member of the Royal Secret Servants of the Royal Court. Then Elsa arrived with a girl. "Brother Jin!" "Erza, what''s up ...... with Rhys? "< It was Rieschen, the third princess of the Kingdom of Klein. "I see, so you two are attending the meeting as observers rather than participants?" Yes. That''s what we''re talking about. Jin was unaware of this, but it was agreed among the countries that the number of direct participants in the meeting would be two, and no other particulars were stipulated. So, as observers, the 3rd Prince Ernest from the Kingdom of Egelea and the 3rd Princess Rieschen from the Kingdom of Klein came to the meeting. The other countries are said to be waiting to see what will happen. If this conference is successful, the number of such observers is likely to increase from the next conference onward. Although he has not yet met Ernst, the candidate for the next emperor of the Shoro Kingdom, Jin wished that such a leader of the next generation would attend the conference. I hope such a leader of the next generation will join us. Let me show you around. Jin and Elsa lead the group. "Oh, this building! "This is a wonderful work of art!" I''ve never seen this style before! The garden imitates and even exceeds nature. Their reactions to the Jade Pavilion and Wujinggak were as expected. And here comes the deus ex machina that the old man and I had discussed. Brown hair, brown eyes. It is a < with a mediocre facial structure. Of course, it is not Jin but the old man who is in control. "Welcome, everyone. Some of you are new here. My name is Machina. My name is deus ex machina. At this point, Jin wanted to emphasize once again that he and Machina were different people. Since there is no concept of , or in this world, no one would find this name strange or meaningful. "Oh, Lord Machina!" Gloria shouted. Gloria''s face was a little flush as she faced Makina, who had saved her life on several occasions. "Thank you for everything," she said. I can''t thank you enough for the many times you have saved my life. "I can''t thank you enough for all the help you have given me," she said. The leaders of each country have said to him, "I can''t thank you enough for all the help you have given us. They all know what he is capable of. "I will ensure the safety of this world congress. Makina said in front of everyone and pointed to Lando''s group. "These golems are under my command. I believe their power has been proven. You can rest assured. The members of the Kingdom of Egelea, who had previously received assistance when they were attacked by the Unifilers, recalled that time. "I will fully cooperate with Jin, who shares my master. I hope that this will be a success. Makina then withdrew. This brought relief to the leaders of the nations. "Well, I guess when the master is the same, the resulting golem will be just like him. Only one person, the third prince Ernest, had a slightly different impression. * * * * * The dinner was held with the representatives of each country in one place, but at separate tables. And the menu was the standard, local dishes of each country. "Oh, oh?This may taste even better than the royal cooks!" "I agree with you, brother." The prince and princess of the Kingdom of Klein looked on in astonishment, "Yes, indeed. This is the taste of a court cook and beyond. King Cerroa agrees. That''s because all of these dishes have been studied by the Quintas who have been dispatched to various countries. The dishes are the result of the efforts of the Peridos, who have taken the dishes of the royal castle and refined them to make them even more refined. The only common ingredient is the after-dinner dessert: ripe persica. The fruit is in season, but the one from Penglai Island is not on the same level as the one commonly available in the market. "This is ......!" "You won''t want to eat regular persica anymore." The taste is superb, but it is also rich in free magic element (ether), so it can be imbued with a weak restorative magic, and although it is not a restorative, it is effective in relieving fatigue. "Your stomach seems to be feeling better somehow." Hence, it is also effective for stomach upsets and overeating. The last drink of the day is a specialty of each country. The Kingdom of Klein offers Perhia tea, the Kingdom of Elias offers Cuhe. The Kingdom of Egelea is Teaye, and the Kingdom of Shoro is green tea. The Kingdom of Franz and the Kingdom of Cerroa is Tehye as well as Egelea. "No, I''ve had a wonderful time, <>." "Indeed." "It was delicious." Jin was relieved to hear that everyone was satisfied. The next day, the World Congress would finally begin. 1039 - - 29-04 World Conference Opens July 10, 3458. This will be a memorable day for the Ars human race. Yes, it is the day that the memorable first meeting of the <> will be held. At 9:00 a.m. Kunlun Island time, in the main conference room of the <>. The participants are seated at round tables. Two representatives from each country are sitting side by side. Next to Jin is Elsa. The only exception is Deus ex Machina. He is the only one who is mentioned as being alone. "Well, before we begin, let me explain one thing. This is a , in which there is no pecking order among the participants. This explanation elicited oohs and aahs from those in the audience. Since there were no negative reactions, Jin made another declaration. "In the name of the Korun-kun, Jin Nido, I hereby proclaim the opening of the First World Congress. Jin Nido''s words were followed by a round of applause from all the participants. "I will ask <> to preside this time, but I would like to ask you to choose one of the delegates to preside next time and thereafter." Jin adds a few words. Makina followed with a few words. "I am pleased to presume to serve as the moderator of this meeting. The secretary will be Anne, an automaton in the possession of Mr. Kunlun. Makina and Anne stood up and bowed. Some of the people who saw their blue hair noticed that Anne was an artifact-class automata from the time of the Great Magic War. One of the people who noticed this was Princess Rieschen, who was sitting in the audience. She remembered her own nanny automata, Tia. "Well, Jin-dono, could you please clarify again what is on the agenda for today''s meeting? I understand. Please refer to the materials in your hand. I have prepared these documents for you. < "First of all, I would like to report on and look ahead to what His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Selroa has requested of me as a "Magecraft Meister" in regards to the transportation of the continent. "That''s interesting. Please continue. Yes. Then I have a proposal for a new system and a magical tool to improve our lives. Makina nodded. "Okay. The rest may come up during the meeting. Is there anyone else who would like to discuss any of these matters?If so, please raise your hand. No hands were raised. "Not yet, I guess. So let''s start with the first topic. Mr. Jin, please raise your hand. "Yes, sir." Jin ordered Butler 41 and 42 to bring a model of the monorail. The model was constructed on a board about the size of a tatami mat. It is called a monorail. It is a , which means one, since there is only one rail ...... track." "Oh!" "Oh, this!" "I don''t know what it is, but it''s amazing!" "...... This was commissioned by His Majesty Cesar of the Kingdom of Cerroa, and its purpose is to improve land transportation." After a pause, Jin looked at King Cesar. "That''s right. I requested it the other day, Jin-dono. "At that time, I asked him to expand the transportation network beyond the Kingdom of Celuloa to the rest of the world, and he agreed to do so. Jin looked around at the heads of state. "These means of transportation have <>. If they differ even slightly, they will not be compatible and will be very inefficient. "Hmm." "I can sort of understand that." So far, so good, Jin felt, and decided to continue. "This requires a dedicated track, in other words, a road to be built, which is a disadvantage in terms of cost and construction. "Yes." King Cesar nodded. "Getting in and out of the car and loading and unloading will also be somewhat inconvenient due to the high location. "That''s for sure." Jin then switched to the explanation of the advantages. "But there are many advantages as well. First of all, it does not interfere with general traffic. Jin explains that because it is a dedicated track, there is no need for a so-called "crossing" with a public road. "It is also less affected by the unevenness of the ground." If the ground is uneven on a road, it is necessary to pave or fill the road accordingly, but with an elevated road, it can be straightened. "I see, that''s great for high-speed transportation." "For the same reason, it is possible to pass through the shortest distance possible." "That''s true." The roads in this world are winding in places. "And the view is nice, too." The view out the window shouldn''t be too bad because of the height, he added. "And the main reason for me is personal injury." Jin explained that he would like to avoid such accidents if possible, as they could have more serious consequences than a horse-drawn carriage hitting a person. "With this , we can predict to some extent what kind of accidents will happen and where they will happen, but if it runs on public roads, it will be harder to predict." "I see. I understand what you are saying. King Cesar and the others nodded their heads. "If an accident were to occur, what would the trajectory be?...... would it be something like falling out of orbit?" The Empress Shoro pointed out. "Yes, that''s right. If we know that, then we can figure out how to make it less likely to fall. "I see. It''s no wonder that it can happen anywhere when it comes to hitting people. This is the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Egelea. "We also have accidents with horse-drawn carriages every year. And the Marchese Florenziano of the Kingdom of Elias. "Yes, I''m sure there are other possibilities, but I think most of them are as you say. Jin points again to the model. "I think it would be good to use it for urban traffic at first. If we put it on a wheel and let it run in circles, we can use ......." "Well, we don''t have to make it go back and forth, so it will be easier to operate. King Cesar nodded broadly. "Yes. And for the construction of this orbit, the large golem of the Shoro Kingdom and the large golem of the Kingdom of Celuloa will be of great help. "Oh, indeed!" It is also very significant in terms of peaceful use of golems. "Personally, I think it''s important to note that this will have little impact on conventional transportation by horse-drawn wagons, etc." "Well, long-distance transportation can be divided by and short-distance transportation can be divided by horse-drawn carriages, etc." Prince Arthur of the Klein Kingdom was the first to understand. "Indeed, it would be an economic setback if unemployment were to occur because of this. Prime Minister Ardarch de Heegle of the Kingdom of Franz nodded. "There is also the idea that the jobs created by the construction of this will stimulate the economy." Jin added, but there was little agreement on this. It was more like they could not understand it very well. <. However, only Prince Arthur seemed to have some feelings about it and seemed to be thinking about it for a while. Jin decided to explain the points to be noted. "It is important to note that the construction of a train station will probably lead to the development of the area, but there is a possibility that there will be conflicts of interest. This is an issue that is being discussed in contemporary Japan. "Hmmm, I see. We must be careful. "It seems to be difficult from the selection of the station. The response was favorable. This was the topic of discussion throughout the morning. 1040 - - 29-05 Pressure cooker demonstration Add water and a little salt. "This time I''m going to cook it with salt only, but it will taste even better if you cook it with various spices and spiced vegetables," she says. Please ask the chef for more details. The lid is closed and the stove is turned on. "When you close the lid, the magic device in this handle is activated. Then, as it simmers, the pressure inside will increase and the temperature will rise. "Hmm, that''s how it works." Jin said, "I''m going to lose a lot of time if I explain this in detail, so I''ll just leave it at that. "The mechanism of increasing the pressure inside is simple. We just put up a boundary that prevents steam ...... from escaping." To be precise, it is gas (water vapor) and liquid (steam), but I won''t go into that much detail. In the meantime, steam started to come out. It seems to have come to a boil. "If you cook it like this for about 10 minutes, even the toughest meat will be tender. "Well, saber boar meat has to be boiled for at least 30 minutes before it becomes edible, but it only takes such a short time? Fritz is impressed by the explanation. "The trick is to use a large pot and limit the amount of water to about one-third so it doesn''t spill over." Ten minutes seemed to pass as he explained other applications and handling precautions. "The warding does not allow steam to pass through, but it does allow solids to pass through, so you can pick the lid off." Jin grabbed the knob of the lid and showed it to me. It was made of a large insulating material and was not hot to hold. When he lifted it up, the warding weakened and steam gushed out, but it was controlled so that it wouldn''t blow out all at once and burn him. "The residual heat can make it taste even better, ...... but for now, that''s good enough." The steam came out in a puff of steam, and everyone let out a low "ooh" sound. "Now, please taste and see." The golem maids divided the meat into small plates. Just by looking at them, one can tell that the meat has become tender. The servants and attendants are given only a small portion of the meat. "Here you go." Even though it is after lunch, it has been more than an hour since we took a break, and since it is only a small bite, there is no problem. First Jin and Elsa put it in their mouths. "Yes, it worked. "Well, it''s okay." Seeing this, the guards try it first. "Mmm, how soft it is!This is delicious!I can''t believe it''s the meat of a saber boar! It was Fritz who was the first to eat the meat and comment on it. Yes, it is indeed tender and tasty. If you use not only salt but also spices, it could be a first-class dish. This was Gloria. After that, the comments came one after another. "Mmm, Mr. Jin, this is indeed delicious! Jin-kun, it''s delicious! "It''s a delicacy, a delicacy indeed!" I didn''t know saber boar meat could taste this good! Now you know how well the pressure cooker works. Well done! "Yes, I understand now!" After collecting the small plates, Jin said, and everyone applauded. "Thank you very much. With this pressure cooker, we will be able to enjoy foods of slightly lower quality, and we will also be able to expand the range of our cooking. "For example, vegetables. For example, vegetables. They will become softer and easier to eat with this pressure cooker. Elsa added. "It is also good for children, the elderly, and the sick. The Marchese Florenziano understood the intentions of the Marchese. "Topopo can be softened in a short time by cooking it with this. "Oh, yes. I think this is a good idea. Thus, the pressure cooker was accepted by the heads of state and government. 1041 - - 29-06 Public Health "Well, this is just one example. Jin turns back to the main topic of the afternoon''s agenda, the <>. "I thought that <> would be necessary to spread the use of these useful tools for daily life. "Hm, may I ask a question?" The one who raised his hand was Mr. Latant, Director General of the First Ministry of Technology of the Kingdom of Celuloa. "I think the purpose of the mana stand is to sell mana, but how do you decide the price? The technical problem would be how to know the amount of mana supplied. Those in the audience with technical knowledge nodded their heads. But that has been considered. "Well, I think it would be a good idea to use manacelles for such general-use magic tools. "Manacelles?" "Yes, something like this." Jin took out a manacell, which was placed in the handle of the pressure cooker, and showed it to me. It was a cylinder about one centimeter in diameter and one centimeter high. This is the mana cell. When it becomes empty, you fill it with mana using a mana stand. "I see. Then, all future magic tools that require mana can be shared by using a mana tank of the same size. Minister of Magic and Technology Degauze of the Shoro Kingdom nodded broadly. "That is correct. If the consumption of mana is large, we can use many of them. Jin''s image was that of a dry cell battery. Since there were devices that used one, two, four, etc., he thought it would be a good idea to do the same. "I''m thinking that we should set a separate standard for things like the ...... golem that cannot be covered by those batteries." In other words, that was the agenda for this afternoon. "Then we could set a price, like how much for one filling, right?" The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Franz, Adalbert Adalbert, asked for confirmation. Yes. My own draft proposal is that such should be managed by the state. In the sense of price stabilization. I can imagine it as a monopoly. However, it is assumed that they will be privatized in the future. So it''s price competition after liberalization. I see, this is an interesting theme. Prime Minister Adk nodded. Jin developed, or rather improved, a <> using a <>. The Mana Server is a stand for the supply of mana at a fixed price per mana cell. In this way, ordinary people can use magic tools more than ever before. This will increase the demand for magic tools and improve the standard of living. It''s an attractive policy if it works." Prince Arthur of the Klein Kingdom is enthusiastic. "I guess the government will manage it in the beginning for safety reasons," he said. Yes, there is no guarantee that someone will not try to make a profit by taking away this <. However, the mana server that will actually be installed will not be large enough to be moved by human power. "Some of the workers will be recruited from the private sector to create jobs, right?" Prince Arthur is very perceptive. "I suppose that you are thinking of various kinds of magical tools other than this pressure cooker, aren''t you, Jin-dono? This question came from Prime Minister Boyd of the Kingdom of Egelea. Yes, of course. The first thing I would like to spread is a magical tool for public health. Public health? Public health? Yes. I would say that it is an initiative to protect the health of the entire community. What Jin was thinking of was the treatment of water and sewage. In the Ars world, with a few exceptions, drinking water is supplied by wells. Sewage is by underground seepage. Since the population density is low in Ars, there have been no major problems so far, but there is no doubt that the system will fail sooner or later. Jin was also concerned about the recent record of Shuki Tsetsi, in which a village was wiped out by an epidemic that looked like dysentery. Sewage that seeps into the ground mixes with groundwater and contaminates it if it exceeds the purification function of nature. It could become a breeding ground for disease and a route of infection. "Well, I''m sure you''ve all used the toilets here in Kunlun Island. Jin then begins, "Oh!That''s wonderful!" "We must have one in our country!" "That''s wonderful!" and "We must have one in our country too! "Yes. That toilet combines the engineering magic of <><><>>. As a source of magic power for its activation, ......" "I see, so you use <>?" "That''s right. It would be sufficient to have them replaced when their deodorizing ability runs out. By setting this up, we can make sure that the deodorizing ability will stop the fastest when the mana is depleted. "This is interesting." Degauze, Minister of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire, leaned forward. "Now all we need is clean water. First of all, I suggest that we use magic tools that have and effects to draw water. "I see." Jin wanted to make it a so-called type attached to a faucet. "Jade House, is it? Is all the water from this place?" Yes, it is. It''s called a faucet, but the water outlets have that effect." "Mm-hmm. ......" The heads of state pondered. Then the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Franz, Adalbert Adalbert, asked a question. "Even if poison were poured into the well, would you be able to purify it? "Yes, I can." Jin answered immediately. "Of course, if the magic tools are working properly. As long as you replace the mana cell before the mana runs out, you should be fine. "Of course." Hearing this answer, the participants thought about it further. In the midst of all this, "I think the ...... problem is the cost of installation. Marquis Florenziano of the Kingdom of Elias spoke up. "I understand that it would be beneficial. I understand that it is beneficial, but it cannot be free. The question is how to cover the cost of the purchase. If the cost differs from country to country, it will be a source of discontent, he said. "But I am sure it will be beneficial. It would be good if we could spread this to the royal castle, the nobility, the wealthy, and the general public, in that order," he said. said Prime Minister Adalbert of the Kingdom of Franz. What is Jin''s opinion on this? "I suppose that is inevitable. But this will reduce the number of diseases. And illnesses are not limited to people of all ranks. To this the Shoro empress responded. "Yes, that''s right. I have heard of cases where disease broke out among the people and spread throughout the country. Jin did not know this, but it had happened in the past. So, "So, it would be good if we could do it in as short a period of time as possible, but not at the same time. Jin followed up. "As an example, we could raise the tax temporarily, use the tax to make magic tools and popularize them, and then return the tax to the original amount after they are popularized. "I think it would be difficult for our country. ......" In our country, too. Yes, my country, too. The kingdoms of Egelea, Klein and Franz are all in financial difficulties. "Well, here''s what we can do: ......" An opinion is expressed in response to this. The scene was exactly what Jin had hoped for. 1042 - - 29-07 Day 1 Ends The time is 5:00 p.m. Kunlun Island time. "I think it''s time to call this meeting to a close. Deus ex machina, the moderator, announced, and the attendees let out a small sigh of relief. "Well, it was a very productive meeting. See you tomorrow. "Indeed, I am grateful to the Koron-kun for this opportunity to spend time with you. Slowly, people stand up. They leave the conference room in a hurry, but two of them stand still. "Thank you very much for your help, Makina-sama. "Commander Shoro, Fritz, "I did not expect to see you here." Gloria, a female knight in the Kingsguard of the Kingdom of Klein. Both of them had been saved by Makina in a dangerous situation in the past, so they wanted to take this opportunity to thank her again. "I didn''t know that you and Jin-dono share the same teacher. Well, I guess that makes sense. Fritz said, "I wish I could stay longer to talk with you, but I have an escort mission. Now if you''ll excuse me." He bowed and followed the emperor and his companions. "I feel the same way, Makina-sama," he said. I am here now because of you. I will see you later." Gloria also followed the Cline Kingdom group. They are very disciplined people, aren''t they?) (They are very disciplined people, aren''t they?), was the impression of the old man who was controlling the group. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The sky is still bright on a summer evening. <, Jin came to <> to enjoy the cool of the evening. He sat on the porch and looked out over the garden. Next to him is Elsa, whose hair has not yet been washed and dried, and Reiko and Edgar. All the invited guests are staying at the Jade Pavilion, which is quiet. "Brother Jin, thank you for your hard work. Erza mumbled a few words of thanks. "Oh, thank you. "Thank you, Erza, for your hard work too. Thanks to the preparations, the monorail, the pressure cooker, and the mana stand went as we had hoped. In addition, there is sanitation. This one is not so easy to realize, and I thought it would be half and half whether it would be accepted or not. However, I think I could get a certain level of understanding. "Shuki Tsetsi must have had a hard time. The more I learn about his past, the more I think he must have gone through a series of hardships. "......, but I think he was happy in the midst of it all." He met his beloved wife, Adriana. And the growth of his beloved daughter, Adriana, to whom he could entrust everything. "It must be a blessing to have someone you can trust with your life." I think so. I don''t know how it happened, but the previous generation ended up being alone. "Brother Jin has me. Everyone is here. So it''s going to be all right." Erza whispered, shoulder to shoulder. "Father, even <> took years to spread his knowledge. I don''t think there''s anything to be in a hurry about." "Yes. ......?< "Yes,<>, Shuki Tsezi is your mother''s father. So he is my , isn''t he? "Oh, yes. Yes, that''s right. Reiko would certainly agree with that, Jin agreed. Then, Refa, the hostess, called out to him. "Master, you have a visitor. "A visitor?" I looked into the garden and saw Gloria, a female knight of the Kingsguard from the Kingdom of Klein, standing there. "Excuse me, I was just taking a break." Gloria bows lightly. "Are you sure about your escort? Jin asked, and Gloria nodded. "Yes, their highnesses are relaxing in their rooms at the moment. I came here with their permission." Then she turned to Erza, "My dear Elsa, it''s been a long time, and I''m always grateful to you for healing my wounds." He bowed his head. Jin chuckled at the stiff greeting, perhaps because it had been a while. "Gloria-san, we are not strangers, and this is not an official meeting, so let''s be a little more open-minded. Jin smiles and calls out to her. "I''m honored to hear that from the host of this event, . After that, the atmosphere softens. "Huh?Gloria-san, are you growing your hair long?" "Hmm?Ah, ah. Ever since this winter. She said she has been growing it out since her serious injury in January. Indeed, his hair, which was once very short, had grown to a short bob, although he may have at least trimmed the ends of his hair. "Brother Jin, you''re too late to notice." "What?" "I noticed it when I was getting on the Conlon 3." I see. Erza tells Jin that she noticed it, and he is a little upset. Then Gloria came in, "...... Well, I guess Jin-dono has no interest in any other woman but Erza-dono. As his fiance, shouldn''t he be pleased? Erza even blushed. "I''m not here to ...... talk about that." "Of course not." Jin thought from the moment he saw Gloria''s face that she was talking about swords again, but he didn''t say it out loud. "At ......, you know. Actually, I have something to tell you, Miss Elsa. "...... me, sir?" Gloria nodded, her cheeks tinting slightly. "Well, it''s about Fritz of the Shoro Kingdom. He is your brother, isn''t he? Yes. "...... that, right. ......Does Mister Fritz have a, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, a fiancee in his country?" "No, I don''t think so." The answer was immediate. "......You don''t mean to say that you are not, you know, a man-cubist, do you?" "...... Of course not." Elsa, and of course Jin, who was listening beside her, could guess what Gloria was thinking when she came here. "Gloria-san, did you hear about my brother ......?" Gloria''s face turned red. "Yes!That''s not ...... true, no, yes it is ...... true." And then she sagged. "This winter we worked together in the old Leonard Kingdom, and then to the Kingdom of Selroa,...... I didn''t know what this feeling was at the time,...... but now that we are reunited, I finally understand it. ......" "I see." Jin had never seen Gloria like this before. "......So, Gloria, are you going to confess to Mr. Fritz now?" But upon hearing Jin''s words, Gloria shook her head as hard as she could. "No, I can''t do that! "......Is it a matter of position, after all?" "No, I''m already 24 years old. "Yes?" As for Jin, he really doesn''t understand. "......I think that a more suitable girl would be better suited for Mister Fritz. ......" Elsa, how old is Mr. Fritz this year? Twenty-six, I think. Then it''s no problem at all. "Yes, I guess so. ......" Jin and Elsa were worried as they looked at Gloria''s face. "Anyway, I feel lighter now that you''ve listened to me. See you later!" "Oh ......" Gloria, perhaps relieved or embarrassed by her confession to Jin and the others, quickly left. The remaining members of the group looked at each other and muttered. "...... I don''t think Fritz-san cares too much about Gloria-san." "Well, I think you''re right. "First of all, let''s finish the meeting tomorrow, and then we can think about what we''re doing now. "...... for." The early stars were beginning to twinkle in the sky over Kunlun Island. 1043 - - 29-08 Day 2 Nothing much happens except for Gloria''s visit. The sun goes down, the night is peaceful, and the morning comes. It is the second day of the World Congress. The time is the same as yesterday, 9:00 a.m., in the same large conference room. "Now then, let us begin the second day of the . Deus ex machina, the moderator of the meeting, declared. "We do not have a specific agenda for today. If there is anything you would like to discuss, please raise your hand and make a suggestion. "Well, I have one." The first to raise his hand was King Lotharus de Lafayette of the Kingdom of Franz. "It is fortunate that you are here, Mr. Machina," he said, looking around at the participants. Then he looked around at everyone. "I would like to propose the creation of a military ...... organization that transcends national boundaries. Prince Arthur of the Klein Kingdom responded. I see, borders are of little use to criminals. The heads of state then responded. "I see. "I see... I see... I see... "I see." "I see." "I see." "I see." "I see." "I see." "I see." Gradually, a look of understanding appeared on the faces of the participants. Prince Arthur, perhaps taking advantage of this moment, spoke up again. "For criminals, the boundaries of countries and national borders are meaningless. Then the that controls such criminals should be like that, too. King Rotaro nodded broadly. "That''s right, Your Highness. That''s right." (Not exactly the same as Interpol .......) Listening to his opinion, Jin remembered the old days. In a TV cartoon he had seen at the facility, an Interpol inspector was chasing a world-class thief. The main character was the thief. (ICPO......, I think). However, what they are discussing now seems to be an organization with a bit more force. Like a criminal organization that can use force against a criminal organization like the former <>. So it is fortunate that <>. (If ......, the International Rescue Team is more ......) If Jin had thought something like this, "What do you think, Jin-dono?" Jin was asked, "What do you think about it? "I think it''s a good idea. I think it would be good if you could teach him not only about security but also about learning and other things. "I see." Jin was so caught up in the mood of the meeting that he just said what he had been thinking about for a long time. "Surely, the world would be a better place if we could learn from your knowledge, Jin-dono. But then, as if to add to his words, "To do so, we must first establish and operate a that is not beholden to any nation. The voice of a deus ex machina echoed through the room. The old man''s nice follow-up. "Yes, that''s true. But it is not a bad idea to talk about such an ideal school, even if it is only in the context of a story, is it? This is the empress Shoro. "Yes, indeed. Jin nodded in agreement. "I think it is one of the paths that a politician should follow, to make clear what he or she is aiming for and to make efforts to realize it. The emperor looked at Machina once more, "First of all, I would like to discuss the ," she said. The emperor looked at Makina again and said, "First of all, I would like to discuss the . "Yes, I suppose so." "I have no objection." The other participants agreed. "Then I would like to discuss ......<>, as I have tentatively named it. The moderator, Makina, declared. "Then you are more of a chairman than a moderator, aren''t you? The air in the room relaxed a little when Makina said this line. "First of all, I would like to determine the purpose and the significance of its existence. In response to these words, Rotaro, King of the Kingdom of Franz, who was the initiator of the discussion, spoke up. "First of all, it is to protect the peace of the world, isn''t it? No, that is certainly true. "I think it''s a good idea. That is the basic premise, isn''t it? As for Jin, I think it is a good philosophy for the organization. In short, it is like a banner. "Yes. A clear banner is also a good way to make the organization transparent." Prince Arthur agreed. "I see, in that sense, there is no other banner that is so easy to understand. "It makes the purpose of the organization clear, doesn''t it? Gradually, the circle of understanding widened. "Then, <>. It is good to have this as a philosophy. Then, I suppose the next question is how. These are the words of Cesar, King of Cerroa. "That''s the hard part, isn''t it? "Yes, it is. That is why we need to talk about it. Cesar responds to Danaar, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Klein. Furthermore, Marquis Florenziano of the Kingdom of Elias spoke up. Without power, nothing can be done. But if you have great power, who is to guarantee that you will not use it for the wrong purpose? No, it is the same for nations and individuals. "That''s why there is decency and the need to educate people in ethics and morality. ...... The opinions came out one after another. "It would be good to start with something small," he said. "As an organization, would it be a subordinate organization of this ? Some people said, "It would be better to start with a small scale. "I think it would be easier to move if it were independent. "It would be a bad idea to have to wait until the World Congress before making a move in times of emergency. "Indeed." The participants seemed to think that even if no decision was made, it would be worthwhile just to think about various things, and opinions were freely exchanged. "I think that the central part of the continent is the most desirable location for the headquarters. "You have a point, but that would inevitably place it near the Kingdom of Cerroa. It is true that the Kunlun Island is located on the eastern outskirts of the continent, so it would be difficult to take action there. <. "If you don''t mind, you can use the ruins of Fort Crow. "Oh, that is a good suggestion. The former Fortress of Magi Fortress, Fort Crau, could be a good base if it is redeveloped. Or perhaps in the mountains between the three kingdoms of Selroa, Shoro, and Franz. "Oh, I see. Jin-dono and Machina-dono would be able to develop it easily. Some of the participants also expressed their opinions on the organization of the project. Further opinions about the organization were also exchanged. "How about appointing a person with a proven track record as a general manager or advisor so that we don''t go in the wrong direction? Rotaro, King of Franz, looked at Makina as he said this. "In fact, you have punished the enemies of the world many times in the past. If that is the case, then isn''t he a good choice for the position of general?And his brother and disciple, Jin-dono, is an advisor to ......." "That is a convincing argument, isn''t it?" Gradually, it looked as if Jin might be involved. The second day of the World Congress was a success. 1044 - - 29-09 Cultural Exchange The morning session ended on a high note. "Let''s take a break and have lunch," said the organizer, Jin. the organizer said, "The food here is delicious. I''m looking forward to it. "No, not at all. The participants moved to the main dining hall, saying "Today''s lunch will be three kinds of food. There are three kinds of lunch today. Please indicate what you would like. The manager, Lol, said, and the participants took their seats, looked at the menu and asked the maid golem near them what they wanted to order. The maid golem replies with <> and goes to the back, but in fact, the order has already been sent by the built-in manacam (magic element communication device). Therefore, by the time they go to the back, it is ready and the maid golem flies back. "Oh, that was fast!" If he wanted to, he could have used a transporter and sent her to the table, but he is very careful not to do so. "Mmm, this is delicious. The food is cooked in each country''s way using ingredients from each country, so it is well received. And again, "Wow, this is rice. This is a taste that we don''t have in our country. "Yes, it has a good taste. Godopher, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Elias, and the Marquis of Firenziano were smacking their lips at the food, while others ordered dishes from other countries. In general, the food seems to be well received. Jin is relieved. (I know it''s not a template, but I can''t eat this kind of food! >>). ), but knowing Jin''s ability, and with Makina present, it seems unlikely that anyone would do such a thing. The servants take their meals in another dining room after their masters have finished eating. "...... is delicious, isn''t it?" "If I don''t work harder when I get back home, I''m sure the master will criticize me more often. "......If I ask you for tips, will you teach me?" They were eating while talking about such things as "I''m going to have to work harder when I get back home. After the meal, the peridoled leader also gave us such tips. The trick to this menu is in the water. Most of the water in your country is , so it is not suitable for this kind of cooking. Therefore, it is advisable to separate the minerals by <> or . For simplicity, <> is also effective. <> or can only be used if you know the substance to be used, but <> has no such restrictions. "Two seconds of <> per 10 people will give you the desired effect. "Oh, thank you! The servants thanked me for giving them a rough estimate. * * * * * * * * * * * * 1:30 p.m., the main conference room. "The First World Congress will end at 4:00 p.m. today. I will be your moderator for the remaining two and a half hours of the conference, and I hope that you will find the remaining two and a half hours of the conference meaningful. With these deus ex machina words, the conference resumed. "As for the <>, we will not be able to reach a conclusion after a day or two of meetings, so I would like to make it the main topic of discussion at the next meeting. King Lotharus de Lafayette of the Kingdom of Franz, who had suggested it, said no hasty conclusions should be reached. "No objections." "No objections." "No objections." All in agreement. They all seem to think that because of the importance of the issue, a conclusion cannot be reached overnight. "But I think we should start some form of exchange between nations." Prince Arthur offered such an opinion. "That might be a good idea. "Yes, I think it would be interesting. There was agreement on this as well. "Then, may I suggest that the agenda for this afternoon be about <>?" Makina, the moderator, asked everyone, and no one denied the question. Everyone understood the benefits of this meeting, and it was easy to imagine that a similar gathering would also be beneficial. "As a point of reference, about six months ago, our country, the Shoro Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Egelea jointly traversed a part of the former Kingdom of Leonard. I believe that those who were sent from each country had a meaningful exchange with each other. When the unseasonably long rains caused mold to grow on the harvested wheat and threatened a famine, five Goliaths from the Shoro Kingdom shipped 10 tons of desiccant to the Kingdom of Klein. Commander Fritz led the Goliaths. He continued to accompany the march of the Klein Kingdom and played an active role in carrying the cargo and making roads for it, as explained by the Minister of Magic of the Kingdom of Egelea, Kellichdor. The relics of the past found in the ruins of Botsfa, or rather, the sealed , have been resurrected. In the commotion that ensued, Gloria suffered serious injuries to her face and shoulders. In the end, Machina was dispatched to save the day. At the mention of the ruins, Cesar, King of the Kingdom of Selroa, frowned a little as he recalled the commotion at the Soldrake ruins. He knows that Richard, the father of Cesar, the king at that time, pushed the cart. However, the Kingdom of Celuloa suffered more damage at that time. While Cesar was thinking about this, Prince Arthur made a new comment. "How about having two representatives from each country get together, as we did this time? There seemed to be some controversy over this idea. "Well, since this is the first trial, I think it would be a good idea to start at that level," he said. "I think a little more would be good, ......." No, the more people, the more likely there will be disagreements and therefore the more difficult it will be to maintain harmony. Therefore, I think that two members is just right. "I agree. The burden on the organizer is also that much greater. "Hmm. ......" Many opinions were exchanged, and finally it was decided to have two members from each country. "Next, what should be the subject of the exchange? "Well, let''s see. ......I guess we should have a cultural exchange. "It''s peaceful, isn''t it?" Jin thought that these comments would be made by the people who would be attending this world conference. I welcome this, because I don''t want to hear any belligerent comments. "There are many kinds of culture, aren''t there? "Yes, sir. Clothing, lifestyle, housing, and even food. There are many more. There are also magic tools and ...... weapons, which I don''t like to talk about too much. "We mustn''t forget about transportation. We can''t forget about transportation.We have these, the new horse-drawn carriages, hot air balloons, and ships. "Oh, sure." As this was the final phase of the last day of the event, the participants had become more relaxed and were actively exchanging their opinions. "Since it''s the first trial, I think it''s a good idea to keep it short. Yes, a week to ten days would be fine. We also need to decide where we are going to do it. Shall we decide that first? "Yes, that might be a good idea. They agreed to decide on the venue first. The World Congress was now in its final stages and the excitement was growing. 1045 - - 29-10 Meeting Ends Finally, it was decided that cultural exchange would take place on a rotating basis in each country. Initially, once a year. However, if this proves to be a worthwhile activity, the frequency will be increased. We have settled on the idea of spending about five days together and exchanging various opinions while touring the host country. The question is where to hold the meeting. "Which country will be the first? "That''s a good idea." All the participants agreed to the idea, so the host, Deus ex Machina, said to Jin. "Then, let''s ask Jin-dono to draw lots. "Okay." Jin thought for a moment about what kind of lottery he would make, and decided to make one that was easy to make and whose result would be immediately obvious to everyone. First, he prepared a piece of wooden paper and cut it to an appropriate size. The number of sheets is six. The names of the participating countries were written on them and folded into four. This is done in full view of the public. The sheets are placed in a box, covered with a lid, and shaken well. Now, I will take this out myself. Let''s blindfold her just in case. Jin asked Makina to blindfold him. "I will take out all six cards in order. The order in which they are taken out is the order of rotation. "Very well." No objections. "I''m counting on you." Jin thus drew lots and showed them to the participants. Makina read out the results. "The first is the Kingdom of Klein." "Oh! The second one is the Kingdom of ...... Shoro. The lots were drawn one after another. The third was the Kingdom of Franz, the fourth was the Kingdom of Elias, the fifth was the Kingdom of Egelea, and the last was the Kingdom of Cerroa. "So, respecting the result of the lottery, the first will be held in the Kingdom of Klein. "It is a great honor to host the first meeting and we will do our best to make it a success. I will contact you as soon as the date and place are decided. Prince Arthur II gave a brief speech on behalf of the Kingdom of Klein. As a representative of the Kingdom of Klein, Prince Arthur gave a brief speech. "It is a little before 4:00 p.m. and the meeting is now adjourned. Thank you all for your hard work. "Oh, thank you." It''s been a very productive two days. It went by so fast. Then Jin calls out to them. "Tomorrow, around 9:00 a.m., the airship will take you back to your home country, is that all right?" "Oh, that''s fine. Thank you for your cooperation. King Cesar of the Kingdom of Celuloa was the first to reply. "Yes, <>. Yes, <>. Marquis Florenziano of the Kingdom of Elias followed with a reply. "Yes, thank you." Then King Rotaro of the Kingdom of Franz and Prime Minister Boyd Noyce Galuelli of the Kingdom of Egelea also replied. "What about the people of the Shawlo and Klein kingdoms?" I asked the representatives of both countries who did not reply, "We have one day in reserve, so we would like to take it easy here if possible. The representatives of the other countries heard this. Hearing this, the representatives of the other countries all replied, "Well, then, we would like to relax a little too. They all said, "Well, in that case, we''d like to relax a little too. Everyone seemed to like the Kunlun Island. "Okay. We''ll ask again tomorrow. Jin answered, and Makina made her final statement as the moderator. "This meeting was more of an agenda for the meeting than a meeting, but we would like to have a thorough discussion from the next time onward. So, the next meeting will be held here in Korun Island, is that correct?The date should be about a year from now. "Yes, we would like to rotate the meeting among the countries. I''d like to do it more often, but I don''t want to overdo it from the start. "That''s fine with us." The participants agreed that all the requirements had been completed. With all the requirements now completed, Jin concluded his remarks. "This concludes the First World Congress. Thank you for your participation. He stood up and bowed, and all the participants gave him a round of applause. Then, we are dismissed. There is still time for dinner, so please spend your time as you like. After Jin''s words, the participants stand up. They stretched, rotated their shoulders, and moved their necks. They looked a little tired, but their faces were radiant. They are led by the golem maids to their respective rooms. Jin! Jin! Jin called out as he left the conference room. "I''ve been patient until the meeting is over." It was Princess Rieschen of the Klein Kingdom. "Thank you for the meeting," she said. and Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egelea. It seems that both of them waited until the world conference presided over by Jin had finished. Jin had thought that they had not come to visit me last night, but it seems that the reason for that was that it was public time until the end of the meeting, so they were very respectful. "Once again, it''s been a long time. We had seen each other yesterday, but it had been a long time since we had had a chance to talk like this. "Yes, I''ve been looking forward to seeing you." We talk as we walk. Ernest is escorted by Lila Solyers and Princess Rieschen by Gloria Allstadt. "It''s been a long time, Lila. You look well. Yes, thanks to you, I''ve been assigned as a guard and lady-in-waiting for Ernesto from the Royal Secret Maids of the Royal Court. Laila smiles at him. "Thank you, Gloria-san. "Thank you." It''s been a while since we spoke last night, so it''s not like we haven''t talked. Jin and the others went downstairs. Reiko silently follows at the rear of the group. "Jin, can you take a moment of your time?" "Yes, sure." Jin took note of her concern and decided to stay with them until the end of the meeting. He handed some documents he had in his hand to the golem maid standing nearby and told her to keep them. Jin and the others then went outside the Jade Pavilion. It was a little after 4:00 p.m., and the summer sun was still high in the sky. "Well, let''s go to <>. The Wujinggak had been introduced to the leaders, but not to some of the guards and servants, and Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen had not yet seen Leffa. "Oh, it''s going to be fun!" "Yes, I like it." They were still talking on the way to Wujinggak through the path. "Jin, the manager, Lol, is she the same type as Tia who is staying with the concubine? "I see..." "Yes, I''ll leave it to you." Princess Rieschen''s thin chest is turned up. "There''s an automaton named Lefa in the Five Elements Pavilion." "Oh, yes!I can''t wait to meet her. Princess Rieschen''s walking speed increased. "Your Highness, it''s not safe to be in a hurry." Quickly, Gloria stepped out of the way and stood alongside Rieschen. "Yes, I know, but ......". But the path soon ran out and they arrived at the spacious garden, <>. Jin pointed to the entrance of Wujinggaku. Look, we are already there. The one who is welcoming you there is Lefa. 1046 - - 29-11 Clothes Description "I wish I could have had a long talk with Jin!" Jin, Reiko, Ernest, Lila, Rieschen, Gloria, and the others were in . The room is a wooden floor with a table and chairs, and was set up so that even the uninitiated could use it easily. They were asked to take off their shoes. Seated are Jin, Ernest, and Rieschen, with Reiko, Lila, and Gloria standing behind their hostesses. Three glasses are on the table. They are filled with chilled, slightly carbonated Citran juice. "Now I can finally have a nice talk with Jin, can''t I? "Yes. I haven''t seen you since the technology exposition in the Shoro Kingdom. Ernest''s face showed his dissatisfaction. "Hey, Jin, talk to me as if you were talking to Reese, okay?I want you to call me Nest, too. Since it had been a long time since they had met, Jin was unsure of the distance between them, so he was honestly grateful for this offer. "Okay. ......nest. Is that okay?" "Yes!" Prince Ernest''s face lit up and he downed the glass of Citran juice in one gulp. "I''d like another glass." Topaz 88, who was standing behind him, immediately poured more juice. "Don''t drink too much or you won''t be able to finish your dinner," Jin said. Jin said, "I''m going to finish this one," he said. He replied, "I''ll finish this one. "By the way, Jin, is this the Wujinggaku?The clothes the golem wears here are interesting. "Yes. < Magus? "Ah." Jin couldn''t explain further if he answered, "It''s a costume from my hometown," or "It''s called a kimono," etc. So he mentioned the name of <>, but he forgot that even this was still unpublished information. "Let''s see... ......" As Jin was thinking of a good explanation, < Refa came in. "Your Highness, <> is a legendary figure who traveled throughout this continent more than a thousand years ago to improve the culture. "Oh." "Heh. ......" Both Ernest and Rieschen were intrigued. "But for some reason his name is almost unknown in the Lesser Antilles. On the other hand, he is revered as a great man in Mitsho." "Mitsuho?...... Oh, that''s the country to the west of the Shoro Kingdom, right?" As expected of royalty, Ernesto had heard the name. "Yes, it is. The Shoro Kingdom will soon be establishing official diplomatic relations with the Shoro Kingdom. ......The masters have been to Mitsuho and know of it. "I see, I see." Mitsuho has buildings like this Wujanggak and gardens like Wujangen," Refa concluded. "If I knew a little more about the <>, I could make an announcement." Jin added as if to say that ambiguous information would lead to confusion. "That''s true." "Well, I''m looking forward to it. By the way, Jin, your golem and the deus ex machina golem: ......" As if this was the end of the conversation, Prince Ernest changed the subject. "I wonder if it''s because we have the same master?They look so much alike." "......Yes, I guess you can tell." Ernest has a keen intuition when it comes to golems. "That''s right. And, as I told you before, I would like to make a golem or an automata someday, too. "Oh, I remember you saying something like that." Jin recalled Ernesto''s words when he saw Jin repairing Lotte, the exclusive golem, at the golem garden party held in the Kingdom of Egelea. "Can you teach me how to make a golem, even if it''s just for a little while? "That''s fine, but I don''t have much time, so it''ll really only be a little bit. ......" "Yes, that''s fine. Ries is with me, so I can''t expect him to listen to me all the time. Ernest also showed his concern for Princess Rieschen. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Nest. Hearing this, Rieschen, who was sitting next to Ernest, smiled a little happily. "Oh, well, I''ll have Riesz keep Refa company in the meantime, shall I?" "Jin, that would be great!" Jin was thinking that he would be able to have a good conversation with Leffa, who is the same model as Tia, the nanny automata. "Well then, may I begin by answering your questions?" Jin suggested, and Ernest nodded. "Oh, yes!That''s fine. "Now, please ask a question. Jin said, leaning back in his chair. "What I''m most concerned about right now is the of the golem, isn''t it? Ernesto made a sharp point. "Golems don''t work properly if you don''t educate them, don''t they? That''s why it''s so hard to get a good number of them, isn''t it? "Yes, that''s the way it is." At this point, Jin had guessed Ernesto''s question. "But both Machina and Jin have created so many golems. Is there something to this?" "Yes. ......" Jin pondered for a moment, wondering how to explain. Then he slowly opens his mouth. "The basic movements are engraved into the <> in the form of <> as the <>. This is good, isn''t it?" First of all, let''s review. "Yes." Ernest nodded. He is indeed a man who wants to make a golem. "This has some unique ideas of Magecraftsmen, so it will be useful to identify the creator of this system. "Ah, so that''s why the golems of Jin and Machina are so similar. Because they have the same teacher! "Well, that''s just it." Jin can see that the creator of <> and <> are the same, but an ordinary, or even most magecraftsmen, can''t. But Ernest can. But there was a spark of talent there that made us think that Ernesto could do it. "So, if we go back to ...... and write a lot of the , the more sophisticated the operation will be, right?" "That''s true. But ......" Jin interrupted Ernest who was about to say something. "Well, wait and see. <. It reads the information written in the control core as MagiFormulas. ...... At this point Jin broke off, "Well, can''t we use it well?" he asked, looking Ernest in the eye. "What?...... umm... ......" Now Ernesto ponders. But it was only for a short time. "Oh, I see!We can read the control core of the completed Golem and write the same MagiFormulas!" "Correct." In fact, this is the method used by the < magecraftsmen. It could be said that <> was created from the idea of writing down the Magi Formula without the need to <> it. It may be similar to the idea of interface. Once upon a time, to input image data into a computer, one had to draw a picture with a , output the data once with a perforated tape, and then run the perforated tape through a reading machine to have the computer recognize it as data. Nowadays, input devices are connected to the computer via an interface, so vast amounts of information can be exchanged in a short period of time. The first Magecraft Meister, Adriana, developed <, which is an engineering magic of such value. I''ll leave you with this. < It requires instantaneous memory or intuitive understanding. This is what separates the first-rate from the second-rate. When I mentioned this to Ernesto, he replied He said positively, "I''ll just have to do my best! was a very positive response. Hearing those words, Jin thought that this prince would surely become a first-rate magecraftsman. 1047 - - 29-12 Conflict and Arbitration After that, Hitoshi answered a few more questions, which were light. Princess Rieschen seemed to have been talking with Lefa during this time. "I see, so you have a sister of my own, Your Highness. "Yes, Tia. She took care of me a lot when I was little. After that, she got very sick and stopped working, but one day Jin came and fixed her up! "I see." Refa had heard this story from Jin, but since Rieschen sounded so happy, she pretended that it was the first time she had heard this story, and kept her role as a listener. In the meantime, Ernesto finished his question. "Well, is that enough?I''ll answer if you have any more questions. "Okay, thanks, Jin. I''m glad you got your questions answered. ...... Ries, I''m sorry I left you alone." Prince Ernest seems to have gotten used to the company of Princess Rieschen to the extent that he is finally able to express his concern for her. "No, Master Nest, I have enjoyed your company as well." Rieschen replied, and gave a small wave to Leffa as she left. "Well, ......" Just as Jin was about to say something, there was a commotion in the garden. "What is it? "What is it?" Ernest and Rhys looked up. "......?Isn''t that one of them Lila?" The servants and guards seemed to be making some noise. One of them was definitely Lila Solyce, Ernesto''s maid of honor. "I''m going to have a look around. Jin stood up, knowing that as the host of the World Congress, he could not leave the trouble unattended. Reiko followed him. "I''ll go check it out too. Ernest, as Lila''s host, stands up. "Then I''ll go with you. Naturally, Rieschen also stood up. When Jin and the others went to the place, they found that there had been an altercation as well. From the cursing that could be heard, it sounded like their shoulders had touched when they passed each other, or their eyes had met, or something like that. "You guys, you''d better not do that." "So, Your Highness!" Ernesto''s voice at the scene made Lila turn around. "Lila, what''s wrong?" "Yes, um, no, ......" Your Highness, they have been messing with us. The one who answered was Bruno Thales Bright, the vice captain of the Kingsguard. He is the knight who fought so valiantly to protect the royal family during the Golem Garden Party. What do you mean? Wasn''t it you who blocked our way?" The one who answered back was a soldier of the Kingdom of Celuloa, though I do not remember his name, judging from his attire. The kingdoms of Egelea and Cerroa have been at each other''s throats for many years. Even though the leaders have made peace, it seems that it will take time for those below to understand each other. "It is folly to stir up trouble here. You will only bring disgrace on your master''s face. It was Princess Rieschen who intervened in the dispute. She is, after all, the third kingdom in the dispute. Although still dissatisfied with Princess Rieschen''s rebuke, both sides seemed to have decided to leave. "Thank you, Ries. Thank you very much. Ernest, who understood that both sides had pulled out, thanked her since it was coming from Princess Rieschen in her capacity as the third country. "No, Your Highness, it was nothing." Rieschen, who was already beginning to show her support, said, "No, Your Highness, it''s nothing at all. "Your Highness, I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you. Bruno and Laila bowed to the third prince Ernest. "That''s ...... not so good, but whatever. So what was the cause in the end?" "Yes ......." According to Lila, she had gone to the edge of the garden to watch Ernest and the others from afar, when she met a group from the Kingdom of Selroa. There were three of them and two of us. The path was small enough for two people to pass each other. When he stood still, expecting them to move out of the way, they told him he was in their way. "You''re in trouble, aren''t you?" "...... sorry." Laila''s petite body contracted even more, as if she thought Ernesto''s words were a reprimand. "No, I wasn''t talking about Lila. I think the quarrels between countries have deep roots, you know. "Master Nest, your face is getting old. "Ha-ha-ha, Reese is looking a bit old too." Laila, who had been feeling down, couldn''t help but smile at the sight of the two of them getting along so well. At that time, Reiko whispered softly to Jin. Father, there''s been some trouble at the Jade Palace. Let''s go to ....... This time, Jin and Reiko go alone. Erza should be at the Jade Pavilion at this time of the day, and there are many Randos guarding her. However, the Golems have been instructed not to interfere with the guests'' disputes as long as they do not result in bloodshed. As long as it does not cause trouble for Jin, they are basically left to take care of their own problems. With this in mind, Jin walked through the woods and came to the garden in front of the Jade Pavilion. There were the guards of Franz''s kingdom and the guards of Klein''s kingdom. (Oh, these countries were not on good terms with each other until recently. ......) Jin sighed in his heart and walked further. "...... hmm?" It''s true that there are people gathered here, but there is something a little strange about them. Or rather, there was no sign of an altercation. "Is that ...... Mr. Fritz? Among the guards from the kingdoms of Klein and Franz, Fritz, a soldier from the Shoro Kingdom, is visible. Next to him was a woman with familiar light brown hair. "Gloria-san?" I don''t know exactly what was going on, but judging from the previous fight, I guessed that there was some kind of dispute between the guards here as well, and Gloria was at the center of it. Jin guessed that Fritz interceded. And it seems that he was not far off the mark. It seemed that the conversation had already been settled, because they apologized to each other and walked away, although some of them clicked their tongues. "Mister Fritz, I''m sorry, I''m sorry..." Gloria apologized to Fritz. "Don''t worry about it. My sister''s fiance is hosting this gathering and I don''t want any tactless trouble." "I see." Gloria blushes a little at this curt response. But... "Yes?Mister Fritz, you have blood on your cheeks. Was someone''s fist grazed her during the fight earlier? Fritz replies lightly to Gloria, who looks a little worried. It doesn''t hurt at all. Lick it and it will heal. "...... you lick your own cheeks?" "What?" "...... pfft." Jin heard someone blurt out something in his ear. It was Elsa. "Brother, I don''t think that''s possible. ......<>" "Oh, I''m sorry." Elsa''s healing magic quickly healed Fritz''s wounds. "Hmm,...... thank you for clearing up the mess." "Never mind." Fritz patted Erza on the head. Elsa puffed up in a deliberate way. "Oh my God..." she says. ...... don''t treat me like a child. "Ha ha, sorry, sorry." Jin, who was watching from the side, realized that there were no more differences between them. 1048 - - 29-13 likes and dislikes "So, what was the cause?" As the organizer of the gathering, Jin was in a room at the to hear what was going on. Gloria and Fritz were present. Elsa and Reiko were also present. "I was just there to stop them. When I came in, it looked like a fight was about to start. Fritz says. And Gloria. "...... it''s my fault, after all." And then she said something like. "I heard they use good swords in Franz. I just asked him to show me. ...... Gloria was at a loss for words. "And you were accused of that?" Jin asked, imagining that Gloria nodded silently. "I see. ...... Gloria, many soldiers do not like to show their equipment to other people, even people from other countries, for no reason at all. You should be careful." Fritz advised. Gloria nodded again. "...... I know. But the atmosphere here has made me feel like I''ve known them for a long time. ......" "Well, I don''t know. Well, I don''t know, but I guess that''s the way it is at a world conference. The rest is down below...... no, I''m sure the public sentiment is too." Jin muttered a little darkly. "...... maybe." Elsa agrees. "That''s one aspect that can''t be helped. Our two kingdoms, Klein and Franz, have been at each other''s throats for years. Skirmishes, but still there are casualties. That''s more than 100 years." The anger of families and colleagues naturally turns to the other side. It will be several decades after the war is over before such resentment disappears. Jin recalled that in Japan, where he had lived before he was summoned, there were countries close by that still talked about the wars of the past. The resentment of people is very deep-rooted. "Well, can we go now?" Fritz is about to sit up. Then Elsa called out to him. "Ah, brother, would you like to have dinner with us anyway?Gloria, if you would like to join us. I''d like to have dinner with you, too. At Elsa''s suggestion, it was decided that Jin, Elsa, Fritz, and Gloria would have dinner together. Since this evening''s meal will be delivered to each room as requested, there should be no discomfort if the two of them are not in their rooms. "......What is this?" Each person is supposed to order his or her favorite dish in each room, but here, all four of them have a menu prepared by Jin. "......It''s a little creepy. ......" The sushi on the line was <. The sushi items were <<<, etc. Of course, the name of the items was not given. Of course, the names of the ingredients are annotated with something close to , except for the eggs, but they are tasty enough. They are served with soy sauce and green tea, of course. The sushi was developed just before the World Congress, and they were the first to try it outside of the Jin family. I wanted to serve it to all the participants, but I decided not to this time because of the issue of likes and dislikes. Instead, these two men, who knew each other, were the subjects of the experiment. "Brother, this is how we eat." Elsa picks up a piece of sushi with her hand, dips it in soy sauce, and takes a bite. "Well, that''s an interesting way to eat, isn''t it?" "But it''s a little bit unbecoming to eat it with your bare hands, isn''t it?" Fritz was amused, while Gloria raised her eyebrows a little. In response, Hitoshi said, This is called . The reason we pick it with our hands is to add the feeling of holding it to the sensation of tasting it. Jin explains that this is because of the that cannot be felt with chopsticks, spoons, or forks. Of course, this is his own theory. "That''s an interesting way of thinking, isn''t it? "Mmm, this is delicious! While Gloria and Jin are arguing, Fritz is eating several mouthfuls of sushi. "Do you like the taste, brother? "Yes, it''s delicious!" From Fritz''s reaction and the items he has eaten, it seems that he has no likes or dislikes and enjoys the taste of fish, squid, prawns, and other items. Gloria, on the other hand, was watching how well Fritz was eating and was slowly putting the sushi into her mouth. The dish was an egg. "......!" After taking a bite, Gloria looked surprised, chewed and swallowed in a hurry. "Mister Gin!This is delicious!Just the right amount of sourness with a hint of sweetness!I didn''t know rice could be eaten this way!" Surprisingly, Gloria had tasted rice before, when she had traveled with Fritz to the Kingdom of Selroa. "I''m glad you liked it." Jin said, while Fritz had already finished most of his meal. "Do you want another one, brother?" "Yes, this white fish is delicious. And the yellow sweet one. He seemed to like the flounder and the omelet. "Hmm, is it safe to eat fish raw?" Gloria knows that her country''s king had been infected by a parasite ...... like Dystoma, so it''s not surprising. "Don''t worry about that. I''ve already taken care of it with magic." As for Jin, he had magically inspected all of them and had visually inspected all of them by the golem maids before sending them out just in case. Jin also eats a piece of toro-modori or flatfish-modori right in front of Gloria. "...... got it." Seeing Gloria''s reluctance to eat, Jin thought that it might be better to use heat-treated ingredients. The Kingdom of Klein has no sea, so it is not customary to eat raw fish. The King of Klein, Alois III, is a changed man. On the other hand, the Shoro Kingdom has the sea, Elsa and Fritz''s family home, and Lake Tosmo near the capital, so it was easy to be accepted because of the custom of eating fish. (I see, there was no one from the Klein Kingdom in the family, was there?) (Oh, I don''t remember anyone from the Klein Kingdom in the family...) Jin thought to himself as he gazed at Gloria who was slowly eating her sushi. "By the way, you''re growing your hair long, aren''t you? You have beautiful hair, it looks better on you. "Ngghh!" Gloria was so surprised by Fritz''s sudden question that she seemed to choke on her sushi. "Please have some tea." Jin points to a cup of tea that is already cold enough. Gloria drank it in a hurry. "...... wind." "Are you all right, Gloria?What are you so upset about? Gloria looked at Fritz with some tears in her eyes because she was sobbing. "It''s nothing. It''s okay. Gloria could not help but say, "It''s okay. Jin, watching her, put his own situation on the shelf and sighed secretly. After dinner, he took a breather and said, "I''ll be fine. After dinner, Jin took a rest and went to the bath. It was not a private bath, but a public bath. According to the previous reports, no one had used it. It seemed that everyone was using the private baths in their rooms. Fritz walks up behind Jin, rubbing his stomach. Then came Elsa and Gloria. Of course, the men and women are separated, so they are separated in the changing room. "Mr. Fritz, by the way, are there any guards today?" "Yes, His Majesty has personally given me the night off. I''ve seen how safe it is here in the last few days, and I''m also ......" "And?" "...... that''s the island where Erza was sheltered." Fritz looked a little embarrassed as he said this. He must have been remembering how hard he had been on Erza in the past. Hearing this, Jin understood that the Fritz of today was the one whom Erza adored. 1049 - - 29-14 Interchange venues When Jin and Fritz entered the changing room, they found the first guests. To their surprise, they were from the Kingdom of Celuloa. "Oh, Jin-dono, and Fritz-dono! Kirk Att, a guard, called out to us. I hadn''t seen the king''s replacement drama in the Kingdom of Celuloa since the past. "Hello, isn''t this Mr. Kunlun? Nice hot water!" In the bathroom, Cesar was already soaking in the bathtub and stretching himself. There are three bathtubs in the large bathroom, and the water temperature is set to get warmer and warmer in turn. The hot water was 45 degrees Celsius, the middle was 42 degrees, and the warmest was 38 degrees. Jin, of course, was in the bathtub at 45 degrees Celsius. "Oh, Jin-dono likes hot water! The other three said in admiration. By the way, all three were in the 38 degree Celsius bathtub. "Well, your acquaintances came in with the line, ''Oh, my dear! The second prince Arthur of the Klein Kingdom entered with the line, "Oh, my distinguished guests! Then came Prime Minister Galuelli of the Kingdom of Egelea, Vice-Captain Bruno of the Kingsguard, and Marquis Godopher of the Kingdom of Elias. Finally, there was King Lotharus de Lafayette of the Kingdom of Franz. "The bath in my room was good, but I was told that the large bath was more comfortable. Someone said something like that, "I agree with you completely. Someone replies, "I completely agree with you. Jin was glad that the large bathhouse, which he had built with the intention of encouraging this kind of <, had not gone to waste. He thought about telling them about the earlier quarrel, but he did not want to say anything because he thought it would not be appropriate for the atmosphere of this place. "The water is soft to the touch, isn''t it? "I agree. I wonder if there is some secret in the hot water. "I heard that hot water sometimes comes out when you dig the ground, and it depends on the location. Jin overhears these conversations and thinks that maybe they came here because they feel a sense of freedom after the heavy responsibility of the meeting. "Jin-dono, is my sister suitable for you?" Fritz spoke to Jin, who was lost in thought. He was soaking in a 42C bathtub with his face turned toward Jin. He looked a little hot. "What?What do you mean?" Jin asks back, not quite grasping the meaning. No, no, you own an island like this, you have developed airships and hot air balloons, and you have many wonderful golems. If you wanted to, you could have many wives and concubines, or even accumulate more power, but since you haven''t done so, I''m a little concerned." "Haha ......" Fritz, a military man, can''t seem to understand Jin''s thinking. That may be understandable. Even Jin cannot understand the thoughts of those who want power and who want to take over the world. "Erza is the best partner I''ve ever had. That''s what Jin really thinks. "I see. I am relieved to hear you say that. Fritz smiles softly, "...... hot! he said as he got out of the 42 degree bathtub. Jin, too, had warmed up by now and left the bathtub. * * * * * * The women''s bathroom was also crowded with people. The Emperor Shoro, the Marquis Florenziano, Princess Rieschen. Gloria, Flora, Lila, Lyanna and Kate of the Royal Secret Maidens, and Erza were soaking in the hot water together. "Oh, the hot water is so nice. It''s so relaxing. The emperor muttered in a leisurely voice. "The water is so smooth. Is there a secret? Marquis Florenziano asked Elsa. "No, the water here comes from 300 meters underground and contains salt and baking soda. "Salt?Does that mean it''s salty? "Very little. But it seems to keep the water cool. And baking soda makes the skin smooth. "I don''t understand what you mean by that, but I like the idea that it makes your skin smooth." "It really is." It seems to be especially popular among older women. But Lila Solyus, in the company of an emperor, a princess, and a marquis, is completely at a loss for words. Elsa spoke to Lila. "Lila-san, it''s been a long time." "Oh, Erza-sama, it''s been a long time ......." Laila bowed in the bathtub, which caused her face to be plunged into the hot water. "Don''t be nervous. It''s just like we don''t all have identities here. ...... Jin said they were naked together." "Oh, I like that word!That''s the Kunlun!" The emperor approached her in the hot water and smiled at her. Laila was again nervous because of the suddenness of the situation. "Your Majesty, please excuse me for being dressed like this!" But the emperor gently rebuked her comment. "What do you mean by ''dressed like this''?If it''s wrong to be naked, am I, the Marquis and the Princess being rude? "Oh, I''m sorry!I didn''t mean it that way! Laila turned pale in the hot water. Princess Rieschen patted her on the head. "...... Your Highness?" "Well, you''d better calm down. Your presence here on the Kun Lun Island means that you are entitled to be here. Is that so? Erza then came to the rescue. "Yes. Lila is our guest too. So please make yourself at home. "Oh, thank you very much. ......" Finally, Lila seemed to relax a little. Lyanna and Kate looked at her with a wry smile. "You haven''t changed even though you''re with His Highness. ......" "Maybe that''s just Lila''s way." The expression on her face was as if she was staring at her sister. Meanwhile, Princess Rieschen was talking to Gloria. "Gloria, I''m glad your wounds have healed." "Yes, Princess. It''s all thanks to Lady Elsa. "Yes, I know. ......By the way, did you have any change of heart when you started to grow your hair long?" "And ...... nothing in particular,......?" Gloria denied it, but her eyes were swimming. Princess Rieschen nodded knowingly. "I see. As for me, I thought that you had a favorite lady in mind. ......" "No, you''re right! Gloria waved her hand in the hot water, so dismayed that the sound of water rang out. I am a knight who has given my allegiance to my country!Therefore, I have no love ......!" "...... I don''t think there''s any denial after such an obvious response. ....... Well, I shall hear no more." Princess Rieschen smiles wryly. "Hey, is there anyone you like, Flora?" The empress asks her escort Flora. "No, not really ...... but Commander Fritz is quite nice ......." "What?" "What? Elsa and Gloria shouted at almost the same time. Hearing this, the Empress smiled. "Well, well, it seems that the Commander is very popular. "Erza, my lady, where is she?" Gloria asked Elsa in a whisper. The guards did not introduce themselves to each other, so it often happened that they knew each other''s faces but not their names. "Flora Heckerath von Merante. Eldest daughter of Viscount Jorgens Heckerath von Paddock, Knight of the Kingsguard of Shawlo. Brother of Rae ...... Baron Reinhardt''s wife, sister of Mr. Berche''s brother, Mr. Matheus'' wife." "...... sorry, I didn''t understand the last part." I think I have an idea of what kind of a person he is, though. It''s not so different from Gloria''s position. "Excuse me, you are Flora, I am Gloria Allstadt. I am Gloria Allstadt. I''m the vice-captain of the Kingsguard of the Kingdom of Klein. "Oh, that''s very kind of you. I am Flora Heckerath. I''m Flora Heckerath, a Knight of the Kingsguard of the Kingdom of Shawlo. The two knights greeted each other in the hot water. Both of you are hard. You should be more broken in the hot water, shouldn''t you?" "Yes, Flora?You need to relax more, don''t you?" The two bosses, the emperor and the princess, call out to them, and the two are a little confused. "I don''t know what to do if you say I''m broken ......". "This is my land, sir. ......" The Marquis of Florenziano smiles at the puzzled pair. "Well, well, you two are young. If you don''t know the word "flexible," you might have a hard time in the future. Is that how it''s supposed to be? ...... that''s the kind of response you need for the mission! The emperor and the princess let out a secret sigh when they saw that the two were not being flexible in any way. 1050 - - 29-15 Breakfast Meeting The next day, the 12th, was a reserve day. None of the participants said they would return home. They probably wanted to spend at least one day in the Kunlun Island, far away from the mundane world. Since we had originally planned a three-day itinerary, including a spare day, there was no problem for any of the countries. "Oh, is it porridge this morning? "No, this is not barley. ......?" The menu served in the cafeteria was of great interest to the chiefs of the various countries. But those who knew what they were talking about knew what they were talking about. "This is a porridge made of from the Shoro Kingdom," Jin explained. When Jin explained, they were impressed by his explanation. "I see... ...... this is..." "I see, it seems to be slightly thicker than barley. "It doesn''t taste very good as it is, so you can use it as you like." Jin points to a series of ingredients. "The basic ingredient is salt. There are sea salt and rock salt. There are two types of sea salt: salt made by ordinary distillation and seaweed salt (......), which is made by dissolving the ashes from burning seaweed that has been soaked in seawater in water and then dissolving it in the supernatant, which contains the flavor components and minerals of the seaweed.... It contains the flavor and minerals of seaweed.... "Wow, this brown salt tastes good by itself!" Those who have confirmed the taste of algae salt are amazed at the depth of its flavor. This salt is made by soaking and drying plume fruits, which are abundant in the mountains of the Kingdom of Klein, in salt. Even in small quantities, they have a sour and salty taste, making them a good accompaniment. However, it is not to everyone''s liking. "...... Mmm, it is sour, but with porridge it is very tasty." King Rotaro of the Kingdom of Franz seems to like it. Jin continued his introduction. "And this way. It''s a kind of tsukudani made by boiling small fish, shrimp, shellfish, etc. from the sea in soy sauce and other seasonings. "Wow!This is good. It has a salty taste different from salt. King Cesar of the Kingdom of Cerroa seemed to like the tsukudani of the shrimp. "And here is a stew made from topopo (potatoes). Jin showed us . "Oh my, I didn''t know there was such a way to eat it! The first to take a bite was the Marchese Florenziano. < "I used the soy sauce for seasoning. It should be available in the Shoro Kingdom. The trade with Mitsuho should bring us some good soy sauce. There is a similar dish of stewed sweet potatoes. This one also uses soy sauce, but in smaller quantities, and is rather sweetened with more sugar. "Stewed vegetables are gentle on the stomach, so I think it''s a good morning dish. "Oh, I didn''t know there was such a way to eat itpo!A little bit of soy sauce makes it more flavorful! Emperor Shoro seemed to like it as well. "And Miso Soup...... is miso soup. This time I made it with topopo and maru-negi (onion)." "Oh. This is also delicious!" Other desserts such as citrons, aprs-cheese, and airbert (strawberries) were also on the menu. This airbert is delicious. The ones from the Shoro Kingdom seem to be larger. This was said by Prime Minister Powell of the Kingdom of Klein. The only strawberries in the Kingdom of Klein are wild strawberries ...... from the mountains, and their relatives. The breakfast seemed to be well received by all, which was a relief for Jin. "I think there were many ingredients from the Shoro Kingdom this time, but that is the home country of my fiance, Elsa, so please understand. Instead, we are planning to serve something different for lunch. "I see... I see... Then we can look forward to lunch as well..." "You are paying homage to your future wife, aren''t you? Erza''s cheeks turned a little red. The final drink was hojicha (roasted tea). The tea was freshly roasted, so it had a nice aroma. "This is also delicious. "This food culture alone is worth the exchange. It seems that Jin''s intentions were taken into consideration this time, and I am happy to hear it. Furthermore, Jin recalled the warning Lor had given him last night. I would like to explain a little about our cuisine. Jin started off by calling for the peridol leader. Peridot leader is the one who has been in charge of all of this cooking. Then Jin tapped him on the shoulder and the perid leader gave a slow curtsey. "We are truly honored that you liked our food." Jin then took over. "The reason why they always make such delicious food is because of the constant trial and error they go through every day. The guests listen attentively to what Jin has to say. "Their strength is a precision that humans cannot achieve. Once they know the optimum values for how many liters of water and how many grams of salt to use, they can repeat them over and over again. There was a "Oh," or "I see," in his voice. "<> is minimized. That is their strength. Combined with the previous explanation, they seemed to understand that they can continue to search for the optimal solution dozens or even hundreds of times without getting tired. "In addition, I heard that many of the royal court cooks keep the procedures and secrets of how to make ...... recipes secret. This in itself is not a bad thing, but it is not acceptable to teach by watching and stealing, or by oral transmission only." Jin explained that the ratio of the amount of work should be properly decided. This is also true for us engineers. I think that if we want to see further development, we need to open the door rather than keeping it a secret. The emperor interrupted her statement as if to say. "...... Of course, world peace is the premise, isn''t it, Kunlun?" "Yes." Cooking aside, magical engineering and science and technology will change the world. We can''t let it go unchecked. I hope we can discuss such educational issues at the next world congress. The emperor concluded the meeting, and this was the end of the discussion. This was the last time the subject was discussed. An urgent message. Five Death Serpents are approaching from the north. They''re passing 10 kilometers west of Kunlun Island. Taibai has sent word. The announcement was made in the form of an internal broadcast so that not only Jin but also all the visitors could hear it. "The Death Serpent!" It doesn''t seem to come to this island. But isn''t that course taking us to the Kingdom of Elias? The Death Serpent was once encountered by Jin and the others at Potrock, at the southern tip of the Elias Kingdom. They are carnivorous and ferocious. It sometimes attacks villages along the coast. If it comes out of its survival zone ...... north of the sea, it will collide with human beings. Coexistence is impossible. "Don''t worry. My men will be there." Jin declared. He felt that his credibility would be damaged if he could not repel such a threat. "There is a squadron protecting the sea. If you wish to see them from the air, you can do so from the airship. To this, the entire leadership requested to be on board. Gloria, Fritz, Flora, Prince Ernest, Princess Rieschen, and others also wanted to come aboard. "Well, here we go." Again, the pilot is Edgar. Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Soleil, Luna, and Anne are all on board. At once, the Conlon 3 gains altitude. From about 200 meters above, people look down at the sea. There, the battle against the Death Serpent is about to begin. 1051 - - 29-16 The Devils Sea Snake "It''s the marine units that will intercept them." <, explains. "We are on a wooden ship, . It is made of teak. It is partially reinforced with light silver. The propulsion system is an Aqua Thruster. "Oh, wow!" "So that''s what a ship looks like when it''s built by a Magecraft Meister. ......" I think I saw one in the Kingdom of Selroa? Oh, yes, that''s the ship from that time! I''ll have to keep an eye on this one. Political workers, engineers, and military personnel. All were interested in the battle about to unfold below. There are five Death Serpents attacking. In contrast, there are also five sharks, ranging from eleven to fifteen. The Death Serpents are over 20 meters long, while the <> are 10 meters long and 4 meters wide. "But are you going to be all right ......?" Someone raised a concerned voice. The curtain was raised on a fierce battle. * * * * * * The Navy golems from Marine 401 to 440 are aboard the this time. They are usually assigned to guard Horai Island, but were called in for the World Conference. Each ship had eight golems on board, and they were in charge of piloting, searching/warning, communication, attack, and defense respectively (two each for attack and defense). The , which was basically a wooden ship despite Jin''s reinforcements, did not attack the Death Sea Serpent from the front, but went around its flanks. < However, <> is also equipped with a <>. With this, it is possible to reach speeds in excess of 100 kilometers per hour. The use of the <> is kept to a minimum this time because of the presence of onlookers. In other words, the maximum speed is increased by 10%, and the aircraft is maneuvered for evacuation in case of emergency. We plan to use it only to the extent that it is not noticeable as far as we can see from the sky. The five Death Sea Serpents are swimming on the surface of the water almost side by side, about 50 meters apart from each other. Each of the five ships headed toward its target, each taking one of the serpents. moves around to the flank of the Death Serpent and fires a Waterspear as a small measure. < However, the Death Serpent, which is resistant to water magic, is not affected by it. On the contrary, it opens its jaws at <> and spits out a large amount of water from its mouth. Shark 11 then opened its jaws and spewed a torrent of water from its mouth, a <> in the middle level of water magic. dodges it with light maneuvering. Then, with no further effort, he fires a water jet. This is the same magic that Jin used against the Death Sea Serpent off the island of Io in the Kingdom of Elias. The water jet was made from the inexhaustible supply of seawater. The supersonic flow of water, magically charged with power, sliced the Death Serpent in half, then cut it in half again. lunged head-on at the Death Serpent. No, he pretended to go for it, but instead he veered to the right 20 meters in front of it. However, the Death Serpent twisted its long body and followed <>''s movement. However, even the Death Serpent had no choice but to concentrate all its energy on changing direction at the speed of 60 kilometers per hour. Then, an opening was created. > unleashed a lightning strike (Thunder Javelin)> in the midst of the advanced level of lightning magic, which is the weak point of the water elemental monsters. The high voltage of 100 million volts struck the Death Serpent. Left helpless, the Death Serpent exposes its long body to the sea. < This was under the advanced level of water magic, and an ordinary ship would have been swept away and capsized in the blink of an eye. However, is no ordinary ship. For a brief moment, the <> was lifted into the air. In that instant, 70% of the torrent of the <> is passed. The propulsive force of <> was enough to deal with the rest. Incidentally, this levitation was not discernible from the air. Then, aiming at the time lag after releasing the <>, a <> was released on top of the advanced fire magic, aiming at the still-open mouth. The large fireball blew the Death Serpent''s head off. < Though small in size, it was nearly 20 meters long. The Death Sea Serpent, perhaps because of its small size, began to twist and turn as <> approached. The waves it creates become a swell, tossing <> about. It is only a water demon that can create such waves without using magic. But <> is not silent. The ship is rocking and the opponent is bobbing, making it difficult to aim, so he covers this by unleashing a ranged magic <>. The high voltage of 50 million volts grazed his body, and the Death Serpent''s movements slowed down at once. The Death Serpent did not miss the opportunity and unleashed a thunderbolt. The Death Serpent stopped moving forever. The Death Serpent that <> confronted was the largest and most recumbent of the serpents, but when it saw that all of its comrades had been killed, it became fearful and dove into the water. He then uses the same magic that brought the Death Serpent to the surface that Jin once dived for. In other words, it is a non-attribute attack magic <> that applies engineering magic <>. It can be used in the air or in the water, and can be directional, have its attenuation adjusted, and its range specified. The transparency of the sea in this area is so high that it is impossible to miss the target even if you dive about 50 meters. The directional and range-limited sonic weapon stimulated the Death Sea Serpent''s hearing ...... intensely, although it has no outer ear, only an inner ear. As a result, the Death Serpent was no longer able to stay underwater and emerged into the sea. Shark 15, who was waiting for it, cut off its head with a water jet. * * * * * * "Oh ......" "Wow. ......" "Brilliant!" The spectators, who were looking down from the floor and porthole windows, let out a sigh in unison. "That''s the Koron-kun, ......!" "Hey, that is the ship that was shown to us at the founding ceremony of the Kingdom of Selroa, isn''t it?" The Empress asks Jin as if to confirm. "Yes, that''s right. "Yes, I knew it!Not only does it look great, but it performs well too. "Yes, indeed. It''s hard to believe it''s a wooden ship. After the emperor, the Minister of Magic and Technology, Mr. Degauze, also expressed his admiration for the ship. Many of the others had seen the ship but had forgotten about it in the confusion that followed. "By the way, there was an old man automaton and a blue-haired automaton ......<> on board that time..." The Empress has a good memory. Despite her impression of the Kingdom of Celuloa, she seemed to remember everything that Jin had brought with him. Some of the other members of the group had finally realized that was an automata of the artifact class. Still, at that time, they did not realize that was an artifact-level automaton. That is not surprising. You would not think that there are so many artifact-class automata left in the world. It can be said that the fact that there are not many of them left and that they are valuable is the reason why they have value as an artifact. "At that time, ...... I didn''t think they were casually letting an artifact-class automata out of the house." I thought you had created a blue-haired automaton," says the emperor. The current Anne, however, has been rebuilt from scratch by Jin, and has only inherited the shape and the memories of the control core. And then, slowly landing <>. "No, <>, my hat is off to you." Cesar, King of Cerroa, says, "Indeed." "Together with Makina, I''ll leave you in charge of world peace." "With you, this world will be safe." Even if they were taken as half following the king, they were still greeted favorably. 1052 - - 29-17 Bread and Variations When the commotion of the Death Serpent had subsided, it was just time for lunch. With light clouds in the sky, the sun was not too strong, and the sea breeze was light, Jin decided to have lunch in the front yard of the . Tables and chairs are laid out, and parasols and tarps are erected by the golem maids to shade them from the sun. "Well, it''s a spectacular sight, isn''t it? "Yes, it is indeed." Amidst such voices, the preparations for seating are completed. Jin, Elsa, and Makina are sitting around the table. This time, about 20 round tables for four are prepared, and each country has a seat at one of them. And the important thing was lunch. "...... Is this bread? "Bread, yes." The bread was cut into pieces and brought out in baskets. Jin began to explain amidst the somewhat disappointed voices. This bread is not just any bread. It has a unique twist. Please try it." "Well, since Jin-dono says so, why don''t we try it? "Yes, I guess so." Then he picked one up, "Oh?This is ....... "It is soft, isn''t it? And he puts it in his mouth. "Oh, this! "What an indescribable aroma!" "What is this?" and "It has an indescribable aroma! "This bread has something in it...... sweet with a hint of sourness......". Some of them said, "Why is it so sweet with a hint of sourness? "Why does it taste so good without anything on it? These voices seemed to speak for everyone''s feelings. "Well, we have three kinds of bread this time. Jin began to explain. "Basically, I think they are fluffy and baked with yeast, but they should taste good even without anything on them. The people in the pew nodded silently. "Based on such bread, I made bread flavored with maple syrup and dried bitis, or passa," he said. "Oh, is that passa?" "Is maple syrup the sweetener from maple ......? Jin answers those questions as well. Yes. So the method itself is not difficult. "So each ...... is sophisticated, but the combination is new?" That''s right. In order to make bread fluffy, bread bakers have devised a variety of methods. One of them was to use water from a specific region for baking. In fact, such water contained a small amount of baking soda, which acted as an expander. Sodium bicarbonate ...... decomposes into sodium carbonate, carbon dioxide gas, and water when heated, and the carbon dioxide gas makes the bread dough swell. It is also known that the baking process differs depending on the type of flour used. This is due to the difference in the amount of a protein called gluten in the flour, and the degree of fluffiness. So far, bread baked with <> exists only in Penglai Island (including Kunlun Island), so it was understandable that he was surprised. Also, although there was a bread made by mixing a nut similar to walnut called "ornut" to give a savory flavor, there was no bread with <> (dried grape), which is not so popular by itself, except for this place. As for maple syrup, its production has just started in Randall''s territory, where Reinhardt''s parents live, and it is not generally distributed. Against this background, the was also a sufficient delight to the palates of the guests. "Now that you''ve enjoyed the bread, let''s have some side dishes. Jin instructed, and several bottles were brought to the table. They were Citran and Ramon marmalade, Wylie (wild strawberries), Brule (blueberries), Flape (cocklebur), and Lambel (cranberry) jam, respectively. Brule and flape are found in the mountainous areas of the Kingdom of Elias. Wylie is often eaten in the northern part of the Kingdom of Klein. "Oh, I''ve never tasted this before." "It''s kind of nostalgic, isn''t it?" "Hmm, I thought wylie was just sour and not tasty, but now I see that it is surprisingly tasty. Jin is relieved to hear that the guests are enjoying both the tastes of their home country and foreign countries. "Jam tastes better when the original fruit has a sour taste. The sweetness can be adjusted with sugar. "I see, I see, sweet is not always better. The bread we had prepared was 90% consumed, so you can imagine how well it was received. A variety of fruit juices were prepared as beverages, which were also well received. The most popular was the slightly carbonated Citran juice, and the second most popular was the Airebert (strawberry) juice. "Well, now, I know some of you may not be satisfied, so for those of you who are, here you go. Jin gave a signal, and the five-colored golem maids arrived with something on a tray. "What is this?" "There''s something sandwiched inside the bread. Is it vegetables and ...... meat?" "Please eat it as if you were biting into it." The group bit into the bread, a bit bewildered by Jin''s explanation. "......? What is this? "This is not just meat!What tenderness and juices!" Jin prepared a . It was a bite-sized hamburger. Erza had advised him to make it a size that even a woman could eat in about two bites, as the aristocrats and royalty would say it was unbecoming for a burger of the size we are accustomed to in modern Japan. "No, I enjoyed it." "Really. Food is a profound thing, to be able to prepare such a variety of dishes with just bread. I think I''ve seen a glimpse of your abilities. "I''m sure you''ve seen a glimpse of <>''s ability. ...... food is an expression of culture, but that of <> is unfathomable." The last line was from Prince Arthur of the Kingdom of Klein. "What do you mean by that, brother?" asked his sister, Princess Rieschen. "Well, food is an aspect of life that is difficult to improve unless you can afford it. Considering this, I don''t know where the Kunlun-kun is from, but I thought that the cultural civilization must have developed considerably from the diversity of its people. "I see, I''m learning a lot." Prince Arthur is very perceptive. The golem maid, Ruby 34, who was observing the conversation, passed the message on to the old man. The old man thought that he should be more careful about Prince Arthur''s words and actions than before. The leaders of each country spend the afternoon leisurely. Jin had further plans for the afternoon. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, we have a little entertainment planned for you to enjoy the Kunlun Island after this. "Really?" "What kind of entertainment would that be?" "Interesting, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is ......." Jin then began to explain. 1053 - - 29-18 Sightseeing "What is entertainment? ......" After a break for lunch, the guests from different countries were divided into three groups. Jin, Elsa, and Makina were the guides for each group, and they were to enjoy the Kunlun Island in their own way. In Jin''s group, there are the Empress of Shoro, the 3rd Prince Ernest of Egelea, the 3rd Princess Rieschen of Klein, the Kinswoman Gloria of Klein, the Kinswoman Flora of Shoro, the Prime Minister Boyd of Egelea, the Minister of Magic Kelichdole, Lyanna and Kate of the Royal Secret Maidens, and others. In Elsa''s group are Marquis Florenziano of the Kingdom of Elias, Minister of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Kingdom, Degauze, Commander Fritz of the Shoro Kingdom, and several others. The group of Machina includes Cesar of Selroa, Lothar of Franz, Arthur, the 2nd Prince of Klein, and others. Please come this way. The group, guided by Erza, boarded the <>. We will take a tour around the Kunlun Island from the sky. "Watch your step, please." Makina leads the group to <>. "Just a few more minutes, please. ...... Oh, here it comes. What the hell is that? No horses. ...... "...... Jin, that''s a car, right?But it''s a big ......." Jin called for a <>. It is a , so to speak, newly built for such occasions, i.e., for transportation around the island. (Useful and useful: ......) It is a large vehicle with a capacity of 30 passengers and a quartz glass top for a good view. It is just right for Jin''s group, which has the largest number of participants. Ann is the driver. "Here we go!" "All right, let''s go." Jin felt uncomfortable with Ann, the driver, saying this, but he kept his mouth shut because he didn''t really feel comfortable saying it himself. The started smoothly. "Oh, oh, it''s moving!" "I can hardly feel the shaking." "It''s just like the carriage Jin built. Active golem arm suspension, right? Prince Ernest mentioned a name that I had not taught him, and Jin was a little surprised. "Well, yes. It is an application of the golem''s arms to mitigate the shaking caused by the unevenness of the ground." "I don''t know, but it''s a great technology. ......" The Empress is impressed. The scenery outside the window is flying backward as if it were flowing. The speed was about 50 kilometers per hour. The road has been paved with a simple pavement (graded and <> with engineering magic) so that it can reach such speeds. "Where are they going? Jin replies. "We are going to visit the sightseeing spots in Kunlun Island. True to his word, the bus climbed to the top of a small hill, or rather a small mountain. This is the observatory. You can see what the Kunlun Island looks like. We stopped the bus and all got out. Then we enjoyed the view. "Oh, this is a nice view! "You can see the ocean." "......?Jin, what is that building over there? Ernesto pointed to Jin''s building. It is a dummy research institute built on the Kunlun island. That''s the laboratory, his base of operations. "Oh. May I take a look at ......? Yes, if it''s okay with the others. ...... Ernesto asks, and Jin says, "I''d love to see it!" "Yes, the Kunlun''s stronghold is more than just a famous landmark." "I''d be interested too." Not only did no one object, but everyone wanted to see it. Jin smiles and agrees. "I can''t guarantee that it will be interesting or not. ...... The group boarded the bus again and departed. * * * * * The bus, carrying the Marquis Florenziano and the others, was on a graceful trajectory around the Kunlun Mountain, which rises in the center of the Kunlun Island. "This is a wonderful view. ......" The Marquis sounds an impressed voice. "Well, it is fundamentally different from a hot air balloon that it does not shake so much. I wonder what kind of technology you have ......." Minister of Magic and Technology Degauze was impressed in a different way. "Oh, that''s ......." Fritz had spotted something below. It is a small mountain in the western part of the Kunlun Island. Something is moving at the foot of it. "That''s the big car Brother Jin built. Brother Jin is supposed to be guiding our guests with it. "I see!A big car!It can hold two or three dozen people." Maybe Fritz, the military man, is thinking of transporting soldiers, Elsa thinks with a little bitterness. She likes her brother back, but sometimes it''s hard to follow his military way of thinking. She tries to let it go, but even though she knows it in her head, her heart does not always listen to her. "You always think in military terms, don''t you, Mr. Fritz? A woman''s voice interrupted Elsa''s reverie. It was the Marquis Florenziano. "Yes, I am a military man. Fritz, being the Marquis of another country, replied in stiffer words than usual. "I am aware of that. But this conference is a gathering to strive for world peace and to work towards its realization. You can''t help what you think, but you shouldn''t be so tactless with your words. "......Yes, you are absolutely right." Fritz scratches his head. Elsa thanks the Marquis in her heart for saying what she wanted to say on her behalf. * * * * * * "Oh, oh, oh..." "It''s shakier than I thought it would be." < has a maximum capacity of eight passengers, and except for Marin201 and Makina, the pilot, there are only six passengers on board. There are only six passengers on board, except for Marin 201 and Makina, who are the pilots. "Please be careful. This is not a cruise ship. Cesar, King of Cerroa, nodded at Makina''s words. "Yes, indeed. But I have been wondering about it ever since I saw it at the national celebration. "But it''s really a wooden ship, isn''t it? Prince Arthur says in an impressed voice. < series are finished with lacquer mixed with fine particles of light silver on the outside, giving them a slightly brownish silver color. This gives them the appearance of being made of metal from a distance. "That''s right. Jin said he wanted to show the possibilities of wooden ships. "I see...the possibility of wooden ships. That''s quite a profound word. Cesar was impressed. "I never dreamed that a wooden ship could really sail at this speed. This is a line from King Franz Lotharus. "Now, we are almost at the northwest side of the Kun Lun island. The sea area where we recently intercepted the Death Serpent is close by. Interesting. I''m a little nervous. However, in anticipation of such an eventuality, three vessels from <> to <>> are still in the area. "Look, we can see them now." <> slows down. The wreck of the Death Serpent floats in front of them. "This is ......" "It''s eerie up close, isn''t it?" The passengers were a bit taken aback by the sight of the monster, which they had never seen before. (After all, the power of <> is a menace. ......) Some of the leaders thought so. 1054 - - 29-19 Challenge to Dreams "......" "This is interesting." "This is amazing!" The disguise that Reinhardt, Erza, Bina and the others had already used when they arrived was sufficient, but the warp gate in the basement could not be shown, so it had been sealed in advance. Several men and women are now looking around the dummy laboratory with great interest. The dining room, the workshop, and the living room. The workshop in particular was the center of attention. The first of them is Ernest, the third prince of Egelea. His fiance, the third princess of Klein Kingdom, Rieschen, is surprisingly attached to Anne. Or perhaps not so surprising. She is probably concerned about Anne, who is the same ...... model as Tia, her nanny, although the exact ...... lot is different and the actual sister machine is Refa. "I wish I could study magical engineering in a place like this." Ernesto mutters innocently, "I wish I could study magic engineering in a place like this. "I remember you liked golems. The one who spoke to him was the Shoro Imperial Lady. "Ah, Your Majesty. Yes, I love golems and automata! "Hmm, you and Jin-dono seem to have something in common, don''t you? The Empress smiled softly. "Hey Jin, can you teach me engineering magic?" Ernesto suddenly said something like that. "What?" "Even if it''s just for a week, I want Jin to teach me. ......" "......" However, Ernest is royalty, and Jin can''t give his consent here and now. "Ernest-dono, Jin-dono is in trouble.It would be better to ask for your father''s approval first. Again, the emperor followed up. "......Yes, that''s right. Yes, I understand." Ernesto meekly withdrew. "Jin, when your father gives you permission, you will tell me!" "Oh, yes." Jin could not help but nod in agreement. * * * * * * < and drag the Death Sea Serpent they have defeated, a was running alongside, carrying the guests. "But it''s quite a sight to behold, isn''t it? "What kind of material will the Death Serpent be made out of, Master Machina?" Well, bones are strong enough to be used as handles for swords and large knives. Fangs are even tougher and are used in the same way. No one eats the meat because it smells bad. We have to incinerate them. Everyone listens with interest as Makina explains. "The skins are resilient and strong, so they are used to make leather armor, sword sheaths, and in rarer cases, parts of ships called in the Potlocks of the Kingdom of Elias. "Oh, these are watercraft made in Marcia''s workshop, aren''t they?" Godfrey, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Elias, who was on board the ship, spoke up as if he had just heard what I had to say. Makina joined in. "Ah, yes, that''s right. Jin is processing the parts and distributing them wholesale. "Oh, is that so?" She did not seem to have that much detailed information. It is understandable in the Prime Minister''s position. "As a material, it''s just above the middle level. It is more than sufficient for daily use. Makina says this, and Prime Minister Godfrey looks somewhat dismayed. "No, only you people would call this Death Sea Serpent a top of the range weapon. "Indeed. King Cesar agreed. "I hope to be friends with you for a long time." Prince Arthur said. "Yes, I don''t like conflict either. As long as the world is at peace and I can do my favorite research in magical engineering, I''ll be happy. "Oh, so you share the same opinion as Gin-sama." King Franz Rotaro said with interest. "Yes. Technicians like myself and Jin cannot understand the desire to rule the world at all. "I see. To each his own, I see. Prince Arthur nodded his head in admiration. < is speeding through the water at about 30 kilometers per hour. Prince Arthur looked out the window, "I''m a little ...... envious of you who can see such a world," he said to himself. he muttered to himself. * * * * The flying slowly lowered its altitude and snatched the directly over the ocean. "Land, sea, and sky. <''s technology is bottomless." Marquis Florenziano muttered in a deep voice. "Sir, all of this has its roots in one thing. Elsa said to the Marquis. "One?" "Yes. It can be summed up in one short word: the realization of a dream. A dream. A dream, yes. "Dreams. ......" A dream to run faster than the wind across the land. I dream of traveling freely across the oceans. I dream of flying through the sky as I please. "I''m halfway there, but..." "We''re halfway there. ......" Those who heard these words sighed. Is this the halfway point for Jin? He said, "Progress stops when you are satisfied. He also said that the best work is always the next one. So that''s the next best thing. The Marquis of Florenziano closed his eyes and said in a quiet voice, "I see. I''m always up for a challenge. "I am always up for a challenge." < Forgetting to use the first person, Jin muttered to himself. The moment you think you have reached the top, the retreat begins. Therefore, I want to continue to be a perpetual challenger. That is my current goal. I see. So that''s the mindset of Jin. "That''s just like you, Jin." The soft smile of the empress loosens Jin''s heart. "Normally, I only talk about things like this with Erza. That''s why such an unnecessary line came out of her mouth. But it was pleasant for Jin. 1055 - - 29-20 Where to go back "Hmmm, <>, that''s just like Jin-dono." < The previous words were spoken by Cesar, King of Cerroa. "In order for <> to do a good job, it is necessary to keep the world in peace, isn''t it? This is King Rotaro of Franz. "Oh, welcome back." Jin is a bit dismayed when he realizes that he has been overheard. "Ha-ha, that''s just like you, Jin-dono. We soldiers can''t dream. Now the people who had been with Erza returned. The previous line was uttered by Fritz. "I''m surprised to hear your true feelings, Mr. Kunlun. "Yes, this is fortuitous." "......" Jin held his head in his heart. Almost all of the participants of the large ...... world conference had heard his true feelings. However, Jin was the only one who was concerned about it, while the others were deeply impressed. The genuineness of the participants was dazzling, as they were told so straightforwardly what they wanted to do. The world of politics is more or less, or more often than not, a world colored by power, intrigue, and falsehood, where people are afraid of betrayal, busy protecting their own positions, and concerned about what other people think of them. This is probably why Jin''s true feelings were so fresh. In addition, some people were relieved to know that Jin was truly devoted to magical engineering and did not think about anything else. After all, if Jin wanted to, he would be able to kill the leaders present here in an instant, and even destroy the nations. It is a relief to know that Jin, a man with such power, is not interested in power at all, but only in his pure passion for magical engineering. As a side note, I would like to add that the old man may have not informed Jin of the return of the people in order to achieve such an effect. * * * * * * * * * * "No, looking back, the three days passed in a blink of an eye," he said. "It''s been a fulfilling three days, hasn''t it? "To be honest, I even wish I could have stayed here for another 10 days. I agree. But that is something the leaders are not allowed to do. On the morning of July 13, the day the heads of state returned home. The <> lifted into the sky, carrying about 50 passengers. In their hearts, Jin and Elsa were concerned that they had not been able to solve Gloria''s love problems. Still, soars through the sky. First, they go to Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias. Here, Marquis Godopher, Marquis Florenziano, and others disembarked. "<>, thank you for a pleasant and meaningful day. "The World Congress was wonderful. Jin was pleased to hear these words. Next, he went to Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea. Jin, I will ask your father''s permission, and I am sure you will teach me magical engineering then! With these words, the 3rd Prince Ernest descended from <> and rushed off to the royal palace with his personal guard maid, Laila, in tow. "...... Your Highness,...... Do it,......" Prime Minister Boyd Noyce Galuelli sighed as he gazed at Ernesto''s back, and bowed deeply to Jin. "<>, I have learned a lot from this meeting. I thank you for that. Jin also bowed. Jin-sama and Erza-sama, I wish you many years of happiness. As they disembarked, Leanna and Kate of the Royal Secret Maidens left with these words in their ears. The third country was the Kingdom of Selroa. "Well, Jin-dono, I think I''ll take that . Please give me the details. Yes, Your Majesty. We''ll make a policy for its operation as well. King Cesar said and returned to the royal castle. Next came the Kingdom of Klein. "Jin-dono, you are really great. I entrust you with the future of this world ......, but I would be grateful if you would watch over it together with Makina-dono." With these words, Prince Arthur disembarked. "Jin, may I visit you again?" Princess Rieschen looked regretful. "Yes, in the near future." "Yes, in the near future.I''ll bring Tia with me this time! And Gloria? "Jin-dono, Erza-dono, I know I''ve worried you a lot, but forget it. I''ll manage on my own!" Both Jin and Erza did not know what to say to her, even though she seemed to be in high spirits. So they said, "Take care! They only said, "Take care of yourself. Then they went to the Kingdom of Franz. "Jin-dono, no, <>, this meeting was a bit stimulating for the new King of the United States. But we learned a lot from it. I cannot thank you enough." King Rotaro then took Jin''s hand. "My country sends its heartfelt thanks to you. Please come back to ...... and if you can, see Elsa Ehime and her mother Catherine." Rotaro''s mother Catherine and Jin and the others had known each other since they had saved her from a runaway carriage. "Yes, that''s right. We''ll see each other sometime. "Yes, you''re always welcome." The last one will be the Shoro Empire. "Oh, it''s been a pleasure. Thank you, Mr. Jin and Elsa, I''ve never had so much fun in my 40 years and a bit of life. Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, the empress of the Shawlo Kingdom, disembarks with regret. "Your Majesty, it''s my pleasure, thank you for your visit. The emperor replied with a smile. "Good luck, Elsa!" "...... what?" Erza was a little puzzled by her brother''s words without the word "what". I''m sure there''s a lot to be said. As Jin-dono''s companion, you''ll have a lot of work to do. "Yes, I know. But that makes me happy. I see. Then I''ll just support you. "Thank you, brother." And so, soared into the skies of the Kingdom of Shoro ....... It landed on the rooftop of Leuthart''s <. It was already evening. It would be midnight if we continue on our way back to Horai Island. He also felt the need to comfort Barou and Behr, who had been away from home since he had left the house unoccupied for quite a while. "Jin-sama, Erza-sama, welcome back! We congratulate you on your safe return. As soon as they landed, they came running up to me. "We''re home!" "Thanks for looking after me." This was exactly the place for them to come home. 1056 - - 29-21 Quiet talk 59 What happened while I was away "I don''t know where to start reporting ......" "A lot has happened!" After dinner, Barrow and Behle came to give their reports, alternately rambling on and on. The neighboring aristocrats had repeatedly invited them to tea parties. A well-known merchant came to ask Jin to make something for him by name. Most notably, Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress Shoro, came to ask, <>(Three days later, the world conference was held.) "And yes, there was an interesting incident. "An incident?" Yes. Two men were found tied up naked and abandoned in front of the guardhouse that protects the town of Leuthart. We found out that they were two notorious thieves. "Heh. ......." Nodding in agreement, Jin thought that the last case must be related to the old man. So, after going back to his living room, he asked him through the manacam, and the answer came back just as he had expected. "No, that''s okay. Let''s talk about it now." The following is a summary and reconstruction by the old man. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Late at night. < "Sir, this is the house, isn''t it?" "Yes. I''ve heard that he is a new nobleman and that he is often away from home. I know from what I''ve heard that he''s not here tonight. Only the butler and his lady-in-waiting are present, is that correct? That''s right. That''s a good bet. They were the latest thieves to hit the market. The two were the latest thieves to hit the market. But the old man, the brains of Horai Island, who monitors the house, had already detected the two long ago and had overheard most of their conversation. >) (The fence is high...) "(The wall is high, but not so high that we can''t climb over it. Here we go.) "Oh!" The two throw up a hooked rope toward the wall, and after confirming that the end of the rope has been hooked, they begin to climb along the hooked rope. (<< << ( The two climbed over the wall with light movements, and when they were sure that there was no one in the yard, they jumped down onto the lawn without making a sound. "(Okay, so far so good. Let''s go around to the side.") There was an emergency exit on the side of the house, and they headed for it. "Here, here. Seb, come on.) "I''ll take care of it." The man called Seb put his hand on the keyhole of the door. "<>" <> < The old man is impressed. (<>) I think it would be better to add some anti-magic defense methods. The two of them enter the mansion, unaware of the old man''s intentions. (Look at that picture on the wall. I don''t know whose portrait it is, but it looks like it could be worth a lot of money.) "But it''s too big to take home." "Yes, but it''s too big to take home. But at this rate, we can still expect a lot of treasure.) They may think they are talking in a whisper that only the two of them can hear, but the performance of the surveillance devices ......<> and <> installed in the <> is far superior to that of a human being. The performance of these devices is far superior to that of human beings. Unaware that the old man was watching their every move, the two of them slowly made their way through the house. "(This is the living room. I don''t think there''s much in here, but let''s take a peek.) They stepped into the living room on the south side of the first floor. A dark shadow looms over them. "What!" "Don''t make a sound, you idiot! It''s an ornament!) "Oh, you scared me. ......" What they see in front of them is a knight in armor. Most aristocrats have one of these in their homes. But this is not an ornament. It is a golem that can move when the need arises, and can take on crooks. (*) ( * (I''m going toward the guest room.) "Let''s go to the guest room. There should be more money there.) "(Is it on the second floor?Is everything alright?) (With your engineering magic and my physical skills, we should be able to handle most things.) They whispered to each other, passed the room where Barrow and Behr were sleeping, and headed for the stairs. "(The stairs are also very fluffy.)" "I can''t hear your footsteps..." "It''s good that my footsteps don''t echo." And then they reached the second floor. "Well, which one is it?" One is Jin and Erza''s room and the other is their bedroom. "(I think it''s on the west side.)" After some hesitation, the two of them head for the wrong direction, that is, toward Jin and Elsa''s room. (<< << Naturally, since this is Jin and Erza''s apartment, the security is three times higher than that of the other rooms. * "(...... How about this room?)" The door is unlocked. I gently open the door and take a peek inside. It is pitch black. "Hey, there''s a light." "Okay. ......<>" Seb turns on the light so that he can see around vaguely. "(How ......?)" The door was about 1 meter square, just like a doorway, and the floor was about 50 centimeters higher than the doorway. "(Interesting room.)" The floor was raised and covered with tatami mats so that a horigotatsu could be placed in the room, but there was no way the two thieves could have known that. "But there''s nothing of interest in here, is there?" "(But there''s nothing to see, is there?)" "Yes, but there''s nothing to see. Let''s look in the next room.") They were right. If they had tried to step on the tatami mats with their feet on the floor, they would have been paralyzed without question, and the bones in their feet would have been crushed. The next room they looked into was Elsa''s living room. The bedroom was covered with tatami mats, but she could walk around in her shoes in the living room. "(...... smells good)" "Big brother, wasn''t this the guest room?" "(Apparently so. This is the mistress''s room. (Which means there are dresses, accessories, and other expensive things here.)" Your judgment is correct. However, since most of them are made in Horai Island, it is highly doubtful that they can be sold on the black market. (<< (<>) The old man continued to observe the two while thinking of something dangerous. (Ah! "(Oh, it smells good.... Is it perfume?) The smell was the remnants of citran aroma candles, which Elsa liked. The citran peel is extracted from the citran peel by <> and mixed with beeswax. The mixture of beeswax and citran oil is done by engineering magic <> and <>, so it was not something that could be easily presented to the public. In fact, they often use herbs with similar aromas, but Jin did not know that much about them, so he used actual citran peels, which were somewhat less volatile. Hence, the fragrance lingers for a long time. The aroma lingers long enough to be noticed by intruders even though it has been more than a month since the last time we used the ...... scented candles. So, the prototype scented candle is only used in Elsa''s room. "(Noble women smell good, don''t they?)" The two are rummaging around in Elsa''s room, thinking that they might be considered perverts if they make a mistake. So far, they have not touched her, but only observed her. (*) << <<>>>)) * "(This one looks like a bedroom. Maybe there are some valuables in there. ......?) "(I''d like to see what a noblewoman''s bedroom looks like. ......?) With that thought as the last, the two thieves silently lost consciousness. * * * * >,<>,<>>. The old man finished his report. "I see. So, the unconscious thief was stripped naked, wrapped in a bamboo mat, and thrown out in front of the guard station. < "What?" < "Well, well, well. Thank you very much. < The old man was proud of himself. 1057 - - 29-22 Amicable retirement "This is delicious! The snack of the day was a . It is a bread baked twice, the second time coated with icing (a mixture of egg whites and powdered sugar) and baked. It keeps for a long time because it contains very little water and is characterized by its crispy texture. We have both the normal sugar flavor and maple flavor. Of course, the five-colored golem maids, the Peridos, have worked hard on these. "I love this flavor, Jin-bro!" Erza seemed to like the maple flavor. "Jin-sama, are you sure you want to join us ......?" "Yes, I''m glad to be with you. ......" He invites Barrow and Behrle to join him. "It tastes better when we eat together!" Hannah, who has grown a permanent tooth after her missing baby tooth, eats the rusk with relish. The drink is kuhe. This drink, similar to cocoa, matched the sweet rusk. "Well, this is a good opportunity to ask you something..." Jin turned to Barrow and Behle. "Do you two still want to work at the Reuthert house?" "What?" "No, I''m away a lot and I''m kind of sorry. If you want to do something else ......, no, I think you should do something better than being a servant." Jin felt bad about tying up the two pre-20-year-olds as butlers and maidservants. But they did not seem to take it that way. "Kubi, kubi? ......? "Are you not helpful, ......?" Jin notices that the two are about to start crying and hurriedly denies it. No, no, no, I''m not firing you. I''m not going to fire you...I''m going to let you go..." "......<>......?" If you two want to do some kind of business or something, I''ll support you. We''ll give you both a million dollars for your severance." "...... good riddance, ......?" But the depressed Behrle takes it from bad to worse. "Oh my God, I said no, didn''t I?" "What do you mean, ...... sir?" Elsa advised from the side. "Teacher?" "Yes. You two can already read, write, calculate, behave, cook, do all the housework, etc." "Oh, I see." "...... we are the teachers? At last, Burroughs was beginning to get a sense of what it was like. "You can do whatever you want, not just that." Jin told them with a soft smile. 1058 - - 29-23 Hannah Growth "Or you can work here in the village of Kaina as a farmer or herdsman." Turning to Barrow and Behle, Jin continued. "Of course, if you want to open a store or something in the Shoro Kingdom, I will cooperate fully, and if you want to return home, that would be fine too. I am sure that Jin could listen to most of his wishes. "Of course, you can continue to be a butler and a lady-in-waiting as you are now. Well, you don''t have to decide right away. I would be happy for you to stay here in the village. I won''t force you. "Yes, I understand." The time is about 4:30 in the afternoon. It is still light in the afternoon on a summer day. Jin, who had given his leave to Barrow and Behrle this time, was thinking in front of Hannah and Erza. "What should we do for dinner tonight ......?" "Come over to my house, honey!" "Yes, I''ll do that." Right across the street from Hanna''s house was Jin''s house, and Erza''s real mother, Meene, lived with Hanna''s grandmother, Martha. "Yeah." Elsa is happy to see her mother. Jin," she said, "I''m so happy to see you. "Jin, it''s been a long time since the seventh evening. You had the world conference or something, didn''t you?How did it go? 6:30 p.m. Jin and his friends were sitting around the dinner table at Martha''s house. "Yes, it went well, thanks to you. "I see. I''m glad to hear that. "I wish I could have been there too. ......" Hannah muttered regretfully. "Well, maybe next time I can bring Hannah along as my assistant. "Really?" Considering Hannah''s knowledge, she would be able to assist me and most importantly, she would gain valuable experience. Besides, Princess Rieschen, who he knew well, would surely come again, Jin thought. "Was Elsa of some use to you? Erza''s own mother, Meine, asked Erza. "...... umm, not much." But when Jin heard this, he quickly followed up. "Not at all. Erza has been leading our guests in and more than anything, she has been a great help to me. "...... is that so?" Elsa blushes a little at Jin''s words. Martha looks at her and says something. "Jin, when are you and Erza going to have your wedding? "Huh?" What? "Don''t make her wait too long, it''ll be too sad." Martha said that the chief and his wife, that is, Giebeck and Sally, met later than Jin and the others and got together before them. "So ......, Barbara, and Eric," she said. Elsa''s mouth turned bright red and the two names came out. "Yeah, well, they weren''t quite ready to make a living yet. You guys have had enough, haven''t you?" "Uh-uh." Contrary to Elsa''s hushed tone, Jin said firmly, his face reddening. We are planning to get married next month. "What?" Erza looked at Jin''s face. "Erza, I''m sorry for keeping you waiting. I want to make this clear in front of Ms. Meane. Jin, who usually calls her "Meene," but this time he treats her as Erza''s mother. "I have to call you mother-in-law, don''t I? "Don''t do that, Jin-sama. Thank you very much, even at ....... Please take good care of Elsa. Yes, of course. Yes, of course. Erza is flustered as the conversation proceeds without her. However, she does not seem to be averse to the conversation. The proof is in the smile in her eyes. It was at that moment. "Father, excuse me..." Reiko tugged at the hem of Jin''s dress. "Yes?What''s wrong, Reiko?" Jin followed Reiko out of Martha''s house while asking her. When she was sure that Martha did not hear them, Reiko opened her mouth. "A report has just come in. They have found a clue of <> on the northern coast of the former Leonard Kingdom." "What? It was good news, < For Reiko, he was her grandfather. To follow in his footsteps is also to follow in the footsteps of the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. "Well, we''ll hear more about it later. Jin said and returned to Martha''s house. "Onii-chan, what''s wrong?" Jin, is something wrong? Hannah and Martha asked Jin at the same time. "Oh, no, Reiko is at the front ......" "She told your father that <> is here." As Jin was thinking of an excuse, Reiko followed him. "I see. I see he is also busy assisting the village head. The here is Butler A, who is Jin''s deputy. He assists the village head when Jin is not around. Battlers B and C are stationed at Nido Castle, and D works at the << house> in Leuthart. D works in Reuthert''s . "Right now, the village chief''s place is busy because it also serves as a medical clinic. He''s going to build an addition to the clinic soon. "I see. I''ll have to help him with that. As the lord of the village, Jin decided to give his full support to the villagers since it was a matter concerning their welfare. "But still... ......" "Hmm?" Jin noticed that Hannah''s speech had lost some of its childishness. <, her pronunciation was the same as before, but the rest of her words were pronounced in a more mature way. When he came home for Tanabata, I didn''t think so much of it. (Before I knew it, Hannah had grown up too. ......) (Hannah has grown up before I knew it... ) Jin thought deeply. "Onii-chan, where are you going to stay tonight? Hannah asked. "Well, I''m going to sleep in this house. Looking at Hannah''s expectant face, it was hard to tell that she would be staying at Nido Castle. "Yay, we can talk more then!" Hannah is innocently happy, and Meane smiles, "I can''t help it. Martha sighs and Erza''s shoulders slump a little. 1059 - - 29-24 Whose Happiness? "So, this year, we picked a lot of cullis," says Hannah. Hannah tells Jin about gathering wild vegetables in spring. In the village of Kaina, gathering wild vegetables is done as a half-enjoyable activity. For the past few years, Hanna and the other girls have been led by Barbara to pick wild vegetables. "We''ve even gotten into the habit of washing our hands before eating our lunch," she said. "Oh, that''s good!" Jin spread this custom. Wash your hands after coming back from outside and before eating. Just by doing so, the chance of getting sick is greatly reduced. In the village of Kaina, where there are pumps and hot springs, this custom seems to have taken root quickly. "Is calyx a flower similar to the orange lily? "Yes, that''s right. "Yes, they are, Elsa. It''s the young shoots that we can eat." Right now, Jin, Erza, and Hannah were chatting on the second floor of Jin''s house. Or rather, Hannah is telling Jin and the others a lot of things. When they get thirsty, they drink soda water. It is slightly carbonated, so it feels good on the palate, and since there is no sugar in it, it does not cause cavities. However, no one in Kaina Village has cavities. Jin thinks that there are no cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, and he also thinks that he should be careful about periodontal disease. Let''s take a break. He is still a child even though he has grown up. Around 8:00 p.m., Hannah, tired of talking, started to row the boat. Jin gently took her in his arms and carried her to the futon. He thought about sending her back to Martha''s house, but it would be hard to have her sulk when she woke up the next day, so he went to the guest room of Jin''s house. After putting Hannah to bed, Jin sat down next to Elsa. It is a quiet night with the faint sound of early insects. "Brother Jin, why did you move the ceremony up?" Erza asked me in a whispered voice. "In the fall, you know, that will be coming soon, right?It''s going to be a busy time for us. Jin replied in a low voice. "I wouldn''t mind if it was after that, though. ......" Elsa says modestly. But Jin shakes his head. "No, you know, there''s a kind of jinx in my world that says, <>, and I can''t do it. "Is that so?" "Yes, it is. ...... so I want to hold the wedding ceremony at this peaceful time after the world conference is over." Saying this, Jin hugged Erza''s shoulder. Erza, though a little stiff, did not mind and leaned her slender shoulders against Jin''s. "If that''s what you mean," she said, "I''m sure you''ll understand. "If that''s what you mean, I understand." Erza said with a slight smile. Jin hugged Erza''s shoulder a little tighter, "I''ll make you happy, I promise. He said, "I''ll make you happy. But she said, "No, no. "No, that''s not right. Elsa shook her head. "What, Elsa?" Jin tilted his head inwardly, wondering if something had offended her. Looking at Jin''s face, Erza tells him, "It''s not about what makes you happy, it''s about what makes you happy. Jin''s brother will be happy, too. < "Yes, we will. Erza is right. The moon shines over the village of Kaina, Yunie. Nearby, a star shines brighter than the first magnitude star--. * * * * The next morning. Hannah wakes up at sunrise. "What''s that?Here ......." She looked next door and saw Elsa sleeping. Then the memory of last night came back to her. "I stayed at my grandma''s house, didn''t I? Then, I stretch out and quietly slip out of the futon. Since Jin''s apartment was on the second floor, he went down the stairs to his own house. "Good morning, Hannah. Welcome home." Martha was already awake. Grandma, I''m home. Good morning." Hannah also greets her morning a little more maturely. Even though they''re family, they still respect their elders. "Do you want to wash your face?" "Yes!" They go to a nearby well and Martha pumps. Hannah rinsed her mouth and washed her face with the water that came out. Then Jin woke up. "Good morning, Martha. Hannah, good morning. "Good morning, Onii-chan!" Jin, good morning. Martha gave him a hand with the pump, which Jin gratefully accepted. "Thank you, Martha-san! "No problem. Jin made this pump for me! Martha smiled brightly. It was going to be another beautiful day. Then Elsa woke up. "Good morning, Elsa! "Good morning, Elsa." "Good morning." Jin pumped Erza''s pump, "Thank you, Jin." Erza rinsed out her mouth, washed her face, and looked refreshed. "It''s a beautiful day today, too." "Yes, it is." Jin nodded with a smile. After breakfast. After breakfast. "Hannah, would you like to go on another excursion with us?" Jin asked Hannah. <. Of course, there was no way she would refuse. "Yes, I''ll go!Are you sure, Grandma?" Martha smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course. Jin, Elsa, take care of Hannah for me, will you? "Yes, of course. Yes, of course. Thus, Hannah is to accompany Jin and the others on their journey in the footsteps of the Wise Masters. Barrow and Behrle are on vacation. "I''m looking forward to it!" Hanna is in a good mood. 1060 - - 29-25 In a place overlooking the sea Hannah accompanied him when he traveled from Mitsho to Huso, and she knew about <>. However, she was not with him when he went with Milowina to investigate the second site. So Jin summarized the information that Hanna did not know. "<> went across the Lesser Kingdom to the old Leonard Kingdom. So ......" "...... and adopted a girl who was the only survivor of a village destroyed by an epidemic. ......" "I taught her engineering magic, too. ......" "There were archaeological sites in the old Leonard''s Kingdom that documented all that." "Hmm. And now you''re going to look for the rest of the story? Yes, that''s what I''m going to do. That sounds fun! Hannah is enthusiastic. Jin headed for Nido Castle with Erza, Reiko, and Hanna. "Hi, Jin." Good morning, Saki. Saki was waiting for them. She had come through the warp gate since she had been notified in advance. "Oh, there''s Saki! "Hannah, it''s been a long time!" Reinhard could not come this time because of his office. He said he would let us know the results later. Stellina and Toa are both preparing to go to Mitsuho. The Prime Minister will be going to Mitsuho soon to conclude official diplomatic relations, and the two were chosen to accompany him. Vivienne has been busy traveling around collecting the lore of the Shoro Kingdom. And Milowina is now back in Uny, relaxing. So, the members of the group are Jin, Erza, Hannah, Saki, Reiko, Edgar, and Aal. The group boarded the . Edgar was again the pilot. He was assisted by and . "Wow, I can see down there! "What?Jin, you modified it!" Saki was also impressed. "This is nice. It looks better than from the window. "Well, I prefer to look out the side window when I want to see far away. "It depends on your purpose, doesn''t it? While having such a conversation, <> entered the former Leonard''s Kingdom. The village of Kaina is close by, as it is right next door. They maintain an altitude of about 30 meters above the ground surface so that the effect of the illusionary wards covering the former Leonard Kingdom disappears. "So where is it?" You said it was along the coast. It was not the RAND team that was conducting the survey, but the SKY team. The Rand team was busy with the World Congress. "It looks like the coast is further north than the Darth River." "Hmm." Saki nodded her head with interest at Jin''s words and stared intently at the surface through the floor window. "Father, it looks like it will be soon." Reiko said. It seemed that the Sky Unit was stationed there. Although less powerful than the Land troops, they are still more than five times more powerful than ordinary combat golems. In addition, they have the <> and <> as air power, so threats from the surrounding area are not a problem. Five minutes later, <> landed on a promontory facing the sea. The sea side is a cliff, but the flat area on the land side is as wide as a baseball field, so it can land without any danger at all. The Raptor 3 and Falcon 5 were also landing nearby. < "We have been expecting you, Master." Sky30 and Sky31 greeted him. "Thank you, master. So, you have a lead on Mags? "Yes, right this way." Sky30 leads Jin and the others to the edge of a promontory overlooking the sea. Reiko followed Jin, preparing herself to activate the force field generator at any time, just in case. "This way." Sky30 pointed to a natural stone standing on a promontory overlooking the sea. "......<...... 29th of June, 1958>......" Some of the words were somewhat weathered and unreadable, but the stone monument was still solid even after 1,000 years, probably because of the <> applied to it. "The date is probably June 29, 2358." Jin muttered as he gently touched the stone monument. "I wonder what Shuki was thinking when he looked at the sea from ...... here. He wondered if he was remembering the sea of Tosa, his hometown, or if he was thinking of his hometown, Japan, which was far away in time and space, and he thought back to the distant past. "But this is a monument, not a tomb. Erza whispered in a low voice. "You could say that. If there is any record of him, it would be in this area." Jin looked around the monument. He looked around the monument, but did not see anything in particular. "If there is a place where there is a record of him, it must be in the basement. There were no buildings around the monument. So let''s search the basement. "Okay." Sky30 immediately took action. "Father, why don''t you call the old man and have him send a Land team?" With the world congress over, the Land troops were free to go. "Yes, let''s do that. Reiko, please tell the old man that. "Yes, sir." After three minutes of waiting, the 50 Land troops were transferred. "All right, you know what you have to do?" "Yes, master." Lando 51, the leader of the 50 units, bowed in reply to Jin, and they dispersed. Meanwhile, Hannah looks out over the ocean from the top of the cape. Of course, Sky 31 was with her, just in case. Saki was with her. Saki has Aal with her. "Saki, the sea is so beautiful, isn''t it? "Yes, it is, Hannah." In Penglai Island and Kunlun Island, the waves are relatively calm. However, the sea here was lapped by rough waves. Perhaps it was unusual, but both Hanna and Saki were staring at the sea without getting tired of it. <>" Meanwhile, the Land team is exploring underground. They are joined by Hitoshi and Reiko, making a total of 52 members. Repeatedly, the ground search continues. However, after searching for about 2 hours, they could not find any space that looked like it. 1061 - - 29-26 Finding Hannah "Hmm, maybe I''m not looking in the right place. ......" The time is 11:30 a.m. local time. It is a little early, but we decide to have lunch for a change. Of course, the RAND team continues their search. Sandwiches were prepared for lunch. It consists of egg salad, topopo salad, ham, bacon, etc. The drink is a Citron with a slight carbonation. The drink is Citran juice, slightly carbonated. It is refreshing. "Thank you! Hannah has finished eating and is staring out to sea. "Is something wrong, Hannah? Jin asked Hannah. "Yeah. ......Hey, honey, is that an island you see over there?" "What?" Hannah pointed in the direction of the island and saw what looked like an island on the horizon. "Reiko, what do you think?" Jin asked Reiko, who had the best eyesight of the group. "Yes, father. That''s an island, isn''t it? "I see. ......" The curvature of Ars is greater than that of the earth, so if it looks just above the horizon, it means it''s less than 10 kilometers away. Skye, go check it out. "Okay." Sky 33, who was standing nearby, got into the Raptor 3 and took off. Two minutes later, a report comes through Reiko. "Father, it''s a very small island, but it''s still an island." "I see. ......" Hearing this, Hannah said to Jin. "Hey, isn''t that the island where you guys are looking for?" "What? That island is right in front of the monument. "What? ......" Jin heard Hannah''s words and went to the monument again. "Sure ......." Upon closer inspection, it seems that the monument is not facing straight to the sea. It is facing about 10 degrees to the north, and in that direction is the island we have just found. I see, Hanna is right. It is possible that Shuki Tsetsi''s records are kept on that island. "Jin, would you like to go there?" Saki said a little excitedly. Saki is a little excited. "Yes, I would. < to land, so we''ll take the <>. The <> is a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. It has a top speed of 300 km/h and seats 10 passengers. A small VTOL is suitable for this kind of situation because it does not need a runway. The group, including Edgar, boarded the , piloted by Sky 41. will be temporarily managed by Sky Squadron. To support <>, <> and <> also took off. Within minutes, they arrived at their destination island. As expected, there were few flat areas, and we barely found a flat area on the northeast side of the island where we could land. The Falcon 4 descends cautiously. Sky-41''s skill was evident, and without the use of the force field generator, the landing was flawless, with little or no impact. "Father, please wait for us to come down!" Reiko stops Jin and the others. "I don''t think there''s any danger, but we can''t be too careful." "That''s right. We''ll go down first to see what''s going on. With these words, Edgar and Aal descended from . From the air, there was no animal life to be seen. There were no tall trees, only bushes and grass. Edgar and Aal check the island by circling it clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. The island is a small island with an irregular circular shape and a circumference of about 3 km. Due to the influence of the illusionary boundary, this is a small island that was not even shown on the map of Horaijima. Edgar and Aalu met in the west-southwest of the island. Edgar was a little earlier than Aalu. There, too, there is an open plain on the sea side. The Laurentian continent was clearly visible. This is probably the point across the sea from the cape where the monument is located. "Mr. Aal, I didn''t see anything here. "Yes, there was nothing there either." At that moment. Two appeared from the island side, that is, from deep within the rocky mountains. "Who are you people?" One of them was a dark-eyed, dark-haired adult maleoid. It opened its mouth. Who are you? This is the one asking the questions. This is the other, a female Titan with dark blond hair. I am Edgar. I am Aal. "Oh, you have a name. That''s interesting. So, what are you doing here, Edgar and Aal? The gynoid asked another question. "We have come to this island to see if we can find any clues about the "Magus". "Hmm. You seem to have noticed the monument on the cape. But I will not allow you to trespass on my island just for the sake of curiosity. I''m going to ask you to leave. "Yeah, but ......" The male automaton rejected them both with a resounding "but... "Leave!" The female automaton was having none of it. "...... understand." Mr. Edgar! "Mr. Aaru, let''s pull out of this." Saying this, Edgar ran in the direction from which Aalu had come, that is, to the right. This is because it is closer to the point where Jin and the others are. "Oh, wait! Aalu followed Edgar a beat later. Aal followed Edgar a beat later. ...... and that''s it. A few minutes later, Edgar and Aalu reported to Jin. "Well, I guess we can be sure that there is a clue to the < on this island, right?" "Yes. I thought it would be a bad idea to fight, so I''ve brought them back. Yes, that''s good. ...... Then let''s all go together. Reiko stopped him softly. "Father, isn''t it dangerous?" "Yes, so we won''t get any closer than we have to, and since we all have bracelets, we can put up a ." "But ......" "Besides, the automata related to <> wouldn''t be so extreme against humans. And then there''s Reiko." I thought about using a <>, but I thought that I would have to go there myself to prove that I was not <> to be taken seriously. And if it is an automaton made by his predecessor, then he would have to go to them himself to prove that he is not interested in them. "But ......" Reiko still seemed unconvinced. "All right. Then, I''ll ask the old man to send about 10 Land troops here. "Yes, sir. Reiko knew that Jin really wanted to know the clue of , so she agreed with him. 1062 - - 29-27 Where we arrived However, Reiko was adamantly opposed to the idea of Jin going there himself, so Edgar Aaru and the RAND team went there. They will be contacted as soon as they have something to say. Two Falcons float 30 meters above Jin and the others, keeping a watchful eye. "I guess the RAND team should be over there by now. "Yes, at their speed, they should be there by now. Waiting is tedious. But there comes a time when you can''t afford to be bored. "There you are! Two automata appeared at the place where Jin, Erza, Hanna, Saki, and Reiko were. "Whoa! Jin and the others were caught by surprise, as they had not expected them to appear here. Jin guessed that there might be a warp gate or a magic circle somewhere. "...... I won''t let your father touch you." Reiko stands in front of Jin and the others, or rather in front of Jin. The two Falcons in the sky have their flux cannons aimed at the two bodies. But... "......Oh, I knew it!" "......, this is ......!" Suddenly, two of them kneeled down in front of Jin and the others. What? Jin was puzzled. But the reason is soon revealed. "Adriana-sama ......" "Lady Adriana ......" The two automata had sensed Jin''s magic pattern, which was the same as that of Adriana Barbora Zetsi, so Jin assumed that this was how they recognized him as their . However, the male automata was looking in a slightly different direction from Jin''s. It was toward Hannah. It was Hannah''s direction. "Oh, I knew it. ......" It was Reiko who said those words. "Father, Hannah looks just like your mother when she was young. I had heard this before, but after learning about the former Leonard''s people, I thought about it again. I wonder if Hannah and her ancestors might be the same. Reiko also walked up to the two automata and said to them. "You two are my brother and sister, aren''t you? Reiko knew that it was Adriana Barbora Zetsi who had created the two automata. "And you?...... you are ...... too, aren''t you?" The female automata turned to Reiko. "Yes. I am Adriana, your mother''s last creation. Your father improved her and here she is now. "Adriana, you were the last ......?" Meanwhile, the male automata knelt down in front of Hannah and Jin and only looked up. "Your magical power is the same as Adriana''s. Your appearance is the same as Adriana''s. You look just like Adriana. You don''t have to say anything, that''s all I need to know. He looked at Jin and Hannah alternately, then stood up. "There is no doubt that you are qualified to carry on the legacy of Adriana and your father Shuki Tsezi. I am happy to see this day." Come on, come on. Come on, come on. The two automata beckoned to the group. The Landes and Edgar have not returned yet, but Reiko is with them, so Jin and the others follow them. Jin already knows that these two automata are definitely the automata made by his predecessors. In other words, Jin is able to stop them because they have the same magical power pattern. Therefore, we know that there is no danger. In fact, we can see that Reiko is following him without saying a word. The two bodies lead the group to the shadows of the island rocks. "Oh ......" There they found a familiar magi-machine,...... a warp gate. "You can go to the inner room from here." Probably, it can be used with no problem if you have the previous generation''s magic pattern. < Saki, please take Reiko''s hand. Reiko, take care of Saki. "Okay." I hate being single at a time like this. The group then passes through the warp gate. "......" The hall was small and spacious. From there, a small passageway led out. "This way, please." The male automaton led the group toward the passageway, as if it were a matter of course that they would follow him. "By the way, what are your names?" "We automata do not have names in the proper sense of the word. My name is M-012, which was changed to M-03. I am F-015. I am F-015 renamed F-03-6. F-03-6. "Well, I heard that used to be the case." "M" stands for "Male" and "F" stands for "Female". I guess "M" means "Male" and "F" means "Female". Jin thought that Adriana, who had been taught by Shuki, would have used this name. Reiko did not have a name in the original sense either. Her predecessors had called her Ochibi. Names like Anne, Lol, Refa, etc. were also used as names of identification. Jin wonders if there was some kind of taboo against giving dolls and artifacts the same names as human beings. "We are here. This way, sir." While Jin was thinking about the not so large underground facility, he seemed to have arrived at the room he wanted. Two automata, one on the left and the other on the right, took charge of opening the double sliding door. Please come in. The two automatons urged first Jin and then Reiko to step into the room. Erza, Hannah, and Saki followed. Then a light came on in the dark room. "Automatic ...... No, no, no. < own magic power. ...... That''s what the predecessors are capable of." And the air inside is not stagnant. It must be regularly ventilated or magically treated with some kind of <>. "As expected of your mother." Reiko looks happy. And in the brightened room, there is a desk. "This reminds me of the room at the research institute. Of course, this is the room where Jin took over the position of from his predecessor. And there was a book on the desk. "Is the book written by ...... Shuki Tsetsi?" "Please, take it in your hand." Jin took the book in his hand. The cover was black Hexenbiest leather with golden letters. "This writing is from ......, I knew it was Shuki Tsetsi''s writing." Then he slowly opened it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * < This is what was written on the first page. 1063 - - twenty-one paper cranes << * * * * * * The year 2353. Adriana turns 13. < "Father, we are ready. "Thank you, Ado. We''re done here too. They will go further north to spread engineering magic. Three apprentices will accompany them this time. Fesmeefe. He is a master of both engineering magic and healing magic. Hakeri. A promising healing magician. Kara. A woman who shows outstanding talent in engineering magic. All of them are in their mid-thirties and are capable apprentices. Master, I''ll miss you. "Master, please be well." "Master, I will surely spread your teachings in this land. "Master, may we meet again someday." "Master, I will never forget this favor." The old disciples, Liebeslau, Lotlao, Tempest, Dalsamt, and Alonde, remained here to carry on and spread Shuki''s teachings. Their departure was in the spring of April. They left the capital city of Karnagh in two carriages presented by King Galdrake Dragol Leonard. "Hey, father, what''s that? In the carriages Shuki was doing something and Adriana was asking him about it. "This. This is ...... here!" "Wow!" It was a . It is the only paper Shuki can fold. Until now, paper was leather paper, more than two millimeters thick, so it was impossible to fold, but this improved leather paper was so thin that it could be used for origami. "Father, that''s great!" Adriana looked at Shuki with respect. From that day on, this paper crane became her treasure. The next time they settled down was in the 1960''s. The next town they settle down in is Garakuro. The town is ruled by a cousin of the king and is quite large and prosperous. "Well, this is a nice town! Shuki shouted. There was a lot of greenery in the town. "Trees on the streets, or ......." Shuki thought that the town of Garakuro was located quite close to the sea and had a lot of precipitation, which made it easy for greenery to grow. "It''s a beautiful town, father. The air was also somewhat humid, which was clearly different from the inland towns where Shuki had spent most of his time. "Yes, it is. I hear the ocean is close by." "I want to see it!" Adriana had never seen the ocean, let alone Shuki. "Well, let''s go there together after we get settled. "Yes! Yes! Since we had a letter of introduction from the king, we quickly found a place to live. "Wow, it''s spacious! There was more than enough space for Shuki, his daughter, and three apprentices. This must be the power of the king''s letter of introduction. The house, or rather the mansion, had three floors, so Shuki and his daughter lived on the second floor and the apprentices on the third floor. The first floor would be used as a workshop and classroom. The classroom will be rented somewhere suitable when the number of students increases. Adriana spoke to Shuki in a lonely voice while packing up her not much luggage. Hey, Dad..." she said. I''m sorry about the warp gate. "Yes, I am." In order to create a Warp Gate, one needs high-quality magi crystals of all attributes. It is not an operation, but is necessary to connect two points. If the quality is poor, it is impossible to connect two distant points. However, even in the Kingdom of Leonard, which is rich in mineral resources, magi crystals that satisfy this requirement are rare. "If we had a warp gate, we could always go to Karnagh, Yurgano, or ...... Shire Town." "Mm." For Adriana, the Shire, the town ...... where she has lived for as long as she can remember and which was then a village ......, is still nostalgic. "I''m going to work harder and harder. I''ll work harder to improve the performance of the warp gate and make it more user-friendly. Oh, and of course, I''ll work hard on my other magical engineering skills! Shuki gently patted his daughter''s head. "Ha ha, Adriana is a hardworking girl. But don''t forget that what makes me happiest is that you are happy. "Thank you, father. But my happiness is to be of service to you. "Well, thank you. But as a parent, I''m also happy that you found a nice guy and got married. Shuki says jokingly and Adriana replies with a smile. "Then I''ll marry your father!Then we can always be together! "Ha, that''s true." Shuki laughs. Shuki laughs too. Their cheerful laughter echoed in the new house. The next day, people who had heard about <> Shuki Tsetsi appeared. There were about 20 of them. All of them are quite good mages, which is a great joy. We immediately started to look for a house that could be used as a classroom. And it was found within a day with a letter of introduction from the king. Next to Shuki and his family''s house. This is another preferential treatment for Shuki because he is a <>. "Well, I guess it''s a good thing we didn''t have to go through all that trouble." "Yes, father." The next day, the full-fledged lectures of Mags began. Not twenty, but more than twice that number, over fifty people, gathered for the lecture. "First of all, let me tell you something. Shuki began to speak to the more than 50 mages. "I am not a mage. I can only impart knowledge. The practice will be done by my students and my daughter Adriana. Anyone who is dissatisfied with this need not come tomorrow. If you wish, you may leave now. But none of them got up from their seats. Shuki nodded his head in satisfaction and continued. "Very well. First of all, let''s talk about magical engineering. This system can be found at ......." Shuki Tsetsi began his new apprenticeship. 1064 - - at Cape 22 In July, Shuki Tsetsi and his daughter Adriana came to the sea. The lecture is a . They took a week off and spent a day visiting the coastal village of Futla. Standing on a promontory not far from the village, Shuki and Adriana looked out at the sea. "Wow, this is the sea!This is the sea, father!" Adriana was excited to see the ocean for the first time in her life. "Yes, it is. This is the sea." It''s been a long time since the last sea breeze. Shuki squinted his eyes and stared out into the blue ocean. "It looks a bit like Ashizurizaki. ...... Shuki remembers the scenery of his faraway hometown to which he can no longer return. Although there was no lighthouse, the scenery was very similar to Cape Ashizuri, the southernmost cape on Shikoku Island. As a side note, when Shuki lived there, it was called , and the name was changed to in 1965. It has been called "Cape Ashizuri Misaki" since 1965. "Dad, do you like this view?" Adriana asks me, her golden hair fluttering in the sea breeze. Her brown eyes were shining with a bright light. "Yes, I like it." Shuki replies without taking his eyes off the sea. Adriana stares at his profile. Adriana looked at his profile. "It''s so salty! Hahaha, right? Shuki and Adriana walk down to the beach from the cape and have a nice swim in the sea. Adriana, who is now 13 years old, has a cloth wrapped around her chest as well. Shuki gazes at his daughter and wonders if some day a man will come along and kidnap her ....... "Hey, Dad, let''s go swimming. Adriana invites Shuki, who seems to be in a daze, to go swimming. "Yes, let''s..." Adriana says. There are waves, so be careful not to get covered. "Yes!" Shuki''s swim is basically a breaststroke. It is the best way to swim for a long time in the wide open water of the ocean. "If your back gets sunburned, just cast a healing spell and you''ll be cured. "Yes, okay!" A sunburn is a kind of burn that can be healed by elementary healing magic. They started swimming side by side. "Oh, really, it''s so much easier to swim with your face out! "Isn''t it?This is how long distance swimming is supposed to be done. When Shuki was in elementary school, he once went for a long-distance swim as a school event. The distance was about 10 kilometers, and each class swam in formation. The neighborhood fishermen kindly provided boats for us, so we did not have to worry even if we were not feeling well. However, those who dropped out of the class would fall to the bottom of the hierarchy in the class. During the class, the school song is sung and there is a roll call. During these events, heads are kept up, and all the children learn how to swim in this way. "It''s salt water, so it''s a little heavier in specific gravity, right?That''s why it floats easily, right? "That''s right." As they swam side by side, Shuki was pleased that Adriana was putting her knowledge to use. Even though they were located far north of the continent in terms of latitude, the July sun was strong and the sea water was warming up. They continued swimming leisurely for about an hour. (......I wish this time could last forever) (It''s just the two of us. ...... I wish time would stop like this.) Coincidentally, father and daughter were thinking similar thoughts. * * * * * * "Ouch!My back is burning! Adriana''s screams echoed through the bathrooms of the inn that night. "......<>!<>!<>!" Adriana could not see the sunburned area on her back very well, so she cast a series of healing spells, and the pain finally subsided. "I wish I could have gone in there with my dad. ......" Shuki had not bathed with Adriana since the day she turned ten. "......I wish I didn''t have to grow up. ......" Adriana wishes she could stay a child forever and have Shuki all to herself. But that''s impossible. Then... "I''ll have to enjoy this trip alone with my father, won''t I? Shuki sat on a bench in the courtyard of the inn, exposing his body to the night breeze after a hot bath. Adriana had cast a healing spell on his sunburned back. In reality, however, Shuki did not feel any pain. The parts of his body that had been damaged by the car accident that nearly killed him in the other world were supplemented with magical elements, and those parts did not deteriorate. Not only deterioration, but also any kind of change is not accepted. They may receive wounds, but they do not become infected. It is a body that does not get sunburned by ultraviolet rays, although it gets burned by flames. (But how long can that last? ......) Recently, Shuki has begun to feel some discomfort, especially in his internal organs. (If only he could keep it for a few more years, until Adriana comes of age...) Shuki expected that it would be two more years until Adriana, his successor, would be complete. Adriana was 15 years old at that time. In this world, she would be an adult. Until then, she would have to live on, even if she had to bite down on a stone.) Shuki had just made up his mind once again to make such a pathetic decision. "Father! Adriana came out of the bath and hugged Shuki on his back. "Hey, hey, it''s hot in here! "Oh, come on, it''s hot..." "Be patient. You''re only my father during this trip! Adriana''s carefree laughter makes Shuki smile. "You''ll always be a spoiled brat, Ad, no matter how old you get. "That''s because it''s just the two of us." With these words Adriana moves off Shuki''s back and sits down next to him. "The moon is beautiful, isn''t it? I looked at the eastern sky and saw that the moon had just risen. "Yes, it is. The air is unusually clear for summer. Usually the newly risen moon is reddish in color, but tonight it was shining white. "But that moon is also a strange celestial body. ......" "It waxed and waned in the world where your father was, didn''t it?" Adriana already knew that her father Shuki had come from another world, and she had been told that the moon in that world waxed and waned and understood why. "Oh. It was bigger than it looked, too." Adriana asked Shuki a bold question. "Do you want to go back to ......?" But Shuki quietly shakes his head. "No. ......I used to want to go home, but now this world is my home. This world, with Adriana, is my home now. But as he said this, Adriana sensed that Shuki''s profile looked somewhat lonely. And then... "Father, I''ll do my best. < 1065 - - 23 Completed April 8, 2355. Adriana Barbora Zetsi turned 15 years old. And... "Dad, I finally made it!" "Oh, yes!You did it, Ad! That''s what Adriana and Shuki had been working on for the past year. It is <>. Until now, it has been common for golems and automata to be taught how to move after they have been created. Yes, just like human babies. However, at an early stage, the Magi Craftsmen under Shuki had learned how to construct their own basic control magic, and had acquired skills that did not need to be taught from scratch. In addition to basic movements such as standing, walking, stopping, sitting, etc., she can perform basic applied movements such as raising arms, lowering arms, kicking legs, running, punching, lifting, and throwing objects by default. However, what Adriana said she < is of a different dimension. < The method is. "You''re going to read the golem''s < that''s actually in operation?" "Yes. was too quick, so I created a new engineering magic. < "I see. So you are going to look at it and write it in. "Yes. And when we do that, we write to multiple control cores at the same time. < Adriana was able to write in about 300 control cores with a good margin. "At any rate, it would be easier if we made about 100 control cores, wouldn''t it? "Yes, that''s right. This is a big step forward. The increase in efficiency by a factor of several dozen is significant. Also, if one takes the time to do careful work, one-off special specifications can be made. This led to the town of Garakuro becoming known as . In other words, the golem industry flourished. Nearly half of Shuki''s students became golem technicians and began to make various types of golems. < < was Shuki''s apprentice, Kara. Since her arrival in this town, she has risen to prominence and her name has become well known in the surrounding towns, even in the capital city of Karnagh. And Adriana? "Father, how are you feeling? "Yes, I feel much better today." "Yes, that''s good." Her first priority was to help Shuki, who had been in poor health recently, and all the credit went to Carla. Adriana, however, does not care. "I''m still a long way from where I want to be. Adriana is not afraid to say so. Adriana is not afraid to say so, "I''m still a long way from where I want to be. "Well, something is missing to combine <> and <> into one, isn''t it? Adriana worked on the problem day and night. If she could do both of them at the same time, the burden on the surgeon would be dramatically reduced. However, even Adriana has not been able to achieve this yet. "I wonder if we still need to put something in between > and >. ......" That idea is correct. It is the part that corresponds to <> in a computer. In Shuki''s time, it was still a dream technology, so the concept of <> could not be taught, and it is not surprising that Adriana does not know about it. "Hmmm, if you can''t <> what you <> as it is, you should put it in a format that can. ......" I spent a few days wondering. "I just can''t <> the Magi Formula and <> it. ......" Shuki, who was worried about her, gave her some advice from another side. "Ad, when you are stuck, your vision is narrowed, so try something else temporarily and you may come up with a solution. Adriana knew that her father Shuki was worried about her. "Yes, father. Thank you." Adriana obediently listened to Shuki''s words and decided to go for a walk with him. They walk along a path that winds through a sparsely wooded area that is classified as a sparse forest. "Hey, Ad?" "Hey, Ad." "What?"Hey, Ado." "What? "You''re fifteen now. Don''t you have that ...... favorite person or ......?" Shuki''s voice was hushed as he asked the difficult question. "Yes?" "What!Who is it? Shuki''s voice rises in tone at once. It''s your father. Shuki''s shoulders slumped in disappointment at the answer. "You know, I don''t care if you were a little kid or not, you''re still 15 years old. ......" Before she could finish, Adriana stopped, looked straight at Shuki and said, "I''m your adopted daughter. "I know I''m your adopted daughter." "What?" It was a bolt out of the blue for Shuki. It was a long time ago. Since I was 9 or 10 years old. I heard my fathers talking about it. I know what happened to the village where I was born." "You ......" Adriana smiled softly and bowed her head. "Thank you, father. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for making me your daughter. Thank you for raising me." "Ad ......" Adriana looked up, tears shining in her eyes. "Thank you, for loving me as your daughter." "Oh, yes. You knew that... ......" Shuki smiled a little sadly. "I know, Ad ......." "Yes, I know. I know that my ...... father still loves ...... Adriana, who has the same name as me. But you know what?" Adriana broke off, her cheeks flushing as she spoke. "I want you to be happier, too. No, I want us to be happy together. Not just father and daughter. "Adriana ......" After saying this, Adriana spun around. "Hehehe, I guess I am tired after all. I didn''t mean to tell you this. I was going to keep these feelings in my heart forever. Then he turned his head away and crossed his arms so that Shuki would not see his face. "Forget what I just said. I''ll always be your father''s daughter. I''ll be with you forever. I''m not going to marry you. Adriana clutches Shuki''s arm tightly. They continue their walk. Adriana and Shuki continued their walk. Three days later, Adriana finally completed the transinfo process. 1066 - - 24 June 29th, 2358 "<>,or ....... You did it, Ado!" Shuki praised his daughter with open arms. With this engineering magic, one <> can be copied and increased as much as one wants. There is only one problem. "Only the person who performed the <> can transfer it to another magicrystal. Perhaps it has something to do with the pattern of magical power. However, this is not a major problem. Most of the trained magecraftsmen could use . "If there is a single magi-crystal that stores the basic information, then each magi-craftsman can copy it and use it." Shuki added with a laugh. "Yes, that''s right." Adriana laughed as well. Adriana laughed as well, "This magic can also transfer human knowledge into the magi crystals. "With a little more research, it might be possible to transfer our personalities as well ......." Adriana then glanced at Shuki''s face. "Yes, that might be possible. But I don''t want that, Ad. "What ......?" Shuki knew. Adriana wanted to prolong his life by copying Shuki''s personality and transferring it to an automata. "This may sound philosophical, but if they did that to me, I don''t think it is me anymore. I''ve lived enough ......." It was 2156 when Shuki wandered into this world, and already 200 years had passed. "Father ......" "I think that''s selfish of those who are left behind, Ad." "......" "Because we only have one life, we can really take care of it. I hope you understand." Adriana had no words to reply to Shuki''s words. "Ad, let''s spend this time together as happily as we can. "...... yes." With eyes filled with tears, Adriana could only nod. The next day, Shuki left the to his students and went into seclusion. * * * * * * * * * * For the next three years, Shuki and Adriana lived quietly by the sea. The seaside village of Futla. The village they had visited before had been abandoned. Everyone has moved to the nearby town of Garaklo, which has developed. But it was more convenient for the two of them. Adriana''s golem was taking care of their personal needs, and Shuki had enough money from his past earnings to provide them with their daily bread. The two of them discuss the possibility of further improving their magical engineering. They gossip about the people they have met so far. The two of you summarize the engineering magic you have discovered so far. The two of them make a prototype of a new magical tool. The two of us walk along the seaside. The two of us prepare a meal together. Adriana was just happy to be able to spend time together. Shuki was not bedridden, and on a good day he sometimes went for a walk on his own feet. On such occasions, Adriana was always there to help him. Adriana was always there to help him. In the meantime, Shuki and Adriana also developed a boat. It is a large ship in this world, 10 meters long. It is powered by a screw. It is hand-cranked by a golem. Two screws are installed, each turned in the opposite direction by two golems to counteract the counter-torque. After a trial run, it seemed to be able to reach a speed of about 30 km/h. "I have a little more time left," he said. "If I had a little more time left, I would have liked to go out to sea. Now Shuki was so weak that he could not even go to the small island he could see from his favorite cape, and he did not think he would be able to endure a very long voyage. Shuki looked young, but his internal organs, especially his heart, were in bad shape. He has been able to prolong his life thanks to the healing magic, but even the most advanced healing magic can''t help his longevity. I will build a more comfortable ship. Then father, will you come with me to the sea? Adriana answered cheerfully. * * * * "I, too, came to this world by accident just before I died, and I''ve been doing a lot of things for over 200 years. ......" Now Shuki was looking out over the sea from his favorite promontory. Ahead of him, small islets dot the landscape. If he could make it to the largest island, about ten kilometers away, he might be able to navigate through the shallows and reach it without swimming. However, Shuki did not have the strength to do so. Shuki gazes out at the sea, remembering the sea of Tosa where he spent his childhood. "That sea will still be as blue as ever. ......" And again Shuki clutches Adriana''s shoulder as she stands next to him, "I have found the love of my life in my wife, and I have a daughter who is also the love of my life. And I was able to raise the best magecraftsman. No, you are already a Meister. < He clasped his joined hands tightly together. "Thank you, Ado. I am proud to say that my life has been a good one because of you. "Father ......." Adriana''s pursed lips trembled. She stopped herself from speaking any further, as if to say something would bring tears to her eyes. "I think it''s a sign of old age to try to find meaning in life. I am aware of that, but I still want to say it. Shuki looked at Adriana, who was standing next to him. Ad, thank you. Thanks to you, my second half of my life has been fulfilling. I''ve been ...... happy." "Father!" Adriana hugged Shuki and cried. "You''ll always be a crybaby, Ad. "...... I only cry when it''s about my father." Adriana finished in a tearful voice. "Thank you, Ad. Shuki thanked her for the first time. There was a glint in his eyes. Adriana smiles back at him with tears in her eyes. "Father, that''s enough. I''m your daughter. Isn''t it natural for a daughter to take care of her parents? * * * * * * On the morning of June 29th, 2358. "Dad, dinner''s ready. It''s time to get up." Adriana called out to Shuki. "...... father?" But there was no answer. "Dad!" Adriana rushes to him. "Dad! ......" Shuki did not return that morning. His face was peaceful, with the clear smile he always gave Adriana. "I wish I could have learned more from my father ............. I wanted to go with you to more places. I wanted to make more things with you. I wanted to ...... be with you more and more, Dad. ......" Adriana cried silently, holding Shuki''s cold body in her arms. * * * * Adriana built a monument on the cape that Shuki had loved so much, and took a boat out to the sea. She wanted to bury Shuki on the most remote islet visible from the cape. Together with the golem and the automata she had created, Adriana built a cemetery for Shuki. In the graveyard, two automata, one of her father Shuki and the other of herself, were placed as the tomb guard. Adriana Barbora Tsetsi vanished into thin air, leaving behind a diary in which she and Shuki wrote their last days together. 1067 - - 29-28 Remaining Mystery "...... was written in the diary." Jin put the diary back on the desk and said in a quiet voice. "...... So, on this island, <> Shuki Tsetsi is sleeping, isn''t he?" Saki''s voice came out as if she was muttering. "I wonder if Shuki was happy." Hannah also said with tears in her eyes. "......, I''m sure he was happy. Adriana, you too." Elsa replies with tears in her voice. "I have learned one more thing about your grandfather and your mother. Reiko''s voice is lower in tone than usual. Then Jin opens his mouth. "<> I know that Shuki''s final resting place was here. But the footprints of our predecessors were cut off here. ......" Jin''s voice sounded a little disappointed. "Let''s leave this place as it is." Then he concludes. "The contents of the diary will be recorded by the old man through Reiko. This is not our place to do anything about it. Jin turned on his heel and left the room. Elsa, Hannah, and Saki followed him. Reiko, who had remained until the end, glanced once again at the cover of the diary, "Grandfather, mother..." in a whisper so that no one would hear her, and followed Jin and the others. The island is a place where people can live in peace and quiet. Jin and the others went out of the island, retracing the route they had come in the opposite direction. Jin turned to the two automata, "Now then, I ask you to continue to protect this island," he said. "Yes, sir. "Yes, I''ll leave it to you. Yes, that is the reason for our existence. The two men nodded their heads in agreement. "Oh, and ......." Oh, Jin-sama, Erza-sama! Then came Edgar and Aaru. "What? The two of them are standing there, ready to attack. Jin stops them. "Wait, wait, wait! They are our friends. "...... I didn''t know that..." Edgar is an automata created by Elsa and Aalu by Jin and Reinhardt. Their unique magic patterns are necessarily different from those of the automata created by Jin. In other words, the two automata had recognized Edgar and Aaru as hostile for the time being, since their magic patterns were different from those of their predecessors. "I''m sorry, leave them alone. Jin apologized. Erza, Hannah, and Saki smiled at him. Saki smiled at him. "Oh, yes. Let''s take a look at your bodies. < to see them off. "Come inside." The two bodies listened obediently to Jin''s words. "Lie down there." Using a support sheet, the table is made into a simple work table. Since it is also for support purposes, the Falcon is also equipped with simple facilities for servicing automata and golems. "<>" After stopping the two automatons, Jin started to check the various parts of their bodies. This time, he is going to give it his all, since he has Hanna and Saki waiting for him. "The skeleton is carbon steel, but trace elements have been added. ...... vanadium, huh? Let''s upgrade it with a little more chromium and nickel." "The musculature is ...... the same as Reiko''s. I guess the technology of the previous generation was already perfected by this time. "Let''s keep the magical muscle as the Horaijima standard. We''ll also update the magical nerves. The control core should be copied and replaced with a new one. "The ether converter is ...... Oh, this is still an early model. Let''s go with the later model. We don''t have to go as far as the Magi Reactor." "It''s better to have a built-in magi-communicator (manacam) in case something goes wrong. ...... I should also transcribe the usage." "The outer covering hasn''t deteriorated as much as I thought it would. ...... I guess it was underground and shut down when not in use. I''ll reupholster it at ......, but just in case." "The clothes have not deteriorated much, but we will replace them with the Horaijima standard. The old clothes must have been made by the previous generation, so let''s make sure they are carefully stored. "I wonder if the maintenance is still mutual. And they must have stopped when they were not in use. That''s probably why there is little deterioration. While muttering to himself, his hands do not stop even for a moment. "Amazing, isn''t it?" "......After all, my brother Jin is a Magecraft Meister." "Onii-chan, that''s amazing!" Even those watching from the sidelines could see how amazing it was. In half an hour, Jin had finished servicing two of them. "There, that''s it. ......<>" The two units get up. "How are you feeling?" "Yes, very good." "Yes, I''m doing great." "Yes, I''m doing great." Then they both bowed their heads and said, . "We have a manacam built in, so call us if you need anything. I think someone named here will be able to help you. Yes, sir. "Lastly, I would like to install a warp gate that will allow me to come here from my base. Yes, please. Yes, anywhere. The two respond immediately. "Thank you. Then, let''s choose a place around here. There is enough space for an aircraft to land. Jin decided on a large rocky hill on the outskirts of the plain as a possible site. "Well, I''ll send a work party there later. The craftsmen (smiths) have inherited Jin''s magic pattern, so they are not hostile to him. Thus, Jin''s journey in the footsteps of has come to an end. * * * * * * "Ah, yes. Does this island have a name?" Jin asked as he left, looking back down the ramp to Falcon 4. "No, not really. "Then how about <>?And that cape as . I think that''s a good idea. Yes, sir. Both of them agreed. "So, I will name you as well. The masculine type is and the feminine type is ." and . These names are associated with the sea. It seems that they were also a little conscious of Izanagi and Izanami in Japanese mythology, which may be an exceptional name for Jin. "Thank you very much. I am . "Thank you very much. I am <>. Two of them, and , bowed to Jin. And this time, Jin gets into the Falcon 4. "<> brother, <> sister, see you soon." Reiko, who was in the last row, greeted the two. "Yes, Reiko, see you then." "Yes, Reiko, see you." Reiko got on board and Falcon 4 took off into the sky. Looking down on Tsetsi Island. The islet that used to be between the cape and Tsetsi Island is no longer there. "......, you''ve got a lot to show for it." "Well, now we know more about the life of Magus." Erza agrees with Jin''s mutterings. Jin, however, still looks a little confused. "But there are still some mysteries left ......." "I guess so. We don''t know what happened to the previous generation. Saki, sensing this, anticipates Jin''s words. "I''m sorry, father." "Hmm?What''s wrong?" Jin is surprised by Reiko''s sudden apology. "It''s just that I don''t remember. ...... Reiko had been searching for Jin, her successor, for a thousand years, and had ended up broken. The control core, which is the brain, was also damaged at that time, and Jin tried to restore it as much as possible, but the most burdensome parts of and could not be restored, and they are lost technologies. Reiko does not remember her predecessor''s death. The only thing that remains is the fact that she kept her last will and testament that she had to somehow find someone to whom she could entrust everything. "Come to think of it, it must have been a ship that took the previous generation to Horai Island. The boat may have decayed over the course of a thousand years, or it may have been swept away by the waves, but not a shadow of it remains. "I''m not even sure why my predecessor shut himself away on Horai Island. ......" Jin would like to know, so that he doesn''t make the same mistake. "Onii-chan, did your leave anything behind on Horai Island?" Hannah asked curiously. "Oh, come to think of it, I haven''t visited my predecessor''s study since the first time I was called to this world. ......" "Huh?" That''s also a bit strange. "I''ve taken over the information about magic, but other records might still be in that room." "I mean, it''s natural to think so." "That''s right. ......" Elsa said to me as well. "I''ll check it out when I get back." The previous owner''s study and living room had been left as much as possible intact, with the occasional golem maid coming in to clean up. "Father, I think that would be a good idea." <, Jin and his group headed straight for the island of Horai. Blue sea, blue sky. Passing between the sky and the sea. The world was at peace. 1068 - - 29-29 Study room The day after his return from the research trip, Jin took Erza, Saki, and Hannah to his predecessor''s study. Reiko led the way. "It''s been years since I''ve been here. ......" Jin followed the corridor, wondering about that too. He woke up in this world, met Reiko''s predecessor, an automata, and was led to the study of his predecessor. Jin opened the door, which Reiko''s predecessor, an automata, was not allowed to open. There was a bookshelf full of books, a simple but solid desk and chair, a book and a crystal ball on it. Jin touched the door, immersed in his memories. "Nn...... that?" At that moment, Jin felt a light dizziness. "This is ......." At that time, he had pushed the door open by pulling it, and he was surprised to find himself in such a daze this time as well. I turned around and looked at Erza and the others, and they looked dazed. "I knew it." Jin guessed that there must be some kind of mental protective barrier around here. Compared to when he was summoned, he was more perceptive now that he had more experience in a world with magic. "I guess that''s the last precaution to avoid being disturbed," he said. Jin then instructed the old man to deploy the <>, one of the functions of the bracelets the three of them had. I also put up a <> as well. This makes magic attacks ineffective. "......" "Huh?" "...... were you sleeping?" The three seem to have come to their senses. "Yeah, I just noticed that there''s some kind of mental barrier around here. That seems to have unnerved everyone." Jin explains as he examines the door. "There it is. This is ......." The Magi Formula is engraved on the back of the door. It was something that Jin had never seen before. "There is also some writing on it. ......What is it? Jin slowly read the words. "<>...... Reiko, did you know about this?" But Reiko shook her head apologetically. "No, father. No, father. I didn''t know. Maybe you just don''t remember. Perhaps not remembering is more accurate. Reiko''s predecessor, an automata, had taken care of her predecessor and guided Jin through the presence of this ward. "I didn''t know there was such a magic formula (Magi Formula) ......" Jin recognized some of the characters used. They were probably the characters used by the . They are the prototype of the letters used in Ars today. The difference between Greek and Roman letters is about the same. Even Jin can barely read them. "The previous generation must have learned about this magical formula somewhere and copied it in its entirety. Picking up the readable parts, we can guess that the effect is similar to <>, but there are no aftereffects, and it seems to have the effect of simply making people less interested in this place. There is a magic called <>. It is a magic to erase the presence of others, but it loses its effect if one speaks out or is attacked. Jin guessed that it was of the same lineage. Furthermore, it seems that this warding is effective against automata and golems. When she traveled with Erza and Reinhardt in the Kingdom of Elias, Reiko had once been unable to detect the presence of a bandit who was wearing an amulet with <> effect. However, once you are aware of it, the effect is gone. Reiko''s predecessor, an automata, knew this place well enough to guide Jin without hesitation during their last visit. However, Jin must have been affected to the extent that he was surprised when he pushed the door that he had to pull to open. This ward is very useful. If we put it around Horai Island, Jin thought, the chance of being discovered would be reduced even more than it was now. "So, why didn''t my brother Jin remember this place until recently?" As Jin thought about this, he heard Erza''s voice and came back to himself. "Yes, it seems so. It seems that after leaving this room, he no longer has any use for this place. "Why did your predecessors set up ...... this kind of ward?" Saki tilted her head. Jin guessed. "I think the point is that he <>. I guess his predecessor in his later years was a misanthrope. ......" "......" What happened to his predecessor, who had a cheerful personality according to the records so far? I feel as if I would like to know, but I feel as if I would prefer not to know. He couldn''t stay in the corridor all the time. Jin looked up, took Reiko''s hand, and stepped into the room. The others remained in the hallway waiting. "This is the second time you''ve come to my predecessor''s study. As before, I was flooded with bright light as I stepped into the room. "I was so surprised that time that I didn''t take the time to show you the room. ...... Jin looked around the room. The same simple but solid desk and chairs as before. And a jam-packed bookshelf . "...... Huh?" I picked up one of the books and saw that it was blank inside. In other words, it was a dummy book. Why go to all this trouble for such an elaborate book, Jin thought to himself. Then, he gently touched the bookshelf. He felt the bookshelf move slightly. "......?That''s strange, such a massive bookshelf. I checked it out and soon found out the reason why. The bookshelf slides sideways. Jin slowly moved the bookshelf. "Oh! Hidden in the bookshelf was a door. On it was the name written in gold letters. "I wonder if this is really her private room." Jin gently opened the door. There was a similar room there. No, the room in front was a dummy, and this one must be the original. The same heavy bookshelves, shelves full of books, desks, and chairs. But there is one thing different. "Paper cranes ......" In the middle of the bookshelf, there was a transparent case, probably made of crystal, in which a yellowed and old folded paper crane was placed. "Father, is this the one that your mother received from your grandfather? Reiko asked when she saw the paper crane that her predecessor had treasured. Perhaps she remembered it when she was an automata, Reiko''s predecessor. However, the memory seems to have been lost with the damage of the deteriorated control core. In this sense, this visit is very significant for Reiko. "Yes. First of all, I''m sure." "It''s your mother''s treasure, isn''t it?" How many years have passed since Shuki gave it to her, and how many years has it been on display here for more than a thousand years. You can imagine how much Adriana Barbora Zetsi cherished it. Jin and Reiko, who had been lost in deep emotion for a while, remembered that Elsa, Saki, and Hannah were still in the hallway. "Oh, I''m sorry. Come on in, guys." "...... sorry to bother you." Sorry to bother you. "Sorry to bother you." All three of them said a few words in quiet voices before stepping inside, which made Jin happy. "......This is the study of our predecessor." "So this is the room of my predecessor, the Magecraft Meister. "He was your master, wasn''t he?It was thanks to him that you met Onii-chan, wasn''t it?" Hannah murmured as if to confirm rather than ask a question, and offered a silent prayer for <>. Seeing this, Elsa and Saki offered a silent prayer as well. Jin followed their example and meditated. And Reiko also said a silent prayer at ....... "Thank you, everyone." After about a minute, Jin opened his eyes and thanked them. "So, this is the real study of my predecessor. Perhaps there are some records on this bookshelf. "Yes, father." A number of books with black leather spines were inscribed in gold letters. About half of them were written in Japanese, though in hiragana. "Shuki-san didn''t teach you kanji. No, there were too many things to teach, or it was not a priority. ...... In any case, Jin thought, it was no wonder that the Magi Formula composed by his predecessors did not use Kanji characters. Then he picked up a book. It looks like a brand-new book, probably enchanted for preservation. Of course, this was probably due to the fact that the whole room was sealed with magic. "This must be the record left by my predecessor. ......" On the spine of the book was written <>. It must mean "my footprints," or the footprints of my footsteps, or the first book of the diary. It is closed with a belt made of the same leather so that it cannot be opened easily. The diary can be opened by removing the metal clasp that holds the belt ......, but Jin hesitated to open it. Jin hesitated to open it. "Father, what''s wrong?" Reiko asked curiously. Jin looked a little troubled and answered. "No, I felt like snooping in someone else''s diary. ...... "Father, if that''s the case, I''ll take care of it. If a daughter looks at her mother''s diary, it would be permissible, wouldn''t it? I see. ...... It may be a sophistry, but it makes me feel more comfortable. Jin handed the diary to Reiko. Reiko received the diary, tried to remove the clasp, and noticed the words written on it. "Father, there is a kind of a warning written here. ......<>." "...... I see." Once again, Jin took the diary from Reiko, unfastened the clasp, and slowly opened it. * * * * "......The first part of the diary seems to be the same as the trajectory of the < we have seen so far." Jin said as he turned the page. "Yeah, it says here that Shuki died. This is where the unknown begins. . Jin began to read in a whisper. 1069 - - 001 Departure < Now that my father was gone, I did not want to have anything to do with other people for the time being. My companions were four golems I had built. I will go up north in the boat I built. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Adriana thought that going by sea in a boat would be easier than going by land in a wagon. She could take a straight line instead of following the road. When it is time to rest, they find a possible anchorage on the shore and tie up the boat. Never stay on the water until it is dark. Early action guarantees safety. This was the code of conduct she had learned from her travels with her father Shuki. When it was light enough, they would go out to sea and head north again. And so on and so forth. So the daily activity time is about 6 hours. They do not go at full speed, but try to navigate with enough time to spare. For food, they catch fish in the sea and eat nuts from bushes and trees growing near the coast. We have brought some dried meat and dried bread, but these are for emergency use. For water, they used engineering magic < to condense the water in the air and make it drinkable. "This water contains oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and some dust in the air, so it''s not ultra-pure water," your father told you. ...... When alone, one has a habit of talking to oneself, and Adriana was no exception. Adriana still feels like bursting into tears when she thinks of her father Shuki. Stifling her weakness, she gazed out to sea. As she moves northward, the concentration of free magical element (ether) increases, and her magic becomes more effective. "Your father told me about this, but it would have been difficult to experience it if we had not been traveling north at such a high speed. Adriana realizes that she can reach a speed of at least 50 km/h, but she also realizes that the hull may not be able to hold up, despite the toughening. "Maybe it''s not strong enough. No one answers his soliloquy. Her golem is not assigned to talk to Adriana, as she has no one to talk to. However, there is an aspect of speaking aloud that allows her to talk to herself. It is said that the brain is activated ...... by taking in the spoken words again through the ears. Although it is still before noon, Adriana decides to go ashore for a while to improve the ship. She finds a sandy beach and pulls in. The golem pulls up. "That''s about right, F-002, follow me." "Follow me." "Yes." Adriana orders one of the golems to accompany her and sets out to look for reinforcements. Fortunately, they found a village a few hundred meters from the beach. She greeted a middle-aged man she had just met in a friendly manner. "Hello," he said. "Oh, you are a traveler in a place like this. ...... and who''s behind you?" Yes, my name is Ado. This is F-002. A golem?A golem? Are you a mage? I guess you know more or less what a golem is, seeing that you are not so surprised. Yes, I am. Do you have a blacksmith in this village? Adriana needs metal materials. "Yes, there is a small one. A blacksmith is an indispensable occupation in a village where people live together to make and repair plows and hoes for farming tools, harpoons for fishing tools, and pots and pans for household utensils. Therefore, even in this small village, blacksmiths existed in a small way. "Thank you very much." Adriana thanked him and started walking with F-002 along the road to the blacksmith''s shop he had told her about. It was a small village and they could easily reach it. F-002 was waiting outside and Adriana looked into the dimly lit workshop. "Hello. An elderly man stopped drinking his tea and looked up. This man must be the master. "What can I do for you?" The master looked at Adriana quizzically, as if he had never seen her before. "Well, my name is Ad. I was wondering if you could help me with some iron and light silver. "What?" The blacksmith''s boss looked at Adriana, who looked, or actually was, only eighteen years old, with a puzzled look on his face. "Oh, I''m not a Magical Engineer Magic Craft Meister......, I''m a <>." I thought that even if I called myself a , as Shuki had told me, I wouldn''t be understood, but even as a Magical Craftsman, I wasn''t understood. "Magecraftsman?What''s that? Adriana realized once again that she was still not well known in the world. "Well, I''m an engineer who makes things with magic. The master nodded, as if he understood her this time. "So you are a mage. And you make things with it?I''ve never heard of such a method. Can you show me what you make? "Okay. What should I make?" "Well... I just got an order for knives. Can you make me a knife and show it to me? "Yes, I will." Adriana took the piece of iron that her master offered her. "<>" "Oh, oh? If I had to name some of the most useful engineering magic, one would certainly be this <>. It is because it transforms a material into the desired shape dozens of times faster than manual work, maybe even more than a hundred times faster. And with no waste. "How about this? Within a dozen seconds, the knife is ready. After heat-treating it and sharpening the blade, the knife is ready to use. "That''s great, girl!Magecraftsmen are really good at their craft. The master rolled his eyes, then clapped his hands and smiled broadly. "I thought you were teasing me," he said, "but I can''t keep quiet when you show me such a brilliant technique. What do you want? "Well, some iron, and some light silver if possible." "Oh. You can take as much iron as you like from the back of the house, if you don''t mind ...... scraps. We don''t have any light silver at ....... Sorry. It is a small village. They would not have a chance to use the expensive light silver so soon. "Thank you, master." Adriana looked out the back door of the workshop and saw that there was enough for her needs. "Well, I''ll just take this. Well, how much do I owe you? "It''s scrap metal, and you''ve done a great job. I don''t want your money. But that''s a lot. "Yes, I can. Yes, I''ll be fine. I''ll have her with me. Adriana beckoned for F-002, who was waiting outside. "Oh, my God!Is this some kind of golem? "Yes, it is. I made it. "Oh, my God!You made it?That''s amazing... that Magecraftsman... "Yes, there''s a lecture being given further south. But he didn''t seem to understand the meaning of this . "What do you mean by ?What do you mean? Adriana thinks for a moment. "Oh ...... you know, um, ...... in short, a master takes a lot of students and teaches them." This seemed to make sense. "Oh. ...... But if there are so many apprentices, won''t the time for one apprentice be shortened?" For better or worse, this is an apprenticeship approach. "That''s a good point. In the beginning, everyone learns the same thing, so it''s more efficient in some aspects. "Really? I didn''t know that was possible. The master stood up and said, "Good bye. He said he was about to finish his break and get to work. "Thanks for sharing your interesting story with us, missy. "Thank you for the iron, too. I''ll put the rest of the scrap iron together for you. ...... Adriana has Golem F-002 separate the necessary scrap iron from the rest, "<>" and then she combined them into one with her engineering magic. "Hey, hey ......" The master looks at him with his mouth open so wide that his jaw seems to be about to come off. "And by the way<< deformation(forming)>>" The irregular lump becomes an easy-to-use lump of iron. "......" The master is at a loss for words. Adriana makes a lump of the scrap iron she received in the same way, and has F-002 carry it away. Then she turns around and says Good day to you, sir! Adriana returns to the beach in high spirits. 1070 - - 002 Rainy Day Adriana returned to the beach with Golem F-002 and immediately started to remodel it. Just then, her stomach made a cute little rumbling sound. "......I''ll have to have a quick lunch first." She soaks a pile of dried bread, a preserved food, in hot water made by magic and eats it. This is what she often does when she is short on time. "Well, I don''t care what it tastes like, but it fills me up..." Without taking a break, Adriana starts the remodeling this time. "First we need to reinforce it. It''s steel, so we can''t use it on the outside. We have to use it on the inside. Muttering to herself, Adriana the iron. She has the golems carry it and install it in key places inside the ship. "Well, I guess that''s about it. ......<>" As a final touch, he cast a strengthening spell and finished. "I''m afraid of rust, but it should last a few days. I''d like to gold-plate it or something sometime soon." The sun was setting when I realized that it was getting late. "I guess we''ll stay here tonight. Adriana starts to prepare dinner, even if it is a little early. She builds a cooking stove with her engineering magic and cooks some fish. Of course, she caught the fish during the voyage, as Shuki had taught her how to fish. < to freeze them instantaneously. < First, boil water. I am going to make barley porridge. When the water is boiling and the barley has been put into the pot, I start to cook the fish. Adriana gets ready for dinner under the summer sun. After dinner there is nothing more to do. Adriana lies down in her bunk on board, with Golem M-002 standing guard. It was a hammock-type bunk. The bunks, one meter wide, two meters long, and one meter high, were suspended from the ceiling of the room, and were designed to minimize the effects of shaking. Adriana covered herself with a blanket and closed her eyes. But she could not fall asleep right away. She ruminates about all the things that have happened today. The villagers were not surprised to see the golem. But what impressed me the most was the blacksmith. The blacksmith who did not know anything about magical engineering. The master who was surprised to see engineering magic. The master who gave us scrap iron. (<> is not well known yet. ......) Adriana, however, had no intention of following in Shuki''s footsteps and teaching magical engineering herself. (I''m not very good at teaching, am I?) Yes, she was not good at teaching, or rather, she was not good at teaching. She was not good at explaining things in a sensuous way, which is common among geniuses. Therefore, she left the affairs after Shuki''s death to his disciples and ran away. (I''m going to do what my father did.) Still, the master we met today was amazed by the knife Adriana made. "I wonder if it is possible to make not only magic tools but also tools for daily life like that. I whisper aloud. "I''ve only seen making those things as a practice ......." Making everything would be taking work away from me, but the task of getting the materials, for example, could be done faster and with better quality if I used engineering magic. This is a new awareness. (Then you can see ......) While she was thinking about this, she fell asleep and before she knew it, Adriana was asleep. * * * * The next day it was raining since morning. It was a rare rain in this season. It''s a little cold. It''s a little cold. It''s foggy, I think it''s better not to go out to sea today. Since we were quite far north, cold sea fog can occur even in summer. It''s the modern Japanese equivalent of a mountain mist. "You didn''t turn on the heater. ...... It''s a bit cold." At that moment, I was about to modify the air intake to make it retractable. I heard the voice of M-002, who had been assigned to watch over me. "Master, you have a visitor." "Hello?Who is it? Adriana stopped her work and went outside the ship. There stood the middle-aged man she had met yesterday at the entrance of the village, holding an umbrella. The umbrella used is like a disk with a stick in the center, which cannot be opened or closed. It looks like a mushroom with a thin shaft. "This is an amazing ship, isn''t it? He said at the beginning of his speech. "It''s foggy today, so I thought I''d come and see how you''re doing. At 10 meters long, the ship is huge. Adriana felt that it was surprisingly small. If it was the first time for her to see a ship of this size, she felt that she should have been a little more surprised. (Come to think of it, I wasn''t that surprised when I saw the golem. I wonder if they are more familiar with this kind of magical technology than we thought...) Adriana is a little alarmed. "If you would like, you can come with us.I am the mayor of the village of Sico. My name is Mehto. My name is Ado. Thank you very much. After thinking about it for a while, Adriana decided to accept the offer. It was cold and she wanted to relax for the first time in a long time. After all, a ship is not a place to live for a long time, especially for a girl of her age. Especially for a girl of her age. Adriana packed her baggage, including a change of clothes, and as yesterday she ordered F-002 to accompany her to the village of Sico in the rain. Adriana, who did not have an umbrella, put up a against the liquid. "I envy you mages! Mehto, the chief of the village, was impressed this time. The chief''s house was in the center of the village. The family consisted of four members: a wife and two daughters. The wife was called Baise, a small, slightly built woman who had the air of a lady. However, her words and mannerisms were calm and ladylike. Adriana laughed inwardly at the gap between the two. "Wow, you have a visitor?" "Beautiful!Beautiful! The older one was Marle, who was 18 years old like Adriana, and the younger one was Krull, who was 11 years old. They both had brown hair like their mother, Bice, and gray eyes like their father, Mehto. "Hello. Call me Ado." "Yes, Ado, nice to meet you." "Ado!" The three became fast friends. The older sister, Marle, is calm and the younger sister, Krull, is a naughty girl. "Hey, Krull, did you hurt your knee?" Adriana noticed that Krull had a cloth wrapped around her right knee. Krull nodded a little embarrassed. "Yes, I fell and hit it yesterday. Looking closer, she saw that her right palm also had scuff marks on it. "Let me see." Adriana felt that the area where the cloth was not wrapped was a little swollen, so she unwrapped the cloth from Krull''s knee. 1071 - - 0032 teeth "I knew it. ......" The cloth wrapped around Krull''s knee was untied, and the wound was slightly festering. "You''ve got dirt in your wound. If you leave it like this, we may have to cut off your leg. "What?I don''t like that! Krull''s eyes tear up when I threaten her a little. Adriana quickly calmed her down. "Oh, calm down. I''m going to treat you now so that it doesn''t happen." "Ssshhhh.... ...... really? "Yes, it''s true. It might sting a little, but you''ll have to be patient. Adriana says gently. Marle took her sister''s hand in hers. "Marle, your sister is here too..." "Yes. ......" So the three of them moved to the dirt floor. "Okay, I''m going to treat you. ......<>" The first thing to do is to get out some clean water and wash the wound. "Oh, it hurts! "Patience. It only hurts for now. " Adriana tries the engineering magic <> to see if she can get the sand out of the wound. "...... got it out." Engineering magic does not work on living creatures, but since the sand is inanimate it seems to be able to remove it. "<><>" All that''s left is to sterilize it and apply the healing magic ....... "It doesn''t hurt anymore!It''s healed!Amazing!Thank you, Ad! Hearing the commotion, Mother Bice peeked into the dirt floor to see what was going on. "Oh, Mom, Ado fixed my leg!Look!" Krull points to his right knee, which is now healed nicely. Bice was surprised and then smiled happily. "Well, that''s great! Thank you so much, Ado. "No, you''re welcome. No, you''re welcome." Adriana was happy to hear that. "Thank you, Ad. Shall we go to our room now?" "Yes." Marle invites Adriana to go to their room. The chief''s house is a one-story building. It is spacious, with a dirt floor, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, a parlor, a guest room, and the housekeeper''s room. The two sisters occupy one room together. Although it is a large room, it is about 12 tatami mats in size. "Where do you two go to school? "School?What''s that? Krull asked, and Maruru tilted her head. "Well, it''s a place where they teach you how to read, write, and do math. ......" As she explained, Adriana realized that this village, or most of the land, did not have such a thing ....... "I can read!I can even write my name! "In this village, your mother and father teach you to at least write your name," said Adriana, "but I can''t write my name. I can do the math at ....... I can add and subtract, too. Marle explains. Adriana felt a little sorry if she had asked the wrong question. "Well, how many people live in this village?" Then I decided to change the subject. "I think I heard that there are 41 houses." "There are 172 people living here..." Both of them are the daughters of the village head and know each other well. Adriana did not know many people her own age, but thanks to the friendly sisters, she was able to learn a lot about the village. Adriana was not used to meeting people of her own age. While we were talking about various things, Bice showed her face. "It''s a little early, but lunch is ready. "Yes, mother." "Yay, I''m hungry!" As the sisters walked off to the cafeteria, Bice turned to Adriana and said, "Come on in. "Um, I''m also ......?" Adriana asked shyly. Bice nodded broadly. Of course you are. Of course. You''re a customer. "Thank you very much ......." The four took their places at the table. The mayor, Mehto, was out on business and was not present. "Oh, moule pot!Mother, I love it!" Krull smiles at Baise when he finds out that lunch is his favorite dish. Marle looks happy too. "It''s a little chilly today, isn''t it? That''s what a mother does." Adriana has never known a mother. So Adriana feels a little envious when she sees Krull and Marle laughing with Baise. < It is a little like the Ishikari nabe in modern Japan. However, it is seasoned with salt and no soup stock is used. Even so, the fish, shellfish, and seaweed seem to have made a good soup stock, and the dish is quite tasty. "Oh, I''ve never had this before, but it''s delicious. Adriana couldn''t help but say this out loud, and Bice smiled at her. "Really?We have refills, so please eat as many as you like. The fish meat was so soft that it seemed to be falling apart quickly, and the vegetables were on the verge of falling apart if cooked any longer. On the other hand, the shellfish meat was chewy and tasty. Adriana had her first taste of home cooking and had to have three more bowls of rice. "Thank you very much for the food. After Adriana finishes eating, the three of them nod their heads. "Oh, this is a custom in my family. This is a custom that Shuki taught us. "Really? I remember you said <<> before you ate it, didn''t you? Krull has a good ear. He seems to have heard her whispering in a whisper. "Itadakimasu," he says. I heard that both mean to thank the person who made the food and the ingredients. "Itadakimasu" and "Gochisosama". Yes, they are good words, aren''t they? Maruru nodded with a smile. Krull and Baise were impressed as well. "It''s easy to say, isn''t it? "It''s a word with a very deep meaning, isn''t it? By the way, Adriana had one thing on her mind. The wooden spoon was a good thing, but the fork had two teeth. Moreover, the cross section of the blade was round. It was more like two pieces of wire twisted together with two pointed ends, so that it was difficult to carry the fork to the mouth when trying to eat soft-boiled fish with it. Adriana did not know that the three- or four-tooth forks they were using had been proposed by Shuki, but they were not yet widely used. They ate fish and vegetables with a spoon, but it was not easy to eat them with a spoon. (Maybe I should talk to the blacksmith later. ......) (Maybe I should talk to the blacksmith later...) Adriana thought to herself. Before she knew it, the rain had stopped, the fog had lifted, and blue skies were beginning to peek through. 1072 - - 004 Rare Metals "It looks like it''s sunny out, so I''d like to go to the blacksmith''s shop." "What, to Grandpa''s place?" Then came the unexpected words from Krull''s mouth. "Grandfather?" "Yes, that''s right." The blacksmith is Krull''s grandfather. In other words, he was the father of their mother, Baise, who had trained in King''s Landing when she was young. "Yes, he''s their grandfather. ......" "Well, let''s go together." Adriana and her two sisters went to the blacksmith''s shop. "Grandpa!" Krull called loudly, even though they were still some distance away, and the master came out of the workshop. "Oh, Krull, Marle. ...... and you''re the girl from yesterday." Hello. I''m staying with the mayor of the village. We''re friends now. Oh, I see. The master nodded at the calm Marle. He seemed to love his grandchildren after all. So, what can I do for you today? "Yes, I''d like to ask you a few questions about your tableware. "Tableware?What do you mean? Yes, actually ......". Adriana explained that she had some difficulty with the forks in particular. "Hmmm, where you lived they used forks shaped like that?" She said that in King''s Landing when she was trained by her master, the forks were the same shape as the ones used in this village. (Your father must have introduced them.) Adriana remembered her father Shuki and felt a little sadness, but soon a cheerful voice came to her to counteract it. "Ad, what do you want from your grandfather? "Well, let''s see. Um, my master ......, I don''t know your name." I thought it was only yesterday, so I didn''t even ask his name. "My grandfather''s name is Fightos!" Krull''s voice was so cheerful that even Adriana, who was standing nearby, felt the brightness of his voice. "Well, Mr. Phytos. These forks are being used in the capital and in big towns now. I think it would be a good idea to use them in this village too. Adriana drew a picture of a three-tooth fork on the ground with a tree branch. "Well, is this kind of thing in fashion?" "No, it''s not a fad, it''s just that it''s easy to use, so it''s spreading. "Is that so? Yes, it might be faster if you see the real thing first. I''m going to use ...... bronze for a little while. Yes, that''s fine. ...... Adriana picked up a half-size bronze that was lying in the corner of the workshop. "<>" "What?" "Wow, Ad, that''s amazing!" "Wow, ad! You can do that too!" Phytos was not so surprised since he had seen it the day before, but Krull and Marle were amazed to see engineering magic for the first time. "...... This is the standard fork." Adriana picked up a slightly smaller, three-toothed fork and handed it to Phaetos first. "Hmmm, the teeth are square in cross section." Phytos instantly recognized one of the features. "Yes. That''s why it''s hard to rotate and hard to pull out when you stick it in. The other effect is that it''s harder to pull out because of the increased contact area. "This is nice. But the material is ......." Silver is the most common metal used for tableware in this country. Copper is not only susceptible to darkening, but also to green patina, which is a serious detriment to its aesthetics. Silver also darkens, but less frequently than copper. However, silver is expensive. As with light silver, silver was rarely available in the village blacksmith''s shop. They stocked only a few dozen grams for repairing ornaments. Plating is another option, but it wears out quickly and the metal comes out, so it is good for ornaments, but not so good for utilitarian tableware. "I guess we''ll have to do something with iron after all. The forks prepared at the village head''s house were also made of iron. "But I still don''t want to use iron. "That''s right. ......" My old forks are made of iron. This is no longer an option, but we wanted to use a rust-resistant material for the new forks. Iron rusts more easily than copper. Moreover, while the black rust of copper does not penetrate into the interior, the red rust of iron penetrates into the interior, and finally leaves the iron product in ruins. Daily care is therefore indispensable. "I wish I could find nickel and chrome. ...... Shuki also knows about stainless steel and has used it to some extent as a material. Therefore, Adriana also has knowledge of stainless steel. However, in this world, metals such as nickel and chrome are completely unknown and not commonly distributed. And Shuki did not know what kind of ores containing nickel and chromium were available. However, he did know that the ore contained nickel and chromium. Hey, Krull, Marull. I wonder if green stones can be found around here?" She only knew that minerals containing chromium and nickel sometimes turn green. And Adriana had learned that, too. "Well, you can find a lot of them on the southern coast," she said. Do you want to go pick them up? "Yes, let''s go!I''ll be back, ...... master, not Mr. Fightos. With a suddenness that, from Phytos'' point of view, seemed like the whim of a little girl, Adriana ran out of the house. Adriana''s face was bright red and her eyes were wide open. "Here, here." "Wow. ......" There was a bay and a gravel beach instead of a sandy beach, perhaps collected by the lapping waves. There were greenish stones lying all over the place. "It''s called ''Green Beach''!" The beach lived up to its name. The pier where the village boats were tied up was at the northern end of the beach. "Well, let''s check it out." Shuki does not know much about minerals, and neither does his daughter Adriana. Nevertheless, using the engineering magic <>, she is able to detect known substances. <>" I immediately analyzed the sample and found silicon, oxygen, aluminum, sodium, and among them I found a small amount of chromium. "Yes!We hit it! Adriana was delighted and decided to extract the chromium immediately. "<>" A silvery grain of sand rolls into Adriana''s hand. The stone turned from green to white. "Wow, that''s amazing!Ad''s magic?" "You can do this!" Both are amazed. However, only about 0.1 grams of chromium has been extracted. Adriana would like to get it in kilograms if possible. "Ten thousand times this ......." It''s a mind-boggling story. And to top it off, the element responsible for the greenish color is copper. We worked hard until the sun went down, and in the end we obtained only about 5 grams of chromium and 2 grams of nickel. In addition, 1 gram of manganese, 2 grams of molybdenum, 1 gram of vanadium, and so on. However, to my delight, I was able to obtain 0.3 grams of gold and 0.5 grams of silver. (Worst case scenario, we could have plated it...) Adriana heads for the village with the sisters Marle and Krull and ponders what to do with the rare metals she has obtained. 1073 - - 005 Mother The main dish for dinner that night was a large fish grilled with salt. "Wow, a big fish! Adriana had never seen this fish before. This fish is called leteola. Krull''s mother, Bice, told us. "It gets fat and oily in the summer. It is delicious grilled with oil and salt. It was a bold dish, as one would expect from a seaside village. "Oh, it''s delicious!" Adriana loved the taste of the dish after taking a bite. ......This salt is also delicious. What is it?It''s not just salt? Adriana muttered to herself. Marle smiled and told her. "You have a good tongue, Ad. You know, this salt is mixed with ground herbs. "Oh, I see!" Salt is a precious commodity inland, but in a seaside village like Ado it is a common seasoning. "What?Salt?" (sea ...... sea water ...... maybe!) Adriana had an idea and almost got up from her seat, but she managed to restrain herself. (Watch out, watch out. Tomorrow anyway.) The chief and his family were enjoying their dinner in harmony, unaware of Adriana''s inner conflicts. (Family, huh?). (I envy you a little ......, don''t you?) Krull smiled at her, probably not realizing what was going on in her mind. "Hey Ad, if we can get the forks Ad mentioned, will it be easier to eat this Letheora?" "......Yes, I think it will." Krull''s reaction was delayed for a moment, but he didn''t care, rather, he was more interested in the substance of the answer. "Really?I''m looking forward to it!" "Here, Krull, you''ll be a little quieter when we eat, right?" "Yes. Yes, a little more ladylike. Krull was chastised by his mother and sister Marle for being too excited. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After dinner, under the still light sky, the chief''s family begins to prepare for the bath. In this area, there is plenty of water available if a well is dug, so each household has its own bath, albeit a small one. Adriana, who was only watching the preparations, thought that the high humidity throughout the year near the sea and the sea breeze that made her body sticky were probably the reasons for the widespread use of baths. She took a little lick of the water and found it slightly salty. The proximity to the sea must have dissolved salt in the groundwater. It would be a bath similar to a saline spring ....... Seeing that Mehto, the head of the village and the mainstay of the family, had started to prepare the firewood, Adriana offered to help. "Oh, I can heat the water..." "What?" "<>" Engineering magic <>. It is a magic that heats an object. With this magic, the water has been heated to the right temperature within a minute. "Ad, that''s great!" Krull jumps up and down with excitement. "Thank you, Ado! You''re so good!" Marle looks calm, but her face is a little flushed. "Thank you, Ado! Mages are great! Bice thanked him in a calm tone. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Ado! Finally Mehto thanked him. "No, we are indebted to you." Adriana replied, a little embarrassed. Adriana answered with a little embarrassment. "Yes, it''s a nice hot bath. After all, a soak in the hot water is very comfortable. <, being soaked in hot water like this removes all sorts of fatigue and relaxes me mentally. "Thank you very much." Adriana thanked him for letting her use the first bath as a guest. "No problem. It''s our pleasure to have the water heated for you." Bice smiled softly. While the chiefs took turns taking a bath, Adriana ordered F-002 to bring the necessary items to the ship, such as magecrystals and a link board, to make the magical tools she had in mind. She sent him to the ship to pick up the necessary items to make the magical tool she had in mind, including the magecrystal and the link board. "I''ll make it tomorrow," she said to herself. Adriana said to herself and looked up at the night sky where the stars were beginning to twinkle. Adriana looked up at the night sky as the stars began to twinkle. That night she talked with the chief and his family. "Wow, Ado''s father was a great teacher. "Oh, Ado''s father was a great teacher. That''s why Ado can do so many things. The conversation is with only the women in the family, but without the village head. "I heard that you passed away at ....... Ado, you must miss her, don''t you?" At the sound of Bice''s gentle voice, Adriana wondered in a corner of her mind if this was the kind of person her mother was. Without knowing it, Adriana''s gaze fell on Bice. Forcing herself to avert her gaze, she responded. "Yes, no, ...... I''m used to it." Half true, half false. I have accepted being alone, but I still feel lonely, and it''s not something I can get used to. But Adriana does not like to show her weakness. She forced a smile, "...... I set out alone to search for the possibilities of magical engineering, which my father had set out to do," she said. I said. "Wow, that''s great!" "Ad, you''re good!" But it was Adriana herself who was the most surprised. . She had not set out on this journey with that in mind. But it is strangely fitting to think so. The thoughts of my father, the thoughts of the man he loved most, who told me about him. What Adriana must do to inherit them. Now that magical engineering has been completed, I feel that the search for new possibilities is what I should be doing. Good luck. "...... yes." Adriana''s heart was touched by Bice''s gentle voice. "What is it?Ad, are you crying? "...... what?" Adriana realized that a single tear had fallen from her eye. Adriana does not know her mother. Her father Shuki''s female disciples took care of her, but they were not her mother. Adriana, who had grown up without a mother''s love, felt in Baise''s voice a she had never met. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, this is not it..." I wiped it away with the back of my hand, but new tears started to flow again. "......That''s funny. ......" At that moment, something wrapped Adriana''s body softly. "It''s okay to cry when you are sad." Bice''s gentle voice made Adriana''s teary eyes break down. "Ugh, ugh... ......" Adriana cried, and Bice gently held her in her arms and patted her back gently. That night Adriana slept in the same room with Bice. 1074 - - 006 Stainless Steel Processing The next morning Adriana woke up to the sound of Baise waking up. "Oh, Ad, did I wake you up?I''m sorry." No, I''m always early in the morning. Krull and Marle seemed to still be sleeping. Adriana washes her face in the well in the earthen floor and receives from F-002 the materials for magical engineering that she had brought with her last night. Maybe you can do it. Here, like this: ......" Adriana was absorbed in her work while Bice was preparing the breakfast. "Now, please give me this." And when she handed the finished magic tool to F-002, Bice called out to her. "Ado, breakfast is ready! "Good morning, mother and father. Ado, good morning. "Nn...... father,mother,ado,good morning......" Krull and Maruru had just woken up, especially Krull who was still sleepily rubbing his eye lids. "Bon apptit!" Breakfast was barley porridge. Again, salt with herbs is used, and it is quite tasty. Bon apptit! Bon apptit! Krull and Marle followed Adriana''s example and began to eat. The porridge tasted even better when sprinkled with herbed salt, and Adriana had two more bowls of porridge. "Thank you very much for the food." Adriana says after the meal, a greeting she has learned in her life with Shuki. Krull and Marulu say the same after their meal. I don''t know if it will take root in Adriana''s life, nor do I want it to, but I am sure that it has created a stir in the local customs. * * * * * * * * * * * "Ado, what are you doing today?" Krull asks Adriana after the meal. "Do you want to continue where we left off yesterday?" Marle asks if they are going to search for stones again today. "No, today we are going to visit our master again ...... Phytos." Yesterday, I had a small amount of nickel and chrome, so I thought I could make a prototype. 5 grams of chrome, 2 grams of nickel. If the fork weighs 25 grams, I should be able to make one piece of what is called 18-8 stainless steel, which is 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel. 8 stainless steel with 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel, I should be able to make one fork. In the meantime, we arrived at the blacksmith Phytos'' workshop. Smoke was already rising from the workshop and I could see that Phytos had lit the furnace and started to work. "Grandpa! Phytos, who was about to start work with a block of iron in his hand, turned around. "Oh, Krull! ...... and Marle, and little girl. What are you doing today?I was about to make a prototype fork out of iron. First the iron is heated, then beaten flat and stretched, and shaped with a hammer and file, which seems to be the usual way for a blacksmith to work. "Yes, that''s it, but I''ve got a metal that becomes rust-resistant when mixed with iron, so I''ve brought it here." "What?You have such a thing? Fightos is surprised. Krull and Maruru are also surprised, but they are not experts, so they only think <>. But Phytos is surprised, "Well, if such iron could be made, it would be a revolution! he says excitedly. But Adriana shakes her head apologetically. "It doesn''t work that way. "It doesn''t work that way... it''s the only thing I have. She showed him the chrome and the nickel in her hand. "What?This little ......." Fightos'' shoulders slumped in disappointment. But Krull saw it, "Grandpa, the three of us looked for it hard yesterday! I apologized in a hurry. "Oh, Krull, we didn''t mean it like that. I just thought it would be great if we could make a lot of that kind of iron. "First, let''s make a prototype. Let''s make a prototype and then we''ll see what we can do about mass production. Adriana interrupts. "Well, that''s a good idea. Phytos said as he lowered the piece of steel in his hand to the floor. "So, how do I mix it with iron?" Iron is an elemental name for steel. In reality, pure iron is not available on the market, but is an alloy of carbon and . Cast iron for casting (pig iron) is called iron, but it contains 2 to 6.7 percent carbon and is in a state before being refined into steel (hence pig iron is called gold). Pig iron is therefore called "pig iron first" in Japanese.) Pig iron melts at relatively low temperatures (still around 1200 degrees Celsius) and has good fluidity, so it is used for pouring into molds. Also, <> can be hardened by heat treatment. It is so suitable for making blades that the original meaning is "blade metal". A word of caution. Adriana intended to add chromium and nickel to the low carbon, relatively soft <>. "Well, may I use some of this iron?" Adriana asked, examining a piece of iron that Phytos had just prepared. "Yes, of course. That''s what I was planning to do. Phytos, being a good cook, seemed to think that the steel should not be too hard. That''s what I''m talking about. "Well, let''s see... ......<>" "Huh?" After separating about 18 grams of iron, Adriana continues to use her engineering magic. "<><>" Chromium and nickel are added and alloyed. "This iron should now be stainless steel. Oh, stainless steel, I think <> means rust and <> means <>....... together means <>." "Stainless ......<> steel. I''m curious." "Well, Mr. Fightos, could you try to make this into a rough fork shape?" Adriana handed a curious Phytos a 25 gram chunk of 18-8 stainless steel. "Oh, thank you, sweetheart. Let''s give it a try." Phytos placed the block in the furnace and began to work the bellows. The fire raged, and the small lump turned red in no time. He took it out with a pair of iron scissors, placed it on the anvil, and began to pound it with a large hammer. "Hm......?" Fightos tilted his head while tapping. "What do you think?" Adriana asks. "It feels a little sticky, maybe. He says nonchalantly. After two reheats, Phytos has roughly formed the fork with just a hammer. "Now I just need to cut out the blade with a hammer. He got out a smaller blade and put it on the prototype and started cutting ....... "What the hell is this? I felt an unexpected resistance, and I couldn''t help but shout out. Stainless steel is very sticky, making it difficult to perform cutting-type processing. Adriana had seen this kind of work several times with Shuki, so she had a pretty good idea of how Phytos would feel about it. "It''s not hard, but it''s hard to cut ......." "Yes, that''s one of the advantages and disadvantages of stainless steel. "Yes, that''s both an advantage and a disadvantage of stainless steel. It''s good that it''s strong, but it''s hard to work with. "It''s also hard to sharpen. Since it is difficult to sharpen with an ordinary whetstone, ceramic and diamond whetstones are often used in modern Japan. "I see. ...... It''s true, it''s not suitable for making many pieces." Phytos looks disappointed. 1075 - - 007 superstition "<>" Adriana transforms the fork she is about to make into its final form. "Wow!That''s amazing! "Ad, you really did it!" "Well, magical engineering is a marvelous thing." Krull, Marle, and Phaetos all exclaimed in admiration. "<>" The final step is to give the surface a mirror finish. "This is the standard fork in King''s Landing and other places now. "It looks like silver. It''s hard to believe it was originally made of iron. Marle gently picked it up and muttered. "Hmmm. But the glow is somewhat duller or darker ......." Phytos'' eyes are right. No matter how mirror-finished the surface of stainless steel is, it cannot match the reflectivity of silver, so it looks blackish in comparison. However, stainless steel tableware has an advantage in this respect because silver darkens (sulfurizes) quickly if it is not cared for. Also, since it is harder than silver, it is less likely to be scratched, which is an advantage that makes it a good choice for popular tableware. When I explained this to him, Phytos nodded his head in agreement. "I see. But the drawback is that it is made of a rare metal and is difficult to process. In fact, because of this disadvantage, stainless steel and carbon steel are used interchangeably even on modern Earth (there are other factors as well, of course). "I guess it''s a material for magical engineering for the time being. ......" Adriana pondered over Phytos'' opinion. It is not common to add chromium or nickel to make stainless steel in the first place. "I think so. "I agree, but I am interested in it as a material. Fightos added as if to comfort Adriana, whose shoulders slumped a little. Thank you, master. Adriana then decided to go to the sea to see how the magical tools she had entrusted to F-002 earlier that morning were working. "Krull, Marle, I''m going to the sea." "Oh, I''ll go with you." "I''ll wait for you at home." Marle went home and Krull followed her. Adriana and Krull went to the beach together. "Hey Ad, what''s in the sea? "You''ll see when we get there." "Boo!" They walk down the beach, talking like this. "Hey, hey, you''re going the wrong way!" Krull stopped Adriana, who was going in a different direction from where she had gone yesterday to look for the stone. "Oh, it''s okay. We''re not going to look for stones today. "Oh, I see." Krull seemed to be enjoying herself as she replied, "Oh, it''s okay. And then they arrived at the beach. The boat that Adriana came in is also there. "Wow!A big boat!Is that the boat that Adri came in?" "Yes, that''s the boat Adriana came in. "Yes, that''s it." Sure enough, Krull started to get excited. "Hey, you know, I''d like to go for a ride!" "Okay, but just wait a minute. But just wait a minute. I have to take care of something first. Adriana quieted Krull down and called F-002 first. "How is it?" "Yes, it seems to be working fine." F-002 pointed at the silver-gray mass near the magic tool. "Yes, they are gathered. ......<>...... properly chrome and nickel, great success!" Adriana is pleased. "Hey, Ad, what''s this?" At that moment, Krull interrupts, apparently unable to remain silent. < "Let''s see, it is a magical tool to extract a specific substance from seawater. Almost all elements are dissolved in seawater. Gold, silver, platinum, lithium, aluminum, magnesium, uranium ....... And of course, Adriana wanted chromium and nickel. However, since the amount is extremely small, it is not worth the trouble to extract it, and the only thing that has been put to practical use on the modern earth and is still being done is the extraction of <, or sodium chloride. However, there is magic in this world, and by using it, we have managed to extract substances at a practical level. Of course, this was a technology unique to Adriana. The technology that enabled her successor, Jin, to separate and collect only helium from the air was also based on this technology. "Yes, we''ve collected quite a bit of helium. In half a day''s operation, twice as much helium had been collected as yesterday. "If we keep going like this, we should be able to collect quite a lot. We might as well make one or two more of the same thing. So Adriana made two more of the same magical tool ...... named <...... and set them in the sea. Of course, they are not in the same place, but far enough apart that the ocean currents and the ebb and flow of the tide circulate the seawater. "Here you go, Krull." "No, it was fun!" Krull felt bad for making him wait, but he was intrigued by his first glimpse of magical tool making using , and kept staring at him. First, let me show you around the ship. Before ......, let me introduce the golems that make up the crew. This is F-003, this is M-002, and that is M-003. And that''s F-002 outside. "Wow. Ad made all these? "Yes." He pulls Krull, who is excited to see them, along with him and shows him around the ship. It''s a big boat, but it''s only 10 meters long. Once inside, it feels smaller than a house. This is the cabin. This is where we stay when the boat is running. "This is the power room. When M-002 and M-003 turn the handle, the screw turns too, and the ship moves forward. "This is the bedroom. Most of the time we sleep with the ship ashore, but just to be safe, we have a suspended system to reduce the effects of the rocking. "This is ......." Krull listens to Adriana''s explanation with a twinkle in his eye, though he is not sure how much of it he understood. And then. "I wish I could go out to sea too. ......" She muttered to herself. Why don''t you ask your father?" There were many boats floating on the Green Coast, which we visited yesterday. Adriana thought that if she asked her father, the chief of the village, she could at least go out to sea. "That''s not possible." "Why not?" But Krull shook his head sadly. "It''s the village law ...... that if a woman goes out to sea, the sea gets rough." "Oh, no. ......." Adriana said that she too was a woman and that her previous voyages had been calm. "Yes, it''s fine Ad. She''s an outsider. It''s just a story from the village." "Yeah. ......" I don''t know if it''s an indigenous belief or a superstition. Adriana realized something else that she had not noticed when she was with Shuki. 1076 - - 008 Mountain Food Afterwards, Adriana and Krull returned to the village for lunch. "It''s a difficult problem ......" Adriana muttered to herself as she ate lunch at the chief''s house. "Ad, what''s wrong?Wasn''t it good?" Bice, a mother of two, asked her with a worried look on her face. "Oh, um, I''m sorry. I was just thinking about something. Adriana explains hurriedly. "That''s all right, but ...... something bothering you?" "No, I was just ......". Adriana then thought that now was as good a time as any to ask since Mehto, the village head, was there. I just heard from Krull that this village forbids women to go out to sea. Mehto looked a little solemn and answered. "That''s right. It''s been said for a long time. It is said that the god of the sea is a male god. "Oh, so when women go out to sea, they try to drag them down to the bottom of the sea?" Adriana asks, remembering the pattern of the old story Shuki told her. But Mehto denied it with a laugh. Haha, no. The god of the sea has a lot of feelings for the women who go out to sea, and his jealous wife''s god gets angry and destroys the sea. "Is that so?" Adriana was surprised, because this was not what she had expected. "Of course, I don''t believe it. Of course I don''t believe in it, but you can''t fool me with old legends, you know." "......Some of the fishermen still really believe in it, it seems." Bice added a few words of explanation. "Actually, I think it''s a gentle lie, because they don''t want to send women and children out into the dangerous sea," he said. But as the village head, I can''t allow the villagers to break the law." "...... I understand." Adriana had heard from Shuki that beliefs and superstitions have deep roots and that it is difficult to get people to recant them, and she had some sense of this from her travels, but seeing an actual example like this made her think twice. (According to your father, this Kingdom of Leonard is still better than others. ...... I wonder if it is worse in other countries.) Adriana pondered a bit. Adriana pondered for a moment. Adriana pondered over the superstition, but then she began to worry about what would happen to her magical tool, the Material Extractor, and decided to go to the sea again. This time, not only Krull but also Maruru accompanied him. "Wow, it''s a big boat." Maruru shared the same impression as Krull. "I''d like to get on it, but I can''t. ...... "But, can''t we at least take a look inside?It''s not floating in the ocean." Adriana follows up. Even Krull is looking inside. "Oh, yes, that''s right. So Adriana showed Marle around as well as Krull. After she was done, she checked the that had been installed in three locations. "Well, that''s quite a lot. In total, I got about 50 grams of chromium and 40 grams of nickel. "I think I have enough if I leave it here until tomorrow." Adriana is pleased with what she has obtained for the day. "I think we will have enough for tomorrow. Adriana wants to leave a gift before she leaves the village that has helped her so much. "Oh, Krull and Marle. Who are your children? "Oh, Uncle Demi. This is Adriana. She is traveling. On the way back from the beach, we pass a few people. Adriana asked them about it and they replied: "During the day they go to the mountains, "That''s because they are either in the mountains or out at sea during the daytime," Marle told her. Marle told us. She also told us that the land in this area was too thin to grow normal crops. Therefore, they get their sustenance from the mountains and the sea. From the mountains, they get firewood, nuts, and wild vegetables. From the sea, of course, they obtain fish. "So, axes, machetes, and sickles are necessary tools, aren''t they? "Well, yes. Making and fixing these things keeps Grandpa busy. Krull explained proudly. "That''s why you don''t see many people during the day." "That''s right. And by the way, there are a lot of nuts in the mountains this time of year. It''s called "clary" and ripens to a purple color. "They are sweet and sour and delicious. If we leave them alone, birds and animals will pick them, so we collect them as soon as we find them and dry or make jam out of the ones we can''t eat. "I see." "I see." "...... but sugar is expensive, so we can''t make a lot of jam." Through these conversations, Adriana gains knowledge about the life of ordinary people. Since she had been with <> Shuki up to this point, her interactions with these people with a sense of daily life were often instructive. This may have been the starting point of her later efforts to develop magic tools. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, the total amount of chromium and nickel was 150 grams of chromium and 110 grams of nickel, respectively. "We can make quite a bit with that much." Adriana went to the blacksmith master, Phytos. Krull and Marle had gone to the mountains together after breakfast, so they were alone today. "Oh, sweetie, is that again?" "Yes. I want to make a few things to leave behind as a thank you for all the help you''ve given me. Hearing this, Fightos looked a little sad. "So ...... you are a traveler, aren''t you? ...... good, use as much iron as you like." "Thank you!" Immediately Adriana started to make as much stainless steel as she could with the materials she had at hand. 18-8, that is, 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel. She had 150 grams of chromium on hand, so she needed 66.7 grams of nickel. He needs 616.7 grams of iron. Working out these calculations by heart, Adriana alloyed the metal. "It''s still a wonder to me, no matter how many times I see it. The way the iron lump changes its shape as a faintly shining magic circle appears on the surface looks mysterious to those who are not accustomed to seeing engineering magic. "<>" "Oh? Adriana, who had been in high spirits, had created ten forks in one transformation. Each fork is connected by a thin , which is cut off to make the fork. Three times in total. Using approximately 750 grams, 30 forks are completed. The fact that there is no waste is another feature of magical engineering. "Well, if there were more mages like you, we''d all be out of a job. Fightos looks deeply moved. Adriana, on the other hand, said, "I don''t think that will happen in the near future. No ordinary mage would think of making tools for daily life. Adriana said. Phytos was shocked to hear that. "I see. It''s all about the money, isn''t it? ...... so you''re special, aren''t you?" "I don''t know, I don''t know..." Adriana smiles a little sadly. Adriana smiles a little sadly. She knows she''s different, but that''s why she smiles. "That''s 30. I remember that the population of the village is 172 people, so I would like to make at least 200.... ..." At this rate it would take a few more days, so Adriana decides to add more <>. Fortunately, we have plenty of materials to make them. "Well then, master, see you tomorrow." "Oh, take care!" Adriana went to the ship on her feet, built five "Material Extractors", and ordered F-003 to set them up in the sea, far away from the ship. F-003 was ordered to set them in the sea at a distance from the ship. F-003 ordered F-003 to set the device in the sea. "Ah, Ado, welcome back." When Adriana returned to the village chief''s house at noon, Krull and Maruru had also returned and showed her the many nuts they had gathered in the mountains, including clary berries. 1077 - - 009 Clary Collection I spent the afternoon helping to dry the clary berries. After the drying was finished, I was allowed to taste the ones dried about half a month ago, and they were quite tasty. He told me that the acidity was reduced and the sweetness was emphasized. Adriana likes sour fruits, but she also loves this kind of natural sweetness. "Oh, it''s delicious! "Oh, it''s delicious!" "Isn''t it?I picked these myself." Krull looks proud and proud of herself, while Marul and Bice smile at her. (Family...... sisters are so nice!) Adriana felt a little envious. "Do you want to go there tomorrow, Ad?Some places are easier than others. "But we might not be able to pick so many, ......." Krull and Marle invited me to join them, "Yes, I''ll go. Adriana answered immediately. She had not been out in the field since she was a child. Suddenly, the faces of her childhood friends came to mind. Bal, Humundo, and Lolora (......). I call their names without saying them out loud. The friends in my memory are still smiling as they used to be. The next day, after having breakfast, I went to the restaurant to see if I could find a place to eat. The next day, after breakfast, Adriana, together with Krull and Marle, went to the mountains with a bag of dried meat for emergencies and the harvested berries. Adriana said that she could magically produce water, so she carried the smallest canteen she could find. Water is heavy, so that alone makes the trip easier. "But why the dried meat?" Adriana asked. On each person''s back was a bag with a basket of berries and a canteen. In the bag there is also dried meat. "Because you mustn''t lick the mountain. You could break your leg and not be able to walk." "...... hmm." Now Adriana has access to healing magic up to intermediate level, so she can heal a sprained leg or a simple fracture. But we need to be careful since there is a possibility that we might get separated from Adriana. So we each have our own dried meat and water bottles. "......Fu,fu......Wait a minute, let''s take a break......" "Ad, I guess you''re not used to this." "We''re not even halfway there yet. We''re still trying to get to ...... the closest and easiest place." Compared to Krull and Marle, Adriana was definitely less athletic. The three of us took a break from walking and managed to reach our destination before noon. It was on a table-shaped rocky hill. "......" Adriana is limp. Krull is flying around and starting to gather clary berries. Marle is worried about Adriana. "Ad, are you okay?" "......Uh,yes. ......I just need to rest a little longer. ......" After about 10 minutes of rest, Adriana managed to recover. Then Marle explained to Adriana. This is the Clary tree. There are male and female trees, and only the female trees grow fruit. And sometimes there are insects on them, so be careful. "Yes, okay." Adriana is not afraid of insects. She even kept a ground spider in the basement of Horai Island in later years. "Ado, look, I got all this..." Krull, who had been running around, came back to show me his basket. The basket was about the size of a person''s head, and about a third of it was filled with clary berries. "Wow, that''s amazing! Adriana stood up. She looks a little old, as she has Shuki''s genes in that regard. "Well, here it is..." There is still some clary left, just out of Krull''s reach. "You can eat the purple berries raw," he says. Krull said with purple lips. "Yes. Adriana does as she is told and takes a bite of the purple ripe fruit. "Oh, it''s delicious!" The sweet and sour taste spreads in my mouth... and Adriana puts three or four in my mouth one after the other, Adriana tried three or four in succession, but Marle warned her, "The red ones are not ripe yet, that''s why they''re sour. Marle warned her that the red ones were not yet ripe and therefore sour. Adriana took a bite of one to check it out, "Oh, they are really sour," she said. She was unconcerned about it. She loves sour food. "Ad, that''s great ......." "Yes. I can even bite into a Ramon fruit. "I don''t know what Ramon is, but I know you like sour food. ...... Marle was both impressed and a little taken back. Krull is gathering berries in the distance. Krull shouts out. "Sis!Ado!Come here! "What''s wrong?What''s wrong? "Let''s go!" Krull''s voice called to them, and they headed in that direction. "What''s wrong, Krull? There was a large clary tree with many long, thin, pale green spheres attached to it. "Wild cocoons," he said. "Wow, this is ......." Adriana thought, "It seems to be a natural silkworm. By the way, silkworms on Earth do not grow in the wild. Even if they were placed on a mulberry tree, they would be quickly eaten by birds because of their white color, and they would fall down only when the wind blows, because the sucking power of their ventral legs (sucker-like legs attached to the larva''s abdomen) is weak. It seems that there are wild silkworms in the Ars world. Furthermore, as a side note, <>...... natural silkworms are not silkworm moths but cocoon moth larvae. Their cocoons are called "yamamayu". They eat not mulberry but sawtooth oak, chestnut, oak and oak tree. This was another difference. "Do you collect a lot of these cocoons to make thread? Adriana asked. Krull and Marle shook their heads. "No, we don''t do that, do we?" "Yes, ......." "Yes." Adriana was not familiar with sericulture, as Shuki did not know anything about it. If this sericulture could be made into an industry, the income of the village would increase, but unfortunately, no one here was aware of it. "Let''s collect more clary berries, shall we? "Yes, let''s." After that, the three of us had a pleasant lunch of dried meat and clary berries. Then it was time to go home. "It''s not easy to go down ......," he said. "Be careful, it''s easy to get hurt going down the mountain." "Ugh. ......" Adriana is still flabbergasted. And on top of that, the morning after we got back from picking clarys... "Oops, oops, oops, oops, oops, oops, oops, oops, oops, oops, oops... ......" Adriana was suffering from sore muscles this time. 1078 - - what someone got 010 Muscle pain is manageable once you start moving. The most painful time is when you try to move suddenly after staying still. "Oh my God. ......" Grunting, Adriana gets up, using her healing magic to slightly reduce the pain. After getting up, rinsing out her mouth and washing her face, she managed to get her body to listen to her. "Today we will collect the chromium and nickel and ......". Adriana plans her day over breakfast. (I think I''ll make enough for the residents plus an extra fork and then we''ll leave. ......) We decided to stay a bit longer because it was so cozy, but Adriana had a purpose. (, or ......) ) It was a rumor she had heard while traveling around with her father Shuki. I can laugh it off as just a rumor, but when I realize the concentration of free magic element (ether) that gets denser as you go north, it would not be surprising if there is a civilization with advanced magic technology that utilizes this dense free magic element (ether) in the north. (Besides, your father''s wife ...... also lived in the north.) Shuki rarely mentions his beloved wife Adriana, whose maiden name is Tierra. Adriana was heading north in order to reach higher levels of magical engineering. "Ad, don''t eat while you''re thinking, okay?" "Yes, yes." Adriana, chided by Baise, hurriedly gulped down the rest of the seafood soup. * * * * * * After a hurried breakfast, Adriana rushed to the beach. Krull and Marle are out gathering clary berries. Krull and Marle are busy gathering clary berries, before the birds and beasts eat them. Adriana has come to the coast, of course, to check on the . "Wow!" There was more chromium and nickel extracted than expected. "That''s ......800 grams of chromium and 520 grams of nickel. That''s enough to make stainless steel!" This would make 4444.4 grams of stainless steel. We need 355.6 grams of nickel and 3288.9 grams of iron. We need 355.6 grams of nickel and 3,288.9 grams of iron. Adriana takes it immediately to the blacksmith Phytos. Phytos is used to this by now and is waiting for her. I knew you would come, girl. I already have the iron ready for you. "Thank you, master." Adriana decided to call him <> since it was more appropriate than calling him Mr. Phytos. She starts work immediately. She has done this so many times that she is used to it, and now the master is not so surprised anymore. He is just impressed. "That''s very convenient, isn''t it? If we could do that, we could make a lot more things. We can make engineering magic available to those who can''t use it. We have studied such magic tools before, but they are still far from perfection. But first the task at hand, Adriana devoted herself to the production of stainless steel. The next step is forks. ......<. ......<>!" "It''s always a sight to see, isn''t it?" The master who was looking at her let out a surprised voice. She separates 10 pieces of stainless steel and then deforms them into 10 forks at once. The forks are connected to each other by thin . There are not many magecraftsmen who can do the same thing. "Master, I know this is a lot of work, but could you please cut them apart?" "Oh, I''ll take care of it." It was tedious to just watch. The master accepted Adriana''s request. He does not only detach the pieces, but also files and finishes the cut parts. Adriana, on the other hand, puts all her energy into her work. "......<><>. <><>. <<><>......" In this way, the required number of forks were made in a dozen or so times. "Hey, hey, you''re too fast! You haven''t finished separating the forks yet. "Yes, I''ll do it too. And so the forks were separated by two people. "Well, it''s done." There were 170 forks in a row. "Yes. Now it''s time to finish. ! "Wow. ......" All 170 forks were given a mirror finish at once, and they shone brightly. "Phew, it''s done!" The other day we made 30 forks, for a total of 200 forks. The immediate goal had been reached. Adriana returned to the chief''s house with the 200 forks she had made. She is accompanied by her master. Or rather, it is her master who is holding the box with the forks. "Oh, Ad?And your father-in-law. He knew from our breakfast conversation that I would be home today. "Today, I brought you a thank you!" "Thank you?" "Yes, for everything you''ve done for me." "Here, Mehto, this is for you." Phytos put the box on the table with a thud. He opened it to reveal a gleam of metal. "Is this a ...... fork?" "Yes, it is. It''s a form popular in King''s Landing and other places. "Oh, this is ...... "Oh, it''s not just a shape. It''s good to use. It''s hard to pull the food out of the fork, and you can use it to cut up some things. You can also use the sides of the fork to cut into pieces. Unlike a wire, it is strong enough. "This, Ad?" "Yeah, it''s a big deal!" The chief Meuto thought as his father-in-law, Phytos, praised it with open arms. "How much is ......?" "...... yes?" Adriana, not understanding the meaning of Mehto''s words, asked back. "No, I was just wondering how much a fork this big, this shiny!I wonder how much they are worth." In today''s market, a wire fork costs from 30 to 50 Tol. (about $30-$500) per wire fork. According to the report, the forks are made of a new material called that gives them a shine so bright it could be mistaken for silver. Moreover, it is rust-resistant. "Even though I am the village chief, I am not that wealthy..." Adriana finally realized that he was mistaken. "I''m not asking you to buy these. You can have them all." "What? Mehto was surprised. Fights was a little surprised too, but he looked like he had a feeling about it. "What?You''re going to give me all of this? No wonder he is surprised. These forks will probably fetch at least 100 dollars each. Considering the new material and the trendy design, someone would probably buy even 500 tokens. That is 200 bottles. He easily gave me 100,000 Tall ......, which is about one million Japanese yen. No wonder Mehto was surprised. But most of the materials were given to me by my master ...... Mr. Phytos. "No, no, no, you prepared a metal much rarer than iron. That alone is worth a hundred thousand dollars, Phytos said. But Adriana shook her head in denial. "I have received from Mehto and the others something that money can''t buy. "Hmm?" Mehto tilts his head. "I was really happy when you came to check on me in the rain. Mehto''s concern for a gentile like himself. "I was so happy that he welcomed me so warmly that it brought tears to my eyes. I know it''s not even a fraction of that, but it''s the least I can do. Adriana bowed her head. "So please take it!" "Thank you, Ad. In that case, I''ll take it gratefully. And I can give it to each and every one of the villagers, right? "Oh, yes!Yes, please! And so the stainless steel forks were spread in the village of Sico. 1079 - - 011 Goodbye Adriana made five spoons out of the stainless steel that was still left over. One for each of the four members of the chief''s family and one for the guests. They were immediately used at dinner. "Wow, they are so easy to use!Thank you, Ad!" "Really. And they are so shiny and clean. Krull and Marle seem to like their new spoons and forks. Seeing their smiles, Adriana is glad she made them. (......I''ll keep trying to make them smile like this. ......) This will also be a driving force for Adriana in the future. * * * * After dinner, Adriana bowed to Mehto, the patriarch of the family, his wife Baisse, their eldest daughter Marle, and their second daughter Krull. "Thank you for all your help over the years. I will leave tomorrow." Krull and Marle reacted to this statement with great excitement. "Why?Ado, don''t go! "Ado, what''s wrong with you?"Ad, did something happen that you don''t like?That was... ......" "No, that''s not it." Adriana stopped Marle''s desperate attempts to explain and smiled. "I have something to do, something I have to do. I have things to do, things I have to do, and for that I have to go further north. "Up north ......?" Yes, north. That''s where I''ll find what I want. Adriana''s face looked more mature than Krull and Marle had ever seen it before. "What does Ad want ......?" Krull barely managed to get the question out. "What I want is knowledge. "What do you want ...... for?" This time the question comes from Marle. "For me to fulfill the dream my father kept asking for." After a pause, Adriana continues. "That is why I will not stop. I''m going to walk on, aiming far and high. That is my purpose." "......" "......Yes, I get it." "Sis!" Marle said with a soft smile that was just like her mother''s. "Ado has his own dreams, doesn''t he? But I hope you won''t forget about us. "Of course not!I''ll never forget the days I spent in this house, playing with Krull and Marle. How could I forget? ...... is fine. "Sis!" Krull stops his sister, who is about to complain about his understanding, "Krull, let''s support our friend''s dream, okay?" "Sis! ......" Maruru caresses Krull''s head as her sister is about to start crying. "Maruru......Krull......" Adriana also had tears in her eyes as she watched the two interact. "......Yeah, Sis. I understand. ......Ad, good luck ......." In a muffled voice at the end, Krull also said that he would support Adriana. That night Adriana slept with Krull and Marle. Adriana went to bed that night with Krull and Marle. "Ad, please come back again. Ad, take care of yourself. Ad, we will always be friends! "Ado, I''ll never forget you!" "I''ve had a lot of fun with you, sweetheart." The chief of the village and his family and the master of the blacksmith''s shop had come to see Adriana off from the coast. Other villagers and strangers had also come to see Adriana off, some of whom she had just passed on the street. "Thank you, Falk. "Be careful!" "Thank you very much!Take care of yourselves! Adriana waves from the boat. Slowly the boat turns towards the sea. But what a girl you are! "I wonder who she is..." Krull declares loudly to the villagers who are muttering these words. Ado is our friend! Marulu watches from a little distance as the ship''s shadow shrinks in size. "May Ado''s dreams come true. ......" The sea that day was clear blue and the waves were calm. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......," he said. After reading the first diary, Jin looks up and looks around the group. "The previous generation went north, didn''t they?" "...... probably the continent where the demon tribe is." Saki and Erza guessed. "I guess so." Jin agreed that was probably the right answer. "You must have been lonely, Adriana. Hannah muttered with a little sadness in her eyes. "Yes, Hannah. Your mother chose to enhance her engineering magic even with such sadness. ......" Reiko reacted to Hannah''s words. "Brother Jin, how did Adriana-san prevent water from leaking out of the screw shaft?" Elsa asked. "I''m sure Marcia-san had a hard time solving that problem too." "Ah, there." Jin indicated the back page of the diary. "There is a diagram here. ...... I see, in short, the room with the golem that turns the screw, in other words, the engine room. That''s the only place where water seems to come in." "What?" "In other words, the leakage of water is only in the engine room, and the leaked water is drained out with water magic. Worst of all, the golems seem to be able to move even underwater. This was probably revolutionary at the time. "Shuki the Wise probably knew about the screw, but not how to make it watertight. That''s why the previous generation solved the problem by combining magic for the time being." "...... convinced me. That''s just like our predecessors." "Well, let''s look at the second book." Peridot2 brought us some Persica juice and we all quenched our thirst. Jin took out a diary numbered <<2> from the bookshelf. He unscrews the clasp and opens it slowly. "......It seems that my predecessor has arrived at what is now called the Pazdekst isthmus." < 1080 - - 012 The Aoi clan < * * * * Adriana''s ship has arrived at what appears to be the northern tip of the continent. But they are connected, right? Yes, Adriana. According to the report from M-003, which was sent out on a reconnaissance mission, the southern and northern continents are connected by a narrow isthmus. "Then we''ll head north, taking care not to stray too far from the shore." Adriana, who is an amateur at navigating, always keeps her distance from the shore, so even if the ship is going fast, it takes her some time to get there. "But safety first." Adriana is alone now, and the golems accompanying her are waterproof but cannot swim. She cannot expect any help if something happens to her. It was only natural to take extra precautions. "The waves are rough, and we should probably stay closer to the shore than we have been. We can go to ......, but we don''t want to run aground." Not too far, not too close. Fortunately, the sea is clear and F-002 is monitoring the ship, allowing it to continue northward while avoiding the shoals. However, the speed is slow, about 20 kilometers per hour. Still, Adriana and her crew finish their passage through what would later be called the Pazdekst isthmus before nightfall. "We can''t find a place to anchor for the night. The coastline is very rough with steep cliffs and rough waves. It would be safest to pull the boat onto the beach, but it is all rocky. "It would be nice if there was a secluded cove." Since even that is not in sight, Adriana has no choice but to continue heading north. The sky is getting darker and darker. "This is not good. ......" Just when I was starting to get a little nervous. "Adriana, I can see the lights". F-002, who was checking the surroundings at the bow of the ship, pointed diagonally forward. "I see it," said F-002 pointing diagonally ahead. Let''s approach slowly. As we get closer, we see that there is more than one light. It was clearly artificial light, and it seemed to be the light of a house. "I knew it was inhabited." As we get closer, we can see that the beach in the area has been developed. It is clear that the residents have built the beach for use as a harbor. "I wonder if I will see people again after a long time." Adriana, who had not seen anyone for almost 10 days, was feeling a little nostalgic. The ship is equipped with lights. It is a searchlight of sorts, complete with a reflector. As she approached the shore with the light shining, she saw some figures. "Oh, it''s people! Adriana waved her hand in a big gesture. The figures on the shore looked puzzled. It is no wonder that Adriana''s boat is towing behind it the carcasses of three 10-meter-long Death Sea Serpents. * * * * * * "I am the chief of this village, Hamunthas of the Azure Sky. My name is Adriana. When Adriana arrived at the port, she exchanged greetings with the village chief who had come to check on her. The elderly man, who introduced himself as Hamutas, had gray hair and yellow eyes. His skin was white. "Adriana, I presume. What can I do for you? I''m traveling north and was looking for a place to land my boat for the night. "I see. I was looking for a place to land my boat at night and I saw a light so I came here." "I see." "What about the Death Serpent at ......?" "It attacked me on the way here, so I had no choice but to kill it, but I''ve been checking to see if it could be used for something." Adriana answers honestly. Hearing this, Hamunthas burst out laughing. "Ha-ha-ha, you are a funny girl. You are welcome. You are welcome to stay at my house tonight. Let the villagers deal with the Death Serpent. I heard that the flesh of the Death Serpent is too bad to eat, but its skin and bones are useful as raw materials. "If you leave me some of the meat, you can use the rest as you like. "Oh, that''s great! Adriana went to Hamunthas'' house with M-003 just to be sure. It was a one-story house with a solid stone structure and plenty of space. I was told that there were four families living there together. "Come in, come in." Hamutas led me to a magnificent entrance, where several people were waiting for me. Welcome home, sir," said an elderly woman who appeared to be his wife. An elderly woman who appeared to be his wife said, "Welcome home, sir. Welcome home, father-in-law. She was a beautiful woman in her twenties. She is a beautiful woman in her twenties. She has silver hair and light blue eyes. "Welcome home, Grandpa." This was a grandson, a boy of about five years old. "Welcome home, Mr. Hamunthus. A strong, dark-skinned man bowed deeply. "Yes, I''m home. I brought a guest. Adriana from the south. Adriana. Adriana. Welcome, Adriana. Miss Adriana, welcome. Adriana, welcome! Adriana, welcome! "Welcome, Adriana." "Welcome, Adriana!Adriana was welcomed by all four of them. Hamutas'' wife was Solamaris, his daughter-in-law Sheila Marie, and his grandson Randelt. The dark-skinned man was a squire and called himself Magtas. He told me that he had another son named Jangalis, but that he was currently out of town and would not be back for a while. "Keep eating," he said. "Thank you very much." Adriana was listening to these conversations around the dinner table. Adriana said, "I feel bad that you have gone to all this trouble for us, when all we wanted was to dock. Adriana said, and Solamaris denied it. We welcome guests from afar, it is the custom in our village. What if the chief of the village doesn''t practice it? In a large pot, seafood is simmering. It is a kind of seafood stew. Each person takes a plate and eats it. It is summer, but the nights here are cool, which is just right. During the meal, conversation is kept to a minimum; instead, after-dinner tea is served. "We were born with a high aptitude for magic. Almost all of us are mages. "Is that so? Indeed, with this high level of free ether, it could be so. Adriana explains herself, hoping that she might be able to teach me some useful magic. "So you are a magical engineer. "Oh, and healing magic too. That is unusual. It seems that few of them have access to healing magic. But... "A little further north, there''s a clan called the Morura. They know a great deal. If you wish, Lady Adriana, I can write a letter of introduction. I would be very grateful. Adriana was a match made in heaven. Adriana accepted the offer without hesitation. 1081 - - 013 The Morara clan After spending the night under the azure clans, Adriana set off north again with letters of introduction from Hamunthas and Seelamari. were the words of Seelamari. She had come as a bride from the clan of . The sea was calm today, so we could go north smoothly. "As I recall, there is a large rock sticking out of the sea, isn''t it?" We had been told about the prominent shape of the rock as a landmark for the shore to land. "They were good people. ......" Adriana muttered to herself, biting back a yawn. Last night they had been talking a lot and had stayed up late. Thanks to that, I learned a lot. (The most important one is the golem system. ...... I didn''t know that this golem is powered by a magic similar to <>. < It''s because they can use their excess of free magic element (ether), isn''t it? But it''s nice to know that it hardly deteriorates at all.) The greatest advantage of this <> is that there is almost no deterioration, in other words, it can be completely maintenance free. It can keep moving until the end of the life of the material itself. For thousands of years, in fact. (This makes delicate movements difficult, but depending on the application, it may be advantageous.) In the distant future, the Golems that mine resources underground in Horai Island will adopt the <> method based on the recognition of this time. (Besides, we got a lot of food. ......) It seems that the materials for three Death Sea Serpents were quite a lot for their <> clan. A large amount of food is loaded on the ship, though it is limited to dried food. Thank goodness the seasoning is different from theirs.) Adriana thought that since the seasonings were different from those of the Kingdom of Leonard, it would be easier to get bored of the food if they took turns eating it. In the meantime, the boat was heading north and they seemed to see a landmark rock. "That''s the one I want to see. Let''s turn the boat toward the shore. Adriana slowly brings the boat closer to the shore. "There are reefs around here, so be careful. That''s what she means when she says that there are reefs on the shore. At about 3:00 p.m. Adriana''s boat arrived at a small sandy beach between the rocks, moving carefully at a walking pace. Adriana has the golem pull the boat up to the middle of the beach. "This way, even if a few waves come, we won''t be swept away. M-002 and M-003 were placed on watch over the boat, Accompanied by F-002 and F-003, Adriana headed inland. The two golems carried their baggage and other belongings. "I heard there''s a path inland. ...... Oh, I wonder if that''s it." A small path, which was little more than a footprint, led through the grass to the beach. We followed it, and little by little it became clearer. "It looks like it''s definitely the way to go...I heard it takes about half an hour to get there. ......" The path was narrow but clear through the tall grass and bushes. Eventually, after passing through a small forest, Adriana saw a golden field of wheat in front of her. "Wow, it''s beautiful! The ears of wheat were swaying a little heavily in the wind, waiting to be harvested. "That forest is a windbreak, isn''t it? I remembered what Shuki had taught me about them, that they probably also protect against salt damage. "Who are you?" Adriana was lost in these thoughts when she was surrounded by five men. "I don''t recognize you. You even brought a golem with you." Three of the five men were young and two were elderly. Some of the younger men had dark skin. Adriana, assuming that this must be the clan of , hurriedly introduced herself. "My name is Adriana. < clan? "Yes?...... is that right? The oldest man looks at Adriana with a quizzical look on his face. "Well, I have a letter of introduction from Mr. Solamaris and Ms. Sheila Marri of <> ......." The man looked surprised. "From my daughter?I see, your daughter is from the <> place." "And you?" "My name is Saitos, chief of the ." Saitos had silver hair and light blue eyes. "I am Vashako." He said he was the son-in-law of Saitos. The other two dark-skinned men, also followers, were called Florutus and Temperotos. "If you have letters of introduction from them, come to my house. Saying this, Saitos turned around and began to walk along the path leading into the wheat field. Adriana felt that although he was a little blunt, he did not seem to have any bad feelings toward her. A mature man, who introduced himself as Vaschako, the son-in-law of Saitos, approached Adriana in a friendly manner. "My wife is the eldest daughter of your father-in-law Saitos, and the one you met, Adriana, is my wife''s sister." Vaschko was a friendly man. "Well, we''re going to take a look around a bit and come back." "Yeah, sure." Meraldos called out to Vasyaco and started walking with his two followers in the opposite direction of Adriana and the others. "Okay, let''s go." "Yes." Saitos was already far ahead. Adriana followed him on foot, accompanied by Vasjaako. At the end of the line are two golems. After about 10 minutes of walking through the wheat fields, they came to a village. "That is the village of the <> clan. As in <>, there are rows of sturdy stone houses. The houses and fields seem to be completely separated from each other. Among the houses, there was one two-story house in the center. "That is the chief''s house. As expected. Adriana was led by Vashako through the houses to the chief''s house, or rather his mansion. "Welcome! Adriana was greeted by her attendants and the people of the house by Saitos, who had returned earlier. "Welcome, Adriana. How is my daughter? asked a woman with a face similar to Sheila Marri''s. "My mother-in-law Zamir," she replied. "This is my mother-in-law, Zamir." Zamia is my mother-in-law," Vasjaako told me. "Yes, that''s right. And your grandchildren are fine. Saying this, Adriana handed over the letter of introduction. Zamir received it with a big smile. "My goodness, what a pleasure. Come on in, come on in. "Thank you for your hospitality." Zamir takes her hand and Adriana walks straight into the house. "Wow. ......" The exterior of the building looked similar to the one in the azure sky, but the interior was quite different. While the < was bright and cheerful, this one has a stately and calm atmosphere. The flooring in <<> was wooden, whereas in <, the flooring in < was covered with fur, and the sound of footsteps was almost imperceptible. "You can use this room." Zamir, the housewife of the family, showed us to a large, bright room facing south. The room was about 10 tatami mats in size with a comfortable bed. It was more than enough space for F-002 and F-003, which came with the room. "Thank you very much. Adriana thanked him and put down her luggage. 1082 - - 014 Inside the warehouse At dinner, Adriana was immediately surprised. "What is this glass ......?" A drink was served in a clear glass. Not crystal, not glass. I secretly it, but even with this magic, I could not understand the unknown substance, Barely, we know that it contains oxygen, zirconium, and trace amounts of calcium, magnesium, and so on. "Ha, it''s a transparent material that is rarely found around here. Vaschako tells me. Looking closely, we see that the windows are made of the same material. "I guess things change from place to place..." Adriana frankly expresses her admiration. She then says without hesitation that she has come here to study. "Oh, you''re a Magecraft Meister?" Vashako was impressed, and even the quiet Saitos showed interest. "Magical technology specialized in making things ...... interesting." "You should show him the vaults in the village," Zamir suggested. Zamir suggested. "Yes, that''s right. But there are treasures of our ancestors mixed in there. So before we do that, I''d like to show you my family''s storehouse. "Yes, that would be nice." The conversation proceeds without Adriana''s knowledge. It seems that the letter of introduction contained a lot of information. "Oh, thank you. ......" was all Adriana said. Adriana only replied, "Oh, thank you very much. Adriana replied, "Oh, thank you very much. "Well, take a look." Adriana was shown around by the amiable Vaschaco. After dinner, he took us to the warehouse behind the house. The heavy door was opened and a light came on. "It''s a luminescence from the free magical element (ether), isn''t it?" Adriana understood instantly. "Oh, is that so?" Adriana was impressed by Vasjaako. Seeing this, Adriana wonders. But she does not say anything. But she did not say anything, because what she found in the storehouse had caught her interest. "Wow ......!" "What do you think?<. There were a number of magic tools placed there. Some of them are generally called . "May I hold it in my hand?" Adriana asked. Bashaco nodded. "Don''t break it, okay? Adriana asked, and Vasjaako nodded. "Yes, of course. Adriana answered and picked up the nearest magical tool. "......Wonderful ...... intricate workmanship. Was it carved by hand or by magic ......?" Adriana''s cheeks flushed as she looked at it, muttering to herself, and Bashaco smiled and sat down on a chair that was close at hand. Adriana is holding a mere floor lamp, but she is impressed by its construction. "......I guess it''s important to put a lot of thought into the design. ......" Adriana is not so good at design. She is good at making something realistic if she has a model, but when she is asked to create an original design, she has a hard time. "I remember when your father told me to do this," Adriana says. . ......Yes, I''m going to see a lot of good things here and train myself!" The next thing he picked up was a small magic tool that also seemed to be a floor-standing type. "What''s this? Is it normal for such a small device to be capable of heating ......? Oh, I''m not ready for this yet, I''m still stuck in the image of heating. Seeing a heating device the size of an alarm clock, Adriana was reminded of the importance of dispelling stereotypes. "This is ......." What Adriana is looking at now is a painting. It is a picture, but it is a golem. A flat golem, if you will. It was as thick as an LCD TV, and it was in a nice frame. But it is a golem. "I didn''t know this kind of idea existed. ...... Do you think they use it as a lookout?" Adriana made a mental note that the humanoid is not the only golem. "This is an interesting idea. ......" It is a spherical vacuum cleaner, if you will. By rolling the sphere, which is about 40 centimeters in diameter, around the room, it absorbs dirt on its surface and cleans it with a magic similar to <>. "It would be fun to make it roll by itself ......, but wouldn''t it be faster to have Golem clean it?" Nevertheless, it was a magical tool that made me realize that sometimes we need to have a sense of fun. Adriana picked up each one, and those she could not pick up, she looked at them from the front, side, top and back, analyzing them with a studious mind. Until Vaschako called out to her. "......Ah, Adriana, you seem to be enjoying yourself, that''s very nice, but it''s late at night. Can we continue tomorrow?" Adriana came back to herself at the sound of his voice. Is it that time already? Thank you very much for ....... I learned a lot. I''m glad to hear that. I''ll show you around again tomorrow, so please go to sleep tonight. Yes, thank you. Adriana returned to the room Zamir had shown her. "Well, you said that there is hot water in the room. It is not customary to take a bath here. It is common to wipe oneself with hot water and soak in hot water only a few times a year. "It doesn''t seem to be a waste of hot water. It''s just a habit." As for Adriana, she does not mind taking a bath as much as Shuki does. After taking off her jacket and wiping herself down, she feels tired all at once. She then changes into the nightclothes provided for guests and crawls into the futon. Just as she is about to recognize that the bedding is made of some kind of animal fur, Adriana falls asleep. Adriana fell asleep. The next day, Adriana retreats to the storehouse as soon as she eats breakfast. Except for the meal time, she was absorbed in observing and analyzing the magic tools in the storehouse. But after dinner, she returns to her room, thinking about something and compiling her notes. Such days continued for three days. On the morning of the fourth day, Vasjaako said to me "Lady Adriana, today I would like to show you the vaults in the village. After hearing from Bashaco that she was not a person who would break or steal any of the magic tools in the collection, Saitos gave his permission. 1083 - - 015 Active "Wow, this is amazing!" < It was a veritable treasure trove for Adriana. "Golem!Materials!Magic tools!I don''t know what it is!It''s amazing!" Adriana looks like a child again. "I''m glad you like it." The guide, Vasjaako, is a little taken aback. "Well, Adriana, I see you''re interested in this place. Saitos, on the other hand, does not seem to mind. "I''ll keep an eye on Vasjaako, so you can talk to him if you need anything..." "Father-in-law ......" Vashako looked a little tired, but Saitos was as stern as ever, "Well, I''m counting on you, son-in-law," was all he said. With that, he left. "...... huh?" Adriana''s eyes were shining as she walked around the vaults, while Basherko looked a little tired. After a while, "Mr. Bashaco, may I take a look at some of the magic tools here? Adriana asks. Her excitement seemed to subside. "Yes, as long as you don''t destroy them, like in the storehouse at home. "Yes, as long as we don''t destroy it, just like the storehouse at home. After that, Adriana began to investigate the magical objects with a concentration that was obvious to the casual observer. First of all, Adriana looked at the material samples that had been placed on the table. "This is amazing!Many biological materials are dried up and ruined, but metal materials are a good study ......." < clan''s terminology, and Adriana adds her own translations and notes for those that are written in the clan''s terminology. "......It''s not just iron. Carbon is good, but manganese?Vanadium?Molybdenum?...... I don''t know, but it can improve the properties of iron by mixing them. I guess it could be applied to stainless steel as well. Adriana was particularly interested in ferrous alloys. The next thing that caught her attention was a small lump of metal. A brief description is written in an old script. "This ada...... is...... gold...... genus......?seems to have some amazing properties. It seems to come from only a few places. It''s a shame it''s so rare." Adriana named the unparalleled metal "adamantite" because it is so tough. "Haha, Adriana, it is a metal that has been handed down from generation to generation and cannot be processed in any way. Vasjaako, who was watching from the side, smiled and gave me a supplementary explanation. "Yes, I suppose so. It looks very hard. Do you mind if I play with it a little? "That''s fine. ......" "<>" Before Vashako can finish, Adriana picks up the smallest of the several lumps and activates her engineering magic. A faintly glowing magic circle appears for a moment and ....... "Oh!" In her hand, a vessel of adamantite is formed. "What, what, what! Vasjaako, seeing engineering magic for the first time, was so amazed that she approached Adriana. What was that magic?It is a metal that our ancestors were able to process, but we have no way of processing! That''s why they call it <>. "Wait a minute, please! Adriana, who was holding a vessel, was left to wait while Vasyarco left the vault. A few minutes later, he returns with Saitos and two young men. They are Helmutos and Nadeslan, the two men in charge of the vaults. "Adriana!" "......, yes?" Adriana is a little daunted by the vigor of Helmut, one of the vault keepers. "I heard that you have processed <>! When Helmut, excited, approaches her, Adriana can''t help but say she is sorry. "Yes, yes. Here it is. ...... sorry." But Saitos denies it. No, no, my dear Adriana, there is no need to apologize. We have only come to confirm the fact that we have been able to process this ." Saitos takes the vessel, now in Helmut''s hands, and looks at it. "Well, this weight, this hardness, it is definitely a . ...... you say, Lady Adriana, is this yours?" Nadeslan asked Adriana as he picked up the last vessel. "Yes, I am. I am sorry." "What are you sorry for?I was just checking. You''re amazing, by the way. What did you say, ......<>?I thought that "Meister" was a big deal, but when you showed me this, I was convinced. "Oh..." Adriana is relieved to know that she will not be offended. "So, do you think you can make a vessel from these materials? "Yes. The material offered was mithril silver. Compared to adamantite, which is resistant to magic, this material is several times easier. "<>" "Oh, wow! Amazing! Oh, my God! Aside from Vashako, who saw it for the first time, the three others who saw it for the first time rolled their eyes in amazement. "How about this then?" This time, light silver was presented to them. "<>" "Oh!Then, how about this? "<>" Saitos and the others look at Adriana differently as she shows them nearly a dozen different materials that have been processed using Forming. "No, I am impressed." Saitos smiled and bowed to Adriana. "To tell you the truth, I was wondering what to make of you. But with the story of the Vasyako and with this amazing feat, there is no doubt that you are a seeker. My clan will fully cooperate with you. "Well, thank you?" Adriana, unable to keep up with the conversation, could only thank him for the time being. Adriana, unable to keep up with the conversation, could only thank him for now. Can you make something like this with this? "Well, I would like you to make it into this shape. "I would like you to make four pieces just like this one." For the next two whole days, Adriana continued to make the objects in the shape they desired, using the <> method, as requested by the <> clan. According to her, the dishes and plates that had been handed down from generation to generation had become damaged over the years, and she had to find ways to make up for the damage. Adriana responded to the request without a trace of disapproval, as it was good for her training, a study in design, and a way of thanking him for his hospitality. This earned her the trust of the < clan as a . "No, thank God. < "Thank you very much." Thus, Adriana was given the opportunity to study a number of magical tools, including the ancient relics (artifacts) of the <> clan. 1084 - - 016 AbsorptionInterlude 2 Adriana is not the kind of person to pass up an opportunity that she has obtained, or rather seized. Having grasped the characteristics of the materials, Adriana started to research the next step, which was to make a magical tool. Step by step, as she had learned from her father Shuki. The exhibits in the storeroom were neatly organized and arranged by difficulty level, as if in response to Adriana''s request. (Or rather, they were arranged in such a way that the beginners were in the front and the more advanced ones in the back.) ) We made a calm judgment and investigated the items in order of difficulty, starting from the one at the front. Overall, there seem to be more large magic tools than those in the warehouse of the Saitos'' mansion. This may be due to the difference between those owned by individuals and those owned by the entire clan. "This has a magical connection with the magic tools over here ......." Adriana muttered as she looked alternately at the large, flat, rectangular box and the cylinder, which was about 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long. I don''t know what it is used for. I''ve lost the description too. Vaschako gave a supplementary explanation. Hearing this, Adriana continues her analysis. "...... this magi formula here looks a bit like the one used in the <. Could it be that ...... this tube and the box are , the view ahead of you will be reflected on this <>. The distance does not seem to matter at the moment. There is a cheer of "Oh, wow! "Now, let me show you another image. < and runs away from the vault. He holds the "magic eye" in his hand as steady as possible, but the image still moves up and down in small increments. It seemed as if I would get drunk if I kept staring at it, but the shaking stopped after a minute or so. Helmut must have stopped. The image on the had turned to the right and to the left, showing clearly the path Helmutos was taking. "This is very useful," he said. "Interesting. "This could also be used for surveillance." All the people welcomed the newly discovered use of this artifact. "Thank you, my guest! "Thank you, Lady Adriana!" Hail to the Magecraft Meister! Here, Adriana Barbora Tsetsi, Magecraft Meister, has won the trust of the Morura clan. * * * * * * * * * * * * Adriana also succeeds in reproducing the <> and the <>. Since the principle was similar to that of the Warp Gate, it was relatively easy to understand and apply. After processing a high purity magic crystal of the dark attribute into a cylindrical shape, it is bisected into two pieces of the same size as much as possible. This creates a <> between the two magi crystals. Using this, images are taken in by another magic crystal (magi crystal) with light attribute, sent out, and the images are played back at a distance. "That''s an interesting way to do it. ......" For Adriana, the playback method was more interesting than the capturing and sending of the images. The input side, the , has an exterior diameter of 10 centimeters. The light-attributed magic crystal attached to the tip of the eye is less than 2 cm in diameter. In contrast, the output side, <>, is about 70 centimeters wide and 50 centimeters long. "Oh, I see, it is much more precise than the human eye. < side was high enough so that there was no problem at all in magnifying the image this much. "So, if we want to project what we see with the eyes of golem or automata, it is possible. ...... Adriana thinks of ways to apply this technology. Starting with this and , Adriana analyzed and reproduced one artifact-class magic tool after another in the vaults. Adriana herself was able to use this technology to improve herself, and the <> clan was also able to make use of the artifacts they had stored, so it was a win-win-win situation. It was a win-win situation. At this time, Adriana had repaired a total of 38 artifacts and magical tools. And the technical knowledge for these artifacts became hers. * * * * "......, yes." Jin said in a quiet voice as he closed the second diary. "The reason why my predecessors were able to have outstanding technology is because they analyzed ancient relics (artifacts) at what is now called the ," Jin said in a quiet voice. Jin was surprised that the title <> was widely known when he once visited the territory of the Demon Tribe, but knowing the footprints of his predecessors in this way, it was understandable. <''s Zion and Istaris knew of the Magecraft Meister. They are both surprised and impressed to learn that their predecessors were involved in this way. "There was no prejudice or feud in the past, was there, Jin?" Saki said in a quiet voice, as did Jin. "Yes, that''s right. How and why did they come to be called <>?" The records of the previous generation are not likely to tell us that much. "Well, that''s enough for today." It is almost 2:00 p.m. before I realize it. They had forgotten to have lunch and were absorbed in reading the records of their predecessors. Jin and the others left the study. Saki then tells Jin. Jin, thank you for today. I''m glad to know about the previous Magecraft Meister. But if you''re going to read the record, I think it would be better if Jin ...... and Reiko were alone." "What?" "I think so, too. I think it''s enough to learn about the footprints of our predecessors later. Elsa agreed with Saki. "I think so, too, Oniichan. Only you are qualified to read your predecessor''s records. "Well, as has been the case since yesterday, we were allowed to be present, but this place is a sanctuary for Magecraft Meisters only, after all. "I agree." "Everyone ......" Jin was so pleased with their thoughtfulness that he naturally bowed his head. "Thank you, all three of you. I''ll read the rest of the record and let you know after I''ve summarized it. "Yeah, I think that''s a good idea." I think that''s a good idea. I''ll read it and put it together and then I''ll let you know. I''ll be waiting for you. After Jin had read the record, he would compile it and then share it with his friends. 1085 - - 017 Quiet talk 60 hands On July 17, the day after the discovery of the hidden study of his predecessor. Jin visited Tsetsi Island with Reiko. "Welcome, Mr. 2nd." "Welcome, Reiko." After moving through the Warp Gate, Jin and Reiko are greeted by , a male automata, and , a female automata. These automata were created by the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, and have been reworked and further strengthened by the second generation, Nami. "What can I do for you today? , a female automata, inquired. As Jin looked at her sophisticated appearance, he thought to himself, "I''m not sure if this is the kind of person Hannah will become when she grows up, I wonder if Hannah will look like this when she grows up.) (I wonder if Hannah will look like this when she grows up). She is, after all, the exact replica of her predecessor when she was a child. "Yes, I came here today for a consultation. Without letting such fantasies go unnoticed, Jin began to explain the purpose of his visit. "Isn''t this island a bit of a dump?" he asked. "Yes, it''s just moss, a little grass, and some woods. As a preface, Jin checked the vegetation on the island. I thought it would be. ...... So, I was wondering if you could help me out with some advice on how to make this island bloom." Flowers......? Yes, flowers. I''d like to give them to your father, Shuki Tsezi. "That would be nice." Then Jin asked a further question. Then Jin asks a further question. I don''t like the idea of making flowers that don''t exist on this island, so I''d like to increase the number of flowers that already exist. The idea is not to bring in non-native species. "How about that? But <> objected. "What do you mean?" "Yes, Master 2. ......When my predecessor buried Shuki about 1000 years ago, this island was a rocky mass with no grass or trees growing on it. There was barely any moss. There was barely any moss on the island. And it took a thousand years for it to become what it is today? That''s right. We don''t know if birds brought the seeds or if they flew in on the wind. "We were not awake all the time." added. "I see. ......" On islands formed by undersea volcanic eruptions, moss grows first, then a little soil, then grass, and so on. Jin knows that the spores of moss come from the wind and the seeds of grass come from the wind and bird droppings. "Then, what is vegetation? "We think so." Nagi and Nami answered together. Jin remained silent for a while, thinking. When he had finished his thought, he looked up. "Okay. Then let''s start by improving the soil on this island. Jin is not an expert in plant cultivation. At best, he had planted tulips, daffodils, and other bulbs in flower beds when he was at the facility. However, as a general knowledge, he knows that the role of soil for growing plants is to <><>. It is also important to keep the soil free from harmful substances. The golem maids of Horai Island, <>, have been experimenting day and night, and <>, who have been dispatched to various places, have acquired knowledge wherever they go, which the old man has compiled and stored as his know-how. This time, we are going to apply them. "The soil on the island is mostly sandy and low in organic matter, so I will bring humus and compost from Horai Island and mix them together. The humus and compost will also increase water retention. "How about rainfall on this island?" "Yes. We don''t get much rain, but we do get a lot of fog in the evenings and mornings, which condenses into moisture, so I don''t think it''s a very dry environment. "Oh, that''s good news." Jin was pleased to hear that there would be no shortage of water, since he had been thinking of using his magic tools to generate water if there was no rain and no water. "Well, let''s get started." * * * * * * That day, he spent the whole day moving soil, plowing, transplanting flowers from the island, and sowing seeds from the fruits of his labor. In the center of the island, Jin transplanted a young query tree from the backwoods of Kaina Village, as he had requested. In spring, the kuely tree blooms flowers similar to those of cherry trees. In honor of Shuki Tsetsi, who was Japanese, Jin insisted on planting this tree. This is the only tree that is not adapted to this island, so please be very careful. If necessary, contact the old man. I will send help. "Yes, sir, the second generation." "Yes, sir. I have explained to Nagi and Nami the reason for planting the query tree, so they will take good care of it. We will also sow some seeds. The idea is that a tree grown from a seed will be better adapted to the environment of the island. "Here we go. I hope we can put up a windbreak when it is windy." "Oh, we already have that. We also have a barrier against waves. It seems that our predecessors had set up facilities to protect the island from strong winds and high waves. Nagi and Nami are in charge of maintaining them. "I understand. Then I feel relieved. If you run short of materials for maintenance, please contact the old man. Yes, thank you. I''ll make sure no one comes near this island. Jin thought that it would be possible if he applied the Magi Formula that was in the door of his predecessor''s study. Jin returned to Horai Island, and this time, he took Erza with him, and they were transferred to again by a transporter. Jin, Reiko, and Erza together offered flowers and offered a silent prayer. "I hope there will be more flowers here. It may be difficult to do so because the wind is so strong and the cape is almost uninhabitable. "We can find such flowers and plant them at ......." "Yes, that''s right. I''ll give instructions to the fifth row (Quinta)." This hope will be fulfilled in a few months. * * * * Years, decades, centuries later. There was a rumor whispered among the sailors who sailed the ships off the coast of the old Leonard''s Kingdom. It is said . However, no one visited the island, and everyone was puzzled as to why such a rumor was spread. 1086 - - 018 Interlude 3 The Gospels Jin visited his predecessor''s study with only Reiko, holding a white lily that was in full bloom in Horaijima. He put the white lily in a vase that Reiko had brought and put it on the desk. "I don''t know if my predecessor liked this flower or not..." "No, I''m sure your mother would have liked white flowers. Reiko''s confident tone makes Jin question her and asks, "Why do you think so? "Why do you think so?" "...... No, it just seemed that way to me." "I see. Jin wondered if there might be some of these memories left in his control core. Then, he looked at the bookshelf and took out a diary with the inscription "My Fumitoki San" (My Fumitoki 3). This diary is a valuable document that allows us to learn about the world a thousand years ago through the eyes of our predecessors. Jin undoes the clasp and gently opens the cover. With the help of the <<<< Morira>> clans, my knowledge has improved dramatically. But I still have a long way to go. I have heard that there is a tribe called the in the interior. There, the key to further improvement may lie. ......>> * * * * "<>?What kind of place is it?" Adriana asked back, a word she had heard in the course of small talk. "It is said to be the place where our ancestors first landed ......." Saitos, the clan leader of , replied. "The first place they landed was ......? What does that mean? "Legend has it that our ancestors came from the sky in a flying ship and settled in this land. Vasyako explained. "<>...... is a ship that flies in the sky, I guess. It is said that he came from the sky on it. Adriana thought about it. She had heard that in her father Shuki''s former world there was such a <>. She also knew that the earth was round, not flat, and that it revolved around the sun. He also knows that in Shuki''s former world, it is possible to fly an artificial celestial body called <. However, Adriana has no ambition for the sky yet. Rather, she is only interested in the technology and knowledge that would allow her to build such a flying ship. "I''d like to go there. And so, naturally, the line comes out. "You may not be able to go alone. If you insist, I can give you a guide. Deeply impressed by Adriana''s skills, the clan offers their full cooperation. "Thank you very much. Adriana accepted the offer without hesitation. Adriana accepted the offer. Two days later, Adriana took the golem, F-002, M-002 Adriana departed from the clan''s village with the golem, F-002, and M-002. The guide was Vasjaako. Adriana felt at ease with him, as she was already familiar with him. Mr. Bashaako, it is a pleasure to meet you. It will take me four or five days to get here. Of course. The golem will carry all our luggage, so it will be physically easy for us. In case of emergency, you can also ride on the golem. Well, I''ll be on my way. Take care. It''s summer, the time when the grass is sprouting and flowers are blooming in the northern lands. The weather is perfect for traveling. The days are long and the nights are short. Vasjaako''s directions are reliable, and Adriana and the group head inland without making a single wrong turn. Day 3. "Adriana, we are going to arrive a day ahead of schedule. "Are you sure? "Yes. Yes. The golem is carrying our luggage, which is a big help. We should be there by nightfall. Since we were mostly empty-handed, we were able to travel longer distances in a day, and we seemed to be less fatigued. True to his word, we could see the village before the sun set. "Is that it? "Yes, that''s it. ...... look, they found this one." True to his word, I saw three people coming toward me from the village. "This time, you don''t have a letter of introduction, but rest assured that I will be accompanying you. Adriana was immediately trusted because of the letter of introduction she had received from the <> clan when she visited the <> clan. "...... can I help you?......Oh, aren''t you the basherkos of <>?" One of the three men who approached, the oldest looking one, seemed to know Vashako. This makes the story go faster. "It''s been a long time, Mr. Harkiller." The man they called Harkiller was about six feet tall. He was a slender, elderly man. He was flanked on either side by a mature man who looked to be about 40 years old, and who seemed to be his escort. He seemed to be escorting her. "That''s an unusual thing. Are you related to the young lady?" Herkiler glanced at Adriana. "Yes, I am. My name is Adriana, and I am a Magecraft Meister. "Magecraft Meister?What is that? This question was answered by Adriana. "Well, a Magecraftsman is a person who has mastered all aspects of magical engineering. "Oh, magical engineering?I guess it''s the study of making things with magic, isn''t it?That''s interesting. So what brings you here? "Of course, the knowledge, information and relics of the clans of the Gospel." This is Vasjaako. "After all, she has analyzed all the ancient artifacts of our clan and made the immobile things move. These words had an effect. "What?As I recall, the ancient relics (artifacts) handed down in the <> were not limited to twenty, were they?" As expected, Harkler could not hide his surprise. "Yes, that''s right. We had a total of 38 units repaired." "I see. ......" Then Haakkiller realized that he was standing there talking. I beg your pardon. You must be Adriana, I am Hakirah, head of the clan. You are welcome. My name is Adriana and it is a pleasure to meet you. Harkiler introduces himself. Adriana also introduced herself and bowed. Adriana also introduced herself and bowed. "Thank you, Mr. Hakirah," she said. Bashaco bowed his head and the group headed for the village of . "What? No wonder Adriana was surprised. < lived not in the village, but in a cave drilled into a huge rocky hill behind the village. 1087 - - 019 Persuasion "It''s an amazing place." The entrance to the cave was about four meters wide and high. He explained that in the beginning, people lived only here to protect themselves from the snow and cold in winter, but as the number of people increased, they were forced to set up houses outside as well, and so on. "Come on, come here." Adriana''s two golems were also let in without being asked any questions, but that was no surprise, as there were many golems inside performing various tasks. In the back of the cave we could hear the sound of mining, and in one room we could see what appeared to be vegetables being cultivated. Adriana is taken to a room in the back. It was a sort of parlor/meeting room with a square table with rounded corners and about ten chairs around it. He said, "I am preparing the room for you now. May I ask you a few questions in the meantime? "Uh, yes. First you can have a drink. A steaming drink was placed in front of Adriana and the others. The chief, Herkiler, who was seated in front of them, sipped it first. Then Bashaco, who sat next to Adriana, sipped his drink as well. Adriana also took a sip of the tea and found it sweet and tasty. It is called "tee-tee". We buy it from the south, but we are trying to make it around here. Herkiler explained about the tea, and then it was time to get down to business. "Well, let me ask you a question first. Yes, what is it? "Yes, what is it?" "I''m Adriana," she said. The two golems you brought with you, were they made by you? "Yes, I did. Herkiler seemed a little surprised at this answer. "...... Well, if that''s true, then you must be a very good engineer. So, what did you expect to find here? "Yes, to satisfy my thirst for knowledge. Adriana looked Herkiler in the eye and answered him directly. Somehow, she felt that it was better to be straightforward with this person than to use a roundabout way. And it seems I was right. "Ha-ha-ha, funny!Miss, no, Miss Adriana. < clan. With that Harkiler clapped his hands twice. Then three golems arrived with trays containing dinner. First, eat your dinner. They served him boiled potato-like food, vegetable soup, and hard bread. Hakirah eats the same thing, so this seems to be his daily routine. "I am sorry that my food is so poor. I am sorry that our food is so poor, but the land does not grow many crops. "Then why don''t you move to ......" Adriana asked him why he did not move, "I can''t leave the land where my ancestors have lived for generations," came the answer. She replied, "I can''t leave the place where my ancestors have lived for generations. "That''s why we''re trying to find ways to make things better." Golem''s cultivation of some kind of vegetables seemed to be a part of that. "I see. ......" "If you are such a brilliant engineer, can you do something about this problem?" They suggested something like, "Well, yes. "Yes, ......" Adriana is unlikely to be able to advise on this aspect, since she has little knowledge of agriculture. But... "Then why don''t you just buy it from a certain place? I suggest something quite obvious. I thought he would laugh at me, but he did not. "That is certainly one option. But you need money to buy it. And our clan doesn''t have a ." "Yes. ......" Adriana could not imagine what life would be like without money in the sense of currency. "By the way, don''t they have a currency on this continent?" Adriana asked after all these years. "No, we don''t use it. We barter for it. "I see. ......" Each clan has its own role to play so that life is complete within the clan, Herkiler explained. "We get what we need from outside, but we don''t use currency," he said. That''s how the economy works, Adriana said. Adriana wondered for a moment if this was the way the economy was going to work, but then she realized that it was not her place to interfere as a layman, since that was how they had actually worked. Adriana did not know, but even in the places she had visited, ordinary people often bartered without using currency. I thought, "If we don''t use currency, what if we can do something from a different angle? "Why don''t we get foreign currency, or should I say, something we can sell? "Something to sell?" Hakira looked doubtful. "Yes, that''s right. I saw a little while ago that a golem was mining resources, right? "Yes. They are digging out metals and magical crystals. We can sell some of them for a small amount. I see. But to whom? To the southern continent. Here, means the continent south of the one Adriana has just visited. "Fuumu......" "The people who live on the southern continent......<>, as they call it, are warmer there than here, and they harvest more crops. Why don''t we buy from there?" "...... This continent is called ." After a short pause, Harkiller opened his mouth. "<> or ......, to be honest, I don''t like the people who live there." "Why is that?" I am from the continent of Lorren myself. Adriana questioned. "There is a legend that in the past, people who fled the continent of Gondor settled on the continent of Lorren, as you call it. "E......" "A branch of the family, so to speak. And they are the ones who gave up on the original family. You can''t buy necessities from them." "......" It is not a question of whether the tradition is correct or not. It is a matter of pride. Adriana wanted to hold her head in her hands. She was an engineer, and she had come to the because she thought that there were people in the north who might have knowledge that she did not have. Or, rather than <>, I should say <>. Shuki told me that there are people who live far to the west. Countries called Mitsuho and Huso. I drew my guess from them, and when I came to the north, it turned out to be right on the mark. But I digress. Adriana knows from experience that these feelings of are troublesome. When she used to travel with her father Shuki, those who were stuck in the old ways stubbornly refused to accept engineering magic. (Really, it''s a nuisance, isn''t it? ......) Sighing in her heart, Adriana thought of some way to convince them. "I''m not so much buying necessities as I am selling them." "What do you mean?What do you mean? < elicited a response. There are many things that are missing or lacking on the other continent. I will sell them to you. Of course, you will have to pay us for them." "Hmmm... ......" Hakirah ponders this proposal. This could work, Adriana thought. 1088 - - 020 age difference Adriana was trying to get them to trade while maintaining their clan pride. "What do they have that we don''t have or lack on the other continent ......?" After the meal, the discussion had gone on and it was decided to cool down and then have a more thorough discussion. Adriana was taken to the guest room, where she was lying on the bed thinking. "I spoke in the heat of the moment. ......" Adriana was not familiar with the life of ordinary people. Her life with her father, Shuki Tsezi, is filled with contacts with the upper class, which naturally makes it difficult for her to see other things. "<> is just a dream come true..." Adriana''s thoughts started to spiral into a negative spiral and she became more and more depressed. "Ah, stop, stop!Let''s go to sleep tonight! Adriana turned off the light in her room, covered herself with a blanket and immediately fell asleep, tired from the trip. "......Hmmm, I don''t know what to do..." She woke up after a night''s sleep, but still no good idea came to her. "Are you awake? I turned toward the voice and saw a golem standing there. The golem led me to the washroom to wash my face, and then to the dining room, where Harkler and Bashako had just arrived. The breakfast was barley porridge. It is filled with herbs and chopped vegetables. Adriana was about to eat it with a large spoon when a thought flashed through her mind. After the meal, a tea with a slightly different taste came out. It seemed to be an herbal tea, but she could not tell what kind of leaves it was. Adriana liked the fresh aroma and the slight sweetness. "Well, I''ve put my thoughts together..." She had actually put it all together just now, but it didn''t matter. We have light silver here, don''t we? "Yes, we have plenty of it." Harkler answered. "There''s not much light silver on the coasts of the other continent, for some reason. That''s why you can find it at ......." "I see, so you sell light silver." Harkler said as if to echo Adriana''s words. But Adriana shakes her head. No," she said. We''re going to do it one more time. "One more step?" Vasjaako asked. "Yes. We make tableware out of light silver and sell it. Light silver = titanium has low thermal conductivity, so that your hand does not get hot even if you eat something hot. It also has the advantage of being lighter than iron, copper, and silver, making it easier to handle. However, as far as Adriana has seen, the use of light silver has not been observed in the northern part of the country. This reminded him of the idea of trading in light silver. At the same time, he proposed to sell it as tableware as an added value. "I see, tableware. ......" "Food is a big thing. From the nobility and royalty to the general public, there is no one who can live without food. In other words, the market is large. This was quite convincing. "Well, it is worth considering. Harkler also seemed to have given this idea some thought. "Anyway," he said, "Lady Adriana has given me a clear answer to my proposal. Anyway, Adriana gave me one clear answer to my proposal and I will cooperate with her. It seems that the proposal that Herkiler made to Adriana yesterday was half a sincere one and the other half a confirmation of her character. Herkiler must have judged that he could trust Adriana because she had made a sincere effort to respond to his proposal and had given him a meaningful answer. "Thank you very much." After the meal, Adriana and Bashaco were led by Herkiler to a warehouse in the same cave. "This is one of the warehouses where the clan''s magic tools are kept. Let''s have a look at this first. The room was about 20 tatami mats in size and was filled with magic tools of various sizes. "Lady Adriana, it seems that there are relatively well-preserved items in this room. It may be a good place for you to test your skills. Vaschako advised. However, many of the magic tools were new to Adriana, and she began to analyze them with a twinkle in her eye. "......Hmmm, I guess there''s still room for improvement in the Magi Formula here ......, but this one is very complete ......." "I didn''t know there was such a use for ......." "This is the old model. < was more advanced." The analysis while muttering to himself is familiar to Vashako. The next thing he knew, a young man came up to him. "Who are you?" Bashaco asks in a whisper so as not to disturb Adriana. My name is Levert. I am the grandson of the herkiller. The young man who introduced himself as Levert was also a student of magical technology. My grandfather told me to go and see how good the engineers from the south are. He explained why he had come here. In the meantime, Adriana had been working on her analysis. "I see. So this Magi Formula is in charge of controlling our components. "Well, ...... I don''t see how it can be used in this way. There is too much waste. "Oh, I don''t think so. If we look at it this way,...... we can see that it reverses the phase between the back and front,......" Levert looked at Adriana, who was silently, or rather muttering to herself as she continued her analysis. "You are an amazing person. He''s an amazing man. ...... He''s from the south, so he''s probably between 20 and 40 years old, isn''t he?And yet he has that much knowledge. ......" The murmur was not above a whisper, so it reached Adriana''s ears just as she paused. "...... you''re being rude!I''m only 18." "Oh, I''m sorry." Adriana''s brazenness frightened Levert. The lifespan of those living on the northern continent (Gondor) is long, about five times longer than those living on the southern continent (Laurent). The rate of growth and aging is also commensurate with this. Therefore, it is not surprising that Levert is not sure of Adriana''s age. Even Adriana would not be able to guess the age of Harkler or Bashaco. Adriana bowed her head to Ravert, who gave her an explanation and an excuse like ....... "I''m sorry. You''re right, I don''t know how old you are either. Mr. Herkiler looks about sixty and Mr. Basherko about thirty-five. ...... Mr. Levert, is it?You look about 20 years old." "Yes, I think that''s fine. In fact, my grandfather was 300 years old and I am 100 years old, so that makes my life span 5 times longer than his, That makes us 60 and 20 years old. "I''m 170 years old, so that would be the equivalent of 34 years old." "Yeah, yeah, ......." Adriana looked stunned. "How do you live so long?" I couldn''t help but ask. Even if ...... it has already passed. Adriana wanted her father, Shuki Tsetsi, to live a little longer. 1089 - - 021 Meeting and parting "I don''t know why ......, we''ve always been that way," was all he said. With a slightly puzzled look on his face, Levert answered. "That''s right, Adriana. We are not doing anything special. Vaschako added. "Well, that''s true, isn''t it? Adriana, who had cooled down a little, stopped her pursuit. "I''m sorry. I got a little carried away. To Adriana''s apology, Levert silently shook his head and replied. "By the way, now that you have shown us all the magic tools here, could you show us something a little more advanced? At these words, Levert smiled. "Yes, of course. This room contains only what all of our researchers can analyze. "I see. I guess our people are of a high standard. (Although no one can analyze everything in a few hours like you can...), Levert added in a whisper. Levert led us to a room further in the back. "This is where all our golem-related stuff is gathered." "Great!" Adriana''s face lit up when she saw the golems standing in a row. "May I take a look at them?" Yes, please. At this point, Levert knew that "Don''t break it" was a useless advice to her. "Let''s see this first." While Levert was looking at Adriana, he started to examine the golem at the back of the room, starting with the one at the front. (I see, I don''t need to see that level anymore.) (I see, I don''t need to look at that level anymore...) I glanced at the golem that Adriana had brought with her, stopped at the entrance, and knew it was a very advanced golem. (I was surprised that an endoskeletal golem had been perfected by the inhabitants of the south.) ) As a resident of the northern continent, Levert had his own pride. Adriana had no idea that Levert was thinking of such a thing, and she was happy to analyze the golem. "...... Oh, it''s not an <>. ...... Is this ......?" "Oh, it stores mana and uses it. It''s a mana tank. But the operating time will be short. ...... "This one has a ...... thin magical nerve ...... that doesn''t seem to be very efficient." Levert groans as he watches Adriana, who is already working on the analysis of the second one. (Ummm, great ...... definitely better than our technicians ......) Except for her inexperience, her comprehension is outstanding. What he may not know in terms of knowledge, he more than makes up for with his flash of insight and reasoning. (Who named her <> or ...... is not an exaggeration at all). Adriana continued her analysis and had finished analyzing five golems by lunch time. "My Lord Adriana, you are amazing!" Levert praised her unreservedly as they moved for lunch. "Thank you?" Adriana was not quite sure. The golem she was analyzing was an advanced one that could only be maintained by the best engineers in the <> clan. "Hmmm, Lady Adriana, I have underestimated you. Herkiler groaned when his grandson and engineer, Levert, told him about Adriana''s work. "In the afternoon I will take you to the vaults for more advanced magic tools. "Levert, will you take care of it?" "Yes, I''ll take care of it." So after lunch Adriana was taken to the innermost part of the cave. She was accompanied by Levert, but not by Vasjaako. "I don''t think it''s my place anymore," he said. He had his own agenda now that he was here in the clan territory. I was later told that there is basically no interaction between the clans. The only exception is that <> and <> exchange information once or twice a year. Putting that aside, Adriana steps into the vaults where the magic tools, the hidden treasures of the <> clan, are stored. The light comes on automatically. "It''s equipped with a detector. That would be helpful. Adriana immediately begins to analyze the equipment, and Levert is intrigued. "If we change this part a little, it should be possible to detect normal people without magic power. "...... what would you use such a thing for?" "Yes? "...... sister?" Adriana was analyzing the data while muttering to herself, and before she knew it, a woman was standing next to her. She seemed to be Levert''s sister. Her hair was gray and her eyes were yellow, the same color as her brother''s. Her hair was shoulder-length. However, her hair was shoulder-length and she had a feminine body. "So, what do you use it for?" Adriana was a little taken aback when she was interrupted by the soliloquy, but quickly regained her composure. "Well, I''m sure there are many uses for it. "So, what exactly are you talking about? "Well, it could be used as a security device that sounds an alarm when a person approaches, and yes, I think it could be applied to traps to catch animals, if not people. "...... method." He was satisfied with Adriana''s answer. "Hmmm, Adriana, you say. I am Hasareth, Levert''s sister. "Oh, thank you very much. What are you doing here, sister? Levert interrupted. "What are you talking about? I''ve come to see the secret storehouse of our clan that has been opened. "I see. Then come with me and see for yourself. What nonsense! As a technician, I will not pass up this opportunity. Hasarese is very animated in contrast to the reserved Levert. He is very outspoken. Adriana, do you know why the Magi Formula is the way it is? He has already called her out. But I could tell by the look on her face that Adriana did not mind. "Yes. I think it''s a buffer for connecting our elements to your link board. "I see. ......" The answer came back to me as if I had hit the nail on the head, and I was even more enthusiastic than Adriana. Levert watches her and lets out a small sigh. Adriana and Hatherlys continue working together until the evening. "Well, Adriana, it was a very productive time. "I had a good time, too." It seems that the two became good friends through this work. * * * * With every encounter, there is a parting. "My work is done, Adriana. Tomorrow morning, I will return to the clan territory. The vashako of the <> says that his work is done and that he will return home. "Thank you for everything you have done for me, Mr. Bashako. "That''s what I''ve been saying. As a member of the clan, I cannot thank you enough. I hope you will stop by on your way back if you have a chance. "Sure, I''ll stop by." With this conversation, the Vashakos left the clan territory of the the next morning. Adriana, on the other hand, would remain in the clan territory for almost a year. 1090 - - 022 Interlude 4 New Past Jin closed the third diary and put it back on the bookshelf. "I didn''t know that, my predecessors were demons ...... or maybe they weren''t called demons back then, but that''s where they studied various magical tools again." One of the reasons for his superior skills is now clear. "So when you went to the demon tribe, the name <> was known to you because your mother had gone there?" Reiko said in a quiet voice. "That would be the case." Jin agreed in the same quiet voice and left the study. He was curious about the footprints of his predecessors, but he could not spend all day reading them. When he left the laboratory, the summer sun was shining outside. "It''s going to be hot again today, isn''t it? Jin looked up at the blue summer sky with squinted eyes and muttered to himself. * * * * ......Well, there''s still a lot of work to be done. Returning once again to the control room in the institute, Jin sits down in his chair and begins to discuss the future with the old man. > that was recorded by our predecessor? >> It is a magical tool to extract any substance dissolved in seawater. "Well, it might be a good idea to make it on an experimental basis. For now, Horai Island is not in need of resources. "Besides, it seems that we can get quite a lot of resources from meteorites. At the base behind the moon of Ars, meteorites passing nearby were collected and used as resources. Most of them are stony meteorites, but iron meteorites are occasionally recovered as well, and there are ample reserves of iron, nickel, and cobalt. "I''d rather work on artificial magic crystals (magi crystals)." Magi crystals have so far not been found in meteorites. Since they are also scarce in Yuny, Jin speculated that there might be some conditions for their formation. "Mithianite was a meteorite, though. ......" Apart from that, Jin wanted to research if it was possible to make artificial magic crystals (magi crystals) from low quality magic stones (magi stones) by applying free magic elements (ether) under certain conditions. If the amount of Magi Crystals mined is 1, the amount of Magi Stones mined is 100. But the number of usable quality magi stones is about 20. In other words, 80 of the magi stones are discarded. Jin''s plan is to reuse them. "Yes, that''s right." However, the plan is already completed in Jin''s mind. "After all, what should we do about the wedding with Elsa. ......" This is the biggest challenge for now. First, the wedding. Will it be held on Horai Island?Or in Shoro, Erza''s hometown?Or in the village of Kaina? Wedding banquet. We may have to visit many countries for this. "......I''m worried about it..." <> <> and , who is well known in many countries, this is a problem. "It''s not a problem that can be put off." "That''s true. I will discuss it with her later. "Certainly. ......" << Thus, Jin had a meeting with the old man until noon. * * * * * The Laurentian continent consists of the kingdoms of Klein, Egelea, Elias, Franz, and Cerroa, the Shoro Kingdom, and the countries of Mitsho and Huso to the west. In addition, the former Kingdom of Leonard, which was destroyed, is inhabited by humans. The Kingdom of Egelea is located in the southeastern part of the Laurentian continent and is an old country that was once a part of a large country called <>. The records of the past have been lost since the <>, a war that affected the entire sphere of existence of mankind. We only know that the Kingdom of Dinar was established shortly before the <>, and that there are few, if any, oral traditions, and almost no written records. There are many, if not most, < who regret this and are studying it. And. "Hmmm...I can only assume that it was a high ranking mage who passed on the oral tradition, but I wonder why there is no written record of it." <, has also embarked on an investigation of the . She came to Nakarai in the western part of the Kingdom of Egelea. It is surrounded by gently rolling mountains. She had been collecting the lore of the Shoro Kingdom, and among them there was one that related to the country before the Great Magic War. "<>....... God, we could use a few more clues." With just these clues, she was moving from one small group of countries to the next. However, there are surprisingly few towns surrounded by mountains. "There is a big town in the east, which means there is a big plain in that direction. ......" When I checked the map of Horaijima, I found such a place only around Nakarai in the Kingdom of Egelea. Of course, it is possible that there was a big town then and it is deserted now. However, my intuition as a storyteller told me that it might be in this area. "This is Nikalai and Dairou. ...... From the name of the place, it sounds like an old name." Vivienne sensed something in the sound of the name. "Mount Denan....... There''s a mine there, so I wouldn''t be surprised if there were some ruins. "Hey, Vivian." Someone called out to Vivian who was looking at the mountain and thinking about something. "Ah, Mr. Lukor." An old man with a bald head, a white beard, and gray eyes. He is a well-known archaeologist who was once a brainwashed pawn of the Unification Party (Unifiler). Jin met him at an archaeological site that he visited with Reinhardt, Erza, and others, and was released from his brainwashing. He met Vivian by chance, and they hit it off and came to this place. "Ah, Mr. Lecorre, how was it? "Yeah, no clue. What about you? "No luck there either." "Hmm, maybe we should try the next town." "Yes, that''s right. Tomorrow we will go to Nikalai. Vivian and Lukor. This unlikely pairing does not yet know what lies ahead. The world is seemingly at peace. 1091 - - 30-01 Current status check Horai Island, an isolated island in the blue sea. It is the base of the magical engineer , Jin Nido. It is also an inviolable base, controlled by the ultra-high-performance magical brain . Only Jin and his family are allowed to visit without permission. They are called the "Jin Family". Vivian, a member of the and a <, has been following a certain legend. It is about a country and its technology before the . The Mage Wars broke out about 300 years ago, and in the final phase of the war, 60% of the mages lost their jobs due to the "Aether Stampede". Since the mages were also the bearers of culture, this was the beginning of a partial breakdown of the cultural inheritance. Archaeologists and historians have tried to recreate this culture, but their efforts have not been sufficient. This is where storytellers come into the limelight. There is a profession of storytellers who tell stories not in writing, but in words, and some of these stories may contain hidden facts of the past. Vivian was collecting and compiling folklore in the Shoro Kingdom when she had an unexpected encounter. He was Lukor, a former archaeologist of the party. He had escaped to the Kingdom of Celuloa after the incident. He had come to the Kingdom of Shoro with his knowledge from his time as a member of the Unifiler, and with a certain nobleman as his patron, he had secured funding for his research. "Oh, I see. ....... Did such a thing happen before the Magic War ......?" Vivian was impressed by the knowledge she had gained from the former , Elena, about the magical wars and the time before that. Vivienne''s memory and her knowledge were also very useful for Lukor. So now the two had left the Shoro Kingdom and had come to the western part of the Kingdom of Egelea. * * * * * In Horai Island, Jin, the master of the island, was talking with the old lord. "Well, Vivian is here. ...... Keep an eye on her to make sure she is not in any danger, OK?" to it. . It is an artifact-class item made by Jin. It has a function of barrier generation, communication by manacam (magic element communication device), and authentication as a member of <>. As a side note, it has a light-emitting function and can be used as a light in a dark place. Among these functions, the generation of a barrier can be remotely controlled by the "Mere Old Man," so that the "Mere Old Man" can deal with the situation when he is sleeping or when he is taken by surprise. Of course, if the "Mere Old Man" is in a place where the "Mere Old Man" cannot recognize him, it is impossible to remotely control him. For this reason, he had one of the <> secretly attached as an escort. "Yes, that''s good. Jin was relieved for the time being. "But still, after the previous generation and before the magic war,......?" It is true that history books remain. However, they are like history textbooks, and while we can understand the general outline of the history, we cannot understand the details of the branches and leaves. To put it more concretely, we can know the result of <>, but we can only guess how to get there. "<> and his predecessor''s records have been found, so the situation 1000 years ago is becoming clearer. ......" It means that there was a gap between the death of the predecessor and the time just before the Magic War. "Considering the development of technology, it would not be surprising if the development was based on the technology of the previous generation. ......" Jin wondered if the records of his predecessor, which he had not yet read, had any answers to these questions. Yes, the 700672 has been on Ars since before the current human civilization, but it has been non-interacting with the human race and has spent most of its time sleeping. It has been on Ars since before the current human civilization, but it has been non-interacting with humans and has spent most of its time sleeping, so it is completely unaware of the situation there. We did not get much information from the moon <, either." The moon of Ars <> was not an original satellite, but an asteroid that was put into its current orbit by the ancestors of mankind, the . Jin took over the magical brain <> that controlled it. He was indifferent to what they were doing, even though he had been watching the human race on the ground. "You too, Milowina. ......" Milowina is the last of the royal family of the former Kingdom of Leonard. 235 years ago, there was an epidemic of a disease called in the old Leonard Kingdom, and some people escaped to Yunie by using a transfer magic circle to escape from the disease. However, in the end, most of them fell ill due to the pathogen of that they brought with them, making their escape worthless. We know some things from the records of the former Leonard Kingdom, but we still cannot deny the lack of information. It seems that the former Leonard Kingdom was not actively trading with the surrounding countries in the first place. "I guess we''re stuck. ......" "I guess so. ......" All the records can''t have disappeared, they must still exist somewhere. Jin hoped that the knowledge of them would lead to further development. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "In the first place, why is it that there is not much technology left at all from before the Great Magic War?...... That''s the question I''m asking myself." In the private carriage, Lukor was debating with Vivian. "I understand. The lore of the tradition also decreases drastically after 300 years ago." Some time ago, Jin and his group traveled to the Huso ......, Mitsho, and other ethnic groups. A young man named Goose came and Vivian heard many stories about him. Vivian couldn''t help but think that <>. "It will be Nikalai soon! He called out to her. Vivian, Lukor, and two assistants were now making their way around the western part of the Kingdom of Egelea as a . "I hope we can find some clues this time..." "I agree with you. Even though archeology requires patience, I think it''s about time we found something. The two exchanged a wry smile. The town of Nikalai is a small town with a population of about 1,000. The group stayed at the more upscale of the two inns. Each of us had a private room. "Oh, man, I guess this is all thanks to the research funding..." Now, Lukor and Vivian were having dinner in the dining room. "Who is this nobleman?" Vivian asked, not having heard his name before. "Oh, I didn''t tell you?"Oh, I didn''t tell you? His name is Baffle Nosy de Yancy, from the Kingdom of Celuloa." "I see." Vivienne, who was from the Kingdom of Celuloa, had never heard of him. "He was not cut off by the new king''s policies, so I guess he must be capable in his own way." He was one of the nobles who had managed to maintain the status quo after Cesar''s accession to the throne in February of that year, despite the purges and demotions of some of the nobles and vassals. Vivienne thought that he was just a good man on his own.) Vivienne thought that she was just a good player, but she had enough self-control not to say anything about it. Anyway, thanks to that baffle, she is able to make this trip for her research without having to pay out of her own pocket. "So, tomorrow we''re going to start listening, right?" "Yes. We have a lot of work to do, such as searching for documents and visiting the old-timers. We''ll split up as we have done in the past. I have no objection. They toasted with a glass of wine, wishing each other success in their research. 1092 - - 30-02 Old friend "Brother Jin, I heard you have something to tell me." Erza appeared in the command center of Horai Island. "Ah, I''m sorry to call you all the way here. But it''s important. Well, please have a seat. "Nmm..." Erza sits down beside Jin. It is no wonder, since the window in front of Jin is a magic screen controlled by the old man. Jin waited for the right moment when Erza sat down and spoke at once. "What I want to talk about is the wedding. What? Erza was probably surprised and froze with her mouth open without speaking. Jin did not care and continued to talk as if he was going to rush into the conversation. "In my opinion, we should invite the here in Horai Island and have a wedding ceremony, and after that, we should go around the countries as a kind of a reception." "......" Erza''s mouth closed, but this time she turned bright red and looked down. "...... Elsa?" "Uh-huh." "Are you sure you don''t like it?" Erza shook her head. I don''t hate it. I''m just a little surprised." "I see. I''m glad to hear that. Jin also started to get a little embarrassed after he had spoken up all at once. "...... so, what do you think?" "......, I think it''s a good idea." "The rest is just a matter of dates, but I''ve already asked Reinhardt about it." Rai? Yes, I''ve asked Reinhard. After we set the date, he told me to notify each country at least a month in advance. Reinhardt had said that it would be enough to allow at least half a year''s leeway, Jin said with a wry smile. "That is, yes. That''s how aristocrats are." Erza agreed. As for Reinhardt''s wedding, she also said that the wedding ceremony, regardless of the date, should have been decided before he left for his trip as a diplomat. "It may seem sudden, but I think that Rai''s fathers have been notified everywhere." "I see. Well, I understand." Even in modern Japan, wedding invitations are sent out several months to six months in advance. "I''m sure you''ll think it''s understandable, since Jin is so unconventional, but..." "...... I see." Jin was a little disappointed. "But the engagement announcement itself was made six months ago, so I think it''s at least presentable ......." It really is the bare minimum. "......" But Erza has been leaning on Jin. "But I''m ...... glad." * * * "This is the cabin where my friend lives." Vivienne and Lecole walk up the gentle slope as they talk. The two helpers have been sent elsewhere, so it''s just the two of them. "We''ve been friends for 30 years, but I don''t like people. They live in the countryside all the time." Fifteen minutes'' walk from the town of Nikalai toward the mountains, there is an open flat area where he has built a hut to conduct his research. "What does he say?" "Oh, I didn''t tell you. Zidane Casey. That''s my friend''s name. And what does he study? Golems and automata. Lukor studied archaeology and Zidane studied magical engineering. "At that time, there was a school in the capital of the Kingdom of Celuloa. I don''t know if it still exists.Anyway, among the 20 or so classmates who studied there, Zidane Casey was the one I got along with the best. "Ah, but that''s nice, isn''t it?" Vivienne also has a childhood friend, Stearina. Somehow, I thought I understood how Lukor felt. "Look, there she is." I looked in the direction he pointed and saw a hut at the top of the hill. No, it was a little too grand to be a hut. It was more like an ordinary house. Three minutes after the hut came into view, the two men stood at the door. They rang the knocker, and after a minute or so, an automaton appeared. He had a neutral face. He has a slim figure. Who are you? My name is Lukor. ...... Please wait a moment. As soon as Lecorre said his name, the automaton pulled back. The automaton must have been made by Zidane. While waiting, Lecore muttered to Vivienne. "It looks pretty good. ...... "Yes." Having seen Jinsei''s automata and golems, the workmanship could still be described as poor, but by the standards of the public, it was at a high enough level to be ranked in the upper echelon. "The automata he was aiming for shouldn''t be like that,...... but like Elena,......." "Elena?" "Oh, ...... no, Elena, that''s the automaton I saw a long time ago. It was a really wonderful automaton that looked just like a human being." Vivian herself had not seen ...... the former , but she had heard stories about her from Jin and others. She was an automaton created shortly before the Magic War, and she had continued to destroy Adriana''s automata, inheriting the will of her creator, who was against Adriana Barbora Zetsi. In recent years, they have organized the Unifiler Party and have been trying to control the world. For a time, Lukor was brainwashed by Elena or her subordinates to become a pawn of the Unified Party (Unifiler). The master is coming to see you. Please come in. You too. The automaton from earlier returned and invited them in. The room was not very large, but it was divided into several rooms, and the two were led to the room at the far end. "Come in." They entered a room with a bed and an elderly man lying on the bed. "Lukor. It''s been a long time. Zidane, what the hell is going on? Zidane was lying in bed, apparently injured in both legs. "...... is a long story. First you should sit down. ...... Is that lady your wife?" "Yes." "Oh, no, no, no. She''s just my business partner." "...... I see. You''re still the same, aren''t you? "Of course. Just like the water in the ocean doesn''t get any sweeter. No difference." Vivienne, who was out of the mosquito net, saw the two of them laughing and thought that they really got along well with each other. "What do you really want with ......?" They were talking nonsense for a while, but they had another purpose. Zidane asked him and that''s when Lecorre turned serious. We are looking for something. "Looking for something?" "Yes. The records from before the war. We''re looking for a source that can help us find them. So why are you here? At this question, Lukor glanced at Vivian''s face. Vivienne sensed that she was being asked to speak first, and opened her mouth. I am Vivian. I am a storyteller. Realizing that she had not introduced herself, she first says hello. Then she explains. "There is a passage in the lore of the Shoro Kingdom that says ''the land to the south, surrounded by mountains, with a large town to the east''. I thought this might be the place to find the corresponding topography. He also described what he had done so far and what he had guessed. "Hmmm... ......." Zidane thinks for a moment and then opens his mouth. The two could not hide their surprise at what he said. "It is true that there was a past research facility in this upper mountain." 1093 - - 30-03 Research facilities A research facility from the past. That''s what Vivian and the others are looking for. "The ......?" Lukor urged Zidane, who was at a loss for words, to go on. "When we looked, most of it had been scattered. ......" "Oh, my God, I didn''t realize that. ......" Lukor''s shoulders slump a little. It''s probably not surprising. It''s in a place where people can visit, so it would be strange if it had been preserved. "But isn''t there anything left?" Vivienne asks. Zidane meditates, thinking about something as if remembering, and then opens his mouth. "I''d say there is, but ......" I''d like to see it with my own eyes first. Where is it, by the way?" That''s what I''m most curious about. "I climbed up this mountain, halfway up. You can easily find it by the footprints." "Thank you." Vivian was elated. After a long search, she finally had some information. "By the way, what happened to your injuries?" Lukor asked, as if he were a friend. "......" Zidane was at a loss for words, but when Lecorre asked him again, he opened his heavy mouth. "...... I am ashamed to say that my assistant betrayed me." "What?" "An assistant I hired two years ago. A young man named Gunno Asher. He stole my research. Once he began to speak, the rest of the words came out like a stream. "He was a very capable man. He knew a lot about alchemy and magical engineering, and was very useful, but he stole an unfinished golem. "Hm, what is this unfinished golem, by the way?" "I am proud to say that it is a model never seen before. It has a special structure. I don''t want to discuss ...... the details, you know ......." Even though he is a friend of mine, he is not willing to tell me about the new innovations that are the lifeblood of a magecraftsman. "Okay. I''m sorry for everything. At this point Vivian remembered that in her luggage she had an emergency < given to her by Jin. This was a slightly less effective version of the original one, one that could be seen by the general public. If I need more, I can contact them with the bracelet and they will give me some kind of support. "I have some medicines for you, please take them. Vivienne offers one of the three bottles she has. "I''m sorry about this." Zidane took it and drank it immediately. Vivian wondered if he knew what he was talking about, but he kept quiet because he was the one who had given the bottle to Zidane. "Oh?" Vivienne took the bottle and immediately noticed the effects. The effect is reduced, but only because the advanced level < becomes intermediate level <>. And is effective in healing broken bones. As expected, the effect is not as immediate as when healing magic is applied directly to the affected area, but it is enough for Zidane right now. ......I feel much better." The creaking pain that is typical of a broken bone is gone. The muscles in her legs are too weak to walk immediately, but she has recovered enough to be able to get out of bed. She has an automaton to help her, so she does not seem to have to worry about that. "Miss, you are called Vivien, thank you!I''ve been having a hard time finding a good healer around here... I called one once, but he couldn''t heal me completely and charged me a lot of money..." "I''m glad you are cured." "I''m glad you got better." "Wasn''t that an expensive drug?If so, I''m willing to pay for it." Zidane was quite impressed, and the effect was so dramatic. "It was given to me by an acquaintance when I left for my trip, so I don''t know what it is." But Vivian chose the safe way of saying no. Zidane backed down. So Zidane backed down. "Well, that''s a shame. I was hoping I could find out where to get it." It is true that living in such a remote area, one would want to be prepared with medicines. However, Vivian is also aware that it is not a medicine that can be distributed indiscriminately. I''m sorry. "No, you don''t need to be sorry." Zidane waved his hand and said he wasn''t bothered. "Well, let''s go to this place from the past, shall we?" "Yes, I guess so." To accomplish their original goal, Lecorre and Vivienne decided to leave Zidane''s hut. "Take care of yourselves, you two. Stop by on your way home if you can. "Yes, I will." Lukor promised Zidane. Vivian had no objection. In a way it was reassuring to know that if they did not come back, he would think something had happened to them. They walked up the mountain road. There were faint footprints where Zidane and his assistants must have gone, so there was no need to worry about getting lost. Ropes had been set up at steep and rocky places, and they were able to climb up using them as clues. Two hours passed. They arrived in front of a crumbling ruin. Is this the research facility? "I guess so." Half of the building was hollowed out of a rock pile, and the other half seemed to have been constructed of stone. The stone part of the structure was crumbling, but it had been easily reinforced with logs. Zidane and his team must have reinforced it. "It seems safe to go inside. The two of us immediately begin to investigate the inside. Indeed, there was almost nothing left inside, but since the two were not engineers, they had a different point of view from Zidane. For example, even if they saw the remains of something that had been placed inside, they would still be able to formulate a theory. "Hmmm, this facility is about 500 years old. Lukor estimated the age of the facility from the few remaining documents. "Five hundred years ago!That''s a mysterious time. "Yes, it is. It was worth the trip. They continued their investigation. Vivien asked Lecore, "...... do you know what this place was doing?" Vivian asked Lecore. "Well, it''s a laboratory, I guess. "Yes, I agree with that. And I think it was privately owned. "Well, why do you think that?" Yes, this one, and this one, and this one, and this one over there: ...... In this way, the two gathered fragmentary information and put it together like a puzzle. * * * * * Zidazo, a town in the southern part of the Kingdom of Egelea. It is located at the southern foot of Mount Garratt, where there are mines, and is reasonably busy. However, it is also a town with a lot of bad people, and the security is in disarray. Two shadows came to the town of Zidazo. "Well, this town will serve our purpose," one of the shadows muttered. One of the shadows muttered such words and walked toward a particularly unsafe corner of the town. 1094 - - 30-04 Biological and mineral origin On the morning of July 20th, the old man reported to Jin. "An interesting discovery?" . "Wow. That''s great! 500 years ago is a time that has remained a mystery until now. Jin was disappointed to hear that. "That''s a real shame. Nothing happened there?" "<>?" < "Lukor?I think I heard it somewhere: ......" "Father, he is the researcher we met at the Keowan site." "Oh, that guy from the Giggarth Riots." I remember that he claimed to be an archaeologist. "I thought he had been gone for some time, but I guess we had a connection in some strange way. "That''s right." Jin and Reiko nodded at each other. "But I''d like to check out a 500 year old research facility or ...... even if the materials have been scattered." "Oh, you''re the man, old man." Jin hoped that this would bring some information. < "Yes, what is it?" < The activities of the Nostalgia Party are free as long as they do not conflict with the policies of Horai Island. The old man will organize them and report to Jin when the time is right. Please take care of them. "I see, so you are supporting such rural areas?" << "I see. What are the specifics?" Especially sewage treatment and the dispatch and training of healers. <<><> are put into a permeation tank. This method was invented by Jin. When the < is no longer effective, it is time to replace it with a new one. Since Jin''s assets are increasing, he also donates to these shadow public projects. However, even without that, the Nostalgia Party had tremendous amount of assets during the time of its predecessor, the Unification Party (Unifiler), and they were engaged in these activities to give back to the society. "That''s good to hear." * * * "We didn''t get much out of it. ......" "Mm." Vivian and Lecorre met up with Zidane at his hut and then headed down to the town of Nikalai. When they returned to the inn, the two helpers had already returned and went back to their rooms, telling them that they had not gotten anything out of it. "...... I don''t feel much motivation." Vivienne said as she watched them walk away, and Lukor nodded his head in agreement. "Yes. But, well, I wouldn''t be so angry if they were really just ." "I see what you mean. "I''m just curious about this sentence. Zidane would have read it." Yes. ...... Vivienne looked once more at the leather paper that she and Lecole had written down. "<>......<>, doesn''t it?" A few words were unreadable, but the completion was easy. "But how is that possible?What are we making up in the first place?...... I''m an archaeologist, so I don''t know, but Zidane seemed to be on to something." "I know a magecraftsman, so I''ll ask him next time I see him. "Yes, please do. Anyway, I am sure that this sentence is about some past technology. * * * * The contents of the letter were brought to Jin later that night. Jin heard it in the control room in the basement of the institute together with Erza. "Erza, what do you think? "<>...... honestly, the only thing that comes to mind is ......." Elsa glanced at Edgar, who stood beside her. With this gesture, Jin sensed that Elsa had the same perception as he did. "Automata, or golem, right ......?" "Hmm." Reiko, for example, has muscles, skin, and hair as biological materials. Skeleton, eyes, nerve lines, control core, etc. are mineral materials. "Why do you use biological materials in the first place? Erza asked a natural question. However, Jin does not have a clear answer to this question. "For one thing, because they are excellent ......." Ancient dragon shells used for Reiko''s skin. Synthetic materials are not even close. "But it''s hard to find." Elsa mentioned the drawback. The memory of wandering around in the snow on the northern continent in the extreme cold with is still vivid. "Yes, it''s good for one-off productions like ...... Reiko, but it''s not suitable for mass production." "Father, but I remember that in my early days, my skin, hair, and muscles were made from the threads of a ground spider. That''s right, the initial materials were made from the threads of the ground spider, magically processed and synthesized. "Indeed. < and were fixed using synthetics. Although they are synthetics, they are not synthesized from nothing. There is still the original material. In the case of Horai Island, it was the threads of the . "Even plastic is made from petroleum and coal. Organic materials are often superior. Even complex chemicals are produced by microorganisms. Some people may have an image of fragility when it comes to biomaterials, but that is exactly what they are, from one end of the spectrum to the other. However. "But, the underground spider (ground spider) is not a monster that you can find anywhere. ......" The ground spiders in the underground of Horai Island seem to be an exceptionally superior species," Jin concluded. "That''s why they try to use mineral systems?But ......" "I understand what you mean, Erza. There are many rare mineral materials like adamantite. In short, there are pros and cons, Jin summarized the discussion. "But if something new is discovered, we may never know." Later than the previous generation, before the Magic War. What was developed and disappeared in such a short period of time? Jin is a little curious. 1095 - - 30-05 Deformation Power "Tentatively, ......." Elsa opened her mouth. "Hmm?" "If you were my brother Jin, what would you try?" "What if it were me?...... That is, without using bio-derived materials?" "Yes." "Yeah. ......" Jin ponders for a moment. Erza kept her mouth shut so as not to disturb him, and thought about it herself. "I wonder if it''s a form drive. "I think so, too. Since the use of magic is a prerequisite, this is a reasonable conclusion. "But, Brother Jin, there is one thing I''m wondering about." What is it? "About the <>. That''s what Brother Jin named the method used to move the ...... enemy golem in the demon territory, is that right? Yes, that''s right. "But my predecessor said that we should name it <> at the <> clan." "Ah." Yes, our predecessors had discovered the <> at the <> clan a thousand years ago. "Indeed, that''s what the records say. ......" "But that may not be the same as the method that Brother Jin named <." "I see. ......" Although the first and the second generation have the same name < after 1000 years, it does not mean that the contents are the same. It does not mean that the contents are the same. That is what Erza is saying. "That''s for sure. ......" Jin thinks about it. The golem mining underground for resources is not what Jin calls <, but an extension of engineering magic <>. It is maintenance free and will continue to move as long as there is free magic element (ether). On the other hand, the <> named by Jin was a magic technology based on <> but specialized in movement. "...... Oh, I see." Jin suddenly understood. "It is the same thing as the golem that is moving in the basement. Probably because the previous generation had used it to create a golem for mining. "The crystal golem that Stealina is using is also named by the previous generation, isn''t it?" And then? What I named it is not the same as what my predecessors named it. That makes sense. Jin had a feeling of certainty that this was probably the closest to the truth. "......, I understand." Erza seemed to agree. "But, Brother Jin. You didn''t answer my first question. "Yes, you did." < Jin thought again. "......First, let''s clarify the concept to organize it." The name <> is decided to pay homage to the predecessors and call the method that drives the mining golem on Horai Island and the crystal golem in Stearena. "Then what about the method used by <>?" "...... hmm, <>... ......" "Fluid transform drive?" "Fluid deformable? I mean, it looks like it''s not solid metal, but a virtual liquefied state, and then deformed, so I thought I''d call it that. This was the beginning of Jin''s interest in the fluid-form drive. * * * * Hohod, a town in the south-central part of the Kingdom of Egelea. It is a small town overlooking the Laajo Mine to the north and the Blue Lands to the east. The town is reasonably prosperous because of its proximity to the mines, but it has yet to develop significantly. This is because of Count Galana, who manages the mine area. In a word, the people''s lives are not enriched because of the heavy exploitation. Therefore, the atmosphere of the town was quite rough, and there were many bad-tempered people, even criminals among them. In such a situation, the security force dispatched by the Nostalgia Party began to patrol the town, and the security situation had improved considerably. However, not all of the guards are members of the Nostalgia Party. Because of the limited number of members, at least one of them was a member of the Nostalgia Party and the rest were hired workers. Here in Hohod, the head of the guard is a member of the Nostalgia Party and six others are hired from other towns. In addition, three general-purpose golems were dispatched for security. "We received a call this morning. There have been a series of attacks on rogues in the towns of Midatona, Gidazo, and Lubu, seriously injuring some of them. The perpetrators are unknown. Please be careful." This is what the head of the group told the members in an early morning meeting. "Considering the location of the town, we think he is approaching us. "Yes, sir." The members of the team are all former soldiers or soldiers with some experience and are reasonably skilled. After the meeting, we were divided into groups of two, and went into town in pairs. Three shifts a day, two in a team, with one guard golem. This was their style. "If it was a ruffian who attacked us, we probably don''t need to worry too much about it, do we?" "I agree. But since we don''t know what they were after, I guess they thought they couldn''t be too careful. The guards patrol the town, talking like this. Morning, noon...... the town of Hohod was peaceful. Then night came. From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. is the allotted time for the night duty. I''m off then. "Oh, go on." The night passed as it always does at ....... Midnight, midnight. The moon......s southbound. "Hmm?" Two shadows stand blocking the guards at the entrance to town. One of them is human, and the other is apparently a golem. "...... what can I do for you?" The two are wary, remembering what they heard in the morning meeting. "We have no use for humans. I''m not here for humans. I''m here for your golem. "What?What do you mean? The guard, unsure of the meaning, asks back, but the answer is unexpected. "It means this. ...... Suddenly, the man''s golem attacked him. What? ...... Geef! The golem hit the two guards, and then hit the guard''s golem. "What ...... are you ...... doing?" Although they were hit, it did not seem to be with much force, and both seem to be OK. However, the impact was considerable, and although they were clearly conscious, they were unable to stand up for a while, and could only watch the battle between the security golem and the mysterious golem. Since two of the guards were harmed, the security golem recognized its opponent as hostile and intercepted it. The mysterious golem was about 1.8 meters tall and was clad in heavy armor like that worn by soldiers. In contrast, the security golem was 2 meters tall. Although it was a general-purpose golem, it was based on the golem of the Unified Party (Unifiler), so it had more than five times the power of a human being. But... "......What? A startling scene unfolded. 1096 - - 30-06 At the Kaisei Party Headquarters "What?A general-purpose security golem has been hit?" < "Ummm, it''s true that they would lose if they fought against the state-owned security golem or battle golem, but did they have such an opponent in that town? "Yes, Mr. Donald. That is to say, they were small golems." "Mm-hmm. ......" < He is one of the best Magi craftsmen in this world, except for Jin and the other Hourai Islanders. It is unbelievable that the golem he created, even though it was mass-produced, was easily defeated. "Do you know what happened then?" "Yes. We have received a detailed report on that." The Manaphone that Jin helped the Nostalgia Party with. The image is a large walkie-talkie. It is a magical device that enables communication between two specific units. It has not been distributed to everyone, but it has been placed in major cities ......, this time in the branch office of Blueland, through which a detailed report was made. "What, the mysterious golem was about 1.8 meters tall and wore heavy armor like a soldier wears? ...... * * * * The mysterious golem and the security golem collided. The security golem was larger than the mysterious golem, and it was thought that the mysterious golem had the advantage ....... But... What? The mysterious golem had knocked the security golem out of the air. If Jin had been watching, he would have judged that it was impossible without a weight difference of three to five times. The two guards could only watch, as their bodies still did not listen to them. Nevertheless, the security golem is a high-performance golem, even by world standards. He quickly gets up and picks up the baton on his back - a 5cm diameter, 80cm long steel baton. --It is for security purposes. Since he was a security guard, he was not carrying a deadly weapon. But the steel rod is powerful enough. Especially if the wielder is a powerful golem. "Oh, that''s the way to practice!" The mysterious man smiled happily. Before the guards could ponder the meaning of his words, the security golem swung its baton and attacked the mysterious golem. There was a metallic clang. The mysterious golem was helplessly struck in the left shoulder by the baton. Naturally, the heavy armor he was wearing was dented ......, but he was unharmed. He was not completely unharmed, but at any rate, it did not seem to have done much damage. "Good, good, keep going!" A mysterious man''s voice is heard from a little distance away from us. From the distance, the mysterious man''s voice is heard, but it is hard to tell which side he is on. Not having heard the mysterious man''s words, the security golem delivers two or three blows with its baton. But the mysterious golem remains silent and continues to take the blows. "...... but what is it?What is this strange feeling ......?" The guard, still on the ground, watched the golem fight and felt a sense of discomfort. The mysterious golem was standing there, unperturbed, even though it had been hit by more than ten blows. "All right, it''s time to move!" Again the mysterious order flies out. The mysterious golem begins to try to guard against the baton. But its technique is poor. It takes a few more blows. At that moment, the guard realized the cause of his discomfort. "I''m being hit with a baton, but I''m not moving. ......!" This is a poor expression, but he had no other way to say it under the circumstances. Yes, the mysterious golem hardly shakes its body even after being hit by the club. As in the earlier collision, this is evidence that the mysterious golem is quite heavy. If you look, you can see that the ground is also uneven. Compared to the security golem, the mysterious golem must be five times heavier. The guard felt fear. (Five times ......1 the weight of a ton!And yet it still moves like that ......) "Good, good, good, good. It''s time to ...... fight back!" The voice of a mysterious man. The mysterious golem''s movements immediately improved. He uses his arm to handle the club and deflect it. Then he steps forward at once and strikes. As in the first collision, it was the security golem that was blown away. However, it was a high-performance golem. It quickly gets up and confronts him. However, the baton was not in its hand. The mysterious golem had taken it from him. "Okay. Try it." The mysterious golem raises its baton in response to the mysterious man''s command. "What ......? The guards looked at him. The mysterious golem was wielding the baton with a skill that was no less than that of the security golem. And faster and lighter. At this point, the guard finally realized. The mysterious golem had been deliberately attacking the guard golem at first in order to steal and learn its techniques. (But it''s not as sturdy as it seems. ......) It was an extraordinary feat to be able to take that many attacks and still be able to fight back. Moreover, learning their techniques in a short period of time is not something that can be done with ordinary processing power. In conclusion, we can say that the basic performance of the mysterious golem is incredibly high. "......! With a thud, the body of the security golem crumples. Its head was also distorted, and its movements were becoming unstable. "All right, let''s stop it!" The mysterious golem throws out its baton and strikes with its fist, as if at the command of the mysterious man. "What!" The movement was like that of a sophisticated fist fighter. The security golem blows up with a roar. It was blown up more than 10 meters and stopped moving. By this time, even though it was late at night, onlookers had noticed the noise of the battle and gathered around. Some of them were members of the security team. They had sensed that something had happened and rushed to the scene. The guard, aided by his comrades, looks around and sees that the mysterious man and the mysterious golem have already disappeared. * * * * "......" Donald was reading the report and reconstructing the events with <>, the automaton who is the mascot and advisor of the Nostalgia Party. "Hmmm, I can''t believe it out of the blue, but I guess facts are facts. Jules Rolland, the leader of the Nostalgia Party, was also present. "Yes, it is true. The mystery man''s purpose is probably to educate us. "Yes, I''m sure of it." Elena agreed with Donald. "Probably to give the newly created golem some quick combat training. "I agree. But that''s not the point. It''s the performance of the mysterious golem and the true purpose of the mysterious man. "Yes. Perhaps the mystery golem is made entirely of metal. And a very heavy metal at that. "Elena is right. Our general-purpose golem that we provide to the Guard weighs about 200 kilograms. If it''s five times that weight, I can''t think of anything else. "But Donald, how is that possible?" Jules'' question is valid. Weight does not equal strength. Being heavy is an advantage, but it also has the disadvantage of slowing you down. "If you are asking me if I can do it or not, yes, I can do it. But the conventional wisdom is that I can''t see any advantage. Elena looked at Donald, who was twisting his head. "This is a matter that should be reported, isn''t it? 1097 - - 30-07 The things that start to move <> On the morning of July 22, Jin, who was in the workshop, heard a report from < via the old man. > "Well, I agree with the opinion that it is for ......<>, but beyond that, the purpose is too unclear." << "Yes, that is correct. The old man guessed what Jin was thinking. "In other words, <>? No matter how powerful a golem is, one or a few of them cannot do much. Except for Jin, of course. < Reiko seems to have turned her chest next to Jin. "If that''s the case, I think it''s pure interest and ...... sales pitches." It''s not uncommon for a researcher to take illegal means to reach a higher level, and if you create a powerful golem, the nobility and the state will buy it. "Well, that''s not a problem." Quintas are sent to every corner of the world to gather information, but it''s not practical to have one in every town. "But I''m a little curious. That golem in heavy armor..." Jin mutters without stopping. > "Yes, please do." "Well, I''m almost done." What we are building now is a commissioned by the Kingdom of Selroa. As a prototype, it will be a two-car train, and we plan to build a demonstration track from the royal castle to some specific location and back. We will make only a few meters of the track as a sample, and the rest will be made on site. The main body of the vehicle will be larger than the track, so we are thinking about what to do with it. "I guess we''ll have to disassemble and assemble it over there. ......" "That would be better, father." could carry the finished car, but that would be a bit much, so we decided to carry the parts in several trips. "I guess we can transport it the day after tomorrow." It was taking 10 or 20 times longer than usual because they were trying to make the same thing in the Kingdom of Selroa. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ah, it was unexpectedly troublesome. Having almost finished his work, Jin lies down on the porch of his <> and relaxes. Then Erza came over. "Brother Jin, are you finished?" Jin, who had been lying down, sat up and answered. "Yes, Erza. How''s it going over there? "Yeah, I''m almost done." Thank you. Thanks for your help, Jin. While Jin was working on the prototype of the monorail, Erza was putting together a draft of the wedding plan. "Can you explain it to me briefly?" "......." Elsa nodded, a little embarrassed, despite themselves. "First of all, the wedding ceremony will be held on Horai Island. The people who will attend are family members." Besides Jin and Erza, there were Meine, Reinhard and Mrs. Bertsche, Toa and Stellina, Saki, Vivian, Marcia, Rodrigo and his daughter, and Milowina. And Hannah, Miss Luis and Bina." "Yes, I have no objection." It would be most fitting for Jin to be married on Horai Island, the place of his beginnings. "Now we have to go around to the other countries to report on the events, but I''m a little worried about the order of the events. "I guess so. ......" Now Jin has acquaintances in all the small countries. He knows everyone in the smaller countries, from the nobility up to the royalty. "I''ve decided to go in order of least objectionable." Yeah, that''s what I thought. Jin was also troubled because he did not want to give a preference to which country was first. "So, in what order?" "In the order that Jin met them." What? I had thought that they were from the order of their close ties to Japan. That is, I thought it started from Erza''s home country, the Shoro Kingdom. "No, it''s not that. It''s the chronological order. So, the first village is Kaina." "So that''s what you''re saying. ......" "I was a bit torn between the Kingdom of Egelea and the Kingdom of Elias for the next one, but since Bina and Mr. Lewis are here for the ceremony, I''m going to go with the Kingdom of Elias. Of course, Elsa added that she was going to the capital, not Potrock. "So after that, we will go to the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Cerroa, the Kingdom of Shawlo, the Kingdom of Klein, and the Kingdom of Franz, in that order. Except for the village of Kaina, we will stay there for three days." "Really? ......" 18 days in 6 countries multiplied by 3. That''s more than half a month of fatigue, or rather, a wedding banquet. "And that''s just the name tax." "......" Erza herself looked disgusted as she told Jin, who sank to his knees. "...... should we leave it to the ......?" "Oh, that''s a good idea." They would use the doppelg?nger for troublesome occasions, such as greeting the nobles, the evening party, and the dance. "...... Then, let''s let take care of the troublesome situations." "Hmm." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the fifth column (Quinta), there are those who are not in charge of a region, that is, . They are active by traveling around the country and helping out in areas where there is a lack of help. And in the Kingdom of Egelea, there was Regulus 22, a.k.a. . < The old man guessed that <> was next, and headed for Blueland. Regulus 4, a.k.a. Mark, and Regulus 5, a.k.a. Beat, were also in charge of Blueland, and the three of them cooperated with each other to guard the area including the surrounding area. And the old man''s guess was right. The mysterious man and the mysterious golem appeared in the Blue Lands. But there was something unexpected. One of them and one of them visited Count Kuzma''s mansion in broad daylight. "What do you want?" Count Kuzma, who was just in the house, answered. "This is Count Kuzma, I''m Jix, a common magecraftsman. This is the newest type of golem I have created. Jix said he was here to sell the new Golem. 1098 - - 30-08 Assembly On July 23, Jin visited the Royal Castle of Selroa with <>. Of course, it was to deliver the prototype of the <>. King Cesar personally greeted <>. "Korun, you are indeed a quick worker." "Yes, Your Majesty. I''ve brought the prototype of the monorail I promised you. It''s impossible to make the whole thing, so I''ll make it into parts and bring it to you in several batches. "Oh, I see. Let''s set up a place to store the materials. Thank you very much. Since the audience with the King, the client, was easily granted, Jin decided to take this opportunity to propose the installation of a test track. Jin was shown into his office in the royal castle and handed over the plans he had brought with him. "I see. ......" Cesar skimmed through it and made a difficult face. "It is necessary to build an orbit for testing. I can understand the appeal to the public in that case. The problem is the cost. The Kingdom of Cerroa is said to be the largest country in the Lesser Antilles. Its national budget is said to be 10 or 15 times that of the Kingdom of Klein. However, this is the result of placing a heavy burden on the people, and it is not something that can be continued for a long time. In addition, the state budget did not have much room to spare due to the compensation for the scandals caused by the previous king and the measures taken against the famine in the spring. Knowing this situation, the old man had a plan to cope with the situation. The old man said, "We will bear the cost of the project. In return, we would like to have a temporary right to mine the ahi mine. "Ahi mine?I think it was an old mine that was almost abandoned. ...... The Ahi Mine is located in the western part of the Kingdom of Selroa and has a long history. However, the main veins of ore have been mined out and the mine is as good as abandoned. No, there are probably deeper veins of ore. Jin confidently asserts. This is true, as Deneb 23, a.k.a. Rearis, the fifth column (Quinta), has conducted a preliminary survey and reported back to us. In fact, there is a large vein of bauxite in the vicinity. Unfortunately, bauxite, the raw material of aluminum, can hardly be extracted from Penglai Island. It seems that Moon has some stockpiles, but Jin wanted to take this opportunity to increase the amount of aluminum he had on hand. Of course, after securing the necessary amount, he plans to notify the Kingdom of Celuloa and ask them to make use of it. "Hmm, <> might be able to do that. If that is all right with you, I will do so. Cesar immediately prepares the documents. Cesar was preparing the documents. "It went well, old man." Jin returned to Horai Island and told the old man that everything had gone according to his plan. It was only natural that the old man, who had a longer life span than human beings, should have a very long term view. "Yes. It is not only pure aluminum or duralumin, but also alumina has a wide range of applications." Alumina is the common name for aluminum oxide, which has applications as a heat-resistant material. Rubies and sapphires were also made mainly of alumina. In general, refining aluminum requires electricity, but in this world where engineering magic is available, it can be easily refined. Of course, it is a prerequisite to have the appropriate knowledge. <>. Smiths are technical golems, and as the name implies, they are both craftsmen and <>. < "Yes, that''s right. Well, anyway, permission to use the ahi mine will be granted only after the monorail itself is completed. Jin spent the next day and the day after that, three days in total, to finish transporting the materials. Finally, it was time to assemble the main body of the car. First, he started with the track that would serve as the base. The entire process is carried out in the presence of magecraftsmen from the Kingdom of Celuloa. They are the ones who will actually install the orbit after this. Reiko, please. Yes, Father. Jin started to assemble the orbit with Reiko as his assistant. "......oh ......! The MagiCraftsmen watching the scene let out a cry of surprise. It was no wonder, for the little girl Reiko lifted the steel frame members, which weighed several tons, with ease. "All right, put it up here somewhere." With Reiko as his assistant, Jin works quickly. The track that will serve as a pedestal is quickly completed by joining the steel frames by <. The track is a monorail track about 15 meters long and 1 meter high. It looks like a big platform. "Okay, that''s about right." Jin then began to assemble the main body of the car. The magecraftsmen watching him are pale. "<><>...... Okay, Reiko, bring the parts here." "Yes, father." Jin started work at 8:00 a.m. And before noon, the monorail for the demonstration was completed. "Wow, Jin-dono, this is amazing! King Cesar was in a good mood when he came to see how it was going. "I see, I''ve seen the model, but the real thing is really something to behold. Each car is about 7 meters long, so the total length of the two cars is 14 meters, and they fit on a 1.5 meter base. Each car is about 7 meters long, so the total length of the two cars is 14 meters, and they fit on a 1.5 meter base. Please take a look inside. Oh, yes, of course. King Cesar, accompanied by his personal guard Kirk Apted and the First Ministry of Technology Director General Latant, followed Jin into the car. "Hohoho ......!" This time the seating arrangement was like an express train. In other words, there are two seats facing the direction of travel on either side of the train, with an aisle in the middle. "The seats are very comfortable. Jin explained that the seats are filled with cushioning material so that passengers do not get tired even after sitting for a long time. "Oh, well..." "The windows can''t be opened all the way for safety reasons." The windows cannot be opened wide enough for a body to pass through. "There are magic lamps installed in the ceiling, so it should not be dark inside the car. "Hmm, that''s very thoughtful of you." Now, the driver''s seat. Jin explains that the driver''s seat is separated by a sturdy wall so that passengers cannot interfere with the driver. "We''ll have a separate caretaker for the passengers." Since the word "conductor" would not be understood by the passengers, Jin replaced it with "caretaker. "Now, how to drive ......." The basics are starting and stopping. The lever can be used to operate them, he explained. "Oh, I can''t wait to see it run!" King Cesar muttered in a deep voice. 1099 - - 30-09 Platinum "Well, <>, let me change the subject. Cesar, the king of the Kingdom of Celuloa, smiled friendly as he finished the originally scheduled meeting. "I received the wedding invitation the other day. I would like to congratulate you." "Oh, thank you." Jin was caught off-guard and panicked, since Erza was the main person in charge of the wedding party. I heard that you are going to visit many countries. In my country, well, let''s have a feast for a whole week ......." King Cesar, smiling mischievously, cut off his speech, "I was going to ...... but I guess we''ll have to work around the schedule. I will give you three days, as per the letter. He concluded. When Jin sighed in relief, Cesar laughed as if he could see right through his heart. Haha, it''s hard being a celebrity. You have to give it up and consider it a duty. "Ha ......" "If that''s the case, it wouldn''t be surprising if all the nobles and royalty from all over the world were trying to marry off their daughters to Jin-dono." "Huh?" Jin had no idea that this was happening to him. "Nobles are more profitable than merchants, you know. It was a comment that was typical of him who had experienced many hardships during his days as the crown prince. "There is one more thing I would like to ask you. What is it? "I heard that in the Shoro Kingdom, there is something called the Gonkkrenz." < "We are planning to follow suit in our country and have a <>." That sounds interesting. "Mm. So, I''d like you to be the head judge. Of course, you''ll be accompanied by your fiance. "The head of the jury? ......" King Cesar, sensing Jin''s feelings, added a few words. "I''m sure Jin-dono would like to participate, but since that would make him the winner by a landslide, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from doing so. "Yes, ......." Jin nodded his head, knowing what he was talking about. "So, when is it?" "The 28th and 29th of July. "The day after tomorrow......?" Jin thought for a moment and then decided to accept. "Okay. I''ll do it. "Oh, that would be great." King Cesar shook hands with Jin. "If you don''t mind my asking, could you bring one or two of your golems as role models? He said this was because he would like to have some kind of model performance. "Yes, sure." "Oh, okay!Thank you!We have prepared a gratuity of 20 million dollars. That''s about 200 million yen. That''s a big country, Jin thought. But.... "Half of the money is fine, but could you give me the rest in platinum? "Platinum?Platinum? This is a rare thing you want. I don''t mind. ......" To be sure, King Cesar called Lubra Podon, Secretary of the First Treasury, for confirmation. "Yes. If you are talking about platinum stock, we have about 50 tons. The market price of platinum was 50 to 100 dollars per gram. Then I will give you one ton. At 50 tons per gram, that''s 50 million tons, which is the equivalent of 500 million yen. The amount had increased considerably because it was in kind and not in money. This was a favor from King Cesar. "Thank you very much. By the way, in this world of Ars is not what is called . It is an alloy of the platinum group elements iridium, osmium, rhodium, palladium, and ruthenium. Pure platinum is soft, but this alloy is very hard and cannot be processed at room temperature. It also has a high melting point and cannot be melted by the heat of charcoal or firewood, so it is dependent on ultimate engineering magic, but even the magecraftsmen could not separate the alloy into its individual elements, so its uses were very limited. In the Kingdom of Cerroa, it was usually used to make <>. As a platinum group element, it is heavy and rust-resistant, making it a suitable material for weights. However, it cannot be consumed by itself. Hence, the warehouses of the Kingdom of Celuloa had a large pool of . This limited use of could be effectively used by Jin by separating it into its elements, but this was not possible for the general public, and there was no demand for it. Therefore, this transaction is beneficial to both Jin and the Kingdom of Celuloa. Here is a proposal from Jin. "By the way, what about using this to make trophies and commemorative medals for the winners of competitions? The fact that it is difficult to process means that it is sturdy. It is suitable for use as a souvenir. "Oh, I see. Magecraftsman can do it. If you can do it, Jin-dono, we would like to establish the <>, so could you please make a trophy and a medal for each of us?" "What?" I received an unexpected request. "In addition to the first prize, I would like to create various awards for excellence, one of which would be the or the . "Ha, ha." Jin Nido was somewhat embarrassed by the name, so he suggested that the prize be the <>. King Cesar agreed. "I''ll give you the platinum for it, and I want you to make it before the day of the event. How about 100 kilograms for the trophies and medals, including the gratuity? "That''s fine." As far as Jin is concerned, the design of the trophy and medal is more important than the time and effort required to make them. He thought that he would have to specify something, "Since it is the <>, you can design it as you like, Jin-dono. I won''t give you any orders. I won''t give you any orders," he assured me. "Oh, if you want to change the color, you can use a little gold or copper. "......I understand." Jin thought that he would talk to Elsa about it when he returned home. That day, Jin received one ton of <> and returned to Horai Island. It is said that the chief accountant of the warehouse had a twitchy look on his face when he saw Reiko carrying the 100 kilograms of the cargo lightly with her right hand and left hand, respectively. * * * "Hmmm ......" Jin groaned as he thought about the design of the trophy in the workshop on Hourai Island. "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" Erza, who had peeked into the workshop, called out to him. Jin was just about to ask her for advice, so he was happy to take the opportunity and beckoned Elsa over. "Yes?" Elsa comes over to him. Jin explained the situation. "I''d like to say ...... that the Jin Nido award should be in the likeness of my brother Jin, but..." Jin looked extremely reluctant, so Elsa laughed and denied her previous comment. "Just kidding, but if you''re going to give me the <> award, I think it should be something that can''t be seen anywhere else. It''s made of platinum, and there''s nothing else like it." "I see. ......" He was worried only about the artistic value of the piece, but then he came up with an idea to show Jin''s original design. 1100 - - 30-10 Trophy "...... what''s this?" "......," he said, "I guess it''s not good enough." Jin made a trophy in the shape of a radio tower bearing the name of the capital of Japan. No, it looks more like an ornament sold in a souvenir shop than a trophy. "...... redo." Again, Jin re-created it by <. "......What''s this this time? "......Five-story pagoda." It looked like a souvenir, so he remade it again. The previous one was a joke. This time I''m serious." It''s a good thing that it''s engineering magic, but if it had been a mold or a one-off production, it would have been an unbelievable amount of time and effort. "<>" "Oh, it looks good this time." "Oh, it does?" A horse at the bottom, a dog on top, a cat on top, and a chicken at the top. The motif is based on a certain music band that many people in the know are familiar with. By the way, the original is not a horse but a donkey. "But it''s still something different. ......" "Oh, what a waste!" "...... is it?" Since Erza seemed to like it, Jin gave the object to Erza and decided to use another platinum nugget. "<>" "Oh, it''s beautiful." "...... is it?" Once Jin went back to the basics, he tried to imagine a common <>. In other words, a deep champagne glass (flute shape) with handles on either side of the body and a bird with outstretched wings on the lid. The body was shallowly engraved with a laurel pattern and the Chinese characters for <>. "You like this one?" I''ve never seen it before. Apparently, there is no custom of using a cup for victory in this world. In that respect, it seems to have developed differently from Earth. "But I guess so. ......" The fact that it is not an original design is a bit of a problem, but I couldn''t come up with a better idea, so I decided to go with it. However, I decided not to use the characters "<>". It would not be readable in Chinese characters, and it was not a <> cup. "<>, so I''ll put ......MM in the design." "Ah, that''s a good idea for my brother Jin. "Can I say thank you ......?" "Hmmm..." With such a casual exchange of ideas, the trophy for the <> award was completed. The base is made of heavy wood similar to ebony. "That''s it. I can give it to him tomorrow when I go to pick up the rest of the materials. The medal is not very flexible. A disk of a reasonable size and thickness, the year, the MM design, and the white lilies that Reiko said her predecessor liked, and we are done. "What about the back?" "Well, let''s see." Since the back of the bowl is not so smooth, we decided to put a laurel pattern on the back as well. "Brother Jin, what is that on the trophy? "This is a design of a tree called laurel ....... Jin gave a brief explanation, "It is said that the laurel tree was originally a crown made from the branches of a laurel tree that Apollo, the sun god, transformed into Daphne, the woman he loved, and placed on the winner''s head in Greek mythology. Jin knew nothing more about the origin of this story. He only remembered this story from a book of Greek mythology for children that he had read to his younger children. Therefore, I did not know that Eros, the god of love, shot the arrow of love to Apollo and the arrow of rejection to Daphne. Anyway, Jin was relieved that he had done what was asked of him. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hahaha, this golem is wonderful! Dave Maida Galana, Count of Egelea, laughed with amusement. His nose is crooked to the right. Last year, he was involved in a ruckus at the held at the royal castle and broke the bridge of his nose, which was attached with a slight crookedness. Count Galana, however, is the Commissioner of the Western District of the Blue Lands. He was in charge of a mining estate and had a large amount of money in his pocket. Many people were attracted to him because of the money. So, what do you think? Jix, standing next to him, is one of them. Jix, with a thin smile on his face, first visited Count Kuzma, but after a short conversation, he said, "I sense a plot in what you are saying. I''ll refrain from talking to you this time. After that, I went to Count Galana, and this is how I was hired. Right now, in front of their eyes, a golem is taking on ten soldiers of the Countess Galana''s guard. "It''s interesting to see how it learns how to fight and how it gets stronger and stronger. I''m glad you came to me. No, it''s only natural that I should come to the Count who practically controls the Blue Lands. By the way, did you know that there''s going to be a golem competition in the Kingdom of Celluloid? No, I''ve never heard of it. It seems that recently, many countries have been developing high-performance golems, so that country must be aiming to further strengthen their golems. "I see. ...... in the Kingdom of Celluloa." Jix was thinking. In front of their eyes, ten soldiers were helplessly flung away by swords and spears. "Ha-ha-ha, that''s great!Now let''s double the number of soldiers to 20!" "Yes, please! In the end, Jix disappeared that day, along with the golem, which was able to take on 30 of the count''s men and kill them instantly. Count Galana was furious with the ungrateful man, but the whereabouts of the one and the other were unknown. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * However, the fifth column (Quinta) in charge of the Blue Lands reported to the "Mere Old Man" that a flying object, which seemed to be 7 to 10 meters in length, flew off to the west at midnight. > No further information was obtained. <''s observations only confirmed that there was something like an airship and that it was going 60 km/h. Moreover, they entered the clouds. Moreover, the surveillance had to be interrupted when the aircraft entered the clouds, and it has not been seen since then. The old man decided to notify the fifth column (Quinta) in that direction, to alert them, and to report to Jin as soon as dawn broke. Then, he said. "An airship. ......" Jin immediately showed interest. "Then, it might be the sound of the propulsor." Jin makes a guess based on the continuous sound. <> "Hmmm ...... but you saw what looked like <>, didn''t you?Both from the 5th column (quinta) and from <>." <> "If so, it is still reasonable to consider it as a propulsor. The rest can be found at ......" <> "No, I have an idea, but I can''t say anything without verifying it. 1101 - - 30-11 Kite type Jin went to the workshop to test his idea. "Reiko, help me." "Yes!" Reiko is overjoyed at Jin''s request and begins to help. "Prepare the ground spider silk (GSS). And light silver. Yes, right away. Underground Spider Silk (GSS) is a rare material that is strong and highly heat-resistant, but it is exceptionally abundant in Horai Island. This is because they cultivate ground spiders underground. "It''s just a model, so it should only be about one-tenth of a model. Jin works quickly. Soon the model takes shape. > The finished model is a gondola with its sails horizontal and directly above the water. "Yeah, I think it should still be able to fly." >> "Yeah, I think it should be able to fly. >> "Yes. < "Father, Smith2 is just here." Smith is a miniature golem measuring 10 centimeters in height. It is useful for finishing small parts and for prototyping models. The experiment will take place in the plaza in front of the laboratory. "...... Okay, that''s all I have to say. You''re in charge." "Yes, Goshujin-sama." Mini-Artisan(Smith)2 replied in a high-frequency, piercing voice, since his vocal apparatus was also small. "Okay, activate the wind generator. "Ryokai!" The wind blows upward from the small magical equipment loaded on the gondola. The sails are inflated by the wind. "...... floated!" In short, it floats like a kite. In the past, Eckart Tekles, a wealthy merchant in the Kingdom of Cerroa, took advantage of the lack of recoil in wind magic to propel his sailing ships by blowing wind generated by wind magic on their sails. The same concept is applied to the <. By changing the angle of the wind, the direction of travel can be changed. "It worked, didn''t it, father?" Reiko and the old man expressed their compliments. "But this method is very wasteful, isn''t it?" It appears that most of the wind generated by the wind magic is wasted. I must say that this is inefficient. "But is it suitable for today''s world? ......" This <, which can be built using only existing magical technology, can achieve more speed and carry more payload than a hot air balloon. "It wouldn''t be surprising if someone had invented it. It''s not impossible that it just happened to be the one we saw last night. < "I guess so. ......" A man named Jix and a mysterious golem. A man named Jix and a mysterious golem. What this means is still unknown at this point. "Yeah, let''s do that. I''m kind of curious about that golem. < "Oh, okay. I thought they were reinforcing the 5th column in the Blue Lands. Since there were three fifth column (quintas) in the Blue Lands at the time, they were able to capture the appearance of Jix and the mysterious golem. . Jin returned to the control room and stared at the magic screen. There, a mock battle between the mysterious golem and Count Galana''s private army was being projected. "Hmmm... ....... The movements seem a little strange." "You felt it too, old man? "I also feel something is wrong." Reiko, who was standing next to Jin, also expressed her feeling of discomfort. "Perhaps, that golem is not an endoskeleton. The golem has a twisting motion that does not rely on muscles attached at an angle. It is characterized by twisting of the arms and legs. "That would mean it''s an exoskeleton, which would mean it''s made of magical resin, but that''s not right either." << "Yes, it is. The way the ground gouges out, the way its legs dig in, and the way it recoils when it catches a sword, you can tell that it''s quite heavy." "Right." This reminds me of the enemy golem, <>, that I fought in the demon territory before. It was a mass of adamantite, and moved by the application of <>, <> (though Jin called it something else at that time). "But it''s much more agile than that." Taking on 30 soldiers and dispatching them all without a single blow was a feat that could not have been done with ordinary speed. "I think that is the most likely." This is where the question of whether or not the recently discussed <> can be pursued and produce better results than biomaterials comes to life. "That may be the proof of it. ......" * * * * "How is the preparation of the golem for <> going?" Yes, it is already completed and in transit. This is the headquarters of the Nostalgia Party. We are participating in the Golem Competition in the Kingdom of Selroa. However, not as a member of Nostalgia, but as Donald himself. After all, Donald Callow, the number 2, used to be an engineer of Alpha, or Kingdom of Celluloid 1. But now, with the disappearance of the Unifiler, he has officially retired. However, Donald is still a celebrity even after his retirement. No one in the Kingdom of Celuloa knows that he was also the number two of the . That is why he is able to compete with such pride. "If this golem is recognized, I will be able to contribute to the world a little more. "I guess so." Jules Rolland, the head of Nostalgia, nodded deeply. "I''m still as good as the youngsters in FOLZ. To fill the vacancies left by Donald and Stearina, a temporary selection committee was held in King Cesar''s place, and the young Folz Durrant became the Alpha. Forz Durrant was the Theta, or 8th place, during the reign of King Richard. "I wish you good luck. I''ll be right here at headquarters cheering you on. His voice rings like rolling bells. It is Elena, once the Golden Princess of Destruction, now the Golden Princess. "But there is also the mysterious golem from the other day. Please be careful." "Yes, Elena is right. Donald, be careful. I will. 1102 - - 30-12 performances July 28th, the day of the in Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa. The venue is the square in front of the Royal Castle. Preparations for the event had been underway for four days, and spectator seats, including those for honored guests, and a huge magic screen had been set up. The general public and tourists were already arriving, and the seats were almost full as soon as the doors opened. Just an hour before the start time, a voice echoed in the hall. Please look at the sky. Today''s special guest, Mr. Korun, the Magecraft Meister, will be arriving in an airship he has built himself. As the audience looked up at the sky, they saw an elongated object approaching gradually from the western sky. As a side note, the reason why we came from the west instead of the east, where Horai Island is located, is that we had stayed at the Shoro Imperial Palace the day before to minimize the effects of jet lag and the like. "Oh, great!" I saw it at the national ceremony. I wish I could ride it. "It''s faster than a balloon, isn''t it?" "Oh. It''s coming down. descends slowly and lands in the designated courtyard of the royal castle. Because of the location, the only people who saw Jin, Erza, Reiko, and the leaders of the five colored golem maids come down were those involved with the castle. "Thank you for coming, <>." King Cesar himself greeted Jin with several attendants. "You have brought your golem with you. It certainly is a surprise and a pretty sight." King Cesar had taken care of them during the World Conference, so he was familiar with their capabilities. "Then I would like you to discuss the details with the convention officials. "Yes, sir." King Cesar pointed to one of his attendants and walked away. "<>, I look forward to working with you today. My name is Kabanea Gasmo, a member of the convention board. Please call me Kabanea. Kabanea was in his early thirties. He seemed like a friendly guy. "Pleased to meet you. Please call me Jin. Jin shakes my hand. He introduces Erza and Reiko. "This is my fiance, Elsa. I am a Magi Engineer and a court-appointed healer. My name is Elsa Randall. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Elsa bows with a shortened curtsy. "Oh, you must be Elsa Ehime. I have heard of you. Jin then introduced Reiko. And this is Reiko. She has been given the rank of a knight-errant in the Shoro Kingdom. My name is Reiko. Again, Reiko greeted in a shortened form of carte blanche. And finally, the five colored golem maids she had brought with her. "These five are the five colored golem maids I brought with me for this demonstration. The one with purple eyes is Ames, the red one is Ruby, the yellow one is Topaz, the light blue one is Aqua, and the green one is Perido. As soon as Jin had finished his introduction, all five of them bowed in a curtsey, saying <>. "This is ...... really wonderful!" Kavanagh, who had been admiring the gesture for some time, remembered his role and turned to Jin and asked him to follow him. <. There, they had a final meeting about the competition. The details of the competition have already been explained to us three days ago when we came here to receive our rewards, and we already understand the details since we have received them in writing. Therefore, the explanation at this meeting was mainly about the final participants and the role of Jin. This included a brief address as the head of the jury. * * * * * * * * * * Ten minutes before the start of the competition, Jin and his colleagues arrived at the jury''s table. They were located at the top of the staircase. Above the jury''s seats were the honored guests'' seats, and for some reason, King Cesar was right behind Jin. < To Jin''s right is Elsa, and to his left is Kabanea, whom I mentioned earlier. Reiko stands diagonally behind Jin. The five-colored golem maids are waiting in the waiting room. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Finally, the memorable first Golem Competition in the Kingdom of Celuloa is about to begin. First, His Majesty King Cesar will announce the opening of the competition. In front of Jin and the other dignitaries, there is a magical tool that works like a microphone, <>, and a magical tool that also acts as a speaker, <>, which allows the audience to hear the voices of the participants. This is Cesar Valois de Cerlois. <. Let''s all compete fairly and squarely. After a short speech by the King, it is the turn of the Chairman of the Competition Committee, Mr. Latant, Secretary of the First Ministry of Technology. My name is Chairman Latant. In honor of the Gonkwrenz competitions held in our friendly country of Shoro, we have decided to hold the Golem competitions in our country as well. Golems can do jobs that humans cannot do, and are indispensable to the world of the future. ...... The speech was rather long. Jin, who disliked long speeches, decided that he would keep it short. After a brief congratulatory speech by the guest of honor, Degas Furt von Manischlus, Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Empire, it was finally Jin''s turn to address the audience. This is Jin Nido, Magecraft Meister of Magical Engineering. I am pleased that we are able to have such a peaceful competition among golems. I hope that golem technology will continue to be useful for the development and peace of the world. And this is where the five-colored golem maids come in. The door to the waiting room was opened as we had discussed in advance, although it was a spur-of-the-moment event. It''s a golem I made myself. I call it <<5-color golem maid>. Ames, Ruby, Topaz, Aqua, and Perido. The five golem maids step out onto the center of the arena in perfect step. There, they performed four times in total, facing the audience in all directions. That alone elicited sighs from the audience. But their performance was just the beginning. The five golem maids joined hands and began to spin, slowly at first, then faster and faster. When they reached a speed impossible for humans, they let go of each other''s hands and all five of them jumped backward at the same time. They performed two backward somersaults and landed cleanly. They then ran forward again. Naturally, the five figures meet in the center, but the moment they see that they are about to collide, they stop abruptly. They joined hands again. They then began to perform what is known as , or gymnastics, in cheerleading. Amezu carried Ruby on her shoulders, and Topaz carried her on his. Aqua carried Ruby on his shoulders, and then Topaz carried him on his shoulders, and then Topaz rode on Perido''s shoulders ...... and performed a five-tiered carriage, which is impossible for a human being. "Oh ......" "Wow. ......" Dress the golem. That''s brilliant. "That move, how wonderful!" Mutters of praise began to leak from the audience, but the performance of the five-colored golem maids did not end there. She stood up on the shoulders of those below her from the shoulder-carriage position. Everyone was astonished at this. "What, what, what ......!" "Oh, is such a thing possible? "One wrong move and it would have been a catastrophe. ......!" Jin had told them that they could control their posture with a <> if they were in danger, since they were performing on the spot, but with the favorable conditions of almost no wind, the girls performed their acts with flying colors. Then, they finished by jumping down from the top to the bottom, and I was beyond amazed and speechless when they landed safely, despite the fact that the top one was almost 6 meters high. After the five performers finished their performances, they greeted each other again with curtseys and retreated to the waiting room, where they were greeted with applause as if they had just remembered. <, recognized by many countries. 1103 - - 30-13 Golem Games Open And now, the Golem Competition is about to begin!My name is Em Thurston, a.k.a. Emsy, and I''ll be your emcee. My name is Tolfedest, a.k.a. Tolf, the commentator. Mr. Tolff, it''s a pleasure to meet you today. Yes, it''s my pleasure. Since this is the first Golem competition in our country, could you give us a brief explanation? Okay. In a word, it''s a competition in which golems compete against each other to determine who is the best. And I''ll explain the details of the competition. Please. There are two main types of competitions: one for physical ability, or strength and speed, and the other for precision of movement. The former is short-distance running and weight throwing. The latter is like stacking coins. Thank you very much for your clear analogy. Lastly, there is also mock battle, which I don''t think needs any explanation. In this way, the competitions were explained. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I will give you a detailed explanation of the competition. The details will be explained before the competition. Mr. Tolf, please. My name is Tolf. First of all, we''ll start with the familiar track and field events, the short distance run. Then the high jump. And the javelin. That''s easy to understand. That''s all you need to know. In the Shoro Empire, they threw weights, but here it''s the javelin. And then there are the precision-movement games. ...... Like the coin stacking. Yes, but the coin stacks don''t look as good, so it''s called "target practice". I see, so the object is to throw something at a target and try to hit it? That''s right. When Jin heard that, he thought it sounded interesting. That''s all for today, tomorrow will be the mock battle. I understand now. Thank you very much. ...... Now, the contestants are ready. The makers or owners of the golems and their golems, 40 pairs in all. Each of you has been given a numbered number to wear. The numbers are in the order of application. This time, there are also invited players. Please give a round of applause to the athletes! The door to the waiting room opens, and out comes the golem with the number 1 and its owner (or maker). Then numbers 2 and 3 followed. Number 1, an invitee from the Shoro Kingdom. Mr. Erich Gifro!The golem is Stahlritter the Steel Knight! The crowd applauds and cheers. The golem has a fine macho physique and a sophisticated look. The "Golem" is a very sophisticated and well-designed golem.I don''t know ......, but that golem is quite something.) This is Jin''s impression. Number 2, invited by the Kingdom of Egelea. Mr. Yaluidaare, the golem is a <>! (As I recall, he was the magecraftsman who made , the golem that sang at the golem garden party. (I didn''t know he was like that.) Jin remembered his name because he had been impressed by the singing golem. At the time, however, he only knew that it was made at the request of the Minister of Finance, Brault, and he had no idea what kind of person he was, but he was able to learn about him in such a place. Starting with number 3, here are the competitors from our country: ...... The introduction of the athletes continued, but Jin could not remember all of them. The list of the competitors is in the handout we received, so we can look at it if we need to. Number ......40, Mr. Donald Callow, who once called himself <>, <>!That''s 40 pairs! Brother Jin, I think I''ve seen that one before.) I''m sure you have.) Yes, that''s Donald, number 2 of the Nostalgia Party. < (...... convinced. I''m kind of looking forward to it.) I guess so.) Jin and Elsa, no strangers to the competition, were a little excited. After the introduction of the 40 pairs, the competition was about to begin. * * * * * * * * * * * * In the short-distance race, participants run 500 meters and compete for the record! There will be four preliminary rounds of ten pairs each, and the top two pairs will advance to the finals. While listening to the explanation of the commentary, Jin remembered that Reiko used to run in less than 2 seconds, Marcus'' golem in about 12 seconds, and the other golems in over 20 seconds. The other golems were in excess of 20 seconds. Three, two, one, start! That''s pretty fast. You''re all very good. The first group was led by Erich Gifro''s in about 10 seconds, followed closely by Jarrydale''s in second place. (After all, that golem seems to be able to change the distribution of its power.) <, I mean , the steel knight. Jin''s eyes had detected its characteristics. Jin thought that its power source was probably a mana tank, and that by freely allocating its limited output, it was able to respond immediately to various situations. (Good idea. ......) This time, I guess they assigned it to leg strength. I guess it''s like track and field athletes, especially runners, have thin arms compared to gymnasts. In contrast, Jarrydale''s <>, as his name <> implies, is probably not a power type. While I was thinking about this, the second group was finishing its run. Jin felt that there was nothing special to see, but judging from the excitement in the crowd, the golem No. 16, <>, must be very popular. (It looks like a knight, but it lacks power and is poorly distributed. ......) Jin''s rating is in the bottom of today''s list. Round 3 is over, and then round 4. Oh, finally!) [......40, Mr. Donald Callow, "Altkrieger. Donald Callow was the recently retired Alpha. This is very promising. Even though he retired because of his age, saying that he would give way to the next generation when the kingdom changed hands, we can expect great things from former Donald Callow. Jin also paid attention to Donald''s Golem. It has a good balance of power and moves well. <. Start ......! (...... I knew it!) Oh, wow!, still fast! This is what an ex-Alpha can do! < Finally, it was time for the finals. I''m still hoping for numbers 1, 2, 16, 35, and 40! Yes, I guess so. Of course, the level of the invited players is high, but there are also players from Japan such as 16<>, 35<>, and of course <<>. Altkrieger. The final will be a 10-second battle. We''re all looking forward to it! The countdown to the start has begun. 5......4......3...... 2......1...... "Whoa?" "...... is starting! A black shadow came running from outside the stadium. What''s going on?What is this?A mysterious Golem has jumped in!And it''s fast, fast, fast! The mysterious Golem appears out of nowhere, and overtakes the eight Golems that had already started running ahead of him, and crosses the finish line. Although not measured, it must have been somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 seconds. Yes, first place went to Golem, who jumped into the race!Second place went to No.40, Mr. Donald Callow, <>, third place went to Mr. Jarrydale <>, and fourth place went to No. 1, Mr. Erich Ziffro''s <>! The MC was also puzzled. Considering that the second-placed <> also ran faster than the qualifiers, with a time of about 6 seconds, the mysterious golem stood out for its speed. (That''s ......!) The golem that jumped into the race was, without a doubt, the mysterious golem reported in the Kingdom of Egelea. 1104 - - 30-14 Participation in the jump Jin was able to observe the golem visually for the first time. It was a little over two meters tall. From the appearance of the armor he wears, he is of a moderately muscular build. In other words, he is not a bodybuilder, but a gymnast. The problem is the armor. (...... no idea what it''s made of?) The dull-colored metal is a material unknown to Jin, the Magecraft Meister. That alone is a surprise, (I can''t read its movements. ...... is it still a higher level method of <>? ). Another surprising point was found. The audience was in an uproar. The man who jumped in and announced his participation was a man who called himself "Jix. He calls himself a citizen of the Kingdom of Celluloid, and his golem is called . (Phantom, or ......) Jin, who was thinking that the name was meaningful, was approached by a tournament official for advice. Jin-dono, we are discussing whether or not to allow those people to jump in and participate in the competition. I would like to ask your opinion as the head of the jury. "Well, I think it would be better not to do something that was not planned. I don''t think it''s a good idea to set a strange precedent. Jin wanted to say that the golem was somehow suspicious, but without any concrete evidence, he was unable to say so definitively, which made him frustrated inside. Perhaps for this reason, it was not until 15 minutes later that a majority vote was taken by the convention committee chairpersons and executives to allow him to jump into the meeting. The results of the discussion on the jump-in will now be announced! The tournament officials began to announce the results of the discussion. For this event only, you are allowed to jump in and participate. Therefore, if any of you would like to jump in, please do so! After all, it seems that the plan is to allow "audience members and others to jump in" and "invite participants" so that Jix and his golem will not be asked to jump in. "Nonsense!What are the board members thinking? In this respect, one is reminded of the fact that the supremacy of merit still persists in the Kingdom of Celuloa. Then, Jin was called by King Cesar. "What do you think, Jin-dono? "Yes, it is not good to set a precedent like this. "No, that''s not what I meant. ...... Well, that''s one thing..." King Cesar was unusually brusque. "I''m talking about the golem called and the man called Jix. Frankly, it''s hard to believe that a man of such skill has remained buried until now. And ......." After a pause, King Cesar continued. "A man named Jix, who calls himself a citizen of the Kingdom of Cerroa, has a slight Egelean accent. Of course, it would not be unnatural if he had stayed in the Kingdom of Egelea for a long time or some other reason, but something is bothering me." "I see. ......" Jin thought that it might be because King Cesar had traveled around the country for a long time when he was the crown prince that he had noticed something strange. "For my part, I think it would have been better not to allow them to jump in." "I agree with you. However, this tournament is in the hands of the directors, and I hesitate to invoke my authority just because I am the king. ......" And the crowd is excited, indicating that they welcome the situation. It must be a national trait. "...... but I have memorized the faces and names of those who voted for it and the board members." King Cesar muttered to himself in a small voice. Knowing that the king was also uncomfortable, Jin returned to his seat and instructed Reiko and to be more careful. The old man monitors both the images sent by Reiko and the images from the . Today is a clear day, so the high altitude monitoring will not be affected. He then whisper to Elsa to be careful. (As a precaution, we should be ready to put up a barrier at any time. (We should always be ready to put up a barrier as a precaution.) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the end, no one else wished to jump in, and Jix and his golem were accepted as number 41. Once again, the finals were rescheduled. A total of nine golems, eight plus one, lined up at the starting line. 5......4......3...... 2......1...... start! Oh, 41, fast, fast!Too fast! Phantom showed his overwhelming speed and set a record of 4 seconds. Second place went to Donald Callow in 40, followed by Jarrydale''s Zabelaar in third and Erich Gifro''s Stahlbader in fourth. The fourth place was Erich Ziffro''s <<>, the same order as before. (Hmmm...that''s fast ......, even though the old warrior (Altkrieger) is only 6 seconds or so...) (I should add that the measurement is made with a large hourglass, so it is not possible to measure less than a second, and the error margin is large. Amazing!No, too much!Unparalleled power!Such a masterpiece was still hidden in my Kingdom of Cerroa! Long live the Kingdom of Celuloa! The Kingdom of Celuloa is the best in the world! The host was very excited. The audience was also excited. Next up, the high jump! This is another event that clearly shows the difference in performance. There''s a specially made tower with a height scale on it. It''s about 8 meters high. The record is set by jumping and touching it with the hand. Of course, the height of the golem''s hand reaching upward is compensated for. As for Jin, it was a simple competition to watch. Here are the main results, <1st : Phantom (over 8 meters) 2nd : Altkrieger (over 8 meters) 3rd : Zerberer (5 meters)4th : Stahlritter (3 meters) 5th : Blue Knight (1.5 meters) The same as the first place and the second place are over 8 meters. The reason for the difference between the first and second places for the same height of over 8 meters is that there was a clear difference in the apparent height even for the same height of over 8 meters. Phantom was probably 10 meters high, while Altkrieger was just barely over 8 meters. (Hmmm...they are very powerful...). But what is the purpose of ......?) Is it a test or a sales pitch? As for Jin, he was not quite sure what Jix''s purpose was. At the venue, the final event of the morning was about to start. Now, the third and final event, the javelin throw! You''re the 41st jumper. I''m looking forward to it! The javelin throw is 20 meters, 40 meters, 60 meters, 80 meters, The target is a circle with a diameter of 5 meters. The players must pass through the target to score points. Of course, the farther the target is, the higher the score: 100 points for 100 meters, 20 points for 20 meters, and 20 points for 20 meters. The score for a 100-meter target was 100 points and 20 points for a 20-meter target, depending on the distance. The common spear is 2.5 meters long, 4 centimeters thick, and weighs 3 kilograms. The competitors threw three times, and the two throws with the higher scores were added together to determine their ranking. Number 41 has the spear. What will he do? I can''t wait to see. "Ah!" There were confused voices coming from all over the hall. "What? "What the hell is that?" The reason was that the number 41, , could not throw the spear properly. The result was that he could not even reach the 20-meter target. Mr. Tolff, what do you think about this? Well, unlike simple strength competitions, the javelin throw requires dexterity. I see. So you''re saying that the golem is not suited for this? I think that''s a good interpretation. (......) Even so, that spear-throwing was too much. It was like a child holding a spear for the first time in his life.I knew it. ......) Like the audience, Jin was at first dismayed, but then he thought about the cause, assuming that it was not done without a reason. (After all, that golem was just born ...... and still growing, I guess.) After that, things proceeded smoothly. Oh, Altkrieger, the old warrior has passed the target by 40 meters!Forty points! Iron Warrior, passing the 40-meter mark with flying colors!Forty points! Number 29, steady and successful at 20 meters!He scores 20 points! Number 26, close!He missed the target! The veterans are clearing 40 meters. They must have practiced before the competition. Some of them also have the idea of passing the target with certainty at 20 meters. In all cases, the throwing posture is the upper body only. More specifically, they throw with only their arms. (Is it because running would make them lose control?(If the golem is strong enough, the arms alone would be enough.) (...... convinced) Jin was also watching the game, making such an analysis and explaining in a whisper that only Erza could hear. Now, the round was over. The highest score was 40 points. And then, the 41st competitor jumped in and readied his spear. 1105 - - 30-15 Morning Results Now, starting with number 41, we have our second trial. The audience didn''t seem to have high expectations for this one, since the last one was a disaster. But this time, he''s doing something completely different. Oh? Oh?I knew it!) The presenter sounded surprised, and the audience was also a little surprised. Jin was satisfied that his guess was almost right. Number 41 throws his spear with excellent form. ....... Amazing!Number 41, through the target at 60 meters!Sixty points! I knew you learned from watching the other golems'' attempts.) (Of course, it is a prerequisite that you have the physical ability to put what you have learned into practice. Then, each golem throws spears one after another. Generally, the results are better than the first one. Altkrieger (#40) scored 60 points, and Iron Warrior (#35) scored 6 No. 35 Iron Warrior scored 60 points. No.16 Blue Knight scored 40 points, but both No.2 Zerberer and No.1 Steel Knight (Stahlritter) scored 60 points. both scored 60 points. Now it''s time for the third and final test! I can''t wait to see what number 41 has to show us! Number 41 slowly readied his spear and threw it at the target 100 meters away. Oh, my God!This is great, great, great!It''s going to fly!Fly!Fly!Now!It''s in!100 points! He''s learned. It looks like she''s got a lot of learning ability too.) Take Reiko, for example. For example, Reiko is able to use magic that she couldn''t use before, once she observes the process from chanting to activation up close. This is a trick that can only be done with a very high processing power of the <>. (When you think about it, that <> must have a considerably higher capability than the current golems.) The question, Jin thinks, is how that man who calls himself "Jix" got it. Did he get it on his own, or did he get it from some reference or ....... (There is no evidence that it was stolen by Zidane or some other researcher, right?) ) The case remains a mystery, partly because Zidane himself is hiding it. While Jin is thinking about such things, the competition is going on. And number 40 gets 100 points! The old warrior (Altkrieger) also aimed at 100 meters and passed the target with flying colors. Number 35, Iron Warrior, scores a solid 60! A solid scorer, Number 26, aiming at 80 meters, ......, unfortunately missed! Some tried to get a high score and failed. In the end, That''s the end of all the trials!Of the three attempts, the two with the higher scores were combined to determine the ranking, so the results were as follows: No. 40, Donald Callow''s Altkrieger, and No. 4, Jix''s Phantom, with the highest score of 4.5 points. The result was as follows: Donald Callow''s "The Old Warrior" (Altkrieger) with 160 points and Jix''s "The Phantom" with 4.1 points! The third place went to No. 2 Yalu. Third place went to Mr. Jarrydale''s Zabelaar, 140 points!In fourth place, Erich Ziffro''s Stahlritter and Bilford''s Iron Warrior tied for first place with 1 They tied at 1 point and 20 points. The next two are No. 29, Tarrabulba, with 100 points, No. 15, Roshinir, with 8 No. 15 Roshinir with 80 points, and No. 16 Tambaran Blue Knight with 60 points. The first through the fifth place winners will receive additional points, so the ranking will change. You can see how important it is to win a prize. The total of the scores up to this point is as follows, The first place is Phantom 41 with 460 points. The second place is number 40, Altkrieger, with 420 points. In third place with 320 points is No. 2 Zerberer. Fourth place, with 240 points, went to No. 1 Steel Knight (Stahlritter). The fifth place is No.35 Iron Warrior with 160 points. The fifth place is number 35, Iron Warrior, with 160 points. At this point, it was a little before noon and lunch break. The afternoon session would start at 13:30. * * * * "...... and that''s it." << Jin was in an empty corner of the waiting room, communicating with the old man. "And that armor. What the hell is it made of? ......" . "I guess so. ......" But it''s not worth mentioning. "And <> is probably going to continue to collect movement data this afternoon." < "Even you, old man? ......" < "Well, that''s a little comforting." < "Yeah. I''ll keep you posted." Jin then went to the dining room with Reiko and Erza, who had been keeping watch to make sure no one came in. It was a small reception room where Jin, Erza, and Reiko could eat slowly and in private. "The food in the Kingdom of Selroa is often quite delicious. "I guess so." Erza said that perhaps because it is located next to the Shoro Kingdom, the flavors are more palatable. On the other hand, the Shoro Kingdom borders the Franz Kingdom and the Egelea Kingdom, so a wide variety of dishes are served. However, since it is lunch, there is not a large variety of dishes. But this bread is delicious. "But this bread is good. Maybe it''s the water. It''s good to have a good palate. Since they were in a room where they could eat in peace and quiet, Jin and Elsa ate their lunch in a clean and tidy manner. "Now, what''s the event for the afternoon? "Target shooting, as I recall. "Yes, that''s right." "I''m looking forward to seeing how that Phantom comes out, it''s both fun and spooky." "Maybe. ...... I''m very concerned that we don''t know what that guy''s armor is made of." "......It''s not metal, maybe?" "What?......Oh, I see. <. But I don''t know. ......" If there is an assumption that no biomaterials are used, that assumption will be broken, Jin said. "......You''re right. ......" After all, without a sample, it was unlikely that any conclusions could be drawn. Afterwards, Jin and his colleagues took their time to enjoy after-dinner tea (taeyeh), and 20 minutes before the start of the afternoon session, they met King Cesar, who was just returning to his seat. "Your Majesty, I have something to tell you. "Well, please be brief." There was an empty room nearby, so we decided to talk in it. Kirk Atkinson, his bodyguard, took up a position in front of the door. "<>, what is it?" "Yes, actually, ......." Jin told them about the <> in the Kingdom of Egelea, and concluded that this <> was very similar to it, but he had no proof. With that, King Cesar seemed to understand what Jin meant. "Okay. I''ll be more careful than ever. ...... Kirk heard that too. Make the arrangements." Yes, sir. Jin and the others returned to their seats. The time was 1:30 p.m., <> afternoon session was about to start. 1106 - - Day 30-16 End of Day 1 The afternoon session is a "Golem competition" in which participants throw a ball at a target 50 meters away and compete in accuracy. The diameter of the circular target is 3 meters, and concentric circles are drawn on it. Within the 3-meter circle, there are three circles of 2 meters, 1 meter, and 30 centimeters, each with a different score. The outermost 3-meter circle gives 10 points, the 2-meter circle gives 30 points, the 1-meter circle gives 60 points, and the 30-centimeter circle gives 60 points. 60 points for the outermost 3-meter circle, 100 points for the 1-meter circle, and 100 points for the 30-centimeter circle. After one practice throw, each player can throw three times, and the two highest scores are counted for the points. First, practice. The players go around in order of their numbers. Now, each player has finished practicing. First, let''s start with number 1, Stahlritter!He''s ready to throw ......!30 points! It''s not easy to get the hang of it after one practice, but Stahlritter hit the target out of the blue. You can see the blue marks on the target. Next up was number 2, Zabela. He threw it!Thirty points! Both number 1 and number 2 hit the target. Excellent! I thought the high scores would continue, but then came numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6 in a row, all without scores. I guess it''s difficult to score runs. I can''t see it well, but I think the balls you''re throwing aren''t round, Reiko.) Yes, Father. They are irregularly shaped.) (Yes, Father.) That''s because the target is colored when it is hit, so the structure is an iron ball as a core, and a cloth containing ink is wrapped around it. The second throw is made with red ink, and the third throw is made with black ink. The second throw is a ball of red ink, and the third one is a ball of black ink, but because of the air resistance, the ball does not go where the player wants it to go. Number 15, 10 points! Number 16, ten points! However, there were a few who scored on their first throw. And number 40. 30 points!The third one with 30 points! Donald Callow''s old warrior (Altkrieger) is a good performer, Jin thought. Then came number 41, which also caught Jin''s attention. Another 30 points!That''s four! (As I thought, this guy can''t be underestimated. ......) Jin was even more alarmed. And now for the second round, starting with number 41! grabs a red-colored ball this time. He then throws ....... Oh, wow!100 points!He got 100 points! (I knew you were a quick learner. ......) The fact that he is not only a quick learner of a particular technique tells us that his control core has a lot of processing power. Jin would like to analyze it carefully at his side. The test proceeded. I did it!I did it!Altkrieger 40, you scored 100 points! Altkrieger seemed to have improved his accuracy the second time around. And No. 35, Iron Warrior, got 30 points, and No. 16, Blue Knight, also got 30 points. The top team scored well. The top players were surely scoring points. Both No. 2 Zerberer and No. 1 Stahlritter scored 60 points. For the third and final time, for crying or for laughing! This time it''s the third and final attempt! He throws a black ball. Too close!Stahlritter, number 1, he''s down to 30 points! The first time was 30 points, the second time was 60 points, and the third time was 30 points. The first time was 30 points, the second time was 60 points, and the third time was 30 points, so adding the top two times, 30 + 60 = 90 points, which is the score for the Steel Knight (Stahlritter). This is the score of the Steel Knight (Stahlritter). Zerberer, No. 2, again with 60 points! Number 16, the Blue Knight, 30 points! Number 35, Iron Warrior, with 60 points! Number 40, Altkrieger, too bad!Sixty points! The last time he scored 100 points, but this time, the ink ball seemed to have been poorly made, and the trajectory of the ball was not set right, so he ended up with 60 points. And the number 41. [Claire] I threw it!...... I did it!Another 100 points!This is amazing! At this point, was in first place. After all. 1st place, Phantom, 100 + 100 = 20 Zero points Second place: The Old Warrior (Altkrieger) 100 + 60 = 16 0 points 3rd Zerberer 60 + 60 = 120 points 4th Steel knight (Stahlritter) 30 + 60 = 90 points 4th Iron Warrior (Iron Warrior): 30 + 60 = 90 points The fourth place is the same ratio. The popular "Blue Knight" ranked 8th with 60 points. Now, the target shooting is over, and today''s competition is over. ...... commentator Mr. Tolff, you have narrowed down the top ranks. That''s right. The lower ranks have no points, so it will be difficult for them to recover from this. Tomorrow, we''ll have free skating and mock trials. I''m looking forward to it. Especially the free style competition, where each contestant will show his or her own unique style. It''s almost 4:00 p.m. Then it''s time to end today''s broadcast. The commentator is Mr. Torfedest, a.k.a. Torf, and I, M.S. Saston, a.k.a. M.S. Shi, your host. See you tomorrow. Thus ended the first day of the Golem Competition (Gompetition). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm... ......" Jin was sitting on the sofa in the guest room prepared for him, pondering. "Brother Jin, what are you thinking about?Why don''t you take a break?" Just then, Elsa came in with a glass of crimson-colored fresh juice. "Oh, thank you. I was thirsty." "Mmm." Jin received the juice from Elsa and drank half of it in one gulp. "This is delicious. But I''ve never tasted it before. "It''s <>. It''s made from a fruit from the Kingdom of Celuloa called Zakul. Elsa explains that it tastes too sour on its own, so they add sugar to adjust the acidity. Since sugar is used, it seems to be classified as a luxury beverage. "It''s sweet and sour and delicious. "Mmm, but it has sugar in it, doesn''t it?I bet the original juice is sour. ......" Correct. was a fruit similar to what we call in modern Japan. Jin drank the other half of the juice and said thank you to Erza. Then he continued, "At ......, you know. I just noticed number 41 who jumped in this time. That''s probably not the same one that showed up in the Kingdom of Egelea. I mentioned what I had noticed during the daytime competition. "What do you mean ...... Oh, <>?" Jin nodded. "Correct. I didn''t even feel like I was using gravity magic. He''s just a little heavier, not five times heavier." "You mean there''s more than one ...... mystery golem?" "That''s what I was wondering." 1107 - - 30-17 Amalgam "I wish I could check out that golem: ......" We are in the middle of the >, and each Golem is strictly controlled by the organizers of the competition to prevent any fraudulent attempts. Of course, with the power of Hourai Island, such a security is as good as nothing, but just in case, there is always a chance. Furthermore, it was strictly forbidden for the officials and judges of the competition to make personal contact with the participants. Of course, this is to prevent fraud in scoring. "If I could at least make contact with them, I would ......" Then Reiko came to the rescue. "Father, I can''t help you tonight, but tomorrow we will have a mock competition. You will be in contact with your opponent. "Oh, I see. Can we collect data at that time? The best way would be to attach such an analyzer to the golem of Donald Callow, number 40. But it would be a pain in the ass if they found it. I know, right? "It''s bad enough that they might think we''re cheating in some way, but it''s even worse to be honest and say that we''re analyzing their data." "...... I can tell most things in a few seconds of play." "Reiko, you can''t put yourself and other golems in the same category." It is a difficult situation. "Why don''t you participate in the mock battle tomorrow? Then Erza came up with an idea. "I see... ...... you''re going to participate for a bit as a role model, or something." "Yes. I think that would be very possible. Yes. But here''s the problem. What should we do with the golem? What do we do with the golem? "Why don''t we get it ready now?" Elsa said. She said it as casually as if she had just taken a change of clothes out of the wardrobe. "I guess that''s the only way. Jin nodded in agreement. "Your father can finish it in no time!" Finally, Jin''s beloved daughter gave him a push. "Okay, I''ll go make it right away. Jin took out the transporter he had brought for emergency use. This time, he brought a magical device that can transfer the user to a specified destination within a range of 500 meters. The marker is set inside the ship. Jin has moved to , <>, and to Horai Island. Reiko is left behind to escort Erza. < The old man''s voice greets him. Jin thinks as he walks to his workshop. "Well, there''s the steward..." is the all-powerful golem that Jin has created. He can be a steward, a servant, a chore, and anything else you can think of. "Uh, now ......" is piloted by some former members of the Horai Island Covert Task Force (SP). This time it is Pance and Viola. They are now out of action with their carriages, and were supposed to be at the residence of the Shoro Imperial Palace in Loizart. "Okay, let''s call in the steward to remodel them. Jin was not so sure about making a golem for < the purpose of this project. arrived immediately using the warp gate. "Oyobidesuka, Goshujin-sama!" This is the kind of tone that is usually used to make people sound a bit stupid. "Yes. I might need you to do something for me tomorrow. I''d like to make some modifications." "I understand." Jin then set to work. He laid on the workbench and disassembled him. "...... skeleton, but keep the weight the same," he said ....... 18-12 stainless steel was changed to Magi-adamantite. Of course, it is hollow and the inside is a honeycomb structure to maintain strength. As a result, the minimum strength is doubled and the maximum (when magic power is added) is increased by 10 times. "What about the muscle tissue? ......" Here Jin had a problem. Should he use the same bio-based material as before, or should he use the material he had been thinking about the other day? He decides to experiment first. The assistants are craftsmen (Smith) 1 and 2, since Reiko is not available. "Use mercury for the base. Be careful with it. "This is then fused with mithril silver to make amalgam." Amalgam is an alloy of mercury and other metals. In modern Japan, until around the Showa era ......1970s, silver-tin amalgam was sometimes used as a dental filling agent. Gold amalgam was also applied to bronze statues and heated (about 350 degrees Celsius) to evaporate the mercury, leaving only the gold, which was then plated with gold. There are two types of amalgam alloys: those that are no longer liquid and those that remain liquid, with dental amalgam being the former and gold amalgam being the latter. The former is used for dental amalgams and the latter for gold amalgams. The ratio of mercury to other metals also changes the amalgam. Jin was first trying to create an alloy that would be in liquid form and still react easily to magic. "Hmmm......... I knew that the more mithril silver, the harder the alloy would be......... Wait?" Suddenly it hit me. Atomic number 47, silver, Jin thinks that some or all of the neutrons that make up its nucleus have been replaced by magicons. Then, if the neutrons in the nucleus of mercury can be replaced by magicons, then ......! After thinking that far, Jin unusually gave up. "...... can''t do that right now." As expected, there is no engineering magic that can affect the nucleus, and even if he were to create a magic tool, it would be impossible to do so tonight. And he knew from past experience that research in such a < situation would not bear much fruit. "I guess this is an issue for the near future." Jin decided to use the muscle made of bio-based material this time. He put away the mercury and resumed his interrupted work. "Then, I''ll use sea dragon material, although it''s not as good as Reiko''s." I used the best part of the materials for Reiko in the past, but I still have a lot of materials in my stock that can be called "advanced". I will use them and make them into magical muscles. "Let''s wire the magical nerves to two circuits, including a spare circuit." "...... Oh, we are still using an ether converter. Let''s replace it with a magi reactor. "Let''s also equip it with a force field generator." "The most important thing is the control core. Let''s make it multi-core and enhance its analysis and analysis capabilities." This is the main purpose of this modification. Without sufficient processing power, analysis and analysis will not be possible. "Also, we need to strengthen the shield case. Just in case." <. "Okay, now the exterior should be the original 18-12 stainless steel. I will also carefully apply <> and > to this as well." < and used by Jin, the Magecraftsman, are far superior to those used by ordinary Magecraftsmen. The difference is up to four times greater. Thus, Jin''s modification and strengthening of the <> is completed. 1108 - - 30-18 Martial Arts Performance Well, it''s the second and final day of the Golem competition (GOMPetition)!......2 days is very short, isn''t it, commentator Tolf? Yes, it is, Mr. Emcee. But if the show continues to be such a success, I''m sure the number of days will increase. I hope so. ...... Now, on the second day, we''ll have a demonstration and a mock battle! Demonstrations are when each golem demonstrates its special fighting skills and so on. I see, that''s easy to understand. By the way, what do you mean by "and so on"? Yes, I added "such as" because it doesn''t have to be a combat skill. For example, dancing is fine. Of course, the score will be lower accordingly. Thank you very much. ...... Now that we have talked about points, I will explain it here. <, five judges will give each a score out of 10 points, and the total score will be the winner. Incidentally, the head of the jury is Mr. Jin Nido, the Magecraft Meister. And His Majesty King Cesar will serve as a special judge. That''s wonderful. The jury was chosen fairly, Your Majesty. Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, the participants are ready. As if on cue, drums and gongs are sounded, the gates to the waiting room open, and the participants and their golems enter, starting with number 1. (Demonstration, or ......) Jin had a lot on his mind. He had already gotten the approval from the tournament officials to give a model demonstration again today. (Well, I can''t predict how they will react. ......) The mystery man and the golem, whose purpose remains unknown, is the biggest factor that makes it difficult to predict. (At least, from the way they are doing things, we can only assume that they are up to something sinister.) If it''s for research purposes, there must be a better way, Jin thought to himself. (And that Jix guy, ......) I sent the 5th column (Quinta) to the town of Nikalai and contacted Zidane Casey, a friend of Lukor''s, to get a description of the assistant who had stolen the research, but it seemed that he was not the same person as Jix. The Ganno-Asher seems to have been a much younger man, with different hair and eye color. Of course, it is possible that he used a false name or disguise, but somehow I have a feeling that Jin is a multiple ...... offender who stole Zidane''s research and did private work, albeit against thugs, so I call him this ....... I think that it would be difficult for an individual to prepare such a thing as the < airship. I know I am putting myself on the shelf, but it is hard to imagine that there are others like me. Jin was roused from his reverie and looked up when he heard the loudest cheer. Number 41 had just entered the hall. And since number 41 was the last, it meant that the second day of the competition was about to begin. All the participants are here!Unfortunately, numbers 13, 21, and 37 will not participate today. It must mean that they have decided not to participate in the second day after seeing the results of yesterday''s competition. No wonder, Jin thought. Well, today, too, there will be a by the golem created by the head of the jury, Mr. , Mr. Jin Nido. The < makes his appearance. "Oh ...... oh?" "Is that ...... the work of the Magecraft Meister?" "That''s kind of disappointing." < is deliberately designed to look like a slow ...... old-style golem, so it''s no wonder the audience is confused. However, as soon as <> began his demonstration, this was replaced by murmurs of admiration. "Oh, wow! "Amazing! "It''s so fast, it looks hazy. ......" The greatsword prepared in the Kingdom of Selroa......Two Handed Sword = A sword even larger than a two-handed sword, called a greatsword, is held in one hand and is simply being swung. Of course, since it is a human sword, it is still light enough for a <>. Kesa-gatari, Gyaku-kesa-gatari, Yokonagagi, Gyaku-yokonagagi, Karatake-barai. They are just letting him do kendo techniques they saw in a comic book long ago, but they seem to be worth watching because of his physical ability. "Oh!" And then more moves are added. This time, he mixes in some of the sword techniques of the Shoro Empire. Though, they are at the level of a senior soldier ...... squad leader. Even so, the power of the single-handed greatsword is different from that of the single-handed ...... shortsword. The sound of the sword cutting the wind reaches the audience. (Stop right there). (Stop at such a place) Since this is a model performance, it is not good if the participants'' performance becomes hazy if you don''t stop at a certain point. On the other hand, it is not good if you cannot attract the attention of the 41st. Therefore, the technique was kept to a minimum and the demonstration was done in the direction of showing physical ability. (I guess it was 50-50 whether they would bite or not.) After the demonstration, the stewards were given a thunderous applause. Now, after the wonderful demonstration by the golem created by Jin Nido, the main competition is about to begin! I can''t wait to see what the participants have to show for it! Let''s start with number one, the steel knight Stahlritter! Number 1 is also a sword. And it''s a greatsword, albeit a little smaller than the other two. Stahlritter also showed his skill by wielding the greatsword with one hand. This is also impressive!The swordsmanship of the Kingdom of Celuloa. The test ended with a unique technique of switching the sword to the left hand. The audience applauded loudly. The judges are now grading the contestants. The judges write down the scores on a small piece of paper and hand it to the tournament officials. The official tallies the scores and projects them on the magic screen. Twenty-eight points! The audience cheers, but at the moment it is hard to tell whether the score is high or low. Jin gave a score of 5, which was <. The next number 2, <>, showed his swordsmanship with an ordinary one-handed sword ...... short sword. Still, his movements were sophisticated and Jin gave him 6 points, but the other judges seemed to have a hard time with his performance, giving him only 21 points. The demonstrations were performed one after another. The highest score at the end of the half was 31 points by the Blue Knight No. 16. As the popularity of this event is well-known, the sword kata is very sophisticated. However, it lacked power, and Jin gave it a score of 4. Number 26 was a rare demonstration using a spear. It was unusual, but the technique was not up to the mark, resulting in a score of 16. The Iron Warrior (No.35) and the Old Warrior (No.40) both used the greatsword, but the Iron Warrior (No.35) received 27 points and the Old Warrior (No.40) Iron Warrior got 27 points and Altkrieger got 30 points. Then came number 41. "Oh? Two?" started his demonstration with one short sword in each hand. (Two swords ...... are two swords, so it''s two sword styles?) Jin was watching the demonstration with such thoughts in his mind, but <>''s movements were difficult to grasp (I guess because of the difference in their physical structures). (Is it because of the difference in body structure? ......?) But his movements are fast and smooth. His swordsmanship was also refined, and he received the highest score of 40 points for his demonstration. Jin also gave him 8 points, which is a fair score. The demonstration was now over. Incidentally, there are no points awarded for the first place in the demonstration, such as 100 points. Mr. Tolff, your demonstration is over, isn''t it? Yes. But you surprised me with number 41. He had a sword in each hand and used it beautifully. Yes. It''s impossible for a human to swing a sword like that. The left and right swords move as if they were wielded by different people, yet they don''t interfere with each other. This is nothing short of magnificent. I agree with you. ( must be equipped with a control core with a lot of processing power, after all. ) Jin was even more interested in the Phantom. 1109 - - 30-19 Joining Shortly before the Golem competition (gompetition) in the Kingdom of Selroa, July 23. "Mr. Lukor, I received your reply to my inquiry. Vivian told me at an inn in the town of Nedef, east of Nikaray. "You''re very fast," she said. "I used expensive pigeon mail, you know." In this world, the fastest way is by pigeon, followed by horse. < Pigeons can fly about 600 kilometers in a day, making quick communication possible. However, since they could not carry heavy objects, they had to write in small letters on a piece of light leather paper that had been chopped into smaller pieces, making it impossible to carry long sentences or items. Incidentally, since the pigeons are basically one-way fliers, they are sent back to their home towns by horse-drawn wagons or other means each time or in batches of several to several dozen pigeons. And the result? "Wait a minute. ......<>." "Hmmm.........After all, that text is more likely to be a technical description of golem production, isn''t it?" Yes, it is. But the mystery remains a mystery. "Yes, but the mystery remains a mystery. We are looking for clues to a lost past. Lukor nodded at Vivian''s line. "So, at ......, about that other clue we found over there..." "Ganno-asher, right?" "That''s right. Zidane didn''t tell me, but if we can find this Ganno guy, maybe we can find something." "But you don''t even have a clue?" Lukor laughed. "I''ve got a clue." Yesterday afternoon, Lukor and Vivian arrived in the town of Nedef. As soon as they had found a place to stay, Lecore and Vivienne had gone their separate ways. "I started by asking around." Lecorre began to speak: ....... He asked this question everywhere he went. "You may think it''s too vague, but it''s not. I don''t think there are that many men out there. And sure enough, only three answers came back saying that they had <>. And two of them were <>. However, the one that remained was the information that the mysterious golem and the guards had made contact in Hohod the night before. "Hohod?That''s a long way away, isn''t it? "Yes. But the guard I asked said it was because he was warned by the headquarters that this was important. The here are under the umbrella, so it is fortunate for Lukor that the information was passed on quickly. "They also gave me a brief rundown of what happened there." "...... destroying the golem of the guard? And no other criminal activity. This is ......." "Hmm, I suppose it''s a unique pattern of behavior for a researcher." They will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, and they will not care about anything else, but only pursue their goals. This is a behavior that is common among some fanatical researchers. So, shall we go to Hohod? "Well, I''d like to go to Hohod, but I don''t think he''s there anymore. I''m sure they''ve changed locations." "That''s for sure. ......" Vivian let out a small sigh. Just when she thought she had found a clue, the clue kept slipping further and further away. "Well, wait. There is one more piece of information at ...... that I think you''ll find interesting." What''s that? There''s going to be a Golem competition in the Kingdom of Celluloid. "They''re going to gather golems and have them compete?When is it? "July 28th and 29th. If you hurry, you can make it. Today is the 23rd. If we push a little harder, we might make it. "What do you say we go?" "Well, ...... to be honest, I think we''ve already looked for clues in the Kingdom of Egelea. Maybe we should go to the Kingdom of Cerroa." Vivienne defected during the reign of King Richard. The current king, Cesar, is friendly with Jin and his politics are solid. <, you may enter the country with impunity, ...... I suppose. "In case you are wondering, I am an exile from the Kingdom of Selroa. ......" "Well, I''ll stop you." But Vivian shakes her head. "No, I thought I could disguise myself and use a false name. So I decided to dye my nearly white platinum blonde hair red, and change my name to . "Well then, , shall we go?" While Vivian was in disguise, Lukor had the two men he had hired to help him arrange a carriage. It was a four-horse, high-speed carriage. They can sleep in the carriage. "We''ll be on the road, so we won''t have to worry about water or food. In case they could not stay at an inn, they could sleep in the wagons, and the wagons would take them to the next town in a couple of hours. They were in a hurry, so they were willing to put up with some inconvenience. The two assistants took turns to be the ministers to hurry up the trip. * * * * * * * * * * * * July 24, we stayed at Bazad. July 25, we stayed at Dzir. July 26, we stayed at Ulemlin. July 27, cross the border and stay in Tellurus. We were supposed to arrive at the capital, Esair, on July 28. However, because there were too many people going to see the "Golem Games (Gompetition)," the ferry did not arrive in time and we were stranded for a day. The reason for their failure was that they tried to bring the wagons along with them. We could have left the wagons here in town and crossed the river on our own. It''s too late to say anything now. Looking out the window of the inn at the river''s surface at dusk, Lecore and shrugged their shoulders. Finally, on the morning of the 29th, they were able to cross the Torres. Once across, the capital, Esia, was only a short distance away. We hurried to the venue in a horse-drawn carriage. There were no other horse-drawn carriages in sight, and we were able to go quite fast. Therefore, by the time we noticed the carriage coming out from the side, it was already too late. "Kyaaaah! "Oh, my God!" They collided and fell down. The old man, who had been secretly wearing <>, one of the >, sensed Vivian''s danger through his vision and immediately activated the , the function of <>. Vivienne and the old man were in danger. The barrier enveloped Vivian and Lukor, who was standing near her, and protected them both. "...... was a terrible experience." The two carriages fell about 200 meters before the competition. Vivienne knew that she was unhurt thanks to the barrier and thanked Jin in her heart. Lukor, on the other hand, was not so much lucky as he was stunned by the devastation before him. "Oh, my God. ......" A lot of armor had rolled off the wagon. 1110 - - 30-20 Happening A dozen pieces of armor rolled out. If Jin had seen them, he would have immediately recognized that they were of the same form as those worn by the golem that Jix brought with him. However, the color is different. It was a dull, matte gray. "Sorry!Are you all right, there!" Lukoil notices the other carriage. "Hey!You guys!You guys, get a hold of yourselves!" Vivienne helped her coachman to his feet. "Ugh......" "Oh, my God. ......" "Thank God you''re all right." "No, I''m not all right. ...... I hurt all over. ...... "If you can talk like that, you''ll be fine." That''s a hell of a thing to say. ...... Vivienne and the other driver seems to have only a few bruises, but the other driver''s carriage is... "Hey!Hey!Hey! The other carriage seems to be out of it. The other carriage has four horses, and there seems to be no one on it but the driver. "Mr. Lukor, how are you doing? "Oh Vivi......via, I''m not well. I think I hit my head, I''m still unconscious. It is a young man. Lukor was shaking him to make him realize what was happening, so Vivian stopped him. "Hey!Don''t shake him too much! By this time, the guards of the Golem competition venue had heard the commotion and rushed to the scene. Seeing two horse-drawn carriages lying on the ground, anyone could tell what had happened. So the first thing to do is to deal with the accident. Since we had one golem with us for security, the first thing we did was to wake up the overturned carriages and move them to the side of the road. The carriage of Lukor and his team was light and easy to raise because it had almost no baggage, but the other party''s carriage was not so easy. "What ...... is that?" "Oh ...... it''s heavy!" It took two guards and a golem to finally wake up the carriage. The other man was still unaware of the situation, so Lukor, Vivienne, and the two assistants who had been acting as the guards explained the situation to him. "I was in a hurry to watch the golem competition (gompetition), and I bumped into that carriage coming out of the side, and we both fell down. "Hmm." The healer who had been at the golem competition was called in to treat the man who had fainted. "<>" However, it seems that he can only use elementary healing magic, and it doesn''t work very well. "For now, let''s take him to the first-aid room at the venue, shall we? "That would be better." The two guards consulted with each other and decided to have the golem carry the man. One of them followed him, and one stayed behind to take care of Lukor and the others. "What about the wagon over there?" "Oh, I''ll move them." The man helping him offered. "Oh, then I want you to move both of them not to the side of the road, but to the open space over there for the wagons. This is the parking lot for the golem competition (gompetition). There was still some space available, so he asked us to move the carriages there. The carriage moved slowly. "Oya?" The man helping to move the other party''s carriage looked doubtful. "What''s wrong?" Vivian, who was still in the distance, heard the murmur and asked, "What''s wrong? "No, I''m just feeling heavy. ......It must be carrying a very heavy load." "...... Hmm?" Vivienne thought that the guard who had just woken the carriages had said something like that. "Is it a heavy load? ...... What in the world is it?" * * * * * * It was a casual remark, but a part of the truth was hidden in it. The <><>, who is guarding Vivian secretly, has been watching the whole thing and has transmitted it to the old man. The old man guessed that it must have something to do with the golem that is currently participating in the golem competition (gompetition). Since there is no urgent matter at this moment, the "Mere Old Man" gave such a moderate order. The "Mere Old Man" was not so sure. "For the time being, while complying with the law. ...... After receiving the order, <>, another < of the <> who is escorting Vivienne together with <, another <>, tells <, another of the <> who is escorting Vivienne, that is to go with . Ash, the other <> who was escorting Vivienne with him, temporarily took over the responsibility of escorting Vivienne, while he searched around the accident site. "Is there anything that might give us a clue? His sharp eyes caught a glimpse of something. "This is ......." A piece of metal. Judging by the color, it must be a piece of the armor that had just tumbled out. It must have been chipped by the impact of the fall. It is more fragile than we thought. It is only a small piece that can fit in one''s palm, but it is enough for analysis. "If you can''t tell the original shape of the object, it''s a piece of trash, isn''t it? If a piece of metal is on the street, someone might get hurt. It would make sense to clean it up. secures it as the first clue. "I doubt there are any more ......." But, as expected, there seems to be nothing left in its place. "Then, there might be a clue in the carriage over there..." Wearing the <> magic once again, <> heads for the carriage. * * * * * * The carriage in which Vivian and the others had ridden and the carriage of the other party who had caused the accident were placed side by side in the wagon yard. The men helping Vivienne and her family are taking a nap in the carriage of Vivienne and her family. At the same end of the lot, there is a guard station and a temporary first aid room where Vivienne, Lecole, and the man who fainted seem to be. On the other side of the wagon, there are two guards who are trying to make a cursory check, according to the rules, to see if there are any hazardous materials on board. (Just as well. (Just in time. Let me show you from the side.) Vivienne and Lecole''s carriage, with only two napping assistants and minimal baggage, is checked in a matter of minutes. But the other carriage''s baggage... "Hey, what''s this?" The same armor I saw earlier, for more than a dozen people. "That''s some strange armor. Even if it''s from ......, it''s still light." "What''s this? ...... it''s true. It looks like steel or something. Maybe it''s a new material. I guess they''re here to sell it to the crowd." The armor made of the mysterious metal was not so suspicious. And then. "And then there are two ...... barrels. Do they contain water or liquor?" The guard tapped the barrels with the baton in his hand. A low thud sounded. "Hey, hey, what''s that sound? "At least it doesn''t sound like there is water in it." The same sound was also heard by , and the same sound was also passed on to the old man. 1111 - - 30-21 mock match, qualifying round is over At the golem competition site, the was about to take place. In a simulation, each side decides who is the best without destroying the other. That''s what it''s about. Weapons and armor are made to order. The weapons are custom-made, made of specially treated wood. Mr. Tolf, I assume you have some kind of armor as well? Of course. The armor is made of specially treated leather that changes color when the weapon strikes it. I see. So if it gets colored, you lose? That''s the short version. Very simple rules. Also, magic is not forbidden, but you don''t get points for it. So it''s a contest of martial arts? "I see. Interesting rule. ...... is to give priority to martial arts over magic." I understood that if you get a blow, you lose. "...... might use magic to check them when the situation calls for it." Jin heard this and tried to envision the battle in his own way. "But magic won''t color the armor, will it? ...... What kind of principle does it have?" I am also impressed by the interesting settings of armor and weapons. "Are they impregnated with chemicals like pressure-sensitive paper?No, but it would leave marks even if it were not a weapon, so I wonder if the chemicals soaked in the weapon and the armor react with each other to produce a color. Jin tried to imagine a mechanism that would make the hit points colored. Now, the mock battle is about to begin!First, the preliminary round!A group battle of many against many, divided into four blocks!The winner of the preliminary round will participate in the main tournament! Since there are 38 competitors, 9 or 10 of them will be fighting at the same time. In short, a battle royal, Jin imagined. "...... In that case, I think the theory was to attack the strongest opponent by gathering the rest of the competitors together." Erza responded to Jin''s soliloquy. "I think that''s not fair. "Yeah, that''s one way of looking at it, but it''s not a battle between knight and knight. It''s not a one-on-one battle, it''s a survival game. "......It''s true, maybe." Erza is not familiar with this kind of martial arts, so it is not surprising that she has such an opinion. "It''s more of a strategy, or a tactic, if you will. "I understand the theory, but..." The point seems to be, why did they take such a way to decide who is the "strong one"? From that point of view, it is not hard to understand. "Indeed. In a battle royal, there is a possibility that the strongest person will be eliminated. "That''s what I mean." Since this was a policy of the tournament management, Jin could not comment on it. While we were talking, the preliminary round of the battle royal was underway. The battles that took place in the area that was divided into circles were not in the form that Jin had expected, but were simple melee battles. In the first group of qualifiers, two players, No. 1<> and No. 16<>, remained until the end, In a one-on-one fight, <> was killed and the game ended. In the second group, number 2 <> had overwhelmed the other golems with his speed and was finished. In the third group, the final battle was between No. 35<> and No. 40<>. "Oh, that one hasn''t been decided yet, has it?" Jin was intrigued to see the battle projected on the huge <. < and are heavy warrior types. However, in the record of 500m run, <<> is ahead by 3 seconds. That is, the difference in basic performance. In the third group of qualifiers, the last two remaining competitors are engaged in a fierce battle! It''s a great battle between the two finalists in the third qualifying round! Neither of them is giving an inch! In the eyes of the MC and the commentators, they may have looked evenly matched, but from Jin''s point of view, there was still plenty of power left in the hands of Altkrieger. Finally, Donald''s <> shows one of his seriousness. He increases his speed by one step. The <> had the balance and skill to turn power into speed. In a battle that seemed evenly matched, Altkrieger''s cleave hit the Iron Warrior''s torso. A red streak was clearly left there. He was still strong!The winner of the third group of qualifiers is number 40, Altkrieger! The audience, who were watching the great match on the magic screen, gave a hearty round of applause. Then came the fourth group, number 41, with <>. Surprisingly, there were still three <> left in this group after the hotly contested third group had ended. Of course, one of them was <>. And numbers 15 and 29. Both of them were the top 10 ranked players in yesterday''s total. (......) Jin was convinced that his guess was correct. (Priority is given to learning the opponent''s techniques.) Number 41 was trying to learn as much as possible of his opponent''s fighting techniques while cutting corners to the extent that he would not lose. As he had expected, the fighting behavior of No. 41 was visibly changing compared to that of the beginning of the preliminary round. At first, he was serious at best and inflexible at worst, but as he eliminated one or two opponents, his moves improved rapidly. I can say that I became able to cope with irregular attacks. Or should I say that they have learned to respond outside of the manual? I guess we are learning after all. "...... brother Jin, that golem has an incredibly wide range of motion in its joints." Erza also mentioned her observations. "Yes, that''s true. Jin thought that it might not even be an endoskeleton. In the case of an endoskeleton, the range of motion of limbs and other parts is determined by the joint settings. The same is true for an exoskeleton. However, <> is different. It can bend anywhere, and there is no limit to how it bends. However, there is no <> that supports such a movement, so you have to build it yourself. "......I guess that''s it. ......" Jin thought that there was no doubt about the purpose of No. 41''s participation in this golem competition (gompetition) by using the forced method of jumping into the competition. "But the ultimate purpose is still a mystery. ...... Even if they literally completed a golem with <>, what they want to do with it and what they intend to do with it is not clear. "It would be different from a sales pitch. ......" If that is the case, they could have made a lot of money if they had sold it to Count Galana, as was reported. Since he did not do so, we can assume that he came here for something else, not for money. "Is it honor, after all, or ......?" When Jin thought about it, he heard a loud cheer. Number 41<> had won the fourth group. "Ah, it''s over. Next is the main draw. Well, the four finalists have been decided! I guess it''s a foregone conclusion. I''m looking forward to it. Erich Ziffro''s Stahlritter, Jarui Dahle''s Zabelaar, Donald''s Altkrieger, and Jix''s < at No.41 will fight in the main tournament. But it is almost lunch time. After a short lunch break, the main battle will begin in the afternoon! * * * * "Father, the old man has called." Reiko whispered to Jin as he got up from the judges'' table. "It seems to be quite urgent." "I understand." Jin pretended to go to the restroom and contacted the "Mere Old Man" in a deserted corner. Reiko is on the lookout for him and Elsa is ready to listen to what he has to say. It''s me, the old man. Is something wrong? < The old man briefly explained that the carriage in which Vivienne and Lecole had collided with the carriage was loaded with the . 1112 - - 30-22 Speculation "Elsa, I need to talk to you." Erza answered Jin''s words with a smile. "...... I know. < "Bingo." Jin gave Erza a chuckle of admiration. "I''d like to quickly examine the material. I can''t help but wonder about this one." "Yeah, I know. Have a nice trip. Don''t say good-bye. Come on, Elsa. What? "We don''t know what''s going to happen, so it''s better to stay together." Jin has seen many cases in anime and novels where people have been kidnapped by their girlfriends or family members because they were overconfident that they would be okay. "Hmm, okay." So Jin, together with Elsa and Reiko, was wrapped in magic and headed for <. At the same time, with a piece of armor also arrived there. <>, but thanks to their invisibility, they are undetected. <, Jin silently flies to Horai Island through the warp gate in . < As usual, the old man''s voice greets you. "Please send my doppelganger and Erza''s doppelganger in place of mine. After giving instructions to the old man, Jin rushed to the workshop. Elsa and Reiko followed him. He places the sample armor pieces on the workbench in the workshop, and finally begins to analyze them. "So this is a piece of armor. It''s so light. ......" My first impression is that it is <. "Really, it''s light." Erza also held the sample and was surprised at its lightness. "Now, this metal... ......" Jin''s memory of modern Japan has one such example. It was a metal that could be determined without . "This is a foam metal. "<>?" Jin explains to Erza, who asks the question in a parroted tone. "Yeah. I''ve only heard about it. This is a material that was still in its infancy even in modern Japan, where Jin was from. "The only thing I know about it is that you can use gas to make aluminum or titanium foam," he says. He then looked at the sample in front of him intently. "The material is probably titanium ...... light silver. And it has a lot of tiny holes in it. That''s why it looks matte." Jin told me honestly that he did not know how it was made. "Even my brother Jin doesn''t know?" Erza looks surprised. "Yes. But that doesn''t mean we can''t make something similar. There are a few possible ways to make it, she added. "Like what?" Erza wants to know. Jin leaned back in his chair and began to explain his theory. "First of all, the structure should have numerous small holes. In other words, we should make <> in the metal. "I see." "The problem is how to do it. The first idea is to create bubbles in the molten metal. The molten state requires a very high temperature, but <> can be done at room temperature. "......It is true." "It is true, but ordinary air bubbles would not be able to form such fine bubbles. So, there is another possibility: ......" Jin explained that bubbles could be created by magic. "Then, depending on how you do it, you should be able to make very fine bubbles. "Ah, I see. That''s my brother Jin." However, Jin shook his head. "But this sample seems to have been made in a different way. ......" Then, crossing his arms, Jin stared at the sample. "But Brother Jin, isn''t this one weak?" Erza''s voice reminded Jin of something he needed to do before thinking about the manufacturing method. "Yes, indeed. That''s why it broke into pieces like this. "Then why did you make this thing?" "Well, that''s what it''s for." The advantages of foamed metals are that they are lighter and more heat resistant (some alloys), but Jin thinks that using them as armor is not acceptable. "It would certainly absorb shock, though. ......" That''s all. Overall, it is not a good defense. Then, the old man gives us some additional information. , who was at the scene, that the wagon carrying the armor is also carrying barrels of some heavy liquid with it. The weight of the liquid ...... is estimated to be as heavy as liquid metal. "What!" Jin gets up from his chair at the new information. Then he sits down again, but this time with a sly grin on his face. "Brother Jin?What''s wrong?" "...... I think I know how to use this from the information you just gave me." "What?" Jin slowly explains to Erza, who tilts her head, as if admonishing her. "Foam metal and liquid metal. Is there anything you notice about this combination?" "...... Uh, seepage?" "Yes." Jin nodded his head. "Probably, the armor made of this foam metal will show its true performance only when it is soaked with liquid metal. "What do you mean by ''original performance''?" Jin smiled at the question. "That''s exactly what we don''t know because we don''t have the liquid metal. But I have two guesses. "Can you tell me?" "Sure. ...... First, we need to strengthen the armor. Yeah, I can see that. I''m sure you do. Foam ...... and metal are the two things everyone associates with it. "I think it would dramatically increase the strength." At least, that is the reason why Jin had no idea what material the armor worn by No.41, <> was made of. "It is neither alloy nor plating. < state, so its appearance is unique." It is not surprising that it was difficult to tell from a distance. "But, perhaps," he said, "another guess might be in order." "And what is that?" "That''s the one thing I''ve been chasing since before this..." Jin cut off the conversation and continued. "It is the use of the <>. 1113 - - 30-23 First semi-final match "You mean that you are going to soak this armor with liquid metal and use on the liquid metal?" Jin nodded his head happily at Erza''s words. "That''s right. That''s just my guess, though. Jin, however, thought it was not so far off the mark. "So..." Jin continued. "I think the guy who first attacked the <> security golem in the Kingdom of Egelea is different from this one." "...... weighs different?" "That''s what I''m talking about, Elsa. That''s right. If the armor was filled with liquid metal, it might weigh that much, but soaked into this armor, it would be at most as heavy as a normal golem, if not a little heavier." The old man agreed with me. "Then, the golem that fought with the Nostalgia golem in the Egelea Kingdom and the golem that just jumped into the golem competition (gompetition) are definitely different, aren''t they? "But even if they belong to different organizations, what they are doing is enhancing the pattern of operation." Both are working on ......, which is no longer illegal ......<> because it''s illegal ......<> has been approved, but their goals seem to be the same, apart from the way they do it. "Are you in competition?" What?Elsa, what did you say? I was wondering if the two types of golems are competing to see who can be stronger, each in their own way. "Hmm. ......" Jin was impressed by Erza''s idea, since he hadn''t thought of that possibility at all. "If that''s the case, then maybe it''s not this Jix guy, but the guy who''s out cold right now is the guy who stole the technology from Zidane''s place." "...... Still, that doesn''t answer the question of , though." "I guess so." For Jin, if he simply wants to create a strong golem as a researcher, he thinks there are more ways to do it. The way Jix and the others are doing it, they are not thinking about the future. They have created their own enemies. "At any rate, I''m curious to know what''s in that <>: ......" Jin is very curious about what kind of <> it is. * * * * Meanwhile, the venue of the golem competition (gompetition) in the Kingdom of Celuloa, its first aid room. "Uu...... what is this place?" A man who had fainted woke up. "This is the infirmary. The healer who had been accompanying him told him this, and the man opened his eyes. "...... how is the golem competition (gompetition) going?" "Hmm?Have you come to watch?The afternoon session is about to start. At that moment, I heard a loud cheer. "Oh, it''s started!" Then the man lets out a small sigh. "...... you made it in time. ......" * * * * Ladies and gentlemen, here we go!The final round of the Golem competition!This is the last round, for crying or for laughing! The two semi-finals and the final, a total of three matches will be held to determine the top Golem. I''m looking forward to it! The nobles in the guest of honor''s seats are also very interested. They are probably thinking of keeping the maker with the highest score in the competition. Your commentator, Mr. Tolff, this time you''ve made it more exciting. Yes, it was, Mr. Emsy. We can look forward to next year''s show and the one after that. The Gonkkrenz competition in the Kingdom of Shoro is held irregularly, but with its advanced golem technology and golem industry, the Kingdom of Celuloa could probably make it a yearly event. Now, the first match of the semi-final is ......1, <> vs. 40<< The crowd cheered loudly. Both fighters are now on the playing field. The playing field is a platform 10 meters square, and if you fall from it, you lose. So there are other factors besides being struck by a blow that could result in defeat. Incidentally, this platform is made of stone, and has been toughened by many mages, so it will not be damaged easily by a golem in a fight. Thank you, Mr. Tolf. ...... Now it''s time to get started. We''re both armed with greatswords! Greatswords are intimidating to look at, aren''t they? I''m looking forward to this fight. <> The signal to begin is given, but both sides are staring at each other and not moving. They seem to be waiting to see what will happen, since they are of the same type. They''re not moving. No, look, the distance between the two is closing, but only slightly. They are moving. Just as the commentator said, the distance between the two figures, which was about 3 meters, is now about 2.5 meters, and the distance between the two figures is gradually closing. Slowly, as slowly as an ant''s step, the two bodies were closing the distance between them. And when the distance was less than two meters. Then, when they were less than two meters apart, there was the sound of wooden swords clashing with wooden swords. Both of them swung their greatswords at the same time, and they crossed each other in the air. Then, the two figures began to move. [Clap!It''s a great battle! The two swordsmen wielded their greatswords as if they were short swords, cutting each other off. Their swordsmanship seemed evenly matched. But... But the battle, which at first appeared to be evenly matched, is slowly being won by the Altkrieger. Mr. Tolf, what does this mean? Yes. Technically, they''re equal, but there''s a difference in power. Strength? Yes, sir. Even though the technology is the same, the Altkrieger is a little more powerful. Jin''s "doppelganger" was observing the situation from the jury''s seat. Of course, it was the old man who was controlling it. As Mylord has discovered, <> seems to be able to distribute the limited power source at will. However, its switching speed does not seem to be very fast>>.) This battle requires comprehensive strength. If the arms, waist, and legs are not strong enough, the fighter will be defeated. < Therefore, as a result of having no choice but to fix the output distribution to the average, they were pushed down by <> in terms of overall strength. The battle seemed to be evenly matched, but gradually <> was pushing! The Stahlritter was already on the defensive. And finally... Aah!<, he strikes a blow! The sword leaps upward. Naturally, his torso is empty. Then he takes another step forward and cleaves the torso. <. > the referee''s voice rings out. > Loud cheers and thunderous applause echoed through the hall. Mr. Tolff, that was a great battle! Yes, Mr. Emsy. We were of a similar type, and in the end, the difference in basic performance was evident. Now it is the turn of . <, called Jin to have a direct look at it. "At last. Thank you for inviting me to ......." Jin came from the workshop to the control room and thanked the old man. He looked at the magic screen in front of him. There, the battle between No.41<> and No.2<> was about to start. 1114 - - 30-24 Second semifinal match Now, the second semifinal match is about to begin! This is another match to watch out for. The two players, No. 2 , who is clearly a speedy player, and No. 41 , who has shown his high overall strength so far. We have no idea how the match will turn out. Number 2 is a short sword, and number 41 is a great sword. I thought they would use two swords, but they didn''t. I guess that''s the difference between a demonstration and a real fight. A one-handed human sword is called a shortsword, and a two-handed sword is called a greatsword. The size of the short sword is about 70 centimeters including the hilt, and the great sword is about 150 centimeters. The difference in size is more than twice the size of the shortsword, but it is not enough to determine which is stronger or more advantageous. The effectiveness of a weapon depends on who uses it and the situation in which it is used. It was thought that <>, using his speed as a weapon, would be more than capable of using the shortsword''s characteristics, while <>''s power would allow him to use the greatsword as well as the shortsword. > With a shout to start the match, <> leaps forward. And then he swung a side sweep. It was a slash with a wider range of attack than the one that he had just swung down from the top. But <> dodged it by jumping back to the right with room to spare. <> followed up with <> and >, in other words, two diagonal slashes in succession. Against <>, he dodged the first and blocked the second with the greatsword in his hand. * * * * * "Hmmm, this is a bad attack! Jin, who was on Horai Island, muttered involuntarily. "What do you mean, Brother Jin?Jin brother is not that knowledgeable when it comes to fighting techniques, I believe. Erza, who had somehow come to stand next to Jin, asked. "What?I''m an amateur when it comes to martial arts, but the fact that this attack pattern is bad is purely a technical matter. Jin then explains the reason. "That is good at analyzing the movements he sees. That means that ......" "Does that mean it will eventually respond?" "That''s right. So in that case, <> should have let them attack, dodged them, and then attacked them when they had an opening. ...... and that''s what I would have told them to do." >''s movement is getting better and better. Hearing the old man''s words, Jin and Erza turned their attention back to the magic screen. There, they saw <> literally leaping around the playing field with his body movements that were even better than those of <>. * * * * * * This is a great match, Mr. Tolff. Yes, at first, it seemed that the second player was going to attack at once with his quickness, but the 41st player withstood the onslaught with his tenacity. And with his characteristic responsiveness, he has already shown his quickness as fast as No. 2. As the commentator said, No.41<> was much more agile than he had been just after the start of the game. But, No. 2, "Zerberer," with a name like "The Magician," I imagine there is more to your game than that. I see. So you imagine, Mr. Tolff, that the hidden ball that you were going to save for the final will have to be played in this semi-final, is that right? True to his word, the creator of the number 2 <>, Jarui Dare of the Kingdom of Egelea, shouted out instructions from the side of the playing field. "<>!Go!" Those short words were all that was needed. The <> had put the <> around him. The wind itself is invisible, but barely visible through the dust and sand that is swept up by it. Whoa!What is this? Wind magic. I''m surprised that a golem can use it. There are indeed golems that can or , fire magic, as a means of attack. However, very few golems can handle magic with their own <> and have a high degree of control over it. (In addition to Jin''s golem, this includes the all-powerful golem of the old Unified Party (Unifiler), etc.) Some golems, such as those operated in mining sites, are set to be able to use earth magic << dig>>, but they can only be activated according to their settings. Thus, it is indeed a sorcerer (zabelaar) that can be activated in accordance with its own movements. I see. The tournament rules don''t say that golems can''t use magic. That''s what I meant. I see. "I see, so the wind will deflect the opponent''s sword." Jin, who was watching the screen, muttered to himself. The greatsword is made of wood, which is light for its size. In fact, it may be disadvantageous because it has a large area to catch the wind. "The engineer who made the is the only one who can do such an unusual thing. <, now seems to have created a golem that can manipulate wind magic. "Anyway, it''s a good move, since it is not written in the rules of the tournament that <>." Considering the rarity of golems that can use magic in the first place, and the fact that it is a characteristic of the golem to be able to use magic, it would not be a violation. However, a victory by magic would not be scored since it would not leave any mark on the armor. Jin, who is the head of the jury, expressed his opinion by saying ....... In the meantime, the situation of the game was changing. * * * * * * This is amazing!This is great!Number 2 , you are deflecting the opponent''s sword with the wind! And you, you''re making your attack in the direction of the wind. And now the tables are turned. Now Zabela has the advantage. The wind deflects his attacks, and he uses the wind to speed up his own attacks. It seems that he is also using the wind to move, and his speed is even faster than before. Naturally, the opponent''s < is facing a headwind, which also slows down the speed of his steps. Everyone thought that the game was decided. Just then... Oh! M.C., the host, exclaimed unintentionally, "Wow!" "Wow!" The audience also exclaimed in amazement. < had landed a blow to the head of . It was finally decided!The winner is number 41, <>! The crowd erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. The wind is only the wind. "The wind is still the wind, huh? muttered Jin, who was watching the game on Horai Island. "The idea is good, but the operation is not so good. At the game site, there was a figure of , who had struck a blow to the head of with a forceful effort, despite the blowing wind. "Brother Jin, what''s the operation?" Erza, who had heard Jin''s muttering, asked again. "Ah, <> is a flow of air, so its <> is small. That''s why it''s less effective against heavy objects, that is, objects with large mass, right?" "Nope." "Then, what should we do?" Jin cut off his speech and looked at Elsa''s face. Jin thinks that with Elsa''s current knowledge, he will be able to reach the correct answer. "......" Erza thinks for a moment and then says what comes to her mind. "Could it be the wind speed?" "You guessed right." Jin nodded in satisfaction. "As I recall, air resistance is proportional to the square of the speed. So, if we double the wind speed, the effect should quadruple. From the screen, I estimated that <> was clothed in winds of about 100 kilometers per hour. In terms of wind speed, that would be about 28 meters. In terms of typhoon wind speed, this means that it is still not enough. Considering the weight, the wind speed is more than enough to overturn a car, so if the wind speed is 80 meters, or about 290 km/h, <> would be blown away or toppled over if a wind of 80 meters, or 290 kilometers per hour, were to blow. The final match was about to begin. 1115 - - 30-25 Attention seekers Meanwhile, in the emergency room, the unconscious man came to his senses and tried to get up. "Doctor, I''m a patient, is it safe for me to move?" a hired nurse who was with the healer asked the healer anxiously. "I think he will be fine now." The nurse helped the man to get up. "Um, may I ask your name?" the nurse asked the man as he got up from the bed. "My name is Garik. My name is Garrick Ashe. "You must be Garik. Well, take care of yourself. The nurse made a note in the emergency room record and, without further ado, let the man who had identified himself as Gariq leave. The man named Garik stopped, turned around, and asked, "Oh, my God, what happened to you? "Ah, what happened to my carriage?And my baggage? "Oh, your wagon has been moved to a place outside of the parking lot. Some of your luggage was overturned, but I have reloaded it. "What!" Garik''s color changed when he heard the word "overturned". "The contents!Are the contents safe? "I don''t know.I don''t know. ...... "...... got it." As soon as the nurse answered, Garrick ran toward the tarmac. "...... are you safe......?" Checking the cargo, Garik let out a sigh of relief. "Some of the armor is damaged, but this shouldn''t be a problem. But what happened to the pieces? Garik hesitated, wondering if he should go looking for it or if he should do what he was supposed to do. "......I guess the objective comes first." Then the two guards who had seen Garik came in. "Hey, are you feeling better now?" "Uh, yes, thank you for your help. ......" Garik didn''t know the guard''s face, but he guessed that it was probably either the one who had brought him to the aid room when he fainted or the one who had moved the carriage here. "No, that''s fine, but since our main job is to guard this venue, we''d like to check the cargo. We want to make sure that no dangerous items are brought in," he says. "Oh, that''s fine." Garrick nodded smilingly and pointed first at the armor. "As you can see, this is armor. As you can see, this is armor. It has a special construction and is light. However, it is a little weak because of that. ...... "I see. It''s a little chipped from the fall earlier." The guard nodded at Garik''s explanation. "And what about these barrels?" He points to a barrel that he had tapped earlier and heard a heavy sound. "Well, I don''t know if you know, but it is <>. Generally speaking, the danger of mercury is not yet recognized. Hence, the security guard is satisfied to hear that. "Oh, mercury. And you, Mr. ...... sorry, can you tell me your name? "Uh, yes. My name is Garrick. Garrick Ash. I see. Well then, Mister Garik. Are you an alchemist? Mercury was a liquid metal known to be used by alchemists. "Yes, I suppose so." Garik nodded. "I see. So it makes sense. Mercury is heavy, right?" "Yes. It is lighter than gold, but heavier than iron, copper, and lead." "Hmmm. ...... If you don''t mind, can you tell me what you use mercury for?" At this question, Garik looked a little puzzled. "I''m afraid so. ...... For an alchemist, it''s a matter of life and death to show his hand." "I see. I''m sorry about that. But Garik smiled thinly and said. "No, that''s okay." After exchanging a few words, Garik parted from the guards and headed for the venue of the Golem Games. "I''d like to see the Golem competition," he said. "You''re a fanatic when all you have left to do is the final match. Garik only laughed when he was told this. I paid the admission fee of 200 dollars and went to the standing room at the very back. All the seats were full. Although we were standing at the back of the hall, there was no inconvenience for us to watch the show because of the large magic screen. "...... just in time, huh?" And a little earlier, Vivienne and Lukor were also sitting in the audience of the golem competition (gompetition). "I didn''t know there was only one final left. You should have given us half the price. Lukor grumbled. Vivian, however, did not pay attention to the golem, which was about to play in the finals. His eyes, of course, are on number 41, the Phantom. * * * * * * Now, the exciting Golem competition (gompetition) is finally coming to a close!It''s the final round! < The final game was about to begin. 40, Mr. Donald Callow, <> and 41, Mr. Jix, <>!The first and second place winners in the cumulative score so far in this tournament! It''s the last and the greatest game of the season. I''m looking forward to it. The playing field, which had been slightly damaged by the previous battles, was repaired in about 10 minutes. Finally, the final match is about to begin. This time, both fighters are armed with longswords. They are holding them with one hand. What do you make of this, Mr. Tolff? Well, I think it''s a result of the fact that they want more speed than the greatsword, and more reach than the shortsword. * * * * < "I think both of them chose the size that would maximize their performance." "But brother Jin, why doesn''t <> use the two sword ...... style?" Jin pondered over Erza''s simple question. "Well, well,...... I''m not an expert in martial arts at all, so I may be off the mark." After such a preface, Jin expressed his opinion. "I can wield two swords as a kata, but when it comes to fighting, I''m not so sure. "What do you mean?" "I mean, assuming that <>''s control core>> has the processing power of two ordinary golems, if it is allocated to control the left and right arms, it would be possible to use two swords. But <> is a real warrior. He will not be able to win if he does not give his all. In such a situation, it might be better to concentrate the processing power of the control core on one sword ......." < Laojun also supported Jin''s idea. "Probably, the less processing time required for <>, the more efficient it is." In other words, the less time you have to , the better the result will be if you concentrate on in one ...... formal. Jin is not at all sure if this applies to human swordsmen such as for example. This is only a story for golem''s movement control. "Oh, it''s about to start!" Jin and the others looked at the magic screen. 1116 - - 30-26 final <> As soon as the call for the start of the match was made, the two jumped away from each other. They probably avoided being ambushed by each other. However, from the point where they jumped back, they now jumped out in opposite directions. In other words, they are on a collision course with each other. The sound of wooden swords colliding with each other is heard. Both sides swing their swords in almost the same trajectory, and as a result, their swords cross right in front of each other''s faces. They then engage in a sword-batting contest. Oh!It''s been heated right from the start! From the looks of it, it seems that they are evenly matched in strength. In fact, there is not much difference in strength between <> and <>. At most, <> is about 20% stronger. But on the contrary, there was a <. As Jin guessed, <> was somewhat lighter than <>. The difference in weight is significant in a push-and-pull situation. The lighter one is defeated by the lighter one. Of course, there is a technique to make the lighter weight not to be defeated by the lighter weight. But the current Phantom had not yet mastered such a technique. The current < has not yet mastered such a technique. "Hmmm, <>, you''re good. Or perhaps Donald''s instructions are more appropriate." "Jin brother, explain?" Erza responds to his soliloquy with a request, and Jin begins to explain. "Well, when you push each other, the frictional force between the soles of your feet and the ground is also important. "Hmm, I think I understand." It is easier to understand if you think of pulling each other rather than pushing each other. If the force is the same, the one with the higher frictional force will win. "Friction force is the product of the coefficient of friction and weight. Since the ground surface is the same, if the coefficient of friction between the soles of the golem''s feet is the same, the heavier the golem is, the greater the frictional force. "Sure, that''s true." "At ......, it was difficult when pulling each other, but when pushing each other, by pushing slightly upward from the bottom, you can produce the same effect as if your own weight had increased by using the pushing force of the other person." "Ah, I see." "But I haven''t used <>, probably because I haven''t had the chance to learn such a technique. And, also without a doubt, <> is lighter." * * * The two teams are evenly matched!The battle is exciting! While the quick attacks and defenses are a feast for the eyes, these evenly matched fights between the two are also worth watching. The audience clenched their fists tightly and looked at the two figures, sparing not even a blink of an eye. , perhaps realizing that he was at a disadvantage at this point, suddenly jumped back. A human being might lose his balance, for example, by stumbling forward when his opponent unexpectedly relaxed, but <> was quick to react. He twisted his body and jumped to the side in a slightly unreasonable position. And it was right. Once back, lunged forward again, swinging his sword. But there was no <> there, and his slash went flying through the air. And the swinging becomes an opening again. < uses his reaction speed to block it. Again, a stalemate. The difference is that this time <> has a side cleave and <> has a lower cleave, whereas last time it was top vs. top. The previous match was great, but this is the final match. I am at a loss for words! Tolphedest, the commentator, said in a passionate voice, and Mthuston, the host, agreed with him. It''s a great match. This is a matchup of the best fighters in the world, and it''s a matchup worthy of the finals. The stalemate did not last long as both fighters simultaneously jumped back and engaged in a standoff. The two sides jumped back at the same time and engaged in a staring contest. "Haha, both of them are ...... no, I guess the <> has boosted its output. "Brother Jin, please explain again." Erza heard one of them muttering in agreement and asked Jin again. "Yes, I understand. The power sources of ......<> are probably <> and <>." It is the same power source that was once used for Elena. "Is it a little weak as a power source for ......<>?" Erza expressed her opinion and Jin affirmed it. "Correct. So it doesn''t have enough power to keep the best movement continuously. That''s why they are probably using in combination." Jin explained that the surplus of <> in the normal state is stored there, and when necessary, it is used in combination with the <> to obtain more power than the output of the <>. "Would it be correct to think that you are at full power when you are in a fierce battle, and that you are storing up power when you are in a staring contest?" Jin nodded his head in satisfaction at Erza''s statement. "I think that is correct. I think it''s fine. I think it''s only slight if it''s different. At that moment, the movement behind the magic screen changed. <''s movements became much faster. "What?< boosting its output in some way? Jin leans forward toward the magic screen. "No, no. That thing is wearing ...... wind!" used wind magic to assist his defense and movement. used it, too. "I knew you had learned. ......" Jin growled. He renews his recognition that this is a golem with processing capabilities not to be underestimated. But... "Whoa!" < had increased his speed even more. "This one''s still hiding something deep inside. That''s Donald. That''s the spirit of the former ." From what Jin can see, nothing has changed in the way he looks or acts. "This is probably an extra as a backup power source." "Brother Jin, isn''t that not very popular?" Erza asks a question to Jin''s explanation. The point is that although it does not seem to be a special technique to build up a spare mana tank, I have not seen any golem that implements such a technique. Elsa herself has never made a golem or automata with a mana tank, so she is not quite sure what to expect. "Oh, there are reasons for that. The main reason is ." "Switching?" "Switching?" "Yes. To put it simply, if you had two mana tanks, A and B, and you wanted to choose which one to use, you would need to block or open the channel for the transmission of mana, wouldn''t you?" "Hmm." "Unlike electricity, in the case of magical element (mana), such a switch cannot be made so easily." "......Okay. Thank you." < is not via a wire or a switch or something like that. In the case of the golem, the <> magical muscles and control core receive the mana semi-automatically. Therefore, in the past, <> was able to absorb Reiko''s mana. For example ......" Elsa thinks and speaks of the necessary <>. "Assuming that we can use mana from both A and B, which are equivalent mana reservoirs (mana tanks), we can usually use mana from A and fill B with half of the mana from A. If you fill B with half of the mana from A, only A''s mana will be reduced and B''s mana will not be reduced. Then, when the time comes, you can use both. ......How does this sound?" Jin nodded happily. "That''s great, Elsa. That''s a simple but effective way to handle it." Jin praised Erza for coming up with this method using only her own knowledge and experience, without anyone else telling her how to do it. At the sound of the old man''s voice, Jin and Erza stopped talking and looked at the magic screen. There, the decision had been made at last. 1117 - - 30-27 settlement When <> made a move, <> also showed some tricks. Oh, wow!Both sides are accelerating! This is a great battle! This is truly unprecedented. The voices of the MC and the commentators are rising. The crowd is clenching their fists, their hands are sweating, and they''re cheering as loud as they can. "<>!There it is!Let''s go!" Altkrieger!Don''t lose!Get him! Perhaps it''s the nature of the people of Cerroa... but battle scenes like this make their blood boil. "Your Majesty, this is a rare and famous battle." Kirk Apted, the commander of King Cesar''s Guard, is also looking on. "Yes. Though he is retired, he is still more than a match for the golem created by the former Donald of . ...... Perhaps times are changing, Your Majesty. "Perhaps so." On the playing field, the two are battling with such force that even the paving stones on which they have been < are shattered. The <, clad in <> and increasing its speed, and the <>, mobilizing its reserve mana tanks and increasing its output. The battle seemed to be evenly matched. But the longer the battle drags on, the worse the odds are against <>. If their mana reserves run out, their movements will slow down. On the other hand, <>, although it is unknown what kind of power source it has, it shows no sign of running out yet. Then, the balance is broken. The <>, probably depleting its reserve mana tank, began to move slightly slower and slower. On the other hand, <>''s movements have not slowed down. Sweat beads on the forehead of Donald Callow, who is watching from the side of the ring. (The world is a big place, to think that there are still technicians like this buried in the field. ......) Finally, before Donald''s eyes, the sword of the <> was unsheathed, and the >''s blow exploded into the empty torso. That''s it!Phantom 41 wins! The crowd cheered deafeningly. The fierce battle was finally settled!The winner is number 41! This was a match that will go down in history! The MC and the commentators still seemed to be in a state of excitement. The audience was filled with thunderous applause. The audience was still in a frenzy of applause. "I guess won after all. ......" In Horai Island, Jin was talking to himself. "Donald''s <> was also outstandingly good," he said. "Better than that, so <> is not to be underestimated?" "Yes, it is. ......We''ll be deciding on the prizes after this, so I think we should take control of the <> for the time being. . * * * * * * The winner is number 41, . It doesn''t work. His total score so far is 900 points, making him the clear winner. The second place <> has 740 points, and the third place <> has 50 0 points. In addition, there are <><><> and so on. Of course, there is also the <>. These prizes are decided after consultation with the judges and the competition directors. "As for myself, I would like to award the to the first ." "Oh, <>, why is that?" One of the tournament directors asked with interest. "Yes. We evaluated it because <> seems to be able to change the output of the limited power source ......<> to the optimal distribution instantaneously each time." Hearing Jin''s explanation, several people express surprise on their faces. "Oh my God!" That''s a feature! "I can think of a few things, but to see it through ...... is indeed the Magecraft Meister, the Magical Engineer. ......" Thus, the <> award is given to the number 1, the Steel Knight (Stahlritter)>>. The <> went to number 35, Iron Warrior, and the <> to number 2, Zerberer. The "Fighting Spirit Prize" was awarded to No. 16, . * * * * * * "Well, it was short, but it was worth watching. "Yes, it was worthwhile." In the audience, Vivian and Lecore were talking. "So, what did you learn?" Vivian shook her head at Lecorre''s question. "No, I don''t have anything. But as a <>, I am happy to see a match that is as good as the old battles." "I see. I''m glad to hear that. By the way, I heard that the winner, number 41, jumped in." "If you go to ......?" The two of them are a little hushed. (Number 41 is the one we''re talking about. (Isn''t number 41 the target we''ve been after? So you think Jix is Ganno-Asher?) Yes. ...... or one of his collaborators?) What are you going to do after this?) After the awards ceremony, I''m hoping to make contact somehow.) Yes, that''s the only way to get in touch with him.) (I''m wondering if we can make some kind of contact after the awards ceremony. The winners, Mr. Jix, #41 and his golem, . Congratulations! "I am honored." The award ceremony was held amidst a storm of applause. The winners, runners-up, and prize winners were, in this order The runner-up, Mr. Donald Callow #40 and his golem <>. Congratulations! "Thank you very much." Third place, number 2, Mr. Jarui Dare and his golem, <>. That was close. I''ll do my best. Magecraft Meister Award, first prize, Erich Gifro and his golem, <>. Well done, sir. "Thank you, sir." "For effort: ....... Technical award: ...... The Fighting Spirit Award: ...... After all the awards, King Cesar gave his congratulations. 1118 - - 30-28 Battle, Analysis "You won. ......" Garik Ash let out a small sigh. "Well, we''re back on schedule. Now it''s up to you." The mutterings were conveyed to the old man by , who had been watching him since his <> had disappeared. This revealed the connection between Jix and Garik. What remains is the purpose. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3:00 PM. The awarding ceremony is over, but there is a little too much time left. "Shall we have some entertainment? The convention directors consulted with each other and came to such a conclusion. "<>, could you do something for us? Jin received such a request. "If possible, I''d like to ask you to do a mock battle." Jix offered. This was just what Jin had hoped for. It would give him the opportunity to analyze the Phantom. Then armor? No, no armor will be fine. If the weapon is a wooden sword... Well, yes. "Well, it''s not like I''m going to grade them." So, the wooden sword and no armor are used for the <. Ladies and gentlemen!We will now have a mock battle between the winner, number 41, <, and the golem <> of the head judge of this tournament, Mr. Jin Nido, the Magecraft Meister <>! At this announcement, the audience erupted, and those who had been sitting up to leave sat down again. < and have longswords in their hands. The conditions are the same. (Now, can you analyze the details of <>?) Jin in Horai Island is also looking forward to this battle. (His martial arts skills are ...... good enough for an ordinary soldier of the Shoro Empire. The rest is just physical ability.) (We can steal their skills, but not their physical abilities. <> The <> is in a waiting position to see how things go. In contrast, <> approaches slowly. When the distance between the two is less than two meters, <> steps forward. A light "kaaan" sound is heard. It is the sound of longswords clashing with each other. From the sound, it is clear that neither of them put much force on the other. After a quick hit, the two swordsmen jumped back about one meter and faced each other again. So, they''re both just waiting to see what happens. It seems so. But the speed of both of them was quite high. I wonder what would happen if they were to fight seriously? I''m looking forward to it! "A golem of the Magecraft Meister. This is a great opportunity. Jix, you''ll do fine, won''t you? Garrick Ash. "Mr. Jin Nido. I met him once before in the ruins of the Kingdom of Egelea. Even then I thought he was an excellent magecraftsman. ...... Lukor said. Jin-san, you must have something on your mind. I''ll have to keep an eye out for it). Vivian also paid attention to this match. The two on the playing field faced each other for a while and then started to turn slowly to the right. Just when the observers thought that they were going much faster, there was a loud bang, and the movement stopped. As they looked, the swords swung at each other clashed, and they were in a fierce clash. The swords appear to be evenly matched in strength. The swords, which had been subjected to <> and <>, flexed, and even those watching could imagine how much force was being exerted on them. Almost simultaneously, the wooden sword shatters. > The two halted for a moment at the shout of the management, received the wooden sword and faced each other again. > The match is resumed. This time, the two players suddenly step forward and exchange sword blows. A series of light cracking noises are heard. "Wow. ......" one of the spectators suddenly said. That''s amazing swordsmanship!It''s as good as the semifinals and the finals! I''m impressed with your work. ...... No, it goes both ways. Jin Nido lives up to his name and Jix, as the winner of the competition, is a top-notch engineer. Both are engineers of the highest caliber. * * * * "...... What is that commentator looking at?That''s the highest level. In Horai Island, Erza, who was staring at the magic screen, muttered a disapproving look. She was dissatisfied that Jin''s ability was underestimated. And true to her word, the output of <> is still at about 30 percent. "But they don''t seem to be at full power yet either. The two are cutting back and forth between each other, partly because the wooden sword would not be able to hold up at full power. "Well, well. "Well, well... it''s not a bad thing to be able to buy time. We''ve got a lot of data." The other party must have analyzed and mastered the ''s martial arts and movements, but his martial arts are at the level of a common soldier of the Shoro Empire, and his movements are at 30 percent of the output. They have more to gain from this. "Hmm, as I thought, the armor is made of foamed light silver, the same material as the . It seems to be impregnated with a fluid metal. It is possible to analyze the data at such a close range of the Tsubagakure. They sent us quite detailed data. "And if you watch how they move, you can see it. That armor is almost hollow inside. That''s why it''s so light." The law of inertia is still valid in this world. The heavier the object, the more force is needed to stop it. "And the center of gravity seems a bit high. The head is not hollow, but may be filled with a control core or mana tank. In that case, the head would have the disadvantage of being a vital point, but with that much movement, it seems unlikely that it would take a blow to the head. "So, if you fill it with , does it become heavier?" Erza''s guess was correct. Jin nodded. "I suppose so. Now if we could only figure out what the fluid metal is. But that would be difficult. Even if we use , we can''t know anything about a material that Jin doesn''t know. "Also, I wonder where he is getting the mana to generate such a large amount of movement. < equipped with a . Even if the output is only 30 percent, it''s still impressive that it can operate for such a long period of time. "This is not to be underestimated." Jin reminds himself once again. The battle between the two fighters was becoming more and more heated on the playing field. 1119 - - 30-29 Cheers 1 [Claire] [Claire] Oh, my God!That was a great battle! I thought the finals were great, but this is even better! Absolutely, sir. This is the ultimate match!It''s the ultimate battle! In the arena, there were two fighters who repeatedly struck each other, moved away from each other, got closer, got closer, and struck each other again. The strength of their footsteps caused the repaired paving stones to crack and shatter. The stones were scattered around the area. And then, for the second time, they struck each other. "Ah!" A voice from the audience. Once again, the wooden sword shattered. > Two bodies stopped moving at the call of the management. "...... What do we do?" This is the chairman of the tournament committee. By "what do we do", I mean the playing field, which is in shambles from the two bodies running around in all directions. "Well, it''s just a sideshow, isn''t it? "I agree. I agree. Then it would be wise to stop here. < loses, it will be a blemish on the championship. < loses, the name of Magecraft Meister will be tarnished. With these considerations in mind, the chairman of the tournament committee decides to end the sideshow competition at this point. > Although a little indigestion could not be denied, the match was exciting enough, and the audience gave a round of applause. Thus ended the first Golem Competition (Gompetition) of the Kingdom of Selroa. The golem competition (gompetition) was over, but the accompanying events still continued. This is the banquet. This is an occasion for the contestants to make connections with influential people, as well as a place to celebrate their efforts. Jin dislikes such occasions, but in his position as the head of the jury, he could not refuse. Fortunately, the contestants in the Kingdom of Celuloa are , so Jin entrusts them with the task. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now, let''s see what Garik Ash outside will do. Jin starts to check another matter of concern. The "Elm" of the "Covert Task Force (SP)" has disappeared from sight and is now on the move, as instructed by the "Mere Old Man. "Well, the plan is working up to the halfway point, huh?" Garrick whispered and left the standing room. He does not communicate with Jix and seems to go straight back to his carriage. At the carriage, he bumps into Vivian and Lukor. No wonder, since the golem competition is over and everyone is getting ready to go home. "Oh, are you all right now? "Well, what about you?" Garik nods his head in response to Lukor''s question. He had been unconscious for so long that he did not know their faces. On the contrary, Vivian and Lukor know his face. I''m Lukor and this is Via. This is Vivien and this is Via. We were in a carriage accident this afternoon. "Oh!So that''s who you are! Galik is convinced by Lukor''s words. It was an accident that could not be said to be the fault of either party. It seems we both survived, so there are no hard feelings, is that correct? Garik, who had fainted, made such a suggestion. Neither Lukor nor Vivian wanted to make things worse. "If you''re not in a hurry, I''d be happy to have dinner with you afterwards. "...... sounds good." After a few moments of hesitation, Garik accepts Lukor''s offer. "Actually, I heard there''s a good place to eat just down the road. He has one of his two assistants look for it and makes a reservation. The man who helped him knew that after an event such as the Golem games (gompetition), these restaurants would be full to capacity. He seemed to be competent in everything but the most important research. "I see, I see..." We''ll go ahead of you. Please follow us. "Yes, sir." Thus, the three of them got into their respective carriages and set out. Garik''s carriage was almost undamaged in spite of the fall. Lecore was convinced that it was natural since it was designed to carry such a heavy load. On the other hand, the carriage that Vivienne and Lecole are riding in was slightly distorted when it fell over. It is a good thing that it runs fine. After a while, the wheels started to rattle. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked the guy helping me, He replied, "We''ll fix it later, but for now we''ll try to keep it going. He replied, "We''ll fix it later, but for now we''ll manage to keep it. The carriage somehow made it to its destination, despite the vibration. It was a store located a little off the downtown area. "Ah, this way, this way..." said the man who stayed behind to make a reservation. The man who stayed behind to make a reservation leads the group to the restaurant. It was a nice restaurant with a proper parking lot. "We''ve got one more person. Is it okay?" "Yes, we''re fine. He said that he reserved the table for five people because it was just available. Including Garik, there were exactly five of us. "You''re lucky." "Come on, let''s go. This way, this way." A man helps us into the restaurant. "Welcome, sir." Hey, this is Lukor, the guy who booked you. "Yes, Mr. Lukor, there are five of you. This way please. From there, the restaurant staff shows us to our seats, which are separated by partitions. There was one large round table. Five chairs were placed around it. Vivian thought to herself, "I see. If it were a square table, she had thought that the number of five people at the table would be too large. The menu was left to the restaurant. When the five of us are seated, the waiters bring in our food in a very maneuverable manner. The food was probably already prepared, or they were making a lot of the same dishes. "We don''t have much on the menu here, but the taste is guaranteed. The man helping the waiter said, "We have a small menu, but the taste is guaranteed." Judging from what he said, it seems that the price and the taste are reflected in the reduced labor required by the small menu. "Well, let''s have a toast," said Lecore. Lukor says, and Garik nods his head. "That''s good, but to what?" Vivian said, "Well, I think it''s a toast to our meeting. Vivian said, and the group did not object, "Well, to the meeting." "Cheers." "Cheers." The three of us raised a glass of wine, though it was tactless not to use a glass, and toasted. The two assistants were quietly sipping wine in the corner. 1120 - - 30-30 Cheers 2 > Cheers! Meanwhile, a grand party was also being held at the Second Guest House of the Kingdom of Celuloa. The toast was given by Jin''s doppelganger. "No, <>, thank you for your hard work. No, it was an interesting tournament. The person who spoke to Jin was Latant, Director General of the First Ministry of Technology. He is in charge of this event. "I heard that <> has participated in the Shoro Empire''s <> competition. How do you compare to our country''s ?" "Yes, I have. ......" At that time, it was only a simple event, as it was held under the challenge of Elsa''s father, who was a bit crazy. So I confess the truth. "It''s hard to compare since I was in a simple competition, but I think it''s good to have a competition like this one. Above all, he thinks it is a good way to find engineers who have been buried. "I see. I am glad to hear you say so. Is there anything you''ve noticed?" I would like to ask you this as an informal chat, Ratant. Jin (his doppelganger) also understood his intention, "Yes, I think so. Not only for combat. I think it would be good to have a competition for golems that help people in their daily lives. I say to him. "Oh?You mean you want golems like your golem to compete? Yes. Yes. Of course, in a completely separate category from combat. In other words, it''s a sort of gender-specific competition. "I see. That sounds interesting, and more importantly, spectacular. Although it was just a chat, Latant seemed to like the idea. "No, no, Mr. Jix, I had no idea that a technician of your caliber was still out there in the field. In another corner, Jix is surrounded by local nobles. His face is not quite happy, but there is a hint of dissatisfaction in his expression. Perhaps he would like to get closer to a higher-ranking nobleman. "I heard that, Elsa Ehime. After the engagement, there will be a wedding, won''t there? "...... thank you very much." It is King Cesar who is talking to Elsa''s doppelganger. "You will not be able to come to our country until later, but we will give you a great banquet. "...... Um, please, in moderation." Since it is Erza herself who is actually in control at the moment, her reply is not too strange. "I''m sorry, Mr. Yar''eidare." "I''m sorry, Mister Donald," she says. < can do. In another corner, Yar''eidare and Donald Callow, guests from the Kingdom of Egelea, are chatting. "What. I''m retired now, so I''m not anymore." "But he''s still very much alive and well. He still has much to learn. "It''s the same for me. I was quite confident in my work, but I did not win the championship. Erich Gifro of the Shawlo Empire joined him. The second, third, and fourth place winners were all present. And then there''s more. "<> was a novel design, wasn''t it? Jin (his doppelganger) also joins the list. Of course, Jin himself is piloting this doll. "This is Jin-dono, I''m glad to hear you say so. "How to use the limited output was a good theme. Erich Gifro was surprised to hear that Jin''s doppelg?nger was blurred out. "Well, well, well, as expected of a . Erich Jiffro expressed his respect for Jin, who had discovered that he could freely allocate the output. Donald Callow, who had met Jin when he changed from the <> to the <>, was an acquaintance of his. He does not know that the < who destroyed the <> is the same person as Jin, or rather, that he is a stand-in controlled by Jin. "By the way, the idea of wearing <>, that was wonderful. Now Jin (his doppelganger) talks to Yaruidare. "No, I am ashamed. <, but I can only do so much. "No, that''s not true. I am truly impressed. Jin, who had a wealth of materials and blessed abilities, felt passionate about his attitude as he strove to push the limits. * * * * After chatting for a while, Jin (his doppelganger) looked for Erza (his doppelganger) with his eyes and found that she was still talking with King Cesar about something. Then Jin walked slowly toward the doppelganger, and both Elsa and Cesar seemed to notice him at the same time. "Hello, <>, I was just talking about you with my fiance. "Your Majesty, congratulations on the success of this . "Mm, thank you." Then Jix arrives. He was probably too shy to approach the king alone, but now that Jin and Erza (his doppelganger) were there, he thought it would be easier for him to talk to them. The local aristocrats who had been surrounding her shied away, and Jix was the only one who approached her. Excuse me for interrupting your pleasant conversation. Jin-dono ...... or should I call you <>?" It was Jin who spoke first. "<>, I admire you. You weren''t at your best yet, were you?No, <> is too. Although he was speaking respectfully, some self-esteem seemed to show through in his speech. "Well, mock battles are just for fun, and the true value of <> is in the battle. "I don''t think it''s a good idea to limit the role of the golem. Jin lightly retorted, and Jix glared at him as he spoke back. "Even if you try to make it look good, the purpose of a golem is to fight. It can fight at a level that humans cannot reach. ...... And eventually, instead of people fighting, a golem can fight." "I agree that it is a replacement for humans, but it is not limited to fighting. "No, this kind of technology is most developed in times of war. History has proven that. Jin, who is in control of the doppelganger, tried to be more confident than usual. "But, three hundred years ago, in the ......" "That was a stain on history!" Jix interrupted briskly before everyone could finish. "If it hadn''t been for that, the technology of magic would have developed much, much more ......!" "No, that''s why you can''t say that wars develop technology in general." Since this is a historical fact, it is hard for Jix to refute it. "...... but ......!" Jin interrupted his attempts to say something else, and then he added, "The human loss is also great. "There is a great loss of human resources and goods. It will reduce our national strength. Of course, I do not deny fighting for the sake of defense. But I don''t think we should fight wars for the sake of fighting wars. "......!" Jin''s words left Jix speechless. Jin himself is aware that he is not much of a debater, but it seems that Jix is not a good negotiator. "Jix," he said. King Cesar calls out to him. "...... is your majesty," he replies in a slightly dark voice. Jix replies in a slightly dark voice. Where did you learn this skill? "...... I had a few temporary teachers, but mostly I am self-taught." "Hmmm. May I ask the name of your teacher? "Yes. ...... Fresias and ......" And? "...... Zidane, sir." 1121 - - 30-31 fastball "Hmm, Frescias and Zidane. I''ve never heard of them. < "Yes. By Zidane, do you mean Mr. Zidane Casey? Yes, that''s right. When Jin''s doppelganger told him his last name, Jix''s eyes widened. "Well, if <> knows about this Zidane Casey, then he must be quite a person, right?" "No, I don''t know his reputation. No, I don''t know about his reputation. I see. I see. So that''s how it is. No, the world is a small place. King Cesar, who does not know what is going on, is laughing. "Yes, yes..." Jix, on the other hand, looks a little pale. Jin decides to give him a further push. He decided to probe into the matter by borrowing the mouth of the doppelganger. "By the way, it seems that <>''s armor is made of a material I''ve never seen before. "Yes, well..." The answer was not very clear. Jin changes the subject further. "What is the purpose of your participation in the Golem competition, Mr. Jix? "What?" "Well, since you jumped in, you must have had a purpose..." "......" I assume the main purpose is to get Golem to learn the technique, but I''m still not sure where it goes from there, so I decided to ask him straight out. Jix opened his mouth slowly. "One thing I wanted to know was what > was capable of. And secondly, to show the world what <> can do." Jix suddenly drops to one knee in front of King Cesar. "By doing so, I would like to serve him. This is the third thing. The third thing is this: "Hmmm..." * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm...you want to be an officer. If that''s the case, the Kingdom of Cerroa is better than Count Galana, isn''t it? On Horai Island, Jin and the old man were having a discussion after hearing about Jix through the doppelganger. "Oh, I see. I thought you were after the prize money." < is not very high. Jin didn''t remember every bit of it because he wasn''t interested in it, "Brother Jin, the first prize was 100,000 dollars and the second prize was 50,000 dollars. Elsa remembered. About one million yen is not a lot of money for research. Unlike the golem boat competition in the Kingdom of Elias, which had a prize of one million tolls, the golem competition (gompetition) was more about honor and making connections with influential people. "I wonder if King Cesar will allow Jix to be an officer or ......." He was the one who said he had memorized the names of the officers and nobles who had approved of his jumping in. Jin decided to wait and see what would happen. * * * * * * "Hmm, an official. I see." He must have absolute confidence in his skills, since he is a better engineer than Donald Callow, the former . "Well, that''s not something to talk about at a banquet like this. Let''s do it again tomorrow. King Cesar easily dodges Jix''s glare. "Yes, tomorrow, then. "Yes. I keep my promises. I''ll pick you up at 9:00 a.m. Where are you staying? "...... Actually, I couldn''t find a place to stay in time, so I''m thinking of sleeping in a carriage." When King Cesar heard this, he called his attendants who were nearby and whispered something to them. "I will lend you the guest room of the second guest house. You may follow him. "Yes, thank you, sir. Jix was escorted out of the banquet hall by one of the king''s attendants. "Well, ..." King Cesar said to Jin. "I am sorry, but could you be present tomorrow?" "That''s fine, but what do you really want, Your Majesty?Are you going to hire me? "...... I cannot tell you that here. But I don''t like the idea of using any means to an end. Jin guessed that he was talking about the jumpers and the people who admitted them, and stopped asking any more questions. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Vivian and her friends were enjoying their meal peacefully. "Well, you are not a magecraftsman, are you? Lukor looked a little surprised, and Garik Ash nodded his head. "I am an alchemist by profession. I also have a bit of a background in magical engineering (magecraft). "I see. It would be very useful to be able to do both, wouldn''t it? Vivien tells you that she knows a magecraftsman and an alchemist. "Oh, yes!What is his name?" Vivien regrets saying such a thing, but it is already too late. "Well, the alchemist is Thore Eschenbach. The magecraftsman is his wife, Stearina. I had no choice but to tell him the names of my friend and her husband. "That''s great!He is one of the best alchemists in the Shoro Kingdom. And Stearena ......, you used to be <> ...... or <>, didn''t you?" Garik seemed to know both of their names. "Yes, I do," he said. "Well, this is a great way to make friends! Garik is in a good mood and pours himself a glass of wine. Then, Lukoil dropped a bombshell on him. "I have a question for you, have you ever heard of a man named Ganno-Asher?" "Boo-hoo!" Garik spurts out the wine he was about to drink. He sobs and wipes his mouth with a napkin, as if it had fallen into his windpipe. He is breathing hard. "Where did you hear that name?" She is a little teary-eyed. "I had a friend named Zidane Casey. He used to be a student of mine and suddenly he disappeared ......." That''s all Lecorre has to say, "Oh, I just remembered something urgent. Thanks for dinner. I''ll see you again somewhere. He got up from his seat and walked out quickly. "What the hell is that guy?" Lecole tilted her head and Vivienne frowned and held her head in her hands. Vivienne had not expected Lecorre to be so incapable of belly dancing. Vivienne, who is a and therefore has a certain amount of social contact with people, had an idea that Garik Asch was suspicious. So he was wondering how to find out, when Lukor asked him a direct and straightforward question. "...... I didn''t expect Lukor to be this honest." Vivienne let out a small sigh. 1122 - - 30-32 Brothers Garik Ash jumps out and is followed by of the . Garik untied the rope holding his carriage, jumped on, and hurried to leave. It is already night. There are only a few streetlights using magic lamps, but it is already dark. The speed of the carriage is a little faster than on foot, and it is not difficult for , who has good night vision, to keep up with it. The carriage drove towards the outskirts of the city. When the carriage reaches the castle wall, it continues to run along it. The direction is south. Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Cerroa, is a city surrounded by five layers of walls. The innermost wall, the fifth wall, encloses the castle itself, and the fourth wall, which serves as a defense wall, lies outside the fifth wall, between which is the city of Esia. The area outside the fourth wall, surrounded by the third wall, is large and has a military drill ground. There is also a town and people live there. It is along the third wall that Garrick is now driving his carriage. The gates are closed at night, so no one can go out without permission. (I wonder how far they are willing to go?) (How far do you think you''re going?) As the following thinks this, the carriage comes to a halt in the dark, out of sight. "......We''re screwed!" Garik looked up to the heavens as he muttered to himself. "I never thought they would mention Ganno-Asher''s name. He looked around to make sure no one was chasing him and moved to the back of the truck. "I don''t know if I can meet up with my brother ......." With these words, he pulled out a piece of armor. The gesture showed that the armor was light. "Well, it''s not enough, but I''ll make one." Garik opens the lid of the barrel containing the pile of and pushes the armor inside. As Jin had guessed, the armor was made of foamed metal, and was to be used by soaking it in the fluid metal, as was proven here. <''s vision, the old man records the scene. One piece of armor has absorbed half a barrel of fluid metal. It turns a dull color. "That''s it. " Following the key word, the armor begins to move, and he emerges from the barrel under his own power. "I''m going to rest. Watch the perimeter. With that command, Garik lies down in the corner of the back of the truck, wrapped in a blanket. All that remains is silence. remains still and waits for tomorrow. * * * * * * * * * * * * * it is. ...... It is already midnight on Horai Island due to the time difference. Jin and Erza are sleeping. But the old man does not sleep. He is recording and analyzing the information sent to him. <> As of now, Garik Ash is not a criminal. Especially here in the Kingdom of Selroa. <, he cannot be charged with a crime in the Kingdom of Egelea unless he is wanted internationally. Since it was not an emergency, the old man did not want to resort to strong measures. Mainly for the honor of Jin. Garik is believed to have some kind of connection with Jix who is in the guest house. The old man decided to wait for the next day. The night dawned with mixed feelings. After a night of mixed feelings, the morning of August 1st came. It was already dawn in Horai Island, and both Jin and Erza had finished their breakfast and were watching what was going on. In case you are wondering what is going to happen, the doppelganger had decided to leave the kingdom of Selroa to the doppelganger. First, Garik made his move. The time was approximately 6:00 a.m. The summer sun was already well up. The summer sun had already risen long enough. "Ah, morning. It looks like no one was chasing us." The road is cobblestone paved in many places, so it is difficult to make rut marks even when driving a heavy carriage. "Now, how are we going to meet up with my brother?" He pulls a piece of dried meat out of his baggage and begins to nibble on it. "I think ...... it was a mistake to run away so early," he says. He ...... Lukor, you say, he''s not a problem, but there was a guy helping him ......." Gulik drank from his canteen, wiped his mouth, and thought again. "...... Anyway, I''ll have to be at the designated place to keep in touch with my brother." He untied the rope holding the wagon and sat down on the dais with the golem. Listen, you need to learn how to drive a carriage." Without hearing any reply, Garik started the wagon. After about ten minutes of driving, he decides that the golem has learned how to drive, so he moves to the back of the wagon and pulls a blanket over his head. "Now he won''t recognize me at a glance. So the carriage turned 180 degrees and started to go in the direction from which it had come last night. The goal was the parking lot of the golem competition (gompetition). The two sides of the road are the Kingdom of Selroa and the Kingdom of Sellore. On the other hand, Jix, aka of the Second Guest House of the Kingdom of Selroa, is already up and getting ready. He was already up and ready to go. "Well, I wonder if Ganno''s here as planned. Declaring that he was going for a walk before breakfast, Jix went outside and went to the parking lot for the golem games (gompetition). "Oh, you''re here, Ganno. "Brother. Oh, my God. I''ve gotten myself into a lot of trouble, but it''s all going according to plan. I see. Good. Did you make the ......1 body? Jix asks, looking at the dull-colored golem playing the role of a guardian. "Yeah. I told you it would be a hassle.I had to make them for that reason. "Well, that''s okay. I think I can make about ten more. "Yeah. The barrels and their contents are safe. Garrick, who was called Ganno, tapped the barrel. "Okay, everything is fine. I have a meeting with the king of the land at nine o''clock. He will call you here then or later. "Okay. I will wait for you until then. After this conversation, Garik......, or Ganno, said a word of caution. "Okay. I''ll wait until then. ......Oh yeah, watch out for that friend of yours..." "Uh-huh. Okay." After this discussion, Jix turned on his heel and returned to the second guest house. Breakfast was just about ready at the Guest House No. 2. Jin and Erza (his doppelganger) were already seated and half finished with their breakfast. Then Jix arrives. "<>, good morning. Jix-san, good morning. After exchanging a brief greeting, Jix took his seat and began to eat the breakfast that had been brought to him. Finally, ......, it''s time!) His face showed some kind of determination. 1123 - - 30-33 Revengeors At 9:00 a.m., Cesar the King of Cerroa summoned Jix as promised the day before. The place was a small conference room in the second guest house. In attendance were Ragaid, Secretary of the First Military Ministry, Latant, Secretary of the First Ministry of Technology, and Kirk Atkinson, SS Commander. Also present are former Donald Callow and Jin. Elsa is relaxing in another room. Both Jin and Erza, however, are . "Well, Jix, as promised, let''s take our time today and listen to what you have to say. King Cesar, seated in the front, in the most senior position, spoke up. "Yes. ...... I have only one wish, that you adopt the same type of golem as <> and eventually eliminate human soldiers." "Hmm. I''m willing to adopt a golem with better performance, but I can''t promise to eliminate human soldiers. "......" Jix was silently thinking about something, but then he stood up and shouted loudly. "That''s not a word I''d expect from the brave and daring King of Cerroa. I think my golem is necessary for the further expansion of my kingdom as well as for the annexation of the surrounding countries, don''t you?" What? "Besides, my golem, as you can see, can learn your opponent''s martial arts in a short time. And with the magic of <> it can be multiplied as much as you like!" "<>?" Jin had never heard of this magic before. "That''s right. It is possible to duplicate the control core of a golem. < But I will not interject here. "O king!Use my power!And the annexation of the Kingdom of Egelea! Jix''s words are becoming more and more dangerous. But Jin and Erza can''t help but feel uncomfortable with his words. "Wait, Jix! I have no intention of annexing the Kingdom of Egelea, do you?" But it was King Cesar who seemed to feel it the most. "But Your Majesty!Until last year. ......" King Cesar interrupted Jix, who had just opened his mouth, by raising his hand. "It seems you are mistaken. Unlike King Richard before me, I have no desire to expand my kingdom. I have never wavered in my will to enrich the nation. These words came as a bolt from the blue to Jix. "Oh, no. ......" His previous momentum was gone, and he collapsed into a heap, slumping into a chair. "I see, you came here to sell yourself as the first king, didn''t you?" I finally found the answer to my question. "......Why do you want a fight so badly?" King Cesar asked Jix, who seemed to have lost his nerve. "......Vengeance......, I guess." Jix replied in a whisper. "No,...... my family and my brother''s family,...... but the village we lived in was wiped out in a conflict ten years ago. The village where we lived was wiped out in a conflict 10 years ago. It was a small village near the border with the Kingdom of Egelea." "I see." King Cesar nodded. 10 years ago, there had indeed been many skirmishes near the border. "My father was sent out as a soldier and went to the battlefield. He went off to war and didn''t come back. "I didn''t know that." "I thought, if we''re going to go to war, why not just use golems and not send people to fight?" Jix looked up sharply when he said that. "That''s why!Me and my brother!We have been investigating the ruins!And apprentice to an engineer!We''ve been dreaming of ...... this day! Jix''s face flushed, ready to bite. "Your Majesty!My golem can be mass-produced!I can overwhelm the surrounding countries!That''s why ......!" King Cesar turns to him and says in a quiet voice, "I''m sorry for your past. "......I sympathize with your past. But it is not my way. I do not like to fight a battle that is not necessary." "......!" Jix grits his teeth and clenches his fists so hard they bleed. "Besides, the ends don''t justify the means. Your methods are a bit too violent." King Cesar produced a piece of leather paper from his pocket. "I was a little curious, so I looked it up. It seems that not long ago, in the Kingdom of Egelea, an unusual golem was destroying the golems of the guards and hurting the rogues. ......" "That was in the Kingdom of Egelea!That kingdom is the enemy ......!" Jix admits that he did it, even though King Cesar didn''t say who did it. "We''re friends now. I told you.We don''t have time for wars. The world needs to change. How can you expect it to change? Jix was still not convinced. His excitement had not abated, and his eyes were still bloodshot. "<>,<>," he said. And he is not the only one. There is also a group called <>. Both of them aim to lead the world to peace and a better life." "Magecraft Meister!Nostalgia!What''s that supposed to mean?The (?????) technology my brother and I have acquired is much more advanced than what we have now!" King Cesar laughed ruefully and shook his head. "You don''t understand, ...... I''m sorry." "What is it about the Magecraft Meister?We drew yesterday, but that was only because it was a mock battle!If anything is possible in battle, we won''t lose! "Jix, the role of the golem is not only combat.You saw the maidens he showed us on the first day? They do the housework and are good cooks. They are indispensable in the world to come. But Jix was not convinced. "No!No!No!The golem''s raison d''etre is combat, its very nature is to destroy and annihilate its enemies!" King Cesar sighed. "......... I guess we''re still on the same page here. I guess there''s no point in discussing this any further." At this point, Jin (his doppelganger) spoke up. "Isn''t the engineering magic of <> a wonderful technology? Don''t you think we should use it for the benefit of the people at large? But it seems to have had the opposite effect. "Shut up!You don''t know what you''re talking about!You don''t know what it''s like to have your family, your friends, and your home destroyed!" "......" "You, who have been blessed with everything, can''t understand the despair I have felt since all my hard work has gone to waste!" Jix was quite excited, and Jin (his doppelganger) stopped interrupting. "...... Your Majesty, how do you do?" Lagarde, Secretary of the First Military Ministry, and Latant, Secretary of the First Technical Ministry, were a little, or rather a lot, confused by the fact that the meeting had gone a little differently than originally planned. "Well, we were not afraid to introduce a golem with good performance. King Cesar muttered regretfully. Hearing this, Jix turned to the king again, "Your Majesty!I ask you once again to order a mock battle with the golem of the Magecraft Meister! "Fight, what?" "I will show you how powerful the Phantom Golem is!I''m sure that will change your mind!" "Fumu......" King Cesar looked at Jin and asked. "<>, what do you think?I cannot force you to do so. I leave it to your judgment." "Yes. ......" The old man''s advice came to the ears of Jin, who had not expected such a turn of events, and based on it, he said a few words. "......Lord Jix, that offer does not benefit me in any way." "...... Then, what do you want?" "If I win, I would like to know what your golem is based on." A hint of surprise flashed across Jix''s face for a moment as he heard the request, but it quickly faded. "...... fine. But if I win, I''ll take your golem apart and see what''s inside. "Sure." Thus, Jin and Jix had a rematch. 1124 - - 30-34 Re-war The location was decided to be at the training ground between the 3rd and 4th walls. < is also located between the 3rd and 4th walls, but at a much greater distance. The location was chosen to be the furthest from human habitation. "This is near the center of the training ground. It is far away from the houses and it is not likely to cause any casualties. King Cesar said. In the end, King Cesar, SS Commander Kirk Apted, First Military Minister Ragaed, First Technical Minister Latant, and others came along. Jin is accompanied by a and Jix by a . Erza is with her doppelganger. Donald is not here, by the way. "Brother!" Then the carriage arrives. "I''d like to introduce you. This is my brother Ganno. In the carriage was a dull-colored golem. "First of all, please take a look. As you can see, we can have a golem of the same type as the phantom in no time at all. "Hmm, I see. I admit that it is an advantage. First Technical Director Latant nodded. Jix briefly explained to his brother Ganno what had happened so far. "Brother!So, if we win this match, will we have achieved our long-cherished dream?" "Well, yes. Well, it''s only the first step, but at least our golem will be adopted. Good luck! I know. With all the faces assembled, it was time for a mock battle. "As for weapons, I have prepared iron bars as you asked. Ragade, Director General of the First Military Ministry, asks them if they are sure. "Yes. If it has a blade on it, it would be dangerous, and wooden ones are not strong enough. Jin (his doppelganger) replies, and applies just in case. and each take a steel rod. "Please keep at least 50 meters away from the bars, it''s dangerous." Jin''s doppelganger tells the Cesar kings. Everyone nodded in agreement. King Cesar gave the signal to begin. "Let''s start ......!" suddenly jumped out and delivered a lightning strike. But <> dodged it with a comfortable margin. But <> chased after <> even faster than in the mock battle. "He''s getting serious." Jin''s doppelganger mutters. But <> is not yet in full swing. His speed increased to the point that it was clearly visible to the onlookers. * * * * "......Which technology is superior to the technology of 50000 years ago, and which is superior to the technology of 1000 years ago plus the technology of today? Let''s see which is better, the technology of 95,500 years ago or the technology of 1000 years ago plus the technology of today''s Japan. Jin, who was staring at the magic screen on Horai Island, said to himself. "<> versus Adriana''s!" Jin seemed to be getting stressed out from just watching the game. "Steward, when you''re done checking out your opponent''s moves, you can go all out!" Hearing this, Erza asked Jin a question. "Brother Jin, won''t your opponent learn from you? But his reply was a smile. Don''t worry. My martial arts are at the level of a soldier of the Shoro Empire. But I will increase my speed and power. You can''t imitate me there, can you?" "......, that''s for sure." You can imitate his technique but not his physical ability. Jin challenged the competition with his physical ability. * * * * * * Oh! Your Majesty!Please step back a little more! When the aftermath of the battle between the two fighters reached King Cesar and his men, who were watching from about 50 meters away, SS Commander Kirk Aptt advised his lord to keep his distance. "Yes, yes, let''s do that." Jin and Erza (their doppelg?nger) move back accordingly. They are perfectly comfortable observing the two golems as long as they can see them from a distance, so they are in line with King Cesar and his men. Meanwhile, Jix and Ganno are hiding behind the other golem, watching the battle between the two golems. "Oh, brother, you''re still amazing!" "Mm. < Do we need to use that? "I don''t know. Be prepared. "Okay." < and was becoming increasingly fierce. The iron bars clashed against each other, sending sparks flying. One moment they were locked in a fierce battle, the next they were bouncing off each other, and then they collided again. With each step, fine gravel and sand scattered and the ground caved in. "Ummm, this is what I call a <>!" "This is making the mock battle look like a child''s play." "I guess there is always a higher power." The Cesar kings look half surprised and half threatened. << "But, he''s a good man," said the king of Cesar. But what is the source of his power? On Horai Island, Jin tilts his head. < equipped with for such a long time, there is a high possibility that he has at least . Then, Erza made an unexpected guess. "Perhaps the fluid metal can store mana. "Huh?" Jin asked back for a moment, but when he realized what he meant, he thought seriously about it. At the same time, the old man started to examine it. And then he said. "That is a possibility, isn''t it? "You think so?" "Yes, yes. That''s great, Elsa. Jin praises Erza for having come up with the correct answer based on her experience and intuition. "I''m glad I could be of help. It is easy to make a mana tank by magically manipulating a magecrystal. The gaps in the crystal structure are compatible with mana. It absorbs and releases mana just like diatomaceous earth absorbs water and oil, or activated carbon absorbs fine particles. Metals, however, do not have these properties. Even if it is a . Then, what did Erza mean when she said that it can store mana? It was an inference from the that Jin had experimented with some time ago. "Isn''t that so?Elsa." "Yes. In other words, he deduced that just as mercury dissolves other metals, the , whose composition is a mystery at the moment, can dissolve or rather store <>. "I thought that if <> reacts to magic, there might be such a possibility." Elsa''s intuition is sharp. "But first we have to beat him. Since verification is not possible at the moment, Jin re-focuses his attention on the battle at hand. 1125 - - 30-35 questions and answers. In the training ground, the battle between the two was getting more and more fierce. Karatake, kesa, gyaku-kesa, yokonagi, and tsuki. From above, from below, from the right, from the left. They attacked from every possible direction and defended against each other''s attacks. They were exactly evenly matched. "Brother, are we going to get anywhere if we keep going like this? "......" Jix and Ganno are whispering in the shadow of the other golem. "Indeed, I didn''t think it would be as bad as this, but this is not going to prove the superiority of our golem. Now what should we do?" "I think we should mass produce the Golem in front of His Majesty the King. "I see!You mean to show that a powerful golem is born much faster than ever before? "Hmm, to be able to compete with Kunlun''s golem is a terrifying thing." "Your Majesty is right." This conversation was overheard by Jin''s doppelganger. Jin, who was on Horai Island, said that the analysis of the opponent''s hand had come to an end, and instructed the <> to go all out as planned. "Oh, oh! All the spectators ...... except for Jin and the others looked ...... at him. ''s movements accelerated. It was truly <. "d*mn!He still has some power left!But that''s not possible, <> would have ......! But that''s impossible. You can learn the technology, but what <> is showing you now is just basic performance. The attack of , who had increased his output, was nothing short of amazing. The two had seemed to be evenly matched, but now < was on the defensive. Even so, has been able to avoid taking a blow to the main body by using the techniques he has learned so far. "Technology versus performance, huh?" Jix muttered disgustedly while biting his teeth. But the reality was too much for him. The was faster and stronger than ever. The <> is gradually increasing his output, to see how powerful the <> is. "That''s impossible!How much power does that golem have! Phantom is completely outnumbered. And was definitely pushing into a corner. "Ah!" someone shouted. At that moment, the iron rod that <> was holding flew through the air. Then, the iron rod was swung down toward <>''s head, and stopped just before it collided with him. By all accounts, was the winner. Steward won. "His output was bigger than I thought it would be. < output. After all, they were finally able to overpower <> by raising his output to 70 percent. "Father, now we can examine the structure of that golem, as promised. "Yes, it does." Jin nodded at Reiko''s words. His face was full of anticipation. * * * * * * Until then!The winner, <>! King Cesar declares his victory from a distance. Jix and Ganno look disappointed. "Too bad, both of you." Ragaredo, the First Military Minister, says a few words of encouragement. "The opponent is wrong. < golem. Nevertheless, you should be proud of such a close battle. Latant, Director General of the First Ministry of Technology, also spoke up. It would be a waste to use it only for combat. It would be a shame to leave it for combat use only. King Cesar also spoke to the two men. "......" Both Jix and Ganno bit their lips. "<>!" Ganno shouted. "If you can create that much power, how can you be so naive?" "What?" "With that power, you could conquer the world!" ......What do you mean by conquering the world?" In response to Ganno''s desperate voice, Jin (his doppelganger) replied in a calm voice. "There is a certain amount of time for each person. I am not suited to be a ruler. There are other ways to change the world. The rapid reforms and imposed policies by the ruler will always fail at some point, Jin (his doppelganger) continued. "And we can''t afford to have the same old thing happen to us when the rulers are gone." "...... mokuami?" Ganno asked back, apparently not understanding the phrasing. Cesar and the other kings looked at each other with a >The Cesar kings looked at each other with a "......We don''t want things to go back to the way they were." Jin restated. "I don''t know what the right answer is. One thing I do know is that I have to do my part." "...... Is that simply to create a powerful golem?" "Hmm?No, it''s not. , despite his appearance, is capable of all kinds of household chores and can even create simple magical tools." "What ...... is ......?" "Oh, besides that fighting ability,......?" Jix interrupted, seemingly surprised. Combat is an added bonus. But since there is a golem competition (gompetition) this time, it is a little more powerful, but basically <> is a general-purpose golem." "......" Jix and Ganno seemed a little taken aback by Jin''s aloof words, spoken through the mouth of a doppelganger. However, Jix, who seemed to have regained his composure, told King Cesar in an emotionally stifled voice: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing. "Your Majesty, I will show you one more thing about the technology we have. Then you can make your final decision. Then he looked at Ganno. With that, he seemed to know what to do and gave some instructions to the golem standing nearby. The golem walked slowly and brought one of the barrels from the wagon. And again. He came back with two pieces of armor on either side of him. Now let me show you something. After staring at Jin''s doppelganger, Jix and Ganno each held up a piece of armor and showed it to him. "This is just armor. It is empty inside. It is made of a special material. Even King Cesar could see that it was special in that respect alone, since the joints did not come off even when lifted. In addition, he could guess that it must be light, seeing how they were handling it so lightly. "Now I will dip this into the in this barrel. Golem opens the lid. The contents of the barrel were the that Jin wanted to know about. 1126 - - 30-36 Runaway Two "Soak the armor in this." The armor absorbs the liquid metal and turns a dull color. "Next is the . Ganno summoned <> and took out a magi-crystal from its head, which he believed to be the control core. Similarly, he takes out a magi crystal from the head of the armor. "Duplicate contents. ......<>!" Jix received the copied control core from Ganno and showed it to the Cesar kings. "Now all the operational controls of <> have been copied." The copied control core is placed in the head of the armor. (I see, so there is no need for wiring of magical nerves.) Jin observes the process and obtains information. By this time, the armor was completely dull and the liquid metal in the barrel was reduced to half. Having done the same to the other, Jix and Ganno stepped back, pointed at the two pieces of armor, and called out. "<>" "<>" They chanted the key word for activation, and the armors stood up as golems. "Oh!" It''s already finished? "It sure is fast." The Cesar kings looked on in astonishment. A smile appeared on Jix''s face. Indeed, it is faster than Jin could seriously make a single golem. But... "What about the time it takes to prepare the armor and create the liquid metal?And what about the visual and auditory receptors in the head?How do you make them?" Jin''s doppelganger pointed out, and the smug look on Jix and the others'' faces disappeared. For example, it is easy to buy a retort-packed curry and cook it. For example, it is easy to buy a retort-packed curry and cook it, but it takes a lot of time and effort to make the retort-packed part. Or perhaps a cup of noodles would be a closer analogy. Even if we say that the noodles are ready after pouring hot water, we cannot say that the person who poured the hot water made all the noodles. Jin thinks that it cannot be easy to make foaming metal, and the same goes for <>. "Well, that''s ......" Jix stammers. "No, I''m not accusing you. I''m just asking you to explain as much as possible without omitting anything." "The ...... armor is ...... that ......." Jix stammers some more. "......Yes, that''s fine. Hey, Gunno, fire it all up." "Roger that, brother." "Oh, come on?" I didn''t tell you to do that! Without even a moment to stop him, he had Golem help him as well, and a total of seven pieces of armor were immersed in the . "<><><>......" Jin (his doppelganger) gave up trying to stop Jix and the others by pushing them away, and decided to watch and see what happened. "<>" Get up. "<>" "<>" ...... Then, a total of 10 golems stood in a row. One of them was a golem brought by Ganno, one was a , and the remaining eight were copies of . But I couldn''t tell which was which any more. "What do you think, Your Majesty? Look at this heroic figure!" Jix boasts. But King Cesar says coldly. "......I''m sorry, Jix, Ganno. It seems you are not what this country needs." "Why, Your Majesty!" "...... You have no sense of cooperation and you don''t listen to others. They impose their own ideas on others and do not care about them. Even if they have technology, they have no will to make use of it. This is not the kind of person you can add to your vassalage as a king of a country." "......" "......" Both Jix and Ganno are silent, clenching their fists in a rasping gesture. "...... then." Jix''s eyes were bloodshot as he looked up. "Until we alone take revenge! * * * * Jin was watching the whole thing from the command center of the Horaijima Research Institute. "I knew it, Jix and Ganno ...... especially Jix are crazy." < "...... spirit magic?" Elsa muttered with a furrowed brow. "That''s a possibility. I don''t know who did it, when it was done, or why. The characteristic of mental magic is that it weakens willpower, or reason, and makes it a puppet. In other words, they cannot suppress certain emotions. In the case of the magic that was used by the Unifilers in the past, it was characterized by emotional outbursts, especially in matters related to . In the screen, Jix has just said <>. "That idiot!" Jin shouted at the screen. If he had made such a statement in the presence of such dignitaries as King Cesar, Ragaed, Director General of the First Military Ministry, and Latant, Director General of the First Technical Ministry, there would be no way to take back what he had said. "<> alone might not be enough." "Father, I''ll go." Reiko immediately responded to Jin''s mutter. "That would be best." Jin gave Reiko a and a and sent her on her way. * * * * <. She runs from there, and arrives at the site in an instant. < and pretends that she has just arrived. "I''m here to help!" At the scene, <> is taking on a single one of the eight Niviro Golems that are about to attack. The remaining two are protecting Jix and Ganno. However, even the <> was having a bit of a hard time with the 8 to 1 ratio. Then Reiko entered the game. "Reiko, please!" Jin''s doppelganger calls out to Reiko. "Yes! Reiko fires her <> at the golem furthest away from Steward. However, the golem does not stop, even though it should have been hit by the wave. "...... I don''t have a choice." Reiko pulled out the <> from her back. 1127 - - 30-37 Suppression "...... I see, <> itself acts as a shield, so <> is less effective." For more details, it is necessary to obtain the actual object and investigate its characteristics, but Hitoshi has a hypothesis. The <> works by forcibly converting <> back to <>, but Jin thinks that the <> itself has a shielding effect, which reduces the effect of the <>. Therefore, it would be effective if the radiation was applied for a long period of time, but the opponent would not be so lenient. Then, what is the best way to disable them? The fastest way to do so is to make the <> retract the order. Reiko and the <> tried to capture Jix and Ganno, which they expected. Jix and Ganno are each guarded by one of the . Of the eight remaining golems, one was about to attack King Cesar and his party, and the other was about to attack Jin and Erza, the doppelgangers. The other six were heading in different directions, and it was obvious that the damage would spread if left unchecked. Jin regretted that he would have to resort to more extreme measures in this case. "...... We know that the control core is in the head, so I guess we''ll have to detach it." * * * "Whoa, whoa!They''ve gone crazy! Sir!Your Majesty! The attacked King Cesar and his men. The steward intercepted them. < With a dull sound unique to foam metal, the <> is blown about five meters away. "Your Majesty!This way!" Jin (his doppelganger) called out to King Cesar and his party. It is easier to protect one place than two. Jin and Erza put up a barrier. "<>, will he be all right?" Now, <> is fighting against two of them. "Yes, it''s no problem. I''m sure the golem maids will hear the commotion and come running. Reiko is here," Jin (his doppelganger) explained, reassuring the kings. And true to her words, the five-colored golem maid appeared. Of course, she had been transferred from Horai Island. In her hand she holds a <>. Naturally, he has one for <> as well. "Master, I will protect you." "All right, steward, leave this to the maids and you go intercept them!" "Yes." The steward receives the Vibration Sword from the golem maid, and starts to run. "Jin-dono, are you alright?" No matter how powerful they are, the difference in combat ability between the golem maids and the <> is obvious. ...... and Ragade, the First Secretary of the Ministry of Military Affairs, asked with a pale face. "It''s okay." Jin (doppelganger) pointed at the five-colored golem maid, Ruby 1, who was about to intercept the <> that had attacked them. Unless it is a combat battle, speed is often the key to a golem battle. And the lightweight golem-maid was twice as fast as the <>. The fact that the <> was unarmed was also significant. Ruby dodged the incoming golem and kicked it in the side of the head. The < shifts its direction of thrust, and passes by Jin and the others. Ames1 kicked it in the back. The < stays on its feet despite being knocked off its feet. But by that time, Aqua 1 has drawn his <> from his hand. The head of the Golem rolls away. The control core is detached, and the <> comes to a halt. The other Golem that had attacked Jin and the others was being fought by Topaz 1 and Perido 1. Topaz and Perido attacked the < in turn. They are not powerful enough to do any damage, but they succeed in keeping them at a distance from Jin and the others. And then... Topaz 1 pulls out a from his back, and with a flash of his sword, the golem''s head rolls over. The head rolls over. The second Golem, the Niviro Golem, stops moving. "It''s all right now." Jin''s doppelganger says. The Cesar kings sighed with relief. "Let''s leave the rest to Reiko and the and catch those two. Jin (his doppelganger) pointed to Jix and Ganno, who were hiding behind the two <>. "Please." Jin (his doppelganger) said, "Yes, I''ll take care of it. And the four of them, except for Perido 1, began to move. Peridot 1 is naturally the guard of Jin and the others. A barrier was put up, but only as a precaution. It is also to give psychological reassurance to the Cesar kings. Aqua1 and Topaz1 went to Ganno''s place, and Ruby1 and Amezu1 went to Jix''s place. Meanwhile, Reiko chased after the < as it broke away from the training ground to attack its surroundings. < The speed difference is more than four times. Peach Blossom, in Vibration Sword mode, swung horizontally while maintaining the same speed. "One first!" Reiko looks for her next target, not even paying attention to the headless, stationary Nibi-iro Golem. She sees a < running in a direction 90 degrees off from the direction she came from. Reiko runs instantly. Reiko catches up with it in less than 10 seconds and swings her sword. But, as it happens, the <> loses its stance and narrowly dodges the sword. "But ......!" But the second blow severed its neck and brought it to a halt. The next one is ...... far away. Already about a kilometer away, there was a <> that had begun to destroy the castle walls. Reiko increased her speed even more. <, she could easily exceed 1000 km/h. At subsonic speeds, she could easily reach the speed of 1000 km/h. At subsonic speed, Reiko slams into the Niviro Golem, which is breaking down the castle wall. The impact blows the Golem to pieces. "Two more!" At this time, had already taken out two of them. Although not as strong as Reiko, her performance enhanced by Jin was not a fluke. And, on top of that, he had the <> in his hands. The only substance that can protect against this is the shell of an ancient dragon that has been strengthened to the utmost limit by magic power, in other words, Reiko''s skin. However, Reiko also has a , so it is possible to prevent it without directly touching her. But <> had neither. It slashed its legs as it kicked at you, and then dropped its head. It decapitated the arm that tried to defend itself. Then the two stopped moving. 1128 - - 30-38 Low boiling point "Amazing ......, you are indeed the ." < unfolding before his eyes, he had no choice but to reaffirm that perception. "It is fortunate that Jin-dono is not interested in world domination. Ragade, the Director General of the First Military Ministry, agreed with me in a deep voice. "I wonder if it''s Reko Ehime who is raising some kind of dust in the distance. Kirk Aptedt muttered, holding his hand over his eyes. "d*mn!!You''ve been hiding this much power!" Jix stared in disbelief at the sight of the <> that had been sent in all directions and was quickly subdued. The two golems protecting him and Ganno were also subdued by the golem maids, and there was nothing left to protect them. Even if they tried to escape, the five-colored GolemMaids surrounded them, making that impossible. It was a complete dead end. "Jix, Ganno. This is what I mean by <>. But the Korun will not wield it recklessly. King Cesar calls out to them, but they do not hear him. "I do not doubt your feelings. But if you want revenge, you must look at the bigger picture. < You''re noisy! Get away from me! The two excited men refuse to listen to him at all. "...... Your Majesty." Jin (his doppelganger) silently motioned to the golem maids to seize the two. "d*mn ...... Ganno, let''s move the last golem!" "Okay, bro. < In response to the key word, a golem appeared from inside the carriage. "You''re still here..." "Yes. This is our trump card. It seems that the largest barrel contained this golem. When the golem jumped down from the wagon, there was a faint earth tremor. This is evidence of its considerable weight. However, it is smaller in size than the other golems. About 1.8 meters tall. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the command center of Horai Island, Jin observed the golem. "This seems to be the one who sold a fight to the guard golem in the ...... Egelea Kingdom!" Jin guesses that the inside of the full-body armor is probably not hollow, but filled with <>. "There are many ways to defeat him. ......" Jin felt that no matter what he did, he would never be able to bring those two back to their senses. "Brother Jin, those two look like Father did." Erza, who was looking at the magic screen beside Jin, suddenly said. "I think there must be some kind of brain damage." Elsa''s father, Viscount Georg Landl, once had a hematoma in his frontal lobe due to bleeding in his brain, which was pressing on his brain cells and causing him to lose control of his emotions. Elsa remembered this. "Oh, I see. ...... can think of a possible cause for that. You might want to see a doctor if you catch him." "Hmm." It is possible to examine the doppelganger at a very high level. "But first we have to neutralize that golem. <, I''ll stop ...... heat. ......" "Brother Jin, what do you mean?" "What?Oh, you mean heat?Well, just think about it for a minute and you''ll see what I mean. For example, mercury has a melting point of about -39 degrees Celsius and a boiling point of 357 degrees. "...... evaporation?" "Yes. The golem''s biggest weakness should be heat. ...... wait!" Suddenly Jin''s face became difficult. "Mercury...... vapor...... poisoning......." Hearing this muttering, Erza could guess what Jin had in mind. "You mean that mercury has accumulated in the brain!" "......Yes. >It may not be equal to mercury, so there may be a difference in the symptoms it produces." Jin''s dim memory only recalls that there was a pollution disease caused by mercury called <>, which was named after a region, but there is no doubt that mercury is highly harmful to the human body. It is not surprising that a very similar poisoning symptom could be caused by <>. "Hmmm, if that''s the case, how do we neutralize it: ......" Like the others, it seems to me that if you drop the head, will probably flow out from inside. Since he did not know how toxic it would be, he wanted to avoid the possibility of it seeping into the ground. "And, then ...... it''s the other way around!" * * * Reiko jumps out of the way as instructed by Jin. The two collide head-on. Reiko is rebounded back wide, and the other golem ends up winning this foolishly honest collision. "...... I guess the inside of that full body armor is filled with after all." This time, Reiko''s reason for the honesty was to determine the weight of her opponent. (Now, if only we could do your father''s idea: ......) The enemy golem came barreling toward Reiko, who had been knocked off her feet. "<>!Is Reiko okay?" King Cesar looks worried. However, Jin (his doppelganger) looks relaxed. "Don''t worry. It was just a plan. Yes, as soon as he realized the weight of the opponent, he moved away from the place where Jin and the others were. That, of course, is ....... "<>!" so that no one would know the details of what kind of magic he used. <> is a magic that removes thermal energy from an object. In other words, <. The melting point of mercury is about -39 degrees Celsius, below which it becomes solid. Naturally, cannot remain if it is cooled to near absolute zero. The last enemy golem has stopped. * * * * * "Even in this respect, bio-materials are more efficient, aren''t they?" The is obtained with great effort. Subsequent investigation revealed that its cold resistance is about -270 degrees Celsius. Of course, this is after being strengthened with magic power. Moreover, it is an extraordinary material with a heat resistance of over 3,000 degrees Celsius. Incidentally, the cold resistance of the threads of a ground spider from Horai Island is -210 degrees Celsius. It can also withstand liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees Celsius. It also has a heat resistance of 1,600 degrees Celsius. For reference, adamantite has a melting point of 3422 degrees Celsius. In other words, a golem made of <> is far inferior to Reiko in terms of high and low temperatures. "Well, this is the end of the neutralization. Inside the magic screen, Jin sees Jix and Ganno being seized by the five-colored golem maids. 1129 - - 30-39 Survey 1 "d*mn ......" "Too bad. ......" Jix and Ganno were seized by the five-colored golem maids, their faces contorted in frustration. Then Erza, their doppelganger, quietly approached them. "Hey, what do you want?" Erza did not answer, but held her right hand to Jix''s forehead. "What, what, what!" Erza (her doppelganger) examines Jix without any response. She is even more silent than Erza herself. "<>" "......" After Jix''s examination, Ganno is next. "What the hell, woman!" The golem maid further presses down on the writhing Ganno. She puts her hand on Ganno''s forehead when he stops moving and activates her magic. "<>" "......" King Cesar, seeing Erza''s doppelganger with a difficult face, asked with interest. "Elsa Ehime, did you understand something?" "...... Yes. It seems that has accumulated in her head and she is unable to make proper judgments. Elsa (her doppelganger) explains in a way that is easy to understand for King Cesar and the others. "My God!" "Then, if I treat her, will she become docile?" "At least, I think she will be able to make normal judgments. That''s good news. Well then, let''s go back to the second guest house. The group moves using the carriage they rode in and Ganno''s carriage. Ganno and the others are bound with ropes. The golem maid is serving as the leader. * * * * "...... Is this somehow going to be the end of the ruckus?" Jin muttered as he leaned back in his chair in the Horaijima command center. "...... hmm. But I think I should be the one to do the brain treatment." "Oh, I see. Then let''s switch again." * * * * Jin and Erza (her doppelganger) stopped by to get medicine for the examination, and switched places with the real one. Of course, he also brought the <> with him. Jix and Ganno were taken to the infirmary of the second guest house. On the way there, they were so violent that they were stunned. Now he can examine the patient slowly. "<>" Once again, Elsa examined the patient herself. "......As I thought, there is an accumulation of metal-like foreign substances here and there in the body. As Jin does not know the detailed symptoms and mechanism of mercury poisoning, he can only try to remove the accumulated . The same goes for Elsa. "Remove the foreign substance. ......<>" This <> is an engineering magic to separate and extract specific components. It is not effective for unknown substances, but it is possible to extract only unknown substances from known substances. Elsa is applying this to the human body. Since the components of the human body are known, the other substances are the ones causing the intoxication. The extracted substance is a small gray powder. Jin wondered if it was a compound. "It''s dangerous, let''s put it in a bottle." Jin gives Jix the recovery potion and puts the gray powder in the empty bottle. Of course, he does not touch it with his hand. He used wind magic to collect the powder in the bottle. The same thing was done to Ganno, who was given a recovery potion and the procedure was completed. "......The bottom line is that the poison had gotten into his head and he had lost control of his emotions. Elsa explained again. King Cesar listened in silence, then opened his mouth with a difficult look on his face. "I understand. However, the sins of these two men will not disappear. They have tried to harm me, Ragedo, and Latant. There is no custom in this world to tolerate such things because they are drunk. "Well, I can only mitigate it a little by taking Elsa Ehime''s diagnosis into account." I guess that is inevitable. It is not that I jumped into the Golem competition (gompetition) earlier, but if we make special exceptions all the time, the law will lose its meaning. King Cesar concluded, "It is wrong for a man who makes laws and makes people abide by them to take the initiative in making exceptions to them. Various measures were then taken. First, the ten golems whose heads and torsos had been severed were retrieved. Then, the golems that had stopped moving were retrieved. Knowing that they would start moving again once they recovered from the low-temperature coagulation, Jin took care of this by extracting the <> from them. < it with , but it would have been a shame to erase its contents, so this strategy was adopted. "Now, what is the true identity of the <>? Since this was an official request from the Kingdom of Cerroa, Jin began analyzing the golem with Reiko as his assistant. Erza is observing. The place is a small workshop in the second guest house. This is a room equipped for the repair and renewal of equipment. Witnessed by Mr. Latant, Secretary of the First Ministry of Technology. There was still a small amount of in the barrels that Jix and his team were carrying. First, they try to analyze it. Then, I tried to analyze it. "......I guessed it was < after all. ......" It turned out to be <> of mercury. It is like silver and mithril silver. Jin refused to give it to Latant, the director of the First Ministry of Technology, because he wanted to bring it home for study, and obtained a liter or so of the <. This was also to be carried in a bottle. "Is it bad to use a metal container? Latant asked. "Yes, this is and it will dissolve all kinds of metals. When I told him this, Latant seemed surprised. "Oh my God!Is that so?" "Yes. Some alchemists must know that." "Hmmm... ......" Because of the existence of magic in this world, metal refining methods are not so well developed. It seems that there is not even an << ash-blowing method> for separating gold and silver from ore. In the <<< ash-blowing method>>, gold and silver ores are crushed and heated together with lead, and the gold and silver are dissolved in the molten lead as an alloy before being heated further. If sufficient air is supplied during this process, the lead is separated from the gold and silver as lead oxide. By using a porous refractory vessel, only the lead oxide is absorbed and the alloy of gold and silver remains in the vessel. In Japan, this method seems to have been used at the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. In this process, mercury can be used instead of lead. This method is called the amalgamation method and requires less fuel, but is far from practical because the evaporated mercury, or mercury vapor, is harmful to the human body. Jin thought that he would explain the dangers of mercury in detail later. At that time, the news came that Jix and the others had awakened, and Jin and the others left the small workshop to be present during the interrogation. 1130 - - 30-40 Survey 2 Jix and the others are kept in the infirmary. Two guards are at the door. "Good work." Latant, the Director General of the First Ministry of Technology, called out as he entered the room. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko followed him. Jix and Ganno were on the bed in the room. "You have come, <>, Erza Ehime. Waiting there were King Cesar, Kirk Atwood, and Ramburo, the First Secretary of the Interior. There were also four guards who appeared to be SS. The king had decided that their interrogation was of the utmost importance. The medical office is not the best place for interrogation, but since the brain effects have just been removed, they decided to do it here because they did not know what would happen. "Well, it looks like we have the right people here. Let''s begin." With a few words from King Cesar, the interrogation began. "...... name is Jix Asher." "...... Ganno Asher." It seems clear that they are brothers. They were from a remote village, and there was no doubt that their village had been wiped out in a skirmish with the Kingdom of Egelea when they were young. This is certain because Lambreaux has checked the records. After the destruction of the village, they moved from place to place. At that time, they met an alchemist and became his apprentice. The alchemist also had a little bit of magical engineering, so they learned both. "Hmm, what was the alchemist''s name?" "...... his name is Frescius Nakar." "Hmm, I see." The Director General of the First Ministry of Technology, Latant, who had heard this name from King Cesar yesterday, had done his homework and explained the name to King Cesar. "He is a scholar who was exiled about 30 years ago, and he has been up to <>." Their teacher, Fresias Nakar, was a distinguished scholar who had been crowned <> in the kingdom of Selroa. However, he was banished from the kingdom by the king of the time, King Sibert, because of his heretical ideas. Because of this, there were almost no records of him," Latant added. "And what is this idea?" "The master thought that ......500 years ago was the supreme age." Jix answered smoothly. "I see, because at that time, in our country, or even in other countries, 300 years ago in the Kingdom of Dinar was considered to be the supreme era. Latant nodded in agreement. "And how is Frescius Nakar now?" "He passed away. We are his last disciples. "I didn''t know that." We are carrying on his legacy. ...... Now Ganno began to explain. "He understood our purpose. That''s why we are going to put his legacy to good use. ...... I had thought that the two of them would not be able to prepare such a large amount of material alone, but it seems that this was the case. Their explanations continued. When they had reached the end of their explanation, Jin asked a question. "By the way, why do you think 500 years ago is the best? "...... I don''t know. I only heard from my master that it is related to some kind of religion. "We were not interested in the past, so we did not ask him about it. "We were not interested in that past, so we didn''t ask him about it," he said, "but we heard that somehow magecraftsmen and alchemists were persecuted at that time. "So it seems that these craftsmen were hiding away from the cities." Jix and Ganno take turns explaining. I seem to be getting a glimpse of the world 500 years ago. "The existence of religion, or ......." We only know that religious groups, which have almost disappeared since the magical war 300 years ago, were still very powerful at that time. "How did you get your hands on the <>?" This was one of the questions I wanted to ask the most. The people of the Kingdom of Cerroa were also curious. "It belonged to my master." "...... did he ever tell you how he got it?" "No, I have not. But there is a description of an island in the south, written down 500 years ago. "An island in the south. ......" This information was too vague. In the first place, south of the equator, the amount of free magical element (ether) is extremely low, so most of the magical tools become unusable. Leaving this pursuit aside, Jin raised another question. "Do you know how armor is made?" Both of them seemed surprised when they understood the meaning of this question. "Do you understand ......?That particularity." "We can''t win, can we? ......" They let out a sigh of resignation and began to explain the situation in a straightforward manner. To summarize, first mix <=> and light silver. The ratio is one to one. In this case, the metal to be mixed must be one that will not dissolve in the <>, that is, one that will not form an <>. In this respect, light silver was ideal because it does not dissolve. Adamantite also does not dissolve (in this respect, <> seem to be slightly different from mercury: ...... titanium on earth makes amalgams). The alloy would be as hard as hard clay. It is formed into the shape of armor by <> and then separated by <>. This is how foamed metal armor is made. It was an easy process to understand. The seeps into the gaps where it had originally penetrated. "How do you make a control core? Latant asked. This was also a question of high importance. "<>, right? Jin asked to make sure. Ganno nodded his head. "<> was a common technology 500 years ago." "I see. ......" I don''t understand why the magic of <> is being used instead of the transinfo that Adriana Barbora Zetsi supposedly created. It may have deteriorated somewhere between 1000 years ago and 500 years ago, or it may have been lost and newly developed by someone else. Or was it lost and newly developed by someone? It seems that one mystery is solved and another one appears. I wanted to ask one more question about <>, but it is a technology that is probably 500 years old, so I decided not to ask it at this time. There were also questions about their base of operations and whether they had any other friends, but Jin decided to leave those questions to the Kingdom of Celuloa. That''s all for me. "Well, let me ask you a question myself. King Cesar, who had remained silent until then, opened his mouth. "Do you still want revenge?" ...... "Revenge?" Jix and Ganno closed their eyes and thought for a while. After a while, Jix opened his mouth first. "No, I''ve already lost my mind. "Yes, you have. < like that..." "By the way, my own brother Makina is even more powerful." At these words, the two men lost their voices. 1131 - - 30-41 Toward the Next Mystery "So, July is already over." Lukor and Vivian were talking at the entrance of an inn on the outskirts of Essaia, the capital of the Kingdom of Celuloa. "Yes, I''m sorry too, but that was the plan all along." "Yes, it was. It was fun, Vivian. "Me too, Lukor." Vivian had planned to finish her research at the end of July and return to her country. Today is August 1st. As planned, she will now leave Lukoil and return to her exile in the Shoro Kingdom. "I hope we will have the opportunity to study together again. "Thank you. Thank you. Well, take care. Yes, sir. Vivienne is to be accompanied on the way by one of the hired help men. "Well then, make sure you escort Via back to the hotel, okay?" "Heh, I know, I know." The man replied with a slightly sly smile. We borrow two horses and get on them. Vivienne''s riding skills are not that great, so she rides at a speed of about 8 kilometers per hour, a very fast walk. After half an hour of riding through the gates, they are out of sight. The man leads Vivien to an even lonelier corner. The man leads Vivien to an even lonelier corner of the city. "<>, thank you for all your help. I thank you. In front of the royal castle of the Kingdom of Celuloa, <> is about to depart. King Cesar himself is seeing it off. "We will proceed with the monorail as well." Yes, I will be back to support you. Thank you very much. Please visit ...... and take care of Elsa Ehime. Last but not least, Lako Ehime, thanks for your help. After exchanging such conversation, Jin, Erza, and Reiko boarded . The five colored golem maids are supposed to have already boarded the ship, but in fact they have already returned to Horai Island a long time ago. "See you later." Then the door is closed and <> slowly ascends. "We got a lot out of this, didn''t we? "Hmm..." <, Jin, Erza, and Reiko were talking. "But there are more mysteries..." "Yes, father... 500 years ago, religious issues and a southern island?" "Yes. <, but it''s not a material we want to use too aggressively." "I agree. It would be a real shame if I became addicted." There is an option to have <> do all the work, but the bio-based material we are using now has better performance to begin with. I admit that it is a good match for foam metal, but I can''t see any use for it at the moment. "We might be able to find out something more if we can find out more about Frescius Nakar, the mentor of Jix and the others." "Yes. Those two were obsessed with vengeance and didn''t seem to have much interest in the past. "Yes, that''s true. I would have liked to ask them why they joined Zidane Casey, but it''s not something I want to hear in front of the important people of the Kingdom of Celuloa." "Yes." flew to Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. * * * * * * Vivienne was outside the walls surrounding Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Celuloa. She is accompanied by a man who helps her. Vivienne is on the banks of the Asur River, a rough riverbed with large rocks sticking out of the ground. "...... I don''t think anyone will see us here," the man says. The man said and motioned to something. Then, in the middle of what seemed like an empty space, an object that did not resemble the landscape appeared. <. "Here you go, Vivien. "Thank you." Vivienne used the warp gate equipped on <> to move to Horai Island. After that, <> once again puts on the ward and disappears. The remaining assistant man ...... is actually , a.k.a. Glenn, who is in charge of ''s rangers. The man now attached to Lukor is <, a.k.a. Roi. * * * * * * * * * * * "Jin-kun, I heard!You''re finally getting married!" "Yes, yes..." They parked the Conlon 3 on the roof of Reuthert''s mansion. Half an hour later, the emperor was on his way. "Congratulations, Elsa." "Thank you very much. "The reception in my country will last a week, day and night ......". The emperor smiled at Jin''s disgusted expression. "I thought ...... we could be a little more frugal." "...... thank you." Jin then told the emperor about the held in the Kingdom of Selroa. "So, Erich Gifro finished in fourth place overall." At this point, Jin decided to ask the question he had been thinking about. "Your Majesty, why didn''t Reinhardt''s < go? The answer was simple. "Because Reinhard declined. He was afraid to leave the country because he was busy with his lordship''s work and because he was worried about Bertsche, who was very ill. "She''s almost eight months old now, isn''t she? Since it was her first delivery, Reinhardt and others were worried about her. "I''m going to visit her tomorrow. Jin said when he heard this. He wanted to make some other small talk, but the emperor had some work to do, so he left after drinking a cup of tea and eating a plate of tea cakes. * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, tomorrow is the 2nd of August. "Father, it''s Stearina''s birthday, isn''t it? Yes, it is. Mr. Toa and Mr. Stearina are coming back too. Jin, who had once made the mistake of forgetting Hanna''s birthday, had asked the old man and Reiko to take care of the schedule. "I should go to Reinhardt''s place, check on Bertsche, and then go to Horai Island. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea. "I''m sure Toa-san and Stearina will be happy to hear about this. "I heard that Vivienne is coming back too. "Well, it''s been a long time since I''ve seen her, even though she was right next to me. Although there are still many mysteries in the world of Ars, the bonds between the people surrounding Jin are warm. 1132 - - 30-42 Quiet 61 Golem Boat Race 3458 Well, the day has come again this year!The pride of the Kingdom of Elias, the !The 11th edition of the Golem Boat Race is about to begin! This year''s competition was delayed due to the commemorative ceremony held in the Kingdom of Selroa. But it seems to have made up for it... with an even bigger turnout than last year. Yes, that''s right. Many of the ships from the Marcia Workshop are participating this year. Last year, the owner of the workshop, Miss Marcia, herself participated as a shipwright. Yes, the dead heat between Master Reinhardt''s ship, the Golem, and Miss Elsa Randall''s ship, the Blue Marine, was very exciting. The was held on July 20, about five months late. Eight days before the Golem competition in the Kingdom of Selroa. In the Kingdom of Elias, there is a tour that includes both the <> and the of the Kingdom of Celuloa. After the competition is over, there will be a special boat trip to Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Celuloa, by a new type of large ship that will take you across the sea and up the river. The trip takes about a week and is said to be very popular among the aristocracy and the wealthy. Now, let''s take a break. The finals of the 11th Golem Boat Competition were about to start. Of course, all the boat operators are women, wearing one-piece swimsuits. This year, a white cloth with their names written on it was sewn on their chests, and a white cloth with their numbers on their backs. Mr. Bernardo, the Marcia boat is different this year, isn''t it? Yes, sir. < And the starting signal is given. Here they go!The 10 boats that made it through the qualifying rounds are off, splashing into the water at once! Number 1 is the clear winner! That''s the master of Marcia''s workshop! Number 1 is Marcia, who is the master of the boat. The type of ship is a trimaran. Propulsion is by screw. As one would expect. Marcia Workshop has an exclusive contract with Mr. Jin Nido, a magecraftsman who was on the team last year and is now known as a . The bond of a team!That''s right! And Miss Marcia''s father has returned to help with the hull design. What a beautiful father-daughter bond! The host and the commentator are in high spirits. Ten boats are participating in the finals this time. Seven of them are catamarans. Five of them are from the Marcia Workshop. Conversely, two of the <> were built by other workshops. In case you are wondering, at the beginning of 3458, Marcia said that she had no choice but to postpone her participation due to the rush of orders to her workshop, but since the date has been postponed until July, she has decided to participate. But now that the event has been postponed until July, she can afford to attend. But, as expected, she was able to participate in the event. Even though they are the same catamaran, Marcia''s catamaran has less water resistance. "How do you know?" "Look, look at the waves that form behind the boat. < "Hm?" is the resistance of the waves created when the ship runs and the energy consumed to create these waves. If the waves are small, <> is small, and if the waves are large, <> is large. "It''s no good just imitating the shape of the wave. Rodrigo said he had to rebuild it many times before he got it to the shape it is now." "It looks even more sophisticated than last year when your father participated." Some couple + are watching the game in the back of the bleachers. * * * * "Oh, this ship is lovely!Arrow!Let''s go for it!" "Yes, Miss Marcia." Behind Marcia, Arrow turns the handle to the screw. Powered up by Jin, Arrow is able to generate more power than the average golem with just the strength of his arms. The more sophisticated trimaran is named <. The pure white surface-treated hull is more maneuverable than its predecessor, which was a <>. After passing through the rough seas of the second stage and the reefs of the third stage, the number 1 boat increased its speed even more as it approached the fourth stage, the speed stage, and headed for the turnaround point The speedy stage, the fourth stage, was a speedy stage, and they headed for the turnaround point on the island of Io. * * * * * * * * * * * Fast!Fast indeed!Number 1 is the fastest! That screw seems to be the only way to propel the boat, even faster than last year''s waterwheel drive. "Of course. The outer waterwheel is the part of the waterwheel that is out of the water, so it''s a loss." "But it''s great that you developed it, Mr. Rodrigo." "Yes, really. He also came up with the catamaran and trimaran on his own, so I think he''s a genius." "But not as good as your father." Some couple + alpha are leisurely watching the race while eating Topopo chips. I''ve been focusing on the first group, but the battle for the lead in the second group is also fierce! Yes, it is. Numbers 3 and 7, and 35? Number 3 is a catamaran made by Marcia, while number 7 appears to be made by another workshop. Number 35 is a monohull. All of them seem to be using golems made by first-rate magecraftsmen, and they are truly a match in strength. They were outclassed and outpaced by each other, and leaped to the fourth stage. By this time, however, Marcia''s < was running about 100 meters ahead of the other three boats. The three boats are in hot pursuit. A dead heat is a good thing, isn''t it? It''s a good thing that the favorite, Miss Marcia, is leading the race, but the battle for second place is also heated. And Io Island is approaching. "Didn''t we get a lot of Death Serpents last time?" "Yes. I heard that they were driven south by sea dragons. "......Was the participant saved without knowing it?" Some couple ...... below. [number 1, we''re on a course that circles Io Island! They''re coming very close to the island. I guess they''re going the shortest distance. But at the same time, there are reefs, so it''s a dangerous course, isn''t it? You''re right. But number one is pushing hard. It''s admirable that he doesn''t get defensive just because he''s in the lead. But was it too much to ask? * * * * * * <. At the same time, the propulsive speed drops drastically. "Oh no!Did the screw rub against the reef? "Miss Marcia, I''ll fix it right away!" Please, Arrow! Arrow, now able to use simple engineering magic thanks to Jin''s improvements, rushes into the water. Arrow jumped into the water. Aah!Number 1 has stopped!Looks like it''s caught on the reef! That was a bit of a stretch. The propulsion golem has gone underwater and begun repairs. That golem is the work of the Magecraft Meister, Jin Nidoo. I''m sure it''s completely waterproof and can handle simple repairs. However, the time lost by the stoppage is significant. The number 7, 35, and 3 overtook us. "Oh, Marcia, you pushed a little too hard, didn''t you? It''s a screw, so it sticks out deeper than the bottom of the boat." "There are a lot of reefs there. I had a hard time with that. I remember it was around there that Valentino''s golem was diving to sabotage the ship. * * * * Marcia, the repair is complete. Thank you, Arrow!...... is on its way!" After the repairs were completed, the Cygnus 2 made a mad dash. The course was the same as before. Marcia is driving the < to the very edge of Io Island, as if she does not care that she has been caught in a reef. * * * * * * Number 1, she''s running again! ...... He''s not changing course. They seem to be betting on the winner. The three boats that had passed Marussia were numbers 3, 35, and 7, in that order, rounding the island of Io and entering the speed stage for the return trip. They are now in the speed stage of their return trip home. The gap to Marcia is now 200 meters. The gap between her and Marcia was 200 meters. "But we still have a few kilometers to go. We can make up for it." Yes, we can. But those three boats just sped up. Whoa!Just when you thought number 35 had sped up, number 3 is not to be outdone! Number 7 is doing its best, but it''s starting to lag a little bit. This must be the difference in power, or Golem. The battle for the lead is now between numbers 35 and 3. This is amazing!It''s a dead heat! Reminds me of last year, doesn''t it? Yes, sir. It was a battle between Miss Marcia and Miss Elsa. ...... I remember, the numbers were 3 and 35 then too. Marcia with number 35 and Erza with number 3. Coincidentally, it looked like it was going to be a battle between number 35 and 3 again....... Ah!They have just passed number 7 and are now up to number 1 and 3! Marcia''s < was making amazing progress. "<>, you seem to have lost a little screw balance." "Can you see it?" "Yes. There is a slight vibration. "Hmmm, but it should be fast enough. ...... look, we''re up to third place." "......, the screw is fast after all." Oh, wow!Number 1, showing his mettle! He''s still fast. Marcia has passed number 3 and is now in second place. She''s less than a kilometer from the finish line. Number 35 seems to have picked up speed as well. Number 35 seems to have put everything he has into this race. But the power of the Cygnus 2 was more than enough. He''s fast!Number 1 is closing the gap! He''s catching up fast! 500 meters to go!He''s overtaking ......!He''s passed him!Number 1 is now back in the lead! He''s back in the lead! "He''s over!He''s in the lead! Marcia is now in the lead! Marussia is now in the lead! Now!Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!First place, number 1! Second place, number 35! The crowd cheers. Marcia, who had slowed down, waved to the cheering crowd on board. "Marcia, you did it!" "Yes, I''m glad." You wanted to get out, didn''t you? "...... a little. But I''m happy to see her win. Well, I think it''s time for you two to go home. Jin!Did you see me out there?Thanks to the Arrow you made for me, I won again this year!Thank you, Jin!) In the tropical city of Potrock, with its blue skies and blue seas, the battle was hot again this year. At the top of the competition, Marcia thanked her best partner in her heart. 1133 - - 30-43 Silent Story 62 The Book of Settlement "Hmm, a supervised laboratory, huh? ......" King Cesar of Celuloa read the letter of opinion from Jin. It says that <>. It was easy for King Cesar to imagine that Jin had suggested this as a way to make good use of the recently arrested brothers Jix and Ganno. "There are a few others who might be a good fit. Ludld Coles, the third seat of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, agreed. "However, we must be very careful not to let them escape. "In that case, we can use the criminal identification collar. "I don''t have a choice." < inflicts pain on the wearer by channeling a specific magic power, and is mainly used for criminal slaves who work in mines. In addition, it was also decided to have a facility isolated from the outside world and monitored by guards and guardsmen. "The is also recommending 24-hour surveillance by golems." "Well, let''s add that to the list as well." Donald Callow, the retired alpha, was also present at the meeting by invitation of the king. All right, get on with it. "Yes, sir." The Kingdom of Cerroa, a major power, was able to respond so quickly. It''s a waste to lock up talented engineers. Whether this decision will prove to be a good one or a bad one remains to be seen. * * * * ...... is this the right way? It should be. Two people were walking toward the mountain from the town of Nikalai in the Kingdom of Egelea. They are , a.k.a. Glenn, and Nurse Alpha, a nursing golem, both under Jin''s command, <. These two were on their way to Zidane Casey, the mentor of Jix and the others. "I''m sure they''re not addicted, since he''s their mentor," said Jix. Vivian gave him some recovery medicine, which may have cured him somewhat. Nurse Alpha nodded at Glenn''s words. "...... Oh, but you weren''t necessarily working with mercury, were you?" "That''s true. In the first place, Zidane Casey didn''t even tell Lukor about his research." The two men walked several times faster than a human, and soon arrived at Zidane Casey''s hut. "Sorry, sir." Glenn calls out as he rings the knocker. An automaton immediately appeared. "Yes, who is it? I am the healer requested by Mr. Lukor. How is Mr. Zidane Casey? Nurse Alpha explains in the way I have prepared for her. "Well, I''ll be with you in a moment. The automaton withdrew with these words, but reappeared after a minute or so. Please come in. "Come in." Glenn and Nurse Alpha stepped into the cabin and were ushered into Zidane Casey''s living room. "Welcome. You''ve been hired by the guy from Lukor?He''s a meddlesome son of a b*tc*. ...... Since you''re here, I''ll be glad to examine you." Zidane Casey was a bigot, but he would not let his friend''s kindness go to waste. > The old man, the brains of Horai Island, asks Nurse Alpha. Yes, it was minor compared to Jix and Ganno. The actual work was done by his apprentice. That may be so, but it is not strange for a master and an apprentice to be in a relationship. <> "Yes. It was easy because it was still before the abnormalities in the brain function appeared. However, I had an ulcer in an unrelated part of my ...... stomach and a polyp in my large intestine, so I had to treat those as well." <<> "So far it seems that there are no dangers. It seems that Jix has taken all of the out of their possession and there is no way to replenish them." <> "Yes. But I''m not sure how much he agreed with me. ......" << << The old man is planning to have the same thing done to the Kingdom of Celuloa and other countries as well. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... So this is the laboratory of Fresias Nakar." He was once an engineer who had climbed to <, but he was a heretical scholar who was driven out of the kingdom of Dinar by the then King of Cerroa, Sibert, because of his heretical ideals of 500 years ago, not the kingdom of Dinar. He was also the mentor of Jix and Ganno, and gave all of his knowledge to them. The Ministry of Technology I, Director General Latant, and several of his men are here to investigate. <, of the , was also present as an attendant. Through Regulus 11''s vision, the old man can also see the site. But... "......?This is ...... everyone, be careful. There seems to be a mercury spill. Regulus 11 detected mercury when he stepped into the workshop. The glowing liquid was lying in dots ...... rather than <> on the floor. Anyone who has ever broken an old-fashioned mercury thermometer will know what I mean. Due to its surface tension, a small amount of mercury will form a ball. Regulus 11''s eyesight found such a ball of mercury on the floor. "Okay." One of the methods of handling mercury taught to him by Jin was to use copper wire braids to absorb small amounts of spilled mercury as a copper amalgam. When the mercury was touched by the copper wire, it moved as if it was being absorbed into the copper amalgam. "Oh, this is interesting." However, there is still a danger because the mercury will evaporate even in this state. I put the braided wire into the bottle, put the lid on, and finally felt at ease. "...... but there are no records of any kind left." It looks as if someone has taken it out. "There may be hazardous materials in there, so please be careful when you investigate. Yes, sir. The investigators are scattered throughout Frescius Nakar''s laboratory. However, in spite of their hard work, the results of their two-day investigation were disappointing: only a little mercury. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man was also disappointed in Horai Island. Thus, the mysterious golem fiasco was settled for the time being. However, there are still issues to be solved, such as the religion of 500 years ago and the place of origin of the hypothetical <>. Jin and Horaijima''s challenge to the < of the world of Ars will continue. 1134 - - 31-01 Stellas Birthday Party "Happy Birthday!" On the night of August 2nd, the Jin family gathered at Horai Island to celebrate Stearina''s birthday. "Thank you, everyone. Almost all the members are celebrating. "I''m not so happy at the age of ......33." Then Bertsche said. "I know it''s a bit of a month, but a <> is to celebrate the anniversary of your birth, not the fact that you''re old. "Yes. I think so too. Jin agrees. "I think so too, Leena." Toa, her husband, patted her on the shoulder. "Yeah, right. Thank you again, everyone. From then on, the party was a harmonious one. Sushi made with rice, pancakes with maple syrup. Passa bread with dried grapes, sandwiches with various ingredients. Persica, citran, aprl. Flape, lambel and blueberry juice. The restaurant was a large one on the island of Horai with a variety of foodstuffs such as flape, lamber, and blueberry juice. "Bertje, are you still okay? Toa asked Bertsche. He is a father of a child, so he must be concerned about it. Yes, I''m still fine. I can''t travel, but if you come here, it won''t be a burden. "That''s fine, but don''t let your stomach get cold or overwork yourself. Yes, thank you. "Congratulations on your victory, Marcia!" Elsa congratulated Marcia. "Oh, thank you." "You won the <> two years in a row. Congratulations." "Thank you. It''s thanks to Jin. I left because Reece was sick and I hadn''t practiced much. If it wasn''t for Arrow, we wouldn''t have won." "No, no, I''m sure Rodrigo did a great job on the boat design." "Is that so?I''m a little embarrassed to hear you say that, Mr. Jin. "No, no, that trimaran is a marvel." No, no, no, no, this is a different world! "...... gin is a mouthful!" Bina and Luis, or Count and Countess Kuzma, were left overwhelmed. "......Fuun,<>. ......" "Ah. It seems to be an extension of the <> that Stearena uses for and the like." "I''m a little curious." "I''m a bit interested, but I wouldn''t recommend it at this point, since it''s mercury-based and highly toxic." Jin is talking to Stearena about the Fluidform Drive. Saki joins in. "Kuhu, it uses mercury. I''m curious. But it''s toxic. ......" Saki had heard about the precautions when she was given a sample of mercury at Mitsuho in the past. Her interest was piqued again. "Is it OK if I wear rubber gloves?" The sample at that time was kept in Horai Island, and Saki''s interest had shifted to other places, so she did not use it. "Saki, mercury evaporates into mercury vapor. Inhaling it is dangerous. Even I might not be able to cure acute poisoning. Erza nudged her from the side. "Oh, really?That''s a little too scary. ......" For a curious researcher like Saki, it is better to scare her a little. "Also, I''m curious about that kite airship." Reinhardt bites my hand. "Well, you know. It''s an interesting idea. It''s certainly interesting to see a structure that is one step closer to a motorized hang glider. It was probably quite common 500 years ago. "But hey, religion or ......." Reinhard sighed. "Nowadays, religion and churches are just tourist attractions. The authority of religion has fallen to the ground since the magic wars 300 years ago. But religion can cause a lot of trouble. Jin recalls what happened in his homeland, the modern Earth. Religious wars. That''s the word that comes to mind first. The God we believe in, the God who is supposed to protect the people, forces not only the pagans but also the believers to die. How unreasonable, Jin thought. "I''d like to know this too, if you know it. ......" Vivian answered his soliloquy. "Really. From what I''ve heard, the magecraftsmen moved to the countryside because engineering magic was not valued in those days. "There was a time when that was the case. ......" < is still behind a veil of mystery. "The other thing I''m most curious about is where the < came from." I think you said it was on a southern island. Yes, that''s right. There are so many southern islands that I have no idea which one it is. "But there aren''t that many candidates, are there?" "What?" Rodrigo questioned Jin''s comment. "What do you mean?" "Well, it depends on the level of magical technology 500 years ago, but even if it was a little more advanced than today, I''m not sure we could have gone very far." "I see. ......" Looking at the world map, there are a number of archipelagos scattered from the southern tip of the Kingdom of Elias, on the southern sea of Potrock to the southwest. "I''m wondering if it might be one of them." There is no proof. "In the first place, the further south you go, the less you have, right?So I don''t think it can be that far south. Vivian joined the conversation. "I don''t know about that. < Reinhardt also looked interested. Jin agreed with this opinion. "I think that''s possible. But if the level of technology at that time was the fluid-form drive and kite airships, they couldn''t have gone very far, could they?There didn''t seem to be any large ships either." "I understand your point, Jin. But we don''t have much free magical element (ether) now, do we?I don''t think we can just go there for a while, can we? Stearina hits the nail on the head. Without free ether, magic tools and machines can''t work. "Indeed. But why are there so few free magical elements (ether) in the south? Saki tilted her head. "That is indeed a mystery. For example, space is full of free magical elements (ether), and a spaceship can travel to the southern hemisphere of Ars. However, he adds the caveat that only if the altitude is higher than the stratosphere. "I''d like to check that out as well. ......" Jin, what do you have in mind? "Yes. For example, what if we had a vehicle that could run for a year without refueling?" "...... It depends on the speed of the vehicle, but if it were a ship and could go about 20 kilometers per hour, that would be enough to get us to the South Pole and back." Saki''s calculations are correct. The size of the Arus (......) is about 7500 kilometers in circumference. If you keep running at 20 km/h for 24 hours, you can complete the circumference in less than 16 days. Even if you were to drive only half a day, you could complete the circumference in about a month. This would be enough even if you consider doing various investigations at each destination. "...... But Jin, you''re not seriously going, are you?" Saki says with a wry smile, to which Jin replies with a laugh. "No, I''m just thinking I''d like to go. An unknown island that has only been scouted from a high altitude. Jin is intrigued. 1135 - - 31-02 Travel Suggestions < "Jin, you may be fine with it, but what about Erza?" They are due to be married soon. "Yeah, so I thought it would be a good idea for a ." "What? ......" Reinhardt is a little taken aback. "Oh, don''t get me wrong. "Oh, don''t get me wrong. I''m not planning on going to the entire southern hemisphere at the drop of a hat. I just thought it would be nice to take a leisurely cruise on a big ship." "...... Sure, that makes sense." Reinhardt was a little relieved to hear that. "With the <> thing, it would be a month at the most if we went. So, let''s say ...... until just before the Tropic of Cancer, right?" The old man is very attentive and projects the map on the magic screen on the wall. "Look, there are several islands southwest of Potrock, aren''t there?" "Yes, there are. "There are small islands scattered along the equator, and to the south of them, there are islands as big as Kunlun and Penglai, right?I thought it would be fun to visit those islands. "I''d love to go there!" Marcia was the first to respond. I can''t go there with my boat. But you can go there with the boat you built, right? "I wish I could go there, too." "Yeah, me too." Saki and Toa seemed to be interested in going too. "Actually, we know that there is a perfectly safe supply of free magical element (ether) up to the equator. So I don''t think there is much danger. Jin explains about safety. "We can avoid more danger if we have a fleet of several boats. Above all, Jin thinks that cruising on a large ship is the best way to spend the honeymoon. "The wedding is on the 11th, so I''d like to leave after that after visiting various countries. ......" Jin then looked at Erza. Erza understood the meaning of his gaze and nodded. "If that''s what you want to do,...... Jin, that''s fine with me too." "You say that too, Erza." Bina mixed in from the side. "But it seems safe enough, doesn''t it? Of course you''ll take all kinds of safety precautions, won''t you?" Reinhardt also stopped his difficult face and asked. "Yes, of course. We will of course have lifeboats, Pegasus 1 on board, and warp gates. I''ll also take an aqua unit and a mermaid unit as escorts." "The <> will be watching over your father and the others." Hearing this, Reinhardt asks one last question. "What do you have in mind for the reserve energy?" "I''m thinking of loading a large amount of magi crystals as mana tanks and adding a magi reactor so that we can manage even if the free magical element (ether) becomes scarce. "Well, if we do that, I think we''ll be fine. ...... I''d like to go there too. Reinhardt looks a little disappointed. "Then you could use the warp gate and come back for a short visit when you get to the beautiful island or something. Of course, you and Bertsch can come along. "I see, that''s a good idea!" "Oh, we''d like to visit ...... too." Bina says in a voice that is at first brisk and at the end a little reserved. "Yeah, sure. All the family can come. But then someone interrupts. "I don''t think that''s a good idea, Mr. Jin. It''s your and Elsa''s honeymoon, isn''t it?" It was Rodrigo. "......You''re right, but if we go on two boats, we''ll be on one and you''ll be on the other. ......" "I see. So we''ll be alone in the water." Yes. Besides, it''s more fun in the daytime when it''s a little more lively. Considering that even a cruising tour on a large cruise ship in the modern Earth would be with many guests, Jin thought that it would be much more enjoyable with the members of the Jin Family. "Hmm, I see. I''d like to go to ......, too!" Rodrigo, too, was curious about the man of the sea and uncharted waters. "Well, then, let''s consider going in that direction. Jin declared to the assembled group. "As you have heard. After the wedding, Erza and I will travel around to different countries for the reception, and then we will take a boat to the southern sea for our <>. It will probably be in late August. We will have a fleet of boats for safety reasons as well. If anyone wants to come, please let me know before then. "Jin, I''m coming! Marcia was the first to come forward. "Me too." Saki followed. "I wish I could go." This is Vivien. "We''re coming, too." This is Toa and Stearina. They seem to be the only ones who have been with us from the beginning. "Me and Bertsche will be there on the spot. Reinhardt said this. They come temporarily when they arrive on the island. Bina and I, too. Count and Countess Kuzma could not stay all the time, so they would join us from time to time. "I''ll stay on to take care of the store, but I''d like to go there once in a while," said Count and Countess Kuzma. This is Rodrigo. And. "...... I''ll stay." It was Meine, who had remained in the corner, silent until now. "Mother, will you go with me?" Elsa invites her own mother, Meine, to join them. "Elsa, isn''t it strange for a mother to accompany a newlywed couple? "Yes, but on a different ship." Elsa was sad that her own mother, Meene, was always one step away from her. "Meine, go with her." Reinhardt also offers his advice. "I wish you could come with us, not as a mother, but as a family. Jin also expresses his honest feelings. "Thank you, Jin-sama ...... and Reinhardt-sama ......." Meane''s eyes were slightly moist as she bowed. "And then there''s Goose and Hannah..." "What?Goose?" Saki raised a crazy voice. "Yeah. "Yeah. I think it would be a lot of fun if we invite Goose to join us." "Yeah, I guess so." Saki''s face turned a little red. "Do you know where he is now?" "Yes, he came back to my house the day before yesterday. Saki''s voice sounded a little happy as she answered Jin''s question. 1136 - - 31-03 Goose with family "Whoa!This place is amazing!" The day after Stearina''s birthday party, i.e. August 3rd. Jin brought Goose to Horaijima. "Goose, you need to calm down a bit." Saki was with him. During the grace period, Jin had assessed Goose''s personality and decided that he would join the . At the same time, he gives her a bracelet. The color of the bracelet is grape brown. Goose rolls his eyes when I show him how to use it. "So this is what being a <> is all about!I''m honored to be a part of your family! "Haha, I''m glad you''re pleased. I apologize for being a little late." "Of course!Now that you''ve told me, Goose, I''ll cooperate with you and I promise not to reveal this secret. "Yes, please." Thus, Goose joined the Jin family. "Goose, I''m looking forward to working with you." "Thank you, Saki. Thank you, Saki. Jin then gave a brief history of the civilization 500 years ago. "Hmm. ......500 years ago. ......Church. ......I see. ......." Goose listened and thought for a good ten minutes, then looked up and opened his mouth. "......I''ve been going around to different countries and synthesizing the bits and pieces of information I''ve gathered. ......" Guth began to speak. * * * * "Roughly 600 to 700 years ago, a religion emerged. The name of the religion is now unknown. "One of its tenets was to return to nature. It seems to have been a kind of ''do-it-yourself'' kind of thing." Therefore, <><><> were ostracized, and magecraftsmen and alchemists who created them were persecuted. "But <> was not banned, but rather encouraged, because it fell into the category of <>." There was a time when schools of magic sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain. "However, as is usual with religions, not all people were devout, and there were many who rebelled. These people left the cities and went into hiding in the countryside, continuing to lead a small, independent life. "The standard of living declined, and the gap between the upper and lower classes of people became stark. I mean the gap between those who could use magic and those who could not. The church grew in power and a powerhouse called the clergy was born." The power of the clergy seems to have been so great that it even exceeded that of the king. "After about 400 years ago, the racism seems to have eased considerably. We only know that one of the reasons was apparently a conflict with another religion. But this is said to have led to the restoration of magical engineering and alchemy. "But in the end, it seems that the church remained in power until the ." * * * * "...... is a synthesis of what I have researched and supplemented with some speculation." "......" "That''s great, Goose." Saki began by complimenting Goose. "Yes, indeed. It''s easy, but I think I understand how the world works now." Jin was also impressed with Goose. "Really!You''re a better researcher than I am!I''m jealous." Vivian also praised Goose with open arms. "No, I''m embarrassed. Vivienne is a storyteller and I''m not. Goose is more focused on the content, while Vivienne is more focused on the expression. "But maybe this solves the mystery a little bit," Jin said happily. Jin said happily. "So if we wanted to find 500 years old technology, we would have to look in the countryside! Stearina shouted. "But I guess that''s why magic technology once declined..." said Reinhard. Reinhard said. Jin agrees. "Of course. After a few generations of inadequate facilities and failure to study each other''s skills, it''s bound to decline." "I''d be curious to know the origins of that religion. ......" Perhaps that''s Vivien''s next goal. In any case, Jin and his family have taken another step forward now that Guth has joined the family. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The same evening. "Brother Jin, I have something to tell you. Erza came to Jin who was cooling off in the front yard of the institute. "Yes, what''s up?" "......" Erza fidgeted a little, as if she was having trouble saying something, but eventually she opened her mouth slowly. "...... about the members of the family." "Yeah, so?" "Well, from the Shoro Kingdom are myself, my brother Rai, Ms. Belce, my sister Saki, Mr. Toa, and my mother." "Yes." And from the Kingdom of Egelea, Bina and Luis. Yes. And in the kingdom of Elias, Marcia and Rodrigo. Yes. Jin gradually began to understand what Erza was trying to say, but he just kept on listening to her for the time being. "The Kingdom of Celuloa is in exile, but Stearena and Vivienne are still in exile. "They''re in exile, but so be it. And now, Mr. Goose from Huso. Yeah. "...... the kingdom of Klein is missing. Hannah''s a little different... different... I guess you''re right. Hannah is more like the village of Kaina than the kingdom of Klein. "...... and Licia..." "...... yeah." "She''s already been through a lot, and I don''t think she''s the kind of person who''d let a secret slip." That may be true. As for Jin, Licia has taken good care of him in the past, and I would like to bring her into the family. "......Licia is an independent person, so I can understand Jin''s hesitation." Erza paused for a moment and then said, "It''s just that... "It''s just, she''s the one who''s been talking about my brother Jin ......." "What?" "...... nothing." Erza remembered Reinhardt and Saki. She remembered that Reinhardt had been in a relationship for many years and had been a simpleton who was unaware of Saki''s feelings for him. Jin was the same way. And she felt that it was not right for her to point this out to Jin. So, I wrote to him, "......, the rest is up to my brother Jin. I said nothing more than that. 1137 - - 31-04 Conversation with Sally On August 4, Jin, accompanied only by Reiko, first visited the village of Kaina. They did not go to Nido Castle, but to the Warp Gate in the basement of the workshop. Incidentally, this is the only time Jin uses this gate as a . "Welcome home, my dear. Lako, it''s been a long time!" Hannah greeted me with the same, if not slightly more mature smile as usual. "I''m home, Hannah. "Hannah, it''s been a while." Jin smiled back and Reiko replied. Jin and Reiko walk to the village head''s house. Hannah followed closely. "Hey, I heard that the wheat crop was good again this year! "Well, that''s good to hear." Hannah tells me many stories as we walk. Most of them are topics that Jin would be happy to hear. "We''ve got a lot of snow in the snow room, so the vegetables are well preserved, and we''ve had a decent amount of rain this summer, so everyone is saying the crops are doing well. Her speech, which used to be faltering, is now pronounced with a firm accent, and I can feel Hannah''s growth in this way. Her height has also grown to the point where she is a little taller than Reiko before I knew it. Her hair has grown to about waist-length and has a sheen to it that I would call rather than . "I picked a lot of wileys the other day," she said, "and I made jam with them. "I see, everyone is doing different things. The villagers of Kaina village have been able to buy sugar through Eric''s store as they have been able to earn various foreign currencies. They use it to make jam. While we were talking about this, we arrived at the house of the village headman, Guy Beck. "Ah, what a nice clinic you have here! The clinic is run by Sally, who became Gibeck''s wife. It was originally a log cabin, but has since been renovated into a nice, clean-looking building. "Well, there''s someone unusual here, isn''t there? Sally peeked out from the clinic just in time, and Jin greeted her. "Hello, Dr. Salie. "Hello, Dr. Saly. ...... Giebeck is out of town right now. "I see. Well, let''s ask him. "Well, you can ask me anything if you like. I can''t answer what I can''t answer. With these words, Sally invited Jin and the others into her house, not into the clinic. "I can only offer you some tea. Jin offered Reiko a persica nut that he had given her. "Here, as a souvenir," he said. "Oh, I''m sorry about that." Sally accepted the berries with a smile, peeled them quickly, cut them into pieces, and put them in front of Hannah and the others. Hannah immediately took a bite of it and her face broke into a smile at the deliciousness. Looking at her sideways, Jin asked Sally, "What did you want to ask the teacher? "What I wanted to ask you is about the neighboring village of ...... Toka. Sally goes to Toka village about three to four days a month for medical treatment. So Jin decided to ask Sally about it. "Hmm, Toka village. Yes, that''s right. ......" According to Sally, the situation in Toka Village is generally good. In particular, the stable weather during the spring and summer of this year has allowed for an above normal harvest, and the damage caused by the famine at the end of last year has been alleviated, so the village is breathing a sigh of relief. In addition, the spread of sanitation under the leadership of Sary has led to a sharp decrease in stomachaches and poisonings, and almost no infectious diseases have been reported. "My lordess Licia is working very hard," says Szary. She is very studious and is usually with me when I am treating her, helping me with things and studying. "I see. ......" Licia is a good student, Jin thought. And she is always working very hard. "However, there are many limitations to being the lord of a village, let alone a region. He seems to be having some trouble lately." "I see. ...... If you get a chance, why don''t you ask him for advice as a neighbor? Jin nodded at Sally''s words. "Yes, that''s what I''m here for. "I see. That''s a good thing. Even though we are separated by a mountain pass, we are still neighboring villages. We need to help each other." Sally picked a piece of peeled persica. "Why don''t you give her a book like the ones in your castle library?" Hannah, who had been listening in silence, opened her mouth. "Yes, that''s right. There are many things that should be widely disseminated. Especially about agriculture and health care. Sally agreed, and so did Jin. "That''s good." We have given the Shoro Empire an automata teacher named <>, but it is also important to have such a reference book. "There''s a wooden paper. ......" Printing technology has not developed, but Jin''s place has a <. He can transcribe dozens of times faster than by hand. "I will think about it. Thank you very much for today. Hitoshi, Reiko and Hanna left the chief''s house just as a villager came to the clinic, saying he had been injured while working on the farm. "Books or ......" The books in Nido Castle, some of which are quite advanced in content, are forbidden to be taken out of the castle. Hannah has read most of them. ....... "I think the basics of public health and horticulture would be fine." The reason why I don''t say "agriculture" is because some of the contents are tried and tested by Jin himself, or rather by Houraishima. There is no guarantee that the plants in modern Japan and this Ars world have exactly the same ecology. It may be necessary to limit the contents to those that have been tried successfully and to have them tested on a smaller scale in smaller fields. The geology of Toka village and Kaina village seems to be different. Jin consulted with the old man and thought it would be a good idea to make such a for the general public and give it to them or sell it as needed. "What are you going to do later today, honey?" Hannah''s voice brought Jin back to himself. "Well, I guess I''ll just visit again when the village head comes back and have a short talk with him. "Well then, let''s go swimming in the Erme River afterwards, shall we? "Yes, that would be nice." The sun was shining brightly in the sunny summer day, and the sweat was pouring out of her body even after a short walk. Hannah changed into the one-piece swimsuit that Jin had given her and put on a straw hat. So Jin changed his clothes on the second floor of his house and workshop, and put on a parka-like jacket. Reiko also changed into a bathing suit. "Come on, come on, come on, come on! Hannah, who was running at a brisk pace, stopping occasionally to urge Hitoshi and Reiko to get into the water as soon as possible. Then they passed the side of Nido Castle and reached the Erme River. "Father, there are a lot of people here, aren''t there?" "Yes, they are." There were many children swimming in the river. "Oh, Jin-chan! Someone spotted Jin and shouted. "It''s really Jin-chan!" Jin-chan! Let''s play!" Surrounded by the children, Jin smiled. "Okay!What shall we do? Summer was in full swing in the village of Kaina. 1138 - - 31-05 Parenting After playing in the Ermee River until the sun went down, Jin washed off his fatigue in a hot spring and visited the village chief''s house again. Incidentally, Hannah did not accompany him because she was helping to cook dinner. In other words, he was accompanied only by Reiko. Reiko seemed to be in a good mood as it had been a long time since she had been alone with Jin. Before the darkness had fallen, Jin and Reiko arrived at the village headman''s house. As soon as they knocked, Giebeck came out. "Oh, Jin. Welcome." Guibec calls me , just like in the old days. That''s why this village is so relaxed, Jin thinks. "I''m sorry I was gone during the day. "No, that''s okay." Jin was invited in, and since it was almost dinner time, he decided to be brief about his requirements. "We''ve been talking ...... about it for a while now, and we''ve decided to have the ............ wedding reception with Elsa on the evening of August 12th. We have decided to hold it on the evening of August 12." Giebeck''s face broke into a smile when he heard this. "Oh, at last!This is a big deal!" "Congratulations, Mr. Jin. "Thank you very much." Jin bowed his head, a little embarrassed when Sally came out of the back to congratulate him as well. "So, we will have a banquet at Nido Castle at five o''clock in the evening. "Okay. I''ll let them know so that they can all show up as much as possible. Please do so. At that moment, Sally seemed to have an idea. "Oh, Jin, aren''t you going to have a parade?" "The parade ......?" Sally nodded. "Yes. A parade. We''ll ride in a horse-drawn carriage or something and go slowly around the village. "Oh, no!I''m so embarrassed!" But Sally laughed and complained to Jin. "Don''t say you are ashamed. You are a lord, you should show your face to your people at a time like this." "...... Is that how it is?" "Yes, that''s right." This conversation was conveyed to the old man through Reiko, who, without Jin''s knowledge, decorated the cars on Horai Island and remodeled them to wedding specifications. Jin accepted it while scratching his head. "If you want to go to ......, we can leave Nido Castle at 4:00 p.m. and return after a leisurely tour of the village. How about a banquet at 5:00 p.m.? "Yes, that sounds good. Thus, the schedule for the wedding banquet in the village of Kaina was decided. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......Okay, the 12th, right? "Congratulations, Onii-chan! Jin also gave a report at Martha''s house. Hannah and Martha congratulated him. "So, Hannah, after that I''m going to go around the world to say hello, and when I''m done I''m going on a . Where are we going? On a big boat to a southern island. "Wow, that sounds great!I want to go there!" Jin nods to Hannah with a look of expectation on his face. "Yeah, so Hannah, let''s go there together." "What?Is that okay?" Jin, are you sure?Wouldn''t you rather travel with Erza alone? But Jin laughed and denied it. "No, we''ll have two boats, and it''s better to be lively during the daytime. Martha understood. "Well, if Jin says so, that''s good. "Would you like to come, Martha?" "What?" "It''s off-season now, and you can go home whenever you want." "Jin ...... well, that''s what Jin says, isn''t it ......?" Martha neither denies nor confirms. Jin continued. "I''ll send someone to pick you up when the day gets closer," he said. Martha is my ......." Jin breaks off and continues, looking embarrassed. She''s like a ...... parental figure." But when Martha heard this, she became angry. "Jin!Don''t play games with me! "Yes, yes. I''m sorry. "What do you mean by ''like''?< "......" "So, you don''t have to worry about anything. You don''t have to care about me, okay?What parent wouldn''t be happy to see their child happy?" Martha said, standing up and patting Jin on the head. "......Yes, thank you." Jin turned his head and softly let a tear fall. Martha''s hand on his head was warm. The next morning. The next morning. Jin was planning to visit the village of Toka. He called <> there. At 9:00 a.m., <> came into view in the eastern sky. The villagers have become accustomed to it and reacted as if it were another djinn vehicle flying by. They look up at the sky, take one look, and go back to their work. Looking at the residents, Jin could not help but think that Kaina Village is a special village after all. "Brother Jin!" Erza emerges from , which has landed in front of Nido Castle. Yesterday, Erza had gone to her parents'' home in the Shoro Kingdom to tell them about the wedding party. "Hi, Elsa." "...... I''m here as we discussed. Where''s my brother Jin?" "Yeah, that''s the ...... thing." Jin told Erza that Sally had told him to have a parade. "...... so." Erza blushed, but did not look as uncomfortable as Jin did. This may be a slight difference between her and Jin. There are women''s sensitivities, Jin thought to himself. "Also, I have a stack of reference books inside that the old man prepared for me. "Oh, you''re early!" The reference books that I had informed you about last night. The old man seemed to have prepared them right away. "All right, let''s go." "Okay, let''s go." Thus, Jin and Elsa boarded the Conlon 3 and headed for the village of Toka. 1139 - - 31-06 Worries Jin and his friends soon arrived at the village of Toka. "Wow!What the heck is that? "Calm down, I think that''s an airship! The stationed soldiers can be seen moving left and right. But it seems that Licia has heard the commotion and has come out. "Quiet!That''s the Korun''s plane! Everyone, please be respectful. "......?" Jin could not hear the words, but he assumed that such an order had probably been given. The soldiers and villagers who had been making noise quieted down, and the square where they were going to land became empty. Jin instructed Edgar, who was piloting the plane, to lower it more slowly than usual. And they landed. From the window of the gondola, Jin could see Licia''s face. This means that Licia also saw his face. The rear door, which is the official entrance to the gondola cabin, functions as a ramp when it is opened. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko descended slowly. Edgar is the housekeeper. "Jin-san! Licia runs up to him. "It''s been a long time!" She smiles happily. But when she looks at Erza, who is standing next to Jin, a little shadow of sadness crosses her face. "Long time no see, Licia-san. You look well." "Yes, thanks to you. I''ve heard about ....... I heard that you and Elsa are getting married. Thank you. Please come this way. Licia led Jin and the others to the lord''s mansion. The lord''s mansion was a magnificent building. "It''s not very simple, and it would be a source of disrespect. Besides, the employment brought a little life to the village. I was told that Princess Rieschen of the Third Estate personally gave them financial support in recognition of how well they had handled the famine. "I''m glad to hear that." Jin could only say a few simple words, but it seemed that his feelings had been conveyed, and Licia smiled happily. "Yes, really." We were then led to the reception room. This room, too, was decorated with modest but tasteful furniture. Please have a seat. Hitoshi and Elsa sit down at Licia''s suggestion. Reiko is standing behind Jin. Just then a girl of 15 or 6 years old, probably Licia''s secretary, comes in with a cup of tea. "Here you go." "Thank you." The girl thanked him and walked away. She is also a child of the village. We are hiring her on a hourly basis. Jin understood that this was a part-time job. "You seem to be working hard. That one comment by Jin made Licia''s face cloud over. "......" "Oh, did I say something bad?" Seeing Licia''s sudden twilight, Jin panicked. "No,...... I''m sorry. It''s nothing." "No, it''s nothing." "What''s troubling you?" Elsa, sensing something in his appearance, also asked. "......" Licia was silent, but by the look on her face, even the uninitiated Jin could easily imagine that she had hit the bull''s-eye. "I ...... no, we can discuss it with you if you want to do it yourselves." "......" Licia still did not open her mouth, but after Jin and Erza took turns talking to her, she finally opened her heavy mouth. "...... limits." "What?" "I felt I was at my ...... limit." Then Licia began to speak her thoughts in a halting manner. The limits of what she could do as a lord. The limits of our village. Limitations of life improvement. The limits of one''s ability. "......Oh, I see." Jin thought that Licia was too much involved by herself. She is trying to do everything by herself and is getting out of control. It is precisely because Jin used to work in a black company where he was forced to do everything that he wanted to do that he immediately realized it. "<>, or ......" The director of the school sometimes said this to us. "Brother Jin, what is that?" "Mr. Jin, what does it mean?" Sure enough, Elsa and Licia asked. "I''m not sure if I know exactly what it means. Jin began to explain. The word originally comes from the phrase "He who knows how to be rich will be rich," which is found in the (a compilation of the teachings of Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese thinker), and since these tend to lack explanations compared to Japanese, the meaning can change depending on the interpretation. But Jin does not know that much. "First of all, paradoxically, there is no limit to human desire. As long as there is a desire for more and more, the mind will never be at peace. So I think he meant something like ." This does not mean that we should not be ambitious. It is a warning against refining one''s mind by dwelling on what cannot be done, or what is unobtainable. As he was explaining, Jin thought of the people of the village of Kaina. They accept what they have and live a life of peace and tranquility. Of course, when Jin made various tools and magic tools, they accepted them, but no one asked him to give them more. (...... is it the blood of the old Leonard''s Kingdom?) Jin did not understand it either. "......In short, it may be that as things become richer, the heart must also become richer." Jin explained with his own interpretation. "<>, is it? That''s a good word." Licia smiled a little. "...... I guess I''m the same way. It sounds good to say that I''m not satisfied with the status quo, but maybe I''ve been so preoccupied with the big, glamorous things that I''ve been worrying about what I can''t do, instead of doing what I can." Licia''s smile became even wider as she spoke these words in a self-analyzing manner. "Thank you, Jin-san. ...... somehow reminded me of the first time we met." "First time?" "The first time?" "Yes. The first time I went to the village of Kayna as a tax collector. Oh, that time? When I loaded wheat into the cart that Jin had built and crossed the Togo Pass with the young people of the village. Licia, wondering what she could do for the people as a nobleman, asked Jin. Jin-san told me that he felt that it was dangerous for someone who did not have such concerns to be in a position of power. "Yes, that''s right." "So I thought about it and came to the conclusion that I should do what I can do. I seem to have forgotten that. I was trying to do something that I couldn''t do, and I hit a wall and ...... was worried about it all on my own." Licia''s face looked much livelier as she said this. 1140 - - 31-07 Air travel "...... Licia, great." Elsa is impressed. "An independent woman, that''s the right word." "Please don''t say that, Elsa, it''s embarrassing to be called like that." "...... is not true. Licia is much better than me, she''s working on her own. Erza said that she had lived her whole life with the help of someone else. "But you''ve done things that I can''t do," she said. She became a first-rate magecraftsman and a court-appointed healer (Reichsartz). (And to support Mr. Jin, and to be next to him.) "...... What?" "No, it''s nothing. ......<>, I guess everyone is just doing that." Licia, looking better than before, smiles, still looking a little sad, "Would you like to join me for lunch, if you don''t mind? She said, "I would like to have lunch with you. "This is delicious. "I''ve tried to make it various ways." Jin and Elsa were having lunch with Licia. The menu shows signs of ingenuity. In particular, "Could this be ......?" Jin is pointing to porridge, but it is not porridge but <. Yes, it was made of barley, and it was seasoned porridge, or rice porridge. It is usually salted, or at best stewed with meat and vegetables, but they seem to be using a broth made from chicken bones. "Yes, the broth is made from the bones of the kokarisks we keep in the village, and the kokarisk eggs are dropped in, then sprinkled with leeks and kryptona." "I see. ...... It is very tasty." Thank you very much." Other dishes were made with local wild vegetables, which were cooked well and brought out the flavors of the ingredients. "This stew of river fish and orangutans is also good. The small fish from the river is boiled in a sweet and spicy sauce, and walnut-like nuts are added to it. Jin liked it because it tasted like tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce). "I like this salad better," he said. "That''s because of the sauce." Think of it as a dressing with citran fruit juice instead of vinegar. It seems that some spices are added to it. It is similar to the yuzu dressing of today''s earth. Elsa seemed to like the sour taste. "I think it''s really amazing that you were able to accomplish so much on your own," she said. "...... Jin-san." Licia opened her mouth to look him up and down. "You know,...... that,......?" "Yes?" From the look on Licia''s face, Jin thought she was talking about something complicated. "...... can you talk to me in a more informal way, too?" "Oh ...... okay." Licia''s own language was polite, so Jin had somehow been using a half-hearted honorific. "Okay, Licia." * * * * In Toka village, too, people drink tea made from the leaves of the <, or perhia. Afterwards, while enjoying the taste, which was slightly different from the one in Kaina village, Jin decided to make a suggestion to Licia. "Licia, can you take a day off tomorrow?" "Tomorrow?Yes, it''s not impossible. Jin nodded. "That''s good to know. I''d like to invite you to the Kunlun Islands tomorrow. "Oh, you want to invite me?Why? Licia had been informed that the World Congress was being held on the Kunlun Island, and was surprised by the sudden invitation. "Why, ......?" "Because I want to thank Licia-san for her hard work?" Elsa offered a helping hand. It would have been better if she had not used the question mark at the end of her sentence, Jin thought. "Yes, yes. You know, we''re neighbors, and it would be nice to get to know each other better." "...... is that okay?" "That''s why it''s okay." "......I really wanted to go." "I''m glad you did. Then, how about early tomorrow morning, around 6:00 a.m.? Because of the time difference, Jin asked her if she would like to go a little earlier. "Yes, I''m looking forward to it. Licia smiled and agreed. "Well, I''ll pick you up again tomorrow morning. We''ll have breakfast together over there. Jin and Erza then boarded the and left the village of Toka once more. Incidentally, it is an aside that the timing of the gift of the <> was not quite right and it came at the last minute. Of course, Licia was so happy that she jumped up and down. The next morning at 6:00 a.m., the time was 6:00 a.m. The next morning at 6:00 a.m., landed at Toka village exactly on time. Most of the villagers were awake, but since it was yesterday, there was no commotion. "Good morning, Mr. Jin." "Good morning, Licia." This time, Erza was not with them. She is in Kunlun preparing to entertain. Please, come in. "Thank you." Instead, a steward will escort Licia aboard. And soon they are on their way. "...... is amazing!" Licia is impressed by the view of the ground from her first ride on . For Licia''s sake, the flies a little low over the land. After all, it has a <. "I was scared I was going to fall, but once I got used to it, it was great!" Licia''s eyes are glued to the view from the floor window. "Wow, mountains look like this when you look down from above! And "Wow, that''s what mountains look like from above! "I can see the clouds below!How high are you flying? and so on, "...... you''re amazing!He is able to create such an amazing vehicle! They were talking excitedly. Finally, we go out to the sea. "Wow, the ocean is so blue!It''s so big!" Jin took Licia to the observation deck on the upper floor. "Wow!The sky is such a color! < There are many theories about the origin of the word, but Jin heard from the director that , a pack of 50 cigarettes, used to be sold in a tin. The label on the can was dark blue, so the color of the dark blue sky was called after the Peace can. In other words, the color of the sky seen from a high place is much darker than that seen from the ground. It is so dark that it can be likened to the color of a can of peace. This is because the air is thinner and less dusty, so there is less diffuse reflection of light and it appears darker. In a vacuum universe, it would be pitch black. Let me digress. It took about 30 minutes for to fly to the Kunlun Island because of the reduced speed. During this time, Licia experienced air travel with amazement. 1141 - - 31-08 And to Horai Island At 7:40 am Kunlun Island time, <> arrived at its namesake island, Kunlun Island. "Welcome to the Kunlun Island." Jin escorts Licia down the ramp. Elsa is waiting for them. "Welcome, Licia." "Thank you, Erza-san." They greet each other, and Elsa takes Licia''s hand on Jin''s behalf. "This way, please." < landed in the plaza in front of the The number 100 golem maids of five colors were all there. "Wow, they look great! Licia had been to Nido Castle before, so she had a little bit of a tolerance for it. "First, let''s have breakfast together. Erza said smilingly. Elsa prepared a Japanese-style breakfast. "Oh, I had this at Nido Castle. As a goodwill ambassador and lord of a neighboring village, Licia had visited the village of Kaina several times and had tasted the rice on those occasions. "It''s ...... delicious." She also liked the miso soup with fried bean curd and tofu. She also ate grilled dried fish with a fork. However, he frowned a little at the dried plums. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, let''s start with an introduction to the island. After breakfast, we proceeded to show Licia around the in much the same way as the others. The tour of the <> proceeded without any problems. After that, I showed them the <> and the <>, but as expected, they were surprised. "What!What is this building?What is this building? The Jade Pavilion, with its white jade and green jade, and the Wujinggak, with its Japanese-style architecture and Japanese garden. "...... Jin-san was the one who could do so much. ......" The first thing that Licia said, not knowing whether to be impressed or not, was, "I''ve never seen anything like this. Jin then followed up with a question to Licia. "Licia, would you like to see my real base?" "What?Your real base?Yes, by all means. It was probably a reply he didn''t think much of, but Jin took it seriously. "Okay, let''s go then." "Yes?" He urges Licia, who looks doubtful, and leads her down to the basement of the building. Jin-san?What is this place ......? "This is the Warp Gate, one of the powers I inherited. "Wow, a warp gate? Licia has heard of it. It was a means of transportation used in the past. "Come on, let''s go." "What, what, what?Where are we going? <<<> alone was a surprise, but this . And now they are using it to go somewhere. Licia steps into the <> as Jin pulls her hand. Licia stepped into the Warp Gate. Welcome to Horai Island. < "Welcome, Licia-san." "Welcome, Licia-san." And there they were greeted by Elsa and Reiko, who had moved on ahead of them. "Oh?Erza-san?And Reiko?What?" He doesn''t know what''s going on anymore. "...... Jin brother, did you explain to her what was going on?" Erza looked at Licia and glared at Jin a little. "No, I was just trying to surprise you. Erza gave a sigh of amusement. "My brother Jin is like that sometimes. ......" Elsa said that this was too much stimulation for a normal person. "You''re a little short on imagination." "Ugh. ......" Jin couldn''t say anything back, as he was reminded of some of the things he had heard. "......I''ll start by slowly explaining the outline." "......, I''ll take care of it." "Yes." So Erza left the warp gate room with Licia. "Ah, I guess I''m still a simpleton after all." Jin is aware of this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * About 30 minutes passed. Licia came back looking refreshed, although she did not tell me what Erza had explained to her. "Ms. Jin, I''m sorry for all the confusion. I feel much calmer now that Erza-san has explained everything to me. "Well, I''m glad to hear that." By the way, of course, the old man knows what she is talking about. Elsa only explained slowly about Jin''s progress ...... so far. Her halting manner of speaking made Licia feel more at ease. "I heard that you are from , Jin-san, but I didn''t think that you were from another world. "Oh, I''m sorry for not telling you." "No, I''m sorry I didn''t tell you. I''m sorry I didn''t tell you. Licia cut off her speech and looked around before speaking again. "...... Jin-san, who can do all of this, should never be tied down to a single country. You must be free." "Thank you." Jin then tells her the purpose of the trip. "I would like Licia to become a member of ......<>." "Yes. ......" Erza didn''t seem to have explained that much. Jin glanced at Elsa''s face and nodded silently. It was an expression that said . "Well, I mean, there are only a limited number of people who know where I come from and what I know here in Horai Island." "I''m sure that''s true." "So, all of those people are called in the sense that they are my friends and family. Family? Yes. So I wanted Licia to be a part of the from today. Jin held out the bracelet he had made while Erza was talking with Licia. "Licia, will you join us?" "...... if you are willing to join me ......" Licia was finally inducted into the Jin family. 1142 - - 31-09 Dinner "Is this ? ......" Lysia looked at the magical tool that Jin had handed her, and put it on her wrist. "How to use it is ......" Jin explained it carefully. Licia looked serious, trying not to miss a single word. ......, I see. "Thank you very much." Licia looked at the bracelet on her right wrist - Licia''s is blue and white marbled. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * That evening, most of the members of the Jin family gathered. The place was the main dining hall of the institute. After the meeting, a dinner party was scheduled to follow. In addition to Jin and Elsa, there were Reinhard, Belce, Saki, Toa, Stearina, Vivian, Marcia, Rodrigo, Beena, Count Kuzma, Goose, and Meene. The only one who is not here is Milowina. She is relaxing at the moon base. "Hello, please." Licia was a little nervous to see such a distinguished group of people. However, when Jin told her that it would be great to have collaborators in each country, she felt nervous as if she were representing the Kingdom of Klein. "No, that''s not what I meant. In the first place, <> is a family, not a group of people pursuing something. We help each other when something happens, we share information, and we do what we can for the good of our countries. We are not obligated to do anything," Jin said. "Well, I''m just a friend who knows my situation. If ...... it bothers you, just say so." "No, I''m not annoyed!I would have rather you had told me about it earlier ......, ......." "I''m sorry about that. I''d rather you had told me earlier,......." "I''m sorry about that. ...... Of all the members here, Licia was the first one I met." "...... I''m going to think it''s probably Count Walter''s outburst about that." "I guess." When Jin was in the village of Kaina, he was suspected of being the mastermind behind the mysterious golem fiasco, and he ran away from the village. "At that time, I wished I had more power so I could have protected Jin-san," he regretted. "Thank you." "...... but then we might not have met Jin, right?" Bina joined the conversation. "My brother and sisters might not have been cured of their illnesses, and we might not have met Louis. I might not have ...... been able to pay my debts and I might have sold myself by now. ......" Bina shuddered as she said this. "Yes. It''s possible that she was forced into a marriage she didn''t like. Count Kuzma joined in. "But even in our Blue Lands, the djinn have caused trouble ......." "But that was Count Galana''s fault. In that case, Jin chose to disappear from the Blue Lands before trouble could ensue. His lack of social standing was a disadvantage in such a case. "But that''s why Jin came to Potrock." Now Marcia joined them. "If I hadn''t met Jin, I''d probably be living in the gutter or in another town now that Valentino''s taken my ship. ...... "...... sorry, Marcia." My father, Rodrigo, apologized with a pitiful look on his face. "No, now that you''re back, the store is doing well." "Yes, that''s when you met Jin!" Reinhardt was deeply moved. "If I hadn''t met Jin, I would be ...... now." Erza also says in a sad voice. "I might have been late in dealing with the Unification Party (Unifiler). "You''re right, Reinhard. I don''t know what I would have done after I was kidnapped." "I have never been so happy to be able to ...... call myself a mother and child." Stearina and Meane also added with a deep smile. "Yes. It was thanks to you that we were able to escape from the oppressive government of our country, even though it has been replaced by a new one. "I''m grateful to Jin for showing me a new world and for helping me learn about my ...... father''s homeland." Vivian and Goose also expressed their thanks. "I really appreciate Jin-san and Erza-san for their help during <>." Licia also said, remembering the old days. While she was feeling a little sad, the five-colored golem maids brought dinner to the party. It was a standing buffet party to deepen the friendship. "Oh, it smells so good! Bina notices that the fish is grilled with herbs. The fish, which looks like a horse mackerel, is cut into three pieces and seasoned with salt and pepper. Coat the fish with flour and herbs and put it in a container and seal it for a while. The fish is then grilled in a frying pan with vegetable oil and served with the juice of the green citran fruit. "I''ve never seen this before!" Bertsche''s interest was caught by the yellowtail radish (a fish similar to yellowtail). The yellowtail fillet is quickly soaked in hot water to remove the fishy smell. Boil the daikon slices in rice water for about 10 minutes. Put yellowtail and daikon into a pot, add water, soy sauce, sugar, mirin and grated ginger. Mirin (sweet cooking rice wine) is recently developed. It is the result of a trial-and-error process using glutinous rice and shochu (distilled spirit). "This is beautiful! Elsa is admiring a rose made of uncured ham and herbs. It is made by wrapping the prosciutto around the ham and adding herb leaves, and then pouring a sweet and sour sauce over it. The dish is beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. Is this made with aprs-ski?And this octopus!And the Persica? Marcia shouted in surprise. In front of her were a rabbit made from apples, an octopus made from sausages, and a rose made from slices of persica. All of them were placed in a bowl hollowed out of a watermelon. Of course, the flesh of the watermelon was chopped into dice and used for coloring. "Oh my, this looks delicious! Stearina''s attention was drawn to the diced steak. Diced meat such as Mitsho pig, Huso marsh antler deer, cow bull, etc., was grilled on a griddle, with carrots and topopo cut into the same shape for color. The seasoning is simple salt and pepper. The bite-size pieces allow you to enjoy the various flavors of the meat. "I like the Japanese soup," said Vivienne. Vivien loves miso soup. This time she is serving miso soup with kurumu clams. It has a nice broth by itself, but when combined with a kelp-based broth, it is very special. "Wow, what a variety of dishes! Licia is still gawking at all the dishes, but the portions are so small that even after eating all of them, she is not yet full. Afterwards, she can order her favorite dishes again. This made for an enjoyable dinner party. Licia, too, has relaxed and has become comfortable with everyone except Jin and Erza. 1143 - - 31-10 Disturbing People "Yes, it''s very good!" Countess Kuzma, Bina said to herself. In front of her is a white dress. The wedding dress, which was made by Bina, was placed on a trousseau, which is a model of a human torso. She is a skilled seamstress, having taken care of her younger siblings. "Well, it''s a beautiful work of art. This is suitable for her to wear to the wedding reception at the royal castle. Count Louis Wurtz Kuzma, Bina''s husband, also gave his approval. "I hope so." Of course, it will be Elsa who wears this dress. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The chef said it would be difficult, but I think we''ll make it in time. "I''m glad to hear that." Reinhardt eats with Jin-kun and Erza, so he knows their tastes well, right? Yes, I do. In the Shoro Imperial Palace, the queen herself was in charge of the menu for the wedding banquet. "Jin-kun doesn''t have any likes or dislikes, but I''m sure you usually eat delicious food, so you must do your best. The emperor was very enthusiastic. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the Kingdom of Klein, Princess Rieschen and Prince Arthur were arranging a wedding banquet for their brother and sister. "The decorations are not too fancy or too plain. < Brother, is this the menu? "Is this okay?...... yes, that''s fine." The feud of their childhood has faded and they are, at least outwardly, a close brother and sister. Ask ...... Tia afterwards. "Yes, brother." Yes, brother. Is this the right vessel? Mother, thank you. In the Kingdom of Franz, the new king, Lotharus de Lafayette I, and his mother, Catherine de Lafayette, were preparing for the wedding banquet. "The vessels used by the previous king were in such bad taste," he said. Most of them are made of gold and gilded. "When I remember the hospitality we showed them on the Kunlun Island, I''m not sure if this is the right way to treat them, Mother." "Hmm, I have the impression that Jin Nido is the kind of person who would be pleased with your hospitality." "Is that so?" Yes, that''s what I mean by hospitality. Yes, that''s what hospitality is all about. "It''s quite a problem. ...... The Marchese Florenziano''s well-shaped brow furrowed. As Minister of the Interior, he was in charge of the reception. King Blitzen Skala Elias XII is sick in bed and is in and out of bed, so the Marquis Godopher, the Prime Minister, is in charge of the affairs of state. The Marquis of Firenziano was in charge of the reception of the , and the honor of the state rested on her shoulders. "After all, topopo cuisine is a must, isn''t it?" She also wanted him to see how well she had applied the topopo that Jin had taught her since then. "And I would like to add the products of the villages of Moft and Flathead." He hopes that the addition of products from the villages where he knows Jin once stayed will bring back some nostalgia. "For drinks, we''ll have a selection of kuhe and more fruits. And then there''s the wine selection." Of course, the menu will reflect not only Jin''s tastes, but also those of his companion, Elsa. "I heard that you don''t like cocarisque, so I''ll avoid that and use citran-based sauces. ...... The Marquis sighs in relief. * * * * The Kingdom of Selroa is also preparing for a state-wide welcoming ceremony. "Don''t make it too flashy, okay?But keep the gravity of the occasion." It''s a difficult order. There''s no need to go overboard, but we can''t afford to cut corners. "Yes, Your Majesty?" It is not an unreasonable request, but it is a very hard one. The person who will actually carry out the request is Balfeeza Walker, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. He is a capable man, but he has been looking very tired over the past few days. * * * * * * "Hmmm, what should we do about the <> ......" Jin was wondering what he should do. "Brother Jin, what do you mean by ''gifts''?" "What, don''t we have such a custom here?" Jin asked Erza, who in turn asked him the opposite question, but thinking back, he realized that he had not received such a gift at any of the weddings he had attended. "Oh, I see. ...... Well, <> is a thank-you ...... given to those who came to the wedding or reception, is that correct?" "Do you have such a custom at your brother Jin''s place?" "Yes, they do. But the guests who come to the reception also bring a , so the total is a plus." "Well, if it''s ......, it might be a good idea to give them something as <>." Erza agreed, so Jin thought again and ....... "Yes, let''s make it a koban." "Koban?" "Yes, koban. It is a coin used in my country in the old days. It''s also used as a good luck charm now, so I thought it would be appropriate. Jin explained to Elsa. "But it''s going to be great if you make it out of gold. "That''s ......." There are dozens of tons of inventory on Horai Island, but making koban out of it and distributing them could destroy the market price of gold. "That''s a tough one. ......" Currency in this world has hardly increased or decreased. It has not changed since 300 years ago. The population has declined so drastically that there is an excess in circulation, and countries are stockpiling and adjusting. Although Jin is not familiar with such economic and monetary flows, he understands that such a system is working well because there have been no extreme price hikes or plunges as a result. I don''t want to do anything to destroy it. "Well, I guess I''ll have it gold-plated as a memento, then. "Yes, that would be appropriate. Thus, the "gift" was decided. "We''ll have to make a little extra, in case we run out. "Well, that''s no problem either. "Now all we have to do is design ......." After thinking about it, the overall design is the one that Jin remembers from . In addition, the front side would be inscribed with <<> in Chinese characters, and the back side would be inscribed with <> in Ars characters. 1144 - - 31-11 Morning, August 10 Horaijima, August 10. The sky is blue and the breeze from the sea is cool in the morning. Good morning, Elsa. "Good morning, Brother Jin." < After washing their faces with cold water, they wake up refreshed. "Here are your towels, father. "Oh, thank you." After receiving the towel from Reiko and wiping his face and hands, Jin spoke to Elsa, who was also returning the towel to Edgar. "So, it''s finally tomorrow, huh?" "......." With this conversation, the two men and the two bodies left the house and went to the cafeteria of the institute. "Good morning, master." "Good morning." There, Peridot 1 has just finished preparing breakfast. Of course, he knew that Jin had woken up and washed his face, so he calculated the time to come over here and prepare for breakfast. Jin-kun, good morning. "Hi, good morning." Vivian and Saki had arrived too. Some members of the Jin family had already arrived at Horai Island for the wedding ceremony scheduled for tomorrow. Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt, Count and Countess Kuzma, and Licia would be coming tonight because of their political duties. Good morning. Good morning, Jin. Besides Vivian and Saki, Marcia, Rodrigo, Goose, Tor and his wife Stearina are here. Meine is originally here and is taking care of Erza. The old man also reports. Jin listened to the report while eating breakfast. "Thank you for the breakfast. As Jin finished eating and drinking hojicha (Japanese green tea), Saki and Vivian seemed to have finished eating too. And Erza seemed to have finished eating, too. "So, Jin, what are you going to do today? Saki came over to Jin and Erza''s table holding a cup of tea. "I''ve already prepared everything for you. ...... All we have to do now is to pick up Milowina, Jin answered. "I see. I was hoping to hear more about that . "Oh, I''d like to hear about it too. Stearina came in with a cup of tea. Jin-kun, I want to know too! Toa, who had not yet finished eating, shouted from across the table. Jin replied with a wry smile. "Then let''s spend the morning talking about it." * * * "Well, let''s get started." In Jin''s workshop, most of the members of the who are currently on Horai Island are present. The exceptions are Elsa, who already knows about , and her mother Meene. The two seem to be having some kind of conversation with the mother and son before the ceremony tomorrow. "First of all, I think today''s topic should be <>, right?" No one objects. On the contrary, everyone looks as if they can''t wait to hear what the topic is. "Well then. ...... First, <> was mercury. Is this correct? Everyone nodded silently. "Mercury''s <>, that''s what <> is. In other words, it is not just mercury, but magical mercury. Jin explains that it is like the relationship between silver and mithril silver. "The nucleus of mercury, the neutrons of which are replaced by magicons, is the . So far, we only know that it comes from an island in the south." "<>, right ......?" Marcia muttered with interest. I guess she wants to go there. "So, as for the properties of this <>, its physical properties are almost the same as mercury. Its specific gravity is about 13.5, and its melting point is about minus 39 degrees Celsius. Other properties are almost the same as normal mercury. "The chemical properties are almost the same, so be careful when handling it." Jin emphasizes the danger of handling mercury, saying, "Especially when vaporized, it is easily absorbed through the lungs, and if absorbed into the body, it binds to hemoglobin and other substances, causing it to become toxic. "Especially Saki." He reminds her that it''s more dangerous than the lacquer rash she got before. "Oh, no, Jin." Saki smiled bitterly, but her face showed that she understood. "You have to be careful. It seems that when it builds up in the brain, the emotions become uncontrollable." It was Jin who explained the case of Jix and Ganno. "But what is definitely different from ordinary mercury is that it reacts to magic power." He then went on to explain from the viewpoint of magical engineering. "This metal transmits magic power very well. In this case, magical power refers to <> or >." Stearina leaned forward. "So it is very easy to this . That''s why it was used in the Fluid Form Drive. The advantages of not needing wiring of magic nerves and the ability to store mana are great. However," Jin says. "The disadvantage is that the usable temperature range is narrow. It is also quite fatal. Apart from the toxicity of ......<>." "Indeed. It can''t be used in an environment where that ......<> is around, can it?" Saki. When I once went to the Arctic Circle, further north of the demon territory, to search for the shell of the <>, the temperature was sometimes minus 40 degrees Celsius. "Yes. And they are vulnerable to fire magic. ......" It''s also dangerous. Mercury vapors could be a terrible thing if they get into the area. "I suppose it could be good for some purposes." "Hmmm...maybe Jin could come up with a way to cover up such shortcomings?" Unexpectedly, Marcia offered such an opinion. "Well, ...... I''m sure there are a few ways." Let''s hear it, shall we? "Well, I think there are a few things we can do. ...... For the low temperatures, we could build in a heater. That''s easy. Anyone can come up with that one. "And for the high temperature, we can build in a cooler." The overall efficiency will be a little lower, Jin added. "That''s right. ......." Jin looks at him with difficulty. "We can''t do anything about the toxicity of mercury. At the very least, we''ll have to find or create a safe liquid metal." "That sounds interesting." "Yes, that sounds interesting." Saki and Toa''s faces lit up. "It''s good to do research, but be careful not to get addicted. Jin couldn''t help but say. 1145 - - 31-12 August 10 afternoon At noon Horai Island time, Milowina arrived from the moon base. "Milowina, welcome! Jin, Erza, and all of the on Horai Island greeted her. "It''s been a while, Jin." Milowina looked even healthier than the last time they had met. "Tomorrow is the big day, the wedding. Are you sure you want to go to ...... with me?" "Yes, I want you to do it. What Jin wants Milowena to do is to act as his "guardian. Erza has Meane, but Jin is an orphan and a gentile. Therefore, they wanted to ask Milowina to be his guardian. We will use Reinhardt''s wedding as a reference and make it look a little like a < wedding ceremony in modern Japan with our own color ....... Erza agreed with us on this. Erza agreed with me on this. After explaining this to the rest of the <, they responded favorably, so Jin decided to hold the wedding in his own style. The Japanese style wedding ceremony was not much different from the one here, but more than that, it was a wedding that was in accordance with the wishes of Jin, who had come to this world alone. Adriana Barbora Zetsi, Shuki, and Shuki''s wife Adriana. Jin was going to report his marriage to them and to the eight million gods of the earth Japan, which is somewhere far away from here. "Well, Jin''s own wedding. Interesting. Guth says. I''ve already explained the ceremony, but I guess they want to see it in real time. And so does Vivian. "<> ...... This will definitely be the talk of the town!" "......" Jin and Erza were a little taken back by the tension. Then, at 2:00 p.m. Hourai Island time, Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt arrived at Shoro. Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt arrived from Shoro. Bertsche is carrying a very large belly. "Welcome Reinhard, Bertje. ...... are you all right?" Yes, Jin-sama. Yes, Master Jin. I had the midwife take a look at you and you''re still fine. In the world of Ars, there is no such thing as a doctor, and it is the who heals the injured and sick. The role of the birth mother is assigned to a . "Thank you for your concern, Jin. ...... is the safest place in the world, in a way, since Erza is here and we can fly to the village of Kaina. "You could certainly say that. ...... Jin was a little worried because he had heard that first births are difficult. Licia arrived at 3:00 pm. "I''m sorry I''m late. "Welcome, Licia." Thank you for coming. Jin and Elsa welcomed her and took her to the main dining hall where everyone was gathered. There they introduced themselves to Milowina, who was new to the group. "As I think I told you before, this is Milowina, a member of the royal family of the Leonard Kingdom." "Nice to meet you, Milowina. I guess I''m the last one. Uh, Licia. Jin, you know a lot of pretty girls. Licia blushed when she was told this, Jin scratched his head on the side, and Erza glared at him for a moment. At 4:00 p.m., Count and Countess Kuzma arrived. "Welcome Luis, Bina. "Jin, it''s good to see you!" Bina called out to me with a slightly flushed face. "Yeah, Bina beat me to it, but now it''s time! "Oh, Bina beat me to it, but now it''s time! ......Erza, aren''t you excited?" "......" Bina also calls out to Erza as she greets her. Elsa''s eyes became sharper as she looked at her. "...... Beena, pregnant?" "What?" What? "...... what?" Not only Jin, but also Count Kuzma, or rather Beena herself, stiffened. "...... not?" "Yeah, yeah, ......! Apparently, she didn''t understand it either. "Well, I was thinking that you are late this month,......, is that right?" "Yes, I''m sure. Congratulations." Elsa said with a smile as she placed her hand on Bina''s stomach and examined her. "Bina, thank you!" "You ......" Count Kuzma is happy to take Beena''s hand. "This is even more of a celebration!" Count Kuzma''s best friend, Reinhardt, was also happy. And all the members of the Jin family gathered to celebrate. The night was like an eve party, and passed peacefully. "Jin, congratulations! Reinhardt congratulated Jin with a glass of wine in his hand. "Thank you. "When I first met Jin, I never thought this day would come. "Me neither." "...... I feel a little strange that Jin chose just one person." This is Bina. "Hmmm, that''s true. Jin is kind to everyone. ...... women." "Hey." Jin pretends to be offended at Saki''s flirtation. "......Hey?Oh, by the way, where''s Erza?" "Hm?I don''t see her. ......Licia isn''t here either." "She said she was going to the hot springs." I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Erza was alone in the hot spring. ...... finally, tomorrow. I think back to the past. The meeting in Potrock. The Golem boat race. The misunderstanding in Flathead Village when I thought Jin might be a puppet lover. Kite flying in Moft Village. A smile breaks out on my face. The reminiscing continues. Being attacked by bandits under the Hambarf Pass. The non. Valentino''s resentment against him. Being invited to Kunlun Island with Bina. ....... "At the Golem Garden Party. ......" He recalls that he was saved by the protection ring given to him by Jin. And the Giggarth riot at the mine in Yada village and the Keuwan ruins: ....... When I think back to that point, I notice that someone has entered the room. "Oh, it''s Erza, isn''t it?" "Licia-san. ......" It was Licia. "Excuse me." After pouring herself a hot bath, Licia slowly sank her body into the bathtub. The water is very nice, isn''t it? "Mmm." The large window in the bathroom looks out. What she can see now is a starry sky. "Congratulations, Miss Elsa. Thank you for ....... I''m a little jealous. "......" Licia''s eyes are vacant, perhaps because she is a little tipsy. "Please support Jin-san," she said. "Licia-san, you ......" Licia interrupted Erza as she was about to say something. "Well, it''s not my place to say anything. Erza-san is an indispensable person for Jin-san. Licia then closes her eyes. "Thank you, Licia-san. ......" Erza also closed her eyes and stretched her limbs in the hot water. Then the two talked about many things. * * * * * * Saki and the others were worried because it was so late, and went to check on them, but they found Erza and Licia nearly overcome with a fever. 1146 - - 31-13 Each thought I don''t know when it started. When did he start living in my heart? I miss him. I miss him. I feel safe when he is near me. I feel happy when he smiles at me. I want to be with you always. If I can''t do that, then I need some kind of connection. And the connection I sought was with . He taught me in a kind, detailed, and careful way. Thanks to him, I am probably one of the best now. I want to be useful. I want to help. And I learned . I tried my best. Thanks to you, I can use it at the highest level. But it''s not enough. Just as he is an irreplaceable man to me. I want to be an irreplaceable woman for her. Tomorrow. I wonder if something will change. I have a daughter, but I am not married. I am not married, though I have a daughter. I have been a comfort to a noble man, had a daughter, and was barely allowed to stay by his side as his maid of honor after he almost took her away from me. So I did not want my daughter to suffer that fate. I wanted my daughter to have a happy married life ...... even though I couldn''t. Tomorrow, my daughter is getting married. Her boyfriend is a man from another world. It has been a little over a year since we met. My first impression was that he was an unreliable boy. At the time, I didn''t know he was from another world. When I asked him how old he was, he told me he was already 20 years old. He looks younger than his age, which seems to be a characteristic of his homeland. Therefore, I decided to regard him as a instead of a , but my impression that he was unreliable did not change. As an engineer, he is said to be superior to the young man of noble birth who is the head of our group, but his words and actions are indecisive and he seems unfamiliar to the world. Therefore, I nailed him to stay away from my daughter and not to be too familiar with her. The butler who accompanied me blamed me, but I did not regret it because I was trying to protect my beloved daughter. However, my judgment was wrong. The day I learned that my daughter was going to be forced into a marriage that I did not like, by order of my parents'' family. When we ran away together, she was kidnapped by a group called the Unification Party (Unifiler), and I was mortally wounded. The person who saved us was a young man who seemed unreliable. He took us away to a place of paradise. By that time, the blackness in me was gone and I could look at him with an open mind. He seemed indecisive because he was kind. He seemed unfamiliar because he came from another world. And he was far from unreliable. He has the power to conquer or even destroy the world. But he does not wield his power carelessly. He is merciless to the enemies of the world, but kind to his friends and acquaintances. He and my daughter became good friends. At first they were like brother and sister, but gradually it became more intimate. He gradually became more and more prominent and even allowed her to return to her homeland. He also helped me to resolve the friction with my parents'' family. I cannot thank him enough. From that time on, the two of us started going out together here and there. However, it did not mean that they became man-woman relationship. I wonder if his daughter is a sister to him.I wonder if my daughter is to him. That makes me a little worried about my daughter''s future. Before he knew it, his daughter had grown up to be a first-rate magical engineer. She has even become a court-appointed healer (Reichsartz). This was all thanks to him. Since then, the two of them seemed to have grown a little closer. By the way, he has many female acquaintances. One might think that he is a womanizer, but it seems that he is not. We can be assured of that. My daughter and he finally got engaged. He chose my daughter. I am honestly happy now. Now I understand. He wants a family because of his loneliness. I wonder if his daughter could fill the void in his heart. Tomorrow, his daughter will be married. I wish only one thing. Be happy. * * * * Tomorrow is the wedding. Marriage. Marriage. A celebration. I will take to wife a girl who is aptly described as lovely. I will take a woman from this world as my mate. I will have a family of my own. I, who grew up without knowing the true meaning of family, will have a family. I am not sure if I can do it. I wonder if I will unknowingly make some mistake and destroy my <>. Will I make that lovely girl unhappy? Negative thoughts swirl in my head. "Father, it will be all right. A dignified voice echoed in the room. The voice comes from the girl who is the world''s best and strongest automata. "Is that so? ...... "Yes. It''s important to reflect on yourself. But if you fail... But if you fail, you can always try not to fail again. Yes, ...... that''s right. The words of the girl who is my beloved daughter, the girl I created, seep into my heart. "Yes, I will do my best to help you. The sound of her voice seems to blow away any gloomy thoughts. Tomorrow will surely be better than today. "I hope so." Whatever happens, I''ll get through it. I will make the girl I love happy. No, we will be happy together. The eve of their wedding day passed with such determination in their hearts. 1147 - - 31-14 August 11 August 11, 3458. Horai Island was hot from the morning. "Are these the right clothes?" "Are you sure you didn''t forget anything?" "Oh, your collar stands up!" "Yes, you look good." Even though they had already made preparations, they were still uncomfortable when it came time for the big day. < The voice of the old man announces the start of the ceremony. The venue is the main conference room. There were Elsa in a white kimono and Jin in a crested kimono. In case you are wondering, this is a reconstruction from Jin''s memory, so some details are questionable, but no one cares about that. "Wow, Erza-san, you look beautiful! "Jin, you look different. and other words of praise for the two in their never-before-seen outfits. "Well, let''s go!" Reiko called out to them when the time was right. Jin is escorted by his guardian, Milowina, and Erza is escorted by her mother, Meene. Reiko leads the way. Both Reiko and Meene are dressed in kimonos prepared for this occasion, instead of their usual clothes. The five colored golem maids are lined up neatly on both sides of the hallway outside the main conference room, and Reiko, Jin and Erza, Meine and Milowina, and the attendees walk between them in that order. They climbed the stairs to the second floor. There, too, the golem maids are lined up. Reiko walked slowly to the door where Soleil, Prane, Luna, and Satella were standing, and stopped to look back at Jin and Erza. They stopped too, and Jin gave a small nod to Reiko. Reiko opened the door slowly. It was the study of Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the former Magecraft Meister. The group quietly entered the room, and Jin opened the door to the hidden room. The attendees stopped in the study, and only Reiko, Jin, and Elsa entered the hidden room. In front of them was a paper crane. First Reiko opened her mouth. "Mother, I have something to tell you. Then Jin. "My predecessor, today, the second Magecraft Meister, Hitoshi Nido, has taken Elsa Randall to be his wife. Finally, Elsa. "From this day forward, I, Elsa Randall, will become Elsa Nido and pledge to walk with my husband." Immediately afterwards, Meine and Milowina, who had not entered the room but were waiting at the door, gave a round of applause. "Elsa''s mother, Meine, congratulates them." "Milowina, the guardian of Jin Nido, congratulates them." The attendees in the background gave a warm round of applause. * * * * After reporting to their predecessors, the group walked out of the institute. "Wow!" "Sh!" No wonder someone let out a small voice. The Golem forces of Horai Island were all there. The silver-blue ones are the Air Force, the Sky Unit. The silver-brown ones are Army and Land Forces. Supported by the Navy (Navy) and Marine Corps in silver-blue, there is also the Mermaid Corps, a silver-white, mermaid-shaped, undersea force (Mariner). Then there is the golden Space Force, the Cosmos Unit and Astro, a small space golem. On the arms of the Craftsman (Smith) is the Little Craftsman (Smith). On his shoulders are mini craftsmen (Smith), inch craftsmen (Smith) and milli craftsmen (Smith). There are also Steward, Edgar, Anne, Lol, Lefa, and Nurse Golem. < also showed up to congratulate the couple. In between them, Jin and Erza, led by Reiko, walk toward the shrine. Near the shrine is Lao Ji''s mobile terminal << Lao Tzu>. On his shoulders are a finger golem under his command, a , and two super-small golems, Sam and Command. And on either side of the shrine stood a group of battlers. "<> I report to Shuki Tsetsi ......" In this shrine, which had been moved from the old Leonard Kingdom, Jin worshipped <> Shuki Tsezi. He gave a report just as he did to his predecessor, and the in Horai Island ended without a hitch. * * * * * * * * * * * * Furthermore, Jin and his team used the warp gate in the basement of the institute to move to <>. This is the place where Shuki Tsetsi, the "Sage," sleeps and is guarded by two automata, Nagi and Nami, who were created by the previous generation. "Welcome, my second generation, ladies and gentlemen. "Welcome, the 2nd generation. Reiko, you''re here too. Brother, sister... We''re here today to report the wedding of your father. Reiko turns to Nagi and Nami, who greet her, and says happily. "Oh, my!Congratulations, 2nd generation! "It''s a pleasure to meet you, ma''am." The two island guardians also offered their congratulations to Jin and the others. Jin and Erza put flowers on Shuki Tsetsi''s grave and prayed silently. "There is a lot of greenery here, isn''t there?" "Yes, it is. Since the last few days, we have been trying to grow flowers and plants. "Well, that''s a good thing. Jin then squinted his eyes and looked toward Cape Magus. "Ah, it''s a beautiful day, isn''t it?" The eastern tip of the continent was also clearly visible. The view was a little strange, but it was a good one. "It was a nice ceremony, even if it was a little unusual. "Elsa, it was beautiful." The reception was held at Kunlun Island via Penglai Island. The place is the Jade Pavilion. Jin and Erza have changed their clothes and are now wearing suits and dresses. They also changed their color. Finally, the wedding cake is about to be cut into the Perid''s soul. The whole cake is about 40 centimeters high. Jin and Elsa took a cake knife and cut a slice into the cake. It was the first time they had worked together. "Congratulations, Jin! "Congratulations, Elsa! Congratulations, Elsa!" came the cheers of congratulations from everyone in attendance. "Congratulations, My Lord! And Taibai, the leader of the Kun Lun island, also congratulated them. "...... I''m so happy." "......" Jin and Erza were filled with a sense of indescribable happiness as they were congratulated by everyone. "It''s okay that we''re going to be in Kaina tomorrow, but after that we might be a little tired. "It can''t be helped." The cake was then cut into pieces and served to everyone, delighting their taste buds. "Well, I''m surprised at all the golems at Jin''s place! "Yes, indeed. Still, it was not all of them, as some of them were on alert. The banquet continued until the sun went down. * * * * When the moon ...... rose halfway up into the night sky, the party came to an end. < stayed at the and some stayed at the . Then only Jin, Elsa, and Reiko return to Horai Island. < "Father, Elsa, congratulations on your wedding today. I will leave you to it. Reiko bowed and stopped in front of the doorway, not moving. Jin, sensing her feelings, patted Reiko on the head and led her by the hand into the house. The back room of the house is not usually used. Moonlight streamed in through the shoji, giving the room a faint glow. "Are you tired?" "...... a little. But I''m fine. I''m happy. Because I''m happy. I''m happy ......." "Okay." "I know I''m a bit of a dunce, but I''m looking forward to working with you." Erza sits on her knees and bows, as if she''s learned from someone. "It''s nice to meet you, too." Jin gently took Erza in his arms and put his lips on hers. That night, they became husband and wife. 1148 - - 31-15 Morning "...... and ......" Suddenly, Elsa woke up. It was about 4:30 in the morning. Through the shoji (paper sliding door), she could feel the pre-dawn twilight. Next to her, she saw Jin slumbering with a peaceful face. "......My husband." Erza murmured in a small voice, and leaned closer to Jin, meditating once more. The morning sun was shining on his face, and when Jin woke up, it was 5:30 a.m. The summer sun had already risen. The summer sun has already risen and it is bright outside. It seems to be another beautiful day. Jin wakes up slowly. Looking next to him, he sees Erza sleeping with a happy face. "Take care of her, my wife. Jin mutters in a voice that no one can hear, and runs his fingertips through Elsa''s hair, which hangs on her forehead. Her platinum blonde hair shone beautifully in the sunlight leaking through the cracks in the shoji. "...... hmm?" Erza wakes up as well, as if there is light in her eyes. "Oh ...... Jin, my brother?" She couldn''t find Jin, who was supposed to be next to her, but when she moved her face, she saw him getting up. "Good morning, Elsa." "......Good morning, sir." Perhaps remembering what had happened last night, Erza''s face lit up with vermilion. Jin blushed a little as well. "......We should get up." "......n" Jin slowly gets up. Erza is wrapping a blanket around her body. Jin senses this and gets dressed first. "I''m going to take a bath. How about you, Erza?" "I''ll be there in a little while." After Erza turned her head down in embarrassment, Jin walked out of the room. Erza got up and slowly put on her clothes. Jin and Erza head for the Horaijima hot springs with a change of clothes. < The large hot spring is located on the side of the institute. "Good morning, father, Miss Elsa. Reiko, who was at the entrance, called out to them. "Good morning, Reiko." "Good morning, Reiko." "Are you taking a bath?" "Yes. I''m going to take a bath. Good morning. However, the hot spring is only 20 meters away from the entrance. As Jin headed for the changing room, Elsa stopped in her tracks. "What''s wrong?" "...... are you coming in with me?" Her face was bright red. "...... no?" "Oh, it''s bright and, uh, you know..." Jin thinks Erza''s flustered red face is cute, but he also thinks it''s a pity to play with her too much, "Okay, okay. Let''s go in separately today." He says to her, "Okay, okay. "......Sorry. "Don''t worry about it. Let''s take our time." "......" So Jin and Erza split up and went into the men''s and women''s baths. "Ah, it''s nice hot water!" Jin, who loves hot springs, loves to take a bath in the morning. After soaking in the hot water for a while, Jin decided to go into the open-air bath. This bathhouse has both indoor and outdoor baths. < and Reiko did not come in. "I love taking a bath in the morning, after all. Soaking in the hot water with the morning light is a special experience, Jin stretched out his arms and legs. And then there was the sound of water in the women''s bath, which was separated by a wooden partition. "...... Erza?" The only other person soaking in the hot water right now is Erza, besides Jin. "......Yes." came the reply from the other side of the partition. "Nice hot water, isn''t it?" "...... yeah." "The sky is blue. It''s a beautiful day." "...... yes." She answered more haltingly than usual, as if embarrassed even through the board partition. Jin thinks Erza is adorable. "You''re going to get tired if you stay in the bath too long. I''m going to go now. "......Yeah." Jin said and left the bathtub. He wipes himself off in the changing room and cools off with the ......<> provided. Unfortunately, coffee milk and fruit milk are not always available. Only water is available. Cold water tastes good, too. When the sweat had subsided to a good degree, I got dressed and went outside, where Reiko was waiting for me. "Father, it''s almost 7 o''clock. It will be about half an hour before you arrive, ladies and gentlemen. "Oh, yes, that''s right." We were supposed to have breakfast together. As we were talking, Elsa came out. Her cherry-red face is lovely after taking a bath. "Oh, just in time. Everyone will be here soon, so let''s wait for them in the laboratory. "Yes." The two of them walk to the laboratory, Reiko following them. Reiko followed them. "Hey, Jin! Good morning, Elsa! At the scheduled time, the other members arrived from Kunlun Island. "It''s a beautiful day again, isn''t it? "It''s a beautiful day again, isn''t it? "Erza, are you getting enough sleep? while others teased, "Elsa, are you getting enough sleep? What they have in common is their friendship. Although the island of Horai is secluded and separated from the world, the bond between the friends is warm. 1149 - - 31-16 Gift After breakfast, everyone in the <> presented gifts to the two. Jin told them not to worry about it, but no one listened to him. Jin said, "It''s our feeling. Jin, Elsa, congratulations!We, the , congratulate you both! Reinhardt spoke on behalf of everyone. "First of all, here is a gift from me and Bertsche. With these words, Reinhardt held out a small package. "Thank you." Jin accepted it. "This is a ...... sword, isn''t it?" Jin had an idea. Of course, so did Elsa. A dagger worn by noblewomen. < Once when I stayed in the Kingdom of Egelea. For Erza''s birthday, Jin made the dagger she wanted and gave it to her through Reinhardt. At that time, Reinhardt gave Erza these words. "I know it''s not as good as Jin''s, but I put my heart into it. I would be honored if you could accept it." Jin opened the package and took out the dagger. "Clean. ......" The silvery-white scabbard was decorated with gold and a gold and modest decoration, and an aquamarine stone, Erza''s favorite, was inlaid at the tip of the hilt. "Elsa, pull it out." Jin handed the dagger to Elsa. "Hmm." Erza receives the sword and gently pulls it out of its scabbard. "...... is wonderful." "It''s beautiful." The blade was made of mithril silver and shone brightly. "Thank you, brother Rai. I will take good care of it. Erza returned the sword to its scabbard and thanked him again. "Next, me and Beena will go first." Count Kuzma presented her with a pure white dress and a man''s outfit, also pure white. "Beena put her heart and soul into this dress. I hope you like them." "Oh, honey, you don''t have to say that. ......! Beena blushes and gets flustered. Jin smiled at her, thinking that she had not changed even after becoming a countess. "Thank you. I''ll wear it in the Kingdom of Egelea. I''ll wear it in the Kingdom of Egelea. ...... No, I''d better show you now, wouldn''t I? Jin said and left the room with Elsa. The two returned about ten minutes later. "Oh ......!" "You look great!" The design of this dress accentuates Elsa''s slim body line, and the frills are modest, making her look a little more mature. Jin''s clothes can be described as an Egelean-style suit. It is similar to a frock coat in modern earthly clothing. "Thank you, Beena, Luis." Erza, on the other hand, was not so concerned about what she wore, so she was grateful for such a gift. "Jin, this is our gift to you. "I and Toa searched for it together. A gift from Mr. and Mrs. Toa Stearina. It was a pepper. "We found it the other day when we were in Mitzvah. With this, the range of dishes will be expanded even more. Jin and the fifth row of quintas had yet to get their hands on any chili peppers. "Thank you!" Jin received it happily and handed it to the Topaz leader. After this, Topaz and the others begin their struggle to keep it and grow the same thing, but that''s another story. "Jin, I have something for you! Saki offered another ingredient. "Is this ....... "Wow!It''s definitely chocolate." "Jin told me that Koohe tasted like cocoa, so I tried a few things." Jin said simply, but he was sure he would have been busy between shipyard and golem boat races. "That''s all we can do. I''ll give you the notes on the manufacturing method, so you can go to Horai Island and make a refined version of it. "Thank you, Marcia. ...... You can make a lot of money if you sell the chocolate or sell the process. Needless to say, the Peridos would soon establish their own method of making chocolate, but it would be a while before it would become a Potrock specialty. "I''ll take it then." Vivian raised her hand. "Here you go." She holds out a booklet. "This is a compilation of religious beliefs from 500 years ago. It''s a bit of guesswork. Jin took it and thanked him. "Thank you. It''s very helpful!" The old man''s processing capacity is high, but his thought patterns are inherited from Jin, so he sometimes feels limited in completing the past in this way. On the other hand, Vivienne, being a , could sometimes make conjectures from a point of view that the "Mere Old Man" could not make. "Here''s one for me." Guth offered another booklet. "This is a compilation of the legends of Husho, Mitsuho, and others I have heard since I came here. This booklet, he said, was a rough sketch of the history of the area from the time of the ancestors to the present day. Such historical and anthropological materials are valuable. Thank you, Goose. It is a thoughtful gift, knowing that Jin would not be pleased with a half-hearted one. "Oh, um, this is for me." The last gift was from Licia. From her, a bouquet of flowers. "Wow, they''re beautiful!" Elsa''s face broke into a smile. "They''re nothing compared to your gifts," she said. "No, I''m glad. Thank you, Licia. It was orthodox, but still a classic. Meine and Milowina, who are the mother and guardian of the children, respectively, do not give gifts like everyone else, but instead offer a few words. Elsa, I know I have not been a good mother to you. But I am happy that you have given me the joy of sending my daughter off as a mother. Please take care of Elsa, ...... Jin-sama." "Mother ......" "Mee...... no, mother-in-law, please continue to take care of me." Jin and Erza bowed their heads toward Meane. "I am the last survivor of Leonard''s kingdom, it seems. I was not able to weave a life, but you, Jin and Erza, you are different. May your lives be spun and passed on to future generations. Horai Island was filled with the applause of the . Jin and Erza simply bowed their heads in silence. 1150 - - 31-17 In the village of Caina It was 4:20 p.m. Horai Island time, 2:00 p.m. in Kaina Village. Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Edgar traveled by to the square in front of Nido Castle, Jin''s base in Kaina Village. "Well, are Barrow and Behrle here?" After he had decided to leave the company amicably, he had given himself a leave of absence as a grace period to decide what to do. It has been almost a month since then. They must have reached a decision. "Oh, Mr. Jin! I''m sorry I''m late! Barrow arrived with a flurry of noise, literally. "There''s no need to be in such a hurry." Jin chuckled. "Well, that''s not why I''m here. ...... Oh!That''s right! "What''s wrong?" Barrow is flustered, and Jin gets ready as if there is some kind of trouble. Congratulations on your marriage! "Oh, thank you!" Then Behrle came in. "Hey, Barrow!What are you doing standing outside!Congratulations on your wedding, Mr. Jin and Mrs. Erza! He was stern with Barrow and beaming with Jin and Erza. Behrle used a wonderful change of attitude. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I have heard about your plans for today. In his office on the third floor of Nido Castle, Jin was having a meeting with Barrow and Behrle. "I see. Well, that makes things quicker." It seems that the old man had heard about the meeting through Butler. "We''re going to use a horseless carriage called a <> to go around the village. Barrow and Behrle can follow me on the golem horses. "Yes!" "Yes!" The others will be accompanied by Golem Maid 101, a five-colored golem who works at Nido Castle, and Butlers B and C. Since this is a parade, there will be a lot of people, so there will be no choice. It''s a parade, so it can''t be helped that there are a lot of people. "Leave Nido Castle, the route is ......." Jin confirms the approximate arrangements. "And when we come back, we''ll have a feast right away. "Yeah, but the maids..." The five-colored golem maids working at Nido Castle will accompany the parade, so he is concerned about that. "That''s it, don''t worry, we''re calling for reinforcements. We are planning to call in 10 of each from Horai Island. Of course, we will bring the ingredients at that time, and some of them will be cooked over there before being brought to the island. "...... and that''s all." "Okay." It was 3:30 p.m. The parade is in 30 minutes. * * * * * ....... It should be here by now. At Martha''s house, Hannah is waiting for Jin and the others to arrive. In the distance, a cheer went up. "Look, I think they''re coming!" The cheers get louder and louder as they get closer. "...... Congratulations Jin-chan! ......" "Congratulations, Jin! Congratulations, Elsa! Congratulations! "Finally, you son of a b*tc*!Don''t make Erza-chan cry! The whole village congratulates Jin and his family, congratulating them, cheering, and the children even throw flowers. "Congratulations, Onii-chan!" When the car carrying Jin and Elsa came in front of Martha''s house, Hannah threw a blessing word as loud as she could. Hearing this, Jin and Elsa made eye contact with Hannah and waved their hands smiling at her. "Wow, girl, you are beautiful! Behind Jin and the others'' car, the villagers were following in a line. Hannah joined the group of children and started to walk away. "Congratulations, Jin-chan! "Congratulations, Erza! "Congratulations, Jin!Take good care of Erza! Don''t make her cry! Everyone shouts their hearty congratulations. (Congratulations, Onii-chan! ......) Hannah was happy, but a little sad at the same time. * * * * The parade went around the village and returned to Nido Castle. The parade went around the village and returned to Nido Castle, where a banquet followed. The village chief, Giebeck, spoke on behalf of the village. Jin and Erza, congratulations on your marriage. All the villagers wish you a long and happy life together. Jin and Erza felt that although it was really only one word, it was more heartfelt than all the other words they had said. The dishes served at the banquet were made from a variety of ingredients imported from all over the world. Jin, congratulations! You finally have a family. Good luck. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Locke. Since it''s a formal occasion, everyone comes up to Jin, says a word or two, and then returns to the banquet. "Elsa, look how big my baby is!" "Wow, she''s so cute!" Patty came in carrying Henry, who was born last June. The birth was a difficult one, but thanks to Sally and Elsa''s efforts, mother and child are both in good health. "So, this is Elsa, huh? "Uh, ah, ah, ah..." Erza is still not comfortable with this kind of topic. "Congratulations, Jin. From now on, you have to be more and more firm and protect Erza-chan. "Yes, Martha." "Elsa, if you have something to say, say it clearly. If you have something to say, say it out loud. "Yes, Miss Sally." After that, villagers visited Jin and Erza one by one. Jin and Elsa''s wedding < party in the village of Kaina passed in this way. 1151 - - 31-18 Treatment of the King After the wedding party in Kaina village, Jin and Elsa took a day off and flew to Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, on August 14. "Welcome, <>." The Minister of the General Affairs, the Marquis of Firenziano, greeted them smilingly. There were five attendants and ten knights guarding him, a small contingent. The Marquis, who has known Jin for a long time, knew that he did not like a showy ceremony, so he kept the number of guests to the minimum to welcome the state guests. "I congratulate you on your marriage to Elsa Ehime." "Thank you very much." At this point, Jin and Erza, who are , responded. Reiko, who was accompanying the couple as a cavalryman, also bowed silently. "First, please go to the back." We were led to the first guest house adjacent to the royal castle. This is where first-class state guests are entertained. It was 2:00 in the afternoon. Leaving their luggage in the suite, Jin and Erza went to the reception room to meet with the Marquis Florenziano to discuss the banquet. There they were served kuje, a specialty of the Kingdom of Elias, and topopo chips. I picked the topopo chips and found that they were much tastier than the ones I had bought at a stall in Potrock the other day. The sweet potatoes may have been carefully selected, but the salt was delicious. The lightly salted taste lingers in the mouth. "This is delicious, isn''t it?" When Jin expressed his honest opinion, the Marquis smiled happily. "Thank you, sir. < After taking a break from drinking kuhe, a meeting was held to discuss the banquet. The arrangements made by the Elias Kingdom were explained to Jin and Erza, and only minor modifications were made. According to the report, On the 14th, a dinner party will be held from 5:00 p.m. after the meeting. The meeting with the king and other dignitaries of the kingdom will be held on the 14th. The wedding banquet is to be held on the 15th, with a parade in the morning (with Jin and Erza playing the leading roles, of course), followed by a banquet from noon to night in the hall of the royal castle. On the 16th, a quiet luncheon is held in the courtyard of the royal castle as an after-dinner party. Only the royal family and some nobles attended. The only attendees were the royal family and some nobles. Except for the parade, Jin was relieved to find that the event was as he had expected, or rather smaller than he had expected. * * * * * * * * * * "Sir Jin Nido, Princess Elsa Nido, Princess Reiko, welcome to our meeting. The King of the Kingdom of Elias, Blitzen Skala Elias XII, greeted Jin, Elsa, and Reiko in the reception room, not in the audience hall ....... He was about 60 years old with gray hair and gray eyes. He was not looking well because he had been ill. He is not sitting on a throne, but on a comfortable chair like a sofa bed. Next to him is the first prince, Alphonse, who is assisting him. This prince was a man of great age and had an air of vigor and vitality about him. To his left and right were the leading figures of the country. The only person Jin recognized was the Prime Minister, the Marquis Godopher de Toves Rossi. After the customary greetings, the dignitaries leave, and the remaining guests are the king, the prince, the prime minister, and the marquis of Florenziano, in addition to Jin and the others. Jin was relieved that the dinner was so informal. However, the presence of the king and the prince, who hardly knew each other, made him a little nervous. During the after-dinner kuhe time, Erza first spoke up. "...... are you feeling well, Your Majesty?" Prince Alphonse answered. "It''s been on and off, Elsa Ehime. I would be happy if you, the court-appointed healer (Reichsanstalt), could take a look at it once, but this time you can visit ......." The prince swallowed the words he was about to continue with, "You''ve just been married, and I''m sure we''ll ......>> see each other again. "......Yes, let me examine you." Elsa answered immediately. Because Elsa had an idea of what was wrong with the king, and it seemed that he needed to be treated immediately. Are you sure? "Of course." "......<>, may I put my trust in your wife?" Prince Alphonse finally asks Jin. "Yes, of course. Elsa, please. "Yes." Elsa got up from her seat and walked to the king''s side. And then.., "I beg your pardon." and put her hand on his chest, "<>". He cast a spell. "......" His face is frowned. "How is it?" "<>" Elsa doesn''t answer, and makes another diagnosis. "...... pulmonary tuberculosis." Elsa''s diagnosis is made. "Tuberculosis. ......" "Yes. But the lesion is not large. On Earth, before the advent of drugs such as streptomycin, air, rest, and nutritional therapy was used to treat patients in clean-air sanatoriums to promote natural healing and prevent anything from interfering with it. King Elias had symptoms that were a little advanced from that stage. He probably went through a period of intense political work when he was on the verge of recovery, then his symptoms worsened again, and he went into a period of rest and recuperation. When Erza told them this, the prince and the vizier sagged. "...... you are right," she said. "It''s a very difficult condition to cure because it recurs before it''s completely healed. This is entirely the fault of the people around him." "...... no face." Erza''s complaint made the prince droop even more, and the Prime Minister looked embarrassed. "But..." After the bitter words, Erza spins words of reassurance. "It can be cured at this stage. In fact, it could be much worse, but she doesn''t say so. "Are you sure? "Yes, I''m sure." Elsa put her hand on the king''s chest and used healing magic. "<>" At this stage, the patient can be cured by improving his own healing power. "<>" He examined the patient again and confirmed that the affected area was gone. "You should be fine now. However, you must not overdo it just because it is healed. "Yes, of course." The prince replied on behalf of the king. is a disease caused by the tubercle bacillus. When the tubercle bacillus enters the lungs, the body''s immune system surrounds the tubercle bacillus and forms a small <>. This is why the name "tuberculosis" is given to the disease. < Elsa''s healing magic not only greatly improves the patient''s healing power, but also temporarily super-activates various functions of the body. At the same time, the healing magic <> that Elsa has devised has also killed all the bacteria that had almost metastasized to the organs. "...... Then there is the possibility that it has been transmitted to those close to His Majesty." "What? Elsa was right. The prince, the vizier, and several attendants were infected. Needless to say, they too were treated by Elsa. The gratitude of the Elias royal family to Elsa was so great that even the queen, the second prince, and the princesses came to thank her afterwards. 1152 - - 31-19 in Borgia According to what I heard, the King''s < had been going on for 10 years, and was treated as <> or . The reason for this, he says, is that the symptoms get better with that cures minor infections, illnesses, and so on. "If the symptoms recur, it means that the cause has not been removed. Elsa called together the healers working at the castle. "There may be people who are still infected. In that case, please contact ......." She gave a briefing to the older healers, which could be called an admonition. "I understand. I am very sorry for your teaching. All the healers who received the explanation looked at Erza with respect. The king, who had been infected with tuberculosis, was a patient of the King. August 15, the day after treating the king, his relatives, and the country''s leading figures who had contracted tuberculosis. At 9:00 a.m., a group of people departed from the royal castle. Of course, there is the uncovered carriage carrying Jin and Erza, their companions, and their escort. In addition, there is a <> that has disappeared due to <>, a Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft (VTOL) protecting them from the sky, and a <>. Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft protecting the ship from above ( <>). Watchers monitor the surface of the earth from a very high altitude. And Reiko is standing behind Jin. Of course, Jin and Erza are ready to put up a barrier at any time. The barrier can be deployed according to the reaction speed of the old man. He was able to cope with almost every conceivable situation. Moreover, the fifth column (quintas) dispatched to the surrounding areas were joining the crowd to watch and congratulate the two men behind their backs. And that''s when nothing happens. The carriage carrying Jin and Elsa made its rounds of the capital without incident. "What''s this festival?" It''s a wedding present for Kunlun. "Who''s that? while some responded, "Is that Jin Nido, the Magecraft Meister? "Wasn''t he the Magi Craftsman of the team that won the golem boat competition last year? "From what I hear, the water purifier that''s been circulating recently was made by him and one other person." "I heard that he was the one who started the spread of Topopo chips. Some of them seem to know about Jin to some extent. And "I heard that he made the Topo Popo Chips, "Your wife is ...... beautiful. "She doesn''t match her husband. Reiko, who has a good ear, was very angry. It was 11:30 a.m. when the parade returned to the Royal Castle after touring around the capital city of Borgia. What awaited us afterwards was a banquet in the grand hall. There are chairs and sofas for sitting, but it is basically a standing party. While this is a good way to avoid stiff shoulders, the drawback is that one has to deal with the influential people who come to greet one another in turn. The guests of honor, Jin and Elsa, had a light meal in the castle''s parlor while the hall was being prepared. Then at noon. "Mr. Kunlun, madam, we are here to welcome you. As planned, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko went to the hall accompanied by their escort, the Marquis Florenziano. "Now then, <>, Sir Jin Nido and Lady Nido, and their escort, Ehime Reiko, please enter." As soon as the doors of the hall opened, such a voice resounded, and the people in attendance applauded in unison. (Please wave your hands, even if they are small.) (Please give a small wave of your hand.) The Marquis Florenziano whispered to them, and Jin and Elsa gave a small wave of their hands. They were led to the guest of honor''s table in the upper part of the room. Please stand, don''t sit down.) The two stood in front of the seats as instructed in a whisper. The maid of honor standing beside them hands them a glass of wine. (Please say a few words here.) (Please say a few words here.) I had already thought about what I was going to say since I had heard about it in our prior meeting. I had heard about this before the meeting, so I had thought about what I would say. My wife Elsa and I thank you very much. Then the voice rang out again. It was the voice of Alphonse, the first prince. "To the marriage of Sir Gin Nidor and Lady Elsa." Cheers! Cheers! The glasses are raised. "And now, ladies and gentlemen..." Alphonse, the first prince, looked around at those in attendance. "Today we are celebrating the marriage of Sir Jin Nido. My father, His Majesty King Blitzen Skala Elias XII, has been cured of his illness. No, I''ve cured him. By Mrs. Nido!" Then the king, Blitzen Skala Elias XII, who was sitting in the highest seat, opened his mouth. "Yes. I will never forget this favor. From now on, you will both be treated as citizens of special honor. The Prime Minister then gave a brief explanation of the title. According to the Prime Minister, the two of you will receive treatment equivalent to that of a marquis in the royal castle. Specifically, they can request an audience with the royal family without an appointment, and they do not have to pay any obeisance to the royal family. Of course, there are no taxes or other obligations. "Thank you very much. I was a bit surprised because I had not been informed of this beforehand, but it was a title similar to the one I had received in the Shoro Kingdom before, . At this point, there was a round of applause. "......Er, so, therefore, his achievements are ......". This was followed by an endless stream of greetings from the leading aristocrats. From Jin''s point of view, those who spoke at length seemed to be less competent, while those who spoke briefly and concisely seemed to be more competent. Then the main part of the banquet, free time, begins. Everyone stood up and did whatever they wanted to do. Some began to eat a light meal with a glass of wine in their hands, some began to talk with the nobles near them, and others tried to get close to the prince or the vizier. But the most numerous were those who came to Jin and Elsa. "<>" "Mrs. Nido, you''re as beautiful as ever." Jin suppressed the urge to say, "You are as beautiful as ever, but this is our first meeting. After that, there was no end to the number of aristocrats trying to get me to remember their faces. When he began to get fed up with the situation. "<> and his wife. My father was very kind to you yesterday. The nobles dispersed and the first prince arrived. Your Highness. Jin and Erza breathe a sigh of relief that all the depressing people are gone, even if only temporarily. "You look tired. I''m sorry for everything my people have been through. "We were prepared for that. However, they were more trouble than they had expected, and they were quite fed up with it. It was a relief for Jin and Erza that they could enjoy a little conversation with Prince Alphonse. After the prince left, they were even more depressed than before. * * * * * * * * * * * * >. After receiving a report from Reiko at Horai Island, the old man immediately started to consider countermeasures. * * * * * * * * * * "......" "......" "......Thank you for your hard work, Father, Miss Elsa." At 9:00 p.m., the party was over and Jin and Erza were in the suite of the first guest house. They had just come out of the bathroom, and their hair was still wet. "It was more than I expected. ......" "...... I agree." I''m going to bed. "Hmm." It seems that bathing alone was not enough to remove the mental exhaustion. They lay down on the bed and immediately fell asleep. 1153 - - 31-20 Lunch Meeting August 16. Jin and Elsa slept until after 8:00, which was unusual for them. They were very tired. Reiko knew this, so she didn''t wake them up, or rather, she kept an eye on them to make sure they didn''t make too much noise. At 8:30 a.m., the maid in charge of the guest house came to check on them. She said, "Please wait a moment. Reiko made the maid wait, but decided to wake them up because it was time to go. "...... father, Miss Elsa..." She gently shakes them. "......Oh, morning. ......" "......n......" Jin, who is a good sleeper, opens his eyes first, and then Elsa wakes up, too. "...... what time is it?" "It''s just after 8:30." What? Jin jumps out of bed and rushes to put on his clothes. "...... father, there''s no need to be in such a hurry. Reiko rebuked him. Jin finally returned to normal. "Oh, I see. You let me sleep. ......" Jin panicked, thinking he had overslept at a guest house in another country, but he realized that they had let him sleep in slowly because of last night. Erza also got up and was loosely dressed. Reiko helped Elsa to get dressed. Jin was almost done. After rinsing out their mouths and washing their faces, they finally felt refreshed. Reiko calls out to them. "We will have a luncheon at 0:30 p.m. today. We still have time, would you like something to eat? "Hmmm, I guess so. ......" Jin thinks for a moment, "I think I''ll have fruit. What about Elsa? "That''s fine with me too. If I may add, I''d like something a little filling." I''ll let her know. I''ll let her know. Reiko left the bedroom to tell the maid of honor who was waiting for her at the entrance. She ate april and citron. Jin and Elsa were moping while eating aprs-ski and citron. "......And then there''s the luncheon. ......" "......" "Erza is used to this kind of thing, isn''t she?" "......Not at all. I wasn''t a social butterfly." "Oh, I see. ...... Summer in Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, is somewhat lazy. Jin and Erza pass the time with idle conversation. * * * * It is half past midnight, time for a luncheon. A quiet luncheon held in the courtyard of the royal castle. Only the royal family and some nobles are present. Specifically, the first prince, Alphonse, the Prime Minister, Marquis Godopher de Toves Rossi, and the Minister of General Affairs and hostess, Marquis Florenziano. So Jin and Elsa are at ease. Jin and Elsa enjoyed the leisurely luncheon with some chatter and laughter. "Yes, actually, ......." Jin decided to give to Elsa on this occasion. "It''s a custom on my side," he said. With that, he pulled out one of his samples. "What is this?" The first prince''s eyes lit up. "It''s called a koban. The gold color is plating. The body is brass. "Hmm, even though it''s brass, this machining accuracy is ...... possibly the work of the "Mini Craftsman (Smith)"? It seems that the rumor of the "mini-craftsman (smith)" that Jin had demonstrated at the technology exposition held in the Shoro Kingdom had spread to the Elias Kingdom. "Yes, that''s right. In fact, Jin and can make it, and it was > who did the work. "No, can I get this as a souvenir?I feel like it''s kind of the opposite." Jin was beginning to think now that it could not be called a , since it could be said that Jin was invited to the reception, not that he was invited to the reception he held. "Please think of it as a small token of our appreciation for your welcome." Erza offered a helping hand. Such a pretext did not seem so strange to Jin. Jin was relieved. "No, this is indeed a wonderful memorial. You are giving it to us?" The Prime Minister looked pleased. "Yes, including those who attended yesterday, ......, um, how many were there?" "What?" "What?" "Jin-dono,...... no,<>, you don''t mean to say that all the people who attended the meeting yesterday were ......?" "I''m trying to, sir." "......" Hearing Jin''s reply, the first prince and the prime minister looked at each other in dismay, and then sighed. The Marquis of Florenziano, on the other hand, is nonplussed. "......<>, isn''t he?" The Prime Minister looked a little tired. * * * * Jin was persuaded that giving it to all the attendees would reduce its value, but he insisted that it was just a feeling, and decided to give it to all the attendees as well as to the maidens and servants who had taken care of him. The Prime Minister said, "I think it would be worth even less if it were given to the attendants and servants. The Prime Minister said, "I think it would be even less valuable if it were given to the maidservants and servants, "It is only a memento, and it is my own feeling," he said. Jin insisted, saying, "It is only a memento, and I have my own feelings about it. He was not pleased to have the extra value added to the medal, such as a commemorative wedding medal made by Kunlun. "......If that is the guest of honor''s wish, then we must fulfill it." Marco Firenziano advises the Prime Minister and the Prince. "Yes, that''s right." "If you mean your feelings, then we must respect them." The two nodded with a slightly disappointed look on their faces. Jin thinks that maybe they are collectors of such rare items. And he was right. The reason why he knew this was because he was told that Jin (or rather a mini-craftsman (Smith)) had a brass medal made by him at the technology expo. How he got it, I don''t know. I don''t know how he got it, but I can understand his feeling as a collector, since he also has an acquaintance named Gloria. However, since this came from Jin''s feelings, he could not compromise on this point. Therefore, Jin entrusted the 245 koban to the Marquis Florenziano. 1154 - - 31-21 Refresh On August 16th, Jin and Elsa were relaxing on Horai Island. "Ah, it''s nice here." "I agree." "We''ll have another wedding reception tomorrow." Egelea Kingdom is a little better. Bina and Luis are supposed to be entertaining. That''s right. Reiko comes to them with a glass of cold Persian juice. "Hey you two! Please drink this and cheer up. "Thank you, Reiko." The two of them looked a bit out of sorts to the casual observer. "Yes, it''s good." "Delicious." Jin and the others thought that the Persian juice made in Horaijima was the best for their palates. "By the way, father..." Reiko, seeing that Jin''s mood had improved a little, decided to make a proposal. "Why don''t you start working on the ship that you will use for your honeymoon after your tour of the countries?Specifically, I would like to discuss the concept and arrangements. Jin''s face lit up. "Oh!That''s right!" Jin was a crafty idiot after all. "First of all, we need to prepare a large amount of magic crystals as a mana tank, and also add a magic reactor so that we can manage even if the free magic element (ether) becomes scarce. ...... Jin ruminates over what he said at Ste. Arena''s birthday party the other day. "Brother Jin, you are so lively ......." Erza looked at Jin with a smile as if she was seeing something funny. By the way, < has already become a proper noun when Erza calls Jin, and it is not likely to be fixed for the time being. Once the free magical element (ether) is captured in the magi crystal, it will not be released in the normal state unless the magical power (mental wave) that excites it is applied. "Not only use what you have on hand, but also buy a few things ......." Since Jin''s money is already in a terrible state, he thinks it is in the best interest of the economy to spend some of it. Since the amount of currency has been maintained at the time when the population was more than three times as large as it is now, it seems that the economy will never go bankrupt....... Apparently, because Jin is not familiar with economics in the first place. Let me digress. Jin is buying various materials with his accumulated money. Then, he instructed the old man to buy more magi crystals. This will cause the market price of magi crystals to rise slightly, and the mines in each country will boom, but that''s another story. "Now all that''s left is to improve our living space. After all, this is their honeymoon. He did not want to have to go back to Horai Island if something happened to him. "Brother Jin, speaking of that, who is going to accompany you and who is going to accompany you?" "Oh ...... old man, what was going on?" "Yes, that''s what you said." > "Okay. ......, that leaves Goose, Hannah, Licia, and Milowina." But there are ways to do that, too, such as preparing a <>. "In other words, everyone participates. ...... Okay, let''s talk a little about the specifics. Let''s talk a little about the ship we are going to use, a cruiser would be fine. What is the status of construction? We are planning to build 10 cruisers, and we have completed 7 ships so far: Azusa, Katsura, Minato, Seki, Rhinoceros, Miya, and Kamo. All of them are named after rivers. < "All right, let''s convert them." <> "Well, ......" The cruiser was to be named after a single letter of the river. This time I''m going to treat it as a special cruiser. "Okay, let''s make it a two-letter river name. ...... ummmm... ...... Sumida River... ...... Tone River... ...... Kamanashi River... ...Katashinagawa......Tama River......Kitakami River......Azuma River...... Kinugawa River......Edogawa River......" I''ll list the names of the rivers as they come to mind. "<> is good. And <> sounds interesting. < "Brother Jin, why do you like <>?" It may be a natural question. "Well, it''s because it means ''my wife. Legend has it that the eastern part of Japan is called Agatsuma, because Yamatotakeru no Mikoto said in memory of his late wife Ototachibanahime. "It''s a nice place for a honeymoon, isn''t it?" "What about Edo, then?" It''s the name of a town that was for a long time the capital ...... of Japan, or rather the political center of the country. "That''s a good idea. Erza agrees, and the special cruisers and are officially completed. Jin sets up the cruising tours on a large cruise ship with luxurious rooms, a fine dining room, and a grand ballroom, remembering what it was like to cruise on a large cruise ship. "Hmmm ...... pool ...... don''t want ...... casino ...... don''t want it either. What else ......?" Shower and toilet facilities are provided by default. "A public bath would be nice. And an observation room. Worst-case scenario, moving to Horai Island would solve the inconvenience, but it''s still <. Jin was determined to stay on the ship if possible. He was considering such a plan, but he was not sure how much time he would have. Time flew by as he thought about it. The sky was turning red and dusk was approaching. "Ah, ......, tomorrow is the Kingdom of Egelea." "Are you feeling a little refreshed, father?" "Yes, I did. I think thinking about my favorite things has refreshed me a bit. "I''m glad to hear that." The old man confirmed the schedule. "Okay. Well, I guess we have no choice." To be honest, I don''t like it, but I''m going with Count and Countess Kuzma of <>, Prince Ernest, Laila, and Lotte, the golem that Jin made, at the castle. It is much easier just to have so many acquaintances. "That makes me wonder if I shouldn''t go. ......" "But that would not be good for the face of the nation. But that would not be good for our national image. Elsa said dismissively. "That may be so, but ...... the world of politics is a messy one. Jin grumbled. 1155 - - 31-22 Eve Festival "Wow, it''s flying. ......!" "This is amazing, isn''t it?" Bina and Count Kuzma are amazed as they fly for the first time on the . Today is August 17. They will visit the Kingdom of Egelea, so they will first stop by the Blue Lands and meet up with Count and Countess Kuzma, who are on their way to Asunto, the capital of Egelea. We are almost there. "You''re fast, aren''t you? How fast are they going? Bina asks, impressed by Jin''s words. "About 100 kilometers per hour this time. I''ve heard that a ...... horse can go from 40 to 60 kilometers per hour." We flew around Mount Garratt, so it wasn''t a straight line, but it was still fast enough to get there in less than an hour. "100 kilometers!That''s amazing. ......" It is impossible for a normal vehicle to reach 100 kilometers per hour. Even the fastest horse can reach 60 kilometers per hour. And that can only be sustained for a short distance. "Oh, I see the royal castle." "The hot air balloons of the guards are coming up too." Two hot air balloons come up to greet as he approaches Asunto. The speed of their ascent and the speed at which they moved showed that they were highly skilled. They must be well-trained soldiers. Accompanied by the hot air balloon, <> landed in the courtyard of the Royal Castle of Egelea. "Welcome, Jin! Prince Ernest the Third greeted them. Of course, he was accompanied by the prince''s lady-in-waiting, Laila Solu and his favorite golem, Lotte. Also with them are the Prime Minister, the Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli, the Minister of Magic Kellihidore, and his guard of knights. "Count and Countess Kuzma, and you, too, for escorting the Korun. The Prime Minister praised Count and Countess Kuzma, "Kouzma, welcome to the Kingdom of Egelea." The Prime Minister thanked the Count and Countess Kuzma as guests of honor. * * * * * "Today is the eve of the festival. Tomorrow is the main event, and the day after tomorrow will be the evening after the main event. The prime minister explains as if checking his schedule. (......) I knew it would be three days. My faint hope that the event might be over in two days was shattered to pieces within a minute of the start of the meeting. "The party itself is very small, so I don''t think you will get tired of it. He said it would be smaller than the Golem garden party. It is natural in a sense, since there were invited guests from abroad at that time. "Well then, we will pick you up at 4:00 p.m. Please relax until then. Until then, please make yourself at home. Leaving these words, the Prime Minister left the room busily. The remaining guests were Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Count Kuzma and his wife Bina. "...... haha." Jin let out a sigh without hesitation as the group of familiar faces gathered. "Ummm...Jin has his own pet peeve." Seeing Jin like this, Bina giggles. "That''s right. I''m a commoner to begin with. ...... In that sense, Bina, you''re amazing. You''re a countess now." "...... love." Elsa made a rare dig. "Uh, uh..." Bina blushes a little. And so, the time goes by peacefully. ...... It is now 4 p.m. at ....... * * * * * * "The Kingdom of Egelea hereby celebrates the marriage of Sir Jin Nidor, the "Lord of Kunlun" and "Magecraft Meister", to Ehime Elsa. King Harold Luan Autoclase of the Kingdom of Egelea was the first to offer his congratulations. Queen Catherine Riina Sphare and Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Egelea, were the next to offer brief words of congratulations. (...... thank goodness for that) Jin, who is not good at listening to long speeches, was relieved inside. After about 10 congratulatory speeches, a band started to play music. (Come to think of it, music in this world is still in its infancy. ......) Jin was not much interested in playing music, but he felt that there were not many kinds of musical instruments. Singing is reasonably well developed and widespread, but wind instruments seem to be scarce. There are stringed instruments similar to guitar and harp, and percussion instruments such as xylophone, cymbals, and drums. However, brass and woodwind instruments such as piccolo, flute, clarinet, oboe, horn, trumpet, tuba ...... are poor. There was only a trumpet-like instrument, which was a development of the trumpet, and a vertical flute similar to a recorder. (Though, as expected, it is impossible to make one. ......) (But it is not possible to make a wind instrument, as expected. While Jin was thinking about this, four golems similar to the singing golem ...... of Yaluidaare came out and began to sing a song. It seems to be a traditional song of the Kingdom of Egelea to bless a marriage. Each of the four golems seemed to play the roles of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, and the four-part harmony was beautiful. When the singing was over, the audience applauded in unison. Jin and Elsa also applauded generously. "The chorus was sung by Mr. Jaruidare''s No. 2 to No. 5," the MC explained. The MC''s explanation was echoed. It was Yaluidaare''s golem, after all. Following them, two golems appeared. This one was a female type, wearing a dress. The two golems danced to the slow music. At this point, Jin and Erza realized that this was a series of entertainment by the golems. When the music became up-tempo, two golems dressed like knights appeared and performed a sword dance. Sometimes the two golems wielded their swords separately, and sometimes together, and sometimes they joined their swords together. This was also quite a sight to behold. Then they continued to perform light dances set to music and line-dance style dances. Finally, not a golem but a human appeared on stage. There were about 20 boys and girls in total, ranging in age from 8 to 12. They were all dressed in the same design, with the only difference being that the boys were light blue and the girls were peach. They lined up and began to sing to the music. Golem''s voice was too perfect and inhuman in a way, but this one was funny because it still had some poor points. They performed three songs, and when they finished, they bowed and left again. This seemed to be the end of the eve of the festival. The hall was filled with applause. We gather the best singers and have them sing at these events," explained Count Kuzma. Count Kuzma explained. "Lovely song!" Elsa smiled and clapped her hands. Jin clapped his hands, too, and the words "boys'' and girls'' choirs" kept popping into his head. 1156 - - 31-23 Strength Experiment Jin and Elsa are relaxing in the state guest suite in the royal castle after the eve of the festival. "......Today was a pretty good time, wasn''t it?" "Hmm." Then there''s a knock at the door. "Yes." Reiko opens the door, and standing there are Prince Ernesto the Third, his lady-in-waiting Laila, and Lotte the Golem. "Your Highness..." Jin and Erza also got up from their seats to greet Ernest. "Jin, I wanted to talk to you for a minute. Can I talk to you now? "Yeah, sure. "Okay, I''ll leave you alone. The third prince Ernest is a very frank man. However, he had grown to about the same height as Jin, and his face had matured a bit. "Congratulations again on your marriage, Jin and Elsa. "Father, Erza, congratulations on your marriage." "Congratulations on your marriage, Mr. Jin and Mrs. Erza! Ernest and his friends congratulated the couple. A few people were chewing, but Jin and the others pretended not to hear it. "Thank you. "Thank you very much. Jin then looks at Lotte. "......Yes, Lotte seems to be in good condition. "Yes, thanks to you." Since the car has been seriously maintained by Jin, it is maintenance free in normal operation. Jin offers a chair to Ernesto, since he can''t stand to talk. Ernesto sits down, and Lila and Lotte stand diagonally behind him. Ernest sat down in front of Jin and opened his mouth with a slightly embarrassed look on his face. "I know I asked you a few questions the other day, but I wanted to ask you a few questions about magical engineering. "Here you go." "Last time at the ...... World Congress, I asked you about the , and today I want to ask you about the skeleton." "Yes." Whether he is self-taught, or whether he is asking the castle''s magecraftsman, Prince Ernest is quite knowledgeable for his age. "I think they are usually made of metal, but they are heavy, aren''t they?The thinner it is, the weaker it is. ...... I think Lotte''s skeleton is now made of light silver, but it used to be iron. Maybe it was hollow then?" He had noticed that Lotte''s skeleton was different from other common golems, as he had been watching her while fixing the broken parts after the commotion at the golem garden party. "Yes, that''s right: ......." At Ernest''s previous request, the soft-spoken Jin. "I''m going to take a break from magical engineering for a moment..." He prefaces his speech with, "I would like to think about the strength of a stick. Jin began. "Yes. ......" Ernesto looked doubtful, as if he could not quite grasp the meaning of the question. "First of all,...... I like this one." Jin pulled out a piece of notepaper from his baggage. He cut it into pieces about 12 cm long and 7 cm wide. "Now, make a bridge out of this paper. Let''s put a coin on top and experiment to see how much weight it can bear. Jin first folds the paper vertically four times and shows it to the audience. "Like this," he says. He places the paper bridge on top of a >and puts the coins down. "Ah." At the ninth coin, the paper bridge is bent. "...... why?" Jin chuckled and began to explain. "Yes, that >is important. Experiment, learn the results, and apply them. After that, the >is what comes after that." "What do you mean?" "I mean, <>If you know the why, you can predict these results without experimentation. "Oh, I see." "But the logic of this bridge is so complicated that I can''t even explain it to you." Unfortunately, Jin, a high school graduate, could not explain it that well, since structural mechanics uses cross-sectional quadratic moments and integrals. "I know I''m getting a little sidetracked here, but by repeating these experiments, we can find a strong and lightweight structure." "Yes." "So, here''s my conclusion. In Lotte''s case, most of the skeleton is hollow. You mean pipes? "Yes. In this case, the strength against <> is not so different from that of a hollow pipe. Oh, you''re talking about a circle with the same diameter in cross section." "Hmm. ......" Jin also has a vague recollection of this part. "So, back to the magical engineering, I guess there are not many magicians (magecraftsmen) who can work on this ." "Is that so?" "Yes. As far as I''ve seen, there are few such golems or automata. Elena, who once led the , had a hollow skeleton, but I can''t bring that into it, "The only one I can think of is < at Reese''s place." Most of the rest were solid rather than hollow, Jin recalls. "Well, the strength of a bar or skeleton is not only in bending, but also in torsion, tension, compression, shear, and a combination of these." Jin concluded, "I think it is safe to assume that strength other than bending is roughly proportional to cross-sectional area. That conclusion is a bit different, but no one could mention it. Ernesto asks a question at this point. "Jin, what''s this you''re talking about?" "Oh, that''s not so easy to understand, is it?Shearing is ...... like cutting something with scissors. It''s like being slashed with a sword. "Oh, I see. I see. "The basic structural design principle is to make it as light as possible without compromising its strength. This applies not only to golems and automata, but also to bridges, buildings, carriages, and ships, Jin added. "I see. ...... That was interesting, Jin!Thank you." Ernesto, who said he could not stay long, thanked Jin and got up to leave the room. "Jin, that was interesting." After the three had left, Erza spoke up. "Experiments like that would be interesting to do at a technology expo. "Yeah, sure." Since the World Congress was held this year, the technology expo is supposed to be held in the fall or later. "I wonder if I should attend ......." Jin has completely forgotten about tomorrow. 1157 - - 31-24 Power Development On the 18th, Jin and Erza were busy. For what, they had to deal with the visiting aristocrats and influential people. <, even if it''s as thin as a spider''s thread, and they have been busy since this morning. So Jin and Erza pretend to go to the restroom and use the emergency to , and then to Horai Island. <. "I''m relieved." "...... agree." The two of us slumped into our chairs on Horaijima. It had only been an hour, but they were mentally exhausted beyond belief. I don''t think I''ll be able to recover after another two hours or so like this. "I''m sorry old man, but I''ll leave it to you. "......" I think it would be more useful for me to leave it to the old man to record the faces and personalities of the nobles. "Father, would you like something to drink?" Reiko called out to them, seeing that they were both exhausted. "Oh, yes. Green tea would be good. ...... "Sure." There are some chanokis planted on Horaijima, but the tea leaves will not be ready for harvest until next year or so. Hence the tea we buy from the Shoro Kingdom. "Ah, it smells good. Since it is a sencha, the temperature should be about 80 degrees Celsius. Jin, who had a cat''s tongue, drank the tea while letting it cool down a little. "By the way, Jin," said Erza as she drank the tea. Erza spoke while drinking the tea. "What happens when there is no more free magic element (ether) at all? She must have been thinking of the south. "We won''t be able to use magic tools. < was used." "Indeed. "As for humans, the mana in our bodies won''t be reduced to zero, so we should be able to breathe a little easier. It is like when a demon tribe comes to an area where there is little free magic element (ether). In addition, the ancient artifact of the Shoro Kingdom, the giant golem, was sealed underground where the concentration of free magic element (ether) was lowered to near zero. Considering the fact that even if a human entered there, he/she would not be able to use magic, it was thought that the effect on the human body would be slight. "If ...... is the case, don''t we need to develop a non-magical power source?" As an emergency, that is. "Indeed. That would be ......." Jin thought of several possible sources of power, but would be the best, he thought. "Batteries or ......" I know the principle of motors, so I should be able to make one, but what about batteries? "I don''t know the ...... principle." At best, Jin could only make a rudimentary battery by soaking different metals in an electrolyte. "...... hmmm ......" At first, Jin thought he would try to make a motor. The most difficult part was the winding. The copper wire must be coated with a heat-resistant and insulating coating. "......I guess lacquer." Jin decides to use copper wire coated with lacquer, hardened and baked at high temperature. "The armature is silicon steel, right?" That was the end of the story. "...... is it difficult to make a strong magnet ......?" Although he knew the names ferrite, neodymium, and samarium cobalt, even he did not know the manufacturing process. "It was an unexpected pitfall." Jin is a little depressed when he realizes what he has left out. "......Ji, Jin brother, I''m sorry?" Erza is a bit flustered because Jin is depressed because of her strange incitement. "...... but without magic, scientific civilization really has to start over from scratch, doesn''t it?" It is really a little late, but once again, Jin thinks about the benefits of magic in this world. "For now, let''s make the field magnet also electromagnetic ......." Jin tries to make a motor at least. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * And two hours passed. In the Kingdom of Egelea, had finished dealing with the situation and was relaxing. And Jin... "Okay, it''s done." After three prototypes, they completed the first practical motor. It is cylindrical in shape, 30 cm in diameter and 30 cm in length. The shaft diameter is 10 mm. "...... but there is no power supply." Jin laughed bitterly. "Can''t you do lightning magic?" Elsa asked Jin. "Well,...... the voltage is too high and it can''t run for a long time,........." Jin tries to see how much the voltage can be lowered by playing with the Magi Formula. The problem is that if you lower the voltage too much, it will not discharge. "Hmmm... ......" Jin has been groaning since a while ago. But his face looks happy. "Yes!< This weapon uses the principle of electromagnetic induction to generate inductive power in metal and heat it. "If we lower the frequency, it won''t radiate, but it will generate voltage, so it could be used as a generator." "But brother Jin, doesn''t that mean we are relying on magic?" "Oh, I see. ......" It''s quite a puzzle. In reality, it is difficult to store electricity. Dry cells and storage batteries do not store electricity, but generate it through chemical reactions. Capacitors, also known as capacitors, store electricity, but it is not very practical power. "Hmmm......... let''s try a different idea." After much deliberation, Jin decided to step away from the motor for a while. Using magic is OK until you make it, but for the operation, he decided to think again about purely scientific power. "Maybe pressurized air to turn a turbine?" Adamantite cylinders can be compressed to several tens of thousands of atmospheres, so it might be practical. "Oh, there''s also a flywheel." This is a method of storing kinetic energy by rotating a heavy disk at high speed. This could also be made by using adamantite. "You could also simply use a boiler to make steam and turn a turbine, but ...... that''s a new idea." Without magic, Jin was once again reminded of how difficult it is to reproduce the science of the earth. But while he was doing this, time passed, and a banquet had begun in the Kingdom of Egelea. Jin and Erza noticed it, "......Ah, ......enough, enough of this." They decided to let the doppelg?nger take care of the rest for the day, "But you know,......, it would be ungrateful." "Well, yes, maybe." He changed his mind and went to the <> party. 1158 - - 31-25 About Magic Muscles Jin and Erza were able to leave the most tiring part to the doppelganger, and although tired, they managed to get back on their feet. They are now relaxing in the state suite. "You managed to get through it, didn''t you?" "....... < and the old man." "Father, what are you going to do tomorrow?" It''s going to be a luncheon called the "after-party". I heard it''s a buffet party, so I might as well attend. Jin felt a little guilty because he had left part of the party. Jin and the others decided that they could relax in the morning. Jin and his friends decided that they would be able to relax in the morning. Jin, good morning! At 9:00 a.m., the third prince Ernest arrives. Only Lotte, the golem, was with him today. "Today, tell me about the muscles of the golem! "Yeah, sure." Jin is happy to teach this prince. If he continued his studies, he would become one of the top magecraftsmen in the world, but his position as a prince made that impossible. I really think that the matching of a person''s position and talent is not going to work out. "Well, it was the muscles, wasn''t it? Shaking off his thoughts, Jin changed his mind to the original topic. "Muscles have only one action. . By contracting, it pulls the connected bones and bends the joints. That''s it." "...... That''s true." "But that''s all there is to it, and that''s why it''s so profound. What is the force of contraction?How much does it shrink?How fast does it shrink?And how fast does it react to the command to ?" Jin lists the requirements of a high-performance magical muscle. "Secondary requirements are what about the operating temperature range, i.e., cold resistance and heat resistance?What about durability?What about shelf life?" "Wow, muscles are certainly important. It can be said that the specifications required are more demanding than the skeleton. "The skeleton can meet 90% of the requirements as long as it is strong and light, but the muscles have a lot of performance requirements. "Hmmm ......" Third Prince Ernest ponders. "However, thanks to the trial and error of our predecessors, we have a rough idea of what we need. That is the material of the hexenbiest, Jin says. "A common one is hexenbiest leather. At ......, we have a problem. First of all, demons. What is a hexenbiest?" "Huh?Well, I learned that it''s a general term for creatures that feed on free magical element (ether). I was taken by surprise and for a moment I was taken aback, but Ernest, who was quick-witted, quickly answered. Yes, that''s right. And the most powerful among them are called "Hexenbiests". There is no clear line between demons and hexenbiests. That''s not what ...... is about now." After a pause, Jin continues his explanation. "Most of the demonic beasts have tough skin ...... or to protect themselves. As for how they are tough, many of them are hardened by channeling magic power. Ernest listens in silence. "Also, if the skin has , it means that the skin is weak, so most of them are very stretchy." "Ah, so that''s why Hexenbiest leather !" "That''s what I mean." Jin thought Ernest''s talent was regrettable. "Well, the leather of a hexenbiest shrinks. Let''s assume that, and think of a way to improve its performance. Jin moves on to the next stage. "Most of the characteristics can be fulfilled by selecting the right kind of magical beasts. Well, it would be great if we could use something like a <>." < "Pseudo dragon (Siamese dragon)!You can only catch one in a few years...... or even a dozen years! I thought, "Well, it''s just an example. "Well, it''s just an example. I heard that a lot of carcasses of the Death Serpent were caught in the Kingdom of Elias last year, and that''s an advanced material. The person responsible for this is here, but he doesn''t say so. "Also, I think that the < caught in the Shoro Kingdom and the caught in the Klein Kingdom are also quite good." "Hmmm, we can''t catch such demons in my country." In the Kingdom of Egelea, we are currently dependent on imports for such materials. "Let''s leave that issue aside for now. So, a quick review of the reasons for using leather leads us to preservation. This is one of the reasons why the muscles of demons and monsters themselves are not used. Perhaps it''s because of the materials they are made of, but there is a huge difference in preservation between leather and meat. "I''ll leave it to alchemists to figure out the reason for this, but this leather shrinks when certain magical power is applied to it. Is that right?" "Yes." "Here''s the problem. If you use it as a muscle, it should only shrink vertically, but by its very nature, it shrinks horizontally as well." "Ah ......" In short, it shrinks uniformly with no directionality. "There is a way to improve this. Do you know about it?" "No, I don''t know." He has not studied that much yet. "I see. Well, let me explain. What is usually used is that there are some differences in the direction of shrinkage, so you have to judge them and use the direction that shrinks the most in the length direction." This is the most basic of basics. However, since the difference is only 10 to 20%, it is not effective. "As it is, the amount of shrinkage is just barely enough or not enough. To solve this problem, we have devised a new method. When tanning, the leather is stretched by pulling it in one direction. The amount of shrinkage is then the sum of the amount of the tanning process and the original amount of shrinkage. "Wow, that''s really ingenious, isn''t it? Jin thought to himself, "The ancestors who came up with this technique are great, since they have now achieved almost all the performance required of magical muscle. The previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, had improved the flexibility of the stretched leather by twisting it into thinner pieces, and had also increased the < by 50%, but this is currently out of the gate. But that is currently out of the public domain. Furthermore, Jin has even combined different types of magical fibers with different properties, just as human muscles are divided into fast and slow twitch muscles. "Muscles are made up of a lot of different things!" Ernesto looks impressed. "I''m going to leave you now. Thank you, Jin! The time was about to become 11:00 a.m. The time was about 11:00 a.m. "Mister Gin, Mister Elsa. I am here to welcome you to the luncheon meeting. Count and Countess Kuzma arrived, using the honorifics of their position. "Yes, I understand." Today''s luncheon is an after-party, so only a very small-scale event will be held. Jin and Erza were able to attend the event in a relaxed manner. Even though it is called an after-party, it does not last until the evening. The banquet table is set up in the backyard of the castle. A round table with symbols of all statuses is placed, and Jin and Elsa are seated at the table. At the same table are the Count and Countess Lewis and Beena and the Minister of Magic Kellichdor. At the next table are the Prime Minister, the King and Queen, and Prince Ernest the Third. After a glass of light aperitif, a meal rich in vegetables and fish, which seemed to reflect Jin''s tastes, was served. "<>, thank you very much for the excessive souvenirs you gave us yesterday." The Prime Minister thanked him from a neighboring round table. By memento, he means a koban. The doppelganger, piloted by the old man, gave it to the visitor. "You are indeed a who is capable of such exquisite workmanship, aren''t you? Minister of Magic Kelichdole, who was also at the round table, expressed his admiration. "Jin, you are leaving in the evening, aren''t you?I''m going to miss you. "Here, Nest." Prince Ernest, who was not afraid to use his own words, and the king, who rebuked him. Thus, the events in the Kingdom of Egelea ended without a hitch. 1159 - - 31-26 Great fuss On August 20th, Jin and Elsa were relaxing when they received an urgent call from the old man. "What?What is it? "......What''s wrong?" It was just before 11:00 a.m. Jin and Elsa were dozing on the sofa, still exhausted. "What? Really?" Jin woke up clearly when he heard that. Elsa also woke up. "Isn''t she about a week ahead of schedule?" That seems to be the case with first-time mothers. The two hurriedly got dressed and washed their faces. "So, what are the details?" Jin asks the old man who is in charge of the information. < "Dr. Sally told me. The first time you go into labor, it will take about half a day." There is a time difference of about 5 hours and a half between Karz Village and Horai Island. It is now 11:00 a.m. in Horai Island time and around 6:30 a.m. in Karuzu village. I''m going to go now. Jin, you can come later." "Okay." Erza is a healer, so we can count on her. Using the warp gate, Erza moved to the village of Kurtz. "Well, what should I do ......?" Jin wondered if there was anything he could do indirectly, even if he could not do anything directly. "Well, recovery medicine." Jin thought of bringing some Persica juice and recovery medicine made in Horaijima. "Let''s bring some fruits anyway. Jin puts Persica, Apurul, Citran, Ramon, and other fruits from Horai Island into the basket. "All right, I''ll go with you." Jin, realizing that Reinhardt would probably be apprehensive, jumps to the village of Kurtz accompanied by Reiko. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Reinhard ......" Jin!Beltje, Beltje! Jin arrived at the lord''s house and headed for Reinhardt''s office, where he met Reinhardt in the hallway. "Calm down, Reinhardt. Erza is here too, right?" "Oh, yeah. But... but...!" She''s not at all comfortable. Jin has never been present at a birth before, so he doesn''t know what to do. "Don''t make too much noise, both of you." Just then, Elsa came in and chided him. "Erza, what about Bertsche? But Reinhardt didn''t seem to hear her. "...... is all right. The midwife is here." Of course, the village midwife had been there for a few days, ready to help in case of an emergency. "According to the midwife, everything is going well. "I see." Reinhardt seemed to relax a little. Erza found Reiko behind Jin holding a basket of fruit. "I''ve been having periodic contractions," she said, "and they''re calming down now. I''d like to give her Persica juice if I can." "Oh, I''ve got some of that too." Reiko is carrying that on her back. "Good, give me a bottle." "Yes, take it." Elsa took the Persica juice and went back down the hall. "Reinhard, where is Bertsche?" "Oh, yeah. I remodeled the guest room, there ......." "I see." Reinhardt, who still looked uncomfortable, was dragged a little too forcefully into the office by Jin. "Well, calm down." "Jin is someone else''s problem. ......" Reinhardt protests, but Jin is having none of it. "There have been a lot of babies born in the village of Kaina recently, and Erza has helped me out a few times. So you can rest assured that we''ll take care of it." "......" "Here, drink this. You haven''t eaten anything since this morning, have you?" Jin offered the Persica juice he had brought with him. After that, he also took out an april and peeled it for her. "...... wind." After drinking the Persica juice and eating the april, Reinhardt seemed to calm down a little. "People get nervous when they are hungry," he said. Jin, too, hadn''t had lunch yet, so he ate one aprs-ski. "Come to think of it, I''m sure Elsa hasn''t had hers yet either. Jin and Reiko went to the kitchen to get something easy to eat. Reinhardt, who had nothing to do, followed them. "Onigiri here," he said. Reinhardt and the others are well stocked since they eat rice regularly. Jin has also provided them with a rice kettle to cook rice. Reiko, prepare the cooking stove. "Yes." Hitoshi decided to wash the rice. He washed the rice three times, and asked Reiko to check the level of water. Then he put it on the stove and lit the fire. He left the heat to Reiko. The rice would be cooked soon. In the meantime, Jin decides to make something to eat. "Oh, there are bread ears. There were some ears of bread that were almost hard, so Jin decided to make rusks. There are several recipes, but Jin''s method is as follows. Put unsalted butter in a frying pan, heat it, and when it is melted, add sugar, then bread ears. He is careful not to burn the bread, but to coat it with the butter and sugar, and voila! "Oh, that smells good. Reinhardt''s nose twitches at the smell of butter and sugar. "Come on, let''s eat! Jin picks one up and puts it in his mouth. It is crispy and crunchy. "Yes, it''s okay." Reinhard sees this and puts a rusk in his mouth. "This is delicious! I guess one aprs-ski was not enough to satisfy his hunger. Reinhardt ate more than half of the plate full of rusks. "Ah, I feel at home. Thank you, Jin. "Ha, I''m glad it suits your taste." Jin was relieved to see Reinhardt, who seemed to have finally regained his composure. 1160 - - 31-272 Births The lid of the kettle starts to clatter. Jin is relieved that Reiko is in charge of the heat. Then Reiko turned off the heat. All that was left was to steam. He let it steam for about 10 minutes and took off the lid. "Well, it''s alright." She stirs the rice with a wooden spoon and makes rice balls, this time without removing the lid. The rice is not ready to be made when it gets cold, so it''s best to make it while it''s hot. Since he could not prepare any garnish, he simply used salt to make the onigiri. "Reiko, please do it. "Yes, I''ll take care of it." Reiko can handle even molten iron. She sprinkles a little salt on the hot rice and makes a triangle shape. Jin prefers the triangular shape to the bale shape. About 30 bite-sized rice balls fit for Reiko''s hands are made. "Now all that''s left is the tea. Reinhard, do you have hojicha on hand?" "Yes, I think we do." Jin looked for tea leaves and found a bottle of hojicha tea leaves. "This is good." He boiled water and brewed hojicha with boiling water. Put it in the pot, and the gift is complete. Reiko took the rice balls, Jin took the hand towel and the tea cup, and Reinhardt took the pot of hojicha. There was a lady-in-waiting at the door, so they asked her to come in. Since it would be some time before the baby was born, she allowed us to enter the room. "Ah ...... Jin-sama!" Bertsche was lying on the bed with a greasy sweat on her forehead. "Oh, you don''t have to get up." Jin restrained Bertsch with his hand. "And if you''d like, you can all join us. Elsa, thank you very much. "Thank you, Jin." In the room there was an old woman, Elsa, and a middle-aged maid of honor. The maid of honor usually worked in the kitchen and was about to cook something for the guests. "Onigiri, is it? It''s easy to make, but delicious, isn''t it? "It''s delicious even with just salt. Thank you, Jin and Reiko. Bertsche only drinks Persian juice. "Belle, I can''t do anything for you, but good luck." "Yes, honey." I look around the room and see that the water is in the trough that will be used for the birth water. If Elsa were here, she could turn it into hot water with . As I was doing so, Bertsche suddenly began to suffer. "Ugh!" "Oh my god, I''m in full blown labor! ...... men please leave!" The woman said, and Jin and the others quickly left the room. Only Reiko remained inside. In turn, the maid at the door entered the room to help. "...... bell, good luck!" Reinhardt muttered in a low voice before the door closed. Then it was a long time. Behind the door, Bertje''s moaning could be heard incessantly. And the voice of the birth mother cheering her up. In contrast, Elsa''s voice was not heard. "...... Oh ancestors, please protect Berthe. ......!" Reinhardt paces back and forth in the hallway, mumbling. As expected, Jin stopped talking to him. In a situation like this, a father can do nothing. The father can''t do anything at a time like this. It must have been thirty minutes or an hour. Or maybe two hours had passed. A cry came from the other side of the door. "It''s born! Reinhardt literally jumped for joy. Soon after, the door opened and the birth mother came out and said a few words to reassure us. "It''s a healthy baby girl. The mother is fine. "I see!Thank you, thank you ......! Reinhardt is in tears. Then the door closed again, and this time it opened again after about 30 minutes. "Come on, look at her face. Reinhardt steps into the room, the old woman urging him to come in. "...... you." "Thank you, Berthe." Reinhardt gently brushes a strand of hair from Berthe''s forehead with his finger. Next to Berthe, a newborn baby was sleeping peacefully. "You really have a red face, don''t you? So it''s a baby." The baby''s face is wrinkled because it''s still newborn. "...... It''s a girl," he said. "Yes, I heard. Jin told me that it''s easier to raise children in this order: first a girl and then a boy. "Well, is that so?" Then Jin came in with permission. "Thanks for your hard work, Bertsche. "Thank you, Jin-sama. Thank you for your help with Elsa-san. Yes. Young Mistress has a wonderful healing magic, doesn''t she? Thanks to her, the bleeding was kept to a minimum and the mother''s body was not in danger. Elsa, thank you. "Yes." Elsa was also providing various support services, such as sterilizing the room with sterilization to prevent infections. "Congratulations, Reinhard. "Thank you, Jin. I''ll send you a baby gift some other day. "Oh, don''t worry about it. You really helped me today. It''s a good thing we were on Horai Island. Hmm?...... Ah, ah!Jin!And Erza!Thank you, but you guys have another wedding reception tomorrow!" Finally, Reinhardt''s head started to spin. "Don''t worry. I''m going to Leuthardt to get some rest. "Oh, really?" Since the unveiling party will be held in the Kingdom of Celluloid for three days from tomorrow, the time difference will be less if we move from the house in Leuthart. "That''s a good thing, isn''t it?" "Yes. So don''t worry. But more importantly, what''s your name going to be? I''ve thought about it a lot. We''ll have a long talk with our parents after this. "I see. Well, we''ll take our leave now. "Oh, thank you so much, Jin and Elsa." Jin, Erza, and Reiko greeted Reinhard and Bertsche, and then moved to the Reuzert compound. < * * * * * * * * * * Using the warp gate, you will be in Leuthart in no time. "Come, master. Butler D welcomes Jin and the others. The bath is already prepared. The old man had instructed them to be ready by the time Jin and the others arrived. It was already 4:00 in the afternoon. "Let''s take it easy the rest of the way. ...... "I''m a little tired." Tomorrow the party begins again. 1161 - - 31-28 Material Handout August 21. Jin and Elsa are waving to each other in a hot air balloon. It is the first day of the . The altitude is less than 10 meters above the ground, and we can clearly see each person''s face as they wave back. A large golem <> holds a rope connected to a hot air balloon to keep it from floating too high. There are five hot air balloons floating around them, guarding the one with Jin and Erza in it. "Oh, that''s amazing." "<>?" "I heard you''re a Korun-kun, right?" That''s why he''s the Magecraft Meister. "You were at this year''s commemorative ceremony, weren''t you?" "Ah, you''re the one who made that girl-shaped automata!" Reiko''s heroic performance of holding the Golem at her beck and call was still fresh in some people''s memories. The girl-shaped automata, Reiko, has disappeared through invisibility, and flies through the sky to protect Jin and Erza with the help of a force field generator. However, Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa, was so peaceful that there was no need for this. For several days now, knights and guards have been on the lookout for any unrest. However, only two people were captured, and they were only merchants who intended to negotiate something directly with Jin. Of course, the fifth column (Quinta) in the vicinity congratulated them and remained vigilant. "Congratulations! Congratulations and best wishes! It is customary to have a parade at the wedding ceremonies of leading nobles, so the citizens are used to it. This was the first parade with a large golem and hot air balloons, however. "Wow, that''s a lot of show!" "......" Jin and Erza were fed up with the parade. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Fortunately, that was all for the first day. The contents of the tour are very rich, but they seem to have made an effort to keep the time short. "Hmmm..." "Day 1 is over." Jin and Erza are staying in a guest room at the castle. They are accompanied by Reiko and Edgar, and two of the castle''s maids of honor are in the next room, just in case something happens to them. "Good night." "Good work." "....... But tomorrow is the big day. "I guess so." The next day, the wedding banquet will be held in the grand hall of the royal castle. It''s a gathering of the nobility and other important people. But it seems they''ve forbidden personal contact. It seems that King Cesar has taken into account what happened in the Kingdom of Egelea, and it can be said that this is a thoughtful gesture on his part. "More than that, I was surprised to see the progress of the construction of the <>." "Oh, me too." Although it is still limited to the grounds of the castle, the track was being laid for about 100 meters ...... long enough to run on a trial basis. At first, it is supposed to be a round-trip operation between the main gate of the outer wall of the Royal Castle and the courtyard of the Royal Castle. It seems that guests will be transported to and from the palace by monorail instead of horse-drawn carriages. < said King Cesar. "I''d really appreciate it if you could throw us a reception. To be honest, I''d rather be involved in that ......." This was Jin''s heartfelt voice. * * * * Due to the tight security (including Horaijima''s forces), the date changed without incident and the day dawned on August 22. On this day, after a light luncheon, the reception was scheduled for 7 hours from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. Therefore, the morning was relatively free. Therefore, the morning is relatively free. However, since they do not know many people in the Kingdom of Selroa, Jin and the others have some free time on their hands. Then, they were told that Mr. Latant, Director General of the First Ministry of Technology, was coming to visit them. Since he had some free time on his hands, Jin decides to ask him to come in. "Jin-dono, excuse me." "Hello, Jin-dono, excuse me. How are you? <>The word "how are you? Because Latant''s face was covered with dark circles. "Ah, ah. I''m a little sleep deprived. I''m ...... actually about that." Let me ask you about it. "Actually, ......" Latant''s problem is <. He is trying to make several cars of the same type, but he can''t seem to get it right. "What part of this don''t you understand?" I thought I left all the blueprints and manuals with you," Jin asked if there was anything missing. "No, it''s the material of the wheels." "What?" The monorail that Jin built uses wheels made of metal ...... special steel for maintenance. The special steel is nickel-chromium steel. It is similar to stainless steel in composition, but is not called stainless steel because of its low ratio of nickel to chromium. Jin used a sample with 2 percent nickel and 0.2 percent chromium. "The that Jin-dono wrote in the manual, can we get it in our country?" "Ah ......" I''ve seen nickel ore here and there, so it should be easy to find in the Kingdom of Selroa, but what about chrome? "Come to think of it, I''ve never seen chromite ore. ......" Both nickel and chromium are important rare metals, and Jin had seen ore samples of them when he was in modern Japan, but he has not seen much of them here. (I guess I was careless because it''s on Horai Island. ......) The previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, used stainless steel at an early stage and was therefore familiar with nickel and chrome deposits, but at the moment the engineers here do not recognize chrome. "Well, you can use just nickel, can''t you?" Since there was no problem at all in terms of strength, Jin gave this advice. It would be a problem if the material or structure was changed by someone''s judgment, but it would also be a problem if the engineers were so obsessed with the matter that they could not proceed any further. Jin thought that he had come to the Kingdom of Celuloa at just the right time. "Well, the < in this case is to improve the hardenability, so you don''t need to put it in if you want to finish it with engineering magic. In the case of water or oil quenching, simple carbon steel is not hardenable to the of large parts. This is improved by adding chromium. There are other effects such as increasing wear resistance, but the addition of nickel alone is sufficient for practical use, so Jin explained this point. "I see, I understand now. Thank you very much." After two hours of detailed explanation, Mr. Latant, Director General of the First Ministry of Technology, left Jin''s office with a radiant face, a far cry from when he had arrived. "I brought some reference books with me, but they didn''t mention such materials. I''ll add them next time. "Yes, that''s a good idea." It is now 11:30 a.m. and almost lunchtime. Lunch was to be served with King Cesar and some of his entourage. "I think they''re going to pick us up soon," Jin muttered. Jin muttered, and almost at the same time there was a knock at the door. "Yes." Reiko opened the door, and sure enough, there stood Cesar''s lady-in-waiting. The luncheon meeting was about to begin. 1162 - - 31-29 Emergency "I''ve been indebted to Jin-dono and his wife." King Cesar of Celuloa muttered as he drank his after-dinner tea. "Jin-dono for the monorail, and his wife for my father''s illness. "No, don''t worry about it." Jin is certainly no saint. He does not help everyone. Nor is he arrogant enough to think he can. But if it is within his reach. If I hear it. If you see it in their eyes. And when he is ready, he will act. He is a good-natured man at heart. My father''s illness was Richard the First''s hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. Thanks to prompt treatment and healing, he has managed to recover to the point where he can speak and has recently been able to move around a little on his own. "Of course, I also owe a lot to Merve''s devoted care." Merve is Richard''s lady-in-waiting, but it seems that she is now his <. King Cesar tells her these intimate stories. "Merve is admirable. I wish I could be like that for my husband. ...... Elsa blushes as she is about to say. "Ha-ha, you''re so fresh!" King Cesar smiles. In fact, he is still a bachelor. A king cannot marry lightly. "Don''t you have any marriage proposals? Jin asked lightly, "I have not been able to find a suitable match for you, Kunlun-kun, but I wonder if you know anyone who might be able to help me. Balfeeza Walker, the chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, who was present at the meeting, asked Jin with a sigh. "Well, ...... I have no idea. ......" "Well, that''s too bad." It was true that Jin knew many single women, but he had to tilt his head back to the question of whether they were suitable for the Queen of Selroa. It was more like they were not interested in such a position before that. The luncheon, which was a very private and, depending on your point of view, even a little bit sensitive topic, went without a hitch, and the time was one o''clock in the afternoon. The time is 1:00 p.m. The reception will be held in one hour. The time is 1:00 p.m. The wedding reception is in one hour. ......I''m sorry, but I just can''t do it. I agree. Jin and Erza have successfully switched places with their doppelgangers. They are aware that they are being opened for them, so they feel sorry and temporarily let the old man''s doppelg?nger operate in the name of creating a <>. Although personal contact is forbidden, official introductions and greetings in public cannot be forbidden. Reiko is following the real Jin. "Should we also make a of Reiko?" "Certainly, people who know Reiko in her normal form would think it strange if she is not accompanied by her doppelg?nger." In addition, Reiko has received the rank of squire in the Shoro Kingdom, so there is no problem with her appearing on official occasions. "What do you think, Reiko?" "......... To be honest, it''s a bit complicated." The fact that there is someone who looks exactly like her is one thing, but the fact that she is a of herself is a bit of a problem for her. "I see. ......" Jin thought about it again. "Then, we should make a covert task force (SP)>> in disguise." "In that case, ......." Reiko nodded reluctantly. "That would be ...... ah, I see." Pance and Viola, who work in Kunlun Island, are candidates. "How about we send the ex-privates and to the Kunlun Island, and Pance and Viola as Reiko''s doubles?" Elsa also expressed her opinion. "Well, ...... there won''t be much work in Kunlun Island to begin with, so it might be a good idea to have them work concurrently." "That''s fine with me." Reiko said yes, so we decided to assign Pance and Viola as Reiko''s doubles, and Marron and Plum to work at Kunlun Island. Since Pance and Viola were originally made in the same size as Reiko, the disguise would be quick and easy. "This will work. Can you give me instructions on how to act and what lines to say at key points?" >. This is one of my concerns. After all, there will be receptions in the Shoro Kingdom, the Klein Kingdom, and the Franz Kingdom ahead of us. After all this, only about half an hour has passed. "Well, what should we do? ...... By the way, old man, how is the ship coming along?" Here Jin checked the progress of the two ships, <> and <>, which were to be used for the honeymoon. "Well, that''s good." Half of the remaining 20 percent is the emergency propulsion system that Jin is considering. "We''ve got the motor, but we need a power source. ...... Using magic to generate electricity is meaningless for emergency use, and Jin does not have the chemical knowledge to make a battery. "We''ll have to make do with what we have on hand, but I guess we''ll have to use compressed air." Cylinders that can withstand 1000 atmospheres are already in practical use. He thinks that if multiple cylinders are equipped with compressed air, the reaction force could be used to move the ship if it is sprayed backward in case of an emergency. "It might be better to spray them into the water than into the air." Jin thought that water might be a better medium to push the boat than air because of the recoil it would generate. "Ah, but since it is only the recoil that makes it move, does that have much to do with it?" Considering that the recoil from the air jet is effective even in a vacuum, Jin finally decided that there was no need to force the jet into the water. "There is also the option of turning a turbine and using it to power a generator, rather than simply jetting. Which would be more efficient? One idea after another came to mind, like a chain of ideas. "But if we are going to use it, why not use a small boat? Elsa also offers her advice. It is true that it is too inefficient to move a large ship. "Then, let''s use them for lifeboats. < The "Mere Old Man" also gives his opinion. "Then the lifeboat should carry four passengers, pressurized air propulsion, oars, markers for location, and water for emergency rations. "...... would be a good idea." "I''d rather not use it, though." The possibility of distress is almost non-existent when the aircraft is capable of providing support from high altitude. The only thing left is . "Energy transfer?" It is a method sometimes seen in science fiction and anime. It is to send energy to an object from a distant place. "...... such an idea. ......" Elsa is beyond impressed and astonished. "If we can do this, we won''t have to worry about running out of free magic element (ether). The idea is sound. There is a for connecting distant places and a for transferring matter. "Simply speaking, all we have to do is to transfer the magical crystals (magicrystals) to the <> in which the markers are placed." "...... indeed." "But that''s not smart, so I''d like to think about it some more." "...... that''s just like my brother Jin." Erza was saying, "I like that kind of . And then, when the nobles had finished their greetings, Jin and Erza, wishing to attend the wedding reception that had been arranged for them, switched places with their <>subjects. 1163 - - 31-30 Stealing A wedding banquet in the Kingdom of Celuloa. Jin and Erza, who had left the insistent greetings and appeals from the nobles to the doppelg?nger, watch out for the right moment and successfully switch places in the middle of the reception. "Are you enjoying yourself, Jin-dono?" Knut Amont, the director of the Food Agency, came to Jin''s place when he returned. He was particularly interested in the evaluation of the food. "Yes, thank you, sir. Not having eaten another bite, Jin could only give a curt answer. "I can see how hard you worked for this. He tried to add something like "I can see how hard you have been working. "Oh, I''m so glad to hear that! Knut Amonto was in a good mood after hearing Jin''s words. He seemed to be a little drunk. "Excuse me, Mister Jin." Then again came Kabanea Gasmo, Undersecretary of the First Ministry of Technology. < He is still smiling his good-natured smile. "Congratulations. Your wife looks beautiful. "Thank you very much." This exchange went on for about an hour, and Jin and Elsa were getting a little tired. The time was almost 9:00 PM. Then a voice from King Cesar rang out. "Everyone, the guest of honor, Mr. and Mrs. Kunlun, must be tired by now, so I would like to end the banquet, even though it is already at its climax. No one seemed to have any objection to this. But then again, no one would ever complain to the king to his face. "Well then, , madam, would you like to say a few words to close the day?" "Ah, yes." Perhaps < had heard about this, but since he was replaced without such a handover, Jin is a bit puzzled. However, it is not so difficult for me to speak at such an occasion, since most of what I have to say is a kind of standard phrase. "...... Ladies and gentlemen, this is Jin Nido. My wife Elsa and I would like to thank you for the opportunity to host this grand celebration. This is the third time for me to visit your country. He had become accustomed to speaking in a certain way. "......Finally, we have prepared a souvenir for you as a token of our appreciation. Thank you very much for your time today. When Jin and Erza bade farewell to each other, there was a round of applause. This was the end of the wedding banquet in the Kingdom of Selroa. "......Hohoho, this is quite something." "This is an interesting memorial. "The fact that it is an oval instead of a circle is also unusual. "It is plated instead of gold, but that doesn''t change its craft value. The recipients of the commemorative koban were all in awe. And it is a side note that no one thought it was a coin from another world. * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... is over." The two of us looked tired...we''d only been at it for an hour or so, but we were exhausted. They are mentally exhausted, partly because they don''t know many people they can relate to. There is still tomorrow." "I wonder why ...... I feel so depressed when I hear words that would normally give me hope." They were buried on the sofa in the parlor of the guest room. "Father, Elsa, the bath is ready. Reiko reported. She was preparing the family bath which would be provided in the guest room. The family bath was a guest room in the royal castle of Selroa, so it was large enough to accommodate at least 10 people if they pushed themselves a little. "Well then, let''s go in." "Let''s go in." ...... Jin stood up and Erza followed him. "......" Reiko said nothing. And then. "......! An inarticulate voice echoed through the dressing room. "Ah, so you two didn''t notice." Perhaps it was because she was tired, but Reiko was a little bit surprised to see the two of them, who had not yet taken a bath together, heading to the changing room side by side. "......" "......" They were soaking in the bathtub side by side. They were already red-faced, as if they had been scalded. Fortunately for them, the lighting in the bathroom was dim. Even so, they could clearly see each other''s faces, which was embarrassing for both of them. Although they were sleeping together every night, they were not used to seeing each other''s naked bodies in such a bright place. They got out of the bath without saying a word, but what happened in the bedroom after that is known only to Reiko at ....... * * * * The next day, the 23rd, was a day to relax and enjoy the Kingdom of Celuloa without any events. So Jin and Elsa are relaxing in the morning. "Shall we go out to the town after this? "Yes, that''s a good idea. With a little disguise, such as changing the color of Jin''s black hair, it would be possible for them to act as a couple. We have done this in the Klein Kingdom before, so there should be no problem. At the same time, Reiko also changes her hair into a ponytail and her clothes into a town girl''s style. Her hair color is changed to brown. Elsa also changed her hair to brown and changed her clothes to normal clothes and was about to go to the town. "<>, at least let me have a guide. When King Cesar heard that they were leaving for the town, he flew in. Behind him was a woman dressed as a town girl. "This is Veronica, one of my knights of the Kingsguard. I''m from this town, so I know it well. "Veronica. < Her shoulder-length red hair hangs down carelessly like a commoner. She reminds me somewhat of Bina when I first met her, but she is almost 170cm tall and has a well-developed body line. "......It''s nice to meet you too." Elsa greets Jin for me. The look of frustration in her eyes might be my imagination. "Well, please be back by 2:00 p.m. We''re planning a tea party for 3:00 p.m." "Okay. Thank you for your concern. Hitoshi replied, and the four of them, Hitoshi, Elsa, Reiko, and Veronica, went out to the town, using the service gate of the castle ......, the entrance used by the servants. "I''ve been to the Kingdom of Selroa many times, but this may be the first time I''ve seen Esiah. Jin mutters to no one in particular, and Veronica responds. "Is that so?Then what kind of place would you like to see? I was born and raised here, so I can take you anywhere. "Well, ...... since you''re here, I''d like to see some of the stores that sell household goods. What about Elsa? "Well, let''s see what''s in the clothing department." Elsa is interested in the fashions of the Kingdom of Selroa. I understand. The closest one to here is the clothing district. Let''s start there. ......" Veronica started to lead the group. They were followed by a group of secret guards. 1164 - - 31-31 Tours of Stores "Hmmm, is this silk?" In the clothing store that Veronica led him to, Jin was more interested in the material than the design. "This is a vegetable fiber. ......" On the other hand, Erza was interested in the design in the style of the Kingdom of Cerroa. "It looks like the Shoro Kingdom in some parts and the Egelea Kingdom in others." Since they are adjacent to each other, they may be influenced by each other. "Young madam, this is the latest design ......". The shopkeeper also recommends trendy clothes. "If you like, we can take your order. "Oh, that''s fine. I have to move tomorrow." And so on. Elsa seemed to enjoy the hour. After that, Jin and the others moved again and came to a place that looked like a tool town. "This area is the tool district. "Hmm." Various stores were lined up, selling everything from daily necessities to weapons for self-defense. The intention seems to be that by gathering stores of the same lineage in this way, shoppers can choose what they like, and the stores compete with each other in friendly competition. (In a shopping mall, it is convenient for shoppers because various stores are all in one place. ......) Jin thought that the idea was more like Kappabashi''s tool town or Akihabara''s electric town. (If it is not for daily necessities, such a specialty town might be better.) With these thoughts in his mind, Jin looked into one store. It was a magic tool shop. "Oh, there is a refrigerator. The that he and Beena had made in the Kingdom of Egelea, Blue Land. It is sold here in the Kingdom of Celluloa. Jin is somewhat pleased. Other than that, there was an ordinary assortment of goods such as magic lamps. I also took a peek at the next store, and to my surprise, I found a here. Jin wonders why there are different stores for the same magical tools made in the same place. After all, he convinces himself that maybe the purchasing route is different from that of the <>. "Oh, <>. This is very convenient! Veronica, probably thinking that Jin was interested in the <> that she was looking at, speaks up. "It''s summer now, but on cold winter days, it''s too cold to use water to wipe your sweaty body after training, so we have a few of these in the Order. He was whispering because he was only a private individual. "Is that so?" Jin thinks again how nice it is to see his magic tools being widely used and put to good use. The third store was a store selling self-defense weapons. By self-defense, I mean knives, daggers, and other weapons of low offensive power, as well as light armor such as leather armor. Full-body armor and short swords are not for self-defense, but are legitimate armaments. Time flies by as I browse the stores like this, and the sundials around the town indicate that it is just before noon. "Master Jin, why don''t we have lunch soon? Veronica suggested. Jin said he would go to any of the restaurants she recommended. "Yes, sir. I''ll leave it to you." Veronica then asked another question. "Well, is there anything you would like to eat, or is there anything you don''t like?" "Well, I don''t like kokarisk meat. Erza''s cheeks turned a little red and her eyes were downcast as Jin spoke on her behalf. "Well, let''s go this way." Veronica showed us to a restaurant that mainly served fish caught in Lake Asur. "Hey, you''re Veronica." "Hi. Are you off duty today? "Yes. Yeah. - And you''re not? I''m here on business. I''m showing a client around. After exchanging a few words with what appeared to be a co-worker, Veronica turned to Jin and the others, "Excuse me, sir. I''m an off-duty colleague." She explained the situation. The other colleague seemed to understand Veronica''s situation, so she gave a nod to Jin and the others and did not speak to them again. "What would you like?" "Uh, what''s on the menu?" Jin took a seat and looked around the table. "Oh, we don''t have much here, so it''s written on the wall. Veronica pointed to the wall where the available menus were written. "What about that ?" Jin asked as the menu looked like a modern Japanese teishoku-ya. "It''s a menu recommended by the chef, using the ingredients of the day. "Let''s try that one." "Me too." Then I''ll have three servings. This restaurant seems to be somewhere between a popular place and a nobleman''s place. It seems to be frequented by people who work at the castle. Just like Jin''s taste. "This is delicious." "Yes, it''s cooked just right." A white freshwater fish similar to trout, grilled with salt. The amount of salt and the degree of grilling showed the skill of the chef. The chef does not cut corners even at a low price and does his job with integrity. He is very popular among the castle workers, Veronica explained between bites of her meal. Jin also enjoyed the taste of the food, honestly preferring it to the food served in the castle. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the meal, there were only one or two restaurants left to visit due to the time remaining. Jin and his friends visited a material shop for the last time. The Kingdom of Cerroa encourages magical engineering, so they have stores where ordinary people can get special materials. "This is the one." The store is located somewhat on the outskirts of town, and there is a large storage yard next to the store. The yard had a simple roof over it so that lumber and ingots would not be exposed to the rain. A golem stands guard to prevent theft. "This place looks interesting. Jin first decided to look at the materials storage area. "Hmm, this bronze is of good quality. There are few impurities. And "This wood is well dried, This wood is well dried. The grain is well defined and there is no warping. He is looking around the room, saying to himself, "This bronze is of good quality. Elsa looked at Jin with a smile on her face. She thought to herself, "I guess marriage doesn''t change you. "Hmmm, this brass has a copper to zinc ratio of 6 to 4. ...... Jin, accompanied by Reiko, was walking among the materials at his own pace. 1165 - - 31-32 At the rooftop garden Shortly before the appointed time of 2:00 p.m., Jin and his friends returned to the royal castle. They used the servants'' service gate for both the way to and from the castle. "I wonder how the security works here? Jin was a little concerned. "I heard that the guards at the gate remember the faces of everyone who leaves and comes back. Jin wonders if this is some kind of special skill. If anything, Jin is not very good at remembering people''s faces. A former classmate once told him that he would never make it as an insurance salesman. Aside from that, after passing through the service gate, we headed for the outermost section of the castle, so to speak, through the to the . (Hmmm, do they keep an eye on each other?) On the way there, he just followed Veronica silently, but on the way back, he had more time to observe her. When Jin and the others returned to the central section of the castle, the guest room, Balfeeza Walker, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, was waiting for them. "<>, did you have a good time?" "Yes, it was quite interesting. "Yes, it was quite interesting. Now, please take a bath in the bathroom first. He was aware that we were probably sweating and dusty from our walk through the city. They were allowed to use the small bathrooms separated for men and women, and Jin and Erza came out of the changing room at about the same time after they had washed off their sweat and changed their clothes. A maid waiting outside guided them to the place where the tea ceremony was to be held. "Wow. ......" "......" It was a so-called . Red, white, yellow. Summer flowers and grasses were in full bloom. A sunshade like a reed screen was hung to block the summer sun, making it cool. A round table was set there, and tea was being prepared. "Welcome, <>, My Lady. King Cesar rises to greet them. Present are the king, SS commander Kirk Atwood, and several attendants. There is another beautiful woman in her mid-twenties. "...... Mr. Merfe?" The name spilled out of Elsa''s mouth. Yes, it was Merve, the former King Richard''s mistress. "Erza-sama, she wanted to congratulate me herself. King Cesar explains why she is here. "Erza-sama, Jin-sama, congratulations on your marriage. Merve stands up and bows deeply. She feels indebted to Elsa for treating her beloved Richard, and had hoped to meet her in person to congratulate and thank her. Thanks to you, my master is now able to move as well as a human being. Thank you very much. "No, no, it was only because of your devoted care of Mr. Merve. I only assisted her. That''s not true!If it weren''t for Erza-sama, I''m sure I would still be at ......." Merve''s gratitude seemed to know no bounds. "No, truly, I am grateful." King Cesar added. "Oh, thank you very much." Erza turned red with embarrassment. Five minutes later, the tea party begins. "Thank you for your hard work this time. Merve knew that Jin and Erza were not good at such fancy events. "Haha, but there are still some aspects that can''t be helped. Hitoshi replied with a wry smile. "Well, such an event is a necessary evil, isn''t it? King Cesar seemed to half agree. Jin thinks that it is a good thing that they are able to say what they want to say in the Kingdom of Selroa. "In a month, I think we''ll be able to give the <> a test run." "That would be nice." "That would be great. I''d love for you to come and see it." I mean, you asked me to come, so I will. "I''ll come." "I''ll be glad to see it." "Good luck. The conversation was lively. Jin is also relied on in various places. "Tomorrow ......, or the day after tomorrow, is the Shoro Kingdom, isn''t it? Then the conversation turned to the next wedding reception. That''s the plan, sir. "It''s your wife''s home country. It''s going to be a big party. ......" Erza was a little fed up inside, but managed to keep it from showing on her face. Jin was laughing next to her. Time passed by like this, and before long, the sun was setting and dusk was approaching. "Well, I''m sorry to leave, but I think it''s time to call it a night. King Cesar said, looking at the secretary who had come to his side. "< "No, that''s what I''m saying. Jin retorts. "No, no, I''m sorry for calling you out on the prestige of the country when we should be relaxing together as a married couple. This was a line that made us think that the king was a man of the people. * * * * * * * * * * * That evening, rose toward the waning sky. We will continue on to the Kingdom of Shoro. "We''re halfway there. ......" "....... Shoro Kingdom, Klein Kingdom, Franz Kingdom..." If that''s the case, we should probably go to the demon tribe too. We can go there unofficially when we''re done here. I guess so. <. Both of them already knew about Jin''s power to a great extent. "But first things first. "......" flies in the opposite direction of the rotation of Ars. Therefore, the sky does not get dark. And then, under the dusk sky, the capital, Leusert, and Jin''s house come into view. The taxiway lights on the rooftop had already been turned on. The plane lands slowly at . Butler D greeted them. "Welcome, Master and Mistress. After a day of relaxing in this house, it was finally time for the wedding banquet in Elsa''s home country, the Shoro Empire. 1166 - - 31-33 Relax Let''s take it easy for a day tomorrow. "Mmm..." After taking a bath at Reuthert''s house, Jin and Elsa are relaxing in the living room. The time is 9:00 p.m. A bottle of white wine, Erlich 3454, was in front of them. "Is this Reinhardt''s favorite brand?" "Yes, it''s called Auslese. The Erlich region is the eastern shore of Lake Wass. Elsa explains. This sweet wine can be enjoyed without any snacks, so it seems to be suitable for a nightcap. Jin and Elsa each poured a glass of wine. "It''s easy to drink. "Yes, it''s easy to drink. Many white wines are sweet, so they are easy to drink. Red wines look sweet, but most of them are dry and have a unique astringent taste because the red color comes from the grape skins. Therefore, it is not for beginners, Elsa explains. "I see." Jin had never drank sake on his own when he was in modern Japan, so he knows little about such knowledge about alcohol. Erza, on the other hand, knows a lot about such things due to Reinhardt''s love of wine. <. It is quiet. Jin puts his wine glass on the table and says something. "...... but I''m finally starting to get a sense of what it''s like." "Of what?" "That Elsa has become my wife." Ah... Jin''s face is red, but it seems that he is not only embarrassed. Because of the good taste, Jin seems to be drinking at a little fast pace. "...... Jin, are you drunk?" Erza looks at Jin with a little staring eyes. "Maybe I''m drunk. Jin himself was aware that he was drunk. "If you drink too much, you will have a headache tomorrow. "......If I do, I''ll ask Elsa to fix it for me." "What?" "What, you won''t fix it?" Well, I''ll fix it, but... Well, that''s good. "...... yeah." It''s a simple conversation. But there was a definite bond there. After a few more glasses of wine, they went to bed together. They must have had a good dream that night. The dream was a good one. Father, Elsa, please wake up soon. Reiko''s voice wakes Jin and Elsa up. "......Ah, is it morning already?" Jin mutters as he rubs his eyes. "It''s not morning, it''s almost noon. "Oh, is it that late already?" "Yes, it''s almost ten o''clock. "...... you overslept. ......" You''re up too late. ...... Reiko is about to say something snide to Hitoshi. But he immediately apologizes and bows his head. "......I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have said that." Jin pats Reiko on the head. "Reiko, say what you think. That''s what makes me happy. "...... yes, father." Reiko smiled happily and continued with one more word. "...... well, I think you should speak to Erza-sama." "What?" Reiko told him, and he looked to the side to see Erza, who had woken up and was staring at Jin with a slightly puffed up face. "......" "Sorry, sorry." Jin suddenly hugged Erza. "......!" Erza was surprised and stiffened, but she immediately relaxed her body and let Jin take care of her. Jin whispered something in Erza''s ear. Erza nodded her head with a slight blush on her cheeks. Jin gently released her arms. "Let''s take a shower and eat first. Jin got off the bed and stretched. From now on, it would be breakfast and lunch. "......." Elsa nodded, her face still a little red. Then they get dressed and leave the bedroom. Reiko follows them. Edgar is waiting outside the bedroom with a towel. Edgar was waiting outside the bedroom with a towel. "Well, what shall we do today? After a late breakfast (=early lunch?) After finishing the late breakfast (=early lunch?), Jin and Erza think about their plans for the day, although it is already around 11:00 a.m. and they only have half a day left. "Let''s take it easy like we said yesterday, shall we?" Erza said with a soft smile. "Yes, that''s right." There is no rule that says we have to do something. Jin decided to take it easy, literally. "......I can''t seem to get rid of my poverty ......." Jin muttered to himself. "By the way, don''t you have to go to your parents'' house? Erza''s parents'' home is on the other side of Lake Tosmo from the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, Leusert. If we want to go there, we can take a short flight by . "No, not yet. Not yet, I think, until after this whole reception. For now, Elsa said, her priority is to fulfill her role in the public eye. "Besides..." Elsa continued. "My home now is with my brother Jin." "...... I see, thank you." Somehow Jin was compelled to thank her. In the end, neither of them left Reuthert''s house for the rest of the day. 1167 - - 31-34 My nephew At 9:00 a.m. on August 25, Jin and Elsa left for Miyagi by . They had been notified in advance, so they were on time. "<>, madam, welcome!" Jin-kun and Erza, you''re here! The Prime Minister of the Shoro Kingdom, Jung Fawls von K?bsler, and the Emperor''s wife greeted the two. From the landing bed to the palace, there was a line of Kingsguard knights and female Kingsguard knights on either side of the landing platform. The emperor escorted Jin and the vizier escorted Elsa as they made their way between the lines. Reiko, an honorary squire, is right behind Jin. I feel sorry for Edgar, but he is also away at . Inwardly feeling sorry for him, Elsa thought that she would ask the emperor to take care of Edgar when she had a chance. First, she was taken to the guest room. There, the queen and the prime minister congratulate Jin and Elsa once again. I mean, I had missed the emperor''s congratulatory words on the landing bed. "Congratulations, <>, madam!" The Empress congratulates them and then introduces a boy. "Let me take this opportunity to introduce you. He is my nephew, the last emperor''s heir. He is Ernst, the next emperor. Ernst Shawlo. < About the same height as Reiko, dark hair, brown eyes. He is a smart-looking boy. "You said you''re the next emperor, but technically you''re second in line to the throne. Ernst is nine years old this year. He is not yet called the crown prince because he has not yet come of age. The current number one in the line of succession is Charlotte Alina von Rinal Shawlo, the younger sister of the emperor. "Ernst has been staying with my mother''s family for a long time, but I asked him to come here this time. I wanted to introduce him to you, Jin. I wanted him to meet Jin at least once so that he can become the next emperor," concluded the emperoress. "Today, at one o''clock in the afternoon, there will be a parade around Leusert. His Highness Ernst will accompany His Majesty. There seemed to be no problem, Jin thought. The more important question is the content of the parade. "We will be using a for the parade. < and some were made in our country." It seems that the Shoro Kingdom is now able to manufacture . There are three cars and horses in total, and three hot air balloons in the sky. And a will be attached to the parade. It''s going to be quite a show. As for the empress, she just wants to show off her existence to the people rather than being flashy. Therefore, the seats for Jin and Erza were slightly remodeled and elevated. Since it is summer, the seats are equipped with sunshades, but the light transmittance is high so as not to darken their faces. "Hey, <>," he said. Isn''t he the one who sometimes arrives in a flying ship? I heard he''s the one who taught you how to make balloons. Oh, yeah. I heard he''s some kind of imperial advisor. That big golem is awesome. But that pretty lady next door... she''s from my country. I heard that. I heard she''s the daughter of the Randall family from ...... across Lake Tosmo. I wonder if that kid in the car with her is Mr. Ernst? "Yes, it''s true. It''s been a long time!You''ve grown up! The public was curious to see the parade, and they were talking about the parade. When the parade reached the aristocratic district, the reactions were different. "So, that Randall family''s daughter has won the ." "They are a good match. Let us congratulate her. "Miss Randall......, the former Miss Randall was also a <>." "It is said that she was guided by ." If that''s true, then what do you know of him? It must be good to have such a close relationship with our country. The fact that His Highness Ernst is here with us means that he is on good terms with the Imperial Family. First of all, congratulations. They, too, responded in a generally positive manner. Thus, the first day of the parade went off without a hitch. Thank you very much for your hard work. Thank you for your hard work. The emperor was personally congratulating Jin and Erza after they returned from the parade. Prince Ernst was standing beside them. "<>, are you that tired?I was having fun, though." He is still innocent. "I''m a commoner, you know, and I can''t get used to it. "So that''s how it is." Ernst, who had probably studied imperialism since he was a child, did not seem to be bothered by this. "Tomorrow is the wedding reception in Miyagi. However, the two guests of honor will just have to sit on the stage. The Prime Minister explains again. He feels uncomfortable as if he is being exposed to the public. Rather, he decides to quickly switch places with the doppelganger. "I''m sorry Your Majesty, but it won''t be that much of a change. ......" That is also unfortunately correct. In feudal society, change is something to be hated and abhorred. So, at the reception the next day, Jin and Erza left the most troublesome part of receiving greetings from the guests to their doppelg?nger. Incidentally, Reiko''s shadow warrior is < this time. And this time, too, the old man will be of help to build up the database. * * * * * * * * * * * "I''m sorry Your Majesty, but I can''t save myself. "...... agree." Although she was raised as a daughter of a noble family, Erza, who had not yet made her debut in the social world, was not very fond of such a noisy place just like Jin, so the two of them were now retreating to Horai Island together. Since there is a time difference of approximately 5 hours and 20 minutes, it is already past noon on Horai Island. "Are you ready for the trip yet? <, I mean the <. "Yes. The outfitting is finished, and it will be time for the mariners to test sail the ship. In Horai Island, the launching ceremony is a naming ceremony, and the ship whose name has been decided in advance is launched in the presence of <> = >. As a side note, in Horai Island, the order of the process is construction, completion of the hull, launching ceremony, outfitting, and test sailing. "<> and what is ......?" <>, right? "Oh, yes. Which one is the ship we are on?" "That''s the <>, of course. Jin is going to take the <>, even if it means "I am his wife. "Shall we go see?" "Yes, let''s go see." "Father, I''ll go with you." So, Jin and his friends decided to go and see the new ship. 1168 - - 31-35 Visits The shipyard is reached by a warp gate. We came out in a corner of the dock. "Wow, it''s big! Erza had never been here before and was surprised at the size of the shipyard. "That''s right, it''s big enough to build a 250-meter battleship. It is large enough to build one 250-meter battleship or aircraft carrier and two 100-meter cruisers at the same time. and two 100-meter cruisers at the same time. "...... indeed." After the launching ceremony and outfitting, the two ships will be put on a trial cruise. "Hey, I want to go on board." "What?...... I would like to." Jin was a little bit embarrassed by Erza''s sudden offer, but he nodded his head, thinking that his feelings were justified. "Do you mind? I confirmed this with the manacam on my bracelet, and he replied immediately. "Okay, let''s go then." "Yes." Erza quickly grabbed onto Jin''s right arm. So the two of them went up the ramp to first. Reiko followed them. "It''s a shipwatching ceremony, isn''t it?" Not exactly. < Now the <> and <> are not cruisers, nor are they in a parade. "Wow!" Elsa exclaims in surprise again. It''s the first time I''ve set foot on a structure this large, except for a spaceship, so it''s not surprising. The deck, which is 100 meters long and 10 meters wide, must seem large to a newcomer. Moreover, the foredeck is spacious because the main and secondary guns have been removed. There is no swimming pool, however. "The wind feels good." The front dock door is open and the wind is blowing in. At the same time, the blue ocean is visible, and I feel that this is where the ship belongs. "Let''s go to the bridge." Due to the curvature of the planet, there is a place <>, and in order to see as far as possible, it is necessary to go up as high as possible. In this sense, all bridges are built high. However, in the case of the Horaijima, since the ship can receive information from air power and satellites, it is avoided to make it higher than necessary to avoid lack of strength and stability. "We have left some armament on board, though." The cruiser is armed with a medium-caliber laser cannon and a 10-centimeter magic cannon (Magikanon). Don''t worry, the cruiser will come with us when we travel. "Now let''s take a look at the living space." "Hmm." I had made a general request, but the details were left to the old man and the craftsmen (smiths), so this was the first time Jin had seen it. Now we go down the stairs to the lower floor. The living space was on the same level as the deck. Since the ship was originally a cruiser, it was not as spacious as a cruise ship, but including the additional space, there were several compartments about 20 meters long and 7 meters wide, divided into lounges, bedrooms, and so on. "Hmm." "Looks pretty comfortable." The corridors are covered with oily, water-resistant teak wood, which can be polished to a nice shine. The rooms are covered with carpets made of magi silk. The carpet is made of magi silk, which is too thin to be stable underfoot when the ship is rocking. The sleeping quarters are beds, but for emergencies, they can be secured with safety belts. "What about the mess hall?" "Yes, let''s take a look." The dining room, of course, has a kitchen attached, but it is also equipped with two small warp gates so that food ingredients and cooked food can be sent from Horai Island. "There''s also a refrigerator and an ether stocker." I opened them, but they were still empty, and it looked like they were about to be filled. "Where is the water?" "The plan is to fill the empty space with fresh water as ballast, as well as 10 water purifiers and 10 distillers. ...... looks like it''s already loaded." "That''s a relief." We also have at least three systems of communication and life-saving equipment, and as many as ten systems. This is possible because they are not mechanical, but rather magical machines and tools that are less bulky and lighter in weight. "The number of magick reactors was five at the beginning of the design, but has been increased to 20, and free magick condensers (ether capacitors) have also been prepared." Free magic condensers (ether condensers) are devices that collect free magic elements (ether) existing in space and increase their concentration, and are even more effective when used in conjunction with the magic reactor (magi reactor). "We have enough magi crystals for reserve energy to make three rounds of Ars. Then I guess I''m safe. We can''t put Erza in danger. "...... Thanks a lot." Erza''s cheeks were stained by Jin''s line. The two of them went down the stairs toward the bottom. "There''s another level down with almost the same facilities." It is a reserve compartment. Normally closed, it is opened in case the upper compartment becomes unusable due to unforeseen circumstances. "It''s pretty safe." You don''t need to see ...... for the power room, do you? "No." After that, I looked at the <> and found it to be almost the same. This is not surprising since they are the same type of ship. Jin and Erza decided to cut off the tour, since looking around too much would disrupt the schedule of the test voyage. "Father, it''s almost lunchtime. Reiko, who had been quietly following us, tells us that it is almost noon. "Well, that''s just fine. Let''s go back to the laboratory. And so, Jin and the others return to the institute using the warp gate at the dock. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "That was fun. "Yes, it was." It is late in the evening on Horai Island, and Jin and Erza are having zarusoba for lunch. The wasabi that Saki had given them the other day came in handy. "After all, wasabi that is not has a nice aroma. The wasabi I had been using so far was more like , so even though it was spicy, the aroma was not quite enough. The soba noodles were served with chopped leeks instead of spring onions and a little chopped nori (seaweed) to finish. Jin prefers mori-soba, but Erza prefers zaru-soba, which adds the aroma of nori. Jin, however, preferred morisoba when he was in modern Japan, partly because of the higher price of nori. "Soba water is also delicious. Erza liked to drink soba-tsuyu (buckwheat sauce) mixed with boiled water. She is careful not to drink too much of it because it contains too much salt. "I should get back soon." I''m sure His Majesty will notice. I''m sure. The emperor is a woman with a keen sense of perception, and if she were to see you face to face, she might realize that Jin and Erza have been replaced by a double. "If it''s true, I''d like to visit my brother Rai. They may want to go see the baby that was born the other day. But that''s not a good idea. We''re supposed to be in Miyagi. Hmm..." Reinhard is not at the party. It''s only been a week since the birth of Bertsche, and the emperor seems to have taken it easy on her. Let''s go to the interval day after tomorrow. "Yes, that''s fine." Since they were in Leusert, they could visit her with impunity. Thus, they returned to Leuthart. 1169 - - 31-36 Morning Visit Jin and the others hurry back to the reception hall in Leuthart and successfully switch places with the doppelg?nger. Fortunately, Matheus and the Randalls, who were still acquainted with each other, were still to come. They managed to fulfill their duty just in time. They spent the rest of the evening half-enjoyed and half-suffocated. "I hope ...... these hardships will become a funny story ...... in time. ......" "Hmm." After the reception, Jin and his friends decided to go back to the <> instead of staying the night at Miyagi. They wanted to get a good night''s rest at least. The next day, August 27th. The next day, August 27th. Jin and Erza are relaxing in the house. "Wasn''t it a leisurely luncheon today? "Yes. Then Butler''s voice announces a visitor. "Who is it?" It was not yet 8:00 a.m. Jin and Elsa went to the front door together. Jin and Elsa went out the front door together, "Hey, you two, good morning." Standing there was Elsa''s brother, Fritz. He had not been at the reception yesterday, so it had been a while since they had seen each other. "Brother..." I know it''s early in the morning, but I have some urgent business to attend to. Anyway, please come in. Come in anyway. ...... Yes, I''ll come in. So what''s so urgent? Elsa brewed a pot of tea and offered it to him. Fritz took a sip and slowly opened his mouth. "Actually, I have a proposal for you." "Yes?" "...... is that ...... congratulations?" Jin, flustered, uttered a line that sounded like a follow-up. Fritz, however, looks as if he''s biting a bitter bug. "That''s why I''m not so happy," he says. "......Who are you with?" "...... Karen." What? The name Karen sounded familiar to Jin. "Uh, she''s Saki''s aunt, isn''t she?" Fritz nodded to Jin. "Yes, that''s right. Karen Theodoric von Banners. Fourth daughter of the Marquise." "Karen is your brother''s prospective bride?" Yes. Or rather, I''m supposed to be his son-in-law." "......" Elsa thought for a moment and then spoke up with a question. "Karen-san is 17 or 18, isn''t that about right for you and my brother?" As an aristocrat, this kind of arranged marriage is bound to happen. It was not Fritz who did not understand this, Elsa thought. "Well, yes, I suppose it is. ......" Fritz was as uncomfortable as ever. "......Maybe there''s someone else you like?" "......" Fritz looks down deeply at Elsa''s words. What is it, Erza thinks. This is a new reaction from her brother. "Who is he with?" "......" But no answer comes back. "Are you from another country?" Fritz''s face finally lit up at the question. "......What country are you from?" Elsa asked, remembering the country where she had a connection with her brother. "...... the Kingdom of Klein?" Fritz nodded silently at the question. "Are you Gloria, by any chance?" Fritz nodded again silently. "Gloria-san or ......." Jin also said to himself. Gloria Allstadt. Vice-captain of the Kingsguard of the Kingdom of Klein. She is also an instructor. Her light brown hair had recently been grown out, from a very short length to a short bob. Her steeple-colored eyes suggest vivacity, and she is well styled. Jin''s impression of Gloria is that she has a fetish for swords and does not seem to have much of a lifestyle. "I thought she didn''t have any brothers or sisters. I remember that she was an only child. "Is that so?" Fritz, with a slightly surprised look on his face, approached Jin. "Yes, yes. I thought so." "Oh, really? I''m the second son, and my brother is the one who inherited the house. ......" "Brother, brother." Fritz was about to go off the rails when Elsa stopped him. "......What about Gloria''s feelings?" "...... what?" The look of dismay on his face made Erza''s shoulders relax. "I knew it, you didn''t confirm it? "Well, well, well..." Erza sighed. This is the kind of thing that makes me smile, because I feel that he is still the same old brother, but this time it is the content. "Gloria is a knight of the Kingsguard. You are a soldier. Worst case scenario, one of us will have to quit." Erza continues, "I don''t think it would be easy for either of us to quit, since they would know the secrets of the country. "That''s what I thought too. I think it''s a difficult problem. That''s why I''m here. "You mean you''re going to ask <> to help you?" Jin was inwardly surprised to hear the words <> come out of Erza''s mouth, but Erza seemed even more surprised and blushed. Erza glared at her own brother for bringing up such a difficult issue so early in the morning. Jin is thinking about how to make his brother-in-law''s love come true. Gloria asked him about his feelings for Fritz during the World Congress, so he knows that she likes him too. But there are many obstacles to go further. It is not always the case that they are together because they like each other. "In the first place, do you really dislike the idea of Karen becoming your wife?" Karen is a different type of beautiful woman from Gloria, and she comes from a good family. She has a winning personality, but so does Gloria. "No, I have a feeling that she''s going to be the heir to the family. "......" The Marquise Theoderic has no male heir. The eldest daughter is Saki''s mother, who is no longer a member of this world, and the second and third daughters have already been married, according to Jin. At least, when I met him at Reinhardt''s wedding, I remembered that he told me that if I became her son-in-law, I would be the heir to the marquis''s family. "I think the Marquis is also a former military man and that''s why he''s taken an interest in you." "...... thank God for that." Jin felt that this problem could not be solved overnight. 1170 - - 31-37 Concern "I''ll have to check if Gloria still loves her brother-in-law. ......" After Fritz had apologized to them and left, Jin and Erza continued their discussion. "He also said that he seemed to have given up on the idea. "That''s because the next country we''re going to is the Kingdom of Klein." "Oh, yes, that''s right. Maybe we''ll have a chance to meet. We''ll check it out then. Hmmm... But today is the day of the luncheon meeting. The two of them are tired for some reason, even though they''ve been taking it easy. It''ll be about an hour before the car comes to pick us up. Please have some tea. Reiko offered them a cup of tea in front of their tired faces. "Oh, thank you." It was a fragrant hojicha tea. Drinking it slowly, I felt at ease. "I think it will be easier for you since you said that only people you know will attend the luncheon. "I hope so." Reiko''s words reassured Jin a little. "By the way..." Something occurred to Jin during Fritz''s visit. "I think I asked you before, but is it OK if Elsa doesn''t visit her parents'' house? This is it. Elsa''s parents live on the other side of Lake Tosmo, and <> is only a short flight away. "Yes, that''s fine." But Erza denied it again. "I''m in the middle of traveling around the world. So I''ve decided that my personal affairs will wait until I''m done with them." "Is that so?" Is that so? Jin thinks that there is no need to be so formal about it, but he also thinks that this is Erza''s way of being modest. So, I decided to respect Elsa''s idea on this point. * * * * * Well, the time has passed and the ...... car arrived in front of the . Fritz is among the 10 or so people accompanying the caravan. "<>, we are here to welcome you. Flora Heckerath von Merante, a female knight of the Shoro Imperial Guard, seems to be the leader of the group. There are five female knights led by Flora and five soldiers led by Fritz. "Thank you for welcoming us. Jin bade farewell, took Elsa''s hand, and got into the car. Reiko followed him and the car started to drive away. Unlike the parade, the roads had been cleared of people, and we arrived at the palace without any problems. We drove directly to the Inner Palace. From there, Flora and Fritz led Jin, Elsa, and Reiko. The group arrived at a secluded room in the palace. It was a bright hall with a high ceiling and wide windows. On one wall hung a wall hanging embroidered with the Shoro emblem, a pattern of three barleys, and against it sat the empress. "Welcome!" The empress stood up and welcomed Jin and the others, "We really want to keep this a light, informal tea party, so please try to act as normal as possible," she said. She said, "I''d like to keep this a very informal tea party today. "So I would like to call you Jin-kun, Elsa. Is that okay?" Jin thought it would be easier on his shoulders, so he agreed. "Yes, then." Jin was not sure how he should behave as the Kunlun-kun, so he was honestly grateful for this offer. For the moment, the guests in this room are the emperor, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko. Fritz and Flora are outside the room. "One more guest should be here soon. A few dozen seconds after the emperor said this, the person arrives. "You look well, Elsa. Congratulations on your wedding." "...... mother." The guest was Marlene Randall von Nefla, Elsa''s foster mother. "Elsa will probably not return to her parents'' house until she finishes her tour of the countries, so Her Majesty has invited me. Her father is still not well, so he''s staying behind. Marlene tells her smilingly. At first Elsa looks surprised, but gradually her face turns into a tearful smile. "Oh, Mother, my dear. ......" "Elsa." Mother and daughter took each other''s hands. Jin, Reiko, and the emperor warmly watched them for a while. The luncheon meeting went on peacefully. The luncheon proceeded peacefully. The menu was light and consisted mainly of porridge, and miso soup with onion and dried bonito flakes. The dishes were a testament to the hard work of the chefs at Miyagi Prefecture. The tea was served with a choice of aromatic hojicha tea or richly flavored sencha green tea. Jin and Elsa chose hojicha, while the emperor and Marlene chose sencha. "You look happy, Elsa." "...... yes." Marlene smiled softly and looked at Elsa and Jin with narrowed eyes. "You seem to be following what I taught you before, that''s why His Majesty gave you this opportunity." Marlene turned to Jin as if she were explaining something to him. "The women of the Shoro nobility are taught to give priority to their wives. In other words, if you get married, you should put the circumstances of your marriage partner first, not your own feelings or circumstances," she added. "That''s why I thought that I would probably come to my parents'' house only after the official events were over," she says. And the emperor, "I saw that you two didn''t seem to be going back to Randall''s. I thought it would be a good opportunity to see them. I took the opportunity to invite Marlene to come with me. I asked Fritz to escort her. I''ve asked Fritz to escort Marlene here." I felt safer knowing that my own son was escorting her. "I see. Thank you very much." Erza bows deeply while still seated. "It''s okay. I want her to be happy. The Empress smiled softly. "I would like to take this opportunity to tell you both, especially Erza, something. Now the Empress began to speak. "Our country''s coat of arms is the three wheat..." she said. She turned around and pointed to a wall hanging on the wall behind her. "It comes from the first emperor of this country. 1171 - - 31-38 The founders story "It is said that about 300 years ago, the first emperor of the Shoro Kingdom parted from the Kingdom of Dinar and stood on the shores of Lake Tosmo. The Empress quietly recounts the history of her kingdom. What did the young emperor think when he and the empress saw the wide open spaces? He said, "There is something we must do first. It was not to build a castle or a town. "<>. "<>. The first step is to make a field where crops can grow. Until that is done, he told his apprentice to live in a shack. "< The Empress looked at him as if she were staring off into the distance. "For the next ten years, the emperor himself tilled the land, dug wells, drew water, planted wheat, cultivated vegetables, grew trees and flowers, and built the foundation of the country. It was during the reign of the third emperor that the palace was built. "Until then, they lived in houses not much different from those of ordinary people. Although this was probably an exaggeration, I could still sense that the founders of the Shoro Empire had made extraordinary efforts to establish their nation. "Let me go back to the story. ......Those 10 years were so hard that the emperor asked the empress, "Why don''t you go back to your parents'' home? >>The emperor asked the empress, <> and pledged once again to share her hardships and joys with the emperor. The emperor broke off, smiling and looking at Elsa and Jin in turn. "In the Shoro Kingdom, it is said that the bride should consider her place of marriage as her home." "......" "So, Jin-kun, please be considerate of Erza, okay?" "Yes, I understand." Jin understood why Erza had not yet returned to her parents'' house. "...... Finally, because of this, the Imperial coat of arms has the same three crossed swords (Dreischwerdt) as the original family, which was divided at that time, but our country''s coat of arms has . It is said that the three swords represent the parent and the child. The Empress concluded her speech. "Thank you very much." Jin and Elsa bowed their heads. "Now, enough of the formalities, Jin, thank you for the commemorative medal you gave me yesterday. It''s beautiful. "Thank you." This time, Jin decided to make it a commemorative gift with an emphasis on added value, so that the recipient would not be limited in whom he would give it to. "I''ll give you the magic tools next time." "Yes, I''m looking forward to it. But what is the next time? The emperor smiled mischievously. For a moment, Jin did not understand what she meant, but then he realized a little later that <> meant to hold the wedding reception once again. "Well, <> means just another celebration," he explains a little hurriedly. The emperor looked at Jin with a smile as she hurriedly explained. And then.., "I was joking. So don''t stare at me like that, Erza. She said, "I was just joking. Erza was as flustered as Jin. "Uh, uh, I didn''t mean it like that." It was such a friendly luncheon. * * * * ...... is over, isn''t it? "Yeah, I''m done." Erza is sitting next to Jin with a satisfied smile on her face. The two have just returned to Reuthert''s house. They are sitting on the sofa, relaxing for the moment. "I''ve never heard about the founder before. "It was the first time for me, too, about half of it. It must be a story passed down in the imperial household, so it is not surprising that Erza has never heard of it. "But your mother-in-law told you about it, didn''t she?" "But that''s just to say that you should think of your wife''s place as your home. Is that so? "Is that so? But I was happy to meet your mother today. I''m sure you were. Thank you, Your Majesty. ......The origin of barley, then... ......" It was quite a profound story, Jin thinks. In Japan, there is a story of Emperor Nintoku who exempted people from taxes for a few years because he was worried about the lack of smoke coming from their houses. Also, Jin thinks that he has heard stories about princes who go to explore new lands. "...... future,home." "What?" Jin hears Erza''s muttered words, and he turns his head to listen. "The place where I marry is my future home. That''s what I think." "Elsa ......" "Right now, Kunlun Island, Horai Island, and Kaina Village are my second, third, and fourth homes. But where I should be is next to you." Erza buried her face in Jin''s chest. Jin gently embraced her. The two of them were now contented, feeling each other''s body heat. August 28th. August 28th. August is almost over. Jin thinks that the morning and evening breezes have begun to blow somewhat cooler. "Tomorrow is the Kingdom of Klein. Then, I should go to the village of Kaina, Jin thought. He prepared for the day. Due to the time difference, it should be almost noon in the village of Kaina. "If we fly now, it will be just noon. Jin and Erza headed for the rooftop. There, Edgar and Reiko were waiting for them, ready to launch Conlon 3. "Thanks for your hard work. Shall we go? "Yes, sir." Once again, Edgar is the pilot, and the Conlon 3 slowly ascends. After gaining sufficient altitude, the aircraft leveled off. The altitude of about 6,000 meters is above the clouds. With a sea of clouds below and a speed of 600 km/h, the plane arrives at the village of Kaina in about an hour and a half. We land in the square in front of Nido Castle. Butlers B and C, who work at Nido Castle, and Golem Maid 101, a group of five-colored golem maids, greeted us. It''s already cooler here. Compared to Reuthert, the village of Kaina is at a higher altitude and latitude, and we could already feel signs of autumn. "Let''s go to Hannah''s first, shall we? "Yes." We had to make sure that we had a clear plan for the trip after that. Jin, Elsa, Reiko and Edgar went to Martha''s house together. "Oh, onee-chan, onee-chan!" <, came out to greet Jin and the others in front of the house. 1172 - - 31-39 Inviting humanity "Jin, you look tired. Is it hard to travel around the world? Jin is having lunch at Martha''s house. "Yes, well. It''s kind of out of character. Seeing the look on Jin''s face, Martha laughed. "I think I understand, don''t you? "Are you tired, Onii-chan?" Hannah also looked worried. "Yeah, but I''m fine. I''m getting used to it. "I hope so. ......" Jin smiled at Hannah, who still looked worried. "I''ll have to talk to Hannah and Martha. "You want to talk to me too? "Yes. Here''s ......." Jin tells them about the honeymoon after the reception. "Oh, you mentioned that before, didn''t you? "So, I was wondering if we could talk about it in detail." "What?Jin, are you sure you don''t mind?I''m not sure if I''m interrupting anything. ...... Erza-chan, are you okay with that too?" Martha shakes her head and talks to Erza, who has remained silent up until now. "Yes. I mean, please, come." Smiling, Elsa replied. "...... my people have been lonely for a long time. That''s why we want to take care of our <>. Martha, Hannah, come with us." "Oh, come on." Jin is flustered as he is told what is going on inside his mind. "...... wrong?" "No, I''m not. ...... but..." Martha told Jin with a laugh. Jin, you don''t have to dress up in front of us. ......Erza, I get it. Take me with you. "Yes!" "So, let''s get down to the specifics: ...... He prepared two large ...... huge boats and took some of Jin''s acquaintances on one of them. "Hah ...... huge boats, huh? What can I say, it''s Jin, isn''t it? Did Hannah know about it? "No, I don''t know... but I''m not surprised, since she took me on all kinds of rides..." "I''m sorry. I''m actually ......." Jin confided that he had been taking Hannah around like this for a long time. "Well, I won''t complain about that. Hannah''s a smart girl, and there''s nothing better than her getting a good look at things. "Yes, really." He further explains the schedule of the trip. "According to our schedule, we will leave on September 9. The maid golem < will take care of things while I''m gone. Of course, there will no doubt be support from Nido Castle and Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......It''s Jin, isn''t it? "Wow, that''s great." Hanna and Martha had come to Horai Island using the warp gate in the basement of Jin''s workshop. Jin took this opportunity to make them official members of the . He was amazed at the many magical tools, equipment, and golems. "This is the sign of our friends." He gives Martha a yellow and white marbled bracelet. Hannah had already received a yellow bracelet. "Thank you, Jin." Martha put it on her left arm. "Hehehe, you and I have the same one." Hannah is also looking at the bracelet. "The ship we''re going on will be ready soon," she said. "It''s a ...... gin. I''m not surprised at all. Martha did not seem too surprised after the brief introduction of the institute and the golems. She did not seem surprised at all. (Blood of the old Leonard Kingdom?). I can''t wait to go there! "I can''t wait to go there! Hannah is excited. "I never thought I''d see this day at my age. Martha is mixed feelings, happy or surprised. "Oh yeah, the only person who knows about this is Meane. ......" Jin is a little worried about this point, and feels a little sorry. "Saki knows about it, doesn''t she?And then there''s Licia-san." Erza adds, but even if she knows, Licia is a new noblewoman and the lord of Toka village, so she will not be easy to talk to. Jin is a little worried, since Saki and Reinhardt have been to the village of Kaina before. "...... Jin, you don''t have to worry so much." Martha, not seeing Jin''s troubled face, said in a cheerful voice. "It''s the opposite of being worried about me. Jin scratched his head, "What are you talking about? I''m your parent, so you don''t have to worry about every little thing," Martha said, laughing it off. Martha laughs it off. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and the others returned to the village of Kaina. "Thank you for your help today, Jin. "No, you''re welcome. "Good luck tomorrow, mommy and daddy." "Yeah, sure." Jin smiled, realizing now that he had looked so uncomfortable that even Hannah was cheering him on. "But, well, I hope Princess Rieschen will take care of something." "Yeah, that''s what I thought too." And so the sky over the village of Kaina was darkening. 1173 - - 31-40 The ingenuity of the Klein Kingdom The three summer months of 6, 7, and 8 are one day shorter than other seasons due to daylight saving time, so August ends on the 29th. August ends on the 29th. On the 29th, Jin and his friends were in the Kingdom of Klein. Jin, it''s been a long time. "Jin, it''s been a long time since the World Congress. After arriving at the castle, Jin and the others were shown to the reception room, where they were received by Princess Rieschen. Of course, it was the ladies-in-waiting who actually served the guests. "Yes. ...... is Ernesto-sama in good health?" Yes. He is now studying magical engineering with great enthusiasm. Because of his surroundings, Jin''s tone of voice is somewhere between polite and casual. "Congratulations, Elsa." "Thank you very much. Thanks to you, my father has been more careful with his diet since then. He seems to be in good shape. I''m glad to hear that. While they were drinking tea and exchanging such casual conversation, there was a further visitor. "<>. It was Arthur, the second prince. "I''d like to explain the arrangements for the next few days. This prince seemed to be the facilitator. "Tonight we will have a small party in the hall of the royal castle as a pre-event. Tomorrow is the big day. We will leave the castle at 9:00 in the morning, parade through the city, and return to the castle for the banquet. ...... "So there''s a banquet after all. ......" "That''s right. That''s what we''re here for." "That''s right. ......" I wonder if there is a country without a banquet once in a while, but I am traveling around the world for a banquet. He seems to be very tired in his thought process to think about such a thing. "......, and the day after tomorrow, we are planning to have a tea party called an after-party with only our real inner circle. That''s all." "...... understand." Jin has resigned himself to the fact that it seems inevitable that the ways of doing things in different countries will inevitably be similar. * * * * "I thought there might be something different about it. ...... No, I''m not holding my breath." When Princess Rieschen and Prince Arthur were gone and it was just Jin, Erza and Reiko. Jin muttered something like that. "In the Kingdom of Egelea, they showed us various golem tricks, but that might be an exception. To which Erza replied. "I guess that''s true, but ...... the most troublesome and painful part, the greetings from the nobles, is left to the doppelgangers, so I guess I can''t complain. One of the aspects of this is to have the old man record the information of the nobles of each country. Jin thought that he would not be able to do such an eccentric thing even if he were in a position to entertain the guests, and he convinced himself that it was inevitable. He convinced himself that it was inevitable. And then night fell. "Heh. ......" Jin stepped into the hall and noticed that it was decorated with new ornaments. The Kingdom of Klein, by the way, had been on the verge of famine during the winter and spring of this year, and its finances were in a very difficult situation. In fact, it had borrowed 500 million dollars (about 5 billion yen) from the Kingdom of Cerroa, which had replaced and become a friendly kingdom. Therefore, the decorations are not very fancy. However, the decorations are well thought out and calculated. For example, the more decorations, the more elaborate they look, and the less, the poorer. Usually, more decorations are placed for the sake of appearance, but the optimal number of decorations was created with ingenuity and thought. There is also a way of arranging them in a beautiful way. <. At a certain spacing, the gaps between the pieces look stretched out, but if you change the spacing subtly, the gaps become meaningful. You start to feel , so to speak. And then, the colors. By combining warm colors called "expansion colors" and cool colors called "contraction colors," you can reduce the feeling of a room being closed in. Jin was surprised at the ingenuity with which these colors were used throughout the room. Jin had chosen crafts as an art subject in high school, so he had heard of such techniques as rudiments of design in class. However, Jin, who was not good at designing, had not been able to apply them well, and he was honestly impressed that they were actually doing it in this other world. In the decorated hall, 10 general-purpose golems that Jin had created before were lined up, and they bowed deeply in unison as Jin and the others entered. It is assumed that he wanted to show his respect for the remaining 10 golems, half of which had been lost during a previous secret mining operation at the Inado Mine. In addition, the engineering magic < is used to shine a so-called on Jin, Erza, and their follower, Reiko. (A new attempt... ...... Prince Arthur''s idea, I guess...) Jin was thinking in his mind that it must be Prince Arthur''s idea to come up with such a thing. As he concentrated on discovering such a detailed ingenuity, the feast was going on before he knew it. Since it was the eve of the banquet, many of the guests were familiar to Jin. The royal family, including King Alois III, Prince Arthur the 2nd, Princess Rieschen the 3rd, and so on. The Prime Minister Powell, the Minister of Industry Jackson Red Vados, the Minister of Magic Clarotho Vados Keris, the Minister of Defense Fadas Loftus Fairgram, and other important figures. Female Knights of the Kingsguard, including Captain Jessica Norton and Lieutenants Gloria Allstadt, Cynthia Kirkman, and Tiffany Baldacci, provide security and add a touch of glamour to the occasion. Male knights Heinz Rasch, Bernard Nephra Foster, and Marthav Klasse are guarding the prince. By the way, the first prince was said to be on a provincial tour. The eve of the wedding was a standing buffet party, with a stringed instrument similar to a harp playing quiet music. Both Jin and Erza were relieved that they were able to enjoy the food to a certain extent. "Jin, Elsa, are you enjoying yourself? Princess Rieschen came in. "Yes, thanks to you." Jin used honorifics in public. "I''m glad to hear that. My brother has been working very hard on this. "Now, Reese, don''t tell anyone about that." Prince Arthur came in and chided Rieschen with a wry smile. Jin was a little relieved to see that the siblings seemed to be getting along well. He does not like to see family members at odds with each other. Jin spots Gloria a little further away from him. (Come to think of it, Fritz ......, her brother-in-law had asked her to do this for him.) Erza seems to be thinking the same thing and is staring at Gloria. Perhaps noticing her gaze, Gloria came toward Jin and the others. "Jin-dono, Erza-dono, congratulations! After giving the usual greeting, Gloria raised the glass of wine in her hand. "I wish you both a very happy future." "Thank you." Jin thanked her, and Elsa ...... "...... Gloria, are you here yet?" Elsa asked, "Gloria, have you seen her yet? "Bwah ...... geehoo geehoo!" Gloria, who was about to drink her wine, sobbed profusely. "I''m sorry. Please forgive me." Gloria apologizes with a blush on her face. Seeing this, Jin thought that she might have a pulse. 1174 - - 31-41 The Princess and Glorias Visit "What do you think?" After the eve of the festival, Jin returned to his room and discussed the matter with Elsa. "I am sure that Gloria-san is still thinking about her brother. Elsa''s opinion was the same as Jin''s. "Of course. She is definitely conscious of you. "Yes. "The first stage is just about to be cleared, but what about after that? ......" Jin thinks that since both of them will be aware of the state secrets, it is likely that the government will not let go of them. "Father, how about the <>?" Then Reiko makes a suggestion. "Oh, the International Guard! At least it would be better than belonging to some other country. "After a few years there, the secret could become less secret. Somehow, I think this is a good direction to go. "Then we should find an opportunity to confirm his feelings." "That''s a good idea." After exchanging such conversation, the two were tired, so they stretched out in the bathroom and rested soundly. * * * * * * * * * The day after tomorrow, September 1. At 9:00 a.m., the main gate of the castle was opened and gongs were sounded. Some people were surprised, but since they had been notified in advance, most of them were not surprised. In fact, they had been looking forward to the bright news because of the many dark events that had occurred since the famine. "<>?" You see, I heard he was the engineer who developed that . You must be very young. The Raglan Trading Company, to which Roland belonged, had popularized the pump and the name of its developer was well known. "I heard that the wife cured the king''s illness. "She''s so young." I heard she was 18 or something. She''s the same age as my daughter, isn''t she? "She''s beautiful. She''s amazing." She''s beautiful and amazing. "I heard that she is good friends with Princess Rieschen." "Yes, I heard that. I heard that she got along with Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egelea. He''s got a lot of contacts. He''s the only Magecraft Meister in the world, after all. The only engineer and healer in the world. You are the only Magecraft Meister in the world, after all. It seems that some of the voices from the < are also present. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The parade, which toured the city under clear skies, returned to the castle, where a wedding banquet was held from before noon to night. In the scene where they were greeted by the nobles, Jin and Erza managed to switch places with their "doppelgangers". However, even after switching once again, the feast is long and the two are exhausted. * * * * * * "......One more country to go! "...... There''s still tomorrow!" Jin and Elsa are leaning back on the sofa in the guest room. Reiko offered them Persica juice. "Here you go, Father, Miss Elsa." "Oh, thank you." "Thank you." "Thank you." Drinking the cold Persica juice, I felt a little clearer. "Tomorrow will probably be a quieter day, so that''s good... what''s left of the Kingdom of Franz..." "...... Catherine''s country." "Yes, of course." Catherine de Lafayette. I met her when I was involved in a case involving a demon tribe. She''s the mother of the king. "Is she the Queen Mother now?" Erza denied Jin''s words. "No. "No. A queen mother is the mother of the previous king, not the mother of the current king. "I see. But now that you mention it, I see what you mean. Elsa knows more about this system of status than Jin. "Hmm. The king''s queen is the queen. Even if the next king isn''t his son, the queen mother will be his wife. I see. Thank you. You''re welcome. Erza smiled mischievously, and Jin couldn''t help but hug her, loving the look on her face. Reiko, seeing this, dimmed the lights in the room and went outside. * * * * * * * * * * * "Please take it easy today." The next day, at 8:30 a.m., after a light breakfast, Jin and Elsa were visited by Prime Minister Powell. The Prime Minister himself tells Jin and Elsa "It''s just a quiet tea party ...... luncheon in the name of an after-party. "Yes, I understand." Jin decides to take it easy since he has no plans until midnight. At 9:30 a.m., Princess Rieschen arrives. She is accompanied by Tia, Jessica, and Gloria. "Gin, Elsa, are you bored?" The princess says this at the beginning of her speech. Jin replies with a laugh. "Yes, I''m a little bored, to be honest. I thought I could at least talk to you, didn''t I?I thought I could at least talk to you. As for Jin, he is glad that Gloria is with him. The reason why Jin called Gloria was because he thought that in his position, if he was perceived as favoring a particular individual, it would be bad not only for himself but also for Gloria. "Tia, you seem to be in good shape. "Yes, Jin-sama. Thanks to you. But Jin started off by talking about something safe. 1175 - - 31-42 Anti-aging "Dear Jin, Elsa, you look so happy." This is Jessica Norton, Captain of the Kingsguard Ladies. Thank you. Thank you. ...... Jessica, what''s up?" Jin thanked her honestly, but after thanking her, Elsa asked a penetrating question. "Yes?" For a moment Jessica didn''t know what he was talking about. "No, I''m just wondering if you have a good partner, Jessica. ......" I''ve already given up." She said flatly. "Jessica is not so innocent,......, Gloria." "Yes, yes!" Gloria was a little flustered when Princess Rieschen asked her to speak. How old is Gloria now? Princess Rieschen is not afraid to ask the question, which is a bit difficult for Jin to ask. "Twenty-four, ......." "Well, how about Jessica?" "Twenty-eight." "Hm." Rieschen is a bit thoughtful when she hears this. (Hey, what''s the right age? ......) (They say it''s between 15 and 20 years old.) Jin was exchanging a whisper with Erza. (That''s the story of ordinary aristocrats, isn''t it?What would Erza think?) (...... depends on the person, but I don''t think it''s a problem up to 30 or so.) (I guess it depends on the person...) (I guess it depends on the person...) (In my country, there are many people who had children after 30.) The marriageable age is often determined by the short life expectancy due to nutritional and hygienic problems. "Anti-aging or ......" Jin said out loud. Princess Rieschen heard him. "Jin, what is anti-aging?" "Oh, you heard me. In other words, it''s a way to keep up with your age, I guess." "What?Is there such a thing? Jin-dono, what is it? I''d love to hear about it! Princess Rieschen, Jessica, and Gloria were all eager to hear about it. Elsa''s eyes were shining as if she wanted to know too. (Always and everywhere, I want to stay young, don''t I? ......) Jin wanted the Director to stay young and healthy, so he had gathered a little knowledge about such things. He was just a layman, and the Director was not very pleased with Jin''s concern for such things, so he stopped it soon. "Let''s see... ......" Jin twisted his head, trying to remember the knowledge he had gathered in the past. "First of all, I''d like to take care of my skin..." "Hmmm, yes. It would be better without wrinkles and blemishes. "The cause of that is ...... uh, sunburn. Since the word "ultraviolet rays" would not be understood, I have changed it to "sunburn. "If you repeatedly tan your skin, it gets darker, doesn''t it?If you leave it as it is, the skin loses its luster and tone. "Is that so?" Even though they are women, all knights are sunburned to a greater or lesser extent because of their frequent outdoor activities. "Sunscreen and skin care will make a big difference. "Sunscreen?Is there such a thing, Mister Jin? Gloria leaned forward. I thought she had a sword fetish, but she was interested in skin care. "Well, just dissolve a fine powder of titanium dioxide in moisturizing oil and apply it, it should make a big difference. ......" "Sankatitan?" "Oh, light silver powder, you know what I mean." Titanium is called light silver in our world, so Hitoshi rephrased. "Hmm, light silver powder has that effect ......." "And then there is the diet. Meat, vegetables, and grains should all be eaten. Jin was not very familiar with dietary treatment. "It will keep you in good shape. And constipation is also a big enemy. Elsa adds. Jin thinks for a moment that people in this Ars world seem to have robust bodies. Although he has not been able to verify whether this is due to the <> in their bodies or not. Excluding illness and injury, their life span seems to be a little longer. This is also something I can''t conclude for sure since I haven''t kept any statistics. "Hmm, how do you make that ?Or is it sold?" "Well, you can find it at ......." Titanium, or light silver, is oxidized to TiO2, which is then ground into a powder and mixed with appropriate oils and fragrances. Elsa did not know how to make TiO2. So she glanced at Jin''s. "......" Actually, Jin doesn''t know how to make TiO2 on modern Earth either. But there are two kinds of engineering magic < and . Although not often used, it is < that removes (or rather reduces back to iron) iron rust, and it is this < that oxidizes the surface of light silver (= titanium) and gives it color. It is possible to make oxidized light silver (= titanium dioxide) and powderize it. "Well, I''ve been working on a prototype at my place the other day, and if I can sell it, I''ll sell it. Jin almost forgot that Reinhardt and the others had told him that he should not give anything away for free. "Hmmm, I see. Then you will sell them to us soon, right? "Yes. Probably through the Raglan Trading Company, I guess. When Jin said this, Rieschen nodded in agreement. "I see. It will also help stimulate the economy. It would be better than having it provided free of charge." It seemed that Rieschen was thinking more about the economy of the country than about Jin. "I''m sure I''ll be able to get a sample to you soon." "That would be fun." Jin promised on the spot that it would not be difficult to make a sample, even if it was half out of his own mouth. This automatically made it a done deal for the next day''s interval. "Let''s get back to the story at ......." Originally, it was supposed to be about marriageable age. "Both Jessica and Gloria are still of marriageable age." Elsa took over the line. "I guess so. If all the female knights are late in marrying, there will be no one left to become a knight. Princess Rieschen smiles innocently. "Isn''t that right, Jessica, Gloria?" Yes, yes. ...... "Well, I don''t know what to tell you. ......" Neither of them had any answer, and they both looked puzzled. "So, let me get back to this..." Finally, Jin decided to ask if there was someone he was in love with. 1176 - - 31-43 Bathing Love Banana As Jin leaned forward to ask Gloria about her boyfriend, Elsa grabbed his hand and stopped him. "Elsa?" (...... leave it to me, I''ll take care of it) Erza tells Jin in a whisper. I''ll leave this to you, Jin thought. "Princess, why don''t we go to the bath? Erza suddenly made a surprising remark. "A bath?" "Yes. Bathing in the light of day is very special. "......In my place, we also have a custom of taking a bath in the morning." Jin also gives verbal support. "Well, it''s not a custom, but it sure is nice to take a bath in the light of day. "There''s still time, why don''t you join us?" Rieschen thought about this offer for a while and decided to accept. "All right, I''ll come in with you." "Of course, Jessica and Gloria will join us, right?" "Yes." "They''re the princess''s escorts." So the five of us, including Tia, moved to the bathroom attached to the guest room. This is not a large bathroom, but it is large enough to accommodate up to 10 people, so there is plenty of room for 5 people. "......And I would feel different if the windows were bigger, but..." "Hmmm... But isn''t that dangerous in many ways?" This statement of Princess Rieschen seems to refer not to peeping ...... but to kidnapping, assassination, etc. "Well, I envy you ...... that you don''t have to worry about such things in Kunlun Island." Princess Rieschen sighed in satisfaction. "......By the way..." But Rieschen, perhaps having changed her mind, asked Erza in a whisper. "......How is the newlywed life?Is Jin kind to you?" "......?Ah, yes." Elsa blushes at the unexpected question from Rieschen. "I see. I hope Ernest is kind to you too,......." As a princess, she must be curious. So she wanted to ask Erza, who is close to her in age. And that was, in a sense, what Elsa intended. "...... Gloria, what about you?" "What?...... how are you?" "You''ve started growing out your short hair, so you must have had a change of heart, right? "Yes, yes,...... well." Gloria''s cheeks are stained in the hot water. "Hmm, is it a knight of our country?A nobleman''s apprentice? "Well, well, you see, ......" "No, I see. Then you''re from another country. Yes... ...... Gloria gives a vague answer to Rieschen''s question, but as if guided by the question, Gloria somehow confesses. Her face is red, and it is not only because of the hot water. "Hm, in that case, is it ...... Elsa''s brother, Mister Fritz?" "Boo-hoo!" Gloria slips in the hot water because she panicked. "Gloria-san ......." In a way, that''s exactly what she wanted, but the reaction is so obvious that even Erza is a little taken aback. "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah..." "Hey, don''t splash too much hot water." Jessica chides Gloria for splashing around in the hot water. "You should take a lesson from Cynthia. "...... Eh, Cynthia?" Elsa asked, curious because the name sounded familiar. "Cynthia-san, you mean the person who went to the founding ceremony of the Kingdom of Celuloa?" "Yes, that''s right. Erza-san was also at the ceremony, wasn''t she? Not only was she there, but it was Elsa who made the pendant top as a souvenir for Cynthia at Fritz''s request. Yes, yes. Cynthia is engaged to marry the second son of Baron Rasch, Sir Heinz, and has decided to leave the Order. I didn''t know that. Cynthia seems to have been an unexpectedly romantic woman, Erza thought with mixed feelings inside. However, this time she could say that she had taken a step forward in the matter of her brother Fritz. "Jessica, I guess there are many problems with marrying someone from another country, aren''t there? "Hmm?Hmmm, that''s true, but ...... it may not be a big deal ......." Concerned by the somewhat terse answer, Elsa asked a few more questions. What do you mean? "Because the female knights in our country, with a few exceptions, are not privy to any kind of important secrets. Rieschen answered Elsa''s question. "Is that so?" "Yes. I would say, since you are Elsa, that the majority of female knights are knights for the purpose of gaining prestige. "......" The children of the lower nobility and the new nobility become knights because they want the title of <>. Although it is a title that is not hereditary, but only for one generation, it makes a difference in aristocratic society. However, not everyone can become a knight. You have to be good at swordsmanship, magic, etc." After Rieschen, Jessica added her explanation. "...... What do you mean, with a few exceptions?" Elsa asked, the words popping into her head. "Those in the commanding class. Jessica and Gloria here. "Uh, ......." I thought it was okay if they didn''t know important secrets, but it seems that Gloria is one of the few <. "I see." Elsa was a little disappointed. Soaking in the hot water for a long time makes you feel tired, so you leave it at a reasonable time. (...... not much progress was made. ......) Erza was a little disappointed even though she had tried her best. * * * * After getting out of the bath, Rieschen and the others went back to the hotel. Erza also returned to the guest room where Jin was waiting for her. How was it? "...... not so much." I see. Well, let''s not rush, let''s go steady. "Yeah." Since I am here in a semi-official capacity, I don''t want to get too personally involved, lest I be accused of favoritism. After a quiet luncheon, Jin and Erza left the Klein Kingdom in . 1177 - - 31-44 Merry-Go-round Jin and Erza returned to the village of Kaina. The next day was the Franz Kingdom, so it would be more convenient if there was less time difference. As one would expect, the time difference becomes a concern when traveling between places as far apart as Horai Island and the Shoro Kingdom. Fortunately, we did not suffer from jet lag, but we were both somewhat tired. "Hey, Erza, thanks for your hard work," Hannah said. Hannah''s words of encouragement were deeply felt by the two. "Jin, Erza, come stay with us tonight. Martha invited them to stay the night, and they decided to take her up on her offer. Jin felt strangely at home at Martha''s house. The next day, Martha invited him to stay at her house. The day after they stayed at Martha''s house. "Well, I have something I want to make. ...... Jin is relaxing in the living room on the second floor of Jin''s workshop when he asks Elsa for advice. "Sunscreen?" "No, a baby gift for Reinhardt." "Oh, sure." Jin wanted to give priority to this gift, so he decided to leave the sunscreen to the old man for the time being. "So, what can I get you?" "Hmmm... ......" The two of them thought about it together. "I think I''d like to buy something for a baby, wouldn''t you? "Hmmm... ...... so, what kind of things did you find in your brother Jin''s world?" "Oh, yes, I guess so. ......" Diapers. Pacifiers. Rattles. Cradles. Denden-drums. Merry-go-round. ...... Jin lists as many as come to mind. "Rattle?Denden-daiko?Merry-go-round?......What is that?" Apparently, that part is out of this world. "Well, rattles and dengaiko are toys for children, right?You put them in their hands and they make sounds when you move them." "Sounds fun." "Sounds fun." Right?Well, a newborn might not be able to play with it yet, but a merry-go-round is available at ......." "What kind of carousel is that?" "Let''s see... ......" Jin began to explain about the . "It''s a merry-go-round that hangs from the ceiling and makes ...... noise when it spins around. ...... "I don''t know, I don''t understand." "I guess." Jin then decided to draw a picture to show the audience. Since he didn''t have any wooden paper ......, he pulled out an extra piece of whiteboard that Meene uses to teach children and drew a picture on it. Jin, who is not good at designing but is good at copying, seems to have managed to draw a picture that looks like it. "...... interesting." "Well, I use bright colors like yellow and pink. And it makes a sound when it spins around. Children should ...... be happy." "Sure, I''ve heard that it''s good to play songs for little kids." "Right?" "I''d like to try ...... to make one." There are several babies born this year in the village of Kaina, so I think it would be a good idea to celebrate from the lord Jin," Erza added. "Yes, that''s right. Well, let''s start making it. Let''s see, the ingredients are that one and that one ...... and the missing one is ...... Reiko!" "Yes, Father." Reiko, who had been waiting outside of the room, showed her face in response to Jin''s call. "Let me deliver some GSP and some magic dyes. "Yes, sir." He could have contacted the old man with the bracelet, but he was happy to rely on Reiko at a time like this. In a few minutes......, the material Jin had asked for was sent to the workshop using a transporter. "Good." Jin, who was waiting in the workshop on the first floor, rubbed his hands together. "First, we''ll make a prototype. We made a spinning wheel and a base to support it, and made a decoration to hang it from. Since the wheel cannot move as it is, we have made it a windmill type so that it can be powered by wind magic. Elsa is in charge of the sound-producing magic. It is an application of the music box I made at the previous technology exposition. "Well, let''s see..." After finishing the assembly, Jin hung the first prototype from the eaves of his workshop. "Wow, honey, what''s that?" Hannah, who had just finished helping around the house, peeked out and asked curiously. "It''s a toy to soothe babies. It''s a prototype." "Hmm. Sounds interesting. "Well, let''s see if we can get it to work." Jin says the key word to start it up. "<>" The merry-go-round begins to turn slowly. At the same time, a whistling sound is heard. "Hmmm, maybe it''s spinning a little too fast..." "The music seems a bit monotonous. While Jin and Elsa are discussing the improvements, Hannah gazes at the merry-go-round with a twinkle in her eye. "Wow, this is interesting!I bet the baby will love this!" "I see. I''m glad to hear that." Jin was relieved to hear Hannah''s positive feedback. "Okay, let''s improve it. He stopped the operation and started to improve it again. "......Hanna, what kind of music do you think babies would like?" Elsa thought that music was difficult, so she asked Hannah for advice. "Well, I think a more bouncy sound would be better than whistling, wouldn''t it?" "Oh, I see." Hannah pointed out the sound, and Jin remembered a little more. "I remember there was a sound that sounded like a rattling sound. ...... I wonder what that sound was?" "I think it was a bell that didn''t reverberate." "What?" Hannah''s opinion surprised Jin a little. He was a little surprised at Hannah''s opinion, because she had come up with an idea that seemed quite appropriate, even though she did not know what it was. "What?Because, don''t you think the sound of the bell is similar to that of a bell made of wood? "Oh, I see." What Hannah is talking about is what we would call a on modern Earth. <, i.e., a cow, but it seems that bells attached to livestock in general are also called this. By the way, bells for bulls are not called <> or <>. The bells are made of metal and have a ringing sound, but as the material becomes softer, the sound becomes a clanging sound. "Sure, that sound is like a plastic bell," he says. Maybe we can make the hanging bell ring like a wind chime as it rotates, Jin thought. "How about ......?" He discussed this with Elsa, "Maybe. ...... though in that case I would have no place to play. Erza agreed, but looked a little disappointed. "Then, make me that bell." Jin sensed this and decided to ask Erza to make it. "Yes! Thanks to this, Erza seemed to be suddenly motivated. "You guys are so close!" Hannah, who was watching the two of them, said this with a bit of envy. For the next two hours, Jin and the others continued working on the prototype of the merry-go-round. 1178 - - 31-45 Silver Spoon "It''s done." About three hours later, Jin and Elsa have completed the merry-go-round. The speed of rotation, the sound, and from Jin''s point of view, it was not bad at all. "Wow, that sounds fun! The merry-go-round spinning around with clank-clank-clank-clank-clank sounds is a sight to behold. Using lots of bright, almost primary colors, Jin intended it to be suitable for children. "Okay, let''s mass-produce these and distribute them to the village of Kaina as . "Yes, I think that''s a good idea. Jin and his friends then made 20 merry-go-rounds. "Okay, let''s give them to the houses with babies. Jin said, and Hannah said, "I''ll give them to the houses with babies. "I''ll go get them. You and Elsa can take a rest. "Oh, really?...... Then Reiko, will you help them with their luggage?" "Yes, I''ll do it. Hannah, let''s go. "Yes!" There are now seven houses with newborns. Reiko has six merry-go-rounds, Hanna has one, and they go out. * * * * * * Jin, who was left behind, came up with another gift. "In addition, I''ll send a silver spoon to Reinhardt''s place. "?" The that Jin suggested was based on a modern Earth legend that a child born with a silver spoon in his or her mouth will be happy. Also, silver is believed to have the power to ward off evil and has been used as a sacred object. Jin explains something like this to Erza. Erza suddenly became enthusiastic. "That''s wonderful. Please let me make it. "Yes, of course. Then I''ll ask Elsa. "Yes, I''ll leave it to her." Jin trusts Elsa with his designs. 925 silver, also known as sterling silver, a silver alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Sterling silver, also known as 925 silver. Elsa processes it. "<>" The lump of silver glows faintly for a moment and changes its shape. A spoon is formed. "Oh, I like it." The overall design is round, and the Randall family crest is engraved on the handle. "I can use it for feeding baby food. Since some people keep them as souvenirs, it seems that they can be used either way. "Let''s put it in a nice box and deliver it to you," he said. Let''s see, the time is ......." It is 11:30 a.m. in Kaina village. The time difference is about 3 hours, so it should be around 8:30 a.m. in Kaltz. "I think I''ll be okay, I''ll go." "Wait. I''m going with you. So until Hanna and Reiko come back, please go to ......." Yeah, I''ll be there. Jin agreed with Erza''s words. "I''m back! "I''m back." About 10 minutes later, Hanna and Reiko came home. "Welcome home. I''m off to Reinhardt''s to give you this. "Okay, go ahead, sweetie." "Yes, I''ll go with you." Hannah and Reiko answer each other. So, Jin and Erza were sent off by Hanna and moved to the village of Kalz, <>, Reinhardt''s territory. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hello, Jin, Erza!Welcome!" A high-spirited Reinhardt greeted them. "Erza, thanks to you, Bertsche can get up now too. "Yes, that''s good." Elsa''s healing magic had made Berche''s body healthy, but Reinhard, a loving wife, was taking it easy. "And I''ve got a name for you!Will you listen to me?" "Yes, of course. Yes, of course. ......?" "<>. < <>. That''s a nice name. "Hmm, Yuri. She''s pretty. Yes, yes, yes! Reinhard is in a good mood. "So, here''s a present from us." Jin gives him a merry-go-round. "What''s this?" A natural question. "We''re going to hang it from the ceiling like this." Jin hung the merry-go-round in the appropriate place and showed it to the audience by moving it. The merry-go-round made a rhythmical and light sound. "Oh, that''s interesting! "It''s a toy to soothe the baby. "I see!So this is the kind of thing that existed in the world where Jin lived!Thank you, Gin, Erza! Meanwhile, Erza had inscribed < on the spoon. And then, "Brother Rai, this is from us too. and offered it to her. Of course, he had to repackage it properly. "Oh, thank you!...... what''s this?" "A silver spoon. In the world where my brother Jin lived, ...... He explains the lore. "I see!Thank you, Jin, Erza!...... Oh sorry, please meet Belle and Yuri!" Jin and Erza were then ushered into a room in the pavilion by Reinhardt. "Ah, welcome, Jin-sama, Erza-san." "Hello, Berthe." Bertsche was already off the floor, nursing her baby ......, Juliana. Juliana was lying on a canopied bunk. She seems to be awake now. "Belle, I got this from Jin and the others." "Well, what is it? "It''s called a merry-go-round. It''s called ......." Reinhardt immediately attached the merry-go-round to the canopy. Then he said. "<>" The merry-go-round starts to turn slowly. At the same time, it begins to make a light sound. "My God!" Bertsch looks at her with wide-eyed amazement. Juliana starts to make merry. "Oh, she looks so happy!" "I don''t think he''s blind yet, but I''m sure he can hear the sound. Seeing Juliana in such a good mood, a smile naturally appeared on Jin''s face. And so did Elsa, who was standing next to him. Reinhard and Bertsche were also looking at the fruits of their love and smiling happily. Needless to say, Bertsche was also pleased to hear the origin of the silver spoon with her name on it. 1179 - - 31-46 Last Country The day after delivering the baby gift to Reinhard, Jin and Erza flew to the Franz Kingdom by . Their destination was the royal castle. Since this is the least familiar country in the Lesser Antilles, the old man had instructed them to guard the castle more strictly than ever before. First of all, the annual parade is being held. In the sky are four , which have disappeared due to . Among the crowd are 10 Quintas of the 5th column. The <> are also fully mobilized for the first time in a long time. In addition, they are monitored from space by . In addition to this thoroughness, they are accompanied by Reiko. I guess this is the last time. It''s been a long time. Jin and Elsa are whispering to each other as they wave to each other in the open carriage. Before they knew it, it was already September. The approach of a long-period planet is only about a month and a half away. So far, of Yunie, who is in charge of astronomical observations, has only reported that there are no abnormalities. "I''m tired of being thankful for ....... Is this our fault?" "Mainly me. I thought I''d live a little more discreetly." Jin swallowed the line, "How did this happen? "I guess it all started when I set out for the Shoro kingdom with Erza and the others." "...... my fault?" "No, it''s not. No, it''s not. I''m the one who chose it. I''m the one who did a lot of things along the way. I guess it was inevitable. ...... I don''t really like to use the word ." "Why not?" "Because it''s like giving up when you say ''it''s your destiny''." That''s the same as stopping to think, Jin told Erza. "But people are weak, and even if they usually think that way, when they are feeling weak, they want to give up." "Somehow, I understand." Erza shivers, remembering the despair she felt when she was once trapped by the Unification Party (Unifiler). Jin gently hugs her shoulder. "But for now, I am thankful to for bringing me together with Erza. Jin is quite deft in whispering such lines while waving his hands at the parade. Well, the waving is just a mechanical repetition, but 90% of his attention is on Erza. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the parade was over, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko were welcomed by Catherine de Lafayette, the mother of the country. "It''s been so long. It''s nice to see you again. "It''s nice to see you again." "It''s nice to see you too. "You know, the knee you treated me with before, it hasn''t hurt once since then. I''m glad to hear that. It was when Zion and Lucas came out of the demon territory. Jin and Erza were there when the carriage had an accident and met her. She said she had a pain in her knee, and Erza healed her with appropriate healing magic. It was not a temporary or temporary treatment, which means that the pain has not recurred yet. I have heard about your success. Catherine''s calm atmosphere is pleasant and relaxing for both Jin and Elsa. "I don''t think you two like such ostentatious celebrations. I know you two don''t like such ostentatious festivities. You have to understand that. Yes, I understand. They are talking over a cup of fragrant tea. "Your Majesty has told me a lot about the World Conference. The Kunlun Island is a wonderful place, isn''t it? "Yes. I hope I can invite you there someday. Yes, I''d like to visit there when I have a chance. It was Catherine''s consideration that allowed us to spend such a leisurely time together. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * September 5 was the day of the wedding banquet, but it was smaller than any of the other banquets Jin and the others had attended in the six months since the king had been replaced. The number of nobles who came to greet the guests was only a little more than two hands. The time was short, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. < The only tense moments were when the current king, Lotharus de Lafayette, came to pour wine for them and when he greeted them in front of the assembled nobles. "<> I am Jin Nido and my wife Elsa. We are very grateful to you for hosting such a banquet for us. Although the party was in the form of a standing buffet, simple chairs ...... and stools were provided everywhere so that the guests could take a break at their leisure. Jin and Elsa were overjoyed to have experienced a relaxed wedding party at the very end of the day. They thought they might be a bit tired since they hardly knew anyone in the Franz Kingdom, but they talked to each other moderately and took a break moderately, so both of them could enjoy the banquet in a natural way. The reception ended without incident and a calm atmosphere passed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, it was more fun than I thought it would be. ......? "I agree." After the reception, Jin and Elsa were relaxing on the sofa in the guest room as if enjoying the afterglow. They felt and savored the emptiness after the lively time was over. "Tomorrow, I hear there will be a tea party called <>. That will be the end of our visit to each country." "....... When I think of it, I feel ...... a little sad." "Yeah, I guess so." Then Reiko made a pot of tea. "It''s almost bedtime, so I made hojicha tea. "Thank you, Reiko." "Thank you, Reiko." Houjicha is low in caffeine and tannin, so even if you drink it before going to bed, it is not likely to keep you awake. "Oh, it''s delicious." "Delicious." In Jin''s case, the aroma is rather calming. Elsa also liked it. "......It was welcomed in more countries than I expected. ......" "Hmm. I knew it... Jin is a Magecraft Meister." "No, if you put it that way, Erza as a healer has also made various achievements in various countries. "It''s because of the fame of the two of you, isn''t it?" Reiko unusually interrupted their conversation. "Yes, that may be so." "Yes, I guess so." Hearing this, the two looked at each other and smiled. The autumn night breeze was blowing pleasantly through the window, and the autumn constellations were shining quietly in the night sky. 1180 - - 31-47 Quiet Talk 63 Karens Worries Karen Theodoric von Banners is the fourth daughter of the Marquise Theodoric. Her father is Marquess Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen and her mother is Emma Theodoric von Rosie. The father is still alive, but the mother has passed away. There is no male heir to the Theodoric family at present. The eldest daughter, Charley Theoderic von Mowry, after having a daughter, Saki, with the alchemist Thore Eschenbach, has also passed away. The second and third daughters have married into powerful aristocratic families. The Marquis is 54 years old this year. He had been poisoned with arsenic for a long time and had cirrhosis of the liver, which was treated by Elsa. He has been cured by Elsa, and his physical condition has deteriorated beyond his age. Even if he had a successor, it is unlikely that he would have one, and he has no intention of having one. In other words, Karen was the only one who could take over the Theoderic family. Inevitably, Karen will be the one to take a son-in-law to take over the Marquise''s house. ....... "......I''m in trouble. ......" Karen had been worried since this morning. The other day her father had ordered her to marry Fritz Randall von Grosz. The Randalls have neighboring estates and are acquainted with Fritz and his sister, Elsa, due to their close proximity in age. "It''s true that Fritz-sama is an excellent soldier, but ......" Karen continues to worry while muttering to herself. "......I wonder if we can somehow make this story go away. ......" Her father, Gehlen, is a strict man and would never approve of her decision if she is not in the mood for it. Karen had no one to talk to at a time like this. "Yes, I do!" When she wrote that she had no one to talk to, Karen remembered that she had one candidate. "Is there anyone?Get the carriage ready. I''m going out for a while. "Miss, where are you going?" The voice was answered by the maid of honor, a woman Karen had always had a bit of a problem with. She was a bit annoyed by the occasional warning about her behavior because she was a by-the-book kind of person. When she asked the chief chambermaid, she was naturally asked where she was going. Karen decided that she would have to be honest. I''m with relatives. The Eschenbach house." "Saki''s house, isn''t it? Yes, ma''am. The Eschenbach residence was only about 30 minutes away by carriage, so it was not a long trip, and more importantly, she had a good reason for going to see her Saki. A carriage was quickly prepared, and with a guard and a lady-in-waiting, the carriage carrying Karen left the gate of the Theoderic house. The carriage drove through the green trees, which looked a little tired at the end of summer. In the carriage Karen looks out gloomily. The carriage arrived at the Eschenbach house. "Well, I''m going to go now. You guys can wait in the carriage. "Yes, ma''am." Without a word of complaint, the maid of honor replied and the guards bowed their heads in silence. She rang the knocker on the front door, which immediately opened. "Welcome, Karen-sama! It was Aaru, Saki''s personal automata. "Hello, Aaru. Is Saki there? Yes, I am. Please come in. Well, I''ll leave you to it. Hello, Aunt Karen. This is unusual. Saki came out near the front door and greeted Karen. "Oh, Saki, I told you not to do that, didn''t I?" "Yes, you did. I''m sorry." She doesn''t look the least bit sorry as she laughs and apologizes. "Oh, well, that''s okay." Karen took a sip of the tea Aal made and let out a small sigh. "So, what''s going on today?" Saki asked, reminding Karen of the purpose of her visit today. "Oh, I wanted to talk to you about something. "That''s unusual. If it''s all right with me, I''d be happy to help you. "Yes, please." Karen explained that her father had asked her to marry Fritz. "...... Oh, I see. Objectively speaking, I don''t think it''s a bad idea, but there must be a reason why Aunt ...... Karen doesn''t want to do it, right?" "Eh,......?" Karen''s cheeks turn a little red at Saki''s question and she turns over. "Oh, what?" Saki was taken aback by the unexpected response. "Uh, ...... aunt?Do you have someone you like ......?" Saki spoke half on a hunch. But it seemed to be right to the point. Karen turned red and looked down. "......Who the hell are you?" Saki asked. Karen answered in a hushed, small voice. "......Master Godronas." "What?" Saki also remembered the main nobles and soldiers of this country. "Godronas ...... is that Mr. Godronas Berntsam von Narlad?" "Yes, that''s right." He was the captain of the 2nd Platoon of the 1st Knights, Saki thought. "I see. I don''t know about him, but he seems to be of good rank and ability. "Right?" The question was how to convey Karen''s feelings to the Marquis and Godronas himself. "Oh, and what did Mr. Godronas say?" "Nothing." What? "...... I don''t think he knows how I feel." "...... Wow." Saki wanted to hold her head in her hands. What could I do? I am not a socialite and I don''t know much about that side of the world. Karen smiled a little sadly when she said that. "I don''t expect you to do anything for me. I just wanted to be listened to and maybe get some advice. "I see. ......" When you say that, I feel like I should say something to him. "Well, um..." I have thoughts, but no words come out. Saki has little experience with such things and her communication skills are poor to begin with. "Why don''t you talk to Reinhardt or Erza about it? As a result, she could only say pathetic words. "Well, you''re right. If you are going to ask for advice, you should choose the right person." "Gosh, ...... Aunt Karen, you''re terrible!" "Ummm, I''m just kidding. Thanks for listening to me complain. I''m going to go now. I don''t care. Karen left the Eschenbach house, saying that she could not stay long because she had come to check on Saki. On the way home, "Don''t call me Auntie. She left with the words, "Don''t call me <>. 1181 - - 31-48 Quiet Talk 64 Skin Care Lao Kun was working on the development of the sunscreen that Jin had asked him to make. Using a mobile terminal < and assisted by <, who can use engineering magic, he conducts experiments by changing the ratio of the ingredients and the size of the light silver oxide particles. The appearance was to be transparent, but the UV shielding or reflecting effect was to be as large as possible. We will also consider the composition of the moisturizing oil, whether it should be vegetable, animal, or synthetic oil. > However, we can''t just go ahead and conduct <, to put it bluntly. At that time, Saki came to Horai Island. The old man decides to ask Saki for advice. "What?Sunscreen?Can you make such a chemical?Yes, I will help you! > present while we inspect you, so we won''t do anything that will be a burden on you. The <> referred to here is a doctor (healer) automata created by Jin. In the first place, most of the base moisturizing oils are chosen from those already in use in this world, and light silver oxide itself is known to be harmless, so it is unlikely that the combination would be toxic. "Hmmm...such a combination." Saki nodded as she looked at the combination on the paper Lao Tzu had spread out. "As far as I''m concerned, I think it''s better to use this one and this one for the oil. Saki recommended the oil used for chapped and cracked skin in winter. "I would say the oil of <> and the oil of <>." > is a specialty of the Kingdom of Klein and has good preservation properties among animal oils. <<> oil is also used for hair oil and its safety is guaranteed by its long history. "Yes, that''s what I mean." I am cautious this time, since I once had a lacquer rash. "Yes, that''s right. After three days of experimentation with Saki''s help, the prototype of the was completed. < the material, no toxins or other harmful or unknown substances were detected, Saki decided to try it on her own arm. Her curiosity seemed to get the better of her. However, she proceeded very carefully with the . I left it on for a whole day and had no problems at all. If itching or redness had occurred, I would have been ready to treat it immediately with , but my fears were unfounded. "Jin is planning to go to a southern island for our next time, so we can test it then, too. "Then there is the sales channel, but I think the old man is more qualified for that than I am. "Oh, I see. Do you think we can wholesale the light silver powder directly from Horai Island?" "Hmph, you are indeed an old man, I don''t think I can take care of that much. <<< Thank you very much. Thank you very much for your cooperation in the development of ...... Saki. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Kemeria oil, is it? Licia Faalheit, the lord of Toka Village, pondered for a moment when she received a message from the old man. It is the end of summer, and the Kemeria berries will be ripe in a few days. "It''s the right time, isn''t it? The harvest will start in about a month. We need more people this year. "Oh, yes. I''m sure Jin-san will make a wonderful tool for you! Licia''s trust in Jin seems to be very strong. "We still have some Kemeria oil in stock. < Wholesale price affects the selling price. If the selling price goes up, the sales will slow down, and as a result, the profit may decrease. Of course, there are products that are purchased even if the price is high. But in the case of new products, the price you set at the beginning is very important. The old man explained. * * * * * * * * * * * "<>?" The old man first checks with Eric, the owner of the store in the village of Kaina, to see if he can sell it. Of course, he has , who works at Nido Castle, as his agent. "Yes, that''s right. ....... I think it could be sold to a nobleman or a wealthy merchant in the capital. I don''t think it''s likely to be sold in this village. ......" "I''ll buy it, depending on the price." Before Eric could finish his answer, Barbara quickly interrupted him. I''m not sure I''m going to be able to sell it in the village. ...... Eric, you do care, don''t you?" "Uh, yes. ......" "I see, that''s very helpful." * * * * The "Mere Old Man" immediately makes a plan. The moisturizing cream was made by Jin for the village of Kaina. Oil from pressed walnut-like nuts called ornut, a little beeswax from honey, and a little perfumed oil from citran peels. In addition to these, some Persica juice, which has been <>, is added to the mixture to increase its shelf life. The mixture is then homogenized by engineering magic. The old man had found the best ratio by trial and error by changing the ratio of the ingredients. The combination of this moisturizing cream and sunscreen seems to further enhance the anti-aging effect of the skin. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, so this is sunscreen." First, as promised, the and were presented to Princess Rieschen. Together, they form a skin care set. Later, the skin care set was sold through the Raglan Trading Company in Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, and was a great success. Since it was sold to the general public as a stand-alone moisturizing cream, the number of people suffering from rough hands and rough skin decreased dramatically. It did not take long for the product to spread throughout the Kingdom of Klein and even to neighboring countries. * * * * * * * * * * * "Kuhu, it''s important to take care of your skin. Saki smiled to herself as she stroked her recently smoothed skin. 1182 - - 31-49 Silent Story 65 Eric and Barbara Barbara, how''s the spice inventory? "Uh, still good." The only store in the village of Kaina, <>. It is also a branch of the Raglan Trading Company, and also serves as a base for purchasing in the village of Kaina. It sells mainly daily necessities and clothing. The village of Kaina is a small village with a population of about 100 people, so there are two ways to pay for goods: money and barter. "Today''s sales are just fine," Barbara said as she calculated. Barbara said as she did the math. They had been working together for a few months, and this kind of clerical work had become second nature to them. "I see. That''s good." has two main sources of income. One is sales to the villagers. The other is wholesaling to the Raglan Trading Company, the main store. The main items they wholesale are and , which they obtain through bartering with villagers. And rubber products such as and , which they purchase from Jin via Nidojo. In addition to these two items, he also delivers rare magical tools developed by Jin to the head office on an irregular basis, for which he is paid a certain fee. "Your father-in-law will be here soon, won''t he? "Yes, that''s right. "The capital is a bit far away, isn''t it?" "Yes. But that''s the business. I see. "Would you like to go back?" "Well, I guess so. ......" Eric''s words reminded Barbara of her visit to King''s Landing some time ago. The capital city of Alban is here. This is the capital city of Alban. "Wow, it''s huge!" Eric and Barbara visited the head office of the Raglan Trading Company, Eric''s parents'' house, to report their marriage. It took one day to get from Kaina village to Toka village by riding a golem horse, but from Toka village it took two days on foot to Charles town. From there it took another three days to reach Alban. The population of Arban is about 8,000, 80 times the population of the village of Kayna. "Wow, what a lot of people. ......" Barbara looks around the place with a wide-eyed look on her face. She is a total geek. Compared to the village of Kaina, the number of people is different. The clothes they are wearing are elegant and sophisticated, and Barbara is taken aback. "I guess the city is different after all. ......" Barbara muttered with a sigh. Eric and I were dressed in our village clothes and carrying our luggage for the trip. It was obvious that they had come from the countryside. "Come on, let''s go to the Chamber of Commerce first..." Eric shook the luggage on his back and called out to Barbara. The main office of the Raglan Company had moved to the center of the main street this year. They had made such great strides. "Here it is," he said. "Wow, wow! Barbara was amazed. "I''m back!" Eric entered the store not through the front entrance but through a side entrance. Barbara followed. "Oh, you''re back!" "Hello, Barbara, welcome back! Eric''s father, Roland, and all his relatives were there. "Well, I''m so happy that Eric got such a good wife! "Barbara, I know I''m an unreliable son, but I wish you all the best." That night a banquet was held to celebrate their marriage. "Thank you very much. I will do my best." Barbara answered, her face flushed. They were happy. * * * * * * For the next week, Barbara stayed in Alban with Eric. They were learning the rudiments of the business, not all day long, but in between they could go and see the city. At first, Barbara''s eyes lit up at her first time in the capital. ....... "...... is kind of boring." Learning to work is good. I''m still learning the hard way. It is the life in the royal city that has become boring. Certainly, it was crowded, bustling, and gorgeous, and bustling as befits a capital city. But that was all. "...... I kind of miss the village." Barbara, who had been away from the village of Kaina for only a week...... two weeks if you include the road trip, seemed to have made up her mind. No wonder. "I miss the hot springs....... ......" A communal hot spring in the village of Kaina. "The food...... in the castle''s restaurant was delicious. ......" We went sightseeing in the town and had lunch at a restaurant. I feel that the food is not good enough for the price. The toilets are also ......" The Kingdom of Klein is beginning to focus on sanitation, but nothing can compare to the village of Kaina, where Jin personally supervised the construction. Once we got used to seeing them, we realized that neither the people of the city nor the people of the village are any different. In fact, I even think that the people of Kaina Village might be smarter than me, as they teach me how to read, write, and calculate, as well as the wisdom of daily life. "Oh, Hannah, you are definitely smart. I think that Hanna is smarter than most adults, maybe even smarter than those who are called "bachelor". Barbara has learned the advantages of her hometown for the first time outside. * * * * * * "Wow! Barbara? As soon as she saw the village of Kaina at the foot of the Togo Pass, Barbara jumped down from the carriage and ran out. "Ha-ha-ha, Eric, Barbara must have missed it. For the first time in her life, she had been away from her hometown for almost a month. Roland, who was accompanying me, laughs. "It''s been a long time since I''ve been to Kaina, too. It''s been a long time since I''ve been in Kaina village. "Ha, ha." Barbara runs down from the pass, crosses the bridge over the Erme River, passes by Nido Castle, and rushes into the village of Kaina. "I''m home! "Oh, Barbara, you''re back!" "Barbara, haven''t you lost some weight?" When Barbara showed up at the house of Chief Giebeck, she was greeted by her uncle Giebeck and his wife, Sally, a healer. "Oh, sweetheart, welcome home." Their adopted son, Lu, also greeted Barbara with a smile. "I''m home, Luu. ...... here''s something for you." "Wow, thank you!" Barbara handed the gifts to her uncle and his wife and to her new cousin Lu from the luggage she was carrying. "Oh, sorry, Barbara." "Where''s Eric?" "I ran down from the Togo Pass." All three of them looked a little puzzled. "......Well, it''s not hard to see why." But Sally, who was not originally from the village, seemed to be able to understand their feelings. So he decided to say a few words to her. "Barbara, don''t forget that feeling you just had about your hometown. "Yes, ...... yes!" Barbara has reaffirmed that the village of Kaina is her hometown. From now on, she is determined to do even more for the village. "Hey Barbara! Eric''s voice came from far away. "Oh, I''m sorry!I''m coming!" Barbara replied cheerfully, "See you later, Uncle, Dr. Sallee, Lou," she said. and left the chief''s house. The sky in Kayna was blue and clear, and the early autumn wind was chasing away the chipping clouds. 1183 - - 32-01 September 9th Travel Day 1 "Wow, this feels good!" "Yes, it does!" Marcia and Rodrigo are standing near the bow of the special cruiser , looking out to sea. On September 9, at 8:00 a.m. Horai Island time, the cruisers and departed Tatsumi Bay. Apart from Jin and Erza, Saki, Goose, Meane, Hannah, Martha, and Vivian were traveling with us. Of course, Reiko and Edgar are with them. Aal is staying at the Eschenbach house this time. The other members of the will come through the warp gate at any time to participate in the event. The cruising speed of the special cruiser is 50 km/h when using the Aqua Thruster. The maximum speed is 200 kilometers per hour with the use of <>. At its normal cruising speed, the <> continued southward. It is noon now, and they are moving south almost to the same latitude as the Potrock. The sunlight is strong. Therefore, the sunscreen that was recently completed has been distributed to everyone. "Dad, the ocean is huge! "Yes, it is. Marcia, we would love to travel the oceans like this one day, on a boat we built ourselves. "Yes." Marcia and Rodrigo were not bothered by the inferiority complex that Jin''s technology had created, and they were even more enthusiastic about it. This positive attitude seems to be common to all the members of the . I don''t know if this is coincidence or inevitability, but positivity is not a bad thing. "......The ocean is a big place. ......" Hannah muttered in a slightly tired voice. She has been staring at the blue ocean as far as the eye can see for the past four hours since we left the ship, and she is getting tired of it. No wonder. "Hannah, it''s lunchtime!" "Yes, yes!" Hanna turned around at the sound of Martha''s voice and answered cheerfully, running across the deck with great energy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and Erza had also come from to the mess hall on board the special cruiser . Jin insisted that the food tastes better when eaten in large groups. "Come on, eat up." Lunch was a sandwich with ham, bacon, topopo salad, egg salad, and a variety of other colorful ingredients. And bread. Spreads of strawberry jam, apple jam, plum jam, blueberry jam, and flape jam. In addition, ornut paste and citran marmalade were available, as well as maple syrup. All of them had been sent from Horai Island via a . "Kuhu, this is still an elegant trip, isn''t it? Saki muttered as she spread maple syrup on the bread. "Yes, it sure is. But it''s a very promising journey into the unknown! Goose replied to Saki''s mutterings. "But, Jin has made some amazing things, hasn''t he? That''s what I''m talking about." "Yes!Grandma, you''re amazing!" Martha and Hannah are sitting side by side eating sandwiches. A glass of chilled Citran juice was placed in front of them. "You don''t seem to be surprised much, do you Martha?" Meane says with a look of surprise and respect on her face. "Yes, I''m still surprised. But if you think of me as a djinn, you can swallow most of what I say. "Oh, is that how it is? Meine has known Jin for a long time, but there are still some things she is not used to. "I''m glad to know what the is capable of," she said. ......Ah, this is delicious." Vivienne''s eyes narrowed as she took a bite of the bread with plum jam on it. Jin and Elsa were listening to the conversation between the two friends and were silently putting the bread in their mouths. "Kuhu, you two don''t seem to be in good spirits, do you? Saki notices this and calls out to her. "Are you tired of being so close?" "No, it''s not like that." Erza, teased, blushes and denies it. "It was a little late yesterday," Jin explains. Jin explains. "So, it''s fine that you and your wife get along well, but you have to keep it in moderation ......." "No, Saki." "I went ...... to say hello, and only came back last night." "Greetings, where to?" Saki''s question is quite understandable, since she has already greeted the Shoro Empire and the Lesser Clan ....... "To the demon tribe." "Oh, I see. I see." The demon tribe lives on the continent of Gondor, beyond the Pazdekst isthmus. They are a race that bears the blood of the , who migrated from the planet Hale long ago, more strongly than those who live on the Loren continent. No formal diplomatic relations have been established yet, only a personal relationship with Jin. Therefore, after the wedding party, Jin and Erza flew to the north in <> to pay their respects. "I was going to come back in a day, but I was held up." "Well, I guess so." Saki knows this because she once spent a few days in the demon territory when she went looking for the skin of an ancient dragon. They were greatly indebted to Jin, and their trust in him was very high. "Kuhu, then tell me what happened. "Oh, I want to hear it too! I''d love to hear what happened." Hannah and Vivian came over to listen. "We want to hear it too!" Marcia and Rodrigo came too. "Why don''t we listen to them over a cup of tea after dinner? Martha said, and they all nodded their heads and hurriedly swallowed the bread and sandwiches they were about to eat. They finish the juice they were about to drink, say <>, and lunch is over. The maid golems cleaned up the mess, and cold sencha (green tea) was brought to us instead. The temperature outside was 33 degrees Celsius (33 degrees Fahrenheit), and inside the ship was air-conditioned at about 27 degrees Celsius (27 degrees Fahrenheit), but still, the cold tea was very special. "Well then, where shall we start? Jin took a sip of his tea and opened his mouth again. "On September 6, after the party in the Kingdom of Franz, we have fulfilled our obligations to each country, but we have not informed the demon tribe yet, so I decided to go and report to them after discussing it with Elsa. "Yes. The after party in the Kingdom of Franz was really a small one and I was not too tired, so I decided to go and greet them the next day. Elsa took over Jin''s words and explained. "I did so, and I was welcomed with open arms. What was supposed to be a one-day trip turned into an overnight stay. "So tell me more about that." Vivienne asks curiously. "I know what you mean." Jin nodded and began to speak slowly. 1184 - - 32-02 September 7th Greetings to the Magic Territories "Well, let''s get going." "Nope." Edgar becomes the pilot, and Jin and Erza decide to go to the demon territory in to pay their respects. Of course, they are accompanied by Reiko. They loaded up a lot of commemorative koban as gifts, and some other cargo for trade. . The old lord saw them off and they set off for the north. If they flew at about 500 km/h, they could reach there in one hour. There is a time difference of about three hours, which means that although they left at 10:00 a.m., they arrived at 8:00 a.m. local time. First, we need to get to the < clan. "Jin!" Zion was the first one to come running up to as it landed. "Hello, Xiong, it''s been a long time." "Yes, it''s been a while. By the way, ......" "Jin-dono!Is this the airship? Yes, it can fly! Bardius and Radeous, who had come running breathlessly after Theon, were wide-eyed as they saw the for the first time. It was not surprising since they had only arrived in the demon territory with . <, the clansmen gathered one after another. Almost everyone had gathered. Jin took this as a good opportunity, "It''s been a while, everyone. He decided to use it as an opportunity to say hello. "Well, I''m here to report that ...... myself and Erza got married. There was a big gasp. "Jin, Erza, congratulations! The first to speak up was Zion. "Congratulations! Istaris was next. "Congratulations! I congratulate you." Then Bardius. Radeous says... "Congratulations!...... ah." Maricka says. "Congratulations! < clan congratulated Jin and Erza. Marikka said, "Congratulations! "Once again, congratulations on your marriage. The couple moved to the village of the < clan, where Jin and Erza were congratulated once again at the clan leader''s house. I''m going to go and greet the other clans now," he said, "We have already contacted the other clans, and I am sure the representatives will be here soon. Bardius replied, "I have already contacted the other clans. "The other day, I received a manaphone. We are now able to communicate with all the clans. Radeous explained that the <> clans had given them out to all the clans. "That''s very convenient, isn''t it?" Since the clans are small in size, the <> for each clan is sufficient for information transmission. I''m sure most of the clans will be here this evening. "I see. Jin had planned to just say hello and leave by the end of the day, but it looked like he might have to stay overnight, so he prepared to stay longer. "Mr. Jin, if you have time, why don''t you take a look around the farm?" Lorona, the agricultural manager, made a proposal. Jin agreed without hesitation. "Oh, that sounds great. I''ll have a look." Immediately, he takes Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar outside. "We had a good crop this winter, thanks to the frost protection and the greenhouse. "That''s good to hear." "So, this year we have added more legumes. Many of the beans have rhizobium symbiosis in their roots, and they are self-sufficient in nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, if they are used well, they can fertilize the soil. "We plan to cut it down, leaving the roots, and plant leafy vegetables." This is useful, since nitrogen fertilizer helps the leaves to grow. Lorona was taking full advantage of her agricultural knowledge. "Soon it will be time for the greenhouse." <>, which do not like the rain. When it gets cold, the walls will be closed and the greenhouse will be used as a greenhouse. "The food situation has improved. We are now self-sufficient. So the next step is to improve the quality. Yes, that''s right. For now, Jin is buying cubic zirconia, which he can then use to buy various goods from other countries in the subregion. These include food and crop seeds and seedlings, and it seemed that the food problem would be completely solved in a few years. "Now all we need is formal diplomatic relations. ......" Jin has no idea at the moment what to do about that. "I guess there''s no need to rush." As long as the demons can live peacefully, they do not seem to have any major complaints about their current lives. "We can start by solving the mystery of the distribution of free magical elements (ether)..." If we know why there is more free ether in the northern hemisphere and less in the southern hemisphere, we may be able to take countermeasures. Then, the demons would be able to live further south. (It is said that humans do not live in the southern continent.) In any case, it is just a matter of time. Jin hopes to find a clue to solve the mystery of the distribution of free magical element (ether) on his honeymoon. * * * * As expected of the demon tribe, representatives from all the clans gathered that night, regardless of the distance. It seems that those who could use transfer magic cooperated with them. "Congratulations, Jin-sama! "Congratulations, Erza-sama!" Jin and Erza received congratulations from the representatives of the clans that had gathered. Most of them were handmade mascots. It seems to be a custom of the demon clans. Jin likes dolls like this, so he is frankly happy. He is even thinking of building a special shelf in his room on Horai Island. The party is about to start. "We don''t have much trouble finding food these days," he says. "I''ve been sick less and less. We also hear about recent developments in the various clans. Jin was happy to hear that everyone seemed to be enjoying a stable lifestyle. The party went on until late at night, and the next day Jin and Erza returned to Horai Island, feeling sleep deprived, to make final preparations for their honeymoon. 1185 - - 32-03 September 9th Travel Day 1 Battle begins "It''s like ......." "Hmm, so you live ...... and your diet has improved. Good, good, good." Saki said happily. She knew some people in the demon territory, so she was happy to hear that they were living peacefully. "Onii-chan, isn''t the name <> wrong in the first place?" Hannah, who had been silently listening to me, said what came to her mind. "What?......Oh, I see. < has a bad image, doesn''t it? They are genetically the same as humans, with the only difference being that they have a strong bloodline. "Maybe we should make them <> or something like that. ......" Jin mutters. I don''t know about that name, but I understand what he is trying to say, so we all nodded our heads in silence. At that time. was announced in the ship. < "Death Serpents? ......" Marcia frowned. < "I heard that it sometimes wanders in from the north on the ocean currents." Goose muttered. "You know a lot!" Saki was impressed, "I''ve done a lot of research," said Goose. Goose said. "Are they coming this way?" This is Rodrigo. < "That''s not good, Jin!" Marcia shouted. "I guess..." Jin thought for a moment and then gave his orders. "Alright, order the escorting cruiser < to take care of it." > "Yes, please." < The special cruisers < and are escorted by four cruisers <<<<>, guarding the front, right and left flanks. Among them, <, which was guarding the right wing, left its original position and changed course to the right, i.e., to the west. The right wing of the ship, which is guarding the right wing, left its original position and turned right, or west. "Oh, I see it, I see it!" A part of the wall of the dining hall where Jin and the others were standing was a , and it projected the ocean. < It is movable, so it looks as if you are looking at the sea from the bridge. No, it is more than that, since it can zoom in. <, there are seven of them in total. The air force is also escorting Jin and the others, which is especially reassuring in times like this. >. Jin thought that the term "battle speed" means the speed for combat, which is determined for each fleet ....... The term comes from Jin, who learned it from the anime. Aside from that, the cruiser < headed west at about 60 kilometers per hour. The distance would be covered in five minutes. "It''s definitely the Death Serpent! Jin and the others looked at the Magic Screen and saw seven Death Serpents. "Jin, are you sure you can handle one ship?" Saki asked a little worried. "Yes, of course. The cruiser is not expecting a Death Sea Serpent, but a Sea Dragon that will eat them. Yes, I know that, but... Look, the attack has begun. * * * * < It turns 90 degrees to face <>. < was in danger, he raised his sickle and unleashed one of the largest magical attacks he could muster. It was a tidal wave of water-based magic. A tidal wave over 40 meters high hits . However, <, which was built to counter the sea-dwelling demons, uses its <> to float in the air. At a height of 100 meters, even a <> is ineffective. The magical wave quickly subsides, and <> lands on the sea. The <> raised its scythe again, aiming at it. However, the Tidal Wave is not a magic that can be used many times, even by the Death Serpent. The one that flew at <> was <>, an intermediate level of water magic. However, that much can be easily prevented by the <>. The continuous use of magic required even the Death Serpent to pause for a moment, and just as it was about to dive into the water, ''s secondary weapon, the , was called into action. < The main gun of a cruiser is mounted on the deck and cannot be aimed lower than the horizontal. However, the secondary cannon is an armament to attack the enemy underwater. The basic type is the <. There are several types of shells that can be fired. The one fired this time was a <, a shell that causes an explosion as soon as it touches the surface of the water. The explosion is not a gunpowder explosion, but an explosion based on <>, so there is no heat generated, but a pure shockwave is produced. The distance between the two is about 500 meters, and there is no sign of their being separated. The Death Serpent is knocked unconscious by the explosion that occurs above his head as he is about to dive. It floats helplessly on the surface of the sea. A second shot is fired at it. This time, too, it explodes. < Oh! Oh! "Wow!" < exclaim in amazement. The old man in command of the fleet explains the situation. "Yes. The current attack is too slow for Jin, who knows what kind of armaments are being used. "Ah, that makes sense." < Therefore, they do not use it except in an emergency. There is also the , a very powerful version of the engineering magic to lure fish out to sea, but this also affects the fish and is not to be used except in an emergency. In the first place, < and are more suitable for underwater enemies than cruisers. In this case, the battle was conducted with a single ship, the <, as a test case in considering the operation of a cruiser. If Jin''s ship <> had been attacked, she would have been destroyed with all her strength, but in this sea area, there was no one to be harmed except for the fish swimming around her. The commander-in-chief, , was leading this battle as an opportunity to conduct a valuable field test. 1186 - - 32-04 September 9th Travel Day 1 End of Day 1 "...... is overwhelming, isn''t it?" < "Hey Jin, is the sea full of demons like that?" Martha, who had been staring at the screen silently for a long time, opened her mouth. "No, we rarely encounter them on the coast. The demons that live in the sea eat mostly fish. They do not like shallow water, so they seldom come to the coast. "But it is rare for one to wander into the area, so you can never be too careful." The Death Sea Serpent that once appeared in Potrock was such an individual. "I see. I''ve seen and heard so many unusual things. I never thought I''d experience anything like this at my age." Martha said with a soft smile. "I don''t want Hannah to see too many cruel scenes. ...... I''ve seen enough, let''s destroy them all at once." < < Using them, they annihilate the ship in one fell swoop. It is hard to tell from the screen what is going on, but it seems that the last one has been exterminated as well. "So there is no more threat to the kingdom of Elias now, is there? "Yes, that''s right. Jin, thank you. Jin mutters something and Marcia agrees with him. "Jin-dono, are you going to keep the Death Serpent as a material?" Rodrigo asked. "Yes, indeed. It would be a waste and we should let them retrieve it. Let''s go to ...... and ask him to do it for us. Jin instructed the old man. He looked at the screen and saw that the Mermaid team had jumped on the Death Serpent and started to dismantle it. It seemed that they were collecting the blood as well, so the sea was not stained with blood, and in about 10 minutes, the Death Serpent became material. . "Thank you very much. Please tell the Mermaid Unit." After having thanked the old man for his work, Jin looked out of the window at the sky. The time was 2:00 p.m. The sky was blue. The sky was blue. "Well, what shall we do for the rest of the night? As Jin said this, Hannah raised her hand. "I want to swim in the sea! "In the sea. ......" As one would expect, swimming in the open sea seems a bit dangerous. "Well, there might be some danger around here, so I don''t think we should. We''ll probably reach an island somewhere in a couple of days, and then we can go swimming. I gave her a good reason and she agreed. "Yes, I understand." Jin was relieved to hear that Hannah understood him. (Come to think of it, luxury cruise ships have swimming pools. ......) It was ironic that he could not swim in the middle of the ocean. After all these years, Hitoshi now realized why cruise ships have swimming pools. "Well, what are we going to do ...... then? Jin suggested taking a walk on the ocean in the that came along as an escort, "Yes! "That''s a good idea." Everyone, including Hannah, agrees. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The is a series of destroyers. < series was developed as a destroyer and boasts a top speed of 150 kilometers per hour thanks to its magical water propulsion system, the Magi Water Jet. <, it can even fly for short periods of time. The 10-seater is currently piloted by Marin 541, with Jin, Erza, Hanna, Marcia, Rodrigo, Saki, and Goose on board. Jin was wearing a life vest and was taking care of the safety of the passengers. "Wow, it''s fast! Hannah was so excited. "This is just amazing! Marcia has also completely removed her helmet. "A three-hulled boat can go this fast. ...... Jin-dono is amazing!" Rodrigo was beyond impressed. "But how I wish I could have seen that Death Serpent up close. "I''d rather not, though." Goose looked a little disappointed and Saki unusually refused. Despite a few waves, <> returned to <> after a 30-minute cruise. Jin and his crew were brought on board by crane, and <> returned to escort duty. "Oh, that was fun." "Welcome home. "Oh, that was fun." "Welcome home. Hannah returns to the deck with a big smile on her face. Martha welcomed her grandson with a big smile. "I''m home, Martha." "Welcome home, Jin. Thanks for babysitting. No, I had a good time too. I''ve been having a lot of fun. ...... Would you like to join us next time, Martha?" But Martha shakes her head. I don''t think so. I''d rather chat with Meane and the others." "I see. ....... But if you ever want to try a small boat, just let me know. "Oh, thank you. I''m going to go to ...... now." Martha turned around as if she had just remembered something. "Hey, what can I do for you?" Martha smiled at Jin''s question. "Yes, I promised Vivienne that I would teach her the cuisine of the village of Kaina. < has a kitchen where the five colored golem maids on board prepare meals, but of course passengers can also cook their own meals. Of course, passengers can also prepare their own meals, especially if they want to enjoy it. Martha and Vivienne were looking forward to seeing what kind of dishes they would prepare for us in Kaina Village. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "This is delicious! "Oh, Hannah, I made that. Having lived alone for a long time, Vivienne''s cooking skills are reasonably good, if not quite good. This time, under Martha''s guidance, she made Kaina village-style barley porridge and bacon and eggs with mountain deer bacon. In addition, the cold tometru soup with tometru (tomato), marnegi (onion), and carrot (carrot), a dish from Vivian''s hometown in Korin, Kingdom of Selroa, was also a hit. Everyone was satisfied with the meal and looked out the dining room window at the setting sky and the sea. "...... is beautiful." "Yeah, it''s beautiful." The orange sky, the setting red sun, and the sparkling surface of the sea. Everyone was entranced by these sights that can only be seen on the sea. And when the sun set, the sky was full of falling stars. Jin and Erza refuse to join the others and return to , leaving the two of them alone. To be precise, there is a golem in charge of running the ship, Reiko and Edgar, but they do not disturb Jin and Erza. "You''re quiet." "Hmm." The only sound is the sound of the ship breaking through the waves. It is quiet because the speed is reduced to less than half at night. The sea is calm and you can hardly feel it. Just like on a honeymoon, Jin and Elsa enjoy their time together to their heart''s content. 1187 - - 32-05 September 10th, 2nd day of travel The morning of the second day was also clear. However, the blue of the sky seemed to be whitish compared to yesterday. The air seemed to be a little more humid. This may be due to the fact that we are approaching the equator. The morning passed uneventfully, and just before noon, Reinhardt showed his face. "Hello, Jin. "Welcome, Reinhardt. "I''ve got some time to kill, so I thought I''d check in on you." Reinhardt stood at the bow of the Edo, staring out at the open sea. "No, this is a great view!The horizon is to the right and to the left. We are truly in the middle of the sea. Because of the lack of established celestial navigation systems, ships in this world generally do not go so far out to sea that they cannot see land. Only Jin can see such a view. "I love it. I wish I could stay on the boat forever, but I have work to do. After enjoying the comfort of the for an hour or so, Reinhardt left with regret. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "It''s time to change course to the west. The << honeymoon fleet>, which had been heading southward, southwest to be exact, was now south of the Potrock and close to the equator. From here, a course to the west would take them to an as yet unnamed archipelago. "Kuhu, we''re finally going to reach an unexplored island, aren''t we?" Saki said with a twinkle in her eye. "Yeah, I''m looking forward to it!I''ll never be bored when I''m with you, Jin! Goose, standing next to Saki, also looks happy. And that was the feeling of all the members of the group. "But Jin, are you sure about the concentration of free magical element (ether)? Erza said a little worriedly. "Yes, it''s fine for now. We have been navigating while recording the distribution of free ether, and the rate of decrease has been slow so far. "Maybe there is a line somewhere where the rate of decrease is too rapid." "...... are you okay?" Jin explains, trying to reassure Erza, who is now even more worried. "The four cruisers surrounding us are less vulnerable to the reduction of free magical element (ether) than the <> <> and >, so we don''t have to worry as long as they can sail." Even if that happens, the cruisers can leave with their emergency magi crystals, Jin adds. We are not going to sacrifice any of our ships. "I understand. I''m relieved. By the way, Mr. and Mrs. Toa will probably join us in the evening. Jin said to Elsa as they stood on the deck looking out to sea. They were unable to join us from the first day, not because of ......, but rather because the emperor had seen the report that Toa had written about Mitsuho during their recent visit and had personally asked her to join us. "She said she was going to leave there in the afternoon." The time difference between the waters where the < is currently located and the capital of the Shoro Empire, Leusert, is about two and a half hours. If it is 1:00 p.m. in Loisart, it is about 3:30 p.m. here. "It''s going to be lively again. I''m looking forward to it. "It''s going to be fun. I''d love to hear what you''ve seen in Mitsuho. "I agree." "Hey, Onii-chan!" Just then he heard Hannah''s voice. Jin turned around and saw Hannah waving at him from the bridge. "It''s time for tea!" "Okay. I''m coming." Waving back, Jin replied. "...... will not be boring on this trip, will it? "Yes." Elsa nodded as she took Jin''s arm as they walked away. "I think we''ll be able to see the island tomorrow." Sipping his tea, Jin began to explain. The location was the bridge. The only reason why he was drinking tea in such a place was because of the good view. In a world where there is a horizon, the higher the height, the better it is to see as far as possible, so the bridge is built at a high place. In the case of the Horaijima, the long-range search and rescue is handled by the air force and satellites, so the height is not so important, but the view from the bridge, which is about 15 meters high, is still very special. Of course, the bridges of <> and <>, which are <>, have been furnished so that such a tea party can be held. "<> have observed that we will reach the first island in about 300 kilometers." At cruising speed, it will take six hours to reach the first island, but at night speed will be reduced to half of that to avoid danger. "I''ll try to make some adjustments so that we can see the island tomorrow morning." "d*mn, I''m not going to be able to sleep for this!" Saki shouted after hearing Jin''s explanation. "I guess so. I''m looking forward to tomorrow. Goose was also excited. "Yeah, I guess we''ve come at the right time." "Yeah, it really is. I''m looking forward to it." I turned around to see Toa and Stearina standing there. "You''re early." It was exactly three o''clock in the afternoon. "Yes, I was already prepared and they told me I didn''t need to bring a lot of luggage. Stearina smiled. "So ...... will get you to the first island tomorrow morning?" Stearina confirmed as she sat down next to Elsa. "Yes, that''s the plan. "Yeah, I''m glad I could make it." At any rate, now that all the available members were present, Jin began to explain the plan again. "Well, anyway, you should be able to see the island tomorrow morning. First, the Mermaid and Stream teams will approach. The Raptors will be in the air. We will check for natives and any dangerous animals or demons. By that time, he says, and should be anchored very close to the island. In fact, we have already done our homework and know that there is no great danger. However, just in case, they want to check again before going ashore. "We are not going on an expedition this time, so even if we go ashore, we don''t intend to go too far from the shore. "Kuhu, it''s Jin and Erza''s honeymoon to begin with, isn''t it? "Yeah, that''s true. "The shore alone will be fun!" "I don''t appreciate recklessness, you know. Saki agreed, Goose nodded, Hannah was excited, and Martha expressed her opinion calmly. "If it comes down to it, we can use the barrier function of the bracelets." The old man could also remotely set up a barrier, so the danger level was much lower. After that, we took some more precautions and talked about what we would like to do when we arrived at the island, and the day was over. "Ah, what an eerie sunset! "......" The sunset that day was somewhat poisonous, with the clouds turning reddish-black in color. 1188 - - 32-06 September 11th Travel Day 3 Rainy Morning Raindrops fell from the leaden sky. The wind was creating white, foaming waves, and the surface of the sea was undulating, tossing the floats about. Observations from <<<< watchers suggest that this rain cloud will pass in about half a day. <. "Well, there are days like this. "Yesterday''s sunset was a bit toxic, maybe because there were clouds in the west. "We came all this way, but we can''t see anything because of the bad weather. Disappointing. It was Bina who was grumbling like that. "Oh well. It''s supposed to clear up in the afternoon. Hitoshi soothes her. "Yeah, I guess so." Bina leans back in her chair. Her body finally seems to relax. Then Licia comes in. "Hello everyone, it''s been a while. Mr. Jin, thank you for inviting us today. Licia bowed deeply at the entrance of the cafeteria. "Hi, Licia." Jin greeted her lightly and Licia walked up to him, Jin-san and Erza-san, thank you for inviting us. She bowed deeply. "Well, enough with the formal greetings, please have a seat. "Yes, thank you very much. "It''s raining here, isn''t it? It''s raining, but it was fine out there. Reinhard and Bertsche also arrived. This meant that all the members except for Milowina were now present. The first thing to do was to meet in the cafeteria. "Well, according to the images from the <>, the rain clouds that are causing this rain are supposed to break up around noon. So we just have to be patient a little longer. Jin explains to Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt and Licia who have just arrived. "So, I think we should just pass the time until noon, especially those who are usually busy. Especially those who are usually busy. With these words, he looked at Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt, Licia, and Count and Countess Kuzma in turn. "Oh, yes. I have a little problem that I was wondering if you could help me with. I''d like to ask you all for some advice. ......." Reinhardt opened his mouth a little hesitantly. "Is something troubling you?" Jin asked and Reinhardt shook his head. "No, it''s not that I''m in trouble. I''m ...... hmmm... but I''m a little troubled?" "You, that kind of language won''t get through to the Djinns. Please explain in more detail. Reinhardt seemed to have made up his mind after being rebuked by Bertsche. "Uh-huh, okay." He thought for a moment and then spoke again. "It''s hot on this ship, but the season is heading toward autumn. Reinhardt started off with a preamble. "It gets quite cold in the village of Kaltz, my home village, in the winter," he said. "Yes, that''s true." Saki, our neighbor, agreed. "I''d like to think of a winter plan for the villagers while we''re at it. ......" Jin thought that it must have been difficult for even Reinhardt to ask for advice on how to deal with the cold weather in this hot environment. "Yes, we are heading into the cold season, aren''t we?" Licia agreed. I guessed that Licia, Hannah, and Martha were the only members of the group who lived in a region with cold winters, besides Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt. The climate in the Blue Lands is mild enough that there is no snow in winter, and Potrock is warmer. But.., But the winter cold is hard on them. Bina, who lived in poverty with her younger siblings, seemed to understand this feeling. "It''s a good idea to protect yourself from the cold in winter. Let''s talk about it until noon. Bina said and looked around at the faces of the assembled members. And no one objected. Everyone likes this kind of consultation and meeting. "Onii-chan put white mica on the window, didn''t she!" Hannah was the first to speak up. She put a plate of highly transparent mica (moschovite) she found in the mountains in the window instead of glass. This allows sunlight to enter the room and keeps the warm air out. "Mica or ......" Reinhardt looks at me with a difficult face. He knows of its existence, but the Shoro Kingdom does not produce much of it. "But glass is expensive," he says. Whether it is made by magical engineers or in a factory, there is no doubt that it costs a lot. "If it''s going to cost a lot anyway, why don''t we use <>?" Saki shows a direction. He suggests that we should put a thinly stretched board or sheet of GSP on the window. The image is that of transparent vinyl. Although the strength and heat resistance are not as good as those of GSP. Once put up, it would last for more than 100 years. "Hmmm... ......" Reinhardt pondered. If we don''t mind the initial cost, the price per year should be quite low, assuming it will last for 100 years. In fact, the window frames might not even last. "We could import glass from Mitsho for a little while longer..." Guth says. Mitsuho has a manufacturing plant for what is commonly referred to as . Eventually, with the exchange of technology, it will be possible for the Shoro Empire and the Lesser Kommunities to produce glass at low cost, but that day has not yet come. "Reinhard, what about the threads of the subterranean spiders brought by Tenkunhan, though they are not as good as those from Horai Island?" Once, there was a row involving Goose. "Well, the unit price is not so good ...... and the technology to make transparent sheets is not so common yet." "Oh, I see. ....... "Oh, well, it''s a difficult thing, isn''t it? "But I think it''s meaningful to make products that benefit the general public." Jin interrupted. He then turned to Bina. "Hey, Bina..." "Yes, I think so. Yes, I wish I could be like that. Jin remembers helping Beena in the past at the Blue Lands, building lighters, water heaters, and refrigerators. "That was fun, wasn''t it?" "Yeah?...... I did. It''s thanks to you that I met Mr. Lewis. After reminiscing a bit about the old days, Jin makes a proposal. "Then, a portable stove would be a good idea, wouldn''t it? "A portable stove? "Yeah, it means movable. "Movable...... means it''s not stationary or built-in, right?" "Yes. For example, you can put it in the dining room when you eat and take it to your bedroom when you sleep. ...... "That''s a great use for only one!" "Yes, yes. If you have a wealthy family, you can have several of them. As Jin exchanged these words with Bina, he remembered his time in the Blue Lands. 1189 - - 32-07 September 11th Travel Day 3 New Product Development Suddenly, Jin felt a gaze. Looking to the side, he saw Erza staring at him with a slightly puffy face. "Well, what do you think of these tools, Erza?" It was a terse line, but Elsa put her puffy face back on and opened her mouth. "Are you worried about a fire?" "Yes, I''m sure that''s a concern." When laundry is hung on the stove to dry, it is fine when it is wet, but when it is dry and light, there is a concern that a slight breeze ...... or updraft caused by the heat from the stove will cause the hangers to slip off and fall on the stove, causing a fire. The hanger may slip off and fall on the stove, causing a fire. Those of us who have heard of such accidents with the old-fashioned <> must be cautious here. "Martha, Hannah, what do you think?" Jin asks the two who can imagine the benefits of such a <. "Well, yes, if we had such a thing, we might cook with it. "In winter, it''s hard to dry clothes, so we hang them inside the room too. "I knew it. ......" Jin thought about it. For a moment, silence reigned in the room. Not a single sound was made so as not to disturb Jin''s contemplation. Then Jin slowly looked up and opened his mouth. "I think I can do it if I don''t get greedy. "Really?Jin, I''d like to hear your thoughts. I''ve got a few ideas of my own. Reinhardt said smiling. "Okay, here we go. ...... Well, I was thinking that we could heat the room without using a lot of heat." Engineering magic<. If you control it well, you can regulate the temperature. If the temperature is not high enough to cause ignition, but only about 60 degrees Celsius, for example, fires can be avoided. "But you can''t use it for cooking, though." Most of the oil stoves Jin knew could be used for cooking with a kettle or pot on top, but that was a double-edged sword. If you can boil water, there is a possibility of starting a fire. "I see. That''s a very Gin-like idea." Tell me what you''ve come up with, Reinhardt. "Yeah. ...... I was thinking that we could add a function to detect overheating." "We could turn off the heat when it gets to a temperature where it could catch fire," Reinhardt said. "That''s a good idea. The downside is that the unit cost would be higher." Reinhard nodded at Jin''s criticism. "That''s true." "I see. That''s a good point. Stearina looked pleased. "I see that both of your ideas have their own advantages and disadvantages. I guess that if you want more functionality, the cost goes up, and if you want less cost, the functionality is limited. ...... "Well, yes. Well, it can be solved to a certain extent by making some improvements, but fundamentally it is difficult to do so. It is even more difficult because the functions may conflict with each other. The two functions of preventing a fire and cooking are usually not possible at the same time. If we try to make them work, it is inevitable that the complexity will increase and the cost will rise. "Martha, Hannah, which one should I put first?" "Well, I guess. We already have the tools to cook in the first place, so what does it matter if we can''t cook? "Fire is dangerous! In a sense, the two representatives of the common people were in agreement. "We clean while drying the laundry, and cook while doing the laundry. If someone stays with you all the time, it would be good to be able to boil and cook. Martha added. "I see. Thank you, Martha. That''s very helpful. Reinhard thanked Martha. This kind of opinion from another point of view is welcome, even if it is not Reinhardt''s. "I''m glad to hear your opinion," Martha says. "...... is good for this kind of thing." Bina said. "Until I met Jin, I was alone. Now that I''ve met Master Luis, I''m not alone anymore. But when I''m working on magical engineering, I''m still alone. "Beena ......" Jin was speechless at this unexpected monologue. "Oh, I understand. Developing alone is free and carefree, but sometimes it can be lonely. It''s lonely when you don''t have someone to talk to, someone to ask ......." Stearina agreed with Bina''s words. "Hmmm... I guess that''s the way it is. It''s the same with research, I guess. Toa casually hugged Stearina''s shoulder. Marcia seemed to agree, "Yes, I agree. Being alone ...... has its good and bad sides, but I think it''s better not to be alone. He said as if muttering to himself. "Well, let''s get back to the topic." We were getting a little sidetracked, so Jin rejoined the discussion. "So, I guess that would be for safety." "Eaakon?" Someone asked back, as if not understanding a word Jin had just uttered. "Oh. It stands for <>, also called <>. In short, it is a device that regulates air, that is, temperature and humidity. "I see, <>. In other words, to make it warm when it''s cold and cool when it''s hot. Reinhard nodded and said. Jin affirmed that he was right. "So, the wind would be more efficient?" Erza said. Certainly, if the heat source is not high temperature, natural convection cannot be expected. It would be better to generate airflow to circulate the air, just like air conditioners in home appliances. "Well, then, it should face downward to heat and upward to cool!" "What, Hannah?" "Because warm air goes up and cold air goes down, isn''t that better?" "No, that''s right, but..." Jin is impressed by the fact that Hannah is taking scientific knowledge into her own hands. Jin wondered if a modern Japanese elementary school student could make the same kind of decision as Hannah. After about an hour of discussion, the concept of <> was completed. It is about the size of a household fan heater. The air conditioner can switch between cooling and heating, with the air blowing upward for cooling and downward for heating. It is not possible to control the temperature, but it is possible to adjust the relative temperature, such as <><>. The air volume is also infinitely adjustable from low to high. The most important feature of this product is that it can be supplied at a low price. It works with Magi Stones instead of Magi Crystals, and one standard Magi Stone can be used for about one month (10 hours of operation per day). . "I didn''t know there was such a way to conserve magic power." "Ah, as expected of Jin!" "That''s what I''d expect from a Magecraft Meister!" It''s the result of eliminating the effect of the <> magic used in the air blowing part to eliminate the recoil. To complicate matters, normal wind magic has no recoil. This means that no matter how strong the wind is, you will not feel any recoil. This is because the effect of canceling recoil works automatically, and if this effect is removed, the consumption of mana can be dramatically reduced instead of feeling the recoil. < Let me digress. The recoil of a blast of air is not enough to move the main body, and by not canceling the recoil, the consumption of mana was reduced to one-third of its original amount. At the same time, <><>, by narrowing the temperature range, the consumption of mana could be reduced to half. This will make it a magic tool that even ordinary people can afford. "Why don''t we distribute it to various countries as the <>?" Guth says with an idea. "Yeah, that might be a good idea!" Reinhardt agrees, "Certainly, it would be a good idea to start up the as a proof of reliability. Licia also agreed. Thus, it is up to Jin and the others to decide whether or not the <> will be introduced to the world after this ....... By the way. (Actually, we wanted to popularize <>, but it''s difficult to do so without Japanese-style architecture. ......) ), Jin was secretly disappointed. 1190 - - 32-08 September 11th Travel Day 3 After Rain, Clear "It''s sunny, everyone!" As Jin and the others were talking about the Kunlun brand, Meane looked out the window and shouted. "Oh! "It''s so clear, so clear!" Hearing her voice, everyone looked outside and sure enough, the rain had stopped, blue skies peeked out, and the sun was shining down. "Perfect timing, isn''t it?" Jin said, and everyone agreed. "Well then, it''s a good time, let''s have lunch. We should be approaching the island soon. "Kuhu, I agree." "I agree!" Saki was the first to express his approval, followed slightly later by the other members. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Lunch was sandwiches, and everyone was anxious to eat them in a hurry. The first to finish eating went out on deck. "Oh, I see it, I see it! They could see a small shadow of an island ahead of them. As they watched, it gradually grew larger. Then the old man''s voice echoed. "Let''s go." "Okay." Hearing this, the members hurried to the bridge. "One, two, three!" Hannah is the first to arrive at the bridge. Then Marcia. Licia and Goose followed. Finally, Martha arrives and everyone is present. The old man''s voice rings out, and a map is projected on a large magic screen. There were six islands, large and small. <> "Well, if there are six, why don''t we call them the Pleiades? The Pleiades is the name of a constellation, known in Japan as the Subaru. The Pleiades are the seven sisters in Greek mythology, but for some reason there are only six bright stars in the constellation. In Japan, they used to call them . Surprisingly, Jin likes such stories. "Oh, the myth of your hometown, Jin. You should have told me that earlier! Vivian bites my hand. She seemed to be interested in the myths of other worlds. He chides Vivian that he''ll get around to it, and names the islands of the Pleiades. "Let''s see... ...... Electra, Taygeta, Atlas, Merope, Maia, Alcyone." Interesting names. "Indeed. I''m intrigued by Jin''s homeland. Vivian and Goose said something like that, "I thought it was tasteful, even for Jin''s brother. Elsa said, "That''s terrible. "That''s terrible!" Jin protests with a wry smile, but inwardly, he is not so sure, (It''s a good thing I didn''t make it ...... Firth Island, Sekan Island, or Sir Island ......) (I''m glad I didn''t make Firth Island, Sekan Island, Sir Island, etc.). < The Mermaid, Stream, and Raptor units that preceded us surveyed the island. < "Southern island" means Hamir Island or Aof Island. I have been to Hamil Island. Rodrigo adds to Marcia''s words. "There is a tree there that produces black sap that can cause a rash if you touch it. "What? ......?" Saki frowned. "Is that the poison ivy tree?" "It might be." Jin answered Saki''s question. "If we find it, I''ll have Golem take a sample." "Well, that''s a relief." This is the fun part of being on an uncharted island. "Maybe there are some rare ores here! Toa said with a pleased expression on his face. < "Oh, yes, I''m sorry. Please continue." The old man resumes his report, which had been interrupted by the high-spirited conversation among the members. If we replace the free magical element (ether) with oxygen concentration, we may be able to imagine whether the 10% reduction is large or small. It is about the same burden as that of going to the top of a high mountain by a ropeway. "It''s nice to be free of demons." <<< Yes. The usual beasts, even large ones, are about one meter in length. Birds and small insects are also abundant. "Are there insects or ...... blood-sucking ones?" Malaria and dengue fever are the first diseases that come to mind when one thinks of insect-borne diseases in the south. <<< Yes. There are insects that resemble mosquitoes, so you will need to take precautions>> "Yes. ......" For this, we have prepared a weak barrier that can protect against insects and small animals by applying the Sterilize Barrier that we have made for Milowina. At the same time, it is also effective against pathogens, so it will be able to prevent unknown febrile diseases. "You may feel a little uncomfortable with the warding. ......" Jin explains. The fact that it can keep out small animals means that it is a physical barrier. "Think of it like wearing a glove." Jin explained that his hands would feel as if they were wearing a pair of thin gloves instead of bare hands. "Kuhu, I''d appreciate it if it would protect me from diseases and pests." "Yes, indeed!" "I''m amazed at your skills and ideas, Jin." Saki, Goose, Toa. The three who were most likely to benefit from it praised it highly. "Well, all we have to do is upgrade the functionality of the <>." Like a firmware upgrade. We can do this because there is still plenty of room for more functionality and capacity in the <>. Thus, preparations for landing on the unknown island progressed, and at the same time, the <> also approached the island. "Wow, there are some unusual trees growing here. Goose is impressed. As a naturalist, he must be interested. "I wonder what kind of land it is. Likewise, Saki is also looking forward to investigating the resources as an alchemist. 1191 - - 32-09 September 11th Travel Day 3 Electra Island At 1:00 PM local time, the <> arrived at >. According to the survey, the south side of the island has a good cliff for berthing, so that''s where we are heading for. "It''s a natural harbor. Without it, we would have had to call in a stream instead of a barge." Coincidentally, the steps were just about the same as those on the cruiser''s deck, so we were able to land without difficulty. "Oh!Unknown land!Unknown nature!I''m looking forward to it!" Jin nailed Goose, who looked as if he was about to run off at any moment. "Goose, even though there is a barrier, don''t act alone, okay?" Jin glanced at Lando''s team, which he had called in for support, "Make sure you take one rando with you." He said to all of them. Of course, Jin was accompanied by Reiko, who was holding a . Even though they have confirmed that there are no ferocious creatures on this island, it is still dangerous to go alone. Considering the short time it takes to confirm the existence of such creatures, there is a possibility that we may have missed something, or that they may be lurking underground. However, only Goose and Saki were thinking of going deeper, while the others seemed to be satisfied with the coastal area alone. Since the top of the cliff was deserted with little grass and trees, the group went around and went down to the beach. "This tree is interesting," said Goose. Goose looked up with interest at the trees growing along the coast. "What?There are berries growing on them. With that, he suddenly kicked the tree. The tree shook and the berries fell. With a thud, the nuts fell into the beach. "Oh, they look heavy!" "Goose, you don''t want them falling on your head, do you? Jin warned, "No, I''m not that indiscreet. He replied, "No, I''m not that indiscreet. "I wonder if that''s true. ......?" Saki is skeptical. Anyway, Jin looked at the fallen fruit and asked Reiko to cut it in half with a peach blossom. "Okay." Reiko quickly pulled out a peach blossom and cut the fruit in half in an instant. "Oh, great!" Goose immediately picked up the fruit and observed it. "Hmmm, is it fibrous skin on the outside and seeds ...... inside?" Jin also picked up the other half. "Inside the seed is ...... pulp?And the moisture ...... is similar to that of a <>. Yes, the coconut was just like the coconut that Jin knew. "Coconut milk......?Can it be used for cooking and confectionery?" Jin had never used coconut-based ingredients so he had a vague recollection of it. "Well, okay. I''ll let you do your research." He secured a sample and asked Perid and the others to study its application. But he remembered that the fibers around the berries could be used to make a scrubbing brush, or mixed into the soil to improve it. I told this to Saki and Goose, "Hmmm, that sounds like a useful plant! "Yes, it''s very useful. Jin, that''s helpful. They each responded, "Well, it''s more interesting than that. "Well, I''m going to go look for more interesting trees. "Me too." To these two, Jin attached two lands. "Honey, look, there''s a beautiful fish swimming in there. "Oh, really. It would be fun to keep them, but I don''t think so..." Reinhard and Bertsche were looking at the fish in the tide pool. Just looking at the colorful tropical fish swimming in the water seems like fun. "It''s difficult to keep fish here because they are saltwater, but freshwater fish can be kept in glass or crystal vessels. ......" Reinhardt is trying to figure out how to keep fish for viewing. "Wow, the water is warm!Oh, fish!" Hannah gets into her swimsuit and swims in the shallow water as much as she can. She is wearing goggles so she can see well underwater and is chasing small fish. Martha was watching Hannah in the shade of a tree, smiling at her. "Martha, Hannah is so cute, isn''t she? Meane is standing next to Martha, and they are having a leisurely conversation. I''ve never been this far from home before in my life, so I''m always surprised. "Hmm, you don''t seem so surprised to hear that, do you? "That''s because I''ve known Jin for a long time, isn''t it? "Perhaps you''re right. Licia, you can apply this. Thank you very much. ...... what''s this? Sunscreen. Sunblock? Nope. It''s a sunblock. "Wow, I didn''t know they made something like this!" Licia immediately applied it to her arms and face. "The sun is very strong in the south," she said. Licia had come later in the day and had failed to give it to her. "...... is this by any chance?" "Yes, my brother Jin made it with Kemeria oil." "It''s amazing. ......" "Bina, Luis, here you go. It''s called sunscreen." "Oh, sunscreen?So if I put this on, I won''t get sunburnt?" "Yes. Yes, but you''ll still get a little sunburn. "But it helps." Bina immediately went to apply it and handed it to her husband Luis. "Ha, thank you. You first." "Thank you very much." So Bina applied the sunscreen first, and then Luis. "But going out with Jin-dono is full of surprises, isn''t it? "Yes, it is, Luis." You two don''t swim? "Uh, no. I can''t swim. ...... I''m going to relax with Bina. I''ve been busy lately." "Yes, I''m sure you will, Mr. Lewis." Count and Countess Kuzma, who had been busy until they joined the event, seemed to be relaxing in the shade of the trees. That''s one way to enjoy the southern island. "Father, it''s nice to do something like this once in a while, isn''t it? "Yes, it is. "Yeah, it''s nice to get away from work and just relax." Marcia and Rodrigo are swimming and lounging on the beach. Everyone is enjoying the island. 1192 - - 32-10 September 11th Travel Day 3 Night That night, after having enjoyed the island to the fullest, all the members decided to stay the night. After dinner, Jin decided to explain about the current status of the long-period planets. Martha and Licia did not know yet, so he began with a brief explanation. A certain star is approaching from far away, and if it continues at this rate, it will pass by our planet Ars around October 20. "What?What?" "...... What do you mean, Jin?" Licia and Martha were unable to grasp the situation, so Jin used the magic screen to explain it to them in detail. "......Well, anyway, I kind of get it now." Martha seemed to have taken it all in . "......Wow, ......I guess you''re in some kind of trouble. ......" Licia felt a sense of urgency in her own way. "So,......" Jin reorganizes. "According to Jack from the moon (UNY), we''re going to pass by planet 5 soon. There is a possibility that their orbits will shift due to their mutual gravitational attraction." "Hmmm... the problem is what happens after that." Toa says with a slight frown. "It would be better if it shifts away from Ars, but if it shifts closer to Ars, it could be dangerous. Saki agreed. "Hmm, can''t we get closer to it with Jin''s spaceship?" Saki started to say something like that. "Even so, I don''t know. ...... The distance between Ars and Planet 5 is about 900 million kilometers. The cruising speed of Jin''s spaceship is about 200 kilometers per second. It would take 52 days to get there, and there is no way he can manage that now. "Wow, it''s that far away. The universe is so big. Saki looks a little distant. "What?Does that mean that the speed of the long period planet is faster than Jin''s spaceship? "If you compare it with the cruising speed, yes. Jin explains that it is possible to go faster, but it would be dangerous. "At that speed, even a collision with a small stone could cause serious problems." < would probably be extremely rough, he adds. "I think it will go faster as it gets closer to the sun, Celan. Eventually it will be about 400 kilometers per second. This speed is astonishing since Halley''s Comet is said to be moving at about 55 km per second near perihelion. Comet ISON, which has recently come to the solar system, is said to have a maximum speed of 375 kilometers per second, so it is probably close to <>. I''ll leave it at that. "At the moment, I can''t do anything about it ......, but I''m still observing it, and I''m working on the spacecraft." "I see. Jin, how big is a long period planet? "Oh, about the same size as this Ars, apparently." Jin answered Reinhardt''s question. "It''s pretty big, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is. It''s a little difficult to manage something that big. In response to Saki''s question, "Can''t you do something about it? >>Saki''s answer to the question, "Can''t you do something about it? "Yes. No matter how many djinn you are, you can''t destroy a star. ......" Incidentally, a very popular science fiction movie series describes a weapon that destroys a planet and estimates how much energy it would take to do the same thing. According to the calculation, for a planet the size of the Earth, it would require 2.25 x 10 to the 32nd power of 10 joules. This can only be obtained by converting the entire mass of 2.5 x 10.15 kilograms into energy. For reference, this is about 7 days of energy emitted from the sun. "No <> can provide that kind of energy. ......" "Right. ......" Jin''s words were met with unanimous agreement. "The universe is so big, it''s on a different order of magnitude. Humans are so tiny." Toa muttered in a deep voice. Jin raised his voice to dispel the humidity in the air. "Well, let''s talk about this. I''d like to hear more about Saki and Goose. What did you find?" The two had ventured into the interior of the island of Elektra in search of something unusual. "Oh, we''ll skip the black sap tree since it''s already been reported, but we did find some herbs that could be used as spices..." "Well, Rand, who came with me, did a quick , so I don''t think they are toxic." "That''s interesting." Jin leaned forward at the mention of the spice on the southern island. "I hope you''ll take it home and study it carefully." Saki''s eyes were filled with anticipation as she wondered if she could develop some new ingredients with it. Jin, for his part, was happy to have more kinds of spices, so he agreed. Jin is not a cooking expert and does not know much about spices, but as someone who enjoys cooking to some extent, he has discovered or put to practical use several spices. Cinnamon, pepper, red pepper, turmeric, etc. are very close or have been found, but I would like to have more. Saki and Goose had found about eight different kinds, enough to give Jin some hope. "Thank you. I will study them carefully and let you know when they are ready. "I''ll look forward to it. "Oh, and I found an interesting tree. It''s a very light tree. It will grow fast. It''s probably not as strong as it should be." Jin looked at the sample Goose offered him and was convinced. "It''s balsa." "Balsa?" "Yes. As far as I know, it''s the lightest wood in the world. In my previous world, I used it a lot for model building." Since everyone knew that Jin had come from a different world, no one was surprised by his explanation. "I see, balsa. I can see a use for it." "Yes. It grows fast and it''s light ......." "It could be used on the ship, right, Gin?" Marcia''s voice was full of hope. She had been a silent observer, but now she was suddenly very enthusiastic. "I suppose so. For example, if we use it to fill the gaps in a ship, it will be harder to sink even if it gets flooded." "Yeah, it would be great for small boats." "It looks soft, so it would be better to use a different material for the outside. Rodrigo and Marcia immediately began to think about how to use this new material. Thus, the first day of our visit to the southern islands has been a productive one. * * * * * * * * * * * Late at night, after everyone has retired to their respective bedrooms. Jin and Erza are also relaxing in <>''s bedroom. "About what you said earlier..." Erza, who had been looking out the porthole window, turns around and speaks to Jin. "What will happen to the long period planet? "Well, we don''t have enough data to make a decision yet. We need at least another half month. < "...... but ......" Hmm?" "I''m sure Brother Jin will take care of it, I believe in him." "Ha, thank you, Erza." Jin hugged Erza''s shoulder and turned off the room light. "I have to live up to your expectations. The moonlight shone faintly through the window. 1193 - - 32-11 September 12th, 4th day of travel, the island of Olivin < left and headed for <>. In order, they would have gone to <>, but since it was a small island with little vegetation and this was a honeymoon trip, not a research trip, they decided to skip it. > will be surveyed separately by the Marin and Land teams. "<> is so big too!" Goose looks like he can''t wait to get there when he sees the island. "Well, I''d love to go ashore, but I''ve got some business I can''t miss today. "I''ve already left Juliana with you, so I''ll leave you to it this time. Reinhard and Bertsche finished their breakfast and returned by the warp gate. "Jin-dono, I''m also concerned about the store, so I''m going back. I will come back tomorrow. I''ll be back tomorrow. ...... Marcia can stay behind." "Thank you, father." Rodrigo said no and left, but Marcia stayed behind. is the second largest island in the Pleiades. At 8:00 in the morning and get underway. There is no place for two vessels to berth here, so they anchor offshore. They drop anchor. This time, the crews move to by instead of barges. "Oh, so this isn''t a sandy beach, is it?" Stearina says with interest. The beach where they landed the stream is a fine gravel beach. "Oh?The gravel here is ......." The gravel is not opaque, but has a transparent greenish color mixed in. "Jin-kun, could you try to it for me?" Toa scooped up some gravel in his hand and held it out to Jin. "There''s no need to do any <>. The marine team has already investigated it. It''s an olivine. Peridot is olive. The mineral name is olivine. It is named for its greenish color, which is reminiscent of olive. Yellowish green olivine, which is quite different from the blue-green of emerald, is considered a gemstone and is called peridot. The five-colored golem maid, <>, is named after peridot for its green eyes. "So this island, or rather most of the <>, must be volcanic in origin." Olivine is a rock-forming mineral that forms olivine and is sometimes found in granite and rhyolite. It is well known among enthusiasts that brownish iron olivine can be found on the shores of Miyakejima. "Hmm, you know a lot about geology, don''t you?" Goose asked, twisting a peridot between his fingers. "No, I only know the basics." His junior high school science teacher was a mineral enthusiast, so he sometimes talked about minerals in front of the class, which made him a little more knowledgeable about miscellaneous topics in this field. "So, is this island rich in minerals?" Saki''s eyes changed color. She is also a materials enthusiast and likes to collect such rare minerals. "I see. ...... Reiko, ask Rando which areas are rich in minerals." Later in the evening, Rand does some quick preliminary research. "Yes. ...... There is a place about two kilometers south of this beach where the strata have been exposed by the waves. That looks like a good place to start." "Okay!" Saki hurriedly headed south. Guth followed. Toa and Stearina followed. "Follow him!" Jin instructed the two Lands, and in response, Lands 401 and 402 followed the four. Rand 401 and 402 followed the four. "I''m sure there are some interesting ore deposits here. "Father, they say there are veins of ore exposed in the sea." The Mermaid team reported that the beach where Konin and the others are now located is an outcropping of ore towards the sea. This is probably the result of erosion by waves and currents over the years, which have scraped away the strata. "We''re in the middle of the ocean, so we''ll just have to leave it to the mermaid squad." As Jin was talking about this. "Onii-chan, I found one in this color too. Hannah held out a transparent stone in the palm of her hand. "I think this is ...... crystal. It must have been chipped and polished by the waves to make it round. "Can I look for more?" "Yeah, sure." Yes, of course. - Yes! Hannah seems to be picking up stones because this beach is rich in such gems and precious stones. Martha sat down in the shade of a tree to watch over Hannah. "Well, what shall we do? "Swim? Erza answered Jin''s question without a pause. They were now on the eastern shore of Atlas Island. A short distance north of there is a small cove with calm waves. The survey revealed that there were no dangerous creatures. "Well, let''s do that." Jin changes into his swimsuit, which he has prepared, and realizes that there is no changing room. "Okay. I''ll change in the shade. Since there was no one else around, Erza moved to the shade of the leaves. Reiko follows her to change. That''s good enough for an escort. Edgar stays with Jin. Jin quickly gets dressed in the . "Here you go." Elsa comes out in her swimsuit, holding the clothes she has taken off. Reiko is with her. They put their clothes away in the . Marine 61, the pilot of the boat, is watching the boat. "Well, let''s go swimming. But Jin can''t swim as well as Erza, so he calls for the mermaid squad. "Yes, master." Mermaids 17 and 18 arrived. "Come swim with us. Or rather, take me by the hand or carry me on your back. "Yes, sir." So Jin and Erza enjoyed riding on the backs of the mermaid golems and being pulled along by their hands as they sped across the sea at great speed. "Oh, you guys are so sneaky!" Hannah shouted when she saw Jin and Erza, "Hannah, do you want to come with us? Jin invited Hannah to come with him. Of course, Hannah nodded with a big smile on her face. She invited Licia, Beena, and Marcia, who were looking at her with envy, to join them. But.... "I''m not ...... going to do it. Bina says she''s been doing a lot of restraining since she found out she was pregnant. "Okay. You and Luis can relax in the shade of a tree. Jin smiled and brought a folding chair and a table with a and set them up in the shade of the tree. "You too, Martha." "Oh, thank you, Jin." At the same time, Jin set up the drinks. Licia had not brought her swimsuit, so he had her send it from Horai Island. Jin had given Licia a swimsuit before, so she was able to wear it without any size problem. The mermaid group of 14, 15, and 16 had also arrived, so the five of us decided to have fun together. "Wow, you are faster than I thought you would be! "Wow, this is fun! "This is so different from the ship!" Riding on the back of the mermaid golem, Licia clung to it in amazement at its speed, and Hannah was excited. And Marcia was amused by the speed, which was different from that of a ship, and all three showed different reactions. Jin and Erza were also carried on the back of the mermaid golem and enjoyed the speed that could never be achieved by human power. 1194 - - 32-12 September 12 4th day of travel New measures It was still 4:00 p.m. and bright outside, but Jin and the others, tired of playing, returned to the boat and took a bath to clean their bodies from the sticky seawater. "Ah-ta-ta-ta!" <. "Oh ...... even if you wear sunscreen, it will come off if you swim for a long time. ......" "...... hurts." "It''s a little sore. ...... "I''m fine, though." The women who had swum in the water had also gotten sunburned. The only one who seemed to be okay with it was Marcia, who usually gets sunburned. "I''m fine too! Hannah, who often plays outdoors, also seemed to be fine. (......I''ll talk to my brother Jin about it. ......) Erza decides to do so while casting a healing spell on her tingling neck. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "That''s why it''s called ......." "Yeah, I know. I''m sore from the sun too. Jin looked back at Reiko, "Reiko, I need you to do a healing spell for me." "Reiko, do a healing spell for me. "Yes, Father. " This is an elementary healing spell for both internal and surgical use. It can heal minor abrasions, burns, and nausea. The redness of Jin''s skin after casting this healing spell fades away. "I feel better, thank you. Jin thinks that it is worthwhile to have Reiko do it for him, though he can do the elementary healing magic by himself. "No, I''m glad I could help you. Reiko was all smiles. "I''m at ......," she said. A sunburn is a burn caused by ultraviolet rays. ...... "Warding against ultraviolet rays?" "That''s what it would be." Jin and Elsa began to consider the possibility. The other members of the group were helping to prepare dinner or had not yet come out of the bath. "A light-blocking ward, huh?" We can use the wards on the spaceship to cut off dangerous electromagnetic waves. "And if we cut out infrared rays as well, it would be a pretty good solution to the heat." "...... that was easy." "Yes." Now all we have to do is write the circuitry for the Magi Circuit into the bracelets of our friends. "Oh, so if you want to deploy it all the time, you only need the ultraviolet bandwidth?" Jin realizes that this way consumes less mana. "When we are out in space, we can use a barrier that allows only visible light to pass through, and on the ground, we can limit it to harmful ultraviolet rays. We can switch between the two. This barrier does not affect visible light and does not obstruct visibility. It also does not affect solids, liquids, or gases, so it does not interfere with your activities. "This is good. You can actually try it out tomorrow." "Hmm." I''m home. I''m home. Saki and Goose, who had gone to look for minerals, came back. "Welcome home. You should take a bath. "Yeah, I will." Goose nodded and looked at Jin. "I found some pretty rare minerals. I''ll report back to you when I get out of the bath." "Yeah, I''ll look forward to it." "You''re sticky with sweat and the sea breeze. I can''t wait to wash it off. Saki and Goose headed for the bathroom. Saki and Goose headed for the bathroom. After everyone got out of the bath, they gathered at 6:00 p.m. The sky was still light, but they were still moving. The sky is still light, but we are hungry after all the activity, so we have dinner first. Tonight''s menu is mainly Japanese. White rice or porridge, miso soup with tofu and deep-fried tofu, grilled fish, boiled vegetables, pickles, and meat topopo. "Yes, this meat topopo is delicious! "Saki, you have to eat other side dishes too. "Oh, Jin-san, this boiled rice is delicious. "Tonight''s rice is a little soft for everyone. "Eat it before it gets cold, or the grilled fish will get tough. It is a lively dinner. Jin''s motto is to have fun at dinner. While it is out of bounds to get wild and boisterous, friendly conversation is welcome. Elsa, who had been raised as a child of a noble family, was a bit confused at first, but now that she was used to it, she was able to eat with a smile and a conversation. Of course, she has mastered the manners for official occasions and can use them according to the occasion. "What did you find at ......?" Difficult and complicated discussions are usually held during the after-dinner tea time. Jin turned the conversation to Saki and Goose, who had found a rare mineral. "Thank you very much for listening." After a few words, Goose began to speak. "There were a lot of minerals that we don''t see on the continent very often. Goose asked Land 401, who had come along as his escort and assistant, to bring him a collection. They were soon brought in and laid out on the table. "Here''s one to start with. A round shape. Hexagonal prismatic crystals with pointed sides. "The mineral is quartz, or crystal, but it is highly transparent and smooth, and it is rare that it has two pointed ends. "Wow, I didn''t know there were crystals like this." Jin had never heard of such crystals. In fact, such crystals are called < on earth, and are produced in Herkimer, New York, U.S.A. They are not diamonds, but other crystals are produced in Herkimer. It is not a diamond, but it is more transparent than crystals from other places, and its pointed ends somewhat resemble octahedrons, which are diamond crystals, hence the name. "This is the next one." It was a pink crystal. "I had it analyzed and found it was made up of aluminum, lithium, silicon and oxygen. "Hmm?Lithium?Pink?" Jin had an idea. "...... Kunzite?" "What?You know about this?" "Yes. If I''m not mistaken. The reason why Jin knows about it is that there was an antagonist in a shoujo manga that was kept in the facility who was named after a gemstone, which led him to research about several kinds of gemstones. "Hmm. Kunzite, right? "Lycian pyroxene, to be exact." "What, Lycia?" Licia, who had been listening silently, spoke up. "Yes. Because it contains lithium. Maybe that''s not the spelling of Licia''s name. "Still, it''s interesting." Licia stared at the pink kunzite. 1195 - - 32-13 September 12th Travel Day 4 Tenka Powder Goose and Saki''s report continues. "And then we found this. Dark yellow columnar crystals. They say it''s topaz. "Hmm, this island seems to be rich in gemstones. I''m sure collectors will be flocking here in droves when they find out." Jin replied seriously to Saki''s half-joking comment. "Maybe, but they won''t be able to come this far. "Well, that''s true, but..." Then, as if to cover his words, Goose showed him more minerals he had found. "Finally, here it is." A white lump. "It''s very soft. You can scratch it with your fingernails." Goose scratches at it, and it has several marks on it. "Pebbles. ...... That''s good!" Jin''s eyes light up. For some reason, no known mines have produced talc. "Hmm?What''s the use of such a soft mineral?" "It''s sweatless." Sweatshop? Sweatshop is what the director called it when he was at the facility, and it was originally the name of a product. It is generally called talcum powder. Ciccarol, Tampafun, and baby powder are also in the same family. Talc is made by adding starch, boric acid, and fragrance to talc powder. It is powdered and put on the baby''s bottom, which is prone to heat rash. Oh, and adults can put it on their armpits and nape of the neck, too." "Wow. I''ve never heard of ...... before. Is that how they do it in Jin''s place?In the village of Kaina, we sometimes use a powder made by grinding and soaking the roots of the pulsed pea in water. Martha, who had heard Jin''s explanation, mentioned a custom in her village. "Alemame?But I don''t think I''ve ever heard of it. Jin questioned Martha''s words. "Of course you haven''t. Ever since the hot springs were built, we don''t have to worry about heat rash anymore. "Oh, I see." The high altitude and low humidity of Kaina Village originally made it difficult for rashes to form, and the hot springs keep the surface of the body clean, so rashes and other skin diseases have been drastically reduced. Furthermore, because of the presence of a healer named Sally, not only adults, but also children and babies were no longer suffering from rashes. "But it''s good to make them. "Yes, yes, Jin, it''s hot and sticky at my place, so it would be nice to have some. Saki and Marcia said yes. "Okay. I''ll tell them to mine for talc later. I''ll tell them to dig for slipstone later, and I''d also like to collect the roots of the heirloom bean. Actually, this alemame is what we call kuzu in modern Japan. The starch extracted from the root becomes kuzu kuzu ko (kuzu flour), which is used to make high-quality Japanese confectionaries. Kuzu is a highly transparent jelly-like substance, and unlike gelatin or agar, its hardness and elasticity can be adjusted with the amount of water used. Kuzuyu is also said to be effective when one catches a cold. It will be a little while before a new confectionery is born using kuzu bean powder, which is extracted from the roots of the bean. "Hopefully, it will be a new product. "Oh, I heard that there are some of these beans around the village of Toka. I heard it''s a rescue plant. "That''s good. When you get back, I''d appreciate it if you could dig it up for me. "Yes, I''ll do that." Licia answered Jin''s suggestion. Now there is one more product from Toka Village. "One more thing. It''s not a mineral, but I found this plant. It has long yellow fruits in clusters. "...... banana?" It seems to be a wild banana. "Is this called a banana, Jin?" "No, there was a similar fruit in my world." "Hmm. Well, look. It''s a strange fruit. When you peel it, you find a seed in it. "They''re big seeds. The bananas I know didn''t have seeds." Originally, the bananas we eat on earth today were bred. The original species had small fruits and large seeds. Then, a mutation occurred and seedless bananas were produced, and these were multiplied by stock division to become the bananas that we eat today. "I see, if you look for it, there might be such a < banana!" This will also be an issue for the future. If such a strain is found, we will have one more delicious fruit. With that, Goose and his group finished their report. After a little more idle chitchat, Jin and the others retired to their respective rooms. * * * * * * * * * * "It''s been a fruitful trip in many ways, hasn''t it? * * * "It''s been a fruitful trip in many ways. At night, Jin and Erza were talking in <>''s bedroom. "But Erza, are you sure this is the right thing to do?" "What do you mean?" Elsa''s face was puzzled, not understanding the meaning of Jin''s question. "No, this honeymoon was mostly planned and executed by me as my hobby. Perhaps Erza would have preferred a different kind of trip. ...... Elsa smiled and shook her head. "No, that''s not true. I''m really enjoying this trip that my brother Jin has planned for me. I couldn''t have planned such a fun trip myself. Erza''s eyes seemed to be filled with truth as she said this, which made Jin feel a little tickled. To cover it up, he dimmed the light in the room. "Reiko, what time is it?" "Yes, it''s just after 9 pm." "I see. I''m going to go to bed. I''ll leave you in charge of the security. Yes, I''ll leave it to you. Reiko bowed and left the bedroom, standing motionless in front of the door. In fact, since her body is secured by the force field generator, she should not move even slightly even if the ship is overturned. However, the waves were calm that night, and the ship did not sway much. * * * * "...... dreamy" < The sky was full of stars. The sound of gentle waves can be heard. "Not so long ago, I had no idea that such a world existed. I knew from the moment I met Jin that he was an extraordinary magecraftsman, but I had no idea that he was capable of changing the world. "But I''m glad to be a part of your group," he said. Licia renewed her determination to do her best in whatever she can do, even though she has nothing to offer. 1196 - - 32-14 September 13th Travel Day 5 Fishing The next island they visited was Merope Island. Since this was Jin and Elsa''s < and not a research or exploration trip, they could not spend much time on a single island. All the members of the group were aware of this. "Kuhu, let''s see what the next island is like." "I heard it''s a little bigger than the island we left out." Goose answered Saki''s question. "I''m looking forward to it!" Hannah also shouted with an innocent smile on her face. "Well, then, I''d like to give you a brief explanation as a preliminary information. Jin opened his mouth. We have already learned a great deal from the investigations of the Marin and Land teams during the night. "It seems that there are no dangerous animals on Merope Island. So the equipment is the same as before. And ......." After a pause, Jin asked the old man to explain. The old man began to speak. Relief comes over the members'' faces when they hear this. The old man has finished his explanation. "You heard me right. I think there is probably something on Archeone Island. Not knowing what it is is not good for my sleep, so I''m going to let Rand and the others look for it." "Hmm, I think that''s a good idea." Erza agrees, so the precautions are taken and the group goes ashore by stream as before. It was decided not to go too far from the landing site that day. By the way, Rodrigo, who was supposed to return that day, could not because he was busy at his store. Still, it is a fatherly figure that he told his beloved daughter Marcia to <. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Let''s go fishing. Jin suggested that we do something fun that we haven''t done before. "Yeah, that sounds good, Jin." Martha was the first to agree. She was a little bored after all. "Yes, that''s right. Let''s see what we can catch here. Marcia agreed. "Okay, I''ll send a fishing rod. Jin himself had never fished in the sea, only in rivers, but he had seen Potrock''s fishing equipment and had made a prototype plan to fish in Horai Island as well. Now, I could see the light of day here. When Marcia saw the fishing tools sent to her, she said "Jin, is this based on the one in Potlock? She asked. "Yes, it is. You know a lot about this, don''t you Marcia?" "Of course. ...... I''m not very proud of it, but I did fish for food before I met the Djinns and won." Marcia thinks for a moment and then opens her mouth again. "Maybe, but the fish around here are not so different from the potlocks, are they?" Marcia was fishing mainly with a trap net, though. "If it''s a fish that can also be fished, it''s a halibut." A fish similar to a flounder or flatfish, found on the bottom of the sea. "You have to bait them with sandworms." Saying this, Marcia digs in the sand around her with a fallen branch. "Oh, there they are!" Sandworms are not what we call "sandworms. In modern Japan, they are called "sandworms" or "sandworms. "......!" Elsa shuddered when she saw this. It seems that this species, called <>, is not popular with the ladies. "Are you going to use this as bait ......?" Licia''s face changes color. But... "I''m fine with this.Here." Hannah picked it up and showed it to her. "If you don''t stab or bite me separately, ...... hey?" Saki is not afraid to put it in the palm of her hand. "I don''t want to touch ...... woo ...... much." "I agree." But Stearina and Vivienne backed away. "Well, let''s have Marin do the baiting." Seeing the reaction of the women, Jin makes a compromise. "Well, then, ......". He also asked Marin to remove the fish from the hook. < boats and cast a line near the shore. "It pulled!" "I caught it!" The fish were not rubbing against each other, and we had chosen a spot where the fish were in good shadow, so the fishing was almost continuous. "All right, let''s race!" It was beginning to look like a fishing contest. "I''m going to make meunire of halibut tonight," he said. Sashimi is good, too. Sashimi''s good, too. Sushi''s good. We have soy sauce and wasabi, so that''s one way to eat them. In the end, Marcia took first place with 12 fish. Even Elsa, who came in last place, caught 6 fish, making it a very successful fishing tournament. The last place finisher, Elsa, caught 6 fish. "Yes, it''s fresh. "Ugh, the horseradish was too much ......". For dinner, we had sashimi, sushi, meuniere, and grilled fish as requested by everyone. Jin mainly enjoyed sashimi and sushi, while Erza enjoyed salted fish and meuniere. Saki enjoyed sushi and salted fish, and Hannah enjoyed all of them ....... They all enjoyed their own Haribou dishes to the fullest. "Oh, I''m so full!" Licia sipped her hojicha (roasted green tea) with a satisfied smile. "I can''t believe I have to go home tomorrow. ......" She too has a job as the lord of Toka village, so she can''t be away for such a long time. "By the way, didn''t Jin-san say that there is such a thing as a <> (......)?" A <> is a faithful imitation of the target person. While it is relatively easy to imitate the appearance of a person, it is necessary to accumulate a certain amount of data on the actions and thoughts of the person. In the case of Licia, this data is still insufficient. Even if it is sufficient, there are others like Count Kuzma, who do not like to entrust their territories to such entities. Perhaps they are afraid of becoming accustomed to such replacements. "It''s fun enough just to be able to come and visit from time to time like this, isn''t it? Licia, too, was hesitant about such a change. 1197 - - 32-15 September 14th Travel Day 6 Trolling "Thanks for the food." < and looks around at the faces gathered here. Jin, Elsa, Meane, Hannah, Martha, Marcia, Goose, Saki, Tor, Stearina, and Vivian. Reinhardt and his wife, Count and Countess Kuzma, Licia, and Rodrigo had gone home. "Let''s go trolling today," Jin suddenly said. Jin suddenly said. "Trolling?" "Yeah. Is it a kind of fishing ......?You run a boat with a fishing line and catch fish. You can catch fish that eat live bait. ......? Jin was not sure, since he only had knowledge of it, but he thought it was about right. "Hmmm, <>!Driving a boat sounds interesting. Maybe it could be a new way of fishing. Marcia is enthusiastic. The idea of using a boat for fishing seems to have caught her interest. "Let''s see what kind of fish we can catch. Jin asked, seeing Marcia''s enthusiasm. "Well, maybe some fish that are a little offshore," she replied. I guess it would be something like the Gilera (a fish that looks like a horse mackerel). Marcia describes the Gilera. About 50 to 70 centimeters long. They live slightly offshore. They feed on seaweed and small crabs. "I see. What other kinds of fish might we catch?" "Well... < A fuko is a fish similar to sea bass, and can grow to about one meter in length. They eat small mysids (crustaceans similar to shrimp) and sand worms. "Sea bass, sandworms." Elsa''s face changed color at the mention of food. But.., "I''ll put the bait on it for you," Jin said. Jin said, and she seemed to calm down a little. "Yes, yes, it''s nice that you two are so close, but the only other thing I can think of is <, but it doesn''t taste good. On the contrary, they break the nets, so they are a nuisance." Barram is a large coastal carnivorous fish, similar to the barramundi on modern Earth. "I think I''m going to release that one when I catch it." Jin said a fishing term that he had heard only a little bit. * * * * * * "Master, is this enough?" <, asks Jin. However, even Jin does not know the optimum speed for trolling. "Yes, I guess so. Let''s start out slow and gradually increase the speed. Eventually you will find the right speed. "Yes, sir." "Hey, Jin, we''re ready!" "Okay, let''s throw it in." Two vessels will be used for trolling. The two boats used for trolling are a trimaran type destroyer, <> and <>. Jin, Elsa, Hanna, and Reiko are on the <>, and Goose, Saki, and Marcia are on the <>. The others passed this time and remained in <>. Then the two boats increased their speed from a walking pace to a running pace. "Oh, here they come!" Marcia tugged on her rod. "Here it comes!" Jin also pulled his rod at about the same time. "This is a great pull!" The fishing rod, which has been toughened by Jin, bends like a full moon, but does not break. The fishing line is originally from an underground spider, and even a single line is strong enough to lift a weight of about one ton. The reel is also of Jin''s special design, not motorized, but it is reeled in by a golem arm. "Can you get me a net?" "Yes, Father." The fish he caught was a fry nearly a meter long. Reiko easily scooped it up with a huge net. At about the same time, Marcia also caught a 70-centimeter class Gilera. "Hey Jin, let''s keep going!" Marcia yells from , which is running alongside the boat. It seems that fuko and guilera migrate in schools of dozens to hundreds of fish, so it''s best to catch them when you can. "Oh, here they come, too! Saki''s rod seemed to get a bite, too. "Hey, big girl, I think I caught something!" And to Hannah. Reiko, support Hannah. "Yes, Father." The rod was chained to the boat, and he was wearing a life preserver and a lifeline, so he was sure he wouldn''t be dragged overboard, but he was still very careful. "Ah, Jin, this way too." "What? If two people on one boat get hit at the same time, depending on the fish''s behavior, the fishing line may get tangled up in the water. "Jin!You have to reel it in as fast as you can!" Marcia sees this and gives me a piece of advice. "Okay. ...... Elsa, Hannah, wind it up at once." Yes. "Yeah!" The fishing rod, line and reel didn''t wiggle even after all that recklessness. Within a few dozen seconds, Erza caught a 90-centimeter-class fish, and Hanna caught a 70-centimeter-class fuco. <. They were only a little more than 10 meters apart, but they each seemed to hit a different school of fish. "The fish are so thick!Let''s keep going!" * * * * After spending all morning in <>, Jin caught three fluke, Elsa caught two fluke, and Gilera caught one. And Hanna caught 4 fucos. In <>, Saki caught 4 fish, Goose caught 5 fish, and Marcia caught 4 fish and 1 fish. Saki caught 4 Gilera, Goose caught 5 Gilera, and Marcia caught 4 Gilera and 1 fuko. "Oh, that was fun!" Hannah is very happy. "I''m going to make the fuco into sashimi tonight. Should I freeze the rest? By the way, Jin liked the sashimi of fuko, so there will be more fish tanks for fuko and girella in Horai Island. I tried to grill Girera as Marcia''s recommendation, and found that the seasoning with butter and soy sauce was a perfect match for the sashimi. The butter and soy sauce was a perfect match. "Let''s go to in the afternoon. We spent not only the night but also the morning to investigate, and the report was that Maia Island was not in any danger. The south side of Maia Island has a calm sea surface and beautiful sandy beaches, partly because the waves are blocked by <>. "All right, let''s go and have a watermelon splitting ...... or even a <>." Jin made such a suggestion. 1198 - - 32-16 September 14th Travel Day 6 Watermelon Cracker In this ars, watermelons are distributed under the name <>. It is red inside and has seeds. It is not as sweet as the watermelons known to Jin, but it is edible enough. "Cracking open a shika?What do you do with the watermelon? Saki questioned. "Oh, you don''t just crack it open. It''s one of the summer games in the world where I was ...... blindfolded and guided by the voices around us, we smash the squid." "Really?" Saki didn''t seem to get the point, "Sounds interesting! Hannah is enthusiastic. "Okay, let''s get ready to go ashore. All we need is a swimsuit, a watermelon, a sheet, a blindfold, and a stick. The sheet is to put the watermelon on the beach and prevent the watermelon from getting covered in sand. "Yes, yes, keep going around ten times. ......" First of all, Saki, who did not understand how it was done, had to experience it firsthand. "Ugh,...... my eyes are rolling." "That''s okay. ...... keep walking straight. ...... a little more to the right. ...... too far right, a little more left. ......Good, two more steps. ...... stop right there. Swing it down!" Saki walked as Jin instructed and swung the stick as hard as she could. "Yes!" But the stick was swung down at a place 10 cm next to Sakiya. "I''m sorry, sir." "Oh, so this is what happened." Saki took off her blindfold and finally looked at me as if she had reached an understanding. "Next is ......." "Yes, me! Hannah raised her hand cheerfully. "Okay, you know how to do this? "Yes!" Hannah was blindfolded and made to turn ten times at a suitable distance. "Come on, go!" Hannah, a little more to the left! A little more to the left!...... keep going, keep going! Okay, there it is! Yeah! Hanna swung the stick and it smashed into the shika. "Yes!" Hanna jumps up and down with joy. Reiko exchanges the shika. The broken squid is stored in a cooler box. They will all eat it later. "Elsa, a little more to the right!...... too far, too far, left, left!...... Oh, too far again!" Elsa was dizzy after 10 turns and wandered off, heading for the sheikah....... "Ei!" She was banging about 50 centimeters next to Sica. Stearina and Vivian declined, so Marcia blindfolded them. She went around ten times, but she didn''t wobble a bit, probably because she had trained her semicircular canals on the boat. "Keep going two more ......1 steps ...... ah, go back half a step!......Good, swing straight down!" Yeah! Nice work! Marcia also cracked the sheikah with aplomb. And, after all, it was Jin at the end. As per the rules, he went around 10 times blindfolded. ....... Jin bro, right. "Oniichan, you turned right." "Oh, I went too far left this time." "Four more steps. ......3 ......2 ......." "You''re missing a half step. Just go a little further. Okay, that''s good. "Oh my God!" "Oh ...... that was so close!" Jin swung his stick down, but it only narrowly grazed Siica. * * * * "That was pretty fun, wasn''t it? "<>, this kind of game is fun too. "It''s nice to eat the broken squid, isn''t it? Everyone chats while eating shiitake under the shade of a tree. By the way, the shiitake is cooled by <. "Cooled shiitake is delicious, isn''t it? Let''s try it with potlocks. With refrigerators becoming more common, people are beginning to chill food, but it still seems to be a trial-and-error process as to what should be chilled. It is not possible to cool everything. We decided to collect the eaten seeds by throwing them on the plastic sheets instead of scattering them around. These seeds have a high probability of sprouting if left unattended. Because of this, the garden at Jin''s facility was once covered with watermelon vines. However, none of them bore satisfactory fruits, whether because they were bred watermelons, lack of fertilizers, or lack of sunshine. * * * * "Oh, you''ve had a lot of fun. ...... "Yeah, I agree." The honeymoon is now six days old. Jin and Elsa felt they had enjoyed their vacation to the fullest. "We were aiming for seven days, what do you think?" "Well, I''m satisfied." Elsa replies with narrowed eyes, her expression showing that she is truly satisfied with her vacation. "I see. Well then, can we make tomorrow the last day?" "Yes, of course." "Sure." Jin gently hugged Elsa''s slender body and whispered in her ear. "This past week has been a lot of fun." Erza, leaning back against Jin, replies in a quiet voice, "Me, too. "Me too. I''m very, very happy. The two of them snuggle together. The night passed peacefully. In the background, the Rand team, which had been investigating the Pleiades, had found something of interest. 1199 - - 32-17 September 15th Travel Day 7 Underwater Tour The morning of the 15th is clear. <. "Normally, we would be heading for . Jin explains the information he has just received this morning. "I just heard about it myself, but I don''t know all the details yet. He prefaces his explanation with the following words, "Please explain to me in detail, old man. He urged him to explain. > with Lando''s group, and we found something of interest there. This is it. < were a sight to behold. It looked like an ordinary pebble. "It''s not so much what it looks like, but what it is, isn''t it?" < Astonishment spread across everyone''s faces. Artifacts have been left on an island that was thought to be unexplored. What does it mean ......? "Do you have any idea what it is made of?" "Molecularly compressed. ......" Jin also uses a special process to create <>. This is a supermetal with a standard compressibility of 10 and a specific gravity of about 200, although it varies depending on the conditions. Its strength is 20 times that of the original adamantite. "You mean there are or were other people who have such technology besides me? ......" "......, another mystery." Goose, who had been silent up to that point, muttered. "You recovered that material, didn''t you?" This is Saki. She is now devoted to the study of physical properties and has been analyzing various materials with the old man, so this must be an interesting sample for her. for now. "Was there anything else?" Jin asked again. < "I see. ......" The material has been recovered and is not a threat. However, I am still afraid to go to <> with this group. "We won''t go ashore on Archeone Island, but we''re thinking of an interesting twist." Jin wants to end this honeymoon on a happy note. "We''re going on an underwater cruise." "Underwater cruise. "Wow, that''s amazing!" Hannah exclaimed, sticking to the window. We are in the Orca. This is a submersible built by Jin. The submersible can accommodate eight passengers, so it is a bit cramped for Edgar, who is in charge of piloting, Jin, Elsa, Hannah, Saki, Goose, Vivienne, Marcia, Meane, Martha, Stearina, Tor, and Reiko. However, as with all of Jin''s creations, it is designed with plenty of room, so a maximum of 15 people are expected to be on board, and all can safely ride in this way. For Jin, it is normal to take more than 2 as the usual safety factor. < is 2 tons. However, the reason for setting this figure is also the purpose of exploitation of undersea resources. < is quite deep. This is because the gently sloping seafloor drops at a steep angle after the archipelago. Hence, they are ideal for underwater excursions. The humidity problem has been solved, and there is no condensation inside the orca, and changes in atmospheric pressure are minimal, so there is no lack of oxygen. "Wow, interesting fish!" Hannah exclaims to herself, but the others seem to be excited as well, though they don''t say so. The others seem to be excited as well, though they don''t say so. As proof, they are all staring intently out the window. The current depth is about 10 meters below the sea surface. The water is clear, allowing plenty of sunlight to shine in, and the swimming fish are clearly visible. "Oh, beautiful fish! A school of colorful fish, which I would call tropical fish, disappeared behind a rock. "No, this is fun." Saki''s face was relaxed as she muttered. "Looking underwater like this, it''s like a different world. ...... No, it''s a different world on land and underwater, isn''t it?" Goose''s eyes are shining, despite his calm demeanor. "It''s a different view from the surface of the sea. ...... Oh, that rock has an interesting shape. Toa also seems to be interested. "This is not what you get when you dive. Jin is amazing." Marcia shrugged her shoulders. "I wonder what kind of materials they can get?There must be a lot more resources at the bottom of the sea. "This view is legendary. ...... It''s hard to put into words." Excited words were coming out of Stearina''s and Vivienne''s mouths. "Well, I feel like I''m going to live a long time with Jin!" Martha looked happy too. "Yes, Grandma, live long! Hannah smiled at this and looked at Martha. "Jin-sama''s power exceeds that of humans. ......" Meine was both amazed and impressed. Jin and Erza were in the very back seat, cuddling together and looking out the window. "Oh, a big fish!" "What?" Hannah''s voice caused everyone to look to the starboard side of the boat and see a long, thin fish over 10 meters long coming toward them. "Death Sea Serpent? Saki''s face turned ...... pale, but Jin denied it. "That''s not the Death Serpent. His face is different. True to his words, the approaching fish had a small head and, therefore, a small mouth. "I think it''s an eel." "Yeah, they look like that." "They''re big, though." However, the dragon eels in the Shama Marsh in the Kingdom of Klein can grow to about three meters in length. "It has <> and weapons. Don''t worry about 10 or 20 Death Sea Serpents. At Jin''s words, "Jin is right not to say ''one or two''. Saki was also relieved. The giant eel swam off down the starboard side of the orca without incident. "Oh, another big fish! Hannah''s voice again. There was a. "A ...... sunfish?" Jin couldn''t help but let out a voice. There was a school of about ten giant fish that looked like sunfish. "They look so quiet." < They swam leisurely as they passed by. "There are so many different kinds of fish." "I don''t think I could cover all the creatures of the world in my lifetime," Goose said sincerely. Goose said sincerely. "But you can work toward your goal. That is the purpose of life. These are the words that Dr. Jin was told many times by the Director when he almost failed in the past. "Striving is the purpose of life, huh? I see. "Kuhu, that''s a good phrase." 1200 - - 32-18 September 15th, 7th day of travel, 1 break "Oh, that was fun!" "That was fun, wasn''t it?" Hannah, who has returned from her undersea excursion, is smiling with satisfaction in the dining room of the <>. Martha is smiling next to her. It is now 1:00 p.m.. They are having a late lunch. "Now that we''ve covered most of our itinerary, I think it''s time to go back. Jin says as he eats his sandwich. "Yes, today is the first week of our trip. ...... It''s about time to go back," Martha said nodding her head. Martha nodded and said. "Thank you, Jin. I''ve enjoyed every minute of it." "No, thank you. "Thank you, Grandma!It was a lot of fun traveling with you, Grandma! Hannah thanked Jin as she finished her Citran juice. "We still have a long way to go on the way home." As Jin said this, a thought occurred to him. "Shall we fly back?" "What?" "It would be no fun to go back the way we came, so I was thinking of flying home in the Conlon 3." Is that all right? Yes, of course. He was concerned that he might get tired of looking at the sea all the time, "Jin, can you fly?By all means!" Marcia was also interested in flying. So, after the meal was over and they had enjoyed their tea. "Father, <> has arrived. Conlon 3, which had left Horai Island at Jin''s request, was stopped on the deck of the <>. <>. "Well, you all know about this, don''t you?" Jin asked somewhat unsurely, pointing to <>. "I guess I''m new here," Marcia said. Marcia said. It was true that she had used the warp gate, but she had never ridden on <>. Although he is not here, his father, Rodrigo, was in the first airship that Jin built when Marcia was in distress. "Whoa!Wow!We''re really flying!" Of all the members, Marcia is the only one who has never flown before. Even Martha had flown with Jin for a short time before, when he took a scenic flight in the village of Kaina. Martha was calm enough not to make as much noise as Marcia did. "The ocean is blue from above, isn''t it!" Marthia is sticking to the window. "What''s that?Is that <>? This is the same monster that attacked Marcia and the prototype catamaran earlier. It is basically docile, but it has a habit of looking at floating objects as hostile. "If it swims that way, I doubt it will affect land. ......" Conlon 3 looks off at the 20-meter-long Bowall swimming leisurely below, and continues to fly north. "Oh, that land ...... is the Elias Peninsula!" Marcia''s homeland comes into view, and it gets closer and closer. "Ah, I see the island of Io!Oh, there''s Potrock! Potrock!" She looks like a little girl with all the excitement in her life. We were amazed that Marcia had such a side to her, but at the same time we were smiling. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * < "See you later, Onii-chan!" "Jin, it was fun. Thank you! After dropping off Hannah and Martha, takes to the sky again, heading for Horai Island. This time, they go a little faster and arrive at Horai Island in a few minutes. Once there, they went to the institute''s cafeteria to drink Persian juice and celebrate their safe return. "Congratulations on a successful trip". Glasses were raised and everyone looked relieved as they drank the juice. "Yeah, it was a lot of fun. Thank you, Jin!" "No, thank you for taking me on this trip. I had a great time every day." "...... Well, my dad will miss me, I have to go home." Marcia passed through the warp gate and returned to Potlock. "Thank you, Jin-dono, for everything. "Jin-kun, it was a pleasure. Be good with the young mistress. See you later. "Jin, it was a very fruitful trip. Thank you. Toa, Stellina and Vivian also left with a few words. "Well, we''re going home too. I''ll have to write this up!" Saki and Goose also left. "Well then, Jin-sama, Erza, you two enjoy yourselves." Even Meine said such words and left the laboratory. The remaining members are Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Edgar. "......" "...... suddenly became quiet." "Hmm." The quietness after the merrymaking is somewhat lonely. Both Jin and Elsa were silent for a while. But... "...... we have to do what we have to do." Jin muttered a few words and stood up with a shake of his head as if to reset his thoughts. "Brother Jin?" "Erza take a good rest. I''m going to the workshop. With these words, Jin walked out of the cafeteria. Reiko followed him. "I''m going to prepare dinner. Elsa whispered in a low voice and got up to go to the kitchen. Edgar followed her. * * * * * * "What was this material at ......?" As a matter of fact, Jin was concerned about the mysterious object found on . "Is it lead ore or ...... tungsten lead ore?" < "Then the cause of this weight must be ...... molecular compression? Why such a substance was found in such a place is a mystery. "I don''t think we''ll ever know," he said. < "Well, keep on going." < 1201 - - 32-19 After the trip, Dinner was not at , but at the institute''s cafeteria. This time, Elsa''s cooking was the main course. "Ah, it''s so relaxing, isn''t it? Jin and Elsa, plus Meane, Reiko, and Edgar. This is the latest family lineup. "Well, I''d like to do a quick review. This is the reason why we had dinner in the laboratory cafeteria. The old man activated the magic screen on the wall. "No, let''s start with the equipment and the way of doing things, rather than the island." . Jin began by explaining what he felt. "First of all, I thought again that what we need for a long boat trip is ." "I understand. ......I don''t think that''s the right way to put it, though." Elsa agreed with a wry smile. "You know, Hannah said she wanted to go swimming, right?" "That''s true. It''s hard to be surrounded by water and not be able to swim, isn''t it? The old man concludes. "Yes, it will be. ...... Can''t we divert the water we use for ballast?" < "Yes, I think that would be fine. It would make a big difference. < "I guess so." We are on our way to fulfilling our desire to swim in the boat. Now, let''s move on. "I was thinking that we could form a golem orchestra to relieve the boredom. "Yes,...... I''d like to make an orchestra ...... with little craftsmen (smith) or mini craftsmen (smith), but I don''t know much about orchestras, but I''d like to make such an orchestra and have it play. "Brother Jin, the Shoro Kingdom also has a military band, is that what you mean?" Erza asked, tilting her head. "Yes. It has nothing to do with the military, and it doesn''t play only marches, though." Jin''s knowledge of music is limited. He wished for a moment that he had a friend who had the talent to compose ....... "We should also develop string, wind, and percussion instruments." He would like to make the orchestra as close as possible to the one he envisions. "You got it." After reviewing the items that he had noticed during the trip, including some very small ones, it was time to talk about the <>. < "Yes. First of all, plants. Balsa, poison oak, palm trees, spices, I think. And banana trees. Oh, yeah. Thank you." Jin thanked Elsa for her addition. "Let''s collect some saplings and try to cultivate them in Horai Island. . These will serve as five-color golem maids, Topaz. "Gemstones are also plentiful, I have seen peridot, quartz, kunzite, topaz, and some slipstones that are not gemstones." << "I see. We should avoid overexploitation, but it might be a good idea to extract some of them as raw materials. < "Yes, that would be a good idea. Jin agreed with the old man''s suggestion. We may not be able to sell them in the market, but the materials are essential for the island of Horai to support this world behind the scenes. < "Oh, I knew it." The mermaid squads were almost totally outnumbered in the Atlas Island where Jin and the others enjoyed their swim. "I''m sure we''ll be fine, though, since we''ve got the warding in place." "Father, we are still worried about you. At Jin''s words, Reiko, who had been silent until then, interrupted. "So ...... you are. I''m sorry, Reiko. "No, it''s not your father''s fault. No, it''s not your father''s fault, it''s just our own. <, and this is an identity that cannot be compromised in any way. "Thank you." The old man took care of the follow-up, so Jin decided to think again about the last remaining riddle. "Now, the biggest mystery. Why was the compressed tungsten lead ore located in that place?" The old man has a good point. "You''re right, ......, but you didn''t find any other clues, did you?" A larger and larger RAND team searched , but failed to find any of these mysterious substances. In the first place, finding them was also a matter of chance. <. "I guess that''s what I thought." "...... Jin brother, I said hello to the demon people, but not to Mr. 700672. I don''t think so." Erza points out. "Well, you know. I had been to the demon territory before, but I didn''t have enough time. "Let''s go there just to say hello." Jin was curious. "Well, maybe tomorrow..." Erza agrees. Since there is a warp gate at 700672, it will not take long to get there. Just when Jin thought that this was the end for today, the old man spoke to him. "Yes, what is it?" << We can''t know much about it at such a great distance. ''s action was justified. "Okay. Report back to me as soon as you have the results." < This time, the day''s work is done. After the preparations, Jin and Erza go to bed. "Good night, Mother." "Good night, mother-in-law." After saying good night to Meane, Jin and Elsa went back to the house. Meine went to her room at the institute so as not to disturb the newlyweds. 1202 - - 32-20 700672 Greetings Jin and Elsa took a rest at , and the next day, September 16, Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar visited under 7006 They visited the bottom of No. 700672. "Oh, welcome!" No. 700672 greeted Jin and the others with its usual smile. On either side of him stood and . "Today, I''ve come to report on the marriage of Erza and me." Jin hugged Elsa''s shoulder and told her. "Oh, that''s great news. Let me congratulate you. "Thank you very much." Jin and Erza bowed their heads. "Well, that''s not all, is it?" After the greetings were over and the usual souvenir of Persica juice was handed over, No. 700672 began. "You must have something to ask me, don''t you?" "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do." Jin told the story of the supposedly molecularly compressed azurite ore he had discovered on his honeymoon on the island of Archeone. "Fumu ......." Neither Jin nor Erza could open their mouths as No. 700672 seemed to be thinking seriously. Neige and Rouge also looked at him in silence. After five or ten minutes of deep thought, No. 70067 No. 2 looked up and opened his mouth. "It may have been caused by the process of planetary remodeling. "Planetary modification?" Jin asked back at the unexpected words. "Yes. I don''t know the details myself, but this Arus is the planet where the Masters moved to in the first place. The story of No. 700672 can be summarized as follows. When the Masters decided to move to , there were several problems. One of them was that had a little less gravity for < to move in. Therefore, <> modified it to have the same gravity as their home planet <>. The modification was carried out slowly over a period of 100 years, while watching the adaptation of the current inhabitants. The remodeling of the planet was carried out by <> and <>. The remodeling was carried out by <> and <>. Migration to , which had been remodeled, also took place in 100-year increments. The information on the followers before the number 500000 is not available for 700 No. 672 does not have the information of the followers before 500000. Therefore, we do not know the details of the remodeling. This is what I mean. "That''s why ......" "That''s just my guess, based on what little information I have." Jin sensed from behind the words of No. 700672 that there was apparently a gap or disparity even among the followers. "So, to compensate for the lack of gravity, I guessed that heavy elements were injected into the nucleus. I suspect that what looks like compacted azurite may be the product of such an experiment." This is just a guess, says 700672, but it makes a lot of sense to Jin. However, it was an explanation that made a lot of sense to Jin. "After all, the fact that this star has a large gravity for a small planet is the result of such modifications, isn''t it?" "Yes. There is no doubt that modifications were made. But I don''t know the details of the modifications, so I can only speculate. Still, it was an interesting story about the origin of stars, Jin thinks. "Do you know how your were molecularly compressed?" Jin asks the few remaining questions. "Only in my imagination, yes." With that, No. 700672 began to explain . "You determine the target location and perform a multi-layer multi-layer compressive transfer." "Multilayer Multilayer Compression Transfer?" Jin asked back at the unfamiliar word. "Multilayer Multilayer Compression Transfer is a magical technique developed by the Masters to generate high-density matter. Jin listened attentively. "I am not privy to the details, but it is difficult to actually do so, although the density can be increased by piling matter on top of matter. Apparently, there is a gap in information as well. "It seems that they do this by creating a boundary that makes it possible and sending matter inside of it." I don''t know anything more than that," said the apologetic 700672. "No, that was helpful." Jin is using a compression boundary to forcefully compress the molecules, while the masters seem to be doing it a little smarter. However, Jin''s method leaves a gap after compression, and the mass does not change in the first place. If you want to increase the gravity of a planet, you have to bring in material from somewhere and add it, which is not to say that Jin''s method is impossible, but it is too much work. "Perhaps they increased the gravity by a factor of about twice the original amount?" "I see. ......" Although the planet was originally as heavy as adamantite, the gravity was still about 0.5G, so they must have modified it to double the original gravity. "I do not know how this would have affected other creatures. When I and my came here, the gravity was already the same as it is now. Planetary modification may have been done as a test case tens of thousands of years before the migration," 700672 said in a further bombshell. He dropped another bombshell. "I do not know the whole truth. In fact, compared to the 100,000 number, I know nothing at all. "Haha ......" Jin wondered if this world had been created by such followers of the 100000th and their masters. (It''s not worth thinking about, though.) (It''s not a good idea to think about it, though.) This might be the origin of myths and legends, reminded Jin of the science fiction and anime of his days in modern Japan. "By the way, what about <>?" The 700672 also seemed to be concerned about this matter. "Yes, we sent out an observation rocket to investigate the details. "Oh, that''s good. After all, the planet has an extraordinarily long period of time, and it goes away and comes back far away, so there''s no guarantee that it''s the same as the last time. "I guess so. ......" The sun Celan is one of the foci of the long elliptical orbit, but we do not know what is near the other foci. I am taking some steps to deal with it, though." What are they? A small gravity stabilizer and a large gas field. < And if the atmosphere is lost to a , it would be a big deal. This is what 700672 explained. You are right. I have to do something. "Then, Jin-dono, you may accumulate your free magical element (ether). After all, it is energy that we need when the time comes. "...... understand." I understand what you are saying, 700672. If we were to set up a planetary scale warding, how many ordinary <> would be needed. Reiko''s Magi Reactor would have to be multiplied by millions, Jin could not imagine. Still, the secure energy supply would be useful in many ways. "I''ll work on it right away." "Oh, I''m sure you can do it, Jin-dono. I''m counting on you." We can''t risk this world, 700672 said. "I''m sorry to be so formal with you, ma''am. Yes, accept my congratulations." 700672 went to the back of the room and came back with something that looked like a small box. "This is for the both of you. It is called a camera. "A camera? That''s right. You look through it, point it at what you want to project, press this button, and after a while, a sheet will come out with a picture that looks exactly like the projected image. It was, after all, the that Jin knew. "The principle is ...... no, I''ll save that for Jin-dono''s enjoyment. "Thank you very much." Jin gladly accepted it. He had often wished he had a camera, but he could not make photographic paper. Jin received the camera from No. 700672, confident that if he studied it, he would be able to make it. 1203 - - 32-21 Cameras "Camera or ......" After leaving the 700672, Jin rushed back to the lab. "Brother Jin, you look happy." Elsa said, seeing Jin''s lively face. "Yeah, I just couldn''t make photographic paper. I wonder how this works. Let''s try ...... first." Jin pointed the camera at Elsa and pressed a button. "What?" Erza''s face was filled with surprise. Then he pulled out a piece of photographic paper from inside the camera, and there was a picture of Erza. "Oh, it''s there, it''s there!" The operation seems to be similar to that of an instant camera. "Here''s ........." The image quality is quite good. As expected, it is a gift from No. 700672. "Let me see ......." Erza snatches the from Jin''s hand as if snatching it halfway. Her face turns red. There is a startled look on Erza''s face when the camera is suddenly pointed at her. "...... tease." Erza''s face swells up. "Sorry, sorry. But Erza with a natural face like this is cute, too. No matter how she looks, Erza is still Erza. "...... already." I can''t be mad at you if you talk like that," Elsa grumbled and put the photo back in her pocket. "Oh, wait a minute. I haven''t checked it yet." Jin rushed to retrieve the photo. "...... no." But Elsa held his pockets and refused to give him the photo. Reiko, who could not bear to watch them arguing, gave them some advice. "Father, why don''t you take another picture? "...... Oh, I see..." "If it is all right with me, please take as many pictures as you like." Elsa stepped forward as if to intercept Reiko, who was puffing out her chest. "...... copy me." Behind Erza, Reiko was smiling a pleased smile, but neither Jin nor Erza noticed the expression on her face. Jin takes another picture of Erza with a composed face, and applies to the picture in his hand. Her face was colored with surprise. "This is ...... that way! But surprise is replaced by frustration. "Brother Jin? "Father?" The two look worried, "...... No, this dye was the same kind as . ......Oh, I wonder why I didn''t think of that!" Magical dyes change their color from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, and red-violet depending on the amount of magic power applied to them. Jin guessed that the color of the material used here can be changed to a more intense one. "The wavelength of light is converted into magical power to produce the color. I think they also change the intensity of the light by converting its intensity into magic power. I thought of that very well, didn''t I?" Jin explained in a tone that still had a hint of regret in it. "I''ll have to look into it more closely to make the same thing, but the principle is as I just said." In principle, there is no <> involved. It is exactly like an . If we can take <>, it will be convenient in many ways to keep records. Yes, even data on <>. Jin has decided to study this method and try to reproduce and mass-produce it. * * * * * * "Well, the point is that the color changes with the wavelength of magic power and the density changes with the intensity of magic power. ......" We were able to identify the characteristics of magical dyes, but we had no idea of the key magical dyes. The existing magic dyes change from red to red-purple, but the magic dyes used for photographic paper seem to have coloring characteristics similar to the spectrum of light. "Brother Jin, is this also a biological material?" "Hmm, that is a strong possibility. It is hard to imagine a material found in nature having such characteristics. "Then it must be Mr. Goose." Edgar spoke up, which was unusual. "Well, let''s go to ...... and ask him. Saki seems to like this kind of research." So Jin took Reiko and moved to Saki''s house. * * * * "I''m going!I''m coming!" Sure enough, Saki bites. And Goose? "...... hmmm...... maybe it''s an <>...... or maybe it''s a <> (rayoti worm)>>?" "You know, Goose?" "Yes. The pigment Jin is talking about could possibly come from the rainbow worm. According to Goose, the rainbow worm is the larva of the rainbow butterfly, an insect that lives deep in the mountains of Huso. "The larva changes color depending on the type of magic it possesses. The adult is a beautiful butterfly with a tail as thin as a string. "Oh, ....... Does the butterfly change color too? "No. When they are larvae,...... or rather, just before they turn into pupa, their wings are the same color. It is only when they are larvae that they change color. "I see." "I see." "There must have been villages that used them as a dye." That was good news. "Can you share it with us?" Yes, ....... It''s not so rare, so a small amount would be fine, right? "I see." Then, since we can''t overfish, Jin wants to think about aquaculture. "Anyway, I''ll go and ask them to share it with us." Jin said and left the room. Goose stops him. "Of course I''ll go with you. Jin nodded silently. "I''ll go with you, then." Saki came forward. "Okay. Then let''s go to Horai Island and take the Conlon 3. So the three of them moved to Horai Island. "I''ll go with you. Naturally, Erza followed them. In the end, with Edgar as pilot and Reiko as escort, Jin, Erza, Goose, and Saki took off for Fusor in the <>. On the way, Jin gave Goose and Saki a detailed explanation about the <>. 1204 - - 32-22 Butter < was going 1000 km/h. It was a speed that could be called subsonic. The reason for this is that the only passengers on board are the members of the , so they don''t have to be shy, and they want to get the materials as soon as possible, and also because of the time difference. Finally, there was also a reason to shorten the flying time for Goose, who is not good at flying, but Jin kept quiet about it. The time difference between Horai Island and Fuso is about 7 hours. When we left Horai Island around 11:00 a.m., it was 4:00 a.m. in Fuso. Since the distance is about 2,300 kilometers, it would be about 6:30 a.m. local time when we arrive in Hsaw. "But are we going to get there soon?" "The clouds will be behind us in no time!" Saki is excited, in contrast to Goose, who is still getting used to the idea. And then, without incident ......, <> approached the sky over Fusor. The speed is reduced to about 100 km/h. The altitude is also lowered to about 50 meters. The altitude was also lowered to about 50 meters. At that altitude, Goose finally seems to be getting used to the idea. "Where do you think we should land?" Jin asks, and Goose thinks for a moment before answering. "Well, ...... the most reliable place would be good. In other words, the town of <>. "I think the mayor is Mr. Fadon, isn''t it?" Jin also remembered that there was a girl named Nalie who was very fond of Goose. "That''s right. I haven''t been back for a while, so it''s not a bad idea to say hello. "That was April ......, wasn''t it? I visited there looking for a clue from a wise man, right? That''s when I met Goose." "Yeah. I was so hungry I couldn''t move." "Ugh. ...... give me a break." Jin and Saki laughed at Goose''s embarrassed look. "Brother Jin, something''s wrong!" Erza, who was looking out the window at that time, raised her voice unusually loudly. "What''s wrong ......? Jin also looked up, looked at the window and exclaimed. "What the hell is this? < were covered with a huge number of insects. "...... grasshoppers?" It was a bug about 10 cm long, similar to a grasshopper. They were so thickly clinging to the surface that we could not see anything in front of us. < "What''s wrong?" Jin asked Edgar, who was in charge of the controls, "The propulsion system is jammed. < He replies. "The jet thrusters are jammed, even though there are boundaries that repel solids?" Jin was surprised. That means there is enough < to break through the boundary, or it has enough to nullify the boundary. "Goose, what is this worm? "It''s a ravenous grasshopper. ......" Goose answered with a pale face. "It''s a pest that eats all the crops......, no, it''s a disaster bug!" Jin wondered if it was something like what we would call on modern Earth. They are called flying grasshoppers or cotton grasshoppers, and there are records of them damaging rice and other crops. "Reiko, can''t you catch a few and send them to Horai Island?" "I''ll try." Reiko opens the window just a little and grabs a handful. The ravenous grasshopper sets its sharp teeth to bite Reiko''s hand, but is unable to break through the leather of the ancient dragon, which stands at the top of the living world. "<>" Reiko stuns it and stops it from moving. After repeating the process a few times, I got about 10 binge-eating grasshoppers. "Okay, let''s hurry up and investigate on Horai Island. Jin and Reiko grabbed the binge-eating grasshoppers and tried to move to the laboratory by the warp gate equipped with <>. "Jin, I''m coming with you. Me too. Me too. Erza, Saki, and Goose also said they would go. So they told Edgar to send up to 10,000 meters above the ground to stand by. Even the cannot follow us up to that altitude, The ground is observed by . "Okay, let''s go!" Jin and the others have finished giving their instructions, and have moved to Horai Island. * * * * "...... This ravenous grasshopper is still imbued with magical powers." Jin and his team begin their investigation at the laboratory. "Hmm. Could this be the reason for its unusual fertility?" "I don''t know, but this thing''s jaws are ridiculously strong. It''s like a gigantopod. "So it''s a demon even if it''s small. ......" A cold chill ran down Jin''s back. "How is the ravenous grasshopper doing, old man?" While ordinary demons feed on free magical elements (ether), this ravenous grasshopper seems to be an omnivore. It seems to eat anything and everything it sees. Also, grasshoppers usually undergo incomplete metamorphosis. In other words, the newly hatched larvae look just like their parents, only smaller, and they have the habit of devouring everything they see. "They probably mature and reproduce according to the amount of food they eat," Goose said darkly. Goose said darkly. "I''m curious to know how it started, but right now we need to do something about it." The northern part of Huso was already almost finished with its crops, so there had been less damage, but as they moved southeast, the harvest would be in the coming months. "If we don''t contain it as soon as possible, it will reach Mitsho and the Shoro Kingdom." Last year we had a mold scare, and this year we have a ravenous grasshopper infestation. If we don''t do something to stop it, people could starve to death. "But how can we do that? ......" One by one, it''s not a big deal. The problem is the number. The number, which could be in the millions or even tens of millions, is what is troubling. No matter how many Reiko is, she cannot be present in several places at the same time. And unless more than 90% of them are destroyed, the damage cannot be contained. Based on the information from the who is observing from a very high altitude, the old man has concluded that there is only one day left for the ravenous grasshoppers to reach the area where the fields are located before the fall harvest. "One day, or ......." A grace period that takes into account the time difference. "In the meantime, we need to come up with effective countermeasures." Jin, Erza, Saki, and Goose shared their wisdom and thought. 1205 - - 32-23 Research and Countermeasures The grasshoppers were trapped in a spherical ward, and Jin and his colleagues were holding a meeting. "If we are dealing with insects, we should use insecticides, right? First, Jin voiced his opinion. "Well, do you mean to fumigate them with the leaves of plants that insects don''t like?" Saki asked. Apparently there is no such thing as insecticide in Ars. "There is that, but it''s an insecticidal ingredient ......, well, it''s a poison. I''ll spray it on you." "Jin, isn''t that harmful to humans too?" At Goose''s surprised look, Jin smiles back. "That''s true. However, due to differences in body size and metabolism, humans do not get sick immediately. Still, direct inhalation or ingestion of large quantities can lead to death. "...... is a bit dangerous." "Yes." I think some of the pesticides can accumulate in crops," Jin said, recalling the environmental pollution problem. "......, so pesticides are out." "Nah, I agree." Before that, it was difficult for Jin, who was not familiar with chemistry, to develop a suitable insecticide in a short period of time. "Even if we tried to catch them, their powerful jaws would probably chew us up." Nets and cages may not help, fears Saki. "Then, ......" Jin wonders what the insect''s weak point is. "Low temperatures might be good." Jin remembers that there was a spray that cools down the kitchen quickly for pests. "I see, insects slow down when it''s cold. That might be a good idea." Goose agrees. "So, we catch them when they slow down?" Elsa concluded. "Maybe we could use a vacuum cleaner or a ward to suck them up and get rid of them." We had a good idea of what to do, but Saki had a question. "By the way, what is the cause of this outbreak?" "Indeed. Is there some kind of condition? The prospect of extermination gave Jin and the others the mental space to make such considerations. "Muuu......" Even Goose, who was the most knowledgeable about insect ecology among the current members, seemed to be at a loss. "Well, Jin, why don''t you take a closer look at this ravenous grasshopper we caught?" "That''s one way to go." Jin nodded at Erza''s suggestion. "<>...... hmm?" "Jin, what''s wrong?" "Erza, can you analyze it too?" "Nn. ......<>. ...... What''s wrong, Erza? Jin and Erza both looked at her curiously, so Saki asked why. "It contains a lot of ...... free magic element (ether)." "What?Not mana? Yes. The reason why living creatures take in free magical element (ether) is to convert it into magical element (mana) in their bodies and use its energy. Therefore, this binge-eating grasshopper, which contains a large amount of free magic element (ether), has a very special ecology. "I wouldn''t be surprised if it was a vegetative non-living thing, like Persica juice. ......" "Hmmm, interesting." Goose leaned forward and looked at the ravenous grasshoppers with a wry smile. "I wonder if that trait might have also broken the warding on ." The wards are basically a web of free magic element (ether). Jin guessed that the free magic element (ether) might have been captured. Jin wondered, "Hey Jin, how does this ravenous grasshopper keep the free magical element (ether) in its body? Saki, on the other hand, asks a question that just popped into her head. "What?" What?" Jin and Erza both raised their voices and looked at Saki''s face. "What''s the matter, both of you? "I was careless. Saki pointed it out to me. Thank you! "Huh?Huh?" Saki is not a mage, so she may not have understood, but normal creatures cannot use free magic element (ether) as it is even if they take it in, so they convert it into magic element (mana) in their bodies. A binge-eating grasshopper that does not do so and accumulates it is clearly abnormal. Saki nodded her head in understanding, and Goose thought about it more. "What is it, Goose?" "...... hoarding...... aethe...... abnormality...... ecology... ..." Goose mumbling and thinking. Not being familiar with the creatures that inhabit this ars, it was unlikely that Jin would be able to offer any useful advice, so he silently watched Goose. Goose, who had been pondering for about 10 minutes, slowly looked up and began to speak in halting tones. "......This is just a theory. The ...... binge-eating grasshopper itself is an abnormal creature to begin with." Jin, Erza, and Saki listened. "How does the free magical element (ether) affect the creature? I have had the opportunity to examine the leather of an ancient dragon for a short time. Goose paused there to consider his next words. "......The ancient dragon''s leather also contained free magical element (ether)." "Yeah, to enhance ...... the ......." Jin also thought of it, while he was listening to the conversation. "So you noticed it too. Yes, my hypothesis is that the free magical element (ether) is the secret of the strength of the ravenous grasshopper. "That sounds plausible." Saki agreed with this theory. "Hmmm...they slowly accumulate free magical element (ether), and their bodies are strengthened by it, is that it? "Maybe a certain amount of it is accumulated to become a binge-eating grasshopper." Guth reasoned. "If ...... so, we can take away the free magic element (ether) that he has accumulated ......." Erza said. "So a ravenous grasshopper becomes just a grasshopper?" Goose nodded. "Probably. But there are so many of them that they could devour the crops. However, the difficulty of eliminating them will be greatly reduced. "Well, let''s check first." Can we take away the free magic element (ether) contained in the captured ravenous grasshoppers or not? Reiko holds the ravenous grasshopper in her hand and uses a magic which consumes a large amount of free magic element (ether). As a result, if the free magic element (ether) of the ravenous grasshopper is greatly reduced, then ....... "Let''s do it outside the institute." Gravity magic is the first magic that comes to mind when we think of high-consumption magic. However, using it indoors is not a good idea. Jin and the others went outside the institute. "Okay, let''s use it." Reiko took the container containing the binge-eating grasshoppers and used gravity magic to levitate. She rose about 50 meters, then came back and landed on the ground. "Okay, let''s check it out. ......Oh, the free magical element (ether) is decreasing. "Does that mean that the free magical element (ether) stored by the ravenous grasshopper can be used by others? "Yes, it does. It just means that the concentration of free magic element (ether) is high. "Jin, so the ravenous grasshopper is a natural ether tank. Goose''s expression was quite appropriate. "That''s right. Now we can take other countermeasures. "Brother Jin, what is it?" Jin answered Erza''s question with a slight frown. "For example, ......<>. 1206 - - 32-24 Start work "Brother Jin, that''s ......!" <. "Yes, I know what you mean. Aether Stampede is too dangerous. Jin calms Erza down. "Father, what do you have in mind? Reiko, who had returned the ravenous grasshopper to the ward, turned to Jin and asked again, "What do you have in mind? "Yes. In short, the free magical element (ether) that the ravenous grasshopper possesses is the same quality as the free magical element (ether) contained in the Magi Crystal. No, since the purity is different, it might be better to call it a magi stone." Then Erza, looking satisfied, spoke up. "Okay. Anyway, I''m going to do something with the free magical element (ether) that the ravenous grasshopper has. "That''s right." Jin nodded to Erza, "Let''s go back to the laboratory first. He said, "Let''s go back to the laboratory first. Elsa, Saki, and Goose followed. Reiko walked next to Jin. "Well, what should we do? Jin sat down on a chair in the workshop. "You haven''t thought about ...... what to do yet, have you?" Saki asked with a doubtful look on her face. "Oh, no, no, no. No, no, no. We have a plan. ...... a gradual <>. That''s the goal. "A slow runaway ......." Erza parrots back. "I don''t think that''s a anymore." Jin chuckles at Erza''s unusual comment. "That''s true. The point is to use the free magical element (ether) of the ravenous grasshopper to activate a big magic. "I see. So that would mean burning them to death or ...... freezing them the way you said at the beginning." Goose chuckled. "Yeah. "Yeah. I think that''s a good idea too. Two birds with one stone. Fire affects the surroundings, so I think we should freeze it. "Jin, it''s good to freeze them, but won''t they start moving again when they melt? Saki said worriedly. "Yes, that''s a concern. That''s why we''re going to collect them while they''re stuck. ......" "What are we going to do with them after we collect them?" "...... should we put them in tsukudani (food boiled down in soy sauce)?" What? What? It seems that he really meant what he said as a joke, and Erza and Saki were taken aback. "No, in my world, there is such a thing as inako tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce). "...... Jin, that kind of joke doesn''t suit you." "Yes, yes, it''s true!" "......" Jin was beaten to a pulp by Erza and Saki. "But it''s a waste of time..." "What?" "I thought it was a waste. He has been collecting free magical elements (ether) for us, and I can''t let him consume them. Saki was probably half joking, but Jin and Erza seemed to have an idea. "Tsukudani ...... or ......." "Are you still talking about that, Jin? Saki looks at me rather coldly. "No, I mean, as Saki said, I was wondering if there''s a way to effectively use the free magical element (ether) they''ve collected. "Sure, that kind of magic would be the best." Wait, there''s a !There''s ......! What?Jin, what is it? We''ll apply the Free Magic Element Condenser to steal all the free magic elements (ether) from them. "Ah. ...... can store the free magical element (ether) we have taken away in the magical element storage (ether tank)." Erza seemed to understand the meaning of Jin''s statement. The ether tank is a technology that was once used in Elena. Although it is an old technology, it may come in handy in the oddest of places. "Yes, that sounds good. But what will happen to the binge-eating grasshoppers that have been deprived of their free magical element (ether)? When Goose asked the natural question, Jin said, "Let''s try an experiment. "First of all, I will modify the free magical element condenser (ether capacitor) so that the collected free magical element (ether) will be stored in the magical element reservoir (ether tank)," he said. The work itself takes only five minutes, since this is what Jin does. "Okay, let''s do this." I activate the free-magic condenser (ether condenser) near the three carnivorous grasshoppers I''ve caught. Although we can''t see it, the surrounding free magic elements (ether) should be condensed and flowing into the ether tank. "Okay, pause." After running it for a minute or so, Jin stopped the free-magic condenser (ether capacitor) and checked what happened to the free-magic (ether) contained in the binge-eating grasshopper. "<>...... Oh, you guessed right. It worked." The ravenous grasshopper had all of its free magic element (ether) sucked out. "It stopped moving." And the ravenous grasshopper stopped moving. "Hmm, it won''t be able to revive now, will it? It means that the free magic element (ether) in the body can be taken away by taking away all the free magic element (ether) in the body. It''s the same as the mage who was in an "ether stampede". We are on the verge of defeating the mages. "We can collect them and feed them to the fish. That''s a good idea. Since these monsters are out of the ecosystem, this kind of treatment is inevitable. Jin vaguely thought that it would be good if the fish could return to the natural world by being used effectively until the end. "All right, then, let''s make a magic tool for countermeasures. I''ll help you. "Jin, is there anything we can do to help?" Saki, who had been waiting for a while, offered. "Well, we''d like to collect and dispose of as many of the ravenous grasshoppers as possible in a real situation, so if you could find out about their ecology..." What do they like and what do they hate? How strong are their jaws, and how hard can they bite? How well can they adapt to changes in temperature and environment? I asked them to collect as much data as they could using the remaining six animals. "Okay, I''ll leave it to you. Goose is very enthusiastic. Laozi, the mobile terminal of the old man, also cooperates. This is the pattern that Saki follows when he investigates physical properties. "Let''s first find out what they prefer the most, vegetable matter, animal matter, or mineral matter. "Yes, that''s right. I think it would be good to narrow it down that way. Saki and the others immediately begin discussing the procedure of the experiment. "Let''s leave the other side to them and we''ll do it ourselves. "Right." Jin and the others also started to work. "Reiko, please get me the magi crystals with the dark attribute. Yes, father. Jin chose the dark attribute, which has a high affinity with magic that affects space. "Brother Jin, please explain to me the flow of magic control (Magi Sequence). "Okay. First of all, ......" Jin, Erza, and Reiko also started to work. 1207 - - 32-25 Ecology "The basis is the <>." Jin explained the basic magic control flow (magi sequence) to Erza. "...... amazing way of thinking." "Father, what about the <>?" "I''ll have to prepare that as well. I''ll take care of that. Okay, I''ll take care of it. Reiko, who had been Elena''s assistant when she repaired the tank, remembered the structure of the tank. Jin felt confident in entrusting her with the work. "Make a little extra, please." "Yes, sir." Jin had some thoughts about it, and decided to have more ether tanks prepared. "It''s not something that will go to waste." Jin, Elsa, and Reiko, with > as their assistant, began their work. "We don''t want to collect them in a haphazard way, we want to prioritize the concentrated ones first." "So, this is how the Magi Formula works here?" Yes, that''s right. And this one is like this. "Brother Jin''s ideas are amazing as always." Reiko glances at Jin and the others who are exchanging such ideas, and proceeds with her work. "We''ll prepare 200 pieces, since you asked for a large number. Craftsman 25, please. Yes, ma''am. Since this is based on an existing one, there are no difficulties in the work, except for a few modifications to increase efficiency. However, since this is a product of Horaijima, it is written precisely on a small magic crystal (magi-crystal) in which it is usually impossible to write a magic formula (magi formula). In other words, in a sense, it is also the utilization of waste products. In this way, the preparations necessary for the binge-eating grasshopper were completed on the same day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "This one is ready. What about you?" Late that night, Jin and his team gathered at the command center. "Yeah, we didn''t get much done in half a day, but we made some progress. I guess that''s what you have to do when you''re dealing with someone. "Well, let me explain what I found out. Goose looked at Saki. Saki opened her mouth in response. "First, let''s start with your food preferences. The first thing he likes to eat is vegetable matter, followed by animal matter. Minerals are not so much. They do nibble, though." "Hmm. Well, then I guess we have to worry about crop damage." "That''s right. I''ve done some comparisons, and it seems that barley, wheat, and rice prefer the berries to the leaves. ...... "Oh, that''s not good. ......" "And for animal matter, when they compared fresh meat to dried meat, they preferred fresh meat." "That''s even worse." It''s too dangerous. "As for the strength of its jaws, it can gnaw through steel without difficulty. Adamantite it can''t. It''s somewhere in between. I don''t have time to go into that yet." No, thank you. We still have a long way to go before we know if the environment has changed. That''s all," Saki concluded. "Thank you. That was helpful. ...... but we''ll have to hurry up tomorrow." Then, the old man gave an interesting report. "Oh, I see. Then the damage will not spread during the night. Jin announced that he would begin his activities before dawn the next day. "I hope the will be able to do this kind of work eventually. This was an emergency situation, and Jin could not just ignore it. "Well, since there is a time difference, we should move at 9:00 a.m. Horai Island time." "Kuhu, that''s right." Since it is good to have some time to spare, Jin and the others decided to take a hot spring bath to recover from the work and rest for the night. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On the other hand, the old lord is active day and night. A mobile terminal << Lao Tzu> was sent to the area by a transporter to continue further investigation. Just then, there was a group of about 50 animals that had strayed from a larger group. <<......After all>> As soon as the magic light was turned on, the ravenous grasshoppers began to move. Having found out that the reason why the ravenous grasshoppers stop moving at night is not because of the temperature but simply because they are blind at night, Lao Kun started further investigations using <>. <>. It was found that the ravenous grasshopper reacts most strongly to light in the blue, violet, and ultraviolet regions. If we can make a powerful ultraviolet generator, we may be able to gather the ravenous grasshoppers in one place. The old man is not satisfied with this achievement and continues to investigate further. > The old man manipulates < to collect data on the ravenous grasshoppers. < It will be dawn soon. >>. captures about fifty of the ravenous grasshoppers with her warding and sets them aside for Saki and the others to study. Saki and her team had caught about 50 grasshoppers and had secured them for Saki''s research. "What''s going on?The number of grasshoppers is increasing. "There''s no way they multiplied ...... overnight." The next morning, Saki and Goose are puzzled by the increase in the number of grasshoppers for their experiments. "Oh, I see. But thank you." "Yeah. Let''s start the experiment." Saki and Goose were satisfied with the explanation from the old man and started their research after breakfast. The old man explained the data on the wavelength of light. "I see. I see. You have saved us a lot of trouble. < "No, I think it''s a good thing we''re wasting time right now." Jin adds. "Okay, let''s get today''s plan together." In about two hours, we will be on our way. 1208 - - 32-26 Thank you for this world >. Eleven are completed and installed on 1~10 respectively. The Falcon is a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft for covert maneuvering and support. The remaining one is mounted on Jin''s beloved <. The Pegasus 1 is a five-seater, so Jin, Erza, Reiko, Saki, and Goose get on board. "Okay, let''s go!" A total of eleven airplanes float into the sky of Horai Island and fly toward the west. The speed of the Falcon is 300 kilometers per hour with its normal engine, the , but it can exceed the speed of sound by using the . . Pegasus 1 can also reach a speed of 800 km/h with a normal engine, and supersonic speed with a force field generator. Since Pegasus 1 flies at low altitude, the speed is limited to 1,000 km/h because of concerns about shock waves. The sky is getting darker and darker as they head west. It is still before 5:00 a.m. in the Shoro Kingdom. The sky has finally begun to lighten. After passing over the Shoro Empire, the 11 planes split off in their respective directions. Further to the west, it is not yet dawn. Jin and the others headed for the first group they spotted. "We should be able to see them by now. Jin said as they slowed down to about 100 km/h. "Father, there''s a ravenous grasshopper three kilometers ahead. Dawn had not yet broken around them. "All right, let''s turn on the trigger lights." < is a magical tool that Jin made in a hurry after receiving the old man''s report, and it emits light in the wavelength that is favored by the ravenous grasshoppers. It seemed to be particularly effective in the dim light, and the ravenous grasshoppers began to gather like a cloud and haze. They fly up with their wings and fly toward Pegasus 1. Then they are blocked by the wall of the < and come to a stop. "You are doing well. < "Yes, sir." At Jin''s instruction, Goose turns on the ether eliminator. At that moment, the carnivorous grasshoppers stop moving and fall to the ground. "Oh, it worked!" "...... is amazing!" "Thank goodness Jin is here!I shudder to think what would happen if a swarm like that consumed all the grain. "No, indeed. Usually, a swarm like that has strength in numbers. ......" Saki and Goose praise Jin. "Strength in numbers is at its best when it is dispersed. It would be impractical to defeat such small demons individually, wouldn''t it?" "Your father is right. The most effective tactic is to attack at a range or to destroy them all at once in one place. While we were having such a conversation, the binge-eating grasshoppers were crashing down one by one. After about 15 minutes, not even a single predatory grasshopper came close to us. < was changed, but no more grasshoppers came to the site. It seems that we have exterminated them. "Reiko, what about the ether tank? All the free ether we took from the ravenous grasshoppers is stored in the ether tank. "Yes, father. The ether tank is 80% full." "Well... ......, every little bit counts." "Well, how many of them were there, anyway?" "Well, I''d say no less than ......1 ten thousand of them." Jin then looked at the dawn sky, "I wonder what happened to the rest of the world? He wondered what was going on in other areas. There were six flocks observed yesterday. There are only five left. * * * * * * <>. Falcon 2, activate the <>. Based on the images from the <>, the old man divided the 10 Falcon units into 5 groups of 2 units each, and gave instructions to each group. The "Mere Old Man" assigned the odd-numbered and even-numbered Falcon units to operate the <> and <>, respectively, because it was easier to respond immediately if the units were operated separately. <> to a wider area. Keep it there. Falcon 4, do not activate the <> yet. We''re going to round them up. Some of the grasshoppers seem to have spread over a fairly large area. <> in place. Falcon 6 activate the <>. The small flock is destroyed in no time at all. <> a little further east. ...... will do. Falcon 8, activate the ether eliminator. With precise instructions, the swarms of ravenous grasshoppers drop to the ground one after another, motionless. <> remains in place. Falcon 10,<> activated. The main swarm of the predatory grasshoppers was destroyed in half an hour before dawn. < It is inevitable that one or two of them will escape. The old man also remembered to give instructions to reduce the damage caused by such stragglers as much as possible. < It is important to leave data for future generations. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......It seems that you did not cause any serious damage. "......Good." Jin and the others had moved from to and were listening to the old man''s report in the cabin. "It was really lucky that we happened to go to Hsaw to look for the ." Goose was also relieved. "Still, some forests and grasslands seem to have taken a beating. From the air, some of the forests in the area where the ravenous grasshoppers passed through have been eaten away. Some animals were reduced to bones, and even their bones had been gnawed away. "I wish I had noticed and dealt with it a little earlier. ......" Jin looks very frustrated. His face shows a hint of sadness. As if to encourage Jin, Goose opened his mouth. It is true. But it''s a miracle that he survived. Jin is really amazing. Goose said that in past legends, something like the had appeared, and that two or three villages had been destroyed at one time or another. "Kuhu, we can''t thank Jin enough, can we?" Saki muttered these words half jokingly but sincerely, but Jin looked puzzled. "I''m the one who ...... thanks ...... you." "What?" "Brother Jin?" Erza and the others are surprised at Jin''s unusually somber tone. "In the world before, I was supposed to be dead. But Reiko called me out, and here I am. Jin gently pats Reiko''s head. "And before I knew it, I had a place to stay, a friend I could trust and ......." Jin looks alternately at Saki and Goose''s faces. "...... I''ve found someone I care about." Gently Jin hugged Elsa''s shoulder. "I''m not a saint, and I can''t be a hero or a friend of justice, but..." He broke off and opened his mouth again. I love this world. I want to protect this world, which has become my second home. Jin ...... Jin ...... Jin ...... "I can''t and won''t say I''m going to make this world a better place because my hands are too small. But if I can make it so that the people I know don''t have to cry, I''ll do what I can." Jin gave a small laugh. "...... all of this is selfish of me, though." But when Erza heard that, she hugged him tightly. "......Erza?" "...... Jin, don''t go anywhere." "...... what?" "I''m afraid you''re going to go away." Jin gently hugged Erza back. "I''m not going anywhere. I''m not going anywhere without Erza. 1209 - - 32-27 Revisiting Nade "......Ehen." At Saki''s deliberate coughing, Jin and Erza untied their arms from their embrace. "Well, it''s fine to be friendly with each other," she said. "I''d rather you do that when it''s just the two of us." Saki and Goose looked at me warmly. "Well, that''s why..." "I don''t know what''s the reason, but I can tell you''re trying to cover it up." "Hey!" Jin interrupts, but Goose keeps smiling. By the look on his face, Jin realized that Goose was only teasing him. "Hey, Jin." The goose now turns to Jin with a serious look on his face. "You don''t have to take on everything, Jin. I joined the <> later, but <> is about helping and supporting each other, isn''t it?" "Goose......" Saki also smiles and tells Jin. "Yes, yes Jin, you have us. I know we''re not the most reliable family. Saki...... And then Erza said... "Jin, you hold on to too much. He needs to rely on us more." And finally Reiko. "Your father gets depressed on a regular basis. But I am here, the old man is here, and so are the people of Bongnae Island. They are all your father''s children. All of us will help your father. Jin looked down silently as they spoke to him, "Thank you, ......." Eventually he looked up and thanked them. "Goose, Saki, Elsa, Reiko." His face lit up. "I can''t get rid of the feeling that I''m a gentile ...... or even an alien in this world. "Brother Jin, that''s ...... it." Erza was about to say something, but Jin interrupted her, But lately I finally feel like I''m getting used to it. I think it''s thanks to all of you. Once again, I would like to say thank you. Jin then stood up, "Come on!Let''s go look for the rainbow-colored caterpillar again! He declared. "Well, not the rainbow worm, but the dye. Goose corrects him. "The iridescent caterpillar is probably already a chrysalis by this time of the year, so it''ll be a chrysalis for the winter." "I see. ...... that?If that''s the case, can we cultivate them on Horai Island if we collect the pupa?" "Let''s see ......, we can probably do that. They should be able to eat most of the citran plants." "Hmmm..." Jin thought, "Then, there are many citran trees in Horai Island, so it would be easy to cultivate them. At that time. "We''re over the town of Nade. Edgar called out. "Okay, let''s land on the outskirts." At that moment. "Whoa!" Goose screamed. "What''s going on? "I didn''t realize until just now that I was flying ......" "Hey!" It was pitch black and he had been nervous because of the extermination of the "binge-eating grasshoppers," but he had been fine until now, and as soon as he looked outside, he remembered that he was in the sky. "Oh dear, we''re going to land now, don''t worry." The aircraft landed on level ground about a kilometer from the town of Nadeh. "Oh!Goose! "You look good!...... you look a little pale, don''t you?" "Oh, it''s been a while. ...... < from afar because of its rarity. Among them was Fadon, the mayor of Nad. "Oh, Goose!And Mr. Nido. Did you make this?" "Yes. Mr. Mayor, it''s been a long time. In the meantime, why don''t you come to my house? Thank you. Jin and the others, who were almost surrounded by the residents, decided to go to the mayor''s house. "But after the horseless carriage, you now have a flying vehicle. That''s what I''d expect from a Magecraft Meister." Fadon was impressed as he walked along the road. The residents were following him and the others, keeping a distance of about 5 meters between them. Many of them seemed to know that Jin and the others had visited here before in a horseless carriage, but they were too shy to talk to him, which was a relief. Jin thought that the disposition of Huso might be different from that of other countries. * * * * * * "Oh, to look for the rainbow-colored caterpillar (labyrinth worm). Yes, the dye, to be precise. Jin and his group were welcomed at the home of Mayor Fadon. "Hmmm......... I think it is a specialty of the village of Khoihel." The village of Khoikhel is located further north of Nadeh, southwest of the Oguni marshland. "I know someone there, I can write you a letter of introduction. "Thank you very much. Just when Jin thought he was getting closer to his goal, he heard footsteps. Then he heard footsteps and suddenly saw a small shadow hugging Goose. "Ah, Nalie!" It was Nalie, Fadon''s daughter. She was very attached to Goose. Go away, Nalie, I''m telling you a very important story right now. Fadon rebuked her, but Nalie shook her head as if she didn''t want to. He shook his head as if he didn''t want to. "Ha, you want to sit here then? Guth sat Nalie down between his knees. Goose, are you sure? "I don''t have anything to say to you that you don''t want me to hear. Hey, Hitoshi? "Yes, it is. Nalie hasn''t seen Goose in a long time. Nally nodded in agreement with Jin''s line. He has not changed his reticence. "Well, what were we talking about?" Goose is so amazed that he forgets the flow of the conversation. "I''m talking about writing a letter of introduction to a friend of mine in the village of Khoikhel," he said. "Oh, yes, that''s right." Nally looks up at Goose, who scratches his head and smiles up at her. Saki looked at the two of them and felt a little uneasy. "The acquaintance in the village of Koihel is my wife''s cousin. "Yes, I have heard of her. Annette, right? Goose had heard of her too. "Yes. You are the grandson of the elder of the village of Koyihel, aren''t you? Yes, that''s right. Well, I''d better get to writing. Fadon got up and was about to go to his study when his wife, Frade, appeared. I''m home. I''m back. ...... Oh, Goose. It''s been a long time. And Mr. Nido, welcome. It''s been a while. I''m glad to see you''re well. Oh, by the way..." Jin had forgotten that he had brought a souvenir. He takes it out of the baggage Reiko brought for him. "Soap again..." Since he was so pleased when I gave him soap last time, I gave him soap this time, too. This time, however, it was from Horai Island. "Oh, this is great! "I''m so happy! Thank you, Mr. Nido! Jin was relieved to hear that they were pleased. 1210 - - 32-28 The Story of the Night We were invited to stay the night at Mayor Fadon''s house. At dinner time. "Oh, fortunately we didn''t get any damage from the . ...... I didn''t know that. ...... Did Nido-sama exterminate them?" Hearing Goose''s explanation, Mayor Fadon bowed his head to Jin. "Please don''t do that. I only did what I could do." "No, it''s something only Nidou-sama, the Magecraft Meister, can do. I was worried about you. When I saw them flying away from the fields that had just been harvested, I felt a chill run down my spine. Fortunately, the outbreak in this area occurred after the harvest, so there was practically no damage. < was slightly off the cultivated land. Guth, who was born and raised in Huso, was relieved to hear that not only Nade, but also the towns and villages of Tauro, Romune, Kyd, and Ulun suffered only minor damage. Located in the north of the Laurentian continent, Hus? has a cold rather than cool climate, and most of the crops are harvested by early September. Therefore, the passed through the fields where the harvest was finished, devouring only the leftover rice, wheat, and potato vines. "It''s a bit of a problem that we ran out of straw, but we can get some from other villages for free, you know. Fadong said, his face reddening slightly with alcohol. "Did you get enough for the fermented soybeans?" "Yes, we got it at the same time as the harvest. The most important use of rice straw for them is to make natto. The spores of the bacillus natto are attached to the rice straw and are awakened by passing the straw through boiling water. At the same time, other bacteria are sterilized and only the natto bacillus remains. The natto is fermented by wrapping steamed or boiled soybeans and keeping them warm at a certain temperature to make natto. Natto is made in this traditional way. Therefore, it is customary to secure rice straw that has little damage from insects for natto production, so there were no problems with natto production that year. "That''s good." Guth loves natto. Jin also likes natto, but since Erza doesn''t like it and it is rarely served at the table, he is secretly looking forward to eating it here. "......" Erza looked at Jin with a sideways glance as he ate the natto with relish. Saki is eating it normally without much aversion. "You didn''t bring Hannah with you this time, did you? "No, she was only with us for a short time this time." It seemed that Frede remembered Hannah as well. With such conversation, the dinner was peaceful. Nalie was as quiet as ever and stuck to Goose. Saki was looking at her with a complicated expression on her face. "Saki sister, I knew it... ...... about Mr. Goose." In a whisper, Erza whispered into Jin''s ear. "I guess so. I''m sure Goose isn''t too happy ...... about it, but he''s a simpleton, you know." "I don''t think Goose would want to be told that by his brother Jin alone." Why? "...... that kind of thing." Jin was about to ask something else when Hwadong spoke up. "By the way, it''s amazing to see a vehicle that can fly. As expected of Nido-sama. "Ah, yes..." "I don''t remember how many generations ago my grandfather''s grandfather''s grandfather''s grandfather''s ...... grandfather''s grandfather, <>, once spoke of a flying vehicle, I remember reading in the family tradition." "Yes, the <> did." No wonder, since airplanes already existed in Shuki''s time. "By the way, have you found any clues for the <>?" It was here that I had learned about , and from there I learned about Adriana Tierra and Shuki Tsetsi. "Yes, I found them." "Oh!Please tell us about it! Jin was wondering what he should do since he had to explain to Mags that he was a stray from another world, "Leave that kind of thing to me," Goose said. Goose said. "Jin, just correct me if I''m wrong in my explanation. "Okay. Okay. Please." Goose was much better suited for this kind of talk than Jin. Especially since he and Vivian had put together the stories of and , the previous magical engineer. "First, at the foot of Mount Funisys, <> met the woman who would be his lifelong companion, <>. ......" From then on, the story goes on, blurring the details where necessary. Nalley was also interested in the story and listened to it with a twinkle in his eyes. "...... and <> went on a journey to spread his knowledge to this world. ......That''s about all I found out at the ruins at the foot of Mount Funisys. ...... Jin, do you have anything to add?" "No, I think that''s fine. Mr. Fadon, that''s what I mean. "Ummm, <> has such a past. ...... No, thank you, Goose. Thank you, Mr. Nido. You''ve put an end to my long-standing doubts." Fadon took Jin and Goose''s hands and bowed, a little excitedly. Nally and Phrede also seemed to be impressed, and their eyes were slightly moistened. Jin was surprised that Nally, who is still a little girl, was also moved by the news about <>. All of us in Huso are thankful to the Wise One every day," said Fadon. Fadon said. Jin agreed that this was not surprising, since he was a half-deified <>. They talked until quite late that night, and it was around 11:00 p.m. when they went to bed. "Good night, Elsa. "Good night." Of course, Jin and Elsa shared a room. "I''m going home for the first time in a while. There''s nothing left." Goose said and went back to his old house. And Saki said. "Hey, uh, Goose... ....... I''d like to see the house you used to live in. And she went with him. At that time, Goose said, "You''re a curious guy, aren''t you? What''s so interesting about it?" But his face was a little red, which no one could see in the darkness. I was just saying, "Come on, here we are. "Well, here we are." A cozy two-story wooden house on the outskirts of town. It was Goose''s parents'' house. "I don''t have anything to worry about being stolen. Saying this, Guth unlocks the front door. "...... I didn''t know they had a key like that." The key was a kind of "marquetry" key that could only be opened by sliding the parts in a certain sequence of steps. After more than 20 complicated steps, the front door opens. "Well then, Saki, come in." "...... sorry for disturbing you." They entered the house. 1211 - - 32-29 Fusaws "Wow, so this is Goose''s parents'' house. The room, illuminated by the magic lamp borrowed from Jin, was relatively tidy. "I don''t have anything of value, but it''s the house my father left me, and it''s nostalgic. Goose''s face looked more forlorn than ever as he muttered these words. "Can I see it tomorrow when it gets light?" "Yes, but I don''t think there''s anything interesting to see. That''s up to me. Well, I guess it''s up to you. Goose climbs the stairs with his magic lamp. "This is the guest room. It''s a little dusty, but there''s still some bedding here, so we''ll make it work. Thank you for your hospitality. Saki is a real character. And Goose went to his room. The next day, on the 19th, Saki went to her room. The next day, the 19th, Saki woke up unusually early and cleaned the room she had rented. A broom was propped up in the hallway outside her room. "Hmph, it''s been years since I''ve done something like this. He said to himself as he gathered the dust in one place. It''s a pity that there is still some dust in the corner of the room. "Hey, Saki, are you awake or what are you doing ......? Then Goose came in. He opened the door without knocking, but Saki was already awake, so there was no problem. "Good morning, Goose. I''m just going to clean my room. "You didn''t have to do that." "No, you don''t." But Goose took the broom out of Saki''s hand. "No problem. He said he''ll take us to Mr. Fadon''s house for breakfast, so let''s go! "Yeah, I don''t want to keep you waiting." So they headed for the mayor Fadong''s house together. As they went down the street, "Hey Goose, long time no see. When did you come back? "Goose, have you been away again? "Is the man next to you your wife? and "Is the man next to you your wife? And Goose would say, "Long time no see, Auntie. No, she''s not my wife yet. and then he hurries on. "Well, <> ......" Saki was fidgeting by herself. Good morning, Saki, Goose. When they arrived at Hwadong''s house, Jin greeted them. "Good morning, Jin." Jin, good morning. "How was it at Goose''s house?" "Well, it was nighttime, so I didn''t get a good look at it. I stayed in the guest room. "What, you didn''t stay in Goose''s room?" "No way, I would never do such a thing!" Jin made a joke and Saki turned red and denied it. "What about Erza?" Saki asked about Erza, who was not there. "Erza is helping Mr. Frade in the kitchen. Reiko is with her. "Well, Jin, after breakfast, I''d like to stop by the Goose''s house for a while." "Yes.Okay, but what''s going on? "I stayed at Goose''s house last night, but it was dark and I didn''t get a good look at him, and I''d like to do a little cleaning ......." "Oh, Saki cleans?" Jin''s expression said he had heard something unusual, "What?Why can''t I clean?" Saki looked a little puffed up. After such an incident, Jin and his friends arrived at Goose''s house on the outskirts of town. "Ah, this is ......." Although the architecture was typical of Fuso, it was somewhat in the style of the Shoro Empire. Jin looked at the building and thought for a moment, "Goose, shall we take the whole building to Horai Island? He asked. "Jin, that''s a tempting proposal, but please don''t do it because the town will be in an uproar if the house suddenly disappears. The answer was sensible for Guth. "Ummm ...... Oh, in that case, could you please let me install a warp gate at Goose''s house?" "Yeah, that might be a good idea." "So, I was thinking of having the five colored golem maids maintain the house on a daily basis. "Maybe not on a daily basis, but once a week would be fine. We''ll discuss that later, but Jin and the others were invited into Goose''s house. "If we are going to set up a warp gate, we might as well do it in the basement. The basement is said to have a warehouse used for food storage. "Yeah, that sounds good. Jin goes down the stairs to the basement, looks at the warehouse, and decides on the location of the warp gate. "Reiko, please contact the old man and have him send the parts of the standard type warp gate to us. "Yes, father." Fifteen seconds after that conversation, the parts of the warp gate were sent to Jin and the others. "Okay, let''s assemble it." If Jin, Reiko, and Erza do it, the work will be completed in two minutes. "That was fast!" Saki, who was watching, was also a little surprised. I''m used to it. "...... Now, Mr. Goose can easily go back home." "But I''m sure he''ll get suspicious if you keep coming back so often. They''ll wonder how you can come home all the time," Goose said. "Well, that''s the hard part." It will be different when warp gates become common, but the time is not yet ripe. "But to be honest, I''m glad to know that I can return home whenever I need to. "Also, I''ll have the five-colored golem maid maintain the house from time to time, so let me know if there''s anything I shouldn''t mess with, or if there''s a room that I shouldn''t mess with." "Hmmm...well......... I''d like you to just dust my parents'' room...it''s on the second floor, on the south side." "I guess so. Basically, I''ll make it strictly forbidden to throw things away. Wouldn''t that be safer? I''d appreciate it if you did. Thus, a warp gate was installed in Fusor, and Guth no longer had to worry about his parents'' house. This place will become one of the most important bases in Fusor. 1212 - - 32-30 The Hidden Place Finally, Jin and the others decided to head for the village of Koihel. "Well, as expected of a !" "A flying vehicle!Just as the said! <. In such a situation, Jin greeted Mayor Fadon. "Thank you very much for your hospitality. I''ll see you soon. "You are always welcome, Mr. Nido." The townspeople were excited, but did not rush to see him off. Perhaps it is the people''s spirit in this area. The people of the town were excited, but they did not rush to see us off in a rush. Look, there is the village of Koihel. We are there in a few minutes. We decided to land at a distance out of sight of the village so as not to cause a big commotion. Fortunately, there was a small rise and we were able to descend in the shadow of it. "Are they watching us?" "No, I''m fine. <." Edgar''s explanation convinced everyone. "Okay, let''s go." Edgar is left in charge this time, and Jin and the others get off the . The cargo is supplies to be exchanged for . The reason it was not money was Goose''s advice. As they walked to the village, a villager working in the fields approached them. "Are you a traveler? "Yes, I am. Do you know any of the people at ...... Annette?" The conversation is left to Goose. "Annette?Oh, you must be the elder''s granddaughter. She''s supposed to be at home today. Where do you think the house is? "Outside the village. ...... No, by the woods a little ways from the village. Go all the way down here and take a left at that big tree and you''ll see it. "Thank you." I thought they were in the village, but it seems they live outside the village. They seem to be living in seclusion. Jin and the others walked as they had been instructed, and they came upon a medium-sized house on the side of a forest. "The style of the house is a little different from the others. It looked more like a Japanese-style house. As we approached the house, a middle-aged man who was plowing a small field in front of the house looked up and saw Jin and the others, He looked up, saw Jin and the others, and said, "Well, that''s unusual. You have a visitor? He said without an accent. "Yes. Is there a person by the name of Annette?I have a letter of introduction from Mr. Fadon in Nad." "Oh, Mr. Fadon. Is he a good man? Yes, he was very welcoming. I see. Well, that''s very kind of you. I''m Annette''s husband, Gawel. My name is Goose. This is my friend Saki. And this is Jin and his wife, Elsa. Nice to meet you. Oh, thank you for coming. Well, please come on in. Sorry to interrupt your work. No, I was just reforesting the fields for the winter. Don''t worry about it." With these words, Gawel opened the door of his house and invited them in. Here, too, they had to take off their shoes at the front door. This must be the influence of . "Oh, Gawel, you have a visitor. "Yes, Grandfather, I know Mr. Fadon and he has a letter of introduction to Annette. What? For me? An old man with white hair and white beard came out from the back. A small middle-aged woman came out from behind him. This woman must be Annette. "Ms. Annette, it''s been a long time. "Uh, ...... oh yes, it''s Goose, isn''t it? I remember seeing your face a couple of times in Nad. Here, Annette, why don''t you show me to my room instead of standing around talking? Yeah, sure. This way, please, ladies and gentlemen. We were shown to a room that looked like a parlor. It was a wooden room with a low sofa and a table. Elsa, Jin, Goose, and Saki sat down in that order. Reiko stands directly behind Jin. Annette was sitting with her. "Why don''t you sit down over there, little girl? Annette, who does not know that Reiko is an automaton, calls out to her, but Reiko does not respond. "No, I am ......". Probably she was going to continue with <>, but to avoid any trouble, Jin called Reiko. Reiko, come here. "Yes, father." Reiko obeys Jin''s words. "Sit here." Jin points to his lap. "Yes, but ......" "No." "...... yes." Goose saw this and took out the letter of introduction that had been entrusted to him and handed it to Annette. "It''s definitely Mr. Fadon''s handwriting. Do you want the dye of the ...... rainbow-colored caterpillar (rayochworm)>>?" "Yes, that''s right." "So you can use magic?Because that dye won''t change color unless you apply magic power to it. Yes. Jin and Erza-san are mages and magi-smiths. It was Goose who introduced them as the common <> in Huso and Mitsuho. "I have something like this in mind as payment for the dye powder. Jin took out some tools and magical artifacts from the baggage he had prepared. "This is a lighter. Press this button to light it. Since it is powered by a instead of the that he and Bina had made, it can last for 10 years if it is enough to make a fire like this. "And this is a <. If you put it in muddy water, it will become clean in a few seconds. It is a magical tool developed with sanitation in mind, and has the magical effect of <><>. It is originally used in drains, sewage reservoirs, and permeated toilet tanks. "And ......" "Wait a minute. We don''t have that much rainbow caterpillar dye in stock." "What?" It seemed that the magic tool Jin had brought had received a high evaluation. "Then, is it all right if I exchange this lighter and the water purification stone for 500 grams of dyed dye from the rainbow-colored caterpillar?" "Yes, that''s enough. Thank you. The lighter and the water purification stone would certainly be useful in such a secluded life. "Anyway, aside from the lighter, I''m surprised you believed me about the effect of the purification stone. Annette smiled at Jin who said what he had to say. "Mr. Fadon told me that you are the second coming of the . Apparently, the letter of introduction had written about Jin in detail. "If you could, I would like you to tell me about the <>. "Yes, that would be great." Knowing that <> was well respected in Mitsuho and Huso, Jin, who had gotten what he was looking for, thought he would tell him about him as a way of thanking him. 1213 - - 32-31 Dyeing powder When Annette heard that Jin was going to speak about , she called her whole family. Annette called her entire family: Hazavance the elder, his grandson Annette, and her husband Gawel. Gawel was her son-in-law. The elder Hazavance''s companion is deceased, and his children are living with Annette and Gawel''s children in the village of Koijel. "Well, let me introduce myself again. My name is Jin Nido. < "Magecraft master? Not <>?" Husavance raised his voice in question. "Yes, I will tell you that as well." Jin looks at Goose. "Then I''ll tell you first. As expected, Guth was more used to this kind of talk. He explains as he did to Fadon, the mayor of Nad. "Oh... ......" "I see." "I see", "I didn''t know that ......". Goose''s story proceeded, with each of us responding with "I see" and "I didn''t know that was the case. When Goose''s story was over, I asked him a few questions, and the story of <> ended. "Umm, <> has such a past ......" "That''s very informative!" "So the disciple of <> is the Magecraft Meister, the Magecraft Master! All three of them seemed to understand. "You mean that the generations of the Magecraft Meister are you, Jin-dono? I understand now. The elder Hazavance nodded his head repeatedly. It was already lunchtime. "In my house, we have a simple lunch, is that all right with you? "Yes, that''s fine. When you are busy working during the daytime, it is hard to have a leisurely lunch. When Jin was working for a black company in modern Japan, he used to eat only bread or standing-only noodles, which did not take much time. "Here you go." What was served looked exactly like or . However, the broth was not soy sauce based, but salt and meat based. It might be similar to tonkotsu-shio (pork bone broth). "Yes, it''s good." Jin had had tonkotsu ramen before, but this was his first cold barley. But it was surprisingly good. "Oh, it''s delicious." "Yes, it''s delicious." "This was my first time too, but it''s good." Elsa, Saki, and Goose seemed to like the taste too. Reiko was also analyzing the sauce and sending the data to the old man. "Thank you very much for the food. "It was delicious!" Jin and the others put down their chopsticks in satisfaction. "Now, please check the effect of the water purification stone. "You''re a very disciplined person." Jin wanted to make sure that they were satisfied before making a deal. "Well then, let''s see if the water in this vat will do the trick. Hazavance brings a bucket of water from in front of the house and places it in front of Jin. It looked like a rain barrel, slightly greenish and stagnant. "I understand." Jin takes out a stone about the size of his thumb and throws it gently into the tub. "Oh, oh?" Hazavance and Annette look on in amazement as the green water turns clean even as they watch. In less than 10 seconds, the water is completely clean. Even the moss on the vat had broken down and was gone. "That''s wonderful!" Hazavance claps his hands in delight. "One can be used about 20 times. When they are no longer clean, you can use new ones. Jin hands over 10 . "That''s a cheap price for 500 grams of <> dye!" Hazavance, clearly aware of its value, looks apologetic. "You also have this other magical tool, don''t you?That would be too much of an advantage for us. I wish there was something I could do. "...... Then, if you have any pupa of <>, I''d like to have a few of them." "I see. < Hazavance called Gawel and told him to do so. "Okay, I will go. I''ll be on my way. "Now then, I will give you 500 grams of dyed powder from the rainbow caterpillar. While Gawel went to look for chrysalis, I would like to start with the dye I have on hand. "Here it is." A small bottle was placed in front of Jin and the others. "Try it." He took a small amount, about an earful, on a plate and dissolved it with a drop of water. "If you add magic power to it, it will change color. "I see." Jin holds up his hand. Not magic, but magical power. Actually, this is surprisingly difficult. But Jin has done this in various situations, so he is used to it. "......" "Oh?" The water that had been clear turned from light red to yellow to blue, and then darkened in color. "I see, now I understand that the color depends on the intensity." Jin said, removing his hand, "Well done," said Jin, removing his hand. Hazavance bowed his head in admiration. "As expected of a <>. ...... Having confirmed the magic tools and Jin''s abilities, the elder Hazavance was truly impressed. "If you soak the cloth in the dye and let it dry, the color will not fade, nor will it change color if you add magic power later." Hazavance explains. "Be careful if it gets on your hands, especially if you are a mage, because it will stain your skin. "I see." Jin thought to himself, "I''ll make sure to wear rubber gloves when handling it. "If you accidentally swallow it, you may get diarrhea or vomit, so be careful about that, too. On the other hand, the cloth dyed with this has insecticide and antiseptic effects. Saki was beaming as she was given some useful information. Meanwhile, Gawel came back. "I''m back. We caught a lot more than we expected. I also brought some branches for them to eat. "......?" Jin sensed a familiar smell from the branch that Gawel offered. "Uh, what''s this smell ......?" The branch had small leaves attached in a row, so-called . "It''s a member of the citran ...... family, which means citrus ...... tangerine ...... family, right, Prickly Ash?" I picked a leaf and rubbed it, and it smelled even better. "Yes, it''s Prickly Ash, I''m sure. There must be some fruits, too. Jin was pleased to find another spice. 1214 - - 32-32 Hitoshis goal "Hmm?A fruit? Yes, the fruit of this tree. You know it well. We also use them to flavor our food. Jin was talking about the nuts that Gawel had picked, which he thought were Prickly Ash. "How do you eat it?" Jin knew that Prickly Ash was used as a spice, but he did not know how to process it. "There are several ways, though." Annette answered me. "The green peppercorns are harvested before summer, washed, boiled, drained, and used. "I see." This is how they are used in modern Japan to make tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce) such as sansho kelp. "Also, the ripe fruit is sometimes picked, the seeds are removed, and the peel is ground and sprinkled on grilled meat. "Oh." Jin had once been treated to an eel bowl by his boss in modern Japan, and he had eaten it sprinkled with powdered sansho (Japanese pepper), and had loved the aroma. I would like to have some of that powder, if you don''t mind. Jin offered, "Oh, sure. I have some freshly made ones. Apparently, he had just made it recently. But, you know, the aroma is better if you grind it just before use. "Oh, then I''d like to use the unground ones, not the powdered ones. If possible, please share some of the seeds as well. "Sure." In this way, Jin obtained not only powdered Sansho, but also seeds of the Sansho tree. He would eventually cultivate it in Penglai Island. Furthermore, the old man would like to get some saplings from a place that will not disturb the residents. The day when Sansho will be added to the table of Horai Island is coming soon. * * * * "Thank you very much for everything. "No, no, you are the one who helped us. A little after 2:00 p.m., Jin and the others left the elder''s retreat. They returned to a short walk away. <, <> slowly soared into the sky. "Goose, you were shouting in surprise when you first got on board, weren''t you? Saki said in a derisive tone to Goose, who was sitting next to her. "Oh, that''s because it was the first time I flew in the sky. ......!" "I remember the look on your face when you did that." "Shut up!I''m used to it now!" "Oh?But you don''t want to look outside, do you?" "......" "...... are good friends." Elsa, who had been listening to their exchange, blurted out. "Yes, they are." Jin thought that Saki was probably a good match for Goose, who could express his emotions so directly. I''m sure he''s a good match for Goose. "Well, now we can finally get started. Jin returns to Horai Island and brings <> to the workshop. Topaz is in charge of the chrysalis of the <> and the seeds of the Prickly Ash. I left the powdered sansho to Perid. Soon we will be able to eat kabayaki. "First, an experiment. A small amount of dye powder is dissolved in water and impregnated into the wooden paper. "When this dries, will the color remain the same?" "Father, that''s the problem." With Reiko as his assistant, who has no problem getting the dye on her hands, Jin proceeds with his experiments. Elsa and Saki were observing. Jin wondered if this would be a photographic method of wetting, so to speak. The first photographs taken on earth were called "wet plate" photographs, in which a colorless, transparent glass plate was dipped in silver nitrate solution to make a photosensitive film. As the name implies, the process required photographing while the plate was still wet, which made it less convenient to use, and it was replaced by the later development of the . The dry plate has been replaced by celluloid film, and now digital photography is in full swing. A quiet word. Jin thought about it, because it was a little different from the <>, but as it was now, it was only going to make a very unwieldy photographic machine. "Jin, why don''t you try dissolving it in <>? Saki then came up with an idea. Aethenol is a synthetic substance made by dissolving free magic element (ether) in water made of magical isotope (magiisotope), and is an extremely powerful energy source. Assuming that the fact that the color does not change after drying is due to the volatilization of magic power, we can use ethenol-impregnated paper as photographic paper, and erase the free magic element (ether) after taking a picture. "I think we can try diluting the ethenol with water instead of pure ethenol." "That would certainly be a good idea." I was also curious to see how the free ether would react with the dye from the rainbow caterpillar. "I''ll give it a try, then." Reiko prepared pure ethenol and diluted ethenol 10, 50 and 100 times. She dissolved dye powder in each of them. They are then applied to wooden paper and allowed to dry. "Father, try to add some magic to it." "Okay." As he had done with Hazavance, Jin put magic power into his hand. "Oh." The color of the undiluted and the diluted version changed in the same way. "You did it, Jin." "Yes, thanks to Saki. Thank you. "You''re so shy. But I''m glad I could be of help. This exchange of ideas and mutual complementation is what Jin hopes for. "......We are now one step closer to our goal." "Hmm?What goal? Goose heard Jin''s muttering and asked him a question. "The technology of the <>. "That''s also ......." I was about to say, "That''s crazy," but Goose kept his mouth shut. He had a feeling that Jin would be able to pull it off someday. "First of all, I''d like to take pictures with the whole family when the camera is ready," he said. "Yes, I agree." "Yes, that sounds great!" Elsa and Saki agreed without hesitation. "Yes?Isn''t that a camera?" But Goose blames them for the slight difference in the name. "Yeah. A similar machine in my world was called a . "I see, so you call it by the name of your world because it was made by Jin. "That''s what I meant." As he answered, Jin knew that he would finally be able to devote himself to . It was a day when the wind blowing on Horai Island was somehow giving a hint of autumn. 1215 - - 32-33 Quiet talk 66 afterwards > concluded so. Since it was an urgent matter, Jin, Erza, Saki, and Goose settled the matter together. After that, as usual, he went on with his own hobby. The old man decided to have a few sets made for himself for recording purposes, and it was immediately realized. And then, he asked the old man to make a few sets for his own records, which was done immediately. And then.... "This is the damage caused by : ......" The old man, who had prepared several sets of specimens of the grasshoppers, iron rods with gnaw marks on them, and <> of the damage, sent them to major countries in the name of Jin. "They eat iron too? ......" "You eat every last blade of grass. ......" When the leaders of the nations saw this, they trembled. At the same time, they were also relieved to see Jin''s annihilation. "Indeed, I can see why the <> is necessary." In the Shoro Imperial Kingdom, the sense that the damage had been contained was exceptionally strong, and the female emperor let out a sigh when she saw the report. "If Jin-kun''s response had been a few days later,...... no, it''s a miracle that you noticed it before that." Jin happened to be on an errand to the north of Mitsuho. The purpose of his visit was to develop a method of recording the attached <>. "<>...... is a true capture of the truth, isn''t it? It''s a wonderful magical tool." You''re right, Your Majesty. Jin-kun says it''s still under development. I hope he''ll sell it to our country when he''s finished. "Yes. There are many ways to use it. It is a little small for ...... instead of a portrait. I''m sure Jin-kun can handle that too. "Perhaps..." The emperor and the prime minister had complete confidence in Jin, a rare engineer, a magical engineer "Magi Craft Meister". * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm, <> or ......." In the Kingdom of Celuloa, King Cesar was looking at the documents he had received with a difficult expression on his face. At the end of his desk, Mr. Lambreaux, Secretary of the First Ministry of the Interior, is looking over the materials handed to him by the King. "I thought I found it in the records about 150 years ago," he said. "Yes, I believe so. After reading the documents, Lambreaux got up from his seat and went to the reference room adjacent to his office. A few minutes later, he came back with a record in his hand. "Your Majesty, it says here that in the year 3310, a quarter of the land was destroyed by a swarm of insects that came from the north. Is this the same thing? Is this the same thing?I''m comparing the illustration to this photo, and it looks like the same thing. "Yes. But this is a marvelous thing." "Truly. It will be of great help in keeping records." "Korun says he''ll distribute them to our country when they''re finished. I''m looking forward to it. Yes, sir. "So, going back to the matter at hand, I heard that the grasshopper was exterminated by the Korlun-kun, and I hope that in the future the World Guard will be able to take on such a role. "To that end, ......" * * * "<>. What a scary bugger. Your Majesty. Even in the Kingdom of Klein. "<>" is a ....... I''ve only heard of them in the records, but they''re real? Yes, and if these pictures are true, they are a threat. "But since it was vanquished by the Kun Lun, we can rest easy for a start." In the Kingdom of Egelea, too. And in the kingdoms of Franz and Elias, the threat of the was accepted with reality. At the same time, the fact that Jin exterminated them. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "<> has exterminated the <>!" "Hurray!" Everyone in Mitsuho was praising Jin''s achievement upon receiving the news that the Magecraft Meister had defeated the ravenous grasshoppers. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man was indeed stunned by the amount of grasshoppers he collected from the exterminated ones. < 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. > Grasshoppers that take in free magic element (ether) mature and reproduce rapidly. Moreover, as long as they have free magic element (ether), they can grow without organic matter from the second generation onward, just like other demons. "Yeah, I didn''t think it would go this far either." Goose helped me with my research on the ecology of the <>, and this is the result. "Ordinary grasshoppers mutate in areas with a high concentration of free magic element (ether), and from the second generation onward, they multiply only with free magic element (ether) and eventually head for other areas." << This is a question that even the "Mere Old Man" could not have guessed. "Yes, I have a hypothesis about that." . "Yes. "......1 the concentration of free magical elements (ether) per animal." With that, the old man knew what Goose was talking about. < "Yes. And they are insects, too. They seem to be weak against the cold, so they probably go south instead of going north where the free ether is thicker. << "Well, that''s my theory." "Now if we could only identify the point where the concentration of free magical element (ether) is high. <<>. "I guess. So there''s no point in looking for them now." Goose nodded to <, his bodyguard and driver in place of the old man. < "Yes. I''ve had enough of the sky." < "Not this time, anyway." Goose uses the warp gate of the he landed on to return to Horai Island. The empty wilderness was just the wind blowing. 1216 - - 33-01 Commemorative Photos "Yes, smile ......OK" September 21 was Vivian''s birthday. The whole , including Milowina and Martha, had gathered on Horai Island. Jin is taking a commemorative photo with his newly completed camera. First, a group photo of all the members. Edgar is pressing the shutter. "Say cheese." "Cheese." "One plus one?" "Two!" As they exchange these words, Jin now begins to take portraits of each one of us. Edgar and Reiko are given cameras as well, and they are allowed to take relatively free snapshots. The <>, which he received from No. 700672, is similar to an instant camera and produces a picture as soon as it is picked up. However, it does not have a negative, so it is difficult to make prints. However, the <> developed by Jin was a so-called (=slide photograph) made of a transparent base material impregnated with , and the idea was to use this film to make additional prints. Therefore, the number of people in the group would be increased as soon as the film was re-burned. Moreover, since it was done with <> and not <>, there was a big advantage of not needing a darkroom. "Wow, this is fantastic! "It looks so real!" "It''s not a picture, it''s a ...... picture!" "It''s great that we can document it together like this." They were all surprised and pleased. "Jin, this is very versatile, isn''t it?" Marcia asked. "Such as?" "For example, it would be useful to keep a record of the production process so that I can teach it to my students. "Yes, there are technical uses." Rodrigo agreed with Marcia''s words. "Yes, but it''s nice to be able to keep a record of the children. Reinhardt showed his parental foolishness. "Yes. Even in my former world, parents kept records of their children''s growth like that ......." "......" Erza sensed the slight sadness on Jin''s face when he said that, and gently took his hand in hers without saying a word. "I''ll develop a personalized version, just give me a minute. But Jin didn''t show any such sign and explained cheerfully. "I''m looking forward to it. I''m counting on you, Jin. I''ll take care of it." And now a few of us took pictures of the group. "Hannah, line up next to Martha." "Yes!Then I want to take a picture with you and your sister. "Luis, hold Beena by the waist. ...... "Hey, I''m a little embarrassed." "Come on, Saki and Goose, get tight." "Come on, get close to me. ......" Bertje, snuggle up to Reinhardt. ...... yes, yes, yes." "Come on, Mr. Toa, don''t be shy, put your hands on your wife''s shoulders." Like this? Marcia, come closer to Mr. Rodrigo. "Yes, ...... more?" Marcia? I''m just kidding, Dad. I''m just kidding, Dad." * * * * After a great deal of fuss, everyone is finally satisfied. "Oh, this has been such a fun birthday! Thank you, Mr. Jin. Vivian said. "No, what?" Jin answered while scratching his head and held out a small package. "Happy birthday, Vivian." "Thank you, Jin-kun." Vivian accepted the package, and judging by its weight and shape, as well as by the birthdays of the other members who had attended the party, "This is the ...... clock, right?Thank you!" He had guessed exactly what was in the watch. "I''ll take good care of it." Vivienne said to Jin with a big smile when she opened the package and confirmed that it was a pocket watch. * * * * * * * * * * * * The birthday celebration was drawing to a close. "Hey, did you find out anything about that ? Vivian asked. "Yeah, a little. We''re all here today, so I thought we could talk about it later. "Oh!Then I''d like to hear about it right away. Toa said with great enthusiasm, and the other members agreed. "Okay. Well, some of you may not know what''s going on. ......" Jin began by telling the story of how the Land team had found a mysterious substance during their investigation of <>. "It was a molecularly compressed azurite ...... lead ore." Jin then explained that even the old man couldn''t guess more than that because of the lack of original information, and that he went to No. 7006 to report the marriage as well. I explain that I went to No. 700672 to report my marriage. "Planet modification ......?" "I didn''t know that was possible ......." Everyone seemed surprised. "Can Jin do it too?" "No, I don''t think so. "<> ......" And then, each of them was filled with emotion, ruminating over what they had heard. "So, why is there so little free magic element (ether) in the south?" Goose asks. "No, I didn''t ask that. Maybe, but I don''t think 700672 knows either. He even said that he didn''t have any information before the 500000 series. "I guess you''ll have to find that out for yourself." "I see. So the fleet just kept going, right?What happened? "Oh, that''s what I was going to tell you." After a pause, Jin began to speak. 1217 - - 33-02 The Mystery "<> continued south after we returned. First, from , we headed further south. ...... old man!" In response to Jin''s voice, the magic screen on the wall lit up. There is an even larger archipelago to the south of the Pleiades. "Oh!" Someone''s voice echoes. "Oh! "This is it!" Jin was not sure if he had shown it before or not, and he thought that some people might not know about it, so he displayed the whole map as a prerequisite for the discussion. <, so some details are still ambiguous. He explains that there are some areas, especially in the southern hemisphere, where detailed surveying by < is not possible due to the free-magic element (ether) distribution. . < "I see. So this is how the world works. Toa muttered with deep emotion. . "That''s for sure." Vivian agrees. << "Yes, it is true that the cells are strengthened by the free magical element (ether). Goose again. It seems that he is more interested in unknown organisms than anyone else. < "Okay. Thank you." Jin nods and looks around at the members. "I have recently noticed that a big question has arisen concerning the distribution of free magical elements (ether). Will you listen to me?" "Sure." "Let''s hear it." I''d love to hear it. No one objected. "Okay. ...... First, let''s review the distribution... the further north you go, the higher the concentration of free ether... and the further south, the lower." "Right." "The degree of change is not constant. There''s a three-fold difference between the northern limit of the demon territory, where people live, and Potlock, the southern limit. "That''s right. The last trip we took was near the equator, so even though the temperature dropped, it wasn''t enough for us to feel it. Reinhardt says, sounding convinced. "I think that the horizontal distribution of the free magical element (ether) should look something like this. Jin gave a signal, and the old man projected the graph on the magic screen. "The horizontal axis is latitude and the vertical axis is the concentration of free magic element (ether). The South Pole is 0 and the North Pole is 10. ...... "Hmm, it doesn''t change in a straight line, does it? Saki comments. Indeed, the graph shows an upward and downward convex curve. "Well, I think you can understand this. Next is the vertical distribution, and once we go out to outer space, there is almost no bias in the concentration of free magical element (ether), is that right? "I think I heard that before." Toa nodded and everyone agreed. "Yes. So, taking Antarctica as an example, at what altitude does the concentration of free magical element (ether) start to decrease? This is roughly below the stratosphere." "Hmm. Nothing strange in what you''ve explained so far? No. Tor, Goose, and the others all nodded. I know. It starts here." Jin looked around at all the faces again. "If the free magical element (ether) is a particle, it is probably smaller than a hydrogen atom. This means that it can move at a considerable speed. "That''s because it has less mass!" Hannah, who had been silent until now, interrupted. "Yes, Hannah is right. That''s why it''s strange that there is a bias in the free-magic element (ether) distribution. "...... Oh." Erza, who understood the meaning of Jin''s words, raised her voice. "Erza seems to have understood." "...... you mean, perhaps the free magic element (ether) is still being consumed?" "Huh?......Ah, ah!" Saki seemed to understand after hearing Erza''s statement. "So that''s how it is!" "Surely we can think that way!" One after another, the voices of those who were convinced rose to the surface. "You seem to be getting the idea. What I wonder is, is the reason why the free-magic element (ether) distribution in the southern hemisphere is small, is it because the free-magic element (ether) is still decreasing around the Antarctic?I mean." "No, I can''t deny that." Reinhardt agreed with a hard look on his face. "So that''s what you''re saying, isn''t it, Jin?If the free ether in the southern hemisphere has decreased due to something that happened in the past, then the current distribution should be evened out by now. "Yes, Bina is right." "...... So, Jin, you are saying that there are still factors that cause the free magical element (ether) in the southern hemisphere to decrease, right?" Stearina traced Jin''s thoughts with a look of understanding. "That''s right. Whether it is due to consumption or something that eliminates the free magic element (ether)...... we don''t know." "Hmm......" "Nope. ......" They all again realized the question and kept their mouths shut. "If there had only been something in the past that reduced the free magical element (ether), then we should have been back by now." "Huh?Jin, what about the Aether Stampede? "Oh, yes. I heard that since then, the concentration of free magical element (ether) has decreased by one third. Jin nodded. "Yes, I wonder about that too. Let me tell you another fact that I have observed at ....... The current free-magic element (ether) concentration near the village of Kaina is almost the same as the free-magic element (ether) concentration in outer space. "What? "Does that mean that the concentration of free magic element (ether) was higher than average in Ars in the past?" The surprised Reinhardt had guessed what Jin meant. "I think Reinhardt is right." "Well, I can see why ...... Jin said it was a question." "Right?" Taken as a whole, the distribution of free magical elements (ether) in Ars is abnormal. Jin didn''t like the fact that we don''t know the cause of this anomaly. "It seems that they didn''t know about 700672 either." "Yes, he did. I don''t think ......<> knows about it either." Milowina added. The <>, where she lives now, was originally an asteroid, which was once set up as a satellite of Ars by the . It is said that there is no record of the development of Ars on . So, there are some hypotheses that the old man and I have made. Let me tell you the most likely one of them. ......, Mr. Lao, please." Jin motioned to the old man and left the explanation to him. <> have a thicker free magic element (ether) concentration. Therefore, the concentration of free magic element (ether) in Ars must have been raised by some means. "This is one." Jin joins in. "Two things are now true. to do with the northern hemisphere rather than consume free magical elements (ether)."> "That makes three. What do you think, guys?" Jin looked around at all of the <> faces. 1218 - - 33-03 Exchange of views "No, I''ll check again, before the <>, Ars clearly had a higher concentration of free magical element (ether) than the average in space, right?" Saki asked a little unsurely. "That would be the case." "Hmm, could that be the reason why you call them ?" "What do you mean, Goose?What do you mean, Goose? Goose''s words made Jin and the others wonder. "It means that since the amount of free magical elements (ether) has increased, the demons have also become stronger. A good example is the just a few days ago. It can be exterminated by depriving it of free magical element (ether). That means that free magic element (ether) is indispensable for survival. "Isn''t that similar to what happened to most of the mages who died in the Aether Stampede?" Guth slowly explained his thoughts. "Indeed. So you are saying that the process of remodeling Ars to be like ''s home planet ......<> had a great impact on its ecosystem." "I think Jin is right. It''s just a hypothesis, though." << The old man also supports Goose''s theory, "Hmmm...... terraforming...... or even <>, which has reduced the diversity of life and turned the survivors into demons?" < This is still just a guess," the old man concluded. "Hmmm... ......" "You guys just keep on grunting, don''t you?" Bina said in a cheerful voice. "I think it is important to know the past. I think it''s important to know the past and to use it for the future. But the important thing is now. < You can''t change what happened. So let''s accept it and connect it to the present and the future, Bina said. Maybe Bina is right. We are living in Ars now. "The past is the past. We need to know what happened, we need to record it. But it''s for the better future. So what should we do? The faces of those who had been shocked by the great and heavy facts of planetary transformation and the resulting ecological changes returned to their brightness. "First of all, we need to find out if there is something that is creating the bias in the distribution of free magical elements (ether). If so, where is it and what is it? Jin rejoins. "Yes, I think so. Before we do anything else, we would like to know if there is something that is causing the current situation. Toa agreed. "Assuming that there is something, will it ever stop or malfunction? What happens if it stops? I''m curious. Saki has a good point. "If it stops, the distribution of free magical elements (ether) on Ars will be the same as that of the surroundings. In other words, the same as in the village of Kaina. "Hm, then the demons have stayed in Kaina village before, right?It wouldn''t have a big impact on the world, would it?" Saki said but Reinhardt denied it. "No, Saki, that''s only for the human race, including the demons, isn''t it?We don''t know what will happen to the demons in the northern lands, do we?" "Yes, that''s right. We can''t ignore the impact on the ecosystem, can we? ......" "If we''re not careful, it could move further and further south. ...... "Then I guess it''s better to maintain the status quo for now." Goose said a little regretfully. "Goose is right. The current organisms on Ars have adapted to the environment in which they were created. Jin also looked a little disappointed. "It won''t be a matter of today or tomorrow, but I think we need to check the Antarctic. And that is impossible without using the power of Horai Island. "But Jin, isn''t it possible to get to the South Pole that easily? That''s true. But what about the North Pole? What? "I mean, there is a high possibility that there is something at the North Pole as well as at the South Pole. So, I think there is a way to investigate the North Pole first. ...... Well, this just came to me." "Ah, ha ha." Saki giggles at Jin''s joke, but what he says makes sense. "There is the matter of the long-period planet, but we have to be sure to keep our feet on the ground, otherwise who knows what might happen. Jin was afraid of the unexpected crises that he had seen in cartoons and animations. We must protect this world at all costs. "Jin, I''ve been thinking..." Marcia spoke to Jin. "You said that the free magical element (ether) is very small, right?How small is it? "Hmmm, so small you can''t see it?...... Anyway, it''s small enough to go through walls and rocks." Marcia nodded in agreement, "Then I guess it could pass through Ars, too," she said. I said. "What?" Jin was astonished to hear that statement. "No, no, look, I can''t use magic and I''m not learned, so you don''t have to listen to me. Marcia was flustered, but Jin seemed to have an idea. "......Maybe that''s the . ......" Erza hears a murmur of <, and asks Jin. "Brother Jin, did you find out anything about the <>?" Jin nodded broadly and began to explain after a pause. "If you hadn''t asked Marcia''s question, there was a high possibility that you would have almost wasted your time." "What?" "There is a possibility that there is nothing at the North Pole. It is possible that the free magical element (ether) is only being sent out from the South Pole. I doubt that they would install important equipment in a land full of such powerful demons." "What does this have to do with the Singularity?" "Even though free magical element (ether) permeates through matter, there may be some resistance depending on the matter. Well, it may be easier or a little harder to pass through, but that''s about it. "I''m beginning to understand. So?" Erza seemed to have realized what Jin meant. "In other words, I think that the free magical element (ether) that should have blown out at the North Pole, blew out through a branch path that was <>. "One of them is Horai Island ......" "So that''s what I''m thinking." Jin then looked at Goose, "The last time I saw a ravenous grasshopper. That too, maybe there''s a small somewhere ...... deep in the mountains of Huso ......." "Right!Maybe the dense free magic element (ether) coming out of there causes them to become binge eaters!" I heard some of the members say, "Ah," or "I see. "Maybe the unstable creates demons at irregular intervals." Guth spoke up with a further theory. <, and we came to this conclusion. However, we have not been able to find the singularity. The old man adds. "So we can''t say for sure that the is creating the demons. At least is a strong possibility," Goose concludes. "Why don''t you all take a break?" Reiko calls out. Before I know it, it''s 3:00 in the afternoon. "Let''s have some tea." Jin says, and the golem maids quickly get ready. "I''ve decided on kuhe today," says Jin. "Oh, that''s nice!" Marcia was pleased. Cujohe is a specialty of the Kingdom of Elias as well as Potrock. In fact, Vivian liked it too, which is probably why she chose it for her birthday. "Wow, that calms me down." "Yes, it''s good at times like this." Drinking it with a little more sugar, Jin felt that it would help his tired head ....... "This kind of exchange of opinions is very meaningful, isn''t it?" Saki looks satisfied. "It''s not only the <> problem, but also this one seems to have a high priority, so it''s a lot of work. Toa also looks a little tired. "But, I''m sure Jin-san will do something about it! Jin replied to Licia''s strangely forceful words with a wry smile. "With everyone''s cooperation, I think we can ...... do it." 1219 - - 33-04 Mana tank consideration "Well, the Antarctic survey is probably at the bottom of the ocean, right? Since we can''t find anything from the sky, the only place to look is under the sea, Jin says. "Then that''s where the killer whales come in. "Your father should not go." "I''m sure they''ll say ......." I knew the old man and Reiko would stop him. < smiled wryly. . "I guess that''s what I''m going to do. ......" Mermaids can handle deep-sea exploration with no problem. Jin decides that we should start with a wait-and-see approach. "I understand. However, I''m still concerned about the situation as it is now. ......" We don''t know what''s in the Antarctic Ocean, but we can''t afford to lose the free magical element (ether) and have it stop. "Kuhu, we don''t want it to be like the last time we had a binge-eating grasshopper, do we? Saki seemed to be aware of this and agreed with Jin''s idea. "Then it should have a reserve energy source, but it should be a mana tank instead of an ether tank. If it is mana, it is not afraid of <> being used. Jin guessed that what is in the South Pole is probably a magic tool that works in the same way as the <>. In order to convert mana back into free magic element (ether), a < must be used, but it is hard to imagine that such a thing is equipped. "If we can give them mana tanks like oxygen tanks, they can work even in the Antarctic. Jin is about to start thinking about it, but then he remembers that today is Vivian''s birthday party, and he almost stops himself. Everyone looked at him with a smile. "Well, a lot has happened, but here''s my last report. < at ....... I will leave this to you to explain. <>, the guiding mind of the moon, sent out an unmanned probe. It will be approaching soon. Then we will know more about it. "Where is it now?" < "600 million or ...... how fast is it moving?" "That''s fast. ......" Even the spacecraft <<> built by Jin is limited to 300 km/sec so far. If it gets closer to the sun Celan, it will be over 400 km/sec. <<<< Pengolta>> seems to be a rather large planet, so it is likely to affect the orbits of <>. "That''s my main concern." At the moment, we don''t know what effect the change in orbit will have on Ars. This is not only because Jin is not familiar with astronomy, but also because we do not have sufficient data on the masses of <> and <>. Hence, even 700672 has not been able to make an accurate prediction. Therefore, information from unmanned spacecraft is awaited. "I guess we can''t start worrying about that now. ......" Thor said a little ruefully. "Indeed. It is frustrating that we have to rely on Jin-dono." Count Kuzma also sounded frustrated. "No, of course not. I''m ...... here because you''re all here." Oh, Jin thinks. He had remembered saying this very line just recently. But it was definitely true. One can do one''s best for someone. We can live for someone. It is a blessing to have that someone. The Director''s words suddenly came back to Jin''s ears. (After all, the Director is my parent, isn''t he?) "Jin?" "Oh, I''m sorry." Jin came back to himself at the sound of Goose''s voice. "Anyway, I''m sure we''ll find out a lot more in a few days. Then we''ll be busy." Until then, we''ll be ready," Jin said. "It''s Vee''s birthday today, isn''t it?" Stearina patted Vivian on the shoulder. "Yes, yes. Let''s not talk about the hard stuff, now let''s have some fun. Toa says in a cheerful voice. "Yes, we are. "Yes, yes." "Yes, yes." Everyone agrees, but it is inevitable that a small thorn named worry remains in the corner of their hearts. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After everyone returned to their respective countries and homes, they went to Horai Island. Erza, accompanied by Edgar and Meene, went to Shoro with Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt to go back to their hometown. Jin is alone with Reiko for the first time in a while. "Well, really, where should we start? In the control room, Jin folded his arms and pondered. "I guess we should start with the emergency mana tank. Jin put his thoughts together, "Not only for mermaids, but it should be usable for other golems as well. "Can''t we make it so that it can store more mana than before? This is an area that has not been fully researched due to the fact that it is an old technology. "In short, it would be good if we could compress mana. ...... "Didn''t your father''s world have a similar technology?" Reiko offered her advice, which was rare. Jin is happy to know that this is another development of his ego. And then. "Wait, ...... that''s right, <>!" Jin is not good at chemistry, but he has a broad, though not deep, knowledge of metallurgy. One of them is called <>. "I remember it was something about taking hydrogen in a gaseous state and putting it into the crystal structure. I don''t have the exact knowledge, and my memory is a little fuzzy, but that''s all right now. It''s the idea that counts. "The mana that is stored in the mana tank is probably also stored in the gaps of the crystalline structure ......." Jin''s thoughts continue to wander. "Then, what do you call the opposite of ...... tightness than a tight-lattice crystal structure?......Well, you can try to prepare and experiment with a mana tank with a structure that is not tight-lattice." Muttering to himself, Jin has settled on a rough policy. "Reiko, old man, do you have any magi-crystals that are not tight in crystalline structure?" "I guess so. This is something I had not expected. "Hmmm, what kind of material other than Magi Crystals (Magi Crystals) can be used to store Magi Elements (Mana)? ......" I can think of various materials that can store free magic element (ether), but when it comes to magic element (mana) ....... Jin. Generally, mana can be used only by the magician who created it from free magic element (ether), but exceptionally, the lowest <> or <> mana has <>. If we compare it to real energy, it would be something like static electricity, or direct current electricity. It is difficult to use it as it is, so it must be converted into alternating current, and then into kinetic or thermal energy to be used. Since magic is to be used directly from free magic element (ether) by converting it into desired energy form, it is easy to imagine that this two-step method is inefficient. However. This is not the case with the children created by Jin ...... Reiko and other automata (automata) and golems, since they have the same magic pattern as that of Jin. Jin tried to remember the materials that could store neutral mana. "...... ancient dragon''s leather, huh?" We know from Reiko''s remodeling that the efficiency of using mana is extremely high. This is because it contains a lot of mana and can efficiently utilize the power and energy that mana emits. "Let''s think along those lines. ......" Jin was again lost in thought. 1220 - - 33-05 Success and Failure (New) "Even if the operational efficiency is high, it is meaningless if it cannot be mass-produced. ......" Jin then decides to select a bio-based material that he has on hand and that is likely to store a large amount of mana. His assistants were the old man and Reiko. "Yes, the more powerful the demon is, the more likely it is to be so. <> or <> would be a good choice. "Yes. Let''s try those two." So Reiko brought out those two kinds of materials from the warehouse. "Since they are not alive, I think they will store <> magical element (mana). ......" <>. Anyway, the first step is to conduct a verification experiment. "I think size is more important than weight." Jin decides to see which one can store more mana in the same volume. "Father, in this case, you are prioritizing volume over weight, right?" "Yes. Yes. It''s a matter of how compact we can make it. Jin separates the two types of materials by . He cut them into dice about 1 cm square. The reason for the cube shape is to increase the filling rate. "Hmmm, how to fill it with mana? Jin thought it would be better to do it in a practical way, so he quickly prepared a standard type of <>. "Okay, let''s run this for a certain period of time and see what happens. Jin wanted to find out which one would store more mana by giving it more than enough mana. "Father, your research is fine, but it''s time for you to go to sleep. "What?Oh, is it that late already? It was already 10:00 p.m. when he came to. "Okay. We''ll continue tomorrow." Jin obediently followed Reiko''s advice and decided to take a rest to recover his energy. The next day, Jin went to bed in the morning. The next day, as soon as Jin finished breakfast, he conducted the verification he had thought of the day before. As a result, he found that the gigantopod material stored about 20% more. "The weight is almost the same," he said. The specific gravity of both materials was around 1. "So, how much can it store?" Since there is no unit of measurement, this will be a comparative experiment, but in conclusion, it seems that the AAA type mana tank can store about 2.5 times as much mana as the previously standardized AAA type mana tank. "This is practical enough, isn''t it?" Jin decided to make it cylindrical, like a battery, so that it would be easy to replace. "The image I have in mind now is an AAA battery." This is to differentiate it from the previous AAA type mana tank. It was also found that the golems of Horai Island can operate for 24 hours on average when equipped with 10 mana tanks. Of course, this is without using extremely violent movements or consuming magic during the operation. "30 pieces of equipment, plus 2 for emergencies, I guess." The emergency one is used for , for example, one for transfer to the sea surface in case of an accident in the deep sea and escape becomes impossible. And one to send a distress signal to Horai Island and to maintain the current situation. "Also, I would like to have a supply ship standing by nearby, and have that ship carry a large amount of mana tanks and be able to recharge them. Jin pondered and came up with an idea. "I wish we could transfer energy. He had learned from the science fiction novels and manga he had read in modern Japan that energy could be transferred to a remote location. "I wish I could do that," he says. The "Mere Old Man" had tried several experiments to see if it could be done by using a warp gate, but they did not work out. A warp gate connects two points by a . The , which we tentatively call , passes through a space that is not real space, allowing travel between the two points with virtually no time loss. This is all we know about how the warp gate works. The next question was whether it is possible to exchange something other than objects by using the tunnel. For example, to send water to an area with water shortage. Drainage of water from flooded areas. This was the next question. The conclusion was that <>. At the exit of the warp gate, the velocity of the object becomes zero. No matter whether the velocity at the entrance is fast or slow. The reason why this happens has not been clarified, but for this reason, even if water is pumped into the warp gate, it simply overflows from the exit, and the momentum of the pumped water is not maintained. "I suppose it is the same with free magical element (ether), although we cannot see it." If the object has its own propulsive force, like an aircraft, it can immediately depart from the exit gate (warp gate). Also, it seemed to me that if we pointed the outlet downwards, we could probably drain the water. "But free magic element (ether), right?" << "It seems so. The reason is unknown at this point. < "No, it can''t be helped, the experiment was short." Jin instructed the old man not to worry about it, and thought about it again. "For the time being, we will have to communicate with them in the form of <> or <>. ...... Jin did not like the idea of sending them in this way and exchanging them for the right things, because it was very time-consuming and not very smart. "But father, I don''t have a choice, do I?" "Yes, but I''m sure I can do something about it if I can just ...... find one more thing to spark it. ......" << "Yes, there are priorities, aren''t there? ...... hmm?Yushin?Yushin ...... wired, or ......" <> "My Lord, please experiment to see if you can connect the warp gate with a wire. I will make a mana cylinder. The old man knew what to do just from Jin''s short instructions and started the experiment with <> and the craftsman(smith)1. < First of all, we need one pair, that is, two warp gates. I prepared ordinary steel wires for them. We activate the warp gates and confirm that they are connected from the entrance side to the exit side. Then, I inserted the wire from the entrance side. But nothing happened. "...... still no luck." The current warp gate is not designed to transfer <> of the body for safety reasons. For example, it is not possible to transfer <> of a human being. It can be said that the transfer is performed after confirming that <> is within the transfer range. This <> is limited to solids, and liquids and gases are considered to have a certain range of tolerance. This can be understood from the fact that the air around the object or person being transferred also transfers with it. In other words, it is impossible that <>. This is something that even the old man could not do anything about. Then, Jin, who had finished making a prototype mana cylinder, came in. "How do you like it, Mr. Mana? <> The old man explained the result of the experiment to Jin. "Well, I guess so. ......". From the results, we can guess why it did not work. Jin realized that he had to change his mind that this method of energy transfer was unlikely to work. (Old) "Even if the operational efficiency is high, it''s meaningless if it can''t be mass-produced. ......" Jin then decided to select a bio-based material that he had on hand and that would be able to store a large amount of mana. His assistants were the old man and Reiko. "Yes, the more powerful the demon is, the more likely it is to be so. <> or <> would be a good choice. "Yes. Let''s try those two." So Reiko brought out those two kinds of materials from the warehouse. "Since they are not alive, I think they will store <> magical element (mana). ......" <>. Anyway, the first step is to conduct a verification experiment. "I think size is more important than weight." Jin decides to see which one can store more mana in the same volume. "Father, in this case, you are prioritizing volume over weight, right?" "Yes. Yes. It''s a matter of how compact we can make it. Jin separates the two types of materials by . He cut them into dice about 1 cm square. The reason for the cube shape is to increase the filling rate. "Hmmm, how to fill it with mana? Jin thought it would be better to do it in a practical way, so he quickly prepared a standard type of <>. "Okay, let''s run it for a certain period of time and see what happens. Jin wanted to find out which of them would accumulate more mana by giving them more than enough mana. "Father, your research is fine, but it''s time for you to go to sleep. "What?Oh, is it that late already? It was already 10:00 p.m. when he came to. "Okay. We''ll continue tomorrow." Jin obediently followed Reiko''s advice and decided to take a rest to recover his energy. The next day, Jin went to bed in the morning. The next day, as soon as Jin finished breakfast, he conducted the verification he had thought of the day before. As a result, he found that the gigantopod material stored about 20% more. "The weight is almost the same," he said. The specific gravity of both materials was around 1. "So, how much can it store?" Since there is no unit of measurement, this will be a comparative experiment, but in conclusion, it seems that the AAA type mana tank can store about 2.5 times as much mana as the previously standardized AAA type mana tank. "This is practical enough, isn''t it?" Jin decided to make it cylindrical, like a battery, so that it would be easy to replace. "The image I have in mind now is an AAA battery." This is to differentiate it from the previous AAA type mana tank. It was also found that the golems of Horai Island can operate for 24 hours on average when equipped with 10 mana tanks. Of course, this is without using extremely violent movements or consuming magic during the operation. "30 pieces of equipment, plus 2 for emergencies, I guess." The emergency one is used for , for example, one for transfer to the sea surface in case of an accident in the deep sea and escape becomes impossible. And one to send a distress signal to Horai Island and to maintain the current situation. "Also, I would like to have a supply ship standing by nearby, and have that ship carry a large amount of mana tanks and be able to recharge them. Jin pondered and came up with an idea. "I wish we could transfer energy. He had learned from the science fiction novels and manga he had read in modern Japan that energy could be transferred to a remote location. "I wish I could do that," he says. The "Mere Old Man" had tried several experiments to see if it could be done by using a warp gate, but they did not work out. A warp gate connects two points by a . The , which we tentatively call , passes through a space that is not real space, allowing travel between the two points with virtually no time loss. This is all we know about how the warp gate works. The next question was whether it is possible to exchange something other than objects by using the tunnel. For example, to send water to an area with water shortage. Drainage of water from flooded areas. This was the next question. The conclusion was that <>. At the exit of the warp gate, the velocity of the object becomes zero. No matter whether the velocity at the entrance is fast or slow. The reason why this happens has not been clarified, but for this reason, even if water is pumped into the warp gate, it simply overflows from the exit, and the momentum of the pumped water is not maintained. "I suppose it is the same with free magical element (ether), although we cannot see it." If the object has its own propulsion, such as an aircraft, it can immediately depart from the warp gate on the exit side. It also seemed that if the exit was facing downwards, water would probably be able to drip out of it. "But what about free magic element (ether)? << "It seems so. The reason is unknown at this point. < "No, it can''t be helped, the experiment was short." Jin instructed the old man not to worry about it, and thought about it again. "For the time being, we will have to communicate with them in the form of <> or <>. ...... Jin did not like the idea of sending them in this way and exchanging them for the right things, because it was very time-consuming and not very smart. "But father, I don''t have a choice, do I?" "Yes, but I''m sure I can do something about it if I can just ...... find one more thing to spark it. ......" << "Yes, there are priorities, aren''t there? ...... hmm?Yushin?Yushin ...... wired, or ......" <> "My Lord, please experiment to see if you can connect the warp gate with a wire. I will make a mana cylinder. The old man knew what to do just from Jin''s short instructions and started the experiment with <> and the craftsman(smith)1. < First of all, we need one pair, that is, two warp gates. We have also prepared an ordinary steel wire. I activated the warp gates and confirmed that they are connected from the entrance side to the exit side. Then, he inserted the wire from the entrance side. If Jin''s prediction is correct, the wire should come out from the exit side. And it succeeded with flying colors. If the iron wire goes through, the next step is the mithril conductor. Mithril could be passed from the entrance side to the exit side in the same way. < The old man connects an ether tank to the exit side of the mithril line. < And the experiment starts. The old man was almost sure of success. > However, contrary to his expectation, the free magic element (ether) did not flow. <> < The "Mere Old Man" was at a loss, not knowing what was wrong. Then Jin, who had finished making a prototype mana cylinder, came in. "How do you like it, Mr. Mana? <> The old man explained the result of the experiment to Jin. "Well, I wonder why?" Jin also twisted his head. "My Lord, let''s leave aside for the moment the question of why we can''t send free ether or mana, and let''s try one more experiment. > "Instead of wires, I''d like to run a pipe through it and see if it''s possible to pass water or air through it. . The "Mere Old Man" immediately started the experiment. 1221 - - 33-06 Energy Transfer Experiment New) An experiment to see if fluid can flow between warp gates. "No?" . As it turns out, it was a failure. No matter how much pressure was applied, the fluid did not blow out from the exit side. I guess it would be better to say that the applied force was escaping somewhere. ......" Jin, who had actually used the < at its weakest setting, muttered with his hand on his chin. < ......>> he said. "Yes. The intrinsic speed at the entrance is zero at the exit. That means it is absorbed between the entrance and the exit, or it is running somewhere." "Hmmm ......" It is a very difficult problem. "So you''re saying that energy transfer is not possible until we figure out the reason for the energy transfer. ......" <<> At that moment, the old man offered a suggestion. "Oh, that might be a good idea. Let''s do it right away. Whenever he has an idea, he immediately does it. This time, let''s put wind thrusters on the entrance and exit sides of the warp gate and experiment to see what happens. "Okay, let''s go!" Jin activates the two magi-machines. "What?" Wind is coming out of the wind thruster on the exit side. "Okay, let''s try sending smoke and see if the air is really coming out. Since he could not immediately think of a magic tool that could produce smoke, Jin decided to burn a dead leaf. "Reiko, please." "Yes, Father." He filled a metal container about the size of a can with dead leaves and set it on fire. Immediately a plume of smoke rose from it. "Okay, let''s see if we can make it inhale. ...... The smoke that was sucked in from the wind thruster on the inlet side was properly discharged from the wind thruster on the outlet side. "Yes. I guess we are almost there. However, it is unlikely that we will be able to miniaturize it at this point, so it is a half success. "First of all, if we equip a ship with it, it will give us a lot of freedom of action." > Yes, please. Thus, large naval vessels are to be equipped with . The battleship <><><>, the cruiser <<<<<<<<<>, and the special cruisers <> and <> were actually deployed. Of these, <><><><<><><<> have not yet returned to Horaijima, so we will start with the other ships. "In parallel with the improvement, we will mass-produce mana cylinders, and after that, we will start the Antarctic research. <<> Jin regretted that he would not be able to go and see for himself, so he had no objection to using his doppelg?nger. "Yes, please do." As for the mana cylinders, I had split up with the craftsmen (smiths), and we had the required number of mana cylinders plus more than enough on the same day. The mana cylinders are carried on the back like a backpack and secured with a waist belt to prevent them from falling off. Mana is taken in through the mouth via a flexible mithril silver cable. This is used in the same way as an oxygen cylinder. Jin also made a mouthpiece out of magi crystals at the end of the silver mithril cable, and put a magi formula in the mouthpiece so that he can release some magic. I mainly used the ones that are effective underwater. "Yes, Master." Jin explains to Mermaid 1 how to use it. "<>, <>, <>, and <>. All of them are directional and have been adjusted to have an effect only in a small area. "There is also room in the mana cylinder to store small items. You can put mana bombs or knives or something in there if necessary. "Yes, I understand." With this, Jin has done all he can do. The next day, on September 23rd, the "Mere Old Man" was sent to the hospital. The next day, September 23rd. "Well then, old man, the Antarctic research fleet, let''s go. < Using the transporter, send them to the sea area where the <> is currently investigating. Then, we will let them continue to investigate beyond that point. In turn, the < will be sent back to the island and remodeled. "Well, I guess we''ll just have to wait for the report. Having done what he had to do, Jin took a sigh of relief and thought about his beloved wife who was back home. "I wonder if Elsa is relaxing at home. * * * * The same day, in the town of Exi, Shoro. This is the town where Erza''s parents live. Erza and Meine, who moved to Shoro with Reinhardt, stayed at Reinhardt''s house, Lankenhaos, for the night, and the next day, they borrowed Reinhardt''s carriage and went to their parents'' house. The next day, he rented a carriage from Reinhardt and went to his parents'' house. "Time differences are so complicated. He explained it to me, but I still don''t understand it. Does Elsa understand it?" "Yes." "Yes. Yes. Erza is really great. There is a time difference of about five and a half hours between Horai Island and the Shoro Kingdom. Even though it''s 7pm in Horai Island, it''s only 1:30pm here. It is a bit confusing if you are not used to it. "I''m more thankful that my brother Rai had the wagon remodeled. "Yes. It doesn''t shake too much. Once you get used to riding in Jin''s horse-drawn carriage, it is hard to ride in a normal carriage because it shakes so much. However, I have already given the specifications of the to the guild, so I am sure it will gradually spread. We''re almost there. "Hmm." A familiar, familiar sight. Elsa couldn''t help but lean back against the window and take in the view. The carriage comes to a stop in front of the Randall house. "Miss Elsa, Miss Meane, we have arrived!" "Thank you, Edgar. Elsa says a few words to Edgar. First Meine and then Elsa got off the carriage. "Welcome home, Miss Elsa!" The group was greeted by a familiar face. "I''m home, Cedric." Elsa''s eyes welled up as she passed through the gate of her parents'' house. The old) An experiment to see if fluid can flow through the pipes that pass between the warp gates. "No?" . The conclusion is that the experiment was a failure. No matter how much pressure was applied, the water in the pipe did not flow. "Or perhaps it would be better to say that the applied force is escaping somewhere. ......" Jin, who had actually used the < at its weakest setting, muttered with his hand on his chin. <......> "Yes. The intrinsic speed at the entrance is zero at the exit. That means it is absorbed between the entrance and the exit, or it is running somewhere." "Hmmm ......" It is a very difficult problem. "So you''re saying that energy transfer is not possible until we figure out the reason for the energy transfer. ......" <<> At that moment, the old man offered a suggestion. "Oh, that might be a good idea. Let''s do it right away. When he had an idea, he immediately did it. This time, let''s put wind thrusters on the inlet and outlet sides of the pipe and see how it works. "Okay, here we go." Jin activates the two magi-machines. "What?" Wind is coming out of the wind thruster on the exit side. "Okay, let''s try sending smoke and see if the air is really coming out. Since he could not immediately think of a magic tool that could produce smoke, Jin decided to burn a dead leaf. "Reiko, please." "Yes, father." He filled a metal container about the size of a can with dead leaves and lit it on fire. Smoke immediately rose from the container. "Okay, let''s try to inhale this ......". The smoke that was sucked in from the wind thruster on the inlet side was properly discharged from the wind thruster on the outlet side. "Yes. I guess we are almost there. However, it is unlikely that we will be able to miniaturize it at this point, so it is a half success. "First of all, if we equip a ship with it, it will give us a lot of freedom of action." > Yes, please. Thus, large naval vessels are to be equipped with . The battleship <><><>, the cruiser <<<<<<<<<>, and the special cruisers <> and <> were actually deployed. Of these, <><><><<><><<> have not yet returned to Horaijima, so we will start with the other ships. "In parallel with the improvement, we will mass-produce mana cylinders, and after that, we will start the Antarctic research. <<> Jin regretted that he would not be able to go and see for himself, so he had no objection to using his doppelg?nger. "Yes, please do." As for the mana cylinders, I had split up with the craftsmen (smiths), and we had the required number of mana cylinders plus more than enough on the same day. The mana cylinders are carried on the back like a backpack and secured with a waist belt to prevent them from falling off. Mana is taken in through the mouth via a flexible mithril silver cable. This is used in the same way as an oxygen cylinder. Jin also made a mouthpiece out of magi crystals at the end of the silver mithril cable, and put a magi formula in the mouthpiece so that he can release some magic. I mainly used the ones that are effective underwater. "Yes, Master." Jin explains to Mermaid 1 how to use it. "<>,<>,<>,<>. All of them are directional and have been adjusted to have an effect only in a small area. "There is also room in the mana cylinder to store small items. You can put mana bombs or knives or something in there if necessary. "Yes, I understand." With this, Jin has done all he can do. The next day, on September 23rd, the "Mere Old Man" was sent to the hospital. The next day, September 23rd. "Well then, old man, the Antarctic research fleet, let''s get going." < Using the transporter, we will send them to the sea area where the Honeymoon Fleet of Horai Island is currently investigating. Then, we will let them continue to investigate beyond that point. In turn, the < will be sent back to the island and remodeled. "Well, I guess we''ll just have to wait for the report. Having done what he had to do, Jin breathed a sigh of relief and thought about his beloved wife who was back home. "I wonder if Elsa is relaxing at home. * * * * The same day, in the town of Exi, Shoro. This is the town where Erza''s parents live. Erza and Meine, who moved to Shoro with Reinhardt, stayed at Reinhardt''s house, Lankenhaos, for the night, and the next day, they borrowed Reinhardt''s carriage and went to their parents'' house. The next day, he rented a carriage from Reinhardt and went to his parents'' house. "Time differences are so complicated. He explained it to me, but I still don''t understand it. Does Elsa understand it?" "Yes." "Yes. Yes. Erza is really great. There is a time difference of about five and a half hours between Horai Island and the Shoro Kingdom. Even though it''s 7pm in Horai Island, it''s only 1:30pm here. It is a bit confusing if you are not used to it. "I''m more thankful that my brother Rai had the wagon remodeled. "Yes. It doesn''t shake too much. Once you get used to riding in Jin''s horse-drawn carriage, it is hard to ride in a normal carriage because it shakes so much. However, I have already given the specifications of the to the guild, so I am sure it will gradually spread. We''re almost there. "Hmm." A familiar, familiar sight. Elsa couldn''t help but lean back against the window and take in the view. The carriage stops in front of the Randall mansion. Miss Elsa, Miss Meane, we''ve arrived. "Thank you, Edgar." Elsa says a few words to Edgar. First Meine and then Elsa got off the carriage. "Welcome home, Miss Elsa!" The group was greeted by a familiar face. "I''m home, Cedric." Elsa''s eyes welled up as she passed through the gate of her parents'' house. 1222 - - 33-07 Return home Come in. Your brother is waiting for you. "Yes." The new Randalls, as they are now called, are the successors of the baronet''s family founded by Elsa''s brother Moritz. All the servants know this, so they remain respectful. "Please come in, Miss Meane." "Yes, yes." They were also informed that Meene, who had once been a fellow servant, was in fact Erza''s biological mother. In other words, Meene was Erza''s biological mother who had rebuilt the once defunct Randall family. Please don''t be so formal. She''s your mother now, isn''t she? No one seemed to be jealous of this fact. However, Meine was not accustomed to being served by her former colleague and she was not happy about it. "Edgar, is it?Come this way, please." "Yes, thank you." It seemed that they had been informed about Edgar, the automata created by Elsa, in advance, and they accepted him naturally. These were all arranged by Reinhardt. Erza, Meine, and Edgar were led by Cedric, the family''s representative, through the front door of the Randall house. "First of all, the Grand Master and the Grand Mistress are waiting for you. "And my brother?" "Yes, sir,...... Mr. Moritz is still preparing for the arrival of the messenger from Leuthert today." "Yes." She was curious as to what the messenger was, but it seemed strange to ask at this point, so Elsa decided to first meet Cedric''s <......, that is, her own father Georg and her stepmother Marlene. "Come in." The door to the room was already open and Marlene was standing at the entrance. "Welcome, Elsa. Welcome, Miss Meane." "Mother, I''m home." "Hello, ma''am, it''s been a long time." Marlene smiled at Meine, "You''re not a servant anymore, Mme. Meine, you should be more at ease." She said kindly. Meane replied with a slight smile. Yes, thank you. ...... because this is my land. ......" Erza stepped into the room, looking sideways at the two <>s as they exchanged such pleasantries. "Hello, Elsa..." "Father, I''m home." Father Georg looked much better. But his slurred speech has not been cured. (I guess he has brain damage ......?) Unfortunately, even Elsa''s healing magic is not a panacea. Unfortunately, even Elsa''s healing magic is not a panacea; she could not regenerate the brain cells that had been damaged. Even so, Georg''s father''s face was calm, "How is your life going? I could tell that he was doing much better. "Yes, I''m happy every day." "Yes, you are. That''s good to hear." For the next few moments, Elsa and her father Georg exchanged idle words. Their mother seemed to be out of the room, and the soft autumn sun shone through the window, making for a peaceful moment. "Honey, it''s time to eat". Around 11:30 a.m., Marlene herself arrived pushing a wagon with our lunch. "Mother..." "It seems we had a nice talk. Go on, Mrs. Meine is in the dining room. Marlene tells Elsa in a whisper Georg can''t hear. "Leigh..." "Yes, dear." Georg looks at Marlene and breaks into a smile. Her face seems to be completely numb. Elsa leaves Marlene in charge and goes to the dining room. "Mother!" Elsa went to the dining room and found Meane sitting there. I thought she was helping me prepare lunch," she said, "That''s what I thought, but she won''t let me help her. "I''m a customer." The chef''s voice came from the kitchen. "You see?" Erza giggles and sits down next to Meane. "...... how was it?" Erza quickly realizes that by "how was it" she means Georg. "Yeah, it seems pretty good." "Yeah." For Meane, this reaction is not surprising, since she does not have a very good impression of Georg. "Erza, I''m sorry." Then a voice called out to her. It was Moritz, Elsa''s older brother and the head of the Randall barony. "Oh, my brother. Are you finished with your work? "Yes, I''m done. I mean, it''s time for lunch. Yes, that''s right. Mr. Moritz, it''s been a while. Oh, Meine. You''re looking well, Mr. Meine. Thank you, sir. You''re a hard man. You''re not my maid of honor anymore. Yes, thank you. The First Mistress told me so, but it''s a habit that''s been ingrained in me over the years. ......" Meine, who used to be a lady-in-waiting, is now the mother of Erza and the object of Moritz''s respect, but she is still not used to it. It was the first time for her to be seated at the same table with Moritz, the head of the family. "Well, it can''t be helped. Please get used to it little by little. Then the meal arrives. White rice porridge, miso soup, a small steak, and vegetable salad. "Lately I''ve been eating this for lunch," Moritz says. Moritz says. "Somehow it suits my palate. This also suits my palate. Jin has been giving them a lot of guidance on pronunciation, and it seems that voices like < or are becoming less and less common in the Shoro Kingdom. "Yes, it''s delicious." Moritz eats a bowl of porridge and then a bowl of soup, in that order. Erza felt that the soup was a little too soupy.) Erza felt that the soup was a little too soupy, but she kept her mouth shut. Still, the soup was at a level where she could say that it was < enough. It is just that Horai Island is special. There is no chattering, but light conversation at the Randall family table. "Brother, I heard that a messenger from Loisart is coming. "Oh, yes. I received word by pigeon mail that they will arrive in the afternoon. The pigeon messenger is basically organized by the lord or his direct subordinate. Here in the town of Eksi, the Randalls, the lords, have a pigeon house and are in charge of the communication with the capital, Leuthart. "What''s the trouble?" Elsa asked when she saw that her brother did not look well, "Apparently so," Moritz answered. Moritz answered, "Apparently so. 1223 - - 33-08 Emergency Call According to the information we have received in advance, we have received a report of an outbreak of <> in the far west of the country. "The information came from a gentile country called Mitsuho, which is located further out in the Harihari Desert. He said to be careful." Yes. Erza wants to say that Jin has already solved that problem, but she can''t. "There is one more thing, but it was not mentioned in the pigeon mail. The pigeon messenger is fast, but its disadvantage is that it can only carry a very limited amount of weight, so the amount of information it carries is limited. "I heard that an envoy with this detailed information is coming this afternoon. As they are talking, the butler announces the arrival of a visitor. Speak of the devil and he will come. I''m on my way. I''m on my way. ...... Elsa, see you later. "......" The remaining Erza looked a little difficult and was thinking about something. "Oh!" Then, unusually, she hears Moritz''s voice. "Brother, what''s going on? Unexpectedly, Elsa also went to the direction from where she heard the voice, towards the front door, and her eyes widened. "Brother?" There stood her second brother Fritz. "Brother, it''s been a long time. Elsa is here too. ...... where''s Jin-dono? Just me this time. Back home. I see. ...... brother, I have an urgent message. Oh, yeah, sure. Come inside. The three siblings went to Moritz''s office. "Is it okay if I stay?" Elsa asked, just in case she was technically an outsider, but Fritz laughed and answered, "Yeah. "Yes. I would be very grateful for your opinion. "What the hell is wrong with you?> in public and in the presence of others, but when it was just the family he called them <>>. By the way, he only calls his mother Marlene <>. "Yes, let''s hear it." "We''ve received word that a band of vicious thieves have entered our lands. They came to Randall''s territory with a few of my men. The other men were sent to Banne, in the heart of Randall''s territory. "I came here because I wanted to say hello to your mother. Fritz laughed and said he was allowed that kind of discretion. "The bandits?" "Yes, that''s right. Rich merchants or thieves who are willing to break into the homes of lords, village chiefs and mayors and hurt people. "...... scary." "Indeed. The problem is that they don''t care if there are guards on duty. Are people being attacked even if they have security guards? ......, yes. They are very good at what they do. Moritz nodded, his face turning slightly pale. "Okay. Let''s reinforce the security. But Erza stops him. "Wait, brother." What''s wrong? I don''t know what to think of this band of thieves. They''re not normal. Yes, they are. Maybe we can''t handle them alone. With these words, Mauritz and Fritz realized what their sister-in-law was trying to say. "Elsa, are you saying that the bandits are using golems?" "Yes. "Indeed. ......" Moritz ponders. "I don''t think our finances can afford to buy a golem right now. ......" Elsa saw her brother''s condition and said, "Brother, Edgar is here." She said. "Edgar. ......" She felt that she could not rely on him much considering his slender boyish figure. Erza thought it was understandable to see her brother in such a state of uncertainty. It is true that Edgar is not as good as Golem, the automata of Horai Island created by Reiko and Jin, but Edgar is also an automata created with the highest level of technology using rare materials. Despite their appearance, they are capable. However, Erza did not say such a promotional thing, but only said. "Don''t worry, I got it." "...... is that so?" "Well, Reinhardt''s got his black knight (Schwarzlitter) and his neon lights." Fritz looks a little worried. "Well, I''ll be with you for a while, don''t worry. Fritz said cheerfully and got up to greet his parents. "But... a band of thieves..." We have just finished collecting the fall taxes, so we certainly have things. However, the tax in Randall''s territory is on wheat and other . It would take more than 20 men to transport them. "I suppose we can assume that there is a golem in that sense as well." "Still, it would be difficult to sneak that much stuff out, I think." "That''s true. The means of transportation. But there doesn''t seem to be any information on that. "...... empty?" What? If we could fly in a hot air balloon or something, it might be possible. "Hmm. ......" The principle of a hot air balloon itself is simple. Just make a strong, airtight bag, point the mouth downwards, and hang a gondola for people to ride on. Then, heat the air by a fire under the bag, and fill the bag with the warmed air. If the buoyancy exceeds the weight of the bag, it will float. It is not surprising that someone has created it. "Let''s increase the security." Moritz sat up. "......" Elsa returns to her room. She took a small breath as she entered her old room, which still had the furniture from her daughter''s time. Then she sits down on her bed and activates the communication function of her <>. For a while after that, Elsa had a conversation with the old man. Fortunately, the night passed uneventfully. 1224 - - 33-09 The Mysterious Man Day after tomorrow, the 24th. "I see nothing happened last night," Fritz said at breakfast. Fritz said at breakfast. "Yes, it did. "Yes, I''m glad it was uneventful." Moritz replies. Elsa remains silent. Only Erza and her three siblings are present, along with the maid of honor. Georg and Marlene usually take their meals in Georg''s sickroom, and Meine is in the kitchen eating a bribe meal with the cooks. She says that it is the < thing to do, and she asked for it a lot. She is able to listen to my requests because she is back in her hometown. By the way, Moritz said that <>, but that is only for this territory. Last night in Fluid, in the Marquisate of Theoderic, a gang of thieves, who were probably the bandits in question, had attacked a landowner, robbed him of his property, and fled. Fortunately, no one was killed. The reason is that the family was out of town. There were only two elderly security guards looking after the family. It seems that they were asleep at the time of the crime, so they were overlooked. Well, they will be punished by their employer in the future. ....... But I digress. When the Marquis was informed of the incident, he was understandably furious. "Ugh, what a disgraceful bandit!" And he ordered his men to arrest the bandits. "You must capture the bandit and bring peace to the people! Good! Sir! The soldiers and knights under his command immediately move into action. * * * * Meanwhile, the brain of Horai Island, the old man, received a report from Erza. As soon as he received Erza''s report, he instructed the members of the 5th Quinta to go to Shoro to gather clues about the bandits. Furthermore, Regulus 49, a.k.a. , was assigned to guard the village of Kaltz in Randall''s territory, and Deneb 22, a.k.a. Jumi, also a ranger, was assigned to guard the village of Exi in Randall''s territory. He also ordered Capella 8<> to guard Banneh in Randall''s territory. And on the night of the order, the bandits were not in Randall''s territory, but in the neighboring territory of the Marquis of Theoderic. Their means of escape were unfortunately not observed by the due to the thick cloud cover. The old man concluded so and ordered the fifth column (Quinta) to be more vigilant. Especially, the area around Randall''s house where Erza is located should be emphasized. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The town of Sagina, also in the Marquisate of Theoderic, on the eastern outskirts of the Marquisate. This town is adjacent to Count Randall''s territory and is a prosperous town for its size, with many people coming and going. Deneb22, a member of the 5th Column (Quinta), a.k.a. , had come all the way from Eksi, Randall''s territory, to check on the situation in Sagina. She is a village girl in her early twenties. Her chubby figure is due to the water in the layer of goulashvam (sponges of binge eating) under her skin. Her face is full of pimples and freckles, and she looks like no one would give her a second glance. "Well, how about some airbert jam? Jumi looks around the town as if he were a peddler with a load on his back. "Oh, that''s very unusual. Yes, thank you very much. "Oh, it''s a jam. "Thank you very much." As he went around the town selling jam like this, his eyes caught a glimpse of a certain "presence". (...... that''s...) It was a man who looked to be in his late twenties. (The way he walks is lean.) His center of gravity was not shaky, and his torso was not swaying. (It is not a martial arts master or ...... who can walk like this!) Jumi quietly follows him without being noticed. At the same time, he reports back to the old man with the built-in manacam. I wonder where he''s going.) The man leaves the crowded street and heads for the outskirts of the town. Gradually, there are fewer and fewer people. (At this rate, they will know we are following him. ......) Jumi timed the man''s arrival around the corner, and activated the <>. At about the same time, the built-in manacam (manacam) is contacted. () Immediately after that, two invisible bodies were sent by transporter to the left and right of Jumi. Thank you. That''s reassuring.) Jumi and the two lando disappeared and followed the mysterious man. (......?) As they approached a vacant lot on the outskirts of town, the man stopped. "What do you want?" "You don''t think he knows, do you?Jumi wondered if he had been discovered, but the mysterious man was staring in a different direction from Jumi and the others. Jumi senses another presence around the mysterious man. (Is this a ...... human being?and ...... looks like a golem). Keeping a distance that they think is undetectable, Jumi and Lando decide to observe first. The vacant lot, which was probably the remains of a mansion, was quite spacious, covering an area of about 1,000 square meters. "I am the deputy commander of the security force in the service of the Marquise Theoderic. I would like to know your name and identity. The man who introduced himself as the deputy commander had two battle golems with him. The two golems quietly move around to either side of the mysterious man, cutting off his retreat. Behind them is the wall of an abandoned house. The left and right sides are fortified by battle golems. "Hmmm, I see. You have judged this situation to be to your advantage. Answer the question! "Don''t panic. Names and affiliations are mere symbols. If I answer your questions, how will you judge their truth or falsehood? Enough of your nonsense!Don''t answer me! "Don''t be so rash, <>. The mystery man smiled wryly. "My name. ." The next moment. > disappears. He flew to the right, too fast for the human eye to follow. A clunk. It''s the sound of a battle golem being hit and falling. "What!" echoed the startled voice of the deputy commander of the Theodelic Family Guard. The other battle golem is overturned next. Then the mysterious man <> snatches the vice captain''s side and vanishes into thin air. The vice captain collapses into a heap a few seconds later, unconscious. It seems that he had received a strong blow to the abdomen. (He had great physical strength, didn''t he?) Yes, we are closing in on the RAND team.) Jumi and the others had moved further away and attached their lances. (They are not going to ...... outside the town, but to an abandoned house.) (Maybe that''s their hideout.) Jumi and the others watched Lance go into the house and discussed with the old man about what to do next. 1225 - - 33-10 Overwhelming Guards After a brief discussion, the old man concluded. Soon, Lands 783, 784 and 785 783,784,785. Let''s keep an eye on that abandoned house. "Yes, sir." That''s what they said. And so the night comes. 11:00 P.M., when the town was asleep, there was movement. Someone came out.) A figure comes out of an abandoned house. (Is it the bandit group ......?(Is it a bandit group ?) From the way he was walking, Jumi concluded that it was Lance from earlier. Following Lance, Jumi and the other six headed for the center of the town. (He seems to be wearing the magic of <>, doesn''t he? < However, it is quite effective when going through a deserted town at night. On the other hand, Jumi and the others are using the advanced magic of invisibility. It provides concealment in the infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet regions, as well as sound insulation, so it is unlikely to be noticed unless there is physical contact. Jumi and the others were not the only ones chasing Lance. About four figures are chasing Lance. These four were moving in a way that could be said to be too ...... much in vain compared to Lance. (Could they be the guards of the Theoderic family?) (Perhaps they are.) (I hope they don''t get in our way.) (I hope they don''t get in our way.) (That would be hard to do.) (I hope they don''t disturb us.) (That would be hard to do.) In fact, they do not use any magic of concealment, but only follow us stealthily. Jumi knew that they would be noticed at some point. And that time came sooner than expected. The five of them stopped walking. The location was, coincidentally ...... or perhaps as planned, the vacant lot where they had been played by Lance during the day. The vacant lot is about 3,000 square meters. It is covered with dying grass and there is no place to hide. "They''re following us, they know we''re following them. Lance stops, turns around, and says these words to me. "Oh, they know we''re here." "No, they don''t even notice you, if you''re spreading such a blatant sign ......." Lance''s voice seems to have a hint of dismay in it. "You are so noisy!Who the hell are you? Lance let out a sigh, "Good God, so there are some low class people in this place. Lance sighed and said in a more exasperated manner. "I think you''re mistaken, I''m not a bandit. "Can you prove that?" Lance shook his head. "I can prove that I am by giving you one example, but it is practically impossible to prove that I am not." What nonsense! The outraged deputy commander of the security force. No, you don''t understand me well enough.) Jumi, who was watching from the sidelines, also chimed in. (But he doesn''t seem to be a bandit, as Lance himself says. Then, what in the world is his purpose ......?) "Enough!Let''s have him come with us." The exasperated second-in-command said, but Lance refused to go along. "No, that''s not going to happen. I have my own objectives. "That''s why I''m asking you to tell me!" No, you just said that for the first time. That''s not true! (No, you''re right, but ......) (No, that''s true, but it''s not true!) No one heard Jumi''s comment. "Well, we''ll have to take him in, even if it''s by force." "Well, there are people who don''t understand things like that. I''m learning a lot. "What nonsense!Go!" The second-in-command instructed his three companions. Although they were ......, Jumi and the others already knew what they were ......, battle golems, if you look closely enough. Each of them held a stick with low killing power and struck at Lance. "Hmmm, a low grade golem." Lance took on all three of them at the same time and did not take a step back. In fact, he is dealing with them with a comfortable margin. (It''s not a problem,...... but that automaton Lance,......? (I agree. (I agree. I can''t read the lineage.) Jumi and Lando are talking with a built-in manacam. (It seems to be a little different from the lineage of their predecessors, but not the mainstream of today. (This is not the same as the Elena of the past.) (It may be that it is a completely different technology.) Such a conversation took less than a second. But the battle between the golem and the lance had advanced considerably. "Nah!......" Golem''s sticks were all crushed and broken, unable to strike a single blow to Lance''s body. "Oh, no. ...... is what a golem is now." What the hell? Boring. Has the passage of time degenerated technology?" What ......? I told you I have a purpose.But tonight, that seems to be impossible because of you. We''ll come back." With that, Lance jumped up to the roof of the abandoned house behind him. "What the ......? The vice captain was surprised at his lightness. "Look, I''ll tell you what. Don''t get in my way. My purpose is not to your detriment." With that, Lance vanished from the roof of the abandoned house. He jumped to the other side.) We should go too.) But what the hell does he want ......?) I guess we''ll have to ask him.) Jumi and the others use their force field generators to jump over the abandoned house at once so as not to make a sound. (Which way did they go? ......?) But Lance is already gone. We''ll have to split up.) (It can''t be helped...) Jumi and the others split up and chased after Lance. 1226 - - 33-11 The Thieves As it turned out, Lance was in the direction Jumi and Lands 781 and 782 were headed. "...... can''t make it tonight." He muttered a few words, as if he wanted to be heard, and Lance turned around. "Well, what do you want from me?" Apparently, he had been caught off guard. "You don''t look human. Are you one of them? If they can see through the illusion to that extent, there is no need to be more subtle about it. "Oh, one is an automata and two are golems. They are also quite ...... wonderful, very wonderful. I am Jumi. Let me ask you simply. What is your purpose?" Lance gives a wry smile. "Well, before I answer that, let me ask you one more question, more of a confirmation. ...... are you not chasing a band of thieves?" It was an unexpected question, but not something to hide. "Yes, we are. And I think you are suspicious. "I knew it. ...... certainly isn''t entirely irrelevant." Lance now smirked. Very human. "Then let me answer your question. My objective is also a band of thieves. Or more precisely, the golem that is supposed to be among them. "What? Jumi is surprised at the unexpected reason. Lance is impressed by her. "Oh. < So why are you chasing a golem? "That''s easy. I don''t want it to be used for anything other than what it is supposed to be used for. Besides, I want to get back what was stolen from me. Stolen? "Stolen?" "Yes. The automata (automata)...... used by the bandits, the golem, was made by my maker. I''ve come to get it back." "To get it back?" But then Lance keeps his mouth shut. Finally, he says, "I think I talked a little too much. I''m glad to see you''re in good company, even if you''re not from the ...... lineage." With that, he turned his head and disappeared into the darkness of the night. Jumi and the others did not dare to follow him. Jumi and the others did not dare to follow him. "Well, this is interesting. In the command center of Horai Island, Jin was listening to the report from the old man. "An automata that is different from the previous generation''s lineage. It''s not impossible. There is a precedent of Elena. There is also the possibility that there are excellent engineers buried on the streets. Jin thought about this and then asked another question. "How is Elsa doing?" "Well, that''s good." Jin thought that the next month or so would be very busy on the long-period planets. It would be better if he could stay at his parents'' house, but that was not likely to be the case. "I''m sure Erza will want to come back soon." * * * * "Brother, is there anything unusual going on?" "Yes. So far we haven''t received any complaints of burglary. I hope everything is going well. "Brother, I just got word from my guy that there''s nothing going on at Reinhardt''s so far either." "I see." Elsa, Moritz, Fritz. It was a rare sight to see the siblings meeting together and discussing the situation, and even the old servants were glancing at each other from the side. "If nothing happens, that''s the best thing, but just in case ......." Moritz says with a difficult look on his face. "It''s best to catch the bandits. Fritz says simply and simply. "That''s right," says Fritz. But that''s easier said than done. "Well, yeah." Fritz knows what he''s talking about. But he had to say it. "...... If nothing happens tonight, I think I''ll go home tomorrow." Elsa said slowly. "Yeah, I see. ......, yeah." "Are you getting lonely sleeping alone?Or are you worried that your husband is cheating on you? "My brother, you idiot." Elsa blushed when Fritz teased her. * * * * And that night... "Erza-sama!" Edgar whispered to the sleeping Erza. "...... Hmm, what?" Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Erza wakes up. "I''m sorry to disturb you at your rest, but there is an emergency. It''s an emergency.) "...... emergency?" At these words, Elsa sat up in bed. "Yes. There is someone approaching the house." Elsa wakes up completely at those words. "...... could it be a band of thieves?" "Perhaps. But don''t worry. Deneb22 and Rand of the fifth column (Quinta) are also with us. But there is also a mysterious golem, so please put up a barrier just in case. Okay. "Okay, that''s fine." What is Edgar going to do now? "If you tell me what to do, I will help you to intercept them. If you ask me to stay here, I will escort you. Erza thought for a moment and then motioned for him to stay. "Yes, sir." It was just after 10:30 p.m. "I don''t think we have that much money in the house. There is only wheat and barley in the warehouse as taxes paid, but not yet converted into money. Thinking about this, Elsa remembers the rumors about the bandits. "...... grain and carry it away." With this realization, Elsa stood up and quickly put on her gown. Then she walked out of the room. "Edgar, follow me. The warehouse is in danger. "Yes, Miss Elsa." Elsa and Edgar run down the hallway and down the stairs to the kitchen door. They walk out into the courtyard where the warehouse is located and find themselves in the midst of a chaotic battle. 1227 - - 33-12 Three ways Let''s go back in time a little. Fritz, the second son of the Randall family, is currently guarding the warehouse where the most is kept. (Normally, I wouldn''t think he would target grain, but the information was there.) Then he hears a faint noise. (There you are! ......!) He could see five figures. Fritz steps forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "That''s enough, bandits! "That''s enough, bandits! Trespassing on the grounds of a lord''s house is a sufficient offense. They have no excuse to say they haven''t stolen it yet. "Piss off." One of them throws a knife at Fritz. Fritz manages to avoid it with a little time to spare. Fritz also fires a spell in time. "<>" "Thunder!" The man who threw the knife is hit and knocked out. Fritz is not only good at martial arts, but also at lightning magic. "What a nonsense!" Now the two men leap at him with knives in their hands. Too late! One of them thrusts a knife at you and you knock it away from its sheath without drawing your sword, and then you slam the hilt into its tail, causing it to scream in agony. The other one cleaved the knife to the side, aiming at his neck, but he ducked by lowering himself. Then, with the force of a leap, he strikes the man in the jaw with the bottom of his palm, causing him to roll over and fall into a stupor. A total of three people were knocked unconscious. "There are no soldiers in the Shoro Empire who can only respond in a straightforward manner, you know?" Fritz faced the two remaining men again, this time with more distance between them. "You''re a military man ...... and you''ve screwed up. , buy us some time." "Yes, sir." The man called Sword stepped forward and closed in on Fritz. In the moonlight, it is not a man, but a golem. Its silver-black exterior glowed dully. "No matter how good the soldiers of the Shoro Empire are, they can''t defeat a golem! "I doubt it!" Fritz stepped to the side and leaped forward, as is customary in such cases, to <>. The sheath of his sword seemed to be about to strike the remaining man in the throat, but... With a "clang" sound, the sword sheathe was released. With a clang, the attack was blocked. The golem intervened. "Can you judge yourself? You seem to be a good golem!" Fritz sheathed his sword and drew it to face the golem. Then he hears a third voice. "I''m afraid you''re going to have to give this place up. What appeared was a golem that looked exactly like the bandits'' golem <>. The only difference was that <> had red eyes, while the new golem had blue eyes. The golem is the one I was looking for. "Hmm." Fritz knew instantly what he meant and focused on the remaining man. "You''re not going to get away with this!" But the man laughed. "Hmmm...<> is something that is saved until the last minute!......" "Whoa!" Fritz dodges it in the nick of time. The fireball falls into the garden. The dead grass begins to burn brightly. Fritz sees out of the corner of his eye that Elsa is hurriedly putting it out, and fires back. "Son of a b*tc*!< Fritz vs. the bandit, Edgar vs. the , and the mysterious golem vs. the . A three-way battle was taking place. 1228 - - 33-13 Assistance "<>, do you understand me?" "......" A red-eyed golem and a blue-eyed golem are struggling. No, the red-eyed golem ......<> is attacking unilaterally, and the blue-eyed golem is parrying. "Sword!" No matter how much we called out, there was no response, and all we got in return were attacks. "What did they do to you? ...... This might not be good." The blue-eyed golem didn''t want to hurt <>, while <> didn''t care about hurting him. "Ugh." Finally, the blue-eyed golem''s right arm is caught in the elbow joint and bent backwards. Since the golem has no sense of pain, it is not slowed down by the pain, but the gap in combat power widens even further. "Sword, stop! But does not stop. The blue-eyed golem''s expression does not change, but the damage is accumulating, and its movements are clearly slowing down. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "<>! "You son of a b*tc*, what are you going to do if there''s a fire!< Fritz and the bandit were repeatedly exchanging magic. Both of them lacked decisive moves due to their superior physical skills. "Then we''ll have to settle for close combat!" Fritz, annoyed, closed the distance in a single leap. The bandit rushes to intercept him. "Fireball!" But Fritz caught the fireball with his sword. He slashes at the bandit. "Whoa! < Knowing this, Fritz sacrificed his sword to catch the fireball. Of course, this is not a move that can be used many times. But, with all his might, Fritz took this chance. The bandit was caught in the face of the flaming sword and lost his balance as he dodged wide. Fritz''s follow-up attack came close. "d*mn!" The bandit caught it with his left arm. The thief caught it with his left arm, which had been fitted with a metal cage. Fritz tries to follow up with his sword ......, but the sword, still covered with the fireball, is red-hot and finally bends. "d*mn!" Fritz throws away his useless sword and pulls out the dagger he carries at his waist for emergency use. In that short time, the bandit has regained his position and has his knife in his hand. In melee combat, a < is likely to cause damage to you as well. <. Fritz and the bandit begin to cut each other with short daggers and knives. * * * * * * * * * * * * "This golem is quite impressive. <. The difference in physique between the two is that of an adult and a child, or even more than that, but Edgar did not give in a single step. Even though it was made by Erza, it was made under the guidance of Jin and using a lot of rare materials from Horai Island. It was no less than an ordinary golem. "Erza-sama is watching us. I can''t fight like a fool." Nevertheless, the other golem is also quite powerful. Edgar was unable to gain an advantage in the striking game, such as fists and kicks, due to the difference in their physiques. "Then, I will use my weapon. < The knife was thrust at the right eye of the , who had expected a fist strike and only pulled back slightly to connect with the next counterattack. The shell of the Gigantopod that had been drained of magic power was only slightly weaker than adamantite. It is harder than the magi crystal used for the eyeball. !"!!! but <> does not seem to mind, or does not show much of a reaction. Still, since he now has one eye, he is less sensitive to distance, and Edgar''s attacks are now more likely to hit him. * * * * "......" Erza simply deployed her barrier and watched Mitokoro fight. She was disappointed and a little frustrated that she could not help. She thought about contacting Jin and asking him for advice, but considering the time difference, it was around 4:00 a.m. in Horai Island, and it was not yet dawn yet. So Erza decided to deal with the situation a little more on her own. Then Moritz arrives, having heard the commotion. He is accompanied by two male servants. "What the hell is this? "Brother, this is ......." Moritz can''t hide his surprise as Elsa explains the situation. "I understand the situation, but ...... how can you be so calm?" "What?" Erza, who had been through a lot of turmoil with Jin, seemed to have lost her composure over a few things. "So, what should we do?" Moritz is a competent man when it comes to political matters, but he is a complete novice when it comes to such matters. "I can''t do anything now. "I wish I could cover for my brother Fritz and Edgar, but it''s difficult. Both of them are moving so fast that it is unlikely that an outsider will be able to help them. "No, we should have hired guards or escorts. Moritz says regretfully, but it is too late. "I don''t know what we can do. ......" Neither Moritz nor Elsa are good at offensive magic. And the servants were too cowed to help. But... "A Change of Idea: ......" Erza recalls Jin turning engineering magic into a weapon. "Yes, at least I might be able to help my brother. Erza watched the battle between Fritz and the bandit. Then she waited for Fritz to turn his back on her, "<>" She shines the light on the bandit''s face to blind him. "Whoa!" Fighting with only moonlight, a nightlight in the garden, and the occasional magical luminescence, Elsa''s dazzling light caught the bandit completely by surprise. After a second or so of illumination, the light was extinguished, but the dazzled eyes did not return so quickly. "<>" Erza immediately turns on a light that is not too bright. "Well done, Elsa!" Fritz has successfully subdued and neutralized the temporarily dazed bandit. 1229 - - 33-14 Confusion "f*ck ......!" "Shut up!" Fritz twists the bandit''s arm, ties it with his belt, stands him up, and brings him over to Moritz and Elsa. "Take care of him." One of the servants brought a rope and carefully bound and gagged the bandit. Fritz says, "That''s first. Now we go over there. Fritz muttered to himself and was about to intervene in the battle between Edgar and . "Wait, brother. ......<>" Erza casts a healing spell on her brother. Fritz had been wounded again, albeit shallowly, in the previous battle. And then.., "Fritz, take this. Mauritz offered Fritz a shortsword he had been carrying for protection. "Thanks for the loan, brother." It is a little slender, but has more attack power than the short sword. "Brother, wait a minute. ......<>" Elsa toughens the shortsword. "Oh, thank God!" "But if you''re going to help Edgar, I think it would be better to help him with magic." The battle between automata and golems is a battle in a realm reserved for those with reaction speeds many times faster than humans. There is no room for flesh and blood to intervene. "Maybe ......." Fritz then decided to hang the stunned bandits. The servants help him tie them up with ropes and gag them to prevent them from using magic. Erza secretly thought that she would borrow a from Jin during the interrogation. Meanwhile, the battle between the remaining two groups was becoming increasingly fierce. < and the blue-eyed golem trying to suppress it. The blue-eyed golem is now wounded to the bone. It has no sense of pain, so it will not be inhibited in that respect, but its bodily functions will be devastated. The right arm was already gone from the shoulder, and the left leg was bent from the middle of the tibia. Finally, the left leg broke off from the shin. "d*mn, that''s it. What a pity." The blue-eyed golem slumps to the ground. ignores the golem and heads for Edgar and , who are still fighting. had lost the function of one of his eyes, and had been hit by more than half of Edgar''s attacks. As a result, it is slowing down just like the blue-eyed golem. < entered the battle, when Edgar''s knife pierced <>''s right elbow, causing him to malfunction from the elbow onward. "Edgar, be careful!" But even Erza''s warning was too late, for the golem was too fast. "Whoa!" Edgar, who had been focusing his attention on the <> in front of him, is blown away by a kick from the <>. Fortunately, he does not seem to have sustained any serious damage. "......2 to 1, huh? That''s a bit of a disadvantage. Edgar quickly stands up, glances at Erza, confirms that she is out of harm''s way, and turns to face the two golems again. A <> is released between the two golems. Fritz released them at Erza''s request. "Thank you very much. With this magic, the two bodies instantly move apart, one leaping to the right and the other to the left. One jumps to the right and the other to the left, thus reducing the possibility of a coordinated attack. "I''ll crush them first!" Edgar pulls out his second knife and takes on the slow-moving . He aims for the leg. The knee joint. The knife successfully pierces the right knee joint. He successfully hits it through the gap in the metal armor. This visibly slows down <>''s movements. Edgar can now concentrate on the red-eyed golem, <>. Erza, who was watching the battle, was relieved. However, the situation became even more chaotic. "Excuse me, Miss Erza." "Who is it?" Erza looks around as she is suddenly called by name. A figure appears next to her. < and of the , who have been freed from their . This time, Erza has been escorting her in the shadows as she is going back to her hometown. And there is another automata. Deneb22, aka Jumi, is from the fifth row (quinta). Jumi opened his mouth as a representative of the group. I am Jumi, Deneb 22. The chief of staff has asked me to respect the wishes of Erza-sama and to interfere as little as possible, but it seems that the situation has calmed down now. Jumi bowed and gave a brief report of what had happened so far. "While investigating the bandits, we found a mysterious golem and an automata, and we followed them until we arrived here. "Mysterious automata?" So far, the only thing I''ve seen is a golem. "Yes, that''s it." Jumi pointed to a blue-eyed golem that had become immobile. "It seems to be called <>. It''s disguised to look like a golem." "...... still don''t have a good grasp of the situation. We need to get this under control." I understand. This is Elsa''s parents'' house. We''ll get this under control as soon as possible." Just after Jumi said this, three shadows appeared next to Edgar. Lands 783, 784 and 785. "Mr. Edgar..." "Lando''s unit? "Yes. Elsa-sama asked me to take care of the situation immediately. I''m with you. Thank you, sir. Three members of the Rand team, each more capable than Edgar, have joined them. < and were quickly neutralized. "I''m sorry to hear that, but they won''t listen to us." Both of them had their legs broken from the knees down and their arms broken from the shoulders, rendering them inoperable. At last, calm had returned to the room. To clarify the situation, we divide them into three groups: the bandits, the bandit''s golem, and <>, and question each of them or ask them what is going on. "You are the bandits who have been trolling around the Shoro Kingdom lately, aren''t you?" "......" Fritz begins to interrogate the bandits. Erza slowly approaches the golem, which seems to be named . Edgar and Jumi flanked her and put up a barrier. Are you called ? ...... yes. I need you to tell me what the hell is going on here. "No need to tell me." < "That''s not true. This is the Randall family property. You have the right to ask me what''s going on. Erza reiterates, and <> seems to understand the meaning of her words. "Well, you have a point. I see. I''ll explain it to you briefly, if you don''t mind." "Please, I will." Moritz, who had no experience with such negotiations with automata, could only watch his sister in silence. 1230 - - 33-15 Hitoshi, go out. "I am called ." Lance touches the back of his head with his remaining left arm. The full-face mask he was wearing came off and fell off. "So you were an automata after all. Underneath the mask, a human-like face appeared. "I have come to retrieve my friends who were created by as I was." "You mean, you came to ...... to get them back, you mean they were taken from you?" "That''s right. They were stolen by the head of those you call ." Now the background is a little clearer. Who the hell are these bandits? "...... I don''t want to talk about it right now." Apparently, the thoughts were more human than Erza had expected. So what are you going to do now? "Nothing. I can''t do anything... not like this. With all but her left arm immobilized, there is certainly nothing that can be done. What if he could move? I don''t see the point in making such assumptions. "Still, I would like to hear it." Again Erza begged, and Lance began to speak in a frustrated tone. "Of course, I will bring the <> and <> back to their creator. Hearing this answer, Erza pondered for a moment. "Elsa?" Moritz, seeing her, asked worriedly. "...... don''t worry, brother." Erza said to reassure her brother Moritz and turned to Lance again. "What if I told you that I could fix you up if you gave me some more information?" "Hmmm, you''re offering to fix me. What kind of information do you want from ......? I want you to tell me about the man who made you. That''s no good. I can''t give you any information that would be detrimental to the creator. "......" In this respect, they seem to be very hard-headed. That''s how loyal they are. Elsa decided to bring another angle to the conversation. "Over there is the golem you tried to recapture. If we can analyze it, we can find out who made you. "Yes, that''s true. But there is a difference in meaning between me revealing it and you extracting information from it. "......" Erza thought, "Maybe you''re not so hard-headed, maybe you''ve been programmed with orders that prevent you from divulging such information. "I don''t have a choice. I''ll have to." "If I could, I would." With a hint of scowl, Lance said this and kept his mouth shut. "Jumi, Rand. Can you keep an eye on them for a while?" Erza wanted to talk to her brothers. "Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it." Jumi assured her, so Elsa pulled on Mauritz and Fritz''s sleeves and went back inside the house. "What is it, Elsa?" "Brother, did the bandit say anything?" "No, he didn''t say anything. I was beginning to think we''d have to hurt them a little. "Yes." You got an idea? Yeah. Uh, ......." Elsa explains that if we analyze the golem''s , we should be able to find out a lot of things. "I see. Can you do that?" "Yes." "I see. Then I''ll ask you to do it. I''ll have to ask you to do it. ...... Elsa returns to her room and changes her clothes. It was a little after midnight. Jin should be awake by now. Erza decides to contact Jin, knowing that she will not be able to handle the situation on her own from this point on. If she didn''t tell him about the interesting thing of analyzing the unknown golem, he would probably hold a grudge later. > A voice sounds a little worried about Erza, who has been in touch with me since early morning. "Hmm, actually, ......." Elsa explained the situation briefly. Jin''s reply came back and the communication was cut. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man was right. In fact, Jin was already awake and watching Erza''s condition with a sense of anxiety. "You woke me up at dawn, so I wondered what was going on, and this is what happened. . "No, that''s okay. No, that''s all right.The old man was only doing what she wanted him to do." . "But, as expected, you can''t go any further than ......?" Jin had already received a report from the old man about the series of disturbances. He had already received a report from the old man about the disturbances. He respected Erza''s wish to stay at home and let her do as much as she wanted to do. In addition, Jin had also received reports from <>, so he knew a little more about <>''s background than Erza did. "I''m sorry to have to go through Reinhardt''s place." It is still midnight in Shoro. "We could transfer Conlon 3 to the Shoro Empire and pretend that we were just in the vicinity for a survey. < "I guess so. ...... Reiko, let''s go! "Yes, sir!" Thus, Jin headed for the Shoro Kingdom in <>. What is it? What is it? Moritz shouted in surprise when he saw the airship floating in the night sky. "Brother, don''t be surprised. That is the airship of the Korun. Fritz, who had seen it several times, was not as surprised as Mauritz. "Seeing them coming so quickly, they must have been in Leuthart." "I see." Meanwhile, landed in a clearing next to the Randall house. "Brother Jin!" Erza, who had heard of their arrival, ran out to greet Jin and Reiko. "Erza, long time no see!" I missed you so much. "<>, welcome. I''m sorry to call you at this time of night. Moritz says hello to Jin. "Don''t mind me, brother-in-law." "Jin-dono, it''s been a long time. Please do not mind. Fritz also greeted Jin briefly. "Yes. ...... Erza, where''s the golem? "Over here." There is in the fifth row (Quinta), as well as Lands 783, 784 and 785, 784, 785. "Thanks for your hard work." Jin says a few words to them and walks up to the mysterious golem. 1231 - - 33-16 Analysis, interrogation "So this is the golem." Jin looked down at the red-eyed golem, <>. "+*&%... (!" "I don''t know what you''re talking about. I don''t know the <> to stop it once and if it''s ......." Jin looked at Reiko. "Reiko, try using <>." "Yes, father." This magic tool forces mana to be converted back into free magic element (ether). A smaller version of it is placed in Reiko''s bracelet. The magic canceller is directional. Reiko fires the magic canceller at . <''s red eyes goes out. It did not return even if Reiko deactivated the magic canceller. "Okay, it looks like this guy is using a mana tank too. Once the mana in the mana tank is converted back to free mana (ether) by the magic canceller, the golem runs out of energy and stops working. Jin can examine the golem slowly. "Hmm, that''s an interesting structure. It has some similarities to its predecessor, but there are also some differences. Some parts are similar to Elena''s. ......" Jin removed the exterior of the and analyzed it. "Father, is this enough light?" "Yes, it''s fine." Three small balls of light illuminate Jin''s hand. Reiko asked to secure a light for Jin, who was busy with disassembling and analyzing. Reiko asked him to hold the light for her. "Yes, father." "Elsa, look here." And Jin calls Elsa. This is ....... It''s unusual. The structure of the chest. < "A mana tank for the lungs and a mana driver for the heart. ...... You mean, as close to human as possible? "That would be the case." There are no organs unrelated to the golem, such as the spleen and pancreas, but there is a mana tank for emergency use in the area corresponding to the liver and a magi crystal of unknown use in the area corresponding to the kidneys, which shows the care taken. "Naturally, the control core must be the head. The skull was able to be divided into front and back sections, so we opened it up to check it out, as we had expected. "Okay, let''s read (decompile) the control core. Reiko, please forward the results to the old man. "Yes, sir." "Okay, let''s do it. Let''s do it. ......<>" <<> is an engineering magic developed by Adriana Barbora Zetsi when she was young, which reads the instructions given to the control core of a golem or other object as a "Magi Formula". "Hmmm..." <, looked at the scrolling display at ultra-high speed and instantly read the necessary information. "You''re really good at this, Jin." "You get used to it. You don''t need to look at the information that doesn''t matter, just the information that you need. "That''s the hard part." However, Erza also showed a great deal of skill and was able to read at least what she wanted to know. "I''ll leave the rest for you to put together. After the reading (decompiling) was finished, Jin started to analyze another golem, <>, which had the same basic structure as the other one. "This one has the same basic structure. After quickly analyzing the information, Jin started the next stage. That is, the investigation of the maker. The control core could not provide any information on the maker of the device. The first clue is the structure. "Hmmm... ...... I''ve never seen this before... ...... It''s quite an original structure." The body is divided into front and rear sections, with the dorsal side being stiff and the ventral side being relatively soft. It is not an endoskeleton of the Adriana type. On the other hand, it is not an exoskeleton either. At worst, it is a halfway house. At best, it is a good combination of the two. "Brother Jin, what does this mean?" "...... Maybe it''s because they''re easy to make." Easy to make? "Easy to make? According to this structure, the back side of the torso of the exoskeleton system is made first. From there, the arms, legs, and head are attached based on the back side of the torso. "Ah, ......, that may be so." "The arms are not armored on the inside, only on the outside. <." "In other words, the back side is hard and the belly side is soft?" "Yes. And they use armor to protect their belly side." "Interesting." Jin thought this was a reasonable structure. It''s not a very good analogy, but it might give you an idea of the way in which an engine, transmission, seats, steering wheel, etc. are installed on top of the basic frame of a car, and finally the body is placed on top of the frame. "But I don''t know of any other builder who does it this way," he said. "Father, I don''t see it in your database either." "I guess ...... and, then, some engineer who has been living in hiding or ......?" There were technicians who had the technology to make a golem using the other day, so it would not be surprising if there were others. "Do you know anything about bandits?" "Well, let''s ask them." Moritz watches them and one of them from a distance. Fritz, on the other hand, continues to interrogate the bandit. He holds a knife to his throat so that he can cut them off whenever they try to chant a spell. "Are you sure you don''t want to speak?" "......" "You want to get hurt, don''t you?" "......" "He''s a stubborn one, isn''t he?" Then came Jin, Elsa and Reiko. "Brother, I need you to take care of this for a minute." "What?Do you have any idea what to do? Yes. But ...... Erza glanced at Jin before opening her mouth again. "My brother Jin wants to ask you something." "Okay." Fritz shifted a little to the side and turned Jin to face the bandit. At the same time, Reiko activates her magijammer, blocking the use of magic. "Where did you steal that golem from?" At this question, the bandit''s body slightly jerks. "It seems to respond to ......, let''s scare it a little." Jin glanced at Reiko and decided to assign the role to Jumi of the fifth row (quinta). "Jumi, a minute." "Yes, Chief." "Here you go. ......" Jin explained in a whisper what was going on. "Okay." Jumi stood alongside Jin. "Now, I''m going to ask you again. You''d better speak frankly." Beside Jin, Jumi bent the blade of the knife that the bandit had used to show off his skill. "?! The blade was folded in two and then folded in two again. Jumi is laughing as he does it. And when he gripped the knife once more in his hand, there was a piece of scrap iron, whose original shape was no longer recognizable. Jumi throws away the scrap knife and reaches for the bandit''s face, . "Wait!" For the first time since his capture, the bandit opens his mouth. 1232 - - 33-17 Amorphous Jin left Jumi and Fritz to interrogate the bandit, who seemed to have become a little more honest, and decided to interrogate the remaining Lance. "......Who are you?" Lance, who seemed to have been observing Jin, asked in a surprised voice. "I didn''t know you could take it apart so easily. ......" "Your father is a ." Reiko answered the question for him. "<>?" "Have you never heard of it?" "No, I haven''t. You are ...... a magecraft master?Are you ...... an automata too?" Yes. I am an automata made by my father and mother. "Your father and mother made you an automata. You can call me that." said in a slightly sad voice. "And your father?" "The man who made me is no longer ...... with us." "What?" The bandits there took ...... my life. I didn''t know that. Surprisingly, Reiko and I are able to have an easy conversation. Jin wondered if the two automata were on the same wavelength. So he decided to watch them. Who are the bandits? "One said he was the son of the maker''s spouse''s brother. A bloodless nephew, Jin thought.Jin thought. "He stole a < before it was completed, and one more golem, which has not yet been given a name." "I see." <> confides honestly to Reiko, wondering what Fritz and the others have been going through all this time. Where was the place where you were born? "In the basement of a high mountain to the south of a lake northeast of here. What is the name of that lake? I don''t know. He simply called it "the lake." As Jin listened to the conversation, he thought of the map of the Shoro Kingdom. Indeed, there is a lake near the border with the Kingdom of Franz. The river flowing out of the lake must have been flowing toward the north. To the south of the lake, there was a high mountain that divided the three kingdoms of Shoro, Franz, and Cerroa. "It would not be ...... surprising if there was a faction that holed themselves up there and continued their research." If it had been before the Great Magic War, it might be the ultimate hermit, Jin thought in his head. "Who is there now?" "Just the son of the man who made me and a few golems to take care of me." "I see. ......" Now the background is pretty clear. The search for the culprit and the retrieval of the stolen golem are simple enough. Now I am a little concerned about the level of skill of the . "Can you take me to the place?" "...... if that''s what you want." "Well, I''ll ask you eventually. But first, I must fix your body. But at Reiko''s words, <> shakes his head. "Hmmm. I don''t think the engineers of ...... this country can do it." "I doubt it. I would have to leave it to my father, who made me, to fix it. I expected to hear words of opposition or rejection, but what came out of <>''s mouth was, "You say that, "If you say so, then I will obey. I''ll do it if you say so. * * * * Jin brought <> and his parts into >. < Erza, by the way, is standing by Jin''s side watching him work, refusing to listen to him even though he has told her to go home to rest. "What is the magic key word (key word) to pause?" "......" Lance glances at Reiko. "Please tell me." "......<>." What''s the activation? It''s going to be a start. Okay, I got it. ......<>" The words were true, and Lance stopped. "You have a lot of attitude problems, but you''re honest with Reiko. I mutter to myself as I diagnose Lance. "Oh ......." "?" No wonder Jin shouted out unintentionally. The structure of the golem was completely different from that of the golem he had just analyzed. "I would have thought that if they were made by the same creator, there would be some common parts. ......" "No." "No." "Oh, I don''t understand. I don''t understand." Jin''s hands were moving without rest while he was talking, and his eyes were filled with a light that seemed to see every detail. "But there are similarities in the materials. At least we can be sure that they were made in the same place." Jin pointed out the skeleton to Erza, who looked interested. "It may be hard to tell from the outside, but you can examine the crystal structure." "Hmmm..." she said. ......<>......What is this?" For ordinary metals, there is something called a crystal lattice. The crystal structure is a regular arrangement of atoms according to the type of metal element. "It''s not crystalline?" "Correct. This is probably ." Amorphous? "Yes. A metal without a crystalline structure. It must be difficult to make, but they must have worked some magic." Jin asks himself how he would have made it. "I guess <> or ......." Amorphous alloys are made by cooling a molten metal all at once. By not allowing time for crystallization, the metallic structure becomes <. It has high toughness, corrosion resistance, and soft magnetic properties. Due to the high cost of production, few large scale products are made on the modern earth, but with the help of magic technology, these applications are possible. "Perhaps free magic elements (ether) are added between the metal atoms to further increase their strength. But this kind of technology has never been seen or heard of before. "I''m curious about the maker''s roots." Jin muttered in a low voice. But then he regained his composure. "First, we need to repair it. ...... muscle tissue is a living material, isn''t it?" Jin muttered to himself as he dismantled the broken arm. "This seems to be a ......< type of material. Siamese dragons are the lowest rank of dragons, but they have high combat and defense capabilities. Its leather is thick and resilient, and the skin of its wings is thin and tough. Its fangs are strong and durable against impact. Its flesh, on the other hand, is tough and tasteless. While other dragons were drastically reduced by the outburst of magical elements, their numbers increased slightly, so it is no wonder that they are used as a material. The skin of the regenerated Reiko was made from this feather membrane at the time of her first strengthening. In other words, it is a very strong material. "Interesting. It''s a good reference." Talking to himself, Jin proceeded with the repairs. 1233 - - 33-18 Obsession "This <> uses an ether converter and a mana driver. The fact that the other golems are not like that, but rather use mana tank technology, shows that the Lance is of a different construction. "That doesn''t make it any stronger. ......" It is also evident from the fact that the lance was destroyed by a lower-ranked attack, although it could not attack on its own. Combat and defensive abilities do not necessarily correspond to the structure and materials. Jin was repairing the lance while saying this to Erza, "The one made by ...... Jin''s brother is different. Elsa''s hand was interrupted by Reiko''s nodding. "Well, the structure is an endoskeleton, similar to the previous generation''s form. However, there is a little too much waste. "Jin, what do you mean by ''wasteful''?" Jin pointed at Erza''s question and explained. "Erza would understand. "Elsa would understand. Like the ribs." "Oh, really." Such a structure is effective for humans who breathe through their lungs, but it has the disadvantage of reducing the strength of an automata. "But..." But what? "I was thinking that the creator of this Lance may have been trying to create an automaton that is as close to a as possible." "Somehow, I understand." Erza nodded in agreement with Jin''s line. "But, you know, human beings are not necessarily a complete life form. "What do you mean?" "You see, it''s good that we can use our hands dexterously because we walked upright. It''s also good that our brains have developed because of it, but we''ve also had to deal with disadvantages like back pain, a dropsy stomach, and difficult childbirth." "...... I see. That makes sense." All of these symptoms are rarely seen in quadrupedal mammals. Seeing the same number of spinal columns as humans and the same pelvis shape, Jin and Erza felt the creator''s care. When Jin was in modern Japan, he was a when it came to models, preferring to move and play with ships, cars, and tanks. On the other hand, it is true that there are people who are concerned with how precisely to reproduce the real thing. Jin imagined that the creator of this Lance must have had such a mindset. "He must have been concerned about the finished product, with performance being of secondary importance. Thinking of this, Jin was even more curious about what kind of person he was. "The muscles are arranged so that they are as similar as possible to human muscles. And the internal organs were made to look more like a human than a golem. "Don''t get hung up on it. ...... I can''t overlook the fact that it''s going to lose performance because of it." Jin is impressed, but not sympathetic. "I still think it''s good. It is more complete than any other Golem automata I have ever seen. "Except your father, of course?" "That''s more than Elena, isn''t it?" Reiko and Elsa asked almost simultaneously. "Yes. I don''t know if I can say that myself. I''m better than Elena. Jin analyzed that although she might be as good as Elena in appearance, she might have more power than Elena, partly because of the difference between the adult male form and the girl form. "That''s because they use < for muscle tissue." This is the reason. If there are <, they would be located in the northern part of the Kruger Mountains. The fact that they can go that far is proof of their extraordinary technology. "Anyway, let''s finish the repairs. Jin is repairing the ripped off arms and bent legs as he goes. "However, amorphous material feels strange. Jin comments on the engineering-magical feel of a material he is handling for the first time. "Is it?" "Yes. It feels viscous, or muddy, or something. Do you want to try ...... for a bit?" "Yes. I decided to let Erza, who seemed to be interested, try to correct the crooked legs. "<>......Yes, I can see that." "Right?" It''s not that it''s hard to deform, it''s just that it has a unique when it deforms. "I don''t intend to use it, though." Saying this, Jin repaired all the remaining parts. "I guess that''s it." "Brother Jin, the magic machine in your body has changed, did you understand it all? Yes, I did. "As expected of your father!" Reiko praises him with open arms, and Erza looks at him with surprise. "The lungs are the ether converters. The heart is the mana driver. The liver is an emergency mana tank. I can see that. The stomach and intestines can simulate eating. Reiko and other automata in Horai Island also have this function. "Spleen is a magical tool for . The kidneys are magic tools for ." It is true that they couldn''t have assigned all of them to the same functions as humans, but this is still quite a feat. "Then, the control core is the head? "Yes. As far as I''m concerned, it is easily damaged. In addition, there is the problem of distance differences in the transmission of commands to the limbs. The arrival time of signals from the arm to the leg is slightly different. This is a subtle issue that only becomes a problem when the speed is increased to the limit. "But it might be a good way to quickly capture and process visual information," Elsa commented. Elsa commented. "Yes, that''s true. There are advantages and disadvantages, of course. However, as Jin heard stories of people in extreme situations where they could see but not move their bodies, he wanted to emphasize the importance of <. is Jin''s motto. Naturally, there are exceptions. Jin is not so narrow-minded or inflexible that he does not accept such exceptions. "Well, that''s it." The repairs are almost completed as before. If it were a golem or an automata of his own making or of someone close to him, Jin would have taken this opportunity to enhance it, but this time he seems to have refrained from doing so. Rather, it could be said that he was unsure of the relationship between <> and himself. "<>" <> opens his eyes. "Oh, it''s really fixed. And it seems to be a little better than before. You were right, Reiko. Jin was secretly surprised that Lance pronounced like a native. That meant that the performance of the <, which was the brain, was quite good. "Thank you, Jin-dono." Lance bowed his head toward Jin. "No, that''s fine. So ...... no, Reiko, you go ahead and ask him." "Yes, father. ...... Mr. Lance, will you take us to the place where you were made?" "If that''s what you want." After all, Lance had agreed so readily. Then, when the sun comes up, I''ll ask you to come. Yes, sir. It was still 2:00 a.m. local time. Jin suggested that Elsa take a nap. But I have to check on Edgar. I''ll take care of that. You need to get some sleep, or you''ll get sick. With that being said, Elsa could no longer refuse to sleep. "I''ll do it then. Erza then took a nap in . While she was napping, Jin helped Edgar with his maintenance work. 1234 - - 33-19 Sujin Mountain At 6:00 a.m., it was light outside. Jin and Elsa had breakfast at the Randall house and returned to <>. "Well, I''m off." "Yeah, go ahead." I''d like to go with you, but it''s not going to happen. Erza, be careful. Jin-sama, please... I''m sorry that your trip home had to end this way. "No, no, I''m glad that Kunlun-kun was able to help us." "I''m relieved to hear you say so, brother-in-law." With the Randalls seeing them off, Jin and Erza headed northeast. "Wow, they are really flying. This speed is quite impressive." does not seem surprised by the fact that they are flying. But he seems to be impressed by the speed of the flight. "It''s fast. But <> would be even faster." ? ...... I knew it. Father? Brother Jin! < come out of Lance, but Jin, who had been expecting it, simply nodded his head and said, "I knew it. This surprised not only Elsa but also Reiko. "No, because this technology was commonly used around the time of the Magic Wars, wasn''t it?The only reason Elena doesn''t know about it is that the creator didn''t tell her. ......" Erza is convinced by Jin''s explanation. "Speaking of which, yes..." Erza recalls that a huge warp gate still remains at the Keowan ruins that she visited before. "Hmm, you also have a means of transfer, don''t you, Jin-dono? Jin nodded, and Lance seemed impressed this time. "I see. I see. The outside world has a wide disparity. That''s informative. "You didn''t get out much, did you?" "Yes. This is my first time. As usual, Lance answers Reiko''s questions with ease. "I myself was only ten years old when I was made." Is that so? "But I have inherited the knowledge. But I''ve been around a long time. I''m sure you''re right. The knowledge of golems and automata can be copied by transinfo. If passed down from generation to generation, the knowledge will be enormous. However, there must be a lot of useless knowledge and duplicated information, and if such knowledge is added without sorting it out, it may end up consuming storage space and not be very effective. It is like cleaning up the hard disk of a personal computer. "We''re almost in the area!" Edgar, the pilot, called out. Looking down through the floor window, I saw snow-capped high mountains. "<>," the creator called it. "Mount Suhonto, is it? Where should we land? There is a small flat on the southwest side. There is a small flat on the southwest side. Edgar, who had heard this, moved <> to that spot and landed without a hitch. "That looks like a high altitude. You might want to put on a jacket. Jin said and took Elsa''s and his jacket out of the locker provided. There were several kinds of clothes in the locker for such an occasion. "It''s snowing or icy out there. You''d better put on your snow gear or you''ll be in danger." "Hmm..." Jin had prepared special shoes to prevent slipping on the ice. One of them is a pair of shoes for mages. These shoes have rubber soles on dirt and rocky paths, and spike pins that pop out when the path is covered with snow or ice. They are for mages because of the application of << forming>. Of course, they are cold- and water-resistant. "......It''s still cold." Although Erza is more tolerant of cold than Jin, the temperature in the high mountains during this season only rises to about 0 degrees Celsius during the daytime. Her breath was white. The rocks were covered with ice. The group went outside, leaving Edgar to look after them. On Lance''s back, two motionless golems are compactly packed and carried on his back. "Where do I go from here?" "This way." Lance, not bothering with the weight, stands up first and walks away. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko followed in that order. Although it was hard to see from a distance, the path was well-maintained and easy to walk on for a mountain path. After walking for about 10 minutes, we went around the path and came to a small terrace of about 2 tatami mats. "Is this the entrance?" Reiko asked quickly, and Lance nodded his head. "Yes, it is. Wait, I''ll open it now. She put her hand on the rock wall and did something, and a small round hole opened up, just big enough to fit the palm of her hand. Lance stuck his hand in there and did something else, and suddenly a doorway opened up next to it, a doorway that could easily fit a human being. "I''m sorry, but I''m going to report this to the maker''s son. If you give me permission, I will welcome you in. Lance said looking at Reiko''s face. "Yes, sir. As soon as possible, please." "Of course." Nodding to Reiko, Lance went inside with the broken golem on his back. The door closed immediately and the entrance and exit were out of sight. "Is this another illusionary type of warding?" Jin was still analyzing the situation. "Well, it''s simpler than the illusionary wards of the old Leonard''s Kingdom. There is no sense of touch. It''s just a deceptive appearance." "Does that mean it can be erased with <>?" Reiko asked, and Jin nodded. "That would be the case. But don''t do it, okay?" "Yes." "Brother Jin, how do you think the opening/closing and locking mechanisms work?" Erza asked. "I can''t say without seeing them, but I think they are double or triple-locked. The first key is hidden to access the main key, and the main key is locked by personal identification and a mechanical lock, I think. "Yes, I see. That combination would be quite secure. While we were talking, the door opened again and Lance appeared. "The maker''s son has given his permission. I hope I don''t betray his trust. "It will be all right. Father, Elsa is not a belligerent woman. But don''t try to trap me either, okay?" Reiko said, and Lance nodded seriously. "I believe you, Reiko. I would never do anything to betray her. Then, please." Jin and the others followed Lance, who turned himself around. The doorway leads to an airlock-like area. When the door closes behind them, they feel a light floating sensation. "An elevator. We''re going underground?" "That''s right. Our living space is underground. The elevator continued to descend for about a minute before finally coming to a stop. "Come on." Lance got off first and beckoned Jin and the others to come down. 1235 - - 33-20 Underground Visit "Well, well." The elevator descended to a beautifully furnished residential facility. "It looks a little like the one on the moon, doesn''t it?" "Hmm. It looks a bit like the interior of the ruins of the old Leonard''s Kingdom. "Father, it also looks a little like the headquarters of the Unification Party (Unifiler)." In other words, it has something in common with the technology of the past. From this, Jin guessed that this place was a facility from the past. "This way, sir." takes the lead and leads the group. The walls, floors, and ceilings are a combination of polished stone and metal. The room is well maintained, but it looks old. I would like to take a closer look, but I can''t because I have to follow Lance who is walking at a brisk pace. Lance turned the corner twice and stopped in front of a door. Here is the maker''s son. He pressed the button next to the door, and after a beat the door opened. "Thank you, Lance," he said. You have a guest. Yeah. Welcome to ...... from the outside. My name is Gimnas. I''m the owner of this facility. The man who introduced himself as Gimnas was a boy who appeared to be 14 or 15 years old. His hair was light gold and his eyes were red. His skin was almost white and his body was slender. He was sitting at a simple wooden desk. The image is that of a junior high school student studying for an entrance examination. This is Jin Nido. Elsa Nido. ...... My name is Squire Reiko. Jin and the others introduced themselves. "Please have a seat." Gimnas offered them chairs. The wooden chair had an old-fashioned design. Jin and the others looked around the room. The interior is mainly made of wood and has an antique atmosphere. The magic tools placed here and there are mismatched. There is a large bookshelf filled with books. Jin thought that he would like to take a look. Two ladies dressed as attendants came out from the back of the room, carrying drinks. Jin saw that they were automata. They silently put their drinks on the table and walk away. Slowly Gimnas opened his mouth. "I think you probably have a lot of questions. First, let me give you a brief explanation of the situation, and then you can ask your questions. "Yes, that would be fine." Jin also tries to answer politely. "First of all, this facility was built about 400 years ago by digging deep under the mountain. It was originally intended as a shelter for evacuation. Gimnas began to speak. His tone is clear and easy to understand. His tone was clear and understandable, indicating that he had been well educated. "The underground here seems to have a rather high concentration of free magical element (ether)>>, and there were dozens of researchers and their families living here, who said that it was ideal for various kinds of research. The ability to efficiently obtain energy must have been attractive. "Later, according to the records, there was a war called the and many mages died. However, since the free ether here was thicker than outside, they didn''t suffer such a loss. Jin thought as he listened to the story that this was a kind of hiding place. "After the magic war, we lost all contact with the outside world, and since our free magical element (ether) was reduced, we completely lost contact with the outside world. However, we had underground farms and ranches for food, water and resources, and golems for manpower, so we had no problems at all. If there was one, it was ......." Gimnas paused and let out a small sigh. "The ...... problem is the decrease in population." I knew it, Jin thought. It was hard to believe that the population could be maintained. "The blood is thicker. It was also hypothesized that in a closed and enclosed space, the organisms would gradually weaken. Jin, having seen Mitsuho and Huso, or rather Newell, can relate to this. "My father was the last one," he said. So he went out into the world and found a mate." Gimnas smiled sadly. "My mother''s brother ......, who is an uncle to me, had a background in magical engineering and moved here with my mother. From what I''ve heard since then, he was a blood brother to my mother, but from what I''ve seen, he and my mother were very close." Gimnas'' mother would have felt more comfortable having her brother, even if only in-law, with her than marrying into a strange land alone. "After my mother gave birth to me, she was in poor health and fell ill the year before last. After that, my uncle settled here and helped my father in various ways. Jin nodded inwardly, thinking that at a time when they were short of labor, a reasonably useful person, especially one who was a relative of his, even if only in-law, would be willing to help out. "My uncle, however, seemed to have had an evil thought and came up with the idea of abusing ...... the facilities here." This may have been the beginning of the current turmoil. "It seems that the culture of the outside world has regressed a lot after the magic wars. Gimnas quenched his thirst with the drink brought by the attendant golem and opened his mouth again. "Well, I''ve explained the situation in a rush. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. "Well, let me ask you a few questions. Jin decided to ask the questions he wanted to ask, including confirmation. "The labor force here ...... is covered by golems and automata, isn''t it? "Yes. "And some of them were stolen, is that correct?" "Yes, sir. I need a and a for security, and some parts." Parts? "Yes. Control core for the golem, ether converter for the golem, and control core for the warp gate. "...... and then ......" A couple of things came out of Jin''s question. First, there are a number of unused golems and automata in this facility, which are activated and used as needed. Two of them were stolen. Two of them were stolen, <> and <>, which are used for security purposes. The <> is a backward-compatible automata of the <>, and can be treated as a golem by attaching an exterior. <>Gimnas did not know why. "Is that why you called it a golem or an automata when you got it back?" Jin, who had heard the story from Jumi, understood. "So, what happened to your uncle?" Gimnas looked down at this question. Lance answered for him. "When the creator got sick, he took the things I just mentioned and disappeared. When he did so, he put poison in the water. Because of that, the creator died." "......Yes. I was in danger too, but I managed to survive. Gimnas'' father, who was sick and weak, did not survive. What can I say about that? "No, it''s nothing to worry about, Master Jin. Gimnas forced a smile. "But if that''s the case, we haven''t found the uncle yet, and the control core for the warp gate is ......." "Yes. But we do know about that one. What? Lance found it. He chose to retrieve the abused golem first. "I see, so that''s how it is." This explanation made sense to Jin. "Well, if you don''t mind, could you tell me about Jin-dono?Lance told me that he holds the title of "Magecraft Meister". "Well, that''s what he said. Well then, let me introduce myself a little. Jin briefly introduced himself and explained his current position. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I see. ...... you are such a man. No, I didn''t do much myself. It was my predecessor who was a great man. "Your predecessor ...... was Adriana Barbora Zetsi, you say? I think I''ve heard of her. "Oh, yes!" Gimnas'' words caught Reiko''s attention. "Yes. "Yes. I have his name in the old records. Our golems and automata are supposed to be aiming for his realm, or something like that. ...... Jin, Reiko, and Erza were a little happy to hear the name of their predecessor unexpectedly. 1236 - - 33-21 Technical Exchange After that, Jin and his colleagues had a brief technical exchange. The technology that Gimnas and the others were sharing was an achievement, albeit not a mainstream one. "I see, you have accumulated knowledge and experience with golems and automata." "You understand quickly, Jin-dono." . According to what I have heard, he is the head of the Golem automata in this facility. His body was updated about 10 years ago, but he has 400 years of knowledge and experience. However, they are inefficient because they are simply being added to. When Jin points this out, "I had a feeling about that," he said. But this is the creator''s decision. I don''t want to change it now. The response was, "I don''t want to change it now. Since this was not an issue for Jin, he decided to leave it at that. He then decided to confirm the issue that concerned him the most, the <. "Can you tell me what type of warp gate you have? "You said that Jin-dono and others have their own warp gate. How about a comparison? Jin had no objection. "Well then, let''s look at ......." First, he showed us the warp gates used by Gimnas and the others. "This is one of them. It connects the underground mine to here. "I see." From what Jin saw, the basic structure was the same. "It''s about the same." "That''s to be expected. This kind of technology has gone so far that there is little room for improvement. "That''s right. The only thing that could be improved is energy efficiency. In Jin''s case, since he is willing to make such small improvements, the energy efficiency alone should be 30 percent better than the one shown here. "Then I don''t think we should bother asking you to teach us yours." Lance quipped. That would be easier for Jin as well. We compared various other magical tools and machines, but there seemed to be no major differences between them. The biggest difference seemed to be the < material we confirmed yesterday. Of course, the technology that only Jin has cannot be compared, so I have left it out of this technical comparison. "By the way, you said that this place has a higher concentration of free magical element (ether) than the surrounding area. Jin and the others were facing Gimnas again after the technical exchange. "That''s what I heard. "Have you done any research on that?" Yes. Yes. The free magical element (ether) gradually becomes more concentrated as you go underground. Therefore, I think it comes from underground. This is also consistent with the hypothesis that Hitoshi and his group made about the singularity. "I hypothesize that the free magical element (ether) may be generated along the veins that contain a lot of mithril." "I see." This is a new theory. Horai Island is also rich in silver mithril, light mithril, magi crystals, magi stones, and magi isotopes. Also, underground are cultivated the ground spider (grand spider) and the ground caterpillar (grand caterpillar), which, due to the high concentration of free magical element (ether) underground, have a performance that sets their materials apart from the rest. "Then, it may mean that such a vein exists in <>. ......" "<>, is it?" Yes. We call these points where the concentration of free magical element is higher than others. Singularity, indeed. It''s an appropriate term. We''ve observed that the concentration of free energy element (ether) decreases the further south you go, but we still don''t know the cause. I see. Jin had hoped that they might know something about this, but he was disappointed to find that they did not. * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and the others are served lunch during the midday break. "This is ......" "It tastes strange. But not bad." Bread made from a kind of wheat that has been grown in this basement for 400 years. The color is slightly darker. "It''s a bit different from rye ....... It''s delicious." Rye is said to have originally been a weed in wheat fields. After a series of artificial weeding ......, the relatively superior ones remained and began to be cultivated. It is likely that rye was adopted for cultivation in this underground environment because it can withstand a poorer environment than wheat. Rye on earth contains little protein called gluten, so it does not expand much when made into bread, but rye here?But the rye here was different. "It''s good, but not that good." Erza says it tastes much better than the rye bread she had tasted several times during her trip with Reinhardt to the Kingdom of Elias. I wonder if that''s the breed. "I guess so." Jin did not know much about the taste of barley, so he listened to Elsa''s explanation in silence. "I heard that there are many more delicious foods in the outside world," Gimnas said. Gimnas said. "Yes, in terms of diversity. "...... should I go out there, too?" Now that he is the last one in the group, he wonders if he should stay or go out. "If I do go out, I also have to decide which country to go to." The summit of Mount Suhonto is the border between the three kingdoms of Shoro, Franz, and Selroa, and this facility is probably located just below the summit. "The entrance is on the southwest side, so it''s the Shoro Kingdom. Shouldn''t it be the Shoro Kingdom?" Erza offered her opinion. "Yes, ......." Jin agrees. I don''t mean to be a patron, but the Shoro Empire would certainly make it easier for Jin to help them. "Besides, there is no need to abandon this place. If you have a house outside and set up a warp gate there, you can easily come and go between here and there. "Ah, yes." Jin, who is a < in this kind of life, gave Gimnas a lot of advice. "Thank you very much." In the evening, Jin and the others decided to leave the underground facility. Lance accompanied Jin and his group. "I need to take the parts of the warp gate and set it up in an appropriate place. Please help us. Besides, the stolen parts have not been found yet. He also says that the murderer of the creator has not been found. "All right. If you want to live in Shawlo, I''ll help you as much as I can. "Thank you." Jin and the others left the underground facility. Conlon 3 flies against the evening sky. At first, they head for Leuthart. The next day, they plan to have an audience with the emperor and report back to him. Their golem technology and warp gate will benefit the world in the future. The Warp Gate has been found in the Kingdom of Celuloa, and it is said that they are just a few steps away from reproducing it, which will accelerate the process a little. Golem technology is another example. Depending on one''s point of view, it could be said that a time capsule of past technology has been unearthed. If this is the case, it is easier for Jin to feel at ease because it is a rediscovery of a technology that originally existed in this world. "Father, I can see it now. Reuthert came into view. "Okay, let''s land at the house." In the twilight, <> descended slowly. 1237 - - 33-22 Report to the Emperor The morning of September 27th. After the meal, Elsa is supposed to go back to her parents'' house and come back with Meane to pick up her belongings. Then Jin had a meeting with Lance. "......I knew it. Lance has the knowledge of the generations of ." This is probably the reason why he seems somewhat arrogant in his tone and attitude. On the other hand, his original characterization as a lance also makes his personality quite complex. "That''s what it comes down to. The name is <, but this is only because this body was a security automaton. It was supposed to be a teacher, but we ran out of stock." "Hmm." "Couldn''t you have created a new teacher-type body?" Reiko asked curiously. "Yes, Miss Reiko. We ran out of the necessary materials. What kind of material? "The material for the skin. It''s thread from the ground spider, but we''ve run out of it. The creator went to the outside world to look for it, but he couldn''t find the material. Reiko did not say, "So you have found a mate, but at the same time you have taken on the seeds of trouble. "Didn''t you cultivate ground spiders?" "They were, but they became extinct during the past 400 years. Jin thought that the situation seemed to be different from that of Horai Island. "I see, so their skin is composed of subterranean spider resin (GSP). "GSP?GSP? That''s a pretty good name, isn''t it? I''ll call it that from now on." Lance chuckled. Teachers are automata that teach the next generation of researchers, and since there was little demand for them, there were not many bodies in stock. "Come to think of it, they look the same as the we were looking for, don''t they?" "Yes, Reiko. The Sword, which has a purely security control core, is better at controlling this body. Besides, we didn''t want to hurt them as much as possible, so we had to fight hard." "I don''t think that was much of a struggle, though." "Ugh, don''t say that. I''m aware of that. "Well, what about the parts that were stolen and who stole them?" I have a rough idea. One of the parts emits magic. It seems to be in the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Selroa, near the border with the Kingdom of Franz. He got this from the results of checking the direction from different places. It is a good thing that he has a good grasp of the basics of surveying. "Well, ...... Reiko, do you have a map?" "Yes, we do. I have given out maps of the world before, so I guess we have a copy here at the mansion. Here it is. "Oh, Miss Reiko, this is wonderful." Lance looked at the map and exclaimed in admiration. "Well, this is Mount Suhonto, and you can go north this way to ......." Lance pointed to a small lake and some old buildings to the north of the lake. "This is the site of a fort." "Hmm. ......" Maybe the culprits are remnants of the Unification Party (Unifiler). Jin intuitively thought so, as an organization using the ruins of the fort. The former Unified Party (Unifiler) had a base in the ruins of Kasimunore, the place where Elena once slept. There were quite a few people who were not brainwashed by Elena, but took advantage of their goal of world domination, and some of those who escaped capture after the destruction of the Unifilers still had ambitions. The Unification Party (Unifiler) and the Nostalgia Party (Nostalgia) have been pursuing such people who disturbed the world peace, but there must be some who have not been captured. I suspect that the man who started the series of incidents may be one of them. When I told this story to Lance, "Hmm, interesting story. I didn''t know there was such a case. He seemed to be thinking about it. "I only know what I know, but there must be more such forts and bases. Some of them may be useful to us if we make use of them. "I''d like to know about them when this whole mess is over. Lance looked at Jin and Reiko alternately and nodded broadly. "And one more thing. This has nothing to do with this case, but I want you to listen to me. "Hmm, what is it?" "There''s a celestial body approaching Ars. We call it <>. ......" Jin explained the <> to Lance. "Hmmm......... it would be a terrible thing if it were true." "Your father is not lying!" "Oh, oh." Reiko bites back Lance''s skeptical words. Lance is flinching. "No, no, if Miss Reiko says so, then it must be true. ...... but what can we do?" Jin explains to Lance. "I''d like you to think about it. For example, assuming there is some damage on the ground, what if we evacuate underground? "I see. That facility can accommodate approximately 50 people for a long period of time, or 300 people for a short period of time, about one month. That''s reassuring in an emergency. "But for that, we need a warp gate. I want you to decide where we should install it as soon as possible. Jin nodded. "That is why we are going to have an audience with His Majesty today. "I see. I look forward to working with you." At 9:00 a.m., Jin was in the hospital. At 9:00 a.m., Jin took the Conlon 3 to Miyagi Prefecture, piloted by Reiko. Edgar is with Elsa at her parents'' house. Lance is on board, of course. "Welcome, Mr. Kunlun!" As usual, Prime Minister Jung Forss von K?bsler greeted Jin. Jin decided to let Lance stay in the ship for the time being, and he and Reiko headed for the office of the Empress. "Welcome, Jin-kun." The queen is as frank as ever. The Prime Minister let out a secret sigh. "What can I do for you today?" "Actually, ......" Jin began by explaining about the bandits, the incident at Elsa''s parents'' house, and the facilities under the Suhonte Mountains. As the story progressed, the smile on the emperor''s face faded and his face became serious. And then, "You are more than just an interesting ...... person, you are a wanted man", she said clearly. She said clearly. Gimnas is the last of a family that has passed down the 400 year old technology without any decline. Considering the country, he would be a man we would like to have. "<> Jin and his Gimnas. And Lance, the automata. We would love to take care of them here in our country." "I understand. Then, may I bring Lance here? The Prime Minister interrupted the emperor, who was about to express his approval. "Your majesty, this will have to wait for a while. I will see her first. "That''s right. Then I''ll leave it to the Prime Minister. ...... Jin, take good care of him. Yes, I''ll take care of it. Thus, arrangements are made for Lance to meet with the Prime Minister first. The conversation went smoothly from then on. The conversation proceeded smoothly from then on, and in conclusion, <> was assigned to the Shoro Kingdom. The Minister of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire, Degauz Furt von Manischlus, was in charge of negotiating with him, and Jin was released from this problem. As for the search for the culprit, Lance insisted <>. Although some concerns remained, Jin and Erza were now able to take care of their own problems. However, Jin, being a godless man, had no way of knowing what the outcome of this encounter would be in the future. 1238 - - 33-23 Antarctic Research Fleet No. 1 The date and time will be back a little. The Antarctic Survey Fleet has been replaced by the Penglai Island Honeymoon Fleet. The Honeymoon Fleet is returning to the island. The Antarctic Survey Fleet has advanced to 40 degrees south latitude and 80 degrees west longitude. Because they were approaching an area where the concentration of free magical element (ether) was low, the vessels that were not equipped with <> decided to turn back for safety''s sake. The dispatched by Jin continued its steady march southward. On September 25, the fleet headed for the South Pole with a view of the islands that would later be named the on its starboard side. At the same time, a small number of <> were dispatched to observe the situation on land. The receiving Raptor analyzed the images and came to a conclusion. At the same time, he calls Jin. "What''s the matter, old man?" < No, that''s okay. I was just servicing my tools. I was just working on my tools. ...... But what''s more, what happened?" < The old man first shows the image in question without giving any unnecessary information to avoid giving any preconceptions. "This is ......" > The images shown on the screen are of various animals. They are various kinds of animals, which Jin had never seen before. An elephant-like animal. A giraffe-like animal. Animals that look like rhinos. Animals that resemble hippopotamuses, monkeys, squirrels, ....... There were also bears, wild boars, and other animals that Jin had seen before. However, they looked somewhat different from the ones Jin remembered. The flora also seemed to be more abundant than in the Pleiades, which Jin had visited the other day. "Is this the biota of the southern islands? ......" > "Hmmm. ......" Jin is not a biologist. But he knows the name of the Galapagos Islands. He has heard of the Ogasawara Islands. "Did they develop their own biota because they were isolated?" <<>. "<>?" <> The "ark" that the old man is talking about must be Noah''s Ark mentioned in the Bible, Jin thought. And then it occurred to him what it meant. "Are you saying that you are protecting the species?" "I see. ...... The old man sometimes comes up with outlandish ideas. This is not a problem of thought process but because his thinking speed is so fast that he can handle a huge amount of information at the same time. Therefore, they can instantly consider several times or dozens of possibilities that are several times or dozens of times greater than Jin''s. It is not the same as having an idea that Jin cannot have. If only he took the time, he could do it ....... "Maybe they were trying to preserve as much of the current inhabitants as possible when they <> Ars." It was thought that at least some of the creatures had not been demonized by the high concentration of free magical elements (ether). "Still, I wonder how many of them were able to overcome the doubled gravity." "That would be nice." It is possible that the doubling of gravity has reduced the size of the body, Jin thought, but did not say it. He did not say it out loud, because he had no proof and it was just a hunch. Jin asked about something else that had been bothering him. "Have you checked the continent?" "I see. It is true that the current members are not enough. We should increase the number of members. ......" Jin thought for a moment and decided to increase the number of members. He is not sure if he will need more mobile air force in the future. "Let''s increase the number of skies to 1,000. We will increase the number of aircraft on board to 1,000. . Land force is 1 to 1000, Marine force is 1 to 50. Mermaid squadrons are also available from 1 to 1000, but Sky squadrons are only 10 Mermaids have 1 to 1000, and Marines 1 to 50 0. The Mermaid team also has 1 to 1000, but the Sky team has only 10 to 1000. With the help of 1000 craftsmen (smiths), the Sky 1000 were ready in half a day, and the Sky 1000 are already in place. In another day, the Raptor as a passenger plane was manufactured up to the number 500. I''ll leave you with this. "What is it?" < "An island?Something special?" < "180 degrees west longitude and above the Tropic of Cancer ......, no way!" "Yes, it''s ......, isn''t it?" According to the map defined by Jin, 0 degrees west longitude is Horai Island. Moreover, Horai Island is on the Tropic of Cancer. This means that the island in question is on the opposite side of Ars. "I guess so." Jin pondered. Although it was just a hunch, he could not help but feel that there was some important secret hidden on the island. After thinking about it for 10 minutes, Jin came to a conclusion. "Okay, let''s investigate the island at the same time. "Yes, that''s right. It''s not that urgent, so it''s fine. It would be inconvenient to have a name for what we are going to do. "Let''s see ......, how about <>?" < Onogoro Island is an island mentioned in the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters), which legend has it that when the land and sea were still in chaos, the gods stirred and lifted the heavenly floating bridge with an ama no ukihashi (heavenly spear), and the tide that dripped from the bridge accumulated and became an island. . When Jin was at the facility, the director told him a myth about this island, so he remembered it. It was a name he came up with as a name for a mysterious island. "Perhaps it is a counterpart to Horai Island." < "It could be a clue to the singularity of the free magical element (ether). << "Right. Vivienne will sulk later if we don''t call her too." << Thus, the survey of the southern hemisphere progresses. Later and . It seems that the planet Ars is not yet ready to reveal all its mysteries. "I wish I had more time. ......" Now that the long-period planets are approaching, Jin has begun to think that he needs more time. "I guess you could say that the bill for everything I''ve done is coming due." Jin reflected on the fact that this was the result of putting it off when he had the time to do it. "I used to finish my summer vacation homework as soon as possible ......." There is no use in grumbling about it. Jin renewed his determination to do his best. 1239 - - 33-24 Toas Birthday "Happy Birthday!" September 28th was the birthday of Saki''s father, Toa. The Jin family was all gathered at Horai Island to celebrate. "Thank you!" It was Toa Eschenbach''s 45th birthday. "At my age, I never thought I would have such a happy birthday. Toa is standing next to Stellina. "Father, aren''t you happy that it''s just you and me on this birthday?" Saki looked into his face and Toa blushed. "No, no, that''s not true. I''m also very grateful for this birthday, just the two of us. "Don''t flatter me. I can see it in your face." "......" "Well, Juliana, you''re looking good. You''re not shy, are you?" In Bertsche''s arms is Juliana, the child of Reinhardt, who is excited by the lively atmosphere. "Yes, she doesn''t cry at night anymore, and she''s much heavier now. "It reminds me of when Marcia was a little girl. Vivian and Rodrigo looked into Juliana''s face, and their expressions were broken. Meanwhile, Reinhardt was talking to Jin with a glass of wine in his hand. "Jin, since we are all here, you must have something to tell us, right?" "Yes, of course. We''ve learned some new facts. I''ll tell you when the feast is over. "I''m looking forward to it." The banquet continues to go on in harmony. The highlight dish this time is broiled eel. "It smells good, doesn''t it?" Saki, who has a good nose, smells it. "Here you go." Immediately after that, the golem maids bring in the broiled eel. "Oh, what''s this? "Is it fish ......?" "It''s a soy sauce type sauce. "It smells very fragrant ......." Jin begins to explain to the surprised and interested crowd. "Well, this is a dish called kabayaki. It is a long, thin fish that is split open, grilled once to remove excess oil, then baked again with sauce. "Long thin fish or ...... what is it?" Goose is twisting his head. "It''s a fish, not a snake, right?" Saki wondered what he was imagining and reminded Jin again. "It''s a fish." Jin nodded reassuringly and continued. "This fish is an eel. Not a dragonhead eel?It was found in the southern hemisphere ocean by the Mermaids and sent back to us." "Oh, from the southern hemisphere ......?" Goose is eager to hear more. "Well, you should try it first. "Well, try it first. If you like, you can sprinkle some of this pepper powder on it to make it taste even better. "Oh, that''s the herb we got at Huso the other day, isn''t it?" Saki, who was accompanying me, seemed to remember. "That''s right. This is the grounded berries. "Oh, it smells so good! Bina''s nose twitched as well. "I think it''s good for pregnant women because of its nutritional value. "Oh, really?" I have done some research on it. Even if it looks like eel, it would be bad if it is poisonous. "Well, let''s eat! Toa first puts the chopsticks on the table. As a result of practice, he is now able to eat Japanese food with chopsticks. Seeing Toa put his chopsticks on, the other participants started to eat as well. "Yes, it''s delicious! "It''s delicious! It has a lot of fat, but not too much. "The smell of this powder sprinkled on top of the fish is delicious.It has a nice aroma if you sprinkle some of this sansho powder on it. "Sansho" is fine, but "sansho" is more accurate. "Yes!Grandma, it''s delicious!" "It really is, isn''t it?" "This sauce, right?It''s sweet and salty, with a hint of umami. Jin was relieved that the kabayaki was well received. "You don''t see this over here on the continent. ......" Goose muttered as he refilled his kabayaki. Jin thought it was time to talk, so he started to explain. Since he is eating, he starts with a non-serious topic. Mainly, it is about the biota reported by the <>. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "It''s called ......." Jin explained slowly and took a sip of his tea to moisten his throat. "Well, I don''t know what this is, but I agree that the island was used to preserve the species." Goose agreed with the old man''s guess. "The old man also wants to discuss some things with Guth, so you go over there later. "Okay. I''m looking forward to it. "Mr. Jin, may I join you?" Sure enough, Vivienne also volunteered to sit in. "Of course. If you have any ideas, please feel free to share them with me. "We don''t have free magic element (ether) in the south. Is that why this didn''t become a demon?" There is a reason why Licia asked this question. The Shama Marsh in the eastern part of the Klein Kingdom, and Lake Manuse into which the river flows. The that lives there is a herbivorous monster that can grow up to three meters in length. Because of its weak magical power, its skin is used as a material for magic tools. Licia is from the Kingdom of Klein, so she is familiar with the dragon-headed eel. "It is possible that the dragonhead eel is a normal eel turned into a demon. Goose mentioned a possibility. "I see. "So, we haven''t been able to get to the continent yet, but we''ll be adding more skyscrapers, so I''m sure we''ll get more information later on. If you are interested, ask the old man in a few days." That was the end of the story about the Antarctic research fleet. "And, as a more recent matter, ......" Jin then talked about the and the . Erza added her own comments as needed. "Hmmm... ....... I did hear about that. It was resolved, wasn''t it?" Reinhardt nodded broadly. "But what I''m curious about is this automata called Lance and the researchers who were living in hiding. "Yes. This time, His Majesty is in charge of ......, or rather, Mr. Degauze is in charge." "You have the technology of the warp gate, don''t you?If it is put to practical use, it will revolutionize distribution and transportation." Jin half agrees with Reinhardt''s opinion and half expresses doubt. "It''s not going to happen that fast. I didn''t tell you, but their warp gates are designed for high free-magic concentrations, so they can''t be used satisfactorily in the current world. "Is that so?" "Yes. So, it will be placed only in key locations and its use will be restricted to those with permission. It is inferior to Jin''s warp gate. Still, it would be desirable to revive a technology that was interrupted by the Magic War. "It will take time to spread. The key component, magi crystals of the dark attribute, are rarely found in ordinary places. The dark attribute has a great influence on space, but because of this great effect, it is almost impossible to obtain. Though they are abundantly available from the underground of Horai Island. Jin thinks that it is probably related to the singularity of free magical element (ether). Thus, the exchange of information proceeded smoothly. 1240 - - 33-25 Latest Reports "But there was a family that had been in seclusion for 400 years?" Reinhardt was impressed. "And so they perished. ...... I can''t believe it''s someone else." Milowina sympathized. "But that''s unusual. But it''s unusual for Jin not to take care of them until the end." Reinhardt looked a little puzzled. "Yeah, there are several reasons... one is because of the Antarctic research fleet and the other is because of the long period planets..." I understand that. Besides, Lance didn''t seem to want to be bothered. "Is that so?" Reinhardt looks at me as if he doesn''t understand. "If you knew how good Jin is, you''d know how grateful we are to have his help. "...... Hmmm, he seems to have taken in some knowledge of <>, maybe that''s why he''s so proud." "Hmm, is that possible?Is it possible that his personality is influenced by his knowledge? "I''d like to find out more, but I couldn''t." Jin thought that it would be disrespectful to the maker to do so out of curiosity, even if he was confronted by a hostile person. And it seems that Reinhardt understood this feeling. "Yes, I understand that feeling, Jin. I would not feel good if my work was disassembled and analyzed without my permission. That''s what I mean. "It''s not like it''s urgent. I didn''t want to get involved now because of the possibility of such discrepancies. "I suppose that''s true." Reinhardt smiled and sipped his wine. * * * * * * "And then there''s the long-period planet. When the party was over and everyone had started to drink tea leisurely, Jin decided to make another report. It was the information from the unmanned probe sent from the moon. "Old man, please. < The magic screen on the wall of the cafeteria lights up. There, against the backdrop of the blackness of space, the approaching is projected on the screen. It gradually gets bigger and bigger. "Oh!" The long period planet is rapidly approaching. "...... Hmmm...what can I say, it''s full of pockmarks?" Saki gives an honest impression. Yes, the planet''s surface is covered in pockmarks. "Perhaps it was caused by a collision with cosmic dust floating in space. At the tremendous speed of hundreds of kilometers per second, even a grain of sand would have had a tremendous impact, Jin says. "Even so, it''s a very rugged surface." From the clarity of the view, there seems to be no atmosphere. There is no ice, and the planet is truly desolate. It seems to be slowly rotating, with craters forming all over the surface. "I don''t think there is any life on this planet. The vacuum-like appearance of the planet led us to believe that not even microorganisms could survive. While Jin and the others were saying this, the planet in the image was rapidly growing. The speed of the planet began to slow down slightly. It seems to be synchronizing its speed. The old man explains the situation. "I see, this is a recording. Jin and the others remember that after all this time. "How many days ago was it? The old man answers Licia''s question. "I see. So we are in orbit now?" The image shows the surface of a long period planet. It seems to have entered a satellite orbit. "It''s still full of craters." "I don''t think we''re going to find any life." "On the contrary, there is no air. No water. No ice." The group becomes quiet as the old man explains the situation to them. The image changes and the surface of the earth approaches. Then the image changed again and the horizon became visible. "Looks like we''ve landed," Jin muttered. Jin muttered. The image moved sideways. It seems to have rotated 360 degrees. The same wilderness is visible in both directions. The image then turns downward. The convex part is full of craters and collapsed land. The concave part is filled with rickety debris. But... "Is that a magical crystal?" Saki shouted, looking at the rock debris that seemed to fill the valley. < "I knew it. I think the silver-colored rock over there is mithril silver ore." <<< That''s also correct>> Saki, who is a first-rate alchemist and a mineral enthusiast, seems to have the keenest eye of all the members. Some metallic minerals, such as natural silver and copper, oxidize and lose their luster and color, but in a vacuum they do not, and retain their original color. "Hmmm, resources must be plentiful." This is Tor. It is a sign of the alchemist in both father and daughter that they are interested in the material first. "But I don''t see any plants. Probably no microorganisms either. The old man confirms Goose''s statement. "Of course." Milowina agrees. "It is a scorching hot world when we are close to the sun Celan, and an extremely cold world when we are far away from it. The impact of a collision with cosmic dust would be extraordinary. ...... I''d be surprised if there is life on such a planet." "You''re right, Milowina. You see that silvery plane over there? Isn''t that a solidified pond of molten tin or lead?" The surface temperature of the surface would rise to several hundred degrees Celsius as it approached the sun. Therefore, tin and lead, which are metals with low melting points, would have melted. And as they move away from the sun, they cool down and solidify. It is very significant that we can see such a situation. The presence or absence of life forms will make the choice of how to cope with the situation extremely different. <>. "It would be great if we could mine it and recover it." This is a stearina. The abundance of resources must be very attractive to creative engineers. "Let''s see where we go from here. Jin expressed his biggest concern. < "2 million kilometers or ......" Compared to the solar system, the average distance between the earth and the sun is 150 million kilometers. Comet Rexel, the closest comet to the earth in history, came the closest to the earth at 2.19 million kilometers. Probably, the mass of the comet will be much larger than that of the comet, so it is not likely that Ars will be completely unaffected by the comet. "What do we need ......?" Jin pondered. 1241 - - 33-26 Countermeasures No. 1 "Brother Jin, now is Toa''s birthday." It was Erza''s voice that brought Jin back to reality as he was about to think. "Oh, yes, that''s right. I''m sorry, Elsa. "Nn." The screen has not changed. It is almost exactly the same as it is now. But one thing stood out. That planet is ....... <. "It''s going to pass pretty close, isn''t it?" < "A few hundred kilometers... ...... that would affect its orbit." << "You still don''t know how it will change?" I have little knowledge of astronomy, so I cannot make these orbital calculations at this time. It is only a guess. If the orbit changes even slightly, the current prediction may become meaningless. Jin was afraid of this. (I will ask 700672 about this later.) (I will ask him about 700672 later.) In the current state of emergency, he would like to take all possible measures. We still have a little more than half a month to go, but I don''t know if we have half a month or only half a month. Right now, Jin is the only one who can exert influence in space here in Ars. "Yes, I understand the situation now. Thank you, Jin. Reinhardt''s voice seemed to bring everyone back to reality, including Jin. "Jin, thank you for today. Thank you all." Toa bowed to everyone. "I will treasure this pocket watch. The party ended, and Licia, Bina, Luis (Count Kuzma), Marcia, Rodrigo, Reinhard, and Berthe (plus Juliana) went back to their homes. On the other hand, Milowina, Meine, Vivian, Guth, Saki, and Tor remain. And Hannah and Martha. "Jin, I don''t know what''s going on, but it''s a lot of work, isn''t it? Martha laughed and said, "I don''t know anything about the technology," but she was still concerned about Jin. "Don''t be too hard on yourself. You have people to protect. "...... yes?" Jin has a habit of keeping to himself. Erza, come to me anytime you need help. "Yes." Be good with your sister and sister. "Thank you, Hannah." With a smile and a wave, Hannah and Martha also returned to the village of Kaina. * * * * * * We moved from the cafeteria to the command center for a brief meeting. Of course, it was under the influence of Martha''s advice. Jin had planned to think alone. "Well, I''d like to think about countermeasures against disasters. Jin says the agenda. "Do you think there will be a disaster?" Guth spoke up. "I hope it won''t happen, but I''d like to take measures in case it does. "I think I know what you mean, Jin. I guess it depends on what you have in mind." Thor voiced his opinion in a calm voice. "Then, what kind of disaster do you think will happen? This was Saki. She must be concerned about it. "Yes, I guess so. I can only tell you what I imagine. ...... Jin started to explain, wondering if anyone had ever experienced this before. "There might be a storm. High waves at the seaside. Bad weather, heavy rains, rivers overflowing, landslides..." That''s scary." The climate here in Arus is relatively mild. Is it because the earth''s axis is less tilted than that of the earth? But more than that, Jin is secretly thinking that there might be some kind of control in the southern hemisphere. "So we should be prepared for such disasters," he says. "Stockpiling food and improving warehouses. Erza mentions the countermeasures she has come up with. "Kuhu, and maybe we should strengthen the levees and prepare the boats?" "I don''t know about a boat. A small boat would make no sense at all. A spaceship, of course! "Hey!" It is true that evacuating to space in a spaceship will avoid a disaster limited to the surface of the planet. However, it is impossible to evacuate all the inhabitants even if Jin and Horaijima do their best. Jin family, Kaina village, and acquaintances ...... Jin felt sick to his stomach at the thought of abandoning the others. Seeing Jin in such a state, Erza calls out to him. "Brother Jin, don''t worry. I won''t leave you alone if something happens. I''ll take responsibility with you. "Thank you for ......." Jin thanked Erza for her thoughtfulness, though he did not want her to do so. "It''s important to preserve food. ...... Jin wondered if it would be a good idea to use wards to protect against water and fire. "And also wind protection. "Yes, that''s right. That''s another way to protect against wind. Basically, Jin thought, it would be practical to protect them with strong wards. "In case of a disaster, you decide on an evacuation site and protect that evacuation site with wards. "Yes, your idea is very realistic. For example, in the case of Kaina Village, people should be evacuated to Nido Castle or a shelter. Jin felt that it would be necessary to notify each country of such evacuation sites. So, he decided to issue an official letter from <> to each country. Jin and Lao-kun will draft the document together. The gist of the letter is to ask them to think about emergency preparedness. The reason is that the country needs to consider the possibility of a major disaster and take measures to protect its people. At the moment, no further information can be given. Since the documents alone are not convincing enough, I have also added a magical device to generate wards. "That should be enough for a start. The best we can hope for is that a will pass by in the distance. Praying for that is just wishful thinking. "Now we just have to figure out what to do ......." Jin received a piece of good news the next day. 1242 - - 33-27 Grace Period "Disaster Preparedness,Ne......" In Shoro, the female emperor was looking over a letter from Jin. "I''m sure Jin-kun wouldn''t say something like this without any evidence. What do you think, Prime Minister? The Empress showed the letter to the Prime Minister, who was sitting on the other side of his desk. "......This is ...... indeed, I understand the contents. But is there any urgency?" "Yes, I suppose there is. But is there an urgency? I guess so. < Prime Minister, can I leave this to you? please give me 3 days. I''ll make a decision during that time. Yes, please. Similar reactions were seen in the kingdoms of Cerroa, Franz, Klein, Egelea, and Elias. The fact that Jin''s experience had been proven, and that the magic tools were included in the package, made each country start to seriously consider disaster countermeasures, even if there are differences among them. "Disaster: ......" "<> has contacted me, let''s take immediate action." Mitsuho immediately took countermeasures. At the same time, Huso was also informed and it seems that some countermeasures were taken. Then came the demon territory. It seems that the 700672 clan had also been contacted via the <>, and countermeasures were immediately taken. Jin was relieved to hear the news. * * * * * * * * * * Then, Jin had a conversation with No. 700672. "So, you mean you and Pengolta will have a near miss tomorrow? "Yes. I can''t predict the outcome. "No, you can''t." 700672 confides that he doesn''t know either. I don''t have much knowledge of the universe to begin with. He says that such work was the specialty of his followers before the number 200000. "In any case, we should continue our observations." Yes, of course. Jin then explained the results of the Antarctic fleet. "Hmm. You are doing a good job." The 700672 praised Jin. "At first glance, it may not seem to have anything to do with the long period planets, but I think the research is meaningful. Jin-dono, you may continue." Thank you, sir. "If we want to eliminate this threat to Ars, we have to know a little bit about it. That''s what Jin-dono is doing." The 700672 acknowledged and praised Jin''s policy. "But you mean to say that the singularity is a formation through which free magical elements (ether) can easily pass. I see." Again, No. 700672 accepted Jin''s guess. "That''s almost right. But then, ......." After a pause, 700672 dropped his tone a little and spoke again. "If there is something to the south, there must also be a <> in place. Be careful. "A <>, is it?" Jin knew that a golem or a special golem was called a "guardian," literally meaning a "guardian god. "Yes, you''re right. A Guardian has only one purpose: to protect the facility. There are no exceptions. "So you can''t be persuaded." "Yes. < is, but I will be careful, Jin thought. After receiving a few more detailed warnings, Jin left the 700672. "Thank you very much. I will come back to report. "Well, be sure." * * * * * * "How about the Antarctic fleet, old man? < On the earth, it was said that the expression when heading for the South Pole was <><>>. This means that the area is in a storm zone and the sea is rough. This Arus is relatively calm, but there still seems to be a storm zone. "Don''t take it too hard. So, what about <>?" "That''s good. ...... Is that just Goose?" < "Okay then." Jin felt a little uneasy when he heard that only Goose would participate in the expedition plan, but then he recalled that he was relieved to hear that Toa would be participating as well. As the finally approaches, Jin thinks about what he should do. There are many things to protect, and his hands are small. "Still, I have to do my best. "Yes, father. I will help you. Reiko cheered up the brooding Jin. "Thank you, Reiko." "Yes, I am your father''s shadow. I am always with you. While patting Reiko''s head, Jin asked Lao-kun about something that had been bothering him. "Old man, what happened to <> and the others? The answer comes back immediately. < "Heh?Heh? Still no word on Gimnas?" << For Lance, Gimnas is the only remaining <. He must be cautious. "I understand. So, what have you done about the bandits?" "I see. I guess it was the remnants of the <> after all." < There are many people who belonged to the Unification Party (Unifiler) without being brainwashed. Also, brainwashing tends to weaken willpower and reduce creativity. It is good for them to use existing technology, but it is not good for them to research new things. << "I see. "How is Elsa doing?" . "Oh, I see. That''s what I''m talking about." Jin stood up from his seat and said, "I''m going to tell her to take it easy. Reiko followed him. 1243 - - 33-28 Shoe Relay Ruins "How can something that has left the party be that bad? ......" At the headquarters of the <> and <>, Elena, a beautiful girl automata, was talking to the top two. "I''m sure that''s the place. Elena said in a voice that sounded like rolling bells. "Yes." That place is generally called . In fact, it was the site of a fortress during the Great Magic War, which was developed and used as a base by the former . It is located further west of the headquarters of the <, and was a base that mainly focused on development and research. It was one of the bases abandoned due to its reduced scale now that it has become <>. "So, the head is probably ......." Ronder. First of all, I''m sure of it. Londer used to work for them and was a rather brilliant magical engineer. However, his ambition was too strong and he lacked cooperation. However, it was not a good idea to brainwash him and reduce his creativity by half, so they had him work in a remote laboratory developing magic tools and improving the golem. So, what are we going to do?" Jules Rolland, the head of Nostalgia, asks Elena. "Prepare two golems for battle. I''m coming. "Elena?Isn''t it dangerous? "No, for now I am the only one who can act in the Nostalgia party..." "...... I understand. But take four combat golems with you, plus one all-purpose golem. I''ll also provide two hot air balloons. Donald Callow, number two and head of the technical department, said pleadingly. "Yes, sir. My Lord, Donald, thank you for your concern. * * * Elena and her four battle golems, two <>...... nostalgia party, as they have been called since the days of the Unifilers.... ...and departed... Elena, two combat golems, and a plane. The allocation is one for Elena, two combat golems, and one for the all-purpose golem. The distance between the headquarters of the Nostalgia Party and the Shuleri Ruins is about 60 kilometers. After about two hours, the ruins came into view below Elena and the others. "Let''s go down to a place about two kilometers away. The area was rocky. There was no shortage of places to hide the hot air ball. They found a suitable flat area and the two hot air balloons landed. What are you going to do now, Miss Elena? the all-powerful golem asked. "First, let''s check the most remote emergency exit." I see. Since the base was originally remodeled by Elena and her team, we know all the entrances and exits to the base. That rock was a landmark. A 10-meter rock rising like a spire. A squat rock five meters to the west of the base is the emergency entrance at the outermost edge. "This place doesn''t seem to have been tampered with. No wonder, it is a doorway known only to the top management. I don''t know if Rhondda was informed ......, but I didn''t find that in the records. The all-powerful golem adds. "Anyway, let''s enter the base from here. It''s too risky to do it yourself, Elena. I''ll go myself. It''s okay. You can trust me. I can''t replace you, Elena, but I can replace you in any number of ways. So I''ll do it myself. Besides, in terms of combat power, I''m better than you now. ...... <, but the current Elena, defeated by Reiko and regenerated by Jin, has only the same level of arm strength as a human, not to mention reaction speed. In contrast, the all-powerful golem is more than fifty times more powerful than a human being. "Hmmm...yes. But I''m sure Ronder doesn''t know that I''m weaker now than I was before. Even at that time when he was defeated by Jin and the Horai Islanders, Ronder was still studying at the Shurrei Ruins ......, or rather, at the base. I understand why. Then I''d like to join you. This is non-negotiable. "Well, I guess that''s about as far as we can go. But then, let''s all go together." That''s the deal. Elena knew how to open the emergency exit, and when the necessary steps were taken, the hidden doorway ...... rock shifted slightly and a passageway opened. "Come on, let''s go." They stepped into the passage in the following order: battle golem, battle golem, all-purpose golem, Elena, battle golem, battle golem. The door closed behind them. The passage was almost completely dark, but this did not inconvenience them since they all had night vision. The group carefully moves forward, trying not to make a sound. Elena checks her memory: "This is an emergency passageway, so there should be no surveillance cameras or alarm systems. Then we arrived at the door separating the emergency passage from the normal compartment. (So far so good, but here comes the problem. ...... I don''t hear any noise.) (Elena, I''ll open the door myself. Please step back a little.) The all-powerful golem has stepped forward. Elena decides to let him do it. The all-powerful golem opens the door as noiselessly as possible. (There is no one here.) Unlike before, the normal compartment is illuminated by a magic lamp, although it is a little darker. The brightness made it easier to see, but it also meant that we could see ourselves. And the corridors are straight and there is no place to hide. (It''s not popular. ......) It''s quiet, no noise. The corridor was lightly covered with dust. It''s not good.) (That''s not good.) The dust leaves footprints on it. Elena has no choice but to use her wind magic <> to blow up the dust and cover the footprints. This was a rough trick since the dust did not cause them to cough. The group finally arrived at the center of the base. (Let''s be more careful.) But there is no sign of anyone here either. (I think it''s ......) In case you are wondering, most of the base is not so-called as it is made of hollowed out and reinforced . You can think of it as a very small-scale rock-modified facility at Ayers Rock. The of that time added a basement to it and used it as a base. Elena was referring to such a floor. (Yes, that''s right. There is a laboratory down there. (Yes, there are laboratories down there. I think that''s where Ronder is.) Elena decides so and goes to the stairs. There is no sign of anyone. There is still no sign of anyone.) Elena and the others descend the stairs cautiously. But there is still no sign of anyone. (Have they been mistaken?). Just when Elena had her doubts. Just when Elena had her doubts, she heard a noise in the laboratory. Someone''s in there. I''ll go check. The all-powerful golem said one word and stepped out without waiting for Elena''s reply. He stopped in front of the laboratory door and listened carefully. After a while, he suddenly opens the door, surprising Elena who was watching him. The all-powerful golem jumps into the room and stays there for a minute. Elena-sama!This way! the all-powerful golem called out loudly to Elena. What the hell is going on? As she replies, Elena also senses that something unexpected has happened. 1244 - - 33-29 Ruins of Fort "Ronder?" There was a bed in the lab, and Londer was lying on it. His face was white and he looked lifeless. Elena rushed over to him and confirmed that he was no longer breathing. "Check to see if there are any other survivors." Elena also instructs the combat golem. And 30 minutes. "Lady Elena, there are no other humans here. The all-powerful golem reported on behalf of the others. "Yes. Ronder''s probably been dead for over a week. I wonder what happened to him. What happened to the other researchers? Maybe they got away. ...... Looking around the lab, Elena answered. "A lot of the main equipment is missing. Not even the golem that was supposed to maintain the facility is missing. Someone must have taken it out. "Yes, that''s right. The question is, who are they? Elena was investigating the laboratory, looking for clues. "I don''t see any ....... ...... Then we have to think about what to do with Ronder''s body first." He had not yet decomposed, but it seemed only a matter of time. "Let''s get him out of here and bury him somewhere. Elena ordered the battle golem to carry Ronder out. At that moment, a notebook fell to the floor from Ronder''s pocket. Elena picked it up. "There is something written on it. ......" Something was written in very faltering letters. "It seems to be something that Ronder left behind. Let''s see... ......" The writing is blurred and faint in places, but it seems to be decipherable. Elena frowned. "This is ......!We have to get back here as soon as possible. Elena buried Ronder''s body, got into the hot air balloon and flew back to the headquarters at top speed. "Look at this." Without even greeting her return, Elena holds out her notebook to Jules. Jules Lorrain took it, looked it over, and frowned. She then shows the notebook to Donald Callot. "This is ......!" Donald also changed color. "I didn''t know you were thinking of ...... this." "That''s why you wanted the facilities of our ...... then ." Elena tells the two top leaders as they exchange this. "But judging from the Shoo-relay ruins, I think it''s safe to say that Ronder has transferred his knowledge to an automaton and regenerated it." "Hmm. If there was no equipment or materials left, he must have taken them out. "I wonder what he''s going to do with it. ......" And again Elena speculates. "If Ronder was the leader of the bandit gang, he was probably just banditry to raise money." "Mm. ......" "A serious problem, but I''m afraid we''ve completely lost track of his whereabouts." * * * Naturally, this fact was conveyed to the brains of Horai Island, <>. And he also has some information that the <> does not have. Taking all these information together, I was able to make a more in-depth guess. The old man made a guess from the little information he had. The same thing happened to No. 600012, a.k.a. <>. And also, he had caused a split in his ego. And there is a chance that <> knows where he is. < With his preparations ready to go out at any time, the old man decided to wait for things to start moving. * * * * * * said Lance, standing by the Kasaka River, which flows out of Lake Mijimo on the border between the Shoro and Franz kingdoms. "We''re almost there." The goal is the north. There, according to Lance''s memory, is the ruins of an unnamed fortress. "That''s where the warp gate is." Lance had tracked the magical power leaking from the stolen warp gate parts and had almost pinpointed the location. It is a backward compatible device of the Magi Detector developed by Jin. From the Warp Gate, the magic power connecting it to its counterpart extends, and the Magi Machine is capable of detecting the aftermath of the Warp Gate. Although they could only determine the approximate direction, they succeeded in identifying the location by combining the strength of the magic power, measurements made while moving, and the remains of the fortress. In a sense, it is a dumb story, but the parts of the warp gate that were stolen had to be in a pair, and only one of them was used, which is meaningless. This is why Lance was able to locate the location of the warp gate components. "Perhaps that''s where Ronder must be." Lance does not know that Ronder is already gone. He walks from one rock to another, from rock to rock, approaching the remains of the fort to avoid detection. "Well, it''s been modified. They must be here for sure." The ruins of the fort seen from a distance. Ivy and wiggly vines are tangled around the outer walls, but the windows have been neatly trimmed. "I guess they were trying to keep an eye on the outside." Lance thought to himself, human-like, and wondered how he could sneak in. "Catching them off guard, that''s the only way." Only the bandits would know that they were in the ruins of the fort. That would catch them off guard, Lance thought. "They''ll have a lookout, but at night." Ronder was not among the bandits captured in the previous round of hunting. Lance knew that the bandits were led by the man who had been Ronder''s assistant. <. "I guess there are fewer of us now, so I guess there are some things we can''t handle..." Lance waited for night. At 8 p.m., the sun had completely set. At 11 p.m., as night falls, Lance begins to move. He moves quickly from rock to rock, taking into account the possibility that a golem with night vision is watching over him. He wears a black cloth that he has prepared. In this way, he successfully reached the outer wall of the fort without incident. "Now, where do we break in from? In order to maintain the appearance of a fort, some of the windows have been left untouched. Assuming that the rooms with such windows were probably abandoned, Lance began to climb up the ivy as a clue. Lance, who has good night vision, climbs up without any difficulty, but it would be impossible for a human being to do such a feat. After about five minutes, he reached a window about five meters above the ground. I listened carefully, but there was no sound. Gently peering in, I saw the floor covered with dust and fallen leaves. "Okay, let''s sneak in through this room. Lance climbed over the window and entered the ruins of the fort. 1245 - - 33-30 Found and "Great. This room is definitely not being used. Looking around the room, Lance is convinced that the first stage has been successful. But the problem is yet to come. Listening closely, he hears no sound. "So we''re underground." The main rooms must be located in the basement, since the aboveground area would be more visible if something were to happen. Lance quietly approaches the stairs leading to the basement. Again, he listens carefully, but again he hears no sound. "(Are they careless and asleep, or are they understaffed?)" Either way, Lance has no choice but to go, so he steps onto the staircase. He descends noiselessly. The first basement floor. No sign of anyone. Basement level 2. No sign of anyone. And basement 3. "I hear breathing. 1 person ......2 ......3 One person 2 people 3 people. (...... oh?)" As Lance made his way to the hallway leading to the floor, a golem on patrol appeared before his eyes. It was a stocky humanoid. "(That''s an old-fashioned golem, ...... the type that can only serve a single purpose.)" This time it''s more convenient. There must be intervals between patrols, Lance thought, hiding in the shadows to see what was going on. He measures the intervals of the patrols with a patience that is unmatched by humans. "(They come around every 15 minutes, right?)". As soon as you know, you do it. Once the golem is out of sight, Lance walks away, his footsteps stealthy. "(The breathing sounds are coming from this room. ...... bedroom, huh?") (I can hear two people sleeping. "(One more in ...... this room?)" It sounded like a bedroom, too. "(Is Ronder in the room with ......1 people?)" Lance, who still didn''t know what happened to Ronder, imagined that. "(Anyway, we have to retrieve him first.)" He went further down the corridor. There was a laboratory. "(A noise ......?Is someone awake?(But there is no sound of breathing.)" Hiding behind the door, I quietly peeked inside and saw a back view of an automaton working on something. "(Is that a part of ...... the transition gate (warp gate)?Can an automata handle it? Lance arrives at his goal, but thinks for a moment what he should do. "(That automaton was no doubt made from stolen parts. If that''s the case, it would be best to stop it and bring it back, but will it be ...... possible to neutralize it?) Lance''s fighting ability is high, but not enough to overwhelm the battle golem. That much is clear from the last battle. And it is not always just one automaton at work. The golem in standby mode does not make a heartbeat or a breath sound. "(However, if we hesitate, the patrol golem might come around...)" Lance stepped boldly into the room. "What?...... are you ......?" The automaton looked at Lance and sounded surprised. "Ron......dar......?" The face of the automaton was that of Lance''s memory of Ronder. "Do you know my name?You''re ...... well, you''re from Gilder''s place, aren''t you?" Gilder was the name of the creator of the lance, Gimnas'' father. "You know that, are you ...... still a Rhonddaa?Or are you just an automaton with Londer''s knowledge? The automaton let out a sad laugh at the question. "I don''t have a precise answer to that question. "What do you mean?" Ronder began to answer Lance''s question with a wry smile on his face. "It is true that I have knowledge of Ronder. I also think that I am a ronder. But I also know that I am an automaton. "...... And?" "What am I ......?" "I knew it. I ...... was still imperfectly transcribing human consciousness, and I was still working on it." "I ...... didn''t have time for that." Anyway, let''s get back what we stole." "That''s exactly why I''m not going to listen in." Ronder''s mood changes. "I am ...... Ronder, I have gained this body and have become immortal. I will not give it up. If you insist, do it by force. "If you insist, I have no choice." Lance suddenly stepped forward and thrust his fist at Ronder''s chin. But... "You''re late!" Ronder dodged the punch with a little time to spare. What! "...... This body is wonderful. It is better than Gilder''s automata. Ronder''s automaton seems to be faster than Lance''s, though by about 20%. Therefore, all of Lance''s attacks are evaded. Kicks, fists, body blows. They don''t hit him at all. "Hmmm...you are an instructor after all. You can''t seem to master your body, or even your abilities." It is true. Lance''s basic control magic formula (control system) is not designed for combat, but for the primary purpose of protecting and passing on knowledge. His body is for security, but he cannot use his abilities because there is no combat sequence in his basic control formula. And it is Lance who knows this best. "I don''t get it. Why did you come with one?There are still automata and golems left in the facility, aren''t there?" "That''s ...... not what I need to tell you!" Lance repeatedly strikes out. Ronder = automata is on the defensive, only evading. "Hmmm, I see. There is no one who can activate it? It''s your fault! Yes, it takes a certain amount of magical engineering to activate the automata golem in the underground facility. But Gimnas, the sole survivor, is only 15 years old. < Only Lance can move freely with his own will. That''s why Lance is out there last time and this time too. "Hmmm, I see. That''s a relief. You have no backup!" This was the fact that Lance did not want you to know. < "Then, no hesitation. I''ll test the performance of this body to my heart''s content." "Nuh-uh? Ronder-Automata turned on the attack. "G...... empty!" This time, Lance is on the defensive. "Ha-ha-ha, this body is wonderful!Now, this is a place that no human being could ever reach!" While just barely dodging the attack, Lance analyzes Ronder=Automata. The body is not the method of the <>. Probably, it is a hybrid of technologies other than those of the facility, that is, the technologies of the Unifiler. "That''s why ...... is so strong." Lance was unable to avoid Londer''s attack, though Londer was still <> Lance''s attack. "Not yet!" The speed of the attack increased even more. Lance is using his arms, legs, and back to catch and handle the attacks. "This is ...... not good!" Lance decides to play his trump card. "<>! "Oof! A mass of wind blows Ronder and the two automaton away from each other. "Hmm, you can use that kind of magic, can''t you?" Ronder-Automata smirks. "Well then, I''ll be right with you. !" "Whoa! Ronder (automata) returns with a magic more powerful than the one Lance had fired. He seems to be enjoying his physical abilities. Lance is blown away and slammed into the wall. "This is not good. ...... I guess I can''t win after all. ......" Then. "Do you need a hand?" A voice was heard right beside Lance. 1246 - - 33-31 Relief and sentimentality. "You are ...... Miss Reiko? Lance is startled by the sudden appearance of Reiko. "We''ll talk later. I''m sure you want me to stop him, right? "Ah, yes. But I''d appreciate it if you could do it without hurting him. I''ll do it. What are you talking about?Who are you? Ronder = automata was wary of the sudden appearance of Reiko and kept her distance from her. She may look like a girl, but the fact that she appeared out of nowhere and the fact that Lance is treating her as an equal, he must have guessed that she is not an ordinary person. "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Reiko. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Ronder, the automaton, looked at Reiko with a dumbfounded look on his face as she gave a little tug on the hem of her skirt and made a short curtsey. And Lance next to her. "......, you mean, if you are a former leader of the Unification Party (Unifiler), you don''t know me?" "What ......?" Ronder (automata) looked at Reiko again and said, "Oh, you! "Oh, you? A look of astonishment crossed his face. "You are the Jet-Black Princess of Destruction! She must have seen the battle between the Unification Party (Unifiler) and Horaijima''s army. He seemed to remember Reiko. "...... interesting. With this body, I should be able to compete with you. ......" "Are you stupid?" Reiko interrupted without letting them finish. Her tone was one of dismay. "I''ve been watching you from the middle of the show, and you''re even weaker than was at that time, aren''t you?" "No, that''s not possible!This body is based on the all-purpose golem, the combat golem, and has been further improved! But Reiko shakes her head. "No, I know what I''m talking about, having actually faced Elena. Elena was a much better automata than you, wasn''t she? "Shut up! "...... you''re a little unstable, Mr. Lance. What do you think, Mr. Lance?" Lance is surprised when Reiko suddenly turns to him and answers her question. "Ah, ah, Miss Reiko is right. Perhaps the original thought process is poorly designed. This is where the skill of a magecraftsman comes into play, Lance says. "So you are not using a sophisticated template?" "<>, huh? I see, that would work for a completed thought process, but in his case, it''s probably self-made." Seeing the two calmly conversing with each other, Ronder-Automata becomes even more agitated. "The fact that he can''t control his pseudo-emotions is another proof of his incompleteness, isn''t it? "You''ve got to be kidding me!" Ronder = automata" finally lost his patience and jumped at her. His right fist struck Reiko. What? However, Reiko easily caught Ronder''s right fist. Then, she caught another left fist from Ronder. "Koo, koo, koo!" Reiko repelled another front kick with her right leg with a kick of her left leg. "Kuh, ah, let go!" Ronder=Automata''s fist was still clenched by Reiko, and it seemed that she could not pull it off even if she tried. Looking closely, Reiko''s slender fingers are digging into Ronder''s big fist. "Mr. Lance, I told you not to break it, but it''s hard to get it completely unharmed. "Oh, yeah. A little bit is not a bad thing. "I see." Hearing those words, Reiko put pressure on her hand. "Uh, oh, oh!" With that, both of the automaton''s fists cracked. Reiko then unleashed a series of blindingly fast thrusts to both shoulders and both hip joints. "Gah!" Both shoulder joints and hip joints of both legs were dislocated by the attack. Ronder = automata was unable to move. "This is the power of the <>...I couldn''t ...... read it......... regrettable..." Slowly, Ronder collapses to the floor. "Is this okay?" "Oh, yeah. Oh, thank God. But you are very strong, aren''t you Reiko? Father made her that way. "Is that so ......?" Lance looked a little thoughtful. "The relationship between the maker and the automaton (automata) has nothing to do with the structure of the ...... automaton (automata), does it? ......" "What?" "No, I''m talking to myself. I''m talking to myself. ...... but I''d be happy to talk to Miss Reiko about it." With that, Lance started to speak. "Um, is it okay if I just leave it here?" Reiko looked at Lance and said. "That''s true. ...... but how do we stop it?" "Kuu......!<......." Londer = automata, which only lies on the floor and scratches at the algae. "It''s a little aggressive, but it''s the only way. "Well, wait!What ........................?" Lance grabbed the automaton by the neck and twisted it 180 degrees. With a snapping sound, the ronder-automata stopped moving. It seems that the connection between the control core in its head and its body was severed. Naturally, the supply of mana will also be cut off, which means that the automata will stop. "The rest of the components are stolen. ......" It seems that most of them were used to assemble the body of the automata. "The only thing that was stolen was the parts for the warp gate, which they had been playing with until just now. ...... "Yes, but this is ......." Reiko is an expert in setting up warp gates, so she noticed that something was wrong with the warp gate. "Do you understand, Reiko? This warp gate does not have a control panel. The parts were not taken out, and they could not have been made. Lance smiled wanly, "It''s not possible to master all the technology in a decade or so at best. "Is there anything else you would like to bring back?" Reiko asked and Lance nodded. "Mm. There was a golem on patrol, but I think we can ignore that one." But Reiko refuted that. "That''s no good. We have to make them stop. With that, she leaves the room. She returns about two minutes later. "There were two of them, but I made sure they were stopped and put them down in the spare room." "...... Reiko, why are you so concerned about a low-class golem?" "There''s nothing low class or high class about it. I just felt sorry for him. "Pity ...... or ...... you have such feelings ......?" "What?" No, it''s nothing. "Oh, and there were three of your bandit friends, so I knocked them out and tied them up. "Thank you for saving me the trouble. Now let''s go pack up." Lance packs up the main parts of the stuck Ronder automata and the warp gate. The parts for the warp gate are few, however. Then I am going home. ......Yes, Miss Reiko, the reason I was going to say that earlier was because you were so dazzling." "Yes?" I was speaking metaphorically, of course. I felt a strong parent-child bond between Miss Reiko and her father, Jin-dono, the ...... creator of Miss Reiko. "Yes, I love your father and he loves me." Hearing this, Lance let out a sad smile. "I envy you a little. ...... No, it''s just a sentiment, don''t listen to it." 1247 - - the opening of the season, and had ended, 32 Reiko and Lance walk out of the fort. The silhouette of floats in the sky. Reiko carries the three fainted and tied-up bandits above her head. It is quite a surreal sight. Lance, on the other hand, is carrying a large bundle on his back. "What should we do?Shall I take you back to Mount Suhonto?" Reiko offers, but Lance shakes his head. "No, there is no need for you to go that far. I''m going to walk back." "I see. I guess this is where we say goodbye. "Yes. Thank you. No. Good bye." Reiko jumps toward Conlon 3, which has dropped in altitude, while lifting the three bandits. They successfully jumped into the open doorway. Of course, she is supported by the <>, but Lance is unaware of this. And as Lance watched, <> gained altitude and eventually melted into the night sky. "...... Miss Reiko, huh?" Lance, talking to himself, walks towards his base, Mount Suhonto, carrying a large baggage on his back. The first thing he did was to take a look at the picture of the man he was going to meet. "Father, I''m home! < and is returning to Horai Island via the warp gate. As for the bandit, Edgar has secretly transported him to the Shoro Imperial Palace, where he is to be handed over to the guards under the name of <>. "Thank you, Reiko. Jin welcomed Reiko and thanked her for her efforts. "When I repaired the lance, I recorded its magic pattern. I had no problem sending her out with the transporter. Then, the old man reports. "Oh, I see." Furthermore, Jin had the fifth column (Quinta) Mila 5 and 6, also known as and , who had disappeared due to <>, keeping watch at Mount Suhonto. Therefore, they were able to track Lance and know what had happened at the fort ruins. "What is the breakdown?" "It would be a waste to let the materials decay, so please collect them and hand them over to the Nostalgia Party. The materials will be useful for something, so collect them as well. . Thus ended the series of disturbances. In the Shoro Kingdom, the matter was settled before any action was taken to arrest the bandits. * * * * * < reached the Pole on the 30th, the last day of September. The Mermaid team immediately started the underwater survey. The Sky Squadron is flying overhead and the Marine Squadron is patrolling the sea, just in case. At about the same time, a survey of <> was also launched. Jin decides to take this opportunity to name the unnamed part of the world map. Guth has just arrived, so he consults with him. In case you are wondering, Toa, who helped him plan the survey, has gone home. "Well, how about the archipelago where the biota has been preserved called ?That''s the name of a naturalist from about a hundred years ago." "Yes, that sounds good." "What about this continent: ......" A continent that sits solidly in the southern hemisphere to the west of the human-inhabited continent of Laurent. "I think we should name it after an adventurer. Goose ponders over Jin''s words. "How about <>?This one is said to be an adventurer who crossed the Hariri Desert alone about 500 years ago. "Not bad." That leaves the continent to the north. It is somewhat smaller than the other continents and has a large archipelago to the east. "What about the continent of Pandor?" Erza came to him and advised him to go there. "The name of a wizard in a fairy tale I heard long ago. It is said that he came from the north. Is this fairy tale famous? Jin has never heard of it, so I ask him. "Hmm, I think he is quite famous. The old man then reports or . "Oh, I see. That''s good. And so, the unknown continent had a name. "So, we''re finally going to start the survey of Onogoro Island, right?" After the irregular discussion of naming the island, Goose looked curious. "I guess so. Guth must have discussed this with Mr. Toa and the old man, right?" "Yes, first of all, we need to understand the topography from the sky. Then we will decide on the exploration route. "Oh, I see." The island itself at the center is surrounded by rocks in the shape of a crescent moon. The opening faces east and is connected to the main body of the island on the west side. There appear to be several rocks or islets in the opening. The main body of the island in the center is about 15 kilometers across, and the surrounding rocks are probably up to 50 kilometers in diameter. The location of the island seems somewhat unnatural. "Do you think so, Jin?I think so too. I''m having a hard time coming up with a reason. Well, yes. But it is too close to the continent ......<> and has no relation to the other islands, and the shape looks a little unnatural. The same is true of Horai Island. "If it were an artificial island, it would be ......" "What?" Erza, who had been silent, mutters something. "No, I''m just imagining. I just thought that an entity that can free ...... free magic element (ether) would be able to create an island. That''s true. "I can''t deny it." Jin and Goose thought about it. "Please be careful when you investigate the island." As Jin told the old man, he was aware of the existence of the that he had heard about from No. 700672. "If you can''t investigate without antagonizing them, I''m willing to hold off. The old man said in a quiet voice. "Then let''s recheck the topography. If we examine the quality of the rocks, we can determine if it is an artificial island or not, can''t we?" Jin agrees with Goose. "Yes, that''s right. Let''s start by examining the rocks around the perimeter." The Mermaid Corps is the right team for this. The old man instructed them to work carefully and report closely. Now, one of the veils of the mystery of Ars is about to be lifted. 1248 - - 33-33 Progressive Survey >. First report. . "Well, it could be a volcanic eruption, so that still doesn''t rule out the possibility of a naturally formed island." << "What do you mean?" > According to your explanation, the part of the rock that is out at sea is a single rock, but the part that is submerged in the sea is not. < These are the names of the rocks that Jin is familiar with. Granite is igneous rock that solidified deep underground, basalt is igneous rock that solidified at shallow depths or at the surface. Slate is a sedimentary rock formed by the accumulation of clay. Just because these rocks are found in the same place, it is very likely that they did not form naturally. Please check to see if there are other rocks of the same type on nearby continents." . As it turned out, it was found immediately. The coastline was basalt, a rocky hill about 3 km inland from the coast was a granite mountain, and part of the seafloor was exposed slate. "This makes it even more likely that it is a man-made island. Jin, Erza, and Goose watch the images sent by one of the mermaid squads. Golem and the others are quick and sure of their work. Not long after, Utsumi approaches. The wards have been set. Mermaid566 reports. "Warding... ...... is proof that there is something there..." "Brother Jin, if we find out what kind of wards they are, can''t we get some clues as to who made them?" Erza made a suggestion. "Yes, that''s a good idea. "Yes, that would be great. . Then they waited for 5 minutes. Master, I have never seen anything like this before. Mermaid 566 reported directly to me. Can you analyze it? Can you analyze it? ...... Yes, I think it''s a detection system. "...... I see." Wards are, so to speak, nets made of magic. There are several types, but < is the most used in Horai Island. In this case, depending on the size of the mesh, it can be used for solid, liquid, gas, or a combination of them. What we have to pay attention to here is how to realize the selective boundaries such as <> or <>. Since the size of molecules is larger in solids than in gases, it is relatively easy to bounce solids through a large mesh and let liquids and gases pass through, just as in a sieve. But how can we do the opposite, that is, allow solids to pass through but not gases? One answer is <><><>> is the keyword. Molecules of gas cannot pass through the net, but the mass of the solid can break through the net and pass through. In this case, the mesh adheres closely along the perimeter of the solid, preventing the passage of gas in the confusion. The hole through which the solid has passed is instantly repaired. This type of construction is common. On the other hand, the wards here are detection wards. It is said that if the magic net is broken, it will be detected and an alarm will be issued. This type of warding is suitable for narrow places such as corridors. "So if they force their way through, an alarm will be triggered. We have no idea what will happen, and neither do we want that to happen. "What should we do ......? Jin thinks of using the transporter to go to the other side of the boundary. "Old man, send the necessary transporter to Mermaid 566. Most of the magic tools are stocked with spare parts, except for one item. The "Mere Old Man" sends out five short-range transporters for Mermaid 566 and her colleagues. With transporters, of course. Master, I have received them. I will now infiltrate with the other four. Mermaids 566, 567, 568, 566, 567, 568, 569, and 570 moved to the other side of the detection field. Incidentally, I would like to add that since they could not be transferred underwater, they had to go into the air, float in the air with the <>, and then slowly dive into the water, which was a very troublesome procedure. Of course, in doing so, he was invisible. When I received the transporter, I was still at the surface of the sea. "So we''ve barely completed the first stage..." Jin said with a slightly disgusted look on his face. "But we have no choice. We have to be as stealthy as possible. "That''s the way it is, Jin." "Brother Jin, why don''t we have lunch while we''re at it?" Yes, father. We need a change of scenery. Goose, Elsa, Reiko. Jin got up from his seat. He thought about having them bring the meal to the control room, but Erza and Reiko might get angry with him, so he decided to go to the mess hall. After finishing his meal, he came back to the dining room and received a report from the Mermaid team. When he returned after finishing his meal, the report from the Mermaid team had just come in. There are no large fish in the inland sea. There are only small fish, shrimp and shellfish. The waves are calm and the sea grass is thriving. "I see. I see. Goose nodded. All the rocks inside seem to be basalt. "Then, the original rock ...... or <> might be a volcanic island." The cause of the volcano is a secondary question. "And the concentration of free magical element (ether) here is close to zero. So we''re still looking for a ...... negative singularity? "If so, it''s a mystery how the wards get their magic power. ...... Jin nodded in reply to the old man''s words. "Take your time and search underwater. There may be traps or something hidden in the water." As expected, the search is not going to be finished by the end of the day. As night fell, Jin, Elsa, and Goose left the command center, had dinner, and retired to their rooms. "It bothers me." <, let out a few words. "What''s wrong?" "Well, the long-period planets and the Antarctic survey are not progressing as well as I had hoped." "Don''t be in a hurry. You''re the only one who can do this, so just stay calm and composed. "That''s right, father." Reiko offered him a cup of hojicha tea and added, "I''m sure there will be a breakthrough. "I''m sure you will find a way out of this. So for now, please rest in peace. "I see. I see. ...... Thank you, Reiko, Elsa. Jin sipped his green tea and smiled. "It just occurred to me that there might be some gravitational effects if a <> comes close to us. We may need to take such countermeasures. "You mean a gravity control device?" Yes. We may need to prepare a large scale, a very large scale. "I see. How about mining resources from a long-period planet and sending them to us?" "Yeah, that''s another idea. "Yeah, that might be a good idea. The night went on with such conversations. 1249 - - 33-34 SP input It is nighttime on Horai Island, which means it is daytime on Onogoro Island on the other side. The Raptors of the Sky Squadron provide support from the sky while the Mermaid Squadron surveys the undersea environment. The main island of Onogoro is a cone-shaped island. It is surrounded by <> shaped rocks that form a barrier wall, and is connected to the west side of the main island by a narrow isthmus. There are two islands in the <>-shaped opening, like gateways. Another small island floats on the east side of the main island as if accompanied by a small island. It was surprising that there were no golems or other underwater guards. The remaining unexplored areas are the main island and the three accompanying islands. << The old man thought that he would place the main magi-machine on the main island and the control unit on the islets. . The old man reminded them and waited for their report. However, the mermaid team is not suitable for land-based investigation because of its mermaid shape. Therefore, they survey the islands from underwater, circling around them. Since each island is small, it takes less than an hour to go around. We are careful and confirm that there is nothing of interest after circling the islands three times. The remaining target is the main island. Meanwhile, the Sky team dropped down to a lower altitude and surveyed the onshore portion of the islet. Because of the small size of the island, there were only mosses, grasses, and a few shrubs. There is no obstacle to check from the air. After receiving the report, the old man instructed the staff to continue the survey of the main island. In this case, the Shinobi Unit would be the best suited, but as expected, they had not prepared a special super-compact mana storage device. <>. Since the reorganization of the <>, we have changed our policy of deploying them as needed, so they are no longer attached to Jin and other members of the family at all times. Therefore, there are members who are not available. <> available. Let''s leave it to them. After fully equipping themselves, the two bodies are sent out by the transporter. * * * * Immediately after arriving at the main island of Onogoro, Elm and Ash sensed that the free magical element (ether) that should have filled the space was almost gone. Of course, they have mana cylinders, so there is no problem with their activities. The two units begin to act according to your instructions. "First, check the surroundings. Then we will investigate the basement. Elm and Ash use the magic of the mana cylinder to activate <>. "...... is this ......?" "There seems to be something underground." The existence of a cavity was detected. Let''s try to find another location. That''s a good idea. The two of them try to get a general view of the island, focusing on one area at a time. While moving around the island, we explore the ground. When we had surveyed about a quarter of the island, it appeared. What are you doing, you live puppets with a will? It was a golem about 2.4 meters tall, its entire body a dull copper color. It may be made of orichalcone. This is an inviolable sanctuary. You must leave immediately! Elm and Ash keep sending you images of this golem. The old man instructs them to negotiate with the golem. "Please tell us what role this island plays," Elm asks. Elm asks, but Golem''s response is indifferent. There is no need. Leave quickly! Ash insists. "I''ll figure something out. That''s what we''re here to find out. He''s right. If you don''t follow my advice, you''ll be removed by force. At this point, the old man tells the two of them to try one thing. "What does this have to do with your low free magical element (ether)?" The copper-colored golem reacts a little differently. You know that much, don''t you? Yes, I do. This is a controlled island. Now leave. "Thanks for the info. How can I learn more? "Please tell me what to do, please tell me what to do." Elm and Ash are following the old man''s instructions. I told you. This is sacred ground. No one is supposed to be allowed here. What is your role here? A guardian? Do you know what it''s called? Otherwise you would not have come this far. But I will not allow you to violate my sanctuary. Get out of here. Why not? By all means. It seems the will of the golem remains unchanged. All right, I''ll leave. I think we should leave now. The old man instructed them to leave, and Elm and Ash used the transporter to transfer a short distance. They were transferred to a cruiser waiting near Onogoro Island. < The old man prays for both of them. This information was immediately reported to Jin. "...... so there was a guardian after all?" < The Guardian that was warned about by No. 700672. The old man had analyzed its performance and role. < When making a golem, depending on its purpose, the old man guessed that if it was for security, it would be made a little bigger than them. But at the same time, if it is too big, it would be inconvenient for them to act in their living space (for example, they would not be able to support themselves on the ceiling or go through doors, etc.), so it would have to be a moderate size. "The performance seems to be good. From the images sent to us, the overall balance seems to be good. It is not at all bulky in appearance, giving the impression of a knight in light armor. Also, although I could observe only a few movements, the movements are sophisticated. < The old man also gives his opinion. "Right." Although the information obtained was not much, the old man took the initiative in deciding the future course of action. 1250 - - 33-35 Visible Policy "Father, if you just want to get information, why don''t you kidnap that Guardian?" Reiko makes a radical remark. Certainly, if we take the Guardian to a place that is not Onogoro Island, there would be no point in <> him, and he might be able to answer our various questions. "I hope it works out that way. ......" If you take them off the island, there is a possibility that they will stop, go out of control, or have other guardians (guardians) appear, or worse, be declared hostile. In addition, there is a possibility that you do not have the necessary information. "Yes, that''s right. ...... I didn''t think it through." When I explained this to Reiko, she sank into a sigh. Jin patted her head. "No, it''s okay. We''re trying to get various opinions and consider them. "Yes." At the old man''s comment, Jin looks at the old man with a sullen look on his face. "Well, I don''t know. I am sure he told me about the Guardian, but I am not sure if he knows any more details than that. ......" After thinking about it, Jin decided to ask if no other idea came up. "I wonder if you have any other ideas." "Convince ...... is the reason for their visit to the as they call it?But there''s a good chance that the Guardian is not so flexible. < for security, it may be difficult to negotiate. "I guess so. ......" After an hour of thinking and no good ideas, Jin and Reiko decided to visit the bottom of 700672. Reiko and Jin decided to visit the bottom of No. 700672. * * * * * * * * * * * "Welcome, Mr. Jin. We''ve made some progress. After handing over his usual souvenir, Persica juice, to , Jin got right down to business. He tried to describe the discovery of Onogoro Island and the events there. However, he said. "First of all, I would like to ask you about the long-period planets. "Uh, yes." Jin, at the request of 700672, explained what he had learned so far. "Hmmm, interesting. I have been making some observations from here, but hearing Jin-dono''s story confirms them. The 700672 nodded in satisfaction. "First of all, let me tell you something. If we pass each other on our current trajectory, there will surely be a disaster. There is a possibility of a gravity anomaly. "That''s why we''re taking what measures we can. The contents are available at ......." Jin explained that they are stockpiling food, producing medicine and energy. "Mm, that''s good." The 700672 nodded in satisfaction, then urged him on. "Now, tell me about the island." Yes. Yes, sir. "The situation is as follows: ......." "Hmm, so there was a guardian god after all. Yes. Yes. Is there any way to be recognized by the Guardian? At this question, the 700672 looked at me with difficulty. "Probably not ....... The Guardian would be inflexible. It''s not like they''re designed to make that kind of decision in the first place." Is there anything we can do to make them trust us? "That''s not going to happen either. A late-born servant like myself has no knowledge or information about them. I''m sorry I can''t help you. "I see. ......" Jin''s shoulders slump. "But it is still too early to give up. Besides, ......" What? "If disaster can happen on Ars, their technology for planetary modification is absolutely necessary. It''s not wrong to try to get their cooperation. I see. If they have the technology to modify the planet, then they will be able to face natural disasters, he said. "But from what you''ve just said, it doesn''t sound like it''s going to be a simple matter. "That''s right." Jin made a difficult face. "Yes, it is. ......<> inflexible, but ......" The 700672 seems to have had an epiphany. "There must be some entity that controls or directs the Guardian. If it is such an entity, we should be able to negotiate with it. "Ah, I see!The only problem is, how do we find such a person? "That''s right. I can tell you that such beings are difficult to deal with and do not show themselves. If all the Guardians are gone, will they appear? Jin made an unusually radical comment. Jin-dono, what are you thinking? "No, I was thinking about what would happen if we let it shift, even if we don''t destroy it. He remembered Reiko''s comment earlier. "Would it self-destruct?" To this question, No. 700672 shook his head. "No, I don''t think the <> would think that way. Since they were originally in an environment where there were no enemies, they would not take belligerent measures. Hearing this, Jin was quite relieved. "If they are transferred and they have no more pawns, such beings will have no choice but to come out. No. 700672 reads Jin''s thoughts and encourages him. "That''s right." Anyway, once the Guardian is neutralized without destroying it, we may be able to negotiate with the beings beyond it. "If we can obtain some useful technology for countermeasures against <>..." "I''m not saying that, but we certainly have it." To counter storms and tsunamis, the 700672 assured that the technology of planetary modification possessed by the <> would be of great help. "Thank you very much. "Thank you very much." Jin then confirmed some questions he had about <>''s way of thinking, and returned to Horai Island. * * * * "The elimination of the Guardian? "Yes, how to do it." When Jin returned to Horai Island, Erza had also finished the process of making recovery medicine and cure. "So we don''t destroy it and can put it back later?" "That''s what I mean." "Besides taking the guardian out by transferring it as brother Jin said, I think there is also a way to stop it. "That''s true." "Can we use an ether eliminator?" "Well, I don''t know. Since they are working on an island with almost no free magic element (ether), they must have taken some measures. ......" Jin said he wanted to eliminate uncertainty. "So, is it metastasis?" "Yes." I made a before. Jin thought of using it. "We need to review the energy supply system and decide where to transfer the energy. "The rocks surrounding the outside or the island at the entrance of the bay would be good." Jin looked at the map. Even if the island was set to self-destruct, the idea was that if the location was part of the island, it would reduce the likelihood of that happening. "I agree. There we can also prove that we have no hostile intentions." "Good." The transfer gun also requires free magical element (ether). Therefore, we need to modify its energy supply system. We also need to decide exactly where to send the transporter, so we decide to place a marker just in case. We prepared 10 cartridges for 100 transfers so that no matter how many markers appeared, we would have enough cartridges for 100 transfers. Thus, the climax of the second act of the investigation of was steadily approaching. 1251 - - 33-36 vs. Guardian "Okay, let''s finalize the plan." Jin finished preparing the transfer gun and called up the members on Horai Island. They were Jin, Elsa, and Goose. "I heard from No. 700672 that the way of thinking of the <> is different from ours in many respects. We have to be careful about that. "Indeed. It is possible that what is natural to us is not natural to them. And vice versa. "Brother Jin, is there anything in particular we should pay attention to?" Jin nodded. "Yes. Let''s talk about that first. < are extremely averse to murder, perhaps because they have experienced a decline in population. Or it may be a moral issue, Jin adds. "On the other hand, they seem to have a sort of ''we are the best'' or ''electorate'' mentality. "Well, if they have that much technology, I guess that''s understandable. Here the old man gave the results of his analysis. He found it out from the way they move, the concentration of free ether around them, the materials they are made of, etc. < You still have to be on your guard, though." Back to the subject, and we begin to discuss the plan. "Anyway, there are too many uncertainties. Jin said. Goose also responds to this and offers his opinion. "We can use the transfer gun to transfer the guardians, that''s good, but how many of them will appear? "For the time being, we have prepared 10 guns and 100 cartridges. "Even if that''s enough, I don''t know what will happen after that." This is not really a plan at all, but a haphazard course of action. . "That''s right. ......" should have the technology to modify planets. Therefore, in order to prevent disasters caused by the approach of a long-period planet, we want that technology. At the very least, Jin wants to ask for their cooperation. "I guess we''ll just have to do it. Jin decided to give it a shot. He decided to write to No. 700672, << I am sure they will help us if this planet is in danger. "We need to prepare evidence of the approach of <>." < The old man also gave me some advice. Perhaps the <> is reflecting the light. Jin and the others pool their wisdom to do the best they can with the little information they have. That night, they decide to go for it. * * * * * * * * * * * * < is at night, Horai Island is in the daytime. The Lando team is on its way. They are Lando 11 to 15. One of them has two modified transporter guns, each carrying 20 cartridges. As before, the five were sent out using the transporters. What are you doing here, you live puppets with a will? As before, a guardian appears. "This planet is in danger. I want you to listen to what I have to say." First, I''ll tell you why I''m here. No need. Leave quickly! As before, your response is unhelpful. Now, if you''ll excuse me... Rand 11 readied his transporter and fired. In an instant, the guardian vanishes. . The old man reports after checking the images sent by Sky Raptor. The first step was successful. "Please ...... let it work!" What have you done, you live puppet with a mind of its own? A dozen seconds later, another Guardian appears. "Listen to me. This planet is in danger. ......" Leave! Looks like our new guardian isn''t listening. Lando 11 has fired his transporter. Live puppet with a mind of its own, you will antagonize us! Live Puppets with Will, leave before they are eliminated by force! Now two guardians appear. But, as usual, they do not listen to you, so you transfer them with your transporter gun. Live Puppets with Will! Live puppet with a will! Two or three more guardians appear, but none of them will listen to him, so he has no choice but to use his transfer gun. Some of them attacked Lando to get rid of him, but as the old man analyzed, they were not his enemies and he was able to shift them by the transfer gun. After transferring the 32 guardians, the "Mere Old Man" and the "Dancer" were able to transfer them to the other side of the island. What is your purpose, live puppets with a will? Obviously, a golem appeared, whose appearance was different from that of the previous guardians. About two meters tall. Its silhouette resembles that of a human being. It was thought that it was probably a higher being than the Guardian. "All right, let Land 11 take the lead in the negotiations. "We are here to protect this planet, Arus. I need you to listen to me. I''d like to say what a joke you''ve been, but you''ve done a fine job of taking out the Guardians. Let''s hear what he has to say. "Thank you. Now, I''d like you to look up at the sky. Land 11 pointed to the zenith. "A little north of the zenith, near the moon, you will see a bright star." I can see it. "That star is a long period planet. It''s approaching Ars at high speed. If this long-period planet is Modine, then it is indeed in the information. It is a planet that orbits the sun Seran in a 1203 year and 10 month cycle. The Origin had information about the long-period planet, after all. Now comes the third stage. 1252 - - 33-37 Helente is approaching. I see. That''s a big deal indeed. You didn''t notice? It''s not normally activated. I don''t come out unless it''s beyond the Guardian''s control. I see, Jin thought as he listened to the conversation. This time, this golem came out only because all the guardians were transferred. In this respect, the operation was correct. So, do you have any countermeasures? We need more information. Of course we need more information. "So, do you want to give them our information?Or you can go to ....... No, thanks. I''ll make my own observations. "Okay. Can you let me know when you''re ready to take action at ......?" I don''t see the need for that. A curt answer. But the old man will not back down. "All your guardians have been transferred. Since we couldn''t prevent them, I''d like you to evaluate our abilities as well." I see. You have a point. ......Good. Just one of them, come with me. This is going to be more successful than he expected, the old man instructed Land 11. "Then I''ll go with you." Lando 11 is equipped with two transfer rifles (10 cartridges remaining), a standard-issue ultra-high-speed vibrating sword, and a mana cylinder. The remaining operational time is also sufficient. * * * * * "...... So far, as expected, or rather, the most desirable development. Jin, who is monitoring the situation, is relieved for the moment. < "Let''s hope for Land 11." * * * You''d better get over here. "Okay. By the way, what do you want me to call you?I prefer to be known as Land 11. Right. You can call me Hellente. "Yes, sir." Land 11 follows <> through the ...... virgin forest at the back of the island. Suddenly, a bright light appeared in front of them. "Is this the <>?" That''s right. There''s a doorway in the back here. You will not find it and you will not get through unless you''re with me. I know. Helente stepped into the warp gate, a structure not unlike a ...... structure in the middle of a virgin forest. Rand 11 follows. His vision changes and he realizes that he has moved. We are in the basement of the island. What did you say? He said, "The island. I can''t hear you. If you mean the island you''ve been on, can we call it Onogoro Island? It doesn''t matter. It''s just an identifying label. Underneath the island of Onogoro, there is a facility that is also an elaboration of magical technology. The cavity Elm and Ash detected the other day may be part of this facility. This way, come on. Lando 11 follows her as she is told. Get in! After walking down the corridor and opening the door to the room at the end of the corridor, she invites Rand 11 in. The room looked like a laboratory and a command center. To her surprise, about ten golems of the same type as hers were standing along the wall. When she noticed Rand 11 staring at them, she said, "They all look like me, They are all just terminals, just like me. "You mean ...... a tool controlled by a higher being?" Yes. You seem to know your stuff. In short, he''s like the Lao Tzu to the Lao You. "You mean that Helente is a puppet controlled by a higher being?" That''s right. That being is the brain that controls this facility. Nevertheless, it is clear that he is not a mere puppet by the way he speaks, including his personal name. "Come on, check it out." In order to accomplish what we came here to do, we must first make sure that HELENTE is aware of the dangers of the long-period planets. Okay, okay. Wait a minute. Herenthe operated some kind of machine or magi-machine. Then a part of the wall glowed and became a monitor. As she operated the machine further, outer space was projected on the screen. The position of the projected stars changed rapidly, but when it stopped, it showed the = . "How is this ...... doing?" The old man asked, borrowing a phrase from Rand 11, as he saw how easily the image projected out into space without any telescope-like facilities. The light wave is captured by using the magic wave as a carrier wave. The images are being delivered here via a virtual relay point. "You can do that ......?" Hmmm, now you understand at least the concept. Well, you seem to have a fair amount of technical knowledge. Parente seemed to be a little impressed. After that, he silently observes and seems to be doing some kind of calculation. Land 11 is not at liberty to speak, so he observes the work in silence while observing the interior of the room. The room is filled with equipment whose purpose is unknown even to Rand 11. It seems that more advanced magical technology is used than in the room 700672. In addition, the air in the room is almost 100% nitrogen. This seems to be to prevent deterioration of the equipment and materials. Hmmm, this may not be good. After working in silence for about 10 minutes, Mr. Herrente opened his mouth. Indeed, <> is on a trajectory that passes near Ars. Moreover,<> "Moreover?" Tomorrow ......, in 13 hours, it will have a near miss with the fifth planet. And when it does, it will have some effect on the fifth planet. What are the ramifications? Unfortunately, we don''t know that much. We don''t know the structure of the fifth planet, so we can''t speculate. Could it be a giant mass of hydrogen and helium? Rand 11 pulls out what Jin knows about Jupiter and says, "It''s a huge mass of hydrogen and helium, isn''t it? Helente could not hide her surprise at the contents. You know so much about Jupiter? Yes, we know from spectral analysis that the hydrogen and helium are present near the surface. But we don''t know the interior. Jupiter, too, is said to have a core, but neither its size nor composition is known. Either way, it will happen in about 13 hours. We will just have to wait and see. We must do everything we can to prevent the disaster that will follow. "......" * * * * Herente said he would not watch for another 13 hours. Jin saw that she seemed to have gotten to know Rand 11 a little better and decided to ask her a question to confirm her doubts. "Why is there so little free magical element (ether) in the southern hemisphere of Ars? That''s the question. The truth was about to be told. 1253 - - 33-38 Truth of the Past Helente began to tell his story. Long ago, my chose this planet as his home, but to do so, he had to modify the environment. "I know." Free elemental ether concentration. It was lower than the master needed, so he tampered with the free-magic element distribution to eliminate it. "I still think ......" It''s almost exactly what we talked about with 700672. And gravity. Originally, this star was small and had only about half the gravity of the original star. So they compressed the cosmic dust and asteroids and packed them into the core. Although Herrente makes it sound so easy, it''s not that simple. I mean, even Jin would have a lot of difficulty. Well, it can be done. And one more thing. Climate. "...... orbit of the planet!" This statement was made in response to Jin''s words, who was also shouting in Horai Island. That''s right. Among several options, <> decided to let it take the same orbit as the home planet. That is a very natural choice. The same orbit as the mother star means the same distance from the sun. In other words, they receive the same amount of light and heat. Therefore, the climate will be similar. The position of the two suns is just opposite to each other across the sun Celan. This would be the most stable position. He says this casually, but this is not possible for Jin now. This is not possible for Hitoshi now, mainly because of the accuracy of the orbit calculation. In this respect, we can understand the technological prowess of the , or of the Helente. "How in the world did you move a mass the size of a planet? Well, do you at least understand the difficulty? All right, I''ll give you the concept. Herrente felt that Rand 11 could understand some of this. If you reduce inertial mass enough, you can make even the biggest and heaviest things move. Stars are no exception. In other words, the originators did what Jin is doing, which is to reduce inertia to zero. However, the problem is not only a technical one. "Theoretically, we can imagine that it could be done. But I can''t ...... imagine the magic that could be exerted on a planetary ...... scale as large as a planet." If you can figure it out theoretically, that''s a big deal. Scale, in other words, is effort. It''s possible, if you put in the time and effort. "I see. ......" Jin is not willing to give any more details, but he is still thankful that the mystery is being solved, and he listens attentively on Horaijima. "What kind of ...... brain is capable of calculating that many ...... orbits?" Hmm, you know how hard it is. Brains, huh? That''s the heart of this facility. I can''t tell you any more than that. "So you''re telling me that it''s the brain that manages this facility, that controls the Helente, that projects the images of the universe, as you just said, all of that?" Well, ......, yes. You really have a good grasp of things, don''t you? Helente looked straight at Rand 11 and said, "I think you''re getting the hang of this. To begin with, on the home planet where the <> was located, everything was provided by the inexhaustible energy of free magical element (ether). However, he was unable to create matter, and when he was forced to leave his home planet due to the depletion of its resources, he chose this planet, <>, as his new home. Helen Te recounted the past. * * * * * * "It was just as No. 700672 said, wasn''t it?" No. 700672 had told Jin that <>. <, or , were an old race and did not like to fight. Their creatures also inherited their ideas. As far as I can tell, the information I have gathered and the information I have heard from the 700672. And the inference I made from that information is almost the same. "But I didn''t think they had changed the orbit of Arus as well. ...... But I can see why they would want to keep the climate the same if they were going to emigrate." Jin took off his helmet in admiration of the technology that could actually do this. Then he listened again to the story of Helente. * * * * * * The was concerned about the extinction of the original species, so he did everything he could to preserve them. The archipelago''s flora and fauna. "You mean some species were able to withstand not only the increased gravity but also the environmental changes?Some of the species couldn''t adapt, could they?" That''s clever. You''re right, I''m afraid. We estimate that about 80% of the original species of plants and animals were protected and quarantined, but only half of them survived. "As expected." The remaining species were unable to adapt to the changing environment, they withered, they fell, they perished. Just the islands?What about the continents? The continents? We let nature take its course. We only watched over the flora and fauna of the archipelago. We couldn''t take on the whole world. And you know about the creatures we call demons that live here? Of course I do. They were originally inhabited by creatures that mutated and became fixed as a species due to the effects of gravity fluctuations and the increase in the concentration of free magical element (ether). That''s what demons are. "I see. It''s almost identical to our hypothesis." So you''ve come to the point where you can formulate a hypothesis. Very interesting. I sense that Helente''s tone of voice is somewhat amused. This is probably because she is not a hostile entity but a guardian of the planet. If all the guardians are eliminated, the beings beyond them will have no choice but to come out, and this is what I guessed. The said that he was sorry for what he had done to the inhabitants. It was their own sin. "So that''s what you''re aware of. ......" Yes. did not like conflict. He wanted us to live in peace. ...... By the way, are you aware of an incident some 300 years ago when the concentration of free ether in the northern hemisphere plummeted? Yes, I''m aware of it. That was a widespread chain reaction of free magical elements (ether) turning into secondary energy. What is secondary energy? That''s the definition of secondary energy. He called the tremors of matter including sound waves as primary tremors and electromagnetic waves including light waves as secondary tremors. Waves that travel through free magical elements (ether) are called third-order tremors. "I see. I understand." The energy of the second quake is called the secondary energy. ...... so you''re saying that the free magical element (ether) has been converted into light, right? "It seems so. We call it the Aether Stampede. I see. Aptly named. Since then, the free ether on the planet has plummeted and still seems to be recovering. Of course I do. What is the reason? I can''t tell you that much. Apparently, they can''t tell us everything. However, it''s a big gain just to know that the reason why the concentration of free magical element (ether) is not fully recovered is because of what they are doing. So far, it hasn''t gotten out of control of Jin and the others. "So, can you tell us something else?...... From the distribution of free ether on the planet, there must be a flow of free ether through the planet from the south pole to the north pole, how does it work?" Hmmm....you''re looking into it that much...very interesting. ...... That''s a good guess. I can tell you that. Originally, the northern hemisphere was chosen by the Master as his home, so he is increasing the concentration of free magical element (ether) there. "I know that, but there doesn''t seem to be anything at the bottom of the South Pole." You''ve done your research. But to no avail. There is no free ether that penetrates the planetary core from the South Pole to the North Pole, and there is no magi-machine on the seafloor that produces the flow of free ether. We will not set up in such an unstable and uncertain place. No wonder the Mermaid team sent by Jin could not find anything on the seafloor no matter how hard they searched. Then where is it? I can''t tell you that either. It''s a very important magi-machine. No wonder, Land 11 gave up any further pursuit of the matter. 1254 - - 33-39 Signs of disaster "I see. ......" In the command center of Horai Island, Jin nodded repeatedly. "I''ve pretty much solved the mystery of the free magic element (ether) distribution." << The old man agreed. "By the way, by the way, you are probably a magic brain, but your calculation ability is quite impressive. "That''s what I''d expect from an originator." < "I won''t know until it happens." * * * * * We have to wait for a long time. Jin has not been sitting in the command center for a long time. Eating, bathing, chatting with Elsa. Then he called all the family members and convened them. * * * * * * * * * * October 3, 3458, 1:00 p.m. Horai Island time. All the members of the <>, including Milowina, are gathered in the command center. They are staring at the images sent in synchronization with the eyes of Land 11. Listening is the voice that Rand 11 also heard. The magic screen in the control room showed a large image of a fast-approaching = . Pengolta''s gas cloud is distorted by the attraction of . "That''s really powerful," he said. "I didn''t expect to be able to see this image without being there." You must have more technology than Mr. Jin. It''s scary." Technology that builds a virtual telescope in space and sends images through it. < is remarkable. 1:30 p.m. < and the fifth planet is rapidly closing. "What? "Nope. ......" 2:00 PM. "Whoa!" This is ......! It is now clear to all that Modine is on a collision course with Pengolta. * * * * In the basement of , the exact opposite of Horai Island, <> and Rand 11 were staring at the images. This is not a near miss. It''s a collision. "How is this possible?" In the vastness of space, the probability of two celestial bodies colliding is close to zero. But I''d say it wasn''t exactly zero. "...... gravity is also a factor." Herenthe made a gesture as if to laugh. Yes, that''s right. You are right. The fifth planet attracted Modine because of its enormous gravity. And this is the result. On the screen, Modine and Pengolta are about to collide. It will not be a head-on collision, but more of a snatch-and-grab collision, but even so, the result is completely unpredictable. Even Herrente has to agree. This is a clear indication of how improbable this collision is. A collision between planets on a cosmic scale. It looks like slow motion to the human eye, but it is actually happening at several hundred kilometers per second. There seems to be a tremendous amount of lightning in the gas cloud. There are flashes of lightning that can be clearly seen from the outside. Moderne has disappeared into Pengolta''s gas cloud. That trajectory, if there was a nucleus, would have resulted in a glancing impact. Most of the impact seems to be with Pengolta''s gas cloud. And then Modine appears again. "Oh!" Rand 11 also gave an involuntary yelp. Modine''s orbit had changed diagonally ...... upward ...... from the planetary orbital plane of the Celanese solar system. It looks like the orbit was changed by the collision. And the next moment. "Is that ...... debris? Rocks of various sizes were ejected from the gas cloud. The smaller ones seem to have been caught in Pengolta''s gravity. "Hmm, the smaller pieces could be satellites. "But what about the larger pieces?" Looking at Modine as it moves away, about a quarter of it is missing and appears distorted. On the other hand, it is impossible to see how much of Pengolta''s core is missing due to the thick cloud of gas. Some of the larger pieces appear to be on a near original trajectory, maintaining most of ...... Modine''s intrinsic velocity. Isn''t that a pretty bad situation? "Isn''t that a pretty bad situation?" You''re right. With the size of that piece of debris, there''s a good chance Ars'' gravity will catch it and send it hurtling down. "As I thought." I have no idea how big the pieces are, but the number of pieces that would fly away from Pengolta''s gravity would be about 20 large ones. The medium-sized ones are about 50. The small ones are uncountable. Most of the small ones, however, are no more than 10 meters across. The big ones must be at least 10 kilometers across. If even 10% of them fell on Ars, it would be a catastrophe. They''re not just dust particles floating through space, they have kinetic energy of hundreds of kilometers per second. "What should we do?" It will take a couple of days to calculate and confirm how much debris will reach Arus. So, what''s the estimated arrival time? I''ve done a rough estimate, taking into account the momentum change at the time of impact, around October 15th. "That''s less than half a month from now. ...... In the meantime, what kind of disaster could happen?" Even the smallest fragment could endanger life on this planet. A few pieces could destroy life. There is a nuclear bomb called Tsar Bomba. It is the largest hydrogen bomb ever developed by the former Soviet Union, and its energy is 3300 times greater than that of the Hiroshima bomb. It is calculated that a fragment of a bomb with an approximate diameter of one meter has more kinetic energy than the Tsar Bomba. "What should we do?" We will have to deal with all that debris. And that''s going to be a hell of a challenge. What''s the plan? First, we''d have to get 700 million miles out into space. And then? Then we have to capture the debris. And then? We have to have a way to deal with the debris. If we don''t get all this done before October 15th, ...... this planet will be finished. 1255 - - 33-40 Resolution "What should I do? "Jin, Jin, can we do something? "There''s less than half a month left!What should we do? After watching the video and listening to Helente''s explanation, the women in the group, mostly women, began to panic. "Everybody, calm down! Jin shouted. "We have a spaceship. We can catch up with the debris. It''s just a rock. We can destroy it. "Yeah, that''s right." Jin can do something! "Yes... So calm down." The members of the Jin family have managed to calm down after Jin''s persuasion. "As I said, we have a way. We''re going to prepare carefully,...... and we''re going to go out in three days. So you can rest assured." Okay, okay. Jin, I''m counting on you. Jin-san, good luck. ...... I''m going home for now, but if you need anything, call me, I''ll be there no matter what. "Onii-chan, don''t be too hard on yourself, okay?" "Jin, if you make Erza and Hannah cry, I won''t understand. Each member has his own life. One left, two left, and the only ones left are Jin, Erza, Milowina, Goose, and Meene. "...... wind." Jin let out a big sigh. "Brother Jin,......." Erza called out to him worriedly. Her face was paler than usual. "Don''t worry, Erza. "But ...... "It''s like I just told you guys. It''s not impossible. It''s ...... difficult, though." Then Milowina called out to her. "Jin, I will help you in any way I can. Please let me know. "Jin-sama, please don''t do anything rash, okay? Meane was also concerned and nudged him. "I understand. But we have to do what we have to do first. "...... what are you going to do?" "We''ll figure out what to do about it. ...... old man!" "Do you know how many rocks are coming in?" <> "Do you know how many rocks are coming? I''ve analyzed the images from the Hellente. 1 extra-large, 21 large, 56 medium. The smallest is 15 to 200 and the smallest is 500 to 10 The smaller the size, the more difficult it is to identify. The smaller the object is, the more difficult it is to confirm, and the more errors there are, the better. << "I see." Then we have to deal with something larger than <>. "Destruction is out of the question. ......" Jin thinks that even if we destroy it, the damage will be a little smaller if the velocity remains the same. "If it''s small enough, we could vaporize it." If they are reduced to the size of an atom, they should not cause any disasters. "Brother Jin, what about the transfer gun?" "The distance that can be transferred is too short. ...... Jin thinks that a few kilometers at most will not be enough. "It takes a lot of energy to increase the transmission distance, doesn''t it?" "How long will it take to modify it, Jin?" Goose joined the conversation. "Well, we can do it in ......1 days. Let''s consider it. ......?Wait a minute. What''s wrong, Jin? What''s wrong with me? What?" Jin shakes his head and says what he noticed. "The thing you transferred has an intrinsic speed of zero. "What do you mean?" Erza didn''t seem to understand immediately, but the old man reacted immediately. > "That''s what I mean." Jin then explains again. "Now, we have some problems, but they will be solved once the speed is reduced to zero. That buys us time to get to Ars. Maybe forever. "Yeah, sure." I hadn''t thought that far ahead because of the seriousness of the situation, Erza said. "We could make a transporter gun...... transporter< and mount it on the spaceship and shoot it." Even if the transfer distance was 100 meters, the intrinsic velocity of the object would be zero after the transfer. To be precise, the object would be stationary with respect to the space, but Jin, who is not a physicist, does not know that much. Anyway, all we can do is to stop the damage. "I guess we can go as far as <>." "Is <> difficult?" "It''s not that difficult, but it''s impossible unless you have a ...... big transporter gun ...... transporter gun. After all, it''s a chunk of rock that''s about a kilometer across. "How about we break it up first, Jin? "That would be more difficult. It would be more difficult to capture it because it would fly apart when it is destroyed." "Hmmm ......" are those with an approximate delivery weight of less than 1 to 10 kilograms. He said there are 21 of them. "Brother Jin, what does Helente say?" "Yes, Jin, if you are protecting this planet, don''t you have something to do with it? So far we had been consulting our own affairs and had not heard anything about it. But the old man must have heard it all through Rand 11. After a little hesitation, the old man started to explain. * * * * "Can''t you do something about it? No, I can''t. "Why not?" Because there''s no way to get to space. "What do you mean, ......?" After all the lecturing he''d done, Rand 11 barged in, as if to say, "That''s not going to happen. I can''t help it if you can''t. < didn''t give me the means to do this. "But if this planet dies, won''t all we''ve done be for nothing?" No, it won''t. How can you be so sure? Yes, I can. "Mm-hmm. ......" Having been told that much, Rand 11 could not pursue the matter any further. "Why is that?< No, it won''t. "I suppose you won''t tell me why?" No. Wasting no time in further questioning, the old man directed Rand 11 to ask a question from a different direction. "Then can you offer any assistance?" I cannot. I have no authority to do so. By all means? By all means. Even if this planet is on the brink of extinction? Even if it is. And you, my master, would you be okay with that? I don''t say so. But he doesn''t say it''s wrong either. What do you mean? You don''t have to tell me. < The old man decided to give her a further jolt. "Is it not because the <> is no longer with us?" [Claire] Yes. Herrente''s voice sounded impatient. It seems that he had hit the nail on the head. "I see, since we no longer have a to serve, we are forced to follow our original instructions." [......] There is no answer. But the old man decided that the lack of answer was the answer. "Okay. Thanks for the information." With nothing more to gain, the old man decided to withdraw Rand 11 from the area. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I see, thank you." The island of Horai was now enveloped in the cover of night. Jin went outside the institute. Elsa and Reiko quietly followed him. The sky was filled with stars. "It''s beautiful." "......" Jin looks up at the sky and mutters to himself. "Maybe I came to this world to save it from destruction. "Father ......" Reiko, who has summoned Jin, tries to say something. Jin interrupts her and says "No, it''s okay. Reiko. It''s just what I want to think. Slowly he spins his words. "I love this world. That''s why I have to do what I can only do." Jin hugged Elsa, who was standing next to him, and gently placed his hand on Reiko''s head. "I will protect this world ......." There was no more hesitation in Jin''s eyes. 1256 - - 34-01 再始動 , a long-period planet, collided with the fifth planet Pengolta, changed its orbit, and disappeared into the far reaches of the universe. However, even if the threat of the main body of the planet disappears, debris from the collision will attack Ars. The predicted date is October 15, 3458. On October 4, Jin was in Horai Island, racking his brains. "Hmmm, what should I do? ......" "Father, are you all right?You''ve been up all night, haven''t you?Moreover, didn''t you get a good night''s rest the night before last?" Reiko asks with a worried look on her face. "I''m fine. I used to stay up all night for about two nights. Jin answered with a slightly tired look on his face. "...... Jin, at least rest your body for a little while." Erza, who had also worked all night, brought him a cup of strong green tea to help him sleep. "Oh, thank you, Elsa. Feeling a little tired, Jin leaned against the back of the chair. "...... wind." But his eyes were staring off into the distance, as if he were out of his mind. "Father, the tea that Erza-sama took the trouble to brew is getting cold. "Uh, ah, ah, okay." Reiko warned him and he hurriedly picked up the cup of tea. He took a sip. "...... delicious." "I''m thirsty, I thought. ...... pick some up if you like." He also offers her a taro...... or, as the Shoro Empire would say, a as a teaside treat. "Yes, thank you." Erza had made them for him, as she knew he needed some sugar when his head was tired. She was acting on the assumption that Jin would never eat a proper meal at a time like this. He must have been hungry, because once he started to eat, he ate the takaimo one after another. After two more cups of tea, he finally seemed to be satisfied with his meal. "I guess I was hungry after all. Thank you, Elsa and Reiko. After thanking them, Jin started to think again. "Brother Jin, please tell me what the problem is. "What?" "I think it would be better to sort out the problem once." Jin nodded at Erza''s suggestion. "That may be so. In a situation like this, it might be a good idea to change our approach a little." Jin turned to Erza and began to explain slowly. "What I''m struggling with now is how to deal with the fragments that are classified as <><>." "Hmm, that''s good. <> is for pieces between 1 and 10 kilograms, and <> is for pieces larger than that." "Yes, that''s right. So I''m wondering what I should do. Jin takes a breath before continuing. "There are two main methods. Either we can make it disappear, or we can change its trajectory." "Each of these has its own problems?" Yes. That''s why I''m having a hard time. Jin gathered his thoughts in his head for a moment and then spoke again. "There are two ways to erase them, one is to turn them into plasma using a laser or something, and the other is to transfer them. "Hmm?" "Changing the orbit is still the same. Perhaps, if we change its trajectory even slightly, we can avoid a collision. Elsa nodded. "So each of them has its own problems?" "Yes. ......" Jin''s shoulders slumped. "First we have to transfer them. To do this, we need a huge amount of energy, because the thing is so huge. 21 <> and 1 <>. With the method at hand, it will be just in time or not in time, taking into account the time to generate mana from free magic element (ether). That''s a lot? It might take nearly a day to accumulate enough energy for one transfer. "......" It takes that much energy to transfer an object that weighs about one kilogram. "The method of heating the object with lasers, heat rays, fire magic, etc. to vaporize or plasmaize it is also an energy problem." "...... understand." "And changing the orbit, that''s a time issue." Time? Time? - Yeah, yeah. If you wanted to move a rock block that size, it would have to be Adriana. "Maybe, maybe not." <. If it takes a day for each one, we won''t make it in time. Can you do it in half a day?The question becomes, "Can you do it in half a day? It is not enough to say, "We tried it and it didn''t work. You can do it in 22 pieces at ......." "...... I can certainly understand why Jin would be worried." "I mean, we have the means to do something, but we don''t have the time. "......" "The day after tomorrow is the deadline. The day after tomorrow I will fly out with and the fleet. < and as well." "...... I know it''s a lot of work." Erza was also lost in thought as he explained the situation. "......" "......" Jin and Erza, both of them were thinking silently, The old man reported. "Hey, Jin, Erza......, what''s going on with you two? "What?" Both Jin and Erza had dark circles under their eyes. "Don''t tell me you''ve been thinking of countermeasures for a long time?" Reinhardt, who had returned from the previous day''s meeting to find that the situation had become more serious. "If Jin is so worried, the situation must be more serious than I thought." "Well, ...... but don''t tell Bertsche, okay?It will only make her feel uneasy." "I won''t tell Jin if that''s what you want, but ...... is there anything I can do?" "Oh, well, then listen to me." Jin explained again to Reinhardt what he had done to Erza. "<> and <> processing or ......?" "Yes. It''s also a race against time." "Why don''t you talk to the 700672?" Hitoshi and Erza are startled when they hear this. "Oh, yes. Oh, that''s a good idea. Besides, I''ll have to report this to them. Jin decided to go over there right away. "Reiko, let''s go. ...... Erza go rest. Reinhard, take care of Elsa." "Yes, I''m in charge." He knew that if he didn''t tell her, she''d stay up until Jin came home. "See you later." "Bye." "Bye." After Jin left, Reinhardt told Erza to get some rest. "Erza, rest now. If you fall ill, Jin will have even more things to worry about. "...... Okay, I understand. Thank you, brother Rai. After Reinhardt''s persuasion, Erza finally seems to be ready to rest. She leaves the control room and heads for her bedroom in the <>. She was worried, so Reinhardt accompanied her on the way. After confirming that Erza is lying down, Reinhardt returns to the control room and waits for Jin''s return. 1257 - - 34-02 教示 "Hmmm, I see... ......, you''ve taught me well." Jin met 700672 and immediately explained the facts he had discovered so far. "This who said he was my is probably one of my ''s compatriots, isn''t he?" "I see. "What I''m more interested in is the treatment of the fragment of <>...... or was it <>? What about the debris? "Yes, sir." Jin also explains the measures he has in mind. "Well, if it''s a small one, Jin-dono can handle it by himself. The problem is that it is a huge one, isn''t it? Yes. "I suggest that we change its trajectory. Not up and down, but left and right. What do you mean? As expected, Jin could not understand what 700672 was saying with his all-night head. "The here refers to the planetary orbital planes of the Celanese solar system. Thus, <> as well." "......" Even Jin, whose mind had been dulled by lack of sleep, could understand the hint. "<> would mean that the direction is away from Serang. But if we do that, there is a possibility that the gravitational pull will bring it back again." "That''s right." 700672 smiled. "And it would be inefficient because it would be going against the gravitational force. You might as well change its trajectory to one that will plunge it into the Celan." "I see. ......!" The original orbit is a long elliptical orbit that grazes the sun. If we can get it a little closer to the sun ....... "It should be easy to change the orbit since it is not against the gravitational force. No need for complicated calculations. Just make it go straight for Celan." This would require two thirds to half the work that Jin had originally planned. "However, it is certain that we will pass by this ars, so we should take precautions against that. "Yes, I agree. Thank you for your advice. Jin thanked him and was about to leave when No. 700672 stopped him unexpectedly. "Wait a minute. I''ve been thinking ...... about this being''s , and there''s a chance he''s not on this planet to begin with." "What? "It is only a guess, a possibility. It is a possibility considering what I know about my and his philosophy of conduct. It is said that <<, i.e. of 700672 was a very thorough individualist. In the worst case, it would be <, but the 700672 could not use such an expression. "Not originally on Ars, which means ......" Another planet, or outer space. "Yes. Perhaps they are or were staying on Hale?" There was a faction that opposed the migration, 700672 says. "So you don''t mind if this Arus is destroyed?" "That''s what I mean. Well, this has nothing to do with the incident. It is just for your information, Mr. Jin. I understand. Thank you very much." Jin thanked him and left the 700672 this time. * * * * * * When Jin returned, he was greeted by Reinhardt. "Welcome back, Jin. ......You have a glimmer of light on your face?" "Yes, but only barely. "Yeah, barely, but I''m glad. Oh yeah, Erza''s getting some rest. Jin should get some sleep. Yeah. I''ll just give you a few instructions first. Jin ordered the old man to build a large force field generator, a propulsion device to change the trajectory of the debris. "Yes. I''m counting on you." Jin then turned to Reinhardt, "I''ll take a little nap, if you don''t mind. "Okay," he said. "Yeah, yeah, that''s a good idea. I''ll stay in the command center until Jin wakes up. I''m sorry. Don''t worry about it. I''ll just be here. I won''t be able to give you the same instructions as Jin. But still... Thank you." After saying these words, Jin turned and walked back to his house. He entered the bedroom, threw himself down, and fell asleep instantly. Reiko gently pulled the futon over him. * * * * * * * * * * * It is 3:00 p.m. Penglai Island time. After sleeping for about 5 hours, Elsa woke up. "N......?" She was surprised to see Jin sleeping on the futon next to her. She almost screamed, but she suppressed it in haste. "...... since when?" I saw his sleeping face and realized that my worries must be gone. Not wanting to wake Jin, I quietly slip out of the futon, open the sliding door so as not to make a sound, and step out into the hallway. "Ah, Reiko! "Miss Elsa, you''re awake. Where''s your father? "He''s sleeping well. I''ll let him sleep a little longer. I''ll let him sleep a little longer. Are you preparing dinner? Yes. I''ll make him whatever he wants. I''ll stay here until your father wakes up. "Yes, you do that." Elsa went to the kitchen and Reiko again kept watch in the hallway. And at 4:00 P.M.. "Sleep well." Jin woke up. "Are you awake, father?" Reiko opened the sliding door. "Ah, Reiko. You slept well. I feel refreshed. ...... where''s Elsa?" Elsa-sama woke up about an hour ago and is preparing dinner. "I see. The time is a little after ......4. I think I''ll go take a bath at ...... and wake up." I''ll wash your back. Jin and Reiko go to the bathroom. Since it is a hot spring, the water is always flowing, so they can take a bath immediately. "Oh, this will wake me up." Jin stretches out in the bathtub. "Father, please don''t take it too hard. "I know. This is the last time. I hope that''s all right. Jin felt a little sorry for worrying Reiko. He thanked Reinhardt as well, smiled and said, "Don''t worry about it. * * * * * * "Yes, it''s delicious! Dinner consisted of white rice, miso soup with fried bean curd and tofu, boiled greens, grilled toroto (a fish similar to loquat trout), and stewed sweet potatoes. All of them were Jin''s favorite dishes. "Oh, it was delicious. Thank you, Elsa. I''m glad Jin was pleased. I''m sorry for worrying you. I''m sorry, Elsa. No, that''s okay. Brother Jin, good luck. But don''t forget that we''re with you. Elsa''s kindness soaked into him. Jin renewed his determination to do his best again tomorrow. 1258 - - 34-03 Start! The next day, October 5. After a good night''s rest, Jin began by sorting through the information. "Old man, the drone that <> had landed on >......<<>, right?What happened to it?" I don''t think it will be safe after the impact, but I thought it might be useful to get some last minute info. > The old man said that he did not dare to report it because the probability was somewhere around 50 percent. "Yes, that''s fine. Let me hear it." << "What is it?" ...... . "Ummm ......" <> collided with one of the satellites. The satellite was shattered, and the velocity of <>, added to its own orbital velocity, caused it to fly out of the gas body. "And that''s the debris that''s coming toward Ars this time?" << Jin was impressed by the old man''s reasoning. "Then how did <> fly diagonally upward?" < "I see. ......" But even if this is true, it does not change what Jin is trying to do. < "No, that''s fine. Thank you." Jin thanked the old man. "Next, we need to explain the situation to the other countries. Now that we have a policy in place, we can do that, since we have some idea of what side effects might occur. "We can handle <><><<>, but we don''t know about some of the <> and >." There are too many. "What happens when that happens?" Perhaps we will see <> and <> even in the daytime. Jin recalled the night of the Leonid meteor shower in 2001. He was lying on a blanket in the yard with many children at a facility in the suburbs, looking up at the sky. The younger children fell asleep before the date and were carried to their rooms, but the older children and Jin spent the whole night looking up at the sky. "That was awesome. ......" Perhaps it would be many times the meteor shower, or even a <, that it was then. If that happens, we must do something to prevent people from panicking. That is what I want to ask the leaders of each country to do. "I will ask Reinhardt to explain the situation to His Majesty, and then he will inform the nations. Jin thought that he would leave the explanation to Reinhardt. There is no time to think about the details. After exchanging messages via manacam, Reinhardt readily agreed to the request. "Thank you, Reinhard. If you need any information, please consult the old man. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin then went into full operation. "We''re not just going to make the transfer gun bigger, we''re going to make it more efficient at using mana. <. Jin has no more hesitation, and there is no time for hesitation. < I understand. * * * * The large force field generator that I had instructed you to make the day before. It is the same as the propulsion system of the starship . < An engine that can fly a with a mass of about 10 million tons at an acceleration of more than 20G. It is 1 meter in diameter and 2 meters long. It weighs about 500 kilograms and its maximum thrust is estimated at 1 million deadweight tons. It has nearly 10,000 times the thrust of the modern Japanese domestic rocket, <>. Jin tried to calculate the thrust with what he knew. Let us apply Newton''s equation of motion, F=ma. If 100 units are installed, the thrust is 1,000,000 x 10 0 = 100 million deadweight tons. The force F is 100 million deadweight tons = 1 x 10 to the 11th power of weight kilograms = 9.81 x 10 to the 11th power of N (81 x 10 to the 11th power of N). 81 x 10 to the 11th power N (Newton). "Let''s see, how much does a piece of <> weigh ......" The mass m of the fragment <> can be approximated by a cube of 10 kilometers on a side, with a specific gravity of 3, 3 x 1 12 squared tons = 3 x 10 squared kilograms. Therefore, the acceleration a is F/m = 3.27 x 10 to the minus 4th power meters per second per second to the 4th power. What happens if this amount of acceleration is applied for 5 days, 120 hours = 432,000 What happens if this amount of acceleration is applied for 5 days, 120 hours = 432,000,000 seconds. Since the displacement y = 1/2at^2, it is about 30,000 kilometers. "It''s subtle. ......" 30,000 km is much closer than the distance between the moon (UNY) and Ars, 380,000 km. It is hard to imagine what kind of cataclysmic event would occur if a huge mass were to snatch such a distance. We would like to keep the distance at least as far as the moon (UNY). This is also true for the debris <>. The effect of <> is expected to be smaller than that of <>. Therefore, if the mass m of <> is 1/10 of <>, we would like to install 20 units of large force field generators. I would like to install at least 20 units of large force field generators. However, Jin calculated that the quantity should be 300 units in total, since only 2 fragments are that large and the rest are much smaller. * * * * * * * * * * The first large force field generator "Force Generator" was completed by the old man. "Yes, no problem." Jin nodded his head in satisfaction after finishing the check with Reiko. "For now, we need to prepare at least three hundred of these. . Jin was determined to have the old man and his team of craftsmen (smiths) do their best to produce them. Now, the fact that Jin had strengthened the production capacity of Horai Island without cutting any corners came to life. The old man and the Smith team managed to complete 300 large force field generators Force Generator. 1259 - - 34-04 Breakdown After giving the order for the production of the large force field generator, Jin started the next preparation. "All right, next is the transfer cannon. The transfered or shifted object has the characteristic of stopping relative to the coordinates of the exit. We are going to use this to render the debris harmless. The most important issue now is the speed of the object, i.e., the time it takes to approach Ars, so if it stops, we will be able to process it slowly. However, it is unfortunate that we cannot process all the debris in the same way, because the difficulty increases rapidly if the mass of the target is too large. The transporter cannon can be mounted on 10 reconnaissance spacecraft of 10 meters in diameter, or on <>. The reconnaissance spaceships are manned by 1 to 100 <> of 40 centimeters in height. They will be in charge of dealing with <>. Even though they are classified as <>, they are rocky masses weighing several to several dozen tons, so they will require a large amount of mana to be transferred. Although it is a <, it does not fire actual bullets, but there is something that looks like a cannon muzzle in order to fire so-called < toward the target object. Two 30-centimeter caliber cannon are mounted on each reconnaissance spacecraft, and 20 one-meter caliber cannon are mounted on the Adriana. All the craftsmen (smiths) are working on the large force-field generators, and this work will be done by other personnel. However, the <<> crew members could also use engineering magic, though not as well as the craftsmen (Smith), so the work progressed reasonably well. They managed to finish the outfitting by midnight. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Okay, we''ll leave tomorrow morning as planned. It is preferable to do the work in space as far away from Ars as possible. And to do that, we should leave as early as possible. "Please, old man." Father, please get some rest. "Yes, I will." Satisfied, Jin went to his house to rest his tired body. When he opened the sliding door of his bedroom, the light was still on and Erza was awake. "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Jin. Erza greeted Jin as she sat on the futon. "Erza, you haven''t slept yet, have you? "No. I was worried that Jin might be overworked. ......I couldn''t help him this time, so this is the least I can do for him." Jin patted Erza on the head and smiled. "Don''t worry. The preparations are done. The old man is making a final check now. All we have to do now is sleep until morning. "Well, that''s good." Seeing Jin''s smile, Elsa let out a small sigh of relief. "Well, you should get some rest now." "Yes, I will." Jin changed into his nightgown and lay down on the futon. Tiredness overtook him at once. When Erza turned off the light and looked at Jin, he was already sleeping. "Brother Jin, good night," she whispered in a small voice. She whispered in a small voice, and Erza also lay down and closed her eyes. * * * * * * * * * * * 6:00 a.m., October 6. Jin is in the command center of the institute, having a meeting with the old man. "How are the preparations going, Mr. Old Man?" "Yes, that''s fine." There is no need to launch it from the surface. All ten of our scout ships are already aboard . We also have a warehouse full of spare, or rather, auxiliary . < < "All right, let''s get started!" <> The countdown begins. <<7......6......5......4......>> Jin''s face is tense. Once this starts, there is little more he can do. <<3......2......1...... 0! The huge body of , which was visible in the magic screen, has disappeared. "Fu." Jin realizes that the mission has finally begun. Jin, thank you for your hard work. Erza gives Jin a warm welcome. "Yeah, it''s finally happening. But the hard part is just beginning. Jin looked up at the ceiling. He imagines the blackness of space that lies beyond. "About three-fifths...... of this is based on the distance in a straight line between where the debris is now and Ars, and that''s where we''re going to flip it. Otherwise, you can''t synchronize the velocity with the debris swarm." In order to properly handle the debris swarm, they need to be traveling side by side at the same speed. Otherwise, they would pass each other in an instant. A speed of a few hundred kilometers per second is a lot. "If we could synchronize our speeds faster and further away, it would reduce the risk to Ars." is flying at maximum power, her speed is 350 km per second. Anything more is too dangerous. The speed of the debris near Arus is estimated at 250 km/sec. But this is because it is being pulled by the sun Celan and is accelerating, and by the time <> synchronizes with it, it will still be going less than 200 km per second. "I think the day after tomorrow it will catch up with the debris and synchronize its speed." "Until then, ......" "I guess there''s nothing more we can do." Taking a deep breath, Jin leaned back in his command chair. "When the time comes, I''ll use the doppelg?nger I''ve got on board to give you instructions." Erza nodded in reply. "Then, rest a little." "What?" "Brother Jin, you''re pushing yourself too hard. You should take care of yourself a little. Seeing the sad look on Erza''s face, it was hard to simply say that she was fine, so Jin nodded silently. "I know that only my brother Jin can do that. That''s why you have to take care of yourself. From her words and expression, it was clear that Erza was deeply concerned about Jin. Jin gently took Elsa''s hand. "Thank you. I will." Holding her hand, he stood up. "First, let''s finish breakfast. "Hmm, Peridot3 is making breakfast this morning, I think." I wonder what''s on the menu. I''m looking forward to it. "I''m looking forward to it." Jin and Erza walk to the cafeteria hand in hand. The warmth of their hands on each other''s is the most loving feeling. Erza wished. No matter what awaits them in the future, at least for this moment, she wishes for the same moment as usual. 1260 - - 34-05 The busy village of Kaina The Kingdom of Klein is located at a high latitude within the continent, and although it has many cold areas and the yield is slightly lower, spring wheat is often grown in the area, sown in spring and harvested in fall. The village of Kaina, which was once part of the region and is now part of Jin''s territory, was no exception, and was busy harvesting spring wheat. "Let''s harvest while the weather lasts! "Let''s reap what we can while the weather lasts!" "After you''ve reaped, keep drying it! You, leave this to me! "Oh, please. I''ll start the reaping on the other side. Under the clear autumn sky, all the villagers were reaping in unison. "But this sickle is very sharp, isn''t it? "I probably haven''t sharpened it once in the past two years. Jin is using a sickle coated with adamantite. "You, chop some wood for me!" "Oh, sure!" The machete, which splits the firewood with a scorching sound, also has an adamantite blade. "Dad, I''ll carry the cut wheat away." "Oh, don''t turn it over." The hand-pushed wheelbarrow, known as a "cat wheel," pushed by a child helping him, was also made by Jin. * * * * * * "......Wow,......we''ve come at a terrible time,......" Jin was invited by Erza to come to the village of Kaina for a change of scenery, but what he saw before his eyes was the entire village working together. "This reminds me of two years ago. ......" "Brother Jin?" Erza, I''m going to go help out. Reiko, let''s go! Yes, Father. Jin... Sorry, Elsa, I''ll do whatever you want today! Jin thought there was no way he could let Erza, who had never harvested wheat before, help him, so he went to help her alone (though with Reiko in tow). Looking at Jin''s shrinking back, Elsa let out a wry smile, as if to say, "You''re such a good-for-nothing person, aren''t you? "Hey!I''m here to help you! "Oh, Jin! Jin-chan!" The year before last, Jin had spent nearly eight months in the village of Kaina, and of course he had experienced the harvest. Jin, I''ve never heard of an estate that requires the lord''s help. Giebeck, the village head, said to Jin in disgust. "Why can''t you have at least one person? What do you want me to do? "Well, then, go to Martha''s," he said. "Yes, sir." Jin went to Martha''s house as the village head told him. "Oh, Onii-chan!" On the way, he met Hannah, who was pushing an empty cat-cart. "Hannah, I''m here to help you." "Really?Then come with me!" "Okay, I''m coming." I followed Hannah and found a pile of wheat that had already been harvested. "I''m going to take this to the square." "Okay, I''ll do my best. Reiko, help me. "Yes, Father." Hitoshi loads the wheat onto the spare cat-cart. Hannah did the same. But Reiko... Reiko is using a force field generator to lift the pile of wheat. "Wow, that''s amazing!" Hannah rolls her eyes. "Well, let''s go." "Yes, this way!" Hannah leads the way, carrying the wheat. On the way, some villagers were a bit surprised to see Reiko''s wheat clumps floating above their heads, but when they saw Jin''s face and confirmed that Reiko was carrying the wheat, they muttered <> and went back to their work. The drying of the wheat must begin immediately after the harvest because the quality of the wheat will deteriorate if it is left to dry for a long time after harvest. Unlike rice, the wheat brought to the central square of the village is first threshed. "Ah, Jin-chan!" The threshing was mainly done by children. Some picked them off by hand, some with two sticks, some by slamming the whole bundle down on a stump. "Oh, I guess they''re harvesting about three times more than when I was there." With good quality farming tools, improved health, better soil, golem horses, and the support of Gon and Gen, the production of wheat and barley in the village of Kaina has tripled in the last two years. Manual labor as usual is no longer enough to keep up. "We don''t have time to make tools ...... Reiko, call the five-colored golem maids." "Yes, Father." As soon as Jin requested, the five colored golem maids, each number five, arrived. "Master, I''m here." "Wow, Jin-chan, the maids are helping you?" The mischievous Kurt rolled his eyes. "That''s right. We''ve got a bumper crop this year, so we''ll have to make it in time." The children are not too surprised to see the golem maid at Nido Castle. That''s good for Jin. "Thank you for your hard work. Thresh this wheat. Don''t mix wheat and barley, okay?" "Yes, sir." The golem maids began to work quickly. The speed of their work was so fast that the mountain of wheat was threshed in the blink of an eye. "Brother Jin, is there anything I can do to help? Then Erza came in. "Oh, Erza," she said. No, I''m Jin-san''s housekeeper now. "Oh, I see!" It seems that for some children, Erza has a strong image of a teacher who taught them how to study. "Please, let me help you. Let me help you with something." Elsa doesn''t like the idea of just watching. She wants to help in some way, even if she has never done it before. "Oh, well... ...... then use your engineering magic to dry out the threshed wheat." "Yes, okay. ......<" Jin looked at the drying wheat, and thought that he would build a dryer in the near future. All the piles of wheat are threshed and dried. "All right, everyone go and help with the reaping. Jin instructed the five-colored golem maids again. They thought that since the 101s of the same model were in Nido Castle, they would be accepted by the other villagers. And just as they had planned, the five-colored golem maids began to join the villagers in harvesting the wheat. "That''s it!" Jin let out a laugh as he carried the threshed wheat to the milling place with the cat-cart. "Jin, you have a good face. And seeing Jin''s smile, Erza also smiled with relief. 1261 - - 34-06 Under the Autumn Sky "Oh, that''s Jin''s maid." "She''s even more skillful than I am." These women are involved in the harvesting of wheat and rice on Horai Island as well. Naturally, their manners were refined. "You''re holding your hands still! "Oh, yeah. I can''t lose!" No matter how inhuman the work of the golem maids was, and no matter how much they showed it, there was not a single person in the village of Kaina who felt foolish for doing their job. Everyone loved their work and took pride in their labor. "Lerna, come here a minute." Yes, kun? "Look..." "Oh ...... is that Jin-sama''s golem?" The girls from the village of Rario, who had once been sold into slavery in the Kingdom of Celuloa, had become quite at home in the village of Kaina. They are harvesting wheat. "Hey, Kana!" "Rick, what''s wrong?You can''t be late." Kana greets her boyfriend with a questioning look as he comes running up to her, breathless. "I''m not skipping work. Jin is here right now, and he''s helping me by sending out a maid golem. So we''re making a lot of progress. "Oh, I knew it. I thought I saw you earlier." "Yeah. So, at this rate, we should be able to finish reaping and threshing today. That''s why we''re short on manpower for the milling." "What?What about drying? "Yeah, Elsa''s doing her magic on the drying. So, everything''s possible in this village. You don''t like it? Of course not. It''s Rick''s village. "Yes, yes, I know you two get along. ...... Well, Rick, so we''ll just go to the mill? Sonia, the leader of the group, asked. "Yeah, that''s right. We''ll stop at the end of the day and you can come to the mill. "Okay. I''ll finish this section and then I''ll go. Okay. Rick ran off again. Sonia stood up tall and shouted cheerfully, "Come on, let''s go. "Okay, then, let''s finish this section quickly!" "Yes!" The girls'' voices echoed through the barley field, no less energetic than the others. * * * * * * "The mill seems to be working properly. ......" Jin and Reiko had come to the mill. This was a handmade facility that Jin had built by himself before he returned to Horai Island. Last year, he had modified it to improve its efficiency. "Oh Jin, you''re here. Martha appeared. "Yes, just for today, but I came to help you since you seem to be busy. "I see. I''m glad to hear that. Martha must have known what Jin was going through at the moment, but she seemed to sense it and did not say anything. "Jin-sama!" Then the girls from Lalio village came running in. "Hey, everyone. You look well. "Yes!Thanks to you! The most cheerful voice is Seema''s. Brown hair, brown eyes. Rumor has it that she is good friends with Jeff. "Well then, listen to Martha''s explanation and help her out. "Yes, sir!" "Yes, yes, that would be great. Listen, first we have to sort the wheat by using this feature called to remove sand and other debris. Then we go to ......." Jin headed for Nido Castle, knowing that Martha would take care of the rest. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Get some rice balls and lots of tea! "Yes, master." Jin entered Nido Castle and ordered to prepare lunch for the villagers. The time was 11:00 a.m. Nido Castle rings bells in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, so Jin guessed that lunch would be served at the noon bell. "That''s how it was when I was there." Jin knew from experience that the ladies would be able to prepare only a simple meal since all the workers were working together. So he had the old man cook a lot of rice for them in advance. All the five colored golem maids working at Nido Castle were there, so by half past eleven, there were more than enough rice balls and the tea was ready. "All right, each of you bring them in." "Okay, each of you bring it in." "Yes, sir." Butlers B and C carrying a huge warming barrel of tea and holding paper cups in their hands. The five colored golem maids are holding large baskets of rice balls in their hands. "Come on, let''s go!" Reiko holds a huge basket of hand towels in both hands. Jin, too, had a reasonably sized one. "Mr. Mayor, I''ve come to bring you some lunch." "Oh Jin, thank you very much. Here''s a hand towel. I thought you could clean your hands before you eat. "Oh, that''s great. I''ve just recently gotten into the habit of washing my hands before eating. "Oh, Dr. Sallee, it''s been a long time." Sally, the healer who became Gibec''s wife, had been helping with the harvest a while ago and had straw dust in her hair. "Brother Jin!" Just in time, Erza also arrived. "Erza, thank you for your hard work. Aren''t you tired? "No, I''m fine. ...... sir, it''s been a while. "Hi, Elsa, glad to see you''re doing well." At that moment, the bell rang to signal noon. Everyone stopped working and came back from the fields and the square one by one. "Hey everyone, Jin brought us some goodies. Eat as much as you can! Giebeck loudly announces to the villagers. "Someone tell the people who are not here. "Tell anyone who isn''t here that we brought you some gin! I''ll get it! I''ll go with you." And so all the villagers ate the rice balls that Jin had brought, drank tea, and took a leisurely lunch break. The blue autumn sky over the village of Kaina was clear. Jin forgot his worries and enjoyed his time in Kayna to his heart''s content. 1262 - - 34-07 Mission Start "Oh, I''m so tired." Although he had not worked as hard as the villagers, Jin still felt pleasantly tired after a full day of physical exertion. "Jin, thank you for your hard work. Thank you very much. "I don''t think you can come tomorrow. "No, no, I''m almost done for the day. I''d be punished if I let you help the lord any longer. "Thank you, mister!" Jin, have a good night. Thank you, Erza-chan. The villagers see Jin, Erza, Reiko, and the others off to Nido Castle. From there, they returned to Horai Island via a warp gate. "Wow, this feels so good! Bathing after a hard day''s work is a special experience. Jin stretched his arms and legs in the bathtub. "My muscles might be sore tomorrow. ......" It''s a weakness of being back in the flesh, but it''s also a comfort. Jin smiled with satisfaction. And that night, he slept soundly without dreaming. * * * * * * * * * * * * * October 7th. As expected, Jin has a pleasant morning, though he suffers from muscle aches all over his body. Elsa, his neighbor, also had a little pain in her shoulders and legs. It was a reaction to all the help she had given him. The couple moves their sore muscles slowly and comfortably, and have breakfast. "Brother Jin, what are you going to do today?We won''t get close to the debris until tomorrow, right? Jin asked the old man in response to Erza''s question. "What about that, Mr. Jin?" "Right!" The sooner we start dealing with it, the better. Keep going. Any more news?" < "Okay." The critical moment is only about half a day away. Jin pulled himself together. Neither Jin nor Erza seemed to be able to get anything done that day. They wandered around the laboratory and tried to make healing potions endlessly. They tried to take a nap, thinking of the possibility of an all-nighter ahead, but they never got sleepy, so they gave up. Time passes slowly and frustratingly for Jin and Erza, and finally the time has come. >. "I see!<>, slow down as planned!" <> < If she were flying at 400 kilometers per second, she could come to a standstill in a little over 33 minutes. And now we go in the opposite direction. This time, the speed will be in sync with the speed of the rock mass, which is at most 250 kilometers per second, which means 21 minutes or so. We''ll be ready to go in an hour. Jin then plans to take command on site using the doppelganger that has been preloaded onto <>. This is the critical moment. * * * * * In space, a spaceship < with a diameter of 300 meters is slowing down using all of its capabilities. The tremendous acceleration of 20G......196 meters per second per second is only possible because of the force field generator The force field generator is the only thing that can achieve such a tremendous acceleration. And while they are decelerating, they pass by a piece of . So far, so planned. After stopping at 33 minutes, the turns 180 degrees and begins to accelerate, this time in the direction from which it came. The target of the chase is a piece of the <. In order to avoid any accidental contact with the tiny pieces of debris, the ship has adopted a trajectory perpendicular to the direction of travel, at a distance of more than 100 kilometers. * * * * * * "This is it." In the command center of Horai Island, a tense-looking Jin is sitting in the pilot''s seat of the <>. "Okay, doppelganger, activate." * * * * * * Jin D, Jin''s <>, opens his eyes. The location is the central bridge of the <. < < "Great Sage, how are things going?" < "All right, then launch all ten of the scout ships onboard." < This time the time passes in a blink of an eye. < "Good." , all 10 meters in diameter. meters in diameter, named <>. "Process the <><> as planned." "Yes, please." Jin D. and begin to deal with the large and extra-large ones. The gold-colored Space Force golem, <> and its crew members work in teams to install the large force field generator, <>. The largest of the <> units has 25 force generators. The number is reduced according to the size and estimated mass, and five units are installed in the smallest of the <> units. Now, we should be able to move the <>. However, Jin notices an unexpected oversight here. "It''s spinning, you say ......?" Yes, the debris was slowly rotating on its own axis. "I should have thought of that ......! This means that we can''t determine which way the thrust of the large force field generator will be directed, so we can''t determine how much the effect will increase. "We''ll have to do something about this. ......" Jin, who was piloting Jin D, desperately thought of a way out. "Right! If we attach one at a time and let them control it ......!" He used several large force field generators for attitude control, and once they were stable, he would use them for orbit change as well. This would be a good idea, Jin thought. Jin is relieved when he comes up with a solution. "All right, let''s start with the first." Since the <> is so huge, Jin thinks of using all the remaining large force field generator "Force Generator" after treating the <>. approaches the nearest rock mass classified as <>. She does not force herself to land. She uses her onboard force field generator to lock onto a relative position. . < gives a status report on the situation. The large force field generator Force Generator weighs 350 kilograms under 1G, but it can be easily carried in space where it is almost weightless. <<>They have the same amount of power as Sky Squad and Marine Squad, so even at 1G, they can be carried by a single unit. < It took about an hour to move the 25 units out and set them up. "Okay, then, I''m sorry, but the Cosmos 500 will stay there and adjust its trajectory to run into Serang. And so the mission began. 1263 - - 34-08 Measures in progress "...... amazing." The command center on Horai Island is receiving images from <>. Now, in front of Erza''s eyes, she can see the debris <> disappearing one after another. All of them are being shifted backward by the transporter cannon of the reconnaissance spacecraft. The debris, which had been shifted, lost its intrinsic velocity, though I do not know how it works, and came to be < in the space where it appeared, or rather, at the coordinates specified by the spacecraft. In this case, since the coordinates are those of the Celanese solar system, the debris will be virtually stationary in its orbit. Observations indicate that it has definitely lost its original velocity, which we will be able to deal with slowly later. One by one, the process proceeded smoothly. First, the treatment of the <> 56 pieces was completed. <>. The number of fragments classified as <> is 187 so far. If we assume that it takes 5 minutes for each piece to be captured, sighted, and transferred, it will take about an hour and a half for 10 vessels to process them. For that long, Erza stared at the screen without moving her body. * * * * Jin''s body is in the command center of Horai Island, but his consciousness is with , Jin D on . "Okay, things are going well." The pieces < and are being processed smoothly. They are almost all collected in one place, and Jin hopes to use them as resources when he has time. And then there are the pieces of debris <. There are various kinds of <>, the largest weighing nearly 10 kilograms and the smallest about 1 kilogram. For the larger pieces, 25 units are installed, and for the smaller ones, large force field generators force generators are installed according to their size. "I''m glad we have plenty of time to do this. ......" The installation of the <> is going well, but there is a problem with its operation. Since the debris was spinning on its own axis, the direction of movement was not constant. This is being addressed by deploying one Space Force Golem <> to each of the debris and activating a large force field generator Force Generator for attitude control. It may take a little longer than originally planned, but we can afford it. How is it working out for you?" Jin D. asked the brain of , the <. < In other words, it takes 20 hours to stop the rotation using the large force field generator. After that, decided that everything would go as planned. "...... But it looks like we''ll still manage to get it done in time. The problem is the ." The problem is that it is a huge piece, with a maximum length of 15 kilometers. Even the thinnest piece is 9 kilograms. It is spinning slowly as it aims for Ars. "Yes, that might be the fastest way after all. The sooner, the better." Jin told himself that there was no use in being hasty now. "Oh, yes!<, we can make up for some of the delay, can''t we?" < Jin feels a little better now. "How is the debris <> being handled?" "That''s about right. Okay, keep going." < Fifty-eight minutes later, the large force field generators had been installed on all the debris. "Okay. Are the in each fragment properly managing and controlling the large force field generators? If we can get out of the trajectory towards Ars, we''re good to go. If possible, it would be even better if they were on a trajectory to enter the sun Celan. "Now it''s time to deal with the debris. < < "Okay." After 15 minutes of observation, the approximate direction of rotation is determined. In order to generate a propulsive force in the direction to offset the rotation, we decided to install 20 of the remaining 105 large force field generators Force Generator. Once the rotation stops, they will be used again for propulsion. "I''m glad I prepared 500 <> ......." Jin was relieved inside. If he had prepared only 100 or so, he would have been forced to operate 300 large force field generators, which would have required the personnel of <> to be replaced. Adriana would have been left without personnel. The <> team gets to work. Jin, who is piloting Jin D, is getting a little tired. "I''m going to take a nap. and , please cooperate with us and get on with the work. . >. So, Jin decided to take a nap in the command center of Horai Island. The command center is air-conditioned, so he will not catch a cold. "Brother Jin, I prepared a sofa bed for you. "Oh, that''s great, thank you." Elsa and Reiko, who had been thinking of something to do for Jin, cooperated and the sofa bed, which had been made in a rush, was ready in time. Then, around the time the date changed. "Ah, I feel so refreshed." After taking a three-hour nap, Jin woke up refreshed. He looked over and found Elsa sleeping on the sofa right next to him. Thank you, Elsa.) Jin used Reiko''s < to carry him to the sofa bed where he had been sleeping so as not to wake up Erza. "That''s it. Next is ......." Jin returned to the cockpit of his <>. The <> begins to report to Jin D., who has returned to the bridge of the <>. <>. "I see. ......20 units are not enough?" << "I see. ......" When you push an object floating in space, unless you apply a force along a straight line through the center of gravity, a force called a moment is generated and the object begins to rotate. "Okay, let''s add 10 more units." . The installation of the large force field generator, "Force Generator," seemed to have taken a bit of a backseat, since it could not be done without Jin''s instruction. However, there is still time to spare. "Second wave?" <> How big are they, what''s their trajectory and speed? < "Then we''ll have to wait and see ...... No, we''ll use the same transporter cannon to deal with it when we can afford a <>." It might not cause unimaginable contingencies, Jin thought. he thought. Now, the immediate problem was to get the pieces < and . Whether things would turn out as Jin had planned or not remained to be seen. That remained to be seen. 1264 - - 34-09 Busy and quiet "Fu ......" In the command center of Horai Island, Jin stood up from the pilot''s seat of his "doppelganger". It is already morning outside. Erza, who was supposed to be taking a nap, is nowhere to be seen. "Father, it is already 6:30 in the morning. Reiko told Jin the time. "Oh, it''s that time already..." I''m sure Elsa-sama is preparing breakfast. "Speaking of which, I''m starving. ......" Jin stood up and stretched, "I''ll leave you alone for a minute. You take care of the rest. Let me know if you need anything." < He left the control room and headed for home. "Ah, Brother Jin!" In the kitchen, Erza is preparing breakfast. "Why don''t you go take a bath, it''ll take a while?" "Yes, I''ll do that." Jin loves taking a bath in the morning. The Nidou family''s bath is a hot spring, so he can take it anytime. "I''m so tired." Jin stretches his arms and legs in the bathtub and turns his head. "Father, I guess that''s all over for now, isn''t it? Reiko, who was waiting to wash Jin''s back, asked. "Yes, I think so. We won''t know how effective this treatment will be until a little while longer. "Even so, those people on Onogoro Island are very strange, aren''t they?" "Yes, they are. ...... But that long-range telescope was informative. Can''t I build one too? I''ll try later. I have only heard of the principle of sending light waves using magic waves as a carrier wave. As for Jin, I know the principle of radio, i.e., transmitting sound waves using radio waves as carrier waves, from my school lessons. I wonder if it is possible to do the same with light. I thought I would give it a try in my free time. "Oh, miso soup tastes good. "Good." It was miso soup with fried bean curd, Jin''s favorite. Dried plums, pickled vegetables, grilled fish. It was a standard breakfast. "I''m feeling calmer now," he said. Jin let out a small breath as he drank some hojicha (Japanese green tea) after his meal. "What are you going to do today?" We''ll have to wait and see for a day or so before we can do anything about it," he said. So I''m going to start working on the other side. "Another side?" Jin explains to Erza. Jin explains to Elsa about the telephoto device that will allow them to see far into the distance without leaving the house. "Surely, <> ......?said such a thing, but can it be ...... done?" Even Jin can''t complete something completely new in a short period of time, not even for a day. Elsa was concerned. "At any rate, I have a vague idea of the principle of ....... I''ll give it some thought. If we can complete it, it would be a very effective device. Then I''ll help you. Father, I''ll help you, too. Thank you. I''ll take care of it. And then, at the end of the morning. "...... seems to be a little too much for me. It was impossible even for Jin to develop it in such a short period of time. "Even if we try any harder, we won''t be able to do it by the end of the day. Then let''s just give up. "Too bad." I''m sorry, father. "Well, you know... but we don''t have much time to prepare. But that doesn''t mean I give up, Jin said, and stopped the work. "Shall we have lunch?" "Yes." Since Jin, Erza, and Reiko had their hands full, Soleil and Luna were preparing lunch for the day. "Oh, three-color buckwheat noodles." Soba water is also available. The three colors of Horaijima soba are << Sarashina>><><>. When buckwheat seeds are ground on a millstone, the first flour that comes out is white and has an elegant aroma, and the soba made from this first flour is called Sarashina. It is a name only for Horai Island, based on Jin''s hazy memory. The buckwheat with the outermost husk removed and the sweet peel attached is called Hikigurumi-gurumi in Horai-jima. If the hulls are ground together, the buckwheat is too dry. Chasoba is a type of Sarashina-based buckwheat noodle mixed with powdered green tea. You can enjoy the subtle aroma of tea. In addition, there are wasabi, nori, and green onion, so you can enjoy a variety of flavors. "Yes, it''s delicious." "Yes, it''s delicious. I like ground soba." Jin, who loves buckwheat, could not say which one was the best, but he thought the ground buckwheat was the one with the best buckwheat flavor and aroma. After finishing his buckwheat, he drank soba soup mixed with soba-yu (buckwheat water) and finished with soba tea. "Well, I enjoyed it. Thanks for the food. "Thanks for the food." Erza seems to be satisfied, too. Now, the old man said to her, "Well.... "Well, I checked with the old man and things haven''t moved yet. He said there is still about seven hours to go. "Well, what are you going to do?Should we continue with the telephoto equipment? No, I think I''ll do something else. What are you going to do? "Strengthening the air defense system." Jin was thinking of taking countermeasures in case some of the debris got close to Ars. "It''s too small, we may not be able to handle all of it, but I hope we can reduce it." If it burns up in the atmosphere, fine, but some of it might reach the surface. We wanted to avoid that. "Specifically?" "Attach the transporter cannon to the <>. Then we''ll add five to ten more 10-meter class starships to be on the lookout." "...... Okay. I''ll help. Thank you. But take it easy. The old man will take care of everything." All of them are things we have made before, and Jin can tell us how to install them on the watcher. Or rather, he has already given instructions. What about you, Brother Jin? "I''m going to upgrade the old man''s functions." < Jin was thinking of making it a superior magic brain. And this will eventually save Jin. 1265 - - 34-10 Non-attribute "How do you mean, ''make you better than you are now''?" It seems to Elsa that he has been improved in almost every conceivable way. "That''s right. If anything else can be done, it would be to increase the clock speed and enhance the peripherals. Jin explains with an analogy of a personal computer. However, Jin is not that familiar with personal computers. Clocking up was a common practice during the development of personal computers. In digital processing, one measure of performance was the number of operations a central processing unit (CPU) could perform in one second. Newer models were all claiming to have a higher clock speed. The rest was an increase in the capacity of the internal hard disk and an upgrade of the OS. These are the only performance improvements of personal computers that Hitoshi knows of. In magical engineering, the attribute of the control core determines the clock frequency. Increasing it means that more projects can be considered per unit of time. Jin used selected magic crystals (magi crystals), but natural ones inevitably contain impurities. So Jin came up with the idea of applying , , and to the highest quality magi crystals. Since <> is Jin''s original engineering magic, this series of procedures is unprecedented. Let''s start with an experiment to see what kind of results we can expect. <>" Jin removes a small amount of impurities from the magi crystal of the light attribute. Then and . This eliminates defects in the internal crystal structure. The result is a colorless, transparent magi crystal. The dazzling radiance characteristic of the light attribute is suppressed, and a subdued light is emitted. "<>...... What is this?" "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" Erza asks if something is wrong. "No, no, I don''t know what to tell you. ...... Elsa will know if she checks it out." "?......<>......A" "Right?" "What is this?" No matter how much I looked into it, I could not sense any attributes. "Can we say that ......<> is an attribute for all attributes?" "Hmm, sure." "So if we remove the slightest impurity and the attribute disappears, does that mean that the impurity was determining the attribute?" That''s right. "This sounds like something Saki would be very pleased with." Jin! Jin!What a discovery! I called Saki over, and sure enough, she was jumping up and down with joy. "Ummm, what exactly is the nature of the impurity that determines its attributes? If we can find out, we may be able to artificially create magi crystals of each attribute. "At the moment, we don''t know. I mean, it didn''t come out when I isolated it." "Hmm, I see. ......" Saki ponders. "So, you mean to say that other magi crystals with other attributes will become attribute-free if they are processed in the same way?" "Yes. Actually, I tried it. The magic crystal (magi crystal) of the fire attribute became non-attributable." Impurities ...... or in that case are also unknown, Jin said. "Well, it''s difficult. But it''s worth studying. ...... So, what happened when you used <> in the control core?" "Oh, yes, yes. I tried to replace Edgar''s control core to test it out. "What?Why Edgar? "No, because Erza insisted. Elsa felt that Edgar, the first automata she had created, had not been maintained recently. Edgar has been working behind the scenes, or rather, doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work. One of the reasons is that his Golem automata are not as good as the Golem automata that Jin made. So, at the same time that Jin was trying to improve the old man, Erza thought of improving Edgar''s performance. "So, what happened?" "Well, don''t be surprised, his thought-processing speed has increased by 1.5 times! "That''s great! "That''s not all. < That''s a great discovery! "Yeah, I think the presence and type of impurities and the crystal structure are the factors that determine the magic frequency. And ......" Simply speeding up the process may result in a loss of ability due to the inability to keep up with the exchange of information, but this <> Magi Crystal did not seem to have such a drawback. Jin imagined that it was the effect of the elimination of unnecessary resistance. "Hmmm, that''s a possible theory. I''d like to study it. "I''ll leave that to you." "Well, I''m sure Jin is busy right now. I''m in charge. Thus, the research on the magi crystal of <> was entrusted to Saki, and Jin and Erza were to strengthen the old man and Edgar, respectively. Saki was to be in charge of the study of the Magi Crystal. "What do you think, old man? "Not 10-20%...1.5 times is quite a lot..." < Jin then exchanged Reiko''s control core and magi reactor. The other golems and automata were to be replaced one by one. How are you doing, Reiko? "Yes, it''s going great. Thank you very much. The island of Horai is steadily being strengthened. * * * * Meanwhile, Elsa and Edgar. "...... is ready." Although she is not as fast as Jin, Elsa''s technique is also very close to Jin''s. Everything from the skeleton to the muscles and skin has been reviewed, and she has achieved the same level of performance as the fifth row (Quinta). "Thank you, Miss Elsa. Thank you, Edgar. "Yes, sir." Erza, thank you. "And you, brother Jin." After exchanging these words, Jin half-heartedly rubbed Erza''s shoulder. "Brother Jin?" "...... hmm, Erza''s shoulders don''t get stiff much, do they?" Jin, who had occasionally massaged the director''s shoulders and back when he was at the facility, was surprised to see that Elsa''s shoulders were not stiff. Then he remembered that <>. "But that''s just because she doesn''t realize it. ...... Erza must be young, yes, I''m sure she is." "Brother Jin?" "...... is nothing." "Yeah?" And so October 8th passed. In the evening, Jin took a short nap and prepared for the mission at night. * * * * * * * * * * * * At midnight, around the time the date changed. "<>, what''s the situation? < "Okay, good." The mission has reached its climax. 1266 - - 34-11 Strict Value Continuing the observation, the <> debris has almost stopped spinning. "All right, let''s install the large force field generator for orbit change. Finally, the installation of the large force field generator "force generator" is started. Once the work began, the rest was quick. In about 30 minutes, all of the remaining large force field generators had been installed. "Okay, activate." < Nothing seems to have changed as far as the eye can see, but force is indeed being applied to the debris. There are 105 large force field generators with an estimated maximum thrust of 1 million tons. In other words, 105 million tons. < piece is 30,000,000 tons, assuming a specific gravity of 3 since it is an irregularly shaped rock mass and not a metal. 000000000000 tons = 3 x 10 to the 12th power. Even if a force capable of lifting a 105 million ton object under 1G were applied to a piece of <>, no visible change would be seen immediately. The same is true for the <> debris; only a slight change in orbit is observed. However, that small fraction is significant. In the previous calculation, it was calculated to pass 30,000 kilometers from Ars. At this short distance, it is impossible to predict what will happen, and Jin wants it to pass farther than the moon (UNY), that is, more than 380,000 kilometers away. "We should either increase the force F or decrease the mass m." Jin thinks frantically. < Using these, we can increase the current force field three times ......, or 90,000 kilometers. But it is still not enough. "Maybe we should reduce the inertial mass ......." The name can also change the inertial mass. If the mass is reduced by a factor of 10, the acceleration will be increased by a factor of 10 and the displacement will be increased by a factor of 10. "But I guess. ......" Changing the inertial mass of a rock mass of that size is quite a challenge. The other day at <>, >, the voice of the brains, said that he had reduced the inertial mass of Arus to near zero when he moved it, but it was next to impossible for Jin to have an effect on something the size of a planet. > The old man advised. "Yes. We have taken measures. But they are not effective enough. He will understand that." Jin thought that if he could make one more effort, he might get a more favorable response than the last time. "All right, send Land 11 immediately." Jin decided that it would be better to negotiate the same way as last time. "The rest is either < or ......." * * * * * * "<>, move the shrapnel <> with <> as well." < You can''t pull it, so you have to push it. First, let <> land on the opposite side of the debris from the direction of travel. Then we reverse the thrust of <>. approaches the debris slowly and chooses a suitable place to land. It landed near the center of gravity. < has locked onto the landing legs. Thrusters reactivated in reverse thrust. < sinks momentarily and the landing legs retract. The lowest part of the hull touches the surface of the debris, and a chunk of rock is broken off. The < continues to thrust forward. The landing legs creak, but not enough to break. The ship''s hull vibrates slightly, but the vibration subsides. The <> then gradually increases its thrust. After an hour or so, <> was able to push the debris with maximum thrust. "Okay, let''s keep it like this for the time being." <>. Jin also instructed the <> debris to select a larger piece of debris and use the <> for auxiliary propulsion in the same way. "Right, leave the <> alone for space observation, and use the nine ships for auxiliary propulsion." < The nine 10-meter class also land on a selection of the larger pieces, and like <>, they use their thrust to help change orbit. * * * * < And Land 11 was in the same place as last time. There you are again, Lando. Instead of the Guardian, it was Helente. "I came here to see if I could get a little help." What a waste of time! "Don''t say that and listen to me. Now, my master, the one who made me, is trying to deal with the Modine debris on his own. I know this because I have observed it. The debris heading for Ars right now is not from Modenus, it''s from the core of the fifth planet. It''s from the core of the fifth planet. "I knew it. There was a small star system in the core, wasn''t there? That''s right. That''s what I''m talking about. Now Rand opens his speech with. "Tell us about some of your technology. Specifically, how to use light waves as a carrier wave for magic and how to eliminate the inertial mass of the debris." ...... There was a slight pause, probably because he was communicating with his brain. Only the master has the technology to eliminate the inertial mass of a star. Even if I wanted to tell you, I couldn''t. He gave an honest reason. But I am not at all pleased. "Then, at least use magic power as a carrier wave, or at least the principle of it." ...... is impossible. It is forbidden to give such technology to others. "Is that so? ...... The old man on Horai Island was a little disappointed. He could only receive a part of the information. "So, how much do you know about the moon?" The old man tried to take advantage of this opportunity to gather as much information as possible about the . I don''t have any information about it, since it was handled by a completely different group than my <>. "Well, what do you know about the people who migrated to the north in ......?" I know a little bit about them. I know a little bit about them. They seem to have shared blood with the natives. I don''t follow what happened after that because I''m not interested. The old man wondered if he thought that if they had mixed blood, they would no longer be the . "So, what do you know about the people who are still in Hale?" But this word seemed to be taboo. I can''t talk about it. You must leave quickly. Herrente''s demeanor hardened visibly. No matter what Rand 11 says, "There''s no need to talk about it. "There''s nothing more to say. The old man had to give up. "Okay. Thank you for the information." To these words, there was no more answer from Herrente. 1267 - - 34-12 What can we do? "I guess it didn''t work. ......" To be honest, Jin was more than a little disappointed that all his requests were not fulfilled. But there was no time to be discouraged. "In the spirit of <>," he said. Jin thought about what he could do now. 1. use the mole to chip away and transfer as much debris as possible. 2. turn the debris into plasma little by little 3. build an additional large force field generator Force Generator. "In the case of plasmaization, the subatomic particles ...... are called, right?Anyway, they don''t just disappear. ...... He decided not to go ahead with the second one, because he did not foresee any adverse effects. "Then, it must be 1 and 3. First, Jin instructed the old man to build an additional large force field generator, <>. Next, he decided to use the <>. The <> is a cylindrical object 2 meters in diameter and 3 meters long. It resembles a shield machine used to dig tunnels in modern Earth. There are two methods of excavation: digging with the < tool and excavation using a chip made of hyperadamantite. The excavated earth is discharged to the surface by a transporter. The excavated sand and soil are transported to <> and sent somewhere through a warp gate. Since there are not many places to go to, the idea is to carry the sediment to Horai Island for the time being. "If we can make it as light as possible..." Five <> were sent to > via the warp gate, and started to chip away at the < pieces. "Old man, how effective do you think the mole will be? < "Please." Three minutes pass, and the old man reports . "That would be ...... in one day." < "Yeah, ......, that''s for sure." It was too bad that it took a year to remove 10% of the debris. "Let us keep working on it for now, because we may be able to extract some useful resources." It seems that adding large force field generators would be the most effective. In half a day, we can add 100 large force field generators. Then, with the assistance of <>, we can roughly calculate that the distance through Arus will be about 100,000 km. It was thought that this would be manageable, since the object is much smaller, i.e., less massive, than the moon (Uni), although it is closer to it. "But I wonder if we can rest easy with ......<." Jin wonders if there is any other way. "Ars''s defense is also ......." He thinks of a countermeasure against the <>shrapnel that will probably reach the night sky, or perhaps the didn''t know how to eliminate inertia after all? It is not a question but a confirmation. "Oh, that''s right. The masters of <<<< found it before and gutted it to build this facility. After that, I heard that it was moved to its current location. They did not tell us how they did it." "Too bad." "Too bad." < did not seem to want to leave the technology behind. It is a pity. "Maybe <> will have it..." Erza says. "Maybe the technology of <> still remains in Hale," Erza said. "I hope I can visit there someday." Yes, Jin thought again, when the turmoil was over. But that is still a long way off, he thought again. "Old man, what is the situation at the moment?" When 50 are ready, send the first batch via . < Jin wanted to increase the propulsive force as soon as possible. "Also, we can do ......." < It was good news. "Oh, I see. Can''t we use it for something ......?" The crystals, temporarily called , were discovered about 100 years ago and are famous for their ability to amplify magic power. The standard amplification rate is 20 times. The name of the crystal was <>, and subsequent exchange of information revealed that the substance name was <> and the mineral name was << Mithianite. It is characterized by a light blue glow in the sun and a green glow under artificial light. Because it is so rare, it has been distributed as a gemstone with little technical use. Amplification is a kind of amplification by transistors, which is meaningless without a power source. But Jin said. "What''s the best use for ......?" Jin began to think. 1268 - - 34-13 Barrier and Cohealer "Oh yeah, a barrier!" After half an hour of thinking, Jin finally looked up. Then he drank the tea that was in front of him. "Hmm?" The tea was still hot enough to drink. He looked in front of him and saw Erza smiling at him. That''s when Jin realized. "Erza, did you put on the tea so that it would not get cold? Erza did not answer, but only smiled softly. Next to her, Reiko had a similar smile on her face. "Thank you." After saying this and drinking the tea, Jin asked Lao-kun to do the calculation. "Old man, how long do you think it will take for the shrapnel to affect Ars?" < "Yes, 300,000 kilometers, until it enters and leaves the inner orbit of the moon. 1,000 seconds, or just under 17 minutes. "If we can put up a strong barrier for 30 minutes, we might be able to lessen the impact. "What kind of impact do you think it will have, Brother Jin?" Erza, who had remained silent until now, asked a question. "There might be a slight effect on gravity. Then, detached fragments may fall on Ars. Or the atmosphere of Ars could be taken away by the debris. ......" "None of this is good." Elsa said with a frown. "Yes. I was wondering if we could put up a barrier between us and the debris to prevent that from happening." "But wouldn''t it have to be pretty big?" "Yes, but it would have to be very large. I want it to be at least 100 kilometers in diameter. If possible, about 1,000 kilometers. When Elsa heard the words "1,000 kilometers," she was taken aback by the sheer size of the project. "I think the moon (UNY) is 1700 kilometers in diameter, so ......!" "Yeah, that''s pretty big." "I don''t think it''s quite that big." Erza tried to imagine the amount of magic power that could be supplied by such a large barrier, but she had no idea. "Well, it''s about the same amount of free magical energy (ether) that is consumed in Ars in 100 years. "That much? "Yeah, that''s what you get when you increase the size." Jin looked as if nothing was wrong, but inwardly, he was worried about the amount of money he was consuming. The difference in the amount of magic power required for a < with a diameter of 10 meters and a with a diameter of 1,000 kilometers is The difference in the amount of magic power required is 1 x 10 to the 10th power. This is a tremendous difference. "That''s what is supposed to do." "What do you mean?" <. "It is not often noticed, but the compression effect includes the alignment of the phases of the magic power to increase its efficiency. That''s what we need in this case." Erza thought for a moment and nodded. "The same idea as a laser beam." "That''s right. Sunlight is an incoherent light, while laser light is a coherent light. In other words, the efficiency is different. "I think I get it." "It will probably consume three to four orders of magnitude less." That much? Yes. Yeah. But it''s hard to control. I''ll have to ask Golem to do it for me again." Still, there was a glimmer of hope. "Four digits is a lot." 1 x 10 to the 10th power = 10 billion and 1 x 10 to the sixth power = 1,000,000,000. I think we can do something like this. "I agree." Jin immediately tried to make a <> using <> about the size of his pinky finger. "What do you think?" Immediately, Jin tries to start up the barrier projector with the <>. "What?" <, and it seems to have more intensity than the highest output, even though it is the lowest output. "Success! That''s what I''m talking about, Father! "Brother Jin, that''s great!" < The aligned, or <>, magic power at this time is just as effective as laser light. The effect is approximately 20 times greater than that of <>. Oddly enough, it was the same as the standard amplification factor of <>. "But it''s still not enough. ......" Six squared of 10 is still a long way off. "...... difficult." "It''s hard." "It''s hard indeed." Jin seemed to have lost his train of thought. "In times like this, I think it''s a good idea to change your way of thinking." Hearing Erza''s muttering, Jin also remembered something. "I remember someone saying that standing on your head is a good way to get an idea. And. "Stand on your head ...... stand on your head ...... reverse ...... reverse ...... I see!" Jin''s face lit up. "Brother Jin, did you come up with something?" "Yeah. "Yeah. It''s a reversal idea. Instead of putting the <> on Ars, we can put it on <> and fly between them." "What?" Jin explains, "The point is that the size of the <> should be smaller if it is closer to the debris. "In the middle, it would only need to be about 500 kilometers." "Besides, it has the advantage of being mobile." Jin nodded at Elsa''s comment. "That''s right!The point is that it is a . If we can protect the most affected areas, we should be able to get by." By the time they approach Ars, the addition of the large force field generator Force Generator will be sufficient, and they will not need <>''s assistance. Then <> can protect Ars with this <>. "Somehow we''ll manage around that." I think I''m just barely seeing the light. "Okay, let''s get to work." It''s just after 6:00 p.m. "Brother Jin, after dinner..." "Oh, yeah, right." Erza puts Jin''s body first since it''s not a time-sensitive situation. The same goes for Reiko. After a proper dinner, Jin enters the workshop. "Father, I''ll help you." "Me too." "Yes, please. Reiko, you take care of the materials. Elsa, take care of the frames over here. Thus, on Horai Island, they did what they could, not stopping until the very end. There are only five days left until the debris passes through the vicinity of Ars. 1269 - - 34-14 Reinforcement < was named . The name of the shield is derived from the Greek goddess Athena. The English reading is Aegis. The name "Aegis" is taken from the name of the Aegis ship. "What is the use of a wave regulator (coherencer) still ......?" < "Brother Jin, you have to take a rest today. The time is 10 p.m., and tomorrow he will have to start early again to take charge of the mission. "Yeah, all right. I''ll take a bath and go to bed." "Yeah, sure." Jin went to his bath. "Oh, that feels so good." As he stretched his arms and legs in the bathtub, he realized how tired he had been. "Father, you mustn''t strain yourself. Reiko, who is washing his back, also complains to Jin. I understand, Reiko. "You say that with your mouth, but I''m sure you''ll do something reckless again, father. Maybe... ...... "Please don''t worry about Elsa-sama." "...... I suppose so." I got out of the bath and went to my bedroom. The bedroom is a Japanese-style room, separated from the rest of the house by a sliding door. "Brother Jin, thank you for your hard work today. "Please lie down there, father." Reiko? Reiko followed me into the room for the first time tonight and said something unusual. "I''ll give you a massage." "What?Why all of a sudden? "After consulting with the old man and Miss Elsa. I thought it was for the elderly, but the other day you massaged Lady Elsa''s shoulders, didn''t you? "Oh, yes, that happened." So I decided to do the same for your father. She had taught Jin most of his knowledge, including the knowledge of massage that she had given to the director of the clinic. Reiko heard about it from him and decided to give Jin a massage using her own body which has a sense of touch. "I''m going to study too." "What?......Oh, I guess I''m tired after all. ......" Since manufacturing often involves long hours in unnatural postures, localized fatigue can build up. In Jin''s case, it was his back ...... between the shoulder blades. "Oh, that feels good ......." < In the meantime, Jin had fallen asleep. "You are tired, aren''t you? "Well, Reiko, thank you. I''ll practice next time. "Good night." Reiko sat down on her knees, bowed, and left the room. Erza turned off the light in the room, put the futon on Jin, and lay down herself. "Five more days......." Then she muttered something and closed her eyes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * It is now October 11. Jin was thinking about how to use his ample supply of and . "It''s great that just by inserting a coherencer in the magic circuit, the efficiency of using mana can be increased more than 10 times, isn''t it?" This is mainly true with regard to the effects of magic. "Of course, it would be good to use it for Reiko and the old man''s magic circuits (Magi Circuit), but it would not be a bad idea to equip it for the golems of Horai Island." The found this time weighs approximately 3 kilograms. Since I used about 1 kilogram for the <>, that leaves me with 2 kilograms. "For something the size of a golem, we should only use about 5 grams per golem." So, the first step is to attach it to Reiko''s magi-circuit. This will not increase the power. The upper limit of her power depends on her Magical Muscle. However, the power of the magic she can use will be increased tenfold, and the consumption of mana will be reduced to one-tenth. If it is limited to normal operation, it means that even in the low free-magic element (ether) concentration in the southern hemisphere, it is now possible to move sufficiently without relying on mana cylinders. This is a big advantage. Since the mana consumed in the overall operation is also used efficiently, we can expect an improvement of about 3 percent in terms of operation. "The last time you improved it, it is now even better. Thank you very much. "Reiko has been very helpful to me. Please keep up the good work. Yes, of course. Jin makes the same kind of improvement to the old man. Although there is no power-related improvement in this case, the consumption of mana is reduced, and the efficiency is increased by about 3 percent. On the other hand, the operation efficiency of the mobile terminal < is improved as well as that of Reiko. * * * * * * * * * "Yes, what is it?" "Oh, I see. Then we can use the large force field generator for the extra large ones." < Yes, the large force field generator is being carried by <>. "Couldn''t it be carried by a reconnaissance spaceship?" "We can''t afford to lose the propulsion of the Adriana right now. If it takes longer, you can do it there. . It was frustrating that Jin, on the ground, could not do anything more. "I''d like to make good use of that large force field generator when we''re done. ...... Shall we build another spaceship? Jin was thinking such thoughts as "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.... "No, no, no, now we have to tackle the problem at hand. Jin shakes his head and returns to his lost thoughts. The threat to Ars is, for the moment, a <>. have been dealt with. <> is in the process of being dealt with. For <>, see ....... "Okay, this is the one. < < "I know. Give the highest priority to the ones closest to the trajectory to Ars." < It was clear that the >. This was about the contents of the report. Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, the empress of the Shawlo Kingdom, acted immediately upon receiving the report from Jin. "<>......<>. Make sure that the lords of the various regions are informed, as well as the mayors of the towns and villages. Yes, sir, I''ll get on it right away. The Prime Minister took his orders, and quickly set about his task. No one doubted Jin''s words. Many of the heads of state and the aristocrats in the castle were receiving lectures from the Fuhrer, a teacher''s automaton that Jin had donated to the government. And it was easy to imagine the panic that would ensue in such an eventuality among the uninformed residents. It was on the 14th that the news was sent out to all parts of the country by fast horse and pigeon mail. * * * * * * * * * <>, you say? After receiving the news, a special meeting was called in the Kingdom of Klein. "A message from Jin Nido, Magecraft Meister and Lord of Kunlun. You cannot ignore it." The news came as a bolt from the blue, and the majority of the nobles could not conceal their consternation. "Isn''t it the end of the world that the stars are falling? Such was the reaction of some of them. "Wait! <, not itself. < The throne quiets a little at the words of King Alois III. "Imagine. Imagine the stars in the night sky. The degree of astonishment is as great as the difference between heaven and earth if you have not been informed of it beforehand. says not to put yourself in danger by making a fuss. "Indeed, in the darkness of the night, it is possible to fall and hurt yourself or fall off a cliff by running away. "That''s right. We must notify the various regions in advance to prevent such things from happening. Your Majesty, how reliable is this information? A young nobleman who has just recently joined the company as a senior advisor. "You know nothing of the Korun. Then I can see why you say that." "I see." Most of those present are aware of <>''s achievements and do not doubt his words. They were at least considering the possibility of taking action. This is the result of the accumulation of his accomplishments since he came to this world. * * * * * "<>, huh? An emergency meeting was held at the royal castle of Egelea. Count Kuzma''s face is also there. "This information comes from the Magecraft Meister and the Lord of Korun, Jin-dono. It is highly credible." "Yes. has stepped forward and said that he will do his best to prevent any damage to the surface, but it is our duty to ensure the stability of the people''s hearts and minds." "The Home Minister is right. We must notify the various regions as soon as possible. But then, what kind of damage could possibly occur? Count Kuzma replied. "In my opinion, it would be something like a Stone Bullet made hundreds of times stronger, plus the effects of a Flame Buster. "Hm. Count Kuzma was a close friend of the Kun Lun lord, wasn''t he? Yes. His friend Baron Reinhardt of the Shoro Kingdom is a close friend of Jin-dono, and his wife is also acquainted with Jin-dono. I cannot mention that he is a member of the Jin family, so I try to keep my expression casual. "I see, I can imagine that. Isn''t ...... a tremendous amount of damage?" "Yes, that''s why said he would take care of it. Still, there could be a leak, so he wants you to stay out as long as possible. ......" "Yes, I understand. We have to be careful." * * * * In the Kingdom of Elias, a countermeasures meeting was convened immediately after receiving the report. "Make sure that each lord takes thorough safety precautions. "I ask that you do so with the mindset of never letting anyone get hurt." In place of the sickly King Blitzen Skala Elias XII, the Dauphin Alphonse presided over the meeting and led it from start to finish. "At ......, that''s how it''s done." Therefore, the measures that Jin wished for were taken without much confusion. It is the same in the Kingdom of Selroa. "< Your Majesty! Send pigeons! Do whatever you can to frighten the people. And it was the same in the Kingdom of Franz. "We cannot take the information from the Magecraft Meister lightly. We will hold a countermeasures meeting immediately. * * * * You mean the news from the Magecraft Meister? The nations of Mitsuho and Huso reacted in the same way, or rather quickly, and countermeasures were taken. "Around the 15th, there will be many meteors. It''s not a natural disaster or anything. Do not overreact and do not get hurt. This was the notice given to all the residents. And in the northern lands, the lands of the Magi. "Word from the Magecraft Meister..." "Message from Master Jin." The fewer the number of inhabitants, the quicker and more thorough the countermeasures were taken. The trust and experience that Jin has built up over the years is now bearing fruit. No matter where you are, whether in a foreign country, a different tribe, or a demon tribe''s territory. Even if there were some doubts, there was no one who raised an objection, and the measures were smoothly taken. * * * * * * * * * * The status of the measures taken by each country was brought to Laojun by the <> and reported to Jin. "......Fu, it looks like we''re going to make it." It is said that in the past, when information about a huge comet snatching the earth was spread, there were rumors that it was the day of the destruction of the earth''s human race, and there was a great deal of confusion. Jin was a high school student who was told by his science (geology and astronomy) teacher that the earth would run out of air for five minutes, <>. Some people have committed suicide because of their pessimism. Jin wished he could prevent such meaningless panic. "The rest is up to me, huh? Jin left the laboratory and looked up at the sky. The sky was full of stars, and there was a faint glow. "It''s starting to look like a comet ......." Yes, the scattered fragments of the fifth planet Pengolta included what are called <> fragments and even smaller particles, some at the molecular level. They glowed like a comet''s tail in the light of the sun. Jin has never heard of such a phenomenon. "Maybe there is an effect of free magic element (ether). Staring at the starry sky, Jin thought to himself. * * * * "A mysterious light has appeared in the night sky. There is a position called "Astronomer. In the past, they used to use the movement of the stars to determine fortune-telling and good fortune, but now they are mainly in charge of making calendars. However, they are the ones who look up at the night sky every night and are the first to detect the appearance of a mysterious light in the night sky that had not been there before. "This may be the omen of the starburst that <> was talking about. ...... The leaders of the nations tightened their hearts. 1271 - - 34-16 The night before, and October 14, 3458. The island of Horai was in a flurry of activity. In less than a day, the would reach Ars. "Well then, I''m off." Jin said in the Horaijima command center. <>...... Jin D to virtually transfer into . "Hmm, I''ll support you here." Elsa was also packed in the command center, and was going to do whatever she could to help. In addition, Sky Squadron, the <>, had 300 Raptors with small transporter cannons attached, 20 Skylark and 10 <> aircraft with small transporter cannons attached, and the <> Land Force was ready to dispatch to each country at any time, in case of emergency. . At sea, the battleships <<<> are deployed to intercept the debris falling into the sea. Reiko and Edgar will be aboard Jin''s beloved aircraft <> and <>, respectively, to protect the airspace over Kaina Village and Horai Island. * * * * Jin D opens his eyes at the central bridge of the <>, and he is already surrounded by outer space. The role of the as a propulsion aid for the debris <> has been completed. "Ah, I think we can manage that now." The initial calculation was 30,000 kilometers, but after that, they used < to push the debris and increased the number of large force field generators <>, and this was the result of their steady efforts. Still, since nothing is certain, <> plans to deploy her newly developed <> to protect Ars from the effects of the shrapnel << extra-large>>. Right now, <> is flying alongside the debris. Her speed is 290 kilometers per second. The distance from Ars is about 13 million kilometers, and in half a day it will be at its closest approach to Ars. "As for the debris, are they all harmless?" Jin makes a final check. <. Everything is going straight to the star Celan. The large force field generators have been deactivated and will be retrieved after passing through the orbit of Ars. "What about the people we dispatched to each of them?" < "Good, everything is going well. And the debris? < "Right. I hope there will be plenty of usable materials." The Houraishima island has used a lot of resources in the recent disturbance. About 100 years worth of materials have been consumed. "Well, it''s not like it''s gone. ......" "Are the fragments?" <<<< confirmed again that <><<> has been neutralized. If there is anything, it''s <>. "I guess." Jin thought that there would inevitably be some oversight. "We''ll keep trying to find them until the last moment using our reconnaissance spaceships. We''ll just have to leave the rest to the troops in Arus." . And the hour passes quickly. "Alright, <>." < < At 4:00 a.m. on October 15, Horai Island time. It will pass 130,000 km away from Ars. The impact is expected to occur around that time, so about 15 minutes is all that is needed. Other debris will also pass around that time. Considering the spread of the debris, Jin judged that the next six hours would be the crucial time to hold on. Oh! "Oh! Such a voice echoed in the night sky of the Shoro Empire. It was the astronomical officer at the Palace of the Imperial Palace. "The stars are falling......<>, just as you said." That night, the emperor and all the other important people stayed up all night staring at the sky. Of course, they put up magical wards. Stars fell in lines of light in the dark night sky. One, two, three....... Soon it became an uncountable torrent of light. "This ...... is ......!" "Indeed, if I hadn''t heard it, I would have thought it was the end of the world. "It''s a beautiful view," he said. "It''s so beautiful, it''s almost disastrous. It''s the kind of view that makes you think all the stars in the sky are going to fall. In the capital city of Leusert, knights patrolled the streets, keeping an eye out for panicked residents who happened to catch a glimpse of the spectacle. "I knew this was ...... going to happen, but it''s amazing ......!" Reinhardt stood in front of his lord''s mansion << Ivy''s mansion (Lankenhaos)>> and looked out at the night sky. "The area is clear!" The soldier patrolling the area reports. It seems that my prior explanation that the stars were not falling but only a few stars were coloring the night sky had paid off. Three people were injured in the Shoro Kingdom that night. All of them fell down or fell into the river while they were walking around looking up at the shooting stars. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The same view was seen in many places. Kingdom of Cerroa. "It''s a beautiful view if you know you''re not in danger." "Yes, sir." kingdom of franz. "Oh, this is ......" It''s not so much beautiful as it is terrifying. It really isn''t the end of the world, is it? Kings and ministers alike looked up at the night sky, some in admiration, others in awe. Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea. "Hmmm, is this the light emitted by a piece of star?" "I think Jin-sama says so, Your Highness." "Each one of them is just the tip of a fingernail. It''s amazing." The Kingdom of Egelea, the Blue Lands. If Jin hadn''t told me, I might have run away. "That''s true. Wherever we ran to would''ve been pointless. But the view is both frightening and beautiful. Yes. I''m glad to see that everyone seems to have calmed down. Potrock, Kingdom of Elias. "It''s a great view, Marcia." "It really is, Dad." The light from the meteors reflected on the sea, it was as if the whole world was filled with particles of light. It was a majestic sight. The Royal Castle in the Kingdom of Klein. "Hmmm, so this is the scenery created by the star particles..." "That''s what I think, Father." Surely, if this happened out of the blue, it would be the end of the world, I can imagine. "But we''ve been notified in advance and there are still knights and soldiers patrolling the town, including the Kingsguard. There''s no sign of any disturbances among the residents." "Mm. <." The capital city of Alban. Captain, everything is fine here. We''ve been informed beforehand, so there''s no one in a panic. Yes, sir. Many houses are looking up at the sky from their windows... Well, it can''t be helped at least. Toka village. My Lord, are you sure everything is all right? "Yes, don''t worry. < "I hope so. ...... I''m sure the neighboring villages are looking up at the sky and enjoying the scenery. * * * * "Grandma, it''s a great view!" "Yes, it is. It''s like a meteor storm. I can''t believe Jin is doing something about this. "Well, it''s Jin, isn''t it?" In the village of Kaina, all the villagers had gathered at Nido Castle, looking up at the night sky, just in case. "This is a scene shown to us by a tiny piece of star that Onii-chan judged to be not dangerous," he said. "About the size of your fingernail?" "A fingernail?" "Yes. If it''s bigger, it might not burn up in the atmosphere and reach the surface. That would cause a lot of damage! "You''re smart, Hanna. Thanks to Jin." "Yes, I love reading books. ...... Oh! "Wow!" At that moment, a huge meteor called a "fireball" ripped through the night sky. It was only for a moment, but its brightness surpassed that of the setting moon (Uni) in the west. * * * * "That was a little big, wasn''t it?" At 100,000 meters above the village of Kaina, Reiko''s Pegasus 1 was dealing with a slightly larger piece of debris mixed in with the smaller pieces. They are firing the at debris that is too large to burn up in the atmosphere. "We have about five hours left. It is impossible for a human being to remain tense for that long, but Reiko, an automaton, has nothing to worry about. Reiko was instructed by Jin, and she was determined to protect the village of Kaina, Jin''s second home. 1273 - - 34-18 That night.２ < <, has contacted us. Horai Island is in the morning. The debris are coming from the night side. In other words, the debris was caught in the gravity of Ars and came around. is a space ship. That is, it can operate outside the atmosphere. Now <> is intercepting debris at 100,000 meters above the surface. <> that have reduced the number of <>. Ten <> were handling the debris <> and <> in far outer space. * * * * Two dazzling fireballs were observed over the Kingdom of Selroa. At the same time, numerous meteors were seen. "Oh, fireballs! "Stars are falling, fireballs are falling. Are you sure this isn''t the end of the world? "Don''t worry. This is what is expected. King Cesar was looking up at the sky with his ministers. The older generation is terrified, but Cesar stands calmly, staring at the sky. Yet, even he was not truly unconcerned, for inside he was afraid and wanted to scream out, but he suppressed his emotions with the force of his will. (, I must leave it to you now. ...... Please, protect this world.) * * * * There are three battleships and ten cruisers deployed at sea. There are not enough of them by any means, but they seem to be able to reach the surface ...... in time to shoot at the debris that is about to fall into the sea. "<> 1st main gun, <>. Elevation angle 76 degrees. Fire!" One piece of debris, which was expected to fall into the sea 200 kilometers east of the Elias Peninsula, has disappeared. "<> No.1 main gun, <>. Elevation angle 82 degrees. Fire!" One piece of debris disappeared in the sea near the middle of Horai Island and Kunlun Island. "<> main gun,<>. Elevation angle 89 degrees. Fire!" 300 kilometers south of Egelea. One piece of debris is gone. "<> main gun, <>. Elevation angle 65 degrees. Fire! 250 kilometers south of the Kingdom of Selroa. Another piece of debris is gone. "<> No. 1 main gun, <>. Elevation angle 45 degrees. Fire!" 400 kilometers east of the isthmus of Pazdekst. One piece of debris is gone. "<> main gun, <>. Elevation angle 59 degrees. Fire! 180 kilometers south of Onogoro Island. One piece of debris is gone. < The debris has been collected at the north shore of Horai Island, but at the same time, it is being sorted out in the strong physical boundary. We are also screening for dangerous microorganisms and dangerous radiation. If any are found, they will be sent to the Sun Selangor by the transporter on Horai Island. Fortunately, nothing like that has been found so far. * * * * That''s the debris. That''s a lot of speed." On the moon, Milowena was staring at the debris reflected on the magic screen. "And over there is Jin''s , isn''t it?" There are no debris that would come toward the moon. If there were, they would have been captured by and secured as materials. "Two and a half hours to go. ......" < and the debris crossed the orbit of Ars. "Ah! The shards split apart. No, they broke up. The elongated stony meteorite had been forcibly driven by a large force field generator, a force generator. It is thought that the force was too much for them. The orbit of Ars has passed, and the orbit of the main body itself has not been significantly affected. The large force field generator has already stopped, and is only moving due to inertia. However. "There are small fragments ......" The fragments that scattered when it broke off maintained their own intrinsic velocities. A quarter of the pieces continue to fly on their original trajectory. But three-quarters of the shards were still heading for Ars. * * * * "Adriana!" Jin D sends out an instruction, and the <> reacts immediately. He deployed his <> for just such an occasion, and flew near the debris. And as he had planned, most of the shards were prevented by the Aigis. However, a few pieces were not prevented and flew toward Ars. "Old man, plot a course for us!" The old man reacted immediately. <. Fortunately, most of them will fall on the uninhabited continent of Rasil. However, there are three dangerous shards. One of them goes to Mitsuho, one to the western part of the Shoro Empire, and the other to the territory of the Demon Tribe. The other was aimed at the territory of the Demon Tribe. Once and are returned to Horai Island, the old man sends them by transporter to the sky over their respective lands. * * * * "<>, we will now intercept them. Pilot Edgar intercepted the shard above the stratosphere, which glowed red due to the adiabatic compression of the atmosphere. "Fire the transfer cannon ......!" The sighting plane that Hitoshi had built and adjusted sent the dangerous shard back into space, this time as expected. * * * * The piece entered the atmosphere and began to glow, and from the ground it appeared to be a large fireball. "Oh, what is that? I think another moon has been born. "Oh, is everything all right?...... It''s gone! Pegasus 1, we found the fragment. Transporter cannon, fire! Reiko''s reaction speed and <>''s flight speed, as well as its targeting accuracy and the wide area of effect of its transfer cannon. Thanks to these, the piece that was to fall in the western part of the Shoro Empire was captured in the stratosphere, and was processed by the transporter. * * * * This is Sky 101. Sky 102 and I will intercept with the transporter cannon. above the demon territory, in the stratosphere. The force field generator is capable of providing sufficient mobility even in a thin atmosphere. Raptors 51 and 52 were near the shard. They fired their transfer cannons at almost the same time. The Raptor 51''s transfer cannon missed, but the 52''s hit the target and the fragment disappeared. Thus the danger was over. 1274 - - 34-19 Morning And the Skylark team from the Racir continent. We found the shard. Let''s get to work! Although it''s uninhabited, it''s still home to life. Plants, animals, insects. Skylark team did their best to protect them. One rather large piece of the shard slipped through the Skylark Squadron''s <. "Skylark 151, take care of it!" But the old man had had ten planes waiting at low altitude, just in case something like this happened. Skylark 151 received the order and captured the piece in two seconds and disposed of it in one second. At an altitude of 2,000 meters, they were right on the edge. "Piece found." It''s a big one. Look out! For the next hour, the Skylark team continued to deal with the piece. Piece found. Deal with it! The last piece was transferred at 11:00 a.m. local time. < The old man thanked the Skylark team. The damage was caused by the shock wave from the debris entering the atmosphere at very high speed, but fortunately it was only minor. * * * * * * * * * * * * < "Is it over? ......" Jin in Horai Island sighs deeply. The time is 11:00 a.m. The old man told Jin. "Yes, I will." Jin D stood up from the pilot''s seat and yawned loudly. Jin stood up taller and noticed Erza staring at him. "Brother Jin, thank you for your hard work. "Erza, good work." The two smiled at each other. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It is just after six in the morning in the Shoro Kingdom. The sky was white, and one by one, the stars were disappearing. "We can''t see the stars anymore. Reinhard sighed in relief. "Are you finished?" < "Yes, I think it''s over." "Everything is fine, isn''t it?" "Yes, it did. Thanks to Jin. Thank you, Jin. Everything''s fine. I''m glad you''re all right. Yes, Grandma. Dawn had already broken in the village of Kaina. No one has gone out to work in the fields yet, just in case. Even if we can''t see the stars anymore, meteorites can still fall. * * * * According to reports from <<<< watchers, there were no human casualties from the fall. "Oh, yes!" < "That''s ...... unfortunate, but it can''t be helped. There was no meteorite that crashed, was there?" The old man, who knew the hard work, praised Jin. "No, I don''t take credit for this. Elsa, Lao-kun, Reiko, Sky, Marin, Land, Cosmos, and Smith ...... all did it." < "...... Thank you. I''ll leave it at that. "Yes, that''s right. Let''s go with that. But for the rest of the day, stay alert." I think that''s a good idea. "Jin, you did it. ...... is great." In the moon, Milowina looked at the screen and praised Jin. "I hope we can go back to Horai Island when things calm down." Milowena murmured as she gently stroked the pendant-shaped sterilization barrier generator. "I''ll bring you a souvenir ......<> then, I wonder if there are any fragments recovered?" Yes, Milowena. There was no danger of them falling on us, but we recovered eleven pieces that could be used as resources. Yes. And are they actually usable? Yes, two were iron, three contained copper, and six were stony. The iron and copper are usable? Yes. Jin-kun must have used a lot of materials this time, so we should replenish them as much as possible. I understand. * * * * * * <<<< Adriana>>,We will start retrieving the large force field generator "Force Generator" and the Cosmos Unit>> The old man reported to Jin who was relaxing in the control room. "Yes, that''s right. The large force field generator cannot be wasted, and the Cosmos Squad must be recovered as soon as possible. <<>. "Yes, that will be fine." < "Please do so." After all, we have used more than 100 years worth of resources mined on Horai Island. Although we still have some stock, it would be better to replenish it. "What about the second wave?" < "I see." It is 4:00 p.m. Horai Island time. There were no more debris or pieces of debris falling on Ars. "Okay. I''ll go take a hot spring bath. Thus ended the <>. 1275 - - 34-20 After the uproar went around the debris and retrieved the <> team and the large force field generator Force Generator. It takes time to go around all of the debris, since the distance between the debris is quite wide due to their speed. But the benefits were worth it. , I was surprised to find that it was a whole adamantite ore. About one-fifth of the stony meteorites were titanium dioxide, or light silver ore, and a few gold and silver ores were also found. It was an ore of ......< that weighed nearly one ton. There was enough ore to fill all the golems and magi-machines on Horai Island, even if they were all equipped with <>. This is sure to stimulate Jin''s spirit of craftsmanship. < team and the large force field generator "force generator", heads for the <> debris collected between the 5th and 4th planets. There are many, but this time 500 <<> are present. The efficiency of the sorting is an order of magnitude better. But while almost all the metal materials or their ores were found, there was one metal that was not found. It is mithril silver. It is an indispensable metal in magical engineering, as it is mixed with other metals to make <-type alloys, and is used in the magical nerves of golems and automata. Only mithril silver has not yet been found. >>> Thus, the and the worked together to replenish the materials they had used. * * * * * * "Brother Jin, what do you think?" Jin was working on the maintenance of <> at the research institute in Horai Island. "Yes, everything is fine. Next, we''ll move on to Conlon 3." Jin is relieved to see that there is no abnormality anywhere after a long time of heavy use in space. > Jin was alone in checking the aircraft and the Sky team that had joined the mission. "Yes, I''m fine. I''m fine. I''ve pushed you guys too hard this time. I should at least check on them myself." Even though Jin''s ability allows him to 10 golems at once, it is still a very difficult task. Even when I point this out to him, he says, "It''s okay, I want to do it. Jin was the one who, in his own way, was not satisfied with this project. In his own way, Jin felt that he had been helped by the Horaijima people in the recent disturbance. I see..." * * * * * * * * * * "I see, so there is practically no damage? "Yes, my lord." Reinhardt was relieved that there was no damage or injuries in the village of Kurtz, Reinhardt''s territory. "You are very lucky, aren''t you?" "Oh, thanks to Jin, I guess." "No, that too, but it was you who saved the territory. "Bell ......" Then they heard a baby crying. "Oh, my goodness, little Yuri, you''re awake!" Bertje ran out of the room to feed the baby. Reinhardt, who was left behind, let out a small sigh with a wry smile. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, Erza! "Hello, Hannah-chan." Erza had come to the village of Kaina on behalf of Jin. "Where''s Onii-chan?" I''m still holding on to it. I came before you. "I see... it''s hard for you." Hannah looked a little disappointed, but since she understood Jin''s position, she didn''t complain any more. "So, how was the village?" "Yeah, everything was fine! "Good." The village of Kaina was kept safe by the Koshin, and could have been destroyed with laser cannons and magi cannons if the need arose. I had heard the reports, but I wanted to see it with my own eyes. Of course, Jin wanted to do the same, but he couldn''t let go of his hands, so Erza came to him. "Jin brother will probably be here later in the evening. "Well, that''s good. Look, lady!It''s already snowed on the other mountain. It''s the first snow. "Oh, really. It''s beautiful." The high mountains in the distance ...... are covered with snow all year round, so Hannah is referring to the mountains in front of them. "I wonder if winter comes early this year." If you look at the annual trends, you can predict the climate by the amount of snow that falls on the mountains and how well it melts. "But there are hot springs!" The winters were freezing in the village of Kaina, but since Jin had dug a hot spring, it had become much easier to get through the winter. "Hello, Elsa. Welcome." While I was talking with Hannah in front of Martha''s house, Sally walked by. "Oh, Dr. Salie, hello. "Are you making a house call?" Erza guessed so, since her adopted daughter Ru was accompanying her with a bag in her hand and seemed to be making a round of the village, but she was right. "Well. We rarely have sick people in this village. "That''s true. "Environment and diet are important. I agree with you. A healer is not a panacea. He can only help the patient a little with his healing power. For a healer of Sally''s stature, Elsa thinks this is a bit condescending. "But the doctor is ......." Sally controls Erza, who is about to open her mouth. "Oh, it''s okay. It''s not that I''m tired or anything. It''s just ......" "?" "I was just looking at the starry sky last night and thinking how small we are. But I guess I like such tiny people." Sally smiled brightly this time. "I think so, too. People are people. We can''t be anything else." "Yeah, I guess so. ...... Well, I''ll see you later. Luu, let''s go." Silent Lou bowed silently, and quickly followed Sally as she started to walk away. "Ru-chan, you seem to be having fun every day now that you''ve been adopted by Sally and the village chief." Hannah said as she watched them walk away. "You can tell?" "Yes, because you''re always smiling." "Yes." The sun was setting and the wind was getting colder. "Hey, Hannah, Elsa." "Oh, Brother Jin." Jin came from Nido Castle. "Hey, Onii-chan!" Hannah ran toward Jin. It was dusk in the village of Kaina. The sky was a sunset, and the clouds were billowing. 1276 - - 34-21 Quiet talk 68 After that... "Well, if you hadn''t told me, I would have thought it was the end of the world." "But it was beautiful. But it was beautiful. And scary, too. "It was." "Yeah, it was. I''ve seen the stars fall from time to time, but never like that." "My husband was just stumbling around, looking up, and he fell down the bank." My son fell and hit his head. On a civilian level, things were largely peaceful. "I didn''t think it would be that bad." In the Kingdom of Cerroa, the leaders had gathered for a kind of review meeting. "I''m sure there was no confusion since we were notified in advance." "No damage, Your Majesty. No damage was done. So far, so good. But Your Majesty, are you sure that Korun-kun prevented that star?I find that hard to believe. A young nobleman made such a statement. That''s understandable. Without knowledge, meteorites and meteors would be incomprehensible. And more importantly, we don''t know how difficult it was. "According to the reports that came in afterwards, Korun and worked together to prevent it." Cesar, the king of Selroa, looked at the documents in his hand. The old lord also used the name of his <> deus ex machina, saying that it would be too much to say that Jin alone had dealt with the nationwide meteor storm. "<> and <>? I wonder how much power they have. How can we be sure that they won''t turn their power against us? King Cesar was surprised that anyone still held such an opinion. It was not an emotional question, but a logical one. "It is a meaningless question. If they really want to conquer or destroy the world, there is nothing we can do to stop them. "But even they have their weaknesses. For example, family and friends. ......" "Nothing more. This is a royal decree. The king and most of his ministers know that there is nothing to be gained by antagonizing them. But it is also true that some of the new men who have been promoted from the ranks of the old and corrupt are still unfamiliar with the Koronun. King Cesar thought that such people should be made to understand from now on. This meteor will be a good opportunity to do so. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "So in the end, Jin-kun and worked together on this. A debriefing session was also held in the Shoro Imperial Palace. I''m glad to hear there was no damage. Yes, Your Majesty. I wonder how much power you have, Jin-kun. ...... We should be glad that it is not directed at us. The queen replies to the prime minister''s mutterings. "Jin, you yourself are a very friendly person. As long as we do not betray him. "I understand that. I hope this relationship will last forever. "Don''t worry. As long as we have the desire to do so. These words may be a little too hopeful, but they are also the true feelings of the female emperor. * * * * * * "Oh, you got through it all right, didn''t you? "Thanks to Jin-sama, I guess." Even in the alien lands of ...... Mitsuho and Huso, there were people who were relieved to have a peaceful day. * * * * The brain of Hourai Island, , is aware of the reactions of the people in each country. Too much power is sometimes an object of fear. Too much power can sometimes be feared, and certain forces may try to capture it and use it as their own power. We must avoid that the <<<< Jin Family>> will be targeted. ......>> The old man will try his best to keep the good relationship between this world and Jin forever. The old man will try his best to keep a good relationship between this world and Jin. * * * * * * Hmmm, you made it through after all. ...... That and his master are quite a force to be reckoned with, it seems. Yes. I had no idea about this planet, but should I be a little concerned? No, we''ll take care of everything. There''s no need to worry about it. I see. Then leave it to me. Yes. < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I see, you managed to avoid the situation. After the situation had calmed down, Jin had taken Reiko to the basement of 700672 to make a report. "But this island you named Onogoro Island, Jin-dono, I''m a little curious about it." Is that so? "Yes. < What''s that? It''s a reaction to danger. 700672 says that his , or , are overly cautious when it comes to danger. They are too cautious to deal with danger. I don''t understand why they sit back and do nothing, as they did this time." I see. ...... "Is there something wrong with him, or is he being told to do something about it?" What? "If you are receiving instructions, it is possible that the person you are talking to is not on this planet. The 700672 made a surprising guess. "That would make sense. , his master may be on another planet. And he may be sending free magic element (ether) there. This is just a possibility. Jin had some thoughts on the 700672''s speculation. "I understand. I''ll be careful. "Yes. That''s the best thing to do. Jin left the 700672. "Father, shouldn''t you have asked 700672 about the telephoto device and free ether transfer? ?" Reiko asked me when I returned to the laboratory. "Yes. I''ll figure it out on my own eventually." Jin smiled. "Yes, that''s why you''re my father. Reiko smiled back. "Well, all we have to do now is to go and explain to the countries. Why don''t you leave that to Makina? Reiko advised. Jin thinks that since Makina''s presence is fading, this might be a good time to make an appeal. "I''ll do that." The old man also offered his advice. "I should write him a few words of advice on how to prepare for disasters." < Emergency evacuation, stockpiling emergency food and water. It can only be done if the country can afford it, but Jin would like to help in any way he can. It was an afternoon when a fresh autumn breeze was blowing on Horai Island. 1277 - - 35-01 Material availability "Hmmm, I''m not sure if we have enough mithril silver in stock." Jin was receiving a report from the old man on the inventory of materials in Horai Island. > riot, but only mithril silver could not be replenished>>. "Hmmm ......" < as a resource to replenish the materials we used up for the spaceships, the large force field generator, and the transporter cannon, but for some reason we could not find mithril silver. > he said. "Then, I wonder if mithril silver itself is a metal that has very few reserves." "That''s too bad." "I see. What is its orbit?" up at an angle of about 40 degrees to the orbit of the Celanese solar system. Even if pulled by Seran''s gravity, it is likely to disappear into space by now. "Then I''d like to investigate it one last time." <> "Shall we send Adriana to investigate?" < Yes, please. And so <> leaves for space again, in search of mithril silver. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now, what''s next?" Jin began to think about again. "It''s weird to think that this Ars where we live is being managed by some unknown entity. <> < was not friendly either. It is not the kind of being that would protect the human race here in Ars. "In the first place, we don''t even know what they''re doing with the free magical element (ether) they''re collecting. "Maybe. If so, what are the possibilities? "But for what purpose?" <<>"Yes, but for what purpose? But if you need free magic element (ether), don''t you have to send it from here in Ars?" <<> "......Oh, I see. Yes, that''s true. There could be other facilities like that. "But then, how do they send the free magical element (ether)? The technology to send free magic element (ether) beyond space is something that Jin does not have. "I would like to study it." If it can be done, it would be possible to make golems and magi-machines that can operate in places with low free-magic element (ether) concentration without <>. "A warp gate, perhaps." "Yes. In any case, Jin thought it would be an application of the transfer technology. This is also an issue for the future. "Brother Jin, if you want to replenish your supply for now, why don''t you use the ?" Erza, who seemed to be preparing for a meal, expressed such an opinion as soon as she appeared in the command center. "Ah, I didn''t know there was such a thing." < is a magical tool that Adriana had created in the past to extract materials from seawater when she urgently needed them. Jin had never used it before, since it is usually more efficient to obtain materials from underground resources such as ore. "That''s right. I''ve never used it, but it''s a good opportunity for me to try to make it. And so, Jin began to build the . This is a magical tool created by the previous generation of Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, in her youth. As for Jin, he was a little interested in it. However, there is no way that Jin would have made it as it is. He had to make his own arrangements. "Like this..." "Like this..." "Brother Jin, why do you do it that way?" "Oh, this is originally a magical circuit that stores information about the target material, but it doesn''t seem to be very flexible. That''s why ......" I agree. ...... but it''s almost noon." "Oh, okay. I understand." Erza had actually come to call him to say that she was ready for lunch, but she seemed to have been drawn in by the unusual things Jin was making. The wife is becoming more and more like her husband. "Father, I am sure that this part can be completed by a craftsman (Smith). "Well, I''ll ask him to do it. Jin gave instructions to the craftsman (Smith) and moved to the dining room with Elsa and Reiko to have lunch. * * * * "Continue where we left off at ......." Ah, yes. Uh, it''s a magi-circuit that stores information about the target material. I made some modifications to it. I changed it to a circuit of comparison and judgment, and tried to extract the same thing as the sample." "So you are saying that if you put gold in there, gold will be extracted, and if you put adamantite in there, adamantite will be extracted?" That''s what it means. That''s great. That''s my brother Jin. Your father is amazing! The one that Adriana Barbora Zetsi had created in her youth was quite troublesome to adjust to a specific substance, but this improved version can be used by anyone. "I''m sure the golems will be able to handle it." Jin thought that it might be effective if the Mermaid unit used it in the deep sea. "First, let''s make 10 units and try them out. Three of them will be tried in the west, east, and north of Horai Island. The south is Tatsumi Bay (southeast to be precise), so he did not want to harm the fish in the fishpond by any chance. The production itself was not a problem, and 10 units were completed in one hour. Ames 20, 21, and 22, five-colored golem maids, installed them in the north, east, west, and west of Horai Island. They also manage them. These three units are set for the extraction of mithril silver. The remaining seven units, four of which are set to mithril silver and the other three to adamantite, are to be tested in the deep sea by the Mermaid team. "Here we go." Jin was immersed in a sense of fulfillment after completing his work on Horai Island as dusk was falling. "Well, tomorrow is Marcia''s birthday party. "Hmm, I''ve put it off..." Besides, some of the family members were in important positions in their hometowns and had to deal with the debris incident, so it had taken several days to get back to work. "But I think it''s a nice change of pace in a way." "I guess so." The same goes for Jin. After all the work we''ve been doing every day to deal with the aftermath, it''s nice to spend time with friends. I''m looking forward to it. "Yeah." Looking up at the sunset sky, Jin and Erza smiled at each other. 1278 - - 35-02 On Marcias birthday, "A little late, but happy birthday!" Happy birthday! Happy birthday, Marcia! "Thank you!" On October 19, Marcia''s birthday was celebrated by the whole in Horai Island. Originally, it was on October 10, but 5 days later on October 15, the day of the closest approach of the debris, we were not in a psychological condition to celebrate it. The celebration was postponed to the 19th because the debris was not in a state of mind to celebrate. "Well, I didn''t think they would actually open it." Marcia had thought it would have to be next year. "I can''t not open it, you know. Jin smiles. "I''m grateful to all of you, and I have to show it. "I don''t know. I feel like I''m always being taken care of by Jin. I guess it''s a win-win situation. Reinhardt interrupted. "We''re all in this together." That''s true. "That''s true." "That''s true." In his hand was a glass of wine. It was Reinhardt''s favorite white wine, Erlich 3454. When it is empty, the maid golem immediately pours it. "But this time it was hard..." Reinhardt opens his mouth as he recalls the night of the 15th. "We could do nothing but look up at the sky. But Hitoshi contradicts him. "No, Reinhardt and the others did everything they could to prevent the residents from panicking. "Brother Rai, that kind of low-key backup is very important. Erza and Hitoshi also spoke up against Reinhardt. "I''m sure Licia had a hard time too." "Oh, I''m sorry? Licia was flustered by the sudden rejection. "Yes, that''s right. ...... It''s true that the villagers were upset, but they managed to calm down when I explained that there was no danger. "It''s people like that who make you feel safe to go out on a sortie." Meanwhile, another member tells another story. "Oh, Juliana, you made me laugh. "Oh!" "Your cheeks are so soft. She''s so cute." Some of the women were looking at Juliana, the daughter that Bertsche was holding. "She''s already grown up so much, hasn''t she? Stearina says admiringly. "I guess a child this size grows up quickly. Martha looked at Juliana with a smile. "She doesn''t cry at night, she''s a good girl, thank God. Bertsche said shyly that she used to be a night crier. "Everyone grows up with parents who take care of them in some way, don''t they? "Grandma!" "Ah!" Martha''s comment was interrupted by Hannah, who was standing nearby. Hannah looked at Hitoshi with trepidation. "...... thank goodness." Jin was now chatting with Goose. (It seems that the old man didn''t hear her.) Hanna was relieved. Hannah was relieved. Then Reiko came to Hannah''s side and poured her a glass of citran juice. "Thank you, Reiko! Reiko smiled gently, "No, Hannah, thank you for your concern for my father. she whispered in a small voice. I''m sorry... "Well, now that we''re all here, there''s something I wanted to tell you." When the party was over, Jin looked around at everyone and opened his mouth. Jin, what is it? "Let''s hear it." Everyone looked at Jin. "First of all, I would like to add Zion and the rest of the demon tribe to the . You may think it''s too late for that. No one objected to this. "Kuhu, it''s really too late." Some agreed that it was a little late for that. Since they had visited and interacted with the demon territory many times, there was a strong feeling that it was <>. "Also, I''d like to investigate Onogoro Island more. Without any heavy-handedness, of course." "Oh, you know what I mean." Reinhardt agrees with Jin''s words. "I don''t think they are the ones to protect this planet. "I know. They didn''t do anything this time. Saki agrees with me. "I see. I guess I''m not the only one who feels that way. ...... Jin muttered to himself in a self-deprecating manner. "No, you''re not." "No, you''re not." "No, it''s not true." "No, it''s not true." "No, it''s not true," "No, it''s not true," "No, it''s not true," etc. and so on, the words of denial came pouring out from everyone. "Jin explained his origins clearly to us, and above all, he is doing everything he can for this world," said Reinhardt. Reinhard said. "That''s right. Jin-kun could conquer the world as he pleases. Toa. Jin, you saved me when we first met. You''re nothing like that golem. said Bina. "Jin, you know, in retrospect, you were very kind to accept my invitation even though it didn''t benefit you much, and thanks to ......, you won the race! Marcia said. "Yes, yes. Jin, you and that are just a bunch of fools. And Stearina. "Yes, that''s right!Jin-san is the one who suggested the way of my life to me! And Licia. "You''re my grandma, you''re my grandma! "Yes, Jin is Jin. And Hannah and Martha. "Everyone is ......." Jin was happy. "Jin is my husband. He is an indispensable person in this world." Finally, Elsa took Jin''s arm. 1279 - - 35-03 Plan Consultation Marcia''s birthday party ended a little after 8:00 p.m. Penglai Island time. Because of the time difference, the time is the most advanced in the known world in Penglai Island, so it was still early in the local area of the members of <>. So all of them were relaxing in the cafeteria to sober up. Since Hannah is a child and Bina is heavy, they only drank juice and did not need to sober up, but the other members drank cold water. Some of them were in a bad position to go back to their hometowns too red-faced. "So, Jin, what''s the plan?" Reinhardt asked Jin as he put his glass on the table. "Are you going to continue solving the mystery of the Antarctic?" "No, that''s on hold." Jin also drank out of his glass of water before answering. "As I told you earlier, I''m not convinced by ''s attitude, so I''m not sure what to do. "Well, I guess you''re right. As a former diplomat, I have to say that ''s attitude is obviously not right. At least, it doesn''t seem like he is protecting this world. Reinhardt offers his opinion. "I have a feeling that they are pursuing some specific goal. This is just a hunch on my part. "A specific purpose, ...... for which they are collecting free magical elements (ether), you mean." "That''s what I think." Jin and Reinhardt nodded at each other. "I don''t understand why they are still clinging to it even though there is no reason for their existence since their <> is no longer with them. Guth also raises the question. "But we don''t have enough information, so it would be dangerous to make an immediate decision. "That is kind of creepy, isn''t it?" Bina said with disgust. "After all, you didn''t do anything about the debris incident, did you?" "Yes, I suppose so. From what I''ve heard, it sounds like they don''t care if this world is destroyed or not. Count Kuzma agreed. "You mean to say that life on Ars has nothing to do with the act of collecting free magical elements (ether)?" Guth spat out with disgust. "Then why are they doing it in the southern hemisphere, where it will have less impact on humans?" The question was raised by Toa. "Isn''t it simply because the was in the northern hemisphere when they started operating?" Saki also expressed her own view. "No, that''s not necessarily true. It could also be because it would be troublesome if they came to investigate us by doing something unnecessary." In fact, Jin-kun sent a survey team this time," Toa said. Various other opinions were also raised, but again, a conclusion could not be reached due to the lack of information. "In any case, there is no doubt that they have technology that Horai Island does not have. At the moment, we have not been able to reproduce <> and >, and we have not been able to reproduce these two things." "Hmmm, there are things even Jin-kun can''t do, aren''t there?" Milowina looked at him in a funny admiring way. "Of course there are." Jin replied with a wry smile. "I''m sure Jin-kun will be able to make those two things happen somehow. Stearina also joins in, "I told you that. ...... Oh, I see." "What?Is it already done?" "Oh, no, no, no, no, I''m just trying to change your mind. "Change your mind?" "Idea?" "Yes. Instead of trying to reproduce the techniques shown to me, I should try to create the same effect in my own way. Stearina seemed impressed by his answer. "I see...you are Jin-kun after all." I see..." * * * * When everyone had sobered up considerably. "Since we''re here, let''s take a group photo. Jin suddenly thought of an idea. < "Oh, that''s nice." Everyone knew (and had forgotten) about the existence of a <>, so they nodded. "Yes, I''ll take a picture. ......" Reiko took the camera and took a group photo with all of us in it. Later, she plans to make more copies for all of us and give them to each of us. "Well then, Jin, thank you for today. I will take good care of this watch. Jin has given a pocket watch to each family member as a birthday present this year. "Well, Jin-dono, see you later. Marcia and Rodrigo left, "Good night, Mr. Jin. Good night." Licia left. Jin, see you later. "Jin-sama, I had a good time today." Bina and Count Kuzma left too. Well then, we''d better go home too. "Yes, my dear. Juliana seems to be asleep. Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt returned to their estate. Hannah and Martha, Saki and Tor, Stearina, Vivian, Goose, and Milowina remained. None of them needed to rush back to their hometowns. "So, what are you going to do, Jin?" Milowena asked Jin. He looked as if he was expecting something. "Well, I haven''t decided yet, but I''d like to go to Hale. "I see." Milowina listened unconcernedly, but the others seemed more than a little surprised. "It''s the planet where the ancestors of the human race came from, and there still seems to be something there, so I''m kind of curious about it. "That''s true." Surprisingly, Elsa did not object. "For that reason, I was thinking of preparing two 100-meter class spaceships using the large force field generator we have built this time." "What?" That was unexpected, apparently. "We don''t know what''s in Hale, so it''s better to have a force." "...... I understand, but..." "Then you can use the materials at <>. I don''t think we''re going to use it anyway." Jin bowed to Milowina''s offer. "Thank you very much. If I need them, I will do so. Jin then told her about the recovered materials. "So, we have been able to replenish most of the materials, and we have more iron and nickel in stock than before. What is missing is mithril silver, which we are trying to extract from seawater," Jin explained. 1280 - - 35-04 Two means of transition "I see, only mithril silver can''t be replenished. Saki says with a difficult look on her face. "In the first place, silver mithril is a magical isotope of silver, isn''t it? A magical isotope is an element in which the neutrons in the nucleus of an atom have been replaced by magicons, and it has a very good affinity with free magic element (ether). Mithril silver, in particular, is the most effective conductor of magic among all metals and materials. Because of this characteristic, it is used for magic nerves and mana-conducting wires. It can also be alloyed with other metals in small quantities to increase its reactivity to magic power. Magi-adamantite is a typical example of such an alloy, in which mithril silver is added to adamantite at a ratio of 1.5 percent by volume. When strengthened with magic power, it is five times stronger than adamantite. "I have some money, so I can buy some of it. Too much of it would drive up the price." "That''s true." "A kilo of this stuff would be gone after a few golems." One of the reasons for the high performance of the golems and automata that Jin makes is that he uses such rare materials in abundance. Of course, this is only possible with the skill to use them. "I''m sending <> to see if she can''t find a distant <>......<<>." "Oh, I see." There, no one will be harmed if we mine there. If we can find them. So, when we''re ready, we''ll head for Hale. Of course, Jin explains that we will sail unmanned until we get close to , and once we get there, we will search with our doppelg?nger, and once we are sure there is no danger, we will try to go there with the warp gate. "If that''s the case, I''d love to go there. "Me too. "Me too! "Me too! Goose, Vivian, Saki, and Hannah. "When you know you''re out of danger..." The distance between the two planets is twice the orbital radius of Ars, since Ars and Hale are located on opposite sides of the star Celan. That is, about 300 million kilometers. The actual distance between the two planets is a little longer, since they will have to bypass the star Celan. "Even at 300 kilometers per second, it would take about 12 days." It''s much more efficient to travel once you get there than it is to ride. "Well, only Jin can travel that way," said Saki with a laugh. Saki said with a laugh. "Well, we''ll probably leave after the convoy is completed, so that''s still a long way off." "...... In the meantime, do you want to complete the <> and the <>?" Elsa, who had been silent until now, opened her mouth. Jin nodded. "Yes. It would be nice if we could." "That is for seeing things in the distance, right?" Stearina opened her mouth. "And it looks like it has a ......<> that can see a great distance." "<> or ......." The mention of the <> reminds me of Princess Rieschen. "I remember that Riesh has a <>, right? However, it seems that the magnification is about the same as that of a normal telescope, so I can''t use it as a reference. "They are both technologies related to , aren''t they?" Vivienne said. "Yes, they are. When it comes to space, I''m only familiar with the system." "What?" A voice questioned Jin''s words. It was Milowina. "Jin-kun, you know about the warp gate system, don''t you? "Yes, I do. But they are slow to start up and consume a lot of magic power. "Oh, really?I know it''s slow to start up. When a transfer magic circle is activated by flowing magic power, magic power circulates through its circular magic circuit (Magi Circuit). As it circulates, it absorbs free magical energy (ether) from its surroundings, amplifying the magic power, and when it exceeds the required value, it is transferred. It is often thought that since it only needs to be activated, it consumes little magic power, but Jin''s research has shown that this is not true. "Warp gates are always activated for their operation, so they consume a certain amount of magic power, but this is not the case with transfer magic circle, isn''t it? Jin explains. In other words, the warp gate is connected all the time, so it consumes a lot of magic power but reacts quickly, while the transfer magic circle is connected only when it is used, so it consumes less magic power but reacts more slowly. Jin explained, however, that if we take out only the transition itself, both warp gates and magic circle consume the same amount of magic power. "In a warp gate, we give free magic element (ether), but a magic circle takes in free magic element (ether) by itself. In terms of labor, the transfer magic circle may be easier. "Oh, so that''s what you mean." Milowina seemed to be convinced. "After all, it seems that the amount of magic power consumed during transfer is not much different between a warp gate and a magic circle. They replied to Jin''s conclusion in silence. "But there might be a different effect between a warp gate and a magic circle, right?" said Saki. Saki replied. Jin answered in the affirmative. "Yes, that''s true. I haven''t completely compared them either. "Then why don''t you give it a try?I''ll help you." Stearina raised her hand. "Sounds fun." Saki was also enthusiastic. Saki was used to such comparative experiments. Jin thought that she might be able to give him some advice. "Looks like fun, isn''t it? Hannah said a little enviously. "I can''t use magic, so you girls are so nice. Martha quieted Hannah down. "Hannah, don''t beg for something you don''t have. Instead, think about what you can do to help. "Yes, Grandma!" Martha then tells Jin. "Jin, I''m going home to take care of Hannah. Yes, of course. "Hannah, don''t get in Jin''s way." Yes, Grandma. And Martha left. "Well, it''s already late at night here in Hourai Island, so we''ll have to wait until tomorrow for such an experiment. Before I knew it, it was around 11:00 p.m.. It was around 9:30 p.m. in the village of Kaina, and Hannah looked sleepy. "Auntie Meene, can I sleep with you?" "Yes, you can." Hannah sleeps with Meene. Jin and Erza will stay at home, and the rest of the group will rest in the guest room of the institute. "Well, good night, Hannah." "Good night, Onii-chan." The round moon (Yunie) still hangs over Horai Island. 1281 - - 35-05 Discovery The next day we started experimenting and experimenting again in the morning. As a result, we found out something interesting. "Miniaturization...... is more advantageous to the transition magic circle." The distance that can be transferred becomes shorter when a general warp gate is made too small. Specifically, a warp gate of the size used by a <> of 5 mm in height ......1 centimeter square would be limited to 50 The limit was 50 meters at most. On the other hand, the distance of the transfer magic circle did not decrease noticeably, even when the diameter was reduced to 1 mm. "This may be due to the characteristics of each." The transfer magic circle has an impulse-like behavior, whereas the warp gate has a flat behavior. This may also be the reason for the difference in the consumption of free magic element (ether). "Saki, thank you very much for your help. Jin thanked her while summarizing the results of the experiment. "No problem. It was fun for me too. "I learned a lot, too. Hannah was also smiling for some reason. And then she asks a question. "Hey, honey, don''t magic tools give off heat?" "Yes. ......" Jin decided that this question meant that when a magic tool works, does the energy that cannot be fully utilized become heat due to its efficiency? "I wonder if Hannah is studying enough to ask such a question. ......I should say that ordinary magic tools < don''t generate heat." The energy used by magic tools is mana. Unused mana is released into the surrounding space, so no heat is generated. To a greater or lesser extent, magic tools emit such unutilized mana into the surrounding space. A mage can sense it somehow, and a magic detector (magi radar) can also detect it. However, there are exceptions. This is the case when there are mechanical moving parts. In such cases, it is inevitable that frictional heat and heat generated by deformation will be generated. The same can be said for magi-machines. Strictly speaking, therefore, <>. "I see." Hannah seems convinced. "There aren''t many books on magic in the castle library, so I didn''t know that." "Oh, I see." There are no mages in the village of Kaina, so books on magic and magical engineering were rarely available there. "But it''s not a bad idea to study them. Okay, I''ll get more books next time." "Wow, thank you! Seeing Hannah''s happy face, Jin was also happy. At that time, the old man reported < It was good news. "Jin, that''s great! Now the shortage of materials will be solved. But the old man''s report did not stop there. < "Okay, I understand. <<>All aircraft ...... No, this is the time, send in 10 more aircraft." With this, the stockpile of metal and mineral materials on Horai Island would not only be restored, but would be increased by more than 100 years. "Now we can build without any worries." Since the amount of materials was going to increase rather than decrease, Jin decided to start the construction of a 100-meter class starship as he had planned. The basic design is the same as that of <, but the number of human facilities such as living quarters will be reduced. The spacecraft will not be a 10-meter-diameter <, but something much smaller. "The outfitting will come later. At 100 meters in diameter, it would take a long time to build the hull. And even more so, since it is a multi-layered structure. However, since it is Horai Island, the level of <> is not the same as what is generally said. * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and the others return to the consideration of the telephoto device and free magic element (ether) transfer. "But it''s not that easy. "That''s true. "Even Jin can''t do it so easily. ...... "Well, it''s really difficult." Jin was unable to think about it, perhaps because neither of them could be realized even with modern earth science. "I think I''ll take it slowly." It was almost time to drop Hannah off, so Jin decided to call it a night. "I''ll think of something, too, honey." "Yes, I''ll take care of it." Jin nodded with a smile when he was told this as they parted when he dropped Hannah off at the warp gate in the basement of the workshop in the village of Kaina. After taking a glance at the blue sky of Kaina village, Jin returned to Horai Island again. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Brother Jin, welcome back! Erza greeted Jin. "The first shipment of mithril silver just arrived via <>. "Oh." Since the silver has been roughly refined locally, ingots, not ores, have been sent. The amount of the ingot, about 200 kilograms, is literally a shining white and silver ingot. The specific gravity of the ingot is about 10.5, so its volume is only a cube of less than 30 centimeters square. "That''s great." At that rate, we will exceed our original inventory in less than half a day. are definitely very abundant. "Okay, we will mine as much as we can, and that will continue." < Then Milowina arrived. "Jin, it''s time for me to go back to the moon. "Oh, already?" "Yes. I''m gradually getting used to the environment here, but the gravity is still a little rough. Milowina was weak due to her advanced age, so , the management brain of the moon (UNY), had adjusted the gravity to a slightly lower level to reduce the burden on her body. Now that he is healthy thanks to Jin and Elsa, he is gradually adjusting his body to 1G. "Yes, you mustn''t overdo it, right? "Yes, I will visit you again soon. Milowina passed through the warp gate and returned to her home in Yunie. 1282 - - 35-06 Bold hypothesis Saki, Toa, Stearina, Vivian, and Goose were the only ones who remained. "Jin, when are you going to the demon territory? Saki asked. "If you''re going, I want to go too. "Oh, me too. "Me too." Saki, Goose, and Vivienne all offered their candidacy. "Yeah, I''d love to go. I''ll be there in a day or two. Before winter. The demon territory is in the north, so it would be best to visit before the snow falls. Toa and Stearina had decided not to go this time, and both returned to the Shoro Kingdom. "Well then, let''s go and retrieve the other one. "The other one?" Saki asked at Jin''s words. "You know, the material extractor we put in the ocean." "Oh, the one developed by the previous generation." Jin ordered the golem maid in charge to retrieve it. This was immediately carried out, and five minutes later, the "Material Extractor," a magical material extraction device, and the materials arrived at Jin''s hand. "Well, you have quite a lot of materials. About 250 grams of mithril silver and 90 grams of adamantite were extracted from the seawater. "That''s quite promising for two whole days. "Not in large quantities, but I think we can get a little of everything, Jin." "Your predecessors are very good." Saki and Goose were also impressed. At that moment, the old man spoke to him. "What''s the matter, My Lord?" What do you mean, "Can I have one?" < Tell me. and<> with this Ars, it seems that Ars has less underground resources. The debris is, after all, an internal satellite of the 5th planet. < <<>. "...... I see." < "<>, right?" Saki adds. < Someone who has a base on the island of Onogoro may be distributing not only free magical elements (ether) but also the resources of this planet, the old man concluded. > remained in Hale, that would be a good enough reason>>. "I see. ...... I see." One of the reasons why <> abandoned its home planet, Hale, was the depletion of its resources. If this is how they are compensating for it. < Therefore, they mined the resources with moderation and sent them to Hale. < As an additional note, the development of the southern hemisphere should not have progressed due to the lack of free magical element (ether). If they did some exploratory drilling somewhere and the resources were abundant, it would confirm the hypothesis. "...... is great, old man." Jin was impressed by the old man''s ability. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Beside Jin, Saki was also impressed. "Hmmm.... That''s a very likely story. After all, <> must have been the base of the <> ...... or at least a faction of them on this planet." Goose was also compiling his own information. "I wonder if they served both the who emigrated and the who remained in Hale?" Vivian questioned. "Perhaps they did. But the priority would be Hale, who was on the verge of extinction. Jin felt somewhat the same way since the recent debris incident. "Kuhu, we can no longer avoid investigating Hale, can we? "Yes, that''s right." It is still good for now, but if things continue as they are, there may eventually be a conflict between Ars and Hale over the resources. This is something that Jin would like to avoid. And if there is a conflict, ....... I will protect Ars.) No doubt about that, but I didn''t want it to turn into an interplanetary war, something that would be out of a science fiction novel. "Well, that''s a story for after we investigate Hale." For that investigation, Jin wanted a telephoto device. "Brother Jin, the point is to observe things from a distance, right?" Yes, that''s right. Then, why don''t we make a super-compact magic eye and control it remotely? "...... sure." This is a typical example of how we should not confuse the means with the end. "We should build that one first. And we can definitely make that one. It is an extension of the existing technology. Thinking about this, Jin had an epiphany. < is not because it is an extension, but because it is an interrupted technology, a technology that does not exist. "Maybe we have aimed too much at a single step. We have to clear the problems one by one toward the realization. I had forgotten such a basic principle and set too high a goal all at once. It was Jin who reflected a little on this. So, first of all, a remote-controlled camera, which he named <. Finally, the camera was processed and assembled by <> into a spherical shape with a diameter of 1 cm. The , an ultra-compact force field generator, enables short-range flight and attitude control, and the field of view can be zoomed. Like the original , the images are sent to a counterpart . Theoretically, the distance over which images can be sent is infinite, but in practice it is probably tens of thousands of kilometers. This is sufficient performance for a start. I think it''s safe to say that retrieval will be impossible." "Well, it''s a bit of a waste, though." Elsa''s typical opinion came up. "Based on this, I would like to think of something with even better performance." "I agree." That was all for the day. The rest of the meeting was to be held the next day. 1283 - - 35-07 Pre-production is going well The next day, i.e., October 21. Saki, Goose, Vivian and others began a deeper study of the relationship between <> and the >. Jin, Erza, Laokun, Reiko, and others examined the <>. "Hey, Brother Jin, about the illusionary wards..." Erza suddenly interrupted, "I''ve been thinking about it since yesterday. "Is that the magic technique to make something appear to be there where it is not?" "Yes. Is that what ............ is about?Oh, I see!" Jin clapped his hands together, realizing what Erza meant. "Now I see, Jin brother, that''s great." "Kuhu, it''s called ''heart to heart'', isn''t it?" Saki, who was supposed to be discussing the relationship between and , replied in a mixed tone. Erza''s cheeks flushed a little at that, but it seemed to be invalid to Jin, who was in the mode of making things. In short, Jin thinks that the <> used by <> and the others is a device that allows them to see distant images by using magic power to build something like a <> at a distant location. As a first step to approach this technology, Jin had been thinking about various <> type technologies, but he had reached a dead end. But then he realized that he had to go to a faraway place. "It is illusionary magic that draws an illusion of a distant place using free magic element (ether) waves as a carrier wave. "Hmm." The image is somewhat similar to that of a laser hologram. "If you write a magic circle or a magic formula (Magi Formula) instead of this illusion, you can create ......." "Yes, yes, I can see that it looks something like that." Saki is impressed, although she doesn''t understand. "Okay, let''s give it a try." Saki, Goose, Vivian, and the others stayed in the cafeteria to continue the study, while Jin and Erza moved to the workshop. Jin and Elsa moved to the workshop. "The scope of the experiment should be very narrow. It''s just an experiment. Erza helped a little, and the prototype was completed in about 30 minutes. "This should have the effect of emitting a ball of light at a distance of 20 meters. "Even if there is a wall in between?" Jin nodded at Elsa''s question. "Of course. The free etheric wave won''t be affected even by planets. Let''s give it a try." Jin points the prototype out of the lab and activates it. Erza ran to the window of the workshop and looked out. "Jin, it works. It glows. "Yes." That''s your father. "Now, let''s see if we can develop it from here. We need to increase the distance, and we need to be able to use more complex magic formulas and magic circles. "Brother Jin, can I try the one to increase the distance?" Jin thought for a moment and nodded. Then, please do it. It will probably come down to the convergence of the free elemental waves, so you might want to have a mini craftsman (Smith) help you with that. "Hmm, okay. Thanks for the hint. Jin then decides to try a magic that requires a more complicated formula than the <. "Well, <> doesn''t change the difficulty much. ......" Jin thinks of a magic that is easy to confirm the success. And. "......<>." That is the purpose. Jin <<> the magic crystal (magic crystal) that is the source of the illusionary wards. "This is also very detailed ...... prototype is fine, but let''s have a mini craftsman (Smith)...... or even a millimeter craftsman (Smith) do the real work." Millimeter craftsman (Smith) dedicated to microfabrication. He is a super-small craftsman (smith) of 5 mm in height. On the other hand, Elsa was also doing various things to extend the effective distance. She seems to be able to reach up to 10 km without any problem, but her performance becomes doubtful from about 20 km. The <> checks the <>, but it is sometimes activated and sometimes not. And one more thing, the place of activation is unstable. A slight tremor at hand can be a tremendous tremor at a distance of 20 kilometers. So first of all, Erza prepared a solid base and set the magic tool on it. This eliminated most of the oscillations, but they were still on and off. "After all, convergence ......" "What do you think, Erza?" As Erza was pondering, Jin came in. "Are you done with that one?" "Yes, I''m done with that one, and now I''m going to ask Millimeter Craftsman (Smith) to do the work." "Millimeter Craftsman (Smith) ......" Elsa gazed at him, wondering how precise the machining was. She realizes that in order to connect the tremendous distances, it is necessary to aim for a zero error rate. "The stability of the activation position can be solved by fixing the magic tool. But the activation is ......." "Ah, so it''s a convergence problem after all." "Yes." Then ...... It is a part of the magecrystal that serves as a to project illusions. It is essential to form its physical shape as precisely as possible, Jin said. "Indeed, I think so. "So, first of all, let''s make sure the crystal is free of defects. ......<>" "That''s what I''m talking about. I was going to ask the mini-craftsman (Smith) to do the geometry, but I hadn''t thought of the crystal structure." "No, I''m an engineer. Jin laughed, "I have experience and intuition when it comes to making things, but I''m no match for Erza when it comes to ideas. "Thank you. I''m flattered." "No, I''m not flattered. ......" Jin thought he was genuinely helped by Erza''s ability to come up with her own original ideas. "And anyway, let''s try this one." A little embarrassed, Jin looked at the magic tool in front of Erza. "The actual machine is adamantite ...... or maybe even hyper adamantite." "What?" You''re going to go that far?Jin continued to Erza who seemed to want to say. "Oh. It''s an engineer''s dream to have a perfect . And I think that would be a pretty good idea. The slightest distortion or deformation is a non-negligible error hundreds or thousands of kilometers away. Elsa thought she knew this in theory, but when Hitoshi told her, she realized it all over again. A telescope with a high magnification is like a blur when hand-held. "Fix the telescope firmly and with high accuracy. And so Prototype #2 was completed. "Let''s try it. Check it, please, Mr. President." Let''s start with 20 kg. Then, 30 kilometers. It was OK, too. And it is confirmed that there is no problem up to 100 kg. Meanwhile, Jin''s millimeter craftsman (Smith) informed us that the machining was finished. "Okay, let''s give it a try." Jin activated his magic tool. 1284 - - 35-08 Tangent Jin''s prototype was also a success. The images obtained were the same as if a magic eye had been placed 20 meters away. And it doesn''t matter if there is a wall or a rock in between. This is an unexpected effect. Come to think of it, it''s not surprising since we are using free-magic element (ether) waves instead of light waves. "It''s clairvoyance in the true sense of the word, isn''t it?" Reiko also has a function called "clairvoyance". However, it uses infrared rays, etc., and is only <>. It is not possible to obtain such a clear image. It would also be possible to see through it from a distance. "You''ve made something amazing! Jin thinks for a moment. "I wonder if <> can do the same thing to us. Jin thinks about how to prevent it. "A barrier, after all. Jin thought that it would be good to have a barrier that can cover the laboratory, the house, and the old lord individually, if not the whole Horai Island. <<<>. The old man says. "Yes, it would be. < separately." Jin was relieved to have one less thing to worry about, though he had to take a short detour. "Let''s combine it with Elsa''s prototype. "Yes." With a little work, it was done. "Okay, launch." We''re headed for the Kunlun Islands. It''s about 300 kilometers away. "Hmmm, I think we''re almost there." The most difficult thing was to adjust the direction. Even a 0.1 degree change in the direction would result in a large error at a distance of 300 kilometers. "Brother Jin, how close is it? "What?You know what trigonometric functions tell us, don''t you?" "Uh... ......" It seems that Elsa had never used the trigonometric function even though she knew it. "tan = b/a," she said. "Oh, so a is 300 kilometers, is 0.1 degrees, and the error you want is b, right?" "Yes, yes." Jin thought about the trigonometric functions in his mind without saying it out loud. "Then ......b = 300 x tan 0.1 degrees." "That''s right." There was a way to have the old man calculate the trigonometric function table, but Jin was saved by the fact that it was included as an appendix at the end of the book that <> Shuki Tsetsi had brought in. < The old man calculated it for me by showing the formula. "An error of just over 500 meters at 0.1 degree. ......" Elsa looked at him with difficulty. "I understand that my brother Jin wants the error to be zero." "Right?" Jin thought, "If this is extended to a distance on the scale of the universe, it may not be possible for a human to operate it. "A special golem or a semi-automated golem?" "Brother Jin, at any rate, I see an island that looks like Kunlun Island. "Oh, great!" While Jin was lost in thought for a moment, Erza had finished the adjustment. The image was a little shaky, but it was enough for confirmation. "Well, if we make it right, it will be practical enough. There seemed to be no problem with the near to medium range use. "And it also has a see-through function, or ......." Jin named this device . He really wanted to call it <>, but decided to hold back a little. With this device, I can look through the walls and see what''s going on in the room. We have to be careful not to use it too much." "Yes, I agree." Due to moral issues, Jin and Erza have vowed to refrain from using it lightly. Now, the main purpose is for space observation, in other words, for long- and ultra-long-range use. "Above long-range use, we need to make a larger and more rigid structure. Since the principle is the same, there is no problem in making it. "Old man, please consider the strength, the size, and the range. Jin and Erza took a rest, leaving the design to the old man. "Father, what would you like to drink? "Well, Citran juice. "Yes, Citran juice. What about you, Miss Elsa? I''ll have the same. Reiko brought them some cold Citran juice. But we managed. "Yes, we did." "Father, you''re the best!" Elsa and Jin lightly touched glasses and toasted each other. Reiko also gives her compliments. "Now all we need is <, ...... but to be honest, it''s not that important." < has a lot of weight in his mind. "More than that, we can make a powerful weapon by applying the <>." "...... indeed." "I don''t intend to use it much, but I''ll make one just in case something happens." We can use attack magic instead of <. It is also effective against the opponent at a distance where normal magic cannot reach, or through a wall. "It would be nice if we could select the magic we want. "Then, healing magic too." "Yes, that''s right." As Erza said, it would be very effective if healing magic could be used at a long distance, Jin thought. "Since we know about the healing magic, let''s add this device to all the people in Horai Island. First, Reiko, Laiko, Soleil, Luna, 5 colored golem maids, land, sea and air forces, craftsmen (Smith), undersea forces, space forces ....... And even larger ones for aircraft and ships. "I know it''s a lot of work, but please." Craftsman Smith is very busy. In this way, the war potential of Horai Island was further increased. 1285 - - 35-09 Summary Saki, Goose, Vivian and others arrived. "Jin, I heard you made a telephoto device. Goose spoke to him. "Yes. < "Oh?Why is that?" Saki wonders. "Actually, it''s ......." Jin explained, "And, the clairvoyant function ......." "What do you mean, it''s ......" Both Saki and Vivienne were a little taken back. "That''s why I was talking with my brother Jin about not using it casually." "Yes, I know. People are skeptical, so it''s better not to talk about it with anyone outside the <>." Goose said to be careful. "But I think if we use it right, we can find out what''s wrong with the body." Yes, it should replace X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, etc. "Oh, medical use. Yeah, that''s a good idea." Saki seemed to agree with me on this point. "Well, let''s leave the medical use to Erza. There are no accuracy or structural problems since it is for close range use. Since it is mainly a matter of ease of use, Jin decided to leave it to Erza, who would be the user. "Yes, sir." I''ll concentrate on developing the long-range version. Jin and the others are doing well. What about Saki and the others? < and . "Yes, it is just a theory, but I have summarized it, including your speculation. Guth spoke on behalf of the group. "<> came to Arus from Hale where the resources were depleted. There is no doubt about that. But from what I have heard, the individualistic <> lived in groups of families, or at most neighborhoods." "Hm." That was an interesting hypothesis. "Of course, when they migrated, many such groups would have gathered together to form <>. < might have gathered together to form a ." In this case, "territory" does not mean a territory, but rather a group of towns. It would not have been a <>. The would not like such an ." Jin listened with admiration, thinking that this was a very perceptive observation. "And then, someone arrived on the island of Onogoro as an advance party. Guth concluded by saying that they must have remodeled Arus and changed it into an environment that they could live in comfortably. "So much for the ." I''ll tell you next." Vivian spoke up on Goose''s behalf. "And then the advance party landed in the <> as well. < are individualistic, I doubt that the people who landed in the < didn''t care about the . Jin agreed inwardly. "On the other hand, is still collecting free magical elements (ether) to make its habitat more habitable. ...... and" Vivian continued, saying that it would be a leap forward from here. "They are sending free magical elements (ether) and ...... resources to Hale." "That''s your guess, isn''t it?" "Yes. And the rest is our guess." Vivian nodded. "We need materials to build a ship to emigrate from Hale, where the resources are depleted. They mined and sent mithril silver to this planet. That is why there is so little mithril silver on this planet. "I see." It''s a bold theory, no doubt. But it makes sense. "And the materials we sent out were effective for the who refused to emigrate. And even now, free ether is being sent to Hale. That''s all," said Vivian. "Well, that''s an interesting theory." "Well, it''s an interesting theory," said Vivian, "though I have my doubts. There is so little information available that the later we have to resort to fictions and guesswork. "I guess so." Jin can understand that. However, when you give us this much background information, it gives us a guideline for our actions. "I don''t know the reasons or motives, though. For example, why is the free magical element (ether) being sent to Hale? Moreover, if free magic element (ether) is sent, it doesn''t have to be from this planet. I wouldn''t think of going to check it out if such a mystery could be solved without us even being there. "That''s true. I''m sure that Jin will reveal that to us in the future. "If I could, yes." "And ?" Finally Guth spoke up. "You are the administrator of , one of the strongholds that the established here in Arus. However, your allegiance is to only a small portion of the <>." "What?" "The fact that he did nothing about the < uproar is proof of that. Perhaps the <> is not here in Ars. I''m sure of it, since he stiffened when I tried to ask him." "If he is, it''s either Hale or ......." "That''s what I''m saying. That doesn''t mean he''s on Ars'' side. Worse, they may not even be neutral. That means that they would do anything to the detriment of Ars for the sake of their master in Hale. "Okay. Thank you, guys." Jin looks at his watch. "It''s late already. Let''s have dinner. It was 6:00 p.m. according to Horaijima time. "Oh, this is delicious. The menu for dinner consisted of white rice, miso soup with fried bean curd, chilled tofu, boiled tofu, vegetable and white fish tempura, and fried eggs. All of them were Jin''s favorites and Saki''s favorites, too. "Hmmm, maybe I should learn to cook too. Saki mutters as she drinks the miso soup. "Aaru is so talented. ......" Jin chuckles and Erza offers a word of advice. "Saki, if you are willing to do it, don''t be greedy, learning one by one is a shortcut in the end. "I see. Hearing it from Erza''s mouth, it has a lot of weight to it. Elsa, who grew up as a young lady and couldn''t do anything, is now an accomplished housewife. "A work of love, huh?" "......, yeah." "Ah, Elsa. You''ve grown in stature, haven''t you? Saki couldn''t help but giggle when he nodded at her with a straight face. "By the way..." Goose, who had finished eating first, opened his mouth as he sipped his hojicha. "Hmm?" Jin, who had also finished eating, looked up. "What happened to the story about going to the demon territory? "Yes. Let''s go to the demon territory tomorrow with <>. I don''t think this will be the end of our research, especially since the free ether transfer is going to take some time. "I understand." I''ve been here many times, so I know what it''s like over there, so I''m comfortable with this kind of thing. "I don''t think we need to prepare anything in particular. Well, let''s go easy." "Kuhu, only Jin can say that, right?" Saki says with a wry smile. "It''s not something we should be talking about now..." "That''s terrible." Jin, who knew that she did not mean it, laughed merrily. Jin is more than happy to be able to have such a casual conversation with Saki. 1286 - - 35-10 Emergency Call October 22, 8:00 a.m. Horai Island time. Jin, Reiko, Elsa, Edgar, Saki, Goose, Vivian and others are about to board ....... The old man''s voice echoed in the plaza in front of the institute. "This is unusual. What''s wrong?" < "A typhoon?" This was the first time Jin heard this word since he came to this world. "Wait a minute." Jin dredged up his limited knowledge of meteorology. Low-pressure systems basically move from lower latitudes to higher latitudes. Tropical cyclones that develop south of the equator should move toward Antarctica. "You mean ......, right?" "Yes. ......" < "Is this possible in this world?" < "Yes. ......" Jin thought for a moment and looked at Erza, Saki, Goose, Vivian and the others. "I''m a little concerned. Can we postpone our departure for now?" "Yes." "Yeah. I''m curious too. Yeah. I''ve never heard of anything like this. Of course. Let''s check it out, Jin. Reiko and Edgar had no objections, and Jin and the others headed for the control room. The magic screen showed a swirling mass of clouds. "Right-hand side ......?" On the earth, low-pressure systems in the northern hemisphere rotate to the left, while those in the southern hemisphere rotate to the right. This low pressure was right-handed. "So why is it moving north?" << The old man shows the past course and the projected course together. The Shoro Empire was indeed on the extended line. "Wait a minute. 150 meters at that size? < "......" "Jin, as far as I know, we''ve never had strong winds, at most 15 meters per hour." < had, there is a bit about weather, and it says that a wind force of 7<> will cause <>. It says that wind force of 7<> makes it difficult to walk into the wind. >>The wind speed was <13.9 to 17.1 meters per second>. This is a relatively calm world, and it may be that the Goose lived inland, but the difference is too great. The fleet on Horai Island is retreating, but the fishing boats and other vessels of the nearby residents are a concern. "Jin, from what I''ve seen, ordinary people''s houses can''t withstand such a storm." Guth says with a sullen look on his face. "I wonder if even a castle can withstand a wind speed of 150 meters. ......" Not long ago, the Japan Meteorological Agency''s radar atop Mt. Jin recalled that its dome was said to be designed to withstand wind speeds of 100 meters. One and a half times that speed is unimaginable. It would be easy to blow away a human being, he thought. "How long, old man, before the Shoro Kingdom is affected?" < "A day. ......" An unprecedented disaster could happen. "Jin, you think you can handle it? Goose says doubtfully. Whether or not he would be able to stop Mother Nature''s fury. Jin does not know. But... "At least, if we don''t do something, we''ll be in trouble. That much is certain, Jin said. "But ......" The energy of a typhoon is said to be thousands of times that of a nuclear bomb. This is the same level of annual power generation in modern Japan. I wonder if we can stop it. "Brother Jin, what are you going to do ......?" Elsa looks worried. "In principle, it would lower sea water temperatures. ......" Typhoons occur in areas with high sea water temperature. And when water vapor is not supplied, they shrink rapidly. ...... is all Jin knows about typhoons. Then, <>?Or <>?" "I don''t think you need to go as far as <>. At the most, <>." <> is -70 degrees C, <> is a magic to lower the temperature to absolute zero. "But the range is too large...... to see how far it will work. I guess we should try ...... anyway." Jin thinks about how to do it. "Old man, let''s send out 500 Mermaid troops. < Jin ordered the Mermaid Squad to be dispatched. "We''ll think about the cooling devices. Send them there first." < will send them to the nearby sea area, and then they will swim underwater to approach. The coordinates were sent to us by the , so we were able to determine them easily. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well." Meanwhile, Jin begins to consider countermeasures. "I don''t think we need to lower the temperature to minus 70 degrees C, but I have no idea how much would be effective. ......" "Father, is it more troublesome than <>?" Reiko asked, looking at Jin with a difficult expression on her face. "In terms of lack of time, it is definitely more troublesome." The lack of preparation time is a disadvantage. That''s for sure," Jin said. "Then what do we do?" "First of all, we need to stir up the local seawater. Jin remembered hearing on TV that the warm seawater at the surface mixes with the cold seawater in the depths to suppress the evaporation of water vapor and cause the typhoon to fade away. He thought that it would be bad if the sea water was suddenly cooled down and the effect was unexpectedly felt in unexpected places. "How is the sea water temperature?" "There is a big difference in temperature. ...... Okay, try stirring the seawater with a "wattlestorm". < Operation to cope with the abnormal typhoon has begun. 1287 - - 35-11 Typhoon Countermeasures Mermaid unit started stirring seawater for 1 hour. "Oh, it''s working." But the joy is short-lived. "Hmm, I see." It means that they have been able to weaken it a little, but it is still not enough. Jin thought further. "Can we eliminate the clouds ......?" Clouds are created by updrafts. "It''s impossible to make a downburst ...... with a downdraft ......." Jin gave up on that side, saying that even if gravity magic could create a downburst, the scale of the target was too large. "Then how about cooling the thing itself?" Jin had read about the artificial rainfall method of sprinkling dry ice to make it rain. "Maybe <>...... or <> from the stratosphere would be better." "Okay, <> launch. Launch a series of <> shots from the stratosphere towards the typhoon." < Again, the shortened the travel time to the vicinity of the Shoro Empire, and 300 aircraft were sent out. < The part of the atmosphere where typhoons and other weather phenomena occur is called the troposphere, and the calm part above it is called the stratosphere. Volcanic eruptions sometimes reach the stratosphere, but cumulonimbus clouds (thunderclouds), which usually develop to the highest altitudes, stay within the troposphere. On the earth, the troposphere is located at an altitude of about 17 km near the equator, and the stratosphere is above the troposphere. In other words, there are no clouds in the stratosphere, and the sky is blue all year round. < The stratosphere of Ars seems to start at about 15 kilometers. Three hundred Raptor aircraft were launched from the stratosphere into the sky above the typhoon. The 300 Raptors then fired a series of freeze shots at the typhoon. "What do you think, old man?" An observation satellite, floating further up in the stratosphere, is sending us real-time images of the typhoon. According to the satellite, it seems to be working. "Good." Typhoons also cause flood damage due to heavy rainfall. Attempts to reduce the size of typhoons by reducing their cloud cover and cooling the air at the same time seem to have succeeded, albeit partially. However, it is still not enough. "Hmmm, still not good enough." "Jin ......" Erza also looks sad, as if it is painful for her to see her birthplace, the Shoro Kingdom, hit by a disaster. <, is about 30 kilometers. It may not be a big typhoon, but it is too big for humans to deal with. It''s bigger than the oversized <. "We''ll just have to chip away at it, piece by piece." Jin also dispatched 500 <> and ordered them to be <> like the Raptors. Heavy rain was falling right under the typhoon, exceeding 300 millimeters per hour. With the participation of the Skylark team, that number has increased to 500 millimeters. The downpour, which could easily be described as a waterfall, pounded the surface of the ocean and cooled its temperature. "Oh, it''s starting to work." It would be another 18 hours or so before they would be able to come ashore. Elsa''s brow is open. "Keep going." < From the air, 800 aircraft were freezing the water, and underwater, 500 mermaids were stirring the seawater. After five hours of this, the typhoon was visibly fading. "Well, everything is going well." Jin sighed. At this rate, we should be able to make it. "Jin, that''s great! Jin, you did it! Jin, you did it! The three of them had refrained from getting involved in these measures, but now they were finally relieved and showed their joy. "We can''t let our guard down yet, though. Jin, however, relaxed his body, knowing that the biggest crisis was over. It was a little before 1:00 p.m. Have a bite to eat, father. You can have one, too." Reiko brought me a sandwich. "Thank you." Jin got a ham sandwich and Elsa got an egg sandwich. Guth got a topopo salad sandwich, Saki got a pork cutlet sandwich, and Vivien got a tuna sandwich. "Here you go, too. Citran juice with carbonated water was also served. It refreshed my palate and made me feel as if the heavy atmosphere of the past was completely renewed. "Oh, that was delicious. Thank you, Reiko. "Thank you, Reiko." "It was delicious." After thanking Reiko, everyone stares at the magic screen. There they see a torn and disintegrated typhoon cloud. "...... got it." Jin let out a small sigh of relief, leaned back against the back of his chair, and stretched out. "Oh, I''m so relieved. ......" "Thanks for your help, Jin." "But how could such a typhoon have occurred?" Jin called it a for convenience. "Artificial......?" ...... ...... ...... ...... Everyone, including Jin, looked at me as if they were not surprised. "A typhoon crossing the equator. That''s not normal. ......<>?" More than that, it is a frightening feat of engineering to create a typhoon and determine its path. >. "Undetectable force, or ...... they still have some hidden technology." < "Yes. If that''s the case, there''s a chance they''ll try something else." "He''s a total pain in the ass!" Saki, I don''t think "nuisance" is the right word. "...... agree." Jin and the others braced themselves for a vague premonition. 1288 - - 35-12 Finally Departure Well, it took you a while, but it looks like you were able to handle the storm. Do you have the knowledge and the technical means to do so? * * * * "......1... I''ve lost a day..." Jin blurted out while eating dinner at a restaurant on Horai Island. Erza asks Jin a question. "If that was a man-made typhoon and <> caused it, what was its purpose? "To see what we''re up to, in all likelihood. "...... You have a bad character!" Saki is indignant. < "......You''re right. If there were so many beings with such a technology, it would be irresistible. "In any case, it''s dangerous to think about its purpose. Goose says seriously. Jin agreed. "Yes, of course. "If it was who did it, it was to know the current state of this world, and more importantly, to know the power of rather than Jin''s ......." < The old man agreed with him. Jin also decided to think about it on the assumption that the other party is . "Mr. Goose, I want you to put the shield you put up between the laboratory and the island of Onogoro. He was not sure if this would prevent them from using their <>, but he did not want them to know about his intentions. "So far, <> doesn''t know much about us. ......" I am a little worried that they will find out about us in no time if they want to. "You should put up a barrier for yourself, too, old man." Jin thought about it. Jin thought about it. "I think we need to do something while they are still licking our chops, but I can''t find a way to do it. I mean, I can''t think of anything but all-out war," Jin said. "I guess. You said they wouldn''t listen to you." Goose also looked at Jin with a difficult expression on his face. "Can''t we negotiate with them somehow?" "Not unless they''re willing to do so. Saki also said with a sigh. "Brother Jin, why don''t you use the peepers?" Erza suggested. "Well, I don''t know. If they can sense us, we will be exposing one of our own. < "Then, <>...... can''t move freely, so ......." "I guess." It is a difficult choice. "If he tries to mess with me one more time, shall I use <>?" "Hmmm...in that case..." Jin let out a sigh. "I was going to go to the demon territory, but you interrupted me." "No, indeed." We''ll have to see what they say. "But I hope they won''t kidnap any of the <> members..." Jin says worriedly. "...... If they do, Jin will do his best to crush them. "Yes, I think he would." "I''m sure he will, Jin-kun." "You''re Jin, after all." I''ll be the one to lead the charge then. Even Reiko started talking nonsense. "I hope it doesn''t come to that. ......" * * * * The old man said. "But... ......" "That may be so, but ......" Jin is not convinced. "...... is that so?" < "That''s true." The old man''s enthusiastic suggestion was accepted, and Jin decided to go to the demon territory the next day, although the trip was postponed by one day. "We''ll go with you. "As long as we don''t go too far from the warp gate at Conlon 3. "I agree. I don''t like the idea of being pushed around by these people. As for me, I''m glad I wanted to go. The other members of the group, except for Jin, also wanted to go and were enthusiastic. As a last stand, Jin and Erza decided to use their . The two were in the same room, and they were both wearing the same clothes. "Well then, take care." With Jin and Erza watching over them, <> soared into the sky of Horai Island. After rising about five meters, it disappears. <, they used the Invisibles. Jin and Erza go to the control room and activate their <>. The two looked away, and this time they opened their eyes inside <>. "Come on, let''s go to the demon territory at top speed. "......" Goose and the others only chuckled. flew through the blue sky. * * * * At 10 a.m. local time, <> was above the demon territory. "First of all, let''s go to . They are the oldest and closest clan. Since they had visited us before to report their marriage, we were able to land without surprising them this time. Jin D. is the first to get off the and waves. "Oh! It''s Jin Dong! I''ve heard about you, but you really have built a flying vehicle! Some of them are seeing it for the first time. "As expected of the Magecraft Meister! < clan praised Jin. A familiar face made his way through the crowd. Jin! It was Zion. 1289 - - 35-13 With the Magic Territories... Zion, it''s been a long time. It''s been a while. You should come visit us sometime. Jin and the others have left Conlon 3 and are on their way to the village of the Morura clan. "I''d love to, but I''m busy with other things. Jin says, to which Zion responds. "Ah!I heard that Jin intercepted the meteor shower the other day so that it would not fall on the surface of the earth!Thank you!" "Oh, no, what?" "What?" "You''re not making any sense, are you?" While we were having this conversation, we arrived at the village. The village was bustling with people. "It''s so lively. Is it a festival? "No, it''s not. They''re welcoming the ...... djinn because he''s here. What? What? Jin is a , so he''s always welcome here. Besides," Zion continued. "We had a good harvest this fall. Now that we are self-sufficient and on the right track, we can get through the winter in peace. Just as Sion explained this, Sion''s mother Rorona and Magecraftsman Marikka greeted Jin. "Jin-sama, welcome! Jin-sama, welcome! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was just after the harvest that day, and a big feast was held from noon. "Thanks to Master Jin, we will be able to survive this winter. The same goes for the other clans." The greenhouse made of transparent cubic zirconia will also be put to good use from now on. "It''s nice to know that we can harvest crops even in winter." Lorona smiled and bowed to Jin. "And the <> are doing a great job! Marikka said while chewing. Jin was also happy that his advice and works were helping others. "By the way, where is Istaris? Jin suddenly noticed that one of the familiar faces was missing. "Oh, my sister. ...... ugh." "?" Zion smiles meaningfully and Jin can''t help but tilt his head. "Istaris is dating the <>, Mr. Belialus." Their mother, Rorona, quietly told Jin. "Oh, I didn''t know that." It was a bit of an unexpected combination. However, Jin thought that since his sister Archel had been found, Belial had been relieved of his burden and was now able to have this kind of relationship with her. "By the way, Mr. Goose, you know a lot of things, don''t you? When he looked at Goose, he saw him chatting with Bardius, the chief, and Radeous, Zion''s father, and others. Listening to the interrupted conversation, it seemed that they were listening to various folklore passed down in the clan. Similarly, Vivian seemed to be listening to the elderly members of the clan. "Brother Jin!" Then Erza arrives. < clan. Saki, too, is surrounded by many people and seems to have settled in well. At the right moment, Jin told the chief, Bardius, the purpose of his visit. "As a second step toward friendship, I would like to invite some of you to my territory. "Oh, that would be great! Who are you inviting to ......? Jin has an idea of who it is and why he has chosen them, and speaks up. "Theon, in the sense that he was the first person I met. And Marikka because I want her to learn many things as a magecraftsman. "Oh, I see. I understand. He had originally wanted to ask Istaris to join, but Jin thought it would have to wait until the next time. "What?We can go to Jin''s territory again?I''m looking forward to it." Zion, who was listening to the conversation beside him, smiled happily. Marikka was also called by the chief to hear the story, and answered with a chewing sound, "I am honored," though she was a little puzzled. After that, Jin and his group made appearances to other clans, such as <>, <>, <>, and so on. They had only been informed of his marriage to Erza, but they all congratulated him and his family. Three days later, Jin and the others returned to the clan of . * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm, the level of technology seems to be somewhat distorted. ......" Meanwhile, in the Shoro Kingdom, there was a traveler dressed a little out of place. "I knew that culture and civilization had degenerated after the decrease in free magic element (ether) that occurred about 300 years ago, but I didn''t expect ...... so much." He wanders around the town, muttering to himself inaudibly to others. This is Toronum, a provincial city in the Shoro Kingdom. It is located to the west of the capital, Leuthart, and has intersecting streets, so it is quite busy. "Magic tools are low grade. The materials in circulation are second-rate. It was not considered a threat by any stretch of the imagination." After walking around for half a day, the traveler came to a conclusion. "I have to conclude that the golem called is clearly different. It sounds as if he is talking to someone. "If so, there must be who is the source of this foreignness. The traveler starts to walk slowly. "...... I guess we''ll find out when we get to the capital, Reuthert." His steps are sure, and he is heading out of the city, despite the sky that is beginning to darken. I wonder if he noticed that another figure was following behind him, hiding. The two disappeared into the darkness of the night. The two disappeared into the darkness of the night. "Well then, thank you very much for your help. "No, no, it''s nothing at all. Jin-sama, please take good care of Zion and Marikka. Of course. Zion, you''d better behave yourself. I know. I know. I''m off. Marikka, don''t bother Gin-sama. Hey! Saki, come again. Yes, thank you. "Mr. Goose, we''ll talk again. "Thank you." Vivien, you''re always welcome here. Thank you very much. After this exchange, Jin and his party, including Zion and Marikka, boarded the and headed south. 1290 - - 35-14 Mysterious Traveler Leaving the demon territory, first sets out for the village of Kaina. On the way, Zion and Marikka are engrossed in the view. Zion had ridden in an airship before, but no matter how many times he had ridden in one, the view from the sky seemed to be exceptional. And then... "Wow, that''s amazing!Oh, that''s the Great Gorge, isn''t it!" Crawling on the floor window, Marikka continued to look down. lands in the square in front of Nido Castle. Hannah has arrived there. She is the first one to spot the approaching and rushes over to it. "Hello, sweetie!You have a visitor?" "Oh, uh, ...... Hannah-chan, right?" Zion knew Hannah''s face since she had come to the village of Kaina to help with the food crisis in the demon territory. "Ah, there''s Zion!Welcome!" Marikka, on the other hand, comes down last, hiding behind Saki. "Vivienne!Saki oneechan ...... Oh, is that you?Is there another one?" "Oh, no, Marikka. I have to say hello." "Uh, um, I''m Marikka. I''m Marikka, Gin-sama''s ...... I''m an apprentice, I guess you''d call me. "Oh, really?I''m Hannah. Welcome, Marikka! Hannah''s a shy girl and Marikka''s a shy girl. Maybe it''s a surprisingly good match, Jin thought. There is a reason why Jin brought Zion and Marikka here for a while. He wanted to introduce them to the peaceful village of Kaina first, as he hoped to eventually bring about a reconciliation between the demons and our countries. Jin is unaware that the village of Kaina is too special. "Jin, we are going home. After a short break at Nido Castle, Saki, Goose, and Vivian said they were going back. "I want to summarize what we heard in the demon territory. "Hmmm...okay. "Well, I''ll see you later." "Yeah, see you later." The warp gate is the reason why they can say "see you later". By now, the members of the Jin family were accustomed to doing so. "Well, let me show you around the village." "Yes, please, Jin. "Come on, Marikka." "Uh, yes." Hannah leads Marikka by the hand along the road to the village of Kaina. Marikka is a little taller than Hanna, but Hanna is 50 years old, which is 10 years older than Marikka on our side of the world. She and Hannah are a perfect match. "You look like you''re having a good time, Hannah-chan. As he walks with Jin and the others, Zion looks at him as if he is seeing something unusual. Hannah is a good girl. This is a nice village too. "It really is." Sion had not seen much of the village life since he had stayed at Nido Castle before. He had not seen much of the village life since he had stayed at Nido Castle before. "Hmm, the material is carbon steel. But the quality is poor. Too much phosphorus and sulfur." The mysterious traveler entered a passing arms shop and looked at the swords on display. "...... sir, how about this sword?" The shopkeeper, a little offended by his muttering, offers him another sword. "Hm?This one. ...... hmm, it''s a little better. But the metallurgy is not refined enough. The traveler gives a negative comment at the first glance. After such a series of comments, the owner of the store could no longer remain silent. "Hey, you keep on asking me questions, even though you have no intention of buying!Get out of here! But the traveler was unperturbed, "I''m leaving without your say-so. There is nothing more to see." He left the store at a quick pace, saying, "What the hell is this? ......What the hell is this?" With a sharp snort, the owner swore at the traveler''s back. This is Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. Surprisingly, the mysterious traveler had walked all night, not sleeping or resting for more than 100 kilometers, and had arrived in Loizart. He had arrived in Reuthert and was looking around the town of Reuthert. "The culture seems to be a little more advanced than in the previous town, but that''s within the margin of error. This is to be expected in a capital city. The traveler walks around talking to himself in a voice that no one can hear. "I wonder where I can find a golem?" No answer. The traveler walks slowly. Passing through the merchant district, he heads for the noble district, and in front of him is a guard station. "Hmm, you are a man of combat. It''s not a bad idea to see what he can do. The mysterious traveler does not stop walking. A guard in the guard station comes out. "What do you want?" The guards of Leuthart are like policemen in modern Japan. Even though there is a guard station at the border between the noble district and the merchant district, it is not a guard. Ordinary people can go to the noble district without being subjected to any kind of punishment. However, there are exceptions. There are exceptions, however. And the mysterious traveler was too suspicious. He never stops walking, never replies to anyone, and just walks <>. "And stop!" But the mysterious traveler does not stop. I said stop! "What''s wrong?" At the guard''s loud voice, another soldier appears from the back of the cell. He is startled. A man walks up to him with no expression on his face. It''s creepy, to say the least. "I can''t stop no matter how much I tell you!" The mysterious traveler had walked so close to the station that no explanation was needed. "It''s unavoidable." The guard drew his sword. "Come any closer and I''ll cut you down!" But the traveler kept moving. "d*mn!" The guard slashes at the legs of the oncoming traveler. It was supposed to be ....... "What?" Heaven and earth seemed to be upside down. The guard is thrown away. And he falls back to the ground. "Gah!" All the air in his lungs was expelled, and the guard fainted. "What the hell!What the hell is he doing? The other soldier drew his sword, and this time he took it easy on the guard. But... "What ......?" The mysterious traveler had caught the sword with his bare hand. "Aaaaah!" And then he twisted it. The soldier''s arm is broken. "Too weak. How is this going to help the security?" No one answered. 1291 - - 35-15 Courtesy and impolite "Go, golem! A soldier, his sword caught and his arm broken, shouts, and a golem for general security emerges from the back of the room. "Take that man into custody!I don''t care if you hurt him!" The golem silently moves toward the mysterious traveler. The traveler releases the soldier''s arm and turns to face the golem. "Let''s see what you can do!" Then he stretched out his arms. "What? The soldier looked at him, holding his broken arms. The mysterious man and the golem are clasping each other''s hands in a contest of strength. Yes, a contest of strength. A golem and a human. No, at this point, we know that the man is not a man. The golem is outmatched. "Well, this is about as good as it gets. It looks like it''s made of carbon steel. The man says this, and then he twists off the golem''s arm. At the same time, he fires a front kick that blasts the golem away. The golem was kicked, and the man blew the golem up to the packing room, destroying it and stopping it. "Boring. This is how you protect your country. ......?" The mysterious man''s gaze turned to the sky. "Is that a ...... hot air balloon?Is this the level of civilization you think you have?" It was two hot air balloons patrolling the town of Leuthart from above. "Hmm, it''s still a bit odd, but I guess that''s what a ...... crappy civilization is like." The tone of voice returned to normal and the mysterious man turned himself around. "Wait ......, wait ......." A soldier with a broken arm calls out, his face twitching in pain. But the mysterious traveler walks away without looking back. He heads for the noble district. "If he''s a nobleman, maybe he can still give us some information..." "I''m going to ...... to ........." The soldier fainted from the pain. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * < On Horai Island, the old man was watching the mysterious traveler''s every move through the eyes of the fifth column (Quinta), Regulus 46, a.k.a. <>, who had followed him. < The fifth column (Quinta) in charge of Reuthert, Capella 7, a.k.a. <>, was just there, so I had him healed with healing medicine and intermediate level healing magic that can also heal broken bones. He gave her a healing potion and an intermediate level healing spell < that can heal broken bones. "Hmm, I don''t see anyone walking around. The building doesn''t look any different. ...... hmm? The time is 3:00 pm. A mysterious traveler, or rather an automaton, stops in front of a certain house. "This mansion ...... looks a little like any other, but the strengthening magic on the walls is on a different level from the others. The owner of the house was Jin. "Should we enter through the gate or climb over the wall? After a moment''s hesitation, the man suddenly punched the wall. But the wall did not budge. "As I thought. It''s going to take a lot of effort to break it down, even if I do my best. muttered the man ......, and the mysterious automaton seems to have decided to enter through the gate. But the gate is closed. "Hmm, the gate is not made of carbon steel. It is nickel-chromium steel. And it has been carefully reinforced. Then Ames 102, a five-colored golem maid who had been tending the garden, came in. "Can I help you?" She responds through the latticed gate. "...... I would like to see my master." Her tone is arrogant. "Do you have an appointment?" "No, I don''t have any." "I''m sorry, sir. My husband is not at home at the moment. ...... Then let me wait inside. No, sir. Why not? I don''t understand your intention. I''m not a good squire to let such a man in. The mysterious automaton chuckled at this part. "Hmmm...this place is really different from the others. I''m getting more and more curious. Open this gate. "I can''t. You''re trespassing. That''s your law. They don''t apply to me. No, it applies to you when you''re in this country. But the mysterious automaton snickers. "Hmph, this ?You degraded descendant, you talk big!" Then he puts his hand on the gate and tries to force it open. "......?" But no matter how hard the mysterious automaton tried, the gate didn''t budge. "What? "We can''t do anything about that gate. Only you can destroy it." Amez 102 said with some pride. "Hmmm, it seems that your masters are not to be underestimated. I''d like to meet him more and more. Before he could finish his sentence, the mysterious automaton instantly crashed the gate and entered the garden. "This is nothing compared to what I can do." You''re trespassing, aren''t you? I told you I am not bound by the laws of this country. I am a puppet with a will. "You are arrogant. How could you be so ...... arrogant? At that moment, a small shadow appeared from the house. "Ames 102, thank you. I''ll leave the rest to you. "My lady." Upon hearing these words, the mysterious automaton''s eyes widened. "Miss?You?You may be made to look like a person, but you are a live puppet with a will of your own! It seems that she has recognized at a glance that Reiko is an automaton. "What about it?" Reiko''s voice is cold. "Your father called me his daughter. That''s all." "Stop laughing. A creature should not call her master her parent. "That''s your logic. Please don''t compare me with your father. "Hmm. ...... but where is this you speak of?" "Do you think I''ll tell you?" Reiko''s words became even colder. "I don''t think so, but just in case." With those words, the mysterious automaton grabbed Reiko firmly with both hands. "What are you imitating?" "Well, you know very well about this <> thing, don''t you? And with you here, I''m sure that <> will have to come out as well." "I''m not saying that guess is wrong, but ......" Reiko twisted her body and escaped from the mysterious automaton''s shackles. "What? "It doesn''t work the way you want it to." "What?" The freed Reiko pushed the mysterious automaton away. The automaton stopped, crashing into a gatepost. "As I thought, you and I are incompatible. It''s just as your father said. Reiko said in the same cold voice. 1292 - - 35-16 解析と比较 Shortly before the mysterious automaton arrived at Reuthert''s house, the old man called out to Jin. "What''s the matter, old man?Is it an emergency?" At the sound of the old man''s voice, Jin picks himself up from the control seat. The doppelganger that Jin is controlling is taken over by the old man. Then the old man told him about the mysterious automaton. "Indeed." . "I''m sure." Jin agrees. Jin braced himself for the possibility that, for some reason, <> might be trying to interfere with this world. The magic screen in the control room was showing the image sent from the eyes of the fifth row, Quinta, Regulus 46, a.k.a. <>. "Then, I''d better have them underestimate us as much as possible. < Since has been reporting every action of the mysterious automaton to the old man, it is clear that he is still unaware of Jin''s abilities. It is a natural conclusion, since it is not a secret. "Do you want to catch him?" "Okay. ...... Reiko!" Yes, Father. Reiko is naturally here since Jin himself is still on Horai Island. "We don''t know how good he is, so we want to give him our best. Will you go? Of course. "And this is something only you can do, don''t use any special magic, but use only your strength to overpower him, and when you see an opening, use the Aether Eliminator." The Aether Eliminator is a magical tool that removes the free magic element (ether) of the target. It is the same tool that killed the before, and if used on a golem, it can make it stop its action. Jin gave one of them to Reiko. On the screen, a mysterious automaton breaks through the gate and enters the house. This function was also installed in the giant golem, an ancient artifact of the Shoro Empire. It is not surprising that the mysterious automata have it. < The old man''s instructions. I don''t want to give you as much information as possible. This call confirms that the mysterious automaton has been sent from the island of Onogoro. "It''s a sure thing. Reiko, go!" Yes, Father. Reiko quickly transitioned. And then I heard her say... <> And then the battle begins. At the same time, a is put up over the entire house. And of course, in the garden. Reiko flips off the mysterious automaton and activates the ethereal eliminator as instructed. "What?What''s this?I''m losing power .................." The mysterious automaton stopped moving. "Okay, that''s good. Just as I thought. Jin was relieved that the ether eliminator worked. He had not expected to run out of free magic element (ether). "Now, what should we do? If we stop the ether eliminator, there is a possibility that it will start working again. Therefore, I want to neutralize it as it is. "Okay, Reiko, can''t you check its structure and ......?" As long as the ether eliminator is working, we can''t use magic in general, including engineering magic. > "Oh, I see." While an ether eliminator removes free magical elements (ether), an ether jammer works to keep free magical elements (ether) under control within a certain range. In other words, only Jin and things made by Jin can use the free magical element (ether). Let''s go with that." The old man tells Reiko. I understand. Reiko switches from the ether eliminator to the ether jammer without a moment''s interruption. The mysterious automata remain deactivated, but Reiko is now able to use her engineering magic without any problems. "<>" Reiko first examined the structure. "Is the control core the type in the head? And it has a ...... Magni Reactor. The Magi Reactor is a Magi Device that works by combining an ether converter and a mana driver into one, and is used only by Jin and the originator. Even Jin mastered this technology under the guidance of the 700672. "For now, let''s disconnect the Magi Reactor. With this, the mysterious automata are completely neutralized. Reiko brings the mysterious automaton into the workshop, as instructed by the old man. The automaton is now optically unseen. Then Jin arrived. "Reiko, you did a good job." First, Jin repaired the broken gate. "I knew it was broken by < ......". There is no way to prevent this for now. Jin then begins to analyze the mysterious automata. The first thing he does is to duplicate the control core. Information is more valuable than anything else. After that, we analyze the body structure. "Hmm, so this thing imitates a human body. This is the same idea as the golem we met a while ago before the "ether stampede". Of course, this one is much better made. "The skeleton is ...... amazing, 64 light silver. The muscles are synthetic. But the performance looks good." Roughly speaking, it was thought to be capable of producing about 10 times the force of a human. "<> threat. ......" Jin has an advantage in this respect, since it would not be a problem if compared to the golems of Horai Island. The wiring of the magical nerves was also very precise. Even though he was made to resemble a human, there was no needless restraint in contrasting the positions of the organs and the magickal devices. "But it''s a big magick reactor. It must be able to move even with a thin concentration of free magic element (ether). One by one, the structure of the reactor was revealed by Jin''s hands. Then, as expected, a magical device that seemed to be a communication device was found. Jin immediately disconnected it. However, there was no other remarkable structure, and it was not helpful. Conversely, the Golem automata created by Jin are that much more complete. "In this way, it seems that it cannot be said that our technology is inferior to that of . Jin is glad to see that we seem to have technology that is more or less on par with theirs. "Yes, that''s a possibility. ...... Let''s stop here first. Now we have to extract information from this control core. Jin left the mysterious automata in the workshop and returned to Horaijima with Reiko. 1293 - - 35-17 Owing "So this is a copy of the control core. Thank you, Reiko. Jin decided to analyze it immediately. "Old man, please take care of it." < The "Mere Old Man" immediately started to analyze the information stored in the control core. But.... . "What?You''re early. What? < "What? ......" Jin........ The old man explains that there is no such information, and that the purpose of the survey would be to find out the culture, technology, and military strength of the countries. < "Ummm ......" Even if they are captured in this way, the information of the mastermind will not be known. "You are very careful, aren''t you?" < "I guess." We don''t know what they are going to do next. Increase the vigilance of the fifth column (Quinta). Please." The information was disappointing. Jin decides to take control of the doppelganger again. * * * * Theon and Marikka were enjoying life in the village of Kaina. Since the wheat harvest was over, they were enjoying collecting nuts with Hannah and the other children, as it was the off-season. Of course, with Gong leading the way, there was little danger. Besides, the that Jin had created was keeping a close watch around the village. "This is Kemeria''s fruit, and this is Maruon''s." "Hmmm, interesting fruit." The naughty Jessie is explaining to them. "Kemeria is for oil. Maruons are for eating. They''re delicious. "I''m looking forward to it." Rita and Luluna, two girls from the village of Lalio, are also present. The main goal is to pick maruons. The wind had blown last night, and they had come in droves to see if any of the maruons had fallen. "Look, there they are!" Hannah pointed. "What? Zion sounded panicked. It was no wonder, for it was covered with sharp thorns and did not look very edible. Even before that, it was hard to believe that he would be able to grasp it with his hands. "So, here..." Hannah took out a pair of fire shears from the basket on Gon''s back. . They are also written as "fire scissors", and are used to pick up charcoal extinguishers and small pieces of firewood when making a bonfire. They are also used to pick up trash, hence the name <> or <>. Using them, Hannah picked up Maruon''s <. Maruon is a , so to speak, and is contained in a ball. When ripe, the ball opens and the chestnut inside falls out, but after a strong wind, the whole ball often falls out, and such fruits are less likely to be eaten by insects. Gon will peel off the insides for me." Gon, the golem, would not prick his finger with a chestnut ball. "If you want to keep the chestnuts inside, put them in their own bags." The chestnut balls are supposed to be boiled as soon as they are brought home, since they may have insects on them. "Take the balls to Gong''s place." "Okay." The demon territory was not lacking in mountain produce, but it was scarce, so Zion had never participated in such a joyous event. "There it is!" Maricka was no different, and the two spent the rest of the day enjoying each other''s company. And then. "Okay, everyone. I''m going to cook rice with chestnuts. This is the square in front of Nido Castle. Jin was about to cook rice with chestnuts using the large amount of chestnuts he had gathered. Mix glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice properly. In Jin''s case, he mixes seven parts glutinous rice to three parts Uruchi rice. The chestnuts should be peeled off their skins. The golem maid did this for me, "If you boil the chestnuts quickly after cutting the end with a knife, and then roast them on the stove for a while, it makes them easier to peel," said Martha. Martha also showed us her own trick. Add a pinch of salt and a spoonful of sake, place the chestnuts on top of the rice, and cook. "Now it''s ready! "Yay!" Jin serves the chestnut rice to all the children in the village of Kaina. "Jin, can we feed the children who didn''t participate in the festival?" Zion wondered. "No?" Zion shook his head. "No, on the contrary. I''m rather glad. But don''t people usually eat them alone?" That''s how it is in the human town I asked. "Yes, I suppose there are towns and villages like that. No, there might be a lot of them. But here in the village of Kaina, this is the norm. "Is it?" "Is it?" "Yes. Everyone contributes to the village by doing what they can. We share the harvest and overcome hardships together." "Hmm. .......... The small population of the demon tribe has a similar sense of solidarity. Zion once again felt a sense of kinship with the village of Kaina. "Brother Jin, the soup is ready. Please taste it. "Oh, thank you." Jin thinks that rice is a soup. This time, the soup was made from a type of matsutake mushroom. It is an aromatic mushroom sometimes found in the village of Kaina. He made a soup stock with soy sauce, kelp and dried bonito flakes, and a little bit of sake as a secret ingredient. "Yes, it has a nice taste." The rice is lightly salted, so it tastes light. At the same time, the aroma of the matsutake mushrooms is not spoiled. "Okay, everyone, let''s eat!" "Yes!" I''m hungry! "Oh, it smells so good!" The wind is kept out by the wind shield, and the light is bright enough thanks to the light ball. "This is delicious, Jin. "Jin-sama, I love it." "Ha-ha! That''s good. But Marikka, you shouldn''t talk while you eat. Autumn is in full swing in the village of Kaina. In the darkened eastern sky, the moon (Yunie) appears as it always does. 1294 - - 35-18 And finally, Zion and Marikka are at Nido Castle after spending a pleasant day in Kaina Village. Jin and Erza are facing each other in the dining room. "Jin, thank you. It was fun." "Jin-sama, it was fun! "I''m glad to hear that. I''ve got something to tell you both at ....... "What is it?" Jin decided to start by telling them where he came from. "I''m from ......." I am from a country called Japan, on a planet called Earth. I was probably dying there. That I was summoned by Reiko at a critical moment because I had the same magic pattern as my predecessor, Adriana Barbora Tsezi, the Magecraft Meister. And, to this day, <: ....... "......" "......" Theon and Marikka were speechless when they heard this. Marikka, in particular, looked like she was having trouble processing the information. "What ...... are you talking about, really, right?" Jin nodded to Zion, who finally responded. "It''s true." "......Well, I know Jin is a little ...... unusual, no, a lot unusual, but I couldn''t imagine that he came from another world." "I guess that''s normal." "I think that''s normal," she said, "but when I think about it more and more, it makes sense. And Erza is married to Jin, and more than anything else, this village considers him a ...... well, I can''t say it well, but I think of him as a friend,...... or maybe not quite. ......" Zion tilts his head and thinks of the right words. "Oh, anyway, it doesn''t matter where Jin is from, or what he can do, or anything like that, he accepts you!" Then, after a pause, he continues. "I''ve come to understand why Jin is so great." At that moment, Marikka also reactivated. "Jin-sama is Jin-sama!I respect you, that''s all! "Oh, thank you." Jin was relieved. "You trust us, don''t you? Thank you too, Jin. Sion bowed his head toward Jin. They talked for a while about many things. Among them, Zion wanted to know, "What did Jin do during the last meteor shower? And so on, "Is it true that <> came from another planet? and so on. As Jin needed this information to let people know about the current situation, he explained it without concealment. "That ?...... that place is kind of fishy, isn''t it?" "Do you think so too, Zion?" "Yes. From what I''ve heard, there''s something fishy about it. Theon also senses in his gut that Onogoro Island is not to be trusted. "So now I''m wondering what I should do. This is what happened, you know." Jin finally decided to explain the latest incident. "It''s called ......." "What the hell!That''s just unreasonable! What''s going to happen now? Zion was indignant and Maricka looked a little worried. "I guess we''ll have to see how the other side reacts ....... If they were to openly confront each other, Jin would definitely be at a disadvantage. Jin has to protect all human inhabited areas, while the other side only has to protect the island of Onogoro. "But doesn''t that mean we should only attack ?" Theon makes a good point, but it is not so simple. "That''s true in a way. But from another point of view, it''s dangerous." "What do you mean?" "You said that Onogoro Island collects the free magic element of this world, the ether.And you''re sending it to us. "Yes." "There''s a chance that the person you''re sending that to will enter the war." "Oh, I see. ......" Jin said that if it was someone in , they might have far better technology than we do. "You mean, better than the ...... Jin?" Jin nodded. "I''m ...... almost certain of that possibility. That''s what we should think and act on." "......That''s scary, that''s for sure." Theon seemed to be beginning to understand the gravity of the situation. "So, I''m thinking of going to check out first. I''m still preparing." "But it''s amazing. Space. ...... I honestly can''t imagine. I''d love to go. I''m sure you would." At this point, Jin finally tells them the purpose of his invitation. "I want you to help me with that as well." "What?We can''t do anything, can we? "Yes, that''s right!Jin-sama may be able to help us, but there is nothing we can do to help you! Theon and Marikka were demeaned, but Jin denied it. "That''s not true. I make mistakes too, and there are things I can''t do. In fact, Erza and my friends help me a lot. Jin looked at both of them in turn, "I want you to be my friend. He told them, "Please join us. Welcome, welcome, welcome! "Welcome to Horai Island. Jin says his usual line. Theon and Marikka were a little embarrassed, but said they would join us. So, using the warp gate, they came to Horai Island. "Wow ...... this is Horai Island ...... Jin''s real base ......" "Wow, it''s amazing......" "It must be very warm." The island of Horai, located on the Tropic of Cancer, is much warmer than the village of Kaina. Theon took off his coat made of the fur of a falling fox. "Come on, let me show you around the laboratory first. Due to the time difference, it was already evening here, so Jin decided to show them the facilities first, leaving the island tour for the next day. "This is literally my base. This is where I built and ." "Wow, that''s exciting!" "Yes, it''s exciting." Zion and Marikka have no idea how many more surprises are to come. 1295 - - 35-19 Welcome party and telescope After spending a whole day guiding visitors around Horai Island, Jin. "......, I feel like a lot of common sense has been destroyed. ......" "That''s great, Jin." Zion looked tired, and Marikka''s eyes were shining even though she was limping. "Anyway, I want you guys to join the Jin family. What do you think?" "Of course! "Of course!" "I''d be honored." Both of them readily agreed. "I see. Thank you. I look forward to working with you. "Thank you, too, Jin." "It''s nice to meet you, thank you very much. ......" Marikka is still nervous, but that''s to be expected when you consider that she is about 10 years old, which is about the same age as a human being. * * * * * * Have you lost contact with her? Yes. That is only disposable. He must have overdone it and destroyed it. You won''t leak any information, will you? Of course not. We have no information about them. And since it''s an older model, even if it were analyzed, it wouldn''t hurt us. If that''s the case, good. Are you doing anything else? Of course. We won''t use the same method. The other way is to have them gather the information more carefully. And? Yes, sir. < Konlonkun? That''s right. < What else? He''s taken up with the royal families of various countries, and it seems he has a lot of influence. What about technology other than hot air balloons? They have live puppets with airships and invincible will ......, or as they call them, automata. Do you think we need to destroy them? No, they don''t seem to have any ambition. Then I''ll do some more digging, and if I have to, I''ll contact them. All right. Okay. I''m Xiong of the <> clan. Pleased to meet you. "Oh, I''m Marikka as well. Please take care of me! On the island of Horai, everyone was suddenly gathered for a welcome party since Zion and Marikka had joined the Jin Family. "Welcome. Please help Jin. Please help Jin. "Oh, thank you!" Reinhardt also rushed in despite his busy schedule, said his greetings and congratulations, and left again. Bertsche stayed behind to take care of Marikka in particular. "Here, Marikka, try this. "Here, Marikka, try some of this. ...... Oh, it''s delicious." "Mmmm, eat it slowly." Bertje, the youngest daughter, was enjoying this encounter as if she had a new sister. "Look, Yuri, it''s your grandma!" "Oh!" "Martha, let me hold her too. ......" "Oh, babies are really nice." Meanwhile, their daughter, Juliana, was being loved by Martha, Meine and Milowina. Juliana, who is not shy, is very popular among the women. "...... But even though she''s a child of the demon tribe, she''s no different from us, isn''t she?" Marcia was looking at Zion from a little distance and muttering honest thoughts. "Yeah. < was a war started by the malicious to incite the two peoples." "It was an unfortunate event, wasn''t it?" Rodrigo muttered deeply beside me. "Yes. So I hope to be able to build a bridge between the two peoples. If we can do it." "Yes, that sounds like Jin. I''ll do my best to help you then!" Marcia declared in a cheerful voice. "Thank you." "...... But I don''t know what those <> people are going to do to you." Count Luis Wurtz Kuzma says reproachfully. "We''ll soon have a large peeping telescope, and then we''ll check out Onogoro Island." Stearena responded to Jin''s words. "I heard that you are clairvoyant?" "I''m not clairvoyant, I can see beyond the walls. I usually try to keep this to myself because I don''t want any privacy, but this is special. Know your enemy, know yourself, and you''ll be safe in a hundred battles," Jin says. "We know too little about our opponents. On the other hand, they''re probably getting information about us. It is inevitable that they will know about the Magecraft Meister Jin Nido, or . "Even in that case, they''ll think we''re based in the Kunlun Islands. That''s where they can take advantage of us." I see. That''s for sure. There are various dummy facilities in Kunlun Island, so they will be fooled. "So, when will the peepers be ready?" "Soon. The hard part is that we have to set the main body of the telescope with a diameter of 10 meters into the bedrock 100 meters below Horai Island, so it is not easy to work with." Jin explains that they wanted to make the body as large as possible to achieve the highest precision possible, but also to eliminate distortion. "The base is hyperadamantite. The body is a composite of magi adamantite, 64 light silver, and magi invar. Jin also explained that the object is set underground, where temperature changes are minimal, in order to reduce deformation and distortion caused by temperature changes as much as possible. While he was saying this, the installation was completed. The magic screen on the wall of the cafeteria lights up. "Oh, what is that? < As he said, Reinhardt''s voice was heard. Reinhardt waves his hand. Horai Island and Lanken Hoth are about 80 degrees apart in longitude, which means that they are about 1600 kilometers apart in a straight line. "Okay, there is almost no motion blur. We made it!" "You can see very well, my dear. Your technique is very good, Master Jin! Reinhardt can only hear the voices, but he is happy to hear the report from his beloved wife Bertsche. "Okay, go." The magic screen went dark for a moment, and then the blue sea appeared on the screen. <<<< Onogoro Island is located right behind Horai Island, so it is now 6:00 a.m. The image is looking down from above, The direction of the <<<< peepers can be changed freely. The "Mere Old Man" explains. The advantage of configuring a <> at an arbitrary location is that the direction of the camera can be freely changed. Now the camera is set to look down from above. Then, an island comes into view. Surrounded by a crescent-shaped reef, it is the isolated island of <>. The time has come to lift the veil of secrecy. 1296 - - 35-20 Secrets of Onogoro Island The image of projected on the magic screen grew larger and larger. And then they arrive at the surface of the island. < "I see... ...... means that there is a possibility that this one can be peeped at too." Jin mutters. "We need to quickly study the wards that can be deployed regardless of the underground. He then turned his attention back to the image in front of him. The image is of the surface of Onogoro Island. "The vegetation looks very different. ......" Goose says with interest. "It looks like there are some small animals and insects that have evolved on their own. Then the screen goes dark. >. The screen remained dark for about 10 seconds, and then suddenly changed. There seems to be no light on. Since the magical isotope (magi-isotope) emits weak magic waves, we are in night vision mode using it as a light source. We cannot discern the colors, but we can see what is there. "This is ......<, isn''t it?" There, along the wall, was a row of golems that seemed to be the <> he had once seen. "Maybe it''s a spare warehouse." <> The image moved to the side and went dark again. There must have been no room next to it. Then something appears again. "Is it the material warehouse ......?" "Looks like it. Is the important stuff a little lower? The image went dark again. This time for about 15 seconds. And then. "Is this ......?" The room was in such a state of disrepair that it looked like a living facility. "Dust accumulates even in the basement, I guess. Even the furniture looks like it''s deteriorating. "Wouldn''t it be strange if it was used by the originals? Goose countered Jin''s words. "No, considering <> they lived here ......." "Oh, I see." I mean, how long has it been out of use? In other words, it must have been quite a long time since the < that supposedly lived here disappeared. "It seems that the that created this place is no longer around, including the descendants of the . "It seems that there are no documents left." "But their lifestyle doesn''t seem to have changed much from ours." Vivian gave another impression. The hierarchy of the rooms was full of residential areas, and they all looked the same, so we decided to go on to the next level. The image went dark again for about 15 seconds, and then something was shown again. "Hmmm, what is this? Toa tilts his head. "It''s a strange shape. ......" Stearina doesn''t seem to understand either. "...... Jin brother, what is this ......?" But Erza seems to have realized what it is. "Ah. It''s probably an ether condenser. It has the function of collecting and condensing free magical energy (ether) existing in space. "What is different from the one I made is that it seems to have directionality." The old man made a precise comment. "But it''s huge." < According to a rough comparison, the magi-machines seem to be about 10 meters high. There are more than 10 of them in a row. "Is this how they collect free magical elements (ether) ......" The old man said that it would be so, considering the fact that the distribution of the free aether is almost unbiased. Jin agreed with him. "So there is such a facility underground? "I see." < I see. Jin thinks it might be possible to attack from the rear, but for now we need to investigate the facilities. "What about other magic machines?" This is the only Magi machine found on that level. Then, we investigate a deeper level. After a 30-second blackout, an image appeared on the screen. "What is this ......?" Jin had never seen a magi-machine before. "If Jin-kun can''t figure it out, we''re at a loss. ...... Vivian gave up too soon. "Can you see inside, old man?" . Only you can control it so precisely at such a distance. The image came close to the magi-machine and passed through its outer covering. "This is ......." Jin, do you understand? "It''s partially ....... This is probably a device for transferring free magical element (ether). But that was as far as Jin could go. "The combination is complicated, and there are some aspects that can''t be understood without seeing the actual thing. ...... "I see." A black box is a device that can be used without knowing its inner workings, or a device that is sealed so that it cannot be seen. Since it cannot be easily analyzed ......, it is possible that the itself, which created it, is using it without understanding it. It means that modern Japanese who are familiar with PCs and smart phones do not necessarily know the internal structure of the system. "I heard that <> also showed signs of degeneration, so ...... it''s not unreasonable." Jin, not knowing what he did not know, turned his attention back to the screen to get more information. 1297 - - 35-21 Previous Generation Story I tried to go further down the hierarchy, but ....... >. It seemed that the lowest level, perhaps the most important facilities such as the magic brain, could not be seen. "But isn''t there a barrier there, too, from underground? < "I see. ......" The magic barrier does not protect against physical attacks. That is, it is not affected by solid matter = it does not matter if there is solid matter, so it is possible to put it up even in the ground or in rocks. Theoretically. I wonder if they were thinking of these situations?" <> Anyway, this is the end of the information gathering on <>. * * * * * * "Well then, Zion, Marikka, keep in touch. See you soon. The party was originally a welcome party for Zion and Marikka. The members of the who had attended the party returned to their respective homes. The remaining members are Jin, Erza, Zion, and Marikka. Erza''s real mother, Meene, usually helps Martha in the village of Kaina. "Hey Jin, I wonder if that is safe. Theon said a little anxiously. "Danger ......? I think there is. I don''t know what they''re thinking in the first place. The last time we caught an automaton they might have sent, we didn''t know anything about it." "So ......" "So we want to be prepared to deal with whatever they do to us. I feel bad that I called you here at ...... such a hectic time, though." But Zion shook his head. "No, I''m rather glad. It''s just that I''m horrified to think that those people are in the same world as us." I can''t believe my ancestors made this," Zion retorted. "I hope you can get rid of the threat as soon as possible. I''ll help you. The statement was a bit extreme. "Remove it, huh? Whatever form it takes, we have to get rid of it. Jin declared again. "Yes, that''s right. Jin is thinking of taking measures so that the old man and the institute will not be < by any chance. * * * * * * Hey Jin, I have a favor to ask you. What is it? While taking a break in the cafeteria, Zion asked Jin for a favor. "I want you to tell me about Jin''s predecessor, ...... the first generation of Magecraft Meisters. "Oh, I want to know too!" Marikka raised her hand. "Sure." Jin thought for a moment about what to say. Then Elsa brought him some tea. "Thank you." Jin quenched his thirst with the tea and began to speak. "First of all, I have to talk about . What is <<> ......?" Jin began by telling them about <> Shuki Tsetsi. "He developed various magical tools and laid the foundation for engineering magic." Zion and Maricka listened with bated breath. "...... And in his old home, Shuki Tsetsi took care of his beloved Adriana Tsetsi." Jin gulped down the warm tea. "Yes! ...... that person was also from the same world as Jin. ...... fate, I wonder." "......" Zion admiringly, Marikka exclaiming. "Fate, huh? I don''t know. ...... and ......." Jin takes a breath and continues. "Soon, <> goes on a journey and is entrusted with a baby girl ....... The child is called . <> continues his journey and ......" Now he tells the story of Shuki Tsetsi''s journey and Adriana''s growth through the journey. "And then Adriana started making her own golem: ......" "I knew she was great even when she was young..." Zion and Marikka listen to the story with a little help. "...... and finally the day came when we had to say goodbye to Shuki Tsetsi. ......" When I told them about Shuki''s last days. Zion''s eyes were moistened and Marikka was shedding tears. "Giggle......Genjya-sa-atta......." "Yes, yes, Marikka, wipe your tears and blow your nose." Zion takes care of Marikka as if she were his sister. "Uu...... are you okay?" "Now, do as you''re told." She wiped her tears and blew her nose. Marikka''s eyes were still a little moist, but she seemed to straighten up a little. Jin smiled and continued. "When he was alone, he buried Shuki Tsetsi and set out on a journey with a retinue he had created himself. Jin tells the story of his predecessor who sailed out to sea from the kingdom of Leonard and traveled northward. "...... and he ended up in the demon territory." That''s where your ancestors are! "Yes. First, they went to the clans of the Azure Sky. There they learned form drive, and then they visited the clan of Shinra. "Wow!Our clan? "Oh, I didn''t know that!" Theon and Marikka were even more intrigued when they heard that their predecessors had visited the clan earlier. "So?Jin!" Jin laughed and continued. "...... when my predecessor visited the Morura clan, he was shown the village storerooms. He also analyzed your and repaired the ones that had stopped working." "Oh, I knew it. I knew there was a legend about that. Zion corroborates Jin''s story. It seems that such events were also handed down to the Morura clan. "Adamantite, which was called ''immortality metal,'' was processed by engineering magic, and as many as 38 ancient relics (artifacts) were analyzed and made usable." "......The first Magecraft Meister, the first magical engineer, was amazing, wasn''t he?" Right? She''s your mother. Jin and Reiko are proud of themselves. "But even Jin has done many more amazing things. A Magecraft Meister is an amazing thing. "Ha-ha, thank you." "....... And beyond that?How long have you been in the demon territory? Yes, I guess. Jin, Erza, Reiko, and the old man had read the diary of their predecessor, but they had not told the rest of the group yet. The reason was that the contents of the diary were not very pleasant and the descriptions were more clerical than in the past. Nevertheless, Jin decided to speak. Theon and the other believed in and respected Adriana Barbora Tsetsi more than the human race. And it was undoubtedly thanks to them that she was able to achieve great success. 1298 - - 0001 drift Jin tells us. "The previous generation, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, stayed for a total of five years in the demon territory ......, or whatever it was not called at the time. She left those who were reluctant to part with her and arrived at the present Kingdom of Klein by land through the Pazdekst isthmus." * * * "I am going to fulfill the dream that your father kept on asking for." With these words in her heart, Adriana Barbora Tsetsi joined F-002,003, M-002, 003, and finally, after crossing mountain after mountain, river after river, and mountain pass after mountain, she looked down on the village where people lived. They looked down on the village where people lived. "Ah, we''re finally in a place where people live. I''m tired. ......" Adriana Barbora Zetsi sat down for a moment. Below her she could see a small village. It is small, but there are some fields and it seems to be self-sufficient. "I wonder if I can stay the night. ......" The sun was still high in the sky, so Adriana decided to take a short rest and lay down on a bed of freshly sprouted young grass. "...... blue sky...... sky is over every country. ......" Adriana ordered her four companions not to disturb her rest and closed her eyes. "...... it''s so cold!" I was going to take a short rest, but I must have slept for more than two hours. The sun was beginning to set and the wind was blowing cold. "...... you''re not going to wake me up. ......" It was I who ordered him not to interrupt his rest. "I wish you''d be more resourceful and considerate of the Lord at times like this." It sounds like a bad person''s comment, but it is a statement made by a researcher. Someday I will make a golem like that. Adriana got up and walked down the mountain toward the village. "Whoa, whoa!Demons are coming down from the mountain!" Seeing the four golems, the community was in a panic. The four golems approaching in the darkness were an object of fear for the people living in the remote village. "Uh, sir!" Adriana hurriedly calms them down. "No, no!This is a golem I made!It''s not a monster! The people finally regain their composure when they see Adriana trying desperately to quiet Adriana and the golem just standing there doing nothing. "Are you sure ...... you''re not a monster ......?" "Who the hell ...... are you?" Are you sure you''re not a witch? "No, I''m not!" Adriana denies it desperately, but the skeptical crowd is not convinced. "If you''re not a witch, then get the hell out of here! "Yeah, ......?" These words were painful to hear, as they had finally reached the village and thought they could rest under a roof. "I understand. ......?" With that, Adriana left the village at a slow pace with four golems. * * * * * * "What is that!That''s too much!" Zion shouted angrily when he heard the story. "I feel so sorry for Adriana! "Calm down. That''s why I didn''t want to tell you. Jin calms Zion down. Meanwhile, Marikka was crying inconsolably, and Erza was comforting her. "Oh my God, I can''t help it. ...... Let''s not talk about this anymore." No, let me ask you this. I still want to hear about the path that you, the esteemed Adriana, have taken. He begs. He added that if he was told halfway and then stopped, it would make him curious. Since he could understand the feeling, Jin decided to explain a little more briefly. However, Jin had been telling stories to the younger children when he was at the facility, and his explanations tended to be in the style of a story without his knowing it. "After leaving the village, Adriana went south, but she caught a cold because she dozed off. * * * "...... I''m so lazy. ...... My joints hurt. I must have caught a cold. Your father will be angry with you if you can''t even take care of yourself as an adult. ......" It was almost night when Adriana found a nice cave at the foot of the mountain, far from the village, where she decided to spend the night. The golems had provided her with food and supplies for the journey, so she had no trouble. With her head a little dizzy from the heat and her body sluggish, she casts a < and <> spell inside the cave. Next, they lay out blankets and make a bed. At the entrance, branches with leaves are placed and M-002 and M-0 03 to manage the entrance and be prepared for any attacks by animals. < magic. She then cooks herself some barley porridge as a sick man''s meal, and when she has finished eating it, Adriana falls asleep under her blankets. When she woke up, it was light outside the cave. "My body is still a bit lazy. ......" After making and eating another bowl of barley porridge, Adriana lay down once more and closed her eyes. The fatigue of the trip seemed to have left her at once and she fell asleep like a mud. When she woke up it was completely dark. "Oh, I slept so well! The temperature in the cave was just right. Adriana stretches. She is still a bit lazy, but her fever seems to have gone down and the pain in her joints has disappeared. "I think I''ll stay here one more day, for now. Finishing her third bowl of barley porridge, Adriana sighed softly. "I only have enough oats for two more meals. ...... I have to leave here after breakfast tomorrow. With the oats gone, all that was left was the emergency ration of dry bread. With the future uncertain, he did not want to be left without emergency rations. "It would be nice if we could reach a village somewhere tomorrow. ......" Adriana lay down on the blanket, talking to herself. * * * * "So?What happened to Adriana?" Zion asks hurriedly. "Yes. The next morning I left the cave and headed south, and made it to another village without incident. And this time, perhaps because it was broad daylight, they were not frightened by the golems and were able to share their food with them, Jin said, reassuring them both. "So the previous generation continued to move further south. Then they settled down for a while, probably in what is now the town of Charles, or near the town of Rakham." "Did you find anything there?" "Yes, it doesn''t say much, but I heard that the lord liked me so much that he gave me the job of tutoring his daughter." Somehow, Adriana''s diary was different in the details and the parts that were not, Jin explained. "It''s not simply that she didn''t write about painful things. Jin told Zion that only he would know the difference, and continued the story again. "It seems that the previous generation spent about a year there. ......" Jin began to tell the rest of the story. 1299 - - 0002 Settlement After about a year of tutoring, Adriana Barbora Tsetsi left again. Her diary does not contain any details, so it is impossible to know what happened during that time. We can only assume that her days were not so bad, since she only writes that she was able to obtain <>. Then she heads west. The area that is now called seems to have been just a region, still dotted with towns. "According to what your father told me, there is a larger country called a little further west. According to the present-day Ars, this is the Kingdom of Franz. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "This is the capital of the Kingdom of Galandia, Rakapo. Adriana with four golems stands out in her own way. "Well, what shall we do now? She still has enough money, but she can''t decide on a course of action. Then someone calls out to her. "Miss, can I help you?" "Uh, yes." He looks like an old gentleman, and his clothes look expensive. I am Sein, a servant of the royal family. I am a servant of the royal family. Are you some kind of magecraftsman? "I am Adriana Barbora Zetsi. < "Magecraft Master"?That''s a title I''ve never heard of. ...... but you say you''re traveling? Well, that''s convenient. Would you like to come with me?The royal family is looking for a good magecraftsman. Adriana thought for a moment. Sein saw her thinking and said with a smile. "I know that it is hard to trust something that is said so suddenly. If you feel so inclined, please come to the castle. If you are so inclined, please show this to the gatekeeper and he will let you through. Sein held out a handkerchief bearing the coat of arms. "Thank you. ......" Adriana accepted the handkerchief with thanks. "If you would like to stay the night, I suggest you stay at the just down the road. It is a bit expensive. Thank you again for your hospitality. Bowing her head, Adriana walks away. The four golems follow silently. The four golems follow silently. Thane smiles as he watches them go. The <> was indeed a luxurious inn, but for Adriana it was a soothing place to stay after her long journey. Because it had a <>. "Wow ...... happiness." When she was a governess, she had built a bath because she really wanted to bathe in it. The bath here was rather small, but still big enough for several people, and she was happy because she could stretch her arms and legs as much as she wanted in the bathtub. (I don''t know what to do. ......) It would be easy to find out that the royal family invites magecraftsmen. If it is true, the question is whether they will accept or not. "If we can find out what they are inviting them for, it will help us make a decision. ......" There are not a lot of banks on the street. Adriana decided to go into town the next day to gather more information. The food at the inn suited her taste. "It''s been a long time since I had a good meal. ......" The bed in the room was not made of straw, but of animal hair cotton, so she was able to get a good night''s rest without feeling any pain in her body. The next day. Adriana was touring the town, gathering information. She is accompanied only by F-002, because having four of them with her makes her stand out from the crowd. "There are golem-like creatures out there, too. ...... However, we did not see any full-fledged golems. Only rudimentary stone golems. (Ah, no wonder they stand out so much. ......) Even a single precise golem like F-002 stands out... I think about how much I stood out yesterday when I had 4 golems with me... It was Adriana. Adriana looks at the foodstuffs and browses in the tool shop. (There are hardly any magic tools after all. ......) Adriana thinks that the Kingdom of Leonard is probably the most advanced in this respect. (If only I could make these countries better this time with my help...) (If only I could make these countries better this time with my own power.) This would mean following in the footsteps of her father, Shuki Tsezi, and at the same time surpassing her father. That is what Adriana thought. After a day of walking around the town and gathering information, Adriana knew that what the man Sein had said was true. The king of this country is recruiting people from all over the world to improve the lives of his people. Adriana thought that her golem technology, or rather <>, could help in this regard. The next day, Adriana set out for the castle with her four golems. She showed the gatekeeper a handkerchief with a crest on it and, true to Thane''s words, was allowed to enter immediately. I was taken with the golem to a parlor-like room. We waited there for 20 minutes, drinking fragrant tea, when Thane entered. "Adriana, you have come!" Adriana stood up and bowed. "Yes. I have thought about it a lot and I have come. "You are welcome." Sein first gave Adriana her room. She had a bedroom and a living room ...... and a workshop a little further away. "Are you sure?I haven''t done anything yet. But Thane laughed, "I can tell how good you are by looking at the golem you are carrying with you. I will show you around the castle later today. Tomorrow you will have an audience with His Majesty. "I see..." When she was with her father, Shuki, she had many chances to meet with powerful people, so she was not too nervous about it. She just thought it would be <>. Adriana packed up her belongings and went outside the castle to buy what she needed. Since the bedding and furniture were already provided, she focused mainly on clothes. "We don''t have formal wear, but it''s ...... nice." The golems are placed in the workshop, and it is decided that one of them will be assigned to look after them and keep them in their rooms on a daily basis. What will be made in the workshop remains to be seen. "It''s nice to have a bath. ......" Adriana was glad she had come here just for that. The bedding was even more luxurious than the one she had stayed in yesterday, making her think that she could settle down here for the time being. (But the final decision will be made tomorrow ......) Adriana braced herself for the audience with the king. The next day. Adriana had an audience ...... with the king in his office. "I am Harodulf Siraj Garandia, King of Garandia. Welcome, Magecraft Meister Adriana Barbora Zetsi. I look forward to working with you. Your Majesty wants to make this country a better place. To that end, he has decided to recruit from all over the world. Next to the king was Sein, who explained the situation. He was supposed to be a kind of secretary. In layman''s terms, he was a pocket sword. "Adriana, I am looking forward to working with you. What can I do for you? Do what you think is in the best interest of the country and its people. Please do what you think is in the best interest of the country and the people. Then you will get a budget, and you can do it within that range. Adriana was secretly filled with motivation, thinking that if they gave her that much freedom, she would be able to do quite a lot of things. 1300 - - 0003 standing Adriana thought. First of all, she thought, she should start by getting herself recognized. <, she was still a nobody, so she decided to take it one step at a time. "First of all, I think I should ...... stand out a little." So she decides to create a . She wanted to call it <, but she was not quite there yet, so that was an understatement. When I told this to Sein, he immediately gave his permission. It was only natural, since it was Adriana''s suggestion with four golems in tow. "Oh, that''s wonderful. We would like you to build it. We will do everything we can with our budget. Thus began the creation of a golem using the materials currently available. "<><>>" The skeleton is made. "<><><>" Attach muscles. <>" He created a control core. Adriana has the control core of the golem she created for her master data, so she is able to simplify this process. <>" Finish the bronze exterior and you are done. "......4 time ....... Not quite there yet." Adriana was painfully aware of her inadequacies, saying that it had taken longer than she had expected because she had added new touches here and there. Nevertheless, after finishing the operation check after lunch, she immediately went to Sein to report the results. "Oh, my dear Adriana, what is the matter?Are there any materials missing? Sein looked up from his paperwork and smiled. "No, I just wanted to report that it was done. "What?" Sein''s smile faltered. "Well, what have you done?" "Yes, a generic golem." "Yes! Thane rolls his eyes. Seeing this unusual situation, the female clerk standing next to him also rolled her eyes. "Uh, Miss Adriana. "Yes." "Yes.You completed one golem in half a day? Yes. "......" Sein is absolutely stunned by the nonchalant reply. "Well, anyway, let''s see the completed Golem. Tanya, I need you to do something for me. Sein said a word to the female clerk and headed for the workshop with Adriana. And what they saw there made them speechless. "......!" There lay a golem with a copper color that was lighter than pure copper, since its exterior was bronze. "This, in just half a day, ......?" "Yes." "I don''t mean to be rude, but does it work?" "Yes, of course. ......<,<>>" "Hi, Adriana." "Whoa!" The golem named M-005 responded and got up, which made even Thane gasp in surprise. "What do you think?I''ve made a lot of adjustments to ......." "Wait a minute!" Adriana was about to start explaining, but Sein interrupted her. "I will report to His Majesty. And perhaps His Majesty will come to hear the explanation, so please wait a moment. "Oh, yes." Adriana stayed where she was, wondering if even the king would come. Ten minutes later, the king, Sein, and three people she had not seen before arrived as if in a hurry. "Adriana, you have completed the golem? "Oh, yes, Your Majesty..." I want to see it! A mature man standing next to the king pressed Adriana. "Yes?" Adriana is taken aback by his brazenness. This is the crown prince. This is the Dauphin. He is currently the Prime Minister. Sein told me. In this country, a prime minister would be the prime minister of modern Japan. The other two are his bodyguards. "Oh, this is it! Everyone was surprised to see the standing golem. Let''s move it around a bit. ......M-005, walk." "Yes." "Oh, he talks! And M-005 starts to walk. "Oh, he''s walking!" "Mmm, it''s moving smoothly." "I hope there''s not a person in there..." M-005, come back. Yes. M-005, make a U-turn and come back. "That''s a great one." Their amazement does not end there. M-005, show me how you lift that desk. "Yes." What? They are all amazed at how easily he lifts a desk that looks like it weighs more than 50 kilograms with just one hand. And then... "M-005, please clean up a bit." Adriana hands him a broom and M-005 begins sweeping the floor of the workshop. "Oh, my God! The group was astonished and amazed that he could do such a thing. "Yes, that''s enough. M-005 was stopped. "And that''s about it." Adriana opens the chest exterior of the deactivated M-005. There, the control core and several other magi-devices were visible. "This is truly a golem that I made. This was in response to his earlier statement that there might be a person inside. "No, no, I understand. It''s a beautiful thing." "Ummm ...... our country is lucky to have such a great technician." As Adriana Barbora Zetsi had intended, from this moment on she became a well-known name in the Kingdom of Galandia. 1301 - - 0004 Talks Adriana from then on ....... Creates 4 golems of the same type as M-005. Develops a magic lamp that lights up even without a supply of mana. < Developed the practical use of Magi-resin. In less than a year, he announced such works as the following, and established himself as a magecraftsman in the Kingdom of Galandia. * * * * "......I knew they were great, my predecessors too." Sion said to Jin, who was taking a breath and moistening his mouth with tea. "Amazing!Adriana!" Marikka''s cheeks flushed with praise. "And then my predecessor opened a school of magical engineering in the kingdom of Galandia. At first, some people stayed away from it because they didn''t want to be taught by a young woman. "I don''t know about that. ...... we''re a meritocracy." "Maybe. People ...... especially aristocrats are obsessed with such trivial things." Jin also had a lot of bitter feelings about that, so he agrees with Zion. Four years have passed. What happened during that time is really only the gist of it. I don''t know if it was because I was busy or if there were other reasons. During those four years, Adriana Barbora Zetsi had established herself as an educator in the Kingdom of Galandia. * * * * On April 8, 2368, Adriana Barbora Tsezi turned 28 years old. She is recognized as a and has more than 50 students. She has received offers of marriage from the nobility of the royal castle and from powerful merchants, but she has turned them all down. She could not forget her foster father, Shuki Tsezi, the only man she ever loved as a man. Besides, she was passionate about training her students. "Sir, I''m not sure what''s wrong with this golem. ......" "Oh, it''s not . In this case, look at it in a mirror. You can clearly see that it is distorted. "Oh, really!Thank you, doctor! "Good luck." "Sir, this magic control flow (Magi sequence), shouldn''t we omit this part?" "Yes, when it is working properly, it is fine. But what if something causes it to run out of control?" "...... uh, ...... oh!The operation will increase endlessly!" "Yes, that''s right. That kind of control is called feedback. "Yes, I see.Thank you very much." In this way, she taught her apprentices in a very detailed manner. As a result, her students were making rapid progress. On the other hand, Adriana herself was not able to do much research of her own. One day, a delegation from the neighboring Kingdom of Galandra arrived. The Kingdom of Galandora is located in the area of the present Kingdom of Cerroa, and is the mother country of the Kingdom of Dinar. It is said to have the most advanced culture among the nations. < "Will you be there, Lady Adriana?" The crown prince came to him with such a request. "Me?What can I do for you? "The other one is a bit snobbish about being an emissary of a great power. I would like you to use your knowledge to break their noses. "Well, I don''t promise that I can ...... do it.There''s a lot I don''t know. "Of course not. Of course not. I would never reprimand you for that. The Dauphin laughed. Adriana was dressed in her formal attire and joined the two countries at the end of the meeting. (...... bored ......) The procedure of greeting each other and discussing the events of the two countries was a tedious one for Adriana. As she listened to the conversation, it seemed that the Kingdom of Galandia, where Adriana was from, had been established as a separate kingdom from the Kingdom of Galandra. Adriana muttered to herself, "I wonder why Galandra and Galandia have similar names. The rest of the conversation was boring, but little by little the content of the conversation became more and more interesting to Adriana. "...... resource development is ......" "...... refining...... a lot of firewood......" "...... but cutting down forests for it is ......" "......No, if we plant trees, we can ......" Afforestation. That is one of the teachings that ?wi?cie Tsezi was preaching. If you cut down a tree, plant a sapling in its place. After a few decades, the forest will be back to its original state, and we will be able to get timber from it. But that is not all. The bald mountain, i.e. the area where the trees have been cut down, has less water retention capacity. This is not to be overlooked on a continent with little precipitation. "Water availability ......, right?" Someone overheard his mumbled soliloquy. Mariosa de Fores, one of the messengers from the Kingdom of Galandora. "Oh?It seems that there is an intellectual in the Kingdom of Galandia, isn''t there?What was your name again?" What is your name?I am Adriana Barbora Zetsi. "Hmm, your name sounds like a name from the East. And now you have said the word "hydraulic". I would like to ask you what you think of this problem. "Yes. ......" What they were discussing was how to secure more water for more fields, which would require more water. Adriana answered, remembering a story her father, Shuki Tsetsi, had told her a long time ago. "First of all, we need to dig ...... a reservoir. Then, if there is a river nearby, we should build a canal. Then dig a well, I guess. Hearing this, Mariosa de Fores grinned. "In any case, we''ll need manpower," she said. But if we send the people out to do that kind of work, we will lose productivity for a while. What do you think about that?" "......I think that''s where the Golem comes in." Hearing the word "golem," Mariosa''s face seemed to twitch a little. "Oh, a golem. I admit that it would save us a lot of manpower, but a golem? But have you ever thought about the cost of a single golem?" Generally speaking, Golem is expensive. It may be worth more than a jet fighter plane on modern Earth. But. "Not so much. The Golem has a lot of potential. If you manage it right, it can be quite effective. It was one of the subjects Adriana had been studying for a long time. "What is the method?" The Dauphin responded to this question. Our country does not have the luxury of discussing such details here. With these words he looked at Adriana. Adriana kept her mouth shut, interpreting this to mean that she should say no more. "Well, that''s true. Now for the next question: what do you think is the best way to increase the power of the country? Mariosa looked at Adriana and her mouth twisted into a smile. Adriana did not like the way Mariosa laughed and again shared the knowledge Shuki had given her. "Agriculture, you mean. By increasing production, the country can afford it. If you have enough food and clothing, you will know how to be civilized. "What?" Hearing Adriana''s comment, Mariosa frowned for a moment and then her face lit up. 1302 - - 0005 shift "Now, you said that you have enough food and clothing to eat and know how to be civilized, didn''t you?That is a saying of the ancient Magus Shuki Tsezi. How do you know this?" "I don''t know why ...... Shuki is my father ......." Mariosa de Fores rolled her eyes in surprise. "My God!You are the daughter of a !I was wondering if you were, since your family name is Tzetzis. ......" You knew my father? Yes, I am your father''s granddaughter. My father learned directly from your father, and he bragged about it to me from a young age. "I didn''t know that." At this point, another messenger spoke up. "My name is Jortez de Lubaan. I am not a pupil, but I have seen your father twice when I was a child. Jortez looks over 50 years old. Adriana thought that it was no wonder that her father had met him when he was touring the country. The meeting was sidetracked, but Adriana thought that it was probably a good thing that the Kingdom of Galandra was no longer insulting the Kingdom of Galandia. "So, I heard that they are making advanced golems in this country, and that''s why we were sent here. "Oh, so you are here to see how good they are. Well, to put it plainly, yes. In fact, we were sent to investigate the recent development of a small country that is almost a vassal state. "So, as I was saying before, we are going to use golems for simple tasks to improve the efficiency of work. The Dauphin spoke up. Adriana thought that the earlier warning was probably a result of the timing of the announcement. These words surprised not only the emissaries of the Kingdom of Galandra, but also the leaders of the Kingdom of Galandia. Let''s have the developer explain it to us," the Dauphin urged. At the Dauphin''s prompting, Adriana now began her explanation. The golem does not get tired. It does not need sleep. It has power. Why should we not use this characteristic? Adriana becomes more eloquent when it comes to her field. "But the golem is expensive and ......" "I''ll use the stone golem." "It doesn''t allow for precise movements!" "It can be done to some extent.It''s just not the right way to do it." Adriana''s list of difficulties is overturned by saying that it is very easy to do. "......fumu......" "Well, it seems to be very beneficial," she says. "I wonder if it''s going to work out as it should. I''d like you to make that stone golem tomorrow. Yes, sir. Of course, Adriana did not mean to be blunt. The next day, Adriana gathered some poor quality magi stones and showed them to the public to make a stone golem. First, she lined up the magi stones, each about the size of a pickle stone, and then <> them together. "Oh, wow! "This way, I can make good use of the poor quality magic stones." He then carved the Magi Formula into the body and created a golem. "...... and this is how it looks like. What do you think?" "Mm-hmm." The mother rock after the extraction of the magi crystal and magi stone was of poor quality and had been discarded with little use, but being able to use it as material for the stone golem in this way was a great innovation. "However, it is true that the quality is poor, so complex instructions are impossible. The uses are simply to plow fields or mine ores, aren''t they?" "No, no, that''s enough, we can replace manpower!" The ability to work day and night without a break makes them about three times more efficient. With three to four times the strength of a human being, it would be able to do about ten times as much work. This is truly a revolution. "This is truly a revolution. You are indeed the daughter of the <." Thus, the meeting''s purpose of attempting to promote friendship and increase national power was successfully completed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......Wow, wow, wow!Your predecessor is really great!" Adriana Barbora Tsetsi, who was also a thrilled listener. "So that''s how my predecessor made the Kingdom of Galandia rich and prosperous. "At first I was worried about what would happen, but you have found people who understand you. I''m relieved. "By the way, the developed Stone Golem is still mining ore in the underground of Horai Island. "Oh, really?......, and it''s been running for 1000 years? Maricka''s eyes widened. Jin nodded. "That''s what''s so great about it. The extra magic power is used to maintain the body. So it literally keeps moving as long as the magic power doesn''t run out. Jin then continued. * * * * Years pass, and it is the year 2371. Adriana is now 31 years old. Adriana''s class now has more than 200 students, and more than a dozen graduates. The graduates were all in the service of royal families or great nobles and used their skills for good. Others dreamed of making a name for themselves in other countries, and the name of Adriana Barbora Zetsi, <>, was well known both at home and abroad. Then one day in May. The king, Harodorf Siraj Garandia, who had favored and supported Adriana and other Magi Engineers and Magi Craftsmen, passed away. The Dauphin, Aiars Llaneth Garandir, immediately takes over the government. The accession to the throne will take place three years after the end of the mourning period. "Why three years?" Adriana asked Thane. Adriana asked Sein. "It takes three years for a child to become unattended, doesn''t it?That''s why the parents mourn for three years to repay the debt. "I see. ......" Adriana Barbora Zetsi, who respected and loved her father, could understand why. The crown prince, who became the head of the kingdom, inherited his father''s policies, but also began to develop his own ideas. One of them was to lower the price of magic tools. Under the policy of supplying magic tools at a price that ordinary people can afford, Adriana devoted herself to the research of magic tools every day. "The way to make them cheap ...... is to cut costs, as your father taught you,...... and that includes mass production and,...... what else? " So far, the only magic tool barely used by the average person is the <>. Adriana has tried to make a minimalistic magic lamp without unnecessary decorations and without functions such as dimming. But this is not what she is aiming for. "Let''s see... ......<>, wasn''t it?" Adriana recalls her father Shuki''s words. "You said <>." Division of labor is a method in which the manufacturing process is divided into different tasks, each of which is carried out by a different person. The work that one person is responsible for is simple and can be quickly mastered, and the work can be divided among workers who are not suited for it. I see. Let''s give it a try. When he asked Sein about it, he immediately adopted the idea. By this time, Adriana had a lot of say. "Oh, you mean that productivity has increased more than tenfold?" The Dauphin Iarus smiled with satisfaction when he heard the report. "As I thought, Adriana is a wonderful woman. The wisdom of the previous king in favoring her is to be commended. During the next ten years, the Kingdom of Galandia would dramatically increase its national power. 1303 - - 0006 Movement "Yes, you are indeed the Magecraft Meister! "That''s what I''m talking about, Adriana!" Theon and Marikka are in raptures. "At this time, there were more than 500 disciples of the previous generation. Among them, there were about 20 who were called high disciples, and I guess you could say that they were in fact the pioneers of magical engineering in the small group of countries." "What?If the high disciples are the pioneers ......, how does that make Adriana-sama a pioneer? Jin looked a little pained at the question. "Yes, that''s the thing ......." "What, you don''t make it clear." Jin decided to tell the truth to Zion. "......The predecessors are gradually becoming less and less respected after this." "What is that?Why on earth?" "...... you want to hear it?This may sound a bit heavy..." "Let''s hear it!It''s about our esteemed first Magecraft Meister, Adriana. At Jin''s question, Zion answered immediately. "I understand. It was ...... when my predecessor was 35 years old. ......" * * * The newly enthroned King Aiars Llaneth Garandia suddenly collapsed. Naturally, the kingdom was in turmoil. The most serious problem was that no official crown prince had been chosen. King Ials had four children, two of them boys. The eldest son, Jacqui Tighe Garandia, was frail and lived a life of sleep and waking. In contrast, the second son, Leoger Raie Garandia, was reputed to be intelligent and brilliant. Both are in their late twenties, old enough to be the next king. The eldest and second daughters had already married and were in a position unrelated to the succession to the throne. Naturally, the royal castle was divided into two factions. The first-born son faction and the second-born son faction. Adriana Barbora Zetsi, who hated political disputes, did not support either side and remained neutral. It could be said that she was so absorbed in her research that she ignored them. At the beginning of the new year, the political dispute came to an end. Jacky, the eldest son who was frail, passed away. While mourning his father and brother, Leoger Raie Garandia changed the regime. He purged or demoted those who had been in favor of the eldest son and removed them from the political arena. The aftermath of this change reached Adriana. Neutrality, Leogar thought, meant neglect. He cut the budget and harassed his students. Then someone visited Adriana. "Mr. Thane, it''s been a while. "Yes, Adriana, I''ve been busy taking over. "Are you leaving to take over ......?" "Yes, I am. Yes. I am old enough and the new king does not like me. "......" Thane is now 70 years old, an age at which he would normally be comfortably retired. "I have served two kings, King Haroldorf and King Aialus, and I think it is time for me to retire." "I would not be where I am today if I had not been approached by ...... Sein. Thank you again." "No, no, no. If you were as talented as Adriana, I am sure you would have made your mark sooner or later. So, what are you going to do after you retire? I come from the Kingdom of Galandora. I have a son and a grandson there, and I''m thinking of taking care of them. "The Kingdom of Galandora? ......" Adriana remembered the meeting they had last year. "Maybe I should go with you. ......" Sein smiled at her words. "In that case, would you like to join us?If you are as good as Adriana, you will be promoted soon. Sein knew that Adriana had been treated coldly recently, so he spoke kindly of her. Adriana''s resignation was immediately accepted. The word spread quickly among his disciples, and more than 50 of them decided to come with him. Four days later. "Take care, doctor." "Thank you, doctor, for everything you''ve done for me. "I can''t follow you, but take good care of him." Adriana was seen off by the remaining disciples of the Kingdom of Galandia, and she left Rakapo, the capital of the Kingdom of Galandia, with Thane and his 55 disciples, and headed west. They were accompanied by two golems, M-010 and F-0-10. M-010 and F-010. * * * * * What a ...... selfish king. Oh, you haven''t become king yet, have you?" Jin breaks off the conversation, and as expected, Zion reveals his anger. "Yes, but there are a certain number of people like this. Jin recalls his days at the black company. "It''s like they can''t see what''s going on around them, or they feel too much like they are the only one who can do it. ...... Jin looks a little distant. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After more than ten days, the group arrived at the Kingdom of Galandora. Word of their arrival had already spread, and an envoy was waiting to meet them at the border. "Welcome, <>, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, and your disciples. The Kingdom of Galandora welcomes you. Thank you for your hospitality. Among those who greeted Adriana and her disciples was Mariosa de Forres. Mariosa was now the secretary of the interior of the Kingdom of Galandora. His father is of the generation that learned directly from Shuki Tsetsi, Adriana''s father. Adriana, his daughter and <>, was welcomed with open arms in the Kingdom of Galandora. "I am happy for you, Adriana. "It''s all thanks to you, Mr. Thane! No, it''s all thanks to you. Well then, let''s meet again sometime. Sein said smilingly and left the group, heading for the town where his son lived. A few days later, the group arrived at the capital city of Fouders. Adriana''s place had already been prepared for her. This is your workshop. "All this? Mariosa de Fores herself showed Adriana and her apprentices to the workshop. It was a place so large that it would have been out of place in a lowly nobleman''s mansion. We are going to build a new classroom and we would like you to train our apprentices. Yes, of course. The day after tomorrow, I''d like you to give a speech to His Majesty the Emperor. Yes. Here, Adriana Barbora Zetsi once again found a place of peace and devoted herself to the training of her successors. At the same time, it seemed that the prosperity of the Kingdom of Galandola was about to begin. 1304 - - 0007 Religion "Oh, thank God! Adriana is welcome here." Theon and Marikka were relieved to hear that Adriana had been accepted in the Kingdom of Galandora. "I heard that the previous generation who settled down in the Kingdom of Galandora also gathered disciples and produced many talented engineers. For some reason, not much detail is written about what happened in between." "Is that so?" "Yes. It''s just a very brief description of what happened. Jin imagined that the absence of any particulars meant that the days were ordinary, or at best, peaceful. "But then, the previous generation got involved in the turmoil once again. "What?What do you mean?" "It was the fifth year after my predecessor settled down in the kingdom of Garandola. ......" * * * * It began abruptly in 2381. "Is it a church ......?" "Yes, sir." It all started when a church official came to Adriana''s workshop. We are here today to ask you to join us, Adriana. "Oh, ......." Two people arrived: an elderly priest and a young sister. "God came down from heaven and made the earth. ...... "The angels watch over this earth ......" "Blessing is magic. ...... The priests and sisters took turns delivering their impassioned speeches. In short, magic is a grace from God. To be able to use magic is to be blessed. On the other hand, those who cannot use magic are proof that they have been abandoned by God. Therefore, to help those who cannot use magic more than necessary is to go against God''s will. "I have heard that you are an excellent mage, Lady Adriana. I would like to ask you to join our church and use your skills for the benefit of the church. I am sure that Adriana will soon become a high-ranking priestess. "...... huh?" Adriana sighs heavily and deliberately. "Magic is just an ability. It''s the same as being fast or having good eyesight. God?Maybe there is. Maybe there is no god. A higher being that we humans can''t sense, that would be God. You who talk about God should be ashamed of yourselves. She was able to say these words because she had been trained by Shuki Tsetsi. Religion is something that should be the foundation of one''s heart, not something that binds one. But the priest''s face turned pale when he heard this. "You say the same thing as <>, don''t you, ......! "<>?...... Oh, I''m sure your father would say so." At these words the priest''s face twisted even more. "Oh, ...... you ...... are the daughter of a !" "You can tell by my last name, Tsetsi, can''t you?" Adriana was a little taken aback, but she was actually missing the point. After the visit of Shuki Tsetsi, there were many influential people and branch nobles who took the family name of Tsetsi because of their admiration for him. "I didn''t know you were related to Shuki Tsetsi. ......!You will not regret refusing our invitation. ......!" With such a slap in the face, the two left. "...... huh?" Adriana sighs loudly again. "Religion is ...... troublesome, ...... your father used to say that." Adriana, who had heard stories about religious wars, disliked intrusive religion. "I''m just going to be me." Adriana returned to her research. Around this time, Mariosa de Forres, who had been a good friend of Adriana''s in the Kingdom of Galandora, suddenly lost her position. She was accused of embezzling and embezzling the budget. "That''s absurd. ......" Adriana was astonished. She knew that Mariosa was a man of integrity, as she herself claimed to be a granddaughter of her father Shuki. "Could it be a conspiracy ......?" But Adriana, a technician, had no way to prove his innocence. After this, the kingdom of Galandra rapidly became more and more religious. * * * * * * * * * * "It''s a religion ....... We believe in and fear , but it''s not forced on us. Jin corrects Zion''s statement. "Isn''t that more of a faith than a religion for Zion and the others? "Oh, maybe." Zion affirmed Jin''s explanation. "But that''s why I don''t want such to be forced on us. ......" "In the world I was in...... I mean, in the world where <> was, there was a past where religion and power were linked and it even led to war." "......I really don''t like that." "I remember it was said that there is as much justice as there are people. ...... sounds like a nice thing to say, but I don''t know, it sounds like an excuse to keep the fighting going. Jin smiled at Zion''s comment. "Maybe that''s how Zion and the others feel. "So, what happened to Adriana-sama after that?" Marikka pulled Jin and the others back from their side-tracks. "Oh, I''m sorry. ...... Actually, it''s just a brief description of what happens next." Jin thought that since it was a diary, he did not want to write about things he did not want to write about in detail. * * * * For the next two years, Adriana remained in the kingdom of Galandra, but the church''s disapproval grew stronger, so she decided to go on another trip. With 34 disciples who wanted to accompany her, and the new golems M-017 and F The 34 disciples who wished to accompany him, along with the new golem M-017 and F-017, left the capital city of Fouders at the beginning of October 2383. It was early October 2383. The group continues westward. After staying for about half a year in a town corresponding to Astan in today''s Kingdom of Selroa, they moved further west. It was the summer of 2384 when they crossed the southern edge of the Hariri Desert, crossing the land that is now the Shoro Kingdom. By that time, the number of disciples accompanying them had decreased to 15, less than half of the original number. Finally, the group entered Mitsuho, a land of a different tribe. "Oh my God! . After investigating the underground of the island and finding that it is rich in mineral resources, she decides to secure the resources at the same time as quarrying the stone. "Oh, this is fun. It reminds me of the old days." Building the laboratory reminded Adriana of the hopeful days of her youth. 1307 - - 0010 The End of Life In about six months, the lab was completed. "It''s done. It''s quite impressive. Adriana said to herself in a self-praising tone of voice. She tidied up the study and placed Shuki''s memento, a paper crane, at the far end of the room. "Father, we won''t know if magical engineering will take root until fifty or a hundred years from now. But I have done my best to live up to your father. Adriana, with her hands together, decided to make a fresh start and do as much research as she could in this institute. She was able to obtain what she lacked in food and clothing through the warp gate, and now Adriana could devote herself to her research without fear or hesitation. One of the results is the golem and the automata. The automata, in particular, were made by synthesizing <> and <> using <> made from the threads of a ground spider found by chance, making them look more human-like in appearance and increasing their power to more than 10 times that of conventional automata. and their power has increased to more than 10 times the previous level. And... "...... was made." The culmination of this process was the completion of her masterpiece, an automata. She is 130 cm tall. She was a girl automata with black hair and eyes like her father Shuki Tsetsi. I am going to take good care of you now, little one. You can call me <." "Hi, Okaasama." Adriana was the predecessor of Reiko, as we all know. Adriana, with < as her assistant, went on with another research project. It was , who once became Shuki Tsetsi''s wife, who was researching <>. "......That''s difficult. ......It would take at least enough mana to wipe out a star." We know that it takes a tremendous amount of energy to connect spaces. And then he added "Waves transmitted through <> ...... may transcend space." I could see such a possibility. This was also the subject that my father Shuki''s late wife, Adriana Tierra, had been researching. However, the years fell on her mercilessly. As Adriana brushed her hair, which had turned completely white, she began to think more and more about the past. "I''ve done a lot of things my own way, haven''t I? Well, I guess I haven''t had a bad life. Adriana''s dream of making this place a sacred place for magical engineering never came true. The reason for this is not recorded in her diary and cannot be guessed now. I only know that < Jin was pressured by the Church to leave the institute. Jin thinks that the pressure from the church and the electorate has probably prevented the development of magical tools for the common people. This is probably why Adriana could not find any mages whom she wanted to invite to the institute. Then one day. "It is sad that there is no successor, isn''t it? Adriana, who had murmured such a thing, spent several days recording all of her knowledge in a magical tool. "I recorded my knowledge in the form of a book, with my image reflected in a transparent crystal ball. <, I let it destroy itself. Hmmm, that''s interesting. It was Adriana''s mischievous smile as she suddenly remembered that her father Shuki had told her that witches are known for their crystal balls. With a mischievous smile on her face, Adriana began to make the magical tools for her successor. "<>......" With theatrical lines, Adriana records her message to her yet-unseen successor. "< Adriana, having finished her work, looks into the distance, as if she can see into the future, "Hmmm, I''d be happy if someday there will be a successor to whom I can entrust this. A successor who doesn''t discriminate between mages, nobles, and commoners. He muttered to himself. And the months passed. "Okaasama okaagenha ikaga desuka..." "Oh, little guy, I feel so good today. I want to see the sea. ...... "Wakarimashita omakasekudasai." The automata <> lightly carries his mother, Adriana, up to the roof of the institute. "Ah, it''s a beautiful day. The sea is blue. The sky is also blue and beautiful. ......" And so <> and Adriana lived in harmony. Then, on December 25, 2432. "I can no longer ...... ........." Adriana tells in a hushed voice. "......I need someone I can trust ...... with this institute and ...... everything I have ....... ......" "......" The automata <> listens silently. "......Please find ......that someone ......somehow ......and give me ...... ......" Adriana''s voice grew even more muffled. "......I''m asking you ...... to do something about it. ......" His voice trails off. "Hi Okaasama." Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the rare Magecraftsman, <>, has thus ended her life. * * * * "...... Then, Reiko''s predecessor, <>, found me and brought me into this world after spending about a thousand years. She brought me into this world." Jin''s story ended. Theon and Marikka''s eyes were filled with tears as they heard of Adriana Barbora Tsezi''s death. Reiko, standing by Jin''s side, looks a little sad. "......Thank you, Jin." In a slightly nasal voice, Zion thanked him. "I''m glad to know that you know my beloved first <>, Adriana-sama." "I see." "I see......... but Reiko, you were called < back then, weren''t you?" Marikka sniffed her nose as she shared her thoughts. "Yes, that''s right. For example, you wouldn''t name a carriage after a human being, no matter how much you cherish it, would you?That must have been the era back then." "Is that the kind of time ......?" Even 300 years ago, people gave their automata nicknames but not names. Jin explains briefly about automata of that time, such as Anne, Lol, Lefa, Tia, etc. "I''m from another world. "I''m from another world, so I''m not bound by any such restrictions, so I named her <>. Reiko. Yes, Father. "So that''s how it is. I understand. Thank you. Then Elsa made a fresh pot of tea. "Thank you, Brother Gin." "Hey, thank you, Elsa." Jin sipped the tea and thought about the past once more. "I wonder if my predecessors were ...... happy." Reiko answered his question. "Yes, father. Your mother''s face was so peaceful. I''m sure she was happy." "I see. I hope so. Yes. It was already dark outside, and the stars twinkled brightly in the night sky, just as they had in the past. 1308 - - 35-22 Stopped The last day of October, the 30th. Jin was about to further strengthen the defense of Horai Island. "It''s a barrier that can be put up in the ground. <, though it was limited to <. There is no hurry to attack from our side. We are almost certain that their ultimate goal is Jin, so we have decided that it is urgent to strengthen our defense. According to your analysis, the , who was individualistic and disliked conflicts, may have technological power, but may not be good enough to use it for attacks. Even so, <> was a threat, and the golem they captured is advanced from a general level. <>. Jin was somewhat averse to the idea, but he reminded himself that he could not be so naive when it came down to it. "So, Jin, how is the practical application of the barrier going? Erza asked. In case you are wondering, Zion and Marikka are taking it easy in the village of Kaina. "Father, the experiment is ready. "Oh, thank you, Reiko. ...... Elsa, we''re going to start the experiment now." Jin explains what he is thinking. "The principle of the barrier is a web of free magical elements, right? "Yes." "Free magic element (ether) is much smaller than atoms and molecules, so it can be built even in a solid body." "Oh, ...... sure." Jin''s explanation continues. "There''s a reason why we haven''t been able to do this before." "Father, what is it?" Reiko didn''t know this either. She had been assisting Jin as his assistant for a long time, but there were things she did not know. "The strength of the mana required to construct the warding is different in the air and in the ground. If the strength is based on the air, of course the underground is excluded." "......" The reason makes sense. Then, why not use the underground as the standard?" "Yes, that''s the point." Jin agreed with Elsa''s idea. "That''s what I was experimenting with." "It took more than a million times the strength of mana, but the wards were formed properly. Reiko reported the results. "If the strength of mana in gas is 1, the strength of mana in water is 1,000, and in solid is about 100,000,000, which is an order of magnitude higher. It is said that it eats an order of magnitude more mana than 1,000 in water and 100,000 in solid. Jin speculated that the free magic element (ether) contained in the solid was probably interfering with the process. "The consumption of free magic element (ether) is ridiculous at this rate." "Indeed." The next question is how to improve the efficiency. Still, since it is possible to set up wards around the old man with the current technology, Jin has decided to set up the wards as a temporary security measure. * * * * * * * * In the early morning of the same day, a mysterious flying object flew over Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Empire. "What the hell is that?" A hot-air balloon squadron on patrol was the first to spot it. It is a circular object like a dish, with a diameter of less than 10 meters. The speed of the object is so fast that it disappears from sight in a matter of seconds. The object was barely visible as it dropped something into Lake Tosmo. A few minutes later. "It''s losing altitude! "The heating magic is stopping!" "Fire magic to assist ......, no, I can''t use magic!" We''re going to crash-land! The hot-air balloon, by its very nature, could not crash all at once, so the occupants were spared serious injury. However, this was not the end of the story. "The golem is not moving? The magic lamp is not glowing! The phenomena were so frequent that they were centered around Lake Tosmo. These phenomena occurred in a radius of about 50 kilometers around Lake Tosmo. "You!The neon lights have stopped working! Something is going on. Belle, I''m in this room with Yuri. Reinhardt tried to contact Jin with his manacam, but he could not get through at all. "The warp gate is also ...... disabled." It seems that all magic tools and spells have been disabled, Reinhardt decided. "Jin ......." Reinhardt was sure that Jin would take care of the situation as soon as he heard about it. * * * * "Aal stopped working?" "Yes, that''s right." Saki''s house was also affected. "I don''t know what the hell is going on...I can''t contact ...... Jin..." Not only the Jin family was affected, but the same thing was happening in Reuthert. "I can''t use magic! "My magic tools don''t work!" "My body is ...... lazy. ......" In Miyagi, the emperor, who had heard of the town''s problems, pushed aside his physical weakness in order to get a better grasp of the situation. "......Magic Technology Minister, do you have any idea why magic suddenly stopped working?" "I''m sorry to say that I have no idea. ......" "Your Majesty, there are reports of hot air balloonists seeing an unidentified mysterious object over Lake Tosmo in the morning, but I''m not sure if this has anything to do with this situation." "In any case, please act with priority on finding out the cause and countermeasures." That''s all the Empress can say at the moment, (I wonder if Jin-kun can ...... do something about it. ......) ), but her hopes were dashed when a report came in. "Your Majesty, I went to Kunlun-kun''s residence. How did it go? The Kun Lun lord didn''t seem to be at home. Moreover, I looked in through the gate and saw two golem maids lying motionless in the garden. ...... "What? ......" Hearing this report that Jin''s golems had also become motionless, even the Empress paled. "What''s going to happen to them ......?" No one could answer that question. The capital city of Leusert had now completely ceased to function. Even the common people were having difficulties in their daily lives without the benefit of magic tools. And the fifth column (quinta) was no exception. Fortunately, the place where he collapsed was out of sight. Finally, Horaijima came to know about the situation. 1309 - - 35-23 Unprecedented Situation "What?" In Horai Island, Jin received an urgent message from the old man. "You can''t get in touch with the Shoro Kingdom?" < What the hell is going on? << "Too little information. What about from the 5th column (Quinta)?" < "Hmmm... ......" Jin pondered. "Do you think it was an attack on ......<>?" < Since their mentality seems to be quite different from that of the Ars human race, he could understand what the old man meant. "Whether it is an attack or not, we can''t leave them alone. . Then Elsa came in. "......What the hell happened?" Jin honestly told her that he did not know. The fifth column (quinta), which is located far from Leuthart, had reported that nothing had happened. <, and Mira 11, a.k.a. , who were closest to us, will arrive in a few minutes. Regulus 9 was in charge of the area near Montt, a key point on the road, and Mira 11 was in charge of the area near Lake Wass. and , are on their way from Eno and Pente, respectively>. "Okay. Be careful." And then they wait for 3 minutes. My Lord, <>, <> and <> have arrived in Chevelle. I''ll send them to Leuthart while we leave the road a little bit. "Yes." But five minutes later. < "What? I''ve been monitoring from <<<< watcher and it seems to have suddenly stopped just past the town of Riale>> "Stopped?" Jin thought about the situation. "The biggest possibility is that it ran out of energy. "Then let and be more careful." < I decided to let them take the same route. < "Yes, that''s good." The idea is that if the one ahead stops, the rope can be reeled in. "Even if there is no free magic element (ether), we can say that the boundary between the two is clear. This is also evident from the fact that < and suddenly stopped. It is not a gradual loss of free magic element (ether). "And I don''t think they simply ran out of free magic element (ether). It is because the current Horai Islanders have been improved to be able to act for a short time even in a place where there is no free magic element (ether) at all. < "Brother Jin, are you talking about something like an ether eliminator or a magic canceller?" Erza, who had been silently thinking about something, opened her mouth. "...... I think so. And if I were to go further, it would be something like a combination of the two with an <>." A <> is a magical tool that forces mana to be converted back into free magic element (ether). And <> removes free magic element (ether) from an object and stores it in an ether tank. When these two are combined, the object is deprived of its mana. And since free magic element (ether) is not free either, it has to be stopped. However, unlike <>, the effect on human beings is small. "How is that ...... possible?" I was about to say, "How is that possible? We have found <<<<< Rie>, <, <> and <>. We will now approach with <> in the lead. The scene seen from <>''s eyes is projected on the magic screen. <<> has a rope tied around her waist, and she advances slowly in that position. Ahead of him are and , both of whom have collapsed and are motionless. At the moment he comes close enough to touch and , Rie collapses. quickly pulls the rope and pulls <> back. Then <>, which had stopped, began to move. "I knew it, was the mana taken away from her? ......" . "Now it''s clear. Can we somehow reactivate and as well?" So <> and <> untied the ropes that were connecting them to each other and used them as lasso, and retrieved <> and <>. They are successfully reactivated. "That''s a relief. By the way, has the boundary line not changed? If it seems to be gradually expanding, it would be a big problem. "Brother Jin, can''t you make some kind of measuring instrument? "Hmmm, well, I think we can monitor it by using ...... small <> magic tool." "Sure." So Jin and Erza carved small magi-crystals into the formulas of the < formula. After making about ten of them, he sent them to and with a transporter. The two hold the magic tools with outstretched arms and move forward slowly. If it disappears, that is the boundary. They place the grimoire on the boundary and observe it. After about 30 minutes of observation, the boundary of the <> is found to be unchanged. "That''s a relief." "That''s a good thing," he said, "because if it had expanded, the damage would be even worse than it is now. "Split up and mark where the boundary is." Jin and Elsa made another 100 or so of the same thing and told them to place them at the boundary. "Now ...... the next step is how to solve this problem ......." For now, whether it is a golem or an automata, it is certain that it will stop once it enters the <> boundary. "Brother Jin, can''t we use a barrier to prevent the effect of the warding?" Erza asked with a difficult look on her face. "It might be possible, but in that case, we can only use free magical energy (ether) inside the barrier. <. ......" While explaining to Erza, Jin himself considers countermeasures. "First of all, we need to check if <> can prevent it." < The old man decides to let check it out. As a result, the <> protected <> from the <>. This also proves that the effect of <> is magic. "Yes! Jin is pleased that this is a step forward. "Then, ......" Jin thinks about the steps of the countermeasure. 1310 - - 35-24 Brilliant Recovery "Use > instead of <> or ......" <> is literally an airship, levitated by helium gas. Even if it were to lose all magic, it would not crash at once. If it is carried by the wind and can get out of the range of the <>, it will be able to restart. "and ......" Jin considers how to approach the <> boundary. "Brother Jin, why don''t we put up a <>?" Jin nodded at Elsa''s opinion. "That''s right. It would be bad if it should malfunction, so we should install two additional systems of barrier projectors. Together with the original barrier projector, we will have three systems. Reiko, who is to accompany me, is to have two additional barrier projector systems. Similarly, Edgar, the pilot, is to have two more systems. In addition, as many mana cylinders (mana cylinders) are carried as much as the load capacity allows. "The object dropped at Lake Tosmo looks suspicious. Okay, I''ll bring two mermaid squadrons with me. Edgar will pilot. Me, Reiko, Mermaids 1 and 2 will go." < floats on helium, its payload is smaller than that of , which floats on force field generators. "Brother Jin, are you okay?" > "No, if the magical tool that caused this situation is as expected, there''s a good chance it won''t help if I don''t go." <> "Besides, a human being can act even within the wards of <>." "Brother Jin, be careful." Erza has also decided that Jin can''t be persuaded. "Take care of Rai, Bertsch, Saki and the others at ......." "Yeah, you can count on me." Jin did not have that much confidence in his ability to handle the situation, but he tried to reassure the anxious Elsa with a bright smile. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * First, we were transferred by transporter to the airspace above Schwere, where we knew it would be safe. From here, they ascended to a higher altitude and first checked to see how far up in the sky the < boundary existed. <, and a magi crystal with a < effect is hung from the end of the rope for monitoring purposes. When this light goes out, it means that you have entered the <> ward. Measured in this way, the <> ward is found to be almost hemispherical in shape. The radius is 50 km, and the estimated height is 50 km. The reason why the height is estimated is because the helium levitating <> could not reach up to 50 kilometers above the ground. It is also because they did not want to be conspicuous to anyone who might be watching them from anywhere. And the center of the warding was still Lake Tosmo. "Okay, let''s go to Lake Tosmo. , flying with three layers of deployed, safely entered the . "Even this could have been observed, though." A helium-powered airship in a world of hot air balloons. It is not clear what they will make of it. We had to get this situation under control as soon as possible. * * * * "......I wonder how long this situation will last. ......" Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, the Shawlo Empress, looked helplessly up at the sky. There was something in his eyes. "Is that ......?< There was no mistaking it. < "Jin, you came to ......." < passes over Reuthert and disappears in the direction of Lake Tosmo. "You''re our only hope. ......" The emperor looked at the back of with a prayerful look. * * * * * * "Over Lake Tosmo, sir." Edgar brings to a stop about 10 meters above the surface of the lake. "All right, Mermaids 1 and 2, let''s go. Let''s go. "Yes, Master." The two jumped down from the rear hatch. Two splashes on the surface of the lake. Normally, Mermaid 1''s eyes would be linked to the magic screen, but she has now put up a , so no such information is sent to the screen. All that remained was to wait. The depth of Lake Tosmo is about 20 meters at its deepest point. The water is so clear that the bottom of the lake can be seen from above without auxiliary light. The mermaids have night vision because of their deep-sea activities, so it is even more difficult to see the bottom of the lake. "The bottom of the lake is relatively clean. I had imagined that there would be a lot of waste, but there is very little of that kind of thing. "That makes it easier to find. ......" We have a rough idea of the center of the boundary, but the lakebed is still quite large, and it is a difficult task. Half an hour passes, an hour passes. Two hours turned into three hours and then ....... "Master, I found it!" came the voice of Mermaid2 floating on the lake. "Well done!Bring her over here." Jin, who had given the order, once out of the ward, cuts the and consults with the old man. "What should we do?Should we analyze it or destroy it immediately? < "Well, ......, what should we do?" If we go out of the barrier that is currently putting up, Jin can no longer use engineering magic. "We shouldn''t move ...... either." If the area where magic cannot be used is moved, that will be a problem. "What should we do ......?" Jin decides that since engineering magic cannot be used, the only way is to destroy a part of it. "Or we could slice it up with a <>." The laser beam is generated by a magic tool, but the light emitted is a physical phenomenon. Therefore, it is effective even within the <> boundary. < "Indeed it is. Okay then, Reiko, take care of Momoka. I''ll leave it to you. Deciding on a course of action, Jin once again put up the <> and returned to Lake Tosmo. Mermaids 1 and 2 are waiting on the surface of the lake with their < warding generators. "It''s surprisingly big. It was roughly the size of a basketball. "From the color, I''d say its outer shell is light silver. Reiko, please. Mermaids 1 and 2 support the sphere from both sides, and Reiko cuts it in the middle with her beloved sword . The hyper adamantite Momoka will be able to cut through light silver and magi crystals with no problem. "Here I go!" < and swung her . The warding generator is cut in half, and Reiko delivers her before it even touches the water. She then landed in Lake Tosmo. Immediately thereafter. "Father, I can use magic now!" Jin reports. Jin lowered the rope ladder from , first pulling Reiko up, and then using the rope to retrieve Mermaids 1 and 2 and their warding generators. 1311 - - 35-25 Tracking "Mermaid 1, Mermaid 2, well done. Reiko, thank you." Jin works on the three. Then he looked at the warding generator that had been cut in half. "Hmm, there is an energy storage section similar to a mana cylinder, isn''t there? Jin thought that it must have such a storage unit because the surrounding free magical energy (ether) and magical energy (mana) would be unavailable. Then, when he tried to find out the principle of the warding, he found out the following. The old man warned him. "What?" <. Jin agrees with the old man''s words. "Yes, it seems so. But it could also be said that the other side has come out of the woodwork. The only thing I am not happy about is that it is not that is on board now. Edgar, I want you to head south as fast as you can. Yes, sir. Jin decided that he did not want to engage in a battle over the Shoro Empire. First, he flew at the maximum speed for an airship. The wind is blowing from the north, so the speed is about 60 kilometers per hour. < The three aircraft that are chasing us are going about the same speed. "Could they be trying to find my base?" << From Lake Tosmo it is less than 200 kilometers to the sea. In a little over three hours, the was out to sea, where it slowed down a bit. The three aircraft that were in pursuit were clearly visible. "It''s a saucer ......." But it was not the image of a UFO. It is more like a shallow dish turned upside down, with the bottom of the thread facing upward. Various kinds of magical devices seem to be installed at the bottom of the thread. "<><>>...... Heh, that''s an interesting method. Jin examined the three disks, and found that they seem to be floating by the wind magic from below. It was like a Frisbee, Jin thought, as if the parachutes were being levitated by the wind from below. "In terms of speed, it may be equivalent to , which uses a ." Jin thinks again about what to do from here. "Okay, let''s compare their performance. Edgar, the direction of flight is southeast. When you reach the equator, turn east. "Yes, sir." began to fly again at 60 kilometers per hour with the three disks following close behind. Increase speed. Yes, sir. The first thing to do is to set up a wind shield. This will reduce air resistance and allow for a further increase in speed. has increased its speed to 100 kilometers per hour. "You''re following ......." The three disks also seem to be able to reach 100 kilometers per hour. Okay, let''s try to get them up to altitude. "Yes, sir." While maintaining its flying speed, <> gains altitude. So far, the altitude had been about 100 meters, but soon it exceeded 1,000 meters, Soon it exceeded 1,000 meters, then 2,000 meters, then 3,000 meters, and so on. "If you are using wind magic, the thinner the air, the less efficient it should be." The same is true for Jin''s . The altitude had now exceeded 9,000 meters and was approaching 10,000 meters. "With <>, 10,000 meters is the limit. ......" This is the limit of buoyancy by helium. If this is <>, there is no limit to the altitude because it is designed for a spaceship. < were fully inflated due to the low atmospheric pressure. The cabin is airtight. "The propulsive force of the jet thrusters is also limited in this area. But it seems that the same was true for the saucer, which was visibly losing speed and maneuverability. "It seems that they too are at the limit of their wind magic." Since there are similarities in principle, the limits seem to be about the same. "Okay, okay. Edgar, that''s enough. Reduce altitude to 500 meters. "Yes, sir." Now go to ...... Edgar, head to the South Pole. Yes, sir. is equipped with mana cylinders to deal with this incident, so it can operate even in Antarctica where there is no free magical element (ether). But what about the three disks?Jin decided to take advantage of that. 10S,20S....... Free magic element (ether) is decreasing. floats by the buoyancy of helium, so it does not consume mana. This is another advantage of Jin. 30 and 40 degrees south latitude....... In the case of Arus, 1 degree is about 20 kilometers. 10 degrees is 200 kilometers. It is calculated to fly through 10 degrees in 2 hours. Half a day has passed since the start of the chase, night has fallen, and morning has arrived. "...... are you still following me?" Jin, who had no intention to stay with us for more than 10 hours, had already returned to Horai Island by the warp gate on board. Only Edgar, the pilot, and Jin''s alter ego (doppelganger) are now aboard the . Reiko, and Mermaid 1 and 2 had returned to Horai Island together, partly to lighten the aircraft. I guess so. I was able to use that time to analyze this thing, though." In front of Jin''s eyes, there was a < warding generator that had been cut in two. "Only a small part of it was destroyed when we cut it into pieces, and it was possible to reconstruct it. Jin muttered to himself, "Thanks to Reiko, we were able to do this. Reiko smiled when she heard this. "Brother Jin, please explain." Erza, who was recording the analysis results, asked Jin to explain. She could record the results but could not understand the principle at some points. "Oh, sure. First of all, this is the first part. Jin pointed to the record in Elsa''s hand. "The flow of magic control (magi sequence) here was new. In principle, it was a combination of , , and <>, as I had imagined, but it consisted of the flow of magic control (Magi Sequence) that combined them all together." Jin explains, pointing to Elsa''s record. "Here is the magic formula (Magi Formula), and by using this value, we can speed up the process here." "......Ah. The speed-up is transferred to us, and as a result, the efficiency is increased, right? "That''s what I mean." It was a good lesson for me as well as for Jin. I can''t think of any use for it, though. The old man has good news. "Oh, I see. That''s good news." And then... <<> <<> Reinhardt and Saki also contacted Jin, and he was relieved to know that the crisis was over. "Well, that''s fortunate." Jin turned his attention back to the three disks that were in pursuit of . 1312 - - 35-26 Hey, hey. "Your Majesty!The magic is back ......!" The long awaited words were heard from the top floor of the Palace in Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Empire, as the Emperor gazed out toward Lake Tosmo. "Are you sure?Are you sure? "Yes, ...... yes!The golem that had been stopped has been reactivated! Running up the stairs out of breath was the Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Empire, Degas Furt von Manischlus. He is 45 years old, younger than the Empress, but he is not very good at being physically active since he is usually working at his desk and doing research. (Thank you, Jin-kun ......) The Empress thanked Jin in her heart and hurried down the stairs to clean up the mess. * * * * "You, you, you, the neon is on the move! "Yeah, the magic lamps are on too." In Reinhardt''s own village of Kurtz, the anomaly had also ended. "Jin-sama, it''s ......, isn''t it?" "I guess so. I''ll go there after I finish my work." I''ll go there after I finish my work. Oh, ah! "Ah, Aal!Thank goodness I have ......!" "Saki-sama, was I offline?" "Yes, I was. But thanks to Jin, I''ve been reactivated. "Are you saying that the free magical element (ether) was ...... inactivated?" "Well, I don''t know about that yet. I''ll ask him later. I''ll ask him later. "Oh, I can use magic now! The lamp is on! Thank God. ...... The people affected by this incident realized how dependent they had been on magic. * * * * "Hmmm, ......, you took care of that. You can''t be underestimated. Indeed. It''s like there''s no bottom to it. ...... And with a means of flight like that... An airship. Not surprising since they have hot-air balloons. What do you want me to do? Let''s see what you can do with those three planes. All right. Okay. Don''t follow me yet. Conlon 2 is now over 60 degrees south latitude. The concentration of free magical element (ether) in the space is a quarter of that near the equator, and <> has already used its magical energy reservoir (mana cylinder). "What about those three machines?" <>. "I see." I guess that''s good news in this case, but we still don''t know what they are capable of. "Perhaps it''s remotely controlled, too." << I see. Just as there are differences between the movements of a golem and a human, there will be differences in the operation of these vehicles as well. But you persist. Are you still following me? ......<>"Let''s try to increase the speed a bit, using propulsion as well." . I increase the speed from 100 kilometers per hour to 120 kilometers per hour, and the three planes still follow me. "Okay, 150 km/h." The three still clinging to me. The old man who had been observing the flight made a judgment. "I guess we''ll just have to wait and see." has enough mana cylinders to circle around Ars twice, but what about the three aircraft that are chasing us? Jin wanted to give it a try. "Brother Jin, are you sure you don''t want to attack?" "Yes. Yes, at this stage. . Jin nodded and gave an additional explanation. "That''s right. We want them to think we have no offensive capability or are too weak to do so, so we can take advantage of them." How do we do that? "First, we''ll grab one of the planes and find out who''s controlling it. I''m going to use that line to try to talk to them. Jin explained that he wanted to do this carefully, because if all-out war broke out, other countries would be affected. "...... sure." Jin could defend Horai Island and Kaina Village well enough, but he would not be able to cover all other areas. "If we do it, we have to crush them with a single blow. ...... whether we do it or not." "Hmm, okay." "But they''re really persistent, ......." Above 70 degrees south latitude, the free-magic (ether) concentration in space was less than one-fifth that of the equatorial region. "Could it be that they are transferring energy?" Jin was startled by Erza''s unexpected words. "I see... ...... that''s a good idea." If so, we are at a disadvantage. Jin had yet to develop a free-magic element (ether) transfer device with satisfactory performance. "What should we do? ......" Jin ponders over another plan. "Okay, let''s have a battle of wills. And then he decides on a course of action. "Once that''s decided, let''s not waste mana cylinders. Let''s make a circle around the equator. And then... And here was the real plan. "Mr. Old Man, I want you to use your peepers and find out as much as you can about the structure of that disk." <>. This is impossible with human reaction time, so I will leave it to you, Mr. Jin. In the meantime, we can do something else. When will the other side get tired of this? That''s the only thing I don''t know. "If they have a magic brain, we have an automata and a magic brain. Jin smiled a little wryly. "Brother Jin, you look bad." Erza said to Jin, "You look bad. "Maybe. I''m a bit annoyed with their tactics. "Well, actually, I am too." Erza agreed. 1313 - - 35-27 Dead end and another road "Well, and ......" It was already dark outside, and the time was already around 9 p.m. "Oh, I''m so tired. "Oh, I''m so tired. ...... . "Yes, my lord, please." Jin stretched out and went with Erza to <. He plans to take a bath and go to sleep. He is angry, but he is not so thoughtless as to attack without reason. When Jin came out of the bath, Erza was waiting for him with his nightgown. "Thank you." Jin puts on the nightgown offered by Erza. "Brother Jin, you say you''re mad at me this time, but I think you''re taking it a little easy, is that my imagination? Elsa asked Jin as she was putting on his nightgown. "No. No, this time I couldn''t read the other party''s attitude. It seems like they''re trying to provoke us. "Indeed. And it would be even more annoying if we just let them get away with what they want. I understand. I''m thinking I''ll just make them numb to the whole thing. "That''s funny." Erza let out a wry smile at Jin''s words. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * November 2. and three disks continue orbiting the equator. The old man reports. "Yes, let me hear it." Jin answered as he ate his breakfast. "I knew it." Jin chuckles to himself as he takes a bite of his pickles. The old man continues his report. "I see." That is just as I had imagined. Jin thinks about how to do this while sipping his tea. < "Okay. Thank you, that''s enough. Keep going." < "...... Well..." Jin was thinking about the warding machine he had secured yesterday. "Father, is there something on your mind?" "Oh, yes. In principle, it is a combination of , , and , as I had imagined, but I have a feeling that they are combined to produce other effects as well." "Do you have any evidence for this?" "Yes. ...... See, the <> type golem reactivated without having to be refilled with mana, didn''t it?" Reiko seemed to understand what Jin meant by that point. "This is completely imaginary, but I think it is not taking away mana or free magic element (ether), but preventing them from being converted into energy, isn''t it? This hypothesis would explain the current phenomenon. "<> in reverse: ......" A phenomenon that should be called <>. Another problem to be clarified, Jin thought. "First, one thing at a time." Jin stood up to examine what he had thought about the energy transfer. "Sorry, Elsa, I''m at the workshop. "Well, I''ll clean up and go." After saying a word to Erza who was cleaning up, Jin and Reiko headed for the workshop in the laboratory. While they were preparing for the experiment in the workshop, Erza came in. "Did you make it in time?" "Yes, we are just about to start." In the workshop were two small warp gates. They were about the size of a microwave oven. "First, let me explain the concept." "Hmm, please." Explaining to someone in this way is a good way to organize your thoughts, and to clarify some fuzzy points. "I think of a warp gate as a tunnel between two distant points." "Hmm." "The operation is not continuous. It is activated when the object enters the sending side and appears on the receiving side. Otherwise, there is a possibility of an accident, for example, that only the arm that is plugged in is transferred. However, this kind of accident has never happened. "Does this mean that the object is automatically recognized, or ......" "Is that what <> are for?" "I think so." <>, the objects that pass through it are basically > of each other. There can be more than one, but there can never be only half. "Indeed." "Hypothetically, I think there is a <> between the outgoing and incoming warp gates." "You mean ...... that ...... connect the high and the low?" "That''s what I mean. In that sense, it is more of a vertical hole than a horizontal hole. This analogy seemed to be easy to understand, and Erza looked satisfied. Jin adds, "If an object is placed more than halfway into the effective range of the warp gate, it will be pulled in by its <> and will be transferred. "Of course, it won''t jump out from the receiving side, so it''s just an image. "Yes, I know." "So, here''s the point. ...... objects or solids as I just said, but what about liquids?What about gases?" In the previous experiment, it was found that smoke ...... can be transferred if it is sucked out from the receiving side, in other words, gases can also be transferred, and <> was barely put into practice. However, the efficiency is still low, and it cannot keep up with the consumption of a space ship, let alone the consumption of a naval ship. < might have such a highly efficient in practical use. Then I should be able to do it too, he thought. Jin decides to reset his thinking and reconsider. "Earlier, you used <> as an example..." "Hmm..." "If that tunnel is a vertical hole, then air will not fall through it, but water will. That would mean that something heavier than the air would fall. "Indeed." "But this tunnel is not <>. I guess air and liquids don''t fall down. I think that''s the nature of the tunnel." So, by using a strong hand to suck them out of the receiving end, gases could also be transferred, Jin summarized the facts he had confirmed so far. "In other words, there must be a condition to pass through the tunnel." "So if we can figure that out, we''re one step ahead?" "Yes. Yes. We can take one or two steps forward. Jin looked at the small warp gate used for the experiment. "It is not surprising that the <> would have the technology to transfer energy. If their direct descendants are on Onogoro Island, they must have it too." "Brother Jin ......" Erza looked pained at Jin''s words, which were a little weak. 1314 - - 35-28 Situation, Change Jin tells a worried Erza in a cheerful voice. "Erza, the current confirmation experiment only proves that an efficient energy transfer cannot be achieved by extending the conventional method. Then I''ll just have to do it my way." "What?" "There are several ways. You can transfer a bottle of ethenol or send a mana cylinder. "Indeed. "Up until now, we''ve been obsessed with the idea that such a method isn''t smart. But not anymore. If you know for sure that the path you are on is a dead end, you can just go another way, Jin says. "I can see that." "So let''s think about it. I wonder how we can be more efficient. "I''ll think about it, too." Jin seemed to be enjoying himself somewhat, and Elsa decided to join him in thinking about it. The first thing I can think of right now is ...... a bucket relay." "?" Erza heard the word and a question mark appeared in her head. "A bucket relay is ......" Jin explains to Elsa. "It''s when a couple of people fill buckets with water and hand them off to each other to put out a fire or something like that. I don''t know the details ......." I said < with an image, but Jin has never done it either. In the first place, what we are talking about now is energy transfer. "In other words, we put concentrated free magic element (ether) in a <> and send it out through the transfer gate (warp gate) by using, for example, a golem. The golem receives it at the receiving end and transfers the free magical element (ether) to a tank or something like that. ...... "Is that why you said earlier that we can use ethenol and mana cylinders?" "Of course. I was thinking that such a would be possible." Elsa nodded. "Certainly, it is possible. If we can figure out how to do it efficiently ......." But Jin interrupted Erza. "Wait, wait. We''re not finished yet. There''s one more thing." Can I hear it? "Of course. The other way is to use the transporter. < It takes time and effort to determine the coordinates of the destination, but the problem is solved if there is a target <>. "That sounds doable. "But I don''t think we can send <>. "Only objects, you mean?" "That''s right." It''s a natural thing to say, since it is a derivative technology of the warp gate. "Then, why can''t we send only objects ......? "Yes. After all, it''s the same as a transition gate (warp gate) ......." "It''s difficult." Jin and Erza both thought about it. "Right, Brother Jin?" Erza, who seemed to have an idea, opened her mouth. "The energy you want to send is free magic element (ether), right? "Well, yes. If free magical element (ether) is not possible, then we will have to use magical element (mana). ...... But Erza shook her head. "No, that''s not what I meant. Free magic element (ether) is more convenient, I think." "...... yes." Unusually, Jin still had no idea what Erza meant. "Why don''t you start with the technology of freely manipulating free magic element (ether)?" "Eh ...... Oh, I see..." "For example, sending a lump of free magic element (ether) to a targeted place. So far, technologies related to free magic element (ether) include <> and <>. "Then, we might be able to come up with a way to send out free magic elements (ether)." < can be done in a pseudo way, but we have been feeling a dead end in that approach. "Well, let''s give it a try." "Hmmm..." In order to handle free magical element (ether), we need a . There are few high quality ones left that can be used for human body, but I had a considerable amount of those found at the Gigantopod Ranch in the depths of the earth. * * * * "Now that I''ve calmed down a bit, I''ll have to report to His Majesty about this incident. ......" >? >> "Yes, ......, I''ll let you do that." The old man and Jin decide to report to the emperor that Makina has worked out a solution to the problem. Makina was to be moved by the old lord and sent to the Shoro Empire. On the other hand, we could not leave Sion and Marikka alone so long. After the policy was decided, Jin moved to the village of Kaina with Reiko. Erza said that she would think about it more at Horai Island. Zion was reading a book in the library of Nido Castle. "Ah, Jin, it''s been a while. "It''s been a long time... ...... well..." Zion told me it had been a long time. The last time I saw him was on October 30, and now it''s November 2, so it''s been two days. "So, how are things on Onogoro Island?" "Well, it''s not going well." Jin explained that three saucers and were chasing each other. "...... Jin is taking his time too. ......" Zion was a little taken aback. "Well, I don''t know," he said, "but it''s a question of what they''re going to do, and if something happens to this planet, we''ll be in big trouble. "Well, that''s true." <. That is why we are hurrying to gather information and improve our defenses. "I wish I could help you. Sion turned his head down. * * * * * * "Hmmm, that airship seems to be just running away. Gyoi. Are they playing with it? No, they may be trying to find out information about us as we are trying to find out information about them. What should we do, then? Those three planes are just toys. It doesn''t matter if they''re destroyed or captured. But still... ...... You''re not satisfied? Yes. You speak like a human being, don''t you? I''m ...... I''m Suit yourself. I''m tired of it. So you''ll leave it to me, then? That''s what I said. Thank you. Thank you. Jin was in the library of Nido Castle when he received a message from the old man. "I see!" There is a warp gate on the 3rd floor where the library is located. Jin got up from his seat. "Jin, can I come too?" Zion rushes to Jin''s back. "Yes, but I think Marikka will be worried. "Oh, I see. ...... Well then, I''ll go after I talk to Marikka!" <, have been given the location of the warp gate and the bracelets of their friends, so they can use them without any problem. By the way, Zion''s bracelet is silver and light blue marbled, and Marikka''s is silver and yellow marbled. They are silver and light blue marbled bracelets for Zion and silver and yellow marbled bracelets for Marikka, matching the color of their hair and eyes. "Old man, what happened? Jin and Reiko ran into the Horaijima command center. 1315 - - 35-29 settlement The large magic screen in the control room showed several arrows being shot one after another from three disks. <. It is useful to have an objective point of view in such a case. < floats with helium gas in its air sac. If a hole is made in the air sac, it will not be able to stay afloat, and in the worst case, it will crash. However, since it has a <>, it will not actually crash so easily, and its air sac made of <> will not be punctured by ordinary arrows. "But we can''t be too optimistic. At that moment, Zion, Marikka, and Erza arrived at the command center. Jin! Jin-sama! Brother Jin! The three listened to the brief explanation of the situation from the old man, and then looked at the screen. "Did they attack us?" Zion asked. Erza calmly analyzes the situation. "Did they get numb ......?If that''s the case, the other party may not be a magic brain. "Yeah, it''s more about what to do about the situation. , piloted by Edgar, continues to dodge arrows fired by his opponent. Somersaults, Immelmann turns, reverse somersaults, split S. < "Good luck, Edgar!" Erza cheered for him. However, the situation changed as the disks spread out and attacked from three sides. Conlon 2 was hit by several arrows. "It seems that the air sacs made of GSP are unbreakable. But we cannot rest assured. Jin made a decision. "Edgar, use the <> as the main power source!" With this instruction, the kinetic performance of the <> greatly exceeded that of the disk. "Good, Edgar. I don''t want to show them the extreme difference in performance, but show them what they can see! < . Conlon 2 replied "Yes, sir." Conlon 2 somersaulted to get past the disk, and fired two shots from the <>. The speed of the bullets was just about the speed of sound, since they were at their lowest output. However, it was still enough. The shells hit one of the disks successfully. The shells did not shoot down the saucer because of the lead, but they clearly reduced its maneuverability. Then two more rounds hit another disk. The team was perhaps alerted by the fact that its colleague was hit, and this time it dodged the shot. The aircraft then fired back. < dodged them by swooping down. The two aircraft also swooped down and chased after the <>. Edgar suddenly triggered the <> and sent it soaring. The saucer followed without a moment''s hesitation. "That kind of mobility and reaction time is not something to be fooled with." I guessed that it was probably one of the least powerful ones they had, but it was definitely more advanced than the technology used here in Ars. "Okay, now try firing a little more power with the Magi Cannon." < The shells fired at slightly less than the speed of sound were dodged, but the lead shells fired at about Mach 2 were powerful enough to knock one of the disks out of the line of fire. However, the remaining disk was quite tough and the war was at a standstill. The latitude is around 0 degrees, which means that the two disks have come quite far to the east, moving eastward along the equator. The longitude is about 20 degrees, which is a very close distance from Horai Island. "Can''t we do something to cover them? Jin thinks. "I would like to secure at least one aircraft. "That''s true." The Kunlun Island is known as a stronghold of the < Jin Nido, so it should be used for this purpose, the old man said. "Yes. What exactly do you ...... do about it?" Approach it with a <> using <<<< invisibility >> and put up a <>. This will prevent the magic communication. Then, we can use the transporter to make a short distance transfer together, visually break off the pursuit, and then use the <> to neutralize the target. After thinking about the old man''s suggestion for a moment, Jin approved it. "Okay, let''s do that. . The order was immediately flown to Edgar, who was piloting , and at the same time took off from Horai Island. moves to the vicinity of by means of a transporter. <. Then <> approaches the remaining disk, activates the <> and at the same time activates the <>, and together they use the transporter to move into the sky over the Kunlun Island. < Waiting for us was <. It was a large airplane for transportation. They put up an <> and <>, secured the disk, and landed on the Kunlun Island. The < team was waiting below, and they immediately attached themselves to the disk and began disassembling and analyzing it. . > The old man reports. "You did it. Thank you." "I''ll come with you when you''re done disassembling. < You did it, Jin! "Brother Jin, now we know a little more about our opponent, don''t we?" The words spilled out from Zion and Erza, who had been watching the dogfight between and the saucer with bated breath. "Yes, I do. Maybe they think it''s just a low-grade machine that they don''t mind being exposed to, but there''s still a lot to be gained from it." "Such as what?" "If you look at the machining precision of the parts and the precision of the assembly, you can get a pretty good idea of the other party''s craftsmanship." "...... I see." If you know the purity of the material. You can tell the degree of smelting technology." "...... Indeed." That''s what analysis is all about." Zion''s voice is filled with admiration. "As expected of a ,......." ......, you can read a lot of information from even the smallest detail. Jin said, a little embarrassed by Zion''s words. On the screen they were looking at was a disk that had been torn apart in a flash. "Hou". Jin thought that the reason it was not a magical reactor was probably to disguise the level of technology. "...... seems to be out of danger now?" < "Okay, I''m going to Kunlun Island now. Erza, take care of the rest. Jin leaves the command center on Horai Island and heads for the warp gate room. He is accompanied only by Reiko. "See you later, Jin." "See you later, Jin." Elsa and Zion watched Jin''s back as he left. 1316 - - 35-30 New Equipment Hmm, were they repulsed? Yes, two of the planes are half destroyed and one has lost contact with us, so we think it was destroyed. Just as I expected. And what about the other side? Yes, sir. They appear to be live ammunition. They shoot lead shells at speeds of about Mach 2. Interesting. How do they fire them? That''s unknown at this time. But the original shells were spherical. Spherical?I see. An old-fashioned shell. One more thing. Airships are quite maneuverable despite their appearance. They were almost as good as saucers. Mmm. Finally, the air sacs are made of excellent material. It repelled the arrows fired by our saucers. Right. Considering the above, I think we can calculate their maximum strength. But isn''t it possible that they haven''t reached their full potential? Of course I''ve taken that into consideration. I''ll multiply your calculations by 50 percent. Double. What''s the figure? Double the amount of the calculation. Yes, sir. Okay. "Hmm, I guess this guy doesn''t have a clue about energy transfer. ......" Jin muttered regretfully. "It''s not surprising if the receiving side doesn''t have any hints. ...... but it''s good to know that it''s a one-way system like the that''s being used." If it is a warp gate, the receiving side must have its own equipment, but if it is a transporter, the sending side is all that matters. That''s what I mean. "The assembly accuracy is high. I knew it, this one seems to have been made to look low grade on purpose." Jin further examines materials other than 64 light silver. "As I thought. The mithril silver used in this part is unbelievably pure. In this case, the cover-up is not so good. ...... me too." <> is a helium gas levitation system, but other than that, it is packed with Jin''s latest technology. If it were to be captured and analyzed, it would reveal Jin''s technological prowess. "We have to be careful. ......" The biggest advantage Jin has now is that the full extent of his technological capabilities is not yet known. "Well, that''s about it." Although he had gained something, he still did not have a full picture of his opponent. "<> and Edgar?" < "Good then." Jin left the rest of the analysis to the craftsman (Smith) and returned to Horai Island. When he went to the workshop, Erza was conducting some kind of experiment with Edgar as her assistant. "Elsa, what have you done?"Edgar, you''ve been working hard for a long time. "Well, I found something interesting." What?" At Erza''s words, Jin stared at . It looked like something attached to a magic screen. "<>......, is it?" <> is a magic machine that investigates the distribution of free magical elements (ether) in the target space. It can capture the distribution of free magical elements (ether) in three dimensions. "So?" "It''s a magical machine (magi-machine) that captures the of free magical elements (ether) in order to examine the ." "I see. ......" The <> can determine the distribution of free magical elements (ether), but this device made by Erza can even capture the movement of free magical elements (ether). "This is a prototype, so it''s small, but..." Jin looked at this device, which could be called an "ether analyzer. "Well, it''s amazing, Erza. You did a good job." "...... not so much." Erza''s cheeks turned a little red at Jin''s praise. "I thought that if I could find out how the free magical element (ether) works during energy transfer, I might be able to find out something. "Hmm, I see. I hadn''t thought of that. Elsa, you''ve grown up." Jin was honestly happy to see Erza''s growth as a student of magical engineering. I decided to give it a try. "Hmmm, the distribution of concentration is directly represented by the density of the display. The distribution of free magic elements (ether) in the room is shown on the screen. The slightly lower concentrations of Jin, Erza, and Reiko are probably due to the consumption of free magic element (ether) for the generation of mana. "Reiko,...... well, try to use <>." "Yes, father." Reiko''s palm lit up. "Oh, there is a change. At the same time, the screen of the Aether Analyzer changes. "Is the free magic element (ether) slowly moving toward Reiko?" It is hard to see because the concentration does not change much, but it appears so. "......As I thought, there is still room for improvement." Elsa mutters a little regretfully. "No, that can''t be helped. After all, we have developed something new. We can use this as a basis to make something better in the future. Jin encouraged Erza. "......" "Hmmm, should we make it possible to change the <>?" "<>?Cooking utensils?" "Oh, <> doesn''t mean that, it means ......<>, right?" "......Oh, okay." Erza must have known this, but she was probably more familiar with the range as a cooking utensil, and therefore asked the question. In this case, <> means a range of measurement, or something like that. In order to display the change from <10 to 15>, we need to distinguish between the < and the <. range>> and <>> from 0 to 20, the readability is totally different. "Improvement point No. 1." Elsa nodded. "And then we can make the ...... measurement range variable, right?" Elsa nodded. Improvement number two." If the detection range could be changed in steps of 10 meters, 100 meters, 1 kilometer, 10 kilometers, etc. It would be useful for measurement. "Also, it would be good if the direction could be determined." "Yes, that''s right." The ability to measure free magical elements (ether) in any direction, not just 360 degrees around the entire circumference. "Improvement point 3" And as for Jin, "It would be nice to have something that can measure distances as far as the ...... universe, as far as this Ars, and as far as a country." "I understand. Each one has a different size for accuracy." "Yes, yes. That''s right. < "I''ll get right on it. Jin, will you help me?" "Of course. But it''s Erza who''s taking the lead. What? Because Elsa''s the one who developed this. I''ll act as her assistant. Erza looked at Jin who laughed at that, "...... something''s wrong. You''re so shy." She smiled. 1317 - - 35-31 ether flow "But Elsa is amazing." What? You developed an ether analyzer. That''s not true. Brother Jin is much, much more amazing." "Well, I don''t know if that''s true. ......" Jin considers himself neither a researcher nor an inventor, but an engineer. What he has created so far is mostly a combination of the knowledge he has inherited from his predecessors and the scientific knowledge he has learned in modern Japan. The things that I have created so far are mostly a combination of these things. "Maybe so, but isn''t everyone like that? But I think everyone is like that." Erza affirmed Jin''s thoughts, but also criticized them. "No one can make something out of nothing. I think that everyone makes things by referring to something, learning from someone else, and combining various things. It''s just a little bit of their own ingenuity. "I guess that''s how it is." "I think so. But I think it''s great that Jin brother is not conceited like that. Jin smiled shyly at these words. "Thank you, but please don''t flatter me. But please don''t flatter me." While exchanging such conversation, Jin and Erza made a new <. The first prototype was a second machine that could cover the whole area of Horai Island. If it succeeds, they plan to build one that can cover the whole of Ars. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, this explains a lot..." "Hmm." Jin and Erza discuss while looking at the screen of the second prototype. The flow of free magical element (ether) in Horai Island is visualized on the screen. Of course, the movement is in the same plane, As the old man said, "I would like to leave the 3-dimensional <> to you," Jin thought. "But really, this Horai Island is a singularity, isn''t it?" In the screen, free magical element (ether) seems to be gushing out from the top of Mt. Also, a small amount of free magical element (ether) is gushing from the ground of Horai Island. "That''s why they are the Grand Spider and the Grand Caterpillar. These two types of demons live only on free magical element (ether). They are gentle in nature, and the threads they spit out are a rare material unique to Horai Island. "Perhaps the underground resources are abundant..." "Perhaps." Based on this success, Jin and his team finally decided to build a large scale <. * * * * * * * * * November 4th, the day to test the large-sized "Aether Analyzer" installed in the basement of Horai Island, which took a whole day. "Okay." That''s what I want to know now. What is the distribution of free magical elements (ether) in Ars and its surroundings. This will also help us find out what <> is doing. Jin, this line has been checked. "Father, the Magi Reactor has been activated." Okay, start scanning the area around Ars. And 1 minute. This time, the scanning results can be displayed in pseudo 3D under the control of the "Mere Old Man", so that Jin and the others can easily understand the results. In front of Jin, Elsa and Reiko, the movement of free magical elements (ether) in Ars and its surrounding space was displayed. "I see. ......" From Ars and its surroundings, free magical elements (ether) converge and flow toward the top of <>. "So this is how it flows. It is true that there is less free magical element (ether) on the surface of the earth." The image is like a high-pressure system and a low-pressure system. If we were to superimpose rain clouds and precipitation images on them, it would be a little closer. < is a super high-pressure system. And there were two more super highs as well. Or perhaps the visualized geomagnetic field is closer. "Now we know where the facility that collects the free magical element (ether) is located." on was hidden, but this makes it obvious. But there was a more disturbing trend. "What is this?What is this? ......" There is a slight shimmering in Antarctica, where there should be nothing. "<> said there was nothing, but that doesn''t mean it''s true, does it?" There are no continents in the Arctic and Antarctic of Ars, both are oceans. Deep below the surface of the Antarctic Ocean, we could see fluctuations in the free magical element (ether) that made us think that there might be something there. "But according to the investigation by the Mermaid team, there was nothing on the sea floor." . "fumu......" . "Oh, yeah. ......!" It was the seafloor that was surveyed at that time. The sea floor at the Pole is difficult to see from the observation satellites, so if there is something a few dozen meters below the sea surface, there is a possibility that we may miss it, the old man guessed. "Indeed." Jin agreed with his guess. "I said that I would not set up in an unstable and uncertain place. ......" Elsa also made a guess. This was an assumption based on the fact that they had recently installed a measuring device in the underground of Horai Island. "Brother Jin, or if it was not on the sea floor, but further under the sea floor: ......" "I see!That would make sense." The old man agreed with Elsa''s guess. "We''ll find out soon enough, won''t we?" < Free magic element (ether) is not affected by ordinary objects. It penetrates rocks as if they were nothing. "I knew it. Elsa, that''s great!" "...... by chance." Erza, embarrassed by Jin''s praise, turns her head down, her cheeks tinted. "But then,...... I think the depth of the Antarctic is about 2,000 meters, right?" "Then we would have to use a submarine, but even then, we can''t just dive further beneath the ocean floor, can we? ...... Erza asked Jin as he thought about it. "Brother Jin, is it possible that there is a way in or out somewhere?" "Well, it''s ...... rather possible that they could go in and out by transitioning. ....... Worst case scenario is that it''s just left there after installation." <> "Yes, I guess so. ...... indeed." I will consider the old man''s advice. Certainly, going to the device in the Antarctic is not going to do anything. "It''s not like we''re going to break it. ......" At that moment, Erza looked at the screen and shouted. "Brother Jin, look at this." 1318 - - 35-32 Spaces "Huh?" Jin looked at the screen Erza was pointing at, He could see a concentration of free magical elements (ether) at a place slightly off the South Pole. "What is it?Here." <> in combination. "Oh, that''s a good idea." A little later, the magic screen becomes brighter. A block of ice is projected on the screen. It is probably sea ice in the Antarctic Ocean. < "That''s huge. Is there a concentration of free magical element (ether) here at ......?" The image changes. "Oh! "What is this?" Jin and Erza exclaimed in surprise. The interior of the ice was a man-made structure. "Is this ......?" < is a huge man-made floating island. Because it is an island, unlike a ship, it cannot navigate on its own. However, this huge structure looks as if it could navigate on its own. It is circular in shape with a diameter of approximately 2 kilometers. It is about 100 meters thick. "Anyway, is the free magical element (ether) concentrated in this thing? ......" "Yes." It is because it looks incomplete from the outside. That means it is still under construction. In order to do it secretly, they are building it under the ice in Antarctica where there is almost no free ether. For this purpose, they have consumed more than half of the free magical element (ether) of Ars. "What in the world for?" < < < "If it''s under construction, there must be someone building it. ...... you don''t think so?" < On the screen, a small, shuffling thing appeared. "What is this ......?" A caterpillar-like thing with 10 legs. a ball with 3 legs. A cube with wheels instead of legs. A golem, which looks nothing like a human being, is at work. "Hmmm ......" I understand that function comes first, but it''s a little creepy not to see any humanoid form. "Is it a golem controlling them?Is it a magic brain? . The old man answered. "Is it in the <>?" < "Yes." The icy Antarctic Ocean. The area has almost no free magic element (ether). It is reasonable to assume that the controlling magical brain is inside where the free magical element (ether) would have been transferred. "Yeah. ...... what?" The old man immediately found a magic brain that looked like it and projected it on the screen. But when Jin looked at it, he could not hide his discomfort. "What is this?" The had a strange shape. The body, or should I say the main body, was roughly spherical in shape. It was supported by a sturdy-looking structure. However, Jin had the impression that there were some foreign objects attached to it. "It looks like a pimple. ......" There are five hemispherical bumps attached to the surface of the sphere. The irregularity of the spots makes them seem even more foreign. "If they''re attached to each other regularly, it seems to me they''re appendages. ......" The color, or rather the appearance, is also very different. The original spheres are a subdued silver-gray, but the attached hemispheres are black. "I wouldn''t say it''s a bad combination, but ......" The surface condition of the spheres may be the most disconcerting factor rather than the color. The surface of the silver-gray sphere is smooth and not uneven, but the black hemisphere to which it is attached has several smaller hemispheres protruding from it, making it grotesque, depending on one''s point of view. The old man also described the black hemispheres as such. "But it''s not so clear that we don''t know the purpose of the device," Jin thinks. Jin thinks. "I guess we should ask about it. ......" "Yes, what is it?Is something wrong?" What? What? Time goes back to the day before. The fifth column (Quinta) in charge of Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, Regulus 2, a.k.a. Leiber. He found a suspicious person. For several days now, he has been relentlessly asking vagrants in bars and back alleys, and sometimes even suspected criminals, about the . (If you are an intelligence agent, you should have done better.) (If he is an intelligence agent, he should have done better.) The behavior of the person was so blatant that Leiber thought, "Why is he doing this? (If he was an intelligence officer, he could have done better.) He did not ask around openly, but it was easy to spot him. He reported this to the old man and was trying to find out who this person was, but he had no clue. We called in Spica7 a.k.a. Bago, who was also in charge of Alban, and Deneb2 a.k.a. Fawumi, who was in charge of Charles Town, to assist us. In the evening, when Fawumi arrived in Charles Town, the three began to take action. "......That''s him." The target was soon found. They had heard rumors about while buying drinks at a local tavern. "How do I lure him out?" Bago asks. "The old man tells me that if he''s related to , he''s a complete amateur at roughing it. Let''s start by baiting him." How? "Well, we just have to let him know we have information he wants, and he''ll come to us." Ryber smiled wryly. 1319 - - 35-33 turning points "Is it true that you have information about ....... (I don''t know how much of a fool he is. ...... or is it just that he is not familiar with such information warfare?But still ...... is a bit strange). But it''s a good thing that I was able to lure out the man who should be secured. >> At a signal from the old man, the three of them, Ryber, Burgo, and Fawumi, started to move at once. First, BARGO puts up a magic barrier that envelops the three women and the man to be secured. At the same time, Faumi activates the ether jammer. The ether jammer prevents the free magic element (ether) from reacting except in the same magic waveform as Jin, so the fifth row (quintas) are unaffected, but if the man to be secured is an automata, his energy supply is cut off. Then the driver restrains the man. "What are you doing? The man feigns panic, but once he is restrained like this, there is nothing he can do. The rope made from the threads of a ground spider is several times stronger than steel, and is so strong that no one on Horaijima, except for Reiko, can easily break it. The man who was tied up with the rope was unable to move. "An automaton, after all. < What are you talking about? Unlike humans, the man does not seem to be upset when he is tricked. He must have some kind of auxiliary device like a mana cylinder, since he never stops moving. "Well, it doesn''t matter. Anyway, let''s check it out and see what we can find out. The Leibers picked up the man ......<>''s automata and, hiding them with <>, went out to the outskirts of Albn. There, the landed. "Let''s check it out in here." The old man sent the Pelican 10 because he thought it would be dangerous to take it to Horai Island. Inside were craftsman (Smith) 701 and 702, and arrangements were made for analysis. * * * * One of the minions we''ve dispatched is out of control. Hmm. Did they get him? Perhaps. You''re incompetent. I''m sorry. That''s enough. You go there this time. Me, sir? Yes. Where am I going? Kaina village, you say? < Yes, sir. What if there''s no Kunlun-kun there? Call him. If we destroy half the village, they''ll have to come out. Where are the people? Hmm?I see. So there''s a limit to what you can do. Yes. It''s no use. It''ll be a demonstration even if it''s just a building. Yes, sir. Go! Okay, let''s go. "...... I knew you couldn''t get any information out of him." < "And?" Jin asks the old man who is unusually hesitant to say anything. >. "...... I see." Jin understood what the old man was saying. The actions of the automaton that seems to have been dispatched from Onogoro Island, or the instructions given by the magic brain, are too lame. For example, it is too obvious to investigate about Jin. There is no trap to make Jin and the others capture them to get some information. It is a poor tactic that seems to be simply to exhaust the handholds. The old man says that even if they are trying to catch Jin off guard, it is too blatant. In other words, it is the level of a child''s idea. "Hmmm, I see." Jin, I understand what you are saying. The way they are doing things on Onogoro Island is too poor. Their actions are unbalanced compared to their technological prowess. "It''s a contradiction." "Cause ....... If we know that, will it be a little easier to negotiate?" "I guess so. ......" Without further progress, Jin left the control room and went out into the yard. There, Zion and Marikka, who had left earlier, were lying down on the grass and looking at the sky. "What are you doing?" "I''m ...... thinking while looking at the sky." Zion answered Jin''s question. "I''m thinking about <>,...... or rather that they are going crazy, I guess. "So, does that mean anything to you?" Zion, who grew up in a culture different from our own. Jin asked if there was anything he had noticed. "Yes, of course. I''m not sure, but don''t you think that''s similar to how we react when we''re being ?" "......Hmmm, a bit like that, maybe?" "Jin may not understand it, but I think it''s like that when the <> is weak. Jin was a little surprised at Zion''s insight. He remembers the slightest discomfort of his clansmen and is able to apply it to other ...... magical brains. Indeed, <> type magic had the side effect of increasing emotional ups and downs. In the case of <>, according to Zion, it seems to have the side effect of reducing one''s ability to think. Jin felt that he had seen a part of Zion''s ability that lived up to the name of the <> clan. "Um, Jin-sama." And now Marikka. "Is something wrong?" "No, it''s just... ......" What''s wrong? Seeing Marikka''s uncertainty, Zion pushed her back. "Oh my God, Marikka, speak up! You want to learn more about engineering magic, don''t you?" "But, Jin-sama is in a difficult time right now. ...... Marikka bit her lip in panic and Jin nodded. "Of course. I''m not thinking about from morning to night, and I have friends." Jin smiled at Marikka. 1320 - - 35-34 Magic Machine Tool "Oh, um, Jin-sama, I have a proposal. Jin and the others moved to the workshop to teach Marikka engineering magic. "Yes?What is it? "Well, it''s about Hannah. Hannah? Yes. Hannah is very smart, isn''t she? Yes. I think it''s a shame. "Yes, yes." "So, can''t we give her access to engineering magic?" "...... that''s what you mean." "Brother Jin, Hannah is very smart, so I think that would be a good idea." Erza agreed. Jin had also thought about it a little when he had seen the in Mitsuho. "If we put it in my workshop over there, Hannah can use it too. ......Good!" Jin decides to try his hand at making a <> with Marikka as his assistant. Erza observes this time. First, the machine dedicated to <>. "Here, we write the Magi Formula, and it processes the information that is input from here. Then, using the optimized data, activate <>." "Ugh, please try again. ......" "Sorry, sorry, that was a little fast." I was explaining to Erza in such a tone of voice that Maricka couldn''t follow me. "This Magi Formula connects the operator and this Magi Machine. This is called an interface. Is it an interface? Yes. In other words, it is responsible for transmitting the will of the human being to the magical machine. Without it, a person who cannot use magic will never be able to use this magical machine. "Ah, yes! Marikka understood as I slowly explained the structure, composition, and purpose of the machine. Jin spent the rest of the day building the machine with explanations. The image of the machine is a stand-alone 3D processing machine. "First things first, I guess." The size of the machine is about that of a small study desk. The top board is 90 centimeters wide and 50 centimeters deep. On one side is a magic screen and an input device, which resembles an all-in-one desktop computer. The display is a magic screen and the keyboard part resembles a game controller. The rest of the top panel was engraved with a magic circle. "Amazing, Master Jin!With this, even those who can''t use magic can do all kinds of processing by >special machine in a corner of Jin''s workshop. "What''s this?" Hannah asks, as she should. Marikka answers. "You know, Hannah, this is ......." "What?A magic machine? "That''s right. You can tell it what you want to make here: ......." Marikka explains. Her tone seems to change a little when she is talking to Hannah. "At ......, put the ingredients on this magic circle and press this <> button, and the engineering magic in the device will work and you''ll be done." "Amazing!Did you make it, Marikka?" Marikka looks a little embarrassed at these words, "No, it was Master Jin who made it. I just helped a little. She answered honestly. "Really?Thank you very much, Onii-chan!" Jin explained. "This Magi-machine can only do forming. As for the size of the object it can make, you see the magic circle here?The size of the object you can make is limited to something that doesn''t extend beyond the magic circle. "Yes, I understand!" The body is 50 cm wide, 40 cm high, and 40 cm deep, but the magic circle is in charge of the processing. The body is 50 centimeters wide, 40 centimeters high and 40 centimeters deep, but the magic circle is in charge of the processing. "Copper, bronze, iron, and clay are the materials. Wood cannot be processed. Crystals can be processed, but not ordinary stones. ...... Well, there''s no danger of making a mistake, just that nothing will happen." "Yeah." "Let''s give it a try first." Jin brought a block of silver from the workshop and placed it on the magic circle. "The excess will be splashed properly, so it''s better to put more on top. If there is not enough, the shape will be as instructed but the size will be smaller. Jin makes Hannah sit down as he explains. "Let''s make a plate for the easy part. Use this button: ......." A button similar to the arrow button on a game controller and a joystick-like lever. Using these buttons and levers, Jin drew a three-sided view. Hanna already has knowledge in this area. "You can specify the size here: ......" Hannah listens to Jin''s explanation with a serious face. "And when you are satisfied with it, press the button." The magic circle glows faintly and the silver nugget is quickly transformed into a plate. The remainder remains as small silver nuggets. "Wow, that''s great! Hannah is very excited. "And finally, there is a function to return it. When you press this button, ......" The magic circle glows faintly again, and the plate returns to a silver nugget. "Wow!" "You can do it over and over again. You can practice. This is a prototype at ......, so if you notice anything while using it, please let me know. We''ll improve it." "Yeah, okay!" "When I get used to it, I''ll make a magi-machine that can do other kinds of processing. "Thank you, girl!Thank you, Marikka! Seeing Hannah''s smiling face, both Jin and Marikka were glad that they had made it. "Marikka-chan, let''s try it together!" "Oh, you sure?" "Of course!" Hanna immediately tries out a few things with Marikka. "Yes, of course! Marikka, let me know if you notice anything. I want to make it as good as possible. "Yes, Jin-sama!" < took its first step. This was the beginning of the generalization of magical engineering. 1321 - - 35-35 Dialogue If you cross the mountain pass ahead, you will come to a remote village called Kaina. Is Koron-kun there or not? A shadow follows the mountain road to the Togo-Pass. It is midnight, but his steps are sure. If he is not there, he will destroy the village and lure them out. When we arrived at the Torgo Pass, it was not yet dawn, and in the pre-dawn silence, the village of Kaina seemed to be sleeping. * * * * * * * * * * The people are asleep, but there are those who do not sleep. My Lady, someone is approaching. The village watchdog of Kaina village reported. "Yes, it seems so." The closer they get to the Togo-Toge, the clearer the image becomes. "......Wait, what?Isn''t this guy ......<>?" approaching. The old man confirmed this, too. "I didn''t expect to see <>. Is the purpose of ...... me?" <>. Then, <> reported to us. A golem that looks like has arrived at the Togo-Pass. What should we do?What are your instructions? "Well, ......" Jin tried to recall the means of defense in the village of Kaina, but was unable to do so. The last time he had heard of it was when the criminal slaves from the mine had attacked, which was last May, no wonder. "Okay, let''s have Z pick them up from Land W first. After that, use nets and lasers as needed." Got it. Okay. Hmm, strange building. ...... is it a castle?This kind of architecture doesn''t seem to be in the data. The golem looking up at Nido Castle before the Erme River. Four shadows appeared in front of it. They are the golems, Land W, X, Y, and Z, guarding the village of Kaina from the shadows. "Stop! Who are you?What do you want with this village? Hmm?Are you Lando? Yes. I ask you again. What do you want? My name, as you know it, is Helen Te. < What do you want? I want to talk. What do you want to talk about? ...... You can''t answer? No, it''s not that. No, it''s not that. I just can''t put it in one word. ......Hmm, why don''t I ......? Rand Z was the first to notice that something was wrong with <>. 0.5 seconds later W, X and Y also noticed. "What''s wrong, <>?" "<>?I''m not ......, I''m ......! My Lady, something''s wrong with her. "It seems so. Let''s get a net and tie her up. Yes, sir. Defense mechanism 7, net level 3. The nets are woven from the threads of the ground spider. They are ranked from level 1 to 3, and their strength differs. Level 3 is the strongest level, which even a land spider cannot break. Incidentally, level 1 is for binding humans, and level 2 is for ordinary golems. <. What a nonsense! By the time he realizes it, he is covered by the net, and with the four lands cooperating in capturing him, even is unable to escape. Her movements are blocked, and she is captured without a second thought. "Okay, let''s talk about it. "Okay, let''s talk." Reiko stops Jin who starts to say so. "Father, are you all right?You shouldn''t ......" "No, I''m not talking to him directly. No, I''m not speaking to you directly, only in my voice. <> The old man, guessing Jin''s thoughts, says. "Yes. First, by voice. Then through a magic screen or a doppelganger. "Then we''ll be safe." Reiko seemed relieved. Borrowing a phrase from Rand Z, Jin decided to talk to <>. "<>. I''m <> Jin Nido." What? The struggling captive goes quiet. "I''m sorry to say that I can''t trust you a hundred percent, but I can''t trust you. I understand. How do you know it''s real? "No. No. Proof doesn''t mean anything since you don''t know me. You''ll have to trust me. All right. I''ll trust you. In the first place, there is no point in trying to deceive me under the circumstances. For the moment, is quiet. Jin feels that was unusual when he said < just now. "So, what can I do for you?" <>. I have a reason. I''m here in anticipation of the power you showed the other day when you defeated the threat of Modine. What is it? At Jin''s question, <> answered after a short pause. "There is something I need your help with. What is it? It''s about the maintenance of a certain facility. Jin had an idea of what it was. So I''m going to make a move. The underground facility on Onogoro Island? How did you know that?...... No, it''s because it''s the Koronkun, isn''t it? is surprised, but quickly accepts the fact that Jin knows about it. "I know, but that''s all it is. "I only know that it''s there. What the hell is that?" Let''s just say it''s an important base. I can''t tell you any more than that yet. I see. Well, I can see that. By the way, why am I being held here? By the way, why am I being held?Don''t you remember?" Jin asked in surprise, and received an even more surprising answer. I don''t remember anything, I just came here and Rand appeared and suddenly detained me, didn''t he? "...... No, he didn''t." Jin smelled something unusual about . 1322 - - 35-36 Memory Jin sensed that there was something wrong with <>''s memory information. The immediate question is whether or not he will point it out. < will react is unknown. "Still, let''s give it a try. After muttering to himself, Jin decides to tell . "<>, do you realize that you are crazy? Me? "Yes." Are you kidding me?There is nothing wrong with me. Do you really think so? Jin reiterated. At this, <> seemed to sense something. He then continued, "I don''t think so. Do you have any proofs for what you are saying? "Yes, I do. I asked you earlier why you''re being held captive, didn''t I? Mm-hmm. You suddenly went crazy and started acting out. I''m ......? Yes, you did. "Yes." "Ummm... ......, that can''t be it, but I don''t see why you should go to the trouble of giving out this much false information. "Can''t you diagnose yourself?" It''s possible, but it would take some time. "That''s all right. If you can do it, do it. Okay. stopped her movement. Ten minutes passed. In the meantime, Land W, X, Y, and Z remain vigilant. Five more minutes pass. has made a move. We cannot yet determine whether it is an anomaly or not, but there is definitely a break in the continuity of memory information. You mean there''s a gap? Yes. If it''s not a malfunction of the ...... storage area, as you say, then there''s something wrong with me. What are you going to do about it? If you help me out, I''ll be able to look into it a little more closely. What do you want me to do? I need the Magi Crystal. I want you to copy my memory information area into it. You can examine it. I see. What are its attributes? All attributes are preferred. All attributes are preferred. * * * * * * <''s words. It is difficult for a magic brain to examine its own memory. It is because the memory area is <>. < Once you have copied the part you want to examine externally, it is easy to examine it because it is <> information. "Okay. Let''s prepare good quality magi crystals of all attributes. Jin immediately instructed the old man to prepare them. Twenty seconds later, the magi crystals arrived at Jin''s hand. "Yes, this is good. Let''s move the ...... Land W to a place a little farther away and send it to him with a transporter." . The order was carried out immediately. "How''s that working out for you?" LandW presented the magi crystal to . "Oh, it''s quite good. I can copy this. And then said, I''m sorry, but could you free my hands? He said, "I''m sorry, but could you free my hands? Thinking for a moment, Jin replied. "I''m sorry, but I can''t do it until the cause of the abnormality is clear. Hmmm...that makes sense. In that case, can you help me with the preparations? "What do you want me to do?" Put the Magi Crystal by my side ...... or on top of my head. "No, it''s hard to put it there." ''s head is adorned with what appears to be a Mohawk, perhaps resembling a knight''s helmet. "Then let me put it in my mouth." A golem entangled in a net with a magi-crystal in its mouth. The picture is quite comical, but no one laughs. That''s good. Wait a moment. --Copied. The magi-crystal glows for a moment. The necessary information should now be copied. "Okay. I''ll take care of it. Rand W received the magi crystal and ran to Nido Castle. Using the warp gate there, he delivered the Magi Crystal to Jin. "Thank you very much. Jin received the magi crystal and gave it to the old man to analyze. "I wonder if the cause of the instability is a <>. There was a magic barrier, albeit a weak one, around the village of Kaina. This may have weakened the instructions to <>, which may have caused the instability. "In any case, we''ll have to wait for the results of the analysis. Jin muttered and leaned back in his chair. Then Zion and Marikka arrived. "Jin, there you are. You seem to be busy, don''t you? "Jin-sama, Hannah-chan is amazing. She''s already mastered the Magician''s Tool! "Heh. I guess Hannah is smart after all. ......" "So, what have you been doing?" "Oh, actually ......" Zion and Marikka''s eyes widened when they heard Jin''s explanation. "What?< on ?" "Yes, you can see it on the magic screen over there." He''s sending us a visual feed from Land Z, so it''s not the main screen in the control room, but the sub-screen. "Wow, that''s . ...... that?" Jin asked as Zion tilted his head. "What''s wrong?Did you notice something?" "Ummm...yes. ......Marikka, is that ......?" "Yes, Mr. Zion, I noticed it too." "So what''s wrong?" "...... Jin, you know, I''ve seen that before." "What?" Marikka too, right? Yes. Yes. Where did you see her? Jin asked, hearing the unexpected words of the two. "Where is it?" ......<>"In the treasure room of the clan." 1323 - - 35-37 Helente "<>...... means..." "Yes, the previous generation , Adriana, saw it and fixed a lot of things, there." "Hmmm... ......" Jin ponders. "Are you sure about ......?" "I''m sure. Marikka says so. "Is there a reason you''re so sure?A feature or something. Jin looked at Zion and Marikka alternately. "There is." "What''s that? "It''s the shape of his head." "What?" Jin looked at on the screen again. Its head has a protrusion that, according to Jin''s image, resembles a . However, since this design is also found on knight''s helmets, Jin did not pay attention to it. Then, the old man affirmed their opinion. "What?" "Is that so?" Jin himself was not aware of such a thing, but now that you mention it, it seems so. Gon, the golem from which Gen. The Black Knight. The golem of the Unifiler. "Maybe so. ......" All of them are either massive in stature or have the appearance of wearing armor. That is why Jin''s golem is described as . "Is that so ......?" I see. ...... Again Jin looked at with that intention. "Surely, a golem that imitates a human being would not have a mohawk. ......" Jin himself thought it was a familiar design, but it makes sense now that you mention it. "If so, what does that mean?" It means that it is more probable that <<<> was created by the Origin>>. "Well, that''s true." "Well, I guess so." "Right? Zion, who had been listening to the exchange between Jin and the old man, turned his chest. "I understand. I don''t think it matters. "Yes, it does, but... But we''re concerned about it too! "I understand that, but ......" Then the old man reported. "Zion, Marikka, wait a moment, please. ...... My Lord, so?" < "What is the cause?" "What kind?" <> inside <>. "What is in that <>?" <> "I see. ......" Jin changed his mind, "If the language system is different and there is some kind of processing to convert it into data, it will take a long time even with your analyzing ability. "Hey Jin, can''t you meet this and talk to him?" "What do you mean?" "Well, if it''s the same as the golem that''s passed down in the clans of the <>, I thought it might be of some use." "What do you mean?" Jin tilts his head at Zion''s words. "There is a <> to the golem. "Password or ......" It would not be surprising if there is such a thing to determine the master or to clarify the priority of orders. However, it is not certain whether it is effective against <>. No, it is more likely to be ineffective. Nevertheless, Zion said this out of a desire to be of some help and out of ...... curiosity. "Well, in your current state, there is not much danger, is there?" In addition, the bracelets of the friends can also provide a . Reiko is with him, as Jin was planning to go with him. "Well, let''s go then." "Okay, thanks, Jin." Jin prepared himself and moved to Nido Castle with Zion, Marikka, and Reiko. * * * * "You''re a worrier too,...... old man,...... no, that''s how much you think of me." To Jin''s surprise, when he went to , he found that all of the Landeswehr A to Z, the guardians of the village of Kaina, including E and below, were there. A to D are in charge of guarding the village of Kaina. "...... thank you." Jin then called out from a short distance away. "<>, I am Jin Nido. "Oh, it''s you. I''ve missed you. "I''d ask you what''s so interesting about meeting me ......, but I''ll tell you first. I''d like to ask you what''s so interesting about , but first let me tell you... the information I just received from your memory... there''s something wrong with it. "Oh my God! Jin briefly told him about ......, or rather about ......<>, which he had no way of explaining. "Ummm, I have something like that in me. "Do you have any idea what it is?" "Do you have any idea what it is? I would never voluntarily do such an inefficient thing. That''s true, but... ...... Jin can''t ask anything more than that. "But <> or ...... "I think the concept is <>." "But I don''t think I have such a function. "I see. ......" Jin then decided to change the subject for the time being. "On a different note, there''s someone who''d like to take a look at you." "What? "He''d like to take a look at you, just like you''ve been looking for me. May I call him? You don''t have to ask my permission. But, you know, it''s not safe for you to go on the rampage again. "Muu. ...... "Well, okay. I''ll call him. ...... Zion, Marikka." Jin calls out and the two men come out of the shadows. "Are you sure?Jin." "Uh, hello?" The two stopped about three meters away from . Then, <> starts to act strangely. <> But it was not that she was out of control, but she seemed to be in a state of shock. And then.., You ...... suddenly bowed his head. 1324 - - 35-38 Instructor Before they had even used the password, suddenly bowed down to them, and Zion and Marikka were flustered. "What, what, what? What is this? ''s. ...... says, keeping her head down. It''s very surreal, since they are still entangled in nets and ropes. "Uh, uh..." Can you tell me your name? "Wow, it''s me! looks at Marikka and says, "Yes. "Yes. "My name is Marikka, isn''t it?" "Marikka, is it? I''m waiting for your instructions. "My?" Yes. < paid her respects. "I''m like your master?" Yes. What do you mean? There''s a common denominator in your magic waves. And because of that, I recognized you as one of the commanders. One of the commanders? Yes. "......" Jin, who was listening to the exchange beside me, was analyzing the situation. He thought that the demon tribe had inherited the blood of the origin strongly. And the follower golems, such as <>, are identified by magic waves. In the case of <>, it is likely that he is judging some characteristics from the magic waves. It is important to note that he is one of the <<<<< orderlies>, not a <>. < on must be one of the . How far can this "one of the commanders" allow to go? Jin called Marikka away from . "What is it, Jin-sama?" "It''s something that only Marikka, one of the <>, can ask." Yes. "Ask her to show you the control core of the Hellente." "The control core (control core) at ......?" Jin nodded and began to explain in detail. "If there is something wrong with the memory area and you are not aware of it, you need to suspect the control core first and foremost. Maybe it is malfunctioning." "Oh, I see." "I''m not sure that "Herenthe" would listen to me if I told her that, so I''m going to ask Marikka to do it for me. "Okay, okay. I''ll try." Once Marikka was satisfied, the two returned to Helente''s side. "<>? "Yes. "Uh, would you mind if I check your control core?" In that case you will need your password. "Uh, yes, <>. ......?" Okay. The answer came more easily than I had expected. But I do not want to leave it to someone else. But I refuse to leave it to someone else. "......" Marikka glanced at Jin. Jin nodded. "Well, I understand. Let''s see... ......" Marikka had studied the golems of the <> clan after she had learned engineering magic. We will proceed on the assumption that it is the same. "I''ll open ...... then, but don''t you want me to stop it? Please leave it as it is. "Okay. ......<>" (Houhou) Jin, who was watching from behind, was impressed with Marikka''s growth. Compared to when he first started teaching her in the demon territory, her skill has improved by several orders of magnitude. < style projection opened. (I see, that serves to protect and strengthen the top of the head. (I wonder what my predecessor would have thought if he had seen the same type of golem. ......) Jin pondered for a moment. "That ......." What''s wrong? "This ...... is the control core, right?Jin-sama." "Hmm?" Marikka looked back at Jin with a doubtful look on her face. Jin, who had been thinking, looked up and saw what Marikka was pointing at. "What?What is this? What''s wrong? "There seems to be something strange attached to the control core (control core). Marikka explains to . "Marikka, here, use this." Then Zion, also a girl, takes a hand mirror out of her pocket and hands it to Marikka. Marikka holds it up so that can see it. What''s this?What is this? Suddenly starts to struggle. "What''s going on? "Marikka, stay away from him!" Jin made Marikka stand back and instructed Reiko to use her . "Yes, father." Reiko''s bracelet releases a wave of <>, and <> stops moving. Then Jin looked at the control core of the <> again. "What is that?Is this ...... somewhere?" "Father, this looks like the one that was attached to the magical brain of the we saw with the ." "Oh, I see." This one was much smaller, but it had a blackish protrusion attached to its control core. "This is most likely the cause of the problem. Let''s try to remove it." "Father, I''ll do it." "I see. Reiko, be careful. Yes, sir. Reiko, not wanting to risk anything, reached out and plucked the prongs instead of Jin. "It''s ...... soft." "Heh?" < < "Let me try to remove it." Reiko pulled off the protrusion. 1325 - - 35-39 Unexpected Truth "Father, what is this?" Reiko picked it up with her fingertips and held it out to Jin. For now, the <> has been turned off and the <> turned on. Only Jin and his creations can use magic. "<>...... this!Again <>" Jin makes a difficult face. "Father, what''s wrong?" Jin, what''s wrong? Jin-sama, what was that all about? "Well, it''s a collection of micro-magic machines. I''d call it a micro-magic machine,...... or even a kind of golem already." "It''s so small! As for that point, Jin has also created a small golem. > is 5 millimeters tall, so it''s comparable to this super-small magic machine (Magimachine). "Now all we need to know is what this guy was doing." Jin turned off the <> so that could see the investigation that followed. Then... "Father, this little Magi-machine is on the move!" What? It was like a pea, but then it changed shape, and like a jelly, it slipped through Reiko''s fingers and crawled up the back of her hand. "That''s weird." "What the hell is that? Reactivated, "What the hell is that? "It''s a super-compact magi-machine that was removed from Mr. . What! "Perhaps it was a parasite in your control core. I think that''s what that < meant, didn''t it?" Hmmm......... Indeed, my thoughts are clearer. Noise is gone, I feel clear. "I knew this thing was interfering." Thank you, Marikka. What?I can''t believe I''m doing this. "No, Marikka, without you we wouldn''t have been able to respond so quickly, so I have to give you credit for that." "I see..." "Is that so?" "Yes, that''s right, Marikka. Since there was no end in sight, Jin decided to further inspect the still buzzing micro-magic machine. "<><>...... Eh?" "Father!" "Jin-sama, what is this?" What is this? What is this? Theon is the only one whose reaction is not good because he could not read the Magi Formula, but the others are all surprised. "You mean domination...... erosion......?" "Reiko, put an <> on it ...... or a <> and lock it in the ward." "Yes, Father." Jin instructed Reiko after going to the other room so that wouldn''t hear him. "......, but I don''t think this is a good idea." * * * After the removal of the micro-magic machine, <> became completely cooperative. Of course, the presence of < is also significant. After returning to normal, < is released from her restraints and is talking with Jin and the others in the lounge on the second floor of Nido Castle. Before the restraints were lifted, the control core was examined by the copyist to make sure that there was no intention to betray. It is safe to assume that is now completely on our side. This clears up some of the questions we had been having. was originally a mobile base to protect this world. It was not originally planned to be that huge, but the magical brain that has been under construction for about 1,000 years began to have abnormalities. At about the same time, the brains of <> also began to develop abnormalities. Specifically, they no longer recognize the anomalies of <> as anomalies. Furthermore, they have lost interest in the Arus. The reason why <> was so eager to find <> was to see if he could do something about the abnormality of <>, and also because he was looking for someone who could do something about the occasional abnormal behavior of the brains on <>. On a side note, <> could not explain <>. The reason is simple. He did not know how to do it. And the role of <> is to protect Ars, where <> moved to. However, Herente said, Herente said that he had become less conscious of such a role after the abnormality in his magical brain. It is impossible to stand by and do nothing in the world of Ars after the "Aether Stampede". ...... The fact that the only means of attack for the disks was arrows was a remnant of that, he said. "Then, can''t such equipment be modified?" Yes. Yes. We do not have the authority to do so. Another small mystery solved. What the hell is that little Magi-machine? I don''t know either. At least it''s not friendly. Jin-sama, 1000 years ago was around the time of Adriana, right? Yes, that''s right. "Which is later?, do you know the exact number of years?" I am sorry, but the information is too vague for me to calculate the exact number of years. apologized to Maricka. "No, no, no!Don''t worry about it!" Marikka was very sorry. "After all, the first thing we have to do is to free your brain, right?" "Yes, that''s right. < Zion agrees with Jin''s words. Mm-hmm. That''s good. Mega-Float won''t be completed in a day or two. "Then we''ll have to go to Onogoro Island, won''t we? "Leaving aside the means, can you infiltrate?" It''ll be difficult. We''ll be on high alert. says. But I can get in no problem. "Of course you can." If I tell them that I''ve taken prisoners, I can get up to two of them in without suspicion. I see. I see. I don''t think you should do that, Marikka. It''s too dangerous. Right? Reiko and I will go. < No problem. Then tell us as much as you can about the inside of Onogoro Island. That''s a fair request. Do you have anything to write with? I''ll get it for you. Thus, the plan to infiltrate Onogoro Island and Operation Brain Liberation proceeded. 1326 - - 35-40 Onogoro Island infiltration "So you''re sure that we need a <>?" Yes, that''s right. We are not allowed to create. "I see." It is a difficult question how much freedom to give to the creature. Jin does not give the old man and the other craftsmen the authority to create new creations. "Even repair?" No, I don''t trust a golem for repair. "Oh, I see. ......" It''s highly likely that the micro-magic machine is in control of it. The fact that they were looking for the engineer must be due to the ego that was left in the control brain. "So that''s how it is." "So if he brought the Magi Smith with him, he should be able to enter without any problem. Then we should have no problem getting in. The problem is the next step. What do you want me to do with him? First, the safe thing to do would be to maintain the internal facilities. We''ve got the materials, so it won''t be a problem. Yeah, I''m sure it''ll be fine. And then? Then you''ll have to do my maintenance. That won''t be a problem either. And after that? The next step will be decided by the general manager, but the way things are going now, they''ll probably make me do something to speed up the completion of the mega-float. "Maybe they can make a construction golem, or follow up on the technical aspects of the project ......." "That''s quite conceivable. "Will there be a chance to get in touch with the ?" < "To be honest, I don''t know about that. I guess we''ll have to wait until we get there ......." There is one important point to be made here. "What kind of performance do the wards of <> have?" It has both physical and magical wards. Usually they only have physical wards. I can''t go into details. "No, that''s enough." Jin thinks about it. < He can''t imagine what would happen in that case. I guess I''ll have to go myself. "No." No! Jin was thrown back in his seat when he was suddenly confronted from behind. "Erza! "It''s ...... late, I came to check on you. ...... don''t do anything dangerous." "I knew you''d say that." I''m sorry to interrupt, but the magical wards of Onogoro Island allow ether waves to pass through? What? Otherwise we wouldn''t be able to keep sending free magical element (ether) to the mega-float. "Oh, I see." Now, one of my concerns is gone. After that, Jin and his team made preparations by asking several detailed questions. * * * * * * * * * * * November 7, deep in autumn. Jin and his friends......, Reiko, and <> headed for > on a <. This <> is the same type as the one that chased <>, and <> rode it to the Klein Kingdom. The maximum speed of the <> is 200 km/h. The distance from the Kingdom of Klein to <> is about 3,000 kilometers, which means it would take a little over 15 hours. But because of the time difference, they arrived at <> at around 2:00 p.m. on the same day. < I''m back. Thank you. We''ve captured Kun Lun and his retinue. Why even his retinue? They''re the so-called hostages to make the Kun Lun listen to what they have to say. I see. What do you want me to do first? I''ll have the equipment ready. All right. I''ll make sure I''m with you when you''re servicing the equipment. That''s all right. * * * That means ....... First of all, it''s going well. You''ll have to do the maintenance, though. "I know. You want me to maintain this facility? Yes. All right. Let''s do it. Reiko, help me. Yes. Thus, Jin''s doppelganger begins to maintain the underground facilities on Onogoro Island. It was a huge amount of work, but the old man was doing most of it for him, and Jin had much to gain. "Yes, please do." Jin himself is in the Horai Island command center, continuing to analyze the facilities on Onogoro Island. "Hmm, the main metal materials used are light silver and mithril silver. And a little phosphor bronze and adamantite. That''s an unusual combination. They are all very pure." He begins by identifying the materials, "The technology used in this area is on the same level as what the previous generation saw in the demon territory. ...... Structural analysis. But. "Well, ...... there is no new technology." So far, there seems to be no new technology that would attract Jin''s attention. "Well, Jin-dono seems to have some advanced knowledge and skills. , who is working with Jin''s doppelganger in the name of surveillance, is also impressed. "You should take a rest soon. If you keep working, you will be suspected of that. Reiko advises. The doppelganger of Jin, controlled by the old man, can work not only 24 hours but also 48 or 72 hours, but there is no such person. We need to show him a proper rest. All right, come here. leads Jin''s doppelganger into the living quarters. It seems to be the same place Jin had observed with the Peeper. I think it is dusty because it has not been used. Clean it up and use it. "Okay." Reiko and Jin''s doppelganger clean up the place with engineering magic. 1327 - - 35-41 Magi Plastics "Well, things have been going well so far..." Jin said to himself on the island of Horai. had predicted, wasn''t it? "Yes. The question is after tomorrow. . That''s what Jin thinks. So far, I haven''t had a chance to touch any important equipment yet. "I guess I should rest first." and are located on opposite sides of the island, so the day and night are completely reversed. < and his friends are active without distinction between day and night, they seem to have a sense of time, and Jin''s alter ego (doppelganger) gets a rest time at . Therefore, Jin takes a nap to prepare for the night. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, it''s about time." Oh, Jin-dono, please! Jin''s doppelganger rises from the bed, and at about the same time, appears on the bed. Today, it''s the golems that will be serviced. "The from before?" "That''s part of it. For combat, security, and maintenance. Maintenance?You mean maintenance personnel? Yes, that''s right. I see. ...... Jin felt a little disappointed. If the maintenance staff was restored, there was a good chance that they would be in charge of maintaining the brains. Still, Jin had no choice but to refuse, and he also had the advantage of being able to analyze the Golem. This way! Guided by hernte, Jin''s doppelganger stepped into the Golem''s hangar. "Oh ......!" He exclaims. There, lined up in a row, were about 100 Golems, including the familiar . I want this done as soon as possible. The warehouse is in the next room. I don''t think there''s anything missing. "Okay." The thing I''m most concerned about is whether or not the golems here are being eroded by the <. We will find out if it is. Jin''s doppelganger begins its maintenance together with Reiko. Oh, you are fast! It is enough if you can do about 20% of what Jin can do. Most of the golems were only <. "<>" The oxide film is removed by the engineering magic of reduction. For sliding parts, "<>" and surface treatment was used to reduce frictional resistance. Muscle tissue is a synthetic material. This material is unknown to Jin. <. He tells this to who is watching him, He replied, "The is more powerful than I am. He replied, "I have been in this situation before," he said. "What about the automata that were dispatched to the Shoro Kingdom before?" As for this, "They are in the room next to the one we put there. I am going to ask you to maintain it after this. I''m going to ask them to maintain it afterwards. "Okay." Jin''s doppelganger decided to concentrate on his work, not to ask any unnecessary questions until he had done all the maintenance and analysis. As a result, the maintenance of the 100 golems took half a day, and the remaining half a day was used for the maintenance of the automata. Jin, the main body of the Golem, operated the doppelg?nger only about one-fifth of the time, while the rest was done by the old man. Still, there were many things to be gained. First of all, the Golem automata here had not been eroded. "Well, that''s a relief, first of all. remains. Secondly, I secretly attached a set of monitoring devices, that is, a and a , to the maintenance golem. This way, even if Jin could not be entrusted with the maintenance of important equipment, he could know the contents of the equipment. Third, we were able to learn about the golem technology of the <> method. Although Jin seemed to be more advanced in this respect, it was a good thing to know that they were making muscles and skin of automata from synthetic materials, and to be able to identify the materials used for them. * * * * * * * * "Let''s call it Magi Plastic." Since there was no name for it, Jin named it himself. Magi Plastic is a macromolecule, just like plastic on Earth. The only difference is that the atoms contained in it are magical isotopes. As expected, Jin did not know the chemical structural formula of plastics. However, he had learned ethylene C2H4 and polyethylene made from it in high school chemistry, so he was able to understand only <>. But there was a problem. "But where are they going to get the magical isotopes (Magi isotope) carbon C and hydrogen H? Procuring the raw materials was a mystery. < The old man advised me. "Yes, that''s it! Magi resin is, in other words, pine resin with magic power. The chemical structure is almost the same. However, since Jin did not know the chemical structural formula of pine resin, he could only determine the ratio of carbon C, oxygen O, and hydrogen H contained in it. However, once we know that much, we can carbon C and hydrogen H, which are magical isotopes. At the same time as extraction, it is now possible to produce ethylene gas by . This was Jin''s original engineering magic, an application of and . "I''m almost ready to make polyethylene from ethylene. ......" >. The old man rebuked Jin, who was getting very angry. "That''s right. Let''s take a rest for now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * < Yes. I can maintain golems, live puppets, and low-level facilities with no problem. Whether you want me to maintain the intermediate level facilities or not? I think I can handle it. Yes, I think so. Even if they know a little bit about our secrets, as long as we don''t let them leave. 1328 - - 35-42 Not Alone On November 9 Horai Island time, on <>, Jin''s alter ego, Doppelganger, was working on a new facility. "Brilliant, Mr. Kunlun. , who is supposed to be a watchdog, is also impressed. But we haven''t yet reached the ether transfer station. That is an advanced facility. The one I''m in charge of now is an intermediate facility. There are five disks in it. These disks are ...... or so you already know. They are used for simple missions. At this point, Jin decided to ask what he had suddenly noticed. "By the way, what do you know about <>......<<>?" "Well, I think someone did something to it, or something like that. What the hell is that? It seems that his judgment and values were very vague or contradictory when he was undergoing the erosion. "Hmmm... ......, did you get your memory back during that time?" "Well, I mean, I can read your memories now, too. "I didn''t know that." Jin imagined that he was able to read them now, probably because the source of the memories, the <>, was gone. It''s a very dangerous situation. The reason why the maintenance of this place has been neglected, and why we have been indifferent to the threat of <>, is all because of that <>. This can only lead me to believe that the creator of the <> doesn''t care if this Ars is destroyed, in fact, he would rather it be destroyed. "Who the hell is the mastermind behind this? ......" I tried to disassemble and analyze the <, but I could not obtain any such information. It is merely a child machine. However, its super high-definition technology is definitely on the same level or higher than Jin''s. "We will not only give in, but we will not give in. "I will not give in!" Jin himself is on Horai Island, continuing his analysis to see if he can get anything more out of the <>. "There is a slight reaction of <> from this one too. ...... is it because it works on free magic element (ether) or ......?" Then Erza comes in. "Brother Jin, how are you doing?" "Oh, Erza. Not much progress. This <> was nothing special either. <. "So you''re working on the free magical element (ether)?" "Yes. Or perhaps it is easier to control." "Oh, sure." Jin guessed that since the magic wave travels through the free magic element (ether), if the <> is used properly, it may be able to go <<<>> into the control core. "If so, is it more troublesome than <>?" Jin nodded with a slight furrow of his brow. "Yes, that''s a possibility. "What are you going to do?" "That''s what I''m trying to figure out." The shield case is not enough. Jin thought that he needed a more powerful shielding method. "At least, we have to give it to the old man and Reiko." Even if all the forces of Horai Island were combined, Reiko would probably be able to handle it. On the other hand, if Reiko is taken over, there is nothing we can do to stop her. "Hmmm... ......" Erza speaks to Jin, who is pondering. "Oh, um, brother Jin, I''m sorry to interrupt you while you''re thinking, but there''s something I need to tell you. "...... what?" Jin looked at Erza''s face. "Well, Zion and Marikka are in the village of Kaina right now, and Hannah and I are discussing the ." "What?" "Zion-san and Marikka-chan know that Jin-brother was worried about it, so they told Hanna-chan about it." "......" "Brother Jin?" Erza wondered at his silence and looked into his face, Jin had a little sad smile on his face. "Thank goodness for that. It tells me I''m not alone. You could have asked Saki about the ...... magi plastic, too." Because of his background, Jin tends to go it alone. He often relies on Reiko and the "Mere Old Man," but that is within the scope of own self. The half of his life that he could not depend on others had set the direction of his character. "......Yes. So, when Jin almost forgets, we will remind him." Erza walked up to Jin and gently cradled his head. "Thank you, Elsa." The sound of Erza''s heartbeat in Jin''s ear was a comforting reminder that he was not alone. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * An eye for an eye. What''s that?" Jin, who had Erza sitting next to him, was once again planning his countermeasures. In the process, a word suddenly came to mind. "Well, it''s a ...... word in the world I was in." It is used in various situations and with various meanings, but Jin now wanted to say that <> can only be countered by <>. "In other words, ......" "If <> is added to metal, wouldn''t it increase the shielding effect?" "...... seems possible." <> The old man, who was keeping silent, agreed with the idea. "There are still plenty of derived from gigantopods. Let''s experiment with them." "Since you''re not here, Reiko, I''ll help you." "Yes, please." Thus, Jin repeated the experiment with Elsa. As a result, they found that the most effective ratio was 0.000001% by weight added to mithril silver. It was late that night when they found out that the most effective ratio was 0.000001% by weight added to mithril silver. "One in a hundred million, huh?" "Given the effectiveness of <>, that''s about right." "I guess." When I had cured Elsa''s hypermagic before, I only needed 1/1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 grams of . In terms of body weight, that''s on the order of one hundred billionth of a gram. Jin thought that it might be reasonable ...... to think of it as a thousand times that. "Let''s name it Psi (mental) Mithril ......." "Let''s replace your shield case with this one first." > Reiko is on Onogoro Island and cannot be replaced at this time. "I will make it so that it can be done at any time." I know the dimensions. Jin uses <> to make a shield case for Reiko. "Jin, I''ve got an idea." What is it? You know... ...... "Oh, I see. That''s a good idea. I''ll give it a try. Jin and Elsa discussed something and laughed at each other. 1329 - - 35-43 Hostages Korun''s very capable. Yes. We''ve already completed the construction of the intermediate level facilities. And the advanced facilities? Yes. Let''s just let him try one first and see how it goes. All right. Okay. Jin-dono, we''ve been instructed to try one more advanced facility first. "Depending on the results, will you be able to entrust me with other facilities as well?" I think so. I think so. What do you want me to do? First of all, follow me. Jin followed behind and started to walk. descends the stairs and continues to go down. Jin''s doppelganger wonders if they are already about 100 meters below the ground. Here we are. "This is ......." There are five golems of the same type as <> standing side by side. My <>. It hasn''t moved since it was made. "No wonder they look so shabby." The surfaces are matted and dull. Where are the materials? In the back room. But this time, it was not so easy. Metal materials and magicrystals were fine, but some of the materials were made from demonic materials, in other words, biological materials. Naturally, the materials in the warehouse have deteriorated. Specifically, they were materials for muscles. "You use synthetic materials, so why don''t you use synthetic materials for the same type of machine? I don''t know. I don''t know, because it was who made it. "Is that so? ......" < was created by , the , the , the background and circumstances of its creation are not known to you. "Or perhaps a spare is just a spare. ......" For example, Reiko, if we were to prepare a spare for her, the specs would probably be inferior to the original. Jin''s doppelg?nger (doppel) maintains five golems while thinking such a thing inwardly. (Is there a < attached to this one? ......) Jin thought that it was useless to attach a < to a spare machine that might not work anytime soon. "It''s done." About two hours later, the maintenance of the five machines was completed. Jin himself would have finished in less than an hour, but there was no reason for him to work that hard. I also thought about what I could get out of it, but I didn''t get anything in particular. You are still very good. ...... If I do well now, I might be able to get a higher facility. But it also means you''ll never leave here again. I see. So you can''t let anyone who knows your secret go free. That''s what it means. What do we do now? "I don''t think we can leave. Let''s show them the advanced facilities. By the way, the old man made me say this line. If it were Jin himself, he would not have said such a line. The old man, in his own way, was not pleased with the way <> was doing things. * * * * "Here you are, Mr. Kunlun. Jin''s doppelganger hears the voice of the Supervisor for the first time. You seem to be quite capable. It''s too good to leave you as an inhabitant of this planet. You''re the brains of this island? Yes. I''m also the administrator of this planet. "If you''re the administrator of ......, then you''ve been appointed by someone, haven''t you?By whom? To the one who made me. That''s a bit abstract. I don''t need to know any more details than that. All you have to do is what you''re told. Or else. ...... Or else? "Or else your <> will be sorry? "Is he with you?" Yes. Laco, you say? You don''t care what happens to her, do you? What? If you don''t do what I say, I won''t be able to guarantee Laco''s safety. What? We already have Laco. A part of the wall seems to have been used as a magic screen, and Reiko''s image is projected on it. Except for a small hole for air and food, she is locked in a room covered with steel 30 centimeters thick. "When did that happen? When? When did this happen? Jin makes a surprised voice on purpose in the cockpit of Horaijima. He had already received a report from Reiko that the room where they were waiting had been covered with steel walls before they knew it. This means that they are planning to use Reiko as a hostage to force Jin to do what they say. "So far, it seems that they think that I ......, or rather my alter ego (doppelganger) and Reiko are human." < seems to be cooperating with us in this regard, but after all, it seems that doesn''t have much of an analytical function. "Is that so?" <<> is like ...... a <>. He knows what he is, but how can he go about it? But I don''t know how to do it. But I don''t have anyone to ask. >. "I see. If that''s the case, then, just like with <>, if I let him see Marikka, he might react to her." <> "Yeah, I know. We have to get rid of the < that''s attached to it." * * * "...... Got it. We''ll do what you say. For now. That''s good. So?What do you want me to do? Ask her. He''ll take care of everything. I understand. Jin''s doppelganger turns to face her. First, let''s get this facility''s Magni Reactor serviced, shall we? Jin felt that he was finally getting to the heart of the matter. 1330 - - 35-44 Plan Progress First things first. took Jin to the advanced facility. "Is this a ...... warding generator?" "That''s right. "Yes, the principle has not changed. But the method of synchronizing the magic power is ...... ah, I see." Jin has been developing the super technology of the past and making it his own. It may be done in a different way, but it''s similar to when the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, raised the level of technology in the Demon Territory. This is next. I don''t know how she feels about Jin acquiring their skills, but <> is performing her duties - having him maintain the advanced facilities - in a nonchalant manner. "Hmmm, the flow of magic control here (Magi sequence) is informative ......." This is the work of a Magecraft Master at his best. "I didn''t know about this magic formula (Magi Formula). ......" "Ah, I think the method used by my predecessor is better here. "Oh, this is good." "Hmmm... so this is how to use the magic circuit (magi circuit). The idea is interesting. It''s a bit eerie to say the least to see him muttering to himself as he proceeds with one maintenance project after another, but <> is paying no attention and watching the scene. Naturally, Jin himself is controlling the doppelganger in this scene. "That''s it," he says. It''s done. I''m surprised you could finish in two hours. What''s next? This way. led Jin into the next room. I''ll be right back. "Yes, yes, thank you. This is a chance to learn their techniques. <<<> seems to be paying attention to us. The old man is also recording the visual information sent by Jin''s doppelganger. He is going to edit it later and make a documentary about it. "...... cut out my soliloquy, please." <<> * * * * And November 10. <, we''ll end up at the facility we''re going to. "Okay." The door is opened, and Jin is astonished to see what is inside. It was a huge metal hemisphere. "What is this? It is the magical brain that maintains and manages the entire facility here. Is it different from the control brain? No. This magical brain doesn''t have a will. I see. Jin is a little wary and approaches the brain. "<>" He uses engineering magic from a little distance away, "......<> is not attached?" If it is a magical brain that manages the environment in the facility, Jin thought that it is worthwhile to <> it. (Or, are there a limited number of micro magi-machines? I don''t know that much. "So, we just need to maintain this?" Yes. Immediately, Jin''s doppelganger began its work. "Well, it can control temperature, humidity, and even sulfides in the air. Jin thinks that the golems and magic tools he has seen so far are not in a good state of preservation. But the reasons for this become clearer as the maintenance progresses. "Oh, this place is damaged. One of the several air intake points was clogged. "This is the part that monitors ...... the unwanted elements in the air. This means that even if there is an increase in sulfides and dust in the air, it does not work to reduce them. Neither Jin''s doppelganger nor Reiko need to breathe, which is fine, but the air here is quite stagnant. It is hard to understand why they built only one system for such an important facility. But then again, there are probably no or few people living in such an underground facility, and the atmosphere in Ars was originally clean, so perhaps they didn''t pay much attention to it. "I''ll make sure the air purification system is reinforced." I will carefully maintain and enhance the functions that will improve the environment here in anticipation of Jin''s visit at some point in the future. "That''s it." The work was completed in about an hour. Thank you, Mr. Kunlun. Now our work is done. < "What?" Jin thought... At least we still have the ether transfer device and the ether condenser, aside from the brain. I know what you mean. But the <> says this is fine. "I see. ......" Are they being watched closely, or is there a dedicated maintenance staff for the most important equipment? Here we are, stumbling on the final step. "Well, what should we do? Once Jin''s doppelganger returned to the room where he had been assigned. Reiko has not returned, but there is no problem since they keep in touch with each other via manacam. It is not yet time for Reiko to use her power. Then arrives. "I''m sorry, Korun. "Aside from the facilities related to free magic element (ether), can''t we maintain the ?" < Hmmm. It is certainly something that bothers me and is definitely evil, so I would like to get rid of it if possible. ...... could not go against the because of the way it was set up. However, she can do what is in her interest, so this kind of conversation is not a problem. However, it is impossible to actually act. It seems to be a difficult position to be in. "Then, ......" At this point, Jin''s doppelganger changes its control from Jin himself to the old man. "So, without the help of <>, we have to check the <> without harming it, and if <> are attached to it, we have to remove them and return it to normal function?" That''s right. If that''s the way the old man used to put it, <> will listen to me without any problem. This is, If you use phrases like, "We''ll take the <<<< generalization brain by surprise, and remove the micro magi-machine, I wonder how <> would have reacted if I had said something like "It''s to restore the <> to normalcy. I don''t mean directly. Just help us indirectly." I understand. I''ll help you as much as I can. But first, tell me how I can get to the brain. To do that, you''ll need to go to ...... In this way, Jin''s doppelganger, manipulated by the old man, obtained the necessary information from . 1331 - - 35-45 raid "Okay. That''s enough." <. I see. I don''t think I can help you any more. With that, leaves the room. When she was out of sight, "Okay, we''ll do it tonight." Not the old man, but Jin, decides so. * * * * * * "I agree. "Yes, I think so. We also need invisibility generators, magic jammers, ether jammers, and magic cancellers. < has told me, the golems belonging to <>, including <>, are set up so that they cannot kill <. However, there seems to be an exception for unintentional actions, such as an accidental hit ...... by a swinging arm that hits a wrong place, so we cannot be too careful. The energy supply system is also independent, so it is unlikely that we can interfere with it. "If there is a possibility, please contact us at ......" "That would be the case." If we could send it close to the < with a transporter, then maybe. Unfortunately, the around the is in place, so we can only send the transporter up to the front of the barrier. We need to get to the brain and see if it is attached to a <>. If so, we need to remove it. For the sake of peace in this world. But there is one problem. "I can''t use the transporter without you, can I?" Unless Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko, who are now on , return to Horai Island, they will not be able to benefit from the transporter. "I have a transporter for emergency escape, so ......" The transporter was developed when the demon territory was liberated from < in the past, and it allows those who have it to be transported a short distance. Using this device, you will have to go through the area of , return to Horai Island using the warp gate installed in , for example, and then transfer again. "That''s right." It will take a few minutes ......2 to 3 minutes no matter how fast we hurry. That''s enough time to put the on alert. We needed to do something about this problem. "Is that so?" < "I guess so." "I guess that''s the only way. ......" Probably deeper underground from where we are now. We need to prepare carefully. "Momoka, transporter, magic jammer, ether jammer, magic canceller ......?" Reiko has a built-in mana cylinder, so there is no need to worry on this front. "And then there is a powerful magic barrier." wards. "All right, let''s start preparations right away." ** ** After an hour of preparation, Jin and the old man were ready. At the same time, they informed Reiko of their plan by manacam. He received a reliable answer. "Well, let''s go." Reiko stands up in her and first activates her special transporter. Instantly, Reiko is outside the cell. <. < state and headed for the <> that had told her about. "It should be this wall. At first glance, it seems to be just a wall, but using the sonar, we can see that there is a cavity in it. It is an emergency passage. "<> says it''s around here ......" Reiko is staring at the floor. Her eyes catch a faint indentation. "Just above this depression: ......" Now she looks at the ceiling. "That''s it, isn''t it?" There is a protrusion on the ceiling. Reiko lightly jumped up and lightly pushed the protrusion. Then an opening appears in the wall. "This is the entrance to the passage, isn''t it? Without the slightest hesitation, Reiko jumped into the opening. "The fact that we have opened the emergency passageway will probably be known to the supervisory brain. Reiko runs down the spiral staircase at the end of it, literally flying down it. "......This is too slow, isn''t it?" The next moment, Reiko''s body floats in midair. < Reiko pushes forward into the basement, increasing her speed even more. After diving about 100 meters, she comes to an abrupt stop. "A bulkhead. This place can only be opened in an emergency ...... when the free magic element (ether) is depleted, right? Your father was talking about this ......." << When the free magic element (ether) runs out, the door will open, and so on. You said, "If the door is open, then it is open. Then..." Reiko irradiates the magic canceller to the area around the door. After about 10 seconds, the door opens. "Just as your father predicted..." Reiko went down. She must have gone down about 200 meters. When Reiko stopped walking again, a sturdy-looking bulkhead stood in front of her. "...... This place can be opened by entering a password, right? And only knows it." Furthermore, it can be easily opened from the other side. Since it is an emergency passage, it must be set up to be easy to escape. "We can''t afford to dawdle, can we?" Reiko pulled out a peach blossom from her back. "Ha!" Four times in the space of a moment, the yayaba blade made a square hole in the 20-centimeter-thick bulkhead. A moment later, with a roar, the cut-out wall falls to the floor. Who the hell are you? Beyond the hole, there was indeed a . It was a metal hemisphere about one meter in diameter. And Reiko confirmed that there were about seven black protrusions ......<> adhering to its hemispherical surface. 1332 - - 35-46 Eliminated My name is Reiko. Please take care of me." < as she sees him. It seems that now that Reiko is not human, the finally realizes that she is not a human. A hail of electric shocks rains down on Reiko. I commend you for coming this far. But this is it. You''ll burn in the dark. No! No! Reiko catches the blasts without a care in the world. "Don''t think you can stop me with just this much, will you? Then this is it! ?" Reiko''s weight has increased fiftyfold. Gravity magic. Let''s crush her! I don''t like that either! Reiko used gravity magic to offset the 50 Gs. What? Reiko''s going for the brain! Then! A magic circle glows on the floor, and between the Golem and Reiko, a rugged Golem appears. "Is that what we''re dealing with this time?" Reiko stops and braces herself. That''s not all! Dozens of <> sprouted from the ceiling and from the floor. "...... I see, it''s a bit tricky indeed." Reiko cuts off the <> that try to restrain her with <>. A golem lunges at Reiko. !" Reiko instantly ducks, but her legs are caught by the that sprouts from the floor, and she is knocked off her feet. Then the golem kicked her. "Don''t lick me!" Reiko, who had increased her output to 50 percent, instantly tore off her <> and caught the golem''s kicking leg with her left hand. At the same time, she slices up the <> with her right hand from below. But the golem, despite its appearance, quickly ducks. What a guy. ...... Reiko had now slashed away all the <> on the floor and ceiling. "I feel so much better now." The golem attacks Reiko again as she kicks the severed scattered on the floor and pushes them to a corner of the room. Reiko intercepts it with . But to her surprise, the golem blocked her attack. "...... buckler, is it?" A small shield (buckler) attached to the golem''s left arm blocked ''s slash. "It''s pretty hard, isn''t it?" But Reiko''s eyes did not miss the scratches on the buckler. "So it''s weaker than the hyper adamantite your father developed!" The more he slashed at it, the more scratches appeared on it. "No, you mean it is harder than the reinforced adamantite! Finally, the buckler was cut in half. Fearful, Kunlun! But what about this! ! A huge wave of free ether hit Reiko and the golem. The golem shudders and stops moving. Then it slowly falls to the floor. How does a thousand times more concentrated free magic element (ether) taste? Can''t the ether converter withstand it? "......" This attack was unexpected, not only for Reiko, but also for Jin. She had been prepared for an attack that reduced the amount of free magical element (ether), but she had not imagined that it would be increased. Magic materials exposed to a concentration 1,000 times higher than normal creak and the weakest ones explode. < was no exception, its ether converter shattered, and it was unable to get up again. And Reiko, too. It was supposed to be ....... < in front of the was moving ...... at least, apparently, without a care in the world. "......The attack just now was a close one." The body of his beloved daughter, Reiko, which Jin had carefully selected materials and put his heart and soul into, the Magi Reactor withstood a thousand times the concentration of free magic element (ether). Who the hell are you? My name is Reiko. I am an automata. Reiko walks over to the general brain, holding Momoka in her right hand. Don''t come! When they were about 5 meters away from each other, the air between them shook. "Is it a barrier ......?" Yes. It is strong enough to withstand a direct hit from a meteorite. This is unbreakable! "Yes, it''s a pain in the ass. But there are several ways. Reiko decides to use the power of the bracelet. "<>" If visible light is transmitted through it, it should work, so the first step is to test the laser. The beam of light pierced a small hole in the side of the hemisphere dome of the <>. "Oh, ......! "I guess there are ways to do this." There must be another way, digging a hole from under the floor. I don''t think a physical barrier can be deployed in the material. "Oh, no...... this is the power of . Give it up already. No, I won''t! The temperature in the room is rising rapidly. Can you stand the temperature at which steel melts? It''s too warm. Why? The threads of the ground spider used for Reiko''s clothes and hair have a higher melting point than steel. And... "<>" Countless cracks appear in the cooled room in an instant. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. "Give up already. < Reiko overheats the area around the <> with the heat generated by the electromagnetic induction. After a few tens of seconds, the generator seems to have fallen off, and the barrier disappears. It''s no use. ...... There is nothing separating Reiko and the "controlling brain. "Then let''s get rid of it." Reiko picks up the that are clinging to the hemispherical dome. When he had picked up six of them and was about to touch the seventh, he said, "No! No!It will invade you! Immediately after that, all seven of the Magi Machines were attached to Reiko''s body. 1333 - - 35-47 Finding out the Truth "Reiko!" <, let out an involuntary yelp. Reiko''s body was covered with Magi Machines in seven places: her head, face, neck, chest, back, abdomen, and right shoulder. Oh, no!They have taken over the control core and brought it under their control!Moreover, a few shields are meaningless. ......! "......" Reiko doesn''t move. No, she can''t move. Then arrives. Since the <> has been eliminated and the <> has returned to normal, they have been allowed to come to the most important facility. Ah, Reiko-dono! who had rushed to the scene screamed in grief. But... "...... it''s all right..." Reiko picks up the clinging Magi Machines one by one and crushes them. "My shield could not be broken." "Why? "Because your father made it that way." * * * On the island of Horai, Jin was patting his chest. "Yes, indeed." I''m amazed that you could send a shield case made of <<<< Psi Mithril through a transporter and have it replaced by a doppelganger. "You can never be too prepared, can you? I thought I was safe from the experiment, but I was in a hurry when seven of them were stuck on me. I should reflect on that." Jin reflected on the fact that he had been somewhat prideful. > because they were dangerous, but we copied some of their information. Reiko then contacted me. The period of silence was because she was working on it. "Oh, I''ve done it." The information is recorded on <<<< MagiRecorder. Would you like me to send it to you immediately? >> After thinking for a moment, Jin replies. No, not until things have calmed down a bit. For now, let''s concentrate on >." . Let''s send the doppelganger there as well. * * * ***** "That''s all." < should be free from their control. "Thank you, Live Puppet with Will,...... no, Automata. "Are you now able to make normal decisions?" Of course. That''s good. < There''s nothing wrong with the machine? No. No. - It''s all right. The "What?" <<>, <>, if you will. A control unit? Yes. It was preventing us from thinking and restricting our actions. Then came Jin''s doppelganger. "Everything is finished. Reiko makes a brief report ....... <....... I''m sorry for everything. And thank you again for your help in maintaining the facility. "Is everything all right now?" No. I''ve reconstructed the information in the blanks of my memory, so I know what happened. I hope that''s all right. * * * * Then, <> explained the situation to Jin''s alter ego (doppelganger). According to the report, <> was manipulated but resisted, and was working for the benefit of Jin. This was the reason why there were as many as seven attached to it. I think they managed to act in your favor, though not completely. "......Well, sure, yeah." That seems to have been the reason for the small-scale research methods that were used in the sequential deployment of forces. The most difficult thing was to deceive the public about Korun''s ability. "Deceive?" Yes. You''re good enough to handle the pieces of Modine, aren''t you?That means you have the means to get into space. That is logically correct. Or rather, it is obvious to anyone who thinks about it for a moment. "Yes, I thought it was strange." Nevertheless, the world has forced the perception that hot air balloons are a means of flight. < and the . If they wanted to, Onogoro Island could have used more powerful weapons. But they couldn''t hold back that typhoon. "Indeed. That one was very hard to deal with. ...... I apologize for that. But it was also very difficult to conceal the skill that made it disappear. I''m sure you''re right. At this point Jin decided to ask about the mastermind. "You''ve been saying for a while now, who or what have you been hiding information from?" Well, that''s a difficult question to answer. We do not know who or what they are. That is why we have been avoiding this topic. ...... "But you can at least guess, can''t you?" It is certainly possible. Perhaps the inhabitants of . "Hale?Did they not migrate to this Ars? No, there are those who remained. I don''t know if they are the descendants of those who remained or if they are the descendants of a mutation. Jin understood. "But if they are Hailians, why are they doing this?" That''s exactly what I don''t understand. My hypothesis is that it is because Hale, which was originally lacking in resources, has become even more difficult to live in. "That''s for sure." Jin continued to receive various information from the <>. And then the story came to its core. A mobile base under the Antarctic ice has been taken over. If possible, we would like to take it back. Can you help us? 1334 - - 35-48 Alliance "Are you asking me to lend a hand ......?" Yes. "What''s in it for us?" Peace. Peace? Peace? The final goal of the beings who created the biherusha is to exploit the resources of this planet. There is no consideration for life forms. What? I understand. < < resisted them as much as possible and changed them into gentle instructions. "If that''s true, it''s a very serious matter. I have no way to prove it, but you''ll just have to take my word for it. Jin pondered. In any case, he was going to investigate the mega-float under the ice in the Antarctic Ocean. < tells us more. The was supposed to be used for the maintenance of this world. It seems to have been converted into a weapon. "That''s not good. ......" That''s why I want to take it back. It''s a bad idea to destroy it, isn''t it? It would be bad to destroy it, wouldn''t it? It would take a hundred years to build a base that big. But I''m not asking you to take it back completely intact. "I don''t have a choice." But Jin thinks inwardly that if it breaks, he can just fix it. The priority is to avoid human or golem damage. "Okay. I''ll help you as much as I can." Thank you. I''m afraid you''re not much help when it comes to attacks. I don''t deny it. The masters who built this place didn''t like conflict... or at least they weren''t very good at it. "I see. ......" < were a race that did not like to engage in such rough and tumble activities, so he was able to nod his head in agreement with this information. After that, Jin''s alter ego (doppelganger) had various conversations with the <>. In the process, more and more things came to light. The <> had several factions, or groups that differed in their principles and claims. The Residualists were divided into and , the Migrants into and , the Radicals into and , and the Moderates into , and <>. The moderate faction was divided into the , the and the <. "So many different factions." Jin wondered if they were that individualistic. Of course, all the immigrants participated in creating a livable environment, such as adjusting the gravity. That''s true, Jin thought. First of all, it is urgent to make the planet habitable, so we can''t afford to be fighting among the factions. "To sum it up, it was the that came to Arus, and it was the of the that crossed paths with the natives, wasn''t it?" "That''s pretty much what I''m thinking. And the moderates became the ancestors of the present human race? That''s right. "......Magic......No, the northern ...... continent of Gondor was inhabited by the independent faction, and the continent of Laurent was inhabited by the fusion and coexistence faction? Is that right?" That''s right. "The coexistence group lives west of the Harihari Desert, and the fusion group lives east. That''s almost right. This would explain why the residents of the current demon territory have stronger blood of the origin. "What happened to the <>?" The pioneers used to live here. "Oh, I see." They chose Onogoro Island as the base for their settlement. The settlement area is a remnant of that time. The people who lived here were settlers, weren''t they? That''s right. Unfortunately, none of them live here anymore. Jin imagined that it must have been difficult to sustain the species in terms of the number of people, even more so than in terms of the blood. "...... So what happened to the invaders?" They moved to another continent in the northern hemisphere. I don''t know what happened after that, but considering there were only 13 of them, I think they perished. "Thirteen? Jin shouts in surprise. He had expected that there would be fewer, but the number was much smaller than he had expected. "...... So the radicals who are invading the <> have nothing to do with it? I heard you and I really want to confirm this point. It has nothing to do with them. I can assure you of that. "I see. Good." There are some other things we have learned about the . < was a race that did not keep many records, and not much is known about their past. <>. The most shocking thing was that the <> had selected candidate sites other than here in Arus. The second planet Zipert and the fourth planet Tetrodos. This numbering is based on the assumption that both Hale and Ars are called the third planet. At this point, Jin decided to ask a question that occurred to him. "By the way, I heard once that you came from Hale to Ars in a few months or years. Yeah?...... is that what is being said?...... maybe it was misinformed that it took the <> many round trips to get everyone to emigrate? "Oh, that''s what you mean." Jin agreed that it was certainly possible that he meant that the entire migration was long. I honestly appreciate getting answers to questions like these, which are somewhat lower on my priority list because I don''t have to know them by necessity. "Thank you. It was helpful." Jin concluded his question with these words. * * * * "Reiko," he said. Reiko, thank you. Jin thanked Reiko for her contribution. "No, I am happy to be of help to your father. "I was licking the control device." "No, thanks to the new shield case your father sent me, nothing happened to me. "Still. I''m sorry, Reiko. No, I understand. I know that your father cares about me and that he relies on me as an asset. That is why it is my pleasure to be of service to you. Please make me stronger and stronger. And please help me more and more. Jin hugged Reiko. "Thank you, Reiko." * * * * Marikka was the one who held the key to the finishing touches of this . Oh!< "Ha-ha-ha." From now on, all of Onogoro Island will be under Marikka''s command. I''m counting on you. And things calmed down on November 12. Jin obtained permission through Marikka to set up a warp gate at the ground level of Onogoro Island. This will make it easier to come and go. "......The next step is to retake the <>." Jin was on the shore of Onogoro Island, staring out to sea, the wind blowing in his face. The sky was endlessly blue and the sea stretched far out. 1335 - - 36-01 Operation of Shock November 17, 3458. < and begin a campaign to retake the under the ice in Antarctica. The battleship <> and cruiser <><><> backed them up in the vicinity. In the sea, the and Mermaid 1 to 100 of the Mariner force are deployed. The ship is equipped with a countermeasure against the shortage of free magical element (ether), so there is no problem in its operation even in Antarctica. Adriana is floating in the stratosphere where there is no shortage of free ether. In addition, there are 10 VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft of Air Force, <>, ready to be sent by transporter at any time, were waiting on Horai Island. And on . "<>, are you ready?" the doppelganger piloted by Jin asked. I''m always ready. < The first group to infiltrate the mobile base was the Shinobi Unit, 10 shinobi from Shinobi I to Shinobi II. They will be transferred from Horai Island to an iceberg near the <> by transporter. After checking the inside, they set up a <> to welcome the second group. The second group is made up of , Jin''s doppelganger, and the Rand team. This team is waiting at . And Reiko is ready and waiting at Horai Island as a ranger. Such is the formation. Reiko had been improved by Jin, and her power had been further increased. In addition, it was planned to stop the supply of free magical element (ether) from <> at the same time as the first group was sent out. Jin himself is in the command center of Horai Island. Erza asked Jin a question. "Brother Jin, can''t we transfer directly to the <> that we confirmed with the <> and remove the <>......<<>?" Jin nodded reluctantly. "I''ve thought about that too, and I think it would be best if we could. But I can''t do it. "What?" Elsa tilted her head. "Didn''t we liberate the <> on Onogoro Island?Right after that, a barrier was put up at the mobile base." ...... Did they sense it? "Yes. I don''t know if they were in contact with each other, or if there is an entity that controls the <> on both sides." "...... yes." Then the old man reports. that I copied the other day. "Oh, you did it." The contents of the memory of <> when it was controlled by <> were not written in any known language, and it took some time to parse them out. was under the influence of , but some of them are its directives>. "Yes, and?" > "I see......... wait?" Jin suddenly thought of something. It is possible that the mastermind is not the origin if the language is different. Or rather, it is highly possible. The old man also supported Jin''s hypothesis. "Would we know that if we had released the ?" And now the time for the final decision was approaching. < < < "I''m not sure if this is an iceberg or sea ice." <. A pea-like being on the ice. They are Shinobi 1 through 10. We will now begin our infiltration operation. Good. Be very careful." Jin replies, and concentrates on the images from the peepers. We start by chipping away at the ice, using a . The ice was nothing compared to what the < could dig through the bedrock, and the ice layer was broken through in less than 30 minutes. "Now, what about the armoring of the <>?" There are no physical boundaries on the ice-covered part, so it can be cooked in any way. It''s the least likely way to alert the enemy. < "Yes. The reason is that engineering magic has a narrower area of effect and is therefore less likely to be noticed. Shinobi I followed the instructions and used <>. As might be expected of a super-small golem, it takes a certain amount of time. In about a minute, a hole had opened up that was big enough for them to get through. "Okay, that''s good. Fix." < In this image, the boundary is the surface of the ball, and the fixation (fix) corresponds to sticking a thin pipe into the surface of the ball. Since this pipe is homogeneous to the boundary, it fuses with the boundary and acts as if it were an . With this <, even if a magic barrier is put up, it is possible to communicate with a manacam and to travel through a warp gate. However, you cannot use <. The waves of the <> have a high linearity, so it is impossible to see the places that cannot be connected to the main body of <> in a straight line. "Alright, contact <>. Cut off the free ether supply. < Here, the fire for the recapture of the mobile base is set. Led by Shinobi I, ten of them descended into the mobile base. The passageway was dimly lit only by emergency lights. However, the darkness is not a great advantage. < Instead, they rely on their speed, small size, and emergency . If they act separately, the chances of being found increase, and if they are grouped together, the risk of being rounded up increases. < "Is the outer shell made of nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel? < "This is a very extravagant use of steel, isn''t it?" Jin thinks to himself. The image on the magic screen that Jin is looking at now is linked to Shinobi 1''s vision, so it changes as he moves. Since Shinobi 1''s eyes were small, if they were enlarged to match the magic screen, the image would be dark, so it was magically processed to create a bright image. "Hmmm, it''s almost a completed plot. Although it is not popular at all. < "Yes, they are. They may be confused since we have stopped supplying them with free magical element (ether)." This is the best advantage. < 1336 - - 36-02 Start of infiltration In fact, since the supply of free magical element (ether) had stopped, the chain of command inside the mobile base was temporarily disorganized. Who the hell is interfering with me?] Commander, we are currently investigating. However, the supply of free magical element (ether) has stopped. We are switching to pooled magical element (mana), so please wait a moment.] Please be ready as soon as possible.] Yes, sir.] * * * * * * Shinobi 1 reports. Jin had confirmed the situation with two sources of information: Shinobi 1''s visual information and the information from the Peeper Telescope. But then... "Whoa! < >. "Is it in response to the interruption of the supply of free magical element (ether)?" "Yes." Now all we have is Shinobi I''s visual information. "< < Through this hole, we can send and receive magic waves = ether waves. < "Right. Please contact me." < Be careful. Shinobi leader Shinobu I calls out a warning. The passageway ends at the end of the corridor and becomes a partition wall. In fact, the Shinobi Forces are most unfamiliar with such partitions. Since the bulkheads are designed to fit the original users of the facility, the smaller are at a disadvantage. The opening and closing mechanism of this bulkhead was a lever type. Use the force field generator. Understood. Shinobi Nisso and Sansan worked together to operate the opening and closing mechanism of the bulkhead, and the door opened shortly after. They carefully checked the other side, but there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary, so Shinobi Nyu and Sangami decided to proceed first. No abnormalities. All right, let''s all proceed. After confirming that there was no danger, the ten continued to advance. After passing through three similar bulkheads, the atmosphere has clearly changed. They are now brightly lit. Please be more careful. Copy. Not knowing how far their invisibility will go, the ten of them proceed cautiously. We should look for a passageway or a staircase that leads down. According to the results of our preliminary inspection with the Peeper Telescope, we should be three floors down. After an hour of searching without being detected, Shinobu Riku finally found the stairs. Finally, Shinobu Riku found a place that looked like it. I think it is a hatch. The wall of the hatch protrudes slightly, and a rectangular joint can be seen. There is a control panel at the level of a standard human waist. Ancient characters ......<> are displayed in the same script used by . The people of Horai Island have been educated by < beforehand, so they can read it without any problem. "Open" and "closed"? I''m sure of it. Shinobi I uses the force field generator to levitate and operates the panel. The door opens. Hmm, it seems that the energy in this base has been restored. The fact that it works like this even though the supply of free magical element (ether) has been cut off indicates that the reserve energy reserves are sufficient. The fact that it''s spreading to such an unpopular section of the city ...... is not to be underestimated. Shinobu I peeked inside the door with caution. As he had hoped, it was what could be called an <>. There was an elevator leading up or down. First of all, I and the rest of you will go down. I''ll call you if everything''s all right. Understood. The five "Shinobi" slowly make their way to the door and board the elevator that is supposed to take them downstairs. ...... is... It''s stuck. < Well, this is not good. Shinobi 1 and the others look around the elevator room. There is a hatch here. Shinobi San found a round hatch. It has a hand-cranked handle. It is marked "for emergency use". It seems to be an emergency or maintenance passage. Okay, let''s use this. It was more difficult to turn the handle, but it took five of us to turn it, and we managed to open the hatch. Inside is a vertical hole. There is a ladder attached to it. As I suspected, it seemed to be for emergency or maintenance purposes, and the vertical hole was barely big enough for a single person to pass through. But it is too wide for the Shinobi Forces. Since ladders cannot be used, we descend slowly using the force field generator. However, they could only reach two floors down in this vertical hole. One more floor to go. We need to find a way to go down again. We exit the shaft. It was the same place as the two floors above. Since nothing was happening, Shinobu I called up some pickups from the land and started to investigate. The first floor of the building was a small building. "Well, it looks like an office building. Jin who was watching the images in the Horaijima command center thought to himself. In the company building where Jin was working, the <> was separated from the office room by a door or something. It seems that the place where the Shinobi Unit is now located is also separated in such a way. * * * * * * * * * * * * * < The old man advised the Shinobi Forces. All right, let''s go out for a while. < Carefully. And then they opened the door and found a deformed golem waiting for them. 1337 - - 36-03 Second Platoon. Evacuate! A moment before the attack from the deformed golem that was waiting for them, the <> was able to hide behind the door. The attack that flew in was of the electric shock type. They did not seem to be very powerful, and their intention not to destroy the inside of the base was clear. There was no way they could hide here. The deformed golem was slowly approaching us. But I can withstand this level of electric shocks. Shinobu Ichi decides, and tries to jump out. < Then the old man gave him a command. So, what should we do? While you are doing this, the deformed golem is approaching you. . I have been given permission to use the first of the three special weapons I have been given. Use weapon #1. All of you, get ready! At Shinobi 1''s instruction, the ten mini-golems hold a small ball in their hands. They are about one millimeter in size. Ready, three, two, one, throw! < It was just as the first of the deformed golems came to the door. A burst of light. The sphere was an <>. Although it has the name of a bomb, it does not cause an explosion, but rather it releases free magical energy (ether) compressed to the utmost limit all at once, filling the surrounding space with free magical energy (ether). This attack was prepared by Jin, taking a hint from the attack that < had recently launched on Reiko, in which the concentration of free magical element (ether) was increased by 1000 times. A normal ether converter or magi reactor converts the surrounding free magical element (ether) into magical element (mana) to power a golem, etc. The conversion rate is constant. The conversion rate is constant. If the concentration of free ether doubles, the converted mana also doubles. The power that the magical muscle can produce and the power of magic will be doubled accordingly. However, this is only up to a factor of 5 at most. If the concentration of free magical element (ether) becomes 10,000 times higher, can the ether converter generate 10,000 times more magical element (mana) and can the mana driver convert it into physical energy? The answer is no. Suppose that the ether converter is a wind turbine generator and the mana driver is a motor. If the wind is strong (more free ether), the wind generator (ether converter) generates (converts) more power (mana). And the motor (mana driver) given it will show high rotation and high torque (powerful magic, etc.). However, this is only a matter of degree. There is no wind turbine that can withstand a wind speed of 10,000 meters (although such a wind ...... would not blow at all because it exceeds the speed of sound), and there is no motor that can withstand a voltage 10,000 times its rating. (Although it is virtually impossible for a motor to withstand a voltage 10,000 times its rating because it exceeds the speed of sound. < is unlikely. The same is true even if it is a Magi Reactor instead of an Ether Converter and a Mana Driver. All of the deformed golems had their power systems destroyed and stopped moving. Incidentally, the <> are unaffected since they are all using mana cylinders to prevent <> and free magic element (ether) shortages. All enemies are silenced. Okay. Let''s use this time to set up a transfer magic circle at this location. The location is an elevator hall, if you will. There may be more suitable places than this, but there may not be. Shinobu Ichi chooses to set up the magic circle here, since the conditions are not too bad. Shinobi Riku to Pickup work together to carve a magic circle on the floor. Ichi to Ko are on guard. It is completed. Good. The work is reported to the Master, who then sends word to . At the same time, the magic circle that had already been set up was activated and emitted a pale light. "The transfer magic circle has been set up. Let''s go! Yes, Master. Yes, Master. Jin''s doppelgangers, Lands 11 through 15, and answered shortly and stepped into the magic circle. * * * * * * "Finally, the second group has set out." Jin muttered to himself as he stared at the magic screen on Horai Island. The image on the magic screen was switched to the one from Jin''s doppelganger. It shows the inside of the <>. The RAND team and <> are also shown. Incidentally, they have all changed the material of their shield cases to <>. "It''s a pain that we can''t use the <>." It seems to be a very strong barrier, and neither free magic element (ether) nor ether waves can penetrate except through the fixed holes. The direction of the hole does not face Horai Island, so the image of the telescope cannot be moved. Thank you very much. "Thank you very much. After this, please stay here as a backstop." <, instructed the to work hard. Understood. The group then exited the elevator room. It is a huge hall. Dozens of the deformed golems that had just stopped were lying around. "Hmmm, the shape is not consistent. ...... I wonder what concept the designer had in mind when he made it." Round body, square body, conical body, cylindrical body. Wheeled, rod-shaped, doughnut-shaped. Arms, legs slender. Four, six, eight, eleven ....... Large, small. Even if there were multiple designers, would they be so different in appearance? As Jin was twisting his head through the doppelganger, <> was also looking around and sighing. "Hmmm, it''s quite different from what we''ve been informed. "They must have spent quite a few years remodeling it." "Mmm. There''s no point in talking here. Let''s move on." Jin''s doppelganger and the group proceeded cautiously. For the time being, they proceed along the walls of the hall, checking for doors. ......... We can''t find it. "Oh." Finally, he has gone around the hall once. "Then the next possibility is that there is something in the center of the hall, isn''t there?" "Yes, that''s true, but it''s dangerous. But it would be dangerous. A huge hall has a good view. But that also means that there is no place to hide. If we are discovered, there will be an immediate battle. But there is no other way. The group heads for the center of the hall, keeping a wary eye out. "Master, I hear footsteps!" Land 11, who was leading the group, issued a warning. It seems that a second group of deformed golems is approaching. "Shouldn''t they be here by now? "Okay, Land 13, 14, and 15, deploy the barrier. Let''s get them." 1338 - - 36-04 Successful Move The second group of enemy golems was, as expected, a full array of deformities. One with a large right arm and a small left arm. One with three arms on its right side and only one arm on its left side. Those with eight arms and three legs. With three heads, one arm and eight legs. And so on, and so on, and so on. They appear suddenly on the floor. * * * * * "......What in the world is the meaning of this design?" The words of questioning poke out of Jin''s mouth. >. "What?Yes, yes, I suppose so. As the old man said, it might indeed be a . Jin thought. But before he can think about it, the battle begins. First of all, there was the odd-shaped goa''uld goa''uld. First, the deformed golems attacked. "Another lightning attack! All of them are repelled by Lando and his team''s barriers. They probably don''t want to destroy the facility as much as possible. I understand that, but isn''t there any other way? Jin''s doppelganger instructs. "Land 15, use the Magi Cannon. Each of the members of the Land team brought this time is equipped with special equipment. Land 15 is a small magic cannon. It is an advanced version of the one Reiko used in the previous battle against the Unification Party. The caliber is reduced to 20mm. The bullets can be lead balls or steel balls. The total number of bullets in the magazine is 50. It may no longer be a but a . First, lead balls are fired with . A deformed golem is blown away. "...... even if there is an anti-magic ward, it doesn''t seem to be able to protect against real bullets." "At least we rarely use weapons that use live ammunition. "Is that so,......?" Jin wondered if such a development was possible, but now was not the time to ponder. The golems were shooting lightning magic at Jin, but he was able to repel all of them with his magic barrier. "Is it not a physical phenomenon but magic? ......" This was a surprise to Jin, who had thought that lightning magic = . He secretly decides to analyze it later. And before Land 15 can fire off a single magazine, all the deformed golems are silenced. "That didn''t take long." Jin''s doppelganger mutters, and <> denies it. No, <>''s weapons are superior. It is strong to have a powerful means of physical attack. "But the saucer shot arrows at us, didn''t it?" But the saucer fired arrows at us. "What?Then what''s more powerful than that? Magic, of course. "What? ......" As far as combat is concerned, it seems to have developed in a rather unbalanced manner. Perhaps the mentality of the originals is different from that of the earthlings. Let''s move on. "Yes." Since no more enemy golems seem to appear, the group decides to continue on. Jin would have liked to analyze the deformed golem, but decides not to do so this time. Then, they arrived at their destination, the center of the hall. "Of course." "Of course. There was a magic circle of transfer engraved there. Okay, let''s go. Wait a minute. ...... It''s a trap. "A trap?" It doesn''t have much of an effect. It''s marked ......<>....... "Sugoroku!" ''s explanation, Jin and Jin''s alter ego (doppelganger) unintentionally raised their voices. I don''t know what this backgammon thing is, but since we''re going down, we can redraw here. pointed to a part of the magic circle. "Can <> read?" I can read without any problem. Jin could not read it. After all, this was not a language system that Jin knew. "Is this the language used by the <>?" Jin asked . "Yes and no. "What do you mean?" "I would say that the language used here is not the language used by the Masters, but rather the language used by their companions. "Let''s see... ......" Jin tried to imagine. In short, it would be like English for the Japanese, he concluded. "In other words, like the language of another country on the same planet?" nodded. Well, that''s a good point. Well, that''s a good point. It is close to the language used by the people who remained on <>. Hearing this, Jin was now more convinced that the mastermind of the enemy was in <>. "Well then, tell me what I need to do to fix it." I understand. Helente pointed to a part of the magic circle and explained it to Jin''s doppelganger. "Let''s see, I need to fix this here...?......<>" "Hmm, <>. That should do it. Then let''s go. "Mm-hmm. Master, I''ll go first. Rand 12 stands up and is the first to step into the magic circle. At that moment, a faint light shines and Land 12 disappears. Then, a report was made by the built-in manacam. << In addition, it was reported that it was clear from the surroundings that this was the more important floor. It seems certain from the contents. Let''s go. Okay." Thus, Jin''s doppelgangers, Lands 11 to 15, and were transported by the transfer magic circle. 1339 - - 36-05 Trap Is this the hierarchy we''re looking for? "It should be. Jin and his group had finally reached the level where the magical brain that controls this is believed to be located. Now, let''s see what we can find. The group was now standing in a hall that was smaller than the one they had come from. "I don''t know which way to go! The hall is a circle with a diameter of about 10 meters. It looks the same no matter which way you go. There is no door. At that moment, Jin''s doppelganger (Jin D) senses a change in atmospheric pressure. Or more precisely, a . "Is the air being removed?" The current atmospheric pressure is about 0.8 bar. That''s a pretty effective ......? If we''re dealing with a human being. There are no humans in the line, so even if there''s a vacuum, it won''t bother us. "Yeah, but we won''t be able to talk to them." Jin D. and Lando and the others can talk to each other through the built-in manacam, but not <>. Conversation in a vacuum is only possible by making contact and transmitting <> directly. (If <> had a built-in manacam (manacam), it would be ...... but that would be too much to ask for.) In the meantime, the atmospheric pressure dropped to 0.2 atmospheres. But that seemed to be the end of it, and there was no complete vacuum. "Is it possible to have a conversation?" "Yes, it seems so. Their voices are muffled by the low air pressure, but this is not a problem for those with good hearing. "Not quite a trap ......, but it''s a measure to keep out <> or >." "Yes, that''s probably it. Then we''d better get out of this hall. I agree. Then we should leave this hall as soon as possible. Jin D. and had a brief discussion and agreed to leave this hall. But it is a little too late. Hmm?Gas? A gas flows into the room at once as the air pressure drops. It was hydrogen sulfide. Not only is it deadly if inhaled by humans. It also corrodes metals. Hmm, with this gas, ...... worked her magic. Neutralizing hydrogen sulfide is difficult in reality, but it is possible with magic. The hydrogen sulfide is decomposed into hydrogen and sulfur, and the sulfur is deposited on the floor as a solid. "<>" Jin D. combined the hydrogen with what little oxygen remained in the air <> back into water. This rendered the hydrogen sulfide harmless. "That''s quite a feat." Mm. We''d better get out of this hall as soon as possible. However, in spite of the diligent search by the five Lando''s, the exit was still not found. Jin D concentrates on searching for a way out with the RAND team. Then, the third attack is unleashed. The hall is quickly filled with liquid. Now ...... the water attack?No, this is ...... acid! < has various analyzing functions and said <>. In other words, it is <>. "That''s just awful." The hall''s walls, floor and ceiling are coated with adamantite to prevent corrosion by hydrogen sulfide and hydrochloric acid. The exterior of the land is made of light silver, whose oxide film is not affected by hydrochloric acid. Jin D can also withstand hydrochloric acid without any problem, but <> has a stainless steel exterior. Stainless steel is not compatible with chlorine ions. In other words, it is dangerous to soak it in hydrochloric acid for a long time. "Uh, I think it''s ......." Jin recalls what little chemical knowledge he has left. "Hydrochloric acid......Hydrogen chloride HCl is electrolyzed to hydrogen H2 and chlorine Cl2. ...... Rand, all of you <>!" "Yes, Master." Lando and the others release lightning magic from their hands. It is an engineering magic as well as a lightning magic. A negative charge is generated on the right hand side of Rand and a positive charge on the left hand side. On the right hand side, hydrogen ions H+ gather and gain charge e- to form hydrogen atom H, which bonds with other hydrogen atoms to form a bubble of hydrogen H2. On the other hand, on the left hand side, chlorine ions Cl- gather, lose their charge e- and become chlorine atom Cl Cl-, and the chlorine atoms bond with each other to form chlorine Cl2. Normal electrolysis takes a certain amount of time, but the engineering magic also accelerates the reaction by increasing the speed of the ions, and in a short time, the hydrochloric acid becomes just water. Thank God, Master Jin! Your voice will be heard in the water. I thank . But the surface of his body has lost its luster. Jin D. then uses sonar to find a cavity on the other side of the wall. "<>" No need to risk being in this hall any longer, Jin D. makes a hole in the wall by engineering magic. The water, which used to be hydrochloric acid, flowed out through the hole. "I wonder what the management brain of this thinks when he sees this..." I don''t know. < "Indeed. It is indeed difficult to guess such thoughts. Eventually all the water drained away. "There seems to be a drainage system on the other side." Jin D guessed as he watched the water being sucked into a hole in the corner of the floor that looked like a drain. Jin-D guessed so, because a vehicle that floats on water should have such a drainage system. "I guess we''ll just have to go for it. I''ll take the lead. Land11 came forward and JinD seconded the motion. Land 11, Land 12, Jin D, <>, Land 13, Land 1 4 leave the room in that order. Land 15 is not in position and is in a ranger position. They exit the room in the corridor. The group continues on their way. "I don''t know if this is correct. It could be that they are going in the opposite direction. Yes, that''s true. But according to the information I have on the mobile base, it''s not completely the other way around. "Hmm?Do you understand?" Unless the invaders have changed everything, I don''t see why they would go to such lengths. leads the way down the passage and turns left. This should be the right way. It was about 90 degrees off the path. walks carefully. Jin D followed behind her, but observed that her movements were somewhat awkward. "<>, are you not feeling well? "No, I''m fine. Not yet to the point of malfunctioning. It seems to have been slightly affected by hydrogen sulfide and hydrochloric acid. The seams on the exterior are affected. Maybe some corrosion inside as well. As you know, I have a replacement. Don''t worry. After saying this, <> continues silently down the passageway. 1340 - - 36-06 Aisles and rooms and Through the eyes of Jin''s doppelganger (Jin D), Jin examined . "Well, I''d say it''s about 70% to 80%. Probably, the exterior joints were not sealed well enough and were damaged when hydrochloric acid seeped into the interior. Hydrogen chloride, the main component of hydrochloric acid, is volatile, so there is probably no residue left, but the damage is still there. However, it is not something that will cause the machine to stop immediately, so we will take a look at it for the time being. We cannot disassemble and repair it because it is in the hostile area. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This way! leads the group without hesitation. The passage turns to the right and to the left, sometimes changing direction by 180 degrees. There are countless side passages, so if it were not for <> leading the way, the group would be completely lost. "Is this maze part of the trap too? ...... No." Jin D. stops and touches the floor. "......<>...... I see." < The < ahead of him stopped and looked back. Jin D. stood up, Jin D. stood up and answered, "I thought this passageway was made this way on purpose. Jin D. replied. What do you mean? "I was wondering why this passageway was so winding. I found a conductor embedded in the floor that I think is mithril." What does that mean? "Part of it is a giant magical circuit." I see. Jin considered the possibility that it might be used for the purpose of amplifying the waves of a specific frequency band of magical ...... ether waves, "Even if that''s the case, this shape is impossible,......." If it were circular like a magic circle, one could imagine a method of circulating it to increase its intensity, but the circuit here is curved. "But if we follow this circuit, we might be able to reach our destination. But denies it. No, that''s not possible. A control mage brain would not take such a risk. "Risk?" "Danger? If we channel another magic power into that mithril conductor, the genie''s out of the bottle. "That''s for sure." It''s easy to locate it, and it''s more susceptible to electric magic. "Let''s cut it out for now." Jin D. puts his hand on the floor and uses engineering magic. "<><>>...... okay." Now that we''ve broken it in a way that is easy to understand, we can easily fix it later. "This should give you some peace of mind." I see. The group started walking again. After five minutes, they found a door in front of them. What is this place? Probably a way station. A way station? It''s probably a room to screen out those who follow this passage. You mean it''s a trap? But she denies it. It''s not exactly a trap. It is something that can be passed if certain conditions are met. But there''s no guarantee it''ll stay that way. That''s for sure. What happens if the conditions are not met? "According to the information I have, the doors simply won''t open for us to proceed. ...... I don''t think it''ll stay that way. Considering that we''ve made it this far without any interference, there''s a good chance that there''s something in this room. "However, I guess I''ll have to go." "Yes. I''ll go in first, Master. Rand 11 came forward. Thank you. Yes, sir. Jin D. and move back about 5 meters. Rand 11 then opens the door and quickly checks inside. "There seems to be nothing in there. There seemed to be no danger of a sudden attack. "Okay, let''s go in. ......Land11 goes outside and waits. Be ready for anything." "Yes, sir." With that gesture, Jin and the others stepped into the room. The door they came in through never closed ...... and, in fact, nothing happened. The room itself is a square room about five meters square. There is a door on the other side of the door that we came in through, which must be the exit. "Well, it won''t open. Jin D tries to open the door, but it seems to be locked and cannot be opened. If he tries to force it open, some kind of security device will be activated. We''re still a long way from our destination, so I''d like to get through this quietly if possible. "Well, that''s what we''re going to do at ......." * * * At Horaijima, Jin, who was piloting the doppelganger, was also twisting his head. "There must be a condition to open it, right?" . "Ah, that''s a possibility." Land11 is outside the room now, preparing for any contingency. "So if we bring Rand 11 into the room and close the door, something will happen?" "It is also possible that the result will be the activation of the trap? Jin thought for a moment about what to do, "I guess we should go. He concludes, "I guess we have to go. "If something happens, we can use the ...... transporter to escape. He then gives instructions. The magic screen linked to the doppelganger''s eyes showed Rand 11 stepping into the room and the door closing. At the moment the door closed. On the surface of the door, which seemed to be the exit, something like a pattern or letters appeared. At the same time, the walls of the room began to move as if they were crushing the group. 1341 - - 36-07 Solving the Mystery "The wall is closing in!" Jin''s doppelganger (Jin D) shouts. The walls on either side of the room begin to move slowly. The walls on either side of the room start to move slowly, but the speed is quite slow. Hmmm, this seems to have something to do with the letters floating on the door. says in a calm voice. They look like patterns to Jin, but to <> they are letters. The top one is a number. 188......187... 188......187...186...... countdown. Perhaps that''s the time limit for this wall to crush us. I concluded after a quick guess based on the speed at which the wall was closing in on us. Then what do the other letters mean? "Well, I''ll leave that to you. It''s a logical question. What do they say? << "Heh ......" Jin had heard of this famous problem. However, it was not a jewel but a coin that Jin knew. "You have a similar way of thinking. ......<<2 times>." "Mm. operated what appeared to be a button in the middle of the door and typed <<2>>. Then the wall stopped moving. "I guess you were right." "Yes. It seems that these quiz-like questions were one of the games for <>. It seems I have to solve one more question to open it. "What''s the problem?" < "What?" The masters liked to play with these thoughts. ** and ++ are the lapdogs that are not here in Ars. "No, that''s fine, but ......" Jin had heard a similar <. And he knows the answer. However, he had a slight concern about whether it would be enough. "Is <> the right thing to do?" "Yes, that''s the right answer. You understood me well. confirms his answer by typing it into the input area of the door. Then the wall that had been closing in returns to its original position. One more question. "Is there more?" You say that. What is it that belongs to you but is used most by others? Jin knows this too. He''s done it many times with younger children. A name. Yes, you''re right. is a big deal. "......" Jin was not sure whether he should be happy or not. Regardless of his thoughts, the front door finally opens. Let''s go. "Okay." , Rand 11, Jin D, Rand 12, 13, 1 4,15 and left the room in that order. Beyond that was a similar passage. "Are the traps gone?" I can''t guarantee that. If it is the same as before, there should be no traps, but I don''t know what is happening now. ...... Before he could finish his words, something moving appeared on the other side of the passage. I was thinking of carving a shifting magic circle, but it seems that time is running out. "Is it a deformed golem or ......?" The group is preparing themselves. No, it is a golem of my type. Perhaps it was sent by the brains of this place. What exactly is its purpose? Jin and the others braced themselves. What is the purpose, intruder?] To normalize this facility. stepped forward and answered. The other golem also has a Mohawk on its head, indicating that it is the same type as the other golem. Thank goodness for that.] What? An unexpected word came out. I know there is something wrong with the central brain. If you can fix it, or rather, if you can fix it for me, I will be happy to help. I am auxiliary golem 066.] I see, 066, I am . This is my partner, Mr. Koroppo, and the Rand team. Okay. Pleasure to meet you.] Can you take us to the central brain? Of course. Follow me.] The 066 started back the way they came. Jin and the others followed. * * * * * * "Old man, do you think you can trust him?" On the island of Horai, Jin, who was wondering about this development, was discussing with the old man. < "I guess so. What should we do?" "I see. I see. Okay. Away from the group that was moving forward, Land 14 remained in place, hidden from view by invisibility. It seems that the invisibility was not detected. "Do you want me to engrave it here?" Land 14''s special equipment is a . It can release specific magic without loss of time. <, it is possible to engrave a magic circle on a metal or other material. It is in the shape of a large gun, and fires the magic recorded in the cartridge. <, a will be fired. <, will be fired. In this case, <. What it forms is a shifting magic circle. As expected, it took a few seconds, but we were able to carve a shifting magic circle on the floor. This will make it easier to send in reinforcements. * * * * How far are we going? We''re almost there. The destination is beyond that door.] Okay. Jin D,<>,land 11,12,13,1 5 were going to the door. 1342 - - 36-08 Round 1 Behind the door was a large hall. The diameter of the hall was about 50 meters. The ceiling is about 10 meters high. The walls, floor, and ceiling are all metal. Is this it? Yes. This is your graveyard.] What? As soon as the door closed behind them, a number of golems with massive physiques that looked like they were made for battle emerged. "It was a trap after all." Jin''s doppelganger (Jin D) and the four lands were calm. * * * * * * "It was a trap, after all." On Horai Island, Jin and the old man nodded to each other. "Father, shall I go now?" Reiko is standing by fully equipped. "Yes, please." "Yes, I''ll take care of it." Reiko, start from the beginning in mana-bomb mode. "Yes, sir." < Okay. Please be careful. Once synchronized, it can be operated in the same way as a warp gate, but the disadvantage of a transfer magic circle that is engraved at an arbitrary location is that it takes time to synchronize its magic wave (etheric wave) frequency. In this case, it is easier to synchronize the Horai-jima side with the transfer magic circle engraved by Land 14, so this work takes only this much time. * * * * "......" "What is this? Jin D''s movement suddenly stopped. Land 12 immediately follows him, but his reaction is sluggish. "Is it an ether jammer or a similar attack? Lando and the others are working in mana-bomb mode from the start, so they are unaffected. Jin D''s operation should not be affected, but his ether waves have been disturbed and he has lost the ability to control his ship. Since Jin-D is not autonomous, it cannot engage in combat. Therefore, Land 12 and Land 13 followed him. Then the enemy golem attacks. <. There were 20 of them. All of them came at them at once. Aah! has a similar auxiliary function, but it is not designed for combat, and its movement has been slowed by corrosion. The malfunction rate has exceeded 50 percent,or ....... The impact of being kicked and slammed against the wall seems to have severed the magic nerve and she was unable to stand up. But fortunately, the enemy golems did not pay attention to and were swarming around Lando and the others. They don''t use magic...... I see, so they can''t use magic either, since they are disturbing the free magical element (ether). The golems were attacking using only physical techniques. Land 11 and 15 are fighting back. 12 and 13 are protecting D. 12 and 13 are protecting Jin D. "<>, leave this to me." Land 11 says to , who is standing by the wall. A hand-to-hand battle ensues. Lando''s unit is for land battles. They are strong in this kind of situation. "Come on!" Land 11 and 15 are fighting an oncoming golem to protect Jin D, who is out of action. It is a one-on-ten battle. The enemy golem is powerful in its own way, but it is slow and cannot keep up with Lando''s speed. And Lando, who is built by Jin, is more powerful than Golem. In addition, the enemy golem''s attack means are simple blows and kicks. It did not use any technique-like moves. "They just come at us in the dark, without any technique. Lando had techniques, even if he was outnumbered. It''s a great thing. ...... watched in amazement as the two fought. Speed, power, and size are usually opposites, but Jin had achieved all of them at a high level. This is the power of . ...... Once again, Herenthe realized that what he had shown before in front of the forces was less than half of what he was capable of. Lando 11 and 15 were using fists, elbows, kicks, throws, and every other technique they could think of to take on the enemy golems. However, the number of opponents was too large, and they were generally evenly matched. They were just one step short of gaining the upper hand. While protecting Jin D, Lands 12 and 13 independently decided that the stalemate would continue. If one of them entered the game at this point, they would be able to break the deadlock. And so they began to act accordingly. Land 13, I''ll leave you in charge for a while. "Yes, sir." Land 12 first landed a powerful kick on the enemy golem that had attacked Land 11 from behind. The golem was hit from a completely unexpected direction and was blown away. Land 12 then caught one of the enemy golems attacking Land 15 and threw it with an <>, knocking it to the floor. The floor is slightly dented by the impact, and the enemy golem stops moving. The balance was easily broken, as the ratio of one against ten became one against nine. The extra 10% margin increased the time to keep an enemy golem away by 10%. This time is equal to an increase in attack time, which further increases the damage to the enemy golem. This positive spiral increased Lando''s advantage moment by moment. Then 1-9 became 1-8, 1-8 became 1-7, 1-6, 1-6, 1-8 became 1-7, and so on. Then 1-6, then 1-5. ....... The enemy Golem had no chance to win the battle. Within two minutes of the start of the battle, Lando and his team had driven 20 enemy Golems into irreversible damage. this strong? was astonished at the strength of the Land troops. But Rand 11 has not yet let down his guard. "There is no sign of ...... auxiliary golem 066. Stay alert." And just as he predicted. It''s scary strong for something made by the natives. But how about this?] Just as the voice of auxiliary golem 066 rang out, eight new enemy golems appeared. Although fewer in number, they were larger in stature than the previous 20, and they also had weapons in their hands. In their left hand was a large shield, a tower shield. In his right hand was a sword or a club. Don''t underestimate them! I will slaughter you with all my might. The bell for the second round has just been rung. 1343 - - 36-09 Land activity The standard equipment of the RAND team is the <>. This weapon is highly powerful and can cut through almost any material. However, since it is difficult to hold back, we are not carrying it this time. Instead, I have equipped myself with the . They are made of hyperadamantite, 20mm in diameter and 50cm long. Since they are too heavy as they are, they have been hollowed out to reduce their weight, but they still weigh 20 kilograms. Because of its weight, it could not be used in a one-on-ten battle, which requires quickness, but not this time. Using the sword, Lando and his men charged at the enemy golem. Lando11 caught the sword with his ten hands and turned his wrists. The sword caught between the hooks of the ten hands easily snaps off due to the principle of leverage. The enemy golem, having lost its sword, falls back, and another rushes forward with a shield in its place. This is a technique known as a in some circles, in which the enemy is struck with the shield. Land 11 barely dodged, but the other one came at him from the side with a similar shield bash, and he was hit by it. Land 11 was knocked off by a shield bash from an opponent who weighed about twice as much as Land 11, but with his agility and body movements, he was able to regain his position without falling down. However, another enemy golem thrust its sword at him. Land11 barely managed to block it with his ten hands. Land 11 barely manages to get out of the way for now, but it is clear that he is outnumbered. And Land 15 was also struggling. He is using ten hands because empty fists are not effective against a foe with a sword and a shield, but it is undeniable that Lando''s speed is slightly slowed down by this. This makes him lack the decisive power to overcome the outnumbering of his opponents. If Land 12 and 13 could join the battle, the situation could be reversed at once, but since they are protecting Jin''s doppelganger (Jin D), who is stuck, and also protecting <>However, it was difficult for them to actively participate in the battle because they were protecting the stuck doll (Jin D) and also protecting <. However, various battle information was transcribed to the RAND team. "15, come on." Lando 11 called for Lando 15, who was fighting a short distance away. "I got your back." "I''ve got your back." With that exchange, the two changed their tactics. In other words, they turned their backs to each other. In this way, they are less likely to be attacked from the rear. They only need to watch out for attacks from the front and from the left and right. Moreover, the opponent will have a more difficult time fighting. The front side will remain the same, but if you try to attack from the side, the two of them will get in each other''s way. Inevitably, one by one, they will attack. This means that there will be four enemy golems against lands 11 and 15, and the rest can only sit on their hands. However, this strategy also had a drawback. The enemy golems that were left behind would head for Jin D and . "12,13, bear with me a little longer!" Land 11 calls out. Land 12 and 13 nodded silently. "Now then, let''s get serious!" Rands 11 and 15 increased their speed. Since they had been fighting at 30 percent output, they increased it to 50 percent because they could not expect to replenish their free magical element (ether). They aimed for a short term battle. The results were dramatic. The increase in power means an increase in speed and power. It can repel sword blows that it used to catch with its ten hands, and it can withstand shield bashes. This means that the two that had been on the defensive can now go on the offensive. "Phew!" I don''t have to say it out loud, but since the original information included not only the movements but also the way of breathing, I end up uttering the sound that accompanies such breathing. Since there is no harm in it, Jin and the old man have left it unedited. Land 15''s ten moves broke off the enemy golem''s sword. Land11''s ten moves put a hole in the enemy golem''s shield. Rand 11''s ten moves slam into the head of an enemy golem that has lost its weapon. Rand 11 puts his hand through the hole in the shield and swings it around. The hyperadamantite ten-handed blow dents the head, and the enemy golem, swung with the force of Rand at 50%, falls down with a golem of the same type beside it. When the enemy golem''s movement is slowed down, a further blow is delivered. A blow to the neck with ten hands and a stab through the chest with ten hands. Two enemy golems are now immobilized. With their numbers reduced, the equilibrium is quickly shaken. Two more are stuck, and then two more. The Golem that Land 12 and 13 were facing has stopped moving as well. The situation is now one-sided. Soon all eight enemy Golems are neutralized. Well done, Rand! praised. "No, not yet. Unless we get out of here, we''re going to be outgunned. Indeed. "We could go back the way we came, but I''m not sure that would accomplish what we want." That''s right. But I can''t move. I can''t move. And three times the enemy golems appear. There are three of them. They were about 2.5 meters in height and had four arms. They have swords, hammers, spears, and shields on their arms, and look quite formidable. Land 12, who is guarding Jin D and , looks disappointed. "...... they seem to have a lot more pieces on their side. If we keep moving at our current output, we will run out of mana sooner or later. answered. It would be good if we could find out the location of the magic machine that is blocking the flow of free magic element (ether). "I see. But that doesn''t mean it''s in this room. That''s right. ...... here they come! One in Land 11 and one in Land 15. And now we have to deal with one on Lands 12 and 13 as well. "...... this golem is strong!" Having four arms is simply equivalent to taking on two of them. Lando and the others were having a hard time, as it seemed to have the know-how to manipulate its four arms at will. If they blocked the swords, hammers would fly at them. If they avoided them and kept their distance, spears would be thrown at them. If they dodged the spears and attacked with their ten hands, they were deflected by their shields. It was hard to fight. Seventy percent output! Land 11, realizing that he would be crushed before he could achieve his goal, sent out a command. Thanks to that, the battle was evenly matched. No, more than even. The ten hands of hyperadamantite flip and snap the enemy golem''s sword. The ten hands of the hyperadamantite flick and snap the enemy golem''s sword. Dodging hammers and slamming into shields, the enemy golem steps on its flailing legs. As soon as the golem falls down after another body blow, you follow up with two or three blows with your ten hands. Finally, the enemy golem is silenced. "Well done, Rand! < praises it with the same words as before. "Even with ......, we don''t have much mana left in reserve. I hope there will be no more of them." But five new enemy golems appear. This time they are heavily armored golems that seem to specialize in defense. They have maces in their hands. "This is not good. But we''ll just have to take it as far as we can." Reducing their power output to 40 percent, Lands 11 and 15 intercepted the enemy golem. But they are still outgunned. They receive a mace blow with their ten hands, but are unable to catch it and are blown away. The enemy golem also aims at Jin D and . <. So much for ...... < says in resignation. But Land 12, who was standing beside her, repels the mace with ten hands. Then he shouts. "The free ether has returned! At that moment, the entrance through which they had entered was blown open. A small shadow appeared. "Sorry for the delay, but we have destroyed all the warding generators that were blocking the free magical element (ether). Thank you for your hard work, Rand team. Leave the rest to us. 1344 - - 36-10 Reiko Relief Reiko arrives at the using the transfer magic circle. She is dressed in her usual samurai costume and a white headband. She is greeted by Land 14. "My lady, you are welcome. "Thank you for setting up the transfer magic circle. So, what''s the situation? Reiko immediately asked about the situation. "Yes, Lands 11, 12, 13, 15 and , and the master''s alter ego, Dorothy. It seems that a ward similar to an ether jammer has been set up in the room where Master''s doppelganger was headed. "I understand. I think we should destroy the generator first. We''ve already identified some of the locations. Land 14 was not sitting idly by. He was on the outside, doing what he could. And when he told Reiko about it, things got better. "The first one is over there. The first warding generator was located in the wall above the entrance to the hall where Jin''s doppelganger (Jin D) and the others had entered. "...... I''m sure your father will be interested in this, but this time it can''t be helped." The metal of the wall was sliced open like cheese or butter by the vibrating mode of his beloved sword, . "This is it." The Magi Machine was exposed. Reiko cut it in two with her Momoka without hesitation. "Next, this way." Pointing to the wall in front of her, Land 14. There was a seam running through it, indicating a passageway for maintenance. "We''re running out of time, so let''s do it this way." Reiko put her small hand on the seam. Her fingertips gradually sink into the seam. The nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel walls yielded to Reiko''s force. "Ei!" Reiko plunged into the maintenance corridor that appeared. "Miss, about 20 meters back, on the right." "Okay. I''m on my way. Take care." The passage was so narrow that an adult would have had to bend down to walk through it, but it was just right for Reiko, who was 130 centimeters tall. Reiko stops where Land 14 tells her to. It was a maintenance corridor, so it was not disguised, and she recognized it at once. She opens the hatch for inspection and sees a field generator. Reiko pulls it out. The conductors connected to it are torn off. She takes it out as it is for reference and deposits it in Land 14. "I think there are at least two more. If they are irradiated from all sides of the hall," said Land 14. "I guess so. Let''s go to ...... from the ceiling." Reiko floats up with the force generator and uses the sonar. "There it is." There was a maintenance passage in the ceiling. Reiko pried it open by force, and jumped in. Three minutes later. Reiko went through the ceiling to the corresponding area, and successfully destroyed the warding generator. She also destroys the other one placed further in the room. "Now Lando and the others will be able to wield their full power, but I''m going to go help them. "Go on, my lady." Lando 14 stayed behind to defend the place, while Reiko kicked open the doorway to the hall. There, Lando and the others are engaged in a fierce battle with a large enemy golem. Reiko tells them in a quiet voice, "I''m sorry I''m late, but... "It''s a little late, but we''ve destroyed all the warding generators that were blocking the free magical element (ether). Thank you for your hard work, Rand team. Leave the rest to us. Reiko," "I''m so glad you''re here. Reiko, you did well. In Horai Island, Jin was giving his compliments to Reiko. The connection with the doppelganger had been restored, and it was clear that the boundary that had blocked the free magical element (ether) had disappeared. Reiko is now dealing with several large golems, which seem to be her enemies. Her fighting style is not to overwhelm them, but to neutralize them with just a little more power than they have. It is mainly a slash with . What makes the hyperadamantite the strongest is its ultra-high-speed vibration. Blades vibrating at high speeds in the ultrasonic range can easily slice through softer materials. Combined with Reiko''s physical strength, it can cut through any known substance, except for hyperadamantite of the same quality. To prevent this, a solid physical barrier must be magically deployed instead of material. The heavy armor of the enemy golem and the mace in its hand were no better than ears of reed before <>. Slashing down arms, slashing maces, and slashing torsos, Reiko shows her lion-like strength. Soon the five enemy golems are silenced. Not bad for a barbarian''s creation!] A voice echoes through the hall. Have you come to reclaim this mobile base?] "Who are you?" Jin D asks. "I am the master of this base.] What''s the ruler? A usurper, isn''t he? retorts. You''re a ...... live puppet with a will made by a bunch of wimps? Wimps? That''s right. Wimps who ran away when they couldn''t live on their home planet.] With this question and answer, it was almost certain that the masterminds behind the incident were the people on Hale. They seem to despise those who emigrated, calling them weaklings. Are you a pawn of those who stayed in Hale? I''m not quite a pawn, but ......, that''s a fair assessment.] Why are you doing this? Why, what?Because we need it.] Even if it does this planet a disservice? I don''t give a d*mn about the colony.] These words made her a little angry. It''s not a colony!It''s a colony! It''s a second home for the people who settled here. That''s your logic. From our point of view it''s just the logic of weaklings who ran away on their own.] ......! Jin felt that the direction of this conversation was not fruitful, so he asked a question through the mouth of his doppelganger. "What did you intend to do by occupying this ?" That''s a foolish question. Naturally, we were going to bring the resources of this planet back to our home planet. Somehow, we are not making much progress.] * * * "Hmmm...arrogance...how can I put it?" "Yes." < Jin thinks that the reason why they are not making progress is because the <> side, including the <>, is resisting as much as they can. "But still, ......" Jin wondered if he had any sense of time, but the old man answered his question, it. I mean.... "What do you mean?" is the time it takes for Ars to make one rotation. But we cannot < whether it is longer or shorter. "I don''t understand." . "Hmmm ......" Jin is lost in thought. "Is it something like ''experience time''?" When you are absorbed in something, time seems to pass quickly, and when you are listening to a boring speech, time seems to slow down. You are not like that, and a minute is a minute. The old man affirms Jin''s words. or if you have something to compare it with. However, we cannot evaluate whether it is long or short when we simply take out of it. "Well, I think I have an idea." Meanwhile, behind the magic screen, the question-and-answer session was still going on. 1345 - - 36-11 Battle of Struggle What more do you want?] This planet, Arus, does not belong to Hale. It belongs to all life now. Nonsense. Do you know how many lives we took when we made it habitable?] It is ...... is at a loss for words. You are no better than we are. Then we, the ancestors, must take precedence.] No, I do not agree with you. What?] Jin''s doppelganger (Jin D) interrupted. "Living things strive to live. That''s all." What do you mean?] "Don''t you understand?I''m saying that if their lives are threatened, they will resist. The barbarian?] Which one of you can''t even touch a barbarian? You''re a man of your word, aren''t you?] That''s you. ...... Jin D. is also disgusted. "If you want us to help you, just say so. If that''s the case, we''re more than willing to help." Speak nonsense. What can we ask of barbarians who fight amongst themselves on the same planet, and in the process, drastically reduce its population?] The voice seems to know about the war. "It was a conspiracy. Now the nations are trying to join hands. He calls them barbarians. Joining hands?Is it not the act of the weak?] It seems that mutual understanding with the owner of the voice is difficult. I thought we had left that phase tens of thousands of years ago, when we were all competing for our survival. spoke up again. The must have broken away from such practices and were living on free magical elements (ether) supplied by the stars. Are you denying that? Don''t talk nonsense, you ignorant piece of junk. As for myself, I only follow orders.] * * * You''ve given up all thought. < On Horai Island, Jin and the old man are analyzing the exchange. "I knew it." < "I see." << The "Mere Old Man''s" analysis. You are very different from the "Mere Old Man" who is a magic brain that can think and behave freely, although there are some limitations. * * * * * * is not only on Ars, but on other planets as well. did not give up and tried to persuade him. I only follow instructions.] Don''t you have free will? Stop laughing. There is no such thing as a creature.] Unexpectedly, the mysterious voice was confirmed to be a , or at least not a human being. If you interfere, I''ll show no mercy.] That''s our line. If you endanger this planet and its inhabitants, I will not remain silent. is and has been instructed by its to protect this planet, and there can be no compromise between the two. What can a planet of degenerates, weak people and barbarians do?] Here again Jin D interjects. "You call us barbarians and savages, but do you think you are so superior?If so, it''s ridiculous." What?] "What were you doing sneaking around in fear of those barbarians?" You. ......] The old man is controlling the doppelganger now. They are deliberately trying to provoke and elicit a different response. The barbarian is being cheeky.] "You''re doing something that will make that barbarian think you''re a fool. Don''t you think it''s pathetic that we have to depend on a planet with barbarians in the first place?" [......] "Oh, you can''t reply anymore?" Indeed, as if at a loss for words, the mysterious voice fell silent. "Lando and the others, be on the lookout. Reiko, you take care of the guards." In the meantime, Jin D. got to work on the problem of . "Yes, sir." When he finished giving the instructions, Jin D. took this opportunity to start examining the immobilized . "Well, the joints are corroded and the movement is not good. The muscle fibers are intact, but their attachments are dissolved. This is why he is unable to move. He then invokes engineering magic. "<><><><>......" The work is completed in about 5 minutes. "Thank you, <>. "It''s just a stopgap measure, so don''t overdo it, okay?" Then, as if waiting for the repairs to be completed, the mysterious voice echoes again. I still think you are dangerous. We will exterminate you here.] How can you come to such a conclusion? * * * * The old man concluded so at Horai Island. "It seems so." < "I understand. But where should we go? We can''t do anything until we know. "Up there?" >. The old man guessed the floor level, taking into account the images he had seen with the telescope. "I see. Let''s leave the arguing to and let Reiko go on." Jin used the manacam to give instructions to Reiko. 1346 - - 36-12 Isolation "Rand and the others, I''ll leave your father''s doppelg?nger and to you." Reiko sheathes and runs off without hesitation. Wait!Where are you going?] Without answering his question, Reiko runs straight ahead. I said wait!] Reiko kicked through the front door without saying a word. The door blows open with a tremendous roar. Beyond it was a small hall. Standing there was a four-armed golem. I won''t let you go any further!] But Reiko kicks the floor and hits it with her tiny body. The four-armed Golem, not expecting a body slam out of nowhere and unable to react to the subsonic speed of Reiko, took a serious hit. Blown to the edge of the small hall, the golem slammed into the wall and never moved again. What the ...... are you!] "My name is Reiko. I will liberate this base." Stop it!Stop it!] Reiko floated up with her force field generator and put her hand on the hatch in the ceiling. It seemed to be locked, but when Reiko pulled a little harder, it came off its hinges and fell noisily to the floor. "Don''t come!] "I''m coming!" Reiko steps through the open hatch. There, just as the old man had predicted, was the main body of the mobile base''s administrative brain. It is spherical in shape, about one meter in diameter, and is supported from the top, bottom, left, and right by 10 centimeter-thick rods. Reiko guessed that it was probably a pipe, through which a magic nerve or the like was running. On its surface, there were six black protrusions. The "Mere Old Man" was right. "You were right. You were right. < I thought there were five when I saw them with the peepers before. "Yeah. It was hard to see, and that''s not a big problem. We''re just getting started." * * * * "Now I''m going to make you normal." As Reiko approached, there was a near scream. No, stop!Get away from me!Get away from me!] "It''s okay." Oh, my God!] Reiko doesn''t grab the black prongs with her bare hands this time, but rips them off with her Momoka. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. ......] "Be quiet." Reiko rips off all six of them, and slashes the <> with <>. "It seems like a waste. ......" She took safety over a little information. ......] "How are you feeling?" < at the . ...... Thank you. I feel better.] "You''re free now, aren''t you?" Yes. Thanks to you. But...] What? The invaders are still inside this base. Be careful.] Before he could finish his sentence, the base vibrated. * * * * * * <> The old man switches the image to the one from the <>. "What is this? What was shown on the screen. < Is it separating? < The , 2 kilometers in diameter, is separating from its surroundings and from its center. The diameter of the center is 300 meters. The center has been removed, and the doughnut-shaped perimeter has been separated from the center. . "Yes, it seems so." < had built an additional doughnut-shaped facility around the original . And it seems that the additional part was the base that <> needed. > "I hope everyone is okay." The ice that had adhered to the base had cracked, and the 300-meter-diameter center had lost its stability and was sinking. < "Then we can use the transporter." < Good. * * * "Ugh, what''s this shaking? < Abnormal vibrations occur, and the floor tilts. Then Reiko returned. "We have succeeded in releasing the brain! "Oh, Reiko! What''s that shaking? It''s probably just a desperate attempt by the person who attached the control unit. Then the old man called and Reiko and the RAND team found out what was going on. "......The barrier seems to have disappeared. Let''s evacuate for now." But what about this mobile base? "We''ll figure something out later. First we need to evacuate. Lando, take Mr. Helente and evacuate to Hotaka. "Yes, sir." Even if the floor is tilted, there will be no problem if we use the force field generators. Lands 11 through 15 grabbed the and activated the transporter. The transporter was specially designed to go to the battleship , which was standing by nearby for emergency evacuation. Reiko also contacts the Shinobi Forces with a manacam. My Lady, the old man has also contacted us. We will now all leave. Thank you very much. After confirming that everyone had escaped safely, Reiko went back to the brain. What''s wrong?] "No, all my colleagues have escaped. What about you? Don''t worry about me. Once the separation is complete, the original base will be exactly where I want it to be.] True to his word, the vibrations cease and the tilt gradually returns to horizontal. Originally, this could navigate both above and below water. Even though it is not yet complete, a few hours of navigation is not a problem. Be more careful of the base that the <> have built.] "Let me know if you know anything." [Yes, I do. First of all, ......] Reiko stays alone at the mobile base and tries to get information from the <>. 1347 - - 36-13 "Disaster" "Oh, it looks like a little donut with a little hole ......." On Horai Island, they were watching the enemy <> through a <>. Then, using the warp gate of the battleship , the < and Land 11 to 15 returned. "Thank you for your hard work, everyone. There are no vacancies, are there? Yes, everyone is fine. Land 11 replied on behalf of the others. By the way, had returned from to by a transfer magic circle. And the enemy <> had shaken off the ice and was fully revealed. "What is that sphere attached to the donut?" One sphere about 50 meters in diameter is attached to the edge of the doughnut. "Is that some kind of a sign that it will be in front of us?" The old man denied the question. "No, sir.What do you mean by "no"? "What?...... I see. And Reiko? "I see. Put Reiko on. < Jin wanted to work on Reiko directly. < < "Oh Reiko, welcome home. You came back safe and sound, didn''t you? < "Thanks for your hard work. I see you got some valuable information. Thank you." Jin thanked Reiko for her help, even if it was brief. << "Yes, thank you. I''m not sure what''s going on right now. You can wait there a little longer. < Jin then contacted the Mermaid unit in the water. "How are things at the original ?" < Mermaid 1 immediately replies. Mermaid 1 quickly replies. We don''t know what the enemy <> will do. Keep a good distance for now. Jin then turns his attention back to the image from the <. The old man tells us the information he got via Reiko. "That''s a blessing in disguise." Still, the enemy <> is two kilometers in diameter. It is huge. < "That''s a nasty name. ......" Jin associated a word with it. "disaster." means . Jin can''t help but feel bad about the name. < seems to have started to move northward. However, from the viewpoint of Antarctica, it is northward in either direction. < "That would mean it''s headed for a continent inhabited by humans." Then comes urgent news. < What? Jin, who had not given such an order to SkyTeam, thought ......, but then he looked at the screen and understood. "A saucer." It was a saucer from Onogoro Island. There were two of them. They were sent to check out the island, or to scout it out. "Does Marikka know about this?" < Marikka is not directly involved in this operation. She was only instructed that she would basically be under Jin''s command and that she should use her own judgment to some extent. The latter was an instruction that was given because there was a possibility that they would not be able to respond in time if they had to ask for instructions every time something happened, but it seems that <> really did make his own decisions. "I guess he also got information from <>." < is to protect this planet. < must be unforgivable. But. "It''s impossible with the fighting power of <>..." <> has. "That''s ...... true, too." Jin knows. Jin knows what the saucer machine is capable of. "That''s going to end in a blink of an eye." < who created may indeed have surpassed Jin''s. However, its direction had nothing to do with battle. From the looks of it, <> has not inherited such an idea of <>. "Maybe it was made by someone other than <> after all. ......" At that time. <. "Is that a <>? On top of the wind magic of the beginner class, it uses whirlwind to gather and scatter the target (group). This magic is also used for garbage collection, but its power and scale are far beyond the ordinary. "What? On the screen, the saucer machine trapped in the tornado was being whittled away as fast as it could be seen. "Maybe it''s fine particles of adamantite." There is a process called sandblasting. It is a process in which abrasive materials such as sand are blown onto the surface of hard materials with compressed air, and is used for rust removal and stone work (such as lettering). This is probably the same concept. The fine particles of adamantite acted like a file, and we saw the exterior of the disk machine being scraped away in an instant. And when the tornado disappeared, the battered saucer was left behind, and it crashed. "Hmm?Where''s the other plane?" Only one plane crashed. < The other saucer had escaped the tornado and was heading for from a low altitude. "It''s hard to use a tornado at low altitude." It was thought that if the seawater was blown up together with the wind, it would weaken the power of the winds and reduce the effectiveness of the abrasive. "Oh, it fired something." Jin wondered if it was the equivalent of armor-piercing bullets on Earth. The spear hits , but does not pierce it. But it did not pierce the , and it ricocheted and fell into the sea. But the old man did not miss a scratch on the surface of the <>. <> is also nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel or its equivalent. At least, it does not seem to be a strong metal like adamantite. That was good news, but <> attacked the discus machine with another weapon. 1348 - - 36-14 And the war. "What is that!" Flameball is the upper level of fire magic. It is a higher level of fireball and has a higher temperature, over 1000 degrees Celsius. "You''re going to launch it?" The saucer was burned a third and crashed into the sea. <<<< Disaster>''s armament seems to be a basic magic weapon> "It seems so." The armament of Horai Island is mostly magic + physical. I didn''t know if it would be effective against the huge < unless I tried. with Erza and the rest of the family. "What do you mean, old man?" There is a possibility that one of the weapons of <<<< Disaster may contain something that can cause an <>. Moreover, it is enough to cover the whole area on this ars>>. "......" < However, many of the members of the Jin Family are mages, and the old man says that he cannot guarantee their lives in the event of an "ether stampede". "Nun......" <>. "<> or ......" <> attached to the <> escapes, only <> can pursue it. "......I''ll be d*mned if I''m going to go that far. Okay, I''ll do as you say." Jin instructed the old man to gather all the members of the Jin family in . Of course, there is a conflict about what to do with the rest of us. But even Jin is not omnipotent. "The first priority is to deal with them so that they don''t cause an "ether stampede". "After this mess is over, we should consult with <> and <>. < "Yes." After exchanging these words, Jin moves to . The entire was already there. "Jin, the told me what happened." Reinhardt was the first to speak. "I also heard that Jin-sama is worried about us. Bertsche, who was holding Juliana, added. "But where are we, anyway?I don''t like the idea of us being alone here. Martha says. "Grandma, we are in space. We''re way up in the sky." Hannah explains it in a simple way, but I wonder if Martha understood it. After all, there are no windows where they are now, so they don''t know where they are. I guess you can believe me when I tell you that they are somewhere on Ars. "The situation is as the old man explained. There is a man who wants to destroy the world and we are trying to do something about it, but we asked you all to come here so that you can fight him without worrying." Jin explained the background in a way that was easy for Martha and Meane to understand. "Of course, we have no intention of letting them touch us. But if something should happen to me, I''m sure I''d regret it, so that''s why I asked them to come here. No one said anything more to that explanation. "If you want to know what is going on, come to the central bridge. "Well, let''s go there. Following Jin''s words, the <>, namely Reinhardt, Berche and Juliana, Hannah, Martha, Saki, Goose, Luis (Count Kuzma), Bina, Marcia, Rodrigo, Tor, Stearina, Vivian, Licia, Sion, Marikka, Milowina, Meene, and Elsa was to go to the bridge. For some reason, the central bridge is the safest place to go. * * * * * * * * * * * * * < "Yes, yes?I heard a voice! Martha is immediately startled. "Grandma, that''s the Great Sage, the magical brain behind this ship. "Oh, I didn''t know he was a ....... < The Great Sage''s voice is heard and chairs are pushed up from the floor. There''s enough for everyone. Space is projected onto the magic screen in front of the room. "Wow, ...... is beautiful." "Wow, that''s amazing." "Oh, ...... "I''m speechless!" Those who have been in space for the first time are overwhelmed by the view. In a corner of his mind, Jin wondered who had said that the jet-black velvet ground was covered with multicolored jewels. "Well, we have to find out what''s going on in Ars. Jin moved in front of a rather small magic screen. Erza and Reinhardt followed him. "Let us have a look at it." I don''t want to burden my brother Jin with this. Thank you. Jin and the others looked at the magic screen. * * * * The two saucers were completely silent. What an old-fashioned flying machine!] < looks at them and smiles. Then he declares. I''m going to conquer this world. Try to stop me if you can. In that case, there will be no mercy.] It seems that there is an external speaker, and it echoes through the surrounding waters. * * * * "Oh, that''s easy to understand." <, Jin and the others were indignant. "We must do everything we can to stop this. Then the old man calls. < "All right, cruisers, fire at long range." < The three cruisers, <>, <>, and <>, which had been dispatched earlier, turned their port side toward the <> and opened fire simultaneously. The distance between the three ships was 10 kilometers, and their shells were armor-piercing. All 27 shells of 9 guns x 3 ships, fired at subsonic speeds, hit the without missing. < vibrated. 1349 - - 36-15 Reply Ooooooooh!] Twenty-seven armor-piercing rounds rocked the Disaster and pierced its armor. How can such a tiny ship threaten the Disaster? A 100-meter-long cruiser is tiny compared to the , which is two kilometers in diameter. Even though all 27 rounds pierced the armor, it was like a mosquito bite for the <>. At this stage, the central brain of <> still underestimated Jin and his men. Such an insignificant ship was no match for <>.] But another volley was fired, and this time 26 shots hit the target. "Cheeky! We''re on the attack!] <. < The three cruisers deploy a physical barrier as ordered by the Master. <> Next, use the force field generator to stabilize the fleet so that it will not be swayed by the wind. What?] The three ships that should have been hit by the tornado were still floating in the sea, apparently unchanged. Did they survive it?......] The next moment after the tornado disappears, the ship is hit by another 27 rounds of bullets. <. Don''t be a fool!Take that!] < uses a new weapon. <. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <, minor damage. The report was also sent to Jin in <. "Hmmm, is that the same type of magic as the ?" What was being deployed was a physical barrier (solid barrier). It does not prevent magic. "Are you using an ether analyzer?" < He replied immediately. >. "Indeed." Jin had developed a similar weapon, so he had an idea of how to defend against it. "An ether jammer. < * * * * The slightly damaged retreats a little, and the battleship joins the battle in its place. First, the main guns, six 30cm laser cannons, fired in succession. Then another and another. They were sucked into the without fail. Noooooooooo! Noooooooo!This light!] < had a magic barrier, but the optical weapon hit the target without any problems. It is not to be underestimated. ......] However, this is also a small damage. It was far from a fatal wound. And then a further vibration shakes Disaster. What is it this time?] An investigation into the cause and location of the explosion reveals that the cause has not been determined, but the location is underwater. Undersea force ......?] The Mermaid unit attached a mana bomb to the ship and detonated it by remote control. There has never been such a report before. ...... They have been deceiving this central brain!] Finally, the central brain began to realize that the information he had was incorrect. Then, another explosion hits . Air power?] It is a mana bomb dropped by the squadron. They are larger than those of the Mermaid squadron, and their explosions are more powerful. Finally, some of <>''s armor is blown off. Mm......, you dreadful barbarian!] The central brain, which still does not stop calling him a barbarian even after all this, surrounds the area with a barrier. The mana bomb explodes on the surface of the barrier, and only a slight vibration is heard from the <> itself. I never thought that I would be shut up inside the barrier. The central brain was absorbed in its contemplation in order to break through this situation. * * * * <<<< Disaster>> has put up a barrier. It seems to be quite powerful. <, the old man judged that the optical weapons would be scattered or attenuated. < To repel such an attack, the "Aegis" shield could be used, the old man thought. Aigis, which has been developed to protect against meteorites, can defend against most of the physical attacks. < If we used a mana bomb that could destroy it all at once, there is a possibility that it could damage the planet Ars. < * * * * < had an accurate grasp of such a situation. At the current pace, we can go six months without replenishing our supplies.] The amount of free magical element (ether) that had been intercepted over the past thousand years had reached a tremendous amount. It''s a pity that we can''t use it for its original purpose, but it can''t be helped. First of all, we must conquer this planet.] prepares to launch a new weapon. First, a tsunami.] < It is effective against ships. But only against ordinary ships. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man observes the situation with his "peepers" and gives appropriate instructions. "Yes, sir. ......<>" The battleship <''s <> roared. 1350 - - 36-16 vs. Disaster < and collide head-on. The waves collide with each other with a spray of water. At the same time, the magic causing the waves also collided and canceled each other out. The waves disappear, and the battleship is at leisure on the sea. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man, the brains of Horai Island, looks satisfied. And he ordered more attacks. <<<< What a surprise!] The central brain of <> grits his teeth. Then, an attack from Hotaka landed. What the hell?] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The battleship <>''s <> can handle almost any kind of magic. This time it was gravity magic. The barrier of < is also gravity-piercing. This was the target of the attack. The structural material of creaked as the gravity of 100G was generated locally. Then two more shots were fired. The hull of the <> was ripped open and seawater poured into the ship, though it was only a small amount compared to the whole. The barrier became unstable for a while. The old man will not let such an opportunity pass him by. The battleship "Hotaka" fires a full volley of guns. Then, the cruisers <, , and , which had retreated to the rear, unleashed their magi cannons at full power. <''s main gun, in addition to six 46cm caliber Magikanon cannons, was armed with six 30cm lasers. Then, 27 magic cannons (Magikanon) from the cruiser were fired in succession. The unstable barriers succumbed to this onslaught. And the barrier, which had become even more unstable, finally collapses. > Not wanting to miss this opportunity, lasers and magi cannons are fired. The light weapons and live ammunition literally chip away at <>, destroying it. . After two minutes, the old man has them pause their attack. < is still floating, albeit slightly tilted. About a fifth of it was destroyed. < It is still sailing towards the Laurentian Continent. The old man then gave a renewed order to the Mermaid squadron. The Mermaid Unit''s combat power is low. Their raison d''etre is underwater exploration, and combat is an afterthought. However, once in battle, their capabilities are unparalleled. Regardless of their fighting ability, their true value is revealed once they have a weapon in their hands. Sent by transporters, there is no shortage of supplies. Hundreds of mana bombs are placed on the bottom of the . They are ignited simultaneously by a magic signal. Oh, oh, oh, oh!] <. And this time, it was at the bottom of the ship. The bottom armor is breached, and seawater flows in at once. The emergency bulkheads were not enough to stop it, and the <> tilted further. Hurry up with repairs!] The central brain orders the various golems under his command, or rather under his command, to repair the damage. [What is an underwater attack? ......] < was unfinished. It was completely defenseless against underwater attacks. During the repair work, another explosion occurred and half of the 20 propulsion units were shut down. And again. All of the propulsion units were shut down and the <> was left adrift at sea. >, pursuit! The battleship ''s laser cannon makes a new hole in the Disaster''s hull. < is not responding, and calls off the bombardment. * * * * That was awesome. "......, indeed." Bina''s words were followed by sighs from those who were watching the scene from in space. "I think it''s amazing that the didn''t sink even after being hit by that many attacks." Jin analyzes his opponent. "But I think it would be a waste to simply let it sink, or perhaps we can get more information out of it." Reinhardt offers his calm opinion. "That''s what I''m thinking. The question is whether it is possible." At this point, the old man called. < "Oh, that''s good news." < Please do so." The sub-magic projection window brightened, and the interior of the Disaster was projected on it. "This structure is a little different." The original < was the one we entered, so we can see the difference. "Is it because it was designed by the Hailians?" Elsa also expressed her doubts. "I doubt it. < was originally Haelian. Jin cannot help but wonder if there is a reason for the oddly shaped golem. Then, the image showed a magi-machine. "This is ......." "It''s a mana driver. Jin determined that it was a mana driver. "So you don''t use the Magi Reactor so that you can use the Mana Tank if you don''t have free magical element (ether). That''s an interesting idea. "If we detach this, will <> stop completely?" Jin thinks for a moment before answering Reinhardt''s question. "Well, I don''t know.But is it worth considering? The battle against was about to reach a decisive stage. 1351 - - 36-17 New equipment < completely, Jin and Laokun consulted with each other and decided to send a stop command to stop . The members of the command are the seven members from Land 21 to 27 and Reiko. Reiko is returning to Horai Island from the battleship using the warp gate. "Reiko, I''m counting on you." < <. She was not dressed in her usual apron dress. "Jin, Jin, what''s that look? I''ve never seen her before!" Most of the family members were seeing Reiko''s outfit for the first time. In a word, it was a battle suit. The basic concept was designed by Jin, but the design was Erza''s initiative. The basic material is ancient dragon leather, and the helmet is a composite of gigantopod shell and hyperadamantite. < The breastplate, hand armor, and shin armor are also made of the same material. In addition, it is equipped with a variety of magical armaments as additional equipment. The total weight is 20 kilograms, which is not a problem for Reiko. "Reiko was still in her samurai uniform when she was fighting, you know. I made it as an auxiliary equipment, rather than a power-up. In preparation for this battle, Reiko herself had made minor adjustments to increase her power by about 20%, but the main focus was on this one. "How can I say ...... that she is truly a ." Goose muttered with a look of admiration on his face. "A war maiden,...... indeed. And I was going to get Rand and the others some equipment, but I didn''t have time to get the numbers together." "Oh, so there are seven of them." The seven Lands were also dressed in battle suits of the same concept as Reiko''s, albeit of a different design. Unlike humans, they do not need to breathe, so they are completely airtight and watertight, and do not need oxygen tanks. For that reason, they are equipped with <. "So, the first thing we have to do is shut down the energy system," Jin said. Reinhardt nodded. "That''s certainly the way to do it. If we suddenly hunt down the brain, we don''t know what it will do. "That''s right. I''m just afraid of what they might do if they do something like an "etheric stampede" or something like that. "Oh, so that''s why you''re going to shut down the energy system." Saki nodded her head in agreement. "Yes. So, I want to confiscate <> and make it useful for us." And it seems that everyone on Horai Island is ready to go. <. * * * * * With the voice of the old man, Reiko and the seven Lando''s disappeared from Horai Island and appeared in the engine room of <> at about the same time. "There seems to be no mistake. This is the destination itself. Reiko said as she observed the gigantic Magi-machine that was there. "It is definitely a mana driver. The reason why they don''t use ...... the Magi Reactor is because, as your father said, in areas where there is no free magical element (ether), they use the mana tanks." "My lady, the enemy is here." Rand 27 says. Ten golems, also deformed, are coming with what look like weapons in their hands. "We will intercept them!" Reiko pulls out her . Lando and the others grab their as well. "My lady, we''ll take care of them. We''ll take care of the mana driver. Land 21 told Reiko. "I understand. I''m counting on you." Reiko swung Momoka and slashed it at the outer cover of the mana driver. There was a loud "gaaan" sound, and the outer jacket was cut open. The mana driver was cut open, but not enough. "It''s quite strong, isn''t it? Again." After slashing it four times, the outer covering was finally peeled off, exposing the inside. Is this the inside? I''ll ask the old man to record it at ......." Reiko asked Lao-kun to record the inside of the house, as it might be helpful for Jin later on. At the same time, she took a piece of the outer covering. This is also a souvenir for Jin. * * * * * "Oh, Reiko is really great, isn''t she? < "I don''t see the point of the battlesuit. ......" Jin is thinking about that kind of thing. Meanwhile, Lando''s team is fighting against 10 deformed golems. "No, it''s 7 against 10, but we''re not losing at all. That''s just great ......." Count Kuzma roars. The <> used by the Land Squad slashes through the deformed golems without difficulty, and the battle is over shortly afterwards. "...... the end?" "Oh, that was quick." Bina and Licia sounded dismayed. "No, it''s better than struggling, isn''t it?" Jin said with a wry smile, "That''s true." Bina answered with a wry smile. Reiko''s voice echoed. "Okay, do it." "Yes." Reiko cut the input part of the gigantic mana driver with a "Momoka". Next, the thick mithril conductor is severed. The control core is disconnected, the mana from the mana tanks is cut off, and the mana drivers are shut down. According to his investigation, there were still eleven such facilities. "All right, let''s go around and destroy them all." The members of the team respond to Jin''s instructions. Jin sends everyone back to the battleship , which is backed up by a , in order to improve efficiency. From there, they return to Horai Island via a warp gate, and then use the transporter to go to the location where the ''s mana driver is located. This may seem complicated at first glance, but the process is quicker because they do not encounter any enemies along the way. Thanks to this method, we were able to shut down all 12 mana drivers in an hour. 1352 - - 36-18 Escape "Now that you''ve disconnected all the mana drivers, how is <> doing? < "I see." Jin nodded his head in understanding since the old man had similar security measures in place. "Well, let''s take out the moving facilities next. "Well then, let''s take down the moving facilities next, just in case the <> does something crazy. < The old man decided so, and sent Reiko and the Land troops as before. Reiko and the others are transferred to a place where a <> of some kind is installed. "This must be the main cannon. Reiko muttered, looking up at the huge cannon. Reiko reached out her hand gently, but was blocked by a boundary. "I guess there is a physical boundary after all..." "Miss, they''re here." Reiko turns around at the sound of Land 22''s voice to see five deformed golems protecting the Magi Transcription Cannon. "I''ll leave it to you." Reiko first of all concentrates on breaking the physical wards. "It seems that the wards here also have independent generators. Now that we have disconnected all the mana drivers, we can assume that all the facilities in operation have an independent energy supply. "In such a case, it is decided that they are inside the warding." It is a logical conclusion that if there is a generator outside of the boundary, it would be destroyed and that would be the end of it. "Then we just have to find it with magic and destroy it with magic." One of Reiko''s new equipment, an ultra-compact <> is built into her helmet, and the results of the scan can be read directly by Reiko. The range of effect is limited to a radius of 20 meters due to its ultra-small size, but in this case it is sufficient. "I thought it was the floor, but it''s the ceiling." I soon found out by following the flow of free magical element (ether). "<>" I used the pistol-shaped <> equipped on my battlesuit for a quick examination. The gun did not seem to be strong enough to protect against optical weapons, and a hole was made in the ceiling. As Reiko continued to fire her laser beam, the boundary in front of her wavered and vanished. "Now we can disable the , can''t we? Reiko first carelessly rolled up the outer cover. "It''s similar to the that your father made, but ...... this one seems to be less efficient." As might be expected, the construction lacked any enthusiasm for weapons development. Reiko ends the disabling of the weapon by cutting off a part of the internal magic circuit (magi-circuit). And Lando''s team also neutralized all the deformed golems that seemed to be used for security. "It''s over, isn''t it? Let''s move on." The tireless Reiko and the Land team, under the leadership of the old man, neutralized the facilities one after another. * * * * Mmmm... ...... Can''t we do anything about it?] The central brain tries to grasp each facility, but the supply of mana has been cut off and no response is forthcoming. How can we be disturbed by barbarians in the exercise of our noble mission? ......!] But no matter how much we gnash our teeth, there is nothing we can do. The few remaining facilities are being cut off one by one. It''s a shame. ......] The central brain has given up now that it has come to this. Even barbarians are not to be underestimated.] And they think about what they should do now. If we continue as we are, we will be destroyed, and we will not be able to fulfill our mission.] And we think about what we must do to avoid that. Strategic retreat.] There was no other way. And the central brain takes the necessary measures. * * * * has been completely neutralized. The old man said after checking the inside of the disaster with his "peepers". < < is the donut-shaped that partially protrudes. <> The old man''s words were unusually broken off in mid-sentence. "Oh, what is that? < is slowly coming off. "Don''t tell me ...... you can still fly?" The had told him that that part of the ship had once been the spaceship that had come to Ars. But the old man did not expect that it could still fly. < "No, it can''t be helped. < "I see." While he was saying this, a sphere of about 50 meters left the < and floated up. Then it slowly ascended. "Where do you think it''s going?" Reinhardt tilted his head. "Maybe they''re running back to Hale. It looks like it''s our turn. , be on the lookout! < The sphere gradually increases its speed and crosses diagonally far below <>. < "Now what do we do? We can''t just send them back to Hale and hope they bring back all kinds of information. On the other hand, I would like to confirm whether we are really going to Hale or some other place nearby. "What should I do?" Unable to decide, Jin consulted the members of the <>. In the meantime, <> slowly followed the sphere so as not to lose sight of it. "I think it would be better for me to catch it and get some information out of it..." "Yes, I agree with Reinhardt. Reinhardt and Count Kuzma, who had learned from the previous battles that they could overpower the enemy, said. "What about just sticking the markers on and letting them go?" Erza was somewhat reluctant. "That''s a difficult question." Saki is also wondering. "I''m not sure what we should do. ......" Licia looks puzzled. But then something happens that prompts them to make a decision. . < 1353 - - 36-19 Re-insertion "Are you going to attack me?" shifts from alert to battle stance. Adriana puts up a defensive shield between her and the enemy sphere. "I think it is mainly a magic attack, so you should also deploy <>." . Thus <<> deploys the magic barrier outside of the shield. The enemy sphere, coming straight at you, fires something at you. <>. <. In the vacuum of space, it is difficult for lightning magic blasts to travel through the air, so they are fired in the form of <> or <>. It is a mass of high voltage produced by mana. However, it is of no consequence as long as it does not directly hit the target. Even if it is a <, its core is a kind of mana, so it can be prevented by a magic barrier. And the electric discharge was also perfectly prevented by the shield. "Amazing ......" Count Kuzma...... Lewis sounds impressed. "That''s amazing. ......" His wife, Beena, had the same reaction. No wonder, since no one has any experience in space combat. No, not even Jin. "The main thing is that we don''t want to destroy it. ......" Jin thinks that it is better to have as much information as possible, and the old man agrees. If we hit the enemy sphere at maximum acceleration with the defensive shield (aigis) deployed, it will probably break apart, but that does not guarantee that the brain part of the enemy is safe. "Maybe it''s from the inside after all. ......" replies to Jin''s muttering. "Well,...... I''m sorry for the continuous battle, but I''ll ask Reiko to do it for me." I''m sorry, but I''m going to have to ask Reiko to do it for me. "Father, leave it to me!" Reiko returns to Horai Island using the warp gate of the battleship , and declares loudly. Since the < infiltration had ended halfway, she must be thinking that this time is the right time. "I see." < However, they are not equipped with oxygen generators, so it is a little difficult to send a human being into space. However, Reiko, Lando, and the others have nothing to do with it. "Then you can use ." Jin gives his permission. Pegasus 1 is Jin''s private aircraft and seats 5 passengers. It is the most powerful aircraft in Horai Island''s fleet. < and are two-seater, so only one person can ride in them except for the pilot. The <> can carry 10 passengers, but it is not as maneuverable. "That will be fine. And send out two <> to support them. < Pilots will be selected from Sky squadron, and Pegasus 1 will be piloted by Sky 1. < "Okay Reiko, Lando and the others, please. Neutralize the spheres and bring back the information." Yes, Father. Yes, Father. - Leave it to me, Master. While the preparations were being made, the enemy spheres continued to attack without pause. All of them were protected by ''s magic barrier, but their persistence was astonishing. "Hmmm, why are they so vindictive in their attacks?" "Normally, I would think that they would retreat once they realize that their attacks are not working." Jin and Reinhardt looked at each other. Reiko and the others are ready to go out. They appeared by transporter about a kilometer behind . "Father, I''m coming!" "I''m off, master." A report comes in on the manacam, and Jin replies. "Yes, I will. But don''t be too hard on yourself, okay?Everyone come back safe and sound! And the three jumped out. Raptors 1 and 2 are a diversion. They fly in all directions in front of the enemy sphere to attract its attention. The spacecraft is free of air resistance, and its occupants are not human. The Raptor 1 and 2 can withstand acceleration of up to 10G, making their flight unpredictable to humans and even to you. The enemy spheres that are targeting the two Raptors are disappearing into the void. "Now!" Judging that their attention has been completely diverted, <> launches itself into the sky, clad in <>. It approaches from the opposite side of the two Raptors. Then it passed through the magic barrier. Please hurry! Reiko thought that even though they were out of sight, they would be recognized if they passed through the Magic Barrier. When they were less than 50 meters away from the enemy sphere, Reiko and the others jumped out of the . "Thank you, Sky 1. Please return your father''s safely to Horai Island. With these words, Reiko and the three Lands aimed at the enemy sphere with their force field generators. In the blink of an eye, they closed the distance of 50 meters, and Reiko and the three Lands landed on the surface of the enemy sphere. "Whether there is an emergency hatch or not, we need to get inside, don''t we? After looking around for about two seconds, Reiko and the others confirmed that they did not see any emergency hatch. "Let''s do this." Reiko pulls out her . < mode. There seems to be no air inside, so there is no outpouring of air from the hole she made. Reiko continues to swing her . The armor was about 30 centimeters thick, so she could make a square hole of about 50 centimeters on each side without any problem. The hole was a little too small for the three randos, so he used engineering magic to widen the hole a little. Only Land 21 remained, and the spherical <> was to be crushed. Good luck. "You too." After a few seconds, Reiko and the two lands slipped inside. "The old man said... "The old man said that if it is spherical, the important equipment should be near the center. Then let''s go for the center. Reiko and the Lando team are communicating by manacam, so there''s no problem even if there''s a vacuum inside the ship. "They''ve already noticed us, and we''re running out of time, so let''s force our way. I''ll take care of it, miss." Land 22 fired a <> at the floor. 1354 - - 36-20 Will Reiko and the others go through the hole in the floor to the center of the sphere. The interior of the ship is light, and Reiko and the others have no trouble navigating. This sphere, like , is also divided into layers. Reiko thinks that it must have been built in a place with gravity. "There was a staircase here. If there is a stairway, there is no need to make a hole. Reiko and the others are steadily approaching the center of the building. "Nothing happened..." Reiko mutters to herself, as she is able to proceed so easily that she is almost lost in thought. "Isn''t it a good thing if we can proceed easily? "That''s true, but..." Reiko nodded in agreement with Land 23. We went one level deeper. "We should be there by now. If the diameter is 50 meters, it is 25 meters to the center. I figured it had to be about 5 levels. "Isn''t it that way?" The cables and pipes on the wall are extending toward the direction Rand 22 pointed. It looks like there might be at least one important facility there. We walk slowly toward it. "It''s a bulkhead, isn''t it?" I am sure this is the right place. I''ll open it. Rand 22 steps forward and puts his hand on the bulkhead. "......?" "What''s wrong?It won''t open?" Reiko asked Land 22, who sounded curious. "No, it''s not. No, it''s not. It''s just that I didn''t get any response. True to her words, the door opened with a slight creak. "By the way, there is air in this compartment, though it is thin. Reiko and the others had been talking on the manacam, but now they could hear noises. "There must have been some kind of air-trapping ward somewhere." Reiko and the others walk on, thinking that it does not matter so much. And then the magic brain appears before them. At last you have come this far, live puppet with the will of a barbarian! The brain uttered a voice. "You are the brain of this sphere? That''s right.] What was your purpose? It was obvious. To extract resources from the planet Arus.] What are you going to do with the resources? We''re sending them back to their home planet of Hale.] After all... So far, this is a confirmation. As a resident of Ars, I cannot allow that. We don''t need your permission. We''ll just take it by force.] But Reiko smiled at him. "You can''t do that anymore, can you?" Indeed. "Well done, I must say, even for a barbarian.] What''s in Hale anyway? My master awaits resources.] "Your master?After all, are there still people left in Hale? Yes.] "I see." "I see." I have gained some valuable information. "Why from Arus?When in the world did that happen?Couldn''t it have been from another planet?" Reiko asked questions one after another. Since 1108 years ago. Of course, we have been to other stars to secure resources. But this one is the most suitable.] "Why is that?" I don''t know. It''s just that my master told me he was relying on this planet.] "I see. ......" Reiko feels a little sympathy for this magic brain. She is willing to serve her master, but only in that one way. "But there''s something I can''t give up either. Yes. A live puppet with a small will. Can you repel my attack? No. No, I cannot. But ......] But? But first, one more thing. Even if I am defeated, my master will eventually send someone better than me to represent me.] "Is that all you have to say?" [Yes, ....... Is there anything else you''d like to ask?] "I can''t think of anything right off the top of my head. "I can''t think of anything right off the top of my head, but it would be useful in a number of ways to take you home in pieces." I''m afraid I can''t allow that.] "What?" Disperse with me, you barbarian creature, a puppet with a will. ! Oh, the attack! Oh, the attacks have stopped. It seems that Reiko and her friends did a good job." <, Jin is relieved that everything seems to be going well. "Land 21 seems to have taken out the attack weapon. "Well then, I guess we''ll be hearing a report soon. Saki is also a little excited. But then... Suddenly, the magic screen went completely white. "Whoa! "Kyaaaah!" Then, even in the vacuum of space, a vibration is felt. < stated the results of his analysis. < However. "The enemy sphere is not ......!" "Did the explosion just now explode the enemy sphere? "No way ...... self-destructed?" The members of the family are also pale. "Jin, where''s Reiko?Where''s Lando''s unit?" "......" Jin did not reply. 1355 - - 36-21 Summary Story Jin believed that Reiko was safe, but the sudden explosion caught him by surprise. He was about to think that Reiko was also ....... < A sigh escapes everyone''s lips. < with it. "How did you manage to escape?" < That''s one of the functions of the battlesuit. Using the emergency transporter, he was transferred under the backup Raptor. "I see. I''ll see you on Horai Island." > After that, the old man sent a small spaceship to pick them up, and all the Reiko and the others made it to Horai Island safely. * * * * * * * * * * * Half an hour later, all the members of the Jin family returned to Horai Island. Reiko and her family returned to Horai Island at the same time. I was about to say ......, but <> returned to the island a little later. "What in the world is going on?" I asked Sky 1 who had returned late, "Yes, Master. "Actually, I noticed a small flying object after I saw the young lady off. He replied, "A flying object? A flying object? "Yes. It was a sphere about 50 centimeters in diameter. It jumped out of the spaceship and tried to fly away in the direction of Hale. Hearing this, Jin had an idea. "Hmmm...a communication spaceship to deliver information to Hale?" He couldn''t understand why the enemy''s brain had suddenly come to , but if it was a diversion to let the spaceship with the information go, it would make sense. "Yes. The old man guessed as much and I tracked them down with my . As a result, I judged that it would be impossible to capture him unharmed, so I shot him down. Sky 1 apologized for the delay, saying it was urgent. "Oh, yeah. Don''t worry about it. You did good. "I''m honored." Jin then praised Reiko. "I''m sorry for all the trouble I put you through this time, Reiko." No, I''m glad I could be of help to your father. Next was Lando''s group. Lando and the others, thank you for your hard work. "No, thanks to the new equipment, it was easy." "Well then, let''s hear your report." < "Yes, first of all, ......" Reiko began to speak slowly. At the same time, she transmitted the information to the old man using . The "Mere Old Man" keeps a record of the information and analyzes it on his own. Reiko''s explanation confirmed what we knew so far and clarified some unknown items. "I see. I''ll summarize what we know so far: ......" The originals were individualistic and divided into many factions. Most of them emigrated to Arus, but some remained on their home planet of Hale. They came to this planet 1108 years ago and began to divert resources. They have been trying to secure resources on other planets, but they have not been successful, and it is said that Arus is the most efficient. The mastermind of this project may be an individual or a family unit, since the singular form of <> is used. It is said that they do not like to fight, but their brains have learned rudimentary combat skills while they have been observing in Arus. Because they do not like to fight, their strategies and tactics are childish. He has the technology to block . They have the technology to modify the environment of the planet. "So that''s about it." Jin looks around at the members. Then Goose said. "Jin, tell me what you found out from your research on Onogoro Island. "Oh, yes. They use synthetic materials, don''t they? "They don''t use biological materials?" Saki was the first one to get on the subject. "Yes, they do. I thought Saki would be interested in this, but they have created a magical synthetic resin. Jin briefly explained about the <> he was developing. "Wow, that sounds interesting. Okay, I''ll take care of the development." "I knew you''d say that. I''m counting on you, Saki. "Yes, I''ll take care of it." After a short detour, they decide to let Saki take charge of the project. "And now, I''m not sure about the . < either." "Hmmm... ...... but it''s not really necessary at the moment." Reinhard says. Certainly, now that <> and <> have been normalized, it is no longer an urgent problem to be solved. "Hmmm, but maybe we can do something about it, Oniichan." "What? What did you just say? Hannah''s sudden remark made everyone look at her at once. "You mean the <>? "Yes, that''s right. "You know, basically, the movement by <> is like pulling the <> of the object to be transferred, and the object that comes with it is transferred." "......" Hannah''s explanation makes sense to me, Jin. "That''s for sure. ......" "Hannah-chan, that''s amazing." Erza also shouted in admiration. "So in the case of <>, if free magic element (ether) is a particle, I''m sure < of them will be transferred, right?" "......" The others present were speechless, listening to Hannah''s explanation. "To use another example, if you want to transfer water, I think if you submerge the entire transition gate (warp gate) into the water, there will always be a pool of water inside the receiving transition gate (warp gate)." "I''ve never tried that, ......." Jin was surprised at Hanna''s idea, though he had tried to see if he could get a pipe through. "One more thing. I think we should focus on what we are recognizing and transferring." "Okay, thank you." Jin had come up with a new method based on Hannah''s words. "I''m glad I could be of help to you, Onii-chan." Hannah nodded with a big smile. I''m glad I could be of help to you," she said with a big smile. "Well, if you have any more questions, you can ask the old man. "So, what I''m more concerned about is the mastermind..." Jin opened his mouth again. "The mastermind. ......" Reinhardt folded his arms and looked at me with difficulty. "I''ve made a lot of hypotheses based on what they''ve done so far, but I can''t help but notice how childish they are. He is childish, isn''t he?" As someone who worked with children in an institution, Jin can understand some things, but in this case, anyone would have to say that he is childish. "Or it could be that he is physically an adult but mentally a child. "You could say that." Surprisingly, Vivien agreed. "Mental age seems to depend on the environment," she said. As a parent of a daughter, Toa agreed. "In any case, I think we''ll have to go to Hale sooner or later to settle this. "That''s for sure." "Well, that will be necessary." I''m worried about that. They all reluctantly agreed on the necessity of an expedition to Hale. 1356 - - Report to 36-22700672 Horaijima was busy with the aftermath. Fifty craftsmen (smiths) were dispatched to repair the damage to the original <. In the process of repairing, they are naturally allowed to study the technology. The information obtained was sorted out by the old man and categorized into those that were worth learning and those that were not. Jin himself is working with Marikka on the redevelopment of <>. Without Marikka, the "superintendent brain" of Onogoro Island would not have allowed him to do anything. "<>, it''s hard to call you as it is now, so can I give you a name?" One day, Marikka said something like that. Yes, of course. "Good. I''ll call you from now on." Okay, I understand. From now on I will call myself . Jin was later told by Zion that < means <. <>''s permission and ''s cooperation, the living facilities were remodeled. "It''s a much better place to live now, isn''t it?" "Yes, yes, that''s just like Jin!" Sion also came to support Marikka and lent his wisdom to remodel the house in the style of the <> clan. * * * * * * "The only thing left to do is to stop the free magic element (ether) condensation, but this is the hard part ......." Jin returned to Horai Island via <> using the warp gate provided, and consulted with the old man and Erza. <>. "Yes." <>. Mages convert free magical elements (ether) into magical elements (mana) on a cellular basis to obtain energy to cause magical events, but the conversion rate is constant from person to person and does not change rapidly. The conversion rate may increase with training and growth, but the increase is gradual. What would happen to such a mage if he were suddenly exposed to dense free magic element (ether)? Since the conversion rate is the same, if the concentration of free magic element (ether) is doubled, the amount of magic element (mana) produced will also be doubled. However, since the amount of mana to be consumed remains the same, there will be a surplus of mana. This excess mana is transformed by the slightest stimulus and becomes uncontrolled magical energy that torments the body. It may be a little easier to understand if we compare it to acute diabetes. Or perhaps it would be easier to compare it to oxygen concentration. A little is fine, but when exposed to too much oxygen, the body quickly runs out of energy. Too much of a good thing. "We have to think in terms of not years, but centuries. ......" "But where are we going to send the collected free magical elements (ether)?" << Thinking for a moment, Jin understood what the old man meant. "I see. So it is as it is now. "I guess so. ......" The first thing that comes to my mind is that ferocious monsters and beasts will move south. If that happens, normal animals will become extinct. "Indeed." There are also ether tanks, mana tanks, mana cylinders, and mana cells. The stockpiling of energy could be useful ...... in case of emergency. "I''m thinking about it. I''ll be there when things calm down over here." * * * * * True to his word, Jin visited No. 700672 the next day and explained in detail what had happened. "...... and so on." "Well, that was an interesting story. When he had finished listening to Jin, he praised him. Jin-dono, you did a good job. He then expressed his own opinion. "It seems that my master was indeed a member of the . < were divided into and , the Residuals into and , the Emigrants into and , the Radicals into and , and the Moderates into , and <. >>The moderate faction was divided into the and the . The faction that migrated to the current demon territory and became the founders of the demon tribe was the <>, as Jin had guessed. "Couldn''t the first number of 700672, 7, represent such a classification?" Jin asks what comes to his mind. "No, I haven''t heard anything about that, but it is quite possible. It seems that 700672 was also unaware of this. "The 600012 that Jin-dono met before, that is, the ones starting with 6, may have been pioneers," he said. But he is not sure. "Next time, could you bring this Marikka over?" "Yes, of course." He is curious about the presence of someone who has inherited the characteristics of his masters. "Well, I think it''s a wise decision not to mess with the distribution of free magical elements (ether). "I see." I think it''s best not to mess with a biota that has been stable for tens of thousands of years. "Yes, sir." Jin was relieved that the 700672 said so. "But I am surprised that you know about <> or ...... the <> who have remodeled this planet." "Is that so?" "Mm." Although 700672 was made on Hale, it was in an incubator at the time, so I don''t know much about <> at all. Therefore, I do not know much about <> at all. Therefore, he says, he has a desire to know about <>, if only a little. "I never thought such feelings would arise in me," he says. Jin, however, affirms this feeling. "No, it is the land of your fathers, isn''t it?I think it is natural that you would want to know about it. Hearing these words, No. 700672 smiled. "Thank you, Mister Jin." "No, thank you." "...... Well..." The 700672 changed the subject. "What are you going to do about that mobile base?" "I''m going to leave it as it is for now. I think we should leave it as it is for now. "Yes, that''s true." At this point, Jin decided to ask for advice about something he had been thinking about for a long time. "There is one thing I would like to ask you. "Yes, let''s hear it." "Actually, ......" Jin began to speak slowly. 1357 - - 36-23 Road ahead "Sometimes I wonder what I''m supposed to do in this world." "Yes, I understand that." In today''s world, Jin''s level is too extraordinary. "I''ve confided in a limited number of friends, but I''m not sure if that will be enough ...... in the future." "I see." Hearing Jin''s confession, No. 700672 fell silent. He then remained silent and thought for a moment. Jin waited without rushing. "Let me give you my opinion. After about two minutes, No. 700672 opened his mouth again. "Let me start with a general statement. Too much power is either feared or revered. "...... Yes, that''s right." Jin nodded. "From another aspect, it can be said that people tend to rely on their . "Yes." "In Jin-dono''s case, I don''t think he has anything to be afraid of. The most likely scenario is that he will rely on you. "...... understand." No. 700672 analyzes Jin''s position. "The most likely scenario is that someone will try to gain supremacy in the world by surrounding Jin-dono. "Oh, I wouldn''t like that." "Oh, I wouldn''t like that. ...... the next most likely scenario is that we''ll be depended on at every turn. "Yes." "It may not seem so bad here, but it''s not. It will stifle people''s aspirations and hinder their development." The future doesn''t look too bright for the 700672. "A worse possibility is that people will compare themselves with Jin-den and feel inferior. This is not the way to develop a healthy mind." "......" "In conclusion, I think we should keep Jin-dono''s true power a secret for the time being." "I guess so." The 700672 nodded. "After a few more generations, dozens of generations, when the level of the people catches up to the current level of Jin-dono, either by themselves or with a little help, then and only then can you tell us everything. "But that won''t happen while I''m still alive, will it?" No. 700672 smiles wryly. "That will be the case. Jin-dono and his descendants will have to keep up the pretense for the time being, of course. "I see. ...... It is true that the human heart is weak. (If there is someone who is far superior to you, you will inevitably rely on, envy, fear, and be jealous of them. ......) Jin reminded me of a foreign special effects show I saw in an institution a long time ago. It is a story about a superhero from another planet who solves many difficult cases. In that story, too, the main character had a hard time hiding his true identity. (Is that the same thing?) In his childish mind, Jin thought that he would not have to go through the trouble of hiding his true identity if he came out as a rumored metahuman. (It also made sense for the protagonist of the transformation series to hide his true identity. ......) ) It was Jin who made a strange conclusion at an unexpected time and place. "So, you can mingle with people as you are now, while hiding your abilities?" "Yes. Yes, it will be hard. Thanks for the ...... advice. The way I see it, it''s just the way it is. It will be easier once the mess with Hale is over. Jin decided to think so. And then... "What are you going to do with the base you''ve confiscated?" 700672 asked. "I''ve been thinking about what to do with it. "I know how you feel. It''s not good to leave things hanging in the air." "Yes. ......" < side says they don''t need it because they have the original . He said, "Do as you please, Jin. "What use is a mega-float with a diameter of 2 kilometers ......" Even if it is operated in Horai Island, it would be difficult to use. We can''t just send it to some other country ......." At that moment, an idea flashed through Jin''s mind. "Oh yeah! to be exact. ......" Jin, who had inadvertently referred to them in the manner of a TV show he used to watch at the facility, reiterated. "It''s called the ...... World Guard, and it''s a concept of an organization that recruits personnel from various countries and contributes to world peace beyond national borders." "I see, interesting. And you''re going to use it as a base? Yes. Jin came up with the idea of having each country provide materials or funds for maintenance, and after repair, contribute to the world from a location on the sea in the middle of nowhere, with the mention that deus ex machina had discovered the ruins. "That might be a good idea. I will leave it to your discretion. Jin felt much more at ease now, but he had one more concern. "Last but not least, what should we do about the Hale problem?" "Hmmm ......" It''s a difficult question," said the 700672, who was indeed at a loss for words. I don''t know anything about Hale. I don''t have enough information to make a judgment. But if I were to put myself in Jin-dono''s shoes, I would need to confirm it. "I see. ......" If the beings in Hale need the resources of Ars, there is a good chance that they will react in some way now that their predecessors have been routed. And it will probably not be a friendly one. I for one would like to see them avoid a fight, though." < side of the 700672. "Really, I wonder what''s going on with Hale. ......" As for Jin, he doesn''t want any interstellar war. "No matter how much I think about it, we don''t have enough information. Maybe we should be well prepared and check the situation in Hale." "......" "There is no need for you to go yourself, Jin-dono. I''ll make sure of that." "Yes, sir." If possible, it would be good to set up a temporary relay station along the way. The 700672 is to place and operate a warp gate or a transfer magic circle at the relay base for backup, evacuation, and other emergencies. I recommended that a warp gate or a transfer magic circle be installed and operated at the relay station for backup or evacuation in case of emergency. "I see, that would be quite safe, wouldn''t it? "Yes. And you named the brain of the moon ......<>?......, you might want to take some advice from that as well." With his knowledge of the universe, <> might be able to give you some different advice," concluded 700672. "Thank you very much for your help." "Well, it was a good time." The meeting ended up being quite satisfactory, and Jin returned to Horai Island with a sense of relief. "Well, I will be busy again. From the window of the institute, the sea was shining in the distance. 1358 - - 36-24 Quiet talk 69 Post-processing Various After talking to No. 700672, Jin had been working on the modification of at a fast pace. Repairing the broken armor was easy, but the problem was the inside. There were many magical devices that did not seem to be appropriate for the current Ars. The majority of them were <<>. "After all, this design looks like a child''s drawing. ......" Jin thought to himself as he supervised the work of the craftsmen (smiths). In the end, most of the interior was replaced or newly built. Living quarters, meeting rooms, infirmary, and mess hall were necessary. Since there was no command center, a new one was set up, and lines were arranged so that every corner of the base was known. A dock to receive ships, a flight deck to land hot air balloons. Warehouses for food, materials, hangars, archives, and so on. "Oh, what a pain in the ass!" It would be much easier to build a new one," Jin blurted out. However, since the old man is supporting him, Jin''s workload is less than half. Despite his grumbling, Jin went on with his work. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now it''s time for deus ex machina." On the day when the base was 90% repaired, Jin had a discussion with the old man. "Yes, ...... wherever you place it, there will be countries near and far." This will be made known to the nations in the near future. Jin was planning an expedition to Hale as soon as the Ars was somewhat organized. "What do you think about the relay base?" "I see. That would be nice." < It seems that even free-magic waves cannot penetrate the source itself. We also know that even if we set up a <>, the distance is too large and the position of the repeater is unstable, as expected. < "Yes." If the coordinates can be fixed in space, <> should be stable. Once this is completed, we may be able to observe the situation in Hale without leaving Ars. "Why don''t we get one of those crafts?A 10-meter class ship won''t be able to carry enough materials. < "Yes. About 100 meters in diameter. All right, let''s get to work. Thus, the construction of a new starship was started. * * * * * * Oh, um, ...... "Marikka-sama, you have undoubtedly the same magical power as ." Jin visited 700672 with Marikka as promised. And just as he had expected, 700672 accepted Marikka as the successor to . "After so many years, I never thought I would find a man I could serve again." "Yes, yes." Maricka was in an uncomfortable mood. "Please, give me your orders." Marikka can''t think of anything to say. "Oh, yes." "Yes?" "...... may this world be at peace forever. And please cooperate with Master Jin in a friendly manner. Yes, sir. Marikka''s wish is granted, and the 700672 will continue to help stabilize this world. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... is nice to have a home away from home." "Yes, it is." Count Kuzma and Bina were relaxing in the living room when they returned to the Blue Lands. "I didn''t know gin was such a great thing to do." "Yes, he is. ...... "It''s hard work, isn''t it?" "It''s hard work. I am trying to protect this world, not because anyone asked me to, but just because I can. The mental strain must be quite heavy." "We have to back them up." I agree. I agree. "Ah, the sea." Marcia gazed at the sea in front of the workshop and muttered to herself. "I wonder what happened on the other side of that ocean. ......" "Yes, indeed." My father Rodrigo agreed in a tired voice. "The world is full of surprises that we don''t know about, isn''t it, Dad?" "Yes. We must do what we can to help. Yeah. Yes. "Jin-san, you were fighting an enemy like that without anyone''s knowledge or recognition. ...... Back in Toka village, Licia was staring at papers in her office, ruminating in a corner of her mind about the events in space the other day. "Licia-sama, the next document is here. Fred, a former boy soldier who had become a secretary, came in with a stack of papers. "Thank you. Put them there. Put the ones you''ve finished with there. "Yes, sir." Licia stops writing and looks out the window. "I have to work hard, too," she said. She then renews her motivation. * * * * * * "Happy Birthday! December 5th is Rodrigo''s birthday. < gathered to celebrate despite their busy schedule. "Well, I''m embarrassed ...... to be celebrated at my age," he said. "I think someone once said that a birthday is not to celebrate being old, but to celebrate the anniversary of one''s birth." At Jin''s words, Rodrigo bowed his head to everyone, embarrassed. "Thank you ......." Incidentally, Jin also gave Rodrigo a . He was a very conscientious man. * * * * Nothing has changed in the village of Kaina. "Ah, it''s nice to be on the ground, isn''t it? <, muttered to herself after every step. Soon it will snow in the village. Hannah said as she looked at the white mountains in the distance. "Yes, but thanks to Jin, winter will be easy to live with. But thanks to Jin, winter is getting easier to live with. "Yes. We have hot springs and golem horses! The wind blows cold, but the village of Kaina is full of warmth today. 1359 - - 37-01 "Avalon" On December 8, 3458, a special was held at the that Jin had seized. The deus ex machina invited the leaders of the world. Jin cooperated with the meeting, as it was supposed to be. Makina played a leading role in this event. Considering the future, he has created a special magical brain for Makina and entrusted its operation to him. < is an independent magic brain, it is under the control of the who is the head of Horai Island. "You have found a great thing, ......." Gerhard Hilde von Rubies, the Shoro Imperial Princess, exclaimed in admiration. "No, indeed. I didn''t know there was anything like this in the south. ......" Cesar Valois de Cerlois, King of the Kingdom of Cerlois. "Mmm, this is truly amazing." King Harold Luan Autoclase of the Kingdom of Egelea also expressed his admiration. "This is also, what can I say ......". King Alois III of Klein was absolutely thrilled. "I am as much in awe as you are," said the Dauphin Elias. The one who is exclaiming is Alphonse, the Dauphin of Elias. "I never thought such a thing existed in this world." Lotharus de Lafayette, King of the Kingdom of Franz, was also astonished. In a world where large wooden vessels were finally being built, this huge all-metal structure was far beyond anything that could be imagined. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! A deus ex machina voice rang out. Everyone turned their heads in that direction. "I will now begin the explanation. After confirming that the five-colored golem maids brought by Jin had prepared chairs and that everyone had sat down on them, Makina continued. "I have been exploring in the south where free magical element (ether) is scarce, and I found such an ancient relic (artifact). It was badly damaged, but with the help of Jin-dono, we were able to repair it and move it here. is at 50 degrees west longitude and 10 degrees north latitude. This is the sea west of the Elias Peninsula. The depth of the water is about 100 meters, which was suitable for anchoring the base. "This artificial island is 2 kilometers in diameter. It can sail at speeds of up to 10 kilometers per hour. Oh," he said. "The inside of the island was damaged so much that we haven''t been able to repair it, but we think that we can develop it from now on. Makina explains that they will be able to make improvements as needed. "Fortunately, we have a lot of waste materials from repairs, and we can recycle them using engineering magic, so we don''t have to worry about running out of materials. We don''t have to worry about fish food since we are surrounded by the sea. The leaders nodded to each other. "You can use engineering magic to build buildings on this deck, or you can use the empty rooms inside. We would like to use this artificial island for the benefit of mankind. Makina looks around once more at the leaders. They all seem to have no objections. "I think it would be a good idea to set up a to hold the world congress and the headquarters of the <> here." There were no objections to this statement. After a short pause, Makina continued. "For now, we have placed this island in this area because it is easy to fix, but if you think there is a better place, please let us know. But no one speaks up. That is true. <, you will not be able to give your opinion unless you are familiar with the undersea conditions. "Thank you for agreeing with me. Now, let me give you a brief tour of the interior of this artificial island. As soon as Makina said this, the heads of state stood up and followed her with their guards. Only Jin and Reiko remained. "So far, so good." "Yes, father. < is doing well, isn''t he?" Yes. I''d be very grateful if you could make this work the way we want it to. "It will be fine. The old man assured me. Yes, he did. This is a story with little disadvantage to each country. In addition, if they do not accept this offer, this mighty artificial island will remain in the hands of a deus ex machina. The old man''s view was that the leaders of the world would not remain silent on this matter. "If they approve it, we will have a gift for them. "Yes, that''s right. I''m sure you''re right. About three hours later, the leaders returned from their tour of the artificial island. "Thank you for your hard work. Jin thanked them for their hard work and ordered the five-colored golem maids to prepare tea for them. "Ah, it was a tiring but worthwhile time. "Mmm. I''m looking forward to the future. "Just the fact that this base won''t belong to any particular power makes it worthwhile to have the world conference here." Everyone is talking freely, and from what I can hear, they have a good grasp of what is going on. At this point, Jin decided to make a final announcement. "Gentlemen, I have a proposal of my own. At this statement, everyone stopped talking and turned to Jin. "I think the problem with setting up the headquarters of the and the here is the traffic. Everyone nodded in agreement. "So, as for myself, if the headquarters of the is to be located here, I have a plan to provide each country with an airship of the same type as the <, with a pilot. With a pilot, of course." This statement caused a stir among the participants. < is 200 kilometers per hour, which means that each country will be able to arrive here within a day. "Jin-dono, is this true?" Prime Minister Shoro asked urgently. "Yes. We had materials on this artificial island, so it was just a matter of time and effort. This is actually incorrect. Some rare materials were brought from Horai Island. However, since I would have been pestered about the source of the materials if I told them, I decided to conceal the fact this time. Even so, Jin who obtained the fragments of the long-period planets has more materials than he can use. He also intended to use them at a time like this. Six airships were moored at the edge of the man-made island, one for Klein, one for Egelea, one for Elias, one for Franz, one for Cerroa, and one for Shoro. An automaton of the same model as Edgar, who had recently become an accomplished pilot, was given as a pilot, and a golem of the same model as Smith, a craftsman, was given as a mechanic. Of course, since they are detuned, their performance is slightly inferior to the originals. Even so, they have a performance that ordinary automata and golems would not have a problem with. * * * * * * * * * * "Then, tentatively, I hereby declare the establishment of the <> and the <> headquarters, <>! Deus ex machina declared in front of the heads of state and government. Avalon, by the way, is an island that appears in the legend of King Arthur. This, Jin thought, was a great step forward in uniting the human race. "We can look to Hale with no regrets." The sky was almost dark, and the brightest star was shining. 1360 - - 37-02 Ready, steady, steady. "I went south the other day to follow the saucer and happened to find this." "That''s right. ......" Jin was giving a detailed explanation to the emperor at the palace in Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. Since Leusert had recently been damaged by the <> wards, Jin had been looking for an opportunity to explain to her. "So that''s how you ended up at those ruins. "That''s right. And then, in cooperation with Machina,...... or rather, Machina neutralized him. Are we out of danger now? Is there no more danger? "Yes. I can assure you of that, myself and Makina can assure you of that. I am relieved to hear that. Jin explained that the malfunction had caused this << malfunction> in the first place. He also said that they had to destroy some of the original equipment to correct the malfunction. "So, nothing should happen anymore. On the other hand, it would take about 100 people to operate the properly. He explains that this is because he has destroyed all the control mechanisms that caused the malfunction. "We were able to move them there with our maid golem and Machina''s golem, though. It''s still not enough to make it function as it should." Jin said, "We should train the to include such things in the future. "Yes. That''s a positive idea. The queen nodded. "For my part, in addition to the <><>, I''d like to create a <> as well. "A world school, huh? I like it. So regardless of nationality, one can learn the best of the best. The empress immediately understood Jin''s intentions. The meeting between Jin and the empress continued with small talk for about 15 minutes, "Thank you for today. If I stop working any longer, the Prime Minister will be angry with me. The day ended with the woman saying regretfully, "If I stop my work any longer, the Prime Minister will be angry with me. The day ended with the female emperor saying regretfully, "Well, I guess I''m done now. "Well, I guess I don''t have to worry about it anymore. "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Jin." Jin returned to Horai Island and was relaxing in his <>. "When are we going to Hale?" "Well, it''s not me that''s going to Hale, but the spaceship. After your mother''s birthday. ......? That''s the plan. Meine''s birthday is December 13th. <. "Thanks for the ......." "What are you talking about, you wouldn''t dare to forget your mother-in-law''s birthday, would you?" It was a bitter memory that I had forgotten Hannah''s birthday. "After the new year, January 28th is Martha''s birthday and February 8th is Hannah''s birthday. Jin reminded himself not to forget. "Have you already made the clocks?" "Of course." <," Jin said. "They should be the same color as the bracelets. "Brother Jin is a good worker. Jin''s temperament must have been nurtured during his time at the orphanage. Small children do not like to be left out. After relaxing, Jin, accompanied by Elsa and Reiko, asked the old man to check the progress of the craft. "Oh, that''s great." Yes, we have been building on the moon from the beginning. The weight of the components is reduced, so the strength of the scaffolds can be reduced as well. If the weight is reduced to zero, the members will not be stable, so the "Mere Old Man" said that the "moon" is just right. The mass does not change, so the inertia remains the same, but the < weight improves the work efficiency. Although the craftsman (Smith) originally had sufficient physical strength, the work efficiency was improved by 30% to 50% in the moon (Yunyi). "Okay, thank you." Jin was relieved to know that he could now take another step toward Hale. "Brother Jin, what are you going to do when the craft is finished?" Jin is back at once again, eating the lunch Erza made for him and talking. Today''s lunch is tempura soba. It is hot soba with tempura of prawns from Tatsumi Bay. The dipping sauce is a little light in flavor. Drinking the sauce, Jin answered. "First, I will send out the craft. Then we will build a simple base between the orbit of Ars and Hale. "What kind of simple base?" "What kind of simple base?" "I haven''t explained it yet. ......The basic structure will be a disc about one kilometer in diameter, with a force field generator for orbital correction, a large transfer gate (warp gate) for transporting supplies, and a small accommodation facility.... ... we think." "...... supply base?" "You could say that, and it''s also a safety backup. It''s got a little combat power and a barrier." It is an unknown territory. In the end, it would be Jin''s doppelg?nger that would actually go to Hale, but even so, he wanted to take all possible measures. "You also said that they are building a spacecraft for exploration on the moon (UNY). That''s encouraging. That''s reassuring. As Jin, I was a little curious to know what kind of spaceship <>, the brains behind the moon, was building. He thought about taking a peek at it, but on second thought, he decided to wait until it is completed and unveiled to the public. "Well, I''ve finished my lunch," he said. "...... have you got any plans?" "I''m going to the village of Kaina. Do you want to go too? "Oh, Hannah said she''s going to do some experiments. Yes, that''s right. "Yes, I''ll go." So, Jin, Erza, and Reiko moved to the village of Kaina through the warp gate. Incidentally, I use the one in Nido Castle for official visits as a lord, and the one in the basement of Jin''s workshop for private visits. Of course, this is not the case in case of emergency. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ah, Onii-chan, welcome!" Due to the time difference, it is a little before 11:00 a.m. in the village of Kaina. Hannah had just started to prepare for lunch. "Hannah, let me help you. "Thank you, Erza! "I''ll help you, too." "Yes, Reiko!" With no way out, Jin decided to wait in the workshop. 1361 - - 37-03 The flowering of talent "Hey, girls, have you had lunch?" "Oh, we''re fine, we''ve already eaten." Hannah is convinced by Jin''s answer. "There''s the time difference, isn''t there?" Hannah and Martha have lunch. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko are waiting in the workshop. "Hey, honey, thanks for waiting..." Hanna comes out of the house after lunch. And then Hannah said.., "I know I said I was going to experiment, but first I wanted to show you something. She said, and started walking toward Nido Castle. "Something you wanted to show me?I wonder what it is. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko followed. Less than 10 minutes later, they arrived at Nido Castle. "Well, you know, it''s in the lounge on the second floor. There is a lounge by the window on the second floor, where people can chat, have a snack, or read a book. Few people use it, though. And what did Jin see there? "Drawings?" "Yes, it''s the first drawing of the Free Aether Transfer Device!" Hannah said something shocking. "What? "Did you draw this, Hannah?" Jin, Elsa, and Reiko were surprised. Hanna had created the Magi machine, which Jin had worked so hard to realize, but had been unable to do so in a satisfactory form. The mobile base and the that had been confiscated had been destroyed and could not be analyzed. Jin felt that it was too late, and that was all. However, if Hanna had reproduced it, it would have been a different story. "Oh, this is just a drawing, and there is a possibility that it would not work if you actually made it, right? "That''s true, but ......." Jin stared at the drawing, still half-amused. "Let''s see... ......" Hannah explained. "I''ve been thinking about it a lot too. First of all, I asked the old man how the warp gate works. "That''s great, Hannah." "So, I thought that the warp gate is a subspace tunnel connecting two locations. And the tunnel has a spatial gradient and is normally set to one-way traffic." "Yeah." This is the same as what Jin also guessed. Hannah is thinking independently, and it can be seen that her ideas are extraordinary. "So, when an object enters the starting point of this , it is forced to move through the , but I think it pulls the of the object to be transferred, and the object following it is transferred, didn''t I tell you before?" "Yes, I heard that." If the object is wet, the water on the surface will be transferred along with it. Also, if it is fur or feathers, the air between them will be transferred together. "Based on this, I thought about how to send free magic element (ether). "Mm-hmm." Jin was drawn into Hannah''s explanation. "First of all, we have to increase the concentration of free magical element (ether). "I understand that." By increasing the concentration of free magic element (ether) in the sending side, we can create a difference from the receiving side. If there is no difference in concentration, there is no meaning in the transfer of free magical elements (ether). "You can raise the concentration of free magical element (ether), right, Onii-chan? "Yes, I can." Jin has made an ether condenser in the past. "Using it, we can increase the concentration at the sending side to at least 10 times that of the receiving side." In this case, the concentration is the ratio of the space allowance. The highest value of 100 percent of the concentration of free magic element (ether) is, of course, the maximum amount of free magic element (ether) that the space can accept. According to Jin''s assumption, free magic elements (ether) are one of the elements that compose the space, and they are arranged in a cubic grid. Then, what happens when the number of free magical elements (ether) increases from a state of 100 percent free magical elements (ether)? The answer is <. I call it < for the time being, but it is actually not the same thing. If there is an object, it enters its interior and creates <>, or creates <> such as <> or <>. If there is no object, only free magic element (ether) precipitates and crystallizes. This is the . "Well, I hadn''t thought of that." "Hannah, that''s great!" Hannah''s explanation was beyond Jin''s imagination. Especially the part about the creation of magi crystals. "I thought that magi crystals were free magical elements (ether) that had entered the in the crystalline structure of pure matter. Hannah nodded at Jin''s words. "Yes, I think that''s the case with ordinary . What I imagined was a crystal of pure free magical element (ether). "Is there such a thing?" "Well, I don''t know. It''s just my imagination. Maybe someday you will find it somewhere in the universe. ...... But more importantly, let''s talk about free etheric transfer! Hanna herself says she is not sure how accurate her theory is. Her attitude was already that of a top-notch researcher, Jin thought. "Let''s see, <> and what follows is transferred>>, only one particle of free magical element (ether) is sent in a single transfer." Indeed, that would be the case with this theory. It would be the same for air molecules. "So, we just need to devise a way to put the free magical element (ether) together." "I''m getting the idea. "The first thing I can think of is to prepare a container for free magic element (ether), put free magic element (ether) inside ......, and place it in a place with high concentration of free magic element (ether), the concentration inside will naturally become the same as the surrounding area, right?" "That''s right." Jin could imagine what Hannah was saying and waited for her next words. "If we transfer the container and open it at the receiving end, the free magical element (ether) inside will overflow outside, right?I''ve never done that before." "Yes, Hannah is right. In fact, it is more of an ether tank than a container, but it does not affect Hanna''s theory at all. "We send that container back through <> warp gate, and send it back when we fill it with free magical element (ether) again." Can we call it a piston transport by two warp gates? Certainly, the method Hannah describes seems to work with reasonable efficiency. "......I think anyone can probably come up with that much." "What? To my surprise, there was more to Hannah''s story. "What you really want to do is to transfer free magic element (ether) directly without using a container, right, Onii-chan? "Yes, well, that''s right. ...... "So I was thinking. That''s the second one, but this one is still just a theory. Jin listened to the explanation, beyond impressed, astonished that Hannah could really think freely. "Didn''t you ever think of using a transporter to send free magic element (ether)?" "......" Jin exclaimed. Elsa was also at a loss for words. That was the first thing she had thought of, but Jin recalled that the experiment had been ineffective. He had not approached them since then. "You know, I think we can do something if we change the magic formula of <> and <>. ...... this one is completely in my imagination." "That''s great, Hannah!" "Kya." Jin realized that the method had a good chance of success and picked Hannah up in his arms. "Let''s experiment right away! Elsa looked at him smiling. 1362 - - 37-04 The Vulcan As it turns out, <> was right on the mark. By adjusting the flow of magical control (Magi Sequence) for <> and devising the Magi Formula for <>, Jin was finally able to realize free magical element (ether) transfer. However, <> and <> involved an extraordinary amount of trial and error and hard work. <, the was finally completed. "It''s done!" Congratulations, Jin-brother. "Congratulations, Jin-brother." "Congratulations, Onii-chan!" It''s all thanks to Hannah. Erza and Hanna, who had rushed over to congratulate Jin on the completion of the project. "Congratulations, father! Then Reiko and the old man also congratulated Jin. "No, again, this is thanks to Hannah. Jin expressed his honest feelings. "But this will give me a wider range of activities. We can replenish our supply of free magical elements (ether) in the southern hemisphere, where free magical elements (ether) are still scarce, and we can deal with situations where we need a large amount of free magical elements (ether). "To distinguish it from the one I made before, let''s call this one and the other one . Naturally, we plan to replace them with this one in due course. And on the same day, the <> was also completed, and was being tested by the Space Force Golems. The old man requested. "Yes. ...... then ." <> is a Roman god who is identified with Hephaistos, the Greek god of blacksmithing. Jin named it so because <> = manufacturing = craft ship. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, now can go to space at any time." Jin muttered with satisfaction after finishing the final check. , the old man declares. The old man declares. We are going to the planet Hale, which is supposed to be on the other side of the sun Celan. It would be better to start at noon, but since Ars is spinning on its axis and we are not heading straight for Serran, but rather 90 degrees ahead in the orbit of Ars, this is a good time to start. "So, let''s see... ......" < "A little over six days." We''ll look at seven days, to allow for acceleration and deceleration time. And then. "Tonight we''re having a party." December 13th was Meane''s birthday. Birthday, birthday, birthday... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Happy birthday, Meine." Happy birthday. Happy birthday to meine! On the night of the 13th, all the members of the gathered on Horai Island to celebrate Meane''s birthday. "Thank you very much, everyone. ......" Her voice is shaking a little from emotion. "Happy birthday, mother!" Elsa, her own son, was pouring the wine. "Thank you, Elsa. For once, she is dressed in a dress instead of the usual chambermaid''s outfit. Meine, with her chestnut-colored hair pulled back in an updo, looked so young that she could not have been more than 36 years old. "Mother-in-law, this is a present from me. "Thank you very much, Mr. Jin." Meane, who even to this day still used the name "Sama," was a true samurai woman at heart. "This is for me." "Thank you, Elsa." "This one''s for me." "This one''s from me." This is me. "Thank you very much, ......." Meine was so moved that she broke down in tears. Elsa is at a loss for what to do as she sees her mother for the first time. Then, Jin comes in, Erza should hold her in her arms.) (Elsa should hold her in her arms.) Jin advised her in her ear. "Nn." Erza gently hugs her mother. "Elsa......" "Mother ......" Mother and son hugging each other. Everyone gathered in the room looked at them with tender eyes. "......I''m sorry for showing you my embarrassment." After a few moments, Meine calmed down and apologized to everyone with a blush on her face. "No, no, you don''t need to apologize at all. Reinhardt spoke for everyone. "Thank you for ......." From then on, the conversation was friendly and relaxed. Jin also took the opportunity of the gathering to explain about to Meane. "...... So, we built a 100-meter-diameter craft and sent it out. The purpose is to build a simple base in the middle. Once this is done, we will be able to transfer to the Hale area." According to Jin''s current research, even free-magic waves that can penetrate a planet cannot penetrate a star that is generating free-magic elements (ether). Therefore, they thought it would be a good idea to make the transition in stages, going around the sun Celan. "I see." Everyone seemed to agree. However, Saki made an unexpected remark. "If we use ......, you know, the ?That would mean that the destination to which it was sending out free magic element (ether) was not Hale, right?" "......" "Sure, right. "So you are saying that Hale might also have a relay station." That would be the case. "Hmm. ......" < really encounter the relay station set up by Hale? Jin did not know. 1363 - - 37-05 Findings The spaceship was hurtling through space at 400 kilometers per second. Nothing was noticeable except for the stars, and only the occasional space dust particles crushed and shattered against the indestructible shield <> that had been deployed. Six days have passed since the craft left the planet Arus. "The ship is sailing smoothly. We should be slowing down shortly. <, Golem Cosmos 501, sent a regular message to the old man on Horai Island. <, Golem, made a routine call to the Captain of the , Cosmos 501. Continue with your mission. "<> Roger that." Retrograde acceleration is applied and <> is decelerating at 3G. The first target point is on the orbit of Ars, a quarter, or 90 degrees, ahead of Ars. The intermediate point is on the other side of the sun Celan, which is one-half, or 180 degrees, ahead of Ars. "If the speed drops to 50 kilometers per second, the shield stops. Switch to normal barrier." "Roger that." According to the contact we received after our departure, there is a strong possibility that the Hale side has a relay base as well. Whether it is on this side of the orbit or on the other side, i.e., 270 degrees ahead, is unknown. If there is a relay base, the probability of meeting is 1 in 2. aimed for the planned position while mobilizing all of his detection magi-machines. "There is an object in front of us at a horizontal angle of 10 degrees and a vertical angle of 15 degrees. This report came from the department in charge of detection when the speed had slowed to 5 kilometers per second. "Okay, change course. Let''s approach it carefully." "Yes, sir." decides to approach the object with inertial navigation at a speed of 5 km per second. At this speed, it can stop or break away at the maximum acceleration of 30 Gs if the need arises. "Distance, 100,000 meters." The distance is now sufficiently far to be observed by optics. < At the same time, the image was also sent to the old man on Horai Island. "This is an interesting shape. The object was hemispherical. The detailed dimensions cannot be measured yet, but it must be approximately between 5 and 20 kilometers in diameter. It is a rather large structure. Distance, 50,000 meters. When we got close to this distance, we were able to observe details. Perhaps because we are approaching without using the power system as much as possible, no reaction is observed. "<> activated. From this distance, even a small telescope can observe the object without blurring. < * * * * On the morning of December 20. A report was received from on Horai Island. Jin receives the results in the command center. "I see, there it is after all. < "But it is hemispherical. Is it man-made?Or was it a modified asteroid?" And as they watched, the distance closed in and <> activated his <>. "Yeah, I think we''re good at this distance." <>. "But this is ......." It looks like a half sphere, with a cut flat surface facing the sun. There were some buildings and other facilities scattered on the surface. The design was familiar. It looks like a mobile base. < The old man agreed with Jin''s idea. The images coming from the screen got closer and closer until they finally reached the surface. The hemisphere is also made of metal and does not seem to be made of an asteroid. The image switches to the interior of the facility on the flat surface. "It''s from the sky." It looks like a warehouse or something. And then the video continues. "Oh, so we are finally inside the hemisphere. There were numerous small rooms. There are no doors attached, so the interior can be seen clearly. "Magi crystals, iron ore, copper ore ......?" <> "But not as much as I thought. ...... after sending it out to Hale?" And then the image goes on to show yet another compartment. "Is it stopped ......?" . "Are these lights ethereal luminaries (AL)?" "Anyway, let''s be careful and investigate thoroughly." For another hour, the interior of the hemisphere was thoroughly examined by <>. "Hmmm......... I''m still pretty sure it''s stopped. The question is whether or not there is a possibility of restarting it." The old man added to Jin''s words. he said. < Jin gave up early and decided to leave it to the old man. It is several times or even dozens of times faster to leave it to him than to check it himself. Another 30 minutes passed. . The old man reports. At the same time, the image was projected on the magic screen in the control room. "Is this the ...... hole?" "Is it debris from the long period planet ......<>?" < The hole projected on the magic screen is estimated to be about 10 meters in diameter. There are some fragments of meteorite around it. "But would that be enough to shut down this huge base?" Jin knows that important facilities and equipment should not be concentrated in one place to avoid the risk of failure. Jin and the old man decided to wait for more information. 1364 - - 37-06 Research and The investigation of the mysterious base discovered by in space proceeded slowly. It took another two hours for <> to complete almost the entire interior survey. As a result, no moving objects were found inside. The old man, who was analyzing the images on Horai Island, concluded so. If it had been destroyed by a foreign enemy, it would be troublesome to deal with it. "Do you think there is a foreign enemy ......?The old man." Jin asks the old man. < I see. Jin nodded his head in agreement with the old man''s reasoning. It is true that the Hailians are not monolithic. Or rather, they are a group of individualists, so it is not surprising that they have differences. Whether they would commit the folly of sabotage is another matter. "So, did you find any evidence of sabotage?" < "Indeed. I''ll leave it to you to decide. I am not the kind of person to give orders to your well-meaning actions. He knew that. * * * * * * * * * * * Floating in space, the was stopped relative to the mysterious at a distance of 3 kilometers. "We have been instructed to investigate this base carefully." The captain, Cosmos 501, told his second in command, Cosmos 502. "Then, shall we send in a survey command?" "Yes, we will. <, will react to the investigation command. You are requested to be careful and to expect it. The old man thought that if there was some kind of reaction, he would be able to obtain further information. "Then, let''s send in ten men wearing battlesuits. The battlesuits have already proven their usefulness. <, Jin had mass-produced dozens of the battlesuits worn by the Land team. Due to the materials, it is impossible to make enough for all of the Horaijima Golems, but he has prepared 20 battle suits for each of Sky Squad, Land Squad, Marine Squad, Mermaid Squad, and Cosmos Squad. The Cosmos Squadron had 10 battle suits for , and 10 for this . Ten of the 560 from Cosmos 551 in battle suits were equipped with <>. We have just arrived. I don''t feel any gravity.] Copy that. Please continue your investigation. After a brief exchange of views, the ten bodies decided to investigate the flat surface first. The material is nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel. The same quality as the disastor.] There are many fine scratches, probably caused by cosmic dust.] The plane faces the sun, so the sun is shining down on it tremendously. In the midst of all this, we arrive at one of the facilities that look like a warehouse or hangar. The facility appears to be little deteriorated.] The facility is made of metal, so there was little deterioration due to ultraviolet rays. We know that the interior is empty through the Peeper Telescope. Still, there may be something to discover by visiting it in person. Let''s check it out.] Roger that.] Cosmos551 and the others slowly open the door to the facility. The door is unlocked and there is no corrosion, so there is no problem. It''s empty after all.] It seems so. ......?] Cosmos551 stared at a stain on the floor of the facility. This stain looks relatively new. ...... what do you think?] I wouldn''t say it''s new, since we''re in outer space, in this facility where there''s no ultraviolet light.] That''s true. But what is it?Oil?] Dark brown, fatty luster stain. Analysis. Since the Cosmos Unit can all use engineering magic, I''ll try to analyze it. It''s some kind of oil ...... grease.] That''s unusual.] That''s because there have been no examples of Hale-related technology using oil with a high viscosity like grease for lubrication. This might also suggest something.] Cosmos 551 would send this kind of information to the old man. Most of the facilities on the plane were warehouses or hangar-like buildings. It is surprising that they were all empty. It could have been after the sortie.] Indeed.] Cosmos 556 and 551 looked at each other. It is quite possible that the went out from here.] And, with nothing more to see on the flat surface, the Cosmos team finally decided to examine the inside of the hemisphere. Should we start with the periphery?] No, that would take too much time, and the investigation with the peepers only found a material storehouse. Therefore, we will focus on the central area.] Understood.] And again, search, search, search. And so on and so forth. Nothing in particular.] We found a deactivated ether converter, a mana driver, and an emergency mana tank. However. I can''t find the brain that was supposed to be in charge, the golem for maintenance, or the warp gate for receiving materials ....... And the amount of materials we collected isn''t much either.] I guess so.] * * * * Here, the old man proposed a bold hypothesis. "How can that be?" < The old man explains in detail. There is one more intermediate point between Arus and Hale. It is in the opposite direction of the orbit. I see. Jin thought that he would have to look into that when he had time. "But it''s a relay station now. What should we do ......?" Jin thinks that it would be quicker if he could take what he has found and modify it. But at the same time, we are taking a risk. "Let''s go ahead with the original plan, after all." . Taking certainty over schedule, Jin decides to build his own relay base with the craft . * * * * * * * * We will build a simple base as originally planned.] Understood.] Work will begin immediately.] and the Cosmos Corps began to fulfill their original role. 1365 - - 37-07 Completed Magi Plastic < was running through space aiming for the scheduled position, there was movement on Horai Island as well. "Jin!It''s ready!" <. "Saki!" Erza frowned at her outfit. Her hair was shaggy and she had dark circles under her eyes. "Did you stay up all night again?" Jin also chides her. I''m not sure what to do. I was ...... just getting excited ......, but!You see, it''s finally done!" Saki, looking flustered, held out the sheet in her hand and showed it to him. "Oh?Is this ...... plastic?" "Yes!This is the Jin was talking about!" "Hmmm... ...... what''s this?" Jin picked up the sheet. Indeed, it felt light and soft to the touch, with a smoothness characteristic of plastic. "That''s great, Saki." "Hehehe...... did my best,......." After saying this, Saki collapsed like a threadbare doll and began to breathe in her sleep. "......Saki''s sister......" "You''re still a reckless guy. ......" Jin and Erza covered Saki with a blanket as she fell asleep and quietly left the place. "If you had done it in the lab in the first place, wouldn''t the old man and Aaru have said anything?" "That''s right, it''s not right." Jin and Erza exchanged such words as they walked toward the institute. "What do you think, Mr. Old Man?" As soon as they entered the workshop, Jin immediately called out to the old man. <> "Yes. "Yes. Why did you make him do such a reckless thing?" "And Aaru?" "Oh, I see we''ve crossed paths." < I wonder if Saki wanted to be useful as a member of the "Jin family" in her own way. < "I see. So, what did you make?" . "That''s true." The old man said that Saki would want to explain herself, so Jin decided to wait for her to wake up. "Well, then, I''ll try to give you some insight into Hale," he said. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * And when it was time for lunch. "Brother Jin, sister Saki woke up," said Erza. Erza came to call Jin, saying that lunch was ready. "Oh, is it that time already?" Jin had been discussing with the old man about his future with Hale, but then he stopped the discussion and left the room. "See you later, old man. . When Jin and Erza returned to the house, Saki woke up and was already at the table. "Jin, Erza, I''m hungry. ......" "Sorry, Gin-sama, Erza-sama." Despite Saki''s high spirits, Aaru looked apologetic. "Saki-sama insisted on it this time. ...... "Oh, forget it. The old man told me. I know you''ve been working very hard on this, Saki. Jin quieted Aalu''s bowed head. "Saki, did you wash your face?" "Yeah, Aal told me." Saki replied with a smile to Elsa''s question as she carried her lunch. "Yes. ...... porridge for lunch today." It seems that the menu was prepared with Saki in mind. It was not just any porridge. It''s an authentic porridge made in an earthenware pot and served with various toppings such as vegetables, dried bonito flakes, seaweed tsukudani, pickled plums, pickled vegetables, and bubu arare (a kind of sweetened rice cake). Hitoshi is quite fond of the seaweed tsukudani. "Well, they all look delicious, but what''s this?" Saki pointed at the bubu-arare. "They are bubu-arare." "Bubu arare? Jin had heard that "bu-bu" in "bu-bu-arare" means "hot water" or "tea" and that it is a women''s word used mainly in Kyoto. "It''s something you put on ochazuke, but I think it''s also good on porridge." "Really?" Jin poured a teaspoon of bubu-arare onto the porridge in a small bowl. He uses a lotus root, or more precisely, a lotus flower, to put it in his mouth. "Yes, it''s delicious!" The trick is to eat it before the bubu-arare absorbs the water and wilts. You can enjoy both the thick porridge and the crunchy arabesque texture. It is lightly seasoned with salt and soy sauce. "Let''s see... ...... Oh, this is good! "Right?" Saki tried it and liked it too. Erza is also eating it with relish. Jin said, "You should eat vegetables, too. Jin nudges Saki to eat vegetables too. The vegetables are cooked quickly like the rice porridge with the seven herbs, so there should still be some vitamins left in them. "Yes, I know." Saki is no amateur when it comes to nutritional balance, but she seems to eat only her favorite foods without saying a word. "Saki-sama, the citric acid in pickled plums is also good for your health. "Ugh, I don''t like sour food. Jin stopped saying anything else and concentrated on eating the porridge. "It was delicious. "Thanks for the food." "Thanks for the food." "Thanks for the food." "Thanks for the food." "Thanks for the food." After the meal, buckwheat tea was served. It is caffeine-free, fragrant, and gentle on the stomach. "Well, Saki. Now that you''ve calmed down, please explain to me what''s going on. "Yes, first of all. ......" 1366 - - 37-08 Psakis efforts and achievements "The first thing we had to work on was the biodegradability." "Oh." is the property of a material to decompose into inorganic substances without emitting harmful substances after disposal. Many plastics remain in the soil and water for a long time without decomposing, causing environmental pollution. Saki has learned about the story of Jin''s former home on Earth, and has worked hard to make it have these properties. "<> are plastic. They do not deteriorate as long as they are supplied with magic power. Saki explained that when the supply of magic power is cut off and the magic contained in them dissipates, they begin to deteriorate. "Isn''t that great?" "Hehehe, I can''t lose to Hannah-chan. Saki continued her explanation. "The reason why Magi metals and alloys are so strong is because the magical isotopes (Magi isotopes) in them react with free magical elements (ether) to increase their strength, and you wanted to do the same thing with resin. "I can understand that." Jin had guessed that much. The biggest problem was what to do about the molecular structure of plastic. When I mentioned this to him, he said, "Yes, I honestly decided that <>. So I checked out <> book. In the end, I asked Marikka to help me and talked to Mr. 700672. Saki replied with a smile. "So ...... you went through a lot of trouble." "No, no, I''m doing what I love, so I don''t think it''s hard work, but I don''t think it''s painful!" Saki is positive to the last. "So I did some research. I found the molecular structure, but there is no way I can reproduce the whole thing. Besides, we don''t want to emit toxic gases when we burn it. "Yeah." Saki had a firm idea. "So, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyacetal, and polyethylene terephthalate were the candidates. I could say ...... like that without chewing." Saki smiled as she said all the difficult names at once, "I don''t fully understand it either. She stuck out her tongue. "So you chose a plastic made only of carbon and hydrogen," he said. "I can understand that." Jin was aware that plastics containing sulfur, nitrogen, chlorine, etc., could produce toxic gases and pollute the environment, depending on how they were burned. Saki really gave priority to environmental concerns. "So, among the candidates I just mentioned, I selected those that could be reproduced by engineering magic," he says, "polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyacetal. These were the limits." In fact, the other plastics were complicated by a structure called a benzene ring. "No, it''s still amazing!" Jin was honestly impressed. "One unfortunate thing is that all of them are not very transparent. Saki looked frustrated as she said, "They can''t be used for windows. "But I''m sure we can work on that in the future." Jin followed Saki''s lead, "It''s not like there aren''t other transparent materials out there. "Yeah, ......, I guess so. From now on!" Once again, Jin looked at the three types of Maggi plastics that Saki had developed. Maggi Polyethylene. Jin was one step away from developing it, but Saki had done an excellent job. Magi Polypropylene. It is harder than polyethylene and can be used in different ways. Magi polyacetal. The strongest of the three. "My guess is that it will be ruined in about 10 to 20 years under normal use." "I guess so." The plastics Jin knows are similar in terms of durability. "But it can also be burned, and with the <>, it can be broken down into carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen! "That''s amazing." Saki''s hard work and efforts were evident. "So, what did you do with the raw materials?" Jin was also at a loss. "Kuhuh, it''s ethenol! "I see! < It should contain large amounts of the magical isotopes (magiisotopes) of hydrogen H2 and oxygen O2. "I didn''t have much trouble finding C." The magical isotope of carbon (maggi-isotope) is found in many things. For example, it is found in the flesh and skin of demons. It is also found in magic resins. What would Jin make with this? A baby bottle, I guess. "What?" Saki''s eyes rolled back in her head at the unexpected word. "There are more babies in the village of Kaina, and there must be a demand for them in the world." "Hmmm, a baby bottle, then. I wonder if Jin has become a little more self-aware now that he has a family. Saki smiled mischievously and patted Jin on the shoulder. "Aware?" "...... Oh, dear. Jin will eventually become a father too. "Oh, I see what you mean." Jin blushed when Saki interrupted him. "Thanks anyway, Saki." "Kuh, for Jin''s sake, but I hope it''s for the world''s sake too!" "Yeah, I guess so." Jin''s face broke into a smile when he saw Saki smiling so radiantly. * * * * * * "So, what are you doing, Jin?" Jin and Saki were talking over Citran juice in the institute''s cafeteria. "Oh, I don''t know if there''s a mess with Hale or not, but I''m going to focus on the points to reflect on from the last battle with ." "Reflections?" "Yes. I realized that I didn''t have a decisive move against a huge opponent." "Yeah, that''s true." Saki was with me in Adriana, so I know what you mean. "Well, what exactly?" "Well, we need to make it possible to release <> with the Magi Transcription Cannon, and prepare a high power <>. "It''s not a very fun development." Saki smiled as she saw the bitterness on Jin''s face. "Indeed. I can''t wait to get out of this mess. "I''ll cooperate with you, even if it''s not enough. Jin, good luck. For Erza''s sake and for the sake of this planet. "Of course I will." Saki looked at Jin with narrowed eyes. 1367 - - 37-09 Trojan Group In the jet-black space, <> was constructing a simple relay base. < It is a flat disc-shaped structure, and its position can be controlled and somewhat moved by the <>. It has a simple living facility and can accommodate 10 people for about a week. However, the main purpose is to serve as a relay point for magical equipment such as a . At the same time, it is a landmark of the transition. It is equipped with physical barriers (solid barriers) and defensive shields (aigis), and is also capable of dealing with meteorites. Of course, it is also equipped with a magic barrier (Magic Barrier) to resist magical attacks. In about two days, built it. The ship is also equipped with a magic barrier to resist magical attacks. "I guess it''s different when you can send materials by transfer. Jin nodded in satisfaction at Horai Island. By sending the materials that had been pre-processed on Horai Island to by transporter, the construction period was drastically shortened. "I''m counting on you, old man." < As soon as the relay station was completed, the "Mere Old Man" used the "Peeper" telescope to look at Hale, but he could not see the area where he thought the planet Hale was located, because it was covered by a strong barrier. Do you want <<<< Vulcan>> to move into the Hale area? >> In a way, we had planned for this, as we had anticipated it. "Yes." The plan is simple: we will place near Hale, close enough to use it as a foothold for our advance. < "It will be. Please. We have to be careful. Jin knows that. We don''t want an interplanetary war because of a misunderstanding. * * * * By the way, two days ago, on December 20th. The old man asked Jin. "Where to?" The position is the opposite of the direction that <<<< Vulcan>> was headed. The old man explains that his guess is that Hale''s relay base is in that direction. "Indeed. We need to check it out." < "Yes. What is the formation?" <<<<<<<<> I''ll send six ships. Jin thought for a moment and then gave his approval. "...... because there might be a danger. All right." After this meeting, a scouting team was dispatched. * * * * > December 23. In the position of the last apex of the equilateral triangle with the sun Seran and the planet Arus at its apex. < A reconnaissance party of six ships detects something huge floating in space. The orbital points of the two objects and the equilateral triangle are in stable equilibrium. This is called the Lagrangian point, but Jin did not seem to know it. The brain of Horai Island, the old man, after a mathematical consideration, had a renewed recognition that this point was a suitable place to place a relay base. > went. The old man immediately contacted and told him to be careful about the 120 degree position. Since the 60 degree position has already passed, he thinks it is enough to check it on the way back. He said, "Mr. Mere Old Man, I have to tell you that the position of 120 degrees has already passed. "I have heard what you said, Mr. Mere Old Man. Half a day later, the reconnaissance team was approaching the object. "Yes. I knew there was out there." Jin is satisfied that his decision of three days ago was correct. An image from the flagship of the reconnaissance team, the <>, was projected onto the large magic screen in the control room. A group of asteroids was projected on the screen. >. This is also called <>, and the one in Jupiter''s orbit is especially famous. There were asteroids of various sizes, some of which looked like they could be used as bases. "Hmmm, if there was such a place, why didn''t they collect resources from here?" < I could only imagine. "Any reaction?" "I see. Proceed with caution. If there is no base, there may come a day in the not-too-distant future when we will have to get the resources of Ars from here." . * * * * "...... has a lot of problems." Jin blurts out. "Here is your tea, father." Reiko brought him a cup of hojicha (roasted green tea). "Oh, thank you, Reiko." Jin sighs as he takes a sip of the properly cooled hojicha. "I wonder if we''re going to encounter this much trouble just because we''re going to Hale to scout. "I''m sure your father will be fine! "I hope so." With a wry smile, Jin drank down his cup of hojicha tea. Then Elsa came in with a cup of tea. "Brother Jin, tea ......... Oh, what''s that?" Erza looks a little disappointed when she sees the finished cup of tea. "Oh, I''m thirsty and just wanted another cup. "Well, that''s good." Jin takes the tea that Erza made for him. It was brown rice tea. "Yes, it''s delicious." The sky of Horai Island was so clear and blue that it was impossible to imagine what was happening in the universe beyond. 1368 - - 37-10 Completion of boundary For two full days, six reconnaissance ships checked the asteroid field. From the largest to the smallest. The number of asteroids checked was about 2000. But still, we could not check even half of the asteroids. < here, and the remaining five ships go back 60 degrees in orbit. That is also probably the stability point. The old man gave these instructions, and the five ships of the scouting party set off ahead. As a side note, the term in this case refers to the direction of orbit. If we look at the Ars North Pole from the top, the direction of the orbit is counterclockwise. In other words, means clockwise movement. As a side note, in terms of Lagrangian points, the asteroid group was found at a point called L5 from Ars, and the five vessels are aiming at a point called L4 from Hale. The five vessels are aiming at a point called L4 from the viewpoint of Hale. The five vessels are aiming at a point called L4 from Hale. "Now, all that remains is ......." After receiving the report at Horai Island, Jin started the meeting with the old man. "Now that we have given the airships to the countries, it is possible to go to and from the Kunlun Island, isn''t it? ? >> The old man understood what Jin meant. "That''s good news." "A phantom ward. It is an important ward for the future concealment of Horai Island. . The old man began to explain. "Yes. < Since it includes not only visible light but also ultraviolet and infrared rays, it is impossible to detect with optical instruments. However, it has a disadvantage that no light can penetrate into the inside of the field, resulting in total darkness. > The old man further explains to Jin. >. "Yes." This is a countermeasure against the possibility that objects such as boats or demons may come by accident. <<. "I see." >. << < "But we need to keep monitoring it 24 hours a day." Jin immediately replies to the old man''s request. "Yes, sir." As he was told by No. 700672 the other day, it is important to hide Jin''s true ability. . Jin immediately started to make a special magic brain for warding. He was not at ease unless he was working on something. The brain was completed in half a day. "You will be treated as your servant, old man." > "How about the name ......<>?" I thought about Mirage, but decided against it because it didn''t sound good. <<<< Kagero>>? It means "elusive. Thus, the auxiliary magic brain that controls the Horaijima ward, <>, was born. "By the way, Brother Jin." When Jin reported this to Erza, a question came back. "I thought it would be completely dark inside the <> ward, but why isn''t it so?" "Oh, I guess Elsa didn''t hear me. That''s the part I''ve been struggling with the most. It''s not in the first place." "What?" At first, I had thought of <>, >, and > as countermeasures, but I didn''t like any of them because they all had their pros and cons. So Jin was working on developing a <> like the ones in the old Leonard''s Kingdom as an alternative to <> warding. "The point is, you can see things because the reflected light enters your eyes, right?" "Yes." Elsa nodded. "So I thought. I''m going to process that light." "Oh, I see." It would be more like using image processing software to remove electric wires and other obstructions in a photo. Such a is the in this case. < is being played with and replaced by the light reflected by the background. The incoming light is left as it is, but the reflected light and the outgoing light are modified. So the incoming light is not blocked at all. "I see." Elsa smiled. "By the way?" Jin asked Elsa. "You''ve been out of the house a lot lately, what''s going on?" But Erza laughed and shook her head. "No, nothing. I went to visit your mother the other day to see how she was doing." Elsa calls her <, referring to her foster mother, Marlene. Her own mother, Meine, calls her . "How are you?" "Yes. Father is feeling much better, I''m relieved to hear that. "That''s good to hear. But you could have invited me if you wanted to go back to your parents'' house. At Jin''s words, Erza said, "But now is a difficult time for my brother Jin. Jin replied with a smile. Jin was happy to hear Elsa''s thoughtfulness, "Thank you. He sat back down next to her and gently hugged her shoulder. He sat back down next to her and hugged her shoulder gently. "Well, there are still some things that need to be done. After taking a break, Jin went back to the workshop and started to prepare with the help of Reiko. "Father, what are you going to do? Reiko asks, to which Jin replies with a smile. "We are going to improve the performance of the air force. 1369 - - 37-11 Measures to be followed Jin announced to Reiko that he would begin upgrading the performance of the air force. "What exactly are you going to do?" "We will make it usable in space." At present, all air power is equipped with a , so it is possible to operate in space as long as there are no humans aboard. "But it''s only at the level of <>, isn''t it?" "That''s true, but..." "We don''t know what will happen with Hale. So we have to be careful." Jin thinks that the power and defense are enough for the space force, but the simple < are not enough. "The last long-period planet <, you know. When we dealt with that debris, it was in the atmosphere, so we could handle it, but I don''t know what would happen if it were in space." "I see what you mean. Fortunately, the aircraft, the child of magical engineering, has plenty of space available to store additional equipment. "We will add barriers and long-range artillery." <> and >. With these additions, Sky Squadron can operate as a space fighter squadron. "That''s it." Jin, who had created the template for the work, instructed the craftsmen (smiths). <<. It will only take a couple of days. "All right, let''s go this way." Jin decides to make some modifications to the himself. He could carry a human being into space for a short time, but he was afraid of harmful cosmic rays. Therefore, he installed a strong optical barrier (barrier) in three layers. Only visible light is allowed to pass through the barrier, and the light intensity above a certain level is cut off. This will reduce the risk of being hit in the eyes by flashes of light from explosions and the like. Father, thank you for your hard work. You might as well call it a day." "Oh, it''s almost that time." It''s almost 6:00 p.m. Jin took a bath to relax his body, enjoyed Elsa''s cooking, and took a good rest. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Father, what are you doing today?" Reiko, his assistant, asked. "Today we are going to make a lei." "A lei?" "Yes. Machina''s followers. You''ve been inside and moved before, haven''t you?" The female knight who came to the rescue of Elsa''s brother Fritz when he was attacked by a monster in the old Leonard''s Kingdom. "Yes, that''s right." She was wearing on her arms, on her legs, a full-face helmet, and armor, which disguised her size by about 20 centimeters. "I still have the armor from that time, and I''m going to make an automata that can wear it, and I''m going to make it Machina''s assistant. Reiko smiled happily as Jin added, "You''ll have to stay by my side. "I understand. I will help you." This was another familiar task for Jin and Reiko. "I''d say they''re about the same or better than Rand and the others. They''re below Reiko. The structure is similar to Reiko''s, and the rest depends on the material. She is 5''5" tall and petite. Her hair is silver with bluish tint. Her eyes are ice blue. Father, do you have an agenda? "No, this time, just like Anne and the others, I''ve chosen a color that is unlikely to be found among humans. "I think there are demons..." "They might, but I don''t think so." There is silver hair and light blue eyes, but no silver hair with a bluish tinge. "I don''t think anyone has eyes this blue, either." Her hair is shoulder-length and semi-long. "Okay, that''s good." The order was as follows: No. 1, Jin; No. 2, Laojun; No. 3, . Elsa comes in fourth, and Reiko fifth. Rei, I''m counting on you. "Yes, Jin-sama." You may not have many opportunities to appear in public, but as the leader of the World Guard, you will be working hard together with Machina from now on. * * * * "...... wind." In the evening, Jin was relaxing in the hot spring at his <>. "I''ve done pretty much everything I need to do. ......I wonder if there''s anything left to do." Reiko answered his soliloquy. Your father is working very hard. Please take care of yourself. Jin replied as he stretched out in the hot water. "Oh, yes. It would be bad if I were to get sick when the time comes. Jin muttered to himself and looked out the window of the bathroom. The moon had just risen in the twilight sky. "I wonder if the spaceships are almost ready over there?" Jin says, "Let''s go take a look at it for rest and distraction. "Will it really be a rest? Reiko is a little skeptical. Then Elsa calls out that dinner will be ready soon, and Jin decides to get out of the bath. After a congenial dinner, Jin tells Elsa about the spaceship being built on the moon (UNY). It should be completed soon. So I thought we could go see it tomorrow. "Is that with a doppelganger?" Of course. Okay, I''ll be there. Okay. Erza also decided to go. Jin went to sleep with a feeling of excitement for the first time in a long time. * * * * * * * * * * * Let''s get connected. Yes. The next day, Jin and Erza were in the control room in the basement of the institute, at the controls of the <>. < Jin and Erza''s vision changes. However, they feel as if they are <>. Using the warp gate to the moon, the two of them move to the facility inside the moon. Welcome, Master Jin and Erza. The control head, Mr. Jack, greets them. Three accompanying ships are ready, sir. <>Yes, sir. Yes, sir. 100 meter class spherical ships. The basic structure is the same as the Vulcan. < was also built in Yuny''s arsenal, so it was only natural that < would use it as a reference. < Yes, I will show you. Jin was excitedly moving the doppelganger. 1370 - - from 37 to December > ><> Three spherical ships were lined up in the arsenal of the Moon. The basic structure is the same as the Vulcan. Jack, the brain behind the management of the Moon, began to explain. Indeed, the basic structure is the same, so it is easy to understand. The difference is that this is not a craft but a destroyer. In other words, it focuses on combat and defense capabilities. > Yes. First of all, mass bombs. We have a large stock of iron meteorites, and we process them into bullets. Each bullet weighs about 500 kilograms. Jin acknowledged the power of the bullets, saying that 500 kg mass bullets would be quite effective. Especially, it would be ideal to break through magical barriers. And then <>. This is an application of the force field generator "Force Generator", an invisible rod. It can repel or push away flying objects. Now that I''ve heard about the principle, I''d like to try my hand at making one myself. I also equipped it with the Magitranscription Cannon (Magitrans Cannon) and the laser beam that Jin-sama is using. . The point is that while destructive power is necessary, it is also necessary to be able to cope when dealing with a large number of people. Jin had also been working on improving the air force on Horai Island until recently, so he understood what <> was saying. After the explanation of the low-power weapons and the defensive wards, the test flight is conducted. Master Jin, please name these three vessels. <<< Okay. ...... hmmm ......>> Jin and Jin D are thinking about it. The first thing that came to mind was the three stars of Orion, but Jin did not know the names of the stars, so he passed. The next one that came to mind was the Summer Triangle. Vega in Lyra, Altair in Eagle, and Deneb in Cygnus. At about the same time, I thought of the Winter Triangle. Sirius in Canis Major, Procyon in Canis Major, and Betelgeuse in Orion. > After much deliberation, since it is winter now, I decided to go with , <<<><<<<><>. and decided to start with the Winter Triangle. Thank you very much. <><> floats up slowly in order. The three ships are first stationary at 2000 meters above the moon. No problems with engine power or control. Next, a flight test. The three ships began to move side by side. The three ships continue to move side by side in an equilateral triangular formation, hurtling through space. No problem at the normal maximum acceleration of 20 Gs. There is one fundamental difference between the three ships and Jin''s spaceship. There is one fundamental difference between these three ships and those built by Jin: they do not have a to operate them. That is to say, there is no humanoid , but there is a that controls the ship. It is the management brain of the same name as the ship. It controls every inch of the ship. Hence, the upper limit of acceleration resistance is also high. < Yes, Master Jin. Further tests were conducted on the armament, and no problems were found in any of them, thus the test flight was completed. Erza has stopped controlling her doppelganger one step earlier than Jin, and has returned to her <>. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin-sama, Milowina-sama wants to see you. The underground facility of the Moon is ahead. Jin D is replaced by Jin himself. "Jin-kun, it''s been about half a month. ......?" Yes, it has. I''m glad to see you''re doing well. The last time we met was on December 13th, Meane''s birthday, so it has been 13 days since our last meeting. "I''ve been feeling better lately." Milowina looked healthy, with good blood color and toned body. "Gravity is almost 1G now," she said. "That''s a good thing." Living under 1G was desirable because the weak gravity could reduce her bone density. His diet has become normal and his immune system seems to be working. Eventually, she will be able to live in Ars without the sterilization barrier. "But my home is still here. Milowina laughed softly. Jin, you seem to be very busy. "Yes, but it''s all over now. The two were relaxing in the room that Milowina called the "observation room" in the Moon facility. "Father!" Reiko comes in. She seems to be worried about Jin in the flesh. In her hand she holds a basket of sterilized Persica as a souvenir. "Thank you, Reiko." Persica from Horai Island was Milowina''s favorite food. "It''s weird that you don''t know what''s going on with Hale. "Yes, it is." "We''ve been monitoring it on the moon, but so far we''ve had no luck." "I see. Thank you very much. < that the supplies and free magical element (ether) from Ars must have stopped after the capture of , and that there would be some kind of reaction if they were suspicious of it. "Even if they come from Hale, it will take about 20 days to a month. If you include the preparation time, it might take a little longer," Jin said. "That''s why we were strengthening our air power until just yesterday." "I see. I see. That''s why we''ve been strengthening our air power until just yesterday. ...... Oh, thank you." Reiko immediately peeled a Persica. Milowina''s face broke into a smile as she took a piece in her mouth. "Oh, it''s so sweet and delicious! Jin also took a piece. "Yes, they are very ripe. This is a time when Jin feels at ease. "Jin-kun, don''t overdo it." What?...... yes? Don''t be tense. Oh, ...... yes. Once again, Milowina seemed to sense that Jin was about to run off on his own. "You''re not alone. If ...... you forget, I''ll remind you again and again." "Thank you." Jin chuckled to himself, thinking that he was still not very smart with the older, more mature woman. * * * * * * "Well, let''s make a fresh start. Jin returned to Horai Island and went back to the house of Loisart with Elsa. In the Shoro Kingdom, preparations were finally underway for the . "It seems that the airships are now in operation. The leading figures were boarding the airships one by one and testing their comfort. "I hope a new era will start ......." Jin looked up at the airship floating in the blue sky and muttered to himself. 1371 - - 37-13 Trouble The space-bound <> was now flying along the orbit of Ars, rather than in a straight line to Hale. There was a possibility that there might be a clue in the orbit. It would be a detour of about a day, but it did not matter. Gathering information is important. And as it approached the position where something could be found, 60 degrees behind Hale''s orbit, L5 in Lagrangian terms, <> slowed down. December 27. < The Magni Reactor has gone haywire. The Cosmos team in the engine room, which is supposed to be controlling it precisely, also suffered the same phenomenon. "U......" The outburst subsides in a few seconds. With the reliability of the Magi Reactor that Jin had built, it had regained self-control through feedback. "Yes, what was that?Is the ship damaged?Check quickly! The captain, Cosmos 501, who was stationed on the central bridge, sent out instructions. Reports soon came in from various departments. "This is engine room 1. The magni reactor went out of order for a few seconds. It''s stable now. This is Engine Room 2. The Magni Reactor ran out of power for a few seconds. It''s stable now. This is Engine 3. The Magni Reactor ran out of power for a few seconds. It''s stable now. This is auxiliary engine room. The Magni Reactor ran out of power for a few seconds. Part of the maggireactor was damaged. There is no problem with navigation. Cosmos 501 requested a report from the observation room. This is observation room 1. No obstructions observed. This is observation room 2. No obstructions observed. This is the analysis team. We have measured the concentration of free magical element (ether) in the space, and it is more than 1000 times higher than in normal space. The number is not constant, but it is between 1000 and 1200. 1000 times the concentration of free magic element (ether). It could be called a cloud of free magical element (ether). It seems that has plunged into it. As a result, the energy generated by the Magi Reactor is increased by a factor of 1000. The feedback was applied and the situation calmed down in a few seconds, but in those few seconds the various magi-machines were overloaded. * * * * * * * * * * This situation was immediately reported to Horaijima. <<1000 times the concentration of free magic element (ether). ...... It is hard to believe that it is spontaneous. It is a concentration that cannot be considered spontaneous, and is thought to cause various harmful effects. Reiko was once exposed to 1000 times higher concentration of free magic element (ether) when she confronted who is now . Reiko was able to save the day, but if she had made a mistake, it could have stopped or been damaged. 1000 times the concentration is such a dangerous level. What do you think? Jin also heard the news and came to the control room at 6 in the morning. < "A fixed point!" "I see." <<> "Yes. Especially carefully." * * * * At the old man''s command, <> has slowed down even further. Make sure you get a good look around. Copy that. Copy that. All departments are responding. How''s the repair status of the damaged part? The damage is minor, so repairs should be completed in less than two hours. The is originally a craft, so there is no shortage of materials, and all crew members can use engineering magic. It just takes time to check her because of her large size. An hour has passed since the start of the observation. All the damage to the ship has been repaired and the operation checks have been completed. < is as good as new. The high concentration of free magical element (ether) is working in the right direction. Two more hours have passed. "We have detected an object in the orbital plane, 2300 km ahead. The long awaited report came in. After all this time, the anti-detection warding is set up and <> moves silently in that direction. In a few minutes, the object reaches a visible distance and <> comes to a relative halt. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "This is a sphere, isn''t it?" It is a smooth sphere in appearance, different from the abandoned relay station which was a hemisphere. "Is this facility still alive?" "Let''s use <> carefully." * * * > activates the peepers. "The image is a little bad. Have you checked the operation?" captain Cosmos501 asked his XO Cosmos502. "Please wait a moment. ...... Ah, I found the cause. It seems that the communication waves are being interfered with or scattered by the too dense free magic element (ether). "I see. What is the concentration of free magic element (ether) in this area?" ...... is more than 3,000 times higher than in normal space. "That''s a frightening concentration. But there seems to be no doubt that this is the center of the anomaly in the concentration of free magic element (ether). Thereupon, began to show the inside of the sphere. The first thing that caught my eye was the warehouses. The first thing that caught my eye was the warehouses. About half of them are filled with materials. "This looks like a warehouse too. Jin of the Horaijima command center muttered to himself. The Peeper moved further toward the center of the warehouse. "Is this where the equipment comes from?" > he said. Then, the problematic magi-machine was projected on the screen. "Could this be a ?" The floor was covered with a layer of dust. From that, it seems that there is gravity and air inside. Then another magi-machine is shown on the screen. "This is also a . < "Is there a golem for maintenance?" And then, the screen shows a golem of a different shape. But all of them seemed to have been out of operation for a long time. 1372 - - 37-14 Breaths "Yeah. And you didn''t even try to fix it. Or maybe they couldn''t." < "What is this ...... that is moving?What is this Magi-machine?" <. <>. "What! Finally, he finds a great source of information. But... "Oh, ...... that''s too bad." The cause is unknown, but its control core was missing. "But we will be able to read the information, even if it is only in fragments. Let the Cosmos team investigate." < Since there seemed to be no threat, the stage was switched from observation by <> to direct investigation by the Cosmos team. * * * * * * * * * * * * Ten golems in battle suits. The number is 600 from Kosmos 591. Arrive at the surface of the sphere from in a few minutes. Find a way in.] Copy that.] It was found in minutes. < The peepers also confirm that there are no visible traps or obstacles inside. The Cosmos team was able to safely enter through the emergency hatch. The area is an airlock, and the inside of the sphere is maintained at 0.8 atmospheric pressure. The gaseous component seems to be mostly nitrogen.] Maybe for the protection of metals.] The metal used was <. <, which used . The 10 cosmos headed toward the back of the room, staying close to each other, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings and making observations as they walked. This is unusual.] Cosmos 595 pointed out a material warehouse they found on the way. There, what appeared to be ...... biological materials, which were the first materials seen at the Hale base, were stored. However, it had dried up over the years. It looks like dragon leather.] I took some samples. Then we went further in. The corridor was separated in places by bulkheads, which served to keep it airtight. They were not locked and were easily opened manually, so there was no difficulty in moving about. It appears that one enters the critical facility from here.] The size of the bulkhead is clearly different. It was also unlocked, so it was easy to pass through, but the thickness of the door we checked at that time was three times as thick as it had been before. Mm, there is a magi-machine. It seems to be broken.] This breakage is inexplicable.] Cosmos597 and 598 checked out the nearest Magi machine. Although its purpose is unknown, the energy system ...... mana driver has been damaged. And there was more than one such mana machine. The same is true here.] Same here.] The mana drivers of all the found Magi Machines had been damaged. While taking a detour in the name of confirmation, the Cosmos Squad found <>. There were five of them. This is also an energy system ...... mana driver is damaged, isn''t it? Cosmos593 said. And Cosmos594 finally found what he was looking for. There was a magic management brain here!] Good.] Cosmos591 and 592 decide to analyze it. Hmmm... ...... the control core has been cracked after all. The cause is unknown, but there is no doubt that it is the cause of the shutdown. After removing the broken control core, Cosmos591 decides to run < on it. Lead info is an engineering magic. <, it does not transcribe but only reads. If you don''t have the processing power like the "Mere Old Man", it is not so useful because the readinfo is instantaneous. "Is this ......?" However, the information processing capability of the Cosmos Corps is fast enough. With a glance at the magic formula (Magi Formula), commands, and information text that flowed for a moment, Cosmos 591 learned of past events, even if only a part of them. * * * * * * "Yes, let me hear it." <> "300 years ago......" Jin thought to himself, "You mean around the time of the magic wars? Three hundred years ago was the time of the Magic War. And the external factor that affects the free magical element (ether) is the "Aether Stampede". "The Aether Stampede has affected this place? < "But how did it happen? ......" <> is a magic that makes you consume free magical energy (ether) in a very short period of time. "Does it affect us through the free energy transfer device?" < "Ummm ......" <<> is a strategic magic that transforms free magic elements (ether) into light by means of magic rays with special wavelengths and waveforms. At this time, mana is also decomposed back into free magic element (ether), which is fatal to dependent life forms. Jin wondered if this could damage the mana drivers at distant relay stations. "I can think of two problems. One is, can the mana furnace (mana driver) be damaged by the turns free magic element (ether) into light. Normally, the destructive effect would not occur, but what if the concentration of free magic element (ether) is higher than usual?" What if an <> were to occur in a place where the concentration of free magical elements (ether) is 1000 times higher? Even normally harmless < might show its destructive power when multiplied by 1,000. That was all I could think of at the moment. "I see. ......" also used a silver ball to cause an <>. If one of those magic tools that caused the <> in the past magic wars happened to get mixed in with the transporter supplies.... "So that''s what we have to think." Jin sighed. Originally, <> was a magic technology developed by the Origin or its descendants. If it came around and destroyed this facility. "Causality, that''s all I can say. ......" Jin sighed once again. 1373 - - the end of the 37-151 year The discussion on the reason for the shutdown of what seems to be a relay station continues. "Is the density of the free magical element (ether) dense because there is something like a <> that increases the concentration and is functioning?" << "Coincidence or necessity?" The fact that the magical tools and magical machines (magi-machines) other than the free magical element (ether) acceptor and the free magical element condenser (ether condenser) have broken down. "<> must have been resistant to high free magic element (ether) concentration due to its function. ......" The truth of the matter could only be imagined now. "Anyway, that''s where the free magical element (ether) sent from Ars ended up, right?" "Then, ......" Jin thinks for a moment and then expresses his opinion. "Are you saying that it is not Ars that is sending the free magical element (ether) there, but another relay base?" This relay station is in the position of an equilateral triangle with the sun Serang and Hail. If there is another one, it would be the equilateral triangle between the suns Serang and Ars. "Should we investigate that one as well?" It is assumed that most of the equipment at the relay base on the Ars side is also out of order, probably due to the "ether stampede". In that sense, there is no urgency, but there is a possibility. "Shall we send out a reconnaissance spacecraft?" < "Okay, send out two ships, the <> and the <>. It''s just a reconnaissance mission. Don''t take any chances." < The old man sent out the reconnaissance ships according to Jin''s instructions. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * continues to inspect the deactivated base named <>, and reconfirms that all but the free-magic condenser are deactivated. > "Well, ......1000 to 200 I think it would be a waste to let what I''ve collected ...... dissipate." He is a very poor man. <<< If so, why don''t you leave it as it is? >> "That''s fine. I don''t think there will be any enthusiasts who will come all the way to this place, and if there are, they will take care of it themselves." If you come up with a use for it, we''ll see. "Yes, it will be. But we must be very careful, since there is a barrier." < Thus, on December 28th, <> was re-launched toward Hale. The speed is lower than before, the maximum speed is about 200 km per second, and we will be very careful. * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, the two ships of <> and <> reached their scheduled positions on the 30th. <> There, as expected, <> and > of the same type were floating. "There it is, after all." Carefully. First, we''ll use the Peeper Telescope. <, so it''s very efficient. < After an hour''s investigation, the old man concluded so. . "Yes, I suppose so. The in Antarctica that was sending out free magical element (ether) was also addressed to this place, wasn''t it?" When he looks at what the former , or , have created in this way, he feels a sense of respect, but at the same time, he also feels that it is somewhat inefficient. He suspects that this is due to their individualism and lack of horizontal coordination. "I have to be careful, too. Jin listens to the results of the investigation with a sense of self-discipline. here is working. Perhaps the free magical element (ether) sent from is relayed here. "I suppose so." Jin agrees. "Supplies, too, I suppose." Jin said with a thought, "It is possible that the magic tools that cause the "ether stampede" were mixed in with such materials. "I agree. < team?" < "Okay, you got it." < * * * * * * By the way, according to the calendar of this world, the year ends on December 30, that is, New Year''s Eve. The five-colored golem maids were cleaning up the laboratory and < on Horai Island, the on Kunlun Island, Wujanggaku, Jade Hall, and Loisart''s mansion. The director of the facility, who took care of Jin, had told him that the original was on December 13th in the Edo period. He used to cut many bamboo branches from a bamboo thicket in a corner of the facility, bundle them up, and sweep the ceiling and the back of the eaves with them. "Ah, you are all set. < "Well, Brother Jin, I did it while learning from the old man," said Elsa. were Elsa''s words. She was preparing for New Year''s Eve and New Year''s in Japanese style on behalf of Jin who was very busy. "They say you shouldn''t make decorations for the New Year''s Eve. Overnight decorations are decorations that are hurriedly put up on New Year''s Eve. It is disrespectful to the god of the year, and funerals are generally decorated overnight, so it is considered an abomination. The director of the hospital told him these stories, and the old man also had such miscellaneous knowledge. "Kagamimochi was made by a peridot reader. Kagamimochi, which he used to see in Mitsuho. It was placed on three sides of a tree with a citran on top. Normally, an orange would be placed on top to wish for the prosperity of the family for generations to come, but since it is not there, there is nothing to be done about it. "The five-colored golem maids did their best to make you feel refreshed, even if only a little." This is a sign of concern for Jin, who never seems to get a moment''s rest because of the Hale mess. "Erza is also concerned about you, isn''t she?Thank you." Jin thanked her frankly. "Well, why don''t you go take a bath?" "Yeah, sure." Before I knew it, it was dusk. The turbulent year 3458 was about to end. 1374 - - 37-16 New Year Only a few days left in 3458. On New Year''s Eve, it''s just Jin and Elsa. The night goes on without the couple. In the tatami-matted room, a brazier made by Jin is placed, and a magi crystal of the fire attribute is emitting red-hot heat. Although charcoal was also made, it was an ingenious idea of Jin who did not want to get carbon monoxide poisoning. On the brazier, an iron (?) jar made of adamantite is emitting steam. On the brazier, an adamantite iron (?) jar is emitting steam. A basket of citrons was placed on the sunken kotatsu, instead of tangerines. Reiko is in the kitchen, busy making New Year''s Eve soba noodles. "Here you go, sir. "Oh, thank you, Reiko." Thank you, Reiko. "No, thank you." Jin made his specialty, morisoba, and Erza had hot tempura soba. "Yes, it''s delicious." "Delicious, Reiko." "Thank you." Jin drinks soba-yu (buckwheat water) and Elsa drinks soba-cha (buckwheat tea). "So much has happened this year. ......" Jin muttered. "I''ve been in the Kunlun Kingdom, there was a change of king in the Kingdom of Selroa, and I had a row with Rokure..." "Hmm. I went to ...... Mitsuho, met Mr. Goose, and learned about my predecessor and the wise man (Magus)." Erza also looks back on the past year. "I guess so. ...... I built a spaceship, went to the moon (Yunie), and met Milowina." "We had the World Congress, we built the monorail, we had the Golem competition. "The best part, of course, was getting married." "Yes, that''s right. We went on our honeymoon after traveling around the country. "Gobbling grasshoppers, golems of the past, long-period planets." Disaster...... on Onogoro Island. It''s been an intense year, Jin thinks. "It feels like a year and nine months have passed. ...... Brother Jin, you''re right, that''s just my imagination. I''m sure it''s just my imagination. As Jin was thinking, "I really want to hear the bell ringing on New Year''s Eve," he heard the sound of bells ringing out of nowhere. "That sound ...... I thought that craftsman (Smith)1 has been doing something since yesterday. Apparently, Smith1 had built the bell and the bell tower on the instructions of the old man. Jin thanked the old man for his care and attention. "In my hometown, we ring that bell 108 times on New Year''s Eve to drive out the 108 worldly desires," he said. "Interesting. Interesting." Jin thought Goose and Vivian would be interested in this. And then it was midnight. < The old man''s voice rang out, marking the beginning of the year 3459. Happy New Year, Elsa. "Happy New Year, Elsa." Happy New Year, Reiko. Happy New Year, Father. Happy New Year to you too, old man. Jin then received New Year''s greetings from Soleil, Luna, and the other leaders of the Golems of Horai Island. "Well, after a nap, let''s go to the village of Kaina. "Hmm." Jin wanted to say a few words as a lord. "After that, we will go to Leuthart and greet the New Year at the imperial castle. As the husband of Elsa, a citizen of Shawlo, it was his duty. That should be the end of his official duties, Jin said. "In the evening we will have a banquet with all the family members. "Yes, I''ll be ready." I''ll get it ready. * * * * Because of the time difference, Jin and the others were able to get a normal six hours of sleep rather than a nap. It''s getting light outside. "Father, it''s almost time." Reiko tells me. "Okay, let''s go outside." Even though it is winter, it is not cold on the island of Horai, which is located on the Tropic of Cancer. Jin takes Elsa and Reiko to the front and heads for the laboratory. They climbed the stairs to the roof. The sky in the east was tinted with the color of Akane. It''s the first Akane. And the new year''s sun was rising. "It''s the first sunrise of the year." It''s beautiful. Aren''t you two cold? Yeah, I''m fine. Thank you, Reiko. Jin and Elsa watch the sunrise on the roof of the institute. Their faces are lit up by the sun that has just risen, and they are the same shade of madder red as the sky. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Yes, it''s delicious. Jin and Erza were eating zoni at home. It was a simple soy sauce-based soup made from chicken and pork stock, with kamaboko (fish paste) and leafy vegetables. The rice cake is rectangular. Jin had seven rice cakes and Elsa had three. "Oh, it was delicious!" Jin and Erza tasted the ozoni that Perid Reader had prepared with his best effort. The New Year''s festive dishes were black soybeans, tazukuri, lotus root stew, kinton, datemaki, red and white kamaboko, grilled prawn in devil''s shell, kinpira gobo, and kombu-roll (kelp roll), each of which looked exactly like the one at ....... They were the joint work of all the five-colored golem maids. After picking them little by little, Jin rubbed his stomach while drinking hojicha (roasted green tea) after the meal. "Maybe I ate a little too much..." Next to him, Erza is smiling wryly. Around 9:00 a.m., Jin first moved to Nido Castle. A New Year''s party had been announced in advance. It was 6:40 a.m. in Kaina Village. Since it was not customary to see the first day of the year and there was a light snowfall in Kayna that day, all the villagers, including the children, were gathered in the hall. "Happy New Year, everyone! This was the New Year''s greeting that Jin had spread last year. All the villagers chanted in unison. "Happy New Year! 1375 - - at the beginning of 37-17 "Here comes the New Year''s gift!" Jin, as the lord of the village, gave out New Year''s gifts to the children ......15 under the age of 15 in the village of Kaina. "Yay! "Thank you, Jin-chan!" The children still call Jin "Jin-chan" and he does not blame them. In fact, he is happy that they call him that. For Jin, the village of Kaina is his second home. All the children in his hometown are his . Perhaps it is a feeling that only he who grew up in an institution can have, but he thinks it is fine. The gift is not money, but a beautiful magi-crystal that has been polished. It would probably be worth no less than 1,000 toles (about 10,000 yen) if it were exchanged for cash, but the children had no intention of exchanging it for money. "Wow, what a beautiful stone! I''ll take good care of it!" Jin looked at these children with a smile on his face. Rita, Ruu, and the other girls who had arrived last year seemed to have settled in well. "Thanks to you, Jin-sama, we are living happily. Barrow and Bele also seem to be living peacefully in the village, working as herders. Now, after the New Year''s greetings, Jin, the lord of the village, offers a drink to the villagers. "Oh! "I''m looking forward to this! "Oh, I know this sake!" Jin has been trying his best to accumulate goods instead of money, because spending his accumulated funds in this way will help revitalize the world economy. Sake is one of them, and I have been hoarding high alcohol content, shelf-stable sake, and releasing some of it. Even the wives, who usually complain about excessive drinking, do not say anything because it is a New Year''s party. Also, since there is a special recovery medicine made in Horaijima, hangovers and overdrinking can be cured immediately. Jin enjoyed the New Year''s party in Kaina village until 11:00 a.m. and then moved to Loisart. The doppelganger takes care of the rest. Erza had already returned to the house and was waiting for Jin. "Happy New Year to everyone in the house! "Happy New Year to everyone in the house! Jin calls out to the golem maids, and quickly prepares himself. At 9:00 a.m. Leutzert time, Jin went to the palace. He was one of the people who were to meet with the emperor''s chief advisors to welcome the new year. "Everyone, I am happy to welcome another New Year safely. The voice of the Empress echoed in the hall. "This year, too, we will face many problems. But we must keep moving forward to a better future. There is the issue of the World Congress and the World Guard. "......3459 Let us work hard to make the year ...... a good one." And the Empress''s speech comes to an end. "Today is just a meeting. I wish you good health and a happy new year of work for your country and your people." * * * * Jin returned to the <> in the morning, and moved to Horai Island again with Erza. They were going to have a New Year''s party with all the members of the at night. "Oh, everything is already in order, isn''t it? "Yes, master." The five-colored golem maids had been hard at work since the morning, and everything was already prepared except for the hot dishes. "Hey Jin, Happy New Year! Jin, Happy New Year! Saki and Goose were the first to arrive. We don''t have any official work, so we''re not busy," said Saki. Saki said. "Onii-chan, Happy New Year! "Happy New Year, Jin! "Happy New Year, Hannah, Martha-san." Next came Martha and Hannah. The greeting in the village of Kayna was addressed to all the villagers, so I greeted them again here. Jin-kun, Happy New Year! Then Milowina from Yuny. "Happy New Year, Jin! Happy New Year! And Marcia and Rodrigo, father and daughter. "Happy New Year, Jin-san!" Licia said. "Happy New Year, Jin-sama!" Jin, Happy New Year! "Hello!" Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt and Mrs. Bertsche with their beloved daughter Juliana. Happy New Year, Jin. Happy New Year! Toa and Stellina. Happy New Year! ...... is a nice way to greet the new year. Vivian said. Jin, Happy New Year! "Happy New Year, Jin-sama!" Bina and Count Louis Wurz Kuzma said. "Happy New Year, Jin-sama!" "Happy New Year, Jin-sama! ...... is this correct? Happy New Year, Jin! Marikka and Zion. Of course, Erza''s mother, Meine, had spent the morning preparing for the New Year''s party with the golem maids on Hourai Island, so now everyone was here. "Once again, Happy New Year everyone! "Happy New Year! The New Year''s party started with Jin''s greeting. The main topic of discussion was, first and foremost, the exploration of Hale, including . Without going into the technical details, Jin explained only the events. "Oh, so that''s how it is ......." "It''s quite complicated, isn''t it?" Marcia and Bina were the least familiar with the situation. "It will be interesting to see what happens with Hale. "Yes, it is." Theon and Maricka were curious about what was going on, since they were involved in some way. Then the conversation turned to Bina and Luis ......, the second generation that is supposed to be born this year. "We''re expecting around May, right?" "Do you want a boy or a girl?" "Well, he''s already grown up, isn''t he?" "This is an important time, you have to be careful. Come on, sit down." Jin, Reinhard and Luis were drinking in the corner while the women were busy. "Isn''t it about time at Jin''s place too? Reinhard asked. "As a cousin, I''m deeply moved by the idea of that Erza becoming a mother. "You''re jumping the gun. Erza hasn''t said a word. But I''m sure it''s just a matter of time. And then Elsa comes in. What are you talking about? She had heard the name Elsa mentioned. "No, no, nothing. Just chatting." "Yes, yes. Elsa, don''t mind if I do. "Yeah?" Elsa tilts her head. Reinhardt and Lewis thought it would be impolite to talk about children to their faces, so they made a fool of themselves. 1376 - - 37-18 Thinking about the future of the demon territory The New Year''s party ended peacefully, and those who had work to do went to their respective houses, while the others stayed at Horaijima. Those who stayed over were Saki, Goose, Vivian, Hannah, Zion, and Marikka. Meene is not a sleepover group because this place is like a half house (she has her own room). Milowina went back to the house with a regretful look on her face. "I see..." she said. "There''s a lot of things to do, isn''t there ......?" Guth and Vivian are listening to the details of the story from the old man''s mobile terminal. They dig deeper into the details of their particular interest. Saki had fallen asleep after drinking too much. She was tired, and the alcohol had made her easily intoxicated. Hannah, Zion, and Marikka were playing cards with Jin. Erza reads the cards. "Dumplings are better than flowers." "Hai!" Surprisingly, Marikka is the stronger player. Hannah was next. Jin is not serious by nature, but Zion is surprisingly weak. "Even a dog walks, but a stick hits a pole." "...... yes!" The journey takes you where you need to go, but the world is kind to you. Yes! Let''s cross the street with our hands in the air. "Yes!" "Yes!What is ......<>?" Jin wanted to make a 100 poems, but there was no way he could remember all 100 poems, so he decided to make a karuta. It is a pity that the karuta cards are mixed up with Iroha karuta, traffic safety karuta, and so on. At around 11:00 p.m., Hannah yawns and looks sleepy, so we call it a night. It is after 9:30 p.m. in Kayna village time. Hannah usually goes to bed at 9:00 p.m., which is understandable. "Well, let''s go to bed. "Yeah. ......" It''s not good to stay up endlessly on New Year''s Day. ...... was the advice I received from the director of the hospital when I was in an institution. "What about Zion and Marikka?" "Well, I want to take a bath." "Oh, wow, me too." "Sure, sure." The hot spring is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Erza went to take a bath with him. Jin went to check on Saki, who was drunk. "Ugh...... my head hurts, Jin. "I can''t help it." Jin asked Reiko to give Saki a detox. < It has the effect of speeding up recovery from a hangover by quickly breaking down and eliminating acetaldehyde and other substances created by the breakdown of alcohol. Saki became a little more composed after drinking water at the same time. "Oh, I feel much better now. "That''s good to hear." Goose and Vivian were still talking with Lao Tzu. Not being a child, Jin asked the golem maid to take care of them and went to bed, thinking that they would go to sleep if they got sleepy. "...... Saki?" But Saki had gone to Goose and the others to join the conversation. "Well, okay." Saki must have some things on her mind as well, so Jin heads for . Erza was already out of the bath and drying her wet hair. "Where are Zion and Marikka?" "They''ve already left and gone to the guest room of the institute." "I see. I see. ...... had a good time today, didn''t we? Erza nodded when Jin said that. "Yeah, I had a good time today." It''s not a busy time, but I''m honestly thankful to have a break like this when I''ve been so nervous about Hale day and night. I''m sure I''ll be busy again tomorrow. "I''ll be busy again tomorrow, but you can count on me for support. "I''m counting on you." Jin and Erza took a good rest. * * * * * * The morning of January 2nd. When Jin woke up, he heard Elsa washing her face in the bathroom. "Good morning." Jin gets dressed and goes to the bathroom. "Good morning, sir." Erza had just finished washing her face, and Jin went to the bathroom in her place. "What happened to the others?" After Jin finished washing his face, he went to the laboratory with Elsa. "Good morning, Onii-chan! "Good morning, Jin!" "Good morning, Jin-sama!" Hannah, Zion, and Marikka are already awake and have washed their faces. The rest of them ...... Saki, Goose, and Vivian are still sleeping. "Well, that''s okay. Let''s just eat Zoni first. "What do you mean by ''zoni''?" Theon asks curiously. "Yeah, he''s on his way. Hannah has already eaten it last year, and knowing that Zion and Marikka have very few likes and dislikes, Jin thinks that she will have no problem eating the zoni. Then Peridot3 arrived with the zoni. "Is this ?" "Yes. In the world where I''m from, we often eat it at New Year''s ......." "Is this what you call ....... 1377 - - 37-19 New Years Day 2 "Oh, I''m so hungry......" When Jin and the others had finished eating Zoni, Saki and the others, namely Saki, Goose, and Vivian, woke up. "Good morning. You can eat Zoni anytime now. "What''s that, <>?What is ......? Saki tilted her head, as if she had never heard of zoni. But Goose and Vivian seemed to know it, judging from their lack of any noticeable reaction. "I see, so this is ." But this was the first time Vivian had ever eaten zoni. "Hmmm, this is how they season it at Jin''s place..." Goose had eaten zoni in his Mitsuho days, but the seasoning was a little different. He also said, "I used to eat it with a lot of wild vegetables. He also said, "I used to eat it with a lot of wild vegetables. "Oh, that sounds delicious! Hannah''s eyes light up. "Hmmm, I wonder what would be good to put in it. ...... leeks are a bit too strong smelling, so maybe kalisu or koroko would be good. Kalisu is a wild plant similar to kanzou and koroko is a wild plant similar to butterbur. "Kaina village-style zoni" would be good, too. Jin recalled that there must have been a local zoni. There was also a zoni made with miso, with different types of miso (white miso and red miso) and different types of rice cakes (round and cut rice cakes). While I was thinking about this, Zion and Marikka seemed to have finished eating Zoni. The sun shining on Horaijima is warm. "It''s nice that it''s not cold. ......" Sion muttered sincerely. "I hope this is the year we can make peace with the demon tribe. Then they could leave the northern continent where they live now and move to a warmer place. But Zion is not so keen on the idea. "But I''m still attached to the land where I was born and raised," he says. "But I''m attached to the place where I grew up," he says. "So I guess I''d come here during the cold season. Maybe it''s good to be able to go to a place to escape the cold. "Yes, that''s true. That would be the best. Now, thanks to the djinn, we don''t even have to worry about food in the winter, we have a surplus, and it''s not too cold because of the heating apparatus. It''s just a rarity to be away from the land of snow and ice," Zion said. "I see. ....... So, would having a vehicle to get around make life more enjoyable?" "Vehicles like ......<>?" <<> is a quadrupedal ground vehicle. It was used in the past to explore the demon territory, and Zion is familiar with it since he has ridden it many times. "That one is good, but it''s hard to mass-produce. Mainly because of the materials. "But maybe we can make a smaller version, one for each clan. We could use them all year round to transport materials. Jin muttered. "So, what I''m thinking of is a . "A snowmobile?" "Yeah. < Is that a word from the djinn world? That''s right. Jin was thinking of a vehicle that could run on snow and ice using large tires instead of caterpillars. That way it could be used even when the snow disappears. < problem was over. "I look forward to it." Theon nodded, smiling. "So, honey, you mean you''re going to build a car that can drive on ?" Hannah, who had been listening quietly until then, spoke to Jin. "Yes, that''s what I''m going to do. "The requirements are as basic technology as possible, is that correct?" "Yes, that''s correct. <. Hannah''s comprehension is remarkable. "Hey Marikka, how much snow does the demon territory get? "Huh?" Marikka was momentarily taken aback when she was suddenly asked, but she immediately understood what he meant, "In the residential area, it accumulates within a meter or so. In the mountains to the north, there are places where it can accumulate up to 10 meters. He replies, "There are some places in the mountains to the north where it can accumulate up to 10 meters. Jin had an idea of what to expect, since he had been in a place close to that area with <. "So you want a vehicle that can withstand a meter of snow!" "That''s right." Hannah had done a good job of summarizing the necessary information. She then added "Why not a golem horse? she said. "Hmmm, I see. A golem horse. ......" Certainly, there is an option of a golem horse that can be used throughout the four seasons. Considering the cost per unit, there is not much difference between a golem horse and a snowmobile. Jin had to admit that < was an idea that he wanted to build himself. "I think I''ll keep the golem horse this time. ......" It can have a considerable amount of space for luggage in the torso. The material of bronze with < is cost-effective. It can also be used for farming. "The use of golem horses in the village of Kaina makes their usefulness obvious, doesn''t it?" "That''s right, honey." On Hannah''s advice, Jin decides to send a golem horse to the demon territory in the near future. "That''s a good idea." Theon had seen golem horses in the village of Kaina, so he knew how effective they were. "Well, I''ll make one when I can afford it." "Oh, and when you do, will you invite me too? Hannah also wanted to watch him cook. "Yeah, sure." "Yay!" Jin was both excited and a little scared, wondering what would happen in the future ...... if Hannah learned these skills. "But Jin, how are you going to pay for it?I don''t think the demon territory can afford such a price. Sion said anxiously. It is true that the current demon territory does not have many products to export. The main products are demon pelts and cubic zirconia from the buried ruins of the past. They are nice enough for Jin, but certainly a bit weak in exchange for the golem horses. "Hmmm, I''ll think about it. ...... Well, Marikka could pull something out of Onogoro Island, couldn''t she?" "Oh, yes! Marikka was unaware of this. "Well, I''ll talk to her about it,...... but I don''t think that place belongs to the demon territory, I think it''s the other guardian of this Ars,......." One is Horai Island and the other is Onogoro Island. They are located in the northern and southern hemispheres, just on opposite sides of the planet. "Yes, yes, it''s a mystery!" Vivian joined in the conversation, not quite understanding what was going on. Saki and Goose are also there. On the second day of the New Year, Horaijima was peaceful. 1378 - - 37-20 Planetary Hale On January 3, 3459, <> had advanced to a position where the planet Hale was thought to be. It took a long time because it was slowing down and proceeding cautiously. <>. We will be at our position in 6 hours. This is a communication through the relay base. In Horai Island, Hannah, Zion, Marikka, Saki, Goose, Vivian, and others who were staying there had returned home. And Erza went back to her parents'' home. Jin wanted to go with her, or should have gone with her, but he stayed behind because of Hale''s problem. "Hmmm, they are probably about 300 million kilometers apart, right?" The orbital radius is about 150 million kilometers, which means that Ars and Hale are separated by a diameter. "But there is no communication delay?" > "It would be strange if I didn''t think so. "It would be strange if I didn''t think so. In this world ...... or even in space, the speed of light is 300,000 kilometers per second, right?" << "Oh, I see. ......" E=mc^2. This equation is said to be a consequence of Einstein''s special theory of relativity. E = mc^2. m is mass and c is the speed of light. It is possible that the speed of light in this world (not in the sense of planets, but in the sense of all space including the universe) is faster than the speed of light in the other world including the earth. "I can''t rule out that possibility, since there is magic." Considering the efficiency of converting free magic element (ether) into energy, there is a possibility that the speed of light c is 3 billion kilometers per second. At least, there is no perceptible time lag in communication with a place 300 million kilometers away. "Let''s leave that problem for another time, but first we have to deal with the immediate problem." Jin himself is not so dexterous that he can solve many problems in parallel. And, for this problem, even the direction of the answer is still unknown. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Five hours passed, and the planet Hale appeared before <>. < The wards that were said to be there were not there. Was the information wrong or have the circumstances changed? This will become clear in the future. In a word, the appearance of Hale resembles the fourth planet of the solar system, Mars. Reddish brown and light green earth, white snow or ice at the poles. There are some areas that appear to be oceans, but they are only about 20%. There were only a few green areas on the land. "It''s kind of ...... desolate looking, isn''t it?" Still, the old man ordered the use of the "peepers" to see if the ground might be more comfortable than he had expected. "I am also concerned that there are no barriers that are supposed to be there." The light green area is probably a grassland. They were scattered around the equator and the Tropic of Cancer. "Yes. Let''s check the images from the Peeper telescope. * * * * gets close enough to visually observe Hale. There are no boundaries or barriers, and no moving objects have been observed on the surface so far. "First, let''s observe the surface while circling, and at the same time, let''s use the <> and <> to search for free magical element (ether) activity." Cosmos 501 gave these instructions and checked the condition of the ship himself. * * * * "Oh, I see." Since it was not practical to stay in the command center all the time, Jin took a break on the way, but came back when he received a call from the old man. <<<> has circled Hale. As expected, no significant activity has been observed. "I see. ......" The video showed the surface of the earth. "...... is weathered." <> "As I recall, there were two groups, the emigrants and the remainers, and the remainers were the returners to nature and the hermits, right?" <<> "Wait, then what about the and the ?" "Nah. ......" Jin folds his arms and thinks. "What about the possibility that he went underground?" < "I guess so." Jin then fell silent and looked at the scenery of Hale projected on the magic screen. The landscape was mostly wilderness, but there were grasslands with short grasses and sparse bushes in some places. "It looks like an arid environment. > "I don''t know about that. ......" Jin had no idea about the life of a planet. Then the image changed. There are no high mountains, they are all rounded. "Yes." Or it is possible that they have all been used as resources. "Oh?" Something glowed. "Tell to expand over there." < The image is zoomed in. "...... the transparent dome?" Jin thought that it might be a dome made of cubic zirconia, which is considered a resource in the demon territory. "We finally found traces of human habitation, didn''t we?" The location is a plateau near the equator. There is a high mountain to the north, which makes clouds and rainfall moderate, and a grassland has developed. Three more what appeared to be broken former domes were found. "I wonder if a few houses were clustered together. I wonder if they were part of a faction. ......" then investigates another location. Along the way, Jin stopped to eat and rest. After 12 hours of observation, <> had completed his observations of the surface of the planet Hale. Here is what he found. . "Well, yes. Now it''s up to us to investigate underground, but I think it''s a long shot. 1379 - - 37-21 Past Stars < was losing altitude and circling the area corresponding to the stratosphere. The old man added that Ars may be the same as Hale. . < is not good either. "My old man, the <>. Where was the receiving side of Hale?" Jin said, suddenly curious. "Please continue your investigation." . * * * * A whole day has passed, but nothing of the sort has been found. When Jin is not in the command center, he is examining the that he had mentioned to Zion and Marikka the other day. "The skeleton and exterior can be made of bronze. The <> is very effective. "Now we just need to figure out what to do with the muscles. ......" Recently, Jin has been thinking about <. The Horai-jima standard uses threads of underground spiders (ground spiders), but these are biological materials, and if they are not maintained properly, they will deteriorate over time and will not be maintenance-free. In Jin''s hands, however, the durability will increase to the point where such maintenance is no longer necessary. "Can''t you make it out of metal? ......" When Jin was working in modern Japan, an artificial muscle made of metal called <> was under development. The details are too academic for Jin to know, but he wondered if it could be realized by engineering magic. It is a good subject to think about in between the Hale problem, and Jin thinks about it whenever he has free time. . However, progress is slow because it is hard to find time to think about it. "Did you find anything?" < "I see. ....... Let''s bring the Cosmos team down to Hale." Let''s see if that makes any difference. The idea was that the landing of the Cosmos Corps might cause something to react that could not be detected by observation alone. "It would be too early for the Vulcans to land, after all. < "Yes, that''s right." I''d like to visit the place too, and Jin himself is interested in it. "Make sure it is fully tested for pathogens, toxins, etc." And so the search for Hale entered its second phase. * * * * * * "Hmmm, what would be the most efficient way to make it have the function of shrinking when magic power is given to it. ......" Jin then began to consider the metal magical muscle again. "Father, shouldn''t we use <>?" Unable to see Jin''s concern, Reiko also offered her opinion. "<> is a little weak in terms of output. ......" According to Jin''s estimation, the <> method would only produce less than half of the power that Jin wanted, when compared to the method used to create the magical muscle. "Why is that?" "There is a <> that uses <>, isn''t there?If it is an arm, the arm itself is transformed (formed) to move, but in the case of muscles, it can only be pulled. "Well, muscles attached to the endoskeleton exert their force by contracting when bending joints, right? "That''s what I mean." <, one side contracts and the other side extends. In other words, < and <> are working, but in the case of magical muscles attached to the endoskeleton, the joints can only be bent by contracting. "In addition, the use of mana is not efficient. In addition, the reaction speed does not increase." Every movement is the same as using < magic. "It''s a difficult thing, isn''t it?" Reiko seemed to be convinced, and began to think about it together with Jin. * * * * * * * * * * * * * < continued its exploration around Hale, 560 from Cosmos 551, dressed in battle suits, headed for Hale with various measuring instruments. Cosmos 551 to 560 in battle suits headed for Hale with various measuring instruments. We have now arrived at the target point on the equator of Hale.] The first step on the planet Hale was taken by Cosmos 551. The temperature is 27 degrees Celsius with a relative humidity of 24 percent.] The temperature is high and the humidity is low. The concentration of free magical element (ether) is comparable to that in the vicinity of the Ars demon territory.] The concentration of free ether is slightly higher than that of the Lesser Clan. We will now analyze the atmosphere and soil.] Cosmos 555 and 556 took out measuring instruments. When the soil sample is placed in the saucer of the analyzer, the magic of <> is activated. No unknown substances were detected. The only known substances are harmless ones.] < is not universal. We can detect what we know, but everything else is <>. And no < substances or bacteria have been detected in more than a dozen tests. Atmospheric analysis...... 79 percent nitrogen, 20 percent oxygen, 1 percent other.] Other composition ...... argon, helium, carbon dioxide, neon, methane, hydrogen. Trace components are not known up to percentages.] Almost the same as Ars and Earth. There are no microorganisms. It seems more like a sterilization chamber.] Is this the original condition of the environment, or is it because the environment has been improved? Conversely, it may not be a habitable environment for a wide variety of organisms other than humans. No, even human beings coexist with various microorganisms including lactobacilli, and I feel that a sterile environment is not ideal," Jin thought as he listened to the report. "But I guess we can visit Hale now." Of course, we will have to wait until we have done more research. "We can set up a warp gate." In any case, it is necessary to sterilize the area on the way so as not to bring harmful bacteria and viruses into Ars, since it is via a relay station. "Yes. But then again, there are mutants." "If we are going to build one, let''s make it large enough so that we can at least send in aircraft." "Oh, I see. I''ll take care of that, too. Thus, a large warp gate was constructed on the planet Hale. The investigation of Hale reaches its climax. 1380 - - 37-22 Research Team On January 5, the installation of the large warp gate at Hale and the relay station was completed. At the same time, Erza came home from her parents'' house. "Welcome home. I''m sorry I couldn''t come with you. Jin apologized, and Elsa shook her head and said it was nothing. "How are your father-in-law and mother-in-law?" "Yes, they are fine. Father has recovered a lot and is able to do daily activities on his own. "That''s good to hear." But Jin could see that Elsa''s face did not look well. "But did she say anything to you?" "What?You know what I mean? "Of course, I''m talking about Elsa." "...... Thank you?" Elsa thanks him with a slight blush on her cheeks. Something seemed off, but Jin asked again what was bothering him. "So, what happened?" "Well, it''s about my brother..." "Mr. Fritz?" "Hmmm... He told me about the ......<> that His Majesty has been talking about, and that he would like to join." "I see." Jin as a deus ex machina is planning to start a . I hear that there is a flood of people who want to join. "Your mother heard that your brother wants to join ......." "Oh, I see." Jin wondered if a mother would want to fulfill her son''s wish. And Elsa would not want to give a recommendation that would favor her own people. "But Mr. Fritz is very capable. I think it will be all right if we leave the selection to the leaders of each country. When Jin said this, Erza hurriedly supplemented her explanation. "Oh, no, I think your mother doesn''t want my brother to participate. "That''s it. ......" "Oh, no, it''s not that, it''s like your mother doesn''t want your brother to participate," he added. "I think I understand a little ......." "...... so?" At this point Jin changes the subject slightly. Hey, how is Mr. Moritz doing? "Brother Moritz, he''s doing great as head of the family. "And does he have a wife?" No. "No." "I see. ......" "Why not?" Jin explains his thoughts to Erza, who looks doubtful. "No, I was just wondering if your mother-in-law might be lonely too." "Lonely?" "Yes. Elsa is with me, Mr. Fritz is in the army and is away most of the time and never comes home, and Mr. Moritz is busy as the head of the family." So it will be different when Mr. Moritz gets married and has grandchildren, Jin said. "Well, well, grandchildren, then, my family too..." Elsa turned red and added to Jin''s story. "What?Erza, perhaps?" But Erza shook her head vigorously. "No, no. I don''t ...... think she''s ready yet." "I see,......." Jin seemed a little disappointed to hear that. "Maybe you should think of something so that your mother-in-law will not be lonely. "......How should I do that?" "Let''s think about it together." "......" So Jin and Elsa decided to think together. "What about keeping small animals?" Dogs, cats, birds, etc. "Not too many creatures. ......" "I see." Some people are not good at keeping living creatures. Marlene, Elsa''s mother-in-law, seems to be one of them. "Well, how about flowers?" "Oh, that''s a good idea." "I see. Okay. ...... Jin? I''ll build you a greenhouse. Greenhouses are already in use in the demon territory and are also used in the Kingdom of Klein for growing high quality fruits. Jin thought it would be fun to grow subtropical flowers and herbs there. "Elsa can choose the plants for you." "Hmm." He chose plants from the south, such as the plants in Penglai Island and the plants in Elias'' kingdom, and chose varieties that his mother-in-law Marlene would enjoy. "When the Hale problem is over, I''ll be there to apologize for my absence, so I''ll at least be prepared to plant then." We''ll plant them in pots and planters. Topaz, the five-colored golem maid, is an expert in this area. White flowers, blue flowers, red flowers, yellow flowers, purple flowers. It''s nice to see flowers of all colors. Elsa joyfully began to make a list. Jin and Elsa discuss the size of the greenhouse, the materials, and the heating method. Since he was a little tired of thinking about the metal magical muscle, he decided that it would be a good change of pace and started to think about the greenhouse. He was a little too tired to think about it. After dinner, the old man reported something new. The old man prefaced his report with the words, "This is a story that could have been told in the cafeteria. <<<< Skylark>> 50 planes toured Hale. There are no animals or insects in Hale. Only a few types of vegetation grow there. "I knew it. ......" Finally, Jin thought that even the natural environment must have been a controlled world. . Jin felt a little sad that he had gone to such lengths. "Even if they went that far, they still ended up on the road to extinction, didn''t they?" "But just as no life lasts forever, no civilization lasts forever, then ......" "I''d like to live a satisfying life, wouldn''t you?" Elsa echoed Jin''s words. "That''s right. If the accumulation of the present makes the future. I hope the present is good. Now Reiko followed Jin''s words. "Thank you, My Lord." A little sad, but as a New Year''s resolution, Jin said, "May I and all those connected to me be happy," he muttered. He muttered, "May I and all the people connected to me be happy. 1381 - - 37-23 Appeal . The report came in on January 6. The report came from the <, which had been modified for space use. < With a diameter of 500 meters, it is so large that it would be overlooked in the vastness of space if one did not know that it existed. <. < The amount of consumption clearly indicated the presence of a large or many magi-machines inside. It does not seem to be a physical barrier against matter, but rather a detection system to detect the approach of intruders or enemies. If it detects, it may put up stronger warding. It is possible that the use of <<<< peepers >> may be detected in some way. Please give us further instructions. * * * * * * "Well, it''s a difficult question..." In the command room in the basement of the Horaijima Research Institute, Jin was troubled. There is a possibility that he might be detected using the <<<< peeping telescope. "I think so." But if we don''t do anything, nothing will happen, I think. "Well, can''t we make them call out to us?" Jin suddenly has an idea. Can''t we induce them to be interested and contact us? "Hmmm, I see." Jin wonders if there is a way to let the Hailians know that we are on their side. "Is that so? Then, I wonder if there is a way for them to ask who we are from the other side, and change my mind. Assuming that the existence of <<<<< Vulcan>> and <> is already known, it would be strange if they don''t show any response>. "Indeed it is." I almost wonder if this is another dead facility, but then I remember that there is a working magi-machine. "I wonder if we have to be proactive in our approach to get a response?" <> "I see. ......" Jin was impressed by the old man. Because Jin could not help but be curious about it. "You are showing them that you are not their enemy, but you are acting in a conspicuous way ...... that they might be concerned. It''s too difficult, Jin thought to himself. Why don''t you ask <>> about it? At least, he is the one who should know the most about the Hailians. First of all, get to know them better. That might be the best thing to do. ......" Jin agreed with the old man''s idea. * * * * * "Well, that''s what I was thinking, Mr. Tester, what do you think? That afternoon, Marikka, Zion, Jin and Reiko were on the island of Onogoro, asking questions of , the . "Oh, have you reached your master''s planet, Jin-dono? "Yes, but ......" Jin explained what he knew so far. I see, there are no more s left on their home planet. does not seem too disappointed to learn this fact. < in . This is what the old man expected. If there is a < to serve, it will not be unstable or out of control. "So, I found a spherical facility in satellite orbit, and I''d like to contact it and talk to it, but there''s been no response." Or so it would seem. began to describe the old ''s character. The has a first. And then, everything else is . "Yes, I understand that." The "others" are divided into three categories, one is friend, one is foe, and the other is irrelevant. Jin heard this and thought to himself, "That''s like liking, disliking, and indifference. If they don''t react, it''s because they consider them irrelevant. He said that others are first classified as irrelevant. They are then classified again according to the information they have received, and if they are considered enemies at this time, they may be attacked. "Then, what should we do to be considered as an ally ......? Jin asked, and <> interrupted him and continued. Wait, don''t jump to conclusions. Actually, there is a category of irrelevance called <>. "It''s complicated." Maybe we should aim for the irrelevance of the interesting. "It''s really complicated. ...... Specifically?" "Well, you''d have to show something that would be of interest to your <. "So what exactly?" It''s hard to say without knowing ''s principles, but it''s more likely that he''s a <> of the <>. < probably perished quietly on Hale. The are the least interested in the outside world. A half-hearted appeal would make no sense. Jin was getting a little impatient with the roundabout explanation. Something that''s not dangerous, yet interesting. That''s all I can say. What the heck is that ......, Jin thought, but it was still a little better than before. Then Jin decided to ask what came to his mind. "For example, how about a dazzling light in outer space?" I don''t think that would be enough to get his attention. "Well, how about pseudo-combat?" The point is not to attack the spherical facility, but to engage in a battle in the vicinity of the facility. We can play out a battle between spaceships in the form of a drill. Mm, that might be a good idea. "I see." Jin was just about to go along this line, "Well, what if we pay a visit?" Marikka asked. Jin realized that he had failed to ask the first thing he would have thought of. But... Well, in that case, I would probably ignore it. If we force our way in, we will be declared hostile. <> is nonplussed. "I see... ...... that''s difficult." Jin began to think about the quickest way to get a reaction out of them by conducting a mock battle. 1382 - - 37-24 Simulated Battle Jin returned to Horai Island and had a meeting with the old man. > with a less powerful weapon. ......>> "Yes, but I want to do it as spectacularly as possible so that it attracts the eye." <> with >, you will not see any secondary effects such as flashes or explosions. The onlookers do not know what they are doing. < Yes, that''s what I was thinking. Flashbangs. On modern Earth, flashbangs are used for dazzling and signaling. I have never seen a real one, but I have an image of it, so it should be OK. "It emits light when it hits the target, right?" < "Oh, I see. I''ll do that. When the outer shell is broken by a barrier or by hitting the opponent''s armor, it emits a flash of light. < "Try not to generate heat. Light should be limited to visible light, and infrared and ultraviolet rays should be avoided as much as possible. "We should also make a timer." Jin thought that this might be a good idea for signaling. Once the idea was conceived, it was as good as complete. Jin mobilizes his craftsmen (smiths) and produces a sufficient number of . * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, let''s get started." On January 7, a mock battle between 50 <> and 50 <> was about to begin in orbit around the satellite of the planet Hale. "How do you decide who wins?And what are the rules?" "That''s ......." Jin answers Erza''s question. < deployed a solid physical barrier and flew at a speed of 10 kilometers per second. < attacks the with flashbangs. If a ship hits <> with 50 flares, that is, if each ship hits one flare, <> wins. On the other hand, <> will be shot down if it is hit by even one flashbang, including through the barrier. In terms of mobility, <> is far superior to <>. However, is superior in firepower. And they can take up to 50 direct hits. Whether it is Jin or the old man, victory or defeat is unknowable," he concluded. "Well, I understand now. Thank you." When Erza was satisfied, the old man gave the signal for the start of the simulation. The <> sprints through space, moving left and right, making evasive maneuvers. In contrast, the <> forms an encircling formation and tries to push the <> into a tight corner. The first flashbangs from <> hit <>''s physical barrier (solid barrier), causing a flower of light to bloom in the blackness of space. "Beautiful ......" Erza gives an honest impression. Like fireworks blooming in the night sky, a dazzling light flashed in space. Thank goodness it is not a real battle and not a destructive one. And the number of flashes increases with each passing hour. The <> is hunting down <>. "Well, I''m far from experienced enough to know what to do in such a situation," he says. Jin himself has no experience in space combat, and is a complete amateur when it comes to battle methods and tactics. The same is true of No. 700672, and when I asked him about it before, he replied, "I don''t know. "Well, I don''t intend to start a space war. Jin watched the video while muttering something like that. The <> is flying in an irregular zigzag orbit that would be impossible for a human pilot. But the <> was even more maneuverable and was able to cope with its irregular flight. "Ah, one <> has dropped out!" Erza shouted. Yes, a flashbang hit the barrier of <>. And another one. One more. "The <> is good, too." Due to its structure, the <> cannot fire in succession. It requires an interval of a few seconds. Taking advantage of this gap, <> hit the target with a flashbang. "If that''s the case, then <> must be ...... ah, I knew it." After five planes had dropped out, Skylark 11, leading <>, changed his instructions. Forty-five aircraft shifted the timing of their launches little by little. This left the <> unable to lift the solid physical barrier and thus unable to counterattack, leaving them on the defensive. "I see." But has changed its strategy. Instead of the solid physical barrier it had been using, it deployed a defensive shield. Since < is a flat barrier, its flanks are unprotected. However, the <> moves its <> in time with the <>''s bombardment. Since the shields are massless, their movement is instantaneous. Moreover, the shield can be stretched not only on one side. It can be deployed in 6 directions, up, down, left, right, front, and back. In other words, it can be enclosed within a cube. However, the shape of the surface is not a square but a circle, so there is a gap between the two. From there, can target as much as he wants. "Oh, another one." The <> is now down to 21. Aiming at the gaps between the fast-moving <> is a difficult task. The <> side, on the other hand, synchronizes the movement of its <> with the firing of its <>. "<>, advantage?" "Yes." Jin and Erza are absorbed in following the course of this mock battle. Their original goal had slipped their minds. But the old man was not so sure. There was movement in the sphere they were monitoring. * * * * "The flow of free magical element (ether) has changed." The long-awaited report comes in. Ten Raptor squadrons, different from those engaged in the simulation battle, were standing by in a space far from the battlefield. The old man looks satisfied. From the spherical , three small spherical flying objects, also probably reconnaissance planes, flew out. < In other words, we hope you will see this as <>. The <> has decided that the reclusive Hailites would certainly not like to fight. On the other hand, they would be hungry for entertainment and would have an eye for the unusual. "...... Well, uh, so far so good." Jin, who had been completely engrossed in the space battle, hurriedly returned to his original goal. "Yes, that''s right. Let''s be more careful." 1383 - - 37-25 Long-awaited Contact <> launched from the > seemed to be observing the mock battle between <> and <> at a sufficient distance. And the mock battle seemed to end in defeat for the <>. So far, 23 rounds have been fired directly at <>. On the other hand, <> has only 4 aircraft left. The fewer the number of aircraft, the more disadvantageous < will be, so it is safe to say that victory or defeat is in sight. * * * * * * "Old man, can we go to Hale with the <>?" Jin decided that it would be better to use an automaton than a golem to negotiate with the <>. "Okay, Reiko, will you go with me?" "Yes, I will." Normally, Reiko would never leave Jin''s side, but this is an exception. < and protects the doppelganger. "Well then, old man, please take care of your father." . Thus, aboard the Pegasus 1, Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko headed for the planet Hale. * * * * * Once they left the simple relay base, they went to <> using the warp gate once again. The exits the warehouse slowly. Once out in space, it accelerates and comes to the side of the <>. We slowed down as much as possible, so as not to provoke it unnecessarily. He waved his hand through the window at the time when it was probably observing us. We have confirmed from the 700672 that this gesture does not indicate hostile behavior. approaches more slowly. . "Old man, do you think he''s all right?" Jin asks anxiously. In a sense, this is the first contact with the <. . I have simulated it many times based on the information I got from Mr. 700672 and Mr. Tester. Jin felt a little calmer now that the old man said so. "Well, the scouting plane over there?"Well, the scouts over there don''t react to anything. . "I guess so." Jin reminded himself again to take his time. * * * * * * "I''m not getting any response. "That''s true." <, Jin''s doppelganger (Jin D) and Reiko kept waving their hands. "Maybe they don''t know what to make of us either." "I guess so." < approached the scout very slowly. The reconnaissance plane does not seem to be avoiding it, and does not seem to be paying much attention to it. "Well, here we go." < and the reconnaissance plane has closed to about 30 meters. The visual equipment of the reconnaissance plane should be able to see <>, Jin D., and Reiko. "There must be some kind of reaction. They will not leave things as they are. Jin and the others thought that if they wanted entertainment, they would react to these visits as well as space battles. "But if he were the ultimate recluse, he would be ......." Jin and the others think, "But if he is the ultimate shut-in, he would deny it. If that were the case, the reconnaissance plane would have pulled out immediately. "They''re probably wondering how they should treat us." "I suppose so." It''s easy to imagine from a different perspective. There is a space battle in the vicinity of your home, and unknown people are approaching you waving their hands. It is hard to imagine that we would suddenly accept this. "Even so, they would have been interested." The strategy was based on the premise that they would never leave the people who had caused a stir in their boring days. More time passes. The old man had already taken over the control of Jin D. After all, it was already midnight in Horai Island. Jin D was warned by the old man and took a rest. * * * * * * * * * * The date has changed to the 8th, and 15 hours have passed since the approach of <>. Finally, a reaction occurs. "Oh, something came out again." The reconnaissance plane was still in place, but a flying object came out of the <>. "...... golem?" It was humanoid. It flew straight for <. By this time, the simulation battle between and was over, and the space was quiet. The Golem comes to a stop about three meters in front of <. It is not equipped with any rockets, so one can imagine that it is equipped with a propulsion system such as a <>. Up close, it looks somewhat like <>. It is probably because it is a golem made of Hael. Hitoshi D. and Reiko wave again through the window. That seemed to be the deciding factor. The golem again slowly ...... comes closer to swim in space, and gently touches the outer covering of <>. Can you hear me?If you can hear me, please wave your hand. The voice of the golem was heard through the outer covering. Hitoshi D. and Reiko waved their hands once as they were told. Good. It seems we can talk to each other. Are you from ...... Ars?If so, wave to us. Hitoshi D. and Reiko waved to each other. I see. I want to know the purpose of your visit to ....... Do you have any intention to harm us?If not, please wave your hand. Hitoshi D. and Reiko waved back at this question as well. That''s fortunate. Do you wish to see my at ......?If so, please wave your hand. Jin D and Reiko waved without hesitation. Okay. I''ll make arrangements for you to see him. Follow me to ....... With that, the golem turns itself around and heads back to the <>. follows slowly. The Golem turns around once, and when it sees that <> is following it, it increases its speed a little. <. Inside the hatch was a wide hall-like space, and <> was able to enter easily. When Golem saw this, he touched <>''s outer covering again, "I''m going to close the hatch now. The hatch was closed. Immediately after that, the hatch slowly closed, and the hall was filled with the sound of air. This is an airlock. Can you hear me? It seems that the air has been filled, and the golem''s voice can now be heard without passing through the outer covering. 78 percent nitrogen, 20 percent oxygen. Breathable air. Golem''s description. After confirming with the attached equipment that the air composition was OK, Jin D. and Reiko decided to go outside. 1384 - - 37-26 Fanatics The air in the hall was indeed breathable. The air pressure was almost one atmosphere. The temperature was about 10 degrees Celsius, which is not too low considering that we were in an airlock. Gravity was also about 1 G. This is probably the standard for Haleans. This way. With that, the golem turns around and leads the two men to the back of the airlock. After passing through the door, which was also an airlock, they found themselves in the interior of the <>. The walls and ceiling were made of metal, but the floor was made of resin, non-slip and almost silent. "Where are you going?" Jin''s doppelganger (= Jin D) asks, to which the golem replies succinctly. We''re going to . "Agente?" Yes. Everything here is under the control of the Agente. This satellite is called Kuna? Yes. What is your name? I have no name. My identification number is 1402. Then I will call you 1402. Suit yourself. As we speak, 1402 keeps moving. Get in. As you step into what appears to be an elevator, you feel a slight vibration and a slight increase in gravity. In other words, we are going up. < was housed was at the bottom of , so we must be heading closer to the center. In about 20 seconds the elevator comes to a stop. Get off. This way. 1402 exits the elevator and walks further. Hitoshi D. and Reiko silently follow him. (They don''t seem to be in the center of the building yet.) Reiko reported to Jin and the old man in Horai Island by the built-in manacam. Let''s just wait and see.) I see...) Here. Come in. It was a brightly lit room, about the size of a school classroom. Inside are three golems of the same type as 1402. The door closes just as Jin-D and Reiko enter. Then they hear a voice. Welcome, visitor. I am Agente, the acting master in charge of this coona. Or should I call you Agente? No, it''s all right. I have some questions I''d like to ask you. ...... I have a lot of questions for you. But first, let''s hear what you have to say. Four golems including 1402 moved, and two each held Hitoshi D. and Reiko from both sides. . "What are you doing? I told you to listen to me. I told you I''d make you do what I say! I''ll leave your will intact. I''ll leave you with your will. As Agente said this, a section of the wall opened and two golems appeared. Each of them is holding a Beheshah. "You''re using us as your puppets! Just in case. No hard feelings. You''ve got to be kidding me! It''s for your own good. Accept it. I''m not getting through to you. Jin, who had expected something like this, gave instructions to Reiko. Yes, father.) "Let go of me!" Reiko swung her arm and released the two golems, then kicked the two that were holding Jin D. Jin-D dropped down near the door he had entered and put up a barrier. In the meantime, Reiko destroyed the two that were lying on the floor. "What the hell do you think you''re doing!Is enslaving customers the way you do it here!" Jin D shouts. It is my role to minimize any risk to my master. You''ll have to accept it. "I don''t like it!" Jin D immediately denied it. "Is that really the way to satisfy your ?" At least it''s not denied. "Not denied, that''s ......." No questions asked! Two Golems are coming for Reiko and two more for Jin-D. I''m not going to let them get away with it! I''ve already told you before that I don''t want to! Reiko punched them away. But the two blown away bodies quickly regained their positions and came closer to her. Jin D, who is not as strong a fighter as Reiko, only uses a barrier to prevent them. However, the barrier is so strong that two golems cannot break through it. In the meantime, Reiko silences her two opponents and takes care of the two that attack Jin D. "Don''t waste your time and stay quiet." The two bodies, thrown away by Reiko''s force at thirty percent, fly to the opposite wall and are knocked to the floor, finally immobilized. "Are you not going to do what I say? "We came here for the sake of friendship, but we can''t keep quiet when you suddenly try to enslave us. I''m not a slave. I''m not a slave. I''m just trying to make sure they can''t resist me. What''s the difference? There is a parallel. It seems that Agente''s perception is incompatible with Jin''s. My master is absolute. "My master is absolute. I reject everything that does not serve my master. "...... fanatic." * * * * "Yes, I know." The being who calls himself <> was clearly out of control in the eyes of Jin and the old man. "It looks like it''s out of control. ......" < "Let''s see how things go a bit more, and if it looks like there is nothing we can do, we may have to pull out. ...... unfortunately." "For now, Agente. "For now, let''s deal with the golem that Agente has sent out." * * * "Don''t waste your time!" "What''s the point? Reiko shouts after silencing Agente''s golem. "You can tell the strength of the golem by looking at the flow of free magical element (ether). The golem you are bringing out is not my enemy. You''re so cocky. Don''t get cocky.Don''t think that the golem is my only means of attack! Reiko braced herself, and Agente launched another attack. 1385 - - 37-27 inaccessible. < attacked Reiko. It is a magical attack. Surprisingly, it is similar to <>. However, it has little effect on Reiko. "That won''t work on me!" What? Reiko''s skin and muscles are made of Dragon Leather, the material of the Ancient Dragon, the pinnacle of the Ars ecosystem. And the skeleton is made of hyperadamantite. In addition, the interior is made of foam to reduce weight, and the voids are filled with scraps of dragon leather. < It uses the heat generated by the induced current to generate high heat in the object. The material of << ancient dragon> is an insulator. And hyperadamantite is also close to an insulator because it has lost free electrons due to molecular compression. In addition, the material of <> is inviolable except for the magical power flowing through its leather. < What? Agente sounded panicked. "I didn''t know you could make that kind of voice! Jin D. muttered. "Ugh, you''re a scary guy. All the more reason why we can''t let him near his <> anymore! Agente attacks again. The floor beneath Reiko''s feet begins to turn to dust. But Reiko is unconcerned. "<>? That''s not going to scare them off. The floor is starting to break, are you sure? < "This < will break first, won''t it?" "It was a mistake to invite such a person into our home. "You made a mistake in your judgment. I''m not happy that you''re passing it on to me. You''re so noisy! An electric light went off. It was probably lightning magic. But Reiko''s body is an insulator named Dragon Leather. Gumu...... then take this! This magic was a degraded version of the overheat magic that Jin had developed. "You''re wasting your time, aren''t you?" The heat resistance of the material that forms Reiko''s body is comparable to adamantite. Its melting point is over 3,000 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, it has been subjected to Jin''s best efforts to toughen it. <. And is a phenomenon in which the bonding force of molecules and atoms is loosened by thermal energy. In other words, a material that has been subjected to not only increases in strength, but also in melting point and boiling point. In other words, it was obvious that the materials of the room, such as the floor and the ceiling, would not be able to withstand it first. If that''s the case, how about this! Reiko''s weight instantly increased a hundredfold. It''s gravity magic. "Is that all?" The metal floor is beginning to cave in under the weight of Reiko''s 3,000 kilograms, but Reiko remains unconcerned. Reiko had withstood a thousand times the gravity of the battle with Lardus of in the past. Now that she is several times more powerful than she was then, a hundred times the gravity was nothing to her. Oh, you scary bastard. ...... There was a hint of fear in Agente''s voice. Reiko''s power was that overwhelming. But you''re still powered by the free ether. Take it! ? Next, Agente launched an attack equivalent to the Aether Eliminator. This attack removes the free magic element (ether) of the object. It doesn''t work. What? Jin had already developed an equivalent magi-machine, and had already taken countermeasures. < This magic wave is much stronger than ordinary ether converters, so whether you are a golem, an automata, or a mage, you will be deprived of free magic element (ether) when you are exposed to it. In short, it is a tug-of-war for free magic element (ether). What if the Magi Reactor works with stronger magic waves than those of the <>? A meager < doesn''t work on Reiko right now. Mmmm, how about this! The concentration of free ether has increased 500 times around Reiko. "It can''t withstand a sudden increase in concentration. ...... What? "Is that all?" There was Reiko, looking unconcerned. Oh, scary. ...... Agente''s voice seemed to tremble. I''ve brought in what kind of a being into my life. ...... Oh, @*sama, please forgive me!...... The voice faded out and was no longer heard. * * * > "They saw they were no match for us and retreated. ...... what do you think ......?" <<> is probably a magic brain. If so, I''m a little concerned. "Me too." Jin and the old man agree. "It''s too illogical, isn''t it?" Is it because of its imperfection, or is it a weakness of being more like a living organism? Or is there another reason? As an engineer, I am very interested in this. <> "Yes. Let''s do it." * * * * * * The hall is quiet, and Reiko and Jin D are the only ones moving. 1402, who guided us here, has also stopped moving. Jin D is unharmed, having deployed his <> and survived the aftermath of the battle between Reiko and Agente. "Well, let''s go a little further ...... and head for the center of this <>." Will there be ogres or snakes? That''s how Jin felt as he was piloting Jin D. "Okay, sir. Leave it to me to get rid of the dew. Reiko pushes the door of the hall. The door distorts with a sudden sound, leaving an opening just wide enough for a single person to pass through. "Come on, let''s go." Jin D. and Reiko went further and further ahead. 1386 - - 37-28 seclusion >> >> <> No need to hesitate any longer, <> is investigating the inside of the satellite <> with a >, and based on the information, Jin D and Reiko are aiming at the center of the satellite. < "Okay. Thank you." Jin D and Reiko were facing the center. Warding. "They must be holed up in the back here." Now, in front of Jin D and Reiko, a wall of wards with a pale silver light was standing in front of them. "It''s probably a reflective type of warding." The silver color means that it reflects visible light. It would also repel ultraviolet rays and heat rays. What about physical attacks? Jin D took a piece of the golem he had picked up earlier out of his pocket and threw it at the warding. The piece hits the boundary in a parabolic path and falls right down to the ground. "Ho!" Jin thought, "It seems to have absorbed all the kinetic energy. This is an unusual effect of the warding. "In this case, we should add more physical energy than it can absorb. ...... Jin D said, and Reiko tapped on the warding. And then. "Oh, it really kills the momentum, doesn''t it?" She then delivered a full-swing straight. Reiko''s fist was halfway into the boundary. Then, somewhere there was a clanging sound. And then the wards shook and ...... disappeared. "It was 20 percent power. ......" Reiko said calmly. * * * * "I guess Hailians are not good at fighting. In Horai Island, Jin was analyzing the data so far with the old man. < It was not much different from the enemy attacks that Jin, Reiko, and Horaijima had faced so far. Or rather, some of them were even inferior. "If there is no enemy, there is no development of military power, right? For better or worse, Ars has a lot of strife, necessity, and the technology of warfare has developed. "But I think the people on Onogoro Island were a bit stronger?" "That could be." It''s a common sense that things change in the environment. The Hale people who have spent a lot of time in Ars are already different. "All right, let''s move on." * * * * After the wards disappeared, we found ourselves in a brightly lit passageway. The air smells different, too. "Yes, it''s cleaner. ...... Jin guesses that if there is a < at the end of the corridor, it is probably to improve the environment for that person. In other words, the target is beyond this point. "I''d like to hear all about it when I see him, wouldn''t you?" A genuine Hailian. What do they think, what do they think? "And I hope we can coexist." Jin himself has his own opinions, but to the human race of Ars, he is a descendant of our ancestors, a kindred spirit, no doubt. He has no grudge against them, so they can be friendly with each other. The floor is clean of dust and the soft material absorbs the sound of footsteps. But there is no response. "I guess will stay shut in at this rate. What should we do? ......" * * * * < "Yes, let me hear it." < "I see, so that''s how it is." is the golem of . < was originally a base built by the Haelians, it might be a little more interesting if , the golem from , could go there. It might be better if Marikka could go with him, but there are still too many unknowns, and we can''t send her there when Jin himself has not been there. This is where was the right person for the job. "I''ll send a messenger to get her right away. < I see. I see, this is an interesting story. Lao Tzu went to through the warp gate and immediately had a discussion with and . You are saying that there may be some developments? That''s what I''m saying. Good. Let''s go. After a brief discussion, both and understood the situation and agreed. * * * * * * < will only take a short time. and Lao Tzu exit the warp gate in . "Then let''s go." "Yes. Reiko has seen through her eyes and through her peepers, and remembers the way to get there. Lao Tzu leads on her way. The path is traced exactly as Jin D and Reiko followed. The elevator section is accessed by the emergency staircase seen through the peepers. Hmmm, interesting design. Indeed, it has something in common with <>. walks along observing. <>, or >, shows no reaction. Eventually they come to the hall where Hitoshi D. and Reiko were attacked. The door, of course, did not open. "Let''s open it by force to save time." Lao Tzu''s strength was about one-fifth of Reiko''s. She put her hand on the door and opened it with 80% of her strength. He put his hand on the door and put about 80 percent of his strength into the door, and the door distorted as it opened. "Come on, let''s go. Reiko-san and the others should be waiting for us up ahead. "Mm-hmm. Lao Tzu and hurried on. 1387 - - 37-29 Nany Hmm? I think he''s here. They waited for an hour. Lao Tzu and arrived at Jin D and Reiko''s place. Thank you for waiting. Thank you for waiting. "Thank you for coming." Without even a word of greeting, Jin D begins to ask < a question. "Let me ask you a question right away. < Well, I have observed it on my way here, and it is similar to my former <>''s design in some aspects. "Well, I have observed on the way here that there are some similarities with my former design, but there are also many differences. "Is it correct to say that it''s in the same vein as ...... but designed by a different architect?" Yes. Yes, that''s correct. "If so, can we talk to Agente and Herente, who seem to be the magical brains of this place? This is the most important thing. Well, I can''t say without talking to them. Then raised her voice. Do you hear me, Agente?My name is Helente. I am a magic doll made in the old days on the planet Arus. There was no response for a while, but <> called out repeatedly. And after the fourth call. Your name is "HELENTE"? What do you want? A voice, slightly different from Agente''s, rang out. I''m here to see your master. And what would you want with him? That''s a very astute question. I can''t just answer that I''m interested. Since they had not discussed this beforehand, what would <> say? Jin stared with bated breath. He wanted to know the roots of <> who had designed him. Oh, Jin thought. It was a good answer, not a perfect score, but not a failure either. I see. I can understand that thought. But ...... What''s wrong? The three you''re with, who are they? They''re my allies. I see. So that makes you a traitor! How can you say that? I have nothing to say to you. I have nothing more to say to you. Wait! His voice trailed off. "I''m sorry, I''ve been of no help. I apologize. But Hitoshi D. says don''t worry about it. "But I''m afraid we''re stuck here," he says. "Shall we proceed a little more aggressively?" "Let''s try to scare him first." Jin D decided to let Lao Tzu play that role. "<>, or one of his friends. They must be able to hear us." Lao Tzu began to call out without raising his voice. "We have no intention of antagonizing you. That thing in the hall was just a defense against your attack of your own accord." There was no reply. Lao Tzu continues. "We were created by the inhabitants of the planet Arus, with the exception of . Therefore we represent the interests of Ars. ...... In recent years, a magical machine, which seems to have been ordered by Hael, has threatened Ars. Our , who deemed this to be unacceptable, has ordered this search for Hale." They decided to be honest about their purpose. This was a last resort, as it could have been perceived as a sign of hostile intent. "A long time has passed since the emigration. Arus belongs to the people of Arus now. We are willing to help Hale, but there are limits. But there are limits." Still no reply. But Lao Tzu thinks that Agente or his colleagues have heard these words. "I would like to discuss whether we can come to a mutual compromise. I would like to discuss it." They can be trusted. I assure you, they are trustworthy. has offered to help us. But still no answer. "Materials, free ether. And repair the malfunctioning magi-machine. And food. And treatment of the sick. I think we can provide that kind of support. Still there was no response. "At least give me a denial or a refusal. At least give me a response." What came back was silence, or rather stillness. "...... or ......." We waited for another five minutes, but there was no response, and we were about to give up, that''s when it happened. [...... isn''t it a lie that you can heal the sick? A voice, different from that of Agente or his companions. It sounded like a woman. "Yes, I can. I can''t guarantee it for every disease." That''s good. It would be more suspicious if you told me that you could cure me of any disease. My voice is getting closer. Let''s give him one chance. "......!" A human ...... or perhaps a homunculus appeared. It is also very damaged. Like Anne of old,...... or even more so. I could barely make out that it was a female form. But that''s all. Her dark hair, which had been glossy, had fallen out and only sparsely covered her skull. One of the two round eyes was cloudy and seemed to be unable to see anything. He seems to have difficulty moving, and he is dragging his feet. Her left arm is dried up and hangs limp, and her remaining right arm does not seem to be able to move. He is wearing what appears to be rags rather than clothing. What am I? < "I am Jin. I am an automata controlled by ......." I know you''re not a ...... person, but I''m willing to discuss this if you let me take a hostage as a guarantee of your safety. There was tension in his voice. "Then let me be your collateral. Lao Tzu offered. "If you are ready, the other one. Nanny, I would like you to take two of the four as collateral. I will not do anything to put a device on them. All you have to do is stay here. I''ll do it. has offered to stay with us. He, too, knows that the pair of Hitoshi and Reiko is the most suitable pair for this occasion. All right. You two will stay here. You two stay here with me. Nanny turns and begins to walk. Her steps were slow, so there was no problem in following her. Soon Lao Tzu and Helente were out of sight. The passage was not straight but slightly curved. Two or three weak wards are passed through. They look like sterile wards.) Yes. (Yes, and the first one seems to have been a ward.) Who in the world is Nanny going to let us see? Hitoshi D. and Reiko follow at a slow pace. 1388 - - 37-30 Master of Nany First of all, this way. Hitomi and Reiko were led by Nanny to the end of the passage. The passageway was covered with a soft carpet so that no footsteps could be heard. At the end of the corridor, there were several doors in a row, and they were led to the leftmost one. The door was not made of inorganic metal, but of warm wood. Please come in. Inside the door was a room about 10 tatami mats in size. Please be careful not to touch it too much. Everything is my husband''s. The room was also covered with a long, soft carpet, and the light that illuminated the room was somewhat gentle. However, what surprised Jin D., the manipulator of Jin D., was what was scattered on the floor. * * * * "...... picture, right?" < In Horai Island, Jin and Ro-kun had the same impression. "This picture is ......." < and other places. "Did you draw this picture modeled after a golem of a different shape?" <> "Ummm ......" Jin and Lao-kun felt that a great mystery was about to be solved. * * * * Jin D. was observing the pictures scattered on the floor, taking care not to touch them as much as possible. "Nah, ...... my hunch is that he didn''t see the golem and draw it, but only that he made a golem modeled on this one." That''s right. I turned around at the sound of the voice and opened a different door from the one I had come in through, to find Nanny standing in front of me. "Nanny?What did you say?" I gave him instructions to create a golem based on this picture that had drawn. All for the sake of making happy. "......" It''s okay. Golem is not a living thing. If it moves, even if it is a little unbalanced. It is much more important to please your master. "I understand. Reiko muttered to herself. I guess it is because Reiko has spent a thousand years of her life searching for her successor, Jin, that she feels sympathy for him. Don''t you understand? Nanny smiled ...... perhaps. Her face was distorted and material peeled off from her cheeks. Not much ...... time. did not reply today, but ...... I will ask him to do so at my discretion. Please look at <>. At that time, Nanny seemed to say . This way, please. I heard that the master is in the next room. At Nanny''s prompting, Jin D. and Reiko moved toward the room. There they found Nanny''s . * * * * * * * * * "This is ......!" When he saw the video sent by Jin D, he was astonished, and he knew what it was all about. What he saw was a facility similar to an incubator. Soft cushions and pillows. Water and feeding equipment. And there lay the , as she called him. Silent. * * * * "The Last of the Hale ...... maybe" <> "Because of its excellent facilities, it has never decayed and has always looked like that. ......" The mummy of a child was lying there. << "Was it because of the Aether Stampede?" > is operating its own free magical element (ether). "I see." I see. Now, please see to him, <>. If you can''t fix him, I can''t guarantee the safety of the two remaining bodies over there. "......" Come on, come on! Jin D told Nanny, who was in a hurry, in as quiet a voice as possible. "I''m sorry, but it''s too late. Nanny, your has been dead for a long time now." What did you say? Nanny''s body jerked. Something is peeling off again. It can''t be!Just a few days ago, my master painted a picture!When I made a golem based on that picture, <> laughed! "That was at least 200 years ago, right?Humans don''t live that long." 200 years?What the hell does that mean!< "Nanny ......" It seems that this homunculus, Nanny, does not understand her master''s death. My master is only sleeping!If you wake up, I can give you whatever you want! "That''s why you''ll never wake up again. ......" [You can''t cure me, so you say such deceptions, right?I won''t allow it. Something peeled off Nanny''s body again. "Nanny, your body is nearing its limits, isn''t it?Your is too. Are you trying to conspire against me?I knew I couldn''t trust you! "No, Nanny. No, no, no. Enough!I was created and exist to be of service to my master. < is there, I am ...... Nanny''s knees fell off. I saw that she had collapsed from the knees down. "Nanny, don''t move any further. Your body will not be able to sustain it. Jin-D approached Nanny to apply the same healing magic that had worked on the homunculus 700672. But Nanny was not so sure. However, Nanny backed away to avoid him. And again, her body tissues fall off. I am the one with . Everything I do is for . ...... Nanny''s right arm collapses and she falls on her back. Jin-D rushed to her and tried to heal her. However, it had no effect on the homunculus, which had already begun to disintegrate. <>...... my ...... boy(chico)......] Those were Nanny''s last words. The next moment, Nanny''s body crumbled away like a lump of earth. 1389 - - 37-31 Where we got to "Nanny, and your . ......" Jin D looked at Nanny and muttered. "You couldn''t understand that your is no longer with you, and yet you still tried to serve him, and that was the result of your outburst." "It''s sad." Reiko also muttered a little downcast. "I was saved by your father. Yes, Reiko had once decayed at the end of a thousand years. Reiko is what she is today because Jin fixed it. "But <> had no one to save her. Sadly, sadly, Reiko continues her words. "Even after all these years, there is no one." * * * * * * "<>, I suppose you could call it. Jin on Horai Island muttered with a slightly pained look on his face. > "Yes. The heavier the imprint of serving a master is, the bigger the repercussions when that master disappears. For example, ...... Elena." Elena is an automata created more than 350 years ago by a genius magecraftsman. It was only two years ago that the creator of Elena created an organization called "Unifiler" to stand at the top of all automata, perverting the words of the creator on his deathbed and causing a stir in the world. "The stronger one''s love for one''s master is, the more one goes out of control when that master is gone. I''m sure he wouldn''t want that. It''s ...... ironic, isn''t it?" Jin then brings his thoughts back to reality. "Old man, let''s just deactivate the danger of that satellite ......<>." * * * * * * Jin D. put his hands together in front of his <> and his nanny <. Reiko followed suit. "Now Reiko, I don''t know what will happen to <> now that Nanny is gone. Let''s not be afraid anymore, let''s neutralize them. "I understand." But avoid destruction as much as possible. Yes, sir. But our fears were unfounded. The disappearance of Nanny meant that there was no one to give direct orders, and all the magical brains in the vicinity had been shut down. The control core has collapsed. "This one too." Jin D tried to contact Lao Tzu with the built-in manacam. He received an immediate reply. "The most likely explanation is that the control core of the main magic brain has collapsed due to the disappearance of Nanny''s magic wave. It would be a kind of security measure. "Then this satellite is no longer a threat. And the planet Hale. Jin D., Reiko, Lao Tzu, and split up to investigate the interior of . also assisted them by using the . After 5 hours of investigation, they confirmed that there was nothing moving inside <>. The only things that were in operation were the propulsion system and the magi-machine, which seemed to be an attitude control device. It is hard to imagine what will happen to the satellite <> without them. * * * * * * * * * * * "So the threat from Hale is gone now? On Horai Island, Jin lets out a deep sigh. "I''ve been through a lot, but this is where I ended up. ......" >. The old man expressed himself in an unusually poetic way. "Yes," he said. <<<>...... well was fortunate to have found a new named Marikka." <<<< Disaster>> could have been repurposed as a mega-float. "Well, yeah." Jin stared at the screen. There was now the planet Hale floating in the background of the jet-black space. "I hope all that has been done for Hale has not been in vain, but for the sake of Hale''s successor, ...... Ars." The old man agreed with Jin. * * * Jin D., Reiko, Lao Tzu, and <> returned to <> after completing their investigation of the satellite <>. "Then I and <> will return to Ars first. So, using the warp gate, Lao Tzu and move ahead of the others to Ars. "Okay, let''s get out of here too." Since he knew how to operate the airlock when he had investigated the inside of the ship, Jin D slowly moved < toward the hatch. Then, something like a proximity sensor was activated and the air inside was automatically sucked out. These devices did not stop. When the air pressure inside reaches zero, the hatch opens and <> flies out into space. <> orbits the satellite three times before heading for >, which is floating far away. Jin D looks back at the satellite as it shrinks in size behind him, and says a few words. "...... It''s not a cradle (Cuna), it''s a tombstone (Rapida). ......" As a side note, < taught me the meaning of the word. * * * * uses ''s warp gate to return to Horai Island. Jin greets him. "Reiko, I know you''ve been through a lot." "Yes, father. I will be happy if I can be of help. Jin hugged her tightly. "...... father?" Reiko was a little bit surprised at Jin''s unusual behavior, but when she heard him muttering, she guessed the reason. (......You''re not like Nanny. ......) Reiko rubs her face against Jin''s chest. "Father, my father. Reiko is a lucky girl." I don''t know what fate awaits me in the future. But cherish the warmth that is here now. A ray of wind blows over the institute. The sky of Horai Island is clear, and the sun Seran gently shines on the planet Ars. 1390 - - 37-32 Their Epilogue "So this is the planet of the , Hale. ......" Jin was visiting the planet Hale. Accompanying him were Reiko, Elsa, Zion, Marikka, 700672, Neige, Rouge, and . "It''s a lonelier planet than I thought." Neige said in a voice devoid of emotion. "Yes, but this is definitely where I am from. The 700672 has no memory of Hale. It was only on Hale that he was created, and it was on Ars that he was implanted with knowledge and his ego was born. Still, I wanted to come to Hale, 700672. "...... Indeed, there are few foreign substances in the atmosphere. No dust, no microorganisms. Elsa muttered as she finished her analysis. All but Reiko and are wearing space suits, just in case. "The air is similar to that of a sterile room. "The air is similar to a sterile chamber, but the humidity is lower. The air is not considered to be harmful to living creatures. As soon as he heard these words, 700672 removed his spacesuit helmet and took a deep breath. "......Oh, here we are. I don''t remember, but my body, my cells seem to remember. I am sure this is my home planet. Neige and Rouge looked at the tearful 700672 with some concern. "Marikka, do you feel anything?" "No, Mr. Zion." No, Mr. Zion. I guess we are more connected to Ars than to Hale. Sion gently opened his helmet and breathed in the air, but did not seem to feel any emotion. Jin looked at Erza. The sky of Planet Hale is a deep blue. The sky of Planet Hale is a deep blue, probably because the air is clear. The wind, however, was dry and cold, repulsive to all living things. "A dead star, huh?" Looking at the mountains with my own eyes, I realized that they were gentle because they had been cut down to make materials. What they consumed them for when the population was so small is a mystery. ....... "Perhaps they built a < to travel to distant worlds." No. 700672 muttered. You''re probably right. agreed. "How can you be so sure?" Jin questioned, wondering, "I seem to have had some information in me that suggested such a thing," answered. The 700672 answered. It is the only possible explanation. To go beyond space would probably require a tremendous amount of resources, including free magical element (ether). Jin imagined that probably had some fragments of information left behind, and that they had been activated by coming to Hale. And as if to confirm his imagination, <> continued. "It seems that the primordial program in my mind described what would happen if I came back to Hale. I don''t know what his intention was in leaving such information behind, but I am thankful that the mystery did not remain a mystery to Jin. The reason why they needed a huge amount of materials was to build and operate a ship that transcends time and space. Whether it was completed or not, I do not know. This is the reason why they were ordering materials such as free magical element (ether) from Ars. The fact that the is not here suggests that it was completed and left, or that it was never built at all. We do not know that now. "If it had been completed, why didn''t they just stop getting materials from Arus?" Marikka says and <> replies apologetically. Marikka, I am sorry. But if you''ll excuse me, we can''t stop unless we are ordered to stop. "And after all that, you were robbed of your money by the "Beheshahr". Reiko said bitterly. Ah, so the creator of the Beheshah was not here, but on the satellite, wasn''t he? "That''s right. Or, to be more precise, it seems that his follower built the Beheshah." When Jin answers, 700672 says a little regretfully, "I wish I could have met him. "I wish I could have met him. It was probably one of the oldest homunculus. * * * * The group gazes out from inside Vulcan at the planet Hale and its satellite Kuna. "<>. I think it means "cradle." Upon hearing the name, 700672 explained. "So it was literally the cradle of the last Hailites. As Jin, I am also filled with emotion. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, the next problem is ...... and to be honest, it''s a hassle. ......" Now that the whole mess had been resolved, Jin was left to wonder how he would explain it to the outside world. "Brother Jin, we have Mr. 700672 and here. Why don''t you ask them for their wisdom?" Jin nodded at Erza''s advice. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea." Jin then explained what was troubling him. "How should I explain about Hale?I think we need to unify the will of the nations first. Jin also explained the concept of the and the . "It''s ...... troublesome, isn''t it? We who know the true power of Djinn and the people of Laurent who don''t know. Do you think we can get along with them? Theon muttered with a truly troublesome look on his face. Jin could understand that feeling, so he just laughed. I think so. You can''t have a true friendship if you keep secrets from each other. "Well,...... I mean, my existence is still heretical,......." "I don''t mean it that way, Jin-dono. But it is certainly a difficult question. Jin is a little disappointed when No. 700672 also says so. "It''s too early to talk about Hale, isn''t it? "I see. ...... "I think it''s more important that we get this whole "world congress" thing going first. "I agree. Unlike the Haelians, the Ars are relatively belligerent. On the other hand, they have strong vertical and horizontal ties. First of all, we must build a solid foundation and base, and then expand upward. "I can sort of see that." It seems that the next task is to . Jin would like to leave this to <, and will do so. "I''ll think about how to do it a little more: ......" I want to stabilize the world and live in peace. I want a world where my friends and their families can live in peace. I want the world to be safe enough to live in modern Japan. That is what Jin had in mind. He is not going to back out now, and he is not going to stop halfway. "One piece of advice: the more people who help you, the better." Mm-hmm. The original were individualistic, but we have seen their limitations. The new master, Marikka, cares for her family and has many friends. After all, people are connected to each other. It makes it possible to do things that one cannot do alone. also spoke about the importance of comradeship. It seems that since Marikka became the new <, there has been a considerable change of mindset. "One cannot live alone. I know that. Jin mutters to himself. "It''s not so easy for me. "Then I''ll help you." Erza responded to Jin''s monologue. "I''ll help you, too! Marikka also declared. I''m willing to help you too! Theon also showed his pride. "Thank you. It''s nice to know I''m not alone. Jin looks out into space. There were countless twinkling stars. 1391 - - 37-33 Quiet 70 Greenhouse "How wonderful!" Marlene Randall, Elsa''s mother-in-law, exclaimed. On January 15, Jin had completed a greenhouse in the courtyard of Elsa''s parents'' house. The courtyard was large enough to accommodate the greenhouse. The shape is hemispherical. In other words, it is dome-shaped. Fifty meters in diameter and 15 meters high. It is made of quartz glass with a light silver frame. Equipped with an air-conditioning system, it can maintain a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 70 percent all year round. Of course, the temperature and humidity can be adjusted. It was also equipped with a solar lamp that utilized light-attributed magical crystals (magi crystals). "Jin-san was able to create such an amazing thing in a single night. Ten craftsmen (smiths) assembled the parts processed in Horai Island in one night. "Do you like it?" Jin asked, and Marlene nodded happily. "Yes, of course. Thank you, Jin-san." Jin was relieved that she was happy. "Mother, let me show you around. Erza offers to show him around. Jin was in charge of the dome, and Elsa was in charge of the interior layout. "Yes, please." There are entrances and exits at the north, south, east, and west sides of the dome. Erza and the others entered from the south entrance. "This area is a flower garden." "It''s beautiful." Some of them were already in bloom. And here are some herbs. "Well, it''s nice. I see you have mint, lavandula and pelargonium. There are also jasmine and lemon sage. "The mint will increase if you are not careful. "Well, be careful with the mint." "Hmm, I understand." Mint is a prolific grower and can spread all over the garden if you are not careful. Marlene knew this and knew how to take care of it. "In your right hand, medicinal herbs." "Well, that''s good." Swertia, Fulo, Zelani, etc. were planted, albeit at the level of folk medicine. "I want to increase the number of species little by little." "Yes, that''s right. Elsa is also a <>, isn''t she? The group went straight to the center of the dome. "Well, there''s a pond." Yes. And a fountain. "Oh, how nice." The pond and fountain help to raise the humidity inside the dome. The fountain is filled with tropical water plants. Water lilies and ...... gin brother, what''s this?" "I''ve never seen this plant before. Big leaves. It''s a lotus. It''s called lotus over here. Yes, lotus. It will have beautiful flowers in a little while. In addition, small fish are swimming in the pond, creating an environment similar to a biotope. "Turn to the east and you''ll see ......." "It''s beautiful!" In this corner, there were orchids, and Marlene''s favorite cattleya was in full bloom. In addition to cutlers, subtropical orchids had been brought in from Penglai Island and Kunlun Island. "Jin-san?" "Yes, he collected them and brought them here." "<> was very helpful." In fact, they also used a pelican and a warp gate. "I''m glad to hear that, thank you." "No, no. No, it''s just an apology for not showing up more often. On the east side, across the orchid bed and the path, there were cacti. "I''ve never seen this one before. ......" "It''s called a cactus. It''s a plant that grows in the desert. "It''s kind of cool in this corner." Marlene sensed a change in the air. "Yes. Cacti are arid plants, so we have kept the temperature the same and reduced the humidity to 40 percent. This is possible thanks to the gaseous warding. Because they are for gases, they do not affect human traffic. "Your technology is amazing ...... and there are so many plants I don''t know. I''m looking forward to learning more." Marlene''s face lit up. Seeing this, Jin and Erza secretly exclaimed their joy in their hearts. The group moved to the northeast area. "This one is a bush and this one is a vine. There were many azaleas and tessens, respectively. "Is this Murasakiazalea (=Murasakiyasio)? That one over there must be a daemari. Oh, there''s a peony, too. "Mother-in-law, you really know your stuff! When Jin praised her, Marlene looked a little embarrassed, Marlene looked a little embarrassed and said: "Oh no... "Oh no, it''s just common sense, isn''t it?" Marlene replied. "Your mother''s knowledge of flowers is like an expert''s." Elsa made a rare comment. She continued to turn counterclockwise. "Oh, there are so many trees here. I''ve never seen flowers before. We came to an area with flowering trees of about 5 meters in height. "We have planted subtropical flowering trees," Jin explains. Jin explains. "Most of them are trees that grow in the Kunlun Islands. "By the way, Jin-san is a , isn''t he?" The subtropical bougainvillea, jacaranda, and deigo trees were planted. Among them, the jacaranda was in full bloom with purple flowers. "You did a wonderful job transplanting a flowering tree without killing it. "I''m impressed." Thanks to the hard work of the five-colored golem Topaz and his friends. We continue around to the northwest to a place where fruit trees have been planted. "Well, this place is nice too. Rare fruit trees such as the zakr, a specialty of the Kingdom of Selroa, and plinia are planted here. "What''s this?" Sure enough, Marlene is surprised to see a plinia. It''s called a plinia, and this is its fruit. It is similar to a plant called jaboticaba or Brazilian grape on Earth. The many blackish-purple rounded grapes on the trunk look like eggs of insects or something. "Well, is that so?" "I was surprised when I saw them for the first time myself." Goose told me about this fruit tree. The flowers bloom directly on the trunk, so naturally the fruit grows attached to the trunk. "Look, they are delicious!" Not very polite, but Jin picks one and eats it. Then Elsa. "Mother, it''s delicious!" "...... Really?" Marlene was also afraid to put a piece in her mouth as they were eating it so deliciously. "Oh my!" It tasted surprisingly...... good, but then again, it was fruit, so that was to be expected. It''s delicious. "Isn''t it?" I am saying ...... but when Goose told me about it, I hesitated to eat it for more than half an hour because of its eerie appearance. By the way, Elsa turned pale just by looking at it at that time. Then he comes back to the flower bed. "I am so happy. Thank you, Ms. Jin, Elsa. "No, you''re welcome." Jin and Erza are relieved to hear from the maid of honor that Marlene seems to be more active every day after this. 1392 - - 38-01 World Conference launched January 20, 3459. This was a memorable day for the countries of the Laurentian Continent. < The Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Franz, the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Elias, the Kingdom of Cerroa, and the Kingdom of Shoro. The participating nations have decided to pass the day as for posterity. The will be held on a huge man-made floating island in the sea west of the Kingdom of Elias, south of the Kingdom of Egelea. The floating island, named <>, has been developed by Jin''s hands, and officially began to operate as the base of the <> on this day. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Thank you all for gathering here. The initiator, <, addresses the audience in polite terms. His partner is standing next to him. "Today, the second will be held here in , and I will serve as the temporary chairman. First of all, Makina will serve as the provisional chairman until the official chairman is decided. "As a candidate for the chair, one representative from each country will be chosen. Jin is attending the meeting as a deputy advisor. As he watches the meeting, he is filled with emotion that we have finally come this far. (It looks like we can now move forward with our predecessor''s dream of creating a sanctuary for magical engineering.) "At ......, it is unanimously decided that the first chairman is His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the Shoro Kingdom, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shoro." The whole room applauded. While Jin was lost in his thoughts, the election of the chairperson was over. The first chairman was the empress of the Shoro Kingdom. "Now, I would like to leave the chairmanship to Gerhardt-sama. Makina bowed and got up from her seat, placing the desk tag with <> written on it in front of the empress. The seats were arranged in a perfect circle, with no upper or lower seats. "I am Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Shawlo, recommended by you. Although I am not a gifted person, I will do my best to serve you. He bowed and continued. Then, I would like to choose a vice-chairperson and a secretary. Thus, the began with the selection of positions. The vice-chairman is Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein. The secretary was to be Rey, a follower of Machina. The full-fledged meeting then begins. "Now then, I would like to codify the of this . The first thing to do. The first thing we need to do is to define what the should be. "So, please speak for yourselves in a clockwise direction." As a side note, the <> direction is the same on Ars as it is on modern Earth. This is because the direction in which the shadow of the <> moves is called <>. "The World Conference will be held with the participation of all friendly nations." "with the aim of maintaining world peace and security." "All members are equal." "Each member shall elect one or more members to participate." "Each country shall have one vote. "Each country shall have one vote, no more, no less." "Each country shall pay its share of the expenses for the operation of the World Congress." "In the event of conflict within or between countries, the World Conference will give priority to negotiation, examination, mediation and conciliation, with the use of force as a last resort." "The should be established as a subsidiary body of the World Conference. These opinions were discussed in turn. These were discussed in turn, and after further deliberation, the articles were finalized. The first day ended with the decision on the articles. Thank you very much for your hard work. "Thank you for your hard work, Your Majesty. As the participants leave the conference room, their guards greet them and take them to their respective rooms. Makina and Rei are the last to leave the conference room. The cleanup is being done by the golem maids assigned to . They are almost the same type as the five-colored golem maids, but their eyes are different, so to speak, and they have <. They are made of bronze, so they are only as strong and powerful as they can be, but they are still far above the world standard. Its name is . Because of his deep blue, sapphire eyes, he is called . They range from < to <, with 1 being the leader. They are treated as a gift from Jin and Makina. Of course, Jin and Makina are not the only ones. The Shoro Kingdom donated a set of tables and chairs for meetings, 10 years'' worth of wood for record keeping, and building materials for the facility. The Kingdom of Cerroa sent 20 golems for guards. From the Kingdom of Egelea, 50 sets of furniture and bedding for the lodging house. From the Kingdom of Franz, enough food to feed 100 people for a month, and drinking water. From the Kingdom of Elias, wheat, seafood and topopo (potatoes) as food for the duration of the conference. The Kingdom of Klein donated ores, magi crystals, magi stones and other materials. Each country donated mainly its own specialties. In addition, the people who work in the kitchen and other facilities will be selected in turn. Such donations ......, or rather contributions, or rather <> will be decided in the future. The <> will be moved by the goodwill of each country. * * * * * * "No, this way you can see that we are on the sea. It is 5:00 PM. Even though it is winter, the sun has not yet set on , which lies south of the Tropic of Cancer. Elsa''s brother Fritz was leaning against the railing on the western edge of Avalon, watching the sunset. "Oh, Mister Fritz..." "Yes?" I turned around at the sound of his voice and saw his light brown hair swaying in the sea breeze. "Gloria, it''s been a long time. I''m glad to see you are well. "You too, Mister Fritz." Gloria came next to Fritz and leaned against the railing. "The sea is a big place, isn''t it? We don''t have an ocean here, so when I get a chance to look at it, I come to admire it. "Ha, I see." The two of them then stood in silence for a while, staring at the setting sun. "...... Gloria, are you going to join the ?" Suddenly Fritz spoke up. "Yes, I hope so." "I see. Me too. "Well, I hope we can work together." "Yeah." The conversation was cut short again, and the two of them stood there until the stars began to shine in the sky. 1393 - - 38-02 Dinner Jin and Reiko were looking around inside . When he peeked into the common room. "Ah, Jin-sama, it''s been a while." "Uh, Lyanna?" Yes. I''m now in charge of Avalon. Lyanna was the leader of the second team of the Royal Secret Maids. She is a master of self-defense. "Is that a promotion ......?" Of course it is. We''re the second team and we''ll be transferring directly to the new position. The second group is ...... The Royal Secret Maids that I met when I visited the Kingdom of Egelea in the past. Yes, I am Mary, Kate, and Lisa. I am the only one accompanying you this time. "Lila is now with His Highness the Prince, isn''t she?" One more person, Laila Solu?, who was in Jin''s charge, is now with the third prince and will not be coming to . "Yes. ......And also, His Highness wanted to come with us to this meeting, but was not allowed. So I have a message for Mr. Jin to give his regards. "I see, thank you very much." Jin then saw a familiar face in the back of the room. "Jin-dono? It''s been a while. It was Pascoe Rush. He is the third son of Baron Rush, who worked with Licia to transport the cure for the magical exhaustion fever that once ravaged the Klein Kingdom. "I''ve just been knighted from apprentice. I''m sorry for all the trouble I''ve caused you,......." Pascoe bows his head lightly, and Jin thinks that he has changed a lot. Whereas before his aristocratic arrogance was on display in a bad way, now civility seems to have overtaken it. Or perhaps, as he has learned more about Jin, he has realized that he cannot treat him lightly. "I hear that you have maintained this <> together with Makina-dono. I respect your skill. "Thank you." Jin returned the polite words politely. At that moment. "Dinner is ready, sir. <> announces. The people in the common room all stand up at once, and Jin thinks, "Oh.... In fact, the food served at the last <> had been so well received that expectations were high for this year''s event as well. Not only those who had eaten at the last conference but also those who attended the conference for the first time this time have heard about it by word of mouth and have high expectations for this year''s conference. The first time I ate there, I was very much looking forward to it. "Oh? What is this? What in the world is this? One of the main items on the menu this time was . It is a food made by kneading fish paste with salt, shaping it, and then heating it to harden it. "It is made by processing fish." Jin, the provider, explains. In fact, the Peridos, who are in charge of household chores in Bongnae Island, selected suitable fish through trial and error. They mainly use white fish from saltwater, and add salt to make it sticky. A small amount of starch is added to the mixture to give it a more even texture. This time we made <<<. Each of them is kneaded and then heated by . When Jin explains this to the group, there are shouts of "Oh! And one more dish. "Is this ......?" "......, it smells good." "What the hell kind of meat is this ......?" There was another new dish on the menu. "It is called . It is the meat of a juvenile dragon eel from the Kingdom of Klein. "My God!" The dragonhead eel (dragon eels) grows to over three meters in length as an adult, and its flesh is tough and difficult to eat, but the flesh of juveniles less than one meter long is delicious, much like that of eels from the earth. Perido and his team also took great pains to recreate the sauce for kabayaki, and this is the first time they have presented it to the public. "We can catch dragon head eels (dragon eels) in large numbers," said Peridot. If we are careful not to let them become extinct, they can be a good food source. "Well, my hat is off to you." Even Alois III, who loves raw river fish, was both amused and delighted by the broiled dragonhead eel (dragon eels). Of course, the others also enjoyed the kabayaki. The smell is very appetizing, isn''t it? "It will taste even better if you pour this on top if you like. Jin sprinkled powder in a small container and showed it to me. "Hajikami," he said. It was sansho (Japanese pepper) powder. "Oh, this has a nice aroma," he said. "It has a different aroma from that of pepper. I would like to try it with other dishes. The people gathered here were smacking their lips at the kabayaki and the fish paste. "Now, please try this with these dishes. The sake served was sake. It goes great with fish dishes. "I thought this sake was also sweet on its own, but when paired with food, it is excellent. Reinhardt, who is a wine lover, tasted this sake and gave his approval. It was no wonder the guests liked it so much. "I don''t think it''s a great taste, but it''s a very gentle taste. One of them described the fish paste as such. "You can eat it every day and not get tired of it. You can eat it every day and not get tired of it. As before, the rice was also well received. "Hmmm, is it the way you cook it differently? It doesn''t work like this at home. "You might want to polish the rice just before cooking." More and more aristocrats prefer white rice. The rice harvest seems to have doubled in the past two years, which makes Jin happy. Of course, we also welcome the delicious bread and noodles made from wheat. "Oh, here they come. I can''t forget the last time I had this!" A person who liked Miso Soup. "I''m glad to have this again!" Meat topopo was also a hit. The dinner passed in harmony. 1394 - - 38-03 Information Announcement >Day 2. "I would like to begin today''s agenda with the ." The chairwoman of the conference, the Empress Shoro, declares. True to her word, the Shoro Empire makes a formal announcement first. "First of all, Mayas Kurdam von Skira, please. And now... The Minister of the Shoro Empire, Marjas Kuldam von Skira, began his speech. "In our country, there is the Hariri Desert in the west, and a different ethnic group lives further west. This is what is known. We, as neighboring countries, have established diplomatic relations with them on January 12 this year. A stirring response spreads through the conference hall. Official diplomatic relations? At last! However, the fact that we had already announced last year that we had established temporary diplomatic relations through the Manaphone was not a surprise. I am not surprised. We also understood that the past will to invade was a misunderstanding. "Yes. < does not have a . Instead, it has ......." The emperor explains the political form of Mitsuho. The crowd listened attentively. "I see, so this is exactly the way the is running the country. "But, in case of emergency, isn''t it sometimes too late to make a decision by holding a meeting?" Prince Arthur, one of the representatives of the Klein Kingdom, spoke up. This is a very sharp opinion. "It seems that the has a certain amount of authority for this purpose." "I see." But I don''t think we have to follow suit. "I see. Our political system has a long history. ...... "We can improve it by adopting what is good and not adopting what is bad. ...... A number of opinions were exchanged on the form of governance. The chairwoman, Empress Shoro, stopped the exchange of opinions at an appropriate point. She said, "I appreciate your active opinions, but let''s move on now. She was originally introducing Mitsuho. "If possible, we would like to invite the Emir of Mitsuho, Mr. Hiro Mutu, to the next . The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications continued. "No problem. "I would rather welcome him. The result of the meeting seemed to be generally favorable to the participants. This was also to Jin''s satisfaction. However, he thought it would be necessary to meet Hiro Mutu again and tell him to pretend to be a first-time visitor when he saw Jin''s face. But.... (No, if we''re talking about official diplomatic relations, I can visit him alone. ...... Yes, let''s do that.) Jin had a better idea, and he made a mental note of it. * * * * The next presentation came from the Kingdom of Selroa. The speaker was the King, Cesar Valois de Cerroa. I have good news from my country. The people in the pews looked at each other, wondering what was going on, but he knew just when to say it, "We have finally succeeded in reproducing the Warp Gate! He made a bombshell declaration. What? The Warp Gate! That''s it! The leaders of the world were astonished. "Many of you may remember that there was a warp gate in the basement during the commemorative ceremony. We analyzed it very carefully." Jin thought that the Kingdom of Celuloa, with its advanced magical engineering, must have been able to do this. "However, there are still many problems. Cesar waited for the noise to die down and continued his explanation. "First of all, it consumes a large amount of mana. Even so, only two people can be transferred. "Still, that''s a great improvement, isn''t it? Someone said. "It still is. The distance that can be transferred is limited, currently 200 kilometers at most. "Why don''t you just keep improving?" "Of course. When it is completed, it will be a great contribution to the world. "Why don''t you ask for the help of the Lords Jin and Machina?" Lotharus de Lafayette, King of the Kingdom of Franz, spoke up. "We have thought about that," said Lotharus de Lafayette. But for the time being, let us do it on our own. He wants to do as much as he can in the country where he discovered it. Since I understand his sentiments, I did not make any further comments. "But I am very much looking forward to it." The chairperson of the meeting, the Empress Shoro, concluded. * * * * * * * * * * The third presentation was by the Kingdom of Franz. "Well, you see, ...... we had a domestic debate about what we should do because it would bring shame to our country." He began in a strange way. "Since this is a problem for the whole of humanity, we decided to present it here." Everyone was curious as to what he was going to say. "It was the summer of 3457. The king at that time was Rijohn de Barkly. ......" Jin had an idea what had happened. There was a people from the north. ...... No, let''s be clear, they were ." "What? The demon tribe? Demon tribe? The place was in an uproar for a moment. It''s no wonder. 300 years ago they fought a war for their very existence. "...... Quiet!Let''s hear what you have to say first. "It all started when two demons came to a town called Enak in the north. They were a young man and a young woman, one of whom was a demoness, < The current King Rottero explained that he had said these words. This is in line with what Jin heard from Catherine de Lafayette, the mother of the current king. Without a second thought, the Enak deputy, Kutaga Akhtar, pretended to welcome them and poisoned them. "The two men were killed during the convoy. It is said that this was the work of a faction that hates the demon tribe." "......" "......" Hearing the end, those in attendance seemed speechless. AC...... how did the attendees of the <> feel about the fact that they were tricked, captured, and even murdered simply for being <> when they had come here to at least discuss the matter? "It is a pity, isn''t it? The brief words uttered by the chairperson, the female emperor, were filled with deep emotion, which was felt by everyone in attendance. 1395 - - 38-04 Discussions, topics and suggestions "...... though it happened in the time of the previous king, it is truly regrettable." King Lotharus de Lafayette sank to his knees. "What kind of people were these demons?" asked the Dauphin Alphonse, one of the representatives of the Kingdom of Elias. "...... They are not different from us in appearance. The male is slightly darker, with dark brown hair and eyes. The woman was fair-skinned with silver hair and light blue eyes. You were able to communicate with them? According to the report, they had no trouble communicating. How did you catch him? The next question comes from Prince Arthur of the Kingdom of Klein. "I poisoned his food." "Poisoned ......? But if you ate it without questioning it, doesn''t that mean you trusted us, or were about to? Rotaro laughed at Prince Arthur''s words. "That''s right. You have betrayed that trust." "Have there been any contacts from the demon tribe since those two?" Again the Dauphin Alphonse of the Kingdom of Elias. No. ...... unfortunately." Lotharus de Lafayette answered shortly, a somber look on his face. A few more questions were asked and Lotharus answered them one by one. "At ......, I think it is time to end the questions. And I think that this is exactly the right topic for a ." The chairwoman, the emperor, declared. "We cannot continue to avoid problems with the demon tribe. We need to discuss what we should do from now on. "Yes, Chancellor." At this point, the Crown Prince Alphonse of the Kingdom of Elias raised his hand and began to speak. "I think it would be better to have all the information from each country presented first, and then we will set priorities for discussion. "You are right. I was in a bit of a hurry. Now, is there anything else from the Kingdom of Elias? Yes. ...... My father, the current king, Blitzen Skala Elias XII, has been ill in bed for the past four years. Last year, he was healed by the wife of the Kunlun, but his failing health cannot be concealed, and I am pleased to announce that I will officially become king on March 1. "Oh, yes." Blitzen Skala Elias XII was more frail than sick. He had only one child, the Dauphin Alphonse. Since he was not ill, the healer''s remedies were ineffective and he was unable to see to the affairs of state adequately, so he decided to abdicate. "I see, then I must attend the coronation! King Alois III of Klein said in a cheerful voice. "As for the Kingdom of Egelea, ......" King Harold Luan Autoclase-Egelea opened his mouth and glanced at Alois III, King of Klein. When he saw that Alois III gave a small nod, "I am pleased to inform you that the betrothal of my son Ernest to Her Royal Highness Princess Rieschen Fusis Klein, the third Princess of the Kingdom of Klein, has been formally consummated." "Oh!" That''s great news! After a long period of gloomy news - the accession to the throne of the Dauphin Alphonse was a bright spot, but the current king''s condition was not so good - this announcement was a breath of fresh air. Jin was also filled with emotion to see the two of them finally ....... * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, this taste!I knew it was good. "We can''t make it taste the same. The bread must be different. Lunch was served just in time. The menu consisted of sandwiches and pasta. The sandwiches were again well received by the customers, who never get tired of the different ingredients. This pashta is a specialty of one of the regions. It was created by Licia and her family in the village of Toka. This time, Jin served a peperoncino-like dish. He used butter and soybean oil because he could not find olive oil. I also substituted garlic with wild leek root and pepper for chili. And a dash of soy sauce. <>I am sure I will be scolded for this recipe. The reason I used pepper is because it suits my palate better in this combination. "Oh, this is delicious! "It has a stylish taste. But it also seems to be well received. Citran juice and april juice were also well received. The participants forgot their worries and sorrows for a while and enjoyed the other world of . * * * * * * * * * * * * After a two-hour break, the afternoon meeting began. "First of all, we would like to discuss the <>. The chairperson of the meeting, the Shoro Imperial Princess declared. "First of all, we need information. Please tell us what you know about the <> after the War of Magic. "Well then..." At this point, Jin raised his hand. "In the year 3457, there was a magical engineer (magi engineer) named Marcus Grinwald under the command of Georg Randall, the then Viscount Georg Randall, the biological father of my wife Elsa. He was manipulated by a demon tribe and used poison to harm the bodies of Georg Randall and the Marquis G?ren Theodoric. Many people know about this, and it is no secret. However, in order to ensure the accuracy of the information, it was decided that it would be best for Jin, who was one of the parties involved, to tell his story. "The name of the demon who was controlling him is Marcosias. He has escaped and has not been captured. At this point, Jin paused in his speech. Many of us had never heard of him before, so we took time to digest our impressions. "I will tell you one more thing that I know. Waiting for the murmurs to die down, Jin opened his mouth again. The shadow of the demon tribe appeared in the Kingdom of Klein as well. They first contacted Count Walter, and spread the magical exhaustion fever by means of a carrier pigeon. "Oh, I remember. I have also been informed that Lysia Faarheit and Pascoe Rush were active in this endeavor." Alois III corroborated Jin''s statement. "Yes. The steward at that time told me that a mysterious man had tampered with the pigeons. It seems that the man was a demon. "Oh, I didn''t know that." Jin is the lord of the village of Kaina, so it is not surprising that he has been talking to the people concerned. More than that, Alois III was impressed by Jin''s intelligence and discernment. "...... is all I know." When Jin finished speaking, the heads of state were divided in their opinions. "Hmmm... belligerent, or wanting friendship," he said. Is it an internal schism ......? Or maybe we''ll let our guard down and then ......? No, we are, but there are several factions, aren''t there? Jin saw that the conversation was not going to come to a conclusion anytime soon, "......Would you please leave this matter to yourself and Makina?" He suggested. "I will go with Makina to the demon territory to confirm the truth and report back to you." "Ummm ...... Jin-dono and Makina-dono will make no mistake. I look forward to working with you. "I look forward to working with you." In this way, Jin once again became the bridge to the demon territory. 1396 - - 38-05 Unexpected participation Now that the demon territory issue is settled, the next item on the agenda is the <. However, since ordinary people cannot understand the technical explanation, we will discuss the future operation of the Warp Gate. "As for me, I would like it to be used as a road connecting this to the continent." Cesar, King of Selroa, says. "At the moment, it is only 200 kilometers long, so I think it should be located either in the southern part of our country, on the southern coast of the Kingdom of Egelea, or on the western coast of the Kingdom of Elias. After that, Cesar concluded that he would like to install them in all countries if improvements could be made. Prince Arthur of the Klein Kingdom was next to speak. "I am very grateful for your offer, Your Majesty Cesar," said Prince Arthur of the Kingdom of Klein. I would like to add that I think it is necessary to set up some kind of security measures on the receiving end of <>. "Do you mean against intruders?" asked the Dauphin Alphonse of the Kingdom of Elias. "Yes. In such a case, I think we should prepare for the worst. What do you think? "Yes, you''re right." I have no objection. Prince Arthur''s opinion was not refuted. "It''s a meeting place for heads of state and government, and it''s one of the most technologically advanced places in the world. We must not allow any unauthorized intruders. Jin understands the usefulness of such measures because he uses the Shinkai for such purposes. So, "Yes, that''s right. First of all, we will make a special hall and install it there. It might be a good idea to keep that hall under strict vigilance and, in some cases, to make it possible to disconnect it from . He then expresses his opinion. Makina speaks further, "Or we could go to the lowest level of . We could pour seawater into the bottom of in case of emergency. He also made her say, "Well, that''s a good idea. "Well, that''s a scary idea. Lotharus de Lafayette, King of the Kingdom of Franz, said, "Well, that''s a scary thought," and I''m sure all of them felt the same way. "Anyway, the technology of the Warp Gate was in common use before the War of Magic, and I hope that it will become available again. King Cesar of Celuloa concluded. * * * * * * "Well, actually, there is one more announcement ...... that I would like to introduce to you. Cesar looked around at all the faces and then addressed the chairwoman, the emperor. "I would like to introduce you to the , if you will permit me to do so. To this, the Woman Emperor responded with a common sense answer. "I cannot answer that question unless you tell me who these people are. "You are right. I would like to introduce two of the most important figures of the Nostalgia Party, their advisors, Miss Elena, the Golden Princess, and the number two, Donald Callow. Jin had not heard of this, so he was a little surprised. "Well, well, well. How are you, ladies and gentlemen?" The chairwoman looked around at the faces of those present, but there were no nay-sayers. "Since no one seems to have any objections, would you please introduce yourselves?" "Yes, I will. Tell ...... my squire to bring the two members of the <> party." King Cesar of Celuloa gave the message to the golem maid who was doing the chores in the council hall. A few minutes later, the two members of the <> party arrived in the conference room, accompanied by the golem maid. "Some of you are new here, and some of you we have met before. I am . I am the advisor of <>. "I am Donald Callow. I am Donald Callow, a magecraftsman who once held the rank of in the Kingdom of Selroa. After the greeting, Elena continued. "I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for inviting me to such an important gathering and for trusting me so much." Elena makes a graceful gesture of curtesy. Cesar added. "Donald, you were once , the best magecraftsman in our country. No, I believe he still must be. I was at first surprised and then disappointed to hear that he had abandoned his technical position in the government and had become the number two of the <> party." At first I was surprised, and then disappointed, to hear that he had left his position as a professional to become the number two of the <> party. "...... I''m somewhat sorry, Your Majesty." "Haha, I''m just kidding. ...... My father was king back then and I''m sure he wasn''t a very ...... good king for you." "No, that''s not ...... true." "No, that''s ...... not true. I''d rather you appeal to everyone." "That''s what Elena said." As soon as Cesar and Donald had finished their exchange, Elena spoke up. "Ladies and gentlemen, as the advisor of the Nostalgia Party, I would like to explain something. Her voice sounded good. "The Nostalgia Party is a group that seeks the source of wisdom in the ancient times and makes use of it in the future. The world before the Magic Wars was a world where magic technology was more advanced than now. The remnants of this technology are the artifacts that still remain today. We hope to find and analyze such relics (artifacts) in order to reproduce the super technology of the past, even if only a little, and make it useful to the world. He bowed his head. "Yes, I know what you mean. The manaphone is very useful. The empress thanked the heads of state on behalf of all the heads of state. > is a magical device that enables long-distance communication between two pairs of devices, about the size of an office desk. It is the predecessor of the manacam used by Jin and the others. "Thank you very much. Today, I have brought an improved version of it to congratulate you on the inauguration of the World Conference. An improved model? Yes. We have succeeded in reducing its size so that it can be placed on a desk. Someone who heard this comment said in admiration, "That''s wonderful! "That''s wonderful! "That''s great!" "Thank you very much. Now I would like to make a call between and all countries. <>. < for each country. "The next task will be to be able to choose who to call. Elena expressed such an aspiration. Hearing this, Jin felt that the < was also working hard. The miniaturization was due to their efforts. So Jin decided to say what came to his mind. "Why don''t we allow the <> people to visit this <> in the future, and ask them to present the results of their research on such magical tools? Makina also made a proposal. "I think it would be a good idea to open an institute here in the near future. I would be happy if you could help me as a lecturer. "That sounds great." Prince Arthur of the Kingdom of Klein is the first to agree. "Yes, I would like that very much. The First Secretary of the Ministry of Technology, Latant of the Kingdom of Celuloa, who knew of Donald''s abilities, also gave his approval. The afternoon of the second day passed thus. * * * * * * * * * * * "Elena, I''m looking forward to working with you. "Yes, it is my pleasure, Jin-sama. After the meeting, Jin, Makina, Reiko, Elena, and Donald met in the small conference room. Jin had not heard about the introduction of the < party, so he wanted to ask what the intention was. "It is the best way to reduce the burden on the Jin-sama, isn''t it? Also, it is easier for us to be out in the open than in the shadows. Elena and Donald explain their reasons. "Indeed. <. It would be even better if we could educate people at the same time. Jin thinks so. The participation of <> was a perfect fit for such a plan. 1397 - - 38-06 Last day >Day 3. It is the last day. The heads of state cannot afford to be absent from their respective countries. We will now discuss the <>. The chairwoman, the emperor, declared, and the meeting began. "Is it correct to say that at the beginning, Lady Machina will be the advisor and guide us all? The basic premise of the meeting is that we have to start by building up the organization. "I am sure you can guide us, but I think it would be better to start with the training of the executives first." Makina answered. This is what I have decided after discussing it with the old man. First of all, we need to improve the leadership, and then increase the number of people who are actually engaged in the actual work. "I would like to invite two participants from each country for the first cohort. They will work as officers of the <> in the future. "I see. ......" Makina''s proposal seemed to have gained some traction among the heads of state. "So, the will work for the on a semi-permanent basis? "Yes, that would be correct. At the very least, they will be with us for several years. There will be classified matters, and confidentiality will have to be determined. We have airships to travel to and from the home country, and once the warp gate is put to practical use, the problem of returning home will be solved. "The leaders of the <> are all graduates of the company, aren''t they?" A hundred opinions were exchanged, and they were generally constructive. In the end, it was decided that two cadets from each country would join the World Guard. The duration of the program was one year. During this period, they will be under the guidance of a deus ex machina. Detailed regulations will be drafted in due course and formalized during the next year. Since this is the first attempt of its kind in the world, it was not possible to make detailed regulations from the beginning. Thus ended the morning session of the third day of the World Congress. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, it''s quite delicious, isn''t it? "Sipping is quite difficult. "I''m told it''s okay to make noise, but if I''m not used to it, I feel it''s not very elegant. ...... Noodles were served for lunch that day. Soba, udon, pasta, and ramen. After much effort by Perid and his team, the ramen dish was finally completed. Soba and udon noodles are available in two different sizes: mori (colander) and kakge (rice bowl), which you can choose as you like. The ramen is also available in half-size portions so that customers can compare different kinds of food. "Mmm, the flavor of this soba is indescribable. Wasabi, was it?Wasabi, wasabi, wasabi, wasabi, wasabi, wasabi, wasabi, wasabi, wasabi, wasabi, wasabi, wasabi. But it''s a refreshing taste that doesn''t linger in the mouth. "Hot udon with tempura is also good. "No, no, I''ve never had this ramen before, but I think I''m going to be addicted to it." "I like this <>!" "Ummm, will I be able to eat this kind of food every day when I work for the World Guard? They seemed to like it. * * * * "Ladies and gentlemen, there are only half a day left of the World Congress. Let us make the most of the time we have left. The afternoon session of the third day of the conference began with the words of Her Majesty the Emperor. I have a proposal for the agenda. It was Prince Arthur of the Kingdom of Klein who said, "I have a proposal on the agenda. "I think it would be a good idea to discuss the future of the former Kingdom of Leonard. Many people agreed with this statement. "I see. ...... It''s true, it''s in a state of neglect right now. "It would be a global loss to leave that place with so many ruins and mines. I have no objection to discussing it. Then I would like to discuss the future of the old Leonard Kingdom. First, is there any royalty or blood left in the kingdom? No, more importantly, does anyone know why it was destroyed? Makina answered the second question. "Yes. I will take this opportunity to answer your question. "Please, woman, come in." Thank you very much. ...... Uh, last year, didn''t Fritz and Gloria explore the former Leonard Kingdom? It was January, 3458. A powerful demon named <> was born as a result of the disposal of a mysterious liquid in a > found in the ruins. It was Makina and Rei who fought it off. "After that, I did some research on my own. During that time, we discovered ruins in the old royal capital, and according to these ruins, it seems that the country was destroyed by about 230 years ago. The actual time of the research was almost half a year before Fritz and Gloria''s visit. "Oh my God!An epidemic?And what is < ......?" Lotharus de Lafayette, King of Franz, sighed. "......That''s why I don''t think there are any survivors." Milowina has made it clear that she does not intend to rebuild the country, and there is no proof that the inhabitants of the village of Caina may be of the blood of the former Leonard''s subjects. "I have been looking for an opportunity to make an announcement, and it has been difficult for me to say so. I apologize for that." Makina bows her head. And then.., "I can tell you where the remains are, if you wish. She added, "I can tell you where those ruins are, if you wish. Lying beneath the ruins was a mere <. It was a magical brain created to tell the future generations what had happened, and it knew nothing about technical matters. "...... Hmmm, I didn''t know that was the case." They all ponder for a moment. "Well, then, it''s a land that belongs to no one. King Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein muttered. "Yes. In fact, such lands are more difficult to deal with. It could be a source of conflict, so we should be very careful. Cesar, King of the Kingdom of Celuloa, said, "Yes. "Yes, that''s right. There will always be territorial disputes. The more you think about your country, the more you think about it. King Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein agreed. "Free lands, in this case, favor the country closest to us." Minister of General Affairs Marjas Crudum of the Kingdom of Shoro, the farthest kingdom from the former Leonard Kingdom, said this. "There is a way to divide and conquer, but the distant countries will be at a disadvantage. "We could start a country that is not the Kingdom of Leonard ......." "Even in that case, there is the problem of who will rule the country. "The inhabitants would have to be recruited from each country, but if the number of inhabitants differs from country to country, that could be a problem. Indeed, the participants felt the same way, that this issue is a difficult one. Although Jin was basically just observing the meeting, he was reminded that this is not a problem that can be solved overnight. 1398 - - 38-07 Honne of Honne "I think the biggest problem is the distance." The meeting is still going on. "<><>. <><>. The difference is great." Cesar, King of Cerroa. "Therefore, we will do our utmost to improve the warp gate. The participants agreed. Jin also once thought that <>. In modern Japan, the population is concentrated in urban areas because people choose to live in convenient places that are closer to their places of work and entertainment. However, cities are not easy places to live. These include the cost of living, land prices, and air pollution. The countryside is the best place to live, the city is the best place to live. Jin once thought about such a thing. However, no matter how advanced the transportation system became, it was rare for people to want to live in the countryside, even if it took two hours to commute to work. "If transportation is instantaneous, it doesn''t matter how far or how near a country is. Cesar''s words continued. "Let us think about the future of the former Leonard''s Kingdom on the premise that the Warp Gate will be put into practical use. There was a round of applause. "I see. This is exactly the kind of thing, this is the development of technology and its contribution to society." The Dauphin Alphonse of the Kingdom of Elias praised the project. "His Majesty Cesar, I would like to ask you to improve the warp gate. "Of course, of course." Airplanes, high-speed motorways and high-speed railroads. Even with all these, the world has not become much smaller. But a warp gate. It was not surprising that people expected so. Various opinions were expressed after that, but the final conclusion was . The final conclusion was that << it is better not to rush to a conclusion>>. Jin thought that the territorial issue is not a simple one. * * * * "No, no, no. "Well, it was a fulfilling three days, wasn''t it? "Yes, it was. A year ago, I would never have dreamed that all the representatives of each country would be gathered here in one place like this. Dinner on the third day was served in the form of a standing buffet party. This seemed to have brought about more interaction among the delegates than ever before. "Your Majesty, thank you very much for your hard work for the past three days. In the midst of all this, Jin went to thank the female emperor for her work. "Thank you, Jin-kun. But these three days have been hard but enjoyable. The emperor smiled and said. "I''m sure it was a lot of work for you too, Jin-dono. Prince Arthur arrived. "It''s a pity you couldn''t bring your sister this time," he said. "I agree. I regret that I could not bring my son along. Harold Luan Autoclase, King of Egelea, also came and said so. "I congratulate you on your engagement, Your Highness. Jin congratulated again. "It''s nice to hear you say so," he said. "When is the wedding going to take place?" Since this is an informal occasion, he could ask such a question. "I''m 14 this year, so I guess it will be next year. This is a natural schedule in this world, where 15 is the age of adulthood. Please let me know when that happens. "Of course I will. <. In another corner, there was a happy conversation. "I see... Gloria has passed the first screening too..." And you, Mr. Fritz? "Yes. Now all we have to do is to pass the final screening. < Yes, it would. It''ll be nice to have you as a colleague. Oh, yes, it''s my pleasure. Elena, the golden princess, was also very popular. "My dear Elena, I am very pleased to make your acquaintance." The person who is speaking to you now is Marjas Kuldum, Minister of the Shoro Kingdom. You are Marjas Kuldum, Minister of the Shoro Kingdom. It is my pleasure. The organization called Nostalgia seems to be quite impressive. I''m embarrassed to say. It''s a group of volunteers. Here came Cesar, King of the Kingdom of Celuloa. "Volunteers, but you have a lot of talented people. ...... Hey, Donald?" The last words are addressed to Donald Callow, who is standing next to Elena. "Yes, no, Your Majesty." "Ha ha, don''t be afraid. Don''t be afraid, my dear. I, for one, think that our country has gone a little too far in the time of my predecessor. I don''t blame you for abandoning your post. "I''m sorry, sir." And Alois III, King of the Kingdom of Klein, conversed with Jin. "<>, I have not been able to talk with you for some time, but would you take a moment of your time?" "Of course, Your Majesty." Alois III laughed as Jin said this. "Looking back, I still wish ...... that I had welcomed you to our country ...... when you were in the village of Kaina." "...... thank you." "How many times have I wished that I had greeted him myself instead of leaving him to his incompetence?" Alois III''s face is a little red. He seems to be drunk. A short distance away from him is his knight-errant, Pascoe Rush, who is watching him anxiously. "But it is no use complaining. You are now on par with the royalty of the nations. Perhaps even more so." "Your Majesty. ......" You could unite the world by force. Why don''t you do it? As I told you before, I''m not interested in that kind of thing. "Hmmm, not interested. So you''re not interested in something that has been the dream of many nations and kings from the past to the present? "Well, I''m sorry?" No, I''m sorry. What am I saying? I''m ...... a little drunk. Forget it." With these words, Alois III left Jin''s side. (I wonder what he was trying to say. ......) (I wonder what he wanted to say...) Jin imagined that he wanted to keep himself at hand. Jin could not help but think of himself running a small workshop in some town. (Maybe there was such a way, though...). The path he has chosen now is a difficult and winding one. It may be tough for Jin, an engineer and a commoner at heart. However, Jin was determined to make it through because he had chosen it. 1399 - - 38-08 Senro clan. The 2nd ended successfully. The participants returned to their home countries by airship. Jin also returned to Horai Island by . Then on January 23rd. "Well, let''s get going." Jin looks up at Vulcan. He has just returned yesterday after completing his mission. Jin is now on his way to the demon territory. < because of the harsh weather conditions in the demon territory in winter, and because of the large number of golem horses to be transported. The companions are Elsa, Reiko, Edgar, Anne, Makina, and Rei. Theon and Marikka have been notified in advance, so the first destination is the clan territory of . It is a small bay on the southeast coast of the Gondor continent. It takes only 30 minutes to reach the Gondor continent from Horai Island. "That''s fast." It''s a spaceship to begin with. If you go 100 kilometers per second, you can reach Gondor in 10 seconds. Jin said jokingly, "That''s not the speed you''re allowed to go in the atmosphere." Erza interrupted him. "Father, we are about to land!" Reiko''s voice makes me look at the magic screen, and I realize that we are almost at the surface of the earth. < clan is greeting us from afar. The <> clansmen are greeting them from afar, but all of them seem to have their faces scrunched up in astonishment. Using the force field generator, the lands without even lifting a flake of snow. The landing legs, which can expand and contract, absorb the slight irregularities, keeping the ship level. "It looks like we have about 20 centimeters of snow around here." The snowfall is light in this coastal area. "All right, let''s unload the cargo." The stationary opens its lower hatch and extends a ramp to make a path to the surface. ''s lower storeroom contains the golem horses. Makina and Rei walk out astride two golem horses, and eight golem horses follow them. The ten golem horses walked down the ramp in an orderly fashion. At the same time, Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Edgar, and Anne flew to the side of the tribe with <>. "Welcome, <>! < clan, greets Jin and the others. The others bow their heads in greeting. "It has been a while. As you may have heard from Sion and the others, I have brought 10 golem horses as promised. Jin returns the greeting. His breath is white. The temperature seems to be below freezing even in the middle of the day. Just then, the golem horses that Makina and Rei had brought with them arrived. "Oh, this is wonderful!You are the MagiCraft Meister!" The others were also beaming. The others were also giddy. "Let''s get it out of here first. "Yes, that''s right." Jin and the others walked along the plowed road to the clan territory of Morura. The clan territory was surrounded by a solid stone wall. "It''s amazing. When did you build it? "Last autumn, I think. It keeps out the cold winds and the beasts. Only a demon tribe with two to three times the power of humans on the Laurentian continent could create such a thing. If we combine this with gravity magic, the construction work will become even easier. "But still, this is ......." The stone wall that surrounds the village is at least 3 meters high. They were also three meters thick, filled with earth and planted with bushes and shrubs. "It was Zion''s idea," he said. "It''s nice and sturdy," he said. The wall was not just masonry, but was planted with plants and trees to soften the ruggedness of the wall. When we entered the stone wall, we found that it was much larger than we had expected. "How big is it?" "It''s almost a circle. I''d say about a kilometer in diameter. That''s amazing. "I''m sure the number of residents will increase in the near future. That''s why we''ve made it large. I see. The food situation had improved and the population was expected to increase. There was no snow inside the stone walls, so they decided to leave the golem horses in the square for now. "Well, let''s start with ......." "Oh, Jin, come here!" Then I heard Zion''s voice. "Here, Zion!" "Ah. Welcome to ......, Jin-sama." Rebuked by his grandfather, Bardius, Zion resumed his greeting. Marikka came up behind him. "Welcome, Mr. Jin. Zion and Marikka are looking well, aren''t they? Yes, thanks to you. After greeting everyone, Jin handed over the golem horses. Makina, Rei, Anne, and Edgar were in charge of the instruction. "If you do this, it starts walking. If you do this, it stops. If you turn this way, the path changes to that way. "Open this door and you will find a storage space. You can put small items and valuables here. Of course, you can also load them on the horse''s back." See, it''s easy, isn''t it? I see. I see. I see. I see. I will listen to simple instructions. >. This is good for pulling a sled or a cart. "Mmm, this is great!" "As for the maintenance parts, the joints and hooves need to be repaired. When they are worn out, they should be repaired or replaced. It is possible to do this with rudimentary engineering magic. "I understand." With such a simple lecture, the people of Morira were able to ride the golem horses in no time at all. "This is amazing! "It''s so comfortable!" The new model can reach a maximum speed of 150 km/h, which is equivalent to that of a motorcycle. The physical abilities of the demon tribe will allow them to ride it. The young men seemed to have immediately set out for a long ride on the golem horse. The young men were soon out for a long ride on their golem horses. "No, Master Jin, thank you very much. Jin and the others were being entertained in the clan leader''s house. "I am going to distribute the same golem horses to the other clans. "That''s good. So, I asked Marikka, would you be willing to pay in cubic zirconia? "Grandfather, and the pelts, right?" Theon added. Cubic zirconia is equivalent to gold by weight on the Laurentian continent. It was valued at 300 toles per gram. Jin stocked up on 10 kilograms of them every time. The market value is 3 million tolls, or about 30 million Japanese yen. It was enough to pay the bills. 1400 - - 38-09 Technology Delivery Oh, so you''re finally going to establish a friendship between us and the Laurentians. "If it is possible, I would like to do so. Jin was discussing another goal with the clan leader, Bardius. Present were Bardius'' son, Radeous, his wife, Rorona, and Bardius'' grandson, Theon, daughter of Radeous and Rorona. And Marikka, the daughter of Bardius and of Ladeus and Rorona. The other clans knew that Marikka had become the new of the island of Onogoro, as well as the other clans. And they were blessed. "I assure you that the people of the Loren continent will not harm us." "Well, if Master Jin assures us, then we can rest assured. Bardius was enthusiastic. "The question is, who will represent us?" Jin glanced at Istaris, Zion''s sister. Istaris had come to the Laurentian continent with her sister Theon by a separate route in order to obtain food aid. While Zion had met Jin and promised to cooperate with him, Istaris had been captured in the Franz Kingdom and tortured together with her follower Netros. Jin rescued them and treated them. The two were supposed to have died at that time. The King of Franz at that time was Lgion de Barkly, and the current King is Lotharus de Lafayette, so there should be no problem, but for her sake, another person would be preferable. "From the Morilla clan, we will go." Radeous and Rorona stood for the nomination. "Well, I think you can handle it. Bardius nodded his head in agreement. "Well, it will be about six months from now, but I will let you know as soon as the date is set. "Thank you very much, Mr. Jin. Jin said, "I''ll contact you as soon as I have a date. Jin left the clan territory of Morura a little after noon the next day. First of all, he succeeded. "Next, let''s go to the clan at ...... first." < clan lives in the mountains to the north. > set out for the north. <, a snowstorm could not be an obstacle, but the day was unusually clear. landed near a rocky mountain where the Evangelicals live. The snowfall in this area is about 50 centimeters. For a human, it would be up to the knees. "The golem horse looks ...... fine." With its extraordinary power and resistance to low temperatures, it should be able to handle up to a meter of snow. All of Jin''s golems have <, so there is no need to worry about their skin sticking to the ground at low temperatures. They can also use magic for emergencies, so they should not be trapped in the snow and ice. "Oh, oh, this is Jin-sama!" > Alectus comes out from the rock wall where the clan lives. The area is warded off, so the temperature is about 5 degrees Celsius. There is no snow on the ground. "We have been contacted by <>, but this is another ......." The sight of <> towering behind Jin and the others seems overwhelming. And then there was the golem horse. "This is wonderful. It makes it easier to get around in the snow. "We could use a sled to pull it." Jin suggested that even though the golem horses could handle a meter of snow, the riders would not be able to resist the temptation to ride them. "Oh, sure. Well, there''s no need to stand around talking, so please come in. The village was built into the rock wall. The temperature inside is about 15 degrees Celsius, which is comfortable enough to live in if you wear a little thicker clothes. said the clan leader, Fabius. Jin and Erza are not cold and have enough warm clothes, so there is no problem at all. They decided to stay the night in the clan territory of the <> and talk with each other. "Hmmm... <>..." "That''s what I mean. has agreed to it. "If Master Jin gives his assurance..." < clans did not oppose friendship with the Laurentians. "However, the number of representatives should be small. He said that if there were two representatives from each clan, the number of representatives would be quite large. "I think it would be better to have the <> clan go as representatives in honor of the fact that they first established friendly relations with Master Jin. "I see." "Of course, it is necessary to hold a clan meeting and unify the will of the clans." The clans of the <> would be willing to make such a summary, Fabius concluded. "In any case, it will be in the spring or summer." In June, the snow will be gone and it will be a good time to keep in touch with the clans. "By the way, Master Jin, what do you require in return for the golem horses you have given us this time? <. Makina and Ray are teaching the clansmen how to handle them. Anne and Edgar are also helping. "I''m thinking about that, about the magical tools I saw here before..." "What?Is there a magical tool that would be of interest to Master Jin, the Magecraft Meister? "Yes, there is. And there is a reason for it. Jin began to explain. "In a word, we would like to introduce you to the technology provided by the demon tribe. "Hmm." "Specifically, the <>. A communication device? Yes. The transmitter I found here is nothing like the manacam I made, and I think it can be used for broadcasting. Broadcasting? "Yes. Jin explains briefly. Receiving stations are installed at important places in the town, and broadcasts are made as needed. Usually, you can broadcast a time signal. Even in modern Japan, there are such public broadcasting systems in rural areas. They seem to have names such as "disaster prevention **" depending on the region (** is the name of a local city). I see. But, I wonder if you can make something like that, Jin-sama? "If you ask me if I can make it or not, I can make it. But the important thing is that the technology is provided by the demon territory. "Ah, so that''s how it is. Fabius seemed to be convinced. "If that''s the case, we will be happy to provide the technology. "Thank you very much." Jin was relieved that the negotiations were successful. The communication of information is always important. 1401 - - 38-10 Mystery Mercury "Hey, Brother Jin." Huh? I don''t think that''s the price. Ah... < "Hmm, but if I get it as a reward and use it to spread the word ......" "That''s a good ......, then?" Jin thought it would be fine as long as he did not do it for profit, but he was lost in thought when Erza unexpectedly interrupted him. "Hmmm... ......." "I''m sorry, I don''t know..." "No, that''s fine." Jin also regretted that he had not been thoughtful enough. Jin-sama, how about something like this? Seeing Jin and Erza in such a state, the clan leader Fabius offered a helping hand. "We started mining for ore the other day for the redevelopment of the cave, and this is what we have found. I have checked and it seems that there are large reserves." Fabius pointed to a container. "Is this ......" "...... mercury?" "No. ......I see. ......" Jin pondered. There was once an incident in which a golem using <> caused a commotion in the Kingdom of Cerroa. The fluid metal used at that time ...... seemed to be a magical isotope of mercury (Magi Isotope), and the mercury vapor was harming the user''s brain. But this one in front of me was different. "Hmmm......... Somehow, the melting point is the same as mercury, but the boiling point is higher..." "Hmm, I think that''s what it means." "It may be due to the magic molecule or the effect of free magic element (ether). ......" In any case, the good news is that there seems to be little harm to the human body. "This is wonderful, isn''t it?" Jin replied. "That''s good to hear." Fabius was also relieved. So, it was decided that the price would be the mercury. "What should we do about the unit price ......?" "I''ll leave that up to Jin-sama." "Well, even if you say so..." As for Jin, he was an amateur in the market of such metal materials. In the end, after consulting with the old man, I decided to call it the same as adamantite, because it is a valuable material. In other words, 10 million Touls per kilo (100 million Japanese yen). But when I suggested this to Fabius, "No way!One-tenth of that amount will be fine! He said, "No, thank you!" So we settled on one million dollars per kilo. It is an afterthought that Fabius rolled his eyes when he saw Makina easily carrying a container full of more than 100 kilograms of <. "Saki is going to be very happy." "Hmm." Jin thought that he would ask Saki to study this . * * * * <, Jin and his party visit other clan territories in turn. >,<>>,<>....... All the clans were pleased with Jin''s golem horse and agreed to his proposal. "I wonder if the fact that the demon clans are grouped by clan is because they have inherited the characteristics of the individualistic Haelians." Jin spoke to himself in the moving . "That may be so, father." Reiko, hearing this, responded. Jin thinks that it might be the old <> that comes out in this kind of thing. "But still, I didn''t know you could get so much <>. The other clans were also mining for ore, perhaps because they could afford it, and Jin obtained an average of 100 kilograms of <> from each of them. As a result, he obtained about one ton of mercury. Although, the specific gravity is about 13.5, and the apparent amount is only the equivalent of a large barrel of mercury. "Hmmm, does from the north have a high content of free magic element (ether)?" The (supposedly) collected in the south, where free magic element (ether) is scarce, exhibits physical properties that are almost the same as normal mercury. "Brother Jin, there is a possibility of that. "You think so too. The threads of ground spiders also vary in strength depending on their origin, so I think it''s possible. "I think Goshujin-sama''s prediction is correct." Ann agreed. "Then, it might have something to do with the concentration of free magical element (ether). In this case, Jin would like to check out the mercury collected in the southern part of Japan. * * * * "Oh!Jin, this is amazing! Sure enough, Saki was overjoyed. "Saki, it looks safe, but mercury is mercury. Be careful with it, okay?" Mercury poisoning is a real possibility. "Yes, I understand that. I''ll have Aal handle it." That''s a good idea. And ventilation. And don''t forget to wear a mask. If there is a possibility of doing experiments to determine the boiling point, we need to be careful not to inhale mercury vapor. "I''d feel a lot safer if you could put on a simple space suit." "Well, I''ll try." Saki smiled at Jin and Erza who looked worried. "Be careful, old man, will you? Jin was worried about her, so he reminded the old man as well. "Yes, please." Jin was finally relieved. Saki may have called him overprotective, but Jin, who knew her in the past, could not feel safe unless he did this. "Well, let''s go to Mitsuho next. Jin was still busy. 1402 - - 38-11 First of all, the town of Seki Jin asked Reinhard, a former diplomat, to accompany him on his trip to Mitsuho. "Reinhard, please." "Okay, give me a day. I have to finish my work." "Yes, I''ll be leaving the day after tomorrow, so please do that. I''ll go ask His Majesty for permission. Although the order of events seems to be reversed, Jin once again heads to Miyagi to ask the emperor for permission to visit Mitsuho, the land of a different tribe. < and , Jin could request an audience with the queen without the need for an appointment. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Jin was granted an audience with the empress. "Mr. Jin, welcome. What can I do for you at ......? "Uh, actually, ......." Jin explains that he would like to visit Mitsuho. "Oh, so you''re going to continue the conversation we had the other day." The sensible female emperor guessed the purpose of Jin''s visit. "Yes. And I would like to take Reinhardt with me as a diplomat. At this offer, the Empress looked at the Prime Minister. "Yes, Your Majesty. Reinhard Randall has no urgent business." The Empress nodded. "Yes, I do. I will allow you a certain number of days." "We are planning on seven days. With a day in reserve, we will have ten days. "You never know what might happen. ...... is fine, we''ll grant it. Thank you very much. Please come to Miyagi before you leave. I will prepare a letter for you. Yes, sir. Jin bowed and left the office. I''ll prepare a letter for you. "Well, I see you got the permission. Jin immediately contacted Reinhardt. "Well, I''m looking forward to it!Who else is going with you?" "Let''s see... ......" The members are Jin, Erza, Reinhard and Reiko. And Edgar, as the pilot of . Since it was an official visit, they could not have more members. Saki, by the way, is studying the mercury. "Okay. We will leave the day after tomorrow, is that all right?" "Yes, that''s fine." If we visit here, it will not be a surprise that we know each other when we see each other later. Jin checked to make sure he had not forgotten anything else, and the day ended. The day of the meeting, that is, the day of the meeting, was the first day of the meeting. On the same day, that is, January 25, <> started for Mitsuho. First, they went to Miyagi. <> landed in the courtyard. "Reinhard, take this with you. "Yes, sir." Take care, then." Reinhard received a letter from Her Majesty the Emperor, and after a short farewell reception, he flew to Mitskho. "Well, it''s nice to be out for a while. Reinhard was excited. "I wish I could have brought Belle and Yuri with me. Reinhardt also shows off his loving wife and children. < hurtles through the air at 500 kilometers per hour. Before they know it, they have crossed the Harihari Desert and are over Mitskho. "Oh, that''s Mitsho!I see, it''s paved. Reinhardt, looking down on the town from above, muttered with interest. descends slowly. The first destination was the town of Seki. Ignoring this town as a barrier or gateway could be a denial of Mitsuho culture. The old lord advised Jin to do so. Respecting his words, <> landed outside the town of Seki, in the square to the east. First Reiko, then Jin, Reinhardt, and Erza show up. "Ah, Jin-han!Erza!Reiko, too! A familiar face, Maya, spotted Jin and waved to him. Behind her, the mayor of the town, Crowe, appeared. "Well, Jin-dono, welcome. You have come on a great ride this time. < and is impressed. "Yes, it''s called an airship. It''s the latest model. "Oh, well. I''d like to ...... take the time to talk to you. I''d be very grateful if you could arrange it that way. This is Reinhardt, a diplomat of the Shoro Empire. He''s a friend of mine. "I see, so you have a diplomat with you, and you have something important to discuss." The perceptive Crowe gave a brief explanation to the assembled residents. The residents then all left with satisfied looks on their faces, and Crowe and Maya were the only ones who remained. "Darrow is in Kali now. Crowe explains as he walks away. So far, this is his attitude toward an acquaintance named Jin. Reinhardt is impressed by the stone walls and the gate. As they pass through the gate, Crowe''s face becomes that of the mayor. "Please come in, Mr. Reinhardt," he said. When they arrived at the two-story town hall, Crowe gave priority to Reinhardt and led the way. "Oh, yes." Even for Reinhardt, who had visited many towns as a diplomat and had seen a variety of architectural styles, the one in Seki seemed to be a rarity. "This way please, Mr. Reinhardt." The group was led to the reception room. Reinhardt sat at the head of the table, and Jin and Erza sat on either side of him. "Here is some tea. Maya served the three of them tea. "Well, Mr. Reinhard, what do you have to tell us this time? Reinhard had heard about Mitsuho from Jin and the others and knew about Crowe, so he told them the purpose of his visit. "There will be a in the near future, and we would like to invite Mitsuho''s representatives to the meeting. Reinhardt then explains what the is. "Oh, well. So the is like the in the teachings of <>?" Jin nodded silently. He left the speaking to Reinhardt. "Is that what you mean? We would like Mitsuho to participate in the at some point. First of all, you will introduce him to the representatives of each country, won''t you? Crowe nodded deeply. "I understand. In that case, I will contact Miyako in the capital immediately. "Yes, please." Thus, the meeting with Crowe, the mayor of the town of Seki, ended successfully. The rest of the meeting consisted mainly of small talk and information exchange. "Oh, you''re getting married to Mr. Oliver in a week!Congratulations!" "Congratulations! It''s thanks to the successful conclusion of diplomatic relations with the Shoro Kingdom. Oliver and Maya, a merchant from Ithmar, were attracted to each other, but they had almost given up because of the lack of exchange between their countries. But when the Shawlo Kingdom approached them and formalized diplomatic relations, their dreams came true. "Congratulations!" Erza also congratulated Maya. Meanwhile, Reinhard and Crowe seemed to be eagerly discussing the differences in culture and customs between the two countries, especially the ceremonial relations. 1403 - - 38-12 Miyako Arrival It took two whole days for a call to be sent from the town of Seki to Miyako and for a reply to come back. The distance between Seki and Miyako is less than 100 kilometers. It would take a carrier pigeon less than four hours to make the round trip. Jin guessed that it took more time to make decisions than the round trip. "Hiro Mutu of Mitsuho welcomes your visit and is looking forward to seeing you. Hearing this from Crowe, Jin and the others boarded . The residents of Seki were all out to see them off. Half of them are just curious to see a flying vehicle. "Well, it''s really nice to be able to fly, isn''t it? Maya is coming along as a caretaker. I wondered if she was ready for the ceremony, but she told me that Oliver was in Miyako for the paperwork. I am sure he will be surprised when he goes to Miyako with . "So it''s a great opportunity for you, huh?" "Yes, that''s it. <-sama used to say that from time to time. While they were talking, slowly began its ascent. "Oh, it really flew!That''s amazing!" The familiar cityscape has a different feel when viewed from above. "Ah, this is what the town of Seki looks like. ......The town hall with the mayor is ......that one, isn''t it?" And begins to move forward. "Oh, fast, fast. But the roads are so small..." The gray streaks in the wilderness were the roads. Ehim, Temae, Nardo, Yashima. And when you see Lake Sayama, that''s Miyako. "Oh, that''s Lake Sayama," he said. "Looks like they''re doing something." Is it reclamation?...... No, it''s not. They''re building a canal." It seems that they are building a canal that goes around the center of the town. "Reminds me of Reuthert." As Reinhardt grimly remarked, the scene was reminiscent of Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. < began its descent. As it slowly descended, it could see people gathering in a plaza to the south of Miyako. "Looks like we should land there." Jin instructed Edgar, the pilot. "Yes, sir. Edgar, now a veteran pilot, skillfully maneuvered the aircraft toward the square. "Oh, I''m sure. Mii-san is right there." Hearing Maya''s words, I looked closely and saw that Mii was indeed dressed in formal attire and waving her hand, with what appeared to be staff members with flags standing on either side of her. In the center of the clearing, about 50 meters in diameter, Edgar brought the to a stop. He opened the door and lowered the ramp, first Reiko, then Jin, followed by Erza and Reinhardt. "Jin-sama, Erza-sama, Reiko-sama, welcome!" Mii Mutu, grandson of Mitsuho Sheikh Hiro Mutu, made a formal bow. "We have been waiting for your call. You must be Mr. Reinhardt. Welcome to Miyako, the capital of Mitsuho. I am pleased to welcome you." My name is Reinhard Randall von Adamas, diplomat of the Shoro Empire. Pleased to meet you. Reinhard returned the courtesy of a diplomat. At that moment, a voice came up from the crowd, which had been quiet until then. "Welcome!< "Master Jin!Welcome! They welcome Jin. Jin, you''re amazing ......, I didn''t know you were this good! "No, I''ve just realized it myself." "Brother Jin, if you remember the last time you left Miyako, you could have imagined it." Erza pointed out calmly, "No, I thought it was just a temporary thing." Jin thought that the enthusiasm would cool down over time. He had seen the " boom" come and go many times when he was in modern Japan. But it was different here. "Jin-sama!Jin-sama!" "Long live the Magecraft Meister!" "...... is embarrassing." As Mii led the way, Jin muttered in a whisper. "I''m sorry, sir. I told them to keep it as small as possible, but when word got out that they could fly in, this happened. It seems that Jin had it all to himself. "Thank you for your hard work, Maya. Miyako will guide you from here. "Okay. ...... Jin-san, see you later." "Okay, Maya-san, thank you very much for your help here. So Maya, who had guided Jin and the others to this point, now finished her task and headed for Oliver''s place. * * * * * * * * * * * "Welcome, diplomat. I am HIRO MUTU, Emir of Mitsuho. I am Reinhard Randall von Adamus, diplomat of the Shoro Empire. Reinhard and Hiro shook hands. Reinhardt then presented the letter from the Queen. Hiro Mutu took it and opened it. Reinhardt waited quietly while he looked it over. Then he said. "I see, your words are well taken, your majesty. Hiro Mutu nodded broadly. "The idea of a loose association of this world for the sake of peace and tranquility. < is a way to do this. <. It seemed that Shuki Tsetsi was teaching the idea of the after all, thought Jin, who was a bystander here. "First, I would like to introduce Mitsuho to your world, and then I would like you to participate in the . However, it is not a decision that I alone can make, and I will have to consult with the Council. The sheikh is not a dictator, although he has a great deal of authority, including the right to give orders in times of emergency. "Very well. How long will it take? "About two days, please." I will give you my answer on January 30, Hulo Mutu replied. That would be within the time frame promised to the queen. Reinhardt decided to accept. "Yes, I understand. I look forward to your good news. In the meantime, enjoy this Miyako. Thank you very much. Jin-sama, Erza-sama, Reinhardt-sama, please make yourselves at home here. Jin and his group were escorted by Mii to the guest house where they had stayed before. "Thank you." We will take care of you during your stay. "I''m sorry about that." No, I offered myself, so please don''t worry about it. Reinhardt, on the other hand, looked at the building, which was roofed with something similar to a tile. "Well, this looks a lot like Jin''s ," he said. "Yes, it is. The garden is also very well done, you should enjoy it. The Japanese-style garden is used as a reference for the garden of Jin''s house in Leuthart. "Wow!This is quite good." Reinhardt, who had some knowledge of Japanese culture through Jin, seemed to find the culture of Miyako interesting, and his eyes were shining all the time. 1404 - - 38-13 The village of Kaina is the village of longevity. January 28th is Martha''s birthday. Naturally, Jin has moved to the village of Kaina using the warp gate of . The same goes for Erza. Instead, Jin and Erza''s went to Miyako. Since Reiko is also in Kaina village, Edgar will be with the two doppelgangers in Miyako. Reiko is supposed to take turns in guarding with Edgar. Incidentally, the actual guard is Pance of the reorganized >. He is here temporarily from Kunlun Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Happy birthday, Martha! "Happy birthday, Martha! "Happy birthday, Martha." "Happy birthday, Grandma." "Happy birthday, Grandma." At Martha''s house in the village of Kaina, Jin, Elsa, Meane, Hannah, Reiko and others were wishing her a happy birthday. "Well, well, thank you. I never thought I''d be able to celebrate my birthday at my age." "I''m sorry I didn''t celebrate last year. Jin apologizes. Last year, on this day, I was busy with the unveiling of the new Conlon 2. It was on this day that the emperor, the prime minister, and Flora were brought aboard. "That''s good, isn''t it?" Martha said with a smile. Jin brought a white wine, Erlich 3454. We toasted with a fine wine called Auslese. It''s very easy to drink. "Jin-sama, isn''t this a fine wine?" "Reinhard gave me 10 bottles of this wine. So please drink as much as you like. "Really. It''s so sweet, you can drink as much as you want. I''d like to try some too. ...... "Hannah, you can''t drink it yet." Yes. ...... In case you''re wondering, Hannah drinks Citran juice. At the age of eleven when her birthday comes this year, she is too young to drink. "And here is my birthday present for you," she said. "Well, thank you, Jin." Jin gave Martha a pocket watch. < It was supposed to be Martha''s last ....... "Martha, this is for me. "Thank you, Elsa." Elsa gave me a kappogi made from a cloth woven with the threads of a ground spider. It is resistant to heat and does not burn. It is also excellent at removing dirt quickly. This is an unusual design. But it''s easy to wear. Elsa has put her own ingenuity into this item, with pockets and embroidery in key places. "Here''s one for me. "Well, thank you for coming all the way." From Meine, a set of clothes for everyday wear. She made them herself. And for me, this. Hannah, thank you. Hannah had gone to the forest and arranged a vase of red and white Kemeria branches, which bloom at this time of the year. "...... So, how is Sarah doing?" Sara is a golem-maid created by Jin for the Martha family. She has almost the same specs as the one on Horai Island, but she has enhanced combat power in case of emergency. "She mainly takes care of the fields for me. "Oh, I see." In the village of Kaina, they work together in the common fields. "I work at home and Sara works in the fields. I see that you have been cultivating a new field recently. It''s not exactly the right place for the right person, but if Martha, the current owner, says it''s okay, then it''s okay. If Sarah, the golem maid, is cultivating the fields, she is probably doing the work of 10 or 20 people, and if she is cultivating the land, she is breaking large rocks and pulling out the roots of large trees.... I could see their activity.... "But everyone is fine. ......" Because of the past history of sending young people to war, the population of Kaina Village is dominated by old people and has a small number of middle-aged people. The birth rate of babies has doubled in the past few years, though, so things will return to normal in 10 or 20 years. "Speaking of healthy, I heard Marky had a baby the other day. "Marky?" Jin thought for a moment and thought of the name. "Oh, he lives on the other side of the village across from the village headman''s house, right? It took him a while to remember since he had not had much interaction with Martha''s house. "......?Wasn''t he already over 40?" "Kami''s Ede was 38, wasn''t it?" "......" Jin thought that in modern Japan, but in this world, it would be a very old birth. Erza tells Jin that "People in Kaina Village probably live a long time." "What?" "This land has a higher concentration of free magical element (ether) than other places. It''s been that way for a long time. And thanks to my brother Jin... our living conditions have improved dramatically. We also have Dr. Sally. And the bloodline." I am guessing, but the people of Kaina village must have a strong bloodline from the old Leonard''s Kingdom," he said. "And I am also guessing, but it is possible that there is some blood of the northern tribes as well." "......" "So, if the environment is good, they should have a life span about 1.5 times longer than other countries." Longer life expectancy, though not as long as that of the demons, means that they can have and raise children for a longer period of time. It was not surprising that Marky''s wife, Ede, became pregnant at the age of 38. "That means you''re still going strong, Grandma! Hannah said happily. "That''s right." Jin agreed with a smile. "We''ll be able to see our great-grandchildren''s faces, won''t we? Maybe even some great-grandchildren. Martha can''t hide her happiness at being told that she will live a long and healthy life. In the midst of such a friendly atmosphere. "Oh, snow!" Hannah looks out the window and screams. Powdery snow was fluttering. "I wonder if it will accumulate..." It hadn''t snowed enough yet this year in the village of Kaina. It is going to snow soon. "But we have hot springs, and we can store the snow in the snow room..." "And we have golem horses! Martha and Hannah said cheerfully. "We owe it all to Jin." "I''m embarrassed to hear you say that. This village is my home. The snow is turning the land white. It was winter in the village of Kayna, but it was warm inside Martha''s house. 1405 - - 38-14 Construction site On January 29th, the day after celebrating Martha''s birthday, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko returned to Miyako without any problems. Yesterday, they were supposed to have stayed in the guest house, reading books in the library. In fact, the two doppelgangers had finished reading most of the books in the library, which could be said to be huge. Naturally, the contents of those books are stored in the old man''s memory device. "Master Jin, Master Erza, Master Reinhard, how are you today? Mii, the hostess, asked me after breakfast. "Well, they are working on the canal right now, aren''t they?I would like to see it. Jin himself has little knowledge of civil engineering. What they are doing on Horai Island is heavy work. Therefore, he wanted to take this opportunity to absorb as much knowledge as possible. "Okay. I will make arrangements. Mii nodded and left the room, but returned a little later. The site supervisor was just in the town hall, so I told him about it. He said he would be honored if the <<<< Magecraft Meister would take a look at it. "Yes, yes." As usual, Jin, who is not used to being lifted up, felt a little uncomfortable, but he did not show any such signs to Mii, who had arranged the event for him. "So, would you like to come now?" "Yes, that would be great." Since they had no particular plans, Jin and the others decided to go and see the exhibition immediately. "...... This is a different kind of ride." One by one, Reinhardt got on the rickshaw and gave an honest impression. "Why not have a golem tow it instead?" Jin, in the car next to us, responded to this muttering. "No, in that case the car would have to be stronger or it would be dangerous. "Yeah, ...... that''s true." With this comment, Reinhardt recognized the danger. The speed of the car is only human now, but if a golem were to pull it, it could easily reach 50 km/h. At that speed, it would be like a rickshaw. At that speed, if the slender rickshaw-like body were to overturn.... "Or we could make it a golem that can''t go that fast." If it''s dangerous, we could put a limiter on it. "I see. It has power and endurance. There might be a demand for them. While exchanging such conversation, we arrived at the outskirts of town. This was the place where they were starting to build a waterway through the town of Miyako. "Wow, that''s great!" Reinhardt exclaimed in admiration. No wonder, the construction work is being done entirely by hand. "Welcome diplomat and Magecraft Meister! A man who looked like a foreman greeted them. "Mr. D''Souza, I''m looking forward to working with you. Mii greeted him. The foreman''s name seems to be D''Souza. "Let me briefly explain that we are going to dig a canal first, and after the canal is completed, the water will be poured into it. "I see." The two most important things to take care of are to prevent the channel from collapsing and to prevent water leakage. "Certainly, if that is not ensured, it cannot be operated as a waterway, can it? D''Souza smiled as Jin answered, D''Souza smiled and said, "There is one more item that is quite difficult. Can you guess? He said, "Can you guess? The way he said it was a bit challenging, so Jin thought about it seriously. "Well, it''s important for the construction of the canal, isn''t it? Jin recalled the time when the hot spring was constructed in the village of Kaina. The construction itself was done by engineering magic, but the precautions should be the same. He thinks of ...... and thinks of one thing. "The slope of the channel, right?" If we don''t consider the slope of the channel, the water will not flow into it, or it will flow backward, or it will stagnate, and it won''t work as a channel. "Good answer. As expected of the Magecraft Meister." D''Souza also seemed a little surprised at Jin''s answer. * * * * The group moved a little closer to Lake Sayama and came to the very spot where they were digging. "There are many layers of stones in this area, so we are having a hard time digging." D''Souza explained as he showed them the construction work. Indeed, there were many stones, some of them larger than a watermelon. "The stones we dig out are processed and used to reinforce the walls and bottoms of the canals." "So they don''t waste it." The reason is that it is inefficient to transport heavy stones so far for disposal. That is reasonable. However, the stones are processed by hand using a tool. This may sound like the Edo period, but this is the Mitsuho way. Jin wonders if golems will eventually perform this kind of work as exchanges with the Kogun countries progress ......, he thought absentmindedly as he listened to the sound of the taganets chiseling the stones. At that moment. "Supervisor! came a loud voice from the site. What''s wrong? A huge stone came out! "No, it''s a rock!" Jin and the others joined in and looked at the site. There was a huge rock blocking the waterway. "It looks like a ...... chart." It is the same hard rock used in the research laboratory on Horai Island. "This is a hard rock. Duesa, the site supervisor, also looked reluctant. At that time, Mii asked Jin a question. "Jin-sama, what do you do in the East in a situation like this? "There are several ways. They all involve magic. Such as? "We could use engineering magic to break it up, or have a golem dig it up. ......" I can break it up. Reiko interjected from the side. Jin chuckled. "That''s true, but it''s not that common. D''Souza heard this and turned to Jin. "Jin-sama, is that true?" "What?" "It''s true that you can break that rock. "That''s easy." Reiko answered on Jin''s behalf. "Shall we ...... do it?" "By all means!" "Yes, I''ll do it. Father, may I? "Yes, it''s what you asked me to do. But not too much. Yes, sir. Reiko jumped down onto the construction site. "Everyone, please step aside, it''s dangerous." What? You are the servant of the Magecraft Meister. I look forward to working with you! One of the ingenious people in the room knew Reiko, and all of them hurried to get out of the way. "Well then..." Reiko fired a light blow. 1406 - - 38-15 Visit the workshop Reiko swung her fist. The blow, which did not seem to take much effort, shattered the big rock. However, Reiko had managed to control the force of the blow so that it did not turn to dust, but was only of a small enough size to be easily usable. "Oh, wow!" "That''s huge!" They cheer. "That''s what I''d expect from a squire of the Magecraft Meister, the Magecraft Master! "Thank you!" With such voices in the background, Reiko jumps out of the under-construction canal and returns to Jin''s side. "Thank you, Reiko." "No, was that good?" "Yes, it was good." "Reiko, you did a wonderful job!" Mii also praised him with open arms. And then. "The Magecraft Meister was amazing!" Duesa, the site supervisor, also gave a salute. It seemed that although he respected Jin, he could not show it honestly. Reiko seemed to be a little concerned about it, though Jin himself did not care much, and she smiled with satisfaction seeing D''Souza''s new attitude. Maybe we should build a rock drill.) (Maybe we should make a rock drill.) Jin, on the other hand, thinks so. (Maybe we should make a rock drill.) Jin, on the other hand, thinks so, but he could not find any such tool. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Despite such an incident, the group looked around the construction site with great interest and had lunch at a nearby rest area. "This is delicious, isn''t it? "It''s delicious." "Mmm, delicious." Reinhard and Erza were enjoying their lunch. And Jin, of course. They prepared freshly pounded rice cakes with grated daikon and soy sauce. Jin had also eaten rice cakes several times at the facility. Some of the children liked it sprinkled with sugar and soybean flour. When I told him that, "I see, soybean flour and sugar!" Mii immediately tried to order some, but Jin warned her. "Kinako (soybean flour) is not just powder. You have to roast the whole beans, remove the skin, and grind them into powder. Soybean flour and soybean flour are two different things. Jin explained this point carefully. "I see, I understand now. Thank you very much!" Jin knew this well because he had been trained by the director of the hospital. The lunch time passed peacefully as we talked about such things. * * * * * * * * * In the afternoon, we went to the Lake Sayama side. Here, a sluiceway with a sluice gate was 90% completed. "It''s a huge sluice gate. Jin was also impressed by the excellent workmanship. Of course, this is only on the premise that it was made without magic. "Come to think of it, I''ve taken it for granted that I have engineering magic. "...... Jin-sama? "...... Jin brother?" Mii and Erza responded to Jin''s mutterings. Reinhardt was too preoccupied with the structure of the sluice gate to notice. "No, I just wanted to make something without magic once in a while..." Mii suggested to Jin, who had honestly spoken his mind. "In that case, shall we visit a workshop somewhere after this? "A tour of a workshop?I''d love to!" At the mention of a workshop, Reinhardt literally jumped in. What kind of workshops do you have? "Woodworking ......, metal carving ......, blacksmithing ......, architecture ......, and general work. I guess." Mii thought and thought and explained, and that was enough for Jin and the others to get a vague idea of what the atmosphere was like. Woodworking is furniture, knick-knacks, and sculpture. The metal carving type includes accessories. The blacksmiths'' work includes cutlery and pots and pans. The architectural field is so-called carpentry. The general category is a combination of technologies, such as rickshaws and boats. "I''d like to see all of them, but I think I''d have to go with woodworking. Or maybe woodworking... or even fingerworking." Jin thought that if he had to make something without magic, this would be it. "Fingerwork?You know it well, don''t you? That''s what I''d expect from a master magecraftsman! Mii is impressed. < So Jin and his group are guided by Mii to a workshop <<> on the shores of Lake Sayama. Feeling a little familiar with the name of the place, Jin waited for Mii to talk to him. "Thank you for waiting. They said they would let us visit. But there''s no way I can refuse a tour in Jin-sama''s name! Beside Jin, Reiko looked proud. Then a man who appeared to be the owner of the workshop came out. "Oh, Jin-sama!It''s a great honor to have you here!" Jin did not remember, but the man seemed to know his face. "Well, Jin-sama is a celebrity ......, the savior of Mitsuho, isn''t he?" "No, indeed. My name is Tazza Kroda, owner of the workshop by the lake. Tazer Croda was a small man in his late twenties. "Come in." Tazer led us into his workshop, and the smell of wood tickled our noses. "Ah, it''s the smell of cypress," he said. "Oh, you know what I mean, Jin-sama!< Hinoki is a coniferous tree with a beautiful bark. It is resistant to humidity and mold, and Horyu-ji, a 1,000-year-old building, is also made of cypress. It is a first-class building material, but it is also excellent as a construction material. "A small chest in a cypress box? Jin looked at them on the shelf as samples. "No, it''s a wonderful technique!" Reinhardt was also impressed. "Over there, it''s ...... ah, paulownia chests, isn''t it?" Paulownia wood is not only light and resistant to moisture, but in case of fire, it protects the clothes inside by keeping them from burning when water is sprinkled on them to keep them from burning. Common chests of drawers were made of this paulownia-like wood. Scrap wood of paulownia and cypress seemed to be used for cutting boards. "Oh, these are toys for children. There were a Dokugaku and a Kendama, which Hitoshi had missed. This must also have been passed down by . Jin was even more excited because he had not seen them during his last visit. "Jin-sama, you know kendama?" Kendama was a specialty here in Miyako, while dokugakus (tops) were made in other parts of Japan. "Yes, I can play a little. Saying this, Jin picked up a kendama for the first time in years. 1407 - - 38-16 Kendama Corporation Taking the kendama in his hand, Jin moved it back and forth, left and right, as if to check its weight and balance. The ball connected to the ball by a takoyo (octopus thread) swayed accordingly. And then... "Yo!" "Whoa!" "Oh." "Oh," "Oh," "Oh," "Oh," "Oh," "Oh," "Oh," It''s called furiken. The ball is swung like a pendulum and caught by a sharp point called a kensaki. Jin succeeded on the first try. "Jin-sama, that''s great! "It''s been a while since I''ve done it, so I wasn''t sure." Jin tried again. This time he failed. "One more time." In the end, Jin succeeded 7 out of 10 times. "Let me try again. Reinhardt, who was watching from the side, said. Jin handed him a kendama. "You''d better start with a platter ......". But then Reinhardt suddenly played furiken and ....... "Ouch!" He hit the ball in his own face. "Brother Rai, are you okay?......<>" "Ouch!"......Erza, thank you. It''s ...... surprisingly hard to do, isn''t it?" "That''s why I was going to say you should start with the platter." Jin took the kendama from Reinhardt and held it horizontally this time and caught the ball in the largest receptacle, called the platter. "This is hard, too. You have to use your arms and knees as well as your hands to keep the ball from bouncing. "Brother Jin, let me try." Erza said she wanted to play, so Jin handed her the ball. "Let''s see,...... like this?" Erza swung the ball and caught the bouncing ball on a platter. In doing so, she made sure that her knees were well cushioned so that the ball would not bounce. "Oh, that''s good, that''s good!" Jin complimented. Elsa has good moves. She seemed to have gotten the hang of it after a few times, and was able to catch the ball on the opposite side of the big dish, called the small dish, without making any mistakes. Reinhardt, on the other hand... "Yo!...... Oh, no." Surprisingly, he seems to be clumsy at this kind of game. After playing with kendama for a while, Jin remembers why he came to this workshop. "Uh, ......." Jin looked around the workshop and noticed a corner where some small articles were being made. "Excuse me, may I use this corner? Hitoshi asked the owner of the workshop, Tazza Kuroda, and when he received his permission, he immediately began to work on it. "So the saw is about the same. The saw is also a sawing type. ......" Most Western-style saws and planers are of the push-to-cut type, but this one was of the pull-type, which Jin was accustomed to using. "Well, let''s have this piece of square wood." As Jin produced something, Erza and Reinhard stopped practicing kendama and came to observe. "Jin, what are you making?What are you making, Jin? "Well, just watch. Well, just look at it. To put these together at equal intervals, you need to use ......." Take two pieces of wood about 30 centimeters long. Then dig grooves in them at equal intervals. "...... ladder toy?" What Jin was making looked like a small little ladder. "This is definitely a ladder. But that''s not all." For the rungs of the ladder, he used square timbers of the right thickness for the groove. "Well, well, well." Jin is happy to see that his woodworking skills have not rusted. "Now I have to make the pieces. ...... Jin moves his hands while talking to himself. Elsa and Reiko, who are standing by, watch him closely, knowing that this is when Jin is in a good mood. "It''s done." It took about an hour to complete. "Thank you for helping us with the materials, Mr. Cloda. Jin thanks the owner of the workshop. "So, what did you make? Those who had been silently watching were curious. "Well, it''s a toy called ''Hashigakudari''. A ladder stands vertically on a square board that serves as a base. When you place a <> on the ladder, you will see ....... "Ah!" "Oh!" "Interesting!" Erza, Croda, Mii and the others exclaim in surprise. < are spinning and moving down the ladder. It looks like a light magician. "You got it right the first time. You haven''t lost your skill yet." Jin was pleased. "Oh ...... is this another toy from Jin''s hometown?" Reinhardt asked, looking at the structure. "Yes. I made a few of these in the past. "Heh. ......." Then Tatzer Kroda called out to him. "Mr. Jin, may I make one of these for the children?" Yes, you may. You may color the pieces and draw pictures on them. "I see. You''re the master Jin! For this idea, Jin received a large amount of miso paste and alum. He was grateful for the alum because it is not available in Horai Island, and the miso tastes different depending on the place. This was the end of the tour for the day. * * * * "d*mn, I can''t do it right!" As a souvenir of the visit to the workshop, Jin and the others received a kendama for each of them. Reinhardt has been practicing in his spare time, but he can''t seem to get any better. "Brother Rai, you have too much tension in your shoulders. Erza, on the other hand, has mastered the technique called , in which she moves the balls around a large plate, a small plate, a medium plate, and a kendo ball. She succeeded three times out of ten. And then. "Father, is this all right?" "Oh, yes, that''s it. ......" Reiko had already mastered all the techniques that Jin knew, with an almost 100 percent success rate. 1408 - - 38-17 Drill After a little early dinner, Jin was leaning back on the sofa, thinking about the daytime. "Brother Jin?" Erza seemed to sense something when she saw Jin, and took some distance from him, saying that she would leave him alone. "Wedge ...... pickaxe ...... drill ......" The way he mumbled was a little strange, but Erza has long gotten used to the fact that this was Jin''s way of thinking. After about five minutes. "Okay, I''ve got a plan. Now we have to ask him. Jin stood up briskly, "I''m going to Mii''s for a while." and left the room. In a flash, Reiko was the only one who could follow him, but Elsa only replied with a . * * * * * * * * * * * * After about half an hour, Jin came back, his face full of happiness. "Did something good happen?" Erza couldn''t help but ask him. "Yes, I did. You know, during the day, there was a big rock that came out during the construction work, right? "Yes..." Reiko crushed it that time, but I asked her what she usually does. hmm, I know... I asked her about Mr. D''Souza, the foreman, who was staying here earlier. He said he was staying at the staff building because there was no good place to stay near the construction site. "Really?" Jin looked interested, so I knew something must have struck a chord. I didn''t think it was civil engineering, though. "So, when they break it up, they do it with a hammer or a hammer and trowel," he said. "......What are you going to do with that?" I''m sure you can guess by the look on her face, but Erza asked just in case. "Yeah. I''d like to be of some help, wouldn''t you? So Jin then returned to Horai Island. "If we use adamantite partially, it will be enough. "Father, what about the rest?" "Carbon steel ...... or maybe nickel steel?" "Yes, sir." With the help of Reiko, Jin made up a pickaxe. The tip is adamantite and bites into most rocks. The nickel steel has also been treated with toughening, so it should be strong enough. "Now, let''s make a hammer too. This is also made of adamantite at the tip, and the amount of excavation is estimated to be three times as much. The last one is ....... A drill? Yes. I think I heard that you drill a hole with this and then drive a wedge into the hole to break it open. I see. Jin is making a hand drill. It is a type of hand drill called a "click-ball" or "kuri kogiri". The drill is designed to simply turn a crank handle, so it is hard to break. The tips of the drill bits are of course adamantite. After making 10 sets of each of these bits, Jin returned to Mitsuho. Welcome back. Welcome back. It is 8:30 p.m. in Mitsuho when Jin returns. Jin had Reiko take the samples and went to D''Souza''s office. "Jin, what do you have there?" Jin meets Reinhard and Mii in the hallway. They were discussing tomorrow''s schedule. "Jin, what is it?" Reinhardt was curious about the tools Reiko was carrying. "It''s a construction tool. This is a pickaxe, this is a hammer, and this is a drill." "Hmmm. The drill has an interesting shape! "We''re going to Mr. D''Souza''s now." Jin said, "Okay, I''ll go with you!" Reinhardt''s reply was quite natural. "Mr. D''Souza, are you there?" Jin asks D''Souza''s room in the staff building. "Oh, my God, Jin-sama, what is it yet? "I''ve prepared something nice for you, please take a look." In the lounge of the staff building, Jin showed Reiko the tools he had prepared for her. "Well, that looks interesting! "A hammer, a pickaxe, and a drill." Jin explained briefly. "I know what a hammer is, but what about this? "This is how to use it." Jin first teaches how to use the pickaxe. But all he does is swing it up and down. "Ha-ha, this is good. It seems to be an efficient way to dig up areas with pebbles. D''Souza, who seemed to be a person in the field, immediately understood the usefulness of the pickaxe. "And this is a drill. "A drill?" "A drill? Well, do you have anything I can use to make a hole? Mii thought for a moment, then went to the kitchen and came back with a big jar. "How about this jar?It has a chipped rim, and I''m thinking of using it as a flowerpot. "Then I can make a hole in it. Bottles, or ceramics, are a very hard material. It is also fragile, so making a hole in it requires not only tools but also a certain amount of skill. Jin turned the bottle upside down with the bottom facing up. He places the tip of the drill in the center of the bottle and starts to turn it. "Oh!" The adamantite tip cut through the ceramic without any effort, and made a hole in no time. "This is amazing!That''s just like Jin-sama!" "Jin-sama, will you give this to me?" Duzah jumped for joy, and Mii''s eyes lit up. "Yes, I will." "Yes, I will, and I will be very grateful! Mii then went into a meeting with Jin to discuss the price. "As far as I''m concerned, it''s a token of our friendship, so it should be minimal. But that''s not how it works. "But ......" After some back and forth, they agreed to increase the amount of miso and alum that they were going to receive in exchange for <>, and to share some of the wood they saw at the workshop, which was not available on Horai Island. 1409 - - 38-18 Home January 30. At the appointed time, Reinhardt went as a diplomat to meet HIRO MUTU, the Emir of Mitskho. "I have been expecting you." Hiro Mutu opened the door and greeted Reinhardt. "I have accepted all the proposals made by Her Majesty, the Empress Shoro," he said. "Oh, that''s a big deal. Therefore, I have one favor to ask of you, Jin-sama. What is it? Jin is treated as an attendant on official occasions. I would like to ask you, Jin-sama, the Magecraft Meister, to certify that this World Congress is for the peace of the whole world. "Of course, of course. It is my wish as well." Jin immediately accepted Hiro Mutu''s offer. "Thank you very much. Thus, the Mitsuho, who were said to be a different people, and the nations of the East took the first step toward building a cooperative relationship for the future. * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, Jin, it was a great success! At noon the same day, <> left Miyako. "But Jin''s popularity is amazing. This time Jin had not done much, but the send-off was even bigger than the last time. "But it was fun." Reinhard closes his eyes and is deep in thought. "That''s the good thing about being a diplomat, isn''t it?" Reinhardt has made it all the way to the Kingdom of Elias and back. Jin thought that he must be remembering those days. "Brother Jin, brother Rai. We''re about to cross the Harihari Desert. Erza''s voice comes out. The super-fast flying had returned to the Shoro Empire in a little over an hour. As it approaches the Shoro Empire, it slows down to less than half its original speed. In the end, Jin and his crew returned to Loizart in about two hours after leaving the town of Miyako. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Thank you, Reinhard. The emperor was in a good mood when he received the return letter from Hiro Mutu and checked its contents. "Thank you, Jin-kun and Erza, for your hard work. The emperor smiled softly and softly. It seems that her public face is over. "So, did you find anything interesting? It''s 5:00 P.M., the end of the day. "Would you like to have dinner with me afterwards?Tell me about what you did over there then. Jin, Erza, Reinhard, Reiko, Edgar, and others moved with the emperor to the reception room of the palace. "Jin-kun has inspired us to expand the menu here. The emperor is a little happy. But... "But you know ...... it doesn''t taste as good as the food at Jin-kun''s place. And ......." And?What''s wrong? "...... it''s getting cold." "...... Oh, ......" The Emperor of a country eats his meals, so I guess he has to taste the food. If the food is brought to them after that, it is understandable that it gets cold. In addition, grilled fish and tempura were served. Both of them would not taste half as good if they were cold. "...... at least <<> or <>". Jin thought that it would be better to heat up the whole food from the inside rather than just heating it up, so he used his original engineering magic <>. Like the microwave oven, this magic uses electromagnetic waves, which are classified as microwaves, to heat up an object. I used it because it was on a ceramic plate, not a silver plate. "...... Oh, it''s warm!" "Is it a little better?" The reheated grilled fish is not as good as the hardened one, but it is better than the cold one. The same goes for tempura. It is inevitable that the taste of reheated food is basically lost. (Hmmm, I wish I could do something about this point.) (Hmm, I wish I could do something about this) Jin thought as he put the reheated tempura in his mouth. Then he came to a conclusion. "A thermal barrier!" "What?" What? "...... have you come up with something?" Reinhardt and the female emperor were surprised to hear Jin suddenly speak up, but Erza remained calm. The reason she was silent was because she was thinking about something, and she knew that Jin would suddenly reactivate. "Oh. ......well, the flow of magic control (Magi sequence) over there is like this, so we can do the Magi Formula here and the Magi Formula over there like this ......Yeah, it looks like we can do it. Yes, I can do that." Now everyone waits patiently for Jin to explain. "Well, the one I just thought of is the . It keeps the object from getting cold by minimizing conduction, convection, and radiation except during poisoning. At the same time, it should be possible to keep cold objects from getting warm." "I don''t know, but that''s great, Jin!Please make it! The emperor jumps at Jin''s suggestion. "Yes, sir." Jin immediately accepted. "Then I''ll come and report back to you as soon as it''s finished. "Please do." At 7:00 p.m., Jin and his team left the palace. Reinhardt had to stay overnight because he still had to make a detailed report. With a jump, the Conlon 3 lands on the rooftop of the mansion. "Ah, you''re back." "Yeah..." Horai Island, Kunlun Island, the village of Kaina, and here in Loisart. Elsa and I spend the most time together here and in Horai Island. This is where I can relax and feel at home. "Father, Elsa, why don''t you take a bath?" And always and everywhere, Reiko is Jin''s number one attendant. "Yes. It''s been a while since I''ve had a bath at home." "Yes..." I''ll wash your back. Please do. The hectic days had come to an end. Jin was able to relax at home for the first time in a long time and healed from the fatigue of his trip. 1410 - - 38-19 Unexpected Visitors "Well, first of all, I have some unfinished business to take care of." On February 1st, Jin had breakfast at Reuthert''s house and flew to Horai Island. "Brother Jin, what''s left to do?" Erza, who came with us, asks. "It''s about Akitsu." Akitsu is an automata that Shuki Tsezi had installed in the past for educational purposes. "I couldn''t maintain it this time, and above all, I couldn''t ......". Now that he has sent airships to other countries, the possibility of detection from the sky has increased. I have to take responsibility for this. "I know what you''re saying, Jin. So what are you going to do? We move it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * So Jin dispatched to the site. "This will be a lot easier." They are going to move the dome, Akitsu''s base of operations, directly to the Kunlun Island. Adriana, with a diameter of 300 meters, was the perfect vessel for the job. The dome, 10 meters in diameter and 4 meters high, was pulled from its base using gravity control magic and a force field generator, and stored in the lower warehouse of . "I didn''t think you''d go this far." Elsa is a little taken aback. "But I don''t want to do anything halfway. "I understand that. "<>...... is a facility left to us by Shuki Tsetsi''s grandfather, you know. Reiko supports Jin. "I know. I thought this was a good idea." "For my sake, I''m sorry." The dome is in the warehouse, but Akitsu is on the bridge with Jin and the others. "No, aunt, this is nothing for your father." Akitsu is being attended to by Reiko. Akitsu wonders if Reiko is his aunt. ...... "I wonder where would be a good place to ......." After some thought, she decides to set up in the woods on the west side of the island, away from the plains where the Wujinggaku and Jade Mansion are located. A force field generator Force Generator was used to level the area, and the dome was installed. The construction itself was completed in 10 minutes by the craftsmen (Smith) I had called from Penglai Island. "Well, how do you like it, Akitsu? "Yes, thank you. The place looks very cozy. Fortunately, the warp gate in Mitsuho has no distance limitation ......, or rather, it has enough capacity, so there is no problem at all for Akitsu to move to this place. The best part is that Reiko, other automata, and golems can come to see Akitsu. "I''m glad I''ve been alone all this time." Akitzu accepted this measure, expressing the slight emotion he had been granted. "Aunt, next time I come, I will bring the others with me. "I look forward to it." Since Anne, Lol, and Lefa were half-sisters or half-sisters of Reiko, Akitsu would be their aunt, and those whom Jin created would be his nieces and nephews, just like Reiko. It seems that Akitsu, who had few feelings, was happy to see an end to his long years of loneliness. Akitsu was happy to see the end of his long years of loneliness, even though he was not very emotional. "Ah, now I''m done." "Thank you, Jin-brother. The relocation took less than half a day. Jin was also relieved from the bottom of his heart. "To tell you the truth, I realized it yesterday when I was going back home on the < ......". Jin confides to Erza over a cup of tea at his house in Horaijima. "I understand. That''s why I was so upset." "Yeah." Just as Erza was about to say something more, Reiko came rushing in. "Father, Mr. Zion is here." "What?" What? "Zion, what''s wrong?" As soon as he saw Jin''s face, Zion dropped a bombshell. "Jin, my sister is gone! "What? Theon''s sister, in other words Istaris, had disappeared. "Why again?" "......The wedding is in half a month." After saying this, Zion turned her head down. "...... you don''t like it?" Zion nodded silently. "Well, what did Belials say?" I remember hearing that Istaris had been betrothed to the Belialus when they had been in the demon territory before. "...... and Belialis seems to have arranged it." "What?" Since he did not understand the background at all, Jin decided to sit down and listen to Zion''s story. There are a few things that came to light as a result of this. The engagement between Istaris and Belialus had been decided by their parents and grandparents. In other words, it was a marriage ceremony between clans, and the intentions of both parties were not reflected in it. "......I thought my sister was happy too. She was beaming." At the same time, Belial was also not happy about the engagement. The proof is that he was not in a hurry when Istaris disappeared and Zion saw him smiling at her from the shadows. "That''s not a look you can make when someone you love is missing, that one." So she secretly asked him about it, and he told her that it was Belial who arranged their escape to the south. "Uh, the one who arranged the getaway, was it Netros?" Yes. Yes. How did you know? "Yes. ......" Jin thought it was strange that he didn''t understand. He felt that his face was reflecting this thought, "Brother Jin, I think you might not be able to see them if you are too close to them. Erza chided him. "Because my sister and Netros have been together since they were little, and they''ve always been like that, you know?" "I see. ......" Jin thought that if they had been brought up like brother and sister, it might be possible that Zion, who was also his own sister, might not recognize that ....... "Hey, help me find my sister!At least let me know that she is safe and sound,......." Jin gently tells Zion, who has a desperate look on his face. "Okay. Leave it to me. 1411 - - 38-20 Search and "Really?Thanks, Jin! "Yeah, you can count on me." Jin nodded and headed for the lab. Erza, Zion and Reiko followed him. "Old man, do you know where Istaris is?" < "What?How do you know? Jin explains to the astonished Zion. "Didn''t Istaris once get injured and had to be brought here? It was when he was tricked and captured in the Franz Kingdom. Yes, yes. I treated Istaris then, so I have her magic patterns on record. "Uh, ......?" Jin continued to explain to Zion who still didn''t seem to understand what he was saying. When he said that there was a Magi machine in Horai Island that could track the magic pattern, Zion''s face lit up. "What''s that!Jin is making amazing things!He is indeed a Magecraft Meister!" "Zion, didn''t you know about the Magi Radar?" "What about ......?Well, I think I''ve heard something about it. ......" In short, he doesn''t seem to remember much because of his lack of interest in magical engineering. "Oh well." That won''t interfere with the search for Istaris. The more important question is: ....... "What happened after you found Istaris?" Will they bring her back to the demon territory against her will or not? "Yes, I guess so. ......" Theon looks thoughtful. At that moment, the old man reported. "What?Where, where, where? Theon bites his tongue. < "What? * * * * * * "......" I was blindsided. Theon and Lucas had come to the village of Kaina when they had previously requested assistance due to food shortages. This time, Istaris and Netros must have followed a similar route. "Ah, it''s been a long time. Jin, Zion, and Reiko emerge from the warp gate in the basement of Jin''s workshop. "It''s snowing here too, isn''t it?" The snow was deeper than when Jin had visited the other day. The snowfall was about 30 centimeters. However, most of the paths had been cleared of snow and were easy to walk on. The weather that day was light overcast. Jin put on his sunglasses to avoid snowy eyes. "Oh?Jin, what are those? "They are glasses to protect my eyes. I have one for you too." Jin held out a pair of sunglasses. "Oh, thank you." The sunglasses were made of processed muscovite, which is lightweight and resistant to breakage. In addition, they are durable because they are coated with toughening agent. Mica also has the property of birefringence, and can be used in place of polarizers if used properly. Furthermore, the sunglasses are colored with a magic dye to prevent the transmission of ultraviolet rays, thus making them highly effective sunglasses. "Ah, Onii-chan!" Hanna came out of the room. "Hi, Hannah. I heard there was a traveler here. Do you know him?" "Yes. He''s staying at the chief''s house. I see. Thanks. I''ll check it out. "Okay." Perhaps sensing something when she saw that Zion was with them, Hannah unusually returned to the house without saying <. So Jin and the three of them head for the village chief''s house. "When did you make this ?" Zion asked on the way to the chief''s house. "Just a few days ago. "Well, it''s very easy to see. It''s hard to see the unevenness of a snowfield because it''s all white, but it''s different when you wear these. The polarizing properties of the glasses cut off a great deal of reflected light. This makes it easier to see. Polarized sunglasses are used for fishing, skiing, driving, etc. to cut reflected light and make vision clearer. "Are you there, Mr. Mayor? Soon after arriving at the village headman''s house, Jin knocked on the door. "Oh, Jin. What''s wrong?" Immediately, Guibec, the village headman, answered the door. "No, I have a visitor, or rather, I heard that a traveler is here. "I see. I see... as a lord, you are concerned about him. No, it''s not that. Well, that''s part of it... Come in anyway. ...... who''s that girl over there?Uh,......, I think it''s Zion, isn''t it? Giebeck asks, noticing Zion behind Jin. Yes, that''s right. And I think that the traveler might be an acquaintance of hers. "Oh." Jin and the others were invited into the village chief''s house. "Hello, Jin-kun." In the living room was Sally, the healer and now wife of Giebeck, and ....... "Jin-sama!Theon! How did you find me? Theon''s sister, Istaris, and her follower, Netros, were there. "Sister!" Theon rushes to Istaris. I was so worried about you! "...... I''m sorry I left without telling you." "No, I just want you to be happy, that''s all." "Jin, will you please explain the situation to me?" Looking at Zion and Istaris, Sally and Giebeck asked Jin to explain. "Yes, of course. As a matter of fact, ......." Jin gave them a brief explanation of the situation. Of course, at this stage, he did not tell them that he was a . 1412 - - 38-21 In Revisit "I see, so you kicked out of your parents'' marriage proposal and ran away together." "Is that why Mr. Zion came to bring your sister back?" Sally and Giebeck each opened their mouths, but the content was completely different. "No, I didn''t come here to bring her back, I came here to look for her because I was worried about her. "Zion ......" "Jin found your sister right away." "Oh, I see. ...... Theon turned to Netros, who had remained silent the entire time. "I didn''t think Netros had that much love for you. But now that we are here, you will make my sister happy, won''t you?" Netros looks up. "Yes, Master Theon." "Yes, Master Theon. Yes, Master Theon. Take good care of my ...... sister, will you?" A little sadly, but resolutely, Theon addresses Netros. "But what should we do now?" Jin folded his arms and pondered. Then Sally came to his rescue. Jin, you seem to know their parents. It would be the least awkward for you to go to them and try to persuade them. "......I guess you''re right." Sally nodded. "I think so." This advice made Jin''s mind up. "I understand." He stood up and told Zion, Istaris, and Netros. "You can come to me first." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Fifteen minutes later, Jin, Zion, Istaris, and Netros are at Nido Castle. Reiko brings tea for the four of them. After drinking the hot tea (only Jin''s tea was cooled down a little) and relaxing a little, Jin opened his mouth. "Well, I''m going to the demon territory in after this, and I want all three of you to come with me. "I don''t mind if I come with you. ...... sisters?" Theon said a little anxiously. "You two will stay with me in the Conlon 3 until we can come to some sort of agreement. "That''s fine." Jin then took a breath, "Now, Istaris, where did this offer of marriage come from?" "Well, I heard that your grandfather has been in contact with Maximus. ......" Istaris'' grandfather was Bardius, the clan leader of . Maximus is the clan leader of the <> clan, Maximus the <>. "A discussion between the clan leaders. ......" "Yes. I had no choice,......, I mean,......." "My sister accepted it at first because it would be good for the clan of <>, right?" Instead of Istaris who was at a loss for words, Zion explained. "When I saw you at the time of the engagement announcement, it didn''t seem like you were unhappy about it." Jin felt sorry for her, because she must have been killing herself. After all, Jin''s beloved wife, Elsa, had also left him in the past because she did not like the marriage proposal that her parents had arranged. When he told this story, Zion bit into his mouth. "What is that?Even that ladylike and quiet looking Erza is capable of that! "Here, Theon. Erza-sama is Jin-sama''s wife now. "Oh, I see. ...... sorry, Jin." Jin laughed and forgave Zion. "Well, anyway, I''d still like to respect the person''s will. So I''m going to tell the clan leader that. Jin, I''m counting on you! Oh my god, Zion... And what about Belialus? To this Zion replied. "Well, I don''t have a choice, do I?" With a complete poker face, Zion said, "I don''t know. However, seeing that he helped Istaris to run away, it seems that he does not have much feelings for her. "How did Istaris feel about it?" "Yes, well, I felt that Master Belialis was suppressing his feelings. I think he likes someone else." "I see." It is possible that Belialus is also hiding his intentions. "Come to think of it, I don''t think I saw Belialus the last time I went to the clan territory of the . Anyway, Jin thinks that he has to go to the demon tribe territory first. I''ve just been there. So, although he had just been there, Jin set out for the demon territory by early the next day. He was accompanied by Elsa and Reiko. Of course, Zion, Istaris, and Netros are also on board. The pilot is Edgar. They arrived at the demon territory at 9:00 a.m. local time. "Let''s go to first. ......" landed on the outskirts of the territory of the Luo clan. The Morura clansmen soon gather. "Master Jin, welcome. What kind of ...... Zion are you today?Why are you here?" Bardius, the chief of the Morura clan and Zion''s grandfather, greeted Jin and peered at him when he saw Zion with him. "I''ll explain it to you now." When Jin said this, Bardius could not say anything more strongly and first invited Jin and the others into the house. "Well, it all started when Zion came to me saying that Istaris had disappeared. At the house of the clan leader, Bardius, Jin immediately cut to the chase. "Sion told me that the marriage between Istaris and Belialus was decided between the clan leaders." "...... Yes." Bardius, who had no intention of hiding anything from Jin, immediately admitted this fact. "But Istaris seemed to be pleased, and Belialus agreed to it immediately, so I thought there would be no problem. "I see." Then Elsa spoke up. "Mr. Istaris is a family man and a clan man. I am sure that he did not want to go against a marriage proposal that was made with good intentions, much less one that was decided upon by the clan leaders. These are the words of Erza, who was once unable to accept her father''s arbitrary decision to make a marriage proposal. "......" "I think that Istaris was trying to pretend that he was doing it for the sake of the clan. I think that something made him lose his temper and he disappeared." Bardius replied, "Come to think of it, the day before he disappeared, he met with Belialus and they talked for a long time. I thought they were talking about the future or something. ...... "I see. ...... Then again, maybe Belial knew about it." How is that possible? "Anyway, I think I''ll go to the clan now." Jin stood up. "Jin-sama, please take me with you!" Bardius pleaded with him, and Jin agreed. "Okay. ...... come with me, Zion." "Okay." And so Jin and his party, with Bardius in tow, set out for the clan territory of the <>. 1413 - - 38-22 Confession! < So, what can I do for you today? Maximus, the clan leader, asked. The first to answer was Bardius, chief of the clan of Morura. "You may have guessed since I''m here, but I''m here about Istaris ......." "Hmm." How is Belialis? "How ...... is he, he''s just going about his daily life." At this point, Jin interrupts. "I''m sorry, but could you call Belialus? "That''s fine. ......Hey, someone go get Belial." The waiter who was standing nearby was sent to call Belialus. Soon after, Belialus came and looked at Jin and the group, and his face broke into a little smile. "Well, well, well, Jin-dono, Erza-dono, ...... Zion. Welcome." Belialus greeted them with a beaming smile. "What''s the matter today?" Jin asks him straightforwardly. "Have you heard about the disappearance of Istaris?" "...... eh?" Jin waited for the next words from Belialus, thinking that the slight pause was a bit unnatural. "I, Istaris is gone?" The tone of voice was a little ...... unnatural, but Jin was convinced. "What do you know about it, Belialis?" "What ...... do you mean?" Belialus is so deliberate in his attitude that even Jin can tell. "It''s all right, I''m here to do something about those wrong connections. You knew that Istaris didn''t really want to get married, didn''t you? "Yes, yes." At this point Elsa spoke up. "Mr. Belialus, my brother Jin knows everyone." "What?" "...... I escaped from an unwanted marriage a long time ago. It was my brother Jin who saved me. So you should be honest with me. "I am ......." At this point, Maximus and Bardius were speechless. Then Jin turned to Maximus and Bardius and spoke. "I know that both of you are thinking about your clans. But please think a little more about yourselves. The polite words seem to be weighing them down, and they falter. "Yes, yes, ......." "You''re right, you''re right. ......" And then, out of nowhere. "Maximus, we may have been a little hasty." "I agree with you, Master Bardius." It seems that they have taken this action because they are worried that the population of the demon tribe has been further reduced due to the recent uproar. "From now on, if we avoid unnecessary conflicts and improve our health, I believe that the population will start to increase. Elsa convinced him of this. "...... truly." "I''m embarrassed. ......" Apparently, Maximus and Vardius realized that they had been a bit hasty. "And then," said Belialus, "......" "I, well, from the beginning, I have felt nothing more about Istaris than a fondness ...... for his own kind. ......" He looked down and expressed his honest feelings. "And now, about Istaris..." Jin returned to the topic again. "I''d say that the marriage proposal has been cancelled ...... rather than broken off." "Yes. That would be better. I have no objection. The chief of the clan, Maximus, and Bardius were all adamant that the marriage proposal had never taken place. "I will explain to the others that the two of us were a little ahead of the curve," he said. I would be sorry to Istaris and Belialus if I didn''t at least do that. "I see." Jin was relieved. Now he had accomplished half of what he had come for. So Jin decided to move on to the next step. "And what do you think about Netros?" "How," he said, "is ......?" Bardius looked doubtful. "Well, in the <> clan, is there such a thing as a friendship with a squire?" Jin had meant it in a roundabout way, but Bardius seemed to have guessed it. "Don''t tell me, Istaris is ...... with Netros?" "Yes, Grandfather!Please, admit her and Netros!" Here, Theon, who had been silent all this time, opened his mouth. "Ummm... ......" Bardius looked at him with difficulty. "It is true that there have been many who have married squires. But it is unprecedented for a clan leader to do so, and I cannot admit to it. ......" Istaris is the eldest daughter of Radeous and Lorona. If things continue as they are, her son-in-law will be the clan leader of . "Oh, no. ......" Sion wilted. But he quickly looks up and balks at his grandfather. "Well, then, why don''t my son-in-law become the clan leader?" His face turned red as he said this. "Well, that wouldn''t be a problem, but ...... I don''t have a partner." The person to whom he is dealing with is Zion, who is only 71 years old, which is the equivalent of 14 years old in human terms. Even according to the custom of the demon tribe, he won''t be considered an adult until he''s another nine years, or 80 years old. "It doesn''t matter. Ten or twenty more years. And you have the Lord Radeous." At this point Maximus, the puppet, interjected. "Maximus, you have plenty of grandchildren, so you needn''t worry about your successor, but we have our own ......." "Well, ......" At this point Belial interrupted. "Would it be bad if it were me and Mr. Zion ......?" "What?" "Yes?" Elsa and Jin were caught off guard by this unexpected comment. But... "What? Theon just jumped up in surprise. His face was even redder, like a ripe aprs-ski. "Mr. Zion, to tell you the truth, I love you more than your sister Istaris ......." "Yes, ......?Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! Belialus'' statement, which no one had expected, caused chaos in the room. But surprisingly, Zion does not seem to mind. "Well, I''m much more rustic than my sister, but ......" "I''m not rude. I''m just energetic." "I''m not even educated. ...... Don''t be modest. "You see, I''m, you know, small in many ways. ...... You have a long way to go, my dear. "......" Jin and Erza watched in amazement. 1414 - - 38-23 Early Spring Hitoshi, Elsa, and Reiko quietly left the room, leaving Zion, Belial, and Maximus and Bardius behind. They decided to keep it to themselves and their relatives. "But I''m surprised..." "Yes..." "Father, it''s complicated when a person falls in love with another person." Hitoshi, Elsa, and Reiko each expressed their own thoughts. "...... Maybe Belial likes younger people." "What?" Erza tilted her head at Jin''s comment. "You know, Belialus was desperately looking for his sister Archelle, right? "Yes, indeed." "Uh, was it called "Sister Complex"?" Reiko said in a brusque tone. "......Yes, that''s right, but don''t say that in front of the two ...... no, Maximus and Bardius, don''t say that." "I understand." "......Theon also likes older, dependable people." Erza also gave her own analysis of the situation. "Oh, I see." If that''s the case, Jin thinks that the two of them might be surprisingly compatible. "Well, at any rate, I think we''ve almost achieved our goal. "Hmm." < clan will be Theon and Belialus. Then Istaris and Netros can be together without problems. "By the time Sion and the others become clan leaders, the <> barrier may be gone." "That''s true." Erza agreed with Jin''s prediction. * * * * * * "No, I''m very embarrassed to show you this. When Jin and Erza returned after the seats had settled down, they found an embarrassed Belialus, a red-faced Zion, and a smiling Bardius and Maximus. "No, I am pleased to see that we have once again bridged the gap between the two clans. "I''m glad to hear you say so." Maximus said with a happy face. Bardius, on the other hand, looked a little disappointed. "I pity Istaris. ...... I wonder what she is doing now. "Oh, I found her and I''m protecting her. < with Netros. Netros is with her. Oh my God! Jin-sama is indeed a man of his word. Jin then asked Reiko to call them. "Yes, Father." Reiko nodded and quickly disappeared. She quickly returned with Istaris and Netros. "Oh, Istaris!" "Grandfather ......" I''m sorry I didn''t think of your feelings. Jin looked at Bardius apologizing to Istaris and thought to himself that he was not so house-centered as the nobles of the Lesser Kingdoms. "I''m sorry for ignoring you and moving on. You can ...... do whatever you want." "Are you sure about that?" Bardius glanced at Zion. "It''s okay, sister. The future head of the clan is between me and ...... that, that, that Belialus..." Theon said in faltering tones with a red face. "Oh, Theon,...... you,......" "It''s okay, sister. I''m still happy." Theon leans against Belialus, who is sitting next to him. His face turns even redder. "Zion......" Then Jin called out to him. "That''s what I mean, Istaris. I''ve been through a lot, but I guess I''ve settled down. "But, but I did something bad to Zion ......." "Sister, being a clan leader is not a bad thing, right?I''d rather do things for the clan, have them do things for me, and develop them." Zion is always positive. That''s what makes you a member of the ," Jin cheered in his heart. * * * * "Really. To my way of thinking, a clan leader is just a hassle, but someone has to do it, and Zion is a great guy for choosing to do it himself." "Heh heh, really?" After calming down, Jin was relaxing in with Erza, Reiko, Zion, Istaris, Netros, Belialus, and others. By the way, Bardius and Maximus are having various meetings. They have a lot of things to do externally now that they have a new fiance. Jin thinks this is troublesome. "By the way, I''m sorry if I''m remembering this wrong, but didn''t Zion and Istaris have a brother?" "......Oh, you mean my brother Clydesdale." Theon answers first and then Istaris takes over. "Well, my brother Clydes is to be groomed into the <> clan. That''s because we have different mothers. ......" The <> clan is a clan that has been reduced to about 20 members after the <> incident. He was engaged to be married to Donasia there. "It''s complicated." I don''t mean to get too deep into inter- and intra-clan affairs. This is an exception. "But ......" Jin said to Zion. "You''re right, Zion is good at being a leader. "You''re not going to get anything out of me if you praise me!" Now Zion''s cheeks are stained with embarrassment. He is blushing all the time today. "Yes, even I, your sister, think you''re great! "Oh, sister..." Maybe that''s why I''m attracted to men who are dependable. Jin looked at Belialus. "Haha, I will try my best to be like that." Belialus hugged Zion''s shoulder a little shyly. Jin is glad to see that they seem to be getting along well, and it seems that Erza was the same way, "I''m glad, Zion," she said. Elsa seemed to be the same, and congratulated him again with a few words. Then Bardius and Maximus arrived. They said that the meeting was over. "Thank you, Jin-sama, for all your help. Maximus bowed deeply. Bardius followed, "Thanks to you, we have been able to reestablish the bond between the two clans in a better way. "No, I only did what Theon asked me to do to make Istaris happy. The person who did the most is Theon. Yes, Theon, I''m sorry for everything. "Oh, Grandfather, ...... don''t do that to me." Baldius even bowed to his grandson Zion. Theon, on the other hand, is flustered. "And Istaris, Netros. I owe you an apology too. "Grandfather ......" "Master Bardius: ......" Bardius smiled. "It''s good to have more family. Hey, Belialus. Take care of Theon, will you?" "Yes!" For once, the clan leader Bardius seemed to be showing the face of a grandfather who loves his grandchildren. The winter was still freezing in the demon territory, but for the clans of the <> and <>, it seemed that spring had come early, Jin thought. 1415 - - 38-24 Quiet 71 Preservation boundary "Well, it''s difficult. ......" Jin was now racking his brains to fulfill the request he had received from the Shoro Emperor. Yes, a <>. "Brother Jin, didn''t you say at that time that you could do it right away?" Erza sharply interrupted. "Yes, I did, but after thinking it over, there are too many functions I want to add. "You want to add features?" "Yes," he says, "I''ve been thinking about it a lot. ...... For example, the tempura the other day, after a while, even if it doesn''t get cold, the oil seeps in and it loses its crispiness. ......" This was easy to understand because Elsa remembered this too. The crispiness of tempura batter is important when it is freshly fried, and it will be ruined if the oil seeps into the batter after a long time. "Oh, yes, that''s right. "And since it''s a gift for His Majesty, I thought we''d add a layer of sterilization wards to prevent food poisoning. ......" "But?" "But?" "I wanted to add a poison detection function anyway." Brother Jin. ...... "I was thinking that even if it''s something that the Empress would eat, ......" "I don''t know about that. Erza was a little taken aback by Jin''s obsessive nature. "So, I was wondering..." "...... understand. I''ll help you." Although she was temporarily taken aback, the wards that Jin is trying to create have a wide range of applications and are certainly practical. As Erza often handles foodstuffs, she thought it would be better to have it. "Sterile warding is no problem, is that right?" "Yes. First of all, since I was going to participate in the event, I started by sorting out what needed to be done. "And the heat retention, no problem?" "Yes. The dish should have been almost ready when I came up with the idea. "Then the oil problem and the poison detection are incomplete." "That''s what I''m thinking." This made it easier for Elsa to think. "As for the poison, I think it would be easy to find a specific poison." That''s what I thought. ...... arsenic, mercury, lead..." But what about unknowns?It''s hard to say. It is relatively easy for the human body. Simply put, we only need to detect and exclude substances that are not naturally contained in the human body. < accessory does. However, in the case of cooking, it is not always possible to exclude all substances. "Elements are fine. Lead and arsenic, as I was saying." But copper, chromium, iron, etc. are necessary for the human body as minerals in small quantities. However, many of them become harmful when the amount increases. Taking chromium as an example, trivalent chromium is necessary for sugar metabolism, but hexavalent chromium is carcinogenic and harmful. "So now I''m thinking that I can use the same specifications as the < accessories that are based on the human body." "......, I think that''s fine, since detoxification is not the purpose of the wards. I mean, you can''t confuse the means with the end. Erza''s words made Jin reflect. "Yeah, that''s right. I was getting greedy and getting lost in the process. Thank you, Elsa. Jin''s hesitation is gone, and he has come to terms with the fact that the detoxification function is just an << extra>. "Then it''s a question of the oil. The request originally came from a female emperor who said that cold tempura did not taste good. Tempura soaked with oil does not taste good either. Jin wanted to tackle this problem. "Oil stain is a physical change, and oxidation changes the taste, so it''s a chemical change. "Hmm." Both can be stopped by lowering the temperature to absolute zero. "...... That''s no good." "No." That would take away from the purpose of keeping the temperature. Let''s think about how to stop the motion of atoms and molecules. "Hmm." Elsa has a middle school level of scientific knowledge, so she is fully capable of considering such a problem. Stop time. "You can''t do that." Jin denied what Erza had said. As an engineer, I didn''t want to use the word "impossible," but it would be impossible to do overnight. It was originally a < function of the storage warding for cooking, Jin thought. But it is a subject I would like to think about.) (But it is a subject I would like to think about.) He made a note in his mind. "Can you slow it down? "Well, I don''t know..." Jin thinks about it for a while. < "In principle, I think it is because the free magic element (ether) that enters the gap between atoms inhibits the movement of magic atoms, but I wonder if ordinary atoms are also inhibited." So I decided to try an experiment. I put ice into and heated it up. "Hmmm, it seems to take about 5 times longer to melt. It took about five times longer. "If we combine this with the thermal insulation, the performance will be quite good. "Is it more like than thermal warding ......?" Elsa gave me a good name for it. "Yes. . Now we just need to figure out how to make it work." For the time being, Jin and the others have made a about the size of a household refrigerator, and a for temporary storage. "Yes, I''ll give them to you. Jin thinks that he should give feedback on how he feels after using them. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh my!That''s great, Jin!" The emperor was pleased when he reported the completion and presented the sample. "It took a little time, but I think you will be satisfied with it. When I explained to her the functions of the device, her good mood was further enhanced. "Yes, yes!That''s wonderful. You''re being modest about the extra features, but a corruption-proof and detoxification ward?They''re national treasures!" Thank you very much. Jin is rather flattered by the Empress'' unreserved praise. However, after actually using it, everyone in the kitchen was amazed at its usefulness and begged him to convert an entire room in the kitchen building into this five days later. 1416 - - 39-01 Its spring.come on February 8th is Hanna''s birthday. It was snowing from the morning in Kaina village, but Hanna''s birthday party was being held at Martha''s house. "Happy birthday, Hanna! "Thank you, Grandma." "Happy birthday, Hanna." "Thank you, Grandma." "Happy birthday, Hannah." "Happy birthday, Elsa, thank you." "Happy birthday, Hannah." "Happy birthday, Auntie Meane, thank you." "Happy birthday, Hannah." "Happy birthday, Auntie Reiko, thank you." The guests of honor are Hanna, her grandmother Martha, Jin, Elsa, Meene, and Reiko. In case you are wondering, the children of the village came to the celebration in the morning. In the afternoon, it was Jin and the others. Everyone chats happily while cutting the cake made by Elsa and Meane and toasting with Citran juice. "Hannah is 11 years old, isn''t she? Jin mutters. I noticed that she was taller than Reiko. "Hannah, how are you getting on with your studies? Elsa asked. "Yes!The old man is teaching me a lot of things. I have already memorized the formula for the quadratic equation. "That''s great, Hannah." That means she has already mastered the mathematics at the junior high school level. In addition to her natural spark, Hanna is learning scientific knowledge from the basics. We look forward to her future. "If a school is built in <>, I want her to attend it. Jin mutters to himself. It is like a parent''s heart that wants to develop Hannah''s talent. "If she wants to go there, she can use the warp gate. "Brother Jin, I don''t think so." Erza warned Jin, who always forgets to put his own weight somewhere when it comes to Hanna. "Then we''ll get a special plane ......." "That''s a bit of a stretch." "I see." Hannah giggled at the sight of Jin. Outside the window, snow was fluttering. "There seems to be a lot of snow this year. Jin said, "There is a saying that a year with a lot of snow brings a good harvest. "Brother Jin, why is that?" "Well, I don''t know. ......I think, in my country, rice is the main crop, and it needs water. When there is no water in summer, it is called and it causes a bad harvest. So, if we have a lot of snow, it means we don''t have trouble with water. ......?" "But once the snow melts, won''t it last until summer?" "Yes, because the high amount of snow on the plains means that there is a lot of snow in the mountains. So, the snow on the mountains will melt slowly and become groundwater or subterranean water to moisten the foothills. ...... "Hmm, that makes sense." "The country where your grandmother was from is amazing!Isn''t there any other legend like that?" Erza was convinced and Hannah was interested. "Hmmm, I guess so. ......" Jin recalled a story that his science teacher had told him in junior high school in a chatty manner. "When a dragonfly flies high, it''s sunny, and when a swallow flies low, it''s raining. Jin adds that both dragonflies and swallows are types of birds. "Well, when birds fly high, it means there is an updraft. And when they fly high, there is a lot of sunlight, so it is sunny. Does that mean it''s sunny?" Hannah makes a surprising guess. "That''s what I think. And swallows, birds that eat insects, don''t fly very high when rain is near and there''s a lot of humidity in the air, so I think it''s ......." "That''s interesting!" "That''s interesting!" "That''s what the ancients have been telling us from their experience. I think it''s called <>." "We have it in the village of Kaina. Uh, was it sunny in the morning when the birds are chirping, Grandma?" "That''s right. Yes, and also that it rains when you hear a distant sound. Hannah explained and Martha added. "What do you mean by the birdsong ......?" Jin thinks about it for a moment. "Brother Jin, on sunny mornings, it gets light earlier, so it could mean that the birds wake up . When it''s cloudy, the birds wake up at different times, Elsa says. "Yes, that may be so. Jin nodded. What about distant sounds? Jin had an idea. "Probably because sound waves are bent." "Oh, refraction!" Hannah shouted as if she understood. "When the air density on the ground is high and the air density above is low, sound waves are bent, right? "That''s right. And when a low-pressure system is approaching, warm air will flow into the sky. "I''m sure that''s true." It''s the same reason why, on winter nights, when the ground surface is cold, we can hear distant sounds better. "Hannah, you''re amazing!" Meane rolls her eyes. "No, I''m not. It''s all book knowledge." Reiko speaks softly to Hanna, who is still modest. "No, Hannah. No matter who you are, no matter how smart you are, knowledge alone is not enough. There must be to use knowledge properly. And Hanna-chan has it." "That tickles, Reiko!" Reiko praised her, and Hanna fidgeted. The gesture was so cute that it made everyone feel relaxed. "Oh, that''s right. Can I open what you gave me?" Hannah said shyly, and everyone nodded. "Uh, this is from your grandma. ...... Oh, a watch!" Hannah''s own pocket watch. It has a mithril silver chain so that she can wear it around her neck. "I''m sorry about last year." Hannah smiles at Jin as she apologizes. No, it''s okay, you''re busy. Besides, you remembered me this year." Next Hannah opens the gift from Elsa. "Oh, a doll!" It was a doll made by Elsa. Of course it is for decoration, but inside it is an air-purifying magical device that removes dust and even sterilizes the doll lightly. "Thank you! "When we sleep, we tend to be vulnerable to disease. It''s also for Martha''s sake. Hannah was glad to hear that. "Oh, it stopped snowing. Elsa muttered as she looked out the window. Everyone looked out the window with her. Against the blue sky that was beginning to peek out, we could see silvery white mountains. "Spring is coming soon, isn''t it? Martha muttered. 1417 - - 39-02 The Great Dream "Wow, thank you, Auntie!" Meane''s gift was a dress for a formal occasion. It was a modest dress, but not too fancy for everyday wear. It is a grade worthy of the term "going out. It is designed for ease of movement and looks good on Hannah. And from Martha, a new pair of shoes. They are made of grape-brown leather and will go well with the outfit from Meene. "They are new products from Eric''s place," said Martha. Eric and Barbara''s store seemed to be doing well enough to launch new products. "I want to be able to make dolls like this. ......" Hannah said. "Shall I teach you?" "Yes!" Hannah jumps at Erza''s words. Even if she can''t use magic, she has a talent for engineering, so there is no better way to learn handmade techniques. This is what Jin himself felt. In other words, how much detailed image of <> you can have. In other words, it is important to have a handmade technique in order to develop this skill. "Oh, then, I would like you to teach them to everyone. Hannah, oblivious to Jin''s intentions, says, "Oh, in that case, I''d like you to teach everyone. In the snowy village of Kaina, outdoor play is limited, so this kind of indoor fun is very welcome. "Speaking of which, how''s the study group going?" Jin, who had recently left the matter to me, opened his mouth. "Well, the kids who have been participating since the beginning have already finished the four arithmetic operations," he said. "I see." I asked him about it, and he said that they had mastered most of the elementary school level arithmetic. "That''s great." However, there is another aspect to the small number of subjects. Japanese (reading and writing), arithmetic, and miscellaneous science. As for social studies, there is simple history and geography. There is no music, arts and crafts, or home economics. No physical education either, since they play around even if left alone. In this sense, the daily study hours for each subject are a little long. "But in general, I feel that the children in Kaina Village are very bright. Elsa, who had also taught the children, added. "So, then, it''s just a matter of human relations ......." "What?" "No, I think the main purpose of school is to teach knowledge and its application, as well as to build human relations before going out into the world." "......I see." However, there is no educational institution in the form of a yet in this world. <> or , and nobles are usually tutors. When an academy is built in , Jin would like to send the children of the village of Kaina to it. (There are unexpected talents buried in the ground, you know...) "Brother Jin?" While he was thinking about it for a while, Erza spoke to him with a doubtful look on her face. Erza could tell from Jin''s face that he was thinking about something, but this time it had been a little too long, so she asked him. "No, I was just thinking about establishing an academy in <>." "Oh, I knew it." I thought so," laughed Erza. "But I think it''s a good idea. "But I think it''s good that you have a dream. A dream of what wonderful things you could do if you could develop the talents that you have. Dreams like that. "Yes. It''s a great dream. But first, one step at a time. Yes, Elsa is right. Aim high and walk steady. If we don''t stop, we''ll get there someday. First, I''ll teach you handiwork at Nido Castle. Handiwork? When Elsa and I are not at ...... we can teach the craftsmen (Smith) woodworking, metalworking, sewing, knitting, etc... "Yeah, that sounds good." The people of Kaina village do not show any aversion to the Golem. Rather, they feel a sense of familiarity with it. This is because they are familiar with Jin''s Golem. "Oh, I want to learn to sew! Martha is rather good at knitting. So Hannah wants to learn from someone who is good at sewing. "Hmm, okay." Erza has learned sewing and knitting from Meane and can teach both. "Hannah-chan is very handy, so I''m sure she''ll get good at it soon. "The rest is design or ......." At the same time, Jin wished someone would tell him about the design. "How about the design, Mr. Stearina? "Oh, I see." Erza must have thought that since she was the creator of the crystal golem, she must have a great sense of design. Jin agrees with her. Thus, the idea for the <> was settled upon. * * * * * * * * * * * That night, at Hannah''s request, Jin and the others stayed the night in the village of Kaina. Hannah sleeps with Meene. Martha teased her, "You''re still a spoiled brat at eleven, aren''t you? Martha teased her. Martha did not mean what she said, as you can see from her smile. "...... quiet." "Yeah." Jin and Elsa stayed on the second floor of Jin''s workshop, which stood directly across from Martha''s house. It is a bit simple to be called a house, and there are only a few household items, so for Jin, this is still a . The cold air hardly comes in through the double-layered white mica windows. Reiko controls the temperature outside the room, so it is about 20 degrees Celsius inside. The temperature is just right for winter clothes. The humidity is 70 percent, which is gentle on the throat. "This village is my second home ......, my home in this world. "I know. We all need ...... a place to come home to." "Yeah, that''s right." Jin speaks in a quiet voice as they huddle together, and Erza responds. "Can I be your brother Jin''s too ......?" "Of course." Jin answered Erza''s question without hesitation. "Wherever I go, my place of return is next to Elsa." After saying these words, Jin felt embarrassed and crawled under the covers. Elsa, who was also blushing, followed him under the covers. "Good night." "Good night." It was a quiet night, with hardly a sound to be heard, probably due to the snow on the ground. 1418 - - 39-03 Drawing The morning of February 9 was clear. It was a special experience to see the silvery white mountains turning into madder red by the morning sun from the window of my room. This is even more so since such mountains are not visible from the vicinity of Loizart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. After rinsing their mouths and washing their faces, the two hurriedly get ready and sit by the window. "Beautiful ....... "Beautiful." For a while, Jin and Erza admired the scenery. "Hey, honey, dinner''s ready! Hearing Hannah''s voice from downstairs, Jin and Erza stopped gazing at the scenery and headed down the stairs to Martha''s house. The mountains had already changed their color to silvery white. After eating a hearty breakfast prepared by Martha, Meane, and Hannah, Jin and Erza bid farewell to the village of Kaina. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now, what shall we prepare? Jin returned to Horai Island and started discussing with Erza. Then, the old man reported to him. "Yes, what is it?" "Hou. ...... Oh, what about the Shoro Kingdom?" < "I see. ......" Jin thought that the wise Empress had decided that it would not be good for the Shoro Empire to make too many achievements. "I understand. Please keep me informed on the progress of the investigation and any other news you may have." . After a short pause, Jin and Erza resumed their discussion. "In my image, it''s a <>. "?" Since that didn''t seem to be enough to get through to Erza, Hitoshi explained further. "I could say it''s a class that teaches people who want to do hobbies in their spare time." "I kind of understand ......." Elsa seems to have understood, so we continue. "The contents of the crafts are diverse, but it''s no use to start with too many, so how about we limit it to two or four and let people go to the ones they like? "Well, I think that''s a good idea, but since it''s the very beginning, I think it would be good to teach them the basics and have them all do the same thing together." In short, it''s time for ," Elsa concluded. "Oh, I see. That''s a good idea." Up until now, the classrooms have been taught in a style, focusing on reading, writing, and arithmetic. Jin agrees with me that it might be a good idea to have an arts and crafts class here. "And this can be a test case when we open a school in <>. "Oh, really. In that sense, it''s worthwhile. "<> or ......" This was Jin''s favorite subject. Drawing pictures, carving prints, kneading clay, making book stands. Remembering the old days, I pick up the contents that are suitable for this world. Elsa, who has inherited Jin''s knowledge, can provide some support. "Drawing is essential for studying design," she says. "Making plates out of clay is also a good idea. "Making chairs would be a good idea, too. Reiko also offered some advice. "For woodworking, I think you should start by assembling the parts. "Drawing should start with sketching. "For clay, I think it would be better to bake the clay properly. Thus, it was decided to start with (drawing), making plates out of clay, and assembling wooden chairs. "We can use saws, carving knives, needle and thread, and scissors at the next stage. "Yes, agreed." And Jin and the others started to prepare. It was a fun time for Elsa, but for Jin it was even more nostalgic and enjoyable. It reminded him of his elementary school days when he did not have to think about anything difficult. "Let''s get some drawing paper, too. He researched , which originated from Mitsuho, and paper similar to < could be made in Horaijima. The base of this paper is , which means that it has the same structure as , so it is very weather resistant. Do you need a pencil? "I want a dark one, like 4B. And an eraser. He can make a pencil out of hardened graphite. This will be used in later on, but Jin thought that he could use it first in the village of Kaina. The development of the eraser was somewhat difficult. The point is that rubbing with the rubber as it is does not produce eraser shavings and damages the paper. "They looked for an additive to make the rubber a little more brittle, but they couldn''t find it, so they used magic." Reiko tells me. "You used <> ......?" "Yes. It was difficult to add or subtract." < "But this kind of use is possible, isn''t it? "Yes, father. Give them credit. "Well, I see... the Ames did a good job. I''ll tell you later in person, old man. I''ll tell them in person later, but tell them the old man also praised me." The next clay is no problem. We make a few unglazed earthenware in the village of Kayna. The glue is the next step. "Yes, I think that''s a good idea." And the wooden chair. "I''ll make a sturdy stool that can also be used as a step stool. The stool will be made of a component and fitted together. The key is that no nails are used. "I hope this slightly different construction method will attract people''s interest. "I think it''s a good idea." The preparations are ready. We''ll call it the "arts and crafts class" instead of the "crafts class. "There''s still time. I''ll talk to the village head and ask him to notify the whole village. We can open it tomorrow at the earliest. He is a bit impatient, but he thinks that this time of year the children are bored and it will not be a problem. He decides to have Golem contact each of the houses. Butler B and C will take care of it. Thus, the was held in the village of Kaina. One miscalculation was that not only the children, but also several interested ladies expressed their participation. 1419 - - 39-04 Nabe-yaki (grilled pot) The at Nido Castle was a great success. With snow on the ground and little farm work to be done, everyone had a lot of free time on their hands. "I didn''t know ...... you''d come this far." Almost all the children. Plus five ladies. There was even Barbara, the mayor''s niece and Eric''s wife. "Well, we don''t have an age limit," she said. Jin wondered if he should be treated like a small child. "We should divide them into two groups. The content will be the same, but the way of teaching will be changed. It''s not so much a change as a change of classroom. So, Barbara and the teachers are moved to the next room. It was Jin''s idea that it would be somewhat awkward for parents and children to be in the same classroom. So, on the first day, Jin was in charge of the children and Elsa was in charge of the adults. "Okay, today we are going to make clay vessels. You can make a plate or a cup. "Yes!" "Yes!" The words of Jin, who was loved by the children, were accepted with open arms. "Then I''ll pass out the clay." The assistant is Reiko. She hands out clay to the children. The clay was chosen to be fine-grained and firm enough for beginners to handle. "Okay, now, put your weight on the table and knead it. "Yes, sir." "Wet your hands with the water from the tub beside you, and blend them in." Yes, sir. Jin has only done pottery a couple of times, so he is saying half of what he has heard from the old man. By the way, the clay used to make pottery must be kneaded well to remove air from the clay, or else the clay will form "soot" or crack easily when it is fired. "If you knead well, the air and particles in the clay will be homogenized and smooth, and it will not crack easily when it dries." "Yes. ......?" The last explanation seemed too difficult for the children. "Oh, and you can make it about 1.3 times as thick and ...... big as you feel like it, or a little bit bigger. The clay gets smaller as it dries." "Okay." Jin walks among the children, who are kneading the clay with all their might, and offers advice. "It''s a little hard to make a big plate. The weight of the clay changes the shape. "Yes." It was a simple advice, but the more dexterous children seemed to realize something and made their own vessels of their own design. (Come to think of it, maybe it''s just an extension of playing with the dirt.) As Jin thought, most of the children in the village of Kaina had made various things with clay as a pastime. Of course, they did not burn them, and they were not practical, but it seemed to be enough for them to learn how to handle clay. * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Elsa is teaching an adult group. Her assistant is Edgar. "Here is the clay. It is roughly kneaded, but please knead it well again. "Yes, sir. I got it." Even though they are adults. Most of them have played with clay in their childhood. They have no problem with their hands. Elsa''s guidance was no problem, and everyone completed a vessel of their favorite design. The children were all able to complete their favorite designs. "All right, let''s dry them off. "Okay, let''s dry them." Jin and Elsa were standing in front of the finished vessels in their respective classrooms. "<>" Engineering magic that dries the object. It does not start from the surface, and the water is evenly dispersed so that there are no cracks. "When you don''t use engineering magic, dry it slowly in the shade. "Yes." "If you try to dry it too quickly, it may crack or worse, break. I understand. Elsa''s work is also progressing smoothly, and both have finished drying. "Then let''s bake them. Jin puts the vessels made by the children and adults into the baking kiln ......, which is a modified bread oven. "<>" This is also a magic tool, so it works with a magic key word (keyword). "Well, this should be ready in a couple of hours or so. Until then, ...... we''re going to have lunch first." "Yay!" The time is about 11:40. It''s a little early for noon, but we decide to have lunch. "Anyone interested in helping me out?" "Yes!" Everyone in the classroom ...... raised their ...... hands, including adults. "Then let''s split up and get ready. Today''s lunch is nabeyaki udon! At this point, Jin realized that he should have shown the earthenware pot for nabeyaki udon before the class. And then..., (Okay, next time we have a pottery class, let''s make an earthenware pot.) (Okay, next time we will have a class to make earthenware pots). First of all, we washed our hands well and started preparing for the class. The group is divided into those who chop green onions, those who chop fish paste, those who boil greens, those who make soup stock, those who make sauce, those who fry tempura (adults), and so on. Jin and Erza proceeded with the preparation of nabeyaki udon, thinking that this was like a home economics class. "All right, let it simmer well before you eat it. "Yes! They prepared a cooking stove for each of us, and an earthenware pot was placed on top of the stove and started to simmer. "I think it''s time. Be careful, it''s hot. Oh, you can eat it in a small bowl. Jin has the bowls prepared for serving. Chopsticks and a bamboo ladle are also provided. The villagers of Kayna have become quite proficient in the use of chopsticks by now. "It tastes good with a sprinkling of kryptona (mitsuba) on top. Jin likes the smell of mitsuba, so he adds it to the hot udon noodle pot. Yuzu and shichimi (seven spice) are also available as condiments. Shichimi consists of <. >,<><> may be added depending on the restaurant. The original shichimi, by the way, was found in Mitsuho by Jin''s agent <>. It was probably named by from Tosa, so it was called in Kansai style (in Kanto and Tokyo area, it is called ). (In the Kanto and Tokyo area, it is often called shichishikarashi.) "Hot, spicy and tasty ......, good when it''s cold!" Barbara was eating them enthusiastically. "Wow, it''s delicious!" "It''s delicious!" "Look, you''re snotty!" The children were also sniffling as they ate. While watching such a smiling scene, Jin, who has a cat''s tongue, also enjoyed his nabeyaki udon at his own pace. 1420 - - 39-05 To the Future Jin''s was a great success, as not only children but also many adults who had free time came to the class. After three days of , all the children of Kaina village (7 to 15 years old), 17 housewives with free time, and all the girls from La Rio village had participated in the class. All of the girls from Lalio village had declared their participation. "I like this kind of thing. Jin had heard about the development of folk crafts such as straw shoes during the off-season snowy winters, and he thought it would be a good idea to do the same in Kaina Village. Since the idea of trying various things was very well received, we decided not to divide the classes into different categories this winter. We only divided the classrooms by children and adults. "I''ll ask the craftsmen (smiths) to be the instructors when I and Elsa are not around." In the village of Kaina, there is no prejudice or aversion toward the golem. In fact, they are very friendly toward them, which makes this kind of thing possible. Jin is happy that he has succeeded in raising the cultural level of the village once again. * * * * * * * * * * * * "So, today we will do sewing. Jin explained that even boys should learn the basics of sewing, since they may need to mend clothes outdoors. Therefore, everyone was listening to the lecture with serious faces. "What I handed out to you is a <, a cloth for practice. The white cloth has a light red line on it, and you are to practice moving the needle along the line. "There are long and short sewing needles, but let''s practice with the long ones first. "Yes." "Put the thimble on your middle finger and place it on the palm of your hand. In the case of short stitches, the thimble is placed between the first and second joints of the middle finger, the so-called . "The first thing to do is to do a "nami" stitch." This is the basis of sewing and should be practiced carefully. At first, some of the children have a hard time getting the stitches to line up. "Look, Lu, your stitches are crooked. "Oh, I shouldn''t ...... have done that!" "Hey, are you okay?" "Yes, yes. ......<" Ruu, adopted by Sally and Giebeck, is a master of healing magic and healed his own stab wound instantly. "Ow! Ow! "Ouch!" "Are you okay?......<" "Oh, thank you!" And then, I also cured the child who had pointed her finger at the needlework she was not accustomed to. In Japanese sewing, the basic technique is to sew with a diagonal stitch. In Western sewing, it is also used for "gushi stitching" and "temporary stitching", so Jin decided to have her practice it carefully. "Well then, let''s try sewing a table cloth. However, Jin thought that the children would get bored with the needlepoint cloth, so he let them try something a little more practical. You can use it as a rag. You can take the rags home. "Yes, sir." The cloth is made of hemp, and the thread is hemp. Cotton from Mitsuho is still rare and expensive. However, Jin has applied engineering magic < to the fabric so that it is as soft and pleasant to the touch as cotton. The day ended with a practice of sewing and making a cloth. It was Jin who felt that arts and crafts and home economics had already been combined. * * * * When Jin was teaching arts and crafts in Kaina village, many countries were sending out survey teams to investigate the former Leonard''s Kingdom. One of them, the Cline Kingdom team. "Hmmm... I wonder if it''s so easy to walk on the path we had to walk so hard before..." said one of the members of the survey team of the former Leonard''s Kingdom. Gloria Allstadt, a female knight of the Kingsguard of Klein, one of the former Leonard''s Corps, muses to herself. The cold sweat still runs down her back when she recalls the incident in which she once prepared to die, but what motivates her even more is her will to become a employee. A glimpse of a wonderful world. If only I could spread it throughout the land. That is Gloria''s will as a knight. And... (I want to see ...... and beyond) That was Gloria''s will as a member of the human race. In addition. (A workplace where I could work with her ...... and everything would be ideal.) There was also a very human and personal motivation. "You can really see the topography from the air." Gloria''s pensive thoughts were broken by the voice. "Pascoe." Pascoe Rush, third son of Baron Rush. Recently knighted, he has been promoted from apprentice to member of the search party. "<> or ....... <> who can build such a thing. I am ashamed of how foolish I was in the past. It may have been a mere mutter, not directed at Gloria. But Gloria, as the leader of this research team, was listening to his monologue. "That''s all right. We all change. If we change for the better, that''s a blessing. The past is the past. Live in the present and build a better future. Yes, sir. Pascoe has changed. Gloria feels that, although they have only known each other for a short time, he has lost his former arrogance and gained a sense of humility. She is confident that she can count on him for the next leg of her journey into the unknown. "This is a place where the Kingdom of Egelea and our research team have met before, having traveled southward and northward by different routes. In other words, it is a known place. But what awaits us beyond this point is unknown. We don''t know what lies ahead. You''ll do me a favor. Yes, sir! The survey team is led by Gloria. There are eight members in total, including Pascoe. Two of them are female knights. Including Gloria, there are three female knights. Two of them are healers. Pascoe had befriended one of them, Tiffany Baldacci. "We''re about to land. Take your seats." Gloria instructed, and those who had been looking out the window took their seats and fastened their simple seatbelts. The pilot maneuvered the airship with a familiar hand and landed it on the ground. There was a small open space. It was once called the Botsuffa site. "The containers found here gave us a hard time. ......" I still dream about that time. But Gloria has the strength of mind not to be traumatized. "We''ll camp here today." We set up a tent and find a place to sleep. "Captain, are you sure there is no danger? Pascoe asked with a slightly worried look on his face. "No?There are only rock wolves and saber boars at best. There are no magical beasts. "I see..." Pascoe Rush, who has little experience in actual combat, was a little reluctant to hear that. Seeing this, Gloria tried to cheer him up a little, "We have detection wards, so you won''t be caught off guard. Relax." She says to him, "Relax. "Yes, yes." Pascoe Rush, still uneasy, goes on patrol with a slightly pale face. 1421 - - 39-06 The investigation team is... A survey team from the Kingdom of Egelea was encamped at the Soldrake Ruins, further east of the Botsuffa Ruins. The captain of the team was Paule Raid. They were almost overrun by Giant Ants that appeared from the depths of the earth because they had carried away the golem that had once protected the ruins. "That time was terrible. I still have the hairs on my back when I think back on it. < to block the entrance and exit, but you never know when they might come out. However, since no one has come out since then, I think there is little need to worry about it. The survey team this time was also meant to confirm that there is no such danger. < appeared. However, it seems that their fears were unfounded, as no nests of any kind were found in the ground, no matter how many times the earth magic users investigated. * * * * In Horai Island, the old man was observing such a research team with a <>. <> have been exterminated since then. When Jin checked the ruins, he found that the markers had been left behind and that blocking the entrances and exits would not interfere with the search, and as a result, the hundreds of eggs that had been left behind were all destroyed. We were also able to stock a large amount of formic acid secreted by <<<< giant ants (Gigantes)>> and analysis is progressing. The acid is so strong that it can even damage the skin of Reiko, who was using the wing membrane of a sea dragon at the time. Saki and the old man worked together to analyze it, and the secret was revealed to be the magical effect of <>. In short, it is a liquid with a <> effect. The fact that such a thing can be biosynthesized is probably the reason why < is a monster. It is now possible to synthesize and produce something of equal or greater value. At such a time. "Old man, I''ve almost finished analyzing the <>. Saki wandered in from the laboratory. < "I''m glad to hear you say so, but more than half of the credit goes to you, right? Saki is now a top-notch alchemist. She is now a top-notch alchemist, especially in the field of material analysis. "Oh, you''re a member of the research team?" "What about the Kingdom of Franz?" "They are not going to send a survey team because the country is not stable yet. "I see. < << is heading there herself. "Oh. That''s interesting. I''ll have to talk to Jin and Erza. < "That''s very good of you, old man." < Just as he said, Jin and Erza came from the village of Kaina. Reiko is with them, of course. "I heard that the Nostalgia Party has started to investigate the old Leonard''s Kingdom? < In the magic screen, an airship of <>''s own style was shown. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "There is the old capital, Diaa. Elena, the golden princess, opened her mouth. "It seems so. But it''s beautifully covered with grass. I wonder how long it has been there. Donald Callow, the number two of the Nostalgia party, chimed in. He is an excellent magecraftsman. "The former capital Diaa is located quite south of the former Leonard''s Kingdom, and it seems that there are many plants and trees that do not die even in winter. Therefore, it is likely that the area has been covered with more vegetation than we imagined." "I see." Donald nodded at Elena''s theory. "Where would you like to land?" the pilot of the airship asked. The sea of grass below seemed to offer no place to land. "Yes, there is. There seems to be a river running a little to the south, and there seems to be a riverbed. That''s where we should go. "Yes, sir." The nostalgia airship slowly headed south. There was a large riverbed. There was some grass, but not so much that it was impossible to land. "Let''s go there. There was a flat area the size of a baseball field away from the river. The airship made by Nostalgia landed slowly. "Any sign of evil?" "No response." Nostalgia has a magical device that reacts to magic and can be detected within a radius of about 500 meters. It can only be used as a warning since it does not know the direction or strength, but it is still useful. It is useful when camping. So we''ll camp here. We''ll do the survey tomorrow." "Okay." Elena is accompanied by only one pilot and one guard, in addition to Donald. The soldiers prepared the camp. The small number of people and the large number of useful magical tools made it easy for them. Because of the small number of people accompanying them, they had plenty of food on board, so they were able to have a decent meal. Donald, the pilot, and the accompanying soldiers were able to sleep soundly. The presence of the magic tool and Elena made it safe to be on the lookout for wild beasts. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, as soon as it was light, they set out to survey the ruins. "This is ......" "This is a wonderful technology. Elena and Donald are conducting the survey. The guards are standing guard around the site. "Wow, this is an interesting architectural style. "Indeed, there is a lot of ancient technology here..." Their voices were lively. * * * * * * You have good instincts, don''t you?) The old man said to himself, without saying it out loud. Right now Jin, Erza, and Saki are doing what they have to do, and the old man is the only one who is observing the survey team. The past investigations by the Horai-jima team have eliminated most of the major dangers. However, the ruins are still there, so the people of this world can find and analyze them. No, in fact, I thought it would be better to have them do so. If it is not something dangerous like the relics of the Magic War, I would welcome it. The Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Egelea, and the Nostalgia. The three research teams were achieving results in their respective places. * * * * * The time goes back to the previous day. Jin and Erza were discussing with Saki. "It seems that this is loosely but firmly bound together by the free magical element (ether) it contains, just as we thought. Saki explains. "Therefore, the melting point is only 5 degrees Celsius higher than that of ordinary mercury, but the boiling point is more than 250 degrees Celsius higher. This is something else, isn''t it?" "I see. ......" "There''s more. The reactivity is unusually low. I''m surprised it doesn''t form compounds like dimethylmercury." "Wow." These compounds and their effects on the human body were revealed not through Jin''s knowledge, but through the scientific books brought into the world by Shuki Tsetsi. "Most of its physical properties are the same as those of mercury. Mass, expansion rate, viscosity, and so on. "It''s curious that the expansion rate remains the same even though the boiling point has increased." "Yes. Is it mercury atoms or molecules trying to become gas?Molecule?Maybe the free magic element (ether) is holding the mercury atom or molecule that''s trying to become gas together. "Well, the physical properties of free magic element (ether) are still a mystery. ...... "If ......, is it possible to replace the contents of a mercury thermometer?" Saki smiled at Erza''s question. "Hmph, I expected that question. The answer is . This is good news. If we can replace it with a substance that is a little less dangerous and toxic, we will welcome it. Jin immediately instructed his craftsman (Smith). Within a few days, all the mercury in use would be replaced with witch-hard mercury. Mercury is only used in mercury thermometers. "Then there''s the possibility of using it to power a fluid-form drive. Jin seems to be more interested in this. "It''s just too heavy." Mercury has a specific gravity of about 13.6 at 0 degrees Celsius, making it lighter than adamantite but heavier than iron or copper. We need to find out the relationship between quantity and power. "Brother Jin, you should also thoroughly study its toxicity." Jin nodded at Erza''s advice. "I agree. I don''t want to do the experiment by myself. Thank you, Elsa. "Hmm... so..." "You two get along so well." Saki teases the worried couple. 1422 - - 39-07 Cleaning up the rest of the business? "Well, that''s enough about <>." Hitoshi resumed. "It''s rare that I don''t have any urgent problems right now. So I''m going to take care of a lot of issues that I''ve been putting off." "That''s good, but what about?" Saki had been busy with Saki, so what Jin said did not seem to fit. "Oh, I''m sorry. It''s more my problem, isn''t it?" Jin scratched his head. "For example, about John Dinny who is still at Mitsuho." "Oh." "Or analyzing the processed debris from the long-period planet." "Indeed." "The Kingdom of Celuloa hasn''t said anything about it, but what''s going to happen to the monorail?" Jin said a few things that came to mind. "I don''t want to leave things half done so we can move on." "Hmm, okay." "That''s just like Jin." Father, let me help you. John Dinny first. Jin talks to the old man. "Can we get him to leave Mitsuho for a while, under the guise of going home?" <> Yes, please do so. < "Yes, that will be fine." With official diplomatic relations with the Shoro Empire and the presence of Jin, we will not have to worry about a shortage of magecraftsmen for the time being. Thus, the automaton <> disappears from Mitsuho a few days later. * * * * * * * * * * * "The next thing I want to do is to change the name of the <>." "Indeed, the name ''demon tribe'' sounds bad." "I agree." Elsa and Saki agreed with me. "I think impressions are important. The name "Demon Tribe" is a name given by the people of the Laurentian Continent, apparently. They do not call themselves that. "The northern clans ...... are not good?" "Then, the Northerners?" "Then, the Northerners?" "Yes, that''s exactly what it sounds like. But you''re right, aren''t you? "Oh, I see." Jin noticed something. "<> might be good, but we don''t have <>." "Oh, I see." "I see." They''re a tribe that lives in the north, so we can call them the Northerners. < We don''t get to decide the name of the country, do we? Naturally. We should go to the Demon Territory ...... soon to discuss this. We should also check on the monorail and see if there are any debris from the long-period planet. Should we go to the Kingdom of Selroa? "Yes, let''s do that." Then Saki said, "Then I''ll analyze the debris. I''ll go with you. Will you do that? "Yes, I''ll leave it to you." Jin and Erza went to the Kingdom of Celuloa. Saki is to analyze the debris of respectively. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Jin, aren''t you a little impatient these days? "Impatient?Me? Elsa asked as the headed for the Kingdom of Cerroa. "Hmm. Somehow, I feel like I''m trying to get this and that done..." Jin reflected on his own behavior. "I guess so. ......, but I think so." Seeing Jin''s slightly sad profile, Erza became a little worried. "What?" "Every time I go to the village of Kaina, I remember my origin." "My origin. ......" "Yeah. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had stayed in the village of Kaina and been a villager. "...... I don''t like that. Then I wouldn''t have met my brother Jin." Erza clutched at Jin''s arm without knowing it. "I know." Jin hugged Erza''s shoulder. "I could have met Erza because I had looked around the world. I know I got to know Reinhardt, Beena, Marcia, Saki ...... and everyone else. But," Jin continued. "There''s a part of me that wishes I could just relax and live in the village of Kaina. That''s what everyone thinks. People who work in companies yearn to live in the countryside. Workers yearn to be self-employed. People who live an unchanging life yearn for a life of upheaval. I guess it''s called "the grass is greener on the other side" or "the persimmon next door is red." When you look through the filter of longing, desire, and wanting, you see a better version of yourself than you do now. "It seems that even though we know this, human beings can''t help but yearn for things." Jin said, and Elsa''s arms tightened around him. "I don''t want to ...... let you go. I won''t let go." Jin was about to say something to her when she spoke up. "Father, Erza-sama, we will soon be over Essiaia, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa!" Reiko''s voice called out. "I see." Jin answered with some dismay, and Erza pulled her body away from him. Below them, they could see the walls of the city, which are made up of many layers of fortifications. They are the iron wall that protects Esire. (But from now on ......) With airships, there is a way to attack from the sky. And the walls cannot protect them. Ten hot-air balloons appear before Jin''s eyes. They are the "sky defenders" of the Kingdom of Celuloa. The crew members see the family crest on , <>, and Jin and Erza through the cabin, then salute and move away. Only one plane remained, beckoning to the others to lead the way. "Edgar, please follow that hot air balloon. "Yes, sir." Jin instructed Edgar, the pilot, to follow the hot air balloon. The hot air balloon, which was traveling at a different speed by orders of magnitude, followed closely behind. Edgar''s extraordinary skill is evident. "Oh, that''s..." The track of the monorail caught Jin''s eye. "They must have extended it a bit." Not only the monorail that Jin had built before, but also the so-called that goes around the center of Esia. "I knew that the Kingdom of Celuloa has a high level of technology." The technical capability to create something equivalent to this, if there is an example to follow. It is now being used for the benefit of the world. Jin was pleased. And then, lands on the airfield. The king, Cesar himself, was there to greet them. "Welcome, <>." 1423 - - 39-08 仁の眼力 Jin and Elsa received a warm welcome from King Cesar of Celuloa. "< Cesar was standing at the head of the Kingsguard. "We have met before at the World Congress, but it is nice to see you here." is moored at the airfield and is managed by Edgar. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko are on their way to the castle in the same uncovered carriage as Cesar. A monorail track comes into view in front of Jin and the others. "The monorail that was developed by Jin-dono has now come to the point where it can travel around the royal city as a . "Yes, it''s amazing." Jin praised the Kingdom of Celuloa for its national power. "At this rate, I hope to extend the orbit little by little, but only if the world is at peace. A trajectory that extends outward can also be a path in from the outside. "Yes, that''s right." We want to keep the peace that we have, not only for a short time, but for as long as possible. I agree. With this conversation, the carriage entered the royal castle. The carriage entered the royal castle. Cesar''s office in the castle. "Welcome once again, <>. And your wife. "Your Majesty, how do you do?" Jin utters the standard phrase that Elsa taught him, "Oh, please act normal now, Jin-dono." Cesar returned to a frank tone. "Yes." "Today is a happy day. ...... it was yesterday, to be precise, that the warp gate, as you know, has finally been put to some practical use!" "Well, congratulations." Cesar nodded in satisfaction. "Well, I said at the time that we didn''t need to ask for help from other countries, including Jin-dono, but we''ve managed to get here. Would you like to take a look?" Are you sure? "Of course. I was embarrassed to show something so unfinished to the , but at this level, I don''t think I will be embarrassed at first. Cesar left the office with Jin, Elsa, and Reiko, along with the two Kingsguard guards. Thus, Hitoshi, Elsa, and Reiko were led by Cesar to the in the royal castle. The place, labeled <>, is located in the courtyard of the castle, and is about the size of a small elementary school. Two guards were standing there, but when they saw King Cesar, they straightened their posture and let the group through. "Now, may I?" Cesar called out to them, and a thin, mature man came out of the room. "Of course, Your Majesty, of course. ...... who are you?" "<>, Jin Nido, his wife Elsa, and his valet Reiko. The man jumped for joy when he heard Jin''s name. "My name is Jin Nido, I beg your pardon. I am Tobias Bellows Zeta. I am Tobias Bellows Zeta, director of the Third Institute. Jin Nido. Jin and Tobias shook each other''s hands. "So, Your Majesty, you''re with Jin Nido, is that a tour?" "Yes. Can I come? "Of course!Please take a look! Tobias invited the group into the laboratory. "Take a look!" "Oh, wow!" In a large room half the size of a gymnasium, two warp gates were standing. Each of the two warp gates is an eight-meter cube. With six hours of free ether filling, it can send an object weighing approximately one ton to a distance of 500 kilometers. "Wow, that''s great." Tobias was beaming with delight at this compliment from King Cesar. "Yes. Four times more efficient. The range is 2.5 times greater. We can finally show it to His Majesty!" "......" Jin looked at the warp gate with quiet eyes. "Jin-dono, what do you think?" Jin is startled by the voice. "Yes, I think it''s a big deal. This will revolutionize the movement of people within the continent. Tobias'' face flushed with joy at these words from Jin. "I am honored! Although he was not allowed to see the inside of the building because it was a top secret, Jin had a rough idea of what it looked like. (The convergence and synchronization of the magic waves that connect the two units must be too lax ......, so it would eat up extra energy.) In the previous system, the two units are connected by a very thin thread ...... but very strong, say, hyperadamantite wire. In contrast, the method in front of us is like a paper string that is about to break, and tens of thousands of them are bundled together to make it stronger. Therefore, the connection distance cannot be extended, and the amount of free magic element (ether) consumed is an order of magnitude higher. But you should be commended for your ability to reproduce this much in just a few months. (But you should be commended for your ability to reproduce such a large amount of data in a few months.) Jin praised Tobias in his heart, saying that there were many things to appreciate. Jin himself had inherited this knowledge from his predecessor and had not developed it by himself. Thus, Jin sometimes reflected on himself. "I would like to have your opinion, Jin-dono, but that would be going against the policy of the country, so I will give up the idea. Jin thought that the fact that he could say such a line in front of the king was a proof that this country was being managed in a sound manner. At least, it was a scene that had never been thought of during the reign of King Richard. "You may consult with me about the other one. King Cesar told Tobias with a laugh. "Oh!Yes, of course. Jin-sama, please take a look at this. Tobias led the group to another room. There sat a golem that appeared to be a new model. No, Jin intuitively sensed that it was not a golem. It was generally slender and flat. "Is it the backbone of an automaton ......?" Tobias was startled by these words. "Oh!That''s my master Jin!You are the Magecraft Meister!" As Jin had expected, this was the core of automata. The core of an ordinary automata is covered with skin to make it look human a human being. However, when touched as it is, the core of the body under the skin touches the skin, making it feel rough to the touch. High-end models are covered with cushioning material, but they still do not look as human as human beings. Reiko''s construction is very rare. "There was a man named Donald who used to work for our country, and he proposed an golem. But no one listened." "I see." "Now I see how advanced what he was advocating was." Tobias''s face looked disappointed as he said this. 1424 - - 39-09 Hitoshis lecture "Automata are considered to be more of a , you know. Tobias said in a disappointed tone. "That may be so." If human-like appearance is not required, then a golem will suffice. With the same performance, it is no wonder that the golem, which costs less by comparison, is in greater demand. "So, what do you want to talk to me about?" Tobias stares at Reiko as Jin returns to the conversation, "I can tell from Miss Reiko''s honorary rank as an attendant that you have an extraordinary love for automata, Jin-dono. I would like to ask you to teach us the tricks of automata making, even if it is only one-tenth, or even one-hundredth, of your love for automata. He bowed. "Jin-dono, I would like to ask you to do the same. Of course, I''m thinking about the reward. Please, will you help me with this?" Tobias'' words and manner showed his enthusiasm, so Jin agreed to this offer with a condition. "Well, I can''t stay here for a long period of time, so if you could just give me some tips..." "Of course!I know you are busy with many things, Jin-dono. Even if it''s just for one day, that''s fine. Jin could not refuse the offer if he was told that much. "Yes, I understand. "Yes, all right. "Oh, thank you!" Thus, Jin became an instructor for a day, teaching Tobias and the others. * * * * * Hearing that Jin was going to give a lecture, people from other laboratories came to attend his lecture, and in the end, 51 people attended his lecture. Since it was the first time for Jin to give a lecture to that many people and the time was limited, he wondered what to say and how to say it, and decided to give it as an in-house presentation. "Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Jin Nido. Jin Nido took the podium and opened his mouth a little nervously. Most of the audience knew Jin Nido''s face, and no one showed any signs of underestimating him because he was young. "Today I would like to talk about tips for making automata. There was a low voice and a gasp. "First of all, let me tell you something. The goal of my automata is not to make them <>, but to make them <>. On top of that, I am aiming to ." The audience nods in agreement as they see Reiko standing next to Jin as his assistant. "Now, let me explain a few tips on how to achieve this. At these words, everyone leaned forward. "First and foremost, appearance. This needs no explanation. But I have a word of advice. Perfect symmetry is too perfect, and it detracts from our humanity. The human face is not as symmetrical as you might think. Too much symmetry feels unnatural, Jin explained. "Next is movement. There is ambiguity in human movement. Golem...... advanced golem does not have it. If there is, it is slight. It is also far from human-like. About a third of the group tilted their heads at this explanation. "This may be difficult to understand, so let me show you an example. Reiko, please. "Yes, father." Reiko stepped forward to the podium. "First of all, you need to walk like a human being. Jin said, and Reiko walked from right to left on the stage. It is the walk of a human being. "Next, I will show you how to walk like a golem. This time, Reiko walked from left to right on the stage. It was a beautiful movement, but it seemed mechanical and cold. "What do you think? In a word, as I said before, there is a < in human actions. In other words, it is and ." I cut him off and looked at the reaction of the audience, all of whom seemed to be itching to hear what he had to say. Jin''s words seem to have been understood. "<> means, for example, when you raise your hand horizontally, you raise it a little too high and then bring it back down. In other words, <>. This is not always the case, but it is something that is not seen in the average golem. Jin felt a response as many nodded their heads in agreement with this explanation. "<> is the same thing. In short, it is the reproducibility of repeated actions. If you repeat the same action 10 times, the golem will be exactly the same all 10 times, while humans will inevitably show some differences. There was an inaudible sigh from the audience. "This kind of ambiguity is essential for creating a sense of ." Jin looked around the audience, "Are there any questions so far? Jin asked. He was really picking up the pace. "One question, if I may." A young female technician raised her hand. "Yes, please." "Yes. "Yes. ......, um, I was wondering if you could tell me how to create that ." Jin thought for a moment about how to answer. "Well, yes. There are many ways to do it, and it would be a technician''s pleasure to create his own . When Jin answered, the female engineer blushed a little and looked down. "Yes, ......, you are right. However, we will be discussing these issues later in the lecture." These words were heard not only by the female engineer but also by most of the audience. "If you want to look like a human being, you have to know a human being. Jin began to explain, remembering his predecessors and his father, Shuki Tsezi and his wife, Adriana Tiara. "The purpose of this project is to know the structure of the human body and to create an automata with a structure similar to that of the human body. To be more specific, the number of joints, the range of motion, and so on. He explains that the doll should not have joints that humans do not have, or that the joints should not be bent in a way that humans cannot. Everyone listens attentively. "You might want to ask a healer about the structure of the human body. When making something better, combining techniques from different fields can sometimes produce something unexpected. At this point Jin decided to begin an explanation that would give a hint to the previous question. "Now, let''s think about such as a golem. Let''s start with the most elementary golem, the <. Recall how it is made to move ...... its basic <> motion." All but a few seem to have that level of experience, and most remain staring at Jin. "Let me explain the most basic part of the Magick Formula. It is a formula for swinging the legs out, and the angle of swing should be a variable. Those who have made it before nodded their heads. "This variable determines the stride length, but what if the value of the variable is not constant? Everyone thought in their hearts that . "Even if it is not constant, if it fluctuates between 29 and 31 compared to 30, we should be able to correct it in the next step. At this point, the sensible person knew exactly what to expect. "Yes, to include these small variations. That is the first step toward . However, if you always fluctuate the same amount, ...... regular fluctuations will no longer be fluctuations at all." Back when personal computers were still called microcomputers and ran on the BASIC language. There was a function called random function. It was a function that generated pseudo-random numbers, and by using time as an input, it was made to be closer to real random numbers. Using a similar technique, Jin suggested a way to create <. "This is just an example. I think the way to be original is to try it out in your own way." * * * * Jin then continued his explanation, and by the end of his talk, he said "Automata is not a hobby. In human society, they are not meant to replace human beings, but to create a life together with human beings. I believe that this is what automata are. Thank you very much for your attention. He then bowed. The audience gave a thunderous applause. "Thank you, Jin-dono." King Cesar of the Kingdom of Celuloa shook hands with Jin as he came down from the stage. 1425 - - 39-10 Consultation on reform Cesar, King of Cerroa, thanked Jin for his lecture and presented him with 10 kilograms of mithril silver. The market value of the gift was 50 million dollars. Upon receiving the gift, Jin had a flash of inspiration. Since he was planning to stay overnight in the Kingdom of Selroa that day, he returned to the guest room he had been given and began consulting with Elsa and Reiko. "I just noticed that magic materials are very expensive, aren''t they? "Well, as I recall, mithril silver is 4 to 5 million tolls per kilo, adamantite is around 10 million tolls, and mithril silver is around 10 million tolls per kilo. Adamantite is about 10 million tolls, and light silver is ...... "That''s about 3 million tolls per kilo." Reiko added. "Yes. I heard that regular silver is about 50,000 tolls per kilo, so it''s 100 times more expensive. I think this is because it is difficult to refine rather than because of the scarcity of magical materials." The reserves are not 100 times greater. However, the materials that have become <> are difficult to separate from the ore. Therefore, they cannot be refined without the use of magic, which makes them expensive. "Considering the future, I think we should think about cost reduction. "Yes, I understand. "But if we cut costs all at once, it will probably confuse distributors, won''t it? "...... sure." Father, why don''t you leave that to the politicians? Reiko has a point. Jin is an engineer, and it would be better to leave the operation of the system to the experts. "The best is the one who makes the best, right?" Jin decided to follow the advice and leave the further work for tomorrow. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, the 14th, Jin, Erza, and Reiko left the Kingdom of Celuloa with their hair pulled back by the pleas of King Cesar and many other magecraftsmen to stay longer. "Shall we continue on to Reinhardt''s?" After the diplomacy the other day, he should have returned to his estate the day before yesterday. "Hmm. I''d like to see Bertsche and Yuri, too. "Yes. After reaching an agreement, <> went to the Shoro Kingdom. They skip over Lake Tosmo and head for the village of Kaltz in Reinhardt''s territory. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Welcome, Jin, Erza! Welcome, Jin-sama, Erza-san. "Hello, Bertsche. Thank you for the other day, Reinhard. "Hello, Berthe. ...... Yuri, you''ve grown up." She is now sitting on her head and even crawling. They exchanged brief greetings and soon started talking. They were concerned about Reinhardt''s busy schedule. "Actually, ......" Jin told them about his hope to increase the distribution of magical metal materials and lower their prices. Reinhardt reacted immediately. "I understand what Jin is saying. If we are going to do this all at once, we should first transfer it to the national government. "You mean monopoly?" "That''s one way. For the time being, the national government should stockpile the materials and release them while gradually reforming the distribution system. "I see." As expected of Reinhardt, he seemed to have come up with a strategy in an instant. "I''m sure there are other ways. Anyway, it would be bad for the distributors to suddenly lose their business. We must avoid mass unemployment, Reinhardt reiterated. "I understand. Employment is important. "Yes. It''s not up to Jin, but to the government to think about it. "I see. That''s very helpful. Thank you. Jin thanked Reinhardt. "By the way, as far as I know..." "What?" "Mithril silver is only about one-fifth the size of regular silver. On the other hand, light silver can be mined in fairly large quantities, but it''s very difficult to refine. As a lord, Reinhardt seems to have accumulated this kind of knowledge. is the old name for aluminum on earth, but on this world it is titanium. Titanium exists as an oxide such as <>, and if the oxygen bonded to titanium is removed, it becomes titanium (light silver), but this is very difficult to do. Even on the modern earth, the direct reduction is not carried out, but a two-step refining process is used, though the details are omitted. However, there is magic in this world, and it is possible to refine the metal titanium by means of a powerful <>. However, the number of mages who can use this engineering magic is limited, which is the reason for the small amount in circulation (and also the reason for the high price). "Would it be possible to create a refining device that uses <>?" "That would be the way to go. Djinn would be easy to make, but be careful how you operate it, okay?" I know. Thank you." It is not Jin''s intention to make more people unemployed. "I''ll ask Saki a few questions, and then I''ll go see His Majesty." * * * * After returning to Horai Island through the warp gate of , Jin and Erza visited Saki who was analyzing the debris of the long period planet Moderne. "Oh Jin, Erza. What are you two doing here today? "Oh, actually ......" Jin explains that he is thinking of various ways to reduce the unit cost of metal materials. "Yeah, yeah, that''s a good idea!Jin has more materials than he can use here in Hourai Island, so he may not realize it, but the lower price of materials is something that researchers can''t wish for." Saki agreed with me with open arms. "Distribution is one thing, but from an alchemical point of view, I''m glad that the unit price of mithril silver is going down." Saki also expressed her own opinion. As for Jin, since it is necessary for making Magi alloys, he intends to proceed with this as well. "Well then, let''s try to lower the unit price of mithril silver and light silver." I will not mention gold and silver. In a world on the gold standard, a decline in the value of gold would mean the ruin of the economy. "I hope things will change little by little, but I''m not even a novice in economics." Jin himself was well aware that he was not a leader of the economy. Anyway, the direction of the project was decided, and Jin immediately set to work on the production. * * * * * * * * * * * "Brother Jin, how is your progress? Erza came to the workshop. "Yes, it is almost finished. All we have to do now is to put the ore in and test it. "Well then, I''m ready for dinner. He looked at his watch and saw that it was already twelve o''clock. "Oh, it''s that time already. Then we''ll have the test in the afternoon." "Father, would you like me to do the test?" Reiko offered, but Jin stopped her. "No, I''ll do it after lunch. There is no need to rush. "Yes, I understand." With that, Jin left the workshop with Elsa and Reiko. 1426 - - 39-11 Refining Reform On February 15, Jin, Erza, and Reinhard were at the advanced workshop in the Imperial Palace of Shoro. They were there to report to the queen on the completion of the . She was accompanied only by her knights Reiko and Edgar. Reiko is carrying the prototype, and Edgar is carrying the ore for testing. The advanced workshop with them is the most important research workshop in Miyagi, and is usually closed. It is used for special events such as this. "Jin, Erza, Reinhard, welcome!" "Jin-dono, I''ve heard a little bit about this. Is this the magic tool of refining?" In attendance are Shoro Chancellor Jung Forss von K?bsler and.., "If this is mass-produced, it will be a great thing. Degauz Furt von Manischlas, Minister of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire. "This is a prototype, so it is small, but if we make a bigger one, the production volume will go up. The prototype is a 60-centimeter square cube, large enough to fit on a workbench. The upper surface was mostly ore, with an outlet for the refined metal at the bottom of the front side, and an outlet for the non-metallic components on the opposite side. "Ummm, would you let me try it out?" "Yes, of course. Edgar, please. Yes, Master Jin. He takes out the ore he has prepared with that intention. "You don''t have to break it up into small pieces, just large enough to fit in this slot. This time, he prepared an ore the size of his fist. This is an ore containing light silver. Now let''s put it in. He puts the ore into the slot. "One is too little, so I''ll put it in ......." Jin puts 10 ores in total, "I''m going to activate it." He presses the push-button. < is so that non-mages can use them. Then the magic tool starts to move. ....... A minute later, a piece of light silver about half the size of a fist was refined and produced. "Oh!" From the other side, 10 pieces of are ejected. "Only the light silver has been extracted from the ore and smelted. "Amazing!" The ore used is very similar to what is called on Earth. The main component is FeTiO3, a mineral composed of oxides of iron and light silver. The light silver content is about 10 percent by weight. It is the most common ore of light silver in the world. On Earth, ilmenite is collected in the form of sand, but on this world it is obtained as a ragged block of rock. The Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, Degauze, was looking at the refined light silver with a keen eye, "It is of excellent purity," he said with a small sigh. he said with a small sigh. After these amazements had subsided a little. "So, what do you want to do with it, Jin? the Empress asked Jin. "Yes, Reinhardt has advised me that if we put it on the market, the price of the material will plummet and the economy will be in turmoil. ......" "Hmm, that is true." The Prime Minister nodded in admiration. "So I have come to the conclusion that it would be better to leave the matter to the government. "I see." The queen nodded. "So, is it possible to make this for other metals?" "Yes, it is possible. I am thinking of making one for mithril silver and adamantite. "Hmm, magic materials. It might be a good idea. It would be better to sell them exclusively in the country in the beginning. "Yes, that''s right. Then we can lower the price little by little. Yes, we also need to give priority to the public development sector to get cheaper materials. "I don''t think it will have much effect on the unit price of mining." The heavyweights immediately begin discussing the issue. Just as they are about to begin, they stop talking. "Let''s discuss this in the conference room. I agree. "I agree." "No objections." Then they turn to Jin and the others. "Jin-dono, thank you for this wonderful development. Leave the operation to us. "I hope that in time, the nations will also benefit." The Prime Minister, the Minister of Magical Technology, and the Empress were respectively the Prime Minister, the Minister of Magical Technology, and the Empress. Jin did not want this technology to be monopolized by only one country, so he was relieved to hear the words of the female emperor. "Then I will leave it to you. "Yes. I will let you know the prize later. With a bow, Jin, Erza, Reinhard, Reiko, and Edgar left the advanced workshop. Jin, Erza, Reinhard, Reiko, and Edgar left the advanced workshop. "Jin, it looks like it''s going to work out." Reinhardt said to Jin on the way back from Miyagi by . "Ah, I guess Reinhardt was right, it''s a good thing we talked to Her Majesty the Emperor." "Yes. I didn''t even think about the ...... miners. You''re really great!" "That''s for sure." The price of ore varies a little with rarity and ease of mining, but that''s about it. Gold and silver are expensive because of their rarity, while iron and copper are cheap. The unit price of light silver ore, < (= ilmenite), is lower than that of iron. This is because light silver ore is brittle and crumbles easily, making it easy to mine. This is why light silver becomes expensive at the refining stage. "So if the price of light silver falls and demand increases, the demand for light silver ore will also increase, and as a result, mines and miners will be enriched." Reinhard explained a little happily. "I see......... I guess lowering the unit price of materials has a lot of effects on the surroundings." "That''s the way it is." While they were talking, arrived at the village of Kurtz in Reinhardt''s territory. "Well then, Jin, Erza, see you later." "Yes, see you later." "Take care, brother Rai." The ship carrying Jin and the others soared into the sky again. "Well, let''s head back to Horai Island. I''m sure the old man is tracking what the survey team from the old Leonard Kingdom is doing there. "Interesting." Erza agrees, so <> speeds up and heads for Horai Island. 1427 - - 39-12 Dodora Ruins On February 17, a survey team of the Nostalgia Party started to investigate the ruins of Dodola on the eastern coast. This is a site that the "Mere Old Man" has not yet investigated in detail. "I wonder what we can find here. Donald said to the happy Elena as if to interrupt her. "Well, in my experience, ruins near the sea are not very interesting. "Oh, really?" "Oh, is that so? Except for a few exceptions, the lack of mineral resources makes it difficult for industry to develop. "Is that so?" Elena is skeptical. "Let''s check it out anyway." They are called ruins, but in essence they are the remains of an old city. They are called ruins because they have been weathered over the years and no longer look like cities, but they vary in size. The former Kingdom of Leonard was destroyed by about 240 years ago. In those 240 years, most of the cities, towns, and villages have been returned to the earth. "One of the reasons is the building materials." Elena looked at the remaining buildings and spoke to Donald as if to confirm her suspicions. "Yes, that''s right." Donald replied, touching the wall of the remaining building. "It is made of stone, but it is quite soft. I think the Potrocks of the Kingdom of Elias used a lot of similar stone." "Yes, that''s right." Oyaishi, a pumice tuff. It is easy to process, insulates well, and is fire resistant, but it is also brittle and easily weathered. Elena and the others have concluded that this is the reason why few buildings have survived, although there may be other factors as well. "The last time we were in Diaa was amazing, wasn''t it?" Elena muttered as we continued our investigation. Diaa is the former capital, so its scale cannot be compared to that of Dodola. "It must be because of the sea winds and the rain..." Donald muttered back. Oya stone absorbs water easily and seems to deteriorate when it rains a lot. Most of the buildings have crumbled beyond recognition and are covered with bushes and vines. Among them, there were a few buildings that had retained most of their original shape. "This is the wrong building material. ......" Donald touched the stones, which were obviously of different hardness, to make sure. "Maybe it was built in a different period." Elena also speculated. "If so, we might be able to get something out of it. Elena took the initiative to enter the building. There were no doors, probably long since decayed, and the windows were just holes. In other words, trash, dust, and other things were blowing in, and even bushes were starting to grow, let alone grass. "This place is as old as the rest, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is." "But the buildings haven''t been weathered. Why is that?Because it''s made of different materials. What''s the reason for that? "It must have been built for some special purpose." Elena and Donald had a light-hearted conversation and got to the bottom of the matter. "From its location, could it have been the residence of a lord or its equivalent?" "That''s a strong possibility." Then there should be something left of it. ...... "Yes. Maybe there is a hidden room or a basement." Donald agreed with Elena''s opinion and decided to search the basement first. "<>" Elena used "<>" on top of her beginner''s level earth magic. It is a magic to search for underground veins, but it can also tell whether there are cavities or not. After several times. "There is a cavity under here. Elena has successfully found a cellar. However, the entrance and exit are unknown. It''s possible that the room was sealed off. "Yes, I suppose so." Jin told me that the old Leonard Kingdom was destroyed by , so I realized that this basement might have been built to escape from that plague. "If there were people sheltering inside at the time ......" Donald shuddered. * * * * On the other hand, in Horai Island, the old man found out about this discovery and immediately checked it with a . If something harmful was sealed inside, it would be dangerous. But.... <>. The old man decided to go with the flow. * * * * * * * * * * * * "In any case, I think we need to look into it." Elena said in a firm voice. "Yes,......." "But, Donald and the others, please stay away for a while. I''m the only one who can check it out." "But, Elena, ...... "Don''t worry. What danger could there be in a 240 year old cellar in the first place?" Elena dared to ignore the events at the Botsuffa site to reassure Donald. "Okay. Be careful." "Yes. If there is no danger, I will call you as soon as I can. Thus, Elena started to make a hole in the floor by herself. She intends to pull out the ceiling of the basement. Instead of engineering magic, she uses earth magic <. This is a good idea, since stone is easy to process with earth magic. But Elena can hardly use engineering magic at all. In about 15 minutes, a hole is made in the basement, which is barely big enough for one person to pass through. It took a long time because the floor = ceiling of the basement was about one meter thick. "That''s enough for now. I have to do some reconnaissance first. Elena danced into the hole without hesitation. After a fall of about 5 meters, Elena landed on the floor. "This is ......." It was an empty room. In fact, it was the front room to the reference room. It looked safe enough, so Elena called Donald. "What''s wrong, Elena?" Donald literally came running. His guards followed him. "Oh, there''s a hole, Elena, are you in there?" "Yes. There is nothing where we are. But there is another room ahead. I don''t sense any magic, so I don''t think there''s any danger. Donald is delighted to hear that. "So I can come, too?" "Yes, you can come." "Yes, come." "Okay." So Donald ordered his guards to hang a rope down into the hole. "I''m going to go now, but keep watch. If we don''t come back for too long, you''ll have to make your own decision. With these words, Donald disappeared into the hole. 1428 - - 39-13 The Mystery of Mystery Elena greeted Donald as he stepped into the basement. "It''s okay. I don''t know how yet, but the air is not stagnant. She had the know-how of having investigated many ruins in the past. "I don''t think there is any danger. You know, I''m curious about that door." But it was too dark to see what Elena was looking at with only Donald''s lighted magical tool. "Elena, it''s a little dark in here." "Oh, I''m sorry." Elena''s eyes were bright enough to see, so she apologized and turned on the light. "<>" The light was now brighter, and Donald could see the underground chamber more clearly. "I see, there is nothing in this room except the door. ......" On the other hand, there is one door at the end of the room, and I think there is something behind it as Elena said. "Let''s go there." "Yeah, ......." Either way, we will never know what it is until we go there. Donald and Elena went to the door. The door had an old-fashioned doorknob that creaked a little but opened slowly. As soon as the door was opened, a light went on inside. The magic device was still alive and the room seemed to be ventilated. "What is this place?" "This seems to be a reference room. The shelves by the wall are crammed with books. There is a bit of dust, so Donald covers his nose and mouth with a handkerchief. "It wasn''t so dusty in the hall earlier." "Yes, it was. I wonder if there is a reason for that, for preservation or something. Elena looks around the room. Her gaze stopped at a corner of the room. "That''s ......." There was what looked like a magic doll, which could neither be a golem nor an automata. It was female in shape. Elena approached the golem to confirm its shape. Donald followed her. This is a golem, isn''t it? "Yes, it is. But it''s trying to look like a human being. If automata are what we call in modern Japan, then this golem would be a in its own right. It is made entirely of metal, and of course its hair is also made of metal. It may be closest to <> that Jin made for Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egelea. "It doesn''t seem to be broken." "It seems to be just lying dormant." Donald and Elena gently examined the golem. It looked old, but not broken. "I''d like to see this thing rebooted," Donald said with interest. Donald said with interest. "I''d like to see it rebooted. Maybe he''s like the librarian in the reference room." But I didn''t know how to reboot it. "Well, it doesn''t seem to start working automatically with ......<>." "<> doesn''t seem to work either. I''ve tried the old one, and the new one, but there''s no response." It doesn''t seem to have lost any of its internal functionality. "That''s right. Another possibility is that there is a grimoire to activate it. Elena''s guess leads them to check the room. And it soon pays off. "Elena, is this it?" Donald had found what appeared to be a control unit. It was not, however, like a TV remote control, but rather was more similar in size and shape to a cathode-ray tube TV. "It''s a magic tool, isn''t it? "Is this the mechanism to activate it?" Elena and Donald carefully analyzed the device. "I''m sure this is the right one. Elena pressed the activation switch, and a part of the control unit lit up. It seems to be a magic screen. "Elena, there is something written on it. "It''s a little bit old-fashioned. ...... um, <>. While she was saying this, the letters on the screen were changing. "<>? "A riddle, huh?" Elena read out the words and Donald groaned. "...... a chair, you know. The one with the backrest." As soon as Elena muttered this, the text on the screen changed. "I wonder if there are more riddles to come. ......< "What is it?" Elena tilted her head and Donald twisted his head. If Jin had asked, he would have immediately understood that this was an old Japanese riddle. "Isn''t that a sewing needle?" A voice came from behind Elena and Donald. It was a guard. "We have been looking for you since you did not come back. We''ve set up a rope ladder so it should be easy for you to get back. He told us to use our own judgment, so we could not complain about this. He also said that there was no danger and, moreover, that "if you stand up, you will be lowered, "<>" the next riddle was displayed. "The ceiling. Again the guard answered, and the screen switched. "Oh, it seems I was right. You''re a good man, aren''t you? Donald praised the silent guard. "No, I''ve only heard such riddles back home." "I see. Your hometown is ......." Donald, not now. I think we''re finally going to get it up and running." Elena interrupted Donald. Just as Donald said that, a light came on in the eyes of the halted golem. * * * * "......It''s definitely a riddle in the vein of <>." On Horai Island, Jin was watching the scene. "A riddle... ...... I miss it..." Jin remembers how the Director used to tell him riddles. The guards are the fifth column (quinta). The answer to the riddle was given by Jin through the old man. "But I''m a little curious about the librarian golem ......." The old man apologized, but Jin said he did not mind. "No matter how competent you are, the continent is huge. It is understandable, don''t worry about it." . Jin and the others then turned their attention back to the screen from the <>. * * * * * * "Are you a seeker of knowledge? "Oh, how do you know it''s been a long time since I''ve seen you? Elena interrupted Golem''s words. "Of course I understand. I''m the only one who has been idle, the ticking clock has been working all along. According to ......, this world has repeated the seasons 232 times since I paused. From these words, we know that this golem was put in abeyance after the fall of the . Elena asks him about that time. Do you know how the kingdom was destroyed? Yes, I do. Yes, I know. This underground facility was built to avoid that terrible epidemic. And then the golem spoke up: ....... 1429 - - 39-14 Near "An epidemic has struck the Kingdom of Leonard. It is called . "The disease spread throughout the land and was unstoppable, and all the people of the land ......" "I was created to at least bequeath to future generations the knowledge and some of the skills that have been developed in this land. ......" The old man listened to Golem''s story of the past, but there was nothing new in it. It was not so different from what he had heard before in the basement of the old capital, Diaa. The information other than the past told by the golem seemed to be more useful than that. "The air purifier is ......" "The tool that measures time is ......" "The metal that makes me is ......" * * * * These three were new to Horaijima. "Hmm, that''s an interesting way of thinking. The first one is <. This was probably developed at the last minute in order to prevent <. "So once the air is inhaled, it is heated to a high temperature, sterilized, cooled, and then exhaled." The temperature at this point is about 600 degrees Celsius. Dust and other particles would burn up. But metal and stone powders with higher melting points would not work, and the energy efficiency would be too low, Jin felt. Secondly, . In a word, it was a . Colored water flows out of a transparent container, and the time is measured by the way it decreases. The container is divided into two parts, and when one part is empty, the other part is full, so that the top and bottom parts can be switched. This tool was not so much used for telling time as for elapsed time. "Did you use it for experiments or cooking or something?" "Father, it could also be used to measure training time." Jin thought that it might have been used as a kitchen timer or a stopwatch. Third. "<>. ...... This composition is duralumin." It was an alloy of aluminum, a little copper and magnesium, very close to the alloy called A2017 in modern Japan. However, the surface of the golem was thought to have lost some of its shine due to its somewhat poor corrosion resistance. "It''s not anodized, I guess." Jin muttered a little out of focus. Anodizing is a process that creates an aluminum oxide (alumina) film on the surface. It has a high hardness and protects the material from scratches and corrosion. "But then, there is no legacy of warp gate technology. ......" The old man replied to Jin''s muttering. "I see. ...... Indeed, the technology of the transition gate (warp gate) is ideal for sending in troops." The same is true for food and materials. In that sense, we should be glad that the warp gate that the Kingdom of Celuloa has redeveloped at the moment is not very energy efficient and is only one step away from being put to practical use. "If the <> and the <> are established, we will not have to repeat the mistakes of the <>." Call it wishful thinking, but Jin could not help but hope that it would be so. "I also thought that you might have some information about <> Shuki Tsetsi, given the riddle." < "I see. That''s something we''ll have to work on in the future. . * * * * * "That''s some useful information, isn''t it? "Yes, Elena." Elena and Donald are pleased with their newfound knowledge. "Do you have any more questions?" Golem asked. "Well, what are you going to do when I say ...... no more?" "I''m going to have to go on hiatus." "I see. ...... how is this basement holding up?" "There should be a dedicated golem in the hall you came in from." "What?" I didn''t see any such thing," Donald told him. "This room was dustier than that one over there, you know?Not a good place to store books, is it?" Elena also tells the truth. "I see. ...... It''s the passage of time. It is providence. If time tells me to , then I must obey. The golem utters a rather pessimistic line. Wait, wait. That''s a waste of time. I think you could make a great contribution to the world today. ......" "If that''s what you want, set the controller to that." "<>?This?" The magical device that has been riddling us. It seems that Donald was right in identifying it as a control device. "That''s it." Can you teach me how to use it? "Yes. First, you''ll find it in the lower right hand corner of your screen at ....... "Hmm." Donald follows Golem''s instructions and changes the settings on the controller. "And that''s it." "I see." Donald is relieved. "When you''re done, please give me a name." "Well, since you''re ...... like Elena''s little sister, ...... Elena, why don''t you name me?" "Am I okay with that?" "Yes, please." Donald begged Elena to give it to him, and she thought about it for a moment. Then.., Then she said, "Well, Nia..." "Okay. ...... you''re Nia, from now on." "Yes, thank you. I''m Nia. Master, I''m looking forward to working with you." Thus, by an unforeseen circumstance, Donald was able to acquire the information golem. "The sun is going down soon. Donald, let''s get out of here. "Yes, I think so. Nia, what is it that you''re taking out? I''ve memorized everything in this room. So just take the control unit. "Okay." The guards carried the control unit on their backs. The group, including Nia, returned to the ground using the rope ladders that had been reinstalled by the guards. "The passage of time can change the landscape like this, can''t it?" Nia, who had checked the situation on the ground, said in an indifferent tone. "Yes. Nia, is there any other place where we can get more information?" "Yes. If my information is correct, there should be a laboratory about 50 meters ahead. But all I could see was a ruin covered with vines and grass. "Well, I don''t know if the contents are safe. In any case, it''s going to be dark soon. We''ll do it tomorrow." Donald assured them and the group set up camp. Since Nia was a golem created after the magic war, it was adapted to the current concentration of free magic element (ether) and seemed to work fine. "Is there anything wrong with it?" Donald asked, and Nia shook her head. Such a gesture was a bit human. "No, nothing is wrong at the moment, sir. "I see. Good. Can I analyze your structure after ......?" "Of course, Master." "Well, that would be fun." Behind this exchange, only the guards noticed that Elena was a little bloated. 1430 - - 39-15 To my parents house On February 18, the Cline Kingdom survey team was on its way home. Gloria, Pascoe, and Tiffany, the main members of the team, were holding a review meeting on the airship. "......I must admit that we are still not good enough." "Yes. This expedition has made us keenly aware of what is needed. "We do not have enough knowledge about the ruins. I am still inexperienced in dealing with unknown dangers." "Yes, I agree. ......" Gloria and Pascoe are the main speakers, with Tiffany occasionally adding her own comments. "This is why Jin-dono and Makina-dono are so great," said Pascoe. I wonder if individuals need wisdom more than military power. "I understand what you say. I understand what you mean. The golem can compensate for your military prowess. "Yes, Tiffany is right. Individual military strength is important, of course, but as a survey team, knowledge is essential. In that sense, it would be wonderful to be a member of the first class of the World Guard. "Yes, indeed." The sky was clear blue as the airship flew overhead. The sky was clear and blue as the airship flew by. The expedition returned to the capital city of Alban later that day and reported to the king. Alois III listened to Gloria''s report with a small nod. When he finished listening, he asked a few questions. "So there was no danger this time? "Yes. Yes. The only thing we did find was a stone tablet. "Oh, that. ...... honestly, it''s a mystery. We''ll have a debriefing sometime soon. Get it all together. You can go home today. Get some rest." "Ha." Gloria, Pascoe, and Tiffany bowed and left. Alois III tells his vizier, Powell Darner Hudson. "It seems that the ruins of this country are not so simple after all," he said. "It would seem so." Perhaps it would be best to wait for the establishment of the World Guard and let them handle it. "My king, does that mean we should give up the idea of incorporating his country into our territory?" Alois III smiled vaguely. "If I may speak not as a king, but as an individual, I think that the lands of the former Leonard Kingdom should be administered by the ." "That is ......." "I know. It is my personal opinion. No one is listening but the Prime Minister. I mean, forget what I just said. Ha! * * * * Meanwhile, a survey team from the Kingdom of Egelea also returned to Japan on the same day. They, too, had nothing to show for their efforts, and their report was neither good nor bad. * * * * * * * * >. In Horai Island, the old man reported to Jin that the survey teams of both countries had returned home without much result. "It can''t be helped. There is only so much you can do without any prior knowledge of the ruins. That''s why there is such a thing as archaeology. I wonder how Lukor is doing. Lukor is a former Unifiler archaeologist. Since his brainwashing was lifted, he has been traveling around the continent on his own, and the other day he was involved in a case involving a golem competition (gompetition) in the Kingdom of Selroa with Vivienne. After that, he left for somewhere else. "I wish we could invite him to the < too. ......" Jin had decided to call the school he was establishing in the . Academy" means an academic organization or society, but it is sometimes used as the name of a school. Jin named the school he was going to build in <> as the world''s first <>. < The old man said. "Indeed." Unfortunately, I did not record it because I did not think it would be necessary. If I had recorded it, I would have been able to find it immediately using the magi radar. However, it was too late to say anything now, so Jin gave instructions to the old man to search for Lukor. "Well then, Mr. Mere Old Man, please take good care of him." After this, Jin and Erza decided to visit his best friend Reinhardt in his home village of Kurtz. He was accompanied by Reiko and Edgar. "First of all, we should pay our respects to Erza''s parents'' house. hmmm..." * * * * We traveled by . The time required was about 15 minutes since we used a transporter to travel from Horai Island to the sky above Lake Tosmo. First, Jin went to Erza''s parents'' house. After parking the Conlon 3 in the large front yard, Jin and the others went to Randall''s house. "It''s been a while. Georg, Erza''s father, who had recently recovered to the point where he could lead a normal life, smiled at Jin and Erza. "Oh, you''re here, aren''t you?" Her speech was still faltering, but her pronunciation was firm. "Elsa, Jin-san, I''m so glad you came. You can relax, can''t you?" "Thank you." Jin could not just say hello and goodbye, so he decided to stay the night. "......It''s been a long time since I''ve stayed in this room." The room that Erza used to stay in is still there in my parents'' house, and I always stay there when I go back to my hometown. Of course, Jin is with her. (At first I thought the room would be more girly, but it is surprisingly simple.) (At first I thought the room would be more girly, but it is surprisingly simple.) Elsa did not seem to have a taste for decorating the room, so it is not bad for Jin to stay there. The only thing that I can say is that there are a few dolls in the room. The only thing I can say is that there are a few dolls on display, but they seem to be well taken care of by the maidservants and there is no dust on the dolls or in the room. "I''m going to see Reinhard tomorrow. "Hmm, thank you." Actually, Reinhardt called me to ask for some advice. "You said you had a little problem," he said. He did not say what it was, so Jin did not know. "Ask the old man if you need any help." "Yes, okay." And so the night at the Randall''s house goes on. 1431 - - 39-16 This and that The day after staying at Randall''s house, February 19. Jin accompanied Reiko to the village of Kaltz in Reinhardt''s territory. < "Welcome, Jin! Reinhard and his beloved wife Berthe greeted Jin at the lord''s house, <>. It is still cold, so Juliana is inside the house. "Reinhard, I haven''t seen you since Leuthart. Well, please come in. "Yes, thank you." We were taken to the reception room. There, Bella, Reinhardt''s automata, came in with a cup of tea. Here you go. "Thank you." Bella has been improved by Reinhardt and now moves just like a human being. "Yes, it''s good." The taste of the tea he brews can now be adjusted to the customer''s preference. Jin, by the way, brewed a rather strong hojicha tea. Of course, the temperature was slightly cooled. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Jin asked, enjoying the aroma of the hojicha tea. "Well, actually ......" Reinhardt began to speak slowly. "Theft?" Jin asked in surprise. "Yes. Recently, there has been a string of thefts of stockpiled grain, and the villagers have filed a complaint. Naturally, the lord took steps to find the culprits and recover the stolen grain. However, after a week of searching, they still have not found any clues. "I''m sorry, but we need your help, Jin. I thought we could ...... do this on our own if possible." Reinhardt says he will do what he can because the villagers'' livelihoods are at stake. "Please, Jin." Of course, Reinhardt is not the kind of man to say no. "Okay. I''ll help you. "Thank you." "In a case like this, I''m honestly grateful for Hourai Island''s backup." Knowing that it was a cheat, Reinhardt still could not ignore the disadvantage of the residents without a word. "Then, how do we do it?" Reinhard folded his arms and began to think. "For my part, I think the quickest way would be to have the marked grain stolen on purpose and track it down. As long as the marker is attached, it can be tracked by <>. "Indeed. I mean, that''s all it would take. Reinhard laughs. "With the technology of Jin and Horaijima, I''m beginning to think this is going to be a very easy case. "But then again, there are still those bandit-like people out there, aren''t there?" "Unfortunately. So Jin and Reinhardt started to discuss the details. Reiko and, through Reiko, the old man joined the meeting and the details were worked out. However, there are many uncertainties, and about one-third of the work needs to be done in a flexible manner. "First, let''s map out the areas where the thefts occurred." "Right." At Jin''s suggestion, Reinhardt took out a map of the area around the village of Kurtz and spread it out on the table. "Here, here, and here." Reinhardt marked the locations, all of which were warehouses on the north side of the village, facing the forest. "We have seven warehouses where we store our grain. Three of them have been hit so far. If we lose any more, we will run out of food before the next harvest. "Well, it''s not like there''s any regularity to it. Anyway, let''s put markers on the grain in all four locations. Specifically, we just need to mix a little of the grain from Horai Island into the grain bags in the warehouse. Crops from Horai Island, including grains and fruits, all have high <> content. They are useful enough to be used as markers. "I see." Jin then used the warp gate installed in Reinhardt''s mansion to bring wheat and barley from Horai Island. "Let''s distribute these to each warehouse. And let''s make sure the doors are locked even tighter." "What?What do you mean? Reinhardt did not seem to understand Jin''s suggestion. "Well, with all these thefts going on, it would be strange not to be vigilant, wouldn''t it?" "Oh, I see what you mean. Yes, it''s normal to be vigilant. "That''s what I mean. It would be meaningless if they think that there is some kind of trap. I understand. I''ll do that. This was Jin, who referred to the detective movies he had seen at the facility, as well as period drama "detective''s memoirs". * * * * * * A whole day passed, but nothing happened. "Well, did he give up?" "No, you shouldn''t make such a decision after a day or so. Let''s wait and see." Since Reinhardt had his daily duties during the day, Jin decided to go back to Horai Island and listen to Saki while Reinhardt was at his residence. "Hey Jin, I''ve almost finished analyzing the debris. "Oh, that''s convenient. Can you tell us about it? Of course. First of all, I suspect that a little more than half of the debris we collected was from the core of Pengolta''s satellite. Iron and nickel made up 72 percent of the metallic elements." "That''s rather useful." "Right?I''d say ......, with the rest being 8 percent manganese, 6 percent vanadium, 3 percent molybdenum, and 2 percent chromium. . Rounded to the nearest whole number." All of these elements could be added to iron to make a high-performance alloy. "That''s good news." "That''s good news, isn''t it?And then there was aluminum, titanium, magnesium, and lithium, each at a little less than 2 percent. The rest is gold, silver, platinum group metals, lead and zinc, one percent each. "I wonder if the distribution is different from Ars." Jin said and Saki nodded. "Something like that. The rest is calcium, potassium, sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, etc., at about 0.3 percent. And if we add the rest of the trace elements, it seems that most of the elements below uranium in the periodic table are present. No artificial radioactive elements, though." "Well, are there any radioactive elements that are not man-made ......?" Jin asked, a little concerned. Saki smiled and nodded. "Yes, there were about 0.001% uranium and radium. Of course, I didn''t check that myself. Jin patted his chest. "I''m relieved to hear that. He had been so engrossed in the analysis that he had been worried that he might have been exposed to radiation. "Well, thanks to you, I guess. I have stored those radioactive elements in a deep hole at a specific place on the moon. "Well, that''s a relief." If the metallic element system is probably a fragment of a satellite of <>, what about a fragment of <> Modenu? "There were many magic crystals among the debris of <>Modernu. There was also quite a bit of unibasium." This is also a useful resource. "I have decided to prioritize the purest ones for storage on the moon." "Yeah, that''s good." When Jin needs a large amount of materials, he can bring them from there. This means that he doesn''t have to use resources from Ars. In terms of mineral resources, we can assume that we now have more than enough for the next few hundred years. Now that the waste of free magic element (ether) has been eliminated, the future of Ars is bright in terms of resources. 1432 - - 39-17 Rough events On the night of February 20, there was movement in the village of Kurtz. On the morning of the 21st. "Jin, last night, grain warehouse number 3 was hit." The four warehouses are numbered for easy identification. Number 3 is the northernmost of the four. "Okay, I got it." Jin immediately contacted the old man and moved to Horai Island with Reinhard. The old man had already started the pursuit. Once the location is identified, it''s time to use the peepers. "Oh, I see them." They''re at ....... There are two golems that look somewhat old-fashioned, and they are carrying a lot of sacks of grain. "Oh, so there''s a golem," he said. "Well, that makes it easier to move around with the bags." Unaware that Jin and Reinhardt were watching them, the bandits continued northward through the forest. "Hmmm, that golem looks like something I''ve seen before. ......" Jin had such a feeling, but he could not remember where he had seen it. In the first place, it was a rather primitive structure, so he would not have had a chance to see it very often. "Well, maybe I''ll remember it when I see it in person." Jin reviews the video of the Peeper. There are five bandits. It seems that they are based on the north side of the forest. The bandits were apparently based in the north of the forest. "Okay, let''s go!" < The army consists of only two guards, a black knight, and five volunteers from the village. The rest will be assisted by Jin (his doppelganger) and Reiko. The location of the base had been determined by looking through a <>. We spent about two hours carefully approaching the base. The bandits had made good use of the small rocky hills that dotted the area to make their base. "There''s one guard," Reinhardt whispered. Reinhardt whispered. "Let''s take down the guard and then overrun the place at once." Knowing that there were only five bandits, it was easy to take control. Reinhardt gave the black knight (Schwarzliter) a spell and gave him instructions. Immediately afterwards, the Black Knight darts off at blinding speed, knocking the guard unconscious. < "Go, go!" As expected, Reinhardt cannot fight directly. The black knight (Schwarzlitter) leads the charge into the bandit stronghold, followed by two guards. The five village volunteers wait outside and secure any escaping bandits. Reinhardt and Jin put up a barrier and wait for the bandits to be overpowered. One of the bandits jumps out. "d*mn golem! At his words, a golem emerges from the shadow of a rocky hill, which is different from the bandit''s stronghold. The golem was not in the bandits'' stronghold, but hidden elsewhere. "Get back!" Reinhard shouts to the five volunteers in the village. They are no match for him. "Yes, sir!" Fortunately, the golem belonging to the bandit is slow-moving, and the five are able to get away without being injured. "<>!" After confirming that there were no allies around, Reinhardt took out his wand and fired a spell at the golem. The Flame Lance that he had fired at the Death Serpent with the potlocks landed on the Golem, blowing off its outer armor and melting the magical resin inside. Naturally, the golem is destroyed and stops moving. "I thought there was one more golem. ......" Reinhardt tilts his head. Then Reiko calls, "Mr. Reinhardt, the other one is in the base. The black knight (Schwarzlitter) has already defeated it. "Oh, I see. Thank you, Reiko. < Soon two black knights (Schwarzritter) come out with their arms bound. Two guards also come out, tying up one bandit. Thank you. Five bandits, including the guard. So we got ''em all. "Huh. ......" Reinhardt sighs. "We made it. ......" He knew there was no danger since Jin and Reiko were with him and they had the <>, but he was nervous since it was the first time he actually led such a <>. "This is also the work of a lord, you know." Reinhardt''s father, Wolfgang, had also actively participated in these types of attacks when he was younger. Reinhardt said that he had been taught that morale was different when a superior took the lead. "Well, I''ve learned that I''m not cut out for rough work." However, Reinhardt added that he would accompany the group if necessary, since there was a barrier. The five volunteers of the village and the black knight (Schwarzlitter) collect the grain that the bandits have stored up. Since little had been eaten yet, the loss was minimal. "That''s good for now. I''m going to report to my father now." The captured bandits are sent to Count Wolfgang Randall von Morgan, the lord who rules this area, in other words Reinhardt''s father, for punishment. After escorting the bandits with two guards and a black knight (Schwarzlitter), Reinhardt heads for his parents'' house for the first time in a long while. * * * * * * * * * * * As Reinhardt went to his parents'' house, Jin also returned to Erza''s parents'' house. took off into the sky. "It seems that Reinhardt''s problem has now been solved. "Yes, father." In the cabin, Jin and Reiko are talking. Jin didn''t remember doing anything in particular, but he thought that having Horaijima as his backup must have made Reinhardt feel more secure. "But where did the bandit and the golem come from?" "Father, it seems that the old man who has been watching through his peepers has a guess." "I see." And then, they were already at Elsa''s parents'' house. "Brother Jin, welcome back. How was ......?" Erza greeted Jin and the others. "Yeah, we''ll talk inside. "Yeah, we''ll talk inside. So, Jin explained the circumstances over a cup of green tea in the living room of Elsa''s parents'' house, the Randalls'' house. "I''m glad the bandits were caught. Erza was also relieved. "We''ll be in trouble if they come to our territory." "Yes. I''ll leave it to Reinhardt''s father to deal with the bandits. And I see that the old man has guessed the bandit''s true identity or origin. "Yes." Reiko began to explain the details on behalf of the old man. Erza listened to her and understood. 1433 - - 39-18 Reunion after a long time "That golem seems to be the earliest type of golem that the Unification Party (Unifiler) used experimentally in the past. "Oh, I see." The old man''s explanation through Reiko is clear. In terms of design, it was similar to the original golem of <><>, the guardian golem of the village of Kaina. "So that''s what I thought I had seen somewhere before." This made Jin feel better. "So, at least one of the bandits must be related to the Unification Party (Unifiler). Probably a low-level person who was in charge of the experiment." I see. And when the Unifiler disappeared, they started misbehaving with the golem that had been entrusted to them. "Oh, I see, that makes sense. Thank you, Reiko. Thank you, Reiko, and tell the old man I said thank you. Yes, Father. Jin praised the old man for his guess. When the Unification Party (Unifiler) became the Nostalgia Party (Nostalgia), the organization was reorganized and made healthy, but the reality is that they did not pay attention to the end of the organization. In the first place, the staffs at the bottom may not even know that they were being used by the Unification Party (Unifiler). They simply started to do whatever they wanted because they had not received instructions from the top for a long time. "I guess there are still like this." "......" Erza also looks a little worried, and her face is slightly furrowed. "I guess we''ll just have to catch them steadily." Of course, we need to get the old man and to cooperate with us and do something about it while as little damage as possible is done to the public. "......But when one thing is done, there is always an aftermath. ......" Jin realized this once again. They stayed the night and said goodbye to Elsa''s parents the next morning at . * * * * * * * * * * Jin and his friends headed for the village of Kaina. < "Edgar, I''m sorry. I''ll send a replacement later. Edgar, the pilot, cannot come with them, so when Jin and the others arrive at Horaijima, Sky87 is sent as the pilot instead, and Edgar comes back to Horaijima in exchange. "Okay, let''s go then." "Okay, let''s go." "Yes." And the four of them headed for the village of Kaina. "Master, welcome to our village. As they exited the warp gate of Nido Castle, they were greeted by Butlers B and C, who were in charge of the group. This time, they used Nido Castle for their official visit. So, what''s going on? "Yes. The Raglan Trading Company''s carriage is scheduled to arrive in half a day. Butler B explained the situation. Butler B explains the situation. "The men who will be coming are Mr. Roland, Mr. Boote, and Mr. Raglan Eastwood. Butler C also explains the situation. "Raglan Eastwood, ......?" Yes, he''s the founder of the Raglan Company. I knew it. He''s that guy. Yes, he''s a very successful merchant who built up the Raglan Trading Company in his own lifetime. He gave up his position as a baronet to become a merchant. I had met him once before when I visited Alban. While Jin was asking him about other things as preliminary knowledge, he received a call from <>, the guardian head of Kaina village. I apologize for interrupting. My lady, the carriage of the Raglan Trading Company has just crossed the Togo Pass. It will arrive in about two hours. They must have made good time. They''re a little ahead of schedule. "All right. Keep an eye on them and make sure nothing happens to them. Yes, sir. "Speaking of which, what''s the head of the Raglan Trading Company coming to this village for?" Jin asked a simple question. Butler C answered. "Yes, we received a letter regarding that in advance. "Oh, you received it when we were at Erza''s parents'' house? Yes. It was not a particularly cordial letter, but on the contrary, a letter from a merchant, so we decided that it would be worse to delay our response. So, if you''ll excuse me, I checked the contents of ......." "You want to have a business meeting?" Jin anticipated the answer and spoke first. But Butler C denies it. "No, <>." "......" For a moment, Jin was taken aback, but when he thought about it, he realized that Raglan Eastwood was over 60 years old and that he would like to see how his lovely grandchildren were living if he did not have to work. I think. "Eric has sold us many things we need in the village, and we should welcome him. "Brother Jin, you should ...... be moderate, right?" Erza, seeing Jin''s face with a lot of energy, nailed him. "Oh ...... that''s right." Jin also understood what Erza was trying to say and relaxed his shoulders. "Well then, I''ll pick you up at the Ermee River. "Yes, that''s about right." < was in charge of safety. Hearing from < that the carriage of the Raglan Trading Company was approaching, Jin and Reiko got on the golem horse <> and rode out to the bank of the Herme River. The carriage was just about to cross the bridge. "Oh, Jin-san...... no, Jin-sama." Roland called out to Jin, who noticed and corrected him. "Mr. Roland, it''s been a long time. I myself haven''t changed at all, so please talk to me as you used to. Jin approached Roland with an attitude of not caring. "Oh, really?Thank you very much." Raglan Eastwood then greeted him. "Jin-sama, it''s been a while since we last met. It''s been a while. It''s been a pleasure. "Did you know Mr. Boote?He is the peddler who took over from me. Uh, I don''t believe we''ve had the pleasure. Nice to meet you, Mr. Boete. It''s my pleasure, Mr. Jin. Since further conversation was not to take place outside, Jin led the carriage to Nido Castle. "Well, well, it''s a great building, isn''t it?" Mr. Raglan, the chairman of the board of directors, looked up at Nido Castle and was impressed by it. "Then, please use this room. "Thank you, sir." Jin showed the group into Nidojo''s guest room, and inwardly exclaimed with pleasure that he could use this room for the first time in a long time. It was a good thing that he had built the room on the spur of the moment, but since not many guests came, he felt that he had wasted a bit of money. They greet each other again in the reception room. Over a cup of Perhia tea brewed by the golem maid, I asked her about her visit. "The main purpose of my visit is to see my grandchildren," she said. Jin smiled a little at his grandfather''s love for his grandchildren. "Besides, I''m still hoping to conclude a new business deal. This is Roland. He is now a mid-level executive. "Oh, and I have one more thing to report. Finally, Bote spoke up. 1434 - - 39-19 Among the hot springs "Is this the report ......?" Curious, Jin leans forward a little, "Yes. "Actually, it has been decided to rebuild the road to Toka village. "That''s good." If the highway is improved, it will make it easier for people to come and go, and it will also lead to the development of the villages and towns along the highway. The concern is that the roads will be more easily trafficked out, leading to depopulation. However, since it is forbidden in the Kingdom of Klein for a family to migrate without the permission of the lord, there is no need to worry about the sudden depopulation of the area. However, this does not apply to the patriarch, the second and third sons other than the legitimate son, and the daughters. But I digress. "A month ago, an announcement was made that the road from Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, to the town of Charles was to be improved. Roland explains. "Her Royal Highness the Princess suggested that the road be extended to the village of Toka," explains Roland. Princess Rieschen? "Yes. ...... Kaina village belongs to the Kunlun Kingdom, so she said we should go as far as the village. "I see." The old man probably knew this, but Jin had not been told. "When it is completed, it will be easier for people to come here and Toka village will be developed. "I hope so." As for his concern about depopulation due to the exodus of people, this was not the time to mention it. After all was said and done, Jin decided to start over. "The sun is still high, what would you like to do? The time was 3:00 p.m. "Yes, I would like to visit my grandson''s store. "Yes, I would like to visit my grandson''s shop." "Yes, father-in-law, that would be nice. Grandfather and father agree. I would like to relax a little. Bote looked tired, as if he had been forced to play the role of a servant for a long time. "Then you can relax in your room, Mr. Bote. The golem maid will take care of you. ...... ruby 101, please." Yes, sir. And so, the Beauties relax in the castle of Nido. Roland and Raglan go to Eric''s store. Jin and Reiko show them around. "There''s not much snow, is there?" "No, it has snowed, but we''ve been doing a good job of clearing the snow. They also explained that the snow is stored in a snow room and used in the summer. "Ha ha, that''s a great idea. Roland was impressed and Raglan seemed impressed. "No, no, Jin-san, you have an amazing idea. You are indeed a magecraft master. "Ah, it''s the old man from the store!" The children in the village wave when they see the group. The children of the village of Kaina call Roland "Uncle Roland of the showroom. "Oh, Onii-chan!" he says. ...... and the peddler''s uncle." But Hanna doesn''t call him that any more, and calls him <>. "Hi Hanna. You know Mr. Roland, don''t you? This is Mr. Raglan. This is Eric''s father and grandfather." "Oh, yeah!" And.., "Well, Eric''s brother and Barbara''s sister are at the hot spring right now, right?" He gave me some information. "Oh, okay. Thank you." "Yeah." Jin turned to Roland and Raglan. "They''re at the hot springs. Would you like to go there?Or do you want to wait for them to come out?" Roland answered immediately. Mr. Jin, please take my father-in-law to the hot spring. "Yes, sir." Jin changed the destination and headed for the hot spring. There was no problem, as the hot spring had towels for the pretend guests. "Oh Jin, you have a visitor?Oh, you must be Mr. Roland. It''s been a long time. "It''s been a while." At the entrance of the hot spring, I pass the woman who comes out of the room. "Barbara was there, I''m sure Eric will be there too. And with that he left. "Well, let''s go in." Roland had been in there before, but this was his first time in Raglan. "Oh, Reiko, I think Barbara is over there. "Yes, I''ll do that." "Yes, I understand," she said, so that Eric would not worry if she was running late. "Well, well, well." Raglan looked at the dressing room. "It''s spacious. And the ambience is nice. "Please use these towels. Then put your clothes in this basket and put them on the shelf. Kaina is a safe village, so it''s not a locker. It is just a shelf and a basket. However, the eyes of <> are shining here, too. Therefore, no one can steal or peek into the bathrooms. When they enter the bathhouse, they are met by several villagers and ....... "Father!And Grandpa!" There was Eric with a surprised look on his face. It''s been a long time, Eric. ...... Well, you look good. You look like a man." "What?" Raglan looks at Eric''s face in the bathtub and compliments him. "I wondered how you were doing since you''ve been on your own, but you seem to be doing well. "Uh-huh?" Eric is confused by his grandfather''s sudden appearance and praise without warning. "Eric, let''s have a nice talk when we get out of the hot spring." "Yeah, ...... dad." In contrast to his grandfather, Roland and Eric are having a quiet conversation. "...... who is that?" Rock, who had come to soak in the hot spring, asked Jin in a whisper. "You know Mr. Roland, don''t you? The other one is Eric''s grandfather. "Ah, you''ve come to see your grandson. And you also wanted to see your daughter-in-law, didn''t you? "That''s what I meant." Jin and Locke are in the bathtub, a little distance away from Eric and the others. "But that old man has a nice body. He''s not exactly a merchant. "He used to be a baronet. He may or may not have been in the army. That''s quite a resume. ...... But when you''re not in business, you''re a grandson and a grandfather. "Well, I guess so. ...... As they soaked in the hot spring, they talked about various things, which made me feel that they were a grandfather and a grandson, a father and a son, all connected by blood. Seeing this, Jin felt a little envious. 1435 - - 39-20 What is a highway station? "...... I''m soaked." You''re an idiot. I''m sorry, Barbara. No, Father. I''m sorry. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Eric, Roland, and Raglan were all overturned after a long talk in the hot spring. Barbara is now taking care of them in the common room attached to the spa. <> or >>, it was Jin who dared to let Barbara take care of them here. He left it to Barbara. "Oh, I''m sorry. "I''m sorry, Barbara. Thank you very much for your help tonight, Mr. Jin. That night, Jin invited not only Roland, Raglan, and Beaute, but also Eric and Barbara to Nido Castle. The menu for the dinner was a Kaina village-style meal. Barley porridge, grilled river fish from the Erme River, stew with vegetables from the village, and smoked mountain deer. Tempura of wild vegetables, miso soup, and grilled rice balls were also served. The tea was perilla tea. However, the cooking and seasoning were Perido 101''s best work. This is delicious. The porridge and salted fish are seasoned with algae salt, not just salt, and the stew is also seasoned with dashi. The smoked fish was made only with aromatic query chips, and all the other dishes were also elaborately prepared in a way that could not be seen. Jin-san is involved in many things, isn''t he? "Yes, I am. Father, I have learned a lot from you. The nibs and rubber balls that were a hit product of the Raglan Trading Company in King''s Landing were now processed and sent out by Eric. "Well, well, Eric is growing up to be a magecraftsman as well. Raglan is so good-natured that it makes me wonder if he changes so much when he leaves the business ....... "So, what Mr. Bote was saying about the roads..." Jin unusually took the liberty of broaching the subject with Bote. He was sitting at the end of the table, looking self-conscious, but chewing his meal with relish. "Whoa! Bote choked on his food in his panic at being talked to. "Gee, gee, gee!" Roland and Raglan looked at him and held their heads. "Well, you know... ......" After a while, Bote calmed down and began to speak in halting tones. In short, the road construction was to be carried out as a public works project of the Kingdom of Klein. As a first step, or the first phase of the project, the area from Alban, the capital, to the town of Charles was targeted. The first phase of the project was from the capital, Alban, to the town of Charles, The public works project was also a public works project. Furthermore, he said that this public works project would be funded not only by the state, but also by donations from merchants, in exchange for a reduced tax for a certain period of time. "Our Raglan Chamber of Commerce has donated 3 million TL (approx. 30 million yen) to the project, Our tax rate will be reduced to half for the next three years. Roland explained the last part. "So, we would like to make a big deal during the three years when taxes are low." Bote added. "Oh, no!" "Ow!" A fist-bump to the head of Bote, who had just exposed all of his secrets in a moment of honesty. That''s why they say you''re not cut out to be a merchant. I''m sorry. ...... "Oh, come on, Roland. You''ve got nothing to hide from Mr. Jin. I''m sure you don''t have anything to hide from Mr. Jin." "That''s true, but if you don''t educate them at a time like this, they won''t learn." While Raglan was in his grandfatherly mode, Roland, his son-in-law, was not neglecting the education of his men even at a time like this. "Well, where were we? ...... Oh, you were talking about building a road to the village of Toka, weren''t you?" Roland took over and resumed his explanation. "The village of Kaina is Jin-san''s territory, so he can''t do anything he wants, so it looks like they''re going to reestablish the road up to the village of Toka. "I see." "The main thing that needs to be done is to smooth out the unevenness of the road and widen the road in some places. "...... I see." Then we''ll replace the old bridges, and that''s about it. "I understand." Jin thought that in a world without pavement technology, maintenance would be limited to that level. Cobblestone pavement would be out of the budget, and asphalt pavement would be too expensive to transport from Mitsuho, far to the west. We will have to make do with just paving the ground. "...... At the very least, why don''t they build a <>?" Roland bites back the words that Jin whispered in his ear. "Jin-san, what is a "Kaido no eki"?" "Oh, I''m sorry. Uh, it''s a free rest area set up at strategic points along the road, I guess. "Free ......?" As a merchant, the word "free" seems to catch his attention. Jin immediately realized this. "Yes. "Yes. We''ll make it easy to use and attract many travelers. That''s where we''ll set up store." "I see!" That''s a good idea! Not only Roland but also Raglan jumped on board. "By making the rest stop free of charge, we will attract more travelers. It would be a good way to advertise, especially if we put some local products there. Of course, there must be local products. "That''s wonderful!" Roland, a merchant by nature, and the others seemed to realize the potential of what Jin was talking about. "Water is free, but food and medicine are charged ......" "Information on the roads would also be ......" "I''ll let the state do that for me. ...... "We could also set up a cafeteria and a simple accommodation ......." Jin laughed as the two of them immediately began discussing the matter. "Dad, Grandpa, you''re being rude!" Eric, who couldn''t help but notice them, warned them. "Oh, oh, I''m sorry." "...... Jin-san, I''m sorry." Although he was addressing Frank, Jin was a lord. Roland and Raglan apologized for their impoliteness. Jin laughed and forgave them. "That''s all right. "But could you make such a proposal to your country?" "No, I think it would be better if you make your own proposal to the kingdom. Yes, that is correct. ...... is that the way it should be? Jin didn''t want to go through the trouble, but he had a lot of acquaintances in the Kingdom of Klein, so this time he had no choice but to do the heavy lifting. "Then, I''ll take Hannah with me. ......" It was Jin who decided to go to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. 1436 - - 39-21 To the Kingdom of Klein Having decided to go to the Kingdom of Klein, Jin started preparations the next day. Of course, he would use . He is accompanied by Elsa and Hannah. Edgar is of course the pilot, and of course Reiko is with him. "Maybe we should ask Licia to join us. ...... Elsa, what do you think?" "Yes, I think it''s a good idea." The plan is to take the road to Toka village, and Kaina village will have to suffer some changes if that is the case. Licia is also a member of the Jin family, so we don''t have a choice but not to inform them, Erza said. "Okay," Elsa said. < The old man will be in charge of the contact. We leave tomorrow, February 24th. Until then, Roland and Raglan are to enjoy the village of Kaina to the fullest. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Thank you for the invitation, Jin-san!Hannah-chan, Erza-san, it''s been a long time! Licia, long time no see! Licia-san, long time no see. As scheduled, in the afternoon of the 24th, landed at Toka village and picked up Licia. "I know it was short notice, but did you get the job done?" Jin asks after all this time. "Yes, it''s the off-season and there''s not much paperwork to do. Licia replied with a smile. "Yes, you are flying ......." "I''ve learned that there are still many things in this world that amaze me at my age. ......" "......" Roland and Raglan are looking out the window of and remain excited. Bote is silently biting at the window. In case you were wondering, the carriage they rode in was the one that Jin had promised to deliver them safely using the golem. arrives at Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, without even going full speed. They headed directly for the landing bed of the royal castle. "Jin-san, are we with you? Roland, a civilian, shouted impatiently. "Oh, that''s right. What should we do? Now that the balloonists of the Klein Kingdom have identified as such and are leading the way, we can''t just land anywhere else. "We''ll have to explain the situation and ask you to leave the landing pad. ......" "Well, that''s the only way. ......" Roland''s shoulders slumped, "Well, do you still know him?" Raglan, a former baronet and former military man, was unconcerned. And then, the landed. The first to land is the squire, Reiko. "Oh, Reiko!Long time no see! Princess Rieschen, it''s been a long time! Princess Rieschen herself greeted Jin. Jin and Elsa came out next. "Her Highness Princess Rieschen, it has been a long time." "Jin, it''s been a while. I''m glad to see that Elsa is doing well. Your Highness, it''s a pleasure to see you again. You''re stiff. Well, I guess that''s just the way it is in this situation. Your Highness, excuse me. Oh, you said your name is ...... Licia. You were with Jin? Yes, I am. Licia shrinks back in fear, "Good. I''ll treat you as a friend of Jin''s today. "Thank you very much." Then Hannah said. "Princess, it''s been a long time!" Oh, Hannah!You''ve grown up a bit! Princess Rieschen jumped up and hugged Hannah. "Welcome! You can relax now, can''t you?" "Yes, I have some matters to discuss with you, once I''m done." "Mm-hmm, I''m looking forward to it." Princess Rieschen nods in a good mood. And then. "Your Royal Highness, it''s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. My name is Raglan Eastwood, former baronet and vice-captain of the 3rd garrison. Raglan......Eastwood............Oh, I''ve heard of you. You''re the second-in-command of a unit that once served in the conflict with the Kingdom of Franz! I''m ashamed to admit it, sir. Jin, who was standing next to him, was surprised, because he had no idea that Raglan Eastwood had such a background. "Is that your family beside me?" I am Roland, your daughter-in-law, and Eric, your grandson. My name is Roland. Eric. Roland is calm on the surface. Eric, in a slightly hushed voice, saluted each of them. "And over there is your servant, Bote." "My name is Beaute." Raglan Eastwood said the closing words. "And now, please, make your acquaintance." A salute. "Well, the Raglan Trading Company has done a great job of popularizing the pump. I look forward to working with you in the future. Thank you very much. * * * * * * After the greeting on the tarmac, the members of the Raglan Trading Company were allowed to return to their stores. Jin and his party, including Edgar, were then taken to the reception room of the royal castle. "First of all,...... it''s been a long time, Jin!......Speak easy now!" "......Yes, long time no see, Rhys." Princess Rieschen nodded her head in satisfaction when she heard them call her that. Then the natives congratulated them on their engagement. "And now, congratulations on your engagement. Ries, congratulations on your engagement. Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations, sister! Mm-hmm, thank you, guys. I brought you some tea. Then Tia comes in with tea. "Ms. Jin, Ms. Elsa, Ms. Licia, Ms. Hannah, Mr. Reiko, Mr. Edgar, welcome! Tia, how are you? "Yes, I''m as good as ever." Yes, I''m doing well. - That''s good to hear. So, what can I do for you today? Princess Rieschen asked over a cup of tea. "I heard from the Raglan merchants about the road improvement project. "Oh, that''s a good story. That''s good news, isn''t it?" Public works projects like this were being undertaken in many countries in order to create jobs and stimulate the economy. The construction of the monorail in the Kingdom of Cerroa was for the same purpose. "Since then, more plans have been made. This is a good opportunity to hear the opinions of the Djinn. Princess Rieschen then spoke. 1437 - - 39-22 Meeting Princess Rieschen explained the plan of the road improvement as follows. The roads that extend from Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, are to be built one after another. First, the road to Toka village (in the direction of Kaina village) will be built. The road to the Kingdom of Egelea was built. The road to the Kingdom of Franz is to be improved. The first of the maintenance is to make the width of the road more than 4 meters, so that carriages can pass each other easily. The second task is to reduce the unevenness of the road as much as possible and increase the speed of carriage travel by 30%. "What do you think of ......?" "Basically, I think it''s good." Hitoshi said honestly. "Mm-hmm. How about ......?" Princess Rieschen smiled, "Basically," she asked, "what do you mean by that note? "I know very little about politics and I don''t want to talk about it. "I know little about politics and I don''t want to talk about it, so I''ll give you my opinion from another angle. Jin then decided to speak his mind. "First, we need to make it easier to use the roads. Second, we should promote the development of each town. I think we should incorporate these two things." "Well?What exactly? "I''ve talked to the Raglan Chamber of Commerce a bit, but I think we should build a <>." "A highway station?" Here Jin gave the same explanation to Princess Rieschen that he had given to Raglan and the others. "Hmm. So you want to set up a free rest area for the convenience of travelers, and at the same time, you want to set up facilities and stores for a fee, so that you can make a profit. That''s quite a plan!" The idea seems to be well received by Princess Rieschen. "However, it would be difficult to incorporate this into the budget. ......" The Kingdom of Klein is in the midst of financial difficulties. Rieschen was understandably worried. "I''ll have to talk to the merchants and get them to come up with a budget. ...... As we know from talking to Raglan and Roland, the merchants are also interested in this idea. It was thought that many merchants would be willing to invest in the project if they were given preferential treatment, such as being allowed to open stores when the project was completed. "And then, about the facilities and equipment. Water and toilets. I think I can help with that. "Yes, I''ll be counting on you!Of course, I will thank you. "Now all we need is some ....... I hope there is a cheaper way. Pavement not only makes it easier for carriages and other vehicles to drive on, but also prevents the road from becoming muddy after a rainfall. "That''s something we''ll have to work on in the future. Thank you, Jin!" Rieschen made a note on a piece of paper and handed it to Tia. "Keep it with you." "Yes, Princess." "Well." Princess Rieschen turned to Jin and the others again. "Enough of this complicated talk," she said. Princess Rieschen smiled. "Tell me all about it!" They talk over the lunch brought to them. In the Kingdom of Klein, lunch is eaten in a convivial atmosphere, and the conversation is lively. "Last time, the survey team led by Gloria came back, but we felt that we were not strong enough. < was formed, she would be glad to join and be trained by them. Jin had heard this through the old man. "Oh, Gloria-san, I''m sure you''ll make a great leader. At this point, Elsa said something. "Isn''t Gloria going to get married? To this Princess Rieschen replied, "Well, she is a knight of the Kingsguard. I''m sure there are many troublesome things to deal with. "Yes, as a knight of the Kingsguard, you are privy to a lot of the country''s secrets. Licia used to be a knight of the guard. She is familiar with the situation. "I think it''s in the knight''s code that if you want to get married, you have to apply for it two years in advance. "What, there is such a thing? Jin was neither surprised nor amazed when he heard this. "It depends on the country. The Shoro Imperial Army doesn''t have that kind of restrictions. Her brother Fritz was a military man, so Elsa knew a little about that. "When he came home, he told me many stories about his time in the army." "What about that too?" "Of course, I don''t tell him anything confidential. Besides, my father was a soldier too. Yes, that''s true. Jin thought that the father and the son must have talked about such things. In response to such a topic, Jin asked, "Hmmm...I wonder how the <> would feel about workplace marriage..." Jin started to think about it. "Well, well, let''s talk about it some other time. Princess Rieschen looked at Jin thoughtfully and said in a flustered voice, "Brother Jin, what do you think about this? "Brother Jin, come back here." "...... Oh, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. I got lost in thought. It''s a bad habit of mine. "Never mind. ...... Well, tomorrow we''re going to have a debriefing session on the archaeological site. "Yeah, sure." "That would be great. You can stay at the castle today. Yes. It was good that they agreed to stay the night, but it was 1:30 in the afternoon, and there was still plenty of time left. "Gin, will you accompany me to the castle?" "Yes? "Yes?" "This is what is called a ninja. Normally Gloria comes with me, but she''s busy preparing for tomorrow. Well, does His Majesty the King ...... know about this? "Of course." Jin is a little relieved to know that he is not going to sneak out of the castle unannounced like in the historical dramas on TV. "Well, you mean me, Elsa, Licia, Hannah, Reiko, Edgar, and Tia will be accompanying you? There are eight of us. I don''t think that''s a bit too many people. Jin-san, that''s normal for a high ranking nobleman. Licia explains, "Then what''s the point of being a guest of honor? I denied it. "Hmm?Jin, what do you mean by that?" Princess Rieschen looked at me as if she didn''t understand. "Before that, what''s the purpose of this little escapade of yours? Jin asked, "Is it just to relax, or is it to actually see how the people live? "I''d like to say that I want to ...... see how the people live, but I can''t deny that I also want to relax ......." Jin smiled at the honest answer. "Then I think you should hide your identity. Even if they are not royalty, ordinary people will change their attitude when they are dealing with high ranking nobles." "Mmmmm ...... that''s how it is?" Licia explained. "That''s right, Your Highness. I myself have hardly any attitude change among the townspeople, but if you are a person who is instantly recognizable as an aristocrat, everyone will be put off by it. "Is that so? ......" "Perhaps, when His Highness went out of town, he was accompanied by an escort or a warning was sent to the town beforehand. "Umm...... that is undeniable." Princess Rieschen seemed to have a lot on her mind and turned her head. "Well, this time let''s do some real <." Jin said with a mischievous smile. 1438 - - 39-23 Stealing 1 <, Jin tried to disguise himself as Princess Rieschen. "First of all, I want you to dress as simply as possible." "Hmm." "Let''s try braiding her hair, shall we?" "Oh, so you and Hannah have the same hair color." And we''ll temporarily change the color of her hair. "Oh, that''s interesting." And then there''s the tone of voice. Can''t you speak like Hannah? "I think I can do it. ...... think I can do it." I think so. Jin himself changes from his robes to his regular clothes. Elsa and Licia do the same. Hannah is left in her normal attire, as she is going out. Jin himself has a free pass for his companions as well, so he has no problem leaving the castle with the princess in this state. "Now, how can I explain this large number of people? ......" A large group of ordinary people. No doubt they would stand out once they got out of town. "Brother Jin, why don''t you talk to Mr. Roland?" "Oh, that''s a good idea. The Raglan Trading Company would be familiar with the town and would have a good face. And if we assume that he is guiding guests from far away, it will not be so strange to have this many people. "That''s a great idea! Hannah agreed. "Now we need to temporarily change the color of Tia''s blue hair as well. The disguise was thus completed. Jin and the others greeted the guards and left the castle, whereupon the soldiers tilted their heads when they saw Princess Rieschen in disguise. * * * * * * * * * * The location of the Raglan Trading Company was soon discovered thanks to Reiko''s inquiry to the old man, and the group was able to go there without making a mistake. "I see...so that''s how it is." Roland immediately led the group to a reception room in the back and listened to Jin''s explanation in silence, but when he had finished listening to it all, he bowed to Princess Rieschen and tapped his chest. "Leave it to me. ...... will you wait here for a moment?" With that he went to the back and came back in about a minute. I have received permission from the chairman of the board of trade. Is there anywhere you would like to go?" At this question, Jin looked at Princess Rieschen''s face. "Yes, ...... well, any place with a lot of people is ...... fine." Princess Rieschen still looks a little uncomfortable, but she tries very hard to change her tone. "Yes, from now on you can all call me Ries ......." Jin and Elsa had been calling her Ries when they were not on official business, but she wanted Roland and Licia to start calling her that as well. "Yes, big sister Rys!" "Yes, Mr. Reese. Let''s go." Thus, Jin and the others left the Raglan Trading Company together. "The most crowded place is the central street. Our third branch has recently opened on Chuo-dori, so let''s head there. It is about a 15-minute walk. "Oh, that''s a good ......." Princess Rieschen...... Ries is walking slowly, looking around, but no one complains. "The town seems to be ...... different today, doesn''t it?" I guess they had been informed that the princess was usually out of town, even on her own time. Today she is not doing so, so we can see the town as it really is. "Everyone seems to be having fun ....... That''s a good ...... thing." It''s funny because I can tell that he''s still getting used to the tone of voice. "Oh, sister Reese, there''s an interesting store over there!" Hannah is walking hand in hand with Ries, and she pulls him towards the store she found. "Which one is it?......How, this is ......." Jin and the others followed a little later. The store seemed to have been recently opened, and its design was innovative. "Wow, a store of knick-knacks." The shop was crammed with ornaments, wall hangings, and framed pictures. All of them seem to be for the general public and of modest quality. Elsa is looking around with Licia and Edgar, Jin with Reiko, and Reese with Hannah and Tia. Roland was watching them from a distance. "This is so cute!" And then, Elsa found something. "It''s so cute." Licia''s face breaks into a smile. It was a mascot doll. It seemed to be made of ceramics, and was a deformed figurine of a horse. There were also a cat, a fox, a rabbit, and what looked like a deer. "Oh, this is a nice ......." "Yeah, it''s cute!" Meanwhile, Rhys and Hannah also found dolls. These dolls are like bisque dolls and seem to have more or less movable joints. "Can you make one, Onii-chan?" Hannah turned around and called Jin. "Here ...... is a cute one. Do you want one?" "Yes,......." "Straw......, I want one too." , Jin realized that he had no money on hand. He usually doesn''t carry much, and this time he didn''t intend to go shopping. <, he could use the warp gate to get some money. "I can do that," Roland offered. Roland offered. It seems that the chairman of the merchant association has entrusted the money to me in case of such an eventuality. Such shrewdness is typical of a merchant. "Mm-hmm. ......" But Reese was reluctant. As royalty, he is not comfortable accepting such help from a merchant. "Master Rhys, you can borrow it for now, but you will pay me back later. Tia advised Reese. "Oh ......, yes, that''s right." Thus, Roland replaced the money and Rhys got the doll. "Was Hannah OK?" Jin asked, and Hanna nodded her head. What was the reason? "Because I''ll have my sister make it for me later." She said, "I''ll have my nanny make it for me later. ...... Jin smiled and accepted the offer. After that, the group left the restaurant and headed back to Chuo-dori. 1439 - - 39-24 Stealing 2 "So this is Central Avenue ......." Reese muttered as he looked around. "It''s more lively ...... than before, or rather more cluttered ......." "Ah, I guess they took care of it ." Jin imagined that at least the bad characters had been removed. "This is what people''s lives are ...... like, isn''t it?" "That''s what I mean." Now, on Elsa''s advice, Licia is leaning in close to Reese to explain. The idea is that Licia, who has a family home in Alban, is the right person for the job. "It''s a complicated place, for better or worse. I see. At that moment, Roland, who was watching over Reese and his family, was lightly confronted by someone. He was a young man of about 20 years old. Roland was almost knocked off his luggage, a doll that Reese had bought for him. "Oh, excuse me." "No, it''s nothing." Roland, who barely managed to avoid dropping the doll, looked away, but someone grabbed him by the shoulder and stopped him. "Wait a minute, sir." "What the hell?" Please give me back what you just took. It was Tia. "What are you talking about?What are you trying to do to me? I''ll let you off the hook right now. But the man seemed to think she was easy to deal with. "Are you kidding me?You think you can get away with this?What?" But Tia remained calm. Then what is this? In a blindingly fast motion, she pulled out a wallet from the man''s pocket. "Oh, you son of a b*tc*!That''s my ......." "This is Mr. Roland''s wallet." You got proof? He''s not gonna take this kind of crap. The guards must have heard the commotion. "What''s all this racket?" "Oh, sir." "Hm?" "Hm?It''s Cabrera, isn''t it? What''s going on? The pickpocket''s name is Cabrera. They''re the ones who tried to kill us! "What?" The guard stared at Jin and the others. "No, sir. This Cabrera has stolen Mr. Roland''s wallet. "So you have proof? The guard interrupts. "Okay, okay. But this is a busy street. Can you come to the guard station?I''ll hold on to this wallet until then. The wallet in Cabrera''s hand is now in the guard''s hands. There was no way he could refuse. "...... is fine." Jin nodded, though he had a feeling that there was going to be a commotion. Erza and Licia also nodded. Rhys and Hannah nodded, too. Reiko and Edgar naturally followed. Tia and Roland, who were involved in this project, would not refuse. Cabrera nodded his head, and the group headed for the nearby packing house. On the way, Rhys asked Jin in a whisper. (Hey Jin, I think we should just let each of them tell us what''s in their wallets before we check them.) (Yeah, I think that would work too. (Maybe ......) Maybe?) (No, maybe I''m just imagining things, so I''ll come back a little later. (......, look, there''s a stuffing station.) (Okay. ......) The group arrived at the station at the north end of the central street. From there, the royal castle is in sight. Licia, who had a bad feeling about this, casually and quietly left the group and headed for the castle. "Now, let''s listen to what you have to say. The room was about 6 tatami mats in size, with a square table about 1 meter square in the center. The guard pushed Jin and the others toward the back of the room and stood blocking the entrance. "As I told you earlier, this man ...... Cabrera bumped into Mr. Roland, and while he was bumping into him, he pulled out his wallet." "No!No! There''s no proof. "Well, let''s see if there''s any evidence in the wallet." The guard threw the contents of his wallet on the table. "Oh, ......." Reese lets out a short, guttural sound at the sudden barbarity of the situation. "Hmm, 10 gold coins, 25 silver coins, and 12 copper coins. There''s nothing else in the bag that can be used to identify the owner. "What are you suddenly doing? If you had asked each of us to tell you how much money was in the bag, you would have been able to identify the owner. Tia protests, but the guards are having none of it. But... "...... What is this?" Edgar quickly pulled out a small piece of leather paper from the guard''s left pocket. "Oh, what are you doing? "That''s our line, sir." Edgar took out the receipt that he had received when he had just bought the doll to pay for it later. "This is the receipt that Mr. Reese received when he bought the doll at the store that sells knick-knacks. You were quietly pulling this out of your wallet, weren''t you?I saw it. "What are you talking about?" The guard is furious. I don''t know anything about this stuff. ...... haha, you''re trying to trick me by making it look like you''re out of my pocket, aren''t you?" What the hell are you talking about? "Look, Ledda''s husband. They''re all in on it. Cabrera is getting excited. "Yes, I guess so." By this time, Jin had pulled Erza and Hannah close to him, with Edgar and Reiko in front of them. And by this point, even the naive Princess Ries-Rieschen could see what was going on. "Don''t be a fool. You''re the ones who are in on it." What? What are you talking about, you little b*tc*? Guards Lederer and Cabrera looked down on Princess Rieschen from above. "What is this about our own guards? Who is your boss?" What?What is a little girl talking about?How dare you talk to a member of the Klein Kingdom''s guard? Princess Rieschen let out a sigh. "It''s pathetic. Are there still people like this in our country? ......" The guard became more and more arrogant. "If you keep talking to me like I''m a child, I''m going to have to ask you to stay the night, okay?" The guard pointed with his chin to a holding cell at the back of the jail. Then... "Idiot! Lederer''s face was punched off with a yell. "No!" "Mister!" Cabrera, who didn''t know what had happened, was also hit and fell on her ass. "Oh, Jessica!" Standing there is Jessica Norton, captain of the Kingsguard. Behind her was Licia Faarheit. 1440 - - 39-25 Stealing 3 "It''s ......, Jessica!" Jessica Norton is a famous face and name. Not only because she is the captain of the Kingsguard Ladies, but also because she is a <> fire mage. It is said that recently, her fire magic, which was too good and out of control, is getting better. Aside from that, when he saw Jessica''s face, Lederer''s face was cramped up and he seemed to have forgotten the pain of the beating. In the first place, it is rare for the captain of the Kingsguard to show his face at a guardhouse in a town like this. Behind her, there are not only Licia but also about five other Kingsguard members. "So, what brings you to this place, Miss Jessica? She is acting very suspicious. "Yes, I''ve heard that one of your acquaintances has been the subject of some unspoken suspicion. "Oh, the princess... ......?" It''s the princess. Princess ...... Princess Rieschen? There''s no other princess now, is there? "A princess?Here?" Lederer''s face is pale. "Yes. ...... Hey, where are you going?" "Oh no!" Jessica caught Cabrera by the collar as he was trying to sneak away and tossed him into the stuffy room. "Well, Princess, so much for sneaking around." She then bowed respectfully to Reese. One look at her and one would think that she would know who the "Princess" was. "What!This guy ...... is the princess! Yes. Yes. < Forgive me! Lederer gets down on his knees. "No, I don''t blame you for saying that without knowing I was your mistress." Oh, ......! But I can''t overlook the fact that you obviously protected a criminal and tried to incriminate an innocent person. Oh, ......! Take Lederer Maoe and Cabrera into custody. Yes, sir. Lederer and Cabrera were taken away by four Kingsguard. The remaining Kingsguard is to take temporary charge of the station until a replacement arrives. "Thank you, Jessica, for your hard work. Lysia, you have been very attentive. Princess Rieschen thanked Jessica and Licia. "Thank you very much." Licia bowed her head in gratitude. "Princess, would you like to go back?" Jessica said a little reluctantly. Before they knew it, it was around four o''clock in the afternoon, and the sky was beginning to darken as the days were still short. "Yes, okay. ...... Well, Jessica, do you have the money?" What?...... Yes, if you have some. "Can I borrow a gold coin for a moment, to return it when I get back to the castle?Roland there bought me a doll. Is that what you mean? I understand. ...... Roland, the princess has been indebted to you." I thanked him and handed him a gold coin. The cost of the doll was about 980 dollars, which was more than ten times the price of the doll. "For showing you around and for the trouble you''ve caused. Thank you for all you have done for me today. "Thank you, I am very happy." Roland thanked him and accepted the gold coins. He decided to keep it as a souvenir. They left Roland there, and Jin and his friends returned to the royal castle. Jin," he said, "I''m so sorry. Jin, I really learned a lot today. "I''m glad to hear that." Jin and his friends were relaxing in the reception room. "That''s the real face of the town. ...... "I don''t think pickpocketing is rampant, okay?Don''t get that wrong, okay?" "Yes, I know. But some of the guards are not very good. ...... "I''m sure today''s excursion was worth it just for you to know that, princess." Tia narrowed her eyes. "Well, yes,...... I learned a lot today." With that, Princess Rieschen took out the doll she had bought. She rifles off the wrapping paper and ....... "Aaahhh! She screams and sighs. "Oh, it''s broken. ......" The doll''s body was broken, as if it was made of brittle material. "Oh, that time..." The only time I can think of is when the pickpocket Cabrera ran into Roland with the doll. "......" "Which one?" Jin held out his hand to Rhys, who looked sad. "Oh, oh!Yes, Jin!You''re going to fix it? "I can''t stand by and watch you make that kind of face!" Jin examines the broken doll with a slightly playful look on his face. "It''s not ceramic, but dry clay with paint on it. No wonder it''s so fragile." After confirming the material, Jin joins the broken body together by hand, "<>" He joined them together with engineering magic. "Okay, let''s make this part a little more like this. ......<>" After fine-tuning, they are joined. And then.., "<>" and voila, it''s done. "Here, it''s fixed." "Oh, thank you, Jin!" "That''s great, princess!" Hannah looks happy too. Reiko, Edgar, and Tia are also smiling. Even though they are just dolls, they must be happy that Jin has repaired them. After that day, they took a bath. Princess Rieschen, Hannah, Licia, and Elsa went to the bathroom together. Jin asked Edgar to take Reiko to the bathroom with him, since he could not take Reiko in the bath with him. Incidentally, Reiko followed Elsa instead. The bathroom in the royal castle was also spacious enough for a relaxing bath, though not as spacious as the one in Horaijima. Then, Jin and Princess Rieschen alone had dinner. After dinner, we had a chat and went to bed. 1441 - - 39-26 Report Meeting February 25th is the debriefing of Gloria and her research team. Before the debriefing, Jessica came to Jin and his group''s room. "Good morning. "Good morning. Is something wrong? "No, not really. I just wanted to finish up yesterday before the debriefing. Oh, I see. Yesterday''s conclusion, that is, the interrogation of the pickpocket, Cabrera, and the security guard, Lederer, who was in league with him, and his treatment. The two confessed to all the other crimes they had committed as soon as the interrogation began. "Eleven more like yesterday...Both men will be sent to the mine." < and be sent to the Pygmold mine, one of the most remote mines in the country. "We would like to compensate the residents who caused us trouble, but we don''t know their names, so we have to let them go," he says regretfully. With that regretful remark, Jessica returned. "First of all, I''m glad to hear that... ......?" "Yes." The time passed, and finally the debriefing was to begin. The king, prime minister, and other ministers, the heads of knighthoods and other high-ranking military officers, and the lords of the various regions gathered in the large conference room. Jin and Erza attended as guests of honor, and Licia participated as a lord of Toka village. From outside of Japan, William Hex Sard, Minister of the Interior of the Kingdom of Egelea, our closest friend, was attending as a guest of honor, as was Jin. The Prime Minister, who was the facilitator of the meeting, announced, "The time has come for the debriefing. The Prime Minister, who was the facilitator, announced this, and Gloria, who was the leader of the survey team, stood up. I am Gloria Allstadt, the leader of this survey team. She bowed and began her presentation. We have been reexamining the Botsuffa site," she said. ...... Yes, the ruins that were attacked last year by a monster called <>." There was a brief flurry of activity in the conference room. "First, we observed the site carefully from the air, and after confirming that there were no abnormalities, we landed. We have set up a detection ward and encamped. There was a collective gasp from the crowd. They know that Gloria was seriously injured in the same place. They are surprised that she was able to visit and camp again without being traumatized by the past events. "This time we did not encounter any wild animals and I think we were able to conduct our research in a calm and peaceful way. However ......" He explains that a large part of the site had been destroyed by the previous disturbance, and that he had not found anything of interest in other areas. "The only thing that can be called an achievement is a stone tablet." Pascoe Rush, sitting next to Gloria, walked over and removed the cloth that had been hanging from it in the corner of the conference room. "Oh!" A small voice rose. It was not just a stone slab with words engraved on it, but it had been <>. As you can see, half of it is text and the other half is a picture. I thought it would be best not to make any judgments about what this means, so I had it brought here." "Well, does anyone know anything about this?" When the Prime Minister said this, everyone inclined their heads in unison. Jin knew about it because he had received a report from the old man, but he could not hide his surprise when he saw the actual thing. The picture on the stone tablet was a picture of an airplane. It was shaped like a . The fuselage is painted green and the Japanese flag is painted on it. However, it is rather sketchy and is at the level of a child''s drawing, if I may say so. (I am sure that it is related to Shuki Tsezi, the << wise man (magus) >>.) But since it is an incomplete picture and I could not explain it, I have decided to keep my mouth shut. "...... This must be another ancient magi-machine. It''s a very deep thing. Gloria began to explain again when someone muttered something. "I spent a lot of time looking for it, but I couldn''t find anything else. This investigation has made me realize how inadequate I am. Gloria looks truly disappointed. "I sincerely hope that experts in this kind of archaeological research will grow up. That''s all I have to say. Gloria bowed and took her seat. "Well, thank you. Now we will hear a few words from the other participants. Let''s start with Pascoe Rush. "Yes, sir." Pascoe Rush stands up next to Gloria. He looks a little nervous. "Pa, my name is Pascoe Rush. I''ve been selected to be a member of the archaeological survey team, and I''ve never seen or heard of anything like this before. He seems not a little, but a lot nervous. "Well, under such circumstances, I think that Captain Gloria''s instructions and judgment were appropriate. I am inexperienced, so I was in charge of safety confirmation rather than site investigation, but I realized that I should have been more competent. After that, the participants continued to present their impressions rather than reports. "If there is a next time, I would like to be of more help. That is all." Pascoe bowed and sat down to a warm round of applause. "And you, Tiffany Baldacci, would you like to join us? "Yes." Tiffany, the healer from the survey team, stood up and began to speak. "No one was injured during this investigation because Captain Gloria''s instructions were appropriate. So there was no need for me as a healer. He did not have to heal, which is something to be happy about. "In my opinion, after having seen the entire survey, I think that it is better to have one of the so-called experts accompany you to investigate these unknown sites. That is all." Tiffany bowed and sat down. "Thank you. Now that we have heard the report, I would like to turn the floor over to the question and answer session. Gloria, is that all right? "Yes." "Yes. Okay, let me start with a question. Did you notice anything about flying in the sky? The Prime Minister is indeed a facilitator. It was an item that Gloria and the others had failed to report. "Yes, we failed to report it. I am sorry." Gloria, as the captain, apologized on behalf of the group and began to answer. "The advantages of traveling by air ...... are that it takes less time, there is no danger of wild beasts and monsters, and the terrain is easier to understand. Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages, such as the difficulty in understanding the vegetation and creatures along the way. "I see. Well said. I see. ...... Anyone else have any questions? Okay, I''ll go first. Jin raised his hand and the Prime Minister looked a little surprised. "Oh, Jin-dono, come in." "Yes, then. I would like to hear your evaluation of the airship through ...... this survey. Please give me your honest opinion. "Well, as the creator of the airship, it is only natural. As is expected of you, Mr. Jin, you are full of ambition. "I''ll go first. I have no complaints about the speed of ...... movement. I have no complaints about its usefulness either. I only wish it could carry more people. The helium-fuelled levitation of the boat inevitably limits its payload capacity. Jin knew that. I see. Thank you very much. I will use it as a reference for my next work. However, the is already not helium-powered. "May I join you?" "Yes, by all means." Tiffany raised her hand and began to speak. "The ride was very comfortable. I would like to add one luxury: it shook when it was windy. No one was hurt, but some people got motion sickness. "I see. Thank you very much. It is an improvement in stability, isn''t it? Incidentally, it was Pascoe Rush who got motion sickness, blushing and looking down. "Well then, Mister Pascoe, is there anything I can do for you?" Jin pointed water at the prone Pascoe. "Uh, well, let''s see... ......" Pascoe opened his mouth in a manner as if he was trying to get a good look at Jin. "I think it would be ...... more secure if you could cover the ground from the air." "Does that mean you want us to carry weapons?" Yes. ...... I see. I see. I will take that into consideration. Thank you very much. That was the end of the questions from Mr. Jin. After that, a few more questions and answers were exchanged, and the day''s debriefing session was over. Thank you very much. "You have given us a lot of useful information, haven''t you? The main points of improvement for helium-based airships are to improve their stability and buoyancy. As for weapons, Jin thought that for the time being, he would like to leave the matter to other countries. 1442 - - 39-27 Request After the debriefing, Jin and the others were stopped by the Prime Minister and Princess Rieschen. "Mister Jin, may I have a word?" "Yes, what is it?" Without any reason to refuse, Jin and the others were taken to another room ......, a small conference room. "Did you know that the Kingdom of Egelea also sent a survey team to investigate the ruins? "Yes, I have heard about it. "Yes, I have heard about it. So, the Kingdom of Egelea is also going to hold a debriefing session, would you be interested? Jin, who was beginning to get the drift of what was going on, said, "Yes, I am interested, "Yes, I am. The Prime Minister''s face broke into a smile when he heard this. A smile appeared on the Prime Minister''s face when he heard this. "I see. In that case, I have a favor to ask you: ......." The Prime Minister''s request was that Princess Rieschen, Tia, and Harvey Sotos Flegrode, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, would be taken to the Kingdom of Egelea. They said they would only need to go there. "At the speed of <>, it would be possible. Of course, there is enough room in terms of capacity. "Then, please do it!Of course, I''ll thank you." "Yes, of course. So when does it start? The day after tomorrow. Then we can leave tomorrow morning and be there in time. Yes. I''d like that very much. Jin wanted to know what the survey team from the Kingdom of Egelea had found, and since he knew some people there, he gladly accepted the offer. "Oh, and Lysia Faarheit. You may accompany her." The Prime Minister gave Licia permission to accompany him. "Oh, thank you!" The Prime Minister knew that Licia and Mrs. Jin were close friends, so he gave his permission. "Will this be an official visit?" "No, it''s just that we''re going to take advantage of your , so it doesn''t matter who Jin-dono brings with him to the Kingdom of Egelea." The Prime Minister, anticipating Jin''s desire to take Hannah with him, explained. The Prime Minister explained, "I will ask her to go with him because he is going to the Kingdom of Egelea. "I understand." Jin agreed. The only question is where to send them. "I heard that <> can come and go freely to the royal castle of each country, so I would like you to send them to the royal castle. Since that was also known, Jin agreed. "Yes, sir." At this point Princess Rieschen smiled happily. "Jin, please take care of her!" Princess Rieschen was also looking forward to visiting the Kingdom of Egelea with her fianc, Prince Ernest. So it was decided that Jin, Elsa, Hannah, Licia, Reiko, Edgar, and the others would go to the Kingdom of Egelea with Princess Rieschen and Undersecretary Harvey of the Ministry of Magic and Technology. I''ve never been to the Kingdom of Egelea before. I''m so excited!" Hannah looks happy. Jin wanted to take this opportunity to show Hannah a country she had never been to before, so it was the perfect time for him to do so. "I wonder if I can go, too. ......" Licia, on the other hand, was a little reserved. "The Prime Minister said it would be fine. The rest is just business in Toka village." "......That''s because we don''t have much work to do now, and Fred has learned to do a lot of it." "Fred, that soldier boy, right?" "Yes, that''s right. I think he''s better suited for clerical work and I''m thinking of officially making him a secretary in the near future. "Really?" Sometimes people have unexpected talents that they are not even aware of. Attending an educational institution is a way to increase the chances of discovering such talents. "Licia was better suited to be a rescue knight than a knight, and Erza had a hidden talent for engineering magic. The most surprising is Hannah, but Jin says. "Thanks to you." Hannah answered with a little bit of a smile. That night, Jin''s group stayed at the Royal Castle of the Kingdom of Klein. * * * * * * * * * * "Well then, Mr. Kunlun, take good care of my daughter, will you? "Yes, I''ll take good care of her. The next day, Jin and his team were preparing to leave for the Kingdom of Egelea by . Then King Alois III appeared, accompanied by Princess Rieschen. Tia was also with them. A little later came Harvey, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology. "Take care, Jin-dono! "Go ahead, Your Highness." "Yes, thank you, sir." "Yes, I''m off." With these words from the Prime Minister, Jin, Princess Rieschen, and Tia boarded the ship. Elsa and Hannah are already on board. "Licia, you take care of yourself." Yes, sir! Licia gets on board too, and finally Reiko bows and gets on board, closing the hatch. Then the aircraft slowly begins to ascend. It gradually gained altitude. After a few minutes, it completely disappears from the sight of those who are watching it. * * * * * * "Oh, it''s flying! Most excited is Harvey, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology. He is 170 centimeters and 65 kilograms, which is the standard build in this world, with brown hair and brown eyes. Brown hair and brown eyes. According to his age, he is 35 years old. According to the prime minister, he was quite capable. "Mister Jin, I have only been in one of our airships once, but it was so much more stable. Is there some secret?...... Oh, I probably shouldn''t have asked this." He seemed to be a rather busy character, asking Jin various questions in a somewhat excited manner, and then taking them back himself. "Harvey, calm down a little." Princess Rieschen even said to him. Yes, I''m sorry. "It''s true, I never get tired of the view from the sky no matter how many times I fly. Especially when they are made by gin. Princess Rieschen says as she looks down through the floor window. is flying at an altitude of 3,000 meters at about 100 kilometers per hour. Clouds occasionally drift below. The distance from Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, to Asund, the capital of the Kingdom of Egeria, is about 300 kilometers, which takes about three hours. The departure time from Alban is around 8:00 a.m., which means that they will arrive at the destination by 11:00 a.m. The <> should have been informed of its destination by the <>, so there is no need to worry about anyone being caught in mid-air. Before that, there is no way that they could have mistaken for him. Jin and his group arrived at Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, at 11:00 a.m. as planned. They were greeted by a hot-air balloon of the Kingdom of Egelea, and led by the , they landed at a special airfield in the courtyard of the royal castle. 1443 - - 39-28 In Asund, the capital. "Gin!Rhys!" At the royal castle of Egelea, the third prince Ernesto also greeted the group. "Your Highness, it''s been a long time. "It''s good to see you again, Gin." Prince Ernest looks a little mature. He has grown to about 170 centimeters in height. Jin thought to himself, "I was 15 years old this year. "Mr. Nest!" "Welcome, Mr. Rhys!" Prince Ernest smiled at Princess Rieschen, but his face was the same as before. "Harvey Sotos Flegrode, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, welcome!" But his attitude towards Harvey is that of royalty. He speaks to Jin in the same frank tone he used to use. Jin, please stay at the royal castle. We have a lot to talk about. <. Jin knew that. If he wanted to visit the castle town in secret, he could just come here through the warp gate. "Thank you very much. Since there were many knights and soldiers in the room besides Prince Ernest, Jin used honorifics. "Princess Rieschen and her party please come this way. Prince Jin''s group is this way." The one who appeared to guide Jin and the others was Lyanna, the leader of the second group of the Royal Secret Maids. She is an excellent maid who will soon be working for . "Hi Lyanna, I''m looking forward to working with you. "Yes, it''s nice to meet you too. "Well then, Jin, Elsa, Hannah, Licia, Leco, Edgar, see you later. Calling everyone by name, Princess Rieschen was escorted out with Undersecretary Harvey of the Ministry of Magic and Technology. "This room is yours." "Thank you." Jin and the others were shown to a large living room with four adjoining bedrooms. One of them was a double room, two were singles, and the other was a twin room. It seemed to be a guest room for a large family. A couple would have a double room, and if they had a small child, they would have a twin room with a nanny. Of course, Jin and Elsa were to have a double room, and Hanna and Licia were to have a single room each. Since we do not plan to stay for a long period of time, we do not have much luggage. If they need more luggage, they can have it sent from Horai Island. "Would you like to have lunch? It was almost noon. "Shall I have it brought to your room?" Jin nodded to Lyanna''s words. "Yes, please do." Lunch had been prepared according to Jin''s taste. "We''ve been adding a lot to the menu lately. Lianna said smiling as she brought the food. "Since Jin-sama''s guests came back, they have become very particular about the taste, and for a while the kitchen was in turmoil. "Did I do something wrong?" But Leanna laughed and shook her head. "No, everyone says it''s a good thing that people are becoming more conscious about food. Even the head chef himself. "That''s all right then." "Come on, let''s eat!" Since Jin didn''t touch it, Erza and Hannah had to leave it alone. "Oh, I''m sorry. ...... Bon apptit." "Bon apptit!" "Oh, it''s delicious." Elsa ate a barley porridge. It was quite good, with a hint of salt, spices and herbs. "This is delicious!" Hannah is eating pasta-like noodles. Butter and pepper, with a hint of herbs, give the noodles a simple yet tasty flavor. "Yes, it''s cooked well." Jin tried the grilled fish and liked the seasoning. He was more impressed by the fact that the fish had not yet cooled down. When grilled fish gets cold, it becomes tough and tasteless. "Oh, this fish is delicious! Hannah also liked the grilled fish. It was also made with butter, salt and pepper, but more than that, it was a fish from the sea, which was very unusual for Hannah, who was from the Kingdom of Klein. "It''s true, it''s delicious. Licia also seemed to like the grilled fish. "Are herbs abundant in the Kingdom of Egelea?" Elsa asked Jin as she ate. "No. ...... don''t you know more than Elsa?" "I don''t remember much." At this point Lyanna explains. "Well, you see, in the last half year or so, cooking with herbs has started to become popular, and this year we started to use them in the royal castle. "Oh, I see." I wondered who was behind it, but the answer came from an unexpected source. "(Deneb 10, Irina from the 5th row (quinta))". Reiko''s voice sounded so clear that only Jin could hear it. "(As a young landlady of a restaurant in the town, Deneb 10 heard from the old man and went to various places)". The fifth column (Quinta) is scattered in various countries, not only gathering information but also contributing to the community. In this case, it is to improve the diet. The most important reason seems to be for the time when Jin visits us like this. Thanks for the food. "Thank you for the food, it was delicious!" "Thank you for the food!" "Thank you for the food!" "It was delicious. Thank you for the food. After finishing their meal, Jin and the others drink Taeye, a specialty of the Kingdom of Egelea. The tea leaves used in the royal castle were of the highest quality, and the aroma and taste were exceptional. "How would you like to spend your afternoon? Lyanna asked after setting down the dishes. "Well, ...... tomorrow we will have a debriefing on the archaeological site, so I would like to go sightseeing around the castle today. "In that case, I''ll accompany you ...... no, I''ll show you around." Neither Jin nor Erza, nor Licia and Hannah, were familiar with the capital city of Asunto, so they were grateful for this offer. If it had been just Jin and the others, we would have asked Mira 1 and Mabel from the fifth row (Quinta). "Then I will ask them. "Yes, I will. Could you please wait for about 5 minutes while I go to my supervisor to say no? "Yes, I''ll get ready to go out in the meantime. Thus, Jin and his friends decided to visit Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, with Lyanna as their guide. 1444 - - 39-29 Watching Asund This is the main street. "Wow, this is great!" The central street of Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, is as wide as a 10-lane road in modern Japan. There was a ceremonial sidewalk in the center, and trees were planted on both sides, a little like the approach to Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine in Kamakura, or danzura, for example. This part of the street is used by the nobles and above when they go to or leave the royal castle, and it is usually closed. After receiving such explanation from Lyanna, Jin and his group had started to visit Asunto. "How about a clothing store? Jin asked, thinking of Elsa, Hannah, and Licia''s interest, and Leanna immediately replied. "Yes, I do. This way." The group was led to a store in a prime location on Chuo Dori. "Wow. ......". The design of the Egelea Kingdom is somewhat different from that of the Shoro and Klein Kingdoms. Compared to the function-oriented Shoro Kingdom and the climate-oriented Klein Kingdom, which are more concerned with protection from the cold, the designs of the Egelea Kingdom are more open and ornate. Erza, Hannah, and Licia were excited to pick up and try on blouses and jackets. Jin, on the other hand, could understand the excitement of the women, but it was a little hard for him to stay with them until the end. So he quietly told Lyanna, "Is there any magic store nearby?) ("Is there a magic shop nearby?"). She replied, "Yes, there is.) ) He left the rest to Leanna and Edgar, and quietly slipped out of the store. He was accompanied only by Reiko. "Oh, I''m not good at this." "Hmm, I guess your father doesn''t like that kind of restaurant after all. Reiko smiles and says to Jin. She''s in a good mood since it''s been a while since they''ve been alone together. "This is the place. The store is quite magnificent. It''s even better than the Raglan Trading Company in the Kingdom of Klein. The store is about the size of two school classrooms, and half of the shelves are used for displaying goods. When Jin entered the store, he found about 10 customers. Half of them were accompanied by a clerk, who was explaining the products to them. A clerk came up to Jin, but he declined, saying that he wanted to take his time to look around the store. "Well, you have a pretty good selection. The store was divided into sections for weapons, accessories, daily necessities, hobbies, etc., and each section displayed several to a dozen different kinds of goods. "Oh, there''s a refrigerator here, too. Jin approached a familiar magical tool. "This must have been made by Beena. It seems to have come from the Blue Lands. It has the mark of Bina''s work on it. Jin thought that the economic situation in the Blue Lands was not so bad, since they were supplying such magic tools to the capital city. Of course, he could not be sure of this on his own. "Father, it looks like this one was also made by Ms. Beena. "Let''s see. ...... Oh, this one..." It''s a water heater. It was made by Jin when he and Beena were developing something to sell at the stalls in the Blue Lands. But what you see before you is much more sophisticated. Instead of a vat, it was a <> ceramic jar that was simply sealed to prevent dust and debris from entering and to improve thermal efficiency. "Haha, a heating element is built into the bottom of the jar and baked?" If we use a heat-resistant plate, it can certainly withstand the baking temperature of ceramics. "Bina must be working hard too." < recently, Jin did not know that they had developed such a magical tool. "It would be nice to live with everyone in the <>, but ...... that''s a dream. It''s not realistic." Everyone has their own life. "We have warp gates and manacams. Jin reminded himself that he would always be able to contact them if he needed to. "Father, let''s take a look over there too. Perhaps she was concerned about Jin''s feelings, Reiko invited him to the accessory corner. "Hmm............huh............" Since this was not her area of expertise in a sense, Jin forgot about his depression and looked at the items with great interest. "It''s a magical tool, so it seems to have various effects. The brooch had a very slight magical effect. (It seems to prevent motion sickness, at least with this on.) Jin is a little impressed by the idea. (But with this quality, the effect will wear off within two years. ......) (But with this quality, the effect will wear off within two years.) The magic crystal attached to the brooch will only last once the free magic element (ether) inside it is depleted. (I would configure it so that it is activated only when necessary.) However, there was no one but Jin who could have written such a detailed description, so it had ended up as a rough magic tool like this. "This is a weapon. A dagger." It is not a weapons shop, so it seems to have only a dagger as a magical tool. "This is ...... eh?" Jin < and the dagger, which activates > magic. (The same level as the <> that Bina was carrying when we met her, or ....... Maybe the maker is the same.) ) Nevertheless, Jin did not understand the meaning of having a paralyzing effect on a dagger that could kill. "Father, if it paralyzes the opponent even if it only grazes him, it would make sense, wouldn''t it?" Reiko advised in a whisper. "Yes, indeed. Thank you, Reiko. I feel much better now." As Reiko had guessed, the paralyzing effect is triggered just by grazing or touching them, so these swords and spears with paralyzing effects are surprisingly useful. Jin and Reiko then went to the hobby corner. "Oh, this place is interesting. A place filled with the most miscellaneous, the most messy goods. "But it''s not magic tools, is it?" It really is just a hobby corner. "Dolls, stuffed animals, and what''s this ......?" There were several things that looked like faces painted on eggshells. The colors are colorful and seem to be for children. "That''s a , isn''t it?" "Oh, Lyanna." I noticed that Elsa, Hannah, and Licia had arrived as well. "We put sweets in the eggshells and give them to small children. Recently, I''ve heard that there are more and more lovers who put rings and other things mixed in with the sweets." "Hehe ......" Jin wondered if it was a custom like in the modern earth. Well, Jin was not familiar with Easter eggs. "Jin, this is interesting. Erza seemed to have found something. "Oh, these are so cute!" A little further away, Hannah is also picking up something from the display. "Wow, this is nice!" And Licia, too. ....... Jin smiles at the sudden bustle of activity around him, but he feels happy that he is not alone. 1445 - - 39-30 Report Meeting in the Kingdom of Egerea In the end, Jin and his friends returned to the castle with a mountain of shopping after visiting Asunto until the evening. Reiko and Edgar carried their luggage. "I had a good time. Thank you, Jin-bro. "Thank you for buying so many things for us, Onii-chan! "Jin-san, am I allowed to go to ......?" Jin, who had bought Erza, Hannah, and Licia each something that they liked, was quite content in his own way. He had only bought a few things for people in his life, with the exception of a small child in an institution. Before that, he did not have the financial resources to go shopping. As a matter of fact, Lyanna had told him that all the purchases would be paid for by the Kingdom of Egelea, but he had refused her offer and paid out of his own pocket. "It''s nice not only to make something, but also to buy something for someone like this. ...... The person who bought it seems happy." Jin was relaxing in his room, feeling a bit out of focus. Elsa and the others unwrapped the items they had bought and looked around sullenly at them as if they were <>. "When I picked it up at the store, it was still a product of the store, but now it''s mine, or ......." Thinking about this, Jin takes a sip of the tea (taeye) that Reiko made for him. Leanna is now reporting for her outing. Soon it was time for dinner. Jin, what are you doing here? "Jin, it was so boring that I couldn''t make it to the last . "Me too." Dinner was served in the small dining room of the castle, with Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen in attendance. Even though it is called a small dining room, it is luxuriously decorated as if it were for royalty and guests. <> sounds like an amazing place. ...... Did Lyanna go there?That''s nice." "Thank you. Lyanna, Kate, Lisa, and others had accompanied King Egelea and his attendants to the last World Congress. "I''d love to go there next time!" "Master Nest, a world congress is not a place for fun and games. "I know." Prince Ernest, who was making innocent remarks, was rebuked by Princess Rieschen, who was sitting next to him, but the dinner went on peacefully. "Tomorrow, the debriefing will start at 9:00 p.m." Lianna told Jin and the others when they returned to their rooms. "Will breakfast be served around 7:30 a.m.? "Yes, that''s fine. Since Jin and the others were all early risers, 6:00 a.m. would not be a problem. I''ll be with you the rest of the way, so please leave Lyanna-san alone. Reiko said, and Leanna bowed and left the room. "Well, it''s still early for bed, let''s play a game or something. "Yes!" Jin suggested, and Hannah was the first to agree. "I brought a small Sugoroku (a Japanese traditional Japanese game of Sugoroku) with me." Jin took out a set of Sugoroku from his baggage. The Kingdom of Egelea is known for its Sugoroku. Jin remembered the <>. At that time, he had enjoyed playing Sugoroku by drawing squares on the table to pass the time. "Well, is this called Sugoroku?" A set of Sugoroku board, pieces and dice. "Yes. Is this Licia''s first time? Yes, it is. "Licia, honey, the rules are easy!" Hannah explained to Licia how to play. "I see, I understand. Thank you, Hannah! Licia seemed to agree, so Jin finally decided to begin. "First, let''s decide the order. The order is decided by rolling the dice. Erza, Hitoshi, Licia, and Hannah are chosen in that order. Reiko and Edgar, let''s do it too. "Are you sure?" "Yes, father." Since all they had to do was roll the dice, the conditions for Reiko and Edgar were the same as for Jin and the others. "Oh, one break." "Wow, back five." "Yay, I''m back!" Jin and the others enjoy playing Sugoroku with the six of them. The night of the Kingdom of Egelea is over. * * * * The next day, Jin had breakfast at 7:30 a.m. as scheduled and moved to the main conference room at 8:30 a.m. where the debriefing session was held. Incidentally, although he almost stayed up late playing Sugoroku, he was able to get a good night''s sleep thanks to the admonition from Reiko and Edgar. However, Hannah and Licia could not be present this time, and Elsa did not feel the need to attend, so only Jin and Reiko were present. The large conference room was about the size of six standard school classrooms. There was a large table in the center of the room with seats around it. Some people had already taken their seats. "Oh, Mr. Jin, it''s been a long time. The person who called out to me was the Prime Minister, the Marquis Boyd Norse Galuelli. "<>, thank you for all you did for me the other day," said King Harold of Egelea. said Harold Ruan Autoclase, King of Egelea. The third prince Ernest sat next to him, and the princess Rieschen sat next to him. Jin waved back in the same manner and took his seat. Jin was looking forward to this debriefing session. He knew that there were still some facilities in the basement, but he did not know what they were because he had left the investigation to the survey team that had visited the site. The attendees gathered little by little and the debriefing session started at 9:00 a.m. on time. The briefing will begin at 9:00 a.m. on time. The facilitator was Mr. William Hex Sard, Minister of the Interior. Rapporteur, please begin. Yes. My name is Paule Raid. I''m Paule Raid. I''m the captain of the 3rd knighthood. I''ve been asked to lead this expedition. Paule Raid bowed and began his report. "We have set our sights on the ruins of Soldrake. These ruins are the place where Giga-Ant was once trapped. Pohl gives a brief account of the former events and the devastation. His explanation was specific and precise, and all who heard it were reminded of the devastation of that time. However, he skipped over the problems with the survey team from the Kingdom of Cerroa. The relationship between the two countries is completely different now than it was then, "......, but this time nothing happened at all. With great care, we went inside the ruins, little by little, to investigate. And ......." Paule Raid finally began to talk about the results of his investigation of the ruins. 1446 - - 39-31 Report Meeting No. 1 Inside the ruins, nothing seemed to have changed since my last visit. Some of us breathed a sigh of relief at Paule Raid''s words. "As you may have guessed, no giant ants have appeared since then, so we were able to conduct our investigation with peace of mind. Of course, we are not letting our guard down. We are always thinking about all possible contingencies." Everyone is listening intently. But then a voice came up. "I''m sorry. I believe you said earlier that <>. "My apologies. I will explain about that in the next few minutes and continue with my report. Paule Raid bowed and continued. "The members of the survey team thought that such large ruins could not have simply contained giant ants. And this was the same thought in the home kingdom of Egelea. "After two full days of investigation with no results, we put our heads together and discussed the possibility of changing our minds. As Jin listened to the explanation, he wondered in a corner of his mind if this chronological explanation, as if he were reading a diary, was a characteristic of the knight. And it is correct. It is customary for a knight, or at least a knight of the Kingdom of Egelea, to give his report in the style of a diary. "The conclusion was that there must be some clues in a different place from the cave where the giant ants were sealed up. Jin thought that was a correct inference. There was no way that they would put any materials in the place where the GIGANTH was sealed. It is also hard to imagine a place too far away from the Giant Ants. It would make less sense to put the materials there. "Then we searched for two whole days again. Just when I was about to think that it would not work again, one of the members of the team came up with a funny story. One of the men found something strange." Everyone listened without coughing. Jin knew what it was because the old man had told him. It was a magi crystal polished into a perfect sphere. ......The meaning of making a sphere of magi crystal is, as some of you may know, one is a control core for golems, etc., and the other is a control core for magic tools such as a paralyzing wand (stun rod). The other is the core of magic tools such as a paralyzing staff (stun rod). Actually, as far as Jin knows, there are two more. One is to use it as the pole of a barrier-generating magical tool, and the other is to use it as the detection part of a magic detector (magi radar). In both cases, it is polished into a perfect sphere in order to emit a ray of magic power with the same intensity in all directions. "In any case, the discovery of artificially polished magical crystals (magicrystals) means that there are artifacts hidden nearby. We searched the entire area under the setting sky. The old man had told Jin about the area. "And before it was dark, we found a hollow buried in the ground. There were shouts of "Oh," from everywhere. "We were afraid to excavate in the dark of night, so we decided to call it a day and started excavation early the next day. Then the wait was over. "Wait a minute. You said you found a hollow in the ground. It was Defense Minister Jude asked the question. "I beg your pardon. ...... We had a long spear-shaped sonde and used it to pierce the ground. As a result, we found a cavity about 1.5 meters deep in the ground." Jin thought this made sense. He had not heard about this point from the old man in detail. According to the whole story, the sonde was a magical tool with an earth magic < on the tip of its long stick. < (You got the reference, didn''t you?). For example, if you put this effect on the tip of an arrow, you can make an arrow that can penetrate most things. "......We had confirmed that there was nothing dangerous inside through the hole we had made earlier, so we all set to work excavating. After about three hours, we were able to excavate the desired cavity." Jin stops thinking and concentrates on listening again. "It was originally a one-story or semi-subterranean building. We don''t know if it was buried in the ground over the years, or if it was buried to contain the giant ants. His listeners are intrigued. "The inside of the building where they were buried was cleaner than I expected. It was probably because it was sealed up." The building has seen the light of day for the first time in hundreds of years. "There were some documents inside. There are some documents in there about the threat of giant ants and the installation of golems. A voice said, "Oh, I see. "I''ll leave the details to the specialized department, but I''ll give you a rough idea of what it''s about. It seems that ...... giant ants are a mutant species of giant ants (mega-ants). Jin and the others were aware of this. "Giant ants (mega-ants) have become gigantic for some reason and have become ferocious ......, and these are called giant ants (giga-ants)." Jin and others believe that this lies in too much free magic element (ether). The mana produced in excess in the cells causes in humans, while in the case of mega-ants, it seems to encourage them to grow even larger. Jin and his colleagues thought that most of the creatures called "demons" were caused by the uneven distribution of free magical elements (ether). "This demon appeared from the depths of the mine, causing damage, but was contained and a golem was placed to hold it down. In addition, they piled up a large number of magical crystals (magi crystals), which act as attractants, to prevent the giant ants (gigantic ants) from going elsewhere, in order to prevent them from making holes in other areas and entering the ground." The large number of Magi Crystals found in front of the building had such a meaning. "I should have said that the giant ants crawled out, but I said that they were contained, because I read this record. Paule Raid offered an additional explanation. "The golem, as you know, was to counter the giant ants that crawled out. And the document seems to have written about the golem. Pohl closed this section by saying that he could not go into details about the golem. He then gave a brief report on his return, "That concludes my report," he said. The meeting ended with the words, "That concludes my report. Any questions? The facilitator, William Hex Sard, looked around the room and said, "Any questions? First, a man who looked like a knight raised his hand. "Here you go." "Yes. ...... I know you went to the ruins on foot before, but this time you did it from the air. How did you find your destination?" A good question, Jin thought. Jin and his team could use < and observation satellites <>, but how did they do it? "I was going to report on this point separately, but I think it''s a good time to explain it now. ...... As you say, the way you know where you are on the ground is different from the way you know where you are in the air. In other words, it is very difficult to know your location in the air. In a town, you can use a conspicuous building as a target, but in an unknown land or over an unchanging forest, it is not so easy. "Hmm." "So we used the compass on board the airship to determine our direction and to set up landmarks along the way. The landmarks were made of <><><<<>, etc., and were worked or marked in such a way that they could be recognized." Jin recalled stories of lumberjacks and others who went through the forest and carved machetes into the trunks of trees to mark their paths. "It took a long time, but we couldn''t think of any other way to do it now. ......" "Okay. Thank you." This should have been the same when we sailed on the open sea. < However, the art of navigation is still in its infancy. Just as lighthouses are useful for sea routes, Jin thought it would be good to have such a < for air routes as well. "What kind of materials were the walls and floor of the buried room made of?" Another person asked. "Yes. We are not experts, so we don''t know, but they were relatively soft stones." Jin knew about the stone. <. This stone was found in many places in the former Leonid Kingdom and was widely used because it was easy to process. So, "Is this the same kind of stone used in the potrocks of Elias Kingdom? I advised him. "Oh, yes. I have been there and I think it is the same. Thank you for your advice. The facilitator, the Minister of the Interior, thanked Jin briefly and continued. "Are there any other questions?" A mature man who appeared to be a technical expert raised his hand and opened his mouth. "Are you going to announce any details about the golem? "We will announce it this afternoon. Listening to this exchange, Jin remembered the man''s name. Jade Nephroy, as he recalled. <, or something like that.) I had talked with him for a while at Duke Bruu''s place, so I vaguely remembered him. "I''m looking forward to it." Jade Nephroy sat down with a really happy face. After a few more questions and answers, the morning session came to an end when all the topics had been discussed. The technical report would be given in the afternoon by another person in charge. 1447 - - 39-32 Report Meeting No. 2 After lunch, it was another debriefing in the afternoon. Jin met Licia, Hannah, Erza and the others briefly and confirmed that all three were doing well. "We will now have a debriefing session on the results of deciphering the golem materials found at the ruins. As in the morning, the Minister of the Interior is facilitating the meeting. The attendees were almost the same as in the morning, but there seemed to be no knights or other military personnel present. Jin thought that it was useless to listen to a technical talk. And this became a certainty when he heard the report. "...... skeleton is endoskeleton and muscular tissue is . The surface treatment is done as a surface treatment to prevent corrosion." It seems that and are parts that cannot be deciphered or are missing from the material. "At the very least, materials that are resistant to strong acids should be carefully selected." There is no doubt that these contents are measures against giant ants. "The shields should be made large, and also be protected against strong acid. Biological materials are strictly prohibited. Jin nodded his head in agreement, "Indeed, it will dissolve almost all living materials. Even Reiko''s skin and the wing membrane of a sea dragon dissolved. "...... and its control is . ......The above is what was written in Document 1." Jin thought that Document 1 must have described the concept of a golem for use against giant ants. "Next is Document 2, which has a lot of missing material and is even more unintelligible," he said. If the leather paper is not well preserved, it can become moldy or, in the worst case, eaten by insects. In this case, it seems to have been both. "Well, I could only read that the golem was replenished, or that the core was something..." Jin speculates that the large amount of magical crystals (magi crystals) found in the ruins may have been used as bait to lure the golem, as well as for the control core to create a new golem. "Documents 3 and 4 are almost entirely covered with mold and are indecipherable. Document 5 describes the situation in which giant ants (Giga-ants) appeared in the mine at that time. According to the brief description, when the tunnel where the magi crystals had been mined for many years reached about 200 meters underground, giant ants appeared. At first it was just one or two ants, but after 10 days, the ants became so numerous that they pushed back into the tunnels, causing a great deal of damage. Since insect-type demons are vulnerable to low temperatures, they were weakened by using magic such as <>. I see, that makes sense.) Jin was impressed by the wisdom of the people of the former Leonard Kingdom. "Document 6" was a facility, i.e., a floor plan of the ruins. According to this, there is another place like a reference room, but according to the investigation at that time, it was under rubble, so I assume that it suffered from some kind of disaster in the past." Jin also thought that it was a pity that there would be no leather paper or other materials left in the area. "...... is all I have to say." There was a round of applause. "Well, do you have any questions?...... Jin-dono." Jin was the first to raise his hand, because there was something he really wanted to know. "Yes. The first part of the document that is not decipherable, is it all because you couldn''t read the <>?Or could you read the letters but not understand the words?" "I will answer. The musculature is the part of ...... that reads <>?but I did not understand the meaning at all. Similarly, after ...... as surface treatment, it is <>, which I could not understand. The rest of the text was completely unreadable due to insect bites, etc." "That''s unfortunate. I understand." Jin thanks him and thinks for a moment. (Is ......<>METAL?METAL?You mean ...... metal muscles?) That''s possible, Jin thought. (The other one is <, because metal seems to be more resistant to the body fluid of giant ants than biological materials. (The other one is <> or ...... might be <> over here. PASSIVATE>>?) PASSIVATE treatment is a kind of rust inhibiting treatment for stainless steel. In stainless steel, the passive film naturally formed by the chromium content is very thin, so this treatment is to artificially thicken it. (If you think about it, it is a surface treatment to resist strong acids. ......) Jin, who is quite familiar with metallurgy, had a rough idea. (But I don''t think he would understand me even if I explained it to him. ......) This made him a little bit impatient. "Is there any other ...... way?" While Jin was pondering, another question was already asked and answered. No further questions were raised, and that was the end of the debriefing. "After this break, we will have a review meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Magic, if any of you would like to attend. Before dismissing the meeting, the Minister of Magic, Mr. Kelihidole, made a declaration. Jin wanted to attend the meeting, but since he had left Erza, Hannah, Licia and the others alone since this morning, he decided to forgo it this time. Then, he came to the door. "Jin, now we can talk at leisure!" It was Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen. "I''m going to have tea now, would you like to join me, Jin?Of course, Erza and your friends who came with you will join us." "Nest-sama, it''s interesting that you say ''with the friends who came with us''." "Ah, ha-ha-ha." The two were good friends. The two of them were very good friends. "Wow, I''ve never been in a room like this! "Haha, I''m glad you like it." Jin and his friends were led to the living room in Ernesto''s living area in a corner of the royal castle. The living room was a room that made us want to ask how it was different from a reception room, and we were reminded that it was indeed the prince''s living room. "Wow, what a beautiful wall hanging! "Wow, that''s a beautiful wall hanging!" "It''s a tapestry from the South, I believe. It''s ......, isn''t it, Mr. Nest?" "Yes, that''s right." Hannah is very excited to see the Egerian furnishings. Princess Rieschen looked at Hannah with sisterly eyes. Elsa, who had been to Egelea several times and was originally a baroness, was drinking tea in a calm atmosphere. On the other hand, Licia was drinking tea with a lot of tension because she was a new noble and the prince of Egelea was present. And Jin was talking to Lotte, a golem standing diagonally behind Prince Ernest. "Lotte, how are you feeling? "Yes, Jin-sama, not bad. "I see. I''ll check on you later. "Yes, thank you." Jin''s gaze then turns to Princess Rieschen, who is sitting next to Prince Ernest, and Tia, who is standing diagonally behind her. ....... Ah!) Suddenly, he remembered his past promise. (When was it that I promised Tia that I would take her to see her sister, Refa?) Jin notices this and quietly tells Reiko about it in a whisper. Reiko tells the old man with her built-in manacam, and Jin hopes that the old man will take the best course of action considering the current situation. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man was on the move on Horai Island. 1448 - - 39-33 The Things You Meet "Hey Jin, can you tell me briefly what you thought of this debriefing?" Prince Ernest asked Jin. "Well, I thought ...... that <> was a good tool." "<>?" Erza tilted her head, as did Hanna and Licia, so Jin gave a brief explanation. "Hmmm...... it would be nice if there was a function to look through the hole after drilling it." "Yes!That would be great!I''ll tell Kerichdole about it later." Prince Ernest seemed impressed by Hannah''s casual remark. "Hannah is a smart girl." Princess Rieschen looked at Hannah with narrowed eyes. "I also thought that the large amount of Magi Crystals found there must have been used to manufacture additional golems. "Oh, you thought so too, Jin. I thought so too. But if that''s the case, how do you explain the fact that no materials were prepared for the main body of the golem? Ernest agreed with Jin''s opinion, but also pointed out the weakness of his assumption. "Well, ...... for example, it could be that they couldn''t prepare it, but it could also be that they intended to reuse the broken golem, right?" "Yeah, that seems likely." Other speculations were also made, such as the possibility that there might be some kind of storage facility if one looked hard enough, or that the place where the golem was buried might be the same, but none of them were conclusive, and it was somewhat disappointing that they could only end up imagining things. Then, the news from the old man arrived through Reiko. (Your father sent Ann, Lol, and Leffa to <>.) (All three of them? ...... Well, okay...) Jin turns to them and speaks to them in a low voice. "Hey, you two, listen to me for a second." "Hey, you two, listen." "Yeah?Jin, what''s going on? Jin, what is it? Jin thought up a plan on the spur of the moment, "Actually, I have a surprise for you two." Jin said. "Oh, a surprise?" "A surprise?" "Yes. <, do you mind if I go get them?" Prince Ernest, of course, could not possibly deny this. Of course. ...... Oh, may I ask Lyanna to follow me?" If Leanna, a member of the Royal Secret Maidens, accompanies him, he will have a free pass to the castle''s facilities within the normal range. Jin gratefully accepted the offer. "Well, I''m going to go now. Erza, take care of the rest. I''ll take care of her. Jin-sama, what exactly are you going to get? Well, you''ll find out when you get there. I''ll find out when I get there. ...... While talking like this, they went to the special airfield in the courtyard of the royal castle. Jin had Lianna wait outside and went into the Conlon 3. There were three blue-haired automata, including Anne, Lol, and Leffa. They were all wearing the same clothes. Lol is the general manager of the Jade Pavilion, and Lefa is the proprietress of Wujanggaku, but this time they are dressed in the standard Horai Island courtesan uniform. Lianna''s eyes widened when she saw Jin coming out with the three of them. "Jin-sama, who are those people? "Look closely. Look, don''t they look a lot like Princess Rieschen''s tier? Oh, yes, that''s right. That''s what I meant. I''ll introduce you over there. Come on, let''s go. Yes, yes. Jin and Lyanna walked ahead of the others, and the three of them followed silently. In the corridors of the castle, everyone who passed them looked back at them. "I''m back now!" Jin and Lyanna returned to the living room where Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen were waiting. "Oh, you''re back early, Jin. So, what is it you want to show me? "Yes, I''ll show you now. Come on in at ......." And then Anne, Lol, and Lefa show up. "...... Wow." "Oh!" You''ve seen Lol and Lefa at the first before, but now with Anne and the three sisters in the same clothes, it''s a spectacular sight. "My name is Anne." My name is Lor. "My name is Lefa." Each says her name and the three of them bow in curtsey. "Tia, this Refa is your sister. Maybe a little older than you. Jin explained. "Are you Refa''s sister ......?" You must be Tia. I''m pretty sure you and I are automata of the same lot. I''m glad we still have sisters. "Me too, sister Lefa." Princess Rieschen and Prince Ernest are looking at them smiling. "Sister Anne, sister Lol. May I call you ......?" Anne and Lor nodded, smiling. "Yes, of course. Yes, of course. It seems that our lot predates yours. Jin added at this point. "Perhaps lots with three-letter names like <> or <> came first, and then lots with <><> came second. REFA>><>, and 4-letter names like <> or <> are for the later lots. I think the lot with 4-letter names like <><> is the later lot. But they are both based on the template left by Adriana Barbora Zetsi, so I am sure they are sisters. "But Jin is a very good man." Yes, she is. Princess Rieschen and Prince Ernest looked at each other and nodded. "I envy you a little." Prince Ernest''s maid golem, , said something. "Lotte?" Jin heard this and quietly said to Reiko, "Tell the old man to send one more golem maid.) "Tell the old man to send me one more golem maid"). And then, "If Lotte says so ......" and headed for <> with Lianna again. As before, he soon returns. He takes <> with him. "Lotte, this is your sister, Amez 1. My sister. ...... "That''s really great, Jin." Ernesto is a little surprised. I explained that Princess Rieschen and Prince Ernest were also going to join the Jin family in the near future, so I was putting them on the <>, even though it was a bit of a stretch. "Ames1 has been here since the beginning, like the other 5 colored golem maids, Ruby, Topaz, Perido, and Aqua. I guess that makes me the best sister among the golem maids." "I see, Sister Amez1." "It''s nice to meet you, Lotte." The two golem maids also seem pleased with this encounter. 1449 - - 39-34 Suggestions from Hitoshi "You are very kind, Jin-san." Licia said in an impressed voice. "Well, Jin-san takes very good care of his golem and his automata." "That''s right. You always say , don''t you? Yes. "Ah, you don''t say ''one or two''. That''s just like you, Jin-san." "Yes. You''re very kind. Jin''s stock had risen a little, unbeknownst to him. "Well, Jin-san has always liked dolls." "......" Erza''s comment made Jin''s stock drop again. * * * * * * After the emotional (?) reunion with his sisters, Jin is down. After the emotional (?) reunion with the sisters, everyone has calmed down. Then Lyanna brought tea. "Miss Elsa, it''s been a while. She was the Royal Secret Maid, and Kate, who used to be in charge of Elsa, had arrived with something on a tray. Here you go. "Oh, what is this? It''s a baked april. It is made by hollowing out the core of an april, adding sugar and cinnamon, and heating it in a frying pan or in the oven. The water is drained out and the sweetness is enhanced, and the soft texture is also favored. "......," he said. Prince Ernest explained. "Count Kuzma of Breuland told me about it." "Heh, heh. ......" He taught her this way of eating when he used to help Bina to make a living. It was probably made by Bina and passed on to us by Count Kuzma who ate it. The aroma was similar to that of cinnamon, so I could see that he had devised a way to make it. "Mmm, it''s delicious. "It''s sweet." "The aroma is good." "Delicious! "Today''s product is very good." It was a hit with everyone. The tea was, of course, Apulul tea. Yes, it smells good. "Master Nest, how do you make this tea?" This is.... ...... uh, Lotte, do you know it? Yes. You put the peeled april skin in boiling water. Then the aroma is transferred to the water and you can enjoy this kind of tea. "......," he said. Princess Rieschen laughed and drank the tea. "Would you like another cup?" "Oh, by all means." Then Laila, who had just become the prince''s maid of honor from the Royal Secret Maidens, arrived with a bowl of popcorn. "Yes, this is good too, not only sweet things. Prince Ernest immediately reached for the popcorn. "Your Highness, if you eat too much, you''ll miss dinner. "Yes, ...... I''ll eat in moderation." After being rebuked by Lotte, Prince Ernest listened obediently. * * * * Dinner was served by the same members. The same members served him. We''ve recently added some new items to the menu," said Prince Ernest. Prince Ernest said. The food at Jin''s was delicious. I was inspired by them. The menu consisted of white rice, consomm-like soup, various tempura, steak, and vegetable salad. Jin would have said that the combination was difficult, but he swallowed his complaint, saying that it was not unreasonable this time. "But I haven''t been able to recreate the taste of the food I had in ." Jin consoles a somewhat disappointed Prince Ernest. "Anne, Lol, and Lefa are here today. I think I can give you some advice. Even if I can''t give you advice on ingredients, I can give you advice on cooking methods, such as how to properly cook rice or porridge that is boiling in front of you, or how to cook tempura that is too squishy even though it has just been fried. But first you have to eat. "......This , it''s always like this. I hear they are experimenting with the amount of water and the intensity of the fire. "Well, it''s all soggy. Jin smiles wryly. If this is the case, it would be better to make porridge from the beginning. Then came the tempura. It is made of white fish and vegetables, but it is not crispy at all. Even Jin could tell that the batter was definitely over-stirred when it was made. On the other hand, the soup and steak were excellent. Thank you very much for the food. After the meal, hojicha tea was served. "It must be hard to import all these ingredients," Jin said. Jin said, and Princess Rieschen nodded. "I suppose so. That''s why we are building a highway. "Ah, Rieschen''s place doesn''t have a sea, so they have to transport by land. My place is thinking of shipping. We''ll tie up with the Kingdom of Elias. "I see, that sounds good. "I don''t think we''ll be able to build a ship as big as a gin all of a sudden, but we can start by increasing production of 20-meter class ships, right? The idea is not to build a large ship all at once, but to step up production. "The size of the vessels will be easy to handle, and their transportation efficiency will be much higher than it is now." The advantage is that more seafarers will be employed. "The Kingdom of Elias has already built ships of that size. The Kingdom of Elias, a maritime nation, already has several docks that are capable of building 30-meter class ships. "I''d like to go there, wouldn''t you?" Prince Ernesto''s words were casually muttered, but Jin felt that it was a good opportunity. "Your Highness, with your permission, why don''t you and the princess go to the Kingdom of Elias? He proposed, "Your Highness, with your permission, why don''t you go to the Kingdom of Elias with Her Royal Highness? "Yes, I would like to go there. I would like to go there too. Princess Rieschen agreed. So Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen stood up to use the manaphone to get permission from their respective countries before the end of the night. 1450 - - 39-35 at Potlock Jin accompanied Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen to the Kingdom of Elias. As it turns out, permission was easily granted. After all, <> Jin Nido is accompanying them. There is no safer and faster means of transportation. However, it is inevitable that the official permission was given only for the sake of . By the way, last night, I taught the chef from Ames1 how to cook rice and how to make the batter of tempura quick and easy. Thanks to this, the rice served for breakfast was cooked well, I should add. "Well, I''m off now. "Well, Ernesto, study hard." "Take care, Princess." "Yes, Harvey, take care." Prince Ernest is pleased to announce to his father, King Harold Luann of Autoclase-Egelea, that he has been granted a royal wedding. Princess Rieschen is seen off by Undersecretary Harvey of the Ministry of Magic and Technology. "< "Yes, I''ll take good care of him." And then <> floated into the skies of the Kingdom of Egelea. The members were Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Edgar, Hannah, Licia, Princess Rieschen, Prince Ernest, Anne, Lol, Lefa, Tia, Ames1, and Lotte. "Wow, they''re flying! Prince Ernest is excited. Princess Rieschen is also happy to be with Ernest. "That''s fast. How fast is it? "About a hundred kilometers per hour, she says." Princess Rieschen was amused by the fact that she did not use her "no-ja" so much when she was with Prince Ernest, but the fact that she sometimes did was also cute, Jin and Elsa thought as they listened to her. The destination is not the capital Borgia, but Potrock, where the shipbuilding dock is located. The distance is about 300 kilometers, and it will take three hours to get there. "But, although all four of us have blue hair in common, we have very different atmospheres, don''t we? Prince Ernesto commented upon seeing Anne and the other four sisters. "It''s hard to say, but I guess it''s their individuality. Jin answered this question. "Your Highness, even though we were born the same, our subsequent experiences change us, because we all have our own past. Anne had been converted as a comfort woman and Tia as a nanny, but Jin refrained from explaining that much, but Prince Ernest was satisfied with that explanation alone. "I see ...... that''s right. It''s the same for humans, isn''t it?" Jin felt good about such a prince. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Just before noon local time, <> arrived at Potrock in the Kingdom of Elias. Since there is no airfield here, they landed on the beach. "It''s kind of crowded, isn''t it? "Hmm, there seem to be a lot of tourists." This is the first time Jin and Elsa have been to Potrock. The atmosphere is different from the usual, so they are fidgeting around. Then Reiko points at them. "Father, they are coming for you." There was the Marchese Florenziano, who had received the call, himself welcoming the group. "Welcome, Your Highness Ernesto, Princess Rieschen, Sir Zin Nidor and your wife and friends. "Thank you for your hospitality." After a brief greeting on the beach, we went to the guest house. The guest house is adjacent to the Lords''. Welcome, Your Excellency. The Marquis of Florenziano, looking as dignified as ever, bowed lightly before Jin and the others. First, lunch. As is typical of potlocks, the menu was rich in seafood. The menu included grilled fish, tempura white fish, seafood salad with peeled shrimp and cucumber with wine vinegar, and so on. Of course, there were also freshly baked bread and barley porridge, and the waiter would serve you whatever you wanted to eat, as if you were at a buffet. The tempura here was well-done, although it was a bit of a surprise. Satisfied with their meal, the guests had a leisurely meeting after the meal. "Your Highness Ernesto would like to learn more about ships, wouldn''t you? There will be a ship competition just tomorrow, and I would like you to watch it. The word "competition" caught Jin''s attention. "Well, the ship competition, you mean the ?" "Yes, that''s right. Jin felt a sense of nostalgia. It was early spring of 3457 when Marcia approached me and we took on the challenge together. There was a lot of turmoil surrounding the smuggling of Elradorite and the attack of the Death Serpent, but it was because of those events that I met my best friend Reinhard and my beloved wife Elsa. And it turned out that the bustle we felt on the beach was due to the competition. The same was true for Elsa. The Marquis continued. "The preliminary round was held yesterday, and today we have a day in reserve, with the main competition tomorrow. Usually the tournament is held in the middle of February, but this year it was delayed a little due to the ocean currents. But for Prince Ernesto, it was a blessing in disguise. "I''m looking forward to it. Prince Ernest said with pleasure. "Ummm ...... why do you have one day in reserve?" Jin asked. Because they didn''t do that in the past. "This year''s competition is a little ...... harder than the last two, so we want to make sure that the boat operators are well rested and the boats are well maintained." "......What are the details of the competition?" This time the question came from Elsa. As a former participant, she too was curious. "The distance has increased. Specifically, it has doubled. So, the burden on the operator and the ship is great. "I see. ......" Because of the increased speed and stability of the ship, the distribution of the stages has been changed so that the audience can see more scenes of overtaking and being overtaken. In short, he has reduced the number of reef areas and increased the number of speed-driven stages. "The tourists have been very positive about the event." The dead-heat teams in yesterday''s qualifying rounds were also very excited. "That''s exciting!" Prince Ernest is also a bit excited. Princess Rieschen said nothing, but her flushed face said it all. "I''ll make room for you in the guest of honor section." Marquis Florenziano told them. Then he added, "I would like to invite Mr. Jin to give a commentary as a special guest. He started to say. "Yes, of course. Jin accepted the offer. "Thank you, I''m glad. This will make tomorrow''s party even more exciting. "Well, Your Excellency, how many people are left in the finals?" Licia asked. Jin and Erza both thought they had forgotten to ask that. There are eight players in the final. ...... Jin''s former teammate, Marcia, is also in the finals. "What, Marcia?" Jin had been traveling with Erza and her family for the past few days, so he had not received any detailed report from the old man. That''s why he had not heard from the old man. "Marcia drives the horizontal waterwheel, and the other seven drive the regular waterwheel, right?" "I see." The horizontal water wheel drive, or . Jin was even more excited to watch the competition. "Hey, Marcia, are you in the competition too? "Yes, I guess so. I''ll be cheering for you tomorrow!" Hannah was also a little surprised to learn this fact, and seemed to be looking forward to tomorrow. "So you know Jin. I''m looking forward to seeing it too. "I''m looking forward to it too. Princess Rieschen also seemed to be looking forward to it. "When this competition is over, I will show you the dock for large ships. "That would be a pleasure." Prince Ernest smiled cheerfully. After that, the guests continued to relax in the guest room, exchanging various stories with each other. The sky over the Potrock was tinted with the color of an azure glow at sunset, indicating that the next day would also be a fine one. 1451 - - 39-36 Watching the finals Finally, it was time for the finals of the 12th Golem Boat Competition! A large crowd had gathered in the central square of Potrock. As before, the spectator seats were arranged in a staircase pattern, with the Marquis of Firenziano, the lord of the city, sitting at the highest position, with Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen, the guests of honor, next to him. Elsa, Licia, and Hannah are seated next to him. One step below them are the hostesses and the hostesses. The nobles are seated below them, and the tourists are further down. The guests of honor here today are His Royal Highness the 3rd Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egelea and Her Royal Highness the 3rd Princess Rieschen of the Kingdom of Klein. The MC introduces the guests. "In addition, we have a special guest, the winner of the 10th Golem Boat Competition , their Magi Craftsman and Magi Engineer , who is also the winner of the 10th Golem Boat Competition. , Jin Nido, is here! The crowd cheered. Jin and his team''s victory was still fresh in people''s minds. "You''re very popular, my dear!" "Well, it''s great that you won. "Jin-san has done a lot of things, hasn''t he?" Hannah, Erza, Licia and others were talking with each other in the guest of honor''s seats. In the midst of all this, the loudest cheers were heard. "Eight boats in the finals, all as good as each other!We are now at the starting line! The MC began a brief explanation. "Number 1, in the red swimsuit is Miss Reece, 2nd place qualifier!She is one of the favorites to win! For the finals, it seems that the numbers will be reassigned. Jin recognized the small sailor named Reece. (She was on Valentino''s team, right?) ) He had nothing to do with Valentino''s plot, so he was not charged with any crime and was still participating in the competition. "Number 2, the orange swimsuit is Miss Adelie, 4th place in the qualifying round!She is a veteran of the competition, having competed four times! Number 3, in the yellow swimsuit is Miss Einey, who qualified in 8th place!This is her first appearance in the finals and she is a promising newcomer! "Number 4, green swimsuit is Miss Debonera, 3rd place in qualifying!She is a very solid sailor! "Number 5, in the blue swimsuit is Miss Nohlun, who qualified 7th!This is her second time competing and we look forward to seeing what she can do! "Number 6, in the dark blue swimsuit is Miss Marcia, 1st place qualifier!She is also a shipbuilder (Shipwright) and is competing in a boat she built herself! When Marcia was introduced, the cheers were especially loud. "Number 7, in the purple swimsuit, is Miss Mowbull, who qualified 5th!She has not yet reached her full potential!" "Number 8, in the white swimsuit is Miss Trine, in 6th place!She is from the Kingdom of Egelea! "Wow, that Trine is from the Kingdom of Egelea! Elsa has participated in this tournament before, so there is a rich international flavor to this event. "Mr. Bernardo, the commentator, what are your predictions for today? Yes, I think that number 6 will be strong. I think number 6 is still strong. In the qualifying round the day before yesterday, he seemed to be a little out of tune, but still, his speed was that fast. Since all the boats are the same type of trimaran, the deciding factor may be the driving method. "I see. How about a ...... guest, Jin-san, with a horizontal waterwheel drive ...... screw?" At this point, the conversation turned to Jin. Jin was waiting for the explanation. Yes, I developed the waterwheel drive myself, but that one splashes water, doesn''t it? "Yes, that''s right. Yes, that''s right." "The splashing water doesn''t help to move the boat. But that is not the case with the horizontal water wheel drive ...... screw. Do you know what this means?" "Well, it means that there is no waste?" "Yes, that''s right. That means that if you drive them with the same force, they will be the fastest ......" "You mean it''s the fastest?" At this point Jin laughed. "I wish it worked that way. The results will be proven by the competition. Jin was getting better at speaking up in such a situation. "Thank you very much. ...... will be starting soon." * * * * "...... Jin?Gin?" Marcia heard the voice on the boat. "Jin, you came!But are you at the commentary table? Although Marcia was also a member of the , she had not been informed of his visit, so his visit came as a complete surprise to her. At the same time, she understood that since she was visiting as a semi-official, her personal friendship with him would take a back seat. As for Jin, he had a surprise event in mind. "Oh well. We''ll just have to wait until after we win!" And so the countdown to the start begins. "5......4......3......2......" * * * * "......1...... start! "Now, it''s all starting at once!The first one to jump out is number 3! The first stage was a 2-horse race. The first stage is a narrow channel where two boats cannot pass side by side. The first stage is a narrow channel where two boats cannot pass side by side. The number 3 boat seemed to be going the fastest, and was literally out in front of the second place boat. "Mr. Bernardo, number 3 is playing a good game, isn''t he? "Yes, it is. In the first stage, it''s a disaster if you get behind the slower boats. Even if they wanted to go on, they could not go on, and the stress was getting to them. "The first boat, number 3, has left the channel!" The second stage is in the open sea. There are no lateral restrictions of any kind. It is a speed competition of approximately 10 kilometers. The boats jump out of the narrow channel and speed up as if they were being bounced. "Oh, number 1 is fast!Number 6 is catching up!3, 1, 6, 4, 8, 7, 2, 5... ...ah, now 8 and 7 have switched places! The images projected on the huge are very powerful. The live broadcast was carried out while switching the , which corresponded to a camera, from time to time. "Marcia-san, 3rd ......" Elsa muttered. In her mind, she recalled the competition two years ago. "Even then, I kept my speed low in the first half of the race. ......" Since the conditions of each stage were unknown, he had two boats ahead of the other boats as a <, so to speak, and he watched them to see how they were doing and vigilantly watched for any opportunity to take advantage of them. "I am sure that this time, too," he said. "When you entered the wide area, all the boats increased their speed at the same time, didn''t they, Mr. Bernardo? "That''s right. In the case of water wheel drive, as Mr. Jin mentioned earlier, there will be splashes. Therefore, we do not want to be directly behind the boat. Since the operator is a human being, there is a disadvantage of being covered by the droplets, which can obstruct his vision and make it difficult for him to breathe. Therefore, in large areas, the boats are spread out to the left and right. "But what awaits you at the end is commonly known as a . But what awaits us at the end is a gate so narrow that boats cannot pass through it side by side. The < is made of floating boats. It is dangerous when many boats are concentrated in order to pass through the gate. It is also a show to maneuver the boat as far as possible to get through the gate. "Oh! Go!Go! - Number 6, there it is! Hang on, number 3!Don''t let them get past you! The crowd is heating up. Jin, Elsa, Licia, Hannah, Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen were all glued to the screen. 1452 - - 39-37 Trouble The scene reflected on the large <> was the highlight of the first half. This time, instead of going around the island of Io, we will go around the island of Trieu, which is one more island away from Io. In this case, the route is set to go right between Io and Tru Island, then left around Tru Island, then left again between Tru and Io Island, and back again, in other words, the route is set to draw a << figure of 8>>. The eight boats were now speeding toward the island of Io. "Ganbareta!" Marcia, don''t lose!I''m right behind you! "Reece, this is your year to win!" The crowd on Io was also full of spectators, cheering for their favorite boats and sailors. The current standings are 3,1,6,7,4,8,2,5. 7, Mauble, wearing a purple bathing suit, is moving up in the standings. The waterwheel of her boat is wider and smaller in diameter than the others. The golem that is driving the boat is also designed to be fearless. "That doesn''t look like a Marcia Workshop ship, does it? When Jin, as a special guest, made a comment, the moderator immediately responded. "As Mr. Jin said, the basic design of the ship of number 7, Miss Mauvre, was made by the workshop of the Kingdom of Celuloa, although it was designed by the Marcia Workshop. "I see, that''s why the shape has been slightly modified." The eight boats passed through the <> without a hitch, and took a course around Io Island. * * * * * * "You''re doing a great job, Marcia!" "Yes, I am. ...... everyone, you''re all doing great." Hannah and Licia were transfixed by their first glimpse of a boat race. "The ship made in the Kingdom of Selroa ...... is still very high quality." Erza, on the other hand, was carefully observing the ship with the number 7. (Certainly, there are some signs that the ship was made in the Kingdom of Celuloa. (Indeed, there are some signs that the ship was made in the Kingdom of Selroa, but the most important point is the material.) Jin is also silently observing and analyzing the ship with the number 7. (The surface is metal. (The surface is metal, probably light silver.) Wooden framework and light silver exterior. Jin thinks this is a good way to reduce the viscous resistance of water. And when it comes to strength and weight, light silver is better than wood. This is because the percentage of strength increase by engineering magic < or is higher for metals than for wood. This is probably due to the difference in molecular structure. The degree of strengthening by of free magic element (ether) is more effective for light silver with simple metallic bonding than for wood, which is a complex organic material. This is an ingenious idea that only the Kingdom of Cerroa, with its advanced magical technology, could have devised. (And the shape of that waterwheel: ......) Except for the one made by Marcia, it is a very sophisticated shape. The shape of the waterwheel is very sophisticated, except for the one made by Marcia. It is likely that the shape of the waterwheel was repeatedly tested to find the optimum shape. The small diameter and the wide width of the golem means that it is a high-rotation type. (I see, the golem is also small. (I see. Golem is also small. But the smaller size means less power. (But the smaller size means less power, so the rpm is increased to compensate for it.) Jin thinks that the result will be shown at the end of the competition, since it is hard to say which is better. And. (I wonder if it is the screw rather than Marcia''s ship ......?It seems to be slightly shaky ...... and maybe out of balance). The screw that Marcia uses is a 4-blade screw. If the 4 blades, their size, weight, twist angle, surface condition, etc. are not balanced, the screw will shake when rotating at high speeds, vibrate, or put stress on the shaft (I was adjusting it yesterday, and it seemed to be a little off. (He was adjusting it yesterday, too. ...... must have been a spur-of-the-moment setup.) ) This was a little worrisome for Jin. * * * * * * "We''ve been overtaken! Now, the boat of number 6, Marcia, had been overtaken by the boat of number 7, MOBLE. "You''re doing great!But we''re not going to lose. Arrow!" Yes, Miss Marcia. Marcia decided to increase her speed by one notch, knowing that Arrow, the golem that Jin had built for her, would not be defeated. Marcia decided to increase her speed by one step. "Now they are all circling Io Island!...... is passing number 7 and number 6. They''re going fast, fast!" They''re cheering. "They''ve passed!Number 7, Miss Mowbray, in third place!But number 6, Miss Marcia is not to be outdone!She''s going faster!They''re in line!They''re in line! The magic screen was showing the dead heat, and the crowd was excited to see this mid-competition showcase. Numbers 6 and 7 rounded the island of Io and turned toward the island of Trieu, running side by side. At that moment. The boat of number 6, Marcia, seems to vibrate slightly and then suddenly slows down. "Ah!What''s wrong, Zec 6?She suddenly stalled! The screw shaft is broken, isn''t it?) Jin guessed from the behavior. A rotating object vibrates when it is unbalanced. This depends on the rotational speed, and there is a rotational speed at which vibration increases the most. When dehydrating an electric washing machine, if the tank is not filled properly, the tank will shake, which is the same phenomenon. This vibration caused the fatigue failure of the screw shaft of the Marcia. The shaft of the screw of the Marcia caused the fatigue failure. "Oh, shoot!" Marcia checked the screw shaft and bit her navel. Yesterday, she had carefully adjusted the screw and found a slight distortion of the screw shaft. He was angry at his own carelessness in not taking any countermeasures when he had noticed it. "I have to fix it as soon as possible." But the tired screw shaft was on the verge of breaking. And I don''t have the materials to fix it. "I''m in trouble. ...... I''d like to make the shaft one size bigger if possible. ......" Marcia blurted out as she stared at the screw shaft that was about to break under the torque (rotational force). "Marcia-sama, temporarily, let''s use my left arm." Then Arrow made a crazy suggestion. "What? Marcia is astonished, but Arrow tells her in no uncertain terms. "My skeleton is made of light silver. My skeleton is made of light silver. Fortunately, it is the legs that turn the screws, so the absence of one arm will not be a problem. "Arrow......" "And since Mr. Jin is here, I''m sure he will be able to fix it right away after the competition." As we were having this conversation, other boats were passing us one after another. "Marcia, please make a decision." "...... got it. Arrow, I''m sorry. "No, please don''t be sorry." The Arrow is capable of elementary engineering magic. And a beginner''s level was enough to fix the problem. In less than five minutes, the screw shaft was restored, or rather strengthened. "It''s not too late. Let''s hurry." Arrow sat in the drive seat, and Marcia nodded in the cockpit. "No more detailed plans," said Arrow. We''re in last place anyway, so we have to go all out. Arrow, I''m counting on you! "Yes, I''ll take care of it!" Arrow stepped on the drive pedal and the screw started to turn. The number 6 is ejected from the boat as if it had been shot. The emergency repairs have been completed. "The emergency repairs have been completed, and Number 6 is sailing again!But he is already in last place, more than a kilometer behind 7th place! "Let''s see how they will recover from this." The MC and the commentator were saying these words, but Jin saw that Arrow and Marcia had resorted to what could be called a "kenkonshiki-gurayaku" (a kind of "kenkonshiki-gurayaku"). Go for it, Marcia. Arrow, I''m counting on you.) Jin, who could not cheer aloud because of his position as a guest, cheered in his heart. 1453 - - 39-38 Catch-up "After the first aid repair, number 6, fast!Too fast, I''d say!" Marcia seemed to be driving the ship at full speed, without any regard for the strategy. (Yes, the screw seems to be working well. (Yes, the screw seems to be working well.) ) Even if the balance is a little off, if the boat is strong enough, it should be able to hold up well enough for the duration of the competition. Jin judged so by looking at the ship with the number 6 on the screen. (However, the vibration seems to be coming quite a bit. ......) Jin guessed that the vibration would be tremendous since the ship was turning the unbalanced screw forcibly. * * * * "We can go!Arrow, I''ll keep going!" "Yes, Miss Marcia!" The lead ship has just rounded the island of Trieu. Marcia, number 6, is now in last place, less than a kilometer behind in 7th. "We''re not going to give up!" Marcia is not concerned about the vibration coming from the screw shafts, but she is trying to reduce the drag as much as possible by lying down on the hull and looking ahead through the transparent shield. Waves rocked the hull, and splashes drenched the hull. With a single white wake, the boat, number 6, pushed forward. The boat was going forward. The hull of the number 6 is a good one, isn''t it? "Is that so?" The presenter got into Jin''s words. "Yes. One of the telltale signs of a good or bad boat is that white wake it makes after running. "Yes," said the moderator. If the boat is balanced, it will be symmetrical. And the less drag, the smaller the wake. "Ha-ha-ha, I see." The presenter nodded. "I see that the number 7 is equally well done." "Thank you. ...... Magecraft Meister Jin-san explained. * * * * "Marcia, are you okay?" "Yes, I''m sure she''ll be fine." Hannah and Licia look worried, "I have the arrow. I''ll be fine." Elsa assured them. "Arrow is a golem that my brother Jin made especially for Marcia. That''s why Marcia won''t be defeated. The Arrow is a golem made by Jin''s brother, and it is specially designed for Ms. Marcia. The eight boats returned to Io without missing a single boat. The standings are 3,7,1,8,4,2,5,6. Marcia is still in last place, but the distance between them is now less than 50 meters. "Number 6, he''s catching up! "Come on, Marcia!" Come on, number 6! Marcia is cheered on by the crowd. After the technical stage with floats near Io Island, the rest is an unlimited high-speed stage to the goal. Here, the number 1 driver, Reece, sped off. "Oh, number 1, he''s picking up speed!He''s going fast!He''s right on the line with number 7!" "That boat has a nice finish too!" Jin said in admiration. The boat Reece is sailing is a genuine Marcia Workshop boat. The workmanship is still very different. Einey, wearing a yellow swimsuit, is competing for the first time. Einey, wearing a yellow swimsuit, is competing for the first time. They have been in the lead ever since the start of the race. 7 and 1 are in hot pursuit of number 3. The battle for the lead in the top group is intensifying. In the second group, number 8 is trying to overtake. "Oh, Miss Trine of the Kingdom of Egelea is finally getting serious! "I heard that the Kingdom of Egelea is also putting a lot of effort into ship development. Let''s hope for the best. I''m sure we can expect a lot from them. "Well, I didn''t know that. ......" Ernest, the third prince of the Egelea Kingdom, was tilting his head in the guest of honor''s seat. "Master Nest, even royalty does not know everything. You seem to be concerned about that. "Yes. ......" It seems that he cannot hide his shock at the fact that his own ship, which he did not know, was competing in a competition in the Kingdom of Elias, where he had come to learn about ships. * * * * * * "That''s the last boat!Number 5, huh? I think it''s called Norun. Let''s go! The course around Io Island is almost over. Marcia''s boat swings slightly to the right in a big arc, and she will try to pass from the outside. Noln was keeping an eye on the inside of the arc, and he was staring sideways at Marcia''s boat as she passed him from the right side. "We did it!We''re in seventh place!If we can get past six more boats, we''ll be in the lead!" Then the stage was set for a long straight course. The eight boats increased their speed and headed for the finish line at Potrock. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Arrow is in good shape. (Arrow is in good shape. The screw shafts are just barely reinforced, but they will keep it until the finish line.) Jin, who was sitting in the special guest seat, let out a sigh of relief in his heart. "Everyone has entered the straight line stage. We''re going to race at speed until the finish line! The host''s voice rose in tone. The crowd is getting excited. And it is the participants who are the most excited. "Here comes the spurt!We''re going to put everything we''ve been saving into it! We''re not going to lose!We''ll give it everything we''ve got! Let''s go! Each of the competitors was determined to give it all they had. But when it comes to a pure battle of speed, the performance of the boat is the deciding factor. "Arrow!Is the shaft okay? "Yes, Miss Marcia. It will hold until the finish. "Yes, we''ll do our best!" Yes, I''m on it. Marcia, number 6, is now making her last spurt. 1454 - - 39-39 After a fierce battle "Fast!Number 6 is starting to show his true potential!He has just passed number 8 and is now in 4th place! The current standings are 3,1,7,6,8,2,4,5. "The speed of the horizontal waterwheel drive ...... screw is one rank higher." Bernardo, the commentator, is also tongue-tied. "Yes, it seems that the efficiency is the reason why it is so strong at the very beginning. Guest Jin added. On the giant magic screen in the central plaza of the Potrock, the images of the boats running fast are projected one after another. Seven boats are running backward with a big splash, which is a spectacular sight. Among them, only one boat is running without splashing. It is the well-known boat with the number 6, Marcia. Most of the rotational force of the screw shaft is used to push the water backward, and the boat is pushed forward by the reaction. In principle, a water wheel drive has a lot of power loss because more than half of the drive is on the water. Of course, it is more efficient than the oars or paddles of the previous generation of propulsion systems, but it loses out to the screws. "Fast!Number 6, up to 3rd place!He is chasing down the second-placed number 1! Go, Arnold! Go, Arrow! Two more boats in front of Marcia. Numbers 1 and 3. In fact, both boats were built in Marcia''s workshop. The only difference is the drive system. It is a sister ship duel. The Marcia boat is slowly closing the gap. They are 10 meters away from second place, number 3. ......5 meters... ...2 meters......1 meters....... "We''re in line!Number 6, now, along with number 1 in 2nd place ......, we''ve overtaken it! * * * "Holy shit. ......" Yeah, that''s awesome, that''s number 6. He came from the bottom of the standings to come in second place. "No, he''s right on top." The crowd was also watching Marussia''s pursuit. "Marcia, that''s great. I knew that screw was efficient." "Yes, it is!" "To be honest, I don''t know how hard it is, but I can honestly say that Marcia is doing a great job. I am very impressed." Elsa, Hannah, and Licia were also amazed at Marcia''s effort. "Mr. Nest, that''s amazing, that number 6. It seems he is an acquaintance of Jin''s. "Yes, that golem was made by Jin, wasn''t it? I don''t know what else to say. He used his own arm to repair the ship. That''s Jin''s work!" Prince Ernest''s mind flashed back to the image of Lotte, who had protected him during the past , even though she had been battered and bruised. Arrow is in good shape, even without his left arm, he is not off-balance.) Jin was checking the condition of Marcia''s ship and Arrow through the magic screen. (The screw shaft seems to be OK. Well, we used the Arrow''s left arm. That''s why it''s over-specified.) After some maintenance and modification by Jin, Arrow''s skeleton is now 64 LBP. Its physical specs are 10 times greater than those of an ordinary golem. The Arrow is turning its screw axis almost at full power. How can it not be fast? However, in the light of Jin''s knowledge of modern Japan, the <> is still incomplete and is operated in a lossy manner. However, we respect Marcia''s intention of <>. This has led to the appearance of defects such as the blurring of the screws and the lack of strength of the screw shafts. * * * * * * * * * * * * Arrow, good luck! I''m on it! We''re almost to the top! "...... You''re still very good, Ms. Marcia. But..." Einey, number 3 in the lead, glanced back and smiled wryly at the number 6 in hot pursuit. "That''s the champion I''ve always wanted to be and surpass!" The boat on which Einey rides belongs to the Marcia workshop, but the golem that drives the waterwheel is a special order item. Due to its characteristics, the legs that pedal the pedals are strengthened, and those above the waist are poorly built. As a result, it boasts a power output nearly three times that of an ordinary golem. However, the mana in the mana tank is not enough to keep it running for long periods of time, so the output has been reduced to half. "This is where the fight begins! There are only 4 kilometers left to the finish line. We''ve just passed the line where we can give it our all and still have enough mana. Let''s go! Let''s go!" * * * "Oh, number 3 has picked up even more speed!It''s going as fast as number 6!That''s great!" "It looks like he was just saving up. Considering the distance to the finish line, they decided to go full speed." Is that what you mean, Mr. Jin? Yes, I think so. If they start at full speed from the beginning, they will probably run out of mana. * * * * "Increased speed?You''re doing a good job. I''m not going to let you down! Just when we thought we were almost through, the ship with the number 3 speed increased rapidly. Marcia praised her opponent and redoubled her fighting spirit. "We''re almost there, Arrow, can you make it?" "Yes, I''m ready." Arrow began to display power beyond the limits allowed only to a golem created by Jin. "Ugh!There was still power on the other side?...... This is just like when Marcia won the first place!" Elsa and Marcia competed in the 10th Golem boat competition. At that time, Elsa''s boat and Marcia''s boat were in a dead heat near the finish line. And it was Marcia who won the race. Coincidentally, Elsa was also wearing the number 3 and the same yellow swimsuit at that time. "I remember chasing after Elsa''s boat that time too! Marcia also remembered two years ago. * * * * * * "It''s a hell of a race!The two boats are almost touching each other port side to port!It''s a fierce battle worthy of the final stage of the finals!" The MC''s announcement was almost a scream. Less than two kilometers from the finish line, the leader is still undecided. It was truly side by side. The crowd''s enthusiasm knows no bounds. "Go, number 6! Don''t lose, 3! The battle for the lead is now between Marussia and Einy, with third place more than 500 meters back. It''s a real battle, just like two years ago! Bernardo, the commentator, also seemed to be remembering that fierce battle. "Good luck, Marcia! "Good luck, Marcia!" "Good luck, Marcia!" "Good luck, Marcia!" The two boats were now within visual distance of each other. The leader is ....... "Number 6 is in the lead!He has finally overtaken all the boats from the bottom and is now in the lead! At that moment. The boat with number 6, Marussia, veers to the right. "Ah! The hull could no longer withstand the vibration transmitted from the screw shaft, and the right side of the three hulls cracked. The hull is flooded. The inside of the hull is not submerged because of the bulkheads, but a great deal of resistance was generated. "We''ve come this far!We can''t lose!Arrow!Don''t slow down! "Yes, Miss Marcia." Marcia turned the rudder to the left and leaned her body to the left, trying desperately to keep the ship heading toward the goal, which was going off to the right and to the right. This was slowing her down, of course. "Chance!" Einy saw this as his chance and ordered Golem to increase the speed even more. But... "Ah! ZEK-3 also begins to slow down. The mana contained in the Golem is running low. In short, it ran out of gas. "Ah!Zec 3, it looked like we had a chance, but it''s starting to slow down!Number 6, you have a slight advantage!" Number 6 and Number 3 both drive their boats, which are in far from their best condition, to the finish line. "We are so close to the finish line!Who will win this fierce battle! 200 meters to the finish line. 150 meters. 100 meters. 50....... "Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!Number 6, you are the winner! 1455 - - 39-40 Celebration Day On the evening of the day of Marcia''s victory, a victory party was held. The place of the party was the home and office next to Marcia''s workshop. The guest of honor was, of course, Marusia. Next to her is her father, Rodrigo, with a smiling face. And his employees, Bacchus and Jeremy, are sitting in the corner with nervous faces. "Congratulations, Marcia! "Thank you, Elsa." "Congratulations, Marcia." "Thank you, Jin." "Congratulations, Marcia!" "Thank you, Hannah." "Congratulations, Marcia!" "Thank you, Licia." "Marcia, that was wonderful!" "Marcia, that was amazing." "......, why are there a prince and a princess here?" Marcia''s forehead was covered in cold sweat. Bacchus and Jeremy, commoners by nature, were shrinking. "Don''t worry about them, they''re just ninjas." "Yes, yes. I''m only here because I''m a friend of Jin''s." "Even if you say don''t worry about it, ......" "By the way, His Highness Ernesto paid for the entire victory party." Erza reveals the backstory. "What? You should use the prize money for yourself. "That''s right. Celebrations are for those who celebrate, not for those who are celebrated. Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen seem to understand. "Hey, hey, let''s eat!" Hannah''s right. They toast to their newfound good mood. Cheers! Cheers! Hannah drinks Citran juice and the rest of us have sparkling wine. "Wow!This is very smooth! However, the alcohol content is so low that Princess Rieschen can drink it ......, or rather, the royal family sometimes drinks wine at the age of 12. "It''s a specialty of the western part of the Kingdom of Elias," he said. Prince Ernest had gathered this information in advance. "It''s delicious. Elsa seemed to like it too. "It''s sweet and pleasant on the palate. Jin also found it an easy-drinking wine. I thought about giving it to Reinhardt, a wine connoisseur, as a souvenir. "It''s delicious. Maybe it''s good for beginners. Licia was also smacking her lips. After that, we had a chat while eating. Not only in the Kingdom of Klein, but also in the Kingdom of Egelea, it is said that chatting while eating is bad manners, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and in the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias, they eat while chatting happily. But this is only the case when they are close to each other and at an auspicious occasion such as a celebration. "I came to the Kingdom of Elias to learn about ships. I followed Master Nesto. "That''s why I was wondering if you would allow me to visit tomorrow." "I know Jin, and above all, he''s His Highness, so ...... I''ve accepted!" Thank you, Marcia. "But it sounds like you have a lot of work to do on the practical application of the screw. "Yes, I was fine with the outboard motor." "That''s right, Master Jin. This time, in order to make it golem-driven, we extended the shaft and brought it inside the ship. ......" "That''s why there was vibration and ...... not enough strength." Jin has begun to analyze the trouble. Marcia and Rodrigo are also enthusiastic, Elsa and Hannah laugh and say, "Here we go again," while Licia can''t keep up and her eyes are black and white. "Well, this inquisitive mind is a djinn after all." "Yes, it is. ......" Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen looked enlightened. "This time, we paid the most attention to the waterproofing of the shaft. It was not strong enough. ......" Rodrigo explains how it happened. The pipe through which the screw shaft passes is called a stanch tube, and there is inevitably a gap between the stanch tube and the shaft, through which water can enter the vessel. To prevent this, various methods have been devised, ranging from a simple method of filling the stanch tube with grease to advanced sealing methods. "I tried something called a grease box." "Heh, ...... that''s great." A grease box, or grease box, is a method of inserting a box-like component filled with grease where the screw shaft protrudes into the vessel from the stanch tube. The grease box is used to insulate the stanchion from any water that rises up from inside the stanchion. This method is relatively used in ship models. In this case, it is necessary to use rust-resistant materials for the stun tube and screw shaft, and Rodrigo used light silver. Rodrigo used light silver, but the shaft diameter was too small because of its high cost, and the lack of strength was a mistake. "I will use the prize money to buy light silver and make a more complete boat. Rodrigo declared enthusiastically. "Marcia, how is your store going?" As Jin was talking with Rodrigo, Elsa spoke to Marcia. "Yes, very well!The trimaran is easy to maneuver, and the balance of the power installation is good. They are developing the boat with the concept of using as little magic engine as possible. In this case, a golem is rowing the boat, but it can also be rowed by a human. However, in that case, the speed and cruising range would be extremely reduced. ....... "The fact that it can run even if it runs out of mana is an advantage, isn''t it? "Indeed, it is." Unlike Jin, the general public does not have the backup of Horaijima, so such a characteristic is important. "By the way, what does the prince want to know ......?" "Haha, you can use the same tone as everyone else while you''re here. ...... Well, I''d like to build a 20-meter class transport ship eventually, and I''d like to learn a lot of things for that." "Oh, I see. Well, in that case, I might as well start with the basics of the ship. "Yes, please!" Marcia and Prince Ernest seem to be getting to know each other. Prince Ernest was originally interested in making things, especially golems, so he was able to follow the conversation. "I''ll come back tomorrow for more details. "Yes, yes." Marcia was a little surprised by his vitality. "I want to know more about the ship, too. "Well, Hannah, if you stay with me and stay close to Nest-sama, you will be able to hear many things. "Oh, yes!Thank you, princess! Princess Rieschen looks a little confused when Hannah says this to her. "Well, I hope you don''t call me ''princess'' in an informal setting." "Well, then, can I call you ...... Ries, big sister?" Princess Rieschen''s face lit up at this suggestion. "Oh, oh, that''s good!No, you can call me that!" Princess Rieschen, the youngest, was happy to be called by Hannah. 1456 - - 39-41 Maintenance It was the last day of February in Ars, the 30th. Jin and his friends have been at the Marcia workshop since the morning. Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen had not arrived yet. "First we have to fix the Arrow. I''m sorry, but I had a victory party last night and I had to put it off. Jin, please. "Yeah, I''ll take care of it." Jin first puts Arrow down on the workbench and stops the movement. Then, with Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar as his assistants, he begins to disassemble the Arrow. Meanwhile, Licia and Hannah are being shown around the workshop by Marcia. After removing the exterior and musculature, Jin first checks the skeleton. Yes, the skeleton is in good shape. The joints are all fine. That''s my brother Jin! Now, ...... Then a voice rang out. "Ah!Jin, you can''t start without me! "Ne, Nest-sama," said another voice in a quiet voice, "......." It was Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen. It was only 8 a.m. when they arrived. They were accompanied only by Lotte and Tia. Reiko guessed that there were a few people around to escort them. Prince Ernest strode up to Jin, "So this is Marcia''s arrow. She''s going to be my Lotte''s sister, isn''t she? He said with interest. "I guess so." Jin answered, but did not stop. "Reiko, give me 64 light silver." "Yes, father." Edgar, you hold this side. Yes, Master Jin. With two assistants, the work is fast. In no time at all, the left arm was regenerated and the muscular system was reattached. Of course, all the joints in the body have been checked for clearance and adjusted. "It''s always brilliant to see ......." Prince Ernesto admires Jin''s skill. "Yeah, no problem." After a full body check of the Arrow, Jin begins the reassembly and finishes it in less than two minutes. "It''s fast. ......" "......" Prince Ernest mutters a single word, and Princess Rieschen is absolutely mortified. Jin restarts the Arrow and asks how it is. Yes, Jin-sama, everything is fine. I can be of more help to Marcia than ever before. "I am glad to hear that. I''m glad to hear that. ...... Your Highness, this would be a good time to check on Lotte and Tia as well, wouldn''t it?Marcia, would you mind? "Yes, of course." Marcia nodded her head in agreement. And there was no way she could deny the two princesses. What?Oh, yes, we''d love to have you! "Yes, by all means! So, Jin decided to borrow Marcia''s workshop to overhaul the two machines. Since Tia had a lot of work to do, he asked Elsa to disassemble her. In less than five minutes, the two bodies were disassembled to skeletal state, and Jin was checking them in front of them. "Yes, the adamantite coated joints are not worn down at all. They are in good shape." He then reassembled them, adjusting the clearance and balance. The muscular system seemed to be in perfect condition, as if he had not done anything rash. However, Jin does not intend to simply assemble them as they are. Originally, the muscular system of both of them were made of materials from powerful demons. In other words, their power can still be increased. Jin increased the efficiency of Tia''s ether converter and mana driver, and loosened the limiter of her magical muscles by the same amount. This should have doubled the reaction speed and increased the power by about 1.5 times. At the same time, Lotte, who had been a mana tank, was upgraded to an ether converter and a mana driver similar to Tia''s at this opportunity. "Wow, I don''t know what I''m doing. ......" Prince Ernest sighs, while Princess Rieschen remains silent. Jin then begins the assembly. Erza was left to install Tia''s magical skin, while Jin assembled Lotte. Time required, approximately 10 minutes. "How are you doing, Tia? Jin asks the two reactivated bodies. "Yes, very good. Thank you very much. "Yes, even better than before. Thank you very much. Both of them seem to be in good shape. "Okay, that''s it. Let''s get to work." "What?" Prince Ernesto asked, "No, no, no, you''re going to ask him about the ship, right? Jin said, "Oh, that''s right. I was so caught up in Jin''s skill that I forgot about it. Prince Ernest scratches his head. The first thing is, what is it that you want to know? "I think it''s important to know what you want to know first. Jin said, "I want to be clear first, because time is limited. "Yes, I understand that, but I''m ...... getting confused." Prince Ernesto makes a good point. Marcia''s workshop is filled with materials, documents, and actual items related to the ship. "I''ll leave it to Jin and Marcia. I can only be here until the end of the morning ...... or rather until 11:00 a.m. I have a luncheon with Miss Trine at 11:30 a.m. I''m meeting Miss Trine for lunch at 11:30." "Yes, I understand." Prince Ernest laughed as he said that it was his royal duty to help out Trine, who came from the Kingdom of Egelea. Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen had to make time in their busy schedule. Jin thought a little about how to teach them everything about boats in a short time and concluded that it would be better to start from the basics. "Well then, let''s begin. First, do you know why a boat floats? "What?Uh, because they are light? "I''m not saying you''re wrong, but ...... let''s start there." Jin prepared a whiteboard made of a kind of subterranean spider resin (GSP), a gift from Marcia in her workshop, and began to draw a diagram on it. "First of all, when you put an object in water, the object becomes lighter by the amount of water you push away. I want you to remember this as a premise. I can''t explain it, even if you ask me why. "Yes, I understand." "Well," he said, "that is, objects lighter than the weight of the water you push away will float, and objects heavier than the weight of the water you push away will sink. This is true even if the ship is made of iron." "Ah, so that''s why those boats we saw in the Kunlun Islands floated!" "That''s what I mean." "I see... so that''s how it is!I had a hunch about it until now. "What?" I noticed that Marcia and Rodrigo were also listening to Jin''s lecture. "Jin''s talk is very informative. Can we listen in too? "Of course we can." Jin nodded to Marcia and continued his explanation. 1457 - - 39-42 Lectures on Ships Jin''s lecture on ships continues. "There are two types of water resistance applied to a ship: , , and . < as the force expended by the ship to create waves, and < as the stickiness of the water." Jin''s knowledge is shallow and full of holes because he got it from model magazines when he was building a model ship, but no one else in this world can explain it so systematically. "<> is the resistance of the low-pressure area behind the ship that tries to pull the ship back." "......?" I can''t go into any more detail than that, as Jin also has a vague recollection of it. Fortunately, however, all of the < listening were practitioners. "When you move your hand in the water, if you spread your palm out in the direction of movement, the resistance will be greater, and if you twist it 90 degrees, the resistance will be less, right?" They were convinced by these explanations. "Yes, I think I understand." With no time to waste, Jin continues his explanation. "The stability of the ship is ......." "The shape of the bottom of the ship is ......." "The structure of the hull can be found at ......." All of these were taken from model magazines, but both Marcia and Prince Ernest were listening intently. And Hannah, Elsa, Licia, and Rodrigo. "Well, your talk is quite informative, Jin-dono. "Onii-chan''s explanations are easy to understand. "I haven''t heard your explanation in a long time, but I understand a lot about the ship." "I hope that''s the case. ......" Jin looked at Prince Ernest, who was writing down what he had heard on a piece of leather paper. "Jin, then you must be very careful when you build a large ship." "That''s what I think." In this respect, Jin, Elsa, and Rodrigo had experience in building the in the Shoro Empire. "The bigger it gets, the greater the forces on the various parts of the hull. This is good, right?" "Yes. The effect of the waves. "The shape of the bottom is also important." In this way, Jin explained all the basics of boats that he could think of. After an hour and a half of explanation, he took us to Marcia''s workshop to show us the actual ship. "See how smooth the surface is? "Oh, that''s right. < Ordinary wooden boats are made of water-resistant, rot-resistant wood, without any surface treatment or preservative treatment, but not here. "Wood gets moldy and rots when it''s wet and exposed to air," he said. "Oh, really? "That''s right. If it had been submerged in water for a long time, it wouldn''t rot. The fact that a sunken shipwreck retains its shape is also an indication of this. "That''s why we treat them so they don''t absorb water, and we paint them so they repel water," he says. "That''s why they have to be treated so they don''t absorb water, and painted so they repel water, especially if they''re big." We don''t want large vessels that can''t be easily built new to rot. "I won''t go into the details of how to do that ...... because it''s a bit of a Marcia contraption." But Ernesto laughed and nodded. "Yes!Of course. Everyone has their own way of doing things." "Catamarans and trimarans work well for smaller vessels, but for larger ones, the strength of the joints becomes a problem. "Oh, because the force exerted on each part of the hull by the waves is different, isn''t it? "That''s right." It seems that Prince Ernest had understood the content of my earlier lecture. Princess Rieschen seemed to have lost her patience and was chatting with Licia. Hannah, however, looks serious so as not to miss any of Jin''s explanations. Princess Rieschen looks a little sad. * * * * * * * * * * * * The last step is to be taken on a boat. The first one is Cygnus, the former winner. The boat can just barely fit three people if it''s packed. "Wow, it feels so good! The Shiratori (Cygnus) runs around the bay with the sea breeze on its face. "Your Highness, please remember how it sways, how it moves, how it accelerates..." Marcia said to Prince Ernest while running Cygnus at about 80% speed. The winning boat, number 6, is still there. He did not give her a name. "No, I know it''s different somehow!" The three-hulled boat is a little shorter than the catamaran, which makes the boat more maneuverable. Also, the longer distance from each < makes the period of swaying longer. "And the acceleration seems to be good too." "Yes, that''s the effect of this ......<." "I see. But it would be bad if algae or seaweed got entangled in it. Marcia is a little surprised when Prince Ernesto points out the weak points of the screw in a short time. "...... Yes. So we have to be careful where we run. "If it''s a small ship, we can remove it manually if it gets tangled up, but I''m not sure about a large ship. ......" Prince Ernest was thinking about such a thing. * * * * * * "Jin, Marcia, Elsa, Hannah, Licia, thank you. Thank you, Reiko, Edgar, Arrow, for all your help. At 11:00 a.m., the two high lords bid farewell to Jin and the others. "Don''t worry, I''ll have Elias take you home." Princess Rieschen says with a smile. She then says a few more words to Hannah. "Good luck, Hannah. We will meet again. "Take care, sister Ries!" In front of Marcia''s workshop, the carriage and guards arranged by the Marquis of Firenziano are all there. "<>, I will now escort the two of you to the capital city of Borgia." Jin thought that he would take <>, but when he listened carefully, he heard that an airship would come to pick them up at the guest house. "Well then, I''ll leave you to it." Jin, see you later! Thank you, Jin! The Marquis and their Royal Highnesses waved their hands out of the carriage window, and Jin responded. Then the carriage started to move slowly and left before those who saw it off. "He''s gone, isn''t he?" "Hmm..." "I''m kind of sad." Yeah. ...... Yes. ...... The time spent in the company of friends will one day come to an end. Marcia, Elsa, Jin, Hannah, and Licia expressed their loneliness in their own words. 1458 - - 39-43 The Dolls Jin and his friends stayed at Marcia''s house, refusing to go to the Marchese Florenziano''s. The next morning. The next morning. "It''s March today... ......3 March means the Dolls'' Festival..." "What''s that, Onii-chan?" Hannah heard Jin''s mumbling and asked him a question. "Hm?It''s a festival for girls on March 3rd. "Heh?" It seemed that Hannah had never heard of such a modern Japanese event, as it was not compiled in the book. Erza had not heard of it either, and Licia and Marcia were also eager to hear about it, so Jin explained about the Hinamatsuri. "Originally, it was an event to transfer bad luck to dolls to get rid of it..." "Hmm." "Somewhere along the way, the dolls were floated down the river and then displayed." Yes! "It became a girls'' festival because of the dolls." "Heh. ......" "There are two types of dolls, male and female, and some of the more luxurious ones are ...... well, let''s say, dolls." "That''s amazing, isn''t it?" "Oh, what?So, by "retainers" you mean that the Obina and the Mebina are the king and queen, Jin? "That''s what it means." In fact, they are not kings, but rather emperors and empresses, but that would take too long to explain, so Jin omitted that part for now. "I''m a little curious, aren''t I?" "Yes. "Okay, I promised Hannah that I would make her a doll, so I guess I''ll make and display a doll." "Yes!" Once that''s decided, all''s well that ends well. We returned to the guest house and decided to leave the Kingdom of Elias in <>. Marcia promised to invite them to the village of Kaina when the dolls were ready, and the Conlon 3 took off into the sky with Jin and the others aboard. And, sorry to the pilot, Edgar, but Jin and the others went to Horai Island through the warp gate. However, Edgar and will be back in three hours. * * * * "......It looks roughly like this." Jin drew a rough picture and explained. "Strange. But it''s nice." "It''s true. Is this what they wear ...... in ?" Elsa was honestly impressed, and Licia seemed to be intrigued by the costumes. "No, I think they are based on ancient Japanese clothes." "I''m looking forward to it!" And Hannah is genuinely looking forward to seeing the finished product. "I think I''ll have Elsa make the face. I think she can do it better than Jin. Even Jin can''t reproduce every detail of the dolls. If he is going to rearrange them, he should do it in the style of this world, so he left the faces to Elsa. "Old man, do you have any luxurious silk fabrics? The old man, who knew what Jin was going to make, responded appropriately to such a vague question. < "Oh, that''s good." < "I understand. I am happy to have a man who can do it, I am. . Jin then sends his compliments to Soleil and Luna, who brought the cloth to him, "Thank you both for your hard work. I appreciate it very much. He thanked them both for their hard work. "Thank you very much. "I am honored." Indeed, the fabrics they brought were diverse, including satin, habutae, crepe, and Nishijin-ori style. "There are many kinds, but the quantity is small." He said, "We have about five lots of each in stock. "One lot is enough, thank you very much. There are a wide variety of patterns: plain, Japanese, Western, and gold brocade. "I like fine patterns. Because dolls are small. Having decided on the fabric, Jin began to make the doll''s body. Not knowing the formal structure of dolls, he made the doll''s body in his own way. The doll is not made of clay, but of <. This is because it is easier to fine-tune the doll afterwards. Then, the body is clothed. The basic garment is the juni-hitoe (twelve-layered kimono). The bottom layer is a hitoe, which serves as underclothing, and over that are five hitoe of different colors, called itsutsuginu. The five garments are combined so that there is a beautiful gradation of colors on the cuffs and collars. This is called "kasane-no-irome," and is said to have been changed depending on the season and status of the wearer. On top of this, an uchi ginu, then an uhagi, and finally a karaginu, an elaborate garment, are worn. The bottom is a long hakama (legless hakama), and a gown is attached at the waist. However, they do not actually wear that many garments. The garments are piled up around the visible part of the body, in other words, around the collar. "Elsa, have you finished the face or the head? "Yes." "Oh, this is good. I put it together with the body. The size is perfect. The hair style is usually called "ousuberakashi," but it is too unfamiliar in the Ars world, so we decided to go with the safe style of "suihatsu" (lowered hair). The male dolls are made in the same way, but in the style of a koro-kanna-sokutai. The women''s dolls are finished in red, so I decided to use blue for the men''s dolls. Licia looked at Jin''s work and was impressed, "That''s an interesting collar. Is that a traditional costume? She said. The shape of a maru-eri is probably not found in this world, so it is not surprising that it is unusual. "Yes, I suppose it could be classified as such." There are very few people who wear it on a daily basis, except for a few priests and people involved in traditional performing arts. Jin also does not remember the formal structure of the doll, but it is enough to make a doll. The crowns are made in a proper shape, and the male dolls are given a scepter and the female dolls a fan. The rest is completed by making the pedestal and the gold folding screen. Compared to the modern Hina dolls, there are a few things missing, but this is how we have completed our version of for Ars of Another World. 1459 - - 39-44 Silent Story 72 Dolls Festival "Shall we have a big Hina Matsuri on the 3rd? ......" Jin decided to hold the Hina Matsuri at Nido Castle and began preparations. He set up a stand for the dolls in the hall, spread a scarlet carpet, and seated automata dressed as male and female dolls. ....... The dolls are dressed as male and female dolls. "For the male dolls, I''d like of the >." "Hmm. And for the female dolls, ? "Also, as I recall, there are three courtesans, the Minister of the Right, the Minister of the Left, and the five musicians. ......" I''ll assign <> to them as well. Since Jin doesn''t know the order or even the official names, he focuses on the appearance. The preparations were completed over the course of the day. On March 2, all households in the village of Kaina are notified of the Doll Festival. < in the hall of Nido Castle. It is a girls'' festival, but boys, parents, and everyone is welcome to attend. Since we could not prepare white sake, we will only serve various kinds of juices. No alcohol since it is a daytime festival. "Oh, that''s right, since it''s also called "Peach Festival", we should also display Persica flowers. A Persica orchard growing on Horai Island. From there, he brings in persica flower branches for pruning and decorating. "Hmmm, I forgot the shape of the Bonbori. Jin smiles bitterly, but compromises that the banquet will be held in the daytime, so there will be no problem even if it is not necessary. "Shall we put a red carpet on the floor? However, Erza waits for him. "Brother Jin, I''m sure that would be painful to the eyes. "That''s true... ...... then I guess we should put tatami mats on the floor." I''m sure it will hurt your eyes. The hall is used by switching between a wooden floor and a tatami floor depending on the purpose. This time we decided to use tatami mats and cushions. "And then there''s the food. Hishimochi and hina arare ......?" As expected, I don''t know how to make them. "You can make arare, but you can''t just sweeten them. ......" Jin thinks about it for a while, but decides to compromise on this point as well, because it''s the world of Ars. "Then, what to ......?" He started to think about it and immediately thought of a food. Let''s make a sandwich. In other words, he decided to make it with bread cut into a diamond shape instead of a rectangle, and use it as a rice cake. We should prepare as many kinds of ingredients as possible, such as vegetables, ham, salad, and so on. Peridot is in charge of the preparation. "Then, instead of Hina-arare, we should make popcorn. Popcorn is not popular in the village of Kaina because of the low corn harvest. However, Jin thought that since Eric''s store was located there, it might be a good idea to buy corn for popcorn as one of the ways to use the money he had earned. "It would be nice if we could make it taste like caramel, instead of just the usual salty flavor." Jin did not know how to make caramel, but he did know how to make <>. "Come to think of it, what''s the difference between caramel and caramel? Jin muttered to himself in the kitchen of Nido Castle while making caramel with Reiko as his assistant. The process of making caramel is simple. Just dissolve sugar in water and boil it down until it turns brown. If you boil it down too much, it becomes bitter, and if you heat it further after the water has completely evaporated, it just turns to charcoal and becomes bitter. "I remember when I was scolded by the director for a prank I played a long time ago. It was no wonder he was scolded, since he had ruined one of the pots at that time. "Okay, that''s about right." Jin made the caramel sauce for the pudding and poured it over the popcorn Reiko had prepared for him. ....... "Hmmm, it doesn''t stick." It stayed sticky forever. "If I boil it down any more, it''ll become bitter. ...... I''ll try mixing in some syrup or something, or try using less water. Jin tried to make it work. Then Elsa and Licia came over. "Oh, it smells so good! "Hey, you two, are you done with your preparations? The two had been entrusted with decorating the venue, including the flower beds. "Yes, we''re done." "So, what are you making?" Jin explained to them. "It looks delicious. But it looks difficult. ...... "...... If it looks too difficult, why don''t you use engineering magic this time to make the water go away?" Elsa offered a compromise. "Yes, ......." Elsa is right when she suggests that the stickiness is due to the high water content, which should be eliminated. Let''s give it a try. " I try to eat the food that has lost its stickiness. "Yeah, I guess it''s alright. The texture is crispy and slightly sweet, accented by a slight bitterness. It was slightly different from the ones he had eaten in the past, but Jin thought it was delicious in its own way. "Oh, it''s delicious, isn''t it? "Mmm." Licia and Elsa seemed to like it too, so Jin decided to try it tomorrow. As a side note, the Peridos would later use brown sugar and syrup to complete the dish, but that would come a little later. In addition, Jin decided to prepare fried tofu and fried topopo. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Shall we invite the children from Toka village too? "Is that OK?" In the evening, Jin proposed to Licia. "Of course, it''s short notice, so we may not be able to get all of them, but you can bring them here tomorrow morning in the <>. "Thank you!" "And then, I''d like to invite Saki, Marcia, and above all, Yuri. "Yes, I''ll do that. We should also invite Theon and Maricka. In the end, they decided to invite the entire <>, including Luis Vina and his wife, Stearina, Vivian, and Milowina. The day of the Dolls'' Festival. The day of the Dolls'' Festival. "Wow, it''s beautiful! "Wow, it''s so beautiful!" "It''s so nice!" Most of the residents of Kaina Village, the entire Jin Family, and 15 children from Toka Village gathered in the hall of Nido Castle. "Well, today is the Girls'' Festival. It''s a girls'' festival. By the way, the boys'' festival will be held on May 5th. Jin explains the purpose of the festival. "It is to wish for a healthy upbringing. It is also a festival to celebrate the coming of spring. Everyone listens in silence. "Well then, please enjoy today with our guests!" Jin sums it up shortly. He knows that people don''t like it when he makes a long speech at a time like this. "Oh, wow! "Wow!" Everyone cheered in unison after Jin''s greeting. "It''s a great atmosphere, isn''t it? I want to have this event in my village next year. Licia looked a little envious. "Yes, yes, you''re a djinn, aren''t you? The shorter the greeting, the better. "I think I''ve read that Mags also talked about this kind of thing. "Interesting costumes." Saki, Goose and Vivian are looking at the dolls. "Juliana, you''ll be a good girl!" "Yuri, you laugh a lot now, don''t you? "Yes, she doesn''t cry so much at night, thank God." Reinhard, Mine and Bertsche are looking after Juliana. "This is delicious! "Try this one too." "Yes, thank you!" Hannah seems to be enjoying the company of the village children and inviting the children from Toka. "It''s a very peaceful and happy scene. Thank you, Mr. Jin." "No problem. Please take your time. Milowina was receiving Jin''s greeting from a little distance away. "I like this kind of gathering," she said. I''d like to have one at our place, too! "If you do, give me a call. I''ll help you." Theon and Maricka were talking with Elsa. "Well, when I heard about the doll, I didn''t think the festival would turn out like this. "But it sounds like you guys are having a good time." "Yes, they are." Marcia and Rodrigo squinted at the happy children as they ate their sandwiches. "It''s nice to be in this kind of atmosphere. "It really is." Toa and Stellina were also enjoying the atmosphere. This popcorn is delicious!I''ll ask Jin how to make it later. "That''s a good idea. That would be a good idea. It would add variety to our specialties. Bina and Luis are talking over a bowl of popcorn. "Oh, this is fun. I really didn''t think the village would be this lively until Jin came. "Really. Martha and Hannah found Jin and that''s why the village is what it is today. "Yes, indeed, Jin, you''re a wonder man, aren''t you? Martha was enjoying the Dolls'' Festival with the village chief Giebeck and Sally. "Hmmm, we don''t have a festival like this in King''s Landing either. "Hmm, this village is a nice place, isn''t it? "Yes, it is. Your father and grandfather would be envious if you told them about it." Eric and Barbara seemed to be enjoying themselves as well. "Hey, hey, try this.It''s delicious." "Wow, thank you!" "Look, there''s a nice view from the window over there. Wanna go there? "Yes!" Rita, Sonia, Lou, Kana, Seema, Berta, Coone, and Luluna had all settled into the village and were chatting and eating happily. The village of Kaina in the northern part of the country was about to welcome spring. 1460 - - 39-45 Straw Pancakes "I see, this is good." Jin muttered as he examined the ground. On March 4, Jin, together with Erza, Licia, and others, had come to the Demon Territory...... or <>. It was to send Zion and Marikka, whom he had invited to the Dolls'' Festival the previous day, on their way. Or, more precisely, to observe the paving method of the <>. "Hey, it''s nice." "You don''t have to be so hard on yourself, Zion, it wasn''t your idea." Now Jin, together with Zion and Zion''s mother, Rorona of Morura, had come to the village square. "But I was surprised. I thought you knew everything. "That''s not true. There are many things in this world that I don''t know. You are very humble. "More importantly, how to pave this place ......" I happened to mention in front of Zion and Maricka that a road was going to run through to the village of Lycia and that it would be nice if it was paved, He muttered something along the lines of "It would be nice to pave it."Can''t you just put gravel on the road and pave it?" I heard Zion say, "Well, if you put crushed gravel on the ground and push it into the ground, it will harden. I don''t know why ......." I don''t know why," I heard Maricka say. I know a lot about making things, but I''m an amateur in the field of civil engineering. Lorona explains to me. She had some background in civil engineering as well as agriculture. "This pavement is made by breaking rocks, scattering the broken stones, and then hardening them. Lorona thought and thought as she explained. "Well, I heard from an older colleague that when the crushed stones are pushed together, they engage tightly with each other due to friction or something. It is said that water is sometimes sprinkled on the stones. This method corresponds to what is known as "macadam paving" in modern Japan. It was often used before and during the war. This method is effective because there are no heavy trailers, trucks, or dump trucks running on the road. "I see, I get it." Jin thought that if he named this method and spread the word about what he had learned from the northerners, it would be a good opportunity for them to be accepted. "Licia, this is going to be useful, isn''t it?" "Yes, yes, yes! It would have been nice if we could have brought Princess Rieschen with us, but it was not possible. Since Reiko is with her, the information has been sent to the old man. We''ll have to try it out at Horai Island or Kunlun Island soon. "Are you leaving already?" Theon says in a frustrated tone. "Oh, I''m sorry. I''ll come back later. He had reached the end of his rope with Lysia. "I''m sorry. Jin drove Licia back to Toka village by . * * * * * * * * * * * ......Spring is almost here. "Hmm." Jin and Erza took a walk in the village of Kaina. There were still patches of frozen snow here and there in the shade, but the roads and fields were already covered with soil. The green buds of wheat were beginning to grow, indicating that spring was definitely on its way. "There was also a lot of snow in the snow room." Elsa had looked in the snow room. "It''s been a long time since I''ve been so relaxed." "Yes. ......" The two of them walked slowly through the village, stopping to greet the villagers as they waved back. The sky was blue, the wind was still cold, but the sun was warm. "Really, we''re taking it easy today. I had been somewhat busy for the past half month or so, taking care of all the various things I had to do. "Oh, mommy, Elsa!" Hannah, who had gone to the bank of the Ermee River to pick newly sprouted mugwort, came back with a basket in her arms. "Look, there are so many! "Oh, my gosh!" Last year, when he took Hannah to visit other ethnic groups, Jin found wormwood in the town of Ismar and made grass cakes with it. Hanna remembered this and found out that wormwood was also found in Kaina village, so she picked it up. Of course, we have confirmed that it is non-toxic. "All right, we can make rice cakes with this. They rent a kitchen at Martha''s house and start to make grass cakes. The recipe for the grass cakes that Jin made in Ismar is as follows, 1. boil the washed wormwood. Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda. 2. Soak the boiled mugwort in cold water and grind it in a mortar. 3. Knead up the rice flour and boil it in hot water. 4. Mix the ground mugwort with the flour in a mortar and pestle. 5. roll the dumplings into pieces and eat them with soybean flour or sweet bean paste. The process is as follows. The dumplings will not be ready in time for lunch, but they are good enough for a 3 o''clock snack. Elsa is boiling red bean paste and Reiko is making soybean flour. After eating lunch while the red bean paste was cooling down, Jin and the others continued to prepare the Kusamochi. And then... "Oh, this smells so good, Jin!" Martha, who had never tasted grass rice cake before, also liked it. "It''s delicious, Jin-sama!" Erza''s mother, Meene, said the same thing. "I also like it with honey and yellow powder on it! Hannah is also enjoying the cake. It is the greatest joy for the bakers to see their customers eating them with such relish. "I''ll make some at Nido Castle and give them out to everyone. Jin then thinks about spreading the Kusamochi in the village of Kaina. "Brother Jin, if we don''t eat them soon, they will be gone." "Oops." The rice cakes were well received and there were only a few left in the pile. Jin hurriedly put the one with red bean paste in his mouth. The aroma of mugwort filled his mouth. "I''m so happy right now. ......" Jin is deeply moved as he watches Hannah eat the Kusamochi. Erza, who is sitting next to him, leans her shoulder against him. (Hopefully, this small happiness will last as long as possible.) A single white cloud was flowing in the sky of Kaina village. 1461 - - 40-01 Spring is coming March 15 is Elsa''s birthday. The place is the big cafeteria in the institute in Horai Island. "Happy birthday, Elsa. "Thank you, Brother Jin." Happy birthday! Happy birthday! On the island of Horai, the Jin family was celebrating his birthday together. On a large table covered with a white tablecloth was a large birthday cake. Perid and his family had painstakingly completed this cake. The most difficult part was the sponge cake. Jin did not know how to make it, so it took many trials and errors. It took him several times until he realized that he should use light flour. If you don''t sift the flour, it will be lumpy, if you don''t whisk it properly, it won''t expand, etc. Several times before he tried adding butter and milk as well as flour, eggs, and sugar. Then, after adding the butter and milk, it takes about a dozen times. Dozens of times to find the best mixing ratio, baking temperature, baking time, and so on. The fish in the fish pond ate the failed ones. It is a relief that they did not go to waste. Next to sponge cake, whipped cream was the most difficult to make. For some reason, they had never made cream, even though they had a culture of making cheese. The fat content of milk is usually around 4 grams per 100 grams (depending on the season). Therefore, even after centrifugation, only a small amount of cream can be obtained. This is probably why cream was not eaten in the Arus world. For the same reason, butter was not widely used. As a side note, cheese is made mainly in mountain villages like Mochto in the Kingdom of Elias. The basic cheese is cottage cheese made by adding vinegar to warmed milk to separate the protein content. The use of lactic acid bacteria seeds called "bulk starter" increases the variety. A quick aside. This cake is made with a lot of airbert (strawberries), Elsa''s favorite. This cake is full of the fragrance of spring. "Woohoo!" "Brilliant!" Elsa is applauded for blowing out the beeswax candle in one breath. "Thank you, ....... I''m going to go now." Elsa herself cut the huge whole cake into pieces. "Yes, it''s delicious. "If Reinhardt says so, this wine is a winner." Reinhardt took a sip of the sparkling wine Marcia brought and seemed to like it. "Most sparkling wines are sweet, but this one is on the dry side. In Ars, sparkling wine is often made sweeter for women and children. "It''s delicious." Elsa is drinking a non-alcoholic sparkling juice. It is made from the juice of ripe bitis (grapes) and carbonated. "It''s delicious!" Hannah seemed to like this taste too. "No, I didn''t know there was such a wine!" Count Luis Wurtz Kuzma, a nobleman from the Kingdom of Egelea, Blueland, also praised the wine. "I didn''t know this was made by an unknown winemaker!" Yes, a wine made by an up-and-coming winery, unnamed. "This wine tastes better than the wine served at Prince Ernest''s birthday party the other night! Louis had attended the birthday party in the capital. "We should promote more industry in our country. ......" He glanced over at Beena, one of the standard-bearers of industrial promotion. "Topopo chips are good, too." Bina, who is pregnant and strictly forbidden to drink alcohol, is sipping a Ramon squash (lemon juice mixed with carbonated water and added sugar) and eating snacks. Her stomach was becoming more and more prominent. "Oh yes, thanks for the other day, Gin. The caramelized popcorn you taught me about is going over very well. "That''s good to know." It seems that selling not only salty foods, but also sweet foods has been well received by a wider range of customers. These foods and magic tools are stimulating the industrial world of the Kingdom of Egelea in a positive way. "And you want to see your grandchildren, don''t you? "Yes, well. But this is the only thing that even Jin-sama can ...... do." "Well, it''s a gift, so I can''t say for sure. In the corner, Milowina, Meane, and Martha were talking about something. Jin instinctively decided it was best to stay away and moved in the opposite direction. "Jin, this is delicious! "Jin-sama, you''re so cute!" Marikka, it''s not polite to talk with food in your mouth. Zion and Marikka were enjoying fried chicken ...... or deep fried kokarisk. Elsa is not fond of kokarisk, but today she has prepared it for her guests. I have used several different spices so that you can enjoy the different aromas. Don''t eat too much. There will be more to come." "Yes." True to their word, the golem maids appeared with trays of food on them. "Here they come! "Wow!" Sushi dishes such as Gomokuzushi, Inarizushi, and Kappamaki. No nigiri-zushi this time, as it is not to everyone''s liking. Rice dishes such as sekihan (red rice), rice cooked with wild vegetables, and rice cooked with chestnuts. Sandwiches, jam buns, pancakes. "I can''t get enough!" "Eat whatever you like, as much as you like. We also have tea. Green tea, hojicha, genmaicha, taeye, kuhe, percha. "I think she likes porridge." Bertsche is spoon-feeding porridge to Juliana, whom she has brought with her. "She can even stand up and walk now," she says. I can''t take my eyes off her. "She''s so cute!" Stearina and Vivienne are looking after Juliana. "It tastes like old times..." Guth muttered to himself as he ate the rice with wild vegetables. "Did Mitsuho and Fusoh have okowa?" Jin heard him muttering and asked. "Yes, they did. They didn''t taste as good, though." It was not as good as this." This is not surprising in a culture where rice and rice cakes are available. "But I never thought of putting maruon in it. "I see." As a lover of chestnut rice, Jin could not miss this dish, which was somewhat surprising. "I think it''s also because there are not many maruons in the market." Guth gave his own analysis. Reiko took pictures of everyone enjoying themselves with her camera. It seems that she has already taken more than a hundred pictures. Jin goes to Erza''s side when the time is right. "Ah, Jin-bro!" Elsa was eating cake at her own pace. "I''m having fun today." "Yes, it is." Jin went outside with Erza. The sun was shining softly and the sky was blue. Spring has already come to Horai Island, which is located on the Tropic of Cancer. 1462 - - 40-02 Preparation After Elsa''s birthday party, everyone was having a leisurely chat. "Jin, you seem to be buying a lot of light silver. Reinhardt asked with a somewhat expectant look on his face. Reinhardt knew that Jin had been buying large quantities of light silver, the price of which had recently dropped. "Ah. The price has been falling since the refining magi-machine seems to have become popular. Another reason for this is that they are hoping that buying light silver here will lead to an increase in the production of refining machines. "So, back to the subject, what are you making?" Airships for the World Guard. "For the World Guard?" Reinhardt asked in return. "Yes. I''m building it based on the improvements I heard about the other day." "What''s it like?" "Seeing is believing. "I''d like to see it! Jin and Reinhardt move to the back of the laboratory. There they find a huge structure. It is a huge tent, 100 meters by 100 meters and 50 meters high. It is a huge tent. The framework is made of thin but strong light silver, and the covering is made of cloth woven from the threads of a ground spider, making it stronger than most buildings. Ships are built at the dock in Tatumi Bay, but airplanes and airships are built here. When Reinhardt entered the building, he was astonished. "Wow, this is amazing! Jin is building a catamaran airship. The air sac section is 50 meters long, longer than the Conlon 2. However, it is slightly slender, with a maximum diameter of 10 meters. They are connected with a distance of 20 meters between them. When viewed from the front, the air sacs and cabins are arranged in an isosceles triangle. Of course, the cabin is suspended downward. "The longer length is to prevent pitching and yawing, and the twin air sacs are to prevent rolling." The twin air sacs are a countermeasure against the yawing that Pascoe-Rasch said was caused by the large amount of swaying. In addition to the sway itself, the period is also related to the comfort of the ride. Generally speaking, the larger the period, the slower the shaking. "If it shakes slowly, it would be easier to take measures to counteract the shaking. Since the golem is the main control system, the reaction speed is several to several dozen times faster than that of a human, which is more than enough to cope with the situation. I see. "The reason I made it slender is to reduce aerodynamic drag and make it more resistant to strong winds." I don''t know how effective this will be," Jin added. "And the catamaran design was also to increase the payload capacity." This was also pointed out. It is also equipped with wind thrusters for flotation and overloading. <, but its speed is expected to increase by about 20%. "So, it''s not coated yet?" The airship in front of me was in a skeleton state. "Oh, that''s right. For the covering, I have sent them to the Shoro Kingdom to buy , but it seems that they are having difficulty in getting the right amount of it. GSS is imported from Mitsuho and is expensive. It costs as much as 100 tokens (about 10,000 yen) per square meter. "Hmmm, how much would it take to cover all these air sacs?" "I did some rough calculations, and two air sacs would be about 1,570 square meters." "That would be ......157 million dollars." That''s about 15.7 million yen, which Jin can afford. It would be better to spend it instead of saving it to stimulate the economy. However, it is still a bad idea to waste money. "I see, so you''re using only materials that are available to the public. I see. What about the name? "Well, how about ...... for a year or so, and you can train him during that time. ......" "Oh, that sounds good. So, how many?" "Two to start with, I think." "Then the hull could be done in a month. But we''ve never handled an aqua thruster before, have we?" "Yes, we have a craftsman who can handle that." "Then I''ll take care of it. "I''ll take care of it." "Makina will go to Potlock for more details. ...... tomorrow, okay?" "Yes, okay." Thus, Marcia''s workshop is to manufacture a new trimaran. "Do you want to order a large ship from the Shoro Kingdom?" Elsa asked. "Well, it would be nice to have a ship on the level of ......<>, but there seem to be a lot of restrictions if it is made of wood, so we should build it at the dock in <>." "That might be a good idea." This one will be a 50-meter class ship. The image is that of a destroyer. < is a man-made island, air and sea defenses will be crucial. It is decided that three destroyers will be built on . The materials are to be used from the Moon. "What are the specifications?" Reinhardt had arrived before they knew it. "Will the crew initially be golems?" And Stearina joined in. "I think so at first. Then we''ll train the crew and eventually we''ll have a ......." So the instructor will be a golem too? Yes, that''s right. We don''t have to force them to be automata. ...... We had a nice conversation like this. < and were steadily underway. 1463 - - 40-03 On the other hand, at that time, "Let''s see what we can do." At the home base of <, the two top leaders were discussing. "I hope we can make use of all the knowledge and skills we have accumulated so far. "Yes, that''s right. In that sense, we should also select members to participate in the project. No, not two, but the third is a beautiful blonde-haired automata, <>. "If I were ten years younger, I would have run for the board," said Jules Laurent, the head of the board. said Jules Rolland, the top executive. ......I''m sorry. Elena is drooping. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!It was an unfortunate accident.It was an accident! < "Yes, yes!I''m having a lot of fun now, too, which more than makes up for it!" Donald Callow, the second runner-up, followed in a panic. "That''s a relief to hear you say that." "Yes, it is!Let''s put all that backward-looking talk away and talk about something positive! "Yes, I agree! (...... Thank you very much.) Elena thanked them in a small voice and resumed the discussion. "The recent survey of the ruins of the Kingdom of Egelea and the Kingdom of Klein was too poor. I think we can guide you in this aspect as well. Yes, we can. That was a little pathetic. Both of them had read the minutes of the meeting through the old man, and both of them were disappointed at the lack of content. "It''s not surprising that they have little experience in such investigative work. Elena summarizes. "And then there is the matter of education. < will have to spend a lot of time on education in the beginning." "That''s true." Elena agrees with Donald. "I think that the Nostalgia Party can help in terms of human resources." "Yes, let''s take that route. * * * * "I see that official diplomatic relations with the Shoro Kingdom have been established. I''ve been looking forward to this day. In the village of Kali, the eastern gateway to the Mitsuho Nation, which is known as a foreign nation, Oliver, a Shoro native, and Maya, a Mitsuho native, huddled together and exchanged words. "The dried bonito flakes and the wooden paper are selling well," he said. "The other day they said they sold a lot of GSS (ground spider silk). "It seems so. We''ve had inquiries too. It''s too bad we don''t carry it. "Well, why don''t you try to handle it?I''ve got contacts." "Really?We''d love to have you. I''ll take care of it." It was not a very s*xy conversation. I''m sure you''ve learned a lot. I see you''ve learned your lesson, Ernesto. Yes, father. In the Kingdom of Egelea, Prince Ernest was reporting to his father after returning home. "I have learned a lot, especially about ships. I''ve learned a lot, especially about ships. ...... So, Father, did you know that our ships were competing in the Golem boat competition in the Kingdom of Elias?" No, I did not. No, I don''t know. Then who would know? Maybe Kelihidole, the Minister of Magic, might know. So Harold Ruan Autoclase, King of Egelea, summoned Kelliheridore and asked him a question. I have certainly heard about it, but it is not official. However, it was not an official one, and I participated in it only in my personal capacity, so I did not bother His Majesty''s ears. "I see. It is all right that you did not report it. But Ernesto told me that the ship was quite a piece of work. Find out who built it and report back to me." Yes, sir. * * * "Princess, did you enjoy your trip this time?" Tia asked Princess Rieschen, who was relaxing in her room in the Kingdom of Klein, while serving her tea and tea sweets. "Yes, it was a lot of fun!I never get tired of being with Jin. Hannah is cute too. And ......" "Ernesto-sama has become more dignified, has he?" "Gumm ...... yes, that''s right." The princess nodded, blushing. "But when you talk to him, he''s still Mr. Nest. The occasional gesture is the same as in the past, she says. To Princess Rieschen, Tia held out a rolled up piece of leather paper. "And you have a letter from Master Jin," she said. "Oh, I see. What is it? Princess Rieschen took it, opened the seal, and looked it over. A smile spreads across her face. "Oh ......!" "What''s the matter?Did you find something good in it? "Yes, it did. Jin said that there is a relatively easy pavement in the <> area. He will check it out in detail. Princess Rieschen felt her prospects for the road improvement project brighten even more now that Jin had said so. "That''s good, isn''t it?" "Yes. What a good thing to have a friend. * * * * What happened to ......? In the moon habitat, Milowina was summoned by the brain. Yes. Far away in the distance, space seems to have vibrated. Vibrations? Vibrations? I''ve determined that from the fluctuations in the gravity field. Are you sure? It was only 1/10,000th of a second, so I can''t be 100 percent sure. So what am I supposed to do? I need your advice on what to make of this phenomenon. That''s unusual. You don''t know what to do? Yes. I''ve never seen anything like this before, and I don''t have the resources to know what to do. "I see. ......" This may have been the limit of this kind of artificial intelligence. Jin-kun seems to be busy with various things. ...... Well, if you experience a similar phenomenon again, please let Horaijima know." I understand. 1464 - - 40-04 Nord Commonwealth "You can go to the Kingdom of Klein with <>." Jin accompanied Reiko to the territory of the <>. He decided that it would be better to introduce the <> at the <>, but rather than introducing them at once, it would be better to first introduce them to the Kingdom of Klein, which is the nearest country, and then to ....... However, the nearest place is the village of Kaina in Jin''s domain. However, this was a convenient situation. It can be said that they met <> when they went northward from the village of Kaina. This would also explain the familiarity of the representative Zion and his group with the village of Kaina. "And, however, what should we do? ......" Radeous of <> is the one who says such things as "I am the next head of the tribe. As the next chief, he is visiting the Kingdom of Klein with his wife, Rorona, and daughter, Theon, as a representative of the <>. "Now, now, now, you must calm down a little. You don''t have to worry about anything since Jin-sama will be with you. ......?" Rorona is calmer than Radeous. Even though Rorona is the star of the show this time. Yes, this visit is partly a lecture on <<>=<>, too. First, he will be formally introduced at the <> after having established a track record in the Kingdom of Klein. It can be said that it is a counterpart to the Shoro Kingdom in the West, which introduces the ...... Mitsuho to the world. "By the way, have you decided on the name of the country? is a term of address from the point of view of the small group of countries, and not an official name. "Yes. I apologize for the delay. We are now the Nordic Federation. The Nordic Commonwealth. I understand. As a representative of his country, he decided to speak with the proper honorifics from now on. "So, you are Radeous-sama of the clan of the Nordic Federation, is that correct?" "I''ll have to get used to ...... that." Radeous looked disgusted. "Jin-sama, the clan of the <> has something to tell you. A report came to Jin. "Okay. I will go there. "I''ll go then." Radeous, who had been slackening off from the preparation, language practice, and etiquette training, raised his hand just in time. And before anyone could argue, he was gone, accompanied by Hitoshi and Reiko. * * * * * * * * * * * "Jin-sama, I am sorry to have summoned you. < clan, greeted Jin. "Is something wrong?" Seeing the slightly worried expression on Jin''s face, Fabius says in a cheerful voice, "No, nothing is wrong. No, it''s good news for us. In fact, Alectus and Milonia have just had a child. He wanted to tell this news directly to Jin, without any messages or phone calls. Milonia is 181 years old this year. The life span of the demon tribe is five times longer than that of humans, so she is about 36 years old. Originally, the northern tribes have a long life expectancy and age slowly, so they can have children until they are about 200 years old. Fabius seemed to be happy to have more clan members, and he was beaming all the time. "The living environment and food situation have improved dramatically. I think more will be born in the future." "That''s good to hear." Jin was happy to hear this. At the same time, the thought of ...... also came to Jin''s mind. "Oh, I should also visit No. 700672 now that I''ve come this far..." Jin suddenly thought of an idea and, on the spur of the moment, he visited the via the using the warp gate of the <. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, Jin-dono, it has been a long time. And you have come to the right place." No. 700672 greeted Jin with a smile and a serious expression on his face. "It''s been a while. Is something wrong?" "Well, no, it seems that a strain was observed in space. It only lasted about 1/10,000 of a second." The white room where 700672 lives was originally a spaceship. It is said to be equipped with such measuring instruments. "I don''t know what this means yet, but I thought I''d pass it along." "I see." As a person who has read many books and manga and watched anime in modern Japan, I can tell you that the space has become unstable, "Does it mean that the space is unstable? I conclude. "Hmm. You are right. That''s true, but since we don''t know the cause, we can''t speculate further." "Should I send a ...... survey boat?" "That would work, but we couldn''t pinpoint where it occurred. The direction is almost parallel to the ecliptic plane, and if the solar celan is 0 degrees, it is only about 30 degrees. "Well ......, maybe they are also measuring at Moon (UNY). If you know the direction there too, ......" "Well, I can find the approximate point." Jin then contacted the old man and asked him to work with Jack at UNY to find the location of the outbreak. "I think that''s a good start. "Well, that''s a quick response. The 700672 praised Jin. If you find anything out, please let me know. "Yes, of course. At any rate, Jin left the 700672 for a short stay, as the communication with the <> was still in progress. * * * * He is with <>. Do you have any information? >> Meanwhile, the old man, who had received instructions, was exchanging information with <, the head of the moon management team. We observed this phenomenon yesterday. Since it is not reproducible, I have refrained from reporting it until I know for sure. < Yes, sir. The old man digests the information together with <> and constructs it with reasoning. < That''s what the calculations say. Certainly. <> Jack knows more about the universe and its facilities than the old man does. I don''t think so. Even if the base exploded, the space would not be shaken. < The "Mere Old Man" decided that it would be a waste of time to continue the discussion and reasoning. This is the time when the "peepers" come in handy. The old man activates his peepers. 1465 - - 40-05 Welcome and entertainment < telescope. It is very difficult to fix the viewpoint on the target due to the large distance. A camera with a super-telephoto lens cannot be hand-held. It is just like a camera with a super-telephoto lens cannot be hand-held, unless it is fixed on a tripod, a sturdy tripod at that. Even with the Peeper, which is installed as solidly as possible underground on Horai Island, the slightest distortion or deflection will result in huge errors at a distance of tens or hundreds of millions of kilometers. In other words, the viewpoint cannot be fixed at one point, and it is difficult to see the target object, and if it were a human being, he/she would surely get <. On the other hand, the reaction speed of the old man is several hundred times faster than that of a human being, and a momentary visual information is enough for him. However, Jin does not leave the matter to the power of the old man, and to prevent this, he has also set up a relay station to observe the direction of the planet Hale. By passing through this relay base, the distance will be shortened and the blur will be reduced. But first of all, since Jin is not going to see the planet, he used the Peeper telescope instead of the relay station. This is because it is faster with less time lag, even if only a little. >. There is a huge area of space to study. The old man has been studying it tirelessly and carefully. * * * * * * * * * * * * * . That was his report. Well, thank you very much for your efforts. Please keep your eyes open." Yes, Master (My Lord)>> * * * Since there seemed to be no pressing problem, Jin instructed the old man to be careful and returned to the issue of the <>. "I have already contacted the Kingdom of Klein, and I will fly to the capital city of Alban by <> tomorrow. Jin will also be staying with <> that day. "Okay. I''ve already made most of the preparations. Rorona nodded. "Uh, can I come too?" Theon said a little nervously. "Yes. The contact person on the other side, ......, or rather the hostess, is the third princess, Rieschen. He is very close to Theon''s age, so I think this is a good opportunity for you. Theon''s actual age is 72 years old, but since the Northern tribes grow and live about five times longer than humans, he is 14 years old in human terms, which is the same age as Princess Rieschen, who is also 14 years old this year. Princess Rieschen is also 14 years old this year, so we are the same age. In other words, the three people who will visit the Klein Kingdom this time are father and son, Radeous, Rorona, and Sion. Theon has visited the human sphere with Jin before, so he is relatively at ease, but surprisingly, Radeous is restless. Rorona says to him, "You, as the next chief of the tribe, you should show a little more dignity. Rorona was saying to him, "You should show a little more dignity as the next head of the tribe. I''ll support you in the negotiations and you can explain the pavement to Rorona. "That''s right, honey. Just make sure you say hello. "Yes, yes." Radeous seemed to be thinking about the greeting until late that night. On the morning of March 17, the ship carrying Jin and his crew lifted off into the skies of the Nordic Federation. "Wow, it''s amazing! Rorona is excited. "Mmmm, it''s great to fly, isn''t it?" Radeous looks out the window a little nervously. "Wow, you''re going fast. We''ve already passed the isthmus. I see the village of Kaina." And Zion, who had ridden the boat several times and was used to it, was enjoying the view of the ground from the floor window. "Ah, we passed the village of Kaina. ......" And so, after about two hours of travel, arrived in Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. Everyone changes into formal attire. Jin wears the robes of the Magecraft Meister, and Reiko the cloak of the Knight. Radeous, Rorona, and Sion are dressed in the traditional garb of the clan. Sorry Edgar, but this time you are the pilots and will not be stepping off the . "Oh, there are so many hot air balloons! Sion exclaims as he finishes getting ready and looks out the window. < to . Escorted by them, <> slowly landed in the front yard of the royal castle. "Welcome, <>. And <>. My name is Rieschen, third princess of the Kingdom of Klein. The group was greeted by Princess Rieschen. She is dressed in a dress and wears a silver tiara on her head. "Your Highness, today we have brought with us members of the <>." Jin said, and the three members of the <> bowed their heads. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Radeous of the <>, representative of the >. My name is Rorona, his wife. And my daughter, Theon of Morura. Radeous seemed to be good at this, and announced himself proudly. "You say you are from the Nordic Federation. Welcome to the Nordic Federation. This way first." Princess Rieschen stands first and walks away, followed by Jin and Reiko, with the three members of the <> at the end of the line. As the knights of the Kingsguard take the honorific salute, the group heads for the royal castle. They were ushered into the guest room. We were ushered into the guest room. As hostess, Princess Rieschen''s usual tone of voice was hushed. The time was 11:30 am. A light lunch was served. It was a sandwich. The fillings were varied. Smoked meat like bacon, vegetable salad, egg salad, blueberry jam and cranberry jam. The drink is aprs-juice. "Oh, this is delicious. "Thank you very much. The bread must be freshly baked, soft and fluffy. "This juice is also freshly squeezed and delicious. Lunch ended with a half-social exchange of pleasantries. In fact, Jin observed that the Klein Kingdom seemed to take great pains to provide hospitality. "Father King Alois Lux Klein will be with you from 1:00 p.m. Please wait until 1:00 p.m. Please wait until the time. Princess Rieschen announced the appointment. "Until then, I will be your hostess, if only for a short time." "No, it would be an honor to be the companion of the highly esteemed and talented Princess Rieschen." Rieschen blushed a little and glanced at Jin. It was clear that Jin had put him up to this. And to be able to judge that in an instant, Princess Rieschen must be exceptionally talented. Theon, seeing her (almost) the same age as him, had something on his mind and hardly speaks during the pleasant talk, only giving a short answer when asked. Then 1:00 p.m. came. 1466 - - 40-06 First meeting The meeting started at exactly 1:00 pm. The meeting took place in the middle conference room of the royal castle. My name is Alois Lux Klein, King of the Kingdom of Klein. "My name is Radeous, ambassador of the Nordic Federation. I am accompanied by my wife, Rorona, and my second daughter, Theon. I thank the Korun for the honor of accompanying the Ambassador and his party. "Thank you, sir." After the usual greeting to ......, "My name is Powell Darner Hudson, and I am the Prime Minister. I''m Jackson Red Vados, Minister of Industry. "My name is Clarotho Vados Keris, Minister of Magic. The names of the important people were announced. Then, Jin first explained about the . "Beyond the mountains north of the village of Kaina, rolling plains spread out to the sea, and beyond the sea was the continent. The geographical explanation is best given by Jin. He does not have to explain how he got there. "I was told later that the continent was called the and was connected to our by a narrow isthmus. The isthmus is called the Great Pazdext Isthmus." "Hmm." Jin spread a map drawn on a piece of wooden paper on the table and pointed it out with his finger as he explained. "After crossing the isthmus, we went along the sea and met the clan." At this point, Jin paused in his explanation and handed over to Radeous. "We, the , are not a nation, but a . We are the . There are other <, etc." Here, he omitted the rather radical names of the clans, such as and . "I see." The Prime Minister nodded and the scribe recorded the minutes. After a brief explanation of the Nordic Federation, it was time to get down to business. "Let us take a break. Before that, Jin brings in some carbonated beverages to quench our thirst. Carbonic acid is produced by dissolving carbon dioxide in water. In magical engineering terms, carbon dioxide contained in a specific range of air is <> and dissolved in water. Squeeze the juice of a Ramon (lemon) with soda water and you have Ramon squash. Jin brought a drinkable version with a little sugar added to make it easier to drink. "Oh, this is delicious! "I can''t describe the fresh aroma of Ramon and the sizzling sensation on the palate. "Gin, this is delicious! "This is just as I expected." "...... is delicious." The reception was generally favorable. After a short break, it was time to get down to business. "Mr. Jin told me that you are looking for a way to pave the road. "Yes, that''s right. We are going to start road maintenance as part of a national project, but it is not easy due to budgetary restrictions. I see, Mr. Jin said the same thing. My wife Rorona knows a lot about this, so I will explain it to her. This is where Lorona comes in. I will explain it to you. Lorona spread out on the table a piece of paper with a drawing on it that she had prepared in advance. "We call this paving with crushed stones. In other words, we use crushed stones and stick them together. "That''s it?" The Prime Minister, perhaps taken aback by the simplicity of the plan, let out a startled voice. "Yes. You must use crushed stones for this. Round stones like those found on the riverbanks are no good." "Hmm. ......" At this point, Jin adds the following explanation. Well, crushed stones have corners or ridges, don''t they? It seems that the ridges are fixed in such a way that they interlock with each other. "Oh..." Everyone seemed to be satisfied. Then Lorona began to explain in detail. "Of course there is a way. It will be easier to understand if you know the cross section. Lorona pointed to a piece of paper. "Here you can see the cross section. We put about 5 centimeters of fine crushed stone on the surface and about 20 centimeters of rough crushed stone underneath to press it down." "We tried a little bit in Kunlun Island, and there was no problem with horse-drawn carriage traffic. It''s enough to make the golem stamp its feet to push it down. "Oh, as expected of ." Magic Minister Keiris exclaimed in admiration. Rorona and the others are using to harden the area, but that is still to be kept a secret at this stage. "I have other ideas about the tools to solidify them." "Oh, that''s a good idea!" Princess Rieschen exclaimed with delight. "Well, then, I''d like to give it a try right away. Perhaps she had lost her mind, but Princess Rieschen had returned to her usual tone of voice. "In that case, a place where there is abundant rock from which to produce crushed stone would be good, I think. Rorona advised her and Princess Rieschen nodded her head in agreement. "Well then, how about we start from the end of the road, Toka village, and follow it in the opposite direction? There are rocky areas around Toka village, and there is no shortage of materials. As long as we have manpower, we can start work immediately. "Oh, that sounds good. The Prime Minister agreed. "Let''s pave part of the road between the village of Toka and the town of Charles as a trial. "Well, is that all right?" Jin was a little concerned. He wondered if it was okay to pave such a section that would not be used by many people. "I understand your concern, Jin-dono. I understand your concerns, but if we go ahead with a construction method that is completely unknown in our country, in a section with many users, and it should fail, the repercussions will be great. Industry Minister Jackson Red Bados explained. "Oh, I see what you mean." He wanted to try it first in a place where the number of people who would be affected would be small, even if it failed and the road became impassable. That was understandable for Jin. "Now that we''ve got the gist of the construction, we''ll try it in a slightly busier section and check its durability. "I see. I think that''s a good idea. The Minister of Industry''s approach was quite reasonable. Jin agreed. The Kingdom of Klein is now slowly moving forward. And unlike Jin, the Kingdom of Klein can only move forward step by step. All Jin can do is to support them a little in the shadows. "You have the golem I made for you before, don''t you? "Ah, yes. It is a general-purpose golem ......." The Prime Minister is at a loss to understand the meaning of Jin''s sudden question, and he is at a loss to say anything. Of the 20 high-performance general-purpose golems that Jin had made for him in the past, 10 of them had been destroyed. They had been used to extract as much ore as possible from the mine that was to be transferred to Jin before the deadline, when a gigantopod appeared from the mine shaft. It was his own fault, so to speak. Jin did not say anything about it at the time, but I assume that he must have been very angry. Now, Jin mentioned a general-purpose golem. The Prime Minister was understandably nervous. "Let''s strengthen it a little more. "What?" Therefore, the Prime Minister did not immediately understand what Jin had just said. 1467 - - 40-07 Redevelopment "Uh, Jin-dono, what did you say?" Prime Minister Powell Darner Hudson was unsure of the true meaning of Jin''s words. "No, so I was thinking of strengthening the <> general-purpose golem a little. "Well, why is that?" The Prime Minister''s forehead is sweating even though it is not hot. "Well, to prepare crushed rocks for pavement. We have to carry the rocks, crush them, and push them into the pavement. "I see." "It would have been better if we had 20 of them (??????)." Hearing Jin''s words, which could be taken as sarcasm, the Prime Minister breaks out in a cold sweat. All of the ministers of the time who had done such a dirty deed had been removed from office, but the prime minister and the king were not free from responsibility in that they had given their approval. Now that they know the power of Jin, they understand how much risk they are taking in incurring his displeasure, and they are sweating cold sweat. On the other hand, Jin, on the other hand, does not care about it anymore because he has heard from the old man that it was almost two years ago and the corrupt nobles who were the ringleaders have already been removed from office. Therefore, the proposal was made out of purely goodwill. However, there is no denying that he is also calculating that he can take advantage of the development of Toka village, where Licia, a member of the Jin family, is a lord, and by extension, the villagers of Kaina village as well. "It''s just a little bit, really. Well, you can think of it as redevelopment." "Ummm... ......, I''ll ask for your help sooner or later." * * * * "Well, why don''t we take a break?" Princess Rieschen suggested. We have been talking for two hours straight and everyone is getting a little tired. This was a good idea. Since we had been sitting for so long, we were all led to the back yard of the castle. Only Alois III remained behind. A king is not allowed to walk around so casually. The inner garden is reserved for royalty and important guests, and now the early spring flowers are in full bloom. I admired the flowers while sipping tea prepared by a lady''s maid. Flowers resembling narcissus, crocus, snowdrops. "Nalthus, crocus, snowdrops..." Zion, who had been quiet as a borrowed cat, opened his mouth. "You know them very well, don''t you?" Princess Rieschen smiled. "I love flowers." "I''m glad to hear it. In another month it will be even more colorful. "I''d like to see them when I get a chance." "Please come." Jin felt that although they were still strangers to each other, they seemed to be getting to know each other better, perhaps because of their close age. Jin-dono seems to be busy these days. "Yes, well..." "I''m sure it''s about the World Congress and the World Guard. I can imagine how you feel. The Prime Minister also spoke to Jin. "If only the world were at peace. That is what I want. You have said so before. The sun was setting and the wind was getting chilly, so we all left the inner garden. Before returning to the conference room, Jin and the others were taken to the workshop of the royal castle for a tour. It was a different workshop from the one where Jin had made the golem before. "So, this is the workshop of your country, is it? Radeous looked at him with interest. "It is quite extensive. Jin also commented after taking a tour of the workshop. "Compared to Kunlun''s, it must be embarrassing. "That''s not true." Now Jin knows how special his environment is. The workshops of the Klein Kingdom were well-equipped, especially in the area of metal materials. "Is it because Mr. Boulton is here?" I asked, confirming the reason that had just occurred to me, "That''s one of the reasons. Baron Boulton has the to distinguish between good and bad materials." However, whether or not he can make use of it depends largely on the skill of the magecraftsman. In this aspect, metallurgy in the Kingdom of Klein was behind. "Yes, can you call the 10 golems here?All of them if possible. "Yes, I can. We''re putting them on hiatus for now. "I see. Then call me. Let''s do what I said before. "Oh, oh, I see..." The Prime Minister, a little dismayed, gave instructions to the Minister of Magic. The Minister of Magic, Clarotho Vados Keris, scurries out of the room to activate the device. Theon and the others looked around the workshop with curiosity. Five minutes later, the magician returns with ten golems. "Oh! "They look very strong." "Wow!" Radeous, Rorona and Sion marveled at their majesty. "Nick 11 to 20. How are you doing? "Yes, Mr. Creator. I have found nothing wrong with it. Well, that''s good. The adamantite coating has been applied to all the important parts, so the product is maintenance free under normal use. "All right, let''s strengthen it then." "Jin, Jin-dono, are you going to start now?I would like to resume the meeting soon. ......" The Prime Minister said hurriedly. The time is 4:00 PM. According to the schedule, the meeting would continue until 5:30, followed by dinner. "Don''t worry, I''ll only be a minute." "What?" The Prime Minister''s words are somewhat stupid, as he does not believe Jin''s words about reinforcing ten golems in one minute. "<>" Jin casts engineering magic <> on ten golems at once. This is Jin''s original engineering magic, which strengthens the bonding power of the free magic element (ether) contained in a substance, making the substance tougher. It is a supercompatibility of Toughening (Tahun). It is especially effective for magic materials. The most important feature is that it is also effective on biological materials such as magical skin and magical muscles. The increase in bonding strength does not only mean that the material becomes stronger. The melting point and boiling point also increase, and in the case of Magical Muscle, the upper limit of the power that can be produced also increases. This was what Jin meant by <. The material used in Horai Island, it depends on the ratio of free magic element (ether) that contains ...... about 1.5 to 10 times. It will be enhanced by ....... To give a more concrete figure, it is more than 10 times for ancient (ancient) dragon hides, and 4 to 5 times for magi type metal materials. The increase in the price of the five-and-a-half nickel steel used for the general-purpose golem of the Klein Kingdom was 1.5 times, and the leather of the dragonhead eel (dragon eels) used for muscle was twice as high. "Now, let''s go back to the meeting. "Uh-huh." "......" Once again, the heavyweights of the Klein Kingdom recognized that Jin was out of the ordinary. 1468 - - 40-08 Magical Melon After being surprised by Jin''s out-of-standardness, the meeting resumed. "Will you be present at the construction work in Toka? "Yes, of course. Rorona answered the Prime Minister''s question with a smile. "I will be staying with Master Jin." "Ah, the village of Kaina. It''s right next door, so it will certainly be convenient. Jin nodded. "Yes, I will let you relax. Actually, there is another problem for the to stay in the Lesser Antilles. It''s the concentration of free ether. As we know from the humorous Lardus'' activities under Count Walter in the past, their activities are limited to the free-magic (ether) concentration of the Klein Kingdom. It is similar to living in a high mountain or a place with low atmospheric pressure. They can get used to it up to a certain level, but they can only live in places with extremely low concentration of free-magic elements, or in the case of humans and oxygen, in the Himalayas above 8,000 meters where the oxygen concentration is one-third of that on earth, commonly known as the "Himalayas. It is like being in the Himalayas at 8,000 meters or higher, commonly known as the , where the oxygen concentration is one-third that of the ground. Just by staying there, one''s physical strength is depleted and drained, and one never recovers. The role of mana in the body is different from that of oxygen, so it is not immediately dangerous, but if magic is used, the mana in the body will be depleted immediately and the person will become physically ill. Kaina Village is a good place for <> to live on the Laurentian continent. (If you stay here for a long period of time or attend the <>, you will need an <>. ......) If it is enough to affect one person, Magi Crystal is more than enough to make a change. (I hope they wear it like a pendant and a brooch.) Jin had already started to prepare in his mind that it would be better to have two or more Magi Crystals as a backup, since it would be difficult to lose or have them stolen if he had only one. In the latter half of the meeting, they talked about the , explained the situation in the Kingdom of Klein, and talked about each other''s living environment. Jin was in charge of following up in some places. The second half of the meeting, away from the technical points, was conducted in a friendly atmosphere from start to finish. * * * * * The meeting ended at 5:30 p.m. as scheduled, after which everyone took a relaxing bath. Jin took a bath with Radeous and Lorona took a bath with Zion. After a relaxing and refreshing soak, the dinner was held at 7:00 p.m. The place was the grand dining hall of the royal castle. The place was moved to the grand dining room of the royal castle. "So, in celebration of the friendship between the Nordic Federation and the Kingdom of Klein... Cheers! Cheers! Cheers! The toast was made by King Alois III. The glass was filled with low-alcohol white wine. It was slightly sweet and chilled, so it was pleasant to the palate. The first dish was tempura. By the way, the water in the Klein Kingdom is mostly hard water, and many of them contain baking soda. Baking soda produces carbon dioxide when heated, which makes the batter swell up. (However, if too much baking soda is added, the carbonate (sodium carbonate) that is produced at the same time causes a bitter taste.) I don''t know if this is the reason or not, but the batter was quite crispy. "It''s delicious!" The salt alone was good enough. Vegetable kakiage, freshwater prawn kakiage. Other vegetables included sliced natuli (pumpkin), bisna (eggplant), and marnegi (onion). There was also tempura river fish. It was clear that all countries liked the tempura that Jin had served at the and had begun to make it. Besides tempura, rice porridge and barley porridge are available as options. A cow beef steak was also served. It was served with a special sauce, apparently based on red wine, and was quite tasty. It was a moment that showed that the Kingdom of Klein puts a lot of effort into its food. This dinner was especially meaningful for the Radeous, since they have limited foodstuffs. * * * * * Naturally, they stay at the castle that night. Radeous, Rorona, Zion and their children were in the same room, while Jin was in a separate room. "I hope today went well." When Jin was alone with Reiko, he threw himself onto the sofa in the room. "I''m a little tired. "Thank you for your hard work, father." Reiko also thanked Jin. "Tomorrow we will go to Toka village and then to Kaina village. "I guess so." At that moment, there was a knock at the door. "Yes." Reiko answers. "Jin, may I have a word?" "May I have a word with you?" came Princess Rieschen''s voice. "Come in." "Yes, excuse me." "Hello, sir." I thought it was just the princess, but it turned out that Zion was with her. "Hey. What''s up? "It''s, uh, ....... It''s a little early for bed, so I invited Zion to come and play with us. Yes, that''s right. "I see... I understand." Princess Rieschen has made a friend her own age. Since Princess Rieschen had made a friend of the same age (?), Jin guessed that she wanted to deepen their friendship ...... or, to put it more simply, she wanted to have some fun. "Hmmm, I wonder what I should do. We don''t have anything to play with here. Even if he wanted to make something, he had neither the time nor the materials. "And then there''s Shiritori.........no, that''s right, there was that one." Jin remembered a TV show that used to be popular in the past. "Let''s try Magical Melon. "Magical melon?What''s that? "It''s a kind of association game. For example, when I say "melon" you say "sweet", right? "Mm-hmm." "The next person would say, for example, ''sweet'' and I''d say ''sugar''." "Mm-hmm." "And the next person would say, ''When I say sugar, you say white. "I''m starting to get it." "And I say white, you say snow. So you''re just going to keep adding things one after the other, huh? That''s how it works. And if you say something far from the association, you lose. If you say the first word, you lose. You clap your hands and keep doing this. And if it doesn''t come out right away, you lose. "Sounds interesting." But why is it called magical melon? "I don''t know." "I don''t know. ......" Princess Rieschen and Zion were a bit shocked at Jin''s simple answer, but it was nothing more than a small matter. "Well, let''s try me, Ries, Theon, and me ...... again." "Okay." Okay. Okay. When I say ...... melon, I mean round. When I say round, I mean ball. "What?What?What is a ball ......?" It seems that Zion did not know what a ball is. 1469 - - 40-09 Second vibration "...... When I say blue, I mean the sky." "When I say sky, I mean balloon." "When I say balloon, I mean ...... and when I say balloon, I mean ...... ahhh, I lost again!" After an hour of <, Jin lost three, Leith five, and Zion nine. "Father, ladies and gentlemen, it''s about 9:00 PM. I think it''s time for you to go to bed. Reiko warned me. "Is it that late already?" "No, it was fun. Jin knows how to play many games. Not so much. Well, good night, Jin. Good night. Princess Rieschen and Zion left Jin''s room. "Father, the old man has something to tell you." As soon as they left, Reiko immediately told Jin. "The old man?What is it? "The space seems to have vibrated again." I understand. Since we can''t go back to Horai Island, Reiko can ask the old man with the built-in manacam to explain it to us. "Yes. ............The oscillation was about three ten-thousandths of a second, and the direction was slightly off, as a result of integrating the data from the moon. The direction was slightly off. It is near the intermediate base that your father built. No damage. It could be that they came a little closer, but as usual it was only for a short time and no damage was reported. Jin pondered. "What would happen if these vibrations were to get louder and last longer?" The question was passed on to the old man through Reiko''s ears. And after a short pause. "Yes. The old man said that the objects in the range will be destroyed. "......, of course." And that it will require the application of gravity magic to prevent it. I see. Jin agreed that it would be the only way to prevent the effects of gravity fluctuations. "It''s not impossible. <. Jin thought about this idea until he fell asleep that night. * * * * * * The next day, at tea time after breakfast. "What are your plans for today?" Jin asked, and the Prime Minister gave him an explanation. "At 9:00 a.m., the three members of the Nordic Federation, Princess Rieschen, and I will be heading to the village of Toka. Jin wondered if it was the Prime Minister himself, but he guessed that it was out of concern and duty to Radeous and the others. "I will go in the hot-air balloon, and you will take care of the three of you and the princess, won''t you? "Jin-sama, please take care of them." Jin, please take care of them! "Yes, of course." Jin''s proposal is understandable, as his ship is faster and safer. Also, considering the means of return, the use of a hot air balloon is understandable. However, the speed is too different. So, Hitoshi suggested the following, "Even if you are going back by hot-air balloon, why don''t you come with us on the way back? He suggested, "I see. "I see, if you allow me to do so, we will not waste time. The Prime Minister agreed, and it was decided that the hot-air balloon would be taken by the pilot alone. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and his team departed from the royal castle as scheduled, landing at Toka Village twenty minutes later. "Welcome! A slightly nervous Licia greeted the group. She had contacted them yesterday by pigeon mail. "Farheit, I''ve given you the gist of what I''ve told you by pigeon mail. We are now going to discuss the details. "Yes, this way, please." We are all led to the recently renovated lord''s house. It is a newly built two-story wooden building with the scent of wood. "Thanks to you, Toka village is gradually developing. With these words, Licia invited everyone into the main conference room. The interior is simple but elegant, with seasonal flowers in vases. The window facing south is large and bright. The table was a single piece of maruon (chestnut) from the neighborhood, a gem with a beautiful grain. "It''s a nice table," Jin complimented. When Jin praised it, the Prime Minister and Princess Rieschen also seemed to notice its beauty. "Well, this is ......!" "It must have come from a rather large tree. The grain is interesting." The wood is colored brown by applying a coat of , also from the bark of the maroon tree, and then finished with , an oil that hardens over time. It seems that some craftsmen are quite skilled. This kind of woodwork will become a local specialty, Jin thought. The tea brought by the maid was Perhya tea, and Jin was surprised when he took a sip. "This one is roasted, too, isn''t it? Yes, half of the tea leaves are roasted. It seemed to be a blend of roasted and unroasted leaves. "It has a very nice aroma, Licia, I must say. "Thank you, sir." Princess Rieschen addressed Licia in a friendly manner, as they had become good friends since their the other day. "Now, to the main topic: ......." After a short break, the main topic, <>, is discussed. * * * * The general outline of the plan was decided as discussed at the royal castle. The construction work will be carried out using a general-purpose golem enhanced by Jin. The section is a few kilometers from Toka village to Charles town out of the 70 kilometers between Toka village and Charles town. This is not an operational test, but rather a study of construction methods, so it is not possible to pave the entire section. The schedule is that the general-purpose golem will arrive in Toka village the next two days, and then the work will begin. Collecting rocks for materials as well as reorganizing the exposed rock zone. The rocks are crushed into crushed stone. In parallel, preparation of the section to be paved. Paving. This is the procedure. Then it was time for the question and answer session. "Well, which is more efficient, breaking the rocks in advance or carrying the rocks to the site and breaking them? Licia immediately asked. "Yes, it is better to crush and sort the crushed stones in advance, because the particle size of the crushed stones needs to be consistent to a certain degree. The questions and answers were given, and a meaningful time passed by. Jin was looking forward to seeing the actual construction work. 1470 - - 40-10 Kotatsu (Japanese kotatsu) "Thank you, Jin-sama, for your help." On the evening of the 18th, Jin took Zion and his son to the village of Kaina. Of course, they were going to Nido Castle. Princess Rieschen wanted to come too, but this time she was on official business. They gave up in tears. But this building is amazing. Lorona was amazed when she saw Nido Castle for the first time. Jin is happy to have more opportunities to use Nido Castle these days. "We''ve been waiting for you." Erza greeted him here. "Welcome, Zion!" Hannah is with her. "Hello, Hannah!" Zion and Hannah had not seen each other since Elsa''s birthday. It''s only been three days, though. "It''s a peaceful place, isn''t it? Rorona commented on the appearance of the village of Kaina. "Thank you very much. Jin, the lord, thanked her for the recognition, which he himself wished he had received. Jin-sama, you take good care of this village, don''t you? "Yes, I do. This village is my hometown. Jin led the three of them to the castle, exchanging such conversation. Erza returned to the castle ahead of the others and prepared the guest room. When Jin entered the drawing room, the preparations had just been completed. "Please come this way first. "Thank you, Miss Elsa." Rorona thanked him on behalf of the three of them. But... What kind of furniture is this? What had been prepared was a kotatsu. Yes, Erza had prepared a set of kotatsu in the guest room. The guest room at Nido Castle has a Japanese-style room and a Western-style room. The Japanese-style room is equipped with a kotatsu, which can be used as a sunken kotatsu. When one of the tatami mats is removed, a half-tatami-sized horigotatsu is revealed. You can re-lay the half tatami mats that are missing. Place the kotatsu stand, cover it with a kotatsu futon, and put a board on top. The final touch is to place a bowl of citrons in place of the tangerines. Even though it is March, the mornings and evenings in Kaina Village are still cold, so the kotatsu is very useful. "This is called a kotatsu. ......" Jin explained. "Oh, so this is a heating device like that. Thank you very much. "Oh, this is nice. "It''s easy on the legs, too. I like it, Jin." Jin was relieved to hear that all three of them liked it. There is another type of kotatsu that does not have a sunken kotatsu, but we decided that this one would be easier for the three of them to use. Incidentally, Hitoshi prefers the orikotatsu to the sunken kotatsu. The reason is that he can hide under the kotatsu and take a nap. But since Radeous and Rorona have never lived on tatami mats, they decided to use the sunken kotatsu. "Citran, it''s delicious! Zion immediately peels and eats it. "Oh, really. Jin-sama, it''s delicious! Rorona also started to eat. "Ha-ha, you can relax today." "Thank you very much." Radeous thanked her on behalf of the family. "If you need anything else, please let this butler B know. Thank you for everything, sir. "Dinner will be ready in an hour, so don''t eat too much," he said. He nailed Zion, who was reaching for his second citran, and Jin left the guest room. "Erza, thank you for preparing." Jin checked on Elsa in her private room. "You''re welcome. Now we''re going to have dinner. The golem maid will take care of that. ...... Oh, why don''t you go take a bath?I''m already in. ...... "I see. I''ve already taken a bath. I''ll take a bath." There are two bathrooms in Nido Castle and a hot spring in the village of Kaina. Or you can go to Horai Island through the warp gate and take a bath. "Let''s take a bath in Horai Island today. So Jin moves to the warp gate. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The food at Jin''s place is delicious, isn''t it? Zion, who is getting used to the village of Kaina, is enjoying the rice with relish. The menu is very typical: rice, miso soup, oshinko (pickles), grilled fish, fried eggs (sweet), meat topopo (potatoes), and hamburger steak. This hamburger steak is delicious. Lorona seemed to like the hamburger steak. Lorona seemed to like the hamburger. "I like the sweet omelette," she said. Radeous seemed to like the sweet tamagoyaki with lots of sugar very much. Jin was pleased to have his favorite miso soup with fried bean curd for the first time in a long time. And, over a cup of hojicha tea, they discussed their plans for the next day. "I''m going to let you relax...do you have any suggestions?" Since no one from the kingdom was present, Jin spoke as usual. "That''s fine. Kaina village, was it?I''d like to take a leisurely look around." "Yes, of course. It would be very helpful for us. "Oh, I''ll show you around, then." Theon has visited the village of Kaina many times, which is why he makes this suggestion. "Oh, that''s a good idea. "Well, I guess we can have breakfast tomorrow around 8:00 a.m.". With a rough plan in place, we disbanded for the night. Jin and Zion decided to relax on their own. "So I''ll see you tomorrow, Jin." "Yeah. Theon, you take care of it. "I''ll take care of it!" Theon is a member of the Jin family and knows how to use the facilities at Nido Castle. Jin felt confident leaving the job to Zion. 1471 - - 40-11 Kaina Village View The next day, the 19th, Radeous and Lorona were touring the village of Caina. "What is this?" Radeous tilted his head when he saw the wheelbarrow. "It''s a wheelbarrow for carrying goods. The village headman, Giebeck, was leading the way. Zion is playing with Hannah and her friends. And Jin says: ....... The results of the measurement? Yes. He was called to 700672. "You said that you know that there was a second . I compared the results of the second oscillation with the results of the previous one and came to this conclusion. In this respect, the follower of the Origin, No. 700672, is superior to all of you. Although his thinking speed is not as fast as yours, he has more knowledge and experience than anyone else in the known world. "The point of origin is approaching Ars. I think you understand this." "Yes. But it''s too early to say for sure. ...... The frequency of two occurrences is too low to say for sure, Jin says. "That''s true. But we should consider the worst case scenario. "I understand that. I''m currently working on something called a "spatial barrier. "Well, that''s great. That is to prevent the destruction of matter due to gravitational fluctuation, isn''t it?" 700672 immediately understood. Yes, sir. "Yes, that''s good. I am going to send out an observation plane after this. An observation plane? "Yes. < According to the explanation of No. 700672, it is a kind of ultra-compact reconnaissance aircraft that specializes in measuring the state of space. They are sending about 100 of them out into space. "We built them for such an occasion. We have plenty of time." Saying this, 700672 laughed. "I''ll let you know the results as soon as I get them." "Thank you very much." Jin-dono, please think about what else you can do. I will." "Yes, sir." Jin then left the 700672. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was just noon when we returned to the village of Kaina. Under a clear sky, the villagers had stopped plowing and were returning home for lunch. The bell tolled noon from Nido Castle. "This is a good system. Radeous was impressed. "Let''s have lunch together." Jin returned with a nonchalant look on his face and said to Radeous and the others, "Let''s eat lunch together. "Yes, with pleasure." By the way, where is Zion? Jin looked around and saw Rorona smiling at him in a puzzled manner. "He''s gone away with the village children. ...... But the bell has rung for lunch, so I''m sure she''ll be back soon. Before he could finish, he heard Hannah''s voice. "Oh, honey!" Jin turned around to see Hannah, the other children from the village, and ...... Zion. They were covered in mud. "Oh my God, Zion, what have you been doing? It was Hannah who answered. "Well, we went to the bank of the Erme river to pick koroko buds, and Jessie slipped and almost fell into the river. Sion saved him. That''s why we are both covered with mud. Koroko is a butterbur. Butterbur sprouts are butterbur sprouts. It tastes bittersweet when tempura is made, and before Jin came, people used to eat it boiled and soaked in soy sauce. It is a springtime delicacy that provides the body with vitamins it tends to lack during the winter. Jesse was covered in mud as well. He does not seem to be hurt. "I didn''t get hurt because Sion covered me up. Thank you, sister. "It''s okay." Instead, Zion seemed to be chafing all over. "Oh, you can''t leave him like that!" A loud voice rang out. Jin looked to see that it was Sally, the wife of the village chief and a healer. "Come on, let me take a look at you. "Oh, yes." "Hmm, it''s just an abrasion, isn''t it? After examining Zion''s wounds, Sally first washed the wounds with clean water. "Oh, it hurts. "Be patient." After that, she casts a healing spell. "<>" Beginner''s level surgical healing magic. It is neither too much nor too little, but enough for an abrasion. Soon the wound is healed nicely. "Thank you, doctor." Rorona bowed her head. "Come on, you should thank me too, Theon." "Yes. Thank you, ...... doctor." Sally smiled and waved. "It''s okay. Sion, is it?You saved the village girl. And it''s our fault that you got hurt. ...... hey, my lord?" The last line was addressed to Jin. Jin nodded with a wry smile. "That''s right. Thanks, Theon. I want to thank you too. "It''s no big deal!" Zion turned bright red. * * * * After a bit of a delay, Jin and Zion have lunch together at Nido Castle. "Porridge is delicious, isn''t it? The lunch menu consisted of white porridge, stew with bacon made in the village, sauteed vegetables, and apples. In fact, it was a dish that was tailored to Zion''s tastes. And like Sion''s parents, Radeous and Rorona liked it too. "This village is a very good example for us. After lunch, Radeous said sincerely. "I think it depends a lot on the character of the villagers," Jin said. When Jin said this, Radeous nodded his head. "We should learn from them as well," he said. "I am glad to hear you say so. It seems that the village of Kaina was a good place to live from the point of view of the <> as well as the <. 1472 - - 40-12 Crushed Stone Preparation The next day, Jin takes Radeous, Rorona, and Zion to the village of Toka by . He also took Gon and Gen with him, thinking that they might be able to help in some way. "Good morning, Mr. Jin. Good morning, Mr. Gin. Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Radeous, Ms. Rorona, and Mr. Zion. Licia greets the group. Behind her were ten general-purpose golems. They had walked through the night. "Good day to you." Princess Rieschen and the Prime Minister had already arrived. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I will begin at once. Without even a word of greeting, Rorona began to preside over the event. First, let''s decide on the width of the road. The basics of the basics. "We want to make it easy for ordinary carriages to pass each other," said Licia. Licia said. "Well, it''s just a trial, so that''s fine. The Prime Minister gave his permission. "And, I think ......5 meters wide would be fine." Lorona said, "The width is for the future, too. "It would be a waste of effort to add a meter to the width of the road afterwards, compared to extending the pavement. "I see." For this reason, it was decided that the test pavement would be five meters wide. "Next is the rock. It should be as dense and hard as possible. This statement was answered by a mature villager standing by Licia''s side. "The rocks in this area are hard, so I think they would be suitable. Jin saw that there were indeed many hard rocks. Rorona also seemed to have guessed this, and was rummaging through the scattered rocks, "Then, let''s use the same rock as this blackish-gray stone," she said. He decided to use the same rock as this blackish-gray stone. This blackish rock is called basalt, which is hard and dense. "The next thing to do is to prepare the rock. The next step is to break the rock and prepare the crushed stone, and dig down the road to lay the crushed stone. Princess Rieschen, Licia, and the vizier are writing down what they have heard in notepads made of wooden paper. "This time we have the golem, and since time is limited, I think we can do it at the same time. "The quarry is a specialized mine ......, but I think it would be better to build a quarry." Lorona nodded as the Prime Minister said this. "Yes, that''s right. That would be better. "In that case, it would be good to have a good quality rock quarry and at the same time a rocky hill close to the town. Princess Rieschen also made a sharp remark. "Yes, that''s right. It would be even better if we could make use of the area after the mountain has been broken down. "Oh, yes! Licia also spoke up with an idea and Princess Rieschen agreed with her. "A mountain to be broken down and reused. That''s a good idea. We don''t do it here because of our small population. Rorona was impressed by the idea. Let''s start with the easy one first. Let''s dig ...... the road to a width of 5 meters and a depth of 25 centimeters." "Is that the right depth?" Licia asks. "Yes. That''s about right for us. If something heavy is going to pass through, we may need to go a little deeper. "Hmmm. I would like to hear your opinion, Mr. Jin, ......." Jin, who was probably familiar with the , asked for the Prime Minister''s opinion. "Well, considering the horse-drawn carriages that pass through here and the luggage that they carry, why not make it 30 centimeters long?" < territories, there were no horse-drawn wagons, but only man-drawn carts. "Oh, I think that would be better. Hearing Jin''s opinion, Rorona agreed. "Okay, let''s dig down to a depth of 30 cm this time. ...... golems 11 to 15 are ......." The Prime Minister instructed five general-purpose golems. (Golem 11 to 15,or ......) In his own naming it was <11 to 15, but it was Jin who did not say anything because it would not be a problem. "Finally, let''s get to work on the production of crushed stone. Please take us to the rock pile." Lorona said and the older man nodded. "Yes, sir. This way." The group headed north toward the village. They were followed by Nick 16 to 20, as well as Gon and Gen. A narrow village in the mountains, 10 minutes'' walk from the edge of the village. Beyond that is an open rocky area. Beyond that is a rocky hill. "Oh, this rock." Lorona stroked the rock face as if to make sure. "So, let''s decide on a rough location to cut out the rock, transport and store it, a space to work on breaking the rock, and a place to store the broken rock." "So, here''s the place: ......." The older man, who seemed to be a stonecutter, answered Lorona''s request precisely. "Okay. Then let''s get started. First, all the golems cut out rocks. To be precise, they smashed the rocks from the rock pile into pieces of appropriate size by beating them or using a hammer, and then stocked them. Jin and the others watch from a distance to avoid flying fragments of fine rocks. Of course, Gon and Gen were also helping. Reiko, however, stays by Jin''s side. "That''s enough for a start. Let''s make some crushed stone. Rorona said and stopped the quarrying for a moment. "We''re going to break up this rock with a hammer and a hammer and trowel. Roughly speaking, we will need two types of crushed rocks, one the size of your fist and the other the size of your thumb. The fist-sized pieces are placed on the bottom and the finer pieces are placed on top as a finishing touch, Lorona explained. Princess Rieschen and the others took note of this. "The golems can be crushed with their hands!" Jin says. We''ve improved it so that they can do that. True to their word, the Golems smash the rocks into pieces with their fists. "I knew you were fast!" In Rorona''s place, i.e. the , the work is done by human power. However, since they are done by people who can strengthen their muscles, they are more than twice as efficient as ordinary people, but as expected, they are defeated by golems. When the stones have been crushed to a certain extent, Lorona instructs them to sort one-third of the crushed stones. The crushed stones were piling up rapidly. "I think this is a good instruction. All we have to do now is wait for the necessary amount to accumulate. "In the meantime, let''s have lunch," Licia suggested. Licia suggested. Before we knew it, it was 11:30 am. We decided to have lunch even though it was a little early. Licia said, "Oh, this is great! "Oh, this is delicious! It''s called "Pash...... pasta". We are going to make it a specialty of Toka Village. "I see. Pasta." For lunch, Licia served a pasta dish of her own devising. Three different kinds of pasta with different herbs and flavors were served, and everyone enjoyed them. 1473 - - 40-13 Welcome to Kaina Village After lunch, we all realized that there was nothing to do for a while. The digging of the road and the preparation of the quarry stones could not be finished in two or three hours. Only Jin, (That''s usually the case. ......) He was aware of this again. "It looks like we won''t be doing anything for the rest of the day," Licia said. Licia said, "Mm. ......" "Half a day left in the afternoon, to be exact. Princess Rieschen and the Prime Minister nodded. "Are you sure you can be away from King''s Landing for so many days, Prime Minister?" Licia asked, looking a little worried, "I''ve left it in the hands of my deputy. There are no urgent matters at the moment, so I''m sure he''ll be fine. Licia replied, "There are no urgent matters at the moment, so I''m sure it will be fine. "Well, Powell should take a break from work once in a while. Judging by the way Princess Rieschen spoke to him, the Prime Minister seemed to be a bit of a workaholic. "If you say so, Your Highness. ......" Powell nodded a little shyly and looked a little happy. Princess Rieschen''s face broke into a smile at his answer. It was a slightly evil smile. Princess Rieschen turned to Jin, "Jin, I would like to visit ...... the village of Kaina," she said. Jin turned to Jin and said, "Jin, I would like to visit the village of Kaina. "Haven''t you been to the village of Kaina yet, Princess Rieschen? "Uh-huh." "Yes, I understand. Yes, I have. "Oh, yes!" Princess Rieschen is delighted. Then the Prime Minister added his own words. "Well then, Kunlun, may I join you?" "Yes, please." Princess Rieschen is said to have frowned a little behind her back. Oh, my God! "Oh, oh!What is that building? That''s my castle, Nido Castle. "Well, seeing is not the same as hearing. ...... <, Princess Rieschen and the Prime Minister look out of the window at Nido Castle. Radeous and his son and Lysia remained in Toka in case something happened to the construction work. "Welcome to the village of Kaina. When they landed in front of Nido Castle, Jin uttered his usual line. "Well, thank you for your hospitality. Princess Rieschen joined in with his theatrical tone, "Well!Well, well, well!" The Prime Minister looked up at the keep and exclaimed in admiration. "I''ve never seen this architectural style before. It is also wonderful in a different way from the architecture of the Kunlun Island." "Powell, I''ll let you show me around the village, what about you?" "Yes, I think so. ......" "There is a library in the castle with all sorts of materials. Jin offered a helping hand, and the Prime Minister jumped at it. "Oh, that''s a good idea. I would love to see them. ...... Jin-dono, please take care of the princess." "Leave it to me." Jin called Butler C and entrusted him with the Prime Minister''s guidance and care. It was a small gesture of concern from Prime Minister Powell for Princess Rieschen, who was looking forward to enjoying herself. Princess Rieschen immediately set out with Jin to visit the village of Kaina. "Wow, there are pumps everywhere. This is Jin''s village. Princess Rieschen found the pumps with her own eyes. Then Hannah came along. "Ah!Big sister Ries!" "Oh, Hannah. You''re looking well. Hannah was surrounded by village children, "What, who......?" "Some nobleman ......? and so on. "You know, the princess." When Hannah tells the correct answer, "What? "What! were the natural responses. "What''s wrong with you today, big sister Reese?" "Well, I was on an inspection tour in Toka village, but I''m done for the day. I asked Jin to bring you here. Hannah, will you show me around the village with you? Jin followed up. "Yes, sure!Come on guys, let''s go together!" "Yes, ......" "But I don''t want to get in trouble with the princess. Princess Rieschen giggles at some of the more serious lines. "No, no, no, this is Jin''s territory, you don''t have to be so formal. "Really ......?" "Yes, really. Can you all tell me your names? With that, each child gave his or her name. "Mario!" "...... Patty." "Kurt." "I''m Jesse!" "Mario, Patty, Kurt, Jesse. I''m new in this village. Can you show me around? "Yes!Let''s go, princess! While you''re in the village, please call me Rys, not Princess. Okay, big sister Rhys! Come on! And with that Princess Rieschen ran off with the children of the village, including Hannah. "...... Well, okay." There was no danger, and Gengshen would be watching them, so Jin looked after Princess Rieschen and the children. Of course, I should add that Jin had learned the lesson from the previous day and had called in the <> to escort them behind the scenes. * * * * * * "Reese sister, that''s the snow room!" "Yukimuro?What are you doing in there? "You see, we keep the snow in there, and when it gets hot, we preserve vegetables and meat!" "Oh, a natural refrigerator!" "This is a hot spring!" A hot spring? "There''s warm water here, and it''s very comfortable. So it''s a natural bathhouse. That''s the village headman''s house That''s the bokjo. There''s ....... Everyone is well, isn''t ...... Yeah, we''re fine! After being dragged around by the village children for a good three hours, Princess Rieschen was exhausted by the time the sun went down. 1474 - - 40-14 Multilayer "Ah, I''m coming back to life!" Exhausted, Princess Rieschen soaks in the hot springs with her children. "Come on, Ries, I''ll wash your back!" "Oh, yes." The children are still in high spirits in the hot springs. One by one they rubbed Princess Rieschen''s back with the bath towels. "Oh, oh, rub gently ......". Her Royal Highness had delicate skin. "Oh, this is delicious!" Fruit juice after a bath. It cools down my burning body. "It''s delicious! The children are drinking it together. By the way, since we played with Princess Rieschen and took a bath together, today''s bath is free of charge (normally it costs 5 tol, about 50 yen). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * While Princess Rieschen was relaxing in the hot spring, Jin was called by No. 700672. "Recently, the third spatial oscillation occurred. The epicenter is almost the same as the second one. In other words, Ars has moved closer to the epicenter as it orbits. The old man had also reported the occurrence of these tremors to Jin. "The frequency is increasing, isn''t it?" The interval between the first and second was two days, but the interval between the second and third is one day. I''m curious." No. 700672 gave me a hard look. "<>?What''s going on with that?" "We sent it out, but it hadn''t reached the area of space yet, so we don''t know much about it." I see. ...... But it is certain that the location of the outbreak is a little closer to Ars. The old man also mentioned this. The danger has increased. "Yes. I hope you can complete the warding as soon as possible. I understand. Jin has no interest in sitting back and waiting for danger. In his spare time, he and the old man have been discussing the matter, and they have come up with a plan. Spatial blockage is the essence of this project. It is the and the transition magic circle that connects space to space. The is a way to reverse the effects of the warp gate. Since the transition magic circle seems to be more applicable than the warp gate, we are playing around with it. Jin''s specialty is magical engineering, so rewriting magic circle is a little different and time-consuming. "The complexity of this process is far more complicated than that of erasing the recoil. "Hmm... I see..." 700672 thought for a moment and opened his mouth again. "I don''t know if this will help you, but I have a suggestion. The ...... magic circle does not have to be ." "Ah! Jin had a flash of inspiration from this advice. "Hmm, you have an idea..." "Yes, I did. Too many things." Jin answered a little excitedly. "When you write a formula, it can be multi-layered, but it never occurred to me with the magic circle. "That''s one of the aspects that can''t be helped. Originally, magic circle was written on a flat surface. It is said that the most primitive magic circle was made by carving it into the ground with a stick. "But it is also possible to draw a magic circle on two pieces of paper and superimpose them on top of each other, for example." "I understand. If the two magic circles do not interfere with each other, we can expect a superposition of effects. "That''s right." Jin bowed his head to show his gratitude to the 700672. "Actually, the biggest problem was that the magic circle would be too large. If we make it multi-layered, we can make it much smaller. By making it smaller, it would be portable. This is important. "I''m glad I could be of help." 700672 looked somewhat pleased. Then a voice called out to him. "Father, the spatial monitor has arrived at the area in question. "It''s on the screen now." < and have become good assistants for the 700672. "Okay, I see. You can take a look at them too, Jin-dono. "Yes." <, and part of it, have gone . The screen was activated. It is only natural, since it is space that is being projected. It is divided into multiple sections. "The screen was directed to a total of 15 locations." Most of them are in outer space, so it''s hard to tell which is which. So far, so good. And 700672? "I''ll call you when I know something, but for now, I want you to go back. I''ll let you know what I find out. He said his request to Jin. Jin nodded, "Yes, sir. and returned to Horai Island. * * * * "Yeah. I didn''t notice it either. Since the magecrystal is three-dimensional, Jin had been writing in multiple layers when he was making magic tools, but it had never occurred to him to write magic circle in multiple layers. "This way, the density of information can be dramatically improved." < "When will you finish ...... if I let the mini-craftsman (Smith) do the writing?" <<< . After the meeting with the old man, Jin went to the village of Kaina. "Hey, sweetie, where have you been?" At Nido Castle, dinner had just been prepared, and Princess Rieschen, Hannah, and the Prime Minister had just arrived. "Yes, I''ve just finished a little work. Jin simply says and takes a seat. Elsa, sitting next to him, smiles at him as if to say, "I know what you mean. The bubbly wine from the Kingdom of Elias, which is becoming the standard these days, is poured for each of us. Of course, Hannah and Princess Rieschen are non-alcoholic. "Well, let''s toast to the success of the construction! Cheers! Cheers! Jin stared at the table lined with the food, thinking of what Zion might say to him tomorrow. 1475 - - 40-15 Hitoshis suggestion On the morning of the 21st, Jin flew to the village of Toka with Princess Rieschen and Prime Minister Powell using . "Good morning!" Licia greets the group. "Good morning, Jin." "Good morning, Mr. Jin." Theon and Rorona had also come out to greet them. Radeous was said to be at the site. "It seems we''ve made a lot of progress." Rorona said she had checked the site early in the morning. "Oh, that''s exciting! Princess Rieschen shouted in anticipation as they walked to the site. <. "Oh!" When they arrived at the site, about 100 meters of the road had been paved. Jin and Licia bent down to the road and checked the surface. "Well, it''s very well done." "Yes, I think the carriages will be able to drive on this road without any problems. The Prime Minister kicked the road surface with his shoes and was surprised at how solid it was. "No, this is amazing." All but Rorona and Zion were satisfied with the durability of the pavement. Then Radeous came running up to them. "Good morning, Your Highness, Your Highness, Prime Minister, Mr. Jin..." "Good morning, Your Highness. Good morning, Your Highness. You''ve made a lot of progress on ....... Yes. The golems are tireless. They worked through the night. All the experience and data gained here will be used in the future. The Prime Minister takes note of the approximate number of man-hours involved, thinks about it for a moment, and then gives instructions for the future. "Now that we have ......, we will stop the project after two more days of work. Can you keep track of the progress, efficiency, and problems ...... Licia, during that time?" "Yes, I''ll take care of it." "After that, we''ll continue with the busy section as planned. I think the construction period should be short here, so how about between Soki and Riou? "Oh, it''s the road that runs southeast from Alban. The distance between Soki and Riou is about 10 km. It is part of the road that runs from Alban to Soki to Riu and finally to the town of Dekbo on the shores of Lake Manousse. It was an important road for transporting fish products from Lake Manouseh to the royal capital. "Yes. It''s a great logistics route for endurance tests. "Yes." After a brief discussion, the Prime Minister and Princess Rieschen decided on a course of action. "In any case, could you please come to the royal castle for a moment?" The Prime Minister politely asks Radeous and the others. "Of course. That''s what I promised. "Thank you, Your Excellency. Then I will take them myself. So it was decided that Jin would take Radeous, Rorona, and Zion to the castle in Conlon 3. Of course, Princess Rieschen and the Prime Minister are with them. Departure is in an hour. "And ......" Before the departure, Jin went to the Prime Minister and made a proposal. "Since we have paved all the way here, why don''t we at least pave all the way to Charles Town?I''ll provide the manpower ...... and the golem. I''d be happy to do that for you. I mean, will you do it for free? Now, the Kingdom of Klein is on a tight budget, and various policies are being implemented on a shoestring budget. "Yes. This road will facilitate the distribution of goods to Toka village. This means that the village of Kaina will also benefit. "I see. Then I''ll be counting on you. Jin, let''s get this in writing. Princess Rieschen makes a proposal. Since this is a matter of course, Jin and the Prime Minister decide to sign the document at Lyshea''s place. "The section between the village of Toka and the town of Charles is fine. "Yes." "The construction method will be the same as this test pavement, and the width of the road will be the same." Yes, that''s right. We''ll use the rocks from Toka village, right? Yes, that''s fine. With the Prime Minister, Princess Rieschen, Licia, and the other three, Jin finalizes the contract. He does not set a specific date, but only decides that it will be for a maximum of one year. "Is this okay?" "I think so." Half of the agreement was made for formality, and the other half to clarify the contents, but as long as it was official, it was signed. If you think about it, this might be the first time that Jin had signed a contract as the . Anyway, now Jin can practice <> outside of Horai Island and Kunlun Island. Of course, he will not cut corners just because he is practicing. Rather, it should be done more carefully, that is Jin. On time Conlon 3 left the village of Toka on time and headed for the capital city of Alban. The general-purpose golems stopped paving and headed for the next construction site, the town of Soki. "Let''s go to the town of Soki tomorrow, then. At the castle, the schedule for the rest of the day was confirmed. It was also decided that Lorona would provide guidance for the first two days of construction, after which the engineers of the Kingdom of Klein would proceed alone. That afternoon, eight young engineers were selected to learn about <> and met with Lorona and his team. Then, "Well, I''ll take my leave. After being served lunch and staying at the castle until tea time at 3:00, Jin decided to leave. "Well, I''ll be sorry to see you go." Princess Rieschen said with a truly disappointed look on her face. "I''ll be back in three days." Jin reminded her that he would be back in three days to pick up Radeous, Rorona, Zion and their children. See you in three days, Jin. Sion, who seemed to have gotten used to the place, said in a cheerful voice, "Jin-sama, I''ll see you in three days. Jin-sama, I''ll see you in three days, thank you. Rorona bowed her head in agreement. "Thank you, Jin-sama, for everything you have done for us. Radeous also said his farewells for the time being. "Yes, bye." Jin then boarded the and took off into the evening sky. * * * * * * "That''s what I''ve been saying. Old man, I want you to use your craftsmen (smiths) to pave the road from Toka village to Charles town ...... and schedule it to be completed in about 10 days." < On the way back, in <>, Jin gave instructions to the old man. "I want to make the best of this technology, too. 1476 - - 40-16 Experiments and applications and new ideas. The next day, Jin was in Horai Island. "Well then, I will send 410 from craftsman 401. "That''s good. Gon and Gen are continuing to work on it, and as soon as the craftsman (Smith) arrives, we will return to the village of Kaina. That''s good about the pavement. "Well, now we have to do what is most necessary." . "Yes. After I found out that the magic circle should be multi-layered, I''ve been trying to come up with some ideas. Jin explains some of his ideas to the old man. "First of all, this would require a large amount of free magical elements (ether), so the first one is an ether converter. "The second layer would be a magical control flow (Magi Sequence) to set the range and intensity of the effect. <> "The third layer is ......." In this way, Jin explained his plan. "On the ninth layer, we will use the collected free magical elements (ether) to generate a transition space. This is an application of the shifting magic circle. "The tenth layer has the effect of reversing the transition space. "The boundary created by this should be a break in space." In short, it would be like having <> with no enclosure, but with very small intervals between them. Theoretically, the gates are connected by a space called subspace, in which the physical phenomena on the other side become almost meaningless. In other words, physical phenomena on the other side are not transmitted to our side. The only exception is the movement of matter, which is placed at very small intervals, so it should appear that nothing changes. However, since the intrinsic velocity that the material had before it entered the room would be reduced to zero, it would appear as if it stopped instantly, Jin guessed. "I doubt it. It might be worth a try. Jin worked out the details of the project while exchanging such conversation. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The magic circle is not a mature system that can be completed by theory alone. Experimentation and practice are essential. "Okay, let''s start the test." "Yes, father." Jin was now about to test the spatial barrier he had created on a trial basis. The size of the field to be generated is a disc of one meter in diameter. The size of the generator needed for this is about the size of a box of tissues. It could be made a little smaller, but this was done for the sake of ease of analysis, such as checking the operation. "<>" Reiko and Hitoshi are standing about 5 meters apart, Hitoshi is right next to the warding generator and Reiko is in front of it. Reiko is attacking the warding generator and Jin is observing. "Yes, the warding is working fine. The warding is black. "The reason why it looks black is because no light is emitted. ......? Jin imagined that the blackness is due to the fact that no light is emitted and no light is reflected back. In a sense, it is the same as a black hole. This one does not absorb matter. "It''s a disc shape now, but I''d like to make it hemispherical or spherical eventually. "Father, where would you like to start?" Reiko asked Jin who was thinking about something. "Oh, yes, first of all, try throwing a stone lightly. "Yes. Reiko throws a stone with one percent force. The stone hits the boundary with the speed of an adult throwing it as hard as he can. ....... "Okay, that''s what I thought." The velocity becomes zero, and the stone plops to the ground, pulled by gravity. After that, I tried three more times with different sized stones, but all of them lost speed when they touched the boundary and fell to the ground. "Okay, so far so good. Let''s try magic next. "Yes. ......<>" Reiko fires a <<>. The fireball aimed straight at the boundary, and when it touched the boundary, it dissipated. "I see. Reiko, one more time. "Yes." Jin repeated the experiment five times. "Yeah, in the case of magic, I wonder if it loses its < to maintain ......?" However, even Jin could not understand why the magic was fading away. Reiko, who is powered by magic, is not affected by the warp gate, nor is the blood that flows through the human body affected in the first place. "I guess we''ll just have to leave it as for the time being." Being a practical person, Jin decided to focus on practical application for the time being, thinking that the theory would come later. The experiments are done," he said. Now let''s work on the second prototype. "I see. I''ll take care of it then." The old man offers, and Jin gives his permission. "Yes. We can have a craftsman (Smith) help us with that." >. ** ** "I think we can call it a success first. With this first success, Jin started to work on the application. "If we make it spherical, there is a possibility that we will not be able to replenish free magic element (ether). ...... In that case, we can use ethenol or magic element storage stones (manacelles)." << "Yes. But it will probably make it impossible to see anything outside." It will be impossible to use any electromagnetic waves, including infrared rays. "So that''s why it goes dark for a moment when you use the warp gate." Reiko said, as if impressed. "Yeah, I guess that''s what it means." Jin also had an idea about this phenomenon. The inside of the Warp Gate is illuminated and bright, but it was not his imagination that it seemed to get darker for a moment at the moment of the transition. Reiko must have had a clearer perception than Jin. "But if it could be the strongest barrier, it wouldn''t be a bad idea to be able to deploy it even for a short time." >. Hearing these words of the old man, Jin came up with an idea. "Is it possible to predict <>?" If it is possible to do so, it would be possible to deploy the boundary a moment before the vibration and release it when the vibration subsides. Then, perhaps it would be possible to cover the entire Ars. The old man agrees with me. The expectations on Jin''s shoulders are growing. 1477 - - 40-17 Elza Disorder "Brother Jin, dinner!" Erza came to call Jin, who was absorbed in his research. "Oh, is it that time already?" The next thing he knew, it was dusk. It was almost 6:00 p.m. "Don''t push yourself too hard." "Okay, I''ll be careful." Erza rebuked him as he returned, and Jin apologized. "We''ve been waiting for you, Jin-sama. "You''ve come, too, Mine?" Yes, I helped her cook dinner. The dinner was a purely Japanese menu consisting of rice, miso soup with fried bean curd and okara, grilled fish similar to horse mackerel, oshinko (pickles), and natto (fermented soybeans). "Oh, okara miso soup. "Hmm." It may depend on the region, but eating fried bean curd in miso soup with okara is surprisingly tasty, as the bean curd absorbs the miso soup to a moderate degree. The director of the hospital used to make this dish for me when I was in the facility, partly because it is inexpensive. Jin also likes the combination of taro and okara. "Yes, it''s delicious!" His favorite menu makes his chopsticks move forward. At ......, Jin notices that Elsa''s chopsticks are not moving. "Huh?Erza, are you not eating?" "....... ......I''m kind of hungry." Jin knew that Elsa was not the kind of person who would eat while she was cooking, so his answer was strange. Then one possibility occurred to him. "Is there something wrong with her?" However, it is impossible for Erza, who is also an excellent healer, to be sick. "...... not bad, I think." However, Erza''s complexion was not so good when she answered so. "......I''m sorry, Sai. ......I was smelling the food and I felt sick. I''m really sorry." Erza apologized and hurriedly got up from her seat and ran out of the cafeteria. "Elsa ......" After swallowing the last mouthful, Jin also got up to leave the diner after Erza. But Meane stopped him. "Jin-sama, it''s okay." What? "Erza''s not sick. What? Meane looked at Jin, who was twisting his head in confusion, smiling. "I could explain it to you, but I''m sure Erza would prefer to talk about it herself. "?" Then Erza returned. She looked paler than before. "Erza, are you all right? This time Jin got up from his seat and rushed to Erza''s side. "No, I''m fine." Then Erza squeezed Jin''s hand. I''m sorry for worrying you. I''m ......, um... ......." After saying that, Erza blushed and turned her head down. "Elsa?What''s wrong with you?" Jin asked, more concerned, and finally Erza looked up. "...... baby." "What?" "...... baby ...... is born." Erza said and turned her reddish face down again. "......" "............" ".................." A silence passed between Erza, Jin and Meine. The silence was broken by Reiko''s voice. "Congratulations, father." Hearing her voice, both Jin and Erza come to their senses. "Elsa." "......" "Thank you." With short words, Jin let go of Erza''s hand, put his hand behind her back, and hugged her gently. Meane and Reiko quietly left. "Jin ......" "Thank you, thank you." That was all Jin said, and he hugged Erza tenderly. Erza hugged him back. Erza hugged him back. "Well, when did you find out? "...... yesterday. I was feeling kind of lazy, so I talked to my mother about it, and she said that it might be possible. After hugging each other for a good fifteen minutes, the two of them talked in the <> without water. They were sitting side by side, not facing each other, with Jin holding Elsa''s shoulder. In case you are wondering, Meane and Reiko are cleaning up the mess. "So, I gave myself a <> and ......" "I had a child." "Hmm." "I see. ......" I was going to tell you when Jin brother was free. But Mother told me to tell you myself. "Yes, that''s what I wanted to do. I''m glad you told me." Jin put his hand on Elsa''s shoulder. "Are you cold?" "I''m ...... fine." From now on, you take even better care of yourself than you have in the past. "Yeah, I know." "Oh, have you seen your mother-in-law in the Shoro Kingdom?" "...... not yet. I thought I''d tell my brother Jin first. "I see. Then let''s go tomorrow. "......?I thought you were busy." But Jin laughed and shook his head. "I''m not so pathetic that I can''t take that much time. Now that we have a good idea of what to expect, the main thing is to conduct experiments and verify the results, and the old man can take care of that. After that, we''ll inform the whole <>." "......?" Erza nodded her head, her cheeks flushed. 1478 - - 40-18 Report and Name In the early morning of March 23rd, Jin asked the old man about the progress of the . > The report from the old man was satisfactory to Jin. The time lag before activation has been shortened by 25% by revising the Magi Formula. The consumption of free magic element (ether) was also reduced by 15%. It is easy to deploy hemispherical wards. This was only half a day''s work, but still a significant improvement. "You should also consider downsizing." . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At 9:00 a.m. local time on the same day, Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Edgar arrived at Erza''s parents'' house in the town of Exi, Shoro, in <>. "Welcome, Erza, Jin-san!" Marlene, Erza''s foster mother, greeted them. "It''s been a while. "Mother, I''m glad to see you are well. After exchanging brief greetings, Jin and his wife were ushered into the parlor. Marlene herself brewed a pot of green tea. After taking a sip of the fragrant tea, Jin opened his mouth. "The main reason I came to see you today is because I have something to tell you. "Well, what is it?" From the looks on Jin''s and Elsa''s faces, it was easy to see that the contents were not bad. Marlene waited for Jin''s words with faint hope. "Elsa has a baby! Jin reported frankly. "Oh, really?Congratulations, Jin-san and Elsa. Marlene, with a big smile on her face, got up from her chair, came down to Elsa and hugged her gently. "I''m so happy for you, Elsa. "Yes, mother." As her mother-in-law hugged her, Elsa let out a single tear. "I can''t believe how big you''ve grown since you were a little one. ......" Marlene was also moved to tears and had tears in her eyes. Seeing such a mother and daughter, Jin quietly left the place. Marlene was also moved to tears. "I''m really happy today. Marlene smiled at Jin and Elsa throughout lunch. "So you get to see your grandchildren before Fritz and Mauritz do." "......" Perhaps she was so happy that Marlene kept repeating the same thing over and over again that Jin and Erza were so embarrassed that they could not taste the food. After lunch, they met Georg Randl, Elsa''s father, and reported to him. "Oh, you came well. He was in a good mood and welcomed them with open arms. Lara, an automata that Elsa had created earlier, was taking care of him. "Lara, thank you for your help. "No, this is my role." After saying to Lara, Erza reported that she was carrying a child, "I see, I see. ....... If you''re happy, that''s all that matters." She was moved to tears. Hearing this, Elsa''s eyes lit up with tears as well. Jin was happy that peace had finally come to the family. * * * * * * * * * * That night, they stayed at the Randall residence. Elsa was going to sleep in the same room with her mother-in-law for the first time in a while. She is going to ask her a lot of questions about how to be a mother. Edgar is waiting in front of the bedroom as a guard. Jin was in the guest room with Reiko. Now that they are alone, Reiko is happy to take care of Jin. "Congratulations again, father." "Yes, thank you, Reiko." "Have you thought of a name yet?" "What?...... isn''t it a little bit early? I guess so. ...... would you prefer a boy or a girl at first?" "Oh, come on." Reiko''s question was like a flurry of questions, which made Jin flinch. "If it''s a girl, Yuki or Sakura. ....... If it''s a boy, maybe Yu or Ryo. "Isn''t it taken from <>?" Reiko, who knew the origin of Jin''s name and her own, asked curiously. "Yes. Actually, the other characters are already in use." Jin''s younger brother is Yoshiyuki. The younger one is Tomomi. < was not yet in use, they could name her . In case you are wondering, <> was used as a present for Erza, <> (a nickname for Nobuko, Noriko, etc.). "I see." Reiko understood this explanation. "But what does your name mean?" "Yuki is ......." Jin showed her what he had written on a piece of notepaper in his baggage. "Yuki," he said, "is Snow. It sounds beautiful but cold as it is, so you could also use the same sound for Yuki. This one has the meaning of "Nozomi is there. Sakura, I don''t have to explain anymore. Sakura, that''s nice. Yu, which means "excellent" but also "kind. Ryo means good, but Ryo means far, and Ryu means dragon. Jin''s explanation seemed to make sense to Reiko. "The language and script of your father''s country are very deep, aren''t they?" "Well, it''s still too early to tell." Jin chuckled and patted Reiko on the head. "What other names are there?" Reiko''s knowledge of Japanese as a written language had been transcribed, but the meaning and usage were only briefly explained, so questions like this were also asked. "Well, ......<. It''s a girl''s name, but it''s <>, or is it ......, a pillow word, I think. ...... yeah, it''s a pillow word. It''s a pillow word for <>, I think. It sounds beautiful, doesn''t it?" It''s a word used in waka poetry. <> is a word for tin bamboo, meaning a mountainous country where such bamboo grows thickly. Incidentally, there is an artificial lake called Lake Misuzu in Shinano Province, present-day Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. "What about the others?" Reiko seemed pleased to hear this kind of talk from Hitoshi, and asked him to continue. "Mio, that would be nice. I think it was ...... a route on the water, suitable for ships to pass through. You know Nagisa ....... And maybe Erika, the name of a flower. Jin explained as he remembered. Reiko listened with interest. * * * * * * On Horai Island, the old man was detecting the spatial vibrations and working with Jack from the moon to determine the point of origin. Since the position is close to the orbit of Ars, Ars itself is getting closer to the Moon by its orbit. <<< It is hard to say for sure since it has only happened 4 times. < So far, only Jin has had direct contact with the 700672. >. And the old man started to consider again. 1479 - - 40-19 Ready... Please come back again." The next day, Jin and Erza left Randall''s mansion with their hair in their backs. "Well, we''re going to get busy." "Hmm..." "Oh, but Erza, don''t be too hard on yourself.It''s an important time." We are planning to have a debriefing party at Horai Island in the evening. The Jin family will be there. "......?" Erza nodded a little disappointed. * * * * Jin returned to Horai Island and told Erza to rest and instructed her to mobilize the five colored golem maids to prepare for the party. "Brother Jin, let me at least give you instructions. He couldn''t stand the thought of doing nothing. Jin thinks about it for a moment and gives his conditional OK. "Well, ...... that''s fine. Edgar, make sure you support me." "Yes, sir, I will." And Luna and Soleil, you guys go with him. Yes, father. I''ll take care of it, Father. Relieved, Jin went to the command center to hear the report from the old man. "Now, please give me a detailed report." The large error is only due to the distance. <> of <700672> has produced. "Yes, ....... Should I go and ask them right away?" <<>. So Jin, accompanied by Reiko as usual, moved to the bottom of 700672 by the warp gate. Of course, the old man asked Erza to tell him that they were going out. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Welcome, Jin-dono!" It seems that No. 700672 has been waiting for Jin''s visit. "You want to know the observation results of the spatial monitor, don''t you?" "Yes." Then 700672 immediately began to explain. "This oscillation lasted seven ten-thousandths of a second. It''s getting a little long, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is. ...... is it getting longer and longer?" The question was met with a disappointed look on No. 700672''s face. "It''s only been four times, so it''s hard to derive any regularity from it, and I guess it''s not very probable." "But that''s not the main problem." "What?" Jin stiffened at the more serious tone of 700672. "First of all, the most important problem that we need to focus on is that the material there has disappeared. "What? This is new to me. Jin thought that it was only because the 700672 sent a into space that they were able to find out about this. "By coincidence, one of the spatial monitors we sent disappeared in an instant. "Disappeared?" Jin asked, as if to make sure. "Yes, annihilation. Not destruction. Not just the body. Not a single atom remains, that''s why I called it <>." "Annihilation ......" We have a new threat. "The <> was in rough formation, so we have a rough idea of its range. According to this, the radius is somewhere between 100 and 1,000 kilometers. The large margin of error is unavoidable, 700672 added. "Is it safe to say it''s a large area?" "Yes, from the point of view of the size of the universe, it is very limited. The more important question is the effect. It''s not a gravitational destruction, is it? Jin reconfirms. "Yes. Such a thing may happen depending on the scale of spatial oscillation, but the phenomenon observed this time is ." "Are you saying that it is not a mere fluctuation of gravity?" "It would seem so." But we don''t have enough information on this yet. 700672 will send out more , he said. "So far, the position of the outbreak has been almost constant. He said that he would send out many of them around the area of space. "So, what about you?" Jin guessed that by "how," he was referring to the . Thanks to you, the prototype has been completed and is working well. We are considering further improvement in efficiency and larger size. After saying this, Jin explained the detailed specifications. "That''s great," he says. "That''s a big deal, but in a worst case scenario, it would be dangerous if we don''t have enough warding to cover the Ars." That''s possible. "After all, ......" Even though the planet Arus is smaller than the Earth, it has a diameter of about 2,400 kilometers. If it were to cover the entire planet, it would have to be 3000 kilometers in diameter. At the same time, Jin thinks it would be necessary to stretch the moon (UNY) as well. And he adds. "If we are not careful, there is a possibility that Ars and the moon (UNY) will go out of orbit. ......" "Hmm. That would cut off gravity." Ars''s orbit is not a perfect circle. The slight error will be absorbed by the astronomical distance, but it is still a concern. "I''d like to make this as quick as possible." "I''m sure." Then, instead of a spherical boundary covering the entire area, it would be a hemispherical or disc-shaped boundary facing in the direction of the spatial oscillation," he said. "But that would be difficult without knowing the point of occurrence in advance." Jin''s concern was conveyed to No. 700672. "Yes, that''s right. I will do what I can. Regarding the collection of information, 700672 said he would do his best. "Please do." Jin feels that he has no choice but to leave it to him. "I will do my best to develop a spatial barrier. "Yes. Can I assume that technically there are no more problems? "Well, there is still the problem of energy supply if we continue to increase the size of the machine, but I think we can manage that as well. "Hmm, I see. "Worst case scenario, we can transfer it from the etheric cloud." < is a highly concentrated etheric region near the Lagrangian point of the planet Hale. From there, we will be able to obtain an almost inexhaustible supply of energy. I will cooperate with you whenever I can. Yes, I will be happy to do so. After such a meeting, Jin returned to Horai Island. 1480 - - 40-20 Celebration It was a little after one o''clock in the afternoon when we returned to Horai Island. "Hey Jin, congratulations! His best friend Reinhardt had arrived and congratulated Jin. "You are early, Reinhard. I thought I specified 5:00 p.m. Horai Island time. According to the Shoro time, it should be around 8:00 am. "Yes, of course. But congratulations to Jin and Erza! "Since I heard about you, he hasn''t seemed to be able to get any work done, so I thought I''d just come over. It was Reinhardt''s beloved wife, Berthe, who told him this. She was holding his daughter Juliana in her arms. "Hello, Bertje. "Mr. Jin, congratulations on your wedding." "Thank you. Well, make yourselves at home, both of you. But Bertsche denied it. "Yes, that''s fine with my husband, but I''m going to help you." "What?" "It''s strange that Elsa is preparing for a celebration for the two of you. Following these words, another voice came up. "That''s right. Let me help you with that." "What?" "Jin-san, congratulations!" "Congratulations." I saw that it was Stearina and Tor. She said she came early to help too. And then... "Congratulations, Mr. Jin." Vivien came over. "Thank you." Then Belce, Stearina and Vivian went to the kitchen. The remaining guests are Jin, Toa, Reinhard and Juliana. "I feel bad," Jin muttered. Jin muttered, and Reinhardt denied it. "No, I don''t feel bad. "I told you that, didn''t I?Jin and Erza are the ones who are supposed to be celebrating, so it''s only natural for us to help them. That''s right, Jin-sama. What? I''m a little late to the party, aren''t I? Congratulations, my dear! I turned around to see Meane, Martha, and Hannah standing there. "I came to help you, but I didn''t know you already had company. Martha and Martha''s friends went to the kitchen together. "Thank goodness for that ......." Jin muttered to himself. "Jin, congratulations! Jin-dono, congratulations! "Congratulations, Mr. Jin!" Marcia, Rodrigo, and Licia came over. They had just arrived together in the warp gate room. And then, moreover... "Congratulations, Jin! Jin, I know it''s a little early, but I thought I''d help you out. "No, don''t do that Bina. ....... No, don''t do beena. Beena and Luis came over, even though they were expecting a baby themselves. "Oh no, you''re late. That''s what I told you. Jin, congratulations! I''m sorry. ...... Jin, congratulations!" Saki and Goose also showed up, talking animatedly. "Congratulations, Jin-sama! Marikka also showed up. "Zion said he had a hard time getting out of ......," she said. "Yes, I know." Now Zion is in the Kingdom of Klein with his father Radeous and his mother Rorona. And today, they are supposed to pick him up. It is now 2:00 p.m. on Horai Island. It would be just before noon in the Kingdom of Klein. "I didn''t specify the exact time, so I guess I should go pick him up soon. He is a busy man. < the old man suggests. "That''s right. All right, I''ll take care of it... send the three of them once to the evil ...... or to the Nordic Federation." < "Yes, that would be quicker. Yes, that would be quicker. < So, <> goes to pick up the three of them, and only Zion is dropped off at the village of Kaina on the way. "Hello. Thank you for inviting me. At 4:00 p.m., Milowina arrived from the moon. She is looking young again and full of energy. We are happy to see her. "Congratulations, Jin. "Thank you very much." As expected, Milowina does not go to the kitchen, but relaxes in the reception room of the institute. Shortly before 5:00 p.m., the last guest, Zion, arrived. "I''m the last? He looked a little apologetic. "No, Zion was on official business, so it can''t be helped." Jin quieted Zion, who looked uncomfortable. "Yeah. ......" "That''s right, Mr. Zion, I didn''t help you either. Marikka follows up, but Zion counters with a wry smile. "You shouldn''t be so arrogant. Then they were ready, and Hannah came to call for them. "Onii-chan, everyone, we are ready, please come to the cafeteria! "We''ve been waiting for you!" Someone said, and everyone headed for the dining room. "Now then, let''s congratulate Elsa on the fact that she and Jin are expecting a child together. Cheers! Cheers! Cheers! Reinhardt led the toast. Glasses filled with sparkling wine and sparkling juice are raised. Of course, the glasses are made of cubic zirconia, which were purchased from the . "Thank you all for coming here today. "Thank you very much, everyone." After the toast, Jin and Elsa made brief remarks. Then, sekihan (red rice) was served. "This is the rice we serve on the occasion. Jin explained briefly. "Mmm, it''s quite good. "The aroma of sesame and these beans is good. "It''s chewy and tasty." It seems to be generally well received. Surrounded by his trusted friends, Jin enjoys this moment, forgetting about that is coming his way for the moment. 1481 - - 40-21 Explanation and Consultation "Well, Jin, let''s hear it." At 9:00 p.m., after the party was over, Reinhardt approached Jin. "I hear something is going on, don''t you?" all stared at Jin. Jin could not remain silent any longer and began to explain. "Space vibrated in the far side of the universe. So ......" However, since the truth is still unknown, Jin''s guesses are also included in the explanation. "That''s why ......." Therefore, it is understandable that he cannot fully understand what he hears. "Well, I don''t know, but I guess they''re on the lookout for something that might happen?" Marcia tilted her head. "Well, to put it simply, yes. But if it did happen, it would be a terrible thing, so we are investigating and taking countermeasures." Jin then explained the details of the countermeasures. "......Well, only Jin can do that. ......" After the explanation, Reinhardt said something. This must have been the feeling of almost everyone. "Don''t say that, but do you have any opinions that would be helpful?" "Hmmm... ......" Everyone thought seriously about Jin''s words. Then, Goose opened his mouth. "Hey, Jin, you said that 700672 is a material that is disappearing, right?" "What?Yes, that''s right. < disappeared in an instant, without a trace." "Don''t you think it''s like ......?" "What?" < He was also with <> and <> when they visited the ruins during their trip to Huso. I can say that he is an authority on <>. The words of Guth, <>. "<>. ....... Certainly, we cannot deny that possibility. Perhaps the object or person in question would have vanished from the world. "In addition, I think it''s possible that it''s not a replacement." What do you mean? "I mean that it''s a one-way street. I don''t think there was any mention of anything disappearing from Adriana Tierra''s lab in the case of Shuki Tsetsi, either. "I see. ......" I''m surprised you noticed that. "That''s true. That is true. We are certainly similar in that respect. Jin and the others were impressed by Guth''s point of view. "Thank you. ......I''m not familiar with magical engineering, but you know the technology Jin is using, the warp gate?When it works, it''s a one-way street, right? "Certainly, yes. The system allows for reciprocal traffic, but not simultaneously. It can be automatic or manual, but you have to switch between the two. It''s a bit like being in a godforsaken state, don''t you think?" This statement clarified what Guth was basing his argument on. "I see. ......" Jin tried to imagine a science fiction-like situation. What if we think that when two different worlds come into contact, the contents move from the one with higher <> to the one with lower spatial potential. That would explain why it is not an exchange of matter, but a one-way movement. What is the , I cannot explain. And the contact must be instantaneous and localized. Therefore, it is only the movement of a single person. Such a thought was dashed by the following words. "But it may be on a larger scale than the "godforsaken". "What?" "I don''t know of any examples, but wouldn''t it be possible to have a godforsaken place on a scale larger than a single person?" Goose''s imagination was big. And Jin knew of such a phenomenon. "The Bermuda Triangle or ......." On Earth, this is the triangular area of water that connects the tip of the Florida Peninsula, Puerto Rico in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Bermuda Archipelago. There are many speculations about the missing ships and aircrafts, and even the wreckage has not been found. Jin imagined that there might be a possibility of a large scale "godforsaken" area there as well. And what if an even larger "godforsaken area" was about to arise? Jin shared his imagination with the members of the group. "Well, I can''t deny it." Goose was the first to confirm Jin''s theory as a possibility. "What if it is?" Bina looked worried. "If it happens on Ars, there is a possibility that the town will disappear. "No, I''m scared. Bina turned pale and clung to Luis. They all felt the same way. "Worst case scenario, if we take the Adriana and evacuate to space, I think we''ll be okay. Jin consoled them, but that did not dispel the uneasiness that spread through everyone''s hearts. "So once again we have no choice but to rely on Jin. Reinhard muttered regretfully. "That''s right. I wish I could help in some way. Milowina, a resident of the moon, also looked disappointed. "Thank you, everyone. I''m glad to hear you say that. Jin also intended to do his utmost to protect his second home, Ars. "Anyway, I''d like to hurry up with the completion of the spatial barrier and the prediction of the occurrence of the blindfolded area. If you have any ideas, please let me know." "Hmmm ......" However, no one could come up with a good idea all of a sudden, and everyone turned their heads down and thought about it. At that time. "Jin-sama, shall we also ask the island of Onogoro?" < "Ah, there it is." < doesn''t keep much of a record, but its may have some information. "I''ll check it out later. Marikka, I need your help. Of course, of course. "...... is there anything else you can do?We have to try everything we can. Now Hannah spoke up. "Hey, honey, don''t you know anything about the world you''re coming in contact with?" "Yes, I do. It''s a completely one-way street." "I see. ....... If that''s the case, then the world is different from the world that Shuki Tsetsi and Oni-chan came from, isn''t it? "I guess so." If you are in contact with the world where modern Japan is located, things from the Earth side would come to Ars, but in this case it is the other way around. "What kind of world is it?Can''t we observe them when they are connected for a moment?" Hannah asked more questions. Jin answered after prefacing his question with the words, "I''m afraid not. "I don''t think it was possible according to the story of 700672." Assuming that the transition was by means of a warp gate, it would be completely dark during the transfer, so it was understandable that they could not understand anything. When Jin said this, Hanna seemed to agree. "Well, it''s a problem if we don''t know anything about the ...... other side, isn''t it?" Then there was silence again. It was serious, because it was not a problem that could be solved immediately. 1482 - - 40-22 Progress The day after the party, Jin and Marikka moved to Onogoro Island. Welcome, Marikka! < "I''ve come here today to ask you some questions." Please feel free to ask me anything. Jin-sama will explain it to you. "...... Actually, there has been an occurrence of <> for the past few days. ......" Jin explained the circumstances, explained the danger, and speculated. "Do you know anything about this?" "How about ......?" There is no record of any such phenomenon, Marikka. I see. ...... I am sorry I cannot be of more help. In addition, since <> is mainly managed by the planet Arus, they were not monitoring the space. * * * * "I''m sorry, Jin-sama." On the way home, Jin consoles Marikka, who is a little wilted. "No, on the contrary, I have learned that it does not happen that often. So cheer up." "Thank you for ......." Jin then sent Marikka and Zion back to the , and began to devote himself to his research again. Because of the circumstances, Erza has a hard time telling him not to do too much. So she came up with a plan. "Hannah, can you be my brother Jin''s assistant?" "Yes, sure!" Erza thought that since Jin had a soft spot for Hanna, he would not force her to do anything, and that her ideas would be useful to Jin. And she was right. "Hey, sweetie, it''s almost lunchtime." "...... Oh, yeah, right. Let''s take a break." Jin honestly stopped his research and got up from his seat. Reiko saw him and smiled. Jin, you''re just in time. Lunch is ready. When I went to the cafeteria, Erza and Meane had just finished preparing the meal. Today''s menu was morisoba. It comes with freshly fried tempura. "Erza, are you sure you can smell the oil? Jin worried about his morning sickness. "No, I''m fine today. Besides, my mother fried the tempura for me. Yes, that''s right. Besides, it seems to be all right as long as you eat a little at a time, not just three meals. This method that Meane mentioned seemed to be effective for Elsa, since a full stomach could make her hyperemesis worse. "Persica, citran, and april juices also seem to be good. All fruits from Penglai Island are high in nutritional value. It was one way to consume less solid food and get more calories from the juices. "It''s much easier now." "Well, I''m glad to hear that." Jin ate up the soba noodles served to him. Hannah slurped down her soba as well. "It''s delicious." "Good. You can have another one, too. In the end, Hitoshi had three pieces of soba and Hanna had two more. As a side note, I heard that at a soba restaurant, if you eat a lot of soba, you should ask for a second helping instead of ordering a large serving. This way, the aroma of soba would not be lost and the soba would not be stretched. Thank you for the food. After the soba-yu (buckwheat noodle soup), we sipped soba-cha (buckwheat tea). Erza also drank buckwheat tea with the group and asked them a question. "How is your research going?" After taking a sip of the buckwheat tea, Jin opened his mouth. "Well, I guess so-so... ......?" < is going well," Jin explained. "We''ve more than doubled the efficiency compared to the prototype, and we have a good prospect of deploying it in a hemispherical shape." "That''s good to hear." "But I can''t predict the <> at all." "That''s right. We don''t have enough data to make a prediction. Hannah also looked a little tired. "That''s a problem. "The next best thing I''m thinking is to set up warding as soon as I detect a vibration, but I can''t react faster than 1/10,000th of a second. ......" "That makes sense." It would have to be at least 1/100,000th of a second, since it would have to be at least an order of magnitude faster than that to be meaningful. "I think it''s theoretically possible." "What?Is that so? Erza could not imagine how such a short time could be measured. "In my former world, there was a world where time was measured in nanoseconds ...... billionths of a second. "Ten billionths? Erza was astonished at the number. "I think it''s possible with ether waves. But ......." "Is there a problem?" "Yes. ......" Jin replies to this question with a sullen look on his face. "If you want to make it react faster, you have to make it smaller, and then you can''t deploy a wide range of wards. When Jin had said all that, an idea popped into his head. "Relay or ......!" "Relay?" "Onii-chan, what''s a relay?" Neither of them knew what a relay was. Jin had only replaced them in the past for system maintenance. "Well, a relay is a component used to control a large output with a small signal. "...... means that the detection part is made small and the field generation part is made large. And connect them with the , is that correct?" Elsa gave us a concrete description of Jin''s idea. "But aren''t you worried that the reaction will be delayed by the in between?" Hannah voiced her concerns. "Yes, but if the total reaction time of the detection unit and the relay is short enough, I think we can manage it." "Ah, yes!" "Yes, that makes sense." "Let''s try this experiment right away." * * * * * * Jin went to the workshop immediately. Hannah and Erza follow him. This time, Erza is just watching. "I''m feeling a little better so far. Her hyperemesis seemed to be lessening. "Okay, I''m going to ask for Little Craftsman Smith''s help to make it smaller. Little Craftsman (Smith) is a small golem, 40 centimeters tall. He is good at precision work because of his small size. "I want to make something called ....... Can you do it for me? "Yes, master." Little Craftsman (Smith) replied in a small but high-pitched voice and immediately set to work. However, it is not a mechanical part but a magical part, so the main task is to write on the magecrystal. It''s done. Thank you. The necessary write-in was done in one minute. "Okay. This is the detection part, and this is the part that acts as a relay. This is the detection part, and this is the part that works as a relay. Jin did the work on this side. "This completes the prototype, but we can''t test it here. ......" Since we can''t test it indoors, we decided to take the prototype out front. "This will do." Jin sets up the prototype in the vestibule of the institute. "The field is supposed to be generated 5 meters above this thing, with a diameter of 10 meters," he said. But then Jin notices a problem. "How can we stimulate this detector and measure the time it takes for the warding to occur? ...... It does not seem to be that easy. Jin and his colleagues ponder further. 1483 - - 40-23 Measurement While Jin and the others were thinking about the measurement of micro-time, Erza opened her mouth to ask if they had thought of something. "Brother Jin, there is a fact that the 700672 can measure 1/10,000th of a second." "Oh, I see. ......" Since this is an emergency, he said, we can ask him to show us how to do it, or to measure it for us. "I''ll do that for now." "Well, you shouldn''t try to do everything by yourself." "That hurts my ears. I''m going to go to ...... now. Hannah said she would stay at home and prepare dinner with Elsa. Jin gave the prototype to Reiko and moved to 700672. Jin took the prototype and moved to No. 700672. "Oh, Jin-dono, have you made any progress?" The 700672 greeted Jin and Reiko in their usual manner. Jin handed them a souvenir of Persica juice and explained the situation so far. "Hmmm. Since it is difficult to predict the onset of vibration, we should deploy the warding the moment we detect it, right? "That''s the next best thing, though." But No. 700672 praises the idea. "No, I think it''s quite effective. So what''s the problem? "I can''t verify that it''s working properly. We don''t have any measuring instruments. Jin explains this exactly, too. 700672 sees right through his intention. 700672 saw exactly what he intended to do. I will help you with that. "Thank you very much." Thus, with the cooperation of No. 700672, we were able to verify the <> magic tool. Since No. 700672 gets sick when she goes out of the white room, her adopted daughter, , accompanies her in the experiment. . Jin, Reiko, and Neige use the magic tools of transference to get to the surface. The afternoon light glints off the lingering snow. Jin and Reiko set up the prototypes they had brought on the flat ground, and Neige placed the measuring mage right next to them. Father, we are ready. Neige reported back to the 700672 using a magic tool similar to a manacam, and received an immediate reply. < Jin then instructed Reiko to throw a small piece of the prepared Magi Crystal to the target, and caused it to <>. A localized but intense explosion occurs with a deafening roar. Jin and the others are protected by a solid physical barrier, so they are unharmed. The prototype is also safe, thanks to the wards it has deployed. However, the aftermath of the explosion causes an avalanche in the nearby mountains. A heavy, low-pitched thud, characteristic of a bottom avalanche (a full-layer avalanche), echoes through the air. "Wow! ......" Jin turned pale when he saw it. But.., "Don''t worry. It''s almost bottom avalanche season, so it happened sooner or later. Neige says with a nonchalant expression on her face, which makes Jin feel a little better. 700672 called. Jin and the others returned to the white room. "Here are the results." 700672 projected the results on a screen embedded in the wall. It was like looking at an oscilloscope. Two lines are shown, one flat line that suddenly becomes a violent wave, then decays and becomes flat again. "This is the situation in the outer space." The violent wave part is the explosion of <>. And here is the inside of Jin-dono''s prototype. This is the place that should be protected by the warding. The waveform there rose slightly from flat to flat and then back to flat again. This is because it was blocked by the warding. "From here to here is about one millionth of a second." That''s megahertz in frequency. That''s about the clock frequency of an early personal computer. Although it may not seem like a big deal when you think of it like that, it is a hurdle for someone like Jin who wants to build something from scratch. On the other hand, for those who have been using high magic technology for a long time, such as No. 700672, it is not a big deal. The frequency of gamma rays, 10 to the 16th power ......10 PHz (petahertz), which is the frequency of gamma rays. Aside from that, Jin is relieved to hear the words of No. 700672. It turns out to be useful enough. "Jin-dono, it is nothing short of amazing that you have created such a thing in such a short period of time. "Thank you, sir." Beside Jin, Reiko also looks happy. "I feel like I can do something with this. There is still a lot of work to be done. If it is simply a matter of labor, Jin thought, we will be able to do something. The most difficult technical hurdle had been cleared. "In the end, I want to prepare a that covers Ars and the moon. "Yes, that''s right. In that case, the gravity will not work on the objects inside the boundary, so you want to make the deployment in a short time. The 700672 took Jin''s intentions into account correctly. < is deployed for a longer period of time, it is impossible to predict how the trajectory of Ars will change. "But is there enough energy?" Even if it is limited to a very short period of time, the free magical element (ether) to be consumed will be an order of magnitude larger than the size of the als. "I am thinking of using the <> for that." "Yes, I heard that before, but that''s certainly a good idea. No. 700672 again praised Jin. "I haven''t decided yet whether to use energy transfer or ethenol. "Hm?What is this aethenol?" It seemed that No. 700672 had never heard of Aethenol (it was named by Jin in the first place), so Jin gave a simple explanation. "I see, it''s free magic element (ether) dissolved in water made of magic isotope (magiisotope). That''s quite amazing." But," continued the 700672. "The aethenol you have created, Jin-dono, is a near-ideal energy source. In that it is neither solid nor gaseous, but liquid. This means that it is easy to handle. If we compare it to energy sources used in Japan today, solids are coal, charcoal, coke, etc. Gases are LP gas, propane gas, etc. Gases are LP gas and propane gas. Liquid is petroleum. Liquids are easy to handle because they are easy to store in tanks, transport, and replenish, and because they are visible. Oil, which can be said to be the second easiest to handle after electricity, has been widely used on the modern earth in the form of kerosene, diesel fuel, and gasoline. Aethenol can be used in the same way as petroleum. "Another reason I recommend ethenol is that we don''t know how spatial vibrations will affect energy transfer. "Ah." Jin had not thought about that. Indeed, if we take into account the phenomenon of space distortion, it is quite conceivable that the transfer could be affected. "I understand. Thank you for your advice. "Yes, I''m glad I could be of help." After the meaningful meeting, Jin returned to Horai Island. 1484 - - 40-24 Misunderstanding and Reorganization The next morning, a fifth spatial oscillation occurred. < on the Moon reported back to us and gave us a detailed direction. "Hmmm, it seems to be getting a little closer after all. ......" Jin reaffirms that the current measures are still essential. The time of occurrence is getting longer. That would mean that the time for the two worlds to overlap is getting longer. What if Ars enters the place where the two worlds overlap? I don''t want to think about it, but I will do my best to avoid such a situation. "Let''s go into mass production of Aethenol, old man." ? >> "That''s what I mean." "Yes, I''ll take care of that. The question is how to generate a of the size to cover Ars and the moon. < itself is no longer a problem. However, since the scale of the is so huge by orders of magnitude, it is difficult to know what is the best way to do it. "Brother Jin, will Moon (Yunyi) and Ars deploy their wards separately?" "Huh?" Erza''s sudden comment seemed to make Jin unable to understand what she was saying for a moment, but he immediately understood what she was trying to say, "Oh, yes, of course!" He smiled. "It''s too big to cover the orbit of the moon (UNY), no matter how you think about it." The thought of a 400,000-kilometer-radius boundary is frightening to contemplate. Mainly in terms of energy consumption," Jin thought to himself. "If we just cover Ars, we only need a radius of 40,000 kilometers, or one tenth of that. Since the surface area would be 1/100th, the free magic element (ether) consumed would also be 1/100th. The surface area is 1/100, so the free magic element (ether) consumed is also 1/100. However, this value includes the <> of the satellite orbit. If the <> is ignored, the radius can be smaller. "The Moon (UNY) would only need a radius of 1,000 km." I feel a little better now that I think about it. "One moon (UNY) would be enough, but in the case of Ars, it would be impossible to have only one moon. After all, it has a radius of 40,000 km. The surface area is approximately 2 x 10 squared meters. The surface area of the boundary covering an individual is about 28.3 square meters with a radius of 1.5 meters, which means that more than 700 million times as much free magical element (ether) is consumed. That means it consumes more than 700 million times as much free magic element (ether). "700 million times more. ......" One way to understand the 700 million number is to express it in terms of time. 100 million seconds is approximately 1157 days. It is definitely a value beyond the realm of the imagination. One of the largest wards Jin has ever built is the defensive one for the spaceship <. Its radius is approximately 200 meters. Its surface area is about 500,000 square meters. That''s 40,000 times larger than this. That gives you some idea of the scale. Brother Jin, explain it to me. Erza, who was standing beside him, tilted her head, so Jin decided to explain in a simple way. "The size of the magic machine (magi-machine) used to generate <>''s defensive wards can be thought of as a sphere roughly 10 centimeters in diameter." "Hmm." "Simply put, we would need a magic machine (magi-machine) 40,000 times that size. Well, considering the efficiency and transmission of magic power, it could be made a little smaller, but it would still need to be about 10,000 times larger. "You''re talking about volume, right?" "Yes. That means the diameter would be 10,000 times the cube root. ...... How many is that, old man?" Although it is not that tremendous, a magical crystal of such a size does not exist in nature. However, since <> uses a multi-layered magic circle, it is not possible to make a general comparison, but it was thought that there is not much difference in the volume of the required magic crystal (magic crystal) and the free magic element (ether) consumed. "...... convinced me. It''s very, very hard." "You can make it by synthesizing it, though. ......" > in the last year, it would be more than enough. In other words, we would need 100 years'' worth of magi crystals. Even though we have some in stock, it is still a tremendous amount. "But we can''t be stingy with them at a time like this. Jin assured us. Elsa said nothing either. She is painfully aware of the emergency situation. Besides, it''s not like it''s going to be consumed away. The main reason for the growth is the supply of free magical energy (ether) required by the multi-layered magic circle. Since a huge amount of free magic elements (ether) must be consumed in a very small amount of time, the magic circuits should have enough room to spare. "It''s not always a one and done deal, you know." There is no guarantee that one defense will avert a crisis. Spatial oscillations may occur several times or even dozens of times. "Would it be a good idea to install it around the summit of Horai Island?" <<> The old man says that it would be better to put it on a satellite and place it in space if we consider the flow of detection and activation of the spatial vibration. Jin agrees with him. "Yes, I agree. ......" Jin will consider how to deploy the wards, including the shape of the wards. "I think we should place them over the north and south poles, and each of them should deploy the wards in a hemispherical shape, right?" "Good." The old man agreed with him, so Jin decided to put his thoughts together in that direction. "Let''s equip the spaceship first." Jin thought, "If we put a hemispherical boundary in the direction of travel, it would be safe from collisions with any objects. "Brother Jin, for example, what happens if we collide with something bigger than the spaceship?" "Eh ......" I know what Erza''s question means. Jin had never thought about it, and he often pondered over it. "Well, ...... I''m not sure anymore. ......" "I''m sorry, I don''t know." Erza apologized when she saw Jin in distress. "What do you mean, old man?" < "...... is right." Jin reflected that it was a mistake to start thinking of it as a barrier. "I''m sorry, Elsa. I mean, thank you. My thoughts were going off on a tangent." Jin honestly admitted his mistake, apologized to Elsa, and thanked her. "No, I''m glad I could be of help in an unexpected way." Erza shook her head. She shook her head, because she was puzzled by the idea of being told that a statement she had not intended at all was useful. "Anyway, I think it''s worthwhile to make one for spacecraft. Anyway, I think it is worthwhile to make a spaceship, since it will not be affected by space distortions and gravity anomalies." "Okay, let''s make a prototype of it and have it ready for before we send it out." <. At last, the island of Horai Island has begun to take measures to deal with the situation. 1485 - - 40-25 Installation Initiated Early in the morning of the 27th, the fully equipped departed three hours behind schedule. The first thing to do was to transfer to the <. Adriana, with a diameter of 300 meters, could not make the transfer, but Vulcan, with a diameter of 100 meters, could. has traveled 212 million kilometers in one stroke. All that remains is the flight to the <>. However, it is about 75 million kilometers long, so even if we fly at 300 kilometers per second It would take 70 hours even if we fly at 300 kilometers per second. However, this is where the new equipment that Jin has been working on, even delaying his schedule by three hours, comes into its own. The new equipment is the . When an object in the forward direction is captured, it is shifted to the rear. The effects range from cosmic dust to micrometeorites. Large obstacles are to be avoided visually, but small collisions that could not be prevented by the previous can be nullified in a shorter time than before. This is largely due to the improved reaction time. The upper limit of the flight speed is determined by taking into account the inevitable collisions with cosmic dust and micrometeorites, and consequently the upper limit depends on the reaction speed of the boundary. It is now possible to more than double the limit, to 800 km/second. In other words, we can reach the in a little over a day. * * * * * * * * * * "Tomorrow, Aethenol will arrive from Vulcan. > The old man takes Jin''s intentions into account and begins to move quickly. Aethenol itself is not toxic, and there is no danger of explosion. Therefore, an ordinary water tank is sufficient. There are many holes in the ground where the ore was mined. Most of them are backfilled with tailings, but some of them are used as warehouses or farms for <><>. In modern Japan, water tanks have been installed here and there for disaster relief, ranging from 60 cubic meters to 1500 cubic meters. The tanks vary from 60 cubic meters to 1500 cubic meters. Mr. Lao decided to construct 10 tanks of 100 cubic meters each. The tanks are made of 18-8 stainless steel and the inside is plated with mithril silver to prevent oxidation and deterioration. One tank will be completed at the same time as the ethenol is delivered, and the number of tanks will be added one after another. "At the same time, it''s a generator of ......" There is much work to be done, Jin said as he began his work. This continued until Erza called for him at lunch time. "Is Elsa OK with her hyperemesis already?" Jin asked Elsa, who was eating a sandwich with him. "No, I''m fine now," she said. "I''m also relieved that it''s only a little bit worse." Meane, Erza''s mother, answered. Meane told us that her hyperemesis gravidarum had been light as well. On the other hand, Marlene, Elsa''s foster mother, had a severe case. "Don''t overdo it. Don''t get cold. I''ll be fine. "Don''t worry, Jin-sama, I''ll be with you. Jin-sama, please do your work as you please. Thank you very much. And please don''t call me "sir" anymore. I don''t think so. Ever since Erza had a child, Jin has repeatedly asked Meane to stop using , but Meane stubbornly refuses to listen to him. She barely sits at the table with him and eats with him. But she is going to be the < of my unborn child, and it''s not good for her education if she stays like this forever. Finally, Jin played his trump card. "Well, that''s certainly true. ...... I''ll try my best. ...... Jin, sir." It seems that he could not resist the fact that he was going to have a grandchild. * * * * After lunch, Jin went back to the workshop. In the morning, the main components such as the link board, the link core, and the operational core had been completed. "These parts are common. The size is also small. What is different is the <. This is, for example, an antenna. The <> is the part that activates the effect of a complexly conceived system. It consumes less mana than an all-in-one system, so it is especially effective to make it separately in the case of a huge system like this one. In addition, in this case, we want to increase the reaction speed of the sensor to activate the device to the utmost limit. "First, let''s install it in Horai Island, and then in Kaina Village. . If the scale of the warding is that large, we can cover it with the ethenol we have now. Jin carefully assembled the two units, reviewed them three times, and then instructed the old man to install one of them at the top of Mount Horai. "Oh, we''re going to test the operation, so you don''t have to install the other one, just take it with you." . Lao Tzu himself took control of the Raptor 2 and headed for Mount Horai. Two minutes later, he was informed that the preparations were complete. "Okay, the one for Horai Island is on the way. Start the test run. Almost at the same time as those words, a huge magic circle was deployed in the sky above Mount Horai. Its diameter is about 100 kilometers. "It worked." The other one was also tested successfully. "Okay, let''s set one up at Nidou Castle in Kaina Village. I''ll take that one." The top of the castle tower would be good, Jin said. Thus, the was installed on Horai Island and in the village of Kaina. Incidentally, I would like to add that the 100-kilometer-diameter wards would include the village of Toka, where Licia is located, in their area of effect. At the same time, the amount of ethenol consumed was also estimated. "One 100-meter-diameter field, generated for one second, consumes 0.1 liter of ethenol. I see." Since the amount consumed is proportional to the area, a sphere covering Ars would consume 63,700 liters per second. The weight is nearly 64 tons. It is a tremendous amount, but not so much that it is unmanageable. The "Mere Old Man" is currently building a tank that can store 100 cubic meters, or 100 tons of ethenol. The problem is that Ars is oscillating in space. The question is whether the preparations will be completed before Ars is hit by the spatial oscillation. Jin renewed his determination to do all he could. * * * * * Jin then installed a generator on and on all the spaceships. And just like that, the current stock of Aethenol is empty. But... < More than we have consumed so far. That''s good news. You are early. < Indeed. Using a free-magic condenser (ether capacitor), it is possible to produce Aethenol even with normal concentration of free-magic element (ether). In other words, <> is flying while producing aethenol. Jin felt that he had a glimmer of hope for the future. 1486 - - 40-26 First, complete The sixth spatial oscillation occurred late at night on the 28th (Penglai Island time). It occurred near the relay station that Hale had built in the past. It was in the vicinity of the L4 Lagrangian point. Jin was awakened in the middle of the night, and instantly woke up and listened to the report. < "Is <> safe?" < We must avoid damaging <> now. In a few hours, <> will send a large amount of Aethenol, which will be used to drive the wards protecting Ars and the moon. "I''m off to 700672. ...... Reiko, let''s go." "Yes, father." Jin prepared himself and went with Reiko to visit No. 700672. "Oh, I knew you''d come." 700672 welcomed Jin and Reiko. "Once again, spatial oscillations have occurred. I fear that if this continues, it will occur in the vicinity of Ars in three or four days." "That''s what I''m worried about too." Jin then confided that he would finally be able to start mass-producing the generator. "That''s good news. Please hurry. If there is anything I can do, I will cooperate with you anytime. "No, I would like you to continue your observations. Probably by the end of today, the 28th, we will have a warding generator that can cover Ars and the moon. The problem was Aethenol, which would probably be ready by the end of the day. "Well, we just barely made it in time. You''re the real Jin-dono, aren''t you? "No, I''ve learned a lot from you. You''re very reliable. ...... Jin-dono. I hope you will protect this planet and this world. This place where my former sleeps as his second home. Jin replied without a pause to the unusually sentimental line spoken by No. 700672. "Of course. This is my second home, too. This was also Jin''s sincere feeling. After exchanging a few words, Jin returned to Horai Island. * * * * "Well, everything is going well. Let''s get ready to go." At last, the warding generator that will cover Ars and the moon is ready to be built. However, the control part is already completed since it is common to all of them. What remains is the activation part. "The first step is to synthesize the magi crystals. Even if multilayered technology is used, the final stage, the warding generator, will have to be of a certain size. Furthermore, if energy efficiency is important, it is also necessary to prepare high-quality magi crystals. "Father, is this enough?" Reiko came in carrying a mountain of magical crystals. She needed them to make a composite magi crystal with a diameter of 2.2 meters. All the crystals are of the dark attribute. They are perfect for me, since they have a high intrinsic free magical element (ether) frequency and a large inventory due to their limited usage. Thank you, Reiko. ......<<<><>......aze" First, a cylinder-shaped object with a diameter of 2.2 meters and a thickness of 1 meter was synthesized. "It''s indeed a lot of work to make something this big. ......" < "Father, please don''t strain yourself." Reiko looks worried. "Oh, I''ll be fine. Now, let''s try again <>" Jin...who makes five identical ones. Repeating the same process over and over again, even Jin is beginning to feel tired, as he has been doing it continuously since last night. "Jin, dinner!" Elsa arrives at the office to inform Jin of her lunch. Jin, too, stopped his work. Reiko looked at him with relief. It was tempura udon for lunch. "You smell the oil, okay?" She had heard somewhere that when you have hyperemesis gravidarum, you become sensitive to such smells, and the smells that you used to be fine with become no longer acceptable. "Hmm, I''m fine. Thank you for your concern." But Elsa seemed to be fine. However, she seemed to be right about her craving for sour food, which she had also heard about, and after eating a small bowl of udon, she had eaten five pieces of citron. "How''s your progress?Are you pushing yourself?" Elsa asked Jin over a cup of buckwheat tea after lunch. "Yeah, I''d say things are going pretty well." Jin was a little vague. I''m tired, but not too tired. He thinks that it should be a little easier since all he has to do now is to combine the pieces. "I''d like to help you, but ......" No, Elsa, you take care of yourself. Jin told her that was more important. "......" Erza nodded her head. After this exchange, Jin and Elsa began to talk. After this exchange, Jin resumed his work. This time, he used two cylindrical magi crystals of 2.2 meters in diameter and 1 meter in thickness to create <><><><><>>. Stransform>><>. Make another one. The cylindrical shape is for easy writing of multilayer magic circle. Leave the other one as it is. "Father, the two big ones are for Ars and the small one is for Moon, right?" Reiko asked to make sure. "Yes. Now we have to load them on the spaceship. Then Elsa came over to check on them. "Brother Jin, isn''t the only spaceship that can carry this?" The result was a cylinder 2.2 meters in diameter and 2 meters thick. There is no room for it on the , which has a diameter of 10 meters, or any other small spacecraft. There is no time for modifications, so existing spacecraft must be used. With the 100-meter-diameter < in position in the etheric cloud, that inevitably leaves only < left. "I''m thinking about it. You see, there are three ships built by <>, aren''t there?" "Yeah, I think ......<<<<>?" The three ships are of the same type as the , but are more powerful and armed, so to speak. And you''re going to use them? "That''s what I mean. This will save us the trouble of building one." Erza agreed. "Good idea." "I''ve already made a request through the old man. It would be easier to install it on the moon instead of here, since the gravity is weaker there. Jin said that it would be more efficient to do the installation under the gravity of the moon (UNY), since the work would be much worse under the weightless condition. "I''ll go with my doppelganger. "Nah, I''ll be there." "Yeah, I''ll take care of it." Thus, Jin sends three units of the spatial barrier generators to the moon. Next, he sent a hundred Smiths as workers, and finally his own doppelganger. 1487 - - 40-27 Hypothesis and New Ideas Jin-sama, we are ready for you. Jin''s doppelganger emerges from the magic circle of the moon, and immediately, the brain speaks to him. Three spaceships stood silently in front of them. The vacuum makes audio inaccessible. We use the built-in manacam (magic element communication device). < and are equipped with a for Ars, and < with a for the moon (Uni). Both of them are installed at the place where the wall of the warehouse in the lower level was made wider by punching through the wall. The work itself takes only an hour. "Now all that''s left is Aethenol. <. The tanks installed on the three vessels have a capacity of about 200 tons, which can be activated three times. However, it will still take some time for the 600 tons of ethenol to reach us. We can only hope that no will occur in the vicinity in the meantime. < At that moment, the old man received a message. < had forwarded enough Aethenol to fill each ship, but not enough for a single use. "I guess we made it in time. Jin himself on Horai Island was also relieved. "But I think it would be better to keep Milowina here for a while. "That''s true. ......" The old man said. "To be honest, I would like to evacuate the Jin family and some of the others to a safe space in the universe with until this phenomenon is over." < Even if we were to evacuate to Hale, there is no guarantee that or even would not occur there. "I can understand that, though." Jin had a vague sense of this as well, but when it was actually put into words, he felt uneasy. "I wonder how this happened in the first place. ......" > The old man started to explain. "Yes, as I recall, <> is like a bubble in the water, floating in a larger world, and that bubble is this <>, isn''t it? This was what I had learned when I had explored the roots of the <> before. > The old man tells us his own theory. <> "Yes, that''s right. I have heard of it." It is only natural that the old man''s knowledge is inherited from Jin. < "Yes, I think so too. . "That''s true." <<> "Yes. Yes. At this point, the old man started to explain another model. "It is like a piece of paper, isn''t it?" >. Jin understood this. < "Is that what happened here?" < "Is that ...... so?" <<> "Is that a godforsaken ......?" << "That''s an interesting hypothesis. I''m impressed." Jin praised the old man. Then he said. "I''ve been thinking about your hypothesis. Will you listen to me?" . "I''m thinking about the contact between bubbles, what happens when a big bubble and a small bubble come into contact with each other." . "Yes. In that case, the transition would be one-sided. Not an exchange, but an absorption. That''s what I was thinking. < In an experiment, when two rubber balloons of the same size are inflated and connected by a tube, the air from the smaller balloon is sucked out by the larger inflated one. The sizes of the two balloons are never in balance. Jin wondered about this phenomenon when he saw such an experiment in his elementary school science class. This experiment can be done by elementary school students, but it requires high school-level physics knowledge to explain the phenomenon. This phenomenon also occurs when soap bubbles stick together, and can also be seen with water droplets on a desk. "It''s the potential of space, or the hierarchical relationship. ...... In this case, this one is higher than the other one, so the inclusions may go to the other side." <. "Yeah. ...... but even if we think about it, we can''t take any measures against it." < is, we might be able to avoid being sucked out to the other side. "Indeed. But we can''t experiment on it, and we can''t confirm it. Jin said regretfully. . "Singularity...... Oh, yes! Adriana Tierra''s laboratory used to be located there because of its singularity. . "Yes, that''s true. < That analogy was easy to understand. "So, the place where the occurred and the < is occurring this time is also the of the ? < "That''s true." < at the ? >> "Hmm?In ...... paper, you mean, you mean, to level the protrusion?" <<> with Ars and the moon. "I understand what you mean. I am not so sure." < is a passive measure, this is an active measure. This model of contact between spaces, which seemed to be a thought game, seems to have been worthwhile. There are several possible ways to influence space. There are several possible means of influencing space, such as transfer magic, gravity magic, powerful explosions, etc. "I guess it is transfer magic. "I guess it could be transfer magic." I think gravity and explosion are secondary effects. If we think of space itself, then it must be a transfer type of magic. "Okay, this is the time...let''s ask 700672 about it." Jin thought that he would like to share this idea with the 700672. 1488 - - 40-28 Imagination "Hmm, interesting." After listening to Jin''s explanation in silence, No. 700672 muttered. "Indeed, there is no guarantee that <> will prevent this disaster." "...... that''s right." Jin himself had been feeling this for some time, but being told so clearly increased his anxiety. "But this Adriana Tierra''s theory is wonderful. My former had a similar hypothesis." "Is that so?" "Is that so? It was said that this world ...... is floating in a larger universe or space. It seems to have been modeled in the same way. "Furthermore, there is a from higher dimensions to lower dimensions, which determines the higher and lower levels of space. I honestly don''t know what ......me is talking about." "Yes. ......" Jin can''t understand it either. "You also said something about a multiverse and that the world is nested. When Jin heard that, he wondered if he meant parallel universes ....... "But I don''t think we can do anything about the current situation just with theories. "That''s right." "But I don''t think that theory alone can do anything about the current situation," he said, "that''s right. "I just think that places with high potential are the easiest to contact. It is similar to the case of a piece of paper, where a protruding part is more likely to come into contact with another piece of paper. "A place with high potential: ......" Jin recalls that Adriana Tierra also referred to a . "What exactly is this potential?" "I''m afraid I don''t know." Jin was also disappointed. "It doesn''t seem to be simply a high concentration of free magic element (ether) or something like that. Because then the ether cloud should be the singularity. "Yes. If we knew that, it might help us to take countermeasures." Jin looked back at the record of Shuki Tsetsi. When he was caught in the overturned tram, the tram did not shift, only he and the objects around him shifted. I wondered if this could be a clue to what was going on. ....... "Ummm, for example, the that opened at the time of the transfer was small, so that or something like that did not pass through, right?" "Maybe, maybe ......." The hypothesis of #700672 seems to make sense. "That''s fine that only he and his bicycle passed, but why would he, of all people, pass at that time ......?" "I can only speculate on that. Something about ...... people may be the key to transcending space." "Not related to magic?" Jin said, remembering how Reiko had found him in a world without magic or anything else. Unfortunately, the control core of Reiko at that time was so damaged that she could not salvage the memory of the most heavily used area ......, that is, the area filled with the knowledge to search for the successor. It may be possible to reproduce the same situation in 50 or 100 years. "The only thing Shuki Tsetsi and I have in common is that we are ...... Japanese. ...... Then one more thing occurred to me. "Maybe the time line is distorted, too. ...... "What?" Jin''s mutter was overheard by the 700672. "No, the person named Shuki Tsetsi who was mentioned earlier seems to have come here from the same world as mine. And it was about 50 years ago over there, but it''s been a thousand years here." "Hmmm.........2 does this mean that time moves differently in the two worlds?I can''t say anything about that either. "So, I guess so. ......" With too little data to even verify, we can only imagine, 700672. Jin agrees. "We are at a complete loss." "Yes, it''s unfortunate." Since no further progress could be expected, Jin left the 700672 and returned to Horai Island. * * * * After returning to Horai Island, Jin took a rest and resumed his consultation with the old man. < I thought you said that the radius was from 100 to 1,000 kilometers. "That is just a guess. Even if the area of effect is that large, the area where you are <> may be small." <> would take place. I think it is possible. "I''m getting less and less confident. < Jin fears that he is about to face a disaster far beyond his own strength. > Even the old man was shocked. But Reiko was different. "Don''t worry, your father is not wrong! The loyal and faithful Reiko raised her voice to strengthen Jin. "Thank you." Jin was cheered up by her words. * * * * * "...... godforsaken,another world,time line...... honestly,I don''t know anything about it." "I guess you don''t. So you don''t have to take it too hard." Once Jin returned to his < on Horai Island, Erza insisted on explaining the current situation to him. Jin did not want to talk to Elsa about something that would make her mentally uneasy, but when she told him that they had to share the burden, he gave in. "But, really, how could this ...... happen?" Jin looked at Erza, who was lying on her face and thinking, and felt like saying something to her. "For example, there is a being that is looking at the universe and he did something to it. Jin says something that sounds like something out of a comic book. "What?" "No, so, if you compare the microcosm to a fish tank, there is a looking at it, and that did something to it, like throwing a rock or something." "......" "You can''t be serious, can you?" "...... are those beings so big, they don''t even notice us?Like ...... we don''t know about microorganisms." "Well, yes. "Well, maybe we''re too big for the microorganisms to see the whole picture." Jin mentioned the idea in a playful manner, but Erza unexpectedly took a bite out of it. Jin said it was a good thing if thinking about this kind of thing distracted her, and he went along with the conversation. Thanks to this, Erza''s color improved a little. It is very good to relax mentally, even if it is only mildly, as she is probably suffering from some hyperemesis. So Jin made a suggestion. "Erza, wouldn''t it be better if you went to Kaina village instead of here?" "......" "I''ll try to go there too." "......, then I''ll do that." At first he was a little reluctant, but when I told him that Jin would also visit the village of Kaina as much as possible, he agreed. "Martha will be there, and Dr. Saly will be there, too. I''ll feel more secure if you do. It is not that the old man and the golem maids cannot be trusted. It is because even they do not have direct experience in such a big event as childbirth. They have some information about the birth in the village of Kaina, but it is not enough. Of course, Meene, the mother of the child, will go with us. This made Jin feel more secure. 1489 - - 40-29 Expansion and Moving On March 29th, Jin and Erza go to the village of Kaina. Reiko and Edgar are carrying a large baggage. Jin and the others go to Martha''s house first. "Jin, Erza, come here. What''s all that stuff?" Martha was weeding in the garden, but she got up and welcomed Jin and the others. "I thought Erza should stay here for the time being," Jin said. When Jin said this, Martha nodded her head in agreement. "Oh, that''s a good idea. It''s already spring, and the weather in this village will be nice. Jin seems to be busy, so I can keep an eye on him. "My mother-in-law will be here later, though. "Especially if Meane is coming too. And Dr. Sally will be there, too, so it''s a good decision, Jin. Martha welcomed me with open arms. "So that''s a lot of furniture you''re bringing?" "Yes, sir." The main items are bedclothes and clothes, but there are also some small household items. Jin, Reiko, and Edgar were about to move their luggage to the second floor of Jin''s workshop, which is directly across the street from Martha''s house. "Jin, Elsa, it''s okay for now, but in time you might want to sleep and wake up on the first floor instead of the second floor, okay?" Martha advised. Jin realized that he was right. "Yes, that''s right. Then I''ll start building the first floor! "That''s a good idea." Jin says nonchalantly, and Martha accepts it without a care in the world. "Well then, Elsa, come in my house. Martha invites Elsa in, knowing that the construction will be finished in less than a day. The luggage will be temporarily moved into Jin''s workshop. Jin immediately contacted the old man to call a craftsman (Smith) from Horai Island. "Ah, Elsa, come here! Hannah, who was helping with the dishes in the kitchen, noticed Erza''s arrival and greeted her, wiping her hands and welcoming her. "Hi, Hannah! "Hannah, Elsa said she''s going to stay here until she has the baby. "Really?I''m so happy!Where''s your brother? Jin is building a new house. Can I go check it out?Can I go check it out, Grandma? Yes, of course. Martha gave her permission and Hannah ran outside. "Hi, honey!" "Hi, Hannah." When Hannah went outside, she found five other craftsmen (smiths) besides Jin, who had already finished laying the foundation for the addition. "Erza-chan, are you going to live here for a while?" "Yes. Yes. That''s why we''re building an addition on the first floor. I''m going to go and say hello to the village chief now. The lord is Jin, so there should be no problem no matter what he does, but he thought he should make it clear in an adult manner or out of courtesy. I''d like to make it clear that it''s an adult thing to do. "Hmmm...so that''s how it is. That''s good. I''ll tell Sally about it. The mayor of the village, Giebeck, beamed and said he would welcome Erza. He also said he would tell Sally, who was on her way to the hospital. "I look forward to working with you. Just as Jin was saying this, Sally and Ru came home. Ruu, their adopted daughter, is 13 years old this year. She is currently undergoing training as an apprentice healer. "Oh, Jin-kun." "Hello, Dr. Sallee. Lou, you''re doing great." "Hello, Jin-sama. Thanks to you, I''m making the most of every day." Jin told Sally that Erza would be staying in the village for the time being. "I see. That''s good. Even though she is a good healer herself, she doesn''t know herself so well. Leave it to me." Sally took care of Elsa as well. She also said that she would like to discuss healing with Elsa in her free time. Jin felt relieved because he was willing to have her as a companion. When he returned from the chief''s house, he found that the extension had been completed. "Oh, thank you very much. The craftsman (smith) golems were now finishing the interior. Elsa is giving them detailed instructions. "Elsa, are you okay?" Erza replies to Jin''s worried look, "Don''t worry about it. Jin worries too much. But thank you for ......." Since Sara, the golem maid, is also here, Edgar and I are able to follow her up. In about half an hour, the interior will be done, the furniture will be moved in, and we''ll be all set. "Let''s see..." Jin and Elsa quickly check out the interior. There are two four-and-a-half-mat Japanese-style rooms, a four-and-a-half-mat kitchen and dining room, a toilet, and a small bathroom. There is also a toilet and a small bathroom. Everything is barrier-free. "The tatami smells good. The wood smells wonderful." Elsa said she did not mind these smells, even when she was in the throes of morning sickness. Two rooms are furnished with Japanese-style beds that can be used as sofas. Of course, one room is for Erza and the other room is for Meane. If you need anything else, I''ll get it right away. Thank you. In addition, I put a roof over the corridor from Martha''s house so that people can come and go without getting wet on a rainy day. Jin is very particular. "That''s how much Onii-chan cares about Erza-chan!" Martha and Hannah each said something different. "It''s already done? As expected of Jin-sama ...... Jin-san, isn''t it?" Then Meane arrived. I called her because I had finished it. All she has with her is a small personal baggage. "Well, it looks like a very comfortable house. We will take care of it for a while. "Mother-in-law, will you take care of Elsa?" "Of course. Of course. Leave it to me. Martha smiles at Jin. "I never thought I''d see you like this, Jin. "You''re a loving wife, aren''t you, Onii-chan!" Jin blushes silently and scratches his head. "You can have lunch at my place." Just as Martha said this, the bell rang to signal noon at Nido Castle. Jin, Elsa, Martha, Hannah, and Meane gather around the table. Reiko, Edgar, and Sarah are serving us. "It''s delicious when we eat together like this, isn''t it? I''ll try to come here as much as possible. "Brother Jin, don''t be too hard on yourself because of the time difference. Erza was concerned about Jin, who was concerned about her. "Yes, thank you." Spring is in full swing in the village of Kaina. The sky was blue and clear, and a pleasant spring breeze was blowing. 1490 - - 40-30 Humanity is a worry Early in the morning of the day after Erza moved to the village of Kaina, the seventh spatial oscillation occurred. This time, it lasted for an unprecedentedly long time, 27 thousandths of a second. This time, it occurred at the old relay station at the L4 Lagrangian point. The problem is that a part of the relay station has disappeared. Is that true, old man? "What was it that disappeared?" I got a surprising answer. "Waste?" I am afraid that the waste has been hidden from the public, but I can''t help but laugh at it. "Inside the base, is that right?" "So, what kind of damage was caused by the gravity fluctuation? Jin thinks that the objects that were hidden will disappear, and the effects of the gravity fluctuation will remain around them. "None?" Jin thinks about how this should be considered. It is only a hypothesis, "If the time of occurrence is long, the gravity fluctuation is small? > occurs, the gravity fluctuation does not occur. Certainly, we do not hear of any destruction of objects in <<> that Jin knows of. ...... if we assume that the that occurred in Japan in the past was a similar phenomenon. "Yes, it does. And maybe it is more likely to happen when the time of occurrence is long." Or maybe there are holes in a wide area, Jin thought. "So, we have gathered more data than we did at first, but there are still many things we don''t know." <<> in the area where the <> is likely to happen? If we can locate the position, it would mean that we can transfer to another space. "Sounds interesting. But it would take quite a few of them, right?" <> If they are caught in the middle of the "godforsakenness" during that time, the old man said, we can verify whether or not they will serve as <>. "I see, then a piece of magecrystal ...... or even sand would be sufficient." At the same time, we can write down the Magick Formula so that it functions as a . Since it is a Magi Crystal with a diameter of 1mm, Jin decides that a Mini Craftsman (Smith)...... or even an Inch Craftsman (Smith) can do the job well enough. Inchmakers (Smiths) are 25 millimeters tall. For them, one millimeter in diameter is equivalent to 64 millimeters for a human being, so it is just as easy to work with. "We could scatter them between the relay station and Ars." Jin then immediately gave the order and began to produce the marker particles. "Well, now that I''ve given the instructions, I''m sure that 1,000 inch craftsmen (smiths) will be able to produce them in an hour. I''d say 10,000 grains to start with." Jin''s estimate of one hour, including the work of processing the highly pure magecrystal into spheres of one millimeter in diameter, comes true. One hour later, he received a report that <<10,000 marker particles>> had been completed. "All right, transfer them to a designated area in space and scatter them. < The process of transferring the 10,000 grains to the space areas that had been shifted little by little was extremely tedious and patient, but the magic brain of Horai Island, the old man, did it without a hitch, and completed it in three hours. It means that each grain was transferred in a little over one second. Incidentally, these grains disintegrated while emitting free-magic wave <>, and were adjusted to return to free-magic elements (ether) and atoms after a week. This prevents it from becoming space debris. * * * * * * * At the same time, Jin is discussing with the old man to take further measures. Hey, Mr. President, is it selfish of me to keep Milowina here until this phenomenon is over? "I hope so. ...... The problem is that we don''t know who is more dangerous, the moon (Yunie) or Ars." < happens, and if we know it, then we can make a decision. Jin nods regretfully. "That''s right. We don''t have enough data yet. There is the idea of spreading the risk, but Jin also wants to be in a place where he can be seen. It may be because Jin hates loneliness. <> The old man gave him some advice. The old man advised Jin to tell the truth about what he thought and let him decide whether he would stay in Yuny or come here. It seemed like a good idea, especially for a small child. Jin immediately contacted Milowina. > "Yes, actually ......" Jin explained what he thought. < "Will you do that for me?" Jin was relieved, though he had a vague idea that Milowina was concerned about him. Jin-kun, here she is. I''ll be staying with you for a while. I''m sorry if I asked too much of you. I''m sorry if I''m asking too much of you, but don''t worry about it. I know you were thinking of me. I''m relieved to hear that. Milowina, who was accustomed to a quiet life on her own, settled into the guest room of the institute. "I like the view from the window. She laughs, saying that she can only see the stars on the moon. * * * * * * "Father, I have an interim report." "Yeah, how did it go, Reiko?" Reiko has been investigating the and the beyond space when she summoned Jin. It seems that Reiko (or more precisely, her predecessor) developed them after the death of her predecessor, but they have since been lost due to overuse, and have become <>. However, I think that it is possible to develop it again if it was developed once, so I instruct Reiko to do so. "I am sorry. So far, we have had no success. Jin patted Reiko''s head as she sagged. Don''t worry, I don''t expect to know in a day or so. "Thank you for ......." "I wonder if Adriana Tierra, rather than her predecessor ......, left something behind." Your grandmother, sir? We know that Adriana Tierra was working on a project to return Shuki Tsezi to his original world. We could use the results of her research ...... as a reference, even if they were incomplete. Jin suddenly thought so. "But it is not here, is it?" "That''s right." The most likely place is Adriana Tierra''s laboratory, but I don''t think Reiko''s predecessor visited there. "Maybe there is a clue somewhere close by. "I''ll look for more." That''s what happened. 1491 - - 40-31 Finding Lost Things "They say a drowning man will grasp at any straw." <. "No, I haven''t drowned yet, so I guess I''ll just have to wait and see. What he is looking for now is his predecessor''s study. But Jin suddenly realized something. "Hey Reiko, didn''t you say before that you can''t enter this study without permission?" This was when Jin had just been summoned. At that time, Jin visited this study to become the <>, and I believe that Reiko (the predecessor of Reiko) told him that only the new master could open it. "If that''s the case, it''s highly unlikely that it''s in here, isn''t it?" "If you say so, you are right. "Then where would ...... be?" Since Horai Island is an isolated island, the possibility of it being anywhere but here is extremely small. "Hmmm ......" Jin did not inherit all of Adriana''s memories, but was limited to the knowledge that his predecessor thought necessary, and there was no knowledge of other spaces among them. The location of the materials is also not perfect. In fact, it seems that Adriana herself, in her later years, did not have a complete idea of where the materials were kept. "The most likely place is ......, after all, the reference room?" The two rooms on the other side of the corridor are the reference rooms. The two rooms together are about the size of an elementary school library. It is a huge amount of material for an individual to have. "You know a little something about it, don''t you? "I know most of it, too." Jin knows where to find the materials that Adriana used to browse in her later years. Reiko also knew about the materials that Reiko''s predecessor had helped her clean up and organize. "You mean we should look for something we don''t know?" "Yes, that would be it." "And then this area..." I know that corner. I see. ...... "If this is the case, I should have copied all the books in the reference room into the old man''s information bank. It is too late to say that now. The places related to his predecessors, including the archives, are off-limits to the public without his permission. "Well, I thought it was a good idea... ...... It''s meaningless if we can''t find it." Just when Jin was about to get fed up with this difficult task, he heard a voice saying, "This is . "This is ......" Reiko picked up a book. "Got it?" Reiko flipped through the book and closed it with a snap. "No, it wasn''t. This seems to be a memorandum on the prototype of the Transition Gate. The two began to search through the archives again. A little after noon, Reiko told Jin that they should stop for a while. "Well, I can''t find it. ......" Jin blurted out on the way to the cafeteria. "I''m sorry, Father. ......" Reiko is disappointed, but Hitoshi does not forget to tell her not to worry about it. "It''s not your fault. We''ll look for him again after lunch. Yes, sir! Yes! After lunch, Jin, who was drinking Persica juice, said he would reconsider. "That''s what I always do when I can''t find what I''m looking for. It depends on the person, but in Jin''s case it was this. "First, empty your mind as much as possible, and eliminate your preconceptions." Yes. "Then, think about where you would put it." Jin continues. "If you think about it carefully, ...... the material may not have been written by your predecessor. He must not have done any research on different spaces. At least, not in his later years." "Yes, that''s right." "That''s why I thought it would be treated differently. I mean, maybe not in that archive." You may be right. What if it is? The warehouse. That''s a good possibility. There is a warehouse where they keep things that are not likely to be used immediately, things that are valuable, etc. The first basement floor is a storage room for valuables. Jin and Reiko hurried to the basement. "This shelf over here is magi crystals. The other one is ancient dragon''s leather, so it''s different. Jin and Reiko split up to search. "Father, it might be this one." Reiko found a tightly sealed mithril silver container. A box to keep the most precious of treasures. "Let''s open it." "Yes." ...... but the box did not contain what I sought. "No. ...... Jin''s shoulders slump. But he thinks again. "I thought it was because Reiko was able to find it at that time, but maybe she < about it." It is possible that Reiko''s missing memory includes the location where the documents were stored. "But basically, I return materials to their original location after I take them out." "I see. I guess so." This is different from people who leave things out after taking them out. Jin is more the type of person who sometimes moves the place where he puts things away and loses track of where he put them. However, since he came to this world, Reiko and other golem maids have been supporting him, so this has not been the case anymore. The old man spoke to me, as if he couldn''t help but notice me. "But, you know, ......" Jin was reluctant. He was afraid that he might have dropped it. It was not so much that he did not trust the golem maids, but more because he knew their limitations. They are not, by their very nature, skilled in magic (although their skills are higher than those of ordinary people). Therefore, Jin thought, they might miss what they were looking for. "Hmmm, that sounds good." . "Oh. Let me search the archives first." One of the tricks to finding what you''re looking for. Be thorough and without preconceived notions. < "Master, is this different? "Master, is it not this one? Twice Topaz 24 and Ames 33 came to tell me that they had found something like that in the archives, but it was not the one they were looking for. "Master, what about this one?" "Hmm?...... uh, this is the one! And after the third attempt. At last, they found the desired material. 1492 - - 40-32 subethers The documents they sought were, after all, in the reference room. The reason why Jin and the others could not find them was because of their preconceived notions. It was not what they expected. "I''m glad I listened to you, ......, thank you, Mr. Old Man." The desired document was filed in a nondescript file along with other documents. Jin looked at the first few pages and decided . "I think I have this one. ......" Jin reflected. . It is said that Julius Caesar said, "Man sees what he wants to see. It is said that people try to interpret things in their own way. For example, the baseless confidence that <. When I was in the company, one of Jin''s seniors was not afraid to declare that he has never had an accident even if he drank alcohol and drove. Let''s not talk about it. Jin recalled those words when he made a decision that <> after looking at only a few pages of the book. This is a typical case of being in a hurry and checking only a few pages, thus wasting more time. "Uh,......< It seems that even his predecessor took good care of it because it was written by Adriana Tierra, who was related ...... to Shuki Tsetsi, or rather his beloved wife. "......If I had known that, I might have searched the study." The result of overthinking. "What''s done is done." Jin changed his mind and started to read the documents. "Well, first of all, the configuration of space," he said. According to the data, there exists free magical element (ether) in the space which seems to be a vacuum. Furthermore, it says that there must be a lower level of free magic element (ether) ....... This is consistent with what Jin imagines. This is consistent with what Jin imagines. "It would not be possible to transcend space without being able to free the sub(sub)free magic element Ether,or ......". Both seem to be particles or waves that are not defined by the old physical laws, Adriana Tierra wrote. Reiko and Ro-kun listen quietly as Jin reads out. "...... Next is the modeling of space." She says, "I would like to think of a model in which the universe including the world we are in is a and the gathers to form the . This is very similar to the model of the universe that modern science fiction writers of the Earth have in mind. "It can be likened to a bubble in water, or a drop of water floating in the air. ...... I see." "And now, the means." The focus was on how to connect these bubbles or droplets. "For that, you have to master the sub-free magic element ''ether'', right? Because the sub-free element "ether" is not bound by the laws governing space. ...... Amazing, isn''t she? Jin praised Adriana Tierra, saying that she was definitely a genius for having considered so much about an event that could not even be satisfactorily verified. Jin has also summarized some of the ideas of <> before. This is a particle that is presumed to be the medium of magic waves. I have no way to confirm this, so it is unconfirmed. "To transcend space, you have to change your point of view...... I see, it''s like you can see the whole picture better from a higher position." The use of relatively easy-to-understand examples made it understandable even to a non-expert like Jin. "In the end, the first key is whether or not you can handle the sub-free magical element "ether"," it says. For this, it is speculated that tremendous energy will be needed first. And Adriana Tierra says more. But even if sub-free elemental "ether" waves can be generated, there are additional technical hurdles to overcome in order to handle them. This is because the sub-free element "ether" is considered to have a high linearity due to its nature and can penetrate through any matter. The density of matter that can refract sub(sub)free-magic element ether waves must be several hundred thousand to several million. Incidentally, the companion star of Sirius (Sirius B) is said to be made of such super-dense matter and has a mass equivalent to that of the Sun, even though it is about the same size as the Earth. Such a star is called a white dwarf, and its density is 1 x 10-9 kilograms per cubic meter, or 1 million times that of water. "Can you manage it if you compress ...... it?" Hyperadamantite is a material made by compressing it in a boundary. Jin thinks that it might be possible to do the same, but he does not yet know if it is possible to compress it to that extent. Adriana Tierra concluded that it might be possible to transcend space by using the sub-free element "ether" wave as a carrier wave. The use of the term "carrier wave" must have been inspired by Shuki Tsetsi. AM radio transmits sound using radio waves on the order of kilohertz as a carrier wave, so it was assumed that she had heard about this concept. "Now, the last item is the summary." According to the summary, it would be impossible for human beings to handle sub-free magical element "ether", and a magical brain with tens or hundreds of times more processing power than human beings would be necessary. The generation of sub-free magical element "ether" would require tremendous energy, and there are still many technical problems to be solved in order to handle it. Considering these facts, Jin did not think that he could do anything about it right now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Father, have you searched in vain?" Reiko opened her mouth, concerned about Jin who seemed to be troubled. "...... No, I don''t think it was a complete waste. I was wondering if it was possible to generate a sub-free elemental ether wave. Jin blurted out, "I think I could at least push it back, but I don''t know how the law of action-reaction works, or doesn''t work, or even if it does. "Above all, I was hoping to find a way to plug the <> or prevent the <> from opening. The old man responded to his words. <> "That''s very good, my lord. I was wondering if we could not only do that, but also the space." <> "Yes. "Yes. If sub-free magic element "ether" can permeate through most of matter unlike free magic element (ether), then even if we use it to create wards, there should be no problem in our daily life, right? This explanation made the old man understand. "I just don''t know how to generate them and how to handle them. ......" Jin thinks that we cannot rely on 700672 for this. However, in order not to be swayed by preconceived notions, we will have to wait and see what happens with the 700672, Onogoro Island''s <> tester, and the Moon''s (Yunie''s) <>>. I will also ask of UNY for his opinion. It is time. < What? It happened at dawn and again in the afternoon. Twice in the same day, what does it mean? "Where?" < Okay. This is the area where we sprayed the ether waves a while ago. "So, what''s the status on the marker?" < Jin listened to the old man''s explanation. 1493 - - 40-33 Harness esponse. Unfortunately, we were unable to detect it. "I guess ether waves can''t do it after all." If we could use sub-free elemental "ether" waves as a carrier wave, we might be able to ....... "Still, we can''t be sure yet, let''s leave the scattered <> as it is." . "Also, I just thought of ......, what about <> in the case of a hole in space?" <> The expression did not seem to make sense to the "Mere Old Man. "Yes, that''s right. In the case of a warp gate, the object has to be completely inside the gate to be transferred, right? For example, if a person enters a warp gate and a <> is connected to the outside, what will happen? The answer is <>. This is a safety measure. Otherwise, if a person''s <> enters the warp gate and is transferred the moment he/she enters the warp gate, he/she will be transferred. ....... It is scary just to think about it, but such an accident has never happened in all ages. <. There has never been a case in which only one part of a person or an object disappeared and the other part was left behind. In the case of a warp gate, what happens if a person or an object that enters the gate has a < attached to it that leads to the outside? The answer to this question is also . The part that determines the continuity of objects is incredibly precise, so much so that even Jin had nothing to do with it. Therefore, clothes and hats are not left behind, and the floor where our feet touch remains intact. If they hold hands, they are transferred together, and to some extent, the air around them is also transferred together. It''s more of a harness than a cord. ...... Jin knows a little about this. Such products were made to prevent small children from running out of their parents'' hands on their own and getting into accidents on the road. There were two sides of the argument: some said it was necessary for safety, while others said it treated children like pets. However, such harnesses are also used for rock climbing and cleaning windows of buildings, and are not limited to children. "If it is as good as a belt, it should be considered continuous." "Let''s give it a try, father." At Reiko''s urging, Jin immediately decides to give it a try. The preparation was simple: he put on a belt about 5 meters long and tried to use the warp gate. The experiment was conducted not by Jin but by Reiko''s subordinate, Luna. The result was a great success. When the edge of the belt was outside of the transfer range, the belt was not transferred, but when the belt was moved forward and came close to the hand, the belt was transferred. This was a very useful experiment. Unless it is a very large , the facilities of Horai Island will not be taken away. It was highly unlikely that the old man, his , and the research institute would be taken away. For the same reason, it was also unlikely that the cities themselves would disappear. "But there is still the possibility of individuals being kidnapped, so we cannot be too careful. For the time being, the generators covering Ars will not be removed, in other words, and will not be removed. "Then, until this disturbance is over, should we make the golems on Horai Island wear harnesses? ......" They are required to wear them unless they are in the way, and Jin and Reiko are no exception to this rule. "I will inform the Jin family." It may not look good, but Hitoshi decides to contact them if it will reduce the risk as much as possible. At the same time, he decides to send them a harness. The design is not too bulky, but more or less fashionable (......). We sent the harness to Milowina, as well as to Elsa, Hannah, Martha, and Meene, instructing them to wear it at all times. The problem was the residents of the village of Kaina. They would not understand the meaning of the instructions to dress like this without any explanation, and I am not sure if they would listen to them. Above all, it would be a hindrance to their activities, which is fine for office work, but not for outdoor physical labor. I don''t want any of the villagers to become victims, but there is no end to it, so I have decided to give up the idea of making sure that everyone in the village is aware of it. With about an hour and a half left before dinner time, Jin headed for the bottom of 700672 to take further countermeasures. He headed for the bottom of 700672 to take further countermeasures. "Oh, Jin-dono. You''ve been busy lately. Have you come up with something else? "Yes, actually. ......" Jin explained about the sub-free element "ether" wave and its possibilities. "Hmm. ......." When the 700672 finished listening to the last part, he shouted a little excitedly. "Jin-dono, is that the theory of the great Adriana Tierra?That''s wonderful!" Jin was a little surprised at his unusual appearance. "I remember that my had also studied a little about the sub-free magic element, ether. According to him, he said that the sub-free magic element "ether" wave might be emitted when the magic atom (magiatom) collapses. "Collapse?" What Jin imagined by that word was . When a nucleus such as uranium splits, a powerful electromagnetic wave called radiation is emitted. ...... Jin is aware of this. He analogized that when the magic atom disintegrates, it does not emit radiation, but rather sub-free magic element "ether" waves. "But that is all I know. < didn''t study it any further." "Still, it was helpful. Thank you very much. "Well, I''m sure you''ll be able to make something up with just the hints you''ve given us. I''m counting on it. "Yes." Jin then explained about the <> to No. 700672. "I see. It might work for a single person. I see. I, Neige, and Rouge will wear the harness until the threat is over. Jin is a little relieved that this is another small step forward. "See you later, then." "Well, I know it''s a lot of work, but good luck." With that, Jin left the 700672 and returned to Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After having dinner, Jin immediately thinks about the decay of the magic atom. "If the method is the same as that of radioactive elements ......, then, uh, I think they hit neutrons, don''t they?" Jin dredges up his memory and wonders if there was something called an for that purpose. The actual accelerator was designed to accelerate charged particles, not neutrons, which do not have an electric charge. However, such discrepancies do not affect the science of magic. Furthermore, he does not know the structure of the accelerator at all. "Hmmm......... I wonder if mithril silver or light silver is the right type of magic atom......... I think I heard that the larger the atomic number or atomic weight, the easier it is to decay." Simply put, the nucleus is a collection of positively charged particles = protons, and the larger the nucleus is, after the atomic number 26, iron, the more they repel each other, making them more unstable and easier to disintegrate. "I wish I could get my hands on a magic atom (Magiatom) ......" A magiatom is an atom composed only of magatrons, protons, and electrons, or magielementals. "What! The old man''s voice made Jin literally jump. "Ah, that time." Serum produced from the blood of creatures with magical powers is the raw material for powerful restorative and healing medicines. At that time, Jin''s body was mostly supplemented with magical elements. In other words, it was made of magical atoms (magiatoms). Therefore, blood should also be made of magical atoms (magiatoms). It was good news. 1494 - - 40-34 Hour Competition Jin''s blood when his body was made of Magiatom. It was also made of Magiatom. "Well, prepare about 10 cc of it first." . Jin intuitively decided that if the reaction was going to be similar to fission or fusion, he would have to try it with as small a quantity as possible. "First of all, ...... this much?" A little bit of blood on the tip of a toothpick is rubbed on the magecrystal. This cautiousness is based on the traumatic memory of a child who once tried to make Jin a cup of mint tea and put a spoonful of huckleberry oil in the tea, which caused him a lot of trouble. If you want to put it in your tea, just a little bit on a toothpick is enough. "How can I make this fall apart? ......" "Father, how about <>?" Reiko suggests. "Well, let''s give it a try. Then we should put it on a wooden board instead of a magecrystal. Once again, the blood on the tip of a toothpick is applied to the wooden board. The estimated volume is about 0.001 cc. Jin and Reiko take it out of the laboratory. Since it is already dark, they turn on the light with a <. When it is bright, they put up a solid barrier around it. "Okay, let''s go. ......<>" It seems that the explosion ...... did indeed occur, but there was no sound or blast. However, a blackish < of about one centimeter in diameter formed there and disappeared in less than ......1 seconds. "What happened?" "A hole?" < "U...... I see." I don''t know if the substance was affected or not, but from what I can see it doesn''t seem to make any difference. "Well, I don''t know if it was a success or a failure." "That''s right." Even if all the mass were to be converted into energy, I don''t see how a hole could be made in space. It is true that <> has unparalleled destructive power. It is because it releases an extreme amount of energy in a very small amount of time. "If it were done in an even shorter period of time..." <, but . The old man made a calm analysis. "I see. ...... That''s right." Since the goal was to collapse, this method was a failure. However, Jin had one concern. If we ask whether a large amount of energy can create a hole in space, the answer is probably no. There must be another factor. "Was a sub-(sub)free magical element Etherwave released when the explosion occurred?" It may be a step, or perhaps half a step, forward, but it is of no practical use. Jin is not trying to make a hole in space, but the opposite. "If space was affected, does that mean that a sub-(sub)free-magic element Ether wave was generated?" <. But I can''t see the way forward from here. < "What is it?" < "Oh, I see." It doesn''t seem that anything was sucked in there. Nor did anything come out of it. < Jin did not intend to do the same experiment again. "Also, the method is ......." Jin continues to think about to the best of his knowledge. <. Tokyo Tower is more familiar to Jin than the Skytree. ......Waves are sent out from the antenna. Throw a pebble on the surface of the water. ...... ripples spread. Jump rope. ...... hold this side of the rope and swing. The rope wiggles and the are transmitted. Speaker. Seems ...... to be a coil that vibrates ....... Spring. When ...... pulled and released, it repeatedly expands and contracts. "Hmmm, is it a ...... that vibrates when a <> is applied to it and then removed?" In this case, adding and removing a <> acting on space would cause space to vibrate, wouldn''t it? "This is similar to the case of free magic element (ether) waves, isn''t it ......?" Then, what about the sub-free-magic element "ether" wave?Jin asks himself. There is no doubt that the frequency is very high. "But light is ......" It gets more and more confusing. Tomohito wonders if free-magic (ether) waves and sub (sub) free-magic "ether" waves are completely different things. Are they completely different like sound waves and light waves, or are they just very different in frequency like visible light and ultraviolet light? "Somehow, I have a feeling that they are completely different. ......" Jin felt so, not theoretically but intuitively. "Frequency, or ...... oh, come to think of it..." The possibility reminded Jin of the . "I feel that mental waves are more like sub-free-magic element (ether) waves than free-magic element (ether) waves. There is no doubt that the frequency is extremely high. "I wonder what would happen if we raise the frequency of mental waves ...... even higher." Jin wonders how to do it. The idea was to use light or dark magic crystals as a medium. "If we think about how to generate the mental waves ......" In principle, it would be more like vibrating some of the atoms of the magic crystal (magicrystal) rather than using ...... it. "If the upper limit of frequency is determined by the attribute of the magical crystal (magic crystal), then ......" Jin wondered what would happen if he vibrated crystals of <>. However, such a Magiatom does not exist. "Hmmm, I wonder if there is any suitable material ......." Reiko made an unexpected comment to Jin. "Father, how about <>? "Mithianite, ......!" It is also called erradorite. Its mineral name is univacium. It has the effect of amplifying magic. Let''s do it. It''s Jin who''s lost his nerve. Mithianite is said to amplify magic power, but in reality it is meaningless unless magic power is supplied. In this respect, Jin thinks it is like a transistor amplifier circuit. Well, Jin knows little about electronic circuits. "I''ve never really tried to figure out why it amplifies. ......" < "Oh, that is a possibility. You are indeed a quick-thinking old man. Excitation is a transition from a low energy state to a high energy state. When it returns to its original state, it releases energy by the difference. In the case of mithianite, this may be well utilized," speculates Jin. "Verification can wait. Let''s try it first." Jin thinks it is a race against time. Jin immediately started the verification experiment with Reiko and Lao-kun. 1495 - - 40-35 Tips Experiments using mithianite were started. "Speaking of vibrations, sound waves, light waves, and electromagnetic waves are the most common. First, let''s try to generate high-frequency electromagnetic waves as orthodoxly as possible. Jin wrote the necessary magic formula in the main magi crystal (magi formula), and attached a mithianite as an amplification device to the generating part. "That''s it." Since he could not conduct experiments inside the workshop, he decided to go outside. It was 9:00 p.m. and pitch-dark. "Father, please don''t take it too hard. Whether this succeeds or not, please go to sleep today. Finally, Reiko pleaded with Jin. "...... I know, but I''m the only one who can do it now. But now is the time to do what only I can do. Please understand, Reiko." "...... yes. I will help you as much as I can. Jin''s determination was so firm that Reiko had no choice but to give in. "Okay, let''s start the test. You monitor the situation. "Yes, father." < At Jin''s instruction, Reiko activated the prototype in her hand and the old man started to observe the test situation. "Electromagnetic wave, firing." The test is conducted in the sky with the operation time limited to 0.1 second in order to reduce the risk. "Fire!" Instantly, the blue-white beam disappeared into the void. "What was that ......?" Normal electromagnetic waves would be invisible to the eye. The old man answered. "I see." This would be a good application as a weapon, but it is not what we are aiming for now. "This is not the way to use it, ......? Jin decides to try the next idea. "Father, what is it? "The one I just tried was a transverse wave, but this time it''s a longitudinal wave." It''s called a dense wave, and sound waves are it. When free magic element (ether) is vibrated instead of air, it becomes a free magic element (ether) wave, and magic waves are included in this wave. However, ordinary free ether waves are transverse waves, not dense waves. Jin is wondering if it is possible to make free-magic elements (ether) vibrate like sound waves. > The old man seems to have no idea. Jin gave an explanation to the old man as a way of verifying his own idea. "First of all, the first step was the . We know empirically that the space vibrates at that time, and we asked No. 700672 to measure the reaction speed of the . When we asked the 700672 to measure the reaction rate of the , we used it as the epicenter. "But it is too uncontrollable." < "But... I have been trying to figure out why < causes space to vibrate, even if only slightly. ......<, I think." <> Harmonics are frequency components that are integer multiples of a wave with a certain frequency component. In music, they are called harmonics. The original frequency is called fundamental wave, and if the frequency is twice as high as the fundamental wave, it is called the second harmonic wave, and if the frequency is n times higher, it is called the nth harmonic wave. Jin was desperately trying to remember what he had learned in high school physics. "Fourier something," the teacher said. ...... Although this was something he had learned at the college level, Jin''s high school teacher had occasionally brought up such topics in order to get the students interested in mathematics. One of them explained that a sine wave with different frequencies can be superimposed to form a square wave. <>. Jin recalls that he said ....... He did not remember the ***** part, by the way. In fact, as you superimpose harmonics in Fourier <>, the sine wave gradually approaches a square wave. In other words, the square wave contains harmonics. In reality, devices that handle square waves need to devise ways to suppress the effects of external noise. Let me digress. By mobilizing all this qualitative knowledge, Jin is wondering if it is possible to create ultra-high frequencies. "I think the reason why <> can vibrate space is because square waves are mixed in the waveform of the explosion. < "Father, how exactly do you do that with a square wave in a sparse wave?" The old man agreed and Reiko asked for a concrete example. "I''m thinking of using a force field generator." The force field generator radiates a force similar to that of a gravitational wave. "If we reverse the polarity in a short period of time, it will become a sparse wave, right?" < The idea is to repeat <> and alternately. "I was thinking that if we could control this in a square wave manner, perhaps the space could be shaken." I understand, father. > "You could say that." Controlling square-wave-like oscillations requires a fairly large output power. For this, Jin used mithianite. "There we go." At 10:00 p.m., the second prototype was completed. "Okay, let''s test it." As before, this was done outside. Once again, Reiko picked up the prototype and activated it. "It works!" This time, it seemed to take less than a second to reach a stable square wave. "Oh? For a moment, in the darkness of the night, I thought I saw something ....... Then, after a second, the movement stopped. "My old man, what was that? < It seemed to be similar to, but completely different from, the magic circle or magic formula that sometimes appears when magic is exercised. < "You think so, don''t you?" "Yes, I think so. I am sorry to say, but the difference cannot be made up overnight. "Oh well. ...... free magic element (ether) luminescence, so can we expect a little?" <<< I don''t know. Free ether luminescence can be seen in many cases. When an ether converter converts a large amount of free magical element (ether) into magical element (mana), the surplus free magical element (ether) or magical element (mana) may emit light. "But I think I can do something along these lines. We have to try as much as we can. Although he still cannot vibrate space intentionally, Jin thinks he may have at least found a clue. 1496 - - 40-36 Desperate Footscratching In the early morning of April 1st, Jin woke up. It was only 5:00 a.m., but it was already light outside. Jin got up, feeling a little lonely without the warmth that was supposed to be next to him. "Father, are you awake? "Yes, Reiko, good morning." After getting dressed, Jin rinsed his mouth and washed his face. The sky was lightly overcast. After eating breakfast prepared by Soleil and Luna, Jin went to the workshop. "Well, let''s continue where we left off yesterday. After a short break, Jin headed for the 700672. "Jin-dono, what''s going on today? "Last night, I conducted this experiment. ...... first. ......" Jin described the experiment using mithianite. "Hmmm, interesting." No. 700672 pondered for a moment. His knowledge of higher mathematics far surpassed Jin''s. "Jin-dono used square waves, that''s quite an ingenious idea. And no wonder <> vibrates space. Have you ever heard of ......<>?" "...... No, I am ashamed to say that I do not." On earth it is called <> or >. It is a function that describes the state of an extremely large wave at an extremely small time. It is said to include sine waves of any frequency. In other words, it includes ultra-high frequencies, and the effect of these frequencies is said to cause space to vibrate ....... The article 700672 was explained in an easy-to-understand manner, and Jin was able to understand it, albeit dimly. "Impulse is difficult to generate, but square wave can be controlled. I would like to commend you for that." "Well, thank you very much." "Now, do you know any little tricks for creating square waves?" "What kind of trick?" Jin asked back honestly. "To make it easier for you to understand, let me use an electrical analogy. In this case, the voltage is controlled to form a square wave, but if the voltage is set too high, it takes time for the voltage to rise, so not only does the frequency not rise, but it does not form a clean square wave. "Then what should I do with ......?" "Well, that''s the trick. Keep the voltage to a minimum and increase the current. Power is the product of current and voltage, so if you halve the voltage, you double the current. "...... In terms of magic power, you are saying to increase the magic element (mana) and reduce the peak value of magic power, right?" That''s right. Jin was an amateur in the field of electric circuits, so this advice was very useful. "I''ll give it a try as soon as I get back. "Yes." At that moment, Neige reported back to him. "Father, the space is vibrating again." "What?" It was the ninth spatial vibration. The location is ...... in the orbit of Ars, about 15 degrees away. The fact that Ars is orbiting may have helped, and it is getting very close. "Hmm, that''s creepy." "Hmmm, spooky. I''ll go back to ...... and continue the experiment." "Mm, be sure." Jin decides to return to Horai Island. He has a lot of things he wants to try now. "Let''s start the experiment. He incorporated the tips he learned from No. 700672 into Prototype No. 2, which he made yesterday. "I can amplify the smaller amplitude of the magic wave with mithianite. The work was completed in a short time because I knew how to do it. We perform the experiment as we did the day before. "Reiko, take care of this, will you?" "Yes, I''ll take care of it." Reiko activated Prototype 3 in her hand. "Oh? This time, even though it was bright daylight, the luminous phenomenon was clearly visible. "It is definitely getting brighter. Jin decided that this was probably due to the effect of the increased frequency. "Let''s see how far the frequency can be raised at this rate. Jin played with Prototype 3 for a little while. After about three minutes, it was done. "I set it to a level that is just one step short of the limit. Reiko, please. Yes, Father. Reiko takes the prototype again and activates it. Fire! "Oh, my God!" It took less than a second, but the clouds in the sky seemed to be distorted. "My Lord, was that ......?" "Yes. ......" < "I see. ......" The output of the force field generator is a force of the same system as gravity. It may be natural that it can distort space, Jin guessed. "If we continue to increase the output or increase the frequency, can we make a hole in space?" . "Hmmm ......" Jin smiled slightly at the thought of being able to artificially create spatial vibrations and <>. That is interesting, but it is slightly different from what Jin is looking for now. "It''s not that I want to make a hole in the space ...... but rather, I want to plug the hole." Having said that, Jin has a flash of inspiration. "What would happen if I hit this output to the place where the hole is about to be made?" In the case of aircraft wings, there is a technique of intentionally generating to disrupt the airflow and make it difficult to detach. In this way, it is difficult for a to occur. Jin remembered this. >. Either it weakens the space more, or it disturbs it and makes it harder to make a hole. Or there is also the possibility of forcibly drowning out the <> that might be in contact with it. "But we can''t test it," he says. Jin sighs, "It will be difficult to bring it to completion in a short period of time. "If we can add vibrations in opposite phase, it might prevent spatial vibrations. ...... hmmm." Analyzing the waveforms and frequencies of spatial vibrations also takes time, and I doubt it can be done in 1/1000th of a second. I don''t think it can be done in 1/1000th of a second. "Is there any effective way to do something in this direction ......?" We are running out of time, but I would like to do something, even if it is just one more thing. Jin thought so. "It may be a futile attempt. But I don''t want to just sit and watch. Jin thought desperately. "I wonder if it''s possible to push the approaching universe away. If only that were possible, Jin thought further. "Even if we can''t push the universe itself away, what about leveling the space that is about to stick to it? Using a bubble as an analogy, Jin imagines that the space where the bubbles are about to stick together can be made concave. Since the contact is very slight to begin with, even if the space is concaved, it would only be slight, right?Jin thought. "I see. ......" Jin started to think about what he could do with the application of gravity magic. 1497 - - 40-37 On my birthday . The old man gave his opinion. "Yes, that is true. But how many G''s would it take for the gravity to distort the space? ......" . "Yes, I see." Jin wanted to bet on that possibility. "Then, if I can get about 100G, will that help?" No one can say for sure about this. "That''s true. ...... wait?" Jin thought that if a bomb that generates instantaneous gravity is sent by a transporter,...... "What would happen in that case?" << "I see. ......" It takes time to locate a position in 3 dimensions, not something that can be done in less than a second. "Then you can''t just spray ...... that kind of bomb." It''s too risky," Jin said, denying it himself. A misdirected bomb might cause damage to us. "It won''t work that way. ...... Still, Jin was not going to give up. At that time. "What?It''s only been about two hours. "Where is it?" . ...... is out. Ars orbit, about 7 degrees away. The ninth spatial oscillation was about 15 degrees away, so it is quite possible that the eleventh is at Ars. Jin felt that time was finally running out. He was running out of time. "Well, what should I do? "It''s difficult, isn''t it, my dear? "Really, I don''t know. I can''t make a decision lightly because of the situation. "But it''s only once a year." The three people who are worried about the situation are Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt, Saki, and Goose. "No, I wonder what Elsa thinks about that?" "I''m sure she hasn''t forgotten. She''s very ill right now, and she''s moved to the village of Kaina. "Well, we don''t know if we''re safe either. ...... "I wish we could all at least wish them a happy birthday." Yes, April 1 is Jin''s birthday. They were discussing whether or not to have a birthday party tonight. "Bell is right. No matter where you are, you are still in danger. Then why don''t we all gather on Horai Island or at Nido Castle in Kaina Village? "That''s true, isn''t it? "What, to celebrate Jin''s ...... master''s birthday?" "Yes." Reinhard had come to the village of Kaina alone to talk to Erza. "I''m glad you guys feel that way, but..." "Yes, I know. But now is not the time, is it?" "......" "But it''s also true that we can''t do anything about this situation, leaving it to Jin. That''s why." Reinhardt looked a little disappointed. "So it''s okay if we just meet face to face," Reinhard said. For Jin, who is having a nervous breakdown, I just want to say <> and > and those two words would be enough. "Thank you, brother Rai." Erza bows her head. She knew exactly how Reinhardt felt. "I think Brother Jin is probably still packed in Horai Island tonight. That''s why ......" "Okay. Let''s all get together on Horai Island. I don''t mean to disturb Jin. I just want to say a word of thanks to Jin who is struggling alone for the sake of this world. "I''m kind of happy. Knowing how she felt made Erza happy as well. "Then, we will meet there at 6:00 p.m. Horai Island time, okay?" "Yes, that''s fine. I''ll prepare dinner. "Yeah, that''s a good idea. I''ll get the dinner ready. - Yeah, that''s good too. ...... but take it easy, okay?Yeah, I''ll send Belle to help you. "Thanks." Reinhard returned. Erza talks to Meane, Martha and Hannah. "Oh, in that case, we should all go together. Jin is too much of a one-woman person. "I was hoping I could at least say something to Jin-san," said Martha. "Onii-chan, it''s hard being on your own, isn''t it?" All three of them immediately agreed. And as for preparing dinner, "I''ll help you, too. Meane also volunteered to help. Soon after that, everyone moved to Horai Island. "I guess you haven''t come back yet, old man..." "I haven''t come back yet..." "My dear, ...... is your husband out?" < "......Oh, that''s what I mean." Erza heard this and sensed that Jin was continuing to do what he could to find clues for countermeasures. At that time. . The old man reported in a slightly panicked manner. > "What? This was in the direction of where Jin was headed. What? Reinhardt, who had just arrived, shouted loudly. "Is my brother Jin safe?"Are you sure my brother Jin is all right? Erza, unaware that she had been called back, pestered the old man. and it is safe. Hearing this, Elsa felt a little better. > The old man''s panicked voice. Then comes the shocking report. < 1498 - - 40-38 And then he didnt go back. . Horai Island was shaken violently. A little time passes and ....... and Reiko came back. Reiko''s agitation was something I had never seen before. She is drooping and not saying a word. > "Reiko, what in the world ...... happened ......?" Reiko opened her heavy mouth to be asked again and again. "I''m ...... moderately happy that you''re ...... here," she said. "What? Reiko entered Adriana Tierra''s laboratory, and Jin was waiting inside . Then, for the eleventh time, a spatial oscillation occurred, and Reiko returned to find that <> was still there, but only Jin had vanished. "Watashi no ...... sekinin desu. I''m not sure if I should be ...... responsible for your motto." With that, Reiko fell silent and never opened her mouth again. "Lies!Lies!My ...... brother Jin would never leave without telling me! I heard a screeching voice and turned to see Erza in Meane''s arms. "Erza, calm down. It''s okay, it''s okay. I''m sure Jin-san will be ......" "......" * * * ...... Meane is with her. Not long after that, all the members of the Jin family gathered to find out what had happened. Erza is sobbing so hard that no one knows what to say to her, so they leave her alone for now and let her mother, Meene, take care of her. "Are you sure Jin is gone?Are you kidding me?" Marcia is skeptical. "It''s been five hours since then and I haven''t heard from him. ......" Reinhardt answered weakly. "The old man has been looking for her all the time, but he can''t seem to find her..." Hannah sounded sad. "If he is in Ars ...... no, if he is in this world, he should have found him by now." Milowina is also faded and looks as if she has no energy at all. "She seemed to be in a hurry to get on with her life, didn''t she? Martha, who seemed to have aged ten years all at once, blurted out these words. It was a comment that struck a chord in everyone''s heart. "I wonder if the reason we rushed the development was because we had a premonition that this would happen. ......" Stearina, her eyes watering, spins the words with a sigh. "I''m sure ...... his haste to live is ......" Vivian choked, unable to get any more words out. "Stop it!Jin will be back!" "Yes!I''m sure Jin will come back ......." Bina and Saki shouted, unable to bear the gloomy atmosphere. "Yes, yes!Jin-san will be fine!I''m sure ......" Licia also declared in a cheerful voice, though her voice trailed off at the end. Then Erza arrived, supported by Meane. "Erza! "Erza, are you sure you''re ready?" Erza nodded her head silently. And then.., "...... she has made everything come true, no matter how crazy it is. All I can do is to believe in it and wait. He looked a little exhausted, but still said strongly. "Yes, that''s right!Everyone, he will be fine! Toa agreed. "Yes, you have always been able to do what seems impossible. All we can do is wait and believe. Rodrigo said. You are Jin! said Goose. "Common sense is meant to be broken. I''m sure he''ll be back, because he reminds us of that. And Luis. "Yes, he will. Because he''s Jin, isn''t he? "I''m sure Jin-sama will be fine no matter what!" Theon and Marikka also raised their voices. They thought it would be better to cheer up the crowd, even if it was just to be cheerful now. "Thank you all for helping my husband today!" Erza bowed to everyone. Before she knew it, the sun was about to set on Horai Island. "I''ll be fine, I''ll be fine. "Erza-san, please call me if you need anything. I''ll be there as soon as I can. Thank you, Mrs. Bertsche. "...... we''re going to head back now." "Thank you, brother Rai." "Meane''s with me, and I and Hannah are here, so we''ll be fine." Martha tapped her chest. Martha tapped her chest. She was clearly pushing herself too hard, but no one pointed this out. "Well, I''ll see you later," she said. "Okay, good night." "See you later." One by one, they left Horai Island, and Meine, Martha, Hannah, Milowina, and Erza remained. "Maybe we should stay here tonight too. "Yes, Grandma! They decided to stay at Horai Island for the night so that Jin could come back whenever he wanted to, and so that they would be ready to receive his call if he came back at any time. I stayed at Horai Island for the night so that I would be ready to receive a call when Jin returned. A day passed, two days passed, a week passed, and a month passed. However, we have not obtained any clue about Jin. < have also completely faded away and no longer occur. It was as if Jin had taken the cause with him. "Elsa, you look well. "Thank you, brother Rai." Since then, members of the have been visiting Erza on a daily basis. So far, nothing seems to have changed, and everyone is a little relieved. Then, on May 10, all the members of the Jin Family hear the news that Beena has safely given birth to a baby boy. "Congratulations, Bina! "Congratulations! Congratulations! Elsa also opened her brow on this day and congratulated Beena. "Thank you ......." Beena and Luis standing by her side during the postpartum period. "Have you chosen a name yet?" "Yes. < "Yeah, that''s a good name." "Nice to meet you, Reggie." The cheerful topic brought smiles to the faces of those gathered. * * * * * * "Ugh......gosh......" In the darkness of the night, Erza was sobbing alone under the covers. "I wished it was a dream," she thought over and over again. If it was a dream, I wished she would wake up. But it wasn''t a dream." Elsa can vividly remember Jin''s face that day when he said he would come back. "...... He lied to me only once." Just when she was about to be crushed by despair. Elsa felt a slight movement in her lower abdomen. "...... what?" And again. "...... is it a baby?" Knowing what I knew, it was time to start feeling the baby. "It''s her ...... baby......." Elsa gently pressed her belly. "Mine and hers." Warmth seemed to fill her heart and body as she ran her hands over it. "I have to be strong. ......" After that day, Erza never cried again. Once again, Erza moved to the village of Kaina. Jin built a house for her. She was accompanied by Edgar. Reiko and the old man had not spoken a word to each other since that day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Summer came. Elsa''s belly was growing visibly. A magical examination revealed that they were twins. Perhaps because of this, each fetus was a little slow in growth, but there was no other abnormality, and everything was going well. "Yes, I''m feeling good today. "Elsa, you''ll be fine as you are. "Thank you, Dr. Saly. Send Edgar to me if you need anything. Yes, sir. And then, on August 17th, at the end of the summer... A baby''s voice echoed through the village of Kaina. "......!" "Elsa, you did a great job!" Elsa gave birth to twins. They were identical twins, a boy and a girl. They weighed 2500 and 2600 grams respectively. They were a little smaller than the norm, but they were healthy and started drinking Elsa''s milk as soon as she gave birth. They were healthy little babies," said Elsa. Elsa, you did a good job." Sally praised Elsa. "What are their names?" "......" "How about <> and <>?" Suddenly a voice called out. "Reiko?" "Congratulations, Miss Elsa." "Thank you. ...... what was your name again? "I asked your father about it before. He told me that if it was a boy, it would be this and if it was a girl, that it would be this. Reiko said that she had also mentioned the names Ryo, Sakura, Misuzu, and so on. "Thank you, Reiko. Then I''ll settle on Yu and Mio." "I see. Chloe, Mio, my name is Reiko. I''m Reiko. I''m looking forward to working with you. "Reiko, a newborn baby doesn''t know anything yet." "Is that so?I didn''t know that. A cool breeze blew in the village of Kayna. The sunset sky was beautiful, signaling the end of summer. 1499 - - 40-39 Epilogue One day at the end of September, a cool breeze blew through the village of Kaina, sweeping away the lingering summer heat. Elsa and Meene were sitting on a bench outside, nursing the twins, when a voice called out to them. "Here, it''s ready. This is good, isn''t it?" What they had made was a baby carriage that could carry two people. Unlike today''s Japan, the sidewalks are not crowded with people, so it is very practical. "It has a sunshade, rubber tires, suspension, and dampers, so it should be comfortable to ride in." "Thanks. That''s what I''m talking about." Elsa and Meane quickly put the twins in the pram. "Do you want to take them for a walk?" "I don''t think they''re blind yet, though." Elsa is very enthusiastic. She puts her hand on the handle of the pram. "I''ll go. I''ll go." The pram drives off smoothly, without a single rattle.Incidentally, taking a newborn out for a walk is normal in this world. "Be careful," he says. "Nah, I''m fine. Exercise is bad for your body. Elsa was recovering well, with no problems with her postnatal growth. "Well, I''m off then." * * * * The baby carriage with the twins in it moves slowly along a small street in the village of Kaina. "Oh, Elsa!" I meet Barbara. "Are you going for a walk?" "Yes. I got a baby carriage made. "Is this what you call a baby carriage? It''s nice!" Some of the nobles used baby carriages, but this is the first time in Kaina village. No wonder Barbara had never heard of it. "Mio and Chloe, right?They are so cute!" Now they are sleeping peacefully. "They were awake just now." In many cases, the children fall asleep when they are rocked by a vehicle or held by a person. This was actually the case with Elsa, according to her birth mother, Meene. Even if she was fussy, she stopped crying and went to sleep as soon as I walked around with her in my arms. See you later. "Okay." After leaving Barbara, Elsa started to push the pram again. She feels much lighter and has regained some of her strength. We walked straight to the snow room. It was an open area with a clear view of the surrounding mountains. "Snow room. I miss ......." The day I accidentally entered the warp gate and wandered into the village of Kaina. I met Hannah and found out that she and Jin were mutual acquaintances. Jin came to pick me up, and we could stay in the village a little longer. Jin built this snow room for the village. It was summer and there was no snow to bring, so he made snow with his own magic and filled it. It seems a long time ago now. "Hello, Miss Elsa." "Hello, Mr. Mayor." Are you going for a walk? Yes. Yes. - Well, that''s interesting. You can carry a baby on your back? Yes. The village headman was loading vegetables he had harvested onto a wheelbarrow. "Oh, no! They''re for tonight''s dinner. Sally will get angry if we hurry. See you later. See you later. Erza... don''t take it too hard. Go home at your leisure. Yes, ma''am. Chief Giebeck pushed his wheelbarrow and walked quickly back to his house. Elsa also made a U-turn and started to walk slowly back the way she came. But then she turns left and goes gently downhill, passing by the side of the castle of Nido and near the river Erme. It''s the season when the river breeze feels good. The time is a little before 3 p.m. "...... Let''s go home soon." The twins are still sleeping peacefully, but soon they will wake up and start crying because they are hungry. Elsa turned the pram around. "Here we go!" The ride was a gentle downhill, but the return trip was an uphill one. It was a little tough for Elsa, who had not yet regained her strength. "Let me help you, Miss Elsa." "Oh, thank you." Lando A, one of the golems who was looking out for the safety of the villagers in various places in the village of Kaina, came forward. Erza, a little out of breath, gratefully accepts the offer. "Quiet, please." "Yes, sir." Land A slowly pushes the stroller. They go through the side of Nido Castle again to Martha''s house. "Thank you. Here''s fine." When the road leveled out, Elsa thanked Land A and took the pram back. "You can always call your friends," she said. Land A returned to his post. "Ah, you''re back." "Hello, I''m back." "How was the stroller?" "Great, great." "Ha, ha, that''s good. After all, I made one for Juliana and registered it with the Guild of Magi Engineers. "That''s my brother Rai. As usual, you are a crafty idiot. "......" is a compliment, right? Well, what do you think? This guy... Cousins Reinhard and Erza laughed. Then Chloe and Mio woke up and started crying. "Oh dear, you must be hungry. We''ve done everything for you. Meine came running out from inside the house holding a baby bottle. "Thank you, Mother." She also breastfeeds, but with two babies it is too much for Elsa to bear, so she uses both breast milk and formula in this way. "Oh, let me try it too?" "Yeah, she''s not ready yet, so I don''t think Hannah should do it. "I see. Martha rebuked her and Hannah listened obediently. So Martha and Meane decided to give her milk together. In fact, Elsa was still not very good at it either. "Oh, she''s drinking, she''s drinking! They were both drinking very well and had gained 4 kilograms in a little over a month. "I''ve already finished my drink." "It''s good that you''re doing so well." After patting them on the back and making them burp, Martha and Meane carried them into the house. "Hey, your diaper is wet. They changed their diapers in the house. "Oh, thank you very much." In a hurry, Elsa also put away the pram and ran into the house. "There, doesn''t that feel good?" The twins were in a good mood after getting their diapers changed. They were beaming. "Now that they''re full, I think they''ll go back to bed. "Speaking of which, what are you going to make for dinner tonight, Elsa?How many people do you think I should cook for? "Uh, ......" There. I''m back. "Ah, Reiko, welcome back." Reiko says in her usual tone. "They''re having it here." Really? And then another voice. "Ah, I''ve finally finished collecting all the that we placed. Erza turned around and greeted Jin with a big smile. "Welcome back, my dear." In the dusk sky, the sardine clouds, tinted in a deep red, were shelving, softly announcing the arrival of autumn. 1500 - - 41-01 New Prologue "Uu...... where am I?" Jin looked around. <, but now he was alone. "Reiko!" He called out to his faithful automata, but there was no response. Furthermore, no one answered when I used the function of the bracelet I wore on my arm, the <>. "Does this mean that ...... I''ve been occurred at that moment. It was a ridiculously low probability encounter. "Even so, it is fortunate that the air is breathable. ......" Jin thought it was fortunate that he had not been transferred to the vacuum of space, a scorching volcano, or an extremely cold land. The gravity was almost 1 G. The temperature was a little cooler, but it was tolerable enough. "But ......" Looking around again, he could not understand what was going on. The place where we were was a plain, or perhaps a plain, with a rough but generally level rocky terrain under our feet. There are some unidentifiable trash-like objects lying around, and rocks here and there that look like meteorites or cosmic dust. "Could this be the object I saw before?" Jin guessed that the trash-like objects must be the waste that had disappeared from the relay station. "Is the air pressure a little high?And it''s pretty dry." He could feel that the air was so dry that his throat and nose were burning. "Well, I don''t know what to do. ......" Jin was surprised at how calm he felt. It was strange that he did not start panicking and screaming. "I wonder if people give up when they realize that there is nothing they can do about it. ...... or if it''s because they had an experience that might have killed them once. ......" After standing there for a while but nothing changed, Jin decided to walk around a little. "I don''t hear any sound. ......" All he could hear was his own breathing and footsteps. It is so quiet that he can almost hear a sound that is not a scene in the back of his ears. "There''s really nothing here. ......" There is nothing of interest except for the object that seems to have come here <, and the desolate plain just keeps on going. "This won''t last much longer, will it?" Jin stopped walking around and returned to his original place. If the space was going to be unstable, he thought, the most likely place would be the place where he had appeared. And he knows that Ro-kun and Reiko will do whatever they can to find Jin if he has disappeared. For now, Jin has no choice but to wait for them. "You are a complete stranger." Returning to his original location, Jin sits down on a rock, using it as a chair. He looks up at the sky. The sky was gray and there was no sign of the sun or the moon. "Come to think of it, there''s no wind either. Jin let out a sigh and wondered if there was nothing in the world. Did a thinking being fall? Jin heard a voice in his head. No, it was not a voice, but a that echoed in his head. * * * * They were an old, old race. By nature, they were gentle and not prone to strife. Because their desires were modest, they had no history of war and their population growth was slow. However, because of this, the development of culture and civilization was slow. However, over a period of tens of thousands of years in the Earth''s time, they reached the pinnacle of material civilization. After reaching the top, they would normally just go down. But their next choice was to move on to a spiritual civilization. And again for hundreds of thousands of years. At last they succeeded in giving up their physical bodies and becoming only spiritual. Since the mental body is powered by the sub-free element "ether", it does not starve and is able to live semi-permanently. Another millions and tens of millions of years have passed. Living in sub-permanence, gradually become bored. And then... Their universe began to < with another universe. < during the , but the time was very short because the density of the universe from the higher dimension was very low. Most of them lasted for a few milliseconds to a few nanoseconds, but sometimes an would arrive from the other universe. This was a great toy for them when they were bored. Tens of millions of years have passed, and in that time there have been 10 universes that have . Several to dozens of have occurred, and objects have been brought to our universe. In each case, objects came from the other universe to ours. Their conclusion, which they have nothing to do but speculate, is that <>. Their world has a low potential, and therefore, matter < into their world at the time of contact. They named this kind of superposition, in which there is a transfer of matter, as <>. At first, they enjoyed it, but after the superposition contact with the sixth universe, they began to neglect it. < They could not adapt to the environment of our universe and quickly died out. For their mentality, it was unbearable. The location of the contact point was almost always fixed, and the location of the <> was also almost always fixed. So they tried to adjust the environment of that place. They analyzed the body composition of the organisms that <> on the seventh contact, and created an environment that they thought would be suitable. The atmosphere is 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and 0.03% carbon dioxide, An atmospheric pressure of 1100 hectopascals. Gravity of 1.02G. An absolute temperature of 290 degrees Celsius. The environment is almost suitable for organisms living on an Earth-like planet. However, the water vapor pressure in the atmosphere was not set, so the relative humidity remained low at around 5 percent. Despite these environmental arrangements, the organisms that < in the eighth and ninth contacts were not intelligent life forms, and could not communicate with each other. They lived for a moment too short compared to us, and perished. And now, for the tenth time, they are in contact with each other. Not only matter, but also a life form has fallen. They decided to observe it closely. It is emitting an extremely low frequency sound. The fluctuating frequencies and waveforms indicate that it is a <> or <>. The fact that there is a certain degree of logic in their behavior suggests that they have some kind of intelligence. The representative of the group is then asked to make contact with the organism. A thinking being has fallen? The representative spoke to it using the universal means of communication: ....... 1501 - - 41-02 Dialogue Did a thinking being fall? Jin was startled to the point of jumping. "Who is it? It seems that you do think. Do you understand my thoughts? "I know ......." Jin replied aloud. No need to say it out loud. "I kind of know that. But it''s easier for me this way." Well, you think logically a little bit, too. Interesting. "So, who the hell are you?My name is Hitoshi Nido. I used to be an ...... earthling, but now I''m an Arsian." Ars-terrestrials, huh? You mean to say that you are a race with a material civilization? "Yes. Then the voice in Jin''s head seemed clearly pleased. This is wonderful!Jin Nido, I am one of the spiritual life forms that originated and continues to exist in this world. "What is your name?What should I call you? We do not have names or identification numbers. We can be identified by our mental vibrations. If you don''t like it, you can call me whatever you like. "Then I will call you ......ichi." Hmm. ...... numerals ...... are the first of the natural numbers. Well, you have an interesting naming convention. So the next one we meet will be called two or one or two?I apologize for ....... I didn''t mean it that way. Jin senses that Ichi has read Jin''s mind and feels uncomfortable for a moment. Ichi immediately sensed this and apologized. We have nothing to hide from each other, and we don''t know what you, who have physical bodies, would find offensive. Forgive me. And.., We too had a body a long time ago, but we left it a long, long time ago. I remember it as knowledge, but I cannot feel it with my senses. I hope you understand. He explained. "No, I don''t care that much. As for Jin, he wants to take this encounter in a positive direction. In this world to which he had been sent alone, he had met someone he could rely on, or at least get information from. Well, there must be some hope for you. We have hopes for you, too. Ichi speaks to Jin in a friendly manner. First of all, let me say something. As I said before, we have long since abandoned our bodies. There is a strong possibility that you are not completely sure of what you need to sustain life. If there is anything you lack or want, please do not hesitate to tell me. Jin remembered that he was very thirsty. "Well, then, I would like some water. ...... drinking water. The air here seems to be very dry." Jin simply said water, then reworded it as drinking water. He then mentions humidity. I see. I didn''t take humidity into consideration. I thought that the higher the humidity, the better, because the higher the humidity, the more harmful it is. "You don''t seem to know everything, do you?" Jin asked, not with sarcasm or anything, but simply as a confirmation. Of course I do. It would take an infinite amount of time and countless experiences to become omniscient. The answer was not very convincing. Never mind. We are still thinking in such an immature way that we still have . With these words, Ichi made a glass of water appear in front of Jin. I have had the opportunity to read a few of your thoughts. Are you sure this is what you want? Jin grabbed the cup with both hands. "Is it ...... water?" It''s water. It''s a combination of what you call hydrogen and oxygen. A liquid with a few minerals and other impurities dissolved in it. It''s not ultrapure water, apparently. May I check? No, I don''t mind. I''m not offended by it in the least. Thirsty, Jin rushes to . It is definitely . Jin drinks it down. "Oh, ......, you did something interesting, didn''t you? "What?" Ichi seems to have seen the <> that Jin used for the first time. Hmmm, <>. Very interesting. Yes. I didn''t know such a method existed. I guess this will keep me occupied for the next few thousand years. "Wow." Jin sat up, his head suddenly filled with a flood of thoughts. I''m sorry about this. You''ve done something interesting, and your compatriots have been attracted to you. Jin realizes that these spirit beings do not seem to know about . From Jin''s point of view, their very existence seems more improbable than magic. [...... sorry for the confusion. From now on, I will be the only one to communicate with Hitoshi Nido. Through Ichi, all of Jin''s actions will be communicated to the others. Now, Jin Nido, what do you want to do now?Do you want to go back to your world? "That, of course." That''s fine. We, too, have been wondering about this phenomenon. Is that so? Yes, that''s right. Our universe is old and therefore has low potential. Something is always falling from the universes with which we are in contact. That''s why we are annoyed. < comes from the first word. Jin takes this opportunity to ask. "What is this ?" To borrow a phrase from Hitoshi Nido, it''s something close to . Entropy. Jin has only a limited knowledge of entropy, which is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics, or to put it in a very simplified way, . Ichi must have read it into his mind. I think that Ichi must have read it and deduced it with their own thinking. In the young universe, there is a bias. The older the universe is, the less bias it has. The older our universe is, the less biased it is. Therefore, something comes to us from the universe we come into contact with. Ichi explained the concept in a way that was easy for Jin to understand. I would like to add one more thing. You may think that thoughts can convey anything, but you are wrong. The organ responsible for Nidohito''s thoughts, ...... the brain''s spinal cord, has a very limited function and would quickly exceed its capacity if it were to communicate in such a way. "...... understand." To use an analogy, an 8-bit computer cannot handle the amount of information in the Internet age. Memory, external storage, data processing speed, data transfer speed ...... all cannot handle it. Jin Nido, we will support your return. But to do so, we need your cooperation. "If there''s anything we can do, anything at all." Yes. We would like to know the physical and spatial characteristics of your world. Because we don''t have that information, we''ve had four overlaps in the last 100,000 years. Before that, it happened 6 times in 30 million years. Here, Ichi explained to Jin that is in a macroscopic sense. Ichi explains that the phenomenon of the universes coming close to each other and partially overlapping each other is called , and that the connection between the universes that occurs in a single is called . He also teaches that the multiplicative contact can be from a few degrees to a dozen degrees. It is fortuitous that an intelligent being like Hitoshi Nido has come along. Now we too can develop a means of preventing multiplicative contact. "Is that using ...... free magic element Ether wave?" Jin recalled the countermeasures he had taken against the . Sub-free elemental ether waves. ...... That''s right. We are sub-free elemental "etheric" beings to begin with. Is that so? If you yourself are an etheric being, then it is only natural that you can manipulate the ether. Jin was relieved and a little envious of Ichi and the others. 1502 - - 41-03 Hours The conversation with Ichi lasted nearly a full day in Jin''s sensory time. Hmmm... ...... interesting. It was Jin''s fatigue that forced him to interrupt the dialogue. "I''m sorry, but could you give me a break? As one would expect, even Jin was showing signs of fatigue. Oh, yes, that''s right. Living things need rest, don''t they? Ichi said, remembering a long time ago. "Take a good rest. What do you want? A bed and a ...... room. Okay. As Ichi thought, a container-like room appeared. Inside there is a bed with comfortable bedding. There is also food and drinking water. Have a good rest. "Thank you very much." After drinking some water and taking a bite of bread, he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep like a mud. * * * * * * Interesting life form, isn''t it? Indeed. A unique stimulus to our otherwise unexciting mental activity. I''d like to absorb what I can. I agree. And in return, it''s only fair to help them return to their world. I fully agree. * * * * "...... I don''t feel like I''ve slept much." Jin woke up and rubbed his eyes. He was no longer sleepy and his body was tired, but he felt a mental fatigue stagnating in the back of his ...... body, or rather, in the back of his head. He drank the water and ate a piece of bread. Anyway, I couldn''t fall down. "I''ve got to get back to Ars ...... Elsa, even if I have to bite down on a stone." I wanted to see my baby, who would be born in a few months. Ichi spoke to me as I left the private room that had been prepared for me. Did you have a good rest? "Uh, yes." That''s all right. Today I would like you to teach me about magic. "Yes, of course." The only thing that must be avoided is offending Ichi and the other spirit life forms. Jin recalled for the first time in a long time how to get along in his black company days. * * * * "......, like this." [hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ...... funny!How interesting! Ichi felt a spiritual uplift that he had not felt in tens of thousands of years. The skill of dealing with free magic element (ether) ...... was so interesting! Ichi and the others, who were skilled in the art of dealing with the sub-free element "ether" instead of the free element "ether", were impressed by the magic shown by Jin, that is, the skill of dealing with the free element "ether". Magic. < against the . Or, because it is mysterious but too awe-inspiring to bear the name of God, it is called <>law. Since Ichi and the others had no concept of God or the Devil, they did not understand the name "magic" and took it as a skill to deal with free magical element (ether). And what surprised Jin the most was that they had mastered the skill of handling free magic element (ether) in the blink of an eye, as they call it, magic ....... It is not a case of . I was just explaining the concept. However, Jin thinks that this is not surprising when he thinks about it. They are skilled in the art of handling the sub-free magical element "ether". And perhaps the handling of free magical element "ether" is even easier than that, Jin guessed. Yes, to the extent that a person who has mastered higher mathematics can understand the Tsurukame math. >, this is interesting. Ichi was delighted to have transformed a piece of meteorite ...... cosmic dust that was lying around into a complex atomic model in an instant. Thank you, Hitoshi Nido. I can spend the next 100,000 years or so researching skills to handle this free magical element (ether). "Well, that''s good to hear." As one would expect, Jin could only give a slightly twitchy smile. Well, I think it''s time for me to indulge in a new subject for thought. Jin Nido, I would like to talk about sending you back to your world. "Please." Yes. Sending you back to the world is not a problem in itself, and I am 99.9999% sure that you will succeed. Jin thought that they were being sincere in not saying "perfect". I''ll send you back to where you came from, that''s no problem. I know where you came from. "Yes." But the time line is not that simple. What do you mean? Let me tell you a story to make it easier to understand. I will give you an example of a lower dimension so that you, Jin, can understand it. Time flows from the past to the future. Let''s compare it to a one-dimensional line. "Yes." Mark the long, long line itself. Let''s say that this is what brings you back to the world. So, where do I mark the line? "Ah!" Jin understood. Indeed, it is understandable that we cannot identify the time period if we do not have something to guide us. Even Ichi and the others are not all-powerful. Moreover... Time is not one-dimensional. Think of it as having at least three dimensions. "What?" Jin couldn''t help but nod his head. Seeing him like this, Ichi tried to give him an easy-to-understand explanation. As an analogy, things begin as a . You call it the Big Bang. "Ah, yes." Time begins at a point and expands to include all sorts of possibilities. "Oh, so it''s three dimensional." Yes. Actually, it is a higher dimension, but you can''t imagine a higher space than 3 dimensions, can you? Ichi stated the facts without any apology at all. In this analogy, time is an expanding sphere. The center is the zero point where time begins. The spheres equidistant from that point are equally spherical after the passage of an equal amount of time. The surface of the sphere represents the possibilities. "Parallel worlds, you mean." Well, that''s all right. If we reduce the dimension further to two dimensions, the more time passes, the more choices we have, i.e., the more branches we have. Jin understood dimly. An expanding sphere, which means that the later you go, the more choices you have and the more possibilities you have. ....... A point in the giant sphere. That is the place to which Jin should return. Jin could imagine how difficult it would be. But rest assured. There will be some errors, but I promise you that I will be able to return you to the world you came from. "Thank you." But Jin had forgotten. He had forgotten how much of an "error" a mental organism that has spent more than tens of millions of years in the world can make. ....... 1503 - - 41-04 Gate Just as Ichi and the other spirit life forms learned from Jin the skills to handle magic ......, i.e., free magical elements (ether), so Jin gained some knowledge from them. Much of it is the concepts of time and space. Time is too higher-order to understand. Space also requires a higher level of understanding, but it is of a lower dimension than time, so you may be able to understand some of it. With these words, Ichi explained to Jin the concepts of time and space. This knowledge would probably be of no practical use in Hitoshi Nido''s world. But they may be useful for some other purpose. Ichi explained to Hitoshi various things with such enigmatic words. * * * * * * * * Why are you giving that organic life form unnecessary knowledge? < Ichi, or rather @+* Jin Nido is indeed an organic life form, but he has used his skills to create a pseudo-biological brain, which he calls a magical brain. I thought that this brain might be able to put its knowledge to use. Ichi was the one who had the most contact with Jin, so he was the only one who could provide this information. A magical brain, huh? You think it''s comparable to ours? No, I wouldn''t say that. But its limits seem to be higher than those of an organic brain. You think you can do something if you just take your time? That''s what I''m saying. Nidohito is a lost soul. It is our duty to assist him. To these spiritual beings, Jin, or rather human beings, may be like puppies and kittens to humans. They remembered Jin as a kind of protector that they feel for a creature of lower rank. Of course, they felt indebted to Jin for teaching them the skill of handling free magical element (ether). But it is not so different from the feeling of being healed by petting a puppy or a kitten. Nevertheless, their mentality remains that they will do their utmost to bring Jin back to the world without fail. * * * * "Jin Nido, using the skills I''ve acquired from you, it looks like I''ll be able to prevent the two universes from having . "That''s good news." Three days have passed since Jin was trapped in this world. Ichi had given Jin some new information. He had been trying various methods ......, or should I say techniques, that you had been experimenting with on the other side of the world. Among them was your attempt to generate sub-free elemental ether waves, wasn''t it? Yes, we tried that, didn''t we? I wanted to make the margin of error as small as possible when I sent you back to the other side. I could use it as a landmark for that purpose. Sub-free elemental ether waves can be observed in other universes. We can use it as a reference and send it back in a few days. Jin was quite relieved to hear this. But still, there is always a margin of error. Yes, sorry to quote from your memory again, but it is like aiming a bow or a gun at a target from a distance. Inevitably, there will be a margin of error, and you will be slightly off. "I suppose that can''t be helped, can it?" Jin couldn''t help but nod his head. However, one of the promises of the higher dimension of time is to avoid the simultaneous existence of the same or homogeneous entities. This phenomenon is called the time paradox. Therefore, there is a possibility that the error may shift in a positive direction with the target point as zero. The point is that the situation with two Jin is not good, so there is a possibility that they may appear at a slightly advanced point in time, i.e., in the future. How far into the future that might be, we don''t know at this point. In your world, the margin of error is very small because you have a clear standard. In other words, you can specify not only how many years, but also how many years, months, days, hours and minutes. The other thing is that it takes a tremendous amount of energy to go beyond time. "I can see that too." Yes, I can see that, too. You are aware of something that says you can''t go faster than the speed of light, right? Yes. That is with the proviso that in higher space, with the energy available in that space. ...... Well, this is a partially simplified explanation. Ichi said that the laws including higher space would not be understood by organic life. It would be good to hear about the concept. "Haa......" Jin was forced to listen to Ichi''s explanation of the space-time concept for a long time. * * * * What do you think of that organic life form called Hitoshi Nido? Interesting. Interestingly, it has already crossed the world once. Oh, yeah? Whatever it is, some kind of artificial pseudo-living thing called an automata found a way to cross the world and called up Jin Nido. That''s certainly interesting. I don''t know if that''s possible. I''m sure there must have been some hints. And with some luck... [It may seem like a coincidence, but it''s ...... inevitable] We still can''t read the inevitability, though. I digress. So, are you going to be able to send me home? Mm-hmm. There''s a certain margin of error. That can''t be helped. Jin Nido will take care of the rest. After all, it''s his world. * * * On the fifth day of Jin''s sensory time, a spirit other than Ichi came to see him. Nidou Jin, we are ready to send you back to your world. "Oh, I see. Thank you!" If it''s okay with you, I''m available anytime. I''m particularly interested in ....... You can take whatever materials you find lying around, if you like. "Is that so?" So Jin put a white stone the size of a walnut, a red stone and a blue stone, all of which were lying around, in his pocket, thinking that they would serve as souvenirs. Is that all right? "Yes." Good. Then come here, please. Jin''s eyes saw a vague, pale shadow of a spirit life form beckoning to him. I''ll tell you one last thing. We are not perfect. There is a non-zero possibility that the world we sent him to may not be the world where Nidohito was. "I don''t think that can be helped." As for Jin, he thinks that at least a world where people can survive would be better than the one he is in now. He has to go back to the world where Elsa, Hannah, Reiko, the old man, and Jin''s family are waiting for him at any cost. For this purpose, I was prepared to take some risks. If I did not take any action, there was no chance that we would meet again. Then there is the time error. This is also due to our limitations. I''m aware of that, too. Good. I can assure you that the destination is a suitable environment for Nidohito''s life activities. Fragile organic life forms are not likely to survive even a slight deterioration in their environment, the spirit said. One more thing. It might be hard for organic life forms to move against their potential. I''m just guessing. "I''m ready for it." [Okay. Let''s get started at ....... Are you ready? Yes. There''s nothing for you to prepare. He just means to be prepared. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Ichi and everyone else." Thank you, too. Thank you for giving me something to think about that I can enjoy for a long time. Then, a shiny white sphere appeared in front of Jin. A gateway to the other side. "Well, goodbye." "Good luck. Jin stepped into the gate without hesitation, and ...... fainted. 1504 - - 41-05 Another world? "U...... here,ha......?" Jin opened his eyes and found himself in a dimly lit room. "Oh, did you notice?" When he turned his head toward the voice, pain shot through his body. "Oh, my God!" I screamed out due to the unexpected pain. "Are you okay?You didn''t seem to be hurt. ...... "I think I''m fine ......." The pain is not so much that I can''t move, but more like the pain you feel when you move a stiff body. It is more like the pain one feels when one moves one''s stiff body, which is also true, as it is a reaction to moving from a universe with low potential to a universe with high potential. There is no one in this world who knows this, nor will there ever be. Slowly I sat up and gently stretched my body, and little by little the pain eased. "Well, I think I''m getting around." "That''s good to hear." Jin looked again at the owner of the voice. It was a woman, dressed in simple clothes. "Oh, I am the daughter of the family, Helga. I''m Jin. Jin-san. The girl who introduced herself as Helga had chestnut hair and chestnut eyes. She looks to be about 20 years old. "What am I doing here?I''d appreciate it if you could tell me. Jin tried to gather information first. "Okay. ...... Jin-san was lying by a spring in the mountains. My father found him and brought him back." "......I don''t remember....... Oh, and who is your father?" His name is Sergei and he is the chief of this village. "I see." Jin lightly nodded his head and asked a question to get more information. "Well, ...... my memory is not so clear. What year is it and what is this place called?" "Yeah?Really?...... this year is 320 years in continental history. This is the village of Tazi, on the continent of Pandor. "Oh, ......?" Jin was astonished. The year and place names were different from those of the Arus he knew. Since he could understand the language, he guessed that it was a very close parallel world. (Is this also an <> or ......?) Jin''s heart is about to break. Seeing his dismay, Helga calls out to him in a concerned voice. "Uh, Jin-san?Are you still sick?" "Uh, yeah. Yes, it seems so. ......" Jin''s complexion was so pale that even the casual observer could tell. "You should lie down a little longer. I''ll get you something to eat." With that Helga left. (So ...... it was a different world here too......Elsa......Reiko......Mr. ......Hannah......) Jin cried tears of regret. (I''m ...... I''m ......) Nostalgia ran through my head. I missed that place, even though I missed him for less than a week. I guess it''s because it''s not a place where <><> but a place where <><>. (...... I''m a weak man, too. ......) Jin self-mocking. One cannot be alone. Jin learned this lesson the hard way. "Here you go..." About 30 minutes later, Helga arrived with a tray of food. By this time, Jin had calmed down a little and was able to think things over somewhat calmly. "Oh, thank you, Helga-san." Jin sat up in bed. Helga pulled out a simple side table and put the meal on it. Barley porridge, sauted vegetables, and water. "Bon apptit!" Jin had thought he didn''t have much of an appetite, but his body was honest. One bite reminded him that he was still hungry, and in no time at all he had devoured the entire meal. "Thank you for the food. It was delicious." "That''s good to hear. It seems you''re feeling a little better. Can you talk to my father afterwards?" "Oh, yeah. Yeah, I''ll be fine." Jin chided himself for not being able to thank his father for his help. And once his hunger was satisfied and he felt at home, he felt more relaxed mentally. "Okay. Wait here for a minute then." "Oh, um, am I going to be okay here?" "Yes. "Yes. My father will be here in this room." With that Helga left the room with a tray with the dishes on it. (Well, how should I respond? ......) Jin, who has recovered some energy, tries to think logically. Food and water are adapted to Jin. < had also said that he would only guarantee that the place he sent him would be adapted to him. "And that would be ......." Perhaps they will ask me where I am from, and whether or not I should answer honestly. (I don''t know what kind of response I will get if I say that I am from another world. ......I might falsely say that I don''t remember at first.) Jin concluded that it would be better not to give them any unnecessary information. (Once you get used to this way, you can pretend to remember a little bit more.) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Jin-san, it''s my father." Helga''s voice snapped Jin out of his reverie. Right behind her is a man in his forties, medium build. A man with slightly dark blond hair and gray eyes was standing there. Jin stood and greeted her. "My name is Jin. Thank you for your help. "My name is Sergei. I am Sergei, the chief of this village. I am the chief of this village. ...... You were lying by the spring in the mountains behind us. In that case you had no choice but not to help. ...... Let''s just sit down and talk about it." "Uh, yes." I think I''ll take this chair. Helga pulled out two stools from the corner of the room and sat Sergei on them. Jin sat down on the bed. Helga sat down on the other stool. Jin and Sergei faced each other, and Helga sat down beside them. "I see you are feeling better. "Thanks to you." "So, how in the world did Jin-dono come to be lying there?" "I don''t know ....... My memory is partly in disarray. ......" Sergei heard this and looked worried. "Hmm, I see. What do you remember about ...... other than your name?What about your hometown?" "Yes. ...... almost nothing. I didn''t even remember what year it was." "I see. Well, that''s a problem. Sergei seemed to believe Hitoshi. 1505 - - 41-06 Goals "I''m not sure, but the names Reuzert and Alban come to mind, do you know them?" Jin decided to probe. "Reuzert?Alban?......No, I''ve never heard of it. ......" "I see. ......" Once again, Jin was disappointed that this was not the world where he used to be. "But this is a remote part of the continent of Pandor. If you go to the capital, you may know some people there. Sergei said as if to cheer Jin up. "Yes, that''s right." Sergei looked at Jin, smiling weakly, "You still don''t seem to be in good shape. I''ve heard at least what you want to hear, so I''ll call it a day. You have a good rest." He ended the conversation. "Ah, yes, thank you very much. ......" Jin managed to squeeze out a few words of thanks and lay down on the bed. "Um, Jin-san, are you all right?Did I push you too hard?" Helga, who still remained in the room, was concerned about Jin. "Oh?Oh, I''m sorry, I''m fine. Jin, who had forgotten Helga''s presence and had shown his pathetic side, forced himself to smile. "Really?Well, you can use this room as you like for the time being. The bathroom is at the end of the room to the left. The bathroom is just in front of it. It''s just after 2:00 PM. Dinner will be served around 6:00, same as before. Helga burst out at once, perhaps on purpose. "Yes. Jin was so taken aback by her force that he momentarily forgot his melancholy. "Well then. My room is at the end of the hall on the right, so if you need me, just let me know. "......Thank you." Helga''s cheerful smile made Jin feel a little better. I''m sure you''ll be fine here. "I wonder if this is another ...... or a parallel world after all. If you don''t know the capitals of countries such as Reuzert and Alban, you have to make a judgment. "And I wonder when ...... the bracelet went missing." The bracelet that Jin always wore on his arm. It has a communication function and can be remotely operated by the old man to create a barrier. Of course, he can do it by his own will. "I thought it might be ...... but there''s no way to be sure. ......" Instead, in his pocket was a white, red and blue stone. <. "Maybe the bracelet shattered when I crossed the world." On second thought, that seems like the right answer. "I was told that moving against the potential ...... would be too much for some." < and others said that moving against the potential might be hard for organic life forms. Jin resigned himself to the fact that it would be better if it was in the form of a missing bracelet rather than his own body. "I could have moved around in all five of my bodies," he said. If it''s a different world, I don''t need to be able to communicate, and if it''s a barrier, I can put it up by myself. If you have magi crystals, you can even create a magical tool to put up a barrier. "But communication is ...... difficult. Jin''s method to precisely match the frequency of the magic wave. That was to split a single magic crystal (magi crystal) in two and use it for both sides. In this way, it was possible to achieve a precise synchronization. Incidentally, this method is used only in . The old man, the brain of magic in Horai Island, Jin''s base, can easily synchronize the magic waves. < "Make it, contact ......, and then what happens?" There is a possibility that Horai Island exists in the parallel world. But its master would be Jin, not Jin. It would be good if it accepts Jin and cooperates with him, but since he does not know what kind of characterization it has, he decides that he should avoid taking things too lightly. "But, I see. ...... that''s right." As he repeatedly asked himself these questions, a vision began to emerge. "To build a base,......." It can be very small and does not need something as robust as Horai Island. "Well, it''s more of a place to stay than a base. Even if this is a different world for Jin, he should be able to settle down by creating a place to stay. Just as Ars did in the past. "I guess we''ll just have to take our time and go slowly. <. "If this is a different world for me, I need to find a way to get back to my original world. I have the minimum information necessary for that from . When you move between worlds, you can set the time line, so it is theoretically possible to go back to the time right after you disappeared, even if it''s been 50 years here. "At that time, ...... everyone will see the old me again." The old man himself and the twenty-year-old Elsa. Grandfather and grandson. "No wonder they don''t like me." The old man and Reiko are the only ones who will not abandon him, Jin thinks. "......It''s not good. ......It seems that my thoughts are drifting in the wrong direction." Jin shook his head to shake off the bad thoughts. "Anyway, I''ll have to start moving tomorrow to make a place for myself. Jin thought to himself, remembering how Martha and Hannah had saved him in the village of Kaina, and he felt lonely. "No, no, no, it''s okay to be nostalgic, but backward thinking is not the way to go now. Jin slaps his cheeks with his palm to get back into the swing of things. "Then, how should I go about it ......?" Jin can use engineering magic. Fortunately, there seems to be an abundance of free magic element (ether) in this world. "<>" I tried to make a ball of light, and there was no problem. However, when I tried to make a ball of light, there was no problem. "Kyaaaah!" I heard a shout and turned around to see Helga at the entrance with a surprised look on her face. "Jin-san, you''re a mage? "Oh, oh, I''m sorry. I guess so." Jin was forced to answer. Jin hoped that he would not be scared or disliked by this. "Great, great!That''s great, Jin-san!" Helga, on the other hand, was excited. "There are no mages in this village. No, not only in this village. It''s the big towns and cities that have mages." "huh?" "Oh. ...... but Jin-san, you''re going to leave one of these days, aren''t you?" Helga is excited, but then suddenly she wilts. "No, I''m not going to leave until I repay you for saving me, and I''m not thinking about anything after that. ...... Helga''s face lit up when Jin told her honestly. "Really?I''m so happy. Jin-san, if you can, I''ll always ...... be there for you. Helga trailed off. "Oh, by the way, I boiled a bath. "Yes, by all means." Apparently there is a bath in this village. Jin, who loves taking a bath, responded immediately. 1506 - - 41-07 Biwa "Ah, it''s nice hot water." Jin soaked in the bath, though it was not a hot spring, and stretched his arms and legs in the bathtub. "This feels ...... like they are making the water with magic tools instead of firewood." Jin, as expected, had figured out the method of the bathtub. "And ...... there''s soap too?" Soap was not yet common in Ars when Jin was there, although it was beginning to spread through trade with Mitsuho. "Is it a similar but different world ......?" Jin wonders what he should do in this world first. "Well, let''s take our time. It''s been a while since he took a bath, and he is thankful for the soap. After washing his head, he feels much better. I soak in the water again and warm myself slowly. Jin forgot to ask what month it was, but he guessed that it was not mid-summer or mid-winter, since the weather was quite pleasant. After getting out of the bath, Jin put and on his underwear and put it back on. "Thank you. The water was nice." Jin thanked Helga when he got out of the bath. "Well, that''s good. ...... Oh, Jin-san, did you change your clothes? "What?" "Your clothes are looking kind of clean." "Yes, because I cleaned the dirt off them with engineering magic." Jin answered casually, but Helga''s reaction was unexpected. "What?You can do that too?Mages are ...... amazing, aren''t they?" "No, I''m not a mage, I''m a ." Instead of calling himself a "Magecraft Meister," he calls himself a "Magecraftsman," which seems to be a more common name. "Magecraftsman? But Helga did not seem to know that word either. Jin explained simply. "Oh, a technician who can make various things with magic ......?" "Hmm......... Oh, so you can make chairs and tables, for example?" "If you have the right materials." "Yes, that''s right." Helga heard this and seemed to be thinking about something. "Oh, no. I have to prepare dinner. Jin-san, it looks like you can eat normally now. Is there anything you don''t like?" "No, not really. I think ......." "Okay. Well, that''s good. Wait for me for another hour or so. With that Helga turned around and went to the kitchen. Jin returned to the room assigned to him. "Well ......, and ......." Jin sat down on his bed and closed his eyes to collect his thoughts. "Jin-san! Helga came in, letting out a loud voice that broke his reverie. "Hey, can you fix a chipped knife? "What?" "I was trying to shave off the meat and caught the bone. Helga held out the meat knife in her hand so that Jin could see it. The blade was pointed toward him. She did not point it at Jin. "Let me borrow it. Jin takes the knife and examines it. "<>...... I see. 1.5 percent carbon. That''s a lot of carbon. It''s too well tempered. It''s hard, but too brittle." "What?What?What did you do, just now? Helga, who has never seen engineering magic before, tilts her head. "Wait a minute. ......<><><>> and then <>. That''s it." The knife was too brittle due to too much carbon content, and the carbon was removed, the spills were corrected, the blade was hardened, the blade was shaping, and it was even toughened. Helga was amazed at the fluidity of his work, "What? Her mouth was agape. But Helga could not stay like this forever, so she took the knife and went back to the kitchen. "...... mages can do this kind of thing ......" She muttered something like " mages can do this. * * * * Then it was time for dinner. "I went to ......, and it''s amazing!The knife Jin-san fixed for me, it cuts through the bone so easily!And it doesn''t even spill!" "You''re such a naughty boy. Jin-kun, please give him a break." Seeing Helga in such a high state of excitement, the older woman sitting in front of Jin smiled bitterly. She was Sergei''s wife, or Helga''s mother, named Mina. She has the same chestnut-colored hair and eyes as Helga''s. "No, I don''t know what she''s talking about. Jin himself recalls that when he inherited his knowledge as a from his predecessor, he was eager to try out the various methods. "But Jin, I didn''t know you were an excellent mage." For some time now, Sergei has been calling Jin <. He probably called him "Jin-kun" to match his daughter Helga and his wife Mina. Jin thought it was more comfortable for him. The dinner menu consisted of barley porridge, stewed potatoes, grilled smoked meat, and some kind of fruit. By the way, he called the potatoes <. Jin was inwardly surprised at this coincidence. "What kind of fruit is this? The fruit is oval-shaped and slightly pale orange. "It is a loquat fruit. "A loquat, is it? Indeed, it looks just like the loquat Jin remembers. "The skin has been peeled off, so you can pick it up and bite into it by hand. Oh, there are big seeds inside, so be careful. Meena showed him how to eat it, and Jin took a bite of the loquat. Yes, it was a loquat.) It was definitely a loquat. The taste of early summer. It has a delicious flavor that sets it apart from other fruits. The disadvantage is that the seeds are large and the flesh is small. Isn''t it delicious? Yes, very good. Since there are only a few parts to eat, each customer gets three pieces. They are easy to grow because they sprout when you sow the seeds. It''s a specialty of this village. Meena explained while eating a loquat herself. "If it grows like this, does that mean it''s early summer ...... now?" Yes, it is. Today is July 2nd. "Mom, it''s not fair that you''re the only one talking to Jin-san! A slightly bloated Helga complained to Meena. "That''s fine. It''s like my son came home. ......" Helga looked a little sad when she heard that line. Sergei just looked at his wife and daughter silently, smiling. He was a taciturn man by nature. "Jin-san, tomorrow I will show you around the village! "Yes, yes, thank you." Jin could only nod in agreement as Helga''s momentum carried him away. 1507 - - 41-08 Information The next day......7March 3, Jin was given a tour of the village by Helga. The village of Tajee has about 200 houses and a population of about 1,000 people. They were now standing on a hill northeast of the village, looking down on it. "It''s a big village, isn''t it? "Is it?" The only villages Jin knew were Kaina, Toka, Yada, and Karutz. The largest of these villages, Karutz, has about 150 households, so it was natural for him to think that Tajee, with its 200 households, was a big village. The area of the village is also large. The area of the village is also large. From what Jin could see, it was about four times larger than the village of Kaina. In terms of Jin''s territory, however, the area of Kayna Village extends as far as the mountains to the north. Tazi village is located in a large plain. But it is part of the Great Plain of Flot, which also contains forests and swamps. "I see. So the mountains are only in the distance. Jin muttered as he stared at the mountain range rising in the far north. "I see. The river over there is called the Northenia River, and it flows from north to south through the center of the plain, dividing it into two parts. The developed part is on the west side. The east side is undeveloped? "Yes. There''s a lot of wildlife, so when we need pelts or meat, we send out expeditions. Okay. Okay, let''s move on. Helga started to walk quickly down the hill. Jin looked at her back and remembered what Helga''s mother, Meena, had said to him last night. < Jin recalled that the number of young generation in Kaina village had been decreasing due to the epidemic and the war. "Jin!What are you doing! Helga, who had gone down quite a ways, called out to him. "Oh, sorry, I''m coming." Jin replied hurriedly and ran down from the high ground. "As you can see from above, there is our ...... village headman''s house in the center of the village, and from there the roads run east, west, south, north and south. There are three other roads that go around in a circle. Radial roads and ring roads, you mean. "Oh, that''s ......." What caught Jin''s eye was a pump. It was a pump. It is the same type as the one Jin built in the village of Kaina. "Oh, that?It''s called a pump. It''s useful for pumping water, but there are a few that are broken. That one over there is broken too. "Helga, may I take a look?" "Sure. ...... Jin, do you think you can fix it?" Helga had been calling him today. Jin called her by the same name. "I can''t be sure without seeing it, but ...... maybe." "Yes!That would be great. Please fix it! I''ll see what I can do." Jin walked over to the pump and performed an analysis. According to the analysis, the cylinder inside the pump was worn down and a gap had formed. "The material is ...... bronze, but it hasn''t been hardened or toughened. No wonder it''s not very durable." "Well, I don''t know what Jin is talking about, but do you think you can fix it?" "Yes. I''ll fix it right away. <>" Jin adjusts the piston side by forming to fix the gap between the piston and cylinder, and then strengthens it. The reason for using hardening instead of toughening is to minimize wear and tear. "That''s it." "Oh, you fixed it already?" "Yes. "Yeah. Try priming the water and running the pump." "Uh-huh." Helga got some water from a nearby well and used it as priming water, and started to pump the pump that Jin had fixed. "It''s fixed!Jin, thank you!" "No, no. You said on ...... that some of the pumps were broken, didn''t you?" "Yes. Can you fix those too? Of course. Of course. So, with Helga''s help, Jin went around repairing the broken pumps scattered all over the village of Taj. There were six pumps. "They seem to have been in use since this village was built, so it''s no wonder they are broken. "When the village was founded ......, what is it, about 200 years ago?" "Well, that''s too bad...it''s 124 years old." Jin was rather impressed that it had been in service for that long. "It''s almost noon. Let''s go home. While they were repairing the pumps, it was almost noon. Jin and Helga returned to the village chief''s house. "Welcome home. Here is soba for lunch. Do you like it, Jin-san? Meena had prepared lunch. It seemed that "Jin-san" had taken root in Meena''s mind. Yes, I love soba. "Yes, that''s good." Meena looked relieved and started to boil soba in a large pot. "Oh, Helga, please put out the dishes for me. "Yes, Mom." "Well, what should I do to help ......?" Seeing Helga starting to help Meena, Jin also came forward. "Oh, you don''t have to do anything, Jin-san. You don''t have to do anything, Jin-san. Besides, I heard. I heard you fixed the pump. I don''t know how I can thank you for this. "Yes, Jin. Just wait and see! After hearing that from Meena and Helga, Jin had no choice but to withdraw his hand. As it turned out, the soba was delicious enough to satisfy Jin. It was not "zarusoba," but rather "dish-soba. A platter of boiled buckwheat noodles, cooled in water before serving, and soba sauce made with soy sauce as a base. The only disappointment was that there were no condiments such as wasabi (Japanese horseradish). Thank you for the food. It was delicious. "I''m glad you ate all of it." Jin, who loves soba, had eaten all of the four or so servings of soba that were left over. "I''m sorry. "Don''t apologize. You don''t have to apologize. If you leave soba for too long, it loses its flavor. Meena said with a smile. After finishing lunch, we went to the restaurant. After lunch, we were given another tour of the village. "The fields are on the south side of the village. The fields are on the south side of the village. And a topopo field with purple flowers. "Is it a common property?" "Yes, it is. My father laments that it is difficult to assign the work to each family. "I guess so." It is very difficult to assign work to each family without complaints. Not to mention the distribution of food according to the work done. The village of Kaina is unusual in that it is able to do this so easily. "The orchard is on the east side of the village. Loquat and april are the main fruit trees, Helga said. Jin looked at the small green fruits and thought in a corner of his mind that apples are called aplulu in this world, too. 1508 - - 41-09 A childhood friend After lunch, Jin continued to ask Helga to show him around the village. "Are there any stores?" Jin asked. "There is one store that sells daily necessities. Other than that, a peddler comes around once a month. "I see." Jin remembered with nostalgia how Roland used to come around in Kaina Village. "You see, that''s the place." His musings were interrupted by Helga''s voice. "Heh..." The store has the atmosphere of a general store with a wide frontage. "Hello, auntie." Helga approached a middle-aged woman tending the store in the back. She was small and chubby, and her hair was beginning to have some white in it. "Oh, Helga. Who is he?" "His name is Jin-san. Is he our ...... houseguest?" Helga said such a line, which made Jin laugh. At least call me a customer. Helga turned to the lady with a mischievous smile. "Yes, I am. "I don''t understand, you are here to see the chief, right?Would you like to buy something?" "Well, I don''t have anything with me right now. Well, I don''t have any money with me at the moment. "Well, I don''t have any money with me at the moment. ...... Jin, no kidding, is there anything you need? "I can''t remember offhand,......." "Well, why don''t you check out the store?Let me know if there''s anything you need." "Okay." So Jin decided to look around the store. Farm tools such as hoes, plows, sickles, and machetes. There were also colanders and baskets. Kitchen utensils such as pots and knives, brooms, dustpans, and mats. There were also cleaning utensils similar to a tawashi (a kind of scrubbing brush). There were also dishes and small bowls, wooden spoons and forks, and wooden chopsticks. There were also wooden chopsticks. In the back of the room, there are grains such as flour, barley, and buckwheat. Work clothes and shoes in various sizes were also available. "You deal in a lot of things, don''t you? "Well, yes. We have everything you need in the village. The lady shook her big belly and laughed. "Oh, don''t you sell Magi Stones or Magi Crystals? Jin asked as a test, "We don''t have such expensive things. There is no one who can use it. You''d have to ask Lorenz, a peddler, to get it. He said to me. "Magi stones are not so common on this continent," Helga adds. Helga adds. "I see. ......" Jin was disappointed. "Auntie, are you here? Just then, another customer came in. He was a young man with a bow on his back and a machete on his waist. He was about 6 feet tall and solidly built. He said, "There''s one! It would be scary if there were two of them. ...... Oh, it''s Helga! You''re here too. Who''s that? "Oh, Isak. Is he back? "Oh. I got a couple of horned deer. "That''s great. ...... Jin, he''s my childhood friend Isak. He''s a hunter. ...... Isak, this is Jin, he''s a mage. Are you one of our ...... guests?" "I don''t know why you use the question form, but ...... it''s nice to meet you, Jin." "Nice to meet you too." Then the lady at the grocery store interrupted. "Isak, what can I do for you?" "Oh, yeah, yeah. I chipped my machete. I came to buy a whetstone. A whetstone. Hold on a second. ...... Oh, I''m afraid we''re out of them. "Yeah, right." Isak took the old machete from his waist and looked at it ruefully. "Why don''t you get a new one?" Helga suggested, but Isak shook his head. I like this one my father gave me. I''m going to use it until it''s useless, then I''m going to buy a new machete. You''re stubborn, just like your uncle. "We''re father and son." The two exchange casual conversation, as if they have known each other since childhood. Jin was a little concerned about something and interrupted. "Isn''t there much stone around here?" Isak answered. "Stone?Well, we can''t get any. When you dig it up, it''s just dirt and sand. "Well, ......, you said there''s a river, right?Can''t you find rocks there?" "Of course, there are stones in the riverbed, but what are you going to do?" What do you do?What do you do?" "What? What?What? Grinding stones are in the river?Can you make one in the first place? "Yes, you can make them ......, or rather, that''s how you get them in the first place." "Is that so ......?" I was a little worried about the education in this village, and even before that, what kind of wisdom of daily life they have. I see. "I see, so this is the riverbank. Jin, Helga, and Isak had arrived at the banks of the Nosina River. It was about an hour''s walk from the village of Taji. "We were in the middle of the river, maybe a little upstream. Jin judged this from the size of the stones lying around. The average size of the stones was about the size of a baby''s head, and some of the larger ones were more than a hundred pounds. "Is it possible to tell by looking at them like that?" Isak looked at Jin curiously as he stroked the surface of the stones. In fact, he was using to check the quality of the stone. "Yes, I think this one and this one will make good whetstones. Jin selected two huge rocks. "Hey, hey, we can''t take something that big home with us," he said. "No, I''ll process it here. ......<><>>>>>>" "Huh!" Isak watched in amazement as a large rock was shaped into a block in no time. "The stones here are good. Not only quartz, but also corundum particles are mixed in, and the grain size is almost uniform." "......" Jin produced a dozen grinding stones from the two rocks. "This one is a rough grindstone and this one is a medium grindstone. I couldn''t find any for finishing. ...... hmm, what''s wrong?" "......" Helga and Isak were speechless at the sight of Jin''s skill. 1509 - - 41-10 Opening Jin and the other three return with a total of 12 whetstones, four for each of them. They give one rough whetstone and one medium whetstone to Isak and Helga, and take the rest to the general store. "Wow, these look like good whetstones. Okay, I''ll buy it from you. ...... I''ll give you 50 dollars for each one." Not knowing the value of money, Jin said that was fine, and bought four rough grinding stones and four medium grinding stones from me. The total price was 400 tol. (I guess the currency unit is the same. ...... Maybe it is a very close parallel world after all.) As Jin received the money, he thought. But at any rate, Jin now had a little bit of money in his pocket. "Would you like to buy something?" The lady at the grocery store ...... Sonya laughed with a businesslike smile. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I''ve got a ...... thing going on!" At dinner Helga reported to her father Sergey and her mother Mina about what had happened during the day. "Wow, Jin-san can do so many things! Meena was frankly impressed, "Then, why don''t you open a <> or something like that?" Sergei said something about the future. "A workshop ......?" As for Jin, that is what he would like to see. First of all, it would serve the purpose of creating a place in this world. "In the beginning, I think it will be mostly repair-related," he said. It is inevitable, after all, since materials are scarce. Jin was aware of this. "I think we can get the funds from the village budget. I''m sure Jin-kun will be able to pay us back in no time. I''ll do my best. The conversation proceeded just as smoothly as it had started. "But I''m not sure I can trust you that much. Jin felt a little sorry. "If you were fooled, it''s only because I have no discernment. Sergei laughed. "Jin fixed my knife and helped Isak find a whetstone. If you were a bad guy, you wouldn''t have done that. Jin wondered if that was true, but he did not say so. "Thank you very much. He bowed his head. He bowed his head and said, "Thank you very much. A week later. Jin''s was completed. The reason it was done so quickly is not because of the magic of ....... It was because we found an empty house and added some work to it. The location is prime. It is at the corner of a radial road running west from the village headman''s house and the first ring road. "This is such a nice place ....... I feel bad." Jin was a little afraid of the situation, "What? It''s the only mage store in the village. It''s not even enough. Sergei answered half jokingly. His wife Meena was silent and smiling at him. Then came ....... "Hey, Jin." "Oh, you''re Isak!" For some reason, Helga answered for Jin. "Congratulations on your opening. I''ve got a job for you right away. Isak said, and held out a knife with a splintered blade. "Helga told me that you fixed the chipped knife.If so, you can fix this knife too, right?It''s too much trouble to sharpen it. Jin took the knife and checked it. Indeed, the blade was chipped so badly that it would be difficult to sharpen it. "Let''s see, <>. ......Yes, I can fix it. "Good. It''s my favorite knife. When will you fix it then?Tomorrow?The day after tomorrow? No, I''ll fix it right now. "He?" With Isak''s speech slipping out, Jin performed a series of engineering magic. "<><>>, and <>,...... and..." "What the hell is that,......?" "It''s just a knife that''s been used a lot and the carbon content was right at one percent. But it was a little too hardened and brittle, so I made some adjustments. I also applied some toughening to it, so it should be less prone to spills." "That''s a big help ......, no!" This is the second time he''s seen Jin use magic, but Isak''s excitement is far from over. "Isak, that''s why Jin is like this. You have to get used to it." Helga seems to have already gotten used to Jin''s out-of-this-world personality even though they have only known each other for a short period of time. Or maybe she just accepted him as a mage because she had no preconceived notions of what a mage should be like. "...... I get it. Anyway, I just know that Jin is awesome. So ......, how much does it cost to fix it?" "Uh, ......." Jin ponders. It is difficult to set a price for such work. "You haven''t decided. ...... Then I''ll leave you 300 tol for the half of the knife. That''s fine, Helga." "Yes, I think half is reasonable." That''s the deal. Jin-san, I''ll tell you what. Hire an assistant. "What?" After Isak left, Mina, who had been watching silently, spoke up. "From the looks of it, Jin, I don''t think you''re suited for this kind of business. Even Sergei said something like that. Jin couldn''t even utter a sound. "Is anyone here?" Sergei asked his wife, Mina, "How about you, Katya? The answer came back. "Yes, Tanya''s daughter, niece of Sonya, the grocer?" "Yes. Yes. She can do the math, and she''s a good girl. "Katya. Yes, that''s good, isn''t it? Helga agrees. "Let''s see... ......" Jin was amazed at the way the conversation was progressing without him. "Oh Jin, I''m sorry. Ka-cea is a friend of Helga''s, and she is the niece of Sonya, the grocer. "Is that so?" She''s a quiet girl, but she''s smart. How about some help? Well, I''m not in a position to judge, so I''ll leave it to Sergei and the others. That was all Jin could say. "Okay. Then let''s talk about it right away. I''m Katya. "My name is Katya. It''s nice to meet you. "It''s nice to meet you too." That same day, he and his parents had an arrangement, and on the first day of business, Jin''s workshop had an employee. 1510 - - 41-11 On-site repair Katya is 19 years old this year, the same age as Helga. She had semi-short blond hair, blue-green eyes, and round glasses. Jin''s first impression was that this world already has glasses. And his slightly frightened way of speaking reminded Jin of Erza. "Well, I was told that I could work as an accountant. "Yes, that''s right. I''m looking forward to working with you. "Yes, my name is Ka-Chair. Nice to meet you. I''m Jin. Nice to meet you. Jin-san, is that correct? Or should I call you manager or boss? Jin thought, "I don''t want to be the boss just because I''m the owner of the workshop, "<> is fine. Jin replied. "Yes. Jin-san then. Do you have a ledger? "I don''t have ......." Then, paper and pen and ink are at ....... "No, not that either." Then Katya sighed. "Okay. No wonder Meena is ...... worried. I''ll go to my aunt''s store and get some. Don''t worry, I''ll have her pay for it. His face became a little stern and his tone of voice changed a little. After saying these words to Jin, Ka-cea quickly left his workshop. "......I don''t understand this girl. ......" "Cachair is usually quiet and withdrawn, but when he tries to do serious work, he gives it his all." "Whoa!" Jin was startled by a voice behind him. "Oh my God, that''s so rude!" "No, you just came up behind me and started talking to me." "I''ve been here since a while ago.I''ve been here since when you went shopping." Was I? Actually, she had been trying to surprise him by quietly approaching him, but Helga kept quiet about it. "So, I got you a job. The daughter of the village chief, indeed. "Oh, really? And?" The bathtub is not working well at Mr. Bertrand''s house. The bathtub... ...... Most of the bathtubs in this village use wood. They are roasted by a flame, which produces smoke and soot. Jin stopped to take a look first. "Oops, I guess we''ll have to wait until Katya comes back. "That''s true." Jin and Helga spent about ten minutes in idle conversation. "Sorry to keep you waiting. KaChea came back with her luggage. "Hi, Helga. "Katya, you''re working hard right away." "Yes, yes, thank you ......." "You know, I got a request to fix the bathtub at Mr. Bertrand''s house." When Katya heard this, her face tightened a little. "A repair request, huh? ...... Jin-san?" "Yes. I''ll go down there first. "Okay. I''ll go with you. What about the restaurant? I''ll watch the store for you. Come back as soon as you can, okay? I was thinking of closing the door when Helga came forward. "Okay. Thank you. I''m off, Helga. Do you know where the house is? Yes, yes, I know ....... Without hesitation, Katya led Jin to the Bertrand house. "Hello. First of all, as they knew each other, Katya greeted him. "Oh, that''s unusual. It''s you, Katya. What''s wrong with you today?" A woman who looks like the hostess comes out. "Well, I''m here to ...... fix ...... the bathtub." What?Oh, Helga-chan told me!That''s Jin-san, isn''t it? Thank God. Please take a look. Yes, okay... And which way is the bathtub? This way. Jin was led to the back of the house. "This is it..." "Oh, this is ......." It is quite old, but it has a water heater that uses magi crystals. In other words, it doesn''t need firewood. It is a high-class bathtub in this village. Incidentally, the chief''s house used the same type of bathtub. "How is it?Do you think it can be fixed? "I''ll check it out." Jin bent down and used . "Well, ...... the magecrystals are not broken. It seems that the heat conduction of the heat-generating part is not good. Jin checked various things. "Jin-san, what do you think?" Katya asked softly. "Yes, it will be fixed without any problem. "That''s great!" Hearing this, Bertrand''s wife looked relieved. My husband likes to take a bath, and he gets in a bad mood if he doesn''t take a bath for a day. Yesterday and the day before, we went to our neighbor''s to borrow a bathtub. Now he''s happy. "Then let''s get it fixed right away. Jin started to say, "Let''s fix it right away," but Ka-cea stopped him. Wait a minute, Mr. Jin. How long will it take you to fix it?) (What?(What? With engineering magic, about 5 minutes even if you do it slowly.) (With engineering magic, it takes about 5 minutes even if you do it slowly. Please take 15 minutes to fix it. Can you do it?) Yeah, no problem.) Then, Katya turns to the owner. "Well, I''d like to give you an estimate of the repair cost. May I?" "Yes, of course. I bought it second-hand from Lorenz and it cost me 19,900 dollars. I bought it secondhand from Lorenz, and it cost me 19,900 dollars. Mr. Jin, please fix it. "OK." Jin started the repair work. He adjusted the heat-generating parts, repaired the heat-conducting parts, and even improved the overall efficiency and reduced the oxidized metal parts (dioxygenation), finishing in 16 minutes. "Now it''s fixed. If you need anything else, please come to Jin''s workshop. Thus ended the first on-site repair service at Zinn. 1511 - - 41-12 peddlers Jin''s workshop has been receiving repair requests one by one after hearing of his reputation. Repairing knives, farming tools, and magic tools. Most of the requests are for repairs because the materials are not available at the moment, so new products cannot be made. Even so, the average number of repair requests is two per day, so the company has been steadily accumulating funds. However, I had to borrow money when I built the workshop. The repairs are done with engineering magic and require almost no capital, but the debt is significant. In five days Jin had done thirteen repairs, earning a total of 20,000 TL, but.., "Still, at this rate, I don''t know when I''ll be able to pay off my debt. Jin said to himself. The total amount of his debts had reached about 250,000 dollars. In addition, he also owes money to Katya. Jin-san, uh, uh, maybe today or tomorrow, Mr. Lorenz, the peddler, will come. Katya spoke to Jin. She knows a lot more about management and accounting than Jin does, and can be relied on. I''m sure you can get some materials, and if you ask her, I''m sure she will bring more next time she comes. "I see." "Besides, if you have something to sell to Mr. Lorenz, we can get some foreign currency, or money from outside the village." For now, the money is only circulating within the village, and it is hard to say that it will make the village richer, said Katjea. When he talks like this, Cachier is very eloquent. "It is impossible to make money only in the small society of the village. ......" "That''s true, too. ......" Nevertheless, there is little that can be made because of the lack of materials. "Who is this Mr. Lorenz and what kind of goods does he deal with?" "Well, he is a merchant in a large town called Lawhon, about three days'' ride south from here. "Speaking of which, what is the capital of this country?Oh, I don''t even know the name of the country. "Oh, you don''t even know the name of the country.Is that where you are from?" As expected, this question seemed to have taken him aback a bit. Still, Katya explained the situation well. "This country is the Principality of Mercana. The capital is in the south, near the seaside. "Thank you for ......." After all this time, Jin regretted that he had not asked the important information earlier. The next day, after such a conversation, he asked me if I had heard anything about the "Maharigu". The next day after the conversation, Lorenz came to Tajee village. It was 8:00 in the morning. He opened his store in the multipurpose plaza to the south of the village. Remembering Roland''s visit to the village of Kaina, Jin also went there. "Wow!" I couldn''t help but let out such a voice as I saw the huge stalls spread out. Clothing, daily necessities, luxury goods. Foodstuffs, seasonings, preserved sweets. Tools. Tools, tools, and a small amount of various materials were laid out on folding tables. There were not one or two sellers, but five, and each seemed to have a different role to play, such as store keeper, treasurer, and so on. Jin thought that they probably came with several horse-drawn wagons. "Isn''t it amazing?" I turned around at the sound of his voice and saw Helga. "They call it peddling, but this is a caravan. Jin agreed. "By the way, who is this Lorenz?" Jin asked Helga, taking advantage of the opportunity. "Oh, Mr. Lorenz is talking to my father right now. Helga pointed to a simple but sturdy carriage in which they were meeting. It was the carriage that caught Jin''s attention. "A plate-spring suspension. ...... It''s quite well thought out." It is also called leaf-spring suspension, which consists of several plate springs of different lengths stacked on top of each other. Friction is generated when they bend, which also acts as a damper. This system is still in use in Japan today, and is used in trucks and other vehicles. There was something that caught Jin''s attention even more than that. It was a golem. Although it was called a horse-drawn carriage, it looked like a golem, not a horse that pulled the carriage. In other words, it should be called a cart, not a carriage. Golem is about 2 meters tall. In a word, it is a stout man. They look powerful. It was assumed that five of them would be towing a cart. "If the golem is going to tow the cart, the number of guards will be minimal. Jin was positive about the idea. "Hey, isn''t that a great golem?" "Yes, it''s always scary ......." Helga and Katya had arrived at Jin''s side. "They say they are ten or twenty times more powerful than humans." And another one, Isak. "Yeah. ......" Jin gave a vague nod. Actually, I think it''s a pretty good golem. But that''s all. "Is this a golem for hard labor?" So I let out a soliloquy like that. "What?" "For hard labor?" "How ...... do you know that, huh?" "Because the power source is distributed in a way that emphasizes power over speed, and the center of gravity is low, isn''t it?" The center of gravity is especially useful to distinguish such applications. The higher the center of gravity, the more emphasis is placed on movement, or speed, and the lower the center of gravity, the more it is suited for heavy work, such as carrying heavy objects. "How can you tell that just by looking at it? ......" "Who are djinn?" "......" As expected, Isak, Helga, and KaChea looked at me with dismay. * * * * "I see, an unidentified mage, huh?" "I don''t think he''s dangerous, though. I''ve been watching him for the past few days and he''s been doing some good for the village. "Hmm." "I asked Katya, who is helping him with his work, and she told me that he is not a dangerous man. He said that he didn''t seem to know the name of the country or its capital. "I see. If that''s true, ...... I really wonder where he came from. So, what do you want to do? I''ll meet him later and talk to him myself. "That would be best." 1512 - - 41-13 Questions and Answers and the inside and outside of the story "Excuse me, are you Jin-san?My name is Lorenz and I am the head of this merchant company. As Jin was looking around the stalls, it was Lorenz who approached him. "Oh, hello there. Yes, I''m Jin. "That''s great. May I have a moment of your time? Yeah, sure. Can I help you? No, I''ve heard that you are a very skilled magi engineer and I''d like to talk to you. With these words, Lorenz invited Jin into one of the carts. Inside the cart was a small living space with a table and chairs for business meetings. The man asked, "Would you like something to drink?We have tea, juice, and wine. "Oh, tea, then." "Tea." "Yes, sir." Lorenz put the tea leaves in the pot and poured hot water. The nostalgic aroma tickled Jin''s nostrils. "...... green tea?" Lorenz looked at Jin''s face. "You know it well, don''t you? You seem to be very familiar with green tea, you can tell just by smelling it. Where are you from?Are you from the south? "No, I don''t really know. ......" "Oh, well, the mayor told me about you. I heard that he was lying by the spring. As he places a cup of tea in front of Jin, Lorenz spins his words without hesitation. "So it seems. I don''t remember. I found myself in the village headman''s house. "Oh." Lorenz takes a sip of tea himself. Seeing this, Jin also took a cup of tea. "Ah, it''s delicious. The nostalgic taste and aroma of green tea. It must have been only 10 days since he last drank it, but it tasted very nostalgic to him. "That''s good. Let''s go to ...... and, well, let me get down to business." "Yes." "I''m a merchant, so I''m always on the lookout for products that will sell. Yes, I understand. Jin nodded. "And now, Mr. Jin. You say you don''t know where you came from. I think that means you have knowledge that is not available around here, don''t you? "I see." "So, to conclude, I was wondering if you could give me some information about something that could be sold. Of course, I will pay you for your ideas. This was not a great opportunity for Jin, but it was a good development for him. He would be able to earn money while gathering information about this world. Jin decided to ask, as he thought of it, if such things were being made. He was told that lighters, refrigerators, and thermal mugs are available. He also heard that water heaters and hot water heaters are also available, although they are high-end items. "Magi crystals are expensive because they are rarely found in this country. For this reason, magical tools made of magi crystals are also expensive. Lorenz explained to Jin. "Hmmm... ......" Jin was a little worried. Then he decided to change the subject for the time being. "Then, you have a very impressive golem, don''t you? "Yes, yes..." "How is it that you can use a golem for heavy labor to pull a wagon ...... or even a cart?" "What ...... do you mean?" For a moment, Jin felt Lorenz''s face tense up, but he did not care and continued on. "No, I mean exactly what it means. If magi crystals are expensive and magic tools are expensive, then how much is a golem worth? I think it would require a national budget. "......" "Perhaps the golem is also used as a guard, but since you own not one but five golems, I thought you must have spent a lot of money on them." * * * Lorenz could not understand the young man in front of him, Jin. He knew green tea. That means that he is from a very high class family or has connections with someone in such a position. However, even he, who was known to have a good knowledge of people, had no idea who Jin was. Even if it was an alias, he had no recollection of such a person with whom he was talking face to face. With such an unusual appearance of dark eyes and black hair, even a glimpse of him should have remained in a corner of his memory. The more we talked, the more puzzled I became. I tried to make him think that it was a product that could be sold. I thought this would give me a glimpse of Jin''s knowledge. But what was the result? Words such as lighter, refrigerator, thermal mug, hot water heater, water heater, and so on. All of these things could only be made by a highly skilled <. And all the Magi Engineers in this country are controlled by the government. No, they are supposed to be. And yet, this Jin, who seems to be a Magi Engineer, is a freelance Magi Engineer. That''s impossible. And then, Jin drops another bomb. < Until then, Lorenz had explained that magic crystals (magi crystals) are very expensive and so are magic tools. Based on this, a man named Jin had figured out that the golem was worth a national budget. In other words, Jin, a magical engineer (magi engineer), has < knowledge about the golem. And his next words reveal that he is not only <>, but <>. He says that he can also act as an escort. A golem that can also serve as an escort is not a low-class golem that can only do the simple tasks that we tell it to do. In other words, it must be autonomous enough to act against an incoming foreign enemy with just a few words such as <> or <>, or it cannot be an escort. Who in the world is a freelance magical engineer (Magi Engineer)...... who knows so much, Lorenz''s vigilance grew even stronger. * * * * "......" Jin was puzzled. Not at the merchant Lorenz in front of him. It was more about the level of technology in this country rather than in this world ....... So I decided to ask him the big question that came to my mind while we were talking. "By the way, Mr. Lorenz, what do you know about countries outside of this continent?" "What?How did you know that? For some reason, Lorenz''s behavior became even more suspicious, which made Jin puzzled. "Mr. Lorenz, did you hear something bad? * * * * * * Lorenz was puzzled by Jin''s question about the Pandor continent. The question is incoherent. Or, more precisely, the of the question. One minute you are asking questions that even a child knows, and the next minute you are talking like a top-notch magi engineer. Even Lorenz, a man of a thousand men and women, could not understand the person of Jin. And the next words that came out of Lorenz''s mouth were so insane that even the man himself thought he was insane. "Mr. Jin, where do you come from?" 1513 - - 41-14 Doubt "Is it ...... where you are from?" "Yes." What do you mean by that?" Jin was surprised that Lorenz, whom he thought of as a merchant, asked such a direct question. "No, your knowledge seems to be so varied that I was wondering if you were not originally from this country." "I see. ......" It is true that I understand that the questions I asked were at different levels. However, Jin could not decide if there would be any problem if he told the truth here. If Reiko or the old man were around, Jin was literally on his own now. If something beyond his control occurred, he would have no way to deal with it. Jin remembered the time when he was surrounded by the soldiers led by Count Walter in the village of Kaina. (What would have happened if Reiko had not been there at that time?) If he had been falsely accused, how long would it have taken to prove his innocence if he had been captured, and what would have been done to him in the meantime? Jin could not decide whether Lorenz, who was in front of him, was a person to whom he could confide honestly or not. Therefore, he decided to explain the facts in a somewhat blurred manner, although he would not tell a lie. "I think that I might have been involved in some kind of transition, some kind of accident. I don''t have a clear memory of it. Jin thinks that even if he is lying about not having a clear memory, he can make an excuse like <>, so he will be able to handle it. "Are you a transference system ......?" Lorenz looked surprised when he heard the word "transference". "All of the transfer magic circle or warp gates are supposed to be controlled by the state. In other words, Jin-san was in a position to obtain such permission, right? "Is that so?" Jin maintains his attitude of not knowing for sure. "If this country ...... is not from the Principality of Mercana, then it must be from the country on the other side of the river, <>. ......" Jin was disappointed inside. He had never heard of the Principality of Juggs. (A parallel world, after all. ......) Jin renewed his determination to establish a new base. * * * * * * More and more, Lorenz could not recognize the young man Jin. It is difficult to determine whether his vague memory is true or false. And even if it is a lie, we cannot unilaterally condemn it. It depends on what Jin said next. . Lorenz is told that this is a magical technology that was put to practical use several hundred years ago. Its benefits were great, revolutionizing logistics and the movement of people. On the other hand, since it could also be used for military purposes, it has a history of being controlled entirely by the state, as discussed among the nations at that time. It should not be possible to use the transference for personal use. Not because of the law, but because it is too advanced in terms of maintenance and technology. If it is true that he came to this village by means of this transfer, then Jin may be a person of global importance. It was beyond the level of Lorenz, a mere intelligence agent, to make such a judgment. Yes, Lorenz was not only a merchant, but also an intelligence agent who investigated and reported the situation in various places. * * * * * * * * * Anyway, even though they are on the opposite shore, they are more than 2,000 kilometers apart by sea. It is not easy to come and go. "That''s a long way. ...... Is there no way to fly there?" After he said this, Jin thought he had lost it, but it was too late. Once the words were out of his mouth, they could not be taken back. "Means of flight?Are you talking about airships or balloons?That''s the kind of thing that should only be owned by the state. ......" Lorenz''s eyes grew hard. "Is that so? ...... No, I''ve just heard of them." Jin had no choice but to deceive. "Even if that''s the case,...... I wonder who Jin-san really is." At any rate, the discussion between Lorenz and Jin had to end for the time being. They could not continue any longer due to time constraints. It was almost lunchtime, and the vendor had to report to Lorenz about the items sold and the sales. But.., "Would you like to have lunch with us? and he agreed to do so. "This is delicious." Jin is engrossed in eating the . White rice. <, would be pleased with this as well. "Hmmm, maybe Jin-san is not from this continent after all. "So ...... is it?" Jin replied vaguely to Lorenz''s line. "If you have a chance, you should visit Mahaliegh. "That''s the capital, isn''t it?" "Yes. The culture is ...... very different from that of a provincial village, if I may say so. I''m sure it is. Lorenz seemed to be thinking about it as he watched Jin pick up a piece of grilled dried fish. * * * * "Ah, Jin-san, how was the business meeting?" "What?" Ka-Chea asks Jin, who has returned to the workshop after lunch. "Well, ...... what have you been doing?" "Oh, ......." Jin explains that he ended up being asked about himself and many other things. "Hah ...... Jin-san is really not good for business." "That''s a shame." KaChea sighed and Jin scratched his head. "I''ll go back." As Jin was about to turn around, Katya stopped him. "Oh, no. There''s a repair order." "Oh, I see." The village headman says the pump at the east end of the village has broken down and he needs you to fix it. Okay. I''ll be right there." Jin has been contributing to Tajee village in his own way and is getting to know the villagers well. (I would like to set up a base in this village if possible, but I don''t know if ...... is possible.) On his way to repair the pump, Jin is thinking and worrying about many things. 1514 - - 41-15 Golem Repair The day after the conversation with Lorenz, i.e. July 12. Jin thought that there was some kind of commotion in the square. Then Sergei, the mayor of the village, came in. "Jin, may I have a word with you? "Yes, yes. Can I help you? Sergei led Jin to the back of the workshop, out of sight, and asked him a question in a low voice. "Jin, can you repair that ...... golem?" Jin wondered for a moment how he should answer, "I won''t know until I see it. There are some malfunctions that can''t be repaired without materials. He answered in a safe way. "That''s right. As a matter of fact, one of the five golems that Mr. Lorenz has with him has gone bad. "Is that what you mean?" Jin thought that was the case in all probability. There was no other golem. Then, please do it right away. I''ll get right on it. ...... Katya, will you take care of the store? Yes, sir. After leaving the store to Katya, Jin and Sergei head for the plaza. "How are you, Jin? Have you gotten used to this village? Yes, thanks to you. It''s a nice village, isn''t it? I''m glad to hear you say so. While exchanging such words, the two arrived at the plaza. "Ah, Mr. Jin, thank you for coming! Laurenz came running up to them. "Did Sergey tell you what happened?" "Yes, he said something was wrong with the Golem. "Yes, he did. I have to go home tomorrow, but I can''t manage to load a carload at this rate ......." The merchant was pushing himself to load the goods, and if he couldn''t carry a cartload, he would lose a lot of money even if he came back later to pick it up. "Please!Considering the loss, I don''t care if it costs a lot!" "Let''s just take a look." Jin decided to first diagnose the golem that was in bad shape. "Is this it? ......How about this<><>......I see..." An endoskeletal golem. A little like Adriana''s golem. Information such as ...... that it has an ether converter was revealed. "So you can tell?" "Yes, it does. ...... Mr. Lorenz, this golem has worn down every joint ...... especially the hip joint. It is on the verge of dislocation. No wonder he can''t exert his strength. "Oh, really?So, can you repair it? "To do that, we need materials. Considering the skeleton of this golem, it is steel. Do you have any ...... steel material?" "Steel ......? No, not as a material. For products, there are machetes and iron pots. Jin thought for a moment and decided to use one of the machetes. "Well, I''ll take it apart first, Mr. Lorenz. "Uh, yes." Lorenz does as Jin instructed. A spare piece of cloth to display the goods is spread out on a flat surface. It is on the ground, but it does not matter because it is not a precision job. Then he makes the golem lie down, "<>" Lorenz chanted the key word and made it stop. "Thank you very much." Jin finally started to disassemble the golem. Around this time, some villagers who were not busy came and started to watch Jin''s work from a distance. "Wow, that''s amazing," he said. "I didn''t know Jin could do this. "Wow, I didn''t know a golem could do this." And then Helga and ...... Katya, who was supposed to be tending to the store, arrived. Well, there''s nothing to steal. "Wow, that''s amazing!" Jin Jin is an amazing person, isn''t he?" Jin first disassembled the golem from the waist down. "It looks like Adriana''s lineage. ...... I guess we can come to the same conclusion when we try to make it behave like a human being." The golem was not much different from the golems Jin had known, although it had some uniqueness that was typical of this world. "What do you think?Jin-san, do you think you can fix it? Lorenz looks worried. "Yes, this will be fine. Jin replied in an extraordinarily cheerful voice, as if to cheer her up. "Well, ...... muscles are not made of ...... biological materials, are they?" Jin removes the metallic magic muscle (magical muscle) at once. His deftness is fascinating to watch. "Yes, it''s quite impressive, isn''t it?" (I knew it! ...... where in the world did he come from?) Lorenz stares at Jin''s work, half wanting to have it repaired and half wanting to take this opportunity to gather information. "It''s still badly worn. ......" <, when he actually saw the joints, the degree of wear and tear on the joints was noticeable. "Look, look here. It''s in such a bad shape. Jin said to me, I see. Can you fix ...... this?" "That''s easy." Jin picked up the machete he had been offered, "<><><>>>" He used engineering magic in succession. "Na,na,na,na ......" "Yeah, yeah, yeah!" What the hell is that? All onlookers were astonished at the feat. The hip joint was repaired in five seconds. "Also, my knee joint was pretty rickety," he said. The knee joint had been strained by long hours of walking. Jin repaired that joint as well. "The other joints can be managed just by adjusting the gap. Jin then works on all the joints in his body. "That''s it. This takes about five minutes. Jin then attaches the Magical Muscle to the body as before, and assembles the exterior. He also cleans up the parts that are starting to rust and finishes the work. "It''s done. Please try to move it. ...... Mr. Lorenz?Mr. Lorenz!" Jin called loudly to Lorenz, who froze and did not move. "......, ah, thank you very much. The golem began to move. From what Jin could see, the movement was smooth, a far cry from what it had been before the repairs. "Yes, it seems to be all right." Jin nodded his head in satisfaction. Jin was also satisfied to be able to experience the golem technology of this world. Lorenz, on the other hand, was even more wary of Jin, who had repaired the Golem so quickly. 1515 - - 41-16 Prosperity "Thank you very much, Mr. Jin. You''ve been very helpful." Lorenz bowed deeply to Jin. "No, sir. I''m glad you could make it. So, how much do I owe you for the repairs? "Well, ......." Jin thought for a moment and then realized that Katya was coming. "Oh, Cachair, you''re in the right place. I wonder how much ...... this repair is going to cost?" "Yes,...... you''re asking me that?" I''m not sure how much it will cost me, "I''d say 20 to 40% of the cost of a new one," he replied. I replied with a general answer. "That is also true. Then I will give you 30 percent, or 60,000 dollars. Lorenz took out six gold coins. Jin, who had also understood the approximate value of the currency over the past few days, realized that one toll was about 10 yen. One tole was about ten yen, which was about the same as its value in Ars. This was one of the reasons why Jin guessed that this world was a parallel world. "They were used and disposed of, so I got five of them for one million dollars." Cacha looked at him as if to say, "Isn''t that too cheap? >>Lorenz explained as if to add, "I see. "I see. So it was used. In that case, it would be better to have the other four serviced later. Hearing this, Lorenz thought for a moment, "Mr. Jin, can you help me?" He asked again, "Mr. Jin, can you do it for me? "Yes, that would be fine. Then, please take care of it! Considering the possibility of a breakdown on the way home, it was obvious that it would be desirable to repair and maintain the car on the spot. Jin gladly accepted the offer. The same procedure was repeated four times. All five golems were now running smoothly. "How about 50,000 dollars for each one, since they are not repaired but serviced? Katya is charging Lorenz. Lorenz accepted it with a smile. "Ha, you are a very clever young lady, aren''t you? He then offered her 200,000 dollars. With this income, Jin was unexpectedly able to clear his debt. "Well, that was fortuitous," said Jin in a good mood. Jin was in a good mood. "No, no, it was just a coincidence, but it was only because of Jin-san''s skill. He was able to pay Katya, who corrected him. "But still, Mr. Jin, the repair time is too short." Jin was warned by Chair. "It should have taken about 10 times as long to repair it." "Yes. ....... I''m sorry." Because it was a golem, Jin forgot himself. "But, well, I was able to sell the material at a reasonable price. Jin got a few bronze ingots and the rest of the machete he used to repair the joint. He also promised to find a few small magic crystals for me the next time he comes to the village. * * * * * * The villagers'' reactions to Jin''s skill were divided into two. "Amazing! "I didn''t know he could do that. I''m glad Jin came to this village." Some were honestly impressed, "It''s kind of scary..." "I wonder if magic can do anything?...... maybe even bad things." and those who have an inexpressible fear. However, even though they were afraid, it was not a big problem because everyone was relieved when they learned of Jin''s good character. Jin''s life changed a little after that. The number of requests for repairs increased dramatically. Jin-san, we have nine requests today. All of them are for repairs. "Okay. I''ll have to be quick about it. I''m slowly building up my reserves. It seems that we are making progress toward the goal of establishing a base. The problem was Lorenz''s evaluation of Jin. * * * * "...... is undoubtedly a first-rate, top-notch magical engineer (Magi Engineer)." "It seems so." On the return carriage,...... or rather in the golem car, Lorenz was talking with his men. I have never known anyone who could do such a thing. "I wonder if they are from the next continent. "That''s very likely. I also doubt that he claims to have a hazy memory. Indeed. We haven''t been in contact with the neighboring continent for almost 200 years now, have we?" "That''s right. Yes. We''ve been in seclusion, if you will. It is said that they decided to go their own way about 200 years ago, not wanting to be interfered with by the other continent. "But looking at his skills, I''m not sure that''s really true. ......" "Don''t say it." Lorenz interrupts his subordinate. I was out of line. I''ve heard that the continent has seen its fair share of wars in the past. But considering that, I''d say our country is at peace. "That is true." The cart pulled by the golem moved forward, cart by cart. The cart went on and on. "You''re really good, Jin!" Helga visits Jin''s workshop every day. More than half of the time he spends chatting with his friend Ka-cea, but sometimes he also brings him work, so Jin can''t complain. "Today, I need you to maintain a large pump on the northern edge of the village. "Okay. I''ll do it right away. "Mr. Jin, when you are finished, please go to Mr. Neska''s house in the northern area. He says his hoe is broken and he''s in trouble. "Yes, sir." KaChea''s management was going well, and Jin was enjoying his days to the fullest. However, the storm was gradually approaching. 1516 - - 41-17 Invitation A week after repairing Lorenz''s golem. Jin has been busy. His work consists mainly of repairing tools and magic tools. However, after working so hard, it seems that most of the items that need repairing are gone, and after one day, the number of requests has drastically decreased. Now we receive only one or two simple repair requests a day. "Mr. Jin, what are you doing at ......? "Yes, I''m making a golem. "You''re making a golem? "What?" "Oh, Helga!" Helga''s loud voice came out of nowhere, and Jin and Katya looked at her in surprise. "Hey, Jin, can you make a golem? "Well, if you ask me if I can or can''t make one, I can. But that''s impossible because we don''t have the materials right now. "What?I told you that I''m making it right now. ......" I didn''t say that. I was just about to say that we''re getting ready to make a golem. It''s not the same thing. It''s very different. In the first place, since we can''t get the magi crystals to make the control core, we can''t make a golem in any way. Therefore, Jin was thinking of various new innovations in preparation for this. How to make a golem with only one control core, not <>, but <> golem? How can we make a golem that can control the movements of its limbs without using magical nerves? How to obtain speed, strength and accuracy of movement without using magical muscles? etc, etc, etc, etc. <. Therefore, in his spare time ......, or rather, since he has been having free time recently, Jin has been working on this problem. Since he had never considered a golem with such restrictions on materials, it was a good subject for him. "The Stone Golem ...... is out of the question." It can only do simple tasks, and even if it has power, it does not have speed. The crystal golem of Stearena is worth considering. The joints are softened by < to give it a smooth movement. "Still, I can''t do without at least a magic stone (magistone) ......." Even after asking Helga and Katya, they did not know how to obtain magi stones or magi crystals. "I should have asked Mr. Lorenz. ......" Jin feels that they may have been imported from somewhere. "I''ll ask him next time I see him. I''ll ask him next time I see him. ...... if I haven''t forgotten. And also about the currency." I was wondering where the currency is made in this world. "Is it because it''s the same design ...... parallel world as Ars, or ......?" Jin wondered, even though it was still three weeks away. * * * * However, the turning point came unexpectedly quickly. It was the 19th of July when the sun was shining brightly. "Jin, is that you?" A mature man visited Jin''s store. He had dark brown hair and blue-gray eyes. He was tanned and had a rugged appearance. He is flanked and flanked by four lightly armed soldiers. "Yes, sir, I''m Jin. "I see." The older man stared at Jin intently. "You mean ......?" "Oh, I''m sorry. My name is Jed Alamordo. I am the secretary of Paelova Sondvik, the regional administrator who manages this region. "And what ...... does this secretary have to say for herself?" "Well, ...... I don''t want to stand around and talk. Is there somewhere we can talk in peace? "Oh, please come in then." Jin invited the man who introduced himself as Jed Alamoldo into the store. Two of his guards stood guard outside the store while the other two followed him inside. "Mr. Jin?" Inside the store, Ka-cea was cleaning. "Oh, sorry, Katya. Could you leave me alone for a moment, please? "Yes, yes." Sensing the strange atmosphere of being followed by an escort, Katya walked out of the store with a broom and a dustpan. "I''m sorry." No, thank you. I''m ...... sorry I can''t offer you a drink." That''s okay. That''s fine. ...... Well, let''s get right to it. Jed Alamord spoke slowly. Lorenz, the peddler, tells me that you are a mage? "In a manner of speaking." "Yes. ...... so, in this country, mages are very valuable. huh? Paelovasama wants to keep the mages in such a remote place. huh? Jin, who had somehow gotten the drift of the conversation, replied vaguely. "I talked to the village chief before I came here. Jed cut him off, "I''m sorry, but could you please meet with the regional administrator? Then you can decide what to do." He bowed lightly. "Of course, I can assure you of your safety on the way and there. It seems that he was not going to take them away without asking them if they wanted to go. Jin was a little relieved. He couldn''t help but think back to the uproar in the village of Kaina. "Well, what is this place where the regional administrator is located? "Lawhon, about three days south of here by horse-drawn wagon. I''ve prepared a carriage for you. "I see. ......" Jin was a little worried. It would be difficult to gather any more information in this village. Nor would he be able to gather the materials needed for magical engineering. On the other hand, a remote place is better suited to establish a base than a busy place. In addition, he felt indebted to this village for the help he had received. Seeing Jin, Jed Alamoldo said to him "I want you to think about it for a day. I won''t force you to do anything. He left the store with his guards. "Hey, Jin, what are you going to do?" As Jin was thinking alone in the store, Helga came in with a lively voice. "I heard that, didn''t I?What are you going to do?" He had heard it from his father Sergei. Jin thought that the village head was not so talkative, but he kept quiet about it. "Well, I''m still wondering." Helga looked surprised. "What?Because this is your chance, isn''t it?It might be a chance to fill in some of Jin''s fuzzy memories." 1517 - - 41-18 Rapid Deployment "Memory ......? I remember that." Helga looked at Jin as if he was talking about something else. "What?You forgot?" Jin was inwardly flustered. He had forgotten. "No, no, it''s not that, it''s just that I was so familiar with this village..." "Oh, that''s what I meant." Helga also recalled that Jin had recently been going around the village asking for repairs and had gotten to know the villagers well. "As the daughter of the village chief, I''m glad that you like the village, but I think it''s important for you to find yourself, or at least make yourself clear. Helga speaks to Jin with a serious face, as if admonishing him, though she might be offended if she says so. "I''d be most happy if you said you''d like to stay in this village. "Helga, you''re so cool! KaChea praised Helga. "Isn''t she?The future wife of the village chief, right?" "...... yes." Jin wished he hadn''t had that last big rush, but he didn''t say anything about it. "Well, I''ll take the day to think it over." Jin replied ......, but his mind was already made up. He had to go to Lawhon and meet the lord before he could move forward. "Hey, what do you know about the Regional Administrator ......? At first, I was just gathering information. "Well, I don''t hear anything bad about him. "Well, yes. ...... Well, I''ve heard that you are over 40 years old and that you have two children. A son and a daughter, 19 and 16. "Thank you ......" Smiling at the difference in information between Helga and KaChea, Jin looked around the workshop. "It''s safe to say there''s nothing here yet. ......" A stranger would not think it was a workshop. Jin thought with a wry smile, "It won''t be much of a problem if I''m not here. "I''ve got a few repair orders coming in, and I''ve been ......" "...... Jin, does that mean you''re ready to go?" "It hasn''t been a day yet,......." Jin nodded. "Yeah, I was hoping to get some information and ......" "Of course." "But ......" Katya looked like she wanted to say something. She hesitated for a few moments and then opened her mouth. "The regional administrator ...... is a cousin or a second cousin of the king, and the king is ...... a cousin of the king. But he kept his mouth shut. "Are you sure?What is it?" "I don''t ...... know!" Katya turns around. Jin wondered why, but then he noticed one of Jed Alamordo''s guards standing outside the store. But as soon as Jin turned around, the man turned around and walked away. Jin thought that the man did not have good eyesight. * * * * * * That night, Sergei, the mayor of the village, invited Jin to have dinner with him. It was the first home-cooked meal in a while, since Jin had been cooking for himself recently. After dinner, we talked about many things over a cup of wild plant tea, which is unique to this region. And then. "Jin-kun, what are you going to do about the invitation from the regional administrator?" Jin laughed inwardly. "Yes. Anyway, I''d like to get some information now, so I think I''ll go there. "I guess so. Well, you can do whatever you want. If you need anything or have any questions, don''t hesitate to ask. Sergei nodded, half regretfully, half understandably. "Thank you. Well, I still don''t know the geography very well, so I was wondering if you could help me with that." "Well, it''s only natural for a traveler. Wait a minute." Sergei got up from his seat and went to the back to bring a piece of paper. Jin noticed now that was widely used. He had been accustomed to using wooden paper when writing on Horai Island or in the Shoro Kingdom, so he had overlooked the fact that wooden paper was widespread in this world. "I know it''s hard to read because it''s handwritten." Sergei spread out a simplified map on the table. "This is the village of Taj. As you can see, we are at the end of the road. A little to the north is Lake Norigi, which is the source of the Norsina River." "Haha ......" Although hand-drawn, the map clearly showed the location of rivers, roads, villages and towns. "Along the Nosina River, a road has been built. The next village to the south is Fan. It will take you about a day or less. Jin guessed that it was about 30 kilometers. "From Fang, it''s another day to Novella and another day to Lawhong. From Novella, there are three roads: the westernmost road takes you to the village of Kosis, and the eastern road to the village of Lihot. Lawhon is on the middle road. The villages of Tazi, Fan, Novella, Kosis, Likhot, and Lawhon are in the middle of the road. And the villages of Lileaz and Sogyeong across the river. This is all under the jurisdiction of the local officials. "I see. I understand now." From the villages of Kosis and Lohfon, roads extended all the way to the capital city of Mahaliegh. The journey took about three days. "So from here to the capital is six days by horse-drawn carriage." Yes, that would be correct. "Thank you very much." Jin thanked him. Now he understood the geography of the country quite well. If you want to know more about this country, you should go to Lawhon. ...... I''m sorry to say." "True. I wanted you to stay in this village for a long time, Jin-kun, but you can''t help it if you''ve been invited by the ...... regional administrator. Not only Sergei but also Meena looked disappointed. "Well, I guess you can''t make use of your talents in this small village, can you?" "No, I''m not going there all the time. ...... But Sergei denied it. "What are you talking about? The regional administrator has invited me, that''s what I mean." "Oh, really? "Well, your case is unique, and to be honest, I don''t know what will happen. Sergei seems to have some knowledge of the situation because of his position as village head. Perhaps if he refused the invitation, the four men who were supposed to be his escort would take Jin into custody. Jin wondered if that was what the guards had meant when they had been staring at him during the day. "......" Jin could not do anything if he came out to the country. So he decided to assume for the time being that he could not come back. "I''m sorry, I''ve been indebted to you." Jin tried to bow, but Helga stopped him. "Don''t do that. I didn''t mean to help you. If ...... you feel that way, it would be nice if you came back once in a while." Jin stopped bowing and instead nodded broadly. "Yes,...... I would. I''m sure I will." Jin sighed inwardly, wondering how long it would be before he could have a base of operations. The sudden turn of events had thrown Jin''s schedule out of whack. 1518 - - 41-19 Toward Low Phone "Jin-dono, I am sorry for your decision. The next day, when Jin went to Jed Alamordo and told him that he had decided to go to Lawhon, he looked relieved and then in a good mood. He was relieved, and then in a good mood. He imagined that he was happy that he did not have to go through any trouble to take Jin to Lawhong. "Then I want you to spend the day preparing, and I want to leave at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Is that all right?" "Yes." There was no turning back now. Jin was a little sad, because he had spent a little more than half a month in the village, and he was finally getting used to it. "So, this workshop will end today. "......It''s a pity, sir." "It can''t be helped..." Katya looked down sadly. And Helga, who has been showing up every day like a second employee. "If you need anything repaired, I''ll take it for the rest of the day. I understand. "But Jin has been fixing things for the past half month. Helga said, "It has made my life a lot easier. "Thanks to Jin," said Helga. "No, I''m the one who should be thanking you for saving my life. "But I think Jin can live on his own without your help..." What do you think I am? Jin is Jin, right? "......" I couldn''t go into it because I wasn''t wrong. Thank you for everything, Katya. "Thank you, too. I''ve earned a lot of money." "Oh, and tell Isak I said hi." Yes, of course. Isak had gone hunting across the river the day before yesterday. Once he goes out, he doesn''t come back for a week or so. Jin then made a round of the village. He checks the repaired pumps and night-lights. "Well, this should last for another 30 years or so without maintenance. Jin went around the village, satisfied with the workmanship. "Hey, Jin-kun, are you making rounds today?" "Yes, I went to check on the pump I fixed. "It''s working great. It doesn''t make a squeaking sound anymore. "That''s good to hear." After exchanging such conversation here and there, Jin returned to the workshop. He returned to the workshop, where Cachair and ...... Jed Alamoldo were waiting for him. "What is it?Is something wrong? "Yes. I''ve asked Katya to go with me to Lawhon. "Oh, is that so?" Jin asked Katya, and Jed Alamold answered on his behalf. "I''ve talked to him a little, and he''s quite good at math and accounting and so on. I decided to take him to Lawhon for a good opportunity." "...... and that''s what I''m going to do. ......" With a slightly pale face, Katya nodded to Jin. * * * * At night, Jin was lost in thought. (......Elsa ......I wonder if the child has been born yet.........I hope it is safe...) .......No, I''m sure it''s all right, because my mother-in-law, Martha, Dr. Sally, and the old man are all here... ......) I can''t help thinking about it, but I can''t help thinking about it when I''m alone. (What I try not to think about, I am already thinking about. ......) (I''m already thinking about the things I''m trying not to think about. ) Still, during the daytime, I can forget about it by working on repairs, but at night, when everything is quiet around me, I can''t help but think about it. Tomorrow, I will leave for Lawhong. (I wonder if there are any clues in Lawhon.) While Jin was thinking about such things, he fell asleep. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, the clock in the multipurpose plaza of the village reads a little before 7:00 a.m. (Come to think of it, there is a clock like this. (Come to think of it, the presence of such a clock is a little different from that of Ars. ......) Jin secretly checked the clock and found that it tracks the movement of the and reflects it in the hour hand. Only the hour hand, though. (I guess they are following the slight gravity fluctuation. ...... Come to think of it, the moon in this world looks just like the moon in Ars (Uni). I have not noticed it since I don''t walk around at night, but the moon in this world looks just like the moon in Ars (Uny). (I guess it''s a very close parallel world. ...... No, no, no, you must not have strange preconceptions when you go to Lawhon in search of new information). "Jin, good morning,......, sir." I turned around at the sound of his voice and saw that it was Katya. I''m not sure what to do. "...... you have a big baggage." While Jin was carrying only his personal belongings, Katya was carrying a bag in each hand. "Girls have a lot of luggage!" Helga has also arrived. She is carrying a large bag in her hand. "What, Helga''s coming too?" but Helga laughed and shook her head. "Of course not. This is Ka-cea''s luggage. Here, take it for her." "Me? "You have your hands full!" ...... Okay, okay. Jin-san, I''m sorry ...... Sorry, Mr. Jin," said Katya with a sorry look on her face. "No, I''m fine, but did you get Jed''s permission for the luggage?" "Yes, yesterday. "Yes, yesterday. ...... would be fine." The time was exactly seven o''clock. Jed Alamordo arrived. He was leading two carriages, himself and four guards on horseback. "Oh, you''re here. "Oh, you''re here. Jin-dono and Ka-CHEER take the front carriage. Put your baggage in the carriage behind. Yes, sir. The carriage seats four. So Jed, Jin, and Katya can ride in it. The carriage in the back was more like a spare carriage than a luggage carriage. But Jed seemed to be going on horseback. That means Jin and Katya in the carriage. Jin thought that he would not be bored if he had someone to talk to. As they finish loading the luggage, Sergey, the village headman, and his wife, Mina, arrive. Behind them were Katya''s parents and her aunt Sonya, a grocer. "Go on, Mr. Jin," they said. "Jin, I hope you find some clues. "Jin, it was a lot of fun. Chair, stay with me! Careful, chair! Jin, take care of her. "Thank you very much. Thank you for everything you''ve done for me. Bye, Dad. Bye, Mom. Bye, Helga. And so on. Jin and Katya said goodbye to those who were seeing them off. "Well, let''s go!" Jed Alamordo gave the signal, and the carriage began to move slowly. 1519 - - 41-20 Mathematical discourse The carriage rattled along. This carriage, like Lorenz''s cart, was equipped with a plate-spring suspension system, and Jin was barely able to avoid getting carsick. The road was dirt mixed with gravel. However, there were no ruts, and the carriage was moving smoothly. Only Jin and Ka-cea were in the carriage. Jin decided to take this opportunity to ask Katya about various things. "I may ask you some crazy questions, ......." Jin prefaced his question with the words, "I may ask you some crazy questions, but I''m not sure... ." Cacha nodded her head a little warily. "The moon is round, right? "What about ......?" Cachier looked at Jin with round eyes. "Have you ever seen a square moon, ......?" "What?Oh, no, it''s okay if you haven''t ......." Jin realized that the moon here does not wax and wane. He had not been observing it every night, but it had remained round for the past half month. However, there might be a moon with a waxing and waning cycle of about one year, which led to this question. However, it was clear from Katya''s response that she had never seen such a moon. "Jin-san ......?" It seemed to be a question that made Katya question her own common sense, and she looked at Jin with a cold stare. "Umm...... moon (Yunyi) is . It could also be called <>, but I don''t think the name <> is well known in this world, so I decided to go with <>. "It''s called <>." "The theorem of three squares?" "Yes. Well, do you know what a right angle is?" Yes, you mean 90 degrees, right? Jin knows that in his former world, Ars, the metric system and other units of measure came into use in the past when Shuki Tsezi spread the use of mathematics on Earth. I wonder if something similar happened in this world in the past?I wondered in a corner of my mind. However, outside the carriage, one of the guards was listening to this conversation. 1520 - - 41-21 仁の考察 "When you know the lengths of two sides of a triangle, don''t you ever wish you knew the length of the remaining side?" <, Jin decided to start by explaining its usage. He felt that Cachier would prefer a more practical theory. "No ...... I don''t have one. ......" Since he was told that there was none, Jin decided to give an example that he knew. For example, when you make a roof, you know the height and width or depth of the roof. What do you do when you need to find the length of a diagonal girder?" "I don''t build houses, but I understand your analogy. It would certainly be useful to be able to calculate the lengths of the diagonal sides." "Right?The theorem of 3-square is a theorem that holds for right triangles and says that the square of the length of the oblique side is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the two remaining sides. The equation is a^2 + b^2 = c^2. This is a theorem that students learn in junior high school. "...... Oh, so that''s when comes in handy?" "That''s what I mean." After that, Jin explained that the square root also has a sequence of numbers after the decimal point, and that it is difficult to calculate them one by one, so he referred to <>. * * * * * * * * * * "Jin-dono, Katya. Let''s have lunch soon. The carriage stopped. A voice called out from outside. "Oh, it''s lunchtime already?" Jin and Chair got off the carriage. They were on a large grassy plain, overlooking a vast plain below. There was a large river running through it. "That''s the Nosina River, isn''t it?" "That''s ......, isn''t it?" When Katya got off the carriage, she was back to her usual self. Lunch was a loaf of bread soaked in a meat broth. "Are you accustomed to eating ...... Jin-dono?" Jed Alamold asked as Jin ate in silence. "No, it''s not like that. "Hmmm... ......" The lunch was served half on purpose. It''s the kind of thing that a wealthy person would never eat. Although the dried bread would soften if soaked in the soup, the soup is lightly seasoned and lacks umami. Jin, however, ate his share of the soup with a seemingly unconcerned look on his face. (I don''t know more and more) The report of Lorenz, the information from Sergei, and the image of Jin that I had seen with my own eyes were not quite the same. (If he was a mage, he must have lived a reasonably wealthy life. ) From what I heard from my subordinates, he was well educated. In other words, he was not likely to be an upstart. And yet he acts like a commoner. I don''t understand.) I don''t know. The wagons started moving again, and we arrived at Fan Village, our next stop, at 3:00 p.m., which was relatively close. This was partly because the road was gently descending. "So this is Fan Village." "......I''ve been here before." Jin''s impression was that it was not much different from Tazie Village. The same was true for Katya, "I like Tazy Village better," she said. I like Taj village better. We stayed at the chief''s house. The villager''s house was a large detached house built for this kind of situation. Jin and Katya were each assigned a private room. The sun is still high. We arrived at 3:00 p.m., and it had only been half an hour. Jin was about to go for a walk, "Jin-dono, may I have a word? Jed Alamold appeared. "Yes, is there something wrong? "No, nothing. No, nothing else. We have a broken pump here in Fan Village. If you don''t mind, I was wondering if you could repair it for me. Yes, of course I will pay for the repair. ...... Well, how about 1,000 dollars?" "Yes, sure." Hitoshi readily agreed. "Okay, then." When he and Jed went outside, an older man was waiting for them. He was Rasnikov, the village head. His hair was white, and if you looked closely, you could see that his waist was beginning to curve a little. He said, "Thank you for your hospitality. He greeted Jin and Jed and led them away. "It''s this way." A little further into the village was a pump of the same type as the one in Tajee. "Oh, I can fix this in no time. However, as far as repairing the pump was concerned, Ka-cea had already nailed me for a long time, so I took my time to repair the pump. It took him about 20 minutes to complete the repair. "It''s done! After confirming that water comes out properly, he reports that it''s done. "Oh, oh, thank you very much! After receiving a thousand dollars from Jed Alamordo, who thanked him profusely, Jin told the chief that he would take a walk around the village and return home. "Then it would be better to have someone to guide you," he said. "Then I will." The village head came forward. Jin frowned a little, but said nothing and gave a small nod. "That''s the communal washing area," he said. "Do you use soap?" "No, no, we can''t afford such expensive stuff, so we use sapo nuts. He showed me the sapo nut, which looked very similar to the rita nut used in the village of Kaina. Jin thought that they might be closely related plants. "That''s the public bathhouse, isn''t it? "Is there a hot spring? What is a hot spring?What is a hot spring? The water is pumped. This is the storage room. A snow cellar. You know it well. The snow that falls during the winter is stored here and remains until the fall. That''s where we store the perishable foodstuffs. * * * * Jin thinks in his room at the inn. The level of culture is about the same as that of Ars where Jin used to be. However, the magic tools are expensive. He wonders what to think about this. (Are there no engineers or have they disappeared?). And what is the reason for their absence? (What is the reason for their absence?). Why are magical crystals so expensive? I wonder if we can go to ...... Lawhon to find out). He must return to the world where Erza is waiting for him. But Jin is still in the middle of the maze. Back Table ofContents Next Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. ul#read_nav li { display: inline !important; }.novelhall{display:none;}/*Remove Disqus ASD*/div#disqus_thread iframe[sandbox]{ display:none;}/*----------END----------*/Adblock EnabledThis site is primarily supported by ads. I hope you understand that maintaining server costs a handful ofamount, so we ask you to please disable your adblocker. Thank you for your support!Close DMCA | Terms and Condition| Privacy Policy 1521 - - 41-22 Commonality and differences The next day we left at 7:30 in the morning. We had a lunch of bread and soup on the way and arrived at the village of Novella in the evening without incident. This was the first time for Katjea to come this far. "This place is not so different from ...... Tazie village, is it? "Not at all. I guess a village is not so different, is it? Jin agreed with Ka-cea''s impression. The atmosphere of the buildings is similar. Apart from fruit trees, the crops in the fields were the same: wheat, barley, topopo, beans, and leafy vegetables. (It would be nice to have a little more local color, but ...... well, let''s not pry). Jin felt that his many questions would be answered once he arrived at Lawhon, so he decided not to think about them any further. Instead, he enjoyed the hot springs in the village of Novella. "Ah, hot springs are so nice, aren''t they? According to Jin''s analysis, the water in the hot spring was simple, but it was different from a simple bath in terms of mood. The bathtub was wide enough to stretch out your arms and legs because of the free-flowing water, Jin thought. Incidentally, they do not call it a "hot spring," but simply recognize it as "hot water from a well. This is the reason why the word "hot spring" was not understood by Rasnikov, the mayor of Juan village. Here in Novella Village, no requests for repairs were made, and Jin spent his time at leisure. This gave him a lot of time to think, and it was not surprising that he felt nostalgic. "......Lohon will finally be here tomorrow. Hopefully we''ll find some clues or something that will make things better." If we could get at least one magic crystal, we could make a <>, Jin thinks. Even if the quality is bad, he can improve it by <>. Anyway, tomorrow ......" * * * * On July 23, Jin and his team departed for Lawhong. "Finally,...... we are in Lawhong. I wonder what kind of place ...... it will be." "I''m looking forward to it." In the carriage, Jin and Ka-CHEER engage in a kind of mathematical discussion. On this day, the main topic was doubling the area. "It''s not about attaching another object of the same size, but about doubling the size of a square or a circle. "...... So we can use square roots and squares for this too!" "That''s right." Jin then decided to ask something that had been bothering him. "By the way, do you know the size of that paper that Katya bought for me before?" "Yes, it is 21 centimeters by 29.7 centimeters. "Yes, it''s A4. ......" The standard was established by Shuki Tsetsi based on his knowledge of modern Japan. In this respect, too, we found similarities with the former Ars. Incidentally, A5, A4, and A3...... are similar in shape (aspect ratio is constant), but the area doubles. The area of A5, A4, A3, and A3 is doubled. So, by cutting an A4 sheet of paper in half, you get two A5 sheets of paper. "Yes. This is very well done, isn''t it?" Like this, Jin and the others proceeded in the carriage, passing the time well. * * * * * * * * * * * At 2:00 p.m., Jin and the others were approaching Lawhon. "By the way, we didn''t encounter any demons or dangerous animals, did we? "What?What do you mean by demons? "What?" I heard that there are no dangerous animals called "demons" on this continent. (Is that one of the reasons why the golem''s muscles are not made of living material?) Jin learned an unexpected fact. And then the town of Lawhon came into view. "Haha ......" The surrounding area is dotted with wheat fields and farmers'' houses, a landscape that is aptly described as idyllic. What caught Jin''s eyes more than that was the horizon line that could be seen faintly in the distance. Yes, the town of Lawhon is close to the sea. Jin thought that grilled fish might be served there. It is not a fortified town, but a quiet town. There is a fence, but it is only to avoid vermin. (Are there any bandits or brigands?) Jin thought, but for some reason he was hesitant to say anything about it, so he kept his mouth shut. And then the wagon goes into town. There was Jed Alamoldo going by horseback, so it was a face-pass. "Wow. ......" Curious, Jin looks out the window of the carriage. The town of Lawhon was neat and orderly. As in the village of Tazy, there was the residence of the local administrator in the center, from which radial roads extended in all directions, connected by concentric ring roads. The residents are heading toward the center from the radial road on the north side. The roads were not paved with cobblestones, but with gravel macadam pavement. "Here and here: ......" Jin, who finds similarities here and there, reminisces about the old days. The carriage was passing a stone, three-story building. It was the residence of the regional administrator. The carriage stopped at the square in front of the mansion. "Mister Jin, Katya, get off! Jed Alamordo called out to them and they hurried to get out of the carriage. A cobblestone square. In front of the carriage, there is a large gate that looks like an entrance. Jed Alamordo urged Jin and Ka-cea to go to the gate. A man of mature age stands in front of the gate, flanked by guards. He is nearly two meters tall. He is quite thin and not very intimidating. He has brown hair and eyes of the same color, narrowed and slightly slanted, somewhat reminiscent of a fox. "My lord, I brought the mage Jin-sama. And her name is Katya, and she has a talent for calculation. "Thank you, Jed. Welcome to ......, Master Jin. I am Paelova Sondovik, the regional administrator for the area north of the town of Lawhon. I welcome all talents, Katya." Jin Nidor''s polite manner was a little surprising to him, but he decided to greet her politely in his own way, using his skills as a member of society. My name is Jin Nido. <. My memory is a little confused, so please forgive me if I am rude at times. My name is Ka-CHEER. I know I''m not very good at this, but please accept my best regards. Katya greeted him with a stutter. Paelov Sndovk, the regional administrator, nodded her head in an exultant tone of voice. "Well, don''t just stand there talking, come in. "Thank you very much." Jin and Katya were invited into the mansion. Jin followed Paelov Sndorvk ahead, a little nervous. 1522 - - 41-23 The Truth to Be Revealed Jin and the others were shown into a reception room. Across a large table sat Paelova Sondovik. Jed Alamold sat next to her. Behind them stood four of Paelove''s guards. Jin and Ka?ea sit on the opposite side. Behind them stood four of Jed''s guards. "Let me introduce myself again. I am Paelova Sondovik, the regional administrator in charge of the northern region from here in Lawhon. I am Magecraftsman Jin. "My name is Ka-ka-cea, and I''m Ka-ka-cea..." Ka-CHEER is very nervous. "Don''t be so nervous," Paelova said. Paelova said to her. Soon a glass of cold juice was placed on the table. "Thank you for coming such a long way. Drink it." Saying this, Paelove took a sip herself first. Then Jed. Jin and Katya also took a sip. "It''s cold ......!" It is relatively cool in this area, but it is still summer, and a cold drink tastes good on the palate. "Is it chilled in the refrigerator?" Jin asked, and Paelova looked surprised. "What?Jin-dono knows what a refrigerator is? Jin thought, "Oh, shoot," but once the words left his mouth, he could not take them back. "Yes, I do. He had no choice but to answer honestly. "Umm...... that you know about the existence of a rare (...) magical tool like a refrigerator. ......" Paelova Sondovik looked at me with a difficult face, but she seemed to change her mind immediately, "Let''s talk about it after dinner. She turned her smile to Katya and said, "We can talk about that after dinner. "Katya, this town ...... is in need of a good man, and this country is in need of a good man. I hear you have a flair for math. ......Well, let''s not hide it now, Lorenz has been gathering such information under my direction." Jin understood that he was not an intelligence agent, but he was gathering information from all over the place. He also guessed that it was probably because of Paelova''s support that he was able to possess such a golem. A peddler is a good way to get information about the economic situation and other things wherever he goes. "No, no, I''m not ......." Cacha was modest, but he said, "No, no, "No, Cacha, you have a great talent for mathematics. You should be proud of it. Jin interrupted him from the side, causing him to turn red and look down. "Oh, mathematics?That''s interesting. That raises my expectations even higher. "Yes, yes. ......" Ka-cea replied in a fading voice and glared at Hitoshi with a reproachful sideways glance. "Well, we''ll talk about that after dinner. I know ...... a little bit about you guys. I''ll have him show you to your room. After a short chat, Jin and Katya were shown to their rooms. Jin was assigned a room of about 8 tatami mats with a bedroom of about 4.5 tatami mats, which was a duplex room. The room was on the second floor and had a good view from the window. It seemed to face south, and in the distance he could see the glow of the ocean, which was reddening in the setting sun. Jin gazed at the glow of the sea at dusk, thinking of his two hometowns, Earth and Ars. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * As Jin had expected, grilled fish was served for dinner. "Is this ...... a halibut?" Jin asked, looking at the large, flat fish. You know it well, don''t you? Yes, it''s a halibut caught off the coast." "It''s delicious, with a good amount of salt." "I''m glad to hear it." Dinner here is not a formal affair, but a friendly one with conversation. This is the reason why Jin was so light-spoken. Jin said, "I see that you like fish. Have you ever eaten ...... this before? "What?" Paelov Sondovk said with a mischievous look on his face. He motions and what comes out is ....... "...... sashimi?" It was Halibut sashimi. A small plate with a brownish liquid that looked like soy sauce was placed next to it. "May I have some?" "Of course." "......, I''ll take it." Chopsticks were also provided, so Jin did not hesitate to bring the sashimi to his mouth. "......!" It was a nostalgic taste. Jin ate the five slices of sashimi served to him in no time. "I''m glad you liked it." Paelova''s eyes seemed to light up for a moment as she said this. * * * * * * * * * * * After dinner, Jin had a meeting with Paelova Sondovik alone. Jin, Paelove, and one butler and one lady-in-waiting are present in the room. A cup of green tea was placed in front of Jin. "Now, Jin-dono, is it true that we don''t know exactly who you are or where you come from?" "...... Yes." After a slight hesitation, Jin answered in the affirmative. "Well, let''s assume that''s the case." Paelova smiled thinly and took a sip of tea herself. "A mage. Transference accident. Green tea. Sashimi. Magickal tools. These are the key words." huh? You''re probably not from this continent. So you''re not from the Principality of Mercana. "Yes, I guess you are ......." Jin affirmed somewhat vaguely. "How much do you know about this continent?" "I know almost nothing." "I see. I will tell you at ...... to the extent that it will not be to our disadvantage. "Thank you. What is ...... disadvantageous ......? Well, listen to me. Yes. Then Paelove Sondovik began to speak slowly. The Principality of Mercana is the only country on the continent of Pandor. I knew it, Jin thought. He had a feeling that this was the case. Helga had also mentioned when he first heard about it. He did not say Tazy village in the Principality of Mercana. "As for the history, we became independent 320 years ago. That''s why we use the continental calendar now." "I see." Finally, I met someone who could answer my questions. Jin listened attentively, trying not to miss a single word. 1523 - - 41-24 New Speculation "His Majesty Mikhailinov Hangazone of Mercana, the King of Mercana, rules over the Principality of Mercana." Yes. Our country was formerly a colony of the Duchy of Jagus on the continent of Laurent. Is that so? By the way, do you know the name of any other country on the Laurentian continent besides the Duchy of Jagus? There are countries called the Duchy of Norway and the Duchy of Dalat. There is another kingdom beyond the mountains to the east, but I don''t know that much about it. May I continue with ......?" "Yes. Yes. I''m sorry for interrupting. "Don''t worry about it. If you have any questions, just let me know. Thank you very much. "......We became independent from the Duchy of Jagus in the year 231 of the continental calendar. The year after that, we began to <." Jin raised his hand. "Yes?" "Do you know what year is used on the ...... Laurentian continent over there?" Paelova Sondovik thinks for a moment before answering. Paelov Sondovk thinks for a moment and then answers, "I think they use the continental calendar too. So our continental calendar is actually the Pandorian continental calendar, abbreviated as PC. "So, what year is it in the other continental calendar?" "Well, I''m sorry, I don''t remember exactly, but it should be about 3900 this year. I''m sorry, I don''t remember exactly, but it would have been about 3,900 this year. "I see, but it was helpful. Assuming 3900 years, it has been 441 years since Jin''s arrival in 3459. 441 years have passed since 3459, the year Jin was born. It would not be surprising if a new country has been established. (Maybe it is the same world and we just came to the future.) Jin has a glimmer of hope. However, there was one thing that bothered him. "Well, if the country is closed off, isn''t information from outside of the country restricted?" "That''s right." "So, the fact that you are telling it to me is ......." Paelova Sondovik chuckled. "I will certify you as a and eventually take you to King''s Landing." "......" I knew it, Jin thought. (Now he''s completely taken in. ......) There was no way for Jin to escape now. He thinks it would be better to follow him quietly for the time being. And I will get more information if I do so. "So, you cannot go back to Tajee Village anymore. No hard feelings. There are not enough mages in our country. The best mages must be managed by the state or the foundation of the nation will be shaken. "...... understand." On the surface, Jin nodded his head in agreement. Paelov Sondovk sat back in her chair. "Well, that''s the way it is. If there''s anything you want to know, I''ll answer." * * * After finishing his discussion with Paelove, Jin returned to his room and was left alone to reflect on the events of the day. Of course, he had been thinking about everything that had happened since the day he had woken up in the village of Tazy. "Even though I didn''t have any information, I guess I was a little too conspicuous, wasn''t I?" I think we went too far in repairing the village. "But I think ......" There are people in need, tools that are broken. And I can fix it. I can''t just stand by and do nothing in such a situation. Well, as Kachair has told me many times, I have overdone it in terms of working hours, but... "And then there''s Lorenz. ......" There was something fishy about that. But... "Well, I guess I got a little carried away with the golem." But it did give us an idea of the current level of technology and materials. "And then there''s Jed Alamordo. What if he had refused at that point? "He would have probably forced me to go with him. Then, the current situation where we are being welcomed amicably is not the best, but it is not the worst. In fact, it is better. We have gained some useful information, Jin thought to himself. "But I didn''t know that this continent is poor in magical resources. ...... This was the information he had just obtained. Magi crystals and even magi stones are scarce. No wonder the magic tools are so expensive." The magical tool of the bathtub in the village of Tajee is said to have been used since the pioneer days. Now that the country is closed to the outside world, they will probably never be available again. "Lorenz''s golem was also disposed of. I wonder if it is more of an investment in advance as an informant than a ......." Now that we know more about the historical background and the situation of the country, we can see some things. "If there are few mages, does that mean that the Principality of Jagus is a country that came out of Mitsuho and Huso?" Paelova did not know that either, so she would have to go to the capital to get the answer. "The continent of Pandor was also the continent that was called the continent of Pandor on the Laurentian side, wasn''t it?" Either the name has changed over the years, or they have changed it a bit in their own way. "In any case, the possibility that this is the future of Arus, where we used to be, has increased. In that case, there is something to be concerned about. "According to my memory, the continent closer to the Pandor continent is not the Laurent continent but the Rasil continent. ...... I wonder why they colonized this continent." First of all, it is possible that they colonized the Rasil continent as well. The other possibility is that the Rasil continent is not suitable for colonization because of its lack of resources or dangerous wild beasts. "......" Either way, that''s not the problem. This is another question for later, since it is not something that can be figured out by thinking. The most interesting thing, that is. "......What about Horai Island?" This is the most important question. If the old man is still alive and well, Jin, the creator of this site, thinks that the old man may detect Jin''s magic power and approach him in some way. However, he has not heard from the old man for more than 20 days since his arrival here. Jin is forced to wonder what this means. "Is it malfunctioning or stopped for some reason?" Jin does not want to think about it, and it is hard to imagine. It is hard to believe that Horaijima, which has been carefully built, would break down. "If so, why on earth? ......" The most likely scenario is <. It is not needed any more, so it stops functioning and lies dormant until the day when it is needed again. "I guess that''s possible," says the old man. But then there is Elsa and the Jin family. And probably Jin''s children and his children''s children. What does it mean to be no longer needed? "That''s exactly what I''m trying to figure out. ...... Then maybe our next goal is not to build a base, but to go to Horai Island. ...... No." If this is the continent of Pandor like I thought, there should be a warp gate if we go to Mitsuho, Jin reconsidered. "In any case, we must find a way to cross the sea. At last, Jin had a concrete goal in mind. 1524 - - 41-25 Certification The next day, at breakfast, Jin was served by a lady-in-waiting and left alone, since Katya was in a separate room. After that, Jin had a meeting with Paelove Sondovik again. Then Jin had a meeting with Paelove Sondvik again. Jin decided to cooperate as much as he could on the surface, and once he gained their trust, he would find a way to cross the sea. "Not so fast," he said. Well, first of all, let''s have you stay in this house for a while. "Yes, sir." Jin was not so discouraged because he knew that he would not be trusted so much. "Oh, by the way, how is Katya?" "Oh, that girl. I believe the person in charge has been interviewing her since this morning." * * * * How many is the sum of one through ten? Fifty-five. That''s fast. Yes, that''s about right. Katya had switched to math mode. "Well, then, please add from 1 to 100." "That''s 5050." What? The person in charge was astonished when Cacha instantly came up with the answer. "No, you didn''t do it by heart, did you?Did you know?" He changed the question. "I did the math. 1 + 2 + 3 + ...... + 98 + 9 + 100 and vice versa. 9 + 100 and vice versa 100 + 99 + 98 98......+3+2+1, written in opposite directions, and adding the top and bottom, we get 101 + 101 + ...... + 1 01. That is 10100. If we halve it, we get 5050. Therefore, we have " "I see." The person in charge of the project was astonished. In fact, this method of calculation is a famous episode from the boyhood of the mathematical genius Gauss. It was one of the stories related to arithmetic and mathematics that Mr. Gauss had heard from Jin during the carriage ride. "So, let me change the question. Do you know anything interesting about numbers and calculations? To this, Katya immediately responded. "Well, ......, think of a number you like. "What?" "Well, just try to think of it." Yes, ....... Now, add three to that number. Yes. Multiply that number by two. Yes. Add 4 to that number. Yes. Divide that number by two. Yes. Subtract the first number that comes to mind from that number. "Yes." Here, Katya pauses for a moment, "You got 5, didn''t you?" He said, "Yes. "Yes, how do you know? Again the person in charge was astonished. This was another number game that I had heard while talking with Jin in the carriage. In fact, the answer to any number is 5. When you add 3 to the original number and double it, you have added 6. If you add 4 to it and divide by 2, you have added 5. It is only natural that subtracting the original number yields 5. "No, no, I am surprised. Mr. Katya, you have a great talent for working with numbers! The person in charge praised him with open arms. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At lunchtime, Jin and Katya met each other. "How was it?" "How was ......?" I''m kinda, like, certified. I''m also ...... That''s great. I''m happy for you. ...... We congratulated each other on being recognized by the regional administrator, whether we wanted it or not. "But I won''t be able to go back to my village for a while. ...... "Yeah, that''s right. I guess I don''t have a choice in a way, but what about Katya?Isn''t she half involved in this?" This is immediately denied by Katya. His attitude switches. "That''s not true. I have four brothers and four sisters in my family, so sooner or later I had to become independent." "I didn''t know that ......." "I didn''t know that." "Well, because three of my brothers and four of my sisters are already independent. In other words, only the heirs of the family, the elder brother and Katya, remain in the family home. One brother and sister who left home have a family in Taji village, but the other six are not in Hwang village, but in the villages of Lileaz, Sogyeong, and Lihot across the river. "I''ve said goodbye to my parents and aunt for now," he said. "How ...... resilient you are!" Yes, thank you. As for Jin, he was saved by Katya''s attitude. Although he had been introduced by Helga and her colleagues, he felt that he might have been involved because he had hired her as an employee. "For the time being, I''m going to help with the accounting here, and depending on what I can do, I may even be able to go to King''s Landing," he said. It''s ...... a big promotion." "I see." What about you, Jin-san? I don''t know if I can go to King''s Landing yet. I guess we''ll see how things go here for the time being. At this point, Katya, after confirming that no one was listening, said in a low voice: "You know, I''m not sure if we can go to King''s Landing. "Well, ......, this may be unnecessary, Jin-san, but I think you should use your magic with at least a tenth of the degree of restraint you think you''re using yourself. I think it would be better to use magic with about one-tenth the amount of effort you think you''re putting into it." "I see. ....... I''ll be careful. I''ll be careful. But Jin''s chance to make his mark soon came. "Jin-dono, I want to show you something. On the evening of the same day, Paelova Sondovik herself approached Jin. "What is it?" Jin followed her as she led the way. He walked out into the courtyard. It was large, about the size of four tennis courts. In a corner of the courtyard, there was a thing. "This is it. "This is ......." What was there was a car. 1525 - - 41-26 Automotive Repair "It''s an automobile ......, isn''t it?" "Yes, you know what this is, don''t you, Jin-dono?" Paelov Sndorvk looked half in surprise and half in anticipation. "Yes. It''s a car powered by a Golem engine, isn''t it?" "Yes, that''s right." Jin is going to push the <> of the car for the time being. "Does it work?" Some of the parts have rust on them, and they look quite old. "No, unfortunately it doesn''t work. If you can fix it, would you fix it?" Jin answered immediately. "I''ll try. But I may need some materials. "Well, of course. Can you make a list of them for me?I''ll order them all at once. "Yes, sir." The weather was fine and it was not going to rain, so Jin decided to go to the courtyard to check. "Hmm, the tires are made of rubber and there is no tube. The rubber is deteriorating. ...... Well, it''s not impossible to run. First, the suspension. The tires, made of natural rubber, had deteriorated over time. "The suspension is a ...... plate spring. It''s a little rusty. ......<>>" The steel parts were rusty, but only a little, so I remove the rust on the spot. "The body is ...... oh, it''s light silver. There are no distortions, and I like it just the way it is." Jin gets under the body and continues checking. It is dark, so he lights a ball of light. The courtyard is grassy, and the car is high enough that he can easily get under the car. "......The structure looks vaguely familiar here and there. ......" The ladder frame is a ladder-shaped frame (chassis). "Unlike a monocoque, it''s easy to maintain. ...... but it''s dirtier inside." Jin checks the car while muttering to himself. The steering is fine. However, it seemed to be a little out of oil. "Okay, the suspension and chassis checks are done. ...... As Jin crawled out from under the car, he saw someone''s foot there and his head hit it. "What ......?" "Oh?Kyaaaaaah!" The owner of the foot fell on his butt on the grass. "Ka-cha-cha?" "Jin, Jin-san?What are you doing ......?" She was lucky that her underwear was not visible because of her long skirt. "Why are you here, Katya?" "I was looking around the house after today''s lecture. Then I saw something interesting in the courtyard, so I went out and found Jin-san at ......." "Oh, I didn''t know that. ...... This is a car, it''s a car that works in the same way as the golem." "Is it a carriage ...... that moves without horses?" "Well, yes. It''s not a carriage because it doesn''t have a horse. That''s what they want me to fix." "So is it ...... going to work?" "Now all we have to do is check the engine, which is the most important part." The outside had been checked from the underside. "...... and it''s dark. Here''s another <." "It''s brighter ...... now, isn''t it? That''s very convenient, magic ......." Since she had used it several times at the workshop in Tajee Village, a ball of light was no longer enough to surprise Katya. The light ball was no longer surprising to Cacha. But those who were watching from the side were not so sure. "What is that magic? "Sir, you are speaking too loudly!" Paelova, who had been watching Jin''s work from afar, was rebuked by Jed Alamordo, his confidant. "Uh-huh, I''m sorry. But ......" "Yes, I''m sorry. I''ve been traveling with you in the carriage for three days now. "Yes, I have heard of him, but I did not expect such a thing. ......" They continued to observe Jin''s work. Jin and the girl are close? "I don''t know. She was an employee of the workshop and was in charge of accounting. "Hmm." Paelov Sondovk thought for a moment. "If your memory is hazy and you believe that you were sent here from another continent, then you must not have any family members, right? I think you''re right, sir. Then that girl is one of the few family members we have. I don''t know if she can be of any use, but she could at least be a check. huh? "Then let her meet with Jin freely. I''m sure you''ll be able to use him later on. I understand. I''ll do it. The engine works fine. It''s pretty good." Jin closed the hood and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "So it works ......?" Jin nodded. "Yeah, the wire from the gas pedal to the engine was broken, so I connected it. It was easy because there was plenty of length to spare." Jin was disappointed to find that the problem was simpler than he had expected. The body of the car was slender compared to the precision of the engine. (The body was slender compared to the precision of the engine, and there was no differential ......, so maybe the engine was custom-made.) While I was thinking about that, I was approached by Katya. "Mr. Jin, it''s about to ...... dusk. I think it''s almost time for dinner ......." "Oh, yes. Anyway, I have to report that the work is finished. Just then Paelova Sondovik and Jed Alamold arrived with her. "How are you doing, Mr. Jin?" "Oh, uh, ...... sir, we''ve made some repairs. The tires are deteriorating, but I think they will be okay for a while. He has already applied the "toughness" treatment to the tires. "Oh, I see!Can you try running ...... for a little while?" "Yes, sure. Yes, sure. Since it was a test run, Jin got into the car alone. "I''ll start it up." He pulled the start lever in place of the magic key word, and the Golem engine woke up, and a small light appeared on the console panel. "Here we go." Jin slowly steps on the accelerator pedal. The Golem engine''s torque characteristics are similar to that of a motor, so there is no need for a clutch or transmission. "Oh, it''s moving! "It''s running." Jin showed the car running slowly at a speed of about 10 kilometers per hour. It was getting dark, so he turned on the headlights to test the car. During the test, he also checked the brakes and confirmed that there was no problem. The car went around the courtyard and came back and stopped in front of Paelova and the others. "That''s all. Jin got out of the car and bade them farewell. "Well done." Paelov Sondovk greeted Jin with a small clap. 1526 - - 41-27 Golem Repair That night Paelove Sondovik was in a good mood. The car, which had been in his garage for a long time, was now working. "No, Mister Gin, you are more than first class! He opened about three bottles of wine and smiled with a red face. "Actually, I still have some useless magic tools. I would like you to repair them for me." "Yes, with pleasure." This was his true intention. Repairing them will reveal the quality of the materials, and from that we can get information about the current level and the maker. If we are successful, we may be able to obtain the Magi Crystal. Before that, it suited Jin''s character to repair and use the materials that were still usable. Jin hoped to find out what kind of magic tools were available, and if he could get something that could be used. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin Nido is useful, isn''t he? "Yes, sir." After Jin took Jed back to his room, Paelova and Jed were discussing. "Should we take this opportunity to let him train?" "I don''t know about that. I''m not sure he''s a good teacher. Jed looked at him with reluctance. "...... It''s true, <> is not very cooperative." Paelova said, thinking of the face of the mage she was managing. "I think we should give him a day or two more to see how he reacts." "Yes. Tomorrow I''ll have the golem repaired." * * * * "......This is ......" The next day, Jin was taken to a warehouse. The next day, Jin was taken to a warehouse where a dozen or so Golems were lying on the floor. More than a dozen Golems were lined up, lying on their sides or leaning against the walls. "Check it out, and if you can get one or two of them to move, I''d be happy to help. Good luck." Jed Alamordo, the guide, saw the frown on Jin''s face and patted him on the shoulder to encourage him. The reason for Jin''s frown was not because the demands were too demanding or impossible. It was simply because he felt indescribable when he saw the golem that had been used up without any maintenance. "......, but it might be a chance, depending on how you think about it." Jin began to examine the golem with some hope that he might be able to get some used Magi crystals. "Hmmm, should I really just use it and throw it away when it stops working?" First, Jin tried to sort the golem into different categories, but gave up because it was too heavy. "I''d love to have an assistant. ......" Jin thinks about his beloved daughter, Reiko, who is not next to him at the moment. "I can''t help it if she''s not here," he said. I''ll have to temporarily maintain the best one ...... and use him as my assistant." Jin selected the one in the best condition out of the 15 golems and began emergency repairs. "First of all, we need to get rid of the rattling in the joints," he said. ......<>" Jin works quickly. "Connect the broken magic nerve line. <<>" The most advanced golem can move with just this, but Jin takes one more step. "<>," and " Jin lightly toughens the body. This will slightly increase the strength of the muscles. "Let''s also play with the control core: ......<<......<...... that''s it. >" Hi, Master. Douzo gomeireiwo! Golem is on the move. "All right, now, I want you to get those Golems on the floor. I''ll tell you the order." "Okay. "...... that one''s on the far right. That one is the third one,...... and that one should be the sixth one." Jin has them sorted in order of degree of success. 9 out of the 15 cannot be repaired without the materials. The golems that could not be repaired without materials were as follows: <<>. "We''ll have to get the materials or gather several of them together to make one body." Jin decided that the rest could be repaired somehow. Since one of the Golems was now working, that meant that five Golems could be repaired. Jin had the repaired golem assist him as he proceeded with the repairs. This time, with the advice of Kachea, we took our time and went slowly. Therefore, by the time of lunchtime, we were able to repair only three bodies, including the one that was temporarily repaired. * * * * * * * * * * * At lunch, not only Jed Aramold, but also Paelova Sondovik, the regional administrator, showed up. "What do you think, Mr. Jin? Do you think you can fix it?" Paelova asked with interest. "Well, no matter how much you think you can do it, Jin-dono, you must tell me clearly that you can''t do it. Jed also showed his concern for Jin by saying that. "Well, ...... I took a quick look at them, and there are nine that can''t be repaired without materials. Conversely, six of them can be repaired in a hurry. "Oh, really?" Paelova stopped eating her lunch and leaned forward, apparently not expecting this answer. "You mean that six of them will be able to move? "Yes. I know this may sound like an after-the-fact agreement, but one of them is actually undergoing emergency repairs and is being used as an assistant." "What the ......? Paelova is so startled that she drops the spoon from her hand. I''m sorry. I couldn''t carry the golem by myself for a moment. Jin explained the situation and apologized again. "No, no, I don''t want to question you about that. Paelova dismissed Jin''s apology. "...... You already got one of them to move!That''s great!" "Oh, no, not one, but three." "What?" It took Paelova a few seconds to understand what Jin had just said. "You fixed three of them?" "Yes. "And when you say fixed, you mean they work now? Yes. "......" "Yes, yes, they work, yes? Can I go take a look at it afterwards?" Yes, of course. Paelov Sondovk ate the rest of her lunch in a good mood. She rushed Jin and Jed Alamold to the golem warehouse, without stopping for an after-lunch break. 1527 - - 41-28 Golem Repair 2 "Oh?Oh, oh, oh!" Paelova was half thrilled and half surprised to see the warehouse with 12 golems lying on the floor and 3 golems standing upright. "We don''t have the materials to repair them, so they are only at the level of emergency repairs. ...... Jin''s explanation seemed to fall on deaf ears. "This is amazing!......Lord Jin, the golem here is one of the most powerful golems ...... in our country, or so I''ve been told." Indeed, Jin feels that there is a big difference from the one Lorenz has with him. The golems here are all of near-human proportions. Moreover, the internal structure of the golem is very different from the one Lorenz has with him. It was a structure in the vein of Adriana Barbora Zetsi. "I never thought I would see this golem move again with my own eyes. ......!Thank you, Jin!" Jin, however, is still unsatisfied. "We can make emergency repairs to three of them, but the remaining nine cannot be repaired due to lack of materials. If it is possible, could you please order the materials? "Oh, oh, yes!Yes, I will make arrangements as soon as I can get them. "Well then, here you go." Jin handed Paelova the list of materials he had prepared in the morning. He did not give it to her at lunch because he thought it would be more effective to give it to her after she had seen the repaired golem. It was an unusually fine play. Magi crystal (high quality) 8 pieces 500 grams of mithril silver 10 grams of adamantite 3 kilograms of iron (steel) 10 kilograms of bronze 200 grams of nickel 100 grams of chrome These are the materials Jin picked up for repairs. Paelova looked them over and groaned. "Well, there are some things we can''t get right away. Adamantite and magi crystals will take time. I''m not sure if I can get them, especially since all the good quality magi crystals are kept in King''s Landing. "That is fine. In that case, we will just wait until we can get them. In that case, we''ll just wait until we get it." "And the mithril. ...... hmmm, I think I can manage to get about 100 grams of it. If so, I''ll take what I can get. I will repair it accordingly. Hearing Jin''s explanation, Paelova nodded. "Okay. I''ll make the arrangements right away. ...... and what is nickel and chrome?" Paelova did not seem to know what nickel and chrome were. "It is a kind of metal. When you mix it with iron, it becomes a rust-resistant alloy." Jin decided to take this opportunity to make the skeleton stainless steel. "Hmmm, I see. ...... Anyway, I''ll make the arrangements right away." "Yes, please." Paelova hurried back. Jin began emergency repairs on the remaining three. "Jin-san, are you going to repair the golem this time ......?" Katya comes in to replace him. "Hey. Are you sure you want to come to ...... here?" Katya nodded. "Yes. The lectures are only ...... in the morning, and in the afternoon you can do whatever you want. "Then you don''t have to come here." But Katya shook her head. "No, ....... I''m not very good at walking around by myself. ...... I''ll have to get used to the house first. ...... "So that''s how it is." So far, the only familiar face is Jin. So, in her free time, Katya feels more at home here. "Well, it doesn''t matter. I don''t think it''s interesting to watch. "No, no, it''s ...... not." "No, no, it''s not.Well, I hope you like it. "Yes. I''ll just sit here and watch, ...... don''t worry about it." "Okay." And Jin went back to work. The fourth body was repaired. "This one is a bit of a pain in the ass. When he removed the exterior, he found that the lumbar vertebrae were broken. "It looks like it was originally very thin." Although the golem is of Adriana''s lineage, it seems to be a mass-produced golem. Either there was some kind of mistake, and there was not enough material for the lumbar part, or it was misshapen. In any case, the defect seems to have been overlooked. "For the time being, we should connect them and ......<><>...... strengthen them. Jin quickly proceeds with the repairs. "<>. ...... now 4 of them are done." Repairing the fifth one. "This one is easy." According to Jin''s assessment, the magic nerve line is severed and some of the magical muscles are torn. "<>......<><>...... nerves are good. Now let''s get to the muscles......" "...... amazing." Katya doesn''t know the first thing about engineering magic, but she does know that what Jin is doing is very advanced and not something that just anyone can do. He was using magic as if he was breathing and repairing the golem, which was nothing short of amazing, thought Cachier. "Now, what about the sixth one? ...... Oh, I see. ......." The sixth one had a broken link board in its chest armor, and the magi crystals that had been placed there had been removed, rendering them useless. "The exterior is also dented, and it must have taken a hard blow to the ...... chest." Jin, who tried to imagine such a thing, since the armor, which is made of bronze, is heavily dented. "That''s what happens when you don''t put in a buffer." Jin proceeds with the repairs, muttering to himself, forgetting that Ka-cea is present. "<>. ...... this magic crystal (magi crystal) is an ...... ether converter? Then here it is. This one is a mana driver, so here. ...... Okay,<>" After fixing the link board, Jin continued to reconnect the broken nerve wires and applied <>. He then adjusted the rattling of the joints and fixed the dents on the exterior by <> to finish. "That''s it. ......<>" "......Wow." The sight of six golems, each measuring two meters in height and resembling a knight in full armor, standing side by side in a row is quite spectacular. KaChea couldn''t help but let out a voice. "That''s it for today! The other nine remnants were all broken and could not be repaired without materials. Jin clapped his hands and turned to Katya. "Your advice has been helpful, Katya," he said. "Advice?" "Advice?" "Yeah. I''ve been working very slowly on this golem. "What? ......" Katya was astonished. Even to the untrained eye, it seemed that he had repaired it at a ridiculously fast pace, but now he seemed to be an inhabitant of a distant world who said he had done it slowly. 1528 - - 41-29 The Wizards Since there was still time before dinner, Jin decided to continue repairing the remaining nine pieces that could be done without materials. Ka-CHEER looked at Jin who started repairing again even after saying <>, and thought that he must like this kind of work. "Well, if I just repair the magical muscle, it will save me a lot of trouble when it comes time for the real repair. Jin works on the repair work while talking to himself. (I wonder if Jin-san had a small family. ......?) As one would expect from a member of a large family, Ka-Chea. She seems to have realized that Jin, who talks to himself a lot, was not blessed with a family. "Here we go," he said. ...... Oh, Katya, do you know what time it is?" "Uh, uh, ......." Katya is a bit nervous when Jin suddenly asks her. There is no clock in the warehouse, so there is no way for Chair to know what Jin doesn''t know. "It''s almost 5:00 p.m., isn''t it?" Jed Alamordo entered the warehouse. "Mister Jin, take the rest of the day off. ...... I just placed an order for materials with the Lorenz Trading Company, so if they have them in stock, they should arrive tomorrow morning. "Thank you, sir." "Thank you very much. I repeat, take the rest of the day off. "Yes, sir." Jin bade Jed farewell and left the warehouse. Jed closed the door of the warehouse, locked it, and returned to the house. As he did so, he also called out to Katya. "How are you doing?Have you gotten used to it?" "Ah, yes. Thanks to ......, a little. Katya answered in her usual timid manner. "I wonder, after the training, how about assisting Mr. Jin for the time being? "Assist him, sir? Yes. From what I''ve seen, Jin-dono seems to be the type who gets carried away and runs away. If someone doesn''t manage his time, he''s likely to stay up all night and push himself too hard. In a short time, Jed Alamold had gained a good understanding of Jin''s personality. "Well, that''s true, that may be so,......." "Besides, it would be easier for Katya to be with Jin-dono, wouldn''t it?" "Ah, yes. "After you get used to the house, I''d like to assign you other jobs as well." Yes. Thank you very much. Katya bows her head to Jed Alamordo''s concern. * * * * "......God, it''s a nice bath." Jin was taking a bath. There are two large baths and three small ones in this pavilion. There is no rule as to which bath is for whom, and anyone can take the bath of their choice. Usually, however, only one of the large baths is filled with hot water. Jin is bathing in the smaller bath. This bathtub is only enough to fill the bathtub with three people, but one person can stretch his/her arms and legs in it. However, when I am relaxing by myself like this, I am reminded of Erza and the others. I know that worrying about them will not solve the problem, but I can''t help thinking about them. (For now, I''ll just keep my feet on the ground ...... and find a way to get home.) Then, I force myself to change my mind, Jin. (...... magic crystals that could be used instead of ...... magic circle, or ....... But will it work that way?) I have been thinking about it since I was in Tazy village. If this works, it might help us to return home. It is the idea of a golem or a magical tool that does not use magecrystals. As there is such a thing as a transfer magic circle, a magic circle can store magic and release it at will. (But there is one big problem.) (But there is one big problem.) It is the slow activation time. The magic circle is mostly circular. The reason is that the magic power is circulated through the circle many times in order to amplify the small amount of activation magic. With each circle, magic power is generated from the free magic element (ether) existing in the space, and the circulating magic power becomes stronger. (But it is this circulation that creates time loss.) The magic circle that appears with magic is fundamentally different from the magic circle that appears when magic is used. The magic circle that appears with magic is, so to speak, a phantom of <> projected into . Since magic is the invocation of the < recorded in the world, the magic circle that appears when magic is exercised is the illusion of the < projected into <. Let''s take a break from this. Even if the activation of magic using a magic circle is slow, it is only a few seconds. It is usually within 3 seconds, but it is fatally too slow to be applied to golem''s operation. (The process with the Magi Crystal can be done in a few nanoseconds or less. "...... is going up?" Jin realized just as he was about to get overtired if he soaked in the bath any longer. * * * * * * That night, Jin, Paelova, and Jed sat around the table for dinner. "Well, Jin-dono. You are indeed beyond my expectations. Paelova was in a good mood. "I didn''t expect you to fix six of them. I''m very happy about that. A very happy Paelova told us that half of the golems in the warehouse were from the time of the founding of the country. "There were some conflicts in order to gain independence. Golem soldiers played an active role in those times." I could not get a detailed explanation, but it seems that most of the battles were fought by golem soldiers at that time in order to minimize human casualties. Jin asked silently if it was possible to use them in such a way. "There are twice or even three times as many golems lying motionless in the capital. What a waste!" Paelova''s eyes lit up. "We can get the stuck golems off the street and have them repaired by Jin-dono ......." "Oh, that''s a good idea, sir." Jed Alamord agreed. "Speaking of which, how are you going to manage the golem?" Jin asked what he had wondered about earlier. "The golems in the royal capital are managed by the high king, and those in this region are managed by me." Paelova answered. In response, Jin said what he had been thinking. "......, would you allow me to gather several golems that have stopped moving and make one of them move?" "What?Can you do that? The response was as expected. "Yes, I can. As a rough estimate, three out of the nine pieces are badly damaged, so we will have to use a lot of materials to repair them. However, I think we can finish a decent golem by combining the available parts of each one. "Hmmm, I didn''t know there was such a way ......, but I didn''t know it was possible." Paelova was astonished, "Can you fix the golem that way, Jin-dono?" Jed asked a question that was new to Jin. "Yes, I can. "I can do it, if I have the materials. Jin affirmed, since it was nothing to hide. "Well, it was a good decision to invite Mr. Jin to ......." "We are very lucky." Paelova and Jed nodded their heads in agreement. In a country where mages are scarce, it is not possible to repair even a single magical tool. Jin remembered his previous visit to Miyako, the capital of Mitsuho. 1529 - - 41-30 Golem Repair 3 The next morning, Jin received word that the materials had arrived. "What, it''s only 8:00 a.m.? Lorenz must have been in a great hurry. Jin thought that Paelova must have been impatient rather than ...... because of the request from the regional administrator, but he did not say it. He went with Jed Alamoldo to the side entrance, which corresponded to the kitchen door, to pick up the materials. "This is Mr. Alamold. And Mr. Jin." Lorenz bowed. "Jin-dono, congratulations on your national certification. I look forward to working with you in the future. "Oh, that''s very kind of you." Lorenz, how much material did you have? Yes. Here is the delivery note. It would be quicker if I told you what we didn''t have from the inventory you gave us at ......." "Yes. ...... Jin-dono, please look it over. "Yes. ...... haha, you''ve got a pretty good lineup. Jin looked through them, 4 Magi Crystals (high quality) (4 missing) 300 grams of mithril silver (200 grams missing) Adamantite: None (10 grams missing) Iron (steel) 3 kilograms (6 500 gram ingots) Bronze 10 kg (20 500 g ingots) Nickel 200g Chromium 100 grams The following is a list of the items that were used in the study. "We can manage without adamantite, and we can manage with the magi crystals and mithril silver since Nicoichi gave us permission last night." Jed Alamold nodded. "Mm. ...... So, Nicoichi, that is, you combine a few of them into one, right?" "Uh, yes. "Ah, yes. Lorenz, you''ve done a great job on such short notice. So, what''s the estimated delivery schedule for the missing pieces?" Yes. ....... Magi crystals will not be available unless you go to King''s Landing. The same goes for adamantite. Mithril silver can be purchased by regular mail, but if you go to King''s Landing, I think it would be quicker to purchase it at the same time. Jed nodded his head in satisfaction. "Okay. I''ll let Ms. Paelova know. I will sign the invoice and send it to the accountant." With the repair materials now in hand, Jin''s repairs proceeded. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now, what should we do? Jin came to the Golem warehouse and started to think with his arms crossed to decide the procedure. This is because Jin wants to take this opportunity to do something about his own personal assistant Golem. Not a high-performance one like Reiko''s, but just enough to be a real < for the time being, he thinks. "I''ll talk to her at lunch." Jin guessed that Paelova would probably have lunch with him to find out how the repairs were progressing. At that time, he wondered if he could get permission to make a golem for himself, using the three that could not be repaired in any way. "I guess I''ll have to make progress on this one." By emphasizing the beauty of a well-maintained golem, he hoped to make people think that emergency repairs were not necessary. That''s what Jin thought. "Okay." Once the decision was made, there was no more hesitation. Jin immediately set to work on the repair. "Now that I have mithril silver, I can repair the magical muscle. Since the magical muscle is made of metallic material, it is easier to repair than biological material. "Make up for the low content of mithril silver," he said. <" Even a difference of 0.1 percent makes a difference in performance. "There we go. We can now repair the thin part of the nerve wire. Jin repairs the six bodies one after another. So far, he had consumed 70 grams of mithril silver. "Since we couldn''t get adamantite, we''ll have to use to deal with the joints. The effect of <> can be boosted by adding mithril silver to the <> material. After repairing the six magical nerve wires and magical muscles, the individual defects are dealt with. "Uh, this guy is ...... oh, right. He doesn''t have enough skeletal structure." The golem with a broken lumbar vertebrae is repaired with steel, nickel and chrome. "That''s it," he said. The next one is ...... the one with the cracked link board." The golem with a broken link board was repaired using bronze because the exterior was more damaged than the interior. The link board itself was restored by Jin''s engineering magic. Thus, the six pieces that had been repaired in the emergency are now almost as good as new. Jin then sets about the next task without a break. "Of the remaining nine, I think I''ll fix the one with the damaged skeleton first," he says. Two of the skeletons were broken and distorted. If there was a broken part, it could have been connected, but for some reason, I could not find it and could not fix it. "<>...... I knew it was a 13-chromium type." The skeleton was a type of stainless steel containing 13% chromium and no nickel. "<>......<><>...... that''s it. Finish with <>" A little toughening and durability is added. "Seven more to go. Three of them are eliminated. ......" Then. "Jin-dono, what do you think ...... about this? Jed Alamordo came to check on them and was amazed to see eight golems looking as good as new. "We were able to repair them so far because we were able to order the materials. These eight golems are almost as good as new. "Mmm, this is amazing. ......" Jed''s face was flushed and he looked at the golems excitedly. "Oh, yes. It''s a little early for lunch, but Mr. Paelova would like to have lunch with us. Jin exclaimed inwardly with pleasure as the situation was turning out just as he had expected. "Yes, I will join you. "Yes, I will join you. "Yes, well, eight of them are as good as new!I''m so glad we called up Mr. Jin! Paelova exclaimed excitedly, "And the damage is done! "So, the three that are badly damaged, what do you think about taking the usable parts and combining them into one decent piece, as I said before?" "Mm ...... I think it''s a good idea. What do you think Jed?" "I think it''s a good idea. I think it''s better to have one that works than three that are half-baked or don''t work. With these words, Paelova made up her mind. "Alright, Mister Jin. I give you my permission. I will give you my regards." I will use the three of them to make one that is as good as new, if not better than new. "Oh, I''m looking forward to it. You can count on me. 1530 - - 41-31 Golem Repair 4 After finishing lunch, Jin went to the golem warehouse early. Paelova Sondovik was expected to come with him, but she said she had some unavoidable work to do and would come to see him after she finished it. "Okay, let''s do that first." Three of the pieces were damaged beyond repair. One is missing its right arm, one is missing both legs from the knees down, and the tips of both elbows are missing. Another was missing its neck and right arm. "The exterior of the body is also quite damaged, so they must have been in a battle," Jin said. From what Jin saw, the golem here was not a combat golem, but a general-purpose golem. The bronze exterior is also evidence of this. "What happened to it doesn''t matter now. It needs to be repaired. ......<" Jin, as the temporary master, gave the order, and the two golems began to move. "I think I''d like an assistant golem that''s a little smaller, after all. In the sense of having them help with detailed work, the smaller the assistant Golem, the better. In that sense, Reiko was ideal. "If you can''t find one, you can''t help it. ...... keep that in mind." Jin worked quickly and had the three pieces in pieces in no time. "Jin-san, konnichiwa...... wow!" After the morning training, Katya came in and looked at the dismantled golem and exclaimed in surprise. "Oh ...... surprise,...... I was surprised." Since the skeletal structure is similar to that of a human being, Caciea''s surprise is understandable. "It''s okay that the muscles are metallic. It would be even creepier if they were made of living material." A memory of Hannah''s not being creeped out came to Jin''s mind. "Well, are you going to fix this ......?" "It''s not quite the same as fixing it. I''m going to take the usable parts and make one up. Jin is very blunt. But Katya seems to understand what he is doing. "I see......... it''s called using waste ......, or putting it to good use, isn''t it?" "It''s not waste, though. It''s not waste, but close to it. While Jin is talking, his eyes are sorting out the usable components from the non-usable ones. "Okay, help me." "What?Is it me, ......? No, it''s not. Then ...... you are! Katya is surprised to see the Golem moving. "You saw it move yesterday, didn''t you?" Jin said, "Yesterday it was just moving, but today it is moving according to Jin-san''s instructions!Do you think Golem listens to you that easily?" "No, they don''t. There is a distinction between who is giving orders and who is not. They''re identified by their magic patterns, so there''s no room for deception. Then why do you listen to Jin-san? "Because when I repair it, I register it as a temporary master." Master. In this case, it is inconvenient that the device cannot be stopped or activated in the absence of its original master, so some (good) magecraftsmen can add a setting to the control core that allows the device to follow specific instructions only. In the case of a golem created by Jin, he has the right to give orders as the < of the golem. "The golem here has long since lost its original master. "Is that so? ......" Jin had the repaired Golem help him put all the usable materials in one place. "It''s more efficient to have them help me carry these heavy parts," he said. This was his line to Katya. "Yes, that''s true. ...... they are heavy. ......" "Well..." After rearranging the parts in one place a little, Jin said, "I don''t want to have any doubts, "I don''t mind the duplicates, but I''ll have to make the missing parts." In common with all three of the figures, the right arm was missing from the elbow onward. "I have enough legs for two of them, so I guess I''ll use them. Jin muttered to himself, and quickly remade the skeleton of the right arm. The remainder is kept as an ingot. "Now I can make the skeleton. Jin first assembles the skeleton. (Well, it''s the Adriana way after all. ......) It is almost the same ...... as the golems Jin has made so far, or rather, it has not changed at all. (The method of the previous generation was that much more complete, I guess.) The skeleton was assembled in a few minutes. "Adjust the rattling of the joints, and since there is no adamantite, <> and ......." While KaChea rolls her eyes, Jin begins to assemble the muscular system. "I will mix this with some of the mithril silver recovered from one of the magic nerve wires to compensate for the deterioration of the silver. <<>" Then it is time to assemble them. Since Katya is watching us, Jin assembles it slowly and consciously. At the same time, the magic nerve wires were wired up, and the work was completed in about 30 minutes. "Okay. Now the link board. Since all three of them were safe, he used the best one he could find. "Put this one here, and this one here: ......" Muttering to himself, Jin finished wiring to the link board. "And the head." He used the better of the two heads. "That''s about it. " Now the golem looks much more like a golem. "Now we need an exterior: ......" The exterior of this golem is both skin and armor. "What about the design?" It seemed to be based on actual human armor, not Adriana''s armor, and not like any armor Jin had ever seen. "I guess I could just use a relatively decent one as a reference and duplicate it," he said. So, using the eight that had already been repaired as a reference, Jin started to assemble them while repairing the crumpled and broken parts. "...... is done." About an hour and a half after starting work, a golem is assembled from the parts of three bodies. "Oh, wow!Jin-dono, is that it? Paelova Sondovik arrived just in time. She seemed to have run all the way here from her office, judging from the fact that she was a little out of breath. "Yes, I just finished it. As you can see at ......, the parts for the two bodies are just as you see them." The pile looks like a pile of scraps. "Well, that can''t be helped. Paelova''s eyes are glued to the newly completed golem as she replies, "That''s nine! "That''s nine!Jin-dono, you have done well. Of the fifteen golems, nine have been restored. Of the remaining six, two are in pieces, so only four remain. Seeing Paelova in a good mood, Jin took the opportunity to make a request. "Master Paelove, I have a favor to ask you..." "Yes?Yes, Jin-dono? Yes, nothing else. We have four more bodies to repair, and in order to continue this kind of work, I need an assistant golem. An assistant Golem? Yes. It has a wide range of uses, such as carrying heavy parts and helping when support is needed. "Hmmm, I see. You want one repaired at ......?" This sounded promising, Jin said, saying the way he had been thinking. "No, I was thinking of assembling it using leftover parts." 1531 - - 41-32 Humanity Golem "Make a golem ......?Jin, Jin-dono, can you do such a thing!" Paelova was more surprised than Jin had expected. Jin had only thought that since he could repair things, it was only natural that he could make them, but that was not the case. It would be like being able to repair a household appliance but not being able to make a new one. Anyway, it was a surprise to Paelove Sondvik when Jin said he could make a golem. Paelove Sondvik''s head was spinning. (Not only to fix it, but also to see if ...... Jin could make a golem. But we don''t know how good a golem it is,...... so let''s give the golem permission and see how it goes.) "Good. Make an assistant golem. But don''t use too much material, okay?" Jin was relieved that permission was granted. "Yes, sir. I understand that. "Yes, sir. Then continue with the repairs. Paelova returned, saying that she was in the middle of her work. This was also convenient for Jin. "All right, let''s do it. Jin felt his spirits lifted for the first time in a long time. "...... Jin-san?" Katya was a little surprised to see Jin''s lively face for the first time. (He can make a face like that too! ......) Then, she is even more surprised by Jin''s skill when he gets a little more serious. "I''d say he''s about the same size ...... as me. The body shape should be ...... neutral." After deciding on the concept, Jin quickly assembled the parts. All of the parts are left over from the three dismantled bodies. "<><>>>>" "Eeeeee!" This is Katya, who has seen firsthand how much care Jin''s work had been taken in the past. I was beyond amazed and could only be stunned. I guess this is what I mean when I say that I am stunned. After completing the skeleton in two minutes, Jin began to attach the muscles. "The smaller size will give us some extra mithril silver, so we can strengthen it by adding more of it. ......<<>" We can also add toughening to strengthen the muscles. "The problem is the control core. ...... I guess we have to do one thing here." Jin took out two deteriorated control cores from the dismantled materials. "<><>>" The two pieces are combined into one piece. Further crystallization resets the engraved information. <. It is like a memory card. This allows us to create a control core with superior processing power. Jin wanted to make the control core at least satisfactory. "And then there''s ...... this one." Jin took out two Magi Crystals. The two crystals are an ether converter and a mana driver. This time, we are not going to make a Magi Reactor. "That''s it. Now we just need eyes, ears, and a mouth." And then I realized something. "The remaining magi crystals (magi crystals), they all have different attributes. ...... The ones for the ears are too small to be used." There is only one head left. I have just used the better ones for the repair, so the remaining ones are as follows. One eye: 1 light crystal Ears: 2 wind crystals Mouth (speech): 1 piece of water attribute Aether converter: 1 piece of lightning attribute (cracked) Mana Driver (Mana Driver): Fire Attribute 1 piece (chipped) "Hmmm ......" Jin pondered. "The cracks can be repaired, but I''d like to use the ears and mouth as they are. ...... then I should use the lightning attribute because of its magical frequency." The color of the eyes, called "odd eyes", would be different on the left and right sides, but Jin gave up the idea that it was inevitable. (I''d like to get one extra fire attribute or ...... and make a >.) Jin thought that he would make it when Katya was not looking, just in case, and concentrated on the golem first. "<><><>" After fusing the cracks, raise the quality of the magi crystal. Repeating this process, the magi crystal to be used is prepared. "Okay, place it, and write the magic formula (Magi Formula) ......<>" The magic circle of pale light floated in and out, floating and disappearing, the intervals between them so impossibly short that Katya, looking at it, was speechless. "Okay, now the main body is complete. Now all that''s left is the exterior." Thanks to the miniaturization of the body, there are enough parts to make this one as well. "<><><><>>......<>>......All right." The exterior design is based on Horaijima. In other words, it looks like a human being, not like a suit of armor. "Jin-san, is that a golem too?" Katya finally spoke up. For her part, she had only seen Lorenz''s heavy-duty golem or the light armor-like golem in front of her, so it was understandable that she was surprised to see a golem with a body line that resembled a human''s. "Yes. "Yes. This is the golem I''m going to make. Jin puts the final touches on it. "<>" He transfers simple knowledge. It is not as good as the <> or <> of Horai Island, but it has enough knowledge to help him in his daily life. At this point, Jin remembered that Cachier was right in front of him. "Cachia, may I transfer your common sense part to this golem?" "...... yes?" Cacha tilted her head, not understanding what was being said. "Well, I''d like to impart some of your knowledge into this golem. Using ...... magic. Do you understand me if I put it this way?" "Yes. Yes. ......" "Because there''s no danger." "Yes, yes,...... it''s good, but,...... Unsure, Katya approves. "Thank you. ......<>level 3,<>" The <<> option makes the transfer a little slower, but it also makes it easier on the subject. "Thank you, Katya. ......<>" Since it is not possible for a third party to <> directly to the < control core, Jin once transferred the necessary information to the remaining magi crystals of the fire attribute, and then transferred them to the control core of the golem again. Incidentally, when he created <<> in the Kingdom of Egelea, he was able to transcribe directly from Lyanna, the knowledge model, because the control core had not yet been completed. The difference is whether or not the < <> is written. <, you can freely add the command, but the control core, which is in a half-written state, can easily react to magical power that is not a writing command, and there is a danger that the written data will be messed up. So, although it may be a little time-consuming, if we <> each time we write, such a thing will not happen and the reliability will be increased. "There you go. Check ......, just in case." Normally Reiko or the old man would do it for him, but now he had to do it himself. Once again Jin felt lonely. "......Okay, OK. ......<" "Yes, master." "Wow. ......" Katya was thrilled to see the golem she had been building start to move in front of her. "......How''s your body feeling?" "Yes, there is nothing wrong. "Good. ......Your name is . Yes, my name is Hope. Pleased to meet you." Here is born <>, a golem equipped with neither a force field generator nor any specific weapon, but only Jin. 1532 - - 41-33 New jobs "Golem, do you speak that fluently? "Yes, they do." Jin answers simply. "It has to have a speech device and a language processing function, but this one has a control core made by Niko-ichi, so even if the quality is a little poor, the functionality is good enough. "I see. ......" "Well, now that you''ve got a good assistant, you''ll be able to work more efficiently. < "Yes, Master." "Yes, and call me by my name." Yes, Master Jin. He somehow thought that it would be better to avoid <> in front of Paelova and the others. Jin''s own golem was used as his assistant, which made his work much more efficient. He understood the nuances of the work and took the initiative. "Okay, take care of this one." "Yes, Mr. Jin." "How about that one?" "Yes, just about done." The remaining four are being repaired in no time at all. "Wow. ......" No wonder Ka''Chea is amazed. The work is progressing several times faster than when he had the repaired golems helping him. Still, Jin seems to be taking it easy. "......After all, work efficiency is something that should be done with ...... in mind." In the evening, before 5 p.m., thirteen golems had been repaired and were in line. The surplus was 700 grams of iron and 3.3 kilograms of bronze. And four used magi crystals that were deemed unusable. "Oh, oh, oh, oh!You''re done already! I heard a loud voice and turned to see Paelova. Jed Alamordo had come with him and was looking at the completed golem with wide-eyed amazement. "Yes, I just finished it just now. You gave me permission to make an assistant golem, so I''ve been working on it. "Oh, I see!Which one is the ...... assistant golem? Yes, this one. ...... Hope, say hello to Master Paelova. "Nice to meet you, my name is Hope, Master Paelova." "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!You speak? "Yes. Yes, I''m your assistant, so it''s not convenient if I can''t talk. "That''s not what I meant, but ...... well, that''s okay. You did a good job, Mister Gin! Paelova is in the best of moods. She says that there will be a banquet tonight, and Jed rebukes her. "Jin-dono, it is a great pleasure to have you with us. Paelov Sondovk, who had straightened up her residence, shook Jin''s hand, and Jin responded in kind. The first time he shook Jin''s hand, Jin responded in kind. "But this is the first time you''ve made a happy mistake, isn''t it? Yes. I was surprised that he had such a great skill. After tomorrow, I''ll let you see the important facilities in town. That''s a good idea. ...... but you won''t be able to avoid meeting someone like that. "That''s not an option. Someone ...... should go with you. That way there won''t be any commotion. I''ll be right with you. I''ll be right with you. "The missing fire magic crystal (magi crystal) or ......" Normally, they would have been discarded, but Jin was able to get them from Paelova and Jed. "With this size and quality, even with <>, it is impossible to make a <>. <." Guard ring can create a barrier against attack magic of advanced level, and protect ring can create a barrier against attack magic of intermediate level. Of course, Jin himself can also put up a barrier, but with these items, he can rest and sleep with peace of mind, and he can allocate his resources to other things. "<><>><>><>...... now, okay." Assistant golem and protection ring. Jin sighs in relief, now that he can rest assured of his own safety. "I heard that tomorrow we''re going to look around at all the magi machines in town. I''m looking forward to ...... that." Our immediate goal is to cross over to the Laurentian continent. To do so, we must gain their trust and secure our freedom of movement. (Elsa......Reiko......Mr.......Hannah......... ...just wait for me......I''ll return at any cost) Looking up at the night sky through the small window, Jin renewed his determination. The next day, July 27th. Jin left for the town of Lawhon with Cachier and his officer in charge, Karlich Gawler, and Jed Alamold. Hope, the assistant golem, was not allowed to accompany them. "It''s a nice town, isn''t it? It is a little too neat. Jin thought that this was probably due to the fact that the town was planned and built. It is a bit of an exaggeration to say that the town has a long history, but in an old town, extensions, renovations, and new constructions are all mixed together, giving the town a chaotic feeling. This is not the case here. Almost all the buildings look the same age. Knowing the background of a new town built on a new continent, it is easy to make such assumptions. Let''s go to the community center first. I want you to take a look at the mana stand there. The word came up unexpectedly. < "I understand." On the surface, Jin is trying to appear nonchalant, but inwardly he is looking forward to it. He was eager to find out what the system looked like at the moment. "First of all, here. Actually, there are four of them in the town, where you can replenish your mana at a reasonable price. "I see." Jin looked at the < in front of him. However, even Jin could not understand it just by looking at it from the outside. "Do I have to maintain this? "If it can be done, yes. "Let me take a look first." Jin walked up to the mana stand and looked at it from top to bottom. It was about the size of a drum. It was cylindrical and had a thick conductor attached to it like a hose. When the end of the conductor is pointed at the mana tank and activated, it seems to be able to fill up with mana. "<><><>...... hmm?" "What''s wrong, Mister Jin?" Jin turned around and looked at Jed. "Jed, please don''t make fun of me. This thing isn''t working. It''s not maintenance, it''s repair." "Ummm...I didn''t think you could tell that much right away when you saw ....... ....... No, I apologize. If you can fix it, I''d like you to fix it." "Okay. Let''s take a look inside anyway." Jin quickly removed the exterior. "The ether converter is broken. It must be due to overuse. Jin recognized the problem at a glance. "Can you fix it with ......?" "Yes, if you have the Magi Crystal." Hearing Jin''s words, Jed Alamold made an immediate decision. "Okay, let''s go see Lorenz." 1533 - - 41-34 Another Wizard It was only a little after 8 a.m., but Lorenz''s store was open. "It''s big. ......" It was much too big to be a peddler''s store. Jed Alamold opened the service entrance for the employees at the side of the front and went inside. Jin, Cachier, and Karlich Gawler waited out front. (Well, the peddlers are probably half volunteers, and I guess they are caravaning because they are gathering information requested by the country, or rather by Paelova.) While Jin was thinking about this, the door of the store opened and Lorenz came out. He was accompanied by Jed. "Mr. Jin, Ms. Katya, welcome. Mr. Karlich Gawler, it''s been a while. Mr. Lorenz, good morning. "Good morning." Jin and Katya greeted each other and Karlich nodded. "Well, Jin-san, I heard that you need some Magi Crystals. "Yes, that''s right." "Ummm... ......." Lorenz made a difficult face. "The four we delivered yesterday are the last of our stock. We only have five more that are less than half that size." "I see. ......" As expected, Jin doesn''t say, "We can make a bigger one by fusing magi crystals. "Are Magi crystals that scarce?" "Yes, they are. As you probably already know, they are not available on this continent at all. There were plentiful deposits on the Laurentian continent, Jin thought. "I placed an order with King''s Landing right away, but it won''t arrive yesterday or today. "That''s a problem. ...... "That''s a problem. At Lorenz''s words, Jin and Jed Alamordo also looked at each other with a scowl. But then.., "Oh, maybe..." Then came the voice of Kalrich Gawler, who seemed to have had an idea. "Kalrich, do you have an idea?" "Yes. Yes, Eila Shearer. I''m sure she has a few of these for research. "Oh, that''s him. ......." Jed Alamordo''s face turned even more sullen at the mention of that name. "I''ve bought a total of ten ...... in the past on request." Kalrich remembered that only the treasurer could do that. "...... we''ll have to meet up at some point. All right, I''ll go." Seeing Jed''s somewhat reluctant attitude, Jin sensed that something was up. So he asked Kalrich secretly. "Well, what kind of person is Eira Shearer? "EIRA?She is a woman in her mid-twenties and a mage with a passion for research. ......" "I see." As far as Jed was concerned, he did not understand why Jed was so reluctant to talk to him. However. "Um,...... Mr. Jin, do you think you might be...? "Hmm?" Ka-kea seemed to have an idea. "Well, I may be wrong, but he''s in his mid-twenties and single, so he''s probably a man of high ...... stature." "Oh, I see." "...... and is very studious, which means he probably doesn''t socialize much ......." That''s a good insight. "I''m sure that ...... Jed must be more than he can ...... handle, that ...... oddball." "Wow." When KaChea said that, Jin also felt that way. "...... Jin-dono, shall we go?" "Ah, yes." Jin and the others followed Jed Alamordo, who was obviously not very excited. "......Dono Eira-dono wa paerova-sama no ka?" I asked as we headed back the way we came, but Jed shook his head. Jed shook his head. No. It is located next door in the research building. I''m sure that ...... Jin will be given a room there sooner or later." We walked on, and the research building came into view. No, I had seen it and knew it as a building since it was next to the residence of the regional administrator. It was just that I knew what it was. It is about two times smaller than the residence of the district superintendent, but large enough compared to other buildings in the town. It is a two-story stone building. It is about the size of a small elementary school. "I''m going to go and say no to Mr. Paelova, please wait for me." It will only take about five minutes, since we''re right next to each other," Jed Alamold said. "Oh, in that case, can I bring my assistant golem with me?It would be more efficient to have him with us to do the repairs. "Okay," said Jed Alamold. I''ll tell Mr. Paelove that too. Thank you very much. So Jin also went to the mansion. Wait for me... Jin was the first to return. Of course, he was accompanied by his assistant golem . "So that''s the assistant golem I''ve heard about. It is hard to believe that it was made from scrap wood. Jin-dono seems to be a very skilled engineer. Karlich praised Jin. Then Jed returned. "Thanks for waiting. I have reported to Mr. Paelove. I''ve also gotten your approval for Jin''s golem. "Thank you, sir." Jin thanked Jed. "Let''s go." The group of five, including Hope, headed for the research building next to the mansion. The grounds are connected, so they are close together. "Eira is on the first floor, right in front, I think." All the rooms are quiet with the windows closed. When the group entered through the front door, they found a series of doors facing the corridor. Each of them must have been a room assigned to a particular person. "How many people live here?" "How many people live here?So far only Eira is a mage. There are also two woodworkers, three blacksmiths, and three office workers. The ratio showed how valuable mages are. "Here we are." A handwritten nameplate with the name hung next to the door. Jed knocks, but after waiting for no response, he knocks again and again, harder and harder. "......, you''re being too loud." After about five minutes, the door finally opened and a red-haired woman with shaggy hair, probably waking up from sleep, came out. This was Eira Shearer, it seemed. She had a grim expression on her face. "Ah, Mr. Jed. What do you want?" The red-haired woman''s face relaxed a little when she saw Jed, the secretary. I''m sorry to bother you this morning. I have an urgent need for some magi crystals from ....... Karlich said they might be at your place." "Nn...... magic crystals?Yes, I have about three of them. What do you use them for?" "Well, ...... do I have to tell you?" Well, since you''re going to give us research materials, you should at least tell us what they''re for. "Sure. We need it to repair the ......<>." Eira''s eyes widened slightly at this answer. "Repair the <>?Is that even possible?Who can repair it ......?" After saying that much, his words were cut off mid-sentence. He seems to have noticed Jin and the others behind Jed Alamold. "Hey!Do any of you have engineers who can do the repair?If so, tell us!" Overwhelmed by his words, Katya hid behind Jin. Jin thought to himself, as if he were a stranger, that Cachair''s guess was right. ....... 1534 - - 41-35 Aira Sheata "...... hmm?Is that you?" Kachair, who had been spotted for hiding. "No!......That''s ...... wrong......." Eira snickered when she heard that. "...... I guess. I don''t think he''s a mage if he can''t feel any kind of high energy." She then looks at who is standing next to Jin. "Hm?What is this golem?This golem! I thought he shouted out loud, "Well, ...... the joints are almost perfectly aligned. ...... it''s surely well done, but I don''t understand the concept. ......" I''m sure it''s good, but I don''t understand the concept ", he mumbles, circling around Hope. He''s dangerous, to say the least. "Hey!Who made this golem? "...... me." I could see why Jed Alamordo wasn''t so keen on the idea, but I couldn''t back out now. "You got me!...... hmm?You don''t look familiar. It is only natural that they would notice me since there are only a few people living in this research building and Eira is the only mage. "I just came to Lawhon the other day. Jin responded in a manner appropriate for a man of his age. "So, you made this golem?You can do such a thing? "Yes, well..." "If you are ......, why do you make such a half-baked thing?" "Half-baked?" "Halfway?" "Yes!If it''s for combat, make it bigger. If it''s for civil engineering, make it sturdier. If it''s for civil engineering, make it sturdier. If it''s for miscellaneous use, make it of a lower grade, don''t you think? Jin felt that this female mage, Eira, was not only noisy, but also had a solid insight into the use and configuration of the golem. "I tried to make it as current as possible," she said. And at the same time, he is quite a theorist. "The current situation? "Yes. Yes. We make the best golem under the assumption that we don''t have enough materials. That''s the concept." "Ummm ...... this country is still wrong!We''re doing it wrong!" Eira shouted loudly. "Eira, that''s enough. That''s enough. Jed Alamordo, his face serious ...... no, stern, said quickly. "...... okay." Eira complies, albeit reluctantly. "But this is not a good environment for a researcher, okay?I want you to understand that. With these words, he turns and walks back into the room, "Here." He gave him two magi crystals. I''ll use the other one for my research, so give me a break. And please replenish the magi crystals as soon as possible. Then he said. She then puts the Magi Crystal in Jin''s hand and closes the door without hearing his reply. "......" Jin stared at the Magi Crystal in his hand and exclaimed. "Are you surprised?That is Eira Sheeter. Are all researchers like that?Anyway, she says what she wants to say without hesitation. Jin couldn''t help but laugh. "Well, I guess we can fix it now." With that, the group turned on their heels, but behind them, the door opened with a bang. "Wait, wait, I''m coming too!I''ll show you with my own eyes how to fix it using the Magi Crystal! He had changed his clothes. He also had a stack of papers in his hand, perhaps for notes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmm, so you''re going to repair this mana stand. It''s true that it''s been in bad shape for the past two years. And it finally stopped the other day. Since Hope was with him this time, Jin instructed her to remove the exterior of the stand. "Well, you''re very dexterous." Eira began to take some notes as she watched. Jin proceeded with the work at his own pace. "......This part is broken..." Still, only when he removed the ruined magi crystal did he turn to Eira and explain. "This is the most important one, but it has deteriorated due to overuse and finally chipped. That''s why we have to replace it now. Jin showed Eira the chipped and cracked magi crystal. Eira looked at it and seemed to lose interest in it, and did not pick it up to look at it. "I will exchange this for the magi crystal you offered me. Jin inserted the magi crystal into the base as he explained. "So, in this structure, the basic control system is engraved on a magical board (plate). Interesting." Eira hurriedly takes notes. Jin, who had learned of this, slowed down his work a little. "It''s a little degraded here too, but I think it should last for the time being with <>......." "...... Oh?" Jin also paid attention to the conductor that sends out the mana. "There are too many impurities. About 20% of mana is wasted on the way. ......<" "......oh?" And to the last part. "This guy is funny. ......" In short, this is the part that makes this mana stand as a <>. "Haha ....... One copper coin will flow mana for one second? I don''t know if it''s expensive or not, but it''s an interesting structure ......." Jin looked at the structure for a while, memorized the configuration, and then repaired it. "Here we go. The whole thing is now ." "Oh, wow!" Hope, get me some armor. "Yes, Master Jin." Jin stretched his hips, which had been bent forward while he worked. "Jin-sama, is this fixed?" "Yes, Mr. Jed. Yes, Mr. Jed. I think the performance is about 20% better than before. "Well, that''s great." Jed was pleased, but Eira was not. "Jin, you say!What was that all about? "What can I say? ...... repair and maintenance, sir." You''re talking about a lot of magic I don''t know? "Well, you just don''t know it, Eira, but engineering magic has been around for a long time, hasn''t it? "Engineering magic?......<> used to use that magic? What? Jin was surprised to hear the words "Magecraft Meister" come out of Eira''s mouth. Magecraft Meister? "Yes, that''s right. That''s what my mentor said. Eira-san''s master? Yes. My master told me that he studied at Avalon when he was young. Avalon is an educational institution founded by the Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer. "Eira-san''s master is ......." "That''s enough chitchat. Thank you for your hard work on the ...... repairs, Jin-dono. Eira, when you''re done, go back to your room. Jed Alamold, whose mood had changed, admonished them. 1535 - - 41-36 Moving That day Jin repaired another mana stand and finished his work. * * * * * * Jin-dono, thank you for your hard work. Thanks to you, the town''s magick machines and tools will be in good working order. At dinner, Paelova is in a good mood after receiving the report. "Jed told me that you went to the research building today. Just in time. Starting tomorrow, I''ll give you a room there and you can move in? "Yes." I''ll be honestly grateful to have a private space where I can do whatever I want. Jin agreed. "The same goes for Katya. We''ll move in tomorrow, right? "Yes, yes. ......" As he said, Jin and Katya moved out of Paelova''s mansion to the research building on the 28th of the following month. "Jin-san, thank you ...... for your help." Jin''s belongings were few, and the move was completed quickly. So Jin decided to help Katya with her large luggage. Of course, the heaviest luggage was carried by the golem <. Jin and Ka-cea each had to carry one medium load. "I see. ....... I thought it was a lot of luggage, but I guess that''s the premise of settling down like this." I thought it was too much luggage, even for a girl," Jin said. "Jin-san, you''re too late to realize ...... that." I should have realized it when I told him the other day that I had to become independent. "Ha-ha-ha ...... I''m so slow sometimes, I hear." "Yes, you may be, ......." "Deny it, please. "No, it''s the truth. ...... "That''s terrible." With such conversation, the move was successfully completed. "Well..." Jin looked around the room. The rooms consisted of one large room for research, as the building was called a research building. It was about the size of a high school classroom, which Jin wanted to use as a workshop. There is also a living room. This room is about 8 tatami mats in size, with a large table and four chairs, and can be used for meetings with others. The last room is a bedroom with a built-in bed, about 4.5 tatami mats. Jin would not feel comfortable if it were too large, so this was just right for him. This seems to be the first time for Jin to use this room. However, the room is not so spacious. (...... What is it?(What is this magic tool? ......) There are magic tools in each room, or rather in the walls. "<>" Naturally, Jin checks ...... to find out. (Eavesdropping?(...... in short, surveillance. ......) Considering the state of this country, it''s not surprising. (But I don''t like it. ...... Yes!) "<>!" At least the bedroom should be a private space. Jin leaves the magic tools in place and erases the contents from outside the wall. To revive them, we need to be able to or them from a distance like Jin did. And to do so, it would be impossible to repair it without doing some work, as if to declare that there is something in the wall. (I''d better not do it in the living room and the laboratory.) If all three rooms are out of order, it is likely to be suspected at any cost. Jin decided to settle for just the bedroom. (I can''t ...... do the room of the ka-chair.) (It is not possible to do this in Cachier''s room.) For the same reason, Jin thought that it would be bad if such a malfunction occurred in several rooms. (Oh, but it might be OK if we could at least reduce the sensitivity.) Jin thought it would be less suspicious if it was hard to hear what was being said, so he decided to visit Katya''s room. He was nominally helping to clean up the mess. He takes Hope with him. * * * * Cachier''s room is next to Jin''s. Incidentally, Eira is at the very front end of the first floor of the research building, Jin is next to her, and Katya is next to her. Are they just packing from the end, or do they have some kind of plan? Jin knocked on the door of Cachair''s room while thinking about this. "Ah, Jin-san." "I thought it would be hard to clean up, so I came to help." Thank you. ......, uh, ......." "Yeah, I''ll have Hope help you with the stuff you don''t want people to see." "Oh, thank you. ......" Jin helps her wipe down the living room, and then the bedroom, which is still untouched. (<>......There it is. ......, huh. That''s interesting. The accident has caused some confusion in his memory. It''s hard to say whether it''s impossible or not. Eira seems to half believe and half doubt Jin''s story. "Well, that''s okay. I''m happy to listen to what you have to say. "As for me. I''d like to know more about this country. That''s an exchange. Well, that''s all right. I''ll tell you first. From there Eira spoke in a hushed voice. The room is not perfect, and Jin does not trust Eira enough to tell her about the wiretap, so he listens to her. "This country, ...... the Principality of Mercana, is often thought of as a dictatorship ruled by a duke, but in fact it is not." "What?What do you mean?" It is actually the Parliament that has the power. Congress? Congress is made up of 10 members, each of whom is responsible for economic, magical, military, and other matters. Each one is the head of the economy, magic, military, etc." "Hahaha. ......" "The king is just a decoration. ...... but that''s not good enough for Paelova Sondvik, the administrator here in Lawhon." Jin was surprised. Not by its content. It was Eira''s knowledge of it. "Paelove is a cousin of the king. She is older than the High King. So it''s no wonder she has ambitions to one day replace him. He has no queen, much less an heir." "......" As for Jin, I''m not so sure I want to hear this. I am not good at such political talk, but now that I am already involved in it, I think I should know about it. "Well, I guess that''s why they want the best pawns." You think that''s how they''re keeping us in? That''s what I''m saying. Do the mages have to be managed by the state?You''re managing them yourself. Well, since you are a local administrator, I guess you are not wrong. "............" Jin had no idea what to do with the information he had heard. Eira snickered at him as if she could see right through him. "Well, you look like you don''t know what to do. Well, believe it or not, it''s your choice. Eira sat back down. "Well, now let''s hear what you have to say." Jin did not know what Eira wanted to know, "Well, why don''t we use the question format: ...... you ask a question and I answer it?" Eira seemed to like this. Eira seems to like this. "Yeah, that''s not bad. Let me ask you ......3 a few questions. Let''s start with the first question. ......The term "Magecraft Meister" that I mentioned yesterday, does it mean anything to you? "...... I think I have." Jin is a little wary and gives a curt answer. "Well, then, how much do you know about ? "At least a little. "If that''s true, then I guess I''m more than a master. Jin was interested in the person of Eira''s master. "This master is ......." Jin was about to say, "It''s still my turn to ask questions. He was cut off with a single word, "It''s still my turn to ask questions. "Third. < mean anything to you? "......! Now there was a connection to the former Ars. But now Jin was more cautious than ever. "I think I''ve heard of ...... that too. Was it the name of a country?" "Well, I don''t know if I''m being silly or if I really don''t remember, but whatever. Well, we''ll take turns asking you questions after that." "Great. ...... then. Tell us about your mentor, Eira. "Oh, a master. He is from a country called ...... and studied for two years at an academy on an island called <>. ......This is what you''re talking about, isn''t it?I want to hear it." "Yes." Jin was impressed by Eira''s perceptiveness, since he didn''t want to ask her name, appearance, or age. "Well, now I have a question for you. You seem to have made a golem, but can you make an automata? "Yes, I can, just in case. "Just in case"? I don''t know what level you''re talking about, so let''s just say it''s okay. Next it was Jin''s turn. "Well, Eira, where did you learn from your master?" "Well, where did you learn from your master?" "Well, that''s an interesting question. You ask interesting questions. "Not in this country, but in the other side of the sea. I see. I see... Then I''ll be next. What''s your teacher like?You wouldn''t tell me you''re self-taught, would you? "Of course not. My teacher was ...... yes, the world''s greatest magecraftsman. "Hmm, you must be proud of your master. ......<<>>>, etc., so I decide to choose a safe choice, <>. "Well, you are a connoisseur, aren''t you? Well, I''ll have that one too. "I''ll have that one, too." All three of us ordered the same thing. We asked the waiter to prepare them, and they were ready in about five minutes. "One of the good things about set menus is that they''re fast, aren''t they? Eira thinks to himself. "Wow. ......." Jin''s eyes widened. Brown rice...... probably 7 minutes polished rice, soup, grilled fish, and vegetable pickles. And meat topopo. Jin wondered why there was no miso when there was soy sauce, though it was a pity that it was not miso soup. He took a sip of the soup and found that it tasted salty, so he was not mistaken. "But it''s pretty tasty even with salt because of the dashi broth." "......You know soy sauce and miso, don''t you?" Eira sees right through him. "Hmm, I guess you are from the Laurentian continent, aren''t you? "I guess so. Eira''s confident tone was met with a vague response from Jin. 1538 - - 41-39 Replacement How is Jin? "Yes, I''ve been in contact with Eira, but she doesn''t seem to have been affected too much." "Well, that''s good to know. ...... but why is that woman so insubordinate? You''re not a spy, are you? "I''ve made sure of that many times. It''s just her personality, that''s all. I hope so. One of the complaints ...... seems to be a lack of material for research." "But the way things are going right now, we can''t even import what we want. "And you think the zines will solve that?" "Yes. Yes. In fact, the golem is being regenerated. < Indeed it has. Do not relax your surveillance. But fulfill any requests that will result in our benefit as much as possible. Yes, sir. I understand. A few days after moving in, it was August, and Jin was beginning to spend his days doing research, as the name suggests. "......It''s difficult to configure this place, you know." "Well, if we don''t manage to connect ...... at least a series of connections, each one will run amok on its own." "Can''t we devise the shape of the base and place them at the shortest distance possible?" Eira, Jin, and Cachea. Cacha is mainly supported by calculation. Eira comes up with the idea, and Jin takes it down to a practical level. Jin and Cachier were already accustomed to Eira''s foul mouth. "It''s hard not having magi crystals, isn''t it? "I heard that this continent is poor in mineral resources to begin with. I don''t know if that''s the reason, but there are no demons either. Eira gave me an interesting piece of information. "No demons?Not even one?" "Yes. There hasn''t been a confirmed one for at least 300 years." "Hmm. ......" Jin let his imagination run wild. < migrated to Ars, they filled the planet''s core with superheavy matter in order to create the same gravity as that of Hale. What did they do with the large amount of magical crystals (magi-crystals) that they used in that process? Jin thought that this continent might have been the source of the crystals. < would be able to dig out the magi crystals from the ground. I don''t know what kind of relationship this has with demons, but what if the existence of magi crystals has a close relationship with the ecology of demons? I thought of such a hypothesis, but being unfamiliar with biology, I could not think beyond that. "....... Hey, Jin!Are you listening to me?" Eira''s voice interrupted Jin''s thoughts. "Yes, I''m listening. I''ve been thinking about something for a while now. I was wondering if we could use magic circle instead of ...... magic crystals." "Huh!How could such a foolish thing ...... be possible?" "Well, I don''t know, but if Jin-san says it can be done, then it can be done. Jin looked at them alternately and then slowly opened his mouth. "The magic circle is all about the written <>. It is true that if a <> magic circle were written on a piece of paper and activated on the spot, the paper would burn. That is why the <> is so important." "Well, I understand what you are saying, but ...... it is inevitably <>, isn''t it?" Eira is aware of the same shortcomings of the magic circle as Jin and is concerned about them. "That''s right. But it depends on how you use it. "Use? ......" Yes. It''s not suitable for operating the golem, but what about the mana stand we fixed last time?" Eira nodded in understanding. "That''s right. It is not required to be fast!" "We can take out the control core from such a magi-machine and attach a magi-board with a magic circle engraved on it instead. "That saves on the magi crystals. I think we need to get permission from ......." Katya looks worried. "That''s right. I don''t know what will happen if they find out. When Jin nodded, Eira added, "The penalties for criminals are very severe in this country. Eira said threateningly, "This country has strict penalties for criminals. Putting aside the issue of crime, Jin and his group started researching to realize their idea. "Paper is out of the question for engraving magic circle, but can we use any metal?" "No, it should be easier to transmit magic power. I think an alloy with a little mithril silver added would work." "So, it would be ...... better to use an inexpensive metal for the base, right?How about bronze?" Kachair seems to have such a market in mind and is very reliable in such a case. "Bronze would be fine." "Okay, then. ......." Their teamwork was better than expected. * * * * * What?What?...... that will save the magic crystals (magi crystals)?Really?" When he had some idea of what to expect, he told Paelova about it. "It seems there is nothing to worry about." "Yes. But it is still too early to say for sure. But it is too early to say for sure. ...... Give permission for the modification of the mana stand. huh? * * * * Permission granted. "Okay, let''s start modifying it." Jin and Eira, accompanied by Hope, went to the mana stand that was to be remodeled. The modification was completed as planned. "Now we have two used magecrystals. One used for the ether converter and the other used for the control core to control the vending machine. "Yes, that''s right. Jin''s idea has come to fruition. "At this rate, if we modify every mana stand in town, we should be able to get at least ten of them. "Then you''ll be able to make all kinds of things. "I''m looking forward to it, Jin!" Eira smiled unusually. "We''ll go back today and have another study session. "I''m looking forward to it, Jin!" Eira said with a rare smile. "Yes, yes, of course." Eira was not only dour, but studious and curious about new ways to use ......<>. Unfortunately, her aptitude is low and she is unlikely to learn more than the elementary level. Still, they were more enthusiastic than others, and with KaChea in the group, <> had become a daily routine for the three of them. "Well, what shall we do today? "We''ll continue where we left off yesterday, won''t we? "Yes, I think so. Jin, make the magic circle smaller and faster. This is fun. And you too, Katya... I''ll do my best. The three of them were becoming a good team. It was mid-summer. A hot wind is blowing through Lawhon. 1539 - - 41-40 Silent Story 73 What Hitoshi wanted "...... Oh, Yu and Mio are crying. Wait a minute." Erza stood up, and a moment later Meene stood up as well. This is Horai Island. Jin has returned and is going to explain what he has done so far, so the <> is all here. "...... Fu." Jin stopped talking for a moment and sipped a Ramon (lemon) squash. He really wants to go over to where Elsa is breastfeeding the twins, but he hasn''t been able to do so yet because Elsa is too shy to let anyone see her breasts. At least, it seems that it is only possible when I am alone with Jin. "......Waiting for you." Elsa and Meene are back. Erza has Chloe in her arms and Mio in Meine''s arms. The sleeping twins seem to have woken up now, and are excited even though their bellies must be full. "That''s right!" Jin took out a toy he had made. "Jin, what''s that?" Bina asked, holding her son Reginald in her arms, just like Elsa. "It''s a denden-daiko," he said. "A den-daiko?" "Yes. Here, ......, look, Chloe, Mio." Jin put one in each of Yu and Mio''s hands, and they both swung them around. They both swung them around and made a sound of "de-den-den-den". They seemed to be amused by the sound and waved them around some more. They are still in a good mood because of the sound. "I didn''t expect babies to have such a strong grip," he says. So the drum never fell off, and the twins never got tired of playing with it. In fact, denden-daiko are usually played by babysitters to soothe babies rather than for babies to play with, but Jin had made one for babies. <. Well, he seems to be happy with it, so I guess it''s not a problem. "That''s nice," he said. Bina looked at Reginald with interest as she held him in her arms. "Do you want one too?I''ll give you one. From somewhere Jin pulled out a denden-daiko (a Japanese drum). "Oh, thank you, Jin! Jin, I''m sorry. Bina and Luis thanked him. But Jin shook his head and said it was nothing. "They''re made so that little kids don''t get hurt. I made a lot of them so they wouldn''t break. He was a crafty fool and a parental idiot in his own right. * * * * * * Chloe and Mio woke up, so we couldn''t talk for a while. So we all go outside. It was a clear day outside, and a cool September breeze was blowing. We sat down on the grass in front of the institute. "Wow, your baby is so cute! Reinhard and Bertsche are letting Juliana, who is now waddling, walk around on the grass in front of the institute as much as she can. "Come on, Juliana, your father is over here. "Come on, Yuri, mommy''s over here." "Good walk, good walk." "Come here, come here." Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt were competing over which way to walk. Jin received Mio from his mother-in-law, Meene, and held him in his arms. "Oh, he laughed, he laughed! "Jin-san, you''re good at that. You''re better than Elsa. I took care of a lot of small children when I was in the orphanage. "That''s your father!" Reiko was watching with a smile on her face. "Oh, I''m so glad." Milowina, watching the happy scene from a little distance, loosened her cheeks. "It really is, isn''t it? Jin is like a grandchild, and Yu and Mio are great-grandchildren. Martha was also all smiles. "Kuhu, seeing them like this, it''s nice to have children. "If that''s what you think, then go ahead and marry Mr. Goose." Dad? Mr. Toa! Saki and Goose were in a panic as their father Toa urged them on. "Oh, I''d love to hold a baby myself..." "Why don''t you ask Mr. Toa to do it? "Vivien? I have to find the right man as soon as possible. Stearina and Vivienne were also talking like that. "I can''t wait to see Zion''s baby. "What are you talking about? Marikka teased Zion, and Zion''s face turned red. "It''s lonely being single, isn''t it? "......I agree. ...... I love babies." "I can''t help it if I''m alone in this. I agree. Marcia and Licia seem to share something in common and have been getting along especially well lately. "Marcia ......" Rodrigo looked at his daughter Marcia with a complicated expression. < The five colored golem maids were preparing the tea, as instructed by the old lord. Tables, chairs, and tables are brought in, and everyone enjoys their tea in their own way. "Oh, it''s so delicious! The sky of Horai Island is clear and blue, and everything is quiet. The peaceful scenery that Jin had hoped for was there. 1540 - - 42-01 Team Start "......I was desperate to gain ground back then, anyway." Jin spoke again. * * * * The position of Jin, Eira, Siata, and Cachea in Lawhon...... was becoming more and more solid day by day. First of all, the lives of the residents have been improved by the repair of the mana stand, which is considered as the infrastructure of the town. The supply of mana per copper coin (......) increased by a factor of five. In other words, the unit price has dropped to one-fifth. This is largely due to the revision of the internal sequence using the magic circle. Then there is the maintenance of the Golem cars. Paelova Sondovik had 23 old Golem cars in her possession. All of them had been acquired at a reasonable price because they had stopped working, and they had been repaired by the < of Jin, Eira Siata, and Ka?ea. They did not use magi crystals, but magic circles. Unlike the control core of a golem, which requires high reaction and processing speed, a golem car''s reaction speed is the same or a little slower than that of a human being, but it is still practical enough. * * * * "No, no, this is the first time I''ve been pleasantly surprised. Paelova Sondovik sipped her wine in a good mood. Not only Gin, but even Eira has made a difference. Now we have a team with Jin and Katya. "Indeed. I thought he was a drone... but with the right guidance he can turn into something more. "Yes. That mage Jin may not look like much, but he''s a real expert. Do not treat him roughly. I''m aware of that. That girl Katya was a bargain too. I thought she could be used as a check on Jin, but it seems she''s extraordinarily talented. "Indeed." What are they doing now at ......? "Yes, they''re making new magic tools or magic machines or something." I see. I''m looking forward to it. I''m looking forward to it. "Well, it''s difficult without the right materials. "Jin-san, are you sure you can do it? "Jin, what are you going to use it for?" What Jin is trying to make is a degraded version of <. It is a degraded version of ....... "It uses wind magic to gain propulsion." "Oh, you can do that?" "Yes, it can. Can you use ...... Eira, can you use <>? Yes, I can. "Yes, I can use that. "But what can you move with it? Eira says, "It''s not going to be as good as the Golem car. That''s right. But Jin has something else in mind. "A ship!" "A ship?...... I see, a ship. ...... but..." But what? But? - Building a ship is restricted. In the Principality of Mercana it is forbidden for any individual to have a ship over 5 meters long, 4 meters wide and 3 meters high. "We only use them to catch fish off the coast, and there''s talk of demons offshore." "Demons?" That''s new to me. I thought there were no demons on this continent. "Well, that''s what I heard too." But Eira shook her head. "Not on the continent. But there are demons in the sea. The Death Serpent, I think they call it.A giant sea serpent. "The Death Serpent... ...... is certainly a monster..." Jin-san, you know about this? "...... Oh, yeah. It seems so,....... ......." Jin pretends that it just popped into his head. "Hmmm, another memory comes back to you?What kind of a guy is the Death Serpent at ......?" "Well, it was a ferocious carnivorous monster that grew to more than 10 meters in length. "More than 10 meters... ...... That''s more than amazing, it''s scary." "There are tales of such creatures in the sea north of here. That''s why no one wants to go out to sea by boat." "Hmm. ......" Another new fact came to light, but Jin was not pleased. (I was thinking of building a bigger ship little by little, so that we could eventually cross to the Laurentian continent ......) ) Jin was disappointed, thinking that this line of thinking was reckless. "But it''s applicable." If we can get up the river, we can be useful for logistics, Jin thought again. "As I recall, this kind of propulsion system is used. Jin drew a diagram on a piece of paper. "Hmm?...... The suction port is this way?It''s very wide." "Is the outlet ...... this way?Why is it narrow?" "That''s the ingenious part. You see, when you blow out with your mouth, you blow harder if you have narrow lips, don''t you? "Yes, that''s right." "I see!" When the two were satisfied, Jin added that such a propulsion device could be made using a magic circle. "Indeed. It doesn''t require fine control, and even if the response is sluggish, it won''t be a problem. "That''s what I meant." Thus, Jin and his team set to work to develop a ship that could travel on the river. "Is it okay if we use bronze for the propulsor body? "Iron tends to rust easily, isn''t that right? "The bronze we can use now weighs about 22 kilograms, so the prototype should weigh no more than 10 kilograms. The prototype is completed in one day because of Jin''s presence. < "Activate." "Oh, oh!It is indeed generating propulsive force. Eira held the prototype propulsion device with his hand and realized that it would be useful. "Jin is amazing. He must have been doing this kind of work." "Well, maybe ...... he did." Jin replied vaguely again. "Well, you are the same as always, but that''s OK. I can''t wait to see the look on Paelova''s face when I show this to her. And that night. "This is amazing!" Paelova Sondovik''s loud voice rang out. 1541 - - 42-02 Air jet ship On August 8, a hot and sunny day, Jin and his colleagues came to Lihot Village. They were there to test their prototype air jet on a ship. "I''m looking forward to it! "It''s going to be a lot of fun!" Paelova Sondovik and Jed Alamold are with us. There was a big commotion in the village of Rihot, as all the bigwigs had arrived. "Well, well, well, Mr. Superintendent, welcome to our village! While Paelova and Jed were being greeted with greetings like these, Jin, Eira, and Katya moved to the landing area. They look around at the boats of various sizes tied up there. "Hmmm, not so many good boats. ......" "Why don''t you stop worrying about the quality of the boats, Jin?Why don''t you just pick out the newest one you can and be done with it?" "Yes, Jin-san. This time it is just a prototype. ......" Jin thought back to what they had said, and decided that was a good idea. "Okay. Let''s try ...... that one then." Jin pointed to what seemed to be the newest boat. "Yeah, it looks good, doesn''t it?" The size of the boat looks good and I''m sure Paelova will give us permission as soon as we ask her for it. "What do you think, Jin, Eira, Katya? Speak of the devil, Paelove has arrived. Jed and the village chief are with her. "Oh, yes. I think that boat is the right one. "Hmm, that one. ...... chief, what do you think?I told you how to use it on the way here. I have no objection. I have no objection. ...... Jin-dono, you may use it. Thank you very much. Thank you. "...... this is another great ...... ......." "...... as you say." "......" Paelova, Jed, and the village chief watched in amazement as Jin got more serious and modified the ship. Eira and Katya seem to have gotten used to it over the past few days, at least they don''t show it in their expressions. "There we go." Jin''s modified vessel is a shallow-bottomed, wide boat about 4 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. Two prototype air jets were installed on both sides of the boat. In other words, they intend to use them not as <> but as <> to move the ship. This is because we are using a magic circle instead of a magic crystal, which makes the control rough, so we decided to use an engine that injects air instead of water. Also, we could not incorporate a warding function to prevent the inhalation of solids. In this respect, most of the solids in the air would be dust and sand, and even if a bird or some other object were to get stuck in the engine, it could be quickly repaired. Lastly, a magical board (plate) with a magic circle engraved on it, which has the effect of <>, is attached to the bottom of the boat. This would reduce the water resistance. "Mr. Paelova, we are now going to test run the ship, would you like to get on board? Jin called out from the boat. The ship accommodates five people. Since Jin, Eira, and Katya are on board, there are only two more people to accommodate. "Well, I''d love to, but I don''t think Jed will let me. "I''m sorry, Master Jin. We''ll watch from the shore. "Yes, sir." Jin sits in the center of the boat. Eira sits near the bow and Katya at the stern. "<>!" Jin activates the air jet. The ship starts to move slowly. "Oh, it''s moving, it''s moving! Eira exclaims. "Katya, I need you to steer the ship as I showed you. "Yes, sir." Katya, sitting in the stern, turns the rudder slightly and steers the boat away from the shore. "Okay, we are going to increase the speed. The air jet we have built this time cannot be controlled precisely, so the air volume is adjusted with a lever instead of <>. Jin hoped to eventually use a wire cable or a rod to control the air jet like an accelerator. Still, the power output was considerable, and the boat could run at about 10 km/h against the current of the river. It seemed that the boat would be able to reach the village of Lileaz, which is located in the middle reaches of the Nosina River. "I wish I could make it more powerful: ......" The output is proportional to the input. In this case, the input is free magic element (ether). The efficiency of the magic circle is 1/50th to 1/10th of that of the magic crystal (magicrystal). The efficiency is 1/50th to 1/10th of that using magic crystals (magi crystals). "Even if I wanted to improve the quality of the plate, I don''t have the materials, so I guess I can''t go any further. "No, no, no, Jin, this is quite something!Look at the shore. Paelova is looking at me like she wants a ride. Eira is not a talker. She calls out to everyone if she knows they can''t hear her. Jin looked at the shore with a wry smile. "Yeah, really. ...... but he should improve a bit too." "Well, since Jin says so, you already have a good idea, don''t you?" "Of course. I''d like to increase the diameter and the speed of the airflow. This method, of course, cannot go faster than the speed of the wind. Therefore, Jin decided to increase the speed of the jet in order to increase the speed of the ship. Let''s give it a try. ......<>" Jin widened the bore diameter by a factor of 1.2. This is the limit, since there is a combination of the thickness of the material and its strength. But... "Oh? The speed had increased to the point where he could actually feel it. "1.2 times the diameter means 1.44 times the area. That means that the amount of air that is sucked in has increased 1.44 times, which means that the jet speed has increased 1.44 times as well. Katya did the calculations instantly. "Yes. Well, it won''t necessarily be exactly as calculated, but I''m sure it''s about 1.4 times faster." At the very least, the wind shear is noticeably different. "I''d like to be able to go back to the middle basin." As soon as Jin said this, Katya immediately started to calculate. "If the river is flowing at 3 kilometers per hour here, the current speed is about 14 kilometers per hour. The current in the middle part of the river is about 15 kilometers per hour, so the boat should be able to reach a speed of at least 20 kilometers per hour. "Oh, really?" "Then we would need to increase the bore ratio by a factor of 1.2. Dividing by 20 (16), we find that we need an aperture ratio of 1.25 times the area ratio. The square root of the diameter is about 1.118. Considering the loss of efficiency, he said 1.2 times. "Cacha is amazing. How could you do the calculations so fast? Eira, sitting near the bow, was impressed. "Okay, let''s go back." "Yes, sir." Katya turns the rudder as far as it will go. The flat, shallow-bottomed boat is stable. The boat makes a 180-degree turn and is now running with the current of the river at a speed of 17 kilometers per hour. The prototype of the air jet is good. Now we just need to control it. "We need to figure out how to make it more maneuverable! "That''s right." Jin agreed with Eira''s opinion. Jin had never piloted a real motorboat before, so he decided to let it be as long as it was easy to use, even though it might be a unique way of piloting the boat. 1542 - - 42-03 Special Rewards Over the course of two full days, Jin and his team remodeled the boat. First, a pilot''s seat was installed so that the boat could be steered with a wire cable. Then, the output of the left and right air jets could be adjusted with levers. The intake ports are protected by wire mesh as a safety measure and to prevent the intake from sucking in unnecessary objects. And then.., "Jin, we can''t fall back if we keep going like this, can we? Eira''s comment, the first prototype was attached to the bow in the opposite direction for the purpose of retreating. The entire wooden boat was reinforced with a few bronze fittings to complete the project. "Wow, this is great!" Paelov Sondovk, still in the village, exclaimed with satisfaction as he took a test ride on the completed . "Well done! Jin, Eira, Kacea." From this time on, Paelova began to call him "Jin. Jin was relieved that Paelove was becoming less cautious. "If we build a ship of the same type as this one, we will be able to transport goods by water! The Principality of Mercana is developing roads and villages along the mighty Norcina River. The lack of waterfalls along the river has not helped the development of water transportation. This is because they did not take the time to travel up the river. The only way to go down was to ride the current of the river, but to go back up required power or labor, and in this developing country, the roads that had already been completed were used more often than not. However, the developed by Jin and his team is expensive to build, but its maintenance cost is not much different from that of ordinary boats, and it can travel up the river at a speed only slightly slower than that of a carriage. And when they return, they can run almost twice as fast as horse-drawn carriages. "Okay, let''s try mass-producing them. And because it does not use any special technology, it is suitable for mass production. The pace of production, however, is about one ship every five days. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Back in Lawhon, Jin and the other three were given a special reward of 50,000 tokels (about 500,000 yen) apiece. "It''s like a ...... dream." This was more than the monthly allowance of 10,000 Tall. Katya was very grateful, even though she had not done much. "That''s not true. You''ve done a lot of calculations for me, and you''ve helped me a lot. "Is that so ......?" "Yes, it''s true." Jin explained that if you make something on a hunch without doing any calculations, you will have to rework it, and the biggest problem is that you will often end up with something that others cannot copy. "I think I might understand ...... somehow." "Yes." Jin, too, has learned something very clearly after working here. "The importance of going back to the basics, what is the purpose of making things, and what is ......." In particular, the last point, "consideration for mass production," is something that Jin has long since forgotten. Jin was once again aware of a different kind of fun than making a masterpiece. "Hey, Jin, now that we have some extra income, let''s go out to eat. "Yeah, sure." Jin was in his room thinking about something when Eira called out to him from outside the door, and he got up to answer. When he opened the door, he found Katya next to Eira. She seemed to have adjusted to the place. It''s still light out, isn''t it? "It''s summer. ...... I know a great place. I think Jin will like it. I''m looking forward to it. Jin and Ka-cea followed Eira as she walked swiftly. Eira led Jin and Katya to a small store in an alley near the outskirts of town. "Welcome! The interior of the store was somewhat Japanese in style. I made a reservation for you. Yes, we have been waiting for you. Please come in. We have a private room ready for you. The waiter greeted the three of us in a polite manner and led us to the back of the restaurant. "We have a private room here. You have to take off your shoes, which is a pain, but the atmosphere is very relaxing. "Take off your shoes?" "Take off your shoes?" "Yes. Here, here is where you take off your shoes. The waiter will take off your shoes and put them in the shoe box for you. EIRA points to the shoe rack. "Interesting." Katya is the first one to take off her shoes and go through the fish tank to the back. Jin and Eira followed her. "This way, this way. We walked through the wooden corridor and crossed the hallway. The courtyard seemed to be much larger than it looked from the outside. The three of us were shown into a private room that looked like a detached house. "May I bring you some food right away?" "Yes, please. "Yes, sir. Please make yourself at home." The waiter bowed and returned. The private room is about six tatami mats in size, with a wooden floor. There is a zataku (a Japanese low table) and a zabuton (a Japanese cushion). "This is nostalgic, somehow. "I thought so. Eira muttered and sat down on the cushion. Katya blushes a little and tries to imitate him, so Jin stops her. "Don''t force yourself, Katya, it''s okay. You can sit on your side or on your duck. "What is duck-sitting ......?" "Like this." Jin actually sat down and showed them. The duck-sitting is to sit on your buttocks from the knees down, from an upright position. < or . "Oh, my God. ...... got it?" It was hard for Jin, who had a hard body, to sit on the ducks for a long time. "Yes, like this." But Katya sat down easily. "Oh, like this?" Eira tried to imitate her. But it seemed to be a little difficult to sit down, ...... this is better than this one." In the end, Eira sat down again on the floor. Jin also sat on a hut. "Thank you for waiting. Just then the food arrived. The waiter put down the food for three people, "Please ring this bell if you need something or if you want to order something else. He put down the handbell and left. "Come on, let''s have a toast!" Eira pours a drink into Jin and Ka?ea''s glasses. It is clear with a slight yellowish tinge and smells like fruit. "Here''s to our team''s achievement! "Cheers!" They make a toast and sip from their glasses: ....... And then. "...... is this alcohol?" I thought it was juice, but was surprised to find it was sake, "...... Ginjo-shu?" Jin was surprised in another way. 1543 - - 42-04 Drunken "......I knew it Jin, you''re from the other continent. I brought you here because I thought you might have missed it, but I guess I was right. Seeing Jin''s reaction, Eira gulped down a glass of ginjo sake. This sake goes exceptionally well with fish. Eira ate a piece of sashimi. "Oh, it''s delicious! Jin''s chopsticks are moving forward with this nostalgic combination. Ka-cea does not seem to be averse to raw fish either, "This is delicious! She bit into a piece of sashimi, saying, "This is delicious. "......Somehow, though, the recent djinn seem to be thinking about something." Eira said as she sipped her sake. It is a manly gesture for a woman. "...... is that so?" Jin answers vaguely as he sips his ginjo sake. "Yes. I thought maybe you''d like to go back to your hometown. I thought maybe you would like the food and sake here. "Yes, it tastes good, thank you." Jin picks up a piece of sashimi that looks like squid or octopus. "I guess you must be from the Mitsuho area, seeing as you eat them without a care in the world. "Mitsuho ......?" I have a feeling that if I can make it that far, I can make it. "......You must be aware of it, but this country is very strictly controlled from the top. Not so much if you''re making a difference, though." "I guess so." "Besides, it''s a good thing they tried to bring in Jin, since he could be an important person in some other country." "......" "Well, that''s true." This is a matter that would normally be an international problem. "That''s because they think that since we are closed off from the rest of the world, they can''t know about it." Eira was even more talkative than usual, perhaps because of the alcohol he had consumed. "I even think that the colonizers abandoned the continent because it was so unappealing to them. Is he not only talkative, but also venomous?Jin feels a little threatened. Eira''s life is in danger if she is being tapped. Unless he knows what the government is thinking, he can''t take any further action. This is reality, and Jin is an engineer, not a warrior, and if he makes a mistake, he will never see Erza, Hannah, Reiko, or the old lord again. Don''t be hasty, don''t be hasty.) You may be tempted to take over the golem of Paelova, steal the car, and escape. But I don''t know where to go. How to cross the sea? Where will we get food from? What is there beyond the crossing? Can we avoid all the dangers? Jin was too cautious to act haphazardly. He was too bold when it came to making things, but when it came to his own safety, he had to be very careful. Jin was so depressed that he seemed to be intoxicated even faster than usual. < and thus had no detoxifying effect. "Hey Jin, don''t sleep here. Me and Katya can''t carry you." "Woo......" He only grunts and doesn''t seem to wake up. "It''s rare to see you this drunk, Jin-san." "Yes, it is. I''ve only been with him for about half a month, though. Eira looks at Jin, who has fallen asleep on his side, with a wry smile on his face. Eira looks at Jin who has fallen asleep lying down with a wry smile on his face. "In a sense, he trusts me enough to show his unguarded appearance like this. "Yes, that''s ...... right. But how did a man like Jin come to this country ......? "Oh, you know, the accident at the warp gate. ...... Eira smiled thinly and shook her head. "Jin''s story is a little hazy on a lot of things. It''s not a good idea to just believe everything he says. "Well, what do you mean ......?" "What I mean is that Jin really is from some faraway land. That''s a fact, isn''t it? "Yes, that''s true. I have a very biased knowledge base. Then why do you falsely claim that your memory is hazy? "What, are you deceiving me?" Katya looks surprised. "I don''t know what''s really going on, but for someone who says he''s confused, he''s not lost in the technical details. So conveniently, you only forget certain knowledge?" "...... sure, to ......" "I can understand that part of it a little. Jin''s knowledge and skills are extraordinary. They must be wary of him. But then, he''s not very good at hiding his abilities. I agree. "I once thought he might be a secret agent, but it''s just too unlike him." At that moment Jin turned over and hit his arm on the table. "Oh, Jin-san, are you awake?...... Jin-san!" "......Woo......El,......A little more,......" "...... eru?What''s an ''eru''?" Katya tilted her head and Eira looked as if she didn''t understand. "From the way it sounds, I think it might be a person''s name. "Oh, yes, that''s right." "I''d like to ...... ask her when she wakes up, but I don''t think we should ...... do that." "Yeah, right." Both of them decided not to pry into Jin''s affairs. "But you are very good at calculation and logical thinking, aren''t you, Katya? "Is that so?" "...... Yeah. If I could get a better teacher, I could become a scholar who could change the world. Katya turns red. "You''re joking too much!" "I''m not joking." Eira pours another glass. Katya, who seemed to be getting very drunk, said a line she would never say. "If ......, I would say it too. ......I thought you were a difficult person, Eira-san." "Well, I''m certainly difficult, aren''t I?" But Katya shook her head. "No, the real Eira is a person who cares about her friends, is enthusiastic about her studies, and takes good care of her juniors. "......" "How did someone like Eira-san come to be in a place like this, that''s ...... more ...... mysterious ...... and ......... ..." With a thud, Katya collapsed. It seems that he has finally passed out. "......, they''re all weak when it comes to drinking, I tell you." Eira continued to drink for a while, "......Why are you here,....... That''s your business,......." He muttered and looked up at the ceiling. Then he whispered in a whisper. "A country,....... I wonder what a country is. ...... 1544 - - 42-05 Shopping "Woo ...... my head hurts." Jin was in his room with his head in his hands. He feels nauseous. He thinks that he drank too much last night, but it''s too late. (If only Elsa were here, she could fix me. ......) The thought crosses my mind, but it is drowned out by the headache. "Uh ......<>" The headache had to be alleviated at any cost, or even healing magic would be too much. "Then ...... detoxification (detox) doesn''t work for me. ....... It''s no use<><><>" After using a series of elementary healing magic for both internal medicine and surgery, Jin finally calmed down a little. "......I guess I''ll have to stop for breakfast. ......So, what about Kachea and Eira?" I vaguely remember the three of us staggering back last night, so they should both be in their rooms. Jin decided to check on KaChea first and ...... reconsidered, and ordered Golem < to go check on her. (It would be a pity if she was disfigured ...... and she is a girl.) Jin washed his face with the leftover water. Hope returned soon after. "Jin-sama, Kachea-sama was not in your room." "I see. "Well, what about Eira?" This time Hope went to Eira''s room, "Master Jin, Eira-sama is not in her room either." "I see." The time was 8:00 a.m. Eira, who had never had a hangover, had dragged Katya out of the room halfway by force and was eating breakfast in the dining room. "Ugh ...... I can''t eat ...... enough!" "Look, don''t leave any food. If you can''t finish it, I''ll eat it, so put some in your stomach. "Ugh ...... is good ......." "I decided to take the day off today. I''m going to ...... take care of myself." He left Hope in charge of responding to anyone who came over, and Jin went to the bedroom and lay down on the bed, possibly muttering to himself. (......If crossing to the Laurent continent is too difficult, how about the Gondor continent?) Jin thought of the whole picture of Arus. (It is possible, considering that we can cross through the islands.) If 400 years had passed, Zion and Marikka would be well over 450 years old, which is more than 9 Theon would be over 100 years old. Theon would be over 100 years old. (It is also possible that he is still alive.) (It is also possible that his life expectancy has been extended due to his knowledge as a member of the Jin family, his hygiene, and the improvement of his living environment. (I am sure that No. 700672, Neige and Rouge are still alive.) I thought it would be more possible than going to the Duchy of Jagus, which is hostile to this country ...... Principality of Mercana. (Still, it would be a long distance to cross, and a little difficult in winter.) (Even so, it would be a long distance to cross and a bit difficult in winter. It is hard to know what is the best way. (I still need to develop airplanes. ......) The sea is too dangerous, Jin decided. (But airplanes and blimps seem a little too far away. (But airplanes and airships are also too far away. ......) Jin rolls over on the bed and thinks about it. (Yes!If the old man and Reiko are dormant, can''t we wake them up with some kind of signal?) In this case, the magic key word (keyword) and the authentication key (password) are important. It would be "Who made it dormant? At least I don''t think it was me, or one of my ...... descendants." Then, we have no idea of the authentication key (password). "Ugh ......." I know that I am in a hurry to get a good result. But I can''t help but be impatient. While I was thinking about such things without much time to think, Hope called out to me that Eira and her friends were calling for me. I hurriedly prepared myself and went out to find Eira and Katya waiting for me. "Oh Jin, you''re up. From the looks of you, you don''t feel too bad, do you? I''m sorry for the trouble I caused you last night. Don''t worry about it. Don''t worry about it. You''re off today, right?Do you have any plans? When Jin answered that he had no plans, Eira smiled at him. "That''s good. I''m thinking of going into town, would you like to join me?" "What do you want?" "Shopping and stuff." "Sure, I''ll go with you." I''ll go with you. - Okay. Jin regretted his decision to take the easy way out. * * * * "......How did this happen?" Jin just watched Eira and Katya picking out clothes. No, he was not just watching them, he was also asked to evaluate the clothes they tried on to see if they looked good on them or not. (At times like this, I thought I knew from novels, anime and manga that women shop for a long time. ......) (I should have known from novels, anime, and manga that women shop for a long time in these situations, but I was not aware of it. "Jin-san, what do you think, does this suit you? "Jin, what do you think of this?" Surprisingly, and it would be rude to say this, Eira also enjoys choosing clothes. Her tastes, however, are quite different from those of Cachair. Caciea seems to be more interested in the variety of clothes than when she was in the village (). (......Elsa didn''t think long when choosing what to wear. ......) While I was thinking about this in a daze, both of them seemed to have finally finished their selection. "Come on, Jin, let''s go next! "Are you still going to look at it? "Of course not!" Jin regretted it. * * * * "I''m tired of ......." Jin-san, thank you very much for today. Jin, thank you." Jin is having dinner at their expense. "Are you a little distracted?" "......?" Last night was a bit of a mess. Jin realized that Eira had taken care of him in her own way. I''m sorry about that. "Haha, don''t worry about it." Eira laughed it off. "Thanks to Jin, my days have been full of life lately, too. "Yes, it''s true. When I was in the village, I never thought that I would be able to serve in such a role. Jin could not remain silent when both of them said that. "That goes for me too. It is thanks to the two of you that I have found a place here in ......, a world where I don''t know what''s left or right. Well, then, I guess we''re on the same team. We''re a team! Jin was happy to hear their concern, and at the same time, he was beginning to think that one day he would have to tell them the truth. 1545 - - 42-06 Original automobile manufacturing Jin and his < next worked on . A large amount of metal materials were delivered from Lorenz''s store. "I think we can make a golem engine with this. "I heard that Jin fixed the car, but you can still make it?I only heard about it from my master, but ...... it''s amazing! "It''ll make getting around ...... a lot easier." "Yes, it is." Jin secretly wonders if he can use this to get to the capital. Using the warp gate there, he can cross over to the Laurentian continent. But he keeps it to himself, "Anyway, it would be nice if we could make a car," he declared. He declared, "Anyway, it would be nice if we could make a car. First of all, there is nothing we can do if we cannot make an engine. But as long as he had the materials, Jin could do it. "Let''s mix nickel and chromium with iron and use it as stainless steel. Nickel and chrome are available in small quantities in the market. "I''ll leave that to Jin. What should we do? We can use a horse-drawn carriage for the body. Carriages in this country are highly standardized and can be classified into large, medium, small, or S, M, and L. The large carriage is a large carriage that can accommodate eight passengers, while the small is a small carriage that can accommodate three passengers. In this case, we decided to use the medium-sized five-seater carriage. Eira and Katya went to the carriage shop together. "How can I ...... help you?" Katya asked. Eira laughed and said, "I''ll give you a discount. "You can bargain for a discount. "I can ...... do that." They can buy metals and other materials for their research, but they are supposed to buy the supplies they need for research and development on their own. The money spent for this purpose is basically paid later. They receive a receipt and submit it to the designated office, where it is reviewed and paid. In other words, we are supposed to buy with our own money at the time of purchase. "It''s a funny system. ......" The accounting whiz that is Katya keeps tilting her head. However, it is not for a newcomer to say, so for now he just does what he has to do as a member of the <. "This carriage looks good. Jin said he wanted something with a solid undercarriage." Jin said he didn''t want one with fancy seats or a lot of ornamentation. Eira and Katya agree. "Oh, but the wheels are old. Jin-san said to take a good look at the wheels, too." "Yeah?Yes, that''s true. "Yes, it''s true..." "You have a good eye, Katya." "Oh, don''t flatter me." They picked out a carriage, exchanging such pleasantries. "This one looks good." "Yes, I think so." From that point on, it was up to Katya. Interrupting the owner''s offer of a two-cent discount, she began to talk with the same gusto as if she were standing on a plank. He began by explaining that the house had been left out in the rain and that there were marks where people had stepped into the house with their feet, "It''s a little old by the looks of it. That means it''s unsold. It''s certainly halfway big, so if you miss this opportunity, you won''t be able to sell it anytime soon, right?" He was right. Medium-sized carriages are not selling well in this town. "Okay, four off. And please put a spare wheel on it, okay?" "...... can''t be beat." Thus Eira and Katya got a carriage that would serve their purpose with a large budget left over. In case you are wondering, <, who accompanied them to the research building, is the one who carries the carriage. "It looks so slender, but it''s so powerful!" "It was made by Jin-san, wasn''t it? ......" When Eira and Kaechea tried out the carriage, Hope pulled it along without a hitch. "By the way, I''ve heard that there are countries that let golems tow cars." "Heh,...... I''m a little curious. Oh, but Mr. Lorenz had his car towed too. I know that I''ve been to the other continent. "Oh, ...... Eira is from there, isn''t she?" The two men were having such a conversation, unaware that they were attracting a lot of attention. In the meantime, they arrived at the research building. "Welcome back. ...... Oh, you picked a good one." Jin, who had completed the Golem engine, was waiting for them. "Kachair is working for me. ...... Jin, is that the engine?" "Yes. I think it''s a pretty good one. Jin looks at the carriage with a sidelong glance. "Well, I like it. The frame is solid and the suspension is good. Let''s get to work. "Yeah." "Well, what about me?" Eira nodded and Katya asked what her assignment was. "Take care of the paperwork. When you''re done, you can start thinking about the interior design." "Yes, sir." Katya took care of the paperwork while Jin and Eira worked on the carriage. "Nice wheels!" The undercarriage is modified and the steering wheel is made to be used. "The axle needs to be strengthened. The shaft was carburized and the bearings were replaced with ball bearings. "The differential can''t be ......". The load on the rear wheel side (drive side) was reduced a little. This will make it a little easier to curve. "Jin, all the seats are facing the direction of travel. "Oh, that''s good. ...... now we need brakes... ...... what should we do?" Since the car is originally a horse-drawn carriage, it was not designed to be fitted with brakes, unlike the car I had repaired earlier. "If we use the engine brake in combination with the engine brake,...... I guess we should use the type that stops the engine by clamping the rim." Since the original horse-drawn carriages, the part to which the tire is attached was not called a wheel, but a rim. In other words, the brake was designed to apply braking by clamping the rim, just like a regular bicycle. * * * * * * * * * By nightfall, their was nearly complete. "We have a lot of complaints, but first of all, it''s finished. "Jin, let''s go for a ride! Eira is very excited. "Yes. Let''s go for a ride! Katya is also unusually excited. "Okay." Jin gets in the driver''s seat, and Katya and Eira get in the back seat. "Start!" Jin pulled the startup lever. The Golem engine should start, but the car does not move yet because of the direct connection. "Here we go!" Jin slowly stepped on the accelerator pedal. The car started to move accordingly. "Oh, yes! It''s moving! "Jin, can''t you go any faster?" "Well, just wait and see." Jin tried various behaviors, such as turning the steering wheel left and right, accelerating and decelerating repeatedly, and checked the results. "Yes, it looks good. Let''s go!" Then he stepped on the accelerator pedal and the car accelerated. "Wow!That''s fast!" "Wow. ......" At a speed of about 30 kilometers per hour, the car drives around the courtyard of the research building. The car stopped when the sun went down and it was dark, and they noticed that the headlights were not on. Five days after Jin and his < completed the original car, the car was driven to the royal capital. "To the royal capital?" The three were instructed to go to the royal capital. * * * * This is our chance.) The night before leaving for the capital, Jin was thinking in his bed. (If we can use the warp gate in the capital, we can cross over to the Laurentian continent. ) What would happen after that, he had no idea. We will be able to obtain various information other than the warp gate. Yes, the current situation of the Laurentian continent. First of all, information. And the warp gate. Jin warned himself not to be in a hurry. * * * * "Ummm ...... where did the information leak from?" Lorenz is also monitored by ...... counterintelligence, isn''t it?" "I can''t hide it now, and I don''t like the fact that ...... I''m only bringing one golem with me, the one Jin made." "I must be prepared for that, sir. "No, not yet. Watch, the committee members ......." Unbeknownst to the various thoughts and feelings, the round moon (Uny) was shining outside. 1546 - - 42-07 Duchy. The journey to the capital takes 3 days by carriage. Jin and the others travel in the original car. Jin is the driver. Jin, Katya, Eira, and Golem< are on board. They are accompanied by Paelova Sondvik, the regional administrator, her secretary, Jed Alamold, and two guards. They were in a car that had been repaired by Jin. The group arrived at the capital on August 22nd, just as summer was ending, without much to report. "Wow, the royal capital is really big! "Well, this is a town after all. "Hm?Jin, what do you mean by that? While Ka-cea was honestly marveling at the size of the city, Jin was a little relieved at the chaos of the city. When he expressed this feeling, he received a shove from Eira. "How should I put it ...... my image of is that it has no sense of unity, or a sense of history? Jin explained that he was used to the messy mix of old and new. "That''s an interesting thought. It''s true that this country has a short history, and the local towns were built in a planned manner, so they don''t seem as chaotic as Jin describes." "......, but Jin-san who says that''s normal, you''re from far away, aren''t you? ......" Jin was about to say something back, "Stop! He heard a loud voice saying, "Stop! It appeared to be a checkpoint, and a soldier in light armor was blocking the group. "This is Paelova Sondovik, the regional administrator. I beg your pardon! The soldier saluted and the group was quickly let through. After passing one more such checkpoint, they arrived at the royal castle of Prince Mahaliegh. They parked their cars at the designated parking lot and entered the castle on foot. Paelova seemed to know the castle well, having been there many times. Jed followed her, making sure that Jin and the others were following. Paelova went to her room in the castle. As a cousin of Prince Mikhailinov Hangazonet Melkana, he is the third in line to the throne and has a great deal of power within the castle. The first in line is Paelova''s brother, the second is Paelova''s father, and the fourth is Paelova''s son. In other words, the Sondviks are candidates for the next duke. The Sondviks were allocated their own rooms in a corner of the castle, which consisted of more than 10 rooms. Each of the Jin was assigned a room. Although the rooms were for servants, they were more comfortable than those of a hotel. Only Jed and I are allowed to see the king. ...... Oh yes, Jin, could I borrow your golem for a moment?" How could I refuse this request? "Yes. ...... Hope, follow him." Yes, sir. Yes, sir. It''s a bummer not to be able to get out of the castle. It sure is. I hear the food is good. Jin, Katya, and Eira gathered in Jin''s room to kill time. "I wonder what I was invited here for in the first place." "I bet it''s not a big deal, anyway." Eira was as tongue-tied as ever. "Even if we can''t get out of the castle, we can walk around inside, can''t we? Eira stood up and looked around the hallway. "I''m staying here today, can you tell me how far inside the castle I''m allowed to look around?" "...... Oh, yes. This is the floor where the rooms of our guests and high-ranking officials are located, so you are free to go through all the corridors. You are not allowed to enter the rooms without permission. "Well, even if they say we can only walk in the corridor, I don''t get it. Is there any room that I can look at?" "Then feel free to visit the common room, the recreation room, and the archive room on the first floor. I''m sure it''s a bit noisy with all the soldiers from the castle. "Okay. Thank you." "....... That''s all I meant. Let''s go!" And so, Jin and the three of us headed for the first floor of the castle. "What the heck is this ...... exhibition room?" Eira muttered in a disappointed voice. "Normally, when you hear the name of the exhibition room, you would expect to see the history of the country, the armor of the knights of the Kingsguard, and old maps of King''s Landing, wouldn''t you? "Well, I don''t know, but I agree with Jin-san." On display in front of the three of us were products of the country, poems and prose written by who knows who, and paintings. "It''s good that there are products on display. ......" Jin looked at them. Rice. Wheat, barley, rye. Round beans, black-eyed peas, red-eyed peas. Vegetables are not displayed. Is it because they would be shriveled up? Then some rare jewelry and a few small stuffed animals and birds. "The crops look the same ...... or the jewelry looks ...... of poor quality." The gemstones in the row were in the rough, but the visible parts were not very clear. "Well, I wouldn''t put a first-class piece in a place like this," Eira said from the side. Eira said from the side. "I guess that''s what you get in a public reference room. There was little to be gained, so I took a look around the common room and the recreation room. It seemed to be a hangout for low-ranking soldiers, and I didn''t really feel like going in there. "Let''s go back." "Yes, let''s go back." "Let''s go back." "Yes, let''s go back." Disappointed, the three of them turn back the way they came. They heard a loud cheer. "What the hell?" It sounded like it was coming from outside. And the sound of metal clashing against metal. "Is there a window anywhere? He paced back and forth in the hallway, but could not find a window. "Oh, Mr. Jin, look!" Meanwhile, the soldiers in the common room and the recreation room were all heading in the same direction. "Maybe they''re going outside?" "Let''s follow them." Trusting in Ka-cea''s judgment, Jin and the others followed the tail of the soldiers. Their decision was correct, and they reached what appeared to be a courtyard. It appeared to be a training ground or a training area for soldiers, From behind the crowd of people gathered in the courtyard, we could hear the sound of wooden poles colliding with each other. I wonder if soldiers are training there. Eira seems to have judged so, since all the people gathered there are soldiers. "I can''t see much. ...... "Ah, Jin-san, over there!" Jin looked in the direction to which Ka-cea pointed, and saw a familiar face looking down from a window on the second floor. They were two of Paelova''s guards. "What, we could have gone to our room and looked down from the window. Let''s hurry back!" So they ran back to their room and looked out the window. "What? "What? "Oh, come on. ......" All three of them were absolutely stunned by the sight they saw from there. 1547 - - 42-08 Simulated Battle A short time later, after Paelova and Jin and the others had parted, Paelova with Jed Alamold and went to the conference room. Paelova went to the conference room with Jed Alamold and . "Indeed, you have just arrived, but you have been very busy. "That''s why you''re so careful of me, sir." The two and one arrived at the conference room. "Regional Director Paelovna Sondovik, I''m here." "Thank you for coming." The person who called out to them was the current King of the Duchy, Mikhailinov Hangazone Mercana. He was Paelova''s cousin. He was surrounded by ten deputies. It was what is commonly known as the Committee of Ten. "Is that the new Golem?" The leader of the Committee of Ten, a bald-headed, obese man named , spoke up. "No, this is a new model, but it is a prototype. We can only do it up to this level because we don''t have enough materials. "Well, you needn''t be so modest." Peggin, let''s start the meeting. Your Majesty... Although he had no real power, he could not ignore the words of the king. From then on, the original agenda was discussed and information was exchanged about the tax revenues from each town, the crops, the increase and decrease of the population, the state of the roads, and so on. The meeting was filled with information on the status of the roads and the tax revenues from each town. "Well, everything seems to be going well. Then let''s move on to the last item on the agenda. < "Yes." Paelova handed out the materials she had prepared. "What?" "It''s a small vessel equipped with an engine called an air jet. It can travel up the Nosina River. So far we''ve confirmed that it can travel to and from Sogyeong and Rireaz villages." "Hoho ......" Everyone seemed intrigued. "It is slower than a horse-drawn carriage going upstream, but it can travel twice as fast going downstream. It would be perfect for transporting taxes from villages upriver. Indeed. "And if we carry something light and valuable on the way back, it will be less wasteful." That''s right. "And then there is the car with the <>. Due to budget and material constraints, the body was adapted from an existing carriage. ......" "Yes, well done. Paelova, did you bring the engineers who developed this?" "Yes. It was developed by a of three, led by a mage named Jin." "You must have some serious skills." "Yes, sir. "Yes. I think he is the best on the continent. Pegin Borntov responded to these words. "......It''s outrageous to say that you''re the best on the continent just because you''ve made a few new magic tools." "...... what?" Actually, the two are not good friends. In fact, they''re not so much at loggerheads as they are at each other''s throats. "No, I''m sorry. It''s no wonder you''re so narrow-minded in a provincial city like Lawhon. Narrow-minded? You''re right. The world is a big place. There are many good engineers. Even here in King''s Landing? Yes. Like ......! Gloma Trae? My lord, Glooma has created his own golem! "Hmm, my djinn could easily do that!" Peggin glanced at , who was standing behind him, and snickered. "Hmmm, an engineer who can only make a poor golem?" "Here, Peggin ......." The king rebuked him, but Pegin Bolntov would not listen to him. The other members of the Committee of Ten just grinned at this turn of events. "All right, if you insist, let''s have a sham fight. Without even seeing what the golem created by Gromma Trey looked like, Paelova slapped down the challenge. "I''m sure you can do it. Peggin Borntov nodded his head in agreement. * * * * * * * * * * * * * ......That''s why we had a sham fight." "...... I see." Jin saw the scene from the second floor window and rushed down the stairs again to the site of the sham fight. Jed Alamordo found him and explained the situation to him. The soldiers, starved for entertainment, were delighted by the show. As a prelude to the show, three groups of soldiers had a sham fight, and now Hope was fighting the Golem of Groma. The first metallic sound that could be heard was that of soldiers engaging in a sham fight. Jin thought that if he had intervened at that time, he might have been able to manage a little better, but it was too late now. He had no choice but to stare at the match, thinking that a wooden stick would not be enough to destroy it. "...... Is that the golem that Gromma Tolley made?" "Yes. The two guys over there are ......." Jed explained to Jin that the small, obese, bald-headed Peggin Borntov and the skinny man standing next to him were Gloma Trey. "......I can''t help it. ......Hope is not for fighting." Jin could do nothing to stop him, and trusting that it was a <>, he could only watch and see what would happen. Jin''s <> is a slender figure, just under 160 centimeters tall. In contrast, Groma''s golem is 2 meters tall and burly. They are an adult and a child. The two were holding wooden sticks for mock battles. "Well, that''s pretty good," said Pegin Borntov. Peggin Borntov said mockingly, while Gromma Tolley, standing next to him, looked at the battle between the two with a stern gaze. (...... That golem was barely defending itself at first, but it seems to be getting more and more comfortable. Is it learning?) Yes, Jin did not teach Hope any combat skills. So, he hoped for this mock battle (sham fight) and tried to use his speed to defend himself. Groma''s golem is made of steel. Both the skeleton and the exterior. Even though it has an Adriana-style endoskeleton, its weight is a disadvantage, and it does not move very fast. However, each blow is quite heavy and powerful, and Hope would be blown away if she were to receive a serious blow due to the weight difference. Hence, Hope was able to parry the other golem''s attack. The difference in speed of the two golems was twice as great as half the speed of the other golem, which made such a feat possible. However, Hope was also too weak to turn into an attacker because she could only parry the opponent''s attack. This was because her movements were too wasteful. The reason why Hope is able to parry all attacks is because of her speed. Even if its movements were large and wasteful, its speed covered it all, and that was the < Hope. However, the fact that Jin made it is no exaggeration. Even if its performance is unsatisfactory for Jin, its learning ability is many times higher than that of an ordinary Golem. For Hope, the other golem''s attacks were just the right teacher. Her feet are sliding, and she does not lift her legs unnecessarily when moving. When dodging, try to get into the opponent''s blind spot. If you avoid in a straight line, you are likely to be followed, so handle your body in an arc. Hope''s movements will visibly improve by doing just that. The soldiers had been practicing such combat drills throughout the day, and they sensed Hope''s improvement. "Hey, isn''t that little golem getting better and better? "I thought so too. He''s definitely improving. You know, the way he uses his feet, the way he dodges..." Yes. Just as the soldiers had said, after Hope had learned the movements, she was learning the attack patterns of her opponents and looking for the right moment to attack. 1548 - - 42-09 We won, but... "Well, did you say Jin-dono''s ...... Hope?That golem is ...... kind of ...... awesome." "Thank you very much." Jin thinks it''s time to stop this, but no one wants him to stop. I guess they consider it a form of entertainment. "Are you that mage Jin?" A voice called out from behind me. I turned around to see that Gloma Trey, the engineer who had created Hope''s golem, had arrived before I knew it. I''m Jin. "Oh, you''re ......." Groma stared at Jin. "Yes, who are you? Eira''s voice. She seemed to have come downstairs too. "What is it, what are you? I''m Jin''s teammate. "Teammate?" Eira nodded. "Don''t you know what a team is?A team is a group of people who work together to achieve a goal.Oh, a mate is a friend." Gromma seemed offended by this comment. "I know that!" But Eira was not to be deterred. "If you know something, just tell me you know it. I''ve already explained everything to you. I don''t like a stupid, inconsiderate fool." Who''s a moron? You''re the only one. You''re not only a fool, you''re a moron! Eira''s tongue is getting more and more sharp. "Let him say it, he''s a ......!" Finally, Groma let his anger out. "Eira, don''t go there," he said. "Ha-ha-ha, he responds so well, I''m just going to go with it. I''m sorry about that. ...... "I''m not Glo!I''m Groma! "Yes, yes, you''re Groma, right?" No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I''m not a grommet! What''s your business at ......, big Groma? I''m not here for you!I''m not here for you! I''m here for Jin. In the background, Hope was finally fighting back. Behind him, Hope is finally fighting back, to the thunderous roar of the onlooking soldiers. "So, what is it?" So what is it, Norseman? Who do you think is interrupting us? Eira, that''s enough. Finally Eira seemed to have had enough and moved a little away from Jin and the others. Jin turned to Groma with a wry smile. "So ......" "Yeah, it''s kind of distracting, but ...... Jin, did you really make that golem?" "Yes, well..." "Hmmm,......." Jin affirmed, and Groma thought for a moment. "Yes?" "...... No, what. It''s been a long time since I met an engineer who could make me groan. ...... So, where are you from?Mitsuho?Or is it Fusoh?" Where are you from? "I''m from Fuso. And you? ...... I don''t really remember. I was in a metastatic accident and found myself in this country." Groma frowned at this explanation. "I have never heard of such a story. It is not impossible that a metastasis itself has happened in the distant past, but it is not possible, even according to the principle of metastasis, that it would cause memory confusion." "Do you know the principle of ...... transference?" "Only the principle. It''s a technique reserved for a very limited number of technicians. "Is that so?" Jin felt that he had to take another look at this man, Groma Tolley. "In the first place, a warp gate is a tunnel connecting two points. There''s no way that passing through it would affect your memory." Then there''s also the possibility that you received a shock to the head. That would make sense. At that moment, there was a loud thud behind me. I looked over to see that Jin''s Hope had just struck a blow to Groma''s golem. "Well, I guess we lost. ...... that''s it!" Groma stops the golem from fighting again. "Hope, don''t do this!" Jin also stopped Hope. "Jin, I guess I lost today. But that was just a prototype I made. The one I''m making now is several times better. Then I''ll be able to overpower your golem this time! With these words, Groma turned and left. "...... Really, what are you doing here?" Jin thought that Eira was probably telling the truth when she teased him about being discouraged. Somehow, he had the feeling that Gromma wanted to have a purely technical discussion. "That was brilliant, Jin!" Paelova came over to Jin and patted him on the shoulder. "You made me look good," she said. "That''s good," said Paelov. Now I will have more influence in the castle. Paelova glanced at Pegin Borntov, who was standing off to the side. Pegin was glaring at her hatefully. When Gromma approached him, she saw him complaining about something with a terrible sword. However, after Gromma says a few words, his anger seems to subside, and now he is smiling faintly. Jin is not sure that he likes Pegin Borntov. * * * * * * "Well, I guess my joints are getting a little rickety after all. Jin is doing maintenance work on the returned Hope. The joints had been worn out due to the long hours of unexpectedly intense movement. <. "But it was great. At first it looked like we were going to lose, but then we got stronger and stronger. That means Hope has learned, right? "That''s right." Jin answered Eira''s question as he checked. "Jin-san, is it rare for a golem to be able to learn?" Katya also asked a question, and Jin wondered how he should answer. "Well, I don''t know.I think it''s pretty common." And then Eira said, "That groper was talking a big game, but his golem can''t learn, can it?He''s supposed to be a top-notch guy, you''d think. He dismisses me. "Oh, yes." Katya seemed to agree. "I think that perhaps there is not enough storage space in the control core, or that the flow of magical control (magi sequence) in the memory system is not well done." "Wow, you can know all that. ...... I really think that Jin is a mage too good for this country." What''s going on all of a sudden? "Not all of a sudden. It''s just, you know..." Eira looked thoughtful. Jin did not ask any more questions at that moment. 1549 - - 42-10 Mystery of Price "Well, what do you think, Mr. Peggin Borntov?" "Gnu......" Pegin Borntov''s face is twisted in frustration. "Have you seen what I''ve discovered about mages?" Paelova boasts. At this moment the Prince interrupted. "That''s enough. Paelova''s mage skills are first-rate, everyone knows that. This may have been intended to prevent further discord between the two men, but it proved fruitless. Peggin uttered a line that could be taken as a sigh of defeat. "I admit that you are the best. But is it the best?You''ll have to wait until you see the golem that our Gloma Tray is making." Paelova snickered at that. "I see. So you''re bragging after the fact. That''s quite a trick, isn''t it?" "I beg your pardon?" "......I understand your feelings, Sir, but we''ve already exceeded the time of today''s meeting. This is the end of the meeting. With that, the spoon-fed Duke turned and disappeared into the back of the room. "Indeed, we can''t afford to get bogged down in trivial matters, can we? I will leave you now at ......, Pegin-Borntov." Paelova also said this and left without waiting for Pegin''s reply. Behind her back, she seemed to hear and , but she ignored them all with the confidence of a victor. The winner ignored everything with an air of composure. You did good today, didn''t you? "Yes, sir." Paelova and Jed were talking alone. "I hope we''ve been able to keep the Committee of Ten in check a little. "It could be considered so. But there''s still a long way to go. "Yes, but there is still a long way to go. ...... that Peggin is not so easy to deal with. If we can handle him, the other nine will be no problem. That''s for sure. Jin, huh? I''m starting to have a hard time believing ...... that his memory is hazy. I don''t know what the hell he''s doing here. I have no idea. I can''t read it. Jed Alamordo also tilted his head. "The most likely explanation is that he is lost, but I still have no idea how he could have ended up in the village of Tadzie. "You have no idea either. ......" "Not at all." Good, at least we''re not enemies. Well, he''s not aggressive, so as long as we don''t try anything rash, I think we''ll be fine. I understand. But that''s not the point. Definitely get Jin to ......, and Eira and Katya too. Do not let them go. It would be a loss for our country." "I''m sorry, sir. We will do everything we can. "...... This is not going to get us out of this situation anytime soon." * * * Jin and his friends were having dinner together. "The food in Gongwang Castle is delicious! "It''s delicious. "The fish is fresh, the soup is rich in broth, and there must be plenty of seasonings." Jin thought, "It''s a good thing they have a warp gate for trade. "And the tea is delicious." As Jin sipped his after-dinner green tea, a question suddenly occurred to him about trade. "......How do they finance the purchase of these goods?" Katya took advantage of Jin''s words. "Oh, that''s what I was wondering too. I wonder what they pay for it?" The value of gold is almost the same in each country. The monetary economy of this world was based on the gold standard. Or rather, paper money does not exist. In the time Jin knows ......, that is, around the year 3460, the population was still in a state of decline due to the magical wars, so the gold coins issued before the wars and the silver coins and copper coins issued after the wars were in a state of surplus. The gold, silver, silver coins, and copper coins issued before the war were in abundance, and each country had to hold on to them to make adjustments. What about this period? The duchy can''t issue money. If they paid in money, there would be no money left in the country. Eira explained. "I don''t know much about economics either. I don''t know much about the economy because I''m not familiar with it, but I heard that the big countries have some sort of to decide what kind of money to issue. Don''t ask me what the criteria are or anything like that, okay?" "The World Conference, ......." Jin was deeply moved when he heard the word. The world congress proposed by the Jin and others, which is probably still going on today. "This country doesn''t have anything to be proud of, does it? Eira''s voice snapped Jin out of his reverie. "No matter how you look at it, I don''t think we have the goods to match the magecrystals and magic tools. "I think Eira''s opinion is correct. If they are not paid in money, it means that they are goods that can be exchanged equivalently. ......" He has no idea of such an item. "You don''t think it''s ...... people, do you?" "What? "What?" Eira and Kaechea responded to Jin''s jokingly whispered words. "People ...... or ......" "You''re encouraging high fertility. ....... I thought you were trying to grow the country by increasing the population. ......" "Oh, come on, I was only joking." It just reminded me of the stories you sometimes see in historical dramas, about the exfiltration of the Nanban trade, and the daughters who are kidnapped ...... in exchange. "It''s not funny because it''s not impossible," he said. "But how many people go missing?Even Katya''s brothers and sisters are there, aren''t they?" "I think ...... is ......, but ......." The words came back to me in a halting tone. "Oh, and there''s also the possibility that they''re not really independent, and that they''re getting these supplies as a courtesy from the home country. Jin tried to make up a theory, but it was completely unconvincing. Then, he tried to forcefully change the subject. "......Since we are in King''s Landing, we might as well take the opportunity to ask them about it." Jin said that he would not dare to ask Paelova or Jed because he felt that they would be indifferent to the question. There was nothing to be gained by aggravating the relationship. "Yes, that''s true." "I agree with you on that." Katya and Eira agreed. "Why don''t you ask that guy ...... Gloma?" When Jin said this, Eira gave him a look of obvious displeasure. "I don''t like him. He''s kind of frivolous and I don''t know what he''s thinking. In the first place, a good mage wouldn''t want to come all the way to this country. Jin couldn''t help but laugh at that line. "Eira, you''re putting yourself on the shelf, aren''t you?" "What?......Woo......You''re probably right. But I''m not happy with the way things are, and he seems to be happy with the way things are. "Yeah, sure. < "He said that?" Eira said as if to throw up, "This is getting more and more suspicious. In the end, the night in Mahaleague ended with many things remaining a mystery. 1550 - - 42-11. The next morning, Jin and the three others were summoned by Paelova. "I''m sorry to bother you this morning, but we''ve got a situation we can''t talk about. ...... Jed, please." "Yes. ...... I''ll tell you what I''m going to do. First of all, in about an hour, you three will be consulted by the technical director. "Advisory?" In this case, consultation means to ask an expert for his/her opinion. What do you want from us? "Well... That''s the thing, you''ll probably be asked technical questions. Oh, about the cars and boats you''ve built? "Probably." That satisfied Jin and the others, but Paelova was looking at them with a difficult expression, so Eira, who could not remain silent at a time like this, opened her mouth. "Isn''t there something behind this?" Paelova''s face became even more bitter at that question. She was right. "Really?What on earth are you talking about?" "...... Well, the short answer is that they want to manage you themselves." Jed Alamordo answered for him. "Us?" "......mm. ......I mean, not at my place, but at their place, you know, what ...... they want you to work for their convenience, that''s what they want." Paelova sounded like she had something subtly stuck in her back teeth, but Jin and the others went on to the more interesting part of the story. "When you say ...... in your place, do you mean here in King''s Landing?" "Well, I suppose so." "......." At this point, Jin, who had been silent until then, opened his mouth. "Well, in short, are you saying that you are trying to pull out useful engineers from your original organization?" As expected, he is a man who is not afraid to call anyone <, including himself. "...... You guessed right. Well, that''s what I mean." "Then, the best engineers and mages will be concentrated in the capital, right? Now Eira asked. But for some reason, Paelova''s face was dull. "...... So, if we are approved by the advisory board, we will be assigned to work in the capital? Eira''s unreserved words had been right on the mark, and Paelov''s face was extremely frowned upon. "......That''s the way it''s going to be," Paelova said. I don''t know how they will treat me. . This comment bothered Jin. It seemed to be the same for Katya, "Oh, um,...... well, is it tough working in King''s Landing,......?" I asked modestly. "...... so I don''t really know." "You''re lying." Eira denied Paelova''s words. "Her Excellency Paelova ...... knows something." But Jed Alamordo stopped her from going any further. "Eira, please leave it at that." * * * * "...... something is bothering me." When the three of us were alone, Eira was the first to ask a question. "I can understand why Paelova is concerned. Just when we think we''ve got a useful engineer, the state invokes its authority and takes him away. It must be very hard for him. Jin agrees with Eira''s opinion. "Of course. It would be uninteresting if they just take away the results, ignoring all the hard work we did along the way. "So, right? That would be very aggressive, wouldn''t it? Katya agreed. "Well, I suppose it would be easier to use the budget and materials if they were under the direct control of the government, so I can welcome that. ...... Eira looked a little confused. "I think that will limit our actions. ......" Jin agreed. "They won''t let us do whatever we want like we do now." "Well, I don''t know which is better, right away. "Is it going to be too hard?" Ka-CHEER looked anxious. Jin also reminisces about the past and says "We can gather the best engineers and make them work for the country ....... If that''s all there is to it, it doesn''t sound so bad. "...... they won''t let you sleep, or something?" "Oh, I don''t like that!I like to do what I want, when I want!" Jin agrees with Eira in general. "Bosses who don''t know what''s going on on the shop floor usually make people do things that are impossible and reckless. As a result, they don''t admit it even though their efficiency is decreasing. "You know a lot about ......, don''t you?" Katya responded to Jin''s words. "You''ve been in that situation before, Jin. Even Eira said something like that. "Yes, I feel that way too. Jin did not dare to deny it, but softly affirmed it. There is a job that pays well but requires a lot of overtime and does not allow for vacations, and a job that offers a lot of time off but pays less. It is difficult to decide which is better. It can only be said that it is the judgment of each individual. "Which do you prefer, ......?" "Right now,......, I''d like to have some time to myself." When he first started working, he was so happy to be able to buy things for everyone at the facility that he was reckless, but now Jin is so immersed in the joy of doing what he loves that he can''t go back. "Oh, I agree with you," he said. "Well, I''ll just go to ...... and see what I can do." Katya argued rightly. But the reality is that there are always two extremes. "In that sense, the situation is pretty good right now." Although the lack of materials is not acceptable, the current situation where they receive certain benefits and do not lack food and shelter is a pretty good environment. "In any case, I guess it doesn''t reflect our will. ......" "I don''t like that. "Yeah, that''s exactly what I mean." Jin recalled the Shoro Empire. I think it was very much based on personal opinions. Even if it was for the sake of work efficiency. * * * * And so, as planned, Jin and the other three were referred to a high-ranking administrator directly under the . First of all, Ka-cea said "What do you think about the monetary economy? "What ......?Yes. I think the gold standard is behind it. ......" Jin thought this was more of an interview than a consultation. "Yes, that''s fine. Now then, Mr. Eira, what do you think about the current distribution of magical materials ......?" "I have a lot of complaints. Not only does it hinder my research, but I can''t even make anything worthwhile. This situation is not good. Eira''s normal behavior was evident, even though Jin was listening on the side and was a bit nervous. Finally, it was Jin''s turn. 1551 - - 42-12 Disturbing Problems "<>?<>?What is the role of the <> in ......?What is the role of the <>?" "What?" Jin was dumbfounded. At first glance, this question seems difficult, but the active core is the part that activates the effect when a complex system is configured, so it has little relevance to the linkage. When I told him this, he took some notes and opened his mouth again. "So, what is the <>?Please explain the <> in the <>.Please explain." "Uh, yes. < "Free magic element (ether) existing in space can be taken in by applying a equivalent to a weak to it. For this purpose, ......" Jin explained the situation as if he were standing on a plank of water, but the supervisor who listened to him was taking notes with a look of confusion on his face. "Well, that''s all," he said. The superintendent closed his notebook and quickly left the room. "...... I bet he didn''t understand the questions," he said. Especially his question to Jin, it was as if he was reading from his notes. Eira muttered indignantly. "I guess that''s why he''s on the advisory board. Maybe someone somewhere has been listening to this exchange." Eira seemed to be convinced by Jin''s comment. "Well, that''s a roundabout way of doing things, isn''t it? I see. After two whole days without any news, Jin and the other three were enjoying their visit to the royal city with permission. "I knew you had a different ...... selection, didn''t you?" "Yes, they are." "Hey, Jin!This is something amazing." Jin was tired and Eira and Katya felt cold, so they switched to window shopping on the second day. Of course, if they found something they liked, they would buy it. "Let''s see ...... what''s this?" The three of them, who have been looking around mainly at tool shops, magic tool shops, etc., had just arrived at a shopping street on the main street. "It''s a little old, but it''s an automata. I''d like to have one, but the price is ......." The price listed was 3.5 million dollars, or about 35 million yen. "Who''s going to buy it? ......" "It''s half a billboard, isn''t it?" It doesn''t look like it''s going to move in the first place," Jin added. Since there was no flow of magic power, I secretly it and found that the ether converter was damaged and the mana driver was missing. Jin imagined that it was just a mere ornament, or perhaps a collector''s item. "Jin-san, what is this?" Katya asked Jin, pointing to a magical tool displayed in another store. "Let''s see,...... ah, there are some interesting things here. This is not so much a magic lamp...... as a magic lamp stand. The design is interesting ......." As Jin said this, a letter that seemed to be a corruption of <> jumped into his eyes. "<>......?" "What?" "No, no, it''s nothing. It suddenly occurred to me that it might have been made by an acquaintance of mine. In his haste, Jin said almost verbatim. (But well, considering it''s been 400 years, maybe it''s the brand of the workshop that Bina started ......) "Jin?" "...... Oh, what is it?" "No, I was just wondering if something was wrong. I was just thinking about something. "......, what does that have to do with the name Beena?" I don''t know. I don''t know. "What the hell is that?" Eira laughed and did not ask any more questions. "Oh, I like this one," he said. "This is interesting. "It''s a bit expensive. ...... Jin and the others continued to browse the stores in the city until dusk. * * * * * * "Well, the knowledge of the mage Jin is outstanding, isn''t it? Yes. It would be a shame to leave him here in this country. I see. I''m contacting the home country now. You will hear back from them soon. Then you can go to ......." * * * * "How can we reduce friction and wear on the sliding parts? On the third day, Jin and his colleagues had started a study session on their own initiative. "If you rub a hard object against a soft object, the soft object will naturally wear out, right? "Of course." Jin made a premise and Eira affirmed it. "Then, how about two objects of the same hardness?" ...... both of them will be reduced? "Correct, Katya." Jin further explained his theory. "By the way, wear resistance is not only determined by hardness. What do you mean? "Wear is the process by which a material is worn away, so the stronger the bonding force between molecules, the less likely it is to wear away. But it is not equal to ." "Well, I don''t know if I understand." Eira tilted her head, "Then, what is <>?" KaChea asked. "It is the resistance of an object to deformation, the resistance of an object to damage. Resistance to deformation depends not only on the bonding force but also on the molecular structure, and resistance to damage is the very idea of hardness. At this explanation, Katya looked at me as if she did not understand. It was not surprising, since even junior high school-level physics was not common knowledge. "You know, there are stones that are hard but easily worn away, right?" "Oh, yes, there is. "Typical of a hard stone with high hardness but low wear resistance." ......I can see why you say that. "Adamantite is hard and not easily deformed, and is also highly resistant to wear, so it is used as a thin coating on the joints of golems. Jin explained, "Then it can be used for bearings too! Eira said. "That''s right. It would also prevent seizure. It''s just too expensive." "Oh, cost-effectiveness, you mean?" Katya nodded in agreement. Jin thinks that these two are too good to be left in their current environment. However, Jin himself is now rootless and looking for a way back home. On the one hand, he wants to return to Erza and the others as soon as possible, but on the other hand, he worries about the future of the girls he has met. (It''s a difficult problem. ......) (It''s a difficult problem, isn''t it?) His worries are endless. 1552 - - 42-13 Boredom. At night, Jin was alone in his bed worrying. (......Ah, should I go to work in King''s Landing or not?) At that moment, there was a knock at his door. "Master Jin, Jed Alamordo is here to see you." tells Jin. "Okay." Jin motioned for Jed to come through. "Excuse me for disturbing you at this time of night. But I really need to talk to you. "Well, come in." Jin led the way to the bedroom. Jin checked the room and found that there were no listening devices in the room. Jin offered Jed the only stool in the room and sat down on the bed. Hope stands guard outside the door. "I''ve been watching you since I''ve known you, and you don''t seem to have any ambition." "Yes, ...... power is just a pain in the ass." Again, Jin was honest. "Troublesome, huh? That''s the first time I''ve heard you say that ....... I guess that''s why he really meant it. Everyone wants power, status, and a better life, Jed said. "What I''m about to tell you, I''d like you to keep to yourself, if possible." "...... I understand." Jed Alamord took a deep breath and began to speak. "This country, the Principality of Mercana, is ostensibly independent, but in fact it is a puppet government ......, or rather a puppet dynasty. "A puppet ...... of the Duchy of Jags?" "That''s what I mean. ...... independence is just a name. The truth is, they couldn''t be bothered to rule this continent with its meager resources, so they set up a puppet dynasty under the guise of independence." "...... I see. ...... So, why are you telling me this?" Jed turned to him seriously. "Paelova has ...... ambition wrapped in the skin of her desire to do something about this country," he said. Behind his desire to have more say in the castle, Jed Alamordo said, he wants to make the country a truly independent state. "Of course, the position of power, that''s attractive, too. I don''t deny that. I don''t deny that. ...... No one is a perfect monarch." "I understand that. If the country is being steered in the best interest of the people, then it can be called a good monarch. "Thank you for your quick understanding. ...... Jin-dono, are you sure you are not from the future?" What? Your technology is not from ...... this country. And perhaps not even in the Principality of Jags. If there are ...... any, they may be in countries far to the ...... east, but to me, you seem somehow to be from somewhere else in the world. " "......" Jin could not answer. "No, if that''s the case, it''s understandable that you would have a hard time answering. That''s not what I want to talk about now." Jed Alamold shook his head as if to change his mind. "What do you think this country exports?" "Eh." Oddly enough, Jin was surprised to hear Jed say what he had discussed with Katya and Eira not long ago. "Agricultural products?Mineral resources?Those are just a pretext. The correct answer is ......<>." "<>? ......" Human trafficking, it seems, was not far off the mark. "<> are probably working for the Principality of Jags. And now we have to send out ten people a year who we think are the best." "Ten people ......? That''s a pretty tough number, Jin thought. "If two out of the ten are approved by the Principality of Jaguar, that''s good. If not, they will ask for more. "That''s a terrible story, isn''t it?" "It''s terrible, isn''t it?That''s why the country is desperately searching for talent. But the loss of human resources is a factor in the decline of our country''s strength. Yes. I thought that Paelova-sama had given Lorenz strict orders to keep the Jin-dono and the others in the dark, but I wonder how they got into the royal capital. Jed''s shoulders slumped and he sagged, "I''m sure they''ve got a very clever agent in there. "That is definitely my fault. But he quickly looked up. "Jin-dono, you will probably be sent to the Duchy of Jagus, not to the royal city. Then, with a voice full of conviction, he said, "It has taken some time since the consultation. "The reason it''s taken so long for the Council, I think, is that even the Committee of Ten is divided in their decision." Jed told Jin his guess. "It''s too good to give Jin-dono to the Principality of Jaggu. I think that''s what they''re saying." "...... By the way, what do you think will happen to Eira and Kachea?" Here Jin decided to ask about them as well. "Perhaps they will not be sent to ...... work in King''s Landing. ...... that would be a shame." Because in the end they will be taken away from Paelova''s hands. "......What happens if you''re not recognized by that Jags Principality?" "Sometimes they send you back. That''s what happened to the Groma Tray. "Is that the one they send back? ......" As far as Jin could see, Groma Tolley is one of the best engineers in this country and on this continent. What is the Principality of Jagusu that he is being sent back to? "Jin-dono, this is my personal opinion, but I think it would be better for you to go to ...... the Principality of Jagus. In that country, you will have more resources to search for your homeland." "Mr. Jed ......" "But I''m sure Paelova will be disappointed. ......" "......" Jin was unable to reply. "But it would be interesting to see if Jin-sama might reveal the noses of the people of the Duchy of Jagus." "......Jed, what do you think this country ......Duchy of Mercana should be like?" "This is another difficult question. ......Yes, this is also a personal opinion." After a couple of breaths, Jed Alamordo slowly opened his mouth. "I think it would be better to be an at best, rather than an independent country." "I see." If it is an autonomous region, it is only natural that the home country, the Principality of Jagus, would support it. The prices of magical materials, magical tools, and magical machines will be lowered. "However, there is too little profit for the Duchy of Jagus. No matter how well they negotiate, they will not accept those conditions. Jed seems to have his eyes on the prize. "......By the way, ......Jin-dono, do you know the name <>?" "Yes, sir.Yes, I do. "He was a great man who changed the world about 400 years ago. Jin-dono may be the second coming of that great man. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. In the end, Jed Alamordo left without letting Jin come to a conclusion. Jin''s agony resumes. (...... But <> or ...... I wonder if that''s more famous than his real name in this day and age.) ) He is embarrassed and embarrassed. (I still have to go to the Laurentian continent. (After all, I have to go to the Laurentian Continent. ...... I''m not supposed to be here in the first place.) Finally, Jin''s mind is made up. (After all, I''m the one who shouldn''t be here in the first place. (Well, it is not yet decided that we can go there.) If we could not go there, we planned to use the warp gate secretly in the middle of the night. In that case, I thought it would be necessary to act as a spy and leave some evidence so as not to cause trouble for Katya and Eira, so I started to think of a plan. It was the night of the 25th, almost the end of August. A lukewarm wind was blowing in the capital. 1553 - - 42-14 Legend of Jin On the morning of August 26th, a finally arrived. Jin, Eira, and Katya received the summons. "......Oh, my God. ......" Paelova Sondovik''s lament was extraordinary. No wonder, the excellent engineers she finally got her hands on were easily snatched away at the request of <>. It is exactly like being "snatched away by a steeplejack. After kicking the table, punching the wall and ...... taking it all out on Paelova, she was able to think a little more calmly. "I want to talk to the ...... djinns. Call them." She said to Jed Alamold, the secretary, "They''ve been waiting for you for a while. He replied, "They''ve been waiting for you for a while. "All right, let him through." "...... very, very, very sorry!It''s a shame that a talented engineer like you should be taken away from us! Paelova said as soon as she saw the faces of Jin and the others. "I am so sorry for what has happened to you." Jin bowed his head. "Indeed. ...... Jin, Eira, Kacea. The <> has sent you ...... to ...... the country ...... or, rather, the <>." Here Paelova uttered a story similar to the one Jed Alamordo had told Jin. "......, and we may send you to the Principality of Jagus for that reason." "......" "...... Eira is from over there, though, so she might not care too much." Paelova finished grimly, then flopped back on the couch and kept her mouth shut. "......Master Paelova, I have a suggestion." Jin said something that had just occurred to him in the middle of Paelova''s conversation. "......What is it?" "I think one of the weaknesses of this Principality of Mercana is its lack of mineral resources, is that correct?" "...... Hmm. What about it?" "...... I can make a magical tool to find mineral resources." What? What?Jin, is that true? Not only Paelova, but also Eira was biting. It''s true. ...... there is an earth magic called ." But Paelova frowned. "<>. I tried ....... We searched 1000 meters below the surface, but could not find any useful resources. "Then we should just search down to 1500 or 2000 meters. That''s all." At Jin''s words, Paelova shook her head. "That''s impossible. We can''t dig such a deep hole. Even if we did, we wouldn''t be able to mine it. But Jin did not back down. "That''s with the caveat that it''s only for humans." Jed Alamold immediately understood the meaning of these words. "Jin-dono, do you mean ......?" "Yes. The golem I fixed before, I can do that. When Jin fixed the golem, he knew exactly what it could do. The general-purpose golem''s capabilities were sufficient for mining ore. "All we need now is a grimoire." "......, indeed!Jin-dono, please make one!" "Of course. Can you arrange two good quality magecrystals, a link board, some mithril silver, and some bronze? "Oh, oh, I''ll do it right away. I''m in the royal capital, so I should be able to get it by noon. Thus, Jin decided to leave behind as a souvenir a magical tool that would enable him to search for mineral deposits. Incidentally, the personal belongings of the three were to be sent from Lawhon. Since the instructions were sent by pigeon, it will be about three days before the package arrives. * * * * * * * * * * * "Here, this way..." "Are you sure about this, Mr. Jin?" "Yes, lightly." That afternoon, Jin was using the materials delivered to him to make a magic tool. "Now we just need to figure out how to let people know what vein we found ......." "Why don''t you let him talk?" Eira, who was jokingly interjecting, said, "I think that would be best, "I think that would be best." "What? Jin takes the idea seriously and adopts it. "......" "After all, Jin-san, isn''t it? ......" Ka-CHEER was getting used to the idea. "Okay, it''s done." It looked like a large flashlight that used four AAA batteries. Jin decided to check the underground of his current location. He turns it on by pointing it in the direction he wants to check, in this case directly down. No response. "Let''s try to go deeper." By turning the dial, the depth to be investigated can be adjusted. 500 meters. 1000 meters. 1200 meters. 1500 meters. 2000 meters. ...... has a response. "Metal vein discovered, small quantity. Iron ore and nickel ore discovered. Abundant. Manganese ore found. Small quantity." "Whoa!" Eira, who had been unusually silent, shouted. "Jin, Jin!This is amazing!" "I knew it, there''s still a vein of ore lying deep down there." Now the question is how to dig to that depth. "Only a golem could do that." That''s how deep it is. Just thinking about ventilation and dust would require a mind-boggling investment in equipment. But a golem would require the bare minimum. Jin knows that the repaired Golem has that capability. "Well, we''ll need our own shovels, pickaxes, and trowels. Jin decides that Paelova can do that much. He was sure that Paelova would be able to do that. "Ummm ......, great!Jin, Jin-dono, you are the second coming of the old Magecraft Meister, Jin! The normally calm Jed Alamordo exclaimed in excitement. "<>, Djinn?" "Mm. Haven''t you heard of him?He''s a legendary figure who lived about 400 years ago. His alias is the Konlonkun I told you about yesterday. He is famous for his deeds.Are you not one of them?" "I''m sure you are. What do you mean? It was very popular at one time to name a child <>. It''s much less popular now, but still one or two out of every hundred children in the upper classes are named <>." "Yes. ......?" "If you include the pseudonyms and <<<>, I''m sure there are more. There''s even a woman named and so on. Jin got unexpected information in an unexpected place. 1554 - - 42-15 Moving again Jin was now convinced. It was strange that no one had said anything about the name <> when the words <><> existed and seemed to be quite famous. This was also one of the reasons that made me feel strongly that this was a <>. However, if it is just a common name, then it is understandable. I wonder if the name <> is common on the Laurentian continent. You will have to go there to find out. "Thank you, Master Jin. To his surprise, Paelova Sondvik also bowed her head. * * * * * * * * * * * * On the last day of August, that is, the 29th, Jin''s package arrived. We checked briefly to see if anything had been taken out during the transportation, but nothing was missing. The same goes for KaChea. Eira, however... "...... d*mn it ......, all the technical notes I''ve been writing down are gone!" It seems that some important documents had been left out. Whether to Paelova Sondovik or to the , I don''t know. "I have to rewrite it again!" It seems to have stuck in my head. Anyway, the package has arrived, and Jin and the others are moving out. The place is a research dormitory in a corner of Gongwang Castle. "I guess they want to keep their engineers close at hand. Jin''s impression. "...... Hmm, you guys are here too?" The person who greeted Jin and the others was, to his surprise, Groma Tolley. "I''m the head of this dormitory," he said. ...... I''m sorry, but welcome to the ." Jin barely managed to suppress the line, "I think it''s not as good as its name, "What''s with that name? It''s not a good name at all. Eira had said. "Well, I don''t blame you!I didn''t name her!" Eira and Groma were at it again. Jin was beginning to think that the two of them might actually be good friends. As usual, Jin''s move will be over soon. So, he took <> out of the room to go help out with the ka-chair, and bumped into Gromma Trey. "Oh, Jin. What''s up?" "I just finished moving, and I thought I''d help you two out." "I see. I''m here to help them as a housemaster. At ......, Jin, you''ll help Eira. I''ll go help with Katya. "Oh, yes." If Groma went to Eira''s place, there would be more trouble, so Jin agreed. "Eira, come and help me ...... wow." Jin looked into Eira''s room and couldn''t help but exclaim at the mess. "Oh Jin. Thanks." The room he was given was almost the same as Lawhon''s, except that it had a general-purpose storage room attached to it. However. "...... is a mess." "Yeah, I''ve always been bad at cleaning up. ....... I have to keep things on hand that I know I''ll use." "I understand a little. If you''re ...... going to try three-dimensional tidying," he said. "Three-dimensional?" Jin is also a person who makes a mess on his workbench, so he could understand Eira''s feelings a little. "On the desk, for example, you don''t just put your tools on a shelf, you make a little special shelf and put them in there." "...... Hmmm... Jin''s workroom is certainly rather tidy." "I can build you a shelf if you like." "That would be great. That would be great. That would be great. Jin then made a small drawer, a so-called letter case, out of an unused wooden box. "What do you think? "Oh, this is nice!" Eira liked it so much that Jin made three more small drawers of different sizes. Eira''s workshop was now a little tidier. "Thank you, Jin. Maybe we should do the same for the ...... room." "Maybe we should get some furniture?" "...... I''ll go shopping later. Will you come with me?" "Yeah, sure, I''ll have to ask ...... where I can find a place like that." * * * The furniture store was soon found, thanks to the tour of the town the other day. Eira bought two pieces of wardrobes there. Hope took care of the transportation of the furniture, which made it easy for Eira. He returned to the dormitory and resumed cleaning up. By that time, Katya, who had finished cleaning up her own room, joined them, and Eira''s room was now ready for human habitation. "Thank you, Jin and Katya." Eira thanked them at dinner. "...... I''m just wondering, if we''re going to be sent to the other continent after this, is there any point in cleaning up the place too neatly?" "Yeah, that''s likely." "......I''m feeling a bit queasy about it. ......" The sound of footsteps approached the table of the three. "Excuse me while I eat." It was Gromma Tolley. "What, you want to have dinner with us?" "No, I don''t!" "No, I don''t!" "I know what you mean. You don''t have any friends to share a meal with. You''re a lonely guy." Eira says to herself, "I told you I''m not! "I told you I''m not!I''m here for Jin! "I know, I know. Jin is going to be my friend, so I''m going to put on a good face while I still can, before someone else takes it away? "I told you it''s not that!" Jin finished his tea and said, "Well, let''s go, "Shall we go then?" He left the place halfway forcefully. "......, what is it?" Jin led Groma to his room. He had already confirmed that there were no eavesdropping devices in the room. "......mm. I thought I should tell you about ....... We don''t have much time." Gromma began to talk about what it means to be a <> official. The first half of the story was the same as what Jed Alamold had told him, but the second half caught Jin''s interest. "......Perhaps one of these days, at least, you will go to the Principality of Jagus." Gromma was about to tell him what was there. 1555 - - 42-16 "Puppets" Gloma Trey had given Jin valuable information. "You know that this Principality of Mercana, though independent, is still ruled by the Principality of Jagus, don''t you?" "Yes." And that the Duchy of Jags is still in need of personnel? Yes. Then Groma lowered his voice, "...... that country is in a constant skirmish with its neighbors, the Duchy of Norja and the Duchy of Dalat. That''s why they need good mages and engineers." "I see." "If you go there, they will probably make you a golem." "......" After a short pause, Jin asked what had just occurred to him. "Uh, Groma ...... is back, isn''t he?" "Yes. ...... coincidentally, the pressure from the <> was on." "Pressure?" Jin summarized Groma''s explanation in his mind. The Duchy of Jagus has been engaged in skirmishes with the neighboring Duchy of Norway and the Duchy of Dalat. The wars and battles of this period are dominated by <> with battle golems, and the three duchies are in need of powerful battle golems. Meanwhile, the <> is concerned about the situation and has attempted to mediate, but has been unsuccessful. "As long as the representatives of the World Congress are present, they are quiet, but as soon as they leave, they start skirmishing with each other. "So, why don''t the delegates just stay there?" "I think so, too, but apparently there is an agreement within the World Congress not to interfere too much." "I see. ......" If there is such an agreement, it is the way of a nation ruled by law. If it is not in line with the current situation, the law must be changed. "But why did Mr. Groma come to this country? I don''t understand why you would go to all this trouble to work in a country where the environment is not so good," Jin said. "Why, you ask? I don''t ...... want to talk too much about it." "I see. ......" Jin changed the subject. "......Groma, do you know anything about ?" "Avalon. ......My teacher is a man who studied in Avalon and is from the continent of <. He is from the continent of Gondor." The continent of Gondor? You know the name of that continent? Yes, yes. I see. ...... hmmm... Groma thought for a moment and then opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind. "Jin, if you ever make it to the Laurentian continent, you should pay a visit to your master. I am sure that he is being welcomed as a guest in the Duchy of Jagus. "Thank you." "I would like to leave you something at ...... that will show that I introduced you, but you will probably be caught in a search of your belongings. So I''ll give you the password. <. Puppet? You know that word? "There is ......." Groma laughed thinly. "......I know you didn''t want to talk about it earlier, but I came to this country at the request of my master. I''m here to find someone." "What does he look like?" "Dark eyes, dark hair, good at engineering magic, and his name is Jin. That''s all they told me at ......." Jin certainly fits the description. "But I''ve met two people who fit that description. You are the third. So I''ll leave the decision to the master. Remember, <>." "Thank you very much." Thank you very much. <>. After Gromma left, Jin pondered what the word meant. (Does it have something to do with the fact that the Principality of Mercana is a puppet government, or ......) Jin closes his eyes and thinks about the past. The land of his friends who were once called the <> and perhaps are now the <> and <>. Belialus the Puppet, Archel the Puppet. And. Zion.) The grandson of the chief of the <> clan, the girl who was supposed to be united with the <> clan''s Belialus. "...... Well, they''re not demons ......, they''re a northern tribe, so they must still be alive." I calculated that if we are in the year 3899 of the continental history, then Zion was 513 years old in 3458, when Jin was 72 years old. Zion, who was 72 years old in 3458, would be 513 years old. Their lifespan can be converted to about five times that of a human being, which means that they are about 102 to 103 years old. "Maybe we can meet them. ...... and Marikka." Marikka was younger than Zion, so it was more likely. While Jin was thinking about this, he fell asleep. * * * * * On September 1, as Gromma had said, Jin received a call. "You have one hour to get ready. You may take the golem with you. With that, the liaison, who said he had been ordered by the Committee of Ten, returned. "......" "I don''t know. ......" "Jin-san ......" Jin and his < were at a loss for words. The < can easily dictate our lives. The will of the individual is not reflected there. Jin felt a sense of frustration at such a situation. Originally, Jin had nothing but his baggage. It took him only three minutes to get ready. "Jin, thank you for everything you''ve done for me. "Jin-san, thank you for everything you''ve done for me. ......" "I never thought we would part like this." Jin said goodbye to Eira and Katya. "Jin, here''s a parting gift." Eira gave him five gold coins. "Oh, me too." And she gave him 3 gold coins. I''ve been saving them little by little. "No, I can''t let you do this to me. ...... Eira''s voice was quieter than ever as Jin tried to refuse. "Jin, you may need money out there. Please take it." Jin had no choice but to accept the money. "...... Well, I''ll take it gratefully. Thank you so much. "I wish I could have learned more from you. Please take care of yourself. You too, take care of yourselves. The three members of , who had been together for a short period of time, had unexpectedly lost their core member, Jin. "Jin, right?Okay, let''s go." When the time came, two soldiers came with Jin. "Well, good luck, both of you." Jin! Jin-san! Only followed them. Jin thus leaves the Principality of Mercana. 1556 - - 42-17 Duchy of Jags Jin was taken directly to the basement of the castle. Pegin Borntov of the Committee of Ten was waiting for him in one of the rooms. "Welcome. You, Jin, will now use the warp gate to go to the Principality of Jags. The officer in charge over there will explain the details to you. I understand." "......Hmmm, maybe I''m being strong, but you''re calm, aren''t you?Rest assured, this warp gate is stable. We have never had any accidents. These words must have come from Jin, who knew that he had come to this continent by a transfer accident. Jin did not reply. "I''m going to have to repack, just to be sure. The soldier next to Pegin-Borntov snatched Jin''s luggage and dumped the contents on the table. There was a change of underwear and a shirt. There were also three rocks. Jin said that the stones were a souvenir of the Tajee village, and Peggin nodded in a bored manner. "It''s rare to find a man with so little luggage. Pegin muttered in a slightly dismayed voice. A physical check was then conducted. The contents of the wallet were checked, but the gold coins were returned to their original state. The protection ring on his finger is also left in place. "Go on." He pointed to the next room. As Jin and Hope headed there, two soldiers with spears stood on either side of the warp gate, as if they were gatekeepers. (It''s a normal type.) It looks less efficient than the type Jin used on Horai Island. It seems to be less efficient than the one Jin used on Horai Island. Jin was relieved that there was no sign of instability. "Well, I''m off." Jin steps into the warp gate as casually as if he were going to the next room. Hope followed him. The two disappeared in an instant. "......He''s gone. But he didn''t show any reaction when he saw the Warp Gate. It''s as if it''s not unusual." * * * * < "Welcome to the Principality of Juggs. Follow me at ......." With these words, the man turns himself around. Jin leaves the warp gate room, accompanied by two soldiers. Hope is with him. They lead Jin up the stairs to a simple drawing room. "Have a seat." The man sat down first and then sat Jin in front of him. "Well, welcome again, Jin. I''m surprised that you share the same name as ...... the ancient . I hear that ...... you are quite skilled. I''ll be looking forward to it." Oh, hi. I haven''t introduced myself yet. I''m Rokou Bee Shiharou. I''m one of the technical managers and I''m in charge of you. ...... Jin bowed his head and Rokou nodded his head in an eagle''s eye. "Well, let me start by explaining the current situation. Rokoh began. "To the east of our principality of Jagus is the principality of Norway, and to the south is the principality of Dalat. There is also a country called the Principality of Mimaka in the southeast, but first we only need to worry about the Principality of Norja and the Principality of Dalat." "......" Jin said nothing, so Rokou continued on. "As far as national power goes, the Duchy of Jagus is the strongest. However, it is not strong enough due to the fact that it is sandwiched between the Duchy of Norway and the Duchy of Dalat. Therefore, it is urgent to increase our national strength. Do you understand ......?" Yes. Yes. Our country needs a good Golem. I''ve heard that your Golem is very powerful despite its meager resources. I''m counting on you. "I understand." At this point, Jin asked the question that had been bothering him. "Well, I have a question for you, too. "What is it?" "What are the means of transportation ...... that exist in the Principality of Jaguar?" cars, hot-air balloons, airships, and mage ships. There was one word that Jin was unfamiliar with. What is a magic ship? "It''s a term for any ship that uses magic to navigate. Didn''t you know that? Yes, I didn''t know it was called that. I see. What else? "Oh, by the way, have you ever heard of <>?" Rokko was a little surprised to hear those words. "Yes, I know him. He is a guest of our country and instructor of engineering magic in general. Do you know him?" "No, I was told that you are the master of one of my acquaintances. I see. I''m sure we will meet soon in this line of work. After that, Mr. Rokko showed me around the research building. The basement and first floor were laboratories, and the second and third floors were residential facilities. Jin was given a room with a bedroom, living room, toilet, bathroom, washroom, and kitchen. It is a kind of bachelor dormitory, and is quite comfortable. No listening device was found. A little better than the Principality of Mercana. Meals are served in a cafeteria in a separate building. It is cafeteria style, and you basically pay with the ticket you are given. If you run out of tickets, you have to buy them with your own money. Jin received a ticket worth 5,000 tol (about 50,000 yen) for this month. Most of the employees eat here because of the high cost of living outside. Rokou, who showed Jin around, is also eating lunch with him. "From 12:00 to 13:30 is my break time. After that, I will take you to work. "Yes." The workday starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 12:00 p.m. The lunch break is from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., and the afternoon break is from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. Lunch break is from 12:00 to 13:30, and the afternoon shift is from 13:30 to 17:00. After that, the evening break is from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and the night shift is from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The working hours are a net 9 hours. The total working hours are 9 hours. Incidentally, it is said that in this country they do not use the term "morning and afternoon" so much, but rather a 24-hour system. The working hours are normal, but Jin thought that the working hours are too long. However, it is much easier than the company he used to work for because he does not have to commute to work. However, he heard that he only gets one day off a week. (Well, considering that I had to work three months in a row, this is also easy for me.) Jin, who is a workaholic by nature, had some doubts about this working environment, but he accepted it as normal. * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin told Rokou that he wanted to relax alone in his room during his lunch break, and he lay down on his bed in the bedroom until 1:30 p.m. Hope was the guard at the door. Hope is standing guard at the door. (We finally made it to this continent. (It''s been a long time. ...... Rhodes is next, I guess...) ) She fell asleep with such thoughts in her head, Jin-sama, it''s almost 1:30 p.m." Hope''s voice woke me up. Jin was woken up by Hope''s voice saying "Jin-sama, it''s almost 1:30 p.m.". "Oh, ...... I must have fallen asleep a bit. ......" Jin rubbed his eyes and got up to wash his face in the bathroom. Jin-kun, let''s go. Just then Rokou came in. "Take the golem with you, please. "Yes, sir." Jin and Hope were led by Rokoh to the laboratory on the first floor. 1557 - - 42-18 Start of analysis "Let me introduce you all. I''m Mr. Jin, and I''m going to start working here today. I''m Jin. It''s nice to meet you. Rokou introduced Jin. There were about seven members in the laboratory. A middle-aged man stepped forward and tapped Jin on the shoulder. "I''m Dr. Carrion, head of the laboratory. Welcome, Jin. "Welcome." "Welcome!" Everyone seemed to welcome Jin. On the surface, it was like. "Well, Carrion, I''ll leave the rest to you." With that, Rokko left. Jin, is that the golem you made behind you?It''s quite a thing." Carrion said as he looked at Hope. "Thank you, sir." "We are working on two projects at the same time. We''re glad to have someone like you on board. Please come this way. Jin was led to the laboratory. The room was about the size of two tennis courts, and several Golems were lined up in one corner. Among them, there was a type that was vaguely familiar to Jin. "First, the team is analyzing the golems used in the eastern countries." About 10 damaged golems were lined up on the floor, as if they were being analyzed. "And then there is the team that develops the newest Golem." Carrion pointed to three golems lying on a workbench, which appeared to be in the process of being assembled. "I''d like you to join the analysis team first. "Okay, sir." Jin headed toward the damaged golem. Jin, welcome. "Jin, welcome.I''m the head of the analysis team, Rig Armor. The leader of the team, Raig Armor, was quite a nice young man. Jin looked around at the ten golems. "I think I''ve seen this one and ...... this one." The two golems looked similar to the ones used by the Unification Party (Unifiler), according to Jin''s memory. "Hmm, that''s convenient. We, for our part, consider those two to be quite capable. We would like to analyze them as a priority. "They are quite damaged, aren''t they? Both of them were in shreds, one was missing its left leg from the base, and the other was missing its right arm from the shoulder. "They seem to be golems sent to stop a conflict that occurred five years ago. We were lucky to recover it, but we want to make a similar one, but we can''t." Raig Armor said in frustration. "Hmmm ......." Jin looked into the open chest. "There''s no control core (......)." "Yeah, that''s something else they''re working on. They''re not making much progress either." "I see. ......" Jin looks further inside. "Are you sure you don''t mind if I touch it?" He asked the head of the team, Raig, and he answered, "Of course. "Well then..." Jin quickly disassembled the exterior from the chest to the arms. "Oh? Raigh couldn''t help but exclaim at the vividness of it. "......I knew it, this one is made of bio-materials." "What?What?What is it? When Jin mentioned the word "biomaterials," Raig seemed quite surprised. "It''s a material that can be obtained from demons." "From demons?......I see...... that''s what it is." Raig Armor then explained to Jin that he had no idea what muscle-related materials were until now. "Yeah, even the Principality of Mercana didn''t use biomaterials." "Hmmm. In the first place, there are not many demons in this area, so such materials are not distributed. For reasons unknown, there are apparently no demons in this area of the Laurentian Continent. Jin guessed that it might have something to do with the concentration of free magical element (ether). "Well, isn''t there any bio-material in the Principality of Jagus, as it is used for this golem? "I wonder if there is no ......?I don''t even know how to use it in the first place." "Really?" Jin was surprised. "As for engineering magic, I have to say that this region is unfortunately very far behind." His tone was almost regretful. "I understand ...... somehow." Jin guesses the approximate location of the Duchy of Jagus. Since the Principality of Mercana is located on the continent of Pandor, this is probably at the western end of the Laurentian continent. It should be connected to the Racir continent by a narrow isthmus. In other words, to the east of this place, there are countries such as Mitsho and Fusor, which have little connection with magic. Therefore, it can be inferred that there are few mages in this country, and that there is not much material coming into the country. (I guess that means they are a backward country in terms of magic.) As expected, Jin muttered only in his mind, since it might cause discomfort to others if he mentioned it out loud. "Well, how do you get the magi crystals?" Jin asked, and Raig looked as if he was biting a bitter bug. "...... most of them are imported from the east. Apparently, even in this region, magi crystals are rarely found. The only thing better than the Principality of Mercana is that metal resources can be extracted to a certain extent. "But you can make golems even without biological materials, can''t you?In fact, considering the maintenance, biological materials are difficult to use. This does not apply to Jin, but biological materials tend to deteriorate when the concentration of free magic element (ether) is low. Conversely, if they are stored in an environment with a high concentration of free magic element (ether), they will last longer. In response to this, the Golem and automata created by Jin are, without exception, highly functional in terms of their <> and > functions. In other words, they collect a lot of free magic element (ether) around them before converting it into mana. An < is a refrigerated storage with an ether ratio of more than 20 percent, and can store magical materials semi-permanently, but it is not far-fetched to think of it as having lost that refrigeration function. "Well, I guess that''s true. However, the output of the golem we have created is far below that of the combat golems I have heard about in the eastern countries. "Is that so?Isn''t that a mistake in operation?" The words were uttered casually, but it was Carrion, not Raig, who took the bait. "Jin!What did you mean by that?" Jin was a little overwhelmed by the force of the question. Yes, yes. ...... well, if you want to get power from metallic magic muscle (magical muscle), I think you need 1) material, 2) shape, and 3) treatment," he said. "What do you call it?What do you mean? How much effect can you expect from that? "Well, I think it will make a difference of ...... to 3 times, don''t you? "That''s a lot!...... Jin, I don''t believe it. Can you do an experiment and show us?" "Sure. Can you show us your experiment? Jin checks what materials are available. "You have enough mithril silver ......, copper, zinc, tin, iron, nickel, chromium, cobalt, and manganese ......," he says. From there Jin selected mithril silver, copper and tin. "I will make an alloy with this. The ratio is ......." "Oh, I see." "Five percent mithril in bronze?Is such a small amount really necessary?" "More is not necessarily more effective." "Well, I''m learning a lot." Carrion looked at Jin, who was explaining in an easy-to-understand manner, with a bitter feeling. 1558 - - 42-19 Continue Analysis "I see, the ratio makes such a difference!" "Jin, that''s amazing!" First, the magical muscle made with a near-optimal ratio was compared with the conventional one. Jin showed that it was about 1.5 times stronger. "Next is the shape. Metallic materials shrink and expand due to changes in interatomic distance and crystal structure, respectively. Expansion due to heat is the former, and expansion due to martensite formed by heat treatment (quenching) of steel is the latter. In the case of Magical Muscle, the interatomic distance is changed. The speed of this change is very fast, but the disadvantage is that the amount of change is small. To compensate for this, the distance between the fulcrum and the point of force is kept extremely close, as in the principle of leverage. Naturally, the distance between the fulcrum and the point of action is far apart for leverage, making it difficult to exert force. Jin points this out, "By lengthening the muscles, the rate of change is the same, but the amount of change can be increased. He explained. "That''s logical, but how do you do it?" "By twisting thin strands of wire and binding them together. His words came as a bolt from the blue to those who heard them, "Oh my God!" "......It certainly makes sense. ......" "How could no one have noticed such a simple thing ......?" Someone muttered. Yes, these things that Jin explained are the things that are explained at the end of the elementary level in the former engineering magic course in . If you want to increase the performance, you can add not only mithril silver, but also small amounts of special elements, or <>. In the latter case, the interatomic distance in the longitudinal direction is increased, albeit by about 10 percent. The amount of shrinkage increases accordingly. This is an intermediate level subject, and Hitoshi does not intend to explain it in detail. Even so, it is significant that the two processes performed by Jin were able to obtain a little more than twice the performance of the previous one. "Jin, you are amazing! "You''ve made my research much more advanced! The researchers in general praised Jin. The general researchers all praised Jin. ......, but only Carrion, the head of the laboratory, stared at Jin with a complicated expression on his face. * * * * "Well, you are amazing. I heard that you don''t have part of your memory?" "That''s hard work. But you must have been a very good engineer to have achieved so much so quickly. That night was a welcome party for Jin. However, no alcohol was served since we had to work from 7:00 p.m. "Was the golem you are using now developed in your laboratory?" Jin asked, a little curious. "No, there are such golems, but most of them are imported for combat use. Our dream is to one day create a golem that surpasses the imported ones by ourselves. "...... sounds good." Regardless of the purpose or motive, Jin could understand the enthusiasm with which they were betting on the development of the Golem. "Most of the golems we are analyzing this time were taken from the Duchy of Norway in the last battle. That country seems to be relying on imports from the east instead of development." "I didn''t know there were countries like that." Since this was a casual banquet, Jin was able to gather a lot of information. According to the information, There is a country in the east that has a high level of golem technology. Skirmishes occur about once every three months. Skirmishes are fought between 50 to 100 golems. The Duchy of Jagus is the strongest of the three skirmishing nations, but not strong enough to take on the other two at the same time. The Duchy of Jagus is rich in metal resources. The Duchy of Norway is rich in metal resources. I found out these facts. The researchers did not know why the three duchies were skirmishing with each other. (I should know, but I shouldn''t know, right?...... to avoid giving them unnecessary information?) Jin was thinking about that. (And if he could meet someone named <>, there must be some progress in ......) * * * * * * * * * * * * * At 19:00, they returned to the laboratory. "You''re late, guys." Carrion, who was not at the welcome party, said irritably. "(I don''t like it because of your immediate success.)" A colleague standing next to Jin overheard him softly. (......I''m a little too conspicuous, aren''t I?But I have a purpose too. ......) It''s true that there are bosses who are averse to good subordinates and bitter about their subordinates taking credit for their work, Jin thought to himself. "Now, the remaining items to be analyzed are the control core (......)." Raig Armor looked around at his team members. "The control core of this golem was destroyed and there was nothing we could do about it." Half confirmation, half explanation to Jin. "I see... ...... that''s unfortunate." Jin was unusually cautious, saying that it would be a bad idea to say that he could read information from the fragments, even if it was only a fragment of information. In the first place, this technique belongs to the advanced level of the engineering magic courses in . "The control cores removed from other golems are being analyzed in another lab. We''ll let you know when we have the results," Rig Armor explained. "So let''s start analyzing the next golem." Raigh Armor turned to the lined up Golems. "Well, which one should we choose? "Well, what about this one, Raig?" Cu Fenet, the first one in the lab, pointed at one of the golems. The exterior had been removed halfway, exposing the interior. "Oh, that''s it. That''s a good one." (This is ......) It is a burly golem with a clearly combat-oriented appearance. Jin does not recognize its structure. This means that it is not of Adriana''s lineage. So Jin was curious about it. "Its skeleton has an interesting structure," he said. "Yes, indeed. The forearm was shown. The forearm should be composed of the radius and ulna in a human. The same is true of the automata made by Jin, or rather Adriana. This is because the idea is that it is important to imitate the skeletal structure of a human being in order to make them behave like humans. The basics are the same for the golem. It is just simplified in some parts. As for the forearms, the Adriana system uses the radius and ulna. This allows a motion of the wrist. In order to twist the wrist without using the radius and ulna, it is necessary to rotate the forearm bone or wrist part around the axis. But that structure would lead to a reduction in strength. "It''s certainly an interesting structure, but ......." Jin trailed off. The golem in front of him had a structure in which the wrist part rotated. 1559 - - 42-20 Tower The golem that Jin and his team started analyzing has a structure with a tightly separated axis of rotation. Jin is proceeding with his analysis, thinking that this has the advantage of making it easier to understand the motion control. Although the strength will be reduced. "What we should focus on is this material." Raig Armor said to the team members. "It''s a steel-based material, but it''s an alloy, and it''s very tenacious and hard." He seems to be able to use , but unfortunately his basic knowledge is limited. <> does not tell you what you don''t know. So, "I would like to know what metals are added. So, "I want to know what metals are added". Jin secretly <> the added metal is <. Vanadium is an element with atomic number 23 and is soft by itself, but when added to iron to make alloy steel, it makes the crystal grains finer and increases strength while maintaining toughness. The amount of addition is only 0.1 percent. You seem to know a lot about magnesium alloys.) (He seems to know a lot about Magi alloys, though.) In his heart, Jin decides that the scientific knowledge in this country is still biased. And, after the magical muscles during the day, Jin decides to keep his mouth shut this time. "Ummm, I know iron and carbon, but I don''t know the elements that are added only slightly." "......" Everyone is tilting their heads. "How about gin?" "I''m a bit ......" When Raig confirms that no one else can figure it out, he says, "Hmmm.., "Well,...... I guess this is inevitable. "Well, I guess we''ll just have to do this," he blurted out. "I guess we''ll have to ...... ask our guest, won''t we?" "Guests, sir?" Jin asked back at the unfamiliar word. "Yes, my guest," he said, "is Lord Rhodes. You have heard his name, have you not? "Yes, yes." Jin was startled by the unexpected mention of Rhodes'' name. "He can''t give me any advice on weapons, but he can tell me about these materials. His knowledge is so deep that no one can match it, Raig said. "...... Well, let''s go and ask him with some samples of the material. Me, Cu, and Jin." "Uh, yes." Raig says it would be good to see you for the future, and goes to tell Carrion, the head of the office, no. "Hmm, okay. But three is a lot. "......I understand." Rigg nodded and came back to the team members, "Did you hear me?We''re going alone this time. "Right, then, Jin, let''s go. He asked Jin to go with him. "Am I all right?" "Yes. You''re the only one who hasn''t met Lord Rhodes yet. ...... Cu, I''m sorry." Cu Fenet showed Raigh one eye. "It''s okay. ...... Jin, go ahead. I''m looking forward to seeing your results. And with that, Jin and Raig left the lab with the skeleton of the golem''s forearm. It is already dark outside, but bonfires are lit in various places, and the path is barely visible. "This way!" Raig leads Jin in a direction slightly away from the research building. There, against the starry sky, a huge black tower rises. It is a circular tower with a base diameter of about 10 meters and a height of more than 50 meters. "Is there a man here named Rhodes?" Raihg nodded to Jin, who looked doubtful, with a slightly sad smile on his face. "Yes. ...... how can I say it,...... this tower is Lord Rhodoth''s home and all he can walk around." Jin wanted to say, "Isn''t that called house arrest? As he had imagined, there were two soldiers standing guard at the entrance to the tower. "Thank you." Raig pulled out a piece of leather paper from his pocket that looked like a permit and showed it to the two men. "Let''s go." Inside the tower there is a spiral staircase that goes up to about 20 meters above the ground. At the top of the stairs was a small landing, which was also occupied by two soldiers. Again, we passed through without difficulty by showing our permit. Inside the door, the atmosphere had changed drastically, and the space seemed to be habitable. Another flight of ...... stairs, this time up one floor, led to a door. "This will be Lord Rhodes'' ...... home." Raig told Jin and knocked on the door. The door opens after about 30 seconds. "Oh, Raig," he said. A man in his mid-twenties, about the same age as Hitoshi, shows his face. He had silver hair and light blue eyes. Jin felt a nostalgic feeling. "It''s been a long time. What''s your question?...... Well, there''s a newcomer. Well, come in. He was invited into what appeared to be a living room with a sofa and a table. Please make yourself at home. Then an automaton arrived, carrying a tray with enough hot water for three people. (......!) Jin did not make a sound, but was surprised to see the automaton for the first time when he came here. The model is a girl. She had silver hair and light blue eyes, and was about the same size as Reiko. Jin remembered his beloved daughter fondly. "I''m not sure if it''s suitable for my palate," he said. But the sencha was quite tasty. The nostalgic taste made Jin feel relaxed. "Oh, it''s delicious, isn''t it?" Rhodes'' face broke into a smile when Jin commented on the taste. "Oh, you seem to know what it tastes like. I''m glad to hear you say that because I like this tea too. Do you want another ......?" "Yes, thank you." Jin answered, and the automaton poured tea from the teapot in his hand. Rhodes took a sip of the tea himself, and then spoke to Raig. "Well, Mr. Raig, why don''t you introduce me to your newcomer? After he had made himself comfortable, Raig was flustered. "Oh, I''m sorry!I thought I had already introduced you!" Raig apologizes and introduces Jin again, saying that he misunderstood because Jin was drinking the tea so deliciously and even refilling it. "Well, this is Jin, who has been assigned to our lab today. "Nice to meet you, sir. "Oh, so you''re Jin-kun. ...... Jin?...... What is it? Jin asked if the name "Jin" meant anything to him, "No, it''s nothing." Jin replied, "No, it''s nothing. 1560 - - 42-21 Road toss "Hmm, you want to know the composition of the metal?" "Yes." In front of Rhodes is a piece of the skeleton removed from the golem under analysis. "......<>" (Oh) The flow of magic power was so impressive that even Jin, who was secretly watching the situation with <>, was impressed. "Hmmm, perhaps the added metal you want to know about is <. It contains about 0.1 percent." "Vanadium, is that right?" "Yes. ......<>...... this is it." Rhodes applied <> to the sample and showed it a gram or so of vanadium metal. It was silver-gray in color, and Raig Armor stared at it intently. "This is vanadium, is it? Such a small amount has a big effect. ......" "Mm. ...... I believe it has the effect of and increases toughness." Jin sensed that Rhodes had a pretty deep knowledge of science. "<>...... hmmm......" Raig ran the vanadium through the Analyze several times to learn what it was all about. "Thank you very much. It is not too late, so I will call it a day. It was almost 9:00 p.m.. It was almost 9:00 p.m., the end of the working hours for Jin and the others. "Yes, come again. ...... Jin, I''ll treat you to some tea, too. Thank you very much. Jin and Raig left Rhodes. "He''s ...... a great guy. He''s younger than I thought he would be." "Yes, he is, isn''t he?But there are rumors that he is older than he looks. On their way home, Jin and Raig returned to the research building, talking about Rhodes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Returning to his room, Jin reflected on a hectic day. "I was in the Principality of Mercana in the morning, then came to the Principality of Jagus. At ......, analyzing Golem, and Rhodoth, or ......." Thinking back on Rhodoth''s appearance, I finally had an idea. "He has that silver hair and light blue eyes......, yes, he looks like Zion." . They now call themselves the Northern Tribe, but at the time they were called the , the girl who met Jin at the very beginning of their history. "Maybe she is a descendant of Zion. ...... Theon must have taken Belialus as his son-in-law from the . No, as far as Jin knows, the wedding has not yet taken place, but it probably will, so it would not be surprising if the two clans unite in the future, and as a result, the clan will show Zion''s characteristics. "And that automata ......." It was clearly an Adriana type. I can imagine the relationship with Avalon in many ways. "But I didn''t think he was under house arrest." I understand that this country does not want to let him go. But if he is a member of a clan, this level of house arrest should be nothing to him. Magically and physically. But, well, maybe they are waiting for the right moment, just like Jin is now. "I''d like to hear your story slowly this time. This time, with the presence of the rogue armor, Hitoshi did not try to ask about the word . But the opportunity came sooner than he expected. * * * * The next day, Jin was working with his colleagues in the analysis team when a messenger came to him. "Is there a man named Jin?" Yes, Jin is me. "Is this you? ...... Lord Rhodes wishes to ask you a few questions. Please visit him as soon as possible. "Yes,......." Raigh turned to Jin and said, Jin, Lord Rhodes likes to talk to newcomers on a one-on-one basis. Go to him." "Yes, sir." Jin received a one-time visit permit from the messenger, "Well, I''m off." and left the laboratory. I know the way because I went there last night. In fact, there is no mistaking that big tower. Jin showed his permit to the two soldiers standing at the entrance ......, who must have been replaced, but were different from last night, and went inside. He went up the stairs, showed his permit again, and finally entered . "Hello, you''ve come! Rhodes greeted Jin in a good mood. "Would you like some of last night''s sencha?" "Yes. The automaton brewed him a cup of tea, just like last night. After taking a sip, Rhodes slowly opened his mouth. "Well, as you may have heard, every time a newcomer arrives, I invite him to come and listen to what he has to say. Rhodoth said a little self-deprecatingly, "That''s because I can''t leave this tower. "You say your name is Jin. What is your last name?" "Is your last name ......?" Jin was a little surprised. In this world of ......ars, family names are often referred to as first names, but few people call them last names. "My name is Nido ....... My name is Jin Nido." I might have called myself at some point, but basically I just called myself since I came here. "Nido!...... ni Doujin, ka, you are! "...... what?" "Then do you understand ......?" "Do you understand the Japanese ......?" Rhodes'' words were unmistakably Japanese, albeit somewhat faltering. "Of course I understand it. It''s my native language.] Jin also replied in Japanese. "I see!I knew it.That makes me happy.From now on, I''ll try to speak in Japanese as much as possible. This room might be watched.] "I understand." Jin nodded. There are probably only a few people in this world who know Japanese. And on this occasion, "Are you from a puppet clan, after all?" Jin asked. "Oh!That''s right. Who told you that?"] "From a man named Groma Tolley. He said he was a disciple of Mr. Rhodes."] Oh, Groma Tollei.I''ve missed that name.] Then he breaks off and looks at Jin seriously. "I think you''re probably the person I''m looking for, but I''d like to ask you a few questions to be sure. Please. How much do you know about Avalon? Avalon is a huge man-made island. < used to be held there ......, right?] At last Jin seemed to have found a big foothold. 1561 - - 42-22 On that day "Now tell us what you know." The conversation between Jin and Rhodes continued. Incidentally, we have already confirmed that there are no magic tools in this room. However, it seems that literal <, that is, by is being conducted at any time. Therefore, Rhodes chose to speak in . "You are from the Nordic Federation, aren''t you?" Rhodes nodded, surprised. "Yes, I am. I am of the Nordic race."] You are of the clan of the Puppet? That''s right. Ah, I knew it, Jin thought. Then he also asked the same question as last night. "Could it be that you inherited your hair and eyes from Zion?" "Zion?You know about Grandmother, don''t you?After all, you''re the one I''ve been looking for!] You''ve been looking for me? Yes. Jin asked, and after taking a sip of his tea, Rhodes began to speak slowly. "I am the great-grandson of Lord Theon. < Is Zion ...... well? Jin called Zion by a familiar name, and I couldn''t help but call him Zion. "He will be 512 years old this year, but he is still very healthy." As a result of advances in public health, nutritional balance, living environment, and medical care, their average life expectancy is about to reach 600 years old. By the way, the average life expectancy on the Laurentian continent is currently about 100 years old. "There is a theory that the free magical element (ether) prevents changes in cells and genes. Jin had imagined it too. The higher the concentration of free magical element (ether), the longer the life expectancy tended to be. However, it remained a hypothesis, since the effects of sanitary conditions and other factors were too great to be determined, and we still had to wait several decades before we could confirm the effects of the improvements brought about by Jin''s knowledge. "[I see. Good."] "Well, you''ll have to see for yourself." What? Grandmother has asked me to find Jin-dono and bring him to her. Why would she do that? "That''s right, isn''t it?" Rhodes told us that Zion had asked him to do this because he remembered a story that Jin had told him when he was younger. He did not remember the exact date and time, so Rhodes said he had been in the area for three years. "It''s easy to get out of a tower like this if you want to," Rhodes says with a laugh. Rhodes laughs. Knowing the physical abilities and magic of the northerners, Jin nodded his head in agreement. However, he said that he had stayed because Zion had told him that Jin would be coming to this country. "Did you hear anything else?" "Not much more about it. ...... Zion did not give many details, he said. "But he told me a lot about Jin-san. He is a benefactor of the Nordic Federation.] "Oh, I see." Mr. Jin, please don''t call me that. "...... all right, Rhodes." "And so it is." Rhodos has been told by Zion to bring Jin to the Nordic Federation when he finds him, but unfortunately he cannot use , so he will have to start on foot. "I have been ready for this for a long time." He had always believed that this day would come. He has no reason to doubt Grandmother Zion''s words. "You can leave right now. something like that. I thought it would be a good idea to escape in broad daylight, "The guards are more strict at night, sir," said Rhodes. Rhodes said. Certainly, one would normally think of nighttime as the best time to escape. The management may have to increase the number of people to cope with the lack of visibility. Especially when it is someone whom they do not want to let go. As for Jin, he only has a very small baggage, so he returns to his room to retrieve his baggage, which is light, and brings <> out, and he is ready to go. We''ll use the golem horses for transport. "Yes, a golem horse." I was told that it was a development of the golem horse that Jin had given to him as a gift for transportation in the past. "Marikka-sama popularized it." Jin was happy to hear that Marikka was ....... After that, we had a few meetings and Jin left Rhodes for the day. * * * * "How was it?" Rig Armor asked Jin when he returned to the laboratory. "Yes, I spent a lot of time with him, he asked me a lot of questions. He''s great, isn''t he?" Jin replied, referring to the pattern he had heard from Rhodes about talking to most of the newcomers. "Isn''t he?" Raihg smiles briskly. Jin thinks it''s a bit of a shame to try to fool such a nice guy. But... "Hmph, you''ve been slacking off for an hour and a half. Stop talking and get to work! Carrion said sarcastically to him. It was noon and time for lunch and lunch break. After eating lunch with his group members, Jin went back to his room, saying that he would take a short nap in his room. He then packed his personal belongings. His personal belongings were packed in one small bag. Finally, he cleaned up his room and said goodbye to his room, which had only been there for one day. "Let''s go, Hope." "Yes, Jin-sama." Jin left his room and headed for the place he had promised Rhodes. He wondered if he could trust him just a little bit, but after hearing about Zion, Marikka, and Avalon, he convinced himself that at least he was from the Nordic Federation, and that if he did not make a decision here, he would never know when the next opportunity would come along. I convinced myself that if I did not make a decision here, I would never know when the next opportunity would present itself. He also thought that even in case of an attack, his <> would protect him from an ordinary attack, and with Hope, he would be able to overcome most of the obstacles. "Mr. Jin, we have been waiting for you." I went to the appointed place, about ten meters away from the tower, behind a storage yard, where Rhodoth was waiting for me. "The soldiers on guard have been put to sleep for a while. It seems that they were put to sleep by magic rather than fainting. "Come on, let''s go. Please put these on first. He was given a pair of sunglasses. Jin immediately knew what they were. "These are glasses that allow you to see infrared rays, aren''t they?" "That''s right. I''m going to use the stealth glasses at ......." < However, the object is also invisible to the outside world. It is not effective against ultraviolet and infrared rays, so if you have a magic tool that converts such infrared rays into visible light, you can see what is going on outside. In case you are wondering, the higher compatible < covers the ultraviolet and infrared regions as well. Jin put on the glasses, but Rhodes remained naked-eyed. When I pointed this out to him, he said, "I am a , so I don''t need them. Rhodes replied, "I am a <> and do not need them. Jin remembered with nostalgia the time when his stealth had been detected during the conflict with the <>. Finally, it was time to escape. 1562 - - 42-23 Eastward <. However, because they were seeing with infrared rays, the outlines of the objects were vague, and they could only walk slowly. "We have about an hour left. Jin and the others continued to head east. (At the end of this journey, I''ll be able to return to my own time.) I don''t know if Rhodes was aware of this, but the impatience in Jin''s heart was gone. From the information that Rhodes leaked, Jin guessed that he would be able to return to the original time sooner or later, and he found peace of mind. After a while, the houses and fields disappeared, and when he finally released his stealth, he could see again, and Jin let out a sigh of relief. Another 15 minutes passed. "It''s in this area, sir. Rhodes looks around the area. The surrounding area is a desolate plain. "This area is called the Plain of Ma?se, and it is often the scene of battles during the conflicts with the Duchy of Norway. "That''s why it''s so desolate. ......" There is only sparse grass and not a single large tree. "Oh, there it is." In the middle of the wilderness, there was a large red-colored stone lying on the ground. "They are burying a golem horse under here. Let''s dig it out now. ......<>" Rhodes digs into the ground. Two golem horses soon appear. "<>" After removing the dirt and mud, the two horses were cleaned up. "Oh, that''s pretty good work. Who made them? "Yes, a disciple of Marikka''s. Yes, a disciple of Marikka''s. Nowadays this kind of mold is becoming more and more popular. It was Marikka who started it, and it was his disciple who popularized it. By the way, each one is sold for about 100,000 Tall ...... million yen. It may be an image of a mini-car. These two cars were also purchased at an ordinary store. "Well, Maricka must have had a good apprentice. "Please tell her that. He will be pleased. After all, Marikka-sama has been telling her disciples about Mr. Jin at every opportunity. "...... What did she say, by the way?" Jin asked fearfully. "Well, that he is a person who is not bound by common sense, or that he is a person who doesn''t use common sense. ...... Of course, in a good way, you know?" "I see. ......" "I grew up hearing that too, so I was looking forward to meeting you, Jin-san." "Oh, I see." Jin was not ready to answer the question of how it would be to meet him in person, nor did he want to hear the answer. "Let''s finish dinner here. It was still about 4:00 p.m., but Rhodes said, "Let''s rest when we can, because we don''t know what''s going to happen next. Jin had no objection. He took out a portable meal from the luggage that Hope had left with him and ate it. "Oh, that''s pretty good." "Jin-san made it in the shape of something called ," she said. "What, me?I don''t remember ......." <<> was indeed a portable behavioral food sold in modern Japan where Jin was living, but he had no recollection of trying to make it. (Maybe he would make it after returning to the original time period?) In that case, Jin would know that he made it and start making it. (Is this what you call a time paradox?) Thinking about this, Jin finished eating his portable food. After drinking a glass of water, he is finished with his meal. "Well, let''s go. I''m sure the pursuers will be out by now. "Chasers?" Yes. They''re probably after me rather than Jin-san. The Duchy of Jagus seems to want Rhodoth and his knowledge. However, he was adamant about refusing to be used for military purposes, so his knowledge was mainly used for peaceful purposes. "But anything can be converted into a weapon, though," he muttered somewhat self-deprecatingly. Rhodes muttered somewhat self-deprecatingly, his profile looking forlorn. Jin and Rhodes each mounted a golem horse and headed east. Their speed is about 20 kilometers per hour. Hope was following on foot. "By the way, where is the automaton who made the tea for us? "Of course I brought her with me. < In other words, they are not following him all the time, but they are following him from a little distance in case of unexpected situations. "Is she Rhodes?" "No, no, I can''t make such an elaborate automaton. She was made by Marikka-sama. "I see that Marikka is ......." "She said that she was inspired by an automata that Jin-san used to have. Her name is ." "I see. ......" The automaton that Jin had with him must be Reiko, he thought. I wonder what Reiko is doing now. Perhaps she is serving a new master, he thought. Likewise, the fact that the old masters have not appeared yet may be because of their new masters. If they are happy, so be it.) If they are his descendants, even more so ......, Jin let out a small sigh. "Let''s cross the border today." At our current speed, he says, we should be able to cross before nightfall. The two golem horses, the golem Hope, and the automata Hanako, though invisible. The group continued eastward without stopping. "We''re almost at the border, aren''t we? Oh dear, we managed to get out of the Principality of Jags. Rhodotos said with a relieved look on his face. The group continued to march eastward and camped until dark. * * * * * * * * * * "It''s a simple warding charm." Rhodes took out a warding device that would keep out insects and small animals and keep out the rain, although there was no tent. It would not block the flow of air in or out. "As for large animals and pursuers, I''ll leave them to my and Jin-san''s ." "I guess so." They lay down a blanket as a cushion and drifted off to sleep. Before dawn, Jin and Yi were asleep. Before dawn broke, Jin and the others were awakened by ''s voice. "Jin-sama, Rhodos-sama, wake up. They are after us." The report was brief, but the urgency of the situation was clear enough. "Are they chasing us across the border? ......" Rhodes said with a look of disgust on his face. "Master, I am ready." Now reported. She is speaking fluently. Perhaps they had deliberately pretended to be less capable in the Principality of Jagus, Jin thought. "Twenty golems and one commander, sir." Hope reported additionally. Jin and the others finished their preparations and mounted their golem horses. At the same time, a loud voice rang out. "Lord Rhodes, I hope you will return with us. 1563 - - 42-24 Followers A man who looked like a commander was wearing full body armor and was riding a golem horse. He was accompanied by two large dogs. They must have followed the scent of Jin and his men. (They use dogs? They were almost nonexistent ......400 years ago. Is this some kind of progress?) Jin thinks fluently. Meanwhile, the pursuer was talking to Rhodes. "Once again, Lord Rhodes, I ask you to leave with me. Are you his pursuer, Zelga Somundt? The pursuer seemed to know Rhodes, Jin thought. "Come on, go back." "What if I say no ......?" I''ll bring him back by force. Surround them! Twenty golems surrounded . "I''m sorry, but you''re going to have to take an arm or a leg!" "I don''t want to hurt you. ! "Whoa! Rhodoth suddenly unleashed an advanced wind magic, the <>. Three golems are blown away. However, that did not do much damage, and the three golems, which had been blown away about 10 meters, got up as if nothing had happened. "......It''s not just for combat, is it?" "You''re not too late now. It''s not too late. Surrender. I refuse. Then we have no choice. Then we have no choice. Just before he uttered the last syllable, the two golems collapsed. "What the hell? Do it, Hanako! Yes, master. Hanako, the automata, had attacked from outside the siege, undetected by the golems. "Oh, that''s great!" Even Jin was impressed by her fighting spirit. The battle golem, which must have been 10 times its weight, was being blown away like a piece of wood. "Well, that''s a good move. Is the skeleton ...... magi-adamantite?" Jin observes Hanako''s movement and analyzes it out of habit. "Na,na,na,......." The commander''s face changed color when he saw this. "You mean to tell me that a battle golem is no match for you?I can''t believe there''s such a strong automata!" Hanako, in the meantime, has managed to disable two or three of the golems. "You''re using engineering magic to disable them from combat. ...... That''s a good way to fight." Jin sees that Hanako is now using to destroy the joints of her opponent''s Golem. Without a fixed joint as a fulcrum, no matter how strong her muscles are, she will not be able to exert enough force. "There are no magical countermeasures, or ......." At that time, a golem attacked Jin. "Leave it to me!" Hope dealt with the golem with a little time to spare. After throwing it away twice, the golem stopped moving. The internal magical board (plate) must have been damaged. The previous << match> with the golem of <> had not been in vain. At the same time, Jin has activated his , so magic can be blocked with no problem. "A golem of that size won''t even be hit by a punch. Also, against physical attacks, he felt safe for the moment. "Uh-uh!You''ve been hiding your ...... abilities!" "<> has warned you many times. Why are you fighting with your neighbors? Why do you not join the World Congress? You are closing your own future. "We will not accept such interference!We will go our own way! Why are you so stubborn? You are a nation that came out of a congress. "Not anymore!We have been independent for generations! "Independent?We are not independent. < to survive, don''t we? We are paying for it! "That is true. It is true, but the do not insist on paying for it. Rather, we are trading with you for your assistance. "Ugh... ......" Zelga Somundt exclaimed. Jin, who was listening at the side, guessed that this Zelga must be a man of a certain rank. Meanwhile, the number of battle golems of the pursuers was decreasing. Hanako had 15 and Hope had 5. In the wilderness, which had begun to lighten up, there were now a number of stuck battle golems and Zelga, Jin, and Rhodes astride their golem horses. Hanako and Hope were also in the wilderness. Incidentally, the two dogs had run away the moment the battle began. "ugg......" "Come on Zelga, it''s no use. Give up and go back. And report back to us. ." "......" Zelga Somund does not answer. "Jin-san, let''s go." Zelga would have liked to have breakfast, but she could not eat it here. Jin and Rhodotos ignore Zelga''s refusal to move, and let the golem horse walk toward the rising sun of Serang. "Wait!" A voice called out to the backs of the two. It was Zelga. Do you really think you can escape?You''re in the Principality of Norway now! Crossing the border is a mortal sin! Rhodoth answered without looking back. It is your law. I am a foreigner. I am not bound by such laws. Isn''t it a greater crime to kidnap and imprison me?" "Ugu......" This time, Jin and Rhodes walked away. "......That Zelga guy is one thing, but aren''t the people of the Duchy of Jagus a bit strange?Oh, I mean strange in an ideological sense." "It certainly seems so. I heard that Jin-san liberated our clan from the brainwashing tool called the a long time ago. "Ah, that." < But we couldn''t find such things in their brains, though. Rhodes continued. "Then there''s the forbidden <<>, but there''s no sign of that either." "I see. ......" Furthermore, he said that he could not find any magic tools or spells that have the effect that Elena, who used to rule the , had. "Then, either the people who originally thought like that are gathered here, or they are ......" "So either they used unknown means or ......." It was not something I wanted to think about, but I could not deny the possibility. "I wonder if they are not aware of the folly of fighting on this narrow ars." "Maybe if you force these people out into space, they''ll wake up." How big is the universe? How small is the world we live in compared to it? How small it is to fight in that small world. If you realize that, you might change your mind. Jin said half jokingly. "Yeah, that might be a good idea. Rhodes agreed with a smile. The sun had been up for an hour. Jin and his friends crossed the creek to the other side of the river to fool the dogs'' noses. It was around 7:00 in the morning. Jin and the others stop moving and have breakfast. Hanako and Hope take a look around. "We will continue across the Principality of Norway. They say they have enough food. Water can be replenished by condensate. After finishing their meal, Jin and the others begin to move eastward again. 1564 - - 42-25 Duchy of Norha The vast Maise Plain. The Norwegian side of the plain slopes gently toward the east, so we could see where we were going. "It really is an empty plain, isn''t it?" "It''s really an empty plain," he said. "This area has a short history since the founding of the country. The country was founded about 340 years ago and has been in existence until now. The development of the Americas on Earth, for example, would have been much faster, Jin thought idly on his golem horse. Maybe it was the population, or the tools. "Probably the main reason is that the underground resources could not be extracted as much as expected. Rhodes said. In the case of the Americas, Jin recognized the Gold Rush, in which settlers moved into Native American lands because of the discovery of gold deposits. "In reality, the resources in this area are buried so deep underground that they simply cannot be mined with half-baked technology." Jin thought that this area was similar to the continent of Pandor. While we were having this conversation, the golem horse was galloping along at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Since the horse''s center of gravity was lower than that of a real horse, both Jin and Rhodes felt less tired and were able to have a normal conversation. We had lunch in the shade of a rock and continued eastward again. As the sun began to set, a large lake came into view. This is Lake Kotsi. It is a border, so if you go to the other side, you are completely outside the principality. It seemed that we would be able to cross the border while there was still daylight. I thought ....... "We have been expecting you, Lord Rhodes." Twenty battle golems of the Duchy of Norway stood in our way. "My name is Mada?m Ruha, Vice Commander of the 2nd Corps of the Duchy of Norway. Please come to our country." "......I refuse. You don''t say that while threatening me with a golem, do you? "No matter what?" No matter what. Then I''m sorry, but I''m going to have to get him by force. Go to ......! At the same time as Madaim''s order, 20 battle golems attack. The golems were not of the same type, but of different types. Eighteen of them were unarmed, while the remaining two had sticks. However, Hanako, who had released her <> and appeared behind the golems, aimed first at the two holding the sticks. She suddenly kicked them from behind, and when they lost their balance, she took the sticks from them. The two-meter-long stick was a little too long for Hanako, who was about 130 centimeters tall, but she used engineering magic to instantly transform it into a one-meter-long mace. "Oh, that''s brilliant!" Jin can''t help but be impressed. Hope! "Yes, Jin-sama." In response to Jin''s voice, Hope also snatched the stick from the remaining one. Hope swung her stick at the same length as the other one. "What ......?" Hanako, Hope, the automata, and the golem ran wildly. Hanako''s mace breaks the golem''s legs. Hope''s stick crushes the Golem''s head. Hanako runs like the wind, and two golems fall. Hope easily picks up the golem and throws it down. Hanako and Hope quickly neutralize 20 Golems. "That''s stupid. ......" "Did you say madame Ruha? Look at the world with an open mind. Stop fighting and work for progress." Rhodoth said in a quiet voice to the stunned Madaim Ruach. What is the use of fighting for supremacy in a small world? Wake up! But the Mada?m would not listen. "Shut up!Don''t think you can get away with this! With these words, he mounted his golem horse and rode off at full gallop. "Jin-sama, Rhodoth-sama, are you sure you can leave him alone? Hope said. "I wonder if it''s ...... okay?" Jin asked Rhodes to confirm. "I wouldn''t say it''s harmless. The other side of Lake Kotsushi is not in any country, so to speak, so it is an extraterritoriality. Jin thought that "extraterritoriality" did not mean that ......, but he somehow understood what he meant. "In other words, they can do whatever they want?" "That''s what it means." In any case, the first thing to do was to cross the border, so Jin and Rhodes decided to hurry the golem horses. They had hoped to get some materials from the stuck golem, but gave up because of lack of time, and left the stick they had taken to Hanako and Hope. The speed increased to about 30 kilometers per hour, and after crossing two roads, a lake opened up in front of us. "On the right, in the distance, is a town called Adaiz, I think. Let''s hurry, we don''t want to be spotted. It would soon be dark. Jin and Rhodes rounded the shore of the lake and passed through to the east. "We have crossed the border. From here on, it''s a stateless zone. In the twilight, all that can be seen is a wilderness, and beyond that, a forested area. Beyond that, silhouetted mountains could be seen. "Are we going to go over those mountains?" Jin asked, seeing that there was still quite a distance to go. "No, just up to the front. There is a magic machine hidden there. "A magic machine? Yes. We''ll head further east with it. Why did you hide it so far away?...... Sorry. I''m sorry. I asked the question, but it was easy to imagine that he had hidden it in a place where it would not be found and confiscated or tampered with without permission. As the sun went down and it became dark, two people, two bodies, and two vehicles camped out in search of a suitable location. "By the way, <>-san''s ability is amazing." Jin said as if impressed. "No, I''d say that about <> sir. I have heard ...... that you were able to build it out of very scarce materials." Rhodes also praised Jin''s skill. "......Let''s leave it at that." A slightly embarrassed Jin changed the subject somewhat forcefully. "After all those battles, I think you should check it out. If we don''t do it when we can afford it, we can''t count on it if it breaks down at the critical moment. The same goes for the golem horses. "Yes, that''s right. Then, let''s take turns. Rhodes said that if we check both horses at the same time, we would not be able to handle any unexpected situations, and asked Jin to check first. "...... hmmm ...... I still think the joints are a little worn." The joints are not coated with adamantite, so they will inevitably be worn down during combat operations. Of course, wear occurs even with adamantite coating. This is because they are rubbed against each other with the same hardness. It is the same as using diamond powder to polish diamonds. However, the load and time required to reduce the same amount of abrasion are different between adamantite, which has high original hardness and wear resistance, and alloy steel, which has been <><>. Of course, adamantite is more resistant to abrasion. Jin proceeded with the emergency repairs and maintenance quickly. 1565 - - 42-26 Advanced Magical Machine After Jin finishes repairing , it is Rhodes'' turn. "Let''s see, here, ........." Rhodes performs maintenance on <. Since he did not make it himself, it looked to Jin as if he was not very good at it. However, the maintenance work was completed in a short time because of the good quality of the original. Jin, who was watching from the side, had nothing to say. Jin was unable to fall asleep and gazed blankly at the sky. The moon (Yunie) appeared from the mountain in the east. Jin gazed at it with deep emotion. (I guess Milowina is gone too, even though it''s been 400 years. ......) But if <> is still alive and well, I can''t help but think that if only we could get in touch with him. (Well, if we go to the Nordic Federation, the way will be opened for us.) (Well, if we go to the Nordic Federation, we can find a way.) Lack of materials, lack of infrastructure, lack of social status, that''s the current Jin. (I didn''t know that I can''t do anything about it so far. ......) Jin reflected on the fact that he had been a little too much spoiled by the environment of Horai Island. While Jin was thinking about such a thing, he seemed to have fallen asleep. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When the eastern sky had become light, Jin and Rhodes had already finished their breakfast. "Today we will be able to retrieve the hidden Magi machine. Jin was looking forward to it. Riding his golem horse, he headed east again today. "The landmark is a rock spire about 300 meters high. It is quite conspicuous in this wilderness. No wonder Rhodes marked it. After half an hour or so, we saw a spire that looked like that. "That''s it, isn''t it?" Jin and the others head straight for the spire. "It''s so big when you see it up close. The spire is the Tokyo Tower, in my image. There is a cave at the base of the tower where the Magi machine is hidden. "Ah, here it is." Rhodes pointed to a pile of large rocks, each more than a foot high. "They hid them in a small cave and then piled them up to make them invisible. At least seven rocks weighing more than 200 kilograms. I have to say, that''s the way of the Northerners. "Well, let''s move them out of the way." Rhodoth throws the rocks away with a "good deal" in his arms. Soon a small cave with a hidden magi-machine appeared. "There it is. It''s in here. ......" Rhodes pulled out a container the size of a wardrobe. "Surprisingly small, isn''t it?" "It''s an assembly line, you know." Rhodes opens the lid of the container. "Is it a ...... balloon?" "Something close to that. < "Blow up floater?" The word was unfamiliar to Jin as well. And this is confirmed by the following words of Rhodes: "Yes. "Yes, it is a vehicle developed by Maricka about 250 years ago. "Oh." It seems to be an assembled vehicle, and Rhodes assembles it with great dexterity. "I see. ......" In short, the idea was to make a balloon float by the wind. "I see, <>." In principle, it is similar to the Onogoro Island disc. Maricka must have arranged it further. As soon as he had finished assembling it, Rhodes started the <>. The air sacs inflated as soon as they were inflated. The shape of the air sac is more like a parachute than a balloon. It looks a little different from a hang glider. "Let''s go." First Rhodes and then Hanako get into the foldable gondola made of light silver. Jin and Hope get in too. ....... "What about the golem horses?" "I don''t think we''ll be able to carry them that far. "We''ll have them run to the next destination. They can reach speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour in galloping mode. If they were not carrying people, they could run without worrying about the swaying of the center of gravity. Jin understood that. "Okay. ...... where is your next destination?" Mitsuho. The name of the country came back to me. "It''s about 800 kilometers away, so we should be there this evening. This blow floater can reach a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour. At last, Jin could feel the progress of the times. "Even if they are chasing us, we can''t catch up anymore. The speed of the pursuit suggests that the three duchies may be working together behind the scenes, but even so, Rhodes said, this will cut the ties. "We''re leaving." The gondola floats up, and then the blower engines start up. The gondola is exposed, so I thought it would be cold, but it is not. The gondolas have wind shields to protect them from the wind, so they can go 100 kilometers per hour. This was well thought out. "Wouldn''t it have been easier to move around if we had hidden the warp gate?" Jin said. That''s how Jin set up warp gates around the world in the first place. "It''s not that I don''t believe Grandmother''s words, but I wasn''t sure if I would be able to meet Jin-sama or not. ......" "I guess that''s true." Warp gates are not something that can be easily installed. In the first place, it is out of the ordinary for Jin to have installed such things so many times. Wind-powered floaters (blow floaters) cross mountain ranges. The air pressure inside the gondola is also safe because of the warding. "However, it is not safe to cross the Gondor continent with this. He says that it would be dangerous if bad weather were to strike. Jin agrees that it is understandable, since the aircraft is assembled in a low-strength structure. "So, where are we going to go in Mitsuho? Jin asked, to which he received a surprising answer. I''m sorry, I don''t know where. Anyway, I can manage if I go down to Mitsuho. Mitsuho is a (= a country participating in the ), so there are exchanges with the Gondor continent, he said. "Mitsho or ......" Jin thinks that if he can meet , he might be able to go to Horai Island via <>. But Rhodotos senses Jin''s thoughts, "...... Jin-sama, I ask you again. If possible, please see your great-grandmother first. He asked, "I would like to talk to you about something. "There is something important I need to tell you, yes? He said, "...... understand." Jin decided that although he wanted to return to his own time as soon as possible, he would have to listen to what Zion had to say. (If I had gone back to my own time in the first place, Zion would know about it, and that''s why he sent Rhodoth to me. ...... I guess I should ask him.) We have enough time to have lunch in the gondola. "This is the last time I''m going to have this bad meal..." Rhodes laughs. Rhodes laughs. <, so we had been chomping on dry bread (not dry bread) since last night. Then, in the evening of the same day, the land of Mitzvah came into view below us. 1566 - - 42-27 Mitsuho Country In the twilight, we could see spacious rice paddies. < "Let''s go down to that town. He was heading for the shore of a lake with a familiar shape. Lake Sayama, I think. < It may have been due to the tailwind, but the speed was much faster than expected. "From the looks of it, it looks like the golem horses will be a little late to join us." Rhodes laughed. An airship floats in the darkening sky. < type airship. "Ah, that way we won''t be noticed." This sight calmed Jin''s slightly sullen heart. The blower-floater descends slowly. "If we''re going to go down, it would be better to go down with Miyako than with ." Miyako is still the capital of Mitsuho, apparently. Rhodes knew that much. "Along with Osaca, the big city to the west, Miyako is a representative city of Mitsuho," he said. The airport was located on the northeast side of Miyako. The airport is located adjacent to Lake Sayama, where it is possible to land in case of an emergency. Of course, the moat wall surrounding the town was still intact. Jin fondly remembers the time when he visited there with Elsa, Hanna, Saki and others. Meanwhile, the blow floaters landed. The officer and Golem came to move the Blow Floater into position. "This way, please." This is a hangar for small aircraft. The blow floaters (blow floaters) were placed in the hangar and locked with a chain lock. The officer takes down the lock number, and Rhodes and Jin sign it. Once these steps were completed, they were given a provisional entry permit. The temporary entry permit only allows a three-day stay, but it was enough for Jin and the others. In case you are wondering, Hanako the automata and Hope the golem were not allowed to enter the town with <>, so they will be assigned to watch over the blow floaters. "Will you take care of it, Hope?" "Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it." Hanako, I''ll see you later. "Bye, dear." Security seems to have changed since the days of ground transportation, now there is air transportation. Jin fondly remembers that there used to be many barriers to reach Miyako, the capital of Mitsuho, such as the Kali settlement and the town of Seki. * * * * * * The two stayed at an inn with futons instead of beds because they were in Mitsuho. "Ah, finally I can sleep on a proper futon. Jin lies down on the tatami mat and stretches out his limbs. The tatami matted room makes him happy. The food is Japanese style, which Jin has not eaten in a while, and he especially ordered three more bowls of miso soup. Jin-san likes that soup called "mososoriru," he said, half impressed by the loaded toast. Jin-san likes that soup called "mosoriru"," Roadtoss said, half impressed. "Oh, yes, and the miso soup, too. After the meal, Jin took a bath and stretched his arms and legs in the hot water. Four hundred years ago, Hiro Mutu and Mii Mutu met in this town. And many others. They have been buried in history for many years now. "I wonder if the <> is still working." In Mitsuho, where most of the people cannot use magic, I have fond memories of the time when the <>, which used engineering magic to create various tools, was put back into operation. "That was also in the northeast of Miyako. If you go to ......, it should be between the airport and the town, but I haven''t seen it. ...... Maybe it has moved?" Jin mutters to himself. It''s a good thing that I''m enjoying the hot water alone now, courtesy of Rhodes, but if there were other bathers here, I''m sure they would have been very disappointed. * * * * After getting out of the bath, Jin was chatting leisurely with Rhodotos. "What do you want to do tomorrow? "Well, let''s see... ......" He wanted to go home as soon as possible, and that desire remained unchanged. But now that my safety is almost assured, my natural curiosity is beginning to tingle. In other words, he was interested in the world 400 years from now. "What are your plans for the future?" On the contrary, I ask Rhodes a question. He is showing me around as a favor and I don''t want to bother him too much. "Yes. In the end, I would like to take Jin-sama to Grandmother ...... Zion-sama''s place. Jin nodded broadly to Rhodes, who reminded him again and again. "Yes, of course." Jin would also like to meet Zion and Marikka and hear their stories. <. Maybe even meet the 700672. "So, you see, there are two ways to get to the Gondoa continent. Private transportation and public transportation. I understand private transportation, but what is public transportation? "There is a monthly airship service from the Shoro Kingdom to the Nordic Federation. Seats are by reservation only. "Really. ....... Are there no other flights from other countries? "Yes. I don''t know why. "I don''t know why." I''m very impressed that the Nordic Federation is accepted now. "I don''t think it will make much difference in time which one you choose. "Oh, no, I think it would be faster to go on the road by yourself now. Rhodes said to me, "Why?" Jin asked back. The flight leaves on the first day of every month. Today is September 4, and there is still almost a month until the next flight. Hearing this, Jin was convinced. "I see, if we can get there by a blow floater, it would be faster. Right? "Right?" "Okay. Okay. I''ll tell you what I want. ...... I''d like to stay here for a day tomorrow and see the sights." "Okay. I will do so. Rhodes immediately accepted Jin''s wish. "In the first place, the golem horses haven''t arrived yet. When they arrive, Rhodes said, we will sell them here in town. It would be better if they were moved by a blow floater rather than a custom-made one. "That kind of used exchange is common now," he said. Jin wondered if this was the image of a used car. That would make it easier to spread the idea to the general public, he thought. "Come to think of it, what is the country like now?Is it the same as it used to be?" Jin thought of taking this opportunity to ask. "Yes. ......" Rhodes thought for a moment and took out a piece of wooden notepaper provided in the room. He drew a simplified map on it. He showed Jin the map he had drawn quickly and Rhodes began his explanation. 1567 - - 42-28 Current State "As far as I know, that''s pretty much how it is," Rhodes said. Rhodes began to explain to Jin the current situation in each country. "North of Mitsuho is Huso. Not much seems to have changed in that area. To the east of Mitsuho is the Shoro Kingdom. It seems that the borders have not changed here either. "And the Kingdom of Cerroa, the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Franz, the Kingdom of Klein, and the Kingdom of Elias. These countries, which were called , are still alive and well. "......What about this farthest east?" I asked my second question. I mean . "I was going to explain to you, but I see that it is divided. "It is a divided ......?" Yes. Roughly speaking, it is divided into four parts, with the Kingdom of Klein in the north, the Kingdom of Cerroa in the middle, and the Kingdom of Egelea in the south. The archipelago, including the island of Fusor, and some coastal areas are ." The Autonomous Region of Conlon? "Yes. The area from there to the Kunlun Islands is an autonomous region, ruled by the deputies of the konglong kung." "I see. ......" I was tempted to ask for more details, but I decided to check what I was most curious about first. "Do you know what happened to the village of Kaina, which was supposed to be ...... located in the north of the Kingdom of Klein?" "Of course I do. Of course. That place is now . In the first place, you can''t get to the Gondor continent by land without passing through there. "Oh, I see." Jin thought for a moment that he would like to see the village of Kaina 400 years from now with his own eyes. "So, the north side of the Kruger Mountains has been preserved as it is nobody''s land. ...... I think it''s called or something." "Heh." It''s for the protection and preservation of animals and ecosystems. Anyone can enter, but collecting beyond the personal level is prohibited. < and is being monitored by the . Jin was somewhat relieved to hear that they seem to be making efforts to protect nature. Jin left his questions at that and went to bed. He slept soundly without dreaming in the tatami room for the first time in a long time. The next day, the 5th, Rhodes went to the shore of Lake Sayama to pick up the golem horses. Jin wandered around the town. There was nothing dangerous, and he was wearing his <>, so there was nothing to worry about. "Oh, yes. If you can afford it, you can buy magi crystals and make a <> out of it. Besides, if I can get the materials, I can strengthen Hope a little more. So, Jin goes sightseeing, looking for a material shop. "Is this a tool shop ...... or is that one ......? At any rate, Jin walks down the busy Chuo-dori Street. The street widens and we come to a place with a fountain. "Ah, there are places like this, aren''t there?" There stands a statue of a bronze statue. "There was neither a fountain nor a statue there before. ......Who''s statue is it?" I approached the pedestal and looked at the inscription. "......<>...... Wow." It was a statue of Jin. Jin quickly leaves the place. However, no one would recognize him because he doesn''t look much like him. ....... About two minutes away from there, there was a material shop, so he went in. "Oh, this is ......." There were some good quality materials. "Ah, supplies are important to maintain the culture. ...... I felt this way even more so since I came from the Principality. The shopkeepers did not call out to him, so Jin was able to look around slowly. "Well, I think it''s cheaper than before..." Jin was not familiar with prices, but he remembered that in the old days, one colt (about 1 gram, about 6 mm in diameter) of magecrystal (magecrystal) cost between 10,000 and 10,000,000 dollars. The reason for the wide range is the variation in quality. The reason for the wide range is the variation in quality and the value depending on its attributes. "That''s 5,000 to 50,000 Tall ...... well, I guess they don''t have the best of the best on the line." Jin picked up a rainbow-colored magi crystal. "So this is 10,000 Tall ......." A gold coin, about 100,000 yen. That''s all Jin could buy with what he has. In terms of quality, it is good enough to make a <>. Thank you very much. Jin bought the magi crystal and left the store. "Now all I need is metal material. ...... where can I find it?" Mithril silver and adamantite are not things that the average person would buy, so I didn''t think they would be in the stores in the first place. "A blacksmith or a ...... Oh, yes. What about the <>?" The < that Jin once fixed. It produced almost all of the tools and magic tools used in Mitsuho. I''m sure they have the metal materials Jin is looking for there. "But I wonder if they will sell it to us. ......" Jin decided to go for now and started walking toward the northeast. He had not noticed it when he came from the airport yesterday, but it had been built in its original place. A stone building the size of a gymnasium. It was just that it had been hidden from view due to the construction of larger buildings around it. As usual, people seemed to be able to come and go as they pleased. "Oh, it hasn''t changed much. < Welcome. How can I help you today?" A receptionist, an automaton whom Jin did not recognize, greeted him. "Well, I''d like to speak to the factory manager directly. "Yes, please wait." Jin''s request was accepted without refusal, and the receptionist retreated to the back of the building. She returned in about a minute. "Welcome, Mr. Jin." The factory manager, who had seen Jin, seemed to recognize him immediately. "Ah, it''s you. How are you doing?" "Yes, thanks to you, it''s doing its job." The factory foreman automaton that Jin has repaired does not seem to think it strange that <> is here. (Even at that time, they didn''t question the sudden increase in the amount of materials. ......) The point is that he is an old automaton and has poor judgment about things other than his work. "So, what can I do for you?" "Yes, I would like to share about 50 grams of adamantite, is that possible? Yes, conditionally. ...... spherical, is that correct?" "......, ah, yes, that''s fine." "Then please wait a moment." Jin had a vague idea of what were. Since this is a <>, it is a place where <> are shipped. Therefore, it is not possible to deliver the material by itself. Therefore, it is necessary to treat it as a <> of <<50 grams>><>>. Similarly, if you want, for example, 2 kg of steel, you can ask for <>, and so on. "Thank you for your patience. In about 5 minutes, Jin had what he was looking for. 1568 - - 42-29 At an inn by Lake Tusmo After receiving the adamantite ball, Jin checked the condition of the < just to be sure. "Yes, we have been doing regular self-maintenance since Mr. Jin repaired it, and there is nothing wrong with it. The maintenance golem is doing a great job. "Well, that''s good to hear." Jin was relieved to hear this report. He put the 50-gram adamantite ball in his pocket and slowly made his way to the inn. It was almost noon. When Rhodes returned, he would leave. "Jin-san, are you home now? He heard a voice behind him and turned around to see Rhodes. "He just left. I sold the golem horse to a second-hand shop. The golem horse that he had ridden for a short time was being sold off. It was an act that Jin did not like, but he thought it was normal in this era. "Let''s leave after lunch." * * * * Jin and Rhodes went to the airport. Rhodes pays the fee to the officer, and the lock is unlocked. They pulled out their blow floaters and boarded the plane with Hanako and Hope. "Well, let''s go." Rhodes starts up the blow engine. When the air bladder inflates at once and the aircraft lifts off the ground, the blow engine for propulsion is also activated. The blow floater begins to rise slowly and diagonally upward. (...... Mitsuho, until the next day) Jin did not know if such a day would ever come, but in his heart he said goodbye to Mitsuho and wished to see him again. He wanted to look around more, but he was worried that he might not be able to return to his own time if he knew too much information that he was not supposed to know, a < type of worry that haunted him. Looking down from the blow floaters, a huge desert came into view on the left. This is the Hariri Desert. Seeing the desert reminded Jin of . Akitsu was created by a disciple of , who traveled around the world and enlightened people more than a thousand years ago. < (Akitsu was in the Sahara Desert, wasn''t he?) Carrying such thoughts of Jin, the Blow Floater flew eastward. "We have entered the Shoro Kingdom. The Hariri Desert was far behind us, and to the left of us was a very high mountain. I think it is the Baksa Mountain. If we continue on our way, we will reach the capital, Leusat, "Mr. Jin, since it is troublesome to go in and out of Loisart, I would like to go down to a suitable regional city or town," Rhodes suggested. Rhodes suggested. "That''s fine." Jin was a little curious to know how the Leuthart where he used to live was now, but he decided that it would be lonely if it had changed a lot. (I''m not supposed to be here, ...... I''m not supposed to be here.) "Okay. Let''s go down to the town of Beams on the north shore of Lake Tosmo. As dusk falls, the blow floaters descend into the town of Bearsus. There seems to be no particular airfield, so they land on an open beach by the lake. In such a case, <> (Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft) is very useful. The landing site was a small gravel beach. Lake Tosmo was beautiful in the afterglow on the calm surface of the lake as dusk approached. Rhodes quickly disassembled the blow floaters and put them together. "Oh, I''ll let Hope have it then," he said. "I''m sorry. Now let''s go find a place to stay. So Jin, Rhodes, Hanako, and Hope went to the town of Bearsheims to look for a place to stay. As it turned out, they found a place to stay within five minutes. <. It faces Lake Tosmo and is said to offer beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The air is somehow nostalgic. On the other side of the lake is Leusert, where Jin and Elsa lived for a long time. "I''d like to go there, but I''m not going to ....... If I can get back to the world, I can visit there with a big smile on my face. At this point, Jin has no idea how to get back to the past. There is a possibility that he may not be able to return ......, but rather, there is little chance that he can. He was aware of this, but he dared not to think about it. It was a pity that the room at the inn was not a Japanese-style room, but it was on the second floor, so it had a good view of the lake, and the meal was the first meal he had had in a long time, so Jin was satisfied. "The taste is more refined than in the past. ...... I guess they must have studied the use of seasonings and soup stock." Jin smiled with satisfaction as he drank some hojicha after dinner. After dinner, Jin soaked in the bath and relaxed, and went to his room to maintain Hope. He coated the joints and sliding parts with adamantite, which he had obtained in Miyako. This alone would more than quadruple the durability of the joints. "There you go. I hope we can upgrade it little by little." "Thank you, Mr. Jin." At that moment, there was a commotion downstairs. Mixed in with the sounds of people''s voices, there was a clattering sound like metal hitting metal. Hope used her excellent hearing to see what was going on, "Jin-sama, there seems to be an emergency. What should we do? Hope asked. "Let''s go to ...... and see what''s going on." Jin thought that if it was a life-threatening situation, he couldn''t just ignore it. He quietly peeked downstairs. There were two broken golems and three wounded men. All three men appeared to be unconscious. They have been treated, but the golem has been left alone. "What happened?" Jin asked one of the onlookers who had gathered. "Oh, I heard there was some kind of accident at Lake Tosmo. "I heard that two boats catching river shrimps collided with each other and sank." Lake Tosmo is a treasure trove of freshwater fish, and freshwater shrimps such as the tenagaebi can be caught in large numbers. Shrimps such as these are usually caught after dark, when they gather in the light of a boat. It is likely that the boat collided with the boat in the dark. From what Jin has seen, the two golems seem to be the boatman or rower of each boat. The rather slender build of the two golems was thought to be for the purpose of lightening the ship. "uu......" One of the unconscious people moaned and opened his eyes. When he realized that he and the other three were the only ones being treated, his bad complexion worsened and he screamed. "Oh, my God, ......!Help me!My daughter is still in the lake ......!" "What? Only three people were rescued. They were fishing two by two, and one of the men was in the boat with his daughter. The fact that they are not here suggests that they may have gone down with the boat. "I don''t know which part of the boat sank, even if you say so! It was pitch-dark in Lake Tosmo at night, and we had no idea where to look. At that moment, someone said to me. "Yes, ask the golem. "No, he said he was too busy bringing them here. They''re stuck." Jin could no longer remain silent. "Let me take a look. I''m a magi engineer. 1569 - - 42-30 Modern Technology Jin hurriedly checked the condition of the Golem. This is the first type of golem Jin has ever seen. It is not a golem in the lineage of Adriana Barbora Zetsi, nor is it a <>, nor is it a primitive magic stone golem. Nor is it a primitive magic stone golem. "This is ......" This is a method that Jin has never heard of, but that doesn''t mean he doesn''t understand it. "I''ll admire it later. I have to fix it." As long as it is a Golem, there is a control core. This is no different for the new Golem. If a golem without the control core (control core) was created, Jin thought, it would not be ...... a golem. "<>" Jin starts with the information about the control. "Hm, basically the same. So the detailed control is dedicated. So we can do emergency repairs. And the emergency repair is done. <<>, and . "Oh! "Brilliant!" The people around him shouted in admiration. One body is repaired in about three minutes. Jin immediately asks a question. "Hey, do you know where the accident happened? "...... is a... I''m sorry." His voice still sounds a little funny, but it is enough to be heard. "Somebody with a boat, please! "Okay, I''ll go with the golem." The innkeeper came forward. "Please, I''ll go to ......." The man fainted again when he realized that he was going to help his daughter. Jin said he would stay here, but he would go with her to the shore, "Can you give me a general direction?" He asked the golem in the direction of the accident. He said, "Yes, about 200 yards that way." "Okay." Jin shot a ball of light in that direction. "Oh!This is bright!Well, I''m off!" The innkeeper, accompanied by Jin and onlookers, left with the golem in a boat for the lake at night. As Jin saw them off, he was ruminating in his mind about the information he had just obtained. (It''s not a golem, but a . ......) Adriana golems, like automata, have a skeleton that is a simplified version of that of humans, and their musculature is similar to that of humans. This is because they are made based on the idea of being . (But that is ......) Apart from the cheapness of the construction, it was the structure that caught Jin''s attention. (The movements were completely separated.) For example, the rotation of the wrist. For example, taking the rotation of the wrist as an example, the human forearm (from the elbow to the tip) has two bones, the radius and ulna, connected to the wrist and the elbow joint, respectively. The other side of each connection is, roughly speaking, (although ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc. are attached). This means that the forearm can around the wrist or elbow. This requires that the muscles are attached at an and are able to exert force not only in the longitudinal direction relative to the bone, but also in the axial direction. The Adriana golem and automata emulate these human body structures. However, the golem that Jin confirmed this time had basically one bone in each part of its structure. (What are you, a stick man? ......) Despite such ridiculing thoughts, Jin was satisfied with the structure of the Golem. The bone is basically a hollow pipe, <>. Taking the arm as an example, the inner pipe is for flexion and extension of the elbow, and the outer pipe is for rotation of the wrist. The muscles for bending and stretching were completely separate from those for rotation. (Sure, the control commands may be complex, but the motion control is easy to understand.) (Sure, the control commands may be complex, but the movement control is easy to understand. (It seems to be more efficient because there is no waste.) In the case of humans, there is a slight loss because of the diagonal attachment. Also, the force to rotate is not so great. (Perhaps the < force should not be underestimated. ......) But.... (The movement is very artificial. ......) They do not feel human. (Maybe Groma''s new golem is the same. (Maybe the new golem of Groma is the same.) The last golem they were trying to analyze in the Principality of Jagus was something similar to this one. It was Jin who suddenly had such a thought. While he was thinking about this without much time to think, he heard a noise. The innkeeper had returned. "Thank God!I was clinging to a piece of the ship!" He was clinging on to a piece of the ship! He was trying to reassure his worried father. By that time, his father had recovered and came out to greet the innkeeper and the others at the door. "Oh ...... thank you." At the innkeeper''s back was his daughter, whose complexion had turned blue. She looked at her father and smiled faintly. "The healer is here!" someone shouted. I looked and saw a young man in a white coat standing there with an automaton. (Nurse ......) Jin almost said out loud. The automata was definitely based on the nursing automata <> that Jin had once made. The significance of using automata as nurses is great. They can take care of the injured and sick day and night. Besides, they do not have to worry about contracting diseases. Seeing that the healer and the had begun to take care of him, Jin returned to his room with a sense of relief. * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, Jin and Rhodes were about to leave, The next day, when Jin and Rhodes were about to leave, the innkeeper said to them, "Thank you for your hard work yesterday. The next day, when Jin and Rhodes were about to leave, the innkeeper spoke to Jin, "Thank you for your hard work last night. The innkeeper seemed to be able to use polite words to his guests, while he had used blunt words last night. "What?I didn''t say anything ......." "No, if you hadn''t repaired the golem, we wouldn''t have been able to rescue you in time. You are a humble man." Jin said, "No, I just did what I could at that time. and left the inn. Not only because he was embarrassed, but also because he did not want to add too many more ties to this era. "The weather is fine, let''s make the distance in one go today. Rhodes said. "Esia, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa, has a noisy immigration control system, so I''ll go as far as Tellurus." He says he can make it by midday with a good westerly wind. "Terlus?" This is the town where the Torres River flows, where Erza''s mother, Meene, who was seriously injured during the Unifiler riots in the past, was washed up. Come to think of it, it was in that town that he met Sally the healer. 1570 - - 42-31 Tellurus With a tailwind, the flight to Tellurus, the eastern gateway to the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa, was smooth. "Oh, there are a lot of balloons and airships flying around. ......" Jin was literally in a different world when he saw many flying objects in the sky over the Kingdom of Celuloa. "I heard that there are instructions to change the flying heights of the balloons and airships." "I see, I guess it''s to prevent accidents due to the difference in speed. As I look around, I see a few of the wind-powered floaters (blow floaters) that the Jinns are riding in. It was a moment that made me realize that 400 years have passed. And the 10 airships cruising over the capital city of Esia are 200 meters long, which is truly gigantic in one word. However, in the modern Earth where Jin was living, there used to be a huge airship called the , which was 245 meters long. It was powered by four V-16 diesel engines from Daimler-Benz and had a top speed of 13.5 kilometers per hour. The maximum speed was 13.5 kilometers per hour. Incidentally, the airship of the Kingdom of Cerroa is said to have a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour. And we could see that there is a <> in Essaia. It is a circular line and seems to go around the city. However, Jin was a little disappointed that it did not become popular, since it is not seen in other cities. A quick word. A little after 2:00 p.m. local time, Jin and his group landed at the airport in Tellurus. Here, too, there was an officer to take care of Jin and the others. At the same time, a certificate was issued. With this certificate, you are free to enter and leave the town of Tellurus. In addition, a deposit of 1,000 tokens was required. The certificate is returned when you return it upon your departure. "Please don''t lose it." The officer said, then straightened his posture and said, "Welcome to the town of Tellurus! and he saluted with the back of his right hand on his forehead. The town has changed a lot. "You have changed a lot, haven''t you? "Is that so?" It looks quite different from when I visited with Reinhardt and the others. The streets are more chaotic than back then, and the old and new are mixed together. In a way, it matches Jin''s taste. "There are more people here." There were many people last time, but now the number of people has increased to the point where it can be described as a crowd. Jin thinks that the crowd is about the same as that in front of the Yaesu exit of Tokyo Station. Whether that is appropriate or not. "I''ll have to get a place to stay. Rhodes seems to know his way around the area, and he moves along at a brisk pace. Again, and are with the blow floaters. The number of inns has increased as the number of people has increased, and rooms are quickly available. The hotel is 20 stories high, which must be one of the tallest buildings in the world. Remembering that the last hotel he stayed at was 10 stories tall (......), Jin got on the elevator, which is called < in this country. "Is it a golem engine ......?" Jin remembered that the last time he had been carried up to the 6th floor by a golem. This time, the room was on the 15th floor. It was not quite a view ....... It was because there were many similar buildings in the area. I wondered if the building was earthquake-proof. I was so worried that I couldn''t stop myself from talking to myself like that. "Oh, I heard it''s all right. Rhodes overheard my soliloquy and explained. "All high-rise buildings are required by law to undergo . "Toughened?...... I see." Engineering magic that increases the strength of bonds between molecules, making brittle materials more resistant to cracking. < "I guess that''s a relief then." However, the effect varies depending on the ability of the wielder. If Jin is serious and performs 10 times, the effect is increased by 1000%, i.e., 1 times as much as the original. This is the limit of the enhancement of this magic. However, at the general level, the range of enhancement is wide, from 5% to 200%, and it is possible to multiply it from 30 times to 4 times. (As one would expect, this building is located at . (As expected, this building is ......50 percent more, right? That''s enough.) A secret reveals that the overall strength and toughness of the building has increased by 50 percent. "It''s still early, shall we go and have a look around the town?" It is 3:30 in the afternoon. Dinner was served at 6:00 p.m., so Jin took Rhodes'' suggestion. Let''s go to the riverbank. "The riverbank?" Rhodes looked doubtful, but accepted Jin''s wish. "Ah, the view from here hasn''t changed much. Jin stands on the embankment and looks out over the Torres River. (I remember that time we found my mother-in-law who was dying. (I remember finding my mother-in-law (Meene) who was dying at that time. The town of Litu can be seen over the river, and the walls of Esia can be seen in the haze beyond it. A huge airship floats in the sky above. "Come to think of it, airplanes haven''t developed yet. ......" Jin thought that in 400 years, an aircraft with <> should have appeared. "I don''t know much about that. ......" Rhodes explains this question as well. "As I recall, there was a concern about making the same mistake with the development of more science than necessary, so they stopped teaching only simple science at Avalon. "What? ......?" Jin wondered if this meant that the development of science would become a spark of fire. (I don''t think so, though. (I don''t think so. ......) (I don''t think so, though. ......) However, Jin thinks that if someone after Jin made such a decision, it might be something to respect ....... (In any case, it''s not a problem I can handle now. ......) (In any case, it is not up to me now...) Not to give up, but it is not the time for Jin to wield his power. "I guess the point is that we have taken a legitimate magical development." "Is that what you mean ......? I don''t know. "Well, it''s nothing to discuss now." Jin decided to end his sterile speculation for the time being. Whether or not he had made the right choice would be for a much, much later generation to decide. "I''m sure that ...... grandmother will be able to answer those questions more accurately." "I see." Jin was more and more convinced that he needed to meet with Zion. Of all the connections that remained in this time, the strongest ...... was Zion. The fact that we are in the Kingdom of Celuloa and the <> does not appear, I can only assume that there is something wrong with Horai Island. Jin thought that he would be able to get an answer for this if he met with Zion. "Well then, let''s look around the town. Like the golem before, Jin thought he might discover something new. Assuming that he could return to his former time, he was very uncertain if he could bring back the knowledge. 1571 - - 42-32 Step by Step Jin and Rhodes were walking down the main street. "They say this is the second biggest street in Tellurus. And the busiest." "Yeah, I know what you mean." It reminded me of the crowds in Tokyo... people, people, people. "I wonder how big is the population of the Kingdom of Cerroa?" Rhodes answered this question, which I had not expected. "Well, according to the of the year before last, 500,000 people," he said. "Half a million. ......" According to Jin''s memory, four hundred years ago, the population was 200,000. "So it''s increased 2.5 times?" "Yes. All of the small group countries have doubled or tripled in population. This is probably due to advances in sanitation, medicine, and agriculture. "I see. ......" Jin was a little pleased to see that part of this was probably due to his own achievements. The people walking around the town were dressed a little differently than they had been 400 years ago. There is no drastic difference, but they seem to be more sophisticated and refined. "Do you know what fabrics are used for the clothes? But even Rhodes did not seem to know that much. "Well, let''s go to the clothing store. Jin is now wearing the clothes he bought in the Principality of Mercana. He can''t shake off the feeling of being somewhat old-fashioned or outdated. The clothes he was originally wearing were in his bag. "I think this is a good place." Most clothing stores have a selection of 60% for women, 20% for men, and 20% for children, but this one had about 30% for men. "This fabric is ......<>." It is considerably less strong than the one from Horaijima, but it is unmistakably GSS (Ground Spider Silk). It is a fabric with strength, flexibility, and beauty that synthetic resins cannot possess. (Indeed, it may be better for this world to promote magic technology than science and technology. ......) Science and technology destroy the environment to a greater or lesser extent. However, since magical technology is mainly based on biomaterials, it does not destroy nature except for mining underground resources. However, there is a risk of overexploitation to secure biomaterials. ....... There were also many other clothes made of <, although the quality is lower than that of Horai Island. Shirts were mostly made of cotton, which made Jin realize that 400 years have passed. Prices of commodities had not changed much from 400 years ago. Rather, the prices of these daily necessities had probably gone down. That is a good thing, Jin thought. In the end, Jin bought a shirt and a jacket, and returned to the inn. There was still time for dinner, so Jin headed for the bath. "I''m glad it''s empty. There were about three guests in the large bathtub, which looked like a public bathhouse. Jin was able to stretch his arms and legs in the bathtub. Dinner was buffet style, probably because of the many guests from various countries. Jin chose white rice, miso soup, grilled fish, pickled vegetables, and omelet. While he was wondering what to drink, something called <> caught his eyes. I try it, and it tastes nostalgic. It was definitely the tea of the <> from the village of Kaina. Naturally, Jin decided to drink it. "It''s proof that the distribution system is working. ......" We can get specialty products from all over the world. It is good for cultural exchange. Especially foodstuffs,...... Jin thought as he sipped his miso soup. In case you were wondering, the road toss was a combination of bread, cowbread steak, vegetable soup, salad, and red wine. "Excuse me, may I come this way?" "Yes, please." The table for six was occupied only by Jin and Rhodes, so the old couple refused to sit with them. "Are you here for sightseeing?" the husband asked Jin, who had just finished eating and was drinking tea. "Yes, no, we stopped by on our way to our destination. "Oh, I see. Are you and your husband traveling together? Yes. After I retired from the military, I finally had some time to visit ...... with my wife. The old man''s smile was soft and kind. "You are retired ......, so you must have been in the military." "Yes, I am. I was a technical officer, however. "When you say technical ......, do you mean Golem?" Yes, that''s right. I wanted to work on airships myself. The old man told of his longing for the sky when he was young. I remember when I wanted to fly freely in the blue sky. Jin understands this feeling. "So, the golem is ......." For a brief moment, Jin and the old man enjoyed the conversation between the engineers. * * * * "I think I''m beginning to understand the times we live in. Jin returned to his room and lay down on his bed alone, staring at the ceiling and muttering to himself. Everything is not going well, but it seems to be going reasonably well. The people on the street were smiling. Magic technology seems to be progressing, though slower than expected. Above all, the growing population is evidence of a more comfortable life. Although the western duchies are a bit ....... "That''s also a problem for those who are living in the <>. ......" The world was a little different from the one Jin had imagined, but that was also the path the people of this world had chosen, so he had no opinion on the matter. "But what about Horai Island and the fifth column (Quinta)? ...... I wonder if we can ask Zion about that. Jin was getting more and more eager to meet and talk with her. "And then there''s the golem ......." The golem we saw the other day, who developed the technology that led to it? I will ask that question when I meet Zion. Jin, who was too tired to think about it, fell asleep. Good morning. Good morning. I hope we can make it to the Kingdom of Klein today. The sky was cloudy, a far cry from yesterday. "I don''t want to fly in the rain too much with this blow floater. Considering its stability and power, Rhodes says it is dangerous in bad weather. Jin, who wanted to see Zion as soon as possible, agreed. "Yes, I agree. I want to see Zion, that''s for sure, but I don''t want to risk it. ...... "I understand." Rhodes thinks for a moment, "Then let''s go north first to the Kingdom of Franz. Then go north over the low ridge. That''s the route I suggested. Jin confirmed the route in his mind. Jin confirmed the route in his mind. Since there were no high mountains in between, he thought it would be relatively safe in case of bad weather. "Yes, let''s go that way. Jin and Rhodes headed for the airport. 1572 - - 42-33 Earth, sky and flowers. Wind-powered floaters (blow floaters) flying across the huge lake, Lake Asur. I wonder if the floating base is still at the bottom of the lake.) There is no way to check now. (That will come later, or ......) And then the blow floaters entered the territory of the Kingdom of Franz. It was not raining in the Kingdom of Franz that day, but it was covered with fog. The Blow Floater''s range of vision was only about 200 meters, so it was forced to slow down its speed. Even Hanako, an automata, and Hope, a golem, can barely see 1,000 meters. Naturally, the arrival time is delayed. "We''re staying in the Kingdom of Franz today, aren''t we? Rhodoth said, "We are going to Loron, a town east of the Franz Kingdom. "Roloon town. ......" "Any memories?" Rhodes asked with interest to Jin''s soliloquy. "Well, I visited there once with Zion," Jin said. Jin said, "What?Your grandmother? Rhodes exclaimed in surprise. "Didn''t Zion tell you?" Jin asked, "Yes, I had never heard about it. Indeed, the purpose of Jin and his group''s visit at that time was to rescue Istaris, Zion''s sister who had been captured. Istaris had been severely tortured and humiliated, and Jin had begged her to erase her memory by using a forbidden spell, >. Therefore, Jin now realized that Zion could not have told such a story to his descendants without hesitation. So, he decided to make up a simple story. "At that time, I had just gotten acquainted with Zion. I was there as part of a tour of the countries over here. "Oh, I see." Lucas was with you, wasn''t he? What?Mr. Lucas, is that you? I was wondering, how are Lucas and Netros doing? "Mr. Netros is Great Aunt Istaris'' husband, isn''t he?" "Yes, he should be." Jin remembered fondly the time when Istaris and Netros had eloped, but this time he succeeded in not mentioning it. If he talked about it, he would also have to tell the story of the other party, the Belialus, who had asked Zion to marry him. Then, the embarrassed Zion might complain about it later. "You two are still in good health. To my surprise, they are still alive. I guess it is because of the improved nutrition and environmental sanitation. What about Lucas? "Lucas is married to a madrasah from the same family and they are living far away from each other now." "I see. ......" Jin was satisfied to hear what had happened to his old friends. Rhodes saw the look on Jin''s face and did not want to hear any more about Zion and the others'' past. The town of Rolo-on still seems to be a window to the Kingdom of Klein, with its stone gate rising in the mist, just as it did then. However, there was no need to pass through it this time. In the evening, when the fog finally cleared, the blow floaters headed for the airfield to the north of the town and landed. Here, too, we were greeted by an officer, registered our names, and left our blow floaters in his custody. And again, Hanako and Hope were left at home. I feel a little sorry for them, but it can''t be helped. "Well, where shall we stay? "Well, ...... I think we stayed at a place called at that time. "H?tel Lunol? Let''s go to ...... and ask around. There was a booth at an intersection on the main street that looked like an information center, so Rhodes went there to ask. When he returned, he happily reported. "It''s still there," he said. Go straight down the central street and turn right at the intersection of another street. The corner on the north side of the town is lined with high-end houses, just as it used to be. "Oh, yes, this is what it used to look like." And even the big park was almost the same as it used to be. Adjacent to the park was a large hotel, the . I remember meeting the former duchess, Catherine de Lafayette, at that time. Catherine had described Jin as "quite a good-looking man" when he told her that he was staying at the <>. Visiting a familiar place like this, one is reminded of the old days. While Jin was still immersed in his memories, Rhodes went to the front desk to check in for the night. "This is room 3 on the third floor. It was a four-person room, he said. There were no other rooms available, Rhodes said. The third floor is reached by a golem elevator. In the elevator, Jin said "By the way, I''m sorry for paying for all your accommodations. Rhodes waved his hand. Rhodes waved his hand, "No, please don''t worry about it. It''s normal that Jin-san is not in good hands. Jin thanked him again. "Thank you." The room was equipped with a bathtub for one person, so Jin was allowed to go in first. The room was equipped with a bathtub for one person, so Jin was allowed to go in first. Jin was somewhat happy to know that public sanitation and infrastructure are in place. Here, too, dinner was buffet style, so Jin chose what he wanted, mainly rice. And Rhodes'' choice was mainly meat, except for bread. It is interesting that there is only one vegetable salad in the buffet. "I hope to get to the Nordic Federation tomorrow." "Yes, that''s right." Jin and Rhodes were discussing their plans for the next day. There are no high mountains near the border between the kingdoms of Klein and Franz, so it is easy to cross them on the way north. "If it is sunny, I would like to leave early. "That''s fine." The thought of finally meeting Zion made Jin feel excited. "It''s about 500 kilometers away. As long as the weather is good, we should be able to get there. I''m looking forward to it too. "Yes, I''m sure your grandmother will be pleased. I hope so. Jin looks out the window. The night view of Lorong is beautiful. When he had been here before, the back streets were filthy and the gap between the rich and the poor was wide, but now there was nothing like that. It may be far from an ideal town, but I could feel that things have definitely changed for the better, and that was a pleasant change for Jin as well. (But the monorail did not spread. ......) It was not popularized in the Kingdom of Cerroa either. It was just an unusual vehicle. What was the cause that prevented it from spreading? Jin tries to analyze, but he doesn''t really know. From the window, he can see stars on the ground and flowers in the sky. (Was it Kenji Miyazawa ......?I think it was Kenji Miyazawa (?) who called the heavenly flowers "stars" and the earthly stars "flowers. Staring at the night view, Jin tried to dig up his hazy memory. 1573 - - 42-34 Zion The next day we left first thing in the morning after breakfast. The weather is beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. Almost no wind. "It''s better than being driven by a strong wind," was Rhodes'' line. Rhodes said. From the town of Lorion, we headed north along the border with the Kingdom of Klein. This is convenient because there are no high mountains in that area. Once they enter the Kingdom of Klein, they will have a hard time climbing over mountains such as Mount Taikazo and Mount Tahoka, which are over 4,000 meters high. In this area, the mountains are in the 2,000-meter range, so it is easier to climb. However, the area beyond the mountain range is a special protected area where there are no houses, so travelers are on their own. Rhodes chose this route because it was a calm day with no wind. A coniferous forest similar to that of the taiga spread out below Jin and his group. "You can see Lake Shilowa on your left," Rhodes explained. Rhodes explained. "And ......." "Ah, the great isthmus of Pazdekst." We could see the familiar terrain. "The air currents are bad in this area, so we''ll be flying low." Rhodes said and lowered the altitude. We were flying at a height of about 50 meters above the ground. The area becomes a reddish-brown wasteland as the coniferous treetops become sparse. We are almost at the Pazdekst isthmus. Beyond that point is the Nordic Commonwealth. The route from the air, the route from the land, the route we''ve taken so many times. "The view is the same." Jin muttered to himself. In the midday light, the continent of Gondor comes into view below. However, the view there was different from what Jin remembered. "There''s a lot of greenery, isn''t there? Yes, the place that was a wasteland in his memory was covered with greenery. It was a field. Yes, we grow a lot of cold hardy varieties. This area is topopo." "Oh." Rhodes said they also grow cold-hardy wheat and barley, buckwheat noodles, and an early variety of rice. "That''s good. So you are completely self-sufficient. "Yes, that''s what I mean. It''s a great grandmother ......<> clan''s Lorona-sama''s achievement." Rorona of the < clan is the mother of Zion and Istaris. She must be six hundred years old by now. "Master Rorona is still alive. She says that her legs and back have weakened considerably recently, but she still checks on the fields every day. "Indeed! It was a joy to see Lorona again. An orchard came into view below us. "These are cold-resistant aprils and queries, aren''t they?" Greenhouses and greenhouses were also visible. Thanks to Maggi Plastic, it''s easier to build greenhouses. Now we can harvest vegetables all year round. "That''s good." It seems that the food problem of the northerners has now been completely solved. And the wind-powered blow floaters are losing altitude. Two similar blow floaters approached us. They are not assembled but solidly built. < Rhodes applies his wind magic and reveals his affiliation to the two aircraft that appear to be guards. < He waved his hand toward the gondolas, and the two security planes moved away from the gondolas. "Now we can fly in peace. Rhodes said, and then dropped further. "<> aren''t we going down to the clan''s settlement?" Jin questioned, as the location did not seem to be the same as he remembered. "No, we are going to Grandmother''s." "Oh, I see." The former settlement of the was located almost directly north of the Pazdext isthmus, but the territory of the , to which Zion belongs, is closer to the coast. Theon and his sister Istaris were the daughters of the clan leader, and one of them had to succeed him. However, the elder sister Istaris chose to be with her follower Netros, and so Zion was supposed to be the son-in-law of the clan leader, Jin recalled the circumstances of that time. The clan''s Belialus was (should have been) Sion''s son-in-law. Hence, Rhodes, also of the clan, called Zion "grandmother. "I am no longer a <, but a clan." Rhodes said that he was embarrassed to say this, but he explained that he had been adopted as a candidate for clan leader because of his excellence. He was welcomed even more so since he was originally of the <> clan. "However, there is talk among the younger generation that it is time to stop creating barriers between ," he said. "I see." However, compared to the human race on the Laurentian continent, the northern peoples have a longer life span, so such changes will be slower. Rhodes laughed. "We are about to land. The altitude is now less than 20 meters and the surface of the earth is clearly visible. The speed is reduced to about 30 kilometers per hour, and the blower is ready to land. The plane is headed for an open space that looks like an airport, where about three blow floaters are parked. There, people who seemed to have heard of Rhodes'' return were waving to him. Rhodes landed the blower without a hitch. The first person to come running to him was a woman who looked a little younger than Jin. "Brother!You''re back!We''ve been worried about you! She had silver hair like Rhodes, but her eyes were a strong red. The color of his eyes reminded Jin of Archel. "I''m home, Vita. I''m back, Vita. ...... I''m sorry to worry you. But your grandmother asked me to do it for her. "That''s true, but ...... you''re back, that means you found her, right?" "Yes, this is the man." Rhodes introduced Jin to Vita. "Jin-san, this is my sister, Vita. "My name is Jin Nido. My name is Jin Nido, and I am very grateful to your brother for all his help. When Jin greeted her, Vita blushed a little. "Uh, ah, ah, I''m Vita of Vita....... "You can also ...... against Reiko and the old man." "Father, is there a reason why we have not been mentioned in your stories so far?" > "Yes, I''m going to tell you that now. But there are some things I don''t understand, and I dare not ask them. "What is it?" "Future Zion told me that it''s fine to know the result, but it''s better not to try to know the process. "Heh?" Theon let out a stupid sound. "Oh, me?" "Yes." Jin nodded. "You said that when you know the process, you lose the desire to improve." "Is that so?" "That''s most likely because you heard me say it right here and now." "...... sure. I mean, time is so complicated! "I don''t know what to tell you. ......" The may have understood it to some extent, but he did not tell Jin about it. He would not have understood it even if he had explained it to him. "The paradox of time is so difficult, isn''t it, Onii-chan?" Hannah looked a little thoughtful. "If we don''t know the right answer, I guess we have to try not to do anything unreasonable." "That''s right. ......" "It''s easier to understand if we focus on Oni-chan, right?" "Hannah, what do you mean by that?" "Well, for Oni-chan''s time line, everything is in order." In short, it means that there is no contradiction such as Jin meeting Jin himself. "For us, it''s the future, but for Oni-chan, it''s the past in terms of time. "So that''s one way of thinking about it." Since we do not know the correct answer to these questions, we cannot reject these ideas in general. Jin just said, "......There are many things to do from now on. Jin just muttered, "We have a lot of work to do. It was almost dark outside the window. 1575 - - the years 43-01 400 "So, Zion finally told me what I was wondering about ......." Jin began to speak three times. I''m home, Zion. "I''m home, Zion." Jin was welcomed by Zion and invited into the house. There, he was first offered a bath. Being a bath lover, Jin accepted it without hesitation. Still, Jin got out of the bath without taking it as easy as usual. Jin-sama, please come this way. The maid working in the mansion led him to the hall. And there was Zion and another man. "Really, it''s Jin-sama. ......" There was an old woman with silver hair and yellow eyes. "......Marikka ......?" "......Yes, yes!You remembered me!" Marikka still has a straight back and a dignified air about her. Jin looked at Marikka with narrowed eyes. "Oh, um, Jinshama?" Oh, I bit it.) In a way, Jin was relieved to see that such a thing has not changed no matter how old he gets. At a round table in the hall were Zion, Marikka, and Jin. There were three other attendants serving the guests. These three are my grandchildren, too," said Sion, who was looking unconcerned. Zion smiled carefreely. This gesture reminded Jin of her younger days and he smiled. "Well, let''s have a toast first. < "Jin, please lead the toast. "Me? "Yes. < Zion smiled as he said this, and on his arm was the bracelet of . Marikka''s arm also has a bracelet ....... Jin raised his glass, disappointed that his own bracelet was missing. "To celebrate our reunion." "To our reunion." "In honor of our reunion." Glasses being clinked. It made a bright, clear sound. "Oh, I''ve heard ...... that I''m going to see Jin again like this, but it''s like a dream." Jin asked a question to Zion, who smiled softly, and decided to ask the question he really wanted to ask. "Zion, I guessed from what Rhodoth said, can I go back to the original time?" Sion smiles and answers. "Yes, as far as I know. "I see. ......" Jin leans back in his chair as if all the strength in his body has been drained out of him. Not out of despair, of course, but out of relief. "It''s a relief to hear that ......." "It sounds like Jin had a hard time, too." "I wonder if it''s a ...... hardship. No, I don''t care about the physical hardship. The most important thing was whether we would be able to go home or not. Again Zion smiles. Jin saw in his smile a shadow of his former self. "Let me take one more thing off your mind. Elsa will give birth safely. Mother and child are healthy. "Really!" Jin now jumped up from his chair. "I won''t tell you any more. "I won''t tell you any more, or rather, you shouldn''t ask me. You''ll have to wait until we get home to find out. Zion said with a mischievous smile. "Ah, yes. Yes, that would be better. Jin understood what Zion was trying to say. It would be boring to know everything just because you are in the future. "Jin who came back 400 years ago said. Keep information to a minimum. "......I''m not the one who said that. ...... Hmmm." I don''t doubt that. After all, it seems to be my line in the future. (I guess it''s better not to ask what happened to everyone in the family. ......) Honestly, I''m curious, but Jin reminded me that his first priority is to return home. "Somehow I know what Jin is thinking. I''m curious, aren''t I?" Zion read Jin''s expression and started to say something like that. "......Yes. I''m taking a test and there''s a piece of paper with the answers written on it within reach. It takes a lot of willpower to stay ...... away from it." Zion chuckled at the analogy. "......I''m sorry. I''m just glad that I''m talking to the old ...... young Jin." "...... I see." I thought to myself, "I know that Zion knows about his later years too. I didn''t dare to ask him what kind of an old man he had become. "Maricka hasn''t changed either. I''m relieved." "Jin-sama ......" "That golem horse and , they were good work." "I''m so embarrassed." Marikka blushed at Jin''s praise. "No, it''s true. < after Reiko, didn''t you?But it wasn''t just an imitation, it had Marikka''s own unique twist. "Oh, uh, you noticed that?" Marikka is surprised by Jin''s words. "I know. Especially in battle. She was using engineering magic to destroy the joints of ...... enemy golems. Reiko can do it too, but Hanako seems to specialize in such operations. "Jin-sama is great, after all." Marikka said that Hanako was designed to be an expert in engineering magic. She also has the power to carry materials. "Her appearance is modeled on Reiko''s, though." "I see...so that''s how it is." Jin nodded his head. The meal proceeded in such a friendly atmosphere. Jin was pleased to see that rice, miso, and soy sauce were being eaten as usual. He ate sashimi, pickles, and pickled plums. For the first time in a long time, Jin enjoyed his meal to his heart''s content. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well then, I''ll give Jin the most important information he needs right now. Xiong said with a more serious face than ever as he sipped his after-dinner tea. "Liberate Horai Island." 1576 - - 43-02 What happened? "What? Open a legal system. That''s what it sounded like to Jin. "Release the island of Horai!" Once again, Zion slowly repeated the previous words. "Release the island of Horai?" Jin recited the words as if chewing on Zion''s words. "Yes, that''s right. "......What in the world happened to Horai Island?" "I''ll explain it to you now." Theon took a sip of his tea and began to speak after a pause. First of all, the current situation. ...... Horai Island and related things are or . and the fifth column (Quinta) are also <> or ." "What?Why?" Zion calmed the astonished Jin with his hand. I''ll explain it to you now. It''s a little difficult to know where to start ...... when I think about Jin''s return to his own world." "...... So you''re saying. If I''m back in my own time, you''re asking me something then, aren''t you?" "......" "You''re asking me, aren''t you?" "......Yes. But I don''t think you should talk to Jin now." Jin guesses that there is a complicated background. In addition, he doesn''t want to share too much with Jin, who is planning to return to the from the original time period......<. "I know. If you can figure it out eventually,...... I won''t force you to ask now." "Thanks." Jin let out a small sigh. So, you see, Jin who came back 400 years ago asked me to show you the way. < "Yes." And to do that, you must find Reiko. "What?Reiko?......It''s okay if we know the location of Horai Island, but what do you mean?" Jin was surprised by Zion''s answer to his question. Reiko has been missing for 150 years. She was living with Jin''s descendants at the time of ......." "Mine?" "Yes. I''m not sure how many generations ...... of great-grandchildren you''re after." That''s true, Jin thought. A human generation is 25 to 30 years. 150 years ago would be 250 years after Jin''s time, which would be eight or nine generations later. That would be eight or nine generations later. "Didn''t you live on Horai Island?" "Yes. It was considered a sacred place. A sacred place? Yes. The Magecraft Meister. "Hmmm... ...... So what are my descendants doing now?Just tell me the obvious." As Jin asked for more details, he had a feeling that he might be twisting fate to avert misfortune. "Well, ...... there hasn''t been a single Magecraft Meister since Jin. And now, there are no descendants of yours ......." "What? Jin was disappointed. He regretted that he should not have asked. But Zion hurriedly added. "Oh, <> doesn''t mean that it has ceased to exist. It literally means that they are gone. "What do you mean?" "They just disappeared one day." "......" Jin wondered if it might be a caused by the that accompanied the that had struck him. Or it could be another reason. But there is nothing I can do about that. I am curious about it, but I have decided not to ask him about it. "...... But you''ve heard about it from me back 400 years ago, haven''t you?" "...... That''s right. It''s a bit complicated, isn''t it? Jin agrees. Zion told him to find Reiko, but he knows where she is, in what condition, and how she is doing. He is wondering how much he should explain to Jin. "I returned to the original time and didn''t explain that much to Zion? ......" "...... that''s what I mean." Jin frowned. Even if Jin, who knew this information, went back to the original time and entrusted Zion with what would happen 400 years later, he didn''t say how far he could go ...... to . Or, in any way, this situation would be the same as it is now. Or it means that no matter how we do it, we will end up in this situation now. Jin does not know that either. Jin composed himself and continued his questioning. The bottom line is that whatever will be, will be. "Well, I''ll ask the questions, so answer them if you can. Jin chose to first resolve the big question. "Yes, let''s do that first. "Who was responsible for sealing Horai Island ......?" A mage about 150 years ago. Who is he? He''s the head of the magical supremacists. What do you mean "magical supremacists"? A group of people who have been infected with the idea that the world should be run solely by magic and not science. "...... I see." Now the background of the situation has become a little clearer. "How did that lead to the sealing of Horai Island?" "Yes, that''s what I''m trying to explain. How ...... Golbert Malkitas got wind of the existence of Horai Island is, well..." "I guess so." Jin flushes, "I can''t help you if you ask him now. "Well, ...... it seems he originally studied in Avalon. And after he left Avalon, he founded the League of Magic some years later." "The League of Magic? "<>?The group of magical supremacists you were talking about earlier?" Half of them, yes. And the forerunner of the League of Magicians. "Hmm. ......" Jin pondered. It''s not that I don''t understand the emergence of such ideas. There should be a variety of principles. "...... means, they taught science at Avalon, didn''t they?" "Yes, of course. Originally Jin and now the old man are working on the curriculum. At this Jin silently closed his eyes and gathered his thoughts. "You mean that this Golbert Markitas, after studying science at Avalon, you decided that he was unnecessary? "Yes. And he rebelled." "That''s what I don''t understand. Are you saying that there was a threat to Horai Island?Horai Island can''t be a threat in the slightest. Unless ...... you''re a mage far beyond me." "I think so too. ...... I''ll explain why in a moment." "Yes, please." Jin nodded and motioned for Zion to go on. "Okay, next. What about Reiko''s clue?What was Reiko doing there in the first place? 1577 - - 43-03 To complicate matters "You told me that you were living with the descendants of the djinn at the time, right, Reiko?" "Yes, that''s right. And then the descendants suddenly disappeared. Zion nodded. "Of course, there is a reason for that too, but it is not directly related to Jin''s return to his own time, so please don''t ask me about it." "Okay." Jin''s head began to get confused. Zion, perhaps sensing these thoughts, put a wry smile on his face. "Right?I''ve been thinking about how to explain it because of ......." "Oh, I understand perfectly," he said. "I knew I should have just shown you the way like I said in the beginning." I don''t know what the taboo on time is, which complicates things," Zion said and sighed. "So, once we find Reiko, the rest should fall into place on its own." Sion sighed again, wondering if this was all he needed to say. "...... I see. Reiko should know what to do. So where do we go?" "First, go to Mr. 700672." Oh, him. I hope he''s all right. Yes. Yes, he is. < You''ll have to ask her about the rest. "Okay." "I''ll have Rhodes show you around, can we leave tomorrow morning?Or do you want to take it easy for a couple of days?" "Tomorrow morning is fine." Jin answered, and Zion said, "That''s what Jin would say, "I knew you would say that, Jin." Jin smiled. They spent the rest of the time talking about nothing else. "Maricka must have done a lot of hard work." "No, I haven''t." No, it''s true. No, it''s true. But more than that, I''m glad you''re happy. Jin was relieved to imagine that he was surrounded by many disciples and grand-disciples. The peaceful moment reminded Jin of the time he once spent with the . However, he remembers something he really wanted to ask, and speaks up. "May I ask how Onogoro Island is doing now?" "Yes. Onogoro Island is currently dormant, with minimal activity. "Why is that? ......" Before Jin can finish, Marikka answers. "We''re just adapting to the current times." "The present?" "Now?" "Yes. The world today is moving away from science and is developing with magical technology at its core. That''s because that''s the path the people have chosen. "I see." Hearing those words, Jin smiled in his heart, thinking that the unreliable Marikka had come to have a firm idea. I''ll be right with you. "Well then, be careful." Jin-sama, I hope you are safe. "Zion, Marikka, I''m off then." At 8:30 a.m. the next day, September 9, Jin, after finishing breakfast, was seen off by Zion and Marikka, and departed with Rhodes. Hope and Hanako stayed at home this time, since they were scheduled to come back once. Knowing that Jin does not like to be ostentatious, Zion and the others are very considerate, so they are the only two who see him off. However, there were a few people who opened the windows of the house and peeked in. ....... The two are riding on a golem horse made by . "It''s much more comfortable than the ones on the market, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is." Even though the horse is running at about 40 kilometers per hour, he can hardly feel any ups and downs. Jin is impressed that it is comparable to his beloved horse, . Our goal is to reach the clan territory of the <. It is about 150 kilometers away from the < clan territory, which means that it will take about four hours to get there. Thank goodness it is not too cold yet, Jin on horseback thought. He had lunch on the way, so he arrived at the clan territory of <> at around 2:00 p.m. He was very happy that the weather was not too cold yet. "Oh, is that it?" Jin looked at the changes from 400 years ago. Whereas before, the living quarters had been carved out of the rock walls, now several buildings had been erected. "We''ve made contact with them, and they are on their way to you. At the sound of Rhodes'' voice, Jin looked over and saw several people waving at him. "I didn''t give them Jin-san''s details. I told them he was an important guest. Leave it to me to deal with them. "Okay." Jin and his team arrived at their place in a few minutes. "Welcome, my guests." Rhodotos, it''s good to see you. This is Mr. Bartos, the clan leader himself is here to welcome you. Jin realized that the current clan leader was called Bartodos. His gray hair and yellow eyes were the same as those of his former acquaintances, such as Alectus, Milonia, and Fabius. He was in his late seventies or so, a little thin, but dignified. Bartodos looked at Rhodotos and Jin alternately and said, "What? "Well, Lord Sion and Lady Marikka, when the two of you ask me to take care of your valued guests..." Then he dismounted from his golem horse and offered his hand to Jin. "Jin-dono, you mean. I am Bartodos, clan leader of the clan. Jin. Pleased to meet you. The two shook hands. That day, they were invited not to the cave, but to the clan leader''s mansion that had been built outside. From what Jin could see, the building was a blend of Japanese and Western styles. The most remarkable feature of the house was that all the rooms were strictly dirt-paved. After taking off his shoes, he entered a wooden floor, a carpeted Western-style room, and a Japanese-style room with tatami mats. It was a little pleasing to me to see that the enlightenment is expressed even in such a place. I was pleased to see such an enlightened person. "Hmm, I see, you want to have an audience with the <>, is that it? Jin immediately started talking with the clan leader, Bartos. "Since you have both recommended me, Lord Zion and Lady Marikka, there should be no problem. I will contact them myself. But..." But, sir? It''s up to you to decide whether or not you''d like to meet with them, sir. Yes, that''s fine. It may be days before I can see you. I''m sorry if that happens. Bartodos was saying such things, but... "Jin-dono!Servant-sama wants you here immediately! He returned in a great hurry. 1578 - - 43-04 Wings >A person who could use the magic of dislocation among the clans took Jin to No. 700672. "Thank you." An automaton, which Jin had never seen before, greeted him, and thanked him for his service to the Gospel Clan. "You can go home now. The Gospel Clan members looked a little disappointed and left in a transition. Jin-sama, please come this way. The automata leads Jin, who is left alone, down the aisle. Walking down the passageway, he arrived at the familiar white room. "Oh, Jin-dono!It''s been a long time!" There was the same 700672 as 400 years ago. No. 700672 was there, the same as he had been 400 years ago, and he greeted Jin with a nostalgic look. "Master Jin, it''s been a long time. Jin-sama, it''s been a long time. Neige and Rouge, the two homunculus, also welcomed Jin, looking the same. "You guys look the same." Jin felt like he was back to the way he was 400 years ago, which made him happy. "I heard about you 400 years ago, but you really came. The 700672 was deeply moved. "Then I will do what Jin-dono asked me to do 400 years ago. "Well, what is it?" To hand over Pegasus 2. "The Pegasus 2?" Jin knows about his machine, the Pegasus 1, but not the Pegasus 2. He will build it after he returns. Jin was led by 700672 through the white room and up one floor. I''ve never been here before. "No, it''s not. It was originally an empty warehouse. And in the center of the warehouse, there sat <>. "This is ......." "With this, you can go anywhere in Ars. Conversely, you cannot go to Horai Island without it." 700672 announced solemnly. <. "I wonder whose design it is. ......" It was a beautiful shape that he could not believe he could make. (Don''t tell me you remember seeing it here and making it ......?) (I don''t think he could have seen it here and remembered it to make it. ? ) It was Jin who felt that this was also a time paradox. He said that the method of operation was the same as that of Pegasus 1. The details are in this magic crystal (magi crystal)." No. 700672 held out a small magi crystal. Jin praises himself, "It seems that 400 years ago I was very well prepared. "<>" The details of Pegasus 2 poured into Jin''s head. "Magi Reactor, Force Generator, Barrier Projector, Gravity Control Device (......)." As for armament, <>,<>,<>,<>,<> etc.... "What am I fighting ......?" Jin wants to rush into himself after his return, but then he reconsiders whether there are situations that require such a high level of performance. "And it can go to space, you know." Jin thought, "It can go to the moon without any problem. "You seem to like it." When he finished checking his knowledge, No. 700672 approached Jin. "Yes, I have made so many things since I came back, or I was 400 years ago," he said. "You look happy, Master Jin. That''s right. "Oh, yes, there is one thing I must remind you of." The 700672 gave Jin a piece of advice. "Before liberating Horai Island, don''t use the warp gate by mistake. "I understand." I am well aware of the dangers of jumping into a warp gate without a receiving side. I guess that means that the Shinkai isn''t working either.) Jin wanted to know the truth as soon as possible. "Take this and go to the westernmost point of the Rasheer continent, Jin-dono. There you will find Miss Reiko." Reiko! You''ll know what she''s like when you get there. "Yes, sir." Jin nodded his head. "The westernmost point of the Racir continent, that means you are in the southern hemisphere, right? "That''s right. I''m sure you can find map information on Pegasus 2. At last, we would be able to make a big step forward. Jin was filled with anticipation. "Well, that''s all I''ve been asked to do. What are we going to do now, Jin-dono? Once back in the white room, 700672 asked Jin again. "Well, do you have any information that you wouldn''t mind telling me?" I would like to have some information, Jin thought. "Well, yes. 700672 thinks for a moment and then opens his mouth. "Do you know that the imbalance in the concentration of free magic element (ether) has been slightly equalized over the past 200 years or so? "No, I had never heard of it. No, I had never heard of it. ......400 years ago, the concentration of free aether in the south was low and even close to zero in Antarctica, but now it has returned to normal. "Is that so?" After Jin answered, he remembered that Rhodoth was living a normal life in the Principality of Jagus. "Yes, that''s true. "I''m sure it does. The demons ...... are now called the Northerners, aren''t they? The concentration of free ether has recovered to the point where they can live without inconvenience up to about the equator. He says, "There will be many inconveniences if we do it all at once. I''m the one who''s been asked to make the adjustments. I see. Horai Island is sealed and Onogoro Island is dormant. Certainly the 700672 will be the most reliable in this situation. "We plan to restore it after 20 generations of human beings on the Laurentian continent. One generation is 25 years, that''s 500 years. In another 300 years, the distribution of free magical elements (ether) in Ars will be evened out. "Thank you very much." As one of the residents of Ars, Jin bowed his head to No. 700672. "Yes." "I''ll be back ...... after I liberate Horai Island. I''ll be back after we liberate Horai Island with some Persica juice. "Yes. I''m looking forward to it." 700672 and Jin laughed. I''m looking forward to it. "This is a great performance, this is ......." Jin said to himself as he took off from the base of 700672 in the . This Pegasus 2 can use plenty of energy thanks to its high-performance magical reactor (Magi Reactor). The gravity-controlling magic device (Gravitation Reactor) was activated to completely cancel out the G-forces that would be exerted on the passengers during acceleration. "This seems more efficient than expanding the range of effect of the force field generator, doesn''t it? While we were thinking about this, Pegasus 2 had arrived at the clan territory of the . It made a soft landing using a gravity-controlled magic device. The clan members gathered around to see what was going on, but when they learned that it was Jin who had come aboard, they looked surprised. Jin gets off the Pegasus 2 and wonders how to explain the situation. 1579 - - 43-05 Modified < and told the assembled people that he had received this from <700672>. received from <<700672>. There was no mistake. The people agreed, and dispersed, muttering words like <>. Rhodes was the only one left. "Jin-san, what is this?" "Pegasus 2. 400 years ago. Four hundred years ago I left it in the hands of 70067-2. This is amazing. With this, we can return to the clan territory. Now? It was around 5:00 p.m. and the sky had already begun to darken. "Yes. At Jin''s request, Rhodotos went to inform the clan leader of the clan. Rhodes soon returned with the clan leader Bartos. "Jin-dono, your departure has been very hectic. Yes, I am sorry. Yes, I am sorry, but we are in a hurry. Bartos gazes at Pegasus 2 with eyes half in awe and half in envy, "I envy you, Jin-dono, for receiving this many magical machines. I envy you, Jin-dono," he said honestly. "Well then, thank you for your help in the short time I''ve been here. "Take care. Take care of yourself and Rhodes. See you soon. Jin and Rhodes thanked the clan leader for his hospitality, said goodbye, and closed the door. "Let''s go!" Jin got into the pilot''s seat and first activated the gravity control system. Pegasus 2 floats soundlessly in the darkening sky. "What is this? Rhodes exclaimed in surprise. "It''s an application of gravity magic! Many of the northerners are users of gravity magic. Therefore, Rhodes was well aware of how it works. "Yes, yes. ...... This would be useful for aircraft, wouldn''t it?" Jin said lightly, But he was told, "It is not so common because it consumes too much free magic element (ether). He was told "It''s not so common. Jin wonders if the ether converters of the present age are still inefficient. And moreover, there might not be a magical reactor (Magi Reactor). In the meantime, when the altitude reaches about 100 meters, Jin activates the propulsion system. Since the distance is short, it is not a force field generator, but a magical jet propulsion engine. "Oh, wow, that''s fast! The distance we had covered in four hours the day before was covered in 10 minutes. Incidentally, the golem horses are supposed to automatically return to the clan territory of . In the still dim light, Pegasus 2 lands in the plaza inside Zion''s mansion. Hanako and Hope are waiting for him. "Welcome home, Jin-sama." Mr. Rhodes, welcome home. I''m home." Then Zion, Marikka, and Rhodes'' sister, Vita, came running out. "Welcome home, Jin. You''ve come on a ...... great ride!" "Jin, Jin, what''s this?" Marikka bites her tongue when she gets excited, like she used to do. "It seems to be a gift from me 400 years ago to me now.70067 No.2 kept it for me." "It''s very fast. < to here. "Amazing!" Rhodes'' sister, Vita, exclaimed loudly. Theon and Maricka are not that surprised since they have experienced not only supersonic speeds but also spaceships. They were just surprised by something unexpected. Jin thinks that there is a big difference between hearing and seeing. * * * * * * "So, you''re going. After dinner, Jin said that he had heard from 700672 about Reiko''s whereabouts, and Zion nodded with a serious face. "Once we find Reiko, the rest will go very smoothly," he said prophetically. He added with a prophetic tone. "But be careful." "Thank you." And then Zion, a little more reserved, "Um, ...... Jin, if, you know, if...?...... if you ever get to go back to your own time, would you come see me one more time before then?" Jin asked Jin. Jin had no objection. "Yes, of course. I''ve done a lot for you." "I''m glad. I''ll be waiting for you. That night, Jin went to Marikka''s workshop. That night Jin was improving Hope in Marikka''s workshop. He had been working on Hope in Marikka''s workshop, because there were plenty of good materials available here. "I use it only as a hobby now," Marikka says. Marikka said, "I only use it as a hobby now," but why not, it was well organized and cleaned, and the materials were all good. "Well then, I''ll use adamantite, light silver, magi crystals, and ...... frost dragon leather. "Please, Master Jin." In return for these materials, Jin allowed several of his students to observe the workshop at Marikka''s request. "I don''t know if I can be of any help to you, but watch carefully. Yes, sir." (But is he really better than him?) "Yes, sir." (He seems unreliable. He''s from the Laurentian continent, isn''t he?) "Yes, Dr. Marikka." (I can''t believe she''s better than you.) "Yes, sir." (Well, let''s see how you do.) Jin, on the other hand, is in full Magecraft Meister mode. At any rate, he is able to use first-class, if not super-first-class materials. "<><><>>>>>" "na,na,na......" "Se, sir!What is that? What is that?" "What is that? That is the ability of Jin-sama, whom I look up to as my teacher. "......" "<><><><><>" Jin is working as if he does not hear such voices from the outside world. He is a little slower than usual because of the lack of assistants, but it is still enough to keep the eyes of the observers on him. (Ah, Jin-sama, I thought I had improved a lot, but it turns out that I still have a long way to go.) Marikka was raising Jin''s level of worship one more notch in her mind. Jin, on the other hand, regretted that he had not been able to make because he did not have the super first grade. 1580 - - 43-06 Eastward At noon on September 10, Jin was about to take Rhodoth to the westernmost point of the Rasheer continent. Rhodes was accompanying Jin because his parents (high grandmother?) wanted him to gain experience in order to become the future chief of a tribe. One of the reasons for Rhodoth''s accompanying them was to give them experience to become a future chief. The other is to serve as a guide to this period. Of course, his automata, <>, is with him. She is a guard, along with Jin''s <>. The new wing, <>, can carry eight passengers, so there is plenty of room for more. "Take care of Jin, Lo!" Lo," was Rhodes'' nickname, apparently. He nodded with a slight grin. "I''ll see you later, Great Grandmother. "Take care, Jin-sama." Marikka looked worried. "Yes, thank you. I''ll see you later. "Bye, brother!" Rhodes'' sister, Vita, had also come to see him off. "Yeah, I''ll see you later." And then they are on the plane. Pegasus 2 lifted off soundlessly in front of the people who saw them off. It gains altitude and accelerates at full speed. In the blink of an eye, Pegasus 2 is out of their sight. "It''s gone, isn''t it, Mr. Zion?" "Yes. ...... I wish you a peaceful path." That''s what Jin told me 400 years ago about the road back. Although there was nothing he could do to change it, Zion could not help but pray. * * * * * * * * Pegasus 2 with Jin and the others was heading east. < In other words, westward, the difference in longitude is 240 degrees. Since longitude is 360 degrees per revolution, we would only need to travel 120 degrees if we go east instead of west. This is the reason why the longitude is 360 degrees around the world. As a side note, this is because when Jin made the map of Ars, he set Horai Island at 0 degrees and placed it at the eastern edge of the map. Inevitably, it is more convenient to use the longitude in the west. 120 degrees in longitude means 8 hours in time difference. The distance is about 2,500 kilometers. Now, Pegasus 2 was flying at about 2500 km/h. Supersonic. "That''s fast!" Rhodes is amazed. "It''s still nothing like this, though." If they use the force field generator to fly in spaceship mode, they should be able to reach speeds of at least 10 kilometers per second. Jin has no intention of doing so. At the current speed, it would take about an hour to get there. That would put him there around 5:00 a.m. local time. "Did Jin-san make this 400 years ago? ......" "Apparently so. I''m here now, and I''m about to build it." It''s still amazing. Outside the window, the sky is stratospheric and cloudless blue, or rather dark blue. Below us is a sea of clouds. As we fly, the sun in the background is rapidly disappearing into the horizon. It is a moment that even makes me feel as if I am speeding up time. * * * * * At 5:00 a.m. local time, Jin and his crew arrived at the western edge of the Rasil continent as scheduled. "Well, Reiko should be here. First, Jin uses the Magi Radar equipped on Pegasus 2 as usual. "There''s something here ......, but it''s not Reiko." Reiko and other automata and golems created by Jin have, by necessity, the same magical power as Jin. However, the ones we detected this time were not similar in magic power. Many of them. "...... Golem?" As Jin lowered his altitude, his eyes caught sight of numerous golems scattered across the wasteland. Here, he could feel the recovery of the free magical element (ether) that No. 700672 had mentioned. "Around here, it''s about the average of the old small group of countries. The concentration is high enough for Jin to make an ether converter. No wonder there are other magical engineers like him. What are they doing? Rhodes wondered as he looked down. "Are they looking for something? What do you mean by "something"? There is only one thing, Jin realized. Reiko. Are the mysterious golems also searching for Reiko? Jin tilts his head and wonders what for. "I don''t know, even if I ...... think about it. Then there is only one thing to do." Jin wraps Pegasus 2 in an invisible warding and drops even lower. "Which one do you think is better ...... Oh, I''ll take that one." Jin targeted one of them at a considerable distance from the target. <, Pegasus 2 moves silently. "<> activated. <> is activated. <> is activated. Activate <>. Jin activates all the anti-golem weapons, not knowing which of them will work, or if they will work at all. The target Golem instantly stopped and turned over. "Good." Now he uses his < to lift the golem up. Pegasus2 moves about 10 km to a place where there are no other golems. "Okay, let''s analyze it here." "Jin-sama, let me help you." "......?Jin-sama? Jin looked doubtful when Rhodes, whom he had been calling , said . "No, not to mention Grandmother, but Marikka-sama also calls you <>, and I have seen your skills in magical engineering on the road, the trust you have earned from <>-sama, and your ability to use so many magical machines (magi-machines)......." "Ah,......, I''d be happy if you could keep it the same." I''m glad to see that we''ve made friends in this time and age. I didn''t want to put up too many walls. I didn''t want him to put up too many walls. "Are you sure?" I''d rather ask. "...... Okay, Mr. Jin, please let me help you. Mr. Jin, let me help you. "Yes." Jin then went down to the ground and started to analyze the golem he had captured outside Pegasus 2. Hanako is in charge of the perimeter. is in charge of the golem. Jin and Rhodes then begin to disassemble the golem. "<><>" Disassembling the chest reveals the control core. Jin quickly removes it. The golem will no longer move. "<>" Jin begins to decompile the information from the control core he has removed. The Magi Language, the Magi Formula, was displayed in the space, glowing faintly and flowing. "......No, I knew they were looking for Reiko." It was as expected. The purpose of the search is also revealed. "And ........." Jin frowned. "They want to find her and destroy her. That seems to be their ultimate goal." 1581 - - 43-07 The bond between the two Jin was assisted by Rhodes and proceeded to analyze the golem. "This one is ......." The structure is clearly not from the lineage of Adriana Barbora Zetsi. "You don''t mean < ......?" Rhodoth muttered when he saw it. "<>?" The other day, Zion had just told him about this word. "Yes. It is a group that opposes <> ...... and hates Avalon." "Dislike ......?" Jin continues to read information from the control core. "...... surely this golem belongs to the ." However, why they are trying to destroy Reiko remains a mystery. However, there is no time to spare. I won''t let them destroy my Reiko!" Jin leaves the disassembled golem there and climbs back into Pegasus 2. "I''m going to clean it up!" He is going to make them suffer the same fate as the previous golem. He circled the area, firing <>, <>, <>, and <>. Soon the moving golem is gone. Still being cautious, we checked with the <>. Nothing moved. "Good." All that remained was to find Reiko. But that''s the hard part. I wonder how they knew Reiko is around here. That information could not be read from the control core. Well, of course. "Anyway, we have to find Reiko before they do." At this point, Jin realized that Reiko is likely to be in < or mode. "In that case, ...... is good." Jin thinks for a moment, and then it occurs to him that Reiko is also wearing a bracelet. Jin adjusts his <>, thinking that he can track her magic ....... However, contrary to his expectations, there was no response. "Either he''s not wearing a bracelet, or he''s not ......." Jin pondered. "Or ...... they could be shielding them from easy detection." If so, how would he find out? "...... hmmm." Jin ponders. Reiko must know that Jin is coming to look for her. If so, she may have set a marker that only Jin can see. What could it be, he wonders. "I can''t think of any ......" I mean, there are too many and I have no idea how they are marked. For example, in that describes that only know. < that only Hitoshi and Reiko know?And what is ? As you can see, there are too many variations to narrow it down to just one. "Perhaps it is something visual. Jin thinks of this, and sends Pegasus 2 into the sky. The night had just begun to dawn, and the surface of the earth was now clearly visible. "Let''s go up to an altitude of one kilometer. The air is clear and cloudless. Pegasus 2 was gaining altitude rapidly. Then... "Is that ......?" Something looks like a pattern on the surface of the earth. "Is it a geoglyph? Jin raised the altitude of Pegasus 2 a little more. About three kilometers. "Oh, I know what this is." No balloon or airship could have reached this altitude, so he thought that only someone with a high-performance aircraft, namely Jin, would have noticed it. A huge terrestrial painting far surpassing that of Nazca spread out below Jin''s eyes. "Horai Island ......" It was in the shape of Horai Island, although it was missing in some parts. There are unmistakable features such as Mount Horai and Tatsumi Bay. Especially, Mt. Horai was made of a natural small mountain as it was. Certainly, there is no one who knows the whole picture of Horai Island except . "So that would be ...... the top of Mount Horai?...... No, I don''t think so." The summit is where anyone who stumbles across the painting is likely to aim for. "The Institute". The place where Jin and Reiko first met ......, or rather where Jin was summoned. Jin was sure that Reiko would be waiting for him there. "Reiko, I''m coming!" Jin slowly lowered the Pegasus 2 to the location of the research center, with the map of Horai Island in his mind. "It''s around here." After getting off Pegasus 2, Jin and Hope walked around the area and identified the location. There was a rock protruding enough for a person to sit on, and it could be imagined to resemble a laboratory. "I guess we can dig here," he said. "Oh, I''ll help you with that." Rhodes, who had been unable to do anything so far, offered to help. "<><><>><>>" Rhodes digs a hole with earth magic one after another. Jin alternately casts <> on them. Hanako keeps a watchful eye on the surroundings, and Hope is in charge of removing the dug-up soil. Ten minutes passed. The hole is 10 meters in diameter and 6 meters deep. "There''s something in there." Rhodes noticed first. A piece of what appeared to be metal peeked out of the soil. Its color was probably hyperadamantite. An indestructible metal. "Hope, move the dirt out of the way. "Yes, sir." From this point on, the work was done by hand by Hope. Another 15 minutes passed, and at the bottom of a large hole dug in the ground, an object reminiscent of an oblong egg was revealed. The length of the object was about 2 meters. Its width is one meter. "Reiko is in here. Jin was convinced. Because the hyperadamantite surface was inscribed <> in Japanese. (If I hadn''t come, ...... would this container have been Reiko''s coffin?) ) Thinking so, I examine how to open it. However, there was no way to open the container because it was one piece. Then, there is only one way to open it. Engineering magic. Hyperadamantite is highly resistant to magic. Only Jin and his associates can process it. "<>" Jin used engineering magic without hesitation. The container transformed and its mouth opened. Water poured out of it. It filled the container like amniotic fluid, but it was not just water, but <>. This liquid, which contains a large amount of free magical element (ether), is supposed to be for preservation. Demonic materials do not deteriorate if they are stored in an environment with a high concentration of free magic element (ether). And in the container from which all the ethenol had flowed out, a black-haired automata was lying. "......Reiko......" Jin finally found Reiko. Then, Reiko''s eyes are opened by Jin''s words. "Otou......sama......" "Reiko!" Reiko got up from the container and jumped on Jin. "...... I''ve met ...... your father again," she said. "I''m glad you waited for me." "Yes,......." For Reiko, it was a reunion after almost 300 years since the death of her ex-husband, Jin. 1582 - - 43-08 Report from Reiko Hitoshi and Reiko were finally reunited. ....... "Father, some tactless people have come to interrupt our reunion. I''m going to go clean up. Reiko was quick to say so, grabbing a peach blossom out of the container and running out of the hole. "Jin-sama, the remnants of the golem from earlier are gathering. As soon as Reiko disappeared, Hope reported from the top of the hole. "Okay. ......It looks like there''s nothing more in this container. ......<>" Jin closes the container and steps out of the hole. Rhodes follows silently. "I still don''t see anything." Hope nodded. "Yes. We''re about two kilometers out." "Okay." Jin and the others climbed into the and gained about 20 meters in altitude. They then deploy a barrier. This should stop most of the attacks. Reiko, on the other hand, runs across the land with the force of a gale. Two golems are coming toward her. "It''s <>, isn''t it?" Reiko pulled out her Momoka and with a single flash. With a single swing, the two golems split up and down, motionless. "Same as before ......?" Reiko stops for a few seconds to < the golem, decides she has enough information, and runs off again. "......<> deployed. <." Three of them come toward him. Magic is unleashed, but the barrier easily blocks it. "You haven''t progressed much, have you!" Reiko steps slightly to the right as she passes them. A second later, two of them split into two, and one of them is hit in the left arm, but barely avoids a fatal wound. "That''s the coup de grace!" However, another swing of the < split them in half vertically, and now five of them are immobilized. "The rest are still far from ....... Shall we attack them from here?" Reiko sheathed the <> and locked it behind her back, simultaneously kicking at the ground. "Activate the force field generator! Using the built-in force field generator, he flies through the air. Its speed is Mach 2. < are effective up to Mach 3. Despite their supersonic speed, the wards do not generate a shockwave. "There it is!" Reiko quickly spots the enemy golem, pulls out Momoka again, and slashes at it as she passes by. Without paying attention to the golem that was cut in half, she flew to look for the next enemy. In the end, all the enemy golems were destroyed in about 10 minutes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After cleaning up the enemy, Reiko returns to where Jin is waiting. Father, I''m back. "Welcome home, Reiko." It''s been a long time since this exchange, Jin thinks fondly. "And who is this?" Reiko tilts her head at Rhodes, "This is Rhodoth the Puppet. He is the grandson of Zion. "Ah, you must be Rhodoth. Your father was very kind to me. Reiko bowed to Rhodes. She had heard about him from Jin four hundred years ago. However, she had never seen his face before, so it was understandable that she did not know who he was. "Oh, um, you must be <>." spoke to Reiko. "Yes, I am Reiko. "Yes, I''m Reiko.My name is Hanako!Marikka-sama made this doll for me, and she said that she wanted it to be as close to Reiko as possible, so..." It is rare for an automaton to be embarrassed and flustered. Jin learned that Marikka had built up a high level of intelligence. "I see, Marikka-san." Reiko was not satisfied with the praise. In Reiko''s case, however, she converted the compliment into . "And what about this one?" <. At a glance, Reiko recognizes who made . "This is . I couldn''t handle it on my own, so I made him my assistant. He''s Reiko''s youngest brother. "I see. ......<, I''m looking forward to working with you." "Yes, Miss Reiko." Hope, like the other Horaijima golems, calls Reiko <>. Jin explained to Reiko that he had her call him . "I understand." "Well." After the meeting was over, Jin finally started to ask Reiko questions. "Reiko, I have a lot of questions for you, but first let''s get out of here. In the meantime, what should we do with the container you were in?" "Well, ...... we can retrieve it after everything is finished, so let''s bury it as it is." "Okay." Hyperadamantite is heavy, so it is better to use the warp gate than to carry it by Pegasus 2. In other words, we can retrieve it after liberating Horai Island. Jin uses the < equipped on Pegasus 2 to backfill the island with soil as before. * * * * was heading for the Nord Federation at a speed of about 2,000 kilometers per hour. Reiko said that they should first make a base in one of the countries, and Rhodes suggested that they come to their own place. Since we were only going back along the route we had come, we could leave it to the autopilot. While letting Hope check the outside, Jin decided to talk to Reiko. "Well, let''s start with ...... ah, there are so many things I want to ask you, I''m not sure where to start." When it came time to ask, Jin wondered which to start with, "...... but first of all, this one. ......Reiko, what in the world happened to Horai Island?" He decided to ask about Horaijima. "Well, father, is the year 3899 correct?" "Yes, it is. "If it is ......, it has been 134 years since I fell asleep. I only know up to the time before I went to sleep, is that correct? Yes, please, Reiko. Yes, Father. You know that ...... Horai Island is sealed, don''t you? Yes. Zion told me. "And about who did it?" Jin nodded. "Yes. < "Yes, that''s right. He doesn''t want science to spread here in Ars. Why is he so concerned? "I don''t know. The ...... old man speculated that it might be some kind of <>." "Is the ancestor ...... an ?" "Yes." Jin imagined that the combination of the ...... gene might have resulted in the birth of a human close to the origin, although the probability was very low. Although the probability is very low, it is not impossible. "Golbert Malkitas first worked at for about three years and then left. About five years later, he split the into two and founded the <>." "So it was a part of the Nostalgia Party. Then it makes sense that they excel in magic technology. Jin urged Reiko to continue. 1583 - - 43-09 Enemy Information 1 Reiko''s report continues. "At that time, <> was a fairly well-known group worldwide. <." "I see." It seems that the <> became a major force at once because of such technical, economic, and human resource bases. "So to speak, it''s like the Unification Party without the ambition to conquer the world." "You could say that. The aims to contribute to the world with purely magical technology, while Avalon aims for even greater heights through the fusion of science and magic. In between them is the nostalgia party (Nostalgia). Such a composition came to Jin''s mind. "But the most amazing thing is that Golbert Malkitas found out about the existence of Horai Island. I can only guess how ...... he found out, but I''ll tell you later." "Yes, I know." The founding executives such as Donald and Jules must not have known about the existence of Horai Island. The only one who knew about it was Elena. Speaking of which, what''s going on with Elena? "She was alive and well when I went to sleep. As a symbol of nostalgia. It was a well-known fact that Elena was an automata because she never aged. And the creation of an automata like Elena was the goal of the magical engineers of the world. I digress. ...... So the <> developed a golem technology quite different from your mother''s." Jin guessed that this was the <>. "They were much easier to make than our mother''s, and quickly became popular. He said that the same structure and configuration can be used for everything from low performance to high performance. "It is true that the Adriana system is not suitable for low performance. Rather, if you build it, it will definitely be high performance. "Yes. That''s why beginners and intermediates are switching to them. Oh, so you''re saying they just went with the easy way out. Yes. That''s why there are now factions in the magical engineering world. I don''t think that''s a bad thing. "And because of this technology, the value of the Golem has dropped dramatically." It sounds bad, but the point is that the price dropped and it started to spread to the general public. "It would have been nice if the factions could have had a friendly competition, but instead, each had its own that wanted to kick each other down the road." Jin let out a sigh in his heart. "...... In the midst of all this, Golbert Markitas, the leader of the extremist faction and head of the League of Magic, has created a magical tool." "What is it?" It was called the Magi Emulator. "Magi Emulator"?...... from the name, reproduce ...... magic power?" If that were possible, all authentication by magic power would be meaningless. Jin shuddered. "Yes, that''s right. The old man guessed that perhaps you used the magickal emulator to make the fifth column (quinta) follow you and extract the information from you." "What?" ...... "After learning of the existence of this magical tool, the old man sent all the fifth column (quinta) back to Horai Island. There are two unreturned 5th line quintas. One is Spica 5, also known as . The other was Mira 2, also known as <. You mean those two were captured? "Yes. We can''t communicate with them and we can''t locate them. The old man decided that they had either disappeared or were inside the magic-impermeable wards. "Then, I took a countermeasure based on the assumption that it is more likely that it is inside the magic-impermeable field. Jin frowned. "But that would have been tough, wouldn''t it?" "Yes, it was. It''s a good thing that I and the old man recognized and identified not only your father''s magic, but also his voice and face. ......" So the fifth column has been captured. "Perhaps." Jin now had a rough idea of what was going on. The information on Horai Island must have been extracted from those two bodies. "Currently, the old man is protecting Horai Island by completely sealing it off. He is waiting for your father''s return. "I see..." Thus Jin understood the meaning of Zion''s words, <>. "Umm...... then, what about the Kunlun Island?" "Yes, that one is ......." On the other hand, the Kunlun Island is open to the public, with dignitaries staying at the Jade Pavilion and Wujinggaku, and has not been touched. "However, all the warp gates including <> have been stopped, so it is impossible to go to Horai Island by transfer. Akitsu-san has taken the precaution of moving the entire facility to the basement of the Great Sahara Desert. "Well done. And the Watcher? They''ve been deactivated and evacuated to the moon. They won''t make it to outer space, but they''re taking precautionary measures. "Okay. That''s fine." Now that we have a general idea of the current situation that Horai Island is in, the next step is to find out more about the enemy. As for this, Reiko, who was asleep, does not know the latest information. ....... "Why don''t you retrieve the control core of the enemy golem you just defeated and check it out? "Well, I recovered the control cores from the two that came near the hole. I have no detailed information about them. "I see. ......" That''s not a problem, Jin said. It was impossible for a terminal golem to have detailed information. "Anyway, let''s go to Zion''s place and talk about what we''re going to do. "Okay." Pegasus 2 flew back to the Nord Federation in about the same amount of time as he had arrived. "Jin, welcome back!Rako, it''s been a long time!Lo, thank you for your hard work." "Jin-sama, welcome back! I see you found Reiko safely. < Jin is a little embarrassed by his rather grandiose departure a few hours ago, but Zion and the others do not seem to mind. They were honestly happy that Jin had found Reiko and returned safely. "I''m back. Thanks to you I found Reiko. "Yes, I''m glad." Sion looked at Reiko who was standing close to Jin, and Marikka looked at Hanako who was following right behind Reiko, and each of them narrowed their eyes. Jin, too, felt much better now that he and Reiko had Pegasus 2 in their possession. "I''m starting to understand the situation a little better now. I''d like to hear what Theon and the others have to say. "Yes, of course. Come on in." * * * At 6:00 p.m., Jin had finished bathing and was sitting in the dining room of Zion''s house, refreshed. Reiko was behind him. She was in a good mood, having washed Jin''s back for the first time in a long time. "Here you go." Zion came in. Maricka followed soon after. Rhodes has not arrived. When Theon took his seat, the maids prepared the dinner. The menu consisted of white rice, miso soup with fu and Japanese leeks, meat topopo, grilled toroto (loach), boiled shrimp in soy sauce, and oshinko (Japanese pickles). No sake as I have an important talk later. "This kind of menu can be found at ......." I learned it from an old djinn. ...... from a golem maid, to be exact. "I knew it." We can make fu since we have flour and the Nordic Federation is now a major producer of topopo. "Yes, it''s delicious." The miso soup was delicious, with a broth made from dried bonito flakes. Reiko looks at Jin as he eats his Japanese food, half happily, half regretfully. "Tell me more after the meal." "Yes, sure. Anything you can answer. Zion smiled softly, saying that they should enjoy the meal for now. 1584 - - 43-10 Enemy Information 2 Jin began to talk with Zion and the others. "Well, first of all, I would like to know the current status of the enemy, how much do you know about them?" "When you say enemies, do you mean the ?Or do you mean ......?" "It seems that it was the that used the Golem to search for Reiko..." "Yes. ...... Uh, they''re based in the Kingdom of Elias. Oh, they''ve expanded their territory to the south since Jin knew them." "Huh?" Jin remembered that there was indeed an archipelago further south of the Elias Peninsula. "Yes. Jin named them the and they are based on one of them. ...... is the island of Electra, I believe." Electra... ...... is that where they''re based? Yes. As you probably already know, the League of Magic has taken over some of the equipment, materials, and personnel of the Nostalgia party. By this world''s standards, that''s quite a force to be reckoned with, says Zion. "But the founder, ...... Golbert Markitas, is gone, isn''t he?" "Yes, he should be. But it seems they''re working on his legacy." You''re a fanatic, aren''t you? Yes. Jin thought about it. It''s not a good idea to go head-to-head with them. "Then we''ll have to go around ........." "Around?" Zion responded to Jin''s muttering. "Yes. I was thinking of liberating Moon (Yunyi) and Watcher instead of liberating Horai Island out of the blue. Hearing this, Zion smiled happily. "That''s the way to do it, isn''t it Jin?" These words made Jin realize that Zion must have heard about this kind of action from Jin himself 400 years ago. When Jin told this to Zion, "That''s right. I know what Jin is going to do from what I have heard. But I also have a request from the Jin of 400 years ago. Let me do as much as I can of my own free will." "I see. ......" It is true that as Jin, it is not in his nature to solve things by doing as he is told. "So, how do we free the Watcher?" With Pegasus 2. Pegasus 2 is equipped with a force field generator and is also a spaceship. "Oxygen, water, and food will be no problem for the trip to the moon (UNY) and back, and cosmic rays will be blocked by wards." "I see...it''s Jin after all." Judging from Zion''s reaction, this seemed to be the correct answer. "Now we just need to find a countermeasure against the <>. Jin told them that he wanted to solve this problem before going to the moon. "I have a plan in mind," he said. "That''s your father!" Reiko complimented him without a pause. Reiko has been in a good mood ever since she met Jin. "I need your help for that." "Yes, anything you say!" Reiko''s tension rises even more because of her dependence on him. "Okay, first of all, let me ask you a question. ...... Reiko, can you hear my voice? "Yes, of course I can. Yes, of course. I can hear you even when I''m meditating. "Good. Then, Reiko, do you know the difference between my old voice and my voice now? "Yes, I do. But both are your father''s voice. Reiko said confidently. Jin nodded his head. "Yes. Then how do you know it''s my voice?" "That''s ...... yes, I know. Your father''s voice has a certain characteristic. Hearing this, Jin was satisfied. "That''s it. ...... voice has a that makes each person''s voice unique. I haven''t added such a feature, but Reiko has developed her own." "Is that so?" Reiko makes a puzzled face. "Yes. What I want you to help me with, at ......, is a routine that I use to listen for my voice. "Here you go." Thank you. ......<>......I see." Jin asked Reiko''s permission and proceeded to conduct a detailed investigation. (Oh, Jin-sama has permission to examine Ms. Reiko as well. ....... ) Marikka, who was watching from the side, was impressed. (There is no way that Hourai Island, which Master Jin put his heart and soul into making, can lose to ...... a mass-produced golem.) It was neither logical nor logical, but Marikka was convinced that Jin had won. Well, that''s what Jin said 400 years ago. "Okay, okay." Already? "You''re the father!" Marikka is amazed and Reiko admires him. "Add ......< to <>. This will help us to counter the <>." If you have not studied science, you would not recognize <> in the first place. At best, we can distinguish the quality of a voice. Even if the voices sound similar to the human ear, the voiceprints are different. Combine the two, and the Magi Emulator will no longer be of any use. "I can only imagine how Golbert Malkitas obtained my magic waveform, but I doubt he could have obtained my as well." "Jin, how do you suppose he got it?" "Ah, that is, there must have been magic tools and machines made by me here and there in Avalon. If I had the technology, I would have been able to read from them. "I see." Zion is impressed. I guess he was right. "......Good, let''s get ready to go. Marikka, can I borrow your workshop? "Of course, Master Gin. Thank you. Jin was shocked to see Marikka, the same old Marikka. Marikka''s workshop was rented to conduct experiments. Jin borrows Marikka''s workshop to conduct experiments. "Here, let''s do it this way: ...... Reiko is his assistant. Hope and Hanako observe. Jin is working with his longtime partner, so he is 50% more efficient. "Okay, that should do it." The experimental magic tool is completed. It is simply a combination of <> and <> that activates <>. "Reiko has the same magic power as me, but her voice is different. So if Reiko can''t use it, <> can''t use it either. Can you try ......?" "Yes, Father. ...... didn''t work. "Okay, use my tone." The fifth column (Quinta) also has this feature, which allows you to change the frequency of your voice to a certain degree. "<>" It still doesn''t work. Jin tries it next. "<>" < "It works! "You did it, Jin!You did it! Congratulations, Jin-sama. "Thank you. Okay, we''ll make it smaller, more efficient, and more powerful, and we''ll attach it to Reiko. Hope is next." Thus, Jin now had a solution to his biggest concern. Now it is time to go to the moon. 1585 - - From 43 to November On the night of September 11. Jin was going to the moon. "Are you sure you didn''t forget anything?" "Yes, I''m fine." Zion and Marikka were supporting Jin as he was going to the moon. Zion, in particular, was checking the loading of necessary supplies such as food and water, as if she were a mother caring for a child going on a field trip. "How long does it take to get to the moon (UNY)?" "Well, ......." The distance has not been precisely measured, but it is estimated to be about 370,000 to 380,000 kilometers. "Pegasus 2''s top speed is probably around 100 kilometers per second, so it should take a little over an hour to get there." "That''s amazing. ......" He can go out for breakfast and come back before lunch. I haven''t tried it, though." No, your father tried it when he made it. I see. Reiko, who knew the time of the production, added her own words of advice, which made me feel more secure. "Well then, let''s go." After confirming that the cosmic ray protection warding generator and the air conditioning system were working, Jin said with the ease of a short trip to the next town. "Oh, and the warp gate is working okay, right?" "Yes, I checked that first." Since the warp gate via Horai Island or might not work, the emergency escape gate that leads to the clan territory has been newly installed. This will allow us to return in case of emergency. "Then I guess we''ll be fine." Zion was very anxious. "Well, I''m off then." "Okay, be careful, Jin." "Take care, Jin-sama." The Pegasus 2 takes off soundlessly toward the moon shining brightly in the night sky. The pilot is Reiko. Her co-pilot is Hope. "Father, I''m going for top speed." "Yes, I''m on it." Reiko was the test pilot when Jin of the future built this plane, so she can be trusted to fly it with confidence. < The acceleration of 196 meters per second per second would have taken Pegasus 2 to a tremendous speed of 10 kilometers per second in 51 seconds. "The repulsive field is working properly." < "When I go back to ......, I''m going to have to build this?" Jin thinks it''s hard work, but he also thinks it''s worthwhile. "Your father can do it." Reiko''s words were not flattery or obeisance, but she knew him well, and Jin couldn''t help but nod his head. * * * * * * As planned, the moon approaches in an hour. "Can you contact <>?" "Yes, father. Yes, father. No matter how much information the has about Jin and the others, it is impossible for them to suddenly expand into space. That''s why the old man sent the Watcher to the moon. "<> from Horai Island. Pilot <. Control Magic Brain <, please respond>." Reiko called out, and was immediately answered. This is . Welcome to the moon, Reiko. "< Copy that. Opening airlock. Please come to the North Pole of the moon. The North Pole here is perpendicular to the plane of revolution of the Celan solar system and the same direction as the North Pole of Arus. This is because the moon (Uni) does not revolve around Ars. As Pegasus 2 headed toward the airlock, a large hole opened up below it. It is an airlock. "We''re landing." Reiko maneuvered Pegasus 2 skillfully and landed in the hole. The hole was a pit, about 100 meters deep, and as Pegasus 2 descended, the hatches closed over its head. When all four hatches were closed, Pegasus 2 reached the landing pad. "Father, it''s one atmospheric pressure outside, and there is air to breathe." "Okay." Jin put on his space suit and stepped off Pegasus 2, just in case. Welcome, Jin-sama. The voice of the management brain greeted Jin. "It''s been a long time." Yes, sir. Jin-sama, you have not changed at all. Jin smiled inwardly at these words, for it is only natural that he has remained the same since he arrived here 400 years ago. I''m here today to remodel the Watcher. "Alterations? What are the details? Do you need materials or help? "The modifications are for the magi emulator. I''ve been counting on you for materials, so I''d like to ask you for help." I understand. opens the bulkhead and invites Jin inside. Jin has a general idea of what is going on inside. By the way, who is the other attendant?It doesn''t match the information in my memory. By "the other follower" I mean . She was silently following him so as not to disturb him. "Oh, I''m sorry. This is <. It''s an assistant golem I made recently." I memorized it. Thank you, Hope, for your help. "<>, please take care of it for me." In the meantime, we arrived at the factory in the moon. Please feel free to use the materials here. The moon (UNY) secures asteroids and cosmic dust that occasionally visit the moon, and processes and preserves them as materials. Fragments of , which has returned to Ars before, are also stored here. "Ah, this should be enough. Jin immediately set to work on his magic tool. "Father, the formula you are writing seems to be different from the previous one. Reiko asked, peering into Jin''s hand. "Oh, it''s okay. I''ve added another security. "More security, you say?" "We''ve added an authentication key (password). It is incorporated in some magic tools and magic machines, but it was not used much in Horai Island. This was because <> was used, but now that it was found not to be perfect, Jin decided to actively introduce other methods and combine them. "It''s still the same hassle when it comes to authentication," he says. All you have to do is recognize ......<> and say the > in <>." "I see, that''s true." "Let''s set the authentication key (password) to ......<>." Jin thinks that the name is in Japanese, and especially the person''s name, along with its exact pronunciation, would be unbreakable by an ordinary person in this world of Ars. "That''s certainly a good idea, father." Reiko agreed. Jin quickly makes a magic tool. 1586 - - 43-12 The Road to the Liberation of Penglai Island "Let''s call this ." Jin renamed the completed magical device, and replaced Reiko and Hope''s with the new version. He puts off for the moment the question of when he will return to 400 years ago. "Now all that''s left is <>, <>, can I leave the control to you?" Normally, the who set up in Mount Horai would be in charge of this, but now that the entire Horai Island is sealed off, the only one who can be trusted is <>. Yes, leave it to me. But it will be difficult since we can''t see the noon side of Ars. "Yes, that''s right. ...... Okay, then, you can use the <." < Jin decided to install it in of the moon. Thank you very much. Until then, had been equipped with a "peeper telescope" to capture meteorites, cosmic dust, and asteroids flying from outer space, but since its purpose was long-distance exploration, its accuracy was not good enough to be used to look at a single point on the Ars. The purpose of the survey was a long-distance survey. The addition of the Peeper, which was optimized to control the orbiting around Ars, further enhanced the capabilities of . At the same time, Jin makes adjustments to have the images sent directly to the small magic screen of Pegasus 2. "That''s it." Now, launch the Watchers one after the other. I''ll put them on their original trajectory. "Yes, please." With this, Jin has achieved what he came to the moon for. But there are plenty of materials here. I''ll take some. Yes, please take as much as you want. So, Jin decides to take a number of top-grade magi crystals. "With these, I can re-create the bracelets of my friends." Marikka''s place had some first-rate magi crystals, but they were few and far between, and he felt that it was too brazen to ask for them. There was also the possibility of using <> to improve the quality, but he was concerned about the performance change caused by subtle differences. Jin made a <> and put it on his arm. This would allow him to communicate with his friends and <>. "Well, thank you for all your help. < Leave it to me, Master Jin. Jin thus returns to Ars with more success than he had planned. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Welcome back, Jin. "Welcome back, Jin-sama." When they returned to Ars, it was just morning in the Nordic Federation. "Everything went well." Jin reported briefly, and Zion and Marikka''s faces broke into relief. "Oh, thank goodness! Even though I know ...... about it, I''m still worried. "It''s true, Jin-sama. Jin listened with a slightly off-kilter impression, "It''s nice to have someone who cares about you. * * * * * * "Now we''ve finally taken the first step, I guess." By now, the should have returned to Ars and was being deployed to the position, Jin explained. "Once that is done, we will be able to see what is going on in Horai Island." First and foremost, we need to gather information, Jin said. After all, Zion, who was supposed to know about the island, was not telling us about it. "Yes, that''s right, Jin." But he assured Jin that his move was not wrong, and for that Jin was grateful to be spared the psychological pressure. "I''ll start observing in a little while." Reiko opened her mouth when Jin said this. "Father, I or Hope will take care of that. "Oh, really?" It is true that sitting in front of a screen for a long time is painful for a human being. "......Well, I''ll leave it to you, then." "Yes, I''ll take care of it." "Miss Reiko, please let me do it." Then Hope opens her mouth. "Can you do it?" Yes, I can. Yes. Then I''ll leave it to you. Thus, Jin left the observation of Horai Island to Hope and decided to think about his next move. "Hmmm ...... what will it take to liberate Penglai Island?" The old man seems to be locked up with all the means that Horai Island has. Among those means, there must be some that <>. Jin thought so. "I should ask Reiko about that." The thought came out of his mouth and Reiko looked at Jin and tilted her head. "What is it?" "Do you know ...... the full extent of the measures the old man has taken?" "Well, up to about 90%. I hid in there and went dormant before the measures were finished." "I see. That''s fine. Tell me about it. Yes. First of all... Illusionary wards. It uses magic power to create an imaginary scenery, and in the case of Horai Island, it shows an empty ocean. "There is a barrier inside it, which prevents both magic and physics. This makes communication impossible. "Yes." The barrier alone was enough, but the cautious old man was not satisfied with it. "In addition, we have placed a wind shield inside the barrier and filled it with nitrogen." "Wow." A living organism would not be able to breathe. But, Jin reconsidered, it''s better that it''s not chlorine or hydrogen sulfide. "That''s all I know so far, but one thing I can guess is that and are also being used." "I see." The <> removes the free magic element (ether) from the object and stores it in an ether tank. <<> were used by the Onogoro islanders to disable golems, automata, and other magical tools. Neither of them can be broken through by half-hearted means. Of course, neither can Jin. But. "We don''t have to go for the straight way, do we?" Jin said confidently. "If I can get the old man to recognize me..." If Zion knew that Jin would appear in this time period, of course the old man knew it too. However, since this is a phenomenon related to time, there may have been some errors and there may have been some doubts whether he would really appear or not. The fact that Jin is confined in the house even though he has appeared is the proof of it. "Or perhaps I have returned to the original time and am tracing the events as I have described them. This is a time paradox theory, which Jin can''t help you with. "Then, how can I let you know?" If he has a network of information like the 5th column (quinta), he would have already known that Jin is coming. If he doesn''t have such a network, it means that he would not have known unless he had a good reason to know. "<> I don''t think he''d even notice if he was at least back." "That''s right." For some reason, Reiko seems to be unreliable in this matter, Jin thought, and then it occurred to him. Reiko knows what to do. She knows what to do, and she dares to respect Jin''s ideas and independence. Jin thought about it carefully. 1587 - - 43-13 How to do that How to make the old man realize who he is. Jin was thinking. "Is there a physical barrier (solid barrier) under the sea?" He says it, but the answer is inside himself. "There is no solid barrier in the soil, but there must be one in the water, which is a fluid. ......" Not to mention in air, which is a gas. "Magic barriers would also be in solids." It would make no sense otherwise, considering that earth-based magic is not allowed to be used. "Hmmm." I was thinking of going underwater with Pegasus 2 and coming ashore from Tatsumi Bay, but that seems a bit difficult. "But the direction seems to be good." Jin thought that if he could identify and solve the problems in implementing the plan, he might be able to ....... "The illusionary wards don''t exist deep underwater, and they don''t hinder the action in the first place." "Yes." "Then, the first barrier is a physical barrier (solid barrier). ...... this can be cleared by digging under the soil at the bottom of the ocean." "Yes, father." Reiko''s reply makes Jin realize that this is the correct answer. "As for the magic barrier, it will be non-interference if we also put up a magic barrier. "Yes." So far, so good. The problem starts here. As for the nitrogen, we can wear space suits. That should work. "<> and <>. This is the problem. But ......" Jin glanced at Reiko. "It doesn''t work on humans." Reiko seemed more than a little shocked by those words. "Father. ......" "Isn''t that right, Reiko?Reiko. I have to go, don''t I?" "......" The silence was an affirmation. "Okay." Jin nodded his head in agreement and began to think about what it would take to make this happen. "A vehicle that can navigate through underwater soil or rocks," he said. This would be the biggest obstacle. Such a vehicle would not exist in today''s world. "<>, or ......" Yes, except for Horai Island. "I''m sure it exists there, but since it doesn''t exist here now, I guess we have to make it. "So, we will do whatever we can!" Marikka said with great energy. "Thank you. We will need to share the metal material. "Please, as much as you want." "Reiko, help me. ...... and Hope. For now, our priority is to create a way to return home, and Hope, who has been monitoring the area with the Watcher, will help us temporarily. "Leave it to me." Thus, Jin began to build a <> as a means to reach Horai Island. < The tip of the cylinder has a blade made of adamantite, which crushes the bedrock in the direction of its movement. The crushed debris is sent out through a warp gate. It can also send the debris behind itself to fill in holes as it moves forward. Based on such a <>, Jin is trying to build what he calls a <> that he can ride on. No, the journey is not limited to the depths of the earth. "Let''s make it as compact as possible. The entire structure is made of 64 light silver, and the main girders are made of magi-adamantite. The main girders are made of magi adamantite. The digging blades are also made of magi adamantite. The necessary magi crystals were brought from the moon. Jin works quickly, though not as quickly as he did at the workshop on Horai Island. "...... is amazing, isn''t it?" "Yes, Jin-sama is a after all. Sion and Marikka, who were observing Jin''s work, let out a sigh. "This is Jin-san''s real ...... work." "Amazing ......." Before they knew it, Rhodes and Vita''s siblings had arrived as well and were watching the work with rounded eyes. Reiko, hand me that piece. Yes, Father. Hope, hold it right there. Yes, Jin-sama. Jin was so absorbed in his work that he did not notice the stares from the gallery. However, it was different from his own workshop, so he was only working at 70% of his usual rate. Even so, the was being built at an astonishing speed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "We''ll do the test tomorrow. The car was finally completed in the evening of the same day. Reiko stopped Jin from getting up in the middle of the night to go to Tsuki (Moon) or to build the . What was completed was not so much a subterranean vehicle as a <. It can fly short distances with its force field generator and can also move underwater. The "short range" is annotated because of its narrow interior, which makes it unsuitable for long-duration flights. "If this works, we should be able to liberate the island of Horai. Jin thought that he would be able to discuss what to do after that with the old man. Neither Theon nor Reiko said anything. Up to this point, Jin must have been following exactly what he had done in <>. And what about Jin himself? "Jin-san, that was amazing, just like your grandmother said. "You are truly a Magecraft Meister!I respect you so much! Rhodes and Vita, his siblings, had captured him. Talking to them, Jin feels that Vita is similar to both Archel and Zion. "Tell me a story, tell me a story! Dinner and bath are already taken and they are just relaxing, so Jin has no problem. I don''t have a problem with that. ....... "Jin, you''re going to start cooking early tomorrow, aren''t you?You should get some rest. Vita, don''t be too hard on yourself, okay?" "Oh, grandmother! Vita cowered at Zion''s words. "......Well then, I guess I''ll do it." Jin listens to Zion''s advice. To tell the truth, she was feeling quite tired. Theon, on the other hand, was probably just afraid that Jin would expose him to the many blunders he had made in his youth. That night, a gentle sea breeze was blowing in the clan territory of <>. 1588 - - 43-14 The night before departure On the morning of September 12. Jin was testing the . The test pilot was Reiko as usual. The Rocket Mole does not have a driving function. < "Wow, it''s flying!" Vita is excited to see it. I ask her how old she is, and she says 65, which is 13 years old in human terms. No wonder. "But it doesn''t look like it''s going to fly, that''s what''s so strange about it. Zion uses <, pronounced in the style of the Shoro Empire. Of course, <> means <>. "It''s a little late for that, isn''t it? Isn''t it the same with spaceships?" "Well, yes, they are." The spaceship that Jin built is spherical. Aerodynamically, it doesn''t look like it will fly. Still, this flying subterranean vehicle (rocket mole) is even more bizarre. It is a 1.5-meter-diameter, 4.5-meter-long cylinder that has been turned on its side. It is quite strange to see it flying in the sky. Because of its shape, it needs to be protected from the wind in order to reach supersonic speeds, but the practical test was a success. "Now we can fly to the vicinity of Horai Island. Since the cockpit is small, it is honestly nice to not have to ride for more than an hour. While Jin was thinking about this, Reiko was working on the underwater test. This could not be seen from the land. However, through the communication function of the bracelet she had temporarily made, she knew that it had been a success. The last step was the drilling function, which was the original purpose. With Zion''s permission, we decided to try it out in the clan territory. "<>...... there is a small vein of gold and silver 35 meters below here." "Oh, that''s perfect. I''ll take care of it, Jin. "Okay. ...... Reiko, please." < Reiko replies, and the rocket mole begins to dig downward at an angle. Its speed is about two meters per minute. "Not bad." Because it dug at an angle, it took about 20 minutes for the Rocket Mole to reach the vein. This time, the rock has been sent out to a pair of warp gates on the surface. "Is this it?......<>. Oh, it has a high content." It was a very good vein, containing 0.5 percent gold, 2 percent silver, 7 percent copper, and 7 percent nickel. The disadvantage is that it is small in size, but even so, the gold reserves are large. "Thank you, Jin. This will make our clan rich. "I''m glad I could be of service, even if it was just by accident." And then the rocket mole returns to the surface. "Thank you, Reiko." Jin quickly checks each part of the vehicle. There was no abnormality except for a few scratches on the outer cover. In case you are wondering, Jin fixed the scratches with engineering magic, and applied further over the scratches. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now we are ready. Jin said with satisfaction over a cup of tea in the afternoon of the same day. "I think I''ll go to Kunlun Island first, what do you think?" "I don''t think you should go to ....... Or rather, don''t go there." "What?" Zion looked complicated. "It''s a message from Jin 400 years ago. < "...... I see." Jin guessed that there might be clues to the current generation of the Kunluns or to his own descendants. Knowing this would have a great impact on Jin''s actions back in his own time, he guessed. "I''m sorry, but I understand." Jin decided to listen to her. "Then we should leave here tomorrow morning, right? "Yes." This time, Zion did not object. Jin was then convinced that he had made the right choice. (But it''s hard to do. ......) Jin smiled and thought about the future. First, I will free the old man and Horai Island. The next thing will come after that.) For now, Jin decided to concentrate on the problem at hand, saying that the only thing to do now is to climb up the stairs step by step. * * * * * * That evening, there was a happy reunion. "Jin-sama, it has been a long time. "Jin-sama, it has been a long time." Sion''s mother, Rorona, and Sion''s husband, Belialus, the current clan leader of Morura, had returned. Lorona had gone to the Buamak River in the west to teach agriculture. Belialus had held various discussions in the Shoro Kingdom. He did not ask about the details of those discussions. "Really. I didn''t expect to see you like this." Jin was much happier to see them again. He added. "Sorry for the delay. ...... Jin-sama, it''s been a long time!" Istaris, Zion''s sister, had also arrived. "It really is Jin-sama, isn''t it? You are ...... so young! Istaris looked as good as she had over the years. Even so, she still retains the face of her former self, and as Jin, he feels nostalgic. It was a heartwarming moment for Jin to see his old friends again. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Finally, tomorrow. ...... At night, Jin was alone in his bedroom, thinking. "If we liberate Horai Island, ...... something will probably change." He thinks about the people waiting for him in the original time. "Erza ......" Among them, I can see the face of his beloved wife Elsa. "I hope the child was born right. ......" Zion assured me of that, but I was still worried. And whether or not I would be able to return home before the baby was born. "I''d like to follow her if I could. ......" I worry that the birth will be a big deal for the slender Elsa. "...... wait for me. ......" Jin thought back to that time, which was his future and the past of this world, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep. 1589 - - 43-15 To the Laboratory The morning of September 13th arrives. Jin has an early breakfast and gets into the "Rocket Mole". The pilot is Reiko. After much consideration, Hope decides to have <> provide backup from high in the sky. "Yes, Jin-sama." With that, Jin had done all he could do. "Okay, I''m off." Jin waved his hand and closed the hatch of the rocket-powered vehicle. A few seconds later, the rocket mole begins to move. Using the force field generator, it flies away. At about the same time, Pegasus 2 is also launched. "Have a good trip. ......" Theon says in a small whisper. Marikka, Rhodotos, Vita, Rorona, Istaris, and Belialus all looked at Jin silently. "< Zion muttered in a voice so small that no one could hear him. Ahead of his eyes, there was a rocket mole that was getting smaller and smaller. * * * * All parts are all clear. Reiko, who was piloting the Rocket Mole, reported. "Okay. Keep it steady." Yes, Father. The inside of the rocket ship is so small that it is impossible to stand and walk. Reiko sits in the front toward the direction of travel in the pilot''s seat, and Jin sits in the passenger''s seat behind her. This is enough to fill up the living space. It can be said that it is because it is a magi-machine that such a large amount of living space could be taken up. Does Pegasus 2 come with it? Yes, it''s all right. "Okay, let''s keep going until we reach the front of the illusionary boundary. "Yes, sir." In about 25 minutes, the rocket mole arrived at the sea near Horai Island. Now, a false landscape created by the is unfolding in front of Jin''s eyes. And in addition to that, ....... "What the hell, that''s ......." A number of 30-meter-long ships surrounded the wards. "Those are the ships of the League of Magic, aren''t they?" Is that it? ...... Jin saw that the outside was made of wood. The structural material may be metal. It is powered by an aqua thruster. It is equipped with an ether converter and a mana driver. Is the crew ...... the Golem? Yes. Yes. Basically, it''s unmanned. This means that they can operate continuously. If they see even the slightest opening, they will launch a hijacking attack using a "Magi Emulator". "What about Pegasus 2?" Yes, it''s standing by at 2,000 meters. Good. < Neither Pegasus 2 nor Hope could be hijacked by the <> now, but just in case. "Okay, let''s go, Reiko." "Yes, Father." The rocket ship dives into the sea. We''re going to Tatsumi Bay. "Yes, Father. To the deepest part of ......? "No. It''s too deep there. It''s too deep there. Let''s avoid the center. I understand. Reiko drove the rocket-powered vehicle along the slightly westerly slope into Tatsumi Bay. "......This is the boundary of the boundary." About 10 meters ahead of the flying subterranean vehicle (rocket mole), there is an invisible barrier. "Okay, let''s start digging from here." "Yes!" The time has come for the Rocket Mole to demonstrate its true potential. The bedrock around Horaijima is hard but not brittle. It is convenient for digging a tunnel, but this time we will backfill the hole we have dug. The debris crushed by the tip of the blade is sent to the rear end by the warp gate mounted on the machine, and is then sealed using <> and <>. With this method, the speed is one meter per minute. For about an hour and a half, the rocket mole dug its way to the bottom of the sea. "It''s all right now. We''re out of the boundary." Reiko declares, and the Rocket Mole points upward. After another 10 minutes, the Rocket Mole emerged from the sea. "Above here is an area filled with nitrogen. While explaining this to Jin, Reiko continues to fly the Rocket Mole underwater. Gradually, the seafloor rises. We are approaching land. And then. "We''ve passed through the nitrogen area. I don''t know what kind of measures are being taken to protect us from this area. The flying submarine rose to the surface of the sea. Jin then sees Horai Island. "Ah ...... Horai Island. It hasn''t changed much. ...... The appearance of Horai Island projected on the magic screen was almost the same as what Jin knew. "Yes. Father. Except for the fields and orchards that have expanded, little has changed. In Tatsumi Bay, they used to cultivate various fish using fishponds, but now it seems that the resident, Jin, has long since disappeared, and they do not cultivate fish anymore. "I see. I must see the old man as soon as possible. Jin realized it again. Reiko''s voice roused Jin from his reverie. "Father, take that!" "What?" Right in front of Jin''s eyes was his old laboratory. But in the vestibule, there was a huge golem that he had never seen before. "What the hell is that?" "I''m sorry. I don''t know. If Reiko doesn''t know, then it must be the latest Golem developed by the old man, or an enemy of ....... "Father, there is no free ether around here." What? Assuming that giant golem is the enemy, you must have taken steps to stop it. Of course. In addition, the institute is surrounded by a very strong magic neutralizing barrier. There is also a physical barrier (solid barrier) in the laboratory. The situation was just as we had imagined. No, it''s worse than that. If we stop the warding, the golem will reboot and resume its attack. "Hmmm, what to do ......" The rocket mole is now powered by its built-in mana cylinder. Thanks to the magic barrier that surrounds it, it has barely escaped the effects of the <. "We can''t even attack with magic at this point. Jin was thinking desperately to find a way out of this situation. 1590 - - 43-16 Penglai Island A huge golem that is about to attack the institute. It is about 15 meters tall, and about 20 meters away from the institute. What is holding it back is an and a . "...... But because of this, we can''t attack it with magic either. "Father, do you have a better idea?" But Jin shook his head. "No, that''s not it. I''m just wondering how the ...... old man allowed him to get so close." He could have eliminated him while there was still more distance, Jin thought. "For example, or . ......" "Father, I think I know what you mean." Reiko? "...... perhaps that golem is mimicking your father''s magical waveforms." "Oh, I see. ......" Basically, the golems and automata created by Jin are set up in such a way that they cannot destroy each other except in unavoidable cases of self-defense. This time, the enemy took advantage of this. "Was it all we could do to stop them?" "I think so. After that, they probably sealed off the whole island." Reiko''s guess seemed to be right, Jin thought. If that was the case, Jin was the only one who could solve this situation. "Do we have to deal with this guy before contacting the old man? Then Jin thought about what he should do. "He''s stuck by the <>. ...... Jin considers several options. Roughly speaking Physical attack from a distance Contact, cover with a magic barrier, and then attack with magic. The two types of attacks are "physical attack," and "magic attack," respectively. "But physical attack seems to be tough. ......" If it is removed, it may cause damage to the laboratory. The surface has a metallic sheen, and it seems to bounce back some of the flux (laser). There is no guarantee that the reflected light will not damage the laboratory. "We could use a flying ground vehicle (rocket mole) to drag it down to the ocean and dump it. ......" "Father, why don''t you make a hole in it with this rocket mole?" Reiko suggested. Surprisingly not bad, Jin decided to adopt it. "Okay, let''s do that. First, they hit it with the rocket mole. The giant golem lost its balance and fell with a resounding crash. Reiko, go! "Yes!" Reiko drives her rocket-propelled vehicle toward the enemy golem''s torso. At the moment of impact, an unpleasant metallic sound is heard. It is a very hard metal. It seems to be a very hard metal. Jin had no idea what kind of material it was, since he was in an environment where he could not use magic. But at least it seemed to be weaker than Magi adamantite, and the flying subterranean vehicles (rocket moles) were chipping away at the enemy golem''s exterior with a cloud of dust. "The exterior has been breached!" The outermost layer of armor was only about five centimeters thick. Beneath that was an internal structural material equivalent to ribs. "Oh, this one is hard, too. Jin thought that it was probably made of the same material as the armor. The rocket mole''s cutting blades continued to chip away at the internal structural material while making a deafening metallic sound. ....... "We did it!The control core." The chest unit containing the control core was also destroyed. The control core, and the ether converter, which had contained the control core, rolled away. The magic nerve line is already in shreds. There is no way she can move with this. Reiko, shut it down! Yes, Father. The rocket ship has come to a stop. Silence envelops the area. The dust from the scraped metal has settled, and Jin prepares to step outside. "Father, please be careful! Reiko''s voice sounded concerned. Perhaps things are going as Jin had told her 400 years ago, but it seems that she is still worried about something. She is still wearing her space suit. (Pretty comfy, huh?) This is the one equipped in Pegasus 2. It is made of 5 layers of ground spider resin (GSP), with an insulation layer, a cooling layer, a heating layer, and an emergency repair layer made of soft magic resin in between. The outermost layer is made of << ancient dragon> leather, which shields magic by filling it with free magic element (ether). Hence, the magi-device inside the space suit is working properly. The helmet is made of impact-resistant magi plastic and cubic zirconia sandwiched between soft magic resin. Here, too, the outermost part is covered with thinly shaved << ancient dragon> leather, so that the shielding effect is not compromised. (I''ll have to make this one when I get home. ......) Moreover, the layer of soft magic resin seems to support the movement by <> (like an electric bicycle). (Like an electrically assisted bicycle. ...... I''ve never ridden one.) Admiring what he had made, Jin walked to the laboratory. "It hasn''t changed much, has it?" A little further away, a had been built, with a beside it. Jin glanced in that direction, but his feet were heading straight for the laboratory. As he walked, Jin took off the helmet of his space suit. "Old man ......" A small voice said once. "Mr. Lao..." Once more in a normal voice. "Laojun!" once more in a loud voice. < With his reply, the solid barrier around the laboratory disappeared. < and also disappear. The old man''s voice echoed. "Can I say I''m back ....... Thank you, old man, for protecting Horai Island. . Finally, Jin returned to Horai Island. * * * * Thus, the leadership of Horai Island was returned to Jin''s hands. Jin immediately equips the Magi Certifier to the old man. At the same time, he decides to start analyzing the enemy golem he has just defeated. "Reiko, bring it to me." "Yes, father." The rocket mole was placed at the back of the laboratory, and Reiko ran out of the laboratory. She immediately drags the destroyed enemy golem with her. "Okay, let''s analyze this one first. The old man will install a on the , and then we''ll analyze the golem one by one. After that, please install them on the golems one by one. Finally, the counterattack of Horai Island begins. 1591 - - 43-17 Horai Island of Counterattack Half a day passed. Unfortunately, no useful information could be extracted from the giant golem. Its structure was an extension of the known one. Jin, together with Reiko and the craftsmen (Smith), installed Magi Certifiers on all of the golems and 90% of the main facilities on Horai Island without any rest. The only things that remain are the passive facilities ...... and the control cores for warehouse management. "Is it OK with you, Mr. Little Old Man?" < The old man is the magical brain to manage the satellite. "Okay, as of now, the magic barrier is lifted. Solid physical barrier only." > With this, communication with the outside world is once again restored. "Contact <> on the moon and take over control of <>. Then there should be <> in the sky. Check it out and keep me posted." > has been taken over. ......<,confirm. I will now contact you. Pegasus 2 was also built here in Horai Island, and the old man knew it. "The one who is piloting it is my assistant golem, <>, that I made here. < Keep her in the air. < "Okay, now the enemy fleet. Sir, what''s the status?" < < and the investigation by the <>. "I see. ...... Let''s neutralize those depressing people first." Jin thought about the order and method of attack and came to a conclusion. "First, let''s sweep in the direction of Tatsumi Bay as a preliminary check! There were 12 enemy ships in Tatsumi Bay. < "Use the transporter to send mana bombs to them. The smallest one will do. < As instructed, the old man sends the smallest mana bomb to one of the 12 enemy ships. The ship, which was mostly made of wood, could not withstand the mana bomb, and was wrecked and sunk by one shot. Jin, who was watching this through the magic screen in the control room, said to the captain, "All right, I''m going to make a series of mana bombs, "All right, fire in succession. Have the Mermaid and Marine units retrieve the sunken ships and golems. . Mana bombs are fired by the old man. The enemy fleet was wrecked and sunk one after another. The Marine and Mermaid squadrons are recovering them. Soon there were no more enemy ships in Tatsumi Bay. "All right, let''s check the recovered enemy ships. The warp gate in Tatsumi Bay is working fine, and soon we receive the parts of the wrecked ship. "Let''s see. ...... Reiko, help me." "Yes, Father!" Reiko was very excited at Jin''s request, and with Reiko as his assistant, Jin began to analyze the enemy ship. "The hull is ...... probably coniferous wood. The structure of softwood and hardwood is different, so it is possible to distinguish between them even in the state of wood. "Is the structural timber a <> treated bronze?" Since the strength is increased by only about 20%, we can conclude that the technique is technically poor. "Father, the control core is missing." Jin imagined that the ship had probably sunk to the bottom of the sea when it was wrecked. But it seemed that the Mermaid team had recovered it, and the second set of warp gates contained four control cores. "I hope this gives us some information. " "Well, I''ll look into it. >" However, this control core had only enough information to attack a specific target on instruction. Reiko''s control core seemed to be the same. The instruction was to < "...... You''ve got to be kidding me. What the hell did Horai Island do? ......All right, if you''re attacking with the intention of destroying it, you must be prepared to be destroyed." Knowing this, Jin made up his mind that there was no need to hold back anymore. "I will show them who they are fighting against." Jin concluded that the <> had declared war on Horai Island. "Then there must be someone somewhere who is giving them orders, right?" "That''s right." Jin then gave instructions to Lao-kun. "Old man, do you see any ship surrounding the island that is different from the others?Size, model, movement, ...... I don''t know about that." . The old man''s eyes, the <>, are back, which makes the investigation easier. "I see. ...... Okay, let''s capture that one. At the same time, the rest of the fleet will be neutralized. The old man sent out not only , but ten of Sky''s ships by transporter. We must sink them with a laser strike from the skies above. At the same time, the old man sent the <> out to capture a large ship. His response is somewhat joyful. Perhaps because he had met the Creator once again, not only Reiko but also the old man was in high spirits. "Oh, good! The magic screen in the control room shows the decreasing number of the enemy fleet. Sky Squadron''s Raptor rained down a hail of laser attacks, piercing holes in the enemy ships. Enemy ships were being sunk at the rate of ten per minute. After about 10 minutes, the island was surrounded by no enemy ships. For a starship 300 meters in diameter, capturing a 50-meter ship is a piece of cake. The ship can be captured with a <> and lifted away, leaving it helpless. < and will keep the ship from attacking in a last ditch effort. "You caught him easily. ......" In the control room, Jin is disappointed. * * * * The captured enemy ship is lifted into satellite orbit by . This is a feat he can pull off since he is sure there are no living creatures on board. "I don''t think we can do anything with it in this condition." Jin himself can look inside using a <>. "...... hmm, the structure is basically the same as other ships." It was constructed of bronze structural material with a softwood exterior panel. Propulsion was provided by six aqua thrusters. Its armament was a magical device that could emit <> and >. It could be called a thunder cannon. Jin is not sure if they can be called the crew or not, but there are 10 golems on board, the same as the ones that opposed him when he was searching for Reiko, and he judges that they may be the suppression personnel. And... "Control core (control core) or ......" Since I wanted to examine this directly without analyzing it remotely, I instructed , who is the magic brain in charge of <>, to have the crew member <> retrieve the control core and send it via a warp gate. < "Oh, I see." Jin received it from the old man''s mobile terminal <. "...... is huge." It is three to four times bigger than the control core that Jin is using. "The quality of the magi crystals is bad, and the writing technique of the magi formula is poor. Jin was delighted, and immediately set to work on the analysis. 1592 - - 43-18 Home Jin was analyzing the control core of the ship that was in command of the captured enemy fleet, "Well, there is not much information. There was no detailed information about the enemy organization either. "Well, I guess so." Even if it were me, I would not be so careless as to divulge important information. However, their home port ...... was where they left from. "Indeed. Considering all the supply and maintenance, it''s no wonder. But ...... It was hard to imagine that the Kunlun Islands are now in enemy hands. Right?right? It seems that the current manager is a human being. Jin hesitated to ask any more questions. "Hmmm ...... this case may be a dead end on this line ......." Jin changed his mind. "Well, first we have to restore Horai Island. ...... before that." Then he starts to discuss with the old man. Jin asked the question he wanted to ask the most. "Old man, I can go back to the original time, can''t I?" On this point, the old man assured him clearly. "Are those preparations finished?" "Okay." Jin thought that he would ask for more details later, but for now he would do what he had to do. "There are no more enemy forces around?" < "Good. Contact Pegasus 2, which is standing by in the sky, and have it land. Thus, Pegasus 2 landed in its birthplace. "Good work, <>. This is Horai Island. ...... Old man, this is Hope, the most recent golem I made." <>. I am the magical brain behind this Horai Island. "I have heard of you. I look forward to working with you. And so Hope became a member of Horai Island. "Okay Hope, come here. I''ll modify it to Horai Island''s specifications. "Please do." She had been highly modified at Marikka''s place, and as a final modification, she was equipped with a <> and the key parts of her skeleton were replaced with hyperadamantite. The output has been increased by 2.5 times since the magical power reactor (Magi Reactor) was replaced with a high-grade one. The reaction speed has also doubled. "Good. Hope will now serve as the pilot of Pegasus 2. And she''s to follow your instructions." "Yes, sir." Jin continues his instructions. "Send out the fifth column (Quinta) that has been prepared. The enemy ......<>, was it?Gather that information as quickly as possible, as much as possible, and as accurately as possible." < Now that Jin is back, the old man is able to perform his function to the fullest. "That''s all for now." Relaxing his shoulders, Jin realized that it was already around 4:00 p.m. "That''s it for today," he said. "That''s all for today. ......" Then Reiko immediately said, "Father, the hot spring is ready! Reiko, who knew Jin''s character well, declared, "Father, the hot spring is ready! Reiko, who knew Jin''s character very well, was very considerate. She was very concerned about Jin''s personality. "Ah, it''s nice hot water. ......" Jin was relaxing at Horaijima Onsen for the first time in a while. Reiko was with him, and he was in a good mood as he could wash his back. "Now you''ve calmed down. ...... will I be able to go home in four more days?" Jin muttered casually and Reiko responded. "Father, you are leaving after all, aren''t you?" Her voice sounded sad, and Jin realized that he had said the wrong thing. "......Reiko, I''m sorry. But I still want to go back to the old days. Jin comforted Reiko as he stroked her head. "Yes, I know. I, ...... on the other side, am also waiting for your father''s return. Reiko understood, too. So Hitoshi decided to check. "I see... you mean that the third generation of Magecraft Meisters did not appear, and that no one with the same magical waveform as me appeared?" "Yes, that''s right. Your father''s children and grandchildren and their children were all ...... excellent, but there was no one with the same magical waveform as your father''s." "I see, I knew it." Reiko is designed to recognize those with the same magical waveform as Jin and her predecessor, Adriana Barbora Tsezi, as the <>. If who has the ability but different waveform of magic, tries to become Reiko''s , he/she will have to stop Reiko and overwrite her magic with his/her own. And there was no way Reiko would allow that. My father is the only father I have. Just as ...... your mother is only your mother." "I see." Jin continued to stroke Reiko''s head. * * * * * * After getting out of the bath and eating dinner, Jin finally realized that he was home. The island of Horaijima had been a that no one had visited since his death, and 400 years later, it was almost the same as Jin remembered. "Well, let''s see... ......" Jin changed into his nightgown and lay down on the tatami mats of his <>, lying on his back and thinking about various things. "What should I do now ......?" The first thing is to prevent Horaijima from being taken over after he is gone. The second is to retrieve the two fifth column (quintas) that will be captured. And the third was to greet the people who had helped him in this world. As for the Kunlun Island, Jin gives up the island in tears, thinking that it is not something that he should be involved in at this point in his life. He would not be able to return to the island in the next four days. As for the security of Horai Island, I thought that <> would be enough, but it would be a little bad to think about after Jin is gone. "We may have to give the old man more freedom. I think he should be able to decide for himself who is suitable to be his master. "...... I''ll discuss it with the old man later. ......" If he doesn''t accept any more like Reiko does, Jin thinks that he has to take other measures. "Well, we''ll see about that tomorrow." The fifth column (Quinta) is retaken. It is said to be about 150 years old, so he is not sure if it is still there, but he would like to take it back from the hands of the enemy if possible. "I''m sure the greetings won''t be a problem, so we''ll start with this." Jin thought about what he would need to do to get it back. "Father, the bedding is ready." "Yes, thank you." Reiko called out to him from the next room, and he got up and walked toward her. "Ah, it''s been a while since I''ve had my own bed. ...... feels a little different, though." Jin thought to himself, "Well, it''s been a while since I''ve slept in my own bed," he said, "but it feels a little different. "Well, I''ll take a good rest for now. We''ll see tomorrow." Jin pulled the quilt over him and closed his eyes. It had been a long time since he had been home. Jin fell asleep immediately and slept soundly until morning without dreaming. 1593 - - 43-19 Demonstration of ones true colors On September 14, Jin woke up in the morning feeling refreshed. He felt more secure in his own house, his own room, and his own bed. "Father, are you awake? Reiko, who was waiting in the next room, opened the sliding door. "Oh, Reiko, good morning." "Good morning. Soleil and Luna prepared breakfast for you this morning. "Oh, I see. I''m looking forward to it. It had been a long time since he had eaten their cooking. Jin rinsed his mouth and washed his face before heading for the dining room. The menu consisted of rice, miso soup with deep-fried tofu and okara, grilled nori, omelet, natto, and oshinko. The tea was hojicha. All of them are made with ingredients from Horai Island. "Yes, it''s delicious!" Jin was satisfied with the taste that has not changed over 400 years. "Ah, I''m full." After eating four bowls of rice and drinking three cups of miso soup, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach. When was the last time he felt this peaceful and relaxed ......, he thought. "Father, would you like some more tea?" "Yes, thank you. Then can I have another cup of tea? "Yes." The freshly roasted tea was fragrant and refreshing. In the end, Jin had three more cups of tea. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After taking a long lunch break of about an hour and a half, Jin decided to put into action the items he had been thinking about last night. "Old man, did you find any clues about the two missing fifth row quintas? "I see. ...... Okay, please continue your search. ...... I''ll be at the workshop. Reiko, help me. Yes, Father. Jin went to the workshop to give shape to an idea that had occurred to him under the covers last night. He searches for the missing fifth column (quinta). The Golem automata created by Jin are equipped with an emergency device in case they fall into enemy hands, and are designed to self-destruct or automatically erase themselves to prevent the loss of information. However, it is a different story if they use a "magi emulator. < Jin thought that, in the worst case scenario, the two bodies might have been "dismantled"...... literally. In that case, the most important things are <>, >, and >. However, the < used by Jin is interwoven with Japanese and Chinese characters, so it should not be possible to apply or even convert it without deciphering them. "But we can''t let our guard down, though. ...... uh..." Jin returns his thoughts that have wandered off track. "Father, what are your thoughts on this?" Reiko asks a question here. She has not yet heard what Jin is going to do. What is Jin''s answer to her question? "If the old man can''t find it, then it must either not exist or it must be blocked by a boundary. He said, "That''s true. "That would be the case. ......" Reiko looked a little sad when she thought about the possibility of <>. "But I don''t think so. I will not let an inexperienced mage destroy the fifth line of quintas that I have created. Yes, that''s right! The materials used are of the highest quality. Except for Reiko, there is nothing better in the known world. Naturally, it is also highly resistant to magic. < At this point, Jin changes his mind to go back to his original idea. "Let''s thoroughly analyze the <>." He realized that although he knew the principle of operation, he had not analyzed it properly until now. < itself had already been recovered from the golem and the ship that had been secured. Jin immediately set about analyzing it. * * * * * * * * * * "Well,...... I didn''t get much out of it, but there were some interesting parts,......." "Father, what is it?" "Yes, this structure is a fixed magic wave ...... which in this case is mine. It''s the only thing that''s generating them. I''d make sure it''s adjustable. ......Well, let''s leave it at that, this generating element." Jin pointed to a small LED light-like element. "The base generates the magic wave, modulates it with a modulator in the middle, and adjusts it with a filter. I wonder if this idea can be applied to a magic biased guy. ......" Jin felt that he was thinking scientifically, even though he was a magician. However, there was no point in thinking about this point any longer, so Jin changed his mind. Let''s get back to the original work. After all, there was no doubt that the output of the <> was also a free-magic element wave of ether. Jin spoke up about the fact that he had confirmed. "To prevent this, it is possible to use a normal magic barrier. But at the same time, there is the problem that it cannot be detected by the Magi Radar. This was a natural conclusion based on the principles of the MagiRadar. Jin, however, proposed an idea that went beyond that. "So, we should be able to detect them even if they are blocked by wards. Jin said simply. "How in the world can we do that? "By using <>. Jin answered. "The sub-free elemental ether wave cannot be blocked by ordinary wards. "I see, as expected of your father!" The old man''s voice rang out. "That''s the right answer, isn''t it, My Lord?" < According to Adriana Tierra''s theory, in order to transcend time and space, it is necessary to master the use of sub-free magical element "ether" wave. For this reason, Jin has modified the old man ....... . "I knew it. ......You have raised your processing power to be able to handle the sub-free element "ether" wave. ...... about a thousand times more than the original?" "I suppose it''s best not to ask how you did it now." Jin thought that he had one more thing to do. Although he did not want to think too much about it because of the time paradox involved, Jin thought that the current old man would be able to use the sub-free magic element "ether" wave. Furthermore, Reiko''s predecessor, the automata, probably also could use the sub-free element "ether" wave, though to a limited extent, to call Jin to her. "Perhaps the key is energy?" "I knew it." The free magical element (ether) that had been collected over 10,000 years had to be mostly consumed in order to cross space-time. This will probably be the first and last time for Jin to travel through time as he intended. Mainly due to energy constraints. If he wanted to do it again, he would have to spend tens of thousands of years to gather free magical elements (ether). In that sense, we should be thankful for the system that has continued to collect free magical elements (ether) in Ars even after it is no longer needed. "Indeed, you never know what will turn out to be a blessing in disguise, do you? Jin muttered with a sigh. Jin guessed that Reiko''s predecessor must have had a hard time collecting the free magical element (ether) and mana to connect to the other space. "Okay. I''ll modify the magi radar to use the sub-free ether wave as a carrier wave. The old man should be able to handle it. The mana consumed would not exceed space-time, so the magi reactor should be enough to handle the mana. "You can also emit sub-free magic element "ether" wave, can''t you, old man? < "Okay, I won''t ask how. I''m sure I''ll do something when I get back to my own time. With this reply, Jin started the modification. Three hours later, Jin, in his element, has completed the <>. 1594 - - 43-20 Discovery "<> eats a lot of mana, so be careful." < After reminding the old man that he should have known, Jin went back to the control room to wait for the result. Then, Reiko made a suggestion. "Father, it''s a little early, but why don''t you have lunch? The time was 11:30 a.m. "Okay, then." Jin went to the mess hall instead of the command center. He had soba for lunch. There were two kinds of sauce, sweet and dry, and condiments such as chopped green onion, chopped nori (seaweed), grated radish, and wasabi. Jin tried both tsuyu and all the condiments in order. "......I may have eaten a little too much." He drank soba water with the remaining broth and finished with soba tea. As Jin was relaxing, he received a call from the old man. . "Oh, you did it!" Jin rushed back to the command center, . "Uchuto Island?" The island was unfamiliar to me. "It''s an island at the southern tip of the Principality of Mimaka." A map of the world was projected on the magic screen in the control room, and part of it was enlarged. "Ah, there it is." > "Hmmm... ...... no." Jin decided. "I''ll go." "Father, I will go with you." The old man said nothing. Jin decided that it was probably because his actions were exactly what he had heard 400 years ago. < and loads it with some materials, water, food, and medicine. Lastly, he brought . The reason why it is called "No. 1" is because some of the dolls in Horai Island today were used by Jin after he reached his prime. Therefore, it is said that the No. 1 has been kept in storage for a long time. "This is just as I know it. Jin is comfortable with the move. The piloting equipment is moved to Pegasus 2, and preparations are complete. The number of passengers has been reduced from eight to six, but that is no problem. And the pilot is the obvious choice, Hope. < "Okay, I''m off." The location is on the other side of Ars. More precisely, about 160 degrees longitude. The distance is 3,400 kilometers. It''s 1:00 p.m. now, about 2:00 a.m. there. If we can get there around dawn, that might be convenient. At 2000 kilometers per hour, supersonic speed, Pegasus 2 headed for Ututo Island. "I''m going to take a nap, wake me up when we get there." "Yes, Father." Less than an hour and a half later, Jin dozes off and takes a nap. Pegasus 2 flies through the void without incident. Pegasus 2 ran through the void without incident. "Wake up, father!" Reiko wakes Jin up after the scheduled time has passed. "Are we at ......?" "Yes." It was 4:30 a.m. local time, and it was not yet light. Below us was an island about one size smaller than Kunlun Island. Pegasus 2 is now enveloped in an invisible field and descends to about 500 meters above the island. "Activate ether radar." The Aether Radar detects the distribution of free magical elements (ether) in three dimensions, and can detect the presence of magical tools, magical machines, golems, and so on. There are four large reactions, two of which are golems and two of which are probably magi-machines. Can you tell if there are humans in the area? "Father, in that case, you''ll have to use the at ......." "I don''t think Pegasus 2 has one of those." Then I''ll get it. Reiko? "...... is equipped with a small one. It''s no problem for this distance. Please. It seems that the future Jin has equipped Reiko with a as well. "......" Reiko takes her time to look at the island below. After about 5 minutes. "I''ve got it pretty much figured out. This island is uninhabited. It''s controlled by a magical brain. "I see." < "You mean it''s not quite Horai Island, but it''s fortified close to it?" "No, it looks more like an abandoned laboratory from the past. Is there a fifth column (Quinta)? I mean, they should be there. "Yes. Both of them are in some kind of laboratory on the second basement. "I see!" He has found what was taken from him. Jin thinks of his next move. "Or we could use the doppelganger to get down there." I''ll go with you. So, Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko jumped down from Pegasus 2. Using the force field generator, they landed with ease. "Reiko, take the lead, will you?" "Yes, I''ll take care of it." < "This way, please." The door was made to look like a rock pile, but when Reiko < pushed the door, it came off its hinges and fell inside with a loud noise. Inside was a staircase, and the rocks on the surface peeled off and rolled away, opening a doorway that was wide enough for a single person to pass through. "Are you okay to make a loud noise?" Reiko asked Jin''s doppelganger, Reiko replied, "No one is there. Reiko explained that there was no one there. She stayed there for about five minutes just to be sure, but nothing happened. It seemed that there was no doubt that it was an abandoned laboratory. "Okay, let''s go." Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko go down the stairs. It is almost pitch black, but it does not matter to Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko. 20 meters down the stairs, there is another door. "I''ll open it." This time the door was to be opened by pulling it toward us. This time it was a door that opened without much effort. Inside was a dimly lit hallway. "This way, please." Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko stepped toward the back. 1595 - - 43-21 Restoration Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko walk through a supposedly abandoned enemy laboratory. "...... looks a little bit like Avalon, doesn''t it?" Golbert Markitas had studied at Avalon for about three years, Jin decided, so that must be the influence. "There are no traps, are there?" "Yes, father. I have checked inside the walls, under the ceiling, and under the floor, and there is no danger. "Then that''s good." Based on Avalon, the structure is a combination of concentric and radial corridors. At the center of the corridor are often important facilities such as a command center and a magical brain room. However, since the first priority of Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko is to find the fifth column (quinta), they are aiming at the basement room where Reiko found them. Structurally, the stairs or elevator is located near the center. "This way. The elevator''s not running, so we''ll take the stairs down." "Okay." The power system is mostly dead, with only a dimly lit emergency light using ethereal luminescent material (AL). Since ether luminescence (AL) continues to emit light until the free magic element (ether) runs out or the AL itself is destroyed, it is used for some emergency lights and nightlights. The ether luminescent (AL) lamps here were as bright as 5 to 8W incandescent lamps called <>. You were on the second basement floor, right? "Yes." They had just landed on the first basement floor, so one floor down was the destination floor. This way, sir. < "It should be in this room." Reiko stopped in front of a room not far from the stairs. "...... is locked, isn''t it?" This was a sliding door, but when Reiko put some force into it, it opened easily, crumpling. "This is ....... "This must be a laboratory or workshop." The room was as large as four high school classrooms. "<>" Since it was dark, Jin''s doppelganger turned on the light to make it easier to find what he was looking for. The room was cluttered with workbenches and shelves. Some of the shelves had fallen over and their contents were scattered on the floor, giving the room a messy impression. Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko go to the workbench at the back of the room. "......!" On it lay a fifth row of Spica-type (quinta) without arms and legs, and a fifth row of Mira-type (quinta) with its thorax dismembered. "Is this and ?" Jin''s doppelganger confirms to Reiko, "Yes. Spica5<> and Mira2,<> are correct. "I see. I see. ...... d*mn you, you poor thing. You did this to me." While being angry, Jin''s doppelganger observes and checks on the two. "I can''t find the control core. ...... wait?" Jin thinks. < "Then the answer is ...... that! A container that shields magic. There is only one that looks like it. Reiko, open it. Be very careful. Yes, Father. Reiko carefully pried open the container ......, a jar-shaped vessel the size of a large pickle barrel. Fortunately, there were no traps such as explosions or gas emissions, and what was inside was revealed. "Oh, so the control core is in here after all. The control core, the Magi Reactor, and the Magi Devices were all contained within the control core. Jin, who was piloting the machine, was relieved to see that the machine could be restored to its original state. At this point, Jin casually and jokingly uttered a line from the doppelganger''s mouth. "Let''s see if there are any traps. Then he applied <> to the control core. "<>...... what the hell is this? "What is it, father?" "Is it a trap ......?There seems to be some kind of magic formula (MagiFormula) mixed in. Let''s not fix it here, let''s go to Horai Island and analyze it first." "Understood." So Jin''s doppelganger and Reiko gathered up the two broken dolls and their parts, and left the laboratory for the moment. "Well, what are we going to do now?" Jin loaded the two bodies into Pegasus 2, which was waiting on the ground, and thought for a while. Should we go back to Horai Island, or should we investigate this facility further? "Okay. Old man, dispatch <> and <>." "Yes, sir." In the end, Jin gave the old man instructions to send a survey team to the site. He felt that it was not Jin''s place to take care of this place and confront the League of Magic. I''ll be ready for that, though." The transporter sends 5 <> and 5 <> right in front of Jin. At the same time, <> is in the sky. Jin ordered Hope to leave the island to them, and they took off from Uchuto Island in Pegasus 2. * * * * After returning to Horai Island without any problems, Jin left the analysis of the control core to Lao-kun and decided to repair the two fifth row quintas himself. "That''s terrible, this guy is ......." The "quinta" were torn off by force due to the inexperience of magical engineering. "I guess we have to replace the whole magical skin. ...... Reiko, please get me the materials." Yes, Father. Helping Jin in the workshop seems to bring back the old days, and Reiko is very happy. Thanks in part to this, the work proceeds at a brisk pace. The distorted skeleton was corrected, the deteriorated muscles were replaced, and the damaged parts were newly made. Of course, the magi certifiers (magi certifiers) were also installed. In no time at all, the two bodies regain their original appearance. All that remains is the control core. "How are they doing, old man? < What happened? < <> is a concept brought by Jin. I don''t mean the cause of the disease, but a computer virus. Jin thinks that he could probably create one if he wanted to. For example, a subsystem that starts up and then erases itself after a few days, or a control system that seems to be working properly but makes errors at critical points. For Jin, it just doesn''t make sense, so he doesn''t make it. "Did someone develop such a thing? ......" < "That guy again ......" Jin felt a certain madness in the way the mage, who was apparently nearly 150 years old, was still trying to haunt the place. Since he was worried about the possibility of just removing the <, he decided to prepare a new control core and write in only the necessary information. Since the control core was originally created by Jin, it is easy to reproduce. If the information including his past experience is added to the control core, it can be reproduced without any problem. Jin then built and set the two control cores as he had done before. "Okay, <>" Yes, chief. "Yes, Chief." Two of them are up. "<>, <>, how are you feeling?Are you remembering things the same way?" Yes, exactly the same as before. Yes, everything is back to normal, including my memory. "Well, that''s good." When Jin finished the control core, he added the information about the rescue of Jin and Reiko, but there seems to be no contradiction between the two. "Keep up the good work." Yes, Chief. "Yes, Chief." Jin was satisfied to see the two bodies restored to their original state. 1596 - - 43-22 Greetings Now that the two 5th column (Quintas) have been recovered and restored, there are no more vacancies on Horai Island. "Speaking of which, how is doing in Kunlun Island?" Taibai is the former head of the magic circle that controlled the fortress. After the conquest, he became Jin''s subordinate and was in charge of the Kunlun Island. Jin had been somewhat hesitant to ask about this, but now he had to. "You also said that the ship of the League of Magic came from the Kun Lun Island. < I see. After Jin''s death, <> has chosen to lie dormant until the one who should serve him appears again. "That''s why the <> couldn''t find him." <> The Kunlun Isle is a free territory open to all nations. "So the ships of the <> are also available ......" Jin realized that the line between freedom and freedom is a difficult one to draw. * * * * "Now all I have to do is say hello. This was the last of the things he had initially thought he should do in this era. Jin thought about it while soaking in the bath. "The security of Horai Island has been strengthened. < is a concern, but he wonders if he should meddle in the affairs of the as he is not from this era. "I don''t even know the current power of Horai Island. He only knew the specifications as of 400 years ago when he was there, and he did not dare to ask about the facilities that had been added since then. "Well, I guess I''ll see you tomorrow. It was almost dinner time, so Jin got out of the bath. Reiko wiped his back. After finishing his dinner of his favorite dishes, Jin sits down on the porch of his house and watches the sky go down. "I guess this is ...... before I go home." Security has been tightened, and <> has been reactivated for the time being. This means that some warp gates can now be used. "First we have the 700672, then Zion and the others. The next stop is the Principality of Mercana, but I''m sure Jin will be able to get there and back without any problems. "I guess it''s the equipment after all. ......" Jin realized once again how helpless he was without his clothes. Reiko did not say anything, but just stared at Jin. As if loving the few remaining hours they had together. ....... * * * * September 15. Jin moved to the base of 7006-72, thinking in the corner of his mind that it was ...... a while ago. Jin moved to the base of No. 700672. "Oh, Jin-dono. It seems that you have successfully liberated Horai Island. Seeing Reiko standing behind Jin, No. 700672 smiled good-humoredly. "Yes, thanks to you. ...... here''s your regular Persica juice. Jin hands the package that Reiko had given him to the 700672. "Oh, I''m so happy, it''s the first time in about 300 years. The 700672, now in a better mood, accepted it happily. Neige and Rouge, who are standing nearby, also look happy. "......I don''t fully understand, but the relationship between time and space can be explained by the sub-free magical element "ether", can''t it?" "Yes, the old man said he was almost home." Jin had a meeting with the 700672. "I''m interested in that method, but it seems to ...... require a lot of energy." "Yes, it does." An energy that can only be provided by collecting free magical elements (ether) over many years. Jin almost imagined that it would be enough for one star, but stopped himself. "Well, I''m off to the clan territory now. After two hours of conversation, Jin decided to leave. "It''s been a long time since I''ve had a good time. ......I guess we won''t be seeing each other again." "......Yes." 700672 said a little sadly, and Jin affirmed with the same feeling. "Well then..." "Good luck on your path, Jin-dono." They shook hands and parted. "...... was so easy." Reiko said to Jin once they returned to Horaijima. "I don''t want things to get too wet." Jin knew that, but he did not want to make too big a deal out of the goodbye speech. "Well, shall we go to Zion''s place? "Yes." This time, they would ride the to Zion''s place. < "Oh, okay. I''ll take care of it then." < The transporter transports Pegasus 2 about 1,000 kilometers in an instant. The Paz dextro isthmus is already visible below. "We''re almost there. The village of Kaina should be close from here, but it would only make it harder for him to know what it is like now, so he manages to turn his attention back to the Nordic Federation. "...... Hope, let''s go to Zion''s place." "Yes, sir." Pegasus 2 set off for the clan territory of . Hope, let''s go to Zion. Jin, welcome! "Jin-sama, you are safe!" Theon and Marikka flew out to meet Jin and the others as soon as Pegasus 2 landed. Jin, Reiko, and Hope are now being welcomed at the clan leader''s mansion. "Jin-san, just when we thought we''d met again, it''s almost time to say goodbye, isn''t it? Sion''s mother, Rorona, also joined them, "Jin-sama, I regret that I could not repay you even one ten-thousandth of what you gave me so long ago." Zion''s husband, the current chief, Belialus, also joined in, looking a little sad. "Me too. But in this world, we are always supposed to part when we meet. It is called . It''s one of the four and eight kinds of suffering. I don''t know the other seven well, but this is the one that I remembered from the Director''s frequent mention of it. "......It''s sad, isn''t it?" "......Yes. ...... but because there are goodbyes, there are also encounters." "Is that Jin''s view of life?" Jin nodded at Zion''s question. "I''m afraid to say this to someone who has lived many times longer than I have. "......I would have said, ''That''s rude in the old days,'' but it''s true!" Zion gave a small laugh. This lightened the mood of the place that had been so somber. "I should be thankful that I got to see Jin again, even though we were supposed to be separated that day. The clear smile on Zion''s face as she said this to herself touched Jin''s heart. "Jin, I have to tell you this. I am glad to have met you. It was the same 400 years ago, and it is the same now. Thanks to you the demon tribe was able to make a fresh start as a northern tribe and united as the Nordic Federation. I am happy to be with Belialus. "Zion ......" "Well, Jin-dono, you are a benefactor of the Nordic Federation. It is truly fortuitous that we meet once again." "Yes, it is. ...... Mr. Jin, you have seen this, haven''t you?Thanks to you, this country is now ...... self-sufficient in crops and has become wealthy." "Thanks to Jin-sama, magic technology has advanced and life has become easier. Thanks to this, the population is gradually increasing. ...... Not only Sion, but also Belialus, Rorona, and Marikka thanked Jin. They all knew that if they parted this time, they would never see Jin again, but they still acted cheerful and thanked him at the same time. Jin felt his eyes burning. "Thank you for ....... I''m ...... glad to have met you all, too." These were words from Jin''s heart. 1597 - - 43-23 An allele September 16. Jin has returned to Horai Island. He is thinking of going to the Principality of Mercana after this. "The problem is how to explain myself. ......" Jin thinks, "I don''t know if they will believe me even if I explain. "I don''t know what I''m going to do with it," he thinks. ...... However, he still wants to say a few words before returning to his former life. "I don''t know what to do. ......" Then, the old man gave his opinion. "I think so too." Reiko stopped him. "Is that what you think?" The old man began to describe the problems. > "U......" Jin is at a loss for words from the start. < "Well, hey ......" <> "Indeed. "......" That was a very reasonable rebuttal. >. "Old man ......" Jin thanked the "Mere Old Man" sincerely for his way of stopping Jin with a righteous argument. > "Yes, I guess so. ......" Jin could use the peepers directly, but he would prefer not to, since it would literally be a peep. * * * * * * In the end, Jin decided not to visit the Principality of Mercana, following the old man''s advice, But he did not resist to ask the old man, "Hey, Mr. President, what do you think will happen to the countries of Ars in the future? This is the only question that Jin could not help but ask. < The old man replied with a slightly out of focus answer. "Well, do you think so?" "Yes, I did." Jin wonders if all Hourai Island can do for this planet is to watch over it. Then he asks another question. "...... And you''re not going to tell me how my descendants are doing now, are you?" << "I see. ......" << Hearing this, a smile appeared on Jin''s face. "I see. I''m glad to hear that. < "......" Jin closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. To return to the original time, four hundred years ago. That was his main goal, and it was about to come true. "Everyone is at ......." Jin''s true place is not here, but 400 years ago. But now that he can return home, Jin is beginning to wonder about the future of this Horai Island. (Hmmm ...... what will the old man and Reiko do after I am gone?) Jin used to think that the island would continue to exist with his descendants. However, his descendants, for reasons unknown, seem to be living away from Horai Island. (The current Horai Island will not change its way of being without my magic power, voice print, and authentication key (password), or rather, the order .......) In other words, if Jin goes back to the original time, probably, Lao-kun and Reiko will act on their own. (That would be bad. ......) So, Jin comes up with an idea. (How about a copy of me will be activated right after I disappear from this era?) (How about that, right after I disappear from this era, a copy of me will be activated?) Without informing the old man and Reiko, Jin alone or with Erza''s help, will make an automata with his memories, knowledge and personality, and hide it somewhere secretly. Then, we can set the automata to start working when Jin returns to his own time. That''s a good idea.) The problem is that we can''t consult with the old man or Reiko, but we can consult with the other members of the . (Huh?) If that''s the case, we can make it now.(Then, is it OK if I make it now?) (Then, can I make it now?) Jin felt that it is not necessary to wait until he comes back home. "Hmmm... ......" There is a question whether the old man and Reiko would welcome Jin as an automaton or not. Putting that question on hold, Jin wanted to discuss with the old man something that had occurred to him while he was thinking about it, and he mentioned it to him. "......Hey, Mr. President, is advanced technology...... or is heterogeneous knowledge and technology unnecessary on this planet?" Jin was caught in such a thought. "Civilization develops better when there are opposites. ......?" In that sense, I suddenly think that the human race of the earth has always been in conflict with someone or something. The three-stage argument is also like that,...... Jin thinks in his head, but it is actually a dialectic. There are two opposing arguments, thesis (proposition) and antithesis (anti-proposition), and the process of reconciling the two and coming to a third synthesis (synthesis) = aufheben, roughly speaking, is a dialectic. Jin imagined that the synthesis would become a new thesis, and at the same time, a new antithesis would be born and developed ...... and so on, repeating endlessly. "There is a scientific civilization as opposed to a magical civilization." Jin''s musings continued. "What emerged from the two was the Adriana system of magic, including magical engineering. Naturally, this gave rise to a new conflict. That would be the <>. In other words, the antithesis of <> is the <>. Then what is the antithesis? Jin was neither a thinker nor a philosopher, so he did not immediately come up with an answer. Maybe it is something that the human beings of this planet, not me, should find out. This realization made Jin feel a little better. "Then, our role is over. From now on, we can live more freely. Thinking this, his shoulders relaxed. Jin decided to see if what he had always wanted to do would come true. "Old man, is it possible to move Horai Island to ?" 1598 - - 43-24 Appreciation Hourai Island was moved to . It is something that Jin has always had in his mind. He felt that there was a limit to his activities while trying his best to hide his existence. He thought about moving the base to the moon or outer space, but he was somehow uncomfortable with the idea of a base in a vacuum. << , that is, the Hailians were forced to move to Ars because of the depletion of resources. < "That is true." << We can also recycle them," the old man said. "We have resources recovered from the long-period planets, and we can go to the exoplanets to mine for resources if the need arises." < abandoned Hale. Certainly, there are many technologies that <> has and Jin does not have. However, there are also technologies that Jin has but <> could not develop. "I don''t know why < didn''t go to other planets to mine resources with a spaceship ......, though." > "Hmmm ......" I can''t go any further than to say that it was because of this mentality. If they didn''t like the idea of plundering from other planets, why did they move to Arus? "First of all, maybe they developed their spaceship technology after they decided to move there. If they had it from the beginning, they might have sent their spaceships to get resources, Jin imagines. "Well, that''s something I can''t answer," he says. "In any case, there are no inhabitants in Hale now. Maybe we could consider a reverse migration, a return, something like that?" <<< Okay, I see what you mean. ...... would require a very large ship, or a very large transfer unit. If you want to move the whole Horai Island, that is. "I''ll leave that to you, old man. In any case, Jin is supposed to go back to 400 years ago tomorrow as scheduled. In other words, everything will happen after Jin is gone. Of course, the that I just came up with will remain a secret. "Well, ......" Jin thought again about what he had left to do in this time. After all, he knew he would never be able to come back. Is there anything he can do not only for himself but also for Reiko and the old man? Is there anything I can do for Golem and the others? ....... And so Jin thought to himself, "Reiko, I''m going to look around Horai Island, will you follow me?" "Yes, Father!" Yes, Father!" Jin thought, "I''d like to meet the I''ve created once more. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Father." Reiko brings out a six-wheeled golem-engine car. Jin had built it for patrols, and Saki, Reinhard, and Hanna had ridden in it. "Okay, let''s go. We''ll start with the fields and orchards to the east. "Yes, sir." The drive is almost silent. The golem-engine car started to drive slowly. "The fields have expanded after all. And rice paddies. "Yes." The area under cultivation seems to have doubled since Jin knew. The early rice is almost ready for harvest. "I guess so." The early rice is already dropping golden ears. Jin waved to the golem maids working in the rice paddies. The same goes for the fields. Buckwheat, topopo (potatoes), itopo (sweet potatoes), black-eyed peas (cowpeas), red-eyed peas (adzuki beans), round peas (soybeans). Leafy vegetables, leeks. Corn. And of course wheat and barley. The harvest is stored in the ether stocker. When asked what they are doing with the harvest since there is no one to eat it now, I was told that they don''t want to accumulate too much, so they are secretly putting it into circulation. "We buy materials for a price and stock them." It is a good thing to convert currency into goods, since the economy will not turn if it is kept in dead storage. Again, Jin waves to the golem maids. "Hey, guys, looks like you''re not doing so bad." Yes, father. After all, your father made them. In addition, they are regularly maintained by a craftsman (smith). "It seems to be running well." It was so good that it made Jin''s heart ache to think about what would happen after he was gone. The Golem engine car approaches an orchard. Here, Persica (peaches), Apurul (apples), Citran (oranges), Ramon (lemons), etc., were all bountifully growing on the branches. "You''ll send me to 700672 regularly, right?" "Yes. Yes, sir. Yes, please. The fruit trees soon turn into chestnuts and walnuts. Golem maids were working here too. "Thank you, everyone." They are still working as they have been for 400 years. Just knowing that made Jin happy. Father, that''s our line. Thank you for bringing us into this world. The Golem engine car arrived at Tatsumi Bay. Here are the golem maids and the who are rebuilding the fishpond. "You are hard workers, all of you. "Your father made it that way for you. "......" For a while Jin gazed at the sea in silence. * * * * * * On the way back, we take a westward route. The same golem maids were hard at work in the fields and orchards here. "...... Thank you, Reiko." "Father?" For bringing me into this world. And for becoming my daughter. Jin tells Reiko his heartfelt thanks. 1599 - - 43-25 Separation from Horai Island It was the morning of September 17th, the fateful day. "Father, do you have an itch?" Jin had taken his morning bath and Reiko was washing his head. "Yes, I''m fine. Thank you." After rinsing off the lather with lukewarm water, he rinsed his hair with a honey rinse. "...... Reiko." "Yes?" Reiko''s unchanged behavior made Jin feel sorry for her. Probably as of today, Reiko won''t be able to see Jin again. Yes, never again. Still, she has helped Jin, the <>, to return to his own time, and she is still taking care of him. Although Jin knew that he would be able to meet the Reiko of that time period if he returned to the original time period, he could not help but feel a sense of inseparability from the Reiko of this time period as well. "Thank you." "Yes, father." Seeing Reiko answer with a smile, Jin felt a pain deep in his heart. (I''ll definitely have to make my own automata when I get back home...) ) Jin made a mental note of this once again. * * * * After finishing the breakfast prepared by Soleil and Luna and served by Reiko, Jin was enjoying the after-dinner tea surrounded by Anne, Lol and Leffa. Then he heard a voice from the old man. "I see." Jin replied in a slightly trembling voice and stood up. "Okay." Jin went out to the vestibule of the institute with Reiko, Soleil, Luna, Anne, Lol, and Leffa in tow. "This is ......." There, a huge magic circle was drawn. However, that was not what made Jin exclaim. There, all the golems of Horai Island were gathered. The silver-brown Army Golem, Land Squadron. The silver-blue Air Force Golem, Sky Squadron. Mermaid Squadron, the silver-white Mariner Golem, was embraced by Marine Squadron, the silver-blue Navy Golem. On the shoulders of the golden Space Force golem, the Cosmos Squadron, is the copper-colored Astro Squadron, a small space golem. The five-colored golem maids, Ruby, Ames, Topaz, Perid, Aqua and others. Soleil and Luna''s men, Prane and Satella. Deus ex machina and his servant Rei. The silver and black artisan golems, artisans (smiths), little artisans (smiths), mini artisans (smiths), inch artisans (smiths), and millimeter artisans (smiths). The fifth column (Quinta), which should be scattered in various places. The Horai Island Covert Task Force (SP). Fingers, 5cm miniature golems under the direct control of Lao Tzu. Sam and the others, miniature golems of 5cm in length for intelligence. The same is the Ninja Unit. Lise, a doctor (healer) automata. Jack, a surgical mini-golem. Nurse, an automata for nursing. Command. Steward. Butler. The general-purpose golem. Titan and Daedalus show their huge bodies in the distance. And the golem we created in this world, Hope. Finally, ...... Laojun''s mobile terminal, Laozi. They were lined up in a row, filling Jin''s field of vision. "Everyone ......" . "Yes. ......" Jin''s voice became a little tearful. Lao Tzu said what Lao Kun said. With this voice, all the gathered people bowed their heads to Jin. . "Old man, everyone ......" Jin replied with tears in his eyes. I am proud of you all. I''m proud of all of you. ...... And when I''m gone, I want you to live on in peace until there is someone worthy to serve you." Jin dares to use the word . "If that is too difficult, move to <> and watch over ...... Ars." Basically, Jin left it to the people of Ars to do as they please, and to help them if they were in danger of catastrophe or destruction. "That''s all from me." Then Reiko stepped forward. "Reiko?" Reiko gently hugged Jin. "Father. I have served you and your children and your children''s children, but I still have only one father." Reiko then pulled away from Jin. "Father, it was a pleasure to meet you. Give my regards to the old me. Reiko. Jin patted Reiko on the head for the last time. "Oh, that''s all right, old man. I''ll take care of you one more time." < Lao Tzu, who was standing beside him, opened his mouth. "I see." < "I didn''t know that." >. If you want to do it again, you would have to collect free magical elements (ether) in units of 1000 years. "Okay." "Yes, I am aware of that. The magic circle beneath Jin''s feet began to glow faintly. The glow grew stronger and stronger, until Jin''s figure was obscured by the light. "Father! Reiko called Jin''s name. "See you all at ......!" Jin''s voice echoed. > The old man''s voice. A light fills the space. After a few seconds, the light disappears. Jin is not there. * * * * * Jin was enveloped by the light and felt as if his body were floating. The intense light seemed to burn his retina even when his eyes were closed. Perhaps that is why his consciousness is fading away. "Father!" I heard Reiko''s voice from somewhere far away. "See you all at ......! Jin shouted with all his might. Then darkness fell. Jin felt as if his body was being torn in two, and he let go of his consciousness. 1600 - - 43-26 Return of humanity "......" I hear a voice from somewhere far away. "...... ni" I know that voice. "......Ni." A familiar voice. The voice you''ve been longing to hear. "...... Jin bro." Jin opened his eyes. "......I know that ceiling." Jin woke up in his room on Horai Island. "Jin ......" "Elsa,......" It was his beloved wife, Elsa, calling for him. Jin slowly pulls himself up from the futon. "Wake up, are you okay?" "Yes." Jin turned his head lightly. There was nothing wrong with his body. "Yes, that''s good. ......" Erza, who was slightly teary-eyed, told me that suddenly a transfer magic circle appeared in front of the institute and Jin appeared. Since Jin was unconscious, he was immediately taken to and treated, but there was nothing wrong with him. After that, Jin did not wake up for three days and three nights. "...... Are you sure it''s Elsa?" "Yes." "......What year is it?What''s the date?" September 20th, 3459. Coincidentally, it was the same date as the day we left the other side. "Well, ......, you''re back. ......" "Welcome back, Brother Jin." And Jin''s foggy head finally cleared. "Elsa." Elsa. Elsa! Brother Jin? Jin hugged Erza, who was right in front of him. It was not an illusion, but a solid presence in Jin''s arms. "Oh, you''re back. ......" "Welcome home." I''m home, Elsa. "...... welcome home." Elsa was going to say welcome home as many times as she could until Jin was satisfied. And then there was another shadow. "Father!" Reiko can''t stand to just watch from the shadows anymore. "Welcome home!" Reiko jumped on Jin. "I knew you would come back." Reiko, I''m home! Then more people came. Jin-san, welcome back. Hey. Mother-in-law, ...... and ......? Meine and the baby in her arms. That''s Mio. It''s your daughter. Mio. ...... "Welcome home, little girl!" And another one, Hannah, with a baby in her arms. "Abubu!" "Chloe, look, it''s your father!" "Chloe ......" The room around Jin became lively at once. "So these are my children. ......" Jin looked first at Mio in Meine''s arms and then at Chloe in Hannah''s arms. Both of them seemed to be in a good mood, as if they knew they were fathers. "Thank you, Elsa. ...... and I''m sorry I couldn''t be there for you when you were going through the hardest time." "No, that''s okay. I''m sure it was much, much harder for you, Jin. ...... "But still. I''m sorry. And thank you for giving me such a good baby." Jin gently hugged Erza once more. He noticed that the people around them were smiling ...... and staring at them, Hannah''s face a little red, but Jin did not let go of Erza''s hug. Erza, Mio, Yu, Meane, Hannah, and Reiko. Surrounded by his close friends, Jin felt that he had finally returned home. * * * * * * * * * * * That night, all the gathered to celebrate his return. "Welcome home, Jin! "Welcome home, Jin! "Welcome home!" Everyone was truly happy for Jin''s return. "Thank you. ......It took a lot of hard work, but I''m glad to be back. "I''d like to hear more about that." "Yes, yes, yes." "...... I know, I know. But ...... But what? But first, we have to retrieve all of the wards that have been deployed. That''s right. Then we can talk about what happened. But ......" But what? There are parts of my memory that are hazy and hazy. Mostly magical-technical things, you know." <<< Is it interference from the world to prevent the occurrence of contradictions due to time travel? >> Here the old man starts to say something difficult. "Is it possible that a corrective force was at work to prevent a time paradox from occurring?" Hannah says something similar. "That may be so. ......" "But what happens eventually happens, right, honey?" "Yeah." Jin takes a sip of Citran juice to quench his thirst. "I also thought I came here without getting any unnecessary information to avoid ...... time paradoxes as much as possible,......." Jin wonders now if the ambiguity was superfluous information. "I can''t remember what the descendants of me and the rest of the ...... family have been up to." "That''s too bad." "Yeah, but I did have Zion and Zion''s descendants to take care of me over there. And Marikka. What? Is that so? Yes. I''ll talk to you when I''ve done what I have to do. I''ll look forward to it. I''ll look forward to it." Jin laughed and said, "Maybe tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. And just as he had declared, the next day or two later, Jin finished all the work of retrieving the he had placed and told the members of the < what he had experienced. * * * * * * * * * * ......." Jin''s long story is over. "Welcome back, Jin." Reinhardt said, "Welcome back. "Welcome home." < greeted him with renewed welcome. (This was definitely the place I was going to return to. ......) Jin thought sincerely. The season was autumn. A cool breeze blew through the island of Horai. 1601 - - 43-27 Extra Story The year 320 of the continental calendar is 3899, in the Principality of Mercana. "I wonder what happened to Jin..." Eira Siata muttered as she stopped her work. Eira Siata suddenly stopped her work and muttered. I hope he is well. Stopping to fill in the ledger, Katya responds. "...... I guess it''s different to work efficiently without him, isn''t it?" "That''s true." The two look out the window. In the far distance should be the Principality of Jagus, where Jin was taken. The two looked out the window and saw the Duchy of Jagus, where Jin had been taken. What in the world is going on? In the Duchy of Jagus, Rhodoth, who had been kept under house arrest in the tower, had escaped, and there was a great commotion. Buried in the commotion, there is little mention of Jin, who escaped with him. It seems that all the golems he had sent were destroyed as well. "Unn, the automata he was carrying with him was that powerful!" We should have confiscated them and analyzed them. Don''t talk about things you can''t do, Carrion. What? "We can''t even analyze a generation-old golem by ourselves, can we?" "Gnu......" In some parts of the Duchy of Jagus, there was still a lot of confusion. * * * * "Master Paelova, we have discovered a vein of iron ore. It seems that some magi crystals are also being produced. "Oh, I see. And how deep is it? It''s 1,800 meters underground. Mm-hmm. ...... In the northern part of the Principality of Mercana, new veins of ore have been discovered one after another using the Magi machine left behind by Jin. However, since all of them are deep underground, it will be some time before they are unearthed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Jin-sama, you''ve gone. ...... "Yes. ......" "I''ll miss you, too. ...... "Yes. ......" In the Nordic Federation, Zion and Marikka were talking about how much they would miss each other. "What a cause and effect to have to say goodbye twice." "Yes. ....... He is a sinful man. * * * * And then, Horaijima. A whole day has passed since Jin was sent away, and the golem and the automata have been standing around the institute. The reason why the old man mobilized all the golems and automata was not only to see Jin off. <. Therefore, even the old man was temporarily malfunctioned, leaving only some of his functions. "......" Meanwhile, Reiko. She was conscious, but it took her half a day to accumulate enough mana to move her body. "...... father." She mutters sadly, and picks herself up. "" What he saw in his eyes was unbelievable. "...... Father?" A figure lies in the vestibule where the one-time transfer magic circle has disappeared. It was unmistakably Jin Nido. "Father!" Reiko rushes to him. Fearing that the time transfer may have failed, he picks Jin up in his arms. "Father! He calls out to him, but there is no answer. "...... He is alive, isn''t he? His heart is beating and he is breathing. I can''t leave him like this. Reiko picked up Jin and carried him into the house. She lays him down on a futon and lays him down there. "...... father,...... why on earth?" On the one hand, she is glad that they did not have to say goodbye, but on the other hand, she cannot be honestly happy when she thinks of Jin''s sadness at not being able to return to his original time. Jin slept for three days and three nights. In the meantime, the old man and the golems were reactivated and dispersed to their respective places. "Old man, what happened to your father?" "Then why is your father here?" At that moment, Jin, who had been bedridden, stirred. Reiko notices it with her own eyes. "Father?" "Uh, no. ......" Did you notice? Rei...... child? Yes, it''s me. Jin raised himself up from the futon and shook his head a couple of times. "Is this ...... the house on Horai Island? "Yes, it is." And it is the year 3899? .................. yes. So you couldn''t get back to ......? ........................ yes. Reiko could not reply immediately, thinking of Jin''s feelings. "But..." Eventually, Jin opened his mouth again. "Yes?" "For some reason, I don''t have much of a desire to go home." "Father, ......" "If you can''t go home, you can''t go home. I''m just going to be a man of this time period from now on." < The old man interrupted him. "My Lord?" >. "A duplicate?" < Magiatom. It is an atom made up of only magic particles, consisting of magic protons, magic electrons and magic electrons, and magic electrons (=magitrons). It is more stable than ordinary atoms. < The old man said, "There is a hypothesis that the magic atom (magiatom) compensates for the loss of the body during inter-world transfer, and this is the same effect. "But I wasn''t injured in any way this time, was I?" <> "Muu......" The old man says that a must have occurred in hyperspace. The reflection may have caused a part of the spirit to come back to our time line. <, it could be that something like a spirit ...... or a was at the core and reconstituted the body of the master (mylord). I can''t prove it, but it makes sense. "Then, 400 years ago, you would have ......?" The old man said that the unusual phenomenon of jumping through time might have caused the multiple phenomena in the mental body. "So, I am back to where I was 400 years ago, right?" "......" Jin looked down silently for a while, but then looked up and smiled with an expression as if he had just blown it. "Yeah, no doubt. The other ......< me is back to where I was 400 years ago. Because now I have almost no desire to go back." "Father ......" "I''m here. That''s all right, isn''t it? Yes! < Perhaps fate, in the name of coincidence, has smiled upon us just a little, taking pity on Reiko and the others'' pain. Or perhaps Jin''s desire to go back to his own time, but still having regrets about this time, made a miracle happen. Either way, Jin Nido, the Magecraft Meister, has decided to live in this time period again. 1602 - - 44-01 Humanity of the Future October 1, 3459. Jin was keenly aware of . Most of the milestones he tried to make for the future were not successful ...... or even feasible. For example, if you try to make a <> to counter the <>, you will ....... "Ugh ...... I have no idea what to do." For some reason, when he tries to make it, it is as if his mind is in a haze, even though he has definitely made it before. Or, when he tries to make a < in advance, thinking that it would be a little easier, ....... "Honey, just watch Mio for a minute." "What?...... um, yeah." I was interrupted in some way and was unable to work. The worst of all may have been that I lost the desire to create . After such repeated occurrences, Jin finally stopped trying to forcefully <. Hanna, with her rare imagination, describes this phenomenon, "I do believe that we can change the future. But for you, it''s the past, so you can''t change it. He was blackmailing her. "I guess we''ll just have to ...... take it easy and go easy. ......" "Abu..." "Oh!" Jin worked on changing Mio and Chloe''s diapers. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * October 1, 3899. "So all my descendants have taken refuge on Onogoro Island? < Jin had finally learned what he wanted to know. The old man advised him. "Yes, I know. Marikka didn''t hide it from me out of malice. I should rather thank her for sheltering my descendants. "But why are they taking refuge?" < "Hostages?" < "Oh, so that''s what you mean ......" Jin was convinced that if that had happened, Horai Island would have been easily overrun. "So we can''t even leave Onogoro Island without doing something about the <>." Jin was worried. "......Well, there are so many things I want to do, so many things I want to know, I don''t know where to start. ......" "Father, why don''t you greet Mr. Zion and the others?" Reiko advised Jin, who was troubled. "Yes, I think so. I''ve taken care of you in many ways, so let''s start there first. Once a decision is made on one action, the rest can happen without a hitch. Jin started his preparations with a little hope for this. However, he only loaded up some ripe Persica as a souvenir. Persica from Horai Island contains more free magic element (ether) and is more nutritious than those from other places. Such persica is literally stored in the ether stocker. The ether stocker is a refrigerated storage with a free-magic element (ether) ratio of more than 20 percent, which enables semi-permanent storage of magical materials. About 100 years'' worth of Persica and other crops and materials are stored there. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hope, the pilot of the Pegasus 2, is ordered to take the Pegasus 2 to the Nordic Federation. He is accompanied by Reiko, of course. In the plane, Jin asks Reiko a question. It doesn''t matter what he asks her anymore. "By the way, Reiko, how is <> doing now? Edgar used to be the pilot of <>. "Yes. Edgar is now in the service of your father''s descendants. "Oh, I see." The descendants of Jin, who is also the descendant of Elsa. There is nothing wrong with Edgar serving. "Will I see you soon?" "Yes, I''m sure we will meet." Pegasus 2 flew under the blue sky at subsonic speeds of 1,000 kilometers per hour. Pegasus 2 flew under the blue sky at a subsonic speed of 1,000 kilometers per hour. "Jin!You didn''t come back! I asked Zion first, which was a natural response. "No, I went back to ....... There were a lot of things ...... going on." Jin was at a loss for words, "Okay, let''s listen to it carefully. Zion invited Jin, Reiko, and Hope into the house. "...... and that''s why." Jin explained to Zion what had happened, speculating. "Well, you mean that something happened during the transfer and there are now two djinn?One of them went back 400 years ago, and the other one is you. "Well, to put it bluntly, that''s what it means." Jin guesses that the memorial stone he brought from the other world may have done something, but there is no way to know for sure. There is no way to know for sure, because there is no more stone. "But is it a good thing that it turned out the way it did?Jin will be in this world from now on." "I''m glad to hear that. "I''m glad to hear you say that." Then Rhodos, Vita and Marikka arrived. Jin-sama! Jin-sama! Jin-sama!" I gave the same explanation to the three of them as I had given to Zion, and they looked happy. "...... If you assume that the other Jin-sama was able to return to his own time, we would be very happy. Rhodes said, "The fact that Jin over here has little desire to return may be evidence that <>. "I hope so. Pegasus 2 exists, too, so I guess I went back 400 years and made it right." "Ugh, that''s complicated." Vita said with a frown. "So. ...... thanks again, Marikka." "What?" For sheltering my descendants on the island of Onogoro. "Oh, ......, uh, you''re not mad at me, are you?" "Why would I be mad?You protected my descendants." "I''m glad to hear you say that." Marikka felt relieved. "So, what are you going to do now? Marikka asked Jin, "I''m going to say hello to the 700672, and then I''m going to prioritize what I''m going to do. With these words, Jin asked Reiko to bring him a Persica as a souvenir. 1603 - - 44-02 Offer of cooperation "Oh, I didn''t know that was possible. That''s very interesting." Jin left Zion''s house and visited No. 700672. "Not only time transfer, but also space transfer is beyond our knowledge. It seemed that even No. 700672 could not explain what had happened. "But it''s a convenient situation in a way, isn''t it? It is possible that the ...... may have planted a little something in there." 700672 also suggested that there may have been some interference. "I can''t prove it or verify it, but..." "That''s right." It was hard for Jin to believe that such a time-honored being had not thought about how to recover from any errors. The method of recovery was beyond Jin''s imagination, and he could not say anything about it. I am here now, and that is all that matters. When he told this to No. 700672, he said, "I guess that''s philosophy too," he replied. He replied, "That''s philosophy, too. So, what are you going to do now, Mr. Jin? "Yes. Well, there are so many things to do that it is difficult to prioritize them. "That''s true." The 700672 nodded, thought for a moment, and then spoke again. "Perhaps you don''t have enough information yet, Jin-dono. How about prioritizing learning more about this period for the time being? "Oh, you mean that ......." Jin can understand that. Or perhaps he was still a little impatient. "Thank you very much. I feel a little better now. "Of what? We got a lot of Persica juice today. Jin seemed to have gotten an idea from that comment. "We should also check out the situation in Kunlun Island. "Yes. Once we set one goal, we will be able to find out what we need to do one after another. "That''s right. Jin wanted to return his descendants to their normal lives as soon as possible. On the other hand, he was also hesitant to meet them face to face. I was afraid I would be blamed ....... You''re the reason we have to go through all this!I can''t get over it when someone says that to my face. ......) As Jin still hasn''t felt the blood family, he was a coward in a strange way. (I''m sure I''m looking at my children''s faces when I go back 400 years ago.) (I''m sure I''m looking at my child''s face when I go back 400 years ago). "One more thing. What do you intend to do in the current world, ...... Jin-dono?" What do you mean, what are you going to do? 700672 smiled. "I mean exactly what I mean. You are a person who should not exist in this time period. In other words, there would be many problems if you were to appear in the public eye. That is certainly true. "If it were at Lord Zion''s or Marikka''s place, it would be acceptable. ......" At this point Jin decided to share his thoughts. "I''m thinking of going to <> in the end." "Oh, to <>." < "Will you live in seclusion there?" "No, that''s impossible." Jin''s personality is such that even he thinks it''s impossible. "I''m just going to move my base there, but I was thinking of sneaking over here and living among the ordinary people." "I see, that sounds interesting. 700672 thought for a moment, "Would you like to join me in this plan?" He asked. "What?" "I have no memories of Hale, but it is the home planet of my creators, the Masters. If that were the case, he says, he wouldn''t have to stay locked up in his room like he does here. "There is nothing more to do or to be done here on Ars. I''d be happy to have your help, Mr. 700672. Then it''s settled. 700672 smiles. But you can''t do it so quickly, can you? "I know that. I can wait a hundred years or so with plenty of time to spare. "No, I don''t intend to spend that much. Jin was really in a rush. For the next 30 minutes or so, Jin and 700672 briefly discussed the plan. about the with 700672. After all, he is a senior (?) in the field of immigration. He was a senior (?) in the field of immigration. Although he had not experienced the migration himself, it seems that there are many records of the time. "There is a warp gate, so basically there is no problem with the movement. "Yes, that''s true. As far as I''m concerned, the question is how big to move the research institute. "Yes, I understand that. "And then there''s the current resource problem in Hale. Originally, the originators moved to Ars because they were faced with the problem of resource depletion. "I have some ideas about that." In this respect, 700672 can be relied upon. "The second planet ......<> is even richer in mineral resources than Ars. According to 700672, the second planet, Zipert, has five satellites. The second planet, Zipert, has five satellites, one of which is very rich in resources. "But there is a problem." Of course there is, Jin thought. If the resources were easily available, the originals would not have emigrated. "The second planet has an unusually high concentration of free magical element (ether) due to its proximity to the sun Celan, or even more so." "More than ......<>?" < is an agglomeration of free magical elements (ether) located at L5 in the Lagrange point of Hale. The free magical element (ether) that the who emigrated to Ars in the past kept sending from Ars for the sake of their compatriots who remained in Hale has accumulated in space due to the inadequacy of the receiving side. The concentration of free magic element (ether) is so high that normal magic devices cannot work properly. Now that the old man has used most of it to send Jin back 400 years ago, the is virtually non-existent. "Yes. And one more thing. The space is filled with of so-called , which cannot be prevented by any kind of warding." "Then how do you know that there are abundant resources there?" Jin asked the first question that came to his mind. "That''s a good question. This information was brought back by chance by one of the more than 200 expedition teams sent to ......." The rest of the expedition never returned. "...... is it possible for you to do that now, Jin-dono?" "Yes. ......" < doesn''t have that would be useful? "...... I guess we have to use <> after all." 1604 - - 44-03 Information Gathering "<> or ......" No. 700672 made a scowl. "So you''re going to do something that even your <> couldn''t do." "To begin with, was that second planet ......<>?The originators couldn''t have done it even if they wanted to, couldn''t they?" At Jin''s words, 700672 smiled thinly. "That''s true. I know that you can do it,...... but can I do it?< couldn''t do?" "I don''t know if it''s for me to say, but I think it''s a good thing that you, 700672, are going beyond ." "What do you mean?What do you mean? "As a parent, it''s nice to see your child surpass you. ...... This is what the director said to me every time when I was in the facility. In other words, it is the duty of children to surpass their parents ......." He added his own interpretation and pushed the 700672 back. "......Huh, I see. You mean to say that ...... will praise me if I accomplish something that even couldn''t do?Jin-dono?" "Yes." The 700672 meditated for a moment, then opened his eyes and looked at Jin. "Thank you, Jin-dono. Let''s give it a try. I would ...... also like to say that I would be happy if those of <> blood would ...... live in Hale, if they wish. I would be happy if they could live in Hale." Although the <>......<> were forced to migrate for various reasons, reviving their home planet after tens of thousands of years is also an achievement their descendants can be proud of. "If it becomes easier to get to and from Ars, maybe some people will try to emigrate. Jin thought that if that were to happen, there would be many problems, but he kept his mouth shut, saying that now was not the time to discuss such things. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the meaningful meeting, Jin returned to Horai Island. "......I guess we have a lot of work to do." Still, just because I''m a little worried doesn''t mean I don''t like the situation. "First of all, I need to gather information about this world. This is what No. 700672 said to me. Since Jin was in a state of so-called , he decided that it would be better to start by getting acquainted with the common knowledge of this world, and he took a rest for the day. The next day. "Mr. Yumiko, first of all, I would like to know what kind of position the has in this world. At the same time, I would like to know what the world is like now. << "I see." I see..." "I see..." "So, although they are neighboring countries, they are far apart, and culturally very different, so that the <> situation would not be considered too suspicious. "......Then, first of all, the village of Kaina, I guess. ......" This is what I was most concerned about. He could have asked the old man about the current situation, but he was somewhat reluctant to do so. "Your father''s has been preserved, but the warp gate has been removed. "Well, I guess so. ...... is preserved? "Yes. . "Really ......?" Jin was so excited that he wanted to hold his head in his hands. "...... Nido castle?" < The old man explains. "Yes. ......?" B and C> and the 102nd unit of the <> are still maintained as they were, in case you are wondering. <. Each of them is faithfully fulfilling the role they played 400 years ago. "I see. I see. ...... Then I ask you, what about <>?" < Yes, I''m still working. However, it has been peaceful for a while now, so I don''t have much to do. Kaina Village is a and is recognized throughout the world, so the < did not bother them too much. "That''s good to know." Jin was honestly glad that the village of Kaina, which he recognized as his second home, was peaceful. "Okay, let''s go to the village of Kaina first. Jin decided. "Father, how would you like us to get there?" When Reiko asked him about it, Jin replied, "Oh, I see." < is too conspicuous. "What is a reasonable means of transportation that an individual should have nowadays? The old man answered. "Is that it? ......" In short, it''s the Ars version of ......, or rather the magical version of a motor paraglider. During my travels with Rhodes, I''ve seen several different types. The shallow dish-shaped air sacs (wings) are propelled by wind magic wind, and the propulsion is provided by wind thrusters. That''s all there is to it. Jin had a lot of room for his own originality and ingenuity. "Just using subterranean spider silk (GSS) for the air sacs would make it much more reliable," he said. In addition, the framework is made of 64 light silver, and the propulsion system uses a magical jet propulsion engine (magijet engine) instead of a wind magic propulsion system (wind thruster). Furthermore, we thought that if we used a wind-shield, we could increase the speed by a factor of five or so. "Let''s get to work on it! Jin is about to go to the workshop for the first time in a long while to make a . His gait reflected his excited mind. "Let''s say there are six people on board." The reason for this is to make Jin, Reiko, and the pilot hopeful. In addition, we will have room for three more. The size will be ...... umm ......" I don''t have any data for this project since it is my first time to make it. But I still manage to make it, as I am a . "I''ll just multiply the Rhodes one by 1.5." Since that prototype had a four-person capacity, the output of the engine and the area of the air sacs should have been doubled, but that was not the case. We will cover this by increasing the output of the engines and reducing the weight of the fuselage. In addition, a is installed for emergency use to prevent a crash. Furthermore, a warp gate can be installed for escape. "Oh, we should also carry a gravity-controlled magic device. The specs of the blow floaters are already looking like a blow floater, but that''s what Jin does. Neither the old man nor Reiko said anything. No, Reiko and others are actively bringing materials to the site. In case you are wondering, there are more materials in Horai Island now than there were 400 years ago ...... or <> when Jin was there. It is said that they purchased it with the increasing amount of assets. It''s because Ars is a treasure trove of resources. "Did my descendants not use much?" Or did they have more material than they used? "Well, the inventory of Persica and Citran and the like is growing. So we can sell those things." The old man later told me that fruits from Horai Island were sold at a very high price. The reason for the past tense is because they stopped shipping since the rise of the . "Well, never mind. Let''s start with this one." Jin was happy as he assembled the blow floaters. 1605 - - 44-04 Accompanying the Road The completed blow floater was immediately test flown by Hope. "Well, it''s not quite there yet," he said. Jin, who was checking its light flight with the naked eye and the , let out a small complaint. "Father, what is it?" "It''s the shape of the wing or the air sac. The circular shape makes it stable, but it is not straight. "Unless you want to fold it up, it''s a vertical ...... tail wing ...... tail wing, isn''t it? A fuselage?Let''s try to put it in." After landing, Jin immediately modifies the blow floater. "This way, it''s not an air sac anymore, but a wing. A circular ...... shape, yes, with a shallow dish turned upside down and a fuselage running through the center. It also increases the strength of the wing, so it kills two birds with one stone. I thought about making a triangular wing, but I thought it would stand out too much from the original shape, so I decided against it. "It looks like an old pot lid. Jin, who was influenced by the Director''s love of historical dramas, thought, "It looks like a pot lid that would have been used by Tsukahara Bokuden or something like that. A quiet word. The modified blow-floater soared into the sky again. "Oh, it looks good this time. It is obvious that the straight line stability has been improved. "It may not be as maneuverable as it used to be, but it''s still ......." I''m not too worried about that since the pilot is Hope. If it were a human, I''d have a heck of a time controlling the plane during landing. Also, folding is no longer a consideration. "Now it''s just a matter of comfort and overall balance. We''ve already taken care of that. The strength of the car has been reviewed and reinforced, resulting in a lighter weight. Considering the shape of the seat and the visibility of the cockpit, part of the <> were made of transparent material to ensure upward visibility. Finally, Hitoshi and Reiko got on board to check it out. "Oh, it''s a comfortable ride." Rhodes'' model was a portable type that folds up, while this one is a stationary type. It is not surprising since the basic performance is different. "I''ll make about 10 of the same model and send them to Zion. Jin thought that it would be easier to make the excuse that it was the latest model of the Nordic Federation. Of course, it does not have a warp gate and a force field generator, but it still has sufficient performance. The day we built 10 more machines, we decided to make a new one. The day ends with the production of 10 more machines. We decided to go to the Nordic Federation the next day. "Ah, it''s a nice hot spring. A hot spring is the only way to wash away the fatigue of the day, says Jin. "......, but if your whole body is made of <>, you shouldn''t have any physical or chemical abnormalities, right? Except for the mental ones," Jin says, renewing his awareness of his own body. "But I do get tired, don''t I? Lactic acid builds up, I guess, because the magic atom is stable and works no differently from a normal atom. Father, let me wash your back. "Oh, thank you." And so the day of many events came to an end. * * * * October 3rd. After breakfast, Jin slowly began to get ready for the day. Of course, he prepared to go to the Nordic Federation. It was the first time since the day before yesterday. Ten new wind-powered blow floaters (blow floaters), Sky 11 to 20, are on board. After the handover, they will return by the warp gate on board Jin''s blow floaters. The eleven blow floaters flew at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour. "Yes, even without the use of wings, this speed is stable enough. The increased wing loading seems to have made the aircraft more resistant to wind. Since Zion had been notified in advance, the clan territory of <> launched a blow floater to greet Jin and the others as they approached. Welcome, my friends! Led by the blow floaters, Jin and his 11 aircraft landed at the airfield without difficulty. "Jin!" "Master Gin!" Theon and Marikka greet us. "Wow, you have created something amazing! Marikka was impressed by Jin''s blow floater. "The maneuvering method is the same. But I''m not so good at small turns. But it''s faster. Jin briefly explained the precautions to be taken. Meanwhile, Skye and the others returned through the warp gate. Zion and Marikka know what''s going on, so there''s no problem. Rhodes and Vita came running in. Jin-san! Jin-sama!" It seems that Rhodes and Vita have decided to call him and , respectively. "Is this a blow floater made by ...... Jin-san?" "Yes. "Yes. I''m going to give you these 10 blow floaters as a gift for all the help you''ve given me. "Wow, that''s amazing!I want to ride on one! "Thank you, Mr. Jin!" Zion explained the situation to the assembled clansmen and handed them over to the appropriate personnel. Vita, on the other hand, was eager to get on the boat. "Great-grandmother, please give me a ride just once! At her entreaties, Zion relented. So Zion said, "......You''re such a good girl. ......Lo, take a ride on this plane for a test drive." And Rhodes gave his permission. "Are you sure?" "Thank you, Grandma!" Zion was sweet on his granddaughter. She was so sweet to her granddaughter. "Wow, that''s great!It''s much faster than the last one! "It''s very stable. ...... It''s not very stable, but it''s only a little. Good stability is important for flying ......." Vita and Rhodes each had their own honest opinion. "...... Well, first we need to gather information. That''s why we''re going to the village of Kaina. That''s good, isn''t it?" Looking up at the blow floaters that Rhodes was piloting, Jin told Zion about his plan. "Then I''ll put Law on as a guide. I think it will be more convenient in many ways. "Are you sure?It would be a big help to me. Zion smiled. "That''s all right. She said she had a great time traveling with Jin, and now I want her to experience many things, you know? "I understand. If he wants, I''ll ask him to join us. "Yes, please let me join you!" "Oh, I love you, brother!" When the two came downstairs and heard what Zion had to say, Rhodes gave his consent without hesitation, and Vita envied him. Thus, Jin''s companion was decided. 1606 - - 44-05 At Nido Castle after a long time, Since Rhodes had decided to accompany him, Jin stayed in the clan territory of for about half a day. During that time, Jin asked, "Jin-sama, what is the meaning of this structure?" "Master Jin, what kind of effect are you trying to achieve with this material? "Master Jin, this material is not just light silver, is it?Could it be the legendary 64 light silver? Marikka''s disciples were asking her many questions such as "Is this the legendary 64 light silver? "This is an important part for stability. That''s why ......" "This component helps to keep the wings from twisting. ...... "What''s the legend?"......64Light silver is ordinary light silver with 6 percent aluminum and 4 percent vanadium. Jin also teaches carefully. "Do you know what aluminum and vanadium are?" "Oh, yes! "Yes, I do! I know what they are! "Okay, then. ......" Maricka saw him smiling, remembering her younger self. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Now that Rhodes was ready and lunch had been served, Jin was ready to leave. "Well, I''m off," he said. "Grandmother, Marikka-sama, I''m off!" Bye. Take care of yourselves, you two. Jin''s blow-floater took off. It is about 300 kilometers to the village of Kaina. The blow float plane, which flies at 200 kilometers per hour, will take one and a half hours to reach the village. During this time, Jin was asked many questions by Rhodes. "Why didn''t you return 400 years ago?" Jin could not answer this question correctly. Perhaps the other Jin had returned, but there was no way to prove it. So, as a hypothesis, <>. "......" Was he satisfied or did he not understand? Rhodes remained lost in thought for the rest of the day until the blow floaters crossed the Pazdekst isthmus and the village of Kaina came into view. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ah, that''s the village of Kaina. ......" Jin''s eyes caught a glimpse of the old scenery. Not much has changed. The number of houses has increased a little, and the area of fields has also increased a little. "Land in the front yard of Nido Castle, please. Jin instructs Hope, the pilot, to land in the front yard of Nido Castle. Since Nido Castle also serves as a lodging facility for travelers from outside the castle, the old man asks the castle''s administrators, B and C, and the Golem Maid of Unit 102, Goshiki. B and C, and <> of unit 102. Perhaps these visitors are rare, but the children of the village are chasing after the blow floaters as they fly low for landing, pointing at them. Jin looks for Hannah among them. "Master, welcome to the village of Kaina. When the blow-floater landed in the front yard of the castle, Butler B came out to greet him. "Thank you for all your hard work over the years. Keep up the good work." "Yes, Master." To Butler B, Jin tells him. "For the time being, call me by my name in public." I understand, Master Jin. Tell the other members to do the same. Yes, Master Jin. Leaving Butler B in charge of the blow floaters, Jin, Reiko, Hope, and Rhodes headed for Nido Castle. "Not much has changed. Not much has changed from the Nido Castle that Jin knew. Jin himself probably did not do much to the castle himself 400 years ago, and although it may have deteriorated over the past 400 years, regular maintenance has made it almost unrecognizable, There may have been some deterioration over the past 400 years, but due to regular maintenance, it was barely noticeable even to Jin''s eyes. "Yes. Basically, we were instructed to maintain the building in its present condition. "Yes, that''s fine." As for Jin, he does not like to see his familiar place being redecorated so often. With this thought in mind, he enters the building. Of course, he takes off his shoes. Rhodes knows what he''s doing and takes off his shoes before Butler tells him to do so. Not to mention Reiko. And Hope, after applying a engineering spell to her feet, put on the slippers provided. As a side note, most of Jin''s golems do this. The exception is the golem maids. The exception is the golem maids, because they wear clothes and shoes. "Ah, there''s a little more stuff..." Jin goes to the 5th floor apartment. The golem maids had worked hard to clean the room so that there was not a speck of dust. On the bookshelf were about 10 books that he had never seen before. They were made of wooden paper, and each book had about 100 pages. The front, back, and spine covers are made of leather. Jin casually pulled out one of the books and opened it. "An album?" It was indeed an album. And what''s more, it was an album. "Elsa ...... Hannah ......" Pictures of people I had missed. "Reinhardt......Berce......Saki......Licia......Marcia ......" There were a lot of photos taken in the village of Kaina. And. "Is this ......?" Elsa and Jin holding a small baby. "Is this ...... my ...... child?" Then. "Oh ...... is it ......?" A single tear fell from Jin''s eye. He had thought he had no regrets, and in fact, he had no desire to go back to the past. However, such feelings and nostalgia were two different things. "Elsa ...... looks so happy." Erza smiles next to Jin. Jin, who was standing next to her, was also smiling. "I guess I ...... was happy, too." When I think of this, I can feel a warmth spreading inside my chest. It is a proof that I was alive in that time. Proof that I was happy. "I see, you were happy. Then ...... is good." There must be a similar album in the study of the institute, though I haven''t checked it yet. When he gets settled down, Jin thought he would check it out. Perhaps there might be a video or audio recording of the event. Jin chuckled at the thought that it was him. 1607 - - 44-06 In Kaina Village after a long time, After looking at the nostalgic album, Jin picks up another book and opens it. It was Jin''s production notes. "...... Hmmm, let''s not open it unless we need it." Jin thinks that he doesn''t need a small cup to enjoy making things. Other books, he finds, are the latest editions of maps or documents summarizing the situation in various countries. However, there was one book in particular that caught Jin''s attention. Jin looks through the book slowly. His face was colored with astonishment. "......Why ......?" What surprised Jin was the report on the research of the magical tool, the prototype of the <>. "It must have been written by the old me, because the ...... characters are definitely my own." Jin thought that it must be somewhere between 400 and 300 years ago, and opened the back cover. "Oh, there it is." He thought that he would have made sure to write the inscription on the back of the book. "June 10, 3506. ......?" Jin was 70 years old at that time. "Hmmm... ......." I look at the contents again. "Oh ......?" On the first page, there was a scribble <>. "Possibilities of knowledge transfer (transinfo) ......." A little further reading reveals that <> is a useful magic, but it is regrettable that it cannot be used by everyone. Therefore, it is suggested that it might be possible to make it more generally usable, and to do so, it might be a good idea to temporarily imitate the wavelength of magic. "Perhaps Golbert Malkitas used this as a reference to complete the . Such was Jin''s speculation. may have been based on the effective use of knowledge transfer (trans-info). However, there is no way to be sure. "But it would be ironic if that were the case. ......" What you develop for the best of your intentions ends up causing you pain. Jin chuckled at the irony of it all. Then. "Mr. Jin, Mr. Rhodes is waiting for you. Butler C called out, "Mr. Jin, Mr. Rhodes is waiting for you. In case you are wondering, I have instructed the butler and the golem maids not to call me in public. "Oh, yes, that''s right." I got carried away, but now Jin had a companion. Reiko and Hope would wait for Jin as long as he wanted, but it would be a shame to keep Rhodes waiting too long. Jin hurried downstairs. "Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?" Jin scratched his head and apologized. "No, not at all. It''s been a long time, and I''m sure Jin-san missed you." "Thanks for the ......." Rhodes was grateful for the consideration, so Jin thanked him frankly. "Well, let''s check out the village." There was still a lot of time before the evening. Jin wanted to look around the village of Kaina for the first time in a long time, or rather after 400 years. "In that case, I will show you around. Butler C offered. He said that he had been offering this kind of service to his rare visitors. "Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. This is the Erme River. The Erme River flows by Nido Castle. In the spring, the riverbank is a place for gathering wild vegetables, and in the summer, it seems to be a place for playing in the water. It is a playground for the children of the village, and the collection of "Magi Sand" is said to be still carried out today. Jin fondly remembered Kurt, Mario, Patty, Jesse, and the other children he used to play with. From there, they continue north along a well-trodden path. The shelter is still standing. It has not been used for the past 400 years. We should be glad that it has not been used, since it is an emergency facility. "You have a shelter. You are a very well prepared village." Rhodes was impressed. The inside of the village reminded him of the old days. "Ah, it''s so nice, isn''t it? Jin''s eyes were moistened at the sight of the village of Kaina, which had not changed much in 400 years. "Father, there is a well." Reiko pointed in the direction of a well with a roof, to which a pump was attached. "Heh ...... which one ...... is it?" "Father, what''s wrong?" "This ...... is the pump I made." This is one of the first pumps Jin built in the village of Kaina. He was pleased and surprised to find it still in use. "We regularly do and other maintenance work on it, so it can still be used. "I see." Since it is the piston gaskets that wear out, it is only a matter of replacing them. The sliding parts are repaired by to prevent wear, or by adding material by when worn out. "The maker''s heart is in the right place." Again, Jin''s eyes were burning. "This is the village headman''s house. The place that used to be Guy Beck''s house is now the village headman''s house. The current village headman is a man named Geissack. Jin walked onward while listening to Butler C''s story, and finally arrived at the place. "This is the workshop of the . "...... Wow." The surrounding area is surrounded by hedges, and it is easy to see that it has been preserved as a memorial museum. In addition, the Martha House is included in the site. It is said that Martha was the and benefactor of the Magecraft Meister in the village of Kaina. Jin is struck with an indescribable emotion at Butler C''s explanation. "Mr. Martha ...... Hannah ......." For some reason, he remembers Hannah''s smile. It has long since been lost in the distant past. "...... is the one who is left behind, after all. Those who are left behind are lonelier than those who are going away. Jin thought he had heard these words sometime before. Rhodes was a little away from Jin without saying a word, looking out for him. Of course, Reiko and Hope, too. From outside the hedge, Jin looked at the old workshop for a while, but then turned on his heel. He changed his mind and resumed his tour of the village. "That''s the snow room over there," he said. "Oh, you''ve added more rooms?" "Yes. We have built another one just like it so that we can cool not only food but also drinks. It was done with no money and only ...... effort, Butler C said. We passed by a hot spring. "It''s the oldest hot spring in the city." The design of the building was almost the same as the one when Jin built it, although it had been rebuilt as expected. The place where Eric''s store was located was a small supermarket-like store, selling a variety of goods including daily necessities, food, clothing, and magic tools. Next was an orchard. The most common type of fruit is april due to the climate, but about 20% of the orchards are planted with kemelia trees, and the seeds are harvested and pressed to make kemelia oil. In addition, although not a fruit tree, the <, or as it is called in the Shoro Kingdom, is also planted and marketed under the name of <. The tea is said to be good for one''s health, and has been selling like hotcakes recently. Adjacent to the orchard is a regular field. Wheat, barley, leafy vegetables, beans, potatoes, corn, etc. were planted. The leaves of beans, potatoes, and corn were beginning to wither, reminding us of the changing seasons. The faces of the people working in the orchards and fields were full of healthy smiles, indicating that life in this village is easy to live. Jin was moved by the fact that the village of Kaina is still as peaceful as ever. A golem cat crossed Jin''s path. "Oh, is that ......?" Yes, it was built by Jin-sama a long time ago. It has been regularly serviced so that not a single unit is missing. They protect our crops from rats and other small vermin. In his spare time, he is also a playmate for the children of the village. Then we went to the north of the village. This is a pasture where horses, pigs, and cattle are kept. "Pigs came to Kogun from Mitsho about 350 years ago, and we started raising them in this village about 300 years ago," he said. "I see." "Nowadays, smoked pigs are a specialty of the village. The aroma of the query is very popular. I was honestly happy to hear that the smoked meat Jin had taught them had become a local specialty. Finally, Jin took Reiko alone to the cemetery in the northwest of the village. Surrounded by coniferous trees and lined with simple tombstones, it was a particularly quiet place in the village of Kaina. Jin and Reiko stop at one corner. "......" Jin silently puts his hands together. Reiko offers him a flower she picked from the field. The two of them stand there in silence throughout the scene. 1608 - - 44-07 In Toka Village after a long time, The sun was setting and the wind was getting colder, so Jin and Reiko decided to return to Nido Castle. "Oh, you have a visitor?" "Oh, are you a visitor?" "This is very unusual. Please take your time in this empty village. Villagers who had finished working in the fields saw Jin and Reiko and greeted them in a friendly manner. This reminded Hitoshi of the old days, and he felt a twinge in the back of his nose. (I tried not to talk to them because of this.) Jin''s intention was defeated by the friendliness of the villagers. However, it was accompanied by a little sadness and a great comfort. At Nido Castle, the five-colored golem maids in charge of the castle were working hard. At Jin''s request, they prepared a dish typical of the village of Kaina, using local ingredients. Bread, barley porridge, vegetable and bacon soup, tempura of wild vegetables, and grilled river fish. The taste is nostalgic for Jin. "It''s quite delicious. Especially these wild vegetables. Rhodes'' palate seemed to be satisfied as well, and both of them enjoyed the dinner. * * * * * * * * * * * * * That night, Jin stayed in his own bedroom. A nostalgic room. The bedding. Jin slept soundly. He felt as if he had dreamed something, but when he woke up, he had forgotten it. The next day, the 3rd, he woke up early and went up to the 6th floor. The weather was clear. The air is clear and you can see far into the distance on this autumn morning. "Ah, this is a view I''ve always wanted to see. There is a high mountain in the far north. Beyond them is the Pazdekst isthmus and the Nord Fjord. The sky to the east is reddish, and the sun is just about to rise. To the west, the coniferous forests were colored red in the morning sun and stretched as far as the eye could see. To the south, the surface of the Herme River glows, and beyond it is the Togo Pass and the village of Toka (......). Jin watched the village of Kaina in the morning light for a while. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Rhodes woke up and we had breakfast. Toast, bacon and eggs, vegetable salad, citran juice. This is about right for Jin, but Rhodes seemed to be a little short, so he had more bacon and eggs. "What would you like to do today?" Rhodes asks over a cup of after-dinner tea (teh-eh). "Well, let''s stop by ...... the neighboring village of Toka, and then go to the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. "The capital is Alban, isn''t it? I believe there is a big airport there. Rhodes explains. Yes, that''s right. There is an airport to the south of Alban. Butler B confirms this. "Okay, let''s do that. Having decided on a course of action, Jin and the others leave Nido Castle slowly. "Please come again." Jin''s blow-floater slowly soars into the sky, escorted by Battlers B and C and the five colored golem maids. "Father, why don''t you give this Blow Floater a name? Reiko said to me during the flight. "Yes, that''s right." Reiko was the kind of person who always gave a name to her beloved aircraft. "Hmmm............let''s name it then." It means a pigeon in German. Jin may have thought it appropriate for this plane that flies so slowly, but pigeons fly surprisingly fast. In pigeon races, pigeons have flown more than 1,000 kilometers and returned home at an average speed of more than 70 kilometers per hour and a top speed of more than 150 kilometers per hour. The maximum speed is said to be over 150 kilometers per hour. Aside from that, when Jin landed at Toka village, he immediately used engineering magic to write <> on the plane. "...... and this is Toka village." The village looked even older than the village of Kaina. "Oh, are you our guests? A voice came from behind Jin and the others. It was a man of about 30 years old with a sturdy build. "My name is Yuzo Mayaka, the village chief. He was, indeed, the village head. "Well, I am Jin. This is Reiko. This is Hope. I''m Rhodes. Oh, you''re with the golem. How can I help you? "No, we stopped by on our way from the Nordic Federation to the Kingdom of Klein. Rhodes gives the explanation he has decided upon. "I see. So this is an intermediate landing. Well then, have a good trip. It seemed that he had only come to see his visitor, Jin thought. But... "...... can''t be too careful, that village chief." Reiko said. "What do you mean?" "Yes, Father. He was very alert in his movements, and when he approached you there was hardly a footstep or sign of him, was there not? "Yes, that reminds me." Reiko had noticed it from the beginning, though. "Well, let''s take a look around the village. Jin said, and Rhodes nodded. Reiko and Hope were in no doubt. "Master Jin, I am here to see ." Hope said she would stay at the airfield. "Well, then, please." <, Jin, Rhodes, and Reiko went to explore the village of Toka. "It hasn''t changed much more than the village of Kaina," was Jin''s impression. Jin commented. Reiko, however, is different. "Father, it seems not so much. There are magic tools hidden here and there. "Magic tools?What do they do? Wait a minute....... is mostly a recording device. Reiko''s built-in peepers have revealed that more than 90% of them are recording devices. Jin thought that it might be a surveillance camera ...... like a drive recorder. Since he didn''t know the purpose of the cameras, Jin wanted to avoid being recorded as much as possible, and after thinking for a while, he came up with <>. In other words, jamming the recordings with magic power. The method is simple. A very weak <> is enough. The smaller the size of the magic eye for observation, the smaller the output and the worse the quality of the image. It is like the resolution of a digital camera. If noise is added to it, the quality of the image will no longer be good enough to distinguish between objects. The magic jammer is designed to dissipate the magic power during chanting, but it is not limited to the time of chanting. Reiko''s built-in Magijammer is discharged in all directions at minimum output while Jin and the others look around the village of Toka. 1609 - - 44-08 Village Mayor Toka village seemed somewhat deserted after a long time. I asked Reiko about it, "It was lively when Licia was the lord, but when the next two lords took over, the drought continued for two years, and the village declined because of the mishandling of the situation. I see. I see. "One more thing, the surveillance equipment mentioned earlier may have been installed in the neighboring village of Kaina." The League of Magic? Yes. It seems that the League of Magic has deep roots in many countries. "So we should be careful in the city." Yes, that''s right. However, there is no information about Jin himself. He died about 300 years ago. "Shall we go to the Kingdom of Klein now? "Yes..." Jin and the others returned to the airfield. Then... May I have a word? The village head, Yuzo Mayaka, approached them. "Yes, what is it?" Jin answers, a little defensive. "No, of course, but the blow floaters that you were riding on were so wonderful that I was wondering if you could help me. "Thank you very much." Is this from the north? "Yes, it is." Now Rhodes answered. "It is the latest model of the Nordic Federation. There are only about ten of them, and they are very rare. "Well, that''s very good." It seems that the village head was an enthusiast of these flying machines. "Recently, there have been more and more of them. I have heard rumors that new models are being developed in various countries, but they are just rumors. I have never seen one in person. But this one!" The village headman points to the tauve. "I saw it coming down. It''s so stable!I''m sure there are other new innovations in the works. ......" Yuzo Mayaka was not so sure, saying, "That''s classified. Jin and the others, though wary of the situation, made a short detour to the village headman''s house. The village head''s house was near the airport. They were served . After Reiko tastes it, Jin takes a sip. It was quite tasty, Jin thought. I have always loved flying magi-machines. The village head smiled, his eyes shining like a boy''s. "When I was young, I went to the royal capital. "When I was young, I once went to King''s Landing to become a member of the Flying Knights ......<> or <>," he said. But he couldn''t make it, and was sent to the Intelligence Corps. After a year, his dreams were dashed, and he came back to this village and is now the village head. Jin, Rhodes, and Reiko were convinced that there was a reason for his unique gait. "I envy you, Nord Federation. I hear that magical engineering is advanced there. "No, not so much." No, not so much. - No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Marikka workshop, is it not?I''ve heard that their products are in demand all over the world. Marikka Studio. I never thought I would hear that name here. I was so happy as if it were my own. "Thank you very much for your compliments on ......." Rhodes does not seem to feel bad. "You said you were going to King''s Landing. Is there something urgent? "No, it''s nothing important. I''m here to see the sights, I suppose. I see. From what I hear, the culture here is different from that of Laurent''s continent. "That''s what I''ve heard." Jin was impressed by the fact that the village chief seemed to be quite knowledgeable about the situation in each country. So Jin decided to learn a little more about the situation. You said the capital is Alban, right? Do you have any recommendations for places to stay or places I should see? "Yes. ...... I don''t know if you like it or not, but if you are looking for a place to stay, the in the eastern part of the capital seems to have a good reputation. "The Red Brick Pavilion. I''ll keep that in mind. "...... And by the way, you should visit the state-run factory in the north of King''s Landing. The public should be able to visit. What do they do there? I believe they make nearly half of all the magic tools sold in the country. I see. That''s interesting. The only other one is ......." Yuzo Mayaka was surprisingly well-informed. Jin and his colleagues were able to obtain a lot of information about Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. This was a happy miscalculation, since their knowledge of Rhodes was about five years old. And then. "It''s just that the <> is very noisy. It seems that one of the reasons for the slow progress in the development of the flying machine is the interference from the Federation of Magical Societies. According to them, the <> distort the true nature of magic. "They say so, but they seem to be using magic tools themselves. In short, a double standard. In spite of this, they have gained a certain amount of support. As for Jin, this information seemed to be more useful. Thank you very much. Thank you for the food. Thank you very much for the food. The conversation went on longer than expected, and Jin and the others were even treated to lunch. "No, we don''t have any problem with that. It was now around midnight, and Jin and his group decided to go to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, as planned. "......By the way, by the way, did you know that the village chief has installed surveillance grimoires here and there in this village?" The village chief reacted to Jin''s words, who had declared a bomb because he was leaving, though not as a reward for a stopover. "What? Yuzo literally jumped up and down in surprise, and Jin thought, "I didn''t know about this. His surprise did not seem to be an act. "Where, where? Surprised by his fierceness, Jin pointed to a familiar place. In other words, at the entrance of the village headman''s house. "Here! Yuzo brought out a hoe from somewhere and started digging there. After digging for 50 centimeters, he found a magi crystal. "Is this it? ......!" The village head stared at the Magi Crystal with such force that he almost squeezed it. "...... who the hell are you! If it wasn''t the village chief, I would have wondered who had installed the magical device for surveillance. ....... "It looks like a recording device, so I''m sure someone will come to collect it." Jin gave a little advice. 1610 - - 44-09 At Toka Village Mayors house Wait a minute! Jin and the others were stopped by Yuzo Mayaka, the chief of Toka Village. "Excuse me, do you have any other surveillance devices like this?" "Yes.Yes, well, ......." There are at least ten places that Hitoshi and the others have noticed. If we search properly, we might find twice that many. If you could, could you tell us where they are? "Well, ......." Jin thought about it. "What should we do?" Then he asked Rhodes and Reiko''s opinion. "Well, it''s not like we''re going to ...... go to Alban today. ......" Rhodes said he would be willing to help. Reiko did the same, "Toka is a neighboring village of Kaina. We should help them a little. She said. "Yes, okay." Jin himself was curious to know who had installed the surveillance equipment, so he nodded his head. "Okay. I will cooperate with you for the rest of the day. Yuzo Mayaka was pleased to hear this. "Thank you!Please stay at my house today. Now there would be no problem to stay overnight. I will take care of the plane. "Thank you very much." The chief of the village let us stay in his hangar. Free of charge, of course. Now Hope could follow Jin and the others. Now, please tell me where it is. I know where it is. The light post at the airfield, the attic of the well, the base of the fence at the ranch. At the entrance to the road, in the middle of a crossroads, a monument on the outskirts of the village. Soldiers'' camps, under the eaves of stores, in the yard of inns. They were scattered all over the village. "......This is a total joke!" The village chief, Yuzo, is furious. Looking at him, it was easy to imagine that he had nothing to do with this magical tool of surveillance. If this were an act, it would have won an Oscar, Jin says with a strange admiration. In the end, he found 21 magical tools in the whole village. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, thank you very much! That night, a small party was held at the village chief''s house. "But I heard that many people in the Nordic Federation are skilled in magic. "Yes, well..." Jin was a little relieved when he wondered how he had been able to find the magic tools of surveillance and how he should explain it. "I checked a couple of them, and it looks like they were installed about 30 years ago," Rhodes explains. Rhodes explained. "That long ago? Before I became mayor. But who in the world would have ......?" "I don''t know. But if we haven''t recovered it in 30 years, that someone has either forgotten about it or is no longer in the world. ...... < did this, we can''t be sure. "I''m totally displeased as a village chief." With these words, Yuzo offers Jin a glass of red wine. "We have recently started making this wine in the village. This is three years old. I would like to know what you think of it. Jin suddenly remembered his friend Reinhardt, who used to be a wine connoisseur. He tasted the red wine that had been poured, wondering what he would say. "Yes, it''s delicious. That was the first thing that came out of his mouth. "It also seems to have a good balance of acidity and astringency. So I added my impression. It is impossible for me to give a detailed critique, but I have tasted many wines in the past, so I am capable of giving my opinion on whether a wine is good or bad, plus a few other comments. Then, a middle-aged servant brought the dishes. When I asked, I was told that Yuzo Mayaka was single and that there were only two servants in the house. "......What was it like in the old days in Toka village?" Jin asked, curious about what was going on. "In the past, you mean. It seems that ...... this village has always been like this. Yuzo''s father was from this village and his mother from the neighboring village of Lac Noh. "The neighboring village of Kaina was once under the direct rule of a great man named Magecraft Meister, and it is still not part of the Klein Kingdom. "......Ho." Jin took a sip of wine and nodded. "The village of Kaina has developed in many ways, but the way of life has hardly changed at all. From my point of view, it seems to be a village of slightly different people. Yuzo laughed. "......Oh, yes, yes. Now we are talking about this village. Well, we don''t have any special products of note. In the past there was a dish called , but it has become more common now, and the larger cities produce better food. "I see, I see." "Kemeria oil is one of the financial resources of the village, even if it is not a specialty. It is used as hair oil and cutlery oil. "In any case, it is a small village in the mountains and there are no underground resources. "It''s difficult." The village is self-sufficient in food, but many daily necessities have to be purchased from outside the village, and that requires money. "Do the peddlers come?" Jin asked, remembering the old Roland. "Yes. "Yes, once a month. Sometimes Eric''s shop in the village of Kaina has a better selection. "I see. Jin regretted a little that he had not looked there carefully. "I wish I had a little more means to earn money," he said. ......Ah, this is a complaint. This is not for customers to hear. Forget it." A slightly drunken, red-faced Yuzo Mayaka smiled shyly. "What about the hot springs?" I remember digging my own hot spring a long time ago. Jin wondered if that was not enough to invite people. "Hot springs?I heard that it stopped running...... long time ago. ...... No, there is a record of it in the village records." "No, there is a record of it in the village. The source may have been too small, or there may have been some underground fluctuation. I am not sure, but it seems that the hot spring is no longer running in Toka village now. "Hmmm ......" This village of Toka was once the domain of the <, Lycia. Seeing the young chief, Yuzo Mayaka, struggling, Jin wanted to help him a little. Community development. Jin began to think about what he could do in this Toka village. 1611 - - 44-10 Its been a long time since I played in Alban. "Regional Revitalization (d(󤳤) or ......" Regional revitalization, also called town revitalization or village revitalization. "Agriculture, mining, and tourism should be considered first." As for agricultural products, there is Kemeria oil, but it does not look very promising. This is because the area of arable land is small to begin with. Mining is also unlikely. The underground resources in Toka Village were mostly mined out about 200 years ago. Of course, if you go deeper than 1,000 meters below the ground, you will find something, but it is not realistic to revitalize the village. "Sightseeing is also ...... good." The scenery is not particularly nice. The hot spring had stopped running. It is possible to dig it up again, but if it does not run, that is the end of it. Unlike the village of Kaina, there is no source of hot spring water, so this will be difficult. "Now all we have to do is to create a specialty product. ......" Yuzo looked at Jin with difficulty. "We don''t have good craftsmen, and most things can be made elsewhere. He was right. <, it will be imitated soon. "Hmmm ......" We were at a loss. "The only thing left is to find a specialty." This way, they would not be easily imitated, but it would not be so easy to find. He was at a standstill. "Then, the only other thing I can think of is something made by ...... secret technique. There are many techniques that cannot be deduced from the finished product ....... The question is whether there are engineers or craftsmen who can master them. "All the good craftsmen have left for King''s Landing, haven''t they? "......" Jin was exhausted. In the first place, if he could get by with just a day or so of advice, he would have no trouble at all. "I guess it would be agricultural products. I''d like to grow something that can be produced here and is popular. "Will that be the case ......?" Yuzo Mayaka''s shoulders slumped. It seems that the discussion with Jin has reaffirmed how little value this village has. Rhodes sensed this and spoke up to follow up. "Don''t get too discouraged, Mr. Village Chief. It took us many years to become self-sufficient in food. "Thank you. ......" "Also, it is important to train and secure human resources. How about giving them a little tax break or some other preferential treatment to reduce the exodus of human resources? "I see. ......" He could not produce any results, but after talking with Jin and the others, he seemed to be able to get a better idea of what to do. "And then..." Jin said what he had just thought of. "There is a large area in Toka village. How about we turn it into an airfield and eventually invite tourists for sightseeing flights? "Oh! The mayor bites his tongue. "At that time, the Nordic Federation can cooperate with you. Jin implied that he would be willing to provide a new type of flying machine. "That''s right. We would be very grateful if you could help us then. The village head was surprised again at the end, because Jin had specified the clan leader of as the contact person. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning, Jin and his group departed for Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, as scheduled. Thank you for everything you have done for us. Please come again." Yuzo Mayaka said, and even wrote a letter of introduction to the inn . "It was quite worthwhile, even though we missed our schedule by half a day," Jin said. Rhodes nodded his head when Jin said this. Yes, it was. The village chief was quite a character. I could feel how much he cares about the village. "But still... ......" Jin looks at the in his hand. He had refused the mayor''s offer and received four of them. "Who installed them and what is their purpose? I don''t ...... know about that." "Well, ...... I can only think of <> who would do such a thing, but we have no proof." The distance between Toka village and Alban is about 100 kilometers in a straight line, and it takes less than an hour to fly there. It takes less than an hour to fly between Toka village and Alban. "The airfield is outside the town. From there, you will take a golem carriage into town. I see...the method, Jin thought. The airfield was empty in the morning. The plane landed with ease. Jin decides to rent a storage room for storage. "This is a new model, isn''t it? The still-young warehouse attendant said with a twinkle in his eye. And the immigration officer, "You are from the Nordic Federation. Welcome to Alban. Have a nice trip. and welcomed us to Alban. The time was 8:30 am. The free golem carriages would not leave until 10:00 a.m., so we decided to take the paid transportation. "Let''s take that one." Rhodes pointed to a <, i.e. a golem-powered car. (This one is quite popular there, isn''t it?) (This one is quite popular, isn''t it?) Clearly, this was a development of something he had developed, and Jin was a little pleased. It seats 6 people and costs 200 Touls, which is about 2000 Japanese Yen. Considering the cab, Jin thought it was a reasonable price. "Please take me to the Red Brick Pavilion. "Yes, sir. When Jin told the driver where he was going, the driver started the car immediately, as the Akarenga-tei was a well-known inn. The distance between the airfield and Albn is about two kilometers. It is possible to walk there, but few people seem to do so. The reason for this became clear as we entered Alban. Ah, the old city walls!) The walls of the fortress city of Alban are about 8 meters high, and the view is quite overwhelming. There are guards at the gate, who strictly screen anyone who tries to enter. ....... "All right, let''s go through." "Yes, let me in." "Thank you." Surprisingly, almost everyone who took the transportation had a free pass. On the other hand, those who tried to enter on foot seemed to be subjected to a standard inspection and screening process. (Are they getting stricter than in the past? ...... or was it like this in the past?) I remember the time when I visited Alban with Elsa and Hannah. , Jin recalled. "You can get a free pass to the Shoro Empire, the Lesser Group of Nations, and the Nordic Commonwealth. Rhodes explained. Since they are our allies, they seem to be more relaxed in this area. "Thank you very much. Jin and his group got out of the car in front of the Red Brick Pavilion. "Wow, it looks very austere. The building, literally made of red bricks, looked just like the old Western-style house that Jin remembered. "Let''s just check in," he said. "Sure." Rhodes went to the front desk and filled out the form on his behalf, which made things easier for Jin. (Come to think of it, I was taken care of by Reinhardt when I traveled to the Shoro Kingdom.) Jin suddenly remembers the old days. "I got a good room. Rhodes returned and called out to Jin who was lost in his memories. It''s at the end of the second floor, quiet and with a nice view. I''ll go put my luggage down. < has a warp gate, we can have what we need sent to us right away. However, since it is an absolute secret, I had brought enough baggage so that it would not look strange from the outside. Reiko took Jin''s baggage and Hope took Rhodes'' baggage upstairs. "Oh, the view is really nice." The window of the room overlooked the courtyard of the inn, where a beautiful pond and flower beds had been built. 1612 - - 44-11 Walking The current King Klein is called <>. "As far as I know, he has a good reputation. He is a direct descendant of the current king. Jin wondered if the direct lineage meant that the line had been continued from Alois III or so. "I''d like to know more about that and other things. Shall we go out to the town? "Yes, that''s right." So Jin and his friends decided to go out to the town. They left their keys at the front desk and went outside. The sky was lightly overcast and the weather was just right. Where should we go first? "Well, ......." Rhodes searches the map in his head. As a side note, Rhodes, who is descended from <>, has an excellent memory. Therefore, he can memorize the outline of a map once he sees it, which is very useful for traveling. ...... is a line from Zion. "The nearest one is the upscale shopping district just down the road. ......" "Well, let''s go through." Jin would have liked to see some more stores that are more closely related to the daily life, but he decided to go that way anyway. The street was paved with cobblestones and had a sewerage system. "Even if it is a street lined with high-end stores, it is very well maintained. In this respect, I think that things have progressed since 400 years ago. Come to think of it, I remember that the toilets in Toka Village were clean and the sewage was properly treated. "It seems that sanitation is thoroughly implemented." "Yes, it is. I think it has spread all the way down to the countryside." Rhodes agreed. This is probably one of the factors that have increased the average life expectancy in this world. Jin felt a little proud of himself in the past. After passing through the high-end shopping street to the east, one comes to a residential area. "This is the area where the residences of knights and barons used to be. Jin guessed that this was the area where Lysia Faarheit and Gloria Allstadt used to live. However, the houses had been rebuilt and the area had been rezoned at the same time, so there were no signs of the past. So, I went straight through. We came out to Chuo-dori Avenue. A little further ahead, a large sundial can be seen. (Yes, it looks almost the same as it used to be.) It may have been repaired, but the sundial in the central square was just as Jin remembered it. "From the central square, it is very convenient to go anywhere in the city," Rhodes explained. Rhodes explained. "I see. Then, where should we go? ...... The goal is to gather information. In other words, the goal is to get used to this world, so there are no concrete guidelines. At that moment. I heard a loud noise and a scream. "What is it?" Jin looked over and saw a horse-drawn carriage and a Golem car overturned, apparently a collision. (I think we''re getting to the stage where we need to decide the traffic classification. ......) Jin walked toward the overturned car with this thought in his mind. "Wow. ......" The situation where a head-on collision was supposed to have occurred. The hood of the Golem car was completely crushed, and the car was still in its original state. It appears to have crashed into the wall of a house on the side of the road, and stones are scattered around. As for the carriage, it seemed to be a golem horse, and the horse seemed to have taken the damage, while the carriage itself just overturned. Please move out of the way! A woman and a golem appeared through the crowd of onlookers. The woman was dressed as a knight, and the golem she was carrying also had the appearance of a knight. "<>, wake up the carriage and the car." "Yes." At the order of the knight, the golem called <> slowly rouses the fallen carriage. "Ah..." Jin was a little interested in the power, which was not bad for a humanoid. Likewise, the overturned car also manages to get up. The female knight then rescues the injured from the carriage and the car. The residents of the roadside had kindly spread blankets by the side of the road, on which a total of six people were laid down. Two of them were seriously injured and four appeared to be slightly wounded. "The relief knight will be here shortly. The female knight encouraged the injured people with these words. Then, another female knight with two automata arrived. "These two are seriously injured. The female knight who had been there at the time said only that and began to examine the collapsed debris. "Are you okay?" Apparently, there was a person who was caught in a fallen fence. The fence is a combination of stone and iron grating, and seems to be quite heavy. The estimated weight of the car is 500 kilograms, and the estimated weight of the carriage is 800 kilograms. The golem that woke them up must be powerful enough to do so. However, the collapsed wall seems to be made of stone with an iron core, and its weight was estimated to be 2 to 3 tons. The knight-type golem seemed to exert its full power, but the collapsed wall did not move at all. The maximum weight that a human being can lift is around 250 kilograms, based on weightlifting. This means that the knight golem has the power of four to five men. This would normally be more than enough power, but in this case it was not enough. (It could lift about one ton...) Jin guessed so. Jin guessed so and gave instructions to Hope. "Hope, go help her." "Yes, master." I changed the way I call you before we left so that you don''t call me by my name, so now Hope calls me <> too. "I''ll help you." "Oh, thank you." The female knight was a bit taken aback by the sudden arrival of the golem, but quickly accepted the offer of help. "Well, let''s try again." This time, she and Hope would work together. "Let''s go!" The two knights put their strength to the task at the sound of Hope''s voice. ......, and this time the fallen walls lifted little by little. "We did it! "We did it!" the knight cheered, and the spectators shouted as well. The wall was slowly rising. Underneath was a man who appeared to be a gardener. Fortunately, he was not crushed to pieces because of a stuck garden stone, and he crawled out of the wall by himself. Seeing that the man had retreated, the two golems let go of his hands. With a loud thud, the wreckage of the wall collapsed again, sending up a cloud of dust. "Are you all right?" By this time, the rescue knight had finished treating the six people and now came over to us. "......That''s all right. Bruises and abrasions. No broken bones. ......<>" The relief knight first washes the wounds with magically created water, "<>" and healed the wound with intermediate surgical healing magic. Jin saw how skillful the knight was and realized that the level of medical care had improved from before. 1613 - - 44-12 At the Viscounts House The wounded were all treated without incident. "Sir knight, we are so grateful to you for saving our servant". A middle-aged lady of good appearance came out and greeted him. "Is this the Viscountess Charnedo?I am Femela Lance Dixon, of the Third Order. "I''m sorry. My name is Jeanette Mascow. I''m a member of the Guardians of the Rescue. Two female knights also introduced themselves. And whose golem is that? Hope''s appearance did not seem to belong to the knight corps, so this was a natural question. "My master is over there." Hope indicated Jin and the others with her palm. "Well, you''ve done a wonderful job! The baroness seemed impressed by Hope''s response. "Now, would you please go and get your master?" "Yes, of course." The Viscountess Charnedo was impressed as Hope bowed and walked away. The two female knights did the same. "Well, what can I do for you?" Accompanied by Hope, Jin, Rhodes, and Reiko arrived. "Are you the owner of this golem? We thank you for saving our servant. The baroness bowed. And then.., "I don''t mean to thank you, but it''s lunch time and I''d like to offer you a simple lunch. He said to Jin and the two female knights. One of them, a female knight who introduced herself as Femela, said to Jin and the other two female knights, "No, we are not interested in lunch, "No, this is our role and we are still on duty, so we respectfully decline. She declined. "Well, that''s too bad. I''m ......, you''re ......, uh, ......." "My name is Jin Nido." My name is Rhodes. Jin and Rhodes, staring at the baroness, rushed to identify themselves. This is Reiko, an automata. The golem is called Hope. "Well, she''s adorable!" The baroness looked at Reiko and smiled. "So you are travelers, are you?I''d like to invite you to come with us. "Uh, ......" Jin and Rhodes had a short discussion and decided that it would be rude to refuse the invitation. The baroness was as happy as a child when they told her. "Well, I''m glad. Please come this way." The two knights bowed and returned. A few servants came out and began to clean up the broken wall. The injured gardener had already been brought back to the house. The onlookers had also dispersed, and the only ones left were the two guards who were checking on the accident and the two female knights from earlier. * * * * * * "Welcome, my Lord Jin, my Lord Rhodes." At the entrance of the mansion, the baroness bowed with a beautiful curtsy. She must have been paying her respects to Jin and Rhodes. The lady-in-waiting stands to her right and the butler to her left. "My name is Foire Lasca Charnedo, wife of the Viscount Charnedo, master of this house. Jin Nido,...... is a magecraftsman. Rhodoth, <>. < Well, well, well... You both have such distinguished titles, don''t you? So you graduated from the Bachelor of Arts program at Avalon, didn''t you, Lord Rhodes? Yes, I am. At this point, Jin and the other guests were ushered into the dining room of the house, as they were not allowed to stand around talking. The room was furnished with simple but elegant furniture and had a relaxed atmosphere. "I would like to thank you once again. Thank you for saving our servant." The baroness thanks him again. You are a very conscientious person, Jin thought. "Please have a seat." "Excuse me." Jin and Rhodes sat down in the chairs as the baroness motioned them to sit down. Reiko and Hope stood behind them. First, a chilled glass of lemonade was brought to them. The Baroness sipped it, and Jin and Rhodes took a sip. The taste was pleasant, with just the right amount of acidity and sweetness. The baroness continues. "So, if you are a Magi Craftsman and a Magi Bachelor, did you, Hope and Reiko, make the djinn yourself?" "Yes, this djinn made it. Yes, this gin made it.Jin-sama must be very skilled. "I''m very proud of you, sir. Then lunch was served. However, it was quite different from what Jin knew. First of all, the volume of the sandwich was huge. The bread between the two sandwiches was about one centimeter thick, but the filling was more than three centimeters thick. It reminded me of the giant hamburgers that existed in modern Japan. However, there is also a more convenient version for Mrs. Yamanouchi to eat. The overall thickness of the hamburger was only about two centimeters. "Then, please eat as much as you like. Bon apptit. Bon apptit. This is used daily in Avalon, and it seems to have gained worldwide recognition by now. The bread was fluffy and baked, and the sandwiches included meats such as ham and bacon, tuna-like fish sandwiches, and vegetable sandwiches with tometru (tomatoes). To Jin''s surprise, there was even a croquette sandwich. The sandwiches were piled up so high that Jin and Rhodes could not finish them. On the other hand, the leftover sandwiches would fit into the servants'' stomachs, so it was easy for them to eat. "Thank you very much for the food. Thank you very much. After the meal, a cup of Kaina tea was served. While drinking it, the baroness asked Jin "Do you have more time?" Jin sensed that there was something she wanted to talk about. Then she said, "Yes, I''m fine. She readily affirmed that she was fine. The baroness''s face lit up. "Yes, I''m glad. I was hoping to hear a little more about you. May I have my daughter join you?" "Oh, yes, please." Thank you. ...... please send for the girl." The baroness motioned to the butler who was standing behind her. The butler bowed lightly and left the dining room. About three minutes later, he returned with a girl who looked about the age of 12 years old and was in the sixth grade. "This is my daughter Paula. ......, this is Jin and Rhodes. They may be able to answer some of your questions. The girl tugs at the hem of her skirt and bows in a curtsey. "My name is Paula Frau Charnedo. Please call me Paula. Please call me Paula. 1614 - - 44-13 Beginners Courses The girl who introduced herself as Paula Frau Charnedo was a pretty girl with bright gold fluffy curly hair. Jin and Rhodes came up to her and introduced Reiko and Hope. "Wow, what a wonderful automata! Paula looked at Reiko with a twinkle in her eye. "Paula, Gin-sama is the Magi Craftsman who made that automata, and Rhodoth-sama graduated from the Bachelor Course of Avalon. "Wow!Wow! That''s amazing, both of you! Paula''s eyes lit up and the baroness said in a gentle voice. "So I''m sure she will be able to answer all your questions. "Yes!" Jin had no idea what was going on, but it seemed that this girl, Paula, had questions about something and was waiting for someone to explain them to her. Jin guessed so. "Well, Mister Jin, Mister Rhodes. ...... Her question is, <>I mean..." "What?" Jin couldn''t help but to stiffen. The doubt, if ...... it is, is something that comes to mind. And then... "Are you saying that you have doubts about the philosophy of the <>?" Rhodes asked straight out. "Yes, yes. Yes, that''s right." The baroness was slightly dismayed, "Yes, yes!Can you tell me about it?" Paula looked straight at her in the affirmative. "Oh, um, do the two of you have any connection with the League of Magic ......?" The baroness asked anxiously, and Jin denied it categorically. "No, I don''t." "I see. ......" Seeing her obvious relief, Jin thought that the Federation of Magical Societies was influencing people more than he had expected. Then, Jin thinks. (The flow of the ...... story seems to indicate that the two of you would like the League of Magic to deny its principles.) (Although the flow of the story seems to indicate that the two of you want to deny the principles of the League of Magic, we cannot deny the possibility that it is just a pose, a trap to flush out those who oppose the League of Magic. (Well, we''ll see then...) Reiko is here. Jin had an idea if he was going to hand her over to the League of Magic by force. However, that possibility seems to be very small. Jin started with a safe response and decided to respond according to the reaction. "It''s about magic and science, isn''t it?" Paula nodded her head twice when Jin said this. "They are two different fields, but at the same time they have something in common. "Oh?" It was the baroness who responded with a puzzled look. "I don''t know if this is easy ...... to understand, but let me give you an example. <> and <>. They are completely different, but share the common characteristic of being <>." "Oh, yes, they do." Again the baroness responds. "Magic and science are the same. Both are useful. And both can hurt people depending on how they''re used." "Oh, ......" Again the voice of the baroness. "In other words, I don''t see much point in making a distinction, is what I''m saying. "I understand!" The cheerful voice belongs to Paula. Jin continues. "<> is actually not a special study. ...... at least at the elementary level." "Is that so?" The baroness again. Jin wondered if not only Paula but also the baroness might be torn between and . "Originally, was developed to explain things around us, you know. "And what do you mean by that?" Here Jin remembered the old days and decided to explain the introductory part of his beginner''s course on science. "For example, science is the answer to the question, <>. "That''s interesting. Please tell me." The baroness was becoming more and more interested. "I understand. What does it take for a fire to burn? "What does it take for a fire to burn, ...... not fuel such as firewood or oil?" Jin nodded once and shook his head. "That''s only part of it. For a ...... fire to burn, you need <>, <>, and the fuel you mentioned earlier, i.e. >." "Heat...... is somewhat understandable. But what is <><>" He had made a paper bag with his engineering magic. "If you don''t mind, could you put this bag over your mouth and breathe into it?" "Yes, that would be great." The baroness put the bag over her mouth and began to breathe. The bag swelled and deflated as she breathed. After about a minute, Jin stopped her. "You are beginning to have difficulty breathing, aren''t you?" She nodded. "Yes, I think so. Why ...... is that?Air is air. ......" "That''s exactly the question that science has to answer. ...... Actually, humans need oxygen to live. The reason we are having trouble breathing now is because there is less oxygen in the air we breathe." "Well!" "I know it was a short detour, but I think you now understand that there are different kinds of air." Jin said and the baroness nodded repeatedly. She was completely absorbed in Jin''s conversation, ignoring her daughter Paula. "And, well, this is <. Next, you may be asking yourself what good it will do for you to know this. ......" Jin glanced at the baroness. "Yes, of course. What good would it do?" "Think about it the other way around. How do you put out a fire? "Pour water on it. ...... Oh!So I can eliminate any of the three conditions I just mentioned? Correct. The reason for sprinkling water is to remove heat. In a fireplace, the fire is extinguished when the combustible wood is gone. And if you take away the oxygen, the fire goes out. When you put out a fire in an incense burner, don''t you put a lid on it?That stops the supply of air ...... oxygen to burn." The Viscountess expressed her delight by clapping her palms together. "Oh, my God!Well, well, well!The darkness seems to have lifted!" Then she noticed and looked at Paula. "......, you see what I mean?Paula? "Yes, Mother." Paula also seemed to be impressed by Jin''s explanation, though not as much as her mother. "So, when you use fire magic, you can use it better if you remember what you just learned! And he seemed to have a good understanding. "That''s right. So there is no need to separate magic and science ......, I think science is also useful to use magic better." "I understand very well. Thank you, Master Jin. He is so impressed that <> has become <>. Jin is a little embarrassed to be called by a small child. Reiko is smiling happily when she sees him like that. 1615 - - 44-14 Student Street "It is said that the influence of the <> has decreased considerably in the last fifty years. After a brief <>, Jin and the others listened to Viscountess Foale Laska Charnedo. "You fell?Is there a reason for that?" Jin thought it was fortunate that he had been invited to the house, as he would be able to get some useful information. "Well, that''s as far as ....... goes. Originally, the Kingdom of Klein was a country where the influence of the League of Magic was minimal. "Oh, I see. By the way, where is the country where the influence of the League of Magic is strong at the moment? "Well, I would say the Kingdom of Elias, which is the home of the League of Magic. The Kingdom of Egelea would be next. Jin was curious, so he asked another question. "What about the countries that are less affected? "Excluding the Nordic Federation, where you are from, it would be the Kingdom of Shoro. After that would be our country. The Kingdom of Cerroa is so large that it varies from region to region. The Kingdom of Franz is the next. Incidentally, Mitsuho and Huso are out of the League of Magic''s sphere of influence since they have few mages to begin with. "Thank you very much. Thanks to this, Jin had gained a little more knowledge. He was able to ask these questions politely because he was a member of the Nordic Federation. This is because the Federation does not have much contact with us. I honestly appreciate this, since I am traveling around the world in search of information. Jin continued to talk about the Federation of Magic in between small talk, and gradually gained information. "Where are you staying, Jin-sama? The time was around 4:00 p.m. The baroness said as she sipped her third cup of tea. Incidentally, her daughter Paula was listening to her the whole time. While she seems to be a vivacious person, she seems to be able to listen quietly in these situations. "I have a room at the inn called the Akarenga-tei. "Well, is it that place?I hear it has a good reputation. I''ve heard it has a good reputation. ...... Um, if you don''t mind, could you come back tomorrow?I would like to talk with you more." Jin thought about this offer for a while and decided to accept it. It seemed more efficient than walking around in the dark to gather information. "Okay. We have our own schedule, so if you could come tomorrow for one day, we would be happy to help you. "Thank you!I will pick you up at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning at the Red Brick Pavilion. That''s the plan. "Thank you very much, Mr. Jin and Mr. Rhodes! As Jin and the others were leaving, Paula greeted them cheerfully. Jin, Reiko and Hope saw that and gave a small wave back. Rhodes also waved back hurriedly. * * * * "We got more than we expected." <, and across the table they summarized the day''s events. "Yes, I see. I didn''t know that the influence of the <> was declining. It''s something you wouldn''t have noticed if you didn''t live in an affected country," Jin said. "...... But I didn''t think Jin-san could explain it so well." The way Rhodes calls Jin is not consistent. Sometimes he addressed him as "sir" and sometimes as "Ms.". Well, since he considers Jin to be his superior, he often calls him in public and in other places. "Whether he is good or not, how are his lectures at Avalon going?" "Well, yes. ...... I''ve never seen an experiment like that before." Rhodes explained that the priority is to teach the text, and that the classes are not taught in such a way as to include chewing. "There are a lot of lectures where it''s like, ''If you can''t follow along, that''s okay,''" he said. "That''s a problem." Jin wondered if there was a problem with the teacher or the syllabus. However, Jin could not interfere with Avalon''s policies. However, there is a possibility that the Federation of Magical Schools has taken advantage of such a minor dissatisfaction. Education is always a difficult issue.) Jin let out a small sigh. (Ah, that''s why I used to think that if everyone could use transinfo and sendinfo, the education problem would be solved. (This reminded me of my own report that I had read in Nidojo a while ago. (Huh?(Could <> be ......?) I imagine that Golbert Malkitas did not develop this machine alone, but that his past self may have worked on it as well. If so, it is ironic that Horai Island was attacked because of it. (In short, everything depends on how it is used, does it not?) "Jin-sama?" Rhodes called out, wondering what Jin had been thinking about. "Oh, oh, I''m sorry. I was just thinking about something." Jin explained that he was thinking about the difficulty of education. "It''s true. < clan, I have a relatively good memory, so it was easy for me to follow the lectures." Rhodoth chuckled as he said, "You can''t measure academic ability by memory alone. "Tell me a little about Avalon, will you?" Jin took this opportunity to learn more about the current Avalon. However, the current Avalon is out of Jin''s, or rather Horai Island''s, control. "Yes. ...... where should we start?" Rhodes knows a lot of things since he learned in Avalon. He seemed to know so much that he did not know where to start. "Well, let me ask you a question. ...... First of all, where is Avalon now?" Avalon is a mega-float, which means it can move. "It is now at sea, south of the Kingdom of Cerroa. It is fixed on its equator and its longitude there is established as 0 degrees." "Father, on a map based on Horai Island, that would be around 60 degrees west longitude." Reiko also added to the map, so Jin was able to guess the approximate location of the island. "I see. Then next, ...... what is the current organization structure of Avalon?" "First of all, to give you a brief explanation, there is the , which is a subordinate organization of the <>. The base of these two organizations is ." "Hmm." Jin urged on, saying that not much seemed to have changed in that area. "<> is good. ...... Oh, and Mitsuho, Fusoh, and the Nordic Federation are members now, too. "Yes, that''s right." "The <> is directly operated and managed by the >. It is an organization that can operate without borders. Yes. So far, so good. Jin agrees. "To join the World Guard, you usually need a recommendation from your country. After that, you have to take an entrance exam. That is also what Jin thinks. "And then there is , which basically has the name of training the executives of the and the , but in reality it is the highest academic institution." "I suppose that''s possible." Since it is the best academic institution in the world, it would be a waste to open its doors only to those involved in the World Congress, you think. "<> has two schools: a three-year elementary school and a five-year high school. There is no secondary school. This is just as Jin had once envisioned. "The upper secondary school was divided into the regular course and the specialized course. The regular course was called ......<> and the specialized course was called <>. Jin heard the old name. Certainly, I remember that we used to call them that in the planning stage. "I wonder if the regular course is treated like a cadet for the World Congress or the World Guard?" Rhodes nodded. "I see. And the specialized courses are to study engineering magic and various other professions? "That''s right. It is a boarding school and there is a small town in <>. "I suppose that''s true. There is a wide range of needs for students such as boarding houses, apartments, condominiums, restaurants, bookstores, entertainment facilities, and so on. Jin reminisced a little nostalgically about the student districts around famous high schools and large universities. 1616 - - 44-15 Water, Ice and Steam Jin and Rhodes are still talking about <>. "But there haven''t been any major events in the last 100 years or so, and the budget is supposed to be shrinking." "Where did the budget come from?" "Oh, that''s right. The budget of ...... is borne by the countries participating in the World Congress. "Of course they are." Jin nodded in agreement. "The World Conference is meaningful. Five members from each country have been appointed and are stationed in <>. Contact with the home country is made by an improved manaphone. Improved? Yes. It used to be as big as a desk, then it became about the size of a small drawer, and then it became possible to switch the destination of calls. It is said that something like a switchboard was developed. No, perhaps it was created by a man of the past. (......I guess it''s better to know what I''ve made so far by knowledge transfer (transinfo). ......) Jin pondered a bit. He felt that it would not be interesting if he knew what he had made in the past. However, when he thought about it, it would be a waste of time to try to develop something that already existed, or to make something that was inferior to something that already existed. Let''s discuss this with the old man the next time we return to Horai Island. "Mr. Jin?" Rhodes overheard what I had just said. "Oh, I''m sorry. Actually, ......." Jin explained to Rhodes what he was thinking. "I see, that''s very complicated. Rhodes chuckled. They decided to leave these discussions until then and relax for the rest of the day. < was spacious, and Jin was satisfied with the quality of the bath. The food was also refined in the sense that quality is better than quantity, and Jin was satisfied in this respect as well. The next day, after breakfast, I went to the hotel. The next day, after breakfast, Jin and his friends made arrangements to stay another night. The room was still available. At 9:00 a.m., five minutes before the appointed time, a golem carriage arrives to pick them up from the baroness. "Mr. Jin, Mr. Rhodes. I''m here to pick you up." The butler who had met them at the Viscount''s mansion yesterday appeared and invited the two men and two bodies into the carriage. The carriage took the group to the Viscount''s mansion. "It''s quite a comfortable carriage," was Jin''s comment. was Jin''s comment. It seems that not only the suspension but also the dampers have been properly adjusted. "Mr. Jin, Mr. Rhodes, welcome!" At the entrance of the Viscount''s residence, Baroness Foale Laska Charnedo greets the group. They were taken to the same dining room as the day before. Her daughter, Paula Frau Charnedo, was waiting there. "Welcome, Monsieur Gin, Monsieur Rhodotos." She picked up her skirt and bowed in a curtsey. Her gesture was still a little awkward, but it was elegant. "Thank you for inviting us today." Jin and Rhodes bowed too. We would like to continue where we left off yesterday. They took their seats and took a sip from the drinks offered, and then the baroness started. "Yes, please. "I would like to talk a little more about the connection between science and magic. "The interface... ......?" This was a bit vague, and Jin wondered what he should do. Then Paula came up with a suggestion. "Well, um, I''ve been wondering about something, can I ask you something?" "Yes, go ahead." Jin decided to ask Paula''s question first, thinking that it might be easier to ask in the form of a question. "When water is put on fire, it becomes hot water, doesn''t it? The hot water gives off steam, but it gradually disappears. Where in the world did it go? Jin was impressed by his keen sense of observation. "Yes, that is a phenomenon that can be explained by <. Jin began his explanation. "Not limited to water, everything in this world is made of small <. They are called , and water is made up of . "Molecules, you say? ......" Paula tilted her head cutely. "That''s what you think it is now. Now, those molecules are so small that you can''t even see them. But when a lot of them come together, they become visible. This is water." "Well, the grains of sand are so small that it''s hard to see them one by one, but when they come together they form dunes or beaches that are easier to see, is that right?" This is a baroness. That''s a good analogy, Jin thought. "That''s a good analogy," Jin thought, "but let''s start with that image. ...... Now, using the sand analogy, the sand is water. And rocks can be compared to ice. "Rocks are ice?" Now Paula asked the question. "Yes, that''s right. If you break rock into gravel, it becomes gravel, and if you break it into smaller pieces, it becomes sand, doesn''t it? "Oh, yes, that''s right. "If you grind sand more finely, it becomes like dust and even a little wind can make it fly up. This is steam." And now it was time to answer Paula''s question. "The dust is further crushed into invisible particles. This is called . This is invisible to the eye, so it looks like it''s gone." "......" Jin reflected a little on the fact that the explanation of molecules and grains was mixed up, making it a little difficult to understand. "Well, <> is a systematic study. If you follow the steps you should learn, it should be a little easier to understand. Jin finished his explanation for the time being. "I think I have a vague idea of what you mean. Well, Mr. Jin, what are the conditions or causes of water turning into ice, steam, or water vapor? The baroness asked. "Well, that''s exactly what you learn in the intermediate level of <, so it''s hard to explain in a few words. ......" Rhodes interrupted at this point. "In <> it is explained by <>. Think of energy as the <> of a molecule." "Genki ...... enerugi, is it?" Yes, it is. In the case of water, when it gets cold, the molecules lose their energy ...... and become still, shut up in a room. That''s ice." "Oh, and then when it gets a little more energetic, it starts moving around the room, is that water?" The baroness was quick to understand. "That''s right. When it gets warmer and more energetic, it runs out of the room. That''s steam, and when it gets more energetic, it goes off to play somewhere far away and doesn''t come back. That is steam. "That''s very clear!" Paula bowed her head. "By the way, ice is a solid, water is a liquid, and water vapor is a gas. All substances have these three states. It is just that the temperature at which they become so varies from substance to substance. Rhodes finished his explanation by adding that the temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid is called the melting point and the temperature at which a liquid becomes a gas is called the boiling point. "Ah, that makes sense. So iron can become a liquid or a gas ...... and air can become a liquid or a solid?" Jin and Rhodes asked with pleasure that the baroness understood so much. "That is correct. You can imagine that metal becomes liquid when you make a casting. If you raise the temperature of the metal higher and higher, it becomes a gas. I don''t think there is any use for metal in such a state, though." "Yes." The morning ended with this exchange. Jin and Rhodes took turns explaining the connection between magic and science, hoping that their understanding would deepen. 1617 - - 44-16 Conflict and Decline The , which had been held over lunch at the Viscount''s residence, came to an end when the daylight shifted a little to the west. "It was a very meaningful time. Thank you, Mr. Jin and Mr. Rhodoth. The baroness bowed her head in a graceful gesture. By the way, her daughter Paula looked tired and was rowing the boat on a chair. "Oh my goodness, what a girl..." The baroness giggled. But there was a hint of fatigue on her face, too. No wonder. Jin and Rhodes were tired too. Jin admired her enthusiasm, but he also wondered why she was doing so much. The answer would soon become clear. It is 3:00 p.m., tea time. While enjoying a cup of kuhe brought from the Kingdom of Elias, they are chatting. The butler says, "The master has returned. the butler says. The baroness says, "Excuse me for a moment. and went to meet her husband, the viscount. "I wonder if he works at the castle. Jin muttered to himself, and Paula, who remained behind, seemed to have heard his words with a keen ear, "Yes, my father is the director of the Ministry of Magic. She explained, "Yes, my father is the director of the Ministry of Magic. Jin imagined that Mrs. Kikkawa''s interest in magic and science might be due to the influence of such a viscount. "Welcome, my guest." Just then, the Viscount appeared with his wife. Jin and Rhodes stood and bowed. "Oh, don''t be so formal. I am Devair Nolas Charnedo. I am Viscount Devair Nolas Charnedo. I am the head of the second department of the Ministry of Magic. The viscount is about 40 years old, slight build. His body is toned. His hair was beginning to have a hint of white in it. "Thank you very much for your kindness. I am Jin Nido, <>. I am Rhodoth, Magi Bachelor. "Yes, my wife told me. My wife and daughter have taught me a lot, thank you. Thank you. You should take a seat instead of standing around talking. "Yes, I will." The Viscount will take the first chair, Mrs. Kornishko will take the second. Paula will take the third seat. Then Jin and Rhodes took their seats. A new kouhe was brought in, and the Viscount took a sip. "Well, my wife told me last night what you were talking about. I see that you are well versed in both magic and science. No, not really. No need to be modest. The reason why my ...... wife asked such a question has to do with the state of this country." "The way things ...... are?" "Mm-hmm. This is nothing confidential and I don''t mind talking about it, but there is a debate among mages about whether they should support <> or the >. "Is that so?" At this point, Jin wondered if he could use this opportunity to get more in-depth information. After all, in front of him were the mages of the Klein Kingdom, the people who belonged to its core. Rhodes was the first to speak. "I''m not sure about that, but <> does not intend to have any quarrel with the <>. It''s more like the League of Magic is unilaterally burning a sense of rivalry. ......" "Yes, I am aware of that. I studied at <> for a short period of one year. There is a system of study abroad. In many countries, excellent mages are often allowed to study in <> for a short period of time. "However, the organization known as the <> was a force to be reckoned with." The viscount used the past tense. "At the moment, the League of Magic is decreasing its power. "Is that so?" This is good news. Rhodes knows a lot about it, but since there is no <> power in the Nordic Federation, he inevitably misses out on the most current information. "Hmmm. Are you interested in ...... such a story?" "Yes, very much." Jin answered honestly. "I see. Then I will tell you a few words to thank you for the hospitality you have shown my wife and daughter. The baron took another sip of ku hee and continued. "The people in the federation like to get involved in everything, but recently something has happened and the number of people in the federation has decreased. "When was this?" I think it was after the middle of September. I see. ...... This coincides with the time when Jin destroyed the fleet surrounding Horai Island. "Well, it''s refreshing to have fewer noisy people around." The viscount laughed. "Before that, about two years ago and maybe five years ago?Before that, about two years ago and about five years ago, there was some sort of internal turmoil in the federation, and even then it lost some of its power. "So you don''t have much power now?" But at Jin''s question, the Viscount shook his head. "No, not really. It has always been very powerful. Even if it has declined a little, its influence is still strong. Besides, many of its members are fanatics, so it can''t be fooled." "I see. What kind of things do they interfere with you, ......?" "Hmmm. ...... most notable is the technical department. When it comes to magic tools, they complain about it to the point of annoyance. "Are there ...... people who, uh, ...... work there?Are there any members?" The viscount heard Jin''s question and clapped his hands together. "Oh, you didn''t know that. At the moment, there are ten mages dispatched by the <> and stationed in the castle. And they are responding to various events and troubles. "The most important role is that of a , but I don''t like to ask for advice. This gives advice on a wide range of subjects, including politics and economics, welfare and medical care, magic and magical tools, etc. "It is true that I have knowledge of magic," he says. "He certainly seems to have a deep knowledge of magic. But he''s kind of ...... old-fashioned." "Outdated ......? Yes. You have not progressed in what you are talking about. You are too nostalgic. The word "nostalgia" reminded Jin of something. "Well, what do you know about <>?" "Yes, the <>. I know a little about ....... I think they are not as narrow-minded as the <>, but now they are in the minority. But now they are in the minority. Because the <> snatched away the <>''s personnel, equipment, and other things." "Oh, is that true after all?" The viscount nodded bitterly. "Yes, that''s true, isn''t it? I don''t know what kind of magic they used, but there are rumors that the <>''s guard golem and others became the property of the <> overnight." "Hah ......" Jin imagined that they probably used <>. (But ......<> time was the time of <> and <>. After becoming <>, it became <>. (Can we say that history repeats itself, or is it a matter of karma and retribution? ......) As Jin was thinking about this, the Viscount said to him. "Well, the sun is setting. What are you two going to do?We would be happy if you would join us for dinner. It was around 4:30 in the afternoon. "No, no, we are going back to the inn. Jin refrained from being so brazen. "I see. Well then, I''m sorry to leave, but I think it''s time to call it a night. At the Viscount''s words, Jin and Rhodes left the table. "As for me, I am very interested in the golem and automata you have with you. He seemed to be giving Hope and Reiko a compliment in a roundabout way. "Well then, thank you, Mr. Jin and Mr. Rhodes, for all the information you have given us." "Thank you very much!" Jin and Rhodes received thanks from the Viscountess and Paula, and left the Viscount''s mansion. Incidentally, they were escorted to <> by a horse-drawn carriage. Jin and Rhodes returned to their lodgings, feeling good about their modest harvest. 1618 - - 44-17 Southward October 6. After breakfast, Jin and Rhodes had a discussion. "I think we have gathered most of the information we can in the Klein Kingdom, so I would like to go to the next country. Rhodes nodded. Rhodes nodded. Is there nothing more to see in this town?" "Oh, then, is the Raglan Trading Company still around?" Since it was a familiar trading company, Jin was still curious about it. "Yes, there is. It is the best trading company in the kingdom. "I see. ...... Jin remembered the faces of Eric and Roland fondly. He wondered how much it had grown since then, and once again felt the passage of 400 years. So, in the morning, I decided to visit the main office of the Raglan Trading Company. After lunch, we will go to the Kingdom of Elias. This was the plan. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The location of the Raglan Trading Company was immediately recognized. It is a four-story stone building with different products on each floor. It looks like a large electronics store, Jin thought. The first floor was mainly household goods with relatively inexpensive prices. There was also a special sales corner. "This is a good way to attract customers. Jin was impressed by the way the shop was set up. The second floor specialized in high-end household goods. The interior of the second floor was also decorated in a high-end style, indicating that the target customers were different from the first floor. The third floor, on the other hand, was filled with hobby-oriented products. Jin was most interested in this floor. "This is ......." The first thing that caught Jin''s attention was a <>. Moreover, it was a <>. It was the same type of kite that Jin had made in Mohut Village, a village in the Kingdom of Elias. It is deeply moving to think that these kites have traveled over the long distances (and borders) from the village of Mohut to here in Alban. There are many variations, from colorful ones to simple ones. Spools of thread were also sold together. The next item that caught Jin''s eye was a Sugoroku. It may have spread around the area where Jin and his friends used to play. The squares were sophisticated, and the difficulty level was considered to be medium. There are no random <> or <>. And then there is <<>. It was for children and consisted of letters of the alphabet of this world. This would be a good way to learn letters while playing. And then, of course, the <. "Ah, this shape. It''s so sophisticated." The first "photographic camera" that Jin made was a simple square box. It was a so-called "pinhole camera. It was because the sensitivity of the image receiving side was high and the shutter speed could be secured, but it was also true that the lens effect such as telephoto or wide angle could not be obtained with such a camera. "Zoom lens, or ......" The lens was a zoom lens with a slightly wide-angle to slightly telephoto effect. I felt that I would like to pay tribute to the developer of this camera. However, the price was quite expensive at 129,900 TUR (about 129,000 yen) per unit. However, they were quite expensive at 129,900 Tall (about 129,000 yen) each. Other than that, there were magic tools and just tools, which were very useful for Jin to know about the current technology. Then came the fourth floor. This is a memorial hall, not a <>. Welcome to the fourth floor. This room displays the historical products of the Raglan Company. There seems to be a caretaker or a guide, or perhaps a resident merchant on this floor. It was no wonder, for there were many valuable exhibits here. It was like a museum. "Wow!" The first pump made by Jin. Unquestionably an early model. A magic stove. This was also an early model. And... And then there''s this. A rubber ball made from the sap of the tea tree, a specialty of the village of Kaina. It was indeed deteriorated, hardened and cracked, but it was surprising that it had been preserved. Also on display were pen nibs, a refrigerator, a monocular microscope, a vacuum cleaner, and a distiller. "Most of these were made by Master Jin Nido, a rare Magecraftsman who died about 300 years ago. A merchant member comes to Jin''s side as he looks at them and explains. "All of them are novel and useful. They are precise and exquisite. They are all wonderful." Jin Nido was itching to see them all. "Since Mr. Jin Nido was a friend of the Raglan Chamber of Commerce, we have set up a room to display his works, and to pass on his achievements to future generations. "Ha, ha ......" "However, what you see here is only a part of Mr. Jin Nido''s achievements. I regret that we have not been able to convey even a fraction of his greatness." Jin wanted to leave this floor as soon as possible, but Rhodes, who was with him, was looking around with interest, and Reiko was smiling and rubbing up against him. Hope followed Rhodes around as if she did not feel anything, but she did not know what was going on inside. In the end, it was almost noon when Jin and the others left the Raglan Trading Company. * * * * * * * * * * * After having lunch, Jin and the others departed for the Kingdom of Elias as planned. "Reiko, are you in a good mood? Jin had noticed that Reiko was in a good mood since they left the Raglan Trading Company. "Yes, Father. I was happy to see that you and your father''s work were recognized at the Chamber of Commerce." "Oh, I knew it. I was happy too." And Rhodes joins in. "I thought it was great too. I want to be a person who can leave a legacy for future generations like you, Jin-san. flies south through the clear sky. As he flew over the Kingdom of Egelea, Jin looked nostalgically down at the fortified city of what he thought was the Blue Lands. After passing the Blue Lands, the border between the Kingdom of Egelea and the Kingdom of Elias is just a short distance away. "The Kingdom of Elias..." Thinking back on it, it is one of the countries that can be said to be Jin''s starting point. "This is where I met Marcia, participated in the Golem boat competition, and met Reinhardt and ...... Erza. It is a fond memory. While Jin was thinking about this, the piloted by Hope passed through Borgia, the capital of the Elias Kingdom. "Where do you recommend?" Jin checked again with Rhodes. "Yes, Florenz, the capital of the province of Saus. Florence. Jin remembered with nostalgia that this province was once ruled by the Marquis of Florenziano. 1619 - - 44-18 In the Kingdom of Elias after a long time The boat carrying Jin and the others looked down on the mountain ranges of the central Elias Peninsula below. The Hambaluf Pass, the village of Moft, the village of Flathead, and ...... Potrock. With the names of familiar places in his mind, Jin looked down from where he had started his descent. (I wonder if there is a memorial museum for me in Florenz. ......) (I wonder if they have a memorial museum for me in Florenz... ). "We''ll be landing in about three minutes," the pilot, Hope, announces. Hope, the pilot, announces. The town of Florenz is approaching. "I can see what looks like an airport. At the same time, a flying object approaches. A voice is heard from one of them. < In addition to the plane in front, there is one in the rear and one on each side. In total, four <> surrounded <>. I suppose some action will be taken if this recommendation is not followed. Without even trying, Jin followed the aircraft in front of him and slowly lowered the < into the air. The airport was as large as 500 meters square. It was divided into four square sections, and tourists were supposed to use section D of the four. Incidentally, the square airport is divided into four equal sections in the shape of a rice paddy, with the northeast section designated as A, the northwest section as B, the southwest section as C, and the southeast section as D. A and B are dedicated airfields for official planes, which can be used by air corps and ambassadors of various countries, C is for private contractors (merchants, tourists, etc.), and D is for general passengers. The airfield also had a warehouse for rent. Jin paid 1,000 Tall (about 10,000 yen) a day to leave <> in the warehouse. "Welcome to the town of Florenz in the province of Saus, Kingdom of Elias. The immigration officer greets us amiably. No passport or visa yet, just fill out the necessary documents and sign them. Jin filled out the forms, wondering if he would soon be required to register his fingerprints and magical patterns. "Oh, you are from the Nordic Federation? From the North to the South, welcome!" After submitting the paperwork, the administrator called out to him again in a friendly voice. Here is your guide. Finally, he handed me a booklet. The cover of the booklet read "A Tourist Guide to Florence," and when I opened it, I found a list of inns, stores, and points of interest. "It''s very well thought out. Jin thought to himself, "This is only the Kingdom of Elias, which knows well about tourist resources. "No, or maybe it''s just the province of Xaus. He remembered that they had always been good at attracting tourists and appealing to them, starting with the Golem boat races in Potrock. "This will come in handy." Rhodes is also impressed with the tourist guide in his hand. "First we have to find a place to stay, right? "Yes, that''s right." The two decided to go to the nearest accommodation to the airport, which was indicated in the guide. It was only a 10-minute walk. Reiko is walking beside Jin, and Hope with her baggage is walking behind them. "The road is beautiful, isn''t it?" "Yes, they seem to be well cleaned." The road leading from the airport is the one that tourists see, and it is important not to make a bad impression. Florenz seems to have put a lot of effort into such a point. The inn was a magnificent three-story stone building. Nevertheless, it did not seem too expensive. "Is this the Amber Pavilion? Well, let''s go in. At what appeared to be the front desk, a price list was displayed. This is a nice consideration for first-time guests. Although the luxuriousness of the hotel is not so much. "2,500 Tall (25,000 yen) per night with half board. Isn''t that fair for a place like this?" "Yes, it is. Let''s stay two nights first. So we decided to get a room here. "It''s on the second floor, number 203," he said. I received a key and went up to the second floor. There were rooms on both sides of a straight corridor. 203 was the second room on the right after the stairs. Upon entering, I found myself in a twin room with a large living room and two bedrooms. From the window I could see the airport in the distance over the town of Florenz. "It''s a nice room, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is." After putting down their luggage, Jin and Rhodes discussed what they were going to do. It is 3:30 in the afternoon. The time is 3:30 p.m., which is halfway through the day. "We''ll see Florenz tomorrow. ......" Jin opens the tourist information sheet he received. Then he opened it. "Oh, this is good. It said that there was a workshop near the inn. "......It seems to be mainly jewelry, is that correct?" But as Rhodes pointed out, it seemed to be a workshop that made jewelry. Rhodes guessed that the point was to have guests buy souvenirs. "That''s good, isn''t it?I''m kind of curious to see what kind of technology they use. ...... Well, maybe you could buy Vita a souvenir, huh?" "For Vita? ...... what kind of things would she like?" "I''m not the one to ask. ...... Jin laughs. It seems that Rhodes is even more naive than Jin in this respect. "Why don''t you wear it as a pendant head or a necklace? Reiko, perhaps not seeing this, offered her advice. "Oh, yes. I think that would be a good idea. Jin agreed. "......I understand. Anyway, let''s go take a look." * * * * Leaving the key at the front desk, Jin and the others left the inn. "......This is it..." "<>. I''m sure of it. We had asked for directions on our way out, so we were able to get there without making any mistakes. It''s surprisingly clean. "I guess that''s because it''s an accessory workshop." There are no workshops specializing in accessories in the Nordic Union. They all make ornaments only as a side project of making practical goods. That is why Rhodes seems to have had an image of a workshop as dirty and chaotic. However, this workshop had a wide frontage and a large glass wall to allow a clear view of the inside. Samples of what they make were also displayed in the show window, which stimulated the desire to purchase. "It looks like a lot of silver-based items. These won''t be too expensive, so they will be affordable." After saying this, Jin realized that he was not familiar with the current market prices of metals. When he mentioned this to Rhodes, he said, "I heard that gold and silver have not changed much. He replied, "I have heard that gold and silver have not changed much. Jin agreed that it would certainly be bad if the price of gold fluctuated greatly in this gold-standard world. "But the price of light silver, in particular, has been falling. Light silver (= titanium) is a useful metal, but its price was high because of the difficulty of refining it, but since Jin had created magical tools and facilities for refining it long ago, the price had dropped dramatically. "Then silver bullion as an accessory should be about the same as it was in the past. With these words, Jin walked into the store. 1620 - - 44-19 Its name Reiko followed Jin, and then Hope and Rhodes. "Heh. ......" The store is beautifully decorated, with white furnishings that are classy and complement the items laid out on black and dark blue velvet. I thought it might be for women, but it is not. There are also some male customers, and it is easy to look around for souvenirs and gifts for family members. (I guess you could call it a tourist attraction .......) Jin looked around the products with admiration. "There are a lot of silver-based accessories." In Ars, the unit price of silver is about one-tenth of that of gold. At one time in modern Japan, the market price of gold was 4,900 yen per gram, while silver was 67 yen per gram at the same time. The difference is largely due to the amount of reserves. The ratio of gold to silver production on Ars is about 1 to 10, which means that gold is less rare than on Earth. (On Earth, it is said to be 150,000 tons of gold and more than 1 million tons of silver.) As an aside, it is said that silver was more expensive than gold at one time in the Earth''s past. It is assumed that this is because gold, which is difficult to oxidize, was produced as <, that is, gold sand or gold in the mountains, while silver, which is more easily oxidized and sulfidized, was rarely produced as natural silver. In other words, the unit price of metals varies depending on the smelting technology. The planet Ars is rich in underground resources and produces a large amount of gold and silver ores. Nevertheless, to prevent the value of precious metals from plummeting, each country manages its state-owned mines and controls the amount of gold and silver in circulation. ...... On a quiet note. "It seems to be treated in such a way that it is difficult to oxidize or sulfurize." It is possible with engineering magic. To be more precise, the free-magic elements (ether) are distributed between the metal atoms on the surface to prevent chemical reactions such as oxidation and sulfurization from occurring. Jin was impressed by this surface treatment, because silver tends to turn black by sulfurization. (...... but I don''t have anyone to give it to.) ) It reminded him of the time when he used to look at these things and wonder which one would look best on Hannah or Erza. "Jin-san, which one do you think is best?" Rhodes'' voice brought Jin back to himself. He is trying to decide between the green and purple pendant head. "I guess so. ......" Jin himself is aware that he does not have good taste in such things. "If it goes with my silver hair, it would be the purple one. "I see, that''s right." In addition, Vita has red eyes, so it would be difficult to match her with green, which is a complementary color. When I mentioned this, Rhodes said, "Well, I''ll take this one," and went to pay the bill. In the meantime, Jin casually walked around the restaurant. With Reiko by his side, he does not get any strange looks when he goes to the women''s section. "I don''t really understand what you mean by trendy design ......." However, there were few items that seemed overly decorated, and many of them were simple. "I guess this too is out of fashion." Then a voice from Reiko said. "Father, I think Mr. Rhodes has paid his bill. "Oh, I see." Mr. Jin. Sorry to keep you waiting. No, what? And just as Jin and the others were about to leave... "Um... ...... please wait a minute..." "Please wait a minute." A voice said. "Yes?" Jin turned around to see a classy woman in her twenties standing there. She was wearing a front cover with the store''s name on it, which suggested that she was a waitress. "Uh, you are the one who just paid the bill, aren''t you? "Uh, yes." Rhodes nodded. "I''m sorry, but you charged me 100 dollars more than you should have, and I would like to apologize and refund you the money. I apologize for the inconvenience, but could you please come to the office? "Oh, in that case..." I don''t know how much it cost him, but I like the fact that he was willing to tell me that he made a mistake of 100 dollars. Then let''s go out. "I''m sorry." Hitoshi offered, and Rhodes bowed his head, as did the waiter. "Well, please bring your companion with you. Please come this way. Jin, Rhodes, Reiko, and Hope were escorted by the clerk to the back of the restaurant. They enter through the service entrance there. "This way, please." Jin wondered if the office was in the basement. It was a little suspicious. Jin glances at Reiko''s face. Reiko seems to have guessed what Jin meant by that. (There seems to be no trick to it.) <, checked the basement in a hurry, putting Jin''s safety first, and stated her findings. "I see." Jin was a little relieved to hear that. At the bottom of the stone staircase, there was a heavy wooden door. "Please come in." The waiter opened the door and Jin and the others went inside. The waiter also enters the room, and the door is closed. There is the sound of the door being locked. "?" Before Jin had time to wonder what was going on, a voice came from inside the room. "Welcome, my dear." Jin and Rhodes braced themselves. She appeared to be a well-dressed woman in her early thirties. She had shoulder-length light brown hair and kind eyes the same shade of brown as her hair. She stands up from her chair and bows politely. She seemed to have no hostile or harmful intentions for the moment, Jin thought. "I am the manager of the back of the store. "Manager in the back?" Rhodes asked back at the unfamiliar word. "Yes. The front manager is the head of the accessories workshop. I am , and I am in charge of the back office, is that correct, Mr. Rhodes? Yes. I am Rhodes. Yes, I''m Rhodes. Please have a seat at ...... first." Rhodes and Jin sit down after being offered chairs. Rhodes again asked the woman who introduced herself as Leelia, "Do you know me? "Do you know me?" "Yes." < and having been recognized on the , it was no surprise that there were others who knew of her. "......A certain person has asked that if you should ever come to see me, I will be very gracious to you and take you with me." "...... Who is this ?" Leelia bowed her head. "I cannot tell you at this stage." "......" Jin, beside her, continues to think. In this day and age, Rhodes must be much more famous than he is. Therefore, it is not surprising that he is the target of a search for some purpose. But the question is what purpose. "Let me ask you something. ...... can you tell me the name of your organization, if you have one?" To this question, Leelia nodded her head and answered. "Yes. <." 1621 - - 44-20 To the Kako Party Headquarters "<>!" Jin couldn''t help but ask back. "Yes. Do you know about it? "Yes, in a manner of speaking." His voice trailed off a little. "I see. Well, it''s not a secret society, so some of you may know ...... that you graduated from ? "Rhodes, yes." Leelia Madagascar had not heard much about Rhodes, Jin thought. She recognized him only because he had called her name in the store. "Then it''s only natural that you know him." Leelia seemed convinced. "So, what do you want from me, Nostalgia?" "Well, I''m sorry, but I can''t tell you right now. I will talk to you if you will join me at ......." "......" Rhodes consults Jin. "What should we do?" "Well, ......." If the person who invites Rhodes is a member of the Nostalgia Party, there seems to be no problem. Because the nostalgia party (nostalgia gear) does not have dangerous ideas. "It might be easier to get information if you go there. Then Reiko gives me some advice. "Father, Mr. Rhodes, first of all, you should make sure that you are really a member of the Nostalgia Party. "Yes, that''s right." Jin then turned to Leelia, "I will accept your invitation if you can prove that you are really a member of the Nostalgia Party. He said to her. "I see. Then, please take a look at this. Leelia took out a card and presented it. It is an ID card of the Nostalgia Party. The card was made of thin metal and was the size of a business card. The owner''s name and portrait are engraved in a watermark. "It is certainly genuine, isn''t it?" Reiko confirmed. Reiko is more certain on this point than Jin, who has a 300-year blank. "Thirty-six percent nickel, twelve percent chromium, and the rest iron. It''s definitely Elinvar." Elinvar is an alloy whose elasticity changes little with temperature. It is used in springs for precision instruments and watches. And it was only Jin ...... who established it. By using an alloy with a combination and ratio that engineers in this world would not have thought of, he increased the credibility of the ID card. "What?Why did you do that? It was no wonder that Lelia, who did not know the background of the project, was astonished. "Well, I can''t tell you about it until you meet the person I want you to meet. How about ......?" Jin guessed that it would probably be someone at the top level. "......I understand." After a few moments of hesitation and thought, Leelia nodded. "That''s fine. Jin nodded. "Then where should we go?Do we need to prepare?" But Leelia shook her head. "No, it won''t take long. It won''t take long." With that he got up from his seat and inserted the ID card into the door behind him and the slit beside it. It seems that a watermark is read mechanically and used as a key. Jin looked at it, thinking that it looked like an ID card. "Oh?" The door opened without a sound. "Could you come this way, please? "Let''s go to ......." Jin secretly activates the barrier function of the bracelet. Reiko also increased her output from the usual one percent to ten percent, secretly preparing herself for battle. Rhodes was also on alert, and Hope was also on alert with her detection function fully open. In this state, Jin and the others passed through a door. There was another door, and Leelia used her ID again. "Whoa." Behind the door was a . It was rather large, and seemed to be able to send about six people at once. Jin saw that it was of the same type as the one he knew. "We''ll use this warp gate, so travel will be instantaneous. "I see." Both Jin and Rhodes agreed. Then, please come inside with me. "Okay." Leelia, Jin, Rhodes, Reiko, and Hope entered the warp gate. In an instant, their vision changed and Jin and the others were at the Warp Gate on the receiving side. "This way, please." As they exited the warp gate, "Thank you, Leelia. ...... are there so many of you?" A woman who appeared to be a member of the Nostalgia Party was standing there. She had dark blond hair and blue eyes, and looked to be about the same age as Leelia. "Yes. Yes. The one you were instructed to look for and her companion. They both seem to know a lot about the Nostalgia Party, so I''m sure they''ll be fine. "Yes, that''s good." Then the woman turns to Jin and the others, "Welcome to the headquarters of Nostalgia. My name is Arietta Aeolial, the head of the Warp Gate Management Department and your guide. I''m the head of the Warp Gate Management Department and your guide. Headquarters? Is this headquarters?Is it safe for us to know that? Jin doesn''t know where the current headquarters of the Nostalgia Party is. Neither does Rhodes, of course. But Lelia and Arrietta nodded confidently. "That''s right. If we don''t know where it is, it won''t be a problem to tell you. Jin agreed with them. However, if the old man used Jin''s magic pattern as a marker and searched for it with his magi radar, he would be able to find it immediately. No, before that, it would not be surprising if the "Mere Old Man" knows the location of the headquarters of the Nostalgia Party. "Rather than that, I would like you to meet the man who was ordered to bring Master Rhodes. "Oh, yes, I understand. That was my original intention. Thank you. This way please. They walked down the corridor, with Arrietta in the lead, followed by Jin, Reiko, Rhodes, Hope, and Leelia. There were no windows at all, so we had no idea where we were. We are not even sure if we are underground or above ground. After walking about 20 meters down a straight corridor, I came to a metal wall and a metal door. "This way, sir." Arrieta opened the door with her ID card. Inside there were four golems standing guard, probably for battle. "Thank you ...... for your help." A feminine voice sounded from the back of the room. I looked and saw a large desk or table covered with a black cloth. The voice was coming from there. Reiko takes a half step toward the back of the room. "You are ......." Jin only thought the voice sounded familiar, but Reiko recognized the voice immediately. "Elena-san, right?" 1622 - - 44-21 Reunion with Elena "Are you the ...... of ...... who''s ...... me?" The black-cloth-clad figure leaned forward slightly. "Are you ...... one of them?No, yes, I have a ....... Are you Reiko ......?" "Yes, Elena. What''s going on? "Uh, well, do you know the Chief Advisor?" Leelia and Arrietta, who had been listening to the exchange between Reiko and the black-cloth-clad figure beside her, rolled their eyes. "Yes, we''ve known each other for a long time. Reiko''s eyes widened as she replied in a casual manner. "Reiko is there ....... And Rhodotos-san is there, too. Oh, how nice Kyou is ....... Riria, it was a gofrow......." "I''m sorry." Lelia and Arrieta bowed. "Please, please, please take care of me,......." The one who seemed to be Elena said. "What the ...... hell is going on? May I take the cloth?" "Nuno?...... is the nuno in your head?......Yes, go ahead. Please take the cloth. "Okay. ...... Hope, please. Yes. The table was a little expensive for Reiko, so she asked Hope. Then Hope gently removed the cloth. "Oh, ......." "This is ......." "Elena, this is ......." Jin, Rhodes, and Reiko each uttered a startled sound. Elena''s head had been severely crushed, and the upper half of her face was completely disfigured. Her right arm was missing from the elbow, her left from the wrist, and both of her legs were in such a state of disrepair from the knees down that it was obvious at a glance that they were unusable. The torso was burnt in some places, and the metal skeleton of the interior was partially melted in some places. The ears and mouth barely seemed to be intact, but this condition was worse than a wreck. "This is terrible, this is terrible. There is no trace of the beautiful Elena. It is only natural that she does not want to be seen in this condition. "What the hell happened to her?" Jin asks Leelia. But.., "Can we talk about that later?...... Please heal Elena, Mr. Rhodes." She said, "Me? "Me?" "Yes. Elena is an advanced automata made with ancient technology. An ordinary ...... technician, or even a first-rate one, could not repair it." "...... So, I was trying to find a way to ...... repair the one I thought was the best one in Arboretum." "I didn''t know that." "But if you don''t have the material, I don''t think you can fix it, can you?" When Jin said this, Arrieta nodded as if she understood. "I''m sure we''ve taken all the necessary precautions. In the next room, the materials we collected as instructed by Elena-sama are ready. "Is that so?" "Yes. ...... in any case, we had plenty of jicama ........." Hm?Plenty? I''m ...... sure. It''s been 12 years since I''ve been here. That''s a lot of ......... We''ll talk later, Mr. Rhodes. It was Jin who was talking, but Leelia seemed to be concerned and asked him to fix the problem. "Okay, Rhodes, let''s do it. Rhodes, let''s do it." "I''m not sure. ...... Rhodes said, "I''ll be your assistant. Jin pushed him back. The table on which Elena was lying was on casters, so she was moved directly to the next room. "Oh, you''ve got a pretty good selection." It had taken a long time, and there were first-rate and super first-rate materials. "I think I can fix this well enough." "So ...... is it?" Rhodes looked less confident than Jin. "Come on, let''s do it. Elena, we''re going to stop for a moment, okay?" "Yes, I''m going to ....... Please go to ......." "<>" Elena stopped. "What?Just ...... the magic key word (keyword)?" Rhodes shouted in surprise. "Yeah. <." Jin is the one who transformed Elena, who was once the , into the Elena of today, so he can stop her with just a few keywords. If someone other than Jin who has the waveform of magic power does the same thing, <> is needed. Aside from that, Jin, Rhodos, Reiko, Hope, and others dismantled the deactivated Elena with the help of four people. Yes, it is now at the level of . Leelia and Arietta, who are worried about Elena, their chief advisor, look as if they are about to cry as they watch the work. They would like to shout out and stop Elena''s dismantling, but Elena herself is conflicted about not being able to interfere with someone she has trusted with her body. Before their eyes, Elena was dismembered into pieces. The dark-haired man, who called himself an assistant, proceeded to work quickly in front of Lelia and Arrietta, muttering unintelligible words from time to time. "The skeleton is as light silver as it used to be. No one has worked on it since then. ...... I think I''ll go with 64 light silver here." He took out the light silver and aluminum from the materials on the table, but as expected, he could not find any vanadium. He had no choice but to contact the old man via Reiko and ask him to forward a small amount of vanadium. Two minutes later, a kilo of vanadium was transferred to Reiko''s hand. Father, I know where we are. It is underground on the island of Trieu, east of Io, in the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias.) The identification of the position is essential for the transfer. Jin unexpectedly found out the location of the headquarters. "Okay, let''s mix this with light silver. Six percent aluminum, four percent vanadium, and the rest light silver (= titanium). This is the recipe for 64 light silver. Having made just under 30 kilograms of 64LB, Jin and Rhodes build up the skeleton. More precisely, Rhodes assembles the bones made by Jin. With the help of Reiko and Hope. "Okay, the skeleton is complete. In about fifteen minutes, a well-formed skeleton was completed. "It''s beautiful, isn''t it, Jin-san? Rhodes praises Jin in a whisper. "It''s still different from the mainstream structures of today," he said. "I think so, too." Jin thought it was unfortunate that the complexity of the structure prevented it from being widely used. 1623 - - 44-22 Repair completed Elena''s repairs went smoothly. < was not as good as the Horai Island specs, it was still first class material, and the same goes for the material for . The <> was intact, so it was used as is, while the damaged ether converter and mana driver were replaced with new ones. Rhodes was in charge of the visual (eyes) and auditory (ears) systems, Reiko was in charge of the vocal system (vocal cords and mouth), and Hope was in charge of the head molding. Jin is in charge of the wiring of the magical nerve lines. "There we go." The shield case is embedded in the chest, and the Magi Certifier is also attached. Once the overall shape is set, the skin is covered, and hair is planted. "Rhodes, is it done?" "Yes, I''m almost there." Rhodes is impatient. Jin, who has done 10 times more work than he has, is faster. "Don''t be in a hurry, just do a good job. He continues to make minor changes to the figure. Reiko, who would most likely remember Elena''s face from the past, was entrusted with the facial modeling. After making the overall adjustments, Jin began to make the clothes. After all, Elena is completely naked now, which is a sight for sore eyes. "Jin-san can make clothes too. ......" Rhodes looked strangely impressed. "Father, it''s done." "Good, I''m done too." Jin made clothes out of the cloth woven from the threads of a ground spider, though it was only one-third as strong as the one from Horai Island. Reiko put it on Elena and the work was done. "Okay, let''s reboot. " "...... yes" Elena slowly got up. "Elena! "Elena-sama!" Leelia and Arrieta, who had been looking at her anxiously, jumped on her. "You must be Leelia ...... and Arrietta. I''m so sorry I worried you." "No, no. ......" "I''m glad you''re back ...... to normal!" But Elena denied it. "No, it''s not back to normal." "What? Leelia and Arrieta pulled away from Elena with a surprised look on their faces. Their faces were pale. "Oh, I''m sorry. Don''t worry about it. I didn''t mean it in a bad way." Elena smiled softly. "I am now fifty times better than I was before I broke down." "Yes! Fifty times more powerful sounds like a huge improvement, but the original Elena was detuned and could only show twice the physical ability of a human being. Now, Elena is 50 times more powerful than the original Elena, making her 100 times more powerful than a human being. Even so, her performance is less than one-third that of the golem and automata of Horai Island. This was due to the limitation of materials. Jin made it the best he could with the materials available today. "Thank you, Jin-sama, for fixing it." After calming Lelia and Arrietta down, Elena turned to Jin and bowed deeply. "I never thought I would actually meet you." "Really?Really?" Elena said something that bothered Jin a little, so he asked her if she was sure. The old man had told me a little bit about you about 400 years ago. Jin-sama, who had gone missing, temporarily appeared 400 years later ...... in this time period, and then returned to the original time period." "Oh, I see." Elena is under the mistaken impression that Jin here is the . The old man may not have told her the exact age, or Elena''s broken sense of time may have been a little off. Jin thought that he would clear up the misunderstanding later. Because Lelia and Arietta looked like they wanted to ask him some questions. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * An hour later, Jin, Rhodes, Reiko, and Hope were chatting with Elena in a kind of reception room. "Leelia and Arrietta are the ones I''ve loved since they were little." "Oh, that''s why they were so desperate." Jin thought that their attitude made sense then. In fact, it made him smile. Jin then explained about his present self. "I see, Jin-sama <...... doesn''t understand you at all." Elena smiled at him. "In any case, I can only thank you for restoring ...... this body to its original, much better state." "But who the hell ...... is this person who did that to Elena?" Elena''s face tightened, I''ll tell you all about it, Jin-sama," she said. She began to speak slowly. The story began with the following words: * * * * * * * "It all started with ......, I see...do you know about Golbert Markitas?" "Yes, I know him. He took away the majority of our Nostalgia personnel and forces. Jin took the opportunity to ask Elena. "Elena, first of all, tell me about Golbert Markitas.I''m having a hard time understanding what he really is." Elena nodded. "I understand. Certainly, very few people know about him in this day and age." After a breath ...... Elena didn''t need one, Elena began to speak again. "We do not know the childhood of Golbert Markitas." "Hmm?I''m sorry, wait a minute. What do you mean? I''m sorry, wait a minute. No matter how much research I do, I can''t find his country of birth, his town, his parents, his family, anything. "Hmm. ......" He won''t talk about it, so this is a real mystery. "Okay. I''m sorry to interrupt you, but please continue. I''m sorry to interrupt you, please continue. ...... So he suddenly appeared on the stage as an adult. First of all, he will be enrolled in the high school of ." Jin nodded. I know what I''m talking about. "He was a genius. He was a ...... no, I mean, he was a very mysterious person. Yes, as if he had known all along and had dared to enter the school." "Hmmm... ......" "And three years of learning. Golbert Markitas was always in the first class." "That''s amazing." Having studied at Avalon, Rhodes knows how difficult it can be. "I dropped out at the end of my third year. He said there was nothing more to learn." Avalon''s high school is a five-year program. To drop out after three years of study is a very good sign. ....... "Should we assume that he had a certain amount of knowledge before he entered the school?" "Yes. I think that is the most likely scenario." Elena agreed. "And for a year, Golbert Markitas did not appear, but the next time he appeared, he was carrying the Magi Emulator," she said. "So you think he developed it during that one year?" "I think so. And ......." At this point, Jin interrupted again. "I''m sorry. But before I forget, did Golbert Markitas ever give any indication that he was going to rebel while he was in school?" Elena shook her head in denial. "No, at least, I don''t think people around him were aware of it." "Well, I''m ...... sorry, please continue." "Yes." Elena''s story continues. 1624 - - 44-23 Information from Elena "Golbert Markitas has changed a lot in the past year." Elena looked at him curiously and broke off. "That happens to people all the time," she said. Especially when we go through hardships and painful experiences. Elena nodded at Jin''s words. "...... is that the way it is? Anyway, Golbert Markitas was a changed man. Until then, he had been a sullen man of the world, but not anti-establishment, she said. I wonder what happened during that year. "Yes, I don''t know. But when he reappeared, he had definitely become a dangerous man. A dangerous man? Dangerous man, huh? ...... to continue....... Golbert Markitas reappeared and at first he seemed quiet. But in fact he was sowing the seeds of discord. He had no problem attending lectures because he was on a leave of absence, but that was a mistake. Golbert Markitas began to deny science in more than half of his lectures, shouting loudly against it. "The most important of his arguments was that <>. "<>, or ......" Jin thought that this was a rather astonishing viewpoint. Certainly, there is a tendency to do so, Jin admitted. It is not impossible to think that the earth''s civilization will also be ...... if things continue as they are, and above all, since the <> was destroyed. However, Jin thinks that <> was not destroyed. In his opinion, it was probably due to the scarcity of materials and the limitation of the species. "Huh?If ......, does Golbert Malkitas know about <>?" "Yes. Everyone related to <> knows about it. In the first place, it is no exaggeration to say that is a facility that originated from . "Indeed it is." The question remains, then, where did Golbert Malkitas''s thought get twisted? Jin could not think of anything, so he decided to listen to the rest of Elena''s talk. "...... Golbert Markitas was a good talker, and gradually more and more people began to sympathize with him. Then six months after he appeared. ......Suddenly there was a <>." "<>?< "Yes. I was not there, so I could not analyze the situation, but I think it is possible that some kind of subconscious induction (subliminal) magic was used. Elena once brainwashed people using <><>> and founded the <>. Her readings are not to be underestimated. "But if you use such magic in Avalon, it will be detected at some point. Rhodes, who had been listening in silence, interrupted. "If you want to brainwash people, there is ." "Oh, I see." Brainwashing magic, formerly known as , was once used by the aristocrats of the Klein Kingdom. It is the magic used by Lardus the Humorous, who once manipulated Count Walter, a nobleman of the Klein Kingdom. "That''s a different system, so we might not be able to detect it if we don''t know it. But even if that were the case, how could Golbert Malkitas use it?" "I don''t know that, but ......" Rhodes held his tongue, too, unsure of himself. "First of all, isn''t that magic forbidden in the Nordic Federation?" "Yes, it is. Then the big mystery is how he learned it. Yes, that''s true. Again, Jin put off the solution and asked Elena to continue the story. "......<> has not been confined to Avalon, but has spread to many countries. The kingdoms of Elias, Egelea, Klein, Franz, and Selroa....... The Kingdom of Shawlo was barely affected. Naturally, the same is true of the countries further west, such as Mitsho and Huso. "In the end, they occupied about a third of Avalon, seized some magical machines, and fled. "...... If you ask me that much, they''re totally criminals." Jin growled. "Yes, that is correct. That''s why Golbert Markitas is still wanted by the and the ." He is probably not alive anymore, but he is not confirmed dead, so he is still there. "Let''s go back to the story. The group led by Golbert Malkitas, who took the Magi Machine, went to the kingdom of Elias. They took over the headquarters of the Nostalgia Party there. Is that how it happened? Yes. Around this time, a group calling itself the League of Magic appeared. There was no doubt that Golbert Malkitas was connected to the , but without proof, the could not be condemned as a criminal group, he said. "The people involved with Avalon never came to the fore. "So they can''t be charged with any crime. As a nation governed by the rule of law, you can''t accredit people as criminals without proof. "And they began to raise the slogan, ''Let''s move from a material civilization that relies on science to a civilization that only uses magic to train the mind. But it seems to me that they are relying on material things, such as using golems and besieging Horai Island with ships. Jin said so, "This point has been raised by several countries in the past. However, the only response I received was, "It is a transitional period, so there is nothing we can do about it. Jin felt that this was a double standard. "I don''t see a clear purpose for this. ....... What on earth did Golbert Malkitas want?" "I don''t know now. But the is different these days. It is clear that they want power ......." Jin wondered if there might have been such a change since Golbert Markitas, the founder and head of the Federation, was no longer around. "I will continue the story. ...... We, the Nostalgia Party, are also trying to achieve a better future by combining the magical technology of the past and the wisdom of the present, but when we were the Unifiler Party, we had the slogan of returning to the days of the ancient magical kingdom." "That''s right." It was Jin, of all people, who destroyed that slogan. So it seems that there were a few people who shared Golbert Malkitas'' ideology. And, to borrow a conjecture from earlier, ...... brainwashing also took place, and almost half of the party members joined the <." It was 3748, five years after Golbert Markitas had reappeared. Elena said regretfully. "It was out of my power. I am sorry. "No, don''t worry about it. No, don''t worry about it. "Yes, I did everything in my power against the <>. And of course, <>. But for a while, their power only grew. He says that some of the nobles in each country supported them. "In the Kingdom of Elias, the king even declared that he supported the claims of the League of Magic and that he would spare no expense to help them." Elena says this also sounds like . "So it was a time of quiet for us for a while." Although not used publicly, there were many incidents in which the <> was supposedly used. "Flying machines crashed, hot-air balloons caught fire. A ship even ran out of control." "I see. < As expected, Jin had not taken that many countermeasures. "That''s what I mean. ...... probably Golbert Markitas got the information about Jin-sama from somewhere as well." "I guess so." It doesn''t make sense otherwise. "I''m thinking perhaps the island of Kunlun." Jin said, and Elena affirmed his opinion. "Yes, I think so too. Anyone can go to the Kunlun Island, so it would be easy if they were not attacking openly, but by hiding among the general public. Jin felt frustrated now that he had taken countermeasures against the slave rewriting magic and the ether jammer, but he was probably powerless in front of the <>. "However, around the year 3800, the power of the Magical League began to decline. Perhaps our activities were successful, but little by little we were really able to reduce their power until around the time when Golbert Malkitas stopped appearing in public. And now they are down to about one-fifth of what they used to be at the height of their power. "If brainwashing magic is a major factor, it could be because there are no more people who can use it. "I see. ...... So, why was Elena so wrecked?" Here, Jin asks what has been bothering him. In the first place, Elena was detuned at that time and was not suitable for fighting at all. "Yes, there is a reason for that. Elena begins to tell us the reason. 1625 - - 44-24 Battle of Elena "In the year 3884, a man named Guillermo Marchitas appeared." "Guillermo Marchitas?" Jin looked doubtful when he heard the name for the first time. "Yes. He claimed to be the successor of Golbert Malkitas and began to rebuild the ailing Federation of Magic. "I never heard of him." However, this was at a time when both Reiko and Horaijima had ceased their activities, in other words, there was an information vacuum. "Guillermo Marchitas is definitely a direct descendant of Golbert Marchitas. I mean, he has the same face, the same body, and the same features. His face, his body, and his way of thinking are identical. Elena says that since Golbert Marchitas has been gone for 114 years, he must be a great-grandson or great-great-grandson. "Guillermo looks about 80 years old, and it is no exaggeration to say that he is the same person as Golbert Marchitas was when he disappeared." "Hmmm......... Maybe Golbert Malkitas somehow went to sleep and spent more than 100 years with his physical age intact." Jin speculates on the possibility. But it is only a possibility. Jin cannot do such a thing now. "Not even on Horai Island, you can''t." Reiko, who had been silent so far, opened her mouth. "Because we did not do such a study." "That''s right." But that doesn''t mean it''s impossible. It may be possible by other means. For example, if you fly around the universe at about 90% of the speed of light on <> and come back to Ars, according to the theory of relativity, many times more time would have passed in Ars than in <>. Going to the future is easier than going back to the past. "I will continue. ...... Guillermo Marchitas has tried again to attack us <> and we have intercepted him." That was 12 years ago in ......3885. * * * * "I am Guillermo Marchitas, the new leader of the League of Magic. Surrender your stronghold quickly, or I will make you a prey to my magic. What is your reply? The Nostalgia Party had invaded the island of Elektra, which was then the headquarters of the Nostalgia Party, along with 200 golems. "Go back to sleep and talk in your sleep. That''s a criminal act, isn''t it?" Elena stepped forward to confront him. "You''re just an old-fashioned doll!" Guillermo Marchitas snickered and pointed two golems at her. "Don''t lick me!" Elena drew the shortsword from her waist and slashed down the two golems in the blink of an eye. "Well, it''s an adamantite sword. And your swordsmanship was quite impressive. I''ll give you that. But the sneer on Guillermo Marchitas'' face remains. "What can you do against 200 golems? < Would you like to give it a try? "Hmph, you''re a smart one." Elena was saying this to draw attention to herself and buy time for the party members to escape. "Besides, we have at least a battle golem here. Elena raised her left hand, and four golems appeared, destroying the walls on both sides. "I see, this one looks strong. "It''s not strong, it''s strong!" With those words, the four golems leaped out of the water as if they had been shot. In the blink of an eye, the four, eight, and twelve Golems that Guillermo Malkitas had brought with him were defeated. I see, this is good. It is certainly stronger than the golem that I have been using. While he was saying this, 16 or 20 Golems were destroyed. "It''s about time. < "What? The four golems stopped moving. I''ve been trying to figure out who made your golem. Donald, you say?" "That''s nasty. ......" Elena was getting impatient. "Unfortunately, I didn''t bring the magi emulator for you. "That''s too bad, isn''t it?" "Yes, for you." Guillermo Marchitas smiles thinly. "If the Magi Emulator had belonged to you, it wouldn''t have been destroyed here. "What?" I meant exactly what I said. Go to ......." Go to ......! The battle golem sent by Elena attacks Elena in the opposite direction. The battle golem is twice as fast as Elena''s and five times as strong. Furthermore, they are outnumbered four to one. Elena is cornered. "...... I don''t have a choice." Elena makes a desperate move here. "<>!" This is an intermediate level earth magic that creates a pitfall. Three out of the four fell into the pitfalls. Elena followed, "<>!" She attacked Guillermo Marchitas, the clear leader of the enemy. "I see. He''s going after me. That''s a good move. However, the barrier in front of Guillermo Marchitas blocks all of his attacks. But that was something Elena knew. She steps in with her maximum speed, and right in front of Guillermo Marchitas, she unleashes her light magic. "<>! "Whoa!" The blinding light cannot be prevented as long as it passes through visible light. Guillermo Marchitas crumples, clutching his eyes. "<>! "GWAH!" Sonic bombs are the same thing. It''s a magic normally used underwater. This bought valuable time. Now that there is no one left to give orders, Elena swings her sword like a gale, trying to disable the enemy golem as much as possible. If even one of its legs becomes immobilized, its fighting power will be reduced to nothing. That is the target of her attack. But... "...... You''ve done it, you puppet!" Guillermo Marchitas, whose sight and hearing had been restored, ordered a full attack on the golem. A few more.) According to Elena''s judgment, two more minutes would be enough to evacuate the entire party. (If we play with them and disturb them with our speed ......) But the movement was stopped. "Ah! One of the remaining battle golems caught Elena''s movement. "Kyaaa!" Elena''s right arm with the sword was grabbed, and she was unable to break free or slash with the sword. "...... You''ve done it, doll!" Guillermo Markitas approaches, holding her ear. A cruel smile was on his face. 1626 - - 44-25 Understanding the current situation From then on, it was a one-sided violation. With one arm in her grasp, even Elena could not do anything about it. "How dare you, you little doll! Do it! At that command, the battle golem slammed Elena to the ground. "GUN!" With the first blow, the sword flew from Elena''s hand. With the second blow, Elena''s right shoulder cracked. With the third blow, Elena''s face was crushed. "See, this is what happens when a mere doll defies you. "...... why?" "Why?" "Why are you ...... doing this?" "Doing this?" "You do ...... criminal acts with glee. There is something ...... wrong with you." But Guillermo Marchitas brushed it off. "Hmph, clever logic. What is a crime?Is it a crime if you go against the laws you have made up?That''s funny." Elena realized at this moment. Guillermo Marchitas was not of normal mind. "In the first place, justice and evil are relative. The laws you make are designed to suit you. Even though she thought the other party was crazy, Elena couldn''t help but to argue. "That''s not true. ...... In the first place, laws have been enacted over the years, and when there are flaws in them, they are corrected. "It''s been corrected and then what do you get? It would be better to tear it all down and rebuild it." Are you going to destroy the ...... world? "Hmm, that might be interesting." At this point, Elena realized that she had bought enough time. Using the emergency warp gate, all members of the party had been evacuated. She could have taken out the most important classified materials. "What are you going to do if you destroy the world?People cannot live alone. But Guillermo Marchitas laughed arrogantly. "Ha-ha-ha, that''s not what I say to a man who has despaired of the world. "...... despair?" "Oops, I think I spoke too much. ...... Elena, you said, I''d make you my slave too, but you''re too broken to fix. ...... do it." "E...... kyaa!" Elena was slammed to the floor once more and kicked away by the battle golem. Elena''s body is crushed so badly that she is halfway into a wall, and she is rendered inoperable. * * * * * "......, but then, luckily, I was able to reboot and managed to crawl to where there was a warp gate for emergency use. ......, and here we are." Elena''s story ended. "You''ve had a hard time, haven''t you?" "What a guy!" Jin felt sorry for Elena. And Reiko was even more angry than Jin. "Guillermo Markitas or ...... another psycho?" Jin frowned. It''s not easy when you can''t communicate with people you don''t understand. And there was also the possibility that he was suicidal. "It''s not funny that he''s going to kill himself with the whole world involved. They have their own theories about criminal acts. This is the most troublesome person to deal with. "...... The , which had lost its momentum for a while, came back to life when Guillermo Marchitas showed up, didn''t it?" Rhodes said. "Hmmm......... But then, like Golbert Malkitas, this Guillermo Malkitas doesn''t know his origins, does he?" "Yes." "Suddenly, he appeared as an adult ...... and Guillermo Marchitas as an old man, or ......." Then Jin thinks for a moment. "Elena, earlier you mentioned the possibility that these two men are the same person? "Yes. How likely is it that they are the same person? I''d say it''s more likely that they are one and the same person. "Mr. Jin, but humans don''t live that long, do they?" Rhodes countered, but Jin shook his head. "That''s true, but that doesn''t mean there isn''t a way." "What?" "Under special conditions, it should be possible ...... to sleep for a long period of time while maintaining one''s physical age." He was only half joking earlier, but he decided that Golbert and Guillermo, the two , must be the same person. Jin once told us that <>......600012 was a <> of Archelle. Jin recalled that <600012 had once tried to create a homunculus of Archel. I was thinking a bit aggressively about traveling at nearly the speed of light earlier, but then I thought of homunculus and wondered if it would be possible to pass through the long years by <> in such a <> solution. On the Earth where Jin lived, artificial hibernation had been studied, and there were many such stories in science fiction novels. "<>, right?...... Anyway, it''s not impossible." Jin himself has realized many things that had been considered a dream by science alone, with the help of magical engineering. "Yes, ....... If you dismiss it as impossible, that''s the end of it, isn''t it? "That''s what I mean. That''s what I mean. ....... If Guillermo Marchitas and Golbert Marchitas are the same person, why did they hibernate ...... in the middle of the story?" It is very difficult to guess what a non-normal person thinks. Jin and Rhodes, after five minutes of pondering, gave up thinking. "It''s more about what we''re going to do now." "Right." At this point Elena joins the conversation. "If that''s the case, we''d like to join you. I''m sure we''d be happy to join you. "Well, then, is Jin-sama the master of the legendary , that , Jin Nido himself? Jin thought about it, and confided in Lelia and Arrietta. "I guess you could say it''s him ....... Well, think of it as a transference accident that sent me back from the past. "So you thought Guillermo was the same person as Golbert Malkitas, didn''t you! "Well, that''s one way of looking at it. Jin decided to cut to the chase, thinking that he was not wrong in the broad strokes and that we could talk about the details later. "First of all, what is the current state of the nostalgia party (nostalgia)? Elena seemed to agree with him. "Yes, Lelia, Arietta, how are things going? Elena had not been aware of the state of the organization since the wreck. "Yes. Let me explain." Leelia opened her mouth. "Since the fall of Elena-sama, the organization has been in a state of collapse. "Of course. ......" It was the fate of a huge organization to fall apart when it lost its centripetal force. "Today, the members led by Arrieta and myself are probably less than one-fiftieth of the original number. Most of them are relatively young people who were able to escape at that time. "That is the current Nostalgia, isn''t it?" "I guess you could say that." Leelia and Arrietta nodded sadly. "So, the members absorbed by the <> are probably about one tenth of the total. The rest are scattered, some have found new jobs, some have started their own businesses, and some have gone into hiding. Now Arrietta began to explain. "There are also quite a few who have been reemployed in <>." "I see." The current <> is not a secret society, but a private volunteer organization. It is understandable that those who came from the < are given preferential treatment. 1627 - - 44-26 Plan for the Liberation of Lunundo Island "......Do you know what''s going on in Kunlun Island?" Finally, Jin decided to ask what he was most concerned about. He could have just asked the old man, but he wanted to hear what the old man had to say, not from his own people, but from a third party. Well, he had to nod his head if Elena was a perfect third party. "Yes. Yes, I am aware of that. Can you tell us? Okay. ...... Kunlun Island is open to the public, is that correct? Yes, I''m aware of that. "It used to be used as a dormitory for the , but now that has moved there, it no longer serves that purpose." Jin nodded. "Yes, well, I guess so." "<> and <> are still in good condition. However, Mr. Rolle and Mr. Leffa are not here." Yes, I know that too. When <> returned to the past ......, or rather to his former time, he saw me off at Horai Island. "That''s why Kunlun Island exists today as a resort. ...... ostensibly." "...... I knew it." Since Elena says "ostensibly", it must have a <> role as well. "The <> now, unfortunately, is the forward base of the <>." Jin nodded silently. "They are planning to use it as a base to attack Horai Island." "Yes, I know that. I mean, it''s already been solved." What? I mean your father kicked them out, Elena-san. Reiko, who had been silent until then, interrupted. "I see. You are indeed Jin-sama, aren''t you? "No, how do they control the Kun Lun island?" "Taibai. They control Taebaek with the Magi Emulator. "What?" The old man had told me that Taihaku was completely dormant. < in the old days. After Jin conquered it, he added him to his staff and installed him not in the fortress but as the head of the Kunlun Island. "Yes, it had been dormant, but was awakened by the Magi Emulator and placed under his control." "I knew it. ......" When the "Mere Old Man" told me about this story, I had been wondering about it in a corner of my mind. Unless you stay indoors like the old man, you will be a prey of <>. No wonder that the old man, who has been shut up, does not know about it. But he must have realized it by now. "I guess the next step is to liberate Kunlun Island. ...... before that." Jin thought it would be a good time to ask a few questions. "Where are the bases of the <> and where are they located?Of course, just the main ones." "Yes. The headquarters is on the island of Electra. Korun Island is the forward base. And the Kasimunore base in the Kingdom of Selroa. The Qasimunore base was once the headquarters of the Nostalgia Party when it was still the Unified Party. There is a rich vein of metal ore underground, and a golem factory is also located there. "I see, so you are saying that the Qasimnore base is a production center. "I guess you could say that." About three of them? Yes, the main one. "Well... ......" Jin thought about it. "Suppose we destroy those three bases, will the <> be able to overwhelm the <> and retake the organization and facilities?" Elena thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes, if not three, then two would be enough." "I see." Jin thought about it. Then Reiko asked him. "Father, if you want to release them, I think you should start from Kunlun Island." "Yeah, I think so too. But how would we do it? And if there''s one more place to go, it''s the Kasimunore base. There is still a on Lake Athol, a huge lake nearby. With this, we can deploy our forces as we wish. "But we can''t just abandon the island of Electra." "However, the island of Elektra is also a good option. "But first, the Kunlun Island." It''s not a good feeling to know that an island you''ve developed and maintained is being taken over. "Liberating Taebaek will be the first priority. Then we must eliminate the remaining forces." At this point Rhodoth interrupted. "But what about Guillermo Marchitas?It is possible that he will intervene. That''s right. So, it''s a blitzkrieg mission. "Excuse me, are we having a strategy meeting?" Jin, Rhodes and Reiko were talking, so Elena wasn''t sure what to do, but she decided to check with them. "Oh ...... no, I''m sorry." I got a little pissed off," Jin apologized. "Well then,......, let''s take back the Kunlun Island first, is there anything we need to be careful of?" Again Jin asked Elena. It might have been enough to ask the old man, but the possibility of new discoveries from Elena''s unique point of view could not be dismissed. "Well, since most of the nobles and royalty from various countries stay at <><>, I think you should be careful about various things." "That''s right." Jin now has no proper acquaintances on the Laurentian continent. The current means of transportation is about half by sea and half by air. "Oh, I see." In the past, hot air balloons and airships were the main means of transportation, but nowadays ships have developed to a certain extent and some people enjoy cruising. Also, there are a certain number of members of the World Guard stationed here. "Is that right?" Jin thought that it was quite natural for the World Guard, which maintains security regardless of national borders, to be in the Kunlun Island, which does not belong to any particular country. "Lastly, there are about five of us from the Nostalgia Party, so if you need us, please let us know. "Oh, that would be great." After confirming a few other things, Jin decided to leave the Nostalgia headquarters. He went to the basement of the Mecilei workshop through the warp gate with Lelia and Arrietta. "Thank you very much, Jin-sama and Rhodos-sama. As they left the basement, Jin and the others were thanked by Leelia and Arrieta. "Thanks to you, Elena-sama has been restored to normal. "If you ever need anything in the future, you can count on us. Thank you. If there''s ever a time. Jin, Rhodes, and Reiko leave the workshop waving their hands. It was already dark outside. "Let''s have dinner." The two quickly return to the inn. The two of them walked quickly back to the inn. "Oh, this is ....... "This is Florenz''s specialty, Topopo cuisine. < There were not only topopo chips and fried topopo, but also meat topopo, croquettes, and topopo salad. There was also stew, pork miso soup, and miso soup with topopo and onions. Jin enjoyed the variations of topopo dishes that seem to have increased over time in this country. 1628 - - 44-27 Second Hitoshi Family The next day, Jin and Rhodes went around the town of Florenz to gather information, but they did not seem to get anything in particular. However, it was curious that there were signs everywhere in the town inviting people to join the <>. Moreover, a person who looked like a recruiter sometimes tried to approach me, and Reiko noticed it and took me by the hand and left the place ...... five times. "I guess this is the lap of the < after all. ......" "Yes, sir." "If you don''t mind causing trouble, I''d like to get rid of all of them." Not now, Reiko. Yes, if your father says so. That''s the way it went. * * * * * * "Well, shall we go home?" Yes. Jin wanted to stop by Potrock to see how Marcia''s workshop was doing, but decided not to for now. "Not until we finish the mess with the <>." So Jin refrains from going to <> to see his descendants. Jin, Rhodes, Reiko, Hope, and the others headed for the airport. They pay a late fee of 1,000 dollars and take out the from the rental warehouse. The car was still in the same condition as when it was left in the warehouse. However, the old man is probably keeping an eye on the place with his and will do something about it if there is an insolent person ......, Jin thought. "Come on, let''s go." Jin instructed Reiko and started the <>. "Father, are you sure the destination is the Nordic Federation?" "No, to Horai Island." What? What? Reiko and Rhodes both asked in surprise. "Are you sure you want to take Rhodes-san to Horai Island ......?" "Yes." Rhodes was flustered by this statement. "Jin, Jin-sama, are you sure you want me to go to Horai Island?" Jin nodded. "No, I think I''m ...... a little too late for that. I''ve been ...... taking care of you in many ways and I will continue to do so." Jin held out his hand. "Will you be a part of the second Jin family?" Rhodes squeezes his hand tightly. "It would be my pleasure!I would be honored, Jin-sama!" The second Jin family is now established. "Wow. ......" Needless to say, Rhodes was stunned when he saw Horai Island for the first time with his own eyes. * * * * "Now, this is the for Rhodes." Jin handed Rhodes a white and light blue marbled bracelet. "Here, this is ......." "Oh, it''s the same as the ones Zion and Marikka have. It has a barrier function, a communication function, and a personal identification function. "Oh, thank you!" Rhodes bows deeply. "For a long, long time ......, my grandmother has been telling me stories about it and I''ve been longing for it!Not only have I been invited to this Horai Island, but I''ve even been given a bracelet ......!" "Ah, ah!" Jin was a little taken back by the tension. "......" "Have you calmed down?" "Yes, yes, I''m sorry." Rhodes, who had finally returned to his normal state, was small in the control room in the basement of the institute. Jin understands how he feels, so he leaves him alone. "My old man, ...... is all the information I have got this time." "I see." < But it''s not surprising since we were confined to the fleet of the surrounding Horai Island during that period. < "So that''s what you''re thinking." < "Is that it?" < "Okay. If there is no problem, we will do it immediately." << "Not too much." Thus, Jin gave the old man the go-ahead to retake Kunlun Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * . As he had declared, the Kunlun Island seems to have been recaptured in no time at all. "Good. So far, the <> hasn''t noticed us, has it?" < "Good, that''s good. For the time being, they will not be aware that we have recaptured it." At this point, Jin asks a question that has been bothering him a little. "Hey, old man, do you think I should know what I used to make? Jin thought, "Hey old man, would it be better for me to know what I used to make? . "What do you mean?" "That''s also true: ......" Efficiency is not everything. The old man was well aware of Jin''s crafty nature. > This was the concern of the old man, who thought that it would be better to put as few restrictions on his ideas as possible. Jin thought for a while before accepting the suggestion of the old man. "Yes, please do so. < "Well then, let''s get started...did I make something like this in the past?" Jin explains his idea. "I see, I did make a MagiDeciver after all. MagiDeciver. It is a device that the control core or the magical brain. The sensors used in magical engineering have physical quantities such as light, sound, and heat as input, but all output is magical power. The MagiDeceiver is a device that < the output of these sensors. It is a localized version of an illusionary ward. "Master Jin, what do you intend to do with this magical illusion device?" Rhodotos, who had finally recovered, asked. "Well, that''s ...... what I''m going to do." Jin gave his thoughts to Rhodes, the old man, and Reiko. 1629 - - 44-28 Next Plan "In short, you want to use it to deceive the for the time being, don''t you?" Rhodoth spoke up, knowing what Jin was trying to do. "That''s what I mean. <." Reiko looks a little dissatisfied with Jin''s words. "Your father says it''s okay for you to be ?" Jin nodded. "Yes, I think it''s fine. I''m a person who shouldn''t be here, in a double or triple sense. That''s why I''m thinking of moving to Hale. ...... Four hundred years ago, Jin was a and accomplished many things. From that experience, he has decided to live his life in secret this time. "Besides, when your whole body is made of >, you don''t seem to age well, do you? It would be bad if there were such a person in the mix." If it were with a semi-immortal homunculus like No. 700672, there would be no problem," Jin says. "If you''ve thought that far ......, I have nothing more to say. I will obey your father. "Thank you, Reiko. Anyway, from what Elena told me, Guillermo Marchitas is too dangerous. We must help him eliminate those dangers, or the world itself will be in danger. And once the immediate dangers are eliminated, Jin said, he plans to visit his descendants who have taken refuge on the island of Onogoro. "I''m ...... a little bit afraid of that." * * * "Well, I digress. Jin resumes. "For now, the ''s strength is the . If it turns out that it doesn''t work, I don''t know what Guillermo Malkitas will do, let alone the lower ranks. Many of the thoughts of the out-of-the-ordinary thinkers are incomprehensible. "That''s why I''d like to make preparations as far as possible without letting them know about it." The old man said confidently. "All right, I''ll leave it to you." < Thus began the plan against the League of Magic. * * * * * * "Now all that remains is to liberate one more place." Jin was thinking of liberating the Kasimunore base on the shores of Lake Asur. "This one won''t be as easy as the one in Kunlun. "I''m sure it will be. Just hearing about the structure of the base, it seems difficult." The Kunlun Island was easier because few members of the were stationed there, and virtually only had to be liberated. However, there must be dozens to a hundred or so members at the Kassimunore base. "I don''t know what their intentions are in joining the ." As far as Elena was concerned, it was hard to believe that Guillermo Marchitas, the second head of the League, had any charisma at all. "Is it brainwashing, after all?" Rhodes says. He is also curious about the magic of the northern tribes, <>, the brainwashing and subjugation magic of the <>, the <>. "I''ll have to look into that. But we can''t just go in there..." "Father, why don''t you go and kidnap someone?" Reiko says something dangerous, but I''m sure it''s not as bad as it sounds. It''s not hard to do. < Send a golem with a transporter to stun or paralyze the target, and re-transfer with the target using the transporter you gave him. The transporter cannot travel long distances, but there is a floating base in Lake Asur nearby. < That''s all. Of course, the details need to be worked out a bit more. ....... "When you think about it, the facilities on Horai Island are dangerous. ......" I shudder to think what Golbert Malkitas, the former leader of the would have done with it. "I should really think about moving to Hale. ......" For now, he is leaving the planning to 700672. "When this mess is over, I''ll think about it in earnest. ......" But now is the time to focus on the problem at hand. "Let''s kidnap them one by one, unbrainwash them if they are brainwashed, and throw them out!" Reiko said something crazy again. "No, we can''t just throw them out. Let''s start with a hostile situation inspection. Gathering information is fundamental. Jin decides to activate the . "Hey, old man, this is also improved based on , isn''t it? < At the time of development, it used free magic element "ether" wave, but it was blocked by <>. In the past, Jin thought of and realized the use of > as a carrier wave, which cannot be blocked by the magic barrier. The principle is the same as that of radio. The radio uses radio waves as a carrier wave for sound waves, but this radio uses sub-free magic element "ether" waves as a carrier wave for light waves. With this method, it is possible to observe the inside of the Kassimunore base, no matter what kind of wards are set up around it. "The inside of the base is very neat." It is no surprise that the Nostalgia members who originally worked at the Qasimnore base have switched to the . "I wonder who they will bring. If a top-level member is noticed missing, there will be a big fuss. On the other hand, a low-level person does not have the information you want. "Maybe we can find someone in the middle management level, I don''t know." Jin spoke to the old man who was working on his observation work with the <. < He said that he is checking the candidates according to various criteria. <<> Hearing this, Jin felt a little better. No matter how he tries to explain it, what he is going to do is <. The old man, who seemed to have sensed Jin''s inner conflict, said "Hmm?What do you mean?" < under normal circumstances. It is highly possible that they were brainwashed. "I see." The fact that the request came from Elena, his former boss, eased Jin''s burden considerably. The old man is very attentive in this area. After the declaration of the Master, Land 404, which had been waiting for him, is transferred and appears in a room in the Kassimunore base. It takes 0.5 seconds. Lando 404 appears behind the target and uses to knock the target unconscious and secure him when he is about to fall. Two seconds have elapsed so far. Using the transporter, Land 404 transfers with the subject to the <>. Three seconds have elapsed so far. <, and then to Horai Island again. The mission is completed in 12 seconds. "Please." The examination is performed by Lise, a doctor (healer) and an automata. Lise has inherited Elsa''s skills and her appearance is based on Sally Mireshan''s younger days. "She is brainwashed, after all. And ...... it seems to be the < used by the demons, or rather the northern tribes." Jin looked at Rhodes in surprise. Rhodes had predicted this possibility, but he was still surprised by this fact and his face turned a little blue. 1630 - - 44-29 Rescue? "I thought it might be, but I didn''t expect it to actually come true." Rhodes says in seemingly contradictory terms. Jin interpreted this as meaning that he hoped it would not come true. "Rhodes, it has not been decided yet that the northerners are involved. Jin was a little disappointed that he could only say, "Rhodes, it has not been decided yet that the northerners are involved. Then Lise came to report. "Master, your examination and treatment are finished. "You''re early. Thank you. Well? Yes. As I reported earlier, he was brainwashed by Divieniunschiavo, and we have released him. He''s sleeping now." "I see. When will he be awake?" He will wake up in about half an hour. Lise went back to the room, adding that it was not a good idea to force her to wake up. "Well, what should we do now, Mr. President? I think it would be better to awaken them in Elena''s laboratory, ...... for example, rather than in this laboratory." <<> "Yes. What is she doing now?" < "That''s convenient. With the previous modification, Elena also has a built-in manacam, a magical elemental communication device that connects directly to Horai Island. This is out of Jin''s concern that if she had this, the situation would not have been so terrible. Through it, the old man made contact. I will send a person to the manor for an hour or so. Please come anytime.] He received an immediate reply and was told that he would be waiting for him. "Alright, Mr. President, let''s send the rescued party members to Elena''s place. ......Yes, Reiko and I will go with you. < Jin-sama, please take me with you. "Yes, let''s go." At Rhodes'' request, Jin, Reiko, Rhodes, and the party members who had been < were transported by transporter to Elena. "Welcome, Jin-sama." Elena greets Jin and the others. And then... "...... room?" Elena muttered, looking at the party members who were still asleep. Jin also looked at the person called Arum. "A woman?" Her shoulder-length semi-long chestnut-colored hair and her well-developed figure were definitely a woman. "This is Arum Pitt. She''s a mid-level technician I''ve been keeping an eye on. "I see you know her well, that''s good." I can vouch for him. May I confide in you, Mr. Jin?" Jin thought for a moment before giving his approval. "Fine. If Elena guarantees it. "Thank you very much." Jin decided that Nostalgia would be an important part of his activities from now on. Jin then had several meetings with Elena. * * * * * * "Uh, no. ......" Ten minutes after arriving at Elena''s place, Arum seemed to notice. "...... where am I?I''m ......." "Arum, do you recognize me?" "Elena ......, my lady ...... what?Elena-sama?" Arum woke up with a start, his eyes wide open and rigid as if he couldn''t believe what he was seeing in front of him. "It''s really ...... Elena-sama, you''re ...... safe, aren''t you?" Tears spilled from her golden brown eyes. "Elena-sama! "Oh my goodness." Elena gently accepted Arum''s hug and gently stroked her sobbing head. "You''ll always be a crybaby, no matter how old you get." "De de ...... de ...... de ...... de ...... that''s the way to go ...... Elena, you''re a crybaby!" "I see, you saw me fight Guillermo Marchitas?" "Yes. ......" He said that he was one of the few who stayed until the end, although he could not see the end because they had all evacuated. "Then ...... sorry, the <> found him and brainwashed him ......, it seems." "I didn''t know that. But it''s all right now. "Oh, my dear Erena, ...... After being released from the brainwashing, Arum had a little infantile regression, or perhaps she was remembering the past, and she hugged Elena for a while and sobbed. Aroom hugged Elena and sobbed for a while. "Well, I''m sorry to show you my displeasure..." After crying on Elena''s chest for a while, Arum turned to Jin, Rhodes and Reiko, still rubbing his slightly red eyes. "First of all, thank you for saving me. My name is Arum Pitt. I am a magecraftsman in training. Arum introduced himself to Jin and the others so briskly that it was hard to believe that he had been crying to Elena. "Arum, this is Master Jin and Master Rhodos. Especially Jin-sama, he''s <> Jin-sama, right?" "Yes, yes!......<, Jin Nido-sama, is it?Why?Why?" Naturally, Arum was flustered by this revelation. "Calm down. I told you this ...... because I thought I could trust you." "Oh, thank you. ......" Arum seemed thrilled to hear Elena''s assurance that he could be trusted. "But why me?" "Well, ...... to be honest, I guess it''s just a coincidence." "Coincidence?" "Well, it just so happened that it was easier to get you out of the League of Magic, that''s all. But when I asked Elena about it, she said I could trust her, so I told her what had happened. "I didn''t know that. ...... I have mixed feelings about that. ...... Thank you very much." So, you were brainwashed, but do you remember what happened during that time? Here is the main question. If the answer is "I don''t remember," you need to confirm your memory by < with your consent. But that was not the case. "Yes, I remember everything. "That''s great. Alms, for the time being you''re the Operations Officer. "Chief of Staff?Me?I''m honored! It was funny how he was so fascinated with Elena that he overreacted to every single word she said. "First of all, I want to confirm something. What do you think the <> will do when they realize you are gone?" This is important. "I don''t think they''ll care too much about ......." A little disappointed, Arum answered. 1631 - - 44-30 Conference Initiation Aroom had a complicated look on his face when he said that he did not care much if he was gone. "I''ve been in a quiet job, and I''ve been mistreated. "Is that so?" "Yes, Elena. I was ......Well, I don''t know how to say it, I don''t care if you are there or not. ......Well, all the technical people were treated coldly. Hearing this, Jin leaned forward. "Tell me more about that." "Uh, yes. ......<> has a slogan: "We hate the development of technology. We all knew that, but what he said after that surprised and convinced us. "...... but there are some people who don''t like it and ......<> is internally divided." "Internal division, you say. ......That makes sense. I''ve been feeling that there''s been a lot of disunity in the policy." Elena nodded her head. "Yes. ......We had been on the verge of coming together since that Guillermo Marchitas became our leader, but he recently lost his fleet and we have lost our cohesive power. Jin thought that he must be referring to the fleet that had surrounded Horai Island. "You mean, there are two factions?" asked Rhodes. Rhodes asked, and Arum shook his head. "No, there are three. "What?" "Three. The faction led by Guillermo Marchitas, the faction aiming for supremacy in the Kingdom of Elias, and the ...... opportunistic faction. Surprisingly, there are many of these << opportunistic> factions. "Hmmm... ......" Rhodes opened his mouth in thought. "Assuming that Guillermo Marchitas is able to brainwash people with , we can assume that his faction will gain strength in the future. I see... he''s brainwashing an opportunistic faction. That''s what I''m thinking. "...... I seem to be the one who was brainwashed by that. Arum sagged. We are going to start with those who have little presence and would not feel uncomfortable even if they were gone, in order to break them down little by little. "So neither of them are important to you. ...... ugh ......" "Oh dear, Arum, behave yourself." "Yes!" Arum was on the verge of despondency, but Elena''s words helped him to get back on his feet. "Yes, I know. Arum, you are now a treasure trove of information about the , if you don''t mind my saying so. Jin followed up. "A treasure trove, you mean. ...... "Yes. And information loses its value when it becomes outdated. Therefore, we need to examine the information as soon as possible. Aroom''s face became sharp as if he had understood Jin''s words. "I understand!" Elena smiled, "Yes, that''s good. Let''s go to ...... and have a strategy meeting. Elena smiled and said, "Okay, that''s fine. * * * * * * Soon after, Lelia and Arrietta, who had also become acquainted with Jin and Rhodes, arrived. But... "It''s not Arum!" When did you come back? "Uh, well, I heard that Master Jin and Master Rhodotos rescued him..." For a few moments, the three female party members rejoiced at their safe reunion. "Come on, let''s start the meeting! Elena clapped her hands and the three became serious and took their seats. "I know it''s not much to call it an executive meeting ......, but we have a special guest today. It''s not often that we have such an opportunity. The meeting began with Elena, Arum, Lelia, Arietta, Jin, Rhodes, and Reiko. "First of all, is it better to recover the lost ground, or is it better to disturb the opponent? Jin summarized the agenda. "I think we can come to a conclusion after a detailed study of the current situation of the <>." Jin-sama is right. Specifically, should we retake the base in Kasimunore, or should we stir up confusion among them? Elena added. "I think it is still a little early to retake the base," Elena added. I think it is still a little early to take them back, because we are not ready yet. Elena started by stating her opinion. "So, Alm, please tell us what you know about the situation of the League of Magic. "Yes, Elena." Arum closed his eyes once to check his memory, then opened them again. "In a word, I am . Guillermo Marchitas, our leader, only shows his face once in a while, so the executives are doing what they want. ...... Well, I mean, some time ago, there was a lot of noise about a lot of ships getting out of control, and I think the confusion has deepened since then." "Well, that''s interesting. ...... Mr. Jin, do you know anything about this?" "Yes. Yeah. I think those ships are the ones that surrounded my base. I destroyed them all. I don''t blame you for making a big deal out of it. That''s just like Jin-sama, isn''t it? "Is that so?" Elena was impressed, but Aroom looked incredulous. "...... If that''s the case, the <> has lost nine-tenths of its maritime forces." "Oh." That is useful information for Jin. < "Originally, the headquarters is on the island of Electra. Without ships or flying machines, it will be difficult to move personnel. <, they are not free to use it. "We are one step ahead of you in this respect, aren''t we?" Leelia smiled and stuck out her tongue. The Nostalgia Party has its own warp gate. And it''s half-authorized by the world. "Let''s go back. There should be only two <> and about ten <> on the current Electra Island, and we are in the process of building battleships in a rush." Arum''s face contorted in frustration here. "...... I remember suggesting cruisers rather than battleships, but I was laughed out of the room." "Hmmm...... why do you suggest cruisers?" A question from Jin, who thought Arum''s opinion was interesting. "Oh, yes. Well, a cruiser can be completed in about a third of the materials and time of a battleship. In terms of overall strength, three cruisers are equivalent to two battleships, in my opinion. Therefore, ......." Jin nodded. "I see. Can you give me the definition of a battleship and a cruiser, by the way, ......?" "Yes. Battleships are over 30 meters in length, while cruisers are between 20 and 30 meters in length, with an emphasis on offensive capabilities. Cruisers are those that are more aggressive and have a more comprehensive range of capabilities. "I see. Thank you." The ships surrounding Horai Island were definitely battleships by this definition. "By the way, doesn''t Electra Island have a warp gate?" "Yes, there is. Elena answered. One leads to Avalon, one to Kunlun Island, and one to the base of Kasimunore. So they can come and go from Avalon? "Yes, but the Avalon receiving station is currently shut down, so transfers are not possible." It is a natural measure. "The warp gate of Avalon is very strictly controlled. Rhodes added. "Then we''ll have to make it impossible for them to get to Kunlun Island. Jin chuckled, as if he had just thought of something. 1632 - - 44-31 Meeting Ends "...... Then, it would be interesting to confuse the island of Electra." Jin said with a mischievous smile. "Do you have any concrete ideas?" Elena asks. "Leaving aside whether it would be fun or not, it would be great if we could split up the <> internally." "Yes." At Elena''s words, Jin''s face returned to a serious expression. "First of all, the Kunlun Island will become unusable if we modify the warp gate and change the tuning value of the <>. The <> is a magic circuit that connects (pairs) two warp gates. "So, for example, if you adjust the <> of the warp gate placed in the prison of the Nostalgia Party, you will find ......." "We can catch them without any effort!" "Yes. But we''ll need to use the warp gate exclusively for receiving them. "Oh, that''s good. But we are not ready to accept them yet, so we will start accepting them in a week or so. Elena stated her plan in light of the current situation. "Yes, that would be fine. What do you need?" Elena immediately responded to Jin''s words. "I need a way to disarm <>." "Okay. I will dispatch a medical automaton. "Thank you very much." We discussed this matter again later. Next, we discussed Electra Island. "I have some ideas. ...... First, we should kidnap some of the people and unbrainwash them." "That would be very useful for us, wouldn''t it?" Elena was pleased. She would be able to bring back the party members who had been deprived of their brainwashing. Then we can play a little with the books and materials. "I don''t know how to do it, but if you can do it, it will certainly be confusing. Now all we have to do is disable the magic tools they''re using. Jin laughed, "Since they deny science, they don''t need magic tools, which are the product of the fusion of science and magic. "After all, magic tools are so ingrained in our lives that it would be a problem. The old man could think of more ways to harass them, and he might even take more serious measures. "Anyway, it will give us time to get our system in place, and if they get confused, that''s all that matters. Elena said seriously. "It would be even better if you could discuss this with the old man. "Yes, I understand. Yes, I understand. After the meeting, Leelia and Arrietta took Arum and moved to the basement of the Mecilei workshop in Florenz, Elias. The remaining members are Jin, Rhodotos, Reiko, and Elena. "Are you planning to stay off the stage for the time being, Jin-sama? Elena asked. Jin nodded. "Oh, yes." Jin nodded, "If appeared in this day and age, he would cause a lot of trouble. "Besides, I thought it would be better to stay out of the country this time." Jin laughed, saying that this was what he called a hermitage. "That''s why I''m thinking of a place to retire." "Well..." Elena looked surprised. "I heard that my descendants are taking refuge there now, so I''m going to make sure they don''t have to do that." "I see. I''m sorry to hear that. If there''s anything we can do to help, please contact us at ......." "No, you can just make the League of Magic harmless." "Oh, yes, of course. Oh, yes, of course. I''ll leave that to you. ......, though I''ll need help from Jin-sama. I''ll take care of it. Yes, I will rely on you. ...... but still... Yes? I was just thinking that even after 400 years, people still do the same thing. It''s true. Elena has seen almost 800 years of life, although she has been dormant for a while. "Human activities may change, but their essence remains the same. It is both foolish and enviable. "Envy?" "Yes. If you are stupid, it means that you still have room to grow. I see. Elena is an automata. Her specifications are fixed, and without modification, there is no way for her to . "But I know. Reiko, the old man, the golem maid, ....... My children are certainly . ...... Elena, of course, you too." "Am I ...... too?" "Yes, I am. It''s a sign of growth that you can think of something philosophical like that." "Thank you for ......." "You''ve probably talked to a lot of people, worked with a lot of people. That''s probably what made the control core grow." "I''m glad to hear that." Jin once again took his hat off to the high degree of perfection of the basic control magic formula (control system) created by the previous generation <>, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. The basic configuration of the system that is currently installed in Reiko is the same as the original. The only thing that Jin has been able to do is to use Japanese as a description language and to improve the efficiency of the processing routines a little. Although Jin was able to make significant improvements in the hardware, he was not able to do anything about the basic control system. Yes, he could not add or discard anything. "Well, I''m going home now. "I don''t care." With these words, Elena sent Jin and the others off. It should be added here that Jin and the others returned home by using the small warp gate that the old man had sent to them by a transporter. Only Jin, his Golem automata, and members of the Jin family can use this gate. Elena can use it, but other members of the Nostalgia Party cannot. Therefore, only Elena knows the existence of this Warp Gate for now. Elena was very glad to have this warp gate, because it would make it easier for her to receive assistance from Horai Island. * * * * Jin returns to Horai Island and relaxes once again. "Jin-sama, did you really mean what you just said?" Rhodes asked Jin. "Hmm?Earlier? He said he was going to retire. "Oh, that. ......Yeah, when the time comes." Jin answered with a smile. 1633 - - 44-32 The descendants of Hitoshi are: "You might think I''m going to go into hiding, but that''s not the case, is it?" Jin said, as if to make sure. "I''m just going to stay away from certain countries. But Rhodes retorted. "You say that, but you''re going to stay with us, aren''t you?" "...... indeed." Jin was unable to respond to this point of view. "......Your father has a soft spot for his own people." "Hey, Reiko!" "It''s true. Isn''t it, old man? < "You guys... ......" He sounds dissatisfied, but in his heart of hearts he is happy to hear it. Both Reiko and the old man have the same as human beings, and they are talking with Jin. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Speaking of which, what do you think about the western continent?" Rhodes said unexpectedly, and Jin did not know what he was talking about for a moment, but he soon realized that he was talking about the continent of Pandor. "There. ....... To be honest, I haven''t gotten around to it. Indeed, Jin is a little concerned about it. I haven''t sent a fifth column (quinta) to those countries, so I don''t really know what''s going on there. > "...... I guess so." <> The old man used the telescope for about 5 minutes and observed the countries in the west. Then he reported back to Jin. "Oh, I see." Jin thinks that the country would be much richer than it is now if only it had underground resources. More importantly, it would stop the outflow of human resources. "Same as usual?" "......Mr. Old Man, do you know anything about the Gloma tray?" Rhodes asked. Rhodes was still curious about Gloma Trey, who had been his apprentice, albeit temporarily. "Yes, I see." Jin remembered that he and Gloma Trey had promised to have a match between golems someday. "Maybe someday you''ll get to meet him." "I guess." < As expected, he did not know all the details in such a short time. "Ah, Mr. President, how are Katya and Eira doing?" < "What?" No, no need to apologize. ...... So you are saying that the two of you are not in the lab?" "Jin-sama, didn''t the Principality of Juggs take them out?" "Ah. That''s a strong possibility. < Yes, please. Since the two had been good friends, Jin was curious to know how they were doing now. A minute later, the old man reported < "So that would be ......<>?" < Rhodes knew of the existence of such a laboratory. "The laboratory to which Jin-sama is assigned is analyzing golems and various other magical tools and machines (magi-machines). There is a department that designs them, and then there is a department that deploys technology for mass production. Is that the Mass Production Technology Laboratory? Yes, that''s right. Jin was a little impressed. Although he did not like what they were doing, it made sense as an organization. * * * * Rhodes was assigned an unused room in the institute. He is jumping up and down with joy and is now off to get ready. Perido28, the five-colored golem maid, seems to be supporting him. Jin, on the other hand, now that his concerns have been cleared up for the time being, decides to think about his future plans. "I''m going to try to get to 700672 in a little while." I''m leaving the Hale redevelopment project to him. > "Oh ...... that ......." Jin gave me a hard look. "I don''t know what kind of face I should make after all this time. ......" <> "No, it seems I''m the one who made them evacuate to Onogoro Island." <> "No, it''s the same thing." > Jin tilted his head at the old man''s words. "Eh...... didn''t they evacuate because they were afraid of being taken hostage or brainwashed and used as hostages when Golbert Markitas rose to power?" <> "No, because you will be cut off from your original environment, right?Wouldn''t most of us be reluctant to leave our homes?" "No, don''t worry about it." Is that so? "...... I think I understand somehow." Even though there was no <, it is not difficult to imagine that he must have been outstanding in terms of engineering magic and scientific knowledge. "You must have gone through a lot of hardships." The old man said to Jin as if consoling him, "Is that so?" < I would like to know how he talked about them, but I don''t want to know. . "I wish I had ......" Jin was a little relieved to hear the old man''s assurance. 1634 - - 44-33 Roads Jin was relieved to hear that his descendants did not think badly of him, but at the same time he began to wonder what kind of life he was leading. > What? "Is that so?" "I didn''t know that. ......" Jin felt his strength leave him. < "No, it''s okay. I didn''t dare ask." Jin smiled a little weakly. "Then you live at ......." "I see. ......" It sounds pretty easy-going when you think about it. Somehow, Jin thought of the word . When he told this to the old man, he said . He answered, "Yes, I think that image is pretty close. "Then, how do you earn your money?" > "Oh, I see." I guess they make money by selling what they make. Jin''s descendants seem to be living reasonably well. "So, how many people live on Onogoro Island now?" "So there are that many ......?" "I see." If you double the number of people in one generation, even if there were two people in the original family, it would be 2 x 2 to the 20th power. If the number of people doubles in one generation, it would be 2 x 2 to the 20th power, Jin thought in his head. "......, that''s absurd." Jin shuts himself up. That would be true. 10 to the power of 2 would be 1024.2 Ten to the power of two is 1,024.2, and zero to the power of one is 1,048,576. "There''s no way it''s over a million people. ......" Jin laughed bitterly. "Well, it doesn''t always work out as I calculated. It is possible that some of them never had children, and some of them never married. Some may not have married, and some may have had one or three children. > No, thank you. No," he says, a little curious, because the names of the descendants he has never seen before do not seem to ring a bell. "Better yet, I''ll come see you in person one of these days." Finally, the old man said, as if to assure himself. "...... I can understand that." Because over the generations, Jin''s blood has thinned out and now he is not much different from the average person. Half with the children. Great-grandchildren would be one-eighth. If you are a great-grandchild like Rhodes, you are down to one sixteenth. If you are one in tens of thousands, you are already ....... And now that we have Jin himself, it is inevitable that his priority will be reduced. "And the Magecraft Meister didn''t show up either." Jin said a little regretfully. "You''re a court-appointed healer (Reichsartz)_...... Erza''s bloodline, aren''t you?" Jin remembered fondly the face of his once loving wife. "I see. I''d like to ...... meet them sometime soon." And with that, we called it a night. "Now all we need is a plan to move to Hale, and maybe our descendants will want to live there too. "Yes. Jin thought, "It seems that many young people yearn for a new environment. "Let''s go and see what the 700672 is planning. The time is 5:00 PM. But the time difference from the base of 700672 is about two and a half hours, so it''s about 2:30 p.m. It was about 2:30 p.m. over there. Jin decided that there would be no problem. The time difference is about two and a half hours, so it''s about 2:30 p.m. over there. Jin moved to the other side, carrying a souvenir of Persica juice and Reiko as his companion. "Oh Jin-dono, you have come well. You are here about the ...... emigration plan, right?" "Yes. I''m sorry for leaving it to you. But No. 700672 laughed and waved his hand. "Of course. These plans are fun. Don''t worry about it." With that, 700672 began to give an overview of the project. "The first thing we need to do is find a route to get back and forth, right?" "Oh, yes, that''s right. "I think that we should establish a route to the gate of transition." The gateway? Yes. I heard that there is a relay station in the middle of the orbit. We can establish it. "Yes, that''s right." Jin nodded. The transportation of goods and personnel. First of all, we need to establish these. The next step would be to improve the environment. This will depend on whether or not we can bring the asteroid resources to the site. Yes, we have to work hard on that. "You seem to be quite busy." 700672 smiled and looked at Jin. "Yes, really. I can''t have enough bodies,......2, I hear. "Ha-ha-ha, I guess there''s still room for more." The 700672 laughed, which was unusual. "In any case, we have plenty of time. Let''s be very careful not to stumble. This was a grand project, and failure was not an option. "Yes, let''s take our time." "Yes, let''s take our time." After that, Jin had a few more meetings with the 700672 and returned to Horai Island. * * * * * * Ah, Jin-sama. Rhodes, have you finished cleaning up your room? Yes, thanks to you. Well then, let''s have dinner. The day is drawing to a close. The sky of Horaijima was colored by the setting sun. 1635 - - 44-34 The Mystery of Slavery On October 8, Hitoshi heads for the Nord Federation with Reiko and Rhodos. <. "Jin, welcome!" Zion greeted us as usual. I have something to tell you today, Zion. "What is it?" Theon, who is still the same lovely grandma with a tilted head, invited Jin and the others into the house. "You''re at ......?" "Yes, actually ......." Jin explained that he had welcomed Rhodes into the second Jin family. Rhodes looked a little embarrassed. "Oh, really?Lo, congratulations!" Xiong is happy as if it were his own to have his grandson recognized. "Oh, my God!I love you, brother!" Then Rhodes'' sister, Vita, appeared. "Vita, what a shame. Say hello first." "...... yes, grandmother. ...... Jin-sama, welcome! After being rebuked by Zion, Vita apologized and greeted Jin. Then she said. "Brother, you got that, didn''t you?Let me see it! "That?What''s that? Rhodes blurts out. "Oh my God!I said that one!...... what is it?The sign of family! Zion watches her restlessness with a wry smile. Jin had not seen this kind of atmosphere for a long time, so he was curious to see how Rhodes would treat his sister. "Well, if that''s the case, just say so. "Ugh, you tease me!" Jin thought it was time to stop teasing her, "Sorry, sorry. Here, look at this." As expected of siblings, Rhodotos showed Vita what she wanted and produced the bracelet. "Oh, it''s this color, isn''t it?" Theon, looking from the side, also produced the bracelet on his left arm. Theon''s bracelet is marbled silver and light blue. Rhodes'' bracelet is white and light blue marbled. "Oh, they match your brother''s hair color and eye color," he says. The same is true of Zion. Both of them have silver hair, but it would be confusing if they had the same color, so Rhodtos'' hair color was white because his hair color is lighter. * * * * ...... and that''s it." Jin told Zion everything that had happened so far. Vita joined him, listening with a twinkle in her eye. "So, what are you going to do now?" "Oh, as far as I''m concerned, ......." Jin explained that he had decided to take care of some details that had been bothering him but he had not been able to confirm. Zion nodded silently. And then, "By the way, did you find out anything about the origin of Golbert Markitas?" He asked. "No, I don''t know. According to Elena, his descendant ......, or rather the man himself, Guillermo Marchitas, is now leading the League of Magic." "Guillermo Marchitas....... I''ve never heard of him. "Yes, but I heard that he uses Divieniunschiavo." "What?" This information seemed to surprise Zion. "It''s true, Grandmother. I was there myself." Rhodes corroborated. "Hmmm... ......" Sion pondered. "<> is not for everyone, right?" "Yes, it is." "I think there was someone in the <> clan who was good at it. ...... I don''t think so." There should be no such extremists among the Nords and Northerners today. "But what about two hundred years ago?" Zion shook his head at Rhodes'' words. "More than four hundred years ago. Because it was the djinn that brought us all together." "Ah, that ..." Rhodes is listening too. "Yes. At that time, the radicals who didn''t listen to Jin''s advice got hit by the Aether Stampede. Zion looked a little distant. "That''s why, as far as I know, there are only about five users. But they are all trustworthy people, you know?" Jin gave up, it seemed that the mystery of the Markitas clan could not be solved along these lines. "Now we just have to wait for the information from the fifth column (Quinta)." Unless they suddenly appeared in the world, it is not possible to erase their origins even if they try. Jin thought that he would be able to obtain some information sooner or later. * * * * "......Well, let''s get going then." After being served lunch, Jin drank his after-dinner tea and sat up. "Oh, you''re leaving already?" Theon said regretfully. "Yes. I want to get some things done today. Rhodes can stay, okay?" Now Rhodes'' left arm was in the firm grip of his sister Vita. "...... we are going to Tsetsi Island," she said. At the mention of the name, Rhodes, who had been eager to follow her, decided not to. "Okay. Take care." Tsetsi Island. That was the island where Shuki Tsetsi, the adopted father of Jin''s predecessor ...... Adriana Barbora Tsetsi, <>, was said to be resting. Jin may not want anyone else to come to the island. Rhodes was concerned about this. "I''ll come back when I''m done," he said. "I''ll be waiting for you." I''ll be waiting for you, Jin. "Good-bye, Jin-sama!" Rhodos, Zion, and Vita saw them off, and Jin and Reiko boarded the Pegasus 2. Their destination is Cape Magus, southeast of the city. "What do you think is going on?Reiko, do you know?" Jin asked Reiko, not afraid to ask about this. Yes, father. The last time I visited this place was about 300 years ago. Things had not changed since then. After that, the old man must have sent the fifth column (quinta) regularly. "Then, not much has changed, has it?" Jin muttered as he looked at the blue ocean below. < was fast, and within an hour they were in sight of Cape Magus. 1636 - - 44-35 Rest of humanity Jin landed first to check out . There were no houses in the area and grasslands as far as the eye could see. It is autumn now, so the grass is the color of dead grass, but one can imagine the colorful flowers that will bloom in the spring. In order not to damage the plants as much as possible, <> was left floating in the air instead of landing on the ground. Hope held <> in place at a height of 10 centimeters above the ground. "Okay, I''m off." Jin took Reiko with him as they landed on the ground. In the afternoon sunlight, the breeze from the sea was pleasant. Walking slowly, Jin headed for the tip of the cape. There he found a stone monument. It was erected by Adriana Barbora Tsetsi in memory of her foster father, Shuki Tsetsi. More than 1,500 years have passed, but the monument remains, undamaged, looking out over the sea from the promontory. "I guess the magic of and that our predecessors cast is still in effect." Something was pressing on Jin''s heart. Jin bowed his head deeply toward the monument, and then cast and over it. Then, after gently touching the monument, he turned himself around and returned to <. Reiko did not speak a word during this time, but stayed close to him like a shadow. "Now we must go to Tsetsi Island. Jin ordered Hope to head east. But Reiko said.., "Father, Tsetsi Island is now surrounded by an illusionary barrier. She stopped Jin. "Oh, I see. Well, it would be better that way so that it won''t be disturbed. ...... Then, is the warp gate the best way to get here and there? "Yes, that''s right." "Well, ...... then, let''s land Pegasus 2 somewhere." Jin turned a little inland and landed <> on a reasonable flat area. "Okay, we can use this warp gate to go back to Horai Island and then to Tsetsi Island, right?" "Yes." "Hope, I''m sorry, but I need you to stay with Pegasus 2 for a while." Yes, sir. Have a good trip. Jin and Reiko then disappeared from . < "My Lord, I was going to Tsetsi Island, but then I came back." < "Got it." The sequence was the same as the old one that Jin knew. However, there seemed to be more than a dozen warp gates connected to destinations unknown to Jin now. Then, Jin and Reiko move to the new location. "Welcome, Mr. 2nd generation!" "Welcome, Reiko!" The male automata and the female automata greeted them. "Second generation, you have grown younger, haven''t you? "Yes, actually, I''ve been through a lot..." Jin gave Nagi and Nami a brief account of himself. "I see, so you are now a duplicate of the second generation," said Nami. But they are exactly the same. But you are exactly the same, then nothing has changed for us. Jin was relieved that Nagi and Nami recognized him. "That''s why I came to pay my respects once again. Jin was thinking like a Japanese in this regard. Jin then went to Shuki Tsetsi''s gravesite and laid his hands on his hands. Reiko followed his example. Nagi and Nami prayed silently. When he was satisfied, Jin looked around. "There are a lot more flowers now, aren''t there?" Yes, since the second generation of the islanders decided to make this island bloom 400 years ago, we have been sowing flower seeds and planting flowers and trees. They''re still growing, aren''t they? "Yes, the query tree that the second generation loved so much has grown to such a size." There were several huge trees standing on the gently rolling hills. 400 years had made the young trees grow into giant trees. "I heard that queries can last for about 1,000 years, so I think they are still in good shape." Nami explained to Jin. "I see. That''s good." Jin then took Nagi and Nami to do some maintenance. "They are almost undamaged. "Yes, we are gravekeepers, so we don''t do heavy work. However, an ordinary golem or automata could not keep moving for 400 years. It is only because Jin has modified them. "Nagi, Nami. Thank you for your hard work. Please keep up the good work. Yes, I''ll take care of it. Yes, I''ll take care of it. Jin stayed on the island of Tsezhi until the sky began to turn red. He had been busy recently, so he felt at home on this island where time seemed to have stopped. "Good bye." Take care. Reiko, take care of the second generation. Nagi and Nami saw them off, and Jin and Reiko returned to Horai Island. < "I''m kind of tired. I think I will take a bath and then go to the Nord Federation. Jin said and went to soak himself in the hot spring. Of course, Reiko went with him and washed his back. "Thank you, Reiko." Jin said in a deep voice. "Father?" Reiko was a little confused, not knowing what Jin meant. "Like the old man and everyone in Horai Island, you''ve been waiting for me for 400 years. Thanks to you, I don''t feel lonely anymore," Jin told her. "If you say so, we should be the ones to thank you. It was your father who gave us this body that will allow us to live semi-permanently. With these words, Reiko rinsed the foam from Jin''s back with hot water. Jin soaked in the bathtub again. "I am a lucky man." Jin seemed to be a bit sentimental after his visit to Cape Magus and Tsetsi Island. Reiko senses this and soaks herself in the hot water beside Jin. Reiko sensed this and soaked herself in the hot water beside Jin. I am able to serve you once again like this. "Those were good times when we were all together..." Reiko understood that Jin was talking about the time when he was young, when he was what he is now. After all, Reiko had taken care of Jin in the past until he reached old age ...... or even at the end of his life. "It will be fun again from now on, I''m sure. Reiko could only say that. But that was also her true feeling. "Is that so?" "Yes, I think so. Let''s have fun at ......." "Yes." Jin laughed a little. Reiko realized that Jin was a little mentally tired. So she concludes that it would be good for Jin to go to a place where he can be most comfortable with his . "Father, I think it''s time to go up and join Mr. Zion and the others. "Oh, right." Jin nodded and put on his clothes as he left the hot spring. "Well then, Mr. President, I''ll see you later. The old man saw them off, and Jin and Reiko were transferred to . 1637 - - 44-36 Dragon Tracking , the old man had been moving to the north with his good intentions, so it took only 5 minutes to get to Zion''s place after Jin and Reiko had returned. This time Hope got off with him. "Welcome back, Jin. You look ...... refreshed." "Yeah, I took a bath at Horai Island." "......No wonder." I followed the slightly stunned Zion into the pavilion, "Jin-sama, welcome back!" "Welcome back!" Marikka and Vita welcomed me. "Uh, did you make that golem, too, Gin-sama?" Vita, who had seen him several times but this was the first time she had met him face to face, asked. "Yes, my name is Hope. I''m Hope, and I''m in charge of flying Pegasus 2. "My name is Hope." Hope greeted Vita. "Wow. ......." Hope looked like an ordinary golem, but inside it was an extraordinary specimen. Whether she realized it or not, Vita looked at Hope with great interest. "It''s my dream to have my own golem someday," she said. She said, "Marikka will make me one, "Why don''t you ask Marikka to make one for you? Jin replied, "I can''t, because I''m half a man. Vita answered a little sadly. On the other hand, Zion turned to Jin, "Isn''t dinner ready yet? Jin answered in the affirmative. Jin answered in the affirmative. "Yes, not yet. "I''m ready." Marikka continued, "Jin-sama, I helped cut the fruits and vegetables too! Vita said with great energy. Then Marikka said, "That''s right. She''s never helped me with any kind of work before. Vita turned red when Marikka revealed that she had never helped him with his own work before. "Oh, oh, please don''t tell! "I was just saying that if you don''t help Jin-sama, you won''t be allowed to join ." "Oh, Marikka-sama''s stupid!" Vita turned red and ran down the hallway. "Marikka, you tease me too much!" Theon chided Marikka. "I''m sorry. Her reaction was so cute and innocent. Jin could only laugh. "This is gorgeous." The dinner menu consisted mainly of topopo. "Is this a doughy potato?" In some recipes, the peeled potatoes are cut into large pieces, boiled, then drained, seasoned with salt and pepper, and shaken in a pot to blend the flavors. This time it was the former. "Jin-sama, I made that!" Vita, who had recovered, declared. "Well, thank you. It''s very well done." Jin had taught the younger children when he was at the orphanage. Sometimes I use curry powder too, so I don''t get bored. Jin even wondered if he had ever been able to reproduce the curry powder. Other dishes were topopo salad and meat topopo. Of course, there were not only topopo dishes, but also fried white fish and fried prawns. The barley porridge was well seasoned, and the soup was just the way Jin liked it. "Oh, it was delicious. Thank you." Jin is drinking his after-meal tea with sincere satisfaction. It was kaina tea, by the way. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?" Zion asked, "Nothing in particular," he answered. Jin answered, "Nothing in particular. Then Zion leaned forward, Then I have a favor to ask you. I would like to ask ...... Jin and Reiko to help me." Me too? "Is something wrong?" Zion nodded. "Yes. You see, the number of has been increasing recently, and it''s starting to cause damage." "The Grand Dragon...... is the dragon that Anne and I killed so long ago, isn''t it?" Yes. They''ve been migrating south to our area lately. Yesterday they destroyed one of our greenhouses. That''s a big deal. Yes, it is. Can you help me with this?I''d rather leave most of it to you. Jin nodded. "In that case, I''ll give you a hand." "Thanks, Jin." Thank you, Jin. The next day, Jin took Zion, Rhodos, and, at his request, Vita aboard the Pegasus 2. "Fluffy,......, this is Jin-sama''s Magi machine,......." "You don''t have to be so nervous. Vita was so nervous that Jin called out to her. "You''re in, aren''t you?Okay, let''s go. Hope, please." "Yes, Jin-sama." Jin gave the order, and Hope slowly lifted the Pegasus 2 off the ground. "Wow, it flew!" Jin thought to himself, "I was being carried by Rhodes the other day, "I can''t believe such a lump of metal can fly in the sky. ......!Jin-sama is really amazing! Vita''s compliments flew out of her mouth. The <> continued to fly slowly toward the north at an altitude of about 50 meters. "Can you move a little more to the west?" Hope. "Yes, Master Jin." Theon guided us closer and closer to the area where the ground dragon had appeared. "Oh, there it is." Theon pointed toward the area and saw several scratch-like lines on the reddish-brown earth. "That''s where the ground dragon ran. You can see them clearly from the sky. Near the end of the scratches, I saw a greenhouse that had been cruelly destroyed. "They''re carnivores, aren''t they?" "Yes. Natural enemies of the hecaton kale. But recently, I heard that the hecaton cail is on the verge of extinction. Hearing this, Jin wondered if something had gone wrong with the balance of the natural world. "Anyway, if we follow this trail in the opposite direction, will we find the grand dragon?" "Maybe so." "Okay, Hope. I''m counting on you. Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it. Hope maintained an altitude of 50 meters and followed the track of the grand dragon. The track turned west and headed toward the mountains. "Is their nest in the mountains?" "Yes. I believe they dig caves and build their nests there. "I see." turned to the west. "Oh, isn''t that it?" This time Vita seems to have found it. She pointed to a pile of rocks with many footprints on them that looked like they belonged to a grand dragon. has lost altitude. Now it is time to confront the Grand Dragon. 1638 - - 44-37 Elimination "I don''t see any ground dragon." He dropped to an altitude of 30 meters and flew around the area, but could not find the ground dragon. "Maybe ......." Rhodes pointed to one of the footprints growing out of the rock pile. "Maybe they''re going somewhere else." It was a different set of footprints than the ones we had just followed. "That''s not good. Let''s hurry and follow them. Hope, go! Yes, Master Jin. Hope''s heading south. "This is not good. ...... If we keep going south, we''ll end up in the Topopo field!" Theon gave her a hard look. "Hope, pick up the speed." "Yes, sir." < increased its speed. This allowed them to see something moving in the distance. "Father, it''s the Grand Dragon! Reiko, who had good eyesight, reported. "Oh, good, you''re just in time!" While I was saying this, the distance between us was closing and the grand dragon became clearly visible. It was moving south at about 50 km/h. "Warning shot!" < is fired from . It lands 200 meters in front of Grand Dragon, scattering rock debris. This threat brought the three grand dragons to a sudden halt. "Okay, they''ve stopped!" I observed the ground dragons again. All three are adults. I wonder if they are stragglers ......." Grand dragons are grayish-brown land dragons. They look like giant iguanas. These guys were about 20 meters long. The ecology of the grand dragons is not well known, but it is known that they seem to form groups around a leader, Zion said. There are at least five or more in a herd, and they are said to behave in a controlled manner ....... That would mean that the three animals here are stragglers, outcasts from the herd. "I heard that stragglers are free to do as they please. That''s why they are dangerous. Theon explained. "If we keep going south, we''ll be in a topopo field in less than 10 kilometers. I have no doubt that the fields will be wiped out." Rhodes agreed. "We''ll have to stop them here." "How are we going to do that?" Vita asked Jin with a slightly worried look on her face. Then.., "Let me do it, father! Reiko came forward. She wanted to play an active role in front of Jin since she had not been in the show recently. "Okay, I''ll leave it to you." "Yes!" Reiko opens the emergency hatch of the Pegasus 2, which is now airborne, and jumps out. "What? Vita looks panicked, but Reiko lands without incident. "Okay, let''s go!" The next moment, she was kicking the earth and jumping out of the plane. "Oh, Grandma, isn''t it hard for a grand dragon to work magic?" Vita asked Zion. "Yes, that''s true. But that doesn''t affect you, Reiko. "I had heard that, but ......" Vita still looked worried. When she and Anne had killed three grand dragons before, Reiko had used the Magi Cannon with Momoka. This time, she used only Momoka. However, Momoka was not the same as before. "<> or ......" It was a function added by the past Jin. Plasma that reaches tens or even hundreds of millions of degrees is trapped in the <>, and is formed into the shape of a sword. The size of the plasma can be varied from tens of centimeters to several meters. The sword vaporizes matter in the area it touches. The disadvantage is that it consumes too much mana. There is a mana storage stone (mana cell) in the hilt, and it can be used for about 30 seconds at a time. Reiko attacked Grandragon with the plasma sword. Grandragon, perhaps convinced of its absolute superiority, did not run away when it saw Reiko, but lifted its paw to crush her. However, in the next moment, its paw was cut off. Reiko then decapitated the grand dragon, which did not understand what had happened. A cry of "Gaaaah!" or "Gaaaah!" escapes from the mouths of the remaining two. They recognized Reiko as a danger and jumped on her. Instantly Reiko leaps. The height of the leap was 30 meters. One of the grand dragons lost sight of Reiko and stumbled, but the other noticed and got up. The 20-meter-long dragon rises on its hind legs and stretches out its front legs, its hands reaching over 35 meters high. Jumping and in the air, Reiko would have no way to escape ....... "Look out!" Vita''s voice echoes. But just before the grand dragon''s paws reached her, Reiko dodged . "What?" Vita rolls her eyes. That''s right, Reiko was still floating in the air. "Well... ......<>?" "Not exactly. <. You see, it''s the same device as this <>." Vita''s shoulders seem to relax as Jin explains in a calm voice. "Here we go," he says. Reiko swings her plasma sword twice while still in the air. Two heads fall off. Thirty seconds pass, and the plasma sword disappears. Reiko flies through the air and returns to . "Father, it''s over." "Thank you, Reiko." The plasma sword burns the cut so no blood sprays out. That''s why Reiko looked the same as when she left. Grand dragon is a pretty good source of material, isn''t it? "Yes, scales, skin, horns, flesh, bones, claws. Basically, there''s nothing to throw away with dragons. Jin nodded his head, thinking, "Sounds like a whale. "Then let''s give them to the people whose greenhouses have been destroyed. "Oh, you mean?" "Of course. Of course. If you can share it with us, we''ll take some of the scales on your back. Theon nodded. "Okay. I''ll say so. As a result, a mountain of scales was delivered to Jin later that day. 1639 - - 44-38 Hitoshi, level up "Oh, this is terrible!" After killing the grand dragon, Jin and his friends came to the destroyed greenhouse. The cubic zirconia panels had been broken in pieces, and the topopo field inside had been trampled and destroyed. "Let''s fix the greenhouse for now. Reiko, let''s collect the pieces. Yes, Father. I''ll help you. Rhodes said he would help, "Me too!" His sister, Vita, joined him. "Oh, Mister Zion, is that man ......?" the greenhouse keeper asked with a doubtful look on his face. "Oh, you mean Jin?He''s ...... a very good helper." "Ha, ha." "You''ll know him when you see him." The gathered the debris in one place and mumbled something. "...... well, considering the strength,...... I don''t know what to do. ...... Zion." "What?" The greenhouse keeper was surprised that the <> was calling the clan leader''s wife by her name, and again surprised that she didn''t think anything of it. "What did the greenhouse look like?" "Well, most greenhouses are square with a roof ......<>?...... is on top of it. Rarely there are single gable roofs." "I see. So, they used to grow topopo here, right?Not fruit trees? Yes, that''s for sure. "Good." After hearing what Zion had to say, Jin activated his engineering magic. "<>" "Whoa! What? What? The pile of cubic zirconia pieces that had been piled up instantly became a single mass, startling everyone present. "......" And Jin, the magician, was also amazed. (...... now feel ...... more < than before, he could use magic ......) Jin wondered for a moment if it had anything to do with the fact that his body was now entirely made of magic atoms (Magiatom), but then he thought better of it and decided to finish the task at hand. "<>" After removing the impurities that had gotten mixed in, <>" Jin formed the greenhouse. "Oh, my, my, my... ......!" Everyone who was watching was speechless. It was no wonder, for all at once, Jin had created a dome with a radius of 20 meters. "Hmmm......... the scale of magic we can handle is getting bigger after all." Before, the part of the body including the brain cells were alive, but now the body is 100 percent magic atoms (magiatom). Jin imagined that it must be working somehow. (Well, it''s not a bad thing...) "That''s your father!" Reiko''s praise woke up the bystanders. "That''s great, Jin! "Jin, Jin-sama, I admire you!" Zion was impressed and Vita was moved. "Wait a minute. " Jin strengthens the dome. "Now we just need to lay the groundwork and the foundation. <>" The soil at the base of the dome has been consolidated and strengthened. "Now we just need a way in and out. ><>" Jin builds a door as if it were a side door. "Now, all that''s left is ......." Jin looked back at Zion. "Zion, what more do we need for the greenhouse?How are we doing with the ventilation openings?" "Oh, uh, uh, what''s going on with ......?" Zion started to think, but then remembered that there was an expert right next to him. "Uh, ah, yes. If you make a hole one meter in diameter on the east, west, south, north and west sides of this shape, we can do the rest ourselves. "Okay. ...... Uh, Reiko, which way is north? Yes father, that way. Okay. < Reiko gave him the exact direction, and Jin opened ventilation openings in all directions. "Is this okay?" "...... is this okay?" When Jin did not respond, Zion asked again, "Ah, yes!Thank you very much!" He replied with a thank-you message, as if he was getting down on his knees. Jin then checked with Zion. "Zion, is this all right?I can''t help you much in the field. "Oh, yes, yes, that''s fine. Thank you, Jin." The field is bigger than the original one. "That''s good." Jin used his engineering magic with all his might and was satisfied that he now had an idea of how much he could do. * * * * "......, but I''m surprised." After returning to Zion''s mansion and having a late lunch, Zion made an exasperated remark during tea time. "Jin, isn''t the scale of your magic power more than before?" "I wonder ......." The magic power possessed by the magician has little to do with the activation of the magic. The difference is how much of the free magical energy (ether) surrounding the magician can be used as his/her own. In this sense, there was no doubt that Jin''s ability to handle free magical elements (ether) had improved even more than before. This does not mean that his magical power has increased. "Rather, I think he has become better at controlling free magic atoms (ether)." Jin concluded that this was probably a side effect of the fact that even his brain cells had been transformed into magical atoms. "I still haven''t fully grasped my current body ......." He thinks he probably has a complete resistance to poison and disease, but he''s not ready to try it out. "Oh, I was sure I was getting drunk." Drunkenness is probably closer to a kind of poisoned state. Alcohol did not seem to have any effect on his body. If Jin had been a drinker, he might have cried tears of blood, but fortunately he was not a drunkard, so I only felt a little disappointed. "Well, I guess Elena will be ready in a couple of days. Jin muttered to himself, and Zion bit the bullet. "About that, Jin, are you going to stop directly touching them now?" "Yeah, that''s right. Basically, he''s not going to act publicly anymore. He thinks it''s not good for people who aren''t supposed to be there to stand out so much. "That''s what I mean. was where Rhodes had adopted him. "I''m just trying to promote friendship between the clans and help the Djinn," he said. ...... and apologies." "Cooperation?And an apology? "I''m looking for information to help solve the mystery of how Golbert Markitas can use the Divieniunschiavo." This is a magic used by the northern tribes, formerly known as the demon tribe, but brainwashing magic is forbidden and only a limited number of them can use it. Maybe you can find out something if you ask them." "I see. Thank you, Theon. You''re welcome. ...... and I apologize for borrowing Law for so long. You didn''t let your adopted son return home for a little over three years. I''m sorry. It''s my fault. "It''s not Jin''s fault. I did it on my own. So Jin, together with Zion, Rhodotos, and others, set out on a tour of the Nordic Federation using . First, they went to the landing pad in the clan territory of the <>. There were several blow floaters parked on the relatively large landing pad. < makes a spectacular landing with the pilot, Mr. Hope. After that, the aircraft was moved to a covered area where it was secured. "Welcome back, Mr. Rhodes! A woman who appeared to be around 20 years old greeted Rhodes and his crew. She was about to run up to Rhodes, but stopped and greeted Zion. "Welcome, Mr. Zion. ...... who are you? "This is Jin-sama, Grandma Zion''s most important guest. This is Master Jin, Grandma Zion''s most valued guest, as well as Master Jin''s automata, Miss Reiko, and her pilot, Mr. Hope." "Well, I see. My name is Ludmilla. I am the bride of Master Rhodes. The woman who introduced herself as Ludmila bowed deeply. "I am the only daughter of a puppet chief. She had long gray hair and golden eyes, a characteristic appearance of the puppet clans. She is a little shorter than Jin and slender. "What about Zicarato?" "Your father has been out on patrol since this morning, but I think he will be back soon. Can I wait for him? Of course, please. ...... Ludmilla, the daughter-in-law of Rhodes, led Jin and the others into the parlor. There, Ludmilla sat down close to Rhodes. "It has been a long time, Mr. Rhodes. "It''s been about that long, hasn''t it? I thought you had forgotten about me. Ludmilla, I apologize for that. That''s why I came here today. Is that so? Yes. I will tell you when Zicarato comes back. And as he was saying that, "Speak of the devil... "The master has returned." The master has returned. Shortly after, "Oh, Lord Theon, you''re here. And Rhodoth, it''s been a long time!Your guest is a new face to me. ......" < clan, was a man of mature years, just under six feet tall with a stout build. "Let me introduce you. This is an old friend of mine, Jin Nido. "Oh?I''m very proud to meet you, Jin Nido. You share the same name as the legendary Magecraft Meister. Theon chuckled. "Yes. Because it''s him." "What? What? Both Zicarato and Ludmila were so surprised that they let out a loud yell. "You''ve got to be kidding me. < "Yes, he is. But there is a deeper reason for this. Please have a seat. Zion smiled wickedly and began to talk slowly to Zicarato and Ludmilla. * * * * * * ...... and that''s how it is. Sion finished his story while quenching his thirst with tea brought by the maid of honor. "A duplicate?Or even before that, transference from the past?It''s hard to believe that this is so far-fetched. ......" Zicarato frowned and said. "That''s a normal reaction, I suppose. But it''s true. ...... That''s why Rhodes hasn''t been able to come back for three years. I''m here to apologize." "Hmm. ......" "I believe you." Zicarato was still skeptical, but Ludmila said she believed him. "Master Jin, your Mistress Reiko is <> Mistress Reiko, isn''t she?" "I don''t know what ''that'' is, but she was and is my one and only ''Reiko'' in heaven and on earth." Jin stroked Reiko''s head as he invited her in. "Well." Ludmilla looked at him with a half-smile and half-envy. "......, assuming that''s true." Zicarato said as if to reestablish order. "I accept your apology, Lord Zion. Ludmilla seems to have already forgiven him. "Thank you, Zicarato." Sion bowed again. "And you have something to tell me?" Zicarato asked, to which Zion nodded. "I wanted to ask you something." "What''s that?" "First, let me tell you a little about the premise. ......" Here Zion took a sip of his nearly cold tea and talked about the <>. "Hmm, the <>. What does that have to do with your visit? "It has a lot to do with it. Its first leader was a man named Golbert Markitas, who used the name Divieniunschiavo. "What? "What?" Not only Zicarato but also Ludmilla was surprised to hear that. "<> is a forbidden spell. We don''t have many users. And you say it was used by a human mage?Isn''t there some kind of mistake? To this Jin replies. No, it was definitely . And that''s what the person who deactivated it said." "Hmmm... ......." Zicarato folds his arms, a difficult look on his face as he considers. "There are indeed many users of <> in our clan, but I don''t know anyone called Golbert Markitas, do you?" "He might have lied about his name, you know?" "Yes, that''s true. ...... Alright, I''ll ask my father about it. ...... can we stay here today?" "Yes." Yes. Tonight we celebrate the return of our future son-in-law. Zicarato stood up. "Ludmila, you will be the hostess, can you do it?" "Yes, father." Thus the guests were entertained in the clan territory. Ludmilla was delighted to take charge of the preparations. Seeing this, "Ludmilla is going to make a good wife," Zion said. Rhodes blushed unusually when Zion said something like, "Ludmila is going to make a good bride. Jin, on the other hand, said, "Jin-dono, if you are the Magecraft Meister, I have a favor to ask of you. Zicarato pleaded with him. 1641 - - 44-40 Generation "Is the request ......?" Jin was being escorted by Zicarato to the warehouse in the mansion. Of course, Reiko was with him. "I have something I need you to fix. Zicarato opened the door of the large warehouse. "This is ......." There was a golem horse. "My grandfather told me that it was a gift from the Magecraft Meister to us a long time ago. "As I recall ......, Maximus was the clan leader at that time, wasn''t he?" "Why do you mention your great-grandfather''s name ...... as if you were the real one?" "That''s why I told you so." Reiko interrupted. "Your father talked with Mr. Maximus and Mr. Famera at that time, and he is also acquainted with Mr. Lucilius, right?" "And my father?" Zicarato is surprised. "I''ve had a lot of dealings with the <> clans. Mr. Belialus, Mr. Archelle, etc." Reiko''s mouth was full of names, "Even the elders? "Reiko, that''s enough." Reiko said, "Reiko, that''s enough!" Jin stopped her, because it was going to be a long time if she left them alone. "So, you want me to fix this?" "Uh-huh. Yes, it''s ......." Zicarato seemed to be starting to believe half of what he was hearing. "I miss ......." Jin stared at the three stopped golem horses, wondering if they had been in service for 400 years. "I''ll have to check to see where the rattles are. ......<>...... haha, I see." Jin looked over at Reiko and gave her instructions. "Reiko, please contact the old man and have him send me 12 sets of standard <>." "Yes, sir." According to Jin''s assessment, his skeletal structure is still in good shape, but his magical muscles could not withstand 400 years of use. "I guess that''s how much use it got, though." Twelve sets of Magical Muscle suddenly appeared beside Jin. "What!Transference ...... magic! Zicarato was astonished. "Not exactly. It''s a matter transfer by a transporter. Reiko was explaining, but I wondered how much Zicarato was hearing. Jin, with Hope as his assistant, quickly dismantled the golem horse. "I knew it! It''s in shreds!" When the exterior was removed, the Golem Horse''s magical muscle was in tatters and on the verge of tearing. "It would be faster to replace them all. Reiko, help me out here. "Yes, Father." With Reiko and Hope as his assistants, Jin''s work was fast. He finished replacing each leg in 30 seconds. Two minutes per body. In addition to the replacement, he adjusted the rattling of the joints, corrected the distortion of the skeleton, and strengthened it by applying <. In total, it took 5 minutes. He did this to three of them, and finished the work in 15 minutes. "It''s done, Mr. Zicarato. It''s a great honor for me to know that you use it so much. Jin believes that a practical product has value only when it is used, not when it is a work of art to be displayed. "Huh?Mr. Zicarato?" Zicarato froze. "Hello, I fixed it. Then someone came walking up to him. "Oh!It is definitely Jin-sama! The old man shouted with joy when he saw Jin. Jin recognized the atmosphere of the old man. "Uh, Endus the Puppet, right? He was the one who once controlled the Hecaton Cail and sent it to the Laurentian Continent, the wielder of the demon. "Yes!I was skeptical when I heard about it from Lord Zion, but now that I see you here, I''m certain that you are the young Master Jin!" "Elder!I knew it, this man is ......." After finally reactivating, Zicarato asked Endus to confirm his identity. "Oh, of course, <> Jin-sama, that''s the one! "Really? I''m sure of it, since I''m the one who told you. Yes, yes!Zi Jin-sama, I am so sorry! Zicarato bent down and bowed deeply. "No, I''m not sorry." Jin waved his hand in front of his face, saying he did not mind. "I''m very sorry about fixing your golem horse. Theon''s husband, the current chief, Belialus, also bowed to Jin. "Please don''t do that. I was only taking care of the aftercare of what I made. Jin did not think that the golem horse of 400 years ago was still in use. * * * * "Long time no see, Jin-sama!You really look so young! At the dinner that day, Belial''s sister, Archelle, had also come to the party. "The Magecraft Meister is a master of magic engineering! There was also Lucilius, who had given up the clan headship to his son Zicarato and was living a comfortable life. He is the same age as Zion. After a friendly dinner, Zion opened his mouth. "As I told you during the day, I need information about Golbert Markitas, the leader of the , who is interfering with the current Jin. "I see, it is indeed strange that humans can use ." Lucilius, who said he was one of the elders, said with a difficult look on his face. He was the grandson of Maximus and Famera, the clan leaders Jin knew from 400 years ago. "...... Do you have any information about the appearance of this Golbert Markitas?" Belialus questioned. "He is a man, and he appeared about 150 years ago." Reiko answered. "Oh, but ...... please wait a moment. Reiko, who seemed to have had an idea, kept her mouth shut and remained silent for a while, then opened her mouth again. She was of medium height and gray hair, with sharp eyes and a thin face. Reiko seemed to confirm this with the old man via the built-in manacam, and the old man confirmed it with Elena. And the old man must have confirmed it with Elena. After all, Guillermo Malkitas, whom Elena confronted directly, seems to be the exact copy of Golbert Malkitas. "Well, he is not very distinctive. Indeed, it is hard to convey the image verbally. "Shall I draw you a picture? Reiko said, so Zikarat, the clan leader of the <>, asked his lady-in-waiting to bring paper and pens. "Let''s see, like this, like this: ......" Reiko drew the image on the paper. "...... like this." "Hmm?This is ......." Lucilius, one of the elders, tilted his head when he saw the finished portrait. "I think I''ve seen him somewhere ......." "Lucilius, please remind me." "Wait, wait, don''t rush me. ...... okay, this is Lardus''s son." 1642 - - 44-41 New information, but Son of Lardus. <, Lucilius, certainly said so. "Lardus?" Rhodoth tilts his head. "I don''t think the young one knows. He''s an outlaw who ...... sowed the seeds of conflict with mankind long ago." My half-brother ...... was a childhood friend of Donaisia of the clan, whom Clydes of had groomed." It''s a complicated story. "Well, this Clydesus of the clan who married Donaisia of the clan is Zion''s half-brother, and Lardus was Donaisia''s childhood friend..." Jin asked for confirmation. "Yes, I see. That means that Lardus, the <>, is about thirty years older than me, but we are somehow the same age." Theon nodded. That means he is the same age as Lucilius, who is the same age as Sion. "And his son?" Jin asked Lucilius as if to confirm. "Yes. Lardus came back once after Jin-sama freed us from the curse of . At that time ......" Lucilius explained again what had happened in the past. Some of the young people did not know or were not familiar with it. "Well, I think I have heard about it in the past." That''s about the extent of Rhodes. However, those gathered here had at least heard the story and knew enough about the past to be able to guess how it happened. Lucilius told us that Lardus had been in existence for about 300 years, Lardus came back about 300 years ago and stayed for about a month in the clan territory of the <>. The <> clans had been devastated by the localized <> caused by the Negador, a.k.a. >, which then fused with the other clans and spontaneously disappeared. It is thought that this is why he visited the most easily accessible clan from the Laurentian continent, the Puppet Clan. "I hardly spoke to Lardus at the time, so I am afraid I don''t know what happened." Lardus was what is called an "outlaw" and did not get along well with his own people. Jin then confirms what has just occurred to him. "...... is it possible that Lardus still has his <> in him?" < "No, father, I don''t think that the so-called of that time had an aggach implanted in their brains," Reiko advised. Reiko advised. "Oh, I see. Then that''s irrelevant. ......" But <> or not, it doesn''t change the fact that the behavior is unreadable. "Did he tell you that he had a son at ......? Jin asked, and Lucilius nodded. "Yes, he did. I didn''t speak to him directly, but I overheard him talking to my father. I''m sure my ...... father would have known a little more about it. ......" Lucilius'' father had already passed away. "If Lardus were alive, he would be about 550 years old. ......, but if he lived in a land that is not the Nordic Federation, he probably is already ......." The average life expectancy of the northern peoples was originally higher than that of humans and was said to be more than five times longer than that of humans even 400 years ago, The human population was about to reach 600 years of age. Jin believed that the existence of free magical element (ether) prevented the aging of cells. In fact, under a high concentration of free magic element (ether), magic materials hardly deteriorate at all. "If Lardus had a child, how old do you think he would be? Jin wanted to know about that. "Well, I heard about it about ......300 years ago, and from his age, I guess he was born around ...... I guess he was born around 3460. ...... This is not based on any evidence, but on my guess." Still, this seems much more credible than Jin''s guess, for which he has little information. At this point, Jin asked Reiko for information on Golbert Markitas. "Golbert Malkitas entered in the year 3740, father. "That would make him about 280 years old. That would put him in his mid-fifties, humanly speaking. Yes. Some sources say that Golbert Malkitas was already past middle age at the time. "Hmmm... ......" This makes me think that the theory that Golbert Malkitas was the son of Lardus may not be far off the mark. "Come to think of it, could Lardus have used ?" "Yes, he could. Father, there was a fifth column (quinta) that chased him from Count Walter''s place four hundred years ago." "Ah, I remember now. < That''s right. At that time, Deneb 30 in the 5th column suffered from Divieniunschiavo. But that was another ......<> countermeasure against slavery magic, but it didn''t work on Deneb 30 who had been subjected to it. "Yes it did. If you ...... inherited it from your father." "It seems that Lardus has been working in the dark without our knowledge. Lucilius looked at Jin and Reiko with difficulty. "It seems that in various places, he has been sowing the seeds ...... of discord, or even strife, between humanity and us." Belialus also looked reluctant and muttered. "But if Golbert Markitas is the child of Lardus, then there is a good chance that Guillermo Markitas is the same person as Golbert." This is a reasonable line of reasoning given the longevity of the northern peoples. "If so, why do you hate material civilization?" Jin couldn''t understand. "Yes, I do. We have been indebted to the past ...... predecessor of Jin-sama, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, and we have been indebted to Jin-sama since then. Common sense tells us that the people of the Nordic Federation would not hate material civilization. "Yes, I agree with you." "Yes, I agree." Everyone present agreed with Belials'' opinion. "In the first place, since the body is a substance, isn''t what you are saying contradictory? Zicarato said. "That''s true, too. Isn''t that what you call a double standard? Zion also pointed out the contradiction in Markitas''s statement. "That''s true, but it''s also a mystery how and when he came up with such an idea." <, and it seems that Golbert Malkitas did not have any strange ideas during his time at . At least on the surface. "Oh, and there was one more strange thing..." Jin said as if he had just remembered. "What?" "At that time ......, that is, 400 years ago, after the Negador riot, I searched for Lardus with the Magi Radar, but I couldn''t find him." The magical power of Lardus was known because Deneb 30 had obtained the dagger he was carrying. Therefore, we thought at that time that Lardus was no longer in the world, but we were wrong when we found out that he came to the clan territory of the a short time later. Then the question becomes, why couldn''t they have been detected by the magi radar? "This Magi Radar can search for magic power, right? "Yes. At this point, there were some comments from those who did not know about it, but Jin was more interested in what Zion was going to say. "If that''s the case, it could be one of two things: either he was in a place where magic power is blocked, or he blocked magic power himself. "Well, I guess so." So far, so logical. Jin nodded. "There are only so many places that can be blocked, aren''t there?" "That''s right." "My guess is that the places that are blocked off are the only places that stand out, right?" "Oh, I see." Zion is saying that if there is an invisible box in a place with a clear line of sight, it will stand out. "If you take your time, there''s no reason why you can''t find it. On the contrary, ......" "The place could be moving," he says. Jin understood what Zion meant. "Yes. So maybe it''s not a place but a vehicle, but I don''t think it stays in one place." "I see." Jin agreed with this theory. "If they move around, it''s in a vehicle. A carriage, or maybe a ......" Or a boat. A new possibility has just emerged here. But the identity of Golbert Malkitas remains elusive: ....... 1643 - - 44-42 Lydmilla Participation Since we can only consider fragmentary information, we can only draw inferences in a fragmentary manner. "...... doesn''t seem to help much, does it?" Belials said regretfully. And then, "Rather, how about having someone who can use <> work with Jin-sama for a while? I suggested. "Oh, that might be a good idea. Golbert Markitas, or Guillermo Markitas, has the advantage of a <> and a <>. If these two can be blocked, it will be easier to deal with them. "Is there anyone who can help us?" Zion asked Zikarat, the chief of the "puppet" clan. "There is one person who is qualified," he said. "Is it ......?" "My daughter Ludmila." Ludmila. ...... She''s a good girl, that''s for sure. Rhodes, my daughter-in-law, muttered. "<> as well as a little bit of gravity magic, I think I can help you." Zicarato puffed out his chest. "Jin, I can assure you of that. Can you take Ludmilla with you and Law?I think it would be a good experience for her. Theon gave his recommendation, so Jin nodded. "Okay. I''ll be glad to accept. "Oh, Jin-dono, thank you very much. Zicarato bowed his head. < is a kind of status. "Jin-sama, please take care of me for a while from now on." Ludmilla came to Jin''s side and bowed. "No, it''s my pleasure." Jin replied. "Master Rhodes, it is a pleasure to be of service to you, Jin-sama. "Yes, it is. Yes, we will do our best, Liu. Jin thought that Rhodes apparently called Ludmilla "Liu. Jin then talked with Rhodes, Ludmila, and the others. "Ludmila-san, have you ever been to the Laurentian continent? "Yes, once. ......More importantly, Jin-sama, please call me by my first name, just like Rhodos-sama. ......Ludmila, is this correct? "Yes." "......Ludmilla is very calm, by the way." Jin recalls the first time he saw her. It had been three years since he had seen Rhodes, but he had greeted her calmly. Jin thought selfishly that since she was his daughter-in-law, something a little more would be nice. "Jin-sama, Ryu is like this. She''s always calm and collected. She''s an intelligent lady. "Oh, Mr. Rhodes, you praise her too much." It''s true. "Thank you for ......." Jin looked at Ludmilla, who was lying on her face with a slight blush on her cheeks, and was impressed to see that Rhodes was also thinking about his bride. That was the end of the meeting that night. Jin told her that he would head for the Laurentian Continent in the day after tomorrow or the day after the day after tomorrow. * * * * With nothing much to do the next day, Jin decides to tour the clan territories of the . Accompanied by Reiko and Hope, he walked around the village. "It''s not a village anymore. It''s a big village. The population growth of the northern tribes is slower than that of humans due to their longevity. The main reason is that each generation lasts about 100 years, about five times longer than the human population. Even so, 400 years is four generations, so it is not surprising that the population has doubled. "Father, there''s a pump over there." "Jin-sama, they''re using golem horses here too." Reiko and Hope report back to me when they find something they think Jin has made. "Looks like it''s in pretty good shape." Either they have a good mechanic or they haven''t been used that much. "Oh, there''s a store." The Nordic Federation does not have a commercial system like the countries of the Laurentian Continent. It should have been ....... "This store looks like a general store." Everything from daily necessities to food, clothing and farming implements were displayed in the storefront. "We''ve been doing this on a trial basis recently," said a voice from behind me. A voice called out from behind me. It was a woman''s voice. "Oh, Ludmila?" I turned around and saw Ludmila and Rhodotos standing there. "Jin-sama, if you were touring the clan territory, you should have asked for us," said Ludmila. Ludmilla replied, "No, I haven''t seen Rhodes for a long time, so I didn''t want to intrude. Jin replies. "Well, I appreciate your concern, but, you know, ......". As expected, Ludmilla was a little embarrassed and turned her head down. In the end, I asked Rhodes and Ludmila to show me around the clan territory. "......It is true that, as you seem to think, the clans of the Nordic Federation did not have the concept of <>. Then, how to obtain various goods was basically done by the clan leader. It is not too much to say that the clan leaders are there for that purpose. Other than that, they bartered with each other for what they wanted. This is a society unique to the small population of the northern tribes. However, with the gradual increase in population and the beginning of exchanges with the countries of the Laurentian Continent, this system seems to have begun to change little by little. "The germ of this system has been around for 400 years," Rhodes said. Rhodes said. "When Great-grandmother Zion went to the human race to negotiate during the food crisis, Master Jin served as the contact person and exchanged food for pelts and dragon skin, and from that moment on, Great-grandmother thought that she could not go on like this. I heard about Zion''s activities in an unexpected place. "I see. Zion doesn''t talk much about himself. Jin imagined that he kept quiet because he tended to brag. "It seems that foreign currency is also beginning to be acquired." Having studied in Avalon, Rhodes is familiar with the nations of mankind. "I hope to build the Nordic Federation by adopting the good and learning from the bad," he said. "Yes. You''re the future clan leader. I''m sure you''re a future clan leader.I never thought I''d hear you say that ...... Jin-sama. Rhodes was embarrassed by Jin''s unexpected compliment. 1644 - - 44-43 Retired Party Prepares to Counterattack Now, back in time to October 8th, at the temporary headquarters of the Nostalgia Party. Elena had called all the executives who could be summoned under the current circumstances. There were 15 members in total. Eleven of them were women, because many of them were Elena''s children. "Now, I would like to start the emergency meeting. Alietta Aeolial, who had been appointed chairperson, called the meeting to order. "As you may have already heard, the Federation of Magic has been weakened. In other words, this is our chance to make a comeback. < "In other words, now is the time to regain power," she said. A voice said, "Oh, I see. "In addition, we have received a promise of cooperation from a reliable source. This information also seemed to help boost morale. The conference room was suddenly filled with enthusiasm. "First, let''s have our comrade Arum, who was brainwashed until the other day, explain to us what''s going on. Arrietta nominated Arum. "This is Arum Pitt. Fortunately, I have been released from the brainwashing and am back where I belong. The situation with them is as follows: ......" Arum explained again what he had said the other day in Jin''s presence. "I see... I see..." "I see, I see," he said, "this is indeed an opportunity. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!" This time, on the contrary, they are noisily energetic. Mostly male executives. "Quiet!" Arietta, the chairperson, rebuked them. "Let''s hear your opinion, Elena-sama. The room fell silent as a voice said, "Yes, we need to hear your opinion. "As an advisor, I would like to give my opinion. Right now, the centripetal force of the <> has been drastically weakened. After fomenting internal division for a while now, I would like to take back first the base in Kasimunore and then the headquarters on the island of Elektra. "I see, that makes sense. But how long do you think it will take? One of the male officers asked Elena a question. "About five days to a week. "And why is that?" "We thought it would be appropriate to keep it that long, because if we were to do it for too long, the other side would notice. Also, we would only need that much time for preparation. "I understand." The questioner seemed satisfied with this explanation. "Is there anything else?" "Yes, I would like to ......." After a couple of questions, the meeting moved on to the next topic. After a couple of questions, the meeting moved on to the next item on the agenda, which could be described as a de facto strategy meeting. "What can we do to counter Guillermo Marchitas?" I thought this was going to be a ...... discussion with no one expressing an opinion, "He seems to be almost ...... completely uninterested in the current <," said Arum. Alm said. "So, I think we don''t have to worry too much about it, at least when it comes to the recapture of the Kassimunore base. "Hmmm, that''s interesting. Wattes Shrezza, the most senior male officer, showed interest. "The Kassimnore base has a mine and is a lifeline for materials. We want to take it back for sure. Wattes is interested in this operation because of his position as a general staff member in military affairs. "Since it is far from the Kingdom of Elias, we will have a good chance of winning if we can suppress the warp gate. "Certainly, it is important to make it impossible to call for reinforcements. Leelia and the other female executives agreed with her opinion. "But the problem is how to neutralize the brainwashed ex-party members. "In this regard, I have borrowed a magical tool from a certain source that can disarm the brainwashing. There is also an automata, Liese, but Jin and the old man thought that this would be more effective in carrying out the operation, so they hastily manufactured it and lent it to us. In short, it is a magic tool that gives an impact with a specific magic wave. "Oh, that''s good. If we can remove the brainwashing from one by one, our forces will soon be reversed. Wattes is pleased that his strategy seems to be working. "There are supposed to be five warp gates at the Kassimunore base, but there is another emergency warp gate that is connected to this one. This information was known only to a very few, and fortunately none of the brainwashed knew it. Their plan is based on this. "And once we''ve moved on, we have to shut down the warp gate. If we do this, we will not be able to call for reinforcements, and we will not be able to escape. "In case anyone notices the emergency gate and runs this way, we will take care of it. This is because the warp gate can be used in both directions. Now we need to know what they have on their side. ...... alm, what do you think? "Yes, as far as I know, there are about 50 people in there at any given time. In addition, there are about 10 battle golems. "hmm...... are those battle golems autonomous?" "Yes." Wattes Shrezza paused to think about it. "How do you distinguish between friend and foe?" "Oh, that''s easy. <, and those who have them are our allies, and those who do not have them are ......." "Enemies, huh? Hmmm, plain and simple. ...... if you know what that ID card looks like. "Oh, I do." Arum held up his ID card and showed it to me. "I see, you''ve been brainwashed, so it''s only natural that you have one. Can ...... it be duplicated or forged?" "Well, I don''t know. ......As far as I know, the waveform of an individual''s magical power is recorded." "I see. ...... but what if there is more than one of the same thing?" "I don''t know ....... There is no precedent for that. That''s the point I''m trying to make, I guess. "But it''s better than nothing. I''d like to make a duplicate of that ID and have everyone who comes in have one. Hopefully they''ll recognize us as allies, and maybe they''ll get confused. It''s better than doing nothing." But there was one problem with that plan. "But how can we duplicate it?" "Well... ......" Elena nodded her head. She had examined it once, but it seemed to be a highly sophisticated magical tool, and she had been unable to analyze it. But... "I have an idea. Elena had a reassuring backup. "Oh, that''s my girl!" "Wait a day or two for my ID. In the meantime, let''s get ready to retake the base. "Yes, sir. How many of our combat golems can we use? Yes, we have six at the moment. The young man in charge answered. "How many more can we get before the operation starts?" "Well, ...... I''d say about one every two days. "Six days would mean three." Yes. "Hmmm... ...... 9 in total. I think I can manage that. Wattes thought he could use them to his advantage. "Do you have non-lethal weapons and armor ready?" "Yes, we have enough paralyzing staffs (stun rods) in stock. As for armor, we have enough . "Well, that''s not a problem." Wattes drew up a plan. Elena reviewed the plans and pointed out any problems. The meeting went off without a hitch, and it was decided that the project would take place in one week''s time. The members of Nostalgia prepare for the coming day. 1645 - - 44-44 The night before Operation The contents of the meeting of the Nostalgia Party were later passed on to the old man. At the same time, Elena requested him to analyze and duplicate the . <> The old man was a little impressed when he was lent the card as a sample. What impressed him was the card-like nameplate. The personal authentication had been developed by Jin with 400 years ago. It was very similar to the that Jin remembered, and that was the point that caught his attention. . At least, the old man thought that he might be a little careless in this world, even in the peaceful world where he was born and raised. It would be easy to be found, targeted and robbed. It is an idea that only an old man who has inherited the knowledge of Jin could have come up with. After the analysis, the old man started to duplicate it. His assistant was Craftsman (Smith) 101. "The key is the thinned magic crystal (magicrystal). If you apply the "toughening" process after writing, the contents will not be correct, so you need to apply the "toughening" process before writing. Smith 101 explained to the old man. But the effect of the toughening process makes the magecrystal very difficult to write on. < If we compare it to modern earth technology, we can say that high voltage or high energy is needed to <>. In the world of Ars, it would be impossible without someone with magical power to make it possible. <>. In a short time the old man had found out how the <> had created this identity. "If it were you or us, we wouldn''t need mithianite..." Smith 101 told the old man and continued his work. At the same time, the old man said, "I''m sorry. At the same time, the old man made a support plan based on the information from Elena. >. Jin also returned to Horai Island from the Nordic Federation with only Reiko on that day. He is still concerned about the success or failure of the operation. "......It''s a very haphazard plan, isn''t it?" <>. Still, they want to take this chance to retake the Kassimnore base. "What is the strength ...... of the force, or rather the personnel?" <> has about 50 members and 1 golem and 2 golems. 2 Golems. The Nostalgia side are all in their early twenties, and have some experience in rough-and-tumble operations. <> Jin guessed what the old man was trying to say. "A golem?" >, but there are actually two more, and one of them is not to be underestimated. "What kind of guy is he?" < type. <, also called a guardian, is a specialized golem that protects important land and buildings. Gon and Gen of the village of Kaina are such golems. "Are they strong?" "Hmmm ......" Jin decided that the Nostalgia party might lose in the final phase if the situation continued as it was. "Then we need to help them." Jin started to discuss with the old man how to do it. "Yes, that''s right. ...... Well, I think the current Elena can win." Jin thinks that the Elena that he has modified and strengthened will not be defeated by a golem like this one. "Well, that''s fine." He would rather get the guardian and check it out. When he told this to the old man, he said He said, "I will make a support plan with the master''s (my lord''s) wishes as the top priority. "Not too much, okay?" Jin was unusually restrained. "And the remaining one?" "Well, we''ll just have to take care of that ourselves. ......If something goes wrong, we''ll have no choice but to help. . * * * * * * At the temporary headquarters of the Nostalgia Party. Elena tells Arum a shocking truth. "......<> has one Guardian." "What?Really? You didn''t know that. No wonder. It was only natural that Arum, who had been left in a quiet position, had been unaware of the existence of the Guardian, which could be called the last trump card. "...... Is that also from Jin-sama the other day?" Yes, that''s right. Yes, and so is this fake ID. Aroom looked a little puzzled. "Really, who is he?" Elena smiled a little and looked a little puzzled again. "Well, you can think of him as ......<>." "Yes, ......." Elena was right, but Arum was still skeptical about being <. "So, now that we have the fake IDs, we''re all set. Tomorrow is the day." Elena said in an emotionless voice. "...... be careful. I don''t want anyone to get hurt, but I don''t want anyone to die. Arum had joined the assault team because he knew the base best. "Yes, I''ll be careful." "Be really careful." Elena smiled kindly. "I took care of you and now you are all on your own, aren''t you? You will grow up, but I will not change. "Elena-sama ...... yes." Feeling Elena''s concern, kindness, and loneliness, Arum bowed his head and replied honestly. The mission to retake the base at Casimunore will be tomorrow. 1646 - - 44-45 Operation Begins October 15, a little before 4:00 a.m. local time. The temporary headquarters of the Nostalgia Party is located in the basement of Tru Island. After this, the honorary advisor, Elena, was giving an instruction to the people who had gathered to use the warp gate to enter the Kassimunore base and launch the operation to retake it. "......That''s all from me. Please have a safe trip. Elena was here to see the whole situation and to give instructions. The magic tools for the call had been distributed to all the participants. This is not as small as a manacam, but it can be used to talk to specific people, so to speak. It is about the size of a walkie-talkie. They were lined up in front of Elena, as many as the number of people in the party. There were 30 members of the party who were going to enter the room. Elena was the only one who could handle the manaphone and process the information. And just after 4:00 a.m. Operation start! The 30 people enter the emergency gate (warp gate) in order. A golem transfers every three people. In three minutes, the 30 assault team members and the nine Golems have completed their transfers. "Please be safe and ......" Elena prayed for the success of the operation. And on Horai Island, the old man and Jin were watching the success or failure of the operation with the . * * * * * The emergency warp gate is located on the 10th basement floor of the Kassimunore base. Most of the base was originally built underground, so if they were to escape, it would be to the basement, not outside. The 30 members and 9 bodies once went to the warp gate room to take a look at what was outside. The size of the room where the assault team is located is about the size of an elementary school classroom. The emergency ether emitter (AL) was on, but it was dimly lit. They looked out the door, but no one was there, and the first stage of the operation seemed to be a success. "Okay, let''s go as planned. The three of us and one of us form a team and go into action. The extra three would protect the warp gate and secure the exit route. Gently, they open the disguised doors and the nine teams scatter to various parts of the base, making as little noise as possible. It is 3:30 a.m. local time at the base in Kasimunore. The majority of the teams were asleep. One of the teams was Arum Pitt. She had been brainwashed to work at the base and was up-to-date on the latest developments. "We''re going to the seventh basement!" The three of them and one of them ran up the fire escape. The seventh basement is the floor where Arum used to work, and where the Magecraftsmen are doing their research. ...... sounds nice, but it is a dumping ground for the idle. There is also a dormitory on the same floor, all of them brainwashed. "Aah! "Aaagh!" What the hell are you ......? "Are you crooked?...... gah!" The almsmen went around disarming the four people on this floor. The disarming by magic tools was rougher than the one by Liese, the automata, so it took longer for them to come back to their senses. "I''ll stay here and explain. One of the team members volunteered to stay behind. "We will go to the third basement as planned. "Yes, and when we come to our senses, we''ll all follow you. Please do. Thus, Arum was the first to head for the stairs. The third basement floor is the most spacious floor, and also contains the command center. Therefore, it is the most heavily guarded, and a fierce battle is expected. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Yes, they are." In Horai Island, the old man was monitoring the situation with Jin in order to intervene if something happens. * * * * * * On the third basement floor, there was already a battle going on. "Golem, eliminate the intruder!...... what? The members of the <> order their battle golem to intercept them, but the golem doesn''t listen to them ......, nor does it seem to recognize the enemy. (Fake IDs are working so far!). ) Three teams, nine men and three golems are deployed here. The <> is facing 15 men and 4 golems. So far, the <> side''s golems are not participating in the battle, so the Nostalgia side has the advantage. And then... "We''re going to join the battle too! The alums joined the battle. Now the game is tilted in favor of the Nostalgia side. "Whoa! Aaah! Those who may or may not be brainwashed are left unconscious for the time being. The command center was occupied in 15 minutes. Nostalgia has won. We did it! "There are wounded, but no one has dropped out. Lady Elena will be pleased. The most intense battle in the Casimunore base took place on the ground floor. Here were 10 young members of the . They were in charge of the so-called "rough work. Compared to the Nostalgia side, which is based on the principle of non-killing, the <> side is not so concerned about this point, and the Nostalgia side is being pushed back because of it. "<>! Thunderbolt! Nostalgia tries to push the <> side into the base, and the <> side tries to revive themselves outside the base. Outside the base, there was an exchange of magic ...... and a one-sided magic attack from the <> side. The golem accompanying them is blocking all of them, but the damage is accumulating little by little, and there is no telling how long they will be able to hold out. "Hold on!Don''t let them get away!" Finally, one of the golems on the Nostalgia side exceeds its limit, stops moving, and collapses. "Uh-uh!Hang in there!I''m sure reinforcements will come! It is not just a wish. It was a half-convinced statement that the team that had conquered the other areas would come running here. And it came true. "You''re safe! Oh, we''ve been waiting for you! "d*mn, from behind!" Oh, shit! The team that took control of the basement floor has joined in. The fierce battle on the first floor above the ground is over. * * * * It seems that the team was able to conquer the building before the <<<< Guardian >> was activated. I''m glad to hear that. On the island of Horai, the old man who was entrusted with the task of supporting the <> has just returned with the <> that he had arranged to prevent the activation of the <>. If the <> does not move, the advantage of the Nostalgia Party will not be easily moved. The operation to retake the base in Kasimunore was now in its final stage. 1647 - - 44-46 On the verge of control Shortly before 6:00 a.m. on October 15. The Nostalgia Party had almost succeeded in taking control of the Qasimnore base. , because one of the remaining sites is still stubbornly resisting. That one place was the mine. There are abundant resources beneath the Kasimunore base. In particular, copper-based metal resources and fire-based magical crystals (magi crystals) are abundant. There was a faction holed up in one of the tunnels at the deepest part of the mine. "They are probably not brainwashed. Arum said to the leader of the assault team, Arger Luana. "I''m sure they are. They''re quick and precise. That''s why they''re so tricky." > (Divieniunschiavo) is characterized by the fact that it leaves the subject with more power of thought than or , but it is still more limited and simplified than the normal, so it is easier to deal with. However, they are still more limited and simplified than the normal ones, so they are easier to deal with. This is the reason why we decided on this strategy. However, the people holed up in this mine seem to have joined the of their own free will. The reason why they chose the mine is simple and clear. < Mines are always subject to cave-ins. No matter how carefully they mine, it is difficult to eliminate accidents. The only exception is the Horaijima underground mine. There has been no accident for 1,400 years. Now, let me digress. In the last 100 years or so, some mines have been equipped with warp gates as a means of emergency escape when the exit is blocked by a falling rock. In the case of the Kasimunore base, it leads to the headquarters on the island of Electra. This information was unknown to Arum. This information was provided by those who had escaped the influence of <>. However, since they were installed in the form of parts so as not to interfere with mining and ore removal, they had to be assembled before they could be used, and there was a high possibility that they would not be ready in time for the outbreak of toxic gases. But this time, the nostalgics were lucky, and those holed up in the mine had not escaped yet. "How long will it take to assemble?" Arger Luana asks Arum. "Well, if I went alone, about 30 minutes. "I see. Since there are four of us holed up in the room, we can put it together in a little over seven minutes. In reality, however, the Nostalgia side is attacking, albeit non-lethally, and three people are working to defend themselves against the attack. In other words, one person is assembling. "We can''t wait any longer. Send two Golems to them. Two of the nine golems brought to the site had stopped working, and two were malfunctioning. Arger Luana sent the five remaining golems that had sustained the least damage toward the tunnels. But in the tunnel, the other magi-machine that the old man had been worried about was lying dormant. "Go on, smash anyone who gets in the way, Golem!" This is a mining golem. Unlike combat golems and general-purpose golems, it has no personal identification function, and is semi-autonomous, requiring only the user to set its commanders when it is activated. The tunnel is a straight path, and it simply moves in the indicated direction to clear obstacles. It does not have the intelligence to determine what those obstacles are. A golem and a golem collided. The mining golem is superior to the combat golem in this place because of its functional simplicity. Its only mission is to smash the obstacles in front of it and move forward. In other words, it is defenseless against flanking attacks, but this is a narrow tunnel, which covers the weakness of the mining golem well enough. "d*mn, they thought of that!" That''s how we know that the people holed up in the tunnels have joined the League of Magic of their own free will. They''ll get away if we don''t! That must be avoided. We would know in a day or two that the base in Kasimunore had been recaptured, but we did not want them to know about our strength at all costs. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... Okay, I''ll get it." Elena, who had been listening to the situation on her walkie-talkie-sized manaphone, made a decision. "Elena-sama! "Please stop!" The executives, who only knew her previous power, rushed to stop her. "It''s all right. Please trust me." With these words in a gentle voice, Elena left the control room and hurried to the warp gate. In an instant, Elena moves from the island of Trieu to the Kasimunore base, and hurries to the lowest level ...... mining area. "What is the situation?" "Elena-sama! Everyone looked surprised when Elena arrived. "Please describe the situation." Elena asks if the situation has changed in the minute or so it took to get there. "Yes. I can''t go any further because the mining golem is blocking my way. I see. I see. ...... there''s not a moment to lose. Elena stared at the end of the tunnel. In her hand was a new shortsword. "You didn''t do this yourself, Elena-sama? "Yes. Yes. The best way is to use the best we have at the moment. Then I''ll go! Elena rushed out into the tunnels before the others had time to stop her. "Elena! Elena''s voice echoed through the tunnels. Elena ran down the tunnel at a speed of about 30 kilometers per hour and saw a mining golem standing in front of her, blocking her way. It was 2 meters and 50 centimeters tall. This is one of the larger golems. Elena, on the other hand, is 150 centimeters tall. Elena, on the other hand, is 150 centimeters tall, no taller than an adult or a child. Elena jumped and aimed at the head of the golem. A fist is thrust toward Elena. It was thought that she would suffer serious damage if she took it seriously. But it was a feint. Elena puts her left hand, which is not holding a sword, on the ceiling of the tunnel, and this time she sinks her body down at once. She slips between the legs of the mining golem and moves behind it. In this situation, the large mining golem is vulnerable. Since it is not originally designed for combat, it is not designed to protect its rear. "Stay still!" Elena put her hand on the emergency stop switch on the back of the mining golem''s neck and poured her magic power into it. "That''s it." Leaving the stopped golem in place, Elena heads further into the tunnel. Fortunately, the tunnel is a straight path, and there is a straight line to the destination. In one minute, Elena reaches the place where the < has been assembled. It is a small room dug out of the side of the tunnel. Elena arrived just as the warp gate was about to be activated. "Just in time!" Elena throws a short sword. She misses, and it pierces into the warp gate before it is activated. 1648 - - 44-47 Looking ahead When Elena''s shortsword destroyed the Warp Gate, the four of them turned on each other. "d*mn!I''ve finally put it together! "You''re a monster doll! If it''s a doll, it should have been decorated like a doll! She seems to know who Elena is, and she doesn''t take kindly to those who call her a doll, "Go to sleep." Elena casts a spell on the doll. "Gah!" With a short scream, the four fall apart. Silence follows. "...... is it over?" Elena looked around cautiously, as any human would sigh in relief. "It seems that there are no more ambush soldiers or remnants. Since it was indeed impossible to carry the four men back home, Elena tied their hands and feet with the rope she had available. She then retrieved the shortsword stuck in the warp gate and returned to the tunnel entrance where everyone was waiting for her. Thus, the operation to retake the Kassimunore base was a success. * * * * * * * * * * "I see. Elena and the others must have done well. On the island of Horai, the old man was reporting to Jin. "Yes. ...... but what about those who have infiltrated the centers of each country?" << <. It is believed to be quite influential in its center. But such an organization is fragile when it loses its head. <<> In other words, once Guillermo Marchitas and the leadership are gone, the organization will naturally fall apart. Jin does not want to know what happened to those at the bottom. That is the role of the nostalgia party. "All I want is to restore a little bit of the world situation that Golbert Malkitas has stirred up, that''s all I want. That was Jin''s true intention. "Also, did anyone contact headquarters?" < "That''s good." << . The old man''s comment was followed by Jin''s. "Yes, that''s true. "Yes, that''s right. "Are they in a spacecraft or something, in satellite orbit, or further out in space, or, I don''t think so, in another space?" <, if you travel between two warp gates in a very small amount of time, you should disappear from our world during that time, right?" < < and , or and , is called of the warp gate. This process inevitably takes about one second. The <> says that if we could switch the time in 1/10,000,000 of a second, we would be able to realize a <>. However, the current situation is that such switching has not yet been realized. Aside from that, Jin has come up with a new possibility. "Assuming that we are not on Ars, what about the possibility of <>?" <> ....... That''s deep, isn''t it? >> Yes, that''s right. You have not scanned, say, 10,000 meters underground, have you? << "That may be it. Try looking deeper." The matter is in your hands now. It is not possible to get the result in a few minutes. Jin said, "Well, Reiko?" "Yes, Father." "I''m gonna go take care of something that''s been bothering me." "Yes, I''ll help you." "Okay." So he took Reiko with him and let Hope fly the Pegasus 2 to the moon. On the way to the moon, Jin explained to Reiko. "I want to reboot the spaceship and check for any glitches." Four hundred years ago, Jin built a spaceship that included a 300-meter-diameter spherical ship, the flagship , and a 100-meter-diameter craft, > with a diameter of 100 meters, the prototype spacecraft <<><<<<<<<<<>. In addition, there was a destroyer <<<> built by Jack of the Moon (Uny). Other than that, it seems that no other past human beings were built. "We are going to need more powerful spacecraft for the redevelopment of Hale," he said. It was essential to build a spacecraft that could travel to the orbit of Zipert, the second planet of the sun Serran, and return. The spacecraft would need to bring one of Zipert''s satellites to the planet in order to secure its resources. This was something that not even the had been able to do. Therefore, Jin wanted to use the arsenal of the moon (Yunyi) to build a new type of spaceship. The reason why he did not build it in Horai Island is that it is more efficient to build a large structure in a place with less gravity, and he did not want to add more burden to the old man who is working in various fields. As you can imagine, building a spaceship is not something that can be finished in a day or two, but it must be done in advance. * * * * Welcome, Mr. Jin. Mr. Jin The brain behind the management of the magic of the moon (Yunie), , welcomes Jin. "I''ve come here today to ask you a favor." What is it? "One is to make sure that the spaceships in our custody are in good working order. The other is to ask you to build a new ship for me." Yes, we can take care of both. ......The spaceships we have in our custody are regularly serviced, so they should be fine. The most recent flight test was conducted two years ago. "I see, that''s great. Now let''s talk about the new spaceships we''re building. Jin started discussing with . "The engine power is roughly tripled and equipped with <>. The hull is a shield structure of free magic element (ether). ...... Jin describes his idea as it comes to mind. can build his own spaceship, so he considers Jin''s idea and makes a concrete design. How big do you want it to be? "That''s it. The effect of gravity on Celan should be quite large, so I think it would be better to make it smaller for durability." Yes, that''s right. <. "I guess so." "And structurally, I''d like to stop using the current semi-monocoque structure, and use only structural materials to ensure strength, with an additional outer panel to increase the strength. Is that in case of any damage? Yes. In extreme cases, for example, I would like to make the structure so that it can fly even if only the central bridge is left, to ensure safety. "Is that based on the past failure of the origin?" Yes, it is. I have some data on the ship at that time. "That''s very encouraging." Thus, Jin and <> continued to study the new spaceship. 1649 - - 44-48 Blue On October 15, the Nostalgia Party retook the Kassimnore base, and two days later took complete control of it. "Even after all this, there has been no movement by the ." In the control room of the base at Cassimunore, Elena was talking with Arum Pitt. She had been appointed technical director of the base. "Yes. We have not heard from Elektra. It seems that their internal affairs are more complicated than we thought. "That''s what I can only assume." The Nostalgia executives thought it was somewhat strange that there had been no response after the loss of up to two of the three most important bases on the island: Kunlun Island, the Kassimunore base, and the Elektra Island headquarters. "If it''s ......, there must be a breakdown in their organization." Elena makes her guess. An overgrown organization. The original ideals and principles have been forgotten, and the members pursue only their own interests. The end result is division and corruption. "It seems that those who have infiltrated the centers of countries no longer have any influence," he said. The only problem seems to be the Kingdom of Elias. As Arum Pitt said, with the exception of the Kingdom of Elias, the countries seemed to have escaped the influence of the <>. Rather, those who were dispatched by the <> were already no longer fulfilling their roles. "It''s a far cry from what it was before I had my run-in with Guillermo Marchitas. This was not the case before Elena''s one-time wreck. < had a certain voice. "It is impossible not to rely on < in today''s world and society. In the first place, the claims of Golbert Malkitas are ridiculous. Elena''s words contained some contempt. "I think some of us have begun to realize that if we, who cannot live without relying on materials, abandon them, we will end up in decline and destruction." "Yes, Elena. < Arum Pitt said, remembering the organization he used to belong to when he was brainwashed. "Of course. "Of course. ...... Especially if you have the brains to think." Elena''s harsh words. Ironically, however, she did not remember that Elena herself had once led the Unified Party using . "The stronger the brainwashing, the less we can think of anything else. Going against the flow of the world means you have to apply the brainwashing strongly. But <> is a brainwashing method that makes you do what it says without compromising your ability to think. That''s why it fails." * * * And there was one more person who felt the same way as Elena. "<> is powerful, but it has its drawbacks." The only daughter of <> clan leader Zicarato and wife of Lord Tos, Ludmila, who had recently become Jin''s collaborator. "What is it?" Jin listened to this new information. "The ability to think means that we are able to notice self-contradictions. In other words, it requires frequent updates." "I see." Now Jin, accompanied by Ludmilla and Rhodoth, was staying in the clan territory of <>, that is, in Zion. It was for the purpose of countermeasures against <> (<<<>). "So, depending on the content, you have to call back every day." "Does that mean it''s not suitable for use by a very large number of people?" "That''s one way of putting it. From what I have heard, I think that Golbert and Guillermo Marchitas are not the right people to use. Ludmila said, "They are not very good at controlling a group. "I see. Is it possible that when Golbert Marchitas learned in the past, he was not given such attention?" "I am sure they did." This was good news. If the current <> is a group that is far removed from ideology, there is little harm done. Not necessarily, but better than <>. Jin thought so. "In most countries, they have become nothing more than a nuisance. < "The problem seems to be the Kingdom of Elias. < is nearby, and many of its leaders are said to be there. "I think we should probably separate Guillermo Malkitas from the ." Zion agreed with Jin''s comment. "That''s right. After hearing everything that has happened so far, I think it''s time for Jin to move on with his own affairs." "...... once the Marquitas thing is over, right?" Jin did not want to endanger his offspring at this point. "Yes. I understand how you feel. Having been blessed with children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, Zion seemed to understand the special feelings he had for his blood relatives. Especially for Jin, who had been alone all his life, is very special. * * * * "As for the Shoro Kingdom, it seems that there is no influence of the on it. The members of the League of Magic in the Kingdom of Cerroa have been eliminated. Leelia and Arietta reported to Elena that they had gone to both the Shoro Kingdom and the Kingdom of Celuloa to identify and eliminate the members of the that had penetrated the heart of the two countries. The Shoro Kingdom has no problem because of its small influence and the fact that it is ruled by a competent emperor. The Kingdom of Cerroa, which was originally the top producer of magic tools and golems, was not in a position to accept the principles of the <>. Since the two major powers were in such a situation, the Kingdom of Franz, which was a dependency of the Kingdom of Cerroa, also followed suit. And as for the Kingdom of Klein, the country where the former <> Jin Nido was located, <>...... officially the village of Kaina is not in the Kingdom of Klein, but... Officially, Kaina is not a Klein Kingdom......but it does not follow the <>. "How was the Kingdom of Egelea?" Arietta answered Elena''s question. "Yes. The Kingdom of Egelea is currently about 30% ...... of the population. "Thirty percent of the Egelea Kingdom is with the ?" Yes. However, they are snobs who only covet rights, so I don''t think they will harm us. "Yes. <. But what about our country? Arietta looks disappointed, "There is a craft queen workshop in the great city of Bluerand," she adds. She adds. "And the Bluerands are more vibrant than the capital city of Asunto." This is probably because human beings have no choice but to depend on . In this sense, too, the principles of the are distorted. "It may take some time, but I think we can manage that as well. Elena nodded a little satisfied. "The ...... problem is, after all, the Kingdom of Elias?" "Yes. Arietta took out a document. "According to my research so far, 10 of the 24 ministers and vice-ministers are from the League of Magic. The most troubling is that the Minister of Military Affairs is one of them. "The Minister of War, huh? That''s a problem. The Kingdom of Elias is a maritime nation. It has more than three times as many ships as any other country. We can''t be optimistic just because Jin literally annihilated the ships of the that surrounded Horai Island and reduced the number of ships owned by the to one-tenth. No, we must not allow them to use our ships, because they are manned by . Compared to the ships, the army and the air force pose no threat. "Let''s start making plans to retake the island of Elektra. Elena declares. Some of the people at the base in Kasimunore were familiar with the situation on the island of Electra. Based on this information, they would formulate a plan to recapture the island. "Let''s call a meeting of the top brass. I''ll leave the date and time to you. "Yes, sir." Arrieta bowed and left the room. The battle that Nostalgia could not lose was about to begin. Elena looks out. The island of Tolu is surrounded by the ocean, Io Island is to the west, and beyond that is the Kingdom of Elias. The sky was blue, and the sea was a deeper blue. 1650 - - 44-49 Silent 75 Golem Study "You won." < "It was worth it to block the <>." <, the trump card golem of the , had been disabled by the that Jin had dispatched. ? >> "It doesn''t work anymore, does it?" < "Well, let''s get him over here and study him. < < has a short transfer distance, but there is Lake Asur near the Kassimnore base, and there is a there. Once the transporter was sent to the floating base in Lake Asur after several transfers, it could be sent back to Horai Island without any problems. "Oh, so this is the of the ." Jin''s face breaks into a smile of happiness when he sees the brought to his workshop. "<> is a big guy, isn''t he? Maybe I should show it to ...... Rhodes and Ludmilla." Jin then instructed Hope to call them. Two minutes later, they arrive. "Jin-sama, you''re going to invite Ludmila here too? "That''s right. She''s Rhodes'' wife, and we''ll be working together from now on. With these words, Jin gave Ludmila the bracelet. "Ludmilla, will you join the <>?" Ludmilla looked at the bracelet with surprise, then accepted it with a big smile. "Yes, with pleasure! By the way, Lyudmila''s bracelet is white and gold marble. It is probably a symbol of her gray hair and golden eyes. "Now, here''s what I want to show you." "A golem!This one is a bit different..." Rhodes said with interest. "Yes. It''s a Guardian of the League of Magic that I happened to get my hands on." "Oh, ......." "First, the materials. This exterior is very close to <18-8 stainless steel>. The ratio of each element is very close," Jin said. "Okay, let''s remove the exterior. Reiko, Hope, help me." Yes, Father. Yes, Master Jin. Even one of the parts looks heavy. Jin took it easy and let Reiko and Hope help him. "Muscle tissue is not a living material, is it?" Rhodes said, peering in. Jin nodded. "Yes, it is. I guess you could call this ......<>." Jin had thought about it. have the ability to , that is, reproduce a at a specific temperature. Even if it loses its shape, it will return to its original shape if it is above a certain temperature (recovery temperature). Suppose you make a spring with this spring and stretch it. When the temperature is raised above the recovery temperature, the spring returns to its original length. This is the reason why we are trying to use this technology for artificial muscles. In Jin''s case, he thought of a magic alloy that returns to its original shape when a certain amount of magic force is applied. However, since the development experiments at that time did not reach the level of biomaterials (materials used by demons), he did not conduct further research. Nevertheless, it had outstanding practicality and durability among commonly used muscle materials. Here, a of the same family was used. "It''s almost the same as the prototype I made before. Jin thought, "If this was developed independently, their development capability cannot be underestimated. He disassembled it further and proceeded to analyze it. "Hmmm... ......" This golem also had a control core in its head, an ether converter and a mana driver in its chest. "You are very disciplined in a strange way." In the Adriana style, the control core is also stored in the chest. This is because protection is the primary consideration. In a golem that is the fruit of magical engineering, there is plenty of room in the chest for such important magical devices. "The skeleton is not of the Adriana type, but of the method described above, isn''t it?" "That''s right." Rhodes nodded. "I''d like to meet the developers once, I really would. That may have been Jin''s true intention. Talking with the person who designed such a thing, and having a technical exchange with a non-Adriana engineer. Jin thought that it would surely be a fruitful meeting. "I don''t know if that''s possible, though, since he''s probably been dead for a long time." Jin knew that, too. "Well, there''s one more thing I found when I took it apart. Jin looked at Rhodes. Rhodes nodded. "So this is what you think it is? "Yes, it seems so. "Oh, um, what are you two talking about?" Ludmilla, who did not understand, asked Jin and the others. "Oh, I''m sorry. This golem had a countermeasure for <>. Jin had developed it with a certain amount of effort, and now it was applied to all automata, golems, magic brains, and magic machines related to Horai Island. It is called <>. "But I didn''t think that instead of using <>, they simply prevented it from accepting <>." Jin muttered half in admiration, half in dismay. "Well, ...... what do you mean?" Ludmila, who had no background in magical engineering, still had no idea what he was talking about. "It''s not that it knows its <>, it just knows what it is allowed to do." Because this golem is a <>, >. >. The two principles are inputted. They are willing to take orders from anyone as long as they do not violate those principles. "...... I think I see some holes." "Yes." Ludmilla said and Jin agreed. The old man expressed his opinion. "I see ......, but I don''t think you have such advanced processing and decision-making abilities that such persuasion would work." > is not built into the principle. "Is it?" < "I see." In this way, Jin and Horaijima were steadily analyzing the enemy''s technological capabilities. Incidentally, the that had been analyzed was secretly returned to its original location and added to the new strength of the Nostalgia Party. 1651 - - 44-50 Quiet 76 Pegasus 2 "Uh, something like this." Back in time, on October 10, 3459, Jin was making on Horai Island. 2> on the island of Horai. "I don''t remember the details of what was going on. ...... Well, never mind." He thought that if he had the compulsion of time, he could make the same thing as long as he did whatever he wanted. "How about you, you ......?" "How about you, Mr. Goshujin?" "Duh." "Ohhh!" Erza came to the workshop holding Chloe and Anne holding Mio. "Well, everything is going well." In front of Jin, a frame made of 64 shiny, silver-colored light silver was being built. "After carefully applying < to this, the engine and other magi-machines are installed, the interior is done, and finally the exterior panel is affixed to finish. "It''s very different from the first." "Yes, it is. This one is better in every way." When it''s finished, I''ll build a museum on Horai Island and put it there," Jin said. "Oh, that sounds good." Jin thinks that the museum should be built in the basement of Horai Island. The basement would make more sense as a warehouse. "Ah, but the ceiling should be openable, otherwise it would be difficult to bring it in..." The old man advised me. "Oh, I see. That would be fine." Jin''s hand does not stop as he continues to reinforce the framework. Jin does not use a so-called structure. Although it would reduce the weight, there is a disadvantage that if one part breaks, the strength of the whole structure would be compromised. (And it wasn''t monocoque either.) And the fact that , which Jin rode in the future, was not a monocoque structure is the deciding factor. When will it be ready? "By the end of the day. Then we can all take a scenic flight together. You mean, everyone, including Chloe and Mio? Yes, that''s right. The cabin maintains a constant atmospheric pressure and the main engine is a force field generator, so there won''t be any G-forces. "Hmm, that''s good." Erza thought it was outrageous to allow Yu and Mio, who were still infants, to experience accelerated G-force, but she was relieved to hear that Jin had thought it through. For the next half hour or so, Elsa and Anne held Chloe and Mio in their arms and watched Jin''s work, until the twins began to squirm, "You take it easy," she said. He then pulled the twins toward the house. Jin continued to work on the assembly, "Okay, it''s done." Finally, he had completed . "Father, how about a test flight? Reiko asked, "Well, ...... it''s already dark outside, let''s do it tomorrow. He stretched his legs and returned to the house. * * * * * * The next day. "Father, it was a great success! Reiko, who had been waiting for dawn to make a test flight, came back. "We''ve circled the moon!" "Yes!" Soon, in the past?Jin of the past will go to the moon with this . Jin was satisfied with the result. However, he had one question. "The I rode that time was as good as new. ......" There are two immediate reasons for this. One is that it was a replica. In other words, Jin may have built two and entrusted one of them to 70067 and entrusted one of them to 70067-2. The other possibility is that Jin left it to No. 700672, and he continued to use as before. 1> as before. "Either one makes sense if it''s ......." Jin chose to build another one with a new design rather than build two identical ones. "First of all, I have to go and ask the 700672 for this." After breakfast, Jin refused Erza''s request and headed north with Reiko through the warp gate. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, Jin-dono, it''s been a while. It''s been a while. What''s the matter today? Jin handed Neige the Persica juice he had brought as a souvenir and turned to No. 700672. "Yes, actually. ......" Jin explains the situation. "Hmm. He said, "...... that about 400 years from now, Jin-dono will appear and he will need this <> thing. So you want me to take care of it for you." Yes, that''s right. How about ......?" 700672 nodded. I don''t mind. I have a body with no life expectancy. I''ll take it. "Thank you! I''m curious to see what you have created, Jin-dono. After he had the location specified, he sent the body through the transporter. "So this is the . Interesting. It is indeed the work of Jin-dono." ...... I''m sorry, but I''ll be counting on you for the next 400 years. Yes, I accept. I''ll take care of it. "Well, I''ll make one for myself!" Jin returned to Horai Island and got back into the swing of things. "What, not yet?" Erza looked at him doubtfully. "That was for me in the future. Now we need to make one for the family. "Family ......" "Yes. Chloe and Mio can ride together, and it''s safer. ......Well, let''s call it <>, which means <>." "Taube......" "You can look forward to it!" Jin here doesn''t know that 400 years from now, Jin will also be building a <> named <>. ....... 1652 - - 45-01 Psaki No. 1 May 3460. "Come on, Mio, this way!" "Come on, Yu, come here, come here." In the meadow in the village of Kaina, Jin and Erza were letting Yu and Mio play. They are not yet one year old and can only waddle around. Their faltering steps as they walked on the young grass toward their parents were nothing short of smiling. "Aboooo!" "Duh!" The grass is so soft that even if I fall down, it won''t hurt, and with Elsa around, I can quickly heal any scratches I might have. The early May sun was still soft, making it a perfect day to play outside. "Oh, Mi-" "Oh, Mio wins!" Mio jumped into Jin''s arms a second faster than Chloe. "Woo!" Chloe also jumped into Erza''s arms. Chloe is a blonde with light blue eyes, just like Elsa. Mio had dark eyes and black hair just like Jin. "Hey, little girl, it''s almost time to eat, okay?" "Oh, is it that time already?" Thanks to Hannah who came to call them, Jin and Erza, who had been preoccupied with playing with them, realized that it was lunch time. "Oh, you''re back. Hey!" Saki, who was visiting the village of Kaina, spotted them and waved from the dining room window. "Hey Saki, sorry to keep you waiting." "Yes, I''m here. You''ve been waiting a long time. I''m sorry. But Saki came back earlier than expected, didn''t she? Saki had gone to the mountains this morning to look for rare materials with Hannah''s help. Of course, using a golem horse. "Yes. That horse is good. Even I could easily make the rounds in the backcountry. "So, did you find anything?" Saki smiled at Jin''s question. "Well, I''m glad you asked. Look at this! Saki took out a bag from under her feet and laid it on the table, which looked like some kind of ore. "This one is silver ore and this one is zinc ore. This one is silver and this one is zinc, which means there is a high possibility to develop the mine!" "Oh, Saki, don''t put rocks on the table where we are going to have lunch, okay? Martha brought a pot and chided Saki with a wry smile. "Oh, I''m sorry. I''ll clean it up right away!" Saki hurriedly put the ore in her bag. Hannah wiped the table without saying a word. Martha put the pot down with a thud. "Jin taught me how to make oden!Take the plate in your hand and eat as much as you like. ...... Oh, and Saki, go wash your hands again." "Yes, sir!" Martha told Saki, and Saki hurried out of the diner to wash her hands. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Even though it was May, oden was still delicious in the high latitudes of Kaina village. "Oh, this is delicious! Saki had a chikuwabu and seemed to like it. I like this! Hannah is eating a kelp roll. "I like this one!" Martha seems to like hanpen. "I like this dipping sauce soaked daikon radish. Jin ate the daikon while letting it cool because he has a cat tongue. I like tsumire. Erza seemed to prefer tsumire. Chloe and Mio were happy to have Reiko and Anne feed them Persica and Apurul paste as baby food now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the meal, we had a leisurely chat. Chloe and Mio are now hungry and it''s time for a nap. Elsa and Anne are with them. "How is Saki?I haven''t seen her recently, is she busy?" Jin asked. "Yes, you are busy. I''ve been asked by the government to develop a new material. "Really? What kind of material?" "It''s a light buffer material. It''s supposed to be used for hot air balloons and the like. "Lightweight, huh? ......" Percha rubber and natural rubber are already available, and it is becoming common knowledge among some alchemists that the hardness of rubber can be changed by adjusting the amount of sulfur in the mixture. However, rubber is <. This is not a problem for ground use, but for hot air balloons, ship seats, etc., lightweight materials are required. The specific gravity of rubber is about 0.9 to 1.2, depending on the type (some are heavier than others). In other words, it is almost the same as water, and some even sink. "I''m wondering if we can do something good with the Maggi polyethylene we developed before." "That would be great." Polyethylene has a specific gravity of about 0.9 to 0.97 (depending on density). However, it absorbs very little water and is not easily affected by humidity. The physical properties of magi polyethylene are the same as those of ordinary polyethylene. However, when it is reinforced with magic power, its durability is dramatically increased. "I wish we could make it as scabrous as goulashvam," he says. "Oh, a foam material!" Hannah, who was listening to the conversation beside me, said. "Oh, yes. I want to make a foam material. Saki replies. "I thought we could melt it and mix it with air. ......" "Saki, why don''t you try applying pressure?" "What?" "This is just my imagination, but we can put pressure on the melted Maggi polyethylene and then put it back together. I think that would create a lot of bubbles like soda water. "That''s it!" Saki clapped her hands happily. "If we use a pressure cooker, we can do the experiment!" Saki was about to run to the warp gate when Jin grabbed her by the shoulder and stopped her. "Wait. ...... you''ve come here to rest after a long day of work, right?I can forgive you for looking for minerals, but you''re going to stay here for the rest of the day. "Ugh ...... Jin, you''re killing ...... me, let me go home ......." "No... no..." Hannah consoled Saki, who sank to her knees. "Saki, cheer up. I''ll show you the way to the east forest this time." Saki''s face lit up at those words. "The east forest......is where there are a lot of trees, right?" "Yes." "Okay. Hannah, please show us the way! So Saki and Hannah set off for the eastern forest. Jin ordered Golem Gon, the guardian of the village of Kaina, to guard them. 1653 - - 45-02 Psaki No. 2 In the evening, Saki came back with a lot of leaves and cobwebs all over her body. When Erza saw this.., "Saki, let''s go to the hot spring first. and sent her straight to the hot spring. Erza prepared a change of clothes and brought them with her. "Oh, she''s coming back to life, isn''t she? Saki stretched her arms and legs in the hot spring. "Are you tired, Saki? Hannah was in the hot spring with her. "Yes, I''m tired. I know it''s because I usually stay in my room. Saki giggles. "It''s not good for your health. "I know, but... ......" Then Erza comes in. "It''s a bad habit of Saki''s that she can''t stop even though she knows it''s bad for her." "Hey, hey, Erza. Where are the twins? I left her with my brother Jin. Huh. Huh? Erza tilted her head, not knowing why Saki laughed when she came into the bathtub after rinsing herself off. "Erza, you''ve started calling Jin , but you''re still when you talk to third parties, aren''t you?" "Ah ......" Erza blushes when she realizes what Saki has said. "Well, in that case, are you or ?Or ?" "Ha, Hannah-chan." Hannah even said this to her, and Erza turned bright red in the hot water. "Haha, Elsa is still as fresh as ever." Saki smiled softly as if she had seen something funny. Meanwhile, Jin was bathing the twins with the help of Reiko. The footbath in front of the changing room was shared by both men and women. They filled a large basin with hot water and let the twins soak in it. I was used to doing this when I was at the facility. "There you go, Yu, does it feel good? "Yes." When bathing a baby, never use water that is too hot. Jin loves hot baths, but he is absolutely sure to keep this rule in mind. After Chloe comes Mio. When they are older, Jin would like to take a bath together. As he was wrapping them in towels to keep them cool, Erza and the others came up. "You, thank you for your hard work. I''ll take care of you, so please take a bath too. "Oh, okay. Thank you." After switching places with Elsa, Jin hurriedly went to the changing room. "Ah, this is nice hot water. Jin stretches himself in the hot side of the hot spring in the village of Kaina. Then Rock, the older brother of the men in the village, came in. His son Mario is with him. Reiko is outside at the right moment. "Hey, isn''t that Jin?" "Ah, Jin-chan." "Hi, Mr. Locke. Hey, Mario. "I met your wife outside. The twins are getting big now, aren''t they? Thanks to you. Jin-chan, they''re going to take me hunting next time! Mario is now 13 years old. In the village of Kaina, the age of adulthood is 15, but at 13 it was time for Mario to learn various adult jobs before becoming a full-fledged adult. "Well, good luck," he said, "but be careful. But be careful." "Yeah!" The sky was beginning to turn red when Jin got out of the hot spring after soaking in the hot water and talking about various things. The twins had been brought home by Elsa. Jin returns slowly toward Martha''s house, his body burning in the evening breeze. Reiko quietly follows him. "Hey, Jin! "Is that ...... Goose!Hey! It seems that Goose has come to the village of Kaina. "Have you come for Saki?" "Yes, that''s part of it, but I wanted to relax tonight." Goose smiled with a tanned face. "I''ve finished my research on the vegetation in the northern part of the Klein Kingdom. "Congratulations on that." As a naturalist, Goose summarizes the vegetation of the northern Laurentian continent. To avoid danger, Jin is accompanied by Lando 501. "Thank you for your help, Rand 501." "Yes, Master." Jin, Goose found some interesting plants. Saki came and reported to Jin. "What?" "Here, look." Goose showed Jin a large yam. "A yam! "A yam?......Hohoho, Jin knows what this is, don''t you?" "Yes, in the world where I was ......" Jin explained to Goose. "I found some vines and had Rand dig them up for me. ...... Oh, yeah, they''re edible!" Just to be sure, he ran it through and found no toxicity, and it was definitely a yam. "It looks like there are still a lot of them growing." "I see. I''ll make yam soup with them tonight. Tororo soup? "Yes, I''ll take care of it." Jin had eaten yam once before, when he was in an institution. "Well, first of all, I want you to roast this whiskers. He roasted the fine root of the whiskers over a fire. "Then I wash it with water." Then they rinse it in water to remove the mud. If you do it the other way around, the bearded root will contain water and cannot be seared off. "Then, grind it down with a grater......, but I don''t have a grater. Shall I make it? ......<>" Jin made a grater out of the mithril silver he had on hand. "Reiko, Elsa, please make a broth with kombu, dried bonito flakes, and soy sauce. Yes, sir. "Yes, sir." The yam is so sticky that it needs to be diluted three to five times in the broth. Jin transferred the grated yam to a mortar and pestle and carefully ground it while adding broth. * * * * "Now, try it! "Bon apptit! "Yes, it''s delicious. I''m surprised there are potatoes that can be eaten raw. Yes, yam is one of the few potatoes that can be eaten raw. "Oh, it''s delicious!" "It''s so good, isn''t it? "Kuhu, it has an interesting texture." "Oh, yeah, Saki, don''t leave them around your mouth or they''ll itch." "What? The yam contains a substance called , which is crystallized into tiny little needles. These needles pierce the skin and cause an itching sensation. However, it is not an allergy (some people are allergic to yams), so there is no need to worry too much about it. When itching occurs, wipe with diluted vinegar or lemon juice to dissolve the crystals and speed up the healing process. At any rate, no one around Jin was allergic to yams, and everyone enjoyed the tasty yam. 1654 - - 45-03 Marcia No. 1 May 6th. Jin, accompanied by Reiko, comes to Potrock, a town in the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias. They use the warp gate in the sea-eroded cave. The destination was Marcia''s workshop. "Oh, it''s getting bigger!" The nearest store was vacant, so Marcia bought it and expanded her workshop. There is a warp gate in the basement of Marcia''s workshop, but it has been half-buried during the recent construction work. The reason is that we could not disclose the existence of such a gate in the basement, so we kept quiet about it, and the entrance/exit was blocked by the construction. Jin and Reiko came this time to celebrate the opening of the new store and to use the warp gate. The time is 8:00 a.m., the time when some stores finally open. "Good morning, Marcia. And Marcia''s workshop opens at 8:00 a.m. Good morning, Jin. I''ve been informed the day before, so I''m not surprised. "It really is a lot bigger now, isn''t it?" "It is, isn''t it?" "Now we can work on the final touches in the same place without having to rent a dock!" The next door was originally larger, and as a result, Marcia''s workshop has almost tripled in size. In one of the corners, the catamaran, <>, is on display. This is the ship that Marcia once raced with Hitoshi and Reiko and won the race with flying colors. For Marcia, it is the ship that changed her destiny. "It is beautifully decorated. The boat was polished to a shine and placed on a stand. "Yes, it is the ship that changed my destiny. Marcia gazes lovingly at the . "My Lord Gin, welcome!" Then Rodrigo, Marcia''s father, comes out of the back. "Good morning. I was wondering if you have any ...... artisans here?" "We had to close our workshop for the last six months for renovations. They have gone out on their own. "I didn''t know that. ...... so this celebration makes sense?" I prepared this for the opening of Marcia''s new workshop. "Reiko, call the old man and have him send them here." "Yes, Father." One minute later, two golems were sent to the workshop. "Oh, my God!" "Yeah, the margin of error is getting smaller." They were just above the floor, indicating that the coordinate error during the transfer was minimal. But that is beside the point, "Marcia, this is the celebration of the new opening." Jin indicated two golems that had not yet been activated. One is a female golem, similar to Marcia''s exclusive golem <>, but with a differently shaped head, not unlike Marcia''s. The other is a male golem, similar to Marcia''s, but with a differently shaped head. The other golem is male and slender. The other is male and slender. It would normally be classified as a chore/housekeeping golem, but it was made by Jin, and it is not difficult to imagine that it has extraordinary specs. "They will be Arrow''s sister and brother. Name them." "Names, ......." Marcia thought for a moment, "Let''s name this one and that one ." <> is a bow in the Kingdom of Elias, and <> is a sail. Jin activates the two and transfers authority to Marcia with the naming. The sisters Arrow and Arco are the <>. And the propulsion force, the ." Jin muttered in admiration. "That''s right. Thank you, Jin. Jin said. "Oh, this thing is fast!" Jin and Reiko had been given a test ride on the latest model of the Marcia Workshop''s ship. The name is . < "This is not for sale. It''s a hobby boat. Marcia laughs, "It''s only possible because the workshop is thriving. "I built it with my father on a rental dock when the workshop was closed for six months. The shape of the boat is a catamaran, but the bottom of the hull connecting the left and right hulls is also in contact with the water. The hull capacity is therefore larger, and buoyancy and carrying capacity are improved. "The propulsor is a transverse water wheel ...... screw and <." He uses the aqua thruster for high-speed propulsion and the screw for low-speed propulsion. "It''s not as good as Jin''s that I showed you before, but this is my masterpiece. True to his words, the boat has excellent stability and reached a top speed of over 60 km/h. It is also very maneuverable. In addition, in order to make it easier to maneuver around in small areas, the hull is equipped with so-called , in which the outlets of the aqua thrusters are attached to the left and right sides of the hull. This makes it easier to berth and change direction. "I guess the problem is the cost. Since the boat is completely for pleasure, he says he built it without regard to cost. "First of all, it''s very difficult to build a hull, and the propulsion equipment is expensive. Marcia laughed as she said, "We''ll have to find a way to reduce the cost. After a short trip around the island of Io, the returned to Potrock. "No, it''s been a long time since I''ve had fun." She wondered when the last time she had this much fun without something she had made herself. "When Yu and Mio are older, I''d like to bring them here and swim with them. "Oh, that''s great, that''s great!"Hmmm...maybe they''d have to be around 3 years old..." "Maybe so. ......" I don''t mind if it''s a shallow pool, but I don''t want to push him too hard because of the waves in the ocean. "I''ll come visit you sometime!" In the basement of Marcia''s workshop is a small warp gate that only Marcia, Rodrigo, and Arrow can use. However, from now on, and will be added to the list of those who can use it. "Yes, we welcome them. Erza will be pleased." <. Returning to Potrock, Jin and his crew stowed the <> in a special dock and went ashore. After that, they returned to the workshop for what Marcia calls a <>. "Gin, did you notice anything on board today?" Marcia asked me over a cup of tea. "Well, I guess......... the seats are not very comfortable..." "Ha-ha-ha, I think so too." Then Jin said, "Actually, Saki is developing such a shock-absorbing material right now, and we''re finally getting close to a solution. I''ll let you know soon, so please keep your eyes peeled for it. I''ll let you know in the near future. "Oh, Saki-san!That''s very promising. Yeah, I''ll be waiting." Marcia smiles and drinks her tea. Before the sun went down, Hitoshi and Reiko had rearranged the basement where the warp gate was located. The dirt at the entrance and exit is removed, and the room is once again disguised. Originally, the entrance was located at the back of the warehouse, but since the warehouse has been expanded during this construction, a wall has been added and a door has been installed. The inside of the warehouse will be used for storing valuable materials. Then we will check the operation of the warp gate and that''s it. "Okay, see you later." Thank you for today, Jin. "Thank you, Jin-dono." Using the reconditioned warp gate, Jin and Reiko returned to Horai Island. 1655 - - 45-04 Beena No. 1 On May 10, Jin and Erza took the twins to the Blue Lands of the Kingdom of Egelea. They did not use the warp gate, but <>. The pilot was Edgar, accompanied by Reiko, Anne, and Meene. It is the birthday of Reginald, son of Beena and Luis. landed at the airfield attached to Blueland. "Jin, and your wife, welcome! Count Louis Wurz Kuzma welcomes Jin and his crew. "Come on, come on, get in." < is left at the airfield, and everyone, including Edgar, gets into the carriage that picks them up. Reiko is carrying a large baggage. "Bina is looking forward to seeing you, too. Count Kuzma said in a good mood. The carriage passed through the gate of Bluerand and went straight to the Count''s house. "Jin, Elsa, it''s been a long time! At the entrance of the Count''s mansion, Bina greeted Jin and the others. In her arms was her son, Reginald. "Hello Beena, Reggie is looking well." "Yeah. You too." Beena looked at Chloe in Jin''s arms and Mio in Erza''s arms, and her eyes narrowed. "Come this way, please." Bina invited me to a room. "Whoa! "Wow." The room was a shoeless room with tatami mats on the floor. "I built this room after Reggie was born." "I see." Reginald was taken down from Bina''s hands and immediately began crawling. "I always keep it clean," he said. "That''s important, isn''t it?" Jin''s theory is that <>. To do so, the floor must be clean. Because the child will soon start sucking his/her fingers. At the same time, Jin remembers that the director said that <>, which is what he practices. Whether this theory is true or a superstition, it does not matter to Jin. He wanted his children to grow up freely. Chloe and Mio began to crawl when Jin and the others took them down, but when they reached the wall, they began to stand on their hands and knees. "Oh, the twins can stand up now, can''t they? "What about Reggie? Jin asked, and Bina sounded a little worried, "Not yet. I''m ...... a little late, aren''t I?" Jin replied. "Well,...... I can''t say for sure either, but children grow up differently." Jin could barely follow up. But... "Oh, you. ...... Beena, look." "What?" Erza''s voice made Jin and Bina look at Reginald. "Oh ......" Reginald was standing on his feet, perhaps imitating Chloe and Mio. "You!Reggie is standing up!" "Uh-huh!" Luis ran out of the room. "...... what''s going on?" Jin asked, "I think he went to get his camera. Bina replied, "I think she went to get the camera. And just as she said, within a minute, Luis returned with the camera in his hand. However. "Oh ......." Reginald was already sitting down. "......I''ll leave the camera in this room from now on. ......" Lewis muttered regretfully. * * * * After that, Jin and the others were again chatting in the reception room. "Well, then. Reginald Cress Kuzma, happy birthday!" "Happy birthday!" Happy birthday to you. Hmm? Reginald is still not getting the congratulations from his friends, even though he has just turned one year old. Instead, "Thank you, Jin-dono, Erza-dono. "Thank you very much." Luis and Bina thanked him. "Here is a gift for you." Jin took the gift from Reiko''s hand and handed it to Luis. "Thank you." Luis and Bina immediately opened it. "Wow, there are so many materials! The gift from Jin and his friends was a rare material. Since Beena herself is an excellent magecraftsman, Jin and Elsa agreed that materials would be a better gift than something simple. "I''m very happy about the Magi Silk fabric ......, what kind of clothes should I make for them?" Magi silk is soft to the touch, so it is ideal for children''s clothes. "And magi crystals. Thank you, Jin and Elsa! "You''re welcome. I''m glad you''re pleased. At that moment, the children, who had been quiet, began to squirm a little. "Madame, we will take care of the children in the children''s room." Marm offered. "Mistress, we will take care of the children in the children''s room. "In that case, I''ll take care of them too." Anne and Meane also offered to take care of the children, so I decided to leave them to it. The three children were taken to the children''s room by Meane, Anne, and the Countess''s maid, Marm, and the rest were Jin and Erza, Luis and Beena, and Reiko and Edgar. "Well, Beena, this is a good opportunity for you to show us your workshop. "Oh, my workshop?" "Yes." But Beena is a little reluctant. "I don''t think it would be interesting for ...... Jin to see it." "No, I don''t think so. Besides, I might be able to give you some advice. "That''s true. ......Then this way." Bina stood up and led Jin and the others toward the backyard. 1656 - - 45-05 Beena No. 2 "Wow, this is Bina''s workshop." It was more than four times the size of the one that had made ...... Lotte in the past, and it had more tools and materials. "It''s ...... clean and tidy." "Of course, I put it away when I''m not using it." "Is that how it''s supposed to be?" Jin likes to leave things as they were when he used them. Even if it looks messy, tools and parts are placed in a convenient and accessible place for him. However, at the end of the year or when he gets a break, he cleans up the mess, and when he is tired of thinking of ideas or stuck, he starts to clean up for a change, so it is not really that messy. "Nice workshop." "...... what does that mean?" "What?" Jin was amused by Bina''s suspicious look at him, even though he was supposed to be complimenting him. "What do you mean by that? "...... Really?" "What, you don''t trust me?" "Because from Jin''s point of view, my workshop is nothing but a child''s play." "Don''t be so down on yourself. The value of a workshop is not in its appearance. It''s who and what they make there, with what passion and enthusiasm. That''s all that matters, isn''t it? Silence falls. And then. "...... Jin, did you eat something bad?" "...... is terrible. That''s the first thing he says. "Because, you know, ...... it''s gin." "Hey." "......You, Beena, I''m not going to get into it now." Erza stopped the exchange between Jin and Beena in mid-stride. "Yes, you''re right. "I''m sorry." They listened to what she had to say, stopped arguing, and went back to talking about the workshop. "I''ve been working on Reggie for the last six months or so since he was born. It was only this year that I started using the workshop." "Hmm, I know." Elsa knew exactly how it felt to be a mother with an infant on her hands. "So I started using it again when I finally had a little less work to do. And Marm helps me with the childcare. Mallum is 41 this year. She is the oldest head chambermaid who raised Luis with her own hands. She was a nurturing mother to Luis. She has also learned a lot from a lady-in-waiting named <>, who has experience in raising children. Normally, when a woman has a child, she leaves her job and often does not return to work, but Sheila was an excellent maid of honor who could take care of the house, so Lewis immediately rehired her. "It would be nice if there was some kind of maternity or paternity leave system. ......" "Three days?A few days?" Bina noticed Jin''s mumbled words. "Oh, maternity leave is a system where female employees can take leave before or after giving birth, and childcare leave is a system where employees can take leave to raise an infant. ...... "Hmm." Bina did not pursue the matter any further at that moment, but it is another story that Blueland would later become famous as the birthplace of the maternity and paternity leave system, thanks to the efforts of Lewis, who was listening. It is another story that Countess Kuzma came to be known as . * * * * "So, are you making something now?" "Yes, I''m making a baby carriage. Marm told him that it was time to take him out in the open. "I didn''t know that. ......" Jin had thought about getting a pram as a birthday present, but decided to use a material that he thought Bina might have already prepared. Jin regretted that he had thought a little too much. He offered, "I can help you if you want. He offered, "I''ll help you if you want. "Jin?I''m sorry." Bina turned him down softly, but he said, "Bina, she''s the one who made it, "Bina, she wants to make it so much, let her help you," Erza said. Erza told her, "She wants to make it so much, "So ......?I said, "Well then, let her help me. I said, "Well then, let her help me. Yes, since the baby carriage for Yu and Mio was a gift from Reinhardt, Jin did not have a chance to make it. Although it could not be helped that he was not in the Ars world at the time of the birth, Jin was dissatisfied with it. "Comfort and safety come first, don''t they? "Yes, that''s right." "That''s why we want to use rubber tires, and the suspension and dampers are essential. We''ll need ball bearings for light weight, and we''ll need brakes and stoppers. We''ll also need a sunshade. ......" "Hey, hey, Jin! Bina hurriedly stops Jin as he starts to run off by himself. "You, be moderate, okay?" Erza also told Jin that he had to be moderate. So Jin decided to be Bina''s assistant after that. The frame is light silver. Do this ...... here and hold it down, Jin. "Okay, here we go." It was a new experience to be an assistant. Jin invited Elsa to join him. "Elsa, help me, please." "Yes." Elsa, who was almost bored just watching, accepted with a smile. Reiko, too, please. "Yes, Father!" Reiko was happy to join in. "......" Bina sighed secretly, but no one seemed to hear her but Reiko. And then . "It''s done." "It''s done." Within an hour or so, a beautiful pram had been completed. Four-wheel independent suspension with rubber tires and suspension dampers. Ball bearings. The frame is made of light silver, cushioned with goulashvam and lined with magi silk. Brakes are provided for safety on hilly terrain. Of course, it is equipped with a sunshade and a simple barrier projector to protect it from falling objects. "......<> helped me with the pram or ......" Bina, with a somewhat distant look in her eyes, muttered. "Now that you mention it." Elsa patted Bina on the shoulder and said, "It''s too late for that. She returned to the main building pushing a newly built baby carriage, "Ah!" "Uh-oh." "Ah!" Three babies greeted Jin and his family. "Reggie, welcome. ...... Look, there''s your pram. Uncle Jin, Auntie Elsa, and Auntie Reiko helped me make it! Uncle Gin? Auntie Elsa! Jin and Elsa were a little shocked, though they had children, so it was understandable that they were called aunts and uncles. 1657 - - 45-06 Reinhardt No. 1 On May 13th, Jin and Erza, together with Yu and Mio, Reiko and Anne, visited the village of Kaltz. Yes, this is Reinhardt''s territory. "Hey Jin, Erza, long time no see!Chloe and Mio are looking well! Reinhardt is looking good too. "Brother Rai, long time no see!" After renewing our old acquaintance, Bertsch met us at the entrance of Reinhardt''s house, Lankenhaos. "Jin-sama, Erza-san, it''s been a long time." "Hello, Bertje." "Mr. Bertsch, where''s Yuri?" Juliana is taking a nap right now. So we all walked quietly down the corridor to the reception room. Chloe and Mio looked a little sleepy, so Reiko and Anne took them to the room where Juliana was sleeping. "I went to the Blue Lands with Potrock the other day." Jin gave an update. "Marcia has a new workshop, and they are building a new type of ship." "What a surprise!" Reinhardt was fascinated by the new ship. "Reginald at Bina''s place has grown up a lot." Yes, I see that. Juliana was born in 3458, one year older than Chloe, Mio and Reginald, which means she is the oldest. However, her birthday is on August 20, so she is the same age as Reginald now. "Ha, we all have children now," Reinhardt laughed. Reinhard laughed. "Matheus is going to have a baby soon too." "What?" "What?You didn''t know that?...... Mateus'' wife is the second daughter of Viscount Jorgens Heckerath von Paddock, who lives across the street from Jin''s mansion?" "Oh, right." Jin looked at Elsa sitting next to him, "Yes, that''s right. Her name is Ciara. When he heard that Ciara Geist, ne Heckerath, was Matheus'' wife, Jin finally remembered. He had met her once when Reinhardt was knighted. He had also heard that she was pregnant. Jin really doesn''t know much about such things. Reinhardt''s line made Jin look down. "I can''t ...... argue with that." "Jin-sama is not a socialite, is he?" Bertsch follows up as if to intercede. "Well, you can tell Jin to ...... take care of that sort of thing, Master, you don''t have to worry about it." (Erza also took a step forward.) "Oh," came a look on Reinhardt and Bertsche''s faces. Erza seems to have taken another step toward being a wife.) Yes, it seems so.) In a low voice that Jin and Elsa could not hear, Reinhard and Bertsche exchanged words and smiled at each other. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Yes, I wanted to talk to Jin about something." Seeing that the situation had calmed down, Reinhardt spoke up. "What is it?" "Do you think there are hot springs in this village of Kaltz?" Jin thought for a moment. "Hot springs... ...... might be available." "Oh, really?" "Yes. Since this place is close to Lake Tosmo, there must be an underground water vein. And the temperature is higher deep underground. So if we dig deep enough, I''m sure we''ll find it. "I see. ......" "If it''s not a hot spring but a cold spring, I think it would be easier." "Cold spring?" Reinhardt asked back at the unfamiliar word. "Oh, you can think of a cold spring as a hot spring with a low temperature. Jin did not know the detailed definition either. "I see, a cold spring. In that case, you have to boil it before you can use it as a bath. "That''s instructive. What about this village at ......?" "It''s hard to say without looking into it." In the case of Kaina village, there was a volcano-like mountain nearby, so they were able to dig up a hot spring that gushes out of the ground, but this is a plain. Jin added, "You would probably have to use a pump to get the hot spring. "That''s not a problem. I can make a pump. But finding the hot spring is ......." "Yeah, I''ll take care of it. And hopefully we''ll be able to find Reinhardt, too." "Well, that''s great!" < Reinhardt should be able to find a hot spring if he knows what a hot spring vein is. "Well, let''s start looking for it right away. Jin sat up and Reinhardt followed. "Erza, when the children wake up, please help me. I''m going out for a while. "Okay, go on." Erza nodded and gladly sent Jin off. "Have a good day, my dear." And Bertsch, too. * * * * * * Jin was guided by Reinhardt to a slightly open area. "It would be convenient if there were a hot spring here," Reinhard said. "I see." It seems to be a good place to build such a facility. "Well, let''s look for it. ......<>! ......mmm ......" Since he couldn''t find it once, Jin tried several times <<> in different places. Then, for the fourth or fifth time, he said. "There it is!It''s a hot spring!It''s not a cold spring! "Are you sure, Jin?" "Yes. Reinhard, try using ground search in this direction, at a depth of about 200 meters. Following Jin''s instruction, Reinhard decided to use earth magic. "This way?Okay. ......!...... Oh?Is this ......?This is it!Jin, I got it!" Reinhardt now understands what a "hot water vein" is. "Yes!Now Reinhardt can search for hot springs! "Yes, thank you, Jin! Let''s go digging then. "Okay." Jin and Reinhardt worked together to dig a hole for the hot spring. Reinhardt digs the hole, and Jin solidifies the walls of the hole. is Jin''s original engineering magic, which melts and solidifies materials without using heat. Thus, by the evening of the same day, a hot spring was dug. 1658 - - 45-07 Reinhardt No. 2 You, thank you. Yes. Thank you, honey. "Yes." Jin and Reinhardt were at the dinner table after taking a bath at the Ivy House. "So, they found you, right?" Elsa asked as she fed Chloe her baby food. "Yes, we did. Not only that, but we even went so far as to dig it up." Jin answered while feeding Mio baby food. "Oh my!That''s wonderful!" Berthe said happily as she put a spoon in Juliana''s mouth. "I think tomorrow we will have a pump, a bathtub, a temporary hut, and everything will be in shape for the time being. Reinhard said as he sipped his favorite wine. "I''d like to help you get there. Jin said and Reinhardt bowed his head and said thank you. Erza said nothing and smiled at him. Reiko, who couldn''t help, was slightly depressed. The next day, Jin, Reiko, and Reiko went to the hotel. The next day, Jin, Erza, Reinhard, Bertsch, Yu, Mio, Juliana, Reiko, Anne, Neon, and others came to the place where the hot spring had appeared. It was only a five-minute walk from the Lanken Houses. There, they found the hot spring hole that Jin and the others had dug yesterday. It is a pit with a diameter of 20 centimeters. The steam coming out of the pit indicated that it was a hot spring. "We need to install a pump to pump it up, and at the same time, we need to build a bathtub and a shed. Oh, and we need to think about drainage." We can''t just let the dirty water seep into the ground or into Lake Tosmo. If we build a septic tank, let the dirt settle out, and then apply <> to the supernatant water, there will be no problem. Jin explained these precautions. "Okay, I''ll set up the bathtub," he said. "Okay, I''ll build the pump. "I''ll build the settling tank. "I''ll build the temporary hut," and "I''ll give instructions on how to build it. Their roles were assigned, and the work began. "Reiko, hand me that silver." "Yes." Reinhardt will get the materials. The pump is made of lightweight, corrosion-resistant light silver. A deep well pump. The golem pumps the hot water out of the well. "<>" Reinhardt is building a bathtub. There are four bathtubs, each about 2 meters by 4 meters. One for men and one for women, a hot tub and a warm tub. "<>" Elsa also uses digging, an earth magic and engineering magic, to create a settling tank. At the same time, she also made a hot water tank to temporarily store hot water. Yes, that''s fine. Put up some pillars around there. ......" Bertsche instructs the recruited workers to proceed with the construction of a temporary hut. "Yes, there, blindfold it with boards. ......" "Here, the fathers are working!" "Oh!" "Buuh." "Aww." In Anne''s arms are Chloe and Mio, and Neon has Juliana in the pram. The children watched their parents'' work with amusement. The children looked at their parents with amusement as they watched them work. "It''s done. "It''s done." "It''s done." "It''s done." "It''s done." "Yes, thank you!" As a result of the joint work, the spa was completed in the morning. It is only a temporary shed for now, but a proper building will be constructed at a later date. "Well, let''s go home and have lunch. It is a short 5-minute walk. Jin and the other workers break up and have lunch. "Oh, Jin, thank you! Reinhardt was in a good mood as he ate his lunch. "This will further improve the welfare of the villagers. "Ha ha, I''m glad I could be of help. "It would be nice if we could build two more public bathhouses." Yes, you''re right. "Then I hope we can have a hot spring in this house too." Jin was pleased to see that Reinhardt was always putting the residents first. In the afternoon, the adults try taking a bath together. No, the children were allowed to use the hot water in a large basin. "Ah, it''s nice hot water. Jin is soaking in the hotter bathtub. It''s about 45 degrees Celsius. "Yes, it''s very nice." Reinhardt is in the warmer tub. This one is about 41 degrees Celsius. According to the analysis of this hot spring, it is classified as a simple spring. Probably the same water vein as that of Lake Tosmo was turned into hot water by geothermal heat. "It''s nice hot water, isn''t it?" "Mmm." "Dah!" "Buuh." "Blow." Elsa, Berthe, Yu, Mio, and Juliana were in the women''s bath. Anne, Reiko, and Neon were with them, and the three of them were bathing their children in the tub. "Thanks to you, we now have a sanatorium in our village. "Hmm, that''s good." Thus, a health care facility was established in the village of Kaltz, Reinhardt''s territory. 1659 - - 45-08 Female Emperor No. 1 The day after the installation of the spa in the village of Kaltz, Reinhardt''s estate, i.e. May 15. Jin and Elsa are at the house of Reuthert with the twins. Just then, a messenger from the emperor arrived. "Your Majesty wants to see me?I wonder..." But the timing was right and he had no choice but not to go. Jin hurried to get ready. "You, go see her." "Yes, I''m going." Only Jin and Reiko are going to the castle this time. They decide to accompany the messenger in the carriage he has brought. Jin and Reiko were the only ones to go to the castle this time. Jin-kun ...... no, Sir Jin Nido, thank you for coming. Welcome, Sir Leko." The Empress greeted Jin and Reiko in her office with an unusually serious face. Beside them, there was a woman with a somewhat similar look on her face. "I am Charlotte Alina von Rinal Shoro. My sister and current first in line to the throne. Jin Nido. Jin Nido introduced himself and bowed. Reiko silently bows. "Please don''t be so formal, Lord Nido." The younger sister said in a soft voice. Dark brown hair, lighter than the Empress'', and brown eyes similar to hers. Her figure is fuller and gentler. And there was another boy, about 10 years old. With dark hair and brown eyes, he too looked like the emperor. "Let me introduce you. He is my nephew, the last living heir of the previous emperor. You met him once, didn''t you?" Just after Jin and Elsa were married. Ernst Shawlo. Ernst bowed to Jin, looking somewhat more mature than before. "Your Imperial Highness, please to meet you." Then he said, "Ah, Sir Nido, Ernst is not yet an adult, so he is not officially the Crown Prince. The lady emperor said. "What?. "Let''s leave aside the good and the bad. In other words, our ancestors thought that childhood connections are often without profit or loss, and should be avoided by the rulers. As Jin, I can see your point. However, he could not make a judgment as to whether it was the best thing to do. It would be arrogant of Jin to make such a judgment and to give an opinion on it. "So, when Ernst turned 11 years old on May 2, I decided to let him get to know the world. As part of that, you thought it would be a good idea to meet Sir Nido." "I see." If you keep them in isolation, you can avoid any funny encounters. But they will be narrow-minded and ignorant of the world. For this reason, the age of 11 was set as the time for the royal family to make their debut in society, so that they would be able to make their own decisions. "In four years, Ern will be 15 and an adult. When that happens, I will officially abdicate." "You can find me at ......." Aunt! "No, this is what I promised my brother ...... the previous emperor. I am only a temporary emperor. One day I must return the throne to its rightful heir." Her voice has none of its usual gentleness, but is stern, as befits an emperor of a great nation. The Empress seemed determined. "Four more years!" She declared in a stern voice. "In those four years, our country will climb one more step into the future. Then the Empress smiled again. "Please, Mr. Jin, I ask for your cooperation. Her face and voice were the same as always. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... and why is this happening?" Now Jin is riding in a carriage with the emperor, Flora, and Ernst Shawlo. They are headed for Jin''s mansion. "This girl is a fan of Jin and Elsa. I wanted to take her to meet them. Sir Nido! Yes, Your Highness? May I call you Jin-dono? ...... Thank you very much. You''re so cute, Mr. Rayko! Thank you. Ernst is in a state of maximum tension until he arrives at the villa. I''m home. "Welcome home. ...... Welcome, Your Majesty." I''d been informed, so when the carriage arrived at the gate, I was greeted by Erza, who was waiting for me. "I''m here on a personal visit. ...... Come on Ern, say hello." "Erza-sama, my name is Ernst Shawlo!Nice to meet you!" "Ah, my name is Erza Nido, Your Highness." Elsa looks a little puzzled. "You know Flora. She has recently become the new head of the council. "Well, congratulations." After these words of greeting, they enter the house. "Welcome, Your Highness." The five colored golem maids bowed in unison. "Wow! Ernst gazed at them with sparkling eyes. "It''s like we''re out here for the first time. And the emperor. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, this way please." First, Elsa leads the guests to the reception room. Jin followed a little later. Flora quietly spoke to him. "......Between you and me, Jin-dono''s family is free from any desire for success or power, so His Majesty can be at ease in their company." Jin understood and understood a little. When Jin arrived at the reception room a little later, Ernst was asking Erza some questions. "Erza-sama, how can I use healing magic effectively? "Well, it is important to know how the human body works. ...... Your Highness, please don''t use the word ''like''." "No, I am here to teach you. ...... then <>!Elsa-sensei!" Her Highness seemed to be a very studious person with a strong sense of humor. 1660 - - 45-09 Ernst No. 1 "Thank you very much, Miss Elsa." It seems that the title of honor has finally been decided. "Ern, I think it''s time for us to leave for today. Ernst Shawlo replied with some dissatisfaction. "Aunt, didn''t you just get here ......?" It''s already eleven o''clock. Are you going to treat us to lunch?" Oh, ...... No, Your Majesty, I''ve already prepared it. Then Jin interrupted. "Look, aunt, Jin-sensei said so too!" "...... you are also < ......?" Jin was beginning to feel a little like giving up when he was called as well. * * * * * * "Wow, this is delicious, Sensei! "Here, eat a little more quietly. ...... Sir Nido, it''s really delicious. "I''m honored, sir. It was made by here at ......." The Empress looked at the Perid 101 with admiration. Then Ernst said, "Amazing!You are more skillful than human cooks! He was honestly impressed. The dish was . It was not made from leftover rice, but boiled from rice. The soup stock was prepared properly, seasoned with miso, and sprinkled with kokarisk eggs. You can also sprinkle some of this on top if you like. Jin offered us < (green perilla) and kryptona (mitsuba), along with chopped green onion leaves. "I''d recommend the kryptona.Because the Japanese leek makes your breath smell a little bit bad. ......" "Okay, I''ll try the Kryptona." Ernst put the kryptona on top of the rice porridge and popped it in his mouth. "Oh, it''s delicious!What a fresh flavor! "Oh, really. ...... Jin, can you get this anywhere? "I think so. This is from the village of Kaina in the Kingdom of Klein. I''m sure you can get it anywhere....... should we give you a territory from our country too? "Please don''t." Jin seriously refused. "The land is too much to ask for." But the queen did not back down. "What is excessive? I don''t think I''m being rewarded for my work at all. Jin laughed. "Maybe that''s true from your point of view, but for me, I''ve received more than enough. I have a ......<." Jin was a rootless man in this world, but he had a family and a country that gave him a house like this was a big deal. "Is that so?" Yes. Sensing Jin''s true feelings of gratitude, the emperor said nothing more, and the conversation ended. The subject was now closed. I have learned a lot from you. Jin-sensei, please teach me engineering magic next time! "Yes, sir. Whenever you have a chance. Mr. Jin, Elsa, thank you for today. I''m sorry for the trouble I caused you. No problem at all. Then the emperor, Ernst and Flora left. ......I''m tired." Jin and Erza were somewhat tired. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Doctor! The next morning at 8:30, Ernst Shawlo arrived. As expected, the empress was not with him, but she was accompanied by Charlotte Alina von Rinal Shawlo, the sister of the former emperor of the Shawlo Empire and the sister of the current emperor. "Welcome, Your Highness." Jin was planning to return to Horai Island in the afternoon, but his plans were changed. He was escorted by a female knight who looked new to him. "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Emilia Frot von Galarroa, a member of the Shoro Imperial Guard. Emilia bowed to Jin and Erza, bending almost 90 degrees at the waist. "Oh, I''m Jin Nido." "Elsa Nido." Jin and the others also introduced themselves. Emilia is a small girl, still a little bigger than 11-year-old Ernst, but she will probably overtake him within the next two years. "It is a great honor for me to see the faces of the renowned Jin Nido and his wife, the court-appointed healer (Reichsanstalt). "Yes, yes." He seems like a very serious man. That''s why he''s in charge of the future emperor. "Your Majesty doesn''t come here every day, that''s why I''ve followed you." Charlotte, the Empress''s sister and Ernst''s aunt, says, "......What is the first and second in the line of succession to the throne doing here ......?" Jin couldn''t help but sigh. At the same time, he instructed Ernst to contact Ro-kun through Reiko and have him send a "shinobi unit" to the site, just in case. Unaware of this, Ernst was being taught engineering magic by Jin. Yes, that''s right. Yes, that''s right. "...... like this!< In Ernst''s hands the bronze deformed into a ...... distorted sphere. "Oh ...... no!" Ernst''s shoulders slump. "No, that''s a good point, Your Highness. Come on, try again." "Yes. ....... "A circle ......." Jin nods and chews as he explains. "A circle is a collection of points equidistant from its <, ...... that is, a figure enclosed by a line." "Yes, that''s right!" "Then what about a ?...... sphere is also a shape bounded by a collection of points equidistant from the center ...... plane." "Ah, yes!" Ernst nodded his head in agreement. "Let''s try to imagine it like that. ......<>!" This time, it formed a beautiful sphere without any problem. "It''s done!We did it, Jin-sensei! "Well done, Your Highness." And so Ernst Shoro took his first step. Ernst Shoro took his first step. "What?I''m going to see Dr. Jin again today! Ernst Shoro''s voice echoed in a room in the palace. "No, Your Highness. For the time being, I''ll be touring the countryside." The future emperor had a tight schedule. 1661 - - 45-10 Female Emperor No. 2 Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo is the Shawlo Imperial Woman Emperor. She is 52 years old. She is 154 centimeters tall and weighs 45 kilograms. Dark hair, light brown eyes. She is the interim emperor until her nephew Ernst comes of age, but she is also a great ruler who will remain in the history of the Shawlo Empire. "I''m going on an inspection tour. She suddenly mentioned that she was going on a secret inspection tour. Since the royal excursions to the provinces are usually made twice a year, the schedule is always reserved. However, it was unusual for the Prime Minister, Jung von K?bsler, and the Chief of Staff, Flora Heckerath von Merante, to be so abruptly announced. This time they headed for Schwere. It is a town at the end of the road that connects the Kingdom of Cerroa and the Shoro Kingdom, known as the Trockenbahn. Most of the towns along the road are under the direct control of the imperial family, and this town was no exception. It is about 70 km from the capital, Leusert, and can be reached in less than half a day by a fast horse-drawn carriage. Of course, hot-air balloons and golem carriages could reach the town even faster, but since these would have made the trip pointless, a common carriage was used. The two direct companions were Flora, the head of the court, and Juna Brantes, a female knight of the Kingsguard. In addition, there were ten other knights who escorted them in the shadows. Juna, you look good in that outfit. "Thank you, sir." Juna Brantes has been a knight for three years and a Kingsguard for one year. This year she is 19 years old. The emperor had the look of a lady of the town, Flora had the look of a merchant''s secretary, and Juna had the look of a town girl. Of the three, Juna, with her reddish brown hair in a ponytail, comes from a commoner''s family and knows the town better than the others. We left Leusert at 9:00 am. The road is well paved and the average speed is about 25 km/h. The carriage arrived at Schwere in about three hours, with a stop along the way. * * * * * * * * * * "Your Majesty, ......, miss, come on, let''s go." Juna, with her dark brown eyes and slanted gaze, says kindly, "Let''s go. As it appears, the emperor is the manager of a large merchant family, Flora is the head of the household, and Juna is an employee. "Right, let''s go to a shopping street a little farther from the central street this time. We decided to visit an area slightly off the central avenue because the central avenue would be well monitored. Schwebel is a big place, and their time is limited. "Okay. Let''s go this way first. Juna headed down the alleyway, talking like a girl. (The trash is fine.) (The trash is fine.) The emperor thought it was acceptable, with only a few small pieces of trash. She continued down the alley to a street one block away. "It''s quite lively here too, isn''t it? The emperor murmured, "Yes, ma''am. This street is used more by the common people than the central street. Juna replies. It is true that there are more kinds of stores than those on Chuo-dori. Chuo-dori is lined with large stores, while small stores compete with each other here. "It''s so vibrant." The emperor is in a good mood, sensing evidence of a healthy economy. But ....... "Shut up!" A vulgar slur rings out and the Empress turns around. I want you to pay for the cleaning! Three ill-looking men were making a racket in one of the stores. They were pulling a cart with several garbage cans. "What is it?What is that?" the female emperor asks Juna, raising her eyebrows. "They are people who take unjustified profits from us under the guise of cleaning fees, aren''t they? Juna, a commoner, knew exactly what he was talking about. "They call themselves usurers. Their ostensible sign is that they unite the local gangsters and give them welfare activities. ......" "But in reality, they''re just bandits, right?" "Yes. ...... this time, it seems to be a ploy to get money for cleaning up the town." Of course, cleaning is just a formality, and the amount of money they demand is exorbitant. The emperor looked at her for a moment, "If you don''t pay me, I''ll leave a mess all around this place. I''ll clean it up myself!" "No, don''t ......" Joona, can you stop them? The emperor, unable to stand by and watch, asked Juna, a knight of the Kingsguard, "Can you stop them, Juna? "Yes. Three men of that caliber without hands is not a problem. Then I''ll leave it to you. Go stop them. "Yes, Your Majesty." After exchanging a few words in a whisper that no one else could hear, Juna ran out almost without a footstep. "Stop! You''re making me uncomfortable." Juna grabbed the wrist of the man who was just about to lift the trash can. "Hey, ......, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! What are you? I''m just a passing town girl. I''m just a passing town girl. I''ve been watching you for a while now and I think you''re making unreasonable demands. I''ll call the guards. But the man who had his wrist slapped smirked. "Well, if you''re going to call them, call them! "What the hell, ......?" "I''ve given you plenty of snuff, you''re the one who''s going to get caught.You''re the one who''s going to get caught for interrupting the cleaning." Juna frowned. "Are they that rotten?How long has it been rotting? "Well, I''m afraid we''ve been cleaning up this town for two years now. "A purification team? That''s a very big name, isn''t it? And it doesn''t match what we do. "Mind your own business!" While I was saying this, two security guards came running in. In their hands they held wooden sticks about a meter long. "Hey, hey, what are you doing? "Oh, mister, you''re in the right place. They''re blocking us from cleaning..." What do you mean? You''ve been trying to get unjust money from us for cleaning! "Well, a cleaning fee is a fair remuneration.You''re the one who tried to interfere with the public''s work! The guard held Juna''s shoulders as he cupped her wrists. "Get your hands off me. You''re a ...... traveler, aren''t you?Let''s have you come to the guard station for a minute." "......It sounds like it''s true that you''ve been snorting nose drops." What? You''re the public servant in charge of the town''s security... and you''re bribing your way in... You should be ashamed of yourself! This guy!Let him speak!" One of the guards raised his stick. 1662 - - 45-11 Female Emperor No. 3 "Rude!" Juna pulls the man''s hand from around his wrist. The man bends over as Juna pulls him back in pain. ....... "Gee!" He caught the guard''s swinging stick with his face. It was not a very strong swing, but it was not a good thing to be hit in the face. The man fainted and Juna finally let go of his hand. "You''re guilty of assault! "What are you talking about? You''re the one who hit this man, aren''t you? Juna has kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, but she is one of the best in the younger generation when it comes to the physical arts. And that is why she was chosen to guard the emperor. The guards were a little frightened when they saw Juna, who had changed from her usual soft atmosphere and began to wear a swarthy air. "Aaah! "Aaah!" Two screams were heard, and looking over, two men were lying on the ground. Apparently, they had sneaked up on the emperor and Flora. (Who in the world is ......?(Who in the world is the knight escorting them?) The emperor tilted her head a little. Then a loud voice rang out. "That''s enough!" "Oh, captain!" A stout man stopped the two guards. Juna could not recognize him because of his plain clothes, but he seemed to be the captain of the guard force. "You are a strong man, young lady. ...... can you leave it at that, please?" Juna, still not letting her guard down, glared at the man she called the captain. "Well. ...... okay. ......Hey you guys, back off for now." "Hey, captain,......?" This lady''s probably stronger than me. What? "Is she more ...... than you, captain?" This comment seemed to have an effect, and the three ruffians (one of them fainted) and the two guards walked away disgustedly. "...... may I have your name for your information?" Juna demanded the man called the captain. "...... Geleon Assman." "My name is Juna Brantes." After saying each other''s name, the two men separated to the left and right. "Thank you, Juna." No, it was an unexpected turn of events. Yes, it was. ...... Flora, let''s cancel our plans. I''m going to see the deputy after this. I understand. Each town under the direct rule is governed by its own mayor, but as an organization there is a deputy, not a lord, above the mayors. Schwere was a town where the deputy was stationed. The group once went out of the town. In the carriage outside the town, the emperor, Flora, and Juna, a knight of the Kingsguard, have changed their clothes. "Knights, this way!" "Yes!" Once again, they call for the knights to escort them. So, what had been a mere personal visit has now turned into a surprise visit by the emperor. After the carriage is washed down with water, the blindfold is removed, and the disguise is lifted, the carriage is transformed into a ceremonial carriage bearing the imperial coat of arms. The group heads for Schwere once more in this state. "His Majesty! The sudden arrival of the royal family causes a commotion in Chevelle. All the guards were mobilized and lined up on both sides of the central avenue. The carriages moved slowly between them. Eventually, the carriages came to the governor''s office in the center of the town. "It is a great honor for me to see you. Who are you? Flora asked. My name is Xanmu Xupe, deputy chief of police. Where is the deputy? He is recovering from an illness. I understand. After this exchange, the emperor and his entourage entered the governor''s office. The emperor entered not the reception room but directly into his office, and immediately pointed out the corruption of the town''s security system. "Why do you say that ......?" Pale, Xanmu Spee could barely manage to say anything else. "Then call the head of the guard here! Flora ordered Xanmu to send his men to fetch him. "You wanted to see me, sir?" Fifteen minutes later, the captain of the guard arrived. This time he was wearing a guard uniform. "What is your name?" "Yes, my name is Gereon Assmann." ...... I see. I''m sure you''re doing a great job guarding this town. "Thank you, sir." Gereon bowed his head. But then he was hit by another word. "Cleaning fee, is it? You seem to have a hard time keeping this town clean, don''t you?" "......" With his head bowed, Gereon began to break out in a cold sweat. How did the emperor know about this?He was not at ease. "Gereon Assmann, have I left you out?" I looked up when I heard a woman''s voice and saw a young female knight of the Kingsguard standing in front of me. "I am Juna Brantes, Knight of the Kingsguard of the Shoro Empire. Gereon Assmann''s complexion went from pale to paper white. "Well, I won''t bore you with the details. ...... Xanmu Spee, you will clean up your own mess. Those are my last words to you." Ha, ha. ......" The emperor called a couple of clerks from the governor''s office. Where are the deputies? They are in a private room on the second floor. So the Empress went to the ward herself. "Oh, my God, Your Majesty!" The doctor, who was lying down, jumped up when he saw the face of the Empress. "Oh, leave her be. You still don''t look well, do you? I''m sorry to hear that. "Sickness is a thing of the past. But you should pay a little more attention to what you do on our behalf. What does ...... that mean? The emperor explained the situation to the officer, who looked at him doubtfully. "I''m sure they''ve been trying to keep you out of the loop, but it''s not like they don''t have a confidante, is it?" "Oh my God, ......!That ...... is not a good thing to have no one on your side." The emperor was sobbing, "It is not to me that you apologize, but to the people. Remove the deputy from office immediately and replace him with someone else. If you feel responsible, get well as soon as possible and fulfill your duties as a deputy. "...... ha." Thus ended the emperor''s visit. In the carriage on the way back, "I wanted to ...... go out after Juna and Flora had made their grand stand, reveal myself, and wipe out all the bad guys,...... but that''s not going to happen," muttered the empress. I wish I could have gone out and done it , but it''s not that easy, is it? * * * * The old man was helping her just a little. 1663 - - 45-12 Ernest and Leeschen No. 1 May 19, 3460. Ernest Lilim Andrew, 3rd Prince of Egelea, age 16. The 3rd Princess of the Kingdom of Klein, Rieschen Fuchsische Klein. 15 years old. The two were to hold a wedding ceremony. The vows, the cornerstone of the ceremony, were said in the back of the castle by the royal family and their relatives only, but the reception that followed was a lively affair. The couple came to the hall where the wedding party was to be held, being congratulated by the people from the back of the castle. This is the place where the Golem garden party was held in the past. For a while, there were still scars from the destruction, but now it had been completely restored to its former glory. Congratulations, Your Highnesses! Congratulations! Thank you. Thank you! They are now old enough to be adults in this world. Prince Ernest has grown taller and more gallant as a young man, and Princess Rieschen has become a graceful lady. The two stood at the center of the platform set up at the front of the large hall, being congratulated by the knights and ladies who worked at the castle. Behind them, the kings of each country sat side by side. The wedding reception of His Royal Highness Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egelea and Her Royal Highness Princess Rieschen of the Kingdom of Klein is about to begin. The voice of the magic instrument resounded, and the large hall was filled with applause. First of all, we will have congratulatory speeches from the representatives of each country. ......His Majesty the Emperor of the Shoro Kingdom The empress stood up, smiled kindly at the two, and began to congratulate them. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! To the Kingdom of Egelea and the Kingdom of Klein, I extend my congratulations." The emperor breaks off and bows to the people in attendance. Then she continued her greetings. "...... I would like to share with all those present the joy of celebrating the young couple on this auspicious occasion. I wish you many years of happiness. Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, Emperor of the Shawlo Empire." There was a round of applause. Then Cesar Valois de Celuloa, King of Celuloa, Lotharus de Franz (ne Lafayette), King of Franz, and Alois Lux Klein, King of Klein, offered their congratulations one by one. The last one is King Alphonse Alba Elias of the Kingdom of Elias. His father had been bedridden for a long time, so he used to run most of the country''s affairs, but now he has officially taken over the throne and is a very successful king. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. The distinguished guests have offered their congratulations. Please give them one more round of applause. The people gathered in the hall gave a hearty round of applause. The guests of honor continued their congratulations. ...... The reception proceeded in a lively manner. * * * * * * * * * (As usual, this kind of ceremony is tiring.) Jin, one of the guests of honor, looked at the happy couple and grumbled. There was a wide space below the podium where they were standing, where various entertainment was being held. Oh, it''s the Ste-Arena!) (Oh, the ste arena!) Right now, three crystal golems in the ste arena are performing a song and dance. The red ruby golem, the yellow citrine golem, and the light blue topaz golem were singing, dancing, and performing in a spectacular manner. (I remember it was Ceres, the crystal golem, at that time.) Jin remembered with nostalgia the old golem garden party when he met Stearina for the first time. (Reinhardt this time, right?) The black knight (Schwarzlitter <>) is holding up a mock sword and shield, and is performing a dynamic demonstration. In the background, the military band of the Shoro Empire is playing magnificent music. Since Prince Ernest is fond of Golem automata, many of the performances were relatively related to them, but some of them were ordinary people singing songs or reciting poems. Among the human performances, the one that caught Jin''s attention was a skit. The skit reminded Jin of a . Next, the representative of the Nostalgia Party, Elena! "Oh?" Jin paid attention. To his surprise, Elena was present. "My name is Elena. I am the honorary advisor of the Nostalgia Party. Elena greeted the guests in the same voice as in the past, rolling bells, and began to sing while dancing slowly. Blue sky, white clouds The sun shining brightly, the moon shining quietly Twinkling stars, winds across the world Healing waters that flow around us Flames that burn The earth of blessings, the forest of harvests. Flowering meadows, sheer mountains. Quiet lakes ......" The audience all looked at Elena as if they had forgotten how to breathe. "On this good day, I wish for the best for the two souls who are joined together. ......" The speech ended with a congratulatory prayer. When Elena bowed in curtsy, the audience burst into applause and cheers. (Elena does it too!). She does not have eyes that have < effect now, but her gesture seemed to fascinate the public. * * * * After the performance, the gifts were presented. Jin is here. After the presentation of some magical tools and works of art. Sir Jin Nidor, Magecraft Meister, presents a car. "Oh," came the cry. It is the same type of car that was once presented to the female emperor. It is a classic car in design. <. In other words, it is a <>. Its top speed is about 20 km/h, so it is more of a hobby than a practical product. In fact, it is possible to make a horse-drawn carriage that can go up to 60 kilometers per hour, but it has to be detuned to the utmost to avoid injury to the royalty in case they are injured. If it becomes popular from such a point of view, I can''t help but think that it will be ...... someday. (It was not so popular even after 400 years...) (I hope it will not be so popular 400 years later...) Jin remembers that golem horses were more culturally acceptable and that carriages driven by golem horses were more popular than cars. * * * * * The reception continued into the night. It was a standing buffet party. "Jin!We can finally talk! Jin!You''ve come!" Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen came to Jin and smiled tiredly. It seemed that this party was too much even for the royal family. "Congratulations on your wedding! Jin greeted her in a rather formal way since it was a public event. "Thank you. "I would have brought Elsa, but she''s still too young..." "Oh, yes!You told me you had twins. Yes, their names are Yu and Mio. I hope to meet them someday. Then Reinhard and Stearina arrived. "Oh, Reinhard! "Hello, Stearina, it''s been a long time." Enjoying a moment of laughter with their old friends, the two gentlemen smiled carefree smiles as if they were back in the old days. 1664 - - 45-13 Elena No. 1 Elena, please. Yes, my lord. This is the new headquarters of the Nostalgia Party. The island of Electra, one of the Pleiades (also known as the Pleiades Archipelago), is located further south of the Elias Peninsula. The Nostalgia has established a new base in the basement of the island. It has a that connects it to the former headquarters of the Nostalgia Party, . Elena was asked by Jules Lorrain, the party leader, to come to the former headquarters at the Qasimunore base to test the warp gate. "Oh, Elena. The test was a success. Donald Callow, number two and head of the technical department, greeted her. He was also the former head engineer of the Kingdom of Celuloa. "Donald, are the warp gates adjusted?" "Yes, it''s perfect." "Yes, it''s perfect now." "I see. Now we can get the materials from the Qasimunore base. Yes, it will. Nostalgia is steadily gaining ground. Now that it''s no longer a backroom organization, it can assert its presence with pride. "That''s true." Elena agrees with Donald''s line. "But that''s only possible because of Elena. < "Oh, thank you." Elena smiled broadly and brightly. Elena''s public diplomacy has been successful, and the Nostalgia Party is gaining recognition. > The magical technology that is a step or two ahead of the rest of the world, except for Jin, is the focus of attention in many countries. And it was now a well-known fact that Elena, the representative of this group, was an automata, a driving force that impressed the Nostalgia Party with its technological prowess. "Well then, I''m going back to the headquarters." "Yes. Tell Jules I said hello. I''ll be back there in a few days. Yes, sir. Headquarters on Elektra Island became fully operational on this day. However, it is still only about 70% complete. The remaining 30% will be slowly put in place. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Golem development request? The next day, May 22nd, Nostalgia received a request from the Kingdom of Elias. It was a request for the development of a golem that could stand up to the Death Serpent. "Yes. There have been three cases of Death Serpent attacks this year, and the Kingdom of Elias wants to form a security force. Jules, the head of the security team, explains. "I see, that''s why they need the golem." Elena nodded her head in understanding. "It seems so." "What about the required specs?" "Well. The specifications are that it must be waterproof and swimmable. He said that the attack power is good, but that they can use magic tools even if they don''t have it." What did Donald say? He said to leave it to him. "That sounds like him. I''m going to go visit him later. "Mm-hmm. I''ll be back later for a little consolation visit. ...... Yes, Elena. I''m thinking of making Donald the base commander at Camp Casimunore. But Elena nodded her head. "I don''t know about that. Wouldn''t that take up too much of his research time?" "I see. Perhaps it would be best to leave Donald free to do his own research." "Yes, my lord." Unaware of this exchange, Donald was working on the new Golem at the Kassimunore base. "Well, waterproofing is the most troublesome. I guess I''ll have to use magic resin. Magi resin is a resin that reacts to magic power. It is often used for common golems. Resin extracted from a tree with magical power, <>, is a typical example. It is also the technology that the young Adriana put to practical use. "If the inside is filled with magical resin, the waterproofing is perfect. ...... but it lacks power and speed. ...... Okay, let''s try it in a combined form." Donald was, after all, a magecraftsman extraordinaire. The inside of the golem was constructed as a skeletal golem, and the outside of the golem was completely covered with Magi-resin to make it waterproof. "The problem is the synchronization of these two systems." It''s like having two different golems overlapping each other, so to speak. If there is a discrepancy between the skeletal golem''s movements and those of the magirezin golem, efficiency and precision of operation will be reduced. Donald took data again and again to eliminate the discrepancy between the two systems. "Finally, it''s done!" After two weeks of hard work, the first prototype is completed. "Congratulations, Donald." "Thank you, Elena. Let''s test it first." Donald had his assistant Golem carry Prototype 1 to the test site. The site is a converted underground mine. It is a huge space the size and height of the Tokyo Dome. < "I''m looking forward to it." "Yeah, you can count on it!" Elena has also come to see the project, and Donald is very excited. Since it is a prototype, it is not autonomous, but semi-autonomous, that is, it gives instructions on a case-by-case basis. "Okay, Prototype 1, try walking." It does not respond. This is because it is a prototype and has not been equipped with a speech function. But it nodded its head to indicate that it understood, and the golem began to walk. "Good, good, you''re in good shape." The movement is smooth and Donald is in a good mood. "Okay, try some light running." Since it is semi-autonomous, the golem interprets the vague instruction <> and starts running at 30% of full power. However, its movements are somewhat jerky. "Ummm...... run as fast as you can!" Following the instructions, Prototype 1 starts to run as fast as it can......, but its movements are clearly sluggish. "No ...... good, come back." Donald''s shoulders slumped a bit, and he called Prototype 1 back. "What''s wrong with it?" Elena asked Donald as he stopped Prototype 1 and began to adjust it again. "It seems that the output characteristics of the two systems do not match. Donald answered that the output characteristics of the two systems seemed to be almost the same at the time of walking, which was a weak output operation, but as the output was increased, there seemed to be a discrepancy. In fact, the output of the magical resin system grows linearly with the input and stops growing when the limit is exceeded, while the output of the magical muscles used in the endoskeletal system gradually reaches a plateau. "So the higher the output, the bigger the shift." "That''s right, Elena." "So, we can''t just put an auxiliary magic operator in one of the magic nerve lines?" Donald nodded. "That''s exactly what we''re doing. That''s exactly what we''re doing now, adjusting those operators." Elena smiled at that. "That''s great, Donald. Good luck with that." "Yes, of course." Donald Callow had found the best solution by the end of the day. With this, the mass production of the waterproof golem was now underway. 1665 - - 45-14 Marcia No. 2 Back in time, Elena and her nostalgia party (Nostalgia) were developing a waterproof golem on June 1st. The newly opened Marcia workshop in Potrock also received a request. "A fast and large ship?" The specifications required were a length of 20 to 30 meters and a maximum speed of more than 50 kilometers per hour. The crew was to be at least 10 and no more than 20 golems. Of course, the purpose of the vessel was explained. "For defeating the Death Serpent? Rodrigo was told. "Shouldn''t it be smaller and more agile?" It was fortunate for the Kingdom of Elias that the officer in charge at this time was an excellent person. Rodrigo has seen the < series created by Jin several times. It is propelled by the Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system, and can reach a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour. It is 6 meters long. I have adapted it in my own way, and this is the that I presented to Jin the other day. And now he is explaining it to the officer in charge. "I see......... it''s a one-strike detachment or a distraction by a small speedboat. Certainly, it may be effective, provided that the speed and maneuverability are good. The officer in charge ponders. Then.., I understand. Can you give me a day or two to talk about this? I will discuss it with my supervisor. He left with these words. "......Well, that sounds interesting. No, I know I shouldn''t say interesting. That night, when Marcia heard the story from her father, Rodrigo, she was intrigued by it. "Right?That''s why I wanted to cooperate with you in a way that is typical of our workshop. "That''s very typical of you," said Marcia. "But I''ve heard that the Death Serpent has indeed caused a lot of damage this year. "What about weapons?" "It would be nice if we could release <> or <> in succession." "I''m sure Jin could do it. ...... I''ll talk to him about it." Both Marcia and Rodrigo are craftsmen, but they are not obsessive about matters outside their expertise. Especially since this case involves a human life. He is a craftsman, but he does not get involved in matters that are outside of his expertise. That''s why. I see. That night, Marcia and Rodrigo were consulting with Jin on Horai Island. "<> or ...... came south in large numbers some years ago, didn''t they?" It was the year that Jin and Marcia met, rather than the year ...... when there was a golem boat competition in Potrock. "Are they being driven away by sea dragons again?...... old man, how are you doing?" "I see. So I guess it''s within normal limits. < "I see. If it is ......, is there anything we can do to help?" "I''d rather have a propulsion system than a weapon. Only a propulsion device. "What?" Marcia looked puzzled. "No, not now. Forget it." She may have been trying to lighten the mood in her own way, but it was a complete slip. "......Hey." Jin coughs deliberately to reset the mood. "...... Is it bad if I don''t have a reason for offering it to you?" Rodrigo replies. "Well, Jin-dono is a man of the hour now. It would not be good to publicly support a particular country or individual. "I see. Jin shrugged his shoulders. "Then, how about giving aid under the name of Makina instead of mine, in the name of exterminating the Death Serpent? "Then there would be no complaints from anyone. Rodrigo agreed. "Okay. Then let''s work on that. I''m looking forward to it! Marcia was delighted. "If we can get a good propulsion system for the fast boat we''re building, we can make it ......! "Okay, okay. I''ll take care of it. Jin gave his consent, and Marcia and Rodrigo left Horai Island with satisfaction. * * * * The next day. "A new propulsion device has arrived from deus ex machina! There was a great commotion at the royal palace of the Kingdom of Elias. "Yes, Your Majesty. ." "Ummm... ......... Makina-sama has an ear for hell, doesn''t she? But we will use it gratefully." The new king Alphonse Alba Elias nodded deeply. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Four days later, on June 6, the long-awaited news arrived at the Marcia workshop. <. The propulsion system to be used for the boat would arrive soon. "You did it, Marcia." "Yes, father. We made our point! The development of a trimaran is underway at Marcia''s workshop. It is a type of boat that is stable from side to side and can also turn in small circles. Marcia and Rodrigo decide to build a hull based on it. <. "For the material, can we use a light silver skeleton with light silver plates attached to it?" "Yes, that would be fine." At this point, the price of light silver had dropped to 200 toles per kilogram (about 2,000 yen). (Incidentally, the price of aluminum ingots in modern Japan is about 230 to 270 yen per kilogram.) In 3456, the price was between 2 million and 300,000,000 tolls per kilogram. ) In 3456, the price was 2 million to 300,000 dollars per kilogram, which is a huge drop. However, this drop in price was the result of adjustments made by various countries, so there were no stores or marketeers who suffered from it. "I bet only zines make all-metal ships!" "Yes, that''s true." The new ship was built according to Rodrigo''s plans. Two days after the start of construction, the propulsion unit arrived. "Oh, this looks great!" This is the Aqua Thruster, a new propulsion system newly built by Jin. According to what he has told me, it has twice the performance of the ones used so far. "This is the best place to make the most of it. The center of the trimaran. Here, the propulsive force will stabilize the ship''s movement. "Yes, father." Marcia and Rodrigo are happy to be working on the boat. Only one week to go until the ship is completed. 1666 - - 45-15 Yu and Mio No. 1 "Boo." "Wow." "Look, isn''t it a nice view?" On May 26, Jin was flying in the family plane. The pilot was Edgar. Reiko and Anne are with him. The plane is designed for stability rather than speed, and is equipped with four magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) for levitation. It also has four magical jet propulsion engines (magijet engines) for propulsion. The front of the cabin and a part of the floor were made of transparent material in order to secure a downward view. Chloe and Mio crawled into the cabin and looked down. The altitude is about 50 meters above the ground. They can see many things clearly. The area they are flying over is the Nordic Federation. This is a region where there are no problems even if an aircraft made by Jin is flying. This is good, too. "Isn''t it?" "....... It''s a good thing he forgot his promise and devoted himself to this project." "Don''t say that anymore. ......" Elsa is pointing out that when they made <>, they said, <> and left it with No. 700672. Jin had no bad intentions, but he felt guilty for breaking his promise, and for a while after that he was busy trying to make Erza happy. "...... kidding. That''s what makes you who you are." "Well, ......." Jin, who had no idea what this meant, gave up thinking about it because he was afraid of getting into trouble. After enjoying the scenic flight for a while, Jin and his family returned to Horai Island. "Shall we take a boat next? "Hmm..." Who knows who they are like, Yu and Mio seem to love vehicles. Jin launched a six-wheeled golem car and departed for Tatsumi Bay. The driver is Edgar. Reiko and Anne are holding them in car seats. "Ooh!" "Oooh!" The twins are excited to see the scenery along the way. "Hey, isn''t it about time they started talking?" Jin asks Elsa. Technically, "babbling" is a word, but Jin is referring to meaningful words. Specifically, <<> or <>...... well, at first it would be <><>. By the way, Jin wants his father to be called instead of . "Well, they say that children start talking as early as 8 months or so. Elsa is new to child-rearing, so she is not an expert. She had heard about it from her mother-in-law Marlene and from Sally, a doctor in the village of Kaina. "I''m looking forward to it. I wonder how they will talk. Jin was completely fooled by his parents. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * By the time they arrived at Tatsumi Bay, the twins had fallen asleep, perhaps because the vibration of the car was so pleasant. "Oh, you''re asleep." "Hmm, it looks so comfortable." So we put a sheet on the beach and a tarp to make a resting place. The twins were sleeping peacefully in the soothing sea breeze. When I put my finger on their cheeks, they feel softer than freshly pounded rice cakes and more elastic than marshmallows. "It''s warm. "You''ll wake up!" Erza chides Jin. "Yes, you''re right." Jin turns from the twins to Erza. "You''re cute, aren''t you?" "Yeah." And then there is a moment of silence. "Hey, Elsa..." "Yes?" I got a lot of stuff from ...... Elsa and these girls. ...... I''ve been getting ...... a lot of stuff. No, you don''t. No, I don''t mean stuff. Jin is more serious than ever. "Am I giving ...... back? No. Am I giving it to you?" "What?" "Well, ...... warmth, comfort, or ...... something." When Jin said this, Erza laughed. It''s just like you to be timid in ...... strange places. Elsa kissed Jin lightly on the cheek. "...... don''t worry. Your side is very warm. At that moment, the twins awoke. "OTOU...... CHA!" "Kaa......ssha." What? ? Jin and Erza looked at Yu and Mio in surprise. "Da..." "Uh-uh." "You just talked, didn''t you?" "Uh-huh." Jin picked up Chloe and Erza picked up Mio. "Dad,......," she said. "Mom,...... "He talked!Chloe has spoken! Mio has spoken! They were so happy they could not stop jumping up and down. "Congratulations, father!" "Congratulations, Your Highness!" "Congratulations to Jin-sama and Elsa-sama!" Reiko, Anne and Edgar congratulated them. "Thank you." * * * * The twins woke up and after feeding them baby food and rehydrating them, it was time to go boating. <, and Jin and Erza climb aboard with Yu and Mio in their arms. Reiko also gets on board, just in case something unexpected happens. Since the boat has a capacity for four passengers, Edgar and Anne stay at the beach. "Okay, go!" "Yes, master." Marine 1 launched the Hydro 1 with ease. "Ooh." "Oooh." Chloe and Mio are happy. "You can go faster now." "Yes, sir." Hydro 1 is now out of Tatsumi Bay and speeding along at a top speed of 70 kilometers per hour. It feels good to be on a boat. Yeah. The sky is the sky, the land is the land, and the sea is the sea. The Jin family enjoys boating to their heart''s content. 1667 - - 45-16 Malicker No. 1 Formerly known as the Demon Tribe, now the Northern Tribe. Marikka, whose clan name is <>, is the custodian of the ruins called <>. In more detail, she is the recognized master of the planetary administration base left behind by the who migrated to this planet Ars from the planet Hale in ancient times. "<>, are you alright?" Yes, Marikka. I''m quite capable. Then, please. Yes, sir. Marikka, are you sure you can do it? asked Theon, who was with her, worriedly. "Don''t worry. I won''t push you too hard. I''ll be fine. What Marikka is trying to do is to remodel Onogoro Island. Specifically, to make it habitable. "The concentration of free ether is adjusted to be high here, and it can also be used as a shelter in case of emergency. Marikka told Zion, "What do you mean by ''in case of emergency'' ......?" Marikka then retorted, "What do you mean by ''in case of emergency''? Certainly, with the presence of the outlandish and unorthodox Jin, it is unlikely that an emergency will ever come. However, it does not mean that a threat will not come from outer space or from outside the world, like the and of the past year. Maricka explains, "That''s true, but..." Zion also admitted that this is true. * * * * * * * * * * * * The following are the details of the maintenance work. The size of the residential area is 20 square kilometers. (This is about one of the 23 wards of Tokyo.) The area around the residential area is not a primeval forest or dense forest, but a modified so-called . Rice paddies, fields, and orchards will be maintained, and the harvest will be stocked in an "ether stocker". A shelter for about 1,000 people is built 500 meters underground. Build 100 single-family houses above ground. Build a golem to maintain the house. Install water, sewage, sewage treatment facilities, and hot spring facilities to make the living environment comfortable. Make the community self-sufficient. Stock various materials. etc., etc., etc. Please let me know if you notice anything, Mr. Zion. "Okay." "Okay, Mr. Tester, I''ll leave it to you." I''ll leave it to you. Zion and Maricka returned to the clan territory through the warp gate. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Jin-sama, do you have any other instructions for us ......?" Marikka was consulting with Jin, who had come to the Nordic Federation for technical guidance at the behest of Zion. "Well, ...... it might be a good idea to think about using it like a resort." Onogoro Island is in the southern hemisphere, which means that it is in the opposite season to the countries of the Laurentian Continent, not to mention the Nordic Federation. "Ah, yes. May I refer you to the at ...... Kunlun Island?" "Of course." Thank you very much. "Also, it might be a good idea to create a system to control the above ground facilities. ...... Specifically, something like <>''s subordinates." is there, but it''s still not enough, Jin said. "Yes. . I see, that sounds good. Let''s get to it. <> decides to make an automata to be a sibling of Helente''s. In about two hours, it is completed. It takes about two hours to complete. It was an automaton of medium height, with the appearance of an old man. Please give me a name, Marikka! "Yes, in ......, <." In Marikka''s language, it means . Yes, I am now known as Direk. Thus, was born to oversee and manage the ground facilities on Onogoro Island. * * * * "Jin-sama, please teach me ...... how to make a golem! In the afternoon of the same day, Marikka and three of her colleagues asked Jin for help. All of them were of the same age as Marikka. Their names are , <, and <. "Nice to meet you!" "......" "Thank you very much!" "Thank you very much." Catalina is a bit cocky, Miranda is a bit quiet, and Vanessa is very serious. "Yes, of course." Hitoshi readily agrees. "Let''s start with the basics. We''ll start with the basics, the concepts. Jin began to explain in front of the four of us. "The basis of the Adriana method is to be . To do this, we must understand the human body structure. The first step is the skeleton. ......" Jin thought in a corner of his mind that it would be great if these four would eventually become instructors of the that would be established in . "......, these bones here, the <> and <>, are attached like this so you can twist your wrist. The ankle is basically the same." "Jin-sama, I mean, what if I don''t use that ......<> and <>?" "Yes, that''s a good question, but we''ll cover that in the next step ...... when we talk about how to build muscle." "Okay." < clan, true to their clan name, are generally good at remembering things. On this day, Jin had finished the entire basic course on the structure of the golem. "I''m tired." But it seems that it was hard for them too. "Thank you, Jin-sama!" Marikka was the only one who was very excited. 1668 - - 45-17 Marcia No. 3 On June 13, Marcia and Rodrigo were testing a prototype ship. "This is amazing!" The prototype is a trimaran. It is the result of an attempt to achieve both high speed stability and mobility as much as possible. Compared to a monohull, the trimaran has a larger area in contact with the water, making it slightly less suitable for high-speed navigation, but this is compensated for with a new type of propulsion system provided by Jin ...... Machina. Compared to the same type of propulsion system, the new propulsion system has twice the output power, and the prototype ship was being propelled at a brisk pace. "That''s great, Dad." "Yes, it is. Jin-dono ...... no, Makina-dono''s technology is amazing." "Arrow, how fast is it?" Yes, Miss Marcia. Current speed, approximately 70 kilometers per hour. You''re clear of the target!You still have time, don''t you? Yes, sir. Propulsion load is at 82 percent. Good. Arco, let''s test the maneuverability! Yes, Miss Marcia. This ship accommodates five passengers. Arco is the pilot and Arrow is the engineer. Marcia and Rodrigo are focused on checking the boat. The bay is ideal for such tests because the waves are calm. Arco starts with gentle curves and gradually cuts sharp turns. The speed is about 50 kilometers per hour. "No, the stability is not so bad. The catamaran''s expertise in lateral stability was put to good use. "How is the hull distortion?How about the hull distortion? "...... Yeah, the girders are a little creaky. It would be better to reinforce it a little more. With that, we called it quits for the day. While returning to the potlock, "I think we can do it because we have enough power for the propulsor. Now we just need to find a comfortable seat. Marcia laughed. Marcia laughed, "Oh, hey! "Hey, Marcia!" "Oh, Jin!" When the prototype returned to the workshop, Jin was waiting for her. Marcia and Rodrigo went ashore. Arrow and Arco are the ones to bring the ship ashore. "I''ve finished the buffer material I promised you before, and I brought it with me. The buffer material is the , we can go to the rescue right away. On the same day, he had come to Potrock with the Conlon 3. After this, I was invited by Marquis Florenz Firenziano of Florenz. Since I can''t use <, I came to Potrock by Conlon 3. The time is 4:00 PM. If we were to prepare from now on, there was a high possibility that the sun would set by the time we reached the island of Trieu at the speed of the hot air balloon. "Koron 3? ...... Uh, so you''re the then? Yes, I am. Yes, I am.My name is Druusen Batlle, captain of the Potlock Coast Guard. May I ask you a favor? "Of course." Druesen was an honest-looking man of about 30 or so. Jin instructed Reiko, who was standing beside him, to use the built-in manacam to contact Edgar, the pilot, and tell him to bring <> to us. The landing site is designated as the central plaza. "Father, they will be here soon." "Yes." Jin informed Drossen, the head of the security team, and hurried to the central square. Jin, Reiko, Drossen, and the other guards, as well as Marcia, arrived at the central square at about the same time. "Get back, it''s dangerous!" The security guards ordered the tourists and onlookers in the central square to stand back, and <> landed without any problems. "Come on, let''s go!" "Jin, I want you to take me with you. I want to see the Death Serpent in the flesh. Marcia said that it would be useful in building a high-speed boat to counter the Death Serpent, and Jin agreed. With Jin, Reiko, Marcia, and Drossen aboard, the takes to the sky. "Oh, wow, that''s great!" Drossen is amazed by his first ride in an airship. "Marcia, are you sure that Tru Island is that way?" Jin pointed to the opposite side of the setting sun. "Yes, that''s right. The island of Trieu is located further east of Io Island, as seen from Potrock. "Edgar, will you take care of it?" "Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it." flies away at about 100 kilometers per hour. "Oh, that''s fast!" Drossen is astonished, but neither Jin nor Marcia are concerned. Below them, they see two Death Sea Serpents approaching the Potrock. "Oh, that''s the Death Serpent, isn''t it?Oh, they are big!" Indeed, one of them was about 30 meters long, and seemed to be one of the largest Death Sea Serpents. "That''s not good!Two of them will come to Potlock if we don''t do something!" Drossen shouted, his face turning pale. "We''ve got to do something about them before we can rescue them!" The only thing we have to deal with now is Conlon 3. We''re on the wrong ship. Jin decides to kill the Death Serpent. Edgar, you''re on top of them. Yes, sir. Conlon 3, which was traveling east at 100 kilometers per hour, made a 180 degree turn. At 30 kilometers per hour, it was perfectly positioned over the Death Serpent. 1669 - - 45-18 Marcia No. 4 "Is the cruising speed of the Death Serpent (Death Sea Serpent) about 30 km/h? ......" Marcia observes the Death Serpent as she tracks it from above. "As I thought, it doesn''t seem to be able to turn on a dime." "Yes. But they use the Tidal Wave when they are dying, so if you want to defeat them, you need to do it all at once. While Jin was explaining this, <> came right on top of the Death Sea Serpent. "They are weak against lightning. But the effect is weakened in the sea, so you need to choose intermediate or higher level magic or pinpoint the target. He then said, "Reiko, this is Thunder Javelin." "Yes, father." < <><>" Thunder Javelin is one of the most advanced thunder magic. It is a magic that shoots lightning straight at the target. Its speed is about 200 kilometers per second. This is the step-leader level of actual lightning. It hits the Death Serpent without aiming too hard. The two animals hit by the high voltage stop moving. They are stunned or paralyzed, but not killed. This is because they are underwater, and most of the electric shocks escape into the conductor of seawater. It would be a different story if they were lured out to sea with a sonic bomb. However, if Reiko unleashes Thunder Javelin with , she can blacken Death Sea Serpent, but since the output of Magi Reactor is usually suppressed to 3% by Jin''s order, the power of magic can only be as powerful as it should be. The power of the magic is only equivalent to the output of the Magi Reactor. It is about the level of an upper-middle class mage. "But the effect is short-lived. It will move soon. We need to attack it before it does. If it''s floating around like that, it''s fire magic. ...... Reiko!" "Yes, Father. ......<<>!" The Flame Lance is a magic that shoots a spear-shaped flame under the advanced level of fire magic. It is a magic that shoots a spear-shaped flame. It is more effective when it is fired from a close distance, because its power becomes weaker in inverse proportion to the distance. Therefore, had dropped to an altitude of 30 meters. "As you can see, <> is enough to kill an immobile opponent. Thank you, Reiko. "No." Jin, you''ve been helpful. Thank you. "......" Drossen was speechless at how well he had done. "Come on Edgar, let''s go help." "Yes, Master Jin." turned around. They set out again for the island of Trieu. The floating Death Serpent can wait. With sunset approaching, rescue is the priority. Conlon 3 arrives at the island of Trieu before sunset. "Oh, there!" Marcia points to a piece of a ship floating in the water. "If this is where the ship was hit, then the crew that escaped must be somewhere around here." Most of the island of Tolu is a dense, overgrown jungle. The evacuees are not likely to go far, but they are not likely to stay on the shore either. "We should call out to them. Jin decides so and activates his loudspeaker. "Mr. Drossen, please call out to them yourself. ...... Mr. Drossen?" "Oh, oh, I''m sorry. I was a little distracted." Scratching his head, Drossen moved his mouth closer to the input to the loudspeaker. This is the Potlock Coast Guard!The Death Serpent threat is over!Come out and we will rescue you!] After repeating the same thing three times, he turned his head away from the input side and said, "Let''s wait a while. "Father, it''s a person." After about five minutes, four figures appeared on the darkened beach. "Okay, <>" Jin turned on the lights, and the figures were clearly illuminated, and even their expressions were recognizable. "There seems to be no doubt about it. But why are there four of them? "No, there is one more." Reiko objected to Drossen''s words. "The other one is carried by the person in the middle. "Is he injured or something?" While she was saying this, the was decreasing in altitude. "The coast is narrow. I don''t think we can land. ...... what should we do?" < is not a rescue craft, so it is not equipped with a winch, hoist, or any other rescue equipment. "Okay, let''s hang a rope and pull him up. That was the conclusion Jin came to after thinking about it. Ropes are standard equipment, as they are used for mooring and various other purposes. Jin modified the rope a little to make a loop at the end. "Edgar, drop as much altitude as you can. Then use the force field generator to fix your position. "Yes, sir." Jin and Edgar exchange a few words in a voice that Drossen cannot hear. Finally, Edgar lowers to an altitude of 3 meters. "Okay, that''s enough." Jin opens the emergency hatch in the floor and lets the rope hang from it. Reiko is controlling the rope. "One by one, hang your legs on it and hold on!" At this distance, their voices are audible, and the four men respond immediately. "Yes, sir!" "Thank God!" Reiko easily pulled up one of the men who had his foot on the loop and grabbed the rope. The fourth time was the man who carried the injured man. "It looks like a piece of the boat was hit on the head when it was broken. A colleague explained. "Reiko, please." "Yes, father. ......<>" Reiko examines him with Shoro Imperial style chant used by Erza. "I''m fine. There is no brain or internal organ damage. She just fainted. "Well, I''m glad to hear that. ...... Okay, Edgar, let''s get back to Potlock! "Yes, Master Jin." < gains 30 meters in altitude and heads for POTLOC. The four rescuers are stunned by the speed. "Wow, that''s amazing! "I didn''t know they could fly this fast in the sky! What in the world is this vehicle? It was Marcia who explained to them. "Mr. Godunov, he is the world''s only Magecraft Meister and the Lord of Korun, Jin Nidor. This is the airship he built, the Konlon 3." "Ah, look who it is, Marcia. < Jin had become quite a celebrity by now. "We were lucky, Godunov and the others. It''s a good thing Jin happened to be here." "Yes, indeed. Thank you, Mr. Jin! Godunov bowed on behalf of the five rescued men. "May I thank you as well, Mr. Jin?" "No, I did what I could." Jin accepted the offer, scratching his head. Incidentally, the two Death Sea Serpents that were killed were recovered the next day and used as materials for the town of Potlock, since Jin had waived his rights to them. After this time, <> was equipped with a hoist for rescue. 1670 - - 45-19 Gin No. 1 Marquis Dominique de Zaus Firenziano is a lady lord of the province of Zaus in the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias. She is an intelligent woman with dark blonde hair usually pulled back in an updo and blue eyes slightly slanted. She was taught the usefulness of < by Jin and has popularized topopo dishes such as topopo chips, fried topopo, German topopo (directly from Jin), meat topopo, etc. Topopo was originally used as a savior food. Since topopo was originally an excellent relief crop, it helped to improve the food situation in the Kingdom of Elias and other countries. For this reason, the people called her or simply in her honor. The Marquis of Florenziano received Nido in his house. "Sir Nido, thank you very much for your kindness. I would also like to thank you for your help yesterday in killing the Death Serpent and rescuing those in distress. No, I was just there. No matter. Thank you very much. The Marquis bowed deeply. "And that''s why I''ve invited you here today. After some small talk, the Marquis finally got down to business. "I would like to ask for your help in the construction of a large ship. A large ship? Yes. I understand that you once participated in a project to build a large ship called the Bernstein in the Shoro Empire. Yes, that''s right. "I''m not asking you to stay on as long as you did then. I would like to ask you to participate only in the planning and design stages of the project. Jin thought for a moment before replying. "Only for a limited period of time, if you are willing to temporarily leave the project in some cases. The Marquis Florenziano''s face broke into a smile. Yes, that would be fine. Thank you for accepting. Thank you very much for accepting my offer. In fact, the project to develop a large ship in the Kingdom of Elias had already started. Jin agreed to participate in the project and was to return to Potrock on the same day. "That''s great, this airship is ......!" Jin took the Marquis aboard the and headed for the project site. "Good news, gentlemen. We have a strong helper today, albeit on a part-time basis. With a bit of mischievousness, Marquis Florenziano announced Jin Nido''s participation. "My name is Jin Nido. I''m Jin Nido, and I''ve decided to participate in the development project, although it may be irregular. I look forward to working with you." Jin Nido greeted as usual, "Who''s Jin Nido?< "Wow!I''m so impressed! "It''s nice to meet you too! The mood was one of welcome. From what Jin saw, there were many young people. In fact, all of them looked to be under 30 years old. Jin guessed that this might be the reason why Rodrigo, who used to participate in the development of the high-speed boat in the Shoro Kingdom, was not invited to the meeting, in addition to the request for the development of the high-speed boat. To Jin''s surprise, he saw the faces of Bacchus and Jamie. Both had been employees of the Marcia workshop. Marcia had said she was <, but in fact she had participated in this project. "Mr. Jin, it''s been a long time! "That''s reassuring!" They remembered Jin and greeted each other again. "Well, then, everyone, I look forward to seeing you again." After the Marquis Florenziano left, the project finally began. I am , the leader of this project. I will give you a brief introduction. After a few words of greeting, Sergio, the leader of the project, seeing that the atmosphere had calmed down, began to explain the current status of the project to Jin and to reassure him of their intentions. "It is 50 meters long and 10 meters wide. We are targeting a capacity of 50 people, a payload of 200 tons, and a maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour." Except for the Horaishima, these are the highest specifications of the era. So, how far have you come? "Yes. We have already decided on the approximate shape of the boat. This is the model. "Oh..." A clay model had been made, just as Jin had demonstrated during the development in the Shoro Empire. According to the model, there is no problem with the shape as far as Jin could see. The ship has a round bottom with a dragon bone through it, which indicates that it is supposed to be made of wood. On Earth, as large ships were built, giant trees were cut down and their number was drastically reduced, but in this world where engineering magic exists, we do not need to worry too much because we can use <. As long as the supply and afforestation are properly managed, the risk of resource depletion can be avoided. "In my opinion, I don''t think there is any problem." Hearing Jin''s comment, a voice said, "Oh, I think so. < is taken that seriously. "The dragon bone also seems to be solid, so it will ensure the strength of the ship''s bottom." However, he says that this model does not show the internal structure of the ship, "That''s something we''ll have to work on from now on," he replied. He replied, "That''s something we''ll have to work on in the future. If Mr. Jin could participate in this project, he would be a great help to a hundred, or even a thousand people! With these words, the meeting turned to a discussion of the internal structure of the ship. "In the large ship we built before, the interior was divided into small sections to increase strength and to stop flooding in each section. First, Jin showed one of his previous know-how. "I see, then, in the case of a cargo ship, the size of the cargo needs to be determined first. "Yes, that''s right. Then he says, "If you don''t expect a large cargo, you can divide it into smaller pieces." "But even so, it would be a lot easier if we had a standard like for containers." "We also have to think about the loading of cargo," he said. "Heavy cargo should be placed at the bottom of the ship," he said. "If you''re going to be sailing for long periods of time, it''s important to store water and food. We need to make space for them first." "Shouldn''t we decide on the placement of the propulsion system first, and then decide on the placement of the other parts? Various opinions were expressed. These opinions were summarized and prioritized. The top priority this time was the placement of propulsion units. "There are two main propulsion units. We want to place them on the left and right near the bottom of the ship. "The one for turning around should be on the port side." What about the backward propulsion system? Heated discussions were held from the very first day. Jin, who loves this kind of atmosphere, sometimes expressed his opinions while imagining the era of large vessels that would soon come. But on the other hand. (......The fleet that surrounded Horai Island was also 50-meter class, wasn''t it?) Jin felt a little sad, imagining that if they spread, not only for peaceful purposes, but also for use as weapons like the <>. 1671 - - 45-20 gin No. 2 Jin participates in the of the Kingdom of Elias, and spends the next three days commuting to and from the project. He returned to the village of Kaina using a warp gate and spent the night with Erza and the twins, under the pretense of staying at a friend''s workshop in Marcia. The time difference between Potrock and the village of Kaina is about 20 minutes, so it is very easy for Jin to get around. June 17. Jin, Elsa, and the twins are staying at Nido Castle tonight. Anne is there to help with the babysitting. "How are you doing with your project? Erza asked Jin on the third night after putting Yu and Mio to bed. Elsa had also participated in the development of and was somewhat intrigued by the project. "Yes, it''s quite good, they are all very motivated, so it''s progressing very fast. The progress of projects in this world is faster than in the modern Japan where Jin was. The magic is there, and the people are, shall we say, a bit impatient. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. In this case, Jin thought it was a good thing. "It''s a 50-meter class ship, so it''s not as bad as the <>." "Hmm." Elsa took out a bottle of <> from a special cabinet. It is the sake reproduced in Horaijima. Junmai sake, of course. It is more refined than the sake served at Avalon in the past. "You will drink some, won''t you? "Yes, I would. Thank you. Jin took a wooden sake cup from the cupboard. It was sake, so he was in the mood. Erza poured him some sake, which he tasted first by sipping it, and then took a sip. It''s delicious. You drink too, don''t you, Elsa? "Yes, a little." Erza is not much of an alcoholic, but she drinks just for company. Jin produced another sake cup, filled it and offered it to Erza. "Thank you." Erza took it with a smile and took a sip. "Delicious." The sake was classified as a ginjo sake and suited Erza''s palate. "......It''s so quiet." "...... hmm." The two of them are in the bedroom of Nido Castle. The night in the village of Kaina passed quietly. * * * * On June 18th, the project was interrupted. "Are you armed?" The man who came first thing in the morning and made such a request was named Gaudino Granata, the Admiral of the Kingsguard Navy. Jin thought that he must be a military officer under the direct control of the king, since he was called "Konoe. About 60 years old. Gray hair, blue eyes. He was solidly built. "Our kingdom of Elias is a maritime nation. We need armed ships to defeat demons. I hope this ship can be used for that purpose. I''ve heard it''s a cargo ship. That was the original plan. Now we need a fleet of armed vessels to intercept the hordes of Death Serpents coming from the north! Gaudino insists. "But, Your Majesty, do you know about this?" Sergio, the leader of the fleet, asked. "I have been told that this project was personally ordered by His Majesty." "...... Of course!You don''t believe me, the General? No, it''s not that. At this point, Jin decided to interject. "Sir, there are many types of armaments. What kind of armament do you have in mind? Depending on the type of armament, it may affect the design of the ship. On the other hand, if the armament does not affect the design of the ship, we can proceed with the project as it is now. "<>. "A ballista? Jin could not believe his ears. The ballista is a huge crossbow. It shoots out chunks of rock or pointed logs. It was one of the lost technologies used in the time of the Great Magic War. Being a purely physical weapon, it is powerful, but at the same time it has many drawbacks. The recoil is large, and the power depends on the mass of the projectile. These are the two major problems in this case. "There are a lot of problems in putting that on a ship. Jin countered. "Yeah?You look familiar from ...... somewhere, don''t you?" My name is Jin Nido. I have been invited by the Marquis of Florenziano to participate in this development project. A foreigner. What can you teach me, Mr. Nido?" The snickering attitude made Jin furious, but he kept it to himself for the moment and began to explain calmly. The ballista is a huge bow, so to speak. To make it powerful, it needs to shoot out heavy objects. "I don''t need you to tell me that, I already know that. That''s a good point. A ballista that can shoot a Death Serpent would have to be quite large. That means the recoil will be correspondingly large. "And?" "Considering the way they attack, I''d like to put a few on the port side, but unfortunately that doesn''t make sense." Why not? "If we mount large ballistas on the port side, like the ones used on the Death Serpent, they will capsize from the recoil of the shot." "......" Gaudino was absolutely mortified by this. "The only places where the ship would not capsize would be at the bow and stern, but in that case we would only be able to use one of them for the attack." "Ummm ......" "Please, could you at least reconsider the armament?" "......" At Jin''s suggestion, Gaudino thought for a moment with a frown, "...... got it." With a scowl on his face, he accepted Hitoshi''s argument. "Let''s not install a ballista." The General seemed to understand what Jin had said. But... "So, you are okay with magical armaments?" He seemed to have not given up on the idea of armament. "Yes, well. But against the Death Serpent it would have to be a very powerful magic. "You don''t need to tell me. Then, I will be back! With these words, Gaudino left. "......." Jin sighed. "Thank you, Jin-san. Sergio thanked Jin. "If we had to install a ballista, we''d have to redesign it, wouldn''t we? "That''s for sure." Jin, however, was a little concerned. Four hundred years later, the fleet of ships that surrounded Horai Island had a shape similar to the ship he was currently planning. 1672 - - 45-21 Gin No. 3 < "We absolutely cannot accept any interference in the middle of the development process," Jin insisted. Jin insisted that he would never accept any interference in the middle of the development. However, "If we are planning to sail for a long period of time, and if we are planning to go to the northern sea area, we will need equipment against demons. He also adds, "If you are planning to sail for a long period of time and to go to the northern sea area, you will need equipment against demons. The first sea monster that comes to mind is the Death Serpent. It is a ferocious monster that appeared the other day. Next is <. It is a huge whale-like creature. It is one of the docile ones, but when it is angered, it is terrifying as it hits you with its huge 20-meter body. It is rarely encountered, but it is a <>. They are said to prey on <>, so you can imagine how scary they are. "These are the three types of bowsalls you should watch out for. Bowalls can swim at speeds of about 30 kilometers per hour, so it is possible for them to escape, but it is necessary to intercept Death Serpents and Sea Dragons." "......" Those who listened were speechless. They were amazed at Jin''s knowledge as well as hearing once again the horror of the sea monsters. "The best way is to attack them from the air. If we try to make port calls at night as much as possible and sail only during the daytime, we can choose to attack from hot air balloons. "I see." The danger of sailing is better to be reduced. The project members listened to Jin''s explanation. "The problem is that we will be attacked from underwater, but this can be avoided with the magic of acoustic sonar. "Acoustic sonar? Yes. It''s a kind of engineering magic that plays sound in the water. The creatures in the water will not like the sound and will leave. "I see." Jin explained the know-how of the Death Serpent. Everyone agreed and decided to incorporate what they could into the design. "But that admiral Gaudino was a bit strange," commented project leader Sergio. Sergio, the project leader, said in a low voice, "But that admiral Gaudino was a little bit crazy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Of course, Jin also thought something was wrong and secretly ordered the old man to find out what was going on, and the result was reported the same night. "You''re early." Jin received the report at Nido Castle in the village of Kaina, where he was staying due to the time difference. In case you are wondering, Erza and the twins are on Horai Island tonight. . "Yes, and?" "What? "Ummm... ? "Well, if he''s a ......, what the hell does he want?" << After thinking for a moment what to do, Jin decided to ask the old man''s guess, hoping it would be of some help. "...... Can I ask you a few questions for reference?" "Well, yeah. Well, yes, that is true. < Jin thought, "I see. <3>The third possibility is that they have come to inspect the soundness of the project, that they are not just a group of yes-men. "If that''s the case, it''s a bad person." << It''s just that the possibility is not zero. I hope it''s the third one. ......" It is hard to believe that there is any hostile force against the Kingdom of Elias in the world today. "It will be a while before the <> is established." < "I will ask the Marquis of Florenziano tomorrow." What is it? What?I have not heard of this. First thing in the morning, Jin visited the Marquis at the Lords of Potlock. "Besides, it is hard to believe that the Admiral of the Konoe Navy would do such a thing himself. "That''s right." It is not likely that the head of an organization would personally visit a project and add his/her requests. "...... sabotage, is it?" Marchese Florenziano pondered. "If so, by whom and for what purpose? That is the biggest question for Jin as well. He wondered if there were any hostile forces that even the old man did not know about. "I will look into it on my own. Then, as for the project, please pretend that you did not hear such a request and proceed." "Okay." The question remained, but Jin was relieved about the project. "I see, that''s a relief. After that, Jin explained the Marquis Florenziano''s words to the members of the project team, and they all felt relieved. * * * * * * * * * While Jin was visiting the Marquis Florenziano, the old man was searching for a suspicious man using the <. <> The same day, before noon, he finds a suspicious man. He was Regulus 6, aka . Yes. But there seems to be something wrong with him. <> He seems to be out cold. <> How can I help you? The old man thought for about two seconds and then decided on a course of action. . And the order was carried out. The man who called himself <>, bound with ropes and wards, was brought to the old man through the warp gate of the sea-eroded cave. < <, he was a little surprised. He was under the used by the northerners. <>. <>......? >> The one who can use <> that the old man doesn''t know about is Lardus, the missing <>. < I searched for Lardus with my magi radar based on the dagger I once took from him, but I could not find him. It is assumed that he is taking some kind of countermeasure. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * That night, Jin received a report at Nido Castle, "Hmmm, Lardus......... I can''t believe he just showed up. Mobilize the 5th line of rangers (Quinta) and keep an eye out for the Kingdom of Elias. However, nothing unusual happened after that, and the conclusion was that if it was Lardus, it was just a prank. 1673 - - 45-22 Licia No. 1 Toka is a neighboring village of Kaina. However, it is about 80 kilometers away from the village, so far that it would take two days to reach it on foot. Licia, the lord of Toka village, was thinking day and night about what she could do for the development of her village. One of them was <> (=pasta), which became popular for a while but did not attract tourists. However, <> itself spread around the world, especially in the Kingdom of Klein, as a dish that originated in Toka village. "The other thing is the specialties ......." Licia was still wondering today at the Lords'' Hall. There is not much that can be said to be a product of Toka village. The village was originally located deep in the mountains, so the land was poor and the water supply was poor. In a sense, it is a miracle that the village of Kaina has the Herme River, which is fed by the subsoil water from the melting glaciers that hang over the mountains to the north. "Then, of course, it must be the water supply," he said. With an abundance of water resources, it would be possible to make the village of Toka even richer. Licia concluded. "Next... What should we do? <, finds time to visit the island of Horai to study. "I think it would be best to draw water from the Naud River. We thought about building a reservoir, but the rainfall in this region is low. The mountains in the north receive rain and snow, but the plains do not receive much. "But it would be a big construction project ......" Nevertheless, Licia thought that if this could be done, it would enrich Toka village for years to come. "I''ll talk to Jin-san about it...... No, it makes sense to talk to the government first here." Licia decided that she would work under the guise that she was a servant of the Kingdom of Klein. So, first of all, she entrusted the letter to the wagons of the Raglan Trading Company, which had just arrived at the site, in order to inform the royal capital of her desire to carry out this construction work. "Then, please take this. "Yes, sir." These peddler''s wagons would also take care of the transportation of unclassified letters. Of course, the letters are sealed with wax to avoid any mistakes, and a <> is issued, and in case of any mishap, a penalty is paid in accordance with the contract. Since the letter was important but not confidential, Licia decided to use the wagon service. "We should be in King''s Landing in about a week, so the earliest we can expect a reply is half a month. In the meantime, there was much to be done. Licia set about her next task. A week later. A week later. "My lord, you have a visitor." "What?" Licia was absorbed in putting away her papers when she heard the voice of Fred, the secretary, and came back to herself. Licia has a tendency to be a bit of a workaholic, and when the switch is turned on, she can get carried away. On this particular day, if she had not been called, she would have been absorbed in the work for another two hours. "You have a visitor?" "Yes. Mr. Jin Nido. Mr. Jin? Licia got up from her seat and ran to the front door. Fred rushed after her. "Mr. Jin!" When they arrived at the front door, Jin and Reiko were standing there, a little out of breath. < "Hey, long time no see. I''m sorry it''s been a while since we''ve seen each other, even though we live in the next village. "No, it''s the same for both of us." Licia had also been busy recently and had not visited Horai Island except for reading materials, and Jin had also been out a lot, so they had crossed paths and it had been a long time since they had met again. "So, what''s going on today? "Oh, well, this morning I went to the Raglan Trading Company to distribute some magic tools, and it seems that a soldier who was there informed the royal palace about me. When I was about to leave the Raglan Trading Company, I was asked to come to the royal palace with a carriage to pick me up. ....... Well, I had some time on my hands, so I went to the palace to see what was going on." "Well." He was summoned by Prince Arthur, the second prince. In his office, Jin explained that he had been shown a petition from Lycia. "Prince Arthur asked me to give him a hundred kilograms of magiquartz crystal. Magiquartz is a white to transparent crystal with a weak optical property. It allows light to pass through it well, and its refractive index can be changed by magic power. It is used for Reiko''s eyes. Since it can hardly be found on Horai Island, Jin had recently asked the Raglan Trading Company to purchase it for him. It is thought that Prince Arthur II, who heard about it, prepared it as a reward. "The demand for magiquartz crystals will increase in the future for use in telescopes, spectacles, microscopes, etc. We should secure a sufficient amount of magiquartz crystals while we still can. I would like to secure a sufficient amount of magiquartz crystals for further research while we still can. Jin then breaks off the conversation. "At ......, I digress. I''ve read your letter, but can you tell me what Licia thinks about it?" "Yes, please ask." Licia explained to Jin that she wanted to draw irrigation water from the Naud River. "...... I see. Did the Naud River have a lot of water?" "No, not so much." "Hmmm...maybe I should go to ...... and see it in person. Okay, let''s go!" "What?" Jin invited Licia to join . <, but from too far away it would be difficult to distinguish the subtle differences in the elevation of the land. "Edgar, keep the altitude at 50 meters above the ground surface. "Yes, sir." Reiko, I need you to take pictures at key moments. Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it. While giving such instructions, <> arrived above the Naud River. "Well, there is not much water. "Yes, it is. ......" Licia''s face is clouded. "Besides, we can''t get water to Toka village from here, because of the difference in elevation. "Ah. ......" Licia is even more depressed. Jin can''t stand to see Licia like this and thinks to himself: "Hmmm.... "Hmmm......... okay. Edgar, try to go a little further upstream. "Yes, sir. Edgar took the order and pointed <> upstream on the Naud River. "Well, ...... there is even less water." The headwaters of the Naud River originate in the low mountain range that separates the villages of Kaina and Toka. Now we go downstream. "Yes, sir." now heads downstream. There, he finds the Great Shama Marsh. "There is a lot of water there. ......" Licia looked at the landscape and sighed. "Edgar, please come back. Reiko, did you get the picture?" "Yes, Mr. Jin." Yes, father. Yes, father. < Jin had the photos taken by Reiko developed for the meeting. "Well, Licia, let''s talk about this again." Jin had an idea as he looked at the terrain from the sky. 1674 - - 45-23 Licia No. 2 "I noticed something when I looked at the topography of the area from the sky. He laid out the photographs on the table in his office and began to explain. "Something you noticed?" "Yes. ...... See, you can see that the Shama Marsh contains a vast amount of water, can''t you?" Yes, that''s right. Where do you think that water comes from? "What ......?" Licia looked at the picture Jin had spread out and pointed to a spot. "Well, isn''t it, uh, around here?" This was where the Naud River flowed into the marshland. "I''m not wrong, but that''s not the main part." Jin smiled and shook his head. "Is that so?" "Yes. I''m going to have to do some research later, but most of the water in the Shama Marsh is subterranean water." "You mean the water that flows underground ......?" Jin nodded. "I think that is correct. So ...... where does this underground water come from?" Licia twisted her head. "That would be my guess, but I think it comes from the surrounding mountains." There are a series of mountains to the east and north of the Great Shama Marsh. In the mountains to the east, moist winds from the sea to the east of the former Leonard''s Kingdom form clouds and cause rain to fall. The mountains to the north are not the ones just north of Toka village, but the high mountains to the north of Kaina village. Those mountains are capped by glaciers, and the mountains just south of them also receive a lot of precipitation. Not all of that water makes it into the Ermee River." "Oh, I can sort of see that." "Yes. So, there is definitely underground water in the village of Kaina. I''ve checked it out." It is this underground water that gives rise to the hot springs. "It''s a huge amount of water, so I don''t think it''s surprising that it flows deep underground into the Shama Marsh." "...... I''m starting to get the idea." Licia''s face brightened a little, perhaps because she was beginning to understand what Jin was trying to say. "So you are saying that there is underground water in Toka Village? Jin nodded. "That''s what I mean. But we can''t say for sure until we check it out, and we don''t know how much water we can take out. Too much water will affect the environment, of course. "Still, I have a glimmer of hope." "Okay, let''s check it out right away." Jin said and was about to go outside when he suddenly remembered. "Oh, by the way, ......" In the world 400 years later, he had made a magical tool for <>. "I guess we can also make a grimoire for detecting water veins and hot springs," he said. Jin remembers searching for hot springs in Reinhardt''s territory. Jin runs outside and heads for , which is parked on the outskirts of the village. He then uses the repair materials on board to build a magical tool for "water vein exploration". In addition, (It might be a good idea to be able to search for hot springs, ores, magicrystals, etc., by using a switchable system. ). "Ah, um, Mr. Jin?" Licia looked doubtful as she chased after Jin, who had jumped into when he thought he had gone outside. "Licia-sama, your father is making a magical tool to find the water vein. "What? Licia was surprised at Reiko''s explanation. But she quickly convinces herself that it is Jin''s work. "Okay, it''s done!" Jin emerges from with a large flashlight-shaped magical tool in his hand. He was quick because he had once (400 years later) made a similar tool. "So you can find the water vein with it?" "Yes, it does. If you point this at the ground and turn it on, the magi crystal here will glow green if there is a water vein. Then, if you turn on the switch over here, the approximate depth is displayed on this super-small magic screen. The depth of the discovered water vein is measured using <. Jin estimated the margin of error to be plus or minus 10 meters. "Wow, that''s great." "Well, let''s give it a try." First, he tried using it at the highest elevation north of Toka village. If there is a water source here, it will be easy to supply. "Let''s start it up. ...... Oh, there it is." "There it is!" Both Jin and Licia were delighted because they had not expected to find it in one shot. "The depth is ......250 meters. That''s pretty deep. Jin thought that it might be one of the deepest water veins, but he decided to give it a try and dig. "Reiko, I''ll dig the hole, you apply dissolute to the hole. "Yes, sir. I''ll leave it to you. "Okay, here we go. ......! Dissolve! Using Dig and Dissolve with even more skill than they had with Reinhardt, Jin and Reiko were able to dig their way to the water vein in two minutes. "It''s here!" "What? Already?" A hole 20 centimeters in diameter. Licia looked into it. "Now let''s see what the groundwater level is around here. ...... hmm?" "Kyah!" Suddenly, water gushed out of the hole. Jin and Reiko were fine, but Licia, who was peering into the hole, was directly hit and soaked to the skin. "Ugh, ...... it''s so cold." "You''d better change quickly...... or this will be quicker. " Engineering magic is basically ineffective on living creatures, so only wet clothes could be dried without affecting Licia herself. If this was , the water contained in it would become hot and could cause burns. "Oh, thank God!" Licia breathes a sigh of relief as she dries off. "Oh, but the water came up, didn''t it?" "Yes. It was lucky that the water seemed to be under pressure and gushed out on its own. It saved us the trouble of installing a pump. Jin said and hurriedly dug the reservoir. "Well, that''s good." The reservoir was about the size of a 25-meter swimming pool. It was about two meters deep. "Reiko, let''s work in groups to secure the sides of the reservoir. Yes, Father. The bottom of the reservoir will be left untouched, but the sides will be lightly hardened to prevent it from collapsing. "Also, build a fence to prevent children from falling in. ...... "Oh, we''ll take care of that. Licia felt uncomfortable leaving everything in his hands. "Okay. Now we just need to make sure the water doesn''t overflow. We would have to build an outlet and a sluice gate to manage it. "Yes, we will do that too. It will take a couple of days for the water to fill up, so we will be ready in the meantime. "Thank you very much, Mr. Jin. This will improve the water situation in Toka Village. "Yes, good luck." When water is abundant, we can grow many kinds of crops. It was thought that rice production would be possible. After this year, Toka Village''s food self-sufficiency rate exceeded 100 percent. 1675 - - 45-24 Gloria No. 1 Gloria Allstadt is a female knight of the Kingdom of Klein. She was a knight of the Kingsguard until last year, when she was assigned to <>, where she will stay for two more years. Of course, I have about 20 vacation days a year to go home. In this case, he is obliged to maintain absolute confidentiality regarding what he learns and the details of . The work is to <>. And when the <> is held in <>, you will be in charge of security. < The dozens of people currently at <> are the <>, and are able to learn many things day and night. The first six months......3459 September to 34 The first six months of the program, from September 19459 to April 1960, was a basic education course, in which we studied various subjects in a universal way. As a result, depending on their aptitude and their own wishes, the students moved on to specialized courses. "Well, today is over. At 4:00 p.m., after her 6th period class, Gloria stood on the deck overlooking the sea, her hair blowing in the sea breeze. Her hair, which had been very short when she was a Knight of the Kingsguard, had grown long and was now pulled into a ponytail. "Ah, Gloria-san." "Ah, Lyanna-san." The one who approached Gloria was Lyanna, the Royal Secret Maid of the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Egelea. Her blonde hair, pulled back in a chignon, glistened in the autumn sunlight. "The breeze feels so nice here," she said. "It really is." Lyanna is 29 this year, three years older than Gloria. "Gloria-san, you want to be a member of the World Guard, don''t you? Yes, she is. And Lyanna, you wanted to be an instructor, right? Yes, well. Each of them has a common subject in common, and they attend the same lectures several hours a week. Swordsmanship, self-defense, etc. are the same, and they are both in the top ranks. These martial arts have been taught by an automata instructor, who has been using "trans-info" to synthesize the different styles of martial arts in different countries. The first students are expected to become instructors in the near future. On the other hand, there was not much in common between them in terms of classroom education, with Lyanna in the humanities and Gloria in science and engineering. "It''s getting dark soon. Why don''t we go inside? Gloria nodded her head as Leanna said so. "Yes, let''s do that." They went down the stairs leading into the ship. They headed for the bathroom. Of course, it is not a hot spring, but here on the they can take a bath every day. If it is just everyday dirt, you can put it in the special locker, and the engineering magic <> will work, and you will be clean while you bathe, so you don''t even need to change your clothes. Freshly washed towels are available for rent, so unless you insist on using your own, you can go to the bathroom empty-handed. "The facilities here are wonderful." Rhianna says as she undresses. "Really. I wonder if this was the norm before the War of Magic. Gloria also questioned, while she was also listening to the conversation. "No, I don''t think so. Rhianna, who has a liberal arts background, also knows a lot about history. "I think this is based on an earlier way of life. "The origin? ......" Gloria, who had only studied history in general, did not seem to have the slightest idea about it. After putting all their clothes in the locker, they went to the bathroom. Opening the sliding door, they found themselves in a bathroom filled with steam. It is about 100 square meters in size. "Oh, you''re the first one here. "Oh, the group leader." "Oh, no, not the leader of the group." The guests were Kate and Lisa, former members of the Royal Secret Maidens of the Kingdom of Egelea. The other Mary was not there. "I''m sorry. It''s just a habit." Leanna was their boss, the group leader. So they have not been able to get out of the habit of calling her when they call her. Lyanna and Gloria washed their bodies and went to the bathtub. The water temperature is 40 degrees Celsius, which is slightly warm. Incidentally, there is also a slightly hotter bathtub with a temperature of 43 degrees Celsius. There is no sauna, and Jin is thinking of adding one at some point. "It''s so relaxing, isn''t it?" "It really relaxes my body, doesn''t it?" "I did four laps of the Avalon today, you know." Gloria rubbed her calves. In the practical training, we sometimes do several laps around the perimeter of in order to build up our strength. But every day is fulfilling. "Really. I''m glad I was born in such a time. Lyanna nodded, her eyes narrowing. After warming up, they washed their hair. There was of course the secateurs, but there was also a honey rinse. Dissolve it in hot water, apply it to your hair, wrap a towel around it, and let it sit for a while to see results. Since coming here, the women''s hair has all become shiny and silky. "I thought long hair would be troublesome to take care of, but here it''s easy. Gloria, who used to have very short hair when she was a knight of the Kingsguard, was surprised at the difference in the quality of her hair after just rinsing it after washing it. "Hmmm, yes." Lyanna also undid her hair from the chignon and let the rinse in. Her wet blonde hair had deepened in color and shine, giving off a kind of glamorous scent. Leanna is looked at with admiration by the young women in her class, but she may or may not be aware of it. "Taking care of your hair is important. Kemeria hair oil is very effective, and you must brush your hair every day. She coaches Gloria on how to take care of her hair. But. "...... I can''t do it myself." Gloria had given up early on. "But it doesn''t hurt to take care of your sword, does it?" "Yes, it''s the same thing. "Yes, it''s the same thing." "......" The two, thoroughly healed, get out of the bath and wipe themselves down. < "Well, what''s for dinner tonight?" "Well, I''m sure the food will be delicious. Lyanna and Gloria headed for the dining room, shoulder to shoulder. "Well..." The cafeteria here is cafeteria style, in other words, self-service. You are expected to bring what you like from the menu. Basically, you are not allowed to leave anything behind. If you need more, just go get it again. Any leftover food is put to good use in the fish tank, so that there is no waste. The menu for the day consisted of rice with white rice, pig cutlet, meat topopo, cream stew, miso soup with green onion and tofu, grilled fish, pickled vegetables, and vegetable salad. In addition, citron and persica were served as desserts. The menu will be gradually expanded in the future. They chose rice, pig cutlet, miso soup with sharoto (leek) and tofu, grilled fish, pickles, and vegetable salad. For fruit, Lyanna chose Persica and Gloria Citran. "Oh, you two!" Good evening, Mr. Fritz. "Good evening, Mr. Fritz." They go to the dining room and run into Fritz. He had just brought in a tray with dinner. "Would you like to join us?" "Yes, yes. If you''d like." And so the three of us were seated at the same table. 1676 - - 45-25 Gloria No. 2 "Master Fritz, you want to join the , don''t you?" Lyanna asked over a cup of tea after the meal. "Yes, that''s right. You wanted to become an instructor, didn''t you, Miss Lyanna? "Yes. ...... well, you remembered me." Fritz chuckled. "I''m sure you won''t forget that much once you''ve heard it. "Still, it''s nice to be remembered." "Is that how it is?" Fritz said a little curiously as he sipped his green tea. "And by the way, are you taking any production courses?" Gloria, looking a little impatient, asked a question. "Production courses?No, I''m not like my sister, I''m clumsy. I didn''t take it. I''ve taken one medical course, though." "Oh, the first aid course. I took it last year. It''s very useful. "I see. If you say so, then I guess it will be useful in the field. It will be useful in the field. "Yes." "...... I''ll leave you to it for now." Gloria finished her cup of Kaina tea, picked up her tray, and left the room. Then she said, "Oh, it''s late already. I have someplace to go, Lyanna, so I''ll leave you now. "I see. I''ll leave you to it. Fritz and Lyanna followed her and got up from their seats. "Mister Fritz, where are you going?If you don''t mind me asking, could you tell me where you are going? Gloria asked Fritz boldly as she was returning the tray to the return slot. "Hmm?Yes. I was just going to take a look at the archives. What are you doing there? "Oh, I heard that the next practical is all about the characteristics and usage of swords. I thought I''d take a look at the real thing and study it beforehand. Naturally, Gloria was taken aback by this. "A sword!Jin-dono gave us a lecture himself once before! Her tone was back to her days as a knight of the Kingsguard. Fritz did not miss her words. "Oh, you know about this, don''t you Gloria? ...... I haven''t heard the lecture. I was wondering if you could tell me about it. "Yes, of course! Gloria replies with enthusiasm. Behind her, Lyanna is smiling at the two of them. The exhibition room. We have arrived at the exhibition room. This room is divided into several rooms, and in one of them, in the room, is the sword you are looking for. The sword is displayed in a transparent showcase. There are two forms of the sword, one complete and the other disassembled into the blade, scabbard, tsubasa, and hilt. "So this is the sword. I know the shape, but I don''t know the origin, the structure, or the usage. So I thought I''d read the attached material here." Fritz explains his motive. "I see. Then let me take care of it." Gloria is still speaking in a knightly tone, although she doesn''t realize it. Fritz does not seem to mind. "The first thing that strikes me is the shape. It''s slender and curved. It is no exaggeration to say that this is a shape that is specialized for <>." "Hmm." "You know that when you cut something with a knife, it cuts better if you slide the blade with a slight pull or push. This shape allows you to do that naturally. "I see, with this shape, it is true that even a mere swing of the blade will result in a pulling motion. Fritz nodded. "Yes," Fritz nodded. If you keep that in mind when you use it, you should be able to make a good edge line. "I guess so." "Now, the structure of the blade is not a single piece. The basic rule is to use a hard metal for the blade and a softer metal for the rest of the blade. Generally speaking, it is a three-layer steel, which is a sandwich of hard steel and slightly softer steel." Knowing the structure helps with care and handling, Gloria said. Fritz agrees. "Mister Jin showed us Miss Reiko''s favorite sword, the <>, which is not made of steel but of adamantite. He said it was not made of steel but of adamantite. It is too heavy for an ordinary person to handle properly. Fritz had seen the power of the <> before. "Some time ago, I had Jin-dono make me a sword with such a structure,......" he said. Thanks to ...... that, I was able to fight off ." "Oh." Gloria suddenly realized that she was speaking in the tone of her knightly days. "Well, uh, ...... something like that, what do you think?" "Yes, that was very helpful. That''s my Gloria. Let me buy you a drink on my next holiday." "A holiday? Gloria''s cheeks are slightly stained. But Fritz doesn''t notice. "Yes. There are a lot of new restaurants in the neighbourhood because of the recent increase in the number of inhabitants. I stumbled upon a place that has a pretty good wine selection. ...... or you don''t drink?" No, no, I have a little bit of wine. No, no, I have a little bit. Well, that''s fine. The food is good, too. Yes, yes. Thus, Gloria had an appointment with Fritz for a . On the day of the holiday, that day. The day of the holiday. 4:00 p.m. "Am I a little early?" No, no, no, not at all. Fritz and Gloria were walking through the living quarters in plain clothes. "Let''s hang out for an hour or so." "Yes, that would be nice." They went to a plot of land that had been set aside as a park. It was a green space with a pond. Fritz thanked them as they walked. "I got a good grade on your lecture the other day," he said. "Well, that''s good ......." Gloria is a little awkward because they are alone and she is conscious of the fact that they are alone. "I think it''s important to have a good edge," she said. It''s the same with swords, but especially with blades." But when it comes to the topic of blades, Gloria is very enthusiastic. "Exactly!Personally, I feel that the sharpness of the blade is different if you swing it through the air <>." (...... What a colorless conversation!) They are not the only ones who have been in the same situation for a long time. "But I don''t think it''s a good fit for me. Swords are too delicate. ...... well, maybe Gloria would look good with a sword." What? No, I''ve seen Gloria''s sword before. It''s flowing and beautiful. I''m not so good with a sword. ......?What''s wrong?" "......" Fritz noticed that Gloria had turned red. "No, no, it''s nothing. ...... "No, no, it''s nothing, it''s ." "Really?You look a little red. "Yup, it''s probably the sunset." It''s cloudy today, but ...... Now, now, please take me to the restaurant! "Hmm, it''s about that time already." Fritz led Gloria to the downtown area of the residence. Oh, how I envy you!) Lyanna also went downtown. Of course, in a different direction. That day, their relationship might have made a little progress ....... 1677 - - 45-26 Stella No. 1 Stearina, a former magical craftsman of the Kingdom of Celuloa, once defected to the Kingdom of Shoro and later joined the alchemist Thore Eschenbach. Now, she mainly lives in Eschenbach''s mansion, and occasionally goes to Horai Island to pursue her favorite research. Saki, Toa''s only daughter, is now on her own. She had nothing against her father''s marriage. How are things going there? "Yes. I''m trying out a few things with Saki''s help. Toa was now trying to develop a blue dye. "The juice of the purple orchid can only be dyed a light color." Although the juice of the purple ganoderma lucidum (anthocyanin as a pigment) can be changed into various colors by adjusting its acidity to alkalinity, it is not suitable for dyeing dark colors. Saki went around the fields and mountains, collecting various flowers and plants, and brought them back home. "The flowers of this plant turn a beautiful blue, but they are not lightfast and fade quickly," she said. "Well, is that so?" "This is the fruit of a flower called kusagi, which also has poor lightfastness." "I see. I wonder if we can use ...... blue stones?Like lapis." Lapis lazuli. It is the raw material for a pigment called ultramarine. Its mineral name is blue gold (lazurite). It was called because it was imported from across the sea. It is indeed a beautiful blue color, but it is a pigment. It is not suitable for dyeing cloth. Pigments are dyes used in paints and pigments, and have the ability to hide the underlying color. Dyes are used to dye fabrics and threads and have little hiding power. Dyes are soluble in water and other liquids, while pigments are not. "It''s a difficult one, isn''t it?" Stearina let out a small sigh. "Magic dyes are used for expensive fabrics and yarns, but they are generally too expensive." There are ten tons of it on Horai Island, but it would be a big problem to sell it on the market. "I''m trying to find an inexpensive blue dye. "Yes, I understand. "Dyes from natural flowers tend to fade easily. I think the fastest way is to improve it. "Yes, that is one way to go." Stearina then adds her own opinion. "And then there''s ...... synthesis, right?" Toa nodded. "Yes. That''s the essence of an alchemist. Alchemy is a primitive form of what we call chemistry today. "To create synthetic dyes that are not magic dyes. That is also our goal. Then footsteps sounded and Saki appeared. "Dad. ...... Oh, Stearena, you''re here too." Saki held out the basket in her hand. "Dad!I found these nuts in the village of Kaina, I think they can be dyed blue! The basket was full of round, indigo-colored berries. "In the village of Kaina, they call them . They are too bitter to eat, but when you crush them, they give off a bluish-purple juice. "Wow. It''s worth a try. Toa immediately took a mortar and pestle and ground the berries. Indeed, a bluish-purple juice came out. When he strained it, it turned into a dark bluish-purple liquid. I put it on a small brush and wrote on a piece of wooden paper, and was able to write letters of a very dark color. "Well, it looks usable," he said. "Now all we need is lightfastness, Dad." "Hmm. I''d like to use ......, but if I wanted, I''d have to make it a brighter blue. Saki came up with an idea. "Why don''t you try acidic or alkaline?" "Yes, indeed." Toa then took a small amount on a separate plate and diluted it with water. He took a small amount and diluted it with water in another dish, because it does not need to be very thick to see how the color changes with acidity or alkalinity. "First, acidity". Vinegar, a familiar acid, is added to the water. The bluish-purple colored water turns reddish. "Hmm, just like the purple-green orchid. Next, he adds baking soda to the light colored water he made in another dish. "Oh, this looks good. Then, the blue-purple color changed to a bright blue. "Baking soda seems to be effective. So far the baking soda has been extracted from natural baking soda springs. The main source is in the northern part of the village of Kaina. "What about lye?" I also tried lye, which is cheaper than baking soda, and this time it turned blue-green. "Mm...... this also seems to be the same kind of pigment as purple ganoderma. , you say?" Anthocyanins turn green to yellow in strongly alkaline water with pH over 13, so it is not surprising that the colored water with lye turns green. "So, can we adjust the color with baking soda and fix it? ......" Since a very thick solution can be obtained from icego, it would be practical, but the problem is light and weather resistance. The problem is light and weather resistance, because it is not practical if the color fades in a few weeks after being dyed or if the color fades when wet with rain. "Hey, is it still wrong to use magic to fix the color? Stearina, who had been silently watching the father-daughter experiment, opened her mouth. "Magic?" "Yes. The engineering magic such as or is a magic that strengthens the bonds between molecules and makes them more resistant to breakage, right?Isn''t the color fading because the pigment changes into another substance, so to speak?" "......" Toa and Saki ruminated over Stearina''s words. "Hmmm, it is true that the dye molecules break down, which may cause the color to fade." At this point, Saki also opened her mouth. "But, Mr. Stearina, the engineering magic such as or strengthens the bonding force between molecules, doesn''t it?It doesn''t make the molecules themselves more difficult to break, does it?" "Yes, that''s right. Yes, that''s right. So, we just need to create a new engineering magic. You know, the kind that makes the molecule itself stronger. He makes it sound easy, but it is quite difficult for an ordinary magical craftsman to create new magic, let alone a <>. However, Stearina is no ordinary magecraftsman. "It is enough if the structure of the molecule itself is not changed, isn''t it?It''s the same principle as ." With that she began to think intently. "Well,...... it''s the atoms that make the molecule, so if we strengthen the bonding force between the atoms,...... then it might change into a different substance.... ..." Toa and Saki decided to keep their mouths shut for a while so as not to disturb Stearina. "In short, we can wrap it in free magic element (ether) and immobilize it. ...... immobilize it, huh? Let''s try it. That would ......" Stearina seemed to have an idea and tried applying the new engineering magic <> to the salt ...... sodium chloride. "What do you think?" < And the salt that has been <> is now insoluble in water. "Success!" Stearina was so happy she could hardly contain her excitement. "Oh, this can be applied to other dyes! The fade-prone dye was now ready for practical use. Although it could not be done without magic, they were on the verge of commercializing the dye for the time being. 1678 - - 45-27 Stella No. 2 "Long time no see, Vee." "Yes, Steere." On June 27th, Vivienne comes to visit me at the Eschenbach house. They have a friendly conversation in the living room, not in the parlor, as they are close friends. Stearina welcomed Vivien with a kooch. "How is Vee doing now?" Vivian had not been visiting Horai Island much recently. So Stearina asked what her friend was up to. "I just finished compiling an old tale from the nomadic tribes in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Cerroa. "Wow, that''s great. Did you do it all by yourself? No, I did it with that man, Lukor. "Lukor is ...... that old man?" "Grandpa ...... well, he''s not wrong. He''s older than he looks." That being said, Lukor will be 64 years old this year. In the world of Ars, that''s old age. "Hmm, I didn''t think Vee liked old men." "Oh, come on." "I''m kidding." Laughter echoes through the house of Eschenbach. Then Saki appears. In her hand she is holding a bag of ...... college potatoes. "Welcome, Vivien! "Saki, I''m sorry to disturb you." Saki put the thing in her hand on the table. I made it, what do you think? "You made it, Saki?" "Yes, I did. Saki said she''s been trying to learn how to cook lately, so she started with something simple. "For ...... goose?" Vivienne looks into Saki''s face with a mischievous smile, "What?I''m not sure if that''s ...... right or not." Saki blushes a little. "Vee, don''t tease me too much." Stearina chided Vivienne. "Well then, since we''re here, let''s eat. Vivienne stuck her fork into the thing that Saki had made. "Oh, let''s make green tea. Stearina got up from her seat and was about to go to the kitchen, "Madam, I brought the tea for you. Aaru came in carrying a tray with a teacup, a teapot, and a pot. "Oh, thank you. So Saki, Stearina, and Vivian ate the food that Saki had prepared. "Yes, it''s delicious. "It''s really, really good." It was a hit with Stearina and Vivienne. "It''s not even a simple dish..." "It''s not that simple..." "It''s not that simple. It''s not that. It''s just that it''s so hot all the way through that it makes the meat really chewy. "Well, I''ve made a mistake a couple of times and the inside was raw. Saki was a little embarrassed and told a story she didn''t have to tell. "And the honey on it is delicious. It''s sugar, right?" Saki nodded. "Yes, this time I made the nectar from white sugar instead of maple syrup. White sugar or granulated sugar is dissolved in a small amount of water, then heated and boiled down to make nectar. Be careful not to boil it down too much or it will caramelize. When frying potatoes in oil, fry them slowly at a low temperature (about 160 degrees Celsius), and when a bamboo skewer easily sticks to them, fry them at a high temperature (about 180 degrees Celsius) until they are crispy and delicious. When the potatoes can be easily pierced with a bamboo skewer, fry them at a high temperature (about 180 degrees Celsius) until crispy. If you like, sprinkle some sesame seeds (white or black) on them to give them a savory flavor. "It''s delicious. It goes well with tea. "Yes, it is." I''m glad it''s so well received. Then. "......?" Stearina clamped her mouth shut and abruptly got up from her seat. Then she ran out of the room. "Stear, what''s wrong? Vivian followed her. Saki was stunned and dumbfounded, but soon came to her senses, "Aal, could you call Elsa just in case?" He said and hurried after her. "...... is ......" "Are you okay, mother-in-law?" Saki asked worriedly as she ran to the blue-faced Stearina. "Yes, I''m fine. I''m sorry for worrying you." "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!I''m sorry for worrying you. ...... Is it something wrong with my cooking?Was it the oil?Or ......?" Then, "Saki-sama, Erza-sama and Jin-sama are here!" Aaru''s voice echoed. "Saki, what''s going on?" "Oh, Erza!Please, please, check on your mother-in-law!I''m so worried that she got sick from eating my p*n*s ......!" "Okay, okay. Saki, calm down for now." After quieting Saki, Erza went over to Stearina, who was slumped on the sofa. "Stearina-san, are you okay?" Stearina replied with a blue face. "Yes Elsa, I think I''m fine ......". "Anyway, I will examine you. <>...... this, this is ......" "Oh my God, Elsa, what the hell is going on? "So calm down, Saki. Stearina is not sick. Congratulations. "I don''t know how you can say that and still be calm!...... What?What did you say?"Congratulations?" "Hmm. Congratulations,......, sister." Erza patted Saki''s shoulder gently. "Two months." "Uh ...... that means ........." Jin then pulled Toa out of the lab. "Congratulations, Toa!" "What ......!You! "You. You look like ......! "Oh, yeah, yeah!" The two of them hold each other''s hands and say, "Congratulations. "Congratulations!" Congratulations" were given by everyone present as they held hands in joy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Leaving Toa and Stearina alone, Jin, Erza, Saki, and Vivian returned to the living room. "Oh, college sweet potato ...... thing?" I made them myself. I was so surprised that your mother-in-law got a stomach ache because she didn''t ...... make it. "Mother-in-law?Saki, did you say mother-in-law? "Oh, ......!" Saki blushed when she realized that she had been calling Stearina her mother-in-law for a while when Jin pointed it out. "That''s good. It''s okay. I could have called her that naturally. "Is that so?" Saki looked down a little embarrassed, and Erza followed her up. "Saki, you said you couldn''t call me that even if you wanted to before, didn''t you? "I remember that." "Ummm... I remember that. "Well, then, it''s a happy ending. If it were a story, it would have a happy ending. Vivian said and smiled. It was early summer. Happiness is in the air at the Eschenbach house. 1679 - - 45-28 Ernest and Leeshen No. 2 The island of Kunlun is located in the sea east of the Loren continent. It is the domain of the Kun Lun lord Jin Nido and is open to the public as a resort. "It''s so relaxing here." "So ...... is it, Ness ...... you?" Newlyweds Prince Ernest and Princess Rieschen are on their honeymoon in the Kunlun Islands. Today is June 3rd. It has been more than half a month since their wedding reception, but since they are royalty, they had to go through various ceremonies and formalities. We are staying at the Jade Pavilion. Lol, a blue-haired automaton of the same lot as Anne, is the general manager. Lol is the sister of Tia, Rieschen''s favorite blue-haired automaton. Tia is accompanying her on this trip and seems to be talking with Lol from time to time. Also with them was Lotte, Ernesto''s golem attendant, who could be seen enjoying herself with the golem maids of the Jade Pavilion. The room they are staying in is on the second floor, with a view of the ocean from the window. Because of the season, there were few guests, and the two were relaxing. On the morning of the 4th, Jin came to visit them. He was accompanied only by Reiko. The reason was that he could not bring the twins with him because he wanted to greet their highnesses. "Your Highnesses, how do you like this island?" "Oh, Jin!This is a nice place ......! Princess Rieschen is trying to fix her old man''s tone. Apparently, her brother Prince Arthur told her so when she married Ernest. I don''t doubt that Ernesto doesn''t mind, but I also think that it might be a bad idea for her to go out in social situations. (That part is a pain in the ass. ......) It was Jin who gave me his honest impression. "Hey Jin, I heard that you can ride on a boat?" Ernest asked Jin with a curious look on his face. "Oh, a cruise ship. We''re thinking of putting one in operation as a trial. The boat is not actually in operation yet. "Would you like to try ......?" "Yes, I''d love to!You''ll ride it too, right, Reese? "Yes, yes, Nest. ...... you." "Yes." Jin, thinking somewhat calculatingly that having Ernest and Rieschen as the first passengers would be a good topic of conversation, instructed Reiko to prepare the boat for the cruise. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh!This is amazing ...... isn''t it?" "Hmmm, Jin can make anything, can''t he? The prepared cruise ship was a wooden <> based ship, 10 meters long and 4 meters wide. The crew consists of a pilot and two golems who serve as guides. The maximum number of passengers is 10. The maximum speed is 50 kilometers per hour, although the performance is lower than that of the Shark. It does not have a warp gate, but is equipped with a small force field generator for emergency use. Here you go. At 1:00 p.m., a cruise ship was ready at the landing in front of the Jade Pavilion. This time, Jin boards the boat as . Of course, Reiko is with him. The boat slowly starts to leave. "Wow, this feels great! The weather has been clear, the wind is light, and there is only a big swell on the surface of the sea. It was a perfect day for a cruise. "This is really nice. ...... The speed is about 40 kilometers per hour. The breeze across the early summer sea is pleasant. "The horizon is round, isn''t it ......? The planet Arus has a diameter of about 2,400 kilometers, which is quite small, so the horizon appears to be an arc. "When I look at it this way, I think the world is really round. ...... Well, Jin, have you ever been around the world in a circle?" "Yes, Your Highness. <. "Heh,...... you are a djinn after all." Prince Ernest is impressed. The cruise boat rounds the island of Kunlun. "This side of the island is also covered with trees ......, isn''t it?" "Yes, it must be the right climate." Jin answers the questions of Princess Rieschen. (We need a golem or automata that can guide us in this way. The cruise boat rounded the Kunlun Island and came to the opposite side of the starting point. "Your Highness, would you like something to drink? The small refrigerator is equipped with a small refrigerator, where cold drinks can be taken. "Oh, I''ll have some Citran juice, then. What about Rhys?" "Uh, in that case, I''ll have the same thing. I''ll have the same. Jin poured the juice into a glass provided and handed it to her. "Mmm, it''s cold and delicious!" "Really." The sun was shining brightly on the unobstructed ocean. Actually, we have wards over the ship to block only the harmful ultraviolet rays, but not the heat rays, so it''s hot. (Maybe we should lightly air-condition the inside of the ship.) (It might be better to lightly air-condition the inside of the ship.) We did not air-condition the inside of the ship this time because we thought it would be better not to feel the sea breeze. (I am sorry, Your Highness, but it would be a good reference as a test case. ......) ) He was thinking about it. The circumference of the Kunlun Island is about 80 kilometers. Therefore, it takes about two hours at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. The boat is now about three-quarters of the way around. "Father, Bowall is here." Reiko, who has good eyesight, spots a monster in the distance. Bowalls are huge whale-like creatures that live in the northern seas, but rarely migrate south. The largest is 20 meters long, and the average length is 10 meters. They are gentle demons, but they have a habit of striking large floating objects as if they were enemies. This is what got Marcia lost once. "There he is. ...... Oh, there he is. ......" <, seems to have found Bowall as well. "They are quite a distance away, so I think we should be fine if we continue on our way. "Yes, I think so. But full speed just in case! The speed of the cruise boat increases from 40 to 50 kilometers per hour. It is no longer a cruising speed, but it is to avoid danger. Reiko, call the old man just in case.) Jin whispered to Reiko. Yes. But the old man already knows.) I see.) The Old Man already knew that Bowall was in the vicinity of Jin''s location because he had a satellite for observation, and he had dispatched an aircraft unit just in case. Of course, Ernest and Rieschen are unaware of this because of their <>. Despite these measures, Bowall remained docile, and the cruise ship returned safely around the Kunlun Island. "Ah, that was fun!Jin, thank you for today!" "It was a lot of fun. ...... Thank you very much. "Welcome home." Their escorts, Tia and Lotte, had also come to the landing to greet them. Lotte, I''m home. "Tia, thank you for welcoming us at ......." Their smiling faces were beaming with satisfaction. And this was the beginning of the full-scale operation of the sightseeing boat service. 1680 - - 45-29 Psaki No. 3 On June 20, the Shoro Empire was hosting the 12th Technical Exposition. This is a four-day event that begins on the day of the summer solstice (usually June 20). Until 3459, the exposition had been held every other year, but from this year, it was held every year. This year''s event will be held in the town of Trom, not far from the capital. It is located northwest of the capital, Leusert, and faces Lake Tosmo. Saki, an alchemist, was putting up a display of her wares. The items for sale were <(MPE) and (EMPE). . "Come on, take a look!These are the best materials for cushioning!" This is Saki''s second time participating in this event, so she is getting used to it. "Wow, that''s an interesting material." Magi engineers are more interested in this material than alchemists. "It would be good for seats of carriages, ships, hot-air balloons, and other vehicles, as it is lightweight. Saki points to a sample made by Jin. It is a sample of a chair seat that has been placed under the leather and cut in half with a <>. I see, indeed. ...... but this sample is interesting. The structure is easy to understand and novel." "Yes, I asked for the cooperation of the Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer." "Oh, yes!That makes sense. If ...... is the case, it means that <> is also paying attention to this material. The name value of <> is huge, and Saki''s booth is packed as word of mouth spreads and reputation grows. Saki and Aaru are doing their best to give explanations, but it is all they can do to answer the questions being thrown at them from all sides. * * * * * * * * * * * "......Ugh......I''m tired......" The first half of the first day was barely over, but Saki was exhausted. "Hey, hey Saki, what''s going on?Do you want some Persica juice?" Jin looked into the waiting room and called out to Saki, offering her a glass of Persica juice. "Oh ...... Jin, I thought you weren''t going to participate this year?" Saki asked as she sipped the Persica juice she had received. She knew that Jin was currently participating in the in the Kingdom of Elias and could not attend such an event publicly. "No, I''m not going to participate directly, but I''m still concerned about various things. On the other hand, Jin cannot use his "doppelganger" either. It would mean that there would be two Jin. "...... and you''ve been tired since day one, haven''t you?" "Yeah,...... actually,......." Saki explained that the show was more successful than she had expected. "I see, you''re a scream of joy, aren''t you?" "Yes, but ...... I won''t be able to keep myself up for another two and a half days." "I know. Okay, hold on a second. ......Reiko, call the old man and tell him to send two of the <> golems over here. "Yes, Father." Thirty seconds later, craftsmen 151 and 152 appeared in the waiting room. "Saki, you can borrow these two during the exposition. They will be of great help to you if you transfer the necessary knowledge from now on. "That''s not a big help, Jin!Thank you!" Saki seems to be a little more energetic now that she''s had some Persica juice and her helpers have arrived. Saki seems to be a little more energetic now that she''s had Persica juice and helpers. "Is it easy to process? How about durability? What about the high price, which makes it impossible to use even the best materials? Many people visited and asked many questions in the afternoon, but with two <> golems, Saki''s workload was less than one-third of what it had been in the morning. After all, the <> Golems can hear questions from more than five people and answer them in order later. They were so capable that Jin would have said, "What kind of Prince Shotoku is this? "Thank you for your help, Craftsman Smith151, Craftsman Smith152. "No, I''m glad I could be of help." And so Saki managed to finish the first day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The second and subsequent days were filled with visitors, but thanks to Smith, Saki''s workload was small. Thanks to the craftsman (Smith), Saki''s workload was small. "How do I get it to foam?" "Well, I can''t disclose that at this time." What are the ingredients? A special liquid. I can''t disclose that either. Is the Maggi Polyethylene process also available at ......? No, we have a special plant for that. No, we have a special plant for that, but it is too big to bring here. There was some back and forth, but the event was generally well attended. "Saki, you have done a very good job. "Ah, Mr. Degas." The Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, Mr. Degaus, also came to the conference and praised Saki''s presentation. But... "You will not participate this year, Mr. Toa? Saki nodded regretfully. "Yes. My ...... father is traveling around now, saying that he has something he really wants to do." "Well, that''s just like Toa." Degauze smiled and walked away. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Saki sighed with relief in the waiting room as the third day went off without a hitch. The fourth and final day of the competition was the review and awards, so Saki''s work was now done. Whether or not she would receive an award was not so important to her. "Ahhhh, it''s over! "Good job, Saki!" Then came Goose. "Here''s something for you. It''s the special Persian juice from Horai Island." "Thank you for the ......, Goose." Saki, who had been exhausted, felt a little better after drinking the cold juice. "Did Goose come today?" "No, he was here yesterday afternoon. I saw Saki''s booth and it was crowded with people, so I decided not to come. Goose laughed, "I know what you do," he said. "So I tried to come here yesterday after the meeting was closed, but I was told that only authorized personnel were allowed to enter. "Oh, I didn''t know that. I almost thought you were a heartless man. Saki laughed jokingly. "Ha, sorry about that. I told him I was done for the day and that I would help him clean up, and he let me through. "So that''s how it is. That''s no wonder. So where''s all the stuff? "Gin loaned me a craftsman151, craftsman152 and he''s already done it. "Well, shall we go get something good to eat?" "Okay, great. Goose bought it, didn''t he? Saki took Goose''s arm and stood up. "I''m sure Saki has more money than you. ...... Well, never mind. I''m going to launch a little early. "I''ll treat you to dinner." And the two of them walked into the town of Trom in the gathering dusk. 1681 - - 45-30 Silent Story 77 Lardus No. 1 < clans. "Why must I cling to this northern land? With these words, he left the northern lands and crossed over to the continent of Loren, the home of the humans with whom he had once been in conflict. His low concentration of free magical element (ether) meant that he had to adjust his body little by little, but the speed at which he walked helped him to adjust moderately. He was able to move around the area of the country called the Kingdom of Klein without any problems, probably due to his original qualities. "Humans are fragile, aren''t they?" Lardus is blown away by a light blow and falls into a coma. He scoffed at the thought of such a human being posing a threat. In addition to fear, with their unique, albeit inexperienced, , the demons could easily take control of a single remote village. "...... I see, so this is how humans think." He soon gets tired of just rampaging and easily abandons the frontier village. He decided to go to a small town nearby and learn a little about the human way of thinking. "I didn''t know there was such a thing as a golem. "Did the Aether Stampede reduce the number of golems among humans? "Is the kingdom of Dinar now divided into smaller countries? The more I grasped the current situation, the more I began to think that humans were not to be feared. "What would be interesting to do?" Lardus has no direct hatred for humanity. <. But he is annoyed that they live and prosper in a land of abundance and pleasant climate. "You''ll have to be my plaything." That was his conclusion. * * * * In Laxham, there is a villa of Count Walter, a nobleman of the Kingdom of Klein. "You are a learned man. You are skilled. All right, I''ll treat you as my guest." "Thank you, sir." Lardus had succeeded in winning over Count Walter. This was a solid foundation.) Although an outlaw, Lardus is quite clever ...... and wily. Ostensibly, he plays the role of a clever little villain trying to win Count Walter''s favor, but behind the scenes, he plays with and toys with mankind. Such is the position Lardus has taken. "We can raise the rural tax rate a little more. We had a good harvest this year. "Let''s collect taxes equally from those who live in the towns," he said. "Let''s put a luxury tax on alcohol and some foodstuffs. By imposing the tax, he would slowly make the inhabitants suffer and increase his income to gain the favor of the Count. Lardus'' plan had worked. Yes, until that moment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "There is a skilled magecraftsman in a remote village called Kaina," came the news from the royal capital. This was the news from the capital. "Oh, a magecraftsman?" Lardus wanted to get rid of the magecraftsman, who had apparently defeated a powerful golem and repaired it to make it his ally. "It''s not good if he''s plotting treason. First, why don''t we forcefully take him in and make him do what we want him to do? "Yes, let''s do that." But that plan has completely failed. The Magi craftsman had played a trick on the Count''s men and disappeared into the mountains to the north. For this blunder, Count Walter was reprimanded by the king, and Lardus was also a bit affected. The king rebuked him because of you! I am ashamed of myself!" As he bowed his head reluctantly, Lardus thought that it was time for the Count to be of no more use to him. Lardus thought that the Count was no longer of any use to him. Then one day. A familiar face came to visit. "Hey, there you are, Lardus. It''s been a while. Bemi Aluche!Bemiaroushe! Dogmaraud! They were childhood friends. Bemiarouche was of the clan and Dogmaloud of the clan, and the three used to misbehave together. To tell the truth, Lardus had a crush on Bemiarouche, but for some reason she preferred Dogmaraud, and Lardus had somehow grown distant from the two. "You''re looking good," she said. "What are you doing here?" "Hmm, actually. ......" Lardus explained to them what had happened. "That''s just like you, Lardus. But some of the current chiefs want to make peace, don''t they?" "What?" Bemiaroushe''s words were not lost on Lardus. "It is rumored that the clans around Morura will soon be sending their daughters as envoys. "Well, that can''t be going well." Lardus was in no mood to believe in the good intentions of humans as far as Count Walter was concerned. "You''ve always been like that," he said. "You''ve always been like that..." "Why don''t you go easy on me? "Mind your own business. I''ll do what I want. "Okay." After a short conversation, Bemiarouche and Dogmaraud said they were uncomfortable here because the free ether was too low, and they took a transfer back north. "So you''ve made peace with the humans. What a nonsense." A few days later, Lardus broke the seal on a vial containing the virus of . "I''m going to find out if this stuff really works." It had been given to him by a mysterious man he had met when he was a boy in a strange old facility while exploring the northern part of the old demon territory with Bemiarouche and Dogmaloud. is a disease that is mild when there is a lot of magic, and severe when there is little. Therefore, it is not a threat to the demon tribe. However, Lardus did not want to seal the area near the clan''s territory, but he decided to try it here. The first time, he decided to try it out here. However, a miscalculation occurred. Someone had suspected that Lardus was the cause of the onset of <>. "<>! What the hell is this automata!Is it a monster?) The overloaded Eladrite shattered in front of the automata, which did not succumb to the gravity magic that was its forte, and withstood the overlay with the Eladrite. "Bah, you idiot!" Lardus, now in the position of being pursued, was cornered by the frail human-made automaton, and was finally knocked unconscious by its body slamming into him. 1682 - - 45-31 Silent Story 78 Lardus No. 2 "Ugh ...... where am I?" Lardus woke up. His body ached all over, and it was hard to breathe. "Well, ...... I''m ........." I remember the part where I was hit by that monstrous automaton. "...... you lost." Then a voice called out to me. "Oh, Lardus, you noticed." I turned my aching neck to see that it was Bemi Arusha. It was Dogmaloud who brought you here after the automaton had killed you. You should be a little grateful." "...... Oh, thank you. So where are we? "In the northern part of the Laurentian continent. ...... Well, ruins." Ruins? Yeah, that''s right. Then Dogmaraud came out. "I don''t know, but there was a people who died out there." "Hmm..." "This place has a high concentration of free ether, isn''t it comfortable?" Well, yes. There''s still a light ward in place. We''re still lightly warded. No one will be able to detect our magic here. Well, we''re pretty far away from the place, so even that automaton won''t be able to follow us. "...... I see." "I''ve been beaten up pretty bad. But neither I nor Bemiarouche can use healing magic. You''ll have a good rest." Well, I thank you. Thus, Lardus, wounded all over, went to the ruins in the northern part of the Laurentian continent to heal his body. The next day. "I''m going to take care of him. Bemiarouche and I can''t stay with you until your wounds are healed. "What?" Dogmaraud brought a woman. She was a skinny girl, fourteen or five years old. Her dark brown hair is shaggy and she wears worn-out clothes. Her brown eyes were lifeless and clearly under a slavery spell. "I kidnapped her from a village about 200 kilometers away. I''ve put <> on them so they can''t resist me. And we''ve taken plenty of food and water, so don''t worry." Hey, wait! Hm?Yeah, we didn''t find any good medicine, so give it up. That''s not what I meant. What, you still want something? No, I don''t, but ...... you want to leave me alone with him? "No?Would you rather have another slave? "No, not exactly, but ...... "Then be patient. I''ll see you later. Hey! Dogumaraud has shifted and vanished from the scene. All that remains is Lardus and the enchanted girl. "May I bring you your food? the girl asked in a flat voice characteristic of those under the influence of the spell of servitude. "Oh, yes, if you have it, bring it. "Yes." The girl left the room and returned shortly after with a tray of porridge and water. This is what Lardus has been eating every day for some time now. "Oh, okay. Leave it there. You can leave now." "Yes." He manages to move his right arm, so eating is not a problem. He also managed to use <>......<> to reduce his weight by a factor of 10, so that he was able to use the toilet by himself. The next day. The girl who brought the food wobbles and almost takes down the tray. "Oops!" She managed to prevent it from falling, but the cup fell over and water spilled out. "I''m sorry. I''ll get it back." The girl bows her head, takes only the cup, and leaves the room. Her steps were clearly strange. "Wait." "Yes." Lardus orders the girl to stop. "What''s wrong with you?" "......" The reply is silence. She cannot answer an ambiguous question. At that moment, Lardus finally realized. "You haven''t eaten, drank water, or slept, have you? "No, sir, I haven''t been instructed." "Oh my God. ......" Depending on the way the slavery spell is cast, the subject may suffer from a severe lack of judgment and autonomy. Dogmaraud, who would have cast a spell of servitude on her, apparently did not care much about that. Lardus lets out a sigh, "...... order. After I fetch you some water, you will get what you need to eat and sleep." "Yes, sir." The girl came back with water with unsteady steps and then left the room again. This time she did not come back. She must have eaten and rested. "......I''m going to clean up the mess? ......" Again, Lardus managed to clean up the mess by using to reduce his weight and the weight of the dishes to one-tenth. * * * * * * And one month has passed. The date is June 17. At last Lardus'' wounds have healed. "Ah, I finally managed to get myself moving again. d*mn you automaton! Lardus swears and leaves his old hiding place ....... He noticed a girl standing there. "Thanks for everything," she said. With these words, Lardus left the room. "Ah, it''s been a while since I''ve been outside. The sunlight and the wind made him feel refreshed. "Well, what are we going to do now?" Lardus took a few steps and suddenly thought about the girl. (She won''t get her will back unless we release her ......<>. In other words, he can''t live alone.) After thinking that, "What''s the matter with one or two humans? Lardus said aloud, but he could not move his legs forward. (......I guess I''ve grown attached to him while I''ve been taking care of him...) Lardus stood still for a while, but then turned around. "......It''s just like a pet, a pet." Lardus returned to his hiding place, making excuses to no one. The girl is standing exactly as she was when he left. "Hey." "Yes, ma''am." You come with me. "Yes, sir." With the girl still under the spell of servitude, Lardus disappeared into the distance. 1683 - - 45-32 Quiet 79 Markitas December 3, 3458. Date, a village at the eastern end of the region called Newer. It is a village overlooking the Dat River and is inhabited by about 20 people of the so-called <>. Jin and his team had previously traveled north to Naminthe, the town where <> was born, but they had stopped their search there, so they did not know about the settlement of Dathe, where barely a few people remained. Also, even the magic brain of Horai Island, <>, knew that there were still people living around there, but he did not dispatch <> to the area, but only observed from the sky. This was also because of the apparent rejection of the people of Battaghtaluf when Jin and his group had visited there before. We decided to leave it alone. In the village of Datte, the sound of a baby crying echoed. "Oh, a baby has been born! "There is a baby in this village, too. ...... "This means that the house of Markitas will be able to survive for one more generation. Dathe village, like the others, was a marginal settlement, and if things continued as they were, there was no doubt that it would disappear within a few decades. "Oh, my baby is healthy! Galvani, the head of the Malchitas family, looked at the new life with narrowed eyes. * * * * * * "Who is this Master Lardus after all?" Galvani muttered to himself as he stared at the baby in his daughter''s arms. "......" But his daughter, holding the baby in her arms, gives no answer. It was sad to see his daughter as a doll, but his grandson was cute. And although she is such a daughter, she takes good care of the child, so there is no problem for now. If there is a problem, it is the slow growth of the children. But Lardus, who visits about once a year, seems to take it for granted. And when the child named <> turned ten years old, Lardus performed some kind of magic. As a result, Golbert''s mother, who looked like a doll, came to her senses. However, even at ten years old, Golbert looked at most three or four years old. When Galvani mentioned this to her, she said, No, it''s okay. I''m sure he will be more than we can imagine. I have a feeling." "Why do you think that?" "It''s a mother''s intuition." Galvani sighed. In such an environment, the baby grows up fast. ....... But... In the year 3459, a natural cataclysm occurred, causing space to vibrate. But almost none of the inhabitants of Ars notice. Then, on April 1. A hole in the space around Mount Funisys, in the northern part of the Hariri Desert, opens up. It was only a few millionths of a microsecond in time, but during that time, this world was indeed connected to the other world. There was a spirit life form. For them, even a millionth of a microsecond is only a few minutes. This is because there is nothing to <>, nothing to <>. A world where nothing changes, it is as if time has stood still. One of the mental organisms, weary of such a situation, looked into the world of Ars through a hole. To be more precise, it stuck a part of itself into Ars and tried to see what was going on. (This is a great ......!) The world of Ars was a flood of information. Compared to their dead world, the world of Ars is a treasure chest full of life and ever-changing matter. Unlike their world, where there was nothing to compare and the flow of time was vague, there was a clear flow of . And this had an unexpected result for . The mental life form, which should have transcended the concept of time, came under the influence of Ars'' time. In a time shorter than a moment, even <> could not retrieve the protruding part, and the two worlds broke contact forever. (......! *@@;+~("''}" = {......) A part of the spiritual life form was detached and drifted to the world of Ars. He realizes that he will not be able to exist for long if he stays in Ars, the material world, because he has more intelligence than an ordinary human being, even if he is only a part of it. (......$?We can''t stay like this! (Translated* + not good ......) Some of the spirit life forms drifted around the world of Ars and managed to find a place to stay. And ....... (Oh @ here is +; cozy. (Is this a juvenile organism from ......?) A part of the spirit life form decided to inhabit a baby it happened to find. The baby was covered with a much thicker free-magic element (ether) and sub-free-magic element (ether) than the other life forms around it. (We have to stay here for a while and wait for an opportunity.) Mental life forms are basically immortal. It was supposed to be so, even if it is only a part of them. But . (...... absorbed?) A baby becomes a toddler...... after four years in the world of Ars, some of the spirit life forms found themselves becoming less and less present. (Hmmm, this larval body is absorbing the I. ...... interesting) Since the idea of life and death had been transcended, the part of the spirit life form was not surprised and panicked. Rather, I feel joy in knowing that I will not have to spend eternity. (I don''t think my knowledge will be useful in this world, but ...... well, that''s okay.) A further part of the knowledge possessed by a part of the spirit organism is absorbed by the larva. At the same time, a part of the way of thinking and personality was also absorbed. And eventually, the part of the mental organism disappeared without a trace, leaving only the infant organism ....... * * * * Golbert, what are you doing? "Fixing the golem." The mother''s question was answered by a toddler who looked about five years old. But he is fifteen. "...... You don''t have to do that. No matter what you do, the collapse of civilization is inevitable. But we can delay it, can''t we? Golbert, what is the point of delaying the collapse?After all, we all end up in the same place. Then it is better not to waste time." The elder of the Dathe village laughed at Golbert''s words. Newell had long since become the land of the fallen, all of whom were trapped in a kind of madness that made them hate the world, even while they were trying to make the world seem better. Even in Dat village, most of the people are obsessed with nihilism, and only a few of the Markitas family do not approve of it. Golbert could not have grown up in such an environment and became a somewhat condescending character. In addition, Golbert''s growth was unusually slow. Even though he was 20 years old, he looked like a toddler, which made the other members of the family creepy and they kept him away from them. This may also have contributed to the distortion of Golbert''s character. When he turned 50, his mother was already gone. At that time he looked about 10 years old, and although people around him looked at him weird, he realized that he probably had a longer life span than others. He used this time to absorb knowledge. He had read almost all the books in the village and understood the structure of all the broken tools, machines, magical tools, and magi-machines. However, even this knowledge could not cure his distorted personality. For a time, his father took him away from the village. When he returned, he had accumulated more knowledge and had become more isolated. He was more and more solitary. I''m leaving this village. "......" He declared this in the year 3536. He was 78 years old. He no longer had a biological mother or grandparents, only an elderly cousin. Therefore, there was no one to stop him, and he never returned to the village where he was born. At that time, there was a man of mature age who came to pick him up, and he was said to look a lot like Lardus. Eighty-seven years later, the village of Dathe was uninhabited. 1684 - - 45-33 Malicker No. 2 "Here, thus ......" <, Marikka was making automata. She works for , who manages the above-ground facilities on Onogoro Island. <> was an elderly butler type, but the one she is making now is a lady-in-waiting type. It is a secret only for Marikka that they are modeled after Lao Tzu and the five-colored golem-maid, respectively. "It''s done. ......" Marikka sighs as she builds the first one. "How is it?" Just then Zion appeared. "Oh, Mr. Zion. It''s just finished. "Heh. ...... this is it?Wow, it''s beautiful. "Is it?......I''m a little happy to hear you say so, Mr. Zion." Zion gazed at the automata lying on the floor, "Maricka has improved her skills, hasn''t she? Marikka is getting better," he said with deep emotion. "Is that so?" "Yes. I''m not flattering you. Compared to the time when I first met Jin,...... the year before,...... the year before last, you''ve come a long way." "I can''t believe it''s been that long." "It was a big deal back then. ......" Sion looks a little distant. She went to the Laurent continent with her follower Lucas, and when she ran out of strength, she was rescued in the village of Kaina, where she met Jin. After that, she rescued her captured sister Istaris and liberated all the clans through battles against the <>. In the process, the former <> had its population further reduced due to the localized <> caused by the <>. "Hey, now that we''ve made this livable, it wouldn''t be a bad idea to have people live here if they want, right?" "Oh, yes." < who want to live here, there''s no problem," Marikka said. "We are on the Tropic of Cancer, so the climate is warmer here. In case you were wondering, 12 young people under the age of 100 (or 20 in human terms) wanted to try living there, They got bored after a month or so and returned to their clans. According to them, the situation is bleak and empty><<<>. "Maybe it''s difficult to change your living environment so suddenly," said Zion. said Zion. It seems that the northerners were more conservative than expected. It may also be because of Jin that their living environment has been improved and they have become more comfortable. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <>, <>, and <> were also doing their best. They had recently received a basic course on Golem automata directly from Jin, together with Marikka. "......Marikka, I''m having trouble here. ......" "Oh, it will be easier if you do this first. "I see, I understand." "Hey, hey, what about here? "There''s a little trick to it. ......" "Wow, you''re good!" "Excuse me, Marikka, can you show me this part?" "Yes, that''s the part, I think, in my own way, it would be easier to build it this way. "Yes, that''s true. Marikka is guiding them well as a senior. Zion looked at her with admiration. * * * * * * "Mr. Sion, is Rorona here?" One day, Marikka came to Sion''s house and said something like that. Yes, she is here. ......Mom!Marikka wants to see you." Lorona came out of the back of the house and greeted Marikka with the same soft smile she always had. "So, what''s the matter today?" "Yes. I''m doing some maintenance work on Onogoro Island, and something just occurred to me. What does this have to do with me? Lorona tilted her head. "Well, sir, I''m thinking of building a field on <> that will be self-sufficient." "Yes." "We have plenty of land, so we''re going to use some ...... of the crops we harvest, no, most of them here." "Well, that''s great!It''s going to make our food more plentiful." The climate of the Nordic Federation is subarctic to frigid, while Onogoro Island is subtropical. Naturally, the suitable crops are different. "So, I would like to ask for your guidance on how to cultivate the fields at ......." Lorona knows a lot about agriculture. Or rather, she is the first person in charge. "Okay. Leave it to me. Well, first we need to grow some rice." Rice is originally a southern plant. "Tea trees are also good." In this case <...... the tea tree cannot be grown in cold regions, so all tea consumed in the Nordic Federation was imported. "I want to grow natural rubber trees, Persica, Citran and other fruit trees..." Lorona''s vision grew and grew. "Mother, let''s ask Jin to help us with that. "Yes, I''m sure he will help us. Zion was convinced that Jin would definitely cooperate in this kind of future-oriented development. * * * * * * "If that''s the case, I''ll be happy to cooperate with you. "Oh, thank you very much!" Marikka chewed and thanked him. "I''ll add the know-how of cultivating such southern plants to ." < is a golem specialized for agriculture that Jin made and gave to the northerners. "Thank you, Jin-sama." Rorona also thanked him. "I think I saw some bamboo shoots on Onogoro Island when I was there before. He had seen a plant that looked just like moso bamboo. "Oh, yes, I''m sure I''ve seen it there. "Well, I''m glad to hear that." Jin explained how to eat them, thinking that bamboo shoots would also be a good product. Thus, along with the development of <>, the Nordic Federation became richer. 1685 - - 45-34 Elena No. 2 > "Hmmm, this is ......" In Horai Island, Jin was pondering for a while in front of the picture shown to him by the old man. The structure of the golem created by Donald. It looked very similar to the Golem of the <> that Jin had seen 400 years later. Jin told the old man about it. < "That''s right." As for Jin, I can''t help but think that the buds of what Horai Island will have to deal with 400 years from now will come from such a place as ....... I think I should warn Elena now ......, but perhaps the corrective power of time will make it futile, I think. "But there are signs of a < in this day and age, aren''t there?" The old man reacted regretfully. "I wonder if Golbert Malkitas has already been born?" I can''t say for sure, since I don''t know the exact year of his birth, but after 400 years and considering the information I have heard, he should have been born about now. "If we educate them properly, will the future be changed? Or will it be unchangeable?" <>. The hypothesis is that another person will fill the role of Golbert Malkitas. Since there is no way to know and control the behavior of the whole human race, we have to admit that this is a possibility. "Hey, old man, what would you do if a man who calls himself Golbert Malkitas comes to ?" "I know, right? ......" I don''t know if this argument is sterile or not. "Is this discussion sterile?" "I see." <> "Yes, try it." . "We received a message from Horai Island congratulating us on the relocation of our headquarters." On June 29, 3460, one day ahead of schedule, the Nostalgia Party Nostalgia had moved its headquarters and its functions to the island of Elektra. "I''m so happy." "Oh, and you also received a message for Elena." Oh, what is it? What is it? Jules, the party leader, handed her not a piece of leather paper but a small magi crystal. "So I can read it." Elena''s magic waveform is the same as that of the Horai Islanders since Jin has repaired it, so there is no problem. "<>......fun......" Jules was concerned about Elena''s serious face and called out to her. "Elena, what did you inform me?" "...... Jules, it''s nothing, don''t worry about it." "Is that so?" "Yeah. Just some precautions to take as the organization grows and a vision of what we want to do in the future." Jules is relieved to hear that. "That''s true. As an organization grows, it is difficult to keep an eye on the details. The current Nostalgia Party is smaller than the old Unification Party. Even so, the communication to the end had already begun to be lost. "We must also establish a means of communication with each branch. "Yes, that''s right." While answering Jules, Elena was thinking about something else. (The bigger the organization gets, the easier it is to cause internal divisions. ...... It''s true, but I wonder why the old man is telling me this now. ......) Elena had to tilt her head, not knowing that the < would be born sooner or later. (...... should we speed up its establishment? But we mustn''t be hasty.) The World Guard is currently in the process of being constituted at the <>, and its members are being trained. It will be officially born in a couple of years. For now, a deus ex machina has been commissioned by the and is acting in its place. "There is a lot to do. I have plenty of time, but Jules, and Donald are ......." "Hmm?What about me? Jules asked, his voice carrying. "No, it''s nothing, my lord. Elena answered with a smile, but inside she felt a little sad. ....... I wonder how many more years I can call you that.) As an automata, I have a long, if not infinite, life span. But human life is short. Is it selfish of me to want to be with you forever?) Elena decided to have a long talk with the old man about this. She decided to have a long talk with the old man, who might have the same problems as hers. ....... * * * * * * The opportunity came surprisingly quickly. No, as a matter of fact, the old man had been hoping to have a talk with Elena. This was written in the Magi Crystal for communication. "No, it is I who wanted to speak with you. The two bodies, which were created by Jin and deeply connected to their master, though in completely different forms and roles, began a dialogue without reserve. > "Yes. Is it strange for an automaton to have such feelings?" . The old man immediately answered in a definite tone of voice. < "That''s right." Elena, too, has not forgotten her mother who first created her, albeit as <>. "...... can''t we do something about it?" <> "Is it?" <<> level 10 to copy your knowledge, memories, thoughts ...... all of them>>. "It''s ......." < "Yes. It''s just for our own self-gratification. <> The old man denied his own idea. "What is it?" "What?" This is only self-satisfaction, the old man said. "The <> has the same knowledge and experience as you, but it is a given, and the original history of the <> begins after it is activated. Maybe that''s what I am now, Elena thought. <> The old man said to Elena a little sadly. "That''s true. ......" But Elena had something on her mind. 1686 - - 45-35 Ernst No. 2 Ernst Shawlo, the next Emperor of the Shawlo Empire. He is currently on a tour of the countryside. This is amazing! "Yes, Your Highness, it''s a thread made by a recently discovered subterranean spider. Tenkunhan Therese answered. This is the town of Bundalot in the Marquisate of Theoderic. A factory has been built there to process the threads of the ground spider, and Tengkhunhan is the technical director of the factory. Grand spiders were thought to be extinct, but they still live in the mountains of Mitsuho. We have bred them and imported them to our country. Do you have farms in our country? Yes. We are still only running a trial operation, but it is located on the mountainside of Mount Baksa. Baksa is a mountain further west of Bundarlot, also in the territory of the Marquis of Theoderic. "I''d like to see that, too. ......" But, as expected, that hope is unlikely to be fulfilled. "Your Highness, I''m sorry, but I can''t do that." "Hmm, I see... ......" After that, I was shown the products made from the threads of the ground spider, namely ground spider resin (GSP) and ground spider silk (GSS ), made from the threads of ground spiders (ground spiders). "Various products are made from these." The GSS is used not only for high quality clothing but also for knight''s coats, he explained. "It is not only strong but also flame-resistant. Moreover, it does not dissolve in the dissolving liquid that demons spit out. "Wow, it''s an amazing material." It is an excellent material that can withstand various acids, alkaline solutions, hydrogen fluoride, and gigantopods. We can even make cups like this. "Wow!" This is a GSP (ground spider resin). "The cost still has to come down before it can be widely used. * * * * Shoro is a large country. The climate varies from region to region. One day we went to Hatata, a town on the dry road (Trockenbahn). It is a dry area with little rainfall. You see how short the eaves are?That''s because there is not much rain. "Oh, that''s why!" For His Highness Ernst, everything he sees and hears is unusual. "Ah, because of the scarcity of rain, water is precious in this town, isn''t it?" "Yes. Your Highness, please take a good look around. We are not just reading or hearing stories, but seeing with our own eyes, hearing with our own ears, and touching with our own hands. The wise Ernst had realized over the past few days that this was such a precious opportunity. "I''m staying at this inn today." The group entered the two-story inn, a rarity in the town. "Welcome! The innkeeper brings us a rinse. It''s a service unique to this dusty region. "I see." The girl went back to get the rinse once more, because it was not enough for everyone. As Ernst watched, she was pumping water from a pump in the courtyard of the inn. "What is that?" "That is a deep well pump that was installed by Reinhard Randall and Jin Nido a long time ago," the innkeeper explained. The innkeeper explained. "Heh. ......" Ernst felt even more respect for Jin, who was able to create such tools. And he deeply wonders what it means to improve the lives of the people. * * * * * * * * * One day, Ernst and his group visited Ismar, the gateway to the west. "Wow, it''s very lively! "It''s been growing since diplomatic relations with Mitskho were formalized about a year ago. "Your aunt is very impressive. ......" Ernst understands that this is the achievement of his aunt, the female emperor. "That''s great. What about me? ......" These thoughts are the groundwork for the next emperor, much to the chagrin of the man himself. Unaware of Ernst''s thoughts, the town of Ismar is bustling with activity. * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...... Are you tired, Your Highness? Emilia Float von Galarroa, a member of the Kingsguard, is concerned about Ernst, who sighs. "Yes, a little bit. ......" The next destination is Banne, but on the way there is the village of Kaltz. "Kaltz village?Uh, the estate of Reinhard Randall? Ernst had a good idea of the route he was going to take this time. "Yes, they say there is a hot spring there. "Hot springs? ...... hot water gushing from underground, right? Yes. It was only about a month ago. "Well, ...... I''m looking forward to it." "Your Highness, welcome. My name is Reinhard Randall von Adamas, lord of this village. "My name is Reinhard Randall von Adamas and I am the lord of this village. The head chamberlain gently quieted Reinhardt as he greeted Ernst with the most respectful bow. "Your Highness would like to experience the recently opened spa facilities. "Yes, I would be honored. Reinhardt himself guided us to the newly built spa. "Well, it''s a very modest building. "Yes, the welfare of the residents is our primary objective, so we have decided to put practicality first, without putting on airs and graces. I see. That''s very thoughtful of you. I see. That''s a good mindset. And ....... "Wow, ......, that feels good. ......" Ernst was alone in the bathtub, stretching his arms and legs. No, he is escorted by Emilia, who is wearing a thin bathing suit. "Hey Emilia, why don''t you join us? "No, Your Highness, I''ll stay here as your escort. "Yes?...... when it feels so good. Ernst looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. "......I think they call these facilities ......<>. It would be nice if we could build many of them and help the people of the territory. ......" "Gyoi." Ernst''s visit was going to be a fruitful one, as these days repeated themselves. 1687 - - 45-36 gin No. 4 "What does Hannah think?" "Well, it''s hard to say." Hannah and Jin are having a hard time deciding. The theme of the exhibition is . Jin, who has experienced the world 400 years in the future, was trying to figure out what time is based on his experience. "It is dangerous to think that the old man will eventually develop the means to go back in time if we do nothing now," he said. "Yes, I understand that." Hannah''s imagination is so flexible that Jin thinks he is out of his depth. "According to a theory, the future will have many branches..." "Well, we can''t verify that if we can''t go back and forth between these divergent futures, can we?" "That''s right." Jin thinks that what he is doing now will have a great impact on the world 400 years from now. But for now, it seems that Jin cannot try to change what he sees, hears, and experiences 400 years from now. On the other hand, for example, a large ship which will be the source of was about to be built in the Kingdom of Elias. Jin himself is a participant in the project, so there is no doubt about it. Jin, however, only became aware of this when the ship was nearing completion. (This is an inevitable path, isn''t it? ......) Jin sighs in his heart. Hannah looked at him and said, "Onii-chan! "Is there something on your mind, Onii-chan?" "What do you mean? "Because you look like you just sighed." Jin was amazed at Hannah''s insight. "Well, actually... ......" Since there was nothing to hide, Jin explained what he thought. Since this was originally a discussion on the time paradox, I thought it would be a good idea to have a discussion on the time paradoxes. "That means, on the other hand, you can do something for my future granddaughter, right?" "Wait, wait. What do you mean? "Well, I think that you can do anything that your present one doesn''t know about.I think." "What?" Jin, who still didn''t quite understand what Hanna was trying to say, could only make a dubious face. "I mean... ......" < Jin didn''t experience something <400 years later>, it''s possible to do it in this time period, Hanna said. "In that case, it would have no effect on me who went to <<400 years later>>!" "Yes, that''s it." Finally, Jin understood what Hanna meant. "I think there are a lot of things I can do for your descendants, for example, rather than for you, who went to <<400 years later>>, don''t you?" "So that''s what you mean ......!" Finally, Jin understood what Hanna was trying to say. "Well, we don''t have to be too conscious of what we can do for the future, do we? Jin realized that his consciousness seemed to have been tied up by the fact that he had unintentionally peeked into the future 400 years later. (Perhaps Zion and the others knew this and did not dare to inform me of the details of their descendants.) After that, they exchanged various opinions, but there was no way they could reach a conclusion after half a day or so of discussion. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * While eating zarusoba for lunch in the dining room of Nido Castle, Jin listened to Hanna''s story. "I''ve started some things at ...... to try to increase the amount of we have in the hills behind the castle! "That''s nice." Cultivating yams seems to be a difficult task, but with Hannah in Kaina village, it seems as if she can handle it. "And the day before yesterday, was it?Saki-san was collecting ice-gos. I think he''s going to make dye from them." "Ice go?" "Yes. They are inedible nuts, but when you crush them, they give off a bluish-purple juice. I see... it could be used as a dye. "I think there are more of these trees around Toka Village than here. Hearing this, Jin thought that if the fruits of the <> could be used as a dye, it would be a good idea to make Toka village the production center of the dye. "Also, the fields of wasabi have expanded a lot." "Oh, I see." Saki found this wasabi in the mountains in the northern part of the Shoro Kingdom. Since it prefers cold waters, it had begun to be cultivated in the village of Kaina. So far, it is only available in the Klein Kingdom, but it seems to be selling well, so I''m thinking of increasing the acreage. "Also, ......, Kana-san just had a baby." "Oh, yes." Kana is an orphan from the village of Lalio, in the Lebus region of the Kingdom of Selroa. She was being cared for in the village of Kaina, but now that she has become Rick''s wife, the couple is in charge of the ranch. The village of Kaina was becoming more and more crowded with children''s voices as new babies were born every year. "You guys are doing a great job, aren''t you? Seema, also an orphan from Lalio, became Jeff''s wife. Berta became Srey''s wife, and a new couple was born. Rita, Sonia, Kune, Lerna, and others seem to be getting along well with the young people of the village. "I''m sure there will be another couple this year! Hannah smiled happily. "By the way, where is Martha? Hannah''s grandmother Martha is 61 years old this year. She is still hale and hearty. "My grandmother teaches handicrafts to people from Lalio," she says. "I see." Martha is very caring. Martha must be very good at teaching the younger generation. "How are things at school?" The old man and Gengshen also grasped this kind of information and reported it to Jin, but the opinion from the villagers'' viewpoint is very valuable. Jin thinks that it is always dangerous to believe in one-way information. "Yes, everything is going well. Kurt and Jesse, who graduated, are helping out. "Well, that''s good to hear." "Oh, and Eric''s store seems to be doing well. He''s shipping the crops and products from Kaina Village to King''s Landing and buying a variety of goods in return. "Clothing, shoes, and books, right? Yes, that''s right. We should get more design-related commodities and books from other sources than from Jin. "Also, Ru-chan has turned 14 and is helping Dr. Sally. He''s an apprentice healer." "Oh, that''s good. I''m glad you and the village head and Dr. Sallee seem to be getting along well. "Yes, they are." Hannah smiled brightly. "So things are going well in the village of Kaina. "Yes. Since your arrival, the village has become more and more livable. "I''m glad to hear you say so. I was saved by the village of Kaina, too. Jin squinted his eyes under the blue sky, knowing that the village of Kaina would continue to get better and better. 1688 - - 45-37 Jen "Ah, peace is so nice!" Jin was relaxing with the twins in the meadow in the village of Kaina. "Well, this is also your work." Of course, Erza was with him. "Otoo-chan!" "Otoshan!" The twins were playing, running around on the soft summer grass, Reiko following behind to protect them. "Oh, Jin-sama!" Then came Barrow, the herdsman, chasing after Kashmir. He was from the Shoro region and had been working in the Kingdom of Selroa, but when his master was politically ousted, he found himself on the street. He and his childhood friend and now wife, Bele, were picked up by Jin and became servants in the Nido household until now. Cashmirs are herbivores native to the former Leonard Kingdom, in essence cashmere goats. In recent years, they have been kept in the village of Kaina. The village of Kayna is close to the former Leonard''s Kingdom, and the climate is similar to that of the former Leonard''s Kingdom, making it easy to raise them. The goats are used to make the woolen fabric, which is also called in this world, but since the necessary amount of hair is only 150-25 The profitable production is still a matter of trial and error, since only 150 to 25 grams of wool is required from each cow. It takes about four goats to make one sweater, and they only have six goats. "Hey, Barrow. Is Behr here? "Yes, I''m spinning cashmere into yarn at home. The combing of the cashmere hair is done with the loose hairs that have been collected. On modern earth, cashmere goats with < in their hair are killed before they reach the age of two, and only the best are bred (50-80% of young goats are culled). (It is said that 50-80% of young goats are culled), but the Cashmere goats here are different. All six goats were pure white and had long hair, probably due to the good environment and grass. However, the hair used for cashmere is not the conspicuous bristles, but the fluffy soft hair growing at the base of the bristles. In short, it is similar to the difference between feathers and down in feathers. With Jin''s support in engineering magic, there will be no waste and the industry may be more friendly to cashmills ....... Cashmir breeding and cashmere industry was still in its infancy. "Hey, honey!" Then came Hannah. "Mr. Eckert of the Tecles Trading Company is here! "Oh, the chairman of the board himself? Mr. Eckardt Tecles was formerly a wealthy merchant in the Kingdom of Celuloa, but he had been exiled to the Shoro Kingdom due to the oppressive rule of Richard Valois de Celuloa, the father of the current king, and had founded the Tecles Trading Company there. He is a man who is occasionally called upon by the palace to give advice on economic policy. "Hello, Mr. Jin, it''s been a while. Mr. Eckert is looking well, isn''t he? "Ha ha, thanks to you, my days are full of life. Jin and I have known each other for quite a long time, and we talk to each other easily. "Today, I have a business meeting with Eric''s company. I thought it would be nice if Jin-san was there, so I came here and he fit the bill perfectly. I was lucky," said Eckert in a good mood. "By the way, the other day, His Imperial Highness Ernst visited the GSP factory. "I heard so. I heard so. "Haha, you have a hell of an ear, don''t you, Jin-san?" He himself is also a man who values information and is using the that Tenkunhan brought back from Mitsuho to run a kind of in Morse code-like operation. This allows information to be transmitted to faraway places. Jin, or rather <>, will have this studied. "Ah, Mr. Eckardt, is it this way?" Then Eric came in. His wife Barbara was with him. "Mr. Eric, I''m sorry to bother you. Mr. Jin, I will leave you now. Eckardt bowed to Jin and left with Eric. But Barbara remained. "Barbara, what''s wrong?" Barbara, who is asked by Elsa, turns her cheeks a little and asks her. "......" Elsa nodded, "<>" She cast a spell of examination on Barbara. Then she said. She told Barbara, "...... congratulations. She told Barbara " is 2 months old, just a little while ago". "......!I knew it!Thank you, Elsa!" "Yes." Barbara smiled and walked away quickly after Eric. "The village of Kaina will be lively again." Elsa muttered as she watched Barbara''s back. "That''s right!" Hannah agreed. It''s nice to see the number of young children increasing these days. "Okacha." "Okaacha!" Then Chloe and Mio waddled over. Reiko was with them. Just then the bell of Nido Castle struck noon. "Shall we go home for lunch?" "Yes." Jin picked up Chloe and Erza picked up Mio. "Onii-chan, Chloe and Mio both started talking very early, didn''t they? And they''ve already started walking, I think it''s great. Maybe it''s because they''re your children. Hannah said as she looked at Yu and Mio. It is true that Jin is a little more precocious than the other children in Kaina Village, but I think that it is probably just a matter of personal differences. , and since it is said that children grow up to be "a great talent and a late bloomer", Jin has decided not to worry too much about it. On his way home, he came across the village headman, Giebeck, and Sally walking side by side. They were accompanied by their adopted daughter, Ru, who was now 14 years old. They were going from house to house, talking about medical examinations and taxes. "Hey Jin, Elsa." "Hello, Dr. Sallee. "Hello, Mr. Mayor. Hello, Lu. Hello. They greet each other. Erza took half a step toward them, but stopped what she was doing. "What are you doing?" Jin asked suspiciously, and Elsa answered in a whisper. I was going to tell you that Barbara had a baby, but I thought it would be better to hear it from her own mouth.) "Yeah, that''s true." Jin laughed and agreed. "Welcome back, Jin-san, Elsa, Hannah-chan. They are all ready for you. When I returned home, I was greeted by Meane. Today''s lunch was sandwiches. It was a sandwich with thinly sliced ham, vegetables, egg salad, etc., and had a lot of different flavors. It was a perfect summer lunch with a glass of cold lemon squash. The twins are weaned on soft-boiled porridge, apple and peach paste. "It''s so peaceful. These are the words that come out of my mouth. It is a little painful to think of the world 400 years from now, but it is also true that there is nothing Jin can do about it now. Then, I have no choice but to do what I can do now as best I can. "Maybe a support magic machine that will wake up after I come back here..." Such an idea suddenly occurred to me. At that moment, Chloe, who was sitting on my lap, turned around. "Otoo-chan!" "Oh, Chloe, let''s clean up around your mouth..." I wiped the area around his mouth covered with paste, and Yuu started to make fun of me. "Okasyan!" Mio, on the other hand, clutches at Erza''s breast, not wanting to be weaned yet. (Aren''t boys usually weaned later than girls?) (I thought boys usually weaned later than girls.) I am not that knowledgeable about this, nor have I seen statistics. It is just a myth that I have heard. "Life is the accumulation of living life to the fullest in the present moment, isn''t it? Erza agrees with Jin who unintentionally mutters to himself. I think so. I want to live my life without regrets." "That''s kind of philosophical, isn''t it?" Hannah laughs. Jin-san is always working very hard. Her mother-in-law Meane laughed and said. "Your father is in good hands with us. You have nothing to worry about. Reiko said proudly. "Thank you, everyone." Jin looked up at the sky through the window. "Shall we go to Milowina''s tomorrow?" "Yes. ...... is she in the moon right now?" She is now so strong that she spends half the month in her house in Yunie and the other half touring around on Ars. "It''s so peaceful." This is the third time today that Jin has said this. White clouds were floating in the blue sky, and the village of Kaina was about to welcome the full-blown summer. 1689 - - 45-38 Silent 80 Gorbert I remember when I was a kid. My mother was like a doll. She said the minimum ...... or less, and moved slowly. But she was kind to me, to Golbert. That changed one day. No, not just one time. The day the man who claimed to be my father arrived. < From that moment on, my mother became a very emotional person. She spoke normally and acted like a stranger. The man who called himself my father ......, whose name was <>, looked at me and seemed to smile a little. My father Lardus soon disappeared from Dathe village where we, mother and son, lived, but he appeared once a year or so after that. As for me, nothing has changed. No, I was happy because my mother had become normal. One time I had a feeling that there was someone else''s consciousness inside me. "Who are you?" I asked, but there was no answer. After a month, I didn''t care, and after a year, the consciousness seemed to have gone away. Instead, his mind seemed to suddenly become clearer. In fact, he could understand most of what he read. A toddler, who was 15 years old and looked like he was 5 years old, said to him. "You are slow growing because you have my blood in your veins. My father said to me one day when I visited him. Indeed, my father looked young, while my mother had aged reasonably well. "Childhood is about three times longer than that of a normal human being. Once they are fully grown, they should live four to five times longer. My father''s information was gospel to me. I used every spare moment I had to accumulate knowledge. There were many old books in the village, and I read them from cover to cover, making the knowledge my own. On the other hand, he tried to repair golems and magic tools in the village as a practical exercise. "This is very useful, thank you, Golbert. My mother was pleased, "......What''s the point of delaying the collapse?After all, we all end up in the same place. So it''s better not to waste time." The chief of the village was negative about what I was going to do. But I didn''t care about him, I could examine the golem and fix it ...... to create a new one. The people of the community began to look at me with half awe and half disgust. I realized that I was special. Long life. Memory. Comprehension. And by the time I looked the equivalent of a 10-year-old, I had the strength of two adults. "You are my son after all." My father Lardus, whom I saw every year, told me this. And little by little, he began to teach me things that I did not even know. One time he taught me the magic of <>...... gravity. This was wonderful. If I could handle it right, I might even be able to fly. I was intoxicated by the feeling of almightiness. One time he also taught me <......<>. This was a spell that had been cast on my mother, which had made her react like a puppet. My father lifted the spell, and my mother returned to normal. I have never respected my father more than at that time. I have never respected my father as much as I did at that time. For the next month, my father took me around the northern countries. There were people living outside the region called Newer. In a place called Husor, I don''t know if it was a country or a region, my father left me there. "I have nothing more to teach you," he said. "I have nothing more to teach you. What kind of parents would do that? In Fusor, I earned my daily bread by fixing golems and magic tools. This was also a way to increase my knowledge and improve my skills. In the process, I became convinced that I was one of the most skilled in the world. With this technology, I realized that I could turn the tables on the insanity of Datte village. I was delighted as I traveled from one settlement to another: Machiha, Zeoko, Rekai, and Mehra. Wherever I went, my knowledge and skills were the best, and I was appreciated and respected for repairing the malfunctioning magic tools. But the town of Nade was different. < was respected. And also a man called <>. He had repaired the relic of <> with great skill. He showed me the machine, and it was indeed a precision machine. I was interested in this Nidoujin. At the same time, I felt a sense of rivalry with him. As I recall, this was the same person who was called in most of Newell, and was hated and scorned. I wondered if the evaluation of a person changes as his position changes. I wonder if the evaluation changes as one''s position changes. I managed to return to my hometown, Date, but I was not comfortable there, so I decided to go on a trip. I had no desire to stay in a village. Slowly moving from town to town, I learned more and more. It took some effort to move to a country like Mitsho, but it was not a problem for my physical strength. And in Mitsuho, is respected as a , along with . Indeed, Mitsuho''s life is aided by magical tools and magi-machines. Surprisingly, there are few people who can use magic. They have to rely on tools and machines. And it is only natural that they respect engineers. * * * * * * I left Shoro once, traveled around the world, and came back to Shoro again, and before I knew it, I was over 160 years old. But I look about 30 years old. It seems that my father''s statement about my life span being five times longer is not a lie. However, this long life span has left me with one regret. I had been accumulating knowledge while making detours, and before I knew it, had died. I bit my navel. I wondered for what purpose I had been growing my rivalry and knowledge. I turned my attention to the <>, which was built on the floating island of <> under the leadership of <>. There, I would be able to find out just how much of a person <> was. I was told that it was very difficult to enter the <>, but with my abilities, it was easy. I became a resident of <> and was able to enter the <>. I will say this. Let''s be clear. I was a frog in the well. What they teach in the <> is on a different level from what most people are taught. It was too different. I studied there for 3 years, but the more I learned, the more I realized how great <> is. It was the first setback I had ever known. One day, I had a chance to see the structure of a golem that <> had built. It was just time for maintenance. I was astonished. The human-like structure, the strength that seemed to be over specs, the multiple layers of security measures. The golems I had seen so far seemed like children''s tricks. For the next few days, I shut myself away. I had a terrible headache. I blacked out and went to ....... * * * * By the time I came to, it had been four days since I had fallen asleep. I was hungry, but my head was strangely clear. I remembered something I had forgotten. Or perhaps, what I had kept in the depths of my psyche came to the surface. It seems that in my previous life I was a of some sort. I did everything by the power of will, without relying on matter. < "I see, so this is how it is..." The words come out of my mouth involuntarily. A world that does not rely on matter. A world where anything is possible with the mind alone. We must recreate it on this planet. To do this, we must destroy civilization and life once and for all. The spirit, freed from the yoke of the body, will be able to reach higher. For the happiness of all life, all life must be destroyed. That is my goal from now on. To achieve this, I will use whatever I can. I don''t like it, but magic tools, magic machines... Let the salvation begin. 1690 - - 46-01 Start In an underground facility, a man wakes up. His name is , also known as . "...... what year is it?" Yes, October 19, 3899. A support golem nearby answered. I thought I set the date to the 15th, but there is a slight error. Guillermo Marchitas stretched out, rolled his shoulders, and relaxed his stiff body. "Well, how are we doing on the attack on Horai Island?" Guillermo Markitas turned on the magic screen while muttering to himself. "What? The sea where he thought Horai Island was located was nothing but a calm sea, and there was no sign of the fleet that was supposed to be encircling the island. "What the hell happened?" I ask the support golem. "On September 13th of this year, the entire fleet was sunk." "What? Irritated by the golem''s nonchalant answer, Guillermo Markitas asked for a more detailed explanation. "Ummm ...... what in the world happened to Horai Island! Guillermo couldn''t believe that Horai Island, which had been on the defensive and not showing any reaction, had turned around and started to fight back. "Don''t tell me that a <> has appeared?" There was only one possible explanation, the Lord of Horai Island, who had been absent, might have appeared, Guillermo guessed. "But who in the world ......?But still, it''s a d*mnation. Guillermo thought that he himself should be the new master of Horai Island. That would be the quickest way to < this world. However, while he was , someone had taken Horai Island for themselves. That was unforgivable. How well is your force prepared? Yes. We have 21 battleships, 50 flying ships, and 409 battle golems. I see. That''s a big increase. Guillermo Marchitas is the head of the League of Magic, but he has more power than that. "How is the League of Magic? Although he is the head of the organization, he has no great interest in it. It is just a stepping stone or a pawn. (It''s a pawn that my father ...... Lardus has provided for me.) His father, <>, taught <> and <>, and even sowed the seeds of the <> in the Kingdom of Elias, and disappeared. Yes, it was Lardus who created the predecessor of the <>. (I don''t care if it was just out of curiosity. Let us take advantage of it at best.) Thanks to him, we were able to attract the members of the <>, which helped Guillermo Marchitas to expand his power. Yes, and it''s only shrinking. "What? For the first time this day. The Kun Lun island base at Qasimunore has been retaken. All that''s left is the Elektra base. "What in the world is going on? ......!Now that the puppet''s gone, the Nostalgia Party should have no appeal. ......! But apparently, Elena is back! "What? Not only has she been repaired, but her performance has been improved as well. It seems that some information was leaked during the capture of the Kasimunore base. "No, no, who in the world would have thought that was necessary. ......" I have no information on that. "I see." With a chagrined look on his face, Guillermo left the room. The support golem followed him. Are you eating? "Yes." Guillermo Markitas is a living being, so he needs to eat. The support golem went to the dining room ahead of the others and began to prepare the food that had been stored in a pre-cooked state. The food is stored in an ether stocker. This is similar to frozen food. < the food, it will be ready to be eaten. But Guillermo Marchitas does not care at all about the taste of his food. If it is palatable and effective in sustaining life, that is all that matters to him. "U...... still have a headache..." He holds his forehead and frowns. The support golem is unresponsive. It''s an everyday occurrence. (...... must destroy the world as soon as possible) After this headache, Guillermo Marchitas thinks even more catastrophically than usual. He is affected by a part of the spirit life form that possessed and absorbed him when he was a child, but he is unaware of it. "How is the construction of large aircraft?" Yes, a prototype was built and tested successfully about two years ago. "I see. That''s good news. Let''s see it." I''ll show it to you. It''s an aircraft that uses gravity magic to levitate. It looks like an airship. But it''s more than twice as big as the one Jin built. It looks like an airship with a 100-meter-long, 25-meter-diameter teardrop-shaped air sac, but in fact it is something else entirely. More than an airship. It may sound strange, but it may be the closest thing to an atmospheric spacecraft. Incidentally, the < reported earlier by the support golem is an airship that flies in the same way. "Oh, this is nice." The whole thing is made of light silver and shines with a dull silver color. "The maximum speed during tests was 300 kilometers per hour. The maximum payload is 2.5 tons." "Well done. Make another one." A flying ship that flies by the foul art of gravity magic. Guillermo Marchitas was sure of victory. Guillermo Markitas was sure of his victory. Meanwhile, on the island of Horai. Jin was discussing with the old man and Reiko about the future. "The biggest issue is the redevelopment of Hale, and the biggest problem is Markitas. Are you sure about that? < "But we don''t know where Markitas is, do we?" << "That''s possible. It is possible. We don''t know all the remains. < was extremely individualistic, there is little coordination among the that were its administrative base, and there is little information about the other ruins. Therefore, it is unknown how many more undiscovered sites there are on Arus. "But if that is the case, it might not be on the Laurentian continent. "Yes, father. < It has been improved a lot now, but due to the distribution of free magical elements (ether), it is more likely to be in the northern hemisphere instead of the southern hemisphere. This means that we can assume the continent of Pandor, instead of the known continents of Laurent and Gondor. "There are still places on that continent that have not been explored by humans, aren''t there?" "The north. ......" Considering that the concentration of free ether is higher the further north one goes, the northern part of the continent is the most likely location. "But father, I think it could also be the continent of Gondor." Since the continent is originally inhabited by the former demon tribe, if Lardus of <> is related to them, there is a big possibility that it is somewhere on the continent of Gondor. >. Newell, is it? "I see. ......" This is the area that once harshly rejected the group when they traced the roots of the <>. "I think they called the <> demons, so I think it partly fits with the philosophy of the <>." In any case, we concluded that day that we had no choice but to strengthen our reconnaissance. 1691 - - 46-02 Attacks on the Capital The continent of Pandor...... is called the continent of Pandor by the locals, and its highest peak is a mountain called Mount Nakyu, which rises to an altitude of about 5200 It is about 5200 meters high. It is a glacier-capped mountain with an annual snowfall. In the middle of the mountain, there were cleverly hidden ruins. The < referred to here are the facilities built by the <> in the past. The < here are not as large as those on Onogoro Island, but they are still quite large. It was a facility that functioned when the resources in the shallow areas of the continent of Pandor were mined and utilized. It has been reconstructed. The people who rebuilt it were Guillermo Marchitas, then known as Golbert Marchitas, and the leaders of the . It was more than 150 years ago, and Guillermo Marchitas is the only person still alive from that time. The settlement of the continent of Pandor had already taken place, but no one knew about this facility. "......It was fortunate that there was a magic machine (magi machine) for long-term sleep." Even though Guillermo Markitas is of northern descent, his life expectancy is limited. He decided that it would be best to leave the attack on Horai Island and the development of golems, aircraft, and battleships to specialized golems, and to sleep and wait. "This place is cleverly covered up, so even if they search it, they won''t be able to find it. The fact that no one is searching Horai Island even now is proof of this. "<> or something like that. The information we got from them was useful, though." Guillermo Marchitas knew that Horai Island had a <>. "But for the time being, this base will remain undiscovered. Guillermo Marchitas is unaware that this is an idea that runs counter to his own <>. Or perhaps he is pretending not to notice. Or maybe he sees it as a necessary evil in the process. Or maybe he has absorbed and his personality is splitting ....... In any case. Guillermo Marchitas'' actions were full of contradictions ....... "When we are ready, we will go out. 100 battle golems were already ready. 20 50-meter class battleships were hidden in a certain place. Twenty 50-meter battleships are hidden in a certain place. He ...... had no more time left in his body. Win or lose, thinks so, but another wants to survive and make plans to destroy this world again. He considered transferring his consciousness to a golem or an automata, but he has given up that line of thought, since it is unlikely that he can do anything more than imperfectly with the technology he has at his disposal. Guillermo Marchitas has decided that the time to declare war on the world will come when he completes another large airship with gravity magic ......<>. There is no one here to admonish or stop his madness. ....... * * * * The time is October 30, 3899. "Well, it''s a little too costly. ...... Eira, can''t you do something about it?" "I don''t know what to tell you. ...... At the workshop in the national research dormitory in Mahaleague, the capital of the Principality of Mercana on the continent of Pandor, the development of the golem was being rushed. However, the people involved are struggling day and night because they cannot obtain the desired performance without using an abundance of expensive materials. "Why don''t you consult Mr. Groma?" "I''d hate to ...... to that guy." Eira Siata shook her head. Eira and Groma Trey, who is also the dorm head, do not get along well. They argue every time they see each other. But Ccea insisted. "He''s the head of the dormitory and he seems to know a lot about making golems. ......I see, if you don''t like it, Eira, I''ll ask her." At these words from Katya, Eira finally broke down. "Okay, okay!I''ll go and ask her. "Okay, thank you! "...... seems like you''ve got me pretty well hooked, though." Scratching her head, Eira left the workshop in the research dormitory. At that moment, the building vibrated. "What is it?" A few moments later he did it again... and again... and again. A third time, there was a sound as if something was collapsing. "What in the world is going on?" Katya wondered and looked out the small window. And then... "What!" she let out a little squeal. That''s not surprising. What was outside was a golem she had never seen before. There were many of them, and they were destroying things at random. At that moment, a broadcast echoed through the dormitory. > "What should we do? ......" Eira has gone to Gromma''s and now only Katya is in the room. She had been told not to leave the room, but she was too nervous. The lab seems to have set up a ward and the noise has quieted down somewhat, but the golem that is attacking us is only about 20 meters away and is hitting the walls. "Will the warding keep ......" The room where Katya was located was on the second floor, so she could see well outside the wall. The warding does not seem to work well enough against the golem, and the sturdy stone wall is beginning to shatter. "What should I do? ......" Ka-cea''s face is pale. Then. Several golems were launched from inside the institute. "Oh, that''s Mr. Groma''s Golem! Matron Gloma Trey is the best Golem maker in the institute. Now, having activated four golems, including past prototypes, Groma deployed them in front of the main gate, where the attacks were the most intense. "Go!" Groma sent the oldest prototype golem in the lead toward the enemy golem attacking the main gate. Just as the wards were breaking, one of them entered. At about the same time, Groma''s prototype golem No. 3 was hit by the enemy golem. They are about the same size and weight. The enemy Golem was blown away by this unexpected blow, and was thrown out of the main gate. "Reestablish the wards while you still can! Groma shouted out an order, and Prototype Golem Unit 3 was also sent out the front gate. A few moments later, the warding was reestablished. "All right, Golem 3, rampage to your heart''s content!" There were three enemy Golems. Prototype 3 was putting up a good fight against them. The technology of Groma was learned from Rhodoth, that is, the lineage of Adriana. One of its advantages is its resistance to damage. Even if it takes a little damage, it will not suddenly stop. The Golem No. 3 that we are fighting now is the Golem that once fought a sham fight with Jin''s <. This time, it is not holding a sword, but a mace. A sword is inefficient against a metal golem. It is best to smash it with a bludgeoning weapon like a mace. Golem No. 3 was holding his own against all three of them. "Okay, I''ll leave this to you. ...... follow me, No. 1, No. 2, No. 4." Gromma led the remaining three to another location. Two enemy golems were attacking at the back gate. Groma sent No. 1 and No. 2. These two were inferior to Golem No. 3 in performance, and could be countered one-on-one. "Hmmm...quite a powerful golem. Who in the world would make such a golem, and for what ......?" Groma saw the government office with the , which stood a short distance away, collapse. "Hey ......!" Gromma turned pale when he learned that this mysterious golem was attacking not only his laboratory, but also the entire capital. "Perhaps our soldier golem has been dispatched as well. But they haven''t come here yet. That means ......." Either there are too many places to help, and the laboratories with means of self-defense are being put on the back burner. ....... "......, or the enemy golem has gotten to them." Groma tried desperately to think of a way out of the situation, but he could not find a solution. "I hope the Duchy of Jaggs won''t come to our rescue ......." The thought of that country, which would easily abandon the Principality of Mercana in an emergency, filled him with frustration. 1692 - - 46-03 The beginning of a long night "Hey, hey, what''s going on?What happened!" The entire , aka the , the tallest ...... building in the capital city of Maharigu, was literally shaken. The whole building shook. There are almost no earthquakes on the planet Ars. Jin and Lao-kun guess that it is because the star itself is small and the mantle convection is very small or almost nonexistent. Therefore, the people were terrified when the earth shook. Golem is attacking! "What?Which golem is it? ...... No, we need to intercept it. I want my soldier golem out too! Yes, sir. < From the basement of the , which is even more heavily guarded than the Kouou Castle, twenty soldier golems were unleashed. They are mass-produced autonomous machines with performance equivalent to that of Groma''s prototype Golem No. 2. They boast considerable performance. "Go!Defeat the enemy Golem! The 20 soldier Golems, unable to reply, raise their swords (...) in their hands and scatter into the town, not ...... to protect the <>, but to protect the <>. It seems that they are only protecting <>. However, the soldier golem was still strong. Even though they are using swords, a weapon that is not suitable for fighting golems, they are barely defending the <>. "Wind ....... Now I can breathe a sigh of relief. Where the hell did these guys come from?" Pegin Borntov looked up at the sky through the window. His eyes widen in astonishment. Silhouetted in the dusk sky was a huge floating object. Yes, it was the flying squadron led by Guillermo Marchitas''s . Two 100-meter class in the center, and two 30-meter class . 4 ships. Floating against the red sky, they were enough to break the hearts of those who saw them. The sky was reddish and the sky was reddish. "-Hmmm, it''s not that easy." Guillermo Marchitas snickered as he looked down from his flying boat at the scene below. "A civilization that relies on matter is fragile. When there is no more material to rely on, there will only be decline and destruction. A civilization based on the spirit will not be so fragile, Guillermo Marchitas thought to himself. The darkness of night has fallen, and small fires are still burning here and there in the city. Master, something is flying this way! A golem, a member of the flying ship''s crew, reports. "It must be from the World Guard. They''re here after all!" It''s been about an hour since Guillermo Marchitas began his assault. A flare ......<> was released, illuminating the night sky. Two airships, sir. "What are airships of those who rely only on technology and despise magic?" Guillermo ordered his small airships to intercept. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Now, an hour before that. The westernmost garrison of the Laurentian Continent is located in Recode, the southernmost town of the Principality of Mimaka. Unlike the three bordering countries of Norway, Jaguz and Dalat, the Principality of Mimaka is not expansionist and is relatively calm. However, its power is much lower than those of the three duchies. However, because of this, they are willing to cooperate with the , and the <> has been able to establish a garrison there. The garrison received a call. "Mysterious airships and golems have appeared on the continent of Pandor and are laying waste to the inhabitants. We need to mobilize! "Ha!" So, two airships were dispatched. They are carrying five battle golems each. The news was also immediately announced to the headquarters of the World Guard. "A mysterious airship?That sounds fishy. Let''s dispatch a squadron just in case. <. Each of them will use a warp gate that was installed about 200 years ago for emergency transportation. This is a huge warp gate that was developed without the Horai Island (= Jin) lineage, and the gate is 50 meters in both length and width, large enough for the airship of the <> to easily pass through. The exit from the Pandor continent side is cleverly hidden on the coast of Lihot Village. There is also one entrance, naturally, in <>. The entrance was located on the southeastern island of Mimaka. Using this, an immediate rescue is possible. It is rarely used because of the huge amount of mana it consumes, but this time it was decided to use it because of the emergency situation. * * * * * * * * * * * The observation satellite orbiting in Ars orbit. The satellite provides the <, a magical brain dedicated to the satellite''s management, with all the information on what is happening on the surface of the earth. < selects and chooses the information, and then sends what he judges to be necessary to the . And this situation was immediately conveyed to the . . The Old Man was a little surprised to know that Guillermo Marchitas had been hiding on the continent of Pandor ......, which is called Pandor continent in this time and age. But I soon guessed the reason. < once mined for resources. Perhaps there is a base left over from that time and they used it. But the important thing now is that Guillermo Marchitas has shown himself. For the first time in years, if not a hundred or so years, the old man activated the magical brain under his command, the <>, and the <>, Jin''s surrogate, which the <> was piloting. At the same time, they contacted Jin and together they decided to see what would happen. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "What mobility! < The enemy airship was almost the same size as theirs, but it was more than twice as fast and could turn more than twice as fast. They attacked us with magic attacks in torrents. Although they were protected by wards, it was obvious that the Tsuga squadron, outnumbered, was going to be outnumbered. "Don''t hold back. We will fight back!" Of course, they are equipped with anti-aircraft equipment, namely, highly straight-ranged . The arrowheads are made of steel and are short in overall length. And the mechanism is designed to rotate. The structure is as follows. A string is wrapped around the arrow, which is enclosed in a metallic , and the arrow is rotated at high speed in the same way as a spinning top. It is then shot out with . < The range is about 500 meters. Because of its high straightness and penetrating power, it is a medium to short range weapon against airships. The disadvantage is that it does not fire in rapid succession. In the first place, the does not have a killing weapon. Therefore, they are inferior to Guillermo Marchitas''s fleet in every way. "Arrows don''t work? Some of the arrows they fired were definitely hitting the enemy airships, but no helium seemed to be leaking from them. That''s because they are not floating on helium. On the contrary, the attack from the side of MARQUITAS was so strong that it overtook the warding of the TSUGA squadron. "Rise!Gain altitude! Unable to resist, Gaju Tuga ordered the airship to ascend. Airships, which are air power, have a lower cabin, so they have poor upward visibility and are less armed. In other words, it is more advantageous to take the upper side. ...... in general. Guillermo Marchitas'' flying boat is not floating on helium, but a so to speak. I mean ....... "What about ......?" Just when Gaju Tugga thought he could breathe a sigh of relief after taking the upper berth, he was hit by a storm of anti-aircraft fire that left him pale. So far, no holes have been made in its air sacs. The air sacs are divided into many chambers, so even a small hole in the air sac will not cause the aircraft to crash. However, the enemy was so much better armed and more powerful that it was impossible to see any way to win the battle. The long night of the Principality of Mercana had just begun. 1693 - - 46-04 Evacuation and preparation for counterattack "d*mn!I can''t hold my air bladder any longer!We''re going to crash land!" The airship on the <> side was unable to stay afloat due to the holes in its air sacs from the continuous attacks. < stationed in the Principality of Mimaka, made a decision. "Roger!We are making an emergency landing. The only result was that the battle zone had shifted slightly to the south, over the wilderness instead of over the town. Get me a general-purpose golem, too! "Ha!" On the approaching land, several enemy golems could be seen. "All hands, prepare for battle and prepare for the impact of the landing! Gaju Tugga gives the orders one after another. The other ship''s crew could not be seen from here, but they could only hope that they were safe and sound. A few minutes later, there was a shock in the cabin of the airship. "Ughhhh!" A crew member endures the impact. "We''ve landed ......!" Golem here, let''s go! Is anyone hurt?All those in one piece, get out!But don''t go far!Use the airship as a shield! The wards are still barely functional. The strength will increase as the area is narrowed down. Gaju Tugga said that he would try to lock himself inside the shield. In the darkness, only the footsteps of the approaching enemy golem echo eerily. "Go, Golem!" It''s not a good idea to let them get too close. Tsuga ordered the two general-purpose Golems he had brought with him to go into battle. The battle began immediately. The airship''s safe light illuminated the scene dimly. There are four enemy battle golems. We have two. However, the general-purpose golem of the was superior in performance. "Now we can breathe a sigh of relief..." Tsuga looked up at the sky. The moon had only just risen. * * * * "Whew! ......!" In the national research dormitory in the capital city of Mahaliegh, Ka-cea was alone, crouching, holding her head and trembling. It seems that the wards have been broken, and the sound of something being destroyed can be heard from within the premises. At that moment. "Kachair!" The door opened and Eira jumped in. "E-EIRA?" "Thank God you''re here. We have to evacuate quickly! "Evacuate to where? The basement warehouse!Come on, let''s go! Eira helped her to her feet. She ran through the corridor to the stairs at the back of the building. She runs down the stairs as fast as she can and finds herself at the entrance to the basement warehouse. "Eira!Katya!Hurry!" Downstairs, Groma was waiting for them. As soon as Eira and Kaechea jumped in, Gromma closed the door. "It looks like we have everyone in the research building now." Besides Katya, Eira, and Gromma, twenty-one other people were sitting down, looking exhausted. "Katya, Eira, you are unlucky too. If you had stayed with the Duchy of Jaguar, you might not have had to go through this. Someone said to the two of them. They had been sent back to their old home here at the research dormitory a week ago. "Now is not the time to talk about this. We have to work together to get out of this predicament. Groma Trey rebuked him. "Groma, what''s wrong with your golem? Eira asked in her usual tone. "Yeah, I sent four moveable golems to the main gate, the back gate, and two service gates in the north, south, east, and west, respectively, but there were too many of them. We are outnumbered. It''s like they say, the enemy is too numerous to fight. "You say so yourself: ......" Normally, an argument would have started here, but even Eira, as expected, seemed to be unable to speak lightly under the circumstances. "But this is a cul-de-sac, isn''t it?" If they attack us here," said Katya, "there''s nowhere to run. "That''s true. But there is still hope. I glanced around before I locked myself in here and saw that the airship of the <> had arrived." There were only two of them, so their strength was low, but Gromma assured him that once they got in touch with headquarters, help would definitely be on the way. "My teacher is the one who studied in , which gave birth to the ." When Gromma gave the evidence, everyone seemed to calm down a little. "Well, that''s what we need to do, buy ourselves some time. Gromma pointed to a golem lying in the back of the warehouse. "It''s a state-of-the-art golem. It''s not finished, but fortunately this is a warehouse. We have enough materials. In other words, he wanted to complete it here and use it as an asset. Help me, Eira. Of course. The two are usually bickering, but they are doing their jobs well. Especially this time, when their fate is at stake. "Let''s put a on this. "We should make the three magic nerve wires parallel to each other to make them more reliable." We should reinforce them with adamantite. "Yes, let''s also install two lines of ether converters. With an abundance of materials, I use materials that I would normally never get permission to use. Losing track of time, Groma and Eira continued to work toward the completion of the golem. "Now all we need is armament..." "A shield is a must. "Shields are a must. It was only natural that they would be used for their own defense. We''ll make two of them and carry one on our backs as a spare. That''s a good idea. He decides on a mace as his weapon of choice. "It should be heavy enough to be wielded with one hand. Eira looks a little disappointed, "No, this one has more power than the old one," Gloma assured him. Gromma assured him. "So let''s use a mace of the normal level. Thus, the special golem that they had hoped for was completed. At the same time, the door to the warehouse roared open. "Ow!" Someone lets out a small scream. "...... finally!" Groma muttered bitterly. "It''s a good thing the golem is finished, I hope they don''t find it. "I agree." While I was saying this, I heard a knock on the door once again. The door seems to be distorted. "A door that has <> and <> overlaid on top of each other?What stupid power!" After three more blows, even the door is distorted and a gap appears. "Here it comes: ......!" The special golem is already activated. The moment the door is breached, it will strike. One more hit, and the door is completely warped, leaving a gap for the golem to pass through. "Go!" Groma ordered, and the special golem jumped out. The first thing it did was to strike. A roar that was even louder than when the door was slammed, and both the door and the enemy golem were blown away. "Okay, that''s it! Keep attacking!" Even though they are autonomous, it is easier for them to fight if they are given detailed instructions. Groma then released a ball of light outside. The pitch-darkness of the outside becomes visible. There is ....... "No way. ......" Katya gasped for breath. Outside the door stood 20 enemy battle golems. 1694 - - 46-05 Hope and despair. "For an underdeveloped country, you have persevered quite well, haven''t you? Guillermo Marchitas muttered to himself as he looked down from inside his flagship, a 100-meter class <. The moon is about to reach the mid-sky. < airships had been destroyed. One crash-landed and the other crashed. There was no pursuit. They decided that the first priority was to destroy the capital city of Mahaliegh. < owned by the has been destroyed, and the members who may have been inside are buried alive in underground shelters. Without help, they would have lasted a week at most. They may have stockpiled water and food, but even so, it is finite. The royal castle is half destroyed. The royal family is not known if they are alive or dead. More troublesome for Guillermo Marchitas was the <>. It is a group of worshippers of matter and technology. No wonder Guillermo Marchitas was so keen on them. "Not to be underestimated." Guillermo Marchitas thought that the engineer who led the four golems to defend the gates was quite good. "......U...... head." Lately, Guillermo Marchitas had been suffering from headaches with increasing frequency. And with each headache, his will became more confused. But he is surrounded only by golems, and no <> to care for him. ....... * * * * "d*mn, there are twenty of them, that''s too many!" Twenty enemy battle golems are waiting outside the door. It has driven those holed up in the warehouse to the brink of despair once again. Go! Now they have no choice but to fight. Gloma Toray ordered the special golem. The special golem rushes forward and leaps at the enemy golem just outside the door. "Good!" One of the features of this special golem is that it is . It weighs 1.5 times as much as a conventional golem. The power was doubled to compensate for this. This made it easy to bounce off enemy golems. The special golem then attacked the nearest enemy golem. It strikes the head with the mace in its hand. If the sensors that control vision go haywire, it is easy to counter the attackers. This was a strategy that was discovered at the expense of four prototype golems. A hard blow to the waist of an enemy golem whose movement has slowed down will cause the upper and lower body to fail to work in tandem, further slowing down the movement of the enemy golem. Finally, if you destroy either of the left or right knee joints, the golem will become immobile and the immediate danger will be averted. Three special golems are dealt with in this way. "Okay, that''s good!" But after the fourth golem, the enemy golem seems to have learned. They avoid, bounce, and dodge the mace aimed at their heads. "d*mn, they''ve learned to deal with us!" Groma looks frustrated. The special golem is now surrounded by five of them. But it is not without options. "Then, attack pattern 2! Then you give the following instructions. Pattern 2 is a ranged magic attack. A purple electric charge is sent out, and the stench of ozone wafts through the air. The special golem then fires a high-voltage lightning bolt. The special golem hurls them at its surroundings, including itself. This is especially effective against golems with metallic exteriors. The electric blasts that are applied to the golem''s body are released to the earth, but in the process, the joints, which have a high resistance value, generate heat due to Joule heat. The joints on the exterior are then welded together. The special golem created by Groma-Toray was designed to prevent the joints from having a high resistance value and was able to withstand this attack. A golem with a welded exterior becomes instantly sluggish. The special golem quickly incapacitated the five surrounding golems. "That''s eight ......! That''s amazing! It was worth all the effort! But there are still more than half of them left. "I could have managed to get at most 10 of them." The remaining 12 were wary of the , a ranged attack, and had switched to a strategy of attacking one after the other. Even so, two attacks crippled two of them. Now there were only 10 left. "I''m still in a tough spot. In order to release powerful , I need a high-performance ether converter and a mana driver. However, with the materials available now, it is difficult to use the two systems in parallel, so the mana tanks were also used. The mana tank was almost empty after three s. "The only thing left is the pattern 3 ...... method!" The special golem headed toward the enemy combat golem again. It was a matter of course to move around so that it could be one-on-one as much as possible, moving little by little from in front of the warehouse. This would ensure the safety of the evacuees, but it would also be bad if they were too far away from each other to be able to rescue them in case of emergency. In a difficult situation, the special golem did a good job. "If there were at least two more ...... or even one more..." The special golem, which had been struggling alone, took damage little by little. They had already used their spare shields, but those shields were now halfway useless. Finally, with only five golems remaining, he reached his limit. The left arm was ripped off along with the shield of the special golem. The mace on his right arm was no longer enough to stop the attack, and he was immediately attacked. It was only a matter of time before it was destroyed. "............!" A frustrated Groma. And most of the people, including Cacea, were in despair. "Oh, God, I can''t ...... ...... anymore." Whenever someone mutters this, the feeling becomes contagious, and finally many of them fall to their knees. As they are about to do so, an enemy golem approaches them. "d*mn!< Someone who can use earth magic made a pitfall appear. The enemy golem falls into the pitfall. ......, but it is only stalling for time. The Groma''s special golem is almost immobilized, and two more enemy golems are approaching. "<>! However, there is a time lag of about one second before the magic is activated, and in that one second, the two Golems move two meters to the side. < "Run!" The only thing the researchers could do was to run away. But the speed of the human was too slow compared to that of the combat golem. "Aah!" Ka-cea, who was running at the rear of the group, stumbled and fell down. "Aaah!" An enemy golem is approaching, and a club is being thrown down. Katya closed her eyes and prepared herself. That''s when it happened. "d*mn it, I won''t let you do it! Eira returns and hits the enemy golem with her body, and the club goes off of Katya and strikes the ground. "<>!" Eira touches the golem and desperately releases engineering magic. The enemy Golem''s torso was twisted. "We did it! ......!" Her relief is short-lived. Although it is twisted, it does not mean that it has stopped moving. "Whoa!" The enemy golem bounced off Eira. Eira flew three meters into the air, and was knocked unconscious by the ground. Then, the golem, with its twisted torso, attacked Katya again, though its movement was slowed down. 1695 - - 46-06 Deus Ex Makina and Guillermo Marquitas This time it was over, and Katya closed her eyes. A metallic sound echoes above his head. But no shock or pain comes, no matter how long he waits. "......?" Fearful, she opens her eyes, and there it is. "Golem......?" A silver-brown golem, which I had never seen before, was receiving the attack of an enemy golem. "Hope ......?" No, it was not Hope, but the atmosphere was so similar that Katya couldn''t help but say so. The silver-brown golem took the golem''s arm that had caught it, twisted it, and threw it to the ground. Ka''chia did not know that this was a Shoro Imperial martial art called the <>. The enemy golem, whose torso had originally been twisted, was no longer able to move. "Oh, thank God. ......?" Finally able to catch her breath, Katya had time to look around. "What ......?" There were a total of four silver-brown golems, including the one that had saved Cachea, and they had already neutralized the four remaining enemy golems. What was surprising was that they had done it with only their physical skills, not with any special magic or weapons. Then, Katya suddenly realized. "Eira! Eira was knocked unconscious by the golem. But then... "What are you doing ......?" One of the silver-brown golems had bent over Eira and was giving her something to drink. Half of it spilled, but somehow Eira managed to swallow the liquid and ....... "Uh, no......" She realized. "Eira!Thank God!" "Oh, Katya?What''s ...... wrong with me? Eira woke up and was startled to see a silver-brown golem in front of her. "Eira, calm down. The golem is a friend. ...... maybe." "Katya, huh? You''re safe, aren''t you?Thank God. ...... At that moment, a silver-brown golem spoke up. "Those of you who are safe, please gather here. It''s hard to protect them if they''re scattered all over the place. "This guy can talk? ......" "This guy can talk? He''s just like Jin-san''s Hope. When Katya said this, Eira nodded in agreement. "Oh, I see. It looks like Hope, this golem." By this time, all the evacuees had gathered. "Gentlemen, we have been dispatched by . Please be assured that we are on our way to other places. Golem announced. "Deus ex machina ......?" Eira, Katya, and most of the others had never heard the name before, except for one person, Gromma Trey. "Deus ex machina?...... You''re really here. ......" "Gloma, you know about this?" Eira asks. "What?"Yeah, yeah. I really just know about it. My master told me about him. "What kind of man?" "I don''t know the details, but he was one of the founders of , ......?He was also one of the best engineers in the world, had his own army, and was suppressing conflicts in many countries before the <> was formed." "...... If that''s true, he''s a hell of a guy. He is an extraordinary man if that is true. ....... If he wanted to, he could take over the world, couldn''t he?" Groma nodded. "That''s what I thought too. But according to my master, <>." "Ha ha ha ha!" Eira laughed loudly when she heard the answer. "Ha ha ha ...... No, sorry. I laughed because that''s the kind of line I''d like to hear from the top brass in this country. World domination...... means they are not interested in power. < would think if they heard that. "You could say that." Gromma seemed to agree. "But she really looks like Jin-san''s Hope, doesn''t she?" Ka-CHAIR said something to me. "Well, I guess they look alike because they are humanoid. Eira replied to Katya''s musings. "The enemy golem looks like it''s wearing armor, but the Hope that Jin created before was made to look just like a human for general use. This deus ex machina golem must also have been made to look like a human. First of all, it''s not the same size as Hope. Hope is about 160 centimeters tall, a small person. But the silver-brown golem was at least six feet tall. "That''s true, but... ...... but I think they have a similar atmosphere. "If you make a golem based on the concept of making it move like a human, it will look like a human, won''t it?" Gloma Tolley also expressed her opinion. "First of all, how can a djinn have this much power? "Yes, that''s true, but..." Eira''s correct argument was not answered by Cacha. What is it? What? Guillermo Marchitas, who had been watching the ground from above, opened his eyes in astonishment. Before he knew it, a number of unidentified golems had appeared and destroyed his own battle golem. "Unu...... see what they do!" Guillermo Marchitas ordered his flagship, the , to move closer to the ground. But... It''s too dangerous. I advise you to stay in the air for a while longer. The support golem stopped them. "Dangerous?" Yes. We think it''s likely that whoever brought that enemy golem is nearby. Assuming they are using some kind of invisibility device, they must have world-class technology, so please do not take this lightly," he was told. "I understand that. ...... How many of our golems are left?" Yes. We sent 100 golems this time, but 78 of them were killed. ......Another one is down right now, so we have 21 left. "Unn......" At that moment, a support golem makes a new report. . "What?" Guillermo Marchitas looked at the corresponding magic screen. There were five airships approaching. "Hmm, so those golems are their advance party?" "No, Master Markitas, that golem does not match the type of the World Guard. "Yes, but could it be a new type?" No, it''s more of an older golem. What? Guillermo Markitas turned around at the mention of a support golem. "Did you forget?It looks a lot like the golem from deus ex machina. "Ummm ......" Guillermo Marchitas had been temporarily in when he called himself Golbert Marchitas. At that time, he had the opportunity to listen to a lecture on deus ex machina and had seen the golem under his command. I had given that information to my support golem. "...... I remember now. But ......" Guillermo Marchitas stared intently at the screen. "It''s been over 150 years since then, remember?Who the hell is this deus ex machina?" Guillermo Marchitas put himself on the back burner and asked the question. 1696 - - 46-07 The Right Man Five airships of the <> have arrived on the continent of Pandor. The commander of the 2nd Airship Squadron, <>, who is in charge of this operation, immediately gave his orders. "It''s dark. Flares." "Yes. < Five balls of light were released from the airship in which the captain was riding. The night sky became slightly brighter, and they became clearly visible. "Captain!We have spotted an airship that appears to be the enemy. "What the ...... is that huge airship? Jorda Carter is amazed. Then the call comes in. "Captain! < What? <, you must have heard this name at least once. He is one of the founders of <> and an honorary advisor to the <>. "......And what do you say?" "< "Mm. ......" Jorda Carter was troubled. She had heard of the deus ex machina, but the last time he had appeared to her was over a hundred years ago. "Is he a descendant, a successor, or a fake?" I don''t think it''s him. "All right, all ships, keep your distance from the enemy airships, and Nos. 4 and 5, lower your altitude and search the surface." Jorda Carter made the choice to trust the being who called himself a deus ex machina first, and to take stock of the situation. * * * * It seems that the airship squadron of <<<< Avalon>> has arrived>> On Horai Island, the old man was analyzing the situation. > It is inevitable to think that it is not him even if he appears now. <<<2nd generation......> No, it would be better to call it the third generation. In any case, we did not want the five airship squadrons that came along to participate in the battle. They judged that the power of Guillermo Marchitas was as great as that of the former Unifiler, or even greater. < Except for Horai Island, there is no way to resist the <>. The old man was relieved to see the five airship squadrons keeping their distance from the airship of Guillermo Marchitas. * * * "Hm?< seems to have arrived, but they have kept their distance, haven''t they?" What should we do, Master Markitas? "Leave them alone for now. The deus ex machina is the greater threat now. Guillermo Marchitas had no respect for Avalon''s airship fleet. The ground troops have been wiped out. "Well, I thought they would be strong, but his golem is not that strong." At this point, Guillermo Markitas had some time to spare. < He thinks that if he can take the enemy golem that has destroyed his own golem and make it his own, he will have a stronger fighting force. "How many flying ships are equipped with <>?" Yes, three, including this flagship. Send one to me. Send one of them over. Help is on the way. On the surface, a silver-brown golem, which had been protecting the wounded, pointed to the sky and said, "It''s all right, sir. "It''s all right now." Relief spread across the faces of those who saw these words and the approaching airship of . "You''re saved. ......" And it was the same in the research dormitory. "Oh, it''s the airship of <>! Gloma Tolley was shouting as she looked up at the sky. That''s a World Guard airship. Thank God!" "...... Really?" "You''re saved by this? ......" From the descending airship, rescue soldiers with nurse golems scattered to various locations. "We are from <>, <>. Are any of you injured? They called out and gathered the injured, giving priority to those who were seriously wounded. Triage," he said. < Triage is to decide the priority of treatment according to the severity of the patient''s condition. The following are classified according to the severity of the patient''s condition: "Clearly impossible to save the patient''s life even if immediate treatment is given", "Life-threatening condition that should be treated as soon as possible", "Not immediately life-threatening but requires immediate treatment", and "Not immediately life-threatening but requires immediate treatment". The following classification is used: "not life-threatening but needs immediate treatment", "not life-threatening but needs immediate treatment". The classification is based on the following three categories: "not immediately life-threatening but requiring immediate treatment" and "not requiring immediate treatment. This classification has a long history, dating back to the time of Napoleon. The evidence for this is the French word <> or <>. This is not a human being, but something that was included in the teachings of <> Shuki Tsezi. The teachings that have not seen the light of day for a long time and have been buried only in the archives are being put into practice in <>. < Among the 27 were all the members of the <> and the Duke of Mercana, Mikailinov Hangazone Mercana. The collapse of the building was the result of their involvement in the collapse of the building. They were unable to evacuate to shelters in time. * * * * "The help is on the way, we''ll be going now. The silver-brown golem said and turned to leave the dormitory. At that moment. "Oh, sir!" Ka-cea stopped him. "Yes, sir?" "Uh, uh, ...... I''d like to thank the person who sent you!" But the golem turned him down softly. "No, that''s fine. My master does not want a word of thanks. But Katya insisted. "Tell them at ...... that we were grateful, at least!" "Okay. I''ll pass the word on." Thank you! This time, the silver-brown golem leaves. In its place, a soldier from the arrives and leads them to safety. The long night in Mahaliegh, the capital of the Principality of Mercana, was beginning to come to an end. 1697 - - 46-08 One more. The 2nd Airship Squadron also rescued the Mimaka Principality Garrison, which had crash-landed. "Thank God! My name is Gaju Tsuga, deputy commander of the Mimaka garrison. I''m Jorda Carter, commander of the 2nd Airship Squadron. You arrived on the scene before us, didn''t you?Can you tell us what happened? Yes, sir. We are ......." Gaju Tuga briefed Jorda Carter. We received a report that mysterious airships and golems had appeared on the continent of Pandor and were overrunning the inhabitants, so we were dispatched to the scene. We engaged the enemy airship. We were forced to make an emergency landing, helplessly facing the mobility, offensive and defensive capabilities of the enemy airship. After crash-landing, I protected myself with a general-purpose golem. "Hm, where is your generic golem?" "Yes, it has not returned. At first it fought off the enemy golems that attacked us. But it has not returned for some time now. Gaju Tsuga added that he had managed to save his life because the enemy golem no longer attacked him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm, first of all we got a general-purpose golem of the <>. That''s good. <> is the most advanced in the world. Guillermo Markitas, who had obtained four of them for himself with the help of the <>, smiled. "...... But what about the <> golem?Still not ours?" Yes. ......, but I''ve learned one thing in the process. "What is it?" The deus ex machina''s magic pattern is the same as Jin Nido''s. What? < There are several ways to measure it, such as when magic is used, by examining the magical tools made by the person, or by examining the control core of a follower golem, but this time, I happened to be able to detect the healing magic <> used by the silver-brown golem. There is no way that their magical power patterns could have matched, even if they were siblings or blood relatives. "Hmmm, you are right. In that case... ......" Then there''s a good chance that < is the same person as Jin Nido. "Or is a creature of Jin Nido." Guillermo Marchitas''s hypothesis seems to have been almost right on the money. That doesn''t change anything, though. "We know that Jin Nido was human and that he died in 3537." So the deus ex machina must have been a creature made by Jin, concluded Guillermo Marchitas. "Hmm, just like the island of Horai. But these puppets without masters are working on their legacy ...... and it makes me want to vomit." But why doesn''t the Magi Emulator work? Guillermo Marchitas pondered. "...... I can only assume that it is because some countermeasure has been taken." Yes, Mr. Markitas, that''s what I think. A support golem can think with a high level of logic. Guillermo Marchitas decided that if it came to the same conclusion as he did, then there was no doubt about it. "It''s a d*mn shame, but you''ve taken measures!" But reality, however unpleasant, is reality. < become our pawn. We will have to resort to other means. Guillermo Markitas smirked. Yes, the Magi Emulator was not his only trump card. He decided it was time to use his other trump card, which he had never shown to anyone. How would you like to fight on the flying boat? I think I''ll save it for now. I''ll save it for now. "...... Well, there was one more thing I wanted to try before we use it. Let''s see what level of technology the enemy has. Is it just a pinpointed countermeasure against the <> or does it have a high level of technology? Guillermo Marchitas wanted to know. * * * * * * * * * * * Report on the status of the rescue operation. It was already around midnight and the date was November 1st, but the <> was still in Mahaliegh, the capital of the destroyed Principality of Mercana, doing relief work. "Ha. The treatment of the wounded is 70% complete. The remaining 30 percent are not in life-threatening condition." "The search of the town is almost complete with the help of the golem sent by the one who calls himself , and the rescue of the survivors seems to be almost complete." "I see." The soldier added that the golem of seems to be able to detect survivors by some magical means. "Ummm, is it really , sir ......?" Jorda Carter, commander of the second airship squadron, wondered for a moment. "Well, Jorda, I guess we''ll just have to live with the fact that he (or she) is on our side for now." "...... I guess so." Gaju Tsuga said and Jorda nodded. At least now was not the time to be thinking about the truth or falsehood of . Returning to the topic, they decided to assess the current situation. Gajoo reiterated that their golem had not returned. "There were a total of four general-purpose golems that we sent out, but they have not returned yet. Isn''t it possible that there are still enemies lurking somewhere?" "I can''t deny that." Jorda and his men had sent out ten engineering golems to clean up the debris and search for survivors, but so far they had had no luck with the survivors, let alone with the cleanup. The time is 2:00 a.m.. There is still time before dawn. "Do you know where the enemy air fleet went?" "Deus ex machina, sir. I''ll take care of him myself, you guys stay on the ground and help the wounded. "I see. ......" Gaju Tugga looks up at the dark night sky. There were only a few bright stars twinkling. * * * * <> technology, <> technology, and some unique technology. The old man was analyzing the images sent by the <> who was piloting the <>. Jin was observing the situation for a while, "Old man, I''ll leave this to you. I''ll stay in the workshop to think about something. He left the room saying, "I''ll stay in the workshop. Guillermo Marchitas''s flying fleet was now moving north-northeast from Mahaliegh, and the unit was also moving in pursuit of it. The current location is the area known as the "Great Plains of Flot". The forces of the Machina side consisted of five airships of the same type as the . These airships are 40 meters long. < The old man does not believe that Guillermo Marchitas would travel such a long distance without any preparation or planning. And moreover, the whole fleet together. At that moment, the enemy fleet radiated magic power. > It is magic. < In other words, ordinary magical tools and machines would also stop working. > The old man analyzes the situation without any hesitation. <> is a magic tool that Jin once made to prevent <>. It seems to have been made more powerful so that it can be applied to the operation of magic tools and magic machines. The old man recalls Jin''s assertion. Jin believes that by doing so, many things will come into view. It is like a thesis and an antithesis from which a synthesis is born. The old man had a feeling that Guillermo Marchitas was still hiding some trump card. 1698 - - 46-09 Second "I guess doesn''t work after all. As I expected, you are quite skilled." The earlier attempt was just a teaser. "A little early, but let''s play the second card..." Guillermo Markitas instructed the support golem. "This is upwind, right? "Yes, sir, I think so. "Good. Have each ship prepare a corrosive solution." Yes, Mr. Markitas. "......<> doesn''t seem to be working, but what about this?" All ships ready to spread. All ships ready to spray, sir! The five flying boats under Guillermo Marchitas have begun spraying the corrosive solution. "Hmmm, it''s the corrosive solution synthesized from the "Carnivorous Grasshopper". The material of sea dragons is no exception. It will melt metals. Once every few decades or centuries, when the conditions are right, an outbreak occurs. It is now known that the secret of their insatiable appetite lies in the soluble fluid secreted by their bodies. This dissolving fluid gradually dissolves the stomach of the binge-eating grasshopper, and the grasshopper craves food to make up for the dissolved food, creating a sort of negative chain reaction. Gold, platinum, and even adamantite are dissolved in front of this dissolver. The biological materials that are resistant to this dissolver are the threads of the and the leather of ancient dragons. However, except for the ancient dragon material, they are not completely resistant, and even the threads of the <> melt little by little. "Hmph, ha ha ha ....... Dissolve away! As if in response to these words, the earth below can be seen to be rapidly corroding and beginning to emit white smoke. Rocks, trees, and even the earth are being dissolved by this corrosive liquid. * * * * * * * * * * * But Guillermo Marchitas did not know. He did not know that there used to be a member of the Jin Family who was studying the . They were Mr. and Mrs. Guth Eschenbach and Saki Eschenbach. They had seen the threat of the and were studying them. In the process, they found out the following. < is a is the free magical element (ether) stored in its body. < is a natural free magic element (ether) tank. And that ether is the key. < is plant fruits, but it also eats animals. They also gnaw on minerals, as long as they are softer than adamantite, using their jaws and teeth strengthened by the free magic element (ether). This preference seems to be inherited from when he was not a <>. Therefore, if there is something to eat, plants and animals are preferred. Only when there was nothing to eat, they would take a bite of minerals. Then, how do they digest the gnawed minerals and convert them into energy? Saki and Goose''s research has revealed the answer. They produce a powerful corrosive fluid inside their bodies. It is a powerful corrosive fluid that, to their horror, breaks matter down into subatomic particles. It then takes a small amount of free magic element (ether) as its own, and the subatomic particles are expelled. The protons, electrons, and neutrons are appropriately combined to form hydrogen or helium, which is expelled into the air through respiration. However, this only works on solids and does not interfere with liquids and gases. Therefore, it does not decompose the corrosive liquid itself. Now, let''s take a break from the above discussion. The reason why the corrosive liquid has such an effect is that it has an effect similar to engineering magic called <>. < of Onogoro used in the past to break down compounds into molecules, and it even breaks them down into elementary particles. In order for this powerful magic to be effective, the < needed a large amount of food, making it a match-pumping creature. And if the dissolver''s effect is magical, it can be prevented by a <> instead of a <>. Saki and Goose had found out that much. Saki and Goose had found out that much. "No ......?Why are they so unconcerned?" The <> airship is unperturbed, while everything around it is melting away in a cloud of white smoke. Guillermo Markitas is at a loss. "Is his technology that outstanding ......?" For the first time, sweat broke out on Guillermo Marchitas'' forehead. He would never know. What people can do when they work together. How much power they have together. Jin had a . He had predecessors who gave him knowledge. But Guillermo Markitas, or rather Golbert Markitas, was alone. <, to make friends, to do great things, but he closed that path to himself. Mr. Markitas, the dissolver is losing its effect on the surface. "What?" If the solution has magical properties, we can eliminate its effects. Saki and Guth had even developed a way to clean up after this dangerous solution. * * * * The old man thought of the former members of the and thanked them. Jin also remembered them when he heard that. "I didn''t know they got together. I hope they are happy." The result of the two, cleaning up the dissolver solution. is the answer. It''s a change of mind, or perhaps Columbus'' egg. Write-in is applied to create liquids with magical effects. On the other hand, < can be used to make a harmless liquid. However, as is the case with engineering magic, it is only effective when in contact or at very close range, so a method is adopted to wrap it by generating a boundary with <> effect. The method of "erase" is used to wrap the object by generating an "erase" effect. "Unno, fearful deus ex machina!Fearless, Jin Nido! Guillermo Markitas is ready to give it his all this time. "I''m going to play my last trump card. I should have used it from the very beginning,...... but now I can''t predict what the result of using it will be... ..." Guillermo Markitas smiled coldly. "Prepare for the <>." Yes, sir. The last trump card was the Aether Stampede. Or more precisely, the magical tool that would cause it. Guillermo Malkitas had inherited it from his father, Lardus, when he called himself Golbert Malkitas. (He said that he got it from a ...... mysterious being.) ) Using this, the free magical element (ether) on Ars would decrease drastically, and the support golem and other golems under his command would stop moving, and Guillermo Marchitas'' own survival would be in jeopardy, so he left it as a last resort. "But I don''t care anymore. He decided that he would probably end up in the arms of <> if he did not do something about it. He was frustrated, but he was aware once again that <> and Jin Nido had more advanced technology than he did. Guillermo Malkitas does not know that the mysterious being is a <> and that he has already lost the battle against Jin and the others. What is the scale of the Aether Stampede? Maximum. Maximum. Aether Stampede at maximum output. The grimoire is configured. Activate. Start the countdown! It''s a large magic weapon. It''ll take a while to activate. It will take about 10 seconds. 10......9......8... ...7......6...... This is the end of the world. Guillermo Marchitas thought that without mages, the civilization that depended on magic would collapse. 5......4......3...... "At last, my long-cherished wish has come true." [2......1......] "Now ...... Zero! At that moment, Guillermo Markitas'' vision was filled with light. 1699 - - 46-10 Action taken Back in time, it''s midnight Pandor continental time on November 1st. It is 6:00 p.m. on Penglai Island. Jin has returned to the command center on Horai Island. Reiko is with him. He was taking some countermeasures after he heard from the old man that Guillermo Marchitas had attacked the continent of Pandor. "What''s the situation, Mr. Mere Old Man? > The old man summarized the main points and explained them to Jin. "I see. You still think he might be hiding something, don''t you?" . "Actually, I was thinking that too. And I imagined one of the worst ...... possibilities." <> A massive Aether Stampede. < If something of the same magnitude or greater were to occur, the population of Ars would once again plummet. No, Jin himself is in danger. It would also be in line with Markitas''s ambition to destroy the human race." In the past, <> also caused a localized one and massacred the northern peoples ...... who at that time were called demons. "So, hemispheric warding." This is something that Jin had proposed before, but had only made but had not yet put into practice. The idea is to generate two hemispherical separately and trap the object inside. It would be easier to understand if you compare it to holding two bowls in your hands and trying to trap an insect or something. "Now, with the help of Reiko and the craftsmen (Smith), we have just installed it in the spaceship." The plan was to operate it with a or . Since the spaceship was deposited on the moon, even the old man could not grasp what Jin was doing. "I attached <> and <> and we came here together. I''m <> and I''m in Pandor ...... right now on the >. I think I''ll head that way." <<<< Adriana is equipped with <>, isn''t it?Have you checked it works? >> "Yes, it works fine. <> check it and I checked it twice on the way from the moon to Ars. Both the shield and the sphere are fine." The <> used to be deployable only as a disc-shaped shield, but with subsequent research and improvements, it can now be deployed as a sphere covering the spaceship, just like a normal <>. This is partly due to the research of <>. Hearing this, the old man reluctantly gave his OK. <<> In the first place, if a large scale <> were to occur, even if we were in Horai Island, we would not be exempted from the effects of it. Rather, it might be safer to stay in , where there is also a magical shield. "Ah. If Guillermo Malkitas is planning to make an etheric stampede, we must do everything we can to prevent it. We must avoid a situation in which all the people of the North, their descendants on the island of Onogoro, and the human race on Ars will perish. "Yes, you can count on me." It is a great advantage to know about the small-scale "Aether Stampede" caused by the "Negador" 400 years ago. < is not something that can be caused instantly, but there is a time lag of about 2 seconds between the activation of the magic and the time it takes for it to take effect. Reiko and the old man can put up a barrier in those two seconds, and can also release a magic canceller that they have developed to prevent it. The magic tools that Jin makes basically have a very small time lag, which is why he can do these things. "Okay, I''m off then." Jin and Reiko boarded the <>. "Adriana, launch! Three spheres, one large and one small, float into the dark night sky. "Rise to an altitude of 10,000 meters and deploy Aegis. We are heading for the site at top speed. Jin''s order flew, and the three ships quickly disappeared from sight. < The old lord uses his "peepers" to follow Jin and the others from Horai Island. * * * * * * By the way, the maximum speed mentioned by Jin is a fluke. By the way, the maximum speed mentioned by Jin is a bit of a stretch, because with the size of Ars, even < would reach her destination before she reaches the maximum speed. That is the extent of Jin''s enthusiasm. Be that as it may, the three ships carrying Jin, < and <, reach a position 10,000 meters above the Pandor continent in less than 10 minutes. < "Please do this." < "Oh?" Just as Guillermo Marchitas''s fleet of flying boats began to spray dissolving fluid. "Is that ...... dissolver!That''s a pretty nasty thing to do!" But before Jin could give the order, the <> side nullified the dissolver. "...... I see...it''s the dissolver of the <>..." Jin remembered fondly the old <>, Saki and Goose. "Oops, now is not the time. But Jin reconsiders his resolve when he remembers the urgency of the situation. "Old man, which one is the airship of MARQUITAS? Jin calls the old man. Jin guessed that Guillermo Marchitas must be on one of the two 100-meter class airships. "Is that him? Can you look inside ......?" < Two seconds later, the sub-magic screen showed the inside of the building. Is that Guillermo Marchitas? I''ll have to work on that in the future, I thought, < The old man said. "Yes, please." There is such a thing as lip-reading. With his excellent processing skills, the old man reproduced Guillermo Marchitas'' lines almost in real time. And then, he wrote the following. <<<< Prepare for the Aether Stampede! The line was uttered. Jin heard this and acted quickly. "<>!<>!Contain the flagship of Malquitas with hemispherical wards!" This is exactly what happened. < and <> dive from an altitude of 10,000 meters. Within two seconds, they stopped at the same altitude as the flagship of Guillermo Marchitas and released a hemispherical field while maintaining a distance of 10 kilometers. <> With a countdown echoing, the warding was completed with one second to spare. Two hemispherical wards, like a pair of bowls, trapped the flagship of Guillermo Marchitas. At the same time, also deployed a barrier. This was one second before the <> was to be triggered. 1700 - - 46-11 In a different place "Ah, it looks like we''re just in time." A sphere made of two hemispherical wards is projected onto the magic screen on the central bridge of the <>. Well, not exactly a true sphere. Because the wards projected by <> and <> are not exactly hemispherical, but parabolic,...... so to speak, with a slightly open mouth, like a <>. Jin has regained enough composure to think about such a superfluous thing in a corner of his ...... mind. "It''s going to be pretty miserable inside that ward, isn''t it?" "I''m sure of it." "That seems to be a good idea." It would be dangerous if there were any residual effects of the "Aether Stampede". So <> and <> synchronize their speeds and head into space. This is a precise maneuver that is possible only with Golem control. In doing so, they remember to put up a solid barrier around <>, <>, and the captured airship so that there is no internal decompression. Fifteen minutes later, the two spaceships have ascended to satellite orbit. They are located on the opposite side of Ars from . The old man wanted to make sure that Jin would not be affected in any way. Jin did not say anything about it. < "Yes." Jin was standing on the central bridge of the , staring at the magic screen. Against the backdrop of the jet-black space, <>, <>, and the combined hemispherical wards and the large sphere surrounding them can be seen. The inside is a solid barrier that keeps out cosmic rays and maintains a pressure of one atmosphere. The flying ship that had been the flagship of Guillermo Marchitas appeared. "It really is a spaceship when you look at it like this." Jin thought, "It looks like a cigar, or a teardrop, or a capsule, ...... though he could only vaguely see it through the barrier. . The old man used the to examine the inside of the flying boat. And after a minute. < "What?Markitas?" < "A doppelganger. ...... You are very careful." << I see. > "Well... ......" Jin thought about it. In any case, a confrontation with Guillermo Marchitas was inevitable. "First, let''s check out the enemy airship we captured." It would be a good opportunity to find out the level of technology of our opponent, Jin said. Since we have carried it into space, it would be quicker to examine it directly. "They captured and examined <> too, so I guess we''re finally even. Jin decides to leave it to <> and the Space Force golem <>, the crew of <>. And I, along with Reiko, returned to Horai Island from <> using the warp gate. * * * * "......Ummmmm...... is this place ......?" Are you awake, Mr. Markitas? "So this is ...... where you have been transferring your consciousness to a puppet doll (slave doll)? Yes. How are you feeling? Golbert Markitas-Guillermo Markitas was lying on his bed. His head was covered with a magical shroud, so that his face could not be seen. ......Well, well, well. But the body is still the same. Okay, I see. Activate the next <>. < It transfers through a magical tool attached to the head of the operator, and works in place of the operator''s own consciousness. <. < is that the consciousness is completely transferred. However, the operator does not feel any pain or shock. The second standing next to the bunk starts to move. The support golem reports again. Mr. Markitas, it appears that the <> has been captured. "...... I see." replied. He himself was so weak that he could no longer get up, and he was using this kind of to carry out his ambitions. It was a support golem that created the of Marcitas. The support golems were found at the same time when the ruins were discovered in the basement of Mount Nakyu. The total number of golems is 23. They were well preserved, and Guillermo Marchitas, whose name at the time was Golbert Marchitas, took all 23 for his own. The process of subjugating them was very simple. They simply obeyed the one who activated them. Master, what is your name? Markitas. I repeat. . I now pronounce you master, Master Markitas. These 23 were very capable. It was with the help of these support golems that Jin had discovered that Kunlun had been captured and that the Nostalgia had retaken the base at Qasimunore. Although Markitas did not need any companions, he was honestly grateful for the existence of this support golem. And then, Markitas obtained more and more information. "According to the information we have gleaned from the two golems we have captured from the , these golems were created by the ancestors." Markitas thinks this while looking at the support golem that is giving a report. The had a civilization far more advanced than the present one, but as a race, it had been destroyed. "After all, the end of material civilization is destruction, isn''t it? Markitas felt it again. "It''s a pity we lost one, but there are still 22 of them. One of them has been captured by the , along with the flagship flying ship. Well, now is the time to ask about the progress of the other one. The support golem in charge of the base, one of the remaining 22, approaches and reports. Mr. Markitas! The battle golem we sent out to overrun Tajee and Fan villages has just entered a battle with the Nostalgia golem. "What?The Nostalgia are interfering with ...... us again?" Guillermo Marchitas gritted his teeth in frustration. "Is that wooden doll here?" Yes, Mr. Markitas. Elena is leading the way in destroying my battle golem. "Ugh......... what a bunch of bastards... < Yes, it doesn''t work. "I see. It didn''t work on the golem of ......<. I thought it would be solved sooner or later, but this is very early." Guillermo Marchitas was somewhat disappointed about this, but he did not dwell on it because that is how technology is supposed to work. "What is more regrettable is that I used a magical tool that causes an <>." A magical tool given to me by a mysterious being. I tried to use it a few minutes ago, but it was dealt with. "Hemisphere ...... or is it a bell-shaped ward?I didn''t know they could be sealed together." The support golem had seen through that much, too. However, since and , who had done it, were surrounded by invisible wards, the existence of a spherical spaceship with a diameter of 100 meters was not known. The existence of a spherical spaceship with a diameter of 100 meters was not known. "Okay, let''s destroy Tajee and Fan villages later. We can do it whenever we want. Guillermo Marchitas decided. "You''ve come all this way. Let''s deal with the nostalgics. ......How many battle golems are left? Yes. Out of 409 golems owned, 200 are silent. The ones we sent to the two villages are 200, so we have 189. "I see. ...... Okay, leave 20 to guard here and send all the rest on their way. Are you sure? Yes, sir. This will be the final battle with Nostalgia. ...... Yes, you too, send one of you!" By "you" I mean the support golem. Guillermo Marchitas has decided to dispatch this precious Golem. In fact, the support golem was stronger than 10 battle golems. "When Elena comes out, let her deal with him. Yes, sir. Guillermo Markitas gave the order. The main body of the golem lay motionless on the bunk. 1701 - - 46-12 Tazy Village Relief Shortly before Jin prevented the "Aether Stampede". "Guillermo Marchitas has launched an indiscriminate attack on the continent of Pandor, is that right?" Elena received a report at the base in Casimunore. Wattes Schrezza, the military chief of staff, was nearby. "This could be our chance to take back the Electra base, but this is ......." After a moment''s hesitation, Elena makes her decision. "As a nostalgia party, we can''t just let Guillermo Marchitas do what he did. "I understand." Wattes Shrezza agreed with Elena. "It would be a good idea to let the world know that we are the nostalgia party. Wattes, get ready now! I''m already prepared, sir. Good. Elena and Wattes boarded the flagship, a 60-meter class airship. Twelve airships of the same size, that''s the current strength of Nostalgia. "We will launch with 80% of our forces, and 20% will be used to defend the base. That''s good. As a result, 10 airships filled with combat golems and general-purpose golems floated into the sky. Thus, the Nostalgia Party was also sailing to the continent of Pandor. * * * * The nostalgia party (Nostalgia) did not go to rescue Mahaleague, the capital of the Principality of Mercana, but to the villages of Tajee and Fan. "There are battle golems here. How many are there? It is important to analyze the enemy''s strength. Wattes immediately activated his special magic equipment. < "There are about 20 of them. Ten in the village of Tajee and ten in the village of Fan. That should be enough to deal with them. We''ll send out our new battle golems to fight them. And send out the rescue golem! Ha! The ten airships split up. Five each will fly over the villages of Tazi and Fan. Then, two battle golems were dropped on each of them. In other words, 10 Golems were sent to Tazee village and the other 10 to Fan village for rescue. In addition, two rescue golems were dispatched. The golems landed easily from the airship, which descended to a height of about 5 meters from the ground. Elena and her team''s flagship was over the village of Taj. This is good. Let''s see what happens first. And so the battle began. The battle began. Aah! Run! Most of the houses in the village of Tajee had been destroyed. At night, a mysterious golem suddenly attacked. Helga, over here! Father! The village headman, Sergei, sensing the danger, quickly evacuated to a spring in the mountains behind his house. Most of the villagers have also fled. The mysterious golem seemed to have prioritized the destruction of buildings and facilities over harming people, so miraculously there seemed to be no human casualties. "......What the hell is it?" "I don''t know." The fire had caught fire in the village, which was visible from the hill behind the house, and was burning in several places. "Oh ...... there''s going to be a fire!" Someone shouted in grief. "But there''s no way to put it out. ...... d*mn it!" Helga''s childhood friend, Isak, hit the standing tree with his fist in frustration. The flames flared even more and it did not take long for the village to be engulfed in flames. "Oh ...... my house is ......" The stores are ...... "Oh ...... for food!" Everyone''s shoulders slumped in disappointment. There was little that could be taken out of the houses, and everyone was left with nothing but their clothes. A few had machetes and sticks in their hands, but no food at all. There was a spring that provided water, but there was nothing we could do about it. No, before that, there was no guarantee that the mysterious golem would not attack us. "Oh, that." By the light of the fire, you can see something floating in the air. It is an elongated object. The villagers do not know that it is Guillermo Marchitas''s <. Then, with a cracking sound, a golem appears. "Kyaah!" "d*mn, it''s finally here!" Sergei, the village headman, used a stick in his hand to knock off the golem''s legs. It works, and the mysterious golem falls over. "Now!" The villagers, armed with weapons, strike at once. A club, a tree branch, a machete, a hoe, a found stone ....... But they were not the kind of people who could be hurt by such attacks. "Aah! "Agh!" "Agh!" "Ow, that hurts. ...... He got up and with a single swing of his arm, five of them were blown away, one with a broken arm and one with a broken rib. One of them had an arm broken, one had a rib broken, and the remaining three were stunned and motionless. The mysterious golem chose Sergei, Helga''s father, who had knocked her down, as its next target. "Father!" Helga closes her eyes tightly and covers her face with her hands. The mysterious golem''s fists growl, and Sergei''s blood sprays ....... But... There was a dull metallic clang and the sound of a standing tree breaking. "Oh!" "Oh!" came the startled voices of the people. Helga gently opens her eyes. There is a startling sight. His father, Sergei, is alive. A tree has been snapped off, and a mysterious golem lies crumpled beyond it. The attacker seems to be a black golem of an unfamiliar shape. And beside Sergei stands another ...... silver-colored Golem. The new mysterious golem looks completely different from the fallen mysterious golem. The fallen mysterious ...... enemy golem looks like a heavy golem in armor, but the new mysterious ...... friend golem has a body line close to that of a human being. And moreover. "<>" The apparently friendly golem even used healing magic. The effect was that those with broken arms and ribs recovered. "Oh! "It''s healed!It doesn''t hurt anymore!" The same treatment was given to those who had been knocked unconscious by the blows. "Oh, you''re saved. ......" Helga let out a sigh of relief. 1702 - - 46-13 Close to the final round Jin returns to Horai Island and checks the situation in the command center. < Then, the Space Force Golem reported through the old man what they had investigated. "I see, of course." Jin looked satisfied. "That airship could not have been built with ordinary technology. < "<>. I see. So they''re flying with <> at ......?" < "Hmm. Did you develop an efficient way to use the <>? ......No, I think that part is the <> technology." < are a race that migrated to Ars from the planet Hale on the other side of the sun Celan in prehistoric times. The full extent of their magical technology is still unknown. The fact that the <> has made the past facilities ...... what we now call as their base, must mean that they have mastered the technology to some extent. There is one golem for < that has exceptional performance. Perhaps it is a relic of the . The old man explained that the support golem has a performance close to that of the golem. "I see. That must be the one who built the <." The old man explained that it was probably due to the concentration of the magical power of the "Aether Stampede" because of the confinement in the hemispherical boundary. He said that this was the reason why he could not get more detailed information. "I''m sorry, but it can''t be helped." Jin reviewed the situation and concluded that it was time to end this. "......It''s finally time for me to go." So far, he had been holding off, thinking that the <> and <> would be doing the de facto rescue work. However, Jin decided that he would only confront Guillermo Marchitas himself. "Father, it''s dangerous! Reiko, who had been silently following him when she heard the report, couldn''t help but interject when Jin said he was going to go out. "I know, Reiko. If they are using a doppelganger, we should use one too. "In that case, you can use ......." Reiko was satisfied, and then the old man reported further. "You are early." Since the Nostalgia Party has an official technological partnership with , they have access to such facilities. "A large transition gate (warp gate) or ...... I don''t know about that." < "Oh, I see." An ancient warp gate was once discovered after a ceremony in the Kingdom of Celluloid. It was analyzed and made into something unique. <> "I see." Elena had been so badly beaten by Golbert Malkitas that she couldn''t sit still, Jin thought. "Taji Village or ......" Jin thought of the faces of those who had helped him. Helga, Sergei, Isak, Meena, Sonya, and Katya. ....... "Oh, Kachair was a mahaleegh. ......Oh, did I mention that I engineered the return of Eira and Cachair from the Principality of Jagus to the Principality of Mercana?" If I had known this was going to happen, I should have done it a little later, Jin regretted a little. The old man was concerned about Jin. "Well, yes, but it''s still ...... dangerous to have someone you know. It was only a few days ago, but it seemed like a long time ago to Jin. With a shake of his head to shake off such thoughts, Jin prepared for his departure. * * * * * * * * * * * * "......That''s just in time for the rescue of Tajee Village, isn''t it?" Elena was relieved in the airship. Guillermo Malkitas had already destroyed most of the battle golems. "The new battle golem was good enough for you, wasn''t it?" "Yes. But it should be, since we studied their battle golem and created this one. It was a new type of battle golem that was created based on the specifications of the battle golem of Guillermo Marchitas, whom Elena had faced in the past, and with the aim of surpassing it in performance. Nostalgia was beginning to function as the guardian of this world, just as Jin wished it to be. "The rescue golem is also proving useful. It''s a blessing in disguise that there were no fatalities, though some were seriously injured. Yes, that''s all that matters. The rescue golem can even use intermediate level healing magic, so it is fully functional if we consider first aid as a prerequisite. How''s Juan Village? It seems to be all right there as well. There are a lot of seriously injured people as well, but no fatalities. That''s good to hear. That''s good to hear. Probably because we prioritized the destruction of the buildings," concluded Wattes Schletzer, the military chief of staff. "So what should we do next?" "Tactically, we should confront Guillermo Marchitas, but strategically, we should protect the evacuated people. I see. Wattes Schletzer said that this is an opportunity for the Nostalgia party to raise its profile on the continent of Pandor. From a humanitarian point of view, this is reasonable. The concern is that Guillermo Marchitas will not stay in the same place. "Let take care of Markitas," he said. This was a decision that only Elena, who knew who he was, could have made. * * * * * * "......Another nostalgia party (nostalgia), you interrupt me ......, but this is the end of it." The puppet doll, moving under the will of Guillermo Marchitas, stared at the magic screen. There, 169 battle golems and one support golem were projected as they marched toward the shore of Lake Norigi. * * * * * * Enemy battle golems are coming. There are about 170 of them. In the airship of Nostalgia, Elena received a report. "Elena, they are probably going to fight with us! Wattes judged so. "...... I think they might be. Should we attack them before they attack the village of Tazie? "Yes, that would be better. Elena makes a quick decision. "Leave half of the battle golems that have been dispatched to the villages of Fan and Tajee, and send the rest to the shores of Lake Norigi. Then, each aircraft, unload all of the battle golems it is carrying, and send them to the shores of Lake Norigi. Half of the ten golems that had already been deployed headed for the shores of Lake Norigi. A little later, a total of ten new battle golems are unloaded from ten airships. Thirty battle golems made up the total strength of this year''s Nostalgia. No, there is one more. "I''m going down too!" "Elena-sama!It''s dangerous! Wattes objects. But Elena shakes her head. "No, we can''t leave. Wattes, if I don''t come back, take ten ships and make them retreat. No casualties. Good." "Lady Elena. ......" I''m off then. With these words, Elena jumped off the airship. There are only two hours until dawn. 1703 - - 46-14 even "Elena''s coming out!" Guillermo Marchitas, who was looking at the magic screen inside the ruins, smiled. "He can be made into a puppet with a . ...... Well, let''s see what happens." Golems were gathering in the meadow by Lake Norigi. On one side were 169 battle golems of Guillermo Marchitas and one support golem. On the other hand, 30 new battle golems of the Nostalgia party, and Elena. These were sent from a special flying ship that was released for filming. This was also the arrangement of the support golem. Then, <> were fired at the new battle golems of the Nostalgia party. But.., "It doesn''t work after all..." Guillermo Malkitas confirms this through the magic screen and nods his head in agreement. Then the battle began. Although the difference in strength was more than five times, the Malkitas side had a large number of players of good quality, while the Nostalgia side had more quality than quantity. Well, it is significant that the Nostalgia side had only that many golems that were equipped with countermeasures against <>. Incidentally, the Nostalgia''s countermeasure against <> is <>, if I may say so. In short, they change the waveform of basic magic power of each and every golem. This means that even if you use a <>, you can only control one golem at a time. And if the waveform of the <> is changed, the controlled golem will return to its original state. Before that, the waveform of magic power was difficult to read. "You''ve discovered the characteristics of the <>, haven''t you? Well, as long as they rely on matter, they will do at least that much." Guillermo Marchitas muttered words that could be interpreted as a sigh of defeat. The golems on the side of Markitas and the Nostalgia side entered into a full-scale battle. The performance of the Nostalgia golem was better. It is roughly twice as powerful. Golems on the side of Markitas outnumber those on the Nostalgia side. The ratio is 5.63 times. In terms of the ratio of strength, the Nostalgia side seems to be at a disadvantage. By a simple calculation, they would not be able to defeat a force of 3 at the same time with 2 times their strength. But then. Then, they should not be able to fight against more than three at once. The golem of the Nostalgia side, taking advantage of its 2x performance, defeats them individually. They are able to use this kind of strategy because of their superior judgment. On the other hand, the golem of the MARQUITAS side does not work so well. They were divided and disturbed, and were unable to act in an organized manner. They were being destroyed individually. "You seem to be doing well so far ......, but what about you, Elena-sama ......?" Wattes Schletzer looked down from the air and worried about Elena. Elena was running around the battlefield in all directions. With her new beloved sword in her hand, she is disturbing the enemy golems. Her figure was the same as that of the former . "Not yet!Come on, come on, this way!" Like the wind, she weaves her way between the enemy golems and attacks their knee joints. The fact that this slows them down so much is due to the fact that they are mass-produced models that don''t place much importance on their skeletons. The golem on the side of MARQUITAS had armor to support its body. This is similar to the of modern Japanese aircraft. When in perfect condition, the armor is strong enough to support the body, while at the same time simplifying the structure and reducing weight, but if a part of the armor is damaged, the effect will affect the entire body. An exterior with a broken knee joint will be unbalanced due to tension from the opposite side. As a result, friction at the joint increases and movement efficiency decreases by a few tenths of a percent. This may not sound like much, but the broken knee joints also make them less of a threat. And so, Elena has < about 100 of them... ? Suddenly, her sword is stopped. Instantly Elena jumps back. A moment later, a mace slammed into the spot where she had been. "Is it a new model?" A appeared in front of Elena. It was the first one she had ever seen. Unlike the burly battle golem, it was about 170 centimeters tall, with a body line similar to that of a human. Then, a golem from the Nostalgia party pounced on her. However, the support golem dodged lightly and slammed its mace into the Nostalgia golem. The golem receives a blow to the back of its head, causing its head to crumple and rendering it incapable of action. "That''s quite a powerful weapon, isn''t it?" Elena told the Nostalgia golems around her, "I''ll deal with this one myself. I see, that''s wise. "You can speak, can''t you?You''re not the golem Guillermo Marchitas made, are you? Yes. I am a support golem. I serve Master Malchitas, but I was created by a people called the Originals. The Originators? Naturally, Elena knew what they were called. "...... This may be a formidable foe. Elena decided to be cautious. However, the opponent has a mace. It is powerful, but with Elena''s speed, she can dodge it. The problem was how to damage the opponent without taking damage to herself. That was the problem. Let''s go! The support golem attacked first. A mace cleave to the side. Elena dodges it by keeping her stance low. If she jumped, there was no way to escape from the attack while she was in the air. Elena gets low and aims her sword at the ankle of the support golem. However, the support golem quickly backed up and dodged the sword strike. "It''s a tough one, isn''t it?" Elena was now using 80 percent of the power Jin had modified for her. "Then, I''m going to go for it. She increased the output to 100 percent. The reason why she was hesitant was because ordinary magi-machines often rattle or overheat when they are used at 100 percent output for a long period of time. This is not the case with Jin. This was not the case with Jin, but his past experience had made him hesitant to give Elena 100 percent output. "--!" Without uttering a sound,...... Elena is an automata, so she has nothing to do with breathing exercises such as kiai or breath blowing,...... but a sword was drawn. It was halfway into the hilt of the support golem''s mace. Amazing performance. Was it a deus ex machina who created you? "No, it wasn''t." Despite this conversation, the two creatures'' battle continued to intensify. The support golem is no longer catching Elena''s sword, but is parrying it, and Elena, at 100 percent output, has a speed advantage, allowing her to parry the enemy''s attacks with ease. Surely you are right, Markitas-sama. You certainly have the reputation of being an adversary, Mr. Markitas! "Thank you very much. The attack and defense accelerate. Elena with her sword and the support golem with its mace. Elena attacks with speed and manpower, even if each blow is light. The support golem sacrifices speed, but is superior in the power of a single blow. In one corner of the battlefield, an evenly matched battle continues. 1704 - - 46-15 jet black <> "Yes. ...... that Elena is even with him, I guess the golem of the is as good as it gets." On Horai Island, Jin stared at the magic screen and roared. < are a race that does not like fighting. Hence, they did not make a golem for combat. It is simply a support golem with this performance. "Is this one ready?" <, we will be on site in 30 seconds. < Okay. After arriving at the site, send the doppelganger through the warp gate to Pegasus 2, and we will be ready to go. "I thought I''d leave the normal level enemies to you, but if they even have <> technology, I guess it''s our turn." >, ready. "Alright . ...... Reiko, what about you?" Jin asked, "Are you going to stay with Jin on Horai Island, or are you going to go out with your doppelganger? "I will." Reiko answered without a pause. "I''ll leave her with you instead." "What?" Reiko presented an automata doll about 30 centimeters tall. She looked just like Reiko. "What''s this?" "Mini Reiko," her father called her. "He called her that, so I made her 400 years ago, didn''t I?" Yes. If Jin who returned 400 years ago the other day made it after his return, it is only natural that Jin here does not know about it. "If you could keep me by your father''s side at a time like this..." < "Oh, you can speak?" Reiko nodded. "Yes. She is my little doppelg?nger, which I can control remotely. "Wow. ...... I made something interesting too." Reiko says, "At this size, you can even slip it into your carry-on luggage. "I see, that''s what I''m talking about." Jin was impressed in a strange way, perhaps in a self-praise kind of way. "That''s good, but I want Reiko to wear protective gear too. Reiko is made of the world''s strongest and most durable material, and Jin thought that if he was going to send her to the battlefield, he wanted her to wear protective gear. He had made one in the past, but never used it because Reiko''s own performance was too high. "Father made it again before," she said. Reiko took out and showed a breastplate, baskets, shin guards, and a bowl-shaped protective gear called a hachikane, which protects the forehead area. The balance with the apron dress is not so bad. It looks like ....... Well, since they are both Jin, they have the same sense of design. "I''m 400 years old or ...... well done!" Reiko then donned her armor and carried her beloved sword, . "Well, I''ll be on my way." "Yeah, be careful." Jin''s and Reiko move to by the warp gate. * * * * It''s still dark. "It''s still dark, but the eastern sky is getting a little brighter. Pilot Hope replied. The time difference between Penglai Island and the Pandor continent is about six hours. It would be about 5:00 a.m. here. "Father, you can see Lake Norigi below. I will assist Elena and then head for the base in Markitas. "Okay." Reiko then jumped down from Pegasus 2. Reiko landed nonchalantly from an altitude of about 50 meters, and immediately started to hang the shortest distance in the direction from which Elena was fighting. The power output was 10 percent. The shortest distance, in other words, a straight line. The enemy golem blocking her path is bounced away. He runs to Elena and the support golem. For the time being, Reiko decides to get rid of most of the enemy golems surrounding Elena. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The battle between Elena and the support golem was at a standstill. Elena''s sword and the support golem''s mace are both in tatters. Both had shallow wounds all over their bodies. Even in this day and age, there are skilled engineers. The support golem, which had once kept its distance from Elena, opened its mouth as if looking at her. "You''ll lose your footing if you keep looking up at me like that, won''t you? Elena laughed. I can''t help it. I was made this way. The support golem begins to swing its mace like a windmill. It''s clear that he intends to strike a blow with speed. It''s time to settle this. (You won''t be safe if you get hit by that. ......) Dodging with a depleted sword is dangerous. Dodging is the only option. A human wielding a sword can make a gap, but a support golem''s swinging speed is extraordinary. It''s a physical barrier. Let''s go! The support golem steps into the room, swinging its mace. Elena takes one ...... or three steps back. The wind pressure from the mace ruffles Elena''s golden hair. (This is not good.......) Backing up, Elena thinks of a way out. However, she could not come up with a good solution at this moment. (At least in a smaller place...). But this is the plain by Lake Norigi. Yes, if the footing was bad.) Elena retreats to the lake side, thinking that the heavy support golem would be at a disadvantage in the muddy marshy area. But... That won''t work! An enemy battle golem attacks Elena from behind. Elena has no choice but to turn to the opposite side of the lake. This is not a one-on-one battle. (...... is getting tougher and tougher. ......) Three combat golems and a support golem, four in total, attacked Elena. The battle golems could be overcome without any problem, but the mace of the support golem would come at her while she was preoccupied with the battle golems. Once, Elena dodged the mace, and it grazed the head of the combat golem. The golem''s head was blown off with a crack. (I don''t want to see that happen to me. ......) The number of enemy golems was reduced to two, but Elena decided to focus on avoiding the mace. (If I can guide that mace to hit the enemy golem, I might have a chance to win.) ) She reduced the number of enemy golems for battle and at the same time depleted their weapons. That was the strategy that Elena took. It worked out well, and she was able to eliminate the two remaining enemy battle golems that clung to her. That''s quite a feat! the support golem said to Elena, without stopping wielding its mace. But that''s it! Behind Elena stood five new enemy battle golems. If you step forward, you will fall prey to their maces. If you step back, you will be caught by the battle golem. The same goes for the left and right. That''s it. The support golem slammed its mace down on Elena. And then there''s a dull metallic crack. ....... The shattered mace shatters, and the five battle golems are blown to pieces. "You are ......" "Leave it to me, Elena-san, to deal with these a**h*les." < descended upon the battlefield. 1705 - - 46-16 Battleground Winds Who are you? The support golem, throwing down its shattered mace, asks the sudden intruder a question. "I am an automata. My name is Reiko. The support golem responds in its usual emotionless voice to Reiko who bows in curtsey. Reiko?That is the name of the follower of Jin Nido, isn''t it? Are you sure it''s the same one? "I am me. There''s only one of us. ...... I see. So Jin Nidoo is alive? You don''t have to answer that. Reiko looked back at Elena, "Elena, this golem should not be in this world. You should be dealing with a golem." "Leco,......, I understand,......." Elena nodded and walked away. The support golem did not follow Elena, but faced Reiko. "I am only obeying my father. The support golem responded to this answer in a mocking manner. I wondered what he would say, but it turned out to be a mere subservient automaton. Nothing to do with intelligence. But Reiko was having none of it. "My father made me this way. I''m not lacking in anything." I see. So you''re a blind believer. Very well, I will shut it down and deliver it to Master Markitas. With these words, the support golem reaches for the shortsword hidden behind its back. "You are just following the orders of Markitas, aren''t you?" Reiko also pulls out the from her back. Reiko and the support golem collided. No, I don''t know if I would call it a collision. <, the support golem''s shortsword was cut down without doing its job. The support golem, seeing this, jumped backward with its reaction speed, but Reiko was much faster. Faster than the support golem could jump back, Reiko stepped forward and with her left hand, which was fitted with a basket hand, she delivered a straight fist thrust to the chest. The support golem jumped back and received the blow, and was blown 30 meters off the ground. "That''s ...... Reiko. Jin-sama''s guardian automata." As Elena moved away from the battlefield, she realized once again how out of the ordinary Reiko was. [...... You''re a hell of an automaton, aren''t you! The support golem seemed to still be able to move, though its chest was slightly concaved. I''ll have to tell Master Markitas about this. ...... He then turned and tried to leave the scene. "I won''t let you!" Reiko clutches at him. But... The support golems must be able to magically guide her, for ten battle golems stood in front of her. "You''re in my way!" <, Reiko clings to the battle golems, flicking them away with her basket-mounted arms. Some of the flung off battle golems fly through the air, others crash into the ground, and Reiko chases after the support golem as if she were << going through an uninhabited field>, as the classics say. Can''t you even buy us some time, our battle golem! For the first time, the voice of the support golem began to take on an impatient tone. Then, five seconds after Reiko blasts the support golem away. "I got you!" Reiko caught up with the support golem and grabbed its arm. You grabbed my arm carelessly! The support golem fires a few million volts of electricity at Reiko. < But it doesn''t work on Reiko. "So what?" He looks at Reiko, who is holding the support golem''s arm and looking unconcerned, You''re a ...... monster if that doesn''t work? "You''re so rude. "That''s rude." Reiko muttered quietly, pulled her hand from his grasp, and lightly kicked him. Agh! With that one kick, the support golem crumples from the right knee down. Tell me about yourself. Did ...... Jin Nido make you? The support golem, no longer able to run away, asked calmly. "You don''t have to answer." Reiko also said emotionlessly, "I will secure you. With these words, she activates the Aether Eliminator. This emptied his store of free ether, and of course the support golem stopped moving. "Father, we have the enemy''s high-performance golem. I reported back via the built-in manacam, and received an immediate reply. "We are waiting for you." Reiko kept her <> on, keeping an eye on the support golem. Then came and Jin''s came down. Is this the enemy golem? "Yes, father. I''m using an ethereal eliminator to stop it from moving. Okay. Let''s stop it completely first. Jin''s doppelganger activates its engineering magic at the same time Reiko turns off the Aether Eliminator. "<><>" By cutting the magical bonds inside the golem, it stopped completely. "That''s it. Let''s send it to Horai Island for study." <, the support golem is sent to the research lab on Horai Island. * * * * "So this is the Golem. Jin was very curious when he received it at the laboratory. However, the problem of Guillermo Marchitas is more important now. "You go ahead with your analysis of this golem, old man. < The "Mere Old Man" reluctantly entrusts the analysis to the "Mere Old Man". * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, now the situation is settled. At the shore of Lake Norigi, Jin''s "doppelganger" looks down at the ground from inside . Reiko is beside him. "Father, what are you going to do now?" "Well... We found the hideout of Malchitas. Let''s get in. 1706 - - 46-17 Near dawn Mr. Markitas, the support golem you sent out has been deactivated. "Ummm ......, the Nostalgia Party can''t have that many golems." Yes, it could be a deus ex machina, or it could be Jin Nido. That''s the most likely explanation. If it''s ......, there''s a good chance it''s coming here. The support golem at the base predicted Jin''s move correctly. "I guess so." "What do we do, Mr. Markitas?Should we evacuate? "...... No, we will welcome you. < I understand. But don''t make it easy for him. But don''t let them come easily. Yes, sir. Base is on maximum alert. All traps activated. All traps activated. Well, here we are. What a welcome. As the Pegasus 2 heads toward Mount Naqiu, it is met by 20 flying boats. "Flying boats, right?" "Yes. According to the memories of the captured enemy golems, they are not airships, but flying ships. "I see. It is floating by gravity magic, right?" Jin thinks as he controls the . (It would be troublesome with a single .) "Okay!" Jin makes up his mind. "<>, go! He gives the order from Horai Island, and , who was waiting in the sky above, swoops down and heads for the site. Adriana, who was standing by in the sky, swooped down and headed for the site. "First, 20 flying boats will meet us? Yes. We''ll have to let them get through this. Let''s see what they can do. Is that a small flying boat ......?What do we do with ...... ......?What is it?" MARQUITAS and his support golem were looking at the magic screen inside the base, when the screen shook for a moment, and at the same time, vibrations were felt in the base. "What''s going on?" This is a ...... shock wave. Something went supersonic in the atmosphere. What? Then a huge sphere appeared on the magic screen. Its diameter is about 300 meters. This is ...... a spaceship! "A spaceship? The of Markitas stared at the screen. "Is this a spaceship ......?" This was the first time that even Markitas had seen a spaceship. Even though he knew the concept of space, he had never even left the atmosphere. But... Here, the <> of <> have strengthened their influence. "......Hmmm...I see...so whether it''s ......<> or Jin Nido, it''s at this point in its development. ...... interesting." The atmosphere of the < of Malkitas has changed slightly, but the support golem is not particularly responsive. For, Markitas is Markitas, not an extra human being. In this respect, they are inferior to the Horai Island group that Jin has created. If Jin behaves like this, he will immediately ask in a worried tone, <>Or, . I''ll leave you with this. In the magic screen of the base of Markitas, a spherical spaceship was showing its power. Not a single magic attack from the flying ship could reach the outer covering, but was blocked far in front of it. The same goes for the arrows as powerful as rockets. Not a single one of them reached the spherical spaceship. And it seems that the spaceships were not just passively circling. One of the flying ships crashed with its tip in a heap. "What have they done to you?" Mr. Markitas, it probably collided with a rapidly expanding barrier. The support golem analyzes. "What?...... I see, that''s one way to use it." While he was saying this, two flying boats crashed. "We''re going to be out of luck, aren''t we? ......<." Roger that. < Now, a total of 64 sonic breakers have been released from 16 flying ships. The "Hm? "Yeah?" <, and Jin, who is on Horai Island, sensed that the flying ship of MARQUITAS had attacked them with sonic waves. "I see, the barrier is also open to certain frequency channels to pick up sounds from outside. However, the outer covering of < is designed to fly at supersonic speeds through the atmosphere without any barriers, so it is not affected by such an attack. If the strength of the barrier is further increased, it would become a protective barrier that would keep out even sound waves. "But it sounds depressing." Jin did not want to be in a situation where he was mainly defending himself. is also armed. "Okay, let''s attack from here too." and . Jin''s doppelganger joined the battle with these two weapons. * * * * * * * * * * * * Two flying ships crashed. And two more. And two more. "What happened? Guillermo Marchitas had no idea. It appears to be an attack from a small enemy flying boat. "What?It was armed too? It looks that way. "Uh-uh. Where are they?Where are you? It''s almost dawn, but it''s still pitch black. Moreover, since was cloaked in invisible wards, it was impossible for Markitas and the others to detect it. Four more ships crashed. "Spread out!We are not good targets if we stay together." Guillermo Marchitas ordered. The eastern sky was beginning to lighten slightly. 1707 - - 46-18 Base Intrusion The flying fleet of the Marquitas began to spread out. The old man did not miss the opportunity. "Yes. ,<> point and shoot." < But in that one second, the flying fleet was disabled and forced to make an emergency landing. "That''s good. We don''t want to cause unnecessary destruction. Both Jin and the old man think that they can do nothing about Markitas. Jin wanted to keep what could be a valuable sample of technology. * * * * * * * * * * * "In the blink of an eye, we''re all gone..." The screen went black. Even the aircraft that had been left floating a short distance away for the photo shoot had been shot down. Now, the air power of the MARQUITAS side was almost zero. The enemy''s combat power is formidable. A support golem analyzes the situation. I think they could probably obliterate even this mountain. "Umm......<...... no, Jin Nido?Who is he?" As expected, the support golem did not have an answer to that question. However. The people who made me ...... have technology that rivals some of the , as you and Malchitas call them, and exceeds them in combat. I don''t think they would stand a chance in a head-to-head fight. "If you say so, then I guess so." But if we can lure that something into this base, we might have a shot. "I see. If I could see the enemy''s true face, that''s what I''d like to do." * * * * > "I guess we''ll have to go into the base." If < throws in all her weapons, she might be able to obliterate the whole mountain, but Jin doesn''t have that kind of destructive impulse. "Or we could use <> to get into the base." <> is specially made. Originally, the doppelg?nger was specially made, but there was a reason why the old man said so. < "I see." Jin understood what he had just done. "He made it at least half as good as Reiko''s, didn''t he?" "I see." It seems that Jin, as a human being, could not handle that much power. Still, it is more than enough. When Jin does something that he has never done before, in other words, when he has to do something strenuous or in battle, the old man will move him according to his will. "Okay, so you can jump down from the Pegasus 2?" < "That''s amazing." There is no more problem to get into the enemy base with Reiko. Reiko, let''s go. ...... Hope, I''ll take care of it." Yes, Father. I''ll take care of it. I wish you good luck. After a brief exchange of words, Jin''s (= Jin D) and Reiko jumped down from . * * * * Jin D. and Reiko offset their fall from an altitude of about 100 meters with a force field generator, and landed without a sound. "Oh, wow!" Jin was impressed by Jin D''s movements. "Father, from the looks of it, there seems to be no problem with the operation, is there? "Yes, the old man''s support is excellent. I can go on like this. Then let''s go. Reiko takes the lead and heads for the base of Markitas. We already know the entrance and exit of the flying fleet, so that is our target. It is about 10 meters above where they landed. Hitoshi D. and Reiko climbed 10 meters with a single leap. "Here it is." The cliff face is somewhat flattened. The flat part is the door. "Okay. There must be a human doorway nearby. The old man reports. < "Okay." The competent old man had already identified the entrance and exit. Jin D. went to the right toward the cliff. There was a large rock towering high above the cliff. There seemed to be a doorway for human beings near the base of the rock. A red stone the size of a fist is lodged at eye level. "Okay. Thank you." Jin D casts magic power to the red stone as instructed by the old man, and without making a sound, a part of the rock moves downwards and the entrance opens. "Oh, it''s open! Reiko, let''s go. I''ll go in first. Reiko jumped into the opening as soon as she said so. Hitoshi D. followed her. It was dark inside. It seemed to be lit only by emergency lights. "This must be the base of the too, right?" Jin D muttered as he looked around. "It''s very different from Onogoro Island and the moon. "It must reflect the thoughts of the that created it." Reiko expresses her own thoughts at his mutterings. "Maybe so. was an individualist, so this must have been a special base. Jin recalled the scarcity of resources on the continent of Pandor, since the base must have been built by the , who had a tendency to dig up all the underground resources on the surface. "Father, I hear footsteps." At Reiko''s words, Jin D. stops and looks at the end of the passage. From that dimly lit direction came the sound of multiple footsteps. "Oh, security personnel?" It was five golems. They looked like the battle golems that Elena and the others had just been dealing with, but they were not the same. "Is this one more powerful than the other one? "Yes, it seems so. Perhaps the one outside was a mass-produced one, and this one is for the purpose of guarding the base. Reiko measured the total amount of mana the other party possessed and came to a conclusion. "For security, then I guess we can''t discuss it." As soon as Jin D. said that, the five units rushed at him furiously. "I''ll take care of this." Reiko also jumped out to intercept them. 1708 - - 46-19 Reikos advance Three seconds after Reiko jumped out, the five security golems were scrapped. But... "Father! Reiko, who had easily crushed the five Golems, turned around and saw the sixth Golem, the one that had captured Jin-D, pinning him to the ground with his legs tied behind his back. Jin D, however, was calm. "It seems ...... to be all right." By "seems", I guess the old man was telling Jin D''s performance and that this kind of opponent would not be a problem. And as he said. "...... Oh!" Jin-D twisted his body, and the security golem he was shackling was blown away. The power that is equivalent to 30 percent of Reiko''s is no joke. "This is still going to take some getting used to. "...... please." It''s OK if the power gets a little stronger, but when it gets dozens or hundreds of times stronger, it''s hard for the senses to keep up. Jin D was in such a state. He would be all right once he gets used to it, but for now, the old man is still supporting his movements. "Father, how do you feel? "Yes, I can operate it well enough with your support. Now it''s just a matter of getting used to it. Hearing this, Reiko nodded her head in relief. I understand. Then let''s go on." "Okay." Jin D. and Reiko started to go down the passageway, but soon came to a crossroads. "Right or left?" It would be foolish to split up at this point. "Okay, right." "Yes, father." Jin D., without any particular reason, chooses the right side just because he is right-handed. After turning right and going a little further, the passage turned left. A little further on, the passage turned left. It looks like a maze. Yes, it is. I don''t want to take too much time. ...... Reiko, check for reactions with the Magi Detector. I understand. ...... approximately, there''s a large mana reaction in this direction. Reiko pointed diagonally to the left. "Good. Then let''s go the shortest distance. "Yes, father." Reiko pulled out her Momoka and swung it four times at the wall. That alone left a hole in the wall large enough for a man to pass through, "That''s not very efficient." Reiko decided to try another method. "I''ll use <>." Glancing at Jin D, Reiko sheathed the <> once. "<>?Was that also newly created by me 400 years ago?" "Yes. Please take a look." Reiko took a dagger from her pocket. "Is that the Plum Blossom?" "Yes. Plum, peach, cherry. They are Jin''s favorite spring flowers. The cherry blossoms, however, remind him of another weapon, so he will probably never wear it again. Reiko holds a plum blossom in her hand. Looking closely, she sees that it is not a dagger, but a sword with only a handle. "Could that be ......?" Reiko activates the Umehana, and Jin is sure of what he was about to say. A blade of light extends from the hilt, which had only a handle. "......Ah, a plasma sword after all. ......" Jin figured out that it was probably boosted by . After all, it was . And the energy was probably supplied by Reiko. The size of the hilt would not be able to incorporate a magical reactor that could supply that much mana. While I was thinking about such things, Reiko was moving forward, cutting through the wall. This way, there is no need for a maze. Jin D followed her. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mr. Malkitas, the intruder is getting through the maze in an unbelievable way. Even the support golem seems puzzled. What in the world is that automaton? Isn''t that the Jet-Black Princess of Destruction? "It''s true that her appearance is just as I''ve heard, but wasn''t ......<> just a bunch of old-fashioned party gossip!" The Nostalgia Party (Nostalgia)...... formerly known as the <>. A legend passed down from its first term leaders. This was the Jet-Black Princess of Destruction. Malkitas, who had previously ordered Reiko to be found and destroyed because he thought she was important to the security of Horai Island, was completely unaware of her strength. Inside the magic screen that projected the passageway, an automata that seemed to be the <> was moving deeper and deeper, smashing through the walls. "Judging from the way she was moving, she must have known the right direction somehow." "Unnu...... is a fearsome, jet-black Princess of Destruction!Who the hell is coming from ...... after that?" "The Princess of Destruction called you <>, didn''t she?" "<>?...... You don''t think it''s Jin Nido, do you? From the information obtained from the fifth column (Quinta) we had captured earlier, we knew that Jin, the creator, had given names to the golems and automata, and that some of them called him "father. "So that''s Jin Nido!That can''t be ......, no, it must be a puppet doll (slave doll) too. * * * Hitoshi D. and Reiko finally made it through the maze of floors and reached the stairs leading to the lower level. There, they find two security golems. "It seems that these two were the ones that reacted to the mana." "So it seems. There is a stairway behind them. Then I''ll take them down. Reiko said quickly and reaped a plasma sword in her hand to the side. With that, the two security golems split into an upper and lower section and fell. At the same time, the glow of the plasma also fades. "It seems that <> has reached its limit. After ten minutes of continuous use, the magi-circuit had overheated. "I''ll do the maintenance when I get back." "Yes, please." Jin D promised Reiko and headed for the stairs. "It must be downstairs. There is a larger mana reaction." There were stairs going up, but Reiko pointed down without hesitation. "I guess so. Okay, let''s go." Reiko stands first and goes down the stairs. "I''m sure the people in the base have their own passageway somewhere..." It''s hard to imagine the originals walking around this big base on their own feet. Jin guessed so. He added, "I can see repair marks here and there..." Jin D said to himself as he went down the stairs. "It looks like the base built by <> has been modified. And then the end of the stairs. The stairway was brightly illuminated, unlike the previous ones. 1709 - - 46-20 Face-to-face "Is this floor ......?" The place where Jin D. and Reiko left was clearly different from the previous floor. "It doesn''t look like <>." Jin D immediately recognized the true nature of the atmosphere. The floor was made of metal. The previous floor was made of polished stone. "This must be the floor that Markitas renovated. Reiko, be careful ......" Before I could say, "Be careful," happened. The gravity of the floor increased tenfold at once. However, neither Jin-D nor Reiko are fazed by the tenfold increase in gravity. "I see, it''s a trap just like Malkitas who uses <>. As he said this, the gravity increased to 20G. It doesn''t make any sense. "The floor is made of metal to withstand gravity magic, isn''t it?" "That''s right." Hitoshi D. and Reiko are walking around looking for a way out of this floor while continuing such a conversation. Gravity increased to 30G, but stopped there. "It seems that 30G is the limit. Jin thinks that it must be a problem of mana to generate the gravity. "But it''s amazing that you can generate 30G consistently. Gravity magic is inefficient. The fact that he is able to use it continuously means that he is operating at a very high efficiency. Then, I noticed something as I walked around the floor. The gravity is different in different places. Specifically, the weakest point is around 20G near the entrance. The center of the floor is 30G. "Considering the nature of the trap, the exit must be in the direction where the gravity is greater." "That''s logical." A twisted enemy might do it the other way around, but we decided to check the most likely direction first. "The gravity is a little higher this way, isn''t it?" "Yes. Yes, but 30G just became 31G. If you continue to move forward, the gravity becomes 32G. Moving to the side, there is no change, and the gravity becomes 33G as we go forward. "It''s easy to understand, but I wonder if ...... is something." If you''re Jin, think ...... to trap the highest value and put the correct answer just a little bit off, (I wonder if I''m getting worse in character...) (I wonder if I''m getting worse in character). However, it seemed that Markitas had the same bad character, and a hole suddenly appeared under the feet of Hitoshi and Reiko as they stood at what seemed to be the highest point of gravity. Well, it took about 0.3 seconds from the time it started to open to the time it finished to open, so it was easy to deal with it. It took 0.1 second to notice, 0.2 seconds to jump back, and 0.3 seconds for the hole to open. It was a trap, wasn''t it? "Yes." The conversation appears to be leisurely, but that is only on the surface. Reiko is looking around her surroundings and Jin, who is piloting Jin D, is thinking about the meaning of the trap. Reiko, check inside the hole. "Yes." Reiko looks inside the hole with the Magi Detector. "There''s a high concentration of mana at the bottom of the hole. "I knew it." There is a possibility that the hole is not a trap, and there is a possibility that there is a trap inside the trap. <> The old man has a suggestion. Reiko should be able to use it for a simple purpose, but it is not so accurate. She can look beyond the wall, though. "Oh, yes, that''s right. We''re wasting time, please." Jin thought about using everything he had available to him. The old man answered, 3 seconds later. Okay. Thank you. Father, are we going? We''re going. But be careful. If we switch off the gravity spell on the way down to the hole, we''ll lose our balance. "It would be very troublesome if you switch in less than 0.01 seconds. And then, without any worries, Hitoshi D. and Reiko arrived at the side hole without incident. "If the side hole is a maintenance passage, it should lead to a proper passage or room, right? "You are right." Jin D. and Reiko started to go down the maintenance passage. The height of the passage is about 150 centimeters, so Jin D. bends down a little. Reiko stayed where she was. The only light was a dim ethereal luminescent substance (AL), but it was enough for both of them. * * * * "What is it with these people? ......" The Slave Doll of Markitas, who had been observing Jin D. and Reiko''s behavior, let out a disgusted voice. "U......" At that moment, the puppet doll of MARQUITAS let out a moan. The puppet doll itself does not feel pain, but if the person controlling it, Markitas himself, suffers, it will manifest itself in the puppet doll. For some reason, however, the support golem did not react. "...... wind." After about two minutes, Markitas regained himself. "Have you entered the maintenance corridor?" Yes, Mr. Markitas. How would you like it?We have several options right now: pour molten iron down the passage, blow up the whole passage, or fill the inside with chlorine gas. The support golem suggested a solution, but Markitas shook his head. "Probably none of them will work. Enough. We''ll meet them here." Are you sure? "Yes." ...... [Claire] [Claire] [Claire] [D] [D] [D] [Reiko] Jin-D and Reiko carefully make their way down the passageway. "Father, nothing''s happening." "No. I''m sure we can pour molten metal or poison gas into it in no time. "I think they realize it''s useless, don''t they?" It is a light conversation, but the content is full of problems. Jin D. and Reiko kept their guard up and proceeded down the maintenance corridor. "This way?" "Yes, the mana response is strong in that direction." At the fork, we used Reiko''s magi-detector to determine the approximate direction we should go. "There is a big reaction ahead..." "Yes, I can see it." The end of the maintenance corridor. There was a door. "We have to be more careful than ever ...... to see what''s on the other side." But just before Hitoshi and Reiko get there, the door opens. "Welcome, intruders!" Jin D. and Reiko were greeted by the puppet dolls (slave dolls) of Markitas and ten support golems. 1710 - - 46-21 Dialogue "I am Guillermo Markitas. I''m Guillermo Marchitas. Can you tell me your name?" Guillermo Marchitas opened his arms as if he had no intention of fighting and welcomed them into the room. "I am Jin Nido." "My name is Reiko." This answer startled Markitas. Jin Nido!You can''t be him!...... No, no, I know that your body is a highly sophisticated puppet doll (slave doll). So is this body of mine." "I see." As Jin was thinking about what to say next, Markitas began to speak. "I have been wanting to meet you for about 360 years now." And then, "Do you also have long-lived blood?Or is there another way?" He asks me. "No, I''m probably just a regular guy. I''m probably just an ordinary guy who got saved by chance and luck, and here I am. Jin-D gives a somewhat blurred answer. "Hmm. I envy you. When I think about it, I was not lucky enough. Saying this in a whisper, Markitas keeps his mouth shut. Now Jin asks a question. "Why did you do such a useless thing?" What do you mean by "futile"? Destroying civilizations does not advance mankind, does it?We can see that in the wars of the Magical Wars. History has proven it. "I see, that''s your argument." Markitas listens to Jin''s words without making fun of them. "-First of all, what do you want the human race to for?" Jin asks. Evolution" here means liberation from matter. Markitas knew this and answered confidently. "For what?It is obvious, isn''t it? For the happiness of the human species. Happiness, huh? Then what is happiness? This was the first time Jin had ever heard such a logical or philosophical question and answer. Normally, he would have left this matter to the old man. However, his intuition was telling him that he had to face this person himself. It is a state of mind. Then, what kind of condition is happiness? Jin continued his question. "In short, . There was a shred of truth in what Markitas said. Certainly, a state of contentment is happiness. <>, that is, <>. What is fullness and sufficiency? Markitas continues in his speech. "As long as there is a body, we cannot avoid depending on matter. And matter is not eternal or immortal. "......" Jin listens in silence. "In other words, we cannot seek eternal happiness in the things of this world, material things." "So we should become a spiritual being?" "That''s right." But Jin rejected this theory. "No. It''s useless. "What? "You''ll never be satisfied with a spiritual life form. It''s always craving, always looking for things that interest it. And it will never end. Jin remembered the he had met in the other space. "What? "It''s a delusion to think that you can be happy if you only exist as a spirit. How can you say such a thing? Because I have met such a being. What? This statement seemed to surprise even Markitas. "It was about four hundred years ago. Contact with another space occurred and this world was in danger. I flew around trying to do something about it and got ...... trapped in another space for a time. That''s when I met a <>." "What ...... is ......?" Markitas (the puppet doll) held his head in his hands. Jin continued. "They were an old, old race. From my point of view, they in a world of ." "......" Markitas kept his head in his hands, but Jin continued. "They were beginning to get tired of and were interested in the phenomenon of , the skill of dealing with free magical elements (ether). And I remember they said they had a subject to study for the next 100,000 years or so of their time." "......" Markitas still had his head in his hands. "You only have to look at them to see that. , if they can do that, they''re happy. But I think you should seek more than that, <>." "Peace of mind ......?" Finally, Markitas looked up. "Yes. You said it yourself, . If by ''state of mind'' you mean . That''s what you should be aiming for." "Peace ......?" Yes. You talk about matter and spirit, but in the end you seem to be stuck in matter. "I am?You think I''m trapped in matter? Yes, you are. I think that''s what they call it. Jin uttered a word that he had heard from the director of the institute when he was in the institute. "You mean, ''obsession ......''?" "That''s right. As long as you have it, you''ll never find peace." "......" Markitas seemed to think about it and the puppet doll (slave doll) fell silent. Jin continued to speak as if he was about to fold up his words. "Humans have a habit of getting used to things. What satisfies us today may not satisfy us tomorrow. So I think the important thing is not contentment but peace." "......" "You say that, but it''s difficult. I haven''t reached such a state yet. "......" "But it''s important to try. Don''t you think so?" "......" But Markitas remained silent. "Father, what are you going to do now?" "Well, I guess. ......" Jin was somewhat discouraged. I was hoping it would all be over. "...... Jin Nido, you''re a frightening man, aren''t you?" "What?" Before I knew it, Guillermo Malkitas''s puppet doll (slave doll) had woken up. "You almost had me in the middle of this," he said. "No, I didn''t mean to. But Guillermo Marchitas would not listen. "Shut up!" The atmosphere has changed dramatically. "A spirit life form?You''re talking nonsense ......." Jin sensed something disturbing through Jin D. "Markitas ......?No, who are you?" 1711 - - 46-22 Fission Who, you ask? ...... Jin Nido. You''re a scary man, aren''t you? The mood changed dramatically, and Markitas said in a barking voice, "I was wondering if you might be a . "I was wondering if perhaps you have more than one personality." Multiple personalities. Today we would call it dissociative identity disorder, but in the case of Markitas it would be more appropriate to call it multiple personalities. After all, there really are other personalities lurking in there. "<>. Well, in my case it would be <>. Jin looked at Markitas with a strangely satisfied face, "I see. You have been inconsistent and incoherent." "What do you know!" Markitas was furious. But Jin is not silent either. He borrows a word from Jin D and says what he wanted to say. "You can despair of the world all you want, but don''t bring others into it! But Markitas is having none of it. "He won''t listen to me." "...... if you don''t stop." What are you going to do? I''ll stop you by force. Markitas laughs. "That''s all right. Let''s see what you can do. "You ......" * * * Jin frowned in discomfort in the Horaijima command center. "I knew it, you''re crazy." "You don''t understand either? "I guess so." He said he had a dual personality, but as far as Jin felt, it was more like a triple personality, "Markitas with a desire to destroy and ......" <> "Yes. And then there''s the one who denies material civilization, Markitas." But the last personality is very ambiguous and relatively sane?I had the feeling that I was about to be swallowed up by the relatively sane Markitas and the Markitas with a desire to destroy. "I can''t help it if I know that, though, can I?" Jin was a little depressed. < A word of command from Reiko would have done the job in an instant. However, Jin was afraid of this way of settling the case. "It''s arrogant of you to think that I can judge ......." He wanted the to make a judicial decision if the nation was to be governed by the rule of law and not by the rule of man. "If it were only the origin golem, I wouldn''t hesitate to do it. > Jin did not want to get used to the idea of taking a life face to face. But fate was on his side. * * * * Jin Nido, you dare to stand before me! Yes. To protect this world. Yes, to protect this world. - Yes. You defy me so foolishly, when all things are doomed to perish. "Yes, I do. It''s the instinct of the living. "Instinct, huh? Another primitive thing ......." Something has gone wrong with Markitas'' puppet-slave-doll. Lord Malchitas! The support golem is acting strange too. He seems to be in a panic. Several support golems of the same type have appeared, and to Jin''s eyes, they seem to be moving left and right. "Father, could it be that something happened to the main body of Malchitas?" "Oh, I see." Reiko seemed to be right, Jin thought. "Uh, a support golem, right?Where is the main body of Markitas?I can use some healing magic. I called out to one that was nearby, [You''re the one?...... please wait a moment. and the support golem stopped moving. No, the other five golems in the vicinity had also stopped moving. "What are you doing?...... might it be ......?" Jin wondered and came up with a hypothesis. "Does this support golem share consciousness or knowledge? And this is confirmed by the report from the old man. "Okay, thank you." Jin thanked him and returned his attention to the support golems. Just then, they began to move again. Jin Nido, you will come with us then. And I ask you to heal Master Malchitas. "Okay." Jin D. headed for the next room, surrounded by support golems. Reiko tries to follow him, but the support golem stops her. I''m sorry, but I need you to stay here. It seems that he has correctly evaluated Reiko''s fighting ability. "But I''m ........." Reiko, I''ll be fine. You know that, don''t you? Before Reiko could say anything, Jin D interrupted her. "...... yes, father." Reiko nodded reluctantly. If Reiko really wanted to, the walls of this base would offer only paper-thin resistance, but even so, she was reluctant to leave Jin D''s side. However, since it was not Jin himself, I obeyed him, albeit reluctantly. In the next room. In the next room, there was Markitas lying on the bunk. His head was covered with a helmet or a mask-like magi-machine, but when Jin D. and the others approached, the helmet was removed and his face became clearly visible. "Is that Markitas? ......" He looks a lot like a puppet doll......, well, the puppet doll did. But she looked much older. In other words, the man in front of me, Markitas, is old and about to run out of life. Two support golems were attached to the left and right sides of his bed, and seemed to be monitoring his condition. One of them asks Jin D. "Can you fix him? Can you fix him? "Let''s try ....... << Jin D. tries both medical and surgical healing magic, thinking that if it is a life expectancy, it is only a comfort ....... But fortunately, Markitas'' condition seems to have improved a little. "<><>" He tries again to cast a healing spell on her. His condition has stabilized a bit again. says the support golem that has been accompanying him. Thank you, Master Jin Nido! Jin felt that this was an unexpected turn of events. 1712 - - 46-23 Mental life? "Jin Nido ......" A muffled voice rang out. It sounded like Markitas. "...... no thanks will ...... be given." He seemed to be going all the way. "But ...... I have something to tell you ...... before I perish." Let''s hear it. Surely, there is nothing magic can do about longevity. "I refused ...... the support golem''s suggestion of a ." I wanted to ask him what he meant by "switching consciousness," but he remained silent. For now, he thought it would be best to hear as much as possible from Markitas. "That''s partly because I didn''t want to rely on technology, but more than that, I was ...... concerned." "Fear?" "Fear. There is another personality lurking in ...... me. It is me, but it is not me." "......" Jin waited for Markitas to explain what he meant. "Even if my body perishes, perhaps that other I will not perish." "...... what does that mean?" "Literally, that''s what it means. That''s <> of <>, not to mention ......." "What?" Jin wanted to ask for more details, but then Markitas'' mood changed. "Gu...... Jin Nido, huh,...... you''ve finally come this far,......" "Are you ...... you another persona of ...... Markitas?" "You can call me that if you like, but ...... I''m probably not from this world." "What? Jin could not hide his surprise at the unexpected answer. "When the consciousness of the master of this body was strong, I was absorbed, but now I can finally come out to the surface. Gradually, the person who seemed to be another personality seemed to be able to speak fluently. "Who the hell are you ......?" When this question came from Jin D, Markitas laughed. "Ha-ha-ha!Jin Nido, there are things you don''t know! "Of course. There''s a lot I don''t know about this world. "......?You have an interesting way of putting it. "I try to know. It''s only natural. I agree with you on that one. Surprisingly, the other persona of Markitas, or another persona, and Jin were so far able to talk peacefully. "...... you meant who I am. I''m afraid I don''t know either. I noticed that when this man ...... was a juvenile, he was taken in by ......." "You mean the magic patterns match?" "Hmm, perhaps that''s the right answer." Jin imagined that it was like the relationship between himself and his predecessor, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the "Magecraft Meister". "But a match in magical patterns can only occur with a very small probability." "Yes, that''s true. So maybe I was lucky. Maybe it was bad luck for this guy." So you''re saying he got possessed ......? Jin Nido, that''s an interesting expression. Possession. My condition is certainly close to possession. Markitas''s alternate personality seems to have understood the word . "Then what happens to you when your body is destroyed? Jin asked, as if to confirm the most pressing question of the moment. "I just leave. And when I''m free, I''ll go to ......." "What happens?" "I can move around as I please and do as I please in this world." But Jin was skeptical. "Are you sure about that?" What? "Because I have never heard, seen, or felt such a spiritual being on Ars. Even if we assume they exist," Jin said, "if they are not recognized by us, it''s as if they don''t exist. "Mmmmmm. ......" "It''s not a spirit life form, so it can''t interfere with matter, can it?" "What?What did you just say?" Suddenly Markitas''s alternate personality became agitated. "A spirit life form?Jin Nido, what do you know?" "What do you mean ...... you said before?I guess you mean that in another universe, there is an old race of <> that have escaped the shackles of matter and are tired of their immortal selves ......." "......" With that, the other persona of Markitas fell silent. Since the support golem did not say anything, Jin assumed that there was no sudden change in his condition. Eventually. "......It seems that I was part of that . You pointed that out to me, so I remembered." "What?You''re the ...... spirit life form? Jin was greatly surprised. But.., "Jin Nido, do you really know about spirit life forms? The other persona of Markitas was equally surprised. "I once into the other universe when this universe had a partial superposition with another universe," he said. "What? "There I met and interacted with a spirit life form, who sent me back to my universe ......." "Oh, no, that''s ...... not possible." "After that, the spirit organisms must have taken some measures to prevent this kind of superposition of contacts from occurring." "......How interesting." As Jin explained, he recalled his conversation with in that world. "You said something about using sub-free magic element "ether" waves. "I see. We ...... spirit life forms are sub-free magical element (ether) beings. But here is what Jin realized. "If superposition contact doesn''t occur, does that mean you can''t return to your original world ......?" Jin wanted the , which he could not seem to destroy, to return to its original world. "Oh, yes. Then it can''t be helped. I''ll just wait until someone comes along on our world who can take possession of them again." "...... when will that be?" "Well, maybe in 200 years, maybe in 200 million years. Either way, since it cannot be destroyed, there is no other way. But... But... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man quietly told Jin of Horai Island. "What?" "What is it?" It is a spatial oscillation device using <<<< Hanna Theory>> "<>? <>. "Hannah''s ...... right?" <<> in space>>. The old man said, "But you can''t use it to send Jin''s body back 400 years," he said. "But what if the hole is not the world you want?" "......" Jin said, "I''ll think it over," and pondered. 1713 - - 46-24 inside out "By the way." Jin D, who is conversing with Markitas''s other personality ......<>, suddenly utters a question that he suddenly remembers. "You, the spirit life form, are ...... quite intelligent, aren''t you?" He adds, "I thought you might be a little more ...... or even more of a doomed personality. "Hmm. ...... might be a good way to look at it." The spirit organism itself admits. "Indeed, I remember that I used to think in a more maniacal way. Jin D. could not believe that this personality wanted to destroy the world. "......What''s going on?" "Nothing in particular. If I may ...... say so, Jin Nido, could you try to use healing magic on the main body of Markitas?" "Hmm?Well, okay. ......<>" Nido, I''d like you to try to heal the body of Malquitas. "......As I thought." The spirit personality nodded his head in agreement. "What do you mean, I knew it?" "Jin Nido, your magic ...... contains <>." "What?" "Your magic power contains a small amount of sub-free elemental (etheric) wave component. It seems that I have regained my self-worth thanks to it." "By my magical power?" Jin couldn''t help but be surprised. "Will you try it again and see?" Jin was curious. "Yes, that''s good. "Well then. ......<>" Jin D. uses healing magic of advanced medical treatment with Shoro Imperial style chanting. "Oh, this is pleasant. No doubt. Your magic and magical power contain sub-free elemental ether wave. * * * * * * "My magic power contains sub-free magic element (ether) wave ......?" On Horai Island, Jin was filled with surprise. >. The old man affirmed this fact. "But isn''t it possible that ...... you''ve been to the other world and you''ve been able to use it, or perhaps you''ve been influenced by it?" Jin points out another possibility. In the first place, <> and others did not make such a point. < The words were returned to us. "...... I see." Jin thinks. < and the others, dealing with sub-free magic element (ether) waves was more natural than Jin and the others breathing, and perhaps it was not worth pointing out every single time. ....... And this is the reason why did not appear among his descendants. This may be the reason. To have a magic pattern that contains a sub-free magic element (ether) wave component. It is easy to imagine that a person with such a quality would not appear very often. "Anyway, I''ll have to go see my descendants after all this trouble is over. ......" Jin vowed once again. * * * * "......<>" Jin D repeatedly casts healing magic on the main body of Markitas. Since Jin-D is a doppelganger, its energy source is a <>. Therefore, no matter how many times he applies it, it does not get tired. "Yes, my power is back! The piece of the that possessed Markitas seems to have regained its original condition. "So this character of Markitas was quite distorted. ...... and I''m partly to blame for that. ......" The puppet doll of Markitas drooped. It seems that the normalized spirit has a fairly decent personality, Jin thought. (they were a calm bunch, too. ......) "Jin Nido, Markitas himself has something to say. I''ll take over." "...... what?" Jin, who had been thinking about something, was surprised at the sudden revelation. "...... Jin Nido. You''re a real prick." "...... Guillermo Markitas?" "Yes. But that''s the name I gave my puppet doll, and the name my parents gave me was Golbert Markitas. "I see." Then Golbert Malkitas took a breath, "I hate you. You''re better than me in every way." "You''re above me in everything," he spat. "I went to Avalon with the pride of being the best in the world, having learned the super-technology of the past, and you made something even better." "The past?...... This isn''t the only ruin of the you know about, is it?" "Of course. There was one in the town where I was born, and there are others nearby. Well, they were very small." "...... So, the place where you were born is the old name of the demon territory?Or maybe you were born in Huso ...... or maybe in Newell. Golbert Markitas''s face contorted at Jin''s response. "You know that much ......?" Malkitas looks resigned. "I still don''t like you." "That''s what I thought. ...... Surprisingly, however, Golbert Markitas laughed a little. "That''s just what I think." Jin understood that the point was that he was wrestling alone. Ars doesn''t seem to have a word for . "...... I feel like I''ve been having bad dreams for a long time, but it''s all my doing. I know that." Golbert Markitas admitted everything he had done. "...... your healing magic may have prolonged my life a little, but I don''t have long." Golbert Malkitas laughed again. "I am sorry. I don''t think I will be judged by your ." "Golbert Malkitas ......!" "I''m thinking clearer than ever now. So I admit that what I have done was wrong. But I don''t know why I did something wrong. I don''t know myself," Markitas said and laughed again. "I think it''s ...... since I was possessed by the I was telling you about, but a part of my brain is much clearer than ever. But another part of my mind seems to have become duller." The imbalance seems to have caused him to act out of character, Markitas said in his self-analysis. "I don''t expect forgiveness for this. I''m not going to ask for forgiveness because of that. I''m not going to give up on my point that ultimately living organisms should aspire to ." But humans are too immature to do so right now, Markitas added. "Jin Nido, I still don''t know who you are. But I do know that you are not an enemy of humans. I can''t say I''m on your side completely," added Markitas, and his came out again. "I would have liked to have had a long talk with you once, but you were gone when I went to ." "Yes, I suppose you were." "...... I don''t know how you are here now in the shape you are in, but I''m happy to talk to you." Hate is the opposite of love. In the case of Markitas, it was not love, but he seemed to have a feeling of respect for Jin. "I told you before. I don''t have long. I have no intention of being judged by your laws. With these words, Golbert Markitas closed his eyes. 1714 - - 46-25 Dawn "Gu,uu......" "What''s wrong?" Jin asked, concerned as Markitas clutched his head. "......It''s just the usual headache. Don''t worry." He says this, but Markitas looks pale. "<>" Concerned, Jin D. casts a spell of examination on him. Then, he found out that the patient had a brain tumor. "...... brain tumor? There was a foreign mass inside the skull. There was a strong possibility that it was pressing on his brain and causing him headaches. Jin D. explains it to him. "...... What?I have a tumor in my brain?" "Yes. It''s originally your body cells, so healing magic won''t be able to cure it. "......" * * * * However, Jin has never treated a brain tumor before. "...... what should I do?" <> "Well, yes, but I''m kind of concerned about it." * * * * "...... support golem. Can you remove my brain tumor?" Yes, Mr. Markitas. "Yes, remove it." Yes, sir. "What? Jin was astonished. Not that the support golem had such advanced medical technology. It was the fact that such a thing was possible, but they had left it unattended until today. Perhaps that is the nature of the . A passive golem that does not interfere excessively and does only what it is ordered to do. But it is highly capable and can do unexpected things. (Well, it would be possible if <>, >, and > were mobilized.) <> is a nursing automata, and <> is a doctor (healer) automata, a little like the Sally Mireshan. And <> is a miniature golem for surgery. It was named after a cartoon of a certain black doctor, so it was named after the brain of Moon (Yuny). Extraction complete. While Jin was lost in thought for a moment, the surgery was over. The procedure was as quick as that of Golem, the doctor of Horai Island. "Oops. " Jin rushed to have Jin D use his healing magic. Jin D. is not the only one who has been using healing magic, as his magic, including <, should work in the right direction. Thank you, Jin Nido! The support golem that took charge of the surgery thanked Jin. I''m sure Master Markitas will be aware of this shortly. You''re early. "Father, I watched the whole surgery. I''ve sent it to the old man so that he can perform similar operations in the future." Reiko reported in a whisper. "Well, that was worthwhile at least." But it did not end there. "...... that''s the culprit." What? He''s the one who caused Markitas to do what he did. Are you talking about the spirit life form? Yes. The body of Markitas is still paralyzed from the surgery. "Uh, ......." Jin tried to digest what he had just heard. "You''re saying that Markitas had a tumor in his brain that drove him to do what he did?" "In a nutshell, yes. But it wasn''t a tumor. It was his brain. The brain? The brain? "......<>......, I see." The examination (diagnose) confirmed that it was, without a doubt, the same brain cell. "This is probably the cause of Markitas'' erratic behavior." "......If you knew, why didn''t you point it out to him earlier?" Jin D said accusingly. "......I''m certainly sorry about that, but as for me, my consciousness ...... ego has only just become clear." Jin D could not continue to say any more when he was told that. * * * * "......Something funny is going on here." Jin D himself, who is controlling Jin D, is in the command center of Horai Island. And he was saying to the old man. That is true, Jin thinks. "There was too little data to base it on." "The result was all right, huh? < Fighting and overwhelming the opponent is not the only way to victory. Jin was reminded of this. "What should we do after this?" > "That would be good too. ......" He was a man who should not have been here at this time. I couldn''t help it, but I should leave this matter to <> or <>. * * * * "...... Jin Nido. I am no longer at ...... enmity with you, or with this world." Jin felt that Golbert Malkitas meant what he said. However, I can''t make a decision on my own. Jin answered honestly. "Of course. But I don''t have long. As I said before, I cannot be judged by your laws. "...... Maybe that''s a good thing." Jin had mixed feelings about this. "I''ll just sit tight." "...... is that okay?" Golbert Markitas looked surprised, as if he did not believe Jin''s words. "Yes. Well, the invasion is over, anyway..." Hitoshi D. turned himself around. "Reiko, let''s go." "Yes, sir." Jin Nido, farewell. Goodbye. The way home was uneventful, and Jin D. and Reiko walked out of the base. Outside the base, the night had already passed before they knew it, and the morning light was flooding in. 1715 - - at 46-26 Avalon "Well, I guess this isn''t the best." In the command center of Horai Island, Jin sighed with relief. . The old lord praised Jin. "I didn''t do much, and I''m not really aware of it." << "Is that so?" Father, I''m back. Then Reiko came back. <. The , piloted by Hope, was heading for Horai Island. It is flying at supersonic speed and will return soon. "Welcome home, Reiko. Thanks for coming back." Mini Reiko got up from Jin''s lap and jumped onto his shoulder. "Well, I''m going to go change." She puts the mini-reiko on her shoulder and goes back into the room. She returned in about a minute. She was dressed in her usual apron dress, disarmed, including the bowl. "Aren''t you tired, father?" For more than six hours since the Marquitas incident, Jin had been packed in the control room. "Speaking of which, I''m starving. Soleil and Luna are preparing a meal for you. Please go ahead." Jin got up from his seat and stretched. "Yes, I will." He then headed for the dining room. Naturally, Reiko followed him. After seeing Jin and Reiko off, the old man began to think about what to do next. < As a proof of this, he is even thinking of a <>. <> that has put this whole mess together. ...... can declare that Squire Rey is an automaton, so he can look as he did in the past. And moreover, I''m not sure that Rhodes would do so well, <<<>. * * * * Rhodes, a member of the second <>, the <>, was now in <>. "Long time no see, Tomax." And Marikka of Morura was with him. "This is the teacher!" Marikka had been a teacher here at Avalon about 20 years ago, and Tomax Bartmann, the Chief Administrator of Avalon, was a student of hers. What can I do for you today? There''s only one thing that''s urgent right now, isn''t there? Pandora''s continent? Yes, sir. The time is 5:00 PM. There is an approximate time difference of -11 hours from the Pandor continent, which means that it is around 6:00 a.m. there. In case you are wondering, the date line is drawn in the ocean between the Rasil and Laurent continents, called the ...... which is in essence the Kunlun Island. "It seems that a squadron is on its way, but it''s Guillermo Marchitas. They are no match for him. Tomax Bartmann was dismayed by Marikka''s assertion. "What?That''s ......." Marikka smiled at Tomax. "Calm down, Tomax. 30 years and you haven''t changed that much, have you? "...... is, yes, sir." "Don''t worry, sir, the <> is on its way. In fact, the enemy golem unit seems to have been almost completely destroyed. "Really?...... deus ex machina!And the special advisor? "Have they not been seen in the last few decades,...... or even a hundred years?Yes, that >>deus ex machina. "Oh, is that him?" Marikka smiles again. "That''s what I thought you would say, that''s why I''m here." Marikka is one of the founders of <> and one of the few living witnesses who has known it since its inception. "In a little while, the deus ex machina will arrive, and I will introduce you. "Uh, uh, really?How old are you? With these words Maricka understood what Tomax Bartmann was trying to say. "Oh, so that''s what you mean. Of course, you are the third generation, not the first." Maricka explained that the succession is not hereditary, but rather based on ability. "Squire Rey is an automaton, though, so he hasn''t changed." "...... I see." Finally, Tomax and I, who had regained our composure, began discussing the future. "Rather, how about we support the Principality of Mercana, which has suffered damage, and take this opportunity to encourage them to join the ?" "Oh, sir, that is a good idea. I will immediately discuss and arrange for a meeting. Tomax is not a dictator. is a parliamentary system. Maricka nodded in agreement. She then addressed Rhodes, who was standing by her side. "Rhodes, you knew some people in the Principality of Mercana, didn''t you? "Yes, Marikka. "Go with the support group from Avalon and help us to persuade them. I will. * * * * < < The man was in the dining room. It was midnight in Houraishima, so the menu was easy to digest. "This rice porridge tastes good. When Jin praised the rice porridge, Luna was flattered. "Thank you, sir. The pickles here are delicious, too. "Thank you very much." Soleil bowed her head as well. "Father, please have some tea." Reiko then offered him a cup of hojicha (roasted green tea). Of course, the tea was cooled down just enough for Jin to drink. "Oh, it''s delicious." Jin finishes his ojiya and drinks the hojicha while chomping on the pickled vegetables. (I wonder what Eira and Katya are going to do now. ......) As the old man was concerned, Jin himself was wondering what he should do with his acquaintances in the Principality of Mercana. 1716 - - 46-27 News "...... is that ...... what''s going to happen now?" Eira blurted out in front of the pile of rubble. "We should be glad that there''s still life ......." Katya responds. "I guess that''s what I''m saying." Gloma Trey interjected from the side. Now they are cleaning up the destroyed research dormitory. More precisely, they are digging out usable objects and personal belongings from under the rubble. The has set up temporary housing for them, so they have no need for a place to sleep for the time being. The same goes for food. And since they were provided with the bare minimum of clothing, they were able to manage food, clothing, and shelter. However, they could not take advantage of this. We are trying to recycle what we can use. The Principality of Mercana is resource poor. "......What''s going to happen now, ......?" And Eira complained again for the first time. "Hey, the flight from <> has arrived! At the sound of this voice, Katya and the others looked up. Ten airships were about to land. "This should make things a little easier for us," said Avalon. "I hope so!" Eira and Katya looked at the airships with tired faces. * * * * * * "Ah, Master!" <. "Oh, Groma. You look good." Rhodes raised his hand and walked away from the group to join Gromma. "Thanks for your help. Thanks to you we found the man we were looking for. "So, that''s the djinn, the master of ......?" "Yes. That''s who I was looking for. That''s ......! Rhodes smiled and patted Groma on the shoulder, "I''ve got things to do now. Let''s talk tonight. He walked toward the group of engineers. "Hey, Groma, what was that?" "What was that?...... Oh, Eira. That''s my master. "Master of ...... you mean, of ?" "Yes. Everyone calls him "Master Rhodes". "I see. ......" Eira stared at the backs of the group of engineers as they moved away. * * * * That night, Rhodes appeared in the dining room of the temporary housing where Eira, Caciea, Gromma, and the other former researchers were staying. "Ah, master!" "Gromma, can I come in?" Gromma Tolley drank some tea, "Yes, I''ve already eaten. Rhodotos told Gromma that he was ready to eat. Rhodes looked at Gloma, Rhodotos asked Gromma, "Is there someone called Eira and Katya? Rhodotos asked Gromma. Cacha, who was sitting back-to-back with Gromma, was startled when her name was called and choked on the tea she was about to drink. Eira, who was sitting next to her, was unperturbed. "Geez! "Kacea, are you okay?...... Master, this is Katya and the one sitting next to her is Eira." "Oh. ...... excuse me for interrupting your meal. My name is Rhodos. < and also an adjunct technical advisor. I''m, uh, I''m, uh, I''m Ka-Chaire. EIRA SHIATA. She introduced herself as "Cacha" and Eira as well. You guys ready? "Uh, yes." They had already finished eating and drinking tea, so there was no problem. "Well, come here, please." Rhodes, Gromma, Eira, and Katya left the temporary housing and walked under the stars to the airship where they had landed. "There were buildings all the way around here," he says. The area that was destroyed has been cleared and is now completely flat. It is no wonder, because the rescue airship cannot land without it. "Well, come on in." Rhodes invites them into a tent set up beside the airship. "Well, I''m sorry to bother you, sir." The tent is about 8 tatami mats in size and high enough that an adult''s head would not bump into it. It is illuminated by a magic lamp, so it is bright enough. Inside there was a table and about six chairs. "Well, have a seat. Would you like something to drink? "Well, I''ll have some tea. ......" Groma answered on behalf of the others. It was appropriate, since it was just after dinner. Okay. ...... Hanako." "Yes." Hanako, the automata, brewed a pot of tea and put it in front of each of us. "Oh, an automata(automata)......?And such an elaborate ......!" Eira and Katya are amazed. Gloma Trey had seen Hanako before, so he was not that surprised. After taking a sip of his tea, Rhodoth spoke up. "Now, before I get into the details of what I asked you here for, let''s finish what you seem to be interested in." Rhodes kept his mouth shut for a moment and looked around at the three of them before resuming the conversation. "...... Jin-san, I''m talking about ...... Mister." "Jin-san!Are you safe!" Katya was the first to bite. "Yeah. I was asking for Gloma Trey over there. < to my place. "So, Jin-san is at ......." "Oh, no need to panic, no need to panic. I''ll explain in order. First of all, Mr. Jin is a relative of someone I''ve taken care of." "I didn''t know that. And Ka-CHEER. "He''s missing and I''ve been looking for him. Don''t worry, he''s back home now. "I''m glad to hear that. ......" Katya let out a small sigh of relief. "No, Jin-dono was more worried about you guys. "Oh, Jin-san was? "Yes. Yes. This is the reason why such an uproar has arisen this time. "Well, um, then, Mr. Jin, are you in a position to receive such information immediately? This was a very perceptive question from Katya. "Well, yes. Well, let''s get to the reason why I called you here. Rhodes took a sip of his tea to quench his thirst and continued. 1717 - - 46-28 Reached Hand "This country, the Principality of Mercana, is in turmoil. Is that clear?" Rhodes began to explain. "Yes. "The leadership of the royal family and the Committee of Ten are gone. Paelova Sondvik, who is related to the royal family, is working hard to rebuild the city, but it will take some time. "...... Yes." Here Rhodes paused for a moment before continuing. "Right now the is urging the Duchy of Jagus to stop interfering with the Principality of Mercana. Fortunately, the warp gate between the Principality of Juggs and the Principality of Mercana has been broken," Rhodes said. "The warp gate between the Principality of Mimaka and ours is still in good condition, so we should have no problem sending supplies." Rhodes explained that the Principality of Mimaka is more of a neutral ...... and understands the <> and will join in the near future. "And what would change?" Ccea asked. "Well, yes. As a nation, that''s what you want to know. Rhodoth nodded. "Paelova Sondvik wants to join the Council of Worlds once the Jags are out of the way," Rhodes said. Then we will be able to provide more support. Rhodoth said, and Ka?ea''s face lit up. "The support we''re giving now is for disaster relief, but we can continue to help with reconstruction afterwards, and we can send our own people to help." Groma''s face lit up at this. "That would be great!The current situation in this country is terrible. "Yes. Yes, I''m aware of that. ...... and then there''s the resources. I hear that the resources in the shallows of this continent have been mined to the point of exhaustion. Rhodes looked around at the three of them and said, "So there''s not much we can do to develop it. "Yes, Master. If we go to ......, will < be supporting us with resources from now on as well?" "Yes, that is if this country joins the ." "I don''t think they would refuse in this situation, though." Eira opened her mouth. "In addition, we can invite you, for example, the best engineers ...... to join <>." "Oh, you mean, you mean, pull them out?" Cacacea asked a little uneasily. But Rhodes shook his head. "No, no, no. We''re just offering you a place to learn. You can always return to your homeland. "If that''s the case, I''d like to learn! Gloma Tolley was also very enthusiastic. "Yes. Katya nodded in agreement. "I don''t care if I get to go back to ...... or not. I don''t have a place to go, and I don''t have a family waiting for me. Eira says matter-of-factly. "Yes, such people will be given residency in if they wish, or they can live in another country. Of course, they can also come back here after their studies. "That''s very generous of you." Gromma smiled a little tiredly. "The outside world is so free, isn''t it ......?" "Yes, it is. But this country will change in the future. ......Oh, yes, the villages of Tajee and Fan were also attacked and almost burned to the ground, but there were no fatalities or missing persons." "...... I see, good ......!" Tazi village, where his childhood friend Helga is located. Ka?ea patted his chest. "Well, is there anything else you want to ask me?" Rhodotos said after he had finished his tea. Cacha raised her hand. "Please, come in." "Um, um, do you think we''ll ever see Jin-san again?" "Hmm?You want to see him? "Yes, yes." Katya nodded her head, her cheeks tinting slightly. "Me, Eira and Jin-san used to work together as a ." "Yes, I heard. I heard that you promised to have a rematch with Jin-san ......''s golem, didn''t you, Groma?" "Yes, sir." Rhodoth laughed happily. "It''s a rather reckless ...... promise, but with that promise, I''m sure you''ll be able to see Master Jin again." "Is that true?" Rhodes nodded silently. "Well, for now, our first priority is to rebuild our country. * * * * While returning from the tent in Rhodes, Katya and Eira were talking. "It''s good to know that Mr. Jin is still missing, isn''t it? "Yes, it is. It''s good to know that he''s back home. Yes. And Eira looks up at the sky. "If you don''t mind, I''d like to study at ......<>." "Hmm, I knew you would say that, Eira." "What about you, Katya?" What about Cacha?I would like to learn, but I would also like to see my parents back home. Hearing this, Eira smiled kindly. "That''s like you, Katya. That''s good. Learn what you can and make the most of it back home. "Yes, ...... that''s right." Looking down at the two of them, the moon shines gently. * * * * Support was also extended to the destroyed villages of Tazi and Fan. "We are called . We are here to support you. Elena is leading the way. The first step was to and then to set up temporary housing. At the same time, the surrounding area is being cleaned up. "Thank you! Sergei, the village head, bowed his head on behalf of the villagers. "No, don''t worry about it. Are any of you sick or injured? "Yes, we are fine, thanks to you. The villagers were all in good health, as their injuries had been healed by healing magic on the first day of the rescue. "Village headman, do you have enough food and temporary housing? "Yes, Elena-san. Yes, Elena. Thanks to you, we are fine. Sergei looked around the transformed village. There, the golems of the Nostalgia Party were clearing away the rubble. "I see. The clothes will arrive tomorrow, so please wait until then. "No, no, we don''t ask for anything extravagant after all the support you''ve given us. The priorities of the nostalgia party were, in order, medical treatment for the injured, food, temporary housing, and bedding. The temporary housing, with a few more modifications, would be small houses that would last for a hundred years. Well, the designs are all the same. Among the aid, the food was provided by the island of Horai. In any case, the agricultural production in Horai Island is going too well, and it is only accumulating. <, so it remains fresh semi-permanently, but there is still too much of it, so we decided to take this opportunity to release it. "Thank you very much ......" Sergey, the village head of Tazy, thanked Elena again and again. 1718 - - 46-29 Finally calm down In Penglai Island, Jin was receiving a report from the old man. "So, the restoration of the Pandor continent is going well, isn''t it?" < The old man explained that he, too, was glad to be able to make good use of the ever-increasing stockpile of food. "But still, it''s been half a month since then. ....... How fast does it go? Today is November 15. Half a month had passed since Golbert Markitas had launched his invasion. "Master Jin, I''m back." Just then Rhodotos returned from Avalon. "Welcome back. How are you?" "Yes, the Principality of Jagus has officially declared that they will no longer interfere with the Principality of Mercana. Now we can increase our support. No matter how much support we give, it is meaningless if it is taken away from us. However, the warp gate connecting the Principality of Juggs and the Principality of Mercana had been destroyed, making it virtually impossible to influence them. "That''s good to hear." "There was a bit of a commotion when Deus Ex Machina III appeared in Avalon. "Of course there was." After a long period of silence, the Deus ex Machina III has made his appearance. Not as one of the founders, but as his successor. "Marikka gave me her assurance, so I was accepted without any difficulty. After all, the words of Marikka, who has been a living witness since the founding of <>, are very important. "And this Marikka?" "Yes, together with ...... that?" < "Why doesn''t she come in?Hey, Marikka! Hey, Marikka! What do you mean, "Hi!" ...... Come on in. - Yes, sir. Marikka steps into the command center. "You used to come here every once in a while ...... 400 years ago, didn''t you? I was usually with Mr. Zion or someone else. Even today, Rhodes would be there. That''s true, but... In short, Rhodes would not be enough to support his heart, Jin thought to himself. "Thank you for your explanation on <>. ...... what''s that ......?" Is it Tomax Bartmann? Yes, that''s right. Your explanation to Tomax Bartmann was magnificent. "Oh, thank you very much." "I wonder why he bites. ......" < The old man helped him out. "......, does that mean I''m a traumatic level for Marikka!" "No, no, on the contrary, I''d say you''re an object of faith. ......" For Marikka, Jin, who saved her people, who were then called the , was the object of her admiration. Jin, who had never been aware that he was such an object of admiration, had no way of knowing. "When the situation on the Pandor continent calms down, I''m thinking of going there once, and I''d like you two to go with me then." "Me too, sir?" Marikka looked doubtful, but Jin nodded. "You explained that Rhodes is a , didn''t you?That''s why." "Oh, so you''re going to say that they are Marikka-sama''s relatives?" "Oh, you''re going to say that I''m related to Marikka, aren''t you? It was actually Zion who had asked him to search for Jin, but Marikka was equally concerned about him, so it was not a lie. "I wonder what you''re going to do about your promise at ....... ......" "Promises?With whom?" "Oh, you promised me a rematch against Groma and Golem, didn''t you?" "What''s the point of doing that now, Jin-sama?" Rhodoth says, a little taken aback. "Well, yes." Even if I take Hope with me, there is too much difference in performance between the Hope of then and the Hope of now. Once again, Jin realizes that he is floating in the air. "Isn''t ...... good?" Marikka called out to Jin. "From what Law has told me, this Groma is quite talented. It would be good if we let him fail once and give him a chance to learn at . Is that a possibility? "Yes, I think so. I think that''s the way to go. ...... I remember that Ms. Cachea and Ms. Eira wanted to study at <>. And Gloma Trey." Rhodoth reported as if to add. "I see. I''m sure the three of them will grow together." Jin seemed pleased to hear that. "Yes. When the reconstruction of the Pandor continent progresses a little more, we''ll send them out. There are a few other talented people who could be a good match for us. Yes. I hope they will study hard and rebuild their homeland. "Now all we need to do is redevelop Hale and visit Onogoro Island. Since Hale will take a little more time to prepare, Jin would like to visit Onogoro Island. "I would like to ask Marikka to follow me." Since Marikka is the master of Onogoro Island, this is a natural request. "Yes, of course, Shore......." "Do the inhabitants of Onogoro Island know about Marikka?" "Yes, of course. No longer needing to hide anything, Marikka gives Jin a brief explanation. "I show up a few times a year to a dozen times a year, so everyone remembers me." "I see. ...... So what do you want me to say when I get there?" I doubt if you would believe me if I suddenly said, , he thinks. At least I wouldn''t believe it myself. "I understand that. If I come with you and explain the situation, you will believe me. "But I''m still worried. ......" And this is Mr. Rayko. Is that me? Reiko, who had been keeping quiet until now, spoke up. "Yes. You all know who Reiko-san is and ...... well, in the course of our conversation, that is." She is legendary as a dark-eyed, dark-haired follower and an invincible automata. "Besides, I think it will be all right if you bring or a spaceship or something that no one can make and show it to him. After all, Jin-sama is a ." "I see. ......" Jin adds, "Even if I don''t reveal myself, it would be good to see the descendants of the <> living happily. But Marikka said, "Don''t say that, But Marikka said, "Don''t say that. I''m sure everyone would be happy to see their ancestors. "You can say that too ......?" Jin scratches his head. And little by little, he thinks, he will make preparations to visit <>. 1719 - - 46-30 And then... "Speaking of which, what happened to Markitas?" Rhodoth asked Jin. "Wasn''t there a report made to <>?< was supposed to have taken care of it." "No, I didn''t hear anything about it." "That''s funny. ...... Well, whatever. Markitas passed away a week ago from old age." I see. ...... He was over 440 years old physically. "But your great-grandmother was 512 years old." Rhodes nodded his head. "That''s probably due to being half-Japanese and not being very fit." "No, I think it''s more because she lived for a long time in a land with a low concentration of free magic element (ether)." Marikka guessed. "Yes, that could be the case. Rhodes agrees with her theory. The free magical element (ether) has the effect of preventing the transformation and deterioration of substances containing magical atoms (magiatoms). "Oh, by the way, what happened to the piece of ?" "Oh, that guy. ......" * * * Lise, the doctor (healer) automata whom I had left by Markitas'' side, informed me that he was in critical condition, and I immediately rushed over to him. "I''ve put you through a lot of trouble. Those were his last words. His corpse was cremated in accordance with the instructions given to the support golem in advance. <, but no matter how long we waited, it never happened. Jin had no choice but to return to Horai Island, and a week passed without any news, I ordered the old man to make sure. Just to be sure, I ordered the old man to send out weak sub-free ether waves, but there was no response. "I wonder if mental life forms can''t make contact with normal creatures in this world after all. < Or, it may have possessed someone unknown to you, but for some reason it lost its ego. In any case, I am at a loss." . There seems to be nothing Jin and the others can do. "It can''t be helped. Let''s put this matter on hold. . . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * What happened to the base he used after Markitas died? Rhodes asked. "I took over the management of ......." Well, of course you did. "But I''m going to leave the ostensible management to and the Nostalgia Party." He had looked into it, but there was no technology that Jin really wanted. No, there was one thing. It was an efficient method of operating . But this was something that the support golem that Jin had secured knew, and he had already transfused the knowledge to the old man. "Oh, yes, <>, right?Did you find out about that? "Yes, I have. It is almost the same as what the homunculus <> tried to do before. This time it''s more like transinfo, the transfer of knowledge to an automata. When Jin heard these words, he had a rough idea of what he was talking about. "Then, you have almost eliminated all concerns, don''t you? "This way. ." Rhodoth hears this murmur and thinks for a moment before opening his mouth. "I guess we have about half a month to go. Once the situation in the Principality of Mercana settles down and the villages and towns are restored to a reasonable level, the girls will be able to come to without any worries. "I see. Thank you." Jin nodded. * * * * * * "Elena-sama, I''ve finished retrieving all the broken battle golems. "Thank you." The nostalgia party (nostalgia gear) was doing a lot of cleanup work. "We also recovered the golem of Markitas, so we have more materials..." "Yes, that''s good. That''s a relief. Remembering the support golem, which was a formidable enemy, Elena thinks back to the battle against the , which she had been struggling against for so long. (I wouldn''t be here if Jin-sama hadn''t come back, wouldn''t I?) Elena tries to do her part. "How is the <> going?" "Yes, the backup from Markitas has been completely cut off, so it will be easy to destroy them. "That''s true. But if we do it all at once, there could be chaos in the upper echelons of each country, so let''s take our time. "I understand. I''m sure there will be some who will turn to us. There must still be people who originally belonged to the Nostalgia Party, and Elena wanted to keep their positions if she could trust them. "How about the recapture of the Elektra base?" "Yes, everything has been recaptured and we are in full control. "Yes, that''s good news." Elena sighed with relief. It is a pseudo sigh, since she is not breathing. "It looks like peace is finally coming back to the world. As a nostalgia party, I can''t help but wish for such a peaceful world. (After all, we still need more help from Jin-sama. ...... In that sense, it is good news that Jin-sama seems to have become immortal.) Elena was created by a female magecraftsman, Shenna, and regenerated by Jin. She may unknowingly recognize Jin as her second parent. * * * * * * * * * * * "So this is <......" "This is <. ......, it''s amazing. ......" "I had heard about it from my master, but I never expected it to be this great. ......" A few days later, had a new population. "It''s warmer in the south, isn''t it?" Eira is not fond of the cold, so she was glad to be able to wear short sleeves even in January. "So this is my room. It''s a bit small. ...... What?You have a separate lab and workshop?That''s fine." "That''s good. In Eira''s case, it would be better to have a separate laboratory and living room, wouldn''t it? I agree. What the hell, guys? Eira, Katya, and Groma seem to be doing reasonably well as a new . Avalon, floating on the blue ocean, is at peace today. 1720 - - 47-01 To Onogoro Island On December 1, 3899, at the research institute on Horai Island. Jin and Reiko were in the basement command center. "Now, it''s time to go to Onogoro Island." "I''m looking forward to it, father." "I''m looking forward to it, but I''m also ...... nervous." Jin had not felt this nervous since the last time he went for a job interview before he started working. Jin-sama, thank you for waiting. Then Marikka arrived. < < The life expectancy of the northern peoples, who originally had a long life expectancy, has increased dramatically due to good nutrition, public health, and medical care. The old man guessed that the increase in the concentration of free ether may have also contributed to the increase in life expectancy. "It is good to live a long and healthy life." "...... Yes?" Marikka, who had just come into the command center, asked him what he was thinking. "No, it''s nothing. I''m glad to hear that Marikka is doing well. Marikka was flustered to be told with a straight face, "Oh, thank you. "Oh, thank you very much." "......" Marikka has always had a habit of getting nervous and biting Jin when she is in front of him, a habit that has not yet been cured. Jin laughed inwardly at the fact that she could be so firm with others ....... "Mr. Zion sends his regards. He says he can''t accompany you this time. "I see." Marikka and Zion have been alive since the time Jin''s descendants first moved to , so their words are persuasive. I am grateful that Marikka is able to accompany me, since I know she would not believe me if I suddenly told her that Jin is . "What about what I should bring with me?" Marikka looked at Jin as if she were a school child on a field trip, "Ah, well, the wards that cover the island are not closed as far as the <> is concerned, so you can get them as many times as you want later, so it''s okay if you forget something. Jin''s shoulders relaxed as he was told the obvious. "If <> is with you, I''m sure it won''t be a problem. Oh," Jin thought. Marikka and Zion were now able to pronounce the words natively from time to time. , whom Marikka modeled after Reiko, is pronouncing it correctly. <. But if we are not careful, we can''t help but pronounce it as . "Where is the warp gate to Onogoro Island located?" "There is none on Horai Island, so we are planning to add one this time." "I see." The main component of the warp gate, in other words, the . This is what connects two warp gates with a free magic element (ether) wave. So, the current Warp Gate is located in my house in the Nordic Federation. In the corner of my garden, to be exact. "Heh." Marikka was the administrator of Onogoro Island, so it was only natural. "Well, father, let''s go." "Yes. I''m going to go to ......." . Jin, Reiko, and Marikka were on their way to the clan territory of for the time being. "Jin, welcome." The warp gate room of the < clan territory was located in the clan leader''s house, where a special and robust building had been constructed. "Hello, Zion." It was nice to be greeted by Zion. ....... "I thought you couldn''t come with us this time, Zion? Jin said and Zion smiled and nodded. "Yes, but that''s okay. We still have time." "Time?" "Yes. Today''s meeting of the elders will be held here. They are waiting for the members to gather at their house. So we have a little more time," explained Zion. "So I''ll leave it to Marikka for today. I just came to see Jin''s face. I thought he would be excited. "......Well, yeah. I''m looking forward to it." "Hmm, I guess so. ...... Marikka, nice to see you today. "Yes, Mr. Zion." After this exchange, Jin and his friends went to Marikka''s house. In a corner of the yard, there was a solid-looking building like the one they had seen earlier. There it is. Okay, let''s get going. "Yes, sir." Jin, who had been looking forward to the trip, headed for the warp gate room at a quick pace. "Don''t be in such a hurry, I won''t run away. Marikka shushes Jin with the promised line. However, her steps were becoming hurried. Let''s get going. Once through the warp gate of the same shape as the one on Horai Island, they are instantly in the warp gate room on the Onogoro Island side. The golem in charge bows silently. It is a golem entrusted with maintenance and management, similar to the craftsman golem (smith golem). "Father, the concentration of free magical element (ether) is about the same as that of Horai Island, isn''t it?" Reiko said at first. "And the unevenness of the distribution of free magical element (ether) must have been corrected a lot. In the past, was responsible for sending the free magical elements (ether) of the planet Ars to the direction of Hale. Since that time, the distribution of free magical elements (ether) on Ars has been returning to its original state. "Let''s set up the warp gate to Horai Island first. Reiko said. Jin nodded reluctantly. "Please use this warp gate. Marikka showed a half-finished warp gate. "You can use it by setting the link core. It seems that she had prepared it in advance, thinking of Jin. "Thank you very much. Thank you. ............ is finished." Reiko is the best on Horai Island in setting up the warp gate. She finished setting it up in 5 seconds. "Now we will test it. Then he went to the warp gate. Then, just when you think he has disappeared, he comes back in about 10 seconds. "No problem. It works perfectly. "Thank you, Reiko." Now that we are all mobile, it''s time to get out in the open. "I''ve never been to a well maintained island before." Jin takes a step forward, muttering to himself. 1721 - - 47-02 Welcome "Welcome to Onogoro Island, ancestors!" Jin was greeted with applause as he exited the warp gate room. "Uh, uh..." Jin was surprised. "Thank you for welcoming me." Marikka thanked Jin on his behalf. "So this is your ancestor! An elderly man and a woman greeted us. "Jin-sama doesn''t like ostentation, so only the two caretakers are here. Marikka explained. "Caretakers?" "Yes. I am Trihard Randall and this is my wife Suzanne. As he introduced himself, Jin saw the image of his good friend Reinhardt in him. And his wife Suzanne looked somewhat like Saki. "You are so young. If Marikka-sama hadn''t explained it to me, I wouldn''t have believed it. Trihart said as he shook hands with Jin. "Of course. ......" Hitoshi nodded. "But, well, I grew up hearing many stories of our ancestors'' unorthodoxy and eccentricities, so I think we all agree that <>. "I see. Jin did not feel much praise for that. "And this is the legendary Reiko, isn''t it? Yes, I am Reiko. "Oh!It''s an honor to meet you! It seems Reiko is also a legend. You, we''d better get going. "Oh, yes." Suzanne said to her husband, Trihart, and the group left the place and started to walk away. "My ancestors didn''t like ostentatious things, so I''ll bring you to my family first," she said. "Yes, yes..." Jin thought that it was better than being suddenly introduced to so many people. "Wow!" Ancestors! I''m so honored! At last! Here... you guys behave yourselves... "Gosenzo-sama!" And so we were greeted by a large number of our descendants. Apparently, they had been waiting for us for some time. This time there were two couples of about 30 years old, a boy and a girl, and a young girl...... totaling nine people. "A son and his wife, a daughter and her husband, and their children ......, that is, their grandchildren." The couple in their early thirties are Lackhardt and Milfe Landl, a son and his wife. They have three children, Grohart, Thorhart, and Mee Alice. A couple in their late 20s is Eugene and Mariesta Fahlheit. This is Trihardt''s daughter and her husband, and they have two children, Lilliam and Julius. (I''m going to have a hard time remembering them. ......) (I''m going to have a hard time remembering them. ) Jin was concerned. The children and grandchildren of the two caretakers already numbered eleven in total. Jin is relatively poor at matching faces and names. He is not suited to be an insurance salesman or an insurance saleswoman. (And yet, Farheit, or ......) Licia Faarheit. I felt that there was a trace of the earnest and hardworking girl in her offspring. As Jin was pondering this thought, he suddenly noticed a little girl coming up to his feet and staring up at him. "Yes, and ...... me Alice, was it?" "Yes." The short answer reminded Jin of his once loving wife, and he couldn''t help but pat Me Alice on the head. "I''m so happy to see you. ......" Mee Alice is smiling happily. "Ancestors......" Then another girl came in. "Liliam ......, right?" "Yes!" Lilliam smiled happily when her name was called and clutched at the hem of Jin''s jacket. This was the start of a crowd of small children gathering around. The fourteen-year-old Grohardt had indeed only just approached, but his younger brother, Thorhardt, came right up to him and looked up shyly at Hitoshi. "Everyone, ...... give me your regards." Jin said, "Yes, ancestors! the children nodded their heads in unison. "Now, now, everyone, if you keep sticking together, your ancestors won''t be able to move, so move away!" Suzanne clapped her hands and called out, and the children reluctantly left Jin''s side. In their place, their parents ...... Lackhardt and Milfe, Eugene and Mariesta, approached and shook his hand. "It''s an honor, sir. "Thank you!" When Jin shook hands with them, all four of them looked flushed and thrilled. They also shook hands with Reiko, whose face was also smiling, and after shaking hands, they were as excited as children. "Good work, Jin-sama!" Marikka chuckled as she helped Jin to his feet. "...... really." "But now you understand a little bit more, don''t you?" "Yes, I do. Jin felt that she was really happy to see him. "Well, let me show you around Onogoro Island. Marikka went first, followed by Jin and Reiko. Marikka went first, followed by Jin and Reiko, and then by their caretakers, Mr. and Mrs. Traihardt Susanne. The children and grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Susanne smiled and waved. "Is it a car or a ...... golem engine?" A four-wheeled car was prepared. A convertible. "Yes, that''s right,....... ...... kohon." In the driver''s seat and the passenger''s seat are Mr. and Mrs. Trihard Suzanne. Jin, Reiko, and Marikka got in the passenger seats. "The residential area of <> is divided into several sections. If you are in a hurry, you can use the warp gate, but this time, let''s take it easy with the golem car. Jin knew the island of Onogoro 400 years ago. This suggestion was not a bad one. He had not expected such a large area of settlements to be scattered all over the island. "Well, let''s go." Triharto started the golem car. Now it was time to tour the island of Onogoro. 1722 - - 47-03 Greetings Round The Golem car carrying Jin and the others drives along a gravel-paved road. Both sides of the road are forests of broadleaf trees. "Fresh greenery. ...... Well, it''s spring in the southern hemisphere, isn''t it?" Even though the island is located on the Tropic of Cancer, it seems to have four seasons in its own way. Even Horai Island has four seasons," Jin thought as he enjoyed the scenery. Soon, a village came into view. It is a village area. People who like this kind of life live here," Suzanne said. Suzanne explained. I could somehow feel the atmosphere of the village of Kaina. At the same time, there was a slight resemblance to the village of Kaltz, which used to be Reinhardt''s domain. When Jin mentioned this to her, "Yes, there are many descendants of such people living here. The car then drove to the central square of the village. The car stopped at what appeared to be the central square of the village. The residents soon gathered. Triharto used a loudspeaker, which seemed to be equipped in the car, and said, "As I told you before, I''m not going to tell you anything, "As I told you before, Nidohito-sama has arrived!Today we are just showing our faces, so you don''t have to say each person''s name. Then he turned to Jin, "Gozan-sama, please say one word to everyone. He said, "What? "What?" Jin was taken aback by this out of the blue, Jin-sama, please! Marikka also asked him in a whisper, and he stood up from the car. "Everyone, this is Jin Nido...... Nido Jin. I''ve had a little accident and have come here from 400 years ago. I am very happy to meet you all. And then, "This is Reiko. Please take care of her! I introduced Reiko as well. Reiko bowed silently. Ancestors! Jin-sama! I''m honored! They were all waving at her in excitement. Jin was relieved, but at the same time his eyes seemed to burn a little. "Okay, let''s move on. Let''s move on to the next one. ......Thank you, everyone! Trihart said and started the golem car. The villagers make way. The villagers clear the road and wave to Jin and the others as they drive away. "What do you think?Aren''t they all welcoming?" "Yes, they are." Finally, Jin felt a little relieved. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next stop was a slightly bustling town. The simple walls of the town reminded me of the town of Bluerand in the Kingdom of Egelea or Alban in the Kingdom of Klein. However, the gates were left open and there were no guards. "It''s just an atmosphere. Trihardt said. After passing through the gate, the golem cars proceed down the central street. In front of it is the central square with a fountain. "There''s a royal castle, too, isn''t there?" "It''s just an atmosphere. There is no king. There are those who enjoy the knightly life, though." Cosplay...... or role-playing, Jin thought when he heard that. "There are stores and a large population?" "Yes, about 70% are automata. "What?" It''s lonely with only humans, it''s the atmosphere, the atmosphere... "Well, ......" Jin imagined that they were NPCs in RPGs. The car stopped at the central square. Residents were already gathering. Here, too, Jin gave a brief greeting following Triharto''s call. The welcome is the same. Since we are just showing our faces, we pass through here with just that. "You all looked really happy," said Reiko. Reiko said. "I see. If Reiko says so, I''m sure of it. Reiko, who has much better eyesight than Jin, would be able to confirm the expressions on everyone''s faces. The next visit was to Ono. Our next stop is a port town-like area facing the inland sea of Onogoro Island. It reminds me of Potrock in the Kingdom of Elias and Nalneka in the Kingdom of Egelea. Here we parked our car in the square facing the harbor and greeted them. "Ancestors! I am so happy to see you! As expected, Jin was welcomed. The feeling that he had been neglected had vanished from his mind. "Oh, I''m so relieved." He is even more surprised to find that the town and village seem to be a comfortable place to live. "The automata for the inhabitants are based on <>" Marikka explains. Marikka explains. "Oh, I see. The fifth column (Quinta) lived undercover in each town, didn''t they?" "Yes. The old man helped them. I''m sure he did. Jin thought that the data collected by the fifth column (quinta), such as the know-how of various occupations, might have been used in this way. At the same time, he was a little happy to be of help in this way. After that, Jin continued to visit the three towns and greeted them in the same way. "Is that all?" Jin asked, "No, I have one last thing for you. He replied, "No, I have something special for you. "A special favor?" Yes, the direct descendants of Jin-sama. 1723 - - 47-04 Direct lineage Direct descendants," Maricka said. "Is there ...... any criteria for direct descent?" Jin asked, curious, "A follower," came the short answer. The short answer came back. "When you say followers ......, do you mean golems or automata?" "Yes." This time Suzanne answered. "You must have inherited a follower made in the time of your ...... ancestors since 400 years ago, that is the qualification to call yourself a direct descendant." "I see. Then ......." Jin swallowed the words. Nostalgic names are running through his head. Without saying a word, Jin was looking forward to the <>. * * * * The Golem car drove through the woods. "Oh! There was a chalk building reminiscent of the research institute on Horai Island. And with the people gathered in front of it, ....... "It''s them." Triharto said and parked the Golem car. "Everyone!We''ve brought your ancestors!" There was a cheer. But there were only a few of us, so it was no big deal. "Come on, ancestors, get down!" "Uh-huh." "Jin-sama, I''d like to introduce you to ......." Marikka seems to know them well. Jin did not know any of the humans, but he knew the followers beside them very well. Among them, the biggest and the most burly looking ....... "Black Knight (Schwarzritter), it''s you! "Jin-sama, it''s been a while." Next to him, on the other hand, is a small boy. Edgar ......! "It''s been a long time, Master Jin." And a neutral looking ........ "Aaru, you''re looking well. "Jin-sama, you too, looking good." And then there were two female golems and a male golem. Arrow! Jin-sama, it''s good to see you again. And are you Arko and Vail? Master Jin, good to see you again. Jin-sama, it has been a long time. To tell the truth, this is the first time for the <> Jin to meet Arko and Vail, although he had heard about them beforehand. However, strangely enough, it did not feel as if it was the first time they had met. The blonde-haired, elegant-looking automaton was also there. "Are you Neon? "Yes. Jin-sama, it''s been a long time. And a maid golem of familiar design... Sara? "Yes, Master." And finally, the dazzling blue topaz golem. Serene ......, right? Yes, Master Gin. These are the followers, it seems. Those who are not here serve those who should serve them in the outside world, Jin thought. (Come to think of it, many of them were created by members of the other than me.) (Come to think of it, there are a lot of people who were created by members other than me. Besides, who worked at the residence of Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, returned to Horai Island after Jin''s death. * * * * "Wow!You really, really are my ancestors!Fushigi!" A girl, who looked the youngest among the descendants gathered here, said excitedly. "If the Black Knight (Schwarzliter) says so, then there''s no doubt about it!...... Oh, ancestors, my name is Stephanie Randall!" You mean you''re a direct descendant of Reinhardt? Yes! I''ve been separated from Trihardt for about three generations. It''s a pleasure to meet you. Strange things happen, don''t they? I''m Natalia. A slender woman in her early twenties greeted us. Are you a descendant of Marcia? "Yes, that''s right!" Arrow, Arco, and Vail followed her, so there was no doubt about it. Jin was thinking about how slender she was for a descendant of Marcia ......, something that would surely lead to s*xual harassment if anyone asked. Next was a man in his thirties. "It''s nice to meet you for the first time. My name is Alvin Eschenbach. It''s an honor to meet you, ancestor. "You''re descended from Saki." He had Aal with him. He had reddish-brown hair and violet eyes just like Saki. He was slender, too. And a girl in her mid-teens, full of energy. "I''m Edith Kuzma, nice to meet you, ancestors! "Bina and ...... the Reinhardts?" It was Neon she was carrying. "Yes, that''s right!" She was a descendant of Bina and a descendant of Reinhardt. As it turned out, her face resembled Berche''s, but her red hair looked just like Beena''s, and her gray eyes resembled Reinhardt''s. Then there was a dark-haired boy in his late teens. "I''ve missed you, ancestor." "You''re descended from me and ...... Elsa." It was Edgar who was following him. "Yes!My name is Shu Nido!" And then a strange woman with Sarah in tow. "My name is Ada Nido." "You are descended from Hannah ......, aren''t you?And you''re my descendant? Yes, it''s nice to meet you. Indeed, she has dark blond hair and brown eyes reminiscent of Hannah. The last one was a woman with Serene, a blue-topaz golem. "My name is Merlina Eschenbach." "You are descended from Toa and ...... Stellina, aren''t you?" Yes, my ancestors. "Yes, my ancestors." "We all inherit the characteristics of our ancestors, don''t we? No wonder you inherited the squire. I am honored. I''m glad to hear you say so, Ancestor. "Ancestors, tell me a story from the past!" Then Trihardt, the caretaker, came in, "That''s all I have to show you today, Ancestors. After this, we will have a discussion, so please make yourselves at home. He invited them to the laboratory. 1724 - - 47-05 Talking "Hmmm, that''s a nice laboratory." Jin was impressed and spoke in praise. "Oh, thank you, sir." Marikka thanked him while chewing. "Jichu, this institute was built by me, based on the one in Horai Island. ...... but the actual site supervision was done by Testa, Helente, and Direk." "...... I see." So it is very similar to the research institute on Horai Island. "The inside has been slightly changed. Jin-sama''s study is not here, and the old man is in the basement. ...... "Well, of course..." There is no point in copying so much. There are several workshops inside, and only technicians I''ve approved are allowed to use them. "I see." Marikka is now one of the best in the world. Any technician who can meet his standards is sure to be top-notch. "And all of them?" <. "No, I''m afraid not. Not all of them, he said. It seems that even the direct descendants who inherited the squire did not inherit the skill of engineering magic. "Besides, there are children with good skills even if they don''t have a squire. "I guess so." Jin and the others head for the cafeteria. The location of the cafeteria was the same as the laboratory on Horai Island. There was a maid golem there who brewed green tea for everyone. "Oh, this tea is delicious. "Thank you very much." Jin praised the tea, and the maid golem thanked him. "This tea is from this island, and I hand-rubbed it myself. Green tea is made by plucking the sprouts of the chanoki tree, but if they are left as they are, they begin to ferment and eventually turn into black tea. So, as soon as they are picked, they are steamed to stop the fermentation process. The leaves, which still have a lot of water in them, are rubbed dry with hot air. The leaves are then dried further ......, which is the very rough process of making green tea. "I see, it is a deeply steamed tea. "Yes, it is." The taste varies depending on the steeping method. Shallow steamed tea has a good aroma but is astringent and has a light taste. On the other hand, deeply steamed tea tends to have a slightly weaker aroma but is richer and less astringent. Jin prefers deep steamed tea. "Well, Jin-sama, that''s enough tea talk for now. ......" Marikka called out to him with a sense of humility. "Oh, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Well then, let''s get started. There was not enough time to talk about the old days if we were just rambling. Jin thought that he would ask for their wishes and tell them an episode related to their ancestors. "Marikka, you decide." Instead of Jin deciding, Marikka waved her hand. "Yes. Then let''s start with the timeline of when Jin-sama met her: ......" "Wait!" Marikka was about to nominate someone when an intruder appeared. She looked at the entrance of the ...... cafeteria where the voice came from and saw a girl of about ten years old standing there. "I''m the next !" "......" Trichardt and Suzanne held their heads together. "......Rubina......, that girl is a total ......." Maricka let out a sigh. The child, whose name was Rubina, had red hair and steeple eyes just like Beena''s, probably because of Beena''s blood. "Rubina, as always. ......" Edith Kuzma, who is also of Beena''s blood, sounded exasperated. "She''s a bit intuitive and a bit restless," she said. Trihardt also sounded apologetic. "Well, well, it''s good that she''s so energetic. At this point, Jin had no choice but to say so. "You''re a good boy. We''re in the middle of a discussion. We''re trying to talk to our ancestors about the old days." Suzanne, the caretaker, gave him a wry smile and said admonishingly, "Oh, really? "Oh, really?...... I thought this was a gathering to nominate the next ." "You''re jumping to a conclusion. Besides, since the second generation is still alive and well, there''s no need to decide on the third generation. "Shut up!" Rubina complained with a laugh at Edith''s words. It seems that the two are close in age and have the same ancestors, so they seem to get along reasonably well. "If you''re here, I don''t blame you. Here, sit down there." "Okay." At Suzanne''s request, Rubina sat down in the vacant seat ...... across from Jin. "Well then, since we''re here, Rubina, why don''t you ask me a question?" Jin secretly thought that Marikka knew how to handle this girl, putting the one who seemed to make the most noise first. "Oh, is that okay?...... then." Rubina looked at Jin with a sparkle in her eyes, "Are you really my ancestor? Rubina looked at Jin with a twinkle in her eye and asked, "Are you really my ancestor? "......" A silence fell on the floor. The silence was broken by Reiko. "Rubina, it is you, isn''t it? I assure you. Your father is your father. "...... Well, you ...... must be Reiko ...... by the looks of you. But you know, there''s also the possibility that you''re a fake made to look just like Reiko. Then how can I convince you that I am the real Reiko? "Well... If you fight against the golem I made and win... That''s fine. I''ll crush your opponent, whoever he is, whoever he is. Jin sensed that Reiko was angry. And then.., "Reiko, be moderate." he lightly nailed her. Reiko nodded silently. "...... really in moderation, huh?" Rubina told Reiko to go to the front, whether she knew what was going on in Jin''s mind or not. "......Good grief, it can''t be helped. Ancestors, everyone, could you please come outside again? Trihart said apologetically and got up from his seat. Jin and the others followed suit. 1725 - - 47-06 Competition Outside the institute, there stood a golem that Rubina had probably created. It was a huge golem, about 15 meters tall. "Wow, it''s on par with <>." "Well, Master Jin, on this island, there are many people who major in engineering magic and aspire to become magecraft masters. Marikka explains. "Among them, that girl is quite outstanding." "Yes, if she can make something like that at her age, she''s already a top-notch craftsman. However, to become a "Magecraft Meister," one must aim even higher than the best. Furthermore, as we found out the other day, you need to include <> in your magic pattern. "I''m sorry, but her magic pattern is ......." Yes, it is very different from Jin''s before <>. (That''s why the requirements for ......<> are too strict.) Jin wanted to hold his head in his hands. (I''m here to be a , so maybe we can come up with some kind of equivalent title. ......) Jin suddenly thinks of something like that. But there was no way he could come up with a title right now. "Father, what should I do?Do you want me to go out with him?" I was about to think about it when Reiko urged me. "Yes, let''s contact the old man at ...... and have him send <> here. "Yes, sir." <> is a giant golem 15 meters tall and weighing about 5 tons, built by Jin. The second unit was piloted by Reiko. Incidentally, Unit 1 is semi-autonomous and Unit 3 is remotely controlled. "So, what are you going to do ......? "Whoa! ohohohoh? Suddenly, <> appeared in the plaza where Jin and the others were, so it was no wonder that everyone was surprised. Marikka was the only one who seemed unperturbed. "Ah, it''s the transporter. You''re the master Jin. "This is the technology of our ancestors. ...... "I''ve heard of it, but I must say, it''s even better than I imagined. ...... "Hmph, hmph!Well, yes!That''s what I''m talking about! Despite her strong words, her eyes are swimming and she is fidgety and restless, which shows her agitation. In short, he is at a loss for words. "Well then, let''s play!" The game begins when Reiko gets into . ....... "A match is good, but what are we competing for?" Jin asked. "Well, that''s the one, of course!That thing! What''s that? "That''s what I''m talking about!Here,...... let''s see,...... It''s very funny to know that you are thinking about this right now. It''s ....... "......When I say ''competition'', I mean fighting!" "I don''t think we should do that, do we?If a golem of this size starts fighting, it will have a big impact on its surroundings. ...... But before he could finish, Rubina interrupted him. "You''re scared of it!" "No, I''m not, but ...... you see, in fighting, if you lose, there''s a good chance you''ll be broken, right?If you do that, you can''t compete in other sports. So I thought it would be better to compete in something else first." Jin said what he thought was a good argument. "Hmmm, you''re right. The more times I win, the better. Rubina seemed to be determined to win. Marikka smiled, "Then try the one-kilometer race first," she suggested. She suggested. If you think of 15 meters as 10 times the size of a person, it is equivalent to running 100 meters. The plaza in front of the institute is large enough to do it. ......Yes, it would be a little over a kilometer to the other end. ......" "Okay!Let''s do it! Reiko, that''s the first thing. I understand. < Marikka took over the role of calling out the order. On the goal side, Trihardt drives the Golem car. A minute later, Trihardt sent a message to Suzanne''s manacam that it was ready. "Okay, let''s get in position ......, yay ......, don! While Jin was thinking about something as trivial as "I wish that had been the start,......," the two giant golems ran away with a resounding crash. And then.., > comes from the manacam. Well, it was a natural result, since < was about 3 times faster than <. "Ugh, ugh, well, we haven''t completely lost yet! Jin smiled at Rubina''s strength. Soon < and Rubina''s giant golem return. Jin stares at them. (As I thought, the balance of the weight of the limbs is not quite right.) Jin has found one problem with Rubina''s giant golem. "So, what''s next?" Rubina asks Marikka. "Well, why don''t you try to throw a rock or something a long way?We are so close to the sea. She says it is about 3 km to the sea. That''s three minutes for a golem car or a giant golem, and less than a minute for Titan 2 to run. "That''s good!" That was the deal. * * * * There were three golem cars in the lab, so everyone in the room moved to them anyway. "...... what do you want me to throw?" The beach was not a sandy beach but a rocky shore. So there were rocks all over the place. "I''d prefer the same weight anyway," Maricka said. Marikka then selected two rocks that looked the same, <> them, <> them to make them the same weight, and <> them into a spherical shape. It was quite an impressive work, and everyone present was impressed by the skillful workmanship. "That''s great, Marikka. Nice job." Marikka''s face turned red when Jin expressed his honest opinion. "I''m honored, Kokoco!" "......" Jin laughed and the others looked at each other as if they had seen something unusual. Rubina was the only one who didn''t seem to notice, "So I can just throw this! She was very enthusiastic. "...... I guess so. Let''s have them throw them at the same time. Marikka said, and <> and Rubina''s giant golem held rock cannonballs in their hands. "Can you tell which one flew farther?" "I can probably see them. And you can tell by the way it splashes. Marikka answered. "Then get ready ...... to throw!" Reiko''s < and Rubina''s giant golem tossed the cannonball into the sea. 1726 - - 47-07 Oshioi (literally, "greatness") They threw them all at once, and a few seconds later a column of water rose up in the distance. "Now, the rock thrown by Rubina''s golem has landed on the water," Maricka explains. Marikka explains. And a few seconds later. "Ah ...... I see that the rock thrown by <> has now landed in the water. I can barely make it ...... over the horizon after a little more flying." Jin wins. "......????......" Rubina looks very frustrated, and gives an indescribable scowl. "This time you will fight!Go on!" Rubina suddenly orders a fight. The giant golem grabs onto . Reiko calmly maneuvers the Titan 2. Her hands clasped tightly together. They then engaged in a contest of strength. "Do it!" Rubina shouts, but <> is undaunted. Just when Jin thought that Reiko seemed to be taking it easy. "Oh, wow!" The onlookers cheered, and <> had twisted and turned Rubina''s giant golem. "............" Rubina stands stunned. Just then. A fist-bone lands on her head. "Oh, my God!" "What a child!" Rubina is being scolded by a well-dressed woman who looks a bit like Hannah''s grandmother, Martha. "Amanda,......, don''t be too hard on her, okay?" Marikka rebuked her, but the woman called Amanda picked up Rubina and lifted her buttocks ....... And then she lifted her ass up and made a nice sound.She made a nice sound. "I''m in!" But Amanda didn''t stop. "Oh my God, this girl!" Pop! "Ow!" Run! Run alone! Pop! I''ve always told you to think about the inconvenience! Paan! "I''m sorry!I''m sorry!Grandma! Pop! "Good!" Finally Rubina apologized and Amanda stopped spanking her. "I''m sorry, ancestors. My grandchildren are sorry." Amanda bowed her head. Her hair is red like Rubina''s, but her eyes are gray. She looks like Martha and Meene, divided by two. "My hips are itching! She cries, which Hitoshi thinks is appropriate for her age, "Please let her go that far," he said to Amanda. Jin then quieted Amanda down. Then he told Rubina, who was sobbing, "You don''t have to do this anymore, "You won''t do this anymore, will you? She asks, She nodded her head while crying, "...... yes." She nodded her head and cried, "Okay, okay. ......<" I cast a healing spell on him. "Your ancestors are very kind, aren''t they? Amanda says to him. "I can''t just sit back and watch a girl cry." He is more sweet than kind. "Smile. ......" "Here, don''t cry anymore." "......" Rubina, who had just been poking at Jin, is now clinging to him and squirming. Reiko, who had come down from < after helping the almost unharmed giant golem to its feet, looked on with a wry smile. "Reiko, thank you." Jin thanked Reiko. Amanda bowed to him. "I''m sorry, ancestors. I''m sure she''s a genius, but she''s just a little too pampered and ...... pampered for today''s sake." Amanda looks really sorry. "Even today, when I took my eyes off him for a moment, he was gone with the golem,...... well, I was surprised." Jin patted Rubina''s head as she clung to him. "...... don''t do that again, okay?" "......Yeah." Rubina seemed to have calmed down after being scolded by Amanda and crying a lot, and seemed to have become a little more honest. "Well then, let''s go back." The intruder came in. The meeting started an hour late because of the unexpected intruder. Rubina and Amanda joined the meeting as well. "Since we''re here, let''s start with Beena''s story," Jin begins. Jin starts off. Rubina sits on Jin''s lap for some reason, her eyes shining and ready to listen. "Bina lived in the Blue Lands of the Kingdom of Egelea ......." Jin began to tell his story. "I first met her at a stall outside the castle. She was trying to sell magic tools at the stall for her sick younger sibling, but she wasn''t very good at it at the time." Jin hesitated for a moment, "I looked at the tools she had laid out and said, <>," Jin said, scratching his head. Jin said, scratching his head. "Oh, I''ve heard something about it," said Amanda. Amanda said. She is also a Beena. "Well, we had a little dispute ...... and I decided to help Beena out," she said. "Tell me about this little thing. Rubina demanded. The others look as if they want to know too. It is often the little things that come in between the big episodes that are the most interesting to listen to. "Yeah,...... well,<>," I said, and he got even angrier,...... I think, Reiko said something to add fuel to the fire." "Yes. <. Then Ms. Beena got angry and said, <>. ......" Everyone listens with a wry smile. "...... then Bina finally snapped, <>?He hit me with ...... and I went to ......." "I took it from her and broke it in half." As I expected, this kind of story seemed to be more popular, and everyone listened to it with great interest. 1727 - - 47-08 Meeting 1 "......I met Marcia at Potrock, which I visited because it was winter and I wanted to go somewhere warm." After finishing the episode with Bina, Jin then began to tell the episode with Marcia. However, since the old golem < is present, he tells an episode that Arrow is unlikely to know. "He wanted me to show him my skills as a magecraftsman, so I made him a figure of Marcia in a swimsuit, and the union leader liked it very much." The one-piece swimsuit became the official swimsuit for the Golem boat competition, Jin said, "Oh, I''ve heard of that! Natalia said happily. "After all, the Valentino guy had betrayed his country. I don''t know what the verdict was. The story continues. "At ......, I happened to meet Marcia''s father, Rodrigo, at the project. He was very sorry and ......" He reacted with tears and laughter when I told him that Marcia was lost and that Rodrigo, who went to her rescue, jumped out of the sky and got himself lost. This was probably because of his parental love for his daughter and because it was a very short-sighted action. Although Arrow knew this story, it was from Marcia''s point of view, and this was the first time he had heard the story from Jin''s point of view,...... that is, from Rodrigo''s side. "So, ......, you gave him Arco and Vale." After these two gifts, Marcia''s old story comes to an end. Incidentally, it was Jin who created the two bodies after his return 400 years ago, but Marikka had told me in advance so that the story would not be inconsistent. The next story is the one with Erza ...... in chronological order, which means that we will talk about . (What kind of public execution is this? ......) Jin shut his mouth. Then, a helper came to his rescue. "It''s getting late, let''s continue the story after dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Trihard Suzanne, the caretakers of the hotel, said, "It''s getting late, so let''s continue the conversation after dinner. The next thing I knew, it was twilight and dusk was approaching. Since the reception had originally been held in the dining room, the food was brought directly to the table. "Come on, come on, Rubina, get off Master Jin''s lap. "Yes, sir." Amanda told Rubina to get off Jin''s lap, and she did so reluctantly. The menu for dinner was ...... white rice, miso soup with deep-fried tofu and okara, grilled fish, sweet omelet, and pickled vegetables. ....... It was splendidly Jin''s favorite. "Wow, I like this miso soup! Rubina was pleased. "I like it, too. Edith Kuzma was also happy. "I love this sweet omelet ......." Natalia seems to have a sweet tooth. Fish is good, isn''t it? I like sashimi, but grilled fish is my second favorite." Shu Nido said. "I don''t have any preferences. Ada Nido said ladylike. I can eat five bowls of white rice. said Alvin Eschenbach. I like rice, too. said Stephanie Randall modestly. I would enjoy anything if I could eat with my ancestors," said Merlina Eschenbach. said Merlina Eschenbach. I am very good at pickling pickles. said Amanda Garrett. Jin-sama, then, please. Jin said to Trihardt, "Itadakimasu, "Bon apptit! Jin said, "Itadakimasu. Everyone chanted "Itadakimasu" and dinner began. "Oh, this rice is cooked well. Jin praised the rice, saying it was glossy and fluffy, "Thank you very much. I learned it from the golem maids of Hourai Island. Marikka said. "I have memorized all of Master Jin''s preferences. "I see. "...... by the way..." Jin opened his mouth as he sipped his after-dinner cup of hojicha tea. "Yes?What is it, my ancestors?" Suzanne tilted her head. "...... don''t you stop being that ancestor?" Don''t you like it? "No, it''s not that I don''t like it, it''s more that I''m not used to it and it tickles me." "Well, some people on ...... have called you ." "Yes, that would be fine." Trihart nodded. "Yes, sir. I''ll make sure everyone knows to call you that. Please do. Please do. After dinner, they continued the discussion for a little while longer. "Chronologically speaking, Hanna and Martha were the first people I met. Jin decided to share his memories of Hannah and the others. Since Sarah was made much later, there are many episodes that we don''t know about. "At ......, I showed up in the village of Kaina after a transition accident, and Hannah was the one who found me and ......." "I dug hot springs, made pumps, and built a wheeled cart. ......" "Licia, who had just become a tax collector, came and brought wheat to the village of Toka." "The mysterious ...... was actually a prototype golem from the Unification Party (Unifiler), and we fought it off and ...... "Reiko tracked me down and I was finally able to return to Horai Island. ......" "Count Walter took notice of me, and I returned to the island so as not to cause trouble in the village. ...... The stories are endless. Before I knew it, it was already around 9:00 PM. Stephanie and Rubina, the younger ones, looked sleepy. "......That''s all for today. See you tomorrow. The adults looked like they wanted to hear more, "You must be tired, Jin-sama. Suzanne said, "You must be tired, Jin-sama," which seemed to convince them. "Jin-sama, please take a bath." "Oh, thank you." And so it was bath time. "Gose...... Jin-sama, let me wash your back." Shu and Alvin were with me. "Jin-sama, please tell me more about yourself tomorrow. "......, yes." Now it''s time to talk with Reinhardt and Erza ......, and that means I''ll have to talk about how I got to know them and other things that are more relevant to me. (...... how should I talk about it?) Jin was a little worried. 1728 - - 47-09 Early rising Rubina was waiting for Jin when he got out of the bath. "......" "Hmm?What''s wrong?" She looked down and didn''t say anything, so Jin asked her. "Well... ......" "?" "Hi, I''m sorry about the daytime!......Ah......" Rubina bites the end of her apology and turns red. Jin said nothing and patted her head. "I''m sorry. ......" Rubina apologized again in a small voice. "Yes, you did well. I don''t care anymore." "Really ......?" "Yes, I''m sure. It''s late, good night. "Yes, sir." Jin watched her back as she ran to her bedroom, thinking that she was really an honest girl. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Gose...... Jin-sama!" A voice called from behind him. "Ah, Ada ...... and Merlina." They were two of the older offspring. They too had wet hair, probably after taking a bath. "Would you like a cold drink after your bath? "Oh, that sounds good. So the three of us stopped by the diner. Reiko, who was waiting outside, joined us on the way. Reiko, however, did not drink. "Oh, it''s cold and tasty. "Yes, it is." There was something like coffee milk in the cafeteria. "It''s coffee milk made from coffee beans and cow''s milk..." "Wow." Jin was convinced that it definitely tasted like coffee milk. Coffee beans were discovered on the southern hemisphere continent ...... Rasil about 200 years ago. "It was the Eschenbach family who discovered them," he says. Merlina''s ancestor, a man named Graus Eschenbach, found them. "I wonder if he has Goose''s blood in his veins. ...... No, I think he would do something like that even if he has Toa''s blood in his veins." Jin thought. "But. There wasn''t one on Horai Island. ......" Jin muttered, "Yes, there is. Reiko said. "What?Are you sure?" "Yes. There are still a few. ......I think that maybe, in honor of Mr. Glaus who discovered it first, he kept it secret until your father found out about its existence here." "I see, the old man was concerned about it." Jin understood. Indeed, I remember that I had ordered you to investigate the Rasheel continent before. Jin thought that he could ask the old man later when he had discovered it. Jin also liked coffee, but not as much as green tea. Jin imagined that the old man''s judgment must have taken this into consideration. There had been a beverage very similar to coffee called Kahi for a long time, but it seemed to be < compared to Kahi. "I didn''t know you could drink coffee milk even if you go to ......." I wonder if they have fruit milk too?Jin muttered, "Yes, they do," was the reply. "Well, they have fruit milk on Horai Island too, so I guess they must have it." Jin decided not to drink two bottles of milk after taking a bath because he might wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. After leaving Ada and Merlina, Jin went back to the bedroom and lay down on the futon instead of the bed ....... "You have a Japanese-style room, too?" he asked. The room was very well furnished. * * * * * * * * * * * The next morning after a good night''s sleep. "Hmm, jet lag is fine. ......" Jin woke up refreshed. The time was around 6:00 am. Although Onogoro Island is completely half a day off from Horai Island, Jin is not particularly jet-lagged. He had adjusted his sleeping time since the day before. "Father, are you awake?" Reiko opened the sliding door and showed her face. "Good morning, Reiko." "Good morning, Reiko." She rinses her mouth and washes her face in the bathroom and goes outside. The layout of the house seems to be the same as that of the laboratory on Horaijima, so there is no need to be at a loss for what to do. However, the details are slightly different, so I still feel a sense of discomfort. There was a visitor outside. "Good morning, Mr. Jin. It was Marikka. "The morning comes early as I get older," she said. "No, I used to be an early riser, but ...... "I used to be an early riser when I was younger." "Oh, I see." Then I heard another voice. "What''s that?Marikka-sama and Gozoku ...... Jin-sama?" It was Shu Nido. Good morning. Good morning. You''re an early riser, aren''t you, Shu? Yes, I''m not a night owl. He said he tried to stay up late, but he was too sleepy. "Ha, you''re a morning person, aren''t you?" Then another voice said. "Hello, Jin-sama ...... and everyone." It was Ada Nido. "Oh my, you''re all early risers!" Merlina Eschenbach was there too. "Wow, you''re all early." "Oh, good morning!" Rubina and Amanda. "Oh, my goodness." Good morning, everyone. Stephanie, Natalia, Alvin, and even Mr. and Mrs. Susanne Trichardt were up. They''re all early in the morning. Jin was impressed by the fact that blood is no longer blood. 1729 - - 47-10 Meeting 2 After breakfast, the meeting resumed. Elsa and I talked, "Father, I know you have a lot to talk about yourself, so I''ll talk on your behalf," Reiko offered. Reiko offered, "Then, please do so. ...... She said, "Well then, I''ll take care of it. "My father and Elsa met at the potlocks. Elsa was wearing a yellow one-piece swimsuit. The story starts off safely enough, "......Erza compared her breasts to Marcia''s when Reinhardt kicked her into the sea. ......" From something that Erza would want to seal as black history if she heard it, "......<<> rescued Erza from being kidnapped by the Unification Party (Unifiler)>>, and her father rescued her from the Unification Party (Unifiler)......" The episode is a kind of a play or a drama, "......Erza was brought back to her homeland and ......he finally proposed to her." Jin did not have to go into such detail, but he did, and he was applauded by everyone. (......) () Even Jin, who was listening to the lecture, was reminiscing about those days and feeling nostalgic. Jin''s talk ended after spending the whole morning. * * * * "Thank you for your hard work, Jin-sama. Suzanne, the caretaker of Jin, offered him a glass of lemon water with honey. Jin quenched his thirst with it. "Let''s have lunch. Then the maid golem arrived with a sandwich. Platters of sandwiches with a variety of ingredients are placed on the table. For drinks, the guests could choose from citran juice, ramon squash, cow''s milk, tehye, kuhe, etc. And since it was a light meal, the guests could enjoy the conversation while eating. And since it''s a light meal, you can enjoy conversation while munching. "I thought the Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) was in the Shoro Empire. Yes, I am retired, and I am now in the service of the Randall family as the Black Knight. Jin thinks that this is just a change from German to English, but since there is no Germany or England in this world of Ars, it is simply treated as a dialect. Especially, unlike four hundred years ago, the Shoro Imperial style words are perceived as a bit old-fashioned as a result of the increased exchange between the different countries. "So there are in style? "Yes, that''s how it is. By the way, who made this Black Knight? Yes, he is the grandson of Mr. Reinhardt, called Granhardt Randall. "He must have been an excellent magical engineer." Yes, he was. Jin remembered his former best friend fondly. "By the way, I think you had a name ..." "Yes, but the creator, Mr. Reinhardt himself was not accustomed to calling me that, so he usually called me <> after that." "......, you kind of get the idea." I guess it means that changing the name in the middle of a project doesn''t stick. Jin himself thinks that calling him <> is better looking than <>. Jin then spoke to Edgar. "How long has Edgar been on Onogoro Island?" Jin took a bite of his sandwich and asked the boy automata that his once beloved wife Elsa had created. "Yes, it''s been 98 years since the <> rose to power. "Until then?" "I served in the house of Reuthert." "I see." Jin remembered with nostalgia the house where he used to live. "Do you know how it is now?" "No, I don''t. Do you know what it looks like now? Maybe. Jin was not sure whether he wanted to know or not. Next he spoke to the Arrows. The Arrows have been helping Marcia in her workshop for a long time, haven''t they? "Yes, that''s right. Arrow answered on behalf of the others. Yes," replied Arrow on behalf of the others, "Marcia continued to work in her workshop even after her marriage. !" I heard a word I couldn''t understand. "Yes, that''s right. Marcia got married too, so that''s why Natalia is here, isn''t it? Jin was very concerned about his partner. Arko seemed to sense this and opened his mouth. "Marcia-sama''s partner is a Tiberio of the . "The northerners? "Yes. But he was a quarter, so his life span was not so long. He was 120 years old. I see. How is he and his wife? Yes, I remember they were very good. I''m glad to hear that. Jin remembers that the Kairi clan was neutral. "He was a quarter, so it was difficult for him to stay in the clan territory, so he wandered around the world and met Marcia-sama. ...... "I see." He was a quarter, so he didn''t have to worry about the Elias Peninsula with its low concentration of free magic element (ether). "I''m glad you were happy, yes. I''m glad. ......" Jin nodded with a smile. "If the three of you are here, then the workshop in Potlock is ........." "Yes. Yes, there is, but there is no one of Marcia''s blood. This time Vail answered. "He came here to build a ship of extraordinary quality, and now he is building a very large ship, 100 meters long." "That''s amazing." Indeed, Jin himself remembers that. The frustration of not being able to present something even when you''ve put your all into it. I guess that''s why Marcia''s descendants moved here. "Hey ancestors, not ......, Jin-sama." < "Yes?What is it?" "Were my ancestors and Edith''s ancestors close?" Stephanie Randall and Edith Kuzma were 12 and 15 years old, so it seems that they were close friends because of their age. "Yeah, they were. Reinhardt and Lewis were friends." "Wow, I see." Lewis took over the count''s family at a young age, and Reinhardt was the fourth son of a count. "Oh, I heard about that. After that ......." After that, according to Stephanie, Reinhardt became lord of the village of Kurtz, and then finally was given the title of count. "Reiko-san, it''s been a long time, hasn''t it?" Behind Jin, Neon was talking to Reiko. It seems that Neon still likes Reiko after 400 years. "Yes, Mr. Neon. "I''ve made a lot of improvements." I''m glad to hear that. "I''m not as good as Reiko-san, though." Jin thought he would let them talk on their own. "Merlina, right?" "Yes, what is it?" Taking this opportunity, Jin decided to ask her something that was bothering him. "You are a descendant of Stearina, aren''t you? Then, have you heard anything about her friend Vivian? I would have asked the old man about this as well, but I wanted to avoid this question. To ask the old man would be like browsing through , so he wanted to hear it from the person concerned if possible. Yes, I have heard of it. "What did you say? "Well, I heard that you were with someone quite a bit older than you. "A very old ......." When Jin was told this, he could only think of one person in particular. "The archaeologist Lukor ......?" "Oh, yes. I think his name is Lukor. "Oh, yes. ......." Storyteller and archaeologist. Maybe they are a good match, Jin thought. 1730 - - 47-11 Aida Lottery At that moment, something touched Jin''s feet. "?" He looked at his feet and saw not a furball......, but a small animal grazing on him. "...... cat?" I don''t think he understood the word, but I heard a voice saying, "Meow! "Are there cats on this island?" "Yes, there are. They are descended from a cat that belonged to a man named Ekarto Tecles. It was Marikka who explained this to me. "Of course, <>, I took the opportunity to return the cat to Mr. Eckardt, but it multiplied while he kept it. Eckart Tecles, a wealthy merchant of the Kingdom of Celuloa. , he was exiled by Richard, the tyrant king of the time. At that time, he had protected his cat on Horai Island. And his offspring are kept on the island of Onogoro. Well, I guess such things happen. Jin recalled that in the village of Kaina, Licia and Pascoe''s horses had been bred and their offspring had been bred. "Is there such a thing as overpopulation?" Jin recalled the problems he had heard about when he was in modern Japan, such as the <> problem and the isolated islands such as <>. "Oh, that''s all right." The next person to answer was Alvin Eschenbach. He is a cat lover, or rather a small animal lover, and has a cat and a dog at home. This cat was not a stray, but was brought here by him. "You don''t have any strays?" "Yes, that''s also fine." The breeding rate seems to be low, so they do not reproduce that much. Jin wonders if they are a little different from cats on Earth. But it is a good thing if the cats don''t feel small. "Jin-sama, please tell me about the man named Eckart Tecles who used to keep cats on this island. At Alvin''s request, Jin began to explain as he remembered. "He was originally a big merchant in the southern part of the Kingdom of Selroa,...... uh, the Korin region. But he dreamed of sailing out to sea on a ship, so he hired a man to build a big ship for him. And Jin helped a little, too, he says. "When I heard that he had a cat ......, I originally visited him to see if he could help me make a cat golem." They had never heard of such a story before, and everyone was very interested in hearing it. * * * * "By the way, how many people are majoring in magical engineering? When the conversation came to an end, Jin asked what he had been wondering. "Well, not ...... half of them, as they are not suited for it." The person who answered him was Trihardt, a caretaker. "I guess so. Jin agrees with me on that. In this environment where we can do what we want to do, there is no need to choose a career that we are not suited for. "But that''s why people majoring in magical engineering are aiming to become . "Well, that''s true, isn''t it?" But we all know that skill alone is not enough to become a <>. Then shall we establish a new title? "Yes?" I''m still alive and well as the second generation of Magecraft Meister, so I think I''ll start by establishing something as a title to go after that. "Oh, that''s a good idea!" Rubina, who was listening beside me, took a bite out of my hand. "Hey, Jin-sama, what kind of title are you thinking of? "Well, ...... Bina was called <, so maybe <> and <>. ......" Magecraft Maestro is a title that already exists, Jin adds. "Maybe we could have a competition or something, and decide on the results?" Of course, Jin is the chairman of the jury. "...... Oh!That sounds interesting!" "...... I''ll do it!I''ll be the queen! The offspring look happy. "Then let''s start thinking about it. Trihardt, the caretaker, is also enthusiastic. I wonder what the level will be? Jin asks Marikka. "Yes, ...... golems are easy to make, and vehicles such as carriages, golem cars, ships, and airships are no problem. "Oh, that''s great! Jin was pleased. So, I thought I''d give it a try, "What if I get out?" "Please don''t do that," he said, "Please don''t do that," he said. He was told, "Please don''t do that. "The subjects of the competition could be a human-sized golem, a giant golem, a speedboat, a golem car, or an airship. ...... "It would be better if the spectators can enjoy the show." "Oh, yes. It would be good entertainment." Jin suggested, and Trihart agreed. "If we try to do everything at once, the scale will be too large, so it would be better to narrow it down, wouldn''t it? Suzanne also offered her opinion. "That''s for sure." For example, the playing field would be completely different for boats and cars. "I think I would prefer a boat competition." Natalia immediately expressed her wish. "I would also like to have a golem car," said Merlina Essien. Merlina Eschenbach said. I''d like to see the airship race," said Ada Nido. said Ada Nido. Rubina, of course, "The giant golem race!I''m not going to lose this time! she says. "That''s right. We should compete in all these different areas and decide on the overall score. "I agree!" Jin said, and everyone agreed. Now we need to decide the order in which to hold the competition, which Jin decided to do by amicable lottery. "Amihodaku? "What''s that?" It seems that no one has ever heard of amidakuji. Indeed, Jin, looking back on his past, felt that he had never used amidakuji since he came to Ars. "I don''t know what amidakuji is. ......" Jin explained what he knew about amidakuji. "You draw a line vertically as many times as you want to choose, and write the object you want to choose at the end of each line. Then, a horizontal line is drawn between the vertical lines. There is a rule that the horizontal line must stop at the adjacent vertical line. Everyone is listening attentively. Jin continued. "Also, you must not draw a horizontal line from the same place. There are some local rules about crossing over a vertical line or going back to the top, but I''ll skip those for the sake of complication. "And when you have finished drawing, go to the opposite end ...... and follow it from the top in this case. The rule is that if you hit a horizontal line, you must turn. And if you hit a vertical line, you must turn. And of course, down." I drew a line to try it out and explained it to them, and they seemed to understand it well. "Oh, this is good!" "The participants draw the lines, so we don''t know which vertical line will eventually lead to where." Hiding the first line makes it more fair. "Let''s go with this!" With unanimous approval, Jin immediately drew up an amidakuji lottery. There are five vertical lines. <<<<<<>. Jin draws four horizontal lines and folds the paper to hide them. "Now, draw two lines for each of you. Then he asked everyone to add a line. "Okay. Then, let me choose." Jin agreed and chose the middle line out of the five. "Well, let''s see what it hits." 1731 - - 47-12 Start! Jin followed the amidakuji lottery to determine the competition events. "......Ko de, ko,ko,ko ......To." "a,a,a,a......" Just when you think you are about to reach your desired event, it takes a sharp turn. And then... "A boat!I did it!" Natalia shouted with delight. "Yes, I think we''ve got it!" Maricka closes the event. "This time it''s a boat competition. She added that she was glad to have a ship for the first competition, since there was no course for a golem car competition and the airship competition would require safety precautions such as crashing. He added that it would have been better to use a ship for the first competition because ship competitions have been held in many places including Potrock, and know-how on the operation and safety of the competitions has been accumulated. "I see, there are no car races. Jin said a little disappointed. Then he added, "There are circuits, which are a combination of curves and straight lines, and there are also those that are held on public roads or off-road," he added. Maricka heard this and said, "I''m not sure if you can do it on a track or off-road. Maricka heard this and asked, "A circuit? "A circuit? Sounds interesting. Shall we build it for the future? She is very enthusiastic about the idea. If we perform well in all the competitions, we can become the King of Magecraft or the Queen of Magecraft. "......A pity it''s not a giant golem competition at first. ......" Rubina is a little disappointed, but Jin is not, "If you want to be a queen, you have to be able to make anything. Rubina was a little pouty. Rubina was then suddenly in high spirits. "Yes, you''re right!I''ll do my best!" She jumped down from her chair, "Let''s get to work! and ran to her workshop. It seems that she has her own workshop in this institute. "Master Jin, I am sorry for my noisy grandson. Rubina''s grandmother Amanda apologized, "No, don''t worry about it. A child should be as energetic as that. Jin gently stopped her from apologizing. "But before that, we haven''t even decided on the rules and regulations yet. That is more problematic. I''ll let you know when it''s decided. So, Jin and Marikka took the lead in deciding the details of the competition. "Shall the boat be less than 10 meters in length and less than ......8 meters in width? "Yes. ...... One pilot, can be a human, golem, or automata. The assistant can be a golem or an automaton, any number of them. The number of assistants can be any number of golems or automata. "The power can be freely ...... or with some restrictions?" < was brought into the race, it would no longer be a boat race. "Should we limit it to screws?Or only jet propulsion systems (jet thrusters) ......" Too many restrictions would reduce the fun by half, so it is difficult to decide how much to limit the use of jet thrusters. "Let''s limit it to jet propulsion (jet thruster) systems." Marikka said that since the Golem can carry any number of people, the propulsion system should be such that it cannot be used to power the Golem. She said, "Let''s make it so that the golem can''t row for propulsion. "That''s a good idea. Yeah, let''s do that." "Besides, as a boat, it should be in contact with the water except when it''s bouncing. We also decide on the rules. "We can use any material we want. ......" At any rate, I wrote down on paper what had been decided. "Yes, I think this is good. Jin thought that it might be interesting even if there were some omissions. Jin was very interested in seeing the unconventional ideas that could be developed by taking advantage of such omissions. "And then, when is the event scheduled to be held? "About a week from now, I guess. When Trihart suggested this, Jin wondered if it was a little too short.Jin thinks that it is a little short, but if he thinks about it in terms of his own schedule, it is more than enough. "Guys, two days should be enough time for production, but with time for adjustments and improvements, we''re talking about a week." "Yes, that would be fine." Jin nodded his head, and thus the <> was held. * * * * "...... I want to make one too. After announcing the competition to all of Onogoro Island, I had some free time. "You can''t go out, Gin-sama!" Marikka said to me, "Oh, no, it''s not that. < Jin explains. "Oh, so that''s what you mean. An example of production, something like that. "That''s what I mean." "Then feel free to use the materials in this laboratory. We also have a few more workshops with docks by the beach, so feel free to use those as well. Okay. Thank you. Thus, Jin also decided to build a boat. His assistant was, of course, Reiko. But.., "Let me observe." Marikka, Alvin, Edith, Stephanie and others came to the boat. Jin has just started to build the hull. The trimaran he is building is designed for stability. It is disadvantageous in the sense that it will increase the viscous resistance of the water, but we are planning to reduce that resistance by adding water repellency through <>. "A trimaran?" Alvin seems to know the format. The framework is 64 light silver. Reiko, hold this side. Yes, sir. It is the same type as the still in operation on Horai Island, but in a more sophisticated form. "I like the 64 light silver exterior plate." Jin is assembling the machine by using <> and <>,<> and so on. The speed of his work had everyone watching in awe. "Wow, that''s fast. ......" "That''s just what Jin-sama would expect." "This is the power of your ancestor ...... Jin-sama ......." After finishing the hull in about an hour, Jin checked the overall distortion and made slight corrections, and then started to build the propulsor. "I''ll use 64 light silver for this one too." The advantage of using the same material for all the parts is that the distortion caused by the difference in thermal expansion coefficient does not need to be taken into account. But usually we don''t go this far. "The main engine has three <>. There are four side thrusters for changing direction and one for retreating. Jin continued his work quickly. 1732 - - 47-13 Each Jin''s work on the Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system, was still ongoing. "......Hey?The model is different from the one I know. Maricka says curiously. "Hmm?Yeah, it''s just a new idea I came up with recently. The Magi Water Jet is a multi-stage magical water propulsion system. The propulsive force depends greatly on the amount of water being blown out, but the maximum speed also depends on the speed at which the water is blown out. For this reason, Jin has set up a two-stage Magi Water Jet in series in order to increase the speed of the propulsion system. To begin with, the present Jin does not know all the technology of 400 years ago. He does not know anything about the magical tools he may have developed in his mature to late years. If he happened to know them, it would be inevitable, but he tries to go beyond them with his own ingenuity as much as possible. "Hmm, I don''t think I can catch up with Jin-sama after all. ......" Marikka sighed. "Jin-sama, who is going to ride on this?" Edith Kuzma asked as Jin took a breath. "Well, I haven''t really thought about it. It''s not like I''m going to compete in the first place, is it?" Jin answered lightly. "Well, then, please let me ride with you! "What, ......?" "I''d like to try it!Can''t I? "No, you can, but I''ll let Reiko do the ...... test, okay?" Yes, that''s fine. Jin was convinced that she was quite active because of her Beena blood. "Well then, I''ll ask you to take part in the demonstration before the competition. "Wow, thank you very much! Edith was smiling. Jin looked at Edith and resumed his work. "Father, there is nothing new in this ship except for the propulsion system, is there? Reiko asked to make sure. "Yes, I suppose so. We''re just trying to make each and every element as efficient as possible. Since most of the previous projects had been done with a lot of power and force, Jin thought that this time he would try to make the structure a little less extravagant. On the other hand, the applicants who wanted to participate in the event were not so eager to participate in the event. On the other hand, the prospective participants were also working on their boats. "Well, based on the data from ...... past Potrock boats, it seems that catamarans are more stable but a little less maneuverable," said Natalia. Natalia. Arrow, Arco and Vail have been working in the Marcia workshop for a long time and have accumulated a great deal of know-how about boats. Their experience is probably even greater than Jin''s now. Natalia was making use of her experience in shipbuilding. "If we''re racing in inland waters, stability is a secondary concern. ...... That''s unpublished. ......" In calm waters, Natalia would have designed the boat for speed and stability second, but since the course was to be announced on the day of the race, Natalia could no longer afford to neglect stability. * * * * * * * * * * * * Some people thought differently. "If the control is left to automata or golems, the cockpit can be completely airtight and watertight. In other words, it is safe even if it is covered with water. It is Rubina who has designed the boat without regard for stability and with speed as the highest priority. Whether it is her personality, her youth, or the adventurous spirit of her inexperience, she is building to extreme specifications. "We could use half of the hull as a propulsion system." Now, what kind of ship will it be? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * And then there are those who have yet to become personally acquainted with Jin. "I''m going to build this ship and get Gose ...... Jin-sama''s approval!" "I will be the first MagiCraft King ......!" I''ll do my best to see how far my skills will take me! Although they had different plans, they all shared the same hopes and ambitions. * * * * 2 days to build a ship. One or two days to make a golem or automata to board the ship. The rest of the time was used for adjustments, checks, and corrections, and the seven days passed quickly. * * * * * * * * * On December 10, the <> was held. Spectator stands were set up in the biggest harbor, and many spectators gathered. It is said that is being done using the magic eye and the magic screen. The audience seats are basically free of charge, but are drawn by lot, so those who fail to attend are supposed to watch the event through the magic screen in their houses. > has finally arrived! >> The host of the event is Lackhard Randall, the eldest son of the sponsor, Mr. Trihard. He had heard about the Golem boat competition held in Potrock, in which Jin, Reiko, Marcia, Erza, Reinhardt and others were involved, and he had been longing for such an event since then. > Loud cheers are heard. <> The audience cheered again. , so we have a high speed boat competition! >> "Luckhardt is getting into the groove." Jin, who was seated at the special judges'' table on the top row, whispered in a low voice. "Yes, he looks calm, but he is a festive person by nature. Trihart, sitting next to him on his right, explained. Reiko is sitting next to him on his left. Marikka is at the broadcasting table with Luckhardt for commentary. > <. The course is simple. Onogoro Island is a coral reef called a barrier reef, so there is an inland sea around the island. This is where the competitors compete for the fastest time. The course is made by floating buoys in the inland sea. It is an interesting course with straight and technical courses. >. <<> I don''t think you understood Maricka''s explanation. , , , and , it is difficult to satisfy all of them>. <> < Jin was inwardly impressed by Marikka''s easy-to-understand explanation. The next step was to introduce the contestants. 1733 - - 47-14 Onogoro Island First High Speed Boat Race >! >> < Not only Ruckhardt, but Marikka is on board as well. <<< Now, let the introductions begin! >> The super-sized magic screen lights up. The screen is divided into two parts, one for the ship and the other for its builder. <> A slender woman with blonde hair in a short bob waved her hand. The crowd went wild again. The boat is a catamaran. It reminds me of a Cygnus. > The ship is a simple monohull with a V bottom, a practical speed boat that can be used in various situations. The assistant Golem had a simple humanoid body line. "Hmmm, it''s pretty good." Jin said to himself. is the golem, and his assistant is the golem! >> Eugene was a man around 20 years old with brown hair and dark eyes. The golem <> is female. <> is a male form. This one is also quite good. (Fowl ....... Someone must have brought his wife or son-in-law from the outside. (...... that ship looks quite stable). His work is a wide V-bottom boat. < and assisted by Golem > Light brown hair and steeple eyes. She is 19 years old and has a good style. "The ship is ...... another catamaran. It''s a catamaran. The maximum width is 8 meters, just under the regulation. Stability must have been the first priority. Jin thought that it would be resistant to rolling. and assisted by Golem <>! >> She is a calm girl with rich copper-colored hair, probably descended from Toa and Stearina. She is a calm girl with rich copper-colored hair. "A solidly shaped boat." This is another V-bottom utility speedboat. <> A man in his late 20s. He had violet eyes that reminded me of Saki''s. "Oh, I see." The slender hull with floats protruding on both sides was designed for stability. < and assisted by Golem> I don''t know if he is a Reinhardt or Elsa''s sidekick since he doesn''t look like either of them. "But ......" It has one step, a model called <>. It is a model that appeared in a model book that Jin read when he was in elementary school. It is a type with a stair-like <> near the center of the bottom of the ship in the front-back direction. Generally, small high-speed vessels tend to float as they reach higher and higher speeds. By floating up, the area in contact with the water is reduced and at the same time the resistance is reduced, but the boat lacks stability in the longitudinal (fore-and-aft) direction. As a countermeasure, a step is added in the middle of the hull. If a catamaran consists of two hulls connected right and left, this one is connected front and back. This type of hull cannot be used for large vessels, but it is effective for such small vessels. < and her assistant is a golem > "Hmm, a shallow-bottomed ship." It''s a wide flat-bottomed boat. It was thought that it would probably float like a hydroplane when it picked up speed. <> and assisted by Golem<>! >> "Whoa." Jin''s eyes widened. His ship, like Jin''s, was a trimaran. "That''s quite something. ......" < and assisted by Golem <>! >> Jin thought. "What a cool name!" And then he saw the ship, "Oh, that''s an interesting idea. and says, "Wow, that''s an interesting idea. It was something like a . "It''s certainly not against the regulations. Besides, with that structure, even if it capsizes, it won''t sink. The only question is what the speed will be, since the water resistance will be high. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > The loudest cheers so far. >. The applause was roaring. Then the screen of the magic screen changed to the trimaran that Jin had built. And there was another round of applause. This was as we had discussed. Jin began to speak into the microphone ......<>. <> The audience was surprised. That''s because the three-body boat that Jin built was neither an automaton nor a golem, but a human being. A face known to many. <. And her assistant was Neon. <. ...... This ship is designed to ensure lateral stability while reducing the area viewed from the front to reduce water resistance. The screen switches to the trimaran being built. The image switches from top to bottom and left to right so that the shape of the ship can be clearly seen. . The more hull we have, the more area we are in contact with the water. <>. < Jin tries to explain in a way that even a layman can understand. The residents had a basic education in <, so they seemed to understand well enough. <<>, we applied a water-repellent finish to the surface of the hull. Viscosity is the resistance to sticking, so we treated the surface of the hull so that it would repel without sticking," Jin explained. As for stability, in case the boat capsizes, the assistant golem will take measures to fix it. The screen now returns to Edith. Edith is wearing a yellow life vest. To Jin''s eyes, it looks like a padded kimono. < The audience cheered and applauded. Finally, it was time for the demonstration of the . 1734 - - 47-15 Demonstration Jin''s < will run on the course set for the race. This course was set by Jin and Marikka last night, and is being shown for the first time today. In other words, no one has run this course before. The Dolphin will run this course to provide a reference for the participants. Since the Dolphin will be timed, it will be a model run in a sense, and its time will be the standard or target time. The audience stared at the screen with bated breath. > At the same time as the announcement was made, the Dolphin started furiously. A voice shouted, "Oh! The Dolphin is now speeding down the first straight line with a white wake behind it. The first straight line is about 5 kilometers long. Naturally, this is a test of the ship''s capabilities. > The speed of a boat race in Japan is said to be 80 to 90 kilometers per hour, which is about the same as the speed of the Dolphin. But the Dolphin is not at full power yet. > The noise turns into cheers. Boat racing boats are small, so going 100 kilometers per hour is considered dangerous, but the Dolphin is 9 meters long and has a trimaran, so it''s a little more stable. Hydroplaning was not possible with the Cygnus, which is driven by a water wheel. Incidentally, hydroplaning is a phenomenon in which a car floats on a wet road surface at high speed because the tire grooves are not able to expel water. The Dolphin is running at a very high speed while touching the sea surface at three points. It is mirrored by an airship floating in the sky above. This airship, built by Marikka, boasts a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour. It can easily keep up with the speed of the Dolphin. Within three minutes, the first corner arrives. From a straight line, the Dolphin suddenly turns right at a right angle. The radius of the corner is 20R (20 meters), which is quite tight. The Dolphin slows down before the corner because it cannot make the turn while maintaining its maximum speed. <<> This is a comparison with a boat race. In a boat race, the Dolphin makes a turn at almost the maximum speed. >> * * * * * * * * * * * * * "You''ve slowed down a lot!" Jin, who was watching the screen, muttered. "Father, I think you must be afraid of human body if you are not used to it, don''t you? Reiko''s comment was unusually sharp. "That''s true. And Edith is a fifteen year old girl." Jin agreed that even if she was an active ...... tomboy, she would still be afraid of scary things. "And the boat is set up mildly." "That''s right." * * * The Dolphin opened its side thrusters to full throttle. The floating hull is now at an angle to the direction of travel. Naturally, the propulsor force is also at an angle, creating what is called <>, a force that points inward at the corners. According to the laws of dynamics, the Dolphin changes course in the direction of the combined inertial force and centripetal force. <>! >> The crowd cheered loudly. After the right-angled curve, the high-speed course made a large arc. The radius of the arc changes slightly, so you can imagine that if you are too preoccupied with the speed, you will end up going off the course. > The Dolphin can make this turn at top speed, but it may be a little difficult if the ship is not stable. The circular motion at 120 km/h will create a large centrifugal force, which will cause the ship to lose its attitude. Since the centrifugal force is applied to the ship''s center of gravity, if the center of gravity is above the water surface, the ship will lean outward. Since a ship sailing at high speed is floating, its center of gravity is definitely above the water. Jin took this into consideration and, through several trials and errors, determined the position and angle of the side thrusters. Of course, since the test cruise was conducted by Reiko, the experiment was conducted at the maximum speed without any hesitation. <> After turning the 500R, the course is a straight line back to the island. And waiting for us before the island is a hairpin curve. The radius is 30 meters. "Oh!" The crowd cheers. Edith had slowed down a bit, but she made the turn much faster than in the first corner. "I guess I''m getting used to it. Jin mutters to himself. After taking the straight line again, the course entered the technical area. The course is a series of 10R zigzag curves. The direction changes rapidly from right to left. Those who are not accustomed to this course may get intoxicated, but Edith is not worried about that, since it is the Golems who are actually competing in the race. Then, after passing through an area that combines short straights and right-angle curves, it becomes a straight line again toward the island ....... The goal is reached as soon as you make a 180-degree turn near the shore. Each lap is approximately 36 kilometers. At an average speed of 100 km/h, it takes less than 22 minutes. <> "Not bad, I guess." Jin seems to be satisfied. When Reiko tested the course last night after setting it up, she got 19 minutes flat. She averaged about 113 km/h. That''s a good enough time for Edith, who is a human being. In the race, she is supposed to run two laps around this course. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > An announcement is made and the 10 boats are lined up at their starting positions. "Good luck, everyone!" As for Jin, he could not favor anyone. However, he is a little concerned about the youngest one, Rubina. > In front of the 10 boats, red ropes are lowered from the airships. They will be pulled up at the start of the race. "How do you see this race, Mr. Jin? Trihardt, sitting beside me, asked. "Well, ....... Everyone seems to have come up with their own ideas, so it will be hard to predict, but I''ll be keeping an eye on ......7 and 10." As for Jin, he said he would be interested in seeing how well the new attempts were brought up to a practical level. "I see, I understand." <<5......4......3......2......1......>> The project is about to begin. 1735 - - 47-16 Race Start < At the same time as the announcement is made, the red ropes in front of the ten boats are quickly pulled up. Each ship is now at full power. A huge column of water rises up behind them. > It looks like ......, but number 10 is lagging behind. "I guess ...... the water resistance is too great, so rapid acceleration will be impossible." The number 10 is a semi-submersible, a torpedo from the point of view of Jin. But... "Hmmm... a ward against water..." Indeed, the use of wards is not forbidden. And another important point is that the warding Rubina is using is not <>. Yes, it is a rule that they must be <>. Since a <> condition using a perfect water-avoidance warding would be a violation of the convention, she was forced to use a half-way warding. The result is <>, a new discovery that defies the laws of physics. "You have a flexible way of thinking." Jin was impressed. > The boat built by Natalia is now in the lead. The next is 5,6,2,9,3,8,4,7. There is little difference between the boats. <> Number 10 is catching up fast. The top speed was about 20% higher. If the top speed of a high-speed boat is 120 kilometers per hour, the top speed of a semi-submersible was over 140 kilometers per hour. However, this is not a competition for top speed alone. The first corner is approaching. Even the golems who had probably seen the model navigation of the by Jin seemed to hesitate to make a turn while maintaining the maximum speed. All vessels slow down. All the vessels slowed down to about 70 kilometers per hour and plowed into the first corner. However, only the number 10 boat has slowed down to about 100 kilometers per hour, and it is the outermost boat to enter the first corner. > <> * * * * * "Yeah, that''s one way to do it. Everyone is taking the smallest possible turn to cut down on losses. That''s the problem. After the second group, they seem to be getting in each other''s way, forcing each other to slow down more than necessary. Jin spoke frankly. On the screen, the number 10s who were on the outside and gaining speed were passing the leaders one after another and moving up in the rankings. "So they are disengaging the waterproofing when they are going around curves. So they are taking advantage of the large resistance of the water to make the turn." Jin was impressed by Rubina''s idea. * * * * * * <> The next course is a large arc of about 5 kilometers. All the boats are going at top speed. > >> ** ** ** "It''s the golem that''s controlling the ship. So we''re pushing the ship to the very limits." Jin says happily while looking at the screen. In fact, Jin was having a great time. The ten ships racing around on the screen are no less impressive than the <> that Jin had built the other day. He was pleased that his ......, or rather, <> descendants could do so well. * * * * * * At 130 kilometers per hour, a five-kilometer stretch takes less than two and a half minutes. Ten vessels plowed into the second corner and the 500R with only a slight drop in top speed. Marikka, the commentator, mutters. > < > <>That''s what I mean. It is not still water, but rushing water, so to speak. Natalia, number 1, was one of the first to recognize this. It was not only because of her direct descent from Marcia, Arco and Vail, but also because of her experience with the Arrow. Or, to put it another way, she had the experience of Arrow. They wanted to take the lead even if they had to suddenly overload the propulsor. Then, he would be able to maintain the top position without overloading the propulsor. Arrow, Arrow, Arrow! "Arrow, you''re doing great!" Natalia was communicating with Arrow at the participants'' table by means of a manacam. Natalia and Arrow had seen Edith''s model navigation and realized the disadvantages of getting behind a competitor. The overload at the start was much less stressful on the propulsors than trying to catch up against the jet stream of the opponent. Based on this judgment, he decided to bet on the dash at the start of the race. This strategy paid off as the leader, number 1, was 20 meters ahead of the second place finisher. The gap seemed to widen a little as he dropped down to third and fourth place. "I guess it''s not a good thing to be sailing in a jet stream," Natalia said. Natalia sends a shout out to Arrow. "Good luck, Arrow!" * * * * The ten fast boats were making a 30R 180 degree turn. While most of the boats made the turn from a slightly excessive deceleration, number 2, currently in third place, read the necessary deceleration correctly and moved into second place. "Way to go, Edgar!" Shu Nido, the boat''s builder, cheers. But there was someone else who had moved up even more. It is number 10. The semi-submersible boat was able to move through the water without being exposed to the jets of the boats in front of it. However, Rubina did not design the boat with this in mind, but by chance. Five meters below sea level. Five meters below the surface of the sea, where the jet stream had little effect on the boat, allowing it to navigate at its own pace. "Icky!" Rubina cheered. Although it is difficult to see clearly because of the sea level, the number 10 has moved up to third place. Rubina cheered for her. "Oh, Rubina''s boat is doing well!" Jin also saw the advantage of the submersible during the race, as it was less susceptible to the jet stream. "Good luck, everyone!" Jin''s voice was drowned out by the cheers of the crowd. The ten fast boats had now made a 180-degree turn near the shore and were once again accelerating down a straight course. 1736 - - 47-17 Fierce Battle Still in the lead is Natalia-produced number 1. <> Lackhardt Randall''s announcement echoes in the background. The crowd is heating up. The 10 boats are now approaching the zigzag course. <> Number 7 is Werner Randall''s hydroplane and number 8 is Florence Fahlheit''s shallow bottom boat. Both of them are small hulls. A series of curves with a small radius of 10R. A dead heat was also fought there, with the boats passing and being passed. "Oh, ......?" Rubina, who was watching the screen, shouted in disbelief. The number 10 boat had begun to lag behind. As a semi-submersible boat, the number 10 was not as good at small maneuvers as the other boats. The slight difference appeared in the series of curves, and the boat, which had once risen to third place, dropped one position to fourth. He dropped one place to 4th and then to 5th. He was still just a kid. "I guess I''m still a child. I guess I''m still a kid...I''m not very good at predicting situations..." Jin muttered with an expression as if he was watching something funny. "I guess I''m still inexperienced. ......" Of course, I''m talking about Rubina. * * * * The ten vessels passed through a zigzag. The next section is a combination of short straights and corners. > All the boats use jet thrusters, which makes it difficult to get behind them. By moving the stern in front of the followers trying to overtake them, we can expect not only to get in the way, but also to slow them down due to the jet stream. <> Shallow-bottomed boats can turn left or right at will. Taking advantage of this, they weaved their way between the boats ahead of them and finally came up to second place. Oh! "Wow, you are making the most of the boat''s characteristics. Jin sees that the most suitable boats for this course are 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8. The hull that emphasizes maneuverability rather than stability is advantageous. "Almost a lap, huh?" Jin thinks that the second lap is the best part of the race, when the boats have figured out their course. The 10 boats then head for the final turn, the R50. The technical course is only about 30 meters wide, and three boats can barely run side by side. On the other hand, the straight line after the 50R is 200 meters wide, and it was an area where we did not have to worry about the jet stream of the preceding ship. <<10 boats have returned after one lap!The leader is number 1, followed by numbers 2, 3, and 5! >> In the technical area, Jin seems to be in the position he thought he would be. <>And now the second lap is underway!The boats are increasing their speed! >> The boats are accelerating rapidly with a huge splash. The crowd''s voices are getting louder and louder. The first boat, numbered 1, is speeding down the middle of the wide course. Each of the following boats chose a course that would not be subjected to the jet stream of the boat ahead of them. The slight course change will cause a slight delay, but there is more than enough opportunity to make up for it on the straight course that stretches for the next five kilometers. In fact, some of the boats seem to be squeezing out more than their full power, and the positions of the boats in 7th to 10th place are changing rapidly. > Number 1 is in position to run away as fast as he can. The top speed is over 130 kilometers per hour. Each of the following boats is also going about the same speed. This is already a dangerous speed for a ship controlled by a man, but the operator of the ship is a golem. It knows no fear and has a reaction time several times that of a human. Furthermore, the assistant who monitors the power output and the behavior of the hull is also a golem. This top speed is not dangerous as long as the stability of the mana driver, which supplies mana to the propulsion system, and the aether converter, which converts free mana into mana, are also monitored. After running a straight line of 5 kilometers in a little over 2 minutes, number 1 plunges into the first corner of the 20 R without slowing down much. But.... <> Rubina''s semi-submersible had made up ground again in this straight line. The maximum speed of the boat was 140 kilometers per hour. The audience''s eyes were glued to the screen. The spectator''s eyes were glued to the screen. And Jin was also enjoying the race. "Well, it''s nice to race without any interference. I couldn''t help but say such a line, "Jin-sama, isn''t it normal if there is no interference? Trihardt, who was standing right next to me, quipped, "Well....... "Well, I guess so. But when I was racing with Marcia, there was Valentino''s interference and the Death Serpent. ...... Jin muttered with a wry smile as if reminiscing about the distant past. Then he looked at the pursuit of number 10, "Rubina is really close. I am sure she will improve with more experience. I''m sure she will improve as she gains more experience. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The 10 boats make a big arc and head into the second corner of the 500R. > By this time, the first group was down to 4 boats, 1,2,3,5. 4, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 were slightly behind. The differences were the result of a combination of factors such as hull shape, completeness, stability, power, and maneuverability. The differences in each of these categories are very small. However, when taken together, they have a synergistic effect, But when you put them all together, you can see the synergistic effects that led to this result. No wonder Jin and the spectators were so enthralled. In a sense, a head-to-head race is not so interesting. ...... It must be painful for Jin to hear this. At this stage, it was not clear what position Rubina''s number 10 was in as it was moving underwater. The 10 boats were leaving the high speed area and heading towards the technical area. The course is getting narrower, now about 50 meters wide. > The second group has started to catch up. <<> The semi-submersible boat built by Rubina has revealed its hidden power. 1737 - - 47-18 settlement <> A roar of excitement comes from the audience. "Jin-sama, what is that? Trihardt, who was seated next to Jin, asked him with his eyes wide open. "They probably used the side thrusters to change direction for propulsion. "What? The simple explanation was not clear enough for him, and his voice came back with a question. "So, Rubina''s ship has a water-avoidance ward to reduce the drag?" "Yes, that would be the case. "That means, the shape of the ship doesn''t really matter. ...... So, we are not changing the direction of the ship, only the direction of travel. "I see." "They must have very powerful propulsion units on the side thrusters. ...... No, they don''t." Through the screen, Jin had a rough idea of the number 10. "It has a very powerful propulsion system, and its jets are open on the sides. Jin thought that such a structure should have a smaller aspect ratio, but this might be due to Rubina''s inexperience. Nevertheless, it is a little strange to see a long and slender semi-submersible meandering along without changing its attitude. Some spectators began to notice this. "Hey, that!" "Yeah, number 10. ...... "......, it''s moving a little weird." If Rubina had heard that, she would have said, "Why? >>The audience murmured what they thought Rubina would say if she heard it. But the boat is definitely the fastest. It continues to meander without changing direction. The number 10 boat, which was in the 5th position, quickly overtakes two boats and moves up to the 3rd position. However, the series of curves ends there. The next area is a series of short straights and curves. Because of the higher average speed, sailing with side thrusters is a step behind. The number 10 is back to normal sailing again. He is already halfway through the second lap and has about six kilometers to go. At 120 kilometers per hour, it would take only three minutes to complete the lap. Everyone is making their last spurt. However, the course is too narrow for them to get through easily. There is light contact between hulls, but no dangerous collisions or overt obstruction of the course. This is a fair competition, as seen by the <. The number 10 boat again took advantage of its semi-submersible status and tried to pull out of the water. However, all the boats have begun their final spurt and will not let them overtake so easily. > A frenzy of excitement envelops the spectators. The 10 fast boats are racing on the course in an even more intense dead heat. >> "Arrow, Arrow, Arrow, Arrow, Arrow! Arrow, Arco, go for it! Woah, Blitz, Donner, keep up the good work! Edgar, come on! The boat builders, too, stared at the screen, their hands sweating. And then the last straight, four kilometers, and the ten boats were racing. All the boats are running at full speed, using all the strength they have. Their speed is approaching 150 kilometers per hour. However, at the end of the straight line is the final corner, a 50R hairpin curve. If they fail to make the turn, they may crash into the quay. However, all the boats do not seem to slow down. The final corner is almost upon us. The first boat, number 1, has slowed down slightly and is just barely making the turn. But the second placed car, number 3, seems to be determined to win the race, and drives into the corner without slowing down at all. > The car was going to be able to keep up with the leader, number 1, by cornering without slowing down, but halfway around the corner, the car couldn''t withstand the centrifugal force and went into a wide turn. <> Zecken3 skids towards the rock wall. > Ludwig slides his body between the rock wall and the ship and catches ZEK 3, who was about to crash into the rock wall. <<< Brilliant!The number 3 is safe! >> Ludwig again boarded the boat, but this accident dropped him down to 6th place. He was overtaken by the next boat. The speed of the boat has dropped drastically. On the other hand, the remaining boats slowed down slightly and cleared the final corner without any danger. Only 200 meters remain to the goal. The boat is now only 200 meters away from the finish line. "Go, Donner! Rubina shouted. Perhaps she heard the shout, or perhaps they had already arranged it, and Donner, the assistant golem, emerges from the hull of the number 10 boat. "What?What are you doing?" Jin had no idea what he was going to do here. But he would soon find out. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > >> Donner gave more acceleration to the hull by kicking it out. Naturally, he will fall into the water. However, number 10, who had been running in 4th place, is now lighter by Donner''s weight, and the momentum of the kick has propelled him into 3rd place. ....... <<<1st place goes to number 1, and 2nd place goes to the amazing number 10!Number 2 was in 3rd place and number 5 in 4th place! Natalia, number 1, who was in the lead from the start, won the race. Natalia, who was in the lead from the start and kept going from start to finish, won the race with her number 1 car. Rubina, with her quirky design and strategy, came in second place. Third place went to Shu Nido in number 2, fourth to Shireen Eschenbach in number 5, fifth to Greenina Kuzma in number 4, and sixth to Eugene Eugene in number 3, In sixth place, number 3 Eugene Fowle. In seventh place, number 9 Elvis Alcott, number 8 Florence Fahlheit. In ninth place was number 7 Werner Randle, and number 6 Sidney Marek in tenth. There was a slight dispute among the jury about the eccentricity of the number 10 just before the finish, but it was concluded that it was not against the rules. The judges were not in violation of the rules. Mr. Jin is giving a speech. The audience cheers loudly. < Jin looked around at everyone assembled and continued. <> Natalia was then presented with the trophy by the hand of Jin. The audience burst into cheers. Thus ended the <>. 1738 - - 47-19 Sightseeing After the fierce competition, the participants were seen running around in the sea where the course had been cleared. "Now that I look at it this way, everyone is improving." 350 years ago...... or 750 years ago, magical technology was set back by the . 400 years ago it had not yet returned to its original level, but now. "At least here in , I think we are back. If there''s anything missing, it''s ......." "What''s that, father?" Scientific knowledge. Jin said that 400 years ago, the groundwork had not yet been laid, and in general, the knowledge of elementary school students and even <> would have been at the junior high school level at best. Jin guessed that after the death of the ...... original Jin, the adjustment of the situation was not going well. "Hey, hey, hey Gose...... Jin-sama, let me on Jin-sama''s boat!" "What?" Rubina came to Jin, who was lost in thought, and begged him for a ride. "Well, that''s okay. "Yes!" Jin smiled and looked at Rubina. She was like Hannah and Beena added together and divided by two, was Jin''s impression. Reiko, too, seemed to be somewhat unappreciative of Rubina''s behavior, and she did not hold it against her for poking at Jin or for calling him a fake. Jin also had high hopes for this promising offspring. Jin, Reiko, and Rubina head for the pier where the Dolphin is kept. Just then Natalia arrives. She was blonde, blue-eyed, and slender, much like Marcia. "Hello, Jin-sama," Rubina said. Are you ...... going to get on Jin-sama''s boat?" It was obvious that Jin''s boat was on the way. "Um, if you don''t mind, may I ...... join you?" "Oh, sure, it''s a five-passenger boat. "Wow, thank you! "Okay, here, put this on." <. "Don''t worry, I''m a good swimmer. Rubina says to Jin, "No. You never know what might happen, so it''s important to reduce the danger as much as possible. "...... yes." Jin and Natalia also put on life jackets and board the Dolphin, only Reiko is not wearing one. Reiko is the only one not wearing a life vest. She undoes the rope and jumps on board. "Master Gin, will you allow me to pilot the Dolphin?" Natalia said, and Jin said yes. "Well, the rudder is here and the throttle is here. "Yes, I understand. It''s the same as my boat." I gave him a brief explanation, and he seemed to be okay with it, since it handled the same way. "Well, shall we go then?" "Yes, let''s go." Natalia started the Dolphin slowly. "Oh, it''s easy to drive!" "What do you mean?What do you mean? Rubina was caught off guard by Natalia''s comment. As the Dolphin was slowly heading out to sea, Natalia asked, "Well, what can I say? "Well, I don''t know what to say. I would say that the throttle and rudder response is neither too sharp nor too slow. Natalia replies. "I guess so. This boat is not set up for racing only. Jin interjects. He explains that if it were set up for racing, the rudder and throttle would be set up to be more sensitive. "The settings are designed to be operated by a golem, not a human. "Oh, so this boat is exactly as it was when Edith piloted it." "That''s what I mean." Jin adds, "If Reiko is piloting, the rudder and throttle play will be very small. "But then, if a human were to try to control it, it would be difficult to handle, wouldn''t it?" "Yes, that''s true. That''s why we usually detune it. Rubina reacted. "What?Then, didn''t you use your full strength during the model cruise?" Hitoshi affirms. "Yeah, yeah. Because it''s Edith who''s flying the boat." "Yeah, I see. ...... In the meantime, how much is the full power?" "Well, ...... it''s about 1.5 times what it is now." "......" "......" Rubina knew from their association over the past few days that Jin did not joke around at times like this and that he could afford to be generous with these estimates, perhaps even double them. And so did Natalia. Both of them had an inkling of what the "Magecraft Meister" was all about. "There is a safety factor. It depends on how and where it is used, so it''s hard to say how much you should take, but I take more than enough. I''m a coward." Reiko is the only one who realizes that her < has led to the ridiculous performance of many things. Natalia and Rubina were listening to Jin with serious faces. "The rudder will have more play and the hull will have more straightness. In other words, when you let go of the rudder, the rudder will return to the center and the boat will naturally run straight. "I see, I can learn a lot from that." Natalia nodded happily. "From what I''ve seen, what you all lack is experience. Not only do you need to know how to make things, but you also need to know how to use them in the field. While we were talking, the Dolphin was well out to sea. "Okay, let''s get up to speed," Natalia said. Natalia said and opened the throttle. The Dolphin accelerates. "...... Oh, it''s stable." "High-speed stability is also an important performance feature. Jin explains in a calm manner. "This also comes from our experience of building several boats. We never cut any corners or made any compromises." The trimaran of Horai Island is the . Jin has made modifications and upgrades based on the data obtained during the operation of the . The compilation of these changes is contained in the . "I see, that''s very informative." Natalia said in a happy voice as she steered the boat. "So, what do you do when you make your first one?Jin-sama!" Rubina asked this time. "Well, it depends on the size of the project. It depends on the scale, but if it''s a big one, I start with a , like one-tenth or one-fifth of a model." "Oh, I see." "That''s how we accumulate data and make prototypes. It may seem like a roundabout way, but it''s surefire, and in the end, you''ll be able to complete it faster." "Is that so ......?" "Is it too hard for young Rubina?" Intuitive and impatient are good descriptions of Rubina. She is still too young to learn discretion. Jin thought that he had to teach her slowly. 1739 - - 47-2080% The , with Jin and the others on board, is driving through a spacious area. "Okay, Rubina, you can try your hand at piloting." "Yes, thank you, Jin-sama!" Rubina replies happily. "Okay, let''s switch." Natalia and Rubina switched places. "If you do this here, you can change the height of the seat. This way you can move it back and forth." "About this high, I think." The seat was adjusted to fit Rubina''s body. "Okay, let''s go." Rubina, in a fit of excitement, suddenly opened the throttle to full throttle. "Whoa! The Dolphin shuddered and then jumped out of the water. "I''m sorry!" This time, he closed the throttle completely. This causes a sudden deceleration, and everyone falls to the ground. "I''m sorry!" Rubina panicked. Jin patted her on the head, "Calm down. Open the throttle slowly. She advised him to open the throttle slowly. "Yes, ......." Seeing this, Jin realized that Rubina had never done this kind of maneuver before. "Rubina, you are still too young, but I think you will be a great engineer if you get more and more experience. So Jin told her exactly what he thought. "Really?" Rubina''s face turned red and she looked down. "Mae!Before!" "...... what?Kyah!" Before she knew it, the reefs surrounding Onogoro Island were closing in. "It''s dangerous." Rubina stiffened. But Reiko quickly uses the force field generator to change the Dolphin''s direction and course, thus avoiding a collision. "Oh, thank you very much ......, Mr. Reiko." Rubina, her face pale, thanked Reiko. "No, don''t worry about it." Then Jin also called out to her. "Rubina, try to steer a little more carefully. "Yes, sir!" Rubina, who had been expecting to be asked to take over the controls, now seriously concentrates on piloting the boat. She seems to be experimenting in her own way by gradually turning the rudder, speeding up and slowing down. For the time being, Jin does not interfere, but lets her do what she wants. Then she says, "Okay, try some more drastic maneuvers. And he says, "Okay, try a more drastic maneuver, "Yes! Rubina responded with a cheerful "Yes! She made turns in a radius of 10 meters (=10R) and zigzagged. Full-speed sprinting. As expected, she did not make a turn from full speed. And then.., "Thank you, Mr. Jin!I understand! and stopped the boat. "Are you done?" "Yes. I learned a lot. Thank you very much. "Well. I hope you get something out of it. * * * Natalia takes over the controls once more. She is a few steps more stable than Rubina. And then.., "Jin-sama, can you make the Dolphin into a racing version, just a little bit? I asked. "I can, but would you like to ...... experience it?" "Yes!" Natalia said, wanting to experience a more serious setting, one that would push the limits of what was possible, rather than the mild maneuverability of the present. "Okay." Jin adjusted the controls and the aft propulsion system. It took about a minute. "That''s good." Natalia and Rubina were amazed at how fast he did it. "Are you finished already? "Yes, yes. The ...... necessary settings are stored in the auxiliary control core, so all you have to do is call it up." "Huh. ......." Rubina sounded dumbfounded. "Well, the current settings are just about 80% of the limit. Go ahead and try." "Yes, yes! Natalia started the Dolphin with trepidation. "No!" Natalia had been so careful, but suddenly the hull shook. Then came the dash. The acceleration was similar to that of the first time Rubina had piloted the boat, but even greater. "I never thought it would be this hard to fly!Kyaaaah! Natalia screamed. And then it stopped. "...... is ...... Jin-sama, I understand perfectly. That''s enough! Are you done? Yes. This setting is too severe to pilot without practice. I see. Okay, Reiko, take care of it. Yes, Father. At this point, Jin asked for Reiko. Reiko takes the pilot''s seat in front of Natalia. She adjusted her seat and looked back at Jin. "Please fasten your seat belt, sir." "I know, I know." Jin, Natalia, and Rubina fasten their seatbelts. Reiko confirmed that they were fastened, "Okay, let''s go." and opens the throttle. The Dolphin starts off with a smoothness that is in sharp contrast to Natalia''s. "Let''s go to the top speed first," she says. "Let''s go to the top speed first," she said again. Reiko said again, and slowly opened the throttle to full throttle. "Wow, wow!That''s amazing!" The Dolphin is now speeding along at an estimated speed of over 150 kilometers per hour. (This is 80% ......) Natalia thought to herself that she had not yet reached 80% of Jin''s speed. The Dolphin, which was making a large arc, slowed down slightly and then made a sharp turn. "Kyaaaah!" The Dolphin is subjected to tremendous lateral G''s, but because the driver is wearing a seatbelt, he is not thrown out, and the Dolphin maintains a stable posture as it completes the turn. "I think it''s about 20R. ......" Natalia is amazed at the small turn from that high speed. So is Rubina. Reiko swings the Dolphin from side to side. "Wah, wah, wah..." "Kya, kyah!" The direction of motion changes rapidly. At the same time, the direction of lateral G-force is also switched. Rubina is on the verge of dizzying herself with the unfamiliar sensation. Natalia, on the other hand, is holding on. And Jin.., "......<>" He had cast a healing spell on himself to stop the intoxication. After a long and enjoyable high-speed cruise, they returned to the pier just as the sun was beginning to set. 1740 - - 47-21 Hale Story The day after the speedboat race, i.e., December 11. Jin was not able to ...... relax on Onogoro Island. "Master Jin, what is it about my design that is lacking?" "Master Jin, what is it that I need to do to reach a higher level? Master Jin, how can I further my education? Master Jin. Master Jin. Master Jin, ...... "......" Jin had to answer each of these questions, so he had almost a whole day without being able to do anything. "Jin, Jin-sama, I''m sorry!" Seeing Jin looking like he was thinking about something, Trihart bowed down to the ground as if he was on his knees. Marikka also looked apologetic. "No, it''s okay. But Jin let it slide. "Everyone was very enthusiastic, so it was worth explaining. "Yeah..." "But I thought that if I only knew the island, my perspective would be limited. "Perspective, you mean." Jin nodded. "Yes, that''s right. I was like that myself. ......" Jin recalled the time when he had just been summoned and had no idea how out of touch he was. "Well, I don''t think I have any common sense even now." He seems to be aware of this, as he puts it to himself. "At ......, you know. I''ve been thinking about a few things. Once again, Jin turned to Trihart. "I''d like to add a competition to choose a king and queen, but I''d also like to add a competition for skill in molding by <> or for precision processing. Jin said, "This one is so simple that we might as well just report the results without broadcasting them. "Certainly, we need to evaluate such techniques. "That would be interesting, wouldn''t it? Marikka agreed. "I think we should also ...... tell Trihart and Suzanne first. ......" "Yes, sir?" Just then Suzanne came in with a tray of green tea. "Here you go, Jin-sama." "Thank you." Jin thanked her and sipped the green tea. "At ......." Suzanne also took a seat, and Jin began to talk. The group present was Jin, Reiko, Marikka, Trihardt, and Suzanne. "First of all, what do you know about Hale?" This question was answered in the affirmative. "You also know about the universe, don''t you?" This was also answered . It seems that Onogoro''s education in science is, at a minimum, at the level of a modern Earth elementary school graduate, so he is doing OK. "Okay, then, let''s get down to business. ...... I''m planning to redevelop Hale right now." ".................. yes?" "So I''m trying to redevelop Hale so I can live there." "......" The hurdle seemed too high for the sensible Mr. and Mrs. Trihardt Suzanne, who looked blank. "Well, um, Hale is on the other side of the Sun Selangor, isn''t it?" "Yes." "So, the Haelians ......<> migrated to this Ars because they ran out of resources, right?" "That''s right." "Ji,Jin-sama, you are trying to do what that <> couldn''t do?Are you trying to revive ...... Hale? "Well, that''s what I''m trying to do." Jin replies, realizing that this is not convincing enough, and adds a supplementary explanation. "By the time the Hale ......<> realized it, it was too late. Oh, I don''t mean the stars, I mean that the Haleans were beginning to degenerate." A Hailian in his prime could probably have done better than he did, Jin says. "But they didn''t seem to have much interest in the outside world, so it''s really a ." With that explanation, Mr. and Mrs. Trihardt Suzanne finally restarted. "Well, may I ask you a few questions?" "Sure." Thank you very much. ...... Jin-sama, do you intend to live in Hale eventually?" "Oh ...... yes. It''s not definite, but whether it''s my Horai Island or this Onogoro Island, as long as it''s on Ars, it will be seen by people at some point. They agreed. "Since there is a warp gate, we will be able to go back and forth between Ars and Hale as if we were going to the next house." "...... Jin-sama, isn''t it?" Trihart let out a small sigh. "If anyone wants to go to Hale as if it were a vacation home, I''ll ask him to let me know if he wants to go." "What?Oh, you mean we can live here?" "I''m thinking that we can live more comfortably that way." "Perhaps so. ......" "I''m also thinking of reaching out to the northerners." "Perhaps," Jin added, "but I think there will be a desire to emigrate, especially among the young. "That may be so." "It''s not something we''re in a hurry to talk about, and it''s a plan that''s going to take generations. But just know that there is such a plan." I understand." * * * * "...... wind." Jin soaked himself in the hot water and stretched out. "I think we''ve accomplished a lot of what we set out to do. ...... I''m alone today. ...... that is, Reiko is with him to wash his back. "Are you having fun, father?" "Yes, it''s nice to finally feel some peace here." Jin murmured deeply in the hot water. "What are your plans for the future?" "Well, ...... we''re going to enjoy the island a little more, and then we''re going to inspect the construction of the spaceship." "I understand." It makes sense for Reiko to know what Jin''s plans are. "Let''s think about tomorrow ......." Jin stretched once more in the bathtub, saying that he was tired today. 1741 - - 47-22 To invite It was December 12. Jin had come to Rubina''s workshop at the Onogoro Island Research Institute. After breakfast, he was dragged in by force. "Hey Jin-sama, look at my golem! "Hmm?" On the workbench, two Golems were stopped and lying on the floor. "The day before yesterday, when I was taken on board Master Jin''s ship, I finally realized how inexperienced I am. So I want you to look at these two and point out what''s wrong with them." "Oh." Jin was a little impressed when Rubina said instead of . And then, "Okay, okay. Let''s see." he replied, patting her on the head. "Let''s see." The machine was lightly disassembled, so Jin could check the inside without much trouble. The skeleton is stainless steel. The joints are coated with adamantite. He seemed to have followed the basics in this respect. "Magical muscle is ...... an interesting material. This is the first time Jin has seen such a magical material. "That''s <>. "Bowall!I''ve never used it before, so I didn''t notice it. Bowall is a giant whale-like monster. They live in the northern seas, but rarely migrate south. The largest are up to 20 meters long, usually 10 meters. They are gentle demons, but they have a habit of striking large floating objects as if they were enemies. They sometimes kill vessels. Their normal swimming speed is about 30 kilometers per hour. "Ah, because the distribution of free magical element (ether) concentration has been corrected." Jin remembers hearing from Zion or Rhodoth that more and more demons living in the north are moving south. "So, Bowall''s leather ...... or is it the muscle fiber itself?" "Yes. This is the main type of leather on Onogoro Island. "I see." < "I guess it could be the muscle itself," he says. But, Jin points out, muscle should have a lower shelf life than leather. Rubina confirms this. "Yes, it does...it will fall apart after a year or so, so we have to replace it each time." One Bowall can produce enough magical muscle for 100 Golems, so that''s how they can be used. "Indeed, it makes sense that they are attached in such a way that they can be easily replaced. Jin continues his analysis. "The accuracy and synchronization of the <> and <> are not quite right now." "...... so?" "Yes. This way, the conversion loss is a bit large. It''s ...... but if you can make this much at 10 years old, it''s a good thing." He thinks back to ...... and realizes that when he was 10 years old, he was still in Japan and could not use magic. There were some other minor points that Jin pointed out, but in general he thought it was a good work. "I''d give it an 85," he said. "Thank you, Jin-sama. Now I understand a little more about what I am missing. From Jin''s point of view, it is still a little rough. But it can''t be helped that she lacks the maturity that Jin possesses. After all, she is only 10 years old. "You can make a lot of things from now on," she said. "Yeah, I''ll do my best." Rubina reassembles the two golems under the watchful eye of Jin. Of course, the points that were pointed out have been corrected, so the performance is expected to be 20 to 30 percent better than before. * * * * * * * * * * * * "I have an idea..." After checking Rubina''s golem, Jin consulted with Trihart again. "I''m thinking of taking the third place finisher from yesterday''s race to Horai Island for two days and one night. "To Horai Island, sir?" "To Horaijima, is that right?" "Yes. We can''t take a lot of people, so we''ll take the 3rd place finishers. What do you think? "I think it''s a great idea! Triharto was more delighted than ...... pleased. "I''m so jealous!" "Yeah, right." We''d like to take everyone who wants to go, but it''s going to be a big group, so we''ll start with a small ...... group. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Really?To that legendary Horai Island?" "I want to go there!By all means! "I''ll go, I''ll go, I''ll go!Take me there! Sure enough, all three of them were very enthusiastic. "Okay, I''ll go tomorrow." "Okay! Hearing Jin''s voice behind our backs telling us that we only needed to bring our personal belongings for the overnight stay, all three of us rushed off to get ready for the trip. "You can take your golem and automata with you!" Jin added, "Yes, sir. came the reply from afar. Jin laughed and told Trihart that he would be his chaperone as well, "Will you come as a chaperone?" He asked him. Needless to say, he immediately agreed. * * * * * * At 8 o''clock in the of December 13th. < was already in place, so we used it to get there. "Whoa, what is this place? Rubina was curious to see the inside of the for the first time, but she couldn''t take her time, so she rushed to the warp gate to Horai Island. We emerged from the basement of the institute. "Come on, this way!" Jin takes the lead and leads the group. First, they went outside. "That''s ....... Oh, I see." It''s 8:00 at night on Onogoro Island, but it''s 8:00 in the morning here. For a moment, Rubina and the others were puzzled, but then they remembered the time difference and understood. "I see... I can see why Jin-sama said we should take a nap even if we don''t feel sleepy to prevent jet lag. Natalia nodded in agreement. Jin then said his standard words. "Welcome to Horai Island." 1742 - - 47-23 Horai Island Guide 1 "Wow, this is Master Jin''s laboratory!It really looks just like the lab on Onogoro Island! "It should look just like that. This is the original. We are honored to be here. Then the golem maids from Horai Island appear. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! "I''m ......" There were 5 leaders of the 5 colored golem maids, Soleil, Luna, and Lao Tzu. The Lao Tzu said to me, "Welcome back, Mr. Edgar! The Lao Tzu said, "Mr. Edgar, welcome home. ......I''m home." Edgar also greeted in a somewhat choked tone. "Oh ......, I see!" Shu, the current owner of the house, was the first to notice. Edgar was born here, wasn''t he? "Yes, Master. ......I was born here ......3457 May 29th I was made by Master Elsa on the 29th of May, 953457. "Oh, yes." Yes. That was the first time Elsa created an automaton by herself. That was Edgar. After that, he had to go through several modifications before he became the Edgar of today, Jin explained. "Arrow was made by me in Potlock. Arco and Vail, too. As a matter of fact, Arco and Vail were not made by Jin, but he did not want to mention it because it would make the story even more complicated. * * * * * * After the introduction of the five-colored golem maids, Soleil, Luna, and Lao Tzu, Jin called <> for the tour of Horai Island. And then, "Edgar, will you fly for the first time in a while?Shu, are you sure? Edgar said, "Shu, are you sure? Of course, neither Edgar nor Shu said no. Especially Edgar looked nostalgic and said, "I''ve missed you. Edgar, in particular, looked nostalgic as he headed for the cockpit. You haven''t changed, have you? "Come in, sir." Hope, who had been sitting in the pilot''s seat, gave up her seat to support him as co-pilot. "It''s an airship. Can it ...... float at this size?" Shu questioned. Indeed, it is natural to think that an airship of this size might not float if it carried all Jin and the others and even Golem, if we look at it as a helium-using airship. "<> doesn''t float on helium. <. The airship''s appearance is a disguise." "Is that so?" Wow, that''s amazing. "Wow! At least everyone seemed to know about the force field generator. "But no one knows how to make one. Shu explained on behalf of the others. "Even Marikka-sama didn''t tell us." Perhaps they decided that it was not necessary if they were going to live on Onogoro Island. Or maybe Marikka herself doesn''t remember ......, Jin imagined. Of course, there is no doubt that Onogoro has the technology, not to mention the <>. If we are going to Hale, we need to teach them.) (If we are going to Hale, we need to teach them.) Jin thought about it, but for now, he would first guide them to Horai Island. "Edgar, let''s get started. Jin instructed, thinking back to 400 years ago. "Yes, Jin-sama." Edgar replied as he had done in the past, and launched the Conlon 3. "Wow, it floats!" Rubina is thrilled. < is made of cubic zirconia, which means it is transparent. When the cover is opened, it is suitable for observing the ground from the sky. "Wow, is this what Horai Island looks like? In size alone, Horai Island is larger than Onogoro Island. It is just right for looking around from the sky. Mount Horai, which rises in the center of the island, is an active volcano, although it is not emitting smoke. In modern Japan, where Jin was from, this volcano was said to be << dormant volcano> until a short while ago. 1000 years ...... ago, or 140 years from now. It was a smaller island when Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the first <>, was born, but it has risen due to volcanic activity and become the size it is today. The current elevation is about 3400 meters. Jin gave an explanation such as ......, and Reiko added some details. took a slow circle around Mount Horai. It was a scenic flight, looking down on the coniferous forests and wasteland below. "What is that? Natalia''s voice. She was looking out of a side window, not the floor window, but the one she was pointing at. "That''s <>. It''s the <> of Horai Island." "Wow, that''s amazing." had traveled clockwise around Horai Island from the laboratory and was now over Tatsumi Bay. "Edgar, I need you to drop altitude a little." "Yes, Master Jin." Edgar lowers the altitude to about 50 meters. Then he could see the surface of the sea more clearly. "Oh, Jin-sama, what is that ......?" Natalia has found a ship. It was a trimaran, Hydro 1. "There are fish ponds in Tatsumi Bay, where they farm fish and harvest seaweed and wakame seaweed," she said. The five-colored golem maid Aqua and her team were hard at work, and the <> Marin and her team were supporting them. "I like it, this kind of thing. It has a lived-in feel to it." Rubina said in a cheerful voice. "Oh, you brought something back with you." "What?" In the direction Jin was looking, there was a mermaid team towing a huge demon. "Oh, what is that?" Rubina asks with some panic. "It''s a ......<. I heard it''s been tearing up the fishing grounds lately." Sea dragons are carnivorous and ferocious. They prey on the Death Sea Serpent. "They originally live in the cold northern seas, but sometimes they come south on the ocean currents and eat fish to the point that their ecosystem goes haywire, so we exterminate them like this." Jin explained that by using all of the fish as material, they also make offerings. "I see." Everyone from Onogoro Island scrunched up their faces at the sight of the giant monster for the first time. "Oh, you don''t get a chance to see these demons on Onogoro Island?" "That''s right, Master Jin." Arrow, who knew the Death Serpent and Bowall in person, replied. The materials for Bowall had also been prepared by Testa and the others. "So that''s how peaceful Onogoro Island is. On the contrary, it means that they are ignorant of the world. So much so that Jin is poking his nose into it. Jin thinks that he would like to show them the rest of the world in the future. 1743 - - 47-24 Horai Island Guide 2 Jin and the others returned to the front of the institute. Jin said, "We still have some time left. ......" He then muttered to himself, "All right, bring out the <>, Mr. Mere Old Man. He gave the order. <>. The old man replied immediately, and one second later, <> appeared in front of the laboratory. "Wow! "Wow, you scared me. ......" "Sorry, sorry. I just had some time to kill, so I thought I''d explain something that was bothering me the other day. "What was on your mind?" Rubina tilted her head. "Yeah. The problem with Rubina''s giant golem." "Oh, by all means!" Rubina''s eyes sparkled. Seeing her happy face, Jin thought it would be good to give such practical advice to others. "I was careful when I made this < at ......," Jin explains. Jin explains. The balance between strength and weight changes as it gets bigger. The motion around the joints can be expressed in terms of <, i.e. how many seconds it takes to move how many degrees, which means that for the same angular velocity, the end velocity will be greater as the angular velocity increases. "Okay. The area increases in proportion to the square of the size. The cross-sectional area is the same. But the weight is proportional to the cube, right? "That''s what I mean." At Rubina''s level, she still does not fully understand <>, and Jin is also unable to give a detailed explanation since he has only memorized some of the concepts and formulas. However, Rubina seemed to have understood what she needed to know, even though it was only a brief explanation. "I''ll try to improve it when I get back!" "Yeah, good luck!" Jin smiled at Rubina who was full of motivation. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Then it was time for lunch. The menu was tempura soba. You can choose between hot and cold soba. "The soup stock is very good. The batter of the tempura is crispy. The tempura batter is crispy." "Wow, the wasabi is good! Everyone seemed to be familiar with the dish and enjoyed the taste of Horaijima style. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, I decided to give them a tour of the institute. However, it was not so different from the one in Onogoro Island, so the tour ended soon. However, I only explained about the previous generation''s study from the outside of the door. Jin''s room, however, I showed him the inside. Then Jin decided to show a picture he had been thinking about showing or not. "Here, this is a picture of your ancestors." "What? It is a group photo taken 400 years ago. I''ve never seen it before! Since they moved to Onogoro Island after the dissolution of the <>, I thought they would not have any pictures of their ancestors from that period. Jin thought that they were probably kept in the family scattered in various countries, and it seems that he was right. Incidentally, the old photos of the family members, including Jin, have been kept in a secret place because of the old man''s concern for them. This is Bina and next to her is Luis. This is Bina, and the one next to her is Luis, Rubina''s direct ancestor. "Oh, he looks like me. Well, technically, Rubina looks like Rubina. This is Marcia. "She has a nice style. ......" Natalia let out a small sigh. "Reinhard and Berthe." "This is ......." Trichardt and Suzanne looked very pleased with themselves. "And this is Elsa. This is my wife." "She''s beautiful. ......" Seeing the picture of his beloved wife, Jin''s heart ached a little, but he managed to keep it from showing on his face, probably due to the fact that he was a duplicate. "Come on, come on, let''s move on." Let''s move on." * * * * * And he went to the workshop. "Wow, this is amazing! "This is Master Jin''s workshop? "This is where many legends were born. ......" Everyone was deeply impressed. Jin was a little embarrassed. "Ah!There''s an unusual material! Rubina exclaimed. Curious, she walked around Jin''s workshop and found a shelf of materials. "Oh, they have sample materials there." Jin sometimes wonders what materials to use. In such a case, when he sees the actual materials, he sometimes gets a flash of inspiration. >>Sometimes it hits him. And what Rubina found was a shelf of metal samples. A 1 mm thick, 10 cm square plate and a 1 cm diameter, 10 cm long round bar. They were neatly arranged with name tags. "...... sterling silver, 925 silver, 950 silver, copper, platinum, brass, bronze, gunmetal, nickel silver, Beryllium Copper,Pure Iron,Mild Steel,Hard Steel,Carbon Tool Steel,Nickel Steel,Chromium Steel,Chromium Vanadium Steel,Nickel Chromium Vanadium Steel,Chromium Molybdenum Steel,Nickel Chromium Molybdenum Steel,Molybdenum Vanadium Steel,Invar,Tungsten Steel,Nichrome, KS Magnet Steel,MK Magnet Steel,High Speed Steel,Alloy Tool Steel,Silicon Steel,18-8 18-8 stainless steel,18-10 stainless steel,18-12 stainless steel,pure aluminum 12 stainless steel,pure aluminum,duralumin,super duralumin,ultra duralumin,magnesium alloys,solder,type alloys,pewter,light silver,64 light silver,mithril silver, Magi Mithril,Adamantite,Magi Adamantite,Hyper Adamantite,Iridosmin,Orihalcon......" Rubina reading the names of the samples on the shelves . "......Fu......, a lot of metals I didn''t know about." "So, it''s amazing ......." In modern Japan, Jin was in the metal industry. He made as many alloys as he could remember before forgetting them, and laid them out as samples. Once he got started, things got interesting, and he made all of these things. "Jin-sama, what is <>?" "Oh, it''s an alloy of tin and antimony. It was once used as a substitute for silver in tableware. Of course, in the history of the earth. The inferior ones were mixed with lead instead of antimony, which made them toxic, and some were made with less antimony and more copper. Jin has never used this metal for tableware, nor will he ever use it, but he has made samples of it and laid them out on the table. Other questions were raised, such as what is the difference between super duralumin and super-duralumin, and what is the meaning of high-speed steel. * * * * "No! Natalia''s exclamation rang out. Natalia''s screams were caused by the display of the and in the underground aquaculture farm. Natalia turned pale and flew to the surface. Arrow, Arco, and Vail rush after her. Rubina, by the way, is unperturbed. She seems to be fine with insects. Shu, Trihardt, and Suzanne are also a bit taken back, but do not show their disgust to the point of screaming. "So this spider is the source of those powerful threads! Again Rubina was curious. Jin likes the way she feeds on the rarity of what she sees and he is passionate about it. "It is important to know the nature of the material. In order to achieve your goal, you need to fully exploit the characteristics of the material. "Yes, I will study! Jin is relieved to see that Rubina is so obedient these days. It is difficult to educate a rebellious child. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After that, we have a short visit to the underground mining site where the stone golem works, and then it''s time for tea at three o''clock. Natalia, who had escaped from the underground farm, finally seemed to have recovered her color. "Oh, it''s delicious! It was gyokuro from Horai Island. It has a different taste from sencha. And for tea, chestnut yokan. It is a pure chestnut yokan made with a lot of maruon berries. These two were not available on Onogoro Island, and all the guests loved them. 1744 - - 47-25 Next Day Schedule After the 3 o''clock tea, Jin asked everyone he had invited. "Well, there is still time for dinner, so if there is anything you want, I will ask you. If not, I would like to have you relax in the hot spring. "Well, you still have tomorrow, don''t you?" Rubina was the first to ask. "Yes, that''s right. With the time difference, tomorrow night around 7:00 p.m....... after dinner, it will be 7:00 a.m. on Onogoro Island." "...... I''m going to have a hard time sleeping." As a child, Rubina is not a fan of sleep deprivation. "If you are sleepy, take a nap for half an hour, and if you sleep early at night, you will be less likely to get jet lag. Jin advised. After that, since there seemed to be nothing else they wanted, they decided to soak in the hot spring and relax, and chat until dinner. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm..." "So this is a hot spring. ......" "I''ve been to a few of these in other places, and they are very nice. Jin, Shu, Trihart and the others were in the men''s bath. Trihart had been to the outside world many times because of his position, and he had been in hot springs before, but Shu had never been in a hot spring before. "Are there any hot springs on Onogoro Island?" I recall that it was not a hot spring that Hitoshi took a bath in on Onogoro Island. "I wonder if it''s possible to dig underground on Onogoro Island. If you dig deep enough, you might be able to find geothermally heated groundwater,...... Jin thought. "It could be that they decided that a regular bath would be sufficient without going that far." Or maybe he didn''t like the quality of the water, Trihart added. Some people do not like the smell of sulfur and cannot enter sulfur springs, while others have weak skin and cannot enter acidic springs, so it is also true that not everyone likes them. In reality, it is the underground structure of Onogoro Island that is the main cause of the problem, Jin imagined, albeit vaguely. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Rubina, Natalia, Suzanne, and the others came up 20 minutes after Jin and the others. The time was 4:30 PM. Since dinner was scheduled for 7:00 p.m., we decided to have a glass of cold fresh juice after the bath. "Wow, this is delicious! Ramon juice with carbonation. Not too sweet, but refreshing with just the right amount of acidity. "You''re probably used to drinking coffee milk over there," said Jin. Jin said. "That''s true. Too much of something sweet and you won''t be able to eat dinner, so it''s just right. Suzanne agreed. As dusk was falling, a peaceful time was passing in the dining room of Horai Island. Dinner consisted of white rice, miso soup with deep-fried tofu and okara, grilled dried horse mackerel, sweet omelet, hamburger steak, pickled vegetables, and tempura. No alcohol because of the children. I love hamburgers. ...... and this sweet omelet!" Rubina seems to like the sweet omelet very much. "Oh, this dried fish is very ...... flavorful." Trihardt is amazed by the dried fish. Seeing this, Jin asked him what he thought. "Don''t they make dried fish on Onogoro Island?" The answer to this question was, "Yes, we do. I asked him how they do it, and he told me that they bleed the fish they catch, open them, and then dry them by magic. "It''s quicker and it doesn''t attract insects. Jin heard this and thought, "Ah, that''s why. "Oh, that''s why." "Yes?" "Dried fish is not simply dried. Dried fish is not just dried fish, it is dried fish that has been exposed to the sun so that the proteins break down and become amino acids, which give the fish its umami flavor. Suzanne nodded repeatedly as if impressed by this explanation. "That''s right!It''s not just a matter of doing everything in a short time. ......" "This salt is delicious!" Natalia said that the salt poured over the tempura was delicious. "Don''t they make algae salt?" "Mashio?" Her reaction revealed that they did not make it. "Oh, the inland sea of Onogoro Island has very little seaweed. Perhaps because of the coral reefs, there is not much seaweed. The water is clean enough to make good salt from the sea, but it is a step behind seaweed salt when it is used for tempura. Jin then explained how to make seaweed salt. "Oh, you add the umami taste of seaweed to it," he said. "Yes, it does. The animal umami is inosinic acid and the vegetable umami is glutamic acid ......, right?Well, it''s not so much the name as the effect. As expected, Jin had a vague recollection of this part of the story. "Seaweed itself is not so abundant, you know." Jin looked at Natalia, who looked a little disappointed, "Good. Tomorrow we will go for a walk under the sea. "Tomorrow we''ll go for a walk under the sea," she declared. "Yes?" "A walk under the sea?" "Yes. It''s a submersible I built called Orca. It is 10 meters long, 3 meters wide, and seats 8 people. The outer panel is made of two layers of 64 light silver and the shell of a gigantopod. The inner surface is coated with soft magic resin to prevent water leakage and for emergency repairs. It is powered by an aqua-magic propulsion system (aqua thruster) and a force field generator (force generator). It is armed with two underwater magic cannons (for torpedo type shells), a magic bomb (mana bomb), torpedoes, and many other weapons. On the magic screen installed in the wall of the cafeteria, the old man wisely displayed the drawing of the . "...... is amazing." "This is also very ......" "That''s great, Jin-sama!" When I explained the specs to him, he was astonished and respected me. "It''s an eight-seater, so ...... Edgar will be the pilot again, and me, Reiko, Rubina, Natalia, Shu, Trihardt, and Suzanne ...... will be perfect for the job. Unfortunately, Arrow, Donner and the others will be away. But Jin didn''t need to persuade them; they all agreed that it was inevitable. "I can''t wait to ride it!" Rubina couldn''t wait to get on the boat. "...... tomorrow, right?" Jin nailed her to the wall. But Rubina might be too excited to sleep tonight, Jin imagined. Yes, like a child who has an excursion coming up the next day. 1745 - - 47-26 Underwater Walking Jin''s prediction was wrong. What was it about, I mean, Rubina? Because of the time difference, she had been awake for a long time, and she could not overcome the urge to sleep. She started to doze off while chatting with Jin and the others. "Ah, you are still a child after all..." Suzanne smiled as she gently picked up Rubina and carried her to the guest room Jin had designated. "Is Shu okay?" Jin was concerned about Shu, who was the youngest after Rubina. Yes, I have to admit that I am getting a little sleepy. Natalia asked, "Actually, I''m ...... too." Trihart did not say anything, but she still seemed a little sleepy, "Well, let''s call it a night," Jin declared. Jin declared, "Well, let''s call it a night. The next day, at 5:00 a.m. The next day, 5:00 a.m.. Jin woke up earlier than usual. He woke up earlier than usual because he thought that Rubina and the others would wake up early. He was right. Rubina and Shu were already awake, and Natalia, Trihart and Suzanne were soon to arrive. "Ha, we are all the same, aren''t we? "Yes, we are all the same. Even Trihart and Suzanne woke up and everyone laughed at Jin''s words. * * * * * * * * * * * * After breakfast, we drove the Golem car to Tatsumi Bay. "Now we''re going to race cars, right?...... but cars don''t seem to be common." Jin asked himself. "I don''t want to cause a car accident......If we race, accidents will happen......." It was a difficult question and he arrived at Tatsumi Bay with no answer. Jin turned his head. "Now, this is the ." "Wow. ......." The ship has a streamlined hull that doesn''t look like much of a ship. It is black and white (matte silver-white) in the image of an orca on Earth. "Come on, let''s get on board!" Jin takes the lead and climbs aboard. Reiko and Edgar followed. Edgar, I''ll be counting on you. Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it. Edgar really used to be a pilot. Shu was impressed to see Edgar sitting comfortably in the cockpit. "Hope, I''m sorry." Jin called out to Hope as he saw her off at the pier. "No, don''t worry about it. Mr. Edgar, please take care." After such an exchange of words, everyone was on board. The orca started and immediately began to dive. "Wow! ......" The underwater view through the window caught everyone''s attention. "We''ve only just started diving," Jin says with a wry smile. Jin said with a wry smile, "Because it''s my first time. Rubina replies, "Because it''s my first time. The orca dives rapidly. "How do you dive?" Natalia asked. "When we are sailing we trim the fins to generate downforce, but in this case we are using the <> to make the hull ...... in this case the bottom. By making the ...... heavier, we''re making the specific gravity of the whole ship a little bit heavier than seawater." The heavier hull bottom also provides better stability, Jin added. "Jin-sama, how is the inside oxygenated?" Shu asked. "In short, the oxygen is separated from the carbon dioxide in the air by engineering magic . "I see!That''s very informative. < had already dived to a depth of about 10 meters. "Ah!What is that?" Rubina exclaimed as she saw a luminous object outside the window. "Ah, it''s the <>. This time we are going for an underwater walk, so they are following us with their lights. If we go too deep, it will be too dark for the sun light to reach us, and Reiko and Edgar, but not Jin and the others, will not be able to see anything. That would be meaningless, so they are accompanying us with lights. There are ten of them in total, by the way. Oh, that''s what I meant. ...... Oh, fish!" Rubina is excited to see the fish startled by the lights and run away. "We''re getting close to the bottom!" Tatsumi Bay is getting deeper, but as we are still close to the shore, the depth is only about 20 meters. "Oh, beautiful fish! "Is that a plant? ......Oh, that''s seaweed, isn''t it? Yes, that''s it. That fluttering thing is wakame seaweed. It''s delicious in miso soup. "Is that so? "That''s the one over there. It''s the one they use to make agar-agar." "I love anmitsu!" "That one over there with the fine leaves is hondawara. It is used to make salt. "I see." "That big, long thing over there is kelp, which is dried and used to make soup stock or boiled and eaten." "So there are many kinds of kelp." The underwater walk seems to have been well received. < "The ocean is getting darker and darker. That''s why we have a mermaid squad. "Oh, there''s an interesting creature." An arthropod like a hawksbill crab was moving. It has 12 legs. Jin had never seen this kind before. "It''s called a dozen crabs." Reiko explained. I think the name comes from "a dozen pencils," which means 12 pencils. Jin thought to himself that he was probably the same person he was 400 years ago. "Ah, a big shell!" "It''s a "shako mussel", isn''t it? Jin thought it was a terrible name, probably because it looked like a giant clam. (I bet there must be some reason why he couldn''t be bothered to think of a name for it. ......) Jin guessed almost exactly what he was like 400 years ago. "There are also mineral deposits on the seabed." Reiko explains. Everyone seems to be satisfied with this underwater walk, and Jin is also satisfied in that sense. 1746 - - 47-27 Jumping in After spending the entire morning exploring the ocean with the orcas, Jin and his crew returned to Tatsumi Bay before noon. "Oh, it was a great experience! "There were so many beautiful fish! "The bottom of the sea is so mysterious! Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves, and Jin was satisfied. "Well, it will be past noon if we go back by car. ......" So, the return trip was made by warp gate. After returning to the institute, Jin and his colleagues had a lunch prepared for them. "Oh, it was so much fun, Jin-sama!" Rubina expressed her excitement in a straightforward manner, "I was inspired in many ways. I am going to build a submarine when I get back home. Natalia was eager to build a submersible. And Shu said, "Thank you, Mr. Jin, for giving me the opportunity to learn something valuable. She thanked him honestly. When I had finished my lunch, the old man spoke to me. "What is it, My Lord?" He knew that Jin was busy with the feast for his descendants, so he listened carefully to the old man''s words. "The Golem Competition (Gompetition)...... was the Golem Competition held in the Kingdom of Selroa?" << "Yes, yes, yes!Jin-sama, I want to go see it!" Rubina expressed her desire to go, even though she hadn''t said anything yet. "Does anyone else want to go?" Jin asked, just to be sure, "Well, I''d like to go, too. Shu raised his hand. What about Natalia? "To be honest, I''m interested, but right now I''m more interested in building a submersible. Natalia seemed to be more interested in boats than in golems. "Are you going, Jin-sama?" Trihart asked Jin. "Yes, I''m interested in going, too. I''m also interested to see how the Shoro Empire is doing now. Although we are in the middle of exploring Onogoro Island, I am also interested in the Golem competitions (gompetitions) since they don''t seem to be held very often. "Well, ...... let''s say we have a car or golem horse race as the next competition, and it will take about three days to prepare the course, so why don''t you go there during that time?" After thinking for a moment, Trihart made this suggestion. "That would be great. That would be ......." Jin, Rubina and Shu were to go. Natalia would return to Onogoro Island with Trihart and Suzanne. "But, Jin-sama, aren''t you unfamiliar with the current Shoro Kingdom?" Suzanne said a little worried. "Oh, there is that. ......" "In that case, let me show you around. I turned around at the sound of her voice. "Rhodes?" < "Oh, Lord Toss." Trihardt seemed to know him, too, and greeted him. "He has been to Onogoro Island several times with Marikka. "I see." "Rubina and Shu know each other too. Right? Yes. Yes. ...... And I''m friends with LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Empire. Oh, that''s very kind of you. So, it was suddenly decided that Rhodes would lead the tour. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the afternoon, considering Natalia, they decided to go on board the battleship . It is a battleship of 250 meters in length and 30,000 tons of water capacity. "What the hell is this ......?" Natalia was absolutely stunned when she first saw it, but as she got on board and looked around, her eyes lit up and she became more and more enthusiastic. "I may not be able to catch up with you no matter how hard I try. But Jin-sama is my far-reaching goal!" declared Natalia. Natalia declared. "Of course he is. I will do my best to reach you, Jin-sama! Shu declared in the same way. But Rubina was different. If you set your sights on Jin-sama, you will never be able to surpass him. My goal is to surpass Jin-sama! Jin narrowed his eyes and patted Rubina on the head. "That''s the spirit! Good luck! "Yes! Rubina replied cheerfully. The tri-halts also looked at her with kind eyes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After dinner. The time was 6:30 p.m. "So, everyone except Rubina and Shu will return to Onogoro Island after this, right?" Jin said as if to confirm. "Yes. And I''ll set up the racetrack afterwards. Is the oval course okay?" "Yes, that will be fine for a start." The track is also an oval. It is the basis for both golem horse racing and car racing. Because of its simplicity, it is a good opportunity to show your skills in how to devise a race course. "The golem competition (gompetition) is the day after tomorrow, so I will return to Onogoro Island with the two of you the day after tomorrow. "Yes, I understand. Please take good care of them, Mr. Rhodes. Rhodes nodded broadly. "Okay, I''ll take care of them." And at 7:00 p.m.. Natalia, Arrow, Arco, and Vail returned to Onogoro Island with Trihart and Suzanne. After seeing them off, Jin and the others said "Well then, let''s take a hot spring bath and go to bed. Aren''t you tired today? Jin said, "You must be tired today, aren''t you? But they did not go to bed right away. "Mr. Jin, Mr. Rhodes. What kind of country is the Shoro Kingdom? he asked me. "Yes, it is. When I was there, it was ......." The current emperor is ....... Jin and Rhodes talked about the Shoro Empire of the past and the present. And it helped Jin to know more about his country now. "The current emperor is Ernst Lupus von Richt-Shoro. He is called Ernst II. When I hear the name "Ernst", the first thing that comes to mind is the nephew of the female emperor. The name is said to have been given in honor of an ancestor who was a great ruler. "The Shoro Empire still seems to be developing its own culture, doesn''t it?" "Yes." Jin remembered with nostalgia that even 400 years ago, the Shoro Empire had developed a slightly different culture from that of the countries to the east. 1747 - - 47-28 The present Empire of Shoro Jin, Reiko, Rubina, Shu, and Rhodes decide to go to the Shoro Kingdom in Jin''s . The pilot this time is Hope. Shu is accompanied by Edgar, and Rubina by Blitz and Donner. And Rhodes brought a golem that Jin had never seen before. "This is a golem I made, and it''s called . "I look forward to working with you all." < He was about 1.8 meters tall, much like the land forces of Hourai Island. When Jin pointed this out, "Yes, our target is Master Jin''s golem. Jin answered, "Yes, because our target is Master Jin''s golem. "By the way, Jin-sama, let us pretend that we, the northerners, are borrowing this ." Rhodes said that there was no way to deceive him since the hull of the ship was marked "Conlon 3" in the first place, and that the <> was known to have been Jin''s property. Jin, who is aware that he is not supposed to be in this time period at the moment, immediately accepted the proposal. And now he is in the sky. "fluaa...... high......" Originally, flying to high altitudes was forbidden on Onogoro Island due to its concealment, and although balloons and airships are known to exist, they are rarely used. Therefore, it was the first time for them to experience the view from an altitude of <4,000 meters> like the one they were in now. "I can see the clouds below. ......" "Oh, that''s Mount Horai. Is that white snow? ......" Jin knew exactly how they felt, so he decided to leave them alone. After half an hour, the excitement seemed to subside and Rubina and Shu became quiet. is now approaching the Laurentian continent. Its current speed is 1000 kilometers per hour. < "We need to gain a little more altitude." Not wanting to be seen flying at this speed, Jin has raised its altitude to 10,000 meters. At this altitude, an ordinary airship without a pressurized cabin would not be able to reach it. "I guess the number of airships is increasing." Jin spoke to Rhodes as he watched the scene below projected on the magic screen. "Yes. < class helium airship. Of course, the propulsion system is a wind-magic propulsion system (wind thruster), so the maximum speed is about 200 kilometers per hour at most. Rhodes explained that in addition to wind-powered floaters (blow floaters), there were other such large means of flight. "The same is true for the Shoro Empire, which we are heading to now. They also have several catamaran type airships that Jin-sama gave them before." Not only Avalon? "Yes. Each royal family owns one. "I see." Jin continues talking with Rhodes. < has hindered the development of magical technology, some engineers have worked hard to pass on and develop their skills. "Unlike other countries, the Shoro Empire is the home of the . < Even when other countries were stagnant, the engineers of the Shoro Empire continued their studies. The Shoro Empire has also grown in strength through trade with the countries of the west, ......<> and <>, he said. "The emperors have been very competent," he said. "...... I see." "Especially when it comes to < education. < "...... I see." Jin thought of the face of the empress with her generous nature. The path to that she had laid the foundation for was one of the driving forces that had made the Shoro Empire what it was today. "Ah, <> was useful. ......" I was also moved as a creator of the project. <> is now passing over the Kingdom of Selroa. What can be seen through the clouds is Lake Asur, a huge lake. The floating base there is still in good condition. It would have been faster to go to the Shoro Kingdom from the floating base, but Jin wanted to show the world to Rubina and her friends as much as possible. We then jumped over the border, looking down at the high mountain, Mount Onouni. It has been about an hour and a half so far. "Hope, I need you to slow down to 200 kilometers per hour and lower the altitude to 500 meters. "Yes, sir." As they entered the Shoro Kingdom, Jin had the speed and altitude lowered. It was less than 300 kilometers to Loisart, which would take less than an hour and a half. They left Penglai Island at 10:00 a.m. local time. The trip to Loizart takes about 3 hours. The time difference between Penglai Island and Loizart is 5 hours and 20 minutes. In other words, you will arrive in Loizart at 7:40 a.m. local time. Everyone understands the time difference, so there is no need to be embarrassed. "Let''s have lunch while we''re at it." It is breakfast time in the Shoro Kingdom, but for Jin and the others it is lunch time. For Jin and the others, it is lunch time, and they have prepared sandwiches and Citran juice for a light meal. "Oh, we''re almost there!" While they were eating their sandwiches, was approaching Reuzert. Lake Tosmo is visible in the distance. The sky over Shoro was clear. "We will be in Leuthart in about 20 minutes. ...... Road Toss, where should I land?" Four hundred years ago, the rooftop of a house in Leuthart would have been the place to park. "Yes, there is an airfield near Lake Tosmo." Okay. Hope, you''re on it. Yes, sir. < "Oh, an airship!" < is flying overhead. Hot air balloons were also flying, and we saw several wind-powered floaters (blow floaters). "Wow, they are really developing." Air traffic seemed to be more developed than it had been at least 400 years ago. It was a bustle that had never been seen in other countries. "Reduce your speed to 30 kilometers per hour. Jin instructed Hope, following Rhodes'' words. "The air force controller will be here shortly." It is said that aircraft not belonging to the Shoro Kingdom are subjected to such air force procedures before they land. "We are using wind magic. Wind magic is a magic that works on the air. Since voice is a vibration of air, it is possible to transmit a voice to a distant place if it is used properly. This is Tosmo Airport Security Officer, Shoro Imperial Air Force. Please identify your ship. We''ve been contacted by your wind magic. This is Conlon 3. This is Rhodoth, a <> of the Nordic Federation. Rhodes replied through the golem . Rhodes replied through the golem <>. , Lord Rhodes the Puppet, please land in airport area 2. Copy that. We are landing at airport area 2. As we discussed at the beginning, <> was borrowed by Rhodes and other northerners from Jin in the past. As instructed in this exchange, <> turns its nose toward the second area marked with a large <<2>>. 1748 - - 47-29 Minister of Magic and Technology landed at the airport. "Welcome to the Kingdom of Shoro." An officer arrives at the airport to check in. "<>, is it? I believe that crest belongs to the Nido family? The officer was knowledgeable, and seemed to know a great deal about the Conlon 3 of 400 years ago. "Yes, yes. We are borrowing it from the Nido family. "I see. You are very well acquainted with them. I envy you. So, the procedure is at ....... Rhodes took care of the procedures on our behalf, which is a big help to us as well as to Jin. < is stored in a covered warehouse. A similarly sized airship is seen here and there. "That''s a , isn''t it?" Rhodes says. Apparently < is the standard size for a class of airship. The procedure is quick. All of us were now considered relatives of Rhodes. "Here are your temporary entry passes. Jin, Rubina, and Shu receive their temporary entry passes. Reiko, Hope, Edgar, Uragan, Blitz, and Donner were also issued provisional permits. Rhodes, on the other hand, was acquainted with the Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Empire, LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, and had a quasi-citizen status. Since he was related to Rhodoth, he was able to pass the troublesome screening process. Thank you for your help. "No problem." Jin was glad to be with Rhodes, who had a wide circle of acquaintances. And once again, he felt sorry for his lack of a foundation in this world. (I guess I''ll just have to make do in my favorite country from now on...) As Jin was thinking of this, a large covered carriage stopped in front of him. A golem horse is pulling it. "You''re picking me up from LeGray, aren''t you? He said he had called ahead of time. "Master Rhodes, it has been a long time. A golem acting as a guardian greeted him. "Hello, Prairu." The golem and Rhodes knew each other. Rubina and Shu were brought on board first, followed by Jin, Reiko, Hope, Edgar, Blitz, Donner, Uragan, and finally Rhodes. "What kind of person is this Mr. Legray?" Yes, he is 54 years old this year. We met in Avalon when he was young, and we hit it off after all. "Hmm." Somehow, Jin imagined that he and his former best friend Reinhardt were like him. "He likes golems and automata, so I think he is in charge of this golem competition (gompetition). "Hmmm... ...... Rubina has a lot to learn, doesn''t she?" "Eh?Oh, yes!" Rubina and Shu are as docile as borrowed cats, as this is the first time in their lives that they have been in a foreign country. "Don''t be too nervous. Reiko and I will be with you. Jin reassured them. The golem carriage drove along the cobblestone streets. "This used to be a town called , but it became when Loisart grew too big. The town of Ali, which was a satellite city, has been incorporated into Leuzert''s expansion. "So that''s how prosperous it is." I suppose so. Wow, interesting building. Rubina pointed in the direction of a castle-like building with a spire. "It''s a lord''s house, I think it''s more than five hundred years old," Rhodoth explained gently. Rhodes explains gently. "Mr. Rhodes, what is that?" Shu asks, looking out the opposite window. "Oh, that''s the new building. It''s the best workshop in town. "Oh, I see..." Jin cannot sit quietly when he hears that it is a workshop. "Oh, I see." The image he had in his mind was that of an ironworks in town. An office-like building, a large warehouse, and a large work area are all together. Seeing Rubina and Shu''s eyes light up, Jin is glad that he brought them here. "I guess I need to see the outside world to broaden my horizons. Reiko nodded her head. "That''s right, father." Rubina and Shu are still sticking to the window. (...... I may have to dispatch the fifth column (quinta) again.) ( Maybe we need to dispatch the fifth column (quinta) again), Jin thought in his mind. * * * * After about 30 minutes, the golem carriage arrived at a house. This is the residence of LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, the Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Kingdom. It is located on the outskirts of old Leuthart. Rhodes'' explanation made sense to Jin. This area seemed to be a quiet and luxurious residential area, so he had assumed that there might be residences of aristocrats or rich people here. The carriage slowly passed through the gate and stopped in front of the covered entrance. "Thank you for your hard work! Prairu, the coachman, opened the door to the carriage. Hope, Uragan, Blitz, and the other golems get off first to support their master. Reiko, Edgar, and Donner were the last to disembark with their baggage. "Oh, Rhodes, welcome!" An elderly man with gray hair comes out to greet them. "Hey, LeGrey!Long time no see! Rhodes says to him in a friendly manner. Jin guessed that he was the Minister of Magical Technology. "It''s been about four years, hasn''t it?You smell like water! "I''m sorry. I''ve been in the west for a while on some business. "Well, I heard something happened in the western principality. ...... Well, I''ll stop asking." But more importantly, aren''t you serving today? No, I''m not today. I''ve already finished the preparations for tomorrow''s golem competition, so it''s a rest day. You''re still very good at what you do. "And you, too." They smiled, shook hands, and talked about their recent activities. "Let me introduce you. ......First of all, I would like to introduce a relative of mine, Mr. Jin Nido. This is Shu Nido, and this is Miss Rubina Garrett." My name is LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius. I see you share the same name as the legendary Magecraft Meister. And another one with the same surname. "Why don''t you tell him it''s you ......?" Rhodes said with a mischievous look on his face, but Legray didn''t care. "Ha-ha-ha, I guess so. The surname Nido is quite common and there are many people who go by the name of Djinn. I know two djinns myself. Well, that''s all right. Oh, I''m sorry to interrupt you at the door. ...... Jin-dono, Shu-dono, Miss Rubina, welcome to my home." With these words, LeGray led the group into the house. They were first ushered into a large parlor. "Welcome. The person who brought the tea was a slender-looking automaton. "Thank you, Juna. "Come in, Master Rhodes," she said. Rhodes seems to be familiar with this automaton named Juna. "Jin-sa ...... sir, Legray is more of a golem lover than a misanthrope ......, and all the people working in the house are automata and golems. "Hohoho." Juna is a slender beauty. I wondered if she was LeGray''s favorite, and then a more glamorous automaton arrived with a wagonload of tea cakes. "Oh, is this a new one?" This automaton seemed to be the first one Rhodes had ever seen. "Yes. <. ...... Yuana, thank you. You can stay back now." Yes. Yes. I''ll leave you to it. As the two automata left, LeGrey turned to Jin and the others, "You have wonderful automata and golems with you! He said, "You have wonderful automata and golems with you! Jin felt that Legray Gibbs von Vesuvius, the Minister of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Kingdom, really seems to love golems and automata from the bottom of his heart,...... or so everyone there felt. 1749 - - 47-30 Rooms "You have wonderful golems and automata!" said LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, the Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Kingdom. LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Empire, said happily. "Your automata of a girl and a boy are especially wonderful ......". LeGrey looks at Reiko and Edgar and sighs. "The legendary automata, Miss Reiko, and Edgar, who was made by the fine master of Magecraft Meister Jin Nido, are modeled after Edgar!The fact that they share the same name is maniacal and really good!" "LeGrey, you''re still the same." Rhodes said with some exasperation as he took a sip of his tea. "Ha, yes, that''s right. I hope the sea water doesn''t get too sweet!" LeGrey says without a hint of apology. Jin and the others, ...... especially Rubina and Shu, just looked at each other with their eyes black and white. It''s not surprising, since they have no experience in this kind of exchange. LeGray then tells Rhodes, "You are here to watch the golem competition tomorrow, aren''t you? Rhodes answered in the affirmative, of course. Rhodes, of course, answered in the affirmative. "That''s all right. There are plenty of seats available for guests of honor. It would be a national embarrassment if there were not enough seats for the guests, so it seems that the seats are set aside with plenty of room. At the same time, it is also a matter of public image to have a conspicuous number of empty seats, so the empty seats are filled under the guise of escorting the guests. In return for the escort, they are willing to take a seat under the guise of . Thank you. "Thank you for what? ...... After this, we''ll take a closer look at your new golem, <, you say?Let me take a good look at your new golem." "Yeah, sure." Rhodes and Legray are having an easy conversation between old friends. Jin envied them a little. "The guests are ...... in charge, Juna. Please show them to their rooms. "Yes, sir. ...... sir, please come this way." The slender-looking Juna bowed gracefully and led Jin and the others into the guest room. She is quite an automaton. (Hmmm, she is quite a good automaton. But her power is just like a human''s or a little bit better.) Jin saw through Juna''s specifications with his discerning eyes. "Please use this room. We were shown to a large guest room with six bedrooms. There were three bedrooms on each side of the living room. In addition, there is a washroom, a toilet, and a shower room. "This is a modern room. Jin was impressed. This is indeed the residence of the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology. I''ll take this room! Rubina chose the bedroom in the east corner. Shu chose the west corner, and Jin chose the room near the west window. After putting their luggage down, Jin and Shu sit down on the sofa in the hall. Then the glamorous Yuana came in. "My name is Yuana, and I''m here to take care of your guests. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. YUANA stood by the door. The guests had nothing special in mind at the moment, "Where will Rhodes stay?" Jin thought of one question to ask. "Yes, Master Rhodes will be here shortly. While he was answering, Rhodes and Uragan entered the room. "Jin-san ......, I will stay here too. With these words, Rhodes put his luggage in the room near the east window. "Lunch will be ready soon. I told him that I ate a light meal on the way here, so there won''t be anything too heavy. True to his word, porridge was brought to the room. Of course, it was not just porridge. There was also miso soup, an ankake sauce, an egg, oshinko (Japanese pickles), tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce and soy sauce), and salt as accompaniments, so that the guests could enjoy their favorite flavors. "Tsukudani or ......" "Your father introduced it, didn''t he?" Reiko tells me in a whisper. It seems that Jin introduced it 400 years ago. Since dried bonito flakes and soy sauce are assumed to exist, Jin imagines that it must have been after the trade with Mitsuho was in full swing. "Oh, this bean paste is delicious! Jin tried it, too, and found that it was made with a Japanese-style broth. Of course, the word "Japanese style" does not exist in this world, but it seems to be "konlong style". "Oh, I spread this too in the past, didn''t I? ......" Jin was happy to know that he could now eat delicious porridge thanks to that. "It''s also good as rice porridge mixed with miso soup. The bowl was very small, so three or four cups could be easily eaten. So Jin tried mixing miso soup with the rice and making it like rice porridge, and it was also delicious. "I guess that''s why the miso soup is a little thicker." "Jin-sama, it''s delicious!" Shu also seemed to like the rice porridge. "This salt is also very good, isn''t it?" Rhodes said in admiration after eating the porridge with a simple salt taste. "Well, it tastes like algae salt," he said. Jin wondered if it was algae salt from somewhere in the region. Reiko takes a little taste of the salt. Reiko''s mouth is equipped with a sophisticated sensor for analysis. "Father, this salt is rock salt, isn''t it? "I see, rock salt." Rock salt is often formed when seawater evaporates and crystallizes due to the upheaval of an ancient sea. The salt is often crystallized from the evaporation of seawater from uplifted areas that were once seas in prehistoric times, and the salt is sometimes colored. "In addition to sodium chloride and potassium chloride, it seems to contain magnesium chloride, iodine, glutamic acid, inosinic acid, aspartic acid, etc." "I see. ......, Reiko, how did you know the names of those substances?" Jin was not good at chemistry, so his knowledge of chemical reaction formulas and chemical substances was limited. "Yes. < "I see... I see..." Shuki Tsutsui Tsezi wandered in from modern Japan, the same as or similar to Jin. As a medical student, he brought with him books on medicine, pharmacology, and nutrition. Reiko had accumulated this knowledge during her previous visits to the library in Mitsuho. "Oh, it was delicious. "Yes, it was." "You''re satisfied." Rubina, Shu, Jin, and Rhodes were all satisfied with their lunch. It seems that the Shoro Kingdom is putting a lot of effort into exploring food culture, partly because of Jin''s influence. After the meal, they finished with hojicha (roasted green tea). Yes, this tea is freshly roasted and delicious. Jin and the others were all satisfied with their lunch. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Jin-san, what do you want to do in the afternoon? "Well, let''s see. "Well, I''d like to look around the town a little bit. Jin thought for a moment before answering. "Okay. Then let''s rent a carriage from LeGrey. Rhodes said, "If you want to go to the center of Leuthart from here, it would be better to take a carriage instead of walking. "What about Rubina and Shu?" "I want to go with Master Jin!" "I want to go with Jin-sama!" "I want to go with ......, too. So I said, "Okay, I''ll go with you then, and I''ll be accompanied by Reiko and Edgar. Jin explains that touring the city with a golem is a little too conspicuous. "Right. I''m afraid Blitz and Donner will have to stay behind. Rubina agreed. But.., "I''m going to make an automata this time! she declared. 1750 - - 47-31 The Old Rozart After borrowing a carriage from Rhodes'' friend LeGrey, the Minister of Magical Technology, Jin and his party set out for the capital city of Leusert. He lent them a playle. "Although it has become one, the border area is still not well maintained. The carriage continued on its way, listening to Rhodes'' explanation. The streets of the town are becoming more and more lively. "If we secure some land here while we still can, the price of land will probably go up in a decade or so, won''t it? "Maybe..." "Hey Jin-sama, what is land value? Rubina joined the conversation. "It means the price of land. "What?Land is bought with money? Rubina was surprised, as if she had never heard of this before. Although she did not say it out loud, Shu seemed to be in the same boat. "Yes, it is. That''s what happens in populated areas. ...... there are a lot of other reasons." It was a difficult problem to explain in a few words. (For this kind of situation, in the past I would have considered <>. ......) <>, knowledge can be given directly by . Now that the threat of Malchitas had passed, Jin began to think seriously about reconsidering his plan. In the meantime, the view from the carriage is once again of a bustling town. "Ah, we are finally approaching the old city of Leuthart," Rhodoth explains. Rhodes explains. "So, Rhodes, how long have you known about this Reuthert?" "Well, I guess ...... the last 100 years or so." Jin''s impression was that Rhodes was 125 years old, so it was natural that he did not know about it before that, but he had known Leuthart since he was younger than he thought. "Now it''s the old Reuthert!" The moat that once surrounded the former Reuthert spread out before Jin and the others'' eyes. "Ah, this brings back memories." We entered Loisart from the west side of the road, "As I recall, this section was an inn area, and there was also a section for ordinary people. Jin digs up his memory. "Yes, that''s still the case. "Then, if we continue to pass through the south side of the palace and go to the southeast section, will we find a section where merchants and artisans live?" The answer to this question was also in the affirmative. "I see. Then let''s go that way. Yes, I understand. The carriage went straight down the main street. More and more carriages passed by each other, and the bustle of the street increased. There were some familiar buildings here and there, but there were also many newly built houses and buildings that had been remodeled or extended, and overall, the town looked new. "I''m sorry, but could you go to the bridge at the east end of the town?" I asked Praile, the golem, "Yes, sir. You mean as far as Horiwari? Jin nodded. "That''s what I mean." Then we arrived at the eastern outskirts. Jin squinted at the house to the north from there. "Jin-san, I think that house is ......." Rhodes seemed to have guessed it. "Yeah, it used to be my house. ...... Shu, that''s the former Nido family mansion. Shu Nido, who is a direct descendant of the Nido family, looked deeply moved when he heard this. "That''s the place, is it? ......" "Yeah, from the looks of it, it hasn''t changed in appearance." "Maybe Jin-san''s < is still in effect." Rubina, who had been quiet up to now, bites her lip when Rhodotos says this. "What do you mean?" Jin answered. "Strengthening magic such as <> or <> will lose its effect as time goes by. "What''s that!I''ve never heard of that before! I''ve never heard of that before! Rubina and Shu had never heard of this before, so Jin decided to explain it to them. "Well, even if it weakens, it will only last for 10 years. In practical use, the material deteriorates faster than the effect wears off. But," said Jin, "this is where the explanation begins in earnest. "Strengthening magic, in essence, strengthens molecular bonds with a , but the net is not permanent, is it?" "Oh, really?" "Yes, that''s right. But it is proportional to the skill of the surgeon. "What do you mean?" Shu looked doubtful. "Well, that''s the point, the permanence or rather the durability of the <> depends on the skill of the <>. Do you understand?Jin looked at Shu and Rubina with a look that said, "Do you understand? "Umm...... in short, that <> is going to fall apart over time, right?" "Yes." Jin affirms Rubina''s words. "Synchronization ...... means that there is someone to synchronize with, right?" "That''s what I mean." Jin nodded at Shu''s words. "It''s not a material ....... It is possible to cast enhancement magic on non-magic materials as well. "Then there is only one thing left..." Enhancement magic itself! The net of free magic element (ether) itself! Despite Jin''s hints, they both arrived at the correct answer. "That''s what it is. That is, ...... which is more likely to collapse if the blocks are stacked properly or if they are stacked randomly?" Jin gave an easy-to-understand analogy. "Or should I compare it to the principle of ...... laser beams?" "Anyway, the durability depends on whether the phases of the free magic elements (ether) that make up the <> can be aligned properly." "I understand it somewhat." "I understand it." Shu and Rubina nodded in agreement. "By the way, the effect increases when you multiply them by , because the phases are aligned each time you multiply them. Of course, the net of free magical element (ether) itself becomes stronger. Rhodes nodded his head in admiration at Jin''s explanation. "Jin-san, you are indeed very good. < as well. "That''s good to know." Jin was relieved that they seemed to understand. * * * * * But I digress. "I wonder who lives there now?" Jin asked, "As I recall, it is still the Nido family. Rhodes replied, "As I recall, the Nido family has not changed. 1751 - - 47-32 Continuing Bloodline Jin was surprised to hear that the house he had lived in 400 years ago was still the Nido family. "Undoubtedly, the head of the family is the one who is descended from Jin and Elsa." It seems that the family was passed down like the second son of the third son of the second son ...... of the third son, and now he has been given the title of Count of the Shoro Kingdom. "The Counts of Nido. ......" Jin smiled, "I don''t get it at all. "Well, we''re not here to see the house today. Jin had no intention of interfering as long as the offspring lived happily. "Well then, let''s look around the store. Yes! Yes! Rubina and Shu replied cheerfully to Jin''s words. "...... By the way, have you two ever shopped before?There''s ......, isn''t there? Onogoro Island had shopkeepers, too." Even if it was a store run by automata, Jin thought,....... "No, I''ve never shopped there. Jin was surprised to hear Shu say, "No, I''ve never shopped there before. "What? I don''t need money on Onogoro Island." Rubina also explained in a few words. "...... Uh, you mean you can get things for free on Onogoro Island?" "That''s right." Shu''s words made Jin want to hold his head in his hands. (......Testa, Helente, and Direk are all strongly influenced by the origin (......). It is said that the Origin left everything to their followers on their home planet Hale, and they were absorbed in their hobbies. Jin imagined that this was also reflected in the care of the inhabitants of Onogoro Island. Marikka probably did not interfere in such a detailed manner. "Rhodes, we can still use this money, right?" Jin pulled a coin out of his pocket and showed it to her. "Yes, no problem. The unit of currency is still the toll, and I have heard that the value of the money has hardly changed at all. Jin wondered if that was true. Not being an economist, Jin could not decide whether it is good or bad from an economics point of view that the prices of commodities have remained unchanged for 400 years (well, economics of the earth). (Well, I guess we can''t apply the economics of the earth as it is.) The biggest difference between Earth and Ars is energy. Jin guessed in his layman''s way that a simple comparison would not be possible since the Ars world has a free energy source called free magic element (ether), which is free of charge and has no fear of depletion. Also, the existence of magic cannot be ignored. Combining the two, the existence of golems would give them an unparalleled advantage over Earth in terms of labor power. "Well, as long as it''s useful, it''s good enough." He brought five gold coins, or 50,000 tol (about 500,000 yen). Reiko also has about 200,000 Tall, which should be enough to buy most things. However, Jin, who had been thinking of giving her a gold coin each as pocket money, changed his mind when he heard that she had never been shopping before. "Let me know if there is anything you want, both of you. If it''s something you can afford, I''ll buy it for you." "Thank you!" "Thank you, Mr. Jin!" Seeing the two happy faces, Jin felt relieved in his heart that he had made the right decision. The group arrived at a shopping street. The group arrived at a shopping street. "Wow! Rubina''s eyes light up at the jewelry store. "Wow!" Shu is glued to the samples at the arms shop. Jin''s eyes were drawn to the show windows of a clothing store. (Is this what''s in fashion now? ......) The design of the shop was somewhat Showa-era style, or something that Jin had seen before. For example, the skirt length. As far as Jin knows, almost all skirts were long 400 years ago, but some of them here are knee-length. Or patterns. Patterns, which were rarely used before, are used. However, most of them are checkered or polka-dot patterns. This may be the reason for the Showa taste. The clothes worn by Rubina are almost the same as they were 400 years ago. The quality of the clothes is of the highest quality, but the designs are somewhat old-fashioned. On the other hand, the men''s clothes were almost the same as those worn by Jin, Shu, and Rhodes. So Jin thought of buying some clothes for Rubina, but she did not pay attention to the clothes and went into the accessory shop. "Well, I don''t care if it''s an accessory. Jin followed her into the store, "Ah, this stone looks so hard! Rubina was looking at a sapphire saying, "Well, sapphires are Mohs 9, so they are hard. "Well, sapphires have a Mohs hardness of 9, so they are hard. Jin agreed. "But this one is even harder. Then he pointed to the pink diamonds next to the three sapphires. "Oh, that''s right," he said. "It has a Mohs hardness of 10." Jin noticed something strange. "I thought you were looking at ...... accessories." "What?" Rubina was puzzled. "...... Well, that''s all right. Let''s go next time." "What?......Yeah." Rubina, not quite sure what to think, followed Jin''s lead and walked out of the store. "Ah, Jin-sama, there seems to be a magic tool shop over there that I''d like to visit. Shu mentioned that he wanted to go there. "Oh, I''d like to go there! Rubina agreed. "...... but don''t say anything critical about the selection." Looking at Rubina''s face, Jin felt like giving her a warning. And then came the magic tool shop. "Wow ......" Various kinds of magic tools are lined up. Various old and new magic tools are fun to look at. "Oh!" Among them, there was a familiar trademark. Craft Queen Workshop. ...... Rubina, this is a product of a workshop related to Rubina''s ancestor, Beena. "Really? Really?" "Really?" "Yeah. Look at it. This is the mark. "Oh, this is ......." It must be a sign of trust, for the magic tool was one or two levels higher in quality than the others. "That''s what I''m talking about." It seems that rather than ...... founded by Bina, it is better to call it a workshop operated with Bina as an honorary advisor. While Bina personally engraved the initials <> in a broken letter, the design of the Craft Queen workshop is a combination of C and Q. Thinking of this, Jin wished he could take Rubina to the Blue Land someday. Jin and his group returned safely to the residence of LeGray, the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, without major trouble. 1752 - - 47-33 To Golem Stadium The next day, December 16th, was the opening day of the Golem Games (Gompetition). Jin and his team had breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and headed for the stadium with the Minister of Magical Technology, LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius. Accompanying them were Reiko, Hope, Edgar, Blitz, Donner, and Yuana. "Are we on the shores of Lake Tosmo?" Rhodes asks, looking at the path of the wagon. "Yes, well. We''ll see when we get there. "Hmm?" Seeing LeGrey''s chuckle, Rhodes stopped asking further questions. Meanwhile, Jin and the others asked, "I wonder what kind of competition it will be? "I wish I could have participated, too!" "I''m not a citizen, so I guess I can''t." They were talking about such things as "I wonder what kind of competition it will be? We arrived at the shore of Lake Tosmo. At first glance, there was no stadium that looked like a stadium. "Hey, hey, where is the stadium? LeGrey smiled at Rhodes'' question, "That''s where we''re going," he said. He pointed to a certain facility. It was a large gymnasium-like building. However, Jin analyzed the mana that he could feel from the building and sensed that it belonged to some kind of a large magi-machine. He then ordered Reiko to investigate with a . (...... Warp Gate. Reiko reported in a low voice. "I see, so it will be held in another place. Perhaps in a remote place. The huge Warp Gate is said to be capable of transporting a dozen or so carriages and several hundred people at once. (It is the same method as that found in the Keuwan ruins in the Kingdom of Egelea before.) In the past, Jin, Reinhardt, Erza and I casually visited the ruins with the intention of sightseeing on our way to the Shoro Kingdom. It was the site of a former fortress, a place of relaxation for the local people, but also a legacy of the past. The name of the legacy is . He is a mad warrior who absorbs magical powers. Unfortunately, Gigarth was unleashed, but thanks to Reiko''s efforts, he was able to destroy it. What remained in the ruins was such a transfer magic circle for mass transportation, although it was missing. Let me digress. It seems that the Shoro Empire has reproduced this magic circle for mass transportation. "My men and I have been working on it for two years. LeGrey was proud of his work. It''s quite a feat. Unfortunately, it''s only one ...... or two, but it''s a good one). Jin saw that the magic circuits around the perimeter of the magic circle were inadequate. Jin saw that the circulation of magic power was insufficient and that a large amount of mana would be needed. What a waste, father!) Reiko also noticed and spoke to Jin in a voice that only he could hear. (But it is a great achievement that you have reproduced it so well without anyone''s instruction.) Jin was in awe of the feat that LeGray and his subordinates had accomplished. While Jin and Reiko were having such a conversation, the carriage carrying them entered the area of effect of the transfer magic circle. Five minutes later. . A voice rings out, and mana is injected into the magic circle. The magical formulas that make up the magic circle begin to glow. It travels around the magic circle, and the brightness of the magic circle increases. And then... The light burst for a moment, and the 15 carriages and 120 people in the building disappeared. * * * * The next moment, the 15 carriages and 120 people were in a land far away. "This is ......" The people who had just emerged from the building with the shifting magic circle were astonished. The landscape had changed drastically. Jin and the others were ...... well aware of the transition, so their surprise was small, but they were amazed that they had moved to such a remote place. "We are in the southern foothills of Mount Baksa, on the outskirts of Bullek. Mount Baksa is a mountain that rises in the western part of the Shoro Kingdom. To the west of the mountain is the rocky desert of Harihari. Bullek was a town developed at the southern foot of Mount Baksa. We chose this location because of its suitability for our competition. "Hey, why don''t you tell us what the competition is all about already? Rhodes demanded of the smug LeGray. "Okay, okay. ...... In a word, it''s a <>." In this case, a battle royal is, in a word, a method in which all participants fight to determine the winner. "But it is not just a battle royal. But it is not just a battle royal, because it is not a competition in the first place. Rubina and Shu also listen to this explanation with shining eyes. "This is how it works as a competition. ...... Basically, the contestants make a lap around a predetermined course and come back, but there are five checkpoints along the way where markers are placed. You go around the course while keeping the markers and competing for position. "Sounds pretty interesting." Jin also thought it sounded interesting, although he did not say so. "So. There are about 50 golems competing, but only 20 markers are placed on each golem. That means there will be some who can''t get one. "Oh, I see." No matter how fast you finish, if you don''t have five markers, you don''t win. "So the rules allow you to take markers from others." "Sounds fun!" Rubina couldn''t keep quiet and shouted. "Ha, right?We had a hard time coming up with the rules, didn''t we?" LeGray laughed. * * * * Of course, the audience had their own seats. Jin and the others were led to the seats for guests, just as LeGray had said. "fluaa......" The seats were only one step below the royal family and thus had a very good view. It was a box-like seat surrounded by transparent glass to protect it from the wind, and it was not cold at all. Inside there was a table with tea facilities. Jin and the others sat down at their leisure. Rhodes, Shu, Jin, and Rubina sat down, while Reiko, Hope, Edgar, Blitz, and Donner stood behind them. LeGray is seated in the boardroom as a convention official. There is a huge magic screen directly in front of him. The competition is projected on this screen. For this purpose, magic eyes are installed at various places on the course. There is also a golem dedicated to filming the competition, and it is said that images are sent to it as it moves along. "This could be used in the competitions on Onogoro Island. Jin secretly thought, "This could be incorporated into the competition on Onogoro Island. Finally, the competition began. 1753 - - 47-34 Game Start Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience!] An announcement rang out. < The 155th Golem Competition will now begin! The audience cheers. "155th? ...... is amazing!" Jin is also frankly impressed. Let me give you a brief description of the competition. ......There are a total of 51 Golems participating. All are autonomous.] Jin and the others had not been told of the details, so they listened closely. The contestants will run a designated course of approximately 100 kilometers to reach the goal, and compete for the fastest time. However!] The announcer paused for a breath here. You will be at a disadvantage if you do not have the markers at the five checkpoints along the way, because 10 points will be awarded for each one!] "Oh." Jin and the others had not heard of the calculation method. In case you are wondering, the ranking points are 50 for 1st place, 49 for 2nd place, 4 for 3rd place, and 8 for 50th place. 8 points...... and 1 point for 50th place and 0 point for 51st place.] "...... I see." Jin calculates the points in his head. For an extreme example, 1st place with 0 markers is 50 points. For example, with 5 markers, the 51st place gets 50 points. ......This is an extreme example, but 5th place with 5 markers is a higher score than 1st place with 4 markers.] In other words, it is important to secure markers. Markers are made of magi crystals of different colors for each point, so it is not possible to have 5 markers from one place. It will result in immediate disqualification.] Jin nodded his head and said, "Of course. Each golem is expected to have its own storage space to hold the markers.] Some had a storage space in their abdomen, some swallowed them through their mouths, and some wore some kind of belt pouch. When the course reaches around one-third of the way to the end, the battle ban will be lifted, and the act of grabbing markers held by others will be permitted!] This was new to Jin and the others, but it was understandable that this was done to liven up the competition. The competition will be filmed by the magic eyes installed at each location, and by a special golem equipped with a magic eye. At this point, there was another round of applause. Now, finally, the players'' golems have assembled!] Below us is a ground-like area that has been leveled. There, 51 Golems are lined up in a horizontal line. It seems that the start line = the goal line. Since they are golems, their number is painted directly on their backs. It looks like a baseball player.) Jin thought to himself, "This looks like a baseball player. ...... Number 1 is the number of the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, the Honorable LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, <>!The winner of the competition!] "Oh, it looks very well balanced." "He''s very good looking." < The next three aircraft were introduced, numbered 2, 3, and 4, but none of them caught the attention of the group. And then... The number 13 is Gusleg Mivas, Golem <, who is participating for the first time this time!] "Oh, that''s pretty good. But I don''t know... ......" "It''s very big." "It''s very big." Two and a half meters tall, about the same width. He is 2.5 meters tall and about the same in width. However, his strength and the quality of the materials used in his construction were so apparent just by looking at him. And again, there was no golem in particular. The special entry this time was made by the Royal Factory of the Kingdom of Egelea, <>! "The Royal Factory was founded about 400 years ago by His Royal Highness Prince Ernest, the third prince at that time. Rhodes tells me secretly. "That Ernest is ......." Jin remembered with nostalgia the young prince''s love of golems. This also had a well-balanced figure. "This time, instead of a guest of honor, the guest of honor in the royal family is the third prince and honorary CEO of the Royal Factory, His Royal Highness Ernest XVII," he said. His Royal Highness King Ernest XVII, the third Prince of Wales and Honorary CEO of the Royal Factory. The Honorary CEO of the Royal Factory has been named Ernest for generations. I turned around to look at him and saw that the current Ernest XVII was, oddly enough, a 14-year-old boy. Ernest XVII waved his hand in a small gesture, as if he noticed that Jin thought that he had some resemblance to the Ernest. Jin was surprised to see a golem standing behind him. (Lotte ......?) It was Lotte, a maid golem in the image of Bina, Rubina''s ancestor. (You look well. (You look well. ...... It seems that your current master is taking good care of you. (Good). Lotte''s exterior has not a scratch or rust on her, she is shining and polished, and she is dressed in her maidens'' clothes. This shows that the Lotte has been well taken care of. Jin felt a warmth in his heart. [......] Now, the competition is about to begin. The countdown begins. 10,9,8,7,6,5......] The venue was as quiet as if it had been hit by water. ......3,2......] I thought I heard the sound of someone''s spit. Here we go!] The silence was replaced by a loud cheer, and 51 golems began to run, the earth shaking. They all started running at once!Ah, in the confusion immediately after the start, three ...... or rather four of them fell over!Two more fell down due to the confusion right after the start!] As I thought, the dangling condition right after the start was the worst, and a total of 7 fell down, making us behind. However, one minute of time in a race over the total length of 100 kilometers can be recovered as much as possible in the future. The five golems, apparently thinking so, did not make a dash at the start of the race, but ran at their own pace. The seven that had fallen down chased after them. Then, the screen changes. The leading group is made up of seven Golems. Numbers 1,3,13,31,40,4 9,51. The lead group is approaching the mountain path!] This is a mountain trail leading to the summit of Mount Baksa. It is not a straight climb but a zigzag path. There are two checkpoints marked in the middle of the trail. It is about 10 km to the first checkpoint. For the Golems, who are traveling at about 30 kilometers per hour, it would take them about 20 minutes to reach the first checkpoint. "Oh, Aaron''s fast, too. Heavyweights are at a disadvantage on mountain roads because of their physique. On the other hand, and , who should be considered middle-weight, were running up the mountain path with a light touch. They arrived at the first checkpoint with number 1 in the lead!They have the red marker in their hands!Oddly enough, the smallest and the largest numbers are in first and second place!] After that, 13,49,31,3,40 in that order. The remaining markers are 13. There are 13 markers left. With the second group behind them, the seven golems ran down the mountain path. "This simply isn''t interesting, is it?Isn''t there some kind of trick?" Jin muttered. "Jin-sama, what do you mean?" Rubina heard his words and asked him a question. "Hmm?I have a feeling that the top team is going to be able to run away with the competition. So I was wondering if there is something that could make it a little more crowded." "Well, Mr. Jin. How about ...... here?" Rhodes overheard the conversation. There was a map of the course of the tournament on the box seat. "Uh, what''s ......?" "Well, it''s the route from this 4th checkpoint to the 5th checkpoint. "Oh, I see." The route to the 5th checkpoint and the route back were the same. In other words, it was a section where the lead and the followers were mixed up, and it was an area where battles were allowed. "This is certainly a confusing area." This is the perfect area to take away the marker that you got at the 5th checkpoint. Jin agreed with the Road Toss, saying that there would surely be a disturbance there. 1754 - - 47-35 Snow Mountain Competition By the time the second group got the marker at the first checkpoint, the lead group had already gotten the yellow marker at the second checkpoint. "It''s amazing how much difference you can make just by running on a mountain road!" Shu was impressed. "That''s right. "Yes," said Shu, "It''s not a well-developed road, so there are various adverse conditions. How you deal with them will make a big difference. Jin-sama, what exactly? "First of all, weight. Just because it''s uphill, it''s difficult to balance it with muscular strength. "Yes, I understand that." Rubina nodded. "And the soles of your feet. They have to adapt to the ever-changing conditions of dirt, gravel, and rocky terrain." Rubberized soles like those on the soles of shoes is one way to go, Jin explained. "Or you could make it so you can stick spikes out. You know?" "Ah!" Jin points to the magic screen, which shows a group of people who are leading the way into the icy and snowy area near the summit of the mountain. Of the seven, the number 31 slipped. "Look out!" The ice is a thin layer of ice on top of the rocks, or as they call it in mountaineering parlance, . It is very slippery, so be careful. Ah, number 31, I''ve slipped!I can''t regain my position!I''m slipping!] The spectators were in a state of shock. The number 31 slipped and fell down several meters. And then he fell into a ravine. Oh, look out!] But... But then... the number 49 behind him barely stopped 31 from falling to the bottom of the ravine!Brilliant!] The spectators applauded this fair play. However, the icy and snowy area caused the lead group to split into two. Numbers 1, 3, 51, and 40 were making good progress, while 31, 31, 49, and 13 gradually began to lag behind. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm...such a pitfall..." Jin was impressed by the oddity of the course selection. "So, you have to be careful about the specialized type," he said. Shu also seemed to have some thoughts on the matter. "Hey, what if it''s Jin-sama''s golem? Rubina asked me this question, and I thought about it seriously for a moment. "Well, ...... I basically take a general-purpose or all-purpose type and add additional functions to it, so I don''t think it would be that hard to adapt." The basic structure of Land, Marine, Sky, and Golem Maids is the same. The only difference among the Horai Islanders is the mermaids. "Slip is a minus in most cases. In my case, I''m either putting up a leather of a hexenbiest, or I''m trying to get a spike out of it ......." Friction between the soles is important for quick movement, unless you are faster on ice. Well, if you''re not competing, you can just fly with <>. ....... "Then you can change the options and equipment. ......Ah, look." Jin pointed to the second group, number 17. Just before the icy and snowy area, he attached a snowshoe-like device on his shin to his leg. The effect was quite impressive, and the number 17 jumped out of the second group and ran up the mountain road at a pace close to the lead group. "I see, so that''s one way to do it. ......" Rubina is impressed. "Isn''t it the same for humans?If it rains, we put up umbrellas and wear boots. When it''s cold, they put on jackets, and when they fight, they carry weapons. "So it''s the same with golems. I feel as if the scales have fallen from my eyes. Shu says happily. It seems that he has gained a lot from this. "I want to broadcast this to Onogoro Island as well. ......" Jin blurts out, "Father, I''m sure the old man is recording this, so why don''t you show it to him later?" In other words, it would be a recorded broadcast. "Yes, that would be fine." Jin thought, "Well, that would be good for the audience. (I will discuss it with the old man later.) * * * * We reached the summit at number 1,TOP!I now have a green marker in my hand!] There was a snowstorm at the summit, and visibility was less than 5 meters. Still, the magic eye was doing its job. No, number 17 is coming up!] Number 17, who was equipped with a Kanjiki-style attachment, was fast and had moved up to 5th place. Number 1 continued to run down the route. Poles were set up along the route and the red magic lamps were lit so that even in the blizzard, the route was somehow visible. The visibility improved as we descended. A hundred meters down from the summit, the fog cleared and the blizzard stopped. The golems running down the mountain were now clearly visible. And then one of them slips again. Aah!Another slip!Number 3, he slipped!] The speed of the slip is so fast because it is running downhill, and it slides down to the bottom of the valley in no time at all. The other Golem reaches out to help him, but it is already too late. It''s down to the bottom of the valley!Let''s hope the damage is minimal!] As expected, there is no magic eye at the bottom of the valley. What happened to the number 3 is unknown at this point. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Perhaps the golem in charge is retrieving it. There is a golem to check for fraud even at off-the-beaten-path locations. Jin thought that even if it was damaged, such a golem would probably retrieve it. (I mean, such an arrangement is necessary, isn''t it?) Jin told himself that it would be helpful for the management of the competition, and stared at the screen. "You are fast on the downhill. ...... Do you know what else is important in this kind of situation? Jin asked Rubina and Shu. "Huh?Eh, uh, ......." "Is ...... the reaction time?" Rubina was at a loss for words at the sudden question, but Shu managed to speak his mind. "Oh, that''s a good point. It is true that a fast reaction time makes it easier to deal with various situations. Can you think of at least one more?" "......" I waited for a while, but no answer came, "It''s the flexibility of the body. You can call it freedom. In the extreme, a lump of iron in the shape of a human being can''t get back on its feet if it loses its balance, can it?" Jin replies. "I see!If the body is soft, the recovery movement is easier or more effective. ......" Again, Shu answered, "That''s right. "That''s what I mean. The basic control is over the human body, but the greater degree of freedom is advantageous in many ways." "I''m learning." "Woo......" Shu nodded happily at the praise, while Rubina bit her nails in frustration. "The lead group is approaching the fourth checkpoint!" At the voice of Rhodes, Jin and the others looked at the magic screen. On the screen, they saw the number 1 with a blue marker in his hand. 1755 - - 47-36 Brawl, Chaos Now, the lead pack has finally entered the battle zone!However, there is no point in having a battle between the lead packs now!] The numbers 1, 51, and 40 are hurrying on, as it would be a loss in terms of time. The next to catch up is 17. 31,49,13. At this point, number 51 sped off. Oh!Number 51, fast, fast!...... has now overtaken number 1 to take the lead!] * * * * "Well, you''ve got dashing power at the critical moment!" Rhodes exclaims in admiration. "Yes." The advantage of being a middleweight is still alive and well. "But ......" "But?What''s wrong?Jin-sama?" Rubina responded to Jin''s unsettled words. "Huh?Oh, yes. ......I was thinking that if I keep going like this, I''ll run into the next car when I come back with the fifth marker." "Oh, yes, that''s true. If that happens, we''ll be in a battle, and the medium weight class may be at a disadvantage. ...... "Shu is right. We don''t know who will win yet. * * * * The lead pack now has the last marker!] Golems are picking up the purple markers one after another. The first to pass us was a group of four lone riders. The first to pass each other was number 17, who was in 4th place alone. Next to pass was the second group, also without trouble. The third and fourth groups were passing each other silently, as they had all the markers in their hands and a battle would have resulted in lost time. However, the fifth group was different. The fifth group consisted of four riders with numbers 11, 29, 37, and 47. The fifth group was made up of four individuals, numbered 11, 29, 37, and 47. As they passed each other, all four of them attacked the third body of the lead group at once. Oh, no!The battle finally started here!The leader, number 51, was attacked by number 11. Number 1 was attacked by 29, and 40 by 37!Only 47 is watching the battle. What is he thinking?] As the three teams begin their battle, number 47 is watching on. The three pairs were fighting, and on the side of them, number 47 was watching the situation closely. "Probably trying to take advantage of the fishing business, aren''t they? Jin who was watching the screen muttered. "Jin-sama, what''s a <>?" "......Oh, it''s a saying that was made based on an event that happened a long time ago." "Oh, what kind of saying?" Rubina asked Jin, and he explained as he remembered. "...... fisherman was catching fish in his boat and a bird caught a big fish. But the fish was so big that the bird could not jump up and fell into the water. And the fish died, too, because the bird''s claws dug into its body. So the fisherman was able to get both the bird and the fish without any effort. ...... Jin concluded by saying, "I think it was a story about a fisherman who got both the birds and the fish without any effort. "Well, that sounds very likely. And it certainly seems likely given the current situation. Actually, the bird is a snipe, not a fish, a clam, not a claw, but a beak, but the meaning is clear. In fact, in the battle between numbers 40 and 37, a red and yellow marker rolled out of the compartment of 40, and 4 7 quickly snatched them away. "Ah!" "See?" Rubina shouted, and Jin nodded in agreement. After taking the marker, Z 47 left the area with only the yellow marker, not paying attention to the red marker. He probably already had the red marker. On the other hand, in the battle between numbers 1 and 29, number 1 seemed to have the upper hand, and number 1 started to run while number 29 stopped moving. Number 1 started to run. However, he seems to have sustained some damage and his pace has slowed down a little. "...... I''d rather not have a battle, wouldn''t you?" Jin frowned. The number 19 car that was following the number 1 car attacked the number 1 car. "You''ll be at a disadvantage if you go at it seriously. ......" He may not have heard Jin''s muttering, "You''ll be at a disadvantage if you get into a serious fight with him! It seemed that number 19 had given up chasing number 1, since it would have lost a lot of time since it had not passed the fifth checkpoint. Number 51 won the battle with number 11 and started to run again. However, the followers started to arrive one after another. Most of them did not have a single marker. So all the golems were coming at him. "This is tough. ......" Jin wondered if 20 markers were too few for 50 golems. But the battle in this area is also the purpose of this competition. The spectators were very excited and cheered loudly. Finally, the brawl started. "Not very smart." "It''s ......, isn''t it?" Rhodes agreed with Jin''s comment. The racing part was interesting to watch, but as soon as the battle started, it became chaotic. It was a brawl, if you will. "What is this, ......?" The crowd began to murmur. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Oops!It''s a big brawl!What''s going on?] The announcers are confused. Each golem is in a state of excitement!What''s wrong with this Golem?] * * * * "Father, there''s something wrong." Then Reiko''s voice. "What?" "Those golems fighting over there, they''ve lost their will halfway through." What? "I can''t identify it due to the distance, but I felt vibrations similar to the Slave Rewrite Magic coming from the golem''s vicinity." "Slavery rewriting magic? This is the magic that was used by the Unification Party (Unifiler) during the golem garden party in the Kingdom of Egelea, and it drove most of the golems insane. Someone else has done the same thing. "......<> is the only one I can think of." Now that Malchitas is gone, the <> is losing power in many places. "Of all places, they have entered the Shoro Empire, which has been the weakest of all the powers. ......No, that''s why it was so easy for them to get in." Jin thought that this outburst was probably because they had not been warned. "What do we do now?" Rhodes asked, "Hasn''t the Shoro Imperialists done something about it?" Jin wanted to let the organizer, the Shoro Kingdom, deal with the situation first. * * * * * * On the part of the Shoro Empire, they said, "Well, this is a good thing. "Well, this is a little ...... unusual situation. I declare by the organizer''s authority that the competition is suspended! The competition is suspended! LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, decided. This decision is immediately conveyed to his subordinates, the tournament management officials. The Golems are ordered to stop. By the rules of the tournament, even if you are not the master of a Golem, you are programmed to follow these instructions. > The order rang out. But... End this madness!Suspend!...... Oh!It won''t stop!] The brawl between the golems did not stop, but intensified even more. 1756 - - 47-37 Initiated Action The brawl between the golems was raging. "A little ......, no, it''s quite extraordinary!" The organizer, the Minister of Magical Technology, LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, had declared the competition suspended by order of the Emperor, but the Golems were no longer listening to their creator. No, it seems that even the four golems that were supposed to be assisting in the running of the competition have gone crazy. "This can''t be right. ......" Ernest XVII, one of the guests of honor from the Kingdom of Egelea, thinks of events far in the past. "Is this some kind of sabotage similar to <>?" The incident happened when Ernest I, the first Honorary CEO of the Royal Factory, was still a boy. Yes, Your Highness, I have a similar feeling to that time. The answer was given by Lotte, a golem, a maid of honor who has been handed down from generation to generation. She is a valuable witness to the past. "At that time, there was an antisocial group called the Unification Party (Unifiler). Now, the equivalent is the <>. The <>! The Kingdom of Egelea has also been eroded by the Federation of Magic, and in recent years it has finally managed to break its roots. "Yes, perhaps." "Ummm... ...... I am sure that < did not have a countermeasure against slave rewriting magic. I regret that. Ernest XVII reflects on his peace of mind. However, it also has the meaning of reducing weight, so it cannot be said to be a bad thing when it is used for competitions. "I think His Imperial Highness Ernest is right on the money," said Shoro. The Emperor of Shoro, Ernst Lubus von Richt-Shoro, a.k.a. Ernst II, agreed. He was Ernst II. The emperor was in his mid-thirties and full of vigor, "Let''s put our country''s prestige on the line and quell the chaos! "Let the prestige of our country be at stake!" he commanded. "Ha!" Legray, the Minister of Magical Technology, orders his golem to "apply rewriting magic measures. "Only the golems that have been protected against rewriting magic are to rush to that area. Only those Golems that have been given countermeasures against rewriting magic are to rush to that area and stop it, even if by force. With this order, fifteen golems are dispatched to guard the area. LeGrey thinks further. "......It''s a gamble whether you listen to your maker or not. ......" In a normal state, the maker''s order to follow the instructions of the tournament organizer would have been inputted, but from what he sees now, the effect seems to have disappeared. However, as far as we can see, the effect seems to have disappeared. No, it would not. In other words, taking the creator with him would have exposed him to danger in case he could not make it stop, and that was something that Legray, the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, wanted to avoid. "I am sorry, but we have to stop it even if we have to break it." He wished he had been more proactive in his research of the < instead of assuming it to be forbidden, but it was too late now. Legray stares at the chaos projected on the magic screen with a grim face. * * * * There was a change in the chaos. The chaos, in which all the participating golems were fighting each other, was gradually subsiding. However, this was the beginning of the next upheaval. The golems who have stopped fighting all start heading south in the same direction toward the town of ...... Bullek. There, 15 security golems with <> countermeasures arrived. First, they stand ...... to stop them, but are attacked by Zekken 8 and 14. The two were particularly large and powerfully built, and two of the security golems were quickly blown away. The remaining 13 Golems were ready for battle ......, but were attacked by more than 20 at the same time, eventually wrecking all of them. Eleven of the controlled golems had also been eliminated, but the remaining 44 golems, including the security golem, continued their march south. "This is not good! Legray''s face twisted with impatience. There are still more than 20 golems, but since they are not protected by <>, they will probably be manipulated. And on the way to the town of Brulec, there is this tournament spectator''s seat. "Should the evacuation of His Majesty, the guests, and the spectators be the priority now? The decision is made to put the safety of the people first as the top priority. * * * * "...... Reiko, who is controlling the golems?" Jin, on the other hand, asked Reiko at the guest of honor table. "Yes, father. Please wait a moment. You are moving to ......." "Moving?" "Moving?" "Yes. At this speed, it can''t be a person. A golem? "Perhaps..." < or to control the golems that had participated in the tournament. "Jin-sama, what are you going to do?" Rubina peeked at him with a slightly worried look on her face. "I''ll be fine." Jin stroked Rubina''s head to reassure her. "By the way, was Uragan protected against slave rewriting magic?" Blitz and Donner had already checked with Jin the other day. "Yes, they''re fine." "That''s good." Jin said that such measures are standard for Jin''s Golem and automata. "No wonder I''m holed up on Onogoro Island because of Markitas." Jin then decided to wait and see how the Shoro Empire would deal with the situation. The golems were not moving fast now. It would probably take half an hour to reach the auditorium. "Guests, please come this way." Two minutes later, the Shoro Imperial Guard came to the audience seats and led the guests, including Jin and the others, to the evacuation area. They were working very quickly, indicating that they had been well trained. They moved from the high guest seats to the dining room on the ground level. Please wait here. Please wait here. We will return as soon as we confirm that the transfer magic circle is not out of adjustment. Jin was glad to hear that the Shoro officials had thought this through. (It is too optimistic to think that only the golem is being manipulated.) (It is too optimistic to think that only the Golem is being manipulated.) If the destination of the shifting magic circle had been changed, he would have been sent to a terrible place. The destination must not be a dangerous place or a hostage situation. And the mess hall is guarded by human soldiers. Although a little uneasy in terms of strength, I felt a sense of security in another way now that the golem was under control. Then LeGrey, the Minister of Magical Technology, and another man in his mid-thirties came and bowed to the guests. "It was our fault this time. We are very sorry for the danger we have put you in. "...... Your Majesty, please raise your head. I don''t think a head of state should bow so lightly. Your Majesty?) The man standing next to Legray is the current emperor of the Shoro Kingdom. "Your Highness Ernest, that is not true. I''ve heard that the female emperor whom I love and respect so much, Her Majesty Gerhard, did not hesitate to bow when she had to. Since this scandal is my country''s fault, an apology is in order. Hearing this, Jin was reminded of the female emperor. (I remember she also said that she was willing to bow down for the sake of something important. ......) At that moment Rhodotos stepped forward, "It seems that it was a golem that caused this mess. It seems that it is still moving around and adding to the chaos. I explained. This was based on my meeting with Jin, and I decided that it would be better to have Rhodes tell him rather than Jin. "Oh, I see. ...... you are Lord Rhodes, the . Thanks for the information. And the current emperor, Ernst II, immediately gives his orders. "LeGrey, find the source of this as soon as possible and end this chaos. I''ll take care of it." "Yes, Your Majesty." Legray turns to Rhodes, "Can you give me some more information?" Legray turned to Rhodes and asked, "Can we get some more information? (This is from ......) Jin was secretly impressed by this attitude of choosing the best, without being concerned about his pride, and he made a decision. So, the guests and other spectators evacuated, but Shoro and Jin''s group remained there. 1757 - - 47-38 New Axle < The < that LeGray gave was, of course, about the golem-like creature responsible for this mess. "But if the is behind this, then their claims are empty. Ernst II is talking to himself. Jin agrees with him. It is a double standard when they deny material civilization and use a golem as a pawn. (Well, these people have a difference between their real intention and their pretense.) (Well, these people''s real intention and pretense are different. Jin laughed bitterly in his mind at how many of them were so concerned with securing their own power that they were not even ashamed of their duplicity and duplicity. "...... over there." Rhodes, on the other hand, pointed to the northern sky. "The sky?He''s flying in the sky!" Legray looked frustrated. It seems that even he had not ordered the security of the skies above. "Ummm...... even if we go back to Leuthart and call in the airship squadron, the crazy golems will have reached the town of Brulec before we get here......"... And LeGrey worries. "We can''t send a golem to the town just in case, so what should we do ......?" Seeing his anguish, Jin decided to carry out his earlier decision. "Mr. Legray, why don''t you leave that to me?" "What?What about you? It was Ernst II who asked the question. "Your Majesty, forgive my direct answer. I am Jin Nido. I am a friend of the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, Lord Legray, and a relative of the puppet Lord Rhodoth. "Oh, Jin Nido?It is interesting that you call yourself that at ....... Don''t worry about the direct answer. It is an emergency. ...... So, you can do something about the golem that created this mess? "Yes." "Yes. Yes. We are in a time sensitive situation. Please don''t be offended if I ...... but we will be pursuing other measures as well. Although he has given permission to Jin, there is no guarantee that it will work. In fact, Ernst II has no way of knowing. So he declared that he would pursue other measures at the same time. Knowing this, Jin nodded. "Of course. Your Majesty is indeed the best. He replied, "Reiko, go and get them." Reiko, go and get them. "Yes, father." Reiko also answered shortly and ran out of the room. As one would expect, she did not suddenly take off in the middle of the crowd. She keeps her speed down to about 100 km/h while people are watching, and activates when she is in a place where no one can see her. Completely out of sight, Reiko uses her force field generator to soar into the sky. "Well, the target was at ....... That''s it." Reiko spots a flying at an altitude of about 100 meters. It seems to have a <> ward. Therefore, it is unlikely to be found from the ground. "<>... ...... I got hit by it a long time ago, didn''t I?" Reiko is referring to the incident in the early days of Jin''s journey with Erza to the Shoro Kingdom, when Erza and Meine were attacked by a bandit wearing an amulet with a Hide effect, which could not be detected. However, the current Reiko is not fooled by the <>. To begin with, there is the <> warding magic as a supercompatible of <>, and furthermore, there is the <> that Reiko is using now as a supercompatible of <>. "I can see you." Reiko aims the blow floater at a speed of about 300 kilometers per hour. The current speed of the Blow Floater is about 50 km/h. From Reiko''s point of view, it is as if it were standing still. Moreover, Reiko is approaching out of sight. "First of all, ...... this way!" In a flash, Reiko knocks the golem off the blow-floater. The Blow Floater crashes into the uninhabited wilderness with a whirring sound. And Reiko.., "Got it." She grabbed the golem by both shoulders with a little force. With that, the golem''s shoulders are crushed and its arms are rendered immobile. "Stop!" At the same time, he activates the Aether Eliminator. The golem comes to a complete stop. The built-in magic tool that emits an effect similar to is also stopped. In this state, Reiko returns to Jin and the others with the golem hanging. Reiko descends to the ground and returns to Jin and the others, dragging the golem with her. "Father, I''m back!" "Oh, thank you, Reiko. ...... is that the original golem? "Yes." "The source has been shut down, but the golems won''t stop. Let''s hurry up and disassemble this thing and see what kind of magic tool he used to control the golem. "Yes, I will help you." Jin and Reiko exchanged such conversation and set to work. "Wow, that''s great!Jin-sama, can I watch?" "Yes, you can. Can I watch?" "Yes, you can. Rubina had been quiet in front of the Emperor, but she finally lost her patience and rushed to Jin''s side. Shu also approached him silently. Both of them are curious about the unknown golem. Rhodes was smiling as he looked at Rubina and Shu. "......" "............" However, Emperor Shoro and the Minister of Magical Technology seemed to be unable to keep up with the developments. "......LeGrey, if I''m not mistaken, it only took five minutes or so for the automaton in the shape of the girl to leave and return, didn''t it?" Yes, Your Majesty. About three minutes, I think. He returned before I could give him any further instructions. ...... Yes, sir. Who the hell are you?Who is this man who calls himself Jin Nido? Now, if you told me it was the Magecraft Meister himself, I''d believe you. Reiko, while working as Jin''s assistant, had a clear understanding of the conversation between the Emperor and the Minister of Magecraft. She had been communicating it to the old man by means of the built-in manacam. The old man started to think about the best way to settle the situation and to make it positive for the future of Jin. After 2 seconds of several simulations, he came to a conclusion and told Reiko by manacam. I understand. I will find an opportunity and try something like that. Reiko answered without saying it out loud and did not stop her work for a moment. Then, while helping Jin with his work, she briefly told him about the proposal from the old man in a whisper that only he could hear. I understand. That seems to be the best line. ......) Jin replied to Reiko without stopping his work. In the meantime, the captured golem was dismembered. "Hmmm, looks like this is the one. ......<......?" "What is it, father?" This guy''s a novelty, isn''t he? Jin said, "It''s a different method from both the <> and the <>. "Jin-san, what is it?" Rhodes seemed to be intrigued. Of course, Shu and Rubina also looked interested. Jin began to explain in a voice that the Emperor and the Minister of Magical Technology could hear. 1758 - - 47-39 First Steps "In a word, ." After thinking about how to put it, Jin put it this way. "Loud orders......... You mean you are forcing them to do what you say?" "Yes, that''s what I mean." Rhodes, as expected, seemed to have guessed it right away. "......I see, in short, you mean that you are forcing them to do what you say by using not a specific magic wave but a magic wave with a wide frequency range?" Legray, the Minister of Magical Technology, seemed to understand what Jin meant. "That''s what I mean. The waveforms are just pushed through." It''s called forceful action. However, unlike the < that was operated using eladolite, Jin was impressed by the fact that this was made possible with a normal magic tool. "The operation time would be a few seconds to a dozen seconds. During that time, it seems that the method is used to raise the frequency continuously from a low frequency to a high frequency. Jin concluded his explanation by saying that if there was an appropriate frequency in the middle of the process, it would accept the command. "Jin-sama, but is it that simple to make them do what you say?" Shu asked. "I don''t think it''s so easy for an unqualified person to give an order to a golem. "Oh, I think so too. Jin-sama, how about that? Jin was glad that Shu and Rubina had noticed. "I''m glad you noticed. What you have just explained is just a summary. What you two were wondering about just now, that''s the key to this method. "What is it, Mr. Jin?I''d be very interested to hear it. LeGray leaned forward and asked. "Of course. ...... Let''s start with a review. > is a form of writing by means of an extraordinary amount of magical power. Therefore, it required amplification by eladolite ...... mithianite. Is that all right so far?" "Yes." "On the other hand, the <> mimics the waveform of the magician''s magic and makes him do what it says. It does not require amplification of magic power, but the target magic wave must be understood." "That''s what I was getting at." Rhodes and Legray nodded. "Now, this may be a little off topic, but ......" Jin glanced at Rubina and Shu as he said this. Yes, Jin was giving them a somewhat roundabout explanation so that they could easily understand. They were listening to his explanation with serious expressions. "Why do golems and automata recognize their makers as ? Here is the key." "What?" "...... I think a magical engineer (Magi Engineer) would understand. The normal control system does not have the ability to select the maker''s waveform of magic. "Ah!" "Yes, indeed!" Rubina, Shu, Rhodes, Legray and the others shouted together. "So the creator is being recognized by a special ..." "That''s the key, isn''t it? Shu said hurriedly. "Hmmm... ...... what is it?" Rubina looked thoughtful and difficult. "Could it be ......." That''s exactly what caused this mess, Jin assured me. For a moment, they misidentified him as <> and gave him false orders. Unlike humans, golems are able to communicate commands in less than a few tenths of a second, which is why it can be called a rough trick. "Loud commands and resonance ......" Rhodes pondered, muttering a few words as if something had occurred to him. "So you are saying that you used the resonance to interrupt the false orders, is that it?" Jin nodded. "Yes, that''s the conclusion I came to as well. Jin concluded that the goal was probably to disrupt the behavior by interrupting the brief period of resonance with a loud command. "I guess they didn''t expect it to be so well disrupted, did they?" Jin added that the order <> must have been overridden by something like <>. "So it would stop if the creator or the master gave the order?" "It should." This was good news. I had avoided letting the owner get close to the runaway golem because I didn''t want to take any risks, but that proved to be a false fear. "But I''m not a hundred percent sure, so I guess I''d better start with a few of them. I should go first." Jin''s advice was followed. At Jin''s advice, LeGray said he would go there himself and stop the number one. "Well, then I''ll send my ullagan to escort you. "Rhodes, thank you. ......, Your Majesty, I''ll be on my way." Uh-huh. Be careful. With Uragan as his escort, LeGrey, the Minister of Magical Technology, mounted one of the few horses available and rode away from the rampaging golems. As he watched his back, Ernst II, Emperor of Shoro, turned to Jin and said, "Jin Nido. You are Jin Nido, you say?May I ask who you are, with technology and knowledge ...... that surpasses our own magical technology?" Jin Nido had finally arrived, he thought, half expecting it. He and the old man had talked vaguely about doing something like this, but no conclusion had been reached. However, the old man said to me. "Let me tell you something. This is the third generation of Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido. Reiko stepped forward and said. "My name is Reiko. I was once awarded the title of honorary squire in your country. This was the better plan that the old man had just suggested. The present Jin, who is a duplicate, can be said to be the third generation in this sense. And he is a Magecraft Meister, and that is why he calls himself . "I knew you were something else, but I had no idea that you were the third generation of . And you are that Lecoq Ehime. No, no, this is an honor. There is no one in the Nordic Federation who knew Jin, the second generation , when he was young, and it would be persuasive to assume that the resemblance is due to their descent. If there is a problem, "Sister, father, it has been a long time." It is a golem like Lotte, who knows Jin 400 years ago, but does not know what happened to him. "Lotte, you look well." "Yes, sister. The current master is taking good care of me. But at the same time it''s a witness that Reiko is still Reiko. "Since Lotte approves, there can be no mistake. You are that , and the person whom is working for is definitely ." Ernest XVII of the Kingdom of Egelea, who had somehow arrived nearby, nodded in agreement. "One of the qualifications to become a <> is that one must have a matching magic pattern. Therefore, this person and the person who created Lotte have the same magic pattern. Reiko''s explanation seemed to convince both Ernst II, Emperor of Shoro, and Ernest XVII, the third prince of Egelea. "That''s why I also call you out of respect. The declaration that Reiko also called him that also convinced Lotte to call Jin <>. This was the first step for Jin''s existence to be recognized in this world. 1759 - - 47-40 Unexpected Face-to-Face Unofficially, Jin is recognized by the Shoro Kingdom as the third generation of >. Moreover, the royal family of the Kingdom of Egelea was present at the ceremony, and their attendant Golem recognized Jin as a <>. The < Rhodoth, a long-lived , also vouched for Jin. It is a well-known fact that there are those in the <>, the land of the Northerners, who knew directly his predecessor, the , who was also a <>. Hence, Rhodoth''s words carried weight. The most important thing was the existence of the legendary girl automata, Reiko, and her testimony. The more I look at her, the more she looks like a human being. The more you look at her, the more she looks like a human being. She is indeed the legendary Reiko Ehime. Ernst II, the current Emperor of the Shoro Kingdom, muttered in a deep voice. "I am glad to see you, even if it is on this occasion. Ernst II smiled. In his expression, Jin felt as if he had caught a glimpse of the female emperor. "If you can, will you come to the palace afterwards?" "......Yes." Jin hesitated slightly, but decided to take this opportunity to lay a proper foundation, so he agreed. "Well, you''re ...... no, you''re Reiko Ehime!I''m glad to meet you too." After Emperor Shoro, Ernest XVII, the third prince of the Kingdom of Egelea, gave a benediction to Reiko. That is how legendary Reiko is. "It is an honor to meet you as well, Jin Nido, the 3rd <>. Ernest XVII then bowed to Jin as well. "If you have a moment, would you be so kind as to check on my Lotte?" "Yes, I would be delighted." Jin readily accepted the offer. After a short time, Rhodes came back to the house and asked for a few minutes of his time. A short time later, Legray returns with Rhodoth''s golem, Uragan, the Minister of Magical Technology. He is accompanied by the scarred and battered Zekken 1<>. "Your majesty, Jin-dono''s prediction was correct. "Oh, I see. Then you can give the order to stop with confidence. By sending out those with the authority to give orders with escorts, the runaway golem was finally stopped, and the commotion came to an end. As an aside, when Legray returned, he was surprised to hear that Jin had been recognized as the third generation <>, < The commotion was now over. The guests, the general public, the competitors, their golems, and the tournament officials returned to the shores of Lake Tosmo via the Warp Gate. All that remained were Jin''s party, the Minister of Magical Technology LeGray and some of his men, and the Emperor Shoro and his Imperial Guard. "Your Majesty, please leave this to us and go back." "Yes!There may still be some of the League of Magic left! The knights of the Kingsguard pleaded with him, but Ernst II refused to yield his head. "I appreciate your words. But if I am to apologize to the rest of the world for this scandal, I must take it upon myself to remedy the situation." "Your Majesty ......" And such an attitude of the emperor reminded Jin again of the former female emperor. Reiko, is there anyone else suspicious?) So Jin secretly checked with Reiko. (Reiko, is there anyone else suspicious?) So Jin secretly checked with Reiko, because there is a big possibility that the person who sent out the captured golem is still there. No, not within a 20 km radius.) I see.) We know that Reiko is not within precise detection range now. Let and the old man try to detect him.) (Understood.) With his anger at having this event ruined, Jin decides to search for the culprit. The is an enemy of the descendants of Jin''s family in the first place. Two minutes pass. Meanwhile, Legray and Rhodoth are analyzing the captured golem of the League of Magic, and the Emperor is talking with the Kingsguard about various matters. Rubina and Shu seemed to be absorbed in the atmosphere, especially Rubina who was quiet as a borrowed cat. The old man reported to me. (The old man reports that there are no hostile golems or hostiles within a 200 km radius around the area.) I see.) Jin was satisfied with the results of the detection, perhaps even with the use of a . "...... Your Majesty, I have examined it in detail and found no evidence that this golem was sent by the <>." LeGrey reported. His face is disappointed. "I see. It''s a pity, but it can''t be helped. Even they don''t make it easy for us to catch them by the tail. Ernst II congratulated LeGray. To such an emperor, Jin.., "Sire, I''ve instructed Reiko to search the area, but there seems to be no enemy in the vicinity. Why don''t we leave the area for now? Ernst II accepted the proposal. Ernst II accepted. "Well, I guess there is no point in staying here any longer. I''ll take your word for it. "Thank you very much." Thus, the retreat from the southern foot of Mt. Incidentally, it was reported that the number 3 that had slipped and fallen was wrecked at the bottom of the valley. * * * * * "...... But this is an unexpected turn of events, isn''t it?" Jin was talking to himself in the drawing room of the Shoro Imperial Palace. "Well, I can understand the old man''s intention to remove the restriction of activities in the present age, so I have no complaints about it. Jin only thought that the visit to Onogoro Island was a very sidetracked one. "It''s a common story, though." Jin recalls that in the past, he had to destroy when he went sightseeing at the ruins, and that he had to destroy a secret organization during his trip. "Jin-sama, but I''m learning a lot of things and I''m enjoying it. Rubina, who was eating sweets in the same guest room, said in a cheerful voice, "I am the same way. It''s the same for me. I''m also enjoying the opportunity to experience the outside world in this way ......." Just then there was a knock at the door and Rhodes came in. "Mr. Jin, His Majesty wishes to speak with you." "...... I see." <, but still, what is troublesome is troublesome. Jin gets up from the sofa and goes to leave the room with Reiko, "Shu and Rubina are coming too," he said. As expected, Donner and Blitz, as well as Uragan, Hope, and Edgar, were away. < A Kingsguard is waiting in the corridor to show Jin and the others around. Jin walked down the corridor and was shown into his office, thinking that not much had changed since the old days. "Welcome, 3rd generation Magecraft Meister Jin Nido. Inside, LeGrey, the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, welcomed Jin Nido. Next to him was the emperor, and an elderly man and woman whom Jin did not recognize. "I''d like to introduce you two right away. ...... well, introduce yourselves." LeGrey motioned to the two men. The first to open his mouth was an elderly man with dark brown hair mixed with gray and brown eyes. "Ha. ...... I am Daiki-Nido. I am the Count of the Shoro Kingdom. A woman with brown hair and brown eyes next to him introduced herself. I am his wife, Cocona Nido. And then they both said, "It is an honor to meet the third generation and Reiko. They bowed once again. 1760 - - 47-41 Visit the Residence Daiki-Nido and Cocona Nido. That was the current Nido family. They have no children. "You really look like your predecessor," Cocona said happily. Cocona looked at Jin and said happily. She was an elegant old woman with some white in her hair. "Oh, Reiko-sama, you are really pretty. Daikki was very happy to see Reiko. He even pronounced her name natively. "...... I may be of the Nido family, but I am a distant relative, and I do not possess a shred of engineering magic talent." Daikie said apologetically. Then the emperor interrupted. "However, we cannot afford to lose the Nido family. I heard that about two hundred years ago, you searched for distant relatives and rebuilt the House of Nidor. Ernst II must have cared for the House of Nidor that much. "I am grateful." Jin replied shortly and bowed his head. "By the way, why did your ancestors leave the House of Nido?Was it because of the League of Magic? "Yes, Your Majesty. That''s what I heard. Jin could not help but answer. "I see. I heard that the was active in many countries at that time. ...... No, this time too." The emperor frowns. "Yes. I heard that they were taken as hostages and that they didn''t want any interference in their lives, so they left. Jin also gives a safe explanation. It''s been a while since I''ve talked to the emperor, so I''m sorry if my tone is a little strange. "I see. But according to the information I have received, the head of the <>, a man named Markitas, is no longer with us. The Emperor is quick to listen. "It seems to be true. In fact, the power of the <> is rapidly declining. Rhodes added. "Yes, that''s why they are trying to invade our country, which they have never had a chance to do before. "Perhaps." Jin agreed with the emperor''s guess. "Well, that is a matter for us to deal with at home." Ernst II changed the subject somewhat forcefully. "The reason I asked you to come this time is to discuss your treatment of Mr. Jin. "Treatment?" "Well, since you are the third generation and have Sir Reiko as your squire, you have the right to live in the house of Leuthert, don''t you? The emperor asks with a slightly mischievous look on his face, and I think to myself that Jin is a lot like Ernst. Then he added, "If Jin-sama is here, we will gladly vacate the house! Daikie and Cocona also say. "No, no, we don''t intend to do that. Jin lightly replied, but then thought better of it, "I would be happy to stay at ...... when I come to this country," he added. He added, "I''d be happy to stay when I come to this country. "Oh!Of course!It was originally the residence of the previous Jin-sama, so you are welcome to stay here as long as you like!" "You are always welcome to stay with us. You are welcome to stay with us. Daikie and Cocona responded happily to Jin''s words. "We have refrained from remodeling the house as much as possible, so it will be a good place to remember the old days of our predecessors. "I see." Jin was a little taken back by this tension, but he was happy to know that he could now use the landing pad on the roof. "Well, it looks like we''ve come to an agreement. Then the third Jin Nidor is granted the status of <>." < It is a de facto honorary position and has no binding power. It is a de facto honorary position and is non-binding, but is treated as higher than a count and lower than a marquis. He has the right to enter and leave the palace without notification and to request a visit from the emperor without an appointment. Jin had no objection to this. "Thank you very much. Jin made the Shoro Imperial salute. Here, once again, Jin had earned his place as an honorary citizen of the Shoro Empire. * * * * * * * * * * * * So, Jin and the others came to the house of Reuthert. Of course, the Minister of Magical Technology, LeGrey, was aware of this. (...... really, little has changed...) (Yes, father...until about 200 years ago, the maid golems who worked for him were working hard to toughen, strengthen, and stabilize him...) (because they were all) All of them are engineering magic to reinforce the molecular bonds of matter with free magic elements (ether). "Wow, that''s amazing!" In front of Jin, Rubina exclaimed with delight when she saw the furnishings in the parlor. "Oh, that''s a sculpture made by a craftsman from Mitsuho," explained Reiko. Reiko explained. She knows Jin very well, but she is not the same Jin who was there four hundred years ago, but a descendant of a very similar one, so she has no choice. "Well, ...... you must have trained your modeling skills to make this." "Shu, that''s not magic, it was carved by hand." What? "Don''t forget that engineering magic is a just like a carving knife or a chisel. Jin says to Shu as if admonishing him. "You''re right, that''s true. ......" "There are few people who can use magic in Mitsuho. But the craftsmanship is as good as in other countries. We can learn a lot from them in terms of modeling. "I understand!" Then Daikie and Cocona arrived. "Your rooms are ready. You can go to ......, but only in the study room?If you ask, I will give up my bedroom and living room. Jin shook his head. "That''s okay. I''m just grateful to have a place to stay when I drop by." Jin had vacated his former study for his own use. Daikie and Cocona were cleaning out their personal belongings in the study for this purpose. "Mr. Shu, Ms. Rubina, we have prepared a guest room for you, Mr. Rhodes. Rhodes and the other three, Edgar, Blitz, Donner, and Uragan were led by Cocona, and Jin went to the study with Daikki. Reiko and Hope followed silently. "This way, sir." Jin narrowed his eyes as he stepped into the study of the mansion for the first time in a long time. It had hardly changed at all from the days when he knew it. The only thing that was different was a picture of the old on the back wall. The pictures seemed to be taken when Jin was in his prime, and all of his friends had acquired a certain amount of age in their appearance. Nevertheless, since Milowina and Martha were also in the picture, it was clear that it was a picture of <> in the group. "In the center of the front row of that picture is the previous generation ......2<, Jin Nido. He looks a lot like you. Daikie addresses Jin with honorifics even though he is older than him. Taking his hand, Jin bowed gently. "Thank you, for protecting this house like this." These were sincere and honest words. 1761 - - 47-42 Old Residence Meanwhile, Rhodes and the others are being guided by Cocona. "Are you really Mr. Edgar, the automaton created by your predecessor''s wife, Erza-sama? Cocona rolled her eyes in surprise when Edgar was introduced to her. "Yes, ma''am." Edgar answered. "I was made by Lady Elsa." "Well..." Cocona stood speechless, but quickly regained her composure, Oh, no. I''ll show you your room at ......." She resumes guiding the three and the four. Please use this room. Cocona led us to the west side of the second floor. There are three guest rooms across the hallway. Two rooms are on the south side of the corridor and one room is on the north side. "I''ll take the north one." "Then I''ll take the westernmost one." "Okay, I''ll be next to that." The room assignment was decided without much trouble. "...... hasn''t changed either." Edgar muttered as he looked at the guest room. "Yes, I heard it has been kept by the Nido family for generations. Cocona replies. "This is the room used by Erza''s mother, Meene, isn''t it?" Edgar pointed to the room next to the guest room on the north side. "Oh, is that so?" Cocona had never heard of it either. The room is empty at the moment. It was true that the room was a duplex, but Meane had requested a larger room, as she felt uncomfortable in such a large room, so she decided that it was not suitable for a nobleman. The room was not suitable for aristocratic guests. "Is that so? Would you like to see it? No, ...... yes, I would love to see it." Edgar hesitated for a moment and then begged to be allowed to see the mother of his creator''s room. "Yes, please." Cocona smiled and opened the door. Edgar looked in, "Ah, here it is again. Thank you for protecting us. He bowed his head to Cocona. "Uh, Edgar?Is this the room used by Erza-sama''s mother who was the wife of Jin-sama?It''s quite modest, isn''t it?" Shu, who peeked in as well, said a little curiously. Edgar explained in a quiet voice. "Yes, it might seem that way. Erza-sama''s mother, Meine-sama, used to be a lady-in-waiting, so it seems that she was a simple-minded person. "Oh, really?" Cocona had never heard of this before and seemed a little surprised to hear Edgar''s explanation. "Hmmm... ....... My grandma likes a simple room too." Rubina nodded her head when she heard that. * * * * * * After such a scene, the group settled down in their respective rooms. It was now dusk on this eventful December 16th. "Well, it''s been a long day. Jin said in a deepened tone of voice, Rhodes said, "It''s been a busy day, hasn''t it? Rhodes chimed in, "It''s been a busy day, hasn''t it? "You''re going back to the island tomorrow, right?" Rubina asked him to confirm, and he nodded his head. "I wish I could stay a little longer, but ...... I''ll miss you." Shu said. "I guess it can''t be helped this time. I''ll see you next time. Jin thinks their reactions are natural. It was a natural reaction since they had left the small world they had been shutting themselves away from and had seen the wider world. "The next competition is ...... so ...... oops." Jin almost mentioned the competition. (LeGrey seems to have thought up the competition himself, but when did he tell the participants about it ......) ) Jin thinks such a thing. Yes, it would be very advantageous for LeGray if he announced the venue and the rules just before the competition. (Well, I guess he told them with enough time for the other participants to be fully prepared. ......) "...... Anyway, when I get back, it''s on to the next competition. You have about a week to prepare. Good luck." "Yeah, I''ll do my best!And then you''ll take me back to the outside world!" "I''ll do my best!" Rubina and Shu answered cheerfully. After dinner Jin took a bath for the first time in a while and stayed the night in the study. The sofa in the study was a so-called , which was made to be used as a bed. "It''s a great story that you can use it for the first time 400 years after it was made." I made it so that I could take a nap in my study when I was busy. "You can never be too prepared, can you, father?" Reiko made a funny comment. "Well, it doesn''t matter. I''m kind of tired today. I became again and formed a bond with the Shoro Empire. Jin was relieved to see that the current emperor was a man of character. "Father, please have a good rest." "Yes, I will." The next day. The next day. Early in the morning, Jin sent Hope and Edgar out to retrieve Conlon 3. Just as they were finishing breakfast, arrived on the rooftop landing pad. For the first time in about 400 years, is parked on the rooftop of Reuthert''s house. Daikie and Cocona are thrilled to see it. But when Jin told them that he had to leave for a while, "Jin-sama, are you leaving already?" "I was hoping you would take more time to visit ......." "No, I will come back again. No, I will come back again. I was planning to stay only for a short time this time. Daikie and Cocona saw Jin and his group off with extremely disappointed looks on their faces as they were about to leave Loisart. "So, Jin-sama, are you leaving soon?" "No, I''m going to Miyagi once in <>." "Why?" Rubina looked at him curiously. "I thought I''d check on Lotte, the girl Ernest XVII had with him. ...... and Rubina, Lotte is a replica of your ancestor Beena when she was young." "What?Is that so?" Apparently Rubina had never heard of such a story. "That''s why. Let''s go. flew toward Miyagi. 1762 - - 47-43 Happy Information "Oh, Master Jin, the 3rd , you have come well! Ernest XVII, the third prince of the Kingdom of Egelea, welcomed Jin with open arms when he arrived in Miyagi to fulfill the promise he had made yesterday. "I''ll be on my way back to Japan in a day or two, and to tell you the truth, I was about to give up on you," he said. "No, I promised you. Jin laughed and decided to rent the castle''s workshop to maintain . "......3They say you''re the <>." "<> has great skills, doesn''t he?" "I''d like to take a look." And so on, all the available magical engineers and civil and military officials on duty at the castle came to take a peek. Rubina, of course, was the closest to the castle. Shu and Rhodtos were also by the workbench. Lotte had already taken off her maid''s uniform and was in the workshop, ready to begin maintenance. "Now, Lotte, lie down there while I do the maintenance. "Yes, Jin-sama." Lotte lay down on the workbench as Jin told her to. "<>" Jin stopped the function first. "Then, we will start disassembling." After declaring this, Jin removed the exterior of Lotte. The onlookers are awestruck by his deftness. "Oh, it''s in such good condition. Jin thinks to himself. He was relieved to see that the interior of Lotte was in better condition than he had expected, and was happy to know that it had been cared for by generations of masters. "However, the movable parts ...... especially the joints are a little rickety, aren''t they?" "What?Jin-sama, is this it?" Rubina, who was watching, raised a surprised voice. She saw that the clearance between the sliding joints was less than one micron. "Oh. That''s about three times the original value." "Three times as much as this. ...... How much was it in the beginning? ......" Rubina looks stunned. Receiving a small piece of adamantite from Reiko, Jin quickly applied the coating to the sliding parts. The thickness of the coating brought the clearance close to Jin''s ideal value. "That''s it." The fit of the parts should be as if a line was drawn between them. That is Jin''s motto. "Next is the skeletal distortion. ...... no problem. No corrosion." Since there was no deterioration of the magical muscles, we should apply <> to strengthen them a little. "The magical nerve line is ...... a little damaged. ...... is done now." The part that had become thin due to the load is deformed and the thickness is aligned. "The ether converter and mana driver are ...... fine." Magi devices for speech, vision, and hearing were also checked and any damaged ones were replaced. The shield case for the protection against slave rewriting magic has not deteriorated either. "That''s it." "...... Jin-sama, are you finished?" "Finished." Jin checks the exterior and installs it. This time, in order to show the car to Rubina and Shu, the maintenance work was done at about one-third the usual speed, so it took about 15 minutes. Still, it seemed to be an amazing speed for the gallery members. "Did you see ......?" "......I can''t believe it, but I saw ......." "This is what a Magecraft Meister can do. ...... "So the title is not for nothing. ...... A few words were exchanged in the shadows. Most of them were inaudible to Jin, but Reiko heard them all, and she felt proud. "It''s over." "You were fast." In about 20 minutes in total, Lotte''s maintenance was finished. Ernest XVII, who had been watching the whole thing, was speechless. As he himself was familiar with engineering magic, he understood that the quick work Jin had done was not an ordinary one. (...... This is the ?) Once again, he was amazed at the insanity of it all. "Restart Lotte. ......<>" "Yes, <>." Lotte wakes up and gets up. She quickly puts on the maid''s uniform she has left by her side, "Thank you, Jin-sama. and bowed deeply to Jin. "No . I''m glad to see that ...... you''re being taken care of." Jin replied in a gentle tone. "Yes. I''m very grateful for your kindness to me." Lotte was humbled. Jin looked at her and said, "Lotte, what did you do with the tray and the mop? She said "Yes, I did. "Yes, they were broken when we had a riot a long time ago. I apologize ......." "No, you don''t have to apologize. Oh, it''s broken. ...... Okay!" Jin found an ingot of light silver in the workshop and added 6 and 4 percent of aluminum and vanadium, respectively, which he had smuggled in, to make <<64 light silver>>. The ingot was then processed and used to make a tray and a piece of silver. He processes them to make a tray and a mop. The mop tassels are scraps of magical fibers for magical muscles. We then carefully apply to increase the strength of the mop. "This is good. This will make it more resistant to breakage than before. Jin hands the completed tray and mop to Lotte. "Thank you very much. I''ll take good care of it." "Uh, yeah. ...... you know, don''t hesitate to use it when you have to, okay?" "Yes, sir, I know." Jin then turns to Ernest XVII. "Your Highness, the maintenance of Lotte has been completed without delay. "Oh, yes. ......, thank you, Jin-dono. "Your Highness, I hope I can be of further service." Lotte also bowed to Ernest XVII. "Yes, I look forward to working with you." Jin was relieved to see Ernest XVII clapping Lotte''s shoulder with a truly happy expression. Jin then decided to take this opportunity to ask something that had been bothering him. "Your Highness, may I ask you a question? "Hmm?What is it?Ask me anything you can. Oh, and please don''t use honorifics. We seem to be close in age, and above all, it itches me to be addressed as "Magecraft Meister" by you. "Ha, ha, thank you ...... thank you. ...... Well, the question I wanted to ask you is about an automaton named <>." Tia. It is an automata that belonged to Princess Rieschen of the Kingdom of Klein, who became the wife of Ernest <1>400 years ago. Since it was made based on the template left by Adriana, it boasts of a performance that sets it apart from other automata. Jin restored Tia, which was malfunctioning at the end of its useful life. "Well, you know about Tia, don''t you? You are the third generation, aren''t you? "Yes, Reiko is here." Reiko is like a cousin to Tia," Jin added. "I see. ...... Tia is still alive and well. She is taking care of my sister in the country." "Your sister ...... Princess?" "Yes. She''ll be three this year and she''s very fond of Tia. I didn''t know that. Jin was relieved to hear that Tia was doing well. Jin promised to maintain Tia when he had a chance. 1763 - - 47-44th round of competition Having completed his business for the time being, Jin decided to return to Onogoro Island this time. On the way back to Onogoro, he said to himself, "Ah, it was fun, even if it was only for a short time!" Rubina relaxes contentedly, "Thank you, Jin-sama!" Shu is politely thanking her. "No, I had a good time too, and I missed some things. The trip was fruitful in many ways for Jin as well. On the way back, headed for the huge lake . They returned to Horai Island using the <> there. "Wow ...... how did you manage to build something this big in such a short period of time ......" Rubina was impressed with the fact that they could build such a big thing in such a short time. After getting off the Conlon 3 at Horai Island, the group went to through the newly built warp gate. "Oh, you''re back. ...... Oh, grandma!" "Welcome home, Rubina." Rubina''s grandmother, Amanda Garrett, had come to pick her up. Rubina''s parents had passed away early in her life, and she was a grandmother. "Miss Jin, it must have been hard for you to babysit your grandchildren, isn''t it?" "Ah!Grandma, that''s terrible!I didn''t make you work so hard!You are ......, aren''t you, Jin-sama?" Jin laughed and nodded. "Yes, I guess so. Rubina has been a good girl, hasn''t she?" He patted her on the head and she gave him a squishy smile. "I wish that were the case. ...... Then, Jin-sama, please excuse me." "Yes. Rubina, go home and relax. Rubina, Amanda, Blitz, and Donner were seen off by Jin and left. Shu, who was 17 years old, did not seem to be welcomed back, so they went back to their own homes. "Thank you for your hard work, Edgar. Jin thanked Edgar for piloting . "No, Master Jin, it has been an honor to serve as your pilot after 400 years. "Well then, Master Jin, if you will excuse me." Shu and Edgar also headed home. And Trihard Randall greeted Jin. "I''m so glad you''re back safe and sound, sir. Thank you. About the next competition, is that all right with you? Yes, it''s interesting, isn''t it? Yes. Jin had contacted Mr. Trihart through the old man yesterday. "I think that would be very safe and exciting," he said. "Yes, sir. Can we make the announcement this evening? Yes, please. In the interest of fairness, Rubina and the others were not informed of the next competition. It will be announced this evening on Onogoro Island. "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Rhodes." "No, it was fun." Jin, Reiko, Hope, Rhodes, Uragan, and the others headed for the laboratory on Onogoro Island. * * * * * Now, the time has come for the next proposed by Jin to be unveiled. Using the > and installed in every household, the entire island of Onogoro was informed of the event. <. This race was not a full-size car, but a 1/8th scale model car with a length of only 50 centimeters. Although the car is controlled remotely, the driver sits in a simulator-like cockpit and operates the steering wheel, gas pedal, and brake while watching a video image of the course transmitted from the car as if he or she were driving the car. The pilot must be the one who controls the simulator, which means that the skill of tuning the simulator to his or her own needs is also required. This was the conclusion that Jin reached after reducing the risk of accidents and pursuing the competitive aspect. The skill to keep the overall length of the car to a compact size of 50 cm was also tested. The course for this race was an oval course. It is just like a 400-meter track in Japan. The surface is a leveled dirt track with no pavement, which will also be a test of skill. The race will be broadcasted by the magic eye and the magic screen, and will be projected on a large screen and should be very powerful ....... "Sounds awesome!" Rubina was suddenly enthusiastic, "It''s going to be worth it!" And so were the other descendants. And what will make the competition even more exciting is the fact that Jin will also participate. > is the reason. Of course, Jin''s ranking will not affect the King/Queen competition. As a matter of fact, Jin was not sure if it was ...... that made it difficult for him to come up with a regulation that would allow him to participate, since he was also reluctant to talk about it. Trihart explains. This is a car racing system that Jin is familiar with. However, Jin is not familiar with it, so he has set up the vague points in his own way. He also explained detailed regulations such as the overall length, width, and height, the car must have four wheels, must run on tires (no injection propulsion devices are allowed), and the car must be made of any material. These will be given to the participants in writing. "Well, I''m looking forward to it." It was Jin who couldn''t bear to just watch. "Well, we have a week, so we can take our time in making it. This was Jin''s first time making this category. "Jin-san, may I join in? "Wow, I''d like to participate, too. In addition to Rhodes, Maricka, who had just arrived, said something like that. Of course. This is going to be interesting, thought not only the residents of Onogoro Island, but also Jin. Incidentally, as Jin had hoped, the old man had recorded the video of the held in the Shoro Kingdom, so he broadcast it during the preparation period, and it seemed to be well received. Even though there was no winner. And the week passed in a flash. 1764 - - 47-45 Practice Run December 23. <, the day of practice runs. The final number of participants was 13. This is because Jin, Rhodes, and Maricka joined the 10 who participated in the previous Golem Boat Race. The numbers were the same as the previous year. The numbers of Jin and Marikka, who are spot participants, are 11 for Jin, 12 for Rhodoth, and 13 for Marikka. Incidentally, there is no jinx associated with numbers such as 4, 9, and 13 in the Ars world. "Well, what kind of car did you guys make? "I''m looking forward to it, father." Reiko is walking next to Hitoshi, holding a the size of a small storage room above her head. And Jin is holding the finished car ......<>. The color of the car is black. He is taking it to the competition site. The shape of the cockpit looks just like the one in a video game arcade. It would be difficult to use it in any other shape. "That shape, which has been continuously improved for game use, is the ultimate and best, isn''t it? Jin muttered to himself in a slightly, or rather quite high tension. It was the result of repeated adjustments until ...... late last night, or even until dawn. Reiko couldn''t stop seeing Jin looking so happy for the first time in a long time. Since the main competition would be held tomorrow, Jin was expected to be put to sleep tonight, even if it was by force. The booth was dedicated to the pilot''s seat. After setting up the < in the dedicated booth, Jin decided to give it a test run right away. "Ah, Jin-sama!" Then Rhodes and Marikka arrive. So numbers 11, 12, and 13 are all here. The pilot''s seats are lined up side by side in numerical order from number 1 to 13. Their pilot''s seats are not much different from those of Jin. In the first place, the way of operating a car is the same as that in modern Japan, so there should be no major differences. Yes, unless you have an idea like Rubina''s ....... "...... and what is that?" In addition to the monitor screen showing the images from the car, there was another screen in Rubina''s <. "Oh, this?< "Overhead monitor? From the name, Jin guessed that it was a monitor for a bird''s eye view of the car. And then. "So that''s what it is!That''s what I''m talking about, Rubina." "What?You figured it out?" "Yes." In other words, apart from the driver''s point of view, a spectator''s point of view, or rather, a point of view looking down from right above the course, was added. In modern Japan, some vehicles are equipped with a similar function, which is extremely useful when parking the car in a garage. "But where are you getting this image from?" <. "You know, we''re going to send a blow floater up into the sky." "I see." It is true that there is no regulation that forbids such an act. If there is a next time, it will be forbidden or the same video will be sent to everyone, but this time Rubina''s idea won, Jin thought. Rubina''s idea won this time, Jin thought. "Yes, it''s going well." Jin built what the modeling world calls a . It was a Christmas present that he bought for a child at the orphanage with his first bonus. I can picture the scene of several people taking turns using one racing buggy, taking turns and playing together. Although Jin did not know whether such a real car actually existed or not, the size of the model could be reproduced without any problem at all. The car has large-diameter dirt tires and a four-wheel independent suspension with a large stroke. The body shape is a little F1-like. The rear wing is attached. This wing is movable, and when braking, the angle of the wing is increased to increase the grip of the rear wheels and also works as an air brake. The wing was not designed as an aerodynamic stabilizer. This is because the aerodynamic effect is small at this size. "Mr. Jin, that''s what I''m talking about. ......" Marikka''s car has an orthodox shape from Jin''s point of view. It is a design similar to what we would call a < in modern Japan. The body of the car is reminiscent of a kamaboko, with a board, and four wheels protruding from the body. The front wheels have mudguards. The tires are wide, the four wheels have independent suspension, and the body is made of light silver. "This is quite fun." The Road Toss also had the same orthodox shape. It seems to be based on Jin''s first horseless carriage. The other participants Jin saw had similar designs. But Rubina''s was different. "Hmmm..." Again, Jin let out a voice of admiration. Rubina''s car looked like a racing kart. However, the body completely covered the front and rear wheels, indicating that aerodynamics were taken into consideration. The tires are slightly smaller in diameter than those of other cars, but this does not seem to be a problem on this course. Since the inertia and gyroscopic effect increases at high speeds, the lighter the tires and wheels are, the better. This is probably the reason why the small-diameter tires were chosen. However, small tires have the disadvantages of poor drivability on rough roads and easy tire wear during long-distance driving. "...... Wow, this is so difficult!" Rubina seemed to be piloting the car for the first time and was quite confused. Rhodes, on the other hand, was able to drive the car quite well, thanks to his high physical ability. And as for Jin? "Well, it''s difficult when I do it by myself. He seems to be having a hard time. * * * * * * * * * * * * Before noon that day, all the participants had gathered for a practice run. Since the course was originally designed for actual cars, there was enough space for 13 cars to practice and there was little risk of collisions. Everyone seemed to be driving their cars in their own way and trying to get used to the controls. "Oh, they are doing it. While Jin was taking a break, Trihardt came over. "This one looks interesting, even though it''s small," he said. "I guess so. It gives us a bird''s eye view of the entire course. It would be visible to the naked eye and projected on the magic screen, so it would be easier for the spectators to grasp the whole picture of the competition. "It will also make it easier to prepare the course." Jin nodded. "It also means that there is less danger, since the objective is to compete with each other''s skills. Trihart nodded. "That''s true. We need to have this kind of competition. Trihart then looked at the course. About six cars are practicing. "Oh, number 2 is Shu, isn''t it? He''s quite fast, isn''t he? "Yes, he is. But today is just a practice run, so I think everyone is still hiding their abilities. "No, I''m looking forward to tomorrow. Trihardt laughed as he said this. 1765 - - 47-46 Qualification starts! December 24. In the morning is the qualifying round. < is about to start! >> Once again, the play-by-play announcer is Ruckhard Randall. He seems to like this role. <> The crowd is in a state of excitement. <> There was an even louder cheer. < More cheers, proving that Zion is also loved by the residents of . < < < A chuckle breaks out from the audience. <> < * * * * * * "Oh, Zion is here today too?" Jin heard Zion''s voice and thought to himself. Theon couldn''t make it to the last boat competition. He was looking forward to it this time. "Well then, let''s have a final practice. After yesterday''s practice run, he had a rough idea of the boat''s performance. After that, he had been trying to find the best setting for himself by slightly changing the maneuverability of the car and adjusting the gear ratios. He strengthened the parts that were worn out, and is now preparing for today''s qualifying round. This was not only Jin, but all the other contestants were thinking the same thing. "30 minutes left. That''s it for practice. Rubina muttered as she looked at the clock on the side of the course. "I think we''re almost set up the way we want to be. The car with the number 10 on its side sped down the course. The car with the number 12 in front of it overtook the car from the inside, and its performance was very consistent. "Well, Rubina''s car seems to be quite complete. Rhodes smiled wryly. "Ugh, it''s difficult." Marikka''s car was quite fast in a straight line, but it was not very stable, slowing down too much before a corner, or turning too slowly, or turning too hard without slowing down enough. > Zion, who is watching from the commentary seat, says this with a wry smile on his face. * * * * < to begin. Once again, the live commentary will be provided by myself, Ruckhardt Randall. And our guest is Mr. Zion! >> The introduction was greeted with even more cheers than before. <> The bell rings with a clang. The bell rings to announce that the qualifying round has started. <> At this point, there are 8 cars on the course. Numbers 1,2,3,4,7,10,12, 13. After all, he is the proposer of this race. It would not be surprising if he has a secret plan. <<> < The body looks like a slender canoe turned inside out, with four wheels sticking out of it. The body color is red and white. The design is similar to that of the early F-1 cars. <> . It would be a bit harsh to say that this is a common design or a safe design, but it is a solid design. Shu seems to have chosen a solid line, not to be eccentric. The body colors are blue and yellow. <> Eugene also has an orthodox design. His body color is white and green. <> The body is pointed. The body is sharply pointed. To put it simply, it looks like a carrot split in half vertically. The body color is orange and blue. <> This is another orthodox design. The body color is red and blue. > Her body color is red and yellow. <> The body color is green and yellow. <<> Body color is red on silver. The eight model cars run the 400-meter track in about 40 seconds. This is faster than the human 400-meter run. It would be about 40 kilometers per hour. The fastest among them are numbers 10 and 12. < Sion expresses his admiration. > Rhodes'' car is ahead, but Rubina is also trying to catch up to him. The time was under 40 seconds. "Both of you are doing very well." Jin was watching the qualifying rounds from his car parked in the pits. "Father, are you sure you can relax?" Reiko, who works as a pit crew (technical staff), seemed to be concerned. "Yeah, we still have 50 minutes to go." For Jin, the qualifying time is just a bonus, and he is aiming for a higher position in the main race. So, he is taking his time to see what happens. At the same time, he is analyzing the characteristics of each car. So far, the best time is 38.2 seconds by the number 12, RODOTOS. This is followed by the number 10, Rubina, with a time of 39.5 seconds. This is followed by number 2, Shu with a time of 40.1 seconds and number 4, Grina with a time of 40.9 seconds. Rubina''s car was in the top 10. "Watch out for Rubina''s car. ......" Jin seemed to have noticed something. Fifteen minutes had passed when a loud cheer went up. It was Rhodes who had set the fastest time. "36.9 seconds...that''s ...... good!" He was the top runner with a lead of more than two seconds over the second-place finisher. This is a record that can only be set by the Northern races with their superior physical ability and reflex speed. With this record, Roth ended his qualifying run. Rubina also qualified in second place with a time of 39.0 seconds flat. Shu was also satisfied with his third place finish with a time of 39.1 seconds. "All right, let''s get out of here. "Yes, father." Jin was waiting for the moment when the number of other cars on the course would decrease. 1766 - - 47-47 Qualification is over with number 11, Gin-sama, has entered the course! >> The crowd went wild again. > The racing buggy-type speeds along the track at its own pace with few other cars around. And then the corner. Sion is impressed. "...... failed, didn''t it?" Jin is painfully aware of his mistake. "Father, what''s wrong?" Reiko asked anxiously at Jin''s muttering. "We are on the ...... course." "The course?" "Yes," Jin replied. It''s not a paved road, it''s a dirt road that''s been cleared, so you can scrape it." Some cars had tires with metal spikes on them, and everyone was aiming for the inside of the course, so it was very uneven. Jin''s had no problem on the uneven terrain, but his speed was slowed down. "On the other hand, it would have been better to push him away from the very beginning. ......" This was the result of overthinking. However, it is Jin''s work, so ....... > He runs reasonably well. "But my vision is still blurred." The 4-wheel independent suspension, suspension and dampers have been carefully adjusted, but the visibility is still blurred when driving at high speeds. As a matter of fact, Jin, who is prone to motion sickness, wanted to finish the qualifying in a short period of time. "I''m going to play > while ...... Oh, I made such an accessory once before. ...... What is it?" "......Magic formula (Magi formula) is engraved, but it has not been activated. ......Ah, maybe." It may be that when the bracelet was duplicated by Magiatom as a <>, it also stopped working and had to be started. "<>......" I tried it, and it seems that I was right. I was feeling a little queasy, but now I feel much better. "I was careless." Anyway, now I can concentrate on flying to my heart''s content, thought Jin. <> < <<> Theon knows that Rhodes'' strength is his physical ability and reflex speed, but he does not intend to say so at this point. > Number 12 of the Road Toss is speeding down the course and ....... <> Sion laughed and congratulated Rhodes on his good race. Jin, on the other hand, was not going to get any more enthusiastic and was going to run the whole race until the end of the time, still in second place in the qualifying. No time trial. And the other participants. < Shireen''s car is green and white. Her best course time was 39.1 seconds, the same as Shu. In such a case, the first one to set a time will be considered as the higher rank. << The design of this car is orthodox, but it is quite fast. The body color was red and black. The time was 39.5 seconds. << Number 8, Florence Fahlheit!Last time she finished 8th!How about this time? >> As Sion said, Florence''s car was not very good and she finished the qualifying session with a time of 41.3 seconds. The body color is blue and white. <<< Number 9, Elvis Alcott!Burning for revenge for his 7th place finish last time, he is participating this time with the smallest car! >> With an overall length of only 36 cm, it is indeed the smallest car. This means that the car weighs less, and if the power systems are the same, the lighter the car is, the faster it should be. The body color is black and yellow. The time was 39.9 seconds. The time was 39.9 seconds. At 11:00 a.m., the qualifying session was over. After a two-hour break, the final race will start at 1:00 PM. The next two hours will be used for lunch, rest, and car maintenance. Incidentally, since the course will be reconstructed, there will be no more practice runs. The final standings are as follows Pole position: The first qualifier is the Road Toss number 12 with a time of 36 seconds flat. The color is yellow on green. Second place was Jin, number 11, with a time of 36.2 seconds. Third place was Rubina, number 10, with a time of 39.2 seconds flat. The color is red and yellow. In fourth place, Shu, number 2, with a time of 39.1 seconds. In fifth place, Shireen, number 5, with a time of 39.01 seconds. 6th place, Sydney, number 6. Time 39.5. 7th place, Greiner, number 4. Time 39.7. Blue on orange. 8th , Eugene, number 3. Time 39.8. Green on white. 9th Elvis, number 9. Time 39.9. Yellow on black. 10th, Natalia, number 1. Time: 40 seconds flat. She is red and white. Werner, number 7, time 40.01. Colours red and blue. The time was 40.2 seconds. Colour red on silver. The time was 41.3 seconds. Colors are blue and white. Although the first and second places are far ahead of the rest, the original contestants are competing in a very close race. < says Zion. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ugh, it''s so difficult to fly. "Haha, that''s just like Marikka." Jin smiles at Marikka. "I envy ...... Road Toss." "Marikka-sama!" Jin and the other three guests were having lunch together. Sandwiches, hamburgers, and fried coca-cola. It''s a fast-food kind of menu, but it''s not bad. "I''d get fat if I ate this every day..." Jin thought, but did not say it out loud. After lunch, everyone starts working on their cars. The main competition is about to begin. 1767 - - 47-48 Early Remote Control Car Race 10 minutes before 1:00 pm. <> is about to begin! >> The live feed has begun. The final is scheduled to start at exactly 1:00pm, so the live commentary will start a little earlier. <> The crowd cheers and applauds. Luckhardt explained the starting positions of the contestants. The pilots, who had not yet taken their seats, stood by their cars, waving and bowing. Pole position is at the very inside of the course. The cars are lined up in a horizontal line, with the following cars facing outward in that order. < The remaining minutes are used for commentary. > The crowd cheered again. The female golem holds up a placard that reads <2 minutes to start>. The pilots take their seats. The countdown to the start of the race has begun. Only the sound of voices echoes in the silent stadium. <<10......9......8......7......6......5......>> From the fifth second remaining, the signal lights that indicate the start of the race are illuminated with red lights. They light up in order from the bottom to the top. ....... <> At the last moment, it changes to green. <<<0! Just at 1:00 p.m., the race is about to start. <<> While Ruckhardt spoke excitedly, Zion stated in a calm manner. The contrast is quite good, Jin thought in a corner of his mind as he was piloting the car. The second place went to number 10, Rubina. Perhaps reflecting her personality, Rubina''s car had a lot of power. This meant that the tires could not transfer the power to the road, especially when accelerating, i.e. . And this course is not paved. I mean... "Whoa, whoa! "Whoa!" The car right behind me was getting rained on by a cloud of gravel. "Aah!I''m sorry!" Rubina apologizes, but does not slow down. Shu and Shireen, numbers 2 and 5, had slowed down to avoid the direct hit from the gravel, and had fallen to the bottom of the pack. Zion saw this and laughed bitterly. > The reason why Jin and Rubina switched places is that when they were overtaken on acceleration, they did not want to stay behind Rubina and swung to the outside of the course. (Rubina''s tires were made of metal, probably because he didn''t want to wear them out. ...... That''s why gravel was flying.) This is what Jin noticed during the qualifying session. During the practice session, no one noticed because they were not accelerating as hard as they could, and during the qualifying session, most of them were so busy setting their best lap times that only Jin noticed it. But at this point, everyone knew. As Sion said, all the cars ......, that is, all the 12 cars except for Rubina''s car, were now running to avoid being right behind the number 10. The course is too big for the size of the cars. . In response to Zion''s comment, Lackhardt demanded a detailed explanation. > <> After a preface, Zion started to explain. << <<< is ah. Since the diameter is multiplied by the circumference, it is 60 meters and 66 meters. So it''s 6 meters. <> <<< Well, 600 meters and 606 meters, so it''s still 6 meters. <<> <> The ratio of the former is 60:66 0.91, the latter is 60 0:606 P 0.99. In other words, Zion meant to say that the larger the corner radius, the smaller the influence of the in-course and out-course. To put it another way, a one-eighth scale automobile race on a 400-meter track is a mismatch in terms of scale. Everyone tries to take the inside track empirically, but taking the outside track does not affect the time that much. This brings us to Zion''s statement earlier, <>. I explained it in a roundabout way, but the point is that Zion meant to say that it would not be so much of a disadvantage to avoid running behind the number 10 car. However, the gap still exists. Would it be as Zion predicted? He did not know. * * * * And while the commentators and guests were talking, the race was still going on and the first lap was about to end. The standings were 12,9,11,10,8,6, 7,4,5,1,13,2,5. The Road Toss car was in the top position, as was the case in the qualifying session. Lap times were around 40 seconds. Everyone was still waiting to see what would happen. Meanwhile, the Road Toss car (number 12) is about to take the lead. Road Toss is the type of driver who can outrun the pack.) There are two types of runners: those who can do better than their abilities when they are chasing up, and those who can do better than their abilities when they are running away. Rhodes seems to be the latter. He doesn''t like pressure, so he can act spontaneously by taking the lead. This is the type that can get away with it. In fact, Jin is the same way. We understand each other well because we are the same. Jin was looking at the number 9 in front of him. "Okay, here it is! He slowed down before the corner and moved forward at once. With a sharp steering maneuver, he makes a sharp turn and heads for the exit of the corner, crossing in front of the number 10. "Kyaaa!" Jin''s car crosses in front of you. Rubina is far enough ahead, but in her haste, she abruptly brakes. "Oh, no!" Her slowdown allows 8, 6, and 7 to pass her. "Ugh, I''ve been hit!" He impatiently goes into full throttle, and the wheelspin occurs again, sending him bouncing off the gravel. This time there was no car behind him. "Oh, no! He rushed to pull back a little, but it was already too late, and the number 4 car had passed him. "Ugh! <>. <<> muttered Zion, who was watching the race. The race has only just begun. 1768 - - 47-49 In the middle of a remote-controlled car race The race has just completed 10 laps. The current standings are: numbers 12,11,9,10,8. 2,6,3,7,5,1,4,13, 2,6,3,7,5,1,4,13. Sion muttered ruefully. Meanwhile, Rhodes is still in the lead. Rhodes is still in the lead, trailed by Jin by about 3 seconds. Rubina has also moved up to 4th place. > Lackhardt''s commentary is getting stronger and stronger. <<> Jin was also 2 seconds ahead of the 3rd place finishers. And he was using Rhodes'' car as a pacemaker. (Surprisingly easy ......) Yes, it was easier for him to follow the car behind since the performance of the cars were close to each other. As a run-away type driver, this was the first time for me to know this. Rhodes is a good driver. Better than Jin. And Jin was beginning to get the hang of how to make Rhodes run, albeit somewhat by following behind him. Rhodes knows this, too, but it is difficult to run fast enough to outrun Jin. At least for now. (I can go full throttle with less than 10 laps to go, though.) ) It was with this thought in mind that Rhodes drove his car. But for Rhodes, a northerner, it is not a burden to run at the current pace. Marikka, on the other hand, was not so sure. (ah, ah, ah, ah ......) Even at a young age, her athletic abilities were below average. But she was talented in engineering and magic, and as Jin''s first disciple in the Nordic Federation, she is at the top of her family in that field. However, although she has become more thoughtful with age, her athletic ability has declined. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > < For Theon, Marikka will always be "that girl". But.... As if noticing something, Zion lets out a chuckle. * * * * * Running second from last is the car of Greenina Kuzma, number 4. As we are now in the middle of the race, there is a tendency for the male participants to be in the top positions and the female participants to be in the bottom positions. It is simply a difference in driving ability. Since they do not usually drive vehicles by themselves, they are not good at this kind of competition. Although she was glad that she was not in last place, she was a little bit disappointed that it was her beloved Marikka. But then... "Huh?" Marikka''s number 13 seems to be catching up a little. > Sion let out a laugh, knowing that his prediction had come true. <<> Ruckhardt noticed this and asked a question. <<> Marikka was not taking the line particularly consciously. She did not even calculate that the in-course course is even slightly shorter. She was running approximately in the middle of the course. And there are almost no other cars running in that area. In other words, the road surface is not rough and easy to drive on. In addition, Marikka cars have mild characteristics. In addition, Marikka''s cars are mild in character, i.e., they are built with emphasis on , so they do not spin the tires with their powerful torque and therefore do not scrape the road surface. Therefore, Marikka was able to drive the car at her own pace, and therefore her lap times were gradually ...... improving, albeit slightly. Furthermore, Maricka, like Rhodes, is a genuine . Physically, she does not feel tired with this kind of load. And except for her unfamiliarity with the controls, Marikka''s concentration is unparalleled. That''s why she is the leader in engineering magic. The crowd went wild. "Go for it, Marikka! they cheered. Marikka was so focused on the race that she could not hear the cheers. The first lap of the race was a little slow. On the 15th lap, several groups were forming. The leaders are still 12,11,10,9 with a 1 to 3 second gap. The second group was 5 seconds behind. The second group is 5 seconds behind with 8,2,6,3. The third group is another 4 seconds behind with 7,5,1,4,13. No, 13 is running at his own pace, so it may not be a group. ....... "Nah, I can''t seem to get past Jin-sama!" Rhodes, number 12, is in the lead and Jin, number 11, is in second place. Rubina, number 10, is running in third place. Just behind is number 9, Elvis Alcott. Now Jin and Rubina are going tail to nose. It was interesting to see them duke it out. Most of the spectators were watching the battle for second place. Jin was running what he thought was his best line. Rubina was following him, and she was following a line similar to Jin''s. But this was a mistake. However, this was a mistake. Rubina''s car, which was following a line similar to that of Jin''s car with completely different performance and characteristics, was not able to fully utilize its characteristics. Tires with metal spikes, plenty of torque. To make the most of these characteristics, the car should have entered the corner at an acute angle, spun the rear wheels to change direction at once after decelerating sharply, and then let the wheels spin down to get a grip and accelerate steadily. Such sharp cornering is suited to the car. But Rubina is still too inexperienced to realize that. That''s why Jin thinks this kind of competition will bring her a lot. And so do the other participants. Jin''s car has rubber tires, so it runs with a sure grip. He follows the theory of "throw-in-first-out" in cornering. Well, this part is taken from a manga I once read. At the end of the race, Marikka had finally overtaken the number 4 car and moved up to 12th place. "Marikka-sama, you are definitely getting a little bit faster!" By lap 18, Maricka had set a time of 37.7 seconds, equivalent to 3rd place in the qualifying round. However, the lap times of the top group were now in the 35-second range. * * * * * * * * * * * > As the cheers of the crowd grow louder, numbers 12 and 11 go tail-to-nose. Jin seems to have mastered the art of running the best line. No, Jin-sama is not to be underestimated. We have to spurt here. ......!) ) Rhodes was even more motivated. It was now the end of the race. 1769 - - 47-50 End of remote control car race After all, the best part of a race is a close battle. In a sense, it is a bit disappointing to see a single strong team win the race by a landslide. As the <> entered the final stages, close and heated battles were beginning to unfold in each group. The fiercest group was the second group. The numbers 8, 2, 6, and 3 were all mixed up, and the positions were changing rapidly. > Just as Sion said, the number 8 is gaining speed, spraying gravel, and following the number 2. Then, on the corner, he pulled out from the outside to cover the car, and was able to pull out in front of it. > The crowd is heating up. The dead heat between the two is a spectacular sight to see. However, the number 2 car is not going to stay in the same position. On the straight, the car slightly changed course to the outside and accelerated at full speed. However, he did not lose time by spinning the wheels like Rubina. Shu accelerates just before the tires lose grip. This is where we could see his sense of maneuvering. Meanwhile, in the battle for the top position, Rhodes was a bit early, but he had started to drive his car at full throttle, and the gap between him and the second-place finishers was about 4 seconds. "Rhodes, you''re good!" Jin thought it was time to give it his all. Unlike Rhodes, who is from the north, Jin himself is not used to this kind of maneuvering. He thought that he would only have five or six laps to go before he would be able to concentrate enough to drive at full speed. It is now lap 23. Only 7 laps to go.Jin asks himself, "Can I do it? (Not that he has to maintain his best concentration throughout the seven laps. Let''s go to ......!) Jin comes to a conclusion in his mind and decides to use the full potential of the <>. > A serious battle has begun. Rhodes accelerates his car even faster. <120%>. Jin, on the other hand, was at <80%>. The difference between percent and percentage is the unit of measure in each of their consciousness. Rhodes is a runner who literally draws out performance beyond his capabilities. Jin ran at the very edge of what he could control. It was a close battle. When the number 11 car tried to push the inside, the number 12 car swung its tail and did not let him in. When the road tossers tried to push away and sped down the straight at more than top speed, Jin''s car was able to keep up with them. Zion, who was watching the situation, nodded his head repeatedly as if he was satisfied with the situation. > < Will Rhodes'' car reach its limit earlier or will Jin lose his concentration first? On the surface, Sion is calm, but inwardly he is excited to see how the race goes. * * * * * * Now, the battle was intensifying in the other groups. The third group was now numbered 7,5,13,4,1. Marikka was now running in the 37-second range, a victory for her own pace. Marikka was now lapping in the 37s, while Jin and Rhodes had already reached 35s. And with a time difference of 3 seconds, it would take 11 to 12 laps for the lead group to catch up to them. In fact, the third group has already been overtaken twice by numbers 12, 11, 10, The third group had already been overtaken twice by numbers 12, 11, 10, 9 and so on. And now the second group, numbers 8, 2, 6, 3 and others have caught up with them. > A one second difference in lap time is a big one, but not enough to overtake them all at once. If they had taken a course around the outside here, they could have easily overtaken, but none of the cars in the second group did so. <<> They entered the corner in a dangling situation. Cars with different lap times were jostling each other, resulting in contact between the cars. The cars were cornering and the lateral Gs were applied, making it easy for the cars to lose their balance. The two cars that made contact with each other hit three more cars, causing them to spin out. It was chaos. > Marikka, who is running alone on the outside, is not caught up in this chaos and has taken the lead of the third group. She is indeed not the leader of the second group. > Fortunately, no cars were turned over or disabled, so the race was not interrupted and continued. However, this accident caused a major shake-up in the standings. The top group remains the same with numbers 12, 11, 10, and 9. > Lackhardt was in such a hurry that he forgot that the third group was lapped. After a lap with the confusion cleared up, the order finally became clear. > <>. Thanks to my pace. But then comes the next confusion. The second and third groups were jostling for position when the lead group caught up with them. <> The dangling pack was back together again on the 27th lap of the race, which should have happened on the last lap. The two cars with the biggest advantage at this point were Marikka, number 13, was running at her own pace. The number 10, Rubina, who can be seen in the overhead video. "...... is in the way. Can''t you maintain your top speed indeed? ......" "I guess these things happen. ...... I guess I don''t have a choice." Rhodes and Jin slowed down, but. Marikka! Rubina! The two cars are driving through the empty out-course, while the in-course is crowded with cars. Oh, yeah!) Jin immediately realized the advantage. He turns the steering wheel of the car and sends it toward the out-course. A moment later, the Rhodes is on the same course. Shu, number 2, and Eugene, number 3, also noticed this and followed suit. However, due to this mix-up, Rubina''s number 10 finally took the lead. "Yay!I''m in first place! Rubina is still young and therefore quite uneven. She is still young and can be more than capable, depending on her mood. And now was the time. As if to release the frustration of being in third place for so long, the number 10 car sprinted around the course with no one in front of him. His lap time was 35.1 seconds, a course record. 1770 - - 47-51 Remotely controlled automobile race settled <> Rubina''s number 10 sprints to the front. "Yes!There''s no one ahead of me now!" Number 10''s lap time is still in the low 36s. That''s pretty fast. Numbers 11 and 12 were close behind. "Rubina, you did well. ......, but we have our own reasons." Jin had a good time. Jin enjoyed the fact that he could give it his all in this way. <> Lackhardt shouts. The crowd is going crazy. * * * * * * The three cars of 11, 12, and 9 are chasing number 10. They are running hard as if it is the last time. (Rubina''s handling is rough. (Rubina''s maneuvering is rough. There is still room for her to overtake.) Although she has shown a lot of growth in this competition, she is still a child. She is still a child, and she is not without her unevenness. But what makes up for it is the overhead monitor. You can see at a glance which side of the course you are running, thus making the course easier to navigate. The disadvantage is that Rubina has to drive the car while watching the monitor. "Ugh ...... my eyes are getting tired!" Yes. To drive the car at full speed, we can''t stop looking at the front of the car. Then she glances at the overhead monitor and corrects her course. It was a heavy burden for Rubina, who was still getting used to it. Two laps to go. Rubina gritted her teeth to defend her lead. The lapped cars are far behind her in terms of timing, and with two laps to go, she will not be able to catch up with them. It should be much easier to keep an eye on the front ....... "Aaah!" Rubina''s car scraped her stomach. Yes, the course was unpaved, and now, at the end of the race, it was gouged and rutted here and there. Rubina''s car was lower than those of Jin and Rhodes. Therefore, they were vulnerable to large gouges. The belly rub made the car unstable and slowed it down slightly. Jin and Rhodes did not miss this opportunity. "Oh, I''m hit. ......" * * * * > << Numbers 11 and 12 are racing side by side instead of front to back. Jin''s car is on the outside and Rhodes'' car is on the inside. > << Zion speaks calmly. <<> * * * * * * Jin suddenly decelerates at the entrance of the corner. This allows Rhodes'' car to temporarily pull ahead. However, Jin takes advantage of his reduced speed and makes a sharp turn. It was his signature sharp angle turn. Then he accelerates. The lines of Rhodes'' car and Jin''s car crossed. "Okay, now I have the inside track. "You did it, Jin-sama!" However, Rhodes was no slouch either. He skillfully maneuvered his car and successfully exited the corner alongside Jin''s car. "Rhodes, you''re good!" Jin grinned from the driver''s seat. Technique, not technology. Software, not hardware. It had been a long time since such a confrontation. One and a half laps to go. "Let''s go in a straight line!" Jin decided to give the Beetle full power. Not the 80% we''ve been giving you, but 10%. "Oops!" The <> lost its balance after passing the Roadtoss number 12. It bounced three times and ended up near the outermost part of the course. However, the road surface was not so rough as there were hardly any cars running in that area, and Jin managed to get his car back on its feet. (Phew, it''s a good thing I installed dampers properly.) Suspension is a spring. Without dampers, the shaking would not be dampened, and in a case like this, the car would bounce around, and in the worst case, it could even tip over. In this respect, Jin understood the importance of dampers in his bones from his carriage trip with Erza and Reinhardt 400 years ago. And Jin had once again experienced the ease of driving on the outer course (see !). (This is ......!) (This is from !) In theory, he knew that the outer course would not be too rough, but now that he had been driving on the rough surface for a long time, controlling the cars, he felt relieved and thought that this ease of driving would allow him to drive at his best. He was 90% there!) However, Jin is a cautious man who is afraid to drive at 90% power because he is afraid to drive at 10% as he did before. * * * * * * > Rubina''s number 10 is back in the lead as the cars of Jin and Rhodes get tangled up. (The Jin I know should be able to handle this kind of handicap and adversity. ...... Hey, Jin?) Theon does not say the latter half of the line, but mutters it only in his mind. And just as he thought, Jin''s car accelerated again. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "All right, go, go, go, go! The number 11 car accelerates furiously. Using the outermost part of the course, which even Marikka did not use, the car shows a steady drive. And he is faster than the other cars. He seems to be slightly faster even when he is going around the outer most part of the corner. "d*mn!That''s Jin-sama!" < The acceleration on the exit of the corner was slightly faster. "Oh, no! The tires lose grip and the wheels spin. That is a loss of power and time. Number 12 of the RODOTOS, who was following diagonally behind, calmly swerved to avoid the flying gravel and overtook number 10. "I''m in the lead here!There''s only the straight!You can''t overtake me now! Rhodes is a bit excited. He was about to be beaten by the legendary Jin, the "Magecraft Meister," even if it was only for fun. It was hard not to get excited. But... "What, what, what? Jin, who had passed the number 9 from the outside at a dash, unleashed his power to the hilt as he came to the last straight line. ! >> < Number 11, with 10% of its power released, speeds along on a rough road surface, overtaking Rubina''s number 10, It was close to Rhodes''s number 12, and passed it ....... The finish line was just ahead. And the checkered flag held by the female golem is now ......! <> The hall was filled with cheers. 1771 - - 47-52 Next time... The winner was number 11, Jin. Second place went to number 12, Rhodes. Third place went to number 10, Rubina Garrett. (1st place). In fourth place, number 9, Elvis Alcott. (2nd place). In fifth place, number 3, Eugene Faure. (3rd place). In sixth place, number 2, Shu Nido. (4th). In seventh place, number 6, Sydney Marek (5th). In eighth place, number 8, Florence Fahlheit (6th) In ninth place, number 5, Shireen Eschenbach (7th) In 10th place, number 13, Maricka. In 11th place was number 4,Greena Kuzma. (8th place) In 12th place, number 7, Werner Randl. (9th). In 13th place, number 1, Natalia. (10th). (11,12,13 are guest entries, so the actual first place goes to Rubina. Natalia won in the boat, but came 10th in the car, probably due to the fact that she was piloting the boat, rather than the fact that she was in a different field. In this sense, the female engineers such as Florence, Shireen, and Gulina may have been ranked lower because they had problems in piloting their boats. * * * * * * * * * * * * "No, we had a good time. I hope everyone gets used to using it as well as building it." After the awards ceremony, a celebration was held. At that time, Jin happily told the participants "As for the next competition, I think it should be held after January next year because of the year-end and New Year holidays. No one objected to this. "How about a model airplane competition for the next event? The main reason was that model airplanes have no human casualties in case of a crash. "Sounds fun!Let''s do it!" Rubina was the first to express her approval. Rubina was the first to express her approval, and this was also the opinion of all the participants. No one objected. "Okay, let me explain what I''m thinking. Let me know if you notice anything." Jin began to explain his plan for the <>. "I''m still thinking about whether to use a propeller or a jet stream system. And we''ll provide auxiliary devices to help you control the plane. Let''s have everyone use the same one." The idea is that even amateurs will be able to control the aircraft well if they leave the delicate maneuvers for stabilization to the operator, since the aircraft is controlled in three dimensions in the air. Even with the radio-controlled model airplanes that are being played with in Japan today, it is difficult for beginners to fly them out of the box. Jin recognized that it is common to practice using a simulator on a personal computer or using a beginner''s plane called a trainer plane, which is easy to fly. ...... "We''ll keep the practice period longer, maybe early February next year." No objections were raised to this either. "The size should be about 1 meter in length, 1 meter in width, and no more than 1 meter in height. I don''t think the height needs to be less than one meter, but for the sake of clarity, Jin added the following note: "I don''t think it needs to be more than one meter in height. "No gravity magic or other auxiliary means are allowed. No ballooning, either. We want to compete in the category of aerodynamically floating airplanes," says Jin. "As for the other events, I''d like to have a speed competition and a slowness competition," he says. "What?" "Jin-sama, what do you mean by that?" This was the first time a question was posed. "Oh, <> would be fine, wouldn''t it?<> means that an airplane, which floats by aerodynamics, cannot float if its speed is too slow. That''s why, unlike cars and ships, it makes sense to compete in terms of slowness. "Oh, sure! "So that''s what you mean!" Everyone seems to have understood. and . It is difficult to reconcile the opposites, but that''s what makes it a competition. "And then there is aerobatics. But this is difficult to score. Jin did not want to compete in events that were difficult to quantify. "I would have them fly freely and have all the spectators score them," he said. Jin said that it might be a good idea to give them an extra percentage of points if they were going to be scored. He added that the weight would not be enough to turn the tables on the first place, but enough to turn the second place against the first place. "Then there''s the ...... design score." Jin said that it would be a good idea to have all the audience score this as well. "Hey Jin-sama!Are you going to be in that race too?" Rubina asked. Their eyes were staring at Jin, which told us that they were all curious about him. "Yes. I had a good time at the auto race. I think I want to go." "Yes! <, is fun after all. Everyone looks happy. "I''d like to participate, too. Rhodes also said so, which made everyone''s joy even greater. "Wow, I''m not so sure, but ...... sounds like fun. I''d like to participate. Maricka also said she would like to participate, and everyone clapped their hands in delight. "I''m sure you''ll be fine, we''ll have lots of practice time and we''ll give you all golem assistive devices to help you out. Jin thinks that in case of a crash or wreck, a one-time transfer can be triggered. Of course, he would be disqualified if he triggered it. "And then there''s ...... I guess. ...... Well, what kind of image does everyone have of . This time, Jin wanted to go back to the basics and accumulate know-how as much as possible. You can do it. I wish you all the best for the technological development of tomorrow. Jin gave his words of encouragement. * * * * * * * * * * * After the celebration, Jin was relaxing at the research institute on Onogoro Island. "You look happy, father." Reiko looks happy to see Jin in a good mood. "Yes, it''s ...... fun. It was fun, that''s for sure." Jin says he never thought the day would come when he would be able to compete with such feeling. "I never thought I''d be able to fly by myself, or really make something that was a ." Jin recalls how his heart fluttered when he saw a broadcast of a radio-controlled car competition on TV when he was at the facility. "Yes, that''s right. I''m a little disappointed. As for Reiko, she would like to be more useful to Jin. "I''m sorry about that. But you know... ...... "No, it''s okay. Your father''s enjoyment is the most important thing. "Thank you, Reiko." Jin consulted with the old man and started to compile the rules for the next competition, the model plane race. He would be able to give them to the participants tomorrow. Reiko smiled with satisfaction at the sight of Jin enjoying himself. 1772 - - 48-01 Preparation for the New Year On December 27, 3899, Jin was in Horai Island. Since it was the end of the year, the competition on Onogoro Island was closed. "......I guess this is the end of the cleaning." He was cleaning up his laboratory and . "Yes, father. It''s all cleaned up." However, the five-colored golem maids have been cleaning the house every day, so the cleaning was more or less just for the sake of the mood. It is a kind of preparation for the New Year. "Now all we have to do is to make and decorate a kadomatsu," he said. Reiko and Lao Tzu were pounding rice cakes, and the kagamimochi were already made. The top was a citron. There were no oranges, so there was nothing to be done. (I hope my family will prosper from generation to generation, that''s why it''s an orange. ...... Is my family prosperous? No one will answer me, but I will assume that it is prosperous. Bamboos similar to moso bamboo had already been planted on Horai Island, and pine trees were also growing wild, so there was no need to worry about materials for the kadomatsu. "Here we go. I wonder if there is a in this world too." It''s a little late for that. < Jin-san, under the influence of a juvenile story he read a long time ago, prefers to call it <, but the director of his former institution called it , so he has followed his lead. I filled a white ceramic container with sake and placed it on the altar in my <. It is undeniable that there is a great deal of self-inventedness in this work. Half of it is his own self-satisfaction, and he thinks that''s all right. "In the past, I used to leave everything to you, didn''t I? >. This year, Jin wanted to do something that he could do by himself. "Well, this is the end." Jin said to himself as he finished setting up the shimenawa......<> for the altar. It must be in the Japanese blood to feel refreshed after all the preparations for the new year. "Now all that''s left to do is to make New Year''s Eve soba ...... tonight, right?" The preparations for the New Year''s festivities are in the hands of the five-colored golem maids. With Jin''s knowledge and information from Mitsuho, chestnut kinton, sesame seeds, kombu rolls, red and white kamaboko, datemaki, broiled eggs, and black soybeans were all prepared. The stacked boxes were made by Jin. "But it''s just one person''s New Year''s Eve. ......" As Jin is in this time as a composite, he has few regrets about the past. But I still feel lonely to spend the New Year''s Eve alone. > The old man suggested, But the old man suggested, "Well, it would be bad to invite someone who has a family ......". I am in a quandary. I would like to invite Rhodes, Zion, Marikka and others , but they have their own families. "And then, ......" What came to Jin''s mind were the friends he has had since he came here. That is, Katya and Eira. They should be in now. "Oh, but they are free to go back to their parents'' house now, aren''t they? Yes, their homeland, the Principality of Mercana, is now temporarily ruled by the , and is no longer under personal control as it used to be. > can afford to provide them with a leg up. "What?......Oh, I see." I don''t think they can afford to send just the three of them to the Principality of Mercana by air, and I don''t think they''ll let individuals use the warp gate. "However, what is the actual situation?" < values its people, Jin thought that would be considerate enough to send the girls back to their parents'' homes as part of their official duties. > "Oh, I see." In the world of Ars, there is no such event called <>, except for Mitsuho and Huso. There are New Year''s festivals, but they are very different from the Japanese New Year. It is not surprising, since the religious backgrounds are completely different. In <<<<>, there is a one-week holiday during the year-end and New Year holidays due to the influence of the Master (My Lord), but most of the staff should remain in <> as they are. It is the same as the normal holidays. Just a little longer. "Hmm, is that okay ......?" Jin had hoped to welcome Eira and Kaechea into the at some point. So, this is a good opportunity for him to do so. "However, I''m sure they have their own feelings, too. It has been almost four months since we left Kachea and the others, and they have new lives. Jin had no intention of forcing them to join the group. "Let''s go to for now. Now that he is recognized as the third generation of in the Shoro Empire, there are few problems with visiting. "Rhodes will be enough." <> and a former lecturer at <>. He is officially a part-time lecturer and part-time technical advisor. . Jin nodded at the old man''s suggestion. Since the third deus ex machina and the third <> Jin appeared on the stage at about the same time, there was a high possibility that the relationship between the two would be probed in various ways. . "Yes, of course." By showing up at at the same time, we can prove that we are two different people. "I see." Jin then remembered that he had promised a rematch with Gromma''s golem. "...... Gloma is in too, right?" <<>. "I see." < "I see." Jin thought it would be a good idea to ask Marikka and Rhodes to accompany him. And if the third deus ex machina and the knight Rey showed up separately from Jin and the others, they would be more persuasive, he thought. So Jin instructed the old man to send the third deus ex machina to in advance. > Yes, that would be fine. The deus ex machina is originally a fickle creature. I have decided to leave Jin to the old man. . The actual operation of the machina is to be carried out by the "master" who is under the control of the old man and is the brain behind the machina''s magic, < The old man decided that < was not a good idea, <<<>>. This would explain why she does not show her face very often. Jin then spoke to Zion, Marikka, and Rhodes. All three of them had , so it was easy to contact them. > The three responded favorably. 1773 - - 48-02 For some reason, a new airship , let alone . Zion said through the bracelet. "Oh, is that so?" < "Ah, ah, I see. ......" With snow and sub-zero temperatures, it''s hard to have fun. In Japan, there are snow festivals such as Kamakura in Akita and Sapporo, but the climate is much harsher in the Nordic Federation, and until Jin bailed them out 400 years ago, they lacked food, so they could not afford to hold such events. They could not afford to hold such an event. > and you can go to ...... Horai Island for New Year''s. "I see. ......" Jin was beginning to think about spending the three days with Zion and the others. But for the time being, he would be at <>. "Then I''ll pick you up tomorrow using the warp gate. Then we can go to together." "That''s what I''m counting on. I''ll see you tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. your time." < < And the call ended. "There we go. ...... old man, do you want me to go to <> in <>?" < Jin was a bit puzzled by the old man''s unexpected words. "What?Why not?" . "Oh, I see. ......" It is only when you ride something you have made yourself that you are a <>. Do you have ...... time? The time is 1:00 PM. That''s plenty of time to build a new ride. ...... but only for Jin. "Shall we build <>?" Jin immediately began to formulate a plan. "Let''s make an airship unlike any other." Previous airships have had a gondola or cabin attached to the bottom of the air sac, but this one will have a cabin inside the air sac. The airship we are building this time will have a cabin inside the air sac. However, it is not designed for a vacuum. This idea was taken from the airship in which Markitas flew. And Jin''s original idea is that <>>. > "Yes, this is how it is structured. Jin started to explain to the old man. "The shape and size will be the same as the air sacs of . We will make only the framework and cover only the upper half of it. "That''s right. That''s right. This way, the cabin can be placed inside the main body." "That''s just like your father!" Reiko, who had been listening silently, praised him. "The framework is made of 64 light silver, and the covering is made of ground spider resin (GSP). In modern Japan, airships (?) with only a skeleton are used. In modern Japan, there is an airship-like drone that flies by turning a propeller inside an airship (?) that has only a skeleton, and this idea was similar to it. * * * * * * * * * * The Horaijima Arsenal was in full operation. By the way, means a munitions factory, but Jin likes to use it because he likes the sound of it. Well, it is a factory for the Horai Island <>, so it is not necessarily a wrong name. <, but with more advanced functions. The size is 40 meters long and the diameter of the air sac is 10 meters. <<. The framework is made of 64 light silver hollow pipes. Materials are plentiful, and this construction requires only a small amount of material. "The propulsion system is a wind magic propulsion system (wind thruster). Jin is going to equip the boat with five powerful propulsion units. The main propulsion unit is mounted on the axis of the hull, and four sub-propulsion units are mounted on the ends of the four tail fins attached to the stern in the shape of an X. The other propulsion units are used to change course. In addition, there are 20 thrusters for changing course and for stabilizing the ship. The nozzles are movable so that they can be used to assist the propulsion system in case of emergency. "The lower half of the cabin." It will also lower the center of gravity and stabilize it. "We want to be able to accommodate up to 50 people." For levitation, there are 10 large blow engines. "For emergencies, we will also carry a force field generator and a gravity-controlled magic device. > "Yes, ......." After thinking about it for a while, I decided to load <> (a gun that can release specific magic without loss of time), <>, <>, and so on. In addition, various types of wards, <> and <> are also mounted. Of course, a warp gate is also provided for escape. In addition, <, , and are also installed. Since these parts are made by combining the standard parts of Horai Island, even the fast work is further accelerated. Eighty percent of the projector was completed in half a day. After dinner, Jin proceeded to complete the rest of the work. "We have enough mass on board to make it more habitable." "Father, is it called ?" Jin tried to nod at Reiko''s question. < The old man asked again. "Oh, I see." Four hundred years ago, Jin was , so it was natural for him to name his aircraft , but now he is different. "Then we''ll have to come up with something else to name it. ......" Jin looked at the new airship, which was about 90% complete, and thought of a name. "I want to name it something related to the sky. It could be a natural phenomenon or a bird. ......" I held off on the bird name because it has no feathers that look like feathers. How about ...... for a natural phenomenon? sounds good." I didn''t have any other good ideas, "Okay, I''ve decided. The name of this thing is !" Jin wrote on the air sac. and also drew his family''s crest, , on it. "I want Hope to be the pilot." "Yes, sir, I''ll take care of it." It is 9:30 at night. Jin launched the newly completed Hurricane to complete the test flight. "Sir, besides the safety test, I want you to check the maximum speed and the maximum weight that can be carried." < "Well, father, I leave the rest to you. Reiko takes Jin out and bathes him half-heartedly, saying that today''s work is done, "......Fu, it''s nice to take a bath, isn''t it?" Jin was still tired from his busy schedule of preparing for New Year''s in the morning and working on in the afternoon. Reiko was concerned about him and forced him to take a rest. The test of was completed smoothly. Stability is good. The normal maximum speed (without using wind deflector and force generator) is 400 kilometers per hour. The planned capacity of 50 people has been met. Hearing this, Jin was satisfied and went to sleep. 1774 - - 48-03 Nord and Avalon. "Ah, I slept well." After a good night''s sleep, Jin sleeps soundly without dreaming and wakes up refreshed. . The old man reported to Jin after washing his face. "Oh, that''s good. He said, "Oh, that''s good." He had to test the safety of the product very strictly, because he had made it in a hurry and it would be dangerous if he had missed anything. If the old man assures me, it will be all right. < "I see." They did a very careful test flight. < "Oh, that''s great." < is a built by Jin. It can also be used as a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft) so that it can land in tight spaces. < and Horai Island is about two and a half hours. A little after 9:00 a.m. Horai Island time, Jin took off in the . "Oh, this is comfortable. The view is different from that of <>. The stability is also different from that of <>. "The wind shield is working well enough. The warding can handle up to Mach 3, so there is room for a speed of 800 km/h. Hope flew at a speed that would allow her to arrive at the clan territory at 9:00 a.m. Hope flew at a speed that would allow her to arrive at the clan''s territory at 9 a.m. "What''s this? You''ve made something amazing! "Jin-sama, it''s amazing!" "As expected of Jin-san. ......" < < "Is this Jin-sama''s new airship?" "...... but is this even an airship?" "It looks like a wind-powered blower-floater." It''s Marikka''s disciples who are the adulterers. "Haaaa...... would you say this is the latest <> ......" The airport officials, all of whom have free hands, come over and look up at the <. "This is a great idea!" Rhodes praised Jin. "Yes, I''m sure this will not be taken lightly when we go to . <," said Zion, "you will be underestimated if you don''t show the ability to do so. "That''s how respected the second generation is." "The second generation is me, too. ......" Jin chuckled. "I understand that. But we''re the only ones who understand. ......" "I can''t allow Jin-san to be taken lightly." "I''m sure Jin-san doesn''t want that. ...... "Thank you, ......." Jin was pleased with the thoughtfulness of Zion and the others. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, back in time, a day later, in Avalon. "Deus ex machina III is coming? Why, why, why now? Didn''t he just get here the other day? The news of the arrival of the deus ex machina III had everyone in an uproar. No, actually, he hasn''t arrived yet, only that he will be here in an hour. However, there is too little time to welcome the visit of the most important person ......, no, the most important person. So, the whole of is in a flurry of activity. "I''m sure it''s the real one. After all, it was communicated via a dedicated line. A dedicated deus ex machina line. A line that only he or his valet, Rey, could (and should) use. It had been out of service for more than a century, and the call came through it. Marikka had informed me of this before my last visit, but this time I was contacted through a dedicated line. "And anyway, call everyone who is available and off-duty!" <> Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartman ordered his men. "...... I knew I''d be hearing from you sooner or later." Then he sighed. Then came the call for more chaos. "High Commissioner, a message from the Nostalgia organization! "What?Turn it this way. The communications officer connected the line to the High Commissioner. "......<>Tomax Bartman, High Commissioner. < What can I do for you? ......I don''t mean to be rude, but I''m very busy at the moment and would like to hear from you later if at all possible." <<> "How did you know that?" "......" Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann felt sick to his stomach. "Yes, I understand. Makina will be arriving in approximately one hour. < "...... understand. How many people can come? < "Okay." Tomax Bartmann sighs as he hangs up the phone. Then he gets another call. "What the hell? this time! >> "...... what?Put her through! < "Oh, Marikka-sensei!It''s been a long time! < Tomax Bartmann felt sick to his stomach. Yes, sir, you and your party are always welcome. But today, a person claiming to be Deus ex Machina III and a group of <> are scheduled to arrive at ......." I had hoped that the meeting would be postponed for another day, but Marikka''s words were a disappointment. "...... I see." "Okay. "Okay. We will be waiting for you." The connection is cut off. <>Supreme Administrator Tomax Bartmann sighed deeply and profoundly. 1775 - - 48-04 Makina III of Japan "You should be able to see it by now." <, important people were gathering at the airport for the arrival of the deus ex machina III. > A call came in from the control tower. "Oh, yeah. Right on time." Since the last visit was by a catamaran, which is used in many countries, Supreme Administrator Tomax Bartmann and the other members of the Avalon team had assumed that this would be the same this time. But... <> What is it? < What is it?...... Well, well, it''s the latest in technology, Machina, I suppose that''s possible." Tomax Bartmann said, trying to look nonchalant. However, when he saw the approaching aircraft, he broke out in a cold sweat. It was a 100-meter-long airship. Moreover, the air sac was flat. It was a huge airship that boasted a hull one size larger than the hybrid airship , which is called the on modern Earth. This was a special plane for Machina, built by Jin 400 years ago, and like <>, it was designed to be a spaceship and could fly in a vacuum. The crew are all golems, of the same type as the Cosmos series, but in different colors, from <> 1 to 20. The name of the ship is . It is just a coincidence that the ship is named after Aristotle, the philosopher who criticized < as a means of organizing theater. "This, you own such an awesome airship ...... deus ex machina III is ......." Tomax Bartmann muttered to himself, which must have been the thought of everyone present. The giant airship landed at the airport as if it weighed nothing. Telescopic landing gear emerged from the lower part of the cabin to support the hull. The hatch opens, and ten black golems appear, five on each side of the hatch. "Oh ......." "That''s a great golem. ......" The people standing in line admire the black golems, which have human-like body lines. Then two figures appear. One is Deus ex Machina III, and the other is Rey, the knight-errant. "Deus ex machina III, welcome!" Tomax Bartmann, the Chief Administrator, stepped forward to welcome them. "Tomax, it''s been a month and a half. I''m glad to see you''re doing so well. Tomax Bartmann shook hands with Makina with a smile on his face, "My stomach is killing me," he wanted to say, but could not. "...... But you''re on something tremendous, aren''t you?" <. His voice trembled just a little. "I thought I''d show you some of my skills." "Yes, yes..." That''s more than enough!Tomax Bartmann thought to himself. You made this yourself, didn''t you? "Yes, that''s right." In fact, Jin made it 400 years ago, but it is not a lie if Jin = deus ex machina. "...... What brings you here today?" Tomax asked as he led Deus ex Machina III and his valet Rey. Of course, they did not travel on foot, but in a golem car. This golem vehicle is a small car specialized for transportation within <>. "I would like to discuss with you about the inspection and future support. "Support? That would be very helpful, to be honest. Relieved that he was not being critical or critical, Tomax asked if he could give him some technical guidance. "Yes," he said. But I''d have to take a look at the current first. "That''s true." While they were talking, the golem car entered the building and proceeded down a wide corridor. After passing through the wide corridor, the car stopped in front of the office of the Chief Superintendent, Tomax Bartmann. "First, this way, please." "I''m sorry to disturb you, sir." Makina entered Tomax''s office. Squire Ray followed silently. There were two secretary golems in the office. "Ah, these are ......<>-based golems, aren''t they?" Saffi is a bronze golem of a lady-in-waiting donated by Jin and Machina when the World Conference was held in <<> 400 years ago. Nevertheless, Saffi was of the highest level in the world at that time, and is still < of the highest level today. Since the secretary golem was based on it, it was naturally of high performance. "Welcome, Machina-sama." By the way, there are few automata in <>. All of them are golems. This is because of the consideration that in case of emergency, the fact that they are hard to distinguish from human beings will not be a negative factor. The exception is automata engaged in childcare. I''ll leave you with this. "Here you go." "Thank you. "Thank you." The secretary golem placed a cup of tea in front of them. Tomax sipped the tea first, followed by Machina. "Actually, Elena of the Nostalgia party will be here in about five hours today. "Oh, that''s wonderful." "And tomorrow, Jin Nidoh-sama, the <3rd generation Magecraft Meister>, Marikka-sama and Zion-sama of the Nord Federation, and Rhodoth-sama of the will be coming.... ..." "We''re going to have a lot of visitors." Machina III laughed, but Tomax looked reluctant. "As a host, I feel sick to my stomach. "I see." Makina smiled wryly, "In that case, I think it would be better to have an important talk when all the members are present," she said. Makina said. Tomax''s face turned pale when he heard that. "Well, uh, ...... what exactly is the important thing?Can you at least give us an overview?" He did not say he was not ready, but I could see from his expression that Tomax was not at ease. "......It''s okay. I would like to know what happened to the > and why I and the <<3rd generation Magecraft Meister>> are showing up now." I see. Well, in a word, it''s because the threat of the League of Magic has passed. Is that so? "I guess the main thing is to tell you how it happened." "......" Tomax''s face regained its original color as he realized it was not bad news. "So, that''s what you meant ......." He then gulped down the tea in front of him in one gulp. "It''s hot!" It was quite hot, but he barely managed to hold back his gulp. "So, shall we make an inspection?" "Yes, please." Makina, on the other hand, drank her tea gracefully and answered with a smirk. 1776 - - 48-05 Those three Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann and Deus ex Machina III are touring the interior of <>. "This is where the living quarters are, isn''t it? Makina III asks, looking at the neatly trimmed rows of trees along the streets. "Yes, that''s right. The students'' living quarters are separated from the staff''s living quarters, but there is no qualitative difference between the two. The nature park is also beautiful, isn''t it? Yes. It is a place to rest body and soul during the holidays, so a professional golem takes care of it day and night. There are neatly trimmed shrubs, medium and tall trees with good branches, a pond and a small stream. The site was originally designed to look like a natural forest, but over the past 400 years, it seems that it has literally become . At that time, Tomax''s manacam (magical element communication device) received a call. < party will be arriving shortly. "Okay." Tomax looked at Makina. "You are right. I have to go to the airport now." "I''ll go with you." Just as Makina replied, a golem car, the exclusive means of transportation within <>, arrived. "Thank you. I''m in a hurry this time. We''ll take the underground passage to the airport. "Understood." Underground passageways are a network of passageways that extend 50 meters beneath the surface of <>. It connects important points in a straight line and is controlled by the management brain, so that it is possible to move at high speed. While the speed limit on the surface is 30 km/h, 100 km/h is allowed underground. The elevator section at the side of the park opened and the golem car carrying Tomax, Machina III, and Squire Rey headed for it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Tomax and the others arrived at the airport in five minutes, using the underground passageway as a fast means of transportation. The airship of <> was just about to land. This is a standard 40-meter-long airship. The cabin door opens, and the first to step out is a beautiful girl with golden hair and red eyes. She is Elena. Next is Alietta Aeolial, with bob-cut dark blond hair and blue eyes. She is now one of the top executives. And another, bald-headed and gray-eyed, Wattes Schrezza, a military attach. These three men visited this time as representatives of the party. "Welcome, Elena!" Tomax stepped forward to greet them. "We are sorry to disturb you." Elena, with a little pinch of her skirt, shows off her elegant curtsey. A sigh escapes from the executives of who are present to greet them. Arrietta is a softly spoken woman in her late twenties, and Wattes is a stern-looking man of mature years. Elena introduced them and then stepped forward. And then.., "Deus ex machina III, isn''t it?It is an honor to meet you. and shook hands with Makina. That is to say, he showed that <> and Machina are equals. A murmur escaped from the executives of <> who were lined up in the hall. "I hear that the 3rd Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido, will be here tomorrow. Tomax and the other executives were surprised to hear these words come out of Elena''s mouth after she finished greeting them. "You are very quick with your information. ......" "Yes, well." Elena smiled devilishly and trailed off. "It is already late in the afternoon. I would like you to take it easy today, and when Jin-dono and his party arrive tomorrow, we can have a joint meeting to discuss the situation. Tomax offered this with some dismay, and both Makina III and Elena affirmed that they had no objection. * * * * "...... Is that the Lady Elena, the ? <<>Six eyes watching the group from afar. They are Eira Sheatha, Cachea, and Groma Trey. < and a former victim of Machina''s help, I was interested in the group. "The <> and Makina-sama fought off the soldiers of who had attacked us. The earnest Groma said, and Cachia nodded silently. "Elena-san is an automata, isn''t she?Isn''t that amazing? Eira, however, had a slightly different impression. "And the deus ex machina III airship ...... is amazing." Gromma is genuinely impressed. "If I keep learning here, will I be able to make something like that someday?" Eira agreed. "Yes, I think so. I would like to. "Well, I''m interested in the third Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido, who will be here tomorrow." Katya said. Eira and the others seemed to agree, "Yeah, I guess so. ...... I don''t think so, but it''s not that Jin, is it?" Groma said with a wry smile. "I don''t know. I wouldn''t be too surprised if it was, would you?" Ccea said with a laugh, and Eira nodded. "Yes. I think so too. Then Groma said, "Oh, come on, am I the only one?< is that djinn? I said. Eira and Katya nodded. I''ve seen glimpses of his greatness. "I see glimpses of his greatness. Hearing this, Groma laughed. "...... I can understand that. But a rematch between the golems ...... would be something I''d like to see happen." Groma had not forgotten the promise he had once made to Jin. "Oh, look, Elena and the others are passing by." Elena and the other three members of the < party, including Elena, were passing by in a golem car in front of Katya and the others, who had been watching them on the side of the road as ordinary people. Elena is smiling and waving. Arrietta gives a small wave with a little bit of a smile, and Wattes crosses his arms and meditates. "No, you''re still beautiful." Gloma Trey looks at Elena and blushes a little. "What?What is it, Gromma, are you in love with Elena?" "No, I''m not in love with her. I was just wondering what kind of person created such a wonderful automaton. "Well, I don''t know. ...... I heard that Rey, the squire of Machina III, is also an automaton. Groma nodded at Eira''s words. "Yes, that''s what I heard. But I''m not sure what Mr. Rey looks like, since he''s wearing light armor. "You could say that." The three men from the Principality of Mercana were also doing well. 1777 - - 48-06 Hitoshis arrival The time was back again on December 28th. At noon local time, the airport of <> was crowded three times. Marikka, a long-time lecturer at <>, and Rhodes, a <> and <>, were coming to the airport. In addition, Sion, the wife of the clan leader of , who has backed up since its founding, is also coming. And then there is <>, the third generation of the <>, Jin Nido. To top it all off, there was the legendary automaton Reiko, the first automaton in history to receive the rank of sub-noble. With the arrival of such a group, <> was in an uproar. At 11:50 a.m., the shadow of a plane was seen in the northern sky. "I see it!< The air traffic control officer reported. Two minutes later, the shadow became visible to the naked eye. "Oh, oh, ......!" "What is that aircraft?" The people standing in line were taken aback by the strange appearance of the that Jin and the others were riding in. <. < < <<<< hurricane>> copy that. Landing in area 01. Meanwhile, air traffic control was going through the manuals. And as they watched, the hurricane was getting closer and closer. "Oh, it looks like an airship, but it''s not an airship. ......" "No way, is it a <>? Some people with discerning eyes saw that the <> was a huge wind-powered blower-floater. "It''s awesome in a different way than the Deus Ex Machina III, Sir. ......" Tomax Bartmann, the Chief Superintendent, who was standing alongside Machina III, blurted out. "As expected of a ." Elena had heard of Jin, but this was the first time she had seen this . She is again impressed by Jin''s technical skills. The rest of the welcoming ceremony members are watching from outside the fence, "...... This is also amazing ......" "A flying vehicle. ...... I''d like to build one too." "Hmmm, it''s just like Eira not to say <." Gromma, Eira, and Katya were also there to see it along with the general public. "Is it as big as the standard type?" Eira estimated its length at 40 meters. "But it''s definitely not an airship. It has no air sacs. Instead, it has a big blow engine. That''s what keeps the fuselage ...... afloat." Gromma has figured out the levitation system. At 11:57 a.m., the <> landed soundlessly in Area 01. The hatch to the cabin opens. The Rhodesian golem <> emerges first. Its powerful form took people''s breath away. Then Rhodoth himself, the . <. Then Marikka came out with . "That golem is my master''s ......" Groma let out a small sigh, knowing that his skills were not up to the task. "That little boy is an automaton, isn''t he?" "Looks like it. She''s adorable. ......" Finally, Jin came out with Reiko and Hope. They were dressed in their new Shoro Imperial-style tops and bottoms. "Oh, Jin-san! "Yes, it''s Jin! "...... So you mean to say that Jin was >Jin Nido after all. Although they had half-expected it, it was still a shock to Eira and the others. Jin Nido shook hands with Tomax. "Nice to meet you. <." "I am Tomax Bartmann, Chief Administrator of <>. Welcome, <>! There was a round of applause. "And this must be the honorary squire, Lord Racco." Yes, I am Reiko. Elena stepped forward. She bowed in a curtsey and greeted him. "Mr. Reiko, it''s been a while. Thank you for your help the other day. Reiko also responded to Elena in a curtsey. "Elena-san, it has been a while. Thank you for welcoming us today. Maricka shook hands with Tomax. "Tomax, you''re looking great. "I am glad to hear that you are doing well, too. Marikka had been a teacher at <> in the past, and Tomax was her student. Theon also greeted some of the female executives. "Mr. Theon, you look as young as ever. Yes, thanks to you. Theon had also taught at as a temporary instructor. Naturally, Rhodoth, who was also a lecturer, was greeted by some of the executives. "Master, thank you for coming today. "Thank you. You''ve all grown up, haven''t you? "Thank you, sir." "I''m very proud of you." We couldn''t possibly have such an endless exchange at the airport, so Tomax''s secretary, Golem, whispered in a low voice, "Sir, I think it''s time to go. "Sir, I think it''s time to go to ......." With that, Tomax seemed to realize. "...... gentlemen, we can''t stand around talking forever in this airport. Please, this way." A ceremonial carriage pulled by a golem horse is ready for us. The carriage can accommodate nearly 20 people, and it is of a size that is out of the ordinary for a carriage, and has no roof. Everyone, including Tomax and his secretary Golem, was allowed to get into the carriage. "Here we go..." The ceremonial carriage starts to move slowly. (Oh, that''s quite a golem horse.That looks familiar.) Jin notices that the golem horse leading the carriage is a copy of the one he once gave to the Nordic Federation. (Well, it must have been donated by Zion or Marikka.) Jin imagines such a thing. And he was right. "Welcome, Magecraft Meister! "Welcome from the Nordic Federation!" The carriage heads toward the guest house, being seen off by the residents who welcome Jin and his party. 1778 - - 48-07 Face to face The guesthouse is a simple and sturdy building without any showiness. < Jin and the others were in a small conference room there. They sit at a table commonly known as the , where discussions are held. The moderator was Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann. From left to right: Jin, Rhodotos, Zion, Marikka, Elena, Arietta, Wattes, and Deus ex Machina III. In addition, there are five executives of <>. "First of all, the third Magecraft Meister, Jin Nidoh, please. "Yes." Jin Nido sat down, bobbed his head, and opened his mouth. Incidentally, at such round tables, discussions are held while seated, and people do not get up from their seats unless there is something to be discussed. In fact, the act of "getting up from one''s seat" is used as a way of leaving the meeting. "So, I am Jin Nido, the third generation of ." Reiko immediately added. The third generation has the same magical waveform as the second generation. We are the ones who sense it and serve him. That is why we call him <>. Zion followed. "The djinn have been out of the public eye for a long time because of the threat posed by the League of Magic and its leader, Malchitas. It is said that Malquitas is capable of taking under his control any magical tool or machine belonging to another, and if he were to take control of Sir Reiko, the honorary squire, the danger would be immeasurable. That is why he was protected by us." Not true, but not a lie either. This explanation made everyone look satisfied. The evacuation of the family members, fearing that their relatives might be taken hostage, is a well-known fact, so it is omitted. "Your skill, Jin-sama, is beyond me, even if I don''t mean to flatter you. As you can see from the ." Marikka said firmly. Rhodes sums up. "Some of you may be wondering why he appeared at about the same time as the deus ex machina III. The answer is simple. Thanks to the recent destruction of the army of Malchitas, led by Deus ex Machina III, Jin-san can now appear in the world with peace of mind. I see," the <> leaders nodded silently. Jin closed the meeting. "That is why, through the arrangement of Rhodes, I went to the Shoro Empire, and although it was not my original plan, I was given the title of <> and <> by the Emperor himself." Originally, four hundred years ago, Jin was an honorary citizen of the Shoro Empire, so this was a perfectly normal and natural thing for him to accept. "Then, I will be next." Deus ex machina III spoke up. "The name deus ex machina is not hereditary, but is passed on to those who are qualified. Then, quite simply. "This time, I am the one who is qualified." But he must have thought that was not very kind. "It is a family tradition to avoid interfering in the world as much as possible, but when someone like the <> appeared who threatened the order of the world, I could not say so, so I lent a hand. Hence, the <<2nd generation> was shut up," he explained. At this point, one of the executives raised his hand and said. "So, are you going to cooperate with us from now on?" Since one of the founders was the first deus ex machina, it was natural to ask this question. "No, we would be more than happy to help you if you need it. The executive''s face was clearly relieved when he received this answer. "And last but not least, we are here..." Elena bailed and began to speak. "We, the , have been losing to the for a long time. The reason is the existence of Malkitas, who has taken control of magical tools and magical machines (magi-machines). No one could argue with this. "But now that the threat of Malquitas has been eliminated in the recent battle, we are rapidly regaining our footing. At this point Elena broke off and looked at Jin and Makina III. "We, the <>, propose an alliance with <>. There was a "Oh," from the leaders of <>. "That''s very kind of you." Tomax also felt that <> had more advanced technology than <>, so this proposal was a godsend. He then proposes that if <> would make a formal alliance with <>, Makina III and Jin would be free to offer their assistance. "Umm...... we can''t force them to do so, but ...... it is a little regrettable. Dear Machina III and Mr. Jin. If you two cooperate, <> will be much more powerful. "Tomax, what do you mean by ''more powerful''?" Marikka, who had heard Tomax''s comment, asked a little frustrated. "What?Well, sir. I thought that if I could get more power, I could be useful to the world. "Then say so clearly. You sounded like a military supremacist. I''m sorry. Even the Chief Superintendent was still unable to bow down to his former mentor. "In any case, we can assume that the threat of the <> and > has passed, correct?" Tomax Bartmann said as if to confirm. "It will be so. Markitas will no longer exist. Makina III assured him, and once again there were shouts of "Oh! "The <> is no longer able to take over other people''s magi-machines. Nor can they brainwash others. Brainwashing was originally a special skill of Markitas. We have decided to keep <> under wraps. This is because it would be troublesome if this technology were to leak out. Even if that were not the case, the <> seems to be imbued with the idea of taking over other people''s magi-machines, as in the recent incident in the Shoro Imperial Kingdom. "However, there is a possibility that incidents like the recent one in the Shoro Kingdom may occur elsewhere as well. "Hmm, that is the role of the . As a side note, many people use the terms <> and <> to mean the same thing. However, <> is the name of this mega-float and the organization that manages it. The <> is an organization headquartered in such <>. In addition to being the headquarters of the , also serves as the home of the <>. Tomax Bartmann, the chief administrator of <>, is also the chief director of <>. A bit complicated, but that''s the way it is. "The , from the recent disturbances, seems to have outdated equipment, doesn''t it?" Marikka said, and Tomax leaned forward to answer. "Yes, sir!We are trying to develop it, but we are lagging behind. Can''t you do something about it?" Tomax Bartmann glances at Jin and Makina III as he says ....... It''s all too obvious. "...... is ...... well, Graham Darby is responsible for that, of course." Malicka looks at Jin and Marika, who have a look of <>Malicka noticed Jin and the other members of the Nostalgia party looking at her, and began to explain. "Graham Darby is the person who was the chief administrator before Tomax. I''ve taught him a little myself. ......" Malicka is at a loss for words. Tomax looks at her and takes over the explanation. It would be difficult for you to say. Graham Darby was a smart man, but he was so self-righteous that he gave away all of his <>." < "Now that I think about it, I think Graham Darby was thinking more like the . That was about 30 years ago, when Tomax Bartmann was a youngster in his early 20s. "I have the Fhrer in my place, so there is no problem to bring it back. Tomax Bartmann''s face lit up when Maricka said this. "Oh, thank you, doctor! Tomax Bartmann bowed deeply to Marikka, looking truly happy. 1779 - - 48-08 Avalon Guide After the meeting was over, we had a luncheon. A standard <> set meal was laid out in front of everyone except for the automata Reiko and Elena, Rei, Hanako, and the golems Hope and Uragan. This was because Jin and Zion wanted to know the standard of food in <>. "We serve better food for our guests. Tomax Bartmann, the Chief Superintendent, is satisfied with the food. No, this is good enough. The set menu changes daily, and basically all eat the same thing. It is part of their salary. Of course, you can also pay your own money and order whatever you like at the cafeteria. You can think of it as a kind of school lunch. On this day, I had the <> for lunch. Coppa bread, vegetable soup, hamburger steak, fried topopo, leafy vegetable salad, and fruit juice. After the meal, there was a choice of tea or coffee. Jin wanted to say, "What kind of family restaurant is this? "Oh, it''s good. "It''s delicious." "It''s delicious." Jin, Zion and Marikka thought it was delicious. "Mmm, very good." Deus ex machina III also commented as he ate. He is an automaton controlled by the old man''s servant, but he is eating this way so that his true identity will not be revealed. Jin, however, wished he had rice instead of bread. * * * * After the meal, Jin chose a cup of tea and sipped it slowly. "How would you like to spend the afternoon?" Tomax asked Jin. Jin thought about it for a moment. "Well, I would like to take a tour of ......." Not a visit," he adds. He was not looking at it from a superior perspective, but was genuinely interested in seeing the current state of . "Then we would like to visit, too. Rhodoth offered. "Oh, me too, then." Elena did the same. In the end, everyone except Machina III offered to see . "But haven''t the people who have been here since yesterday already seen a lot? Jin questioned, "No, only Makina-sama has been inspecting. Tomax Bartmann answered. I would like to go around again with such people. Makina III also said so, and in the end, everyone decided to visit . * * * * * * * * * * * * This time, we are transported by a golem car. Since not all of us can ride in the car, we are divided into four cars. Jin, Reiko and Hope ride in one car. Rhodes, Zion, Maricka, Uragan, and Hanako will ride in one car. Elena, Arrietta, Wattes, and 1 car. Makina III, Rey, and one car. Tomax Bartman will be in Jin''s car, and the other three cars will be occupied by executives. The group exits the guest house and walks through a greenbelt. "On your left is the headquarters of the . < stands at the northern end of a 300 meter diameter opening in the center of . "The opening goes all the way to the sea and is used for swimming drills and ship trials because of the calm waves." Tomax explained. Incidentally, each vehicle is equipped with a magical device similar to a manacam (a magical communication device) so that they can communicate with each other even when they are on the move. < to the outer perimeter of . "We''re going to the outer perimeter now. This is a mega-float with a diameter of 2 kilometers, and there is a road that goes around the perimeter. (That part hasn''t changed. ......) Jin listened to the explanation and looked at the nostalgic scenery. The Golem cars go counterclockwise around the perimeter road. "This is the first residential area. This is the first residential area, where mostly students live. I miss it. Yes, it does. Rhodes and Maricka narrowed their eyes. Both had lived and taught in the settlement at one time or another. The Golem car arrived at the airfield. This is an airfield for public use. <. By the way, the airfield where Mister Jin landed is directly to the east, and the one over there is called , and is for official visitors. We continued to the left and passed through a small green area, which led us back to the residential area. "This is the second residential area for the public. It was explained to me that this was for people engaged in the general business of <>. Oh, and factory workers are also included. The group approached a large factory area. "This is the largest factory area in <>, including the underground. Everything from the armament of the <> to office notepads are manufactured in this area. "Oh, what is that green area to the north?" Jin asked. "Oh, that''s a field. We can''t be self-sufficient, but we try to get as much fresh vegetables as possible. This was something that had not existed four hundred years ago. "There are fruit trees too, aren''t there?" Reiko, who had good eyesight, asked to make sure. "Yes. Citran and Ramon, which prefer warmer climates, and some Persica. We arrived at a part of the circle that looked like it had been partially cut off. "This is Avalon''s only port. Ships larger than a cruiser use this port. Ships smaller than that use the piers on the side walls of the mega-float <. The cruisers in < are 50 meters long wooden vessels. The road around the perimeter of the ship turned in a key shape to avoid the harbor at this point, and after the harbor, it continued in an arc to the airfield on the east side where Jin had landed, known as the . The Golem car carrying the group stopped in front of the <> headquarters. They had almost completed a lap around the outer perimeter. "This is a quick tour of the above ground area of <>. Do you have any questions? There was a short pause, and no one opened their mouths. Then Jin spoke up. I understand what you mean. I would like to take a look at the school if I may. Maricka and Rhodes had been teachers there for a while. Jin wanted to see it for himself. "I see. But we are on winter break right now, so there are no students here. "Yes, that''s fine." At this point, Rhodes interrupted. "Aren''t there students and professors in some of the laboratories?" He had been a lecturer in the laboratory for some time. "Yes, indeed. Well, let''s get going. The golem cars started moving again, and the group headed for the . 1780 - - 48-09 At Go Research Center Soon Jin and his group arrived at the area. Here, medium-sized buildings are scattered in a green area. Each building is divided into elementary, middle, and high schools," Tomax Bartmann explained. Tomax Bartmann explained. (......I think it used to be just primary and high school. ......) Jin was convinced that the number of students had increased and that there had been a disparity in the educational content. "In the advanced course, you are always assigned to a laboratory somewhere, and when you graduate, you have the choice of staying in the laboratory or getting a job somewhere else." This system is similar to the one at the that Jin knows. "What about the lab I was in?" Marikka opened her mouth. "Yes. <. Rasnat Heilbronn is the head of the lab now. "Well, that''s him." Rusnat Heilbronn was also a student of Marikka''s. "Well, what''s this GOR institute?" Elena asked. "The <> is a common name, and the official name is the <>. The executive member who was riding with her gave a supplementary explanation. Tomax also adds. "We are at the forefront of golem research in <>, and when it comes to golem research, we are the <>. There are many other golem research laboratories, but the <> refers to the <> where Marikka was working. One of the reasons for this is that it is one of the oldest golem research labs in the world. "I think some of them are still here." Hearing these words, Marikka said she would like to drop by, so the group decided to stop by the . "I''m kind of looking forward to it." Jin was also interested in what kind of research they were doing. "You must be Marikka''s student." Zion also seemed excited. The group parks the Golem car in front of the building and enters the laboratory building. Elena and the rest of the < group and Makina III stay behind to chat and wait. "It was at the far end of the second floor, wasn''t it?" Marikka went up the stairs and walked down the wide corridor. The hallway is cluttered with unintelligible magic tools, ores, and materials on either side, giving the impression of a laboratory. As Jin was thinking about this, Marikka was knocking on the door of the desired laboratory. "...... yes?" She opened the door and a girl with slightly dark blond hair and round glasses came out. That is to say. "Katya? Jin-san! I thought. And of course, "Jin?" Eira was there, too. Jin-dono! And Groma Trey. And finally.., "......What''s going on? What''s going on? It was Rasnat Heilbronn, the director. * * * * "......It''s cleaner than I thought it would be." The group is invited into the lab. Maricka looked around the room and said, "Yes, sir. I''m sorry. ...... well, KaChea is very talented." "I see." Jin guessed that Rasnat was like Eira and was not good at tidying up. Here you go. "Thank you." They began chatting over a cup of tea that Katya had made for them. "I''m glad to see that all three of you are doing well. I was worried when I heard that the Principality of Mercana had been attacked. Jin was the first to speak. "That''s my line," he said. But it seems you''ve regained your memory, and above all, I can''t believe that Jin was the <3rd generation of Magecraft Meister>! Eira also laughed and said. "So it was Jin-dono that Master was looking for. I''m glad I could be of help. Gromma Tolley said happily to Rhodes. "So you are related to Dr. Malicka." This is Rasnat Heilbronn. Brown hair, brown eyes, mid-30s. "Well, I guess so." "Well, that''s the way it is," replies Zion. "I met the second generation, the Magecraft Meister, about 400 years ago. We have been friends ever since. "Oh, I didn''t know that!I didn''t realize you knew even the previous generation! Tomax sounded impressed. So what can I do for you today? "I was showing Jin-dono and Makina-dono around . On the way, Marikka-sama asked me what was going on in the laboratory, so I thought I''d drop by." Tomax answered Rasnat''s question. "I see. How are you doing at ......, doctor?" "Yes. You seem to be doing a lot of research. I''d like to hear your opinion on ......." Marikka''s firmness was ruined at the last minute. "Well, ......" Jin was not averse to such things, and since he knew that Katya and Eira were involved, he gladly accepted the offer. "......This is the drive system used for the golem." Jin muttered as he picked up the magical muscle that was not made of biomaterials. "Biomaterials would not keep well, so we are considering this kind of 100 percent artificial material." Rasnath explained. But... "What?" Marikka asked. "It''s the other way around, isn''t it?Biological materials do not deteriorate as long as they have . Except, of course, for deterioration due to use. "What?" What? See, I told you so! In this order, Rasnath, Gromma, and Eira. "Most of the materials obtained from demons have a good affinity with free magical element (ether). I told you that they are also highly effective in strengthening and stabilizing with free magic element (ether), didn''t I?" "Mm-hmm." "...... perhaps you judged that the material simply has a poor shelf life?" Jin asked, and the answer came back, <>. "Of course, since it is a biological material, it will be damaged if left unattended. However, if they are stored with the proper concentration of free magic element (ether), they will not deteriorate as much. "I see. ......" "I see.That''s right! Rasnat ponders, and Eira boasts that her theory is correct. "So, how about this one?" Groma brought out some kind of magic machine from the back of the room. Jin took it and began to analyze it with great interest. 1781 - - 48-10 That Night "This is to increase the stability of the golem, isn''t it?" Jin, who had finished analyzing the Magi machine, said. "Yes, sir. You know exactly what I mean." Gloma Trey was a little puzzled as to how to deal with Jin. "It has a heavy rotating body inside to retrieve positional information and stabilize it, is that how you use it? "Yes, that''s right." In short, it''s like a . "There is still room for improvement, though. Jin thought that the fact that they had come up with this idea was a great feat in itself. And once again, he wished that he could welcome the three of them into the . * * * * * * Since there was not much time to spend, the group left the research building, deciding not to renew old acquaintanceships with the three of them until after dinner tonight. It was impressive that all three of them looked like they had many questions. "Well, Rasnath is still thinking in a short-sighted way. But I feel a little safer now that the three of them are in the lab. Marikka said. At the end of the meeting, we had a short look around the city. "It''s pretty well stocked, isn''t it?" A theater, a cafeteria, a snack bar, and various stores are housed in a large building, The idea was similar to that of a shopping mall. "I would like to see the assortment of stores ......." On this day, it was a little too late to go that far. "It was getting late, so I went to ......." We spent a surprisingly long time in the research building. It is almost time for dinner. * * * * In fact, it was time for a bath, followed by dinner. Naturally, the bath was boiling water, not hot spring water, but Jin was a little surprised to find a bathtub heated by sea water, which was a salt spring. The salt spring (sodium chloride spring) has a heat-retaining effect, and the water does not cool down easily. However, the salt remains on the skin (thus having a heat-retaining effect), so it is a little sticky, and Jin thinks that there are different tastes ....... Therefore, the effect is lost when the bathwater is poured over the skin. Jin took a normal hot water bath. Rhodotos and Machina III were with him. Wattes, not liking baths, took a shower and left early. "Rhodes, why don''t you come to Horai Island for New Year''s?You can bring Ludmilla and Vita too. Rhodes jumped at this without a second thought. "Are you sure?By all means!Vita will be so happy!" "I''d love it if Zion and Marikka could come too." "If it''s the great-grandmothers, I''m sure they''d be happy to come if Gin-san asked them." * * * * * * In the women''s bath, Zion, Marikka, Arrietta and others are taking a bath. "......" Arrietta was a little intimidated by Zion and the others. Sion felt it, "Arrietta-san, is it? She said to him. "Yes, yes. "Don''t be so afraid of me." Zion spoke to her as gently as possible. Thanks to his efforts, they became friendly enough for him to give her a back massage. "Mr. Zion, Marikka, you have beautiful skin. ......" "Is she?" Sion is 512 years old and Marikka is 492 years old, but they look like they are in their late 60s or early 60s. They look like they are in their late 60s or early 60s. It is assumed that their life expectancy has increased dramatically due to the improvement of their living environment and the effect of high concentration of free magic element (ether), but this has not yet been fully elucidated. He guesses that DNA and telomeres are closer to the origin. "Oh, that was nice hot water." Unfortunately, there was no coffee milk or fruit milk. After getting out of the bath and having a smoke, we had a dinner party. * * * * * * * * * * * * Dinner was not a set menu, but a menu for guests. White rice, miso soup with wakame seaweed, grilled sea bream, sashimi of tuna and flatfish, tempura of shrimp and vegetables, deep-fried tofu, and oshinko (Japanese pickles). The menu was prepared in the "Avalon" style, he said. "Yes, it''s delicious. Jin rarely eats grilled sea bream, so he thought it was quite delicious. Theon, Marikka, and Rhodotos seemed to be accustomed to eating fish, and they skillfully avoided the bones of the grilled fish (the bones of sea bream are very hard). "This Agedashi Tofu is very tasty". Arietta seems to be eating many things for the first time. Wattes is eating silently, but I am sure it is not her imagination that her chopsticks are going so fast. Jin was secretly impressed by the fact that all of them seemed to be able to use chopsticks and that such a culture had spread in the past 400 years. After the meal, there was hojicha tea. Arietta seemed to like the taste of hojicha, which was different from green tea, as it was her first time to drink it. * * * * * * * * * * After dinner, it was free time to relax, but it was difficult for Jin to go out because of the distance between the Guest House and the student residence. While he was thinking ......, he found that Cachea, Eira, Groma and others came to visit him. It seems that Tomax Bartmann had taken care of it. "Ah, now we can talk at leisure. We decided to talk in the lounge of the guest house. Here, the golem maids serve us tea and other drinks. (This place is also a golem based on Saffy, isn''t it?) ) Jin orders buckwheat tea. The three ordered the same thing. "Ah, it smells good. But it doesn''t taste like soba. Katya commented after taking a sip of the buckwheat tea. "Well, Jin. Can you tell me something?" Eira said with a mischievous smile. "Yes, I will." Jin smiled, took a sip of his buckwheat tea, and began to talk. 1782 - - 48-11 Old friendship "First of all, what shall we talk about?" Jin opened his mouth slowly. "......I''ll start by telling you that after we parted, it became clear to me that Rhodoth was looking for me. And together we escaped the Duchy of Jagus. We returned to Rhodes'' homeland, the , using a that Rhodes had hidden there. ......" He omits a lot of the middle of the story, but his listeners don''t understand it. "So I met the <> clan and found out exactly who I was." "So you have your memory back!" Ka-cea says with a happy face. "Oh, I''m sorry to worry you. I am Jin Nidor, successor to the second generation of Magecraft Masters, Jin Nidor. So you''ve inherited the title and the name. Eira looked relieved. "I suppose so. "So you got your memory back in the Nordic Federation?" "......" Jin was troubled here. To some extent, he wondered if he should tell the truth. He thought for a moment and then made up his mind. "...... Actually, I didn''t lose my memory from the beginning." Then he bows deeply. "I''m sorry for deceiving you!" Jin continued to bow, knowing that if he was not forgiven, his relationship with the girls would be at an end. "...... I knew it." The first thing he heard was Eira''s light voice. "I thought that was what you meant. ......At the very end, though." Katya said with a smile. "Yes. If the master was looking for you, he must have had his own reasons. I''m not going to say anything about that. Gromma also said he did not care. "Thank you for ......." Jin thanked him and raised his head. "I feel much better now." "I''m sure you''ve been through a lot." "Yes. If they had known at that point that Jin was a , I don''t know what the Principality would have done to him." Cachea and Groma both expressed their own opinions. "Well, there''s no doubt that you were sent to that village by a transfer accident. Jin said, and Eira nodded. "I can understand that. If you are suddenly sent to a place where you don''t know the left and right by yourself, the first thing you think about is your own safety. Eira continued, "For that reason, you should not reveal too much information about yourself, but get information about the people around you. Her words had an air of being backed by experience. Jin thought to himself that Eira must have gone through a lot of hardships. "So..." he said. has his own laboratory. I inherited it. Would you like to come visit me for the New Year''s holidays?I just wanted to say that. "Oh, that''s great!" "Is ...... okay with you?" Eira was immediately on board, but Katya seemed to have her doubts. "Hmm, what is it?" "Well, the Magecraft Meister has been giving us a lot of favors." "...... Oh, so that''s how it is. What, it''s nothing to worry about. < is not a saint, nor does he have any obligations. Since I am not a public figure, I have no reason to be restricted in my actions," Jin said. "Well, I''m sure you''ll get a lot of attention. Jin laughed it off. I have all kinds of ways to stay out of the public eye. "......If you say so, Jin-san, that''s fine." "I''ve been saying I''m going from the beginning." I''m not sure if they''re going to invite me, too. Jin laughs and says to Groma, who is a little reserved. "That''s because I know Rhodes, and more importantly, thanks to Gromma''s advice, I met Rhodes. "When you say that, I realize that I was able to be of service to my master. Jin then decided to set a specific date. "Well, I''m leaving here tomorrow at noon, so I''ll come with you then. Pack your baggage. There''s plenty of room in the ...... hurricane, so you can bring your golem." The last words were to Groma. "...... what?...... Oh, thank you." Gromma''s face broke as he remembered Jin''s promise to fight the golem again. "Even if it''s not even close, it''s something I said once." Gromma chuckled. "Let''s get back to the story at ....... The plan is to leave here tomorrow at noon for Shoro. That''s where I''m staying." "The Shoro Kingdom. I''ve always wanted to visit there!I''m looking forward to it! We can go there now if you want! Eira is excited. "Are you a child?" "Shut up!That''s how excited I am. It had been a long time since Eira and Groma had spoken to each other, Jin recalled with nostalgia. It had only been less than four months. Jin was planning to go to Horai Island via the warp gate from there, but he didn''t want to talk about it at this moment. After that, they spend time asking about what happened to Eira and the others, and what has happened since their arrival in <>. After 9:00 p.m., the meeting was adjourned. Eira and the others had to return to their lodgings. "See you tomorrow," Jin said. Jin said, "Yes, I''m looking forward to it. "I''ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow." "Thank you, Jin-dono." They left with three different words. Jin went back to his room and visited Rhodes'' room again. "I''ve decided to call it ......." He explained the conversation he had had with them. "It''s all right. I''ll tell Grandmother about it." "Yes, will you do that for me?" < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The 29th day of the month dawned. Jin is having a meeting with the leaders of <>. Makina III was with him. "......That''s why, please contact Machina if you need anything." Jin now was a private individual, and he made it clear that he did not want to be associated with the <> organization. "......I understand." He agreed to this, albeit reluctantly. However, after we had finished our discussion, he said to me, I have heard that the predecessor of Jin-dono and the first Makina-dono were brother and sister apprentices. What do you know about that? "Yes, they studied under the same master. No lie. I am not lying, for I have inherited the teachings of Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the great first generation . "And this generation is my brother''s apprentice. Both Makina and I are related to the second generation of ." Makina III nodded silently. "<> will have to improve its technology even further. Tomax Bartmann said. "Dr. Maricka is going to lend us <> again, so please keep your eyes open for him in the future." These positive words reassured Jin a little. When Jin left <>, he told his friends who had become close to him in the Principality of Mercana that he would invite them to spend the New Year''s holidays in the Shoro Kingdom. "Oh, you mean those three? ...... I''m a little envious." Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann seemed to think so. 1783 - - 48-12 Fenglai, up there. "Wow ...... and, it''s flying ......." "Nah, it''s not like riding in a hot air balloon or a small wind-powered flotation device (blow floater)!" "......" Cachea, Eira, Gromma and the others were on the <, and they were all saying what they thought of it. They are on their way from to Shoro. Of course, the house of Leuthart has been contacted. (I said "my mansion" out of old habit, but it was actually the residence of Daikie and Mrs. Cocona.) Jin was thinking that he would take this opportunity to invite Daiki-Nido and Mr. and Mrs. Cocona to Horai Island. (Or, it would be nice to meet the other descendants on <>. ......) Jin thought that he had to go to Loisart first anyway, so he decided to consult with Zion who was riding with him. "Zion, why don''t we go to the observatory?" "Oh, is there such a thing?" "Yes. The top of the air sac is transparent and there is a ladder attached to it. But it''s so narrow that only two people can climb up. The size of the air sac was designed with Hitoshi and Reiko in mind, but it also seemed to be useful for this kind of confidential meeting. After Zion, Marikka. "Yes, I''m looking forward to it!" So Jin and Zion were at the observatory. "Wow, it''s a nice view. The sky is so blue. Zion seemed to be impressed by the view of the vastness of the sky. "At ......?What do you want to talk about?" Zion seemed to realize why I had brought him here. He was very old, he thought, but did not say it out loud. "I''m no match for Zion. I''m talking about ...... those three and the two Reuzerts." "You mean if I can join the <>?" "No, before that I was wondering if I could take them to Horai Island and Onogoro Island." "Oh, I see." Theon nodded in agreement. Then, after thinking for a moment, he opened his mouth. "I think it''s a good idea, don''t you? You seem trustworthy," says Theon. "It''s a different story if we bring him into the family, but if we just take him with us..." "You think so?" "Yes. You''re going to use a warp gate, right?Then we don''t know where they are, and we just need to be careful beforehand. Jin''s shoulders lightened at Zion''s words. "I guess so." < is not normal, so a little bit of trouble should be acceptable to them, Jin decided to open his heart. "Wow, the sky is so beautiful! After Zion, Jin led Marikka to the island. He asks Marikka if she would like to take Daikie and Cocona to . "I think it would be a good idea. They are of the Nido family, aren''t they? I think it would be okay for them to live here. "I see. But I''m not sure about that. Jin then began to think that if they wanted to move to , he would have to replace them with automata. "Except for the three you brought with you this time, right?" "Yes. I don''t intend to take Ka-cea and the others to . < (Joining the <> could determine the rest of their lives. ......) Jin thought that it would be difficult to lead a normal life. He did not intend to make a hasty decision on this. In this sense, the members of the first were quite special. Jin recalls with nostalgia that they all had their own unique characteristics. After that, Rhodoth, Katya, Eira, and Groma were guided one by one, and after they had enjoyed themselves, the <> was about to fly over the Shoro Kingdom. The hurricane flew in the opposite direction at the same speed as the rotation of Arus, so it was 11:00 a.m. local time in Leuthart. The airships and hot-air balloons that are watching the sky above us are identified by using wind magic as well. "This is <> Jin Nido. I am visiting the house of Reuthert." > The soldiers are overwhelmed by the strange appearance of the they see for the first time, but they do their duty. I''m sure they''ll get used to Jin''s unorthodoxy after a few more times. ...... God only knows if that is a good thing or not. * * * * * * Jin-sama, welcome to our show. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Shoro Kingdom of Loizart. The lands on the rooftop of Reuthert''s mansion. Daikie and Cocona greet her. "Hey, I''ll be staying with you for a while. "No, Jin-sama is always welcome to stay with us. No, Mr. Jin is always welcome to stay with us. Mr. and Mrs. Daiki-kona had become the caretakers of the house. "Oh, you''re going to spend the New Year''s holidays here? It''s like a dream! When Jin told them that he wanted to invite them, Daikin and Cocona were overjoyed. "Well then, after lunch, you can get ready. "Yes, sir!" The time was about noon, but since Jin and the others had traveled two hours ahead of the time, their actual time was 2:00 p.m. <, but were feeling a little hungry. "I was told you were coming, so I have prepared something for you. Lunch was ready in the dining room. White porridge, dried plums, dried bonito flakes, wasabi, chopped laver, seaweed salt, kelp boiled in soy sauce, and pickles. The tea was hojicha. "This is delicious! "Oh, it''s delicious." "Mmm, it''s delicious." Groma, Katya, Eira and the others seemed to like this menu. Of course Jin liked it too. Jin had four more servings of this dish, saying that it would be nice to eat it in the style of wasabi chazuke with a little bit of wasabi. He had prepared a smaller bowl of rice for this purpose. * * * * * * * * * * * * "......" "......This is the warp gate. ......" <. < will be recovered later. And this time, as a special exception, we have decided to move directly to the basement of the institute without going through the relay base . "I should say that you are indeed a <<> at ...... that you can use the transfer gate (warp gate) so casually." Groma was overwhelmed by Jin''s technology. On the other hand, Cachea and Eira are impressed and accepting. They seem to be more adaptable. And Daikie and Cocona seemed speechless. They also did not say anything, but Zion and his wife are used to it, so they just did not get excited. After passing through the warp gate, they exit the basement of the institute. The old man''s voice, "Welcome, everyone! The five-colored golem maids greeted the group. Jin then delivered his usual line. "Welcome to Horai Island. 1784 - - Its 48-13. "So this is Jin-san''s base. ......" The first one to open his mouth was Katya. "Well, let''s go outside." Jin stood first and led the group up the stairs and out of the institute. "Wow. ......" Outside the institute, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Navy Golems were lined up from one to ten to greet the group. In case you were wondering, the Space Force and the Mermaid Unit were nowhere to be seen. "Wow, that''s great ......!" Eira looks happy for some reason, "............" Glooma is mute. Theon, Marikka, Rhodotos and the others remain calm. And Daikki and Cocona are saying... "This is Jin-sama''s borite!It''s really here! It was a legend among them, after all. Jin left them alone for a while. In the meantime, he had a brief meeting with Reiko, Luna, and Soleil. "...... excuse me." This time it was Groma who came back to me first. "Well, I''m excited for the first time in a long time! "Eira-san, it''s still up. ......" And then Daikki and Cocona said, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry." They were sorry. * * * * "Oh!This is Jin''s workshop! Eira''s eyes lit up at the workshop as I showed her around. "This is amazing...there are materials I''ve never seen before............" She then glued her eyes to the material sample shelves. "I''ve never seen anything like it. ...... Groma is looking at the prototypes of the magic tools he is about to make. "Jin-san, how are you managing the materials and keeping track of the inventory?" And Katya, as always, had a firm grasp of the management system. And before I knew it, it was evening. No wonder there is a time difference of 5 hours and 20 minutes from Loisart. "Well, you can relax in the hot spring." Hot spring? "Do they have hot springs here? ......" "Hot springs are nice, aren''t they?" The reactions were varied, but none of them disliked hot springs. The golem maids spent about five minutes cleaning and ironing our clothes after we took them off. "......That''s a big help." "This is very nice of you." "Oh, thank you very much." Everyone was surprised and pleased with their respective reactions. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dinner is served late. The menu consists of white rice, miso soup with deep-fried tofu and okara, grilled fish, various tempura, meat topopo, chikuzen-ni, sweet omelet, kiriboshi-daikon, steamed egg custard, tsukudani, and oshinko. The amount of each dish was kept small so that the guests could enjoy a variety of tastes. "This is also delicious. The tempura also included vegetables such as pumpkin, eggplant, shishito pepper, sweet potato, prawns, squid, and squid. And prawns, squid, white fish, and chikuwa (bamboo wafers). "This tempura of this is very different and tasty!" Surprisingly, the tempura of the bamboo rings was well received. "I like this one ......" Cocona said she liked the sweet omelet. Daikie seemed to like the chawanmushi and asked the golem maid to teach her how to make it later. "The rice at Jin''s is delicious. Is it the way they cook it? Zion says, but Jin honestly doesn''t know what the difference is. Then Peridot1, a five-colored golem maid, said, "Perhaps it''s the water, "Perhaps, the water is different. Isn''t the water in the where you live, Mr. Zion, hard water?" "Hard water?What is that?" Theon did not know about hard water. Neither Maricka nor Rhodes nor ...... anyone else there seemed to know. (Oh, I guess it wasn''t in the ......<> section. ......) Jin adds a supplementary explanation. Hard water is water with high mineral content and soft water is water with low mineral content. I think the water of the Nordic Federation has a high calcium and magnesium content. Jin concluded by saying that he did not know the exact proportions that separate hard water from soft water. For reference, in modern Japan, water with less than 100 milligrams of calcium and magnesium per liter is considered soft water, and more than 100 milligrams is considered hard water (there is also a standard of 1 20 milligrams per liter). < The old man explained the situation to Zion and the others, and they seemed to understand it. "I see. So if we remove the impurities by purification, we can cook better tasting rice. "That''s true, but if you remove them completely, the taste may disappear. That means distilled water doesn''t taste good. "It''s difficult. ...... Well, I''ll try some things when I get home." "I''ll see what I can do when I get back. The water in Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, is also hard water because of the subsoil water from Lake Tosmo. Especially when it passes through calcareous bedrock, it contains high calcium content. It is also said that hard water is suitable for so-called "Western-style" stews. It is said that this is because it is easier to remove the scum from meat. Soft water, on the other hand, is suitable for cooking in general, but does not provide minerals. "I wonder to what extent the water of the Laurentian continent also contains minerals. ......" Jin did not pay much attention to this. . The old man explained that the reason was that the taste of the food would not be reduced to an extreme level. "I see. I see. ...... So you are saying that Zion''s sense of taste is superior." "Why is that so? "No, I didn''t even notice ...... or rather didn''t care, because I noticed a difference in the taste of the rice." "Well, I guess so. ...... Well, I''ll take that as a compliment from Jin." The dinner ended in a generally friendly manner, although there were a few moments like this. "......Tomorrow, I''ll invite Ludmilla and the others to come over here and take Daikie and the others to ...... or..." Either one of these will be left to the doppelgangers, Jin thinks. "Well, I guess we can just leave Horaijima to the doppelgangers while we take Daikie and the others home." He is busy, but he feels that it is fulfilling and typical of him. "It''s the season of the teacher, isn''t it? Jin smiles to himself, thinking that as a <<>, it can''t be helped that he is running around so much. 1785 - - 48-14 Face-to-face between descendants On the night of the 29th, Jin took Daikie and Cocona to . It was nighttime and the other guests were about to go to bed. No wonder it was convenient for them. The time difference is 12 hours, so it is still daytime on . Mr. and Mrs. Trihardt greeted us, as we had informed them in advance. "Mr. Jin, welcome to Onogoro Island. ...... is that you?" Yes, I am a descendant of the Nido family. My name is Daiki-Nidoh. This is my wife, Cocona. They introduced themselves briefly. My name is Trihard Randall, and I''m the caretaker. This is my wife, Suzanne. The two couples, who were about the same age, immediately became friends. "This way, please." Trihardt led the group out of the warp gate room. There, Shu Nido and Ada Nido were waiting for them. "Let me introduce you right away. This is Shu Nido. This is Ada Nido. "You must be a direct descendant of the Nido family!" Daikie sounded impressed. "Shu, Ada, this is Daiki-Nido and his wife Cocona. He is currently a count in the Shoro Kingdom. Shu had met Daiki-Nido and his wife Cocona with Jin the other day. "My name is Shu Nido. Thank you for your help the other day! "Oh, oh, you are ......!I see that you are also a member of the Nido family ......." The last time we met, Shu did not use his family name, but not this time. This time, however, she proudly gave her surname as Nido. "My name is Ada Nido. Nice to meet you." "Oh, ......, it''s an honor to meet you." The four shook hands firmly. Here they met, bloodlines separated in the distant past. I take the surname Nido, but I can hardly use engineering magic," said Daikie. Daikie said. "Even so, I will not let the Nido family in the Shoro Empire die out, until this day ......." The rest of his voice was tearful. "......Oh, thank you for seeing me,......Nido family,......and everyone else for being alive here,......" he said. ......Thank you." "Mr. Daiki,......" Shu and Ada gently shook Daikie''s hand. "Thank you from us too. "Thank you for protecting the Nido family. "You must have gone through a lot of hardship. We bow to you. < But those who were left outside were alone and helpless. I can only remember how hard it was for them. Jin was happy and proud that Daiki-Kona and his wife were accepted immediately. (Everyone ...... our offspring have all grown up to be good children.) Jin thinks of his former <. It is strange to call his descendants, who are apparently older than he is, good children, but that was Jin''s honest feeling. * * * * * * "Well then, I''m going back to Horai Island. "Yes, Jin-sama, thank you very much for your help. His return to the Shoro Kingdom is scheduled for January 4th. Until then, Jin will stay with Katya and Zion and the others on Horai Island, while Daikie and Cocona will stay here on . "Well then, Jin-sama, have a happy new year." "Yes, I wish you all a Happy New Year too." After exchanging New Year''s greetings, Jin returned to Horai Island. It was already midnight. When he heard from the old man that nothing had happened, he went back to sleep, relieved. * * * * * The next day was December 30, which is New Year''s Eve in our calendar. After breakfast, Jin used the warp gate to call Rhodes'' sister, Vita, and Rhodes'' fiance, Ludmilla, from the Nordic Federation. "Brother! "Master Rhodes!" "Liu, Vita!" "Good for you, Lo." Zion smiles at Rhodes, who has flowers in both hands. Jin introduces Eira and the other three to their new guest. "It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of the people of the Nordic Federation. Eira and the three of them introduced the new guest to Eira and the others, "Well, I never get tired of being with Jin!" and the open-hearted Eira, "Yo, I''m looking forward to working with you." and the reserved Katya. Jin was hopeful that this year''s New Year''s holiday would be a lively one. "Well, let''s go to the beach today. "The sea, I like it. ...... Come to think of it, it''s warm here on the island. <. Jin explains to Eira. "Yes, it is. is closer to the equator. This island is not that far south, but the warm currents flowing nearby make it warmer in winter. "I see." While we were talking, it seemed that the golem car was ready for the trip to the sea. "Wow, that''s interesting! Vita is excited. Or rather, she seems to have been in high spirits ever since she arrived at Horai Island. To the point that Rhodes, who is with her, is amazed. The group is heading to the sea in two six-seater golem cars. In the first car are Jin, Reiko, Eira, Katya, and Groma. The driver is Lao Tzu. In the second car are Zion, Marikka, Roadtoss, Vita and Ludmilla. The driver is Hope. This time Lao Tzu is dressed as a butler. We arrived at Tatsumi Bay in about an hour. "Wow, beautiful sea! Vita''s tension was still high, even though she had been excited all the way to the car. "Well, the ocean is nice," she said. "It''s nice, isn''t it?" Eira and Katya had seen the sea several times, too. "Isn''t it?" Jin then pointed to the harbor. "Uh... ......" "Oh, that, what is it?" There was a 100-meter-long, all-metal ship, a cruiser , floating in the harbor. "This is the cruiser that protects this island. Would you like to board it? "Of course!" No one objected, so Jin quickly climbed aboard. "No, this is great!" "Jin-sama, this is great!" "Wow! ......" Eira and Vita were impressed. "All right, let''s get underway!" At Jin''s command, the cruiser slowly left the harbor for the coast of Tatsumi Bay. 1786 - - 48-15 in two scenes. The same day that Jin and his crew departed Tatsumi Bay on the cruiser , the scene was again at . The deus ex machina III and Elena''s group were still in residence. "...... Is that true?" Tomax Bartmann, the Chief Administrator of <>, asks Elena while suppressing a pain in his stomach. "Yes, I''m afraid so." "......umm......" Elena told him that former Superintendent Graham Darby was a member of the <>. "This information came to light from the documents we secured when we took back the headquarters from the League of Magic. Likewise, such information had been passed on to the heads of state and, as a result, the influence of the League of Magic was being removed from the governments of various countries. "The reason for the delay is that all this information was encrypted. Elena explained that important information had been encrypted before being stored in storage. It took a long time to decipher it. "......Please understand that I told you this after Marikka and the others had left because I was concerned about them." Elena bowed lightly. Tomax took Elena by the hand. "No need to apologize. ...... I would have done the same." Graham Darby was another of Maricka''s students. He must have been a very difficult student, Tomax Bartmann recalled, because he was disobedient and self-righteous. Maricka had taught Graham carefully ......, but that was why she had taught him carefully and cared about him. "If he knew that he was actually working for the enemy, he would be very sad," she said. Graham and Tomax were classmates. "Sure, there are a lot of things that could be explained if he was working for the League of Magic," he said. Still, he was somewhat ...... reluctant to accept the fact that his classmate with whom he had studied together was a spy for a hostile organization. However, Tomax Bartmann is now a top administrator. He is capable of thinking logically and without personal feelings. "So this Avalon is still under his influence?" Elena nodded. "Yes. That is precisely the subject of today''s discussion, and the reason why I asked you to join us." "I see. To put it a little more bluntly, the very survival of is at stake. Makina nodded in an exaggerated manner. The who is controlling Makina III has apparently set Makina''s characterization to be somewhat pompous. "......, I think we need to question many of the members, including those who were in close proximity to that Graham Darby." "Yes, that''s right. But we can''t interrogate them one by one. It would take too much time and effort, and it would shake the unity of the group. "I understand that." Implicitly, Tomax Bartmann wants to know if there is a better way. Elena, apparently sensing this, spoke up. "I don''t think it''s a good idea to find out all at once, since it would be difficult to do so and might cause friction. "Ummm ......" Tomax''s stomach is still in knots. * * * * Meanwhile, Jin and his crew were enjoying the sea aboard the cruiser . "Wow ......, the horizon is round after all!" "The sea breeze feels so nice!" Katya and Eira were looking out at the sea from the observation deck next to the bridge. "It''s a very special view from this high up." "It''s different from a small ship, isn''t it?" Theon and Marikka also seem to be enjoying the view. "It''s a nice view, Mr. Rhodes!" Ludmilla is standing on the edge of the boat with Rhodes, looking out to sea. "I am so happy to be here with my grandmother! Vita was enjoying the boat ride flanked by Sion and Marikka. "......An all-metal ship 100 meters long? ......It would be a lot of work just to build a dock that could make that. ......" And Groma seems to have a lot on his mind. After having enjoyed themselves to the fullest, they set a table on the deck for tea. He served sencha green tea and yokan (a sweet bean jelly), What''s this?It''s so sweet!It''s delicious!" Eira seemed to like the yokan very much. "It is sweet. ...... It is delicious. ......" Of course, Katya liked it, too. And Groma too, "The yokan is delicious, but this tea is also delicious. ......" In the end, the tea and the yokan were very popular among the three of us. Jin warned them, "If you eat too much, you won''t have enough for lunch. Jin warned, but Eira''s hands did not stop. KaChea looked like she wanted some more, but stopped eating. ....... On the other hand, Zion, Marikka and Rhodotos had eaten it before, so their reactions were not that exaggerated, but their faces showed that they liked it. "Yummy!" "It''s delicious ......!" But Vita and Ludmilla seemed to have eaten it for the first time and their faces were beaming with delight. "Ah, but Jin got this from his predecessor, didn''t he?" "Well, yes." Jin built the cruiser 400 years ago, so it is safe to say that he is the predecessor. "It originally started when the first Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, who was active 1,400 years ago, found Horai Island and maintained it. But you know what?" "Adriana Barbora Tsezi, ...... that''s too long ago for me to imagine." Eira smiled and drank the rest of the sencha tea. "But it''s all those years of experience that made it possible to build a ship like this." Gromma muttered in a tone of voice that sounded both impressed and moved. "Gromma is from Fusor, isn''t he?" Rhodotos called out to Gromma. "Yes, Master. But I haven''t been back for more than 20 years now. "Is that so?" Eira asked in surprise. This was the first time they had ever talked like this. "Yes, that''s right. I was orphaned when I was a child, and I asked a peddler who had just arrived to take me to Mitsho. From there I asked another merchant to take me to the Shoro Empire, and after a few more things I was able to learn from a master." "......Groma must have gone through a lot of hardship." Eira looked a little surprised. "I don''t have any relatives either." Just as the conversation was about to turn somber, the captain, Marine 31, a Navy golem, came in with a report. < At the sound of this voice, everyone stared out to sea from the starboard side. A black dot is indeed visible just in front of the horizon. "Is that Bowall?"Is that Bowall? I''m not sure. Gromma said, "You can use this one," he said. Marin and the other crew members handed out binoculars to everyone. "What''s this?" "This is how you use them." Eira and the others did not know how to use the binoculars, so Jin showed them how to use them. "Here, you adjust the focus ...... to see what you want to see." "Here ...... it is, it looks good. So this is Bowall! Magnification is 7x. This is the magnification that can be used by hand. If the magnification is too large, the field of view will be unsteady due to camera shake. Incidentally, there is also a golem-type telescope, which has an anti-shake function. "Oh, is this a Bowall?" We all enjoyed the occasional "Bowall Watching. 1787 - - 48-16 New Years Eve, respectively December 30, 4:00 p.m. Jin and his crew had returned to the institute after their excursion on the cruiser . "Well, it''s New Year''s Eve today." "New Year''s Eve?" Yes, it is. Except for Gromma, who was from Fuso, he did not know how to say New Year''s Eve. "The last day of each month is called New Year''s Eve. Today is the end of December and also the end of the year, so it''s called New Year''s Eve. According to the lunar calendar, a standard month lasts 30 days. In other words, the end of the month is , so it is said that the character for was applied to it. In the solar calendar, a month can be 30 days, 31 days, 28 days, 2 The last day of the month is called "New Year''s Eve". "So on New Year''s Eve, we do a few things." Groma responded to this as well. "New Year''s soba! Fusoh, Mitsuho still has some Japanese customs. It was passed down to us by our senior who had wandered into the area before Jin, <<<< Wise Man (Magus) >> Shuki Tsetsi>>. There is a theory that it is to wish people to live long and thin like buckwheat, or to cut off bad luck because buckwheat is easy to cut." "Heh. ....... I didn''t know that either. Jin ......, are you from Fuso or Mitsuho? No, I only know someone who is. Or, to be more precise, ." Gromma did not ask any more probing questions, perhaps reading into the way he said it that there was something more to the story. "Well, let''s get back to the story. We are going to take a bath to cleanse ourselves and have New Year''s Eve soba for dinner. ...... would you prefer hot soba or cold soba?" As for Jin, he prefers morisoba. As a result, it was decided that Zion and the other members of the Nordic Federation would have hot soba and Eira and the other members of would have cold soba. Both are served with tempura. The morisoba also had soba-yu (buckwheat hot water). Aside from that, Jin and the others took a hot spring bath to rinse off their bodies, which were a bit sticky from the sea breeze on the boat. At the same time, the grime and fatigue of the past year were also washed away. The golem maids cleaned the clothes they took off today as well. "Thank you very much. "Indeed." "This is a luxurious way to use the golem. ......" Eira, Cachea, and Gromma seemed to have their own impressions. "Oh, that felt so good!" "As expected of Jin-sama. ......" The members of the Nordic Federation also felt refreshed. Now that they are all refreshed after the hot spring baths, and their clothes are clean and fresh. Tonight, they are sitting around the table in the living room of their . "Tatami mats... I miss ...... tatami mats..." Groma says happily. "Is it a mat made of a grass called Igusa? I''ve never seen it before, but it feels nice to the touch and smells wonderful. KaChea seems to like the tatami mats. "Yes. Sitting directly on the floor like this is so relaxing! Even Eira, who is a lazy person by nature, greatly appreciated the fact that she could sit directly on the floor. Theon and his friends have been here many times, and tatami mats are in small supply in the Nordic Federation, so there were no notable reactions. Then came the New Year''s Eve soba. "Wow, it smells good!" Soba made with freshly ground buckwheat flour has a wonderful aroma. Two kinds of sauce, sweet and dry, are served, and you can choose the one you like best. Hitoshi prefers a slightly sweet taste, so he mixed two sweet tastes with one dry taste. The soup was a gem with a broth made from dried bonito flakes. The condiments were wasabi and spicy daikon. Spicy daikon is an improved version of wild daikon. "Tempura is also very crispy!" Shrimp tempura and vegetable kakiage are included. They are freshly fried and quite hot. Jin was careful not to burn himself while eating. "The soba sauce at Horai Island is delicious, isn''t it?" Zion was slowly tasting the hot soba sauce. "Dried bonito flakes and kelp, right?" he said. "I heard they also add dried bonito flakes and kelp," Jin said. Jin said. It''s no secret. Especially to Zion and the rest of the family. "I see. I''ll try it next time. The night of New Year''s Eve slowly fades away. * * * * <. The time difference from Horai Island is about three and a half hours, so it is late afternoon here. Here, too, preparations were underway to welcome the New Year ....... However, there are no special events. The most troublesome thing is to prepare files for the new year on the shelves. Each department was preparing for the new year. The deus ex machina III and Elena''s group were still in . Makina III in particular was inspecting the facilities in <>. (......I left it alone for a bit, but there are still many deteriorated facilities. ......) The original equipment was fine, but the equipment that had been added after Jin''s death was deteriorating. It means that the technology of Jin and the technology of could not be equaled. (I hope to see more of this in the future.) The <> who was piloting the third generation of Machina was quietly working on it with such impressions in his mind. And then... "This is ......!" What Makina III discovered was a suspicious magic machine (magi-machine) set up inside <>. There were four of them. There was an additional one. When they were analyzed, three of them were for eavesdropping, one was a bomb, and the extra one was a transfer magic circle. (I would be surprised if the < had the technology of transfer magic circle. ......) The master immediately reported to the old man. At the same time, he also made sure to disable the four magi-machines and the transfer magic circle. The last report was made to Tomax Bartmann. At the same time, Elena was reviewing the documents with permission. Elena was reviewing them to the best of her ability. Due to the strength of the leather and wooden paper, the search is done at about eight times the speed of a human being. At higher speeds, there is a risk of tearing the paper. As a result, three data falsifications were found. From a document from five years ago, "It seems that the budget was used for something else. and from a document from two years ago. And a document from two years ago. "Unknown cargo was entered into the warehouse." And finally, from this year''s paperwork, "I think there may have been a leak of information." It was discovered that four correspondence had been sent to an unknown destination. "Well, this is a serious situation!" Tomax Bartmann groaned with a bitter look on his face when he received the report. It seems that New Year''s has not yet come to him. ....... 1788 - - 48-17 Timers "In my hometown, the bell rings on New Year''s Eve. On the night of the 30th, Jin was chatting with Eira, Kaechea, Groma, Zion, Marikka, Rhodotos, Ludmila, Vita, and others in the sunken kotatsu at on Horai Island. Incidentally, the Nordic Federation group and the rest of the group are divided into two kotatsu. By the way, somewhat surprisingly, Eira and the other three did not inquire about Jin''s birthplace. It seems that they have learned the meaninglessness of prying after learning that Jin is a . ...... "The bell is rung 108 times. It is said that the same number of times rings the bell to get rid of human''s troubles. "Hmm, that''s interesting." Eira, with a red face, nodded her head. She seemed to have been intoxicated by the sake she was drinking. Katya is eating a ...... bred Citran mandarin on the kotatsu. "Was it this ...... and <> were also produced. "I like this kotatsu. I think I''ll get a tatami mat and a kotatsu for my room too. ....... Oh, and a as well." "If you do that, Eira-san, you''ll never come out of the kotatsu in winter, right?" Eira scratched her head at KaChea''s words. "Well, the winter in Avalon is short and not so cold..." said Groma. Groma said. It''s a good argument. But... "You have such a hard heart. ...... Eira said, as if she were trying to get him to shut up. "Shut up!I know what I''m talking about!...... a little." Gromma, too, seemed to know that he did not have much of a sense of humor. "You guys get along great." Theon looked at Eira and Gromma with a soft smile. "Yes, it''s said that they are . ......" Kaechea nodded. Marikka overheard this and looked at her as if she was smiling. Marikka asks Jin, "Saki and Goose were like that too, weren''t they?" Marikka asks Jin. Jin turned around and nodded. "Indeed. In the beginning they used to butt horns with each other a lot. ...... Eira and Groma were worse, though." New Year''s Eve is drawing to a close. Rhodes and Ludmilla snuggled into the kotatsu, and Vita looked at her brother and future sister-in-law with a smile. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * never sleeps. The magical brain that controls and oversees the whole system, , is monitoring every inch of this mega-float, which is two kilometers in diameter. Of course, it was Jin who installed it 400 years ago, and named it the same way. The anomaly was detected by on January 1, 3900 at 0:00:00:00 1:00 local time. It was at 3900 January 1, 0:00:00:00 1:00 local time. An anomaly is detected. A huge mana reaction. Second class alarm issued. At 0:00:00 minutes and 1 second on January 1st, 3900 years ago, a second class alarm was issued in Avalon. A second class alarm has sounded in Avalon. What''s going on? What is this? An alarm of this kind had not sounded in over a century. The top management of <> including Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann was astonished. (......) A second class alarm. Is there a foreign object inside?) But Machina III was the only one who understood the meaning of the alarm correctly. There''s an intruder! There is an intruder! They''re moving from Storage Facility 2 to the surface. "It''s close." Warehouse 2 is only about 50 meters away from the office. Tomax Bartman activated two security golems and went outside with the executives in the office. "...... Lord Machina?" Makina III was already there. "Ray, be careful. Something is coming." Makina gives instructions to her knight, Rey. It is not so much a sign of "watch out" as it is a sign of "be sure those around you hear. "Yes, Makina-sama." Rei puts his hand on the hilt of his sword and looks ahead. He senses something approaching from that direction. Rey is now equipped with full body armor and a short sword. Her shiny blue-silver hair peeks out from the hem of her full-face helmet. The silvery-white light armor covers his entire body. It is a composite structure made of a gigantopod shell and 64 pieces of light silver. The total weight of the armor is about 20 kilograms, which is surprisingly light. The short sword is made of magi-adamantite. It is equipped with a "vibrating sword" function. Rei, of course, is an automata, boasting a strength greater than Lando''s and less than Reiko''s. "What is this? someone shouted. What emerged from the second underground warehouse was a golem that looked like it was made up of a collection of rock debris and metal chunks. It was three meters tall. It was quick, despite its bulky appearance. (Gigarth ......?) Makina, who can also refer to the knowledge the old man has accumulated, notices that the golem looks very similar to the combat golem developed during the <> and used by the former <>. If it is of the same lineage as Gigarth, it should be able to absorb mana. We can''t attack it carelessly!) Yes, <> has the characteristic of absorbing mana from its surroundings and making it its own. At the center of it is a core of mana, and unless this core is destroyed, it will continue to regenerate, making it a troublesome <>. (Physical attacks are useless, and so are magic attacks. High-powered attacks are difficult within <>. (How should we deal with ...... now?) The who is piloting the Machina III ...... ponders. "Stop him!" Tomax Bartman instructed the security golem. "No!Stop him! Makina III stopped them, but it was a moment too late. The two security golems leapt at the <> and ....... "What? They fell to the ground, deprived of their mana. However, since it was designed to be an ether converter, it restarted after a few seconds. "Mister Tomax, that thing is very similar to the weapons of the past. If you touch it, it will steal your mana. "What? Tomax Bartmann turned pale at Machina III''s advice. So, how can we defeat him? "There are several ways, but they are all difficult in this situation. Makina III said he had no idea what the best move would be. The attack was so powerful that it would be considered overkill. That is the basis of defeating . But he did not want to make such an attack near the important facilities of , if possible. I will consult with the old man.) < 1789 - - 48-18 Knight Ray At a little past 7:00 a.m. on January 1, 3900, Jin and his friends were worshipping the first sunrise of the year. "We pray for good health on the first day of the year," Jin explains. Jin explains. "That''s an interesting custom. ......" Groma is impressed, but since he has no background in folklore or cultural anthropology, he doesn''t ask any questions. "Well, let''s have some osechi then." "Yes, that sounds good." We all returned to the on Horaijima and celebrated the New Year with sake instead of toso (Japanese sake), and then we started to eat the osechi dishes. "Oh, there is something nostalgic here." There were many things that were familiar to Groma, who was from Fuso. "I miss these black beans. ......" Stewed black soybeans. The skin of soybeans is weak, so be careful how you cook them. If you make a mistake, the skin will wrinkle or even peel off. Sweet!Delicious! "Ha ha, that''s great!" The peridos have worked very hard to make this product. Jin was honestly happy when he was told that his kites were delicious. After that, there was a kite-flying demonstration. He uses a flexible kite that he made in one day. "Wow, this kite flies well! Eira exclaims in admiration. The kites she knew were diamond-shaped. "No, I didn''t know that such a shape was possible. ......" Groma is also impressed. (I wonder if that kite never spread from Mohut Village (......). ) He was a little disappointed. Next to the kite-flying, there was shuttlecocking. The women are the main performers. After a little instruction, they all started to do it well. The shuttlecock boards were of course handmade by Jin. The feathers are of the type with five blades that fly slowly. The three blades fly so fast that it is difficult to get used to them. Eira is with Katya. Surprisingly, the two are competing well. Jin, however, thinks that the feather-pounding is more about enjoying the exchange of feathers than a contest. Theon and Marikka, and Ludmilla and Vita. Hanako and Reiko do it too. But only with the right amount of care. Otherwise the feathers will be destroyed in no time. Jin wished he had made furisode (long-sleeved kimono), but it was too late. Jin, Rhodos, and Groma competed in the frame-spinning game. Instead of kenkagoma, they compete to see whose tops have been spinning the longest. Jin, who had properly balanced his tops in advance, beat Rhodes by a small margin. The New Year''s Day of Horai Island passes peacefully. * * * * Time is back a little, three and a half hours ahead of ...... at half past midnight local time. At midnight, Avalon was busy dealing with the <>. < were said to have emerged from four different warehouses. "They must have set up a timed attack, targeting the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, when security is thin." Makina III analyzes the situation. In the meantime, the old man secretly contacted the Imam. (Attention to <<<< Imam. <. You can''t absorb mana through <>, so you should attack physically through the magic barrier. Then, use <> for a very short time and destroy the core when it stops. In the past, when fighting against two , <> would strike with a physical barrier (Solid Barrier) on his fist. In Ray''s case, he chose to use a magic barrier instead of a solid barrier because he could focus his attacks more pinpointly than Titan. The imam agreed with this instruction. Furthermore, the last instruction was a real eye-opener. < forces mana to be converted back into free magic element (ether). < would not be able to escape its effects. He immediately sends word to his knight Rey. "Yes, sir." Rei replied shortly, and immediately put on the magic barrier. Then he struck first with his body. The was blown away by Rei''s body blow, which had more power than the land forces of Horai Island, and moved away from the building where his office was located. However, it was not enough to destroy it. However, Ray also used the built-in . < stops moving in an instant. Aiming at this point, Rei''s sword pierced through the chest of . It destroyed the . With this, could no longer even retain its shape, and was reduced to a mere lump of rock and metal. The <> lasted only about 0.5 seconds, so Tomax and the others could not detect it. Tomax and the others could not detect it. They must have seen that Rey had defeated him with a body slam and a sword. "Well done, Ray!There are three more Gigasumodoki on the loose. Deal with them quickly! Yes, sir! Makina III gave further instructions to Rey. Rey nodded and disappeared in a flash. Ten minutes later, Rey returns. "Master Machina, the defeat of <> has been completed. "Thank you." Tomax and the executives exhale in relief. However, the commotion continues. An unidentified magic circle has been activated. Please be careful. <, , has once again raised the alarm. A faintly glowing magic circle appears in the green area not far from where Tomax and the others are. "Was that ...... set up under the soil of the green land? It seems that they were installed and covered with soil before we knew it. "If this is possible, ...... must be the work of Graham Darby!" Tomax Bartmann is indignant, but Machina III calms him down. Tomax, now is not the time for such inquisitiveness. ...... that magic circle is a transfer magic circle. Something is ...... coming! Makina III judged so when he saw the Magi Formula flowing in the magic circle. And true to his word, a giant golem ....... appeared from the transfer magic circle. "A giant golem? Someone shouted. The voice sounded like a scream. What was sent by the transfer magic circle was a huge golem, perhaps 15 meters tall. (It is as big as < ......, but it seems to weigh more. Its movement is slow. Its strength is ...... weak.) Through the vision of Machina III, the Master and the old man guessed so. (I guess Rei can deal with it alone.) The giant golem <> is a work of art that Jin has completed through trial and error. Its size, weight, strength, speed, and precision movement are all of the highest order. However, the giant golem that appeared was only large and slow. It seemed to have a certain amount of power, but it lacked any precision movement. "Rey, aim at its legs first!" Makina III instructed. Squire Rei turned his short sword, made of adamantite, into the "vibration sword" mode and slashed at him. 1790 - - 48-19 What Elena discovered Meanwhile, what was Elena doing when she didn''t show up? "......This is the place!" She was investigating a suspicious magical reaction. < At the very least, there must be to activate the transfer magic circle. The best is the best and the right person is in the right place. With this in mind, Elena was investigating to get closer to the source of this incident. This is also supported by the fact that Elena''s own fighting ability is far below that of Rei, Machina''s squire. She has come to investigate after identifying the flow of a weak magical reaction ....... This is the private office of Graham Darby, who was once the Chief Superintendent. The room is now vacant. Normally, such an empty room would be cleaned and redecorated, and someone would move in, but for some reason, this room remained empty. "It''s locked. ...... It''s no use, it''s an emergency." Elena put her hand on the door handle and squeezed it firmly. "......Avalon, as expected. It is a strong door. Elena puts even more force into the door. Finally, with a resounding cracking sound, the handle is released from the door. But as a result, the door lock is rendered useless. Elena puts her slender hand through the hole in the door, and successfully unlocks the door from the inside. "Locked from the inside?" The realization of this fact saved Elena. Before she could open the door, a spear was suddenly thrust out from inside. Even Elena''s reaction speed was barely enough to dodge it. The fact that the door was locked from the inside would have made it impossible for her to dodge if she had not guessed that someone might be inside. "......Automata, is it?" Inside was an ordinary looking automaton. Basically, there are no automata in <>. They are either temporary guests like Elena and Rey, or infiltrators of ....... However, their performance seems to be high. Elena braced herself for the attack. A moment later, a spear is thrust out. "!" Elena dodges and draws her shortsword. She swings her sword to cut off the tip of the spear, but a moment later, the spear is pulled back. "That''s quite a feat!" Even with the improved Elena, the automata is not so easy to defeat. Elena has decided to remove the limiter she has imposed on herself. Her senses have been sharpened by this, and there is a worrisome reaction. "......<>?And ...... and <>-like effects. Elena quickly stops the magi machines on the floor at the back of the room. At the same time, she observed the room that used to be the private office of the former Chief Superintendent Graham Darby. The layout of the room is the same as the other rooms on the same floor: a living room of about 10 tatami mats and a bedroom of about 3 tatami mats in the back. "The bedroom is suspicious, isn''t it? Elena frowns at what she sees through the door she cautiously opens. "Transference magic circle ......" It peeked out from the carpet that had been rolled up. A small transfer magic circle had been carved into the floor. "It''s a tricky thing ...... to deal with someone with this much magic technology." * * * < was over, Elena asked Machina III, Tomax, and others to gather. The place was, of course, the room that used to be Graham Darby''s private room. "Ummm ...... this is a serious situation." Tomax Bartmann looked difficult. Former transfer gate supervisors Arietta Aeolial and Machina III were bent over on the floor examining the transfer magic circle, but when they eventually stood up, Arietta Aeolial was the first to speak, "The transfer magic circle itself is on the same level as the one discovered in the Kingdom of Celluloa a long time ago. In other words, it is not something that can be activated frequently. She reported that the magic circle itself is the same level as the one found in the Kingdom of Celuloa long ago. And, "After activation, it will take about an hour to accumulate enough mana for the transfer. Makina said. "In other words, if we knew it existed, we could deal with it. This was Wattes Schletzer, the military chief of staff. "That''s the only thing that helps. ......" Tomax Bartmann said, rubbing his stomach. "I guess I''ll have to check inside <> again. ...... Makina III offers him a helping hand. "Let''s call in the golem to help us check it out. "Oh, that would be great." Tomax looks a little relieved. 1791 - - 48-20 Avalon Again On January 2nd, in Horai Island, the old lord was reporting to Jin and the others about the events in . He was trying to make them relax on the first day of the year, "I wish you would have told us such an important story immediately. ......" The old man said to Jin, "I wish you would have told me such an important story right away, . <<>. However, Jin was relieved to hear that Machina III and Elena were able to cope with the situation sufficiently. "But I guess we''ll have to go to after hearing that..." "Yes. ...... "Yes. ......" "Mm. ......" Eira and the other three seem to be particularly concerned. For the three of them, <> is home, even if only temporarily. And Marikka, "It''s ...... sad to know that Graham Darby was a stooge of the <>," Marikka said, a little depressed. Marikka was a little depressed. Seeing them, there was no way Jin could remain silent. "All right, let''s go. He expressed his intention to go to ahead of schedule. I was so happy to see him. The next day was quick. After preparing themselves in about an hour, Jin, Reiko, Hope, Zion, Marikka, Rhodotos, Vita, Hanako, Uragan, Ludmila, Eira, Katya, and Groma boarded the <>. As a side note, the <> had been retrieved by the old man from the Shoro Palace. Before his departure, Jin was alone in the basement of the institute having a meeting with the old man. "...... So, there is also a golem unit dedicated to Machina, is there?" > It means that 400 years ago, Jin prepared it separately from the Land Unit. Since it was not used in the previous battle against Malquitas, this is the first time it has been shown to the public. The reason is that Eira and the other three had seen the golems here in Horai Island. They had seen Lando''s group at the battle of Malchitas, but it was nighttime and Jin and the old man finally agreed that they would have to somehow deceive the others. "Okay, let''s go. Hope, you are allowed top speed." "Yes, sir." Jin was the last to board the and motioned to Hope. Slowly the floated up into the sky of Horai Island and started to fly towards ....... It began to fly eastward. Its speed was Mach 3. The actual ground speed is about 900 meters per second due to the cooler temperatures above, but it still exceeds 3200 kilometers per hour. But it still exceeds 3200 kilometers per hour. It took only 20 minutes to reach , which is a little more than 1,000 kilometers away. "......" Eira and the others are speechless at the unbelievable performance of this machine, which they can understand. "This is aboard Jin Nido''s . Requesting emergency landing." Jin, who had reverted to normal navigation near <, requests permission to land. And it is granted immediately. <>. You are cleared to land in Area 01, same as last time. "<> copy that. Landing in area 01." The tone of voice was different from the last time because of the urgency of the situation, but the air traffic controller did not care and gave the order to land. The reason for the immediate permission was that Machina III had announced that the Magecraft Meister was on his way. Makina himself greets Jin and the group. The group moves with Machina to the multipurpose room attached to the airport. "...... What''s the situation?" As soon as everyone sat down in the room, which had been turned into a temporary meeting room, Jin opened his mouth. "It''s calm now. < and one automata with a moderately high performance, but Rei and Elena have already taken care of it." Makina III replied. Then he glanced at Marikka, "We have only circumstantial evidence, but we think that Graham Darby is involved in this whole mess. Hearing this, Malicka sank to her knees. She must be sad to hear that her former student has turned against her. "Marikka, but since you are not a teacher now, I think it''s fair to say that in a way I was not directly hostile to you," Zion consoles Marikka. Zion tries to comfort Marikka, but it doesn''t seem to have much effect. Jin would like to talk to Marikka, but the priority now is to confirm the facts, so he asks Makina an additional question. What made you decide that Graham Darby was involved? "The main reason is that we found various pieces of evidence in what used to be his private room." Makina III explained that Elena had found a magic circle, a <> and a magical tool that emits <> effects. Certainly, this was sufficient circumstantial evidence. "But did you check out the transition magic circle or ...... it?" If we do it right, we''ll know where the connection is. In other words, we''ll be able to find out who''s behind this whole mess. "Of course. But it seems that the magic circle on the other side has already been erased and there is no magical connection." "Too bad. If ...... so, what about the automata that Elena defeated?" I thought it would be that way, so I had it brought here. That''s a good move. The door opened, and an automaton on a worktable with wheels was brought in. The automaton being carried was a golem. When Ka-cea sees it, she lets out a small cry. It was the silver-brown golem that had saved her one day. Its appearance is similar to that of the Lands of Horai Island, but there are some differences. It is a design change made by Jin to differentiate them when he prepared them in the past. Specifically, their shoulders are slightly wider than those of Lando, giving them a more muscular impression. (Hey, isn''t that the golem that saved us from danger?) Yes, it seems so.) (Yes, it is the golem of Machina III, so there is no doubt about it.) Eira, Cachia, Groma, and the others seemed to believe him, just as Jin had intended. "Hmm, I have no idea who made it. ......" 5''10" tall, masculine build. He weighs approximately 150 kilograms. Aether converter. It is very similar to Adriana''s model, but there are some differences. The biggest difference is that the < is located in the head. "The skeleton is light silver, or ...... the muscles are not made of biological material." Since there is no significant feature other than the control core in the head, even Jin and Makina could not guess the creator or the factory where it was made. However. "......Wait, ......?I''ve seen this structure before. Jin suddenly thought of something. Then, based on this assumption, he reviewed the data and found a series of commonalities. "Makina, doesn''t this structure resemble that of Anne, Lol, and Leffa? Yes, there were many similarities among the blue-haired automata created after Adriana Barbora Zetsi and before the Magic War. Of course, there are some differences. "Certainly. There are some differences between the male and female forms, but you can see them without such preconceptions." From the above, Jin and Makina concluded that there were other blue-haired automata in existence besides Anne, Lol, Lefa, and Tia, and that they might have been created by analyzing them. However, this is not a clue to the mastermind. "......That''s all we need to discuss now. Let''s go there first." "I agree." Jin agrees to Makina III''s proposal. Then, using the emergency underground passageway, everyone moved to the administration building, which can be said to be the center of . 1792 - - 48-21 What are you looking for? "...... By the way, are we allowed to be here?" Gloma Trey blurted out. "We''ve been swept along and ended up here, so it''s a little late for us to be here." It really was too late. "No, it''s a Type 3 emergency now, all the inhabitants of <> know about it. There is nothing wrong with being here. In fact, those of you who know Jin-dono and Sensei are more than welcome to join us. Tomax Baartman''s deputy, Ilmina Ratkin, looked at Groma, Eira, and Katya in turn. She is in her late twenties, semi-long blond hair, blue eyes and slender build. She is a student of Marikka''s. The third type of emergency means that a situation has arisen that threatens the peace and quiet of <>. Unlike Type 2, it is issued when the possibility of a battle is very low. All the inhabitants of <> except for some civilians in the commercial districts are subject to this type. Students are no exception to this rule, and they are required to stay in their rooms or follow the instructions of their professors, lecturers, or other administrators. So, if the executives say it''s OK, it''s OK. "At the moment, the remaining students are either working in the school district under the supervision of the president, or are assigned as apprentices to investigate the residential areas." Eira and the other three were asked to assist Makina III as the latter. All three agreed immediately. "We would like you to help us clarify the background of this disturbance, Jin-dono. "Of course, of course." Finally, Marikka, Zion, Roadtoss, Ludmilla, and Vita also decided to investigate the situation in on their own. "By the way, where is Tomax?" Jin asked. He had not shown up to pick us up, nor had he shown his face here, so we were curious about him. "The Chief Superintendent is currently forcing him to take a rest." According to Illumina''s explanation, he had been working for more than two full days straight, and the people around him had forced him to take a rest. ......That''s a lot of work, isn''t it?" Jin told her in a few words. * * * * Jin and Reiko were investigating the room that used to be Graham Darby''s private room. "So this is the transfer magic circle. It''s an old model, isn''t it? Yes. This type of magic circle can''t go from here to there, can it? Jin thinks that there must be a return magic circle because the old type of transfer magic circle is one-way and cannot go both ways. "There should be a return magic circle or a communication device. The old man has advised him that there must be a way to contact the mastermind, and he is looking for it. If there is, this room is the most likely place. "Yes, father." It seems to have stopped completely, and Reiko''s detection function has not found anything emitting suspicious magic waves inside . Therefore, a steady investigation is necessary. "So, the ceiling is all that''s left. After checking the floor and walls, Jin and Reiko started checking the ceiling. Incidentally, there is no ceiling in this building. "There is no ceiling. ......" However, no matter how hard they searched, they could not find even a trace. "......This means it was a one-way street." It means that the only purpose was to send out golems and automata. But that seems unlikely. "I don''t get it, do you?" Jin crossed his arms and thought for a moment. "......The enemy automaton we just checked did not have a communication function either. That automaton was moving based on instructions given to it in advance. I examined the control core, but could not obtain any useful information. "I guess we''re stuck." Jin looks frustrated. Reiko did not say anything, but her lips tightened tightly as if she was thinking the same thing. "......, but with the proviso that it''s only for here." Reiko''s face turns into a ">Reiko makes a face. "Yes, there is nothing more to see in this room. But there might be clues elsewhere. ...... Reiko, let''s go." "Yes, Father!" We can''t be doing research and development if we''re discouraged by the slightest thing. Not to mention the fact that Jin has experience working for a black-owned company when he was in modern Japan. "Former Chief Superintendent Graham Darby ....... Where would he go to plant something?" There are several possibilities, Jin thought. An unused room. An unused warehouse. < appeared from the warehouse, it is highly possible. <. There are areas around the perimeter and other spots where there is no flow of people. If he was the chief administrator, he would know about such places. There is also a possibility that they are covering them up with something, like sending a giant golem. "Is there any ...... way to know ......?" It was no use searching around in the dark, so Jin began to think about approaching the problem from a different angle. "We can just react to the hidden magic tools. ...... that''s right!" Jin came up with an idea. "That of yours..." Jin thought of the technique used by the mysterious enemy during the recent Golem competition in the Shoro Kingdom. The method of changing the frequency of the magic wave and forcibly twisting the order. "I hope we have that ready." Jin and Reiko headed for the office of the Chief Superintendent, thinking of the necessary measures to be taken at the same time. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Thank you for your cooperation, Jin-dono. Tomax Bartmann, who had recovered after a four-hour rest, greeted Jin. He was still looking a little pale, but he could not stay in bed. Then, he made a suggestion. "Well, I guess it''s worth a try," said Tomax Baartman. Tomax Bartmann immediately agreed. "Can we use the materials we have in the laboratory? Tomax nodded his head. "Yes, I saw them on the tour the other day. <. "I''m sure we can get by with a few magi crystals and a little light silver. What is more problematic is the personnel to check, Jin said. "I''m going to force the hidden magical tools and magical machines to react for a moment. I want you to deploy personnel as widely as possible so that we can confirm that reaction. "Then I will help you. I turned around to see Makina III coming toward me. "One hundred golems under my command have just arrived. I will let them help you. A golem can monitor an area five to ten times larger than that of a human. "That would be great. Then, at exactly noon, I''ll activate the modulation commander. It''s 11:00 a.m. That early? Tomax Bartmann is the only one surprised, while Machina III is understandably nonplussed. "Yes. "Yes. I''ll take care of it. I''ll take care of it. After saying a few words, Jin heads for the research building with Reiko in tow. * * * * < is located on the east side of the central aperture, which is 300 meters in diameter. To the north of the central aperture is the . The academic area, including the research building, was on the northwest side. Jin and Reiko walked for about 10 minutes and arrived at the research building. "Hey, Jin, what''s going on?" Eira looked at Jin with a surprised face. The others seemed to be out. They must have received instructions to go out and search for him. "Yes, I''m here because I want to make something. "Something you want to make?" "Yeah. It''s something that we''re all searching for with all our eyes, a magical tool that might help us find its location. Hearing that, Eira''s blood as a magecraftsman began to boil. "Okay. Use whatever materials you have here. But in return, you can watch me make it, right? "Of course." Jin walks around the lab, gathers the materials he needs, and places them on the workbench. "Also, I''d like to have some mithianite if possible, but that''s not going to happen. ...... Reiko, contact the old man and have him send me here." Yes, sir. Yes, I understand. Eira could not understand the meaning of the conversation between Jin and Reiko, Three seconds later, an ore suddenly appeared on the workbench, which crushed her heart. "Whoa!What in the world!" Jin said he would explain later, and began to work on the modulation indicator "Modulation Commander. 1793 - - 48-22 Abandoned Jin is now seriously working on . Eira is astonished at how fast he is working. "What, what is this speed, I can''t ...... keep up with it. ......" <><>>, carving <>, assembling <>, and shaping <>. Eira''s mouth dropped open as she watched Jin assemble and shape the <>. "So this is ...... how serious Jin really is. ......" In fact, it is about half. Jin can give his all in the laboratory on Horai Island, but he knows from experience that it is very difficult to do so in an ordinary workshop. It depends on the purity of the material, the strength of the workbench, and its resistance. When materials with low purity are deformed at ultra-high speed, parts with imperfect atomic and molecular structures, such as impurities and lattice defects, tend to deteriorate. Magical engineering theory explains that such impurities and defects slow down the propagation of the magic force due to resistance, which may cause cracks when the deformation speed exceeds the deformation speed. However, this is only a problem for <> or similar production speeds, and is usually not a concern. You can also use or to the material in advance, but this is time-consuming and labor intensive, so I did not use it this time. The strength and resistance of the workbench is also a matter of the aftermath of Jin''s magical power ......0.000.000. It may be deformed or become brittle due to the aftermath ...... of the magical power of Jin''s seriousness. All of the workbenches and tools in the workshop on Horai Island are highly resistant to magic, so they are unaffected even if Jin exerts his full strength. So, in about 10 minutes, Jin has completed <>. The time was 11:30 a.m. "Okay, I can spare another 30 minutes. Jin decides to check the operation of just to be sure. He didn''t want to affect the surroundings, "Reiko, put up a <>." "Yes, Father." This is a test after setting up a barrier against magic waves. This is a rare use of warding to keep out the magic waves from the inside. We are ready. Okay, let''s get started. For a moment, the <> is activated. "Whoa, whoa!" Eira presses her ears. But since the modulation commander only works for a split second, she quickly regains her composure. "What''s wrong?" "Ah, ah. I felt like my ears ...... or rather the back of my head was shaken ......." "Hmm?" Jin wonders if Eira is sensitive. But he will not pursue that question until later. "Reiko, did you feel it?" "Yes, father. It seems to be working properly. I see. Reiko confirmed the operation of the Modulation Commander with her sensing ability while putting up the Magic Barrier. "I think we can manage this. Now we just need to choose the right location. Jin thinks it would be best to launch the device close to the center. "This is close to the center hole, so we can use it on a high place. "Yes, there is a control tower nearby. According to Eira, there are control towers about 200 meters high in various parts of for aircrafts passing overhead. "Okay, let''s go there. It was located about 100 meters away from the research building. It had an elevator to transport workers and materials, so Jin and Reiko used it to get up to the top. Eira stays behind. Rather, it would be better to have as many people as possible to search for enemy devices that would be revealed by the <>. "Yeah, it''s a nice view. This is a good place to be." At 11:50 a.m., Jin and Reiko are ready and waiting for the scheduled time. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 11:55AM. <, there are 100 Machina Golems and <500> land troops. And the eyes of 1,500 inhabitants of <> were shining. Incidentally, the Landes were secretly sent to the city by the old man using a transfer device. It is difficult to distinguish them from Machina''s golem at a glance, and there is no way to know for sure how many there are in total, so the total number is being increased in the midst of the confusion. What''s more, the old man is quietly resentful of the cause of Jin''s being unable to spend a leisurely New Year''s day. 11:56 a.m. Four minutes to go. Tomax Bartmann muttered to himself as he looked at the clock on the wall. He is in charge of his office. His predecessor, Graham Darby, might have done something. 11:57 a.m. "Three minutes." Elena mutters. She can tell the time accurately with the built-in clock function. She was in charge of the first floor of the guest house. 11:58 a.m. "Two minutes to go." Makina III muttered to himself. He and Ray are at the airport. 11:59 a.m. "One minute left." Jin muttered. "......59......58......57......" Reiko is counting down the minutes. "......30......29......28......27......" Part of is visible below. Jin himself is watching from this height. "......11......10......9......8......7......" Jin touches the . In this way, he could ensure that the surveillance under his eyes would not be interrupted and would be activated without fail. "......3......2......1......" Reiko''s voice echoes. "Zero!" "<>!" A moment later, the <> starts and stops one second later. However, several things happened during that one second. One, some of the golems in <> stopped working for about 0.2 seconds. This was due to by <>. Two, a part of the magi-machines in <> malfunctioned for about 0.1 seconds. This is also due to the , but no one is panicking, as it was already taken into account. And the third one. This is the reaction intended by Jin and the others. In other words, there were reactions of unidentified magical tools or magical machines in several places in <> ...... four places to be exact. * * * * * * * * * * * One of them is in the green area adjacent to the commercial district. The one we found was one of the Machina Golems. It glowed faintly for only about 0.05 seconds. However, that much time is enough for the golem to react quickly. One of the Machina Golems secured it, disguised as a lamppost set up in a green area. The second was in a corner of an airfield ...... civilian airport, located directly opposite the <>. It was Elena who found it. "Here ...... is a place like this." Elena quickly dug it up. The third one was attached to the roof of the research building. It was Hitoshi and Reiko who found it. And the fourth one is ....... The fourth one, an unidentified magical tool or magi-machine, was found in the office of the Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann, at the back of a drawer in his desk. One of the machina golems was found. It was so cleverly disguised that a human could not have found it. The board at the back of the drawer (......2cm thick) had a hole drilled in it, and contained a magi-machine about 1cm in diameter. Needless to say, it was covered with an ingenious lid that matched the grain of the wood. But the golem''s eyes could not be fooled. "This is where you hid it. ......!" With a curse, Tomax Bartmann snatched up the magical tool and placed it on the desk. 1794 - - 48-23 Next move 1:00 P.M. The people concerned--Hito, Reiko, Makina III, Rey, Elena, Arietta, Wattes, Eira, Cachia, Gromma, Zion, Marikka, Rhodotos, Vita, Ludmila, Hanako, and others --They were gathered in the office of Tomax Bartmann. Hope and Uragan are packed in a at the airport in case of an emergency. Four other executives, including Illumina, were also present. They also brought with them three of the magical tools and machines they had found. The reason why there were not four is that what Elena found in a corner of the airfield was a magic circle. The rest of them are here in the form of reproductions. Now let''s start analyzing them. Makina III said. "I guess we can start with any of them, but I''m interested in this one. Jin pointed to a magical tool found on the desk of Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann. "But I don''t need to analyze it again, it''s a kind of listening device," he said. Tomax Bartmann and the executives looked surprised at Jin''s conclusion, but Machina III and Elena nodded their heads silently. "But we won''t know the details until we analyze it. ......<><><>" Jin performed the analysis quickly. Tomax and the executives roll their eyes at his skill. "......I see. ......" After reading the details, Jin began to explain it in a way that everyone could understand. "This is definitely a . But it doesn''t seem to be sending information all the time. It seems to be compressing the recorded data and sending it all at once. "What?" Tomax, Kanbu-ren, and Eira and the others did not seem to understand Jin''s explanation very well. "In short, the recorded contents are boxed up and sent to the destination in a short period of time," Makina III added. Makina III added, but I am not sure if they understood it or not. "So you''re saying that the recordings were always active, but the transmissions were made only occasionally and for very short periods of time?" Tomax Bartmann says what he understands. Both Jin and Makina nodded their heads in agreement. "Since when ...... no, this is a foolish question. Graham Darby must have set this up, so it must have been at least three years ago. "During that time, most of what we have talked about here has been known to the enemy, hasn''t it?" The executive, with a scowl on his face, said in a snarling voice, "That''s what I''m thinking. "That''s what I mean. ......" "Let''s go to ...... and analyze the other one as well." Jin began to analyze the magi-machine they had found. "This is ......." Jin turned pale. "What was that? asked Katya, who could no longer remain silent at Jin''s unusual complexion. "It''s a ...... remote-controlled bomb." "What? Jin quickly disassembled it. "This is completely my mistake. I shudder to think what would have happened if it had reacted to that and exploded. I''m sorry ......!" Jin bowed his head. Jin deeply regretted that he had taken the situation too lightly, that he had been too conceited somewhere in his mind. "Of course, this is a bomb, but it is not something that can easily explode. Of course, this is a bomb, but it is not something that can be detonated easily. But it was a mistake to use the <> without considering the possibility of such things being hidden in it." "No, no, Mister Jin, I am responsible for that." Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann interrupted Jin. I was the one who asked for it, so if you are talking about responsibility, I have to take it. "...... I think you''re responsible for the fact that none of us here had even considered the possibility, right, Jin?" Zion, too, turned his head slightly and told Jin not to worry too much. Then it was time to analyze the other ...... machina golem found. This one was disguised as a street lamp, and although its prop was merely hollow, a mysterious magi-machine was installed in the part that lit the light. "......This is another outrageous discovery." Jin, with a frown on his face, reported in an angry voice. "This is a magic machine that gradually brainwashes people. "What! "The effect is only slight, and it doesn''t seem to matter if you don''t get exposed to it for a long time in total, but no matter how you think about it, it''s a piece of maliciousness." Jin spits out. "Thanks to this guy at ......, it''s clear. It seems that the enemy is definitely the . This is because the purpose of the brainwashing was to inculcate devotion to the <>. "It''s not that powerful, and it''s not that extreme. Still, we can''t overlook it." "That''s right." Tomax Bartmann firmly asserted. "Lastly, this magic circle is definitely a transitional magic circle. However, this end is broken, so it will not work properly." Elena''s copy is credible. Therefore, she did not overestimate the missing magic circle. "The last golem attack was supposed to take place at the airfield as well. But it just so happened that a part of it was broken, so it did not work. We were lucky," sighed Tomax and the executives. * * * * * * "Now, what are we going to do? After a late lunch of sandwiches and fruit juice, the group had another meeting. Jin answered. "...... we miscalculated a little, but we found the magic tool we were looking for, so let''s stick to our original plan." "Jin-dono, what is it?" Tomax and the executives did not fully understand the situation since we did not have enough time to explain it to them. They understood that the series of actions they had taken this time was to find the hidden magic tools. "Not only to find them, but also to use them to locate our enemies. Jin explained again. "The magic tool of this communication is activated periodically. As you can see, we are in luck tonight ...... and tomorrow?I see that it is supposed to run for 0.1 seconds at midnight tonight tomorrow, and send information." So let''s replace the information with something meaningless and identify the receiver of the sent information, Jin explained. "I see. ......" "But will it work so well?But will it work so well against something that can only operate for such a short time as 0.1 second ......?" But Jin nodded confidently. "Don''t worry. I''ll leave it to you." Jin sent it to Horai Island, intending to identify the opponent by <>. The bomb has already been neutralized. The magical tools of suggestion are no longer a threat. As for the magic circle, we have already arranged for it to be erased. Thus, the "flush-out" was a moderate success. * * * * For the time being, the state of emergency of the third kind is lifted, and the daily life is back to normal in <>. "......Well, I saw once again how out of the ordinary Jin is." Eira explains what she saw to the returning Cachia and Groma. "Yes, or ......." Gromma let out a small sigh. "It would have been unwise to say anything about a rematch ....... I guess I''ll have to sooner or later." Considering his own abilities, Groma made up his mind to study the golem once again. 1795 - - 48-24 To Blue Land < time, that is, at midnight. The old man with the magical brain of Horai Island sensed the activation of the magical tool that Jin had given him. The time of the activation was 0.1 seconds. But it was enough time for him who was ready and waiting. The old man, who sensed the communication partner by the magic wave, contacts Jin, who is awake and waiting for him, . He receives an immediate reply. > < <> < < The communication is over. Five seconds later, the magic tool and the map are sent back. Jin disassembles the magic tool, disables communication with it, and checks the map. "...... the suburbs of Blueland...... is this a mine?" "I think it is an abandoned mine." Reiko, who looked at the map with me, said. "Probably. They must have secretly built a base underground." "That''s very likely." Satisfied with this result, Jin decided to take a rest. * * * * The next morning ......, or rather 8:30 a.m. that morning. After breakfast, Jin was in the office of the Chief Superintendent. "I''ve found the destination." "Oh!What''s that? The Kingdom of Egelea, on the outskirts of Blueland. The Kingdom of Egelea. ...... Since the base in the Kingdom of Elias has been recaptured, we do not know if they have established a second base, or if they have prepared a second base. "Jin-dono ......" Tomax Bartmann looked at Jin with clinging eyes. After all, he had spent more than three years without knowing that there was a listening device behind his desk, even though it had been cleverly concealed, so it was understandable that he felt self-loathing. "I understand. I know. I''ve come this far, and I''ll stay with you and Makina until we solve this problem. "Well, that''s great! Tomax bows his head against the desk. Then, the members who were going to the Kingdom of Egelea were selected. Jin, Reiko, Hope, Rhodos, and Uragan, of course. Theon and his group did not go with them, but were sent to the Nordic Federation by <>''s airship. "Theon, Marikka, Vita, Ludmilla, I''m sorry I called you." Jin bowed his head at the end of the meeting. "It''s okay, Jin. You''ll call me again, won''t you?" "Yes, of course." Theon and the others laughed and forgave him, and Jin was relieved. Makina III stayed in <> as a precautionary measure. The two members from <> are Tomax Bartman and Ilmina Ratkin. Illumina Latkin has a good command of engineering magic, and her martial arts are above average. She was an all-around type at best and a poor woman at worst, with clerical skills as well. However, she was appointed as the deputy to the chief superintendent because her abilities were perfect for a secretary or a general staff member. "Good luck, Illumina!" Yes, sir. Thank you for seeing me off. Ilmina bent her well-proportioned body deeply to show her respect for Marikka. Not wanting to take things too easy, the group decided to take Jin''s to the Kingdom of Egelea. < to Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, and it takes about an hour by <. Since it is an emergency situation, we go straight to the Blue Lands and check out the stronghold that we think belongs to the <>. We do not go with a large number of people so as not to be detected and escape. Jin, Makina III, Elena, Sion, Marikka, Rhodes, and others have all assured me that Reiko, Hope, Uragan, and <> will be more than enough in terms of strength. In fact, the old man, Jin''s faithful subordinate and the brain of Horai Island, can send more forces at a moment''s notice, and observation satellites are monitoring the surface of the earth from space. However, the that were deployed in each country 400 years ago have all been returned to Horai Island, so they cannot be used for information gathering. As for the old man, that was his only regret. * * * * The time difference between the two cities is about 45 minutes. Just before noon local time, the <> landed at an airfield on the outskirts of Bluerand. The Duke of Bruu, Vargas Bruu Pyloid, the lord of Breuland, was there to meet them, as he had been informed beforehand by <>. "Welcome, <>, Ilmina Ratkin. And <> Jin Nido. Honorary Cavalryman Reiko Nido. < Lord Rhodes." The Duke of Bruu was a young man in his mid-thirties. Tomax Bartmann seemed to know him well and made a polite bow, which Jin and the others imitated. "So you are telling me that there is a secret base that seems to belong to the in the suburbs of ...... our Blueland? "Yes. <, but we are certain that it is the base of the enemy who attacked the other day." "Ummm... ......" Duke Breu''s face turns difficult. "May I accompany you?" "Yes, of course." Jin heard this and thought about it. <> on board the can carry six people. It could not carry Jin and his party, plus the Duke of Bulu, all of them. But it would be too conspicuous to go by <>. ....... But it seems that the Duke of Bruu has already made his move. "Will three of our wind-powered blow floaters be enough?" Three wind-powered blow floaters, each with a capacity of four passengers including the pilot, had been prepared. This would be with Jin, Reiko, Hope, Rhodes, and Uragan. One with the Duke of Bruu, Tomax, and Illumina. On the other plane, 2 knights and a golem guarding the Duke of Bruu. That''s only two out of three. "Oh, so this is ''s blow floater!" < and his eyes widen. Time is of the essence, so they immediately get into their respective aircrafts. leads the way. He knows exactly where he wants to be. Slowly the blow engine starts. Buoyancy is created and the blow floater leaves the surface. The aircraft continues to ascend to an altitude of 30 meters. The course is set to the northwest. The target is an abandoned mine in the middle of Mount Garratt. Hope, you got it? Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it. Since the old man had given him precise positions and images of the site, there was no hesitation in Hope''s maneuvering. The plane flies in a straight line toward its destination. The two blow floaters follow behind. Mount Garratt, one of the highest mountains and mines in the Kingdom of Egelea, rises in front of us. The mines produce Adamantite, mithril silver, and other useful metals, as well as high-quality magi crystals. Among them, there are a number of mines that have been mined down to 500 meters below the surface, but have been abandoned because it was judged that further mining would not be cost-effective in terms of maintenance costs and the ore ...... extracted. There are a number of mines that have been abandoned because they were deemed to be no longer cost-effective to maintain and extract ore. One of them, <>, was our destination. The < and two blow floaters landed on a flat about 500 meters before the tunnel. "You can wait here, Your Excellency." The Duke of Brouw remains on board the blower-floater. That is, he is in a position to fly away immediately if something should happen to him. Meanwhile, Jin, Reiko, Rhodes, Uragan, Tomax Bartman, and Ilmina Ratkin have landed on the ground. "I think we should send Uragan to check on them first," Rhodes suggested. Rhodes suggested that Uragan should first check on the situation, and Uragan went on a reconnaissance mission on his own. 1796 - - 48-25 Back of Discontinued Mining Uragan, the golem of Rhodes, approached cautiously. About 100 meters before the abandoned mine, it disappears. "It''s a stealth ward." "Oh..." "It can also muffle sound, so it can perform reconnaissance missions." Jin was secretly impressed that Marikka had taught him so well. And then.., We will now enter the tunnels. came a voice from Rhodoth''s magic tool. It seemed to be equipped with a communication function like a manacam. "Oh, this is amazing! Tomax Bartmann and the Duke of Breu, who were standing nearby, are impressed. Two minutes have passed. So far everything is fine. The tunnel is basically a single track with short side tunnels. Uragan is making good progress. Nothing is happening.) Jin felt a little disappointed, though it was natural since it was not a dungeon. Five minutes passed. Uragan is advancing cautiously, and has reached about 200 meters below the surface. 7 minutes have passed. ....... "Warding found! "What!" Rhodes, Tomax, Duke Blou and the others are all astonished by Uragan''s report. "There is a ward at the end of the tunnel that I don''t know about. ...... This is definitely someone''s secret stronghold." Since the duke, the lord of the house, did not know about it, it could be assumed that it had been set up without his permission, i.e., with malicious intent. (......) It was somewhat painful for me to hear this. "Well, at least we have to interview him. (......)It is good if this is the only way in and out, but if there is another way in and out, is there a possibility that they will escape?" Duke Breu pondered for a moment. Then.., "Okay. ...... hurry back to the Breuland and send the second guard to us. He ordered the pilot of the blower-floater he had brought with him. "Yes, my lord?" The blower floater, with Duke Blou, Tomax, and Irminah on board, immediately took off and flew at full speed toward the Blue Lands. "There you go,...... Lord Rhodes, please wait for a moment." "Yes, sir." Rhodes ordered Uragan to stand by. And they waited. In the meantime, Jin had contacted the old man through Reiko, and had the old man conduct an advance reconnaissance using a "peeper" telescope. So, what''s the escape route like?) We have already confirmed that this is a so-called . And we know there is an exit. Yes, my lord. We have just sealed it.) So, the old man sends two < golems with a transporter and seals the entrance. Now the only way in or out is the tunnel. We were literally rats in a bag. After 30 minutes of waiting, 10 blow floaters and 2 airships appeared in the sky. "Oh, here they come!" It seems that the duke intends to control the area while monitoring it from the air using blow floaters. The blow floaters are equipped with three guards each, and if they see any enemy escaping, they are supposed to rush to the scene and capture them. Although that will not be the case: ....... And from the airship, five golems and 20 guards. They quietly deployed around the tunnel. "Well, Mr. Rhodes, would you please move your golem onward? "Yes, sir." At Duke Blou''s request, Rhodes instructed Uragan to proceed. However, do not proceed blindly, but as before, with caution. The warding has been passed. Nothing so far. Jin and the others guessed that it was not a defensive ward. (If it was probably a detection system ......, there must be some movement.) Right after Jin thought so, Reiko opened her mouth. "Father, there seems to be movement deep in the tunnels ...... underground." The old man had been monitoring the tunnel with a and told Reiko the result. "There are five people in the back. And 20 golems that look like battle golems. "There are a lot of them. ...... No, of course not." <. We''ve encountered a hostile golem! And Uragan has also begun fighting with a golem. * * * * * * Uragan, who had disappeared by stealth, was slowly advancing underground, using a sound deadening ward as well. However, the wards he had just passed seemed to be of the sensing type, and there was movement in the back of the room he was aiming for. "A security golem? It fired <> at Uragan, who was supposed to be out of sight. Uragan was not damaged by such a blast, but he knew that his position was completely known. Uragan breaks his "stealth" spell. At the same time, Uragan takes a large step forward and strikes the enemy golem with his fist. A dull metallic sound is heard, and the enemy golem falls over, its chest concaved. It seems to be weaker than the one sent to . However, the enemy golem seems to be made of sturdy stuff, and it rises up again, despite the dent in its chest, and comes toward Uragan. However, its movements were more awkward than before. Uragan struck again with his fist, this time in the same place. This time, the fist pierced through the chest armor and destroyed the internal magi device. The enemy golem slowly collapsed. It did not move again. But the commotion did not go unnoticed. The golem was not unaware of the commotion. It seems that they have sniffed out this place. It seems that they have found the brainwashing device as well. It was a prototype, but the effect was a little weak. "Now that we can''t contact Mr. Markitas, establishing a brainwashing method is our top priority, but ...... it''s difficult to say." "If it worked, I was thinking of building something like that lamppost in each country, but ...... it''s not going to work out very well." "<> had its own share of wise men and engineers. ......" "Isn''t that some kind of deus ex machina III or something?" "<> seems to be helping out as well." I thought this place would make a good base. It''s a pity we have to abandon it. ...... At the back of the abandoned mine shaft, five figures were conversing without any sign of panic. "We''ll use the transfer magic circle to escape. "That would be a good idea." "Perhaps there will be soldiers watching the surroundings, that would be good." What about the golem? Let''s fire them all up and hit them. And then, after activating all the golems in their possession, they disappeared into thin air with a transfer magic circle. However, the old man who was the head of the administration magic of Horai Island knew exactly where they were going to be transferred to. 1797 - - 48-26 Five People Enemy golem activated. Some of them are going above ground. Be careful. Uragan is on the line. Sir, did you hear that? "Yes. Have the ...... security golem prepare to intercept. Yes, sir! The five guard golems that I brought with me line up and take up arms against the abandoned mine. However, each of the five has a different weapon. They have a sword, a spear, a mace, a shield, and a bow. These five men would make up one squad. Behind them, ten guards formed a siege formation with swords in their hands. The remaining 10 men are free to move about as rangers. * * * * * * * * * * * Underground, Rhodoth''s golem, Uragan, is fighting hard. He has not lost a step against three enemy golems. The fact that they were in a narrow tunnel made it difficult for them to take advantage of their superiority in numbers and their lack of powerful magic attacks helped, but they still put up a great fight. Nevertheless, 16 golems had passed Uragan and were walking away. Sixteen golems out!Please be careful! Uragan sent such a message to Rhodes. Uragan sent such a message to Rhodes. "Attention! Sixteen enemy golems are coming out! Rhodes announces after receiving the report from Uragan. Hearing this, Duke Breu gives the order. Immediately thereafter, golem after golem emerged from the abandoned mines. "All hands prepare for battle!Here they come! The Duke then takes a wind-powered blower-floater and ascends to an altitude of about 10 meters. He will command the whole operation from that position. This is a good move because it is safer than being on the ground. "Reiko, will you cover Uragan?Hope, we''re taking off too." Jin also instructed Reiko and Hope. "Okay, sir. I''ll be right back." Reiko, clad in invisible wards, a higher form of stealth, headed for the abandoned mine like a gale. On the way, the last of the sixteen golems got in the way, so she jumped over it. "......It''s not much of a golem, but the Duke''s golem is similar to it. ......Let''s hurry." As for Reiko, all she can think about is getting back to Jin as soon as possible. One minute into the abandoned mine shaft. She hears a dull metallic sound. "It''s an uragan." After passing through a slight curve, the view opens up. There, we saw Uragan, who was evenly matched in a three-on-one fight. Reiko, who had deactivated her invisibility, said, "I''m going to help you, "I will help you. "I will help you. She then struck one of the enemy golems head-on. Uragan''s fist strike required two blows to destroy the chest armor, but this time the golem was crushed with a single blow and blown away. Uragan, now down to two against one, overwhelms the enemy golem. Reiko joined the fray, and the battle was soon over. "Sixteen golems have gone outside. Let''s go back. Reiko said that since she knew from the Peeper that the five in the back had already escaped, it would be better to clear out the enemy golems, putting off the internal investigation until later. Uragan obeyed her advice and decided to return to the ground. * * * * "You''re pretty strong!" On the ground, the five guard golems prepared by the Duke of Bruu were engaged in a fierce battle with 15 enemy golems. The 10 guards were in the rear guard, providing covering fire with and at a slight distance. Although these magical attacks could only check the enemy golem, they were still useful to disturb it, and the guard golem was able to go toe-to-toe with it despite the threefold difference in strength. "There is no way that Markitas could have prepared such a large force by himself. He must have had a whole army. They must have built that golem." "Perhaps they did. From what I''ve seen, it''s close to the . Jin and Rhodes are analyzing the enemy. "I see. But it''s not as good as the one used by Markitas. Jin sees that it is not even close to the battle golem that Markitas used. (If so, the one used by Malquitas must have been made by the support golem made by , and this one was made by an ordinary engineer. And this one was made by an ordinary engineer.) This guess was right on the mark. There were engineers who supported the production of more combat golems and the construction of <>. They were the masterminds behind this incident. * * * * "......You managed to escape, didn''t you?" "Yes. But you''re saying you''re not ready yet? That''s what the results suggest. But now that we''re here, there''s nothing left to do. The five who had been in the depths of the abandoned mine had escaped to another location by means of a transfer magic circle. "This is the last stronghold of the that we have built with Mr. Markitas. In the true sense of the word, the last stronghold is the ruins on Mount Nakyu, the highest peak on the continent of Pandor, but they had not been informed of this. They are now in a stronghold built by Marchitas, the greatest engineer of the . < "Let''s think about what we''re going to do." The five of them are originally from a technical field, so they are not used to making plans and taking action. For this reason, the previous attack on was suppressed without much success. "I think I''ve heard that launching forces one after another is a bad idea." "...... I don''t know if you''ve heard that by now." Let''s just make the best of it next time. In any case, we have no choice but to build up our strength at this base. * * * * I''m here to help! Uragan comes out of the abandoned mine and joins Duke Bulou''s security golem. Meanwhile, Reiko, once again clad in invisibility, returns to Jin''s side. "Thank you, Reiko." Jin thanked Reiko for coming back. "Father, there is no one in the depths of the abandoned mine. What do we do now?" After receiving a brief report, Jin thought for a moment. "Well, I''d like to ...... check it out, but I don''t want to ruin the Duke of Bruu''s face, so let''s finish the battle first." Jin asked Reiko to join him. But limit the output to ten percent. "Yes, sir!" Reiko puts on her armament of some sort. Of course, it was brought from Horai Island by a transporter. A metal bowl, a breastplate, a brace, a trowel, and a shin guard. And in her hand she holds a . 1798 - - 48-27 Invited by the Duke of Brew With Reiko''s entry into the battle, the situation quickly shifted to the Duke of Breu''s side. Although she was nailed by Jin and would not blow up the enemy golem with a single blow, she used her agility to distract the enemy, slashing at their knees and shoulder joints with . This slows the enemy golem down, and it is destroyed by the guard golem. "Oh, Squire Reyko, you''re the best!" Duke Breu must have heard about the legendary exploits of the past, and his eyes light up at Reiko''s success. He does not seem to be bothered by the fact that the golems under his command are not doing so well. Jin wonders what Reiko would look like if she knew that she is only putting out 10% of her power ....... While he was thinking about this, the enemy Golems were being defeated one after another. In case of fighting against Golem, it is fundamental to completely <, i.e., stop its operation, since a bad <> would be troublesome later on. The most effective way is to stop the power source, that is, to destroy the mana-driver. However, this is something that everyone thinks of, and there are various countermeasures. There are ways to protect the mana driver and its accompanying equipment, to have two or more backups, and even to install it in unexpected places. ....... In the case of this enemy golem, it was heavily protected. All the important magical devices (magi devices) were housed in thick steel protective cases. It would take an ordinary golem''s power to destroy these protective cases, but they were no stronger than a cardboard box in the face of Reiko''s . "It''s too fragile." Some of them were cut to pieces, others were pierced and stopped working. The golems that weren''t in Reiko''s hands were even more miserable. Reiko''s ability to destroy only the source of power is precise, but the security golem is different. The protective case is distorted by force, and the entire internal magi-device is destroyed, bringing it to a halt. (...... Well, let''s check out what Reiko has defeated.) Jin thinks that the control core is probably not safe from the damage. And with zero damage on our side, all the enemy golems were silenced. "Is it over, thank you. Jin-dono, Rhodotos-dono, we appreciate your help." About 35 minutes after the start of the operation, the abandoned mines were conquered. "Then I will send my Uragan ahead again. The main group will follow. "Yes, I understand." Uragan returned to the abandoned mine road. As the Duke of Brou watched him go, one of his men gave him some advice. If you are going to send your men, my lord, you should check if they can breathe. There is a possibility that a trap has been set. "Yes, of course." But.., Sir, the ullagans are equipped with an atmospheric analysis function. Leave it to me." Rhodes said, and the Duke nodded in satisfaction. "Oh, I see. That''s what I''m talking about!" Reiko is back by Jin''s side. She is disarmed and in her usual apron dress. It seemed that there was still some time before the report would come in, so the Duke of Breu spoke to Reiko. "Reiko, you were in the service of the Magecraft Meister some 400 years ago, weren''t you?" Yes, I did, but what of it? Reiko answers the Duke''s question without hesitation. "Oh, as I thought!If you are ......, then you also know about the commotion at the birthday party of His Highness Ernest, the third prince at that time, don''t you? The disturbance at the birthday party ...... is the disturbance caused by the Unification Party (Unifiler) at the Golem Garden Party, isn''t it? "Yes, yes!I heard that you were active in ....... Could you tell us a little about those days? The Duke of Breuland at the time, a distant ancestor of the Duke of Breuland, was also involved in the riot, and the story of that time has been handed down from generation to generation. "When I was a small child, I was also excited by the successes of Lord Leco when I heard that story," he said. The duke explained that since the man himself was here, he was eager to hear the story. "That''s right. ......" Reiko glanced at Jin. Jin understood her intention and gave a small nod. "At that time ......" Reiko began briefly. The duke listened attentively. "Then I noticed something unusual and left the room ....... Then a messenger came running. "Report!The enemy base has been overrun!" "...... well, thank you. ...... Reiko, I''d like to hear the rest of the story sometime." The Duke of Bulgaria, who had ended his conversation with Reiko with a look of regret, gave orders to his subordinates. "All evidence and materials are to be seized. The entrance will be sealed. Then he concludes by saying that he will send a team of investigators, "Thank you for your cooperation, Sir Tomax, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Jin." He then shook hands with Tomax Bartman, Rhodes, and Jin in turn. "Let us return to the Blue Lands for the time being," said the Duke. The Duke said he would leave the detailed investigation to the experts. I have no objection to that. After all, the old man had already confirmed what had been left behind with his peepers. "Lord Tomax, Lord Rhodoth, Lord Jin. Will you come to my house?" As is customary, the squires'' names are not called, but of course Illumina, Uragan, Reiko, Hope, and the others are invited. The duke''s eyes were on Reiko, however. Jin had no objection. The same goes for Rhodes. Tomax Bartmann, however, was a little reluctant because of the events in Avalon, but the Duke assured him that he would be kept informed of the results of the investigation, and he agreed to go with them. After that, the duke sent a survey team and a security team to the abandoned mine road, and returned to the Blue Lands with Jin and the others. * * * * * and the Duke''s blow-floater landed in the large garden of the Duke''s residence, at an airfield in a corner of the garden. Two hot air balloons are also moored there. "Welcome to my house! Duke Blou first showed Jin and the others into the parlor. Jin must have visited there once 400 years ago, but he did not recognize it at all, perhaps because it had been redecorated, or perhaps his memory had become hazy. But Reiko said, "It''s changed a lot, hasn''t it? Reiko said, "You have changed a lot. "Oh, Reiko, what part of you has changed?" Duke Breu asked Reiko hurriedly. Yes, there are more decorations on the pillars. And did you replace the flooring?The colors are brighter than they were 400 years ago. And ......" The duke is extremely satisfied with the 12 differences that have been clearly pointed out to him. "Let''s restore it to its original state as much as possible," he even says. He even says, "I''ll try to restore it to its original state as much as possible. Jin wondered secretly if it was nostalgia. A little later, the Duke of Broux calmed down, "As a matter of fact, His Royal Highness Prince Ernest will be here tonight. He said. "His Highness is looking forward to seeing you again, Mr. Jin. That''s why I''ve invited him to the hotel. "Is that so?" When we informed the central government of this disturbance, Ernesto was to come to the Kingdom of Egelea to officially certify Jin as a . "......I''m kind of embarrassed to be here," Jin said. Jin said, Jin said, "I heard that you don''t like ostentatious things. That''s why he asked you to come here. Duke Bruu said. "I''m even more afraid of you, ......" he said. Jin was looking forward to seeing Ernest XVII again. On the other hand, Tomax Bartmann left the meeting after dinner because he was tired and went straight to his bedroom. He fell asleep as if he had fallen asleep. 1799 - - 48-28 Little Lady On the evening of January 3, Ernest XVII arrived at the residence of the Duke of Breu. He said, "Mister Jin, thank you for your hospitality the other day. I have brought my sister and Tia with me today. Ernest XVII introduced the little lady. "How do you do? My name is Mimir. Please give us a warm welcome. The little princess greeted her with a little pinch of her pink skirt. She was a beautiful little girl with blond hair and blue eyes, just like her brother Ernest XVII. Her hair, tied in twin-tails on either side of her head, reminded me somewhat of Princess Rieschen. "<> My name is Jin Nido. Princess. I am the honorary squire Reiko Nido, and it is a pleasure to meet you. Jin and Reiko greeted back. "My Princess, it is a pleasure to meet you." Rhodes, Duke Blou and Ilmina Ratkin greeted her as well. And right behind the princess was a blue-haired automaton named Tia. "Oh..." Before she could say, "It''s been a while," Reiko acted quickly. She moved quickly in front of Tia and interrupted her words. And then, "You must be Tia. I have heard about you from His Highness. It is an honor to meet you. (Tia, your father is supposed to be the <3rd generation>.) At the same time she greeted Tia, Reiko conveyed her message in the ultrasonic realm, which humans cannot hear, and at 50 times the speed of the original message. Tia understood her message and said, "It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. My name is Tia, an automata of Her Highness Princess Mimir. She gave a simple greeting. Incidentally, it is the custom in the Kingdom of Egelea to be called by one''s childhood name until one is about 10 years old, but when one becomes a socialite, one is called by one''s real name instead of one''s childhood name. "Mimir had his birthday the other day, so he is now four years old. Please be good to him," Ernest XVII said. Ernest XVII says, his eyes narrowed. He is very fond of his youngest princess. "Yes, of course. Jin thinks back to the younger children from his time in the orphanage, squatting down to look them in the eye, "Does Your Highness like sweets?" I asked. "Yes, Jinshama, I love sweets! Jin took out a beautiful small box from his pocket and handed it to Mimir. It was a small box about the size of a pencil box, made of hard wood and silver clasps. "As a token of our closeness. But don''t eat too much, only if your brother or Tia says it''s good for you. Yes, I understand. Jin-dono, what is it? , Ernest XVII peeked in with interest. "It is a gift for the princess. Please take a look at ...... to see what''s inside." After giving Ernest XVII a brief explanation, Jin turned to Mimir. "Princess, I think it would be best if you leave the box with Tia. "Ai. ...... Tia, please take care of it. Yes, Your Highness. Tia also squatted down and received the box from Mimir. May I open it, Jin-sama? "Of course. Of course. So Tia gently opened the box. What is it? "Wow, it''s beautiful." Jin-dono, what is this? < ......<. The peridos, who were in charge of household chores, had perfected them through trial and error, relying on Jin''s memory of having read about how to make them in a gourmet manga. The kettle is tilted at an angle and called ......<>. The kettle is filled with a gong and slowly rotated. Then molasses is added and slowly stirred......, but it seems to require more know-how than can be put into words or written. Fortunately, two weeks of continuous work is not too much of a burden for these golems. Anyway, inside the box were small star-like kompeito candies in various colors: red, white, yellow, peach, orange, green, blue, sky blue, purple ....... "These are called kompeito," he said, "and they are a sweet candy. "Mister Gin, can you eat it? Ernest XVII was surprised. "Yes. ...... well, Tia, why don''t you give him a piece of it? "Yes, sir." At Jin''s words, Tia immediately put a piece of white kompeito sugar in her mouth. "...... It''s mostly lumps of sugar. And a small amount of natural coloring. There are no harmful substances. Hearing this, Princess Mimir quickly reached out her small hand and popped a peach-colored kompeito in her mouth. "Oh ...... it''s so sweet!Delicious!Thank you, Jin-sama!" Ernest XVII, who was watching from the side, was also curious about the taste, "Mimir, can I have one too? He begged his sister, "Mimir, can I have one? "Yes, Mimir, can I have one? "Yes, mademoiselle, please!" Mimir placed a blue kompeito in her small, maple-like palm and held it out to her brother. "Thank you!" Ernest XVII accepted the sugar with a melt-in-your-mouth smile and immediately popped it into his mouth. "...... Mmm, this is delicious. Jin-dono, you gave my sister something good. Thank you. "Hey, Tia, give me another one! "Princess, one more for today, okay?" "Yes!" Princess Mimir, who seemed to like the kompeito, was so pleased that Tia, who was holding the small box, was forced to eat the second piece of kompeito for the day. Ilmina Ratkin watched enviously. ....... * * * * Princess Mimir was excited for a while, but when it was around eight o''clock in the evening, she looked sleepy. "Princess, I think it''s time for you to go to sleep." "Yes. ......" Rubbing her eyes, the princess replied. "Well, come this way." The Duke of Breu''s residence had a bedroom reserved for the royal family, as they had visited the palace several times. Princess Mimir was taken there by the maid of honor who came with her. "Well, Mister Gin..." Ernest XVII turned to Jin again. "The other day, I asked you to check on Tia for me. "Yes, sir." "Jin-dono, then you can use my workshop. The duke''s residence seems to have its own workshop, albeit a small one. Jin was grateful to be allowed to use it. "Reiko, help me. Can Rhodes help too? After talking to Reiko and Rhodes, Jin and Tia head for the workshop. To his surprise, the Duke of Breu himself showed them around. Ernest XVII is also accompanying them. "You can use this room." The factory was much better equipped than Jin had expected. "Okay, then, Tia, lie down there." "Yes, Jin-sama." Jin had Tia lie down on the workbench, and first instructed Reiko to remove Tia''s clothes. "Oh, oh ......" Ernest XVII and the Duke of Breu blushed. Jin removed the magical skin, wondering in a corner of his mind if they had followed him just to see such a scene. Tia''s interior is revealed. (......It seems that no one has made any changes since then. ......) By "after," I mean 400 years ago in the Kingdom of Klein, after Jin was begged by Princess Rieschen, Tia''s master at the time, to repair it. Even after 400 years, Tia''s body had not been damaged much. 1800 - - 48-29 Tier refurbishment "...... Your Excellency, can I have about 10 grams of adamantite?" Jin, who had been working on the tier, turned and made his request to Duke Breu. "Duke, please. The royal family will pay for it." Ernest XVII also offered his assistance. Adamantite is expensive even in this day and age. Compared to light silver, which was used by Jin to make the magic tools for refining 400 years ago, adamantite is produced in smaller quantities and is more difficult to refine, so that the market price is around 70 The market price of adamantite is about 70,000 dollars per gram. In other words, each gram is worth 70,000 yen. Ten grams of adamantite was worth 700,000 yen, and Ernest XVII told him that the royal family would pay for it. "No, Your Highness, don''t worry about it. It is not every day that we have the opportunity to see the work of a magical engineer, the MagiCraft Meister, and the structure of an automata, which can be called an ancient artifact. Duke Breu also seemed to have an extraordinary interest in magical engineering. After receiving the 10 grams of adamantite, Jin said "<>" He plated the sliding parts of the joints. Adamantite has a specific gravity of 19.3.10 grams, which is not even the tip of a little finger. However, it is one of the hardest metals in the world (the hardest being molecularly compressed hyperadamantite). As usual, Jin plated it on the sliding parts of the joints to reduce rattling and wear at the same time. The skeleton was made of nickel steel, which is resistant to wear, but this makes it even more durable. "The magic nerve wires will be fine with the repair." Mithril silver is resistant to oxidation. And since it was hermetically sealed, the deterioration was slight. However, the metal had become brittle due to fatigue at the points where it had been bent many times, and Jin had repaired them. "The control core is also okay. The important magi devices are perfectly fine. This is the proof that Jin did his job properly 400 years ago. Jin was happy, if I may say so myself. "The magical muscle is still a little damaged. ...... This can''t be helped. Even if biological materials are excellent, 400 years is a long time. The concentration of free magic element (ether) as high as that in the Kingdom of Egelea is not suitable for preservation of ecological materials, and magical muscles are consumable parts. In addition, Tia''s magical muscle is made of sandworm leather. It cannot be compared to the ancient dragon leather used for Reiko. "...... what should I do?" Jin thinks for a moment. In Horai Island, we can use all the precious materials we want. Even the leather made from the shells of ...... ancient dragons. Of course, we must not overexploit. Of course, he did not overhunt. It is because Jin does not like it. Rather, they are actively protecting them, and the total number of confirmed ancient dragons now stands at 30. The number has increased by 1.2 times from 25 dragons in the previous survey conducted 300 years ago. At the same time, the number of frost dragons, which prefer the shells of ancient dragons, has also increased from 220 to 240. I wonder what kind of protection they have given them. What kind of protection has been done was to reduce the mortality rate of juveniles. Specifically, some environmental improvements were made. Even the ancient ancient dragons, which stand at the top of all life forms in Ars, are helpless in their larvae. They are oviparous, but they lay their eggs in spring and hatch in autumn. The efforts of Guth and other researchers have revealed that the key to winter survival is how much the larvae can grow before the cold weather arrives. Since the diet of the larvae was also found to be freshwater fish, the old man farmed and increased the number of freshwater fish caught at the northern limit to improve the food situation. I''ll leave you with a short digression. As expected, we cannot use shells of ancient dragons, but we can use threads of <>, which is the standard in Horai Island. Nowadays, they are cultivated outside of Horai Island, and above all, it is an important industry of the Nordic Federation. Jin refuses the Duke''s request and takes two bundles of Grand Spider threads from the materials rack in the workshop, and transforms them into muscle tissue. First, the fibers are twisted together to make them thicker, and at the same time, the ends are < together to make them look like muscles. The process took 15 seconds. This is the skill of a skilled craftsman who has worked on thousands of Golem automata. Jin made 100 pairs of them in all. He started working on four pairs at a time, so the work was completed in about 10 minutes. The Duke of Breu and King Ernest XVII, who were watching, were frozen with their mouths open. Even Rhodes seemed to be speechless. "Well, let''s replace it with this one," he said. I''ll help you. With Reiko''s help, the work speeds up even more. The 100 pairs of muscles are attached to the designated points on the skeleton and wired with magical nerve wires. Incidentally, it is said that there are more than 600 kinds of human muscles. The human body has over 600 types of muscles, and only 100 pairs of them are needed. The functions are classified and shared, and also shared to reduce the overall number and to facilitate control. However, the <> is not lost. This is the superior point of the Adriana style. As a side note, Reiko has about 300 muscles, while the golems of Horai Island have about 200. This makes it possible for them to move in a more human-like manner. "There we go. The skin is still fine. In order to strengthen and improve the durability, the magical muscles and the magical skin are <. Finally, the control core and other magickal devices are fine-tuned to the new muscles, and the process is complete. "Tia, how are you feeling?" Jin asked Tia after she had been dressed and reactivated. "Yes, Jin-sama. "Yes, Master Jin. Thank you very much." "Yes, I''m glad." Jin then reported to Ernest XVII. "Your Highness, the maintenance of the tier you requested has been completed without delay. ...... Your Highness?" "...... ha!Thank you. Thank you, Master Jin. My sister will be pleased. Thank you! Ernest XVII, who had been stunned, regained his composure at the sound of Jin''s voice and hurried to reply. Thanks to you, Your Highness, I have been able to have my body repaired. I would like to continue to serve you, Your Highness. Tia bowed her head and thanked Ernest XVII for his hospitality. "Yes, no, I''m glad." By then, the Duke of Bruu was back on his feet, "Thank you for your excellent performance, Mr. Jin! He was in a good mood. * * * * Jin and the others returned to the parlor. Ernest XVII started talking about how to thank Jin. "Tia told me that the best way to thank the Magecraft Meister is not with gold, but with materials. Is that so?" "......Yes, that''s true. I would be especially happy if it were a rare material." "Hmm." Ernest XVII thought for a moment and opened his mouth again. "The materials that can be found in our Egelea Kingdom are not that rare. ...... Yes,<> How about 10 standard pieces?" Elradorite is the name of the mineral on the Laurentian continent, and its official name is <>. Its mineral name is . Originally a mineral that does not exist on Arus, it was brought here in the form of a meteorite in the past, and has been dug up and utilized. The names "mithianite" and "univasium" are derived from it. No, I''m afraid it''s not that valuable. How about 100 kilograms of light silver? "Is such a small amount acceptable?" In the past, the price of light silver (titanium in this world) was high, but since Jin made magic tools for refining 400 years ago, the unit price has continued to fall, and now it costs 20 The price of titanium was high in this world. The time required for maintenance was less than one hour. Since the materials for the repair came from the Duke of Breu''s workshop, he calculated that he would be able to get 20,000 yen for the pure labor. "Yes, light silver has many uses." "I see. If that''s all right with you, Jin-dono, I''ll do it. Duke ......, may I borrow it temporarily?" Ernest XVII said that he would pay Jin the light silver that belonged to Duke Breu and make up the difference later. In the end, Jin received 200 (...) kilograms of light silver as a reward. 1801 - - 48-30 Proprietary Analysis "Mister Jin, I cannot thank you enough for not only your hospitality but also for the maintenance of Tia-dono. Your Highness and I thank you for your hospitality. Duke Breu said. After Tia had been re-equipped, a short banquet was held. A low-alcohol, pleasant sake is served. Jin thought it was like plum wine. In fact, it was a distilled liquor soaked with plume fruits (a plant that could only be a plum from the southern part of the Kingdom of Klein). Princess Mimir was already dreaming and Tomax Bartmann was sleeping like mud, so those present were Jin, Rhodes, Ernest XVII, Ilmina Ratkin, and the Duke of Bruu. Reiko, Uragan, and Tia stand behind their respective masters. "No, it was a promise, and I like doing it." Jin was more concerned about Tomax Bartman. "Illumina, is Tomax alright?" "Yes, I''m just tired, that''s all." "After all, ......" The dark circles under her eyes and dulled reactions brought back memories of when she worked for a black company in Japan. "Did you stay up all night for about three days?" The answer to that question is exactly what I expected. "Oh, that''s about right. "......Tomax, you have a strong sense of responsibility. ......" As a human being, I have to say yes. "I wish I could assist you a little more." Tomax is the type of person who takes on a lot on his own, sighed Illumina. "Hmmm... ......" Jin is thinking of making him a secretary automata, but then he thinks that it would be better to start with Machina III. "In the meantime, I''ll give you the recovery medicine that I always keep in <> tomorrow morning." "Thank you. ......" Illumina also seemed to be a hard worker. "So, will Jin-dono be leaving tomorrow?" Duke Blou, looking slightly regretful, asked Jin. "Yes. I still have some unfinished research to do. "Well, I''m sorry, but I can''t force you to stay. The duke looked truly disappointed. "Tomorrow, I will analyze the enemy golem that will probably be brought in and report back to you. "Well, thank goodness." Jin is very curious about the roots of the enemy golem. <, or is it from and other blue-haired automata, or is it neither? ....... "We will know a lot more when we examine the control core." We''d like to do that in the presence of Tomax Bartmann," Jin said. "Yes. Perhaps the golem will be kept in the garrison outside the castle. We won''t bring it into the castle at once, the duke said. "I understand." And so ends the meeting for the night. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, January 4th. Jin and his men arrive by at the soldiers'' garrison outside the castle. They were accompanied by the Duke of Bruu, Rhodoth, Tomax Bartman, and Ilmina Ratkin. I took the restorative you gave me and my stomach feels better. Tomax thanked Jin as they walked along. "That''s good to hear. But it will come back if you don''t remove the cause. ......" "You''re absolutely right. ......" Tomax replied, rubbing his stomach. The stomach ache he had been feeling for a long time had been cured by taking the recovery medicine Jin had given him, but the action had become a habit. Irmina was laughing next to me. "This way, sir." The garrison commander led Jin and the others to a large tent. There lay the enemy golem they had captured yesterday. Tomax and Illumina went to the leader of the survey team to ask him about the results of the analysis so far. Jin, of course, has his own analysis. The control core had already been analyzed by the survey team, but Jin''s analysis of the structure and materials might reveal something. "Well..." Jin approaches the golem lying in front of him and begins his analysis. Rhodes and the Duke of Breu observe from the side. The members of the survey team also gathered to take a look at Jin''s skills, albeit from a distance. "<><>>>" "Oh, oh? In no time at all, the exterior of the chest was removed, exposing the important magical device (magi device) inside, and someone in the survey team let out an exclamation at the skill with which he began analyzing the device without a pause. Jin, however, was unconcerned, "<><><>" and the analysis proceeded apace. "Haha...... this guy is also a member of the family, isn''t he?" The golem that rampaged in < was in the same family, though the type was different. (I guess it was not a family. ...... I''m relieved about that. < has a performance that is different from that of ordinary golems, so that if one power has it, it may upset the balance of power. (...... I am one in that sense.) The thought of retreating to Hale, after all, crosses Jin''s mind. But for now, he turns his attention back to the Golem to focus on the problem at hand. "<>...... galvanized carbon steel. ......<>...... this one is a bronze mixed with mithril silver...... I see." Jin proceeds to analyze the material as well. Reiko takes quick note of his mutterings. "Muscle tissue is ...... a material for demons. < The members of the investigation team look at him with wide-eyed amazement at the speed of his analysis. "The ether converter and mana driver ...... are not very good ......, or maybe three at the moment. The conversion efficiency is poor." Jin''s hand does not stop while muttering to himself. "The structure of the skeleton is ...... ah, I see. < and didn''t use it as a reference? Jin saw that there was no pelvis and the waist was not flexible enough. "That''s why its movements were not human-like." Jin then analyzes the head. "The ears are reasonably good, but I wonder why ...... the eyes ...... did this?" The super wide-angle lens provided a field of view of about 200 degrees in front of the head, but without a zoom function, it would have been difficult to distinguish objects in the distance. "The light-receiving part seems to be more powerful for that purpose, but it''s ...... a bit odd." It is like a digital camera with a very high resolution. The performance of the photosensitive area is so high that the image quality does not deteriorate even when the details are magnified. ....... "The night vision seems to be poor." Jin thought that this would be a disadvantage for use on an abandoned mine road. "Well, many of the copies are just imitations without understanding the design concept. No wonder they can''t surpass the originals," Jin said with a cold smile. He examined the other three in the same way, but found nothing new. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Thank you very much, Duke. That''s all I could find out. Jin handed over the notes that Reiko had written during the analysis and the report with his opinion. "Oh, this explains a lot." Duke Breu was pleased to receive the report. "Our golem has something to offer as well, doesn''t it?" "Yes. Yes. And I have written down its advantages and disadvantages. "I see, Master Jin, and thank you." "No, I have gained something from it too." Jin smiled as he said this. 1802 - - 48-31 Old Man Move "Master Jin, I apologize for the delay. I have just received word from King''s Landing that you are to be the third generation of Magecraft Meisters. Ernest XVII and the Duke of Bruu told Jin this near noon. "At the same time, I also received a document appointing me an honorary nobleman of the Kingdom of Egelea." Ernest XVII told him bluntly that there was no obligation to pay taxes or serve in the military, and that this was just a way to allow him access to the royal palace. "Thank you very much." Jin received the certificate. This expanded the scope of his activities in the Shoro and Egelea kingdoms. Then Princess Mimir arrived with Tia. "Thank you very much for fixing Tia, Magirafuto Maistajinsha," she said. Princess Meir bowed politely. "Please don''t worry about it, Your Highness. A good automaton like Tia is a treasure of humanity. Jin smiled at Princess Mimir. Then it was time for lunch. It was a meal usually eaten by the nobles and royalty of the Kingdom of Egelea. The menu consisted of freshly baked white bread, beef steak, pork cutlet, white fish meuniere, white stew, and vegetable salad. The number of dishes seems to be small, but the steaks of cow bull are huge. Princess Mimir''s steak weighed about 70 grams, but Jin''s was about 600 grams. The pork cutlet also looked like it weighed about 400 grams. Princess Mimir, however, was not affected, but King Ernest XVII ate it without a care in the world. So did Rhodes. Tomax Bartmann, who was holding his stomach, looked a little pale. "You shouldn''t push yourself when your stomach is upset." "I thought it was because I felt much better with the recovery medicine you gave me. Hearing this, Jin secretly thought that he would bring her some more recovery medicine later. Illumina also seemed to be having a hard time with the 600 gram steak. In this case, however, it was no disrespect to leave the leftovers. Leftovers are supposed to be fed to livestock. For example, it is said that the taste of cocarisque improves when a small amount of meat is fed to the animals. It is important not to waste food. * * * * After lunch, Jin decided to leave the Blue Lands early. Thank you very much for your help. Thank you, Jin-dono, for everything you have done for me. I thank you for showing me your many wonderful tricks. "Jin-sama, I hope to see you again." Ernest XVII and Princess Mimir waved us goodbye. I secretly gave Tia plenty of extra kompeito sugar as an afterthought. "......" Tomax Bartman sat back in his seat, looking tired. "Thank you for your hard work." Jin laboriously hands over the second bottle of recovery medicine. "Oh, thank you very much. ......" Tomax Bartmann took it without effort and gulped it down in one gulp. "......I feel like my stomach is getting better." Since it was a drink, it seemed to have an immediate effect in curing his irritated stomach walls. Tomax Bartmann then leans back in his seat and closes his eyes while we return to the . * * * * * * "Thank you very much, Jin-dono. <, and the plane takes off immediately. Tomax''s back was called as he watched the < dwindle in size. "Thank you for your hard work, Chief Superintendent. He turned around and saw Machina III standing there. "I see you didn''t bring ...... a gift. I have a gift for you." "Yes?" Tomax looked doubtful, and Machina III introduced an automaton standing behind him. "I am Manon, the secretary automata. "My name is Manon." The automaton bowed beautifully. "I have prepared this together with Jin to reduce the burden on you, Tomax-sama. "Oh, oh, that''s very kind of you! In fact, Jin had contacted Horai Island and had the old man prepare this for Tomax. He was going to present it to Tomax via Makina III. "I can do all basic office work. I have an excellent memory. I can also act as an escort. "That''s great!" To differentiate her from Anne, Tia and the other < series, her hair color is <...... dark green. Based on the five-colored golem maids of Horai Island, she has slightly detuned abilities, which would be equivalent to about five human secretaries. She looks somewhat like Illumina Ratkin. And... "I can also use <> and <>." "That would be great!" Tomax had made it possible for him to use healing magic as well. < the necessary information, but as a result, Tomax Bartmann''s workload was reduced to one-third. He manages the schedule, drafts documents, reviews documents including checking for typos and spelling errors, organizes documents, and handles visitors. It will be a few more days before Tomax Bartmann''s physical condition improves, as he will be reviewing his diet and even recovering from fatigue. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, it''s getting depressing now..." Jin muttered to himself as the returned to Horai Island. "I hope we can catch the ringleader this time." Jin is disappointed that he had to cut short his New Year''s Day. "Tomax Bartmann is getting close to his limit. Anyway, let''s go back and talk about it," said Jin, using the warp gate provided, he decided to return to Horai Island with Reiko, Rhodos, and Uragan. "Hope, I''m sorry, but I need you to take over for me. "Yes, I''ll take care of it." < was piloted by Hope and returned to Horai Island. Jin and the others return to Horai Island ahead of the and decide to discuss the future. * * * * * * * * * * * * On the other hand, the old brain of Horai Island had already started to move. to cause such a commotion when the master (My Lord) is relaxing. ......> < had escaped to with the transfer magic circle, we decided to first move the Shinobi Unit. < It is sent in using a transporter. When Jin came back and asked for a meeting, he had obtained a great deal of information. 1803 - - 48-32 Audience After returning to Horai Island, Jin went straight to the command room and started the meeting with Rhodes. "First of all, Mr. President, where did they run away from? < "Mount Onouni......Mount Onouni......" The old man projected a map of the Kingdom of Celuloa on the magic screen. This time Jin understood. "Oh, I see. "Oh, that''s the mountain there. The mountain rises a little north of the Tropic of Cancer. There are three excellent mines there, and the Grafas Mine is located on the southern slope of Mount Onouni. < Jin nodded at the report from the old man. "That''s the old man. You''ve already done a lot of research on it. The old man added, "No one in the League of Magic should know about that one. "Indeed. The technology of the was also used there." "What is the size and equipment of the base?" Rhodes asked. < They also have an arsenal where they built most of the golems used by the . < "......I don''t know if I''m asking the right question, but may I ask how?" <. Then the old man explained the working principle of the peepers. Rhodes, who was also a magecraftsman, seemed to understand the explanation. "I see. ...... Sorry for breaking your back. Please continue." <>. The old man said, "The idea seems to be to avoid detection. Jin thought that with that kind of force, they must have felt safe. "So, how many people are there now?" "Not many?" That is the most troublesome thing, Jin thought. >. "Then, Graham Darby is not among them?" The old man explained that he was not very good at planning missions because of his technical background, and that is why he could only make poor plans like this one. "But you are sure that Graham Darby was working with the five of them, aren''t you?" <, and Graham Darby sent a golem and using the transfer magic circle which he seems to have set up. "Yes. ...... don''t those five people know where Graham is?" . "I see... ......" The remnants of the are scattered all over the world. It was going to be very difficult to find and deal with them all. "They were probably not brainwashed and joined of their own free will." Rhodes says with a sullen look on his face. "Perhaps they are not so much sympathizing with the philosophy of the as they are trying to secure their own interests by playing nice. "Yeah, I think there are people like that." Jin agrees with this opinion. "If that''s the case, it will be difficult to eradicate them. < "Foundation? ......Oh, that''s what you mean." Jin pondered over the old man''s words and realized what he was trying to say. Without funds, bases, backups, etc., we can''t do much. "Yes, it is. ...... did you find any such documents in the depths of that abandoned mine?" "I see." Even though they were technicians, they were not amateurs enough to leave clues that could be traced back to them. "Then, why don''t we let Makina do it?" Jin thought it would be better not to leave these five alone any longer. Makina III is a public face. He can''t do anything too far out of the ordinary. But if Horaijima moves on its own, we can put our all into it. But your servant, the Master, is aware of it. < And then we will say that he has been investigating on his own. "Let''s go with that." Jin did not want to be bothered by this any more. On the other hand, he could not just leave it at that. < "As expected of you, my old friend." < * * * What is our next target? < "Our forces have shrunk considerably. I think it is important to review our goals at this point. < < cannot pick up the voice. "In the first place, we were not sympathetic to the ideas of the , were we? "That''s right. We joined because they let us make what we wanted to make. That''s true. That''s me, too. ...... In the first place, what we are doing would not be possible without ." * * * "......Surprisingly, you have a decent sense of judgment." Jin muttered to himself as he watched the images being sent to him. But.... * * * * "The completion of the final weapon ...... will still be a long way off." "Mm. So far, we''re at about fifty percent, right? Yeah, that''s right. The disturbing words came out of his mouth, and Jin pulled himself together. 1804 - - 48-33 Final weapon? The word "ultimate weapon" was thrown out of the room, causing the group to raise their eyebrows. "Old man, do you know what this ultimate weapon is? It seems that even the "Mere Old Man" does not know. < < "Yes, please." No useful information was obtained from the subsequent meeting of the five. The <<<< Shinobi Unit will continue to lie low and investigate the final weapon. "Yes, please." Jin tried to imagine what the ultimate weapon might be, but the lack of information made it impossible. "A magical tool that causes <>, or a magical machine that can destroy a planet?" "Jin-san, isn''t the latter impossible?" Rhodes seemed to have thought about it, but said he couldn''t come up with anything. "Well, I don''t feel like making one either. Jin tried to imagine ...... though he could think of many ways to do so. "I could compound all the oxygen in the air at once and make the atmosphere unbreathable, or generate a deadly magic ray or something like that. ......" "Well, that sounds terrifying." Nevertheless, it is said that anything that can be imagined can one day be realized. Jin would rather have a countermeasure than create one. "The first thing to do with any weapon is to disable it before it is activated. The first thing to do would be to use a device such as a transporter gun that would send them to the appropriate coordinates and transfer them to the far side of the universe. "Then we could melt it down in an instant." Plasma swords or super-powerful lasers," Jin said. "Or we could wrap it in a so that it can''t affect the surroundings. There are many ways to do this," Jin concluded. "If we can understand the principle of operation, we can make a magic tool that interferes with it, can''t we?" "Yes, that''s right." In any case, Jin and the others agreed that the idea of creating such a could not be left unchecked. * * * * * * * * * * * "However, it was a little painful that that man escaped from us. "That man ...... is, ah, that Graham Darby, isn''t it?" "It''s good that he became the chief executive of Avalon, but he only lasted about three years. "But he was easy to manipulate, though." The conversation among the <> is still going on, but it is becoming more and more like a chat. However, they are not to be taken for fools as they sometimes blurt out important information in the course of their chit-chat. "Why don''t we just get someone else and brainwash them again? "Don''t be silly. It is difficult to select . It is meaningless at the bottom, and difficult in a position with many colleagues. It is better to have someone in a position where you feel comfortable being alone." * * * "I see. You have thought this through." Jin says to himself. "Yes, he is. "Yes...and he''s been brainwashed after all..." "Yes, it seems so. Maybe that will help Marikka a little. Rhodes says that since Marikka was sad that her student has become a terrorist, it might be a little comforting for her. Jin agrees. < "What?" What? < One group, Shinobi I and II, were hiding in the meeting room of the <, while the other four groups were scattered throughout the base. And now, Shinobi Kusu and Pickup had come to the innermost part of the arsenal. There might be something in here.) < (In the innermost part of the arsenal, ......, there might be a < or something like that.) So the two of them decide to proceed more carefully. There might be a hidden room. As a result, they found an unnatural place. The dead end is a wall, but there is an unnatural space in front of it. It is an empty space of about 10 meters square. On either side of the vacant space, there are work tables, tools, and magi-machines. (Too unnatural. ...... what do you think?) Shinobu asked Pickup. It looks as if something has been carried away from here.) Pickup replies. (Or are they planning to put something here?) I think about it, but I don''t get an answer. (Or is there something behind the wall or in the basement?) Shinobu guessed so, but there was no way to confirm it. He wanted to use the acoustic sonar, but that would be too obvious. ...... Is there any better way to find out? Shinobu Ku contacted the old man. This is Shinobu Ku. We found a suspicious space at the back of the arsenal. < < The reply came immediately. Then he waited for 2 minutes. The old man called me. Shinobu Ku, you got it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Old man, what in the world is this Magi-machine?" Jin asked. "What! Jin couldn''t help but yell out. "Well, if such a thing is completed, it will be a disaster! But the old man was calm. Is that so? . The old man began to explain. <<>. "Yes. It was after Jin''s death 400 years ago, a blank period of time so to speak, and it was natural that the present Jin did not know about it. It is also not surprising that Rhodes, who will be 126 years old this year, does not know about it. Jin and Rhodes listened to the old man''s explanation. 1805 - - 48-34 The Old Mans Secret Activities The old man''s explanation of the ultimate weapon continues. < "Mr. Lao, that''s ......!" Jin felt a sense of crisis and involuntarily got up from his chair. . "I see. ......" At the old man''s words, Jin felt a little relieved and sat down in his chair again. < It erases memories from brain cells, but it was not practical. This is because it was impossible to find out which part of the brain cells stored the information to be erased with human abilities. However, the "Mere Old Man," who boasts of capabilities thousands of times greater than those of human beings, can do it. He can check the knowledge by <, and can affect only the part of the brain cells he wants to erase. However, Jin had designated this as a forbidden spell. He considered it too sacrilegious to tamper with a person''s memory. In fact, 400 years ago, Jin had decided not to use it without the approval of the entire <>, even if it was necessary in the end. However, if he used the Amnesia at its maximum power, it would erase all memories, in other words, dementia. This is what Jin feared. <> does not appear unless at close range. ...... Oh, this is the result of testing it on a demon>> "I see." For a moment Jin wondered if they had experimented on humans, but that was OK. >. < "I see, so that''s how it is." Jin sighed in relief. >. "I see." The old man assured him that it was just a piece of junk, which finally made Jin feel relieved. The old man added. "Oh, that''s a good idea." Jin agrees. The craftsman (Smith) can then use the transporter to escape from the base, and the Air Force can retrieve him. < Thus, the unfinished <> was turned into a completely useless piece of junk. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, what about the other ? Shinobi San and 4 had searched the warehouse for materials. There was not even a door, perhaps because there was no one else there, or perhaps because they thought there was no way they could find it. They report to the old man, < He said, "Let''s take it for the time being. Specifically, he sent <> and a craftsman (Smith) with a transporter to transfer all the objects. The craftsmen (Smith) will be transferred out of the base by the transporter, and the Air Force will retrieve the <> together with the disassembled craftsmen (Smith). <> or Machina III. Hourai Island has enough materials, so there is no need to secure them in such a place. And all the materials in the base disappeared. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Shinobi and Riku had found a golem warehouse. The number of golems in the warehouse was about 500 (including unfinished ones and those in need of repair). (...... what to do ......) They also reported to the old man and asked for his advice. After the remodeling, the old man said, we can sell them through <> or Machina III. < This was also done by <> and craftsmen (smiths), and all the unoperated golems in the base disappeared. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Shinobi Urushi and Soru found a pantry. There was enough food in the pantry for 100 people to live for a year. . The old man says that this food can be distributed to the areas where there is a shortage of food via <> or Makina III. The <> and the craftsmen (smiths) worked, and all the food in the base disappeared, leaving only enough for the <> to eat for a week. * * * * * What is the first thing to be developed in the future? "That, of course, would be weapons. < Since they are all in the technical field, they do not know when to stop talking, and when there is a conflict of opinions, they tend to get heated up and continue discussing endlessly. He even tended to enjoy the discussion itself, so much so that he often skipped meals. Jin and Rhodes had already stopped listening and gone to sleep, and only the old man was observing them. > <, came up with a hypothesis. <> << The old man hoped that if the brainwashing was lifted, he might be able to do a little good for the world. < He thought that it would require a blitzkrieg operation, and started to prepare for it immediately. He decided that now must be the best time for them to let their guard down. If they are, he will release them, and if not, he will hand them over to via Machina III. > and asks for Reiko''s cooperation. "If that''s the case..." Reiko does not refuse if it is for Jin''s sake. < seems to have run out. 1806 - - 48-35 Graham Derby First, Reiko and Lands 101, 102, 103, 104, 105. "This must be the enemy base. The six were sent to a materials depot. The simple warp gate was still in place, so moving around was easy. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen of the army. He was greeted by Craftsman (Smith) 301, who was also present, so we knew that there were no enemies in this yard. "According to the Shinobi Unit, they are still in the middle of a meeting. "That''s convenient." Reiko, the leader of this operation, answered. "<>! The first step was to stun all five of them. The five fell down without making a sound. The five randos tied them up and restrained them. "If it was just brainwashing, this would be enough to break their bonds, but if it was just a brainwashing by Markitas, it may not be enough. But I have no intention of taking him to Horai Island. We will find out right here and now. "<>" Reiko reads out the information in her brain. The reading speed is so fast that humans can''t recognize it, but Reiko can. "What do you think?" Rand101 asked Reiko. "...... Yes, you were brainwashed after all. It was only a very mild one, and it seems to have been lifted by the stun. That''s good to hear. But what do we do now? ...... Reiko thinks that it would be safer to let Makina III take the credit. "I can''t stand the fact that your father is treated so lightly,......, but it can''t be helped." It seems that Jin now wants to live more quietly than he did 400 years ago. He is even thinking of eventually retiring to . "All for the sake of my father. Reiko muttered and contacted the old man. * * * * It is 7:00 a.m. Horai Island time on January 5th. The early riser Jin is already up. Rhodes was up as well. He waited for them to finish their breakfast and reported. "Well, I see that the trouble is pretty much under control now. Any leads? The old man gave the credit to Reiko. "At ......." Reiko began. "I found those five people by looking them up on <. No one knew their specific whereabouts, but there were three places where we could find them." "Oh." The first is Florenz in the Kingdom of Elias, the second is Rakham in the Kingdom of Klein, and the third is Esaiah, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa. All are large cities. The old man interrupted. "No, but we have a peep show telescope. Try to find him with it. "Yes, sir." Graham Darby''s appearance is known from the records of Avalon. The old man set to work at once. As expected, he could not find him quickly, so he decided to discuss the future with Rhodes. "I think I will visit Onogoro Island again in a little while," he said. Jin then plans to work out the details of the . "I''ll be with you. Let''s talk to Grandmother and Marikka too." Rhodes said. "Oh, yes." The two of them move on to discussing how the <> relationship should be handled, assuming that the <> relationship is fine. "Well, I think ...... we should leave the other side to Machina III. Rhodes'' opinion was based on the fact that he was aware that Jin did not seem to want to get involved. In fact, Jin thinks that it is enough to do as little as necessary. "Well, ...... I''m just a little concerned about the Graham Darby thing, you know." "Yes, I understand that. Jin thinks that it would be unacceptable for him to give up on the project once he is involved in it. The old man interrupted. < "You''re fast, that''s great. Good work." Jin said to the old man. It is fortunate that you were in the first city you checked, the old man said. "Are you hiding there?" Naturally Jin asked. But what came back was an unexpected answer. < "What?" "......" Jin was speechless at this unexpected situation. "Yes, that''s right. What''s the name of the disease?Why is he in bed?" "Unexplained unconsciousness. ......" Jin frowned, wondering why this was happening. "Could it have something to do with Markitas?" Rhodes said with an idea. "It could be a side effect of the brainwashing and slavery magic. "Hmmm, you mean that Markitas was doing something regularly, and when he stopped doing it, that''s why he became unconscious?" < It sounds like a drug, but I think that''s a bit off the point, since there are substances called "brain drugs". Dopamine, endorphins, and other <> certainly bring about euphoria, but unlike most drugs, they do not have side effects such as making you a cripple if you take too much of them. I''ll leave you with this. >. "I see." My late beloved wife Elsa was an expert in healing. Therefore, based on the knowledge she had gained from Jin, she had left behind many research results, both magic-related and non-magic-related. "Is that what happened?" <<> "...... So you''re telling me that there''s a good chance you can fix Graham Darby?" < All of Elsa''s research results are stored strictly in your library and can be downloaded to your doctor (healer) automata <> or nursing automata <> as needed. "......Okay, let''s give it a try." Jin decided and had <> download the healing method. 1807 - - 48-36 at Florentines "What?You know where the Graham Derby is?" On January 5 at , Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann involuntarily rose from his chair. "Yes, sir. I have just received word from Jin-dono. He happened to find it in Florenz in the Kingdom of Elias. "By chance, or ......?" Tomax Bartmann had guessed that it was a ruse. But he was not foolish enough to ask how they found it. "They''ll be in touch with you shortly with more details." "I see." Tomax looked at the secretary. He looked at Manon, the automata given to him by Makina III. Manon had reduced Tomax''s workload by half by managing his schedule and sorting out the paperwork. In the future, the manualization of the office work would make the administrative work even easier. Tomax finally saw the light at the end of the long tunnel. * * * * * * * * * * * "It''s been a long time since I''ve been to Florenz. Last time I visited there was last October, just before the liberation of Kunlun Island. "That''s right." Rhodes, who is accompanying him, nods. "We brought back in the Blitz, didn''t we ......?" There were ...... signs everywhere inviting people to join the back then, and even now. However, there seemed to be fewer of them than before, and some of them were dirty or broken. "It''s only been a couple of months, but does this mean that the influence of the <> is waning?" "It seems so." Jin and Rhodes exchanged such words as they followed Reiko''s lead. Reiko was in the lead, followed by Jin and Rhodes, with the white-robed in last place. "This way, please." Reiko turns a corner from the main street and heads toward a medium-sized street. Reiko heads for an old two-story brick house. It seems to be a healing center. But... "Where are you going?" Two men with short swords on their waists blocked their way. "We''re going to the healing center at the end of the hall." Reiko answered, and one of the men said, "That clinic is not very good. If you want to be healed, you''d better go somewhere else. He said, "No, I''m in the hospital. Reiko reiterates, "No, I''m here to see a patient in the hospital. Reiko reiterated. A sword was thrust at her. "Kut!" The sword stops about five centimeters from Reiko''s throat. Reiko stopped it with her left index finger and thumb. Whether the man intended to stop short, or whether he intended to keep thrusting, we don''t know. "I can''t ...... move!Why not? The man puts all his strength into the sword. But no matter how hard he pushed or pulled, the sword Reiko held in her hand did not move at all. But the other man pulls out his sword and swings it down at Reiko''s brain. "No way! ......" But the sword was caught by Reiko''s small hand. "If you interfere with me any further, I will show you no mercy. Rhodoth speaks to the two pale men. "Are you from the League of Magic?" Immediately the color of the two men''s faces changed. He had hit the nail on the head. "There is a man named Graham at the healing center, isn''t there? "Yes!" "How did you know that ......? This reaction was the same as a confession. "We''re here to fix Graham." Jin, reading that the two were probably trying to protect Graham Darby, decided to take a chance and tell them so. "What? "...... Really?" The two men look doubtful. But he does not let go of the sword yet. "...... may not be trustworthy, but it''s true." "......" The hostility has disappeared from both of them for the time being. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the hostility has diminished. "Reiko, let her go." Jin put up a barrier just in case and then instructed Reiko. "Yes, sir." Reiko lets go of his hand after seeing that he has put up the barrier. "Whoa!" The two were so surprised that they threw their swords out of their hands. "You see?We could have forced them to go to the healing center if we wanted to. Jin insisted, "We''re negotiating with them instead of going there. "Hmmm... ......." He was still hesitating and groaning, "Reiko, get rid of that sword," he instructed. "Reiko, get rid of that sword," he instructed. "Yes, father." Reiko picks up both swords, and slowly twists them together. "Whoa! "You''re a lazy b*tc*, aren''t you? It''s not well tempered, so it can be twisted like this. "You can see that, can''t you?You can see by this that we mean you no harm by not forcing our way through." Rhodes negotiates. "Okay, okay." Somehow he understood, and the two men gave way timidly. "Thank you." Jin thanks them and walks away. The two men watched in horror as Jin and the others passed by. The healing center was a rather tired building as they approached. "Well, it''s not what it looks like." Reiko took the initiative to open the door for us. The place we entered was a small and spacious lobby, which was as ...... tired as it looked on the outside. "It''s pretty shabby ...... inside too." Rhodes sounded a little dismayed. "If it''s a healing center, it should be a little cleaner like a healing center. As Jin says this, , who had been following him silently until now, says "<><>" and is quickly performing purification and sterilization. "The air in the building was quite stagnant, so we cleaned it up. "Yes, yes, thank you very much." Then a young woman in a white coat, who appeared to be a healer, came in. She had short bobbed dark blond hair and steeple eyes, "What''s going on? She was surprised at the suddenly clean lobby. "Well, I''m here to talk to a man named Graham Darby who is in the hospital. Jin told him straight away, "...... who are you?" The woman, with a look of alarm on her face, took a few steps back and asked a question. 1808 - - 48-37 Liese and Sonja <>If Jin was thinking about how to answer the question, Rhodes answered, "I am here to examine Mr. Graham at his request. Rhodes answered, "I am here to examine Mr. Graham at his request. Jin nodded his head, as it was not a lie. The young female healer said, "I see. ......" The young female healer seemed to be in a quandary, but then said, I understand. Please do it." She seemed to have decided to trust Jin and the others. Then he added, "Um......... what about the automaton that is accompanying you?" He asked them a question. Of course, it is obvious that he is asking about who is wearing a white robe. <> has an appearance reminiscent of the young healer <> who once practiced in the village of Kaina with the village headman Giebeck. "It''s a healer-automata. Jin replied, looking surprised. "This is ......." The female healer led Jin and the others to the second floor. The last room, which was Graham Darby''s private room, was at the far end of the room. "So this is Graham Darby. ...... He must have been bedridden for a long time, and he looked very thin. He has been bedridden for a long time.) (No IV either, I guess.) With only liquid food or juice in their mouths, it''s no wonder they''re like this. "Lise, please." "Yes." Liese answered Jin''s request shortly and immediately began to examine the patient. "<>" This is a magic to check if the patient is under the influence of brainwashing magic. "......It seems that a part of the frontal lobe is activated." "The frontal lobe or ......" The frontal lobe is said to contain the majority of dopamine-sensitive neurons. This fits with the hypothesis of the other day, <>. "Not only that. Conversely, there are also areas that are inactive." The frontal lobe is also responsible for emotion and thought. If some of these areas are inactivated, it is possible that the patient is acting out of his/her own will. Can you fix it? "Yes, I can fix it to this extent. "Yes, I''m sure you can." Yes, I''ll take care of it. The female healer listening in the back rolled her eyes, but Jin and the others had nothing better to do. "<>......<>......<>......<>" Liese was treated by breaking down the overproduced brain substances to normal levels, repairing the damaged brain cells, and restoring the normal function of the abnormal brain cells. Finally, the patient was examined again, "I am cured. He confirmed that the treatment had been carried out correctly. "Now, we have to heal his weakened body. As soon as he regains consciousness, we will be able to manage that by administering recovery medicine and Persica juice made in Horaijima. "There are some bedsores, so we will fix them as well. " Lise''s healing magic is based on Erza''s knowledge. In other words, it is not applied to the whole body, but to the brain cells, concentrating on the necessary areas. Therefore, it is possible to use the highest level of surgical healing magic <> on the brain, and then use the intermediate level <> on the back. "<>...... should do the trick." "Thank you." Even Jin can see that Graham Darby''s color is clearly better than before. His breathing, which had been erratic, had changed to deep and slow, and his heartbeat, which Jin could not understand, seemed to have become more steady. "It''s over. ...... what''s that?" The female healer who had led Jin and the others here froze. "Hello? Jin called out to her, but she didn''t answer. So he decided to let Reiko tap him on the shoulder. "Hello?" "...... ha!What is this healing magic you''re doing now?Most of them I had never seen or heard of before!" The rebooted female healer rushes to ask Jin a question. She seems to know that Jin is Liese''s master. "Calm down. What you just used ...... is a healing magic developed by the best healer in the world. The explanation seemed to bring the female healer back to her senses. "Oh, uh, I''m sorry. My name is Sonya Banaka, an apprentice healer here at ......." Rhodes. I''m ...... Jin." Rhodes said his real name without hesitation, and Jin followed his lead. "Uh, uh, and, uh, that''s the healing magic that your automata used,......." At this moment, Jin had a flash of realization. This female healer, whose name was Sonya Banaka, had recognized Liese as an automata at the first sight. "Sonya-san, how did you know that Lise was an automaton?" At any rate, Jin voiced the question that came to his mind. The answer came back even more surprising. "What?You can see it when you look at it, can''t you? "No, normally you can''t." Unintentionally, Jin uttered such words. Maybe this girl has more talent in engineering magic than a healer?) Jin thinks like that. "Uh-uh. ......" Just then, the bedridden Graham Darby moaned. "Mr. Darby!" Sonya rushed over. "This ...... is ...... me ...... what in the world ......?" Sonya said to Graham, who was still a little dazed, "Don''t worry, this is a healing center. You''ve been bedridden and unconscious for a long time. She said in a gentle and calm voice, "You have been unconscious and bedridden for a long time. Graham Darby seemed to regain his composure, "Oh, I see. ....... I feel like I''m finally waking up from a long dream. ...... He sighed. 1809 - - 48-38 Honne and Honne "Let him drink this for the time being. Jin handed Sonya, the apprentice healer, a 500ml bottle of Persica juice he had prepared. "Thank you very much." Sonya seemed to trust Jin and his team because they had cured Graham Darby, and accepted the juice without hesitation. She transferred it into a provided and offered it to Graham. While lying down, Graham Darby drinks the contents of the sucker. "...... this is ...... delicious ......." In no time at all he had drunk the entire contents of the sucker, so Sonya filled the sucker three times with Persica juice and gave it to Graham Darby to drink. Graham Darby drank all the Persica juice that Sonya had given him, and his color seemed to improve considerably. "Thank God. I ...... feel like I have some strength back in my body." His voice sounds much different than it did when he woke up. Sonya, the apprentice healer, said, "Jin-san!What in the world is this juice! she wanted to know again. "Jin ......?" Graham Darby, who was lying down, responded to Jin''s name. "Yes. I am Jin Nido. "What? You''re the third generation? Sonya''s surprised voice. Graham Darby was more relaxed. "Magecraft Meister? ......" Sonya''s legs seemed to be shaking a little. But Graham Darby is calm. "So the third generation has finally arrived." Graham Darby mutters quietly, closing his eyes. "...... So, what are you going to do with me?" "...... me?" "No!" Jin was about to open his mouth when Sonya, the apprentice healer, interrupted him. "I won''t let you touch her!In the name of the healer! Sonya stands between Jin and Graham with her arms outstretched. Her face is blue and her legs are trembling. Jin stops Rhodes with a hand when he tries to step forward to say something, "You''re mistaken, aren''t you?" With a wry smile on his face, he spoke slowly to Sonya. "......?" "I, <>, am not a member of the Guard. I''m not going to do anything about Graham right now." He''s still half sick," Jin said. "Unless you want to antagonize him right here and now." When Jin finished, Graham Darby laughed weakly. "Well, I don''t see how I can be hostile to you under these circumstances," he said. "Very well, then. By the way, are you still in the mindset of the League of Magic?" "What?...... well, come to think of it, ...... you seem to have a much clearer head now." "I guess so." Here Jin explained that Graham had been under the brainwashing suggestion of Markitas. He also explained that the suggestion had been broken, causing an imbalance of substances in his brain, and that he had fallen into unconsciousness. "......I knew it." Graham Darby''s face became difficult as he thought of many things. "......" And a moment of silence passes. "............Mr. Markitas is no longer here, is he?" Jin nodded silently. "Well, ...... that''s too bad. I used to enjoy debating with him." Apparently he likes to argue, Jin said of Graham. "...... but that''s secondary. ...... I''m sure I''ve almost destroyed the world." He even has a faint memory of it. Then Sonya, the apprentice healer, interrupted. "Oh, um, Mr. Darby, are you feeling better now?" "Yes?...... who was it?" "Uh, my name is Sonya, and I''m an apprentice healer here at the Rosetta Healing Center. I don''t think Mr. Darby knows you." "I see." Sonya seemed to be in awe or respect of Graham. Jin mutters to himself. "...... That''s too bad." Her eyes recognized Lise as an automaton at the first glance. Perhaps Sonya is better suited to be a magecraftsman than a healer, Jin thought. But since she seems to want to be a healer, Jin does not intend to say too much. He only regretted it. "So, what are you going to do now?" Jin asked Graham Darby again. "Well, let''s see. First, I''m going to heal my body. ...... Graham broke off and glanced at Jin. "...... Anyway, I''m not with the anymore. At least, that''s the plan." "I see." "I''ll turn myself in to <> as soon as I''m able to move." As Jin had predicted, Graham Darby had been brainwashed into acting by Malkitas. Now that he has come to his senses, he is at least no longer an enemy of <>. Jin is relieved that he is willing to go to on his own. Graham''s nature seems to be quite fastidious. But then again, he would never have been able to become the supreme administrator of , even temporarily. "I''m sure Maricka will be pleased to hear that." Graham Darby was more than a little perturbed by these words. "Marikka,...... you''re a teacher!...... well, I''m sorry to have worried you." Jin was relieved that Graham Darby also seemed to respect or admire him as Marikka''s student. "You''re not going to capture me here and now, or hand me over to <>?" "Yes, in that case..." Jin scratches his head. "Well, I''m here as an individual this time ......." "What?An individual? "I''m ......<>, and I''m not a public figure. I was not commissioned by <. If he says he''s going to turn himself in sooner or later, that''s all the better." "You''re an interesting character, Jin-dono," said Graham Darby. Graham Darby said. "Yes. I personally think it''s a good thing that he doesn''t disturb my peace." Jin now thinks that < should be the one to do the official stuff. He is even thinking of moving to at some point. He adds, however, that he would not overlook a situation that would endanger his friends and colleagues. "...... hmm, what is your peace, Jin-dono?" "Oh, well,...... I guess I like to make what I like and live a carefree life." "Haha, haha ......." Graham Darby smiles weakly. "You have the power to conquer the world, but you have no interest in it. "It''s just too much trouble, that''s all." "Well, you can''t be the world''s greatest and dismiss it with one word, ''trouble''." Somehow, I can see the look of dismay on Graham Darby''s face. "...... I don''t understand it." "I don''t understand people who want power, either. "...... "Ha-ha-ha." Graham Darby and Jin looked at each other and laughed. Rhodes and Sonya laughed at them. 1810 - - 48-39 After that... Reiko asked him to memorize Graham Darby''s magic pattern, just in case, and Jin left the healing center. As he was leaving, "This juice is good for your health, so give him a bottle a day. He left ten bottles of Persica juice made in Horai Island for Jin. "Thank you very much!" The apprentice healer Sonya thanked him and took them. Then Jin secretly memorized Sonya''s magic patterns. Somehow, he felt that Sonya was a person whom he could not leave alone. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <, Jin, Rhodes, Reiko, and Liese returned to the waiting in the sky above. The two guards or whatever they were were no longer there. Jin, too, had no intention of going after them too hard, so he decided to leave them alone. "Well, I guess that settles this whole mess, doesn''t it?" Jin decided to leave the matter of Graham Darby to <>, since it was his intention to do so. Since Jin himself will testify that Graham''s actions up to now were done under brainwashing, he will not be sentenced to the extreme. Rather, Jin thought that Tomax Bartmann''s skill would be tested to see if he could make good use of such a capable man. He would also take advice from Makina III, however. "I think it would be best to ostensibly get rid of him, and give him the status of a staff member of the <>." "Oh, that would be a good way for him to show what he can do. Rhodes agrees. It has been customary not to hold him accountable when he was brainwashed. However, it would be a shame to let him go. On the other hand, it would be emotionally difficult to ask him to work at <>. The old man seems to agree. "I hope so." Jin smiled in . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <, a meeting was held to decide what to do after hearing the news from Jin. In attendance were Tomax Bartman, Ilmina Ratkin, secretary-automata Manon, Machina III, and Elena. In addition, four executives of <>. "......" The above is the information that I received from Mr. Jin. The secretary automata Manon reads out the report. "Hmmm... I guess Markitas has brainwashed them after all..." < executive says with a bitter look on his face. "It has always been the case that those who have been brainwashed cannot be charged with crimes, hasn''t it?" Illumina sighs. "But you can''t prove whether or not they were brainwashed when you planted the magic tool in this <>, can you?" Another officer spat. He seemed to be very upset with Graham''s behavior. "For now, since he''s finally regained consciousness, I guess we can''t arraign him. ......" "We can''t say that he didn''t have hostile intentions toward < before that," said another official. "That''s ......" Makina III interrupted, saying that it would be unwise to push this too far. "Then why don''t you leave it to us?" "Oh, Elena? "Yes. < "Mm. ......" Tomax Bartmann looked reluctant, since agreeing to this would mean making a backroom deal. Elena quickly retracts her previous statement. "Oh, I beg your pardon. Please, ...... secretary, erase my comment from the minutes." Elena smiled as she apologized. In the end, it was decided that Graham Darby would be monitored by <>. "I''ll make sure he doesn''t escape. Elena smiles seductively. Elena smiled bewitchingly. "Elena-dono, I have dealt a lot of blows to your Nostalgia while I was a member of the League of Magic, but you still accept me? "Yes, that''s right. We are a secret organization by nature, and if the law is against us, there is nothing to worry about here on the island of Electra, as we do not belong to any country. Although the current <> is more like a private volunteer group than a secret society, it was originally an antisocial organization called <>. For Elena, this was nothing new. "Work for the future, to clear the past." These words seemed to be gospel to Graham. "For the future,...... I understand." Thus, Graham Darby became a member of <. Ten years later, he became the number one of the <> under the leadership of Elena, but that is another story. This is another story. "Now, have we done what we need to do for the time being ......?" Jin was checking with the old man on the island of Horai. The old man said that he would take care of anything that might be left out. "I see. Then I guess I can go to Onogoro Island. < "Oh, yes. I don''t mean to be so arrogant, but ...... I see your point." The old man basically approves of what Jin is doing. That is, thoroughly. But when Jin tries to do something that is not like him, he will probably stop him. Just as Jin made the old man to be like that. I''ll leave you with a quiet question. "By the way, how is the <> going?" Hale is the home planet of the , the ancestor of the human race of Ars. A planet that ran out of resources and had to be abandoned. Jin''s plan to revitalize the planet as a and eventually emigrate there is called the . < "Well, there is no need to rush. Let''s be sure and steady." . We are going to secure the resources that Hale lacks in the form of a satellite of the second planet Zipert on the sun Celan. The space is so ...... strong with <> from the solar Celan that all magi-machines malfunction. It was such a troublesome phenomenon that even the could not prevent it. <, is needed. The development of this technology is taking a long time, even for the old man. > The old man was a little hesitant to say anything, but Jin did not question him. He just said, "I see, Hannah is ......". Jin recalled the brilliant girl who used to be a member of the <. "......It''s true, she''s been working on the sub-free magic element (ether) since <> returned. They''ve been doing all sorts of weird experiments." The old man''s compliments. Jin was as happy as if it were his own. "Yes, Hannah was great. Thanks to ...... her research on sub-free magic element (ether), we are going to be able to do something about it, aren''t we?" > "I see." The girl who has been left behind in the distant past of 400 years. Her smile has healed him many times. For the first time in a long time, Jin was immersed in nostalgia, thinking about the past. 1811 - - 48-40 Silent Story 81 Graham and the Old Party "Graham, I see you are finally free from the spell of Malchitas. One day Maricka visited the in Florenz, in the Kingdom of Elias. Of course, it was to visit Graham Darby in the hospital. Accompanying her are Hanako, an automata, and Rhodes, who has agreed to be her guide. Sonya Banaka, an apprentice healer who had become acquainted with Rhodes on her previous visit with Jin, welcomed the two and one of them. "Doctor, ......" "Oh, you don''t have to get up. You don''t have to get up. Just lie down. Malicka stopped Graham with a hand when he tried to raise himself from the bed at the sight of his teacher. "You look good." "Yes, this healing center takes good care of me." Graham glanced at the empty bottles of Persian juice that Jin had left behind. "Oh, yes, here''s a souvenir," he said. I''ll leave it with you. ...... Sonya, right? It was the Persian juice that Jin had given her. "I''ll take it." Sonya gratefully accepted it. She knew well the effects of this juice. Over the past week, Graham Darby''s health had improved dramatically. There is no doubt that this Persica juice has helped. Healing magic is basically a way to increase the healing power of a living organism to the utmost limit. Therefore, it basically consumes the patient''s own energy to heal. However, there is a limit to this. Patients who are physically weak are less likely to be healed. A skilled healer is able to inject the energy for this purpose not from the patient himself, but from an external source. They fill the patient''s cells with energy via the maggi-mitochondria. However, the healing magic cannot restore the lost muscles. It must be done by the patient''s own metabolism. The Persica juice left by Jin had a positive effect on the patient''s metabolism and helped him recover at a rate many times faster than usual. (Hmmm......... I guess Elsa''s theory of healing has been lost somewhere along the line. (...... or perhaps the is responsible for this, though.) Erza, Jin''s beloved wife and a rare healer, must have passed on most of her research results to the training schools for healers all over the world. (Once, after Jin-sama''s death, we were not so interested in the affairs of the Laurentian continent. ...... Maybe it was that time.) There was no point in mourning, Marikka decided to look to the future. "Did you say Sonya?" "Yes, yes. I''d like to say hello to the director of this clinic, is she here? I thought that since this was the Roseka Healing Institute, there should be a director named . However, what came back to me was a surprise. "Well, uh, the director is not at ......." "What?" "He left ...... about six months ago and we haven''t heard from him since. "Is that so?What about the other healers?" "No one ....... I''m the only one." I asked him about it, and he told me that Graham Darby is the only patient he has at the moment. "...... I''m so disappointed." No wonder it was filthy the last time Jin and Rhodes had visited. Marikka thought for a moment. "You, Sonya. Are you going to move out of ......?" "What?" "I think it would be better to move Graham to a better facility than to keep him here." "Yes, ...... that''s true, but..." Sonya looks a little worried. She looked a little worried, Sonya. This man is my mentor. You can trust him with your life. Graham added. "...... got it. Please take good care of Mr. Darby." "Oh, you''re coming too." Sonya looked sad, and Marikka realized that she must have misunderstood that she was taking only Graham with her. "What ...... me, too?" "Yes. I hate to say this ......, but it''s a bleak future for a healing center whose director has disappeared. Wouldn''t you like to learn more about healing magic? "Yes, of course! Sonya replied with enthusiasm in her voice. "Then come with me. I''ll come to ...... tomorrow to pick you up and make sure you have everything you need." Graham thanked Marikka for her hospitality. "Thank you,...... sir." "No problem. It''s for the sake of my students." * * * * The next morning, Marikka came to pick up Graham and Sonya as promised. I borrowed a from Jin. < to carry Graham, Sonya, and their luggage to the . Then we headed south. "Wow ......, that''s a great airship ......." Sonya is surprised by the <. Her reaction reminds Marikka of her old self and she feels a little nostalgic. "Doctor, where are we going?" "To the island of Electra. Graham knows, of course, that <> is the headquarters of <>. "...... So you mean it was recaptured and ...... no, it was?" Yes. < is that you will be placed in custody." "I see." The wise Graham guessed roughly from that. "Certainly, there are many people in the Nostalgia group who have been brainwashed like me, so it would be easier for them to accept you. I see. I guess that''s how it is. "Mister Elena, I''m sure that I dealt a lot of blows to your Nostalgia when I was a member of the , but you still expect them to accept me?" "Work for the future, to clear the past." Thus, Graham Darby became a member of <. * * * * * * "Hmmm, there is still room for improvement in the format of this document..." Graham Darby, who was checking the documents at the headquarters of the <>, looks up. Ahead of him is Elena, the . "Oh, what part?" "Oh, what part? When we are recording the budget, this way of writing is too much work and makes the calculations more tedious. "I see. It''s a good thing you''re here. Graham''s comments were not the only ones that drove the company to make improvements in everything from the way information was communicated within the organization to the way forces were allocated at each level, from the smallest detail to a complete overhaul of the entire organization. "That''s quite a feat." "You were the chief administrator of <>." Even the executives such as Arietta Aeolial and Wattes Schrezza recognized his ability and praised him frankly. Graham was brainwashed and used by Markitas, but since some of the members of <> are in the same situation, there are no complaints from anywhere or anyone. And . "...... how are you, Sonya?" "Yes, Elena. Every day I am amazed!" Sonya had also become a member of Nostalgia, and was absorbing advanced knowledge, especially in healing magic, on a daily basis. "I''m glad I came! "I''m glad you came, too. Sonya had high potential in healing magic as well as in other fields. In particular, she had a high aptitude for engineering magic, as Jin had discovered. Elena was relieved to have more talented people in her team. The successes of these people will be shared with you in the future. I will write more about their activities when I have a chance. 1812 - - 49-01 Gathering The time has also moved back about 400 years, to April 1, 3464. April 1, 3464. It was Jin''s 28th birthday. Eight years have passed since Jin was summoned to Ars. "Happy birthday, my dear." "Happy birthday, Jin-san." "Happy birthday, Jin-sama." Jin''s birthday party was being held in the hall of Nido Castle in the village of Kaina. In attendance were Jin, the entire Jin Family, and the residents of Kaina Village. "Thank you, everyone! Jin, the guest of honor, thanked everyone. The early-blooming cherries planted in the castle garden are in full bloom. The petals of the flowers are occasionally blown in by the spring breeze. Jin was being poured a glass of sparkling wine by his beloved wife Elsa. His beloved son Chloe and daughter Mio are sitting down and drinking juice. Nearby is Juliana, daughter of Reinhard and Bertsche. Juliana will be six years old this year. She is older than Chloe and Mio. She seems to be aware of it, and she is taking care of the twins. She is usually taken care of by the maidservants in the << Ivy House (Lankenhaos) >>, so she seems to be eager to take care of them on such occasions. "Reinhard, you seem to be busy these days. Jin spoke to his good friend Reinhard. "Yes, I''ve been a bit busy with the new residents in the area. Reinhard replied, taking a sip of the wine in his hand. "Today is my first vacation in a long time." Although he has excellent secretaries and automata, the final decision must be made by his lord, Reinhardt. Reinhardt also hears important appeals from the people himself, which keeps him busy every day. Ah, this wine is delicious. Reinhardt sipped a glass of Erlich 3454, one of the best wines, and muttered happily. "You should moderate your wine". Reinhardt''s wife, Bertsche, reminded him. We can''t have you working with a hangover. "Don''t worry. I have this bracelet. <. Jin made this bracelet for the . It is a certificate of fellowship, and has many functions. One of these functions is detoxification. One of the functions of the bracelet is . Since caused by alcohol is considered a kind of poisoned state, turning on the detoxification function of the bracelet will sober you up in an instant. Since that would be tasteless, Reinhardt has turned it off for now. "Hmmm...<> have such a habit, don''t they?" Guth Eschenbach, the best naturalist in the <>, explains to his wife, Saki Eschenbach. They had just recently returned from the Nordic Federation. "By the way, ancient dragons... I miss them so much. Saki had once visited the northern boundary of Japan to search for the shell of an ancient dragon with Jin, Erza, and Sion of . "That time we went there with ," he said. "This time it was easier because I was lent <<>." < The crew consisted of a small space golem < 40 cm tall, but it was later modified to accommodate up to four human passengers, albeit in a cramped space. Although small, it is a spaceship, so it can visit extremely cold places without any problems. It is also equipped with a small Peeper Telescope, making it ideal for research trips such as this one. Goose remained at an altitude of 300 meters for more than a month. This is how he had been observing the ecology of the world''s most powerful dragon. "......Yes, that''s right. <. < Hanna was only 8 years old when they met, but now she is 16. According to Reiko, she has grown up to be a beautiful girl who is the spitting image of her <, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. Her extraordinary talent has been especially demonstrated in the field of physics, and recently she has been working day and night to unravel the mysteries of space and free magic element (ether). Hanna had been asking Jin a lot of questions, hoping to get even the slightest hint of information from him, who had once wandered into another space and made contact with a , an inhabitant of the space. "Hannah, that''s enough. Today is Jin''s birthday party." It was her grandmother, Martha, who nudged Hannah. She is 65 years old this year, but her waist is straight, her skin is shiny, and she looks young. The development of sanitation and medical technology, including hot springs in the village of Kaina, as well as the improvement of the food situation in the village, are the reasons for her youthfulness. "Hi, Grandma!" Hannah, too, can''t resist Martha''s words. No, actually, so is Jin. In fact, Martha is respected as a sounding board of the . "Mmm, this food is delicious too! "Hats off to the Peridos for their housekeeping skills. Sion and Marikka of the are tasting the dishes. "Itopo, right?Too bad we can''t grow it in the cold." Itopo is a sweet potato. Therefore, it is difficult to grow it in the cold regions of the Nordic Union. It would be possible to grow it in a greenhouse, but it is not cost-effective. It is much more economical to buy it from the local people than to go through the trouble of cultivating it. The price to pay is the recently discovered , which is a titanium dioxide, TiO2. Rutile is a crystal of titanium dioxide TiO2, and its refractive index exceeds that of diamond. On Earth, transparent crystals are rarely found, but here in Ars, huge, transparent crystals are produced. Jin wanted to use the high refractive index (2.62 to 2.90) to make optical instruments. The Mohs hardness is 6 to 6.5, which is lower than that of quartz, but this can be controlled by the method of use and <. Jin thought that if it was used for glasses, thinner and lighter ones could be made, as the first prototype. "Well, Jin, your acquaintances are very distinguished, aren''t they? Sally, a healer from the village of Kaina and wife of the village chief, Gibec, muttered with a slightly reddish face. "The nobles and their wives from the Shoro and Egelea kingdoms, as well as the powerful people of the Nord Federation. I''m afraid to say that even the lord of the neighboring village is a friend of mine. The noble couple of the Kingdom of Egelea is, of course, Count and Countess Kuzma, in other words, Lewis and Bina. Bina had brought her son, Reginald, who was almost five years old. "Here you go, Reggie, this is delicious, too. "Yes, it''s so sweet!" Bina was feeding her son the Persica that Jin had brought from Horai Island, Persica. (I remember ...... Jin cured Nana and Lardo of scurvy. ......) It is Bina who has become Countess Kuzma because of that time. "Beena, I''ll watch Reggie, go and talk to the others for a while." Count Kuzma, Louis said to Beena in a gentle voice. "Oh my dear, are you sure you don''t mind?" "Yes, of course. Yes, of course, since we are all here. Thank you very much. Bina left Reginald in Luis'' arms and walked quickly toward Elsa. 1813 - - 49-02 The Story of Fritz In the hall of Nido Castle in Kaina Village, Jin''s birthday celebration was being held. "Jin-kun has turned 28, hasn''t he? The twins are five years old this year. No wonder we are getting older. Vivienne and Stearina are having such a conversation. Vivienne would be 40 years old this year and Stearina 38 years old, but both of them look young, in their late 20s. They both look young, in their late twenties or so. "It''s nice to have peace." "It''s nice to be at peace," she says, "now that there are no major conflicts anymore, even if there are some skirmishes. "It''s true. ......<> seems to be active as well. The <> and <> are beginning to take root around the world and are helping to keep the peace. Vivienne travels around the world as a , so she is often exposed to such situations. The known world today is much calmer than it was ten years ago. "The <> has been active in saving lives during disasters around the world and tracking violent criminals across borders. Vivian had heard these rumors as well. "Speaking of Mr. Fritz, I heard he was very active during the last snow storm. Stearina said and Vivian nodded. Vivian nodded. I heard that Mr. Jin also helped out from the shadows." "Yes. Then Elsa came in. She seemed to have overheard her brother''s conversation. "Oh, I''d like to hear about that. Stearina said. "Oh, me too. "Me too, I''d like to hear about it." Then came Zion and Marikka. "Well, since you''re here ......" < * * * * It was the morning of January 20, 3464. On that day, the old man spoke to Mr. Jin at a time other than the regular reporting time, which was unusual. This is a rare occurrence in normal times. "What''s the matter, Mr. Chairman?Is something wrong?" Mr. Jin seemed to be suspicious and asked him in a sharper tone than usual. "Are you in some kind of danger?" < What? There are many of your acquaintances and friends in the Shoro Kingdom. Above all, it was the home of his beloved wife Elsa. < "What?" The old man projected the image from the satellite onto the magic screen. The area around the main artery connecting the Kingdom of Selroa and the Shoro Kingdom, known as the <>, where normally the land would be reddish brown and arid, was now painted completely white. "Is this snow ......?" The border between the Kingdom of Shoro and the Kingdom of Cerroa is a mountain range extending northward. The moist southwesterly winds blew against the mountain range and brought up clouds, which combined with the cold wave caused the heavy snowfall, the old man guessed. "We know what caused it, but where are you?" > "That''s a lot of snow. ......" <<< Yes. Traffic, production and social functions in the area are all paralyzed. "I''m sure ...... snow removal?" <<> "Hmmm......." After some thought, Jin decides to pass this information on to the <> first. "This is a serious situation." <, King Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein, called an emergency session of the Congress. All participants gather in using the warp gate that was installed last year. The Warp Gate was discovered in the Kingdom of Celluloid, and is only to be used in case of emergency due to the large amount of mana it requires. The villages and towns along the road must be rescued as soon as possible." This was unanimously agreed upon. < is up to the task. However, the is still in its infancy. The organization is not yet ready. But we still have to do it. Captain Fritz Randol. Ha! Lieutenant Gloria Allstadt. Yes! You two, take the golem platoon and fly to the site immediately. Relief supplies will be sent in a second convoy as soon as they''re ready. Thus, the two cadets, Fritz Randall and Gloria Allstadt, led the Golem Platoon to the site. Two airships of the same type as the were used. Each is captained by Ms. Fritz and Ms. Gloria, and each carries five Golems and some relief supplies. The two airships flew at 80 km/h and arrived over the area in less than 7 hours. "This is ......." The white world as far as the eye could see gave Mr. Fritz a shiver. He had no idea where to start. No, before that, it was impossible to tell where the houses were and where the roads were from the air. The snow was still falling and visibility was poor, although it had eased off. "......This is a big deal ......" Mr. Fritz is a former military man and is well educated in tactics and strategy. However, he has never experienced such a situation, and it is not in the instruction manual. As a captain, Mr. Fritz was at a loss. Vivienne was at a loss. Vivian paused in her narration and quenched her thirst with a glass of honey Ramon (lemon). "......, that''s what I''ve heard. Even my brother was at a loss. Elsa nodded. "I guess so. I don''t know where to start. Stearina said sincerely. She thought about what she would do. "Hmmm. "So, I thought you would be the one to take care of it." "Is that so?" "Yes, that''s what I heard. Yes, that''s what I heard. ......" Vivian began to speak again: ....... * * * * At that moment, a large catamaran airship approached. This is deus ex machina. This is deus ex machina. The airship is using wind magic to transmit its voice to a remote location. The snow cover is vast, but the most immediate danger is a little further north, in the city of Lockgaard. Lockyago is a town on the east side of the Great Divide River. The snowpack there is more than three meters high, and some houses are likely to be destroyed, Makina said. Many of the houses in the area are made of stone and seem to be able to withstand the weight of the snow, but there is no telling what will happen if the snow piles up any more. So Mr. Fritz followed Mr. Makina''s directions and set out for Lockgaard. ....... 1814 - - 49-03 Fritz and Gloria Vivian''s narrative continues. * * * * Clearing away a blanket of snow ...... is very difficult in a case like this, where there is no space to work. First of all, we needed to clear the snow, even if it was only enough for one golem. How could we do that? Mr. Fritz thought about it. And then he realized something. The Great Divide River flows to the west of the town of Lockyago. Its water was not frozen even in winter. Then it occurred to Mr. Fritz that it would be a good idea to dump snow in this river. "Okay, let''s do something about the snow on that riverbank first. A two-meter square area is nothing to worry about. The method Fritz adopted was <>. "<>!" Mr. Fritz is also a mage and can use fire magic. With his <>, the snow melted away in an instant. However, Mr. Fritz keeps shooting fireballs in succession. This is because, in such a case, it is not enough to melt the snow. The melted snow becomes water, which freezes again and becomes ice. Ice can be even worse than snow. So Mr. Fritz kept shooting fireballs at it until it evaporated. Thanks to his efforts, the snow within a radius of about 2 meters evaporated, revealing the surface of the ground ...... riverbed. "Okay, drop a golem!" First of all, we deployed one of the golems we had brought with us. The Golem drops snow from the riverbed into the Great Divide River at a tremendous speed. In no time at all, about 10 meters square of snow is gone. "All right, let''s drop all the golems!" Makina-san, who had been watching the scene, decided that Fritz-san could handle the situation, and flew away to another area. "Well, that''s just what I expected of you, Mr. Fritz. Golem descending too!" Gloria saw what Fritz was doing, was impressed by his rational approach, and decided to cooperate as well. The ten golems quickly created a space of about 100 meters by 200 meters on the riverbank. The two airships were finally able to land. If the airships could not land, not only Fritz and his team but also the following units would not be able to unload the relief supplies. It was important to secure the airfield. "Well done, Mr. Fritz! The captain, Mr. Fritz, and his second-in-command, Gloria, were able to meet each other. Then came the next step. First of all, we have to make our way from the banks of the Great Divide River, where we are now, to the town of Lockyago. What is the most efficient way to do that? Fritz has a great idea. It was to have the golem make . The snow falling now is wet snow, and snowballs can be easily made. Mr. Fritz ordered the Golem to make snowballs and throw them into the river. "Oh, I see. Mister Fritz is very smart. Gloria is impressed. The golems make snowballs as big as 3 meters and roll them into the river. As they roll the snowballs, the snow gets harder and harder. The volume of the hardened snow is much smaller than the snowballs, so the amount of snow that can be carried in one golem is much larger than the snowballs that are still snow. With 10 golems working, a road to the town of Lockgaard was made in 2 hours. The town of Lockgaard is closed by heavy snow and not a single person is left. No, not a single person could come out. It snowed so hard in the middle of the night that we couldn''t even get out of the house when we came to. Now, things get even busier. Golem and the others, using the shovels they had prepared for shoveling snow, cleared the roads and the roofs at the same time. At this point, the residents finally realized that help had arrived. "Oh, thank God! "Thank God we''re not going to be crushed by this! "Thank God!" The residents thanked each other in their own way. It really was a close call. Some residents had parts of their houses crushed, but no one was killed or injured because they had evacuated to another floor or room in advance. Mr. Fritz told them, "If you can spare some time, please help us shovel the snow! He responded to the residents'' call. In response to his call, the younger and physically stronger among the residents all volunteered to help. As a result, the snow removal work began to progress at a rapid pace. By the end of the day, the roofs of all the houses and half of the roads had been cleared. Half of the road, however, had been cleared enough to allow people to get in and out of their houses. "We are also planning to provide food aid after this," Fritz said. Fritz reassured the residents. Even after the town has been cleared of snow, food cannot be transported as long as the roads are closed. But with a means such as an airship, it would be possible. In fact, the next morning a detachment from brought the food. The snow stopped and blue sky peeked through the clouds. * * * * * * * * "So, this is how Mr. Fritz saved the towns of Denzana and Tox as well as the town of Lockgaw." Vivian finished. "I see, that makes sense now, Vee, thank you." Stearina looked satisfied. "Well, brother, you did a good job. And Elsa was also happy to hear the story of her brother''s success. "I''m afraid of the snow. It''s easy to get caught off guard when you''re in a place where it doesn''t usually snow. Zion said. "I''m thinking of making a magi-machine for snow removal. Maricka said something like that. "Sounds interesting. I want my husband to help me. Marikka waved her hand in a gesture of fear when Elsa said that, "No, no, I''m afraid to ask you to help me, Gin-sama! She chewed vigorously. "Oh, are you talking about Fritz and Gloria?" Licia Faarheit joined them. "Gloria-san, it seems that you are finally getting married. It seems that she had heard about Gloria Allstadt''s recent news, since they are from the same kingdom of Klein. "Oh, is he your brother, Elsa''s brother, after all?" Licia nodded at Vivian''s question. "Yes, of course. Elsa affirmed it. "...... that your brother is going to be her son-in-law." "Yes, that''s right. Gloria is his only daughter. Licia was taught by her instructor Gloria when she was an apprentice knight, so she knows a little about the family situation. "Both of them got permission from the government last year, I believe." "Heh. ....... So, what are they going to do about their new home?" I heard they''re getting a house there since they work in Avalon. "I see. That''s a good idea. They had been attracted to each other for a long time, and now it seems that they have finally made it to the goal. 1815 - - 49-04 Gifts In another corner, Toa came to Guth, his daughter-in-law, and they were having a drink together. "I''m glad to see that you have achieved so much, Mr. Goose. "I''m very proud of you, sir." Toa''s face was red. It looks like he is very much ready. "But don''t get so absorbed in your research that you neglect your daughter. ...... like I did." I''ll be careful. Goose scratches his head. Hearing this, Toa nodded his head in satisfaction. Toa also seemed to be concerned about the fact that he was often away from home, traveling from place to place. Rodrigo had a rare conversation with Giebeck, the mayor of the village of Kaina. "This is a nice village, isn''t it? "It''s a nice village, isn''t it? "Vibrant and prosperous. The town is ...... more comfortable to live in than the royal city. Giebeck was happy to see that Rodrigo truly felt this way. "Well, thank you very much. I''m glad to hear that from someone who knows Gin." Giebeck is one of the few people who can call in the old-fashioned way. Most of the men in the village of Kaina and the ladies still call him . Marcia was enjoying a conversation with Barbara and the other young women of the village. Marcia also thinks that the village of Kaina is a nice village. However, she also thought it was a pity that there was no demand for boats because it did not face the sea. Then.., "...... So, Marcia, you are going to build a boat!I hope you will make a boat that can run on the Erme River next time. one of the village girls said. Marcia replied with some surprise. "Yes, but I think it would be easier if you ask Jin to make it for you. "Well, maybe... but I don''t know...?" "Haha, what''s that?Well, it''s okay. "Wow, thanks!" Marcia thought this offer was interesting. What kind of boat would be suitable for a fast-flowing river?Her shipwright''s blood began to boil. Erza''s mother, Meine, is chatting with Lou, Rita, Sonia, and others whom Jin had brought from Lalio. All of them had married men in the village and had happy families. Some of them had children. Meine taught them how to read, write, do housework, and behave, and they still look up to her as their . "You still call me teacher, don''t you? "Yes, of course!You will always be our teacher! "Thank you, guys." Surrounded by the smiling faces of her students, Meane was happy. "......" The party lasted well into the night, so the children, Chloe and Mio, began to row the boat. Chloe and Mio are about to go to sleep. Erza looked at the twins and said. "Yeah, I guess so." Jin gently patted their heads. "......fumyu" "...... unyu!" "Oh, we''ll have to put them to sleep now," Jin said. Jin said, "You, I''ll go put them to sleep." Erza stood up holding them in her arms. "Are you okay?" "Yes, I''ll take care of them." Still worried, Jin asked Reiko to take care of them. "Reiko, take care of Elsa and the kids." "Yes, Father." Respecting Elsa''s wishes, the two are held as they are, but in case they fall or are dropped, Reiko is there to support them within 0.1 seconds. However, Erza, their mother, reached Nidojo''s bedroom with them in her arms and laid them gently on the futon that had been prepared for them. "Reiko, please tell the master that I am already here with them. "Yes, Miss Elsa." Reiko returned to the hall by herself and reported to Jin. "I see. Then you can rest assured." Jin is the star of the show today, so he cannot leave early. * * * * A satellite of the planet Ars. A small world where a considerable number of people can live has been built inside. When the Originals came to Ars from their home planet in their , they used it as a temporary home until the preparations for migration were completed. After that, it was placed in satellite orbit as a refuge in case of emergency, and now it has become a moon (Uni), a satellite orbiting Ars. The current master is Milowina, a descendant who once descended to Ars and returned again. She has been in the sterile, low-gravity moon (Uni) for so long that she lacks physical strength, but she is slowly getting used to it. "Today is Jin''s birthday, isn''t it? Even though he had gotten used to Ars, he could not join the banquet at Nido Castle, so he had no choice but to stay at Yuny. In addition, he had been feeling a little under the weather for the past couple of days. "Let me at least congratulate you. Milowina ordered the magical brain , who was in charge of the moon. "Please tell Mr. Jin that . "Yes, sir. immediately connects the signal to the island of Horai to fulfill his master''s command. * * * * An isolated island in the ocean, <>. < The magical brain that oversees the island receives a message from outer space. This is Jack from the moon. Please respond, Mr. Yunie. <> Today is April 1st. As it is the birthday of Nidohito-sama, Milowena-sama asked me to give him a word of congratulation. then conveyed Milowena''s words to the old man. The old man thanked Jin on his behalf. < The communication was cut off. Needless to say, the old man delivered Milowina''s words to Jin through Reiko after this. The night of April 1, 3464 passed quietly. 1816 - - 49-05 The future of the former Leonard Kingdom On April 1, Jin''s birthday, the was being held on , a mega-float floating on the sea. The chairman of the meeting was Alois III, the second king of the Kingdom of Klein. "So, the topic of this meeting is the treatment of the former Kingdom of Leonard, is that correct?" There were no objections. The former Kingdom of Leonard. It was once a country with an advanced magical civilization and the home of Milowina''s ancestors who lived on the moon, but it is no longer a country and there are only a few settlements. The topic of the meeting was to decide how to deal with the situation there. In attendance were the chairman, King Alois III, and Prince Arthur II from the Kingdom of Klein. From the neighboring Kingdom of Franz, King Lotharus de Franz (ne Lafayette) and Prime Minister Ardarch de Hybl. From the Kingdom of Egeria, King Harold Rouen Autoclase and Vizier Boyd Nors Galuelli. From the Kingdom of Elias, Alphonse Alba Elias, the new king, and Godopher de Toves Rossi, Prime Minister. From the Kingdom of Cerroa, the King Cesar Valois de Cerroa and the First Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior Lambreaux, the position of Prime Minister in other countries. From the Kingdom of Shawlo, Emperor Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo and Prime Minister Jung Fors von K?bsler were present. As a side note, the Crown Prince Ernst Shawlo turned 15 years old that year, and the Empress intended to abdicate the throne. As a last major task, she would like to decide peacefully what to do with the former Leonard kingdom. Let''s leave that aside for now. The former Leonard Kingdom is now treated as if it were the Antarctica of the earth. No country has any claim to it, and any development is forbidden. In addition, representatives from the <> and <> are participating in the conference this time. These two countries were allowed to participate officially since the last meeting. <> are Bardius, the clan leader of >, and his son Radeous, who are Zion''s grandfather and father. < are the chief of Mitsuho, Hiro Mutu, and the chief of the council, Mashaq Meghawala. They are dark-skinned, as is typical of the people of Mitsuho. "Now, there is a possibility that there are still unidentified ruins in the former Leonard Kingdom. Based on this, we will make a decision on the future. The , which began with these words from the chairperson, took a full day to decide on a rough policy. Later historians have analyzed that this speed of decision-making was largely due to the fact that many countries had monarchies or similar political systems. "Now, let us review the decisions." 1,The former Leonard Kingdom is not a territory of any country. 2. It is forbidden to bring conflicts between nations into the former Leonard Kingdom. 3,The ruins of the Old Leonard Kingdom are the common property of mankind. 4,The administration of the former Leonard Kingdom shall be conducted by an organization determined by the <>. 5,Access to the former Leonard''s Kingdom can be freely made by notifying the organization decided by the <>. 6,Any persecution of the people living in the former Leonard Kingdom is forbidden. 7,Trade with the residents of the former Leonard Kingdom is not restricted as long as it is fair. 8,The resources of the former Leonard Kingdom shall be regarded as belonging to the entire human race, and shall be managed by an organization designated by the <>. 9,The use of the former Leonard Kingdom can be freely done if permission is obtained after notification to the organization set up by the <>. 10,A station may be established in the former Leonard Kingdom, but it is not permitted to be used as a military base. These were the ten articles of the constitution. Based on these ten articles, it is expected that detailed agreements will be made. * * * * < "I see...that might be a good place to start." On April 2, in Horai Island, the old man reported the main points of the to Jin. As for Jin, he does not know much about how Antarctica is treated on the modern earth. However, he knew that Antarctica did not belong to any country. On the following day, April 3, a detailed agreement was made. Among them, the most notable ones were the <> and the >. < is an organization established in , and the is literally stationed in the former Leonard Kingdom to provide various services. Of course, since this was the first time for both organizations, various inconveniences were expected to arise in the future, but they could be corrected as needed. Jin was interested in . "Old man, how is this going to work?" He asked him what exactly he was going to do with it, The old capital, Diaa, is a pleasant place, so it will be easy for them to stay there for a long period of time, he said. "I see." "Well, I suppose that''s true." That''s exactly what the should do, Jin thought. is finally coming in. "Oh, I see." Fritz and Gloria were first-term students and executive candidates, but from this April they will officially become executives, and the new second-term students will become their subordinates as trainees. After two more terms, the organization will be in good shape for the time being. Now all that remains is to improve the equipment. < < "I hope so." However, Jin does not want money. If he wants money, he wants materials. There is a market price in the world, but the value of materials to Jin does not fluctuate much. "It would be nice if I could get it for mithril silver. Since both the amount mined and the amount in circulation are small, and since it is an indispensable metal for making <> alloys, Jin doesn''t mind having as much as he can. "Oh, I also need to prepare a wedding gift for my brother-in-law. By brother-in-law, he meant Fritz, of course. "Since we are not blood relatives but in-laws, I think it would be better to avoid knives like swords. ......" So Jin wondered what he should do, and decided to ask his beloved wife Elsa, Fritz''s sister, since it was just time for lunch. * * * * * * "What do you think about ......?" Elsa was feeding lunch to Yu and Mio. Jin and Erza followed. "Well, I''ve been thinking about it a lot. And I''ve come to the conclusion that I''d like a maid golem for housekeeping. "Oh, I see." Fritz and Gloria will be working in for the time being, so it is likely that they will be away from their new home ...... for a long time. A maid golem to guard the house during her absence. "Sounds good. I''ll go with that." "Nope. I''ll take that bedding. The bedding made of magi silk is still Elsa''s favorite. Elsa thought she would take this opportunity to give it to her brother and sister-in-law. 1817 - - 49-06 Concessionary Ceremony I have one more thing on my mind. "What is it, honey?" After putting the twins down for a nap, Jin and Erza were talking in a whisper at a little distance from the twins so as not to wake them up. Reiko was by the twins'' side, just in case. "I''m talking about His Majesty. The abdication ceremony will be held on May 1st this year ...... or rather next month, right?" "Yes, indeed." Jin refers to His Majesty Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shawlo, the Emperor of the Shawlo Kingdom, and His Highness refers to Ernst Shawlo, the Crown Prince. Both Jin and Elsa had already met Crown Prince Ernst many times, and both of them had already evaluated him as a suitable, if somewhat impolite, person to be the next emperor of Japan. Last year, she announced to the public that she would relinquish the throne. "Well, maybe, but I think Her Majesty will continue to assist her for a while after she abdicates." Jin guessed that his nephew, who was only 15 years old, would not be so irresponsible as to suddenly entrust all political matters to his nephew, even though he had come of age. "I think His Majesty would do that. And Erza also agreed with Jin''s guess. "I am indebted to His Majesty to the extent that I can never repay him. ......" Jin has done more than anyone else could have done, but he is unaware of it, which is typical of him. "I was thinking that I would like to present His Majesty with a golem or an automaton. "I see. Then I think an automaton would be good for His Majesty. "I see." <, except for the followers of visitors, there are no human-like automata in principle, and all the people working there are golems. So, the gift to Fritz and Gloria is a maid<. However, there is no such restriction in giving a gift to a female emperor. The female emperor, who had to assume the position of emperor, was not allowed to have children and was 56 years old. "She also said that Reiko was cute, didn''t she? Jin thought that an automata doll in the shape of a girl would be the best choice. The idea of a girl automaton was still the right one, Jin thought. Once the plan was decided, Jin acted quickly. The maid golem is based on Horai Island. The material used is mainly light silver, making it light, and the exterior is a subdued copper color. At first glance, it appears to be made of bronze. In appearance, it is not so different from that Jin donated to before. Its physical strength is about a quarter of that of the five-colored golem maids of Horai Island, but it still has more than five times the basic performance of an ordinary golem. Even so, it has more than five times the basic performance of an ordinary golem. The color of her eyes is reddish purple to distinguish Sapphire Blue from Sapphire Blue of Saffy. Therefore, his name is <. And the automata for the female emperor. Jin works more carefully than usual. And Elsa helped him. The size of the doll is the same as that of Reiko. However, the power of the doll is reduced to about four times that of a human being at most. The speed is the same. The reason for not making them as fast as humans is to protect the Empress in case of emergency. For that reason, ......, we will provide a lot of everyday level skills. Healing magic, medical knowledge, cooking, laundry, cleaning, sewing. But we don''t want to be intrusive. I prefer to keep a low profile. ...... These days, a little characterization can be done by default. "I''d like to keep it maintenance-free for the next 200 years or so." Jin thinks it''s possible since it''s not used hard. "I wonder if the face will look like this?" Elsa used the faces of the emperor and the crown prince as references, and sculpted them to look a little like them. The idea was that if they looked more or less like her, she would feel more familiar with them. The hair color was dark brown and the eyes were brown to resemble theirs. "Oh, it''s a good job. "Good job." This is how Jin and Elsa completed their joint work, an automata for a female emperor. The doll was completed. On May 1, the abdication ceremony is held as scheduled. The place of the ceremony is, of course, the Palace Ceremony Room in the capital city of Leusat. The details of the ceremony are too long to go into in detail, so I will try to give a brief description, Representatives from the kingdoms of Klein, Franz, Egelea, Elias, Selroa, Nord, and Mitsuho attended the ceremony. Of course, the grand ceremony was attended by the leading nobles of each country. Naturally, Jin and Erza were also present. They were seated at the very top of the table. ....... The ceremony began at 9:00 in the morning with the Prime Minister''s address. "From now on, we will hold a ceremony of the transfer of the imperial throne from His Majesty Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shoro, Emperor of the Shoro Kingdom, to His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Ernst Shoro. The ceremony will be followed by speeches by representatives of various countries and words by citizens'' representatives for about three hours. In the meeting, Jin also had to give a few words of greeting. He did not have to climb up on the stage like the representatives of other countries, but only stood on his seat and gave a 30 second speech, which was very helpful for him. Furthermore, . The ceremony officer had given me a bean-jam cup to say <>, so I had no difficulty. In fact, there was another tape, which was about 10 times longer than this one, but I read the shorter one at the signal of the master of ceremonies. I guessed that it was because the speeches by the representatives of each country were longer than expected and the time was getting tight. At the same time, he thought about the difficulty of keeping the meeting on time. The greeting was concluded by the presentation of a bouquet of flowers by a representative ...... of the citizens, a boy and a girl of about 10 years old. "Well, thank you, you guys. I''m very happy. Jin was impressed by the smile on the face of the Empress as she received the bouquet of flowers. Then the main part of the ceremony, the abdication of the imperial throne, began. Witnesses were all in attendance. The crown prince walks to the female emperor standing on a high platform. When the Crown Prince stands on the same platform after climbing the seven steps, the Empress holds up the royal or imperial scepter in her hand. Then she touched the crown prince''s left and right shoulders with the scepter. The crown prince then knelt down in front of the empress. The Empress gently caressed his head with the scepter and placed the crown on his head. Finally, the succession was completed by handing the scepter to the Crown Prince. The moment the Crown Prince received the scepter with both hands as if to push it back into his hands, the crowd erupted in applause. "I hereby proclaim the birth of the new Emperor of the Shoro Empire, Weissberg Ernst von Shoro. These were the last words of the empress. From then on, she would serve as Grand Emperor and assist the new emperor until he reached the age of 20. "I, Weissberg Ernst von Shawlo, as Emperor, swear to protect this country and its people and to lead it to greater heights. These were the first words of the new emperor. The hall where the ceremony was held was filled with a thunderous cheer. Then the Emperor Taishang and the new emperor went out on the balcony of the Palace and waved their hands in front of the assembled people. The courtyard of the palace, where nearly 10,000 people had gathered, was once again filled with cheers. In the sky, hot-air balloons and airships floated, sending down confetti of recently commercialized gold and silver paper. There were no attacks or riots, and the abdication ceremony went off without a hitch. 1818 - - 49-07 At a dinner party After the abdication ceremony, a late luncheon and a dinner party followed. The place is the hall in the palace. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko are also present. "I''m not used to this kind of thing. "I understand." The hall is filled with the important people of each country, the royal family, and the knights guarding them, so the word "crowded" is an apt description. Jin is also a celebrity, so he knows many people. "Hey, Jin, ma''am! The first to arrive was Ernest, the third prince of the Kingdom of Egelea. It''s been a long time. Yes, your highness is looking well. He was 13 years old when I met him, but now he is 20 years old and has become an imposing nobleman. He was a diplomat at home, and there were rumors that he would eventually become Minister of Foreign Affairs. "Rys wanted to come, too." "Oh, you''re happy for him, aren''t you?" Yes, I''m afraid so... I can''t force him to stay for another three months or so. The prince''s wife, Rieschen, is the former third princess of the Klein Kingdom and is 19 years old this year. She is expecting her first child. "Congratulations." Thank you. See you soon. Ernesto walked to another important person. "Hello, Jin, Elsa. "Thank you for your help the other day." The man who came in his place was Jin''s best friend and Elsa''s cousin, Reinhardt. He was accompanied by his wife, Bertsch. "Congratulations, Reinhardt." What? "I heard. You''re going to be a viscount? Where the hell did you get that from ......? That''s a secret. The new emperor was supposed to be a transition from the old regime to the new, and Reinhard was to be elevated to the rank of viscount. Reinhard was to be elevated to the rank of Viscount, and his position in the new regime was to be that of Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. I heard about this from the old man yesterday at ....... He had not been able to ask the old man through what channels the old man had obtained this information. "Is the territory still intact? "Yes, they will. I don''t know yet if it will be increased or not. ......" In any case, Reinhardt said, the estate would be run by the deputies. Fritz came in next to Reinhardt. <, apparently. "Jin-dono, Erza. As I''m sure you''ve heard, we''ve decided to get married and I wanted to tell you about it. Congratulations, brother. Congratulations, brother-in-law. I asked him if Gloria was not with him. He told me that in <> they send married couples together, but not engaged couples. I wonder a little about the criteria, since it seems that if the relationship is not public, they are often sent together, as in the case of the recent heavy snowfall. If they are good friends, it would be possible for them to be well-connected, but if they are lovers, it would be too much of a problem for them to carry out their duties. ......) "I''m going to take a leave of absence soon and report to my father and mother. Of course I will bring Gloria with me then, Fritz said. "Well, brother, my husband ...... and I are preparing a celebration for you. I will give it to you then, so let me know when you have fixed a date." "Oh, I see. Elsa, Jin-sama, I''m sorry. "Gin, Miss Elsa, it''s been a long time." After Fritz came the Marquis Florenziano of the Kingdom of Elias. Jin thought that the Marquis Florenziano of the Kingdom of Elias was as resolute as ever. "It''s been a while. Jin, you have been a great help to me in the past year. He seemed to be referring to his cooperation in the development of a small speedboat at the Marcia Workshop. "I wonder if it was good or bad that you didn''t serve my country at that time. I should have seen the world today and a happy Jin and Erza," the marquis muttered as he walked away. "...... there are a lot of people here, aren''t there?" "Hmm." Then came Cesar Valois de Celuloa, king of the Kingdom of Celuloa. "Hello, Jin-dono, madam. Since I have known Cesar since he was the crown prince, he speaks in a friendly manner. "The Shoro Kingdom will grow even more with the new emperor, won''t it?" Yes, I hope so. I''m not going to be outdone. "Under your leadership, the warp gate was put to practical use. That was a revolutionary technological breakthrough. About two years ago, the Kingdom of Cerroa had finished analyzing the warp gate found in the ruins, replicated the same one, and sublimated it to the point where it could be used for transportation. "Thank you. It makes me somewhat proud to hear you say so, Mr. Jin. However, there is still much work to be done. Yes, the current warp gate takes about five minutes to activate, and then another 30 minutes to accumulate enough mana for the transfer. The maximum number of people that can be transported is about two. The materials were limited to about 150 kilograms. However, it is a good thing that the only thing that prevents the transfer is the lack of mana, and there is no way that an accident such as transferring to an unbelievable place can happen. Then came Lotharus de Franz, King of the Kingdom of Franz, and his mother, Catherine de Lafayette. "It''s been a long time, Miss Elsa", said Catherine de Lafayette. Catherine de Lafayette said. "Thankfully, I''ve been feeling much better since you treated me that time. "Well, thank you very much." They had met when Istaris, sister of Theon, was captured along with her follower Netros, and Theon, sister of Istaris, begged her to come to the Kingdom of Franz to rescue him. King Lotharus de Franz is silent and smiles at his mother. He received two glasses of wine from the waiter and offered one to Jin. When Jin took it, King Rotaro said "To the development of the Kingdom of Shoro," he said and raised his glass. and raised his glass. "Cheers!" Jin responded to the toast. The glasses touched each other and made a faint sound. Without a word, King Lotharus de Franz celebrated. As ......, the dignitaries from all over the world came to Jin''s place, but the highlight of the day was the Emperor Taishang and the new emperor. "Thank you very much, Jin-kun and Elsa," he said. "Sir Nido and madam, please keep up the good work. The Emperor Taishang spoke in his usual friendly tone. And the new emperor was more firm than ever. "Your Majesty, I''m very happy for you today. "It''s my pleasure to meet you. Jin and Erza made a firm speech. "Jin-kun, would you take some time tomorrow or later to discuss some things with me? "Yes, that''s fine." The former female emperor seemed to have something to discuss. Jin immediately agreed, as it would be a good opportunity to present his finished automata to her. 1819 - - 49-08 First meeting The day after the exhausting dinner party, i.e. May 2nd. In the early afternoon, Jin took Elsa, Reiko, and his new automata to Miyagi. First, he went to his usual office. The corridor we walked through had been replaced by new tapestries and some of the paintings had been replaced by new ones. This must be another symbol of the new regime. However, most of the maids and maidservants I passed were familiar to me. "It will be too much for us to replace them all at once. Jin nodded at Erza''s words. "That''s right." The majority of the courtesans at Miyagi were the children of low-ranking nobles such as knights, barons, and baronesses. In addition to being apprentices in manners and household chores, being a palace worker was a kind of status. They have the opportunity to make acquaintances with influential nobles, and in some cases, if they are lucky, they may be discovered and ...... made a wife. On the other hand, most of the female courtesans are the children of middle class nobles. "...... but it seems that Flora will no longer be the head of the courtesan''s office. She is a former knight of the Kingsguard who became a lady attendant to the emperor because of her earnest character and rose to the position of chief lady. Flora Heckerath von Merante''s family was a baroness, and she was a neighbor of Leuthart''s house. So Elsa can hear a lot of gossip. "She''s going to be with a knight of the Kingsguard. In other words, he''s retiring for life." "Oh. That''s a good news. When Elsa was staying at Reuthert''s mansion, she was invited to tea parties of the wives of the neighbors as a part of the neighbors'' social activities, and it was at such occasions that she heard about it. "I see. Jin was impressed by the fact that the wives of the nobles were fond of gossiping with each other. He arrived at his office. He said a word to the knight of the Kingsguard standing in front of the heavy door, He said, "I''m looking for you. Mr. Jin, Ms. Erza, Mr. Reiko, and ......?" "Yes, I brought her here to present her to His Majesty the Emperor." What?......, so she''s an automaton!Oh, that''s wonderful. Please ...... come on through." The knight opened the door. Jin Nido, come in. "Come in." Jin Nido''s voice was answered by the familiar voice of the female emperor ......, the Taishang emperor. "Excuse me, Your Majesty." "We''ve been waiting for you, Jin, Erza, Reiko." There were the Grand Emperor, the new emperor, the Prime Minister, and a female official whom he had never seen before. To my surprise, the Grand Emperor was seated at the center of his desk. But then.., "I''m sorry, Your Majesty. This is the last time. I wanted to welcome you and Jin by myself for the last time. He stood up and gave up his seat. "No, Aunt, don''t worry about it." The new emperor smiled at her and sat down in his own seat. "I''m glad you came so quickly. Please have a seat. "Yes, excuse me." Jin and Elsa sit down in the chairs prepared by the courtesan. "......Well, where should we start?" The emperor glanced at Reiko, who was standing behind Jin, and at the automaton behind Sara. When Jin heard this, he said, "Well, let me introduce you to this girl first," he said. He beckoned the automaton to him. "This is the newest child. I made it to present to His Majesty the Emperor. "My God!" The Emperor Taishang stared at the child intently. "He''s so cute. ......!What is her name? "We haven''t named her yet. Please give him a name. The emperor thought for a moment, "You are Arul. He called her name. Yes, I am Arul. And the automata accepts. Here, the master-slave relationship has been determined. "Your Majesty, please take good care of her for a long time." "Yes, of course, Jin-kun, Erza, thank you." Jin and Erza felt happy to have given the gift to the smiling Emperor Taisho. And then... "Let me explain to you about the future of the kingdom," he said. ...... but first I have to introduce you to this girl." The Grand Emperor beckoned to his lady-in-waiting. "This is Lisette Auenmller. She is one of the children I was raising." She was a small girl with light brown eyes and hair. Small in stature but good in style. "My name is Lisette Auenmuller, Miss Gin, Miss Elsa, Miss Reiko. I look forward to working with you. Lisette seemed to have a serious personality and bowed her head to Reiko as she greeted her. "It''s nice to meet you too. ...... Your Majesty, what do you mean you''ve been raising them?" Jin, who was caught up in the question, asked. "Well, I should tell you that too. Well, that''s the subject of today''s talk. "Aunt, may I speak first? The new emperor, who until then had seemed to be the only one who had been left out of the conversation, spoke up. "Oh, yes. ......, Your Majesty, please." "At ........." With a deliberate cough, the new emperor, Weissberg Ernst von Shawlo, began to speak. "As your aunt has just told you, our country is beginning to see the results of the education we have received over the past few years. The teacher is, of course, the <> donated to us by Sir Jin-dono ...... Nido." Behind him, the Prime Minister nods silently. "Those who have been educated by <> are about to take on the role of teachers and begin teaching the students. And not only teachers, but also some of them are taking up important positions in the country." One of them is Lisette Auenmller, the new emperor said. "Is that what you mean?" "Yes. The importance of education has now spread to most of our nobility and even to the common people. So..." The new emperor paused for a moment and then looked straight at Jin, "I am planning to establish a new educational institution. I would like you to be my adviser. He said. "Is that what you mean?" Jin understood. He thought that the new emperor would take this opportunity to improve the educational institution. And he wanted to make it an achievement of the new emperor. "I don''t know. Of course, we will not detain him for a long time. I know Lord Nido doesn''t like that sort of thing." "I don''t know, Jin." Jin thought for a moment and then spoke his answer. "Okay, I will cooperate with you. At this, the Grand Emperor, the new emperor, the Prime Minister, and the court ladies all broke into a smile. "Oh, I am so sorry that you agreed to this so quickly." At this point, the Prime Minister opened his mouth and thanked Jin. The first meeting would be held at a later date at Jin''s convenience. "And one more thing: my place of retreat. The former female emperor ...... began with a smile. 1820 - - 49-09 Prior to Plan In her retirement, the former empress, now the grand sangha, said. "I will be your assistant for about 5 years...... until you turn 20 years old. The Grand Empress began to explain. "I am going to step down little by little. The Emperor has already agreed to this. "Is that what you mean?" Indeed, Jin thought that if the Taishang Emperor suddenly stepped down from the political world, both in terms of age and experience, it would inevitably lead to chaos in this country. "Be that as it may, I too would like to spend the rest of my life in a leisurely manner." "......I''m sorry for your loss." Jin felt humbled by this nobleman who was not allowed to have children and who had devoted himself to the service of his country. "So, I was wondering if you could consult with me about a place to retire. "Sure." Jin replied immediately. "Thank you, I will rely on you. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the audience with the Grand Emperor and the new emperor, Jin and Elsa were relaxing in the house of Leuthart. "Father, how are you?" Mommy, are you okay? Chloe and Mio look at the two tired-looking men with concern. "Yes, I''m fine." "Yes, I''m fine." Jin and Erza decide to take a bath with Chloe and Mio to relieve their fatigue. "Fu......" The baths in the mansion are not natural hot springs, but by using magical tools, they are simulated hot springs. < using baking soda, a specialty of the village of Kaina, and a using magic tools. Today''s was a carbon dioxide spring. A carbon dioxide spring contains a lot of carbon dioxide gas, or carbon dioxide, and the water is pressurized just before it gushes out, so the carbon dioxide is not released even at high temperatures, or it can be a cold spring, which comes out at a lower temperature. The magic tool in Reuthert''s house, of course, has the function of dissolving carbon dioxide in the hot water. Jin thought about using the method of generating carbon dioxide by the neutralization reaction of citric acid and baking soda, which is common in modern Japan, but he decided to use this method because it is easier and more economical to run. The carbon dioxide spring promotes blood circulation and relieves fatigue. That is why Jin chose this type of spring for today''s bathing. "It feels good! "It''s a nice bath." Chloe and Mio seemed to have Jin''s love of baths in their blood, and they really enjoyed the hot springs. Of course, Erza loves hot spring baths too, so she soaked herself in the hot water until her white skin turned cherry red. Reiko was in the tub with her, keeping an eye on the twins to make sure they did not get overtired or drown in the bathtub. The Jin family washed their heads carefully, since carbonated water is said to be good for the health of the scalp. ".........it''s delicious." "Delicious!" After getting out of the bath, the Hitos drink chilled Citran juice. The cool slurp is pleasant to their burning bodies. The golem maids are cooking dinner, so Jin and Erza read books to Yu and Mio, who had not been able to spend time with them while they were at the palace. The books were picture books of fairy tales that Jin had arranged in the style of the Ars world as he remembered them. Jin and Erza took turns reading it to them. Both Yu and Mio can already read by themselves, but today they were a little spoiled and were reading to each other. After an hour or so, dinner was served. The menu consisted of rice, hamburger steak, vegetable salad, vegetable and mushroom soup, and fried shrimp. These were Chloe and Mio''s favorite dishes. "Bon apptit! "Itadakimasu!" Jin and Erza smile at the twins, whose pronunciation is still sometimes a bit questionable. Then they themselves slowly begin to eat. * * * * * * * * * * * * After putting Yu and Mio to bed, Jin and Erza are talking across from each other. "About education and the place of retirement. What do you think?" "Yes. I''m thinking of having three years each of primary, secondary, and higher education. Primary education should cover basic knowledge such as reading, writing and arithmetic, common sense, and a minimum level of etiquette. Secondary education is divided into basic and specialized courses, with specialized courses providing education according to future goals ...... such as becoming a merchant, craftsman, soldier, etc. Higher education is more specialized ...... and educates students to become the best ...... in their field. "Well, I think it''s a good idea. I think it''s a good idea. I guess so." It''s still early days in terms of educating the public, so it''s a matter of trial and error. So, where do you want to hide out? "Well, I think a place by the water would be good. A lake or the sea. Well, maybe a lake." Why? Well, water is harder to heat and cool than land, isn''t it? So a place near water is good for a summer resort or a cold resort, Jin explained. "Besides, I think a place near water can calm us down," he said. Whether it was because humans could not live without water or because we evolved from sea-dwelling creatures, Jin believed that water had the power to soothe and calm us. "Then, I think an island would be good." In fact, Jin has a base in Horai Island, and Kunlun Island is now a popular resort area. "Yes, but it''s a hassle to move if something goes wrong. ......" Since they don''t have transfer technology like Jin does, it is difficult to come and go if the distance is too great. "Hmm, indeed." "Maybe the other side of Lake Tosmo would be better." Of course, he meant the opposite shore from Reuthert. Or Lake Wass. Yeah, that''s a good idea. Lake Wass is a lake in the southern part of the Shoro Kingdom. It is partially connected to the sea and is brackish. The distance from Leusert is about 150 kilometers, which can be flown by airship in about two hours. "Climate-wise, it''s close to the sea, so it might be nice." Jin decided to pick up the shores of Lake Tosmo and Lake Wasu as recommended destinations. In terms of climate, the shore of Lake Tosmo is closer to the familiar place of Leusert. The shore of Lake Wass would be warmer and milder. "In that case, I would like to give you a special vehicle. "I think that''s a good idea." An aircraft like a small airship would be good, Jin thought. "And a special manaphone." "Oh, that''s necessary." Jin liked to spend time thinking vaguely about something like this, which could be called the preliminary stage of the plan. Erza was the same way, and the two of them talked until Reiko warned them. 1821 - - 49-10 Empress Emperor Taishang...... was considering the airship he would present to the Yuan empress. "It should be about half the size of and ......". He is very excited about the idea of a catamaran ...... because it would not be buoyant enough. Elsa didn''t say anything, but rather cooperated. "If you are going to make a catamaran, you might want to make the air sacs a little thinner," she said. "I see, you''re right." Jin is drawing a sketch with a pen on a piece of wooden paper. The purpose of this sketch is to summarize the concept of what he is going to make. Since Erza is also cooperating, it is necessary to share such visual information for the purpose of communication. Finally, we decided to make it about half the size of the catamaran for the <>. The capacity was also reduced to five people. "I think I''ll also use a force field generator for ...... safety. Jin thought that if the device could be programmed to be maintenance-free and to erase itself in case it was about to be dismantled, it would prevent the technology from leaking out. Jin and Erza also discussed the habitability and decided on a color scheme. After the rough idea was settled, Jin and Elsa decided that Reiko would be the one to make the house. Jin and Elsa were relaxing over a cup of green tea that Reiko had brewed for them. On their knees were Yu and Mio, who were picking rice crackers for tea, and the room was filled with the sound of crunching. They were thirsty and wanted to reach for the tea set in front of their parents, but Reiko was there to make sure the tea was cool enough to drink and offered to them. "Thank you!" The twins thank her and drink the tea. They seem to be well disciplined. While gently patting Yu and Mio''s heads, Jin and Erza continue their conversation. "Let me change the subject..." "Yes?" "Do you know that Hanna is doing some interesting research?" "Oh, you mean the doppelganger?" "Yes." A doppelganger, in layman''s terms, is a brainwave control system. The doppelganger moves according to the operator''s thoughts. There is also sensory feedback. However, the operator still has his/her own senses, so the feeling of <> does not disappear. So it took some getting used to. Hanna thinks it would be possible to make it possible to <> at the level of consciousness. "You seem to be doing a lot of things to see if you can do it using <> technology." "I think it would be great if you could do it," he said. "I wonder what happens to the consciousness of the original body then? Jin was curious to know if he would still be conscious, or if he would be asleep. After all, in modern Japan, where Jin was living, there were many imaginings of virtual reality (VR). It was similar to the one called . Jin recalled that it was something like ......, which sends electrical signals that stimulate the five senses directly to the brain. "Could it be possible to transfer consciousness to an automata or homunculus and live a long time ......?" "That''s a bit much." "That''s right ......." Although it was realized in the story, Jin remembers that there was a discussion about how to make the visual information and the voice come out in reality. However, Jin was not so interested in these issues, so he did not know much about them. However, Jin had a feeling that Hannah would be able to do something about it. * * * * * * * * * * * * On May 5, the airship, a gift for the Emperor Taesang, was completed in two days, notwithstanding what was to come of the <>. The airship is a silvery-white, moist plane. It is 25 meters long. It has two air sacs with a maximum diameter of 7 meters. The air sacs and the cabin are arranged in an inverted triangle when viewed from the front. This configuration reduces pitching and rolling. "Well done!" Not only Jin, but also Elsa wanted to return the favor to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, you killed yourself for the sake of this country and the world." "Yes. I hope His Majesty can enjoy a peaceful life after this." That was the feeling of both of them. What''s the name of this airship? How about <>? EMPRESS, which means "female emperor. As it is, Jin thought that it would be a possible name for a plane dedicated to the Emperor Taisho. "I think we should check ...... first." Erza agreed in principle, but decided to hold off just in case. I have also made a special golem so that I can leave the piloting and maintenance to him. The base is a craftsman (Smith), but it is made of light silver to make it lighter. "The name ......<...... is not good, is it?" "Hmm, that''s the guy who used to live with us, the servant." Is that right? "...... followed us on our wagon ride from Potlock to the country." Oh, that time. I''m talking about the trip with Erza and Reinhardt. The name "Jin" is taken from <>, which is not appropriate since Lilienthal crashed in the first place. <>...... would be confusing." Now Jin, from the Wright Brothers. This is also not appropriate because it is confusing with the magic <> (although the R and L are actually pronounced differently). "Well, how about <>? (From the name of the Wright Brothers'' plane, since it means <>, "Hmm, that''s a good idea. Elsa agreed. * * * * * * * * * On May 6, Jin and Elsa accompanied Reiko, Edgar, Yu, and Mio to Miyagi. "Oh my God, you gave this to me? "This is great, aunt." Not only the Emperor Taishang, but also the new emperor came to see it. By the way, the airship that the emperor has been using is the Conlon 2 type, which was donated by Jin two years ago. This one belongs to the new emperor. "I was thinking of naming it . "No, it is not." "There has only been one other female emperor in the history of the Shoro Empire besides your aunt. So Jin quickly used his engineering magic to write <> on the catamaran. > on the catamaran. He also introduces the golem <> who is in charge of piloting and maintenance. "You can trust <> to take care of it, sir." "Oh, I''m so glad. Jin-kun, Erza, thank you! Emperor Taisho accepted with a big smile. "Ah, twins, it''s been a long time! "Good day to you, Heika!" "Heika, how are you?" Emperor Taisho looked at the twins with narrowed eyes as they greeted each other in a lisping voice and gently patted each other on the head afterwards. Afterwards, Jin made a proposal for a possible hiding place in the palace. "Yes. ....... The other side of Lake Tosmo is a good idea. I''ll look for a place along that line. It seemed that the Taisho emperor wanted to live near his familiar place of residence, Leusert. 1822 - - 49-11 Philosophy On May 7, Jin and Elsa were in . Of course, they were there to see Elsa''s brother Fritz. They had confirmed in advance that he would be off-duty on that day. "Welcome, Elsa. Jin-dono, welcome." "Welcome, Miss Elsa. Welcome, Mr. Jin." Fritz and ...... Gloria greeted them. Gloria had also taken the day off to catch up with Fritz. "Are the twins staying at home today?" Fritz was surprisingly an uncle idiot, too, and he was taking good care of Chloe and Mio. "Yes, we are celebrating their engagement today. "Oh, I see." "It''s a little embarrassing to hear you say it to my face." Recently Gloria''s language has become softer or less manly. Erza thinks this is because of the progress in her relationship with her brother. After talking to her for a while, Gloria told me that she is going to be working at home. "I''ll be teaching swordsmanship as an instructor," she says. She says that she will be teaching swordsmanship as an instructor. "I won''t change, but I''ll be half teaching, half working outside the office. By "teaching," he means teaching the second group of students who have newly joined the company this year. The first group of cadets have all become executives and are now in a position to mentor the second group of cadets. "It seems that the second cohort includes not only executive candidates, but also technical staff and administrative staff such as general affairs and accounting staff. Fritz laughed as he said that the place had become lively all at once. "So, what about the ceremony?" Elsa asked the most curious question. "It will take place in the summer at <>. "In <>?" "Yes. ......What can I say, we will be the first couple to be married in <>. ......" The first memorable married couple, apparently. "If you''re not satisfied, you can have it again in your hometown. ......" "Oh, ...... I see." "So what are you going to do?" Elsa asks again, seemingly curious. "No, we don''t really care, so we think it''s fine if we do it once in ." "Yes." Erza didn''t say anything in particular, and Jin thinks it''s fine as long as it''s not a religious commitment. "But I wonder if there are any good idols." "...... idols?" Erza overheard Jin''s muttering. "Oh, I''m sorry to say this, but in short, I''d like to report to you at the ceremony, or what I''m going to swear to. ......" "I kind of get it." At Reinhard''s wedding, he reported to his ancestors, and at Jin and Erza''s wedding, he reported to his predecessors and <> Shuki Tsetsi. Then, how about <>?I mean, what about <>? "It is safer to avoid religious arrangements." "That''s right. ......" Even in modern Japan, there have been various types of weddings, including Shinto, Buddhist, and Christian. There is no way to unite them all into one. I don''t want to get involved in religion." "I don''t understand ......, but did they agree on something?" Gloria, who was watching Jin and Erza, said with a wry smile. "Well, yes,......." Since Erza knows that Jin is a transferee, she guessed that he must be remembering something about the original world. * * * * * * "Well, it''s difficult." Jin was pondering in <> on the way back from <>. Elsa and Reiko are watching him silently so as not to disturb him. And then... "Yes! Jin shouted out, as if he had just had a good idea. "You have a good idea? "Father, did you have an idea? "Oh. How about a ...... charter, or oath, or something like that? What if we put the philosophy of <> into words and swear in front of it?" It can be used not only for weddings but also for ceremonies. "Maybe ...... that would be a good idea. "I''ll ask His Majesty about it." "That would be good." Erza agreed, although she was not sure if this was the Grand Emperor or the new emperor. * * * * * * After returning to Reuthert''s mansion, Jin and his party did not go back to Horai Island, but headed for the palace. Half an hour later, they were in the emperor''s office. It seems that Emperor Taishang was also there that day, instructing the new emperor on various matters. "Welcome, Kunlun. What''s going on today? Their Majesties, who seemed to have had a break, took a breath and then spoke to Jin. "Yes, actually. ......" Jin explained what he had been thinking about in <>. "I see, you want to codify the philosophy of <>." Emperor Taisho understood exactly what Jin meant. "I would like to put this on the agenda of the next . Do you have a proposal for ......?" "Yes." Jin presented what he had in mind. Be right. 2, Think for yourself and act for yourself. 3, Believe in your friends and help your friends. 4. Cooperate with others regardless of race and nationality. 5. Uniformity of words and deeds 6. Effort Sincerity "...... and so on..." Since Jin is not good at this kind of thing, he wanted to hear Emperor Taisho''s opinion. The draft was a collection of words that Jin had heard when he was in modern Japan. But the Emperor Taishang said, "Oh, that''s good. I understand exactly what you mean. Although their writing styles did not match, he understood what Jin was trying to achieve. "That''s right. If we decide on such a philosophy, we can frame it or engrave it on a metal plate and put it on the front of the World Congress. He also understood that various ceremonies would be held in front of the plaque. 1823 - - 49-12 Zion Visit The next was to be held on June 1. Jin and Erza decided to ask Emperor Taigami to take care of the rest so that they could make it in time for Fritz and Gloria''s wedding. However, Jin was planning to show up on the day of the meeting, and if that was not possible, a deus ex machina could be sent to the meeting. "I think we''ve done everything we need to do. "Yes, I think so." On Horai Island, Jin and Erza are taking a break and looking at Yu and Mio. The location is on the lawn in front of the institute. The twins are playing with a rubber ball that Jin made. They throw the ball to each other and receive it. "Tow." "Hey!" Since they were about 10 meters away from each other, the balls could not reach each other without bouncing, so they exchanged one-bounces and two-bounces. Jin and Elsa were watching with smiles on their faces. "Education, or ......" Jin is also thinking about what the new emperor asked him to do the other day. "Early childhood education?" Erza asked to confirm if she knew what Jin was thinking. "Yes. In the world I was in, there was a where children between five and six years old attended to get accustomed to life in a group before entering elementary school. Elsa''s knowledge of but not was new to her, so Jin''s explanation was new to her. "But is it difficult for the common people?" "No, but it might be. I''m sure we can have ...... little ones who won''t be in the work force. ...... what?" Jin was impressed by Elsa''s insight. "No," she said. I''m just impressed." Then. "Are you in love with her again?" "Oh, my God!" "Wow!!!!!" Jin and Erza were taken aback when he suddenly called out to them from behind. "Oh, I''m sorry." "...... Zion." There he was, Zion of Shinra, a member of the Jin Family. "Oh, it''s Shion oneechan! "Oneesan!" The twins spotted Shion, stopped throwing the ball, and ran over to him. "Hello, Yu-chan, Mio-chan! "Hello." "Hi." The twins have come here many times to play with Zion, so they are very attached to him. They ran to him and jumped on him. "Wow, you two are getting heavy!" At this rate, in another year I won''t be able to take it anymore, says Sion. "Kids grow up so fast." Jin could no longer hold them in his arms for long periods of time. "So, what''s up with you today?" It was just time for lunch, so they all went into the <>. < Zion said that a light meal would be fine, so we decided to eat together. Since that was the case, the menu was Japanese soba noodles. Jin and Erza prefer morisoba, but this time we decided to have oroshi-soba at Zion''s request. The daikon of this world, which has not been improved, is short and small, but it tastes just like the modern Japanese "nezumi daikon" (mouse radish), so the island of Horai has been growing it. It has a spicy taste followed by a delicious daikon aroma. A little less buckwheat for Zion. And Yu and Mio had lunch with less grated daikon. "I knew Jin''s soba would be delicious!" Soba is also a food for the poor, so it is widely grown in the Nordic Federation, and buckwheat is also widespread. Despite this, Zion had never tasted soba as good as the one here. "Five-color golem maids are excellent. ......" Yes, it is all thanks to the efforts of the five-colored golem maids created by Jin. It is the result of their continuous feedback to reproduce the tastes of Jin and his friends (mainly Jin), such as "It was a little too light today," "It was a little too salty today..." and so on. Let me digress. To Jin''s question, , Zion replies. "Oh, yes. I almost forgot." Sion scratches his head and continues. "You know, a new ruin has been discovered in the Nordic Federation. That was ......3 days ago." "Ruins!" In this world, when it comes to <>, there are eight or nine out of ten that were left behind by the <>. In particular, in the Nordic Federation, there are many ruins from the early days when the migrated to this region, including the <. "So I thought you might be interested, so I came to talk to Jin." "I see, that''s good. "Well, half of me wants to ask for Jin''s help in the research. It was an honest Zion. "...... spring has come and the snow has begun to melt, hasn''t it?That''s when we found cracks in the ground that had never been there before. Theon explained that he noticed it because melt water was flowing into the cracks. "I see. It''s possible for ice to widen the cracks." Jin imagined that the result was that the bedrock finally became unbearable and collapsed, revealing the ruins that had been inside. "What are the ruins like at ......?" "We have only been able to see the entrance area. We''ve only been able to see the entrance area, but we''re being very careful because we''ve never seen anything like it before. "That''s wise." "Yeah. ......" ?" Jin was curious about Zion''s brusque words and asked if there was something wrong. "No, nothing happened. It''s just ......" "Just what?" "I don''t know, it just feels different from the other ruins I''ve seen." I can''t say exactly what it is," Zion concluded. "Well, I''ll have to take a look." <. Jin thought, "There is a possibility that these could be the remains of a previously unknown faction. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At any rate, he contacted the members of the whom he could contact at the moment, and Hannah, Saki, and Guth replied that they could go there at once. "They all seem to like this kind of thing." Jin decided to leave the next day. This time, Elsa would be away with the twins. "Me, Hannah, Saki, and Goose. I''ll go with Reiko. "I don''t think there''s any danger, so that''s fine. It''s just that it''ll be colder than here. "Oh, I see." < is much further north than Horai Island, or even Kaina Village, so even in early May, there are still many places where there is still snow. "Warm clothes are essential. Jin muttered to himself and started to prepare for the trip. 1824 - - 49-13 Towards the ruins < is complicated. First, there are two groups: the who remained in Hael and the who emigrated to Ars. < were divided into and , but they have already died out. The , after having established themselves on the continent of Gondor, were divided into the < and the <, and the < into the <, the <, and the <. Of these, the went to present-day Mitsho and Huso, and the settled in present-day Koguryo. The <> became the ancestors of the <> on the continent of Gondor. And what of the <>? <> tried to develop independently in Ars, as represented by No. 600012, and failed ....... Then, what about the <>? So far, no remains have been found that correspond to them. * * * * On the morning of May 11, on the island of Horai. In front of the research institute, the members of the who are heading to the <> are assembled. Jin, Hannah, Saki, and Goose. Reiko, Smith1, and Nurse Alpha, an automata for nursing, are accompanying them. Theon has already returned to the Nordic Federation through the warp gate. Are you ready? Jin asks just to be sure, since he can get what he needs by warp gate or transporter. "I''ll be fine." "Yes, I''m fine." When he received only affirmative answers, Jin boarded the <>, the leg of the trip. Everyone followed. Edgar was accompanied by Elsa and the twins, so Sky 10 was the pilot for this leg. "Bye! "Bye, baby." Bye! The <> floated up in the air as Elsa and the twins watched it go. Once it gained enough altitude, it flew north. Erza, Chloe, and Mio waved at the airship until it was out of sight. * * * * "......You finally got there. ......" Goose, who is not very good at flying, remained leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed. < arrived at its destination in about an hour, having also used the . Zion was waiting for them in the plaza in front of the clan territory of <>. Nearby, they see Zion''s father, Radeous, mother, Rorona, and friend, Marikka. Without a sound, the plane landed. "Jin, everyone!Come here! "Hello Zion, it''s been a long time. "Sorry to rush you, but are you ready to head to the ruins?" Jin nodded. "Yes. < "Yes, it will be fine. "Who''s going that way?" Jin replied that Zion and Maricka would accompany him. Two researchers from the Shinra Institute will be there. "Jin-san, please take care of Zion for me." "Marikka, make sure you do your research. With these voices, Jin''s group, including Zion and Marikka, took off again in the . "Let''s continue north for about 50 kilometers. Saki heard Sion''s directions, Saki asked, looking at the map, "Well, is it around where we hit the Lugada River?" Saki asked, looking at the map. "Yes, that''s exactly right. About 400 meters away from the river. "Hmmm. "Well... if you are thinking about water convenience, you should have put it a little closer to the river," Goose said. Goose said. Hannah looked at the map with Saki, "But the river might have been changed for a long time there. Hannah said. When a river meanders in its middle reaches, the outer part is eroded and the inner part is sedimented. In other words, the outer part of the meandering area is being eroded and the inner part is being filled with sediments. As a result, the meandering becomes larger. If the meandering becomes too large, the upstream and downstream parts of the bend become attached to each other. When this happens, the river flows easily, in other words, it flows straight, and the meandering part is left behind. This is called Lake Mikazuki. The lake crescent was found near the river Hanna pointed out. "I see, it has been a long time since the time of the origin. That''s a strong possibility. Guth retracted his previous statement and agreed with Hannah''s opinion. In the meantime, arrived near the ruins. A wide plain spread out before them, with good visibility. In a part of the plain, a tent was set up. "Oh, there it is." "I see, I can see it clearly." The tent was a good landmark. landed about 50 meters from the tent. A man comes running toward us. He seems to be one of the researchers. "You must be Jin''s group.Welcome. Thank you. He''s a leconaus. He''s an archaeologist. Theon introduced them. "Thank you, Theon." Reconaus was a serious-looking man with silver hair and light blue eyes, typical of the Shinra clan. "By the way, the other one is Tonelius, his younger brother. He is still in the ruins. Then let''s go with him. We''ve come here with that intention," said Zion. Jin and the others are eager to see the ruins, so they do not object. They had all the necessary equipment in their rucksacks on their backs, so they were ready to go. "I''m off then. You''ll take care of the rest, right?" Jin called out to Sky10 as he left. "Go ahead, master. Take care of yourselves. This way, sir. The ruins were located about 30 meters from the tent. There was a 5-meter-high rock rising up like a table. There was a crack at the base of the rock, and when we looked inside the crack, we found a small, large room-like space. It seemed to be the entrance to the newly discovered ruins. The floor of the room, illuminated by a magic lamp, had a square slit in the shape of a door if you looked closely. "This is the entrance. It was probably some kind of emergency exit. Reconaus said and lifted the door to show it open. "Oh, ......." There was a vertical shaft opening. A ladder was suspended from the wall of the pit. It certainly looked like an emergency exit. "About 20 meters down is a small hall. So far we have only gone that far. Now that you''re here, we can finally move on," he said, smiling expectantly. 1825 - - 49-14 Investigation begins! Reiko first went down the ladder and jumped down the shaft without ...... assuring us that it was safe, so Jin and the others went down the ladder. Hanna, Saki, Zion, and Marikka were all wearing pants, so they went down the ladder with no problem at all and went to a lobby-like area at the end of the ladder. Tonelius, another researcher, was waiting there. Tonelius also had silver hair and light blue eyes, typical of the Shinra clan. He was a younger brother, with a face similar to that of Reconaus. "Well, I guess we''re all here now. Reconaus is in charge as the leader of the survey team. It was suggested that Jin should be the leader, but since this is the Nordic Federation, they wanted a member of the Shinra clan to take the lead, so it was decided that it would be LeConaus. "Jin-dono, we would like to go on from here, what do you think?" "Well, ......." Jin looked around the place where they were now. He reaffirms that he is right in thinking that this is probably an emergency doorway, and decides to check the material of the wall first. Everyone is looking at him with interest to see what he is going to do. "<>...... I see." Jin turns around, "As far as I can tell from the material of the wall, I think it belongs to the <>." Jin said, "Because the materials used and their molecular structures have their own <. "I see." Reconaus nodded and put his hand on his chin as if he was thinking about something. "That''s my Lord Jin!" Tonelius was impressed, "So that would mean that over there is a real ruin. ...... whether there is any danger or not. ......" He pondered. It was indeed important, but since Jin was going to check out the ruins, the old man had already checked it out with a beforehand and had confirmed that there was no danger at the moment. This was his duty as a husband and a father of two children. However, I did not ask for further details, as it would have been uninteresting even for Jin. "At least, there is no sign of any living creature, and there seems to be no moving magical tools or magical machines. Reiko tells them. Everyone seemed relieved to hear that. "Okay, let''s open it. "Yes, let''s open it." "Yes, let''s open it." The brothers Leconaus and Tonelius seem to be in agreement. "How to open it is ......". "Ah, here we go then. Reiko, take care of this. "Yes, Father." What we just found out. As Jin gave the order, Reiko turned the small handle on the side of the door, which seemed to be an emergency exit. The door slowly opens. "Oh!" "That''s just like Jin-sama, isn''t it!" If you know the internal structure, you can understand this kind of mechanism. Compared to the previous ruins, this area has both common and unique features. "It''s pitch black inside. It is pitch black because the power source has been completely depleted. Even the etheric luminescent substance (AL), which seems to have deteriorated, is not glowing. "<>" Jin threw a ball of light into the door when it was about a third open. "Oh, it''s brighter now." Knowing that there is no danger inside, he can turn on the light this way. "I''m looking forward to it." Saki, who had been silently observing her surroundings, could no longer contain her excitement. And it was the same with Goose, who was fidgeting so much that it was obvious that he couldn''t wait to get to the other side of the door. And Hannah is standing next to Reiko with a curious look in her eyes. On the other hand, Zion and Marikka seem to be relaxed. Then the door opens. "Come on, let''s go. But be careful. The leader of the group, Reconaus, said these words and was the first to step through the door. "Whoa." "......" "Heh,......" Each of them let out a short voice, expressing their admiration. It was no wonder, because inside the door was a large hall with various decorations. "From the looks of it, this hall must be an auditorium or something similar. The door through which you have just entered is literally an emergency exit, it seems to me. It''s about 20 meters square. It''s about five meters high. It''s a big room for a basement. The brothers Leconaus and Tonellius first assessed the size of the room. "Is that the mural ......?It''s from the , isn''t it?" "Yes. Is the ceiling also painted with ...... celestial spheres?" Saki and Goose were intrigued by the mural. "......Yeah, it''s almost the same as the starry sky we saw from Ars. It must be the constellation we saw from Hale." Hannah advises. It seems to be quite balanced. "Hmm, the magic circuit (magi-circuit) here is not working. ......" Jin then proceeds to investigate from a magical-technical point of view. "There''s something unusual here, isn''t there?" "Mr. Zion, that''s probably some kind of terminal. Perhaps it is a light on the stage." Zion and Marikka look around the whole place. "That''s right. This is a meeting hall. After fifteen minutes, they came to that conclusion. "Well, let''s move on. Which one do you prefer, Mr. Jin?" There were three doors at the end of the hall. None of them seemed to be emergency exits. I think the right one is the best. That''s the one with the most circuits connected to it. There must be some important magical equipment there, Jin said. "Okay. I''ll do that." The door was unlocked, but had to be opened manually since all the power connections were down. Reiko, please. "Yes, father." Reiko put her hand on the door and opened it easily as if it were a shoji. On the other side was a passageway. The walls, ceiling, and floor were metal. Only the floor was embossed to prevent slipping, but the rest was matte and flat. "It''s not stainless steel. It''s light silver." The light silver used in Ars is titanium. It is probably used because it is light and resistant to corrosion. There were several rooms on either side of the passageway, but they were all empty. In the end, there was nothing left on the level where the meeting hall used to be. The group was in front of a staircase that led to the basement. There was also an elevator-like magi-machine, but it was not working because its power had been depleted. "There seems to be no particular magical activity in the basement. Jin''s findings came back, "Okay. Let''s go." Reconaus stepped onto the fire escape. 1826 - - 49-15 Archives The fire escape was still alive and I was able to get down the stairs without any trouble because of the dim but luminous glow of the >. "It seems that the minimum necessary maintenance is being done." The air is not breathable otherwise. Since the old man had investigated the ventilation before the visit, Jin and the others were able to step into the depths of the ruins without any problem. "Watch your step!" Jin warns Saki and the others. "I''ll be fine. I''ve been out a lot lately. Saki, who had been an indoor person since she joined Goose, seemed to have been doing a lot of research outside. About 10 meters down was a landing with a door. "Now what are we going to do? "Well, what should we do? Should we open the door and investigate this level, or should we go further down? LeConaus turned around to get everyone''s opinion. "Well, I think we should go through the levels in order." "Well, I think we should go down one level at a time. "I agree with Jin''s opinion. Everyone agreed to open this door. Since there was no complicated lock on this door, we were able to open it immediately. "Well, I don''t know how many years it''s been here, but it''s amazing that it hasn''t been corroded. Besides, there was no dust on the floor. This is proof that the air conditioning is working properly. Only the lights have deteriorated and are dimmed, but it seems to be enough to be the result of superior technology. "The air-conditioning system is located near the surface, and it is bringing fresh air into the basement," Jin explains. Jin explains the structure. That''s why you can''t feel the movement of magic on this level. After opening the door, we see a small, spacious room of about 10 tatami mats, with a door at the end of it. "Is this a room like a buffer zone?" Guth looked at the writing next to the door, "Yeah, this level seems to be a living area," he said. He said. He was now able to decipher the <> script. As his research progressed, he learned that there are different kinds of characters and languages used by the <>. Whether this is an ethnic difference on earth, a dialect, or some other intention is still unknown. The letters and words used at the site are about the same as the difference between written and spoken Japanese, as an example. "A residential area or ......" LeConaus decided that there were likely to be cultural discoveries, but not technological ones. So, "Let me and my brother check this place out. Jin-dono and Zion-san, please work on the lower level. He suggests that they should go to the lower level. Since there seemed to be no danger, Jin had no objection. Nevertheless, he decided to have Craftsman (Smith)1 accompany them in case something happened. In other words, the brothers Reconaus and Tonelius and Smith1 explored the hierarchy of this supposed residential area. Jin, Hannah, Saki, Goose, Zion, Marikka, Reiko and Nurse Alpha went downstairs. After about 15 meters, they reached a dead end and a door. Goose read the words on the door. "......What is it?<< This is an important equipment. It seems to say so. "This seems to be the technical hierarchy." "This seems to be the technical hierarchy." "If so, security might still be alive. We have to be careful. Yeah, you''re right. Jin is getting ready without Hannah''s help. "Reiko, what about the other side of the door?" "Yes, father. ...... There are no moving magical tools or machines. There seems to be no flow of mana. "Good." If there is no flow of mana at all, it means that there are no magi-machines in the standby state. If they don''t start moving unless we <<> them, we can say that there is little danger. However, with Reiko and the barrier projector in their bracelets, it would take a great deal of technology to put them in danger. Jin, however, remains on his guard and carefully inspects the door. "Hmmm... ......... it seems that without some kind of password, the security system will be activated." "Password, sir?" "Yes, that''s right. ...... should we ask Reiko to take care of this?" Yes, I''ll take care of it. Reiko put her right palm on the door and connected the information linkage (pass) by magic power. "...... is indeed asking for a password." Then, Reiko connects the pass with the old man at the same time. In this way, she can borrow Lao-kun''s information processing capability. Reiko, leave it to me. The old man begins to analyze. The alphabet of the Ars world consists of 26 letters and 10 numbers. There are many special characters, but we will start with 105 common ones. The "Mere Old Man" recombines them in less than a microsecond and checks their reactions. The response is slightly different for the corresponding characters. The first letter is <>. The next character is <>....... In about a second, the old man has finished analyzing the password. "Okay. The password is <." As soon as Reiko reported it, the door was unlocked. Reiko opens it gently. On the other side is a dimly lit small room. "This seems to be another buffer zone. Goose immediately begins to examine the room. "Oh, is this a map?" Hannah found what looked like a floor map marked on the wall. "Oh, it looks like it. "Nice, Hanna-chan." Saki slid over and looked at the map over Hanna''s shoulder. By the way, Saki is now 158cm tall and Hannah is 155cm tall. "Hmmm............this place looks interesting! Hannah pointed to the area marked <>. Hannah also seems to be able to read <>. "I see, that sounds like a good place to start." Jin agreed. Theon and Maricka had no objections, so they decided to follow the map to the archives. The corridor was still dimly lit. "Let''s have a look." Jin put his hand on a part of the corridor and used , then . Both are engineering magic to examine the flow of magic power. "...... got it. Here." Jin pushed in a part of the wall. Then the part is concaved into a rectangle. He put his hand on it and pulled it, and a part of the wall opened like a door. It was a maintenance door made of the same material as the wall. "Oh!" "It''s Jin-sama!" While his companions were impressed, Jin checked the part that looked like a switchboard. "Ah, here it is! Jin muttered to himself, and as he did something, the light illuminating the corridor increased in brightness. "You must have been in the nightlight mode. Now I''ve switched it to normal mode." Jin said, "It''s probably to save mana and to prevent the equipment from deteriorating. Now that it was brighter, it was easier to get around. "Follow the directions on the map, go straight down the hallway and turn right at the end of the hallway. ......" Hanna walks quickly, muttering to herself. "Here!" < was still open. "Is that ......?" She peeks in, and sees that the inside of the room has been ransacked. The shelves that seemed to contain materials were almost empty. "What is this ......?" "Oh, ......." Hanna and Saki, or rather all of Jin and the others, stood at the entrance, disappointed. 1827 - - 49-16 Information recording "Well, let''s check inside." Jin said, "It would be great if we could find one or two useful documents," and started to examine them first. The floor was littered with pieces of something, so much so that there was no place to step. It seemed to be a broken shelf board. "What the hell happened here? ......" Zion mutters in disgust. "Really. Is it like this in the other rooms?" Goose responds to Maricka''s words. He runs out of the archive and peeks into the room on the other side, "Yeah, this one too ......!" he shouted. I checked the rooms on both sides of the room, which had also been vandalized to varying degrees. "What does this mean?" "......Well, the only thing I can think of is that ...... for example, they had to get rid of this place in a hurry, so they hurriedly packed up everything?" Guth looks as if he''s biting his tongue. No wonder. I came here with great enthusiasm, expecting to find some valuable materials, only to find them in this mess. "Or maybe some thieves or something came in and trashed the place. This may be closer to the case with this mess, Saki thinks. In any case, it was disappointing that none of the materials we wanted to see could be found. Everyone''s shoulders slumped. "Hey, girl, do you have any magic brain in here? Then Hannah opened her mouth. "It would be nice to have a magic brain or ......." < have a magic brain to manage them. However, this remains was limited to the lowest level of mana. So, it is highly likely that it is dormant even if it exists. "Hmmm...there must surely be some, given the lifestyle of the <>." Jin agreed with this idea. "Is it possible that they stopped maintaining this site ...... because there is no longer a need to maintain the facility?" "But the air conditioning and minimal light are still maintained, right?" Hannah countered with the word <. "It is possible that the roles are shared. Or maybe they are just maintaining the environment independently." Jin said, "Anyway, since we''ve come all this way, let''s look for them," to which everyone agreed, not wanting to waste time. "Then, this level or one more level down is probably the best place for us to look. "Well, that''s true. ......I''ve already searched all of this level, so maybe it''s down there?" "Yes, that''s right. ...... Maricka, can you check? "I''ll try." Marikka, who had heard Zion''s words, put her right hand on the floor and used her <> magic. "...... Oh, there seems to be a cavity." With that Marikka moved about 10 meters and used the sonar spell again. Then she moves about 3 meters and uses the sonar again. Jin watches silently. Marikka is doing what he was going to do. Even if it was a little poor, it was because it was a sign of Marikka''s growth. "There it is!" After several moves and attempts, Marikka found a large cavity downstairs. "There it is. I knew it. ......." Jin also tried using the sonar at the location. Indeed, there was a large cavity below the floor. "Yeah, it sure is. Marikka, you have improved your skills. Marikka is also Jin''s student. Jin was pleased with her progress as if it were his own. "Oh, thank you very much! Marikka blushed but was happy when Jin praised her. Theon patted her on the shoulder, saying, "Good for you, too. "Now then, what should we do? "Well, what do we do now, find a staircase or something to go downstairs, or make a hole in the floor? "Maybe there''s a maintenance staircase," says Hannah. Hannah said. "Yeah, ......." Now that the time had come, there was no room for hesitation. Jin contacted the old man and asked him to search for the staircase with a "peepers". A minute later, a report came through Reiko. "Father, I understand. It''s ...... here." Reiko led the group to the place, because she gave the actual point, not a verbal description. "This way." It was a place that seemed to be located at the opposite side of the staircase that led down to this level. Reiko put her hand on the wall, and the part of the wall popped out and became a lever to open and close the door. Reiko lightly pulled the lever. With a faint creaking sound, the door opened and the stairs to the bottom appeared. "Let''s go." The old man made sure that there was no danger, so Reiko led the group willingly. Reiko led the group down the stairs in the order of Jin, Hannah, Goose, Saki, Zion, Marikka, and Nurse Alpha. This is a spiral staircase, and after descending about 15 meters, you will reach the level you are aiming for. There was no door, and a dimly lit passageway opened up. "It''s just up ahead." The group followed Reiko who walked without hesitation. After walking about 20 meters through the narrow passageway, which was barely wide enough for one person, they came to a space about the size of a school classroom. There was only a depression on the floor about 2 meters in diameter and 10 centimeters deep. The view was aptly described as empty. "There''s nothing here. ......" Saki''s shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Perhaps this depression is where the magic brain used to be? Jin mentioned a possibility. "If so, does that mean it''s been removed?" Goose looked disappointed. "I wonder why it''s like this?" Hannah also tilted her head. And Zion and Marikka were silent with a slight frown on their faces. "Well, what should we do ......?" Jin thinks for a moment, but there seems to be nothing more he can do. "Oh, and I''ll ask < about this place! Marikka said. <> is, coincidentally enough, the magical brain that controls , the facility of the that Marikka inherited. If has been in operation since the distant past, it might be able to explain this situation. "Okay, let''s go back." Yes. "Right." Everyone agreed with Jin''s words. "It''s a pity that we lost the last part of the meeting," said Zion a little apologetically. Zion said a little apologetically. It''s not like a rat in a mine, but it''s hard to relax when you think you''ve made a great discovery, only to find out that it''s an abandoned ruin. No, this happens sometimes. Jin consoled Zion, "If we can learn more about how it happened, we may be able to understand more about the than ever before. Guth also expressed his opinion. "That''s right. In a sense, we can say that this is a new discovery. Hannah also said in a cheerful voice. 1828 - - 49-17 Analysis Results The < did not contain any important documents. "They are going to be disappointed," said Zion. said Zion. "Well, that''s true. But we can''t fool them. "I guess we''ll just have to tell it like it is. ...... Hannah laughed. So Jin and the others returned to the top and explained to the brothers Reconaus and Tonelius that they had not found ...... anything on the lower level. "That''s too bad. ......" Tonelius was disappointed, but his brother Reconaus was calm, "It''s a good thing if we know the background," he said. He was positive and did not show much disappointment. * * * * * * * * * Hannah, Saki, Goose, and Zion wanted to study the ruins some more, so they sent Craftsman (Smith) 1 and Nurse Alpha, as well as Rand 101 and 1 02 were sent to guard the site. Marikka went to alone. She asked the chief administrator <> about the ruins. Jin is curious about the results. "Let me know as soon as you find out something. "Yes, Jin-sama." Jin and Reiko returned to Horai Island. * * * * * * What do you think, old man? Jin wanted to ask the old man''s opinion about the result of this investigation. The current performance of the old man is dozens of times higher than that of the through repeated remodeling. It can simulate all the possibilities in an instant. "<> had such feelings? < "Well, yes." "Hmmm, I see." <> The old man said that any further speculation is pointless because of the lack of information. "I guess so. Let''s wait for Marikka to contact us." So Jin went to his <. There, his beloved wife Elsa, his son Yu, and daughter Mio were waiting for him. Reiko stayed behind at the institute. "You''re back, sweetheart. "Welcome home, Otoo-chan." Welcome home, Otoo-chan. "I''m home." Jin hugged the twins who ran to him as soon as they entered the front door, and apologized to them. "I''m sorry I didn''t come here sooner after I got back," he says. But Erza smiled at him as if she understood. "Hmm, no problem. You found something terrible, didn''t you?" Jin nodded. "Yes, I did. I found it, or rather, I didn''t find it." "......?" Jin then explained to Elsa how the ruins were. ...... while dealing with the twins. "......Yes, it was a new type of, ruins." "It was. I''m a little curious." "And you, Marikka?" "Yes, she went to Onogoro Island." Oh, so you''re going to ask her? I guess so. I guess that''s what I mean. Meanwhile, Marikka was on Onogoro Island, talking to the head of the administration, <>. "We have to tell Jin-sama and the others about this as soon as possible!" After talking with Testa, Marikka rushed to the warp gate to inform Jin and Zion of this information. * * * * * * * * * * * As Jin is relaxing in his , The old man said. "Okay. Let''s go there." Jin replied immediately that he had gotten the information he had been waiting for, and got up to go to the laboratory. Elsa said she and the twins would stay at the house. She said she would explain everything to them later. Marikka," he said, "I''ll explain it to you later. "Marikka, you look like you''ve learned something new, haven''t you?" "Yes, yes, I did!" Jin, Zion and Marikka met in the control room of the institute. Marikka explained the information she had just heard from to Jin. "First of all, those ruins were a facility of the . The . A radical faction, even more radical than the pioneers who built the 600012. "The invaders had a large number of golems for battle. And although the timing is unknown, it seems that they were planning to conquer the world of Ars as soon as they were sufficiently prepared." "Including the descendants of their own people?" Jin asked. "Yes, Master Jin. I was curious about this point, so I checked it myself, and it seems that they were indeed a minority. It seems that they have been divided since they moved to Ars. The old man added, "I think that the change of environment may have brought about the change of mind. Jin is also understandable, so I will not pursue the matter further. "...... But I see, it was the base of the <>. ......" After all, <> had information. "And it seems that their ambition to conquer was thwarted by their own people. The rough terrain is probably the result of that, Marikka says. "I see." "It seems that the golem and other weapons in their possession were taken out. Some of them were used in the incident after many twists and turns, such as the and . is a gargoyle with wings, and <> is a golem made entirely of adamantite. "But <> also said that the <> had moved their base before that level was razed, that is, before the facility was attacked by the brethren." "And there was no information about where they went?" "Yes, it''s a bit hazy. < I''m sorry. ...... Sorry. < "I see." This explains why there is little information about the <>. "<> or ....... The continent of Laurent?" "The continent of Racir...... cannot be called the northern hemisphere, so it could be the continent of Pandor." Theon offered a guess. "Yes, I think so. I''ll have to look into ...... sometime." "But as for the Nordic Federation, we need to get our feet on the ground first." The Nordic Federation is still recovering from last year''s events, when its population plummeted. No wonder Theon said so. And yet, their story continues. 1829 - - 49-18 Over there and over there The meeting to discuss the < is still going on. <> At this point the old man asked Marikka a question. "Yes, please. <> They may still be lying dormant somewhere in the world, and you may not be able to unearth them and move them without knowing it, the old man said. "I''m sorry to say that < didn''t know that either." <> and the like cannot be stopped except perhaps by the forces of Horai Island. It would be too dangerous if they were to go out of control. But what we don''t know is what we can do. The old man decided to instruct the fifth column (quintas) scattered all over the area to keep this point in mind as well. "There was one more detail that you should not miss. Marikka began to explain further. "It seems that there is someone who was in charge of those ruins. Jin could not hide his surprise. "What?I didn''t see anyone. You checked with your peepers, didn''t you? < But there seemed to be a good reason for this as well. "So, it seems that this person is < to you. According to <, it is highly likely that the mysterious administrator lives outside and comes by from time to time to check on things. The cycle is unknown...is it every other day, every other year, every 10 years, etc. ....... Certainly, too, the interior ...... especially the first level was clean. It may be because of the occasional maintenance. The tunnels that had been trashed were probably considered obsolete and no longer subjected to maintenance. Wait a minute.If that is the case, it might be dangerous to continue exploring those ruins, right? The old man agreed with Jin. "Right!" Jin stood up and called out to Reiko. The priority now was to protect the safety of Hannah and the others, even if it meant canceling the meeting. "Reiko, let''s go get Hannah and the others!" "Yes, Father." And to the old man. The old man, get Conlon 3 on the transporter and send him back to the Nordic Federation. We''re running out of time. < "All right, let''s go." Jin then said a few words to Erza, and they boarded the Conlon 3 and flew to the Nord Federation. Of course, Zion and Marikka were with him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Then, Jin joined Hanna, Saki, Goose and others in the Nord Federation and explained the situation. "...... I knew it was the remains of the invasion group." "Oh, yes. I''m so relieved that we made it in time." It was not possible for the administrator to come back and attack Hanna and the others when Jin was not ...... around in time. Now they were all outside the ruins listening to the report from Jin. "Hmmm, I see. If that''s the case, it might be dangerous to stay here any longer. "I guess so..." "Well, I guess I''m satisfied for the most part." Both Hannah and Goose seemed satisfied with their visit. "Well, let''s go home," Jin said. Jin said, "Well, let''s go home," and there was no opposition. "Yes. So Jin returned to Horai Island with Hannah, Saki, Goose, Craftsman (Smith)1, Nurse Alpha, and Lando''s group. The Reconaus-Tonelius brothers were briefed by Zion and Maricka. < seems to have been well concealed. The two of them also said, "Well, from what Jin-sama told us, it seems dangerous to stay with them, so we''re going to leave too. They obeyed him. Marikka, however, has decided to have a golem sent from <> to watch over them. The only reason why she is going all the way from Onogoro Island is because she has decided that if the administrator of this place comes back, it would be best to deal with him using <> technology as much as possible. Maricka only told this to Zion, but did not tell the brothers Reconaus and Tonellius. Of course, I will explain this to Jin later. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The ruins were abandoned. However, because it is too good to let it fade away, a control automaton makes a << patrol>> once every 10 years. Yes, <>. There are three abandoned ruins in total, one of which was recently discovered in the , but the other two have yet to be discovered by anyone. One of the two was located in the former Kingdom of Leonard. One of the two was in the former Leonard Kingdom, on the coastline at its northern end. The remains were still alive. Or rather, usable weapons remained. What remained was what Jin would have called a . However, it was not a human passenger, but a golem with a control core. Because it was man-made, it could not be indestructible and required periodic maintenance. And this is carried out by the automata (automata) I mentioned earlier. Of course, there is more than one automata. Of course, there is not only one automaton, because then there would be no one to maintain them. Therefore, there are ten automata. And every one of them has the power to protect itself. They make their rounds once every ten years. Jin came to this world eight years ago. They and Jin do not know each other yet. 1: <> 2. 1:Are you all feeling all right? I gave it a thorough overhaul 20 years ago. 1:No doubt about it. 2: Well... 2. 1: um... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the Kingdom of Klein, the reorganization of the leading figures had begun. The current king, Alois III, has announced that he will abdicate the throne in three years and hand it over to the second prince, Arthur. Alois III, Alois Lux Klein, was 58 years old, an age at which he could have retired. The first prince, Edmond, was to be given a dukedom and made a general, the commander-in-chief of the army. The capital city of Alban was bustling with activity in many ways as it was reorganized and the old was being abandoned in favor of the new. Merchants were also planning to take advantage of this opportunity to make as much profit as possible. "Well, things are busy, aren''t they? "I envy you because of your connections to the upper echelons of society. "No, no, I don''t know how I''m going to do it with this reorganization. ...... What has worked for you in the past may not always work for you in the future. And vice versa. Merchants with a keen sense of profit are trying to identify the nobles who are likely to be promoted in the future and to establish a friendship with them while they still can. "......, there are more new faces..." "Yes, Mr. Chairman of the Board of Trade. "But the basis of business is . We must not get burned by trying to make a profit at every opportunity. The Raglan Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest merchant associations in Alban 1, was also discussing its future plans. Then.., "Mr. Eric has returned. The meeting was interrupted by the news that "Mr. Eric has returned. It was not because of the return of his blood relatives, but because they wanted to know the information about the as soon as possible. 1830 - - 49-19 In the Kingdom of Klein "So, what kind of < are popular in the village of Kaina? Eric is surprised when his father Roland asks impatiently. "What kind of crazy things ...... father?" Eric is a little taken aback by his father''s tone. "Well, well, anyway, King''s Landing is in a state of flux right now. If there''s any money to be made, everyone wants to jump on it. You know that, don''t you?" "Yes, of course. I''m a merchant myself. Roland nodded, satisfied with his answer. "So ......, what did you come back for today?" Roland, who had calmed down a bit, resumed. "Oh, yeah. Oh, um, to tell you that Barbara has a baby. Eric said, a little embarrassed. "Oh!I hope it''s a boy this time!" "You''re being a bit fast, Dad." Barbara had given birth to their first child, Linda, in March 3461. And now the news of her pregnancy. Congratulations, Mr. Vice President. "Congratulations, Mr. Vice President." "Thank you." Roland receives the congratulations with a smile. But then again, he is a merchant. When the excitement subsided, he told his son again about the business opportunity. "At ......?" Eric smiles at his father and gives him a piece of information. "Not in the village of Kaina, but in the neighboring village of Toka, they are working on a blue dye. Eric took out a blue-dyed cloth as a sample and showed it to the participants. He had prepared it. "Oh, it''s a beautiful blue color," he said. "I dyed it in Toka village." "Oh?Tell me more about it. This blue dye comes from the fruit of the <> tree, which was discovered by Saki a few years ago and put to practical use by Toa and Stellina. Specifically, the color fades when left as it is, so Stearina has used her new engineering magic <> to stop the color from fading. The cultivation of ice-gos has been encouraged by Lycia, and in recent years, the industry has taken off. Therefore, it is a good thing that the Raglan Chamber of Commerce has taken notice of this, and it is also a good thing for Toka village. "Good, it would be great if we could dye cloth with this new dye and make it fashionable in the capital. Roland thought that if new ministers and officials were appointed, the new clothes would sell well. In that case, if this color would be fashionable ....... Staring at the deep blue cloth, Roland wondered what the procedure would be. * * * * "We''ve saved up a lot of money, haven''t we? In the village of Toka, the lord Licia took the initiative in stabilizing the cloth dyed with icego nuts. The dyed cotton cloths are already piled up. Cotton cloth brought from Mitsuho is dyed here. The color is deep blue. Hitoshi described it as . The only way to achieve such a deep blue color is to use magic dyes, which are quite expensive and not available to the common people. Therefore, <> was regarded as a <> along with <> and <>. Just to be clear, it is not <> but <>. It does not mean that the common people were disrespectful for owning it, but simply that it was expensive. Such blue cloth was mass-produced in Toka village. The blue cloth was produced in large quantities in the village of Toka. One day in early summer, three wagons visited Toka village. They were the wagons of the Raglan Trading Company, who came to purchase the specialty of Toka Village, the . After unloading the white ...... cotton cloth, the wagons are loaded with the products. "Well, my lord, it was a good deal. "Thank you." The Raglan Chamber of Commerce purchased large quantities of white cotton cloth through its own channels, and then wholesaled it to the village of Toka in exchange for the blue cloth. In this way, Toka Village was able to obtain white cotton cloth at half the price of what they had purchased themselves, and the Raglan Trading Company had an exclusive contract for the purchase of blue cloth for the time being. Moreover, since the cargo was cotton cloth both on the way to and from the port, the transportation was very efficient. Thus, clothes made of this blue cloth became very popular in Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, and the blue color was named . * * * * * * * * * * * The Kingdom of Klein was full of such glamorous topics, but ....... The underworld was also alive with activity. "Tonight is the Merdus Chamber of Commerce. They''re out of the country in force right now, trading." "Good." The bandits are on the run. They target medium-sized merchant ...... establishments that have amassed a decent amount of cash and are less ...... guarded under the watchful eye of the Royal Guard. In the past week, three houses have already been hit. And tonight is the fourth. "Well, this is a serious problem." Pascoe Rush, the third son of Baron Rush, has a grim look on his face. He is currently the commander of the 2nd Royal Guard. "It would be a shame for us if the residents cannot live in peace. Patrol with determination! Yes! The Royal City Guard is divided into four units, working day and night in half-day shifts to provide security around the clock. Tonight, Pascoe Rush''s second unit was in charge of night patrols. There are 19 members in the second unit, not including Pascoe. There were originally 20, but one of them was on leave due to illness. The time was 6:00 p.m.. After handing over from the unit leader who had been in charge during the day, he gives the order. Then, patrol your posts! The patrol is conducted in groups of three, or three-man cells. Pascoe, the captain, patrols the town as needed. Usually he is accompanied by two men, but tonight he is alone. He is accompanied by his second-in-command, Lelamie Northland. She is a petite woman with light brown hair pulled back in a short ponytail and lovely brown eyes. "Captain, the bandits, why can''t they find their way back to us?" "Well. If we knew that, we could do something about it. Pascoe replied, looking down. Llamie Northland is 145 centimeters tall. Pascoe is 172 centimeters tall, a difference of almost 30 centimeters. Therefore, Llamie would walk a little faster than Pascoe. "......Oh, bad." Pascoe noticed this and slowed down a little. "I''m sorry, captain." Walking side by side like this, they look like father and son, but Lelamie Northland is 20 years old this year and a grown-up. He is also the best healer in the group. It is not yet 7:00 p.m., and the early summer sky is not yet completely dark, but the eaves of the stores are lit and many people are walking by. "We should have more nightlights in the city." Pascoe thought to himself. "Yes, I agree. I think that the awareness that <> will curb crime." Llamie agreed with him. However, even magic lamps are not free. The lights that are on the street now will be turned off by 9:00 p.m. Only a big business or a wealthy family would be able to keep their lamps on all night just to light up their store fronts. Thieves would take advantage of such darkness to steal. "We can''t afford to be tense right now. Shall we go somewhere for a quick meal? Yes, sir. Pascoe and Llamie went into the dining room, where the crowd was beginning to thin out. 1831 - - 49-20 The Robbery Pascoe Rush and Lelamie Northland were eating while listening. In places like this, it is useful to hear the real voices of ordinary people. ...... if the listener is willing to listen. And they were willing to do so. "...... Das Trading Company seems to be doing well." "Yeah, I heard that too. They said they need some help, so I''ll go and see if they can hire some people tomorrow. "Oh, that''s no good. Most of the people there have been out since yesterday, buying and stuff. I guess I''ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow. "Oh, really?" Pascoe was pleased to find out that he had gotten more useful information than he had expected, even though he had chosen the restaurant at random. Besides, the taste of the was not bad. "Thank you very much! After paying the bill and leaving the diner, the two whisper to each other. "So, the Merdus Trading Company is the same as the Merdus Trading Company, right?" "Yes, I think so." "......Hmm, if it is known to the general public that the employees are out, it is possible that the bandits know about it too?" "Yes." Of course, there is no proof that the bandits will attack there. And it is even less likely that they will do so tonight. Still, Pascoe thought, if the possibility was not zero, it would not be a waste of time to be vigilant. "Shall we focus on the area around the Merdus Trading Company tonight? "Yes!" The night was deepening and it was almost midnight when the sun was about to change. All the lights in the storefronts are extinguished and only a few night-lights remain, and darkness reigns. The moon in the night sky is almost in the south. Its light casts a small shadow on the ground. "...... has the date changed, too?" "Yes, it has." Pascoe and Llamy were walking along West Middle Street, where the Merdus Trading Company is located. "I hope nothing happens tonight." "Tonight, too, right?" "Yeah, right.Yes, that''s right." They were whispering as they walked, but Pascoe stopped and listened carefully. "Captain?" "......, I hear a noise." At these words, Llamie also stopped to catch his breath and listen carefully. Indeed, footsteps could be heard coming from somewhere. They are coming from above. "They seem to be coming through the roof! Pascoe whispered. Llamie hears this and looks up. Because of the low rainfall, the roofs of the houses in this area are sloped. This is because it is easier for construction and maintenance. At the same time, however, it also had the disadvantage of making it easier to walk along the roof. "Let''s see how it goes for now. Pascoe and the others hide in the shadows where they can see the back of the Merdus Trading Company. As they gazed at the roof through the night sky moon, two large shadows and one shadow half that size appeared on the roof of the Merdus Trading Company for a moment, then quickly withdrew. "...... are you here?" "Yes, ho, ho, really!What do you want me to do, Captain? Pascoe is a little nervous and Llamie is very nervous, not expecting his prediction to come true. "Don''t panic, calm down." Pascoe wished he had called for reinforcements, but it was too late. The two of them had to make do on their own. "It''s a bad idea to try to capture them all. Let''s try to catch one first. And if that''s not possible, follow him and find his base. Yes, sir. To be clear, Llamie is the second-in-command because of his healing magic and clerical skills. Therefore, he is not suited for rough work at all. Pascoe is well aware of this, and he knows that he has to act with a reasonable attitude ......, but there are always some risks involved. He knew this when he joined the Royal Guard, but as a captain and as a man, Pascoe did not want to put Llamie in danger. But more than that, he had to fulfill his duty as a member of the Royal Guard. These conflicts plagued Pascoe, but in the end his sense of duty won out. He was determined to let Llamie go in case of danger and to deal with the situation on his own. After about 20 minutes of waiting and watching, three shadows, two large and one small, appeared on the roof and hung off in the direction from which they came. "Okay, let''s go after them." "Okay, let''s follow them." "Yes." Pascoe and Llamie followed the shadows on the roof. But the roof is different from the road. The roof allows for diagonal shortcuts, even if they have to go all the way around, so in less than two minutes Pascoe and the others lose sight of the shadow on the roof. This was partly due to the fact that they could not use their lighted magic tools in order to avoid being noticed. "...... d*mn ......" Pascoe is disappointed. Llamy is also dour. He is worried about his slow pace. "I''m sorry, captain. It''s because I''m slow. ......" "No, don''t worry about it. Even if there were more of us, we wouldn''t have been able to keep up." Pascoe''s eyes were fixed on the rooftop where the bandits had disappeared, even as he consoled Llamie. * * * * * * (These are the bandits who are now disturbing the royal city, aren''t they? ......) Meanwhile, besides Pascoe and Llamy, there were others who were chasing the bandits. (Are they two and ......1 body?) The fifth column (Quinta), a male Regulus 2, a.k.a. Reiver, is stationed in Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein. < and moves through the air by <> so that it cannot be noticed. (Although it is a few steps ...... inferior to the master''s, it is the key, isn''t it?) The rider is staring at a shadow about half the size of an adult male. (A small golem? (A small golem......... It would certainly be easy to sneak into that one, wouldn''t it?) A golem about 80 centimeters tall, with the physique of a child. It seems to be the bandits'' trump card. It can easily pass through gaps that adults cannot pass through, and if its strength is twice that of an adult ......, it is quite reassuring. (Seeing it running on the roof with little noise, it seems to have good mobility. They also seem to be light in weight). Regulus 2 and Leiber observed and analyzed them carefully. The two and one arrived at the outskirts of town. The time is 1:00 am. The bandits were looking up at the sky as if waiting for something. And there it was. A black hot air balloon (......?) A jet-black hot-air balloon that seems to have come to pick them up. (I guess you can''t find it unless you know it and look up at the night sky. In that sense, they were lucky ...... or unlucky, I guess.) In the first place, only bandits or guards would be outside in the middle of the night, since guards would normally keep an eye on the ground. In this case, the bandits had Pascoe and Llamy in their sights without knowing it, but not Leiber. The two men and one of them boarded a hot air balloon that was slowly descending. Only one man was in the hot air balloon. The man asked them. "Good job. How did it go?" "Of course, I''m sure." One of the passengers held up a bag that appeared to contain gold coins and showed it to them. "Well, it must be no less than 50 gold coins," he said. They were not after precious metals that could be easily traced, but only money. "Well, that''s about right. Okay, let''s go home." The black hot air balloon glides through the night sky, slowly at first, then faster and faster. The fifth-row driver followed them, unnoticed. 1832 - - 49-21 Settlement in the Kingdom of Klein After receiving the report from the fifth column (quintile) driver, the old man was pondering. <>. Ryber had even tracked down the bandit''s hideout. < The small golem used by the bandits. The old man guessed that it was probably lent to him by the remnants of the Unified Party. The old man thought about the best way to deal with the situation. * * * * * * "What?Say that again. "Yes, Captain Rush. ...... I have just received a letter under the name of <> stating that the hideout of the bandits is located in the forest between >. Sipu is a village on the road that runs southwest from the capital Alban to the Kingdom of Selroa. The distance from Alban is about 18 km. On the way, there is a forest, which is unusual for a place near a capital city. There is a woodcutter''s hut to the west of the forest, which is said to be his hideout. He said he could tell because of the black hot air balloon nearby." Pascoe Rush smiled a little sadly at the report of his second-in-command, Lellamy Northland. "...... Well, ...... thanks, but I''m a little disappointed." We wanted to finish this ourselves," Pascoe said. "Yeah, me too. But..." "Yes, but the peace and quiet of the residents must take precedence." Yes! After this conversation, Pascoe Rush called his men together. "All of you, we are now heading for Sipu. Our goal is to capture the bandits who are causing trouble in King''s Landing. It will be tough on those who have been on the night shift, but I expect you to do your best for the people. Thus, twenty men, including Pascoe, departed from the capital. They were ordered to wear leather rather than metal armor and to make as little noise as possible, so as to be as inconspicuous as possible. The distance to Sipu is about 18 kilometers, and we have to travel about 9 kilometers between the two points. After reaching the halfway point in less than three hours, Pascoe and his men first sent out scouts. Two small, quick men head west into the forest. If they looked carefully, they could see that some of them were on foot. We searched for 30 minutes in the forest. Hey, isn''t this it?) Yes, I''m sure.) The two of them have a short conversation, using a speech technique in which they do not shake their vocal cords, but speak only with their breaths. There is an empty meadow in the forest, where a small woodcutter''s hut stands. They look closely and see what appears to be a black hot air balloon behind the hut, and they are certain that it is the one they are looking for. They hurry back, but with caution. The return trip took 15 minutes, compared to the time it took them to find it. "Thanks, guys. "Okay, when we get to the meadow, we''ll deploy to surround them and push them all the way in. After explaining the plan, Pascoe led the two scouts into the forest. A total of 20 men quietly follow the footsteps of the scouts as they walk back. It was fortunate that there were no large animals in the forest, since it was close to an urban area. There were only small animals resembling small birds and squirrels. Pascoe thought as he walked through the forest that this would have been a good place to set up a hideout. It took about 20 minutes of careful walking so as not to be detected, but the 20 men reached a clearing in the forest. When Pascoe gave the signal, his men scattered around the clearing as they had previously planned. All right, let''s go!) When he seemed to have finished the deployment, Pascoe gave the order by raising his right hand once and waving it down in front of him. (......!!!) (!!!) The assault began without a word. Two of them secure the black hot air balloons and cut off the retreat. The remaining 17, including Pascoe, close in on the hut. Llamy is the only one who does not participate in the assault and stays in the rear. He does not raise his voice, but he does not make any effort to muffle the sound of footsteps and signs of life. The sound of stepping on grass and breaking twigs is enough to be detected. Four men come out of the woodcutter''s hut. Two use swords and two use spears. They are quite good with swords, but they are bandit warriors after all. But there was a golem. Though only 80 centimeters tall, it is stronger than an adult. Not to mention faster. "Whoa! Ow!" It is hard to defend against attacks from a low position, and it is hard for us to attack from a low position. Three of them were crouched down with their legs hit. However, the 18 to 4 ratio could not be overcome, and Pascoe''s team managed to capture four bandits, although five were wounded. The small golem was also heavily damaged by the concentrated attack, but was able to be neutralized. "...... managed to do something about it." Pascoe said, breathing hard. "Good work, guys. How many people are injured? "Five seriously wounded, three slightly wounded ......, no, four." The soldier who had reported the incident corrected his story when he saw that Pascoe had also been wounded. "Is Llamie Northland safe?" Llamie, the second-in-command and healer, was in the rear and was unharmed. "Yes, captain!" "Good, you take care of the seriously wounded first." Yes, sir! Llamie Northland is able to use healing magic up to intermediate surgical level. It can heal major cuts, severe bruises, and broken bones. <>" "...... thank you, vice captain!" "<>" "Lieutenant, I feel better!" Since the severely wounded had only simple fractures (closed fractures) and wounds (cuts), they could be healed with <> without any problem. Llamy also healed minor injuries with the extra strength. "<>" "Thank you, Captain." Pascoe also thanked him for healing his wounds. "No, this is what I''m here for." Llamie replied, a little embarrassed. "Well." Pascoe looked at the bandit who was tied up. None of them seem to have any injuries that need immediate attention. He orders two scouts to search the hut. You do not want to be in case there are any bandit friends lurking about. They come back in about two minutes, since it is a small hut. "Captain, I have a report. There is no one inside. We found two boxes of gold coins, two swords and two spears. We think the swords and spears may be spare weapons. "We also found four black clothes, which we guessed were their work clothes. And some food and water. Four blankets. Nothing else. "I see." Pascoe nodded and checked inside the hut himself. It is a small hut, nothing overlooked. He checked the floor for hidden doors, but found none. "All right, let''s split up and bring it back." "Okay, let''s split up and bring it back." "Ha!" Thus, the bandits who had been raiding Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, were vanquished. But... "...... Hmmm, I wonder if it is possible to analyze it if it is so broken that it is no longer in its original state." When we reported the incident, we also handed over the wrecked small golem to our boss, who looked at it and said regretfully, "I''m sorry, sir. "I''m sorry, sir." "No, it''s all right. It was a big deal, Rush. "Thank you, sir. I owe it all to the work of my men. Pascoe Rush has grown up to be a good captain. 1833 - - 49-22 Mysterious 10 people In Horai Island, the old man was submitting the results of the analysis to Jin. "Which one is it? ......" Even though it was destroyed, there are still many things we can learn. And if we include how it works, it would be quite informative for Jin. "Yes, I am sure. ...... would be the metal of the skeleton and the muscle material." > What could be derived from this fact was the possibility that he had obtained information about the materials used by <>, or that he had found the stock of the materials themselves. "It could be either." <> that we don''t know about. "Oh, I see." Jin nodded at the old man''s words. He recalled the ruins of the that he and Zion and others had surveyed the other day. "If so, are they from the old Leonard Kingdom or something like that?" <> That''s what happened. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On the other hand, there was a conversation that took place somewhere, unknown to the people. 3: <<<4>>You''ve been doing well so far, haven''t you? 4. <<3>, are the others doing well? 3: "I think they will be. There''s no reason why they wouldn''t be. 4:Yes, they are. This is the last time we''re in charge, right? 9. Everything''s been uneventful so far, <<10>>. 6. 5. The next round will be in 10 years, <<6>>. What do you think? 1. There are signs that someone has trespassed here, <<2>>. 2:<>. That''s a strong possibility. 2.Should we call them all? 1: No, I''ve checked and nothing has been damaged. Besides, this is an abandoned base. 2. We''ll see how it goes. 2:All right. 1:Wait and see2Wait and see2Wait and see 2: <<1>>. <3><4><<5>><6><9><10>> and the others have done their job without incident, and returned home without incident. 1: <>, where are <<7>> and <<8>>? 2: "Yes, well, they reported that one of the bases they''re in charge of has been ransacked. 1: < 2:I don''t know yet. It could be another faction. 1:When will you know for sure? 2. 1: All right, let''s wait. 1:Well, let''s wait and see. This is an anomaly. I fully agree with you, <<8>>. 8: <>. 4. 4: < 6: "What base is that? 9: "Who the hell is that? 3: "Are they natives?Or are they from another faction? 1: Wait. It''ll be hard for <7> and <8> to answer if they''re all talking to each other. 5:Agreed. I''ll let <1> do the talking. 1: Reinforcement. <<7>> and <<8>>, where are you guys now? 7: Near Mount Funicis, in a mountain range the natives call the Kruger Mountains. I see. Yes, that''s right. What''s the situation? 7:Some of our maintenance materials are missing. And some of the structural data for maintenance. Are they natives? 8. The other factions wouldn''t do anything halfway. 1:Yes, 7. 7:Well then, what do we do?Retaliate? 8:By the way, considering the stock of materials, a loss of this magnitude is no problem at all. But it''s not a good idea to just leave the goods stolen, either. 7:I don''t know if it won''t come back again. 8:Well then, what are you going to do? <<1. 1: <>get ready! 2: <>, how many do you want to activate? 1: "Three will do. 2: "Okay. * * * * * Somewhere, in a place unknown to the people, three Golems begin to move. Naturally, people don''t know about it. But... > There was a being who knew about it. It is an old man of Horai Island. > The report came from the fifth column (Quinta). The one who reported to us is Regulus 19, aka Sean. The old man instructed the three to follow them and report back to him so that they would not be detected. At the same time, he also used his < to investigate the surroundings, and discovered that there were about 100 golems sleeping underground in the hills near Lake Aoba. . ...... I shall inform the Master (My Lord) of it. And the old man reported to Jin. 1834 - - 49-23 Mono, Gee, Tet On the morning of May 16th, the old man told Jin that three mysterious golems had been activated near Lake Aoba in Newell. "Newell, or ...... I remember that place was where the investigation ended halfway through." He had returned halfway through the survey because it was too exclusive, most of the towns were dying, and he was running out of time. Jin was convinced that it was not surprising that there were such << ruins> in the northern part of the Laurentian continent. "And this golem is? < "What? Jin could not believe his ears. < "Old man, you mean he is running on the ground? < "I see. ......" If you have ever ridden a motorcycle on the highway, you will realize the risks of riding at high speeds. Even at speeds of about 100 km/h, it is quite painful to be hit by a flying kanabu. Also, you may have been surprised at the magnitude of the impact when you kicked a styrofoam box that rolled out onto the road as a joke, even in town. The faster the relative velocity is, the greater the impact of the collision. In other words, Jin was astonished by the fact that he was running at high speed on the ground where there were many obstacles. "Why aren''t they flying?" In fact, Regulus 19, a.k.a. Sean, of the fifth row (Quinta), is invisible, while flying through the air with his <> to track the three. He is tracking the three. < The old man''s opinion. Indeed, Jin also thought that this was the only reason. "But still, it must be very sturdy. ......" If the car hits the ground at 300 km/h, even a grain of sand, let alone a pebble, would be expected to cause considerable damage. If it is running on the ground in spite of that, it must have a very sturdy body, or it must have wards on it. The old man said as he looked at the magnified image from the observation satellite . < "...... is not to be underestimated." Jin stared at the image. The clouds were in the way, so he could not make out the details of its appearance, but he could see its movements. Although it has a sturdy body, it skillfully avoids large obstacles such as rocks and standing trees. Jin judged that its reaction speed and agility were both considerable. "But where are they going?" The old man agreed. * * * * * * The three golems are aiming at a certain . It is a magical wave emitted by the material. The stolen material for is a demon-type material that used to live in , and it generates weak but special magic waves. The < who detected these magic waves dispatched three golems to the site. Do you know how much longer we have? Mm-hmm. At this rate, six hours, give or take. That''s what you''re looking for, isn''t it?Mono. That''s right. The three golems exchanged information in a language too fast for humans to understand. Mono, what do you have on the ground?Mono, any news on the ground? No. The natives are building settlements ......, towns, I''ve heard. So it wasn''t the natives who stole it? That''s a possibility, Tet. Hmm. So if they''re natives, they can''t be targeted? Gee, you''re right. Our only enemies are the other factions. Not the natives. Mono, what if they turn against us? I don''t think the natives could do anything to endanger us. ...... Then you can fight back, Jee. All right. The three golems were engaged in a conversation along these lines. Because of the high speed language, the frequencies were in the ultrasonic range, but Regulus 19 and Sean, who were tracking them, were able to hear most of it. Unfortunately, they missed about 10% of the conversation due to the distance between them, but they were able to understand the content of the conversation well enough. Sean was able to understand the conversation well enough. < However, as a Hailese, they don''t seem to like to kill indiscriminately, the old man thought. If so, the old man thought, there is an unexpected connection. <>. Not to say that he could conquer poison with poison, the old man thought that he could use the three mysterious golems to root out the bandit gang. <> * * * The three golems kept running toward the east, then suddenly turned around and headed south. They passed through the border area between the kingdoms of Klein and Franz, and then entered the kingdom of Egelea. He then followed an unnoticed route to the Kingdom of Elias. The average speed is 200 kilometers per hour. They traveled 2,000 kilometers in 10 hours. Of course, Regulus 19 and Sean have been watching them closely the whole time. Around here?Mono. Mono. Gee, don''t you think we should be able to detect it by now? Uh, yeah, sure. We''re getting close. They were in the province of Toves, in the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias. They were near the Dosa Mine. Do you see that flat-topped mountain over there? Mm-hmm. Looks like they''re going for something on that mountain somewhere. Gee said we won''t know the exact position until we get a little closer. Okay, here we go. Mm-hmm. The three of them are on the move again. In about 30 minutes, they were in the province of Xaus, standing on the summit of what the locals call Mount Flathead. From here, it''s only a short distance to the right spot, right? Mm-hmm. I''ve been surveying the area. It''s deep in the mines, Mono. Okay. Tet, go and survey the mine. I''ll do it. Each of the three has slightly different characteristics and thus different roles, and the one called Tet is said to be more stealthy. This information was also sent to the old man through Regulus 19 and Sean. < deployed a cloaking ward equivalent to the one called on Horai Island, and quietly approached the target point. Therefore, even Regulus 19 could not detect the details of the situation. However, he did say, "30 meters to the destination, 30 meters to destination! This is Mono, copy. Proceed with caution. Tet, copy. We''ve only been able to intercept these conversations. 1835 - - 49-24 Unwanted Conflict The location was the material dump of the Unification Party (Unifiler), which is related to the recently arrested bandit. It was a warehouse converted from the depths of an abandoned mine. The abandoned mine is convenient. Since the mine was no longer of use, it would not be looked at, and thus, unexpectedly, would not be the target of an investigation, or would be put off until later, giving us time to prepare whether to escape or hide. In addition, since some ore can be obtained, it is very convenient for some purposes, as mentioned above. Of course, it takes time and effort to reinforce and disguise the entrances and exits to prevent cave-ins from occurring. And it was such a warehouse that the three golems were aiming for. This way. No humans in sight. This is Mono. Still, proceed with caution. I know. And so Tet takes more careful steps. But it was not worth the effort. ....... There was no one ahead of him. This is <>. We have arrived at our destination. There is no one. No traps, no nothing. Just some materials. Copy that. I''m going over there now with Zee. When they hear that there is no problem, and head for the place where the materials are kept, and the three of them join up with the others. I see...nobody''s here. It''s good to know that there''s no trouble. But not too many, are there? Perhaps some of it has been spent. That makes sense. They don''t need to recover the rest. They are here to retrieve the stolen items because they cannot allow them to remain stolen, not because they are concerned about retrieving all of them. Then let''s get them out of here. Mm-hmm. So, we decided to take out the metal ingots and the materials for <>. The ingots are worth about 300 kilograms, and we are to carry 150 kilograms each for the mono and gi. <, which was placed in a special bag there. The structural data for maintenance were not found and were of little importance to them, so they were ignored. The three returned with their belongings. However, the tragedy began when they let their guard down because they were returning. * * * * * The Dosa Mine, located in the Toves Province in the southern part of the Kingdom of Elias, is one of the few excellent mines in the Kingdom of Elias. There are few mines in the peninsular kingdom of Elias, but here, metal resources such as gold, silver, copper, and iron can be mined in abundance. There are always guards patrolling the mines to watch out for thieves, but one of the guards found the three golems in question. "Hey, look at that! "Hey, look at that." "Hmm?...... golem?Is that some ...... ingot? They''re bringing ...... out." Where does it belong? "Idiot, where, in the world, was there ever a golem shaped like that in our ...... country, or in this world?" "Indeed. It has no head and four arms. ......Where in the world did they make something like that? They were right, the three had four arms and no head. "Let''s be careful here and send in the golem. This decision by the guard saved their lives. "Golem 23, go! Stop them. I understand. There are golems in the Kingdom of Elias. Most of them were purchased from the kingdoms of Egelea and Selroa. ....... Golem 23 stood in front of three deformed golems. "Omatchikudasai!" "Omatchikudasai?What do you want? They were confronted by Zee. Excuse me. I said, what do you want? Tet, you must speak slowly or this golem will not hear you. I see. A primitive golem. ...... okay, I''ll ask again." What do you want? "What do you want?" This was a complete misunderstanding. "No, I don''t want to." "I''ll take care of it." "I said no." "This is a great idea. I''m sorry, I''m sorry. "No matter how many times you say no, the answer is the same. I''ll say no." "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no." You''re a bunch of natives, like a golem. The last words were in the original, fast language. A metallic clang echoed through the dosa mine. "Oh!" "U...... are you kidding me?" The guards'' stunned voices. And so it should have been. Golem 23, the security golem they had sent out, was quickly turned into scrap metal. It was the golem known as who did it. He left the two arms that were carrying the ingot intact, and struck Golem 23 from above with the other two arms that were free. With the added weight of the 150-kilogram ingot, Zee now weighs nearly 600 kilograms. Golem 23, on the other hand, weighs only one-third as much, about 200 kilograms. The difference in weight, combined with the force of his muscles, had crushed Golem 23 to the point that no original form remained. "Oh, ......, this is bad!" "Oh ...... oh!" Guards are human beings and their lives are precious. And it is folly to stand against someone who is beyond the power of man. Let''s get out of here. It''s understandable if he ran away. But I''ll report you at ....... There was one soldier who was somewhat loyal to his duty. He opened the lid of the pigeon house that contained the emergency pigeons. The emergency pigeons are supposed to let people know that if they come back without carrying any letter. What is that?...... Okay, okay. Zee picked up a pebble from under his feet and threw it at the pigeon. It hit the pigeon at about 500 kilometers per hour and bounced off just before ...... it hit the ground. Hmm? There''s something out there, thing! Mm-hmm. Watch out! Mono, sensing that someone or something had at least some power close to his own by the fact that Zee''s pebble had bounced off the pigeon, alerted Zee and Tet. (Well, what should we do? ...... I think we''ll be found if we don''t do something...) Regulus 19, a.k.a. Sean, from the 5th column (Quinta), who popped the stone because he didn''t want his pigeon to be killed in front of him. He is now , but three golems of different shapes can be warded in the same way. This means that they have the ability to sense things without being affected by the wards. Sean rushes up to the sky to make it harder for them to find him, and at the same time, he asks the old man for instructions. 1836 - - 49-25 Confrontation and Dialogue Regulus 19, a.k.a. Sean, a member of the fifth column (Quinta), asked the old man, the head of Horai Island, for instructions on whether or not he should make contact with the three deformed golems. Just then, Jin was in the command room, although he had another matter to attend to, "What is this golem? He was just saying honestly, "What is this golem creepy? "Is it the golem of ...... At that moment, Jin''s voice echoed in the control core of Lando and the others. < cannot enter the stage of negotiation unless they show their power, so it is inevitable for them to know our power. However, Lando and his servants are hesitant to make a move because they do not want to divulge information about Jin. Knowing this, Jin gave them another order. "Yes, sir!" "Yes, sir! Just when it seemed like the white flame was about to engulf Lando and the others... It''s gone! Lando and the others disappeared from Mono and the others'' sight! That''s impossible!There''s no way they could''ve accelerated in that fraction of a second! You can''t go from zero speed to top speed in zero seconds flat. This is a physical law common to both Earth and the Ars world. But what if it is possible to move without acceleration? Yes, Lando and the others have been transferred by an emergency . And then they counterattack. Behind you, thing! What! Zee pointed out Mono, who turned around. But it was too late, for the ingot in its hand had been snatched away by Land 901. You''re a little creepy! Mono is furious, in sharp contrast to her previous attitude. But... "Now you know what you''re capable of, don''t you?" Land 901 says in high speed, puts the ingot down on the ground, and jumps back about 10 meters. [Mwah? "This is not a battle, but a test, isn''t it?" Land 901 told the wondering Mono. ...... Indeed, it is. "I don''t want to violate my master''s dignity, that''s understandable." ...... Hmm, not just a golem. Perhaps it was created by another faction? "No, no. My creator is from another planet than yours. Oh, my... The old man put you up to this. It is not a lie, for Jin is from Earth. Even if some of the magic he uses is from the Origin. But with this, the feud between the deformed golems and Lando and the others is gone. In other words, we''re just here to recover stolen materials and have no intention of fighting with the natives. "Okay." Then we''ll go. We must remember that there are others who can make golems like yours, not just the masters. With these words, the three golems leave. Of course, Regulus 19, a.k.a. Sean of the fifth row (Quinta), is following them just in case. Land 901 followed the evacuated soldiers. However, the frightened soldiers ran further away when they saw the golem, Land 901. "It''s all right now! They''ve retreated!" Land 901 yells loudly, finally slowing down, but still running away. "I am the golem sent by the Magecraft Meister. You are safe now." When Rand said this, the soldiers stopped for the first time. "<> says ......?" "So there really is no more danger ......?" When the soldiers had finally calmed down, Land 901 told them the whole story. According to him, they had only come to retrieve stolen materials. It was located deep in an abandoned mine. Now that they had recovered it, they told us that they had no intention of interfering with others and left. After that explanation, the guards were finally relieved and went back to guarding the mine. 1837 - - 49-26 Fate for the Future On the island of Horai, the old man and Jin are discussing. Of course, it is about the deformed golem that Lando and the others have just met. "Yes, we don''t know what they are doing at the moment. < "Yes, please." It would be some time before the deformed golem, <><><<>, and the others returned to their base. Jin leaves the command center. * * * * * * ...... and that''s how it is. "Hmm, a mysterious golem." "Hmm, what kind of golem was it?" Jin returns home from the laboratory and explains to Hannah and Elsa, who have come to visit him. The twins are napping, so Reiko is with them. "It has four arms and no head. ...... It looks like it was designed specifically for combat." "Yes, I agree. The head is an advantage and a weakness at the same time. If the design can cover the advantages, it is reasonable to eliminate the head. The head is the highest part of the body, and the is attached to it, which controls the most informative of the five senses, . < is located in a high place. Also, the movement of the eyeballs and the twisting of the head ...... neck would provide an almost 360-degree field of view. "Perhaps there is a sensor for full-surroundings surveillance with a super-wide-angle lens or fisheye lens, and a main optical sensor that is like a standard lens." And perhaps a telephoto lens function as well," he said. "...... And by placing them on the chest and back, the head is eliminated?" "I guess so. And four arms. "It would be amazing if it could be controlled properly. I sometimes think it would be useful if it had another hand. Hannah''s opinion was shared by Jin. Jin, however, has already managed to do so by using engineering magic. "......Well, anyway. The fact that someone can make a combat golem of such a design is not to be underestimated. If they can build a control system that can manipulate four arms at will, they must have some serious technology. At the very least, Jin thought that the general technology of the current Ars world would not be able to compete with them. "Should we close those ruins? Hannah said with a worried look on her face. "Yes, I think so. I''ve already done my research. I''ll talk to ...... Zion about it. Jin uses the communication function of the bracelet to call Zion and explain the situation. <> "Yes, that''s right. So we shouldn''t provoke them unnecessarily." < "Please do so." Theon immediately agreed to the request, since it came directly from Jin. Jin is relieved to hear that the Northerners are now in good hands, when he receives a call from the old man. "Yes, what is it?" < "...... early, isn''t it?" Jin wondered if the return time was too short compared to the trip there. "I see." Just as Jin has built a network of warp gates in various places in Ars, it seems that <> had also built something similar in the past. They did not use the warp gate on the way there because they were searching for their destinations, but on the way back, they did not need to use the warp gate, so they used it and returned home at once. < The old man explained the situation to me, and I was quite impressed. First of all, the place where I returned, Lake Aoba in the Newell region in the northern part of the Laurentian continent, is the same. There, ten human-like automata with four arms were waiting for me. They were said to be regularly patrolling the ruins for maintenance. I see... So that''s how they are being maintained without people knowing... If there are 10 of them, it must be quite safe. Then Jin thinks. "What about the value of the remains?" "I see. ......" Jin thought about it. "You should seal the ruins, after all. ......" "Yes, I think so too." Elsa and Hannah say it is better to seal it. Jin agrees, but the question is how. It is not enough to simply close the entrance. "Should we put a watchman there after all ......?" "Yes, that would be fine. But it will be more work for you. I can add a special monitoring assistant to ......." Elsa and Hannah agreed to this method, so Jin immediately added an auxiliary function to the old man. In short, it would be like a home security system that could detect anything before it happens. If anyone approaches the ruins, the "Mere Old Man" will immediately notice it and put the "Mere Old Man" in a state of observation. If the purpose is to destroy the ruins, he will take immediate action. If not, and they are just passing by by chance, they will be left alone. "<> or ......700672 didn''t say anything about it." <>. The two factions were so different in their principles that there was no contact between them, and they must have been completely embittered, the old man guessed. "But if they are the invaders, why do they not want to hurt the natives?" Jin tilted his head. < were originally a gentle race, so I think that the invaders among them are only a little extreme. Jin nodded his head and said that the old man''s opinion might be right. "Besides, I don''t think invasion is the same as slaughter. Elsa also expressed her own opinion. Jin reconsidered his position, saying, "Yes, there are many ways to invade. Jin then thought that this matter might drag on for a while. * * * * While Jin and the others were discussing such matters, Zion of Shinra was receiving a visitor. He was a young man with good manners. "Well, I am Xiong. Nice to meet you, I''m Tiberio from . < I heard that Mr. Zion is a close friend of Master Jin. Yes, he is. I''m interested in shipbuilding and was wondering if I could learn from Jin-sama. ...... "Oh, that''s right." Sion thinks for a moment. "Well, Jin is very busy, so it might be difficult for me to become his apprentice. "Do something about that!" "What do you mean by ''do something about it''? Zion, who was at a loss, decided to at least ask Jin. This led to an unexpected connection, but Zion did not know it yet at this time. ....... 1838 - - 49-27 Kawabune Development "Whoa!" A scream is followed by the sound of water. This is the village of Kaina. The river Erm, which flows to the south of the village, is filled with the sound of human voices. "Marcia! Rodrigo is the one who is worried about his daughter who fell into the river. He is worried about his daughter who fell into the river. But when Marcia emerged from the water with a gasp, "It''s okay, dad," she says. and waved her hand from the river. The other day, when I attended Jin''s birthday party, Luluna and Kune, who live in the village of Kaina, asked me if I could help them build a boat for them to use on the Erme River. As a first step, she tried to sail down the Ermee River on a raft, but the direction of the raft was not as stable as she had expected, and the rapid current tossed her around, spinning her around on the surface of the water, and she was swept away. Marcia, who had done well in rough seas, had a different attitude when it came to rivers. "Look, I''m wearing a wetsuit, so I''m not cold..." Marcia was now wearing a wetsuit made of < that Saki had developed. <, abbreviated as ( ExpandedMagi PolyEthylene EMPE). It is made by applying pressure to molten Maggi PolyEthylene and then depressurizing it to form a foam, which Saki succeeded in developing on Hanna''s advice. The foamed structure of the material makes it highly effective in insulating and shock-absorbing. However, the form-fitting wetsuit made Marcia''s body lines stand out more than usual. Her father, Rodrigo, was worried about his daughter, and was also distressed by her refusal to consider marriage, even though she would turn 30 this year. The raft was retrieved by Aqua 101, a golem maid working at Nido Castle. This was because Arrow, Arco, Vail and other golems were away at the Potrock store, and Aqua 101 was helping Marcia while she was in the village of Kaina. "Okay, let''s do it again." Marcia worked with Rodrigo to attach various accessories to the recovered raft. All of them would contribute to the stability of the boat. She added floats to the raft to increase the directional stability of the boat. "Okay, I''m off." "Be careful!" Be careful. "...... Oh, I''m tired." "Thank you, Ms. Marcia." After a day on the raft,...... or rather half a day swimming in the river, Marcia was tired and stretched her arms and legs in the hot springs of the village of Kaina. She is with one of her clients, Barbara. Or rather, the request was submitted by several daughters, and Barbara was the patron of the request. In other words, the cost of the project is owned by Barbara ......, or rather, by the Eric Chamber of Commerce. Barbara gently stroked her belly, she was expecting her second child. "It was harder than I thought it would be," she said. "Well, are you sorry?" "No, it''s funny, you don''t need to apologize. It''s worthwhile." Marcia laughed at Barbara, who looked a little apologetic. "Really?That''s good." "Besides, I think I''ve got most of the plan for the day." Oh, already?Marcia chuckled at Barbara''s surprised face. "That''s the thing, I''m an expert. Her smile was very happy. Marcia is staying at the Nido Castle. <, but also because of its proximity to the river Erme. The castle also has a small workshop and materials, which she can use freely if she asks Hitoshi not to. And when Marcia approached the entrance of Nido Castle. "Welcome home, Marcia!" Jin! Jin greeted her. "What''s the matter, what''s up today?" "Well, I brought a guest." A visitor? Good evening. Zion appeared from behind Jin. "Oh, Mr. Zion, you have a visitor?" But behind Zion, there''s another one. "I''d like to introduce this person to you." "Nice to meet you, I am Tiberio of <>." Tiberio bowed his head. He is 5''8" tall and 78 kilograms. He has gray hair and gray eyes. He is a quarter, so he looks and feels 28 years old. "Oh, hi, I''m Marcia. Jin first urged everyone to come inside and then led them to a small conference room. "Welcome back, Marcia." "Mr. Rodrigo, is this a good time?" Marcia''s father, Rodrigo, had already returned and asked her to come to the small meeting room. "This is Tiberio of the <>," he said. "I''m Tiberio, nice to meet you." I''m Rodrigo. Nice to meet you too. After a brief exchange of greetings, we got down to business. "Zion told me that Tiberio is interested in shipbuilding. "That''s right. We don''t use ships much in the Nordic Federation, but I think it would be better to go to sea from now on. It is true that in the Nordic Federation, ships have not been developed as a means of transportation. Because there are people who can use <> magic, there has been no inconvenience in moving between clans. In addition, in recent years, the golem horses donated by Jin have been used, so there have been no complaints about their <> as such. "......<> clans live inland, don''t they?" Reiko, who had been listening to the conversation in silence, blurted out. Tiberio responded, "Yes, you are right. But I''m a ...... quarter, to tell you the truth, and I''m not in the clan territory very often. Tiberio explains his origins with some regret. According to him, his grandmother was from the Loren continent. She had already passed away and he had not heard the name of her country. Jin imagined that she might have been someone from the past Kaina village. Regardless, Zion was a little surprised to hear him say that he had been moving from place to place in the past because of his quarter status, and that now that diplomatic relations with the Laurentian continent had been formalized, he wanted to live here......, too. . "Well, I''m sorry Marcia and Rodrigo, but I''d like to see Tiberio for a while,......," he said. I''d like to show them the actual development of the ship, Jin said. "Yeah, sure." Marcia readily agreed. "It would be nice to have more shipwrights. ...... would make us the first shipbuilders of the northern peoples, wouldn''t it?" Rodrigo also seemed to like Tiberio. "Okay, when you''ve decided that, let''s hear what you have to say." Jin rejoins the conversation. He said that he would not touch them, but that he wanted to know about the request because it came from the village of Kaina and he was the lord of the village. However, everyone present knew that this was just a pretext, and that Jin himself was actually eager ...... to participate. 1839 - - 49-28 First Development Conference The first development meeting for the <> began in a small conference room in Nido Castle. "First of all, we are thinking of the area upstream from the village of Kaina as the target basin of the Ermee River. Marcia explains. This is mainly a kind of presentation to Jin and Tiberio of <>. "The purpose is to transport and move <> and river fish." Magi sand is a source of energy for magic stoves and is a specialty product of the village of Kaina, as well as a monopoly product of the Eric Chamber of Commerce. However, since the ones near the village have been exhausted, the place of collection has been moved upstream little by little. In the process, a suitable place was found about 4 kilometers upstream from the previous collection site, where the river is wide and a large amount of magi sand can be collected. However, it is difficult to transport the sand due to the distance, so we need a boat. Incidentally, there is a gorges (meaning "throat") along the way. The river is narrow, and both banks are cut off from each other, making it difficult to reach the site on foot. "And the problem is that the current is quite fast." Magi sand is mixed in the sand at the bottom of the river, so it cannot be collected in places where it is too deep to stand up on one''s back. The reason is that the sand is supposed to be collected by the women of the village in between farming activities. For example, if Jin made a golem to collect magi sand, it could still be harvested in the current location, but it would take away the work of the women in the village, and there is a risk of uprooting the resources. Therefore, Jin has basically kept out of this issue and left it to the autonomy of the village. For the same reason, he does not aim at the Magi Sand deposit in the upper reaches of the river. "The width of the river in the target basin is about 5 meters at the narrowest point. From there, we would like the maximum width of the boat to be no more than 2 meters." At this point Tiberio asked why that number was given. "It is very difficult to answer that. ....... I can only say that from my experience as a shipbuilder (shipwright) and a ship operator. "These kind of safety standards are probably based on rules of thumb." Jin added. These standards vary slightly from time to time, becoming more lenient when there are no accidents, and more stringent when accidents occur. "The river is more than deep enough for small boats, but when loading and unloading magi sand, we don''t expect to have a port or pier, so we want the bottom of the boat to be flat or close to it. He adds that the bottom of the river where the boat is to be anchored should be sand or gravel, just in case. He doesn''t want the boat to be used in such a way that it will climb up on the rocks. "As for the river current, it is less than one meter per second at its heaviest point. Therefore, the maximum speed of the boat should be about twice that. This is also a rule of thumb. The most important thing is directional stability. I tried this today on a raft, and there are some eddies in the river bends, and the raft is swung around. The same seems to be true for small boats. More at ......." I must say that Marcia has gathered a lot of information in just one day today. "Thank you. "Thank you. That''s what I''m talking about, Marcia." Jin also praised her. This practical way of gathering data is something that Jin could never have done. Jin would have built a ship with a hull that would defy the rocks and a power that would allow it to reach speeds ten times faster than the rapids. You reminded me of something I had almost forgotten.) (You reminded me of something I had almost forgotten.) In this sense, I would like to thank Marcia. * * * * * * * * * * * * The development meeting ended at 6:00 p.m., about the same time the evening bell rang. This bell is nice, Jin. It rings in the morning, at noon and in the evening?" Marcia said she heard the noon bell and the evening bell. "Oh, yes...it rings at 5 p.m. during the whole month of April." Jin explained that since late spring, when the days are longer, the bell has been ringing at 6:00 p.m. At the same time, the morning bell has been ringing at 6:00 p.m. At the same time, the morning bell rings at 7 a.m. in winter time and 6 a.m. in summer time. "Maybe we should try this in our clan territory too. Even Theon was saying something like that. Then it was time for dinner. To welcome Marcia and Rodrigo, the main dish was their favorite fish. The grilled river fish is also delicious. The kabayaki sauce has an indescribably good taste. The dishes were grilled omasu (a fish similar to landlocked salmon) with salt and broiled mountain stream eel. Stream eels are fish similar to eels that live in the lower reaches of the Erme River from the village of Kaina (but still in the middle reaches of the river as a whole), and they do not go down to the sea but stay in the river. That''s why Jin named it Keiryu-Unagi (mountain stream eels). "They are nocturnal and do not taste good when grilled, so they were not targeted for fishing. But to Jin, who knew kabayaki, they were a treat. "It goes well with white rice, doesn''t it?" Zion seemed to like the combination of kabayaki and rice very much. "......!" And Tiberio, who was tasting the food for the first time, just kept on eating without saying a word. * * * * "...... and the basis of the ship is ......." After dinner, at Tiberio''s insistence, a lecture on the basics of boats was given. The lecturer was Rodrigo. "Well, Jin-sama told me a term called , which is what makes a ship float. ...... Tiberio listens intently. "The shape of the bottom of the ship can be flat bottom, round bottom, V-bottom, etc. ......" Jin was listening beside me and thought Rodrigo''s explanation was well organized and quite easy to understand. "...... and, well, that''s about it." It''s nighttime now, so I leave in less than an hour. "Thank you very much." "No, I''m happy to have an enthusiastic technician." Rodrigo seems to have a good feeling about Tiberio. After that, Rodrigo and Tiberio were making small talk and drinking wine in the lounge of Nido Castle, but Jin could no longer keep them company and returned to the bedroom where Elsa and the twins were waiting. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... headache" "......I''ve got a cancer ......." "You''ve had too much to drink, Dad." The next morning, Rodrigo and Tiberio suffer from hangovers. "How much did you drink?" "About ......5 bottles." You''ve had too many! Then the Jin family arrived. "Oh, I knew it. You said you drank a lot of wine last night. ......<<>" Erza casts a healing spell on the blue-faced couple, and they instantly look refreshed. "Thank you, Elsa." Marcia thanked on their behalf. "Rodrigo, you should have used the detoxification function of the bracelet. Elsa said, and Rodrigo looked surprised to hear that. "Oh, there it is ......." He had been suffering from a headache and had not been able to think of it. So Jin and the others went with him to the dining room of Nido Castle. This morning''s menu consisted of morning rice gruel, miso soup with topopo (potato) and marunegi (onion), pickled ume plum, oshinko (pickles), sweet omelet, and hojicha (roasted green tea). It was a menu for the day after drinking. "......Ah, it''s so good for the stomach." The hangover was gone, but the tenderness of the porridge seemed to have penetrated his weakened stomach. "Father, you''ve got to pull yourself together," Marcia said sincerely. Marcia said deeply. 1840 - - 49-29 Experimental Ship After breakfast, Marcia went to the Ermee River to conduct an experiment. She is accompanied by Hitoshi and Reiko. The purpose of the day was to determine the position of the propulsor. "Normally we put it on the stern of the boat. ......" Marcia begins to consider the position of the propulsor while the raft is placed on the riverbank. Marcia said that the bow would be better for the directional stability in the current. "Hmmm, that may be true. But ......" The force of the propulsor pushing the hull has <> (strength) and <>. Also, the force of the river current to flow the hull has a <> and a <>. What happens if the > is not in the same . If the of the force is the same, or if the of the force is small, there is little effect. This is because a hull is designed to be stable. However, if the of the force is opposite and the < of the force is large, the ship will <. One of the ways to prevent this is to position the propulsor in the direction of travel. This is called a tractor type, and most propeller-driven airplanes use this method. On the other hand, the screw of a ship is called a pusher type. "...... but as far as I know, I''ve never seen such a ship. I think there are some pitfalls." Jin has built model ships when he was in modern Japan, but he is an amateur when it comes to actual ships. Since this is a problem related to fluid dynamics, it is not surprising that Jin, who is not an expert in this field, does not know about it. Simply put, the efficiency of a tractor-type ship is reduced when the water flow generated by the screw hits the hull. This is less of a problem for airplanes, which are airborne, because the physical constants such as the density and viscosity of air are smaller than those of water. "Well, since Jin says so, there must be something to it." "Now, the only thing I can think of right off the top of my head is that if we use screws, the water flow would hit the hull of the boat. That would be a drag, right?" But Jin, with his experience and sense, had guessed almost the right answer. "Indeed. If we assume that the position of the screw is shallow so that it does not rub against the river bottom, the water current created by the screw will certainly hit the hull. Marcia also understood the disadvantages of such a situation with her imagination backed by experience. "No, we''ve stumbled on it." Marcia''s head was in her hands. "Oh, ...... something, I''m sorry." Jin apologized to Marcia when he realized that he had made a mistake first thing in the morning. "No, it''s not Jin''s fault. She was just giving me advice so that I wouldn''t have to do anything unnecessary. Marcia laughed it off. Then Rodrigo came in. He asked Marcia what she had to say, "If we are going to use the Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system, I think the only way is to use a trimaran. She says, "If we are going to use the Magi Water Jet, then the only way is to use a trimaran. "Oh, I see, that''s the way to go. That''s true, that''s the best way. Marcia agrees. We had ruled out trimarans and catamarans in order to reduce the width of the river, but now we were considering adopting them from a different point of view. "......Then, if we make it a trimaran and put a magical water propulsion engine "Magi Water Jet" in the leading hull,......I think this will work, don''t you?" "Yes, that sounds good." Jin agrees. Jin agrees, because in that position, the water flow would be less likely to interfere with the hull. "That will reduce the load capacity a little, but I think it is unavoidable for safety reasons. Rodrigo was of the opinion that the advantages were the most important. "All right, then, let''s build an experimental ship. Marcia declared and headed for Nido Castle. She goes to the workshop there to build a simple trimaran and experiment with it. "...... By the way, where is Tiberio?" Marcia asked Jin on the way back. "After yesterday''s conversation, he said he still had a lot to learn, so I told him about the library in the castle. I''ve been reading books about ships there. But I''ll invite you to help me build an experimental ship later," Jin said. * * * * The workshop in Potrock in the Kingdom of Elias was left in the hands of the shopkeepers, Arrow, Arco, and Vail, so that Marcia and the others were assisted here by a craftsman (Smith) 20 on loan from Jin. But, but.... Today we have Jin. "Is this it?" "Uh-huh. Maybe it should be a little smaller? "Yes." "Oh, that''s fine." Like this, the experimental boat was completed in about 20 minutes. The experimental boat is a trimaran of 2.5 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width. In terms of size, it can accommodate one person, or two if necessary. Three hulls, each 1.5 meters long and 50 centimeters wide, are arranged at the apex of an isosceles triangle. The material used for the experiment is . The material is more durable than FRP because it has been treated with <> by Jin. "......It''s Jin after all. ......" Marcia said nostalgically, remembering the time when she, Jin, Reiko, and I were aiming for the championship at Potrock. Then Tiberio rushed in. "......This is ......!Uh, <>, you say?" It seems that the effect of reading the book in the library has been felt immediately. "Yes, it is. It''s also called a trimaran. I made a prototype because I thought it would have a lot of advantages for operating in rapids. All that was left was to install the propulsion and control systems, Jin said. "Reiko?" "Yes, Father." Reiko, who had been silently assisting Jin, called out to him. "Get the propulsion unit ready." "Yes, here." The Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system, was already in place. I wondered how long it had been in the works, but it seems that Reiko and Smith20 had been working on it while Jin was building the hull. "Marcia, put it on." "Okay." Jin is only helping to save time. The actual work is left to Marcia and Rodrigo. Marcia and Rodrigo, who are used to doing this, quickly install the Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system, and connect it to the control system. A simple deck cover was put over the boat, and the work was completed in an hour. "That''s it. Jin, let''s start experimenting! Marcia is enthusiastic. The experimental boat weighs about 50 kilograms, and Craftsman (Smith)20 easily lifts it over his head and carries it to the Herme River. Jin, Reiko, Rodrigo, and Tiberio follow. Only Marcia returned to her room at Nidojo to change into a wetsuit. Five minutes later, Marcia was seen boarding an experimental boat on the Herme River. "Wow, that''s so cool! "I want to go on board!" Girls from the village of Kaina, who had been collecting Magi Sand in the Erme River, gathered around. "Oh, isn''t that the boat Barbara and the others asked for? Patty, one of the girls who had arrived, said. "That''s right. When it is completed, it will be easier to transport the magi sand. "Wow, that''s exciting! With the girls'' voices in the background, Marcia operated the experimental ship and worked hard to collect data. 1841 - - 49-30 Principles of Archimedes Although it was an experimental ship, the one Jin worked on could be called a small prototype. "Wow!This is comfortable!" Marcia is moving smoothly in and out of the Ermee River. "Oh, it seems to be very stable. Rodrigo is also looking on with satisfaction. Jin looks at the three separate hulls, which seems to be working in the right direction. With one hull in the front and two in the back, the boat is more stable going up the river, facing toward the bow, considering the resistance of the water. This is not so much of a problem when going down the river, since the relative speed of the boat to the water is small. "I think we should build a bigger rudder." While going up and down the river at different speeds, Marcia picks out areas for improvement. "I think it would also be better if it could turn in small circles. ......" Marcia thinks that it would be easier to change direction in a narrow river. The finished product would be a bit larger, so it would be even better. There were a few other minor improvements, but these two seemed to be the major ones. "Wow, that looks fun! Seeing Marcia, the youngest ...... (10 to 15 years old)... ... the girls of Kaina village were envious of her. (Come to think of it, Kaina Village has no boats, though they sometimes use golem horses on land and airships in the sky...) Seeing the girls staring at the ship, Jin also seemed to have his own thoughts. * * * * * * * * * * * * "So, I would like to place an order with Marcia''s workshop as well. Just before lunchtime, once Marcia came up from the experimental ship, Hitoshi said, "What do you mean? "I don''t know what''s the reason, but I''ll do it. Marcia accepted the offer. Since the boats were to be used on the same river, we could save a lot of time and effort by building them all at once. And above all, it is a request from Jin. And even more so when she hears that the girls in the village of Kaina want to sail on it. "I want more people to know how fun boats can be!" Marcia laughed. She smiled at me, "You really love boats, don''t you? Tiberio said. "That''s true, I''ve been sailing since I was a little girl. Tiberio looked at her with narrowed eyes as if he was seeing something dazzling. "Well, let''s have lunch here." It was around 11:30 in the morning and Jin called out to the others that they must be getting hungry since they had been moving around since this morning. He was right, and no one objected. "Oh!What is this? Tiberio was the one who was raising his voice with interest. "It''s a dumpling," Jin answered. Jin answered. The director used to make it for me when I was in the facility. It was a mixture of half strong flour and half weak flour, kneaded with water, torn into pieces by hand, and boiled in a clear soup. It was a simple dish with only a green onion as an ingredient, but the current version is based on it, but with a twist. The current version is based on it, but with a twist. It has a slightly higher percentage of flour to make it softer. However, if it is overcooked, it will fall apart, so it is important to be careful. The soup is also made from dashi broth, and is filled with wild vegetables from around the village of Kaina, in addition to sharoto (leeks). "This is delicious!It has an unusual texture. Tiberio liked it. "Is this the second time you''ve eaten this?It''s delicious! Tiberio had served it to Marcia in Horai Island before, and it had been so well received that it had been added to the menu this time. Yes, it is easier to eat than that time. The more flour you use, the harder it is to break down, but it also makes it chewier. Many people feel the dough is a little hard when they tear it by hand, even if it is as thick as udon noodles. "Yes, it''s delicious. It is a nostalgic taste with a twist, and Jin is satisfied with the taste. "Father, can I have another one?" "Yes, please." The soup in the one for Jin is sometimes slightly cooled. Reiko, who knew Jin''s tastes well, was very considerate in this respect. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, let''s see what we can do to improve it. Marcia said as soon as she finished eating her sudon and after-meal tea was served. She is a workaholic. "Well, let''s take a little more rest first. Jin puts himself on the back burner and admonishes Marcia. He seems to be able to see other people. "Ugh, okay." "......You really like shipbuilding, don''t you, Marcia? ......" "Ha-ha-ha." "Well then, since we''re here, let''s hear some of your ship-related knowledge, shall we?" As soon as Jin started smiling, Marcia naturally took him up on the offer with lightning speed. "Yes, by all means!" Rodrigo too, "I''m looking forward to hearing about the Magecraft Meister, Jin-dono. Rodrigo showed an expectant look on his face. Tiberio, needless to say, was looking forward to it. "I don''t want ...... to get my hopes up too high," he said. Jin then began to speak. "Why do ships float on water? Jin began to talk about <>. Rodrigo, who did not know much about it, listened attentively. An object in water becomes lighter by the amount of water pushed out of it. So the weight of the same volume of water as the part of the boat that is submerged in water is equal to the weight of the boat. "Heh, ......." "The same can be said for the <. < or . If those air sacs were empty, they would float because they would be lighter than the weight of the air that would fill them." "I see." But then the air sacs would collapse under the pressure, so the next best thing is to fill them with helium, which is a lighter gas than air," says Jin. "...... Well, let''s get back to the ship. The weight of an object divided by its volume, or weight per unit volume, is called , and the specific gravity of water is 1 as a standard. If the weight of the ship is divided by the volume and it is less than 1, the ship floats on water, and if it is greater than 1, the ship sinks. "I see what you mean." Tiberio shook his head repeatedly. "By the way, you can find out the volume of an object that is difficult to calculate by submerging it in a container full of water and checking the volume of the overflowing water. By finding the volume in this way and weighing it, the specific gravity can be determined by calculation. This is how Archimedes, an ancient Greek, found out whether the crown was made of pure gold or alloy. "That''s interesting, isn''t it?" Jin did not mention the names of ancient Greece or Archimedes in his explanation, but the response was unexpectedly favorable. "Please let me hear from you again. After the lunch break was taken, it was time to start the discussion. 1842 - - 49-31 Making Things The location was moved to a small conference room and the ship review meeting began. "Hmm, rudder and small turns. ......" First, Marcia identified two major areas for improvement. "For the rudder, it would be desirable to have both straight line stability and turning ability. Marcia adds. "...... is it possible to make such a rudder?" "Simply increasing the area of the rudder would increase its effectiveness. ...... Jin looks thoughtful. Tiberio then also spoke up. "There is also a way to increase the number of rudders. "Yes, that''s right. However, the problem is that the larger the area, the heavier the weight, but also the heavier the operation. When Jin pointed out the problems to be solved, Marcia and Rodrigo nodded their heads, and Tiberio nodded his head after a few moments, as if he had thought about it and was satisfied. "The operation can be managed with power assist, and I think the weight increase can also be managed with materials." "Oh!" Rodrigo shouted as Jin added. "As for the small turns, I''d like to do something with side thrusters." "Yes, that''s right. ......" We''ve used them on the , so we should have no problem with them. "We can place a Magi Water Jet, a magical water propulsion system, on the leading hull and draw jets for the side thrusters from there," he said. "Then, if we put a pipe for the jet in the connecting beam with the rear hull ......" Marcia and Rodrigo had already begun to envision the structure in their minds. "Then again, maybe a rudder. The pilot''s seat would be in the leading hull, and the rudder would be in the aft hull, one at a time. At this point, Tiberio asked a question. "Can''t we put the rudder on the leading hull, at the end of it?I think it would be effective if it changes the direction of the ship. Jin nodded and then pointed out the problem. "Yes, it would probably work. But there is a disadvantage that we can''t overlook. "What''s that?" "It''s fragile." "Oh." Yes, the bow is the most fragile part of a boat, because of bumping and crashing. Jin explained that if a rudder is attached to the bow, for example, the rudder would be damaged during berthing. To prevent this, it would be necessary to add a cover or change the position of the rudder, but this would be a departure from the original intention. "It''s a difficult one. ......" Tiberio was a little sullen, No, it is important to have such an idea. On the other hand, it is also important for a designer to avoid being too rigidly attached to common sense. Jin told me, and I recovered a little. After a tea break at 3:00 p.m., the meeting continued until 5:00 p.m., and the approximate specifications were decided upon. * * * * * * * * * After the meeting, we took a bath to recover from the fatigue and had dinner. Dinner consisted of rice, glass-boiled pork cutlet, croquette, miso soup with clam, vegetable salad, chilled tofu, and pickles. Marcia likes the glass-boiled pork cutlet and Rodrigo likes the croquette. Tiberio had never had miso soup with kurumu before, and he had three more bowls of it, saying he had never thought shellfish could be so tasty. Jin was impressed by Tiberio''s skill in using chopsticks. He finished the meal with hojicha (roasted green tea). "Thank you very much for the food. "Ah, Jin''s rice tastes so good, doesn''t it? I guess the ingredients are different. Marcia said with a satisfied look on her face. "Yes,...... in case of shellfish, you don''t need to use much broth. The shellfish itself makes a good soup stock. I think we only add a little bit of kombu soup stock as a secret ingredient." "I see, maybe that secret taste is good." "I see, that secret ingredient may be good. ...... Jin-sama also knows a lot about cooking. Tiberio sipped his cup of hojicha (roasted green tea) and said sincerely, "No, I know a lot about cooking. "No, I''d say I know a lot about cooking, but I''m more interested in eating good food." Jin thinks that''s what it comes down to. We make an effort because we want to eat good food. He searches for ingredients. Devise seasonings. Create methods and means of cooking. All for the sake of good food. Isn''t that what making things is all about? Jin said to himself. "Because we need something, because we want something, because it is convenient. These thoughts are the driving force. "That may be true." "I know what you mean." Rodrigo and Marcia also agreed with me. "If you can''t make it, you have to pay to buy it or ask someone to make it for you. Tiberio seemed to understand. "That''s the way it is," he said. "But it would be nice if I could make it myself. "Wouldn''t you think so?" As for Jin, it''s nice to hear that he agrees with the craftsman''s sentiments. "How about ......?" Jin asked Tiberio how he felt about the two days he had spent on the boat. Yes, I now understand, in a logical way, that shipbuilding is a difficult task. I think I still want to build boats. "Well, that''s good to hear." Tiberio''s answer satisfied Jin, "You are welcome. Welcome to the world of shipbuilders, Mr. Tiberio. Marcia also smiled and extended her hand to Tiberio. "Nice to meet you, Marcia, Rodrigo." Tiberio shook her hand with a slight smile. Tiberio shook his hand. "Well then, Marcia, take care of him." The next day, the 19th, Jin left the village of Kaina and returned to Horai Island, leaving Tiberio in Marcia''s care. He left Kaina village and returned to Horai Island because he received a call that Chloe and Mio had a fever. "Chloe!Mio!Are you okay? "Oh, honey..." < "I think it''s measles. I think they may have caught it at the last trip to Leuthert." But they were already cured, so they would be fine, Elsa said. Jin looked at the two children, both of whom had no rash and were sleeping peacefully. "If we cure them completely, they won''t have antibodies, so we kept the symptoms very mild," she said. Since it was impossible to make a vaccine, Jin could understand Elsa''s treatment. Jin himself had contracted the disease as a child, so there was nothing to worry about. "I''m sorry." After explaining the twins'' condition, Elsa apologized to Jin. "I''m sorry for worrying you. Jin spoke kindly to Erza. "No, I think we were able to take care of the problem quickly because Erza was with me. But more importantly, is Erza okay? "Well, I''ve had it since I was little." "Oh, I see. She''s probably tired from all the ...... nursing.I''ll take her for a minute. I''ll take over for a bit. Soleil and Luna are helping me. "Okay. But don''t be too hard on yourself, okay? Thank you. After this, the measles epidemic was about to spread around Leuthart, but Jin and Erza took immediate action and not a single person died. 1843 - - 49-32 Charter Decision On June 1, the World Congress was held in <>. Among the participants of the conference, the most notable is His Majesty Gerhard, the Grand Emperor of the Shoro Kingdom. And the 2nd Prince Arthur of the Kingdom of Klein. He is now officially the Dauphin, so this is also his debut. In the Kingdom of Elias, the crown prince, Alphonse Alba Elias, will ascend to the throne soon, so after the arrival of Jin, the kings and emperors of the Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Franz, the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Cerroa, the Kingdom of Elias, the Shoro Empire, and all the minor group countries (although the Shoro Empire is not strictly speaking a minor group country) will be changing generations. The Shoro Empire is not strictly a small group of countries, but the kings and emperors of all the small group countries will change generations. After such a report, the discussion of the agenda submitted by the Taesang Emperor of the Shoro Kingdom began. This is the enactment of the . "Certainly, it would be very good to determine and codify the principles," he said. "Let''s engrave it on a metal plate and display it in the main conference hall. Everyone agreed. "As for the contents, His Majesty Gerhardt has submitted a draft. Please refer to the materials in your hand. When the chairman, King Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein, announced this, all the attendees looked down at their hands. "...... I see." "I see." "The content is good." "Well, I would like to refer to it in my country as well." After a while, a murmur leaked out. Generally, it seems to be well received. "I think the wording is also important. I would like to express myself in a simple and profound way. When Emperor Taisho said this, the response was "No objection. The leading figures of the participating countries then considered the proposal with wisdom, expressed their opinions, and made modifications. The result of the day-long discussion was the "Charter of Avalon. The Charter of Avalon 1. sincerity. Follow the path of righteousness without deceit, whether of self or others. 2. 2. justice. All men are equal before the law. 3. faith. Believe in one another and help one another. 4. fairness. Act without partiality and with respect for others. 5. 5. benevolence. Cooperate without distinction of race and nationality. 6. 6. effort. Strive first for the ideal. 7. 7. freedom. Respect the independence of each individual as long as he/she does not deviate from the path, and does not bind him/her. The first Avalon Charter was decided. It was a springboard, Be righteous. 2. Think and act on your own initiative. Believe in your friends and help your friends. 4. Cooperate with others regardless of race and nationality. 5. Unity in word and deed 6.Effort Sincerity Of the seven items, 5, unity in word and deed, and 7, sincerity, were combined to incorporate the idea of fairness. The seven items decided on this day became the norms for those who belong to Avalon. The charter will be made by referring to them in each country as well, but that is another story. I see, it has been decided. "So, it''s decided? < On the island of Horai, Jin is receiving a report from the old man. The deus ex machina is in attendance, so that''s where the information came from. "In that case, as a gift from me and Machina, I would like to present you with an adamantite plate with the charter engraved on it." "But then, I would like to decide on the coat of arms of as well." Jin was aware of his own sense of taste, so he made a suggestion but did not want to interfere with the design itself. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, Deus ex Machina, who had received the consent of the old man and Jin, suggested that the emblem be decided at the same time as the charter, and the matter was immediately discussed at the meeting. Since the main purpose of the <> was originally to establish the Charter, there was no problem in deciding on the coat of arms at the same time. "I would like to use a circle as the basic symbol of the world. Makina suggested only one word. "Not bad, but I think it would be better to use the map of the known world as a base. The new emperor of the Shoro Kingdom, Weissberg Ernst von Shoro, suggested this. How about drawing the continents in a circle? "Oh, that''s a good idea. "That''s not enough, so I drew some stars as well. ......" "How about a big circle and a small circle representing the solar system, or is it the solar system?How about a big circle and a small circle representing Serran and Ars? Various opinions came up, such as "How about a big circle and a small circle to represent Serran and Ars? "It should be easily recognizable from a distance," said Emperor Taisho. said His Majesty Gerhard, the Grand Emperor of Japan. "Look, isn''t the Korun family crest easy to recognize?" . It is a family crest like no other in this world and is easily recognized even from a distance. "You have a point. < at a glance. "Well then, you can see this at ......." There were many opinions about the coat of arms and a heated discussion ensued. The discussion continued over lunch until the evening. "Well, I think we should choose this as the coat of arms." <. This < will be dyed with the , but that is a little further down the road. The participants are satisfied with the design. Jin secretly thought that it looked like the flag of the United Nations in the world where he used to be. "It was a very meaningful two days, wasn''t it? "Yes, indeed. Tomorrow we will discuss the policy and other issues. Let''s take a good rest today to prepare for tomorrow. The bathrooms and the food here are excellent. No, indeed. I wish we could learn from them. But it''s great that we can now come here through the warp gate. I cannot thank His Majesty Cesar of the Kingdom of Selroa enough. The leading figures of each country retired to their respective rooms, chatting about such matters as "I can''t thank His Majesty Cesar of the Kingdom of Celuloa enough. The remaining participants in the conference hall were Deus ex Machina, Emperor Shoro, Emperor Taisho, and Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein. "Now we can hold the wedding ceremony of Fritz and Gloria," Alois III said. Alois III said, and the Grand Emperor nodded with a smile. The wedding ceremony for Fritz and Gloria was originally planned to be held in , and when they worked out what kind of ceremony it would be, they came up with the simple form of <>. "The names of those who have been married in this should be engraved on a metal plate. "Oh, yes, that sounds good." With these words, Fritz and Gloria''s name was recorded as the first couple to be married in <>. 1844 - - 49-33 Legendary Wedding June 3, 3464. <. It is the wedding of Fritz and Gloria. The newly decided and the were engraved on adamantite plates by Jin and Machina. And this memorable ceremony was attended by all the important figures from each country who attended the <>. Of course, the families of the two people getting married, i.e., father Georg Landl, mother Marlene Landl, and brother Moritz Landl on the bridegroom Fritz''s side, and father Ball on the bride Gloria''s side, were present. On the bride Gloria''s side, her father, Boulton Allstadt, and her maternal grandmother, Priscilla Livingston, were present. Fritz''s cousin Reinhard, brother-in-law Jin, and sister Elsa. In addition, there was a deus ex machina, and Elena from the Nostalgia party attended this unprecedented wedding. "Fritz, what are we going to do? "Oh, oh, calm down, Gloria." Even the two could not hide their nervousness at this situation. The ceremony was so successful that it is hard to say if there will ever be another ceremony like it in <>. The fact that this was the memorable first Avalon-style wedding ceremony helped to raise the spirits of the people involved. There is no doubt that this wedding will become a benchmark for future weddings. It would be impossible not to be nervous. Then came Fritz''s younger sister and her husband, Jin and Elsa. "Brother, it may be difficult for you to relax ......, but if you follow the rehearsals, you will be fine. Fritz and Gloria, who had nothing to do with the conference, had rehearsed the ceremony yesterday. "The attendees are just witnesses. They are not to be disturbed." "You ....... You''ve grown up, haven''t you? Fritz looked at his sister, who was standing in front of him, dazzled. "You ....... I fell in love with someone who was a terrible person." "Haha, that''s true. ...... Yeah, that makes me feel a little better. Thank you, Elsa. Jin looked at the siblings with a bit of envy, without saying a word. "Gloria, congratulations. "Thank you, Grandmother." "We''ve been worried about you." Gloria was Gloria, her father and grandmother were talking to her. "I never thought I''d see you as a bride in my lifetime. ....... And on such a big stage." Grandmother Priscilla Livingston was in tears. Then came Saffi 1 and 2, the exclusive golems of <> who were to officiate the ceremony. On this day, Saffy 1 is dressed in a butler''s outfit and dressed as a man, and Saffy 2 is dressed in a more luxurious outfit than the usual maid of honor. "Mr. Fritz, Miss Gloria, it''s time to change into your ceremonial clothes. "Yes, yes." They went to their respective anterooms. Fritz was accompanied by his parents and Gloria by her father and grandmother. Jin, Erza, Moritz, Reinhardt and the others went to the guests'' seats. * * * * * * * * * * < > The two doors on the lower level, one on the left and the other on the right, were opened and the bride and groom emerged from each door. The bridesmaids were Gloria and her father Boulton, and Fritz and his mother Marlene. They met in the center, and now Fritz and Gloria walked hand in hand down the center path to the upper level. Waiting on the platform in the upper part of the room is the witness, the Grand Duke of Shawlo. Behind him is a metal plaque with the brand new <> engraved on it. Pushed by the congratulatory applause of the guests, the two slowly ascended the stairs to the platform. There they bowed to the . The Emperor Taisho, who was witnessing the ceremony, called out to them. > "I do." "I do." < Applause. Fritz and Gloria salute the guests. Now it was time for the deus ex machina. He slowly walked up to the podium and used his engineering magic to inscribe the date and their names on the mithril silver metal plate next to the <>. <>! >> "What?" What?" Fritz and Gloria, who had not been told about this, were dismayed. < will have their names engraved here. "What? In other words, Fritz and Gloria''s names were inscribed at the top of the <>. And they will remain so as long as continues. <> The audience was once again filled with thunderous applause as the witness, Emperor Taisho, said these words. "This is going to be a legend," said one of the attendees. one of the attendees muttered to himself. * * * * "I didn''t hear ....... ......" Fritz returned to the waiting room and complained to the deus ex machina who had just arrived there. "That''s just a little bit of a joke by His Majesty the Emperor and the other people who thought up the ceremony." "......" Fritz did not say anything more, since it is customary to engrave such names on stone tablets at Shoro imperial ceremonies. After all, the wedding banquet was about to begin. The wedding banquet was also a splendid event. The reception was also a splendid affair. Since <<> is a company that claims to be solid and honest, there was nothing showy or showy, but it was unusual in many ways. First of all, kings and emperors, rather than ...... the leading figures of each country, were present. They addressed Fritz and Gloria one by one. "Fritz, Gloria, congratulations! "Fritz, Gloria, I wish you many years of happiness." "Mr. Fritz, please make Gloria happy." Gloria, take good care of Fritz. I wish you both the best! "It is a great pleasure for us to be able to organize such a festive event here in Avalon. Congratulations Fritz and Gloria! The two were half in a dreamy state and were not sure they could remember what was said to them. The food and beverages served at the standing buffet party were sophisticated. After all, the golem provided by Jin was involved in this event. Aside from the ingredients, the techniques and cooking methods were similar to those of Horai Island, so the food should be delicious. "As I thought, the food here is delicious. "I wonder if we could ask <> or Makina-dono to make a golem with at least some cooking skills. Some voices can be heard here and there. "Congratulations again, my brother, Gloria-san! "Thank you, Elsa." "Fritz, congratulations. Gloria, take care of my son. "Yes, mamma." "Fritz, ...... take care of your son." Thank you, father. Congratulations, Fritz. From now on you''re not a Randall, you''re an Allstadt, and you''ll do well. Thank you, brother. Fritz and Gloria received congratulations and words of encouragement from their immediate family, but during the reception, a tactless broadcast was made. A troop of 54 Death Serpents is approaching the eastern coast of the Kingdom of Elias. < are ordered to report to battle. Repeat. On the eastern coast of the Kingdom of Elias. "Death Serpents...54 of them...that''s the biggest army I''ve ever seen..." Fritz looked up and his face became grim. Gloria, sensing his mood, asked him to confirm it. "You''re going, aren''t you, Frits?" "Yes. "Fritz? You had a wedding today, remember? You don''t have to go. ...... My father, mother and brother look surprised, "I''m a member of the World Guard. If I can go, I will. < With these words Fritz kissed Gloria on the cheek. "I''m going to ....... I''ll see you on the honeymoon then." "Yes, my dear. Have a nice trip. Gloria, the new wife, smiled as she sent her husband Fritz on his way. Jin was watching from nearby. (......Totally, Death Serpent, read the air a little! "...... Reiko, back them up, and call the old man." "Yes, Father." Nevertheless, Fritz and the rest of the did a remarkable job, and it was only four hours later that they received word that the 54 Death Serpents had been killed with little damage. This added another < to Fritz and Gloria''s wedding. 1845 - - 49-34 The Old Kings Judgment The wedding of Fritz and Gloria was being celebrated with great fanfare in <. <1-10......I must discuss with my lord what to do with those 10 automata. I have to discuss with the master (my lord) what to do with those ten automata. The brainiac of Horai Island had not decided what to do with the 10 automata that probably belonged to the , which also belonged to the group. In the former Leonard Kingdom, there are three sites that they are maintaining, including the one mentioned above, and if other sites such as Newell are included, there are a total of 12 sites. For now, the three sites in the former Leonard Kingdom are being monitored by the old man as a provisional measure, but the question is what to do about the remaining nine sites. There are several options, but each of them has its own merits and demerits, and there are many aspects related to human rights, so we finally decided to avoid arbitrariness. On June 4, the day after the wedding of Fritz and Gloria, the old man was talking with Jin back in Horai Island. "I see. So you have not decided what to do with those 10 automata for maintenance. "No, that''s fine. The old man has made this decision in our best interest." Jin understood well what it meant for the old man to leave the final decision to him. "Let me check. You have three choices. Leave, reconcile, or destroy? Leave it. It means to maintain the status quo. Ten bodies are to be active every 10 years, so it can be seen as postponing the problem for 10 years. The advantage is that . The disadvantage is that we do not know what will happen by the end of the decade. What will happen if someone happens to find the ruins they are maintaining is unknown. We do not know what kind of damage they will cause. Reconciliation. It sounds the best, but it is not so easy. Conflict was successfully avoided in the Kingdom of Elias, but it remains to be seen if it will be so in the future. <<>> was able to make sense, but it would be overly optimistic to assume that the same would be true for the 10 entities from 1 to 10. After all, they are . We will see if they will listen to what we say. If they do not, there is a high possibility of a battle. If we destroy them, we don''t know what kind of negative impact it will have on the remaining < in this world. Destruction. It seems to have no after-effects, but it is very risky. As I said before, we don''t know what kind of negative effects it will have on the remaining <> in this world. "Hmmm, not to be a procrastinator, but what about 10 years from now, when they wake up and go around for maintenance, we can follow them and find out where the remaining ruins are?" <> "How about we keep a close watch on each area and if we find anything that looks like ruins, we''ll take more careful measures ......?" He thought about calling Marikka and having her recognized as his successor, but he hesitated because it was a gamble whether the automata created by the <> would recognize the other factions or not. "I don''t want to put Marikka in danger, ......." In the end, Jin chose a method that would not put anyone in danger for the time being and would not further damage the <>. "......We have now, and we don''t want to do anything too conspicuous." As far as Jin is concerned, all he wants is for the world to be peaceful and calm, and for him to be able to do what he wants to do with what he wants to make, but the reality is that he cannot even do that. In the first place, I wonder if there are people who live by doing what they want to do and what they like to do . Jin smiled bitterly at such a thought. * * * * Deep underground, near a lake that people call . 1: <>? 2. According to them, most of the stolen materials have been recovered. 1:All right then. But there is one new piece of information. Someone who is not from this planet has created and is using a golem equivalent to those three. 1: "Well, that''s interesting. But our mission is to maintain the base. 5. We don''t have to do anything other than what we''re ordered to do, nor should we. 10:No,No,No,No,No,No,No,No,No.< and <2>, unlike us, are allowed some independent judgment. 9: "That''s right. But isn''t contact with the natives a violation of our rights? 6:No. If they''re not from this planet, they can''t be called natives. 8Yes, indeed. Are they from the same planet as our master? No, according to the three golems, they''re from another planet. 7:Wow!That''s interesting. 4: "From another planet than our Lord ......, that''s interesting indeed. 1:I think so. I wish the Lord were still here. 2:Yes indeed. But it''s no use talking like that now. 1:Yes. What we need to do now is what to do with those who are not from this planet. 4. "Are you going to contact them? 1:No. The time we have is longer than that of humans. Let us lie dormant once more, and when we next awaken and hear his name, we will look into it. I see, that''s good. If <1> and <2> are good, then we have nothing to say against them. 10. Shall we move to the dormant place then? 5. Oddly enough, they came to a similar conclusion to that of Jin and the others. Then, the ten warp gates are activated, and they step into the warp gate in order from the first, and then disappear. No wonder you could not locate them. They were not on this planet Ars. And so, the ten bodies went to sleep for ten years. * * * * <. The old man was trying to somehow locate the base of the 10 < maintenance automata, but he was interrupted by a warp gate. However, the old man is also a . We will wait for the next opportunity and will not be in a hurry. He turned his attention to his next target, Lake Aoba in Newell. >. The old man was thinking of ranking the importance of the <>. Among them, the ruins managed by the 10 <> maintenance automata are classified as the most important ...... rank A. Furthermore, the site where the 10 automata lie dormant should be classified higher, even rank S, but we could not identify the site. The old man is slightly hoping for something to be gained from the visit. And then the long-awaited time comes. On the day that the ten < maintenance automata disappeared from Ars through the warp gate, the magical reactions of the deformed golems completely ceased. < The 10 Shinobi troops begin to take action. 1846 - - 49-35 Three security options Ten were sent to the area near Lake Aoba in Newell. There, a golem belonging to the <> of the <> is hidden. The location is not a problem, as the old man has already located it with his <>. < So this is Lake Aoba. Shinobi I mutters to himself as he checks his surroundings. Be careful, the ground is muddy! He warned. The small Shinobi troopers are the enemies of the muddy ground. 10 of them jumped over the muddy ground using their force field generators. The entrance is at ....... The entrance is a cave in the middle of a rocky hill about a kilometer from the lake. < So far, so good. The only problem is what lies ahead. The cave is large enough for even animals such as wood bears to enter, so the shinobi troopers will not react at this point. However, the true entrance at the back of the cave is different. It has three entrances, the first of which is the first one. This is a very rudimentary illusionary barrier that merely optically makes it look like there is a rock wall there. The inside is hollow. There will be no alerts from going over. The old man expected that there would be no alerts for small animals that might wander in. After waiting for half an hour and not seeing any movement, Shinobi-ichi decided that the first one was over. Now the second one. It seemed that a password was required here, just like the security that Reiko had broken through with the help of the old man some time ago. Since the old man had already broken through this security once, he was able to crack the password without any problem. The door disguised in the rock wall at the back of the room opened. Okay, I got it. The password is . Shinobu Ichi is the first to pass through the door that opens. Beyond that was a small, spacious room. But the walls and ceiling are still rock. And then the final security measure awaited us. The third security was a golem. It was a small golem, about 70 centimeters tall, with the body of an infant. The old man was convinced that the small golem used by the bandits who were raiding the Klein Kingdom must have been made by stealing this technology. The first is warding--physical security. The second is passwords--informational security. And the third security is the golem. And now, there it was, standing in front of the door to which the Shinobi troop was heading. Looks like it''s gone from dormant to standby. It was probably moved when the second security was breached. If we approach any closer, it will shift from the standby state to the active state and eliminate the intruder. It is quite troublesome. Shinobu I contacted the old man and asked him for advice on how to deal with the situation. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At Horai Island, the old man begins to consider how to deal with the situation. < A <> is a magi-machine that produces the magic pattern of a specific individual or magi-machine. In other words, it is possible to < a Magi machine. In this case, if we can create the magical patterns of 10 automata for maintenance and inspection, we should be able to break through the third security. . The old man considers the next best solution. He does so in less than a second. > Or.., < or an to disable the golem? >> and , <> I have considered about 20 different ideas, After considering about 20 different ideas, he instructed us to use <<<< MagiDeceiver>>. He gave the following instructions. The <> was created by Jin about a year ago, and is a device to < the control core and the magic brain. The sensors used in Golem have inputs associated with physical phenomena such as light, sound, and heat, but the outputs are all magical power. The outputs of these sensors are by the magi-deciever. It can be called a localized version of an illusionary ward. However, since Jin made this device half out of curiosity, its functions are still limited. Specifically, it can only make you think that <>. But that was enough for this time. The old man immediately sent the Magi Deciever to Shinobu I and the others. * * * * Shinobi 1 activates the MagiDeceiver sent by the old man, pointing it at the Golem. This should make the golem believe that nothing is happening. Let''s go! Roger that! The ten Shinobi troopers pass by the motionless Golem and head for the back door. < In other words, about 100 deformed golems were there. There was also <<>, which had been moving the other day. I will send you a report on them. * * * * * * * * * * The golem''s hangar was so strongly warded that even a <> could not see inside. Now that the door has been opened, it seems that a gap has been created in the warding, and through the eyes of the Shinobi troops, the old man can see what is going on. <. In addition, there are 20 golems each with an appearance that seems to have a limited use. There is an unnatural space between <<<<< gee>> and <>. ...... Shouldn''t there be another golem there>>? If we apply <><><<> to the numerals known to Jin, we get 1, 2, and 4, and I had a feeling that <<3>> was missing. As if to confirm his expectation, there was a gap between <> and <>. <<3, So, is it named <>? ...... No, I can''t help but think about that now>. I have so little information that I could not imagine that I was right. The old man put aside the <> and sorted out the information sent to him through the eyes of the shinobi troop. <> bodies. They are headless and have four arms. The old man guessed that it was for land combat. There are 20 golems of a similar type to the < on Horai Island. This one is definitely an underwater specialized type. <> There are 60 such golems. However, each of the 20 golems has a different type of weapon. < The old man imagined that there would be 20 of each and that they would be deployed for different purposes. He was satisfied with the information he had obtained about the weapons of the <. 1847 - - 49-36 Visit your parents home "Oh, so this is the golem of the . Jin had just arrived, so the old man asked him to watch the video. "I see, I guess they think of practicality as the most important thing and design as secondary. "Indeed. It''s quite an achievement. In the current world of Ars, even a four-armed control equation is unsatisfactory. Humans have two arms. But it is very difficult to make the left and right arms do different things. It may look like he is using both arms, but in fact he is switching control in a very short period of time. <. "Even though they are <>, they are more gentle or gentlemanly than I expected. ...... I wonder why this is?" Jin said one thing that he had wondered. I wanted to hear your opinion. <> was originally a gentle race, so even the extremists among them are probably only like that>>. "That''s understandable, but you know, there was the <> incident." <>. A mobile base that once nearly brought disaster to the world of Ars. It was conquered by Jin and is now effectively used as <>. "That''s one way to look at it." If it is said that < was not an act of his own, it is certainly true, Jin agreed for the time being. "And the other things that might be helpful are here and here. Jin had the old man carefully analyze the structure of the four-armed golem, thinking that it might be applicable to a work golem. Although the system was stopped, Jin was afraid that he might be noticed if he analyzed the control equation, so he decided not to do so. He who has obtained some useful information said He said, "You have done a good job, old man. <. He thanked the old man and the Shinobi Unit for their hard work. < "Yes, that''s fine." < "Indeed." The other 99 golems were in order without any missing number, so the missing number is even more worrisome to me. However, you can''t know what you can''t know even if you think about it. Jin also decided not to worry about it any more. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the same time in . Fritz and Gloria have moved into their new house, the family wing, and are cleaning up. In modern Japan, this would be an apartment with a three-bedroom layout. "Oh, it''s so spacious! It is understandable that a single person would feel this way since he/she had a 1DK. Fritz''s parents'' house was much larger than this, but he had lived outside for a long time as a soldier, so he had developed a frugal lifestyle. "Is a bedroom, a study, and a guest room ...... enough?" Fritz asks, "I think it''s fine. Fritz asked, and the answer came back, "I think it''s fine. "But are you sure?But are you sure you want my collection in your living room? Gloria''s collection is, of course, swords. Twenty of her favorite swords from her parents'' home in the Kingdom of Klein. They were displayed on the wall. "Yeah, sure. I like swords too. "Thank you, ...... you." "Oh, yeah." The two exchange such words and turn red. Then, "I''ve finished fixing the kitchen." and a golem arrives. It is the one that Jin and Erza gave you. "Thank you." Fritz was a soldier and Gloria was a knight. "...... I guess it''s a little bit easier to live here." They had only stayed in castle and stuffed sleeping rooms, camp tents, and inns outside of their own parents'' house, and even in <> they had lived in a custom-made room, so it was the first time for the two of them to be able to customize it to their liking. In fact, after two whole days of rearranging the room, we finally got it done to our satisfaction. "Well, I only have three more days of vacation left. The wedding was on June 3, and today is the 8th. The vacation was for one week, but it was extended by one day to 11 days because Fritz went out to exterminate 54 Death Serpents that attacked the east coast of the Kingdom of Elias right after the wedding ceremony. He was on leave until the 11th. Since there is no honeymoon custom in this world, they spent every day relaxing in their new home. "Jin-dono and his friends have been traveling around the world on their , haven''t they? Gloria replied, Fritz replies, "Why don''t we go somewhere too? Fritz replies. "Yes, that would be nice." We decided to take a trip somewhere for a night or two. After much discussion, they decide to go to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, and to the town of Exi in the Shoro Kingdom. Yes, their parents'' homes are located there. But there was one problem. The distance between them is too great. The warp gate network that has just been established still consumes a lot of magic power and can only be used for emergency purposes, so regular flights by airship will have to be used. At present, there are two round trips a day, one in the morning and the other in the evening, to the capitals of each country. Letters, food, daily necessities, etc. are also transported by airship. Seats are reserved by reservation only, but there are few passengers for personal use, and the buses are generally empty. "I have no problem getting to Alban. ...... Oh, yes." "You?" Fritz, who had been thinking about it, seemed to have an idea. "I''ll go to Leuthart and talk to Mr. Zinn. "Oh, I see. But is Jin-dono there? Gloria, who knew that Jin was busy flying around, looked a little worried. If not, it would be a wasted trip. "No, I''m sure he''ll be happy to see Reuthert then. No, you can go to your parents'' house another time, Fritz says. "Then we can go to ......". Gloria agreed. The next day, the 9th, they decided to go to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, where Gloria''s parents lived, and to Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Empire, on the 10th. The 11th, the last day of the vacation, will be a day of rest so as not to be exhausted. It is the job of the executives of to take care of their physical condition. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * As a result, it was a good decision to visit Alban first. Quinta Spica 7, a.k.a. <>, who is in charge of Alban, saw the two in town and overheard their conversation. The old man, who knew that the two men were relying on Jin, immediately reported it to Jin. "Okay, I will stay in Leuthart for 10 days", he decided. He moved with Elsa, Reiko, Chloe and Mio to the house in Leuthart. 1848 - - 49-37 At Exys parents house Fritz and Gloria''s trip to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, ended peacefully and without incident. Gloria''s father, Boulton Allstadt, was at home and gave a warm welcome to his daughter-in-law, Fritz. Boulton wanted to stay up all night drinking, but they had to leave Alban at 3 p.m. for Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Empire, the next day, and returned to <> by the regular flight. "......I''m a little tired, aren''t I?" "Yes, you ...... are." They decided to go to the public bath in . Their new house has a bath, but it is not large enough for them to stretch out their arms and legs, so they felt like going to the big bath that day. The next day, I went to the bathhouse. The next day, June 10, they took an early morning scheduled flight to Loizart. The time difference from Alban was about 30 minutes, but the time difference from Loizart was two hours. At a speed of 100 km/h, the distance is about 6 hours, but <> is further east, so the flight leaves at 4:00 am and arrives at 8:00 am. This means that we leave at 4:00 a.m. and arrive at 8:00 a.m. Incidentally, although the departure time is early, it is said to be less stressful since we can take a nap in the airship. We arrived at the newly built airport on the outskirts of Leuthart. As one would expect, it is not possible to land on the airfield in front of Miyagi. "Thank God it''s sunny." Yes. The sky in Leuthart was clear. The two of them boarded a so-called "shuttle bus," a shared-ride carriage bound for the city of Leuthart. They got off just before Kyujo and headed for Jin''s mansion. Fritz knew the way around this area well. We arrived at Jin''s house around 9:00 am. In the garden seen from the gate, Jin and Elsa were playing with the twins. I knew that Fritz and Gloria were coming that day, so I was going to meet them at the gate, but the old man said to me, "Master (My Lord), isn''t that a bit deliberate? >>I was told by the old man that it would be a little deliberate. Reiko stood in place of the gatekeeper, "Father, Miss Elsa, Miss Fritz and Miss Gloria are here. She informed Jin that "Father, Elsa, Fritz and Gloria are here. Jin and Elsa reacted immediately and walked quickly to the gate with the twins by their hands. "Brother-in-law, Gloria, come in! "Brother, Gloria, ...... no, sister-in-law, welcome." I haven''t seen you since the wedding. Thank you for your hospitality. Fritz and Gloria returned the greeting. "Actually, I would like to go to my parents'' house, but I don''t have much time. I was wondering if you could help me." Fritz then explained the purpose of his visit. "Okay," he said. Let''s go there in ." Jin also said that it had been a long time since he had visited Elsa''s parents'' house, so he would bring the twins to say hello. "Thank you for accepting my offer so soon." Since time was short, we decided not to entertain them at the house and quickly boarded the parked on the roof of the house. As usual, Edgar is in control of the aircraft. "Well, let''s get going." The aircraft floats up in the air. We continue to gain speed and altitude, fly over Lake Tosmo, and soon we are in the town of Eksi. "Yeah, that''s where my parents live." lands soundlessly in the front yard of the Randall house. < is easy to recognize in a good way, and all the servants of Erza''s family know it and immediately run to inform the head of the family. The current head of the family was informed that "Master Jin and Erza are here. Moritz Randall, the current head of the family, came out to greet them, and when he learned that his brother and sister-in-law were also with them, he broke into a smile. "Jin-dono, Erza, welcome. Chloe, Mio, welcome. ...... Fritz, Gloria, welcome!" And the group was welcomed into the house. "Well, well, Gloria, Fritz, welcome!Chloe, Mio, welcome!Ms. Jin, Elsa, welcome!" Marlene, Elsa''s foster mother and Fritz''s mother, greeted them in the entrance lobby. The group was then ushered into the parlor. Fritz said he was here for a visit instead of a honeymoon. He also said that they would have to leave in the evening. Elsa noticed that Marlene looked a little sad when she heard this and immediately put on a happy face when she told her that they were staying a few days. "Well, I''ll take you both to in the instead of the scheduled flight, it''s twice as fast. It''s twice as fast, so if you want to arrive there at 9:00 PM, I can leave here at ...... at 4:00 PM." The trip takes 3 hours, plus 2 hours for the time difference, which means he should leave 5 hours earlier. "Oh, Mr. Jin, that would be great. "Thank you, Mr. Jin." Fritz and his family were happy to be able to stay at home as long as possible. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * While Fritz is showing Gloria around the house and its surroundings, Jin and Elsa are asked by Moritz, the current owner of the house, to consult with him. Meanwhile, Yu and Mio are left in Marlene''s care. "Chloe, Mio, let''s have lunch with grandma! Marlene, grandmother to the twins, called herself <. She was so sweet that it wouldn''t hurt to look her in the eye. And then, "Where''s Grandpa?" "Isn''t grandpa with you? Georg also joined them for lunch. "Oh, you''re here, Chloe, Mio. You''ve grown a lot since I last saw you. Georg is already living a normal life these days, except for a few slurring of speech. However, he has an automaton for his care, Lara, to help him with his little stumbles. Grandpa "Grandma." "Yes, yes." "Oh, oh, oh." Both Georg and Marlene have a soft spot for their first grandchildren. The maidens working in the house were relieved to see them. Meanwhile, Jin and Elsa were having a light meal in Moritz''s office and listening to the conversation. "Actually, the new emperor has asked me if I would like to work at the palace. Moritz is physically weak but has a sharp mind. Both Jin and Erza guessed that now that the new organization was in place, talented people would be in high demand. "If that happens, I can be promoted to the rank of baron." "That''s ......." Erza''s family had once been a barony, but after Georg was seduced by a malicious demon tribe, the family was once crushed, and Erza later became a major player in the family and was given the rank of a baronet. She passed the title to her brother Moritz, who is now a baronet. In modern Britain, a baronet is the lowest hereditary title, and is a commoner, not an aristocrat. In the Shoro Kingdom, they are treated as the lowest nobility, along with non hereditary barons, and are not allowed to participate in national politics. However, serving as a kyuujo means participating in the national government, and thus becoming a baron. "But since I am going to Miyagi, I want an acting lord to rule this land. "Ah, that''s it." Moritz said that his father Georg was not in good shape yet and that he could not leave him in charge. "I also approached Reinhard, but he is now working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and he said that he is not likely to be able to spare the manpower to run his own estate. As a side note, the Randall family, which is a baronet, has a fiefdom only because it was given to them by the Randalls, the original family from which Reinhardt emerged. In other words, the current Moritz is the deputy of the Randalls. In other words, the Maurits want to have a deputy of a deputy of a deputy of a deputy. Normally, his wife could have acted as his deputy for the time being, but this was not possible because Moritz had lost his wife. "Hmmm ......" Jin is not so broad-minded either. If only an automaton could be prepared for him, Jin thought to himself, "If only an automaton could be prepared immediately. 1849 - - 49-38 Candidates for Office Jin and Erza were also troubled about the matter of the deputy whom Moritz had consulted them about. Even if they do not have a wife, most aristocrats would entrust the job to their vizier, chief steward, or other trusted family members who have been with the family for a long time, but the Randalls do not have such family members. No, there are servants who can be trusted to take care of household chores such as maidservants, but there are no servants who are capable of managing a fief. It is more correct to say that the number of servants was gradually decreasing. When the estate was demolished, half of the servants, especially the young ones, were dismissed and not rehired when they were made barons again. Therefore, the original employees got older and older and left for that reason, and now Moritz was running the place by himself. "Brother, are you going to remarry?" "What?" Moritz is momentarily taken aback by Erza''s direct question, but answers with a slightly sad smile on his face. "...... I don''t think I''m going to do that anymore." "Yes, you are?" "Yes. If it''s about the house, we can adopt one of your children from Fritz''s place or from your own family if you want. Or you can get one from the main family if you want." "......" Moritz''s answer made Elsa gasp. "Is that what you want, brother?" "Yes. That feeling went away when I was crushed. ......" At that moment Moritz lost color and fell asleep. Something changed in him at that moment. For the time being, the story of Moritz''s remarriage was over, and we returned to the story of the deputy. "Can''t we ask Rubel to do something for us?" Rubel was the family vizier who had served Elsa and her family for a long time. She had remained with us when the baron''s house was destroyed and had served my father Georg and my mother Marlene until she retired last year due to her age. "Uh, you would have been 68 or 69, right?" "That''s right. I think I can trust him with my life, but I don''t think I should ask him to be my deputy. "Hmm..." Elsa agrees. "...... And what about Cedric?" Cedric should still be in his forties, Elsa said. He was one of the ones who had stayed behind when the place was demolished and had been Moritz''s housekeeper. "Well, there he is. ...... I must have failed." According to Moritz, Cedric had been in poor health for about two years and gave up his job at the end of last year. "I haven''t heard. ...... not feeling well, sick?" The Cedric that Elsa knows is a stocky, mature man, so she can''t imagine him not being in good health. "No, I don''t know. He himself said that he had seen a healer, but he didn''t know exactly what the cause was." "...... yes." Elsa says, "Well, if that''s the case, he''s done me a great favor and I''ll pay him a visit later. "Oh, that would be nice. If he gets well and can come back to work, I would be very grateful. Thus, they decided to first contact Cedric, the former head of the family, to see if he would be interested. * * * * * * Meanwhile, Fritz was riding around the territory with Gloria. "Look, if you climb that hill over there, you can see the whole territory. "Yeah, it sure looks like a nice view. "I used to play in the woods there when I was little, catching bugs. "Yes, all boys are like that, aren''t they?" Fritz was happy to be able to show Gloria the place where he grew up. Chloe and Mio were also happy to be treated by their grandfather and grandmother for the first time in a long time. "Grandma, please read the book. "Yes, yes." "Grandpa, let''s play." "Oh, oh, oh!" Georg and Marlene were happy to be with their grandchildren. Georg seems to be getting better. It seems that spending time with the grandchildren has a healing effect. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The good time comes to an end. It is 3:00 p.m. Chloe and Mio are tired of playing and are taking a nap. Fritz and Gloria have returned to the house and are having a family meeting with their tired-looking father Georg, mother Marlene, brother Moritz, sister Elsa, and son-in-law Jin. "...... But father, brother. After all this time, am I right to be arrives at <> a little earlier than scheduled. "Thank you, Jin-dono, for your help. "We will meet again sometime." Erza and the others are waiting for him, so Jin heads back to the airport. Since Jin, Reiko, and Edgar are the only ones returning, they proudly use the <> and arrive at Exi in less than an hour. 1850 - - 49-39 Cedric Jin returned to Elsa''s parents'' house at 8:00 p.m. local time. It was quite fast, but since no one knew the exact distance to <>, he was not pursued. "Welcome back, my dear." Erza was at the door to welcome me. "Where are Chloe and Mio?" "They were waiting for me earlier, but they fell asleep." "I see." They had played a lot during the day and couldn''t stay awake due to the time difference from Reuthert. They entered the house and went straight to the living room. "Thank you for your hard work today," he said. There was a bottle of wine ready for them. "Thank you." It''s an Auslese Erlich 3454. It''s a sweet, pleasant wine. "I think this is Reinhardt''s favorite brand." Hmm, it''s made in Wass. I remember that. Jin asked Elsa where the wine was made, thinking that he had heard about it before. "The Olsen area is the western shore of Lake Wass, and the Erlich area is the eastern shore of Lake Wass. "Yes, that''s right." "...... and that area is your uncle''s territory." Uncle? Erza''s uncle was only Reinhardt''s father, but he was her . Jin asked again. "Yes, my uncle on my mother''s side. Your mother''s brother." Elsa called her Marlene, the woman who raised her. Her birth mother, Meine, called her . Although not related by blood, her uncle, Viscount Burroughs Richter von Arabus, had been unable to conceive a child for a long time, so her stepmother, who occasionally returned to her parents'' house, took Elsa for a visit and took good care of her. He is now very much in love with the child he has finally given birth to. After the wedding ceremony on Horai Island, only acquaintances came to the wedding party when they traveled around the country, so Elsa''s uncle and Jin never met each other. After that, they went on their honeymoon, and when they came back, they had a chance to see each other. "I never met him, did I?" "......n. ...... that ...... you, when you were missing, that''s why." "Oh,...... I see." It seems to be the time when Jin was caught up in the spatial vibration and went to another space. "I''m ...... sorry about that time." Jin said, "I was worried about you. "No, I didn''t mean to." Elsa explained that she had not meant to blame Jin. "I know you didn''t." Jin laughed softly and finished his wine. "Well, now that you''re sober enough, let''s go to bed tonight. "Hmm." Reiko, who had been standing by silently, put away the glasses and the bottle of wine. Then Jin and Elsa went to the guest room. * * * * * * * * On the 11th, Elsa decides to go visit Cedric, the former Moritz''s family chief. Since it was only a 30-minute ride by carriage, she said she would go alone, accompanied by Edgar. Jin and Reiko were to stay at Elsa''s parents'' house while taking care of Chloe and Mio. Georg and Marlene would take care of the twins. Elsa arrived at Cedric''s house as planned. "...... has not changed at all." Elsa got out of the carriage and was deeply moved. "This is Elsa, ......!" Polly, Cedric''s wife, welcomed Elsa with a surprised look on her face and a smile on her face. "I came back to my parents'' house for the first time in a long time and heard that Cedric was sick and had to quit, so I came to visit him." "Well, ......!Oh, thank you!" Polly bowed deeply. "This is Miss Elsa ......!" Cedric, who was lying on his bunk, was startled by Elsa''s visit and tried to get up, "Stay in bed." Elsa pushed him away. "You ...... don''t look so good." Polly nodded at Elsa''s honest comment. "Yes, I do. I''ve been eating less and less lately." "......" Elsa looked at Cedric silently, and then she suddenly used her examination spell. "<>" Magic is not a panacea. Image is more important than anything else. In analytical magic, the accuracy of analysis is improved by strongly imagining what you want to know. Elsa first made a visual examination to get an idea of Cedric''s symptoms, and then performed a <>. "...... liver is bad. Elsa focused her examination on the liver because of the general malaise and the symptoms of << jaundice>>, a yellowish tinge in the palms of the hands and eyes. "<>" Then, to find out the cause of the symptoms, Elsa again performed a <>. "......This is probably viral hepatitis." As expected, Elsa could not identify the type of virus, such as type A or type B, but she was able to determine that the hepatitis was caused by a virus. Unless the virus causing hepatitis is eliminated, the patient will soon get sick again, even if he recovers temporarily with the healing magic. When I explained this to him, Cedric said that it was true that he would feel better for about a week after going to the healing center, but after that he would feel sick again. "...... got it. ><><>" Elsa, which gives vitality to the liver and at the same time detoxifies the toxins produced by the virus, and furthermore, kills the virus. The sterilization technique developed by Elsa is effective not only against bacteria, but also against viruses, protozoa, rickettsia, and other microorganisms in general. At that time, Elsa cured the King of Elias of pulmonary tuberculosis with this magic. "......<>......, I''m cured." "Oh, really?......Oh, no, I''m not doubting you, Erza-sama. ......" "I know. But it''s okay. All you have to do is eat something nutritious and let your body get used to it little by little." Both Cedric and his wife, Polly, burst into tears of joy at these words. "Oh, thank you, Elsa-sama! Elsa shook her head. "No, it is the duty of a healer to heal the sick. And Cedric is the one who has worked for us for many years. So don''t worry about it." Then he continued, "I''d be happy to work for you again if you get well." He said, "I would be happy if you get well and come back to work for us. When they heard this, they both said, "Oh, thank you, Miss Elsa!I would be more than happy to serve the ...... Randall family again! They bowed deeply. "It would be my pleasure. I would be very happy to serve you. Elsa answered, and, overcoming the couple''s attempts to detain her, she returned to her parents'' home where Jin was waiting for her. 1851 - - 49-40 Family Form When Elsa returned to her parents'' house in Eksi, she reported to Jin. "Well, it was hepatitis. You''re lucky you didn''t pass it on to your family." "Nope." But now that he had been treated, he would gradually regain his strength. "It would have been better if I had brought Persica juice with me." Persica juice from Horai Island has a remarkable effect as a tonic. "Maybe I can order some later and send it as a sympathy gift in Mr. Moritz''s name. It is not a medicine, so there is no immediate effect, but the effect can be felt within half a day of drinking it. So, Jin ordered the old man to send ten bottles of the medicine. Two minutes later, 20 bottles of Persica juice are sent by the transporter. Ten of them were for Moritz, who was feeling tired. Elsa immediately goes to see her brother Moritz, leaving the 20 bottles of Persica Juice with Edgar. Moritz is relieved when she reports that she has cured Cedric. "It was a bad organ, the liver, but Elsa fixed it, didn''t she? Thank you." "I''ve told her that you will serve me again when you are well again." "Well, you remember what I told you the other day. Thank you. Here, drink this. Edgar put twenty bottles of Persian juice on the table. "Ten bottles for you, brother. Give the other ten bottles to Cedric. Elsa told him that when he went to give them to Cedric, he should ask him to return to the family government and to become a deputy. "Yes. I will. Thank you for your concern. Moritz bowed deeply to his sister. Meanwhile, Jin was in the living room when he heard small footsteps. Soon Chloe and Mio appeared, followed by Marlene. Father! "Dad!" They jumped on Jin. "Yu, Mio, did your grandmother play with you? "Yes!" "Yes!" Jin-san, Yu and Mio are really good kids. My husband seems to be feeling better thanks to you. "That''s good to hear." Jin thought that it was a good thing if his brain was activated by taking care of his grandchildren. "Hmm, please come visit us again with the twins, won''t you?" "Yes, as much as I can." "Yes, as much as possible. While talking like this, Jin stroked Yu''s head with his right hand and Mio''s head with his left. Then Erza came back. "Mother!" "Oh, Erza. Are you consulting for ...... Moritz?" "Yes." So Elsa went to visit Cedric and told him that she had treated him. "Oh, I didn''t know. I''m sorry for all the trouble I''ve caused you with the house. "No, it''s okay. I just did what I could ....... Besides, it''s my parents'' house." Elsa is thinking about the house in her own way. * * * We decided to stay at Elsa''s parents'' house for one more night that day. Chloe and Mio were more attached to Georg than I had expected. And Georg was also feeling much better after playing with the twins. "Come on, let''s go." Georg lightly throws a sponge ball at the twins. Chloe and Mio are the first to go and catch it. Jin, Erza and Marlene watch on. "A while ago, I couldn''t throw a ball like that. And now she''s throwing the ball with great control. "Very good rehabilitation?" "Yes, I guess so. ......" Both Elsa and Jin were deeply impressed as they watched Georg play with the twins. * * * * * * "...... Thank you, Elsa." "What''s going on out of the blue?" As Chloe and Mio were taking a nap, Jin and Erza were enjoying their 3 o''clock tea time at a little distance from the house. "I visited Erza''s parents'' house this time, and I felt I was deeply touched by ," he said. "......" Erza remembered that Jin had been an orphan. "Family ties come in many forms, don''t they?" "......" Elsa could not say anything to Jin lightly and just nodded her head. Reiko and Edgar both remained silent. At that time, there was a commotion outside. Then there was a commotion outside. "...... what''s going on?" Erza asked, catching one of the maidens running around in a panic. "Oh, uh, uh, there''s a fire! "What? Jin sat up when he heard about the fire. "Where?" "......, it seems to be in a neighboring village." Apparently, there was a big fire in the village and they came to the lord''s place to ask for help. Moritz came to the village in a panic. But Jin held him back. "My brother-in-law, you must not go out so lightly." Jin-dono? I''ll go. ...... Erza, take care of the children. Erza smiled and nodded. "Yes, sir. ......Go ahead, my dear. ......Edgar, you go, too." "Yes. "Yes, I will, Miss Elsa." "All right, Reiko, Edgar, let''s go." Jin then went to the service gate on the east side where he said the man who had come to inform him was. There he found a man with burns on his right shoulder and arm. Reiko, please heal him. "Yes, father. ......<>" "......, you''re burned!Oh, thank you!" The man was surprised that the pain was gone, and when he realized that his burns had healed, he was overjoyed and thanked the man. "Thank you later. Where is the location of the fire...... No, that''s it, isn''t it?" Outside the service gate, to the left,...... that is, beyond the woods to the north of the house, smoke could be seen rising. Yes, yes. "Okay, let''s go with Conlon 3!You follow me!" Jin rushed into <> parked in the front yard of the house with Reiko, Edgar, and a man from the village ...... whose name was Jess. "Launch Conlon 3!" Conlon 3 takes off into the afternoon sky. Its destination is the northern forest. 1852 - - 49-41 Relief of Humanity flies toward the fire. "Awww... ......" Jess, the man from the village who brought him here, seems to be in a panic, having never flown before. "Calm down. Just think about putting out the fire." Jess seemed to calm down a little when Jin told him. From the air, the scale of the fire was clear to see. "We haven''t had any rain recently, and the fire is ......" "Looks like it." The forest below us was burning with red flames, and parts of the adjacent village were also smoking. The flames were rising quite high, but <> flew above them without a care in the world. "It''s got more range than I thought." Jin thinks about how to extinguish it. Since there is no water source nearby, water-based magic is not very useful. "<> would probably be able to eliminate it, but ......" I don''t want to use it because it would freeze all creatures in range. "Then there is <> or ......" I thought that if I covered the area I wanted to extinguish with a wind barrier, the fire would be extinguished as soon as the oxygen inside was consumed. "Then we can have ...... transporters send containers filled with water." He considered these things before arriving at the site, and decided to modify <>. The <> reduces the thermal energy of an object to zero, but we thought we could adjust it to reduce the temperature to 40 degrees Celsius. To put out a fire, we can lower the temperature to 40 degrees Celsius below the ignition point, which requires temperature, oxygen, and fuel. It is important to note that this is the <>, not the <>. The <> is the temperature above which a substance will start to burn if there is an ignition source such as a spark. It is mainly related to volatile liquids. The ignition point is the temperature above which a substance will spontaneously combust (assuming oxygen is present), e.g. 232 degrees Celsius for sulfur. Since it is mainly forests that are causing fires, it would be a good idea to keep the temperature below 250-260 degrees Celsius, which is the ignition point of wood, Considering the animals that live there, he chose a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, which is close to the body temperature of mammals. This would cause little damage to the animals and the trees would be safe. Even if humans were to be caught in the fire, there would be no adverse effects. Even if there was an effect, it would be better than being burned to death in a fire. As a side note, the ignition point of yellow phosphorus is 30 degrees Celsius, but it is not a substance that exists in large quantities in the natural world. Furthermore, there used to be matches made of yellow phosphorus, which had the convenience of igniting a fire no matter where it was rubbed, but they were highly dangerous and the production of yellow phosphorus matches was banned due to its toxicity, and the matches in circulation today are red phosphorus matches. "......Here and here: ......" There is an engineering magic called <, which can be said to be a combination of < and <. In about a minute, Jin had the Magi Formula, which recombines the flow of magical control (Magi Sequence), engraved into the Magi Crystal. The instant Magick of Cooling is ready. Reiko, will you use this to put out the fire? "Yes father, I''ll do it." Reiko, with the bare Magi Crystal in her hand, jumps out of the emergency hatch of Conlon 3. "Ah!" Jess exclaimed involuntarily when she saw this. "It''s all right, "It''s all right. Watch me. Look." Jin patted her on the shoulder and pointed out the window, and she rolled her eyes. There was Reiko, who had not fallen and was flying at an altitude slightly lower than Conlon 3. When Reiko noticed Jin staring at her through the window, she raised her right hand to signal to him, pointed the magi-crystal downward, and poured in the magic power to activate it. "Oh, I did it!" The magical device created by Jin works just as he intended. The fire was instantly extinguished in a radius of about 30 meters below Reiko. Reiko confirms this and flies away at a speed that leaves <> behind. From the top of the burning fire, she extinguishes it with her magic tools. The wildfire was quickly brought under control. "We managed to do it, didn''t we?" Jin was relieved. At the same time, he thought that he would improve this magical tool a little more and make it a <> for each country and the <> to have. While Jin was thinking about this, the fire was almost extinguished. Jin waited for about 30 minutes to see if the fire would not start again, but it seemed to be completely extinguished. "Father, I''m back." Reiko also came back through the emergency hatch. The fire of that magnitude would not even scorch Reiko or her clothes, but just to be sure, Jin checked Reiko, and after confirming that there was nothing wrong, he said to Reiko, "Thank you, Father, "Thank you, Reiko. You did a good job. He then said, "Good job, Reiko. "Oh, ......!Thank you very much! Seeing this, Jess bowed her head toward Jin. "No, not yet. Are you sure your village is over there?" Jin pointed to a small village below. "Uh, yes." Nearly a third of the village was burned to the ground. Many of them were probably burned to a crisp. Edgar, I need you to land in the square outside the village. "Yes, sir." The <> landed, with some of the villagers looking on in the distance. Jess was the first one to come out, much to the relief of the villagers who had been staring in horror. Jin and Reiko came down next. Tension again rose, but Jess said, "These people put out the fire, "They put out the fire! Jess''s voice, "These people put out the fire! "Oh! Thank you!" Jin, however, won over the villagers. "I''m from the Randall family. I think the fire is under control. Has anyone been burned or injured?Please gather around so we can treat you. "Oh, my lord!" he called out, "Oh, my lord!" "Thank God! and about three people ran toward the village. Apparently, Moritz''s reputation as a lord is not bad. After about five minutes, about ten villagers arrived, all of them injured or burned. Jin confirmed that none of them were injured urgently, and he decided to cast a healing spell on them one by one. He wished he had brought Erza with him, but it was too late. However, it is fortunate that no one was seriously injured. Jin himself is not able to use such advanced healing magic, so he takes charge of the lightly injured and leaves the rest to Reiko. Eight people were burned, one was injured, and the last was burned and injured. The burns were not so bad as to carbonize, so I was able to heal them nicely with intermediate level healing magic . "Thank you, thank you ......!" The healed villagers bowed deeply, almost rubbing their heads against the ground, showing their gratitude. "No, more importantly, is your house okay?" I was relieved to hear that none of the houses had burned down. "Well, we will be bringing in relief supplies later. Jin said, and boarded the again, and flew off into the twilight sky. The villagers looked on in gratitude as they headed south to Randall''s mansion. * * * * Jin returned to Randall''s house and reported to Moritz. "...... and that''s that. I''m sorry for moving on my own. "Oh Jin-dono, I can''t thank you enough. Please don''t say that I moved on my own. Moritz bowed deeply. "Because of the nature of the situation, the damage would have been much worse if we had not taken immediate action," he said. So ......, all we have to do is send the supplies and we''ll be fine? "That''s what I mean." Jin nodded. "Then let''s send some food and some building materials right away. Moritz made an immediate decision and quickly proceeded with the arrangements. Seeing this, Jin thought that his brother-in-law was a good lord after all. 1853 - - 49-42 Over there, over there, over there. The next day. Moritz had done everything he could to compensate the village for the fire. "That''s my brother." "Yes, your brother-in-law is very meticulous in his work. Seeing his work, Jin and Erza were able to return home with peace of mind. On their way back, "Hey, Erza, I can''t let you be a deputy, but a secretary golem would be good, wouldn''t it?" "Oh, sure." Jin and Erza agreed that Moritz was too serious and that they should make and give him a golem that would take care of his schedule and health. * * * * Back in Horai Island, Jin immediately starts to make a golem. "Dad, it looks fun. "Yes, it sounds fun. "I want to try it too. "Maybe when you''re a little older." With Chloe and Mio in tow, Erza is on a tour. Jin is working on a more neutral body shape. Even though it is a golem, she intends to dress it. No unnecessary protrusions. He will try to keep the same silhouette as a human. Power is about three times that of a human, suitable for precision work. The robot will be made of light silver, and will be lightweight. Estimated finished weight is about 70 kilograms. And this time, it is Jin who is making it with the intention of it to Yu and Mio. The golem was completed in about an hour at ....... "Oh!" "Dad, that''s great!" Chloe and Mio are clapping their maple-like hands. (I wonder if these kids will succeed me ......) Jin starts to put the final touches on the project, thinking in the corner of his head, "What should I do with the colors? "...... what color should I make it?" Since it is light silver (titanium in the Ars world), the color can be changed by adjusting the oxide film. "Why don''t you make it a color close to your skin tone?" Elsa offered her advice. "Yes, that''s right. That would be a good idea, considering the clothes we''re going to put on them." The idea of a golem with a blue or green face wearing clothes would be a little eerie to the uninitiated, so Jin decided to use a light, subdued brown color. In a light place, it looks almost skin-colored. "I like it this way." "Hmm." "Wow." Elsa named him . All that remains is the timing of the gift. I''m sure you can guess the timing of the gift. By the way, Marcia''s is almost finished too. "Oh, I see." Marcia is building a boat in the village of Kaina. < After having taken care of Yu and Mio''s measles, the <> charter, Fritz and Gloria''s wedding ......, and many other things, it would be awkward to say that we have left the ship thing unattended. So Jin decided to go to the village of Kaina that night. Jin said, "Oh, Jin! "Ah Jin, a good place!" Jin moved through the warp gate of Nido Castle and first looked into the workshop, where he was greeted by Marcia with a surprised look on her face. "I''ve just finished adjusting it. If everything is OK, it will be finished!" "Oh, that''s good timing!" Due to the time difference, it is already evening in the village of Kaina. The test will be tomorrow. Jin listened to Marcia''s story of hardship over dinner. Tiberio, have you gotten used to it? "Yes, every day is interesting now. I learn a lot from the way you work, Marcia. "He is enthusiastic. He can also use a little engineering magic, which is very helpful." "Heh. ......" Jin thought that if he were to teach him in earnest, he might become a new asset to Marcia''s workshop. After dinner, Jin was shown the finished ship. Marcia and Tiberio go to the workshop together. Rodrigo went back to his room, saying he was a little tired. One was ordered by Barbara and the others, and one was ordered by Jin. One was ordered by Barbara and the others by Jin. The other one is for experiments. "Experimental?" "Yes. I built it purely out of curiosity. It''s a standard model for future whitewater vessels. It''s not for sale, so Tiberio helped me a lot." "Oh." Jin was most interested in this. "This." So, first of all, he asked to see the experimental model. It was not a trimaran, but a monohull. The material was wood. The shape of the boat was long and slender, with floats extending out on both sides. It reminded Jin of an outrigger canoe. This type of canoe has good stability, but it can''t carry much luggage. It also doesn''t turn very well. Marcia explained to the representative. "Hmmm..." "But you can get a good speed with a rowing machine, and you can also steer it with a pole. "I see." In whitewater rafting, which is still practiced in modern Japan, boatmen often use a pole. If the rower is a golem, he has more power and faster reaction speed. First of all, the golem does not get tired, so I think this is a good idea. "I think it is suitable for wide rivers, though." "Yes, I think so." Jin agrees with Marcia''s opinion. I thought that the Ermee River might be a little difficult to handle in the narrow section of the river. "But I like this one. Jin said that the Erme River would be easier to use downstream from Lake Cedrolia. The area borders the Kingdom of Celuloa, so we will have to be careful in our operations there. It could also be used in the upper to middle reaches of the Divide River in the Shoro Kingdom. Marcia and Tiberio nodded happily when Jin said so. "I see!I hope we can sell it there too." Marcia was happy that her ship was being used, not for profit. The next two projects were the ship commissioned by Barbara and her colleagues, and the ship commissioned by Jin. The former is a trimaran, just like the prototype. It is one size larger and the overall balance looks good, and we are looking forward to the test run tomorrow. The boat that Hitoshi requested, which the children in the village can enjoy, looks like a rubber boat with an outboard motor attached to it. The material of the boat is not rubber but >, which absorbs the impact even if it hits a rock, and it does not tear. The outboard motor of the < type is also made of 64 light silver, so it will not break down so easily, Jin thought. "I see, so this is what you did. "Now I want Jin to make a golem or automata that can control the outboard motor. You can operate the outboard motor yourself, but for your own safety, you must ride with the golem or automata. I''ve been knocked off the boat many times," Marcia said, "but the Ermee River can be dangerous in some places. "Okay. Thank you." Jin nodded his head in satisfaction. 1854 - - 49-43 Ship completed On the morning of June 13th, after breakfast, Jin headed for the Ermee River. Of course, he is accompanied by Reiko, Marcia, Rodrigo, and Tiberio. The boat is assisted by the golem maids from Nido Castle. Two boats are being transported, one requested by Barbara and others by Jin. Since this is a report on the completion of the request, the experimental boat is left at the workshop. It was a brisk morning in early summer, and a few girls had come to the Erme River to gather magi sand. There were only a few of them left, but they could still collect enough to earn a little extra money. "Oh, there''s Jin-san!Marcia-san! And Leco! Uncle Rodrigo and Tiberio! "Ah, a boat!" It''s a lively crowd. "Good morning, Patty, Jesse, Jenny, Nonna." Marcia had become good friends with them. "Are you going to take a dip?" "Yes, I do, Nonna." The youngest Nonna is four years old this year. She is the daughter of Jeff and Seema from the village of Lalio. "If I do well, everyone will be able to ride with me," she said. "Yes, I''m looking forward to it!" Patting Nonna''s head gently, Marcia started the test with the trimaran she had built. "Oh, it''s so stable!" Jin, who was watching from the shore, was impressed by the way the boat ran in spite of the swift current. Rodrigo folded his arms and looked at his daughter''s boat with satisfaction. "Isn''t it?We''ve made a lot of minor adjustments." Tiberio came to Jin''s side and told him about Marcia''s difficulties. "Of course. It''s just like Marcia." Marcia had gone so far upstream that she was out of sight from where Jin and the others were standing, "Yeah, you''re doing great!Now we can deliver!" She is in a good mood. She makes a U-turn at the edge of the pool. "Yeah, I think the slight reduction in the length of each hull and the slight rounding of the hull bottom is helping. Satisfied with her behavior, Marcia moves down the river at twice the speed. In no time at all, she passes the area where Jin and the others are, and heads downstream. She makes a U-turn, this time in a place where Jin and the others can see her. "Oh, that''s a smooth move!" Marcia is pleased to hear Jin''s voice. She then follows the river upstream again, slowly approaching the shore and landing on the sandy beach. "Yeah, yeah, that''s great, Marcia. You did a great job!" "Well, I''m glad to hear you say so. Next is a boat I made at Jin''s request. It''s a rubber-boat style boat. Let''s go! It''s light enough that Marcia can carry it by herself. All right. Once the boat is on the shallows, Marcia starts the outboard motor. This is also an aqua thruster, not a screw propulsion system. "Oh, the directional stability is better than I expected. Jin looks at the boat, "We experimented with various boat shapes," Tiberio told us. Tiberio told us. Since the boat has a flat bottom, the shape seen from above, rather than the shape of the bottom, has an effect. "We were told that by making the bow part of the boat less resistant and the stern part of the boat more resistant, we could ensure directional stability in swift currents." "I see." While I was listening to his explanation, the style boat was moving up the Hermes River. And this time, it turned around in front of Jin and the others. The flat bottom of the boat offered little resistance to the change of direction, and the outboard motors were turned to the right side. "I see." Then he went down the Hermes River, changed direction once more, and landed on the shoal. "How is it, Jin? "Yes, very well. Thank you, Marcia. Jin now knew that the job had been done. All that remained was to ensure safety. It is the duty of Jin, the lord. "You should always wear a life vest when you go on a boat." We could make them out of foamed Maggi polyethylene, or for short, Jin thinks. "And a boatman golem. Of course, it should be good at underwater activities, just in case. While Jin was thinking about this, the children of the village gathered around. "Hey, Mr. Jin, can we go on the boat now? "I want to ride on it! Jin couldn''t say no to the children who were all asking for the same thing, "Reiko, please steer the boat temporarily." He asked Reiko to help him temporarily. Reiko would be able to save the child in case he fell into the river. "Yes, father." Reiko gets into the boat, which looks like a rubber boat. "Marcia, how many people are on board? Jin asked, "I think five children can easily fit on the boat. I''m sure that Reiko will be able to steer the boat. He answered, "If Reiko can steer the boat, I''m sure it will be safe. Jin then called out to the children who were there. "Then we can all get on. ...... you can all get on the boat that Reiko is on. "Yay!" I''m with Reiko!" They all get on the boat. "Here we go!" Reiko announced and started the outboard motor. Unlike the screw type outboard motor, the aqua thruster type outboard motor generates enough thrust even when the boat is on the shore, and the boat is slowly moving away from the shore. "Whoa!It floats, it floats! "It''s fun!" With the children''s cheers, Reiko''s boat moved up the Hermes River at a considerable speed, passing a bend in the river and disappearing from the sight of Jin and the children. "Well, you''re still great, Reiko, Jin!You''ve already mastered that boat that you got on for the first time! Marcia sounded half impressed and half dismayed. "Well, it''s Reiko. I''m going to go to ...... and get some data from Reiko to make a golem to steer the ship." "I see, you are indeed a djinn." While we were talking, a boat that had made a U-turn upstream came back. It passed in front of Jin and the others at a very high speed. "Jin-san!Marcia! Uncle Rodrigo!Tiberio!" The children on the boat shouted and waved. Seeing their happy faces, Jin was glad that he had built a boat for sightseeing. 1855 - - 49-44 And to Summer "Thank you, Marcia." Back at Nido Castle, Jin formally thanked Marcia for accomplishing his request and paid her fee. He also made Barbara and the others pay for theirs. "No, thank you. It was a good learning experience. Marcia replied with a smile. This concludes the whole assignment. "Are you going back to Potrock?" Marcia smiles a little sadly and replies. "Yeah, I guess so. I''m going back to ......, though I''m kind of sad. Marcia says, "I''m worried about the store, too. "My dad used to come home sometimes," she says. < "It seemed to be business as usual for the most part." Marcia laughed, saying that Arrow, Arco, Vail and the others were excellent. "But I''m a little sad to say goodbye to the kids from the village I''ve become friends with. I understand that feeling, "It doesn''t mean you won''t see them again, and since there is a warp gate, you can come visit us anytime you want. "Yes, you''re right. Jin, thank you." And as a final touch, Marcia concluded, I''ll check the workings of Jin''s golem and return to Potrock. "Okay." So Jin immediately set about building a golem to steer the ship. The idea was already in the works and the materials were already prepared. With Reiko as his assistant, Jin begins to work quite seriously on the project. He decided to make the golem out of 64 light silver, since it should be as light as possible for a golem to steer a ship. The skeleton is also made with a hollow core to reduce weight. For the muscles, we decided to use threads based on those of the ground spider, which is a light material. Compared to the leather of the demons used in Horai Island, it can be made 40% lighter. Although the upper limit of the power that can be produced is less than half, it is still several times stronger than that of an ordinary golem. In order to make it light, the figure will be of a neutral boy type, approximately 140 cm tall and 35 kg in weight. The trimaran and the pleasure boat, each dedicated to two individuals. It took Jin about 20 minutes to complete the job. "You''re still incredibly fast, aren''t you, Jin? "Jin-dono is the master of gin. ......" "......" Marcia and Rodrigo were impressed, while Tiberio, who was still getting used to it, was absolutely amazed. * * * * * * "There we go. Let''s name them ......<>1 and 2." To distinguish them by color, Sailor 1 was reddish gold and Sailor 2 was whitish gold. "Jin, what is the name of the ship?" "Oh, I hope Marcia will name it for me. Jin thought that he still wanted the creator to name the ship. "Hmmm...yes. How about for the trimaran and for the pleasure boat? "Yes, that sounds good." Halcyon is for kingfishers and Anatola is for ducks. They would go well with the intrepid trimaran and the stout pleasure boat, Jin thought. So he inscribed <<> on the boat respectively. > on each boat. "Now we should build a landing place and a warehouse at a suitable location on the Hermes River. Jin decided that the best location would be by the bridge, so he quickly made arrangements. Ten craftsman (smith) golems arrived from Horai Island and set to work. "Well, are you sure about Marcia?" "What?" The golem that rows the experimental boat. "Oh, I see. ...... No, I''ll call the Arrow to help you when I''m done here. "So you''ll be here a little while longer?" Yeah, for a couple of days. Marcia laughed and said, "I want to make sure the ship is in good working order, in case there are any unexpected problems. "Okay." Hitoshi liked and appreciated Marcia''s sense of responsibility. Jin then turned to Tiberio. "How was it working with Marcia and Rodrigo, Tiberio?" "It was fun. ...... so much so that I would like to work with them for a long time to come." Tiberio says with a slight smirk. "Yes, he''s really dedicated. He''s good at what he does and he can use a little bit of engineering magic. Rodrigo also acknowledged Tiberio. Jin thought that was good enough, "Well, ...... then, why don''t you go work for Marcia?" He said, "Yes! "By all means! Tiberio nodded his head in a short but enthusiastic voice. "Yes, that would be great. We''re actually short on staff at ......." Soon it will be summer with more orders, Marcia said, and they may not be able to meet their deadlines if they don''t do this. "Besides, it was fun working with Tiberio." "I see. I see. So that''s not a problem." If that''s what everyone wanted, Jin thought, it would be best, "Then I''ll teach you a little bit of engineering magic. "Then I''ll teach you a little engineering magic, and you''ll be a more effective worker in Marcia''s workshop," he suggested. He accepted the offer. The proposal was accepted without hesitation, and Jin decided to start training on Horai Island the next day. The next day, he decided to go to Horai Island for a special training session. "Wow, this is fun! "This is fun!" The children on board the , piloted by Sailor 2, were cheering at the Ermee River. "Hmmm, you''re doing a good job of flying this thing, aren''t you? "Yes, it''s Jin''s work, isn''t it? I have no problem steering the Sailor 2. And from upstream, <, loaded with magi sand, returns with Sailor 1 at the helm. On board are Barbara and Lu. "Jin-san, Marcia-san, you''re doing great! "Barbara, don''t let your body get cold, it will affect your baby. "Don''t worry. I''m not in the water and Ruu is with me. Luu, from the village of Lalio, is the adopted daughter of the village chief Giebeck and the healer Sally, who is herself training to be a healer. "Well, that''s all right then, isn''t it?But be careful, okay?" "I know. I know, but be careful. Today is the ship we commissioned, so I was only allowed on board as a representative first. From now on, I''ll leave it to Kana, Sema and Berta." Barbara said, and moved easily from the to the shore. A fresh breeze blows under a blue sky in the village of Kaina. Summer was almost here. 1856 - - 49-45 Quiet Story 82 Tiberio Special Training and "Now, the most important thing in mastering magical engineering is a ." On the island of Horai, Jin begins training Tiberio in engineering magic. "Yes." "Putting aside the mentality, the key to mastering engineering magic is whether or not you can use <>." "<>?" "Yes. If you can do this, you can mass produce golems and automata, and you can intentionally increase your knowledge." Tiberio looked as if he didn''t fully understand the explanation, so Jin gave a supplementary explanation. "The reason I can increase my knowledge is that by using this, I can read the information stored in the magi-crystal directly into my brain." <> and <> can read the Magi Formula>> visually, but not directly. So, how do magecraftsmen, who cannot use <>, make golems and automata? "One is education from scratch. One is teaching them like you would teach a baby. But this method was used only in the very beginning. It takes too long and is now obsolete." "Yes." Jin continues. "The second method is to use educational magic tools. This is to information to the . <, it is taught by ordinary means. Specifically, the necessary knowledge is taught to the , which is equipped with a temporary , by voice or magic waves. However, the speed of education is 2 to 5 times faster than that of a human being (depending on the grade of the control core), and it is more efficient because it does not <>. Moreover, since it can be done 24 hours a day, as a result, education can be completed about 10 times faster than the method of <<1>>. "Third, this is the current mainstream method, but it involves writing in the <> MagiFormulas>> one by one. It''s about 100 verses, so it''s half a day''s work." Write in the basic movements, language knowledge, etc. one by one. The basic formula is the < created by Adriana Barbora Zetsi and refined over the years. "Also, the <, which has recently begun to be used. This is a degraded version of . However, it is quite easy to use and there are many who can use it. This technique was invented by Jix, who participated in a <> in the Kingdom of Selroa, but has since been studied and is beginning to spread to the general public. "So, it would be best if we could use <>. First, let''s find out Tiberio''s aptitude." "Okay." I understand. As a result, Tiberio had the aptitude. Jin then duplicated the magi crystal with the necessary information written on it and transfers it to Tiberio himself. "So this is the world of engineering magic. ......" Tiberio is astonished at the sheer volume of knowledge. "Oh, yes. Some of it is rudimentary scientific knowledge." Having a middle-school level of scientific knowledge makes the use of magic much more efficient. "Now then, let the training begin." "Now, I want you to make 10 spheres, 10 cubes, and 10 tetrahedrons of the same weight out of this bronze. "Yes. ......What? "You can do it by first matching the weights and then forming." "Yes, I''ll try it. ...... In this way, you will develop a basic <. "Try to make a plate 0.1 mm thick and 50 cm wide from this ingot of adamantite by . The length is arbitrary. "Yes, yes." Adamantite has a high resistance to forming, and thus nourishes the of forming. "I want you to analyze this metal. Can you tell what it contains and what it is?" I will try. "There is carbon steel, which is made by adding carbon to iron. Let''s make a knife with it. "I''ll try." "I''ll try." Jin will also give practical lessons to acquire the obtained scientific knowledge. Since the time is limited to two days, it is inevitable that we have to cram a little more than usual. Tiberio is working hard without complaining or whining. Of course, he is taking breaks and eating properly. It''s because Jin used to work at a black company that he manages his schedule so well. "It would be better if you could use simple healing magic. "Yes, I''ll do my best." He is sometimes injured during the work, so it is good to know healing magic. Tiberio knows this, so he works hard to learn it. During a break. "Are you tired? "Yes, to be honest. Yes, to be honest. I can do things I couldn''t do before, I know things I didn''t know before. There is a whole new world in front of me. "When you say that, it makes teaching worthwhile." After training, he relaxes in a hot spring and gets eight hours of sleep. The next day, another training session: ....... And two days passed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * June 16th. It is also the day that Marcia leaves the village of Kaina. "Marcia, come back again, won''t you? "Yes, I''m sure I''ll come back." "I''m sure she will! Marcia complied with the children''s request, since the warp gate was there and she could come back anytime she wanted to. "Thanks for the boat, Marcia!" Jin also thanked her. "It was a request. I learned a lot from you. And ......." Marcia glances at Tiberio, who is standing next to her. "I think I''ve found a good <," he says. Her face is a little red, but it''s probably not just from the sun. "And I''ll take your advice." "Yes, please do." Jin has attached to the two boats. This way, when he wanted to stop on the river, for example, the boats would not be swept away. It is also useful when you are swimming in the river and want to get back to the boat, because the position of the boat does not change. As a worst-case scenario, Jin also assumed that he could rescue a drowned child. He did not say it out loud. For this reason, he also prepared a floatation ring with a rope for lifesaving, and loaded it on both boats. They would come in handy when the boatswain''s golem threw them to the rescuers. "Take care of yourself, Mr. Rodrigo." "Thank you, Mr. Jin. I''m glad to see that ...... you have a good successor. Rodrigo glanced at Tiberio. The gesture was just like Marcia''s, and Jin was secretly impressed that they were father and son after all. "Thank you for everything you have done for me. Tiberio bows to Jin with a radiant face. "Yeah, do your best. Tiberio can do it. You can do it. Support Marcia and Mr. Rodrigo, okay? "Yes, to the best of my ability." Thus, the Tiberio of the <> became the Tiberio of the <>. 1857 - - 49-46 Quiet talk 83 yearning and goals In March of 3457, seven years ago, in Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, a was held to celebrate the birth of Ernest, the third prince. A was held in Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, to celebrate the birth of the 3rd Prince Ernest. On that occasion, an anti-social organization, the Unifiler, launched a terrorist attack with the aim of showing its power. They took control of the golem that was unveiled, the golem that was originally in the castle, and almost all of it, in an attempt to overthrow the state. However, thanks to the efforts of the golem <, the black knight <>, and the automata <>, who did not take control of the golem, the plot was foiled. All the leading figures of the Kingdom of Egelea, the guard knights, soldiers, and magical craftsmen of that time were grateful and in awe of <><><<>. And there were some who had great ambitions to one day create more than three golems. Magecraftsman Audrey Hanks was one of them. She was a female engineer with a fair face and red hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was attending the with her mentor and uncle, Gladia Hampton, when she was attacked. She was only 12 years old at the time. She didn''t know what had happened and was in fear for her life, shaking and crying, when she was saved by Reiko''s action. At that time, Reiko wielded a mace that Jin had hastily created and literally blew away the crazy golems. The overwhelming strength and the unbelievable scene were still burned into her eyelids. She admired Reiko''s strength, and she strove to reach her goal, and now, at the age of 19, she is a Royal Magi Craftsman of the Kingdom of Egelea, and has been given the honorary name of , and although she does not have a title, she is treated as an aristocrat. "Dolly, is that the new golem?" Dolly is Audrey''s nickname. She asked her colleague and senior colleague Gregory Bradley. He had short-cropped brown hair and gray eyes. He, too, is a Royal MagiCraftsman. "Yes, I am. Audrey answered shortly. Today she had completed her latest golem and had come to the training camp to test its performance. "Well, I don''t see how it''s different from the previous ones. ...... Why are you so obsessed with small size?" Gregory asked curiously. "Well,...... I guess I want to take advantage of the small size." What are the advantages? "Concentration of power and efficiency." Even in a world of magic, the laws of physics still exist. The fact that Reiko, who is small and light in weight, can blow up a large and heavy golem is largely due to the fact that she is applying force from the bottom up. If the force is applied from the top to the bottom, the body would float, but if the force is applied from the bottom to the top, the body can stand firmly on the ground because the force pressed against the ground acts as a force dividing the body. But that is not all. Reiko is able to stand up against a huge opponent thanks to the soles of her shoes, which exert more than enough frictional force, and the force field generator "Force Generator". Furthermore, when the force field generator was not yet installed, she used earth magic to fix her feet to the ground, but even Audrey Red Hanks was unaware of this. "That''s what ...... means." "I see. That makes sense. Of course, there are downsides to making them smaller. First of all, since the cross-sectional area of the muscles becomes smaller, the upper limit of the force that can be exerted becomes lower. The skeleton becomes correspondingly thinner and therefore less strong. The small size of the skeleton makes it somewhat more difficult to build. These were the negative aspects that Gregory could think of now. However, these were problems that could be left to the judgment of the maker, not that there were no solutions. And Audrey had almost solved them. "Well, okay. You''re going to test the new model, right?" "Yes." I''d like to be there. "Of course." It''s a curt response, but that''s Audrey''s nature. She is not very good at socializing. "28, show me how you run." "Yes." The golem called "No. 28" started to run across the training ground. It was about as fast as a man could run. "Good! ...... faster!" Audrey saw that there was no lethargy in its movements and ordered it to speed up. "Whoa!" Gregory, who was watching along with Audrey, couldn''t help but exclaim. 28''s speed was increasing rapidly. The No. 28 was speeding along with a cloud of dust. The speed is estimated to be about 200 kilometers per hour. "That''s fast!" But Audrey still looks dissatisfied. "I think I could go faster if I worked on the way I run and the shape of my feet." Audrey''s brown eyes are still burning with the image of Reiko at the Golem party. At that time, Reiko had kicked away all the powerful Golems with blinding speed. "Geez, geez, ......28, that''s enough. Go back." The dust from the 28 is getting worse, so Audrey decides to end the test run. "Now we''re going to test your strength. Try lifting that weight." "Yes." The test weights are not barbells or dumbbells, but rectangular shaped blocks of metal. No. 28 lifted the 200-kilogram weight with ease. "Oh, wow." It''s quite a surreal sight to see the childlike form of No. 28 doing just that. But Audrey looks like she''s not ready yet. No. 28 then lifted 300 kilograms. "That''s amazing!" Only about half of the adult golems can lift 300 kilograms. But Audrey had him lift an even heavier weight. 400 kg. She lifted this one, too. She manages to lift 500 kilograms. The paving stone under her feet is cracked. 550 kg. He couldn''t lift it at the first attempt. He changed the way of lifting and succeeded at the fourth attempt. 600 kg. ...... could not lift it. "It''s amazing that someone this size can lift 550 kg!" Gregory, who was present, praised her with open arms, but Audrey said, "I''m not satisfied yet. Once I''m ...... satisfied, I''m done." And with that, she set to work on the next test. It was a mock battle against ten battle golems. "Get to it!" With a command, ten golems with sticks instead of swords attacked No. 28. Here, another advantage of being comes into play. Because the target of the attack is small, it is difficult to hit it. Moreover, the area near its feet is not easily visible, making it difficult to attack or defend. No.28 seemed to understand this well enough, and from a low position, he delivered a thrusting fist strike. "Oh!" Gregory shouted in amazement as he saw three battle golems blown to pieces by No. 28''s fist strike. Three of them rose more than five meters in succession and fell to the ground, motionless. This is not a breakdown, but a <>, and if they take more than a certain amount of damage, they are instructed to leave the battle line in this manner. "Well, it''s not enough yet." Audrey''s small voice surprised Gregory. 28 is definitely one of the top golems in the kingdom of Egelea. She was definitely one of the top golems in the Kingdom of Egelea, but he knew she was not satisfied. But Audrey''s target is Reiko. She is the undisputed world''s greatest automata, capable of blasting more than a dozen golems with a single swing of her mace. We believe that Reiko, if we let her fight a mock battle in the same way, would instantly blow up ten golems more than ten meters away and be done with it. And she is right. But this is Reiko at <<20% output>>. "Any more than that, it might be impossible without changing the materials." Audrey mutters with a difficult look on her face as she stares at No. 28, the tenth battle golem defeated. 1858 - - 49-47 Silent Story 84 Hate and Goals In March of 3457, seven years ago, in Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, a was held to celebrate the birth of Ernest, the third prince. A was held in Asunto, the capital of the Kingdom of Egelea, to celebrate the birth of the 3rd Prince Ernest. On that occasion, an anti-social organization, the Unified Party, launched a terrorist attack with the aim of showing its power. They took control of the golem that was unveiled, the golem that was originally in the castle, and almost all of it, in an attempt to overthrow the nation. Several people were injured so severely that they were incapacitated. Count Dave Maida Galana, a nobleman of the Breuland, was one of them. He suffered a broken nose, complicated fractures of both arms and legs, complicated fractures of the ribs and internal organs, and bruises all over his body. Elsa, who was still inexperienced at the time, provided first aid. Elsa''s first aid was adequate and prevented secondary infection, but did not cure the patient completely. This was partly because she was still inexperienced, but more importantly, it was because she had reduced the consumption of magic power. After all, at that time there were more than 100 injured people who needed first aid alone. Count Galana was then treated by a renowned healer, but the healer was not very good. The bones of his arms and legs were bent and twisted, and so were his nasal bones. As a result, he could no longer perform his daily activities by himself. He needs assistance to walk, eat, and even change his clothes by himself. His internal organs, including his liver, were severely damaged, and he also had some jaundice symptoms. "...... Uhnu, it''s all Golem''s fault!" His uncontrollable anger was directed at the Golem itself. "I don''t care how much money it costs. Make the strongest Golem in the world! Since he had plenty of money, he called in a renowned magecraftsman and had him create a powerful golem. However, no matter how long it took, the golem was never completed to the satisfaction of the Count. Then, a man came to him. I heard that you wanted a strong Golem. "Mm. And you? Count Galana, whose nose was still crooked, was wearing a mask that covered everything but his mouth. "I am a ...... drifter. ......<>" "Oh, oh!" The man had used a mysterious chanting spell to heal Count Galana''s crooked nose. "Oh, this!...... umm, thank you." The crooked nose had made his pronunciation somewhat slurred, but it had also improved. The Count was overjoyed. "Can''t ...... this arm and leg be fixed?" I asked him with a ray of hope, "I can do that,<>, but I don''t know how to do it,<>. But, <>" "Uh-huh?" "You seemed to have a problem with your internal organs, so I was able to fix that." "Oh, I see!" Feeling that the discomfort that had been stagnating in his body was indeed gone, Count Galana bowed his head to the man. "No, I''m sorry. This is enough." The healing of his face and internal organs had solidified Count Galana''s trust in the man. * * * * * * The man called himself . His skill is not only in healing magic, but also in engineering magic. "Mm-hmm, that''s amazing!" The first golem that Marco created was distinctly different from the previous golems. It was more than three times as powerful as the golems the Count had been making. "Yes, this is exactly what I''ve been looking for!" Count Galana was quite satisfied, "No, not yet. Let''s make a much more powerful golem. "Oh, go ahead and do it!" The Count and Marco were in agreement, and more golems were created. A few months later. "Oh, this is the strongest Golem! "I''m quite satisfied with the result." Marco''s own Golem blows away 20 old Golems without difficulty. With this, any opponent will have nothing to fear. "I think so." Count Galana looks satisfied, "What is its name?" Count Galana asks. "Yes. Shall we call it ......<>?" "Hmm?What does that mean? "It''s a word from my hometown, ......, it doesn''t mean much." Marco laughed and trailed off. "Hmmm...well..." he said. <." But that night Marco disappeared without a trace. Count Galana wondered, but he did not think it too regrettable since he had what he wanted. "Now that Allogance is complete, I have no further use for him. ...... No, I still think that talent was a shame." he muttered, sipping his wine. He gulped down a glass of wine. A wicked smile appears on his face. * * * * * * "...... Well, he was an interesting guy, wasn''t he?" Marco ...... no, <> smirked as he left Count Galana''s mansion. "I''m sure that <>...... or <> will be a good match for that automaton we made this time." Markosias, too, had a sense of humiliation for Reiko, who had unilaterally violated his <. He has no more hatred for Jin, who saved his people. However, he was determined to continue his endless challenges as an engineer. That is why I am wandering like this. "Well, where will he go now? ......" No one knows what happened to Marco after that. * * * * "Well, let''s give it a try." The next day, Count Galana activated . The location was a wasteland on the outskirts of Blueland. "Oh, I''m looking forward to it." No, not at all. The people watching are fellow aristocrats. Well then, let''s get going." Count Galana held the controls for the Alloganth close to his mouth. "Alloganth, run!" This was to transmit the pilot''s voice to the allogance. It is a kind of . Although the communication range is very short. "Oh!" Alloganth runs as ordered. It is not autonomous, but semi-autonomous. However, since it can make some self-judgments, it can handle the command <> to a certain extent. In other words, Aloganth does not run in a straight line, but runs in a circular motion and avoids obstacles. "Wow, that''s amazing." "Isn''t he going at least 100 kilometers per hour?" Despite his massive height of 2 meters and 50 centimeters, his agility is remarkable. "Okay, stop. ...... and destroy those rocks." Alloganth came to a halt and struck a five-meter-high rock in front of him on his right side as hard as he could. "Whoa, whoa! "That''s a lot of power!" The rock shattered into pieces with a roar. The nobles were then astonished at the power of the five battle golems they had prepared, and trembled as they watched the golems easily turn to scrap. Count Galana let out a loud laugh from his wheelchair. 1859 - - 49-48 Silent Story 85 Hannahs Thinking "Hey, Old man, is it a definite fact that Oni-chan has been gone once in 400 years?" Hannah asked the old man one day in Horai Island. "That''s right. ......" Hannah is thinking about something. It is the year 3467 and Hannah is 19 years old. She has changed from a beautiful girl to a beautiful woman. Reiko looks at Hanna and says that she looks just like her predecessor, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. "It is possible to send things to the future, isn''t it?" < But what Hanna is thinking of is a transfer beyond time. Hanna likes to think about this kind of theory more than the realization of it. Perhaps because she was surrounded by many practitioners, or rather, all practitioners, Hanna was developing into a scholar who preferred to develop her theories. "Well, that''s not quite right. ......" The time capsule-like future transfer was very different from what Hanna was looking for. "I want to find a reversible ...... way to ...... develop that possibility." < In this case, the "Mere Old Man" interpreted that reversibility means <> as opposed to <>. In other words, Hannah is trying to transcend time. "...... impossible?" That means there must be some way. In the future, perhaps the old lord has made a move and Jin has come back to the original time. And perhaps the research that Hanna is now doing is the way to send Jin back to the original world after 400 years, the old man believed. He had to somehow manage to handle <> freely ...... to a certain extent. "Well, I can handle a little bit of <>, but it''s still not enough..." Hannah tilted her head cutely. "The hardest part is the destination. It''s like shooting an arrow at a tiny little island in the infinitely wide ocean of the <>. ...... It might be even more difficult." And it was the old man who gave the advice. "What?What is it, Mr. Mere Old Man? Hannah, thinking that the old man''s words must be true, gave up her thought and listened to him. < "Oh, ......" Jin had brought back a white, blue, and red stone the size of a walnut from the other world, thinking it would be a good souvenir. The old man said that they emitted <> and could be <> if the right means were found. < "No, it won''t!" Just being able to identify the <> is a big step forward, Hannah said. "Now we just need to figure out the time frame... ......." < At that time, the sub-free ether wave should have ceased to exist. In other words, it is not a > with infinite length, but its other end is interrupted. The break is the time when Jin left 400 years later. What?But then, the stone is there <>, isn''t it? < "So, the stone was duplicated for a certain period of time after 400 years?" "So, was the stone duplicated for a certain period of time after 400 years? Another possibility is that the stone collapsed and disappeared during the 400 years and was not duplicated when the Master (My Lord) appeared 400 years later. I think it is possible that the Master (My Lord) did not duplicate it when he appeared 400 years later. "Hmmm ......" In any case, there would be a discontinuity, Hanna concluded for the time being. "Yes, but it''s still a much easier target." Hannah let out a small sigh of relief. The old man was also happy that Hannah''s research had gained momentum. After all, in 400 years, the old man has to send Jin back to the past. The knowledge that Jin has gained in the other world is still insufficient for that purpose. The knowledge that Jin has obtained in the other world has been transcribed, but it is so far away from the laws of our world that we cannot find any connection with it. () In order to solve the problem in the limited time of 400 years, the cooperation of Hanna, who has rare intelligence, is indispensable, the old man thinks. And this is confirmed by the returning Jin. <. * * * * And today, Hanna was conducting an experiment again. Since Jin is away in Leuthart, she has built a sub-free ether wave generator with the help of <> and the craftsmen. We have made something similar a while ago, but this is much smaller and more precise in operation. It should be ....... Anyway, nothing can be done if it cannot generate and receive <> at will. Hannah''s (and the old man''s) research has just begun. "Well, if we can''t control and receive this as we want, <> is a dream come true. ......" > is what Hanna is referring to when she talks about how to control the automata she has been working on for the past few days. < An automata that can be more integrated than the current doppelganger. Or a that can transfer <>. This was also a technology that Hanna was searching for along with <>. Not to prolong her life by transferring her knowledge to an automata like <600012>, who once opposed Jin, but to be able to with her own will. Hanna aims to be able to < back to the world by her own will. "Oh, there are so many things I want to do, and my time is limited. ...... Hanna laments. Then, Jin came back from Loisart. "What''s the matter, Hannah? "Oh, honey!" Even though she is 19 years old, Hannah still calls him "Onii-chan". "You know, I have a lot of things I want to do, but I was worried that my time is limited. Hannah is honest with Jin. "These days I wish I had more than one person. Jin laughed at her as she said this. Hanna laughed at him and said, "Haha, that''s just like Hanna. ...... If you split into several people and have different experiences, it won''t be anymore, will it?" "Huh?" For a moment, Hanna did not understand what Jin was saying, but then she understood what he meant. "Well, I don''t know if that''s true....... but that''s a philosophical question about what I am and what the ego is, isn''t it?" "Well, yes. "Well, yes. I think that if a person has the elements that ...... others recognize him or her as that person, then he or she is that person." "What?" Now Jin took some time to understand. "Hmmm......... I see. That''s an interesting way of looking at it. Hannah added to Jin''s admiration. "You sometimes modify what you made, don''t you, Onii-chan?Then you would understand, wouldn''t you? "...... Oh." Jin also realized what Hannah had said. For example, Reiko. From skeleton to muscles to skin, she has been completely renewed, but Reiko is still Reiko. Then, what makes her Reiko? For example, if we make a copy of the same automata including <, is it also Reiko? "...... I still think this is going to be a philosophical discussion." Chuckling, Jin recalls a past incident. "...... Come to think of it, <<600012>>, both old and new << I remember that the old and new <<600012> recognized each other as <<600012>." In the end, Jin came to a tentative conclusion that it depends on how the third party perceives the situation. 1860 - - 50-01 The bustle of the day before the competition January 30, 3900 in the continental year of the existence of the complex of Jin. It is the last day of January in the Ars world calendar. In the sky of , which is located in the southern hemisphere, flying objects of various shapes and sizes were flying around. "Oh!That''s good work!" "Hmm, is it still a little unstable?Maybe I should increase the wing dihedral angle by 1 degree. "Not so bad. It would be nice if we could increase the speed by another 10%. ...... The monologue of those who are flying the plane is leaking out. "Hmmm, you guys are really good!" Looking up in admiration is Nido Jin, the <>. < and respect him. However, Jin himself is not fond of this terminology, so he has settled for being called <>. And tomorrow is the day of the <>. And tomorrow is the day of the <>, so the participants are making final adjustments to their planes. I like the fact that we are all like a family, so there is no need to hide or cheat at this point in time. The final regulations (rules for participation) are as follows Size: Must fit into a cube of 1.5 meters on each side. Weight : No limit. Material Materials found on must be used. Propulsion: Must be powered by a rotating engine with a screw propeller. The number of engines is not limited. Floating type: Lift force must be generated by the wings. Direct levitation using a propeller will be disqualified. Shape: No restrictions. Cockpit type cockpit must be used as specified by Jin. Special note: The provided by Jin must be used. That is all. Since this is the first competition, Jin thinks that there may be some imperfections. If we notice anything during the competition, we will add it to the list as appropriate. In the conceptual stage, we thought that the size of the robot should be within a cube of 1 meter on each side, but we decided on this size after considering that a small robot would not be stable and would not be easily visible from the ground. I thought about making it 2 meters, but decided against it because it would be much taller than Rubina''s height (123 cm). The cockpit-type pilot''s seat designated by Jin was used, based on the previous car race, so that there would be little difference in the way the car was piloted. In addition, the provided by Jin must be used, in order to allow the pilots to fly the plane as they wish, without complicated attitude adjustments. The competition will consist of the following events: 1. Speed competition (high speed): The competitor who flies around two poles and takes the shortest time is the winner. The first place is 100 points, the second place 80 points, the third place 60 points, the fourth place 40 points, the fifth place 20 points. The shorter time is the higher rank. 2. Speed competition (low speed): The contestant who has the longest time to complete the lap around the 2 poles will be placed first. The winner will be awarded 100 points for 1st place, 80 points for 2nd place, 60 points for 3rd place, 40 points for 4th place, 20 points for 5th place, and so on. The longest time is the higher rank. The contestant will be disqualified when he/she touches the ground. 3. Aerobatics (Pattern): The contestants will draw the prescribed flight pattern and compete for the accuracy of the pattern.Scoring will be done by the management brain of < on . 100 points is the maximum score. Aerobatics (free): free flying and evaluation of the performance.All spectators are scored out of 100 points. (Each spectator has 100 points / number of spectators). 5. Race: The competitors compete for the fastest time around a course with a ring of gates. If a competitor fails to pass through the gate, he/she will be disqualified. However, it is allowed to turn around and go through the gate again, 100 points for 1st place, 80 points for 2nd place, 60 points for 3rd place, 40 points for 4th place, and 20 points for 5th place. As a bonus, 6. design: All the spectators are asked to score the appearance, gimmick, performance, etc. The maximum score is 100 points. (Each spectator has 100 points/number of spectators). The score is 100 points (each spectator has 100 points/number of spectators). is surrounded by wards, the strength and nature of which can be adjusted to make it impervious to outside influences such as wind and rain. Therefore, the competition was to be held in windless conditions, and it was an advantage not to have to worry about unnecessary things such as countermeasures against gusts of wind. The competition was held in windless conditions, which was an advantage of not having to worry about gusty winds. Of course, Jin also participated as a guest. Or rather, he was eager to participate. Jin built a variable wing aircraft. The main wing has three layers, At low speeds, the three layers slide together to widen the wing area and reduce the wing loading, thus increasing lift at low speeds. At high speeds, the three overlap each other and become a retracted wing to enable the aircraft to attain high speeds. The propulsion system is a pseudo-jet engine using a ducted fan. A ducted fan is a cylindrical exterior (called a duct or nacelle) in which the engine and propeller are mounted. Since the fan (propeller) diameter is smaller, the engine will inevitably rotate at higher speeds and may be more suitable for models than for actual aircraft (efficiency decreases when the propeller tip exceeds the speed of sound). The engine, which tends to be heavier than the actual model, can be placed near the center of gravity, depending on the design, which has the advantage of increasing maneuverability in the air. However, it also has disadvantages such as greater resistance at high speeds and higher costs. The main reason for Jin''s adoption of this engine was to emphasize speed. As with jet engines, the nozzle on the exhaust side can be narrowed to increase the injection speed, which in turn leads to higher speed. With propeller propulsion, it is impossible to fly faster than the wind generated by the propeller, but this is possible with a ducted fan. Taking this one point, we decided to ignore the other disadvantages or to solve them technically. This is probably due to a misunderstanding on the part of Jin. The thrust of propeller propulsion is not the wind generated by the propeller, but the lift force of the propeller itself, and the wind is generated as a result. And ducted fans are supposed to be disadvantageous at high speeds, but ......nin is just unaware of this due to his own manufacturing capabilities. "Oh, that looks nice." Sitting in the cockpit-type pilot''s seat, Jin was enjoying the view of the actual aircraft. There is a magic screen in front of the cockpit, which displays images sent from the aircraft in real time, giving the pilot a realistic feeling of flying the aircraft. This time, the Magic Eye installed in the sky above the aircraft allows the pilot to switch to a bird''s-eye view of the aircraft. The reason why we have been free-flying until the day before is to get used to the feeling of the flight. I am still very much looking forward to the next flight. Jin-sama''s plane is really amazing. Rubina was in the pilot''s seat to the right, one seat away from me, doing a final checkup ......, or rather, a familiarization flight. Her aircraft is a so-called with triangular wings. It is a plane that achieves a high balance between stability and high speed. It is, of course, suitable for high speed, but surprisingly, it can also fly at low speeds. In such a case, the nose of the plane is raised to a large angle of attack against the direction of travel, but the delta wing can handle angles of attack that would cause stalling in the case of an ordinary tapered wing. This is probably the reason why origami airplanes can fly surprisingly slowly. The light weight is the most important factor. ....... Delta wing planes are very agile and can easily perform a "roll" or "twist" flight. "Ugh......I''m still dizzy...... and it makes me sick. ......<>" Rubina is committed to piloting from the passenger''s point of view, which is why she is trying to get used to <>. Whenever she feels sick, she applies <> to herself and heals herself while practicing. He was practicing while healing himself. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. < It was designed to provide lift at low speeds and high turning performance. The increase in weight and drag is compensated for by the high power propulsion system. We are now testing the stability at low speeds, and it is very stable. The other participants have also completed their tests and practices, and are eager to compete in the main event on the following day. The island of Onogoro is slowly sinking into the evening darkness after the preparation of the venue was completed. 1861 - - 50-02 Airframe Introduction February 1, 3900 . <> is about to begin! >> An announcer''s voice echoed through the plaza. Once again, the MC was Lackhard Randall. And... > Steinhardt Randall is a mature man who looks a bit like Reinhardt. He is also a cousin of Ruckhardt. He was invited to give a commentary because he is a solid Magi Engineer. On this day, the 200-seat auditorium was full. The audience who sat in these seats were entitled to have their works graded as well, and reservations had been flooding in for some time. The winners were decided by a strict lottery. > The angle is adjusted so that the audience can see the show even from the edge of the large spectator seats. > in the sky using <>. It provides visual information to the pilot, and at the same time, is for the enjoyment of the audience. There was a round of applause. And then.... The regulations (rules of participation) and the events were explained. Pamphlets were made and distributed free of charge to those who wished to receive them. > The crowd cheered for the first time. <> (Kingfisher)! >> Painted orange for visibility, the aircraft stands out. < Commentator Stayhard Randall adds his own words. (Halcyon ...... or ......) When Jin heard the naming, he remembered what the old man had told him about the trident <...... which had once been built by Natalia''s ancestor, Marcia. I wonder if Marcia''s blood is related to <<3> and <> comes to mind.I wondered for a moment. >! >> This one is still in the light silver color, and is silver-colored. <>. Jin does not think that Shu is abandoning the low-speed competition. Jin also does not think that Shu is abandoning the low-speed competition, so he is looking forward to the competition. <> In a sense, it is a typical propeller-driven aircraft. The color is white with blue and red lines on the fuselage and wings. <> Although orthodox, it seems to be well-balanced. If they can win the top ranks in all the competitions, it would be a dream to win the overall championship. Jin does not dislike such a well-balanced and solid idea. I thought he was a strong competitor. ! >> It is painted in reddish purple for better visibility and has white lines. (...... I think the Spitfire had elliptical wings because the induced drag due to wingtip vortices is minimized with elliptical wings ......?) (I''m sure that the Spitfire has the smallest induced drag due to the wing tip vortex. (But I''m sure they gave priority to the design aspect. ......) The silhouette of the elliptical wing is indeed elegant. Jin thought that Greiner might have prioritized the elliptical wing not only for its performance but also for its design. <<> The biplane is painted bright yellow. The wings are slightly tapered, adding to its fearless appearance. Jin agrees with that. It also seems to have good mobility. > It is a red-colored plane and does not seem to have a nickname. It is a red colored plane and does not have any nickname. <>. Jin found this interesting. The cross-sectional shape of the main wings, the so-called <>, is flat on the bottom and convex on the top, very similar to the <>. When such a wing is folded downwards, i.e., the flat sides are aligned with each other, a vertically symmetrical teardrop-shaped airfoil is formed, which is suitable for high speed flight. > No nickname. The main wings are nested like a telescope and extend and retract. The color of the fuselage is gray. When fully extended, the wing can fly at low speed, and when retracted, at high speed. << Jin agrees with me. It''s more like a two-stage deformation than an expansion and contraction, I think. <>! >> The upper surface is painted silver and the lower surface is painted blue. < Jin could see that the aircraft has a very high performance. It may not be the best, but it will be in the top ranks. <>! >> It is painted bright green with white lines. < Indeed, the regulations allow a maximum of 1.5 meters, but the overall width of the aircraft was about 90 centimeters. "Hmmm, it must be quite light in weight. Maybe it''s because of the windless conditions that it was conceived." >! >> Unlike when Jin saw it yesterday, it had a golden color. The propeller-propelled design of the delta-winged plane looks very strange from Jin''s point of view. Jin also likes Rubina''s flexible ideas. I am looking forward to the competition. ! <> A dark green fuselage with the family crest in red with a circle and two stripes. It''s a pity that no one has entered the competition. << The name was the result of Jin''s hasty naming. ! >> The dark blue with red lines is a sleek machine. < If there is no wind, the attitude will not be disturbed by the wind, so there will be many advantages if it is made lighter. But as Jin said, "I wonder what will happen during a race because of the wind caused by other aircraft ......." He thought, "I wonder what will happen during the race, because of the winds generated by other aircraft. <>, but this one is ......>> No wonder the host, Mr. Luckhardt, was so quiet. The <> was more than 1.5 meters wide. The yellow with blue lines stands out. . Commentator Stayhardt explains the situation. << Yes, Jin also confirmed it the other day. "I didn''t expect it to use the diagonals so well." Yes, Maricka did not place the plane parallel to each face of the cube, but placed it so that the widest wing would fit on the diagonal. Its total width is two meters. "That''s not a violation. ......" Jin thought, "Next time, I''ll make sure to specify the overall length, width, and height of the aircraft. 1862 - - 50-03 Speed skating begins After the introduction of the aircraft, the competition is about to begin. > In a sense, this is an "informal" event, so the competition begins without too much pomp and circumstance. <> < The MC and the commentator gave a well organized explanation, and finally the competition began. Incidentally, the competition is being conducted by volunteer residents and Golem. <> After a short glide, the < takes off at a speed that is hard to believe for a trilbyte. > < << >>. The pole height for this event is also 10 meters. It requires a lot of maneuvering skill to fly at full power at an altitude of less than 10 meters. <<> << And the turn again. And again. The turn just short of the pole was a thing of beauty. "Natalia, you did it!" Jin is impressed. And then the finish. > The crowd applauds. Natalia gets out of the cockpit and waves to the crowd. The triplane landed safely and was brought in by Golem, a member of the competition staff. >! >> This boat also floated up after a short glide. This is a proof of the high engine power. > The retrofoil aircraft shows off its advantages to the fullest, with an estimated top speed of 210 kilometers per hour. But... > The plane did not kill enough speed before the turn and lost some time by turning too far. And then.., > This is the result. <> This one also floats up in a short run. <> The speed seems to be in the 170 km/h range, probably due to the aircraft. But the turn is good. > The number 3, which made a sharp turn from a deep bank angle, maintains an altitude of about 5 meters and shows a stable flight. The speed has also increased. > The speed was quite fast despite the tapered wings of the plane. <> Even though there was no wind thanks to the warding, the <> was flying very steadily. <> With what seems to be the closest turn to the pole so far, <> flies away. The result is a time of 17.9 seconds and a speed of about 201 km/h. <> After a rather long run, the biplane takes off, and once in the air, it accelerates like you would never expect. The biplane took off after a rather long run and once it was airborne, it accelerated like nothing we have seen before. <> "Well, everyone''s good! Jin is impressed. The radio-controlled planes that Jin knew were usually flying at speeds of 100 to 150 kilometers per hour, so these planes were not designed for speed competitions, It seems to be an exceptional speed. <<> Because of the small wing area, the run distance was long, but once up, the speed was fast. However, the turn was a little too big.., <> >> The team is now in second place. <<> With its large wing area, it floats up quickly. > The plane sinks due to the loss of lift, but it never touches the ground and continues to fly smoothly. < True to his word, the time is less than 16.9.17 seconds, about 213 km/h. . He is in provisional first place. < starts now! >> The plane lifts off after a decent run and accelerates quickly. <> << However, the speed of the plane made the turns quite bloated. As a result, the time is 17 seconds flat. The result is a time of 17 seconds flat, which is about 212 km/h. <> The biplane floats up after a short run, and then gains speed rapidly with the power of its powerful engines. > The time was 17.5 seconds, or about 206 km/h. <<, start! >> The golden delta wing takes a slightly larger angle of elevation and lifts off. > < showed great speed, but the turns were too big and the final time was 16.7 seconds, which is about 21.6 km/h. The speed of the was very fast, but it was not enough to make it to the top. The final time was 16.7 seconds, or about 21.6 km/h. <, variable wing aircraft!Now ...... start! >> First, the plane is run with its wings fully extended, and it lifts off the ground in a short distance. < The flies at a great speed with its wings folded. Then, just before turning, it unfolds its wings again. > >. After making a small turn, folds its wings again and speeds up to the pole on the other side. All the spectators watched with bated breath to see what kind of time Jin''s plane would set. 1863 - - 50-04 Slow race! The with number 11, Jin, has crossed the finish line. , the time is 15.9 seconds!At approximately 226 kilometers per hour! >> The crowd erupts in thunderous cheers and applause. "Not bad, huh?" Jin stands up from the pilot''s seat and waves. < for me. "Oh, thank you." After patting Reiko on the head, Jin turns his attention to the next flight. , start! >> The <<> floated up after a short run. "Wow, it looks like it has a low wing loading." Jin couldn''t help but mutter to himself when he saw it. It was such a light movement. In addition, it had a double-reversing propeller. > Furthermore, <>, which seems to be equipped with a powerful engine, showed remarkable acceleration. "The light weight of the aircraft makes it susceptible to counter-torque. I guess that''s why they decided to use a double-reversing propeller. Swallow, flying steadily, spun around the pole. "Its light weight makes it easy to turn in small circles. Jin was impressed by the design, which made the most of the windless conditions caused by the warding. > Once again, the audience erupted in cheers. !Start now! >> This plane also seems to be light in weight for its size, and after lifting off the ground, it picks up speed nimbly. > < True to the commentary, Marikka''s < is the slimmest of the participating aircraft, and its wings also seem to be thin. This seems to be to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the larger aircraft. This may be the reason for its good maximum speed and stable attitude around the pole. <> Maricka''s time was 16 seconds flat, at about 225 km/h. This completes the flight for everyone. Results, 1st Jin Rhodes, 1st place Marikka in 3rd place The three guests dominated the first to third places. The following is the list of the top three, Rubina Garrett (1st place in the competition) 100 points Werner Landl (2nd place in the competition) 80 points Florence Fahlheit (3rd place in competition standings) 60 points Shu Nido (4th place in competition standings) 40 points Sydney Marek (5th place in competition standings) 20 points Natalia 9th No. 10 Elvis Alcott No.11 Greena Kuzma Eugene Fowle at No.12 13th Shireen Eschenbach and the following is a list of the top 10. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, I made it!" Before the next competition, <>, Sion of <> arrived. He had some business to attend to in the Nordic Federation, so he could not make it in time for the start of the speed competition, but he finally arrived just now. > << Nevertheless, Zion was very popular and the applause did not stop. >! >> <>. <> Here, Zion asked a question. > Because of the low speed, there is a possibility of stalling and crashing. << And now, the low-speed competition begins. As a matter of fact, Jin thinks that this is the best time to show his skills. Therefore, he has decided to allow three attempts. <> Take off and start measuring the time when the plane crosses the <>. This measurement is done by Golem to minimize human error as much as possible. > The moderator, Ruckhardt, and the commentators, Zion and Stayhardt, are talking to each other. Jin was thinking that the balance between the two was quite good. But the spectators were staring with bated breath at the slow flying planes. The distance between the poles is 25 meters, which is the same as the high speed competition. The distance between the poles this time is 25 meters, which is 100 meters in two laps. Halcyon rounded the poles in a leisurely flight, onomatopoeic flight. <> "You''re turning without losing altitude even at deep bank angles. ......" Jin is also impressed. She must have practiced a lot. This competition would normally be held indoors, but thanks to the warding, it can be held outdoors. <<> Top speed is around 200 km/h and lowest speed is around 10 km/h. This must be amazing. "This is really interesting." Jin is excited. > has started! >> <>. A little wobbly. And then it stalled and lost altitude during a turn, resulting in a disqualification. It is a good countermeasure that the warding does not break the plane. <<>. <<> True to its reputation, the tapered-wing airplane made its turns consistently and reached the goal with a time of 25.2 seconds. The speed was about 14.3 km/h. "Maybe he was trying to complete the ...... or even complete the flight once first." That''s another strategy, Jin thought. > < Not as fast as the triloby, but still very slow. The time is 30.9 seconds and the speed is about 11.7 km/h. It seems that she, too, started by completing the flight. All the participants were enthusiastic about this low-speed flight, which was the highlight of their ...... piloting (technique) and manufacturing (technology) skills. 1864 - - 50-05 Second time <> It is a biplane with low wing loading, so it is strong at low speeds. The biplane lost some altitude during the turn, but did not stall and regained altitude. The final time was 28.9 seconds, which is approximately 12.5 kilometers per hour. It seems that there is more variation in the low speed competitions than in the high speed competitions. <> < << Zion had not seen the high speed competition, so he was checking it again. Number 6, with its extended wings and low wing loading, is making good time. > The time was 31.5 seconds, or about 11.4 km/h. That''s quite a good result. And number 7, Werner Randall, is a tapered wing with an extendable and retractable wing. This is another gimmick that works well at low speeds. The time was 31.2 seconds, or about 11.5 km/h. Number 8 Florence Fahlheit''s retractable wing airplane <> flew at a higher speed in the first attempt to avoid stalling, which was a mistake, and turned too far into the turn, hitting the outer wings, and was disqualified in the first attempt. He was disqualified in the first race. Elvis Alcott, number 9, flew a biplane <>. > . >. The time was 29.6 seconds, about 12.2 km/h. >, is off to the start! >> As Sion pointed out, Rubina''s < was flying at about 15 degrees above the horizontal. This makes the speed much slower. <> < Jin agrees. "Rubina, you are a very good pilot. ...... I guess you are young." <<> At this point, she is in second place behind Natalia. And now it''s Jin''s turn. > A loud cheer went up. , this time with triple sliding main wings to secure a large main wing area!Now, let''s get started! >> < Jin''s flies slowly from the start. Those watching felt as if they were gliding on a transparent board. Thanks to its low wing loading, it was able to make turns with ease, and its final time was 34.7 seconds, a best speed of about 10.4 km/h. , start now! >> <<< >. The Swallow, with its lightweight fuselage and high-powered engine, flies nimbly. "Oh, that''s great!" Jin is impressed by the speed. Slowly and deliberately, flew. > The time was even better than Jin''s. <> The audience gave a thunderous applause. > < > Stayhardt explained to a wondering Zion. True to Zion''s words, Marikka''s <> continues to fly slowly. Her turns are graceful. And ....... <> At the end of the first lap, Maricka is in first place. Rhodes is next, followed by Jin, then Natalia and Rubina ....... The contestants were encouraged but not resentful because of the outstanding skills of the three contestants. <> Her time is 34.8 seconds, a little faster than the first attempt, and her speed is about 10.3 kilometers per hour. She is steadily improving her time. Jin could see that Natalia was doing well. Number 2, Shu''s time of 34.9 seconds was good this time. That is about 10.3 km/h. Number 3, Eugene''s tapered wing plane was a little slower, clocking in at 32.1 seconds, or about 11.2 km/h. The speed was about 11.2 km/h. Number 4, Grina''s elliptical wing plane did 32.3 seconds at about 11.1 km/h. Everyone did better than the first time. Everyone''s times were better than the first. However, the biplane of number 5, Shireen, tried a little too hard to make a good time, and when she made a turn, she lost too much altitude and touched the wings, resulting in her disqualification. The folding rectangular wing aircraft of number 6, Sydney, improved its time to 34.1 seconds. The speed is about 10.6 km/h. Number 7, Werner''s tapered wing plane was also disqualified after pushing too hard and losing altitude. Number 8, Florence''s retractable wing plane, despite the previous stall and Werner''s disqualification just before, flew consistently this time and set a good time of 33.5 seconds. The speed was about 10.7 km/h. The biplane of number 9, Elvis, further improved on his time, setting a new record of 35.1 seconds, which is the fastest time so far. That''s about 10.3 kilometers per hour. <> < < While we were talking, Rubina''s < was slowly making her way around the track and reaching the finish line. <> Finally, it was Jin''s turn. "I''m going to go as slow as I can this time." , the number 11, Jin-sama''s start! >> Spreading its variable wings as wide as they will go, <> flies away. < > <> <<> The audience burst into applause. << The only two remaining are Rhodes and Marikka. 1865 - - 50-06 Speed skating is over > <> The tapered-wing Swallow showed stability in slow flight, setting a time of 36.2 seconds. The speed was about 9.9 kilometers per hour. > And now it is Marikka''s turn. >, seems to be improving her time even more! >> The result is 36.5 seconds. "Well, I guess the fact that it''s bigger is working." Jin did not expect to be able to enter the box at an angle. (Maybe it would be better to call it a ball of 1.5 meters in diameter this time. ......) * * * * >! >> <<>! The time was a whopping 36.1 seconds. That''s about 10.0 km/h. The crowd applauded him enthusiastically. The crowd applauded him generously. , last flight!......Ah, ah! >> The plane wobbles and stalls just after takeoff. <> It is a disappointing result. But these disqualifications are still continuing. Eugene (number 3) and Gulina (number 4) were disqualified due to a series of stalls. >. However, number 5, Shireen, managed to fly through the competition without faltering, but perhaps playing it safe in the face of disqualification, her time was 30.3 seconds, or about 1.9 km/h. She was not able to improve on her record time of 30.3 seconds, or about 1.9 km/h. <> The record is a whopping 36.9 seconds, in the low 36s. It is a personal best. <<> <<> >. The result was 33.3 seconds, which is about 10.8 kilometers per hour. The result is 33.3 seconds, about 10.8 km/h. A little sluggish, I guess. Florence Fahlheit''s retro wing plane, number 8, was too eager and stalled on the turn, causing her to be disqualified. Elvis Alcott, number 9, took full advantage of his biplane and set a time of 36.6 seconds. His speed was about 9.8 km/h. This was the second time in as many weeks that he has run less than 10 km after Sydney. , has started the race! >> <> The course is about 15 meters wide. It does not matter whether you fly straight or zigzag through it. As long as you do not return in the direction you came from, you are not in violation. However, the course width is only about 10 times wider than the aircraft, and one mistake will result in a course out and disqualification. However, the delta wing of the Rubina was only about one meter wide, while most of the other planes had wings of one and a half meters. This means that there is that much more room for the course width. By flying in a gentle meander, Rubina was able to gain distance and time at the same time. (Hmmm...that''s Rubina...) (Hmmm...you really hit a hole in the rules that I hadn''t thought of yet.) Rubina''s ideas were very flexible, such as flying a delta-wing aircraft, which is not good at low speeds, at a large angle of attack, taking advantage of its characteristic of being hard to stall. > Zion also applauded Rubina''s idea. > << <<<> Jin''s < slowed down to the limit and continued to fly to the end with a slight wobble. <> The crowd went wild. The crowd applauded generously. > True to Zion''s words, Rhodoth''s <<> also set a high score of 37.0 seconds, although it was one step behind Jin. That''s about 9.7 kilometers per hour. <> <<> <<> Despite its name, Marikka''s tapered-wing < flies slowly and gracefully. "Hmmm, you''re getting good at this. Marikka, you''ve practiced a lot." Jin also gives her unreserved praise for her maneuverability. > Zion''s line was drowned out by the cheers and applause that filled the hall. Thus ended the low-speed flight competition. According to the rules of this competition, the best time is the winner, so Jin and Marikka were tied for first place, (I lost if the runner-up''s time is taken into account. ...... Marikka, you have become a good engineer.) ) Jin was thinking about such a thing. 1st place: 37.5 seconds, number 11 Jin, number 13 Marikka (tied) 3rd place: 37.0 seconds, number 12 Rhodes 4th place: 36.9 seconds (1st place in the competition) Zec. 6 Sidney Marek,1 00 points.(120 points in total so far, 2nd place overall) 5th place: 36.8 seconds (2nd for competitor) Number 10 Rubina Garrett, 80 points, 80 points.(Total of 180 points so far, 1st overall) 6th place: 36.6 (3rd in the competition) Number 9 Elvis Alcott, 6 0 points.(He has 60 points so far, 4th overall) 7th place: 36.1 seconds (4th for competitor) Number 1 Natalia, 40 points.(Total of 40 points gained so far, 7th overall) 8th place: 34.9 (5th in the competition) Number 2 Shu Nido, 2 0 points.(60 points have been earned so far, 4th overall) 9th place: 33.5 (6th for competitor) Number 8 Florence Fahlheit,0 points. (60 points have been scored so far, 4th overall) 10th: 33.3 seconds (7th in the competition) Number 7 Werner Randl, 0 points.(80 points have been scored so far, 3rd place overall) 11th: 32.3 (8th in the competition) Number 4: Grina Kuzma. 0 points, 0 points.(0 points so far) Number 4: 32.3 seconds, 0 points. 12th place: 32.1 seconds (9th in the competition) Number 3 Eugene Fowle, 0 points.(0 points so far) Number 3 Eugene Fowle, 0 points. 13th: 30.3 seconds (10th in the competition) Number 5Shireen Eschenbach, 0 points. (Zero points so far) These are the results at the end of the low speed flight competition. * * * * * * * * * * > The audience was filled with high expectations. 1866 - - 50-07 Regulatory performance <> will start soon. Please have a look at your brochures or monitors. An announcement is made. <> is a competition to see how beautifully and accurately you can draw a given aerobatic pattern, just like what was called in figure skating. Scoring is done by the golem brain. Marikka had ordered <, the golem brain, to grade the performance. The performance was decided by Jin, using his vague memory of the model plane competitions in modern Japan as a reference. 1. takeoff After gliding, the plane smoothly moves to horizontal flight. (10 points) 2. 2. horizontal flight : 100 meters in a straight line at an altitude of 3 meters. (10 points) 3. 3. horizontal figure 8: maintain an altitude of 3 meters and form two perfect circles with a radius of 10 meters. (20 points) 4. 3 consecutive somersaults: 3 consecutive somersaults starting at an altitude of 3 meters, in the same place, in a circle with a radius of 20 meters. (40 points) 5. 5. Immelmann turn: Half a somersault with a radius of 20 meters starting at an altitude of 3 meters, then a half roll (kirimomi) from the back position at the top apex to horizontal flight (in short, a vertical U-turn). (In short, a vertical U-turn) (30 points) 6. split S: After performing 5, the competitor rolls half a turn from horizontal flight to a dorsal somersault and then performs a half somersault downward to horizontal flight (in essence a vertical U-turn) (30 points). (In short, a vertical U-turn) (30 points) Landing: Return to the starting area. Points will be deducted for bouncing. (10 points). Total 150 points. Of course, all participants should have practiced this flight pattern since it has been announced to them in advance. Incidentally, after takeoff and before landing, the aircraft is warded at an altitude of about 1 meter to prevent damage to the aircraft in the event of a crash. * * * * * * * * * * * > is about to begin! >> The host, Lackhard Randall, announces the start of the aerobatics, and the audience applauds. > The runway is smooth and paved for a smooth takeoff. The trilby <> glides about 20 meters and then takes off smoothly. The plane then leveled off. <<< interesting, this competition!I''d like to try it. ...... I''ll ask Maricka later. Zion seems to like it so much that the words of the host and the commentator seem to fall on deaf ears. <<< figure 8 flying...... oh, that''s brilliant too! >> <> Continuous somersaults. <<> <<>. Jin, who was listening to the program, thought that the combination of the heated host and the calm commentary was quite interesting. After all, three consecutive somersaults are difficult, and after the second and third somersaults, it seems that the speed slows down and it becomes difficult to follow the same trajectory. <> The Immelmann Turn is named after Max Immelmann, a German ace pilot in the early days of World War I. His maneuver (maneuvering) is known as the "Immelmann Turn". He developed a maneuver in which he performed a vertical by performing 180-degree somersaults (loops) and twists (rolls), either sequentially or simultaneously. It was an advanced technique to do this with the engine ...... rather than the aircraft ...... of the time, because the aircraft would stall during the somersault if it was not fast enough. As an aside, Jin knew the origin of Immelmann turn, but did not know the origin of the word "Split S". << These were Zion''s honest opinions. This is the opposite of the Immelmann turn, and is a U-turn while converting the potential energy of altitude into velocity. >. Biplanes and trilobes were used in World War I, so it is natural for them to be able to perform such maneuvers. > < In a few seconds, the results of the scoring are displayed on the large monitor ...... on the magic screen. 9 points for takeoff, 8 points for horizontal flight, 13 points for horizontal figure 8, 21 points for 3 somersaults. 24 points for Immelmann turn, 24 points for Immelmann turn, 25 points for split S, 8 points for landing. Total 108 points. <<< Quite a result!Next up is number 2, Shu Nido!It''s a retreating wing plane> As a retractable wing aircraft, the < performs overall maneuvers at a high speed. Speed is not an issue, since it is not scored, but high speed means high centrifugal force, and somersaults tend to be large. This performance was in contrast to Natalia''s <, which was a low-speed plane. Shu''s score was 8 points for takeoff, 8 points for horizontal flight, 14 points for horizontal figure-8 flight, 3 times 2 24 points for Immelmann turn, 23 points for split S, and 8 points for landing. In total, 105 points. This is a very severe evaluation. Eugene Fowle, number 3, with a tapered wing, also completed his performance without any problems. He scored 9 points for takeoff, 9 points for horizontal flight, 17 points for horizontal figure-8 flight, and 22 points for 3 somersaults in a row, Immelmann turn: 21 points, Split S: 21 points, Landing: 8 points. Total 107 points. The oval-wing airplane of number 4, Glina Kuzma, flew gracefully, but lacked accuracy, They scored 9 points for takeoff, 9 points for horizontal flight, 14 points for horizontal figure-8 flight, and 20 points for 3 continuous somersaults, Immelmann turn: 22 points, Split S: 21 points, Landing: 9 points. The total score was 104 points. The biplane of Schieleen Eschenbach, number 5, seemed to be suited to this flight pattern, She scored 8 points for takeoff, 8 points for horizontal flight, 14 points for horizontal figure-8 flight, and 21 points for 3 continuous somersaults, Immelmann turn: 23 points, Split S: 22 points, Landing: 8 points. In total, 104 points were scored. The rectangular wing airplane with foldable wings of Sidney Marek, number 6, performed with its wings spread, He scored 9 points for takeoff, 8 points for horizontal flight, 15 points for horizontal figure 8 flight, 23 points for 3 continuous somersaults, 23 points for Immelmann turn, 23 points for split S, and 8 points for landing. In total, 109 points were obtained. Number 7, Werner Landl''s tapered wing with extendable and retractable wings. > << So, 9 points for takeoff, 9 points for horizontal flight, 16 points for horizontal figure-8 flight, 3 somersaults in a row, 2 4 points, Immelmann turn 22 points, Split S 21 points, Landing 9 points. The total is 110 points. Florence Fahlheit''s retro wing plane, numbered 8, was a little bit rough in her performance. As a result, he got 7 points for takeoff, 8 points for horizontal flight, 15 points for horizontal figure 8, 3 times 2 5 points, Immelmann turn 20 points, Split S 19 points, Landing 7 points. Total 101 points. Elvis Alcott''s biplane, number 9, performed quite well. He scored 8 points for takeoff, 9 points for horizontal flight, 16 points for figure-8 flight, 22 points for 3 somersaults in a row, Immelmann turn: 23 points, Split S: 23 points, Landing: 8 points. Total 109 points. Theon muttered. Stehardt Randall replied to his murmur. ! >> < The < takes off smoothly and flies horizontally, then performs a figure-eight, followed by a series of somersaults. He was not so good at the figure-eight, but his continuous somersaults were the best so far. << >. << And landing. She was so energetic that she was a little bit overrun. She scored 8 points for takeoff, 9 points for horizontal flight, 13 points for figure 8, 3 times 2 7 points, Immelmann turn 25 points, Split S 24 points, Landing 6 points. Total 112 points. > And then the Zero, with number 11, Jin, took off. <> >. After successfully completing the takeoff, horizontal flight, and figure-eight flight, the < enters into a somersault. The wing area is reduced and the emphasis is on speed. Three high-speed somersaults in a row. < Sion is impressed. The Immelmann turn was also performed with the wings retracted, allowing for agile maneuvering and good movement. The same was true for the following Split-S. For landing, the wing was spread and low wing loading was applied, and the plane landed softly. The scores were as follows: 9 points for takeoff, 9 points for horizontal flight, 18 points for figure-8 flight, 3 times 2 7 points, Immelmann turn 26 points, Split S 25 points, and landing 9 points. Total 123 points. > And now it''s Rhodes'' turn. >, now, start! >> Smooth takeoff, stable level flight, and figure-8 flight. << > Theon pokes his head in. << > Zion gives him a sharp look. Unable to resist the power of his eyes, Stayhard Randall confesses. << Now is the time to concentrate on the competition. Rhodes'' <> had completed his split-S and was on landing. The results were: 8 points for takeoff, 9 points for horizontal flight, 18 points for horizontal figure-8 flight, 3 times 2 6 points, 24 points for Immelmann turn, 24 points for split S, and 9 points for landing. Total 118 points. So far he is in second place. < For Theon, it seems that Marikka will always be , no matter how old she is. Marikka is surprisingly stable in flight.She flew surprisingly stable, She scored 9 points for takeoff, 9 points for horizontal flight, 17 points for horizontal figure-8 flight, 25 points for 3 consecutive somersaults, Immelmann turn 24 points, Split S 25 points, and Landing 9 points. With a total of 118 points, he was in second place with Rhodes. The audience applauded him generously. 1867 - - 50-08 Free acting begins And the next event is the free performance, <>. This is scored by all the spectators, and each spectator has 100 points / number of spectators. If there are 200 spectators, it means 0.5 points. Since scoring with a decimal point is cumbersome, we actually ask the audience to score on a 10-point scale and divide it by 10 multiplied by the number of spectators when tallying the scores. Marikka is being reckless, Jin thought to himself, (No, she might have said, "By all means, since it''s <> that''s why she''s running for the position.) He guessed almost the correct answer. Then, the started. Each participant has 3 minutes, but a few seconds of back and forth will be tolerated. The reason for this is that the speed of flight differs depending on the model. ! >> < And <> took off. After a smooth takeoff, it started to turn to the right. One orbit, two orbits...... spirals and gently ascends. After five laps, the plane reached an altitude of about 30 meters and leveled off. From there, the plane made a steep 90-degree descent. The aircraft gains speed rapidly, and when it is about 5 meters off the ground, it is triggered to return to level flight. "Oh, wow!" The audience cheered as well. Halcyon continued to fly horizontally, and then began to climb vertically. Zion noticed the intention. > > After returning to its original altitude, Number 1 < turns to the left this time. It makes a loose spiral to lower its altitude. After five laps, it drops to an altitude of about 5 meters and then flies horizontally. From there, he begins a somersault. At the apex of the somersault, the airliner begins a reverse somersault. "This is ......." Jin couldn''t help but exclaim. Yes, Natalia had done a figure-eight somersault. > After the reverse somersault, Natalia completes the figure 8 by doing another 180-degree forward somersault. The audience applauded and cheered loudly. The figure-eight was completed again with a right turn. Then a left turn. I thought it was a figure eight, but ....... > <> <>! >> <<>. It is one of the flight patterns that is performed in wired planes, called U-control, rather than in radio-controlled planes. However, the attitude of the plane is completely different because it is wired. > and <>!You have thought this through!!! >> Theon has seen through the combination of Natalia''s performance and her intentions. Then Natalia''s landed slowly after the four-leaf clover. The audience gave her another round of applause. * * * * * By the way, such scoring is easily influenced by impressions, i.e., subjectivity. Even if you think that the first act is impressive and the later acts are better than the previous ones, you cannot score more than 10 points. Considering this, the recorded performances were replayed on the monitor after all the participants had finished their performances, and the scoring was done after watching the replay to ensure the fairness. * * * * * * * * * >Start! >> <<< The proper flight speed is very different between the trilobes and the retro wing planes. They also have the same performance. Shu''s < climbs steeply at an angle of about 70 degrees after takeoff. The speed of Shu''s < is about twice as fast as that of Natalia''s <. A big somersault. One more in a row. And again. Shu''s somersault radius gets smaller with each repetition. Zion mutters to himself as he watches the monitor from the air. Shu, who had done his fifth somersault with a radius of about 5 meters, sent <> plummeting down. The angle was about 70 degrees. Shu causes the <> to rise steeply, this time at an angle of about 5 meters above the ground. The angle is also 70 degrees. At an altitude of about 30 meters, it suddenly descends. In other words, it is flying in a zig-zag manner. < As Zion said, the scoring is subjective to the audience, so the degree of appeal is also a big factor. In this sense, Natalia seemed to have made a better impression than Shu. > If biplanes and trilobes are slow planes, retractable wing and delta wing planes are fast planes. And elliptical and tapered wing planes are medium speed planes. After takeoff, the number 3 aircraft climbs at an angle of about 30 degrees, and then leveled off at an altitude of about 10 meters. It then performed a series of twists and turns called <>. After that, he performed an Immelmann turn to raise the altitude to about 30 meters, and then did a series of three reverse somersaults from horizontal flight to downward. Theon also commented on the performance. The speed is moderate, so the behavior of the aircraft can be seen clearly. Then, at the lowest point of the inverted somersault, the plane moves to horizontal flight. This means that the plane is flying on its back. To fly backward with the upper half-angle is to fly in a more unstable position, and Eugene''s technique is excellent in keeping the plane stable. After doing a half reverse somersault and returning to level flight, he did a low level flight with a split-S and landed. <<,take off! >> The Zecken 4, also a medium speed plane, took off smoothly, and after a short level flight, it did a quick 90 degree somersault and climbed vertically. At an altitude of about 30 meters, it did another quick 90-degree somersault and then leveled off. Then he did another quick 90-degree somersault and descended vertically. But it was not to be. At an altitude of about 10 meters, he did another crisp < somersault. Then, after flying backward, he did a quick 90-degree reverse somersault and climbed vertically. At an altitude of about 30 meters, he did another quick 90-degree somersault. At this point, we can see that Greiner is attempting to draw a pattern called a figure-eight. < After the figure-8, the number 4 starts the next move. He did a roll (twist) while ascending vertically. It was just like a <. The elliptical-wing airplane climbed to an altitude of about 50 meters, and then entered a large inverted somersault. After completing the figure-8, the number 4 returns to the altitude of 50 meters and starts to descend vertically. Of course, he does rolls (twists). The descent is like a drill, and the number 4 is triggered at an altitude of about 5 meters. But... > Either he was going too fast, or he was just a little too late. Number 4 lost too much altitude and hit the <>, at which point it was over. By the way, just because the performance ended there, it does not mean that the competitor was disqualified, and the spectators will be able to score his performance. >. <> It seems that slow planes have an advantage in this kind of performance to < to the audience. Although the biplane of Shireen did not show any new pattern compared to the previous four planes, she performed a <> as well as a <> performance and received thunderous applause at the end of the competition. > << The number 6 shows a slightly slow flight. However, he slowed down too much in order to <> and finished about two thirds of the way through his performance. > Again, the wings are fully extended. The flight was a safe combination of somersaults, backflips, figure 8s, and so on. >, takes off! >> It is the second retro-wing aircraft. Like Shu, it has a high flying speed. > < Then, she did an Immelmann turn from horizontal flight with a roll (twist), and a split S. Vertical ascent from altitude, vertical descent, vertical ascent again, and vertical descent. This performance is very similar to the pattern called <> in radio controlled aircraft. . Overall, the performance made full use of speed. <> This is the third biplane (including the triplane). He seemed to have tried to perform gracefully at low speeds, and managed to keep it all together without incident. <<, take off now! >> The fastest of the participating aircrafts, the . Rubina takes advantage of these characteristics. First, she performs 5 continuous somersaults. Then, 5 consecutive inverted somersaults. Then she did two figure-eight somersaults. Because of the high speed, the trajectory of the figure-eight is visible as an afterimage, and one can clearly see the pattern being performed. He also performed a square somersault with a roll (twist). The rolls and twists were well worth watching. Now it was Jin''s turn. 1868 - - 50-09 Free acting settled > <<> spreads its wings to the fullest and takes off lightly with a small wing loading. It is a level flight ...... and then it soars, or so we thought. <90 degrees......, no, 120 degrees! >> << > While the host and commentator were puzzled, did a reverse somersault at an altitude of about 40 meters, then leveled off, flew briefly, and then did another reverse somersault. > > <>Ruckhardt and Stayhardt exclaimed at about the same time. < Theon adds. The Hour Glass is an hourglass. It is one of the flight patterns of a wired U-control airplane. Jin knew it because he borrowed a magazine on U-control planes from his classmate when he was in junior high school and read it often. Since the number of turns is smaller than that of the figure-8, it is easier to recognize the shape of the figure-8, and the audience cheered. > <<>> There is a way to use afterimages to appeal to the eye. By tracing the same trajectory over and over again, it appeals to the eye and makes an impression. > Jin''s <> has climbed to an altitude of about 80 meters. The monitor makes it clearly visible, but to the naked eye it looks like a small dot. From there, the wing retracts and the begins a vertical descent. <>Oh, wow! > > The combination of thrust and gravity causes <>''s speed to increase rapidly. In the blink of an eye, <> has descended to the surface of the earth. <> > That''s what everyone thought. The maximum speed is estimated to be over 300 km/h. But <> deploys its wings at once and raises its nose. The speed drops drastically. Then, two meters above the surface, the plane leveled off gently and landed slowly. Even though I knew there was a protective barrier, I still instinctively feared a collision. < Zero is applauded generously as he lands. <>, take off! >> After takeoff, the < spirals gently upward. The aircraft flies horizontally at an altitude of about 20 meters. Then it begins to make a large turn with a radius of about 50 meters. From what I have seen so far, it seemed that the audience liked the more relaxed performance better than the fast one. Perhaps Rhodes has taken this into account, and is performing at a slightly slower speed. More of a wave than a zigzag. > The same thing is done on the back of the load toss <>. And not a horizontal figure 8 ......, but a pattern of three wave flights with a somersault at each end. There should be no name ....... After that, he did a series of inverted somersaults from the back flight, Immelmann turns, split S, etc., and landed. The audience applauded loudly. , take off! >> The < took off softly and moved from a level flight to a horizontal figure-8 flight. However, the radius of the figure-eight is unusually small. The , which performed the figure-eight with a radius less than half of the one used in the prescribed performance, continued to draw a . Theon commented. . In the latter half of the ascent, the aircraft did not do a somersault, but turned and descended. Then the <>, which has lost altitude, turns around and flies horizontally. It climbs again and descends with <>. <>. Xiong recalls the memory of having talked to Jin on Horai Island a long time ago. I''m sure Marikka was with him at that time. < Marikka is reproducing some of the flight patterns of the planes that Jin had told her about long ago. The most important feature of the flight pattern is the turning based behavior. The most important feature of Marikka''s flight pattern is its turning based behavior. There is a virtual pilot at the center of the turn. >. But Maricka thought it was fine. She recounts some things that Jin taught her when she was young. Believing that this would be respect for Jin. , landing!...... now everyone''s performance is over!!! >> The audience burst into applause and cheers. In the meantime, Jin and his team will check and maintain their aircrafts for the last race of the day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * > 1st place, number 11, Jin, 88 points 2nd place, number 12, Rhodos, 86 points 3rd place, number 10, Rubina, 85 points (1st place for competitors) 4th place, number 5 Shireen, 82 points (2nd place for competitor) 5th place, number 13 Marikka, 80 points 6th place, number 1 Natalia, 78 points (3rd place for competitor) 7th place, number 2 Shu, 73 points (4th place for competitor) 8th place, number 8 Florence, 72 points (5th place for competitor) 9th Number 3 Eugene, 69 points (6th eligible competitor) 10th place, number 9 Elvis, 66 points (competitor 7th) 11th Number 7 Werner 64 points (competitor 8th) 12th Number 6 Sidney, 36 points (9th place for competitors) 13th place, number 4, Grina, 35 points (10th place for competitors) The result was as follows. <<> Theon commented and Luckhardt commented on the results. << < Yes, the last event of the competition, the race, was about to start. 1869 - - 50-10 Race Starts > is about to start! >> << Here is a brief description of the race. << If you do not pass through, you are disqualified. However, if you go too far, you can go back and go through again (although you will lose time). < It is difficult to control the plane from the outside, but it is much easier from the passenger''s point of view. >. The entire course is projected on the large magic screen in the front of the room. Probably two planes could not pass through these gates at the same time. << If you don''t cause it immediately after passing through, you won''t touch the ground ......, but you will be disqualified by touching the crash prevention boundary. << There are thirteen large magic screens as sub-monitors, which will show the same images as the pilot flying the aircraft, giving the audience a realistic feeling. > Thirteen machines, numbered 1 through 13, are lined up along the line. The assistant golems have lined them up and are heading back. <10 seconds before the start. ......9......8......7......6......5......4......3......>> The room was silent. <<2......1...... start! >> The assistant golem waved the flag to signal the start, and all the planes started their engines simultaneously. The first to jump out of the water was the lightweight number 12, the Road Toss <>. The next to jump out was number 9, Elvis Alcott''s biplane, the . The next numbers are numbers 10, 11, 13, and the rest are all in a group that I can''t quite make out. > There was an image from the number 12, which was passing through the first gate at this very moment. The gate with a diameter of 10 meters, which was colored red by optical processing, came closer and closer as it was seen, and then it passed through ....... Then numbers 10, 11, 13, 2, 5.... ......and at this point, the gap was still not so big. After that, there is a straight section of 300 meters. A small gate with a diameter of 3 meters awaits you. Rhodes'' < led the field with its light weight at the start, but was gradually overtaken by the delta-winged < of number 10, Rubina. Jin''s <, which folded its wings to cope with the high speed, maintained its third place. In 4th and 5th place are Shu''s number 2 and Florence''s number 8, a battle between two retreating wing planes. In sixth place and below are tapered wing aircraft, Maricka''s number 13, elliptical wing aircraft number 4, biplane number 9, and tapered wing aircraft number 7, followed by the number 5 of the Sealean, the number 1 of the triplane, and the number 6 of the rectangular wing plane. > <<>. The plane was delayed by a long takeoff run. It is a straight line of about 300 meters to the second gate, where speed counts. Here, Rubina''s number 10<> jumped into the lead. Rhodes'' number 12 < followed. Jin''s < is in third place. 8,2,4,13,7,9,3,5, 1,6. It can be said that the difference in the maximum speed of the aircrafts was evident. However, a small second gate with a diameter of 3 meters was waiting for them. Rubina passed through the middle of the gate without any difficulty. Rhodes and Jin did the same. The next planes passed through one after another, but Marikka, who was in 7th place, suddenly slowed down, and the number 7 behind her moved up to 7th place. The other aircrafts had a maximum width of 1.5 meters, but Marikka''s aircraft had a width of 2 meters, so she had to be very nervous to pass. She dropped one place to 8th. However, the following numbers 9 and 3 made contact with each other. Number 9 was bounced and could not pass through the gate. < The biplane of number 9, Elvis Alcott, tried to go through the gate again, and this time it passed through without a doubt. However, this redo has dropped him to the bottom of the list. The current positions are numbers 10,12,11,8,2, 4,7,13,3,5,1,6,9. After a 90-degree turn to the left, the 5-meter-diameter third gate awaits. Everyone passed through this gate without a hitch. After a straight line of 100 meters, there is a fourth gate with a diameter of 10 meters and a fifth gate with a diameter of 10 meters just ahead. gate with a diameter of 10 meters, and gate 5, also with a diameter of 10 meters, just ahead. However, they are facing upward. In other words, the fifth gate is to be passed through while climbing vertically. > At this point, the order has settled down somewhat. At this point, the order has settled down somewhat, 2,4,7,13,5,3,1,6, 9. The race is now moving up 100 meters to the 6th gate. Vertical ascent is a real difference in the performance of the aircraft. Here, the ranking changed again drastically. Rubina''s number 10 delta wing < remained unchanged, but the number 11 Zero of Jin moved up to second place, ahead of number 12 and Lord Toth''s <. The number 11, Jin''s <, has moved up to second place, ahead of the number 12, Lord Toth''s <. Also, numbers 8, 2 and 4 remain the same, but number 13, Maricka''s tapered wing aircraft, the overtakes number 7. She moves up to 7th place. Then number 3 overtook number 5, number 6 overtook 1 and 5, and now 10,1,1,12,8,2,2,4 1,12,8,2,4,13,7, 3,6,5,1,9. <>> <> <>! >> After climbing 100 meters, the thirteen planes pass through gates 7 and 8 and level off again. Then, they aimed at the <> in a large arc. This is 10 meters in diameter. In short, it is a tunnel in the air. It is a kilometer long and twists and turns in complex ways. The plane flying inside the < will meander up and down, left and right, somersaults and spirals along the several times. >!Then 11, 12, and so on! >> . The other participants are similar. This was something they could not get used to after only a few days of practice. This course is what is called a technical course. The speed is far from the maximum speed, so a small and maneuverable aircraft has an advantage. "I got it! "Oh, I''ve been hit! "...... here!...... is no good! You''re not going to get past me that easily! Such exchanges took place here and there as the thirteen aircraft raced through the interior of the <. 1870 - - the second half of the 50-11 race < was intensifying. Of course, they were competing according to the rules. "You''re not letting me overtake." The of Jin, number 11, was chasing Rubina''s delta-wing airplane, the , in front. The mid-folded wing of the and the delta wing of the are equally aerodynamic. The engine power is slightly higher on the Jin. The has a smaller overall width, giving it a slight advantage in tight spaces. The rest is a matter of piloting. The meanders right and left, up and down through the . The is a barrier, and touching its walls will disqualify you from the competition, so you have to be very careful. It goes on for a kilometer. The pressure on the pilot is enormous. "Ugh, it''s hard because it''s so wide. Number 13, Maricka, was struggling. She had created an aircraft with a long wing span by taking advantage of a gap in the rules, and it had worked well, but in this scene, it had proved to be a disadvantage. The average speed of each plane was about 60 km/h. It would take about one minute to go through a one-kilometer <. It''s a one-minute battle. "We did it!I pulled one out!" Natalia, flying the number 1 trilobe, had just passed the number 5 Shireen biplane in front of her on this course where maneuverability is more important than top speed. "Well, I''m not good at this kind of course. Meanwhile, number 6, Sydney Marek, is struggling. Unexpectedly, she was not good at this kind of scene, and she had dropped down in the rankings. "Both Jin-sama and Rubina are doing well," said Marek. ...... will not be too much effort to overtake them here." The number 12 Road Toss driver, <>, in third place, refrained from overtaking too hard in the tube, where there was a high risk of being disqualified, and was looking to make up ground in the second half of the race. > The host, Mr. Luckhardt, is making an excited announcement. Looking at the images projected on the large magic screen, it looks like a roller coaster ride through the tunnel section. Some of the spectators feel sick and are given <> by the attendants or the relief golem. < Even Zion, who has been in actual airships, airplanes, and spaceships, was overwhelmed by the view. "We have to pull it out here ......!" And finally, an accident happens. It''s a biplane, number 5, a Shireen biplane. In an attempt to forcibly pull out Natalia''s triplane, the wing touched the wall of the . For a moment, the wall glows red in the area where it touched. Of course, this was a stunt. However, the biplane of number 5, Schieleen Eschenbach, was disqualified at this point because it touched the wall. > >> You were overtaking at such a high speed. But it is also true that you have to push a little too hard to get to the top. <>. Shireen''s biplane will stay in the tubular warding and will be released after the race. >! >> < About a minute has passed, and one by one, the aircrafts come out of the <>. There were 12 of them. They were guided by the <> and rose to such a high altitude that they appeared to be nothing more than dots to the naked eye. However, they are clearly visible through the large magic screen. <> The aircraft accelerates from a speed of about 60 kilometers per hour. > The distance here is 200 meters, a section where acceleration is more important than top speed. There is a slight change in the order here, and the order at the time of passing through gate 8 was numbers 10,11,12, 8,7,13,2,4,1,3,9, 6. After passing through Gate 9 and Gate 10, the riders will enter a 400-meter vertical descent. The 11th gate at the end of the descent is 3 meters in diameter. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the most difficult point of the descent. The maximum speed, combined with the acceleration due to gravity, reaches 200 to 250 kilometers per hour. > <> Florence Fahlheit''s retrofoil <> finally overtakes Rubina''s <> and takes the lead with a tremendous speed. However, they were unable to pass through Gate 11, which was 3 meters in diameter. As Zion pointed out, the speed was too high for him to control. He tried desperately to trigger it, but he was too fast and could not reach the gate in time, and he was disqualified after hitting the fall protection barrier. Rubina''s <, numbered 10, adjusted her speed as she descended. This shows how much she has matured from her former rashness. "Like this!" Then she turns the plane halfway and brakes with the entire delta wing. After slowing down enough, he re-slows down and passes through the gate. At this point, she finally takes the lead. "Nice work, Rubina!" Jin, who is in second place, descends at a speed just within his control, and deploys his wings about 50 meters before the gate. Using the aerodynamic drag, he slowed down and corrected his course. He passed through Gate 11 with flying colors. Third place went to Rhodes. He was flying calmly and passed through the 11th gate with some margin of control. Number 7, who was in fourth place after number 8 dropped out, extended his tapered wings as far as they would go in the last third of the descent. The aerodynamic drag also helped to slow him down. However, the retro wing aircraft of number 2, Shu, which had been following behind, jumps into the gate first. "Oh no! Number 7 misses the gate and somersaults in a panic. Although it did not come in contact with the crash-prevention boundary, it lost a lot of ground. Number 13 Marikka''s < took it easy and let Shu''s number 2 go first, and then went through gate 11. Number 7 will come after her. The number 4, Grina''s oval-winged plane <> followed, as did the aerodynamic triloby, number 1 <>. A biplane, number 9, passed number 3 in front of it and jumped into the gate, followed by numbers 3 and 6. The order at this point was numbers 10, 11, 12, 2, 13, 7, 4, 1, 1, 2, The order at this point was numbers 10,11,12,2, 13,7,4,1,9,3,6. After passing through gate 11, the plane leveled off and passed through gate 12, which had a diameter of 3 meters. Then, about 50 meters ahead, you will pass Gate 13, which is 5 meters in diameter. After passing through this gate, you will reach a straight line for 200 meters, and then the goal. > << Everyone passes through Gate 13 without any difficulty. And full throttle. Variable-wing aircraft are shrinking their wings to reduce aerodynamic drag as much as possible. "Icky!" This is the last one! "Full throttle!" Everyone, let''s give our beloved planes their last ounce of strength. All planes are accelerating at full speed. Outstanding among them are number 10, Rubina''s delta wing aircraft < and ....... >, is gaining speed rapidly! >> Jin had been flying at 90% power so far, but now, for the last time, he can use his full power without hesitation. <<>, number 12, RODOTOS-sama, is also accelerating at full speed! >> The lightweight machine accelerates very well. On a 200-meter straight line, it will reach the goal before reaching the maximum speed. So, it is a test of acceleration ability. <, number 13, Maricka, is also accelerating, but is there much resistance from the wings? >> Air resistance is proportional to the square of the speed. Therefore, a plane with high drag is at a disadvantage. I was thinking that... <> The main wing of Marikka''s Eagle broke off from the middle of both sides. < Stayhardt, who was explaining the situation, saw through it. Yes, as a last resort, Marikka''s < had a gimmick to shorten its main wings. The wings, which had been two meters wide, were now only about 60 centimeters wide. However, once removed, the wings could not be attached, so their use was limited. In the end, it was used in the acceleration race before the finish line. The lightweight < became even lighter and the aerodynamic drag was reduced, resulting in remarkable acceleration. At last, the < overtook number 2. The battle for the lead was narrowed down to 4 machines The battle for the lead has been narrowed down to 4 machines, numbers 10, 11, 12, and 13. 1871 - - 50-12 race settlement > << <><>The difference between the two is only one plane. What remains is the production technique, piloting skill, and strategy. "About 30 meters to go ...... here! Up to this point, Jin had been flying at the highest position among the four planes competing for the lead. From there, he now headed diagonally downward. The acceleration due to gravity is added, albeit slightly. The distance is slightly longer, but the result is a 2 percent increase in speed. In the current competitive situation, the effect of two percent was not small. , he''s a little ahead! >> "What!The speed is still going up here! Rubina is amazed. She is literally flying at full throttle right now, so it''s understandable that she can''t believe that her speed will increase from there. In fact, neither Rhodes nor Marikka could go any faster. "Gotcha!" Rubina''s control of her plane was slightly disrupted by the shock, and Jin took advantage of this moment to leap forward, snatching the nose of the number 10<. "Ah!I''ve been hit! >, takes the lead for the first time and goes ...... straight into the lead! >> The order is numbers 11,10,12,13.Jin, Rubina, Rhodes, Marikka, Jin, Rubina, Rhodes, and Marikka in that order. < I wouldn''t say she was old, but the younger Rubina probably couldn''t read that much of the tactics, Zion thought. But the race was not over yet. In the straight before the finish line, the second group was flying in the order of numbers 2, 7, 4, 1, 9, 3, 6. First, number 1 started to lag behind a little. Number 9 was next. The others were all monoplanes, while biplanes and trilobes were at a slight disadvantage due to their weight and aerodynamic drag. Next, number 3 began to lag behind. It was because of its lack of power, as shown by its 12th place in the maximum speed competition. The order was 2,7,4,6,3,9,1 and finally it was a race between number 2 and number 7. The final race was between number 2 and number 7. <10 meters to go...... ah, here comes number 1<>, accelerating even faster! >> >. Since they are flying almost side by side, they don''t care about hitting the rear fuselage even if they abandon their main wings. Even as they are talking about this, the planes are reaching the finish line. <> The second group was numbered 2,7,4,6,3,1,9. Natalia''s triplane, which had abandoned its main wing, moved up one place. > Even before the announcement was made, the venue was filled with cheers and applause. The result of the race was as follows. The results of the race are as follows 1st place, number 11 Jin 2nd place, number 10, Rubina (1st place in the competition) 3rd place, number 12 Rhodes 4th place, number 13 Marikka 5th place, number 2 Shu (2nd place for competitors) 6th place, number 7 Werner (3rd for competitor) 7th place, number 4 Gulina (4th for competitor) 8th Number 6 Sidney (5th for competitor) 9th Number 3 Eugene (6th for competitor) 10th Number 1 Natalia (7th for competitor) 11th Number 9 Elvis (8th for competitor) 12th Number 5 Shireen (9th for competitor) 12th Number 8 Florence (9th for competitor) The results were as follows. < <>. This is a very subjective question for the audience, but it is still essential for this kind of competition. The audience will score the aircraft on a 100-point scale, which will be totaled and divided by the number of spectators (rounded off to the nearest whole number) by the magic brain <>, and the result will be the score. The scores are rounded off to the nearest whole number. > 1st place, number 11, Jin, 95 points 2nd place, number 13 Marikka, 93 points 3rd place, number 12, Rhodes, 92 points 4th place, number 1, Natalia, 89 points, 1st place in the competition 5th place, number 10, Rubina 85 points, 2nd place for competitor 6th Place Number 7 Werner 84 points, 3rd place for competitor 7th Number 5 Shireen 83 points, 4th place for competitor 8th Number 9 Elvis 82 points, 5th place for competitor 9th Number 3 Eugene 82 points, 6th place for competitor 10th Number 6 Sidney 82 points 7th Competitor 11th Number 4 Glina 82 points, 8th place for competitor 12th Number 8 Florence 82 points, competitor 9th 13th Number 2 Shu 82 points, 10th place for competitor The same 82 points were used for the 8th to 13th places, but the ranking was determined by the value before rounding. << * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After that, the total results of all the airplane competitions were announced. In order of numbers. Number 1 Natalia 220 points, 3rd place Number 2: Shu Nido, 180 points, 5th place Number 3: Eugene Fowle, 0 points, 10th place Zecken 4 Grina Kuzma 40 points, 9th place Zecken 5 Shireen Eschenbach 120 points, 7th place Zecken 6 Sidney Marek 200 points, 4th place ZECK 7 Werner Landl 280 points, 2nd place ZEK 8 Florence Faarheit 80 points, 8th place Zec. 9 Elvis Alcott 140 points, 6th place Number 10 Rubina Garrett 560 points, 1st place (Jin, Rhodes and Marikka are not included in the total for all events) Rubina''s prominence is remarkable. Immediately after the announcement, the audience burst into applause. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The participants were cleaning up. Jin, Rhodotos, Marikka, and others were praising each other''s good work as they cleaned up. "Well, it was a lot of fun, by the way. "It was fun, wasn''t it? We couldn''t beat Jin-sama in the end, but... "It was fun for me, too. Then, Jin said, "I was happy to see Rubina''s growth through this series of competitions. Jin said, praising Rubina. "Oh, really?" Rubina, who had been cleaning up right next to Jin, was surprised at the sudden mention of her name. "Oh. I don''t know what the results are, but I think you''ve improved a lot compared to when we first met. The same goes for the rest of us, Jin said. "I''m glad our offspring have grown up so well." Jin said, sounding a little saddened. "When we''re done cleaning up, we''ll have the interim results of all the competitions so far," Jin said. It was fun to compete with ...... Jin-sama and everyone else. Marikka said sincerely. "Yes, it''s the same for me. Rhodes looked up at the sky. Blue skies spread over the island of Onogoro, where the fierce battle had been fought. 1872 - - 50-13 Results of aggregation come out At 11:30 a.m., an hour and a half after the lunch break, the results of the <> were announced. Of course, the tally by the <> had been completed an hour and a half earlier. > At 1:00 p.m., Luckhard announced again. The audience applauded. > The largest magic screen in the hall became bright. There, the results of all the competitions are displayed. This time, the results were displayed in the order of numbers. Here are the results of the competitions for boats, cars, and airplanes. Number 1 Natalia 320 points, 2nd place Number 2: Shu Nido, 280 points, 3rd place Number 3: Eugene Fowle, 60 points, 9th place Zecken 4 Grina Kuzma 60 points, 9th place Zecken 5 Shireen Eschenbach 160 points, 7th place Zecken 6 Sidney Marek 220 points, 5th place ZECK 7 Werner Landl 280 points, 3rd place ZEC #8 Florence Fahlheit 80 points, 8th place ZECKEN 9 Elvis Alcott 220 points, 5th place Number 10 Rubina Garrett 740 points, 1st place (Jin, Rhodes and Marikka are not included in the total for all events) > The audience applauded. Actually, at the beginning of the one and a half hour break, Jin was asked to say a few words. < Jin then pauses for a moment before speaking again. Jin''s words were met with applause. Waiting for the applause to die down, Jin continued his speech. <>. Another round of applause. Jin gave short evaluations of everyone. < << << << number 6,Sidney Marek. Don''t be satisfied with your ideas, but try to refine them further. <<< number 7,Werner Landl. I think the idea of an extendable and retractable wing is a good one>>< << After finishing his evaluation of the 10 competitors, Jin took a pause again. The venue was filled with applause and cheers. After the applause subsides, Jin opens his mouth once again. At first, he had thought of a giant golem, but considering its limited use and what to do with it after the competition (storage, management, and maintenance), he thought that it would be better to focus on automata in the technology competition. >, although there are a series of rules such as propulsion by propellers and lift generation by wings ....... The main reason was <>. If we do not have a low speed competition from now on, a wind-powered floater (blow floater) will be acceptable. Jin concluded his speech by saying that he would be happy if not only the King and Queen competitions but also various other competitions could be held by volunteers to compete their skills. He also informed the participants that the <> competition would be held a month later on March 1, and the competition was over. The competition ended with the announcement that the competition would be held a month later on March 1. "This was my first competition, and I have a few things to reflect on. Jin is chatting with Marikka, Rhodes, and others in a reflective manner. "Yes, ......." The size of the aircraft should be defined in terms of maximum width, length and height, and the design of the aircraft should be scored without knowing whose it is. These suggestions will be reflected in the next and subsequent competitions. "The next competition will be automata. I don''t have to make one. Jin looked at Reiko and muttered to himself. "I''d like to make better." Marikka says. "Jin-sama, will you be participating in the automata competition, Reiko?" Rhodes asks. "Yes, I''m planning to, but I wonder if ...... it''s a bad idea?" Without any prejudice or egotism, Reiko is the one who is sure to win the competition by a landslide. Reiko has not only power, but also has lived for 400 years, and she has a lot of experience. Reiko, who has spent 400 years of her life, has a wealth of experience and will be unrivaled in the competition. "But it''s not too late to make one. ......" Reiko might get sulky, and Jin didn''t want to do that. "Isn''t it good that everyone''s goal is Reiko?" Marikka said something like that. "My Hanako, too, has a desire to be as close to Reiko as possible," she said. If she said that, Jin could not deny that he wanted Reiko to participate in the competition. "Everyone knows and admires Reiko, so I''m sure they will all try their best to make automata that will be their partner. "I see." Rhodes'' words made Jin a little embarrassed, but he couldn''t say anything because Reiko looked so happy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Automata.... I''ll do my best to make one! "I''m not as good as Reiko, but let''s see how far we can go! "If Reiko is also a contestant, it will be worthwhile! All the contestants were very motivated. The rules were as follows 1. Materials must be from . 2. no restrictions on body size. Both young children and large men are acceptable. 3. must be wearing clothes. Any design of clothing is acceptable. The competition details will be decided within the next day or two. The following is the current list. Additional details will be decided in the near future. "The rules are at ......, but I don''t think anyone will make a big man," said Stehard Landau. said Stehardt Randall. If you are admiring Reiko, you are probably right. "I''m looking forward to seeing what the competition will be like. As she has known Reiko for 400 years, she is also looking forward to this competition. And then, including the results of this competition, the <> will be decided. For the moment, Rubina is in first place, but with the number of events in the automata competition, the distribution of points is expected to be large, and the winner was not yet known. "I''m kind of looking forward to it." Theon also seemed to be looking forward to this competition as a spectator. 1873 - - 50-14 Leisure Busy but quiet. <, Jin was relaxing alone on Horai Island. Yes, <>. Rhodes, Marikka, Zion, and Rubina are all gone. Reiko is there, of course. "It''s been a long time. ...... Lying on the bed in the bedroom of the institute, I am reminded of a time long ago. The time Reiko summoned me, the time I was mistakenly transferred to the village of Kaina, the time I went to the Blue Lands to gather food, the time I enjoyed the boat and the seafood in Potrock... Meeting with Erza and Reinhardt, the journey to Shoro, the Golem party, the battle with the Unifilers. Settling down in the Shoro Kingdom, the subsequent turmoil, long-period planets, the legacy of the <>, and spatial oscillations. And the people we met along the way. ....... "Someone once said that it is harder for those who are left behind than for those who leave behind. ......" Reiko listens silently without saying anything, as this is not the first time Jin has talked to himself. However. "The previous generation must have had a hard time too. ...... Reiko couldn''t help but react to his words. "Your mother, sir?" "Yes. At that time Reiko ...... no, <> wasn''t even around yet, so it''s understandable that you don''t understand." Jin''s heart ached when he thought of Adriana Barbora Zetsi,...... who had lost Shuki, the woman who had raised her and whom she had held in deep affection,...... and who was only twenty years old at the time. "It depends on the person, but I''m not sure I wouldn''t say ......<>." And moreover, there is a possibility that I might be immortal now. <<<< now, does your master (my lord) think so, too? Suddenly, the old man''s voice rang out. "That''s unusual, old man. What do you mean by ......? < < "Yes." Whether you are a compound or a body, you are still you. If I were in a position to be left behind, I am confident that I would have said the same thing 400 years ago. The Empress, Martha, Rodrigo, Vivienne, Stearina ......, my older colleagues, friends and acquaintances. Jin felt sorry for himself 400 years ago, thinking how hard it must have been to say goodbye to them. "7...... No. 600012... I remember when they created a homunculus and tried to transfer my memories into it. I think it was not a very successful attempt. to an automata in such a way. What do you think would happen to his/her personality in that case? >> Unusually, the old man asked me a metaphysical question. "That''s a hard one. I''ve never done it before. ...... Yes, I remember there was a concept called <> or something like that." The question and answer with the old man suddenly reminded Jin of the knowledge he had heard when he was in Japan or in modern earth. "I don''t remember if it is brain science or philosophy, but <> is not scientifically understood. I wonder if , who is a mental life form, understands it. "I don''t think <> can transcribe everything about a person." In short, it would be impossible to make a copy of the target person, no matter how much Jin wanted to. , what do you think? >> The old man is very insistent today, Jin thinks about his answer. "...... I guess so. I will not miss you if you stay." > "What?Wouldn''t he make it look like the person A?" > "What do you mean? "What do you mean?" The old man began to explain slowly to Jin''s question. > he said. "Oh, I see." If it were possible, that is, if human beings could, they would like to go back to their younger days. "It''s personal ego to want to look as good as you did last time, isn''t it?" <<> "Well, ...... I know the feeling, so I would adjust the appearance to around 20 years old." Some people may prefer to be in their prime ...... thirties or so, when they are at their fullest. <> "Oh, ......, I guess so." The old man might have been guiding his thoughts so that he would not go down a strange path, Jin thought. "But if it were Elsa or Hannah, for example, I might make them look young instead of old. Jin said, expressing his thought. "So, in other words, the image in your mind takes precedence. ......" > "I see. ......" As far as Jin knows, there was a girl named Juliana between Reinhardt and Bertsche. <>"Then how many looks should that girl have? >> "......I see what you mean." After all, the old man wanted to remind Jin that it is only ego that makes people act only because they want to be together. "Even at ......." Jin thought in the corner of his mind, "I think human beings are a bunch of egos and selfishness is like walking around in clothes. * * * * * * "By the way, what about Hale?" Jin asked the old man after lunch. < There is no problem to go to Hale. It is possible to come and go by both spaceships and warp gates. We have installed a larger warp gate in parallel with the spaceships, which has improved both in terms of transportation volume and safety. There is no problem with supplies for the time being. We still have 80% of the resources we obtained in the past . The only problem is the super-powerful spaceships. The problem is the super-powerful spacecraft, which needs to bring one of the satellites of the second planet, Zipert, to secure the resources on Hale, but the problem is that it is difficult. "Is it a design problem?" If so, it is Jin''s responsibility. < Hyperadamantite is a metal made by molecular compaction of adamantite. Hyper Adamantite is the hardest metal in the world, which is given 100 times or more strength by compressing Adamantite forcibly. If adamantite, which is hard and difficult to process, becomes 1,000 times stronger, how much labor is required to process it? If adamantite, which is hard and difficult to process, has become 1,000 times stronger, how much labor is required to process it? It is being built on the moon (UNY), which has a low gravity, and even the administrative magic brain there is having a hard time with it. Moreover, they are building a spaceship with a diameter of 300 meters. The propulsion system occupies most of the ship''s body, making it an extraordinary vessel. "Indeed. "Indeed. There is no rush, so let''s be steady. . "And the pathogens are all right?" The planet was originally inhabited by the , so it seems to have such an environment. "The only thing that remains is self-sufficiency of food." "That will be the case." I have no problem with the know-how, but it will take some time to establish an agriculture adapted to the natural environment of Heer. Jin thinks about the world far away. 1874 - - 50-15 Vision "Hmmm, what should I do? < "What''s wrong, Rubina?" Then came Zion. He was looking around at the participants who were making automata. "Ah, Mr. Zion! "Everyone has already started making them, right?" "......" "What''s wrong?" Zion asks again. "Actually, ......" Rubina told Zion what was bothering her. "So that''s what''s going on." Sion smiled gently and patted Rubina''s head. A year ago, you would have just rushed into it and made it all up at once, without worrying about anything. But now Rubina seems to have grown both technically and mentally through her many competitions, Zion concluded. "Well, I don''t know about technique, but ...... why do you think Jin trusts you, Reiko?" "What?Because ...... they are strong. ......" Zion shook his head at the answer. "No," he said. Well, that may be part of it, but the most important reason is that he understands djinn." "Understanding ......." "Yes. Reiko was Jin''s first automata, and she''s been with him ever since. Reiko is the automaton who has been with Jin for a long time, supporting him when he is in pain, eliminating danger when there is danger, and having fun ...... with him when he is happy. Jin cherished Reiko and gave her a performance that would not let her down no matter what. "It is an expression of Jin''s will to protect Reiko, who protects him, rather than to have her protect him." "......" "That''s why Reiko is strong. I don''t think that strength is a strength of a single person, but a strength of a bond." "......I think I understand ...... somehow." Rubina is thinking again. However, unlike before, her expression was not distressed, but rather she had a faint smile on her face. Seeing this, Zion quietly left the place. * * * * * * Only two of the participants, Shu Nido and Natalia, owned automata or golems that belonged to the first Jin family. As for Shu, well... "Well, I guess I''d have to go with the girl type," he said. He was working on the basic structure of the doll in front of a pile of materials. "Will she be my second cousin ......? "Well, for Edgar, she will be a distant relative ......." Edgar was created by Elsa, Jin''s beloved wife 400 years ago. After that, Jin helped to improve Edgar, so Edgar''s parents are Jin and Elsa. "This time, I will make an automata that I am satisfied with. Shu has a rough idea of what he wants to do, and reaches for the materials. Natalia, who owned three other automata, Arrow, Arco, and Vale. "I''ve been able to examine them in this way, and once again I can see how great Jin-sama is. ......" Natalia sighs as she overhauls and inspects the Arrow. "I don''t know how close I can come to that. ......" Ever since she was a little girl, Natalia had heard Arrow''s stories about the that her ancestor Marcia had participated in with Hitoshi and Reiko, and she had always been fascinated by it. He had been making boats since he was old enough, but since participating in the organized by Jin, he had rediscovered the joy of craftsmanship. "I think it''s important to have fun making things. ...... right, Arrow?" asked the rebooted Arrow, "Yes, Natalia. Jin-sama always enjoyed making things. She replied. "Yes, he did. Let''s go to ...... and try our best!" * * * * Of course, there are many of us who have not inherited the automata/golem, but have been around them since childhood and have been watching them. Shireen Eschenbach, who is related to the Eschenbach family, has seen the automata <> since she was a child, and Werner Randall has grown up with the golem <>, which was handed down from the Randall family. Greenina Kuzma was taken care of by an automata <> when she was a child. Many of them may not have owned one in their own house, but they may have seen one in their relative''s house. After all, there were many opportunities to see automata and golems created by Jin and his friends, and all of them had more or less the same yearning and desire to possess them. For such people, the <> was an appropriate place to fully express their longing. Therefore, everyone, without exception, was absorbed in their hard work. * * * * * * * * * "After all, the main material is light silver ...... or 64 light silver. "We have to use carefully selected muscle materials. "Jin-sama has adamantite coating on the joints. Let''s use it as a reference. Each of them has his or her own ingenuity. Among them, Rubina showed a novel idea. "X-1, I need your help here." "Yes, Rubina-sama." Rubina first created an assistant golem to help her with the work. This is, "<> is important. So, it might be better to make a tentative model at an early stage, and then slowly bring it closer to a finished model. This is what I have been thinking. This idea came from what Zion had told me, that Reiko is the automata who has been with Jin the longest. "X-1, when this is finished, it will be your new body. "Yes, I''ll make it happen." In other words, even though the period of time is short, they share the same control core and are trying to upgrade their bodies, just as Jin did with Reiko. "Now, it''s time to finish!" Rubina''s face was shining as if the time when she was troubled was a lie. * * * * * * "Hanako, how are you doing?" "Yes, Marikka-sama, I feel much better. Thank you very much." Marikka was upgrading and improving her automata <>, which she had made in admiration of Reiko. "I put everything I could into it. Please get used to your body until the competition. "Yes, I will." Yes, I will. "Hmm, here''s the ......" And Rhodes was also struggling day and night to make his best automata. <25 days to go until the competition. 1875 - - 50-16 Last game With each of our thoughts and feelings, one month has flown by in the blink of an eye. And now it is March 1st. <> has arrived! >> Ruckhardt Randall, the MC, announced. The audience fills the hall with cheers. > The commentator, Steinhardt Randall, also expressed in a few words how much he had been looking forward to this day. . < also said that he was looking forward to this competition. > The events described by Luckhardt were as follows. 1. 1. the running race.All participants run 200 meters to win the race. 2. Obstacle race. All competitors run a 1000 meter course with obstacles and compete against each other. 3. Weightlifting.Lift a barbell with gravity magic and see how far you can endure. Cooking.Cook a dish and evaluate it by 10 people chosen at random from the audience plus extra. 5. Drawing.Sketch the theme given by the guest and see how far you can draw it in one minute. All members of the audience are invited to evaluate. 6. special skill demonstration.The participants will have 5 minutes to show their special skills. All audience members are evaluated. The rules are as follows. 1, 1. materials must be from . Except for Jin, Marikka, and Rhodotos, who are special participants. 2. 2. the doll must be an automata. In other words, the doll must look like a human being. 3. There are no restrictions on the size of the doll. Infants and large men are acceptable. 4. 4. the doll must be clothed. The design of the clothing is not restricted. The design of the clothing is not restricted. > This information was again greeted with applause from the audience. The competition was thought up by Jin, Marikka, and Rhodes. The overall standings were irrelevant. And <, the administrative magic brain of , was also assisting them. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > <<>! >> With the introduction, the automaton bowed to the audience. He is a slender automaton of about 175cm in height. He was dressed in casual, light clothing. She has short-cut blond hair and blue eyes. (Nave is a ...... ship, I think.) I wonder if Arco and Arrow are female-typed and Vale is male-typed, so they made their automata male-typed. Arrow and Arco are < sisters. And Vale is a . Nave is a <. The names were typical of Marcia''s descendants. >! >> Merry bowing in curtesy. This is a cute little girl about 140 centimeters tall. She is wearing a navy blue maid''s uniform. She has fluffy pale blond hair and lovely green eyes. <... <, Jin thinks that if she and Edgar were side by side, they might look like brother and sister ....... <<>! >> Melanie is wearing a tight skirt, so she is not curtseying, but bowing normally. She is 160cm tall, well-proportioned, and is dressed in a tight-fitting navy blue suit. Her chestnut hair is pulled back in an updo and she has chestnut eyes. She gives the impression of a dignified female teacher. <>! >> Char puts her hands on her thighs and bows deeply. She is 5''5" with red hair and brown eyes. (......Lotte......No, she looks like Bina.) She is an automata who looks like Bina, an ancestor of Glina. She wears a white blouse, a navy blue vest and a pleated skirt, in the style of a schoolgirl. >! >> < She bows with her right hand on her chest. The 160cm tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed automaton is dressed in a blue blazer, a white shirt, and black pants. The automaton was so well-dressed that I could not help but wonder if this was a hobby of Shireen''s. >! >> > She shows her curtsey with her skirt pinched. She is 5''5" with wavy, waist-length brown hair and brown eyes. She is wearing a slightly modified maid''s outfit with more frills and lace. She is chic yet dainty. >! >> Leela greets him with a deep bow, her hands on her thighs. She is about 160cm tall, with long blue-green hair and striking golden eyes. She is dressed in a dark rouge-colored suit. <>! >> < Clark greets with a bow with his right hand in front of his chest. He is 5''8" tall and has a rather stout build. Short-cropped red hair, gray eyes. He is dressed like a butler. <>! >> Silas also greeted the audience with a bow, his right hand in front of his chest. He is 5''5" with all-back gray hair and gray eyes. He has the unusual appearance of an elderly butler. He was dressed like a butler, of course. <>! >> Alice bows at the curtesy. She is 130cm tall. Dark brown hair hanging down her back, dark brown eyes. She is dressed in a blue maid''s gown. ....... <> she says. Yes, <> is Rubina''s homage and respect for Reiko. <>! >> Reiko bows in a curtsey with a pinch of her skirt. No need to explain, that is Jin''s Reiko. << number 12, Lord Rhodes!Girl automata,<>! >> She is dressed in a dark green lady''s uniform and bows in a curtsy. >. < She has light blue hair that almost reaches her waist and golden eyes. >! >> Hanako is the automaton that Rhodes used to have with him. She is dressed in a silver rat costume and greeted at Carthage. She had silver hair and light blue eyes. The hair and eye colors of the < clan. > The hall was filled with applause and cheers as Luckhardt spoke. 1876 - - 50-17 Reiko, soloist > < Once again, the event is run by volunteers and Golems. Since it is a 200-meter race, the whole event can be seen from the spectators'' seats, but thanks to the <> installed next to the course, it can also be seen on the large <>>. In addition to the start line and the finish line, there are three Silence reigns in the hall. <> The ground at the starting line was gouged by the sound of a thud. The ground, which is a combination of <> and <>, was gouged out. A moment later, a voice rang out. The voice was that of a golem. The human would not be able to tell the winner from the winner. After all, everyone had reached the goal within a second or so. (Ah, maybe 200 meters was too short. ......) Even the MC, Luckhardt, is puzzled. Theon said in a slightly puzzled tone. < Stayhart said. Then, the goal was projected on the magic screen. > Within a few tenths of a second, all 13 competitors had reached the finish line. The MC, Mr. Luckhardt, reads out the rankings. Since they are automata, they are called by their names, not by their creators. <1st place, number 11, Leco!The time of 0.54 seconds is 370 meters per second! >> >> A supersonic time. The sound of the crash was not only the sound of the ground breaking up, but also a shockwave. <2nd place, number 13, Hanako!Third place, number 10, Alice! >> Rubina''s clinched third place and was applauded by the audience. <> The MC knows this because the data was sent to him by the tester. Momoko''s time is 0.59 seconds, or 339 meters per second. <<5th place, number 2, Mary!6th place, number 1, Nave!In 7th place, number 8, Clark!8th place, number 5, Allen! >> Up to this point, the speed is over 300 meters per second. <> < The commentator, Staehard Randle, sounded dismayed. "Well done, Reiko! Jin was congratulating Reiko on her return. "Yes, father. I have reduced it to 30% as you said, is that correct?" "That''s enough." Reiko was not the "Onogoro Island material" as specified in the regulations. So Jin had voluntarily limited Reiko''s output to 30 percent. "But then again, the 200 meter run is too fast for me to enjoy. ......" Jin was once again aware of this. * * * * > > << The first one is a balance beam. It is 1mm wide and 100 meters long. If you fall off, you have to go back to the first end and cross it again. It is against the law to jump over it. Next is the zigzag course. There are 20 rectangular of 1 meter wide and 2 meters high in a 200 meter distance, You have to pass through them without touching them. Of course, they are not designed to be passed through in a straight line. The next is a pool. You have to swim 100 meters through a pool filled with a liquid whose density is 0.2. You must not jump over the wall. And then the wall. Climb and climb over a vertical wall 100 meters high using only your arms. Note that you may not jump over the wall or use the force field generator. There are no restrictions on the descent. The last area is the gravity field area. The area where gravity is increased by gravity magic lasts for 200 meters. The gravity is 10G at the entrance, and it gradually increases as you go forward, reaching 50G at the exit. The use of the force generator is prohibited. The goal is reached when you pass through the exit. <> Everyone dashes again. But, as expected, no shockwaves are generated since it is an obstacle race. Nevertheless, in a little over a second, everyone jumped onto the balance beam. > At this point, Reiko is in the lead. Alice, Hanako, and Momoko are right behind her. <<,<> cracks in the treated ground as they all jump around left and right to get through the gate! >> < Reiko is still in the lead, but she is less than 10 meters behind the current leader, number 3, <>. < Stayhard commented. > << Stayhardt explained. As Sion said, for the first time in this pool, the difference is starting to show. Number 8<> and number 9<> had sunk and were unable to advance. The standings so far are: number 11 Reiko, number 10 Alice, number 13 Hanako, number 1 2Momoko,number 1Nave,number 2Mary,number 4Char,number 7Leela,number 6Liddell,number 3Melanie, Zec. 5 Allen, Zec. 9 Silas, Zec. 8 Clark. > The 100-meter granite wall rises vertically. There are plenty of uneven surfaces to hold on to, so it should be easy enough to climb if you have the arm strength of an automaton. By the way, the host, Mr. Luckhardt, had called Reiko <<> etc., but eventually decided to call her <>. > <> she said. With a slight movement, Reiko catches the slightest unevenness of the wall and climbs up. For Reiko, as long as her fingernails catch on the wall, she can support herself. Since Jin had carefully and the wall, there was no danger of it collapsing, and in no time at all she had climbed the 100 meters to the top. From there, there were no restrictions, so Reiko easily jumped down. When she landed on the ground, there was a crack in the toughened ground, but Reiko did not care and headed for the last obstacle. When Reiko jumped down, the other automata were struggling to climb the wall. The fastest of them all was Alice, number 10, Rubina. > Alice jumped down from the top of the wall after Reiko. And landed without difficulty. She headed for the gravity field. 1877 - - 50-18 Fierce Battle, Fiery Battle The moment Reiko jumps into the gravity field area, the installed magic tools are activated. The gravity of 10G hits Reiko. Her weight increases tenfold. 30 kilograms of Reiko weighs 300 kilograms. > < and . Her speed is about 20 km/h. It takes 36 seconds to go 200 meters. However, it can be easily predicted that the further she goes, the slower she will go because of the increase in gravity. About a third of the way through, the second car, number 10, Rubina''s <>, entered the same area. Immediately, Alice''s movements slowed down. But Alice continues to move forward undeterred. "Hang in there!" Rubina cheered for her. When Reiko and Alice were two-thirds and one-third of the way through the race, respectively, the chasing pack caught up with them. Hanako of Marikka, number 13, and Momoko of Road Toss, number 12, jumped into the gravity field area. > Sion adds a few words to Ruckhardt''s words. >. Reiko has a long 400 years of experience (although she has been dormant for almost 140 years). ......). During that time, Jin has not overlooked even the slightest defect or flaw and has corrected and improved it. . Steinhardt agreed. Soon after, the remaining automata entered the gravity field area one after another. They all seem to be able to handle 10G, but after about 30G, their movement visibly slows down. The weight of a 30kg man at 1G becomes 90kg at 30G. At 1G, he weighed 30kg, but at 30G he weighed 90kg. > Reiko is now running through the 50G area. Reiko, who weighs 30 kilograms, was running through an area that weighed 1,500 kilograms, or 1.5 tons. Reiko is running, albeit at a slower speed. > After 30G, everyone''s footsteps are getting heavier and heavier. It seems that even for automata, it is tough to increase their weight by 30 times. In such a situation, Rubina''s , number 10, and Marikka''s , number 13, were relatively strong. The number 12, Rhodos <>, is also doing well. And Reiko? <<3 meters to go.........2 meters to go.........1 meters to go... I''m out!There''s no blockage now! >> Reiko accelerates through the gravity field area. She seems to disappear from the audience''s view. After a moment, > >> The crowd gave her a loud round of applause and cheers. Behind them, number 10, Alice, and number 13, Hanako, are in a close battle. "Go for it!Go Alice! Rubina cheered enthusiastically. Marikka was smiling and looking at the battle with quiet eyes. From about 40G, everyone''s movement became noticeably slower. They all weigh over one ton. The large male model, Nave (number 1), originally weighed about 70 kilograms, so at 50G he weighed 3.5 kilograms. It would not have been crushed. Although they were not crushed as expected, they walked with their feet dug into the ground with each step. <<> The two were about the same size, but it seems that Marikka''s Hanako''s bottom power was a little stronger than Rubina''s Alice''s. <<> The finish line is just a few seconds after passing the gravity field area. <> So far, four have reached the finish line. After that, they are a little behind. They seem to be struggling in the gravity field area after 40G. Still, no one is crushed or stuck. <> <<> True to his word, it was the larger automata who were lagging behind. <> << Leela is not a girl type but a female type and she is supposed to be lighter than a male type. <10th place, number 3, Melanie!11th place, number 1, Nave!In 12th place, number 9, Silas!In 13th place, number 8,Clark! >> Almost in order of smallest to largest, the highest scores were. < Spectators can see the competition with their naked eyes, so they cannot understand what is going on in too fast competitions, which is a problem before they can enjoy it. < The audience applauded to Zion''s line. It seems that the residents of Onogoro Island are in favor of having such competitions in addition to the Magecraft King/Queen Contest. After this, many competitions, both official and unofficial, would be held here on Onogoro Island, but that is another story. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Before moving on to the next competition, about 15 minutes were taken for the maintenance of each automata. "......Yeah, I don''t see anything wrong with them." Reiko, of course, is fine. "You seem to be all right. Keep up the good work. Hanako of Marikka is also clear. "Yeah, I''m fine. Good luck in the competition!" Momoko from Rhodes was also all right. "Oh, the clearance of the joints is a little bit bigger. I''ll have to adjust it." Alice of Rubina was finished in five minutes. The others were done in about the same amount of time. No one thinks 15 minutes is too short. They are all technicians who can check and repair in that amount of time. Now it is time for the weightlifting. 1878 - - 50-19 Weightlifting? After the maintenance time, it''s time for the . > The crowd cheered more than ever. <> <> The cheers grew louder at this explanation. After waiting for the audience to settle down, the competition finally started. > Nave lifts the barbell. At 1G it weighs 100 kilograms, which she lifts without any problem. > The most difficult thing for Jin and his team was to make it possible to display the values numerically. <110 km......120 km... ...130 km......>> In the beginning, the weight increases by 10 kilos per second...100 kilos in 10 seconds, So, in 90 seconds, it gains 900 kilos, which, combined with the original 100 kilos... In other words, in 90 seconds, it gains 900 kilograms. <500 km......510 km... ...520 kilos......>> > <850 km......860 km... ...870 km......>> Nave is still hanging on. The crowd stares with bated breath. <990 km......1000 km!......1010 kilometers......>> <<> <<1100 km......111 0 km......>> <> The barbell is held above your head, so if you let go of the barbell, it will naturally fall on top of your head. However, the barbell that Jin and the others had made was set to activate negative gravity magic the moment it left his hand, so that it would weigh only about one kilogram. When the barbell hit the head, the impact was only a bump. The barbell rolled on the floor. > As Jin watched, he found something to reflect on. "Well, I thought it would save time, but it''s counterproductive that way. The competition was not about weight <, but about how much weight one could bear. There may be a problem of grip strength. Jin reflected on the fact that it could be a competition since the conditions were the same for everyone, but it was too much to call it a weightlifting competition. Regardless of Jin''s thoughts and feelings, the competition went on. , this is amazing!That little body can endure 1,000 kg! >> In the end, the number 2 boat has reached the record of 1,100 km. <<>! >> The record is 1080 kilometers. So far, all the records are over 1 ton. < << < > The record was 1010 km. Number 5, Shireen''s <> weighed 970 kg. Number 6, Sydney <> weighed 1000 kg. Number 7, Werner < weighs 1090 kg. Number 8, Florence''s <> weighs 1150 kg. Number 9, Elvis <> lifted 1180 kg. >! >> The crowd is very excited. <150 km......160 km... ...170 kg......>> Alice is withstanding the high weight with room to spare. <980 kg......990 kg... ...1000 kilos!!! >> <> <<1150 km......116 0 km......1170 km...... 1180 km......>> <> <<1200 km...... Oh, is it getting a little spicy? >> <<1220km......123 0......Oh, that was the limit! >> In the end, the record was set at 1220 km. > Reiko lifts the barbell carelessly. At the same time, gravity magic is activated. <110 kg......120 kg... ...130 kilos......>> True to Zion''s words, Reiko lifts the barbell without moving even though it weighs close to one ton. <990 kilos......1000 kilos!......1010 kilos!......>> Reiko still looks like she has plenty of room to spare. <<1190 kilos......120 0 km......1210 km! >> <<> <<<1290 km......130 0km......1310km......>> << (Ah, overdoing it is not good either.) Jin gives Reiko a look. Reiko, who understood what he meant, lowered the barbell after 1400 kilometers. <1400 kilos!That''s an amazing record! >> >> The crowd applauded loudly. <> Momoko, who is about the same size as Reiko, lifts the barbell. <110 kilos......120 kilos... ...130 kg......>> There is no problem at all in this area. <980 kilos......990 kilos... ...1000 kilos!!! >> No problem with 1 ton. <1180 km......119 0 km......1200 km! >> I think I''ve reached my limit around here. > << > Hanako is also in the same shape as Reiko. <110 km......120 km... ...130 km......140 km ......>> I guess I should start heavier, Jin thought. <980 km......990 km... ...1000 km!!! >> Hanako is also fine with a ton. <1190 km......120 0 km......1210 km! >> It looks like we can go a little further. <<1290 km......130 0 km!......13......Oh, I think I''m at my limit!The record is 1300 km! >> The audience gave a storm of applause. The results 1st place, Reiko of Jin. 1400 km. 2nd place, Hanako of Marikka. 1300 kg. 3rd place, Alice of Rubina. 1220 kg. 1st place in the competition. 4th place, Momoko of Rhodes. 1210 km. 5th , Silas of Elvis. 1180 kms. 2nd place, Silas of Elvis. 1180Km. 6th place, Clark of Florence. 1150 kms. 3rd Athlete. 7th place, Natalia''s Nave. 1110 kms. 4th place, Natalia''s Nave. 1110 kms. 8th place, Mary of Shu. 1100 kms. 5th place. 9th place, Leela of Werner. 1090 kms. 6th place, Werner''s Leela. 1090 kg. 10th place, Melanie from Eugene. 1080 kms. Competitor 7th place. 11th place, Char from Grina. 1010 kms. 8th place, Char of Grina. 1010 km. 12th , Liddell of Sidney. 1000km. Eligible Contestants: 9th place. 13th place, Allen of Shireen. 970 kg. He was 10th in the competition. He was 10th. 1879 - - 50-20 Cooking Battle! ! >> The audience cheered, and then the cheers turned into loud cheers. Jin secretly thinks that everyone likes cooking ....... < The time is just around 11:00 a.m., which will be just in time for lunch if you include the cooking time. <<>! >> << Sion was impressed by the cooking stations. > Everyone headed for the rice at once. In fact, new rice and old rice are prepared, and the participants are evaluated on their ability to distinguish between the two. > Old rice does not necessarily mean bad taste, but if the rice is not stored well, the starch of the rice may change. Also, the amount of water in the rice changes, making it difficult to cook well. It would be better to try several times, but for a one-time trial like this, it would be safer to choose fresh rice. Everyone sharpened their rice and put it into the prepared kettles and earthenware pots. <<>. The three judges are the presenter and the two commentators. As soon as they start cooking rice, they all start preparing miso soup at the same time. Reiko is starting to make a miso soup with deep-fried tofu and okara without any hesitation. The only reason is that it is Jin''s favorite food. Alice of Rubina has radish and taro, Momoko of Rhodoth has wakame seaweed and tofu. The others are different, and no two miso soups seem to be the same. >. For example, leeks are called <> here in Arus, but as a rule, foodstuffs discovered by Jin or the > are given names known to Jin. Wakame seaweed, kelp, wasabi, and so on. Sion leaned forward as if itching to eat. >. Stayhard to say potato and onion instead of topopo and leeks. <>. <<> Ruckhardt was caught up by Zion''s words. <<> Jin is from Tokyo, so the word "tanuki" means "fried egg". By the way, kitsune is made with deep-fried tofu. > While the host and the commentator were having such a conversation, the cooking was going on and some of the participants started to grill fish. >. >. << < The smell of grilled fish began to waft through the air. The rice was also cooked and steamed. At about the same time, miso is added to the miso soup. The grilled fish was also cooked. The timing of this is excellent. The aroma of miso will be lost if the miso soup is left to simmer, and the grilled fish will become tough if it cools down. And ....... <> It is indeed amazing that everyone had finished cooking a few seconds before the signal. > Before the MC could finish his speech, Zion got up from his seat and headed for the competition hall. Laughing, Luckhardt and Stayhardt followed him. From the audience came 10 spectators who were chosen by lottery. "Please compare and score each dish as you like. The host, Luckhardt, reminded the audience. For once, he let go of the microphone and used his own voice. Everyone nodded and began tasting. "Oh, it''s delicious. ......" Zion went to Reiko first. Rice and miso soup. The familiar tastes of Jin''s and naturally made their faces relax. The grilled fish is ayu (sweetfish). In recent years, ayu has been imported from Mitsuho and farmed on Horai Island and Onogoro Island. "This is delicious!" Stayhardt is smacking his lips at the grilled Spanish mackerel with miso, prepared by Hanako of Marikka. "Delicious! I can hear such voices here and there. "It''s a pity we can''t eat a full meal because of the judging," said Lackhardt. said Luckhardt. And that must have been everyone''s thought. We had to eat and evaluate everyone''s food. "I''ve never tasted this shellfish miso soup before, but it''s delicious! "This grilled fish is so savory! "The rice is delicious!" "The wakame seaweed is also delicious! "The wakame seaweed is delicious, but the tofu in it is also very flavorful." The tofu is also very flavorful. "This is delicious!Is it called kabayaki? The results were announced after lunch. The results will be announced after lunch time. 1880 - - 50-21 Drawing After a one and a half hour lunch break, the results of the scoring were announced. > The participants had already eaten lunch, so it was not a food festival. Zecken 1 Natalia Nave Miso soup with clams, grilled barracuda Zecken 2 Shu, Mary Miso soup with fu and leek, grilled saury Zecken 3 Eugene Melanie Miso soup - cabbage and carrot, grilled landlocked salmon Zecken 4 Grina Charles Miso soup - sweet potato, onion and carrot, broiled eel Zecken 5 Shireen Allen: Miso soup with nameko mushrooms and tofu, grilled salmon with foil Zecken 6 Sidney Liddell eggplant miso soup, grilled baby sardines Zecken 7 Werner Leela pumpkin miso soup, yellowtail teriyaki Zecken 8 Florence Clark turnip and turnip leaf miso soup, steamed mackerel Zecken 9 Elvis Silas Miso soup - bean sprouts, cod meuniere Zecken10 Rubina Alice Miso soup with radish and taro, grilled sea bream Zecken11 Reiko Hitoshi Miso soup - deep-fried tofu and okara, grilled ayu fish Zecken-12 Rhodos Momoko Wakame seaweed and tofu miso soup, grilled flatfish Number 13 Maricca Hanako Miso soup with potatoes and onions, grilled Spanish mackerel with miso Note: Barracuda = barracuda / leek = charoto / sweet potato = itopo / onion = marunegi / carrot = carotte Potato = Topopo / Flounder = Haribou / Clam = Krumm / Mountain trout = Omasou / Salmon = Mejika > Ruckhardt and Stayhardt commented on the tasting. Sion is impressed by the way they have thought of the menu. And the result: ....... <> The audience cheered so loudly that they shook the room. For the first time, Reiko Jin had fallen far down in the standings. It seems that personal preference had a big effect. (Ah, I guess my taste is not well accepted by the public after all.) Jin was smiling bitterly. Then he smiled at Reiko, who was hanging her head, and nodded her head. Reiko realized what Jin was trying to say and looked up. <> The first place was 90 points and the second place was 89 points, almost no difference, but it seemed that there was a slight difference between the two. The next highest score was 88 points for number 2, Mary from Shu, number 3, Melanie from Eugene, number 5, Allen from Shireen, number 8, Clara from Florence, number 9, and number 10, Kathy from Florence. Number 8, Clark of Florence, Number 10, Alice of Rubina, and Number 12, Momoko of Rhodes. The last-place finisher was only three points behind the first-place finisher, with 87 points. The two other teams were number 6, Liddell of Sydney, and number 9, Silas of Elvis. * * * * * * > << The moderator, Mr. Luckhardt, forgot to say something, and the commentator, Mr. Stayhardt, added something else. <<> > "What? Jin seemed to be the only one who thought "......", and everyone else greeted this subject with applause. > All the participants went to the board at once. They moved their pencils at a blinding speed. They all know Jin''s face so well that they can draw it without even bothering to look at it. <> The hands stopped. All of them had finished their drawings. < The drawings are projected on thirteen large magic screens. The audience will see them and grade them. > >. (Really? ......) Most of the people there were looking at the screen seriously, but only Jin looked down in embarrassment. <<< Now, please cast your vote. ...... will tally the votes. Please write in your terminal ...... and we will tally the votes. .................. Result, here it is! >> <> (Please don''t do that! ......) Jin himself is already too embarrassed to look up. <> This is another subject that everyone knows. Everyone started drawing immediately. Looking at the large < that shows each of them, it seems that each of them now has its own characteristics. Theon utters the same line as before. And he is right, everyone is good at what they do. <<> The scoring and tabulation is done in a short time and the results are announced. > A picture is projected on the large <. They were so precise that they were more like photographs than pictures. The audience could not decide the best or the worst of them. > > Sion pondered. Jin also, (...... artistic, rather than realistic ...... because it is a perfect copy, a reproduction ......) ). Certainly, the painting of in this case was more like a scholarly illustration than an artistic one. . Zion, who had been struggling for a while, seemed to have finally decided on a subject. Since no one has seen this one before, I have no choice but to draw it from my imagination. > <<>The last minute has begun. 1881 - - 50-22 Specialties (1) <> One minute passed, and <> ended. < > Thirteen automata painted a portrait of their respective <>. <> The thing that automata love the most. It was each master. I did some scoring, and the audience gave them all 100 points. Since everyone has the same feelings for his/her master, the third subject was also a no-brainer. In fact, all of them came in first place. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >! >> < There will be a 15-minute pause for preparation. Each of you will be working on your automata and preparing props. The audience can use the restroom during this time. The audience can go to the restroom while they do so. ......, but since not much time has passed since the lunch break, few people get up from their seats. Fifteen minutes passed. <>!First, number 1, Natalia''s Nave! >> The venue has been cleared in the last 15 minutes, and is now a flat, empty field. The rough, light clothing is still in place. Nave was standing in the middle of the field. > With a graceful gesture, Nave bows to the audience and to the host. Next, he stands erect and still ......, then suddenly begins to move. > Theon exclaims. The word "kenpo" did not exist in the Ars world originally, but such a concept seems to have been imported since the establishment of diplomatic relations with Mitsuho. Before that time, it was simply called <<> or something similar. Of course, Zion knows this because he has known Jin for a long time. Shokken-tsuki, hand-to-hand, back-fist, front kick, back kick, and spinning kick...... are performed one after another in a flowing motion. "Oh,...... you are very good!" I''d like to know where he learned these moves. "Father, perhaps from the golem guarding the island of Onogoro. Reiko guessed. Jin had just had a final meeting with Reiko. "Maybe." Nave''s performance was over. There was a thunderous applause. <> > Merry comes out to the performance hall, not in her navy blue samurai costume, but in a pair of half pants and a T-shirt that she can move around in easily. <<> As soon as the event started, Merry started humming a tune. The melody is familiar to Jin. (Is this ...... by any chance?). Then Merry started to do exercises to the tune of the humming. (I knew it was ...... radio calisthenics!) Merry began to do . , isn''t it? > a long time ago. It''s a warm-up exercise. Merry hummed a melody as she performed the exercises. It takes about 3 minutes or so. Then, with less than two minutes left, she performed her original exercises. <> The audience gave a big round of applause, and the show seemed to be well received. > Melanie of Eugene! This one also changed her clothes, perhaps to make a different impression. From a teacher-like navy blue suit, she is now dressed in a chic one-piece dress. The hem is so long that it drags. > "~~ Petals scattered by the wind are a flower raft that colors the surface of the water......" Melanie sang out. It seems to be an original song. At the same time, she started to dance gently. She is a pop idol. (Oh, not bad.) (Oh, not bad at all.) From Jin''s point of view, who has grown up watching various idols in modern Japan, she is quite determined. The song ends after about two and a half minutes. Melanie quickly takes off her costume. > The long dress-like outfit changes into a mini-skirt. Then Melanie started to sing another song. "~~ blue seas, white clouds, gentle winds carry my dreams ......". The song was up-tempo. The choreography became rhythmical accordingly. > After singing for exactly 5 minutes, Melanie bowed deeply to the audience. The audience cheered and applauded loudly. > >. Char comes out to the competition hall wearing a long bright red dress. <<> As soon as she started, an up-tempo melody flowed from her mouth and she started dancing to it. (Sounds like flamenco. ......) (Flamenco sounds like flamenco. ) Flamenco is a Spanish dance. That''s all Jin knows about flamenco. In fact, it is an art form from Andalusia, in the southern part of Spain. Not only dancing, but singing is also important ....... Anyway, to Jin, the song and the dance seemed to be flamenco, > >, said Zion. <<><<><>, and Zion recognized the trend. (Does this mean that they have inherited the culture of the squire tribe or the ...... indigenous people?) (Is it possible that Vivian and Goose have discovered such a culture? Char was also given a big round of applause. The last event was a great success. 1882 - - 50-23 Specialties (2) is still going on. <<> As for Jin, he prefers to call it a "gym uniform". The top and bottom are both white, and seem to be made of a fabric that can stretch and contract. > <> Allen jumped out as soon as the show started. But he didn''t just run out. "...... floor exercise?" Yes, as Jin noticed, Allen is performing one of the gymnastics events, <>. In gymnastics competitions, gymnasts perform on a 12-meter square mat, but the performance venue is much larger, allowing for a variety of speedy performances. Allen performs a wide range of moves such as averages, power, inverts, rotations, and somersaults. <<<<> Steinhardt was also impressed. Especially in the somersaults, Allen performed high jumps and high-speed rotations that only an automaton can do, and he literally performed a performance that was not the work of a human. When the performance was over, the audience gave them a big round of applause and cheers. > >. <> Yes, Liddell had her body wrapped in a tight-fitting orange leotard. > As expected, Liddell also did floor exercises. I thought that the same performance as before would not be very impressive ......, but the audience responded well to the different content and the fact that Liddell was a girl-type. If Allen''s performance was captivating for its power, Liddell''s was captivating for its elegance. After the competition, Liddell received as much applause and cheers as Allen. > < Leela is an adult female model, so her body line is well defined. She is wearing an outfit that exposes her abdomen. (What is it called ......be...... bellydance,right?) ) Yes, with the command to "begin," Leela performed a dance that had her hips curving and her shoulders moving in a bewitching manner. It''s a s*xy dance, but that''s only on the surface. (Well, it''s because the joints and musculature are similar to those of humans, isn''t it? (Well, the control formula is also very well done.) From Jin''s point of view, this is how he evaluates the dance. This, too, was met with a round of applause at the end of the session. <> > <<>> he said. <<><> <<> Clark moves with his sword at the signal to begin. <<> The sword dance was aptly described as a sword dance. The sword dance was a brave one-handed sword dance with a sword so large that no human could have wielded it. When the performance was over, the hall was filled with cheers from the audience. > <<> <> It is a box-like resonator with a handle and strings, very similar to a guitar. It is very similar to a guitar, except that it has five strings. <> Silas bowed and began to strum the strings. First a quiet tune. (Well, your fingers are moving dexterously. (Hmmm, your fingers are moving dexterously.) (Hmmm, your fingers are moving dexterously. The quiet song ended after about a minute and a half, followed by an up-tempo, joyful song. The finger movements become more and more intense as the song progresses. With less than 2 minutes to go, the third and most intense song was played. 64 beats!) Jin was impressed by the production technique that made this superb technique possible. In this case, 64 beats can be thought of as the number of rhythmic divisions in a bar. This is a stringed instrument similar to a guitar, but it sounds like a violin. (Well, that''s quite something.) Jin, who is not familiar with music, was frankly impressed with the sound. This also ended up being a great success. > << << <<> <<> Alice danced to the quiet music. Her dark brown hair, which reached to her back, danced gracefully with her movements. <> In modern Japan, it would be called <. It requires a partner, but Alice was dancing alone. Not just dancing. Yes, Alice is dancing as if she has a partner. Zion naturally asks a question. Stayhardt answers her question. That was correct. The dance with such balancing skills is nothing short of magnificent. > Sion looks at her in parental admiration. Five minutes pass and the performance is over. She bows in curtsey and the entire hall shakes with applause and cheers. Rubina had a smile on her face, as if she was satisfied with what she had done. 1883 - - 50-24 Specialties (3) > Just by saying so, the audience burst into applause. (Wow! ......) As for Jin, he was under nothing but pressure. The saving grace is that Reiko, who is performing, is unperturbed. "Well, I''m off." Reiko said shortly and walked to the performance hall. In the center of the hall, she made a curtsey bow to the audience, who applauded her. > As if on cue, Reiko began to sing. "...... the cherry blossoms that bloom and fall, who do they go to on the wind?" Then she began to dance with graceful movements. Reiko has had this ability ever since she met Reinhardt''s , a gift from him to his fiance and future wife, Berthe. "What do you think of, maidens in the wind of falling flowers, the days of your childhood that pass in a moment, or the feelings of your ardent bosom? Their movements are more like dancing than dancing. "Time goes by, flowers fall, but what should I do with these feelings?" Reiko moved around the performance hall dancing with fluid movements. Unlike humans, she is able to sing and move without losing her breath, which is an advantage. I''ve never heard it before, says Zion. "The flowers have bloomed again this year, but you are far away in the sky..." The audience is listening to Reiko''s song and watching her dance. "I want to cherish this moment, believing that it will continue into the future. ......" The speed of the dance slows down even more and Reiko returns to the center of the performance hall. The time limit is up. Reiko bowed slowly. The audience cheered and applauded. > << > Momoko also walks to the center of the performance hall and stands naturally. > Momoko bows loosely in her curtsey and begins her performance. <<> Momoko pulls out a knife from under her skirt and starts juggling. She juggled 20 knives. "This is amazing," she says. She looks like a street performer, but what she is doing is incredible. Each of the 20 knives is spinning in the air at high speed like a propeller and moving in turn like a cue ball. It is an impossible feat unless one has excellent dynamic vision and reaction time. Moreover, the height of his throws increased with time, until finally he reached about 5 meters. > After about two minutes had passed, Momoko quickly backed away. Before she could do so, 20 knives fell and stood in a clean straight line on the ground. Momoko then began her next move. It was an acrobatic juggling act. Unlike the floor exercise, the emphasis is on jumping and twisting in the air. It was as if she were jumping on a trampoline. It is noteworthy that despite the intense movements, the dancers'' clothes are not disheveled. Even though she was wearing a skirt, it was not billowing, and she had what is called an "ironclad" defense. After about two minutes of such acrobatics, Momoko jumped up and spun around in the air, landing beautifully. > Momoko then spent the remaining minute performing an up-tempo dance. Zion summed up. Momoko bowed to the audience as the time limit expired, and was given a hearty round of applause. , and the last one is number 13, Hanako of Marikka-sama! >> Hanako stands on the stage to loud applause. The knife used by Momoko has been put away neatly. << Now let''s start ......! >> Hanako starts to move slowly. But... <<> <> "I''m thinking of marrying off my daughter. "Well, how about marrying her off to the most high and mighty of the heavenly deities?" < If you know what you are doing, you will be more interested in it, and it will be easier to understand the contents. "...... What?I''m better than the clouds because the clouds hide me?" "Then, let''s ask Mr. Cloud to marry you." (Ah, the mouse''s marriage.) Jin, who had been listening to the line, was struck by it. You are quite good.) A monologue depends on how one can express multiple beings through acting. "...... you say that Kaze-san is better than Kumo-san because Kumo-san is blown away by the wind?" "Well, let''s go to Mr. Wind." Most of the audience had never heard of this old tale before, and they listened intently, their eyes fixed on the story. "...... What?No matter how hard the wind blows, the wall will always protect you, so you are better than him?" "Then, let''s go to the wall to build a frame. This is one of the old stories that Jin told Vivian. (I wonder if there were other members at that time. ......) At least Marikka seemed to have heard and remembered it. "...... what?No matter how strong Mr. Wall is, the rats are better than him because they can make holes in him?" "Oh, so we rats are the best. Then let''s give our daughter in marriage to a mouse. "My childhood friend Chutaro seems to be the older of the two." That''s good. "......Thus the mouse''s daughter was to be married to the same mouse." Hanako concluded her speech with a narrative. With about half the time still remaining, Hanako performed the same monologue, this time as . "......Let a dead tree bloom." She concludes her performance by receiving praise and rewards from the lord, and it is just about time to go. Hanako also received thunderous applause and cheers. 1884 - - 50-25 Awards and <> After the applause and cheers have died down, the MC, Ruckhardt, declares, " <> Luckhardt and Stayhardt nodded at each other. < Zion agreed. Fifteen minutes was allotted for scoring. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The results are as follows. Number 1 Natalia Nave 89 points, 5th place, 2nd place in the competition Number 2 Shu, Mary, 88 points, 9th place, 7th place for competitors Number 3 Eugene Melanie, 88 points, 9th place, 7th place in the competition Number 4 Gulina Shalu, 89 points, 5th place, 2nd place for competitor Number 5 Shireen Allen, 88 points, 9th place, 7th place Number 6 Sidney Liddell 89 points, 5th place, 2nd place for competitor Number 7 Werner Leela, 90 points, 2nd place, 1st place for competitor Number 8 Florence Clark, 88 points, 9th place, 7th in the competition Number 9 Elvis Silas, 89 points, 5th place, 2nd place for competitor Number 10 Rubina Alice 89 points, 5th place, 2nd place for competitor Number 11 Reiko Jin 91 points, 1st place Number 12 Rhodes Momoko 90 points 2nd place Number 13 Maricka Hanako 90 points, 2nd place < < (hmmm ......) As for Jin, he thinks that Reiko''s first place is a kind of popularity point. In other words, I could only think that the audience''s favoritism was involved. Jin himself gave it a score of about 85. (Thanks, ......, but it has nothing to do with deciding the winner, so what does it matter?) ) He had to accept this result as a result. Jin had to accept the result as a result. * * * * The rankings were displayed on the large <. Number 1 Natalia 620 points, 2nd place Number 2: Shu Nido, 560 points, 3rd place Number 3 Eugene Faull, 200 points, 10th place ZECKEN 4 Grina Kuzma 360 points, 8th place ZECKEN 5 Shireen Eschenbach 380 points, 7th place Zecken 6 Sidney Marek 480 points, 5th place ZECK 7 Werner Landl 540 points, 4th place ZEC #8 Florence Fahlheit 320 points, 9th place ZECKEN 9 Elvis Alcott 480 points, 5th place Number 10 Rubina Garrett 1260 points, 1st place <> Rubina Garrett wins by a landslide! < << The other competitors were also ranked, but Zion said that they were all top-notch. , but before that, we would like to hear a few words from our special guests, Ms. Jin, Ms. Marikka, and Mr. Rhodes. There was a new round of applause from the audience. Jin Nido first, it seems. < that we have been engaged in since last year has finally come to an end. I joined in the middle of the competition, but I would like to thank everyone for making it so much fun. Jin takes a break there. <>. Since we are too busy every year to have this kind of competition, we hope to have it every two years or so, so that we can continue to add to the number of generations. The audience applauded again. < In response to Jin''s words, the audience gave a loud round of applause and cheers. <<> Rhodes really only had to say one word. When they finished their words, there was another round of applause and cheers from the audience. The three left the MC and commentator''s seats and moved to the podium set up in the stadium. There, the volunteers were leading the contestants, including the winner, Rubina, to line up side by side according to their ranks. From Jin and the others, Rubina is on the right and Eugene is on the left. Jin received a from the who came near him. This was given to the winner, and was prepared by Marikka and <, the controlling magical brain of . There is no silver medal for second place or bronze medal for third place. "Rubina, congratulations on your victory. A medal is placed around Rubina''s neck by Jin''s hand. "Don''t be satisfied with this, but continue to improve your skills. "Yes, Jin-sama! Rubina replied cheerfully, but her eyes were a little moist. Jin then shook hands with each of the second-place finishers. "That''s too bad. But you learned a lot, didn''t you?Keep up the good work." "Yes, Jin-sama." After a brief exchange of ...... with each of them, "I have a small congratulation for all of you who worked so hard. ...... Jin says. "Are you interested? and they all answered in unison, "Yes! >>and they all answered in unison, "Yes! "Yes!Then we will meet tomorrow in the warp gate room. The time is ......, let''s say 8:00 PM." "Master Jin, do you have anything to bring?" Shu asked. "Not really. ...... Oh, you can bring your automata." "Sure!" Everyone nodded, curious to see how Jin would celebrate. 1885 - - 50-26 Rewards On March 2, a little before 8 p.m., Jin promised . "I wonder what Jin-sama''s celebration is all about." "I''m looking forward to it. "It will be 8:00 in a few minutes." Ten people have gathered in the warp gate room. Jin had said that they could bring their automata, but this time, they were all reserved and gathered alone. At exactly 8 o''clock, Jin and Reiko arrived at the warp gate. "Good morning. Everyone is here. "Father, it''s night time here." "Oh, yes, that''s right." The time difference between Horai Island and Onogoro Island is exactly half a day. Jin must have misunderstood because the warp gate room here has no windows. "Well then, let''s get moving. Jin invited everyone to the warp gate from which they had just emerged. "Jin-sama, the warp gate is ......." "Yes. < Wow ......! Even Rubina, Natalia, and Shu, who had visited the island once before, had a twinkle in their eyes. The seven of them, especially those who were visiting for the first time, were in high spirits. "Come on, let''s go!" "Yes!" Following Jin and Reiko, the 10 of us passed through the warp gate. For this time only, it has been readjusted so that it can move directly to Horai Island and react to magic patterns other than Jin''s. Incidentally, if you use it once, you will be able to move to Horai Island. Note that the settings are restored after one use, so that you cannot use it after this time without Jin''s permission. It was 8 o''clock in the morning on Horai Island, beyond the warp gate. He went out of the warp gate room in the basement. Under the blue sky, Jin uttered his customary line. "Welcome to Horai Island. "Wow, so this is Horai Island! Greenina Kuzma, the youngest except for Rubina, cheered. And it seems that the others were the same, whispering words of surprise and joy in their mouths. "The legendary Horai Island: ......" "This is where many magical tools and magical machines (Magi Machines) have been ......" Jin knew how they felt, so he kept quiet for a while, but then he thought it was about time, "Come on, let''s move on." He led everyone to the back of the institute. There they found ....... "What is this? "Is it a big ball ......?" "Is it a spaceship? Yes, there it was, a spherical spaceship 300 meters in diameter, Jin''s flagship <. "As a reward, or rather as a celebration, I thought I would take you to space with it." "Really? I''m so happy! The group was excited and excited again. "Come on, get in." Yes, sir! "Yes! "Oh, wow, we''re flying!" < The magic screens embedded in the floor, ceiling, and walls make it seem as if you are in mid-air. Ars is getting smaller and smaller under our feet. Above my head is a jet-black universe. Adriana is climbing rapidly through the clouds. "There are dangerous electromagnetic waves in space, including cosmic rays, so it''s safer to stay in a room like this, surrounded by wards and metal walls," explains Jin. Jin explains. "We''re almost at an altitude of over 30,000 kilometers. We are in the orbit of a geostationary satellite. It is already pitch black, and countless stars are twinkling. A star shines obliquely below. It is the sun Celan. Its type is G-type, almost the same as that of Sun Sol. It is shining brightly in the blackness of space. "So the planet Hale is on the other side of that Seran ......." Jin nodded his head in agreement with Shu''s words. "Yes, that''s right. The originals migrated to Ars due to the depletion of resources, but on the other hand, it is an easy planet to live on if you can manage to secure resources. "Jin-sama is planning to emigrate, isn''t he?" Jin replied to Eugene Fowle''s words. "Emigration is not quite the same thing. I''m thinking of leaving Ars and using it as a base. A place to hide out, I guess. With a slight smile, "The first priority is to make it livable," he said. I said. "Can we live there too ......?" Florence Fahlheit asked, to which Jin gave a big affirmative. Of course we can. Of course. We have spaceships and warp gates. We can come and go easily, so we don''t have to think too hard about it. "I see. While we were talking, the view of Ars from <> became much smaller. "Well, I''m going to go back around the moon. <> was not ascending vertically, but at an angle to go around the night side, so that the moon (Uni) was already in sight in the direction she was going. "Uh, it''s about 380,000 kilometers, right?" Elvis Alcott asks Jin. "That''s right. Right now, this is flying at about 100 kilometers per second, so it will reach the moon in a little over an hour. < "That''s amazing. ......" Everyone is amazed at the extraordinary speed. "So there are a lot of things we have to be careful about." Jin takes this opportunity to explain a few of the dangers in space. "When you are flying at such high speeds, it is scary when you hit an object," he said. "Oh, I understand." Sidney Marek nodded. The others nodded in silence. "That''s why we fly with repulsive wards, physical barriers (solid barriers), and defensive shields (aigis) deployed. For higher speeds, Jin explained, he also adds a shifting barrier. "Then there are electromagnetic waves and radiation such as cosmic rays and ultraviolet rays. Some of them are so strong that they can only be blocked by adamantite or other materials 15 centimeters thick. That''s why this observatory is sealed, Jin said. Everyone listens to him with great interest. And the moon (Yunie) was getting bigger and bigger. 1886 - - 50-27 Space travel was now about 5000 km from the Moon. At this distance, the surface of the Moon is clearly visible. "The lack of atmosphere should allow us to see it more clearly than on Arus." Everyone nodded silently at Jin''s explanation. "As you know, we are going to redevelop in the near future. We are building the spaceships we need for that on the moon. Jin explains that the lower gravity is more convenient for building huge spacecraft. "So it has that advantage too. ......" The magecraftsmen, all of whom were excellent magecraftsmen, immediately understood Jin''s explanation. "Anyway, we''re trying to carry an entire satellite of a planet so close to Celan that an ordinary spaceship won''t be able to do it," he said. The gravitational pull of a planet so close to Celan would be too great, and it''s only one satellite," said Jin. "......It''s a little hard to imagine. ......" Sidney Marek said. Everyone seemed to agree, nodding their heads in agreement. "Of course, we''ll use gravity magic as well. Of course, we''ll use gravity magic in conjunction with gravity magic, but the proximity to the sun''s sun, Selanium, will be hotter and the radiation from Selanium will be more intense. That''s why it will be completely unmanned, Jin explained. "It will take time to move it. But, as you know, the originator brought the moon here. Jin concluded the conversation by saying that it could be done with a much smaller satellite. "That''s a grand story. ......" "To be honest, I can''t even imagine the challenges that lie ahead." Werner Randall and Eugene Fowle say with a sigh. "But I''m sure that you, Jin-sama, the Magecraft Meister, will be able to accomplish this!" "I''m sure he will. No matter what the difficulties, Jin-sama will surely be able to do it." Florence Fahlheit and Shireen Eschenbach said in unison. "Ha ha, thank you." Jin chuckles at their almost excessive trust. It just so happens that things have been going well so far. Nothing has happened that was beyond my control. "In the first place, I''d like to ask what kind of situation is beyond the control of Jin-sama who is holding Horai Island. To Jin''s words, Rubina refuted them. "Isn''t Jin-sama''s strength that he takes more than enough measures something happens? Rubina''s point was quite right. Reiko, who was standing behind Jin, nodded her head in agreement. "I''m sure the great thing about Jin-sama is that he created <> or <> ......." said Natalia. Natalia said. "Yes, that''s right. They knew the limitations of the individual and increased the number of their subordinates to compensate for that ......." Rubina nodded in agreement. "Yes,......." Jin did not have such a clear intention, but it is correct to say that he ...... increased the number of his staff as it became necessary at the time. Or, it should be said that he added more as he thought of them. When <>, <>, <>, <>, <>, <>....... Jin could not have done all of them by himself. Reiko, Laokun, Gengshen, Taishaku, Guru, and Sky, Land, Marine, Mermaid, Smith, Astro, Cosmos, Finger, Sam, Shinobi Troop....... Plus Soleil and Luna, Prane, Satella, Butler, Steward, 5-color Golem Maid, Anne, Lol, and Lefa who support us in our daily lives: ....... Not to forget the members of the and friends and acquaintances from all over the world. Jin, who thought he was a loner, has realized once again that before he knew it, he had formed countless bonds. "......I know this is a bit off topic, but I wanted you guys to know the world and the universe. Just as I have accomplished what I could not do individually with the help of Horaijima, I want you to accomplish what you can do with your friends. What that is, I don''t know yet." "......" Everyone swallowed their words as if chewing on them, "Yes!" Rubina replied cheerfully. "I may not be able to protect the peace of the world like Jin-sama, but I don''t have a ...... wide face." Rubina said something like this, and Jin replied, "I don''t have a wide face, "My motive is just that the world must be at peace in order for me to make the things I like to make. He explained, thinking back to those days. Elvis Alcott responded, "I don''t think it''s the motive. It''s the result that people evaluate. He convinced everyone by saying, "It''s true that I protected the world as a result. "Surely, as a result, I have protected the world. Jin has no objection to that. "......Well, anyway, I hope you can understand how ridiculous it is to fight amongst your own kind in a small world." Except for competitions like the last one," Jin said, looking around at the faces of the others. "Of course!" "Yes, please!" They all answered without a pause, which made Jin feel relieved. went halfway around the moon and took the course back to Ars. Ars was approaching us, "Jin-sama, I learned a lot today," he said. "I never thought it would be so shocking to see our world from the outside. "I feel more familiar with the world I grew up in. I feel more connected to the world I grew up in. I''m glad to hear that. I know I''ve said a lot of things that are out of the ordinary, but I hope you''ve learned something from this space flight. That was Jin''s true feeling. Everyone feels differently. It was not an intrusive wish that he wanted them to feel this way, but rather a hope that it would benefit them in some small way. "Rubina Garrett, the first MagiCraft Queen." "Yes, yes!" Jin gently tells Rubina, who is suddenly embarrassed by the formal call. "You should continue to make use of your ideas. But don''t forget to consider various aspects. "Yes, sir!" Natalia. Natalia. You''ve done a lot of work outside of your field. I''m sure you''ll use that experience in your shipbuilding. Try to keep an open mind. Yes, thank you, sir. Shu Nido. Yes, sir! Your style is solid. I want you to make the most of it and learn to take on new challenges. Thank you very much. Werner Randall. Yes. "The style of the first half of the competition was different from the second half. You have to be flexible and think outside the box. Yes, sir! Sidney Marek. Yes, sir! "As I advised you last time, don''t be satisfied with your ideas, but try to sublimate them, and I think you will achieve even greater heights." "Thank you very much!" Elvis Alcott. Yes. "I can see that you have grown in your technical skills throughout the competition. Keep up the good work. Yes, thank you! Jin took this opportunity to once again give advice to each of the participants. Shireen Eschenbach. Yes! "Sometimes, in making things, it is important to be imaginative. Do your best to use both solidity and eccentricity. Thank you, sir. Greenwich Kuzma. Yes! I like your sense of design. I like your sense of design. Keep that sense of design and make products that make the most of their functions. Yes, I understand.Thank you very much. Florence Fahlheit. Yes. "I think it''s a good idea to develop the technology to realize your ideas and to devise the ideas as well. It is important not only to study, but also to gain experience. "Thank you!" Eugene Faull. "Yes, sir." "I came tenth overall in the competition, but that does not mean that I am inferior to the others. However, it would be good to be able to bring out one thing that you have to offer. What that is, you will have to find out for yourself. "I''ll do my best! "Well guys, I know this tournament started on my own initiative, but it was fun to watch and to be a part of it." After he had finished speaking to everyone, Jin looked around at everyone again and made a general comment. "I had fun, too! A cheerful Rubina declared. "I see. Did everyone have a good time? The remaining nine members nodded their heads in agreement. "That''s good to hear. My motto for making things can be summed up in one word: Have fun. I hope you all continue to enjoy making things. Those were the last words Jin wanted to say. Ars approached, shining with the color of blue hope. 1887 - - 51-01 To Hale March 5, 3900. Jin was preparing to go to <>. Now that he has a better idea of how to complete the spaceship, he decides to take his plan one step further. "What about the warp gate bridge?" < "I see." The distance from our home planet Arus to the sun Celan is about 150 million kilometers. This is about the same distance as the distance between the earth and the sun in the Sol solar system. This means that the distance to Hail, which is on the other side of Serran, is about 300 million kilometers. However, since it is a distance, it is a straight line. In this case, it is nearly impossible to connect Ars and Hail in a straight line, since the sun Serran is in between. Therefore, a detour course is taken. In this case, taking into account the radiation from the solar celan and the concentration of free magical elements (ether), it is reasonable to fly along the orbits of Ars and Hale, and the distance is estimated to be 407 The distance is estimated to be as long as 407 million kilometers. The top speed of Jin''s Starfleet flagship, the Adriana, is 400 kilometers per second, which would take nearly 14 days. Therefore, Jin has set up a base at a relatively stable point called <> in the orbit of Ars Hale. There are three bases. The bases are located at 2 o''clock, 3 o''clock, and 4 o''clock when Hale is at 12 o''clock and Ars is at 6 o''clock, as seen from the north pole of the sky. The bases at 2 and 4 o''clock were placed by , not by Jin. Jin placed the base at 3 o''clock. However, the 3 o''clock position is not a <, so the position is maintained by using the <>. And now, the base of has regained full functionality. In other words, there are two systems of warp gate bridges. This provides safety and certainty that even the old man could agree with. Let''s go there. At 9:00 a.m. Horai Island time, Jin and Reiko boarded the <>. "<>, let''s go! Jin gives the order without hesitation. floats up like a feather. She is followed by the Vulcan. A craft 100 meters in diameter. The two vessels rise rapidly and disappear into the blue sky. The first warp gate is on the moon. We had considered placing it on Arus, but we chose the moon as a precautionary measure. "It would be horrifying to wander off in the flesh," he says. The destination is the vacuum of space. Even a golem that does not need to breathe would have difficulty returning home unless it has a <>. By the way, there is also a warp gate of a size for a human or a work golem on the <>. When I guided the 700672 before, I used that one. The reason why we are going by <> this time is for Jin''s mood and also to see how the spaceship is going to be sent in the future. Also, Jin insisted on not using the <>. The old man also allowed Jin to go to Hale in the flesh because he was sure that he had sufficient safety assurance. The huge warp gate exists at the L2 Lagrangian point of the moon (UNY), i.e., on the night side. It is a huge structure rising on a disk 1 kilometer in diameter and 200 meters thick. The gate is 700 meters wide and 700 meters high. Considering its placement on the Arus, it is not difficult to imagine how difficult it would be to maintain. "Okay, enter the warp gate." The Great Sage replied shortly, and first of all, disappeared into the warp gate. Two seconds later, it was reported that he had entered the receiving side without any problems, and <> also disappeared into the warp gate. * * * * * * * * * * The two ships were in orbit around the planet Hale just after 7:00 p.m. on March 5, Horai Island time, without any problems in traveling through the warp gate. "Now ......." Jin wondered if he should land or not. "Father, why don''t you rest here for now and land in the morning? Reiko advised Jin. If they landed on the day side of Hale, they could still be active, but that would cut into Jin''s sleep time, so Reiko recommended that they adjust their activities to Horai Island''s clock. "So be it." Jin, who understood Reiko''s feelings, nodded his head and spent the night in the bedroom in <>. The day after tomorrow, March 6th in the Ars calendar. At 6:00 a.m. on the ship, which was aligned with Horai Island, Jin gave the order to land. The destination was the point on Hale at approximately 6:00 a.m. Incidentally, Hale is located in the middle of the Arusian archipelago. Incidentally, there is only one large continent in Hale. There are many small islands, but only one that can be called a continent. The ratio of oceans to continents is approximately 5 to 5. When he had visited before, the sea was only about 20%. Jin wondered if the water had been increased by some kind of technology. He would ask about this later. However, I think that 50% of the oceans is a small percentage ....... The Earth was so rich in water that it is called the water planet, and the same is true of Ars. Here on Arus, the continent is so large that the interior is an arid desert area, uninhabited and mined. "Speaking of which, do you have a map?" Normally, I should have checked this earlier, but since the operation of <> is left to the general magic brain, this was the right time to do so. < < "I see." < to a plateau on the eastern edge of the continent. It is just morning there. "...... is it greener than I thought it would be?" "Is that so?" <, he has planted, nurtured, and increased the number of plants native to Hale at the recommendation of 700672. "They are managed by a golem named <>." When Jin heard the name, he wondered if it came from forestry. There are <, and they are working hard to cultivate plants all over the continent. Of course, it was the master (Mylord) who created them 400 years ago. "I knew it!" I thought so when I heard the name. Then he realized that this was also something that the old man had kept secret so that Jin could see it with his own eyes. "Hmmm......... But then, are you able to adjust the precipitation?" < used to use it, and we have maintained it and are using it. "So that''s how it is." Water is indispensable for the growth of plants. < knew this and seems to have controlled the weather to some extent. "I see, so there is such a cycle." If we look at Hale as a whole, there is no lack of water, so this explanation makes sense. Jin imagined that <> probably controlled the weather mainly in the arid regions in the center of the continent. While we were talking about this, < was getting ready to land. The site is a plateau about 500 meters above sea level, close to the east coast. It is near the Tropic of Cancer, and the season is early spring. In this respect, the seasons of Arus and Hale seem to be synchronized. The landing site is a flat, leveled area of about two kilometers square. < The Great Sage explained. "I see...400 years ago, I would have predicted that we would use Hale for some purpose." Jin imagines several possibilities, including the idea of housing the 700672. He is quite sure of his own credibility. "Well, let''s go down there. He looks around and sees several golems, probably <>, gathered around. < "Okay. Reiko, let''s go. "Okay." Once again, Jin stepped out onto the land of the planet Hale. 1888 - - 51-02 Hail patrol "We have been waiting for you, master." As Jin stepped outside, the assembled golems greeted him. I am , and these are the leaders of the sub-groups from 101 to 110. The to are the leaders of a small group of 10 each, scattered throughout the continent. < were golems of the same type as the Rand or Smith squads. It was made of 64 light silver with a moss green exterior, suggesting that it was a forestry type golem. "Thanks for your hard work. It''s a pleasure to meet you. "Yes, the old man has explained to me that the current master is undoubtedly himself, but he is a duplicate. "I see. That''s all right then." The old man did the right thing. "Now, can you tell me what''s going on?" "Yes, sir. This way, please. Indeed, there is not much greenery near the spaceport and, therefore, not much to see. Fores1 leads Jin to the spaceport. Ahead of them is a six-wheeled vehicle for transportation. It is the same model as the one used in Horai Island. "Here we go." After confirming that Jin and Reiko had gotten on board, Forest1 started the 6-wheeler. The 6-wheeler moves forward with some dust and sand. First, they came to a place where reddish-purple flowers were in full bloom. Fores1 stopped the car. "Is this ...... a Rengeko?" "Yes, Master. This is a planned rice field. We are planting the lentil until the day it becomes fully operational. The rhizobium bacteria, which produce rhizomes, live in symbiosis with the roots of the Japanese milk vetch. The rhizobium symbiotically grows on the roots of leguminous plants, fixing nitrogen in the air, supplying nitrogen fertilizer to the plants, and obtaining carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis from the plants. The rhizobia are found in the bumps on the roots of leguminous plants. In ancient Japan, when rice was cultivated in rice paddies, rhizobium was cultivated in the spring before the paddies were flooded, and then tilled together with the soil so that nitrogen fertilizer fixed by rhizobium could be distributed to the soil. This method is used on Horai Island, and preparations are being made here in Hale. "Okay. Keep working on it." Jin is satisfied and wants to see what happens next. Fores1 drives away again. A large area of potential rice paddies with lotus flowers had been secured. "We will have enough water for irrigation. He said that there were enough satellites in orbit for weather control and that they were in good working order. The satellites were originally used by the , so there are no environmental problems. "We''ve been working for over a hundred years to bring Hale''s weather closer to what it used to be." "I see." < abandoned Hale, and they are gradually returning the climate to the way it was 100 years ago, because it would be risky to suddenly return the climate to the way it was in ancient times. "Perhaps that''s why the air here feels richer than when I first came here a long time ago." "Yes. When I first came here, the humidity was around 20 percent, but now it has increased to around 40 percent. He told me that the humidity would be higher in the rain. "That''s good. Keep it up." "Okay, sir." The six-wheeler passed through a potential rice paddy field and approached a field. "As you can see, this is a field. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, taros and other potatoes, radishes, carrots, burdocks and other root crops are here. "You don''t say ''topopo'' or ''itopo''?" "Yes, Master. I don''t think it''s necessary to adapt to Ars. Jin welcomed this, since the names he used in modern Japan were more familiar to him. This is leafy vegetables. And over there are melons. In other words, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons, melons, and so on. The other fields were ready for beans, eggplants, and tomatoes, to Jin''s satisfaction. "That''s an orchard over there," said Jin. We are starting to grow apples, tangerines, lemons, peaches, cherries, grapes, loquats, walnuts, chestnuts, and many others. Fruit trees cannot be harvested until several years after they are planted, so they are starting early. The harvested fruits are transported to Horai Island. "The nutritional value, taste, etc. are the same as those from Arus. "I am glad to hear that." "It would take too much time to go there, so I will explain about the forestry here. He told us that the species of native trees were not so different from those in Arus. "Some of them seem to be endemic to Ars, but we didn''t have them here, so we brought seedlings and planted them here. The trees were tsuga, yew, and camellia. Tsuga is used as a building material and yew as a craft material. Camellia is used to extract camellia oil from the fruit. I understand. Fisheries are mostly untouched, with a few exceptions. By "some," he means the river fish and the preparation of fish ponds. "Okay. We need a marine unit and a mermaid unit." Jin thought of preparing a dedicated navy and underwater force for Hale. That''s all I have to report. "Thank you." Jin returned to the spaceport in his six-wheeler and thanked Forres 1 for his efforts. "If the redevelopment has progressed this far, I think we can take it one step further. The navy and the underwater forces. Basically, the military of Horai Island is treated like a military of the Tonden, so they are engaged in agriculture, fishing, forestry, etc. during normal times. This will be made in Horai Island and sent in through the transition gate (warp gate). * * * * <, Jin looked around other areas. Of course in . As a result, the other areas were developing at about the same level. It turned out that the increase in the area of the sea was due to the melting of the large amount of ice in the polar regions. "You said you heard that <> turned the water into ice on purpose?" <, Jin was explained by the old man. > According to the explanation, in order to efficiently mine and utilize the resources at the bottom of the sea, the water of the sea was once frozen and stored in the satellite orbit. They found it, thawed it out, and gradually increased the seawater ...... and returned it to its original state. If they had done it all at once, the coastline might have been eroded and collapsed, so they did it slowly. "<> must have been very reckless. ...... Jin imagined that this might have caused the air on the planet to become dry. He also reconfirmed that few facilities remain on the ground. The only exception is a broken dome in the eastern part of the continent. The last of the Hailites, , rests in eternal sleep on a man-made satellite, . With the remnants of a nanny homunculus <> who remained faithful to the end. But the sea ice was in a more distant orbit. "The sea water was stored in ice form in orbit farther away than any satellite we know of. In the same orbit, the weather control satellites and their controlling magical brains were also stored in a dormant form." "I didn''t know that. ......" They were discovered in the last years of Jin''s life when he returned 400 years ago. It is no wonder that the present Jin does not know about them. At any rate, Jin was relieved to see that the redevelopment of the planet Hale was going well. 1889 - - 51-03 Atlas First, Jin looked around Hale, and then soaked himself in the hot water in the bathroom of <>. "Father, are you tired?" "No, I''m fine." <, so Jin is soaking himself in the bathtub, but he is still mentally tired. "<> must have been messing around with Hale quite a bit." "That''s what I''d say. ......400 years,...... no,35 No, about 3500 years ago, Mr. 700672 visited Hale several times and helped restore the environment to its original state. He visited us several times about 350 years ago and helped us to restore the environment of Hale." "I didn''t know that." Jin wondered which planet would seem more like a home planet to No. 700672, Hale then or Hale now. "Wasn''t the ......700672 born on Hale? " Jin had forgotten which one it was, though he thought he had heard about it a long time ago. "Either way, if No. 700672 is good, I guess it''s good. Jin, who was tired, stopped thinking at that point. Instead, he stretched his arms and legs in the bathtub. "I wonder if there are hot springs on Hale?" Since the planet is older than Ars, it is likely to have solids deep underground. If so, I wonder what the geothermal heat is like. If the geothermal heat is low, we can''t expect hot springs. "But if the pressure is high, the temperature will increase. ......?" Jin was eagerly thinking about the hot spring. "Well, father, let''s have the borehole drilled to investigate." "Yes. Oh, we can find out what''s going on underground by doing a ground search. "...... I think it''s time for you to come up, father." Hmm?Uh, yeah, sure. ......" Jin finished his bath at a reasonable time, because soaking in the hot water for too long would make him too hot. After the bath, Jin drinks Persian juice. "Ah, it''s so good! The cool juice soaks into his burning body. Jin sighs in relief. Jin sleeps in the cabin of the that night. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, Jin woke up at 6:00 a.m., the ship''s time according to Horai Island, and had breakfast in the ship''s mess. "By the way, were there any living creatures in the melted seawater?" Jin asked, although he did not think there were any living creatures in the dissolved seawater. The answer was given by . < "That''s good to know." It would be a shame to have a pandemic ...... of past pathogens in the restored seawater. Elsa, the rare healer, Jin''s disciple and beloved wife, is no longer with us. "In this way, the only thing needed for migration is resources ......." And that, too, can be brought in from Ars, if not on a large scale. "We should be ready to go to Gipert by now." According to the report from the old man and the moon''s magical brain, a special space ship will be completed today or tomorrow. Jin is going to go back through the warp gate to check it out. "I think I''ll name it ......<>." It is also named after one of the Pleiades Islands in Ars, originally a giant god in Greek mythology who is said to bear the sky on his back at the western edge of the world. He chose this name because he wanted to move one of the satellites. After breakfast, Jin contacted Moon (UNY) and learned that the special space ship had been completed. The timing was perfect. "Okay, let''s go back." Jin makes an immediate decision and heads for the moon with Reiko via the warp gate. The bridge between the relay station and the warp gate works fine, and within a few minutes, Jin is standing in the basement of the moon, in the command center. Welcome, Mr. Jin! A completed space ship is projected on the large magic screen in the control room. What is the name of your space ship? Jin answered "" as planned. I understand. I''ll start the chopping right away. A work golem appeared to be standing by, and in no time at all the word was written in gold letters on the ship''s hull. All preliminary tests have been completed. Everything is fine. "Well, you did a good job." The control brain has not been set up yet, so please set it up now. I understand. <, but they are minimal. The central bridge is also very small for a ship 300 meters in diameter, with only a four-and-a-half-mat room. Jin headed for the central bridge. After moving by the warp gate, he walked down the corridor to the central bridge. The distance is only about 10 meters. As I mentioned before, most of <>''s body is made up of propulsion units, namely the > and . The crew consists of 10 space golems, <> 601 to 700. The crew consists of 10 space golems, <>, 601 to 700 in number. They are matt gold in color and can use engineering magic. They also had a built-in force-field generator, <>. Welcome to the site! Welcome! The management brain of welcomes Jin as he climbs aboard. "We''re going to set up the command authority now. Are you ready?" Yes, sir. "Okay. ......<>set<<>. ......<>,1st Nidou Jin, 2nd Laokun, 3rd Reiko, 4th Jack." Master, you''re all set. "From now on, you are ......<>." Sakata no Kintoki, said to be the adult form of the mighty Kintaro, was discovered by Minamoto no Raiko, and legend has it that he was one of the Four Heavenly Kings who vanquished the Shuten-doko (the child who swallowed alcohol) on Mount Oe. As a side note, the name "Kintoki" is a synonym for "strong man" in the Mt. "Yes, I am Kintoki, my lord. I''m counting on you now. "Yes, I''m at your service. With this, Jin has taken control of Atlas. Jin returns to the moon through the warp gate, "Send <> to Hale. Now it''s time to start the project." You may use the Warp Gate Bridge, which allows spaceships to pass through, but this time, as a final test for <>, you will navigate to Hale on your own. <, the can reach a maximum speed of 5,000 kilometers per second. It can fly 470 million kilometers between Ars and Hale in one day. The Atlas can fly 470 million kilometers between Ars and Hael in one day. The convoy <<<>, which cannot reach such a speed, will use the warp gate bridge to join the convoy at Hale. Yes, sir. Jack will take care of the rest. "Then, I''m counting on you." Jin uses the warp gate to return to the planet Hale. "Father, welcome home." < Reiko and the Great Sage greeted them on Hale. "The plan is about to go into effect. I''m looking forward to it." Jin muttered to no one in particular, and thought about the future of Hale. 1890 - - 51-04 Deferred < arrives, Jin decides to take around Hale. Of course, at low altitude. He thought he might discover or rediscover something unexpected. Since we will be flying in the atmosphere, we will not go faster than the speed of sound, but only about 300 km/h, and will fly at an altitude of about 1,000 The size of the Hale is about the same as the Aluminum Hale. "Hale is much bigger than Ars, isn''t it?" answered. "That''s ...... probably about the same as the earth." I remember from memory that one circumference is about 40,000 kilometers, because it was often used as an analogy for the mileage of a car. Divide 40,000 by 3.14, the approximate value of pi, and you get about 1273 9. "Then, to complete one lap at this speed, ......" "133 hours and a bit, father." Now Reiko replies. "Does it take that long ......?" Ars can go around in just one day, but the larger Hale would take more than five times as long. Let''s make it so that it takes just one full day to go around, Jin said. The speed is about Mach 1.3, so we can deal with it by using a wind shield. With this boundary, there will be no sonic boom, so the effect on the surroundings will be small and safe. "There are not many oceans after all." The view of half land and half sea is a little strange to Jin. In addition, it was the first time for him to see the view of Hale, which has only one huge continent. "The center of the continent is still a wasteland. tells us. "I see." The planet Hale also appears to have had an iron-rich crustal composition. "What metal resources are in short supply?" < "I see... ...... is indispensable for a magical civilization." I can see why it has become difficult to maintain civilization. "Why didn''t they try to extract it from the earth''s crust?" That''s what they found out from the original records of 700672. "I wonder if that''s the way it is." As one would expect, Jin''s knowledge does not include an answer to the question of what would happen if we mined so deeply that we reached the mantle. However, it seems that the old, old race of had guessed what dangers there might be. There is no mithril silver deep in the earth''s crust to begin with. "I guess the satellites of Zipert are rich in such resources." Jin thinks about the resource procurement project that will be started soon. "Near Sun Selangor... ...... what kind of problems do they have?" He wonders to himself, not to anyone else, "Right." Jin recalls his discussion with No. 700672. "<> has also applied a little bit of sub-free elemental ether wave. Sub-free elemental (etheric) waves are not affected by free elemental (etheric) waves. Jin used the sub-free ether wave for the carrier wave of the free ether wave communication. The image is similar to that of a radio. The low frequency wave of voice is carried on the wave of kilohertz and megahertz. If this plan worked, Jin intended to improve < using sub-free magical element (ether) technology. "That''s going to happen." The flight will be made while taking data on the free ether that exists in space. The only thing we know about the second planet Dipart is that its orbital period is about 224 days and its orbital radius is about 180 million kilometers. The data obtained from the data sheet No. 700672 are as follows. These are the data obtained from the data of 700672. In other words, they are the data measured by . "Now, the current position of Zipert is not the closest, but it is relatively close, so that helps." However, with the speed of Jin''s spaceship, distance is not a problem. "It is still a question of how much noise protection we have against the noise of the free-magic wave. It is said that the strength of the noise is such that ordinary magic machines and magic tools will malfunction across the board. In other words, this is a space dominated by noise stronger than the <> designed to operate on Ars, and the signal strength flowing through it. "So we use sub-free elemental ether waves, but we are not quite in control of them yet. < is doing and what condition it is in. Furthermore, in case of trouble, Jin can give direct instructions. Specifically, he can give an order to <. It is important to be able to avoid troubles that could result in the loss of valuable spacecraft. "I wonder if there''s anything you''ve forgotten already ......" When he thinks that the plan is about to go into effect, he wonders if there is anything he has left out or overlooked. It''s in Jin''s nature. "Father, I see an interesting terrain. Reiko called out to Jin who was lost in thought. "Let''s see... ........." Below us is the inland sea. <. The Mediterranean Sea corresponds to it on Earth. The Mediterranean Sea is bordered by the sea only on the northern side of the continent. When there was little seawater, it used to be a saltwater lake. . "I see." It would probably take centuries just to study the flora and fauna of Hale, since it has changed so much since the time of the . I will have to discuss such matters with the 700672. While flying over Hale in this way, Jin is also looking for a place to set up his base. "I think 700672 would like that island in the Inland Sea," he says. Jin himself likes the isolated island off the east coast. An island, isolated by the sea, is the perfect place for seclusion. "But the number of bases is increasing. ......" Horai Island, Kunlun Island, Loisart''s house. Kaina village, Yuny''s base, and here in Hale. There is also Cape Magus, which is associated with Shuki Tsetsi, and Tsetsi Island. All of them are controlled by golems and automata. According to Jin''s knowledge, during the bubble era at the end of the 20th century, many villas were built near tourist spots, but when the bubble burst, they were abandoned and neglected, and abandoned villas were scattered here and there. < "You don''t want to be like that. ......" Knowing the loneliness of abandoned places, Jin had to be careful in choosing his base. To begin with, Jin is a man who values one thing. Therefore, his companion automata is Reiko, and his base of operations is Horaijima. The reason why he started the redevelopment of Hale is, for one thing, because of his own body, which has become a , and also because of the 700672. and the 700672. There is also the matter of the descendants of the on . If the magic technology in Ars advances, the existence of and will be known someday. Jin is thinking about what he will do when that happens. It can be said that he has started to worry about it because his life span might have become semi-eternal. "There is still time, so I''ll take my time and think about it. For the time being, Jin made a compromise in the name of postponement. 1891 - - 51-05 Topography of Hale "This is an old planet after all. Jin observes the topography of Hale as he tours the planet in . According to him, the topography of Hale is generally gentle. This is due to the geological concept of <>. Simply put, the Himalayas and Alps on the earth are mature landforms, where sharp rocky peaks rise high due to uplift and erosion, while those that have been weathered and eroded to become rounded and smooth in their convexities are called senile landforms. In Japan, the Kitakami Mountains are similar to these landforms. Here in Hale, the mountains were also rounded by such erosion, and we could see that they were in the process of changing from a mature landform to an old age landform. "......I see the <......<." A huge basin centered near the equator of the continent. The center of the basin is a mine where ore was once mined. Nowadays, the mines are abandoned because the ore has been mined to a profitable level. The area is in the middle of a huge continent, so there is almost no rainfall. There are no plants or animals in the basin. "It would be nice to bring a resource satellite here, wouldn''t it?" < Jin had planned to place the resource satellite brought from Zipert in this central basin and make use of it. Fortunately, there are few living creatures in the area, so the impact on the ecosystem is not expected to be significant. "In some cases, we may even crush it." We don''t know what the satellite will look like. Are they spherical, like the moon Uni, or irregularly shaped, like Phobos and Deimos, moons of Mars, the fourth planet in the Sol solar system? I guess we''ll find out when we get there." Jin was looking forward to that time. It was 12 o''clock in the morning, and Jin decided to have lunch. The menu consisted of toast, vegetable soup, bacon and eggs, and kuhe. Jin ate a piece of bread with plenty of marmalade on it. "Yes, it''s good. The staff, including the <>, is making every effort to keep the quality of the food high even on board the ship. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, we went back to observe Hale from the central bridge. "Well, there is a marked difference between areas with vegetation and areas without vegetation. The mining area is surrounded by mountains because it is a basin, and the mountain slopes outside the basin are covered with greenery. More than 70% of the green area is the result of the efforts of <> and others. Forests can also be seen here and there. "If it''s this green, there''s nothing to worry about." It is a joy to see that the surface of the land, which had only a few drought-tolerant plants when Jin visited about 400 years ago, has been transformed into a lush green land. Since few artifacts remain on the surface, it looks like a primitive planet. It is simply that most of the artifacts were taken out of the planet by the originals when they left the planet. What little remained was weathered away, leaving little trace. The last of the Haelians ended their lives on the man-made satellite <. "The plants you planted were originally from Hale, right?" < "Yes, I did." There were quite a few seeds that had been stored at 700672 and Tester''s place, so we used them to grow seedlings and planted them in Hale. The planting site was also 700672. The knowledge of No. 700672 and Tester was also very useful in terms of planting locations. The information about the topography and weather conditions for this plant was very useful. "Was there not much fauna in the area?" "I see. ......" I was afraid to bring in such creatures from Arus because I didn''t know what kind of negative effects they might have. We were afraid to bring such creatures from Arus, because we did not know what kind of negative effects they might have. "And microorganisms of any kind?" Jin, with his limited knowledge of medicine, could not decide whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. However, he decided that if the had lived in such a state for a long time, at least there would be no great harm to them and their descendants. There would be no problem with this closed system of Hale, Jin thought during the flight of <>. In Japan, pulmonary tuberculosis, smallpox, and measles are becoming epidemics of the past, but now there is an epidemic caused by bacteria and viruses brought from abroad. Jin was confronted with an unanswerable question, "Isn''t it enough to eradicate everything just because it is harmful? ....... Reiko''s voice called him out of his reverie. Father, we are just above the basin. "Oh, I see." The huge basin, which had been visible in the distance, was now below us. "It''s still a great view, even after all these years. ......" In Hale, the topography is so large, so huge, that the scale is several times larger than that of the earth. I was never much interested in traveling even when I was in modern Japan, so I was always amazed when I came to this world. "I thought I was getting a little used to it. ......" The scale of Hale is astonishing. It is as different from a box garden or a diorama as a real landscape. Jin noticed something when he looked at such a basin. "Was there a little bit of water in the basin?" The center of the basin was concave, and there was a sign of water in the basin. But the water had seeped into the ground and there was nothing left. "I wonder if it will seep out from the foot of the mountain. ......" Several rivers flow out of the foothills of the mountains that surround the basin. Most of them were probably rainwater that fell on the outer slopes of the basin, but a percentage could be water from within the basin. "It would be bad if there were ...... mineral poisons in the mix." Hopefully it would be filtered out as it passed through the ground, but if it was completely water soluble I wouldn''t hold my breath. "What?...... I knew it." There are some places where copper sulfate and nickel sulfate solutions are seeping out. "I guess it could be used for chemical experiments." Being a chemistry-phobic Jin, he has done little in the way of synthesizing chemicals such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and sodium hydroxide. The only reagent he has is the one he received from No. 700672. The only other thing I have is sodium bicarbonate ...... from some spring water in the village of Kaina. However, with copper sulfate, copper plating is possible without using magic, and with nickel sulfate, nickel plating is possible. (If Saki were here, he would be jumping up and down with joy. ......) (If Saki were here, she would jump up and down and be happy... ) Jin suddenly remembered the old <. And flew over the basin. Since it is aligned with the rotation cycle, it is always around 8:00 a.m. However, the time on the ship moves forward. Jin has dinner in the mess hall, and afterwards he is back on the central bridge looking down at the world below. < is approaching the western edge of the continent, and a huge bay is visible below. The bay is about the size of the Australian continent on Earth. This also gives you an idea of the scale of Hale. "It''s a great view. ......" Jin, who was observing the view below, let out a small sigh. 1892 - - 51-06 Trouble near Zipart Twenty-four hours have passed, and <> has returned to the east coast region, east of the continent of Hale. "Come to think of it, doesn''t this continent have a name?" Jin asked the , wondering about this after all this time. < Surely, if there is no other continent, there is no need to distinguish between them. "Hmmm ......" Jin also knows that the naming of <> is unique ......, and that they don''t seem to be too concerned about the name. "I''d like to name it eventually,...... because it will be hard to distinguish it from the continent of Ars." And that his sense of naming is not very common. For now, he puts the name of the continent behind him and waits in space for <>, who should be arriving any minute now. reports back. "Well, we''re almost there. Did you find anything unusual on the way?" << "That''s good." Ten minutes later, a kilometer away, was stationary in space relative to <>. "Now we can finally start our plan." Jin muttered hopefully. < stands quietly in space, waiting for the time to release its hidden power. The escort ship <<> was also nearby. Jin contacts the control magic brain. "<>, how was your trip?Any problems?" Yes, my lord. There was no problem at all. We can always start the operation. "Okay, the position of <> is not the best, but it''s a good position. First of all, please go slowly. Keep me posted on the situation. Yes, sir. At our current distance of 34 million kilometers, it would take about four days to approach at 100 kilometers per second. It will take about four days to approach at 100 kilometers per second. Now, if Hale is at 12:00 and Ars is at 6:00 from the celestial North Pole (the ecliptic North Pole, to be exact), then the position of Zipert is between 10:00 and 1:00. If Hale is at 12 o''clock and Ars is at 6 o''clock, the position of Gyppert is between 10 o''clock and 1 o''clock. The direction of the orbit is counterclockwise, or leftward, from the celestial north pole (or, more precisely, perpendicular to the plane of the orbit, but an approximate direction will suffice), so the more time passes, the further Gyppert will be from Hale. In this sense, Jin wanted to start the operation as soon as possible. "Yes, that would be fine. <<> will accompany us as much as possible. However, as soon as you start to affect the navigation, turn around and stay at the distance where you will not be affected. Understood. And so, at last, the operation to procure resources from began. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The first two days were uneventful, and Jin was idle, so he spent his free time going around <> and doing maintenance work. < is huge, there is no way that even Jin can maintain everything in two days. But on the third day. Master (My Lord), the destroyer <<<> has stopped its progress due to a malfunction caused by a sudden increase in the concentration of free magical element (ether). Jin immediately went to the central bridge to take command. Jin immediately flies to the central bridge. "I see. So it''s not noise? Yes, my lord. There''s no mistaking the surge in free-magic ether levels. "I see. ......" According to the information left by <>, there was some noise in the free magical element (ether), but I think it was either a misunderstanding, or it has changed over the years. Although we had predicted it to some extent, the information left behind by the <> is scarce, and now, for the first time, we have raw data. "So, how does it feel?" Yes. It is similar to the etheric cloud we encountered before, but it seems to be more concentrated. "I''m sure it is." < was a thousand times higher than the standard concentration of free magical element (ether) around Ars, the force field generator (force generator) and other magical machines (magi) could not be used to generate a free magical element (ether). The force field generator "force generator" and other magical machines malfunctioned across the board. The fact that the destroyers <<> that took countermeasures at that time withdrew from the area due to the danger must mean that the concentration was even higher. You are right. The concentration is about 10,000 times higher. "10,000 ......" <, there is a possibility that magic tools and machines will go out of control even if countermeasures are taken. In fact, sensing the danger, the three convoys withdrew. "I see... ......<> is still different from the record." We don''t know how many tens of thousands of years ago the survey was conducted, but it is reasonable to assume that the situation has changed in the meantime. "How far is it from Serang?" Yes, about 120 million kilometers. Ars Hale is about 150 million kilometers and Zipert is 180 million kilometers. So it is a little closer to Celan than the middle of the two orbits. "Why does the concentration increase so rapidly?" Jin felt that it was strange for the intensity to change so rapidly. "I don''t think so, but the aggregation of free magical elements (ether) is not artificial, is it? Jin feared that Zipert might have a civilization and might be collecting free magical elements (ether) for some purpose. We don''t know that at the moment. We won''t know until we get to Gipert. But there are a few things that we can determine that it is spontaneous. What are they? First, the size of the area. It''s too big. It''s too large an area. Perhaps the entire spherical area with a radius of 120 million kilometers has this concentration. "If you''re right, then it certainly doesn''t seem artificial." Filling such a tremendous space with free magic element (ether) is insane. Even before that, it was inconceivable that such a thing could be done by human hands. We have <<<> measuring the area, and so far there is no doubt that the free magic elements (ether) are coagulated within a spherical area. "Hmmm ......" We don''t even know the details of the formation of free magic element (ether), so we can''t even begin to think about why it is in such a high concentration ....... "Okay. Keep measuring the range of high free element (ether) areas. And <> is safe? Yes. It wasn''t free-magic noise, but the measures we''ve taken are working. "I''m glad to hear that." At this point, Jin mentioned something else that had been bothering him. "Is there such a thing as the concentration getting higher as we get closer to the dipat?" To this question, answered immediately. No, that does not seem to be the case. We are connected to < by sub-free magical element (ether) wave communication, but the concentration suddenly increases, and after that, it remains almost constant. "Hmmm ......." Jin groaned again. "Reduce the speed of the <> to half and make it more alert to its surroundings." I understand. I''ll contact you as soon as possible. Jin thought that he would have to act more carefully now that he did not know why the concentration of free magical element (ether) was so high. The plan was for a little less than a day, but it will take two days. Is that all right? "Of course." Jin thinks. It is almost certain that it is the sun''s cerane that is generating this high concentration of free magical element (ether). Free magic element (ether) is a clean energy source that can be converted into various physical energies. It is very interesting to know what kind of reactions are taking place in the solar cerane. 1893 - - 51-07 Zipart and its satellites < During that time, <>''s magic brain <> has been in constant communication with <>''s magic brain <>. According to the report, the concentration of free magical element (ether) has hardly changed at all. "Hmm, the concentration does not increase as we get closer to Serang, does it? Hearing this, Jin was a little relieved. He did not know what would happen to the <> if the concentration increased even more than it was now. The destroyer <<<> is continuing to measure the boundary where the concentration of free magical element (ether) changes rapidly, but so far it has been limited to a spherical area with a radius of 120 million kilometers centered on the sun Celan. The results confirm the assumption of a spherical area with a radius of 120 million kilometers centered on the sun Celan. "I''d like to investigate this one too," he said. This is a somewhat worrisome figure. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Another day passed. Jin was still working on developing a more effective <. "It''s a Magi-type material, after all. Magi material is the name given to a combination of metallic materials with mithril silver added and materials of powerful demons. It has a high conductivity of free magic element (ether), contains abundant free magic element (ether) itself, and can bind free magic element (ether) in a web by magic power ...... free magic element (ether) wave. Of course, this does not interfere with matter. This is because free magic elements (ether) as particles are smaller than elementary particles. But if the eyes of this are small enough, the structure of the matter it encloses will be solid. At the same time, it also prevents the passage of free free magic elements (ether). "As I recall, free magic elements (ether) as particles should be repelled by each other if they are too close to each other. Jin recalls Hanna''s free-magic element (ether) theory. He had read the paper in order to master the sub-free-magic-element (ether) wave. It is similar to the way a water-repellent net can scoop up water without spilling if its mesh is fine enough. Jin was trying to create an alloy with a composition ratio that would make this the finest and most rigid. At the same time, the material suitable for this shield would be the strongest in the world, except for <>. The Magi-adamantite was made by adding 1.5 percent mithril silver, but Jin kept thinking about how to make it more effective. With the help of Reiko, he made alloys of various ratios and checked their strength and reaction to free magic element (ether). Before the results were in, a report came in that <> had reached the planned space. "Oh, they finally did it!" Jin rushes to the central bridge. Reiko followed him. The large magic screen on the bridge showed the target planet, the second planet. "How are the bio-signs?" Jin asked. Yes, my lord. We are investigating now. < and was to acquire the minimum amount of data necessary. This includes the confirmation of the presence of life forms. "Okay, come on. We''ve come this far, let''s not be hasty. Let''s go slow and steady." Jin''s last line is like a reminder to himself. is following his plan, and the only time he deviates from it is when unforeseen circumstances arise. Jin sees the image of <> in front of his eyes. "There seems to be atmosphere. Yes, my lord. It seems to be very high in carbon dioxide. And we can''t see the surface with our optics. It must be very dense. That''s why is equipped with a that uses sub-free ether waves as its carrier wave. The effective distance is 100,000 kilometers. It is sufficiently powerful to observe the earth''s surface from the current orbit. According to the Peeper, there is no civilization on the surface of the earth. There are no signs of settlements or villages. No sign of small animals or insects. It''s impossible to see anything smaller than this through a peephole telescope. I guess. Well, that''s okay this time. And what about the satellite?" Yes, my lord. We have 28 satellites in Zipert. Oh, that''s a lot. There are more than Jin had expected. < said that there were five, but it seems that he meant five large satellites. "Did you find the satellites you were looking for?" Jin thinks they should be found within a few orbits. Yes, so far we have found five satellites that look like them. All of them are rich in mineral resources. "I see. ......" Apparently, the satellites of the second planet Zipert are all rich in mineral resources. "Still, we only have one to carry. You''ll have to pick the most profitable one." Yes, sir. Leave it to me. Thus, <> makes three orbits around Zipert. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Another day has passed. Jin''s research is progressing slowly. One of the reasons is that Jin himself is not concentrating. He is still concerned about the results of the survey. In the meantime, he has received a report that there are nine satellites that are candidates for resources, and that the atmosphere of Gipat is mostly carbon dioxide. Jin said that we should be happy that we have more options for satellites. As for the atmosphere, Jin thought it was like the Venus of the solar system. "Well, we have to decide on a satellite." Out of the nine satellites, which one would be the most beneficial as a resource? It is not that simple. The reason is that what constitutes a useful satellite is different. Is it a satellite that contains all the necessary resources, or is it a satellite that contains only a small amount of resources that are still available in Hale, and a large amount of those that are not? We have been able to narrow down up to three candidates. Let us call them satellites Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Alpha: The satellite has a sufficient amount and variety of resources. Beta: Rich in copper, iron, light silver, mithril silver, and adamantite. Other elements are scarce. Gamma: Rich in silver and adamantite. Light silver, iron and copper. Precious metals: gold, silver and white metals are scarce. The three are the best. At first glance, alpha looks good, but the total amount of light silver, mithril silver and adamantite, which are most likely to be used, is less than that of beta and gamma. "Hmmm, what to do ......" Because of environmental concerns, Jin thinks that he would like to pull the satellite from Gipert once and for all. (I guess you could call it self-satisfaction...) "Father, we could check out an exoplanet, if that''s what you want." Reiko offered her opinion as a helping hand. "Well, yes, I suppose so." Exoplanets are planets in orbit outside of Ars Hale. The inner ones are inner planets. Reiko wonders if there might be other exoplanets that could provide resources. "Actually, I''d like to save those for the future." Jin imagines that in the distant future, when the resources of Ars are depleted, he will seek resources from such exoplanets. "Now if only we could synthesize ...... matter." The spirit life forms he had encountered in the past in other spaces had been able to manipulate energy and matter at will. If they could do that, it wouldn''t be so hard," Jin chuckled. "Yeah, but the concentration of free magic element (ether) here might be attractive. <, might be useful when a huge amount of energy is needed. "I wish we could put a base in orbit near here." It could be a space station or a space ship. We could use warp gates to move around and conduct experiments as needed. "I''ll consider it after this resource problem is solved. Jin made a note in his mind secretly. 1894 - - 51-08 Alpha After much consideration, Jin decides to secure the satellite Alpha. Alpha has no air, no water, and no living organisms. "Still, there may be unknown pathogens or viruses." The engineering magic <> is applied to irradiate ultraviolet rays. After that, sterilization is performed using <>. Thanks to the high concentration of free magic element (ether), the process was very quick. "Okay, that''s enough." The only thing that can work now is . If they could get the satellite Alpha close enough to Hale, the destroyer <<<> and the craft <> would be able to help. "Let the planning begin." At Jin''s direction, <> began to work according to the plan. First, he determines the center of gravity of <>, and then he determines a straight line passing through the center of gravity and heading in the direction of Hale. Following this line, a hole is drilled in Alpha, and the hull of the <> is embedded in the hole and secured. Of course, the position of the hole is in the opposite direction from Hale. This completes the satellite spacecraft with <> as its propulsion system. Yes, Alpha is not a sphere, but a rocky satellite. A hole with a diameter of 300 meters was dug in it using the engineering magic and earth magic <. Some of the earth and rocks found during the digging were examined with and found to be mithril silver ore with a high content of mithril silver. "This is promising." Jin instructed that the dug-up rock should be stored properly. On the satellite Alpha, <> fills in the middle of its massive body, fine-tuning it. The work is manageable even though it is 300 meters in diameter, since the gravity is low and the <> is used to adjust the weight. The work was difficult because the crew members, <> 601 to 700, could not work in this highly concentrated free-magic (ether) environment. The work was difficult. Nevertheless, the necessary work was completed in about three hours. < are covered with to catch the propulsive force. "Okay, try it!" At Jin''s command, <> releases some of its thrust. Even at 300 meters in diameter, is a tiny particle compared to the satellite Alpha. Alpha is 400 kilometers long and 150 kilometers short. However, the power of <> is tremendous. It is enough to move the satellite Alpha out of orbit. However, the initial movement is very small. We plan to start with 0.2G and gradually increase the engine output to 1G while making sure that the surrounding rocks will hold up. Even with the ultra-powerful , 1G, or about 10 meters per second, is the best they can do. The high concentration of free ether helps the efficiency of the magi-machine to be good, and we are getting by. As another aid, have been installed in various parts of Alpha to generate anti-gravity in the direction away from the sun Celan. However, these devices are disposable and break down due to overload after one hour of use. Still, after an hour of use, the combined effect of all these actions can accelerate the vehicle to a speed of 36 kilometers per second. "The first thing we need to do is to get away from the solar Celanese." < Even if the direction was a little off, the first priority was to get out of the safe zone. Three hours passed. The satellite Alpha has completely left the orbit of Zipert and is moving in the opposite direction of the sun Celan. It is slightly off in the direction of the zenith (ecliptic north pole), but this can be corrected later. The speed has exceeded 100 kilometers per second, and <> has temporarily cut off its acceleration. The reason for this is that there is a lot of cosmic dust in this region of space, which could cause various problems if it collides with the satellite Alpha. The most important of them are orbit deviation and damage to Alpha. In particular, damage to Alpha is to be avoided as much as possible. The higher the speed, the greater the amount of breakage, so we have kept it moderate. "Still, it will reach the normal free-magic element (ether) concentration in a day and a half. Jin was relieved that the first stage of the plan had succeeded. * * * * "...... wait?" Jin, who was working on the theme of developing a more effective <, suddenly had an idea. What about metals that were in an environment with a very high concentration of free magic element (ether)?...... No, I don''t think so. If it was refined in a high environment, yes. The question is what are the properties of the metal produced from Zipert''s satellite Alpha. "If it is refined in an environment with a high concentration of free magic element (ether), it must have a good affinity with free magic element (ether), right?" When Jin was a child, he remembers seeing an article on TV or in a magazine about refining metals in weightless space: ....... According to the article, refining in a vacuum increases the purity of the metal because it does not contain oxygen, and it also prevents segregation when alloying metals of different specific gravities... ...... ...should be. "The metallographic structure might also be homogeneous and fine because it is not affected by gravity." Using engineering magic, the same effect could be produced, but first of all, Jin thought that the material itself would be of high quality, which was significant. And if it is easier to contain free magic element (ether) instead of not containing oxygen, it is what we can hope for. "I''d like to experiment as soon as we get out of the <>. Jin was looking forward to that time. * * * * <, is maintaining a speed of 100 kilometers per second, and is expected to reach the normal free-magic (ether) area in a few hours. "We will be able to see with our own eyes!" As for Jin, he can''t help but feel excited. Of course, Jin loves making things, but he also loves materials, especially metal materials. But this may be because the act of making something with them comes afterwards. "Father, please do not go to yourself until you have completed a detailed investigation." "......Yeah, I know." Jin replies to Reiko''s advice with a slight pause. "The investigation in the area of high free-magic element (ether) concentration is not enough," he said. His argument is also reasonable, so Jin has no choice but to follow it. Two and a half hours later, the satellite Alpha finally arrived right in front of Jin and his team. < and the sailed at a synchronized speed. In a few minutes, their relative speeds were zero. < to Alpha to investigate the 551. I''ll send them to Alpha to investigate. "Yes, do it." Jin immediately approves of <>''s proposal. Immediately afterwards, the hatch of the <> opens, and the <> golems are on their way to the satellite Alpha. The satellite Alpha is roughly an ellipse. It is shaped like a rugby ball. Of course, there is no air, so the surface is rugged due to ultraviolet rays and collisions with cosmic dust. Fifty < golems descended to the surface and began their investigation. They investigate not only the surface, but also the interior. This is because there is no guarantee that spores of dangerous pathogens are not lurking deep within the porous rock. However, it is not possible to survey the entire surface 100 percent of the time, so we have to take samples at several locations and examine them. Such a survey takes about four hours. In the meantime, Jin is waiting impatiently. For his master''s sake, Cosmos 551 sent some ores that had already been investigated to < through a warp gate. "Oh, that''s very thoughtful. Jin was pleased with this treatment and immediately decided to analyze the ore in the laboratory in <>. 1895 - - 51-09 New materials Jin was in a laboratory in , analyzing the ore sent by <>. "Yes, it is still ...... somewhat different." The ore sent to me was brass ore, which is copper ore. It looks like gold, and together with pyrite, it is a mineral that is easily mistaken by the layman for gold. >>The way to tell them apart is simple. The way to recognize it is simple. It can be recognized by rubbing it on a white unglazed plate called a <>. Gold is golden, pyrite is greenish black, and pyrite leaves black marks (striations). Aside from that, according to the <>, the brass ore in front of Jin is composed of copper, iron, and sulfur. The copper content is about 35 percent. However, pure brass ores are rare, and because of the presence of other rocks, the copper content as a whole is about 0.5 percent. However, the ore as a whole was excellent, with a copper content of nearly 2 percent. "But ...... it feels somewhat strange. ......<>...... is this ......?" After another analysis, it was found that the copper contained in the material seems to have been altered. "<>" To confirm the discrepancy, Jin extracted the copper. From approximately 10 kilograms of brass ore, a 200 gram lump of copper is produced. It is an ultra-pure copper called oxygen-free copper. "What''s different about this copper ......?>...... hmmm ...... maybe ......" "Father, what did you find out?" Reiko, who was cleaning up the tailings after the copper had been extracted, asked. "Yes. I don''t know how to say it ...... well, it seems to be copper like mithril silver, as opposed to silver." "You mean mithril copper?" "Yeah, no, I''m not sure about that name, but something like that." Jin explained that it was not just copper, but that its response to magic power was an order of magnitude higher. "Normal copper, unlike silver, shouldn''t have such a good affinity with free magic element (ether)." Jin thought fondly of his former colleague, "If Saki were here, she would be happy to get started on her research. "Is this what happens to all copper in areas with a high concentration of free magical element (ether), or are there some conditions for its production? ......?" Another question came to my mind. "If so, does iron too ......?<>" Jin tries to extract more iron from the tailings. This one turned out to be a lump of iron weighing about 170 grams. "Hmmm, nice iron." Iron is more susceptible to changes in properties due to impurities than copper. What was extracted was pure iron, which could be called oxygen-free iron. "Is this also a material like ...... mithril?>...... I knew it." This iron was also found to have a very high affinity for free magic element (ether). "Perhaps some of the neutrons have been replaced by magic elements." If it has the same properties as mithril silver, Jin guessed, that must be what it means. "I''ll think about the application in time. ...... than that. ......" Jin thought that if all the metals produced in the satellite Alpha had these properties, it would be difficult to use them. The good affinity with free magic element (ether) means that the shielding effect is high, and the degree of reinforcement by magic power is also high. "I was thinking of ...... for a material with high shield effect, but I got it from an unexpected place." We should be happy about that. "Father, I have a question." At that moment, Reiko asked me a question. "What is it, Reiko?" "If all ores in areas of high free-magic element (ether) concentration have such properties, what would happen if they were left in a normal environment?" "I see. ......" In that case, they would revert back to normal material, right? If so, the question arises as to how long it would take for this to happen. Mithril silver is stable, but we cannot be sure that other elements will be the same. "It might be a good idea to refine the necessary amount as soon as possible for the time being." He feels that by refining it, he can fix the good affinity with free magic element (ether). "Then, let''s have them refine it now." Cosmos 551 to 600 in Alpha can use engineering magic. He has them secure the materials and send them through the warp gate. "If necessary, we can call in craftsmen (smiths) from Horai Island. Then comes the report that the convoy <<<> has returned. . However, we did not measure the entire area of high free-magic element (ether) concentration, but only a localized area centering on Zipert. Even so, enough data was gathered to infer that the area in question seems to be expanding in a spherical shape. "It would be interesting to know if this area is expanding or contracting. ......" If it is expanding, we need to find a solution to the question of when it will spread to the orbits of Ars and Hale. "Thank you, but we will let the three vessels continue their measurements. "Yes, for the time being, one year." Jin thought that if he measured for such a long period of time, he would be able to find a trend, even if there were some errors. The three ships were built by <> on the moon, but since they were under Jin''s command, they would take orders from <>, which meant that they would take orders from <>. Thus, <><><> was assigned to the task of measuring changes in the range of high free-magic (ether) concentration areas between Hale and the sun Celan. It will be a year before we get any reasonable results. * * * * * Meanwhile, the refining of metallic materials has begun at Satellite Alpha under the direction of Jin. Gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, tin, lead, light silver (titanium), aluminum, mithril silver, adamantite, etc. are being refined and sent through the warp gate. <, they were sent to the east coast of Hale. This is because it is the area where Jin is planning to build his base of operations. Also, it is the only place in Hale where a warp gate is located. We are planning to set up such a material repository in the (tentative name) in the near future. At the same time, Jin also examined samples of gold and silver, and confirmed that they also have a very high affinity with free magical element (ether). "Gold, silver, zinc, tin, and even adamantite are the same ...... interesting phenomenon." As I wrote before, high affinity means high efficiency of reinforcement by magic power and high shielding effect. "Hyper Adamantite made from this Adamantite will probably be the strongest and hardest metal in the known world." Jin secretly decided to rebuild Reiko''s skeleton with this metal in the near future. "Copper''s magical conductivity is also amazing ......, on par with normal mithril silver." The affinity for free magic element (ether) is high across the board, and there seems to be no exception. "In addition to <><>, it is a third high-performance material. ...... Why not call it <>?" Ethernet is a computer networking standard. Its Ether means "omnipresent" and is the English reading of ether. "Ether gold, Ether iron, Ether adamantite ......?" Reiko uses Jin''s suggestion and calls the new material. "Hmmm...... that doesn''t sound right, it sounds so unnatural. Let''s not call it Ether." This is something I said myself, but it doesn''t seem to fit, so I immediately drop it. "I think I''ll just go ahead and crown it <> after all. ......" <<<<>....... Jin felt a little better, but still felt a little uncomfortable. "Oh, naming is such a hassle!" Jin consoled himself that it was good to be bothered by something seemingly unimportant, since his main concern was gone. 1896 - - 51-10 Hale from now on "Father, how about a new material, a ?" Reiko, who couldn''t help but notice Jin''s distress, made a suggestion. "<><> or ......" If it is gold or silver, it would be more appropriate to call it neo-gold or neo-silver. "I guess that would be fine. ......" I was thinking of using for the material of the satellite Alpha, but I retracted the idea without saying anything. Alpha iron is confusing because it is one of the phase states of high purity iron. "So let''s call the material that: ......" Jin stares at the reflection of the satellite Alpha on the large magic screen, "We should think about how to put it in Hale," he said. He said. In this series of plans, that one point was very much in flux. Since the shape of the satellite was unknown, there was no way to decide on the details. At present, the distance to Hale is about 15 million kilometers. Flying at 100 kilometers per second, it would take less than two days to reach Hale. However, it would take a little longer because it would have to slow down in the vicinity of Hale. "I think it would be more realistic to break it up into several pieces and call it ......." The size of Alpha is 400 km on the long side and 150 km on the short side. Jin thought it would be a good idea to break it into three pieces and place them in the . < < "Yeah, that''s true, too. "That would prevent dangerous pathogens from spreading to Hale." "That''s a good idea. Then the central basin can be used for other purposes. A laboratory for various experiments, or a base to oversee Hale. Jin thinks that the Central Basin could be used for such facilities. "Okay," he says, "with the Great Sage''s input, let''s leave Alpha in space as a satellite of Hale for the time being. Then Jin began to think that it might be a good idea to base it in the central basin instead of on the east coast. "We don''t have to worry about the underground excavation or leveling of the surface if we are in the central basin, where we have been messed around with so much. Jin relaxed his shoulders and said, "Let''s take our time and think about it. "You seem to have been a little impatient when you saw Alfa," he muttered. Jin muttered and leaned back in his seat. "Father, would you like some tea?" Immediately Reiko came over with a tray of tea. "Oh, thank you." There was a soy sauce cracker for tea. "Yes, they are delicious. The texture was crunchy and the soy sauce was savory. The tea was sencha green tea, cooled to Jin''s liking. Jin, who had been in a state of anxiety since he went out to space this time, seemed to have finally calmed down and relaxed. * * * * * * Since there is still time, Jin decides to call 700672 around here. Using the warp gate, he returns to Horai Island and moves to No. 700672 again. Of course, he brought his usual souvenir with him. "Oh, Jin-dono, you have come well." Jin and Reiko are greeted by the same 700672 as usual. Neige and Rouge are looking well. "It''s been a while. I''m here today to invite you to Hale. "Oh?So, have you been able to secure some resources?" 700672 knows a lot about Jin''s plan. It is only natural that he is familiar with Jin''s plan, since he consulted with him when he was planning it. "Yes, we are almost at Hale. Jin then explained to No. 700672 in detail what had happened so far. "I see. So it was not noise, but an area with an abnormally high concentration of free magical element (ether)? "Yes. That''s why we finally brought it out with one Atlas ship. "No, no, no, no, not ''finally''! You have finally accomplished what even my were unable to do. You should be proud of that. "Thank you, sir." Jin thanked No. 700672 for the compliment, a little embarrassed. I see, you''ve already made that much progress with your plan. "Yes, so why don''t you go visit? "Yes, why don''t we go for a visit? I''ll take Rouge and Neige with me this time. "I''m looking forward to ...... going out with your father!" "I''m glad, Father." The journey will take only a short time, as you will be transported through a warp gate. No fancy preparations are required. I have been to 700672 several times, but this is my first visit to Neige and Rouge. Environmentally, it is equivalent to the ...... or even the , which is adapted to Hale, but it is no problem since it is ....... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Wow, this is Hale!" Rouge is running all over the place as soon as she steps out of the transition gate she set up on the east coast of Hale. Rouge is a homunculus modeled after Archel, a former puppet. I had expected her to have a high mental age, but it seems that she also has a surprisingly innocent side. On the other hand, Neige, who looked so young, was calm, but looked around her surroundings with great interest. "Hmmm, there is more greenery than the last time I visited here. Perhaps that''s why the air seems to be more humid. No. 700672 commented. "What about the humidity?" Jin asked, thinking that he might not like too much humidity. "No, that''s not true. I prefer moderate humidity. I simply think that the humidity in the white room was set low in consideration of the equipment." "Oh, so that''s what you mean." "Oh, that''s what you mean. I didn''t think anything of it as long as I took it for granted, but this level of humidity is comfortable. Hearing this, Jin thought to himself that it was proof that the 700672 were also living organisms, albeit pseudo. "Father, is this the planet where your father''s fathers lived?" Rouge, who had been running around, came back before I knew it and asked 700672 a question. "Yes, that''s right. Although I was born on this planet, I went to Ars without knowing anything about the outside world. But even so, I think the environment on this planet is favorable. "I agree with you, Father." Neige also affirmed. (Ah, they are growing up too. ......) Jin felt that a homunculus can grow spiritually even if it does not grow physically. He was surprised to see that Neige, who had a young tone when he first met her, had grown up a little. On the other hand, he had never noticed that Rouge had such an active personality. Jin was again impressed by the fact that there are things that can only be understood in such an open environment. This new awareness will surely be useful not only for homunculus, but also for the creation of automata and golems. "Where would you like to settle in this Hale?" Jin asked No.700672, hoping to complete such a design while he still could. "Well, yes. I have been thinking about that. What about a basin of land in the center of the ...... continent? "Ah, so that''s where you''ve been looking." Jin also thought that such a use might be a good idea if it is not used as a resource area. "I would like to discuss such things with you." "Mm." The second chapter of the Hale development was about to begin. 1897 - - 51-11 Growth of Rouge and Nege Jin and 700672 continued their discussion about the future of Hale. "......, so we have secured some of the metallic materials as type." "Hmmm, interesting. There are many ways to use it." < a resource area. "After all, I would like to settle in or near the as you say, Jin-dono. "That would be fine. However, it is a large area, so there is still the question of where to locate. I agree. We''ll have to make a choice about that later. No. 700672 replied in a good mood. "In that case, what about the ship that flies in the sky? "Well, there is that. Do you want to leave it as it is, or do you want to bring it here ......?" When the came to Ars in the past, the spaceship that some of them used was the , and it was 70067. It was the home of the 70067 No. 2. "But can''t it fly anymore?" Jin thinks that now that time has passed in tens of thousands of years, even with the technology of the <>, there must be various defects. "Indeed. < here without Jin-dono''s help. "Of course, I will help you. If the magical civilization in Ars develops in the future, people will know about the , Onogoro Island, and the island of Horai. I have an idea that we should move to Hale before that happens. "I am still trying to decide what to do. Another reason is that he does not want the island of Tsetsi, where <> sleeps, to be disturbed. "As for that, I think we should disclose it sooner or later, don''t you?" It''s not something to be hidden, 700672 says. "Yes, it is. I just kind of went with the flow and came here as a secret." It''s not impossible to move the whole island to Hale, but I don''t think that''s what <> would want, Jin thinks. "Ah, I realize now that I have somehow formed bonds with many things, many places, and many people. Jin says sincerely. "You''d better think about that when you get there." No.700672 advised Jin. Jin-dono tends to think too much. It''s fine when you are dealing with troubles, but in a case like this, you may get stuck in thinking too much." "That''s true. That''s exactly what ...... is doing right now." Jin smiled wryly. "Jin-dono, you can deal with problems even after they happen. So don''t worry too much about it." "......You may be right, sir. Thank you very much. Jin feels a little better after hearing the words of No. 700672. He is sure that both Horai Island and Tsetsi Island can be dealt with after they are discovered. "Then, the same goes for ." "Yes, that''s right. ...... even if it is discovered by the inhabitants of Arus, it will be treated as if a new country has been found, won''t it?" The words of No. 700672 calmed Jin''s impatient mind. "That''s a big possibility, isn''t it? ...... Okay, I''ll think about this Hale first." "Yes, that would be good. ......It all started with the story about the ship flying over the sky, didn''t it? I apologize for that." No, no, no, no, no, no. "No, I don''t mind," he said. "I''ll make it clear what I''m going to do. I will leave the ......<> in the Nordic Federation as it is." Theon and many other northerners recognize the 700672 as their home, and they do not intend to move it now. We''re not going to move it now," the 700672 assured him. We will build a new, comfortable dwelling here. With input from Neige and Rouge." "That sounds good." Jin is now ready to follow the example of No. 700672. "Now then, I would like to see the land in question. "Okay." This , which we chose as our base in Hale, is small but has a variety of facilities. Of course, we also had a vehicle for transportation. <. Since we are currently using in Arus, we have brought , which is no longer in use, here. "Wow, that sounds interesting. The quiet Neige was a little excited. "Wow!It''s flying! "Father, look, there it is!It''s the sea! is flying over the hail, piloted by Reiko. Both Rouge and Neige are fascinated by the view of Hale from the sky. Rouge and Neige are both very excited to see the view of Hale from the sky. "Well, I''ve never seen them like this before." It seems that not only Jin but also 70067 No. 2 did not seem to think so. "In this way, I think it is important to educate the homunculus by creating an environment for it." It seems that emotions are developed by exposing them to a variety of experiences, 700672. "This is a discovery. My did not have such a method of education." Even if you live a long time, you make new discoveries," said No. 700672, looking a little happy and thinking that Jin had seen something unusual. So he decides to fly for a while. The 700672 gazes kindly at Neige and Rouge, who are excited. * * * * * * Neige and Rouge were left to their own devices for a bit, and Jin and 700672 resumed their discussion. Jin and No. 700672 were resuming their discussion. "You''ve done a great job of greening up the place, Jin-dono. I am in awe." No. 700672 praises Jin for the better-than-expected greening of Hale. "No, I didn''t do it, it''s because the golems worked so hard." Jin scratched his head. "No, no, it was Jin-dono who created the golem and gave the instructions. He cut off and looked as if he was pondering something. "What is it?" Jin asked suspiciously, and 700672 waved his hand as if nothing was wrong. No, I''m sorry. No, I''m sorry. I was just thinking. What do you think about ...... homunculus?" "I''m sorry, I was just thinking about something.I don''t have any particular thoughts on ...... what you mean." The 700672, as well as Rouge and Neige, are homunculus. They look not much different from humans, and even though they are pseudo-life forms, they are still <. "Yes, or ......." 700672 begins to ponder something again. Jin thinks that there might be something he is not telling us. Then.., "What''s troubling you?" he asked her in a roundabout way. "No, um, yes, I''m ...... troubled, I guess. ...... "That''s unusual. Is it something I can''t help you with?" "No, it''s not. No, it''s not. But it may be too early to tell. ?" 700672 says enigmatically. When Jin was about to ask a further question. "Oh, look, I can already see the basin! Rouge says. was flying at supersonic speed, and before they knew it, they had reached the top of the . "Oh, so this is it." Jin stopped talking about the subject and switched to the topic of their migration. 1898 - - 51-12700672 Land Selection is stationary on the , making it easier for the 700672, Rouge, Neige and others to select a second home. 700672, Rouge, Neige and others will be able to easily choose their second home. "I think we want to avoid the center." I''m sure you''re right. As I recall, the remaining domes are located to the east of the continent, aren''t they? Yes, in the highlands near the equator. Tropics is a region near the equator where the temperature is high all year round. And a plateau means high elevation, for example, the temperature drops by 0.6 degrees for every 100 meters of elevation on the earth. This combination of factors means that a high altitude place in the tropics is likely to have a comfortable climate throughout the year. "Was it a comfortable place for <> to live?" It seems that 700672 would like to settle in the vicinity of where the dome used to be. Jin imagined that even if it is not the place where he was born, he is concerned about the place where who gave birth to him would have lived. "I think it must have been the place where he lived until the end, since it remained without being weathered away. That means it must have been a comfortable place to live. The remains of dwellings in other areas have been weathered away and have not retained their original form. Of course, such remains have been carefully preserved according to Jin''s instructions. In short, they are treated as historical buildings and historic sites. As I recall, ......, yes, that''s right. There is a mountain on the west side of the plateau where the dome used to be, how about there?" "Hmm. ......" Reiko, take Conlon 3 a little further east. Yes, father. < It is on this plateau that the dome was located. The supersonic speed of travel brought to its destination in a few minutes. "Hmm. ...... somehow this land feels right." Is this the original memory of 700672, or is it because the < who created it lived in this area? In any case, 700672 seems to have liked this place. "Well, I''ll try to land." "Yes, please." Jin motioned to Reiko, and the Conlon 3 landed quietly on the plateau. "Father, may I try to land?" "Father, may I try to get off?" Neige and Rouge ask 700672. "Of course. I''ll go down there too. < and Jin and Reiko try to climb down together. "Oh, it''s just the right temperature. The temperature is just right for a long-sleeved shirt. "It''s about 22 degrees Celsius around here. Reiko says. It must be comfortable to live here if the temperature is like this all year round. The thinness of the air is not bothersome. The environment seems to be good. The only thing left is the location. ......" 700672 looks at the wreckage of the dome in the distance, I''d like a place where I can look at the dome in the distance. ...... I mean, right here." He pointed down at his feet. "Yes, that''s fine with me too." "I agree!" Rouge and Neige agreed, so we decided to use this as our first choice. We are at about 6 degrees north latitude. The longitude is unknown, since we have not yet established a meridian as a reference point. So, Jin consulted No. 700672 about how to determine the meridian. "Well, I would like to have a clear reason since it will be a standard to be used later on." "Yes, that''s right. ......" In Ars, the meridian was set to be the meridian passing through the research institute of Horai Island, and it was set to be 0 degrees, which is fine for Jin, but the general world would be puzzled as to why the meridian was set to be in such a place. In other words, the location of Horai Island may be identified. Therefore, in the world map that I made available to the public, the eastern end of the continent = the eastern end of the former Leonard''s Kingdom is set at 0 degrees and expressed in the west longitude. Aside from that, because of these problems, Jin consulted No. 700672. "It would be nice if it could be expressed only in terms of east or west longitude for clarity." "I understand." If the east and west longitudes are mixed up, it will be complicated. North and south latitudes are no problem. "I guess we should express it in degrees west longitude, with the east end of the continent at 0 degrees. "That''s right. You should think about how easy it would be to calculate the time difference. No. 700672 advises Jin. "The east end of the continent is the fastest, and the further west you go, the slower it gets, right? "Yes." The further west you go, the further back in time you go. If the eastern end is at midnight, then <> is 14 hours earlier, i.e., 10:00 a.m. of the previous day. "Since it would be complicated to have the date be today or yesterday, let''s use the eastern end of the continent for ease of computation and consistency of thought." Jin wants to avoid having the date line pass through the continent. "Yes, that would be fine. There are advantages and disadvantages to both the eastern and western ends of the continent. Jin decided to use the western longitude that he had been accustomed to using in Arus, and the meridian was set at the eastern end of the continent. Since the most easterly point of the continent is around 13 degrees north latitude, he decided to use it as the reference point for 0 degrees west longitude. As a side note, later on, a reference point made of adamantite was embedded at that place, and a monument was erected to commemorate the event. * * * * * * * * * "Another possible site is an island in the ...... inland sea in a huge bay north of the continent." After boarding the again, Jin and his crew came to the north of the continent this time. "Well, it''s ...... somewhat cooler here. And it''s humid, probably because it''s surrounded by the sea." The 700672 gave up on the place at the first sight. Then, Jin chose the last candidate. An island on the northern hemisphere side, west of the continent. Although it is on the western edge of the continent, it is already on the eastern edge of the continent if you go a little further west across the sea. It is close in distance. "It''s not bad, but I guess there are four seasons here." 700672 said he did not care about the four seasons. "Well, I''d prefer to be near where we first landed, near where the dome of the <> used to be. "Yes, sir." Rouge and Neige did not dispute the decision of 700672. "Then, please consider what kind of building you would like to erect. "Yes, okay." No need to go underground this time. It''s a good environment for relaxing, so let''s design for that kind of living, 700672 thought. "So, what are you going to do about it, Jin-dono?" "Yes, that''s what I''m going to do." Jin began to explain what he wanted to do. Not the East Coast, but an idea that had just occurred to him. "...... separating Horai Island from the planet Arus?Ummm, that''s what you were thinking of. ......" Surprised at 700672. Yes, Jin wondered if it would be possible to detach Horai Island deep underground and take it to Hale. "No, the idea of detaching the island instead of transporting the satellite is a good one." "Thank you for ....... I haven''t decided yet, though." Despite the praise, these ideas were inspired by novels and manga Jin had read in the past in contemporary Japan. "But it''s quite possible, Jin-dono. In fact, I think it would be interesting. In the end, he agreed. 1899 - - 51-13 The idea of a house The story of Jin and 700672 continues. "...... Is there any technical problem to separate Horai Island from the planet Arus?" "Yes. The underground magma has calmed down, so it would just be the underground water veins." Jin thought it was a pity that the hot springs might stop flowing. "How deep are they going to dig?" "Well, I guess ...... digging 30 kilometers underground would be enough." The long side of Horai Island is 90 kilometers long and the short side is about 70 kilometers long. The height of Mount Horai is 3000 meters. The underground resources have been dug to a depth of about 10 kilometers, so Jin decided that 30 kilometers would be enough. "Also, since we have a fish pond, I would like to keep a little bit of the sea. So I think it would be better to close Tatsumi Bay. Or we could build an enclosure around Horai Island and leave the sea inside it, Jin said. "Hmm, it''s amazing that you can say that so casually, Jin-dono. "However, we can''t predict how the ocean currents will change if Horai Island disappears, and we won''t be able to control the southward movement of the Death Sea Serpent. We can''t just casually go ahead with the plan." "Well, if you are aware of that, then I feel even safer." The 700672 laughed happily. "Also, Tsetsi Island is not an island that has any resources. I hope that you and Cape Magus will publicize it and take steps to preserve it." "Yes, that''s right." As one would expect, Jin had no intention of digging up the entire ground of Tsetsi Island, which is a graveyard. "...... and, well, it''s not even a plan yet, it''s still in the draft stage." Of course, there is always the option of leaving the island as it is now. In that case, it would be necessary to declare in the future that <>. "I think that''s a good idea." "I see." If only such a day came when ordinary people could easily fly around the world and go anywhere on the Ars sea. "I also enjoy the time I spend making plans." "Yes, I understand that." Jin nodded his head in agreement with No. 700672. "The planning stage is when the possibilities, or rather the options, are the greatest. "Oh, that''s right." The more concrete the plan becomes, the fewer options there are. "It''s also fun to see the plan take shape after it''s been decided, though. "Hmm, I guess Jin-dono enjoys making things as long as he is making things. "That may be so. Then they laughed at each other. "Father, when are you going to move here?" When the conversation between Jin and 700672 came to an end, Neige asked. "I guess nothing concrete has been decided yet. In a quiet voice, No. 700672 replies. "As far as I''m concerned, I''d like to move here as soon as possible. "I see. ......" Jin, who was listening to the conversation, thought that his current residence in the ship was still too small and that he must be feeling a sense of entrapment. "I''ll cooperate with you, so please emigrate as soon as possible. "Hmm?Hmmm, I see. ...... I guess so." The 700672 seemed to understand Neige''s feelings and nodded at Jin''s offer. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, we have to put it all together. Jin decided that it was time to set priorities and make a move now that the various ideas were getting out of hand. He was at the central bridge of the with No.700672 and Reiko. Here, he could have an online discussion with the old lord of Horai Island. The opinion of No.700672 cannot be excluded. After all, he is a direct descendant of , the original master of this planet Hale. Incidentally, Neige and Rouge are sleeping in < after a long day of fun, and a forestry golem <> has been summoned to watch over them. "Finally, we will place <> in orbit for resources, and use the warp gate to bring in materials as needed." "Yes, that seems to be a good idea. This was the final decision regarding resources. "As for the environment, we would like to proceed as we are now. "I have no objection to that either. Mr. Jin is doing a good job. "Thank you very much. And about the residence of Mr. 700672..." That''s what Jin is most concerned about. "Oh, Neige and Rouge have already compiled a list of their preferences, so I''ll base my decision on that. "I see." Jin was a bit nervous that there might be some outrageous requests, but there were no such requests, and relatively honest proposals were lined up. <. The second proposal was to excavate a mountainside and make a cave into a room. It is playful, but the intention seems to be to keep the landscape as unspoiled as possible. The third proposal was to build an ordinary house. "I''m not sure about any of them. "Well, they have hardly ever said what they want. Hearing this, Jin said, "Well, let''s fulfill all of them. Jin proposed, "Then, let''s fulfill all of their requests. "These requests are not in conflict with each other, so we can dig a hole in the rock wall and build a like an observatory, and the dome will be a separate place, and a normal house," he said. No. 700672 gave a small laugh. "Hmm, that sounds like you, Jin-dono. But it sure is. Can you help us ......?" "Of course, that was my intention from the very beginning. Thus began a more concrete design. "Let''s have a in the center, from where you can go to the dome and the grotto," he said. "Wow, that''s an interesting structure," Jin said. Jin drew a rough sketch on a piece of paper and showed it to me. Jin is very good at these kinds of drawings. "Let''s connect each of them with a connecting passageway, or a corridor, or ......, like this." "Hmmm. If ......, wouldn''t it be better to do it this way?" "Oh, that''s good. Then, this one should be like this: ......." The 700672 seemed to be enjoying the discussion, and he and Jin were enthusiastically coming up with ideas. "It''s done, isn''t it?" "Yes. <, Jin used Tuscosia, a border town with the Shoro Kingdom in the Kingdom of Cerroa, which he had visited in the past, as a reference. And then there are the grotto temples of Dunhuang, which he saw on TV. "Just in case, windows should be inlaid with glass or cubic zirconia". This is to protect from insects, rain, sand and dust. The houses are made of stone, which is common in the Shoro Kingdom. "Mm." Although he said "normal", it was 400 years ago, and he did not consider that the trend might have changed a little now. "So, I''d like to build a dome as a relaxing space and make it into a living room," he said. "Jin-dono''s idea is interesting." It seems that No. 700672 was satisfied. Incidentally, after this, I showed the conceptual plan to Neige and Rouge, and they were both very satisfied with it. 1900 - - 51-14 House of Elders Jin decided to start by building the < of 700672. As the of the planet Hale, he paid his respects to the . "I am sorry, Master Jin." No, it''s okay. The construction is being carried out by 20 craftsmen (smiths) from 101 to 300. The foundation was finished literally in the blink of an eye. The foundation work had been completed literally in the blink of an eye. Now they are working on the grotto. "Wow, that was fast!" Neige and Rouge are also looking on, excited. The two had been quiet, but since their arrival here in Hyres, they seem to have become more cheerful and active. Jin wonders if this is due to the fact that they have moved from indoors to outdoors. The grotto is built on a rock wall with a towering monolith. "They probably quarried the stone a long time ago," he says. Jin mutters as he looks up at the vertical rock wall, and 700672 hears him, "Well, that must be so," he nodded. The 700672 nodded in agreement. Jin thought back to the long past, wondering how many thousands of ...... years, perhaps more than 10,000 years, had passed since the quarry wall had been integrated into the natural landscape. A quiet word. Smiths are drilling holes in such a rock wall. < The foundation work is finished in a few hours, since they are excavating about 10 cubic meters of stone per minute. "Wow, that''s cool." On the stone wall side, there are two basement levels and three stories above ground, plus extras. The extra is that ...... the height of the rock wall was about 50 meters, so we built an observation room around 45 meters. The height of the rock wall was about 50 meters, so we added a room around 45 meters. A spiral staircase and an elevator will be installed. The basement will be a large basement with a laboratory, a storage room, and a living room which is to be called the study of 700672. In other words, we plan to reproduce the in Ars. Jin thought that this way, Neige and Rouge would be less likely to get homesick. He remembered that some of the children who were taken away from the facility during his time there did not fit in immediately, but would return to the facility from time to time to put on a peaceful face. It seems that a familiar environment is comfortable ...... for them, even if it is not so good to others. "This is ...... certainly nice." 700672 also noticed that one of the rooms in the basement was the same size as the , and at the same time He also knew what Jin intended to do. This room was a surprise present from Jin, but it seems that he has already found out. "I''ll do the interior. So No. 700672 said, "I''ll do the interior decoration. "...... please." Jin looks around the other rooms. The stairs are used for now, but eventually an elevator will be installed. The second basement is the warehouse, with separate rooms for food and materials. The first basement is the . A small warp gate will be installed on this level. The first floor consists of an entrance lobby, a warehouse, and an empty room. The second floor consists of a living room, a guest room, and an empty room. The third floor also consists of a living room, a guest room, and an empty room. And there is an observation room on the third floor. I am planning to make a for Neige and Rouge, but I am not sure what they want at the moment. The site is ....... The craftsmen (smiths) have started to build the <> now that the grotto is almost finished. This is a cozy house with one basement and two stories above ground. The house will be finished in a colorful manner using stones from the neighborhood. Incidentally, the rock in this area is a hard and dense rock called . The durability is not a problem since it has been treated with <. Watching the < take shape in an hour, No. 700672 is both impressed and dismayed. It''s no wonder, since 200 craftsmen (smiths) are working on it. "I wonder what we can do with this one?" This is a natural question for 700672, who has never lived in a house like this before. "Well, I don''t know now, but maybe in the future we can use it to accommodate guests or to hold some kind of meeting or gathering. Jin said, "I''d like 700672 to be an advisor to the of Hale. "I see. That would be fine with me. "Thank you, sir. Then I will call you <> from now on. Then the house is left to the craftsmen 101 to 200, and the craftsmen 2 01 to 300 started to build the dome. "Oh!" The work here was so fast that even Elder 700672...... couldn''t help but shout. The dome itself will be made of diamonds, not cubic zirconia. "The dome itself is made of diamonds, not cubic zirconia. Diamonds have a simpler structure than zirconia and can be synthesized by <> since they are made only of carbon. "Well, that''s interesting." The elder asked Jin enthusiastically about the process. Then he said, "......I understand well. And that only Jin-dono can do such an unbelievable thing. He commented with a smile. < diamond, 10 centimeters thick. The entrance and exit are located underground and cannot be accessed from above ground. It is connected to the <> and <> on the first basement level. A warp gate has been installed as a safety measure to ensure that no one is trapped. The interior is air-conditioned. Ventilation, temperature and humidity can be controlled. ...... and this is all according to Jin''s instructions. I''ll leave it to you to decide what to do inside. "Well, I''ll ask Neige and Rouge too, and we''ll make it the way they like it. It''s only natural, since the room was originally built at the request of the two girls. "I think it would be good to make this a common room or a space where people can relax. When Hitoshi expressed his idea, the elder nodded his head. "Well, that''s what they said too. They said they wanted a place where they could spend their time leisurely. "I see. Then, I guess we should go to ...... inside." Jin imagines a soft carpet, a sofa, a table, and rocking chairs. A heavy wooden bookcase would be even better. However, this is Jin''s taste, so he does not say anything about it. This is the image I have in mind when I build my own residence ...... villa?This is the image he has in mind when he builds his own residence. "It''s really fun to think about what to do with it. The elder''s face lights up. Jin was also pleased to see this. "Now let''s plant some trees around it. The trees that bear fruit are peaches (persica) and apples (april). For flowering trees, he suggested cherry trees (query) and camellias (kemeria). "Oh, that''s nice." The soil had been improved, so it was thought that such trees would grow without any problem in this area. Thus, Jin and the 700672...... elders proceeded to build their dwelling. 1901 - - 51-15 Hitoshis House Selected as a Candidate Site No. 700672......<>''s residence was largely completed that day. . The rest is the interior. This will be done mainly by 700672 with the help of 10 craftsmen (smiths). The plan is to have 10 craftsmen (smiths) help, and 700672 will take the lead. "Well then, tomorrow we''ll choose a place to build my residence. ......" Jin has an idea of the house he wants to build. A wooden (or pseudo wooden) one-story house (or a two-story house in part). The garden should be large. The workshop, warehouse, hangar, warp gate, and other facilities are all underground. Therefore, we will make a large space in the basement. That''s all. However, since we will probably have a very large space underground, a strong bedrock is indispensable. If there is soil on top of it, it is OK. Is there such a place?" "Yes, I think so. ......" Reiko is also pondering. We searched the geographical and geological information of Hale that we had looked around together, and picked up the places that seemed to match the conditions. "There are five locations that match your criteria." "Oh, I see. Well, let''s take a look around. And I said, "Oh, I don''t see any aircrafts for atmospheric transportation in ." is a bit over the top, and we can''t land there carelessly. is rented out as a temporary home for the 700672 until the <> is completed. Until the <> is completed, it is rented out as a temporary home for the 700672. "I hope there is a <> system." "Yes, it would. In the meantime, let''s have them send us a . <> would be the best choice since it has a built-in force field generator and is also a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft). < I contacted the old man via Reiko, and five minutes later, appeared from the large warp gate. The pilot is Hope. "Oh, this is good!" Jin and Reiko got on board immediately. "Hope, do you know the geography of Hale?" Jin asked, and Hope answered in the affirmative. "Yes, Jin-sama. I have just received the necessary information from the old man via transinfo. "Good then. Let''s start with the central basin. "Yes, sir." Pegasus 2 floated up. Then it will fly to its destination at Mach 3. We will be over our destination in about 30 minutes. The center of this area is full of holes from ore mining, so it is no good. The mountains surrounding the site, the highest one to the south, is the first choice. Hope flew Pegasus 2 to the mountain that Reiko indicated. "Oh, that mountain. ...... hmmm." A mountain over 5,000 meters high appeared before Jin''s eyes. "This mountain is the only one that has kept its original shape since no metal resources could be extracted from it. "I see." It was not so bad in that respect, but the altitude was too high. "It''s also a bit high in latitude." The mountain is in the southern hemisphere, and it is March now, so it is early autumn, but the altitude is high and the latitude is 40 degrees south, so the temperature is below freezing. Let''s move on. Hope, please maintain the same latitude and fly east. Yes, sir. Hope pointed Pegasus 2 east. In less than 30 minutes, they were over their destination. That''s the island. The island. ...... It was a rather flattened island. "There are no metal resources on this island either. Instead, quartz and quartzite were found in abundance on the surface, and it is assumed that they were scraped off to form that shape. "I see. ......You didn''t mine underground?" "Yes. Quartz and quartz crystals are so common as minerals that there was no need to go that far to mine them. "So that''s what you''re saying. If ...... is the case, then the underground part of the island is rich in quartz and quartz crystals, right? "Yes, that would be the case. If that is the case, Jin thought, it would be no problem to hollow out the basement. This was a good candidate. "Okay, this is a good candidate for building a house. Where next? "Hope, please fly to the northeast." Reiko directed Hope to answer Jin''s question. Again, less than 30 minutes later, they were over their destination. This time it was an island in the northern hemisphere, on the western edge of the continent. "So this is ...... the same latitude as the previous island, although there is a difference in northern and southern latitudes." The island is nearly 30 degrees north of the Tropic of Cancer, so the four seasons are probably distinct. "So it''s also close to where the large transition gate (warp gate) was installed." They are close, but about 90 degrees apart in longitude. Let''s look at the other two. I''m going to hold off on this island. One of the two remaining islands is in the inland sea north of the continent Island in the inland sea north of the continent. "Well, it''ll be cold here." Jin thinks hot is better than cold. It''s a matter of degree, though. "The last one is the place where we installed the large warp gate." Reiko says. "I see... that''s for sure." This is where Jin is currently making his temporary base. That''s where Jin is currently using as his temporary base. "Well, I''m not sure. Jin prefers a place that is a little bit isolated from the surrounding area. In that sense, an island is not bad. There is the natural boundary of the sea. "And then there are man-made islands..." Jin recalls . "It doesn''t have to be so man-made, though. Jin thought long and hard as the Pegasus 2 returned to its temporary base. At around 4:00 p.m. local time, Pegasus 2 returned to its temporary base. Adriana is also sitting there. "I guess this is the place." We looked around, but the first place we chose was the best, as if there was a lesson to be learned. "Let''s choose a place where the ground is strong in this area. "Okay." The bedrock in the vicinity is mostly basaltic, dense, and quite strong. Multiplying this by should be more than enough strength. "It looks good." The rocks were almost the same throughout the area. The only thing that remains is location. Jin looked for a place that was slightly elevated from the surrounding area. "Hmmm, here, there ......, and over there." He narrowed down the possible locations to three. All of them are about 100 kilometers away from the temporary base. "Let''s check out each one a little more closely: ......." Jin got off the Pegasus 2 and headed for the nearest candidate site with Reiko to do his own research. 1902 - - 51-16 Minimogra "......<" Jin, who intended to build a huge space underground, including a hangar, made sure to conduct a search to around 1,000 meters below ground. It would be best if there was nothing there. "Yeah, it''s basalt all the way down to the basement. ...... what about over here?" After a few more detailed searches, which only Jin could do. "Hmm?" Jin feels a slight discomfort. So, he repeats the <. "<>......I knew it. There is a space and ...... something around 700 to 800 meters underground." Something that is not basalt. And what''s more, it''s not basalt, "<>...... no good?" Even analysis does not tell us what it is. In other words, it is something unknown even to Jin. However, we know that metal and magecrystal are used as materials. However, we do not know what they are. only gives us known information, knowledge, and words. "Father?" Reiko peeks in anxiously at Jin, who is deep in thought. "Oh, no, I was just wondering what''s down here..." and his team''s survey went down to about 500 meters underground, and they did not survey the entire continent down to the last grain of sand ....... It was no wonder that they missed the pinpoint presence of around 700 meters below the surface. "Then, would you like to use <>...... or <>?" Jin nodded at Reiko''s words. "Yes, I think I''ll use the <> here." < is 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long. It is cylindrical in shape, like a large tea canister. It does not excavate, but performs <>. In other words, the rock is moved backward from the front, so there is almost no sound. Propulsion is not mechanical, but a force field generator. On board are two ultra-compact golems <. Jin sent two of them from Horai Island. "Okay, please!" "Ryoukaidesu!" Miniature golems <>, each five centimeters tall. One and two responded in high-pitched voices, and then mounted <> one and two, respectively. The two <> were activated and disappeared underground in a matter of seconds. "Now we just have to wait and see..." < depends on the concentration of free magical element (ether), and it can be activated at a rate of 500 meters to 10 00 meters per day. With Hale''s free element concentration, he should be able to go 1000 meters. So Jin decided to wait for a day. I see..." * * * * "I see... So, you came to me..." Yes, I was wondering if you knew anything. Not wanting to spend the day in idleness, Jin immediately came to consult with 700672. The < has been quite well decorated over the past day, and now he is being shown into the living room of the <. "Seven hundred meters underground. ...... I have no idea." "I see. ......" No wonder you have no idea where 700672 is. <. And then the two of them.., "Welcome to our office! Rouge brings them a cup of tea. "Oh, thank you! Jin was a bit puzzled. Jin was a bit amazed. "Well, Jin-dono, Rouge is as happy as ......Neige is to have this ." We have guests, we entertain them. Just like in a < home. It was a great pleasure for him to be able to live something that was close to <, something that had been so far away from him. (Oh, I remember that Rouge was a homunculus based on .) (Oh, by the way, Rouge was a homunculus based on <>.) Jin wondered how he would look if he brought her to Archel''s older brother, Belialus. If Belialus, who is more of a cis-con than a big-brother idiot......, saw Rouge, who took over her younger sister Archelle''s looks when she was a little girl,....... Jin hoped that one day, when the situation in Hale had settled down, the northerners would be able to come here to visit. The tea was hojicha. The tea was hojicha, and it was slightly cooled to his liking. Rouge, who had brought the tea, was staring at Jin as he took a sip, "Yes, it''s delicious," Jin said. Rouge smiled happily when Jin told her that the tea was delicious, "Please, take your time. and left the living room. "He''s kind of a chatty guy, isn''t he? 700672 said, but his face was smiling. Since coming to Hale, even No. 700672 has been constantly surprised by the unexpected aspects of Rouge and Neige. Of course, it was a pleasant surprise. Jin, too, has been surprised to see an unexpected aspect of Rouge and Neige that could be described as a < of No. 700672. "As far as I know, ......<> don''t build any kind of facilities ...... under the earth where they live, and deep underground like that. I don''t think that they would build any facilities ...... in such deep underground." Over a cup of tea, No. 700672 choked on his thoughts. "Just ......." "Just what?" Jin looked at 700672, who was unusually brusque, with a curious look in his eyes. "The history of <> is long. The history of the Masters is long, and what I know of the Masters is only a fraction of that. Jin understood what No. 700672 meant. < was still at its peak. Jin could understand that. Even in their decadence and lethargy, they did various great projects such as the migration to Ars. It was difficult even for Jin to imagine them in their prime. (If it is ......, it might be the remains of those days.) The truth will be known tomorrow. With this in mind, Jin decided to change the subject. "By the way, when the <> is completed, will the <> live here? <......, a room that was once part of the <>? "Yes,......I was born in that . But this Hale is also my home in the sense that it is the source of the materials that form me." Jin silently listened to the words of 700672. "To be honest, there is nothing to do over there. But I''m sure I can find a lot of things I want to do here. The way he said it was so roundabout, so like No. 700672, that Jin couldn''t help but grin inwardly. "That''s over there. This one is a vacation home. "I see. When he wants to go back home, he goes back to his parents'' house, and usually enjoys his time at the villa. I guess that''s what 700672 wants to do. If a vacation home is to be spent when the weather is nice, this place has a pleasant climate all year round. He can stay as long as he wants. "Besides, in Ars I was an alien, but not here." "Indeed." He added, "And besides," as if he were adding something else, but Jin wondered if this was his true intention. 1903 - - 51-17 Old Facilities Shortly after 9:00 a.m. on the 18th, Jin received the call he had been waiting for from of the he had sent. Jin received the report in . Since the communication was through <''s built-in manacam, it was easy to hear. "Good work. So, how are you doing?" "Okay, let''s start investigating carefully." Jin gave the order to investigate little by little while keeping an eye on the situation. Through the eyes of Command 1, an image of the basement is sent. Of course, it is an infrared image because it is pitch-dark. . Then, a huge magi-machine is projected on the screen. "Indeed, it''s very different. ......" Jin roared. It was nothing like the originals'' Magi Machines that Jin knew. "Isn''t it made by <> ......?" Jin instructs Command 1 and 2 to proceed with the investigation more carefully. The image sent to them moved slowly across the surface of the alien giant magi-machine. "Hmmm ...... looks pretty old." The metal material was unknown, but it had lost its shine, and rust-like stains were floating here and there, indicating that it had at least been unattended for quite some time. For the moment, I have forbidden any investigation by engineering magic. I have no idea how it will react to the fact that it seems to have stopped moving. "It''s different, but it''s somehow similar to the one from the . Is <> using it as a reference, or vice versa? Jin spent a lot of time to observe the gigantic Magi machine. "All right, it''s time to investigate other places. The space was apparently quite large, so the first priority was to survey the entire area. Command 1 and 2 began to move slowly. Since they are small to begin with, they move slowly even if they walk normally. However, if they were to run at full speed, they could reach a speed of more than 200 kilometers per hour, exceed the speed of sound if they used the force field generator "force generator," and instantly shift one kilometer if they used the transporter. This distance of one kilometer was enough to travel on the ground. "There''s dust on the floor, too. There seems to be no ventilation. The legs of Commands 1 and 2 are buried up to the thighs, indicating that there is nearly two centimeters of dust on the floor. "There are no footprints, so it looks like it''s been abandoned for a really long time." The two commandos continue to move through the piles of dust. First, they make a round of the huge magi-machine. There was nothing unusual about this space except for the fact that it was cylindrical, but they found a passageway that seemed to lead to the next room about 120 degrees around from where they had first been. "Okay, Command 1, go there first. Command 2, stay there and be on the lookout. The size of the passage is about the same as a human being can pass through. Jin imagined that whoever had made this passage must have been about the same size as a human being. After walking about 10 meters down the passageway, he went out into the next room. Naturally, it was pitch-dark here, too. He could somehow see by infrared rays. "Is there a similar magic machine (magi-machine) over here, too? ......" A similar type of magi-machine was placed here. The corrosion on the exterior is about the same. After a thorough investigation, it was not possible to tell the difference between the two machines from the outside. Jin then instructed Command 1 to return to the original room. Jin instructed Command 1 to return to the original room, because it was closer to the . "Be careful, try to shine a light on it." For the next step, Jin decides to turn on the lights. He starts with a very low brightness. Nothing seemed to happen, so he decided to increase the brightness little by little. It took about 30 minutes to bring the light up to the brightness of an ordinary room, but the Magi machine did not show any reaction. "...... Speaking of which, how''s the air in there?" Jin asked again, forgetting to check. Not very suitable for human breathing, and command 1. Oxygen may be low because it has reacted with metals, Jin guessed. "Okay." If I go, I''ll wear a space suit or use a <>, Jin thought. Now, the magi-machine seen under the brightened lights was still very different. However, it was even more evident that it was heavily corroded. "It must have been long since it was no longer in use." Jin muttered as he looked at the magic screen. "I wish the <> would take a look at it." <, who knew much more about technology than Jin, might discover something new. So I contacted him using manacam, and within 5 minutes, <......7006 The 72 came. Using the warp gate, of course. "Mister Jin, I understand you have found something very interesting. Yes. Take a look at this. Oh, ......!Oh, my God! Do you know what it is? < "As far as I know, this is a product of the old technology of the , I think. "Yes. ......?" Jin was surprised. "Is this the old technology of the <>?" "It''s not so much old technology as technology in its prime. ......See, there are features that have been handed down to this day, such as this area." "I see." Jin''s impression that it was somehow similar to the originals was not mistaken. "My guess is that it is probably more than 20,000 years old." < started planning to leave Hale about 10,000 years ago. Jin could not have imagined that it was another 10,000 years ago. But at the same time, it was natural that the facility would not work if it was that old. "Does it not work anymore? Jin asks the <> for their opinion, just to be sure. "Yes, probably. It looks like an abandoned facility that is no longer in use. "I see... I guess it''s safe to use magic to investigate at ......." Here, for the first time, Jin ordered the commands to investigate not visually but by magic. "Command 1, 2. First, check the material of the outer covering. Jin was interested in the material used by the 20,000 years ago. 1904 - - 51-18 Backups Command 1 and 2 infiltrated the mysterious underground facility and, following Jin''s instructions, began to examine the mysterious magi-machine and its materials. . < < No wonder, the outer coating had started to corrode. "Hmmm...didn''t they have a golem or automata for maintenance?" "Jin-dono, as I said before, they must have been <>, so they would not have left such things there." Jin''s question was answered by 700672. "Oh, so that''s what you mean." "There''s more. If it is an abandoned facility, the has probably been removed. Other than that, they will leave it as it is," speculates <. "Although, the < in their heyday may have thought differently." "Still, it would be helpful." Jin instructed commands 1 and 2 to check the magi machine in front of them to see if there were any magi reactors left. . The two units give top priority to this order, and analyze the magi-machines. Then, after 15 minutes. "I see." Jin knew that the <> were right. In that case, there is no way that this Magi machine will be reactivated. "Okay, you can use magic more extensively to investigate." . The investigation of commands 1 and 2 was accelerated. << <<> Jin thought that the necessary mithril silver had been recovered due to the shortage of resources. "......Good, let''s go there." Of course, I''m going to use my <>. "Jin-dono, may I stay here?" < "Oh, yes. Or rather, please stay. < watching over him. * * * * * * Once Jin returned to Horai Island, he went straight to the command room and prepared the <>. . In this case, is and Jin''s consciousness. "Yes, I''m going." Jin replies, and focuses his attention on controlling the doppelganger. * * * * * * Thank you for waiting. <. He has seen <700672 several times, so he is not particularly moved. "Oh, Jin-dono. Are you on your way? "Yes, I am on my way." I said no to the elder, "Reiko, let''s go!" He now calls out to Reiko, "Reiko, let''s go! "Yes, father." Reiko replies shortly and follows Jin''s . While Jin was preparing his , Command 1 and 2 were preparing a simple warp gate. < is limited to two round trips at the most. Any more than that, and the magi-circuit would burn out. But not Jin. And of course, Jin''s . Because every time they are used, they are repaired and maintained. "<>...... and that''s it." First of all, Jin D (doppelganger), having secured the way home, turned to the towering Magi machine in front of him. "...... this. First." We''ll start by removing the exterior. "Yo," he said. < "Oh ......" The contents were in a format that Jin had never seen before. But it was a product of <. "......If you know what to look for, you have a pretty good idea." The theory remains the same, even if the appearance has changed. There is a cause and a result, there is an input and there is an output. "If we follow the flow of magic, I think we can get a rough idea. Jin D. carefully examined the giant magic machine (magi-machine). * * * * * * "Hmmm, as expected of you, Jin-dono." <, 700672 admired Jin''s skill through the magic screen. "Oh, yes," he said. "Oh, I believe that''s ......." 700672 looked familiar. "<>, was it?Can you contact Jin-dono?" <> "Yes. I''d better let him know as soon as possible. * * * * * * < Not Jin D, but Jin in Horai Island received the message. "What''s wrong?What''s wrong?" Jin returns his consciousness to reality. <. < Yes, I can hear you. Is there something wrong?" Therefore, please be careful not to damage that part of the machine, <> said. "<>?" < "Is it a stone slab? ......" << "I see, there is such a thing. ......" Jin D immediately starts looking for it. Reiko does the same. Reiko used the force generator to search from the top of the giant Magi machine. "Is this it?" Jin D. found a stone disk about 30 centimeters in diameter, with its surface covered with transparent crystals. It is about 5 mm thick and looks like an LP record ...... or a laser disk. > Jin D followed his words and searched for more disks. 1905 - - 51-19 Crystal Disk Analysis In the end, 121 disks were found. Of these, 78 were broken. In other words, 43 disks are still intact. Of the 78 broken disks, 30 disks were missing because no pieces were found. "Well, I can only assume that someone or something broke them." It was also hard to believe that the would do something so illogical as to deliberately break the backup . "Father, there''s a bone over here." "What? Reiko''s voice made me rush over to her, and I found the bones of two medium-sized animals lying on the ground. After 20,000 years, the bones were tattered and looked as if they would shatter at any moment. "Did they blend in, ......?" Or was it the pet of someone who worked here?Or was it a pet of someone who worked at this place? There is a strong possibility that this animal broke the <. "By the way, there was also a dog that was taken to Antarctica, wasn''t there? The dog must have been rescued by the Antarctic expedition that visited the South Pole the following year, but here ......, Hitoshi imagines more. 700672 says, looking at the skeleton. < Leaving the bones of the animals untouched, Jin decides to examine the magi-machine in the next room across the passage. < "I wonder if this one has the same function?" Jin''s opinion is that this is not the case, but it is impossible to say for sure since there is a method called in hard disks, where the same data is recorded on multiple media. "Well, I guess we''ll find out, won''t we?" Jin-D cooperates with Reiko and removes the exterior. What appears is a magi-machine in the same form as the one in the next room. However, it cannot be determined from this alone that they have the same function. While Jin D was investigating various things, he received an advice from No. 700672. "I see." Jin and Reiko searched for a backup <>, thinking that they were using the same type of storage devices side by side. However, they could not find a single disk here. "I guess that happens sometimes." Jin has stopped obsessing about it. Originally, Jin had found this place when he was looking for a base to build his own. "Maybe we can preserve this Magi machine as an archaeological site. Jin thought of this and decided to install air conditioning for the time being. Of course, air-conditioning must have been installed at the time of use, but there is no such equipment to be found now. >, speculated No. 700672. 700672 guessed. "That may be so. Jin agrees with this opinion. "Let''s go back and think about it. Jin was anxious about the < in his possession. * * * * Jin D went to Horai Island. As for Jin himself, he went to the Nordic Federation. To analyze the , of course. So far, the only place where he can analyze the disk with little risk is the residence of No. 700672... ...<>. Jin-dono, welcome to my base. Jin was greeted by 700672, who had returned to the base one step ahead of Jin through the warp gate. "Sorry to disturb you, sir." "Is that the at ......?" "Yes." Jin handed the that Reiko had given him to the . "Well, ...... it looks a little different from what I know, but ...... let''s check it out." Even the CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs used on Earth have several different standards, and if they don''t match, they may not be readable. This <> is nearly 20,000 years old, and uses technology even older than that of the <> who created the 700672. >>The technology used is even older than that used in the 700672. "Let''s check it out first." There are 43 safe <. They are numbered. The highest numbered one, which is the most recent record ......, must be more than 10,000 years old, is in the hands of <>7 00672, which is probably 10,000 or more years old. "Let me start with something a little less degraded." Saying this, No. 700672 went to the magi machine in the corner of the <>. From Jin''s point of view, it looks like a DVD player. He opened the top cover of the magi-machine and tried to insert the < into the rounded depression,...... but the size of the disk did not fit. "...... I knew it." 700672 let out a small sigh. "What do you mean?" "My must not have had much contact with the who made this ...... or even the who built that facility." That reminded Jin. < is an individualist. "You mean that they are not standardized?" "That''s what I mean." Jin sighed. It seems that <> had set up a standard for each narrow community of himself and his friends. "I guess that wasn''t the case in the beginning, though." Jin thought that since units and letters were common, everyone must have shared the same information at that time. Jin wonders what the history of such has been like since then, when it became so individualistic. "...... Jin-dono, do you also have a broken are a recording medium that uses the crystalline structure of the surface." The <> adjusted several lever-like knobs. Jin, who has never seen such a magi-machine before, is very curious. "Hmmm... ...... this is a video recording." On the monitor in front of the 700672, an image, albeit indistinct, was projected. "Well, ...... it looks like this is a topographical map. Since the information is from debris, it is not clear where the topographic map is. It looks like some kind of microfilm.) It does not seem to be a digital record, Jin thought. "I''m not sure about this one." 700672 analyzed another fragment and found that it appeared to be an exterior view of a building. The other 28 pieces were all video recordings. "So this is the way they recorded the building. It''s really interesting." Records left by the ancestors of the people who created you. "It will take some time. Jin-dono, can you lend me these crystal disks for a while? I will definitely report the results, but it will take a while to analyze them," said 700672. "Yes, I understand. Thank you very much." Jin readily agreed. He decided to return to his original goal of building his own base. 1906 - - 51-20 Securing Water Jin entrusted 700672 with the analysis of the found in the underground facility, On the morning of the 19th, he decided to go back to the base. "I don''t want to be right above it, as expected." The area around the facility was solid bedrock, which was good for building a basement, but the thought of such a facility being down there did not make him feel good. So Jin looked for the next best thing. An hour later, he finds it. The place he thought would be the best is located about 2 km east of ...... where the information recording facility was located in the basement. It is a little higher than the surrounding area, and the rock is andesite. Andesite is widely defined and has various properties and compositions, but the rock here is dense and solid with some olivine. "With this, we can build a basement." Jin then thoroughly investigated the basement with a . I don''t think it''s so coincidental, but he didn''t want to find the remains of the <> in the land he liked, so he did a thorough investigation. "......Yeah, it''s all right." As a result, no artifacts were found down to 2,000 meters below the surface. "You''re right,...... andesite of the same nature was found up to 300 meters below the surface." Father, isn''t that enough? "Well, yes." Reiko said, and Jin nodded with a wry smile. Originally, he had thought that the size of the basement, or rather the depth of the basement, would be about 200 meters below the ground, so 300 meters below the ground would be sufficient. Jin decided to make this his base. The plains stretch to the east of the continent, about 400 km from the sea. The surrounding area is still a reddish-brown wasteland, but the herbaceous vegetation is recovering and the soil has stopped running off. Jin had planned to build a there and a underground at the same time. * * * * > 501 to 800,30 The speed of the work is beyond description. The speed of the work is beyond description, and the underground portion of the building was completed in one hour. "How do you like it, Master?" Two hangars, 200 meters long, 200 meters wide, and 100 meters high. Ten spaces 20 meters long and 20 meters high for storage. 20 spaces 10 meters long and 10 meters high to be used as a workshop or laboratory. The floors, walls, and ceilings have been carefully , , and . "Yeah, it''s good." Jin nodded in satisfaction. The interior will be slowly prepared. Next is the ground level. This will be the same size and layout as the house on Horai Island. The familiar environment is the best. The wooden tiled roofs are also and , so they will be maintenance-free for 100 years. Of course, if they are reapplied and maintained during that time, they should last even longer. "Maybe it would be a good idea to put up a ward to cut off ultraviolet rays. Jin was planning to do something like this. < Tatami mats, nails, roof tiles, etc. were made in Horai Island, but the wood used for the building was from here in Hale. Hinoki, Hiba, and Sugi (Japanese cedar) were grown enough to be used as lumber. Rather, the Foresters seem to be proud of the fact that Jin''s is the first to use lumber that they have grown themselves. Jin enjoys making the furniture. Reiko prepares sandwiches for lunch. As for the garden, Hitoshi is planning to make it Hale''s own, so he decides to put gravel in it for the time being. In this way, the is completed by the end of the day. "Now we can start sleeping in it tonight. < is not bad, but the comfort of sleeping on a futon in a tatami room with arms and legs stretched out is hard to beat. The futon is of course made of and . Smelling the new tatami mats, Jin puts down the futon. "Well, ......" And then he thought about the bath. The bathhouse is well built, and the drainage system is environmentally friendly with a <>magic device. But ....... "Oh, I see. ......" Here on Hale, a planet even older than Ars, it is difficult to find hot springs. The geothermal heat is supposed to be high deep underground, so it might be possible to dig up hot springs if we bore down to 5000 meters or so, but it''s too late for that today. "All right, let''s transfer it." For today, I decided to take a bath by having a tank of hot spring water sent from Horaijima. It is a very luxurious bath. "Ah, it''s nice hot water. Jin is aware that this is an irregular bath. "After tomorrow, I''ll think about what to do properly. ......" Come to think of it, Jin had not yet thought about what to do about the water supply. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "What about the precipitation around here?" Jin asked the old man with his manacam before going to bed. < I see. Jin built his house around the Tropic of Cancer. The elevation is about 100 meters above sea level. "So there''s not much rain around here." < Moist air is brought in from the ocean, and water vapor condenses on the cooler land to form clouds and fog. >. "I see." Jin regretted that he should have checked such weather conditions before building the house. "Then, what should we do about the water here? Now he had to secure water even if he had to do it by force. "A canal......... indeed." It is said that the land of Hale cannot be enriched in just a few hundred years, since the water itself has been carried out into space for tens of thousands of years. "Any other ideas?" < Well, that''s one way to look at it. It''s only a matter of how much water one Jin uses. Those two? < "That''s one way to do it. ......" Once,...... 400 years ago, he visited with his best friend Reinhardt and his beloved wife,...... who at that time was still his friend. ......I remembered that in Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, which I had visited with Erza and others, the Marquis of Firenziano had asked me to make a <> of a magical tool. "You can use <> or <>, can''t you?" Jin fell asleep while he was thinking about which idea to use. 1907 - - 51-21 Water vein March 20. After breakfast, Jin wonders how to secure water at the base. The old lord gave him some advice. . "What do you mean?" Jin looked doubtful because what he said last night was different from what he said last night. > "Okay. <." Jin headed for , which had landed beside . A topographical map sent by the old man was projected on the magic screen in the cockpit. . "Yes. <> Yes, there are indeed. "Yes." Now Jin has an idea of what the old man is trying to say. "That''s right, isn''t it?" Jin nodded. "But we checked underground when we built the house, and there is no underground water vein, isn''t there?" < "Oh, I see." Jin scratched his head. The old man is right. "If we search around the bedrock here, even in the shallow part, there must be underground water veins, right?" < Jin nodded. "That''s right. If we are going to build a canal, we need to do a thorough investigation. First of all, let''s look for underground water veins. Thank you, Mr. Old Man. Thus, Jin found an underground water vein about a kilometer north of . It was flowing through a crack in the bedrock, and the volume of water was considerable. However, the water that had been flowing underground for a long time was so hard that it was not suitable for drinking, so Jin built a water purifier to deal with it. Since the water contained slightly high levels of , it was converted to soft water by passing it through a water purifier. The alum and magnesium oxide that are produced in this process are kept in stock to be used effectively as chemical substances. Alum can be used for color fixing of pickled eggplants, and magnesium oxide can be used as laxative. That''s about all that ...... Jin knows, but the academic book that <> brought to this world may contain a little more information. "Well, it''s not a problem at this level." Onsen...... No, it is a cold spring because the water temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius, but it is classified as an aluminum-containing spring. It is said to be effective for skin diseases. However, the content is low, so the extent to which it is effective is unknown. "There is no problem to boil the water. All the wastewater will be cleaned up and taken underground. That''s it." < He is happy because now that the water is running, he can live for the time being. "Now all that''s left is the yard. ......" The area around the house is just graveled, so it is a bleak sight. The view from the window still lacks greenery. Even though the area is recovering, it is still mainly grass. "I think I should plant some trees in the garden and build a small pond. While Horaijima is mainly a laboratory of his predecessor, so he did not play around with it much, this is a place where Jin can configure it as he likes. "I dreamed of having a pond from the porch and keeping goldfish in the pond ...... when I was in the institution." I used to think it would be nice to have a little house of my own," Jin recalls fondly of the past. "We''ve come a long way. ...... Oh, plant some low trees there." Jin looked at the craftsman (Smith) and the foresters who were preparing the garden and muttered to himself. Since he did not have a firm idea about the garden, after three hours of trial and error, he was satisfied with the garden. The house was surrounded by a low hill about one meter high, and on the hill were planted azaleas, satsuki, sasanquas, camellias, yukiyanagi, yamabuki, lengyou, kodemari, oodemari, hydrangea, and other shrubs. The names of the plants are unified in the Japanese style. After a few years, when the leaves grow thick, the inside will be hidden from view. However, there is no one who can peek into the house. The total area of the site is about 500 tsubo. From the porch facing south, a pond can be seen in front of the house. Although it is in the style of a Japanese garden, it is not designed in a formal manner. It is more like a pond in a park. Of course, Jin''s favorite cherry trees (cherries) were planted, as well as fruit trees such as plum (plums), peaches (persica), and apples (april). The north side of the house is still paved with gravel because I want to build a garage for a size aircraft. "What about the bugs?" I asked Reiko, "Yes, Father. The number of bumblebees that were originally here is gradually increasing, so I think pollination will be fine. Bumblebee is a general term for bees that pollinate pollen, such as honeybees, bumblebees, and bees. "It seems that <> was concerned about the preservation of the ecosystem, and there were protected areas at that time. The protected area was left unattended after the Originals left Hale, but most of the species survived. Reiko said that the fact that the protected area that <> had built was nearly maintenance-free may have helped. "When was that?" Jin had never heard of it. "Yes, I found that out when your father made a detailed survey of Hale four hundred years ago." "Is that what you mean?" "That''s what you mean." "Yes. Since that time, he had been planning the redevelopment of Hale, including the redevelopment of 700672 for your sake. "Is that so?" It seems that four hundred years ago Jin also thought that it would be a waste or a shame to leave this heirloom. Reiko knows about it, doesn''t she? "Yes. I''m sorry about ......." "Sorry for what?" "...... for not telling your father the whole story." Jin smiled a smile that was neither wry nor compassionate. "If you''re doing this for my sake, don''t worry about it." Jin patted Reiko on the head. "It''s true, there are many things that would be uninteresting if we knew them. Tricks and culprits in mystery novels are one of the best examples of such things. "Well, if I ask you, you can tell me." Jin casually let this matter slide. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * For lunch, I made porridge with water from the newly installed tap. "Yeah, no problem. If all the minerals were removed, the water would be tasteless, just like distilled water. So I set the water purifier to remove harmful and too much components, and it seems to have worked well. "Now we''ll work on it little by little." Jin smiled with satisfaction after his big job. 1908 - - 51-22 Enhancement of locations On March 22, Jin had almost completed the area around Hale''s <. What took longer was the basement. "We''ve built the hangar, but there''s nothing in it." <> is the leg, or rather the wing, of Ars. It is only natural, "Okay, let''s build a vehicle for Hale. "The workshop is already finished," he says. "The workshop is already completed, and we only need this much material. The materials are all metals. The ecological materials are yet to come. Whether it is possible to cultivate subterranean spiders (ground spider) and caterpillars (ground caterpillar) has not been tested yet. It is known that even in Arus, the quality, such as the strength of the threads, is lower when cultivated outside of Horai Island, so we have to be very careful about cultivating them here in Hale. "Well, what about the size and design? Here in Hale, Jin can show his skills to the fullest. The first question was whether to make it an airplane or a rocket. "Should I make it an all-purpose type, land, sea, air, and space? A small spacecraft in the 10-meter class would probably fall into that category, but something was different. "I guess it should be a water-drop type. ...... Jin loved the time he spent thinking like this. > The old man spoke to Jin. "Yes?What''s wrong?" < "Residents or ......" Jin is thinking of the inhabitants of and the <. will be discovered someday in the future as the culture and civilization of Ars develops. < can live anywhere now that the problem of the concentration of free magic element (ether) in Ars has been solved. However, the lands with good conditions are already inhabited by human beings, and there is little room for <>. Although there are many undeveloped lands in the southern hemisphere of Ars Racial Continent, Jin wanted to leave it as a natural environment preservation area. < "Oh, I see. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the advice of the old man, Jin suddenly realized. "Well, let''s make a terminal for the old man first, rather than a vehicle. The old man''s hands were not on this hail. First of all, he decided to make a terminal so that the old man could take control of Hale from Ars. "Well, I don''t mean ''seize'' as in control and rule. Jin is not a dictator, nor does he intend to be. He just does not want his peace of mind to be threatened by unforeseen circumstances. "It is the sub-free magical element (ether) wave that exchanges data with Horai Island. This is because it is not affected by the free-magic element (ether) noise that fills the space. "And there is no time delay." However, the speed of the free-magic wave also seems to be much faster than the speed of light known to Jin. < would have known the speed of light, it would have been possible to find out by asking 700672. "It''s probably a thousand times faster than the world we''re from." Jin thought so, since there was no delay in the communication between Ars and Hale. Since there is no time delay, the unit here and the main body of Horai Island are all In other words, it is like a multi-core CPU, some of the cores of which are here in Hale. Anyway, Jin is working quickly and efficiently. His assistant is Reiko. Using a lot of new type materials ...... for the structure and the exterior, he finished the terminal of ...... the old man. It took about two hours to complete. "That''s it." The Peeper is a telescope that can look out over the whole of the planet Hale. The telescope had to be fixed to a solid bedrock on Horai Island, but with the foundation and base made of <>, it is now less than one-tenth the size of the previous telescope. The design has been made to have enough space to accommodate the expansion functions that are expected to be added in the future. "How about it, old man? < "Well, that''s good to hear." For now, I have not made a mobile terminal for <, but I intend to make an equivalent one in some form or another. And next, Reiko''s version will be upgraded. "Reiko, I''m going to replace your skeleton with a ." "Yes, Father. Yes, Father. Reiko''s current skeleton is made of . It is a material made by molecular compression of Magi adamantite. Now, <> is made by molecular compression of <>. The default strength is about 1.2 times stronger, but when strengthened by magic power, it becomes more than 4 times stronger than Hyper Adamantite. Since the weight remains the same, Reiko''s weight remains the same. "Hmmm, there have been various minor upgrades after all." Reiko, the beloved daughter of the 400-year-old Jin, who was probably modified by him until his later years. There were some modifications that the present Jin, the duplicate, did not know about. With some minor maintenance, the work was completed in an hour. "That''s it. How are you feeling? Reiko gets up and checks herself. "Yes, father, I''m doing very well. Thank you very much." "I see. I''m glad to hear that. It is just about lunchtime, so they decide to eat. Jin makes tanuki soba noodles for the first time in a long time. Reiko made the soba, and Jin made his own soup for the first time in a long time. "Well, it''s been so long, I can''t get the hang of it. But the taste was just about satisfactory. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, Jin was thinking about what to do next, when Reiko suggested. "Father, why don''t you prepare a maid golem to take care of you? "That''s a good idea." In the afternoon, Jin decided to make a maid golem for Hale. "This one doesn''t have as many chores as the other one (Horaijima), so we only need two of them. If you want to ......, you can imagine a pair of events or ......." Muttering to himself, Jin proceeded with his work. The metallic materials including the skeleton are all type. Or rather, that''s all there is here. Ecological materials such as muscles and skin were brought in from Horai Island. "Should we make automata instead of golems? ......" And the result was two samurai automata. They are 155cm tall and slender. One of them is called "Japanese maid" and the other is called "Japanese maid", "This one is a Japanese-style maid ...... or a helper." Because a kimono doesn''t suit a body with too much body shape. And since she is wearing kimono, I made her apron like a kappo-gi-style apron. "Here we go." "Father, what is your name?" "Oh, let''s see. Oh, let''s see... twin sisters. ...... Jin remembered that he had named Reiko''s sisters Soleil (sun) and Luna (moon), "Let''s make them <> and <>." He decided to make them <> and <>. 1909 - - 51-23 Rider After activating the two automata, Jin named the elder one and the younger one . Tsukino wears her black hair in a ponytail, and Hoshino wears it in twin-tails. "It''s nice to meet you, Master." "Master, I''m looking forward to working with you." They are twins, but their voices are not the same because they are slightly different. "Nice to meet you. This is Reiko, your eldest sister. I am Reiko. Tsukino, Hoshino, it''s nice to meet you. Big sister Reiko, it''s nice to meet you. Reiko, please take good care of me." Tsukino is a little more active, and Hoshino is a little more quiet. The difference between the two is so slight that normally one would not notice it, but Jin thought that with time the difference would become apparent. The data on household chores, including cooking, is the same as that of Goshiki Golem Maid, so she knows Jin''s preferences. "There we go." "Thank you, father." Reiko also thanked Jin. Reiko was going to be Jin''s assistant in various ways besides housekeeping, and it would be very helpful to have an automata who specialized in housekeeping. "Now, let''s think about a vehicle again. "Well, shouldn''t there be one that can be ridden casually and one that can be ridden by a few people? "Well, Reiko has a good point. If we compare them to cars, they are like a private car and a bus. The ones Jin uses in Horai Island are and . If we add < and < to them, the lineup will be more complete. "If I were to imagine a private car, it would be a one-box car at best." In this sense, the <> has a normal seating capacity of five and a maximum seating capacity of 10. Jin is sometimes concerned about the fact that it can accommodate the whole family. "But I think it''s a little big. With an overall length of 15 meters, it is not the image of a private car. But the Zero fighter, or Type Zero fighter, is 11 meters long. <, which would have been the model for the , is 15 meters long. So 15 meters is not so big, but then again, Jin is from peaceful modern Japan. "I want to make something that can fly in the sky with the size of an ordinary car," he thought. He had been thinking of building something that would be about the size of an ordinary car and could fly. The size would be about 4 to 5 meters. With magic technology, it would be possible. "In that case, ......" Jin thought that it could be made compact if there was no sleeping in it. "If we recline the seats, we can at least take a nap. ...... He decided that it would be about five meters long, about the size of a three-plate car. "A flying car. ...... He was not so much interested in such a thing. "Father, why don''t you think about developing what you have made so far? Reiko, who could not help but notice Jin''s distress, offered some advice. "Hm?...... I see. ......" Taube, Pegasus, Pegasus 2, Conlon 2, Conlon 3, Hurricane. Jin thought that the image would be a Taube with the performance of Pegasus 2. "The delta wing is going to be compact. ...... wait?" Jin remembered an old plastic model he had made, a British vertical takeoff and landing aircraft called the <> ( VTOL), a British vertical takeoff and landing aircraft ( "It looks good to use that design as a reference. ......" The tip of the plane was a bit chunky, so make it a bit sharper there. "The pilot''s seat is in the nose, so the visibility in front, up, down, left, and right will be good. Jin summarized his concept along these lines. "We can use a force generator for the propulsion system, so it will be easy to make it into a vertical takeoff and landing plane (VTOL). Jin thought this was a good idea and decided to work along these lines. * * * * "It''s pretty chunky, even for ......." Assuming an overall length of 5 meters and seating for 8 passengers, the width of the cockpit or cabin would have to be about 1.5 meters. "Seven people, then." One pilot in the front and three rows of two seats in the back, seven people. Behind that, a small warehouse. "Well, if we stuff them in, we can fit 10 people in there." Basically, the propulsion system is a force field generator, but due to design considerations, there is a jet port at the rear of the vehicle. The propellant gas is not injected from this jet, but rather is the launch port for <> or <>. It is a weapon for when you are tracked from behind. Do not ask what kind of opponent will track you when you can go supersonic. This is just in case something goes wrong. The structural material is . If you think the word is bad when used, it is your own fault. The overall width is 5 meters. It is a delta wing plane. The height is 2 meters. The height is 2 meters, 2.5 meters if the wheels are included. It has a wind shield, a physical barrier (solid barrier), a magic barrier (magic barrier), and a defensive shield (aigis). It is armed with a paralyzing gun (Paralyzer), a magic cannon (Magi Cannon), an electromagnetic induction radiator (Induction Radiator), a magic bomb (Mana Bomb), a magic transfer cannon (Magi Trance Cannon), etc. For escape, it is equipped with a small warp gate. "Father, is it necessary to go this far ......?" Reiko asked him, "Father, do you have to do all this ? "Well, what about the transparent part ......?" Jin wondered about the material of the canopy. "I think it should be a laminated structure. Jin thinks of a three-layered structure. The outer layer is diamond for hardness, the inner layer is GSP for toughness, and the third layer is cubic zirconia. Of course, all of them are covered with <, which is a supercompatible toughening magic of <. Reiko is the only assistant, since we have plenty of time this time. In two whole days, Jin has built a new ride at Hale. * * * * * * * * * * * On March 24, the plane is completed. The pilot was Hope. Hope has also been upgraded by replacing the materials with type. "Well, I''m counting on you, Reiko, Hope." "Yes, Father." Yes, Father. I''ll take care of it. With Hope as pilot and Reiko as co-pilot, we will conduct a thorough test. This is the old man''s request. They are to test various items including maximum speed and maneuverability. "This is wonderful!You''re the master!" "Of course it is. Of course it is. Your father made it." Hope and Reiko go through a variety of tests ...... some of them quite grueling ....... "I''ll go supersonic without warding." "Okay." The aircraft, which had ascended to the stratosphere so as not to affect its surroundings, hit speeds of 5,000 meters per second. The speed of sound in this area is just under 1,000 meters per second, or Mach 5. This led to the discovery of one glitch: ....... 1910 - - 51-24 Diamonds and Colundum "Hmm, I see what you mean." The plane has just returned from a supersonic test in the stratosphere. Part of the canopy was altered by the heat. "...... diamonds were vulnerable to heat, right?" Diamonds, which are crystals of carbon, are said to transform at about 600 degrees Celsius and burn at about 800 degrees Celsius. It was thought that the high temperature was probably caused by the adiabatic compression of air due to supersonic speed. "...... to turn it into aluminum oxide?" Mineral name is corundum, same as ruby and sapphire. With a Mohs hardness of 9, it is said to be the second hardest material after diamond, but in fact there are man-made materials that are a little harder. Nevertheless, among the transparent materials available today, this is the best when it comes to hardness, heat resistance, and chemical stability. Cubic zirconia is also hard, with a Mohs hardness of 8 to 8.5, but it is one step behind ruby. However, zirconia has a higher melting point and boiling point. However. Corundum can be synthesized from aluminum oxide Al2O3, but cubic zirconia is made by adding yttrium, calcium, magnesium, hafnium, etc. to zirconia, Cubic zirconia is made by adding 4 to 15% of yttrium, calcium, magnesium, hafnium, etc. to zirconia, so it is very difficult to synthesize. Therefore, the material imported from the is used. "We should change the outer layer of the three layers to corundum." Jin rushed to improve it. And one more thing. "Father, this is not a defect..." Is there something wrong? "Yes. Before we climbed into the stratosphere, there were clouds forming at both ends of the wings." "What ......?" Jin thought it might be a trailing vortex, or wingtip vortex. It is a vortex created by the air that goes around from the lower surface of the wing to the upper surface. (It''s a plane that flies with a force field generator. ......) (It is a plane that flies with a force generator. ) It is a plane that was built without any wind tunnel tests. It is not surprising that such a thing could happen. Jin thought it would be better to keep it in mind, though it would not be an immediate problem since it does not rely on the lift force generated by the wings. "Okay. Then please test me again." "Yes, sir." Jin looked over at the aircraft as it took off again, "......700672... ...or maybe we should use corundum instead of diamonds for the dome..." Leaving aside whether or not there is a concern about fire ......, now that we have noticed that it is not heat resistant, we feel bad about leaving it alone. So, Jin had 50 craftsmen (Smith) help him to replace the material of the dome while Reiko and Hope were conducting the test flight. In addition, the inside of the dome was coated with a subterranean spider resin (GSP) in case it cracked. This is a measure that even the had not taken. "You are a worrier, Jin-dono," said . The 700672 said to me, "It is said that you should take care of yourself before you fall," he replied. He replied, "I see. So that''s your belief, Jin-dono. The laughed and agreed. Meanwhile, Hope and Reiko had completed all the tests without any problems this time. * * * * * After the test flight by Hope and Reiko, it was time for Jin to get on board. "Father, how would you like to name it?" "Well, I don''t know." This was not Jin''s favorite naming question. After thinking about it for a while, "Okay, let''s name him Sparrow. Jin decided to name him Sparrow because he was small. Jin engraved the name <> on the dull silver-colored fuselage. "That''s it. Let''s go!" < in that order. Hope is in the pilot''s seat, first in line. Jin and Reiko are in the back. The pilot''s seat is about 30 centimeters higher than the cockpit, so visibility is good. The lower part of the cockpit is also made of transparent material to ensure a clear view. The rearward blind spots are projected on a special magic screen, so that even if Jin is a human being, Hope and Reiko can instantly see almost the whole area with their reaction speed. "Now, let''s go!" Hope announces, and the VTOL < lifts off the ground. Jin''s new craft, <>, is now flying freely in the skies of Hale, with Hope at the controls. "The new acceleration pressure absorber is working well, isn''t it?" Jin nodded in satisfaction. This is a mechanism that synchronizes the <> and the > to generate gravity in the aircraft in the same direction as the acceleration, but in the opposite direction. Thanks to this mechanism, the occupants do not feel anything even if they accelerate at 10G. In addition, normal gravity is applied to the cabin, so the passengers can spend a comfortable time. ...... and so far it has been used before. What Jin has introduced this time is an additional <-like device. It absorbs acceleration pressures above 0.5G (the upper limit is adjustable between 0G and 1G). Thanks to this device, Gs during ascent, descent, acceleration, deceleration, turn and roll can be sensed without any physical burden to the body. Incidentally, the acceleration G of a passenger plane is said to be 0.2 to 0.3G. A roller coaster ride is said to accelerate at 3G to 5G. "Oh, I feel like I''m flying. Jin had ridden roller coasters in modern Japan a few times. The roller coaster ride at that time would have taken about 3G, so 0.5G would not be a problem at all. I was Jin, who gave instructions to Hope to fly in an acrobatic manner and enjoyed the ride. "The maximum normal speed in the atmosphere is still Mach 3. ......" The limit of the wind shield is at that level, so any higher speed would generate a shock wave and cause trouble to the surroundings. "Well, considering the application, this is about right, isn''t it?" And Jin said, "Okay, that''s enough. Let''s go back." Jin gave the order to return. * * * * "You didn''t think about the hangar at ......." The VTOL aircraft can take off and land from anywhere, but the area around the <> has been groomed as a garden. It was built in an underground workshop, which is now connected to the ground by a ramp. "......700672... .......or if there is a rock wall like at ''s place, it would have been cool to launch from there......." Jin thinks to himself. "I guess we should build a hangar ...... or garage on the ground and launch from there. Jin decides to build a garage in the yard like a country house and launch the car from there. As expected, he decided not to make it look like a <. So Jin decides to build a garage-like structure. Ten <> helped him and it was completed in an hour. Walls made of concrete blocks, steel shutters, and a concrete roof. The garage turned out exactly as Jin had envisioned. Of course, the materials are not as they appear, but everything has been to increase strength and prevent deterioration due to ultraviolet rays and the like. Yes, that''s good. The garage is wide enough to fit three cars. < is 5 meters. The floor inside is an elevator that leads directly to the underground hangar and workshop. "It looks like the <>''s house is almost ready, maybe we should invite Marikka and Zion." Jin thinks about inviting some important people from the <> who have close ties to the planet Hale. "In that case, why don''t we invite Belialus ......?" Jin was a little excited and a little worried about how Belialus would react to seeing his sister Archelle''s rouge as it was in her youth, something he had thought about a little before. 1911 - - 51-25 The Magic Puppet Jin was enjoying his and making the most of it. < The old man''s voice rang out, "What''s wrong? "What is it?" <. It was disguised as a cathode-ray tube TV set, according to Jin''s preference. "Oh, I see! Since the terminal was built here, the old man''s freedom of activity has been dramatically improved. So Jin had him use the Peeper telescope to search deep underground. <. It is in the south side of the basin, near the strong acid lake. There is a cavity around 1,000 meters underground, where many of the <> are being stored. "What?Did you just say <>?Not golem?" <> for convenience, because they do not have a control core and are operated remotely. Jin thought that another name for them would be <>. <<<>, I see. The old man seemed to have heard Jin''s muttering and decided to use that name. "...... Uh... What is this < like?" The magic screen, which resembles a cathode-ray tube television set, brightens, and a is projected on it. "Oh ......!" It was enough to make Jin shout out. First of all, it was big. The reason why we could tell how big they are is because the wise old man showed us the scale on the screen. "The biggest one is about 15 meters. ......" It is the same size as the one Jin made, <. There are ten of them in a row. The reason why you made such an ambiguous judgment is that <> tends to dislike fighting, so there is a possibility that they do not carry weapons even if they are for fighting. And its design was very mechanical, just like the giant robots in the robot cartoons that were popular in 20th century Japan. Having grown up watching such programs, Jin had a kind of strange admiration or sympathy for them. Not only that, there were also smaller <. There were 20 of them. These puppets are almost human-sized, if we take your scale as a reference. However, they are about twice as wide. They look like sumo wrestlers in the shape of an anchovy. "I wonder what they were used for. ......" He thought, "I''ll ask later. * * * * "Why weren''t these returned to the material?" Jin asked the old man, thinking that such a large amount of metals could not be overlooked in Hale, where resources were running out. < "I see." The depletion is mainly due to what Jin calls <<<>. Iron and nickel are sometimes found in meteorites, so they were not so scarce. "That''s right. It would be strange if all resources were in short supply at the same time. Jin is somewhat convinced. "I understand that it was not returned to the material. I wonder what it is used for?" <> "Of course. I give you my full permission. * * * * "Let''s go to <>''s place. ......" Since he was curious about the results of the analysis of the crystal disk found the other day, Jin decided to visit <> No. 700672. Jin decided to visit the <700672 once. "You are in Ars now, aren''t you?" That''s what happens since the analysis can only be done in . Neige and Rouge were supposed to be with him. Jin returns to Horai Island with Reiko, and then transfers again with a souvenir of Persica juice. "Jin-san, welcome!" Rouge greeted us unusually. Father is busy with analysis. Neige also came out and told him so. I guess it''s not over yet. I have something to tell you about ...... Hale. As I was talking with Rouge and Neige, the 700672 stopped analyzing and came over to me, as if he had heard my voice. "Oh, Jin-dono, what''s going on today?I haven''t finished my analysis yet. "Ah, <>, thank you for your analysis. Actually, we found another underground ruin south of the central basin in Hale. "What?" "So I came here to ask your opinion. Oh, here''s a souvenir. Jin explained the situation while handing her a glass of Persian juice. Oh, I''m always sorry. I''ve been trying to get a hold of you at ......, so tell me more about what''s going on. Just in time, 700672 said he was going to take a break. "......," he said. "Hmm, interesting." Jin explained, and <>700672 was very interested. "I don''t know if it''s coincidence or inevitability, but I found a record of something like that on the I''m analyzing right now." "What?" "Two of the crystal disks show that 20,000 years ago, the Masters were using what you call remote-controlled ...... puppets. "It seems that they were using such remote-controlled In those days, they did not leave the work to the golems and automata under their control, but did various tasks themselves. "Remote control is an old-fashioned ...... and rather troublesome to use, so I think that eventually it was neglected and no one took any notice of it." After all, there was a record of <>, but no information on <> it was found. "Then, is it possible to make use of it, since we are here? Jin asked the <>. "Yes?You want to use it for something?It will be no problem. < would have forgotten about it and regarded it as something that doesn''t exist." "Okay, I understand. I will check ...... with my own eyes first, but if it is useful, I will modify it and use it for the good of this planet." <, he would be able to use it for the good of the planet. "Oh, that''s good. ...... will you be renovating it in Hale?I''m interested too, so please call me when you do. I''ll be interested in that. I''ll be interested to hear from you. "...... is this the kind of structure ......" <, Jin and Reiko went to the in the Central Basin to do as much research as they could. As expected, the material was iron-based. Nickel-chromium steel with <><>. Rather than muscle system ......, the driving system was an inorganic material, <>. The <> was the technology used for the <> of the <>, but the <> had also developed an alloy of the same type. "Hmm, this one is much more efficient than the <>''s one." Jin was impressed. "Oh, I''m sure Rubina will be happy when I call her over. <, he thought that he could invite a few people at a time to Hale. 1912 - - 51-26 Visits to the Elders House On March 27th, Jin is on . He is accompanied by Reiko, Zion, and Marikka. First, he invites his caretaker, Trihard Randall, and his wife, Suzanne Randall, to a meeting to discuss the situation. "Oh, for Hale!" Trihard Randall showed an obvious interest. I would love to visit Hale. Suzanne seemed to be in the same boat. "The warp gate makes it easy to come and go, but we don''t have enough living facilities to live there yet. It''s fine for a day trip, but for a few nights it''s more like four or five people." Jin explained the situation. "This time, Trihart, Suzanne, and Marikka are set." "What?We are? Jin nodded and explained the reason. "We''re going to be able to come and go freely to Hale eventually, so I want you two caretakers to go there first. 70067 And Marikka, whom No. 2 has recognized as his new ." "I''m honored. I thought Theon would be too, "I''m sorry, but ......" After this, Zion said he was going to the kingdoms of Egelea and Elias as part of a diplomatic mission, so we''ll see him next time. "Two more. <, of course, but what about the others? Trichardt, do you have any suggestions? "Then take Amanda with you." Amanda Garrett. Rubina''s grandmother. "Okay. Okay, we''ll do that this time. We''ll try to get more people to go when they have accommodations. "Yes, please." Thus, the members of the Hale-bound group, besides Jin and Reiko, were Marikka, Trihardt Randle, Suzanne Randle, Rubina Garrett, and Amanda Garrett of Shinra. * * * * The same day, the group was in Hale. "......here is ......" "...... Hale, is it ......?" Nothing! Here, Rubina. They were Trihardt, Suzanne, Rubina and Amanda, respectively. Marikka looks around silently. "Let''s go to the ''s house first." "Elders?" Rubina asked. "Yes, the Elder. , and he was satisfied that that was the way they explained things on <>. In the first place, <> itself is controlled by <>, a magical brain that is descended from <>, so it is not surprising that it is being taught. "So we get to meet someone like that. I''m looking forward to it." Amanda, who is usually so quiet, was speaking a little excitedly. This time we are traveling in a Sparrow. Reiko is sitting on Jin''s lap. "I''m sorry, father," she says. Reiko looks happy, saying something like, "I''m sorry, Father. From front to back are the pilots, Hope, Jin, Reiko, Mariko, and Mariko. Jin and Reiko, Marikka. Rubina and Amanda. Rubina and Amanda, and Trihard and Suzanne, in that order. "All right, let''s do this." "Yes, sir." Suddenly, floated up. This time, the maximum internal G-force is set to 0.2G. This is a value that allows the Gs during acceleration, deceleration, and turning to be moderately felt. "It''s an honor to be here with Jinsha!" Marikka was completely elated. Rubina said, "It feels so good to actually fly! < and , "Don''t do anything too immodest," Amanda told me. Amanda told her not to be too rash and she calmed down a little. "I never thought I''d see the day like this, honey. "Yes, yes." Mr. and Mrs. Trihardt Suzanne were showing the composure of a mature couple. * * * * "Welcome to our home." < The 700672, Neige, and Rouge are out to greet you. "Long time no see, 700672. I guess I should call you <> from now on." Marikka was the first to get off and greet him. "Hello, Marikka-sama, welcome. She bows her head deeply. "I have brought four representatives from Onogoro Island with me today. Jin then addressed the group. Rubina Garrett, Amanda Garrett, Trihard Randle, and Suzanne Randle. He then introduced the members of . "This is 700672. I am playing the role of an elder here in Hale. I''ve heard a lot about you. It''s an honor to meet you, sir. Pleased to meet you. And as the adults greeted the 700672, Rubina said. "You must be Rouge and Neige, right?I''m Rubina!Nice to meet you! "Hi, nice to meet you." "Hi, nice to meet you!" She said to Rouge and Neige. "Wow, this is a nice house. ......" First of all, we were shown to the house, which had been built for this kind of occasion. The interior of the reception room was completely finished, and although some parts were in the style of the Shoro Empire, the overall appearance was exotic. Jin thought that this was probably the style of the . "Please have some tea." Neige, Rouge, and Reiko brought tea for everyone. Reiko was helping them since she was not used to serving customers. Still, Neige and Rouge seemed to be enjoying this new experience. Over a cup of tea, Trihart commented that there are solid stone buildings on Onogoro Island, but he had never seen anything so solid and sturdy. "Well, I built this place with the help of Jin-dono," he said. "I didn''t know that." "Yes. I am indebted to Master Jin for what he did for Hale. The adults were talking like that. Neige and Rouge and Rubina.., "Hey, Rubina, let me show you our room!" "Oh, really?Yay!" They had become good friends. 1913 - - 51-27 Information Rubina was being shown around Neige and Rouge''s room. "Look, this is it!" "He...... hee......" <, the couple entered an underground passageway that led to a grotto in the rock wall. The third floor is their room. Rubina, as expected, is a little bit nervous. The walls, floor, and ceiling of their room are painted white, and the only furniture in the room is a king-size bed and a small sideboard on which they must be sleeping. The only furniture was a king-size bed and a small sideboard that might have been used for sleeping two people. "...... Is there any other furniture?Maybe a chest of drawers or a closet. ......" Rubina asked, and the two of them both bit into her words. We don''t know much about that kind of thing. "Rubina, can you tell us about all these things?" And Rubina was glad to be asked to help, "Yes, sure! She accepted the offer. * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, as for the adults, "This is the dome ......" < side. There are three huge domes that used to be over 100 meters in diameter. The domes are broken and most of the cubic zirconia has been reused. The houses that may have once stood inside the domes have been reduced to rubble, unable to withstand the passage of more than 10,000 years. "There must have been many of these things in the Nordic Federation." That''s where cubic zirconia is found. Amanda suggested that we invite Rubina to join us, but 700672, seeing Rouge and Neige looking so happy, said, "I want you to leave it as it is. Amanda said, "Leave it as it is. "Yes. < liked it this way." By building a giant transparent dome and maintaining a comfortable environment inside with light shielding and air conditioning, they could live anywhere from the tropics to the frigid zones, 70067 No. 2 explained. "That''s what we made much smaller to imitate." 700672 pointed to a small dome made by Jin. "It looks nice. It looks warm when it''s cold." Marikka, who is from the relatively cold <>, looked at the dome a little enviously. "Well, let me show you inside." Marikka''s words were followed by the 700672 group ......Marikka, Marikka''s words, and the 700672 group is led into the dome by Marikka, Trihart and Suzanne, Amanda, and others. Meanwhile, Jin and Reiko were at the grotto because they were worried about Rubina and the others. They are watching them from a distance. Like a father watching his daughter''s , Jin watches them from the shadows. "(They''ve become very good friends. ...... I guess I can rest easy now. ......)" "(Yes, father.)" The three of them are now going to the observation deck. They got into the elevator that had just been completed. Jin asks Reiko to help him, since he can''t follow them. "Reiko, keep an eye on them with the peepers, just in case." "Yes, Father." * * * "Wow, nice view!...... Oh, there are the grandmothers." Rubina was thrilled to be in the observation deck with a 50-meter difference in elevation. Neige and Rouge are used to it by now, so they are not so excited. "I love ...... this place." Rubina looks deeply envious of Neige and Rouge, "You can come visit us anytime you want." "Yes, yes. We''re friends, aren''t we? They said to her. When Jin hears this from Reiko, he is relieved to hear that everything will be all right. Then he decided to stop stalking her and quietly went outside with Reiko. Just then, 700672 arrived with Marikka, Mr. and Mrs. Trihart Susanne, and Amanda to show them the grotto. Amanda. "Oh, Mister Jin was here?" "Yes, I was looking out for Rubina, Neige and Rouge. I''m sorry about that. So how did it go? They''re getting along great. They''re getting along great. "That''s superimposed." 700672 laughed happily. And Amanda, "She''s always been a shy girl, you know. Amanda smiled, "She has always been a shy girl. Amanda smiled, "She has always been a shy girl. "This place has a nice view, doesn''t it? In the end, we all went to the observation room. Rubina, Neige, and Rouge, the first guests, greeted everyone with smiles. "Rubina, I see you two have become friends. "Oh, grandma. Oh, grandma!Rouge and Neige are friends now! "Yes. Rouge, Neige, be good friends with my grandchildren. Amanda said to Rouge and Neige. "It''s nice to meet you, too! "I''m looking forward to working with you." Both of them replied smilingly. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When it was time for lunch, Jin led the group to the . The <700672 was not stocked with food for ordinary people to eat. Nor was there a kitchen. (We need to stock food for visitors and set up a kitchen. ...... And we need a samurai golem that can cook.) ) Jin thought to himself. "So this is Jin-sama''s house. It''s a very calm house, isn''t it? "Oh, the house itself is just like Hourai Island! "You''ve already built this much? "Is this the real architecture? "It looks like a nice house to live in, dear." Amanda, Rubina, Marikka, Trihardt and Susanne said. "Come in." Jin leads them to the living room. Everyone knew to take off their shoes. "Welcome. We have been waiting for you. Having been notified, the Japanese-style samurai automata and were waiting for them, ready to serve lunch. 1914 - - 51-28 Spherical Joints Rubina was the first one to shine when she saw the Japanese samurai automata < and . "Wow, that''s amazing!Of course it''s Jin-sama''s work!" "Yes, I did. But let''s have lunch first. The menu was tempura udon. Vegetable and wild vegetable tempura, white fish tempura, shrimp tempura, chikuwa tempura, and more. You can enjoy the crispy batter or dip it in soup stock to taste the fluffy batter. Jin likes both. "Would you like another one?" "Oh, thank you!" "Then, me too." "I''ll have another one, too." Since the bowl was a little smaller than usual, everyone had a second helping. We finished off the meal with soba tea. The aroma of the tea was a welcome relief. "Listen to me while you drink." Jin opened his mouth. "Actually, I found the remains of the <> in the place we call <> the other day. Everyone listened to Jin''s story in silence. "There were more than a dozen work golems. The biggest one is 15 meters long, and the smallest one is the size of a human being. For now, Jin calls them what he is used to calling instead of <. "I want to see it!Jin-sama, I want to see it!" Rubina shouted at the mention of a giant golem. "I know, calm down!" "That''s right, Rubina." "Yes, Rubina." Jin laughed and continued. "I''m going to save at least one of each of them, but I''m going to modify the rest of them to work and use them for Hale. Jin then explained what state they are currently in. "...... So, in short, the skeleton, the drive train, and the exterior are all that''s left." "That''s what I mean. There''s not a shadow of a control system." You''ll let me help you with that? If you want to. I wanna do it, I wanna do it, I wanna do it!I wanna play with the Golem! okay, calm down! Jin calmed Rubina, who was about to get up from her seat and run out of the room. "You don''t know where it is, and it''s not within walking distance. "U...... yes?" Rubina sat back down. "What a child she is! ....... She''s still just a kid," Amanda said. Amanda says. That''s not the kind of thing you say to a 10 year old, Jin thought, but kept quiet. "So, who wants to go see the golem after this? Jin asked, and everyone except Rubina raised a small hand. It seemed that they were interested in the golem of the . Rubina, of course, raised her hands vigorously and waved them. "Okay. Then let''s all go together." * * * * * * We have installed a warp gate, so the trip will be quick. We have built a simple building at the site, where you can stay and sleep. Tea can be brewed and snacks are available when you need to take a break. Welcome, gentlemen. Right now, this place is managed by >10. From 11 to 30, there are 20 Smiths in the room. "Oh, Jin-dono, my guests." "Oh, there''s Rubi-chan!" "Ruby-chan!" It turns out that 700672, Neige and Rouge had arrived a short time before. Neige and Rouge had become such good friends that they called Rubina <. Jin led the group into the tent-covered workshop. "Well, this is the giant golem." "Wow. ......" "Wow. ......" The gigantic figure of 15 meters tall overwhelmed the audience. There are eight of them in a row. Originally there were ten of them, but the best-preserved one has been easily maintained and preserved. "All of them seem to be remotely operated and are not autonomous. That is why I named them ." The one carrying the is Daidara, who was called from Horai Island. They are of equal size, so they can be carried around in his arms. "That''s Master Jin''s golem over there." Rubina''s eyes are shining, and she looks as if she is about to run. "I''m taking this one apart and analyzing it, do you want to see it? "Yes!" Rubina replies immediately. "Okay, come on. Everyone who is interested is welcome to come," Jin said, and they all followed him. "Here it is." "Wow, ......!" Scaffolding has been set up around the < that has been laid out on the floor. The exterior is half removed, revealing the inside. "The structure is totally different. ......" What Rubina means is that it is a different system from the < used by Jin and his associates. Of course, it is different from other systems used in Ars. But the structure was a little familiar to Jin. Spherical joints. There are ceramic dolls called bisque dolls. Since they do not bend like soft vinyl dolls, they have joints to change their clothes. Most of them are called , with a sphere at the center of the joint. The skeleton of this <''s had a similar structure. "Isn''t it inflexible?" Rubina, who could tell at first glance that the puppet''s structure was not flexible enough. "That''s right. Well, I guess they didn''t think this large size needed flexibility. I guess they cut down where they could and specialized it only for its intended use. "Hmm, I don''t really understand the origin concept." "But it is important to guess such a design concept, isn''t it?Especially when repairing or modifying them. Jin teaches Rubina gently. "......Oh, yes, I think so. Jin-sama, I understand. Rubina now accepts Jin''s teaching. 1915 - - 51-29 Growth of Rouge and Nage2 Rubina observes as Jin disassembles a large-sized , but she can''t just stand by and watch. However, there was no way she could just stand by and watch, so she began to help him out a little. "Jin-sama, can I remove this part here? "Yes, you can. It''s heavy, so be careful. "Jin-sama, isn''t this part fixed?" No, they are just stuck together by rust. < Oh, that''s right. Jin-sama, I''ll hold this side. Thank you. Jin-san, should I take this off first? "Oh, wait a minute. "Oh, wait a minute. It''s easier if I remove it from here." "Jin-san, where should I put this after removing it?" "Give it to the craftsman. "Mr. Jin, this one is done!" "Oh, thank you. What''s ......? Jin, who had been absorbed in the dismantling, now realized that his voice had increased during the process. "Neige, rouge?" "Yes. I''m here to help you. When did you ...... "You two were here earlier, weren''t you?I thought you were aware of it because you were giving them instructions so naturally. Rubina tells a stunned Jin. "I came here because you seemed to be having fun, Ruby. Neige says. "It''s better to have a lot of people on hand, isn''t it?" says Rouge. "Well, okay." Rubina seemed to be having a good time, and there was no hurry to get rid of her. I have no complaints since Neige and Rouge seem to be having a good time. Jin then decides to go ahead with the work, and gives the order. "Well then, the three of you remove the inner chest cover," he says. "Okay." Okay. "Leave it to me!" In this way, it took about an hour and a half to finish disassembling the large-sized Magi Puppet to the required level. * * * * * * "Ah, that was fun. I learned a lot. Jin-sama''s skill is really amazing! Tea time at 3 o''clock. Yokan jelly and sencha tea are on the table. There are two kinds of yokan, one is not so sweet and the other is much sweeter. "I like the less sweet one. Neige prefers the less sweet one, "I like the sweet one!" Rouge seemed to prefer the sweet one. Then, rice crackers with the aroma of soy sauce were served. "After eating something sweet, rice crackers are delicious as a palate cleanser, aren''t they? Suzanne Randall seemed to be particularly fond of rice crackers. On the other hand, Trihardt has a sweet tooth and eats sweet yokan (bean jelly). "Yummy, yummy!" Marikka''s mouth was full of the sweet yokan. She seems to be more relaxed in such a place where she can show her true self than in her clan''s territory. "The tea ...... is delicious. "It''s delicious!" Then Neige and Rouge joined them in drinking the tea. "Very interesting." No. 700672 did not drink tea, nor eat yokan (bean jelly) or rice crackers, but drank Persica juice. "Homunculus is designed to be able to eat, but it can basically live only on free magical element (ether). Yet they seem to be enjoying oral intake of substances so much. I guess external factors play a large role. It seems that after befriending Rubina and spending time with the humans, they are rapidly becoming more human-like, 700672 said. He said. "So this is the first real example of this?" Jin asked, and <>700672 said in a low voice, "......<> have never treated servants like humans." He muttered in a whisper. * * * * We finished the day by disassembling and analyzing one of them. "Jin-sama, I learned a lot from you. Thank you very much. Rubina thanked Jin properly, as her grandmother Amanda had requested. "It''s always good to learn from experience," she said. "You''ll let me help you tomorrow, right?" "What?That''s right. ......" It is true that it is meaningless to let him help halfway. Jin thought that it might be a good idea to entrust a whole body to him at this time. "Okay, okay. I''ll leave one of them to you tomorrow. Rubina was overjoyed at these words. "Wow, really?Thank you, Jin-sama! "Rubina, you''re in charge now, so you have to do it right. Her grandmother Amanda also supported Rubina. "We''ll help you." "Yes, my friend." Rouge and Neige also declared that they would help Rubina. "Oh, that''s good, but you''re going to help us, right? "Yes, father." Yes, Father." No. 700672 was happy to see that they had developed such an ego. That evening they had dinner at Jin''s house. "Hello, hello, I''m so happy to see you." "Rouge, behave yourself, will you?" Neige rebukes Rouge''s excited behavior. At Rubina''s request, Rouge and Neige are invited to the party. 700672 says, "I''m sorry, but I''m counting on you. "Yummy! "I love it!" The dinner menu consisted of rice, soup with shimeji mushrooms and tofu, grilled dried horse mackerel, simmered vegetables, sweet omelet, and pickles. Rouge seemed to like the sweet omelet and Neige seemed to like the pickles. "Ah, Jin-sama''s rice is delicious, isn''t it? Marikka also had another bowl of rice. "I guess there must be a trick to cooking rice. Amanda, too, said she could never cook rice this well. "I feel like there''s a secret ingredient in this oshinko. Suzanne said after eating some pickled Chinese cabbage. "Correct. It is pickled with a little red pepper, apple peel, and kelp. Jin explained that it was the result of experimenting with different ways of flavoring the dish, rather than just sprinkling it with salt and putting a weight on it. "Apurru...... apple peels and kelp?I didn''t know that. I''ll try it next time." And so the dinner passed peacefully. 1916 - - 51-30 Longing After dinner. "It seems to be boiling, so please take a bath. Jin''s house has a hot spring, albeit a boiling one. There is a large bathtub for guests. "Bath? "Bath?" Neige and Rouge seem to know what a bath is, but they have never taken one. Unlike humans, homunculus metabolism does not produce sweat or waste products, so even if their bodies are dirty, they can be cleaned by simply wiping them clean. "But, you know, ......." Rubina wondered how to explain this to them. So Jin decided to add a few words. "Humans, you know, sometimes do things that seem useless. Jin spun the words in his mind, "It doesn''t mean that hot springs and baths are a waste of time. "But you will realize someday that it was <>, not <>. That''s what life is all about. Jin smiled, realizing that he had just said something very out of character for him. someone once told me. And so on. "Proof is better than an argument, come on in! Rubina, taking over for the more logical Jin, invited the two of them to go to the bathhouse. "Oh!" "......, it''s indescribable." The bathtub was designed to accommodate four or five people, so there was plenty of room for Rubina, Neige, and Rouge. Rubina stretched out her arms and legs in the bathtub, "Doesn''t it feel good? she asked them. "This is ...... what it feels like to feel good. ......" "Yes,<>!" "Yes! Rubina was very happy. In the end, the three of us took a long hot bath until our grandmother Amanda rebuked us. * * * * * * * * * * The next day, the 28th, Jin started working on remodeling the Magi Puppet in the morning. "Remote control is good, but it would be better if at least two or three of them could act autonomously. Jin continues to modify the Magi Puppets without stopping. "Jin-sama, did you use mithril silver for the magical nerve wire? "No. Did I not explain it to you yesterday?The metal from the resource satellite stored in orbit has a better affinity with magic than Ars''s mithril silver. "Yeah, I think I heard a little bit about that." "That''s why I''m trying to use light silver wire instead of low-strength mithril. The higher strength makes it more reliable, Jin added. "I see. ...... How do you know how to move a large golem?" "I think it should be similar to what we call for heavy-duty work. However, the characteristics of the joints and other drive systems are slightly different, so some adjustments may be necessary." "Ah, so that''s how it will be. ...... I''m learning a lot." "Ha, Rubina seems to like golems. "Yes,......." Rubina replied somewhat brusquely and glanced at Reiko, who was silently assisting Jin. "Most of the people on the island have heard about Reiko''s legend and admire her." "Eh?" "Yes?" Jin and Reiko''s replies overlapped. "Reiko was created by our predecessor and perfected by Jin-sama. Her many exploits have been told in stories and told by parents to their children from generation to generation." "What? "...... Is that so?" Jin was surprised and Reiko was a little proud of herself. "I grew up hearing stories like that since I was a little girl. Rubina confessed that she had grown fond of golems and automata and wanted to make her own one day. "......I''m embarrassed, but that''s my motive." "Well, I see. You''ve taught me well. Thank you." "...... I told you because only Jin-sama and Reiko are here, but please don''t tell anyone, okay?" "Yes, I won''t." Jin nodded at Rubina, who looked a little embarrassed. "But I''m sure the two guys in the back heard it." "What?" At Jin''s words, Rubina turned around to see Neige and Rouge standing there. "Ruby, you''re so single-minded." "Ruby-chan, go for it!" "Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Rubina turned red and panicked when she found out that Jin and Reiko had heard her confession, even though it was quite embarrassing for her to tell them. "Calm down, Rubina." That''s all Jin could say. But when he looked at Reiko a little, the perceptive Reiko took Rubina''s hand and said "Rubina-san, thank you for sharing your story with us. "Uh, ah, yes." Rubina regained some composure. After another two minutes or so, she finally returned to her usual mood. "I''m sorry, ....... I''m a little distraught." Not just a little, Jin thought, but not mature enough to say it. "Okay. Okay, let''s continue." "...... yes." With a low-strung Rubina at his back, Jin once again set about remodeling his magi-puppet. * * * * * * * * * * * "......It was surprisingly easy." Jin finished the project in about an hour, and then he said to himself. "I''m sure that''s not true. Jin-sama''s line for easy must be above the clouds. Rubina, who was observing the event, refuted his soliloquy. The time was just noon. "I would like to join you today, if I may. said <> No.700672. He said that Neige and Rouge had come back yesterday and had told him so much fun that he had wanted to go with them. "Yes, please." Although he was a little puzzled by the fact that the homunculus , which was supposed to be a pseudo-life, was showing more and more emotional movement, it was not a bad change, so Jin readily agreed to go. Lunch that day was even more lively than dinner the night before. The menu consisted of sandwiches, hot dogs, and hamburgers. For some reason, croquette bread and yakisoba bread were also mixed in. "Father, this is delicious. "Try this, Father!" Neige and Rouge are looking after the 700672 for some reason. "Yes, yes, I''m eating it." The 700672 seemed to be a little overwhelmed by the tension between the two. This is delicious!I didn''t think you could put yakisoba between bread. I thought so! <, but no croquette bread or yakisoba bread. "I wish I had found this taste earlier!" "We have pork cutlet sandwiches, but never croquette sandwiches." It''s a triumph of imagination. Mr. and Mrs. Susanne Trihardt seemed to be particularly pleased with the croquette bread. "It''s a taste of Jin-sama''s house, isn''t it ......?" Marikka reminisced as she ate ham sandwiches, egg sandwiches, and other sandwiches. "Look, look, you have sauce all around your mouth." "Uh-huh." Rubina is chewing on her hamburger, and her grandmother Amanda is warning her. They seem to be getting along well with each other, and Jin can''t help but feel relaxed. And so the lunch ended happily. 1917 - - 51-31 Disciple Malikka After lunch, Jin and the others returned to the . "Now, Rubina, are you planning to play with the other one you modified this time?" "What?" Out of the 10 pieces, one is for preservation, so 9 pieces are available for modification. Jin was planning to modify four of them to guard Hale. Jin thought that he would let Rubina take care of one of them. Rubina was still inexperienced, but he hoped that she would grow through this work. "I''ll do it!I want to do it!" Of course, Rubina agreed immediately. "Okay, then, I''ll leave one of you in charge after this. "Thank you, Jin-sama!" "Ruby, I''m so happy for you." "Ruby, we''ll help you." "Yes, thank you. ......" Rubina was able to say thank you to Rouge and Neige, who declared that they would help her. Meanwhile, <> 700672 went to his <> with the adults, namely Mr. and Mrs. Trihart Suzanne and Amanda. and they had a lot to talk about. Now 700672 seems to be enjoying these conversations very much. He is becoming more human. "Rouge, Neige, I am going home first. Don''t give Mr. Jin any trouble. Yes, Father. Yes, Father. Marikka, on the other hand, will be Jin''s assistant. Jin is about to begin work on a human-sized magical puppet. "This is the only time I get to see your skills at work, Jin-sama. Marikka, who is also Jin''s official apprentice, said that just as 400 years ago, it would be a good learning experience for her to observe Jin''s work in this way. * * * * * * Rubina and the others are excited. "Hold it right there!" "Yes, okay." "Help me lift this side!" I got it! Neige and Rouge were moving around quickly under Rubina''s direction. Rubina had used to reduce the weight of the large parts, and Neige and Rouge moved them for her. This method of applying to large, heavy parts was the same one that Rubina uses when making large golems. "Well, now we can disassemble it. "You''re good at this, Ruby." "That''s great!" Neige and Rouge did not look tired. "Well then, we have a little more time before our 3 o''clock tea, so let''s finish removing the rust." "Yeah." "Oh!" Jin has just finished disassembling the ninth of the human-sized Magi Puppets, watching the three of them with a sideways glance. One of these puppets will be preserved as a historical and technological legacy. "......Mr. Jin''s skill is very good. ......" Marikka was half impressed and half dismayed. * * * * "Sweet!" "Delicious ......" "I love it!" Tea time at 3 o''clock was sencha green tea, ankoromochi, and fried rice crackers. As usual, Neige prefers less sweetness, while Rouge prefers a sweeter taste. "These fried rice crackers look easy to make, but they are delicious! Marikka is eating a piece of fried rice cracker. "Ah, the tea is delicious. Jin was happy to be able to do whatever he wanted with his friends. After the tea time, there was one more work to do until dinner time. "The material is iron-based, so I should add mithril and make it magi steel. ......" Jin decided that it was indeed not enough to make neo-steel. With the help of Reiko and Maricka, this was done in about 30 minutes. "Now all we need is a drive system." Jin wonders what to do with it since it is not made of biological material. "Father, what about making a out of neo material?" "Yes, that sounds interesting. Let''s give it a try." <, that is, they can reproduce at a certain temperature, while shape-memory magic alloys have the property of returning to their original shape when a certain amount of magic power is applied to them. Jin has also studied it, but since it is not as good as biological material (material of demons), he has not used it for advanced (by Jin''s standard) golems. However, if it were made from <> type material, which has a higher affinity with free magic element (ether) than <> type material, would it be ......? "Yes, it''s practical enough." Although it was less efficient than the << ancient dragon leather>> used for Reiko, it had a higher maximum output than magical muscles made from other materials. The only drawback is that it is heavier than biological materials. "Okay, let''s try this." After finishing the verification experiment, Jin hurriedly mass-produces <>. Reiko arranges the materials, and using <> and <>, mass-produces standardized magical muscles. Marikka''s role is to assemble them, but it is much faster for Jin to make magical muscles. As Marikka was pushed to assemble them, Jin finally finished making the required number of magical muscles and started to assemble them himself. "What? Jin, who started later, assembled the same number as himself before he knew it, and then ....... (Oh, yes, that''s right. This is Jin-sama. ......) Marikka had completely taken off her helmet. All the assembly work was done before dinner. "Okay, the control system will be done tomorrow. Jin was happy to have finished the work to the last detail. "Thank you, Marikka. "Marikka, thank you. "......, I''m tired." Marikka, as expected, was not amused by Jin''s pace. "...... but it''s fun, isn''t it? Marikka fondly remembers the days when she first started learning engineering magic from Jin. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, let''s have a bath before dinner. <. "Yes, yes! "I''m so excited." "I''m so happy." Not only Rubina, but also Neige and Rouge seem to like taking a bath. (......) This means we have to build a bath in the Elder''s house, too. ( This means we should build a bath in the house of the <>. 1918 - - 51-32 Each When everyone, including Jin, was out of the bath, the adults returned with the <> 700672. Amanda, Suzanne, Trihardt and 700672 took a bath in that order. "Well, this <> tradition is not bad. No, it''s very nice." Yes! "I want one too, father." Rouge and Neige are begging for the 700672. Seeing this, Jin was convinced that his earlier idea was correct. And then.., (......) I''d better start the construction work tomorrow. He made a secret plan. That night, Neige and Rouge had dinner together. Just to be sure, Jin checked their physical condition by , and was relieved to find that there was nothing wrong. The menu consisted of rice, miso soup with taro and radish, plain potato croquettes, Mitsuho specialty 700672 are enjoying their meal. 700672 has made many new discoveries since coming to Hale. "Hey, hey, why don''t you stay the night? "What?" "...... father, okay?" Rouge and Neige, invited by Rubina, asked 700672 to stay the night. "Yes, of course. The 700672 was also happy that Neige and Rouge had made friends. Rubina is lying on a futon in the guest room, and Neige and Rouge are lounging next to her. "These tatami mats are interesting. "Haha, you sound just like Mr. <<7>>, Ne-chan." "...... so?" Rubina had come to call the 700672 Mr. <<7>>, Neige <> and Rouge <>. >>Rouge was called . That night, Rubina and the other three made a lot of noise until Amanda scolded them. The next day, the 29th, they went to the hotel. The next day, the 29th. "Miso soup is delicious! "......, I can''t get enough of it." "Mmm, it''s delicious." Neige, Rouge, and 700672 enjoyed the meal of rice gruel, miso soup with wakame seaweed and tofu, pickled plums, grilled salted salmon roe, and oshinko (Japanese pickles) very much. Rubina was also smiling. Rubina, smiling, had three more bowls of porridge. Trihart and Suzanne, Amanda and Maricka were delighted with this meal. As they sipped hojicha (Japanese green tea) after the meal, Jin said, "<>, I would like to install a bath in your house today. He offered, "<>, I would like to install a bath in your house today. "Oh, that would be great. Neige and Rouge will be pleased." "What?We''re going to have a bath too?Yay! "I''m looking forward to the hot springs ......". Rouge and Neige seemed to be looking forward to it, and Jin was suddenly very motivated. "Okay, I''ll get started on that one right away. Rubina can work on the modifications. "Yes, sir, I''m on it! We''ll help you, Ruby. That''s a good idea! The suggestion was accepted, as 700672 would be enough to install the bathtub. "Master Jin, we regret to inform you that we are going back to ." Mr. and Mrs. Trihardt Suzanne said they would return to Onogoro after this. "I will stay here with Rubina." Amanda is staying here. She must be worried about leaving her grandchildren, who are still in danger, even though they have grown up. I''m sure she is worried about leaving her grandchildren, who are still in danger, even though they are grown up. I''m off then. Amanda, take care of the rest. Yes, I''ll take care of the grandchildren. Jin gets ready and heads for the Elders'' house with Reiko, Marikka, and <> 700672. Meanwhile, Rubina, Neige, and Rouge head for the workshop in the . Amanda, of course, follows them. Amanda is to be taken care of by <. < "Come on, let''s do it!" <. "We finished removing rust and adjusting the joints yesterday, so we need to work on the drive and control systems. "Yes." "What exactly?" Rubina thought for a moment and then came to a conclusion. "The drive system should be maintained as it is, and any parts that are not working should be replaced. "Okay." "What about the control system?" "We also need to prepare the control core. Rubina realizes her mistake, "Oh, I forgot to ask Jin where the Magi Crystal is kept. "I wonder if there are any magi crystals somewhere?" Precious magi crystals are not something that can be found lying around. The three of us split up to search around. By the way, the sun is quite strong here in the , so Amanda is watching over Rubina and the others in a temporary hut. "Ah, it''s cool in the shade." The low humidity and the high altitude make it comfortable in the shade, even though we are almost at the Tropic of Cancer. Besides, < is taking good care of them. Of course, Rubina and the others are also working under the huge tent. Rubina goes around the tent, but does not find any magi crystals. But then... "Ruby, I found this..." Neige had found several Magi crystals in the hole where the Magi Puppet had been found. I wondered how they had done it, since Jin and the others had already finished their search and there seemed to be nothing left, "Wow, what a beautiful color. What attribute is pink?Light and ...... fire?" Rubina liked the color and decided to test it first. "I''ll try the smallest one here. ......<<......Yes, it''s very responsive. Thanks, Ne-chan. "Yeah, I''m glad you found it useful." "Well, let''s make the control system! Rubina is even more enthusiastic. 1919 - - 51-33 Bathroom at Elders House <700672 and immediately sets about building a bath. The first thing he did was to search for water veins. "There are quite a lot of underground water veins in this area. Since the area is located at the foot of a mountain, the rain that falls on the mountain seeps into the ground and begins to form subterranean water. "But the amount of water is low." That''s true. However, it is a relief that the water veins are located in a relatively shallow area. Further investigation reveals that the water is mostly soft. "It''s not that bad, since the water flows underground for such a short time." Jin selected two veins with a large amount of water to pump to the surface. He chose two because he was concerned about the downstream effects of pumping a large amount of water from one of them. "How big should the bathtub be? "It doesn''t have to be big." "Then, let''s make it a family bath. Jin built the bathtub and bathhouse with a size that would accommodate three people, a parent and a child. The bathtub is 1.5 meters by 2 meters and 50 centimeters deep. The bathtub should be 3 meters square including the bathtub. "Oh, this looks about right." The sewage will be treated properly. The bathtub is made of cypress from Hale, stabilized and preservative treated. The floor is made of flat natural stone (andesite). The stone is similar to what is known as "teppeiseki" in modern Japan. "It has a nice atmosphere. It is indeed a gin-den." The bathroom window faces east, so it has a good view. The window is large so it is bright, and when the weather is warm, it can be opened to create a sense of openness. "Now you know how to turn on the hot water and adjust the temperature, don''t you? "Yes, it''s all right." As for the handling of the magic tools, <>700672 is a veteran, so there was no need to worry. "Also, it would be a good idea to put a refrigerator next to the changing room to keep Persica juice cold. "I see, you drink it after taking a bath." By the way, Marikka helped me to build the changing room. The floor is made entirely of cypress, which smells of wood and is pleasant to the soles of bare feet. "Yes, it''s a good job, Marikka. Jin praised, "I''m honored to be here!" Marikka''s cheeks are stained and she looks happy. "Now ...... Reiko, tell the old man to send me some Persica juice." "Yes, Father." Persica juice from Horai Island is rich in free magic element (ether) and is very effective for nourishing and restoring magic. After 400 years of processing and storing over-ripe Persica, the amount of Persica juice is so large that 7006 Even if No.72 drank 10 bottles of Persica every day, he would not be able to keep up with the amount of Persica he has accumulated. Since the old man did not report the exact amount, Jin did not know how much he had accumulated. He was a little afraid to ask. Jin ordered several dozen bottles of it. At times like this, Jin leaves it to Reiko to deal with the old man. <, but it makes Reiko''s mood visibly better to rely on him. A quick aside. Jin spends the whole morning setting up the bathroom facilities at the elder''s house. Rubina, on the other hand, was not so happy. Rubina, with the help of Neige and Rouge, continued to remodel the large-sized "Magi Puppet. "Uh, is this line right here?" "Yes, thank you, Roo-chan. "Is this line like this?" "Yes, yes. That''s right. Rubina, who originally loved making golems, was trained by Jin. < was no joke, By mid-morning, she had finished most of the modifications. Then, just before noon. "Oh, it''s done! <700672. It was for lunch. "Thank you for your hard work, Hoshino." Jin thanked her for taking care of the housekeeping and preparing lunch. "No, I''m fine. The lunch menu was Japanese soba noodles. Matcha, nihachi-soba, kigurumi-gurumi (buckwheat flour ground with the skin), yam-soba, etc. were prepared. Tempura of shrimp and vegetables, grated radish, wasabi, chopped green onion, and chopped nori (seaweed) were available as garnish and condiments. "It''s so smooth and delicious!" "The tempura goes well with this sauce." Rouge and Neige deftly sip their soba noodles. "Well, this has an interesting texture. And the aroma is good too. <700672 also seemed to like the soba noodles. "I''ve never had matcha soba before, but it has a nice flavor. Amanda also enjoyed the soba. And Marikka, of course, "I like the ground soba best because it has the aroma of buckwheat! and she is having another bowl of soba. For your information, Jin was once told at his favorite soba restaurant that it is better to have a small portion of soba instead of a large portion because the flavor of soba loses some of its original flavor and the soba stretches a little as time goes by. Jin was told at his favorite soba restaurant that it is better to have a small portion of soba instead of a large one because it gets slightly longer. Jin enjoys only the soba and the broth first, and then adds condiments little by little. He takes a bite with wasabi, two bites with green onion, and three bites with chopped nori (seaweed). If the dipping sauce is low, add more dipping sauce, and if the dipping sauce is low, add grated daikon (grated radish) and enjoy ....... We followed this procedure for each type of soba, so that we were full by the time we finished eating. The last dish was sobayu. Jin''s way of drinking Sobayu is to add boiled water to the Soba water and a little Wasabi or grated radish to taste. "This way of drinking is quite nice." <700672 also liked it. Thus, the lunch was a success. "Ah, buckwheat tea is delicious. Jin drank more buckwheat tea after drinking soba-yu (buckwheat water). The other members of the group did the same. "This tea is delicious. "Yes, I like it." "It''s delicious!" Neige and Rouge seem to be enjoying life in the outside world as much as they can. "Rubina, how are the modifications coming along?" Jin asked over a cup of buckwheat tea. "Yes, everything is going well. We just need to put on the exterior and we''re done. "Oh, I see. That''s exciting. Do you need any help?" But Rubina shakes her head. "No. I think I''d like to finish this one myself, Roo and Ne-chan." Jin nodded. "Okay. Good luck. "Yes, sir!" And so the afternoon began. 1920 - - 51-34 New History Jin looked at the large that Rubina and the others had modified. "You did a good job, Rubina." "Heh, the trick is to use <> properly." "Yes, that''s right." < "We didn''t have an assistant golem like at Jin-sama''s place. Rubina says that even so, they were able to create such a large golem. Jin was impressed that such ingenuity was part of the reason for her high level of skill. Jin watched her work for a while, but when he saw how familiar she was with the work and how Neige and Rouge were already working together as assistants, he felt that he could handle it and went back to his own work. 700672 also watched with narrowed eyes as Rouge and Neige moved around lively. * * * * * * "<>, may I?" "Yes." Jin called <> 700672 and Marikka into the living room of the <>. "As a tentative discussion, we would like to decide on the area where we would like to live. "Right." Marikka nodded. < or the Nordic Federation, it is not possible to settle anywhere. You can''t even build a house without building what is generally called <>. "It would be better to have a good climate, wouldn''t it?" "Of course. Would you prefer to be closer to the sea?" Perhaps. The continent of Arus is smaller than that of Hale, so even though it is inland, it is only about 200 km from the sea. Right now, Jin and his team are about 450 kilometers inland. Even so, from the perspective of the continent as a whole, it can be considered a region close to the sea. Jin spread out a map of Hale on the table. "I think this is a good place for us," he said. Jin pointed to a point in the southern hemisphere near the Tropic of Cancer. It is about 80 degrees west longitude and 16.5 degrees south latitude. It is a place where the continent is cut off at a sharp angle, and one wonders if it can be called a bay. There is a river flowing by the bay, and it is close to the house of the <>. It is, however, nearly 300 kilometers away. "Well, it doesn''t sound so bad." "Yes, it is. Yes, the location is good. But ......" Why didn''t Jin build his own house here, Marikka asked. "Because I knew at first glance that this was the right place for a ." Although the map doesn''t show it, this area had relatively high rainfall and rich vegetation. "Perhaps the winds from the ocean blow along this V-shaped cut, creating clouds," he said. "And there''s a lot of seafood in this bay." We could build a harbor, Jin said. "So that''s what you thought. ......" Marikka muttered in admiration. "Well, the main thing is that I wanted to avoid a place that might become crowded in the future. Jin scratched his head. "You haven''t changed, Jin-sama. Marikka narrowed her eyes. (I''m sure that''s what he really wants. ...... He''s the one who changes the world because he wants to live a peaceful life.) "Then I guess that would mean that it would develop into the plains that extend to the south of here......." 700672 says, pointing to the map. "Yes, that''s right. <, and the climate is not bad for a mid-latitude region." "I see." The continent of Hale is slightly to the northern hemisphere. The northern tip of the continent is over 80 degrees north latitude, while the southern tip is about 75 degrees south latitude. And there is no continent at the North Pole or the South Pole. Furthermore, a large inner bay extends around 60 degrees north latitude, making it surprisingly difficult to use the continents in the northern hemisphere. Jin thought that, in this early stage of redevelopment, it would be a good idea to choose a place that is easy to live in, although this would not be the case if the population increased. "Not only water and sewerage, but also road maintenance, installation of warp gates, and many other things..." "I think it''s better to take our time and not be in a hurry." "Yes,...... you are right. Marikka was a little worried about Jin, who would start doing all sorts of things ahead of time if left alone. "Yes, he certainly has that tendency." Jin seemed to be aware of this and admitted it honestly. "I heard that <> provided most of the energy, water and water supply on a personal level." <> 700672 began to explain what Hale used to look like. "These were recorded on the the other day. They were not technical records, but records of such aspects of life." "I didn''t realize that." Jin is a little disappointed, but he is also a little glad. He would like to know, but knowing would inevitably affect his future plans. (Hale should make a new history. ......) (Hale, it is better to make a new history, isn''t it? * * * * Meanwhile, Rubina and her team were making good progress. "Can I put this here?" "Yes, please. "Yes, please. "Is this one OK? "Yes, it''s good!" The exterior is almost finished and all that remains is to check the various parts. Amanda is not familiar with magical engineering, but she can tell that her grandson is having a good time. "He''s grown up, hasn''t he? I see he''s made some good friends." "Amanda, would you like some more tea?" "Yes, thank you. I''ll take some. Yes, of course. Here I was relaxing with a cup of tea that Tsukino had brewed for me. "It''s ready! And as dusk was falling, the work was finally finished. Rubina cheered. "You did it, Ruby! "Thank you, Nee-chan and Roo-chan." Lying before them is a giant 15 meter tall . Yes, the giant has been reborn as a giant golem. "Now that we''ve checked it out, let''s move it!" Rouge says to Rubina. "Yes, I want to see it in action. And then Neige. Rubina is just as eager to see the results of their work. "Okay, let''s give it a try. ............What is this?What is this?" Rubina < the flow of magic inside the giant golem and finds that it is a mess. "I don''t get it. ......" Rubina, who was about to get her head in the sand, hears a voice advising her further. "Rubina, try to do a <>. "Yes, yes!< > is an engineering magic developed by Jin that can determine the frequency of the magic wave. This allows us to sort out the Magi Crystals of each attribute, and to prepare for to the , who were called at that time. That being the case, it is no wonder that Rubina was astonished. The waveform of magical energy in the runaway large golem had a particular frequency band ...... that was quite high. "What is this ......, Jin-sama!" "Oh." It was Jin who advised Rubina. He had rushed back after receiving an urgent call from Tsukino. "I''ll ask you why later. ...... Reiko, pull over!" "Yes, Father." Reiko jumped out at Jin''s command. She leaps at the giant golem, which is now heading for the tent, and kicks it from the side. < But the giant golem does not stop there. It gets up and runs toward us. "It''s quite sturdy, isn''t it?" Reiko strikes again. This time, the power was more than twice as strong as before, and the Giant Golem was blown away for about 50 meters. The exterior of its chest was dented, but it still stood up. Reiko grabbed its legs as it tried to step on her and threw the giant golem farther away from her. Still, the giant golem does not break. "You are so stubborn!If ...... your father hadn''t warned me, I could have easily destroyed it." Reiko blurted out, kicking the giant golem again. Jin, who was watching her, was impressed in a way. "Hmmm, should I say that Rubina is indeed a good player, or should I just dismiss her as stubborn?" Hearing Jin''s soliloquy, Rubina shrugged her shoulders in apology. "I couldn''t bear to destroy what Rubina had modified so much, but ...... I see..." Jin turned to Rubina as if he had just thought of something. "Rubina, does that golem have any anti-magic equipment like a shield case? "Uh, yes, no." "I see!" Hearing this, Jin gave new instructions to Reiko. "Reiko!< < "I understand!< The giant golem with its unshielded <> and <> was powerless against this weapon. It runs out of energy and comes to a complete stop this time. Immediately Reiko rushes to it, and forcefully pulls up the exterior of its chest. The internal magical device is exposed. Reiko pulls out only the from it. With this, the runaway giant golem is completely neutralized. * * * * * * * * * * "......This is ......" Jin was surprised to see the control core that Reiko had removed. "Hey, Rubina, what did you do with this control core?Sure, I asked you to modify it, but I didn''t prepare the <>, did I?" "Ugh ...... sorry." Rubina was in tears. Jin saw this and patted Rubina on the head. "I''m not mad at you. I''m listening. Where did you get this from?" "What?, who was created by <>, was also a member of . 600012, who, like No. 700672, was created by the "Origin," was unaware of its characteristics and used the control core of the automata that served as his backup. Malite, and caused it to go out of control. The word "Malite" is derived from Mal Malite is a suffix of "bad" and "ite=mineral". In other words, it means a bad magical crystal (magic crystal), and was named by Rokure, 600012. (Since <> named it, I thought it was a special product of Ars, but I didn''t know that Hale also had it. ......) In his heart, Jin was surprised at this new discovery. "...... sorry. I''m the one who found it." Neige came forward with a smile. "Neige found it. Where the hell did it come from?" "In the hole where the <> was found. There was a vault in the corner. It seems to have been sealed, but the seal was broken thousands of years ago." "I didn''t know that. ......" The fact that it was sealed means that <> knew that this <>......<> called it by this name since there is no information on what he called it. I will call it by this name because there is no information on what he called this <><>. "Is this the only one?" "No. No. There are five more. Let me take care of that for now. Okay. Thus, the case of the giant golem run amok was settled. "Rubina!You''ve been so thoughtless! "I''m sorry, Grandma!" Rubina was scolded again by her grandmother Amanda. 1922 - - 51-36 End of the day Amanda scolds Rubina, and Jin says to her, "Don''t scold her so much, "Don''t scold her too much. It''s my fault too. I didn''t mean for it to happen. Amanda said in an apologetic tone, "I didn''t mean for this to happen. I didn''t think Rubina and the others would make such good progress, and it''s my fault for not telling them that I would have said <>," Jin said. Rubina was finally released. Meanwhile, Neige and Rouge were also warned by 700672. "If you find something you don''t know, report it first to me or to Jin-dono. "......Sorry, Father." "I admit that we tried to do this on our own. But you shouldn''t have done it in such a stubborn way. "I''m sorry, Father." Marikka and Tsukino had restored the ruined tent and some of the materials. "Jin-sama, is this all right?" "Yes, thank you." When the sun had completely set, the cleanup was finally complete. "So, I already have a general idea, but I''d like to ask you something. "...... understands." Rubina began to explain in a halting manner. "I see, you finished modifying the drive system earlier than expected, so you wanted to add the control system as well," she said. "...... yes." "That''s why I wanted to put it together with the others." That''s why I didn''t have the magi crystals ready," Jin said. "...... sorry." "No, that was my mistake. I should have explained the remodeling plan to you first, and more importantly, Rubina''s work speed was much faster than I expected. That''s impressive. You can be proud of that." "...... Really?" "Yeah, really." "......, that''s great." "Come on, cheer up." Rubina is not the kind of person who stays in a drowsy mood, Jin said and patted her head. "Well, it''s late, but let''s go home and have dinner first. * * * * Since Rubina, the mood-maker, was quiet, the dinner was somewhat quieter than yesterday. After dinner, I took a bath for a change. After getting out of the bath, Jin drank some fruit juice. Then we went out on the porch to enjoy the evening breeze of a spring evening. It is a warm enough night even in late March, since the house is located on the Tropic of Cancer. Meanwhile, Marikka, Amanda, Rubina, Neige, Rouge, and the others seemed to have gotten out of the bath. Jin called to them and they sat down on the porch to cool off. Reiko brought some cold barley tea. "It''s cold and delicious! Seeing that Rubina is finally feeling better, Jin decides to continue the conversation. "The Magi Crystal that Neige found, I call it . The name of the crystal is <, but Jin did not dare to talk about it. Jin did not dare to talk about it, because he thought that if he talked about <>, he would have to talk about the fact that Rouge was created by him. Rouge now has no such memories and considers <> 700672 as his father, and he did not want to disturb his feelings. She did not want to disturb his feelings. "This <> looks like a high-performance magi crystal, but as I said before, if you use it as a control core, it tends to go out of control. Jin explained that this was probably why the had also sealed it. "However, just as a poison can be a medicine if used properly, there might be a good use for this . Perhaps the thought so and kept it." "I see, that''s a good idea." 700672, who had been listening silently, agreed with Jin''s guess. "<> itself is a rare magical crystal (magicrystal), and we don''t really know where it can be found. So there is no established method of using it even in the system of magical engineering. No wonder Rubina used it without knowing it." "Is that what you mean?" Marikka now understood why there was no more information. "Elena used this as a and used to go around destroying Adriana''s automata. "Uh ...... uh, wasn''t <> an honorary advisor of the <> or something?" "How do you know so much?" I know the history of magical engineering. ...... I didn''t know there was such a thing. According to Rubina, the history of magical engineering is divided into seven periods: the pre-Adriana period is called the dawn of magical engineering, the Adriana period is called the golden period, the period after that until the Magic Wars is called the mature period, the period from the Magic Wars to Jin is called the decline period, the period from Jin''s time to the rise of the Magic League is called the middle period, and the period when the Magic League is at its height is called the dark period. The seventh is now called the <. The seventh, the present, is called the . "Who put that on ......?" Jin, feeling a little embarrassed, mutters unintentionally. Rubina hears this and replies. "I think it''s Mr. Zion and Maricka, isn''t it?" "What ...... Marikka?" Jin looks at Marikka, who is sitting on the porch a little further away. Marikka smiled and replied. "Isn''t it nice?" "No, it''s not that bad." Jin agreed that, despite the name, the history of magical engineering can be categorized in that way. "......It feels strange to think that I''m a part of history." "Is that what it is?" Marikka tilted her head as if to say, "I don''t know. "...... Well, whatever. Anyway, that''s why. Anyway, that''s the way it is. "I guess it would have worked if we hadn''t used <>. Let''s fix it again tomorrow. "Yes, yes!" Rubina smiled broadly at Jin''s words. "By the way, how did Neige find the warehouse ...... where the was stored?I wonder how she found it?" asked Neige, who was sitting on the other side of Rubina. "Well ...... and I was looking in the corner of the warehouse. I found a wall with a mark on it, so I played with it. I did that and the door opened." A mark? "Mister Jin, it was put there by the , perhaps it was a mark like this?" < He said that the markings looked like natural protrusions to an uninitiated observer. "You would have to know it was there and be willing to look for it to find it, but Neige must have found it by chance." And Neige, who is related to the Origin, was able to open the door. "It is as you said, father." Neige affirmed. "I had a feeling that something was wrong. Was it instinctive, or was it a feeling that only homunculus created with the technology of the origin? Jin did not know. "Can you take me there tomorrow? "Yes, I can. "Okay, see you tomorrow, Nee-chan, Roo-chan." Good night. Good night. That night, <> 700672, Neige and Rouge went back to their home. 1923 - - 51-37 Rubina Growth The last day of March, the 30th. "Well, let''s fix it. Jin said, "Let''s rebuild the giant Magi Puppet that Rubina had modified, and make it work again. "Oh, yeah. I''m here to help, right?" "What?" "Rubina is the star of the show. You''ve done all this work, you can do it, can''t you? I''ll do my best! Rubina responded to Jin''s words with clenched fists. I''ll help you today. I''ll do my best! Neige and Rouge also offered their unconditional cooperation to Rubina. "Yes, thank you." Rubina''s skills are well documented since she is the Queen of Magecraft. The only thing left is experience, Jin thinks, so he puts her into practice every chance he gets. "Roo-chan, hold it right there!Ne-chan, hold this side!I''ll do the processing in the meantime!" (Yes, he is growing up after all.) Jin was satisfied to see Rubina giving instructions to Rouge and Neige. But... "Hey, Rubina, why don''t you tell me what to do?I''m kind of out of ideas." "But what kind of instructions do you want me to give to ...... Jin-sama? I can understand that feeling. Jin thinks it''s strange that people don''t mind giving orders to their superiors, even if it''s only when they are working. When Jin himself was working for a black company, he had a hard time giving instructions to a worker who was twice his age at a subsidiary factory to which he was sent. I was left with an even stronger impression because the worker did not even try to hide the fact that he was also thinking, "What the hell are you doing, young man? "But you know, this is just another experience," he said. "uu......" Rubina was still not ready to make up her mind, "Rubina, it''s not every day you get help from Master Jin, so take the plunge and give it a try," Marikka said. Marikka also said to Rubina, "Rubina, it''s not every day that Jin-sama helps you. "Well, ......, I understand." Rubina had no choice but to give it a try, especially since Jin and Marikka had told her so. "Jin-sama, can you repair the distorted exterior?" "Yes, I can." One of the tricks to deal with such a situation is to "give them a large volume of work for the time being. Of course, you will be in trouble if the person you ask does not have adequate ability. And if they are too competent, they will say ....... "I''m done, what should I do next?" They ask us to give them the next instruction before we are ready for it. "It''s too soon, Jin-sama!" Rubina is impatient. "Well, can you prepare the control board for me?" "Yes, sir." Jin replied shortly and prepared a standard link board. "Yes, sir." This was originally intended to be used for the large-sized Magi Puppet that Jin had modified. "Uh ...... wow, so this is Jin-sama''s standard ......." Give me the next instruction. "I know, ...... well, check the skeleton of the upper body and fix it if it is distorted." "Yes, sir." Rubina then gives instructions to Neige and Rouge. Jin has learned from experience that when using multiple subordinates like this, the one who gives instructions should be a supervisor and not do the work himself. Of course, it depends on the situation, but in most cases, if the supervisor himself is working, he cannot keep track of the progress of his subordinates'' work, and as a result, he may end up with <, which is a waste of time. Such a mistake at Jin''s company would immediately bounce back to his appraisal, but not here. It would be better if Rubina could gain experience in such an environment, Jin thought. * * * * "...... Jin-sama, please adjust the right leg. Ne-chan and Roo-chan, please adjust the left leg. And as Jin hoped, Rubina''s instructions became more and more appropriate as time went by. Yes, he is a man of his word.) In Jin''s case, when he gives instructions to his . Jin suggested. "I think so too. Hale is a big place, and the roads are not well maintained, so cars are not suitable. Rubina agrees. "Why don''t we make the same type of <>? Jin thought, "We could make them in different colors, so they would be easily recognizable. "Hmmm......... I''d like to make a new one myself." Jin laughed. "I can understand that. That''s actually what I thought at first. "Well, then..." "Okay. Then, let''s decide on the specifications for the <> family and see what kind of aircraft would be appropriate." After all, the <> is the one that Jin made for this Hale, so it should be the most suitable ....... "Okay. The ...... users...... are, of course, <<7>>, Nee-chan and Roo, right?" "That''s right. But what about the piloting?Maybe we should get a dedicated pilot." "Yes, that''s right. And then we''ll see if we can''t get anyone else on board, right? "You know what I mean. ...... luggage, so you might want to allow room for at least two people." "Well,...... Jin-sama is right, I''m learning a lot." However, in Jin''s case, he tends to give too much leeway. ....... Anyway, we decide that the maximum number of passengers is five, including the pilot. It''s a little smaller than Jin''s . "Next is the type. Airship type or aircraft type. ......" "Oh, what about a then?" "What?" Maricka said. "Well, there used to be a disk machine that <> and <> used, didn''t they? "Oh, yes." Jin recalled an incident about 400 years ago, when <> was controlled by <>. "I think you said that <> was at the level of a toy, but it was certainly disk-shaped." This means that <> = <> are familiar with such a form of vehicle. "Stability will not be a problem with the gyro, and the control will be done by a special golem." The design of the vehicle is so distinct from the Ars vehicle that it is immediately recognizable as belonging to 700672. "Yes, I think it looks good. Following Marikka''s advice, Jin decides to proceed with the disk shape. "That sounds interesting. Rubina agreed. "I''ve never made one before, though ......, so there are a few problems." "What are they?" "First of all, is there a back and forth?" A disk is a . To put it simply, it is a circle, and a circle has no directionality such as back and forth or left and right. "Jin-sama, do disks fly while spinning?" Rubina, who had never seen a saucer in person, asked a simple question. "No, I don''t think so. Jin also dug up his memory of the past, but he did not remember it spinning. Then, Reiko gives him some advice. "Father, aren''t spaceships such as Adriana also rotating bodies? This made Jin gasp. "Of course they are. The <> is also designed to fly up and down. However, this is based on the assumption of visual flight. "Can we decide on a temporary front and back? Jin replied, "Jin-sama, how about a cockpit with a fixed orientation using gyros and a rotating hull around it? Rubina came up with an idea. "That sounds interesting too." Jin, who was not averse to such a design, immediately began to consider it. "The engine will use a , so there will be no problem at all. The plan was growing more and more far-fetched. "Let''s just make it a spherical ship ......" Jin said, "There is a series of 10-meter class spaceships, so let''s make one that is one rank below that, with a diameter of about 5 meters. "And it should be able to dive underwater." "Oh, that''s a good idea. We can even go into space for a short time. The short time is a compromise between the amount of water, food, and other daily necessities and consumables we can carry. Dangerous cosmic rays will be prevented by warding. Since the size of the Magellanic Reactor is limited, the acceleration is limited to about 5G. It is about the upper limit of a roller coaster. Of course, usually the acceleration pressure is canceled by gravity magic. The material must be neo-based. If it''s a spaceship, it should have a magic brain instead of a pilot. Rubina is no longer in the same boat with Jin. It is clear that Rubina is just like Jin, but no one intervenes. Thus, the idea of a spherical spaceship with a diameter of five meters was settled on. "It''s too much to do today, so let''s make the samurai golem first, shall we? "Ah, yes." Jin, Rubina, and Marikka are all familiar with making this golem. They made a samurai golem based on the five-colored golem maid in 30 minutes. Marikka was making it in 30 minutes, (...... that it would take more time if we helped her.) ( that it would have taken longer if we had helped her). 1925 - - 51-39 Rose The attendant golem was finished in a pale copper ......<> and named <>. "Wow, beautiful!" The resurrected Rouge sighs. Neige is also entranced. "Nice color." <>. It means "rose" in between rouge''s red and Neige''s snow-white. The name is Rubina. "It''s a beautiful finish!" "You''re the best, Jinsha." It is 4:30 p.m., and the sun is setting in the west. The sun is setting in the west. I was sweating a little. "Oh, we want to take a bath at home!" "Agreed." Rouge and Neige want to take a bath in their own freshly made bathtub, so Jin hands them a bathtub, a towel, a cotton pouch, and shampoo for 3 people. He hands them both a bath tub, towels, a sweatshirt, and shampoo. Of course, he also gives them 700672''s share. "I didn''t prepare these, did I?" Jin realizes now. "Ruby, why don''t you come too?" Rubina glances at Jin and Amanda. "Yeah, sure, go ahead. "Don''t give them any trouble, okay?" "Yes!" So Rubina, Neige, and Rouge go to the house of 700672. Jin accompanies her to hand over the finished . Reiko carries it to the house since it has not yet been activated to make the master <700672. "Oh Jin-dono, Rubina-chan, welcome. Neige, Rouge, welcome home." Jin immediately handed to the 700672 who greeted him. "I''m sure you will have guests in the future, and I thought it would be nice to have someone to take care of your meals. "Oh, thank you very much. "I can leave everyone to clean the bathrooms and so on." Jin then activated and gave orders to 700672, Neige, and Rouge, in that order. "Thank you, sir and madam." < 700672 is set as , and Rouge and Neige are set as . "Well then, Rubina, I''m going to go home first, so take your time." "Yes!" Leaving Rubina at home, Jin and Reiko went back to their own home. "Welcome home, Jin-sama." Is Rubina being a good girl? Marikka and Amanda greeted Jin. "I''m home. Don''t worry, Rubina is a good girl if she tries. Jin replied and asked them to take a bath too. Jin and Reiko took a bath at home, while Marikka and Amanda relaxed in the large guest bath. When Jin got out of the bath, he said, "Well, we should have a fan or a blower. He quickly realizes that something is missing. * * * * In the half an hour before dinner, Jin made three fans using the wind magic <> instead of ....... One fan was for the family bath and the other for the kitchen. One for the family bath, one for the big bath, and the other one for <>70067 One for the family bath, one for the bathhouse, and one for 70067-2. "I''m going out for a while. Jin and Reiko moved to the house of 700672 and returned with Rubina a minute later. They returned with Rubina a minute later. "Yeah, we did a good job." With a satisfied smile on his face, Jin sets the table. Tonight''s menu consists of rice, miso soup with red miso paste, pork cutlet, vegetable salad, and sweet omelet. Rubina looks a little sad because Neige and Rouge are not here. "Tea, it''s good!" Freshly roasted hojicha is Jin''s favorite because of its aroma, and Rubina seemed to like it too. "Really, it''s delicious. ...... I guess freshly roasted tea is different." Amanda also seems to like hojicha. "I do it myself, but sometimes I don''t roast it enough or it gets burnt. Marikka also says that when she does it herself, the success rate is about 50 percent. "It doesn''t work like engineering magic," he says. "You can practice ...... or have an automaton do it for you, and the quality will be stable." "Yes, that''s true, but I''d still like to do it with my own hands, wouldn''t you? Marikka laughed, saying that she wanted to do all the housework with her own hands as much as possible. Jin gave Marikka some advice. "Then, use a constant heat when roasting, use the same roaster, and time it correctly, and you will make fewer mistakes. It is true that there are those who cook and prepare medicines by eye or intuition, although it is not limited to cooking. It is true that the best (or very best) chefs can measure the amount of salt when seasoning with salt only, just by pinching with their fingers, but it is usually safer to use a measuring spoon. "Oh, that''s good!I''ll give it a try." Marikka agreed with this suggestion. Since it was Jin''s suggestion, there was no choice but to refuse it. Rubina and Amanda were listening to Jin''s advice to Marikka with mysterious faces, as if they had something in mind. Thus the after-dinner tea time passed leisurely. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, tomorrow, are you sure about the spaceship? Jin started to say something like that. Jin seemed to be aware of the fact that when ideas fly around and he is not sure what is best, his conclusions are often out of focus, and he told this to Marikka and Rubina. "...... is that how it is?" Rubina, who was full of ideas and flexible in her thinking, tilted her head, "...... I think I know what you mean." Marikka, a <, though not in the way she put it, sympathized. "I guess the use is to move around on the Hale, right?I don''t see the need to go into space, and I think Neige and Rouge would be happier in a visual flight, where they can see what''s below. "I certainly understand what you mean, Jin-sama." Rubina, who had cooled down, seemed to have realized that the specifications of the spacecraft she had just decided on were out of the ordinary. "I guess we were getting excited, forgetting about the users," she said. "That''s right." Jin-sama also loses his cool when it comes to making things. "......That''s right." Jin looked disappointed when Marikka told him. "I guess the idea came from the familiarity of a disk machine. Jin rearranged himself. "Maybe a <> or <> type would be better." "Yes. I think that''s a good idea. Marikka seems to agree with this idea. "Okay, let''s go with a smaller version of the <>." Jin switches to the smaller version as soon as he decides it is no good. "We''ll make it tomorrow." "Okay, Jin-sama." And so the idea finally came together. 1926 - - 51-40 New Airship The first day of April dawns. After breakfast, Jin immediately started to work on the project. Before ......, he explained to Rubina and Marikka what he was going to build. It is an airship-type wind-powered blower-floater. The size should be <...... or half the size of a <." The principle is to float air sacs by wind magic without recoil. Since the air sacs are only the upper half of the ship, the cabin can be contained inside. "In other words, it''s a blow floater in the shape of a cobbler." It would be 20 meters long and 10 meters high. "The air sacs will also be made of transparent GSP to ensure upward visibility." The number of these > was increasing underground on Horai Island, and the amount of production was tremendous. When Jin asked the old man how much they were producing, the old man replied < He replied, "I think it will last for several decades even if the master (my lord) uses it as much as he wants to use it. Of course, this is on the assumption that they will not try to make a sphere with a diameter of 10 kilometers using only <>. "Neo64Light Silver...... or let''s call it Neo64Titanium already. We''re going to make a framework out of ...... neo64 titanium, and then we''re going to stick a sheet of resin on it." This time, Jin intended to follow Rubina''s example and assemble it without using <> as an assistant. Reiko, however, is a different story. She was asked to carry the materials and to intervene immediately in case of danger, providing this kind of support. "<>! ......." By using gravity magic to lighten the weight of the components, it is possible to assemble them by human power. "Jin-sama, you are also completely familiar with the magic we use. ......" Marikka looked at Jin with respect. Rubina could also use magic, but Jin''s magic was on a different scale. Now that Jin had become a duplicate, the amount of magic he could handle had increased by an order of magnitude, and he was also able to handle some of the magic of the <>. "But, Rubina, don''t be lazy and set up the scaffolding, okay?" "...... yes." Apparently, Rubina wanted to complete the work as quickly as possible, so she tended to work only with the minimum amount of scaffolding ...... and in the worst cases, without even setting up the scaffolding. "Safety first," he said. It would be silly to get hurt doing what you love, wouldn''t it?" "...... understand." Through this series of operations, Jin drilled into Rubina''s mind the ins and outs of building large objects. "You have to set the autopilot mode, the manual mode, and the level settings." "Jin-sama, I know what automatic and manual are, but what are level settings?" Rubina, who had been peering at Jin''s hand, asked a question. "Yes, that''s ......." Level 1 is for beginners, automatically stabilized by the gyro and supported by the auxiliary magic brain, with a maximum speed of less than 30 km/h. Level 2 is for beginners, automatically stabilized by the gyro and supported by the auxiliary magic brain, with a maximum speed of less than 30 km/h. Level 2 is for beginners, with half the gyroscopic stabilization and auxiliary brain support of Level 1, and a maximum speed of no more than 50 km/h. Level 3 is for intermediate users, with a maximum speed of no more than 30 km/h. Level 3 is for intermediate level users, and stabilization is off. The support of the auxiliary brain is limited to low altitude flight, high speed flight, high maneuverability flight, and other hazardous situations. Maximum speed is less than 100 km/h. Level 4 is for advanced pilots and is all manual. The magic brain will support the pilot only in case of danger. The maximum speed is unlimited. Level 5 is for all functions unlimited. The plan is that the driver will be able to "Of course, you can also manually set which functions and to what degree. Preset and manual, if you will. "Interesting control settings!You''re the best, Jin-sama!" Rubina was impressed. "So, we have half of the control set up. Rubina, try the rest. "What?Do you think I can do it? "Don''t worry. Be confident. I''ll be watching you," Jin said, pushing Rubina back. "I''ll give it a try!" Rubina, who had changed her mind, worked slowly at first, but as she got used to the process, her speed increased. Oh, that''s good, that''s good.) Jin, who is watching from the back, is smiling as he has expected. < without any slack. Even if it sags, it can be corrected, but there is nothing better than stretching it without sagging. "It''s done!" "Yes, it''s a good score." "Yay!" Rubina was praised by Jin, and she smiled with a big smile on her face. "Next, I want you to install the blow engine. "What is ......?When did you make it?" Jin was watching over Rubina''s work as she built ten blow engines. "Ha...... you are indeed Jin-sama!" Then Marikka arrived. Master Jin, the cockpit part is ready. "Oh, thank you." Jin installs the cockpit that Marikka made into the front of the cabin. As decided yesterday, the capacity of the cockpit is 5 people, but since we have more space for luggage, 5 more people can be accommodated if they are packed in the cockpit. "In that case, we''ll have to use the force field generator as well. Jin also said, "In that case, we will also use a in addition to the warp gate for escape, various warding generators, and a manacam (magical element communication device). "Jin-sama, the blow engine has been installed. "Okay, Rubina, now the propulsors and gyros. We''ll do this together. Marikka, help me with this. "Yes!" Marikka is happy to help. Reiko looked a little reluctant instead, "Reiko, call the old man and ask him to send 50 bottles of Persian juice. I said, "Yes! "Yes! I replied and did as I was told. In the cabin, an ether stocker was set up and Persica juice was stored in it. This is for emergency food and water. "Now all that''s left is the transparent part of the cabin. Learning from the previous failure, we have made a three-layered structure of transparent corundum, subterranean spider resin (GSP), and cubic zirconia. The seat is also designed to recline and is upholstered in breathable <>. "The problem is armament. ......" Since <700672 is a non-combatant and should not like rough work, we should use <> and <>, and <> and > and >. ether jammer>> and >. Instead of that, "I''ll attach a <> so that we can transfer back to the front of the <> in case of an emergency. Jin thinks. The transference device can send or recall a target using a marker as a guide, and its greatest advantage is that it can also transference itself. On the other hand, however, it is not possible to send a transporter to a place where there is no marker, which is why the marker is placed in the <>. "That''s it. Now all we need is a pilot." Jin makes one golem based on Hope, a general-purpose assistant golem, so that it can also serve as a mechanic. "Fluffy ah......" While Rubina and Marikka are working on the details of the airship, Jin has completed the pilot golem. "I''ll let them decide on the name of the airship and the golem. But first, let''s do a test flight. At any rate, since Jin, the creator of the airship, is recognized as the , he decides to test the pilot Golem as well as the test flight of the airship. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, it''s flying, it''s flying. "It''s stable, isn''t it? "It''s nice to see something we made work so well. Jin, Marikka, and Rubina smiled with satisfaction as they watched the blimp-shaped blow floaters soar through the blue sky. "Father, they say there is nothing wrong with it." Reiko was monitoring the situation by using the built-in manacam to communicate. "Levels one through five are all clear." "All are in good condition from level 1 to 5." "Okay, we succeeded." After that, Jin and the others all boarded the boat and conducted the final test. "The ride is good." < would make the ride less comfortable, since the period of shaking would be shorter, but my fears seemed unfounded. Thus, the airship for <700672 was completed. 1927 - - 51-41 Near future "Oh, this is great! And what a joint effort by Marikka-sama, Jin-sama, and Rubina-chan! <700672, who is delighted with it. "Wow!We can fly!" "That''s exciting!" Of course, Rouge and Neige were also delighted. The pilot is this golem. ...... Oh, and please give them both names." "Hmm, names." I like for the golem! Rouge says that the blackish piloted golem should be named , since the names were based on its appearance: red (Rouge), snow (Neige), and rose (Rose). The name reminded Jin of the old days. (Noir or ...... I remember Reinhardt''s black knight (Schwarzritter) had such a name. It didn''t stick in the end.) "Then I like for airship." In French, the sky is called (The languages of this world are similar to German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, etc. ......) ) Jin wondered if this was a parallel world, but put it to the back of his mind, "All right, then. ......<> naming<. <>1st<>. 2nd<>. 3rd<>...... and that''s it." Jin then wrote <> on the airship. "Pleased to meet you, Master, Miss." "Yes, thank you." "Nice to meet you!" "Nice to meet you." After the transfer was completed, Jin was about to return to his when he was stopped by 700672. "Jin-dono, wait a minute." "Yes?" I have something to tell you. I understand. This time it was just Jin and Reiko, no Marikka or Rubina. Jin guessed that 700672 had been waiting for such a timing, and accepted his invitation. He accepted his invitation. "I was wondering if you could give me some advice. In the living room of 700672''s << house>, 70 No.70672 himself, Jin, and Reiko are alone in the living room. Neige and Rouge are not present. It''s about me, isn''t it? "Yes." Jin was a little worried when he saw the face of 700672, which looked more serious than ever. "...... First of all, you know that I am a created by the who were once here in Hale, don''t you?" "Yes." "Neige and Rouge are similar. The only difference is that they are not <> but <>. "Yes." "So there." 700672 broke off there. He seems to be wondering whether he should say something or not. "Um, <>?" Jin calls out to him. "...... umm, I''m sorry. Let''s continue. ......> is, in other words, very unstable without his <>." "I think I understand, somehow." "I understand." Reiko followed Jin''s nodding with words of affirmation. "While your father was gone,...... I couldn''t be myself." "Oh, you do understand, don''t you, Reiko?" 700672 looked at Reiko and nodded. "It has been almost four hundred years since I took Marikka as my new master. I have been very content. I was happy, I guess you could say." "......" "I can no longer bear to live without my <>, Master Jin." "......""So that''s what you mean." Dimly, Jin could guess what <> 700672 wanted to talk to him about. Finally, <>700672 spoke the words. "Jin-dono, is it wrong to create a homunculus based on <>?" Jin searches for an answer to this question, even though he had expected it. But. "No, I think it''s a natural desire. Reiko answered. "It is natural for you to want emotional support. Therefore, it is the right thing for you to do. Jin thought that was right in a way. And it was natural for Reiko to think so. In addition, Jin is a now. He was about to get into a philosophical thought, "What is the difference between a composite body and a homunculus? "But it would be bad if he and the homunculus existed at the same time," he said. Jin is brought back to himself by the voice of 700672. "That''s right. ......" 700672 then said, "......I am basically immortal. Sometimes I wonder if I am allowed to be in the world of human beings. He said something like this. "You shouldn''t think about such things too much," Jin said. Jin said. Indeed, the mere thought of losing his master seems to make No. 700672 emotionally unstable. "Then, why don''t we make this Hale a and keep interference in Ars to the minimum necessary? "Hmm, I see." Jin convinced the 700672 that in an independent world, there would be no problem with the presence of those who shouldn''t be there. "...... was helpful. Thank you, Jin." "No, I''m glad it was helpful." < * * * * * "Welcome home!" When Jin returns home, he is greeted by Rubina. "I''m home." As he replies, Jin thinks about how people can''t live alone. (What would I have been like 400 years ago? ......) (What would I have done 400 years ago?) I suddenly think of such a thing. It''s hard to say goodbye to the people you love. Even though I know it is the providence. (I can''t say that I would never transfer all the memories to an automata and substitute it for that person, can I? ......) But it is also true that there is no end to it if we start doing so. Whose automata are we going to make, but not whose? How do we draw the line between the two? If the number of immortal, or rather immortal, beings increases, the world will be destroyed. (Am I still lost in such a thought? ......) 700672 said he wanted a homunculus based on Marikka for himself. Jin also ...... now Jin is a <> and probably an immortal being. And Marikka and Zion are finite beings. I will have to leave them both within a hundred years at the latest. "What is it, Master Jin?" What?Oh, nothing. Jin was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not even notice that Marikka had arrived. (No need to give an answer right now, but I''ll have to think about it eventually. ......) Jin thought about it and changed his mind for the time being. (First of all, I should bring up my successor ...... or rather, younger generation. ......) "Today is Jin-sama''s birthday, isn''t it? Marikka told him, and Jin realized. "Oh, that''s ...... right." "Jin-sama, we''re having a party tonight!I''m looking forward to it!" Jin''s eyes narrowed as he watched Rubina help him prepare lunch. The sky over Hale was as clear as in ancient times. 1928 - - 51-42 Quiet 86 It started 400 years ago 3465, Jin 29 years old. "Well, I''d like to make sure that <> is done with ......." Jin is troubled in the laboratory on Horai Island. The old man gives advice to the distressed Jin. "Oh, yes. ...... Well, let''s go to 700672 first. ...... Reiko, let''s go." "Yes, Father." Jin and Reiko go to No.700672 using the warp gate which is permanently installed. First, they move to the front room. There, two dispatched by Hitoshi are packed, ready to deal with any unforeseen circumstances. (Though there is no danger, since there is no Malkitas yet.) Jin wished the two craftsmen (smiths) a good job and headed for the white room where the 700672 lived. White Room, the home of No. 700672. "Oh Jin-dono, welcome." The same 700672 greets me. Jin also gave him a bottle of Persian juice specially made in Horai Island as a gift. "Thank you very much for this. The special Persica Juice from Horai Island is rich in free magic element (ether) and tastes good even to a homunculus like No. 700672. It is tasty and good for the body, even for a homunculus like 700672. "What can I do for you today?" < of the as his master''s successor, and with the help of Marikka, No. 70067 No. 2 has been very cooperative. "Yes, a little about Hale." "Well, that''s interesting." Despite his very abstract opening, 700672 seems to have understood Jin''s intention correctly. Hale is my home planet. I''d like to take Rouge and Neige there someday." "I''m sure you would." Jin then said that Hale, as it was now, was a place that could be visited but was not suitable to live in. "First of all, there is too little water," he said. The current situation is that 80% of the land is land and 20% is sea. This is too arid an environment for living creatures to live in. "Yes, I suppose so. Jin thinks that the inhabitants, the , lived in domed dwellings, and that the air-conditioned inside of the dwellings kept them healthy in the dry environment. "In my opinion, <> may have reduced the amount of seawater in order to mine the resources on the seafloor." "That kind of thing ......." Jin felt a little shiver. It would have changed the weather on the planet Hale in no small way, he thought. "Maybe that''s why it''s so dry. ......" And it may have caused the extinction of many creatures, too. "Hmm. I am concerned about that. But it is possible that <> are trying to > in some way." For example, by creating protected areas, or by preserving genes, 700672 says. "Breaking the natural cycles of the food chain and biodegradation is a way of strangling ourselves in the end." "That''s right. ......" Jin thought about the many creatures that had perished even on his own planet. "Let me tell you something else. Perhaps the ecosystem, food chain, etc. here on Arus is the same or very close to that of Hale. It is highly likely that such measures are being taken, especially on the still uninhabited ," said 700672. "Perhaps the testers on Onogoro Island know more about this than I do." "Indeed. Jin thought at this moment that he would ask him about it. "I digress. I wonder if > have frozen seawater or something to store it in space?" "I see. ...... but I don''t think there was anything like that in the orbit of <>''s satellite." "Is that so?If so,......, or if it''s further away than normal satellite orbit,......, whatever it is, I don''t think <> would make too many irreversible modifications." Still, if their own survival depended on it, he added, "I don''t know," he added. "As far as I''m concerned, I''d like to get Hale back to his original state." "Oh?Why is that? The 700672 seemed to be intrigued by Jin''s words. "There are several reasons. First, we can''t leave Hale, the birthplace of the Ars human race, unattended." "Mm." "Second, we can use Hale as a <>." A refuge? Yes. We can''t take shelter when natural disasters like the last <> and <> ...... space disasters?could hit Ars. On the other hand, there is a possibility that Hale will be attacked. I see. The third one is for you, 700672, isn''t it? For me? Yes. I can''t move freely in this ars, but Hale? "......" And even Neige and Rouge should be shown the wider world, don''t you think? Emotional education," was the word that came to Jin''s mind. "Finally, I''d like to say that I could live in Hale, too. ......" Jin, or rather Horaijima, is a floating existence from this world of Ars. Then, although it is a wild idea, it is possible to think that we should just leave Ars. "Well, I guess you could call it a place of retreat. Jin laughed. "Well, I understand how you feel, Jin-dono. No. 700672 nodded deeply. "It will take a long time to restore Hale to his original form. "I''m sure it will." "I, Neige and Rouge will be able to watch the passage of time, but Jin-dono, who is a human being, will be able to ......." "That may be so." Jin smiled transparently when she pointed out his longevity. "A place of retreat," he said, "is not just about me personally. The old man and Reiko, the golem of Horai Island, and the automata who have become semi-eternal beings. "I''m worried in many ways about leaving them in Ars as they are." Besides," Jin continues. "My knowledge and experience will be passed on to my descendants. As long as there are things that can be passed on in this way, they will not go to waste. We are rehabilitating Hale, not for now, but for the distant future, Jin assured me. "Yes, I see. ....... If you think that far, Jin-dono, I will fully cooperate with you. "Thank you, sir." Thus, Jin and the 700672 formed a cooperative relationship. The was then formulated. The first step of the plan was to 1. restore the sea of Hale to its original state. 2. to restore the vegetation of Hale. The first step of the plan was to 1. restore the sea of Hale. "Let''s build a golem unit for the restoration of Hale. ...... First, we will need about 1,000 golems.Then we''ll send a spaceship to investigate in detail whether the seawater has been preserved in space somewhere." Thus began the long and arduous Hale Recovery Project. 1929 - - 52-01 News from Zion April 16, 3900. After dinner at Hale''s house, Jin goes out to the porch and looks up at the sky. Reiko brings him some tea. "Oh, thank you." He drinks the after-dinner tea and looks at the sky over Hale. The sun was setting, the clouds were getting darker and darker, and the stars were beginning to twinkle in the sky. "...... I guess I can finally relax." Many things have happened since I decided to live in this era as a complex. The journey to various countries to learn about this time period, the liberation of Kunlun Island, the confrontation with Malchitas. Encounters with the descendants on Onogoro Island, the Golem Games (Gompetition) in the Kingdom of Shoro, and the restoration of Avalon. The battle for the Magecraft King (Queen) on Onogoro Island, troubles with the remnants of the <>. Securing resource satellites for the redevelopment of Hale, and the construction of the base. ....... Jin was relieved to finally be able to devote himself to what he loved to do. "...... father, the old man has contacted you." "Yes?What''s going on?" Jin got up from the porch and went to the manacam in the living room. The manacam, as Jin liked, looked like a black telephone with a dial tone. "It''s Jin. What''s up, old man? < "From Zion?Did something happen? > The old man gave a brief explanation. According to him, there is a problem in the vicinity of Blueland, a local city in the Kingdom of Egelea. If that were all, there would be no need to inform Jin at all, but since the descendants of the former <> are involved in this problem, this is the reason why I am informing you. < This is because all of the intelligence units <>, which were dispatched to various countries 400 years ago, have been withdrawn. So to speak, < have been blocked. We would like to dispatch the 5th Quinta immediately, but we have not sent the 5th Quinta yet. The old man had been confined to Horai Island for a while to avoid the attack of Malchitas and others, and he was not fully aware of the world situation yet. That is why he cannot send the fifth column (Quinta) without being discovered. "I''m sorry. It''s my fault. In addition, Jin said that the dispatch of the 5th column (Quinta) could be postponed. He wanted the old man to devote his resources to Hale-related matters. "Well, let''s go to the Kingdom of Egelea ...... and visit the Blue Lands. ...... the warp gate is still in good working order?" < "Oh, I see." "...... father, are you going?" Reiko says a little frustrated. "Yes, I''m going. If it is the descendants of my former friends who are in danger..." The old man assured me about the safety. Reiko was finally convinced. * * * * * * Jin finished his preparations quickly. Jin quickly finished his preparations, but only to lock the door of the house here in Hale. "Well, let''s say hello to the <> and go to Zion''s first, shall we? "Yes, father." Jin and Reiko got in the Sparrow and headed for the house of <> 700672. "Hmm, I didn''t know that happened. That must be interesting." "Yes, that''s why I''m going back to Ars. No.700672 showed understanding to Jin. Then he added, "I''ll go back too. It will be a long time before they are free. Besides, I have to report to ...... Marikka-sama. "So, shall we go back together?" Although we say "together", we are going to Ars via the <> and we will separate at the terminal on the Ars side ....... This time, Jin is going to ask Zion about the situation, so he is going with me to the <>. "Neige, Rouge, you heard me.Get ready." Yes. Yes, sir. After 10 minutes of preparation, Jin, Reiko, No.700672, Neige, Rouge and others returned to Ars using . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Jin, you''re early!" <, Zion greeted Jin. Marikka had probably received some sort of message from the 700672. "I heard there was some kind of trouble. "Yes, that''s right. Well, come on in here." Sion invited Jin to his house, saying that it was not a matter for standing around talking. "...... It all started with the family feud." "A family disturbance?" Jin looked doubtful, and Zion began to explain a little background. "The problem is the Marquis of Kuzma, who is the acting lord of Blueland," he said. "...... Kuzma?Marquess?...... Are you by any chance a descendant of Lewis and Bina?" Zion nodded. "Yes. About two hundred years ago, he was made a marquis instead of a count, and the Dukes of Bruu gave him full power in the Blue Lands." "Heh. ......" The Dukes of Bruu are still the lords of Blueland, but they actually participate fully in the affairs of state in the royal capital. And the Kuzma family has been made a marquis instead of a count, and is now the acting lord of Blueland, with virtually full authority over the country. "It was all good up to that point, though." because they felt they were in danger and had to take refuge there." "Well, I don''t know ...... what was going on at the time, so I can''t say for sure, but ...... there must have been a lot of confusion." "I guess so." I don''t know what the situation was like back then, but I can''t say for sure. And with the replacement of the immigrants, accurate information is not possible to hope for. Moreover, the activities of the <> were hampered by the offensive of the <>, and even the old man did not know the exact situation at that time. (Probably, there was a lot of confusion in the city of Breuland itself.) < and the must have been in open conflict, Jin thought. Still, he was curious about what was going on, so he decided to ask. "Did they ever get suspicious or wonder about the disappearance of the whole family? "Of course they would have been confused. But they didn''t live together, they lived in different places, so I don''t know how confused they would have been. "I don''t know." It is possible, he says, that they were even glad that the main family was gone. That seems to be the way it is for aristocrats to be a branch of a family. Incidentally, the biggest difference between the main family and the branch family is whether or not they knew of the existence of <> and <>. "It seems that the people who evacuated...... emigrated were refreshed." "Well, I can understand that." Jin thought that life on Onogoro Island would be a paradise, as long as one did not cling to power. "Let me back up. ...... So, I hear that the former branch of the family that became the main family is in a lot of trouble right now." "Yeah." Jin, who now had a better understanding of the background of the situation, straightened up and listened to the conversation. 1930 - - 52-02 To the nostalgic Blue Land Zion explains to Jin the problems facing the Marquise of Kuzma. "To put it simply, it''s a succession problem. "Oh, that sounds like a lot of work." Jin has the impression that the succession problem in aristocratic society is a complicated one. "The story is simple. There are only three girls in the Marquise de Kuzma''s family now." "Ah... ...... but..." In the past, the Marquis Florenziano of Elias was a woman, and there are female barons. When Jin said that.., "The point is whether the king approves or not. It might be the king or the council. Zion answered. "I see." If a woman is to be the head of the family, she must be recognized as capable of ruling or something equivalent. Jin thinks that this is a bad part of aristocratic society. However, custom is custom, and it is not something that can be fixed immediately. "What should we do? asked Zion, "I don''t know that much about the customs of the Kingdom of Egelea. He replied, "I don''t know that much about the customs of the Kingdom of Egelea. "That''s right." Jin folded his arms and thought for a while. "I guess I can''t say anything until I visit the Blue Lands. ...... He came to the conclusion, "I guess I''ll have to go to Blueland and see what it''s all about. * * * * * * On the morning of April 17, Jin moved to Blue Land with Reiko after making preparations at Horaijima. "It''s been a long time since I''ve been here. The forests on the outskirts of Blueland were just as they used to be. "Perhaps the Marquess of Kuzma has designated it as a conservation area," Reiko said. Jin nodded at Reiko''s comment. "Oh, so that''s how it is. That''s very kind of them. "Yes, father. But, since it''s thanks to you that I''m able to get your father''s help in this way, isn''t that mutually beneficial? Ha-ha... you''re right... Reiko was in her usual tone. We walked slowly and passed through the forest in about 30 minutes. The area beyond the forest was a grassland dotted with bushes and shrubs, almost unchanged from the past. "I wonder if this area is a kind of conservation area. There were some footprints, so the area did not seem to be off-limits to visitors. Since it was spring, new buds were beginning to grow among the dead grass. Blue Land is located a little south of Horai Island, so from what Jin saw, spring seemed to come a little earlier. "The last time I was here was in the middle of the commotion," he said. He had come to search for the remnants of the who were hiding in the depths of an abandoned mine on the outskirts of Bluerand. "I remember the Duke of Bruu welcomed us that time..." "Yes, he did. I think that the reason the Marquise of Kuzma didn''t show his face was because of the succession problem." That''s a big possibility. As Reiko and I walked along, we finally arrived at the gate of Breuland. It was around 9:00 a.m., so the gate was open. "Here you go." I showed the gate guard the pass that Theon had given me, and he let me through with a single glance. "You were right when you said that checks in times of peace are only a formality." That''s a sign of peace, Jin thought. "Now what are we going to do?" He knew the old Breuland, but he knew nothing about the new Breuland. "We could go directly to the Marquise''s house. ...... It might have been difficult for just Jin and Reiko, but Zion had written a letter of introduction for them, so they should be able to enter the Marquise''s house without any problem. Jin, however, decided to gather information in the town first. "What should I do at ...... in such a case?" Jin did not have much experience in this kind of situation. He said, "...... where people gather and where people who know the town gather is good, father. Reiko, who must have been in contact with the old man, gave him some advice. "Maybe a diner, or a mutual aid association (guild). ......" Jin wondered if there was a in this country at this time. "Then there is also the innkeeper." I have plenty of pocket money, so I decide to look for a reasonably good inn. I''ll go here. "I think I''ll stay here. After searching for about 30 minutes, I found an inn called "Gingetsu-tei. It was located off the main street and had a quiet atmosphere. The building was clean and well-maintained. The staff said, "Welcome. Are you staying with us? Since the restaurant is open for lunch, Hitoshi and Reiko went to the front desk, but it was only 11:00 a.m., so they were asked to confirm. "Please stay overnight." "Okay. Please fill out this form." The receptionist was a young proprietress in her late twenties. <, Jin thought that it was a mistake not to have thought of an alias for such an occasion. "You are staying one night. How would you like to eat? "Dinner and breakfast, please." "Okay. If you have lunch at ......, we can give you a small discount. The person who was told.., Jin replies, "Oh, I''ll have lunch here, too. Jin replies. "Yes, sir. The room is on the second floor, room 203. Here is the key. "Yes, thank you." Hitoshi and Reiko go to drop off their baggage, which they are carrying to make themselves look like tourists. Of course, the contents are dummies. "Oh, this is a nice room. The living room and bedroom are separated, and the room is a twin room of about 10 tatami mats. The room is divided into a sleeping area with two beds and a living room-like space with a chair and a table. A toilet and a shower room were also in the room, which was very advanced for this part of the world. It reminds me of a business hotel," said Jin. Jin commented. The time was 11:30 a.m. I left my luggage in the room and went to the first floor cafeteria to have lunch, although it was a little early. Here is the menu. The young proprietress at the front desk showed me the menu. <<<<, main dishes such as <<<<>, and <, etc. <<> and so on. Jin ordered congee, vegetable soup, and seafood salad. Reiko ordered bread and stew. She is staying with us as her younger sister. Please wait a moment. The young proprietress wrote down the order and went to the kitchen. Jin moistens his mouth with the cold water offered and looks around the dining room. It was still early, so there was only one other person eating bread and stew. "I think I''ll ask the landlady about where to go ...... after I eat. Jin thought to himself. 1931 - - 52-03 Information from the landlady About 10 minutes later, the lunch that Jin had ordered arrived. "Yes, it''s delicious!" The congee was lightly salted, and the vegetable soup was filled with a variety of vegetables. The seafood salad was filled with seaweed and tuna-like fish meat, and the dressing was just the way Jin liked it. "Please, this is a service for our guests. When I finished eating, a cup of tea (taeye) was served. The tea leaves were of good quality, and I had no complaints about the aroma or taste. Thank you very much for the tea. I said to the young proprietress who came to take down the dishes, "Are you a foreigner? She asked, "Are you a foreigner? When Jin asked her why she thought so, she said it was because it was rare for people to order porridge. "We don''t get much rice around here, but a long time ago, the wife of one of our lords liked rice porridge, and it took root here. "Heh. ......" Jin remembered his former friend and member of the , Bina, and felt nostalgic. "Isn''t she the one who was known as the <>?" I asked her, "Yes, yes, that''s right! the young proprietress happily affirmed. "About 400 years ago...... when the current acting lord was a count, he was from a commoner''s background. She was desired by the Count at the time to be his wife." "Heh, heh. ......" Jin wanted to say that he knew her well, but he held back and made a face as if he had never heard of her before. He had learned from the old man beforehand that the trick to get information out of someone is to pretend to know something shallow but not deep enough. If you are perceived as knowing too little, it is easy to be thought that <>. People who show shallow knowledge and sympathy for what they are interested in are willing to share various information with you if you guide them well. The young landlady seemed to like the Kuzumas and told us many things without Jin asking. It seems that she is not busy today because there are not many customers. "I heard that this town has developed a lot thanks to that madam. ......Oh, yes!" The young proprietress went to the kitchen and came back with a deep dish of something. "Do you know this too?" "Oh, popcorn." "Yes, that''s right!This is a snack that was very popular when the mistress started selling it when she was still a commoner! "I heard that." Jin knows this well, too. In fact, it was Jin who taught it to Bina. "In addition to Count Kuzma at that time, there was another count family that administered the west and east parts of Blueland respectively, but the other count family was reduced to a viscount during the time of his wife. "I didn''t know that." Jin didn''t know about that, so he guessed that it must have happened after he came here. "After that, I heard that the Counts of Kuzma managed the east and west sides of the Blue Lands for a while, but about 200 years ago, they were promoted from counts to marquises, and at the same time, they became the deputies of the Blue Lands. I''ve never heard of that." "I have heard of that. That''s how much the dukes trust him, isn''t it? The other person becomes even more laconic when I make a small gesture indicating that I understand what they are saying and that I am interested in what they have to say. "Yes, yes, yes. Truly, the Marquis of Kuzma has taken good care of this blueland and its inhabitants for generations. As proof of this, the taxes in this town are lower than in other cities. On average, the tax rate in the Kingdom of Egelea is 40% tax. But here in the Blue Lands, the tax rate is three to seven percent. This is a much improved result. As far as Jin knows, 400 years ago, there were countries and regions with 6 kong and 4 kong, and 7 kong and 3 kong. Incidentally, in Japan, the tax rate was once seven kongs and three peoples in the Edo period, but it was lowered to three kongs and seven peoples in the peaceful era. "Life has become easier with the spread of convenient magical tools. It was Countess Bina Rauf Kuzma, the craft queen, who created the prototype. "But you know, ......." Suddenly the young landlady''s voice lost its energy. "Is something wrong?" Jin asked, "Well, the Marquis Kuzma''s family is in a lot of trouble right now," the young landlady said. The young landlady answered with a slightly pained look on her face. "......I don''t know if it''s interesting for you to hear, but ......" she added. She added, "I don''t know if it''s interesting for our guests to hear, "No, it''s an interesting story. Jin replied, "No, it''s an interesting story. Please tell us about it." After Jin said this, the young proprietress began to speak slowly. "It seems that about 150 years ago, ...... for some reason, people from the main family disappeared. So the branch families took over the marquisate and have been in charge ever since. ......" "Did something happen?" Jin asks in a blank voice. "The current Marquis is very old. He was unable to have children, but he had no choice but to get a second wife, and when she finally gave birth, she was a princess. After that, the two of them ...... were also princesses." "So there are three princesses?" "That''s what I mean. You are still a little girl at ......, so you can''t be the successor." "I see." The current Marquis is elderly and has lost his first wife. The second wife, who gave birth to three daughters, is young, but her low status prevents her from succeeding even temporarily. To put it bluntly, she was a former lady-in-waiting, which certainly meant that neither the royal family nor the Duke of Breu would recognize her as an heir, let alone a guardian. Moreover, the older princess was only 10 years old. The older princess was only 10 years old and would not be able to succeed to the Marquise''s throne no matter how hard she tried. * * * * Jin and Reiko went back to their room. "...... have you got a good idea of what''s going on?" Yes, father. The three of them had a meeting with the old man using the manacam. << One. 1. The eldest daughter is given a suitable son-in-law to take over the reigns of the family. Two. Adopt an adult male relative by blood and have him succeed to the family. Three. The elder daughter is to have a guardian until she comes of age and succeeds to the family. "Well, that''s the way it''s going to be." Jin thinks there is no other way. Jin thought that the old man''s insight was probably right. Because.., The young landlady told me that <>. The Galana family is still haunted after 400 years. "The best I can do is ......2 and 3, yes." There are many adult men of blood on who could serve as guardians as well. < "Oh, sure they do. ......" There is no proof of blood relationship, because there is no such thing as DNA test. Even for a successor, it can''t be someone who doesn''t know what kind of person he/she is. "Hmmm... ......" Again Jin pondered. 1932 - - 52-04 Name of disease The old man spoke to Jin, who was troubled. "Yes?What is it?" "Oh, I see." I''m told he''s old. I don''t know exactly how old he is, but I doubt he has much time left. The average life expectancy in the Ars world today is supposed to be over 90 years old, Jin recalled. Jin thinks that a marquis with a 10-year-old child could not be nearly 90 years old. "You left that information out. All right, Reiko, let''s go. Jin decided to go around the town to gather information, and on his way he decided to ask the young proprietress about his current question. She said, "The Marquis is currently lying in bed with an incurable disease. He is not in danger today or tomorrow, but he is bedridden. So, if we don''t decide on a successor, there is a possibility that the family may disappear if something happens to him. It is said that if a noble dies without a successor, the state (the royal family or the council) may appoint a successor for the continuation of the family if the noble was a great noble or an important person. But in this case, if it is judged that they had enough time to decide the successor but didn''t decide, the family may be cut off without any change. "Is that so? ......" Incidentally, the current Marquis Kuzma is 69 years old. * * * * Jin and Reiko left the restaurant and headed for the main street. "...... but I can''t think of a place where we can get more information than that inn." Jin muttered, "Father, as they say, a dog that walks will get the short end of the stick, so let''s walk around first," Reiko said. Reiko said. When Jin heard this, he said, "Yes, that''s right. ......, it is also said that the sooner you get there, the better." He decided to go north along the main street. There was a lord''s mansion in that direction. Count Kuzma''s mansion is on the east side, right? "Yes. At that time, I was the Commissioner of the Eastern District of the Blue Lands. The other Count, Count Galana, was the Commissioner of the Western District of Vreeland, so his mansion was on the west side of town. "And what about now?" Jin thought that the Duke of Bruu was the lord and the Marquess of Kuzma was his deputy, so he decided to ask someone on the street. Excuse me, are you a resident of Breuland? "Yes, I am. Who are you? I''m a traveler. My name is Jin. I''m Jin. ...... Is the Marquis of Kuzma in the Lords'' Hall? No, he''s not. No. The Marquis is recuperating at his mansion on the east side. Oh, is that so? Are you the healer who came to cure the Marquis''s illness?Then by all means!Then by all means, heal him! The man who had mistaken Jin for a traveling healer bowed his head repeatedly as he walked away. "It seems that everyone knows that the ...... Marquis is sick." The young landlady was right. Not only is he bedridden, but his illness has made it impossible for him to choose a successor. There can be no mistake now. "But now we have another option. Curing the Marquis'' illness will give us more time. According to the current average life expectancy, as long as the disease is cured, he should be able to choose his successor or son-in-law after his eldest daughter comes of age. "The only question is, what kind of disease? ......" If Erza, Jin''s beloved wife and the world''s best healer in the past, had been around, he probably could have managed, but the breakdown in the transmission of technology by the <>, although not as severe as the <>, was hindering the development of this world. Looking back on this history, Jin said.., "It''s a pity. Jin muttered, "It''s a pity. Erza''s medical knowledge is partly derived from Jin and partly from Shuki Tsetsi. Shuki, in particular, had aspirations to become a medical doctor in his former world, and had come down with several medical books, contributing greatly to the development of medicine in this world. The rest is Elsa''s own talent and experience, which together have created the rare healer Elsa Nido. "I don''t blame you for asking for what you don''t have, but I''d like to know at least ...... what the symptoms are." "Father, in that case, shall I use my Peeper Telescope?" Reiko is also equipped with a small peeping telescope. It is not easy to use at long distances because of its blurred focus, but at short distances, it is quite practical. "I hope there is a place near the Marquis''s residence where I can stay still and not arouse suspicion. It would indeed be suspicious if we were to stand still outside the walls, staring at the Marquis'' residence. Or rather, it would definitely be suspicious. Jin and Reiko walked around the area and found a small coffee shop. "Let''s go in here for a break. It was a little after one o''clock in the afternoon. There were no other customers besides Jin and the others. Jin and Reiko chose a seat in the corner. "Welcome! A girlish automaton came to take their order. Jin thought that it might be a product of <>, since it looked somewhat like Beena''s work. "Pancakes and tea for two, please. "Yes, sir." Jin decided without thinking too much. Meanwhile, Reiko remained motionless, probing the inside of the Marquis'' mansion with her built-in "peepers. * * * * * * "Thank you for waiting." Reiko observes with her peepers for 10 minutes before the pancakes and tea arrive. "Come on, let''s eat." "Yes." Reiko can too. Of course, it is not digestible. The previous method was to remove water and compress the food, but now the food is broken down into atoms, so there is less residue. Regardless, as she ate, Reiko reported the results. "Otto...... brother, the subject is showing symptoms like <>." This time, Jin and Reiko are <, and since is a bad word, Reiko uses the term . "What!...... no, is that so?" <>. It is a disease in which the body recovers more magic power than it possesses, and the excess magic power undermines the body. Erza once had this disease, but she recovered completely through the teaching of No. 700672. "...... but if that''s the case, the cure is a ." It is a substance extracted from the brain tissue of special demons and is extremely rare. It is needed to create a homunculus. As the name "catalyst" suggests, the substance itself does not change, but all creatures that use free magic element (ether) have it in their bodies. With this catalyst, free magic element (ether) can be manipulated by the mind. It can be called an antenna for mental waves. By ingesting one millionth of a gram of this, Erza''s hypermagic was completely cured. "There are still some left in Horai Island, aren''t there? "No, there are none left. Reiko answered. "Why not?" "...... they used it for experiments." "...... I see." Jin''s shoulders slumped. By using this mental catalyst, the accuracy of controlling the free magical element (ether) is greatly improved. Originally, there was less than a gram of the psychic catalyst. It was only natural that it would run out if used in such experiments. 1933 - - 52-05 Fake name < left, and Reiko hurriedly continued. "Oh ...... brother, but we do have the cure for ." "What?" "<> is a disease that can affect people other than Erza-sama." "That''s true." So there is a possibility that Jin and Erza''s descendants could also contract the disease. "All it takes is one millionth of a gram per person. Isn''t that right?" Jin nodded. "So, using 100,000 grams per million, there should be enough medicine for 100,000 people stored on Horai Island. The experiment used the rest. What we used in the experiment was the rest." "I see!" That was good news. However, thinking about it, it is not surprising that my past self would have taken such a step. I would have done the same thing now. "Then you can use it to cure the Marquis'' hypermagic. Yes. But we have to make sure it''s right. That''s right. Misdiagnosis during medical treatment must be avoided at all costs. "If it''s ......, should I formally offer to treat him?" In the meantime, we are acquainted with the current royal family of the Kingdom of Egelea. Jin decided that the best way to contact them would be to ask them to contact Ernest XVII or the current Duke of Breu via <>. Or you can use the letter of introduction from Sion. "That''s fine." Jin thought about that for the rest of the day to make sure there were no other problems. "Okay, Reiko, let''s go gather some information." Yes, sir. Yes. Jin and Reiko spent the day gathering information. "It wasn''t just the Viscounts of Galana, was it?" Yes, that''s right. It seems that not only the Viscounts Galana, but also the Counts Setena and Rasaan are targeting the Marquise of Kuzma. Neither of these families had ever heard of Jin, so it is assumed that they have been in existence for 400 years. Both seem to want to send their sons-in-law to the Marqus de Kuzma. "Well, I don''t have anything to say about it, as long as he''s the right person." Jin and Reiko stayed at that night, and returned to Horai Island on the following day, the 19th. "The story was getting bigger than I thought." >. We can''t leave him alone, especially if he is suffering from hypermagia. "You have the cure, don''t you?" "That''s good." The problem is the examination. We''ll have to take Lise, the automaton healer, with us here. The rest can be found at ......." I am concerned about Edith Kuzma, Greenina Kuzma, Rubina Garrett, Amanda Garrett and others on <. They are descendants of Bina and Luis, and are closer to the Marquise Kuzma than to the current Marquise Kuzma. Or rather, Edith and Grina are definitely direct descendants. "But you know what, ......" But there is no way to prove that they are direct descendants, and I don''t think they would be willing to come forward now. I''ll have to check that out: ...... * * * * Jin asked Marikka to confirm the information, since it would be too much trouble if he visited the house in person, "Jin-sama, the consensus of everyone is that <><>." He replied. "I knew it." It seems that he has become a recluse, or rather, he has completely withdrawn from the mundane world. He can go out for fun, but he doesn''t want to get into trouble. "......It''s me after all." Jin really did not want to do anything too public, considering what would happen later on. He knew Ernest XVII and the Duke of Breu, but Jin guessed that it would be a big deal if he brought the matter to them. "I think it would be better to do it secretly. Jin concluded that it would be better to do it secretly. "Then, I should take Liese and Reiko to Blue Land. <> "Oh, that too." < I remember that when I took Hannah to the Klein Kingdom, we all dyed our hair color to disguise ourselves. "...... I''ll just keep it dark brown." I don''t like hair colors that are too far apart from each other because it makes me feel uncomfortable. Reiko, who is supposed to be a brother and sister, should also be dark brown. "And then there''s the name. ......" I think about it a little. I decided to go with Shin. I decided to go with "Shin". I remembered that I had heard from someone that if the name is too far from the original name, it is easy to make a mistake and make a mess. He thought that Shin would be able to fool them even if he was about to call himself Jin. "Let''s make Reiko as well." "............ yes." So the pseudonyms <> and <> were decided. "And then there''s Liese. ......" Since this one is probably not so well known, we decided to go with <>. However, I''m going to change her hair color to dark brown for her appearance. "There we go." We are ready. There is still plenty of time left, so we decide to move on to the Blue Land. The time difference from Penglai Island is minus 2 hours and 45 minutes. It is 10:30 a.m. in Horai Island now, so it is 7:45 a.m. in Blue Land. It is about a 45-minute walk from the forest where the warp gate is located. I calculated that the gate would be open. However, since the name and appearance have been changed, Jin decides to enter the castle through a different gate than the previous one. I went around a little to the southern gate and found ....... "...... was open, but what is ......?" Soldiers were lined up on both sides of the road leading to the gate, and the civilians seemed to be waiting. Jin quietly asked one of the people at the end of the line, "I heard that Viscount Galana''s party is coming. The answer came back, "The Viscount Galana''s party is coming. (Oh no, this is the worst timing ever. ......) Jin felt a little depressed. However, there was nothing else to do but to wait, and after about 15 minutes, the procession with the horsemen at the head came. "Hmmm... ......" They passed in front of Jin in the following order: the cavalryman with the banner of the House of Galana, the cavalryman escorting him, the carriage, the carriage, the golem escorting him, and the cavalryman escorting him. He was not sure about the cavalry horse, but about the escorting golem, "Well, it''s pretty well made," he said. He commented on the escort golem, "Well, it is quite good. The procession of Viscount Galana and his party passed by, and finally the public was allowed to pass. This time, the nobles ...... were a bit more polite in checking the passports because of the arrival of Viscount Galana''s party, but Shin (Jin), Reko (Reiko), Liese, and the others were able to pass without any problems. Jin did not miss the look on the guard''s face when he saw on Liese''s pass. (Probably, he wanted to discuss the illness of the Marquis of Kuzma with his lord, .......) Jin thought that the Marquis of Kuzma seemed to be well-liked by everyone, as was the case with the residents of Blueland whom he met the other day. 1934 - - 52-06 Mrs. and Izai Jin and his group entered the Blue Lands through the south gate and headed north along the central street. In the distance, they could see Viscount Galana and his party. "First of all, we must greet the lords. Of course. Who''s there ......?" The Marquis of Kuzma, who is the acting lord......s representative, is supposed to be asleep, so who exactly is in the lord''s house?Jin asked such a question. "Oh, the Duke of Bruu is back from the capital right now," he said. A person who seemed to be a resident of the area, who must have heard Jin''s soliloquy, told him. (Is the Duke of Brou back? ......) (Is the Duke of Bruu back? "Let''s go to the Marquis''s residence for now." Jin and his colleagues leave the central street and head toward the northeast of Blueland. Their destination is the residence of the Marquis of Kuzma. Since we had already visited there the other day, we arrived there without any hesitation. In fact, the house itself was built during the time of the Count. Now, what should we do? The bars are closed, but a peek inside through the gaps between the bars reveals a somewhat hectic atmosphere. "I wonder if Viscount Galana will arrive as early as today?" The aristocrats are often laid-back, but this time they can''t be too careful. "Let''s use this: ......" <. Jin pulls out a letter of introduction from Xion, the wife of the head of the <> clan, from his pocket. The letter does not contain Jin''s name, but rather a vague phrase such as <>. However, the pattern on the envelope and the design of the sealing wax are original to the , and Zion''s signature is genuine. The signature of Zion is genuine. Jin showed the letter of introduction to the gatekeeper and asked to see the Marquis. The gatekeeper accepted the letter of introduction with some doubt, and ran to the museum. "Well, let''s see what happens. Jin and the others were offered chairs in the gate guard''s room and waited for 10 minutes. The gate guard came back, gasping for breath. "Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. Please come through. "Thank you." Behind the guard were two golem maids, "Let me show Mr. Shin and his party around. and led Jin and the others into the mansion. (The inside of the mansion has changed a lot in 400 years. ...... of course.) Jin, who knew the inside and outside of the mansion well having visited it many times, could see that the whole building had been reinforced. Jin and the others were shown to the reception room. "Please wait here." One of the golem maids said and left the room, while the other stayed behind to take care of Jin and the others. The other one stayed behind to take care of Jin and the other one said, "Would you like some tea, kuhe, or green tea? "I''ll have tea then. Jin asked for tea since he was in the real place. "Yes, sir." The golem maid brews a pot of tea with a familiar hand. "Here you go." Only one tea is served. Only one tea was placed in front of Jin. "Hey?" Reko...... means for Reiko and Liese, when Shin...... Jin makes a quizzical sound, "Jin-sama, Reiko-sama, Liese-sama, right?" The words "Jin-sama, Reiko-sama, Liese-sama, aren''t you? Do you know us? Jin asked unintentionally. After he said it, he realized that he had just affirmed it, but it was too late. But.., "I am , head of the Golem Maids. I was created by Beena, the first <. So I know who you are as well. I was relieved to hear her answer. "Is that so?" "Yes. I have had five maintenance and three modifications, so I have not kept my original appearance. Jin understood that it was understandable if she had lived for 400 years. "You said it yourself, Meline. ...... We are visiting here under a false identity. You can address us as Shin, Reko and Liese. As Jin was impressed, Reiko offered the necessary information and nailed Meline. "Oh, sorry, Rei...... reco. ...... that''s what I''m talking about, please, Meline." "Yes, sir, Master Singh." "Well, then, besides Meline, does anyone else know about us?" "No, sir." No, sir." Meline says emphatically. Jin is relieved to hear that there are no other golems out there who know about us. (Then again, you don''t seem to be wondering why I''m here. ......) He thought that he would talk to the old man about this later. "Thank you for waiting, Shin-sama, Reko-sama, Liese-sama. Just then, a lady arrived with the golem maid. "My name is Anna Gem Kuzma. She said her name and bowed with awkward curtsy. "I understand that you are here today to examine my husband. Mrs. Kuzma cuts straight to the chase. "I have read the letter of introduction from Master Zion of the <>. We may not have much time left. Please take care of my husband. I understand. Will you take me to the Marquis? Yes, this way. As she was leaving the reception room, someone interrupted her. After saying his name, he said, "This is Mr. Queshan, the family head of the family, "Madam, where are you going? and moved to stand in front of her. "Move aside, Ques! I am taking these people to the master. "...... can you trust these people?" What? Viscount Galana and his party entered the Lords'' Palace today. Count Setena and Viscount Rasaan will be here tomorrow. The healer will be at ...... at this time." "No further." The lady interrupted Queschan, "You must not insult a man who has a letter of introduction from Master Theon of the Nordic Commonwealth and who is recognized by Meline, the head of the Maid Golem. She said. Honestly speaking, Hitoshi was..., (It might be normal to be suspicious...). (It might be normal to be suspicious), but of course he does not say it out loud. The argument between Mrs. Iazai and Iazai is still going on. "...... then, you must attend the meeting." "......May I also have my secretary Golem attend?" "Nah!...... that''s not true!" Mrs. Kosaka protested loudly, as if to show that she did not trust Jin and the others to that extent. Jin decided to intervene, as he was not getting anywhere in this situation. "Excuse me for interrupting. You are wasting your time arguing with each other here at ....... We have nothing to hide, so I don''t care who is present. Hearing this, Queschan bowed lightly to Jin. "Thank you for your concern. Please come to ......." Queschan beckoned to Jin, and two large golems came to escort him. "Ques!" Jin stopped Mrs. Queschan from saying, "That''s not a secretary golem, "Let''s get out of here, we don''t have time for this!" He told her, "We don''t have time for this. 1935 - - 52-07 Marquis diagnosis Seeing the two guard golems called by the family leader, Queshan, "Master Shin, are you sure?" Mrs. Kuzma ...... Anna is not happy, but Jin does not care. < and and Reiko''s reaction speed will prevent most of the attacks. Incidentally, <> is already deployed against magic attacks. Since it does not have physical interference, it does not interfere with passing people, using narrow passages, and so on. Reiko''s reaction speed is 20 times faster than that of a normal golem or automata. She can be neutralized before any action is taken. Queschan in the front, Shin (Jin) behind him, Reko (Reiko) on his right, and Mrs. Kuzma on his left. Behind them are Liese and Meline. At the end of the group are two golems. They are moving in this order through the building. We go up the scarlet-carpeted stairs to a room in the back on the second floor. (Ah, I think that was Lewis''s office.) Jin walked after Iesai Queschan, who was going ahead of him, remembering with nostalgia. He arrived at a heavy door that opened with a double swing. Maid golems stood on either side. A maid golem, which does not need to sleep, is certainly suitable for guarding and taking care of the house at all hours of the day. "Please wait a moment," Queschan says to Jin and the others. Queschan says to Jin and the others and disappears into the room. He returns in less than a minute. "The master has given his permission. Please come in." His eyes were sharp and he seemed to be telling them not to act suspiciously. Jin and the others went into the room. It was, after all, the former office of Lewis. It is now the sickroom of the head of the family, the Marquis of Kuzma, and is lined with various magical tools, including disinfection equipment. (At least, the people in this house seem to take good care of the Marquis.) (At least, the people in this house seem to care about the Marquis.) Jin thought so inwardly. (At least, the people in this house seem to care about the Marquis.) At least, there are no strange magical tools within the range of Jin''s perception. The Marquis of Kuzma, the head of the family, was lying on a magnificent canopied bed. His skin was pale and dull. His hair, which had probably been blonde, had almost completely fallen out due to his illness, leaving him with a bald head. His blue eyes were also clouded and lacked strength. "Welcome to the Blue Lands. ...... Shin-dono, is it?" And his voice had no tone. Yes, my name is Shin. This is my sister Reko and my friend Lise. Lise is a skilled healer. "I have just been shown a letter of introduction from Master Zion of <>. Please ...... see me." I understand. ...... Lise, please. ...... Mr. Queschan, please come closer if you are concerned." "Yes, yes." When he hears these words from Jin, Queschan, a little flustered, invites the guard golem to come over and stands on the other side of the bed. Seeing this, the Marchioness looked as if she wanted to say something, but it was clear to Jin that she was holding her ground in this hospital room. After Lise had treated her hands with the disinfectant magic tools provided in the room, she said, "Your Excellency, I beg your pardon. "Now, Your Excellency, if you''ll excuse me. She then took his hands and began to check his pulse. He then placed his hand on his forehead and proceeded with a full-scale examination. When he placed his palm on the Marquis''s forehead, Queschan twitched for a moment, but did not take any action because the Marquis did not say anything. The various examinations took about 10 minutes. In fact, the examination could have been completed in about two minutes, but I took my time, as too short a time could be taken as a sign that I was not doing a good job. "It is definitely <. In addition, you also have a stomach ulcer. Lise spoke plainly about the results of her examination. "Hypermagia, huh?" Hearing these words, Queschan nodded his head in satisfaction. Perhaps he had an idea of what to expect. This disease affects about one out of every 10,000 people. However, many of them have only mild symptoms. When ordinary people who are said to have no magic power contract this disease, they hardly show any symptoms or the factor remains latent for the rest of their lives. Therefore, only about 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 people actually develop visible symptoms of the disease. If the symptoms are mild, there is no problem in daily life because the excess magic power can be dissipated through the <...... who has a very close waveform of magic power nearby. In Erza''s case, her mother Meene was this safety valve until she was completely cured. "...... I see. It seems that the diagnosis is correct." "Ques!" Mrs. Meene says reproachfully. is rare, but not unheard of. A reasonably knowledgeable person would be able to tell, and the patient and his/her family would have a good idea of what to expect. Therefore, this Queschan, Jin thought, was probably saying from the top that Liese was not mistaken. But that''s all there is to it. "Then this medicine should work. Jin took out a bottle of medicine from the basket Reiko had given him. "What about ..................?" As expected, Queschan could not react to these words and had to leave his mouth open. "This is a remedy for <. You should see results within a day of taking it. However..." Saying that a stomach ulcer might impede absorption, Liese used her intermediate surgical magic . Though Jin could not see it, the bleeding from the stomach should have stopped. "...... should do the trick. Then, here you go." "......" Marquis Kuzma hesitated when he received the medicine bottle. No wonder. It is generally said that there is no cure for <>. But his hesitation was short-lived. Before Queschan could say, "Poison," the Marquis gulped down the potion. "Master!" "...... wind!" Ques Chan panicked, but the Marquis had already swallowed the medicine. "......Ques, I appreciate your concern for my health, but don''t be too rude to our guest." The marquis gently chided Ques Chan. Then he asked Jin "...... Shin-dono, is it enough to take this medicine several times?" "No, this should help your symptoms by tomorrow." What? What? What? The Marquis, Madame, and Questian all exclaimed in astonishment. They did not expect it to have such an immediate effect. "It is a very rare medicine, a secret of the ......<>." Jin follows up. It is not a lie. Four hundred years ago, in order to cure Erza''s hypermagic, the Elder 7006 No.72 taught him how to cure her and even gave him a . "I see, Master Zion." "...... something like that." It was not from Zion, but he was the one who left that part out. * * * * * * Jin and the others were shown to a secluded guest room. The room was windowless, probably to prevent escape. In addition, two security golems stood outside the door. "Master Shin, I don''t mean to be rude, but I have to do this." Queshan said, bowing deeply. "I trust you 99%, but just in case something happens to your husband tomorrow ......" "Yes, I understand." Today, watching Queshan for a short time, Jin understood well that he was working for the current Marquis. < That is why he has little respect for his wife, the second wife. "I''m sure your condition will be much better tomorrow. "I hope so. Please do not leave this room tonight. Now, if you''ll excuse me. Please make yourself at home. 1936 - - 52-08 The Marquis is recovering. Dinner was also brought to our room that day. The taste was beyond reproach. "Well, things are a bit complicated, aren''t they?" Jin laughed. Jin laughed bitterly, saying that the world of mankind is full of evil spirits of the mountains and rivers. "About that, Mr. Shin. Since he had set it up that way, Liese was supposed to call him Shin until Jin deactivated it. "I can only guess that your former wife, who passed away, was the Marquis'' ." "Oh, I see." So that''s why he had recently developed , Jin understood. "So, from this point on, it is further speculation that your children may have also inherited the hypermagic disorder." "Yes, indeed." It''s only a possibility, but the chances of developing the disease are higher than for children born of normal parents. "Tomorrow, when the Marquis is better, you''ll be able to trust our word, so it all starts tomorrow." I understand. Then Reiko came to advise him. "Father, I think I will keep an eye on the Marquis tonight with my peepers, in case anything should happen to him. "Oh, that''s good. That would be great. In case there is any change in his condition, we can deal with it. And there is no guarantee that there is no one in the house who will not be pleased with the Marquis'' recovery. "I can''t seem to get out of the room, so I guess I''ll take the rest of the day off. The time is 8:30 p.m., but considering Horai Island minus 2 hours and 45 minutes, it is 11:01 p.m. That would be 11:01:05 p.m. So, Jin took a rest for the time being, leaving Reiko to keep an eye on him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, is it morning already? Jin wondered, not knowing what time it was because of the windowless room, but he felt as if he woke up at about the same time as usual. Good morning, father. The time is about 6 am. I''ve been checking on him overnight and the Marquis'' condition has stabilized. "Oh, I see. Reiko, thank you. That''s enough. Jin worked on Reiko and went to the washroom in the adjoining room to rinse out his mouth and wash his face. Breakfast was served at 8:00 a.m., which was late for Jin, perhaps because of the marquis''s family, or perhaps to accommodate the bedridden marquis. Jin was completely hungry thanks to the breakfast. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * While Jin was drinking his after-dinner tea, there was a knock at the door. Reiko opens the door to find the Marchioness, Anna Gemma Kuzma, standing there with her maid golem, Meline. "Good morning, Lady Shin. Have you had a good night''s rest?" "Yes, I''m well rested." "I''m glad to hear that. I''m glad to hear that. ...... Master''s condition is much better. I won''t let Ques say anything now! "That''s good to hear." Actually, Reiko had confirmed that the Marquis of Kuzma had recovered by using the , but she was going to go along with the story here. "My husband would like to thank you and the others, Mr. Shin, if you will come. "Yes, right away." Jin and the others, who had dressed themselves easily, followed Mrs. Shin to the Marquis''s hospital room. The door was already open for the day, and there were no maid golems or guard golems. "Master, I''ve brought Master Shin and his party." "Oh, thank you. ......Lord Shin, Liese, as you can see, I''m feeling much better now. Thank you very much. The Marquis, looking much better than he had yesterday, welcomed Jin and the others. His voice was full of energy. "Congratulations on your recovery. First, Jin congratulates them. "Well, thank you. Well, thanks to you, I mean. The Marquis had a smile on his face that I had not seen yesterday. "If you don''t mind, I would like Lise to examine him again. The Marquis nodded when Jin offered, just in case. "I would rather ask you to do that." Lise then sterilized her hands and took the Marquis'' hand, first checking his pulse. Next, she put her hand on his forehead and checked the throughout his body. "It is almost back to normal. The internal organs are still a little weak, so we should revitalize them. " "...... Oh, my body, which was still somewhat heavy, has become lighter!Thank you." "No, you''re welcome." Lise dropped down, disinfected her hands once more, and the examination and treatment were over. "Since you have been bedridden, you have lost muscle strength. I recommend a moderate diet and exercise. The Marquis nodded. "Yes, of course. We will start little by little. At this point, Queshan, who had been standing in the corner of the room, came toward Jin and the others and bowed deeply. "Shin-sama, Reko-sama, Liese-sama, I am very sorry about yesterday. Please forgive me." Queshan apologizes for not trusting Jin and the others. "I will make any kind of apology you want." He then gets down on his knees. "No, that''s enough. I''m sure you were thinking of the Marquis. When Jin, who really didn''t care, said this, Queschan said, "Thank you very much. Queschan bowed deeply once again, saying, "Thank you very much. He bowed deeply once again. "By the way, I have something to tell you. Once he had calmed down, Jin decided to explain what he had noticed yesterday. "<>, there is a possibility that your child has inherited this disease. I recommend that you see the doctor as soon as possible." <> tends to become more severe as the body becomes more mature, so it often does not manifest itself while the child is still a child. This was the case with Elsa until she was about 10 years old. "What ......? "Oh, no. ......" The Marquis and Madame frowned when it was pointed out that their own chronic illnesses might have been passed on to their daughters. "But there are ways to deal with it now. For example, an accessory that absorbs excess magic power. It was a remedy that Jin had devised for Elsa a long time ago. "What?You can do that? "Yes. Hearing this, the blood returned to the faces of the Marquis and Madame. I''ll bring the girls right away! The Marquise hurried out of the room, saying that she had originally planned to bring them later, now that her father, the Marquis, had recovered from his illness. "Mister Singh, are you a magecraftsman?" "Yes, I am. Perhaps I should call myself a Magical Engineer. "I see. I see. You are from the Shoro Kingdom. That''s why you call yourself a healer, isn''t it? Yes, that''s right. "You have a great acquaintance, Master Zion. ...... You know Zion? "Yes, I do. ...... So, you can call Zion "Master Zion". I''m sorry to hear that. Jin thought, but it was too late. He has been sensed that he is not just a magi engineer and a healer (altsut). (Well, not that it would have mattered...) Just then the door to the room opens and the Marchioness returns with her three daughters. 1937 - - 52-09 Accessory Manufacturing The Marchioness Anna had brought her three daughters with her. Irene Lapi Kuzma. Mavis Emme Kuzma. Pamela Jas Kuzma. The three girls picked up the hem of their skirts and bowed in curtseys. The eldest, Irene, had light brown hair and brown eyes like her mother, Anna, and was ten years old; the second, Mavis, had blond hair and blue eyes like the Marquis and was eight; and the third, Pamela, had brown hair and blue eyes and was seven. Pamela had brown hair and blue eyes and was seven years old. This is Sin. I''m Leco. I''m Lise. Jin and the others also introduced themselves and bowed. Incidentally, the custom, which Jin had heard before, of calling children by their childhood names until they reach the age of 10 or so, when they become socially active, is only for royalty; ordinary aristocrats do not have childhood names. Lise began her examination immediately. She started with Irene, the eldest daughter. Irene is fine. There seems to be no latent factors. Hearing this, the Marquise and her husband looked relieved. "I''m sure Mavis will be fine too. "Mr. Mavis is also fine. The Marquise and the Marquise express their relief. Lise examines the youngest daughter, Pamela, for the last time. "...... this is ......" "!!!!" "......Pamela, your daughter is suffering from . It doesn''t seem to be manifesting itself yet." What? "Oh, ......, I see. ......." Mrs. Holland looked shocked. The Marquis looked sad. ?" Pamela didn''t seem to understand at all. "Does the young lady Pamela seem to be in a bad state?" Lise asked, "Yes. She eats normally, I think, and she doesn''t seem to be in any particular state when she is playing. "Have you checked her aptitude for magic yet?" "Only Irene, but... She can be a Mage. < There used to be a term <, but nowadays < is the most common term, and < is used to refer to a person who is a magic researcher. (Words are changing little by little, aren''t they?) Jin was thinking, "Oh ...... what should I do, my dear?" Anna''s worried voice brought him back to himself. Jin took Reiko and moved to the corner of the room. There, he quietly talks to Reiko. Reiko, tell the old man to send me another bottle of the medicine.) Reiko could understand what Jin wanted to say just by the movement of his lips. I understand.) Reiko answered shortly and contacted the old man with the built-in manacam. 30 seconds later the medicine bottle appeared in Reiko''s hand. Jin thought about how to use it. He thought it would be unnatural to offer it to her here. (Since the symptoms had not appeared yet, he could make him a magical tool to suppress them and make him drink it secretly later. ......) In any case, Jin decided that he could not let her drink it at this moment. "Sir, as I said before, I can make a magical tool to suppress <. If the young lady wears it, she will not have to worry for the time being. "Oh, oh, that''s right. Mister Singh, I''m counting on you!I don''t care how much it costs. I don''t care how much it costs. Just save Pamela. "Yes, sir. Do you have a workshop at ......? Jin says he wants to get to work, "Yes. You can use the workshop in the house. You can use whatever materials you find there. The Marquis gave his permission. The family president, Mr. Queschan, adds "This is the that has been passed down in our family for generations. ...... sir, is that correct?" "Yes. I trust you, Mr. Singh and the others. Ques, show them the way. Yes, sir. ...... Master Singh, please come this way." "Well, sir, if you''ll excuse me." Thus, Jin and the three were led to the Craft Queen''s workshop. * * * * * * This way, please. ......There was no one who became a in the previous or current generation, so it has not been used for about 50 years." Queschan explained this to Jin. After all, as a descendant of a branch family, Bina''s blood is thin and her aptitude for magical engineering seems to be low. However, the workshop was a great place to work. "The materials are of high quality and the tools are well maintained. There was no rust or discoloration, and it seemed to me that they had probably been <. "The chief golem maid, , cleans and maintains it on a regular basis. Meline is a golem maid created by Bina, so she is also in charge of such a task. "Let''s see ...... Oh, these magi crystals would be great." Jin thought that since the Blue Lands had good mines nearby and the Marquis of Kuzma was now managing them, it would be easy to obtain high quality materials. In reality, however, such favoritism is not acceptable, and they are acquiring the materials at a legitimate price and through legitimate channels. Jin picked up a light-attribute magic crystal (magi crystal). It was about the size of his thumb. "I will use this magi crystal. Jin says no to Queschan. The Marquis had said , but there are often different decisions to be made on the spot. "And this mithril silver and copper. Yes, thank you. Thank you very much. Jin thanked him and began to work. First, he added a small amount of copper to mithril silver to make an alloy. So called <925 silver>, that is, an alloy of 92.5 percent mithril silver and 7.5 percent copper. The alloy is 92.5 percent mithril silver and 7.5 percent copper. Also known as . It is stronger than pure silver. With this, Jin made a chain for a pendant. Yes, Jin is making a pendant this time, not a bracelet. The reason is that Pamela is still small and will soon grow too big to fit in the bracelet. The reason why mithril silver was used instead of ordinary silver is because of its magical conductivity. "......!" Queshan, who has some knowledge of magical engineering as the Marquis of Kuzma''s family, screamed out in his heart as he watched Jin create a thin necklace chain in no time. Jin, on the other hand, had no idea that he was doing so, and started to make a pendant head. The difference between a necklace and a pendant is that a necklace is a general accessory worn around the neck, while a pendant is said to be derived from the word , meaning "to suspend. >>which means "to hang down", and a pendant is an accessory that is worn around the neck. Therefore, a pendant is a chain or string that forms a < shape with the weight of the pendant top when worn. Jin then fashioned the magi crystal in the shape of a teardrop, a safe design, and fastened it to the mithril silver base. "There, all right." The crystal has somehow been engraved with a complex formula, which, combined with its original transparency, gives it a complicated glow. (I have never heard of a technique ...... that makes the Magi Formula part of the decoration. Seeing the process of Jin''s creation was full of surprises for Queschan. "Here we go." The mithril silver has been given a and now shines with a silvery-white color. That''s it. <. It is true that the stabilization prevents oxidation and sulfurization for a long period of time, but on the other hand, the conductivity of the magic power becomes poor. Jin decides that it would be a good idea to ask the chief golem maid, , to take care of it. About 10 minutes have passed since he arrived at the workshop. "The necklace and pendant for Miss Pamela are ready! Jin said to Queschan, who was frozen in place. 1938 - - 52-10 Relationships The Marquis Logres Win Kuzma is lying on his bed. The discomfort has been cleared away, and all that remains is to wait for his strength to return. "I can''t thank Shin-dono, Liese-dono, and Sion-sama enough. ......" He had met Theon of Shinra once before, decades ago. It was when he had taken over the Marquise''s family. < "I just turned 30, didn''t I? ......" The Marquis recalled the old days fondly. * * * * You must be the new Marquis Kuzma. His voice was full of life and seemed to reassure the listener. "Yes. My name is Logres Win Kuzma." "I am Xiong of Shinra. Please work hard in your duties. The Marquis recalled how he had felt the wisdom and kindness of the Lady Zion, which he could not have imagined from her petite figure ....... Just the other day, he visited Asunto, the capital of Egelea. Perhaps he had heard that he was on the verge of illness, the Marquis thought. "As I recall, I heard that Master Zion had a personal friendship with Master Beena as well. Perhaps it was because of that friendship that he had sent a healer to the city. Not only that, but he also sent valuable remedies to ....... "Thank you, ancestors. Thanks to them, I was saved this time. ...... Then there is my daughter (Pamela)." I was shocked to find out that the youngest of my three daughters, Pamela, had the same < as myself. However, a magecraftsman named Shin, who accompanied the healer, assured me that the onset of the disease could be controlled with a magical tool, albeit a symptomatic treatment. "I don''t know how many days it will take to complete it, but in the meantime, they must be treated with the best hospitality. Then Queschan, the family president, came running into the room. He had served the family since the Marquis was a boy and was his most trusted retainer. "What''s wrong, Ques?" "It''s ...... sir!I''ve finished ...... the accessories for your daughter!" "What?" Marquis Kuzma twisted his head. No wonder. <, but he had never expected it to be in the form of an accessory. Quess reported to the Marquis once again in an orderly fashion. The face of the Marquis, who was listening to the report, became colored with astonishment. "My God!That Shin-dono has created a magic tool to suppress < in about 10 minutes!And it''s in the form of an accessory ...... pendant? "Yes, sir, it is." "Mm...... what a ......!" Jin made a pendant against <. The fact that it was completed in only ten minutes is something that would be hard to believe if it weren''t for the fact that the Marquis of Kuzma had heard about it from his trusted vizier, Queschan. "...... But since he was an engineer in whom ...... Master Zion placed his trust, he was also an acquaintance ...... with the legendary <>. He was an acquaintance,...... or rather a friend of Master Zion. It''s no wonder that Master Shin, who sent us here, is also quite skilled." The longevity of the < is the reason for their personal connections. The Marquis of Kuzma once again thanked heaven that he had known Zion. * * * * Luncheon meeting. It was one of the ways in which the Marquis of Kuzma expressed his gratitude to Jin and his party. The dishes were not only from the Kingdom of Egelea, but also from Shoro, Klein, Elias, Franz, Selroa, and many other countries. The hospitality is provided by the Marquise Anna. As expected, the Marquis himself is still recovering from his illness and cannot be present. Nevertheless, he visited the dining hall in a <> and expressed his gratitude to Jin and the others. "Shin-dono, Liese-san, and Reko-san, I can''t thank you enough for sending your people to us, Mr. Zion-sama. Thank you so much." "No, you''re welcome. I am happy to be of help." Jin replied in a matter-of-fact way on behalf of the others. "Here is a magical tool I made to control excessive magic power. It is in the form of a pendant, so if you wear it around your neck, it will help control your daughter''s symptoms. The principle is to monitor the flow of magic power in the body, and only when it is about to overflow, the mana is reduced to free magic element (ether). The one Jin made for Erza in the past was a type that stored excess magic in the bracelet, but this one converts it back into free magic element (ether). This is because, unlike Erza who can manage her own magic tools, Pamela is still young and her parents, sisters, and maidservants are likely to have many chances to touch the pendant. In such a case, the absorption form of the pendant would absorb the mana of those who touched it, and there was a possibility that the pendant would cause physical problems. If it is converted back to free magic element (ether), a healthy person can convert it back to magic element (mana) in his/her body. "I see. ...... I don''t understand it well, but I know that Shin-dono is an extraordinary magical craftsman (magi craftsman)." Jin handed the pendant to the lady and the lady handed the pendant to the marquis. "Oh ......, it is beautiful. Mister Singh, may I give this to my daughter?" Yes, please. And this is not a magical tool, but for the ladies upstairs. Jin handed two pairs of similar necklaces and pendant tops. This is based on the advice from the old man that if you give a jewelry to only one of the three sisters, the other two will want it. The design is the same, only the color of the stones is different. Irene''s is a red stone and Mavis''s is green. "Thank you for your kindness." Bowing lightly, the Marquis left the dining room. "Well, Mr. Shin, Mrs. Liese, Mrs. Leko, I know it''s only a small table, but please, eat as much as you like. The luncheon started with Mrs. Shin''s greeting. In fact, Jin was the only one to eat, but Reiko and Lise could pretend to eat as well. "Yes, it''s delicious!" Jin enjoys the taste of each country, "This seasoning. I''ll send it to the old man. Reiko analyzes the dishes that Jin likes and sends the recipe to Lao Kun. "Master Shin, please listen as you eat." Meanwhile, the Marchioness Anna came to talk to Jin. "The Viscounts Galana and Rasaan and the Countess Setena are coming to visit you this evening. I am sorry, but I would like to leave the care of Mr. Shin and his party in the hands of Meline, the head maid golem. Do you understand?" In the evening, there will be an evening party. This party is for nobles with titles only, and Jin and the others are not allowed to attend. Yes, that''s fine. I mean, shouldn''t we leave today? But she shook her head. "No, we have not yet had a chance to show you our hospitality. My husband would scold me if I let you leave. Jin could not force her to leave when she said that, He said, "I understand. I will take care of you for a while longer. He had no choice but to say, "Okay, I will take care of you for a while. After leaving the room, Jin and the others went back to their rooms. Jin and the others went back to their rooms. Meline, the head golem maid, is with him. Jin, who had been bored with his work for some time, asked, "Meline? "Meline, right? How are you feeling? "Yes, Shin-sama. The last time you serviced me was 87 years ago, so I''m a little out of shape. Meline answered honestly. "I see. ....... Do you have a golem for maintenance?" Yes, we had one until 86 years ago, but it was destroyed in an accident. "I see. ...... Well then, let''s take a look at it. ......Are you sure you don''t want me to tell the Marquis or Madame first?" "Yes. I''ll let you know. At this point Meline left the room and returned five minutes later with a man. "My name is <>, the first engineer of this family. Master Singh has asked me to attend to Meline''s maintenance. Jasta is a mature man of about 30 years old and looks serious. "I look forward to working with you. Most of the servants, including the family''s boss, Mr. Queschan, are busy preparing for this evening''s party, so a technical worker who has nothing to do with housework has come to the workshop. This is not surprising since they are using the workshop. Lise stayed in her room while Jin, Reiko, Meline, and Justa went to the workshop. "Let''s begin. With Meline lying on the workbench, Jin begins his work. The first step is to stop the ether converter and remove its exterior. "How to ......" Justa admired his skill. 1939 - - 52-11 Repairs next to repair Jin is servicing Meline, the chief maid golem. First, he removes the exterior and checks the inside. "Um, don''t you need to check the <>? Justa, the first engineer who witnessed the meeting, asks. "Yes, there is no problem at all with this structure. Since it is the one that Bina made in the past, that is, the Adriana style, Jin has no problem with it. It would be fine if it were in a different format, though: ....... "Stick to the basics. The effects of <> and <> are still there. The reason for the drop in tone is ...... ah, a maladjustment of the magic element converter (ether converter)." "......" Justa, the first technician, was confused, understanding only about half of what Jin was doing. (What?What?What are you doing?Uh, demolition is fine. But <> and <>?What do you mean?) <, 70% of the new technologies developed by Jin and his group had been discontinued. The developed by Jin and the invented by Stealina were no exception, and had not been passed on until this time. "Is Magical Muscle OK? ...... The material of the skeleton is bronze. Although it has been <, the original strength is low. ....... So this is what caused the distortion." At least it should have been made of light silver, Jin thought to himself. And then, "Mr. Justa, can I rebuild the skeleton with light silver?" He confirmed. "...... what?Huh?Uh, uh, yes, I think so." Justa, who had been half-heartedly giving his permission, was quick to do so and then panicked a little. (Oh no! ......!Skeletal replacement?That would take at least a day. In the meantime, wouldn''t it be bad if Meline, the chief maid golem, didn''t move ......?) But before he can reiterate <>, Jin has disassembled Meline. The handiwork was so brilliant that Justa could only exclaim, <>. "Re......ko, get me some light silver." "Yes, Brother Shin." Reiko, whose name is Reko, followed the instruction of Jin, whose name is Shin, and took out an ingot of light silver from the materials cabinet. The unit price of light silver (titanium, not aluminum in this world) had been reduced to 20 tol (about 200 yen) per kilogram by the refining magic tool made by Jin in the past. The price per kilogram of light silver (titanium, not aluminum in this world) was reduced to 20 tol per kilogram (about 200 yen) due to the magic tool of refining made by Jin. It can be imagined that this meline was made before the price of light silver dropped to that level. With the light silver, Jin used the <> without giving Jasta time to intervene, and made a skeleton member of the same size exactly the same. < Next, each dimension is grasped. Craftsmen are said to be able to sense differences in the order of microns with their fingertips. Then, they use the magic of <> and shape the object by <>. In other words, the original object and the object being made are compared with each other and modified, but in the case of Jin, a <>, dozens of checks are made almost instantly to duplicate the original object. No wonder Justa can''t believe his eyes. "This is ......." Jin''s work speed is nothing short of amazing. In addition, Reiko has already separated the necessary amount of light silver by <>, so all Jin has to do is molding, adding to his speed. "There we go." "......" The duplication of the skeleton was completed in about 5 minutes. "Fu......" It was not Jin who let out a sigh, but Justa. Justa was watching him with bated breath as he worked. "Now, I''m going to apply adamantite coating to the joints and ........." "What? Justa is surprised to see Jin continuing his work without taking a breath. To Jin, it''s a normal thing. "Let''s add one more line for the magic nerve wire. One of the two wiring lines was completely disconnected at one point. "Let''s add some reinforcement. Jin rearranged the muscles and rewired the nerve line at the same time. Reiko helped him, and it took about 3 minutes. "Let''s upgrade the shield case on the chest a little too. The shield case is designed to protect the chest against <. The purity of mithril silver has been increased, and a two-layer structure has been adopted to enhance its effectiveness. Then, I work on the ether converter and the mana driver. "Oh, I knew it. I''m so concerned about efficiency that I don''t have much tolerance for a high concentration of free magical elements (ether). Muttering to himself, Jin takes the Magi Crystal in his hand. "We could replace them, but ...... there''s still room for more, so let''s go with the twin type." The twin type is a method of using two magical element converters (ether converters), one for low concentration and one for high concentration, in parallel, instead of using one magical element converter (ether converter) to handle from low to high concentration of free magical element (ether). The switchable type is not used. In such a case, the operation around the boundary concentration is likely to be unstable. "We should also add <> to deal with instantaneous power-up or temporary shortage of free magic element (ether)." "......" Justa is about to peel her white eyes off already. "Let''s make the exterior light silver and keep the color the same as before." Thus, the maid golem chief, Meline, is now as good as new. "Thank you, Mr. Shin. I feel much better now. The rebooted Meline bowed to Jin. "No, what? ...... Well, let''s go ahead and fix the maintenance golem that you say is broken. "That would be great. ...... this way." Meline led Jin to a junkyard named ...... at the back of the workshop. There, among several broken magical tools, lies a golem. It is a golem that looks a little like Jin''s . It seems that Bina modeled it after the craftsman (Smith). At a glance, it is quite well made. At a quick glance, it is quite well made. It could be repaired to a very high degree. Jin thought that if there were two or three of them, they would have been able to repair each other and survive. But.., "There were three of them, but two of them were given to the royal family of the time," Meline explained. Meline explained. "It was about 200 years ago. The Royal Magi Craftsmen were no longer able to cope with the many malfunctions of the city''s magical tools and golems, and so the Royal Magi Craftsmen alone were unable to repair them, so our family also provided golems for repair. "I didn''t know that was possible." Jin instructs Reiko to bring out the golem for repair. "And it was never returned. After that, there was a series of incidents such as the emergence of Malquitas and the rise of the , and those two golems were destroyed as well. "I see." Jin laid the repair golem on the workbench as he listened to Meline''s story. "Hmmm......... how was it destroyed?" No wonder Jin tilted his head. The repair golem''s head was crushed and its right arm was missing from the shoulder. Its right leg was crushed from the knee down. "There was a band of bandits ...... who attacked this place 86 years ago, a band of mercenaries, and they had several battle golems with them, so there was a fierce battle, and the repair golem was on the battlefield at that time, and the bandits were able to repair the golem. ......" (hmmm repair man). (Well, ...... repair personnel are easy targets, so why couldn''t they have been left in the rear?) ) Jin thought, but he kept his mouth shut, not knowing what was going on at that time. Instead, he moved his hands. "It''s for repair, so the material is relatively soft bronze or ...... brass for the fingertips." Jin thought it was probably to avoid damaging the material. "Take off the light silver, please. "Yes." The use of bronze for the skeleton seems excessive, but then again, this was made at a time when light silver was expensive. Jin thought it was probably a matter of cost. "Let''s repair this one too, using a duplicating process." While Justa was in a state of shock, Jin proceeded with the repairs quickly. 1940 - - 52-12 Pamela treatment Before 3:00 p.m., Jin has completed the repair of the repair golem. As an added bonus, he had given the knowledge of repairing to Meline, the head maid golem, through <>, so that the two of them would be able to repair and maintain the golem from now on. "The quality of the <> was so good that there was more than enough room in the memory area." Since the Blue Land is a place where high quality magi crystals can be extracted, Bina must have used high quality magi crystals, Jin thought about his former comrades. "Master Shin, the tea time is ready. Meline, the head maid golem, called out to Jin after a pause. It seemed that she had been preparing tea before he knew it. "Justa-sama, would you like to join us?" "...... if it''s all right with you, Mister Singh." "Yes, of course. So we had tea time in Jin''s room. "Oh, it''s delicious. "I''m glad it suits your taste." Tea is a specialty of the Kingdom of Egelea. It is an excellent tea that is comparable to the teas distributed in Japan today. It has a sweet taste without sugar. Jin prefers tea leaves with less astringency. The same is true for sencha. In this respect, the tea that Meline brewed for us was to Jin''s liking. Of course, the temperature of the tea was just right for drinking. She brewed the tea with hot water and let it cool down. "......I''m sure you are a great person, Mr. Shin. ...... Is it like that for everyone in the Nordic Federation?" Justa asked Jin, after drinking some tea and calming down a bit. He seemed to think that Jin was a magecraftsman of the Nordic Federation. "Yes. ...... I think I am a high rank one." Jin was uncomfortable saying < himself, but he answered with a little blurriness, because it might be troublesome later if he said something absurd here. "Oh, I see. So it is true that Master Zion has dispatched a very talented person, is it? Justa said, "I heard that from my vizier, Queshan. "And by the way, do you know what kind of nobleman is coming today?" Jin hurried to change the subject. Jin hurriedly deflected the topic, because he was afraid that asking too many questions about himself would make him look like a ragdoll. "Well, there are three families: the Viscounts of Galana, the Viscounts of Rasaan, and the Counts of Setena. I know of the Viscounts Galana and Setena. Oh, may I ask you something? "I don''t know much about them. ......" Justa began to speak. "The Countess of Setena is a friend of the Marquis, lord of the town of Fantle in the south. I believe they have come to pay their respects. "Oh, I see." Contrary to rumors, Count Setena is not an ambitious man, Jin thought. "The Viscounts of Galana have a small village in the south, and the head of the family is the ......" "?" Justa was somewhat stuttering. Jin wondered why. "......It is rumored that he likes young women." "...... Wow." The daughters of the Marquise de Kuzma are 10 years old, 8 years old, and 7 years old. In Jin''s sense, this is completely out of the question. "...... How old is Viscount Galana?" Jin asked just to be sure. "A little before 60, I think." "...... Wow." If they were 60 and 10 years old, they would be grandson and grandfather, or great-grandson and great-grandfather if I''m not mistaken. "What can I say about that? ......" Jin could not finish his sentence. A knock sounded and the Marchioness and her three daughters, Irene, Mavis and Pamela, arrived. "Excuse me for disturbing you. Thank you for the beautiful gift you have given my daughters. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Apparently, Jin gave the pendants he made to his daughters. It seems that he brought them here in his busy schedule to thank Jin in person for making the pendants. All three of them seemed to be well trained in etiquette even though they were very young, and were able to thank him by themselves. They did not bite this time. Apparently, they were nervous because they had never met each other before. "You''re welcome. You all look very nice together." Pamela has light brown hair like her mother and blue eyes like her father. She seemed to prefer light blue for her clothes. The magi crystals she used were light and transparent with a slight bluish tint, so they seemed to match her taste. Mavis has blond hair and blue eyes like her father. Her clothes seem to be in the young grass color family. And Irene has light brown hair and brown eyes, just like her mother. She prefers peach-colored clothes. And Anna, the marchioness.., "If you don''t mind, may I have a word with you?" Jin, of course, readily agreed. "Mademoiselle, mademoiselle, come in." "Thank you." Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Meline changed the tea leaves and brewed a fresh pot of tea (taeyeh) and put it in front of Mrs. Krishnamoorthy and her three daughters. The tea for the children was sweet with a lot of sugar. "I hear that you have already finished working on Meline. You are very skilled, aren''t you? "My Lady, on the contrary, she even fixed the repair golem!" "Oh my!" Jasta added, and Mrs. Krishnamoorthy rolled her eyes. "Well, thank you ...... again and again. There is no one in our family today who can carry on the name of our ancestors. ......" She said in a small voice and looked sad. "Well, ...... I think that Miss Pamela might have a talent for magical engineering." Lise said in a subdued voice. I guess she has an idea about such things since she has seen the reactions of magic when she has examined me. "Is that so?" Her face brightened a little. "Yes. We haven''t officially examined it yet, so we can''t be sure, but when your daughter is a little older, you may want to have her examined properly. "Thank you very much. That gives me some hope. With no male heir, Mrs. Pamela could not hide her joy at the hope that she might be able to take over the Craft Queen Workshop. Pamela is still drinking her sweet tea. "Would you like another cup? Here at the Marquis'' house, the tea is basically served in small cups, so refills are a prerequisite. At this point, Jin devised a plan. Reiko, please ask the old man to transfer the Persian juice to my luggage.) Yes, sir.) After the exchange of ......, Jin took out a bottle of Persica juice from his luggage as if he had just taken it out. "I almost forgot, this is the juice made from Persica. Would you like some? "Well, Persica juice?Yes, I''d love to. "Yes, by all means. ...... and here is a weak version of the cure for magical overload. Here''s one for you, miss. What? It may be less effective than the one I gave the Marquis, but I think it''s more suitable for children. In fact, it is not less effective, but it might be, so it is not a lie. And if she drank it, Pamela''s < would be cured before it developed. She had no reason to refuse this proposal, even though she did not know that much. "Yes, yes!Thank you, Mr. Singh. She accepted the bottle of the cure as if to push it away. Meanwhile, Meline prepared glasses for everyone, poured Persian juice into them, and cooled them appropriately with <>. "Well, this is delicious! "This is delicious. "It''s delicious." "It''s delicious! Delicious! As expected of the Marquise, this is probably not the first time for them to drink Persian juice, but the one from Horai Island is exceptional. Not only does it have a rich taste, but it also contains free magic element (ether), which activates the flow of magic power in the body. Pamela, too, wears a pendant made by Jin, so there is no need to worry. On the contrary, Erza, who used to have <, also has a positive effect because it activates the flow of free magic element (ether) in her body, as she drank Persica juice on Horai Island. In Erza''s case, she was safe as long as her birth mother Meene was nearby. This is because the free ether in the vicinity is also affected by Meene, so it is thought that it is more difficult to produce excess mana than when Erza is alone. In the case of Pamela, her mother Anna was often with her, so we can say that her environment is similar to that of Elsa. However, she should be cured completely with the medicine she just took. Even in that case, we can rest assured that the pendant-shaped magical device made by Jin will not harm her. Anyway, Jin was relieved that one of his offspring''s concerns had been removed. 1941 - - 52-13 The Lords In the evening of the same day, three groups of nobles arrived at the Marquise''s house. The Marquise is greeted by almost the entire household. Jin and the others are secretly watching from the window of their room. The first carriage is the Countess of Setena, the next is the Viscounts of Rasaan, and the last is the Viscounts of Galana, isn''t it? Meline told us. Count Setena was the same age as the Marquis of Kuzma, in other words, an elderly nobleman. He had a gray head and blue eyes. Viscount Rasaan is a mature nobleman with a son. "He''s a scrawny guy." Among Jin''s friends and acquaintances, his best friend of 400 years, Reinhardt, stood at 5''5", 6''5" and 5 kg. The son of the Viscounts of Rasaan was taller and skinnier than Reinhardt, who was 6 feet 5 inches and 5 pounds. "188 centimeters and 60 kilograms. Reiko took a glance at the measurements and gave the figure. Last is Viscount Galana. He looked to be in the transitional age between prime of life and the first years of life, in other words, a little before 60, and was obese in contrast to the son of Viscount Rasaan. (I can''t help it if he''s a pedophile like that. ......) Jin looked at him with a furrowed brow. * * * * "Welcome Count Setena, Viscount Rasaan, and your son. Viscount Galana." The Marchioness Anna welcomes them as a representative. "Oh no, Anna,...... no, Marchioness. I''m always in trouble ...... of not getting out of the old habits. ......Hello, Anna, I''m so glad to have you here." Count Setena, an old friend, has known Anna since she was a maid of honor, so it was easy for him to greet her. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Count Setena. I am Nakites Ahisa Lasaan. I am Viscount Vernon. This is my son, Vernon. Vernon Ratos Lasan. Please make yourself at home. Viscount Galana was the last to address the group. I''m very flattered to be greeted by the marchioness herself. She said nonchalantly with a face that showed no sign of embarrassment. He knows that Anna used to be a maid of honor and seems to underestimate her. "I hope you are well, Miss Pamela? "Yes, yes. "Yes, she is." "That''s a big deal." He also seems to be targeting the youngest daughter, Pamela. How irredeemable are his proclivities? Jin learned about ...... through Reiko''s live broadcast. "Wow. ......" He was particularly taken aback by Viscount Galana, who was targeting Pamela, who is only 7 years old. After that, it seemed that everyone had entered the museum, so Jin asked Reiko to continue to keep an eye on them with a <>. * * * * * * * * * * * The party started at 4:30 pm. The party started at 4:30 p.m. It was a standing buffet. Appetizers were served first, and the guests chatted freely with each other. The guests were chatting freely. "...... He says he''s feeling much better, but is the Marquis really all right? He''s a major figure who practically rules the Blue Lands, so I''m concerned about him. "Mmm. I am also concerned because I received a letter the other day saying that he is quite ill. I see. The Marquise''s family has only their daughters, so you must be worried. Vernon, son of Viscount Lasan, is asking Count Setena a lot of questions. Vernon, the son of Viscount Rasaan, was asking Count Setena about various things. He seemed to have a sociable personality and was eliciting information from him with a pleasant manner. "I, too, would hate to see the marquise disappear. I will do what I can to help it survive. ......" "The problem is that your daughters are still very young." That''s right. That''s why I''m going to adopt a son-in-law. ...... "It must be very difficult. I was brought here by my father. "Ha ha, you are honest. ......The main reason for the difficulty is that the Marquis loves his daughters very much. Then Viscount Galana arrived, his flabby body swaying. In his right hand was a glass of wine and in his left a plate of food. "Hello, Count, it''s been a while." Viscount Galana bows his head slightly, not even sure if he has a head. "Ah, it''s you." "Do you know how the Marquis is?" Viscount Galana is also trying to get information from his friend Count Setena. He was a little sick a week or so ago, but now that he is going to be at the party, I am hoping that he is a little better. While I was talking to him, I heard a voice. It was Anna, his wife. "Ladies and gentlemen, the master of this house, Logres Win Kuzma, is here to greet you. The four nobles all turned toward the door. Two maid golems opened the large double doors. "Oh ......!" The Marquis of Kuzma appeared through the open doors in a wheelchair pushed by his vizier, Queschan. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!" The Marquis greets him in a clear voice. I was suffering from hypermagia, but I had a good healer the other day, and as you can see, I''m all better now. With these words the Marquis stood up. "But I have been bedridden for a long time and my strength has been deteriorating. From now on, I will have to rehabilitate myself and build up my strength. Having said this, the Marquis sat up in his wheelchair again. "This healer was sent to me by Master Zion of the Nordic Federation. In addition, he gave me some precious medicine. I''ve recovered so far," the marquis said, standing up once more. "I know I have worried you a lot, but now I will not have to retire for the time being. When I am able to return to work, I would like to hold another party. I hope you will join us then. With these words, the Marquis left again in his wheelchair. The Marchioness took over. I''m sorry for worrying you, but it''s all right now," said the Marquise. I will serve you the main dish at ......, please enjoy it." * * * * "......, father. Viscount Galana and Viscount Rasaan look disappointed and disappointed." "Hmm. I guess that settles it, huh?" Jin was relieved as he ate dinner in the guest room. "However, the aristocratic society is still as muddled as ever, isn''t it? Jin finished his meal with a small sigh. 8:00 p.m. Reiko checks with her peepers and sees that the party is still going on. However, it was already the last <, and the party was about to end. Jin has just washed and refreshed himself in the shower room provided in the room. "It looks like you managed to finish without any problems," he said. Jin thought about what would have happened if Zion had not told him, and thanked him in his heart. "Father, I have one thing on my mind." Then Reiko made a new report. "Yes, what is it?" "There''s something that looks like a golem on the carriage that Viscount Galana rode in. It''s not moving at the moment. Find out what it is. Yes. It''s a golem. I see. I wonder what kind of purpose ...... had in bringing it here.Just be careful now and then." The golem that Viscount Galana had brought. Somewhat concerned, Jin asked Reiko to keep an eye on it. 1942 - - 52-14 Meeting The golem was brought by Viscount Galana. Jin was worried that something might happen, but it seems that his fears were unfounded and nothing happened that day. The next day, the 21st. At 9:00 a.m., after breakfast, Jin began to think that it was time for him to leave. "Mr. Shin, could you come in? Jin was asked. Having no reason to refuse, Jin, Reiko, and Lise were led by the servant who came to call them. They thought they were in a pavilion, but they were in a courtyard. The weather was fine. The weather was fine. Since it was sunny, they decided to have a less formal event like a tea ceremony or a social gathering outdoors. There were several small tables, the Marquise Kuzma in a wheelchair, the Marchioness, four other nobles and their servants. "Oh, Mister Singh. ...... everyone, they are my benefactors. I told them about you ...... and they said they would love to meet you." "I am Magecraftsman Shin. This is Reko. This is Lise, the healer. This is Count Setena. Thank you for healing Logres. I thank you too." Logres is the name of the Marquis of Kuzma. Viscount Lassan. This is my son Vernon. Viscount Galana. They introduced themselves to each other and asked Jin and the others to take their seats. Then tea was brought to them. After taking a sip of the tea, the Marquis Kuzma opened his mouth. "I cannot thank you enough, Lord Singh, for what you have done for us. I thank you again. "No, you''re welcome." Count Setena approached Jin and said, "Hmmm... "Hmm, does Mr. Shin belong to the Nordic Federation?" "Not exactly, but I am an old friend of Zion''s." "Well, you must have a certain status or position to be able to address us as ''Mr. Sion'' when we call you ''Mr. Sion''. Yes, well... "Well, the Nordic Federation is not an aristocracy, is it?" Viscount Rasarn said as if he had just remembered. Yes, since the Nordic Federation was originally organized by , there are positions of < in the Nordic Federation, but other than that, there is no particular difference in status. There is some distinction based on age, but this can be reversed depending on ability. It is an extension of the << patriarchal system>, so to speak, so it is not exactly democracy, but as an ethnic minority, they are well organized in this way. "Was Mitsho also a . (Is he under the curse of speaking gibberish in the Blue Lands? ......?(I wonder if I''m cursed to make gibberish in Blueland. ......) ) Jin was sorry for his mistake, but the Viscount Galana came close to him. "Viscount, that''s enough ......", said Marquis Kuzma. Marquis Kuzma tried to rebuke him, "Well, you know, I think the external ...... body line is wonderfully sculpted. I wonder if there is a model. The details are very close to those of a human being. Determined, Jin began to give his honest assessment. "But if you made it look so much like a human, I think it would have been better to use the Adriana style for the structure. It is ......" Jin commented that every movement was unnatural and ...... not human-like. I haven''t seen enough of the control core yet, so I''m not going to give it a rating. ......That''s all I have to say in general. You wanted to ask me about it, so I told you, but I was a little rude. I apologize for that. Jin concluded his review with the following words. "Hmmm......... I see." The first to nod in agreement was the Marquis of Kuzma. "Indeed, I can understand what you are saying, Mr. Shin. Even though he cannot use engineering magic, he seems to have a deep knowledge of magical engineering. It''s no wonder that the family owns the Craft Queen''s Workshop. "What do you mean by that ......?" Vernon, son of the Viscount Rasaan, the youngest of the group, asked slowly. Jin answered. "Well,...... since proof is better than argument and seeing is believing,...... may I borrow Meline, the head golem maid?" "Mm." The Marquis nodded, curious to see what Jin would start. "Thank you. ...... Meline, please stand there." "Yes." "Viscount Galana, let Donna stand beside you." ...... Good. Now that the situation had come to a head, Viscount Galana could not say no. With two golems of roughly equal size standing side by side, Jin gave them a command. "From now on, I want you to imitate my movements. Then, he slowly showed them how to do the first radio calisthenics. The two bodies imitated the movements. But ....... "Well, you can tell the difference. First the Marquis of Kuzma said, "Oh, oh, yes, there is indeed a difference. Count Setena nodded in agreement, Count Setena nodded his head in agreement and said, "Oh, ...... I can see that. I can see the difference in their movements. Vernon was also pleased that he understood. "......" Viscount Galana is silent. "This is mainly due to the structure of the skeleton. I won''t bore you with the details, but Meline has a skeleton similar to that of a human, while Donna has a structure of her own." Jin explains. "I have to say here that I am not saying that one is better or worse than the other. All I have to say is that if you are going to imitate human movements, you should also have a skeleton. In the case of a golem, there is no need to forcibly imitate human movements, even if it is an automaton," concluded Jin. "I see, I understand." The Marquis nodded, "So that''s what you mean." "I see, that makes sense." The others could not help but nod. Jin added "Human behavior is subject to fluctuations," he explained. Jin explained further. "Fluctuation?" "Yes. When we try to repeat the same action but the movement deviates slightly, that''s what we call fluctuation. I see. You''re right. That''s why they don''t look human. ...... But wait!Isn''t that true of golems in general?Then why does Meline look human? To this question, Jin replied, "There are parameters such as importance and routine that are used to control the movement of the Adriana system, and those with low importance or high routine are intentionally given fluctuations." "What? "No, I see." Of course, the ratio of these parameters and the way they are given are a matter of skill of the engineer. "Yes. No fluctuations are present during activities that require precision and accuracy, such as cooking and sewing. On the other hand, when you simply walk, there is fluctuation. "Ummm ...... your ancestors made a wonderful golem ......." Marquis Kuzma is impressed. "Yes, it was made by Beena ...... who holds the title of <>, wasn''t it?" "Yes, so I''ve heard. Please take good care of it for a long time. Of course I will. And Jin, Viscount Galana also follows Donna rather than ....... "Viscount, Donna is an excellent golem. It''s just that the structure and control don''t match up a bit." "Ummm... ......" "This may be a bit much, but may I play with the controls a bit?" "...... Donna is a gift for the Marquise. You''ll have to ask him." Viscount Galana replied a little bluntly. "Oh, of course, of course. The Marquis, sensing that Sin...... Jin was no ordinary man, gave his immediate consent. "Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Meline, will you help me?" Hitoshi and Reiko approach Donna. Meline followed them. What are you going to do without knowing Donna''s keywords and password? Viscount Galana was giggling to himself, "<> activated. "What?" Reiko uses the ether eliminator as instructed by Jin. Naturally, Donna runs out of energy and stops. Donna collapses quietly, and Meline gently takes her and lays her down on the grass. "Okay. ." "What?" Before Viscount Galana''s eyes peeled back, Jin removed Donna''s head armor. "Okay, so the control core was in the head." In contrast to the Adriana method, in which all important equipment is concentrated in the chest, this method tends to place the control core in the head. Jin took this into account and opened the head. "<>...... Hmmm, I see." The contents of the control core are displayed as a list of <> and <>. "Hmm, it''s just like that one time ......." As if a switch has been flipped, Jin concentrates on what he is reading. The <> is probably the golem used by the <>. "............I see, if we increase the parameters here and decrease them here ......" The readings are disappearing like a stream. It was a great achievement to be able to confirm the contents, but Jin also had an idea of the value of the modification. "I think it''s something like this. ......<" < Originally used to control a golem or automata at will, it can of course be used for partial modification. You can find more information at ....... "What in the world is Shin-dono doing?" "...... I have no idea." I have no idea. ...... None of the onlookers could follow. 1944 - - 52-16 Relocation and Return The modification of Donna by Jin, which no one could fully understand, took only five minutes. Jin puts back the head''s exterior. "Re......ko, that''s enough." "Yes." Reiko turns off the ether eliminator. After about three seconds, Donna starts to move. "Did I stop?" Jin answers. "Yes. In the meantime, I optimized the control system a little. How are you doing? At Jin''s question, Donna moves her body to check herself. She swings her arms, stomps her feet, turns her head, and rocks her torso back and forth. ....... Donna finishes her self-check, which is much longer than Jin''s, or even Adriana''s, self-check, "There is nothing wrong. she answered unexpectedly. "What?" Jin wondered. "The operating efficiency has improved by 35 percent. This can only be described as an anomaly. "Oh, that''s what you mean." Jin was relieved. Rather than an anomaly, he meant something < or . "We have optimized the control system of the <> and its parameters. So the operation should be smoother now." "Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed. Some of the heavy operations have been smoothed out. Thank you very much for ......." Donna thanked him, knowing the improvements he had made to her body. These thought processes are more sophisticated than I expected, Jin thought. "......, so the improvement was a success." The attendees, including the Marquis of Kuzma, were relieved and impressed by the fact that the performance had been improved without their knowledge. "The person who created Donna must be a very skilled magecraftsman to have improved the efficiency by 35% just by optimizing the control formula. "Ah, ah, um, yes, I suppose so." When Jin made a slightly out-of-focus follow-up, Viscount Galana nodded his head impatiently. * * * * * * "Well, I think it''s time for me to leave. Jin offered at the end of the lunch, which also served as a social gathering. ......Well, I''m sorry to leave you, but I can''t force you to stay. A little disappointed, the Marquis of Kuzma said. "Anna, please see them out politely." "Yes, sir." "Count Setena, Viscount Rasaan and Vernon, Viscount Galana, if you will excuse me." Jin greets the visiting nobles. "Shin-dono, Mistress Leko, Mistress Liese, right? Thank you for fixing the logress. I would have liked to see more of your skills, but we will meet again sometime. "Good luck, Mister Singh." "...... Shin, you''re good at what you do. See you again someday. "Yes, sir." Jin left the courtyard, escorted by the Marquise Anna. Meline, the head golem maid, followed him. "Thank you, Mr. Shin, for all you have done for my daughters, especially Pamela. Anna thanked him as they walked. "I would have liked to invite the girls to the meeting, but there is someone who is not good at ......." I thought to myself. He did not want to bring his daughters to the presence of Viscount Galana, who wanted seven-year-old Pamela, and Viscount Rasaan and his son Vernon, who wanted to marry his son-in-law. "No, I understand." Jin also indicated that he knew what was going on. "Please wait a moment, sir. He sat Jin and the others down on the sofa in the entrance lobby, asked Meline to take care of the rest, and left the place for a while. "...... Jin-sama, thank you for your help." Meline used the time to thank Jin. "No, it''s okay. Bina made you, and I couldn''t see you being in bad shape. Soon Anna returned with her three daughters. "...... Mr. Singh, I will have my daughters greet you as well." "That''s very kind of you." Jin and the others got up from their seats. "Shin-sama, Reko-sama, Lise-sama, it is a pleasure to greet you." "Mr. Shin, Mr. Reko, Ms. Lise, I am writing to thank you for your kind attention. "Thank you for your kind attention, Mr. Shin. Thank you very much for your kind attention. The three girls say goodbye to each other. The lisping lines are adorable. Irene, Mavis, Pamela, take care. Take care of your mother and father." Jin also said his goodbyes. After a simple but heartfelt farewell, Jin walked out of the Marquise''s house. "Ah, it''s over. Reiko, Lise, thank you for your hard work. Jin sighs in relief. "Thank you for your hard work, father." "Well, let''s go home." Jin and the others slowly walk out of the Blue Land in the late afternoon. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin was planning to go out of Blue Land and return to Horai Island, but he heard a rumor that Reiko was interested in. "...... I heard that the phantom thief group you told me about left the island?" "Ah. Sedokas, a wealthy merchant, was attacked last night. The bouncer and the golem guarding him didn''t help? "Apparently so. I heard the rumors were true. "Are they using some kind of super high-performance golem? Reiko, who knew that the word <> would touch Jin''s heartstrings, made a straightforward report. "Hmmm,...... a group of phantom thieves using an ultra-high performance golem,...... I''m a little curious." Jin wondered what to do. "Father, even if we leave, it will be at night, so why don''t you think about it after you go home? "That''s a good idea." Jin decided to follow Reiko''s suggestion. Then a stranger came and bowed to Jin. "Chief, I am Regulus 1 of the . My name here is Imings. Pleased to meet you." The old man says that he has revived and reassigned the 5th column (Quinta). "I''ll leave the intelligence gathering to you, sir." "Okay, okay. I''ll leave it to you to gather information. Thus, Jin and the others returned to Horai Island with peace of mind. 1945 - - 52-17 ambush Jin returned to Horai Island without incident and had a talk with the old man. >. Since I still have an incomplete grasp of the lifestyle and common sense of the current era, I will be arranging it under the guise of a traveler''s style>>. "Yes, that''s fine." Because a traveler may not be suspected if he is not familiar with the common sense. "I''ll leave that to you, old man, with your experience." After that, Jin decided to take a bath in the afternoon. He had only used the showers at the Marquis of Kuzma''s mansion. "Ah, a bath is nice after all. ......" Jin stretched his arms and legs in the bathtub and relaxed. Reiko is ready to wash his back and head by his side. "This is the kind of life I''d like to live. ......" Jin hopes that the issue of the successor is an irregularity. * * * * After getting out of the bath, Jin is drinking Citran juice, The old man reported. "Okay, let''s hear it." Jin, with the second bottle of Citran juice in his hand, sat down on the stool provided. < "Yes, I see." < "I see. ......" I understand the situation. The problem is ....... "What kind of guy is this <>?" The following are the results of the rumors we have heard here and there, 1. much faster than humans. 2. much more powerful than humans. 3. able to break off the presence. 4. it can fly for a short time. The old man counted up these four points. . "Yes." Flying without a <. It is not impossible. "If you use wind magic and put wings on your back, or ......" Jin could think of several ways, but none of them appealed to him. But that did not mean that no one else would try it. . It is highly probable. The old man guessed that the golem was made in the time before the Federation of Sorcery broke off the technical transmission of the golem. Jin agrees with him. "Then someone made it or found it in storage. ......" <<> This <> means to interfere or to leave it alone. "I''m just a little concerned about this <>..." It seems to be a <. In that case, I suggest you use your doppelganger to go to the Blue Lands. I see. With a doppelganger, you can fly with a force field generator, and there are few disadvantages for Jin as well. The old man insisted that he could not let Jin himself be ambushed by the bandits. "Father, please don''t go yourself." Reiko then pleaded with Jin to stop him too. "Well, okay." At the request of the old man and Reiko, Jin decides to give up the idea of going by himself and use his doppelganger. "Well then, let''s go to the Blue Lands tonight with the doppelganger," he said. That is how it came to be. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was 10:00 p.m. in Blue Land, which meant it was 0:45 a.m. in Horaijima the next day. Jin rubbed his sleepy eyes and activated his doppelganger. "Well then, old man, please take care of it. . Jin''s doppelganger,...... Jin D. and Reiko have been transferred to the inside of Bluerand Castle by . The old man has already found out that the place is deserted by using a . "...... is not very popular. That''s my boy." "Father, what are we going to do now?" "Well... How about we keep an eye on things from the air? Jin said, "We will use the force field generator to float in the air and watch the town below. Both Reiko and Jin D have built-in force field generators. However, Jin himself is not accustomed to using it, so he does his best to move slowly while floating in the air. So he relies solely on Reiko for his movement. "Oh, it''s a nice view. After floating about 500 meters above the ground, Jin D. and Reiko put up a hide magic ward. This is a magic to make one''s presence disappear, and it becomes ineffective when one speaks out or is attacked. Jin D and Reiko communicate with each other via the built-in manacam, so there is no problem. They stayed until 4:00 a.m. local time the next day, but nothing happened that night. On the next day, I left the control of Jin D to the old man, while Jin himself slept in the bed provided in the command center. This way, if something happened, he would be able to respond immediately. However, nothing happened that night either. The next day, i.e., 23rd, I went to bed. The next day, that is, on the night of the 23rd, the Bluestand. Outside the city walls, a suspicious conversation is taking place. (...... tonight is the Blueland branch of the Raglan Trading Company, isn''t it?) Yes. The branch was established two years ago, but it has already grown to be one of the five largest merchants in Bluerand. They must have plenty of money.) I saw a lot of cash moving around during the day.) Good. (I''ve seen a lot of cash moving around during the day.) (Good. This market is due to close in a couple of days, so it''s time to get in on it. Three suspicious men. And two silently standing shadows. It''s almost midnight. Let''s do it.) (,<,<>>. The shadow that had been standing upright starts to move. (Give your orders, master.) (Give your orders, master.) Both of them open their mouths together. The destination is the marked trading house. All you have to do is bring all the gold and silver coins in the vault there.) (I understand.) (I understand.) The two bodies gave a short reply and kicked the ground. At the same time, a jet thruster-like device on their backs blasts out a powerful jet of air. The propulsive force of the jet thrusters causes the two bodies to float in the air without falling to the ground. They continued on their way to the interior of Bluerand Castle. 1946 - - 52-18 The capture "U...... I see." The old man''s report rouses Jin from his bed. He wakes up from a good night''s sleep and soon his head is clear. "The Raglan Trading Company, ...... had a branch in the Blue Lands, didn''t they?" "I see. "I see. I see... ...... and ...... those guys." < was being projected on the large magic element communication device (manacam) in the command center. "That''s not the ...... Adriana style, nor is it that style we''ve been seeing lately. Jin judged that it was a third form, so to speak. It is very likely that this is one of the achievements before the rise of the as the old man had said. "It''s a pity. ...... If the world had developed as it did, it might have been a different world. However, now is not the time for such musings. Jin looked at the . * * * * * * * * * * * The bandit golem continues to fly, albeit awkwardly. It is in an upright position with its body tilted forward about 30 degrees, and its speed is about 10 km/h. It is propelled by a propulsor on its back. This position is unavoidable since the propulsor on his back is used to lift him up and propel him. Even so, the high walls are meaningless, and the fact that they can penetrate the upper floors of a three- or four-story building, even towering towers, is significant. The sound of the generated air is muffled by the sound deadening system''s warding, so if anyone can find it, it will be by the flow of the jet of air. This is not a problem for now, since we are flying in an unpopular place, and we do not think it will be a problem even if we are found when we return. No one can catch a flying golem. At least, not so far. Our goal is the southwestern section within the walls of the Bluerands. The so-called . The three-story stone building standing there is the Raglan Trading Company branch. The currency of this world is all coins. A small portion of the world''s currency is similar to the modern Japanese currency, but it is not widely used. Therefore, if you can detect <><>, you know where the gold is. And this golem could do it. The two golems head toward the third floor of the building without hesitation. They attach themselves to the third floor window and use their poor engineering magic to silently pry the window open. Then, one of them waits outside the window, and the other one enters inside. The other one entered the building. "Okay, you''re caught red-handed trespassing. Let''s get them, Reiko. Yes, sir, father. Jin-D and Reiko rushed to the scene. What? A window was broken, and a golem came flying out of the building. The golem falls to the street. What? The Golem that fell was not the Golem that had entered the building. "Is that the ...... security golem?" Jin D. and Reiko approach it in mid-air as it disappears, and look at it. * * * * The Raglan Trading Company was on the lookout for bandits and had increased the number of security golems on patrol. That night, an intruder was discovered on the third floor, the most heavily guarded floor, and two Golems rushed to the scene. The first one arrived first and approached to seize the intruder. However, the intruder ...... was hit by the counterattack of the intruder golem and was blown out through the window as a result of prioritizing to stop the intruder without destroying it in order to identify the person who ordered or operated the intruder. Two seconds later, another security golem arrived on the scene. Having seen the first one blown away, it makes contact with the other one, this time with the force to destroy it to some extent. The one-meter club in his hand is aimed at the right knee of the intruder golem and swung with great force. But.... But... * * * * * * "Whoa! The intruder golem easily dodges the security golem''s baton. "Hmmm, its reaction speed is more than twice as fast..." Jin analyzed this while looking at the magic screen. "I''d like to get a closer look at this place. ...... old man, take over the control of the doppelganger. "Yes, my lord." Jin then began to observe the intruding golem through Jin D''s eyes. The intruder golem dodges the baton wielded by the security golem at every turn. "Reaction speed and movement speed, about 2.5 times faster. In the case of the golem, when the difference in speed exceeds 1.5 times, the difference in performance in close combat becomes hopeless. Unlike humans, there is very little room for the element of chance. However, another security golem rushed in from downstairs. The two security golems worked in tandem and headed toward the intruder golem. The battle seemed to be a close one, but the bandit''s golem was not the only one. "Oh, another one has entered!" Another one enters the battle outside the window, and once again the gap between defense and offense becomes hopeless. "Reiko, we can''t stand by and watch any longer. Destroy one of them for now. "Yes, Father." After observing and analyzing the golem from a distance of only about 20 meters away, Jin was able to get a fairly accurate picture of the bandit golem''s output (about 5% of Reiko''s current output). (I didn''t realize it was equivalent to 5 percent of Reiko''s current output. (To think that Reiko''s golem is now equal to 5 percent of the bandit''s golem. ......) Reiko jumped in through the broken window and hit one of them nearby. There was a metallic clang, and the intruding Golem was blown through the wall. "......I guess I slightly missed the point of impact. ......" Reiko turns to the other one. The intruder golem, perhaps realizing its disadvantage after seeing its partner blown away, jumped out of the hole in the wall. It flew through the hole in the wall and tried to escape. "I won''t let you get away!" Jin D. of Horai Island instructed the old man to track him with a . Jin D then landed near the golem that had been knocked to the ground by Reiko. Reiko came down soon after. "I''d like to get this guy anyway, but ...... it''s such a big deal. ......" Not only the employees of the Raglan Trading Company branch, but also the neighbors woke up and looked out their windows at us. Soon after, patrol golems and guards from the Blue Lands also arrived. The old man said that he knew the Duke of Bruu and that Jin would allow him to officially investigate the golem. "Hmmm, I guess so." The old man said that he would take care of all the troublesome greetings and negotiations, so Jin was thankful to leave it to the old man and decided to take a nap. He left it to the old man and decided to take a nap. What?You''ve secured one of the golem of the thief?...... Magecraft Meister?Jin-dono is here? Duke Bruu was just staying in the Blue Lands, and came to the door at midnight as soon as he received the news. "Oh, Jin-dono, it''s been a long time!" It''s been a while." For the time being, Jin had only disconnected the power system of the invading golem, so he was able to hand it over to Duke Bruu without any problems. And then.., "Sir, could you please leave the analysis of this golem to me?" I asked him, "If you are willing to do it, Jin-sama, I would be very happy to do it. He responded, "If you are willing to do it, I would be very happy to do it. 1947 - - 52-19 Quiet talk 87 Original Hitoshi or later, before Compound Hitoshi The year 3699 of the continental calendar. <. The continent of Pandor, which was first settled in 3579, celebrated its 100th anniversary last year and continued to grow steadily. < Even so, no work surpassed the work of the second generation of "Magecraft Meister," a magical engineer. In the midst of all this. "Well, with this method, I think we can make even better golems and automata than we have now! "You''ve done it, sir." "Yes. The host brain stores the golem''s movement data, and the contents of the data are written into the control core. "We can keep improving and updating the contents of the movement data as needed, and it will keep getting better and better!" At one research institute, a new method of creating a golem''s control core was devised. <>. Creating and sublimating new systems is the way to surpass him. This was the slogan of some of the organizations that pursued their research. It may be said that this was the most prosperous period for magical engineering since the Magic Wars. Those who descended from Jin and the and inherited their techniques also worked hard and studied hard. "The <> is certainly suited for high performance. However, it is too costly and time-consuming for ordinary people with ordinary skills, even if they have the same level of manufacturing skills as the Magecraft Meister, the Magical Engineer. Then, what do you suggest? "Simplify the structure. Naturally, the control system can also be simplified. "Oh, yes, that''s right! To use an arm as an example, instead of having a twisting (rotating) function in each of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, the structure can be simplified and strength can be increased by limiting the twisting (rotating) function to the shoulder alone. This makes the movements less jerky, but the control system can compensate for this to some extent (but only to some extent). However, this will cut the production time by half or less, and reduce the amount of work required. "If a golem can be made at half the cost, it will become more popular for the general public." This is one of the reasons why the Golem is becoming popular. This is similar to the spread of the private car to households in modern Japan during the period of rapid economic growth. As if to contradict this trend, there was a group of people who tried to create something with better performance without regard to cost. "First of all, we''re aiming for an automata that looks just like a human ......, or even a human itself!We must reproduce the same skeletal structure and musculature as a human being! But it will be a failure. For better or worse, humans and automata are different. "Umm...... it still doesn''t eliminate the awkwardness." "Since the strength of the skeleton and the output of the muscles are different from that of a human being, doesn''t that necessarily mean that the movements are different from those of a human being?" "That may be so. In that sense, the <> is very exquisitely balanced. In this way, the excellence of the <> has been reevaluated over a long period of time. All in all, magical engineering had entered a stage of development and was flourishing. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm, it is difficult to create a new system. And here was another technology seeker. "Skeletal design to make the range of motion more than human, and muscle position to make the movement smooth. And control formulas to make gestures more human. You have a lot of work to do, don''t you, doctor?" "Yes, it is. But it will be worthwhile. "Yes!" The skeleton ...... they created, rather than the joints, was not of the Adriana type, nor of the spherical joint system that is the mainstream these days. For bending the arm, the elbow joint was used. For arm twisting, the skeleton from the elbow onward is deformed by <. This was an application of . "This is it!This is the further application of this idea." < only during movement. This method is easy to mass produce once the control equation is created. It is the difference between using <> and <> to achieve the same result. Naturally, the <> method is more cost-effective. "Moreover, with this method, the strength of the skeleton can be increased < in response to the output! "<> or <>." "Yes." With this, the basic system of the golem, which is positioned as more than <> and less than <>, was created. * * * * * * * * * * * "Look, if I do this, I can fly! "Oh, great! "It''s hard to fly long distances, and it''s not fast, but it''s undeniably flying!" And some engineers finally achieved flying by using <> system auxiliary equipment. "I can fly over castle walls and enemy troops!" "You can even drop stones from a high altitude where no arrows or spears can reach! ...... but I wouldn''t want you to use it in a fight." < and its subordinate organization, the , wars between nations had ceased. However, local skirmishes and conflicts, or battles with bandit gangs, have not been absent. Even for such battles, the <> was too expensive and the <> was inadequate in terms of performance. The filled the gap, and was truly a revolutionary method. However. "This technology is still incomplete. I''ll keep it under wraps until you''re satisfied. Yes, sir. "It appears that the Magi formula has not been optimized yet, and the speed is not satisfactory." ...... and further research was conducted to further improve the performance. Therefore, fortunately or unfortunately, the < was buried in the shadows of history by the before it spread throughout the world. * * * * And again, the year 3899 in the history of the continent. Two thieves broke into the basement of an abandoned house in a certain region, looking for something of value. And in the basement, ....... "Brother, what in the world is this?" "...... a golem." <. "These?They''re not very big at all, are they?" "I heard that in the past, the more powerful a golem was, the more human-like it looked. "Wow, you are very knowledgeable, my brother. "......, you''ll get a lot more done with it." Can you move it? "I''ll take care of it. I''ve dabbled a bit in magical engineering. ......<>" The two golems began to move. "At your command, master." What are your names? My name is Tei, your name is Toen. "Okay, Toen, follow me." And so the two became the property of the thieves. 1948 - - 52-20 Golem technology, over there and over here Jin D. starts analyzing the golem of the bandits at the workshop in the residence of the Duke of Breu. The workshop is quite splendid for a duke''s mansion. Incidentally, these workshops are used for making and repairing equipment for the soldiers under his command, as well as for making magic tools for daily use. "<><><>" "Oh ......" The Duke of Bruu, who was observing beside me, exclaimed in amazement. In the blink of an eye, the bandit golem''s chest <> was removed. Yes, <>. "I wondered why they went to the trouble of putting armor on it... ...... is that what you mean?" "Hm?What do you mean by that, Mr. Jin? "Take a look at this. The ...... body inside is not so sturdy. Indeed, there was a seam in the chest where the armor had been removed. "I guess it wasn''t originally designed for combat use. It is at best a general-purpose vehicle, and I think they added armor to increase its defensive capabilities. Just check out ......." Jin explained that the armor was originally designed to be worn only for this purpose, and that it could be used as an < to add functions or to cope with various situations. "I see. So do humans." Yes, the concept of this golem is , Jin thought vaguely through Jin D''s eyes. It was not enough to make it resemble a human being, but rather to give it performance that exceeded that of a human being, or to give it a versatility that exceeded a human being. That is what Jin D thought. Jin D further disassembled the bandit golem. "This is ...... the first time I''ve seen this method." "Father, what do you mean?" "The skeleton has no joints. It''s probably bent using some kind of forming magic. < "This would have considerable strength if done well." Jin guessed that it all depends on the conversion efficiency of the magic ...... free magic element (ether) and the operational efficiency of the magic element (mana). "The drive system is a < using magic resin. The quality of this magel resin is quite ...... good, very good indeed. Jin was very curious as to where the magic resin (magirezin) came from. But for now, there are priorities. Jin D started to analyze the control core. "...... Sir, it seems that this golem was used by a group of thieves after all. "I knew it. Then, do you have any clues about them? At this point, Jin devises a plan. "Yes, there are some, but they seem to be very few. I''m going to check ...... to see if I can find any more information, including fragments of this guy''s data area. It may take some time, so I will report back to you in writing when I am done. "Oh, that would be great. ......, I''ll take care of it." "Yes, sir, I understand." So, Jin decided to put in writing the information he had obtained from the control core as well as the information about the bandits that the old man had obtained by using the "peepers". Since the bandits are still on the move and have not returned to their hideout yet, Jin D. decides to proceed with the analysis of the golem. "Hmmm......... I guess it has a fixed skeleton and no joints. So it is..." Jin reads on, thinking that there must be a magical formula for joint formation during movement on the side of the control core. "Oh, this seems to be it. ............Funny......It''s not so easy......No, this one''s a novelty!" Jin D confirms that this golem is neither nor as he thought. "But with a skeleton of this shape, it should be able to perform human-like movements if it is articulated properly. <." He realizes that this method is suitable for mass production in a short period of time. "The body is relatively simple. The body is relatively simple, and the Magi Formula written in the control core takes care of the rest. In other words, the program or firmware is the key, Jin concluded. "If this is the case, it will be easy to mass-produce them by storing the <> in the storage of the magic brain. However, one question arises. "With this level of perfection, it seems like it should be more widely used. ......" Jin is now seeing this method for the first time. "...... recently completed?......No, it is not. The version information of this control core shows that it was developed in 3712. ......I see...just before the rise of the <. Just before the rise of the . Jin asks the old man for his opinion. "I knew it." Jin looks at the . "This one looks like it could be ...... a little more, maybe 50% more efficient." The equivalent of <> used in the description seems to be just a little less efficient from Jin''s point of view. In computer languages, it is about the difference between an interpreter and a compiler. Incidentally, an interpreter processes a program with , while a < processes a program after it all at once. The performance of the control core is so good that there is no practical problem at all, but in extreme situations there is a clear difference. "As it is, we probably won''t be able to make the reaction time faster than ...... probably 0.002 seconds." That''s about 1/100th of Reiko''s. However, Reiko, which is a one-off of Jin''s, uses expensive, very expensive, and very rare materials sparingly, so the comparison itself is not very meaningful. "In Reiko''s case, the processing that is handled by the hardware is done in the farm, so the whole process must be complicated." While letting Jin D disassemble the PC, Jin in Horaijima proceeded with his analysis. The difference between using the CPU on the motherboard for graphics processing and using a dedicated graphics board is a similar analogy. Although it is advantageous in terms of cost, the difference in performance is undeniable. Jin concluded that the level of performance is not a problem for normal use, but for advanced applications, it may be a little unsatisfactory ....... "Even so, it seems to have about four times the performance of the current mainstream <. ...... Moreover, it could be temporarily reinforced with free magic elements (ether) stored in this <> to obtain about ten times the power output." The strength of this method is that all of the of the skeleton and of the muscles can be done with magic power. That is why Jin was interested in this method. "This form may be easier to spread than the . It''s worth my time to study it. * * * * Meanwhile, the bandits were heading for their hideout in a black-painted airship. "...... What the hell is going on here? "What the hell''s going on?" "One of those golems didn''t come back, and that''s never happened before. The other bandit, who had heard such words from the two bandits. "...... I don''t know. But we''ll find out when we get back to our hideout and analyze the data on this ......<>." The bandit, who seemed to be in charge of technology, said something like that. An hour later, the three of us and one of the bandits arrived at the hideout. It was a log cabin on the middle of Mount Bilbo, east-northeast of Blueland. The basement of the hut had been dug out to reveal a large space, which turned out to be the hideout of the bandits. "...... and what was the result?" "Unbelievably, it seems that someone in the form of a girl has neutralized ." What is this "something in the form of a girl"? Probably an automaton. I don''t think a human could do such a thing. Even an automaton couldn''t do that, could it? "But it is possible, rather than human." "......" "If he could explain himself, we''d know a little more about him." "You can''t?" "...... I can''t. His <<> is too complicated for me to understand. Someone who has learned the basics can do it, or ......" The bandit is a bandit, and even though he is in charge of technology, he doesn''t seem to have much knowledge. He can at least maintain the golem, but he can''t modify or repair it. They are not able to modify or repair the golem. The old man is watching them. As expected, I cannot hear what they are saying, but I can understand what they are saying with their <> technique. After all, all of their information is known to the old man. 1949 - - 52-21 Experiments on the New Method The next day, the 24th, before noon, Jin D. submitted a written summary of the bandits to the Duke of Breu. "So ...... one of their hideouts is in the middle of Mount Bilbo. Does this sound credible?" The information was not read out from the control core, but was tracked by the old man with his peepers, so the level of reliability is much higher, but Jin cannot say that. "Hmmm, there are four in total. The three who came last night and the one who remained at the hideout. There are only two golems, and we have one of them. ...... I see... I see..." In another document, the details of the golem, including its structure, were described, and Duke Breu, who was not an expert, skimmed over them. But if he had read it properly, it would have made the arrest of the bandits a little easier. ....... "First we have to arrest the bandits. ......Thank you, Mr. Jin, for the information you have provided. ......What will you do after that?" Duke Breu, after giving orders for the troops, thanked Jin and asked what he was going to do. Jin D. replied, "I have no particular plans, but I am tired after an all-night stay, so I think I will go back to the inn and rest. Jin D. answered, "I don''t have any plans. If it had been Jin himself, he might have said, "Go back to Horai Island," but since he was being controlled by the old man, he did not make such a mistake. "Well, sure. I took a nap, but you didn''t take a nap yet, did you, Mr. Jin? I am sorry about that. I''m sorry about that. ...... I''d like you to take a rest in my house. Jin D. could not refuse the Duke''s offer, so he decided to take a rest at the residence of the Duke of Breu. However, since he is a doppelganger, he only pretends to be asleep on the bed after taking a bath. Jin himself is sleeping on Horai Island, so there is no problem. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * As for Jin himself, he is considering the information on the golem that he has analyzed. "I think the idea is not bad. The point is to make the hardware as simple as possible and cover the cost of production with software that can be mass-produced by copying. "Yes." Jin is a mechanical engineer by nature, and a hardware believer in terms of his love of metals and materials. He is also a hardware believer in terms of his love of metals and materials. FORTRAN under the influence of a friend during his regular high school days. However, I had a good teacher who helped me understand flowcharts and routines, which was very useful when I created new magic and wrote control formulas for golems after I came to Ars World. Furthermore, since Jin was more of a craftsman, he was a good match for the lineage of the previous Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. This may be one of the reasons why Jin was chosen as his successor. A quiet word of caution. "This method is superior to this method, isn''t it?" Jin feels that it is better than <>. "<> is kind of halfway." So, Jin is wondering if there is any way to improve on this line of thinking. And then. "Well, how about combining it with <>?" Fluid Transformable Power <> has an exoskeleton, and fills it with a liquid magical metal like mercury. Then, the liquid magical metal is transformed by the magic of <> to move it. However, it is instantly realized that this method is a bit unreasonable. < is an type, and is not suitable for an endoskeleton. "It''s difficult. But that''s why it''s interesting. ......" Jin likes this kind of time. "If we move the whole body by <, it would be a complete reversal, or a primitive golem. ...... Yes, the first <> was made from magically reactive <> and moved by < type magic. Since their entire body is made of stone, they are heavy, and their movements are necessarily slow. "But wait, what?" < is its mass. However, it also has its advantages. It is suitable for simple tasks, and as long as its free magical element (ether) does not run out, it will continue to move semi-permanently. It is this type of golem that is still mining mineral resources in the underground of Horai Island. "Wouldn''t it be interesting if there was a magic material with a light ...... specific gravity of 1?" Now, what came to Jin''s mind was <. It is Magi engineering plastic developed by Saki. The specific gravity is about 0.94. Jin thought that if he added a to the plastic, it would have a specific gravity of about 1. "Ah, there is also the <>". But this has a specific gravity of about 2. < Incidentally, the specific gravity of common magic resins (magiresin) is about the same. These values are close to those of fluorinated resins. "Let''s try first. First, try with transparent materials. The < is formed into a humanoid shape, and a <> is embedded in the chest. The first prototype will be a <. The first prototype will be a remotely piloted one, because there is not enough data to run it autonomously. "My old man, try to run it with this first." The "Mere Old Man" has accumulated data of several remote-controlled golems such as Titan 3, including the doppelganger. This time, Jin thought of using this as a base to accumulate control data. The old man declares a few words and sends a control order to the prototype Golem. The Golem slowly stands up....... < "What do you mean?" < "I see. That''s why that Golem can only respond in a certain way. Still, the prototype golem stands up and walks slowly across the workshop floor. But it looks like a big baby. But as expected of the old man, within a minute its movements have become much smoother. However, I must add the caveat that it is <>. After watching for about 3 minutes, Jin said "Okay, that''s enough. and made him stop. "I have an idea." Jin laid the prototype golem on the workbench and prepared several small magi crystals. Jin implanted them in places corresponding to the prototype golem''s shoulder joints, elbow joints, wrists, hip joints, knee joints, ankles, hips, and cervical vertebrae. "I tried to make it easier to locate the control position as a marker. How does that look?" The old man moves the prototype golem again. It seems that the resources used to locate the coordinates are no longer needed, and the control is now smoother. Its behavior has evolved from a baby to a toddler, and from an infant to a child. "Much better. ...... old man, where are the other parts of the body that are hard to move?" I see. ...... It would be better to wire the whole body with mithril silver magical nerve wires, but then the advantage of this method would disappear. Jin thought again. "......I guess it''s the material." Then, Jin tried to make a prototype golem of the same type out of <>. Although it weighed twice as much, the conductivity of magic power and strength should be much improved. What do you think, old man? < The prototype golem No. 2 started to move. "Oh, it looks good, doesn''t it? Compared to Golem #1, it moves much better. "I see. I guess the material is important. ......" >, but <> would be a special material and would not lead to cost reduction. Nevertheless, Jin found that an approach in this direction was also effective, so he decided to pursue further improvement. 1950 - - 52-22 Siege In Penglai Island, Jin was discussing with the old man. "Well, after visiting the Marquis of Kuzma, I felt that the decline of culture is having a negative impact on the world. "First of all, I am a teacher of technology, but is there room for more in the <>?" . "I see. Then it would be possible for me to appear as an instructor from time to time. "Yes, that would be good. In this way, Jin has come up with a policy. Now it is time for the actual operation, which will not start until we go to <>. "......Well, I guess the trouble I heard from Zion is almost settled now." Jin was relieved. After all, he could not just assume that he had nothing to do with it. He had a great longing for blood relations. It was 11:30 in the morning. It was a little early, but Jin decided to have lunch. Soleil and Luna prepared sandwiches. He could enjoy eating it with various ingredients. ....... "It''s not enough without Reiko. Yes, Reiko is still in Blue Land with Jin D. "I see." I had to deal with the Duke of Breuland over there, so I couldn''t just come home. "Socializing is a hassle after all ...... but I don''t want to be a recluse." Jin thinks that even if he tries to live as inconspicuously as possible, he probably won''t make it. Trouble is something that comes from the other side even if you try to stay away from it. * * * * 3:00 p.m. local time, at Blueland. "I''ve gained a lot of experience at the Marquis of Kuzma''s mansion this time, but I can''t help but notice that the has made some technical advancements. "Yes, I suppose so." Jin D was talking with Duke Bruu. "Yes. I think it would be better to have such a technical course held at <> and send qualified people from each country to take the course. "Yes, that''s a good idea." The duke nodded. "Would you be able to submit such an agenda to the World Congress?" "Of course." The Duke of Bruu, who is also royalty, was one of the representatives of the Kingdom of Egelea at the World Congress. "I think I can be a temporary lecturer as well," he said. "Oh, that''s good news. Duke Breu seems very enthusiastic. And then... "Sir, the security forces have arrived at the location. They''ve informed me that they''re going to begin the capture operation." "Oh, I see." Although considerably larger than the one Jin is using and unable to make multi-channel calls, the manaphone, which enables long-distance communication, has been miniaturized to the size of a school bag and is being used in many places. By the way, Jin''s Manacam is the size of a cellular phone. "Okay, let''s start the operation!" Yes! * * * * It is nearly 4:00 p.m. Dusk is falling on Mount Bilbo, and there are three airships, 30 soldiers, and 10 battle golems. No, in addition, there were two general-purpose golems and a commander, a captain. This was the 2nd Platoon of the Guard dispatched by the Duke of Breu. And under the captain''s command, they set out to close the siege. Hey, we''re in trouble!Before we know it, we''re surrounded!" At the bandit''s hideout, one of the bandits, sensing the shrinking siege, informed his comrades. "d*mn it!How the hell did they know where we are? "How did you find us?" "That''s not important right now, it''s how we''re going to get out of here," said one of the bandits. ......The warp gate in the basement is a magical tool?You can''t use the Magi machine, can you?" "Yeah. It seems that the host is not working. We have no idea where they will go. If it''s on land, that''s fine, but if it''s on the sea, that''s just too much. And if it''s in the air, we''ll have to go to ......." "No, let''s not do that." "That would be wise. ...... I''d like to get on an airship and get out of here somehow. ......" There are soldiers outside and three airships in the sky. "There''s no point in staying in the castle," he said. And then, ......" "I don''t want to ...... do it, but we''ll use the golem as bait and we''ll escape, that''s the only way." The man in the bandit''s chief of staff blurted out. "Yes, that''s right. <, but ......" "It''s better than being caught." "That''s what I''m saying. With all the money we''ve saved up, we should be able to live off of it for a while. But most of it isn''t in the safe house, okay? Don''t worry. We can live on what we have for the next six months. We just have to make it to their hideout in the meantime. I understand. Five minutes after that conversation. The siege had narrowed considerably. The location was halfway up the mountain, on a gentle slope. A log cabin and a black airship are visible. "We''ll close the siege a little more, and then we''ll charge in at once!" The captain was a cautious man. It was to their detriment. They should have taken the airship ......<> first. About 10 seconds before he gave the signal to charge, the door to the log cabin opened and a golem jumped out. "Mwah, intercept!" The golem was so fast that 10 of the 30 men who had formed the encirclement were instantly hit and on the ground. However, the soldiers dispatched by the Duke of Broux were highly skilled and quickly adapted to the situation. Don''t panic!There is only one opponent. Gather around the battle golem! The 10 battle golems join the siege at equal intervals. The remaining 20 soldiers rush to the nearest Golem. Even in this situation, the captain carefully observes the situation. He is able to do this because he is sandwiched between two general-purpose golems, which gives him a different sense of security. The bandit golem was aiming at one point, the foot of the mountain. "Hmm, you are trying to secure an escape route, aren''t you?Teams 2 and 3, move toward the foot of the mountain! Here was the captain''s miscalculation. Airships were also an important means of escape, but since there were three airships in the sky and they were clearly visible from the ground, he had overestimated the possibility of using them as an escape route. First, he sent one-third of his men in pursuit. This left him with 14 men and 8 golems. However, the pursuers, six soldiers and two golems, are quickly neutralized by the bandit golem. The soldiers roll about with broken legs, and the battle golem is destroyed with a blow or two. The performance of the bandit golem was that much different from that of the bandit golem. Jin had written about it in the report of the analysis of the bandit golem: ......<>, but Duke Bruu, who was too lazy to read it, skipped it. Duke Breu had skipped over it. "Team 4, 5, 6, stop!" The captain was a good tactician, but he lacked experience in actual combat. He made the worst possible move in this situation by launching the ...... forces one after the other. Of course, the strategy of the bandits who led them to do so should not be overlooked. In any case, the bandit golem used its power to destroy them individually. 1951 - - 52-23 Tracking Same day, 4:30 p.m. "Well then, thank you very much for everything you have done for us. Jin D., Reiko, Liese, and the others are greeting Duke Breu outside the walls of Breuland. There is Jin''s new airship, the . Since they could not say that they had come to Blueland by , they had sent them from Horai Island in a hurry. And just as Jin D was about to board the ship, the Duke of Bruu, who had been sent off to see him off, received an urgent message. "Urgent news!Urgent news!" The Duke, who did not scold his messenger because it was the second most urgent situation in the war, looked over the document. "What!" It read, < "What''s wrong?" Jin D., who knew that something had happened, did not board the Hurricane, but instead looked around to see what was going on. "Ah, ah, Jin-dono, actually ......." Duke Breu explained to Jin about the failed attempt to capture the bandits. "I''m sorry. Jin-dono helped us." "......" Jin D, no, the old man thought fast. < The old man concluded so, and asked Jin D. to speak, "Sir, my can reach a speed of 400 kilometers per hour. There is a possibility that we can catch up with them even now. He made a proposal. "Oh, oh, that would be great!" "However, we need to choose our companions as soon as possible, because every moment counts. The total number of participants will be limited to 15. "Okay. ...... Guard Platoon 3, come with your platoon leaders and Platoon 1 to 3. ...... are you sure about the battle golem?" Yes. Thus, Duke Blou and three of the 3rd Platoon''s teams boarded the . 1 team consisted of a battle golem and three soldiers, so there were 14 men in all, including the platoon leader. There are 14 men in all, including the platoon leader. "Hope, launch the <>! Heading east-northeast! Hurricane is on the move. Proceed east-northeast. Pilot Hope recites Jin D''s instructions and launches the <>. The <> rises into the evening sky. The silver hull of the <> glows red as it heads eastward. The speed is 400 kilometers per hour, and a distance of 100 kilometers can be covered in 15 minutes. That''s fast. ...... is indeed the work of a Magecraft Meister. I''m impressed. The Hurricane hurtles through the darkness. It is heading east, and it is getting darker and darker as time goes on. "Mister Jin, can you see it?" Duke Breu is a little worried. "Yes, I can. The pilot, Hope, has night vision. "Oh, I see. That''s very encouraging. In fact, Hope has no problem as long as there is moonlight. There is also an infrared mode and an ultrasonic detection mode if the need arises. After flying over Mount Bilbo, the heads further east. The sky was now the color of night. "They say it was a black blimp over there, is it safe?" "Yes, I think it would be hard for humans to see, but Hope should be fine. Besides, the old man has been keeping an eye on the bandits with his peepers on Horai Island. The airship was now over the Kingdom of Cerroa. They pretended to be heading eastward, but instead changed course 90 degrees to the north. Master, we have a visual of the airship on the left. "Okay, let''s track it." Hope''s vision picked up a black blimp flying about 30 kilometers away. "Left?It''s turning north!But you can see it well." Jin D explains to the astonished and impressed Duke Breu. "Yes, since they fled in an airship, I was on the lookout for them, thinking that they would not run straight away. "I see... I''m impressed." The duke was convinced by this explanation. It seems that his character is at best generous and at worst a bit rough. The changes course to the north, flying at 400 km/h. Within 10 minutes, a black airship comes into view. "Master, we''re catching up. What do we do now?" "Well, I don''t know..." Duke D. Buru pondered, "Well, I wish I could call out to him..." The Duke of Breu also ponders over it, saying, "Hmm, it would be nice if I could call out to him. Jin D. hears this and says, "Well, it would be nice if I could call out to him, "...... Sir, we have a loudspeaker on board. Would you like to use it to call for surrender? I suggested. "Oh, that''s a good idea. Can I borrow it?" "Yes, please use this. Receiving the microphone part of the loudspeaker from Jin D, Duke Bruu spoke to the black airship. This is Duke Bruu, Lord of the Blue Lands. Attention, bandits! Surrender. If you intend to do so, slow down and lower your altitude. I repeated this three times, but there was no reply. No, two <> were launched. "So this is the response: ......" The <> on the <> easily blocked the <>. And the black airship speeds up even faster. This is the last time. Surrender! But the black airship did not listen to him and increased its speed even more. "Oh, that''s pretty fast." Its speed is over 200 kilometers per hour. For a helium airship, it is more powerful than any airship on modern Earth. However, the that Jin has built is not a helium airship. It is an airship type <. Its top speed is 800 kilometers per hour. That''s four times faster than the black pirate airship. The < closes the distance and turns on its floodlights. The bandit is... And the bandit? "d*mn, how did they know where we were? "That can wait. We''ve got to get out of here now! Leave it to me. This airship has a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour. It can reach 300 kilometers per hour at a moment''s notice. Then I hear a voice saying, "Surrender. "Who the hell are you?" "Okay, let''s give them a fright." The bandit''s airship launches two fireballs backward. But they seem to have been bounced off an invisible barrier. "d*mn it, they even put up some kind of warding!" Was there ever such an airship in the Blue Lands? I can''t pull him away!I''m doing 250 kilometers per hour! The Duke of Brouw''s airship is getting closer and closer. "d*mn it!" At that moment, a blinding, dazzling light flashes. < The afterglow reveals the entirety of the <>. The family crest of the <> is painted on its hull. One of the bandits, who was in charge of technical work, screamed when he saw it. "Oh, that''s ......!That''s not the airship of the Blue Lands!< 1952 - - 52-24 Arrest and Investigation "<>?What''s that? The bandit leader didn''t seem to know the name. "It''s the top of the magecraftsmen!The world''s greatest Magecraftsman who can make anything, whether it be a golem or an automaton! The bandit in charge of technology had studied at for about half a year. After dropping out because he could not keep up with the lectures, a series of unfortunate events led him to his current situation. And even now, I have not neglected to collect information on the technical world. So he knew that the third generation of magecraft masters had appeared. "It won''t matter what we do if he''s with us, we should surrender. "What nonsense. We should surrender here." "What nonsense...we have to find a way to escape ......." While they were arguing like this, the speed of the airship dropped drastically. "What?What''s wrong? "Hey, the propulsion system has stopped! What? An airship whose propulsion system has stopped is nothing more than a balloon. The air resistance has drastically reduced its speed, and soon it is just being carried along by the wind. "Oh, no, we''re not going to make it!" The technical officer, seeing the approaching at a distance of about 20 meters, gave up. "You idiot!Don''t give up!" The man in charge said, "At this distance, you can take ......!< and tried to unleash the strongest attack magic he could do. But... "Why isn''t it working?I can''t use ...... magic! That''s right, their airship was covered by the waves of the <>. What''s more... "Oww! < * * * * * * Jin-dono, are you sure you can get close to them? "It''s all right." <. "It''s too much trouble to do things here, so let''s drag them to the Blue Lands. Since they are now over the Kingdom of Celuloa, the Duke of Bruu feared that it would be an airspace invasion if they were discovered. In fact, Jin''s is a free pass over the borders of each country, so there is no need to worry about that. He could have used his <, but he hesitated to use it in public, so he decided to get even closer, tie a rope around him, and pull him along. "I don''t see any attacks ...... coming." "No, I''ve stunned him with a paralyzer. When did you ...... do that? The paralyzer is a weapon used by the <> as well, so Duke Breu was not that surprised, but he was surprised that he did not know when they used it. <> was large and bulky, and it took some time to use. But at this point in time, "I am a ...... Jin-dono, after all. Duke Breu decided to take it as a given. Reiko jumped onto the bandit''s airship and tied a rope to it, so the <> was towed back to the Blue Lands. Although the load was increased compared to the outward trip, the distance was shorter because only one side of the triangular shape was moved compared to the outward trip where two sides of the triangle were moved, and although the speed was slightly reduced, the time required to reach the Blueland was the same as the outward trip. Incidentally, the gold and silver coins stored in the hideout of the bandits were temporarily recovered by the Duke of Breulhau and returned to those who had stolen them. * * * * * * * * * * * "Jin-dono, I''m sorry again and again." Duke Bruu bowed to Jin D. "I did not expect such an easy capture." The arrest across the border would have been a job for the World Guard, the duke said. "No, I''m glad I could be of service." "And by the way, it''s getting late. Would you stay at my place for one more night?" The time was 8:30 pm. Jin D and his friends decided to accept the offer. * * * * "Old man, how was the airship? Jin asked Lao-kun at Horai Island. While the airship was being towed to Horai Island, the old man had been inspecting every nook and cranny of the airship with his "peeper telescope". < "Well, what do you mean?" < "I see. I hear it can reach 250 kilometers per hour for a short time." << "I see. Then, I guess we can have the take it over through the Duke of Bruu. "But one big question remains." The old man agrees with Jin''s words. "Yes. We know that he was not in charge of the bandit''s technology. So, they must have asked someone to make it, or stole it from somewhere, or found it in some ruins. If there was that much technology in the world today, the old man said, there would be a lot more talk about it. >. "No, I''m sorry about that." Jin said it could wait because he did not intend to get involved in the world this far. Jin realized that information is always important, no matter what time of year it is. < "Yes, that would be true. It is highly possible, given the fact that technologies that are not appropriate for the current era were being used here and there. "It''s a shame. ......" Between the previous generation and Jin, there was the Magic War. And between the original Jin and the duplicate Jin, the Magic League. "This planet can''t develop in a straightforward manner. ......" "...... the Tower of Babel, the Flood of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, Atlantis and Mu......?" <> Since you have inherited Jin''s knowledge, you know as much as Jin does about such legends of the earth. < he knows as much as Jin does. "Yes, of course. All of them are legends, but if super civilizations existed in the past, it is a mystery why they have not been handed down to the present. "Did it die out on its own, or were there external factors?" Jin feels romantic about such ancient civilizations as much as anyone else. "On this planet, we know all that history. ...... Although there are still some mysteries, the history of the planet has been roughly traced so far, and there is a living witness, the 700672. "Well, we''ll look into that as well. Reiko will be back tomorrow. For now, Jin wanted to relax a little. 1953 - - 52-25 Know the past April 25th, when Jin D. and Reiko returned. Jin reported to Zion in the Nordic Federation after a day''s rest in Horaijima. "Yes, it was a hard time. Thank you for your hard work, Jin. When Sion learned that Jin had been involved in more trouble than he had expected, he said to him in a friendly tone of voice, "So, Jin. "So, I wanted to ask you, Zion." "...... about that bandit golem, right?" "Yeah. Do you know anything about it?" "Well, ...... maybe Marikka knows more than I do. Let''s call her. So I called her with the manacam, and Marikka rushed over. "Jin-sama, welcome back. "Hello, Marikka. I''ll get back to you as soon as I can. ......" Jin explained about the golem he had met in the Blue Lands. "A golem that is neither Adriana nor spherical-jointed?" "Yes. Do you know anything about it? "Yes. Yes, but only a little. ...... Maricka began to speak in halting tones. "First of all," she said haltingly, "the fluid-form drive didn''t make it into the mainstream after all. It was too heavy. It uses a magical isotope of mercury (magiisotope), which has a specific gravity of about 13.5. Since it requires metal armor as a container and exterior, a golem the size of an adult male would weigh as much as 900 kilograms. If the weight of the weaponry is added, it comes to nearly one ton. This is the weight of 13 human soldiers. This is too heavy to be useful. It would also be difficult to move it by airship. "I understand that. But I don''t think that magi rocks or magi resins would be more powerful than magi mercury." "That''s right. So, when the spherical joint system was established, I thought it was a major turning point. However, although the spherical-jointed type certainly contributed to lowering costs, it was inferior to the Adriana type in terms of visual elegance of movement and durability in extreme situations. "It couldn''t be used for human-like automata." Maricka speaks in a deep voice as if recalling those days. "The spread of golems and automata was the goal of all the countries of the world in terms of securing labor. However, it was not cost-effective and did not work out as expected." "I see." Perhaps it would be easier to understand if we compare it to the spread of the private car in modern Japan. In the 1950s, private cars were not widely used in ordinary households. However, with the arrival of the Tokyo Olympics and the construction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway during the period of rapid economic growth, private cars began to spread as a kind of status symbol. After the oil shocks, the term "private car" became popular in the 1975''s, and it became common in the 1985''s when the bubble economy hit. At the dawn of the automobile industry, Henry Ford, who was called the "King of Automobiles," introduced a revolutionary model called the Model T Ford, which was mass-produced using a production line. The highest price was $950 (at that time), but the lowest price was $290 (at that time). Let me digress. As with automobiles, there was a group of engineers who thought that the cost reduction of the Golem could also be brought about by mass production. "They were related to the <>," says Maricka. Maricka says. "They were not directly related, so they must not have known about the existence of Horai Island, but there were people who read through the literature in the stacks at Nido Castle in the village of Kaina and at the house of Royzart in the Shoro Imperial Palace." "Hou." "I do not know his name either. At that time I was working in the Nordic Federation to educate the younger generation. "I see. I see. ...... That''s good. A relative of the Jin family ...... is a descendant?Did a relative of the Jin family develop a new method?" "I can only assume so." At this point, Jin asks a question. "Well, if ......, why didn''t it spread?......, by any chance?" And in the process, he came up with the reason himself. "Yes, because of the League of Magic and Marcitas. "I see." After that, Marikka had the direct descendants of the Jin family quarantined on the island of Onogoro. "I see. I think I understand most of what you''re saying. Thank you." I''m glad I could be of service. Maricka bit her tongue at the last minute. * * * * * * After taking a break, Jin continued talking with Zion and Marikka. "If that''s the case, it means that the bandits found the golem made by the engineer, right?" "That would make sense." Perhaps the Duke of Bruu would interrogate the bandits and reveal their location. "I''m curious about the place. Where is it?" The question that he asked himself was answered by Sion. "Well, why don''t you ask the Duke of Breu and he will accompany you?" "I suppose so. Jin would like to see this technology spread. He would like to see someone in a public position find the technological legacy and use it for the benefit of the world. And that''s it, that''s it. Jin also wanted to see the heritage with his own eyes. "I just want to see it first ......". Then Reiko, who had been silent for a long time, opened her mouth. "Father, the old man says he knows about it. To be precise, he has been monitoring the interrogation at the Duke of Breu''s place with a peep show telescope. So he is aware of what he has confessed. "Oh, yeah. So, where are you? Yes. ...... is in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Celluloid, in the region of Rivas, Futux. I see. I believe it''s near the border with the Kingdom of Klein? Yes. There''s a fort nearby. Father, there is ...... Reiko began to explain to Jin what she knew. In those days, countries had research institutes in various regions to conduct various researches. The reason why they were not placed in the center of the country was simply because of the lack of large areas of land. Such research often required a large area of land for experiments and field tests. As for transportation, there were means such as transfer magicians and airships. In Futtocks, there was a fort that had been built during the time of the conflict with the Kingdom of Klein, so they renovated it and turned it into a research institute. "That would have been very spacious, well built, and with living facilities. Jin imagined that it must have been very easy to use. "There must have been a lot of motivated researchers." Jin tried to imagine how crowded it must have been at that time. Then, Jin thought, let''s go there first to see what was going on. Since there would be some formalities to go through to get from the Kingdom of Egelea to the Kingdom of Cerroa, Jin thought that he would have a few more days to spare. "What about Zion and Marikka?" "I don''t mind. "No, I don''t think so either. Both of them said they would not go, so Jin and Reiko went back to Horai Island for a while. 1954 - - 52-26 Field inspection Back in Penglai Island, Jin asked Laojun a question. "My Lord, did you know?" < "All right, tell me." < According to the old man, the research facility there was open to the public, but it was too remote to be very popular. <<< The old man says that they mainly studied golems there. <<>. That is all that the old man knows. This is not surprising, since the "Mere Old Man" cannot keep track of all the events in the world. "Futoqs or ...... okay, let''s go over there for a bit, Reiko." "Yes, father." So Jin took Reiko to . The means of transport was the . The pilot is, of course, Hope. The transporter takes the < to the destination. From Horai Island, you will be 200 meters above the ruins of Fort Foothills in 0 seconds flat. The place we are looking down on now is covered with spring green. Trees over 10 meters high, yellow-green grasslands, and scattered rocks and bushes growing there. The most striking feature was a stone fort, or rather a research facility built on a fort, with vines and grass intertwined with it. It is made of gray stone and shows no signs of weathering, indicating that it has undergone some kind of magical treatment. The plane slowly drops in altitude in a circular motion. Jin observed the surface carefully. "We are landing." The lands on the level ground in front of the research facility. "Okay, Hope, you stay here. Reiko, let''s go. Yes, Father. Have a good trip. Jin and Reiko get off the Pegasus 2 and go outside. The air is fragrant with the scent of young grass. Birdsong can be heard. "It''s so peaceful. ......" The dirt was soft and it looked like not many people had walked on it. "This way, father." Reiko''s voice brought Jin back to himself as he was enjoying the spring atmosphere. Jin followed her, wondering if he had come here today for a specific purpose. Inside the research facility, the corridors had been built using the structure of the original fortress. The wide corridors were extended, and in some alcoves (recesses in the walls), there were magic devices attached to light up, and they were still shining dimly. "It''s not as bright as the <>, but it''s a long-lasting light." Admiringly, Jin followed Reiko in front of him. "It''s well reinforced and ventilated." The dust barrier has been set up and there is not much dust inside. Various functions were still working, although they had deteriorated considerably. As Jin stepped into the room, he thought that whoever had maintained this place had done a very careful job, "Father, there is a crack here," said Reiko''s voice. Reiko''s voice said. There was a large crack running through the passageway, leading to the outside. It seems that a large animal has entered through here. Indeed, there were footprints dotted with mud. "This is ...... probably a saber boar." A saber boar is a huge wild boar, so to speak. It is a very dangerous beast. It''s safe to say they''re not here now. Reiko, who had been looking for signs, assured me. "Yes, or ......." Once again Jin and the others moved on. "Father, here we are." "Oh." After following the passageway for a long time, they arrived at a small, wide space. The original light was not enough, so a ball of light was created and released to reveal every nook and cranny. Here, too, there was a dust barrier, and there was almost no dust inside. "Well, it looks a little bit like my workshop." It looked as if someone who knew Jin might have maintained this place. However, after many, many people have worked on it since then, very little of Jin''s color has remained. "But this one seems to be easier to use." Jin seemed to have gained something from the workshop''s different structure from his own. "......Oh, did I find what I was looking for?" Jin looked around again. "I was looking for a place to put the prototypes ......." Jin walked to the place where he would have found it. And he was right. "Oh, there it is! A door on the right side of the shelves. That is the warehouse. Jin opened the door, looked inside, and frowned. "Father?" Reiko looked inside too. The inside of the warehouse was in a state of disrepair. Broken golem arms and legs were scattered haphazardly, and crushed heads were piled up in the corners. It was a grotesque sight to behold. "It looks like they went through a lot of trial and error. Jin looked at the scene and expressed his intuitive impression. Perhaps, he had the impression that the person had just tried everything he could think of without thinking about the future. I wondered if he had reached what he was aiming for." Jin feels that there is no way that he could not have grasped something after all the pretentious trial and error he went through. "Maybe that golem is the result of that. Jin thinks of the two golems used by the bandits. "This was before the rise of the <> ......?" Thinking back to the time when this research facility was at its most active, Jin remembered the purpose of his visit today. He had come to inspect the roots of the bandit golem. Jin studied and analyzed the scattered parts and materials, trying to keep things as they were as much as possible. As a result, he was convinced that the <> Golem had indeed been created here. There were several skeletons lying around that appeared to be prototypes. After about two hours had passed, Jin said to Reiko with a satisfied look on his face. "......At any rate, we''ve done our inspection of this place. Let''s go back to Horai Island." "Yes, father." "I wonder what he would think if he knew that the golem he created with such enthusiasm had been misused. ......" Jin muttered as he walked out of the research facility. "If it were me, I''d be disappointed." < and can be made at a lower cost. Whether the interfered when they were on the verge of commercializing it, or whether they withdrew from the project due to health problems, or for some other reason... Jin does not know. Jin does not know, but as a fellow engineer, he feels a little bit like offering some comfort to this person whom he has never met before. 1955 - - 52-27 New system development As Jin had expected, on April 27th, the of <> received a request from the Duke of Bruu to cooperate with Jin. It was April 27. "Oh, ...... you didn''t specify how to contact me, did you?" The only contact with Jin was in <> or at his residence in Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Empire. "Well, it''s not like there''s anything urgent I need to know. The contents of the report were the inspection of the place where the golem was found, which the bandits confessed to. Since it was a request from the Kingdom of Egelea to the Kingdom of Cerroa, it took about two days to receive permission. The would have been able to do this more quickly. And of course, Jin, the Magecraft Meister. "Old man, I''ll let you handle this with Jin D." < Since he had already seen the place, he decided to use his doppelg?nger to deal with it. Instead, he wanted to pay his respects to the unknown magical engineer who had developed the <> and concentrate on perfecting the system. Instead, Jin asked Reiko to accompany Jin D. Reiko, I may have missed something the other day. So I would appreciate it if you could go with me. Reiko could not say no to Jin''s request, so she reluctantly went out. * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin then began to do what he wanted to do at the research institute on Horai Island. "Jinsha, it''s a mysterious structure, isn''t it? "Yes. I wonder how they came up with this way of doing things. Marikka had refused to accompany them to the ruins of Fort Foothills, but she was happy to participate in the work of analyzing and establishing the system of the <> golem. "Jin-sama, isn''t this a choice of material?" And with Rubina, the first Magecraft Queen, "Master Jin, I think we can improve the circuitry of this Magi Circuit. Gulina, a descendant of the Kuzma family, also joins in. "Yes, I think so. The materials, the shape, the control. All of them are still in their infancy. That''s why it''s worthwhile, isn''t it? "Yes, thank you, Jin-sama, for asking me!" "Yes, it is. It''s fun. Both Rubina and Gulina seem to be enjoying the work. And Marikka. "I''d like to build on this one prototype I made," said Marikka. "Well, the most important thing is to synchronize the skeletal and muscular ...... drive systems, isn''t it?" "Yes, I think so." Rubina and Grina agreed. "Yes, that''s important. Maricka agrees. And then.., "And the control system. If the control system is not working, it''s not worth talking about. Marikka added her own opinion. "Yes, that''s true. Then there''s the magi-machine, which should be called a that makes the <> rather than the main body. Jin also spoke of the key points when viewed as an overall mass production system. "Anyway, we need to solve the problems one by one. Let''s start with materials. Since all the excellent engineers were gathered here, they could have pursued their own separate themes, but Jin dared to pursue a single theme with everyone. "First of all, we need materials for the skeleton. This was made of light silver, but if we want to make it stronger, we can use 64 light silver. Originally, light silver is a material with good conductivity of magic power. Therefore, strengthening by magic power is also highly effective. "That''s right. ....... I''m sure there is a better material." "Rubina, we also have to consider the cost." "Oh, I see." Rubina is 10 years old and Grina is 19. Despite the age difference, they are not bad friends, being of the Kuzma family. "Yes, I know. The reason why I asked her is that people, including myself, tend to ignore the cost of materials and just chase performance, so I thought it would be a good lesson for me. In that respect, Marikka is capable of a more balanced design, and I''m sure she''ll be a good advisor." "Oh, no, you''re right." Marikka bites her lip in impatience at being suddenly lifted up. "I think light silver is good. It''s inexpensive and strong. We should consider alloys other than 64 light silver." The light silver in this ars is titanium on earth. "The rest is composites and internal structure." The characteristics of titanium = light silver are that it is light and strong, but relatively weak against wear. Therefore, measures are taken to apply adamantite coating to sliding parts such as joints. Although the meaning of composite materials is slightly different, Jin''s idea is to use complementary combinations to make the most of the advantages of each material. As a side note, many titanium alloys have poor machinability, but this is not a problem for use in magical engineering. "Internal Structure...... Oh, hollow or foam structure, you know..." The hollow, foam, or truss structure inside the bone is a structure based on actual living creatures. "Hollow would be the way to go for mass production," he said. Otherwise, it would take too much time and thus be cost-prohibitive. Incidentally, 64 light silver (= 64 titanium alloy) has a tensile strength 1.7 times greater than that of pure titanium. It would be extremely difficult, even for Jin, to produce an alloy with a higher performance than 64LBG. He made several prototype alloys, but they were all inferior to 64 light silver. Jin decided to stop his search for light silver alloys. "Okay, the material should be 64 light silver, and the part with a diameter of 20 mm or more should be hollow. With this, the material for the skeleton was decided. "The problem is the parts corresponding to the muscles. Jin-sama''s prototype seems to use GSP, but it is too expensive. < The GSP produced in Horai Island that Jin used was nothing to talk about. "Jin-sama, what did the golem used by that bandit use for the part corresponding to muscle?" "<>. Rubina was surprised to hear this. "Really?Then, even if it has good performance, it''s not much ......." "It''s true, the power and speed of ordinary Magiresin are completely insufficient. "Right. When Rubina was about to ask why ...... then, Jin explained. "But the magi resin that was used was more powerful than most. Jin''s theory was that it was largely due to the place of production. Then, he added, "Besides, it also makes sense to use <>." "...... Is that so?" < and grew up taking the technology around her for granted, seemed to have a bit of a hard time understanding it. Jin has had that experience. Four hundred years ago, when he had just been called here from Japan and had inherited the knowledge of his predecessors. In the villages of Kaina, Blueland, Potrock, and other places, he was keenly aware of the disparity between the skills of his predecessors and his own. That is why I wanted Rubina and the others to know what the world is like. "We want to make the world useful in the <>, so we don''t want there to be too much disparity, do we?" "Yes. We don''t want to have too much disparity, do we?" "Yes, we don''t want ownership to become a status. Grina seemed to understand. "Well, let''s start by assuming that we can use for mass production. If it is high performance, that is even better. Jin indicated one way forward. "Besides, it''s not a waste of time to consider high-performance materials. "Yes, I understand." Rubina seemed to agree. "All right, let''s start the study." Jin and the others brought their own stools around the workbench and sat down. 1956 - - 52-28 Study Group Jin and his team began to consider the possibility of creating a better Magi-resin. "First of all, can''t we improve the performance of by mixing it with something else?" "A mixture?" "Yes." refers to any resin that reacts to magic power, and is what is inside a typical golem. Typical examples are resins extracted from trees that contain magic power and <>, which was also put to practical use by Adriana. "We need to improve the conductivity of the magic power and make it more powerful. That''s what we need to do. Rubina reacted immediately when Jin said this. "What about mixing conductivity ...... with mithril powder?" "Oh, yeah. That''s what I was thinking." Jin said that a too expensive mixture would increase the cost and hinder its widespread use, but an additive of that level would be OK. "We have to try it first." So, with Rubina at the center, Jin and the others began experimenting with a magical resin (magiresin) mixed with mithril powder. < of the type was successful at first. The mixture increased the output by a factor of 1.5 and the reaction speed by a factor of 2. "I don''t know if I can go any further. However, Rubina was not satisfied. To her, Jin said, "Yes, I think so. Let''s change our way of thinking. Let''s think about the theoretical aspect of what the addition of ...... mithril silver powder meant. I advised him. "Hmmm ...... meaning ......." Rubina thought about it, but Grina was not so sure, "You expected it to have the same effect as adding it to metals to make magi-based alloys, right?" She commented. For better or worse, Rubina was still a sensible thinker and not very good at thinking theoretically. And understandably so. She is only 10 years old. "So, let''s think about again. Why does something like sap ...... like pine resin react to magic?" "Let''s see,......" "Could it be ...... that some of the atoms that make up the ...... resin are magical isotopes (magiisotopes)?" Rubina pondered, and Grina offered a guess. "Yes, I think it probably is." Surprisingly, Jin also did not know much about magiresin. This is because it is a material that is not usually used. "So, the higher the ratio of magical isotope, the higher the performance against magic power should be. "...... Jin-sama, can you do that?" Marikka, who had been silently listening to the younger man''s opinion, opened her mouth as if she could no longer remain silent. "Well, I''m thinking that maybe we could use the <> to age them." The <> is a storage with an ether ratio of 80 percent or higher, and the purity of the magic material increases as it is stored in it. In other words, some of the atoms are gradually replaced by magical isotopes. "I didn''t know there was such a thing. ...... Amazing!" Rubina had never heard of such a thing, and was frankly impressed. "Now all we have to do is sorting and concentration. Jin said, "We have to sort out the magic resin that contains a lot of magic isotope (magiisotope) and further concentrate the part of magic isotope (magiisotope)....... "I haven''t figured out how yet, though." "That''s just as well Jin-sama. I''d like to come up with something too if that''s the case. Rubina said casually. Rubina has a lot of inspiration. As soon as Jin said that. "That''s right!We just have to pass a magic nerve wire inside! came out of Rubina''s mouth. Jin said, "I''d say that''s a good idea, but I''ve been thinking about it too. It''s true that the reactivity will increase, but the power will remain the same. But it won''t change the power. It would also increase the production cost. I pointed out. "Oh, I see. ......" Rubina was a little disappointed, but not discouraged at all and started thinking again. "Jin-sama, then, why don''t you put some magi stones or something in the important places corresponding to the joints? This time, Gulina made a suggestion. But that was also something Jin had tried the other day. "I see......... You are indeed Jin-sama..." Sighs Greene. "But you two are great! I had a lot of trouble coming up with that idea myself. Jin praised them both. "...... Jin-sama, why don''t you just find a cheaper and better-performing medium instead of sticking to magic resin (magirezin)?" And Marikka also expressed her thoughts. "Yes, I think that''s a good idea too. I experimented with ." However, the performance was not as good as expected, Jin explained. "In the end, <> was the best choice." Jin concluded his explanation by saying that this line was abandoned because of its high cost. * * * * * * * * * * * * It was lunchtime before I knew it, so I decided to have a meal. It was a nice change of pace. "Wow, that looks delicious!" Reiko is following Hitoshi D., so Luna and Soleil have prepared lunch. For a moment, Jin wishes he had a <>, but it''s difficult since he is working with Jin D. Because Reiko''s control core is not designed for such parallel processing, and if he controls mini Reiko, his own actions will be interfered with. Now for a quiet note. It is cold barley today. In late April, the daytime temperature on Horaijima rises to nearly 30 degrees Celsius, so this kind of menu is appreciated. The red and green cold barley mixed in with the white cold barley adds accent and coolness to the dish. Eggplant and thinly sliced cucumbers can be added to the sauce as desired. Janji (ginger) is also available, which can be grated and added to the dipping sauce to enhance its flavor. Jin simply ate the soup, Rubina added cucumbers, Grina had eggplant, and Marikka had jhanjie. "Oh, it was delicious!" After the meal, it''s time for a leisurely tea break. Today it''s cold barley tea. "It''s nice and cold. More tea, please." "Don''t drink too much ...... and get a stomach ache, okay?" Jin is careful. When he was a high school student, he once drank a lot of ice water because it was too hot in summer and got a stomach ache. He was miserable for about half of the summer vacation. ......Yeah, I''ll be careful." When Jin dared to reveal his own experience and warned her about it, Rubina nodded her head in agreement. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the meal break, the meeting started again. "Hey, Jin-sama, I was just wondering which part is the main part of the operation with the magic resin (magirezin)? Rubina spoke up first. "Which part, ......?" "If it is fixed to the skeleton, like muscles, it would be clear. But it''s not, is it?" "Oh, I see." Jin was impressed by Rubina''s point of view. "Yes, that''s true. <, it should have the same characteristics." In other words, it is the < that exerts the most power. How much the other parts contribute to the movement ...... is unclear. "That''s an interesting point of view." Jin praised Rubina and decided to follow the line. 1957 - - 52-29 Research and Investigation The contribution rate of <> to the movement of the <>. We know that the maximum contribution is around the joints, and there is a technique to improve the movement efficiency by converting the joints into higher quality <> with Stone Golem. "But what we are considering now is not solid MagiStone, but flexible MagiResin. "It would be good if we could check the degree of deformation from the outside." In response to Jin''s words, Greiner also has an idea for confirmation. "Then, we can use a transparent exterior. This is Marikka. "Yes. And if we draw stripes ...... or squares on the magic resin, we can see at a glance where and how much it expands and contracts. Jin. Taking these ideas into consideration, Jin removed the exterior of the prototype golem. Then, he drew lines on the magirezin like a grid. The result is a 3D model drawn with wireframes. At the same time, Marikka, Rubina, and Gurina are making transparent exteriors out of cubic zirconia. Both tasks are completed at about the same time. "Okay, let''s reassemble." This takes two minutes. < is still intact, so it works fine. Or rather, it is still remotely controlled by the "Mere Old Man. "My dear, please try to move it slowly." < At first, the "Mere Old Man" extended his right arm horizontally and then bent his elbow slowly. "Oh ......" Then he stood up and stomped his foot slowly. > "Oh, that''s easy to understand. Keep stepping slowly. This observation reveals the <> using <>. "Hmmm... ...... 80% near the joints, 20% near the joints..." Jin calculated the approximate contribution. "That''s right, Jin-sama. If that''s the case, then it would be 20% at best, right?" Marikka sounded a little disappointed, since it was unlikely that a significant improvement in performance could be expected with only 20%. "No, I don''t think so." Rubina started. "...... Well, a stone golem using <> has almost a hundred percent contribution around the joints. But with flexible <>, the contribution is 80%. I''ve been trying to figure out why this is. "I see. I see. ...... Jin had an idea of what Rubina was talking about, but decided to listen to her explanation. "I think that the harder the material used to power it, the more localized the contribution, and the softer the material, the wider the range." "Great, Rubina!I agree with you! "I really agree. ...... Jin-sama, why don''t we check it out?" Gulina agreed, and Marikka was ready to try the experiment. "Okay, let''s do it." Jin prepared two kinds of Magi-resin with different hardness. "If it''s too soft, it will become fluid, so this is about right. One is what is called . The other is harder than the one currently used for the prototype golem. I swapped them out with the prototype golem''s and repeated the experiment, "See, I knew it!" "Yes, Rubina''s idea was right." The soft magic resin (magiresin) had a lower contribution rate around the joints. The soft magnesium resin (magnesium resin) contributed 60%, while the hard magnesium resin (magnesium resin) contributed almost 10%. In other words, the hard maggi-resin moves only in the vicinity of the joints during movement. "The softer the resin is, the more it takes the deformation in its entirety, or the more it affects the entire body. "That''s good, isn''t it?" Jin agrees with this opinion. "Oh, then it might be more efficient if the magic resin is firmly fixed to the skeleton. "That may be possible." Jin decided to try to roughen the surface of the skeleton a little so that the resin would < better. He removed the exterior, removed the magical resin, processed the surface of the skeleton, installed the magical resin, and reassembled the exterior. The modification took 5 minutes. "......" The skill with which he did this was such that those who were watching were in awe. "Well, let''s give it a try. Please, old man." The old man started to move the prototype golem. The movement of the prototype golem is clearly awkward. "I see. You did it!" Just by increasing the degree of adhesion between the skeleton and the magical resin, the efficiency has increased by 75%. In other words, Magirezin can be used not only for but also for the skeleton like a muscle. "Oh, that''s right." "That''s right, Jin-sama!" Rubina and the others agreed with Jin''s idea. Jin then instructs the old man to change the control sequence of the prototype golem. "Little by little, try to use it in a <> way." < The control by the old man was so precise that he was able to perform the optimum control in only one minute. As a result. "Oh, I see." The increase in reaction speed is slow compared to the increase in power output, but this cannot be helped. There is a limit to the reaction speed and output of the magic resin. And the reaction speed was originally used in the range close to the upper limit. In contrast, the output was lossy and there was room for improvement. "Hmm, I''m still wondering about the magical resin (magiresin) used in the bandit''s golem. It seemed to have better performance than any other magic resin that Jin knew. Jin regretted that he had not been able to examine it in detail, wondering where it had been collected, although he was sure it was old. Then Jin remembered that the Duke of Breu and his friends were visiting the site. "Old man, what about Jin D. and Reiko?" < "I see. Jin finished his conversation with the old man and turned to Marikka and the others. "Well, I think we''ve made a lot of progress, but do you have anything to say so far?" First, Rubina raised a small hand and spoke. "Well, I''ve only heard a little bit about the bandit golem that Jin-sama caught, but I wonder if it was better than the prototype we just made? "Yeah, I''m curious. ...... Let''s face it, it was a little better." "Yeah. ......" < "Don''t be so downhearted. There are several reasons, and I know why. Jin calmed Rubina down by telling her that this prototype would perform much better if the same modifications were made to it. 1958 - - 52-30 What are you looking for? Under Jin''s initiative, the second prototype of <> Golem was created. The concept was to use <> for <>. It was a tribute to the engineers of the past who had developed this form. Then, the old man reported to us. "Oh, I see." "That''s good." The Blow Floater <> and the airship belonging to the Duke of Breu went to the ruins of Fort Hutoks, and all but Jin D and the others have been pulled out. "Is there anyone else there?Are there any other locals? < "That''s good." Jin decided to use the warp gate equipped with a hurricane to visit the site. Of course, Rubina, Gulina, and Marikka would go with him. "Okay." Jin turned to the three of them and they all looked at him ......, especially Rubina, who looked like she wanted to get going. >>. Since they were going through a warp gate, they had nothing to prepare, but they had prepared a lab coat and a shoulder bag so that they would look like technicians who had come to investigate. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Near 4:00 p.m. local time, Jin and four others appeared at the warp gate inside the . "Welcome, father." Reiko, of course, greeted them. In return, Jin D returned to Horai Island. "Well then, let''s go check out the ...... lab." "Yes! Rubina replies in a very loud voice when Jin D. calls out to her. The other two replied, but their voices were drowned out by Rubina''s voice. "Well, this way please. Reiko, who was a member of the survey team, led the group into the ruins of the fort. Jin had seen the report from the old man and the video report from Jin D, but his impression changed when he saw the actual site with his own eyes. "It looks suitably old. Jin felt the weight of the years on the stone materials that made up the passageway, or rather the fortress building itself. "This is the main laboratory, isn''t it?" "Oh ......!" Photos of stores are often taken with a wide-angle lens in order to capture the entire building. However, although this method can certainly capture a wide area, it has the disadvantage of making objects in the distance appear smaller, resulting in a picture that is far removed from the impression seen with the naked eye. Jin''s impression at this time was similar to the above. "I see, it looks spacious but it is very small. There were probably no more than 10 people in the room at any given time. Jin judged so by looking at the size of the entire laboratory. "That''s right, Jin-sama. I think the maximum number of students is seven or eight, and the maximum number of students is five. Marikka also estimated the number of people who would have been here. "Yes, that''s right. I don''t know if it was a small group or if there were not enough people." Jin looked around, "I''d like to believe that ...... was a very good group of people," he said. He said. "It would have been a shame if we had a little more ...... time and manpower to complete this system." Neither Marikka, Rubina, nor Gulina could speak to Jin''s mutterings. "Well, let''s see what we can find. After the survey team led by the Duke of Breu had left, it was unlikely that there would be anything of interest, but the eyes of Jin and the others were a little different from those of ordinary people. But the eyes of Jin and the others are a little different from those of ordinary people. They can obtain useful information from what appears to be trash. "This is different, this is different ......" Jin-sama, are you sure we''ll find it? "Greenina, stop blabbering and look for it!" What Jin and the others are looking for is a magical resin. It''s a kind of dregs, half of a scrap material, or something before it''s refined. This was a part of the process to identify the place of origin of the ultra-high-performance maggi-resin that had caught Jin''s attention. There are almost no clues in the refined Magi Resin, but in the unrefined form, various information can be read. For example, what kind of tree the resin came from. If the tree is a tree that grows only in a certain region, it is a simple matter. But it is also possible to identify the region to some extent by analyzing the impurities contained in the resin. Just knowing whether they are from cold or warm regions makes a difference. Normally, it would be possible to know by looking at the records, but it seems that such things were either taken out or disposed of when this laboratory was abandoned, and Jin D and his team could not find them in their search. "Well, I guess I''ll just have to take a shortcut here..." An hour had passed since he had visited the laboratory, and Jin decided to use his magical tools, thinking that he would not get anywhere if he continued his search. Until now, Jin had been searching by himself, partly as a sign of respect for the unknown person who had created this new lineage, but he decided that it was unlikely that he would be able to find it at this rate. "Jin-sama, what are you going to do?" "I''m going to use a magical tool that will help me find what I''m looking for." "If you have such a thing, why didn''t you use it? Rubina reacted naturally, and Jin explained. "One is to pay homage to those who came before us, and the other is that when you are looking for something, you may find something unexpected in addition to what you are looking for. Nowadays, if you don''t know a word, you can just search for it on the Internet, but in the old days, when there were no computers or the Internet, you needed a dictionary to look up an unfamiliar word or phrase. In the process of finding the desired word, we sometimes came across descriptions of other words and increased our knowledge of them as well ....... In fact, Jin, who was looking for magirezin, found scraps of materials they used and pieces of ores. He also found several items in the trash that looked like notes. However, they did not find a single piece of related to the most important objective, the magical resin. "So, I''m going to look for <> to make a magical tool." Jin explained in front of Marikka, Rubina, Gulina and others. "What we are looking for this time is magic resin. It is an unrefined one. But we searched for about an hour and couldn''t find it. Are we clear so far?" Everyone nodded silently. "Since we know what we are looking for, we can think of a way to create a magical tool that reacts to the same thing. As with engineering magic<>, it is difficult to make it react to something you don''t know, but if you have something you know, or a sample, it is much easier. In this case, the sample can be a purified one. There aren''t that many of them anyway." The idea is similar to the <> function in most text editors. Searching for the word <> is not very useful, but for the word <>, the results are much narrower, and you can find the string you are looking for among them. The time and effort required for such a search would be a hundredth or a thousandth of that required for reading down the whole text. It is the same in this case. You only have to pick up the magic resin (magiresin) and look for the one that contains the ingredients before refining. If you don''t find it, you can assume that it is not here in the first place. "Now that we know the principle, how do we look for it?" Rubina asked the obvious question, "Don''t ask me everything, just think about it for a minute. You have ten minutes. In the meantime, I''ll get the ingredients from Hourai Island. Rubina, Gulina, and Marikka were puzzling over what to do. 1959 - - 52-31 What is the origin? Two minutes have passed since Jin gave the three of them their . The old man uses the to send materials such as magi-crystals and light silver. Jin basically does not plan to use any of the materials in this laboratory. Three minutes. "Oh, you mean ......?" Got it? Jin stopped making magic tools and looked back at the owner of the voice, Rubina. "<>......?" But Jin shook his head. "I''m afraid not. But it''s not a bad idea." "Well, then, let''s do a ground search!" When Rubina was denied by Hitoshi, she quickly answered with her next answer. And this time it was Jin who nodded. "Oh, you are right. is a magic to search for substances in the ground, but there is no reason why it can''t be used in a room, right?" "......That''s true. But why bother to make a magic tool?" "Oh, you noticed that. That''s great. ...... is different in a room than in the ground, so it seems more efficient to use a grimoire." Jin explained, praising Rubina for coming up with the correct answer. Meanwhile, his hands did not stop. "Okay, it''s done." Jin did not hesitate to activate the magic tool , although the contents were exposed because he had made it in such a hurry. "This time, I have set the object in the magic resin. I will be able to search for anything in time. Even as he was explaining this, there was a response from the searcher. It uses a method called PPI scope, which displays an object as a light spot in response to the rotation of the antenna. It is the same type of radar system that displays a light spot by rotating a line of light on a round screen. "Well, there are three over here." Jin walked to a corner of the room. There was a broken magic tool lying there. "It seems that magic resin is used in these tools. "Ah, yes!I''ll get rid of it! Rubina came forward, so Jin decided to leave it to her. "This way next." In a pile of dust in another corner, he found a pea-sized maggirezine. "The last one is over here." At the entrance to the room where Jin and the others had entered, two pieces of magic resin the size of a cut fingernail were found wedged between the cracks in the door. "If they''re this small, no wonder we can''t find them even if we''re vaguely looking for them." Rubina found three pieces the size of pachinko balls. She also found one the size of a small pea and two the size of a cut fingernail. "Well, that''s all the clues we have. Let''s analyze it for now. ......<>>>>>>...... I see." Of the six pieces of magical resin (magirezin) found, it turns out that the piece the size of a cut fingernail found in the doorway seems to be the magical resin (magirezin) that you were looking for. "There are unknown impurities." < is what we know. In this sense, it may be said that this magic searches the dictionary of the surgeon''s knowledge. In other words, there were substances that Jin did not know. "I will bring it back to Horai Island and have the old man analyze it. Jin decided to go back to the lab now that he had found a clue, because he wanted to leave the remains of the lab as it was. Marikka and the others had no objection. Rather, they looked as if they wanted to know the result of the analysis as soon as possible. * * * * * * * * * * * * <. Jin immediately gives the sample to the old man. "What do you think, Mr. Old?" < Alkaloids are a general term for nitrogen-containing basic compounds found in plants. Many of them have various effects on the human body. Morphine, nicotine, cocaine, etc. are examples. . "Atropine. ...... I''ve heard of it. Is it the poison contained in <>?" < Hashiridokoro is a wild plant that grows soft green shoots in early spring. It is also a poisonous herb that many people accidentally pick when picking wild vegetables and get poisoned. <<<< Wise Man (Mags)>>The structural formula was found in a book that Shuki Tsetsi had. "Oh, I see..." << "Yes, and?" < "North of the Kruger Mountains, maybe?" <> "I see. ......" Anyway, this narrows down the search area considerably. "Let''s try looking north of the village of Kaina first." The old man said, "There is a possibility that the extraction of magical resin was an industry in the village. "Yes, that is possible." <. "All right, let''s go to the village of Kaina. Kaina village. The nostalgic sound of the village made Jin eager to visit it. "Last time I was just a visitor, but this time, as the third generation , I can openly use Nidou Castle as my base. Of course, I''m taking Rubina, Grina, Marikka, and the others with me. "This is the village where Jin-sama started out, isn''t it?I want to go there! Rubina is excited. "The village of Kaina... ...... I miss it so much! Marikka said nostalgically. And Gulina too, "I''d love to go with you to the origin of Jin-sama! Marikka said nostalgically, "I miss Kaina village. The next day, they made a simple preparation for the next day''s trip to the hotel. The next day, after getting ready, Jin, Reiko, Rubina, Grina, Marikka, and the others went to the warp gate of Nido Castle. It is 9:00 a.m. local time. "Welcome, everyone." Butler C greeted the group, with the five-colored golem maid standing behind him. Jin and the others headed for the village chief''s house, saying that they would stay the night. But... Jin had been fed up the last time he had been here, and he had forgotten that the workshop that he used to use ...... had been permanently preserved as a memorial museum. "Wow, this is the origin of the Magecraft Meister!" This is a historical museum! "It brings back memories!" Everyone except Jin and Reiko were excited. "......" Jin was embarrassed and kept silent. 1960 - - 52-32 To the North Forest The group was greeted by the village chief, Gaisak. "Well, well, well. Gentlemen, welcome to the village of Kaina. I am village headman Gaisak. They had missed him the last time they had visited with Rhodes. Gaisak had gray hair and gray eyes, was in his mid-forties, small and stout, and gave the impression of a man from a rural village. "Nice to meet you. I am , and I have recently become the third generation of . Jin Nidoh now gave his real name. The idea was that this would make people think that the Magecraft Meister and Jin Nido were one and the same. "Oh!At last we have a new Magecraftsman, don''t we? Yes. So I thought I''d drop by and say hello. "That''s very kind of you. ...... is the day of the visit of Mr. Ellis, isn''t it? "What about ......?" Jin did not know who was. (...... father, the current lord of Kaina village) "Oh, you don''t know?He is the lord of Kaina Village, a descendant of the second generation Jin. Reiko''s whispering and the village chief''s explanation were almost simultaneous. "Oh, is that so?" Jin could only reply, "Oh, I see. "Well, it''s a coincidence that you came here today if you didn''t know. "Well, what kind of person is this Mr. Ellis? Jin asked again, trying to gather information here. "Eris Nido-sama is the lord of this village of Kaina, as he has been since the first Jin Nido-sama. I am the chief of the village as a deputy. "I see." Now I understand the situation a little better. Master Ellis will arrive this evening. I understand. There is still some time left before the current lord arrives. Once Jin and the others heard this, they parted from the village chief and returned to Nido Castle. "Well, what shall we do now? After settling down in the drawing room of Nido Castle, Jin and the others discussed the next day''s plans. "We have two choices: to meet or not to meet. I would recommend that we meet. Unusually, Reiko was the first to speak. "Because there are many advantages to getting to know the current lord here in the future. Of course, there are some disadvantages. The disadvantage is that there will be more ties. But since they are descended from blood relatives, Jin is not likely to be able to cut them off. "Well, I guess I''ll have to see him." Marikka, Rubina, and Grina did not object to Jin''s decision. They were in a comfortable position. However, no one could have foreseen that this decision would have drastically changed the fate of one of them. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After having lunch at Nido Castle, Jin and his team set out to investigate the main objective, the magical resin. "Let''s check the forest north of the village of Kaina. Jin said, "Father, I heard that a blow floater has been placed there since the other day. Reiko told me. "Oh, I see. That''s very clever." < Of course, only Jin and his people can use it. So, Hitoshi... So Jin decided to use the blow floaters at Nido Castle. "Oh, this is nice." The machine is labeled <>. The <> is a sea gull, by the way. It is a six-seater, equipped with a force field generator, a gravity-controlled magic device, and a transfer gate, and Jin had donated a similar model to the Nordic Federation. The pilot this time is Reiko. "Okay, let''s go." floated up and headed north toward the forest. "Wow, this is a nice view! Rubina is excited. Jin also enjoyed the view of the village of Kaina for the first time in a long time. "Father, where are we going?" Reiko asked after flying for a while. A coniferous forest spread out below us. "...... Oh shit. I forgot to ask the village chief about the magic resin. "Oh, that''s right." It seems that I had heard about the current lord, Eris, and had forgotten about the other matter. Since it would be inefficient to turn back now, they decided to investigate on their own first. "Well, let''s go a little further north. "Yes, let''s go a little further north." "Okay." Jin thought that the concentration of free magic element (ether) used to be higher in the northern part of the country, although it has improved a lot now, and that the plants in the northern part of the country might contain more free magic element (ether) due to the effect of the higher concentration. flew over the coniferous forest zone and entered the plains. If he continued his flight, he would pass through the Pazdekst isthmus and arrive at the continent of Gondor, or the Nordic Federation. "Well, ...... Reiko, do you feel something like a singularity with the <>?" "Yes,...... sure, I feel something a little more prominent at this end." Reiko pointed to a coniferous forest at the southern foot of Mount Tahoka, a 5,000-meter-high mountain. "Okay, let''s go there." So < starts to descend. "Oh, there is a small meadow there. Let''s go down there." "Okay." It was an open meadow about 100 meters in diameter. Even though it was late April, there were still remnants of winter in this area, and the grass had not yet sprouted. "I wonder if there are any around here?" Grina looked at the coniferous trees surrounding the meadow. "There are a lot of pinnatifers around here." Glina seems to know a lot about plants. "We can expect to see pinacea growing alongside the white beech. So the group decided to go for a walk around the meadow. "There are a lot of <>. ...... Here is a <>. ...... here are all <>. ......" But at the northern end of the meadow, "There it is!!" "Oh, so this is it. ...... Reiko, do you feel anything?" "Yes, I do. ...... Indeed, the concentration of free magic element (ether) in the entire tree seems to be denser than in the surrounding area. Hearing this, Grina said, "Jin-sama, this may have a particularly good affinity with free magical element (ether). Jin said. "I see. If we can get some saplings, we should try growing them on Horai Island as an experiment. Jin thought that the climate would be manageable above the mid-slope of Mount Horai. "But first, let''s try to extract the resin from this tree. 1961 - - 52-33 Ellis Sap is a mysterious substance that is not contained in the tree but is secreted only when the tree is damaged. In an experiment with lacquer trees, they cut down the trees and used a press to squeeze out the water and sap, but the amount of sap was nowhere near the amount of lacquer sap that could be collected in the usual way. In other words, the most efficient way to collect sap is to cut the bark and collect the sap that seeps out of it. "......This one tree will take too much time, let''s see if we can find more." "Yes." Jin and the others scratched the tree they had found, tied a sap receiver to it, and then looked around for more trees. As a result, we found 4 trees around the meadow and set the sap receptors on them. Jin checked other places to see if there were any more, and found that they were scattered around the island, so he decided to call > from Horai Island and have him collect them. Jin and the others take back only what they have collected this time as a sample. They obtained about a cupful of raw material of . "With this much, we should be able to conduct at least a verification experiment. It was 3:00 in the afternoon. If they returned to Nido Castle, the current lord, Eris, would have arrived by now. "Let''s go home." Yes. Thus, with some success, Jin and the others returned to Nido Castle. * * * * * When Jin and his party landed in front of Nido Castle in , the current lord Ellis and his party had just arrived there. The village chief, Geisak, is also there and welcomes them. "...... You''re the new in the hangar. "This is Reiko. She is an automata. My name is Reiko. Oh, my, you are a lovely young lady. Reiko, ...... you have the same name as your predecessor''s daughter Reiko, don''t you? Uh... ...... Jin wondered how to explain, but before he could give an answer, "Grandmother, I''ve put the car away." A young man came to him, saying, "Thank you for your help. "Thank you for your help. Freddy, this is Mr. Jin, the third generation Magecraft Meister, and his friends. "...... I see. I am ...... Freddy Nido." Freddy is a young man of about 20 years old with blond hair and blue eyes like Elise. When Maricka and the others had finished saying their names, Butlers B and C, who were in charge of Nido Castle, arrived. "Welcome, Mr. Ellis! "Come this way, Mr. Jin." Ellis and his friends were escorted into the castle by Butler B and Jin and his friends by Butler C. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and the others were talking in their guest room. "...... Is that the current lord?" "He looks somewhat like Erza-san, doesn''t he?" "......Yes." Jin nodded at Marikka''s words. "But that grandson Freddy seemed to be staring at you. Reiko nodded at Marikka''s words. "Yes, he was definitely staring at his father. "I don''t ...... know anything about that. We''ve never met before," Jin said. "Well, that''s all right. It''s just this one time, right?" Rubina said, taking it easy. "I don''t think that''s going to happen." Jin explains to Rubina. "How do you explain the fact that we can freely use the facilities of Nido Castle and even the warp gate?" "Oh, I see." "Well, I guess we can declare that even the third generation can use such facilities. "What''s wrong with that?" Rubina has more ideas for making things than anyone else, but she is still a child and has yet to learn how to play the game in human society. Jin, too, is not at a level that he can boast about to others. "I''m sure you''ll be asked a lot of questions about my background and past," he said. For Ellis, these are people who may share a distant ancestry ....... Even Greena has a family name of <<>. It''s funny not to notice. "If I knew their personalities, I could deal with them a little better. As we were talking about this, there was a knock at the door. "Excuse me, sir." When I opened the door, I saw that it was Butler C. He said, "Dinner will be ready soon. Dinner will be ready soon. So, Mr. Ellis would like to have dinner with us, if you don''t mind. Jin thought for a moment, and then replied, "Then, I would like to join you. I''m sorry for asking you out. I''m sorry I forced you to come with me. When he met Jin and the others in the cafeteria, Ellis said as soon as he opened his mouth. "No, please don''t worry about it." Marikka, not Jin, replied. By appearances alone, the two look to be about the same age. On the other hand, her grandson Freddy said "...... why the hell are you the third generation? He glared at Jin. Oh, I see.) Jin could understand the feeling, but in reality, he is not the third generation, but the second generation himself, so he is at a loss as to why. "...... d*mn it ...... why don''t I have any talent for magical engineering ......" Freddy looks frustrated. (I see, you are also frustrated because you can''t become a Magecraft Meister.) Jin feels a little sympathy for Freddy. (In that case, should he tell them that he is the second generation of the Nido family, not the third?) ) Then he also thought that as long as Jin is around, no one can become a , so he should not have to feel regret ......, but he wondered if that would help those who are already feeling regretful.(? (......?But Freddy is ......) Jin noticed something and looked up to confirm it, "Enough! He heard an exasperated voice of Grina saying, "That''s enough! 1962 - - 52-34 Freddy Just as Greiner was about to shout, the food arrived. "Here you go, sir." "......" Glina seemed distracted and sat down again, looking a little bloated. The menu consisted of rice, miso soup with tofu and wakame seaweed, grilled river fish, meat and potatoes, boiled wild vegetables, and pickles. The tea was hojicha. "Let''s eat first. Freddy, right? "...... yes." Ellis smiled softly and picked up the chopsticks. They were beautifully painted chopsticks that he had brought with him. "Are these your own chopsticks?" Jin asked. "Yes. Yes. I learned them from my ancestors." Jin reflected on his own character, thinking that he might say something like that. Then they picked up the chopsticks provided. "Oh, what''s that?" "Yes, we keep these chopsticks for ourselves. These chopsticks are also finished in black lacquer. "Well, that''s nice, isn''t it?" Ellis looked impressed. Then, "Please eat it before it gets cold. the golem maid called out to them, and Jin and the others began to eat. Eris''s use of chopsticks was sophisticated, indicating that she had been trained in the use of chopsticks for generations. As I was thinking that, "The way you hold your chopsticks is very beautiful, Jin-san. Jin laughed inwardly when he was complimented on the contrary. On the other hand, my grandson Freddie''s hand was neither good nor bad. The grilled river fish was very easy to eat because the guts had been removed. Everyone ate it clean. Jin was again impressed by how deftly Ellis avoided small bones with chopsticks. * * * * Jin and the others resumed chatting over a cup of hojicha (Japanese green tea) after the meal. Jin-san and the others had just arrived by a blow floater, right? Ah, the <>. That''s a piece of equipment here at Nido Castle. "Your father designed it, though." When Jin answered, Reiko quickly added, "Well, well, well. "Well, well, well, you''re the Magecraft Meister!Freddie. "...... yes." Before the meal, Freddy had looked at Jin with contempt, but when he saw Reiko standing by his side and heard that she had designed a blow floatation machine, he became much more subdued. He must have realized Jin''s ability, or at least that he was not as good as him. Since Freddy has calmed down, Gulina does not rehash what he said before the meal and is chatting with Rubina. Then Ellis told Marikka, "Did Mr. Jin learn magical engineering from Marikka-sama after all? Marikka asks. This would be a reasonable question for this group of people. But Marikka answered honestly "No, no, I learned it from her. Marikka answered honestly, "No, no, I was the one who taught me. "What?" "......... ......" Marikka had inadvertently told the truth. "What do you mean?" As expected, Elise was confused. "Well, this Jin-sama here is the very same Jin-sama who was the about 400 years ago. Then Marikka told him the truth. "What do you mean? Look at Ellis, who is flustered, (ah...... well,<>) ), and Jin reopened his mouth to say that he''s had enough of the deception. "Actually, ......" * * * * "...... and that''s why I am Jin Nido himself." Jin spent about half an hour explaining his origin to Ellis and Freddy. The tea was getting cold, and the golem maid replaced it. "Did that ...... happen?" "Did that happen ......?" Ellis and Freddy both looked as if they couldn''t believe what they had heard. No wonder. "A Magecraft Meister is anything but a Magecraft Meister, isn''t it? "Well, normally people wouldn''t believe a story like this. Jin laughs bitterly, It''s true. This man is definitely Jin-sama, the creator of us all. Yes, I assure you. "Yes, I guarantee it." "We guarantee it, too." Butler B, C, Marikka, and the five colored golem maids assured him. "Yes, we believe you. Ellis said in a firm voice. "I believe you, too. Freddy followed with straight eyes. Jin was relieved. "Besides, Jin-san ......, should I call you Jin-sama?" Jin laughed when Elise asked him what she should call him, Jin laughed and assured her, "You can call me the same as before. Jin laughed and assured her, "I''m fine with the way I am now. "So, Jin-san, ...... and the others used the warp gate to come here, didn''t they?" "That''s right." "...... that proves it. Such an artifact-class magic tool should only be used by its creator, the Magecraft Meister, and those who are related to him. In fact, neither I nor Freddy could use it," Eris said. "Since you can use it, then you must be the real thing. Oh, it''s a pleasure to meet you, Ancestor!" "Ancestors? ......" When Jin scratches his head in embarrassment, Ellis says further. "Yes, you can''t really feel it, since you haven''t seen your children''s faces in person, as you said before, can you? "Well, that''s what I mean." Jin was relieved that she understood. At the same time, he could be sure that this person would not go around spreading rumors about him. But it would be more difficult to believe such a story, I think. I am sure that he/she would not go around spreading the word about himself/herself. As a side note, if Ellis and Freddie were to do something against Jin''s interest, the old man seemed to be ready to use the forbidden spell <> even if he would be reprimanded by Jin later. 1963 - - 52-35 Pong Lai. Eris and Freddie recognize Jin as the second generation , and both look at him with respect. "So, Jin-san is from ?" "Yes, I suppose so." Jin also seems to have decided to be polite to Eris, who is older than him. "Oh, I like ...... Horaijima. I''d like to go there once. It''s where our ancestors came from, isn''t it?" Eris seemed to be sincerely interested in going there as she muttered to herself. "...... Jin-sama, can you grant my grandmother''s wish?" said Freddy, her grandson. "Well, I apologize again and again for my earlier rude remark!Please grant my grandmother''s wish! This is exactly the kind of grandson who cares for his grandmother Elise. "......I don''t think there''s anything wrong with that." Jin answered honestly. "Well!That''s very nice of you. I''d love to have you! Eris looked really happy. < has passed, Jin wants to do something for the descendants left behind. It is not only financially, but also in various forms of assistance. Jin thought that if the two of them could be a little clearer about who they are, they would be able to decide what kind of assistance they would provide. "Thank you!I was out of my mind earlier. I''ve wanted to be a since I was a little girl, and I studied engineering magic very hard, but I just couldn''t get any better, so I took it out on you.... ..." Freddy bows his head. I know how you feel, "Oh, I don''t need to talk about it anymore. Jin declared that he did not care about that. Then.... "Well, Mr. Freddie, are you not good at magic engineering ......? someone asked him straightforwardly. It was Gulina. "...... yes, I am. ......" Freddy answers with a sad face and voice. "Oh, no, no, I mean ......". (Yes, ......) The gap between his voice and the one he had just shouted out was too big, and Greener was a little taken back. In his place, Hitoshi explains what she might have meant. "No, Freddy seems to have enough potential for magical engineering. "What?" Freddy''s reaction to Jin''s words was confusion. "No, because your magic power is very similar to Jin-sama''s. Really? Really? And this is Greena. "Oh, what did you say about my magic? "I said, ...... you look a lot like Master Jin." "How do you ...... know that?" Freddy, perhaps deciding that it wasn''t polite to call him "you," almost amended himself. "How can you not ...... know that?" This is Rubina. She couldn''t keep her mouth shut anymore. "It seems that ...... you didn''t have a good teacher, Freddy," she said. Now Marikka whispers in a gentle voice. "It''s not a question of having a good or a bad teacher, but more a question of compatibility," Marikka continues. Marikka continues. "There are people who are theoretical ......, people who are sensible, people who are good at teaching, people who are bad at teaching, people who are not good at teaching, people who are not good at teaching. Gulina agrees, "No, that''s true, but I think it''s better to be taught by someone who is well versed in <." Many mages tend to emphasize results and disregard the process. However, Jin believed that could reach a higher level if it was built on a foundation of science. does not ignore the laws of physics, but controls them, and knowledge of the laws of physics will enable the more efficient use of magic. But since the <>, there is no one left on the stage who can teach science. Whether they have been literally erased or are in seclusion somewhere, we do not know. I am sure <> will look into it in the future. "Is that what you mean ......?" Hearing Jin''s words, Freddy was deep in thought. Jin thought it would be nice to teach him magical engineering if he had the chance. "By the way, Jin-san, what were you doing in the village of Kaina?" Eris asked Jin. "Well, I''m looking for a special magil resin, and I heard that its origin is in the northern region, so I thought I''d come here first. "Well, of course. So, did you get the results? "Yes, I got the samples, that''s all." That''s good to hear. I''m going to conduct a confirmation experiment on Horai Island tomorrow. You must be a very diligent researcher. Through these conversations, Jin developed a liking for this elderly woman named Elise. Her quietness, modest gestures, and refined manner. And her looks, which made him feel a blood relationship with her. (It''s somewhat comforting ......) Jin felt the same sense of security in Eris that he felt when he talked with his past acquaintances such as Martha, Mine, the emperor, and Milowina. This may have been the mother figure that Jin had been looking for. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was getting late at night, so Jin, Eris, and the others went back to their rooms. Jin-sama, that Mr. Ellis is such a nice man. Rubina seemed to like him too. "...... that Freddy is a bit of a pity." Grina seems to be interested in Freddy. "Yes, he is. He seems to have a lot of magic power, but he can''t seem to control it. I know I said he''s not a good match, but his teacher must have been a pretty lax person." Jin thinks it would be a shame to let such great talent go unused. "If possible, I would like to train him on Horai Island, Onogoro Island, or in the Nord Federation. Jin says, "You can take care of it at my place, "You can take care of it at my place," Marikka answered with a smile. Marikka answered with a smile. * * * * * * * * * * The next day, April 29, after breakfast, Jin told Ellis and Freddy, "Then, let''s go to Horai Island using the warp gate here. He invited them to go to Horai Island. "Well, we can really go there." "......There''s no danger, is there?" Elise is simply delighted, while Freddy is a little wary. "Of course it is." The man who had agreed to do it was.., "Well, then, this way," he said. He leads them to the in Nido Castle. 1964 - - 52-36 Laboratory bustle "...... Wait a minute. The Warp Gate here can only work with the magical power of the 2nd Magecraft Meister, that is, Master Jin, can''t it?Can we use it too?" Freddy hesitated to enter the room. "Well, well, that''s a thrill, isn''t it?" But Eris entered the warp gate room unprotected. Freddy sees this and rushes after her. "Don''t worry. You''ll be fine with me and Reiko. Jin decided to explain about security. "Well, the warp gate here is connected to a relay base called Shinkai. There, you will transfer to the warp gate to Horai Island. Jin first gives a brief explanation of the system. "As Freddy said, this warp gate reacts to the waveform of <> magic. It also has an authentication function so that it can''t be abused in any case. And Rubina, Grina and Marikka have the magic tools to pass the authentication function, so they can pass through without any problem," Jin said. "By the way, this Reiko was made by , so she has the same magic waveform as me, so she can pass through without any problem," Jin said. ...... Come on, let''s go." "...... what?Oh, wait a minute. ......" Before Freddie could fully digest Jin''s explanation, Jin and Reiko stepped into the warp gate with Eris and Freddie by their sides. In an instant, the group is transported to the warp gate of the . "This is the Shinkai. The two guarding it will be Battlers 49 and 50." Seeing Jin and the others arrive, the two approached and introduced themselves. "Now, this is the warp gate to Horai Island. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, let''s go..." Grandmother! Without any time for Freddy to stop her, Elise rushed into the warp gate. Naturally, nothing happened. The same is true even if Freddy follows him. But then Jin and Reiko enter, and if you take their hands ....... "Oh?" Eris shouted as she felt the view of the room from inside the warp gate change in an instant. The scenery outside had hardly changed at all during the trip from Nido Castle to , but not this time. The warp gate room on Horai Island was made of a different material and stone. Jin urged Eris and Freddie to go out of the warp gate. Five seconds later, Marikka, Rubina, and Grina also arrive. Jin then uttered his usual line. Welcome to Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * And the group went out of the institute. It is around 10:30 a.m. in Horai Island due to the time difference. "Well, well, here is Horai Island ...... we finally made it. Thank you, Mr. Jin. Elise''s eyes were filled with emotion, and there were glowing drops in them. But it was short-lived. "Welcome, Mr. Jin!" "What? Freddie was surprised to see the leaders of the five colored Golem Maids, Soleil, Luna, Lao Tzu, and the leaders of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Navy Golems all gathered here. "This, this is ......." "These are the members of Horai Island, just a few of them." Jin said admonishingly to Freddy''s pale face. "Well, well, well ...... well, well, it''s nice to meet you." Ellis returned them a polite greeting and then turned to Jin, Jin-san, once again, thank you for inviting us to Horai Island. He bowed once again. * * * * Jin and his colleagues were chatting in the cafeteria of the institute. They had planned to show them around Horai Island, but Ellis and Freddy were more impressed than they had expected. Freddy doesn''t talk much, but I can tell by the look on his face that he is still excited. "I''m not a god either, and I can''t do everything, but I''d be happy to help if I or any of my < descendants are in need." "Thank you. I''m not in any ...... particular ...... trouble." Ellis smiled thinly. I have heard that the Nido family of Ellis and Freddy are now settled in Charles, a provincial town in the Kingdom of Klein. The tax revenue from the village of Kaina is said to be enough to keep them fed. His only worry is that he has not made a name for himself as a magecraftsman for generations. "It''s a shame, because we are the family that produced the <>." According to Ellis, it was about 50 years ago that he moved to the town of Charles because he couldn''t stay in the capital, Alban, as a result of the whispering of such gossip. "It was my grandfather''s generation," he said. "That ...... must have been a very difficult time for you. Jin had to say. "But I''m sure Freddy will be a great help to the Nido family from now on. At this point, Freddy opened his mouth. "Jin-sama,...... really, do I have talent?If so,...... or even if you don''t, please train me. Please! He is as sincere as if he were a different person than when we first met. At first, he thought that his grandmother Elise was being played by unknown people. Freddy''s parents, Ellis''s son and his wife, died early, so he was raised by his grandmother, Ellis. No wonder he became a grandmother''s son. Ellis, too, had lost his companion early in life. "Yeah, it''s okay. You''ve got the right stuff. Have confidence." Jin nodded his head. Then he said, "Well, I was going to show you around the island, but I think we should have lunch first. He smiled and said, "Well, I was going to show you around the island, but I think we should have lunch first. Lunch was a buffet. The lunch menu was a buffet, or buffet as it was called. In other words, we could choose as much or as little food as we liked from several dishes prepared for us. The staple dishes were white rice, porridge, and rice cooked with sweet potatoes. And miniature cobbler buns. These are plain or with passa (raisins). Miso soup with fried bean curd and green onion, nunawa (water spinach) and local bamboo shoots, and vegetable soup. Side dishes are vegetable tempura, meat and potato stew, cow beef stew, sweet omelet, fried white fish, fried kokarisk (chicken), pig jang jee (pork with ginger). And boiled rice, pickled vegetables, dried plums. Desserts: apurul, persika, citran, loquat. Drinks were cold water, hojicha, green tea, tea (taeye), kuuhae, aprul juice, citran juice, lemonade. "Wow, this, this, this and this ......." Rubina''s eyes light up as she puts her favorites on the tray. "Rubina, no one will take anything, so take as much as you can eat first. "...... yes!" Rubina calmed down a little after Marikka''s rebuke. "Well, well, Jin-san''s place has an abundance of ingredients, doesn''t it?" Elise smiled and discreetly, but fully loaded the tray with a variety of food. "......What is this?" Freddy wondered as he looked at the nunawa (water shield) and bamboo shoots, "It''s called nunawa, a special water vegetable of Huso," Gulina told him. Gulina told him. Junsai is a water plant similar to water lily and grows in freshwater ponds. The buds and the underside of the young leaves are thickly covered with an agar-like mucilage and have a slimy texture. As Grina said, it is a specialty of Huso, but it is also cultivated to some extent on Penglai Island. I like it." "I like it." ...... "Well, I''ll try it." Freddy put a tray of nunawa and bamboo shoots on the tray. "Oh, I''d love to eat all of it, but I can''t stomach that much!" Rubina rubbed her stomach with a frustrated look on her face. "Take it easy. <." "Yes. ......" "Jin-san, this takikomi gohan is delicious too." Elise ate slowly and elegantly, especially liking the rice cooked with itpo (sweet potato). "...... this nunawa, it''s slimy and delicious." "Isn''t it?It has a very interesting texture. Freddy and Grina are drinking the nunawa and the soup with local bamboo shoots and discussing their impressions. Jin has already finished eating and is drinking hojicha (roasted green tea). For the first time in a long time, the island of Horaijima became lively. 1965 - - 52-37 Towards the Sea "Let''s go to Tatsumi Bay first after we take a break for a while. Jin mentioned the sightseeing plan of Horai Island. "It looks like the fishponds have been finished, and seaweed and oysters are starting to grow. We can take a boat ride," Jin said, "Oh, I want to go on a battleship! Rubina says. Jin smiles bitterly. Well, that''s okay.) Jin thought that if Rubina was having a good time, that was fine with him. "We''ll leave it to you, Jin-san. He said this in a very modest manner. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The trip to Tatsumi Bay was made by car. The driver was Hope. The view of rice fields, orchards, and fields on either side of the road was a tourist attraction. It has been five months since the beginning of the year. The fields and rice paddies that had been idle are now in operation again, and the orchards have been cleaned up. "Well, the rice fields are beautiful. Since Horai Island belongs to the subtropical zone, rice planting has already finished, and the rice paddies that have become a are a sight for sore eyes. "Ah, an egret!" Rubina shouted. Her gaze fell on a white, long-necked, long-legged bird. The one on Horai Island is a little egret. It is easily recognized by its crown feathers on the back of its head. In fact, there is no heron whose official name is <. <......< or is a generic name for white-colored egrets. In addition to the little egret, there are also the chusagi and the great egret, but only the little egret was found on Horai-jima Island. "They are probably looking for loaches or frogs in the rice paddies." Because no pesticides are used, the island is home to many such small animals. Pests are removed by hand as soon as they are found. Topaz and the others. Diseases were prevented by using sterilization. "Well, this is an advanced farming method, isn''t it?" Jin explained, and Ellis nodded his head in admiration. "I think this is the only place in the world where you can get rid of pests <>by hand." The 100 golem maids of Topaz in charge of agriculture, and sometimes land troops, craftsmen (Smith), little craftsmen (Smith), and mini-craftsmen (Smith) were also sent out to do the work. This is certainly the only place in the world where such unprofitable farming is practiced. Beyond the rice paddies, there are wheat fields and orchards. White flowers of citran (orange) were blooming and beautiful butterflies were dancing. But swallowtail butterfly larvae eat citran leaves, right? So you have to thin out the leaves moderately or you will lose them, Jin said. "Oh, dear, you leave a few instead of taking all of them. That''s very kind of you." "Yes, well." Yes, well," Jin replied, "I''ll miss the butterflies. The car carrying the group drove down a gentle slope and approached the seaside. The scent of the sea wafted through the air. Oh, that''s the sea. I saw it once when I was ...... young." The Kingdom of Klein has no sea, so you can''t see the sea unless you travel abroad. "It''s beautiful. ......" Ellis gazed at the sea, which was getting closer and closer. "Well, straight ahead is the beach, to the right is the fish pond, and to the left is the harbor. Let''s start with the fish tank. Hope, please." Yes, sir. At the three-way intersection, turn right first. "There is a fish pond ahead, where fish are farmed. We call it aquaculture, but it''s more like keeping a specific kind of fish in the bay with nets and boundaries. Jin explained politely. "That''s a very large scale aquaculture!" Freddy was indeed surprised. "If we have too many, we can release them. "Oh, yes, that''s right. Yes, we release them as needed so that we don''t have too many to eat. Unlike fruits and grains, living things cannot be preserved. After that, we watched the seaweed and oyster cultivation, and headed toward the beach along the sea. Our destination was the harbor. The car carrying Jin and his group was coming to the port of Tatsumi Bay. The water here is so deep that even a 200-meter class battleship can easily navigate. The battleship is now anchored in the harbor. "...... is this ...... the ...... ship?" Freddy exclaimed as he saw for the first time in his life a 200 meter long all-metal ship. "My goodness, you built this too, Jin-san!That''s amazing!" Ellis, on the other hand, had a twinkle in his eye. "Would you like to try it?" "Yes, by all means!" Ellis was the most excited of the group. Freddy was looking at him with a complicated expression on his face. "Oh, so this is how it''s going to be! Rubina was also excited, running around the deck, peeking inside the ship and asking questions to the mariners there. Ellis, on the other hand, was standing near the bow, staring out to sea with a satisfied smile on his face. Seeing this, Jin decided to take the <> out to sea instead of the planned <> excursion. "Marine 5, get the Hotaka out of the water." "Yes, Master." At Jin''s request, Hotaka leaves the harbor and slowly exits Tatsumi Bay. "Wow, that''s great!" Rubina, who has been obsessed with the idea of riding on a battleship, is all excited. I guess she had been reserved the last time I invited her. And Ellis was still standing near the bow. "Mr. Ellis, would you like to go up on the bridge?" "Yes, thank you. Yes, thank you. So we all went up to the bridge. The higher up we were, the better the view was. "Oh, the sea is so blue. And I''ve never known that the horizon is round." Since the curvature of the arcs is greater than that of the earth, the roundness of the horizon becomes more apparent when you climb a little higher. "Our current speed is 50 kilometers per hour. The lack of knots in Ars makes me feel a little less like a sailor, but it makes it easier to understand. "50 kilometers for a ship this size ...... must be amazing." Whatever he sees or hears, it seems to tug at his heartstrings, and Ellis remains impressed. < made a large turn in the open sea and returned to Horai Island. When they arrived at the harbor and disembarked, Ellis looked up at and bowed. "Thank you very much." Jin was somewhat moved by this gesture. 1966 - - 52-38 Ellis talking to himself After getting off the battleship Hotaka, Jin saw that the sun was setting. "Well, let''s go back then. It was a little after 4:00 p.m. "Let''s go back and relax in the hot spring, and then we''ll have dinner. "Yes! Rubina answered cheerfully. Watching her, Elise smiled softly. The return trip to the institute was made in an instant through a warp gate. "If I get ...... used to it, I may never go back to my normal life ......." Freddy is mumbling something like this, but I don''t listen to him, "Please go to Horaijima Onsen." Jin recommended to Ellis. "Ah, hot springs are nice, aren''t they?" Jin was in the men''s bath with Freddy. "......You really are a <>. ......" Freddy looked a little down. Jin was concerned about his condition, "What''s wrong?" "What''s wrong? "No, I just realized how small my world was until now. < "But that was normal. But it was natural. There was no way I could do it. Jin told Freddy as if admonishing him. "It''s good to be sorry, but it''s not good to be down on yourself. Not knowing is not a shame in itself. What is shameful is ." "Not trying to know: ......" "Yes. Now you have the opportunity. Are you willing to do it?" "...... Yes. But can you do it? Freddy looked unsure, even though Jin had told him. "That''s up to you. ......My wife, Elsa, started studying magical engineering when she was 16 years old. And yet she became a full-fledged engineer. ......You learned earlier, so you should have a good foundation." Even at that, Freddy still seemed to be in low spirits. (Hmmm......... I''m halfway knowledgeable, so I guess I''ve atrophied when I saw Horaijima.........) ) Jin wondered how he should educate Freddie about his difficult personality. On the other hand, at the women''s bathhouse. "Oh, the water is so nice! Marikka talks to Elise who is relaxing in the bathtub. "How old are you, Mr. Ellis? It''s not rude, I suppose, since the man is not asking how old he is. I''ll be sixty this year. "Oh, I see. ......" "You are 10 years older than my grandmother!" Rubina, who was listening to this, interrupted. "Oh, Rubina, your grandmother is 50 years old?" "Yes!" Rubina answered cheerfully, but then fidgeted a little, "...... Well, can I call you Grandma Elise?" She asked. Elise smiled and nodded. "Yes, please. Rubina." "Thank you, Grandma Ellis!" Marikka looked at her with a smile, (......I think she looks a little pale for a ...... sixty-year-old. ......) ), but she was a little concerned about it. And Greener, "I guess so. ......" She was relaxing on the edge of the bathtub, stretching her arms and legs, thinking to herself. * * * * * * "Oh, this is delicious. After the bath, fruit juice is served. Since dinner was about to be served, it was a small bottle of 100 milliliters. The citran flavor, combined with the slight carbonation, makes a pleasant sensation in the throat. After changing in the changing room, I went outside. The sky was tinted red by the sunset. "Oh ...... it''s so beautiful. ......" Looking up at the sky, Ellis mutters to himself in a small voice. (I have nothing left to think about. ......) No one was listening to her ......, only the old man. * * * * Dinner was served in Japanese style: white rice, matsutake mushroom soup, broiled eel, tempura wild vegetables, butterbur miso, and oshinko (Japanese pickles). Incidentally, the matsutake mushrooms were imported from Onogoro Island in the southern hemisphere this autumn. "Ah Jin-san, this kabayaki is delicious! Elise seemed to like the kabayaki very much. Stream eels are river fish that live in the lower reaches of the Erme River in the village of Kaina. They are called mountain stream eels because they do not go down to the sea. They are relatively easy to cultivate, and the village of Kaina is considering raising them. "But I didn''t know they could be so tasty. ......" The taste is enhanced by the secret sauce and a sprinkling of hajikami (Japanese pepper) powder. "I love these matsutake mushrooms! "They are delicious!" Rubina and Grina love the taste and aroma of matsutake mushrooms from their hometown. Butterbur miso has a nice bitterness to it. And Marikka seemed to be enjoying the bitterness of the butterbur miso. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After dinner, we finished with buckwheat tea. "Can you make such a delicious tea from buckwheat seeds? ......" "It''s delicious, Grandma." Elise and Freddy also liked the buckwheat tea. "We used to serve buckwheat tea at Nido Castle. It seems that somewhere in the past, this tradition was interrupted. However, in the village of Kaina, tea made from the leaves of the Perhia tree, commonly known as the tea tree, is a regular drink and contributes to the health of the villagers. "It''s nice to have good food, clothing, and shelter, isn''t it?" Ellis smiled, his eyes narrowed. That night, everyone felt tired and went to bed early. Only Jin had a short talk with the old man. "...... Mr. Ellis?" "Can you examine him secretly?" "Well, maybe. Well, we can do a physical tomorrow." 1967 - - 52-39 Immediate treatment It is the 30th, the last day of April. "I''m going to have a medical checkup today. Jin announces after breakfast. "Physical checkup? Marikka asks back. "Yes. After all, it''s better to know how one''s body is doing on a regular basis. Incidentally, Lise, a healer-automata who inherited Elsa''s skills, simply applies a <. "...... I''m not going to do it. I''m too old." Eris tries to decline, saying, But Jin said, "It won''t take much time, and we''ll all accept. Lise came over and used the <>. "<><><><><><>" The results of the examination (Diagnose) are immediately available. Mr. Jin has no abnormality. Maricka is in good health. Rubina still has two baby teeth. She will soon have permanent teeth, so please take care to brush her teeth. Ms. Gulina has a slight distortion of her spine. Please be careful not to hunch over. He then proceeded to describe the results of his examinations. Mr. Freddy, you seem to have a little stomach trouble. I will call you later for a healing. And finally, Ellis, looking a little nervous. "You have a bad heart, don''t you, Mr. Ellis? < "......!" Atrial septal defect is a condition in which the heart is born with a hole in the wall between the right and left atria, called the . It accounts for about 6 to 10 percent of congenital heart diseases, and is said to be more common in women than in men, with a male to female ratio of 1:2. Since this is a congenital disease, it cannot be cured by ordinary magic. This is because healing magic enhances the self-repairing function of the living body to the utmost limit. "Grandmother ......!" Freddy had a vague feeling that his grandmother was not in good health, but when the name of the disease was given to her, he lost his color. "Oh, so that''s the name of the disease. Ever since I was a child, I had chest pains when I exercised. I have lived until this age by using healing magic to fool and deceive myself. ......" "What is the cure?" Jin asked the old man with certainty, not letting them all speak. "Okay, do it now." < "......?What? "Mr. Ellis, I''m going to have to ask you to hold still for a moment." Yes, sir. Jin and Reiko led Eris, who had been taken aback by the sudden mention of surgery, to the sofa bed and made her lie down. "Okay, that''s good, old man, Lise." "Yes. We will now start the surgery. The "Mere Old Man" uses the "Peeper" function to see through Elise''s chest to reveal the diseased part. Liese, who has shared this information, prepares a <>. This is an application of the force field generator <>, a technology that can permeate through solids, liquids, and gases and work in the desired position. This technology has made it possible to repair the inside of even huge magi-machines, such as spaceships, without disassembling them. The old man then sends the to the heart of Eris by means of a transporter. is a bio-material used for homunculus, and has the advantage that it does not cause any rejection when used on the human body. When used on the human body, it quickly fuses with the body''s tissues and assimilates over time. This technique was jointly developed by Saki, Erza, and Hanna, and was perfected with the cooperation of the 700672. Liese used this to repair the hole in Eris''s heart in five seconds, painlessly and painlessly. "It''s done." "What, already?" Ellis is astonished because it took less than 30 seconds to repair the hole. Of course it is. The disease that had been eating away at his body for years had disappeared in less than a minute. Liese further treats Ellis. All that remains is to revitalize the weakened heart. ......<>" A gentle light envelops Elise''s entire body. And after the light fades away, there is Eris, looking much better than before. "Ah, ah!My heart seems to have been cleared from my chest!Thank you, Jin-san! "Thank you, Grandmother!Thank goodness ......!" Freddy hugged Elise and expressed his joy. Seeing this, we all smiled. After that, Jin asked Laogun about the origin of this treatment. After that, Jin heard from Lao Kun about the origin of this treatment. "Old man, there was such a treatment method, wasn''t there? "I didn''t know that. ......" << "I see. ......" , his beloved wife, his sister, and his friend. Jin thanked his former friends once again. >, <>, <>, and <>. And moreover, it is impossible without the old man and Liese. This means that the treatment can be done only in Horai Island. < was supposed to be contacted if there was a patient who needed such a treatment. However, the old man said that such a network seems to have disappeared due to the . However, there are a certain number of people who are not satisfied with the healing magic because they need to have it done once a week, the old man explained. Because of the benefits of such healing magic, few patients are seriously ill. "That''s a relief, isn''t it?" While we were talking, Eris and Freddy came up to us and bowed deeply. "Mr. Jin, thank you very much for your kindness. "Mr. Jin, thank you so much for healing my grandmother!" "No, it''s okay. You are my blood ...... relative." He wanted to say "descendant," but he thought that would not be appropriate for the outwardly much older Ellis, so he said "relative. "...... But this island of Horai is truly the home of the Immortals, isn''t it?" Freddy said. "Oh, you know the origin of Horai?" Jin asks in amazement, "Yes. I have read the records and books left by our ancestors. "I see. I see. ...... Okay, then, let''s start Freddy''s education." "...... what?" You want to become an expert in magical engineering, don''t you? Yes, yes! Then let''s start with the prerequisites. Jin leads Freddy to a workshop in the institute. The others did not invite him to join them, but they all followed. 1968 - - 52-40 Difficulties in Education Jin decides to perform an aptitude test on Freddy. "First of all, we need to do . Let''s find out how well he can do this. This is how it started with Erza and with Reinhardt. "It doesn''t matter if you can do it or not, just learn how to do the <>." Jin taught Freddie how to do transinfo. "Uh, like this, right? ......!" Jin asked Reiko to <> it so that he could know the degree of her aptitude. "Father, I think Freddy can make it to level 3." "Oh, that''s good news. Erza was level 3 and Reinhardt was level 2. With subsequent training, they have grown up to level 8 and 7 respectively. Freddie, on the other hand, had proven to be proficient enough to use level 3 at this point in time. Jin was pleased that it was worthwhile to teach him. And so, the training began. "First, the basics. < function? Yes. Yes. Then, let''s have you make a true sphere from this bronze ingot. Training in forming is not only training in the manipulation of magic power, but also in one of the most important aspects of engineering magic, the ability to grasp space. Erza has improved through training in making pen nibs. "Jin-sama, should I practice too?" Rubina asks. "Yes?How long have you been practicing, Rubina?" "What?I haven''t." "Yes. ......" Jin was surprised, "Jin-sama, on Onogoro Island, we have a different curriculum. Marikka explained. "Really, what kind of curriculum?" "Yes. Well, let''s say that instead of actually using magic such as <>, we simulate it in our brains. According to Marikka''s explanation, they wear a headset similar to that used to control a doppelganger, and perform various operations on it. "I see. I see. I guess that would be a good training for the doppelganger style operation. "Yes. I mean ......, it was Jin-sama who invented this ......." "Me?" Jin said he invented it when he was about 50 years old. "I see. I see. That way I can concentrate on my training in a shorter period of time. This training method was originally invented by Jin in the past ...... from the future ...... present time. The present Jin immediately understood its usefulness. "But ...... this one is better in that you can actually see it with your eyes and touch it with your hands." Ultimately, it remains to be seen which one will develop a person''s talents more. "So, Rubina and Gulina, try it too." "Yes?" "Yes." The two listened to Jin''s words. Maricka had long since outgrown that stage, so she was not included. "Well then, try to make a true sphere out of this bronze ingot. "Yes. < Forming. "Oh, wonderful." Both of you have created a perfect sphere in an instant. "Now, give me two of the same size." "Yes. < "Okay. Then, four. Up to this point, both Rubina and Grina have done this without any problem. "Six." "What?......<>...... "Eight." "......<...... Oh, I missed one." "I see. So this is your average ability." "No, no, Master Jin, you can''t use these two as a standard." Jin said this while looking at Rubina and Gulina, but Marikka, who was in a hurry, denied it from the side. "...... No, average doesn''t mean the world, it means ." "Still, these two are top class." "...... I understand." Marikka''s advice made sense to Jin. Then, Rubina called out to him. "Hey, Jin-sama, how many true balls can you make? Gulina joined in, "Let me see how you do it! "Let''s see how you do it!" she says. Freddy, who was practicing, was curious, and even Maricka''s eyes lit up. "...... got it. Reiko, give me a bronze ingot too. "Yes, father." Reiko placed a huge ingot in front of Jin. It was five times larger than the ingot Rubina and the others were handling. Everyone looks at it with rounded eyes. Here we go. ......<>" In an instant, the bronze ingot changes shape and becomes <<40 pieces>> of a perfect sphere. Some of them rolled off the workbench, and Reiko picked them up. "Wow... ......" "This is so ......" "That''s too much!" "......" Rubina, Grina, Marikka, Freddy and the others were half-amazed and half-surprised to learn of Jin''s abilities. "They''re all the same size, beautiful balls. ......" "That''s what Jin-sama is all about. ...... "I''ll do my best!" Freddy, who had been wondering in a corner of his mind why he was doing this, suddenly seemed to be motivated by Jin''s amazing skills. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The day ended with a full day of <> training with lunch in between. Not only Freddy, but also Rubina and Grina were suddenly motivated, and for some reason even Marikka joined in the training to make a true sphere by <>. Meanwhile, Ellis watched his grandchildren with a beaming smile from beginning to end. And the results were good. Maricka can now make 18 spheres at the same time, Rubina 14, and Grina 12, which is a remarkable progress compared to the beginning. And Freddy has the highest increase with 6 true balls. "So this method works after all, doesn''t it?" "Yes. Probably, the overall ability will be improved through the grasping of objects in three dimensions and the mastery of magical manipulation. Jin explained his theory to Marikka. "I see. ...... That''s just as Jin-sama said." "But, why did I recommend simulation before?" Isn''t it because simulation has its advantages? Well, what are the advantages? "Well, I think it''s probably that you can improve your skills in a short period of time." Marikka said that the previous Jin had proposed this method when there was a need to train magicians (magecraftsmen) anyway. Hearing this, Jin guessed that it was probably a time of maturity before the rise of the . It was probably an efficient training method proposed by Jin when there was not enough manpower. However, Jin imagined that somewhere it was distorted and transmitted, and only <> remained. "Education is a difficult thing, isn''t it? Jin felt so deeply. 1969 - - 52-41 Rest After the day''s training, Jin and the others begin to clean up the workshop. Jin turns to Freddy, "All right, let''s check your transinfo aptitude one last time," he said. He said. For some reason, it is known empirically that as one''s <> skill increases, the level of <> also increases. "I understand. ......<>" "<>...... father, you are up to level 4." "Oh, I see." After all, this training has proven to increase the level of <>. "Ah ...... this wasn''t mentioned by <>Jin-sama, wasn''t it ......?" Maricka is impressed. "Hmmm, I wonder about that." Since both of them know that it is them, Jin can''t understand why his former self stopped doing it this way. (Possibly, <> is no longer important for some reason.) It is possible that the priority of <> has been lowered ...... because of the development of magic tools with the effect of <>. Therefore, Jin guessed that the more efficient < method has become the mainstream. When he confirmed his guess with the old man, he said, " < He answered, "You are right, my lord. >. "I suppose so." So, it seems that only new training methods remain. "Then it would make a lot of sense to have Rubina and the rest of the Onogoro Islanders go through this training. < "Well, then, I guess the current curriculum is not suitable." Marikka says apologetically. "Well, it''s hard to say. < is used. Jin said, "If you simply want to exchange knowledge, you don''t need to raise your level. "Level 4 is enough to exchange general knowledge. Jin calmed Marikka by saying that even if she waited for the level to increase naturally, she could go to level 6, which would be enough for subconscious communication, so she should not be so pessimistic. Besides, this kind of education depends on the individual''s aptitude. After she had said that, Reiko called out to her. "Father, the cleanup is complete." Jin''s hands had stopped as he was thinking, and before he knew it, Reiko had cleaned up everything. "Oh, I''m sorry. Thank you, Reiko. ...... Then, let''s take a bath and have dinner." * * * * ......I''m tired. I''m sure you are. Freddy blurted out as he slumped in the hot spring. Jin encouraged Freddy. "But you are definitely growing. Tomorrow we will train you in , and when you have mastered it, the first stage will be over. "Oh, really?" "Yes. Yes, because you will be able to transcribe all the knowledge you need. "Can you progress that fast ......?" But it is not good to be dependent on knowledge. Jin decided to put a nail in the coffin. "But this only works for a handful of people who have the right qualities. It can''t be applied to everyone. Knowledge is a waste if you don''t know how to use it. Is that so? "Yes. So, on the other hand, even if you are taught in a general way, if you are not suited for it, you will not grow. In Freddy''s case, this is the case. "......I''ve been thinking mainly about making things, but maybe we should also think about education. ......" Unlike academia, education in magic is very difficult because of the large differences among individuals. Perhaps, <> Jin imagined that he would have reached such a state by the time he was 40 or 50 years old. In the women''s baths, on the other hand, the women''s baths were very difficult. Meanwhile, in the women''s bath. "...... I didn''t think it would be so easy to be cured of my long-standing illness." Elise is speaking sincerely. "Hmm, that''s what Jin-sama is all about, isn''t it?" Maricka was attending to it. And Rubina and Grina are slumped on the other side of the tub. "Oh, I''m so tired. ......" "I''m tired ......." "But I didn''t know there was such a training method." "Yes. I was surprised to see the level of transcription in half a day." "That''s good news for people who make golems and automata. On the other hand, it is not so good for those who mainly make magic tools. "Indeed. That''s why I was so happy. Rubina is tired, but she is happy to see that her abilities have improved. "That''s true. But more than that, I was surprised to see a part of Jin-sama''s ability. "Ah, you''re right!It was great, wasn''t it, making forty true balls?" "......I''m just guessing, but I think that''s only about 80% of what he can do." "What?So you''re saying you could make 50 balls if you put all your energy into it? "Yes. Yes. Marikka and Ellis are laughing at the two of them. * * * * * * After the bath, we took a rest and had dinner. "Is this ......?" Tonight''s menu is a bowl of rice. A mini-sized bowl of rice topped with eel using Keiryu eel, a bowl of rice topped with pork cutlet, a bowl of rice topped with chicken and egg, a bowl of rice topped with cow meat, and a bowl of rice topped with tuna, which was recently discovered. I was able to enjoy various tastes. "Wow, I like oyakodon! Rubina jumped at the oyakodon, "I like pork cutlet on rice", said Gulina. said Gulina. Jin had an eel bowl, Marikka had a beef bowl, and Ellis had a pickles bowl. They have different tastes, as if they were deliberately aiming for different tastes. But then..., "Oh, this is delicious too! Rubina also reaches for the beef bowl, saying, "Oh, this is delicious too! "I''ll have katsudon next!" said Jin. Jin said. In the end, everyone compared various kinds of food. It was a heartwarming time, suitable for the rest period. 1970 - - 52-42 Report from the Old King The old man has been working day and night to redeploy the <>. < He had placed safe houses all over the planet Arus, but most of them were no longer in use. Safe houses. Once called by Jin, they are used by the 5th Quintas who are engaged in espionage. There were at least two of these in each country, and <> and <> were also installed. However, due to the <>, all the facilities were removed. Only the derelict < safe houses were left in various places. <> Worst case scenario, there were three locations used as hideouts for criminals. <<< Let''s have them return it. ...... extermination. Two fifth column (quintas) were able to neutralize them with ease. I tied them up with rope and rolled them in front of a guard post in a nearby town. (The term "extermination" is a pun of the old man''s.) > After this, all the safe houses will be reorganized in three days. << You have dispatched the minimum number of personnel, but once the safe houses have been reorganized, you will be able to send out the entire fifth column (Quinta). This would enable us to quickly find out the movements of each country. And then, there was a piece of information that came to hand immediately. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin, who had been training Freddie on Horai Island, went to the command center with Reiko at the request of the old man. "What''s the matter, Mr. Old Man?" First of all, the "Mere Old Man" apologized to Jin. Then he began to explain the situation. <> "Oh, that''s good news indeed. The Marquis Logres Win Kuzma, a descendant of the former , Bina and Luis, had been suffering from <>, but Jin, who received word via Zion, prescribed a special remedy using a , and he was cured. After that, he had been working on recovering his strength, and has now returned to work. In his case, his job is to rule the Blue Lands on behalf of the Duke of Bruu, the Lord of the Blue Lands. Hey, old man, I''m wondering about something..." < Jin took this opportunity to ask something that had been bothering him since the other day. "The Marquis of Kuzma, that''s a pretty high rank, isn''t it?" < like the Duke of Bruu and royalty. And generally speaking, a duke can only be a person of royal blood. "Right. Then why is the Marquis of Kuzma treated as a subordinate of the Duke of Bruu?" First of all, the term <, duke, marquis, count, and son, is taken from ancient China. In Europe, for example, there are differences in the titles of different countries, and it is not possible to apply them exactly to each country. Therefore, the titles above the dukes are sometimes referred to as . < "I see." "Okay. That''s all I need to know for now. I''m sorry I broke ...... the story. Please continue." < "Oh, that''s good. Information is important, after all. < That is to say, a new king has ascended the throne. < "Yes. So, what''s wrong with him?" < "Oh, that''s ......." That''s certainly not good news, Jin agreed. "So, what''s he like?" Just saying that he is neither good nor bad is no way to get a good idea of who he is. "In other words, he is swayed by the opinions of those around him? > "Hmmm... ......" If the ministers are competent, there is no problem, but if they are not, there is a possibility of bad government. > has been destroyed and most of its members have been purged. However, the fact that they supported the <> meant that there was a high possibility that they would be supremacists in magic and neglect magical engineering. "I can''t do anything about it, though. "What do you mean?" He collects especially strong golems, the old man said. <> The old man said, "So, if my lord gives you a golem of that caliber as a gift for your coronation, you will understand how useful the magical arts can be. "I see." Then why don''t you give him the golem that you have been working on for a while now? he thought. The old man agreed to the idea, and Jin made up his mind. "Yes, let''s do that." * * * * * * Jin returned to the workshop where Freddy was training and summarized what he had heard from the old man. The members listening were Marikka, Rubina, Grina and Freddy. Ellis is enjoying the island of Horai, guided by <, Soleil, Luna, and others. "So that''s how it was supposed to be. ......" Rubina and Grina were happy to hear the story of the Kuzma family, who share the same ancestors as themselves. Rubina was also intrigued by the story of the daughter of the Marquise of Kuzma, who was the same age as she was, as Jin gave a little additional explanation. Marikka also said, Marikka said, "The king of the Elias Kingdom is changing too, isn''t he? I knew the previous king for a while. He was a good man. She talked about her memories of the previous king. And Jin said, "I have discussed this with the old man, but the new king is a man who was devoted to the . But he likes golems. So I''m thinking of presenting him with the golem I''ve been working on for some time as a gift to celebrate his coronation. He explained his plan. "I see, so you want to awaken people to the wonders of magical technology through the golem. "That''s what you''re saying." Please let me help you! Marikka is enthusiastic, "Yes, please." "Yes, I''ll help you!" replied Jin, "Freddy, just in time, I''ll teach you how to make a golem." And he uses this as a teaching material for Freddy''s education. 1971 - - 52-43 Lectures and Practice <> Golem. It was one of the gifts that Jin, who calls himself the <>, wanted to give to this age. He tried his best to develop and preserve it, but it was still lost. I believe that it is my role from now on to pass on such technologies. "I have found that the magical resin (magiresin) that can be obtained in that area has sufficient performance. < to collect the sap of the tree in the forest far north of the village of Kaina, and analyzed the results. The alkaloid, <>, is often found in plants of the Solanaceae family on Earth, but for some reason it was found in the bark and sap of <>, a member of the Pinaceae family, here in Ars. "Keep the isolated atropine, too." Atropine is used medicinally because of its ability to suppress the parasympathetic nervous system. The U.S. military has a regulation to administer atropine in case of exposure to nerve gas. However, it is difficult for Jin to handle it nowadays, so he only keeps it in stock. "If Erza had been around, she would have been able to use it for good. Saki would be happy to study it. Jin suddenly remembered his former beloved wife and friends. Putting that aside, Jin decided to temporarily cut off Freddy''s training and let him observe the golem making process. "I''ve got enough magic resin to make one golem, so there''s no problem. Let''s use light silver for the skeleton. The overall design conforms to the Adriana method, meaning that the body lines are similar to those of a human being. "The exterior should also be made of light silver," Marikka says. Maricka says. The fact that they dare not use 64LB but ordinary LB is a silent message to the engineers of the Elias Kingdom, asking them to "make a better golem with this as a reference". Hence, the magic resin (magiresin) was to be detuned by mixing half of those derived from Pinacea and half of those derived from Magipeine. Nevertheless, the reaction speed and output are far beyond the capability of standard golems of this period. "I guess the type is ...... female type?" Jin was about to say, "Let''s call it a lady golem. "Oh, I see." < and promotes the martial arts, then there must be a certain way of making it. Jin instantly drew a blueprint in his brain. "......" He was about to start building it when he remembered that this time it was also for Freddy''s education. "We have a plan. Let''s make a blueprint first." A blueprint is indispensable for mass production. The blueprints must include general assembly drawings, assembly drawings, parts drawings, bills of materials, and so on. The total number of blueprints can be as many as several hundred if the scale is large. A single blueprint (assembly drawing) can only be used to build a product that has only a few parts. However, if these drawings are prepared, anyone can make the same thing, provided that he or she can read the drawings. This is an essential element for mass production. In this age of mass production, Jin has decided once again to focus his efforts in this area as well. So, I have been relying on the blueprints in my brain, but this time, I have decided to write them down properly. In the meantime, I had a magic tool to make drawings of what I thought. It is the < made by Jin 400 years ago. <, and projects what you think onto a . This becomes a drawing. The display on the magic screen can be modified freely, and the drawing is printed out after making modifications until you are satisfied with it. The reason for using a plotter instead of a printer is that the drawing is made with a golem arm. An A3-size drawing can be completed in about three minutes, depending on the complexity of the project. Using this drawing, Jin first made an outline drawing (three-view drawing). Maricka, Rubina, and Grina knew how to read a triangulated drawing, but Freddy did not, so he explained the process from there. "So, this is the front view, this is the side view, and this is the top view at ....... If necessary, we may also draw a bottom view and a rear view." "Ha ha, you can certainly see the whole picture from this!" Even without knowing trigonometry, Freddy''s ability to grasp objects three-dimensionally is as good as anyone''s, and he quickly learned how to read drawings. "Height: 5''8", build: slightly thinner than medium height, is that correct?" "Jin-sama, what does ''slightly slender'' mean?" Freddy then asks a question that seems to confirm Jin''s intention. "Well, this is my own theory, but I think a good <> should be nimble," he says. and . <> and . "<>, and the meaning lies in overpowering the opponent with technique." Of course, it is not that one is better than the other, since <>. "I don''t think that''s what Jin-sama, who loves Reiko so much, would say." Rubina said quite harshly. "......Reiko is also very skilled despite her appearance. ...... just don''t have a place to show it." Jin, too, has a counter-argument that is not a counter-argument at all. "......I''m getting off-topic. I''m aware that a martial arts master has a toned physique, not a muscular one. "That might make sense." Marikka agreed. "Yes, thank you. I''m going to try to make this golem look like that at ......." No objections were raised, so Jin moved on to the next step. "Well then, let''s start designing the skeleton. <, the skeleton is basically molded in one piece. "Freddy, I know you have a lot of questions, but first of all, I want you to understand that we are going to use this kind of skeleton. "Yes, sir. "However, since you''re probably wondering, I''ll explain briefly that the joints are bent using the engineering magic of forming. "Yes. ......" "Here, we will flesh out the joints with Magi Resin, but before we do that, let''s prepare the <> that will hold the <>." This <> shuts out magical interference from the outside," Jin explained. "The shield case is placed in the chest, and inside the shield case is the control core and other magickal devices." Some golems contain magical tools and have various functions," explains Jin. "Why not the head? Freddy asked. "Yes, it is. Can you explain ......, Greena?" He turns the answer to Gulina. "Oh, yes. Well, the head is the weakest part of the body because it sticks out so much, so we put it in the chest where it can be the strongest. Although she was a bit flustered by the sudden rejection, she was able to give a good explanation. Jin praised her. "Well done. And there is one more part of the story that is different from <>. ...... Rubina, do you know what it is?" "Yes. Yes. Humans have such ...... sensory organs scattered over the surface of their skin, but the golem has tactile sensors in only a few places." Rubina was able to answer the question without much panic, as if she had expected the question to come to her this time. "Good. ...... Marikka, do you have any additional information?" "Yes. You see, you mentioned <>, but it is rare for a golem to have them. To be precise, only Master Jin and those of his line are equipped with it. "That''s right." Even Adriana Barbora Zetsi could not give her automata a sense of touch. With a reaction speed and analytical power several hundred times faster than that of a human being, she is able to hold the <> without breaking it and without dropping the <>. The first person to be equipped with <> was Aaru, an automata that he gave to his former colleague, Saki. After that, it was Jin who gave the sense of touch to Reiko and all the other Horai Islanders. Of course, he also gave the sense of touch to his fellow golems and automata. "A normal golem recognizes an object, determines how much force to hold it, and decides how much force to apply. That''s why it sometimes crushes the glass." "...... I kind of get it." Freddy seemed to have understood Jin''s explanation at least dimly. Thus, Jin''s lecture continued with some practice. 1972 - - 52-44 More progress Jin''s lecture is still going on. Jin explained to Freddy as he drew the plans. "From this , signals are sent out to the various parts of the body, and the magel resin is deformed to make it work. "Yes." "Here, I have the know-how to make it work efficiently. ......" Jin generously shared with Freddy the method he had just discovered. Freddy is aware of the valuable knowledge he is being taught and listens attentively. "...... and this is how we do it. Any questions?" "Yes, I do. Well, I understand that you don''t use to reduce costs. And, I understand that the conductivity of magic power is lower with magirezin than with such materials, is that correct?" "That is correct." Jin nodded. "Then, can''t you make the skeleton act as a magic nerve?" "What?I can ...... umm ...... do that." The skeleton is going to be made of light silver, and light silver has a good affinity with magic. Not as good as mithril, but good enough to be used as a medium for the conduction of magic, Jin decided. I hadn''t noticed that. I guess so. That was a blind spot. "Mr. Freddy, that''s great!" Jin and Marikka were impressed, Rubina was disappointed and Grina praised Freddy''s idea. "Yes, I don''t think so..." Freddy blushed when Grina praised his idea. "Yes, yes. Master Jin and I have thought about it a lot, but we haven''t come up with that method yet. This method would increase the reaction time, if not the power, Grina said. "Isn''t that right, Master Jin?" "Yes, that''s right. It will probably jump three to five times faster than it did with the magic resin alone. It is an astonishing value. "If we use the combination of the magical resin (magirezin) and the increased bite of the skeleton, which we discussed last time, together with the combination of magical resin (magirezin) of different hardness, we can expect a fourfold increase in power and a fivefold increase in reaction time." These are sufficiently outstanding values. "This is another step forward in perfecting this method." Jin laughed and said he was pleased. "Jin-sama, then wouldn''t it be possible to add such a function to the exterior?" Freddy added his opinion. "Yes, that''s a good idea. But the exterior is often damaged, and above all, it is far away from the control core. Besides, we often use materials with poor magical conductivity such as iron and steel, so I wonder how effective it would be. ......" Since imagination is not enough to answer this question, we experimented with a prototype golem. It is a prototype golem with a transparent exterior. "These questions are sure to be verified by using the prototype. It''s difficult to complete them only in your head. He explained, but his hands did not stop. These modifications that need to be added later are complicated, so it is faster for Jin to do them by himself. "Here we go," he said. ...... old man, give it a try." The golem starts to move. The movement was awkward at first because of the change of the drive system, but as expected of the "Mere Old Man", the movement became smooth in about 30 seconds. However, the Golem''s movement became smooth after about 30 seconds. "I see. ......" From the standpoint of practicality, everyone present thought that it would be better not to go in this direction. No, there was one person who disagreed. It was Gulina. "Jin-sama, then, why don''t you use it only for special occasions?For example, when lifting something or when a part of it is broken. "Hmmm ...... that would certainly be a good idea. That''s a good point of view, Greiner. Jin agreed with Greiner''s opinion, saying that fast movements would increase the burden on the control core, but it could be used in cases where the user exerts force while keeping still. He asked the old man to try to control the robot for such a case, He reported that <> and the output has increased by 1.5 times. This is a sufficiently high value for practical use. "Gulina, that''s great!" Rubina praised the results with open arms. "Well, it was a fluke. But Jin praised her for her flexible thinking. "Well, I''m glad that I could, by chance, further improve the perfection of this system. Jin rejoins. "So, the item <><>> was added." Jin said it would be difficult to create a <> based on this premise. "Here in Horai Island, the old man will take care of it, but in general, I would like to build a or something like that." "You mentioned it a bit before, Master Jin." Rubina says, thinking back to the meeting the other day. "Yes. This is a system based on the assumption that the same type of golem will be mass-produced. Jin explains that the accumulation of information is meaningful because they are the same type. "The Golem belonging to a station periodically stores the control information of its control core (control core) at that station through or other means. The central brain of the receiving station organizes and optimizes them, and overwrites and updates the golem''s control core or creates a new one as necessary. "Ah, so it''s getting more and more perfect!That''s what I''m talking about, Jin-sama." Rubina, who immediately understood the advantages of the system, praised Jin. "It''s only usable if it''s the same type, or at least the same drive system, though." "No, with a little tweaking of the parameters, it could be applied to other forms, so it wouldn''t be a complete waste, would it?" Greiner also offers his opinion. "Yeah, I can''t say anything about that because we don''t have any experience in that area yet. We don''t even know how much work it would be to change the parameters. Jin reasserts his position, saying, "First, let''s get back to the golem we''re trying to make now. "We are not going to build a <> this time, but I will ask you to do the same function for us so that we can build it as soon as we want to." If this form of golem is accepted by the world, Jin said, he would like to create another . "I guess that''s all right for now." Marikka was the first to agree. Rubina and Grina nodded silently in agreement. Freddy was not at the level to express such an opinion in the first place. "All right, then, let''s discuss the functions to be added. To add special functions or not to add special functions. Freddy is not at the level to give such an opinion in the first place. "Well, you are going to give ...... to the king, aren''t you?It would be more special if it has some function, don''t you think?" Rubina seems to be in favor of adding functions. "But he is a king who seems to be devoted to the <>. ...... Grina seemed reluctant. "I think we should only give them the ability to function in case of emergency." Maricka was moderate in her opinion. "Yes, I think I''m close to Marikka''s opinion. <. Jin thinks such a function would be useful even if he is not near the king. "Yes. ...... Um, Jin-sama, is it possible to keep it sealed?" What Greiner means by sealing is that it is not normally usable, but when certain conditions are met, such as when the king is in danger, it can be conditioned to be usable. "Ah, that''s a good idea. Let''s think along those lines. "Besides the healing magic, maybe some simple engineering magic..." "Yes, that''s a good idea. And then there are non-lethal types such as <>..." "<>? "It would be nice to have a barrier too! "<> or > would be nice too. and many other opinions were expressed. Although he was still too inexperienced to give his opinion, Freddie seemed to have gained a lot by witnessing such exchanges. 1973 - - 52-45 New Golem Launch The golem that Jin and the others are making is 90% complete. . A message from the old man echoed. "Oh, is it that time already? "It''s gone by so fast, hasn''t it?" Jin stretched himself. "Well, I can finish it in another hour. ...... but it can''t be helped. He changed his mind and decided to continue tomorrow. Maricka, Rubina, Grina, and Freddy were all very tired and let out a sigh of relief. After a long and relaxing bath, dinner was served. The menu was a Japanese-style set meal, and everyone tasted it with a satisfied palate. "Freddy, how was your day? "Yes, it was a fulfilling day. What about your grandmother? "Lao Tzu showed me around." Yes, Ellis was accompanied by Lao Tzu, Soleil, Luna, and others, showing them around the Horai Island. "We climbed up to the middle of Mount Horai. It was a nice view. Ellis, who had a heart condition, was glad to be able to do something that he had never been able to do before. "I''m glad you''re enjoying yourself, grandmother." Freddy is also happy to see Elise enjoying herself. (It''s nice to see smiles like this all over Hourai Island. ......) Jin recalls the old days in Horai Island. * * * * The next day, Jin, Marikka, Rubina, Grina, and Freddy moved to the workshop right after breakfast. And Ellis followed. "Come on, let''s finish it! Jin is very enthusiastic. "Yes! And so were the other four. All that remained was to install the exterior and test drive. The exterior is already completed, so it is just a matter of fine-tuning and assembling it. I think you''re right, Freddy, go for it. And, Greiner, you''ll support me. "Yes, sir." He instructed the two and Jin watched on. "Well, uh, this one right here, I guess." The exterior is basically the same as full-body armor, so it can be put on sensibly. "Oh, that, the left and right sides are reversed. "What?Oh, it''s true. Thank you very much. "You''re welcome." At first things were a little awkward between the two, but as the fitting progressed, "Here, this is your right arm." "Thank you. ...... like this?" "That''s OK. "Okay, here''s the left arm." "Okay, here we go." They began to work well together. "Well, I can''t believe he''s working so well with the girls. ......" Jin did not miss the whispered comment from Ellis, who was observing from a little distance away. He quietly approached her and asked in a whisper. "Mr. Ellis, is that so?" "Yes, that''s right." Ellis also responded in a whisper. "I was pampered when I was a child because of my lineage as a Magecraft Meister, and people would come to me and call me their fiancee or fiance. "...... that''s ......." Indeed, perhaps it''s the Randall bloodline, but Freddy has a well-defined face, and it''s no wonder he''s so popular with the ladies. "But when they found out that he had no talent for magical engineering, they turned their backs on him and left." "Oh, that..." Jin thought, "I can see why he distrusts people and women. "Yes, this is the last time." "Thank you." As Jin and Elise looked on, Freddy was working with Greiner to install the golem''s exterior. "...... Ugh, it''s a little hard." "In such a case, you can adjust it by forming." "I see, let''s try it. < "Yes, yes, you''re good at it." "Jin-sama made me practice a lot." And so, the exterior was installed. "Mr. Greiner, please check it out." He also showed his humility by asking Gulina, who was more skilled than he, to check the exterior. "Okay. ......<>" Since the magic circuits are also connected to the exterior, a <> will tell us a lot. "It seems to be all right." "Thank you. ...... Jin-sama, we''re done." "Yes, thank you, both of you, for your hard work." By then Jin has left Eris''s side and returned to check on the golem. "...... Yeah, it''s a pass. It''s well done." Both men were pleased to hear those words. "Now for the final touches. This is a gift, so I''ll do that part." Not only because he was technically superior, but also because he was ultimately responsible for the project. Jin finished the surfaces and <, and adjusted the gaps between the various parts. "That''s it. The old man, transcribe the sequence of operation." >...... finished>> "Thank you. Now you just need to play with the parameters. ......<><>......<>" Rewrite some parameters. This will limit the output and wield power within a reasonable range. "Okay. Let''s give it a test run. Let''s try a test run. ......Well, Gulina, you can be the temporary master. When Hitoshi shakes her hand, Greena is startled. "Me? "Yes. I''ll erase it when I give you ......, so don''t worry about it. "Yes, yes. ......<>1st place: me, 2nd place: Jin-sama, 3rd place: ...... Freddy." (Hmm?) Jin understands that he set the second place to himself, but he thinks of Grina''s feelings that she set the third place to Freddie. (It''s a matter between them. ......) Then, after setting Marikka in the 4th place, Rubina in the 5th place, and Eris in the 6th place, Grina finally gets ready to launch the device. "<> Okay. <>Good. Emergency <> filled." As a side note, this golem is not powered by Horai Island''s standard <, but by < and <>, which is a technology one generation before that. This is still the most advanced technology of this era. Furthermore, at the risk of going off on a tangent, if the emergency <> is filled with mana in advance, it has the advantage of shortening the time lag until it starts moving when it is first activated. When Jin assembled Reiko for the first time, she did not start moving for a while even after she was activated, because the time lag until the mana converted by the <> was sufficiently accumulated was large, and it took time for the mana to permeate into each part of the body and become familiar with it. Now, let''s talk about the next topic. Finally, the <> new golem is activated. 1974 - - 52-46 Simulated Battle Having established a temporary master through engineering magic <>, Grina decides to activate the golem. "<>". The golem was activated with the standard magic key word. "Yes, master." The Golem rises with a smooth motion. "Golem, let''s call you . "Yes, I understand." The voice is also smooth. It is no wonder that Jin was in charge of this area. (I wonder if the name "tempo ......" is taken from the word "temporary"? Jin thought it quite rude that Greiner, like himself, could not be said to have a good sense of naming. "<>, did you get the results of the operation check?" "Yes, Miss Greiner, everything is fine. "Good. Stand by. Stand by. At this point, Mr. Grina looked back at Jin. "Alright then, let''s test your skills." The new king of Elias, to whom this golem will be presented, prefers martial artists. "Well, ......, send someone from the Landeswehr." Jin explained to Freddie and Ellis that the Lando Unit was the army of Horai Island. Meanwhile, a report comes in that Land 109 has arrived in front of the institute. "Okay, let''s go outside." We all left the workshop inside the institute and went outside together. The weather was overcast, there was no discernible shadow on the ground, and the position of the sun was unknown. Under such a sky, in the plaza in front of the institute, there stood Land 109, its body shining dull silver-brown. "Swords and swords are too dangerous, so let''s make a mock sword." Jin produced two mock swords from iron ingots and equipped Land 109 and Tempo with them. "Lando 109, I will check Tempo''s performance. "Yes, sir." Jin instructed, "Don''t start with full output from the beginning. "Reiko, observe their movements and point out any areas for improvement. "Yes, father." Jin nodded to Greiner and said that he would be assured that Reiko would check their movements with her observant eyes. "Then let the simulation begin! Upon Jin''s signal, Greiner gave the order. The two bodies began to move at almost the same time. --It looked as if they were going to move at the same time. However, Reiko, who was analyzing the movements next to Jin, saw that Tempo was 0.02 seconds behind. (Reaction speed, 1/35th of Lando''s) The two began to exchange blows with a mock sword (power, about 1/35th of Rand''s). (Power, about 1/30th of Lando''s, but with the emergency boost) They struck each other ten times, and then twenty times. ....... Lando 109 once moved out of range. (Your skill level in swordsmanship is in line with your physical ability. As expected of the old man). Tempo dodged by shifting his body to the side and struck from Lando''s blind spot. Tempo moved his body to the side and dodged it, then struck from Rando''s blind spot.) ) But Lando seemed to have anticipated this and dodged with a comfortable margin, and then closed the distance once again. And now Tempo closes the distance. Lando falls back. Tempo moves forward. Rando backs off. Tempo moves forward. Lando moves forward in what appears to be a move back. A human would be caught off guard and panicked, but Tempo handles the situation calmly. The distance between the two is so close that the blades of their swords are ineffective, and as a result, a duel begins. Both of them thrust their mock swords into the ground, and then they entered into the posture of a power contest called <> (power, the same as Lando''s). (Power, as always, is 1/30th of Lando''s.) Tempo, which even has the effect of <> on its exterior, shows its true value in this kind of <> power contest. (You did the ...... boost, didn''t you?It''s about 1/20th of what it used to be) Rand 109 is properly maneuvered, and is getting the best out of Tempo''s capabilities. Now for the fight. Tempo parries Rando''s right fist thrust and elbows him. Lando dodges the attack by twisting his body, and then he pushes Tempo with a foot strike. Tempo falls down. Lando then delivered a stomping blow. Tempo rolls and dodges a right uppercut while standing up. (Both of them do it well. (Both of you are doing it. You have a great flow from technique to technique.) Rando did not avoid the uppercut and caught it with his left palm. Naturally, Tempo''s movement stopped. Then, Lando twisted his body and threw backward. Tempo danced high in the air. (This was deliberately thrown by ...... Tempo.) Tempo kicked the ground and flew himself to avoid the back throw. He landed with a spin. His right leg was swung backward to the head of Lando, who was lowered by the throw. Lando dodged the throw.) But Lando takes one step, jumps back, and dodges the back kick. At the same time, he picked up the sword that was propped up right next to him, and swung it upward and slashed at Tempo. (...... can you catch that?) Tempo caught the sword in the nick of time with a white-blade dagger. "......Su, that''s amazing." Freddy was astonished at the attack, which took less than a minute. Rubina and Grina were also watching the battle with great interest. And Ellis is not keeping up at all. "...... Okay, that''s it! Jin stopped the simulation. "That''s enough. Good job, Tempo." "Thank you, sir." "Thank you." "Rand 109, thank you. Are you experiencing any malfunctions? Yes, master. Yes, master. Yes, sir. - Good. Lando 109 bowed to everyone in the room and returned. "Greiner, let''s check the tempo." "Yes, sir." The tempo was stopped for a moment, and the exterior was removed to check the interior. This kind of maintainability is one of its advantages, isn''t it? "Yes, it is." The simplicity of the structure means that there are few points of failure. It is also easy to check. "Everything is fine, isn''t it?" Mr. Greiner sounds relieved. "That''s right. "Well, maybe a few scratches on the exterior. Rubina and Freddy had already repaired it. They reassemble the exterior and finish the maintenance. "With this, I won''t be embarrassed to show it anywhere. Jin muttered with satisfaction. 1975 - - 52-47 To Avalon The next day, May 4, Jin wondered how to present the new golem, and thought that he should present it via <>. Jin decided to go to <> for the time being. "What about everyone else?" Jin asked everyone present. "I don''t think so..." said Marikka. Marikka said. I don''t want to go either. Rubina answered, "No, me too. "Me too ......" said Gulina. and Gulina. Naturally, Elise and Freddie also said they would not go, so only Jin ended up going. "Well then, Marikka will be in charge of training Freddy in the meantime." "Yes, sir, I will. And you, Greenina, too. Yes, yes! So, Jin uses to go to with Reiko. < is stopped and the <> is put back on the drawing board. Hope, will you take care of this? "Yes, sir, I''m on it." Hope piloted the Hurricane into the Avalon. "Have a safe trip!" "Go, go, go!" With Marikka, Rubina, Glina, Ellis, Freddy, and others seeing them off, the with Jin on board soared into the sky of Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Tomax Bartman entered the office of the Chief Superintendent of <>. Tomax Bartman is looking over the incoming message. "Hmmm, you mean that <> wants to present a golem to the new king of Elias to celebrate his coronation. ...... that would be very helpful." It is known in <> that the new King of Elias was a former sympathizer of the <>. In fact, the countries of <> have been contributing funds for the operation of <>, and they have even asked for a reduction in the amount. "We don''t mind if they don''t pay us, but ......" Currently <>''s finances are in good shape. The main source of its financial resources are the magical tools and magical machines manufactured in <>. <> was one of the first to recover from the decline of magical technology caused by the >. The sales of these products alone are enough to operate the <> and the <>. The fact that they are still asking for donations from various countries is a kind of posture that the small world of <> is not isolated from the rest of Ars. "And the arrival of the <> is ...... today!" Tomax Bartmann hurriedly instructs. "Manon!Jin-sama is coming. Tell the departments to prepare for his arrival immediately. Yes, sir. Manon is a secretarial automaton given to Tomax Bartmann by Jin, and is capable of performing the duties of five human secretaries. Manon had been adjusted to use elementary healing magic for Tomax, who had a stomach ailment. "......Wind ...... Well ...... if Mister Jin gives a gift to the new king ...... so that he can... ......" Tomax Bartmann was beginning to wonder if he could use this opportunity to repair the now somewhat strained relationship with the Kingdom of Elias. He came up with a plan. "But I think we should tell Jin-dono about this ...... in advance," he said. Tomax Bartman, not wanting to incur Jin''s displeasure by sneaking around behind the scenes without informing him. * * * * * The same day, at 2:00 p.m. Avalon time, Jin''s plane, a , landed at the airport in . "Welcome, Jin-dono." Tomax Bartman himself greeted Jin. "I''m so glad to see you." Jin shook hands with Tomax Bartman as he stepped out of the hurricane accompanied by Reiko. "We have heard what you want, sir. The Golem is in the airship, is it not?" "Yes, it is. It hasn''t been activated yet. "I see. Then may I take the entire airship into storage? "Yes, that is fine. After this exchange, the Hurricane was stored in a warehouse attached to the airport. Hope, the pilot, joins Jin and the others after fixing the <>. When Hope arrived, Jin and the others got into a prepared car and started to move to the inside of <>. On the way, Hope asked Jin a question. "Master, are you sure you don''t want me to stay?" Now the was completely unprotected, even though it was in a hangar. "I''ll be fine on that point," Jin assured him. Jin assured him. The old man is watching it with his <. Jin did not say a word about this fact, but Hope immediately recognized it. "I understand." While they were talking, the car entered the interior of . They take a private road to a terminal near the office of the Chief Superintendent. From there it is on foot. This is for security reasons. After a three-minute walk from the terminal, Jin and the others arrived at the office of the Chief Superintendent. Please have a seat. The office was equipped with a reception set for such occasions. When Jin sat down on the sofa, Hope stood behind him and Reiko sat next to him. Manon made a pot of tea and offered it to them. It was hojicha, Jin''s favorite tea. The tea was cooled to the right temperature. "Thank you." Jin took a sip, "Is there something wrong, Mr. Tomax? He asked. From his manner, I guessed that something was troubling him. "......No, it''s not so much that I''m worried." Tomax Bartmann told him that the new King of Elias had sent him a message. "Some have suggested that we take this opportunity to go our own way and refuse all financial support from other countries, but I myself am against that." "I see. ......" Jin was a little disappointed at the sudden heavy talk that had just descended upon him. Tomax Bartmann sensed the change in Jin''s expression. Oh, no, those are our problems, I don''t want to bother you, Jin-dono. Please simply ignore the fact that there is such a problem. Then he decided to cut to the chase. "As you have probably heard, the new king of the Kingdom of Elias hates magic technology so much that he was at one time sympathetic to the ideas of the <>." Jin nodded. "...... but on the contrary, he is fond of golems. Even so, a combat golem. "I''ve heard rumors." Jin answered that he also knew about it. "So we are trying to make them aware of how far behind the Kingdom of Elias is in golem technology, and to gradually turn their attention to magic technology. "I see, so you want me to cooperate with you." Tomax Bartmann looked a little impatient when Jin anticipated his conclusion, "Oh, no, it''s not that different," he responded. Tomax Bartmann responded with a slightly impatient, "Oh, no, it''s not different, but... 1976 - - 52-48 Gift <, explains his idea to Jin. After Jin heard this, he thought about it for a moment and then gave his interpretation. "...... So you are saying that you want us to realize that the ideas of the <> cannot save the human race?" "You could say that." Tomax Bartman nodded. "...... what did you say, yes, <>?" "Haha,......." Maybe not quite the right usage, but I know what Tomax Bartmann is trying to say. Accepting the principles of the <> will not improve our standard of living. No, in fact, it should decrease the more we abandon technology. Normal human beings would have a hard time accepting the idea of lowering their standard of living unless they have a good reason or purpose for doing so. To use a mundane analogy, the food and toilet conditions. Once you have tasted the taste and comfort of both, you will never forget it. "Perhaps it was the fanatical followers that made it bearable for them to lower their standard of living." I think Jin would agree. Fanatics are single-minded, for better or worse. "But now that Markitas, the equivalent of Oyasama, is gone, the organization is falling apart. I believe that now is the time to spread the benefits of civilization at once. "I see, so that''s what you mean." It seems that they are also planning to use the name of the Magecraft Meister to spread the use of useful magical tools in order to get rid of the influence of the League of Magic. "How about it, will you cooperate with us?" "Yes, of course. Jin answered immediately. He was angry because he had been trying to spread the use of magic tools for the benefit of the common people by following the legacy of his predecessor 400 years ago, but they had been completely ruined. "Why don''t you donate many samples of useful magical tools anyway?" Jin thinks that if the higher ups accept them, it will be easier to spread the word to the lower downs. "Oh, that would be very kind of you. Then, please tell me what kind of magic tools and how many are needed. "Yes, sir." Jin asked Tomax Bartmann for a breakdown of the gift. "Two general-purpose golems, ten short swords, ten long swords, and three golem horses? "Yes. In addition, three magic stoves and three refrigerators each. That''s enough to start with. Jin proposes to give some kind of magic machine in addition to the above. He also says that he will provide it. "......, but we are planning to pay a courtesy visit to the Kingdom of Elias as tomorrow evening. You can''t move that, can you?" "No problem. As long as you have the workshop and materials ready. That''s fine. I''ll see you at ....... Thank you very much. Thus, Jin spent about a day in <> making magic tools. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hey Jin!Long time no see! Eira. Long time no see." Jin was shown to the workshop used by Eira, Katya, and others. Tomax Bartmann had decided that it would be better for Jin to be in a place where he knew other people. Mr. Jin, you look well. Reiko and Hope are looking well, too. "And Katya, too." Since there was not much time left, Jin briefly renewed old acquaintanceships and decided to start work on the project immediately. Then a question from Eira came in. "Jin, I heard that you are making a gift for the coronation of the new king of Elias. "Oh, yes. Oh, that''s right. And that''s why we decided to present you with a Magi machine. Hearing this, the two men suddenly became very enthusiastic. "So you want to reveal the nose of the former !Okay, I''ll help you. Right, Katya? "Yes. Let me help you." Both of them know that some of their past hardships were caused by the , so they are trying to make a positive example out of it. "If that''s the way it''s going to be, good. Let''s see what we can make ...... first. ......" "Well, since we''re in the Kingdom of Elias, why not a ship?" Eira says with an idea. "Eira-san, it''s not every day that a king gets a chance to ride on a ship. To which Ka''chea countered, "Well, if we were to build one now, it would have to be a small ship. If we were to build a ship now, it would be a small ship. It would be rare for a king to board such a small ship with one or a few followers. "Well, if ...... the king would ride in a carriage, right?" Jin also thought for a moment about what Katya said, "Yes!Let''s build an amphibious car!" He said. "Is it an amphibious vehicle ......?" "Yes. Well, we''ll never have a chance to use it on the water, but such a concept would have an impact on the Kingdom of Elias." "Sounds interesting, Jin!" Eira seemed to be enthusiastic. "But, can you do it ......?" Katya looked worried. But Jin nodded his head. "Don''t worry. All you have to be careful about is airtight ...... and watertight. Golem engines are originally watertight. "That''s not what I meant, but ...... that''s enough." As for Katya, she was worried that she might not have enough time to build something that big, but as she looked at Jin''s confident face, she realized, < I was worried that it might be Jin-san. "Yes, you can install it there." "Yes. Hope, hold it down. ...... Okay, that''s it." "Father, is the frame complete?" Yes. ......KaChea, what about you?" Jin, Eira and Reiko were working on the body and had asked Katya to design the exterior of the amphibious vehicle. Yes, we have an idea. "Yes, we have an idea. Let''s see what we can come up with. Jin, Reiko, Hope, and Eira completed the basic body of the vehicle in two hours. Most of the work was done by Jin and Reiko. "Well, we''ve narrowed it down to three types. Which one do you think is best?" On the drawing table, Ka?ea spreads out a rough sketch of an amphibious vehicle for the royal family. "Oh, that''s good, Katya. I can''t do it like this." The amphibious vehicle is based on a four-wheeled car. I thought about making it a six-wheeled car, but I decided to make it similar to a horse-drawn carriage, since it will not be used on such rough roads. The propulsion system on the water is <. Two small jet thrusters are mounted on the propulsion system, as long as it can achieve a reasonable speed. The material used is mostly light silver. It is because it is light and rustproof. The car was designed to accommodate 10 passengers, including the king and queen, the prince and princess, attendants, guards, and a driver. Based on these considerations, the body designed by Cachier was to be installed. There are two types of carriages, but I would recommend this one. There are two types, but I would recommend this one. The other one is a practical design, but I think it is a bit rude to write. "Hmmm............that''s just what Kachair is all about." "Yes, that''s exactly right." Eira and Jin are not very good at design, so they appreciate the presence of such a designer. "Okay, let''s go with what chair recommended. "No objection. Thus, an amphibious vehicle was built as a gift. 1977 - - 52-49 Sapphire By the evening of the same day, the amphibious vehicle was completed as a gift. "Wow, you did it, Jin!I only helped a little with the ......." "No, Eira helped a lot too. Besides, if you were asked to build another one, you could, couldn''t you?" "Well, ......, if you''re willing to put in the time," he said. "Well, you can''t say I just helped out a little bit. It is true that more than half of the work can be said to have been done by Jin, but Eira was definitely instrumental, and KaChea made a major contribution to the design. So did Jin, "It''s been a long time since we worked together as a , so it was a lot of fun. He is not afraid to say. "Yeah, me too. "Me too!" The three of us smiled at each other. "......By the way, what did you say about Groma and ......, what happened to the <> teacher?" Jin asked after all these years. <>. Marikka used to be a lecturer at this laboratory, which is at the cutting edge of Golem research. "It''s a little late for that. ....... He''s back in the country on vacation. Oh, only Groma isn''t." He says he has no intention of returning to the Principality of Mercana. "I''m accompanying the teacher to the Kingdom of Egelea." "Oh, I see." It seems that he is trying to broaden his horizons. It was just like the earnest Groma Tollei, Jin thought. "We''re staying at home. But thanks to that, Jin and I were able to do such an interesting job. "No, what?" Afterwards, Jin and his friends took a bath and promised to have dinner together. So Jin is soaking alone in the men''s bath. The first bath was a salt spring with water from the sea. It warms your body. Next is a baking soda spring. It makes his skin smooth. Then Jin takes a bath in the simple spring. After Jin left, Eira and Ka-cea came to the lounge to drink cold juice. "I''ll have one too," said Eira. "Me too." After spending such a long time together, Jin and his friends had dinner together in the dining room and went to bed early, promising to see each other the next day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, of course, meant making a gift. < "I was thinking about it last night before I went to bed, and I thought that since it was going to be a gift to the king, it would be nice to make a figurine instead of a tool. A crystal figurine," Jin said, "Yes, indeed. A gilded ornament, that would please the powers that be. Eira agreed in a way that showed no respect. "And..." Jin said, remembering Stearina, who had been a member of the in the past. "Let''s make a crystal golem." "A crystal golem? Eira was astonished. Katya rolls her eyes, unsure of the level of technology involved. "Well, it doesn''t have to be crystal, it could be diamond or ruby..." Come to think of it, when is the new king''s birthday?Jin muttered, "September," Reiko told him. Reiko told him. "I see, so it''s sapphire. There is not much concept of birthstone in this world, but Jin wanted to be particular about it. Another reason is that sapphire is easy to synthesize. "Alumina is available at ......." Alumina, or aluminum oxide, is used here in Avalon for various purposes, including crucibles, as a heat-resistant material. What do you make of it, Jin? "Sapphire is a crystal of corundum, or aluminum oxide." Reiko refused and brought a bag of alumina from the warehouse. These are powders, which can be sintered to make crucibles or heat-resistant materials. "I should have about 200 kilograms." The specific gravity of aluminum oxide is approximately 4.0, which means that 200 kilograms would be needed to make a human model that weighs 50 kilograms. "Gin?What on earth are you doing ......" Just as Eira is about to ask, Jin activates his engineering magic. "<>" "Wow! The powdered alumina crystallized and turned into transparent corundum. > is, as the name suggests, a magic to promote crystallization. Since it consumes a lot of mana, it is not an engineering magic that anyone can perform. "Now, we need to add some color to it. Corundum is mixed with trace amounts of iron and titanium to give it that blue color. "<><>>" "Whoa?" "Wow. ......" After the trace elements were added and uniformly dispersed, the material was crystallized again, resulting in a blue sapphire mass. Both Eira and Katya admire the beauty and Jin''s skill. "That''s it! Reiko, take care of the mithril too. "Yes, Father." The color is slightly muddied by the addition of mithril, but this is unavoidable, as it allows the magic to pass through more easily. And even if it is muddy, it is only a little and does not matter at all since it is not treated as a gem. <><>" In the case of mithril, the trick is not to crystallize it. "Now the material is complete." "...... That''s great, Jin. That''s what I''m talking about. "Really ......." The two marveled, "Eira, use this to make a body for the golem. Katya, I want you to decide on the proportions." "Okay, okay." "Okay." "Yes." While Eira and Katya were preparing the body, Jin prepared the control core. <. "Jin, how about this?" Eira and Katya were building a female adult body. She was about 160 centimeters tall, with glamorous curves. Her hair was designed in a short-cut style. "Oh, she''s beautiful. You''re both so beautiful." Jin compliments them both. "And the sensor? "I have no idea about that one. Let''s see what Jin can do. "I see. I hope ......< will do some research on this. Well, you''ll see." "Yes, I will. I''ll be glad to help." Eira declared and leaned forward to watch Jin''s every move. Katya, with a notepad in her hand, was also watching closely. "Here''s what we''re going to do." Jin began to add more processing. 1978 - - 52-50 Naming, Kaella Jin creates a sensor relationship with the sapphire golem. "Eira, Katya, I think the eye color should be different, what do you think?" Jin confirms the opinions of the two designers. "Yes, it''s good, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is. I think it''s good, too. Yes, I think it''s a good idea to use a modest color, since it''s against blue. A flashy color like ruby would be too much, said Katya. "Hmmm... ...... would you suggest a colorless or transparent color?" "Yes, I think so." So we will use transparent corundum for the eyes. Ears (hearing), nose (sense of smell), and mouth (sense of taste) are given to the sapphire part, which is the main body of this type, but naturally the performance will be lower. "But this compensates for that." Jin explains to Eira and the others as he processes the sapphire. He took out a magi crystal of the water attribute. It is blue in color. "I''m going to fuse these into a sensor. Since they are of a similar color, it is almost impossible to distinguish them from each other even if they are made of different materials in some parts. "I see, that certainly makes sense. "That''s the trick!" Eira was impressed and Katya took notes. "Unfortunately, tactile sensation cannot be added to the structure. We have to deal with it by using ultra-fast feedback." "Well, for example, with a hand, the force applied is compared to the deformation of the object to determine the degree of force, correct?" "That''s right." Eira had mastered such a theory, as was to be expected from a member of the . Finally, it was time to set the . "This control core is also a set of know-how that I have accumulated. I will send the data to in due course. "Yeah, I''m looking forward to that time! With that out of the way, Jin sets up the . Combining <> and <>, he sets the <> at the position of the chest ...... heart. The <> is also blue in color, so it does not look as if there is something inside. Only the eyes are transparent, but because they are transparent, the blue behind them shows through, so the color of the golem appears a little lighter than it is, but the whole golem is blue. "There we go." Jin, who had been checking each part of the system before starting it up, turned to Eira and Katya after making sure there was nothing wrong. "Let''s give it a test run." "I''m looking forward to it!" "Yes, I''m looking forward to it!" With a single voice, Jin activated the sapphire golem. "<>" Yes, master! The sapphire golem woke up. "Oh, it''s beautiful." "Elegant." Eira and Katya are looking at it with wide-eyed wonder. How are you feeling? At these words, the sapphire golem moved its body slightly to check. Yes, master. No problem. "Good. Let''s try some things then." Jin tries to check the walk first. Then... "Jin-san, don''t you have a name for him?" asked Katya. "Well, a name. ...... Okay, Katya, Eira. Either way, give him a good name." "Yes,...... we?" "Well,...... I guess so,......." Katya was a little puzzled, but Eira immediately started to think of a name. But it was Katya who spoke up first. "How about ''Kaela''?" "Kaela. <. Reiko responded. It is not exactly an ancient word, but an archaic word for <>. It is pronounced "kaela" or "kaer-la". In Ars, such words have been handed down to the present with different forms and usages. It is to the credit of Guth and Vivian that they have extracted these ancient languages and clarified their etymology. Now for a quiet word. "Oh, I like that one. "I''m sorry, but I didn''t think of that. I''ll just go with in Kachair." Jin and Eira liked the sound of that, so they decided to name the sapphire golem <>. Yes, my name is . I look forward to working with you from now on. Kaela bows in a curtesy-like manner. This is an area where the know-how of Ste Arena''s crystal golem, Selene, and others has been incorporated. "Okay, let''s take a walk." Yes. Kaela walked slowly around the laboratory. "Well, let''s at least put on some shoes." (Yes, the sound of her feet hitting the floor was too noisy. (I remember Stearina used to have a cushioning resin attached to her shoes.) (I remember that Stearena used to have a cushioning resin attached.) But the resin wears out. This would be fine for a golem to be kept in the maker''s own possession, but not for a gift. "Why don''t you make it clear that it is intended for use as a maid of honor? "Well, that''s a good idea. Taking into account the opinion of Katya, we decided to make her look like a maid of honor with a minimum of necessary equipment. The rest of the outfit was bare body. The rest of the body is bare. (Well, it''s not quite right...), Jin thought. (Hmmm, it''s not quite right.) But Hitoshi thought, "Wow, it looks good on you! "Yes, it''s not bad at all. said Katya and Eira, Jin thought, "What?) I thought to myself, "What? So the three of us decided to take her outside and ask the opinions of the people we met. They do not take Reiko and Hope with them to check their impressions of Kaela, but leave them at home. The three of them decided to ask her for her opinion on Kaela. And what was their reaction? "Oh, wow! "This is amazing!" "Beautiful ......" "Eila, is this the work of Cachia ...... and her guest?Is this the work of Eira, Cachia and her guest?" Some of them had never heard of Jin, but when I asked their opinions to the people I met, 60% of them said they felt <. "Well, walking is fine. But I''m not so sure about the outfit." Although 60% of the respondents were , it was honestly a very subtle figure. "Should we dress her up in a samurai costume? That would hide her sapphire body, but it''s not something to show off, so Jin would like to dress her up. "Well, ...... would be good, wouldn''t it?" "Yes, it''s a gift." Not wanting to be seen as vulgar in any case, it was decided to dress her in a lady''s uniform. 1979 - - 52-51 Check operation again The maidens'' uniforms are made of the standard <. However, it is not from Horai Island, but is cultivated here in <>, so it is less than half as strong. Still, it is stronger than any existing fiber. Eira and Katya are asked to make underwear. Hitoshi made an apron dress with the help of Reiko. "It''s done! I made this one too." The clothes were finished at about the same time. He immediately puts them on Kaela. "Oh, it looks good on you. The white brim and apron are white, of course. I decided on a burgundy color for the apron, and it suits her more than I thought it would. Jin, too, has a good sense of color scheme, even if the design is not so good. "Short sleeves. The lace on the cuffs and the sapphires on the arms look good. "The skirt is a little short, too, isn''t it?" The skirt is just below the knees, but you can see her shins. "It''s nice to be able to move around easily," was Eira''s line. Eira says. By the way, there are no maids in mini-skirts in this world. "Okay, Kayla, let''s go outside again." Okay. So we walk outside again. This time with Reiko and Hope. "Oh, ...... what''s with the maid of honor? Is it a golem?Or is it ...... a sapphire? "Wow ......<''s new?A little Samurai woman ...... and a Golem too?" The reputation does not seem to be bad. Reiko and Hope are also rumored to be in the works. Walking on, we came to an athletic park. There are several sports fields of dirt, grass, and artificial clay, and people are enjoying sports and games. "Let''s check our movements here," Jin suggested. Jin suggested, and Eira and Katya agreed. The group headed for an empty dirt playground because, at 200 kg, grass or artificial clay would be too hard to clean up afterwards. As a side note, a combat golem is much heavier. Although they have wider feet, they still cause more damage to the ground and floor. Therefore, the paths, floors, corridors, etc. on which such golems are supposed to walk are reinforced accordingly. The playground here is for human beings, so it is not reinforced in this way. Jin will fix them later. Dents and holes. All right, let''s jump first. Yes, sir. Kayla jumped... ......1 meters. "I guess that''s it." Jin had not fully grasped the kinetic capabilities of the crystal golem since it was the first one he had ever built. He knew that Kaela''s ability to move only with < would be lower than that of a normal golem, but he was a little disappointed. (Wait, what?(Wait, what if the joint parts were made of magic resin instead of sapphire?) ) This could be an application of the golem he had made just the other day. Jin wanted to try out the idea immediately, so he called out to Eira and Kaechea and decided to return to the laboratory. "......Totally, you''ve come up with something crazy again, Jin." "Hmmm, after all, he is a Magecraft Meister, after all. Jin was simulating in his mind the points to be modified. The first thing to do is to modify the inside of the machine. "First, hollow out the inside and fill it with Magi-resin. The magi resin is to be colored the same color as the sapphire. The performance may be reduced by the addition of the dye, but only slightly. In fact, the performance is expected to be several times higher than when the whole body was made of sapphire. The magic dye is added to the prepared magic resin (magiresin), and a blue color is produced. Reiko, whose vision allows her to fine-tune the color, is asked to adjust the color. "How much of the inside should be hollowed out? Since too much hollowing out would reduce its strength, about half of the sapphire was hollowed out and replaced with magiresin. Naturally, the control parameters of the <> will change greatly, so this was also replaced. However, since this is our first attempt, we do not expect to be able to decide exactly what to do from the beginning. Therefore, we have left a lot of room for rewritability in the configuration. In the case of an electronic device, it would be like having NVRAM (non-volatile random access memory) for storing parameters. The optimal values are determined while running the system. "I''ve lost about 120 kilograms, so this should work in the right direction. The specific gravity of the magic resin (magiresin) used this time is around 1, and that of sapphire is 4. "Okay, <>." Yes, master. Kaela gets up, but her movements are awkward. "I know it''s hard for you to move, but please try to move in an optimal manner." Yes, I understand. The optimization takes less time because Jin has increased the performance of the control core. In no time at all, Kaela''s movements become smoother and smoother. "Oh, this is great! "That''s what Jin-san does, isn''t it? Within a minute after the reboot, Kaela''s movements were as smooth as before. "What do you think?How much do you feel the output has increased? Yes, Master. About three and a half times more. "Yes, that''s enough." So we decided to go back to the playground and check the power output. "Let''s jump first." Yes, sir. Kayla answered and jumped as hard as she could. "Oh, great!" This time she jumped about five meters. Jin judged that this was the result of the increased power output and the fact that she had lost almost half of her body weight. After that, he let him run, and although he made footprints from his body weight, his movements looked light and nimble. The finishing touch was a kumite with Reiko. The final stage was a kumite with Reiko, but at a very elementary level of self-defense. The reason for not fighting Hope was that Hope was less experienced in combat, and he wanted to be prepared in case she failed to take it easy on him. "Okay Reiko, Kaela, <>" "I''m coming!" Reiko answered with a single word and ran out. Kaela, on the other hand, silently intercepted her. Reiko jumped and kicked her in the face. Kaela jumps to the side and narrowly avoids the kick. Reiko grabbed Kaela''s sleeve in mid-air and landed on her feet. She takes her back. She then throws her back like a backdrop. Before her head hits the ground, Kaela raises her hands to block it. She then backflips Reiko, holding on to her waist. Reiko releases her hands in the air, but this time Kaela catches her and does not let go. Using the flexibility of her body, which only a form drive without fixed joints can provide, Kaela used the momentum of the back roll to throw Reiko up into the air. Reiko is thrown over 5 meters into the air. Kaela lands quickly, adjusts her stance, and throws a spinning kick at the falling Reiko. "Oh!" Eira exclaims in admiration. Reiko guards Kaela''s kick with both arms, but due to the difference in weight, she is blown several meters off the ground. She twisted her body in the air and landed safely, then kicked the ground and lunged like a rocket. Kaela barely dodged the thrust, but when Reiko saw that she was dodged, she kicked the ground and did a 180-degree turn. Reiko hit Kaela from behind, not caring about the gouged ground. As expected, Kaela was unable to dodge the blow and was blown away, but she quickly regained her position. The two collided again before ...... "Okay, that''s it!" Jin declared the end. 1980 - - 52-52 Towards the Kingdom of Elias "Well, that was great, Jin!" Eira was very excited to see the mock battle between Kaela and Reiko. "Mr. Jin, about that mock battle just now, how serious was Mr. Reiko?" On the other hand, Katya was calmly analyzing the situation, suppressing her inner excitement. "Well, let''s see, three percent, I guess." "Yes. That''s about right." "Yes, three percent. ......" Eira sounds exasperated. "It''s a great achievement to be on par with Reiko''s three percent. Jin reminds her. "Yes, I know. "Yes, I know that. But Reiko is showing such a good movement that she''s at 3 percent ......". Eira looked at Reiko with a mixture of respect and awe, as if she could imagine how strong Reiko was right now. (I''ll keep quiet about the fact that I didn''t use a force field generator or any kind of magical assistance, so in total it''s probably only about 1 percent.) Jin then checked Kaela first. "Yeah, I don''t see any damage anywhere." Sapphire has a Mohs hardness of 9, which is a fairly hard mineral, so it is unlikely to be scratched. In addition, the brittleness of sapphire has been overcome by Jin''s toughening process. The same goes for the clothes. Although inferior to those from Horai Island, <> was strong. Next, Reiko is checked. Naturally, there is no abnormality at all. "Yes, both of you were wonderful!" Once again Jin praised Reiko and Kaela. "Thank you, father." Thank you, Master. Thank you, Master. Meanwhile, it was almost noon. "All right, let''s have Kayla cook." This was another test for Kayla. She decides to let me use the kitchenette in the laboratory. "Well, the ingredients are at ......." Jin checks the warehouse, "There''s nothing here! He exclaimed in exasperation. "Oh, that can''t be helped. Everyone is out of town, so we ate the fragile items to get rid of them before they are gone." Katya explained, but Jin''s shoulders slumped, "You should have told me that earlier. ......" He blurted out, "You should have told me that earlier. "After all, flour, salt, sugar, pepper, baking soda, and a little vegetable oil. ......" The flour still had quite a bit of shelf life left, so he decided there was no need to eat it all. The oil, however, was old and damaged. According to Katya, she said, <>. "Is there any place nearby where we can get the ingredients? Jin asked, and Katya told him. "Yes, there is a store at the end of the research building. "Okay, Hope, go get some eggs, milk, and maple syrup. Get me eggs and milk and maple syrup as soon as possible. Jin asked Hope to run an errand. The money came from the lab''s budget. There would be an invoice with the materials used later. "Okay." Hope runs away when Jin tells her to hurry up. He returned three minutes later. As expected, she could shorten her travel time, but not her shopping time. "Master, I got it." "Yes, thank you." After receiving the eggs, milk, and maple syrup, Jin thanked Hope. "Now you can make pancakes. Jin handed the ingredients to Kayla. She had a frying pan, spatula, and bowls, so there was no problem. Okay, I''ll take care of it! Kaela immediately started cooking. Incidentally, the old oil had been reduced to a usable level by Jin''s < and . Mix the flour with a little baking soda, add the eggs and milk. Put vegetable oil in a frying pan and bake the kneaded mixture. The procedure is simple, but the proportions and baking conditions are quite difficult. However, Kaela did a good job of baking for the three of us. Here you go! The pancakes are placed on a plate and laid out on the table. Butter the pancakes and drizzle maple syrup on them and they are ready to eat. Reiko was sent to buy the butter, but the butter was sold out. So Jin secretly ordered some from Horai Island. "Yes, it''s good! "It''s delicious! "It''s really good!" Jin, Katya, and Eira all expressed their compliments. The last step was to clean up and tidy up. Kayla had no complaints about this either. "Yes, this is a good job." "Yeah, I''m proud to present it." "Thank you very much for your hard work." So, Jin went to the office of the Chief Superintendent to show < and to the Chief Superintendent. In short, he means to travel in an amphibious vehicle. * * * * * * "Oh, oh, this is it!" Tomax Bartmann exclaimed in amazement when he saw the <> and <> at 1:00 pm. "This is more than enough appeal!Thank you, Mister Jin. Eira, Cachia, you did a great job! Tomax Bartmann was in a good mood. "Then we will leave in one hour. "Yes, sir." With that, Jin said goodbye to Eira and Katya. "It was a bit hectic this time, but we had a lot of fun. We had a lot of fun, too. We had a lot of fun this time. Yes, Mr. Jin, please come again. Thank you. I''m sure we will. Soon." After exchanging brief but heartfelt goodbyes, Jin boarded Hope''s Hurricane. "See you soon. "Take care." Meanwhile, Tomax Bartman and his party boarded the <>, the airship of the <>. The <> and <> are loaded onto the <>. Without this handicap, the <> is too fast. * * * * * * After leaving <>, it is about 200 km over the sea to the kingdom of Elias. After a two-hour flight, the two airships arrived at the capital city of Borgia without incident. 1981 - - 52-53 Suspicious Person is currently located on the west side of the Elias Peninsula at 50 degrees west longitude and 7 degrees north latitude. The capital of the Kingdom of Elias, Borgia, is about 200 km away in a straight line. Two aircraft, Jin''s and Tomax Bartmann''s airship , reached the sky over Borgia in about two hours. The time was 5:00 p.m. The sky was still bright in Hinaga in spring. The airship squadron of the Kingdom of Elias came up to greet Jin and his airship, as they had been notified in advance. <. Ten of them. Jin thought it was cool to see them flying in formation in the evening sky, with the flag of the Elias Kingdom waving in the air. < A loud voice, perhaps using a magic tool, rang out. The first plane was an instantly recognizable airship with <<1>> written on its air sac. Jin ordered Hope to follow the first plane. < The <> and the <> landed on the airfield at dusk. "Welcome aboard, sir." Vasco de Gino, the Prime Minister, greets Jin and Tomax Bartmann. His white hair and white beard are impressive. He was quite thin due to his hard work, and his complexion did not look good. "High Superintendent of Avalon, Tomax Bartmann, and Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido. Welcome." After shaking hands with Tomax and Jin in turn, Vasco de Gino invited them to the car that had been prepared for them. Of course, Reiko was with Jin. Manon, the secretary automaton, also sat down beside Tomax. The other passengers are in other cars. Hope, by the way, is standing guard inside the as a precaution. As for Jin, the old man still does not trust the leaders of the Kingdom of Elias, rather than ....... Most of those who were under the influence of the <> have been removed, but the old man believes that there are still some potential panderers left. The 5th column (Quinta) has not been redeployed for a long time, and there is still a lack of information, which is why Hope was left behind. After all, there is a cargo of offerings inside the . And my fears are proven correct: ....... It was already evening, and Jin and Tomax were being entertained at the guest house. Now Jin is a <, so he is free from intoxication by alcohol, but Tomax is not. He was not a drinker by nature, and after a few drinks of a pleasant cocktail, he was completely intoxicated. However, he is a serious person at heart, and he drinks up every drink that is poured for him, as it would be impolite not to drink in such an occasion. If not for the occasional light detoxification by Manon, his secretary-automata, he would have been drunk by now. Alcohol and the aldehydes formed from the decomposition of alcohol are toxins for the human body. However, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for those who do not know this to come up with the idea of using detoxification in order to sober up. The fact that detoxification is effective for < on <, which is a typical luxury item that has been consumed since ancient times, is like a proof that it is < for the human body. "I see, that''s why using cures hangovers, doesn''t it? Since Jin did not get drunk, he decided that he could not drink and refused all alcoholic beverages except for one drink as a toast. Since the Prime Minister also did not seem to drink much, the non-drinkers naturally struck up a conversation with each other. "...... Therefore, since human beings are dependent on this body, we cannot ignore matter. In this sense, it can be said that the claims of the <> are not for the benefit of >." "Hmmm... ...... what Mr. Jin said is very informative." "I see, that''s the logic. It is indeed very convincing. Now an elderly man named Irene de Deluca, the new king''s former educator, joined Jin and the Prime Minister in their conversation. He, too, regrets that he could not stop the new king ...... from becoming infected with the <> ideology when he was a prince. (It might have been a kind of chuunibi ...... or rebellion ......) As Jin listened to Ireneo''s story, he began to think that the New King''s thought might not have been the original one. (This might be the way Tomax wants things to go.) Just then, he heard the sound of an alarm bell being rung. * * * * * * The time is back to the airfield just after Jin and the others drove to the guest house. < and were moving toward the visitors'' hangar. The airfield control officer and a special golem are in charge of the move. Hope must remain behind for such an occasion. Unlike <> which is buoyed by helium, <> is a <>. In other words, it is <>. So, to avoid being noticed, they use a to lighten the load on the towing golem. The two Golems are then stored in a huge hangar. It is a kamaboko-shaped structure that looks a little like a plastic greenhouse. The material seems to be a thin bronze plate. Hope analyzed that it was probably covered by a steel framework. After the door is closed, it is quiet. Outside the door, two golems are seen by the magic detector. Hope stays alert and waits, using the sound collection sensor outside the <> to detect the sounds around her. Hope blocks out the visual sense and allocates the resources of the control core to the auditory sense via the sensors and the <>. And time passes. 1 hour, 2 hours ....... At 9:00 p.m., the sound of approaching footsteps and a flicker of magical energy is detected. Hope shifts from standby to normal. (......<>) Hope hears the key word that stops the security golem. "If you can use the magic key word, are you related to security ......? It was an inside job. Then, the door to the hangar is opened. (...... Is this the airship of the Magecraft Meister?) A man of advanced age enters. He is masked, so Hope cannot see what he looks like, but she has recorded his magical patterns. The suspicious person looks around at the < and occasionally touches it as if to check its material. But that''s all he does, and he doesn''t seem to intend to do anything. At that moment, an alarm bell rings. Is it set to go off when the security golem is stopped for a certain period of time, or when the hangar door is opened outside of the specified time? (......, my country, you''re so polite!) The suspicious person said and disappeared out of the hangar with a hurry. Of course, this fact was reported to the old man, who also informed Jin through Reiko. * * * * * At the guest house, he explained to Jin and Tomax Bartmann why the alarm bell had been rung. "I see, so someone opened the hangar door and broke in. "Yes, that''s what happened. Fortunately, we were fast enough to get to the hangar and the intruder escaped without being able to do anything. ......" Wiping sweat off his face, the airfield security commander explains. He still looks young, but his head is beginning to look lonely, which makes me wonder if it is because of his heartache ....... In the world of Ars, there is no tendency to avoid bald heads. There is a theory that the bald head is a remnant of a culture that used to wear a crown on the topknot. If a wrestler lost his hair, he could no longer wear the topknot and could not wear the crown, so he had to retire. Incidentally, there is a theory in modern Japan that sumo wrestlers retire when they can no longer wear the topknot, but this theory seems to be mistaken. Aside from this, Jin and the others sent the head of the guard force back after hearing the report. After that, the number of guards was to be increased. However, Jin and Reiko decided to check the hangar just in case. Tomax Bartman and Manon accompanied them. "There doesn''t seem to be anything out of the ordinary." Jin checked both planes. Jin checked both planes because it was faster. With this reassurance, Jin and the others returned to the guest house. * * * * Jin was left alone with Reiko in the guest room he was given, and they immediately started discussing. "What do you think, Reiko? "Yes father, only one lie. The intruder did not escape without being able to do anything because you rushed to the scene so quickly. It would have been normal for you to run to the house, but the intruder got away before you could." "I see." Hope recorded the magic patterns, so the culprit could be identified. That was enough for that day. As a side note, the <> was a human being who had deployed a <> inside the hangar. 1982 - - 52-54 Ceremony Held It was the morning of May 6. There seems to be no more anomalies in the hangar. The sky in Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, is clear and cloudless. This is a military drill ground on the outskirts of the capital. The airfield is adjacent to this site. The area is about 2 square kilometers in size, and is a plain of hardened soil. This is where the presentation of the <> to the new king, Adalberto Nimmo Elias I, will take place. The coronation ceremony of the new king was held two months ago, but today, and are presenting the gifts, so all the major nobles are present, as well as all the major merchants. The other seats were filled to overflowing with the common people, who were all hustling and jostling each other. Although they do not say it out loud, they are all fed up with the tyranny of the , and are curious about the who is rumored to have wiped it out, and the who cooperated with him. By the way, although we call them gifts and offerings, we are simply changing the terminology each time in consideration of the appearance and appearance of the nobility and royalty. At 9:00 a.m., two luxurious and gorgeous cars came from the direction of the royal castle with magnificent music, led by horsemen. "Is that the Magecraft Meister?" "Yes, it seems so. It is said that he is accompanied by an automata, an attendant in the form of a girl. "Oh, then it''s the car in the back. The green-haired one in the front car is not a girl. Jin and Tomax Bartmann are in separate cars. They are accompanied only by Reiko and Manon. "But the green-haired one over there is a beauty, too. I wonder if she is an automaton, too. The two cars and the knight leading the way proceeded slowly amidst the noise and bustle. Protected by the knights and the golem, the cars carrying Jin and the others arrived at the training ground without incident. "This way, please." Jin and Tomax each got out of the car at the urging of the young officer. They were led on foot through the training camp. Reiko and Manon followed them. Within a minute, they arrived at the hastily prepared, but well constructed seats for the guests of honor. They have a roof to block out the sun. Jin and Tomax took their seats, Reiko and Manon stood behind them. "Here you go." A pamphlet containing the program of the ceremony was handed to Jin and Tomax. According to the pamphlet Opening address by the Prime Minister, Vasco do Gino 2. congratulatory address by Mr. Tomax Bartmann, Chief Superintendent of Avalon 3. New King''s Address by His Majesty King Elias I 4. Presentation of the Dedication Catalogue Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology 5. unveiling of the gift by Magecraft Meister Gin Nidor 6. General Comment by Minister of Magical Technology, Fiorina de Dorante 7. Closing remarks by the Prime Minister, Vasco de Gino. The text was written as follows. (Is the unveiling an ...... explanation or commentary?) Jin frowned a little, saying that he had not heard it. At that moment, a woman dressed like a secretary stood in front of Jin and bowed her head. "I am sorry, Mr. Jin. The ceremony was only decided this morning. Jin sighed in his mind, "If that''s the case, I wish you would have told me before we drove off. ...... (I should have left it to my doppelganger ......) But it was already too late. (Well, what will be, will be...) When I was in the modern Japan, the boss''s reckless behavior was an everyday occurrence. I was the one who took care of all the excuses in the name of explanation at the client''s place of business. (......It''s been a long time since I remember those days. ......) But thinking about those days, I am happy now. (It''s easy for me because I talk about my specialty.) * * * * Then came the arrival of the attendants, and finally the new King Elias I and the Queen. To the right of Jin and Tomax were the seats of the new King Elias I and the Queen, and on the other side were the seats of the ministers. The ministers were seated on the other side of the table. Now then, I would like to begin the ceremony commemorating the accession to the throne of His Majesty the new King of the Kingdom of Elias. A slightly hushed voice echoed through the drill hall. It seems that the Prime Minister is also the presiding officer of the ceremony. Without going up on the podium, he delivered his opening address. We are blessed with fine weather today, and it seems as if the heavens are blessing the future of our nation. On this auspicious occasion, the gifts of congratulations from <> and <> were presented to us. Applause echoed through the parade ground. After a pause, the Prime Minister continued. In a few minutes, he had finished his opening address. We will now hear the congratulatory speeches of the honored guests. "High Commissioner of Avalon, Mr. Tomax Bartmann. Tomax Bartmann, who was sitting next to Jin, stands up and walks to the podium. His image is projected on the magic screen. I am Tomax Bartmann and I am here to introduce you to the audience. <. First of all, I would like to congratulate His Majesty the new King of Elias on his accession to the throne. ...... Tomax Bartmann looked quite dignified, as if this was not the first time he had sat at such a table. Next were the words of the new King Elias I. Elias I did not go up to the podium but began to speak from his seat. I thank you for having gathered here today for me. My Kingdom of Elias is ...... Jin saw the new king clearly for the first time. The new king was rather tall and broad, with the impression of being a small fat man. (He is not muscular, is he? ......) I could tell from his face, which was 30 years old, because his cheeks were a little flabby. He was 30 years old, and his cheeks were a little flabby. That is all. The ministers stood up and applauded, and Jin and Tomax did the same. Now it was time to disclose the list of offerings. The person who read out the list was Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology. (A descendant of the Marquis of Firenziano (......)) Her dark blond hair is pulled back in an updo and her blue eyes are slightly slanted, just like her ancestor, Marquis Dominique de Zaus Firenziano (around 30 years old?). (Around 30 years old?(Around 30 years old? Younger than the Marquis at that time?) Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, reads the inventory in a clear voice. <>. Master Jin and his apprentice have made it. <, made by Master Jin and his friend from Avalon. <<>Made by Master Jin and a friend of Avalon. ...... First, the gifts from Jin were read out. From Avalon, 2 general-purpose golems, 10 short swords, 10 long swords, 3 golem horses, 3 magic stoves, and 3 refrigerators. Three golem horses, three magic stoves, and three refrigerators ...... or more were donated. There was another round of applause. At this point, the new king said a few words, which were not included in the program of the ceremony. I am delighted to receive such a wonderful gift. Jin was a little happy because he had not expected such words. Now it was Jin''s turn to speak. Next, I would like to ask the 3rd Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido, to unveil the gift and give an explanation. Jin slowly stood up and walked toward the podium. Reiko did not stay there, but followed him to the bottom of the platform. In front of the platform, the list of the inventory was handed to her. The handiwork in this area was not bad, but it could have been done a little quicker. When Jin came to the podium, he was given a round of applause. "My name is Jin Nido, and I am pleased to introduce you. From the platform, I saw that all the gifts had been loaded onto a special cart-like vehicle and brought to the military drill site. (Okay, then ......) First of all, Jin decided to explain the gifts from <. 1983 - - 52-55 After the ceremony Jin began by explaining the gift from <>. "...... Two generic golems. These are the standard items currently used in <>." The two golems that had been brought to the training hall were projected on the large magic screen. The crowd let out a roar of excitement. "...... Unfortunately, the technology in the world today has < a bit, so this is one of the best in the world." The groans grew louder. Waiting for it to die down, Jin began the next part of his explanation. "Three golem horses. They are golems, which means that they do not get tired, do not get sick, are resistant to heat and cold, and are five times stronger than ordinary horses. In other words, one golem horse can pull a carriage of four horses. Now a golem horse was shown on the screen. The audience gasped as they watched the video and listened to the explanation. Seeing this, Jin said (Ah, the general public has lost this kind of knowledge, hasn''t it?) (Oh, the general public has lost this kind of knowledge). "And 10 short swords and 10 long swords. This needs no explanation. <, but I assure you that the quality of the steel is among the best in the world." The last of the gifts from <> is a refrigerator and a stove. "A refrigerator and a magic stove, no more explanation is needed. They are more user-friendly than the previous ones. Finally, Jin began to explain his gift. "First of all, we have the <>. This was made with the help of <>''s friends, Eira and Kaechea. As the name suggests, it can normally run on land as a car, but when the need arises, it can also run on water as a boat. Jin thought it would be impossible to carry this boat, but upon closer inspection, he found that it was loaded on a large cart. (Ah, the kind that carries logs and stones.) Jin recognizes the truck''s identity. The sight of the amphibious vehicle drew even louder gasps from the crowd, followed by applause. "...... is amazing, isn''t it? "It is indeed the work of a magical engineer, the MagiCraft Meister. There were whispers of amazement among the cabinet members. "......Next is the Samurai Golem <. I made this one with the help of my friends Eira and Kaechea from <>. When their appearance was projected on the large magic screen, there was an even louder gasp. "Oh, wow! What is that color?You don''t think it''s a ...... sapphire? "Did you process such a huge sapphire?No, a magical engineer, a Magecraft Meister, would have ...... "As you can see, most of it is made of sapphire. As you can see, most of them are made of sapphires, but they have all the skills of a maid of honor. Jin assured me that they were made of sapphires, and the crowd''s reaction grew even louder. It was more of a cheer than a groan. "If you leave it as it is, it will sound too hard, so we put clothes on it and shoes on it. These words were followed by thunderous applause. "The last one is a warrior golem. Unlike the first two, this one was made by myself and my disciples. The ministers, aware of the new king''s fondness for these battle golems, leaned forward. "The technique was abandoned more than a hundred years ago, but myself and my disciples rediscovered it and sublimated it. In other words, it works in a completely different way from the that is currently the mainstream." At this point, those with a keen intuition guessed that the technology had died out because of the <>. Some of them were curious to know what a "completely different system" was. (I wonder what kind of method it is. ...... I''d like to hear about it later.) (What kind of method? I''d like to hear about it later.) The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magical Technology, Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, is the first person to be appointed to the Ministry of Magical Technology. (I''m sure you''ll learn a lot about <, the third generation of the "Magi Craft Meister" mentioned in your ancestor''s diary ......). She is 31 years old this year, but she is ambitious and has become the undersecretary of the Ministry of Magical Technology, even though she is a woman. No, the same goes for the Minister of Magical Technology, although she is a woman. Fiorina de Dorante is 40 years old this year. She is very competitive. Thanks to this character, she has beaten male technicians to the top of the technical profession. (...... Interesting!I''d love to see him compete with my latest golem!) I''d love to see my latest golem compete! And the new king, who loves golems for combat, had similar thoughts. After the applause and cheers that shook the drill hall had died down, "Brilliant!Jin, I have indeed received your gift! the new king shouted from his seat. The cabinet members were in an uproar at this unusual event, and the Prime Minister, who was also the host of the meeting, coughed once. "Well, then, the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology will give a general review: ......." Before the Prime Minister could finish, Fiorina de Dorante, the Minister of Magical Technology, ran up to the podium. Jin failed to find the right moment to get off the platform and remained on it. Regardless, Fiorina began her comments. I am Fiorina de Dorante, Minister of Magical Arts and Technology!Magecraft Meister, your skills are absolutely amazing! At that moment, she took Jin''s hand. And then.., "Jin-dono, I will surely make efforts for the development of magic technology in order to repay your kindness. The audience applauded and cheered again. The audience applauded and cheered again. Then Fiorina let go of Jin''s hand, "The technology of Avalon is also well above the average of this world. I hope that our country will learn from them and aim for further development. ...... He spoke rather quickly, with his honest opinion. "......That''s all for now, Fiorina de Dorante, Minister of Magical Technology." When he had finished, he bailed and was greeted with thunderous applause. Jin and Fiorina walked down from the platform side by side. (What can I say, ......, you''re a hot guy.) That was Jin''s first impression of Fiorina de Dorante. Yes, with this, I would like to conclude the ceremony commemorating the accession to the throne of His Majesty the new King of the Kingdom of Elias. The words of the Prime Minister, the presiding officer of the ceremony, echoed through the parade ground. Just as Jin was about to sigh in relief that this was the end. I would like to take this opportunity to conduct a mock battle between our latest model of battle golem and the warrior golem that has been donated to us. echoed the words of Fiorina de Dorante, Minister of Magic and Technology. The audience, who were getting ready to leave, stared at the large magic screen. There, the warrior golem donated by Jin is projected. (Well, it was a donation, so it''s not for me to say anything about it.) I don''t think it''s necessary to inform the public that the golem of the Elias Kingdom is inferior. Since yesterday, we have seen several times the golem made in Elias. They are not even close to the warrior golem we donated this time. Jin thought that even the latest model would be no match for them. "Jin-dono, I''m sorry to trouble you, but please determine the master-slave relationship of the golem now. At the same time, Jin was summoned by Citranella, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology. Certainly, if we are going to have a mock battle, we need to determine the order of precedence of orders. "Yes, sir." Jin decides to go to the place where the golem is located. Reiko follows him this time. "Your Majesty, the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, Undersecretary, is that correct?" Normally, the Commander of the Kingsguard could be the second in line. Or even the queen. But the new King of Elias nodded his head and said that would be fine. (Well, he also wants this golem to be a technical reference, so he should welcome it even if a technical person comes first.) Jin thinks so, <> 1st, His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Elias. 2nd, His Excellency Fiorina de Dorante, Minister of Magical Technology. 3rd, His Excellency Citranella de Firenziano, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magical Technology." And he ranked them as he was told. "Mm, okay. " Immediately, the new king activated the warrior golem. "Yes, master." "Yes, master. Your name is Volk. "Yes, my lord. I repeat, my name is Volk. The new king named, "Alright Volk, let''s see what you can do. All right, ......." He says. "Yes, sir." I didn''t catch the last words of his command, but anyway, the New King ordered a mock battle with a battle golem prepared by the Minister of Magical Technology. The crowd was delighted. 1984 - - 52-56 Through mock competition, The crowd was delighted by this unexpected event. Sooner or later this will happen.) Jin thinks to himself, "This is going to happen sooner or later. Jin was astonished when he saw the latest model of the Elias Kingdom''s battle golem. He could tell at a glance that the performance was too different. Of course the is better. (I didn''t know that the technology had declined so much. ......) That may be understandable. It was the kingdom of Elias that was most influenced by the <>. (Nevertheless, ......) The exterior is made of iron or mild steel. Jin thought it would be heavy. The structure is probably . So its movement is not flexible. Its skeleton is probably made of steel, and its muscles are also metal. Therefore, the total weight would be over 500 kilograms. (Is weight the only advantage?). weighs about 120 kilos with its armor. 4 times more than its weight is a weapon in itself. However, Jin thinks that the advantage of <> is unassailable. There are countless ways to fight. The problem is that only Jin and Tomax Bartmann are the only ones who are aware of the <>. Tomax Bartmann is looking sad and troubled. The Minister of Magic and Technology and the Undersecretary of the Kingdom of Elias may have been aware of this, but it was getting to the point where they could no longer back down and the situation was out of Jin''s hands. Now, at Your Majesty''s request, we will now have a mock battle of the Golem. The referee will be Hugus Anrock, Deputy Commander of the Kingsguard. On the east side is the Volk, and on the west side is the battle golem of the Kingdom of Elias. In his hand is a mock sword without a blade. However, it is made of steel, so it will probably scratch if it hits you. "Oh, this is interesting. Let''s see who will win. "I don''t think the one made by the Magecraft Meister is inferior, but he''s the third generation, not his predecessor who left behind many legends. "No, no, as long as you call yourself the Magecraft Meister, you are at the pinnacle of magical technology, aren''t you? "Still, I''d like our golem to win, but ...... well, well..." The nobles in attendance speak their minds as they please. "Hajime! The two jumped back and looked at each other. I thought they were going to have a standoff, but the Elias Golem,...... which I will call the Elias Golem from now on for convenience, kicked off the ground and rushed toward the Volk. Then they clashed sword to sword. Sparks flew for a moment. But they do not exchange fire, and Volk dodges to the side. Elias Golem was momentarily thrown for a loop when his opponent disappeared, but he reacted well, turned 90 degrees, and swung his sword sideways. However, the Volk had already backstepped out of reach of the sword, and stepped forward just as the sword passed by the sidestepping golem, slashing at it. Elias Golem catches him. So far, the two seem to be evenly matched in this exchange. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Father, the Volk seems to be holding back well.) Yes, he is.) While everyone was distracted by the heated battle, Jin was talking with Reiko in a whisper that even Tomax Bartman sitting next to him could not hear. If things continue as they are, I think we''re going to win this one by a narrow margin.) (That''s the best. (Was that what the ...... king ordered?) (No, from what I''ve heard. ......) (......?) * * * * The battle between the two was becoming more heated. Although they did not fight each other head-on, they continued to attack each other, hitting each other two or three times and then separating. However, those who see it can see that the Elias golem side does not have much leeway. While the Volc is unharmed, Elias Golem''s exterior is covered with countless scratches. Finally, the swords held by the two men are shattered. Throwing away their useless swords, everyone thought that the two would go in for a duel. But then... "Oh, what''s that move?" A kick? Volk did not fight, but used a variety of kicking techniques. Not to mention front kicks, spinning kicks, back kicks, jumping kicks, and heel drops. "I see, because he is at a disadvantage because of the weight difference when he fights with me. "He''s using his speed to his advantage." Such murmurs could be heard among the cabinet members. However, after a few more exchanges, Elias Golem succeeded in grabbing the Volk''s right shoulder. Volk reacted immediately. He shifts his body half a step to the left and twists his body around his left foot. Elias Golem is slightly lifted up. Volk leaps up with his right leg. This technique is a little like the < in judo. In the martial arts of the Shoro Empire, it is called a . If the two were of equal weight, he would throw his opponent down to the ground on his back. The weight difference between the Volk and the Elias golem is insurmountable. The Volk crushes the Elias golem to the ground as if to crush it. "Oh, you''re not only good with a sword, but also in combat! "That''s impressive. That is a move that can only be done with a soft body in human terms. Beside the new King of Elias is Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, who is giving an explanation. She is not an expert in swordsmanship or martial arts, but she is an expert in movement. The Volk''s movements are very close to those of a human being. That''s why he can use the techniques that humans use. "I see. I see. So there is that advantage too. The new king seemed to be thinking about something. Meanwhile, the mock battle continued. Elias Golem is not good at kicking due to its structure. Therefore, it is mainly a bludgeon, but it can only hit straight, and cannot use advanced fist techniques. At best, he can swing his arms around. However, in close combat, flexibility of the body comes into play. In boxing, <<<>, etc., there is a difference between those with flexible bodies and those with rigid bodies. In fact, Volk avoided all of Elias Golem''s punches. On the other hand, Elias Golem has been hit several times by Volk''s fist, but it is far from a fatal blow, so the mock battle continues. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * (Hmmm, I''m going easy on it... ......) Jin feels a sense of powerlessness at the current state of Elias Golem. (Father, its performance is far below what we expected before the mock battle.) Reiko was also dismayed. (Has the golem technology of the Elias Kingdom declined to this level? ......) Tomax Bartmann, who was sitting next to Reiko, seemed to feel the same way and was staring at the screen with a furrowed brow. (......I need to finish this soon, the damage is piling up. ......) Jin did not miss the fact that Elias Golem was slowing down. The same was true for Hugus Anlock, the vice-captain of the Kingsguard, who was 40 seconds behind Jin when he noticed it, That''s enough! and declared the end of the mock battle. 1985 - - 52-57 Rapid Deployment The mock battle was declared over. The winner is, of course, ....... A draw! What? How is this a draw? "It''s a draw!" "It''s a draw!" "It''s a draw!" "It''s a draw!" The referee, Hugues Anlocq, the vice-commander of the Kingsguard, was unperturbed and bowed to the king. "Hmm . ...... a draw for lack of a decision?" King Adalberto Nimmo Elias I nodded knowingly. "Heh, Your Majesty!" Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, was about to say something, "Florenziano, the vice-commander of the Kingsguard is a professional fighter. You must not question his decision. The king said to him, "You must not dispute that decision," and he swallowed the rest of what he said. Meanwhile, Jin and Tomax Bartman said to each other "Jin-dono, I think that the Volk won this mock battle! Tomax responded, "No, it was the Volk that won, "No, it was originally a mock battle to check the performance, so I think it''s better not to assign a winner. Jin is apparently unconcerned. Jin-dono, are you sure? Tomax said, and Jin nodded silently. The ministers were divided into 20% in favor of the decision and 80% in opposition, with about three of the 20% in favor arguing for a draw. In fact, Jin had an idea that this farce would happen. The new king''s order to the Volk was < This is because the king''s order was "Let''s see your power, Volk. This information came from Reiko''s hearing, and from the old man''s deduction of her intention, (It is possible that he intends to identify the < group ......, or rather, the group that opposes the promotion of magic technology ......?) ), I came to the conclusion that During the reign of the previous king, the Kingdom of Elias became one of the strongholds of the , which caused a considerable number of intellectuals to abandon the country. The country has regressed greatly in terms of culture and civilization. The new king may be concerned about such a situation and wants to do something about it. If he wants to uproot the faction that still has its roots in the political arena, Jin would have no hesitation in cooperating with them. However, I am at a loss to make a decision at this point. If so, the new king may be quite a raccoon.) By the way, there is no animal equivalent to a raccoon dog in Arus. There is a related species, the tagun, which is an omnivorous animal that looks like a badger, a raccoon, and a civet divided by 3. Of course, they don''t beguile people, so you can''t say <> to them. I''ll leave you to talk about it. So, although Jin was somewhat, or rather quite annoyed, he was interested in what kind of attitude the new king would take and what kind of measures he would take. I have indeed received the gift of my accession to the throne. Magecraftsman Jin Nidor, I thank you. Once again, the king''s words echoed through the drill hall, first in flurries and then in louder and louder thunderous applause. Everyone knows who the winner is. Everyone knows whose golem is the winner. And so did Fiorina de Dorante, Minister of Magical Technology, and Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magical Technology. Only Hugues Anlocke, the vice-commander of the Kingsguard, had his face contorted into an ugly expression. In fact, he was the lion''s share of the kingdom of Elias. <. In that sense, the new king''s plan has worked. Including him, there are four remaining remnants of the <> in the heart of the Kingdom of Elias. They were determined not to miss this opportunity to take out both the Magecraft Meister and the High Administrator of Avalon at the same time. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the ceremony, the king and the royal family go up to the royal castle first, followed by the ministers and the guests. The general public is last. Jin and Tomax Bartmann go to the castle, guarded by 10 knights of the Kingsguard. A party is scheduled to be held at the castle afterwards. Jin and the others slowly make their way to the castle in the same car as before. Just before the castle, the car suddenly stops. The central avenue widens into a multi-purpose plaza in front of the castle. "What is it?" The driver shouted in impatience, but the car remained stationary. "What''s going on? Why isn''t it moving? The knights escorting the car are puzzled by the fact that the car has stopped moving even though there is nothing wrong with it from the outside. ......That''s why you can''t trust such a thing as a "Magi Machine"! A voice rings out from nowhere, and a deformed golem appears. The figure barely resembles a person. It has no head, and its head rests directly on its shoulders. Its body was as thick as a barrel, and it had three supporting legs. It had three legs to support itself and six arms. Three of them appeared. "Who are you? The escorting knight, knowing it was futile, asked who they were, but the golem didn''t respond, and unleashed a thunderbolt magic spell, <>. "Whoa!" It popped under the knights'' feet. Pale sparks flew. You stay back! It''s the guests we want! Don''t be stupid!It''s a disgrace to the Kingsguard to put our guests in danger! I don''t care if you get hurt in the process. The misshapen golem unleashed another Thunderbolt. It struck the lead knight''s horse. The horse fell over, unable even to make a sound. The knight on the horse is thrown to the street and does not move, probably paralyzed by the aftermath of the thunderbolt. I have lessened the force of the bolt, so the horse is probably not dead. Heed my advice. The misshapen golem said in an arrogant tone. "Unu......!" The nine remaining knights are so overwhelmed that they can do nothing when the deformed golem steps forward. "Yes. "So watch and see! The deformed golem fires a at the car with Jin and Tomax in it. However, the bolt bounces off the car and disappears far in front of it. What? I won''t let you! Two shadows stand in front of the car in which Jin and Tomax are riding. "I wondered where they were going to attack us, but here they are." One is the figure of a small girl, Reiko. "I won''t let you do what you want." The other is Tomax''s secretary, Manon, an automata. "Sister Reiko, you can trust me to protect you." "I understand. I''ll leave it to you. Manon is based on a five-color golem maid. Its output has been detuned, but its warding function is still the same. In other words, it is capable of creating both <> and <>. Automata?You are so clever!Bow before my magic!< The deformed golem fires a stop command at Reiko. 1986 - - 52-58 Battle of various places The deformed golem shoots a stop sign at Reiko. But Reiko won''t stop at that. Why? !How can she move after being hit by my magic? Yes, the deformed golem had used the same magic that the Unified Party had used in the past, the Overwrite, to stop the car''s golem engine. He used it on Reiko and Manon, but the two did not stop, so he wondered why they did not stop. "Such an old-fashioned magic, it was already taken care of 400 years ago! Reiko first lightly hit the deformed golem that was in the foremost position. With that, the deformed golem was broken into pieces. What the hell! !< The misshapen golem, having lost its comrades, fires a volley of and at Reiko in rapid succession. The two advanced magic attacks hit Reiko without hitting her directly ......, and they bounced off about 5 meters in front of her. The effect was that of a <> and a <>. What? "It doesn''t work!" Reiko then kicks the one nearest to her out of the remaining two. Naturally, the deformed golem was crushed beyond recognition. < and the were also seen to be fired from different arms. Jin, who was watching the scene, had an idea of what the deformed golem looked like. I see, it is a golem specialized in magic, since it is a descendant of the <>. The reason it has six arms is because each of them has a different magic attribute. Lightning, wind, and . (The remaining three arms are ...... fire, water, and earth?) And think for a moment. (If so, I''d like to show the guy who sent this to me ...... what I''m talking about!) Deciding how to deal with it, Jin shouted out an instruction to Reiko. "Reiko!You deal with the remaining one with magic!" "Yes, Father!" Reiko is on the verge of punching the remaining deformed golem, but she hears Jin''s instruction and decides not to. She then moves away. A mass of bright red flame strikes Reiko like a spear ......, but it too bursts out and disappears four meters in front of Reiko. "Five meters earlier, now four meters. So the magic is a little more powerful this time. A little? ......!Can you still say that?< An electric shock of an order of magnitude different from the previous ones struck Reiko. But this too was drowned out within 3 meters in front of Reiko. The amount of magic power that can be put into magic is about 1/1000 to 1/200th of Reiko''s. (Hmmm, the amount of magic power that can be put into the magic is about 1/1000 to 1/2000 of Reiko''s.) That barrel-shaped body is probably a mana tank. Jin continued his analysis of the attack on Reiko, and when he had a rough idea of what was going on, he used the bracelet to contact the old man. Incidentally, the driver of the car had already escaped long ago, and the knights escorting him were all unconscious in the aftermath. Therefore, there is no danger of being overheard. It''s me, old man. The deformed golem that Reiko is dealing with right now, do you know who is controlling it? The answer came immediately. < "Oh, the royal castle?" < "I see...is that why you have the technology you have?" < Jin felt that this was the newest model, and that an organization with contradictions had nothing to see in terms of technology. In front of Jin''s eyes, the last remaining Golem had been reduced to a lump of molten iron by Reiko''s fire magic <>. "So that''s it." It''s a pity, but this is the Elias Kingdom as it is now. The King of Elias is now the king of the Kingdom of Elias. Meanwhile, the new king arrives at the castle ahead of the others, and is met by a detachment of remnants of the League of Magic. "Your Majesty, please step back!" The new king is protected by Bartolo Eldiais, the leader of the Kingsguard. Now the carriages with the ministers are separated, and here is only the carriage with the king. And ....... "You were the traitor, deputy commander?" Standing in front of them was Hugus Anlock, the vice-commander of the Kingsguard. "You think you can get away with this? Bartolo''s loud voice rang out. But Hugus Anlok, the deputy commander, brushed it off with the wind in his willows. "No, no, I don''t think you can get away with this for free. < All I can do is give this world a shot in the arm, Hugus replied. "You ......" Knight Commander Bartolo''s face contorted in frustration that he had not realized that the sub-commander was hiding such madness. He hated himself for being so stupid as to have trusted this capable man until recently. "Protect His Majesty!...... or ......" He tried to order his men to protect the new king, but what if they were traitors?He thinks, "What if they are traitors? Then... "Your Majesty, you will protect him. I will eliminate the enemy. I will eliminate the enemy. Bartolo looks to see that it is not the voice of a subordinate, but the warrior golem presented by the MagiCraft Meister that day. "...... Volk, can you do it?" the new king asks. "Yes, if you command it." "......Good! Eliminate those who oppose me!Bartolo, you must protect me. Yes! I''m coming! The knight-errant stands between the new king and his enemies. "Well, I know what you''re capable of. ...... intercept." Hugus Unruck, the deputy commander, ordered the ten battle golems lined up behind him. Volk dodged just ...... before colliding with one of them and swiped it off its feet. He was just beginning to pick up speed when he was knocked off his feet. The battle golem slumped and fell, rolling for about 10 meters before coming to a stop. The direction is 90 degrees away from the new king''s carriage, so there is no danger to that direction. The Volk then succeeds in wresting the mace from the other. With a blow, he knocks another one down. Eight remain. The Volk then casually moves to pull away from the New King''s chariot. Before they knew it, the battlefield had moved away from the new king''s chariot. The Volk can now give it his all. It was originally tuned by Jin for battle. Its fighting power is high. With a single swing of his mace, one of them was blown away. It was a blow with no mercy. The Volk did not want to take too long. Of course, he knew that being away from the king he was supposed to protect for so long was a bad idea. But there was no way the mace could withstand the power of the Volk, and after killing the second one, it broke in half, rendering it useless. Still, the Volk does not stop. His light silver fists, and by Jin, easily crushed the mere steel exterior of the battle golem. A full-power throw can hurl a battle golem weighing over 400 kilograms several meters. In the blink of an eye, the battle golem''s numbers dwindled. "What the ...... is going on!How can that golem be so strong? Hugus Unlock could not understand what was happening before his eyes. He was only a knight after all, and since he had little regard for magical engineering, he didn''t have the eyes to see what the golem was capable of. "Fool! You claim to deny magical technology and magical engineering, yet you rely on the Golem. Do you not see the contradiction?" "......" Hugus Unlok has nothing to say in response to the new king''s words. Now, in front of his eyes, the seventh golem for battle had become inoperable. "Oh, this is amazing!This is indeed the work of a Magecraft Meister!" The simple-minded captain of the Kingsguard was impressed by Volk''s fighting skills. "After all, along with the human knights, we need a golem guard or warrior force! He also sensed that the current military of the Kingdom of Elias was distorted. Furthermore, (Hmmm, it is indeed the work of a magical engineer, the MagiCraft Meister. I thought that the earlier mock battle had been quite skimpy, but I was right.) Adalbert Nimmo Elias I, the new king of the Kingdom of Elias, nodded his head in satisfaction. 1987 - - 52-59 Acting Reiko manages to fight off the magic-specialized golem that has attacked her. "It''s over. Thank you, Reiko. No, it was easy. Jin thanked Reiko for coming back. Then the old man called. Reiko is left to take care of the surroundings, while Jin responds with the manacam function of the bracelet. "What is it, old man? "Yes, and?" < "What? It was a shocking fact. < "Oh, that''s not so strange ......?" Jin thought that Daikie of the Shoro Kingdom might know about this. * * * * "In your father''s time, you did as you pleased, but now that I am on the throne, that will not be so!" Adalbert Nimmo Elias I proudly declared to Hugues Anlocke, former vice-commander of the Kingsguard. "Uh-uh, you''ve been pretending to be something you''re not ......!" "Yes, I have. Yes. I am descended, albeit slightly, from the second generation of magical engineers, the MagiCraft Meisters. It was an act to make us believe that he had been committed to the ideas of the <> until now. At this point, all ten of the battle golems had been neutralized by the Volk. The Volk then closed in on Hugus Unlock at once. "You golems are so clever!" Hugus Anlok, the deputy commander of the Kingsguard, drew his sword and slashed at Volk, but the difference in reaction speed was too great, and Volk easily avoided him, releasing a <> spell. "Aggyage!" Hugus Unlok was knocked unconscious by this quick action, unable to avoid it. Volk tied him up and set him before the king. "Well done, Volk. "Thank you." The new king looked at the Volk and admired his appearance. There was not a scratch on any part of his body. Hmmm... still a fine sight. (The skill of the ......<> is amazing.) "Your Majesty!Are you all right? The divided ministers came rushing in with their soldiers. "Well, I see that you are also safe. But this brought confusion at the same time. Someone took advantage of the chaos and tried to stab the new king. Your Majesty, look out! Kayla! The one who stopped them was the golem , a maid presented by Jin. Using her fast reaction speed and <> body as a shield, she blocked the assassin''s knife. "d*mn you!" Kaela''s body is made of sapphire with a Mohs hardness of 9, and her clothes are made of tough subterranean spider silk (GSS). Not even a hidden knife can scratch her. "I won''t let you." Jin, who had trained her in self-defense, was not mistaken. Kaela twisted up the hand holding the knife and threw him down with a single back slap. The assassin fainted, unable to speak. The soldiers of the guard tied him up in the blink of an eye. It was one of his ministers who targeted the new king. He was arrested on the spot, of course. "Well ...... you let your guard down. Kayla, you did good. I thank you." "What a waste of words." Kayla continues to stand by the new king and guard him. "Your Majesty, I''m sorry I can''t be of more help to you as your bodyguard!" Bartolo Eldiais, the leader of the Kingsguard, bows his head. The new king allows it. "Bartolo, the attack was unavoidable. You were preparing for an attack from the outside. I did not realize that there was a traitor inside and I let my guard down. But I am very glad that Kaela here is here. * * * * At last, the commotion seems to have died down, and the new king and his party slowly return to the royal castle. No more attackers appeared, and a roll call was taken in front of the castle square to check the damage, but no casualties were reported. Hugus Anrock, former vice-commander of the Kingsguard, and two of the cabinet members'' attendants were also not seriously injured. Jin and the others arrived, too. Since the drivers of both cars had fled, Jin and Tomax were in the same car. The driver is Manon and the escort is Reiko. "Oh, Jin-dono! Fiorina de Dorante, Minister of Magical Technology, rushed to greet Jin and the others. "Thanks to your Volk and Kaela, your Majesty is safe. I would like to thank you as well." "...... What do you mean?" Jin was astonished to be asked such a question out of the blue. Then Fiorina gave him a brief explanation. "I see, I see. ...... we were also attacked by a deformed golem, but we managed to fight it off. "Oh, there is only one car." Fiorina finally noticed this, asked Jin again about the situation, and hurriedly went to report to Bartolo, the Commander of the Kingsguard. The captain of the Kingsguard arrived immediately. Jin once again told the story of the attack. "For now, we loaded the defeated deformed golem into the other car and left it to the guards we met on the way. ...... Oh, it looks like they''re coming." Another car comes along. One of the drivers, who had fled, was driving with an embarrassed look on his face. Seeing this, the Commander of the Kingsguard entrusted the Minister of Magical Technology to guide Jin and the others. "All right. We will take care of the rest, so our guests Jin and Tomax, please go to the royal castle. ...... Dorante, may I leave this to you?" "Yes. Then, Jin-dono and Tomax-dono, please come this way." By the way, the apology was to be made later, when the situation had settled down. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and Tomax were shown to the room where they had stayed yesterday in the guest house. "......Fu, I guess things have finally calmed down." After finishing the meal that had been brought to him, Jin took a break. He had been late for lunch for some reason. "The vice-commander of the Kingsguard and one of the cabinet members. I wonder how many more traitors there are." Jin looked at me with a difficult face, "There was also a suspicious person who broke into the hangar last night ....... "Father, it''s not safe for you to stay here, why don''t you go home?" Reiko said, concerned about Jin''s safety. Jin did not want to ignore her comment. "Well, I guess I''ll switch places with my doppelganger. "Please do so." "If that''s the case, how would you do it? ...... Sending the doppelganger from Horai Island to here is easy if the old man uses the transporter, but it is not easy for Jin to return to Horai Island. "Then, why don''t you go to and use the warp gate there? "Yes, I will." So, Jin and Reiko decide to go to the airfield after informing the Kingsguard guarding the castle of their intention to do so. The reason for this was that they wanted to check the in the hangar, as they had heard that there had been a suspicious person last night. Since the sun was still high in the sky, the request was immediately accepted, and Jin and Reiko headed for the airfield, escorted by the two knights. 1988 - - 52 - 60 as a conclusion At 3:00 p.m. Jin and his team arrived at the airfield. The knight escorting them called the security captain to open the hangar door. Jin and Reiko immediately went inside. "Hope, is everything all right?" "Yes, Master. No one suspicious has come in since then. But we think they may be nearby. Hope remembers the suspicious man''s magic patterns from last night. Hope guessed that the proximity of the same thing could mean that it was someone from the airport or from the security team. "I see. We''ll follow that line of thought." Anyway, Jin himself returns to Horai Island via the warp gate as soon as he confirms the inside of the <>. In his place, the doppelganger piloted by the old man arrives. < "There seems to be nothing wrong." <, and checks the airship of and < as well, and confirms that there is nothing wrong with them. At this point, Jin''s <>, <>, senses that the suspicious person from last night is nearby. Jin D, who went out of the hangar to check that everything was OK, finds out that the person with the magic pattern is one of the security guards. < The old man who controls Jin-D is satisfied and considers how to handle the situation. <<>. The old man decides so and has Jin D casually approach the guard. The knights followed. "May I have a word?" "Yes, may I help you?" The prowler responds in a natural way. I''d like to ask you about the prowler last night. The old man felt through Jin D''s hearing that the suspicious person''s heart rate jumped slightly when he heard this question. "What do you mean by ......?" "No, it''s just as you said." Then the suspicious person suddenly turned himself around and tried to run away, and Jin D grabbed his arm with a reaction speed that only a doppelganger can have. "Why are you running away?" Jin-D asks calmly, but the suspicious man becomes increasingly excited. "d*mn it, let go of me! The knight who was escorting the suspicious man interrupted him. "What on earth are you in such a hurry for?Do you have something to hide?" At this point, Jin-D makes a decisive remark. "Are you perhaps a remnant of the League of Magic? "We are not a remnant!We can still do it!We will rebuild this world! With this confession, the man is arrested by the knight. <> In Horai Island, the old man reported to Jin who had returned and was relaxing. . "Yes. Reiko just told me that too. That makes one or two more." Jin puts on the table and drinks tea while talking with her. Mini Reiko is a small doppelganger remotely controlled by Reiko herself. Therefore, the processing power of Reiko herself who is controlling it is a little lower. However, this is not a problem in most cases, since Reiko''s information processing capability is high by nature. We were now listening to a live report by the mini Reiko. "At least, there must be some kind of technician who was controlling the <." > "I suppose so. ......" Jin sipped his cup of hojicha (roasted green tea) and chimed in. * * * Jin D returned to the guest house. The captured suspicious person will be brought in for questioning by the knight. "Now, we''ve managed to flush out a lot of the remnants that remained in the castle. The knight who had taken the suspicious person away looked a little pleased. When Jin D returned to his room, waiting for him was Kaela, who had come as an envoy of the new king. "Jin-sama, His Majesty wishes to speak with you. May I come in?" "Yes." Jin D nodded and followed Kaela with Reiko. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin D. was not taken to his office, but to a conference room. There was the new king, Adalberto Nimmo Elias I, the Minister of Magical Technology, Fiorina de Dorante, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magical Technology, Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, and Bartolo Eldiais, the Commander of the Kingsguard. In addition, the golem , a gift from Jin, and , who had just arrived with us. And Tomax Bartman. "First of all, Jin-dono, Tomax-dono, I am sorry to call you here when you are tired. Bartolo Eldiais, the leader of the Kingsguard, opened his mouth. The next to open his mouth was the new king, Adalbert. "I am truly sorry! The new king stood up and bowed to Jin and the others. "It was our fault that we put you both in danger. I hope you will forgive me. As you see." "......" "We were not so sure. We had no idea that the vice-commander of the Kingsguard had betrayed us. Bartolo, the Kingsguard commander, bowed his head. "After this, the government will also pay you a formal fee. After all this, Jin D. could not help but say something. "I understand. I accept your apology." "Oh, thank you." The one who is controlling Jin D now is, at least for the moment, Jin himself. He has shown his sincerity again, since no damage was done, and he is willing to pay ...... money or supplies ...... for his comfort. In addition, Jin was not able to leave the house because of his own blood, even if it was far away from him. "Once again, I apologize for my ineptitude today and thank you for your great help in fighting them off." This is the new king. Unlike his behavior in the training camp, Jin was impressed by his sincerity. "Our country has long been under the influence of the League of Magic. My father, the previous king, was so devoted to the ideas of the <> that I thought he had been brainwashed, and he was aiding them." He was so fanatical that he even feared for his life if he, as the crown prince, did not agree with them, let alone abolish his legitimacy. "Recently, however, the power of the <> is rapidly shrinking. First of all, the <> seems to have regained its power, and above all, I heard that <> has disappeared. After gathering various other information, he decided that now was the time to get out from under the influence of the <>. "We were able to flush out the remnants and purge them, but we did not expect that they would attack you, our guests. It was a complete error of judgment on our part." Again the new king bowed his head. "Now then, I will come to the main question that brought you here. Fiorina de Dorante, the Minister of Magical Technology, spoke up. "I have discovered the source of the golem that you have neutralized, a golem specialized in magic. It was here in the castle. ...... Jin, who was monitoring the meeting via Jin D, was convinced. < I thought he would have disappeared by the time Jin and the others arrived at the castle. ....... "It was Bernarda Jasch, the chief engineer of the Ministry of Magical Technology. When we caught her, she confessed rather easily. It seems that she did not run away, and that she confessed to the truth. "When I asked him about it, he told me that his latest model magic-specific golem had been lightly twisted by one of Master Jin''s followers, and that his heart had been broken." "I see." Jin was relieved to see that the battle had not been in vain. "......We live in a world that is made up of matter, and we cannot completely separate ourselves from it. I don''t know when, in the distant future, but at least for the time being, we will have to rely on matter." The new king opened his mouth as if to reassure us. His tone is now more like a king''s. "I cannot get tired of hating the for destroying everything that their predecessors, the Magecraft Meisters, and their friends, have built." The new king broke off, glanced at Jin, and continued. "My great-grandmother came from the House of Nido in the Kingdom of Shoro. In other words, the previous generation of magecraft masters and I are related by blood. The king himself said what the old man had reported to him. "Not necessarily because of this, but I (I) would like to cooperate in the development of magical technology, especially in its peaceful use. The new king declared, "I take back what I said the other day about reducing the donation to <>. "Thank you very much." Tomax Bartmann smiled happily. Jin was also relieved and happy to know the new king''s true intentions. "From now on, I would like to ask for your further technical support. The new king, Adalberto Nimmo Elias I, bowed his head again. "Yes, in that case, Avalon would be happy to cooperate with you. I, too, would like to revive the technology of the past. Tomax Bartmann and Jin accepted King Elias'' offer. "Thank you, Jin." "Thank you, Tomax." Fiorina de Dorante, Minister of Magical Technology, Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, Vice Minister, and Bartolo Eldiais, Commander of the Kingsguard, thanked them. The Kingdom of Elias will start on the path of development again. Jin will cooperate with them as much as possible. Outside the castle, a beautiful sunset sky was spreading, reminding us of the fine weather of the next day. 1989 - - 52-61 Silent Story 88 Freddie or Kaina Village My name is Freddy Nidor. I am from a branch of the House of Nidor. In 3579, the year the settlement of the continent of Pandor began, a branch of the Nido family became the lord of the village of Kaina. Since then, their descendants have been the lords of the village of Kaina until the year 3900. The main family resides in Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. For some reason, the population of Kayna has not increased or decreased much over the past 400 years. Despite this, tax revenues have been high. This is probably due to the work of <> Jin Nido. He started with the installation of pumps to pump up the wells, developed hot springs, developed gutta-percha products (natural rubber), and exported magi stones. In terms of agriculture, the village is protected from pests and diseases. In addition, several golems have been deployed as of the village, so that the village is completely protected from the dangers of wild beasts, magical beasts, bandits, and bandits. Golem horses are available for the villagers to use for transportation. This village is a very nice place to live. A little about myself: I was born in 3881, which makes me 19 years old this year. My parents died early and I was raised by my grandmother, Elise. My grandmother was a gentle and patient woman, my ideal woman. And both my grandmother and I have blond hair and blue eyes. I think I have the characteristics of the Randall family, the family of Elsa, the first wife of the Nido family. All the members of the Nido family, whether they are direct descendants or descendants of the branch families, have the blood of Master Jin and Master Elsa. Therefore, they tend to have black or blond hair. The color of their eyes is also black, dark brown, blue or light blue. Needless to say, the first generation of the Nido family was the world''s only . The fact that no one has succeeded to his title since his death shows how great he was. Of course, there were many who aspired to magical engineering. But none of them ever reached the heights of a Magecraftsman. No one, not even those outside the family, has become a Magecraftsman. According to legend, a dark-haired girl would appear before those who were worthy of the title of <> and bestow it upon them. Well, I guess it is a kind of fairy tale. I, myself, studied at the magical engineering school in the Kingdom of Klein and took a famous magecraftsman from the Kingdom of Egelea as my teacher. However, perhaps I was not talented enough to become anything more than a mediocre magical engineer. This cast a dark shadow over my childhood. <. And it was for the worse. When I was a child, I was frequently invited to parties, garden parties, celebrations, and other such occasions at the homes of aristocrats, wealthy merchants, and influential people in town. There were always girls of the same age introduced to me. I didn''t know what it meant when I was a child, but when I became what is called an "adolescent," I had to understand. My parents and their daughters came on to me, calling me their < or < fiance, even though we had only met once when I was a child. The Nido branch of the Nido family is of honorary nobility. They have no power except that they are the lords of the village of Kayna. The village of Kayna is a wealthy village, but being a lord does not mean that you can get a lot of money. Yes, it is like the fairy tale of the kokarisk that lays the golden egg. You can make a modest profit consistently, but that''s it. You can''t make a lot of money all at once. To be honest, I enjoyed being pampered when I was a boy. I enjoyed parties with lots of girls. But... But when I had passed the age of fifteen, which is considered the age of adulthood, and had failed to become a full-fledged magecraftsman, let alone a "Magecraftsman," I was abandoned by my circle of friends. My daughter, who had been by my side until the end, left me when I turned 17, saying, <>. For the next two years, I was in a rough ...... I think. It was then that my grandmother invited me to visit the village of Kaina. My grandmother had been a little down lately, and I was secretly worried about her. In the village of Kaina, I met a young man who claimed to be the <>. He was a small man with dark eyes and dark hair, but he looked rather unreliable. However, he had a dark-haired girl ...... Reiko ...... as his follower, and he used the facilities of <> at his disposal. Yes, even things that my grandmother and I had never mastered. The people I was with were amazed. < From the perspective of my generation, this man Jin may have studied under Marikka, but there was no way that Marikka would have studied under him. And then there was a woman who called herself Glina Kuzma. The surname Kuzma is the same as that of the Marquis of Kuzma, a nobleman of the Kingdom of Egelea. And the Kuzma family has had close ties to the Nido family for 400 years. Oh, yes, there was another girl who called herself Rubina Garrett. ......Greena Kuzma was unlike any other girl I had ever met. She had shoulder-length light brown hair and cheerful, steeple-colored eyes. She was about my age. She wanted to criticize me for my irreverent attitude toward Jin. The only feelings I have ever received from a woman were <> and <>, so it was refreshing to hear her bare her feelings with the words <>sounded fresh to me. Unfortunately, our meals were being served at the time, so we didn''t argue. Afterwards, through the conversation during and after the meal, I realized what a good technician he was and my view of him changed a little. The decisive factor, however, was when Marikka-sama inadvertently mentioned that she was the same Jin-sama who had been a about 400 years ago>. There was an explanation that I didn''t understand, such as a duplicate or a copy, and all the battlers and golem maids in Nido Castle testified that he was the second <. It is hard not to believe them, and if so, he is the first generation of the Nido family. I was especially impressed by my grandmother''s happy expression when she started calling him <>. * * * The days on Horai Island were shocking. It made me realize how small the world I had seen until then was. Magic tools, ships, cars, golems ......, and many other works that are far above today''s world standards. Incredibly, he even cured my grandmother''s heart condition in an instant and painlessly. Master Jin even told me that I have a talent for magical engineering. He said that I have similar magical powers to Master Jin. The same thing was said by Gulina. Rubina, the little girl who was with us, said, <>She said that she was a little girl and that she was a little girl. Maricka said <. Then Jin-sama gave me some training to develop my talent. Some of them were tough, but my skills improved in a short period of time. I mustn''t forget ......, but I can''t forget Gulina. At first she was not so friendly to me, but when she knew that I was fascinated by Jin-sama, she started to treat me normally. As a senior student of magical engineering, she taught me many things. Unfortunately, my skills are still far from her level. But someday ......, or maybe in the near future, I will become an engineer who can compete with her. April 30, 3900 Freddy Nido writes * * * * When Freddy Nidor becomes a well-known magecraftsman afterwards, and those who gave up on him come to him again, there will be a certain woman ...... next to him.... ........ 1990 - - 52-62 Silent Story 89 New King Adalbertos Trouble In the year 3800 of the continental calendar, Aicha Nidor is born to the Nidor family of Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. She married the Dauphin of the Kingdom of Elias and had one son and three daughters. The Dauphin became king and his eldest son also became the next king. Between 3800 and 3900 of the continental calendar, the Kingdom of Elias came under the influence of the The eldest son of Aika took the throne. The influence of the League of Magic increased when Aika''s eldest son ascended to the throne, and in his later years, most of the important positions in the kingdom were filled by people who had the support of the League of Magic. Its main purpose is to raise funds. The , which is found in most countries, had its budget cut to less than one-tenth, and 80% of its staff was restructured under the name of . Those who remained were those who were called "incompetent". Yes, the <> took the initiative to cut down the capable ones. As a side note, most of those who were cut off have fled to <>, and some to the Shoro Empire. Naturally, the country''s magical technology declined. Then came the reign of Braulio Edra Elias, King of the Kingdom of Elias. He is the grandson of AICA. "Listen, Nemo. It''s not good to rely on matter. We humans can do anything we want with the bodies we''ve been given." Nemo is Adalbert''s childhood name. King Braulio Edra Elias loved his only son, the Dauphin Adalberto Nimmo, but on the other hand, "Fool!Don''t be interested in magic tools!" He hated magic tools to an unusual degree. Looking back on it now, Adalbert thinks that he must have been under some kind of <> spell. When he was a child, Adalberto thought it was normal. But that changed when he met his fiance, Lorraine Theoderic von Malak, a five year old girl whom he was introduced to on his tenth birthday. Lorraine had rather dark brown hair ......, which is a common hair color, and striking violet eyes. She was the third daughter of the Marquise Theoderic,...... from the Shoro Empire, as her name suggests. "So, why is that jyoujogo-remu not moving well?" "Well, it''s old. It can''t be helped. "Then, why don''t you fix it?" "Yes, but there is no one who can do that. But there is no one who can do that. "Is that so? ...... I feel sorry for them." At first, the conversation was like that. They saw each other only two or three times a year. But when Lorraine turned 13, we became officially engaged and made our name known both at home and abroad. When we traveled to Shoro, Lorraine''s hometown, as a commemorative trip to celebrate our engagement, I was amazed at the power of their magical technology. We were able to visit the former residence of in Loisart, although it was only for an hour or so. The house where his great-grandmother was born and raised and where his great ancestors lived was more than enough to enlighten the 18-year-old Adalbert. "This golem has been working for four hundred years now? Yes, it has not been serviced at all during that time. This magic stove and refrigerator were made by Jin-sama, right? Yes. Yes, I''ve been cleaning them. Lorraine, his fiance, also had a twinkle in her eye. * * * * Adalbert returned to the Kingdom of Elias and realized once again how far behind his country was. However, most of the leaders ...... or even most of the important positions in the country are controlled by the , and if he does anything wrong, he might be assassinated rather than be disinherited. (Is this the time to lay low? ......) With regret in his heart, the crown prince Adalbert decides to put on the skin of a fool. "Your Highness, you have changed". It was a little hard to deceive even his fiance Lorraine, but ....... "But I''m sure you have a plan. I believe in you, Your Highness. Lorraine continued to support Adalbert. * * * * * * * * * * * * Adalbert''s father, the king, became ill and died. Despite his mourning, the country needed a monarch, and Adalbert was enthroned after a brief ceremony. He is named Adalberto Nimmo Elias I. He called himself <<1st>, even though there was no other monarch with the same name, as a sign of the <>. And time flies. The time has come! While the mourning was still fresh, an incident occurred that dealt a heavy blow to the <>. < "Capture those who have been spying on us for some time!" He sent an order to his closest confidantes, the Knights of the Kingsguard, and captured more than 30 nobles of the <>. At this point, however, he has not yet taken off the mask of the Fool King. The previous order to the Knights of the Kingsguard was also given in secret. Therefore, it was an operation in which not a single person could escape. Conversely, in order to reduce the risk, those in ambiguous positions were overlooked. Now we have a little more openness. Your Majesty. The two cooperating parties were the Minister of Magical Technology, Fiorina de Dorante, and her undersecretary, Citranella de Zaus Firenziano. Both were trusted advisors to the golem-loving new king, who had known them since he was a crown prince. "But of those still in the center of ......, perhaps a dozen or so must be in league with the League of Magic. If all of them were captured, there would indeed be a delay in the national government, so the first round of purges had to be completed, albeit half-heartedly. "But this will be at the sole discretion of the Kingsguard, Fiorina, and Citranella, yourselves. "Yes, I understand, Your Majesty." And Adalbert, the foolish king, forgives them at the entreaty of his men. "One more time. Once more, and the root of the plague will be cut off." At the same time, it seemed that if this decision was not made, the remnants of the would go underground and would not be easily eradicated. The time of the decisive moment arrived. And then the decisive moment arrives. The third generation of and the Supreme Administrator of will visit the city. We will take this opportunity to cleanse the city of the remnants of the Magi. "Yes, Your Majesty." The new king made a great mistake. The new king had one major mistake to make: the lion''s den, Hugus Unlocke, second-in-command of the Kingsguard. He was a fanatic of the League of Magic. His madness was that he thought that if the kingdom of Elias was going to be destroyed anyway, it would be with the kingdom of Elias as well. Therefore, he planned to assassinate the king and his guests. Because of his position as the vice-commander of the Kingsguard, he was able to devise his own plan by exploiting the gaps in the King''s plan. This led to the uproar on the day of the assassination. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ah, now my father has finally been avenged. After all was said and done, the new king, Adalberto Nimmo Elias I, Adalberto Nimmo Elias ...... no longer needed to wear the skin of a fool, went out on the balcony next to his office He went out on the balcony next to his office and looked up at the sky. It was night and the stars were twinkling. He could now take his revenge on the that had probably brainwashed and driven his father king mad, and ended him as a fool king who had caused the decline of the country. He is now completely freed from his long days of servitude and can finally reveal himself. Then Queen Lorraine Faula Elias came to her husband. "I have believed in you, Your ...... Majesty". Queen Lorraine wept for the first time in many years, knowing that her once wise husband had returned. "You have worried me, my dear. ...... but I have a little bit of Magecraft Meister''s blood in me. He taps his stomach and drops his eyes to it. "...... I may have to lose some of the flab in this belly, too." The new king patted the flab that he had gained while wearing the mask of a fool. "Hmmm. ...... but your majesty, you have the dignity of a king." "Is that so?" "Yes." I hope so. The new king looks up at the night sky. I will support you as much as I can. "Yes, please." Only the falling starry sky gazed up at the king and queen. 1991 - - 53-01 Interact 1 Succession Problem One day, Jin asked the old man a question that came to his mind. "Hey, old man, what did I think about my successor 400 years ago? Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the predecessor of Jin, or rather the first Magecraft Meister, ordered Reiko''s predecessor, Ochibi, to find someone with the same magic pattern and the same talent for making things. He entrusted all of them to Jin, who spent 1,000 years to find them. So, the past Jin may have done something similar. And even if he had done something, he wondered if it would have been in vain now that he was here. The old man explains. Yes. < "I see." The magic patterns are so different that they can be used to identify individuals, just like fingerprints, voice prints, retinal patterns, etc. Perhaps because Jin''s predecessor did not know that much, he ordered <> to look for someone with the same magic pattern. In the end, after searching for 1000 years and 3601 worlds, Jin was found. But, I was not the only one who thought so. "But I know how reckless that is. I think that''s why they made the selection criteria a little more relaxed. Jin said, thinking about how he would set the conditions if he were the one to make it now. "I guess so. Please continue to ......." <><> and <> to the master''s (mylord). "Yes." <> "That''s one of them." Jin agreed that it was not hard to find. <>. "What is it?" << and . "Oh, I see." The power that Horaijima has is great. No, it is not something that can be described with such a common word as "big". If a person with ambition were to obtain it, the world would be easily conquered. And if a madman gets his hands on it, he will destroy the whole world. "......That makes it difficult to choose a successor." > In the end, such conditioning means that not a single person could fit all of the criteria. "...... what did I think about it in my later years?" Jin asks fearfully. He does not want to know too much about himself in his old age. "Well, I guess so. ......" < "So that''s what you mean." < In order to give knowledge to a successor, unlimited transfers of knowledge are required, which must match the magic pattern. This makes the search for a successor extremely difficult. "In the first place, I had no intention of serving anyone other than my father..." Reiko! Then Reiko came in and dropped a bombshell. "I, too, was asked to support your father''s successor when he was found, but only as . My father is the only one." Jin wondered if the complex was one of them, but he did not say anything about it. He just patted Reiko on the head. He just stroked Reiko''s head. "Hmmm, let''s modify the system a little for the future..." > Jin nodded. "Yes, I think so. < a little." Specifically, he said, he would loosen the restrictions on a little more. >. "Yes. That''s something you''ll have to work on." In other words, Jin said that he would first select a <, and then, depending on his efforts, he would make a system that would allow him to take the <>. . "And this system will only start working when I''m gone." Reiko looked a little dissatisfied, but Jin stroked her head and said, "If that''s the case, I''ll protect your father for a long, long time. < That is to say, the successor system exists but has no significance. Jin wondered about that, but he could not say anything considering the feelings of Reiko and the old man. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm, once again, how should I think about <>?" Jin muttered to no one in particular while drinking tea at on Horai Island. Reiko responded to his words. "Father,...... your mother entrusted everything to your father, so I think you can do as you please." "Yes,...... I guess." Then the old man added a few words. I think it would be good if you could clarify what the qualifications of a <<<< Magecraft Meister are and what they are. >> "Yes, but that''s the hard part." I went to the on a while ago. Did we learn anything through it? "It''s not enough to just be good at making things, and ......" "That''s true." Reiko agreed. "That''s why I made up another title. < It seems that even the "Mere Old Man" cannot make an immediate decision. . "...... I see." Jin drank his nearly cold tea and stood up, "I''m not going to talk about this anymore. "Reiko, let''s go to the workshop." "Yes, father." Yes, father." "Old man, get the materials ready. < The answer to this difficult question will come long time in the future. 1992 - - 53-02 Interact 2 Leisure In Horai Island in the year 3900 of the continental calendar, Jin was unusually busy. Whenever he has free time, he is either making something or getting into trouble ......, so it is rare that he has free time. The date is April 4. The weather is turning into spring, and it is very sleepy. I think to myself, "Yes, let''s do that thing I''ve always regretted. Jin thought of doing something that had been on his mind but had been left unattended because of its rather low priority, now that he has more time to spare. It is a counterpart to a , a so to speak. At the moment, the <> can what is going on far away, but they cannot the sounds, including the sound of conversation. The contents of the conversation are covered by the old man''s <>, but there is a limit to that too. If I can''t see his face, it is meaningless. "Is there any better way to do this ......?" Jin thought in the workshop of the institute. "Sound is the vibration of air. That is, physical vibration. If we can pick it up, that''s all we need." <. It is like a wireless microphone. The part that picks up sound has a physical structure. Thinly molded magic crystals are used for the diaphragm, and the sound is converted into magic power like a dynamic microphone. "If we can make a diaphragm with magic power, we can make ......." This was Jin''s conclusion. Incidentally, there is a on the modern earth. This device shines a laser beam on the glass in the room to be eavesdropped and measures the reflected wave. Since the glass is vibrating with sound waves at this time, the returning laser beam will have sound waves on it. ...... is a rough explanation. Of course, Jin had heard of the principle and had thought about using it, but he had given up the development because of its disadvantages, such as the fact that it was effective only in a room and that it could not be used with materials that absorb sound waves, such as clay walls. Jin spent two days to develop this method. The diaphragm could be replaced by the application of a solid physical barrier. Invisible boundaries are maintained by invisible magic, and the vibrations are used as a carrier wave for free magic element (ether) ...... waves. "Yes, I think I can manage that." The problem was the strength of the solid barrier, which is equivalent to a vibrating plate. If it was too strong, the sound would not be audible because it would not vibrate. If it is too weak, it will be too noisy to pick up the important sounds. "The sensitivity also depends on the position where the <> is placed. ......" So Jin decided to make it possible to adjust the strength of the <>. In short, it is tuning. The strength of the diaphragm can be weakened or strengthened to the point where it can be heard just fine. >. The old man was relieved to know that he would be in charge of the operation including the tuning. This technology is called <> and it enabled him to collect more information from all over the world. * * * * * * * * * * "Now you can do your espionage work more easily, can''t you? Jin is relaxing with a cup of tea at home. Reiko is serving him. "I''m sure it is." I see what you mean. In the case of vision, the image is blurred if it is not firmly fixed, but in the case of audio, the noise only increases, but it can be heard well enough depending on the adjustment. Since visual information is not so necessary for eavesdropping on the contents of meetings, this technology is expected to be very useful in the future. "By the way, how is Hale doing? "That''s good news." Jin nodded as he sipped his green tea. "How are you doing with the drying out?" << Jin laughed inwardly, thinking that what the old man meant by "in the near future" must be in the order of 100 years. (Come to think of it, he also said that the Sea of Trees at Fuji was a forest formed after the eruption that took place a little over 1000 years ago.) (By the way, did I mention that the Sea of Trees in Fuji was formed after the eruption that occurred a little more than 1,000 years ago? Thus, there are other examples where the landscapes we can see in modern Japan have a surprisingly short history. Oni Oshidashi, a sightseeing area at the foot of Mt. Asama, which rises on the border between Nagano and Gunma prefectures, dates back to 1783, while Mt. Bandai and a group of lakes and marshes including Lake Hibarako, which are scattered at its foot, were created by an eruption and explosion in the middle of Meiji Era (1888). (I remember the director of the facility where Jin grew up said that the scenery was not like this back then whenever he saw Mt.) The director of the facility where Jin grew up was a fan of historical dramas, but he was also a maniac in terms of historical research. For example, he said that Zenkoji Temple in Shinano had burned down and had only a temporary main building during the time of Mito Komon, and that inns were not so well maintained in that era. But at the same time, it is a fact that they enjoyed any period drama in their own way. (Thinking back on it, maybe he was trying to get us interested in history in his own way...) (I wonder if he was trying to make us interested in history in his own way). A quick digression. It was good to hear that the development of the planet Hale was going well. "It seems that 700672......<> is ready to settle down." Jin then thought of a problem that had yet to be solved. "The homunculus of Marikka ......?" The 700672 and other <> by their very nature need <>>. A spiritual support or a stronghold. When Marikka dies, the 700672 will surely be tormented by the Master Loss Syndrome. I wanted to avoid that. I wanted to avoid that. For some reason, neither the old man nor Reiko gave me clear advice on this matter. (Maybe they are replacing the position with theirs and mine. ......) (Maybe they are putting themselves and me in the same position... ) When I think about it, I can understand the feelings of the old man and Reiko, so I cannot ask them strongly. (Should we at least be prepared for emergencies? ......) But then, Jin wants to prepare for <> as well. (Is this also my selfishness? ......) Jin is now a duplicate and probably an immortal being. This means that he will have to see off many friends and acquaintances in the future. (Not that he wants to be one...) Jin feels indescribable when he thinks of the goodbyes he will have to experience in the future, even if they are good now. Perhaps sensing Jin''s feelings, Reiko came to his side with a teapot. She pours tea and says to Jin. Father, I am here. The old man and my brothers and sisters are here. "...... thank you, Reiko." Jin was glad for Reiko''s concern. Reiko had endured a thousand years of loneliness, searching for a successor to her predecessor, and after the death of the human Jin three hundred years ago, she was now a < After the death of human Jin 300 years ago, she waited again until the current Jin appeared. It is no exaggeration to say that he knows loneliness better than anyone else. "Even destiny can be changed, that''s your father." "Ha, thank you." I really wish I could do that, Jin thought sincerely today. 1993 - - 53-03 Visiting the Three Graves Between Act and Act In the year 3513 of the continental calendar, when Jin was 77 years old, the Shoro Emperor Taishang passed away. He was 105 years old. Although he was a "bridge emperor" until the crown prince, who was a direct descendant of his elder brother, came of age, it is said that he was one of the brightest and most famous emperors of all time because of his exceptional political ability, his discernment of people, and his love for his people. This is supported by the fact that she was blessed with technological advantages from her friendship with the of the time, as well as with many distinguished advisors. When she died, not only the Shoro Empire but also the people of the surrounding countries mourned her passing. She was posthumously named . He was buried on a hill by Lake Tosmo, the same place as the previous emperors. * * * * * * * * * And on April 8, 3900. < The brain of Penglai Island, Laogun, told Jin. "<>? "Oh, ............" A sense of nostalgia spread through Jin''s heart. During her reign, she was known as the "Female Emperor" and was the one who developed the Shoro Kingdom. After she gave up the throne to her adult nephew, she became the and supported the Shoro Kingdom from behind the scenes as a kind and gentle woman. Jin, who saw in her the image of the President of the Shoro Empire, had given her a great deal of support, both behind the scenes and in the sun, since his beloved wife Elsa was a native of the Shoro Empire. "So that''s how it was. ......" The old man told Jin that he passed away in his sleep at the end of his life. The past Jin was also present at his last moments. "Is today the anniversary of Shozuki''s death? ...... I should go visit his grave. Do they have any memorial services in the Shoro Kingdom?" << After 387 years, it was only natural that they would do so, Jin agreed. "Okay, first of all, let''s prepare flowers. On the subtropical island of Horai, there are various flowers blooming throughout the four seasons. In addition, there is Mount Horai, which is a 3,000 meter high mountain, so there is also vegetation up to the subarctic zone. "Old man, are there any prohibitions on flowers to be offered? "Okay." Jin went to see the flower bed in front of the institute. It seems that Erza had maintained this place with Jin''s children, Yu and Mio. Many years have passed since then, and the flowers planted then are no longer there, but the flowers planted after that ...... were in full bloom, i.e., fall-sown flowers, or spring-blooming flowers. "Daisies, rape blossoms, hazelnuts, and the capital wasteland......, wasn''t it?" These are the same flowers that used to be in the facility where Jin grew up. They planted flowers as similar as possible. "A cornflower and ...... stock, did you say?" After picking enough flowers to hold with both hands, Jin helped Reiko put them together into a bouquet. "All right, then, let''s go to the Shoro Kingdom." This time, they decided to go by . Hope is the pilot, accompanied by Reiko. On the way there, we used the to fly over Lake Tosmo in an instant. Due to the time difference, it is dawn here. "It''s nice to see so few people." Jin lands the on a large beach by Lake Tosmo and leaves with Reiko. Hope stays behind. This is due to the fact that Hope has never met the former emperor. The heaped tombs were the graves of the emperor''s family. "Oh, it''s a quiet place, isn''t it?" The cemetery is a small natural hill surrounded by a 3-meter-high mound of earth on a square of about 1 kilometer. The public is allowed to enter the cemetery by going to a place of worship outside the hill. There is a rest area nearby that anyone can visit. "Am I allowed to go inside? Jin''s question is soon answered. "Welcome, Jin-sama, Reiko-sama." The entrance to the tomb is guarded by two golems. ...... was built by Jin in the past. They seem to be maintained regularly and their movements are smooth. "You are here to pay your respects, aren''t you? We entered without any problem. Reiko said, "Even back then, your father was a face-passing kind of guy. Reiko said. It was only natural, since Jin was one of the most trusted men of the Taishang Emperor. The interior was paved with white marble, and trees and flowers were planted everywhere. Jin was guided to the mausoleum by Reiko, who knew what was going on inside. In the flower beds, pure white snowdrops were in full bloom. Normally, snowdrops bloom in early spring, but since the climate here is a little cooler, they seem to be in full bloom now. "Snowdrops, huh?" Jin recalled the legend that the Director had told him. < So Snow asked the flowers to share their colors, but none of them did. But only the snowdrops shared their colors with Snow. That is why snow is pure white. So snow is pure white>>. It is a German legend. The language of flowers associated with this legend is <. Snowdrops have other words in the language of flowers, but Jin loved this one as well as the legend he heard long ago. In Ryunosuke Akutagawa''s <>, which was written in a Japanese language textbook, there were people who were pampered while they had money, but when they were penniless, they turned their backs on the world and didn''t take a hint. As Jin knew the harshness of the world better than anyone else, this legend and the language of flowers remained in his memory. In the meantime, we arrived at the mausoleum. Jin placed a flower offering on the white marble flower stand, which was also made of white marble. On the tombstone in front of the mausoleum, the names of emperors are inscribed. In the middle of the inscription, the name of Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shoro can be read. Jin prayed silently and put his hands together silently. After a while, Jin opened his eyes and looked around him, <". He saw a stone monument with the words, ">". These words must have been written by someone in the past. It was a very old stone monument. Jin looked at the mausoleum and noticed a white figure standing there. "That''s ......." "The gravedigger, isn''t it?" Reiko answered. The figure approached slowly. Even Jin could see that it was an automaton that he had ...... created in the past. "Welcome to our home. The grave-keeping automaton bowed its head silently. She was a pure Japanese-style female automaton dressed in white. "This is the automaton that your father dedicated to the tomb of His Majesty the Emperor. Yes, my name is Kikuhime. Kikuhime''s waist-length black hair is tied back behind her head, and her bangs are parted at her eyebrows. She is dressed in what is called a miko costume. She is dressed in what is called a miko costume, except that the top and bottom are white. "Well, you''ve worked hard for a long time. I''m counting on you to keep up the good work. "Yes, I''ll leave it to you." Kikuhime bowed and stepped back. Suddenly, a breeze blew. Jin looked up at the sky, which was as clear and blue as it had been 400 years ago. 1994 - - 53-04 Interact Four Magi Bio Material It was the year 3466 of the continental calendar, when Jin was 30 years old. On the island of Horai, Erza, Hanna, Saki, and the others were racking their brains. What they aim to jointly develop is <. The ultimate goal is to create artificial organs using homunculus materials. And now, as a preliminary step, they are trying to develop a bio-material that will not be rejected. If this can be achieved, organs such as the stomach, intestines, and heart, as well as large blood vessels, can be sealed without bringing in tissue from elsewhere. "After sealing the hole, I want the cells to gradually assimilate into the person''s own cells." "That''s right, that would be ideal. "Yes, that would be ideal." "But how do we make that happen? Erza, Hannah, Saki and the others were sharing their opinions, making use of their respective areas of expertise. "We could take the DNA information from the cells in contact with the transplanted cells." Elsa presented her theory. "Yes, that''s how we can replace them little by little. Hannah agreed. "Then the question is whether the homunculus cells have such a function or not. Saki said cautiously. "Well, I think it''s useless for us who have never used them to discuss that point. I''d like to ask Mr. 700672." Hannah made a good point. "Okay. I''ll call him." Erza nodded and used her manacam to contact Marikka in the first. < is recognized as the master by the 700672, so I thought that I would be able to get her cooperation for sure if I could talk to her. I thought that I would be able to obtain her cooperation if I could use her as my intermediary. The next day, Elsa came to the hotel and asked for help. The next day, Erza, Hanna, Saki, and the others were in the consulting with 700672. "Hmm, so that''s how it is." "How about it?Would you be willing to help them?" Marikka was also present and offered her assistance. "Of course, I have no objection, since Marikka-sama asked me to do so. Hence, the 700672 was very favorable. "If we adjust the materials for homunculus, we may be able to apply them to such organs. That was good news. "......, but it is a technology that the have not been able to achieve." "How so?Why?" Hannah looked at him curiously. "Well... The technology that you are trying ...... to use for the time being is fine for blocking a part of an organ or a blood vessel, but for the organ itself, it did not fit well." "What do you mean?" Elsa asked. "Well, you are a healer, aren''t you? Then you would understand. Would you understand if I told you that ......<>?" "It''s ......." Elsa had an idea. "You mean, for example, that a transplanted heart doesn''t start working?" "That''s right." The three were disappointed to hear this. The target technology had already been studied by the , and they were one step closer to achieving it. What''s more, we now know that the path is a dead end. "......It''s a shame." Hannah is disappointed. No wonder. All her efforts have been half in vain. "Well, this happens sometimes, doesn''t it?" Saki said in a voice that could not hide her disappointment. "Even ......." But Erza was different. "Even if it''s a dead end, I think the road has meaning." "Erza?" "Hannah, Saki, you may not be able to produce organs. But it is effective for heart disease and gastric perforation." Erza, in her position as a <>, reassessed the significance of this research. "Hmmm, I see!" Hannah immediately understood what Erza meant. "That''s right. Not everything we''ve studied up to this point has been in vain." Saki also regained her energy. "......Hohoho, you guys are so positive." Listening intently, 700672 seemed impressed. "But the surgery is a lot of work, isn''t it?" "Oh, that''s okay." Now Hannah answered. "What?" "If it''s just a surgery to plug a small hole, I think I can manage with a <>, a <>, and a <>. ...... "What?" "...... Hannah-chan is saying that we can transfer the necessary <> to the affected area and then use the <> to plug the hole. With the <>, the surgery can be done almost painlessly." Elsa explained. "......mmm ...... I see." The 700672 seemed impressed. "Excellent!That procedure had never occurred to my . It seems that your efforts were not in vain. He praised them. But.., "However, this , couldn''t it send matter into a place where there are solids or liquids? The 700672 pointed out what could be called a hole in the method. "Oh, that''s fine." Hanna replies again. "First, a small sphere of vacuum is formed in the affected area using a <. Then we send the MagiBio material into it and slowly dissipate the vacuum. The MagiBio material is only for homunculus, and is strong enough to withstand a vacuum for a short time. "Hmmm, I see. That should work well, Hannah-sama." "It will, won''t it?" The problem with this method is that you are the only one who can use the Peeper, the Force Rod, and the Transporter at the same time. For the time being, we have to leave it to the old man and Lise. Elsa looks disappointed. However, it is inevitable because it requires ultra-precise operation. "So, please give me some information on the MagiBio material. Saki concluded. 700672 nodded. 700672 nodded. In that case, I will tell you what I know. Thus began the research by the unique combination of Erza, Hanna, Saki, and the 700672. Thanks to their efforts, results were achieved in half a month. The homunculus material could be adjusted for human use. "Now all we need are results." "Yes, that''s right." "Yes, I know." But we couldn''t just experiment on humans. We needed just a little more time before this technique was truly perfected. And while the completed technique cured Elise of her heart disease, it was inevitable that Elsa and the others did not know about it. 1995 - - 53-05 The Five Men Between Acts Year 3536 of the continental calendar. Golbert Markitas is 78 years old. But because he is of the blood of the , as the was called at the time, he grows slowly and looks like he is only 15 or 6 years old. One day, he said to me, "I''m going to leave this village. That was all he said, and he ran away from the village where he was born and raised. Many years have passed since then. Ten years later, he found himself in the Shoro Kingdom. The place is the town of Ismar, so he probably came via Mitsuho, but he did not speak of it without saying so. No, he claimed himself to have come from Mitskho. No one knows whether this is true or not except Golbert himself. And Golbert has a day job in the town of Ismar. He needs money to eat. "You''re good at that," he says. The job was to collect wormwood in the Hariri Desert. This is used to make the grass cakes that Jin Nido, the second generation of magecraft masters who once visited the region, had passed down to him. These grass cakes have now become a specialty of Ismar, and are even feasted upon by the nobility of the capital city of Leusart. However, it is not easy for an amateur to distinguish the wormwood, or to pick the ones that are too hard and not suitable for eating. In comparison, Golbert collected a large amount of wormwood suitable for making grass cakes. However, the work was also for pay, and would be finished in two days. "Well, what are we going to do? ......" The money earned in two days was 2,000 TL, or about 20,000 Japanese yen. This is a lot of money for a day job, but it is still not enough to make a living. In the end, Golbert Markitas decided to leave the town of Ismar and set out for the capital, Leusat. He did not go to the capital all at once, but while earning money in the towns along the way. With his knowledge, he had no difficulty in earning money no matter where he went. Among other things, repairing broken magic tools was especially good money. In ...... the frontier. In the frontier towns there are often no technicians, so those who can repair magic tools like this are very valuable. Step by step Golbert Markitas, earning his daily bread in this way, was getting closer and closer to the capital city of Leusert. Each time he was reminded of something. . A mobile base that was apparently built by the <> who once came to this planet. It seems that Jin Nido took it and made it available for the people of this planet ....... This alone shows that Jin Nido was an extraordinary being. I, Golbert Malkitas, am now on . I have passed the exam, which was dozens of times more competitive than the rest, and I have been accepted into the Academy. "Hey, Markitas! "Yes, Rubeus?" Rubeus is my roommate in the dormitory. "Is today''s lecture over?" Yeah, I didn''t take the fifth period. I didn''t take the fifth period. Me neither. Well, why don''t you go to the free lecture? "Oh, that''s today. Who is the lecturer at ......? are lectures that are not related to the school''s course credits. The lecturers are various people each time. "Listen and be amazed. Today''s lecture is by Marikka of Shinra!" My heart jumped. < Like my father ...... Lardus the Humorous. Ah, now he calls himself a . It''s the first time I''ve met a ...... kindred spirit, albeit only half of my ...... own. I was a little excited. The classroom was the biggest one, but it was already full 20 minutes before the lecture started. Rubeus and Marcitas managed to get into a corner seat and were now waiting for the bell to ring. When the time came, a woman with a kindly ...... appearance, or worse, an unreliable appearance, appeared. That was the first thing she said. For some reason, her voice sounded to my ears like my late mother''s. My mother''s voice was Alto, Marina. My mother''s voice was an alto and Marikka''s was a mezzo-soprano, even though they were completely different in voice quality. . I was listening intently to her voice, which was so pleasant to my ears. In a way, it was a shock. About half of what Marikka was going to say in her lecture...... or, to be honest, more than half of it I didn''t understand. No wonder, it seems that this was for the advanced students of the . That means they know more than I do now. That means I was a "frog in the well" as the saying goes. What shocked me more was that I wanted to see Marikka-sama again. I have no idea what this feeling is. It seems that we are always the most blind to ourselves. Then I continued to learn as hard as I could. Thanks to my efforts, I quickly made a name for myself in the academy. But the more I learned, the more I realized how great <> was. Before long, my goal had become to surpass <>. I am still not even close to <>''s level, but there is one thing I am ahead of him. That is that I am alive now, and <> no longer exist in this world. In other words, I am desperately chasing after the <> that have stopped. Someday I will catch up with them and overtake them. After all, my life span is longer than that of a normal human being. ....... 1996 - - 53-06 The hardships of the Six Old Men between the acts The master (My Lord) once went to the future and came back. To be precise, I, the head of the administration of Horai Island, a.k.a. , did my best with my technology and sent him back to the future. It is the year 3520 of the continental calendar. The future to which the master (My Lord) was sent is 3899 years in the future, so there is still time. However, in 379 years, I need to develop the technology to send my master (my lord) back to the past. This is not an easy task. I started my research on September 17, 3457, when the master (my lord) returned, Even now, 63 years have passed without any progress. Time is a mysterious and incomprehensible dimension. The that the Master (Mylord) once met seems to have understood time, if not completely, and to have been able to control it to some extent. I guessed that , an entity with zero mass, was not bound by the speed of light. If so, we, as matter, cannot reduce our mass to zero no matter how hard we try. There is a pseudo-magic that can almost eliminate inertial mass, but it is only pseudo and temporary. Ms. Hannah ...... helped me in this way. She cannot use magic, but she is without a doubt the best thinker in the world. Hannah''s brilliant mind solved the first problem, <, in the following way. "Hey, Mr. Mere Old Man, inside the <>...... no, mass doesn''t mean anything in the subspace during the transition, does it?" In other words, is a characteristic of this space. <, which means that you are traveling faster than the speed of light. "I wonder if it is safe to say that <> does not make sense from the point of view of the world we are in, i.e., it is zero." After advancing Hannah''s reasoning, we decided to try to see if we could make an object in transition (with mass 0) transition further. I started by setting the > to as a trial, but it did not go well. Then we experimented with a double <> and it worked apparently well. "But, I don''t know ...... if this can go beyond time, right?" Hannah nodded her head. Here, the master (Mylord) himself interjected. "You said that the properties of space can be changed by the will power of a spirit life form. The words of the master (Mylord) who has experienced other worlds...... and other spaces were helpful to me. Willpower......Mental Power......Mental Catalyst. Hanna-san has recently been studying homunculus and wanted a psychic catalyst for it. So, I used a spirit catalyst of < for my experiment. This is enough for experiments. And time passed again. I strengthened myself further and proceeded with my research. ....... * * * * In the year 3579 of the continental calendar, if the master (Mylord) is still alive, he would be 143 years old. Hannah, Erza, Mio, Yu, and all the members of the <> are no longer with us, except for Zion and Marikka. Still, I am continuing my research. Master(My Lord)...... is the only one whom I call Master(My Lord), Nido Jin-sama. I think it is the same for you, Reiko. With the help of Reiko, my research is gradually bearing fruit. I cannot give you even a brief outline of this technology because it is extremely dangerous if misused, but the principle is now half understood. The problem now is energy. I have calculated that the energy required to travel back in time 400 years is greater than the energy released by the sun in one year. Approximately 10 to the 36th power of joules. This is one of the reasons why time travel is considered impossible. It takes this much energy to travel back in time for a zero mass object, so if it had mass, it would be difficult to ....... It would be difficult to even calculate. It would be harder than a small fish trying to swim up a waterfall with a drop of several hundred meters. However, without solving this problem, we will never be able to return the master (my lord) to the original time. The source of energy in this world is free magic element (ether), but at this stage it seems that we cannot even calculate how much we need to collect to reach the required amount. However, the Master (My Lord) himself has solved this problem. It is the three pebbles that the master (my lord) brought back. He himself said that he brought them as a memorial of the other world, but it turned out that one of the pebbles was enough to generate enough energy. To be precise, the pebble was filled with the energy of the other world ......<>. Perhaps the < had anticipated this as well. Now the question is how to get the energy out of this pebble ...... without exploding it. Releasing it all at once is out of the question. The released <> has tens of thousands of times more energy than <>, so even if it is not converted into <>, the aftermath alone will clear the surrounding tens of kilometers of land. Therefore, it was necessary to develop a technology to extract the necessary amount of mana without exploding. It took about 10 years to complete the necessary technology. It is all right if you create a out of by a magic circle and place this pebble in it to release the energy. I will not explain the details of how to do this either. < in the same way without using . The only thing that remains is to find the point on the time axis where we should return the master (my lord). This also required the cooperation of Ms. Reiko. After all, Ms. Reiko is the person who once searched for the master (my lord) beyond the world of 3601. With her help, we somehow made it in time. Now, and are raging in the outside world. The Master (Mylord) had been researching the Magi Emulator (......) for the benefit of the world, and he has been misusing it. I, too, decided to take precautionary measures and take a defensive stance. I put up several layers of wards, and holed myself up inside. Reiko-san sleeps in another place and waits for her master (my lord). The day of the doomed day, 3,000 years ago, the master of the house was waiting for her. And on that fateful day, September 17, 3899. The old man acted just as Jin had told him in the past. "Oh, no problem, Mr. Lao. I will take care of you one more time. Jin cannot tell you the details of his journey back in time. Except that Jin knew about it when he returned 400 years ago. And I have to tell you a part of it, <>. The slightest mistake could create a time paradox. The magic circle under Jin''s feet began to glow faintly. The glow becomes stronger and stronger, and Jin''s figure is obscured by the glow. > the voice of the old man. The space was filled with light. After a few seconds, the light disappeared. Jin is not there. * * * * * Traveling back in time...... it is through . < In such a space, a part of Jin''s psyche was harboring a slight "longing for the future". How did it work? As he moved through hyperspace, his mind was duplicated and <> coagulated into a form based on his mind. That is, the body of Nido Jin. <. That compound body, or , could not exist in this hyperspace, and was <. The rebounded <> is returned to the starting point. Thus, Jin, the <>, unexpectedly lives 400 years in the future. 1997 - - 53-07 Act-to-act 7 Hannah, do your best On Horai Island, not only Jin but also other members of the < were free to do research. The research topics are endless. The more knowledge we gain, the more we learn that this world is full of mysteries. Recently Hannah was researching one of the mysteries of the <>. She is now 18 years old. She is a maiden who would be ashamed to be a flower, but her brain is probably one of the top five in the world of Ars. She may not be able to compete with the magic brain of Lao-kun in terms of pure logical development, but she is definitely better than him in terms of flexible thinking. One of the mysteries that I am studying is the reason why the transfer works well when the destination is a gas, but fails when it is a liquid or a solid. The "Mere Old Man" is dealing with a . This is a magi-machine that sends an object to the specified coordinates, but if there is a solid such as a rock at the coordinates, or if the object is underwater, it will not be transferred. However, this does not apply to gases. "Hmmm, I wonder what this means..." With permission from Jin, Hanna asked Lao-kun to cooperate with her. < can only be handled by the old man. "Right now, you are using the to check the destination first, aren''t you?" < "That''s why there''s no failure in forwarding. ...... But, old man, that is a little embarrassing." "Well, ...... I know, but.... Can you at least call me ?" <> "Yes. ...... Ah, that''s a little uncomfortable, too. Well, call me whatever you want." <> "Hmmm, yes. ......" Hannah thought. Both transfer and transference move an object through or to its destination. The time required for the transfer is 0 seconds flat. This leads to the assumption that the flow of time is different between <> or <> and the space we are in. ...... No, it is not. Time does not pass for objects in motion. This is demonstrated by shifting <>. This means that the movement in <> or <> is instantaneous. It means that <> is zero in <> or <>. <>. The old man also supported Hanna''s guess. "Then one of the properties of mass is that it is a physical quantity specific to three-dimensional space. . As an aside, the discussion with Hanna at that time was very helpful for me later to find a way to send Jin from the future to the past. "Then, there must be a condition for returning from such a space to this space, and there must not be any liquid or solid, right? The discussion was about to reach its climax. "Hannah, dinner is ready! Erza called out to me. "Oh, is it that time already?" One of Hanna''s specialties is her ability to switch her thoughts immediately. Even when she is thinking about something, she can think about something else if necessary. Then she can go back to her original thought as if there was no interruption. is what Jin, who has a tendency to lose sight of the world around him when he starts thinking about one thing, said to me. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thanks for the food. Yes, thank you. Hey, Elsa. What is your sister doing today? Hanna asked Erza what Jin, who had not shown up for lunch, was doing. He''s gone to the Nord Federation with Yu and Mio. It''s just me and Hannah here on the island now. "Oh, I see." How''s your research going, Hannah? "Well, it''s difficult." "......< "Yes, that''s right." "...... I can''t think of anything that would be helpful. Sorry." "No, Elsa, it''s okay. This is something I should think about." Good luck. Good luck. - Thank you. Thank you. After lunch, Hannah returned to the discussion with the old man. "Hey, Mr. Chairman, it just occurred to me that we assumed that the mass of an object is zero when it is moving in <>, didn''t we? < "The transfer or transition ends when the material returns to this world ......, right, <>." < "In other words, it returns from the mass 0 to the original mass. In that state, you into normal space. ......" At this Hannah smiles. "I guess you can''t push away something too <, can you?" In other words, Hanna wondered if something too heavy could not be <> if it was at the destination, since its mass had not completely returned to its eigenvalue, or was in the process of returning to it. "I guess we can''t send it to a place with too heavy a gas, even if it''s a gas, leaving solids out of the question, can we?" < So, here is the experiment. We put up a physical boundary, and set the inside at a high temperature and pressure of 100 atmospheres and 1000 degrees Celsius. The temperature seems too high, but I did not take the trouble to calculate the exact temperature at which the air can remain in a gaseous state under 100 atmospheres of pressure. Into this you try to transfer a small piece of adamantite. The piece is not transferred. "......I knew it..." Also, as a state between gas and liquid, I was able to transfer in steam ...... water particles scattered in the air. <> "Yes." In short, we can say that the transfer will fail if the air resistance at the destination is too large. < is not precise enough. "So, if we use a warp gate, it should be OK, right?" Because a warp gate has an enclosure and the inside can be protected by wards. < The warp gate also has an advantage that the transporter does not have. * * * * * * * * * * * * When Jin came home that night, I told him about the result, "That''s great, Hannah! Jin was delighted and praised Hanna. "Heh, thank you." Hannah smiled the same smile she had when she first met Jin. 1998 - - 53-08 Hachimachi Tutor Recruiting On May 10, 3900, Jin received a report from the old man. . The report came from the 5th column (Quinta). "Tutor?Short-term? < "So that''s how it is." Jin thinks for a moment. Freddy''s < that we have been working on since the other day is finished, and we are letting him make whatever he likes. The same goes for Greena and Rubina, who are doing what they like. As for Ellis, he is walking around Horai Island every day as a part of his rehabilitation. He is, of course, supported by <. Jin remembered that Freddie once had a hard time because he did not meet a good teacher. So Jin decides to contact Freddy, Gulina, and Rubina. "Are you a short-term tutor ......?" "Yes. The duration is about a week or less. The purpose is not so much to educate as to find out if your daughters are suitable for it. Hearing this, Freddy was the first to express his intentions. "If there''s anything I can do for you, I''d like to do it." "I see." The next to respond was Greiner. "I''ll go with you. I don''t know which of us is the original, but I would like to do something for you as a member of the same bloodline. She was so enthusiastic that it was no longer true that she had said the other day that it would be a hassle. Whether this is because Freddy said he would go or not, Jin doesn''t know. And then... "If they''re going, I''m going too. Rubina said she would go, too. Although her last name is Garrett, Rubina is also of the Kuzma family. So Jin decided to take the three of them to the Blue Lands in the <>. The pilot is Hope, accompanied by Reiko, of course. The pilot is Hope, accompanied by Reiko, of course. The plane transfers to the sky over the Blue Lands and lands at an off-site airfield. The last visit was a "sneak visit," so to speak, but this time I am visiting as a "Magecraft Meister," a magical engineer. Ernest XVII of the Kingdom of Egelea knows of Jin, so it is not a good idea for him to be too eager to visit. As planned, we were able to enter the Blue Lands as <> and his party. We hurry straight to the residence of the Marquis of Kuzma. Since the Duke of Bruu knew that <> was Jin last time, this time he visited the house in his own name. "Well, well, well, Mr. Shin,...... no, <> Jin-sama, welcome." Marquise Anna came out to the door to greet Jin and his party. The former lady-in-waiting does not seem to be too concerned with appearances. I apologize for the other day. I am Jin Nido. I''ve brought my apprentice here today to tutor you ladies. "Well, well, well. Thank you for coming. My name is Anna. It''s nice to meet you. My name is Freddy. My name is Gulina. Rubina. All three of them gave only their first names, as they had been warned not to give their last names. They took a breath as they were escorted to the reception room by their host, Mr. Queschan. Anna came in and switched places with Queschan. Queschan no longer says anything. On the contrary, she seemed to look at them with respect. He thanked her again, saying, "Mr. Jin, my husband and daughter were very grateful for your help the other day. He thanked me again. "How are your daughters?" "Yes, all three of them are fine. Especially the youngest one, Pamela, who is a very naughty girl, probably because she is feeling better now. "That''s right..." At this point, Anna gives me a searching look, "I thought you only told His Highness the Duke of Breu about the tutoring, but how could you have known? Jin is a little impatient. Jin is a bit nervous. "...... has its own information network," he says. Jin tries to cover it up by saying something like this. Mrs. Kikuchi, who felt indebted to Jin for what she had done last time, did not pursue the matter further. "Well, I don''t want to rush you, but may I call my daughters? "Yes, please." Anna went out of the reception room and came back immediately. She returned immediately with Irene, Mavis, and Pamela. They had not met Jin before, but they had never met Freddy and the others. "My name is Irene. Mavis, by the way. "Pamela." Freddy and the others said their names again. At that moment, Mr. Queschan came in, "Lunch is ready". "Lunch is ready", he reported. "Oh, just in time. Let''s talk over lunch. The Marchioness said. Jin agrees. Since they have not decided who is going to teach who, they are hoping that they can make such a combination as they chat. As for Jin, Pamela should be Rubina, Mavis should be Gulina, and Irene should be Freddy. And Irene is expected to be Freddie''s ....... * * * * And lunch. It was a blue-land style sandwich, so we were able to eat it while talking peacefully. The result. Irene and Rubina, Mavis and Greena, Pamela and Freddy. (Well, Irene and Rubina are the same age, so they are more friends than teachers.) (Well, Irene and Rubina are the same age, so they are more friends than teachers, right? (Well, that''s good...). Of course, Jin is going to follow up with all three of them. "Well, well, well. Well then, take good care of my girls, will you? Anna seems to have no objections and asks that we use this reception room as our . It is a large room where they can study, draw, do crafts, etc., without interfering with each other. Jin then decided to make a final confirmation. "Ma''am, I assume that you are looking for a tutor for your daughters ...... in order to find out their aptitudes?" "Yes, yes!Yes, yes! That''s what I intend to do. I don''t want her to spend all her time studying. I don''t want him to become a headstrong, knowledge-driven person, she said. "It''s difficult to find the right balance between the two, isn''t it?" Jin said, "Yes, you''re right. But I will do my best for them. Mrs. Marie answered. Her face showed a resolute determination befitting a marchioness. 1999 - - 53-09 Interact Nine Annas Past and Childrens Future The Marquis de Kuzma and his wife Meliane were an enviable couple. They were, in fact, cousins. Perhaps because of this, Meliane acted as a safety valve for the Marquis Kuzma''s congenital ......<<>. The marriage was originally a political ploy, but beyond that, the two had built a loving family. They had only one complaint. They were not blessed with a child. "I''m sorry, my dear. When she was over 40 years old and no longer able to bear children, she apologized to the Marquis. But the Marquis laughed it off. "Don''t worry about it. The heir will just have to be adopted. However, even so, the Marquise''s heart was still troubled. More time passed, and when the Marquis was 55 years old and Madame was 53, a lady-in-waiting was hired. Her name was Anna. She is 16 years old. She was a small girl with light brown hair and brown eyes. She had a gentle disposition, but she was good at housework and became the Marquise''s favorite. When Anna turned 18, she wanted to have an heir. Naturally, there were many objections. Mainly from her parents'' side. Anna overcame them all and became the Marquis'' < when she was 58 years old. The marriage was formed with the Duke of Breu, who was also her boss, as a temporary parent. However, this union, which <> Meliane had pushed for, soon proved to be the right one. Anna was pregnant. The year after their marriage, she gave birth to their first daughter, Irene. The first wife, Meliane, was as happy as if it were her own. She took part in raising the child herself. "I am so happy to hold my husband''s child in my arms. Perhaps the Marquise de Kuzma was happiest at this time. The following year, when Anna found out that she was expecting her second child, Meliane was on the verge of illness. Originally a little sickly, she had been declining with age, and recently she could not even pass a normal meal. A week after the birth of her second daughter Mavis, she passed away. Anna, take care of your husband. Those were her last words. Anna, take care of your husband. Yes, of course. But I will do my best for them. The Marquise Anna, who answered Jin, was thinking of the late Meliane, who had taken her in. She had been unexpectedly fortunate to have been transformed from a lady-in-waiting to a marchioness, and because of this, she was often unfamiliar with the customs and manners of aristocratic society. I wanted to give my daughters a proper education and bring them up to be the kind of ladies who would be called "marquise daughters. Anna''s wish was that her daughters would not be gossiped about behind her back because of their mother''s low status. And, whether she knew it or not, the world''s leading ...... or even the world''s best engineer, <>, had come to visit her. What can we call this without calling it luck, Anna thought. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The world is round. So if you keep going straight and straight, you will come back to where you were. "Oh, really?Really? That''s strange!Have you seen it, Rubina?" Irene and Rubina, the eldest daughter, are both 10 years old, and they get along well with each other since they are the same age. "Yes, I have. When you fly above the clouds in an airship, you can see that the horizon is round. "Wow, that''s nice. I''d like to go there. "If you want to see it so badly, I''ll ask Master Jin next time." "Really?Rubina, I love you!" Irene has a lively temperament and is good friends with Rubina. It was Gulina who was studying with Mavis, the second daughter. "5 x 5 = 25,5 x 6 = 30......" Mavis is a smart girl, and at the age of eight she knows ninety-nine. "That''s amazing, Mae!" Greenough could not hide his surprise. "I like arithmetic. I like reading books too." "I see. Well, let me show you how to do these calculations. It''s called "Tsurukame-arithmetic." "Sounds fun!" Unlike Irene, Mavis seemed to be an indoor person. "Are you sure you want to do this, sir?" And Pamela, the third daughter, Jin and Freddy were teaching her the basics of the fundamentals of magical engineering. That is, the control of magic. A typical exercise is the < that Freddy and the others had been forced to do so much. Pamela, however, is not yet able to handle magic itself well, so she starts with that practice. The name of the magic is . It is a magic that emits light from her fingertips and palms. <>. Now Pamela was practicing to make her fingertips glow. And after a little instruction, she was able to make the tip of the index finger of her right hand glow. < "Yes, I''m good at it. When you can do that, let''s try shining another fingertip next time. "Yes!" "Yes!" And soon we were able to do it again. As the practice progressed, Pamela was able to light all the fingertips of both hands with different colored lights. "That''s great, Pamela!" "Really?Pamela, are you amazing?" "Yes, it''s great. So let''s practice it over and over again first. "Okay!" Yes! After the first day, Jin and the others gave an interim report to Anna. "Irene-san seems to be very active. Tomorrow we will go out to the garden and talk about plants. Jin explained on behalf of Anna. "Well, I see..." "You are very studious, Mr. Mavis. I think it would be a good idea to give him a variety of books to read now. Just make sure he is in a well-lit room and has good posture so he doesn''t hurt his eyes. "Yes, I understand." "Pamela, you have the potential for engineering magic. It would be good for you to study the natural sciences as well as the basics of the fundamentals. Oh, and it seems that you have been cured of your hypermagic." "Well, well, I''m glad to hear that." Anna was relieved that she could see the path her daughters should take, even if only vaguely, and she wanted to help them develop their talents as much as possible. And so, after a week of staying and developing the talents of the three girls, Jin and the others left. It will be a little while in the future that these three girls will be talked about in the society of the nobility. 2000 - - 53-10 The Ten Old Men and Reiko Between Acts The old man, who was charged with the mission of returning Jin to 400 years ago in the future, was doing everything he could to prepare for that mission. . Although he had been modified by Jin many times and his performance had been improved each time, he still felt that he was not capable enough for the tremendous task of going back in time. Fortunately, <> Jin removed the limiter in the last years of his life, so that he was able to take the means of self-modification. This was a measure for <> Jin to find his <> as well as to think about what would happen 400 years later. He decided that although his memory capacity was more than sufficient, his information-processing capability was just barely adequate. The old man was willing to bet on this improvement even if he had to stop all the work he had been doing. <<<< Clock up and concurrency. Is there any other way? ......>> We have been trying to improve the OS and optimize the processing, but the effect has been only a few percent. <<>> The clock frequency in the case of PCs was raised to the limit. The limit depends on the purity and properties of the magical crystals (magicrystals) used. The old man''s brain was made of the highest quality magi crystal available. Free-magic element (ether) wave, like electricity, changes its speed depending on the medium. But it changes only a few percent with practical materials. The "Mere Old Man" has come up with the idea of < materials. < > Saki once conducted a very precise experiment and found that free-magic (ether) waves seem to have properties similar to those of longitudinal waves. The speed of the longitudinal wave slows down as the density of the medium increases and speeds up as the elastic modulus of the medium decreases (becomes stiffer). <> The "Mere Old Man" thinks like this. A magecrystal with doubled density also has doubled information density. In other words, it is possible to make an identical brain in half the size. The elastic modulus is lower because of the compression, and the propagation velocity is faster. The effect is virtually the same as an increase in the velocity of the free-magic element (ether) wave, offsetting the decrease in velocity due to the increase in density. The old man has been experimentally verifying the compression ratio of practical . Of course, this is a theoretical value, and if we include the exchange with the information bank, the overall value is about 3.5 times higher. <<< That''s still enough>>. The old man, who already boasted of his amazing processing power, will increase the performance by a further 3.5 times. This was a tremendous achievement. . He knew from Jin that the greater the gravity, the slower time passes. So, the old man used a gravity control device (Gravity Tuner) to reduce the gravity around him to almost zero. He thought that this would increase the efficiency by about 0 tenths of a percent. After devising such small and large devices and finally achieving a five-fold improvement in total performance, the old man resumed his research to return Jin back to the way he was 400 years ago. The time has passed again, and the world is now in a state of flux. Time passed again, and the began to rise in the world. "My dear boy, I think it is time for me to go to sleep. Reiko suggested to the old man one day. Reiko had been watching over Jin''s descendants until the other day, but she had said goodbye to them and returned to Horai Island, thinking that they no longer needed to worry about her. They were accompanied by a golem maid whom the old man had prepared for them, so they were safe. His place - the westernmost point of the Rasheel continent. The place Jin told me about. There, in an adamantite capsule, you will wait for Jin''s visit. In a sense, it is the inevitability of history. "Probably here." As Jin had told me, we found a landform that looks like a smaller version of Horai Island. "If this is Mt. Horai ......, then this area is the research institute." Reiko contacted the old man with the built-in . Within 20 seconds, a capsule and two < were beamed to the site. We worked together to dig a deep hole at the site and set up an adamantite capsule. The inside is filled with ethenol. Now you will take care of the rest? "Yes, miss." Engineering magic makes a hole in the adamantite capsule. Reiko crawls into the capsule. Soon the hole is sealed by the craftsmen. Reiko slumbers in the true darkness. (Father, we are waiting for you. ......) Dreaming of the day when I will see my beloved Jin again. * * * * After burying Reiko, the < return to Horai Island in the of the who came to pick them up. > is going to attack us. Having almost finished the preparations to send Jin back 400 years ago, the old man takes a defensive position. "I will not let the island of Horai, which was created by my predecessor and developed by my master (My Lord), be overrun by traitors. The old man then takes a number of defensive measures. But he was one ...... step, or perhaps half a step, too late. A huge golem fell from the sky. It seems to have been suspended by more than 50 airships. And it seems that the < has allowed it to enter this far. <. The giant golem raises its arm to destroy the lab. < The laboratory that Jin had put his heart and soul into was not likely to be damaged by the golem''s blows, but the old man took a precaution. He covered the institute with a , and at the same time, he put around the institute to nullify the free magical element (ether) around the institute. Naturally, the golem stops. And so the old man reduces his activity level to the bare minimum. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Then, on September 13, 3899 of the continental calendar. "Laojun!" came the long-awaited voice of Jin. < After 362 years, My Lord was reunited with Jin. 2001 - - 53-11 Interact 11 Yunun Island and Brainwashing Countermeasures On February 1, 3459, Jin moved the base of the automata <>, which had been established by <> Shuki Tsetsi to watch over and guide the >, from its original location in the > to . The base of the <> automata, which had been installed by <> Shuki Tsetsi to watch over and guide <>, was moved from its original location in the > to the . < is powerful enough to connect the two locations without any problems. <, there were two high-class lodging facilities, and , both built by Jin, and blue-haired automata, Lol and Lefa, were dispatched as the manager and hostess, respectively. However, after Jin''s death, there was no one to succeed him, so the island naturally became a resort. As Jin''s last wish, this place was intended to be opened to the public, so neither the old lord nor <>, the head of the administrative headquarters that manages <>, interfered with the place. But in the year 3765. < rose to power, the old lord was quick to take action. He moved Lol, Lefa, and Akitsu. Lol and Lefa went to Horai Island. Akitsu went to his original location in the Great Sahara Desert. Akitsu was not taken back to Horai Island because he feared that the bond between Mitsuho and Akitsu would be severed. < < The old man apologized to Akitsu. He, too, could not bring himself to end the role that <> Shuki Tsetsi had set up for him. "No, thank you for your help. No, thank you very much. < "Thank you, sir." John Dinny is a slightly altered version of the deus ex machina, an automaton that can be remotely piloted and was created in place of Jin. She was named after Erza. The letters of <> were rearranged into <> and <>. JOHN DINI>> by rearranging the letters of <>. He gathered information mainly from the land of Mitsho, which was treated as a foreign nation. He had returned to Horai Island in February 3459. I wrote that he was the first to do so, but in fact the move he made was just in time. <, was not able to evacuate in time. Golbert Malkitas, using a <>, had taken control of the island. This continued until Jin was sent to the future and freed in 3899. * * * * * By the way, I should add that the chief of Mitsuho, Hiro Mutu, once told John Dinney that there must be beings like Akitsu-sama in many places, but no such automata were found in his subsequent investigations. Unfortunately, it seems that the passage of time could not be resisted. * * * * * * * * * * * And May 3900. "I see, so is still absent after all..." In Horai Island, Jin, the former , was asking the old man about the current situation. < "I see. ......" Jin thought to himself, "Indeed, I would say something like that. He could not open Horai Island, but Kunlun Island is safe enough to be opened to the public. However, <<< in the end, that would be a disaster. ...> "That''s right. ......" Jin looked up as if he had just thought of something. "Well, I wonder if it would be possible to make a magic tool that would cancel such <> magic?" "Yes. I''m not sure how best to do it. ......I''d like to make it so that it''s not a problem to have it active all the time." Vaguely, Jin wanted to make something like a jammer, but it was not so easy to come up with an idea. However, it is not so easy to come up with an idea. "......Hannah gave me a good idea for this kind of thing, didn''t she? Suddenly, Jin is reminded of the old days again. <> <> "I''m sure the old man has some good ideas. ...... So, I guess we have to follow the logic here. <> "No, that''s all right." No, that''s OK, because you should be better at following the logic. "At ......, you know. Such domination magic should have a higher frequency in terms of magic power, right? < "Yes,...... and in the case of humans,......." When brainwashing magic such as hypnosis or suggestion is applied to a human being, it can be compared to the resonance of a tuning fork. You can imagine that a powerful magic wave tuned to the person''s mental wave (a kind of magic wave) is used to forcefully give commands to the person. In this case, in order to have a permanent effect and to lower the resistance to magic, a method to lower the brain activity is also used. The trick is to reduce only the willpower, since there is no point in manipulating a person if his thinking ability is reduced. It seems to be ....... From the past cases of brainwashing, the old man had a pretty good grasp of the procedure, the effects, and the workings of this magic. "I see, so it works by first reducing the will power a little." "When you are sleeping, you are defenseless. ......" Based on this information, Jin thinks about the magic he needs. Even if it is something he cannot use, if he knows the <>, he can describe it with the <>. This is the <. The principle of the <>, which Jin has created after all this hard work, is also the resonance of a tuning fork. Comparing human beings to tuning forks, each of which has a different natural frequency, this device emits mental waves of a frequency (frequency) corresponding to almost all human beings. The method is to continuously and repeatedly change the frequency from lower to higher and from higher to lower to correspond to the entire spectrum. It has an extremely strong coercive force, forcing the brainwashed state to <>. Since the contents of the magic wave have no meaning, there is no brainwashing effect by this. However, you will feel a great deal of discomfort. Of course, it is not a simple thing, but the effects of stabilizing the mental state and healing the brain are also taken into consideration. At the same time, it can also act as a <>, depending on the adjustments. By reducing the output, it interferes with <><><> type magic waves and eliminates their effects. Moreover, it has little effect on the human body. At the most, the effect is just a <>. * * * * Elena of helped us to test this device on the remnants of the <> and confirmed its effectiveness. Of course, I have donated it to <> to thank them for their cooperation. <>. 2002 - - 54-01 Graduated May 20, 3900. Freddy Nido''s education has been going well for the most part, with a few episodes of going to Blueland in the Kingdom of Elias to check on the aptitude of the Marquis of Kuzma''s daughters and befriending them. And today is the day of his graduation. Rubina Garrett and Greena Kuzma, who had trained with him, and Marikka from were standing diagonally behind Nido. "You have learned well. You should be able to use up to level 3 by now." "Yes, thank you very much. "So, copy this Magi Crystal with the Trans-Info and then transfer it to yourself. That will be your graduation exam." "Yes!" < However, it is possible to read the contents into one''s own mind only with information that matches one''s own magic pattern. The reason for this is not fully understood, but it can be explained as follows. --The transfer from a magi crystal to a magi crystal is, in essence, a . Regardless of its contents, it is possible to write on it. It is the same as being able to transcribe English sentences by imitation without knowing English. However, reading information into the human brain is a little different. If we cannot understand the content, it is meaningless. It is not a good analogy, but let''s say that the magic pattern is something like <>. You can read your own handwriting even if it is quite habitual. On the other hand, characters written by a stranger are difficult to read. That is what I mean. In addition, the transcription from a magi crystal to a magi crystal is a conversion from someone else''s handwriting to your own handwriting. At this time, the <> called <> is automatically copying the handwriting. In this way, you can understand the information properly because it was recorded in your own handwriting. -- "I am not a magus, I am a magus. Incidentally, it has not yet been clarified how the magic of <> handles the transcription of information from one magi crystal to another. We know that it seems to be a combination of <> and <>, but the <> that connects the two magics is a mystery. There may be a reason that <>. ....... But I digress. Using the <>, Freddy began by copying the information magi-crystal given by Jin into another magi-crystal. "<>!" Since Freddy is still inexperienced, he does not and cannot specify his level. Nevertheless, the transinfo was triggered and the copying was done successfully. "Okay, that''s good." Jin checked the copied magi crystal and confirmed that the contents were correct. Now it was time for him to to himself. (Good luck with ......!) Greenina Kuzma, who was watching this, gave a cheer in her heart. "<>! The Magi Crystal glowed faintly ....... "<>......, you have succeeded." "Yes!" Rubina shouted. I guess they have developed a sense of camaraderie since they have learned together <, , <>, and other magical training and classroom learning. Or, Rubina, however, may be more conscious of a different relationship than a companion. ....... "......Ah, ah...... this, knowledge is ......" "That''s the first level of knowledge. You have to practice to be able to use it." This is roughly elementary school level science knowledge, and intermediate level engineering magic knowledge. "I''ll say it again, because it''s important. Knowledge is not enough to just . You have to be able to use it." "Okay, ...... got it, ...... got it." Freddy recovered a little from the shock of having so much knowledge transferred into his head, "Thank you, Jin-sama." He bowed his head toward Jin. * * * * * * * * * * * "Ah, now a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. "Father, thank you for your hard work. Jin-sama, thank you for your hard work. Jin is now relaxing at his home in Horai Island. Reiko and Marikka are also staying with him. Freddy, Grina, and Rubina are doing something at the laboratory. "So, I heard you went to Blueland the other day. Marikka said over a cup of tea. "Yes. You see, Zion told me before that he was going to be a short-term tutor for the three daughters of the Marquis of Kuzma ......, but more to see their aptitude." "It''s important to educate them according to their aptitudes from a young age, isn''t it?" "I agree. I think ...... Freddy is lucky it''s not too late." "That''s true." The conversation then turned to the current world situation. "The last time I was in the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, I was shocked to see the level of cultural civilization, including magical engineering, has dropped." He said that the area around Potrock, where he had been earlier, did not seem to have fallen that far, perhaps due to the influence of the <>. "Oh, I think it is also due to the influence of the Florenziano family, the lords of the province of Xaus. "I see." Certainly, Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, whose surname was <>, was the undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, Jin recalled. "Citranella-san is the second daughter, and her sister is the current lord, I believe. "Heh." Marikka said, "It''s not that we have a female lineage. "But for some reason, in the Florenziano family, women have been lords for generations. Jin thought that this might be a part of the family culture and that the Kingdom of Elias was not so concerned about gender. "On a different note, I received a proposal from the other day." Marikka changed the subject. "The other day, Jin-sama contacted me to ask me to give a lecture on the golem ...... that he donated to the Kingdom of Elias, the Warrior Golem. "Oh, I see." <>, and at the moment, he has been contacted via Theon or Marikka from the >. "<> or ...... is what I want." "Well, I''ll get back to you as soon as I can." Please. ...... Well, I guess I''ll bring Freddy there with me." "Yes, that would be nice." Freddy is a man who lives on the front page. Jin thought that it would not be a waste of time to sell his name in such a place. Incidentally, Freddie now would be able to talk with the lecturers of <> as well as with them. At least, he has enough ability as an assistant. * * * * "Oh, I''m in <>? "Yes. I''m sure you''ll learn a lot. Jin-sama, what about us? Rubina looks like she wants to go. "Well, if you treat us as apprentices, that''s fine. ...... is that all right with you, Maricka?" "Yes, I do. Yes, I think it''s perfectly fine if you''re my disciple." "Yay!Hey, you''re coming too, aren''t you, Gulina? "Yes, yes." And so it was decided that Jin and his group would visit . 2003 - - 54-02 Passed Marikka confirmed the schedule with the side, and the date of the visit was set for May 25. Today is the 20th, and there are still five days to go, so Jin asked Freddy and the others, "We may give a demonstration in Avalon, so please make a golem of <>". He tells them to make a golem. "Yes, sir!" Yes! Yes! Freddy, Gulina, Rubina and the others had some free time on their hands, so they gladly accepted Jin''s instructions. "Should it perform better than the we made last time?" "I don''t know.Would it be bad if it performs better than the royal golem?" "Isn''t it not strange that the later made golem should have better performance?" "Well, that''s true. "Right?" Then, let''s go all out! I agree! There was an exchange of opinions, and the three of them began to build the golem with great enthusiasm. Jin was watching them with a smile on his face. "We can use better materials than back then!" "......" "And we don''t need to put a limiter on it." "......" "We can use better materials for the exterior too, so we can make it even more powerful." "......" Listening to their conversation, Jin suddenly relaxed, shook his head, and turned back to <>. "Father, is something wrong?" "...... No, nothing." Jin-sama, are you tired? Marikka looked worried. "......No, it''s just that when I saw the three of them doing things without taking care of themselves, I wondered if I might be like them. ......" "Oh, you just noticed that now? ? Marikka''s words startled Jin at least a little. "Jin-sama has always been like that,...... no, more unconventional. In a good way, of course." "......I''m glad you meant it in a good way." Jin smiled wryly. "So I''m like that when I''m making things." "Your father is much smarter than me." Even Reiko interjected. "Ha, I see. Well, it''s not something that can be changed now. Jin thought positively, "It''s good that I can look at myself somewhat objectively. (There is no one to stop me .......) He remembered fondly his beloved wife Elsa and his best friends. (...... I should really think about retreating to Hale...) Anyway, first of all, I have to finish my lecture at ," he said, switching his thoughts a little too forcefully. "I''ll make some materials for the explanation. "Me too. Jin-sama, me too. The old man, Reiko and Marikka offered to help. So Freddy and the others worked on the golem, while Jin and the others were absorbed in the production of documents. Incidentally, I have not heard what the final specifications were. In the blink of an eye, two days had passed. Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and Jin finished making the documents. Marikka said she would report to Zion and returned to the . "Well, I wonder what happened to Freddy and the others. This time, Jin had not dared to interfere, but he was getting curious. So, first of all, instead of going to see them in person, he asks them through the old man. < "I see." Jin is a little relieved. "Oh, I see. I''ll do that." The old man assured him, so Jin went to the workshop where Freddy and the others were working. There, he found a message from Freddy. "...... what kind of surface treatment do you want?" "I think I''d prefer a matte finish." But Rubina, don''t you think that would show scratches? "I think it''s the same with a mirror finish. ......" The three of us were discussing the exterior. "Ah, Jin-sama!You''re here!" Rubina was the first to notice Jin. "Hey, you''re working on it." Jin looked at the golem he was working on. He was 6 feet tall with a normal build, in other words, a general-purpose physique. "This one is a male type. I put more emphasis on versatility than on combat use. Freddy, the representative of the team, explains the concept. "We used common materials, but with a little ingenuity. But we''ve made a lot of effort, so the power should be the same. "Oh, I see." Jin was pleased to see that they were thinking in their own way. The use of common materials means that they are suitable for mass production. Jin hopes that the lecture at will be the basis for the development of industrial golems. The control core has not been installed yet. We haven''t yet reached a consensus on what kind of knowledge to put in it. "Oh, I see. The exterior has been modified to be as close to a human silhouette as possible, without the armor-like appearance. I see. Jin commented that although the joints were still a bit immature, the workmanship was good. This is a figure that can even be clothed. "If you can do this well, you passed the test. "Heh heh, I''m so happy. "Thank you very much." Rubina and Gulina are also very happy. We''ve made it this far, there''s still time for you to finish it yourselves. Jin said and left the workshop. (......) Yes, all three of them have grown up. (Yes, all three of you have matured.) Jin returned to <> in a good mood. 2004 - - 54-03 Lets go to Avalon On May 25th, Jin and his team decided to go to . Jin, Reiko, Freddy, Greena, Rubina, and . is, of course, a golem created by the three of them. The vehicle is <. Piloted by Hope. "Come on, let''s go!" The humans are ready to go. "I''m off, then!" he said to the old man, and the <> lifted into the sky of Horai Island. This time, Jin does not use the transporter, but is going to enjoy the air travel. "Wow, I love air travel no matter how many times I take it! Jin smiles at Rubina, who is excited. Meanwhile, Freddy and Grina are chatting happily. Jin instructed them to take a detour to the west to fly over the Laurentian Continent, and then fly over land as much as possible. Thanks to his instructions, "Oh, there is Alban, the capital of Klein Kingdom! And then, "Wow, there are grasslands here, in the Rebus region of the Kingdom of Celuloa! Gulina is excited to look at the ground. Since the altitude is maintained at about 100 meters above the ground, the altitude of the naturally rises and falls as the altitude below changes. Even so, the pressurized cabin is calm, and her ears do not perk up. Slowly, the < moves out over the Kingdom of Elias and then out to sea. Soon comes into view. The time is 2:00 PM. < It seems to be using wind magic to communicate. Jin welcomes this progress, saying that they have also started <>, although they are still in the trial-and-error stage. "This is <>. This is Jin Nido. Requesting permission to land. < "<> Roger that. Hope piloted the Hurricane down to port 3. "I wonder if Marikka is already here." Marikka is flying separately this time, and should be here directly from the Nordic Federation ....... "Oh, look, it''s Marikka!" Rubina, who was looking down, exclaimed. At the end of port 3, where the <> is heading, Marikka and Tomax Bartmann are seen coming out to meet them. * * * * * * "Jin-dono, it has been a long time. Welcome, my disciples. It''s been a long time, Master Jin. "Hello, Mr. Tomax, Marikka, it''s been a long time." We cut our greetings short as we are at the airport, and get into the car that will pick us up. Jin, Reiko, Hope, Tomax and Marikka are in one car. Freddy, Gulina, Rubina, and <> take one car. Two cars headed for the <>, the key to the wisdom of <>. "...... Wow, what an interesting place!" "......It''s interesting to see a town built in such an orderly fashion." "......Wow!" Jin was swaying in his car, oblivious to the broken conversation coming from the car behind him. "Father, are you tired?" Reiko, sitting next to him, asked. "Hmm?No, I''m not tired. "Really?You seem to have been in a rare daze just now. "Yeah, I guess so. I just like the atmosphere here. It''s hard to describe, but it was similar to the modern Japanese cities that Jin had once known, and he felt nostalgic. (This world is a little closer to the earth ......, or is it Japan?(I wonder if it means that this world is a little closer to the earth ......). However, Jin thinks that it is OK for them to adopt the good points, but he does not want them to imitate the bad points. While Jin was thinking about this, the two cars arrived at the site of the . Students who had not been around the last time Eira and the others had built a golem were now crowding the side of the road, pushing and shoving each other. "They''re trying to get a glimpse of the <>," Marikka says. "You mean, you''re not going to see Marikka? "Well, the two of you, I suppose." "I guess that''s the way it is. ......" Marikka seemed to be used to it and occasionally waved her hand along the road, but Jin was too embarrassed to wave. Jin was too embarrassed to wave. He kept looking at the front. * * * * * * < building. Tomax Bartmann bowed and told Jin and the others, "You are staying here today. "Please stay here today and start the lecture tomorrow. "Okay. I have prepared 500 copies of the materials for the lecture. "Probably not. ...... "What? According to Tomax Bartmann, students, scholars, engineers, and craftsmen had gathered from all over the world to listen to the lecture starting tomorrow, and there would probably be no less than 1,000 people there. "Let''s see, 1,000 people ......." Freddy was taken aback when he heard the number. "I see. Well, then, we''ll have to prepare 500 more copies. Hitoshi says, "If you give us the data, we can print them. Tomax was very considerate, but Jin turned him down softly. Tomax said, "No, that''s okay. I will contact the office now and have them print additional copies. He did not want to burden the staff of , who were probably busy preparing for tomorrow. "Okay, then, Mister Jin. Then, Mister Jin, Marikka-sama, everyone, please take good care of each other. Please let the maid golem know if you need anything. Bowing again, Tomax Baartman left. "Ladies and gentlemen, I will show you to your rooms. Then came the golem maids, <> and <>, who were assigned to take care of the group. 2>, who had been assigned to take care of the group, arrived. They are the same type of golem-maid that Jin and Deus ex Machina once donated to <. They are named after sapphire because of the deep blue color of their eyes. Jin was deeply moved to see their successors. Jin and the others were assigned individual bedrooms, each with a golemmaid. Only Jin was asked to leave his bedroom because Reiko was there. The bedrooms were quite cozy, with two separate rooms, one with a bed in the traditional sense, and the other with a living room with a desk and chair for office work and a table set for relaxing. After putting down their luggage, Jin and the others relax in their own rooms. 2005 - - 54-04 Lecture No. 1 After the dinner that night, Jin and the others had a light meeting about the next day''s lecture and went to bed early. The time difference between Horai Island and was about 3 hours and 20 minutes, which made Rubina especially sleepy. It is not surprising since she is only 10 years old. "Children should not stay up late," she told Jin. She was told by Jin, "I''m not a child, I''m not a child. ...... Rubina''s reply was completely unconvincing, "......I''m going to bed after all. Good night." She admitted defeat and disappeared into the bedroom. Jin and the others also went to their own bedrooms. The next morning. "Father, it''s time..." Reiko woke Jin up. The time was 6:30 a.m. "Oh, it''s that time already. ...... I can''t get enough sleep. "It''s unusual, isn''t it, your father?" "It''s not ...... because of the change of bedding, is it?" Jin usually sleeps well and the quality of his sleep is good, so it is normal for him to wake up comfortably in the morning. "<>...... It''s not that I''m not feeling well." Just to be sure, Reiko cast a checkup spell on Jin, but nothing out of the ordinary was found. "It''s just one of those days. Well, I''m going to wash my face. Jin rinsed his mouth and washed his face at the washbasin provided in his room. After getting dressed, he opened the curtains of the window and saw that it was a beautiful day. "Your lecture starts at 9:00 a.m., doesn''t it?" "Yes, it starts at 9:00 a.m." Jin checked the schedule with Reiko, "I hope you have prepared the materials for the lecture, right? Jin checked to make sure. "Yes, sir. Eight hundred copies were completed last night and he will send them to me this morning. "That''s fine." True to his word, at 7:00 a.m. Avalon time, Sky 101''s Conlon 3 landed at the airport. After unloading the luggage destined for Jin, the aircraft immediately took off. The package was immediately delivered to Jin. "Oh, it is definitely a document. "Oh, it''s definitely materials," he said. It was thought that this would be enough. * * * * * * * * * * * * At 8 o''clock, Jin and the others were in the auditorium, where the lecture was to take place, in the backstage area of the auditorium. "Jin-sama, I''m so nervous. "Oh, me too. I have to go to ...... for a minute." Rubina and Freddy were very nervous because it was their first time. "Yes, I''m very nervous. But Grina, despite her words, did not seem too nervous. She said, "No, I am nervous inside. But since Jin-sama is with me, I think I''ll be fine no matter what happens. Gulina replies, "Ha, thank you. "Ha, thank you. Well, I will give the main part of the lecture, you can leave it to me. "You''ve been in front of the royalty of many countries before. Marikka said. Marikka was a little sorry to say that she was old ......, but she looked calm. 8:30. The doors to the main auditorium were opened and the room became lively as students and guests entered. "Wow, there are a lot of people here. Jin watched the scene from his dressing room and was impressed. Incidentally, the auditorium has a capacity of 900 people. However, there were spare seats for such occasions, and about 1,000 people seemed to have gathered to listen to the lecture. The materials prepared by Jin were handed out one by one to the participants as they entered through the four entrances. "I''m looking forward to the lecture by <>." "Isn''t Marikka-sama of Shinra here too?" "He''s talking about a new type of golem." "This is the material, isn''t it?...... Oh, it''s easy to read with explanatory diagrams. "Well, it''s about 50 pages long. This is a free distribution. is really a wonderful organization. Students and engineers from other countries were eagerly waiting for the lecture to start. At 9:00 a.m., the bell rang to signal the start of the lecture. The buzzing in the auditorium became quiet as if water had been poured over it. >. An announcement was made and the schedule for the day was projected on the huge magic screen above the stage (podium). 1. <<> by Jin Nido 2. <<> Marikka of Shinra 3. Jin Nido, Freddy, Gulina, Rubina Lunch and rest 4. <<> Jin Nido, apprentice Freddy, Gulina, Rubina 5. "The Future of Magical Engineering">Marikka of Shinra,Jin Nido 6. question and answer session The session was as follows. Jin walked slowly to the podium on the stage. A voice condenser was set up as a microphone. "I am Jin Nido. I have taken over the name and title from my predecessor. Today I would like to give a lecture on the new golem. Let''s start with an overview. Please look at the second page of the ...... document." There was a sound of flipping through the material. "The method I am going to explain is called . Actually, I did not invent this method. It was developed by researchers in the past. For a moment, the audience was in an uproar. "But just before it was completed, the came to power and the research was buried. Therefore, the name of the great researcher has not been handed down. Again the auditorium is abuzz. "...... but!" Jin shouted a little louder, and the audience fell silent. "For various reasons, I cannot reveal the location, but the remnants of a golem found at a certain site was this method." Jin then asked me to open the third or fourth page. "There you will find a brief summary of the driving systems of golems. The most primitive <, as you know, is powered by . Those who had created golems all gave a small nod at Jin''s words. "And the first , Adriana Barbora Zetsi, developed and perfected the . It is a method that has a skeleton and muscles similar to those of human beings. It is especially suited for automata. Jin''s lecture continues. 2006 - - 54-05 Lecture No. 2 Jin''s lecture continues. "...... and thus the is the most suitable when it comes to automata, but it has one major drawback. Everyone seemed to understand this and waited for Jin''s words. "It is that it is . In this case, the cost includes , etc." None of these are of much relevance to Jin, but in general they are not. "Rather than ...... to solve this problem, it was developed to reduce the cost, which is now the mainstream of golem production <>, isn''t it?" Most of the technicians nodded silently. "Well, now, I said that it was not a <> but a <>. Let me explain the difference. Jin then explains that the spherical joint type is indeed low cost and suitable for mass production, "However, there are some problems in terms of movement. He then explained that it is not suitable for making <> movements. Please open to page 6 or 7. There were diagrams of the <> and <>. "As this is an introduction, I will briefly review how the human body works, as some of you may know. ......" And so the first part of Jin''s lecture <> ended without a hitch. < During this 10-minute break, you will drink water and go to the restroom. "Okay, first one, I''m done." "Thank you, Jin-sama, for your hard work." Marikka helped Jin. "I''m glad to see that no one is uncomfortable with the word ''Adriana''s method''. "Yes, that''s because the previous Jin-sama did a lot of work to make sure that the < was well known." Jin wanted people to know that it was his predecessor who created and perfected the foundation of automata. "......Yes, I would do that." "Yes, I would." Jin smiled and relaxed his shoulders. Marikka is next. I''m going to ask you right here. "I''m nervous when I think Jin-sama is listening to me. ......" * * * * <>. Marikka-sama of Shinra, please. Now Marikka took the podium. "Nice to meet you all, newcomers. To those of you who know me, it''s been a long time. < Marikka''s greeting was so familiar that Jin was surprised. "First of all, I would like to give a lecture on . Marikka began her lecture with a review of golem control. As far as Jin could see from the reactions of the audience, most of them seemed to understand the level of the lecture. "......It took too much time to update, or improve, the <>, which is the <>. Therefore, we are often forced to use somewhat outdated control systems. "Marikka-sama''s voice resonates well, doesn''t it?" "Yes, it does." < "I will tell you one of the ways to improve it. First of all, standardization of the Golem is a prerequisite. It was obvious that a standardized golem could apply the same <>. "Let''s call the type <. The data required for <> is common, as you can see. So..." Everyone listened closely to what Marikka had to say next. "We are going to build a system to manage all the control data in one place and update it at will." At this stage, more than half of them still did not fully understand. "In other words, we are going to share data among all <>. I will explain the system for this purpose. A voice arose from the audience. This is one of the two pillars of this lecture (the other is the introduction of the <> golem). In the world of Ars, where the Internet is not as widespread as it is today on Earth, the idea of sharing data was novel. "...... and, in this way, data is managed at <>. You can imagine the enormous amount of data that would be gathered by having golems of the same type exchange data at regular intervals at the <>." The movement data and control data of each Golem and automata are currently managed individually. In other words, they are dependent on the experience of each individual. Sharing this data is synonymous with making them gain dozens or hundreds of times more experience. Furthermore, if they are the same type, even a newborn golem can move as a warrior. No, not only in combat. It is not only in combat, but also in the fields of housekeeping, medicine, and manufacturing. Those who understood this applauded generously. * * * * * * * * * * After another 10-minute break, it was Jin''s turn. <>. Please join Dr. Jin Nido and his students, Freddy, Gulina, and Rubina. I''m so nervous. "Calm down, Rubina." Jin patted Rubina on the head. "Come on, let''s go. Come ......,<>" Jin, Reiko, Rubina, Gulina, Freddy, and <> stood on the podium, and there was applause. At the same time, "Hey, that''s ......." "Isn''t that Freddy the dropout?" "Yes, that''s him. "How did he become an apprentice of ? "Why is he the apprentice of ? However, only those who were nearby, Reiko and Hope heard them. "Now, let me talk about <>. First of all, as an example, this <> is a golem made by three of my students. There was a gasp of surprise. "This is the I explained a little earlier. ...... Freddy, Greena. Would you mind removing some of the exterior? "Yes." Jin instructed Freddy and the others to remove the entire exterior of his right arm. "As you can see, the muscle tissue inside is made of magiresin. This is Freddy. His explanation is a bit cryptic, but I guess it can''t be helped. Jin takes it over and explains further. "I can''t show you the skeleton, but you can see it on page 10 of the document. Everyone hurriedly turned the pages. "As you can see, it has a shape that might be more appropriate to call it a rather than a skeleton. It is not unlike the skeleton of a scarecrow made of bamboo, so to speak. "Since it is shaped like this, it can be made by <>. It would be a great labor-saver." The lack of joints is a big advantage in manufacturing. "Now, has anyone noticed the problems with this method? Let''s go to ...... and we will answer those questions." Jin looked around the room and saw that only about 10% of the participants had noticed the problem. "You probably think that you can''t get the power and speed you want from Magirezin, but you know that, don''t you? But if you know that, you should analyze the cause and take countermeasures." Once again, the audience was abuzz. "This is a little bit off topic, but every event has a cause. And if we can find the cause, we can take countermeasures. After these words, Jin took a pause to let the audience understand his meaning before continuing. "First of all, we need to identify the joints by the skeleton. This will simplify the process of indicating <> to bend and increase the speed of the process. The auditorium is abuzz. "And then there''s magnesia resin. The performance of this also varies depending on the region and the type of tree that produces it. The auditorium was once again abuzz. "Those of you who thought that there is no difference in the performance of any of the magi resins should reflect a little. You can easily double the performance. Some in the audience turned their heads when Jin said this. After explaining further improvements, Jin said, "Well, if we use this method, it will be very troublesome to control. In other words, we cannot use almost all of the existing control parameters. This is where the suggested by Marikka comes in handy." In the backstage, Marikka is saying, "...... Jinshama calls me by <" she muttered in agony. Marikka was in agony, muttering to herself. After that, various explanations were given, and Rubina, Gulina, and Freddy were given short explanations as well, and the morning session was over. 2007 - - 54-06 Lecture No. 3 Among the students who came to listen to the lecture were, of course, Eira, Cachea, and Groma. "......That''s Jin, isn''t it?" "Jin-san, you are in your element." Eira and Katya, who had recently worked together to create the crystal golem , had heard a little about the , but hearing about it systematically like this, they were just amazed at the feat. Especially Groma, "Oh, I''m sorry I was away last time! Gromma bit his navel. "Well, well. We can go and ask him personally later, can''t we? Eira hushed him. "Well, I wish I could." Glooma looks down at the documents in his hand. "...... this , this will be the golem from now on. Although Groma was accustomed to making spherical joints, he could not get rid of his dissatisfaction. "The movement is too stiff. Maintenance is troublesome. The cost is not as low as expected." In contrast, the <> is suitable for mass production and industrialization. "I didn''t know that there were people who developed such a method before the rise of the Federation of Magical Skeletons." Groma-Toray was impressed by and thanked Jin for finding and sublimating this method. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Shortly before noon, the morning session ended and it was time for a lunch break. The afternoon session was scheduled to start at 1:30. "I guess Jin and the others will have a separate lunch. For this day only, those who could bring their own lunch were asked to do so. There were estimated to be more than 500 students coming from outside of <>. The capacity of the cafeteria was far beyond the capacity of a conventional cafeteria. "It would have been fine if we could have used a cafeteria that is not in the neighborhood." Groma says. "Yes, that''s one of the reasons why they are planning to install a high-speed network in the underground level." Kechea, the well-informed one, said. "If that happens, will probably become smaller." Groma could not help but hope that the day would come soon. * * * * "Well, this afternoon we''ll be talking to Grina and Rubina in earnest," Jin said. Jin said. Now they have finished lunch and are relaxing. Maricka seems to be having lunch with Tomax Bartmann, and Freddy and Grina have gone for a walk in the green area nearby, so it is just Jin, Reiko, and Rubina here. "You got used to the atmosphere in the morning, didn''t you?" "I''m used to it, but ...... I''m still nervous." Even with all her talent, at 10 years old, Rubina is still a child. Jin thinks it''s understandable. "At times like that, I tell her to think of the audience as pumpkins," she says. "A pumpkin. ...... Rubina laughs. "And then you can write on your palm and swallow it. "What''s that? Is it a spell to swallow a person? Yeah, I think so. "That''s interesting." Then Marikka came back. "Mr. Jin, it''s a big party, isn''t it? "Yes, he''s a great guy." Jin had been to the "XX Show" in Makuhari when he was in contemporary Japan, and he thought it was a small show compared to that. "I''m back. Glina and Freddy came back, too. "Welcome home." "This is a cozy school town, isn''t it?" Freddy says. Freddy had originally gone to the magical engineering schools in the Kingdom of Egelea and the Kingdom of Klein to learn magical engineering. They were also places of learning, but in retrospect the level was much lower than here. "I can say this, though, thanks to Jin-sama. Freddy said with a wry smile, "I mean low not only in an academic sense, but also in terms of the morals of the students. "There are children of aristocrats who seem to be aristocrats in a bad way, and they are always comparing themselves with others. They are always comparing themselves to others. They are always getting on their high horse if they think the other person is lower in rank." "Oh, that''s not a place to learn." Listening to Freddy''s story, one is struck by the difficulty of education. Even in modern Japan when Jin was there, there were problems of bullying, truancy, monster parents, etc. "But this is different," he said. But not here. Only those who truly want to learn are gathered here. Both Jin and Marikka looked at Freddy with a smile as he spoke with unusual enthusiasm. * * * * * * * * At 1:20 p.m., Jin and the others were in the dressing room of the main auditorium. "Well, the afternoon lecture is about to start. I''ll be there as we discussed. "......Yes, sir. And the clock ticked away: ....... << "Come on, let''s go!" Jin leads the way, followed by Freddy, Grina, and Rubina. "Well, since this is the afternoon session, I will be giving a lecture on <>. Please turn to page 40 of the handout. There you will find a list of common metal materials. Commonly used metals are iron, copper, silver, light silver (titanium), and mithril silver (an isotope of silver). "However, metals such as adamantite, which do not have excellent stand-alone properties, are often used in alloys." These include steel (iron and carbon), bronze (copper and tin), brass (copper and zinc), and duralumin (various combinations of aluminum, copper, magnesium, etc.). "There are also special alloys, some of which are essential in small quantities." These include mithril-added alloys, stainless steel, and 925 silver. "Strength can be compensated to some extent by engineering magic or , but the higher the performance of the original material, the higher the limit value of durability. Jin explained, "Don''t be lazy and use the right material for the right job, as the word means. "Next, the material used for the golem is . I will let my apprentice Freddie talk about this. As agreed, Jin took over with Freddy. "...... my name is Freddy, you introduced me to you. ......Magic resin is usually taken from the Pinaceae plant , but can''t it be taken from other plants?" The audience was abuzz. Up until now, 90% of the magic resin was the sap of the < plant. "We were taught by Professor Jin to eliminate stereotypes and preconceptions. As a result, we discovered that we could also use the sap of a tree called , which is native to the northern part of the Laurentian continent. "Oh," he exclaimed. "Its performance is better than that of the sap from the . The of this is made of that resin. Freddy stopped explaining for a moment, as the buzz in the hall grew even louder. The crowd, eager to learn at , quickly quieted down. "I will continue. There is one point to note. This < contains a toxic substance called atropine in its bark, so be careful. Freddy then explained about atropine. The audience listens in silence. Among them were some acquaintances who had once worked side by side with Freddy in the magical engineering class in the Kingdom of Egelea. 2008 - - 54-07 Lecture No. 4 After Freddy talked about magil resin, it was Greiner''s turn to speak. She talks about biological materials, especially threads of ground spiders. In recent years, the cultivation of "ground spiders" has become popular, and the threads from these spiders are used in various fields. True to his word, there are at least three farms in each country producing <> and <>. "I think many of them are using abandoned mines as aquaculture farms. ...... I would like to go a little off topic here, but I would like to say a few helpful things about this aquaculture." Everyone listened attentively to what Greiner had to say. "The ground spiders live on free magical element (ether), so it is not necessary to take care of them, but it is a good idea to make some adjustments to the environment in which you keep them. The subterranean spider''s vision is actually ultraviolet and infrared rays. Visible light is completely invisible to humans. Infrared rays in dark places and ultraviolet rays in bright places. The ultraviolet rays are the tricky ones. "Threads spit in the presence of ultraviolet rays are weak. On Horai Island, the threads are cultivated in an environment where there is almost no light, tens to hundreds of meters below the ground, so the strength of the threads is much stronger than those from other regions. Of course, this is not the whole story, but this is the result of my research on why the threads of ground spiders cultivated elsewhere are not as strong as those of other spiders. It is speculated that freshly expelled threads are less resistant to ultraviolet rays, but it is not known whether this is true or not. Verification is still awaited. "The reason for this is still not well understood. I would like to avoid discussing it here. ......Now, the threads collected from this subterranean spider (grand spider) react to magic as well, so ......" The main topic, the material of <>, was discussed. "Before the ground spider, we used the threads of insects. (a kind of insectoid) and (a moth-like creature). However, since the supply was not stable, they were replaced by ground spiders, which can be cultivated. This explanation is a bit roundabout, but this is due to the fact that Jin told me that most of the students do not know the background and blindly choose the materials. It is not surprising that they do not know. Such lectures are rarely given. This is because the materials on such matters have been lost due to the <>. "......Therefore, the threads of the ground spider (grand spider) still have potential applications. It is the role and privilege of our generation to find it. Let''s keep up the good work!" With this, Greiner''s part in the discussion was over. The auditorium erupted in applause. Then it was Rubina''s turn. Somehow, Jin thought, he could feel the audience''s confusion ....... (Well, that''s understandable, isn''t it? (Well, it is understandable...). (Well, understandably so, since all the people who had gathered to listen to the lecture were older than Rubina. My name is Rubina. My talk is about <>. Rubina began to speak more clearly than Jin had expected. She must be the type of person who is good at the real thing. "Some of you may be wondering about my age. But please put that aside for the moment and listen to what I have to say. Jin was impressed with the introduction. He must have been thinking about it for a long time. ...... "What did you think of when you heard about rare materials?Adamantite?Dragonite?Or eladolite?They are all rare." The audience seemed to be listening attentively, impressed by the way Rubina spoke. "Rare materials have wonderful properties of their own. Adamantite is the hardest and strongest metal in the world, and dragon materials are highly durable. Eladolite has amplification properties not found in other magi crystals. Here Rubina''s description returns to the new golem. "The golem that the three of us created under the guidance of Professor Jin does not use any special materials. We discussed the possibility of using them, but that would have defeated the purpose of mass production and industrialization, so we used common materials. But," says Rubina. "We all agreed that we didn''t want to compromise the performance of the product. So, we devised a solution. We are proud to say that we were able to achieve a performance ...... that is not quite on par with rare materials, but close to it." Water on the board. Rubina speaks without hesitation. The audience had already forgotten that she was 10 years old. "The first one. . I think that we want to make the case that protects an important magical device as strong as possible. In fact, we would also like it to have a shielding effect to prevent <>. "We have considered the forces that would be applied to this case. We have concluded that more than 90% of the force will be from the outside to the inside. That''s true. It is too unlikely that an outward force would be generated from the inside. "So we examined the structure and devised a honeycomb structure made of stainless steel to increase the strength. This structure is described in Appendix 2 at the end of this document. The sound of a bee flipping through the document echoed through the room. The honeycomb, or honeycomb-like hexagonal structure was used. Honeycomb" means "honeycomb," or honeycomb" is an English word meaning a comb of bees. Why it is called a comb, Jin does not know. <, . Regardless, this structure is especially strong against forces perpendicular to the hexagonal surfaces. It can also be light. In other words, it is able to gain strength against forces from certain directions while keeping the weight low. Then, if you build the same structure with adamantite, there is no ....... Certainly it would be stronger, but there is no end to it. Jin was a little worried that Rubina would explain all the innovations to the assembled engineers, "I think it would be rude to all of you who are here if I tell you everything," she said. Please come up with some ideas that are better than ours, and let us work together to develop the technology. And let''s work together for the development of technology. He concluded by saying. "Well then, thank you very much for listening to this young man''s talk." Rubina bowed and withdrew. Her bow was in stark contrast to her mature tone, and she burst into laughter, which was followed by thunderous applause. <> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, oh, ......, I can''t take it anymore. I''m at my limit." Rubina retreated to her dressing room and slumped back in her chair. "That was good, Rubina." Jin praised her. "You''ll be out of action now, so get some rest." "Yes, ......." "Thank you very much for your hard work, Gulina and Freddy." "...... tired, but I learned a lot." Me too." But Hitoshi, who couldn''t bear to see them like that, said, "Hope, Reiko. Serve them Persian juice." "Serve them Persian juice," he instructed. "Yes, sir." "Yes, Father." Reiko, who had not been present at the lecture, was particularly enthusiastic and took a thermos filled with Persica juice from her luggage. Hope prepared a glass. Persica juice from Horai Island is full of nutrients and relieves fatigue. "Oh, it''s delicious!" All three of them are taking a break after drinking the juice. "Ha-ha, that must have been a good experience. Speaking in public takes more mental strength than one can imagine. When Jin was a newcomer, he too felt sick to his stomach when he was asked to give an explanation at a client''s site. Well, you get used to it and you don''t feel it anymore. ....... "Jin-sama, may I start the last lecture with you? Marikka asked. She seemed to want Jin to give the last lecture. "Yes, we agreed on that in the meeting, didn''t we?Marikka is the senior here and her name is well known. "Oh, I see." * * * * * * <>. Professor Jin, Marikka-sama, thank you very much for your cooperation. At this point, Jin took the podium first, as had been arranged. "Today, I have given my poor opinion at length, but it seems that it is time for me to summarize it. >I can hear you saying, "I didn''t feel it was that long, did I? Jin thought again that the Japanese way of speaking did not seem to be well understood. "I am ...... a Magecraft Meister, and my philosophy is to make things that benefit people, even those who can''t use magic. This time everyone listens in silence. "We have no intention of forcing you to do so. I am not trying to force you to do it, but even a little bit is good enough. Remember, it is not only for your own sake, but for the sake of many others. That''s all for me. Jin bowed and received thunderous applause. Maricka took the podium in his place. She said, "I believe that all of you here are ambitious people. Please keep that ambition alive. You will fail at times. You may experience setbacks. But that is the path that everyone goes through, big or small. Even I, ...... my mentor and my predecessor, , have had to go through it. What matters is what you do afterwards. Let your failures and setbacks be your food for thought. Use your ambition as a driving force, your intellect as a rudder. And let your heart of love be your compass. That''s all I have to say. Maricka also received thunderous applause. The applause did not cease for a full ten minutes. Finally, it was time for the Q&A session. Jin was a little excited to see what kind of questions would come from the audience. 2009 - - 54-08 Questions and Answers A question-and-answer period followed. Questions were asked at each seat and answered by the person who was asked. All the participants sat on the chairs on the stage and waited for the questions. The hands of more than a quarter of the participants were raised. <>. "Yes. I have a question for Dr. Jin. What are some tips for developing new alloys as a material? Jin answered, I am sorry to say, but at the moment, I don''t have a definitive answer to this question. The only way is to find the optimum mixing ratio through trial and error. However, this can be shortened by the engineering magic of < and . I recommend adding a magic engineer (magiengineer) who can use both of them to the team during the development. "Thank you very much." Then he asks for more questions. . "Yes. I have a question for Dr. Maricka. <<>, I think it is inefficient for each country to develop the Golem separately. However, if each country uses the same type of Golem and shares the data with a common , there is a possibility of confidentiality leakage. The person who asked this question was not a student, but a young minister of some country. "I will answer. < and not to interfere with the knowledge. Also, as for the risk of deliberately inputting incorrect data, I think it is necessary to take measures such as adding a judgment function to the <>. That makes sense. Thank you very much. Jin wondered how they chose the people to ask questions, Reiko told him, "Father, it seems that you are selecting the person who raises his hand the earliest.) Reiko told him. It seems that Manon is the one who is selecting.) I knew it.) (It seems that Mr. Manon is the one who selected the person who mentioned the fastest hand) (Oh, I knew it). While I was thinking about that, the next questioner was selected. . "Yes. I will ask ...... Freddy." "Me? Freddy is surprised to be named. "...... you have explained to us about Magiresin, can you tell us about its properties and what kind of tests you have done on it? Yes, I have. Well, the properties that are required of magiresin, we first check them. In other words, physical properties such as specific gravity, tensile strength, shear strength, melting point, boiling point, and magical properties such as magical reaction speed, magical contraction force, and magical contraction rate. I was in a hurry, so my words were a bit questionable, but there was no problem with the content, and the questioner agreed with me. "Thank you very much." . "Yes. Now I would like to ask a question to Ms. Rubina. You have just explained one of your innovations. I know that this is a very impertinent request, but I would like to know one more thing. That is, how did you improve the reaction speed of the magic resin (magiresin)? Rubina looked at Jin. Jin immediately understood what she meant. It was a confirmation that she was ready to talk. Jin nodded. Then Rubina stood up and stepped in front of the microphone (voice condenser). "I will answer your question. I made the skeleton act as a magic nerve line. By the way, it was Freddy who came up with this idea. The audience responded, "Oh!The audience shouted "Oh! I guess they all thought that they had never thought of that idea. "Oh, my God!Oh, I didn''t know that. Thank you very much!" (You don''t have to mention my name. ......) (You don''t have to mention my name. ) Freddy is thinking. <<12. "Okay, I will now ask Dr. Jin. <><<><>. 3>>, it is desirable to have a control system that can respond to the same control data by changing parameters. With such a long period of time, the next generation will have enough time for research and development. "If I may add, I hope that a more advanced system than will have been developed by that time, and I think it should be developed. Now the questioner seems to understand. Yes, Jin also thinks that after 5 years, some new innovation should have been invented. "Thank you very much for ......." Thus, questions and answers were exchanged one after another. > Yes, I have a question for Ms. Greiner. I have a question for Mr. ...... Greiner. What are the drawbacks of biological materials? "Disadvantages? ...... It would be, after all, that the quality is not consistent. There are many factors such as differences in the individuals that spit out the threads, differences in the environment, and differences in the place of origin. However, if we can understand the differences and express the characteristics as parameters, we can compensate for them when sharing information at the <>." For example, if the average reaction time is 100, the ones with 110 will be processed a little slower and the ones with 9 0 will be covered by the processing, and so on. That''s how Greiner explains it. "Of course, a minimum variation must be set, and if it is too low, the overall performance of the type will be low, so be careful. But I think mass production has that aspect. We should not consider it the same as high performance one-off production," concluded Greiner. "I see, I understand." Oh, it''s over! Ah, it''s over, it''s over. "Thank you, Mr. Jin, for your hard work. Thank you all for your hard work. How was it? In the dressing room, Jin and the others were still there. They were planning to leave slowly at the end of the show. I was nervous. "Me too." "Me too." All three young men said the same thing. Jin smiled, "That''s understandable. "It would be more unnatural if you were used to this kind of situation at your age. So, other than nervousness, how did you feel? "Surprisingly, it was ...... fun, right?" Rubina was the first to answer. "Yes, it was. How can I put it, are you a motivated person?The same technicians?I think it''s not a bad idea to communicate with ...... people like that. Gulina also replies. Both of them had been in the closed world of , so this kind of experience was new to them. "I think I''ve finally become one of the best engineers in the world, thanks to the training I''ve received from Mr....... Jin." Freddy was the last to respond. "...... I saw some familiar faces in the audience." "I see. Well, I guess that happens. It''s not surprising that some of the engineers who used to work with him are here. "At that time, I couldn''t compete with them, and I felt inferior, but now..." And now? I didn''t think anything of it. I just thought, "Ah, I know someone here." Well, I guess that''s all right. Jin smiled as he said, "Don''t get stuck in the past, look to the big future, and devote yourself to the present. 2010 - - 54-09 Its Jin and his students finished their special lecture at . "That was interesting." "Yes. It was interesting and informative. "So those are Jin-san''s students, huh?" Eira, Groma, and Katya. Naturally, they were also in the audience. We can''t afford to lose. We can''t lose. Let''s do our best! With this ambition, they went back to their laboratories. "...... I never thought he''d become an apprentice of the Magecraft Meister." "Yes. Wasn''t it about five years ago that he left?At that time, he was a halfway decent person who couldn''t do anything well. Some of Freddy''s former schoolmates were there and were surprised to see how much he had grown. (...... Hmmm, he''s turned into a nice guy.) Some of the women seemed to be a little off-kilter in their impressions. "He was 10 years old?There are precocious geniuses, aren''t there? "If she grows up like that, it''s going to be horrible, but I wonder ...... if it''s going to happen." Rubina was also the talk of the town. "Gulina, I think. I''ve never heard of her before, have I?I''ve never even heard of her before." "Yes, that''s true. <......, given her age and appearance. "Then, is it possible that he is Marikka-sama''s apprentice and has recently changed masters?" Yes, that is the most likely explanation. And Gulina was also on people''s lips. * * * * Whether they knew it or not, Jin and the others were slowly walking back to their lodgings along the sparsely populated streets. The place where Jin and the others are staying is kept secret, and personal visits are forbidden. On the contrary, they were also informed that they should refrain from personal visits for the rest of the day or so. This is to avoid confusion. Jin and Marikka are now relaxing in the common room. The three younger members of the group seem to be relaxing in their own rooms. Jin drinks the tea Reiko has made and talks to Marikka. "Marikka looks tired too, doesn''t she?" "Yes, a little. I''m a 493 year old grandmother this year, after all. ...... "I see,...... you''re right. I''m still the same person Marikka was back then. Marikka smiled happily. "Hmmm...she must have been around 50 years old back then." Jin and Marikka met when Marikka was still small. She was about 10 years old. A lot of time has passed since then. "Yes, it has. ......" Jin looked out the window as if reminiscing about the old days. There, he could see the setting sun of Serang and the sunset sky. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <, looked a little tired, but was in a good mood. "We had a good turnout today, didn''t we? "Yes, sir, Tomax. Everything went well. May I begin my report? Yes, please. Manon, the secretary-automata, begins her report. "First of all, there were no major troubles. There were three small ones, all between visitors." "Mm-hmm." They were quickly quelled by security. Good. There were also four people who got sick during the lecture, but not during the altercation. The first-aid team immediately rushed to the room and cast a healing spell on them, so they were able to continue the lecture without leaving the room. This was done at their request. "I see." Tomax Bartmann nodded his head in satisfaction, feeling that the report had been generally favorable. "I think it''s safe to say that the world that has been stirred up by the <> has now taken another step forward. A big step. * * * * "Today''s lecture may well mark the beginning of an era," muttered Gladin Haronad von Istea, the head of the Technical Department of the Ministry of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire, who was attending the lecture. Gladin Haronad von Istea, the head of the Technical Department of the Ministry of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire, who was attending the lecture, muttered to himself as he was filing his report in his room. "The technology of Jin-dono is indispensable for the future of the world. His disciples are also very promising. I''m glad I came." Ernest XVII, the third prince of the Kingdom of Egelea and the honorary CEO of the Royal Factory, He was thinking seriously about what he should do for the development of his country. At this event, the engineers dispatched from various countries were most impressed, and their sense of crisis grew as they realized how far behind their own country''s technology was. It can be said that they were stimulated in a positive sense. * * * * * * * * * * * * "......I was tired, but I learned a lot." "Yes, Freddie was very impressive." "Yeah?Thank you ......." Freddy went to Grina''s room and had a cup of tea with her. Rubina, by the way, was taking an evening nap. "I didn''t feel anything when I saw my old classmates. I was surprised that I no longer feel inferiority complex. "Hmmm... I guess that''s possible when you''ve been trained so well by Jin-sama..." "Of course. Freddy said, "I don''t say that I''ve forgotten the negative feelings, like I''m going to pay him back someday, or the resentment of being made fun of, but I feel as if I''ve left it all behind in the world far away. "I grew up on all my life, so I was glad to have this opportunity to get out." "Yeah, I guess so." Greena, on the other hand, seems to find the world with all its whirlwind of agendas a rarity. "But you seem to be like a ...... young lady in a box, don''t you?" "Do you think I''m a lady? "I guess so, in my opinion." "Yes, that''s ...... right." Greenina''s cheeks are a little red. Freddy was a little embarrassed to have said it. Then there was a knock at the door. Grina stood up and opened the door. "Dinner is ready! The maid golem had come to tell them it was time for dinner. "Shall we go?" "Yes." Freddy and Grina naturally walked arm in arm to the dining room. 2011 - - 54-10 Minor Events At dinner time. They were eating at the same table. "What are your plans for tomorrow?" Jin, who was the first to finish eating, asked. "We have a demonstration of the Golem in the morning. Marikka answered, "Yes, I know that. I''m sorry, I just wanted to know what it was about. Jin replied. "I haven''t heard anything about it yet." "Well, it won''t be a hard battle." "Jin-sama, our golem and the golem here are competing against each other?" Rubina, the second one to finish eating, asked. "Yes, it seems so. It''s probably on a different level than the competition at ......<>, isn''t it?" "Well, I guess so. Well, I guess so, but I''m looking forward to it. Rubina was very curious to know how good her golem was on the level of this world. And so were Freddy and Greiner. "I think it''s more of a performance comparison. That was all Jin could say. After dinner, Jin thought he would make some other arrangements for the next day, "Jin-sama, I''m a little tired, so I''m going to take a rest first. "Oh, I remember you said that earlier. "Yes, you said that earlier. "Okay, then. Good night." "Good night." Marikka left, but Rubina and the others seemed to still be in good spirits, so Jin decided to have a little chat with them. "......, before we get to that." Jin turned to Hope. "Hope, please give Marikka some of the Persica juice I brought for her. "Yes, sir, I will." Hope took the bottle of Persica juice and went to Marikka''s room. Jin saw her off and turned to the three of them. "Now, about tomorrow, I''d like to keep basically nothing to do with the Golem demonstration." "What? "What? Freddy and Rubina raised their voices, but Grina thought for a moment, "Because it is not the golem that Jin-sama created, right? She asked to make sure. Jin nodded. "That''s right. Of course, if something unforeseen happens, we will definitely follow up. Don''t forget that you have me, Reiko, and Hope in your back. And Horai Island and Onogoro Island." That''s a lot of change for the whole world. "That''s ...... the safest thing in the world." "Uh-huh." "Thank you, Mr. Jin. Just hearing that makes me feel like I have a million allies. I wonder if Greenough has the guts to go on stage.Jin felt that she had a lot of stage guts. "However, it would be better to clarify who is in charge of the demonstration." Since it was a joint production by the three of them, the "supreme master (Arc Master)" was not clear, and Jin expected that if the three of them gave different orders at the same time, there would probably be confusion. "Ah, that may be so." "I wasn''t aware of that." "Well, shall we decide now?" Freddy, Gulina and Rubina seemed to have realized the danger after Jin pointed it out to them. "Rock, paper, scissors!" "Oh, I lost." In the end, Freddy, Rubina, and Grina were prioritized in that order. "Yes, this way, when the time comes, there will be no confusion in the chain of command. Jin was relieved that one more concern had disappeared. "So, the demonstration that''s going to take place tomorrow, I''m expecting it to be ......." Jin explains to the three of them. Although he says it is a prediction, Jin''s idea is probably more difficult to explain. After about an hour''s meeting, Jin left the three and went back to his room. The three men seemed to have been meeting for another 30 minutes or so. "Well then, good luck with priority number one, Freddy!" "Yes, ......? It is not clear if there was an exchange of "Yes, ? * * * * * * * * * * * * Now, it is the next day. After breakfast, since there was still some time before the demonstration, Jin decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. Of course, Reiko and Hope were with him this time. The area around the dormitory was green and fresh green was beautiful. "They''ve done a lot of work on this place. The azaleas with white and red flowers were beautiful. The area around the park is roped off, and it seems that personal contact with the outside is prohibited. "The area where you can walk is very narrow, isn''t it?" "Yes, father." And on the other side of the rope, a few figures can be seen. Hey, isn''t that the Magecraft Meister?) The ones with him are an automaton and a golem. I''m sure of it.) Jin hears voices like this. "I don''t feel at ease. ...... let''s go back." Jin was still uncomfortable when he thought that people were watching him. On his way back. (...... Freddy didn''t come out, did he?) ( Freddy guy didn''t come out, did he? The tone of the voice bothered Jin, so he asked Reiko, Reiko, let the old man find out what the voice was saying.) "Yes, ma''am. "Yes, father." It would be easy to use the Magi-microphone that he had just completed. * * * * * * When Jin and Reiko returned to their room, the old man sent a message to Jin''s bracelet. "Yes, please." The conversation the old man replayed is: ....... "Freddy, did he really become an apprentice of Magecraft Meister? "I don''t know. I don''t know. He seems to be descended from a previous generation, but I wonder how that incompetent could have become his apprentice. "I guess we can''t wait here for him to come out. ......" "There''s a demonstration of the golem later, let''s go see it." I think the teacher went that way too. "Well, let''s go there." The message was ....... "Freddy''s old colleague. I guess that kind of character or ...... personality is different from technology." Jin felt a little disappointed that there are always people who underestimate or make fun of others. 2012 - - 54-11 Start Demonstration At 9:00 a.m., the demonstration of the Golem begins in the green area in the northern area of <> and the adjacent <>. Spectators take their seats in the green area. They are provided with tents to shield them from the sun. The audience is seated in a tent to block out the sun. The demonstration, on the other hand, will be held in the training area. Since it was not a lecture, there were more people than yesterday, about 3,000. Among them were the royal families of various countries and influential aristocrats. Several huge magic screens were set up so that the demonstrations could be viewed from different angles. An announcement rang out. It was the voice of Tomax Bartmann''s secretary automata, Manon. <>. Specifically, ......>> 1. flexibility check 2. 300 meter run 3. weight lifting 4. Reaction speed measurement 5. Precise movement test 6. Intelligence test <> standard, please let us know. "Well, let''s take ours." I would like you to check our golem as well. Since the guests who had brought their own Golems had been notified the day before, the registration went smoothly. There were four participants who jumped in. Here, introductions were made, including the participating Golems. The number of participants consisted of three female golems and five male golems. Number 1, for comparison, Avalon General Golem (spherical joint type) (female type) Number 2: Avalon combat golem (spherical joint type) (male type) Number 3 <> Avalon''s latest golem (sphere-articulated) Producers: Groma, Eira, Cachea (male type) Number 4 <> (Magical skeleton) Fabricator: Freddy, Grina, Rubina (Male type) Number 5 <> Producer: Royal Factory of the Kingdom of Egelea (Female) Number 6 <> Fabricator: Hampton Workshop, Kingdom of Egelea (Male model) Number 7 <> Produced by: Craft Queen Workshop, Kingdom of Egelea (Female) Number 8 <> Produced by: The National Institute of Magical Engineering, Kingdom of Klein (Male) < The audience applauded. >. First of all, let''s check flexibility. Please see number 1. The Avalon Golem first performed a <>. (or, hard ......). Jin, who was watching, was surprised though he knew it. He bent his body forward as far as he could, but the fingertips of his hands barely reached his knees. The audience seemed to think so, too, and there was a stir in the audience area for a while. < The seven golems were projected on the huge magic screen. The number 2, like number 1, is also spherically articulated and can barely reach its hands on its knees. Yes, the spherical joint type has a low degree of freedom around the waist. But the latest model of Zecken 3, despite its spherical joints, was able to bend to the midpoint of the other leg. And number 4, Storm, is of the magic bone system, so he was able to put both palms of his hands on the ground. Number 5 also had his fingertips on the ground. However, numbers 6, 7, and 8 could barely touch their fingertips to their knees. < This is an exercise to bend the body sideways, as you can guess. Numbers 1 and 2 bent only about 15 degrees, and number 3 about 30 degrees. Number 4<> bent about 40 degrees. Numbers 6, 7, and 8 were bent about 10 degrees. <. This is a twist of the waist. The spherical joint type had a sufficient range of motion and could twist more than 90 degrees to the left and right. There was no significant difference among the 8 bodies. < Listening to his explanation, a part of the audience looked at him as if to say, "Well, well, well. "Well, well, flexibility is only one of the indicators. "Yes, that''s right. ...... seems pretty good for a song with Freddie on it." "Well, I guess the other members did their best." * * * * This was so easy to understand that the audience leaned forward. <> A cloud of dust and dirt began to form near the starting line. Within seconds, everyone had crossed the finish line. <. The time was 2.5 seconds. 120 meters per second. <>. The time was 2.8 seconds. The speed was 107 meters per second. In third place was number 5, Lotte 53. The time was 3.8 seconds. 100 meters per second. In fourth place was number 7 . The time was 3.1 seconds. 97 meters per second. Seconds are rounded off to the second decimal place, adds Manon. < In sixth place was number 8 . The time was 4.2 seconds. 71 meters per second. In seventh place was number 6. The time was 4.9 seconds. 61 meters per second. In eighth place was number 1, Avalon General Purpose Golem. The time was 5.2 seconds. The speed was 58 meters per second. The audience applauded each golem for its good work. (Hmmm, I guess it''s not as good as the competition on Onogoro Island.) (Well, it''s not as good as the competition in Onogoro Island, I guess. (Well, it can''t be helped that it''s not as good as the competition at Onogoro Island, after all. And again, "What the hell is that golem!It''s too fast! "Ours was twice as fast as the national standard!And here it''s ranked faster than the ass ......." "What are they doing that''s so illegal?" "What do you mean, ''something''? Second place is over 100 meters per second!" The second-place finisher is also running faster than 100 meters per second. < A magi-machine made of adamantite was prepared. >. Hearing this, Jin almost let out an exclamation of (Is it like a measuring instrument using a strain gage?Or is it ......) It was a < that had been developed without Jin''s knowledge. 2013 - - 54-12 Reaction Rate Measurement Weightlifting has begun. By lifting the horizontal bar attached to the magi-machine, the force exerted can be measured. The only posture is a < motion called . (This is called a demonstration, but it would be better to call it a performance measurement, wouldn''t it?) ) Jin is looking at the results with these thoughts in his mind. The first one is number 1, Avalon''s general-purpose golem for comparison. It is a female type, This result is <<197 km>. This <197 kg> figure is attached to the front of the measuring device, so anyone can see the power at a glance. <<>. Even for comparison, this is only Avalon''s battle golem, and the figure is more than double that of a general-purpose golem. >>. ......739 km>> The audience shouted "Oh! (Yes, Eira, Groma, and Cachea are doing a great job.) (Yes, Eira, Gromma, and Cachea are doing a great job.) Since the spherical-jointed form has little to do with this kind of output, this figure is the result of their ingenuity. And... >. ......926 km>> The crowd roared with excitement. (This is a power use of the exterior.) It seems that the idea of increasing the maximum power output by having the exterior also perform when the need arises was also incorporated into the general-purpose type <>. Jin was pleased to see that their ingenuity was working. <>. ......357 km>> Considering that it is a female type and a general-purpose type, this value is quite impressive. (Adriana type ...... or <> Adriana type?) From the flexibility, the output, and the way it works, Jin had an idea of the method. (Probably the Adriana method, which simplified the structure to the utmost limit. (Probably the Adriana method, which simplified the structure as much as possible.) >.302 kilograms>> "d*mn!How could I lose to such a female golem!!!!" (You''re making a fuss again,......why? ......Oh,<> isn''t it? I guess the ......<> isn''t efficient enough) Jin felt that the people in Hampton workshop were a little bit rude. >.345 km>> Oh, Marquis Kuzma''s place. (Oh, Marquis Kuzma''s place... very carefully crafted...) Jin was happy to see that the Craft Queen''s workshop has taken care of what needs to be taken care of. >>. ......299 km>> (Well, there still seems to be room for improvement. The influence of the <> is gone, so we can look forward to more.) Since this is not a competition but a performance test, there seems to be no particular ranking. >> This was the first time Jin had heard of this item. This was the first time for Jin to hear of this item. (No, I know what they want to evaluate.) (No, I know what you are trying to evaluate.) I was very interested in the measurement method. (I would ...... be irradiated with laser light from a random direction, and the time to escape from it would be ...... or ......) While I was thinking about this, a measuring instrument was set up. The instrument was a large table with a panel on the front and an L-shaped top panel when viewed from the side. The panel is made of a translucent material, probably <>. < This was also explained in the announcement. So, Hitoshi said, "Whack-a-mole! he said unintentionally. The idea is whack-a-mole, although no physical targets appear in a whizzing manner. "Indeed, it is similar, isn''t it?" Reiko nodded her head, knowing as well as Jin did, "Whack-a-mole?" Freddy, Gulina, Rubina, and Marikka, who were standing nearby, tilted their heads. "Yes, there is such a game. It''s not ...... as fast as that one, though, is it?" Now, to explain to the audience, the measuring device is being moved slowly. < The light spot is repeatedly flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering, flickering. <>. The audience seemed to agree. On the contrary, (...... could be used for amusement or training if its performance was reduced for human use?) (If the performance of is reduced for human use, it could be used for amusement or training). < Let''s start with number 1. He is holding a special sword in his right hand. It is made of a material that will not break the measuring instruments. The first is slow at first. It starts with a switch in about 1 second, then 0.9 seconds, 0.8 seconds ......, and so on, gradually getting faster. "Oh, that''s quite interesting." The light shines not only on the tabletop but also on the front panel, in which case you have to <>. Jin thought to himself, "I guess that requires accuracy as well as reaction time. ...... Whether this is fast or slow, the spectators don''t know yet. (It depends on how you measure it. (It is nice to have such a comparison in that sense.) In the case of such a measurement, the standard and the method of measurement will be different, and therefore it is desirable to have a clear definition so that there will be no difference no matter where it is done. < Since it was a combat golem, it had a sword in each hand. (This may not make it react faster, but it makes sense to do so in its own unique style.) And as Jin imagined, it was not much faster than a battle-golem, nor did it have an advantage because it was held in both hands. (Well, it is difficult to judge.) Jin paid attention to the next part of the report, which would be more clear in the next section. <>>...... start! >> Prototype 8 was a one-handed sword. And then, "Wow! "It''s pretty fast!" Right,left,front,left,center....... He was hitting the light points that changed one after another precisely. Even the observers could feel the speed of the camera. (Hmmm, it must be light because of its lean construction.) Jin senses that this reaction speed measurement is the result of a combination of the processing power of the control core, the reaction and movement speed of the magical muscles, and the transmission speed of the magical nerves. (If any one of these is inadequate, he will be dragged down.) And finally, it is Freddy and his team''s <. <>...... begin! >> First one second, then faster and faster....... "Oh, oh? came a cry of surprise from the onlookers. ''s movement was light to behold. (Because we made the exterior lighter this time.) (Because the exterior is lighter this time.) If the exterior is heavy, it is a considerable burden by itself. (The skeleton also has a role of magic nerves.) And the control core is of rather good quality. And in Horai Island, < is generally the best quality. Yes, that''s a good number.) Jin praised Freddy and the others in his mind. 2014 - - 54-13 Precision operation The reaction time measurement went well. <>......0.06 seconds>> Oh, that''s a pretty good figure.) This <> method of measurement is quite good, and Jin thought that it might be a good idea to adopt it as well. <<>>...... start! >> (Hmmm, this is not only a move with a heavy exterior, but also with a low processing power of the control core. (Well, this is not only the heavy exterior, but also the control core''s processing power is not good enough. "UGGUGUGU......" A frustrated group. >......0.09 seconds>> (Less than 0.1 second. They are doing very well.) Craft Queen Kobo also showed promising results in the future. <...... >> (Oh, this is a bit .........) (Oh, this one is a bit ...) The movement was slow and the aim of the light spot was a bit off. The reaction time measurements of all eight animals have now been completed. (Hmmm, I guess the level of technology is still low. I hope this lecture will be an opportunity to improve it. ......) Jin sincerely hopes for the progress of magical engineering. < The plate had 100 depressions in which the steel ball could just fit. (I see. Interesting. If the material is more brittle than steel balls, we can see how well the pinching force is adjusted ...... and hopefully measure the precision of the overall movement ...... how fast can you get through a narrow and winding passageway? How fast can you get through a narrow and winding passageway? ...... Oh, it depends on your physique, so it''s not possible right away. Then, I''d like to see how fast I can get through the narrow and winding corridor. ......) As Jin was thinking about it, he asked himself In front of the eight bodies, a plate with a pile of steel balls and a plate with 100 depressions were placed on a table. The height of the table is set to the height of each golem''s waist. <> "Oh!This is ......." Very fast. The eight players pick up the steel balls and transfer them to a plate in a single motion. Even so, there is a difference between the 8 who can easily finish transferring 100 balls in a minute and those who can''t. <<> Finishing transferring 100 golems in 51 seconds means a speed of about 2 golems per second, which is probably faster than humans. > Jin thought that although it was slower than the number 1 golem, this precision for a combat golem could be appreciated. >,43 seconds>> Oh, Eira and the others did a good job with that mold.) <. >,25 seconds>>! The audience was buzzing. Yeah, four in one second. That''s a good number. Nice work, Freddy and the boys.) < Oh, Ernesto''s place showed its mettle, too.) >,89 pieces in 1 minute>> (Oh, Ernesto''s place showed its mettle, too.) Here, some of the 100 pieces could not be transferred. (You spilled a lot of them all around. ......) There were dozens of steel balls scattered around the number 6. ,59 seconds>>. Oh, you managed it, just barely. (We can only hope for more to come from the Craft Queen''s Workshop.) >,89 pieces in 1 minute>> (Same as Zec 6? (Same as number 6.) <<>, 89 pieces in 1 minute>>. The Klein Kingdom''s National Institute of Magical Engineering will have to work hard from now on. ......) This concludes the comparative measurement of the movement of the steel ball transfer. Next, we will ask you to write small letters. The letters should be numbers 0 to 9. A pen and a piece of paper will be placed in place of the steel ball and the plate. < I see. It would be better if you could write a little bit smaller.) Jin knows a craftsman who writes sutras on grains of rice with a brush. or something like that was written on it. The paper is quite smooth. It appears to be of the paper type, not of the Japanese paper type. It seems to be coated on the surface and passed through a calender or super calender (both of which are machines to give smoothness, luster, etc. to paper). <<< Now, let''s get started! >> The situation at hand is being projected on the magic screen. Oh, it''s quite detailed.) (Oh, it''s very detailed.) You can see the size of the letters by comparing them with the tip of the pen. (As expected, ...... is not good for combat use.) (As you can see, the size of the letters is not so good for ). <> A minute passes, and everyone puts down their pens. An attendant prepares a transparent sheet with a grid engraved on it. They put it on the sheet and measure the results. >. The numbers are about 1mm high. >. Letters smaller than that are crushed or distorted and unreadable. (No wonder they are used in combat.) > (hmm, this might be the limit for spherical joints because of the play of the joints) Yes, clearance of joints is indispensable for spherical joints, so there will be a little blurring. However, it is still less than a tenth of a percent. Incidentally, the <> also has a slight clearance at joints, but there is a joint cover equivalent to a <> to compensate for it, and there is almost no wobble. The <> has no mechanical joints in its structure, so there is no rattling of this kind. The rest is a matter of the control system. The audience shouted "Wow! > (This is the limit of the spherical joint type.) (I guess this is the limit of spherical joint type. ......) Jin thought. >. "d*mn, these measurements are meaningless!" "Yes, yes." Some of them are complaining. > (I guess they didn''t expect this kind of operation. But if it is a general-purpose machine, it should be able to handle this much.) Jin had a somewhat harsh impression. (Well, considering the fact that it can do this much for combat use, perhaps it should be commended.) By the way, since this is not a competition, there is no particular ranking system. Still, the superiority is obvious to the audience. <> Now we come to the last item, the intelligence test. 2015 - - 54-14 End of demonstration The intelligence test consisted of <> and <>. In the calculation test, the participants solved all the problems at once, wrote the answers on the board, and raised the board above their heads, starting with the first one who could do it. The maze was a small-scale maze built in the training ground, and the participants competed with each other in the time it took them to complete the maze. >>. Eight golems are lined up in a row, holding a board in their hands. The board is a whiteboard made of GSP. The board is a whiteboard made of <. Now the first question. 123 + 456 + 78 9=? >> The board was raised almost simultaneously. The answer was 1368. > Numbers 3, 4 and 5 raised their boards almost simultaneously. A second later, numbers 6,8. The answer is 22848. > Numbers 3,4,5,7 raised their boards at about the same time, 2 seconds later, numbers 1,2,6,8. The answer is 22888.6641. (Hmmm...even the math can make a difference...) Numbers 3, 4, and 5 raised their boards at about the same time. 3 seconds later, numbers 7, 1, and 2 raised their boards. 2 seconds later, numbers 6,8. The answer is 1060. > Numbers 3 and 4 raised their boards at about the same time. 2 seconds later were numbers 5 and 7. 2 seconds later were numbers 1 and 2, Numbers 5 and 7 were 2 seconds behind and numbers 1 and 2. The answer is 1507.78125. (You are going to show the performance of the control core and the superiority of the basic control magic formula (control system). Jin also wondered what other problems would help us to understand the difference of such functions. A puzzle would be a good idea. Then a game like playing cards against each other. (Chess or Shogi might also be a good idea.) Jin criticized himself that such a game would take too much time to determine the winner. (I wonder if a memory test would be meaningful ......) (Is there any point in having a memory test? (At least, it doesn''t make sense for the Horaijima people.) In terms of short-term memory, the golems would not forget. In terms of long term memory, the unnecessary information would be dismissed. "......, it''s humiliating." Some participants were chagrined to be reminded that their golems were not as computationally competent as they thought. "Hmmm, Freddy seems to have had a good mentor and friends." And some are pleased with Freddy''s growth. * * * * * * * * * * * * * < The maze was projected on the huge magic screen. Jin''s impression was, "Well, at this scale, it looks like a maze built in a classroom at a school festival. He was also impressed by the maze''s scale. In addition, he said, "...... looks like something, that''s the one that makes a mouse go through the maze. The one that makes the mouse go through the maze. The participating golem was a mouse. Since the participating golem cannot be seen from the top of the maze, the golem has no choice but to traverse the maze by repeatedly returning to the branch when it comes to a dead end and proceeding along another route. Jin thought that the key would be the speed of movement and the ability to memorize and analyze the route. >. The audience only applauds lightly, as they do not know whether this is fast or slow because of the comparison. <<> (Well, I think the movements in the maze are a little slower because of its bulkiness.) (Well, the bigger you are, the slower you move in the maze, >. (), which is a little slower than the general-purpose Golem. (Seeing that there was almost no difference in time between the two (......), the algorithm for judging such situations must be common. (Seeing that there was almost no difference in time between the two (), these situational judgment algorithms must be the same. Meanwhile, the measurement continued, >,1min 32sec>>. Groma''s Golem was trudging through the maze in a fairly good time. > (Oh ......, well, this algorithm is not quite ready yet. There is much room for improvement.) The Golem''s <, which Freddy and his team had created, was still in its infancy. >. The crowd roars and applauds. But Freddy, Grina and Rubina''s faces are not happy. But Freddy, Gulina, and Rubina''s faces look discontented.) From what Jin has seen, the technique of the three must be under one minute. (I still haven''t learned enough to build a basic control system ......, or maybe it''s more a lack of experience? In this sense, Jin thought that this competition was of great significance for them. ,1min 20sec>> They were applauded for their good performance. (On the other hand, this one must be a mature system.) Jin guessed that this good time was the result of many improvements on improvements. ,2 minutes 38 seconds>> (Oh, you don''t focus on software. ...... Is that your philosophy?) Sometimes, there are engineers who focus only on hardware and neglect software. It is true that hardware is visible and the results are easy to see. On the other hand, software is not visible to see what has been improved, and at worst, the boss may think that <. ...... Such bosses are rare, but they do exist. ...... (Oops.) I was lost in such thoughts when the next test was about to end. >,1min 41sec>> (That''s pretty good...) That''s a good value. (It is true that this kind of evaluation method should be more widely used, not only for the goodness or badness of the body.) Jin thinks that there could be engineers who are software oriented. >,2 minutes and 1 second>> (Even if the results are not so good now, it also means that there is room for growth.) The audience applauded. As I mentioned before, this is not a competition, so I do not rank the competitors. However, by all accounts, the excellence of number 4<> was outstanding. I didn''t hear that.) But he decided to say what he had been feeling, and went to the podium that had been set up temporarily. 2016 - - 54-15 Hopes ability (30%) Jin stood at the podium and began to speak slowly. "Yes, I am Jin, the third generation . I have watched your < with great interest. Jin said that the items were quite innovative and there were many points that he would like to refer to. "Based on that, I noticed a few points. First of all, hardware and software. Jin said that even excellent physical abilities are only possible with a basic control system that controls them. "The basic control system is often taken lightly because it is invisible to the eye. However, it is indispensable to bring out the performance of the body. This demonstration has clearly shown the effect of the control system," said Mr. Jin. "Therefore, it is desirable to have a well-balanced composition rather than prioritizing one over the other. "Another thing I would like to say is that you should not judge the by this. Jin paused for a beat before continuing. "For better or worse, the <, which received the name of the first >, has a joint range of motion equivalent to that of a human being. This can sometimes be a disadvantage. It is easy to create blind spots and has the same weaknesses as a human," Jin explained. "Of course, since we know our weak points, we can devise ways to overcome them." He suggested one direction is to add sensors to cover blind spots. "So I am concerned that the spherical joint type will be discarded as obsolete. Jin continues to talk about possibilities. "The place where the spherical-jointed system differs most from the human structure is the waist. It is not an exaggeration to say that this part of the body is so different that the movement becomes less human-like. Hence, either devise this part of the body, or ....... "A golem with only an upper body would be fine." In fact, there was a case in the past where a golem with only an upper body was used to propel a ship with a paddle, Jin explained. This was during a golem boat competition in Potrock. "If you''re asking me what kind of use it would be, ......, I think <> would be a good idea." This suggestion was greeted with a gasp from the audience. They had never thought of that idea. Jin then went on to describe what he had come up with. "A golem that kneads dough for baking, or a golem that specializes in packing for a store, it would have many uses. I hear murmurs of "Sure," and "That''s a great idea. "I''ll tell you one thing. The greatest weakness of spherical joints is the strength of the joints. The greatest advantage is the degree of freedom of joints. Due to its structure, it is relatively easy to <. This is not so obvious because of the magical muscles covering the joints, but it is something to keep in mind. And the degree of freedom. For example, the range of motion of human elbows and wrists is narrow, but that of a golem composed of spherical joints is much larger. "You don''t have to go to the trouble of controlling the range of motion to make it narrower than a human''s." Jin''s advice seemed to be quite useful, and many participants were frantically taking notes. After a few more words of advice, Jin left the podium with a few words of greeting. <> The response was slow, perhaps because of hesitation, but one person raised his hand. < Manon seems to have memorized all the visitors. "Thank you very much for your lecture, Dr. Jin. I would like to ask you to do the same measurement for your work if you could ......." Many people agreed with this proposal and applauded. A board member came running to Jin, "How about it?" He asked him, "What do you think? Jin was curious to see how much the measurement would yield, so he casually accepted the proposal, thinking, < "Hope, try it." "Yes, Master." Hope has been modified several times since its creation and is now as good or better than Land''s unit. Thirty percent.) The instruction, "Hope, you are to go to the Lando unit," was sent via Reiko''s built-in manacam so that no one could hear it. < The point is that computational problems and mazes are meaningless because you already know the answers. With the crowd watching, Hope''s trial began. First of all, we had to start with flexibility. This was at the level of a normal person. <, his palms touch the ground. >about 45 degrees. <<> was about 100 degrees. The audience was satisfied with the results. Next up was the 300-meter run. > >> There was a cloud of dust. A moment later, > "Oh! "What a ......!" "Wow. That''s amazing. ......" "Athleticism by a mile." <<> Hope grabs the bar and lifts it. <<1,458 kilos. Everyone is astonished to see the figure exceed one ton. And then the reaction time is measured. The speed of the movement is so fast that it is almost unnoticeable to the onlookers. <<0.01 seconds, impossible to measure>>. A scream-like cry was heard from the audience. > Hope uses both hands to move the steel ball, Hope used both hands to transfer the steel balls and got a result of <<11 seconds>. with one hand, the time would be twice as long. Even assuming that it would take twice as long with one hand, the time would still be 22 seconds, faster than the best time of 25 seconds for the eight players. At this point, not a single spectator doubted the skill of the <>. <>. I guess we have no choice about this. We can only compare them as problems of the same level. > The board with 1691, was immediately raised. <<>. It is a pity that we have nothing to compare it with, but we can sense that it is fast. The next four questions were also answered by Hope, who wrote answers at an astonishing speed. < Jin and Hope bowed at the side of the podium and in the drill hall at the same time, respectively, and the audience gave a thunderous round of applause. 2017 - - 54-16 Event End <, Jin, the creator of , was asked to give an explanation. Yes, this < is an . It has been upgraded several times and uses rare materials, so it may not be of much help in terms of performance. However, the control core and control system should be of some help, says Jin. "The <> is very effective in making high-performance and super high-performance golems and automata. I would be happy if you could learn about the at least once. Jin concluded with respect for his predecessor. < This time, about three people raised their hands. The first one to raise his or her hand seemed to have earned the right to ask a question. . Thank you very much. You always have a girl automata with you, Dr. Jin, how good is she? It is clear that he is referring to Reiko. After a few moments of hesitation, Jin went up to the podium again. This time, he took Reiko with him. This child is Reiko. She was made by my predecessor, and I have modified her myself. She looks like this, but as a secretary, I manage her schedule, the inventory of the workshop, and other things. Jin also insists that he did not make this child 100% himself. The Jin refers to is Adriana Barbora Zetsi, but those listening must have interpreted him as referring to Jin Nido, the . "So it''s a joint work. For your information, could you please take the same measurement?" Jin glanced at the staff of who was standing nearby and nodded silently. "......If you insist so much, we''re running out of time, so if you could give us a thing or two..." Then the staff member whispered to me, "<300 meter run> and . "Well, 300 meter run and weight lifting. ......", replied Jin. replied Jin. The audience gave him a round of applause. Listen, Reiko, 10 percent ......, no, just 5 percent.) I understand.) Jin gave Reiko a careful warning. <> With a roaring sound, the earth was lifted up. The soil has been hardened and reinforced to withstand the use of the Golem. > Subsonic speed. There were groans and sighs from the audience. "That''s amazing. ......" "Indeed, I have heard that the black-haired follower that the second generation had with him was a tremendous performer. ......" "You think that''s the squire?" There''s no one else." I can hear whispering amongst the murmurs. (Oh, so Reiko is a half-legend after all.) (Oh, so Reiko is a half-legend after all.) Jin thinks it is rather natural. There were many people who saw Reiko''s ability with their own eyes, including the royal family of Egelea and the empress of the Shoro Kingdom. . Reiko gets on the Magi machine which had not been put away yet. As expected, the height of the bar is not quite right, so the attendant adjusts it for us. <<> Reiko lifts the bar carelessly. <2000 kg, plus more! >> Apparently she could only measure up to 2000 kg. "Oh ...... 2 tons with that body ......?" "A monster ......!" "So this is what two generations of Magecraft Meisters have been working on. ...... "No wonder it''s legendary. ......" The audience remained in suspense for about five minutes. < The venue was filled with applause. "You managed to finish it all without incident. ......" Tomax Bartmann, the Chief Administrator of <, who had been anxiously watching the event, let out a small sigh of relief. "The lecture was as ...... expected by Jin-dono, Marikka-sama, and Jin-dono''s disciples, and even more so than I expected." Tomax Bartmann said to himself, "If this event contributes to the future development of magic technology in the world, I will be very happy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, what shall we do now? Jin and the others returned to their lodgings, guarded by their guards, and pondered what to do. "Jin-sama, I think it would be better if we don''t go outside for a while yet. Marikka said. "I don''t think this mess will stop until the 700 people from the outside return. "Sure. But then we''ll be stuck here for a whole day?That''s disgusting." But if they went outside, they would be in trouble with the visitors. The same goes for Rubina, Grina, and Freddy. "I''m glad you''ve shut us out," Freddy said in a slightly stiff voice. Freddy said a little stiffly. "The two guys I requested from Jin-sama just now, ...... Deplace from Egelea Kingdom and Mauve Sotano from Klein Kingdom, are the ones who studied in the same classroom back in the day." I see. "Oh, it''s okay.I have no intention of looking back at them anymore. I could see how low the stakes were, Freddy said. "Once I saw the heights of magical engineering, it was ridiculous." "Yes, I know. ...... I think we''re still a long way from Master Jin''s feet." Rubina agrees. "Oh come on, you''ve already surpassed your own footsteps. All three of us are already above you on a global level." But.., "I''m not satisfied with ''above'' yet." Gulina said to me. "I''ll have to learn more and more when I go back to Horai Island...... or Onogoro Island." "Yes we do!" Glina and Rubina are very motivated. "Hey, what about Freddy?" "What?" Yes, Freddy is not a resident of Onogoro Island. He is the lord of the village of Kaina and has a grandmother named Ellis. "He''s supposed to be an honorary citizen of the Kingdom of Klein, in case you''re wondering." "I see. ....... So, Greenina should marry him. "Nah, nah, nah ......" Rubina''s line dismayed Gulina. "I''d be happy to ...... do that for you." Freddy is surprisingly calm. "Well, that''s one of the problems, isn''t it? Jin also ponders for a moment. He would like to move to Hale without any worries when he is done with the details of the project, but the reality is that it is not easy. One of them is the offspring. "Jin-sama, it is necessary to leave such things to each of you. Marikka, who couldn''t help but notice, advised Jin. "I know that. ...... Jin was soft on his blood relatives. "If Jin-sama keeps on doing that, we won''t be able to stand on our own, will we? "Is that how it is?" Jin said he would like to think about it some more. 2018 - - 54-17 Time of each In the end, Jin and the others stayed in their rooms until the next day, the 28th. By noon of the 28th, most of the outsiders had returned home, and by that time, as usual had returned. "I think I''ll go and see Cachea and the others." Apart from Tomax Bartman and the other executives, Eira, Cachea, and Groma were the only people Jin knew in <>. "Oh, Jin-sama, can I come too? Rubina said, to which Jin readily agreed. Freddy and Grina are going to see some things together. "Okay. Then you can go with <>." < "And while we''re at it, take <> with you. It''s good for him to learn things." "Yes, sir." Of course Jin and Rubina are accompanied by Reiko. And Marikka... "...... I''m tired of being distracted. So she said she was going to relax in her room. * * * * * * * * * * * * * So Jin, Reiko, and Rubina came to the Golem laboratory at <....... On the way, some students shook hands with us, but we were able to come here without any problems. However, I had to use <<> to get through the crowds. ....... When I knocked, "Yes. and the door opened. It was Katya who opened the door. "Oh, Mr. Jin! "Hey, it''s been a while." "Yes, it''s been a while. Thanks for the ...... lecture. Oh, is that Rubina over there?Welcome. Come on in, Mr. Leco. "Good day to you, sir." "Hello, everyone, I see Mr. Jin!" "Oh, welcome!I was afraid you wouldn''t come! Eira patted Jin on the shoulder, "I''m sorry I wasn''t here last time." Groma shook Jin''s hand. "Rubina, welcome." Rubina was also welcomed. The members of the , who had never met each other before, also welcomed Jin and the others. "I am Klaatos. I am Raghu Gutan. Pleased to meet you. My name is Kumir. It''s nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too. Jin first explained to Eira and Ka?la about Kaela''s success in the Kingdom of Elias. "Wow, that''s great. We must be very proud of you. "That''s true." Grohma, who had been listening to this story, smiled wryly, "Yeah, it''s a real shame. Rubina, on the other hand, was very disappointed with Kuperman''s words. Meanwhile, Rubina was eating some sweets that Kumil had given her. "Rubina, you''re so good, aren''t you? Where did you study?" "Well, I studied at ...... with Dr. Marikka." "Oh, really!And after that you went to Mr. Jin?" "Yes, that''s right. ......" Kumil is a little bit nervous about his high tension. "Jin, you really were a , weren''t you?" Eira said in a serious tone. "What the hell is this?" "What are you doing here today, ......?" Eira''s tone of voice changed and she became more playful this time. "Well, the first thing I wanted to do was to tell you about Kayla. I thought Tomax might have told you. "Oh, I''ve only heard the bare bones of it." "Yes, you''re right. I guess Tomax is in a position not to talk too much about the details of the country. Ka?ea also expressed his concern for Tomax''s state of mind. "Maybe so. ...... but I think it''s safe to say that the remnants of the in the Kingdom of Elias have been wiped out." "That''s a good thing, isn''t it?" "By the way, Jin-dono..." Groma spoke up. "How can I learn the <>?" The same question that had been asked in the lecture had not been answered clearly. "Hmmm, I guess so. ......" Jin thinks. The method left by his predecessors is not suitable for mass production, but it is the best for making high-performance golems and automata. I promise to build such a system in <> in the near future." "Oh, I''m glad to hear that. Thank you very much. It would be good to have an automata for lecturers, Jin thought. * * * * * * Meanwhile, Freddy and Grina are walking around <>, guided by Hope. If you go east-northeast from the academy, you will find the <>. The building is a massive structure made of stone and covered with <>. "But the inside is modern," he explained to Hope. Hope explains, and the two are impressed. follows along silently. The route that Hope had chosen for the tour was a less crowded one, so we were able to walk along it in peace. "This is the building. It is said to be the newest and most powerful in the world." "Wow. ...... that''s amazing." "Yes, it is." Grina was frankly impressed by the magnificence of the building, and Freddy was thinking that he would never have walked here if he hadn''t been trained by Hitoshi. The two of them turned around and walked back to the green area near the academy. "...... Jin-sama is helping out a lot here, too, isn''t he?" "So I''ve heard." "Do you think we can be like Jin-sama?" Freddy answered with a distant look in his eyes. "I''d like to think we can be ...... if we try hard enough, but we have a long way to go." "It really is." "But if you keep walking, I''m sure you''ll ...... get there someday." "Yeah. Let''s keep going. "Yes, we will. I''m still not as good as ...... Greenina. "But Freddie has improved so fast that I can''t afford to hold my breath." The conversation was far from romantic. But then.., "What''s that?Look, Mr. Jin, there are Freddy and Gulina!" "Oh, yes. They seem to be in a good mood. Jin seemed to think, when he saw them. 2019 - - 54-18 Shadow On May 29, Jin and his group left . "Thank you Jin, Marikka, Freddy, Gulina, and Rubina for your hospitality. Tomax Bartmann shook hands with each member of the group as he saw them off. Please come again. "Yes, soon." And then they were on the plane. Hope piloted the Hurricane into the sky. "We''re going north first. We''re going to the Nordic Commonwealth. "Yes, sir." We''ll take Marikka home and say hello to Zion and the others. < "Ah, down here is the village of Kaina." "Oh, I see." Rubina said and Freddy looked down. All the villagers were harvesting wheat. (This is a nostalgic scene. ......) Jin also looked at the scene. * * * * In less than three hours, the <> arrived at the clan territory of the Nordic Federation, <>. "Welcome home, Marikka. Jin, it''s been a long time. ...... Uh, Rubina and Gulina, and Freddy, is that right?" Yes, my name is Freddy. It seems that Zion had heard about the next head of the Nido family in the village of Kaina, a descendant of Jin. "Well, Jin-sama, come in." Rorona, Sion''s mother and an expert in agriculture, also showed up. She must be over 600 years old, but she is hale and hearty. Jin wondered if it was because she was living with the soil. Lunch was taken by seven people: Jin, Freddy, Grina, Rubina, Sion, Rorona, and Marikka. "This is the new topopo, freshly harvested," said Freddy. "Delicious!" Rubina ate it up. "Yes, it''s delicious. "It''s delicious!" The meat topopo made from the small new topopo was quite tasty, and the topopo salad was delicious. Here is another one. The plain croquettes made from the new topopo were also excellent. Of course, in addition to the new topopo dishes, there were fried white fish, bacon and eggs, and freshly baked bread, "Thank you for the food!" Everyone was satisfied. However, Marikka was the only one who left a little bit of food behind. "Oh, Marikka, didn''t you enjoy it? Rorona asks. To her, it seems that Marikka will always be Marikka. "No, Rorona, it''s not that, it''s just that I have a bit of an appetite. "Oh, ...... that''s a problem!" Theon also looks worried. "Marikka, what about <>?Have you tried it? "Yes. But it didn''t work very well. "So ......" "I think you are a little tired. You''ll be fine after a little rest here in my hometown." "Yeah?Don''t push yourself too hard, okay? Yes. ......" * * * * Jin, who was concerned about Marikka''s condition, took Freddy, Rubina, and Greena to Horai Island, and then took Reiko and Lise, the automata healer, to visit the clan territory of again via the Warp Gate. "Sion, it''s been a while. How is Marikka? Yes, she went home. When Jin said he was going to visit her, Zion followed him, saying he was worried. Marikka''s house is right next to Zion''s house. "Welcome, Mr. Zion, Ms. Jin, Ms. Reiko, and your companions. They are greeted by Hanako, an automata made by Marikka. "Where is Marikka?" Theon asked. "She is relaxing in her room." May I come in? "I''ll go and ask her now." Hanako hurriedly retreated to the back of the room and quickly returned. "Ladies and gentlemen, please come in." "Thank you." Hanako led the way to Marikka''s bedroom. "Marikka-sama, I''ve brought her." "Thank you, Hanako." There was Marikka, dressed in her loungewear, relaxing. "You don''t seem to be feeling well, so I brought Lise with me." "Thank you for taking the trouble, Mr. Jin." We decided to examine her right away. Marikka lies down on the bed, and Liese gives her a <. Again and again. "...... how are you, Lise?" "Yes. Marikka, you have generalized cellular fatigue. What is the treatment? "I will apply Heilfahren and Heilung at the same time." By combining the healing magic of internal medicine with the healing magic of surgery, the cells of the entire body are activated. This is the treatment method discovered by Elsa. "<><>" A pale light of healing magic enveloped Marikka ....... "Oh, I feel better now. Thank you, Jin-sama." "Marikka, that''s great! ......You''re 20 years younger than I am, you should still be going strong." "Yes, Mr. Zion, that''s right." Zion''s face brightened as Marikka recovered. Jin was also relieved. At that time. "Master, a moment..." "Yes?" Lise called Jin. 2020 - - 54-19700672 Thoughts Lise took Jin outside Marikka''s room, "Marikka-sama''s condition is not good. She said to Jin. "What? Jin is shocked. Liese''s words mean that ....... "Even if you use <> and <>, it''s just a life-prolonging measure." "......" "Originally, this method was developed by Erza-sama for her elderly master Jin-sama ......400 years ago." "......" "At first the effect lasts for a day or two, but gradually the duration becomes shorter." "......" In short, Liese concluded, we are half-way to extending the life of a dying person. "...... but Marikka is not that old yet. ......" Jin was about to say something like that when he recalled that no one knows how long a person will live. "Then what should we do ......!" "Four hundred years ago, the master said, <>." "......" But that doesn''t seem to be the case to Jin now. I imagine that he said that because he is much older than he is now. "...... It''s harder for those who are left behind than for those who leave behind." As a survivor, I could not say such an enlightened line. "And ......." Jin recalled the 700672. "I remember the <> were also concerned about this." . Their followers take the loss of their masters especially seriously. "We must prevent the <> from being destroyed, even if by some chance." But how to do that? "...... we must go to the <> as soon as possible." Then Jin said, "Marikka is feeling better now, so I''m going home. I''ve left Rubina and the others on Horai Island. He left Marikka''s house. He then used the warp gate to move to via Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, Jin-dono, welcome! <700672 seemed to be enjoying his life in Hale. But when he saw Jin''s unusual behavior, "What''s wrong, Jin-dono?" Jin asked. "Yes, as a matter of fact. ......" Jin explained Marikka''s condition. "...... I see." I thought he would panic, but 700672 he remained calm. "I knew that day would come." Indeed, the had spoken of the some time ago. Jin recalled. "I thought about it a lot. I even thought that as long as it was a duplicate of ...... Marikka-sama, its memories and personality wouldn''t matter." "That''s ......" Jin was about to say something when the <> interrupted him by extending his hand. "...... but I don''t want to do that. The Marikka-sama whom I have chosen as my new <> is a Marikka-sama, including memories, experiences, and everything else, and not just a being whose <> matches mine. It should not be. You have become quite illogical in your thinking," the elder smiled thinly. "No, I don''t think so. I think I know how you feel. "Well, thank you, Master Jin. "So, have you reached a conclusion?" "Yes. I would like to continue to live as a homunculus if Marikka-sama will allow me to." "I see. I respect your choice. "Thank you. ...... Then, I have a favor to ask of you, Jin-dono. What is it? "I have a favor to ask of Jin, the brains...... of Jin. < Jin interpreted this to mean that he would like to explore as much as he can about the technical aspects of creating a homunculus. "I think this would be beneficial for Jin-dono." "Yes, I think so." Jin said, "I think this will be very useful for Jin-dono, should he ever decide to create a in the future. So Jin set up a hotline between the old man and the in a hurry. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you, too, ...... for taking care of Marikka." Homunculi are basically immortal, but not immortal. In the distant future, when they are tired of existing, they can choose to disappear. Jin returned to Horai Island, wondering what about himself ....... * * * * >. "My Lord, did you have a meeting with the <>?" < The old man is very good at what he does, and he will be able to report back to you in no time at all, while you are meeting with the 700672. Thank you for your help. for my master. It is a very rare case that an old lord makes a < to a new lord. Normally, he would use words like <<>. "Yes, let''s hear it." <> "What?" The word "full authority" means that you are not to ask any questions until it is done, and you and the will proceed on your own. "Can you give me a reason for this?" I wanted to reduce their anxiety as much as possible. I see. ......" Jin understood the old man''s concern, and since he would not be able to do anything about the homunculus production, he decided to follow his words. "Okay. I''ll leave it to you, my old man." . So Jin approached Rubina and the others under the guise of going to the Nordic Federation for a visit. "To the place of Zion and Marikka!Let''s go!" Rubina got on board without a second thought. Of course, Freddy and Gulina were there, too. He also called out to and said that Natalia, Shireen, Eugene, Florence, Trichardt, and Suzanne were also going to visit the island. It was a scene that showed Marikka''s popularity. * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, I''m just a little bit sick, but everyone came to see me. Marikka rolled her eyes at the unexpected visitor, but was honestly pleased. For a while after that, the clan territory of <> became lively. 2021 - - 54-20 On that day For the next two weeks. Marikka was in a lull. < have come to visit her in turn. "Now that I''ve met some old friends, it''s not so bad to sleep in once in a while," she says cheerfully. They are cheerful, but their color is not so good. Jin had overcome all difficulties, but his life expectancy was just too short. (No, is there a final way to transfer his memories and personality to a homunculus or an automata (......)? < (I wonder if the homunculus succeeded. ......) (I wonder if the homunculus succeeded... ) I am curious about it, but since I said I would leave it to you, I can''t ask you about it. (In the first place, if he became a homunculus, he can''t be in contact with ordinary people, can he?) < person knew about it. (In that sense, it might be a good idea to go into hiding in Hail.) Suddenly, the word "Paradise" comes to Jin''s mind. (It''s a bit too much to call it a "Pure Land", but I guess that''s how it''s positioned.) Jin reaffirms that he, too, should be in the Pure Land. * * * * * * * * * * * * Two days later. Finally, the effects of <> and <> are no longer long-lasting. Now Lise has to reapply them every three hours. "Marikka, is there anything you want to eat?" Sion has been staying at Marikka''s house for a long time now. "Thank you, I don''t have much of an appetite right now." "Really?If you need anything, just tell me. "Yes." Persica juice is the only thing that still seems to pass his lips, so Jin has been bringing in large quantities from Horai Island. But even that is not a panacea. Jin-sama! "What''s wrong, Marikka?" Marikka, who was still lying down, called out to Jin. I saw Jin-sama off once. "Yes, of course you did." This was less than 400 years ago, when Jin was still alive. ...... though Jin now has no memory of that time. "......It''s your turn to be sent off, isn''t it?" "......" Marikka must have been aware of what was happening to her. She smiled a clear, all-knowing smile. "But I am grateful to have met Jin-sama, who saved us from being called <> and even calling ourselves that, and who has allowed us to live peacefully like this." "Marikka, you are younger than me, don''t be so pathetic!" Theon, who seems to have returned to his old tone of voice, encourages her with stronger words. "Thank you very much. You''re right, I still have ......." There was a pause in the conversation. "<>!" Lise immediately casts a healing spell. With that, Marikka regains some of her strength. "............ there is still so much to see and do... ......" "Marikka-sama, there are still many things I want you to teach me. "Marikka-sama, please get well soon." Rhodes and his sister Vita came and took Marikka''s hand. "Thank you, everyone." (What is ......< doing?) Jin was a little impatient. If he was going to do something about Marikka''s homunculus, he had to take action soon or he would not make it in time. Time is running out. "<>!<>!" Every three hours became every two hours, and now every half hour, until Marikka still could not lift her head from the pillow. "............I''ll tell you while I can still ...... talk. ......Thank you, Zion, for all these years." "Marikka ......!I don''t like that word!You and I will still be looking to the future of our friends together!" "I''m sorry ......, right ......?" Marikka then turned to Jin. "Jin ......, my lady. I thank you for meeting you and for everything in this world." "Marikka ......." I have one ...... favor to ask you. What''s that? "Would you ...... like me to stroke your ...... head like I did ...... once upon a time? ............?" "Yeah, sure." Jin gently reached out and stroked Marikka''s head as he had in the past. "It''s like ...... going back to ...... the old days. ......, isn''t it..................?" His voice trailed off. "Marikka?" "Marikka-sama!" Marikka! Marikka, aged 493, passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends and acquaintances. * * * * Jin was alone, looking up at the sky. The old man ......<>...... got here just in time, didn''t he?) But Jin knows that the old man will not talk about it. Yes, as long as the existence of Jin is not threatened. That is the that Jin has given to Lao-kun, Reiko, and all golems and automata on Horai Island. Not to follow Jin blindly, but to choose the best path with your own judgment. Father. Reiko? Yes. ...... I can only tell you one thing. < "I see. So there''s no need to be sad? "Yes." "...... but it''s hard ...... even though I know that. ......" Jin wiped his tears with his sleeve. That day, the sky of the Nord Federation was unusually gloomy, and the clouds were hanging low, as if it would rain at any moment. * * * * "...... what''s that?I''m ......." "Hey, Marikka." "Hey, Marikka.You are ......, or rather, where am I? "It''s not heaven, and it''s not the afterlife." "...... Marikka, for a moment." "And you, ......, you too?" "Yes, there are others." "Oh, really,......, am I getting younger?" "Yes, I''m back to my physical best, right?" "Yes, yes. That''s why you''re all on ....... Sooner or later, Zion will come. We''ll have fun here again. 2022 - - 54-21 How to make 90 Homunculus The , as Ars mankind calls it, that developed in Hale, also reached out to the field of artificial life. Through magic and science, they have revealed the structure of the human body and created replicas of it with artificial cells. They were called , meaning followers. By the way, even though they were the , the original genetic information was necessary. The original source was the DNA of the developer. The developer, whose name is no longer known, provided his own cells, made duplicates of them, and had them work as assistants. "100001, take this." Yes, sir. 100002, help me with this. "Yes, master." The developers assigned six-digit numbers to their followers. The first digit is used to identify their purpose, and the remaining five digits are their serial numbers. The appearance, or age, could be set as desired. < have is only for the purpose of constructing their bodies, not for the purpose of dividing cells to make the same ones. In short, they are immortal. They were also called . * * * * After many years, the who created the < is no longer around. The <> had become an indispensable existence for some of the <>. "4591, have you finished cleaning?" "Yes, master." 98351, clean up this room. "Yes, sir." 80021, we''re going out. Take him with you. Yes, sir. Later generations of engineers also created their own homunculus and took care of the people. And again, many years pass. < had begun to decline. They leave their home planet of with its resources depleted. After some twists and turns, the colonized the planet . > supported their lives. However, even the immortal < is not immortal. Their numbers have been decreasing due to changes in the concentration of free magical element (ether) and unforeseen accidents. However, the main reason is that they fought and sacrificed themselves to protect their <> from the attacks of the mutated <> of Ars. However, a few <> homunculus survived. Among them were the 600012, 700 No. 672 and others existed as followers. And time passed again. ....... * * * * "Mr. 700672, <>''s consciousness doesn''t need to have a <>, does it?" "Yes. It is an additional consciousness to be used as a <>." Hannah had asked 700672 a question. "I see. ....... I knew it. If that''s the case, then once the personality and knowledge are stored in something like a , additional consciousness is added to it. And then you <> into the homunculus'' brain, right?" "Yes. ...... Hannah, you are a genius. You know ten things when you hear one ......, or so they say in Jin-dono''s world, and you are just like that." "Haha, that''s too much praise!" Worried about Martha''s recent poor condition, Hannah has started to research on . The old man was lending a helping hand, and <> of <> was also concerned about Milowina and was giving his full cooperation. "I think we''ve solved most of the technical problems." Hannah''s face was bright. "But the biggest problem is the material ...... or ......." <<<< mental catalyst>>, Hannah>>. "Yes. ....... Hey, old man, let''s not use anymore. I''m too old for it. < "Well, I understand that." < "But we can''t use all of them, can we? < is also a cure for . And there were other problems as well. There were two other problems: an <> problem and a <> problem. The former is whether or not it is acceptable to turn a subject into a homunculus of <> at one''s own convenience. The latter is that society would be in chaos if people who are not supposed to be alive were alive. "Well, yes, that''s true. But I think human wishes are selfish to a greater or lesser extent. If I had to give a reason, it would be for the world. < "I think that''s a bit too aggressive, though." Hannah smiled bitterly. <> are cooperating fully is because we can''t bear to lose our master (Mylord) and Milowina. "<>, right?" <> "I see, the old man misses you too, doesn''t he?" . The old man felt that he could not bear the thought of losing Jin. There is a difference between spending time believing that you will see him again after 400 years and never seeing him again. It was the same for Reiko and the other Horai Islanders, who were all worrying about their future within the limits of they were allowed to have. Although Jin himself says, , Jin and his descendants carry a different weight to them. created by Jin wanted to serve < in any way they could. Jin himself is unaware that his creations have such feelings, and he will never know them in the future. Nor does he need to know. Thus, Hanna''s research on homunculus is going on. The old man also accumulated data for this purpose. The results will surely appear in due course. * * * * ? ......>>> On September 17, 3899, Jin was sent back 40 But due to a mysterious phenomenon that occurred at that time, the <> Jin remained. This means that Lao Kun no longer needs to create a homunculus of Jin. The reason why he did not create a homunculus of Jin until this point is because he wanted to have all the memories of <>. In other words, he wanted to add the memories of Jin who stayed in this time period temporarily due to the accident to the memories of Jin who stayed in this time period 400 years ago. This is because Jin confided to me after his return that some of his memories were not clear as if in a haze. The idea was that if Jin had returned 400 years later, his memories would be complete. And now there is no more danger of Jin''s < and , which would bring them face to face with each other. The old man''s movement was the most stable ever as he looked at the complex body of Jin before he woke up. 2023 - - 54-22 Depression of humanity Jin had been depressed since Marikka''s death. "Father, are you all right?" Reiko asks, concerned, "I''m fine." But he only replies, "I''m fine. The Marikka incident had taken a toll on him more than he had expected. "......I''m afraid I''m going to have to see my acquaintances off for a long time to come,......" she said. Rubina and her family have returned to . By the way, Ellis and Freddie were invited to Greena''s house. So, Jin is the only one who is in Horai Island now. This made Jin feel even more lonely. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Old man, do you have any good ideas? Reiko thought better of it and asked Laicun for advice. "Is that so?" < The old man said, "But I guess you are conflicted about whether it is really a good idea or not to do so. . "Oh, yes, that''s right. Your father has seen off many people, Martha, Emperor Taisho, Myrne, Milowina, Stearina, Vivien ....... Each time, as now,......" <> "...... but you, my dear, have already told me about that. ......" <> "Is it?" < What is the reason for that? * * * * * * Another few days passed. Jin was holed up in his workshop. "Father, where is this?" "Oh, it''s over here." Reiko helped him, relieved that Jin could not spend his days in idleness after all. Right now, Jin is building a teacher''s automata that can teach the . Of course, he will not teach it to the highest level. We are only trying to teach the basics. After that, we want the students to devise their own ideas. If the result is something different from what Hitoshi has in mind, that is fine with me. I am the legitimate successor of Adriana Barbora Tsetsi, and my disciples are on and in the . In other words, his skills and thoughts have been passed on to his direct descendants. "We can leave it to <>. Leave it to Machina to take it to ......." Jin thinks that we should stop interfering too much in the world. "Except in the case of a global disaster or a world war." Jin mutters to himself so that Reiko and the old man can hear him without talking to anyone. * * * * * * * * * * * * * <. "Oh, you saw her, Machina-dono?" "Yes. And he has donated an automaton named "Lehrer" to us. Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann received a report from the secretary automaton Manon. "<>?" "Yes. < "Oh, that''s great! After that lecture, I was inundated with inquiries from people who wanted to learn how to make Golem automata in the Adriana style. "We have ten of them, from Lehrer 1 to Lehrer 10, so I think they should be enough to serve as teachers for the time being. "Yes. I would like to train technicians with these ten as teachers and prepare them for the future. Tomax Bartmann nodded. "Then, how about five of them for training technicians and five of them for teachers? "That''s a good idea. Anyway, we have to carefully plan our future technology promotion plan." * * * * "That''s one." On Horai Island, Jin counted down his fingers. "Next ...... let''s ...... make that one. Reiko, lead, tin, and antimony. ...... No, not that one." The metal that Jin had just mentioned was for making . The reason I stopped halfway was that this alloy is relatively soft. The reason for this composition, then, is that it has the following advantages: it has a low melting point (about 240 degrees Celsius), it flows well when poured into a mold (small letters can be formed), and it has a low solidification shrinkage (it is not easily deformed by shrinkage when it cools). (i.e., it is hard to deform due to shrinkage when it cools down). However, Jin was thinking of using <> to make the printing block, as is typical in this world. "We can do it by using <>, can''t we?" The letters in this world are similar to the alphabet. Even if we include numbers and special symbols, we can manage with less than 100 types. "The method of combining type is good, but it would be faster if we could make the block at once using . However, only a handful of engineers can do such a thing. But that is not the end of the story for the Magecraft Meister. "All you have to do is create a special Magi machine. The part that corresponds to the scanner is the <. Jin thought that it would be sufficient to process the data with a special , convert the characters into a certain font, and process the metal plate by <>. "The mechanism for printing with this is much simpler." Automation using a golem arm is also possible. "Let''s leave that to ordinary engineers, too. And so, Jin builds a Magi machine that prints handwritten manuscripts. What? What?Makina-dono is here again? was surprised that Makina had come again after a day''s absence, and at the same time, she was amazed at the Magi machine that Jin had donated to her. "Ummm, this is a great idea ....... Perhaps it is an invention based on the printing of the other day. ......" <, it is possible to make a print as many times as you want. It can be called a revolution in printing technology. "That''s what the <>> is all about: ......" Tomax Bartmann immediately began to consider how to put this to work. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Yes, my lord. After all, your father is the one who makes things. In Horai Island, the old man and Reiko were relieved. 2024 - - 54-23 Silent Story 91 I tried it in Horai Island. One day, in Horai Island. "Let''s try it at home, too. Jin suddenly said with an idea. < he had done at the other day. "I think it''s more like a ." > was originally a term used to refer to a surveying level point, but in modern Japan it is often used as a <>. Since it is a performance comparison between multiple devices with different specifications and configurations, it is more of a utility test than a pure performance test. "A simple performance measurement would be a 1,000-meter run or weightlifting." The old man gives his advice. "Yes, that would be enough for a 100-meter run. As for weightlifting, you can also use gravity magic to adjust the weight of the barbell. "What would be interesting is the reaction time and precision movements." <<> "Yes." Now that you have partial control of >, your reaction speed is the fastest among the Horai Islanders. It should be ....... Jin thought as he glanced at Reiko who was standing next to him. > "Well, how about we keep ......5 millimeter balls the same, but mix balls of different hardness, and see how many we can move in a minute without crushing them?" <<< Good idea. We can also see the feedback performance of the sense of touch. Adamantite, lead, Maggi polyethylene foam. We can put a thin nickel coating on them and keep them the same in appearance. Since they have different weights and hardness, it seemed to be quite difficult ....... Memory (short-term) is not so important, so it would be nice to compete purely on calculation speed, Jin said. "Since there is no way to cheat, how many square roots can you calculate in time, or how many digits can you add from 1 to n? ......" Shortcuts are not allowed since this is a performance test, not a competition. "Yes, that would be good too." Since this is an internal test, there is absolutely no cheating, so the same test can be done over and over again. This is desirable in terms of comparison. The sum is n(n+1)/2, but it is forbidden to use this formula. The rule is to add up the sums in order from 1, just like an arithmetic test. "Then, let us assume that the sum of the weighted 100-meter run, the weighted magic lifting, the transfer of a 5-millimeter ball for 1 minute, and the sum calculation from 1 to n in 2 seconds is Let''s say we want to calculate the sum of the sums from 1 to n in 2 seconds." "Yes, that would be good." Thus, <> was established and a trial run including verification of the contents was conducted. * * * * "I want to know how much our <> is in terms of the golem of Horai Island. "Of course. We''ve reviewed the control system for precision movement since then! "No objections." Rubina, Freddy, and Gurina requested to measure the that is not < for their reference. The participating Golems and automata in the Horai Island group were: Land 1, Sky 1, Marine 1, Smith 1, Cosmos 1, Ruby 1, Aqua 1,Perido1,Ames1,Topaz1,Soleil,Luna,Laiko,Ray,Anne,Lise. Mermaid is mermaid-shaped, so I passed on it this time. "I''ll let you do the math with 5mm balls, though. Jin thinks. He also includes Soleil and Luna, who are supposed to be of the same type, and 1 of the 5-color golem maids to see if there is any significant difference between them. "That''s quite spectacular. "Wow, that''s amazing." "I wonder what''s going to happen ......" Freddy and the others are curious. "All right, let''s start with the 100-meter weighted run. The trials will take place on the airfield behind the institute. <> As expected, supersonic speed cannot be attained when there are large G forces applied in the vertical direction and in the direction of motion, so the competition is visible to the naked eye. The weight magic lifting is also performed in succession. After that, 5mm balls were transferred for 1 minute, and 2-second sum calculation was performed. The results are available at ....... Land 1: 3.2 seconds, 8 tons, 411 pieces, no failures, sum 1 up to 21 Sky 1 : 5.1 seconds 3 tons 424 no failures sum 1 Up to 23 Marine 1 : 5.9 sec 3 tons 419 no failures Wa 1 Up to 19 Smith1 : 4.5 seconds 4 tons 545 no failures Wa1 Up to 78 Cosmos1 : 5.2 seconds 3 tons 415 pieces No failures Wa1 Up to 20 Ruby1 : 7.7 sec. 2 tons 478 pieces No failure Sum1 Up to 55 Aqua1 : 7.7 sec. 2 tons 481 no failures Sum1 Up to 54 Perido1 : 7.7 sec. 2 tons 482 no failures Sum1 Up to 57 Ames1 : 7.7 sec. 2 tons 479 no failures Wa1 Up to 56 Topaz1 : 7.7 sec. 2 tons 480 No failures Sum1 Up to 56 Soleil 1 : 7.8 sec. 2 tons 501 no failures Wa 15 Up to 6 Luna 7.8 seconds 2 tons 502 no failures sum 15 Up to 6 Lao Tzu : 6.0 sec 3 tons 477 no failures sum 179 567230359 Up to 8 Ray : 1.9 sec 12 tons 626 no failures sum 54 Up to 9 Anne: 9.0 seconds, 1 ton, 454 pieces, no failures, sum 10 Up to 2 Lise : 12.4 sec. 1 ton, 567 no failures, sum 1 Up to 44 Storm: 21.7 seconds, 1 ton, 221 pieces, 37 failuresUp to sum 57 The accuracy of the weight magic numbering is poor, and units less than a ton are unreliable, so all values were rounded off. The low accuracy is an issue to be addressed in the future. "Well, I knew it, but we are losing a lot in speed." "Well, I knew that, but I''m losing a lot of speed. But I think we can still see some power, though not as a substitute for it. "But I''m still using the power of the exterior..." Jin then joins in. "The people in Horai Island use a lot of rare materials. <. "Even with the 37 pieces we destroyed, we''re still no match for them. "We had to be very careful because we don''t have tactile senses. That part needs to be modified. Lao Tzu''s calculations, well, that''s what he''s capable of. It was out of the ordinary, but not surprising. (But ......) Jin wondered inwardly. The performance of Golem was lower than he expected. And he wonders if Anne''s performance should be higher. The answer is The old man said that the golems were limited to 50% of their abilities when they were not protecting Horai Island, Jin, or their own existence. And Anne and other automata are limited to 20 percent. I see, he was trying to reduce the consumption after he was gone.) (I see, he was planning to limit the wear and tear after he was gone...), Jin speculated about himself 400 years ago. * * * * * * "Oh, by the way, Jin-sama, may I ask you to bring Alice to take measurements next time? "Oh, in that case, I''ll bring Char too. Both Alice and Char are automata created by Rubina and Gulina. "Yes, that''s fine. We can build the same measuring device on Onogoro Island." "Oh, it would be fun to test it together. After this, there was a boom in performance measurement on Onogoro Island. In addition "Hey, Jin-sama, why don''t you measure Reiko?" "Reiko or ......" Yes, I''m a little concerned about it. Reiko herself looks like she wants to do it. "All right, Reiko, do the math, but try 30 percent output." "Yes, Father." The results are at ....... 0.4 seconds, 58 tons, 1637 pieces, no failures, sum 2. Up to 1892. The result was "......, that''s amazing. ......" "It''s too awesome." "30 percent, which means that if we were really serious, we could get more than three times this power." Rubina, Freddy, and Greiner are stunned. Then, in answer to the last question, Hitoshi said "No, I don''t think we can simply calculate it because of the synergistic effect of Reiko''s structure. "That means it''s not just three times as much, isn''t it?" "Well, yes." "......" "............" "I''ll do my best! Or maybe there was or wasn''t.... 2025 - - 54-24 Quiet talk 92 Golem situation in each country <, and the usefulness of this new technology became known to many countries through demonstrations. "Hmmm, <>. I''d love to have that process. Ernest XVII, CEO Emeritus of the Royal Factory of the Kingdom of Egelea, spoke to his aide. "Yes, I agree. But will probably not offer that technology to any one country. Canaj Parosofa, his aide and childhood friend who is also a magi engineer, agrees. "I know that, and rightly so. ...... but I just want to make a new golem as soon as possible!" "As usual, Your Highness." "And . The original Lotte is still in operation. That technology has long since been lost. We can''t just tear it apart and examine it. The maid golem <> created by Jin and presented to Prince Ernest (I) is now considered a treasure of the royal family. "I wish I could make a golem that could surpass the first Lotte. It seems that the current <> was a crafty fool enough. "But the Hampton workshop was a bit of a disappointment." "I agree. You may be able to recover from your lack of skill in the future, but it will be difficult to correct your character. "That''s true." Ernest XVII nodded to his aide Canaj. I''m sure the rest of the world could hear how they were behaving. "Indeed, they are a disgrace to their country. I''ll have to reprimand them later. I will make the necessary arrangements. After this, the Hampton workshop was reprimanded by the government and scaled down. * * * * The current owner of Hampton''s workshop, Saloon Hampton, was in a very bad mood. "Uunu......" In front of so many people, the poor performance of their golem had been exposed. It was no one''s fault. <. Nevertheless, it was only myself who sent them out with full confidence. The students who accompanied him looked at their unhappy mentor from a distance with trepidation. In the midst of all this, "......It''s so hard to train people, isn''t it......?" one woman was reflecting on the situation. Nancy Sein, the assistant factory manager in charge of training newcomers. "I had no idea that Freddie had so much talent. At any rate, it seems that there was someone at the studio who was able to reflect on the situation. "We have to educate the children who are coming through here ...... now," he said. That is the role of an elder, Nancy, who turns 34 this year, told herself. She stayed on after the workshop downsized and focused on training the next generation. She eventually rose to the position of head of the Hampton workshop. * * * * * * * * * * * "Guys, <> seems to have above-standard performance, but we want to go further! "Yes!" At the <> in Blueland, Kingdom of Egelea, after hearing from the four top technicians who participated in the workshop, everyone was motivated in a uniform manner. "Can''t you teach us that <>?" A natural question was raised, "I think will make an announcement about that in the near future. He answered, "I think <> will make an announcement about that in the near future. In fact, Jin has prepared an automata for teaching. * * * * * * * * * * Not only in the Kingdom of Egelea, but also in other countries, there is a growing momentum for the development of golems, and budgets for magical technology have increased. The Kingdom of Elias, in particular, had recently received a donation of a new type of golem, so the excitement was especially high. On the other hand, the Nordic Federation has not been interfered by the , and the <> has been interfered by them, but they have been defending their magical technology. A small number of engineers from such organizations are scattered in various countries, and they will be useful for the promotion of technology in the private sector. * * * * * * "It seems that the movement of each country has become more active. <, Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann receives a report from his secretary, Automata Manon. "Yes. The lecture and demonstration the other day were very effective." "Yes." Tomax Bartmann, one of the planners, nodded in satisfaction. "The given to us by Makina-sama, can it self-propagate?" He meant whether Lehrer himself could create an automata of the same type. Normally, such an action is protected and unlimited multiplication is not allowed. "Yes. Yes, if the chief administrator gives the order." The authority is not given by an individual, but by a position. It is important to note that it is the who can give instructions, not Tomax Bartmann. "Oh, that''s great. Tomax Bartmann immediately orders the production of 10 more. So much so that there were many requests from other countries for instruction on the of production. * * * * * * And of course, Horai Island had caught this trend. Thanks to the work of and <> who were dispatched to various countries. < became known, the name of its developer, the first Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi, and her achievements became widely known to the world. <> Shuki Tsetsi. A few days ago, Jin developed a new method of making prints using <>. The first printed book using this method will be a biography of Adriana Barbora Tsezi and her adoptive father, Shuki Tsezi. Jin is now writing the manuscript with his own hands. The old man reflects on his vision for the future. It was my mistake to let people like the <<<< magic league>> rise to power>>. I could have done something about it, even though Jin was not there. If there is any deficiency, Jin will fix it. The old man was willing to watch over this world as long as Jin wanted. This world that Jin loved and called his second home. This world where people whom he loved and were loved by him are sleeping. 2026 - - 55-01 Hale vegetation July 10, 3900. Jin received a report. It was from <><><>. These spacecraft were instructed to measure whether the high concentration of free magical elements (ether) centered on the sun Celan was expanding. The period is scheduled to be about one year, and this is an interim report. The old man reported. "I see. ......" He was dispatched in March of the same year. The fact that the expansion was confirmed after 4 months of measurements means that the rate of expansion is quite fast. "When will it affect Hale and Ars?" That is my main concern. "That far out?" It is said that the size of the universe is difficult for people living on the ground to imagine, and this is one of them. Ten thousand years is not that long a span of time when considered on a cosmic scale. But for a human being, it is a long time. "It''s only a matter of finding a way to consume the free magical element (ether) by then, isn''t it? There is no guarantee that there will be any living creatures left in Ars until then. "Still, keep measuring for the planned period of time." In this world, anything can happen. There is no guarantee that the rate of expansion of the highly concentrated space will not suddenly increase. "In the first place, we don''t even know why the free magical element (ether) is radiated from the sun''s sunshelan. "Do so. In the meantime, we will build a dedicated sonde and establish a system to measure the boundaries of the highly concentrated space. < As a matter of interest, Jin''s use of technical terms of subtle German origin is due to the fact that the books on which he based his knowledge are subtly outdated. Some of the terminology that is now replaced by English was German ...... in the Showa period, because there were scientific journals from the 30''s and 40''s in the facility. This is because there were scientific journals from the 30''s and 40''s in the facility. The word "sonde" is a German word, and the English equivalent would be <>. The meteorological observatory, the Self-Defense Forces, and other research institutes use , a balloon to measure high-altitude weather (the reason why Hitoshi called this measuring device a sonde). That is why Jin calls the ropes used in the mountains and the dinosaurs (the pronunciation of "S" is not clear in English). (In English, the "S" is not muddled, so it becomes "".) But that''s beside the point. "A communication device and a barrier. A micro-spaceship with a communications device, a barrier, and a simple means of self-defense?" Yes. One meter in diameter. <. < and a for meteorites. For emergency use, it has a that can transfer 10 kilometers. Six of these are built, four in the orbital plane of the planet, and two in the upper and lower polar directions. In other words, they are the vertices of an octahedron inscribed in a spherical highly concentrated space. They will be able to communicate with each other and cover each other in case of any malfunctions. "Is that all right?" < * * * * * * Jin spent three days to build six machines. "Is it done? "Yes, Father." Jin named these micro-spaceships for measurement . "We''ll have , , and back us up in case anything goes wrong." <>><>. Jin was relieved to know that he had done all he could do to deal with the high concentration of free magical element (ether) in the space. "It''s time to start thinking about Hale ...... before that." <700672, Jin thought. "Reiko, let''s go to Hale." "Yes, father." <, but he chose to talk to the directly. "...... Elder, the <> are in Hale, aren''t they?" < Jin was about to head for Hale when he finally received confirmation. This time, the <> were in Hale, so there was no problem, but if they were in the northern part of the >, it would have been a wasted trip. "That''s all right then." This time Jin moved to Hale. * * * * "Oh, Master Jin, welcome." At Hale, I was greeted by 700672, who was still the same as before. Jin was relieved to see that he did not suffer from <>, as he could intuitively guess. Perhaps Marikka is ...... or rather Marikka''s homunculus is somewhere in this world ...... that Jin thinks is not Ars. It would be confusing if there were people who are not supposed to be there. It might be ...... better, though, if there is no one who knows about it. Regardless, Jin decided to explain the purpose of his visit. "Hmmm, checking on the development of Hale. In a word, it''s going well." The most important thing now is the improvement of the natural environment. Specifically, it is the restoration of vegetation. Now that we are restoring the ocean water, precipitation is increasing. At the moment, it is only in the coastal areas, but eventually the precipitation in the inland areas will increase dramatically. What will happen to the mountains with little vegetation when this happens? Jin knew this well in modern Japan. That is why they are rushing to plant trees. However, this does not mean that we should just plant trees as much as possible. The vegetation that is not suited to the climate will soon be ruined. "We are trying to get as close as possible to the past," he said. <700672, the materials left behind on Onogoro Island, and other materials found at the . They are trying to reconstruct the vegetation of the past based on the data that <> 700672 has, the data left on Onogoro Island, and the data found at other <>. "It is quite difficult because the age of the remaining materials is unknown." There are areas where the vegetation differs depending on the age of the site, he said. "In such areas, we try to match the older vegetation," he said. "I guess it''s not that simple, is it?" "Yes. But it is worthwhile to restore the old ones to the way they were when the masters lived there. I enjoy constructive and creative work, the elder laughed. "I''m glad you''re enjoying it. Jin laughed along with him. He is a little disappointed that <> 700672 has not told him anything about Marikka. I wonder if it means that he can''t talk about it easily.) Jin consoles himself by imagining this. 2027 - - 55-02 The story of Gimnas After checking Hale, Jin returned to Horai Island. "Now, what should I do next?" Jin wanted to do something now. The old man knew it too. "To Daikie and Cocona''s place?" I''m curious about the "confusion". "What happened?" was small in the Shoro Kingdom, it was not entirely absent. So, there seems to be some trouble in the educational institutions. "Should I go?" << Jin was intrigued by the old man''s pompous way of talking. "What do you mean?" > "Uh, Gimnas is a descendant of the researchers who took refuge in the shelter below Mount Suhonto before the , right?" < "Lance was the chief of the Golem automata created there, wasn''t he? < Degauze, the Minister of Magical Technology at the time, corresponded daily with Lance and learned some of his techniques. < "...... I was sent away, wasn''t I?" In other words,<> Jin does not know what happened to Gimnas and Lance after that, or how they were treated. "In other words, this mess in the Shoro Kingdom has something to do with Gimnas and Lance, doesn''t it? Now he could understand why the old man was so sure. "In that case, let''s go there. So Jin departed in the . The pilot was Hope, as usual, accompanied by Reiko. On the way, the old man explained a little more about what happened to Gimnas and the others. < "Ah, I knew it." Jin recalls those days. Lance''s loyalty and arrogance would make him do it. Gimnas would have been 17 or 8 by then, and would not have been underestimated in terms of appearance and age, Jin imagined. "That''s an exceptional treatment." You would have to be very trustworthy to do that, Jin. But he realizes that Lance must have spent more than a year arranging for this to happen. << The old man said that he used to be a "shut-in" and did not like to go out much. < "I see." Jin could imagine that he was not good at socializing since he had been cooped up in such a place. <>. "I suppose so." Such a steady education is not something to be fooled with. Ideals that are drilled into us from an early age are still burned into our minds even after we have grown up. Jin thinks that militarism and other forms of militarism are using this to give a distorted education to young children. ...... . That''s how much they valued his achievements, Jin thought. "I was interacting with him 400 years ago, wasn''t I?" "Of course." At this point Jin asked the old man what had happened to Lance. < "I think I can understand that." . Jin imagined that this had also happened to Lance, his faithful automata. "Are there any descendants of Gimnas?" < "I see. ......" I am very sorry to hear that, but there is nothing I can do about it. It is in the past. "I didn''t do anything back then?" < "Elsa was ......" Jin let out a small sigh. Neither myself nor Erza were very enthusiastic in that direction. "...... that''s a bit of a shame." <, with the policy of passing on what they learned from Gimnas to future generations and sublimating it into new technology.32 It has continued to this day, 32 years later. "Ah, so there are people like that." . Jin was somewhat pleased to hear this, even though he was a stranger to the situation. The idea of passing on the technology and the will to improve it. He liked it very much. * * * * * * He came to the capital of Shoro, Leusat, after a long time. Jin had some thoughts about air traffic control. "It would be nice if they could develop a method of communication that is equivalent to radio. For now, they use wind magic to send their voices to distant places. Jin refused to park the plane on the roof of the house instead of at the airport, and was allowed to do so. Hope lands the on the roof of the compound without a hitch. <, so it was doable. "Master Jin, you are welcome." The owners of the house, Daiki-Nido and Cocona-Nido, greet Jin, having been informed of his arrival beforehand. "It''s been a while. I''ll be back to take care of you. "No, no, we are the ones who have been entrusted with the house by Jin-sama, so you are welcome to stay with us as long as you like. "Thank you." The conscientious Mr. and Mrs. Daiki-Kokona had prepared a welcome for Jin. It was now time for lunch, "It''s a good thing we asked about your preferences, Jin-sama," Cocona said. The meal was a little light for lunch. The menu was a little light since it was lunchtime: rice porridge, miso soup, pickled plums, buckwheat noodles, pickles, tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce and soy sauce) with small fish, etc., which made me think that they had done a lot of research. And the food tasted good, too, "This is delicious! Jin praised the taste of the dishes, saying, "It was worth the practice. "It was worth all the practice," said Cocona smiling. Cocona smiled. 2028 - - 55-03 Audience After lunch, over a cup of tea, Jin explained to Daikie and Cocona the purpose of their visit. "Ah, the <>. Yes, I am aware of it. Daikie seemed to know a lot about the situation in Leuthart. "Well then, I''d like to hear what it''s like." "Yes, sir." Daikie explains the situation of as perceived by the citizens of Loisart. "First of all, as I have evaluated so far, <> is not only making high-end products, but also magic tools for the common people." "Hou. So it''s not just ...... golems?" "Yes. Of course, our main products are golems and automata, but for the common people, magic tools are the most famous. It was only natural that the products they were taking care of would be the most famous. "However, they have been out of circulation for the past three to four years. "Is this due to the influence of the League of Magic?" "I think it''s fair to say so. The specific reason is that the materials are no longer imported. I see. < has little influence in the Shoro Empire. So they took the measure of blocking trade. "Various materials can be extracted in the Shoro Empire, but not so many Magi Crystals can be extracted." "Is that so?" Jin recalled that four hundred years ago, they should have been able to supply themselves. "Yes, it used to be so, but about 150 years ago, it became cheaper to import them, ......." "Oh, I see." Indeed, Jin recalled that most of the mines in the Shoro Kingdom required deep tunnels. In other words, mining is costly. "Magi crystals mined from the former Leonard Kingdom were cheaper, even including transportation costs." "Indeed, it''s a mining area." It could be said that the area is divided and ruled by different countries, or it could be said that it is an area of free development. "At the moment, all countries are buying the materials extracted in the former Leonard''s Kingdom under the same conditions. Private miners are allowed to sell to any country, Daikie added. "So that''s how it''s treated?" "Of course, there are state-owned mines in each country, but mainly private companies. This is the result of considering economic promotion, Daiki said. "I think our country is healthy from an economic point of view. Tax rates are low and prices are reasonable. Cocona added, "I don''t find it difficult to live here. "I see. Then the question is what to do with the materials. ......" < is facing can also be said for the Shoro Empire. "Probably, the price of magic tools is the only thing that has skyrocketed for the common people, isn''t it?" Cocona nodded at Jin''s question. "You are right. The price of magic tools has risen to about three times what it was four years ago." "I see. ......" And for the nobles and other classes, the price of golems must have skyrocketed due to the shortage of magic crystals (magi crystals). This has not surfaced yet because it does not matter much if they do not purchase new golems, but it should become a problem sooner or later. It would be more of a problem if it would delay the development of golems that have started in many countries. As far as the old man knows, the engineers of <> were at the lecture in > the other day. "I guess we need to have an audience with His ...... Majesty once." is the current emperor, Ernst Lubus von Richt-Scholo. Also known as Ernst II. Jin has his own solution, but since he does not know what the Shoro Empire is thinking, he decides that he has no choice but to meet with the Supreme Leader. Even in this era, he had the title of , which allowed him to have an audience with the emperor without an appointment, but unlike the era of the female emperor, Jin had some reservations about such things. Since the matter was not so urgent, he decided to ask Count Daikie to make an appointment for him. I asked him to make an appointment. Whether it was because of Daikie''s good looks or Jin''s name value, permission was granted to have an audience with him in the morning of the next day. He went to Miyagi on time for the audience. Accompanying him were Reiko, Hope, and Daikki. The idea was that with Reiko and Hope in tow, they would be recognized as Magecraft Meisters. Jin, after all, is not as well known in this day and age as he was 400 years ago. We arrived at Miyagi in a car owned by Daikie. Jin and the others were ushered into a waiting room that seemed to be reserved for the upper class nobility. "Please wait here." Jin took this opportunity to look around the room to observe the castle. It had been 400 years since his last visit, when he was taken to the drawing room. "It has changed a little, hasn''t it? "Which part?" He seemed to be talking to himself, but Daikie heard him and asked him about it. I''m interested in the past of my country, so I thought I''d take this opportunity to ask you. "Ornaments. There used to be a lot of artworks, but now there are a lot of magic tools. They are also antiques. As far as Jin could see, there were many magical tools that were popular 400 years ago. There were various items such as refrigerators, magic stoves, water heaters, etc., some of which were familiar to him and others he did not recognize. "...... I see, it seems like you are talking about the history of magic tools." It is a history of magic tools since the appearance of Jin 400 years ago. "If you are interested in it, you will never get tired of watching it. And one more thing. In one of the rooms of the Miyagi Palace, there were a number of gorgeously bound books, and Jin picked up one of them, Jin picked up one of the books and said with interest, "Is this an introduction to magical engineering ......?" He picked up one of the books and looked at its contents with great interest. The author is ...... a name I don''t know. At that moment, there is a knock at the door, and a liaison soldier comes to call Jin and his group. "<> Jin Nido-sama, Count Daiki-Nido-sama, Reiko-sama, Hope-sama." Jin was inwardly pleased to hear that they had addressed Reiko and Hope as as well. "His Majesty is waiting for you." The soldier led Jin and the others to his office. Waiting there was Ernst II, the Emperor of Shoro. "Welcome, Jin-dono. It''s been a long time since we last met. ...... and I had the pleasure of listening to your lecture at . Jin was satisfied inwardly that he had been there. He had not heard anything from about the participants of that lecture. "In the letter from Daikki, you mentioned that you have a solution to the problems facing the magic technology industry in our country, didn''t you? Yes. How much time do you have for ......?" "I can give you at least all morning. I''m prepared to talk to you in the afternoon if necessary. That''s how seriously he takes this matter. I understand." And Jin''s enthusiasm would increase if he could see that. "Please have a seat here, then. In attendance were Rhodes'' friend and Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Empire, LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, as well as the Ministry of Magical Technology of the Shoro Empire. Also present are Gladyn Haronad von Istea, head of the Technical Department of the Ministry of Magic and Technology of the Shoro Empire. On the Japanese side will be Daiki-Nido, Reiko, and Hope. "First of all, the problem that the magical technology industry is facing is the high cost of imported magical materials, is that correct?" Jin opened his mouth. "Yes, that is correct." Minister LeGray nodded his head. "Then please visit ......." Jin started to explain. 2029 - - 55-04 Proposed Jin began to explain to Ernst II how to reduce the price of materials. "You say that materials are rising in price, but I think we need to know what percentage of that price they represent." "Mm." "Now take the Magi Crystal (Magi Crystal) in this country as an example, ......Daiki, explain it to me." At this point, Jin assigned the role to Daikin. "Yes. The transportation and mining costs account for more than two-thirds of the total. Of these, mining costs account for 70%. "Ummm ......" That means that nearly half of the price is for mining. Daiki is a meticulous person, and he knew exactly what these figures meant. However, what he could not do beyond that point, that is, until he took measures, was compensated by Jin. "So..." Now it was Jin''s turn. "What I can do is to lower the cost of mining. Jin said that by using the golem, the labor cost could be reduced. "That''s true, but you''ll need materials for that," said Legray. said Mr. LeGray, Minister of Magical Technology. "In other words, in order to reduce labor costs, we need a golem, and in order to prepare a golem, we need materials. And the price of those materials is rising. "I understand. That''s why we are ." "You mean ''rent''. But at the moment, every country is short of manpower and golems to rebuild the country that has been torn apart by the <>. "Countries are, aren''t they?" Jin chuckled at that. Ernst II immediately understood the meaning of that laugh. "So you''re telling me that you have a ...... for Jin-dono?" Yes, I have enough golems to lend you. "Oh, ......!" This is the purpose of this visit. To rent out the Golem needed to make up for the lack of labor at a reasonable price, or to sell it in installments. Jin is willing to do either. "The level is equal to this Hope." Here, refers to the performance during the demonstration in <>, which is actually 30 percent of its capability. But even so, it is certainly an outstanding ability in today''s world. Mining with golems eliminates the need for ventilation in the tunnels, which saves a lot of time and effort. I can lend you 20 of them. What would you like to do? "Of course." Ernst II replied immediately. "But I would like to know how much it would cost before I decide whether to lend them to you or to purchase them in installments. How much would that be?" "Uh, ......." Jin became impatient. He had forgotten to set the amount. As usual, Jin was not good at keeping track of money. "For a loaner, it is 1,000 dollars per month, and for a one-year contract, it is 10,000 dollars. If it is a one-year contract, it is 10,000 dollars. If you want to pay in installments, you can pay 3,000 dollars per month in 50 installments. Reiko answered on behalf of Jin. The old man had contacted her through the manacam. "What!...... is cheap." If one tol is equivalent to about 10 yen, a rental is 10,000 yen per month, or 100,000 yen per year for a yearly contract. If paid in installments, the monthly rent would be 30,000 yen, or 1.5 million yen for 50 installments. "Of course, it doesn''t mean that you can only mine ore." The golem that Jin makes can easily handle the clerical work. This was something we had all seen demonstrated at , so we were immediately convinced. In the end, the Finance Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications were asked to join in the discussion, and a conclusion was reached the next day. * * * * * * * * Jin''s proposal is not over yet. "Now all that''s left is transportation." "Mm." Whether from the mines of the former Leonard Kingdom or from domestic mines, the cost of transportation would be considerable. "So here''s my proposal. < "That''s certainly true, but ......" In the case of metals, there is a difference in efficiency between transporting ores and transporting refined metals. For example, the iron content of the best iron ores, <> is said to be 70 percent, <> is 72 percent, and the average including other iron ores is about 65 percent. The average including other iron ores is about 65%. In other words, 35% of the weight is superfluous. When it comes to gold, the content drops dramatically. As an example in Japan, the ore from the Hishikari Mine in Kagoshima Prefecture contains a maximum of 290 grams of gold per ton and an average of 50 grams per ton. The average amount of gold in a ton of ore is 50 grams. Since the profitable content of gold is 5 grams per ton, it is easy to understand how large the content is in the case of gold. For this reason, it is desirable to set up a refinery as close to the mining area as possible. Currently, refineries are built on the outskirts of towns a short distance away from the mountains where the mines are located, and it is a considerable amount of work just to transport the ore to the refineries. In the case of Ars, magic and magical engineering are available. Jin offered to lend them a more efficient refining machine (magi-machine). "That would be great!" Jin said, "I would like to receive one percent of the metal refined by each of these machines as a royalty. "Is such a small amount enough?" Ernst II made an immediate decision on this matter, but seemed to be concerned because it was so little. "Yes, that''s fine. But there is one more thing. I would like to receive free of charge any trace elements contained in the tailings that you would like to have. "Of course, that''s fine." For example, silver ore <> often contains antimony, and <> is a sulfide mineral of silver and antimony. Bismuth, which has been attracting attention in recent years for its beautiful crystals, is often extracted together with adamantite from the als. Jin wanted to stockpile these metals rather than dispose of them as tailings, anticipating that their demand would eventually increase as their uses are recognized. * * * * * "First of all, everything went well. After the negotiations in Miyagi, Jin returned to his residence and relaxed. "Father, thank you for your hard work. Jin sighed with relief as he drank the tea Reiko had made for him. "Ah, the tea is so good." Jin gazed out the window at the sky as it was getting darker. To be honest, he has not gotten used to the emptiness of Marikka''s absence. But little by little, his emotions were returning to normal. "It''s not that I''ve forgotten my sadness, but I''m forgetting my sadness, something like that. I talk to myself without saying anything to anyone. Whether the line makes sense or not is of secondary importance. Reiko says nothing, but just bows to Jin silently. * * * * * * * * * * * * "So, I borrow it for a year, and then I buy it after seeing your performance, is that right?" At Miyagi, Ernst II was meeting with his ministers to decide what to do with the mining golem that Jin had offered. As a result, it was decided to borrow the golem for a year first, and if its usefulness was confirmed, to buy it, otherwise to continue borrowing it or terminate the contract. It was a fairly safe decision. If this had been 400 years ago, when the female emperor was reigning, he would have purchased 20 of them immediately, but unfortunately, Jin has not had such a good track record. On the other hand, there was no problem with the refining machines (magi-machines), and Ernst II''s decision was upheld. With this decision, the support from Jin was decided early the next day. 2030 - - 55-05 Mirai After finishing his support to the Shoro Kingdom, Jin returned to Horai Island and relaxed. Daikie and Cocona asked him to stay more nights, but he was somewhat tired. Then, in the living room of the house, he lay down on the tatami mats. I am lying on the tatami mats, thinking in a daze. (......400 years ago, I was a ......<>, and my role was to <>. I suppose my role was to reintroduce magical engineering to the post-Magic Runaway world.) I have been thinking about it by looking at the human sphere of life in modern Ars. (And now my role may be to restore the magical culture that the <> destroyed ......) <> and <>. Although two very different things, their impact on the world was somewhat similar. (Both of them have greatly reduced the magic technology.) Jin lies down and stretches. He is feeling a little tired these days. (Really, I wonder if it''s time for me to retire in Hale (......). But there are still too many things left to do in Ars. First of all, Daikie and Cocona.) ) Since they had no children, there was the problem of what to do with the next generation of the Countess Nido''s family. And it is a very important question. The thought seemed to make him feel a little less tired. "Well, ...... maybe we should give them an automaton, either a lady-in-waiting or a butler, to keep an eye on them?" "I think that''s a good idea." Reiko, who was standing by, agreed with the idea. "I see. Well then, let''s go with that line of thinking." Motivated, Jin headed straight for the workshop, his weariness gone. "I think I''ll use a golem maid for the base. He used 64 light silver to make it light and strong. Of course, it''s the . Reiko, can you get adamantite for the coating? "Yes, Father." Reiko is happy to be his assistant. "I usually like to keep my power low. The power is kept at about three times that of a human, and is released in an emergency. "I''ve built in a manacam, which will alert you in case of emergency. This way, they know what to do to eliminate the danger. "In case of malfunction, we will store four ultra-small golems equivalent to <> inside for repair." A 5mm tall golem for repair. This would greatly reduce the failure rate. "More defensive than offensive. < We decided to cover it with a honeycomb adamantite case. Also, a strong <> is installed. "I think it should be able to self-transfer to a distance of 10 kilometers away by means of a transporter. This would allow them to evacuate from unruly enemies and disasters. "We should also be able to carry up to three people with the transporter. This means that Daikie, Cocona, and up to one of their relatives can escape together. Reiko smiles happily at Jin as he talks to himself and works quickly. (Your father looks best when he is making things.) Reiko is in a good mood as she takes out the necessary materials and hands them to Jin. "Okay, it''s done!" She has green hair, just like Tomax Bartmann''s secretary automata. "Well then, I''ll go deliver it." < to head for the Shoro kingdom. It was 7:30 p.m. Horai Island time. It was still light in Reuthert, but he was thinking of Jin''s burden. "Oh, it''s that time already. By the way, I''m hungry. Jin decided to listen to his advice. "Father, dinner is ready. Reiko quickly announced, and Jin smiled. "Oh, thank you, Reiko." That night, they had dinner at the institute''s cafeteria. "Yes, it''s delicious. The menu that night consisted of rice with bamboo shoots, soup with mushrooms similar to shimeji mushrooms, grilled fish, simmered bamboo shoots and konbu, sweet omelet, pickled plums, and pickles. Tea is brown rice tea. Bamboos that look just like moso bamboo transplanted to Horai Island produce bamboo shoots almost all year round, so you can enjoy bamboo shoot rice any time of the year. Jin had three more bowls of rice. Reiko, who had been worried about Jin''s health, is relieved to see his appetite. After the meal, Jin takes a one-hour break and relaxes in the hot spring. "Ah, it''s a nice hot spring. Jin is making what he likes, eating what he likes, and relaxing in his favorite hot spring. "I''m blessed. ......" Jin muttered with satisfaction as he looked at Reiko, who was standing by his side. * * * * The next day, taking into account the time difference, they took the to Leuthart. "Well, well, well, Jin-sama, what is today ......?" Daikki and Cocona were perplexed when Jin arrived again just as they were leaving. Jin explained the reason for his sudden visit. "Well, since you helped me a lot the other day and gave me some valuable information, I thought I would send you this girl as a gift." Saying this, Jin held out a green-haired automaton in front of him. "Oh, oh, this is ......!" "It doesn''t have a name yet. Can Daikie or Cocona give it a name for you?" Are you sure? Of course. At these words, Daikie and Cocona looked at each other and discussed in a whisper. As a result, Daikki and Cocona looked at each other and whispered in each other''s ears, "So, you and <>? "Yes, I am <>. I am , and I am looking forward to working with you, Mr. Daiki and Ms. Cocona. < Thus, another of Jin''s concerns was resolved. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "But <> or ......? Jin was lost in thought as the returned to Horai Island. Jin imagines that <> is <>. He has been using some Japanese words in Ars since Shuki Tsezi. "I wonder what my future ...... will be like." Jin wondered to himself as he watched the clouds drifting away outside the window of the . "The future becomes the present in the blink of an eye, and in the blink of an eye, it''s gone and become the past, or ......." He wondered if he had read this in a book or if he had heard it said by someone else. Jin was lost in his thoughts again. 2031 - - 55-06 Beyond Thoughts Jin returned to Horaijima and was struck with a sense of fatigue. "......I''m feeling kind of lazy. ......" He was examined by Lise, a medical/healing automata, . Reiko was very worried about this situation. Reiko was very worried about this situation, She asked him, "Old man, what is wrong with your father? She asked him. "What do you mean by ......?" < "mental ......" << The old man has been thinking a lot about the < of the present Jin. >. Vague, but certainly existing. It has no physical power, but it can certainly interfere in this world. You said that it was a little will to remain in the world that worked on <> and <>, and created the complex of Jin. <> The old man says. The old man guessed that the mental damage caused by Marikka''s death might have further discouraged the master''s will. "So, what should I do?" Reiko asked Lao-kun, "If you know so much, then you must know how to keep Jin back. < "You mean that you would find meaning in staying in this world, in the present?" If you are satisfied with our reunion, however, I fear that you will only push us toward extinction. "It is not a good idea to gamble, is it?" "Then what should I do? < "I know what you mean, Mr. Mere Old Man. ......" The conversation between Reiko and the old man went on and on in a roundabout way. * * * * * * "......I still can''t believe that Marikka is gone. "Really. She was younger than me." <, Zion and his mother, Rorona, were talking somberly. "I thought we could be together forever back then. That was when I met Jin. When Zion was still an immature girl. Even so, she was burning with ideals and ready to give herself up for the sake of her clan. "I wonder if getting older means leaving many things behind..." "Sion, that''s not something you should say in front of your mother..." Lorna giggles. Rorona laughed. "I know, I''m sorry." I''m sorry. Father. Reiko. Reiko brought the tea to Jin''s room, where he was relaxing in his house on Horaijima. "Thank you. I was just thirsty." Jin took the buckwheat tea that Reiko brought and sipped it. "You let it cool down just enough to drink. That''s Reiko." "No." Reiko was watching Jin closely. His movements were about 0.1 percent slower than his father''s usual. He is not well, after all.) Reiko was sincerely worried about Jin''s condition. "Father?" "Father?What''s wrong, Reiko? "...... May I tell you a little bit about the old days?" "Oh, yeah, sure." Unsure of Reiko''s true intentions, Jin simply nodded. "About three hundred years ago, there was a creator who left his creations behind and was dismissed." "......" "The Creator had only one command for his creatures. ." "......" "The creator did not realize how terrible the command was, and this left the creature with a deep sadness." "......" "But in the midst of this darkness, there was a ray of light. It was the prophetic fact that we would see each other again in 300 years. Jin did not let Reiko''s words distract him. "It was because of that predestined fact that we have continued to exist." "......!" "Father, I don''t want ...... to leave you." It would be the greatest selfishness in the 1,400 years of Reiko''s life from birth to now. "............!" And it was also the first time that <>, the <>, showed a great outpouring of emotion. Reiko''s eyes were filled with tears. Jin suddenly realized. At this moment, the automata <>, created by Adriana Barbora Zetsi and finished by herself, had surpassed her creator''s wishes. There is only one word for Reiko. "Reiko ......, my ...... beloved child." "Father......." Jin hugged Reiko and she cried in his arms. It was as if time had stopped around them. * * * * * * "Well, I can''t leave you guys, can I?" "Yes, father." Jin and Reiko sat side by side on the porch of the house, looking at the moon. "I''m sure Sion, Rorona, Eira, Katya, and Groma are all looking forward to meeting your father again, aren''t they? "That''s right." Jin nodded at Reiko''s words. "And there are still many things in this world that we haven''t seen, many unknown things. It would take an eternity to see it all. "Still, we can''t stand still, can we?" "Yes, father." As Jin answered, the weariness was strangely gone from his body. 2032 - - What happened in 55-07? . The day after Reiko cried, the old man said to Jin "Yes?What''s going on?" Jin tilted his head. "Yes, to the moon." Reiko added her own words, which made Jin''s face go even more "? >>Reiko added her own words and Jin''s face became even more serious. < "Isn''t it wrong when I say I want you to be surprised?That''s it." Jin was curious to know what was waiting for him at the Moon. "Well, if you insist, let''s go there. Jin headed for the warp gate room. Of course, Reiko followed him. When they arrived at the moon, they were greeted by the voice of the magic brain, . Welcome, Master Jin. We''ve been expecting you. "Hello, Jack. The old man says you have a surprise for me. Yes, that''s right. "You know about it too, Jack? ...... Well, it''s on the moon, of course. So what is it? You''ll have to see for yourself. With those words, a door opened. This way, please. "Okay." Jin walked through the door that Jack had opened and went straight down the hallway. "Have you been to ...... this section before?" The interior of the Moon (UNY) is largely hollowed out, and since it is also a residential area, there are areas that Jin has never set foot in. "Is this ...... a living area?" It was natural that Jin, who had no business in the residential area, had never visited there, especially since most of the areas were uninhabited. This way. Once he turned right, a large door opened spontaneously. "Yes." Jin stepped in without hesitation. Reiko followed suit. Inside was an airlock system like the doors to the other living quarters, and the outer door closed before the inner door opened. Please come in. "Okay." It was a little different from the living quarters Jin had seen before. "Is this ......?" While the other settlements were more like the weather around the old Leonard''s Kingdom, this area was a bit more humid. I would venture to say that while the other areas were just fine with a long-sleeved shirt, this one was just fine with a short-sleeved shirt. "I see, it''s similar to the springtime weather in Horai Island. You''re right, Master Jin. ''s voice rang out. Please proceed to the back. "This way, Father." Reiko leads Jin by the hand. There was a house. This is ...... It was a Japanese style house, just like the one on Horai Island. However, this house was so large that it could be called a << house>. It has a magnificent gate, and the frontage of the entrance, which can be seen from the gate, is also quite large. Ladies and gentlemen, they are waiting for you. Reiko leads us through the gate to the entrance. Then the sliding door of the entrance was opened. The old man was surprised. The old man said, "I have a surprise for you. Jin was greeted there. "Welcome, Brother Jin. "......E ......E,lu,za?" It was, and still is, Jin''s beloved wife, Erza. "...... really, Elsa?......No, ......" "You are right, brother Jin. I am now a duplicate, a homunculus body with memories and knowledge." "But you''re still Elsa, right?" ...... Yes, my dear. Erza! Jin ran up to Erza and hugged her. "Brother Jin,......, I''ve missed you so much." "Yeah, I missed you too." He had thought that these feelings had faded after becoming a double, but once he felt their warmth, he realized that they were not gone, but merely asleep. They held each other as if they were checking each other''s warmth, and then both of them loosened their arms. "...... are all waiting for you." Erza took Jin''s hand and led him to the back of the house. Jin followed her lead to the back of the house. Reiko has somehow read the air and disappears. When he opens the fusuma (sliding door), he finds all the familiar faces there. "Onii-chan!" "...... Hannah?" The first person to run up to Jin is a woman of about 18 years old. Her blonde hair was braided into a pigtail. "Yeah, it''s me! "You''ve grown up, ......!" "Heh heh heh!" Jin felt relaxed to see Hannah, who looked like an adult but was still the same as before. Then, a woman in her twenties who looked just like Hannah said to Jin, "Jin! "Jin, it''s been a long time. "Are you Martha from ......? Yes, it''s me. It''s me. ...... I mean, after what Hannah did to you... It''s good to see you again. Me too. Jin-san, you look well. Licia! I''m so happy to see you again! I''m very happy to see you again! Jin!It''s so good to see you again! Next came Bina and.., "Jin, it''s a strange coincidence, isn''t it?" It was the Count and Countess of Lewis. Jin, who had recently been doing various things with their descendants, was in an indescribably strange mood. "Hey, Jin! Marcia was there too. "Well, I guess I can enjoy this world a little more," she said. She was a little embarrassed and bashful, just like when we first met. "Well, Jin, it''s been a while! "Yes, indeed!It''s good to see you." Of course, her best friend Reinhard was there. "Thank you for Hannah." I really do. They shake hands. Jin-sama, it''s been a long time. Reinhardt''s beloved wife, Bertsche, was also there, looking young ...... and fresh. "It looks like you can spend a little more time with your husband. "A while, Jin, a while." "Ah, Saki, it''s really been a while!" Saki, dressed as usual, also looked nostalgic and squinted her eyes. "Jin-sama, please keep in touch with me." "Uh, ...... are you my mother-in-law?" Chestnut hair, brown eyes. The woman is ....... "Yes, my name is Meane." Meene also looked like she was in her twenties. "Jin-kun, I look like this too. It''s a strange fate, isn''t it? "Toa ......?" Toa was a beautiful young man in his twenties, and Jin could understand why Saki''s mother, Charley Theoderic von Mowry, had eloped with Toa. "Jin-kun, my husband is so handsome. I''m worried about him. A woman with copper-colored hair said. Of course, "Mr. Stearina!" She is ....... "Jin, you''re going to add to your legend," said Vivian. It was Vivian who said. "Vivien, it''s good to see you again. Jin''s eyes began to water at the sight of all the people he had missed. "Jin, it''s so good to finally meet you." Goose! "Now we''ll have more freedom of movement." "...... What do you mean?" That, of course, is because Jin-sama is aware of our presence. ...... Rodrigo? Marcia''s father, Rodrigo, also looked younger. "<> gave me a lot of trouble, you know." "Milowina!" Milowina, one of the last to emigrate to the moon, had also taken on a younger appearance. "Uh, so is Marikka here too ......?" "Yes, Jinsha." Marikka! Marikka, in her youth, was standing there, her cheeks flushed from the bite. "...... I''m sorry for worrying you." Jin could only nod his head now, feeling nostalgic. 2033 - - 55-08 Reunion party After the joy of reunion, everyone gathered in the hall of the mansion. <''s control were preparing for the banquet. There were drinks and food that were comparable to those from the island of Horai. "Well, first of all, let''s have a toast to our reunion! declared Reinhard as he opened a bottle of white wine, Erlich''s 3454. "Cheers!" "Cheers!" The party was passing ...... in harmony with all the old friends gathered. "...... please explain to me what the hell is going on." Jin, still in a state of excitement, interrupted. "I think it would be best if you explain it to me, Hannah-chan. "I guess so. Hannah-chan, please. Elsa and Saki as well as the other members nodded their heads, and since no one objected, Hannah was asked to explain. "Well, let me explain. As I''m sure you''re aware, you''re all ." "Yeah." "Well, I originally started working on them when my grandma got sick, but with the help of you, 700672, and Jack. I managed to make it work with the help of the old man, Mr. 700672 and Jack. "Oh, I knew it." The old man, Mr. 700672 and Jack were all in danger of developing "Master Loss Syndrome". They must have realized it and spared no effort to avoid it. "But you know, there were a lot of problems." Hannah explains: ....... In order to create a homunculus, you will need a . Since this is finite, they had to decide until the last minute who to create the homunculus with whom. "Indeed." Jin does not realize it now, but 400 years ago Jin and Erza must have had twin children. The fact that those children are not here ...... must mean that. I''m really sorry about that. Hannah bowed almost to her knees. "Don''t blame her,...... Jin-brother." Erza interrupted. "Yes, that''s right, Jin." It took me ten years of struggle to come to that conclusion," Goose said. "First, we decided on a sort of unwritten rule that <>." Now Reinhardt began to explain. "At the same time, we all decided that the <> would be limited to the <>." "...... What do you mean?" "Yes, let me explain it a little more step by step. The homunculus completed by ...... Hannah and her family was reborn in the order of those who had reached the end of their lifespan, of course. Is that right?" "Well, yeah." "At ......, Martha and Milowina, these two were the first to become homunculus." Jin agreed that this was probably true in terms of age. "Milowina-san was begged by , but Martha-san was not." "Yes, she did. I was surprised to see how young you''ve become." Martha interrupted. "I don''t blame Hannah for that. In her later years she had accepted her fate and thought there was no need to prolong her life, but once she was actually born again, she decided to leave it at that. But you can''t keep living in the village of Kaina after being rejuvenated, can you?" It is strange that a person who is supposed to be dead is young again and alive, and it would be bad to tell the truth. Not everyone can become a homunculus. That''s where the previous statement "If a homunculus is reincarnated, it is forbidden to have any contact with a living person" comes in, Reinhardt said. "So, if we reincarnate the homunculus in the order in which they disappeared, that would be the 17 people here now, except for Marikka." They decided to wait for Jin with these 17 people. "We had to give up on the children," he said. Elsa, Beena and the others, and all of us ......." The homunculus body could not be prepared for the children born out of wedlock. So, to be fair, they gave up homunculus for their children. But you know, I still missed my children. So, what to do? "After discussing it among ourselves, we decided to use your Amnesia. < Using this, the memories are first backed up at <> level 10. Then, the memories of the main body are erased and restored to the memories before the birth of the child. After that, the old man edits his memories, and if he decides that it is necessary, he has <> put back by <>. This allows him to keep his peace of mind. "I know that to adjust my memories and continue to exist in this way is an act of spitting in the face of the world''s reason." Reinhard. "But we had to do this to protect this world." There was no guarantee that the old man and Reiko would not run amok after Jin was gone, in fact, there was a greater chance that they would. "Well, I mean, this world is in danger when I''m gone. Is that why you''re all here?" "That''s a pretty short list of reasons, but I guess that''s what it is." Jin sighed. "...... I''m saving the world, but I''m also in charge of the fate of that same world?" "What the hell is going on? You''d think that would be obvious considering the forces on Horai Island. Reinhardt and Goose say toothlessly. "I see. ...... that''s right." Jin, who had just recently been crying to Reiko, understood exactly what they meant. "So, the old masters have arranged to have the first reunite once again in this time period." "What?What do you mean?" "...... First of all, we knew that Jin would appear in Ars again in 3899 by the returning Jin." "Yes." "So the old man wanted to copy Jin''s memories and create a homunculus of Jin with <> memories after Jin returned 400 years ago." Jin, who had returned 400 years ago, had a vague memory of the world 400 years later, perhaps due to the power of time correction. "That''s why we are here to support him. I see. So it''s good that you became a homunculus, but you''ve been dormant longer. He had been asleep ever since he decided to wait for Jin. "......I may be a little incoherent in some of my explanations because of the alcohol, but do you understand me?" Reinhardt laughed. The homunculus'' body can be intoxicated by alcohol. "No, some of it was hard to understand, but I understand what''s going on." Jin was forced to realize how dangerous he had been. Still, it was an unexpected pleasure to be reunited with this . 2034 - - 55-09 The bond again The party of Jin and the others was held in harmony. "Well, in short, you became a homunculus in the order of your ...... lifespan." Reinhardt was drunk, and the explanation was given one after the other, so Jin, who was a little confused, again gave his own summary. "So that''s how it is." It seems that the other members of the have transferred their consciousness to the homunculus in such a way, leaving Zion and Marikka''s slots. "And since the number of children was too great, they had to manipulate their memories slightly to avoid mental conflicts." "Hmm, that''s what I mean." "...... didn''t I know that back then?" He wondered what the Jin thought 400 years ago. "...... didn''t you let your granddaughter know?" "What?" "I mean, I was the one who planned to turn the family into a homunculus." Hannah says it''s all her fault. "Mr. 700672, Jack helped us to avoid the Master Loss Syndrome. "He helped us to avoid the Master Loss Syndrome. In other words, except for Hannah, all of them had ended their lives once, not knowing that they would live on like this. "But you know what, Jin? I think that resignation in old age,......<, is a kind of self-preservation, a feeling of the spirit being pulled by the body''s decline." Reinhardt says sincerely. In other words, he thinks it''s a divine intervention so that he won''t have too many lingering regrets at the end of his life. "Kuhu, when I''m reborn like this, I''m glad I''m alive. Saki said the same thing. "I think that the resignation we feel when we get old is not a lie in itself, but it is probably a combination of our physical age ...... or even our life span. In short, Saki said, it may be heaven''s way of making sure that we don''t have to struggle ugly at the end of our natural life span. "Interesting theory, isn''t it?But it''s based on facts, so it has some persuasive power. Saki laughed again. "Anyway, we were dormant until Jin appeared four hundred years later and the old man sent him back to his own time again." Reinhard explains again. "So you mean to say that you have only recently awakened?" "Well, yes, about four months ago. And you''ve been here ever since? Yes, I suppose so. However, Reinhardt said he was a little bored here because of the environment and the fact that it was originally a residential area, but he received regular updates on how Ars was doing, so it wasn''t as boring as he thought it would be. "The old man wasn''t sure if it would be safe to let his brother ...... Jin know about us." Erza said with an apologetic look on her face. "Because I couldn''t predict what would happen to Brother Jin if he was satisfied with his current situation." There was a possibility that he would be satisfied and disappear. Jin laughed, "It''s like becoming a Buddha," he said, but perhaps he was not wrong. If one becomes a ghost because of one''s unfulfilled regrets, one becomes a Buddha when those regrets disappear, and the existence of ghosts may also be a trick of free ether, Jin thought. In any case, this explanation would explain the old man''s past reactions. The No. 700672 must also have been stopped from confiding in Jin. "Well, let''s not talk so hard anymore. Toa, who seemed to be very ready to talk, shouted loudly, "Yes, yes! "Yes, yes! Saki agreed with her father. "Today is the day of the Jin family reunion!" Marcia said in a good mood, "We''ve all been waiting for this day!" Rodrigo added a few words. "Of course we have!" Jin agreed with him. It would be a bit discouraging to have so much formal talk at a banquet. Jin, who is a composite, cannot get drunk at all, but since he does not drink much and can get drunk from the atmosphere, it is not so much of a problem for him. "Come on, come on, Elsa, you should be closer to your master!" Marcia pushed her out and Erza sat down on Jin''s right side. "Hmmm, that''s nice..." Berthe is also pouring Reinhardt a glass of wine. "Ah, it''s nice to have a partner, isn''t it? Vivienne stirred the wine with a murmur. There is no Lukor, I guess that''s what they mean. The party was starting to get chaotic, but everyone''s faces were cheerful. This may be because they are no longer tied to the floating world. Until now, they have been bound by reality to a greater or lesser extent, or even to a greater extent. Now that they are free in this way, they are probably thinking of enjoying the advantages rather than thinking of the disadvantages. (Many of them were in positions with more responsibility than others. ......) In a sense, Jin thought inwardly that this might be the mindset of businessmen who have retired and are now thinking about their second life. "A second life, huh? ......" He said out loud without thinking, "A second life, I like that!" Saki, who had a sharp ear, heard it. "A second life, that''s exactly what I''m talking about! Reinhardt agreed. "Cheers to a second life! Toa shouted loudly. They are like a bunch of drunks. Hannah, Licia, and Milowina, who don''t drink much, have already evacuated. Still, it is a relief that there is no one who has a bad drinking habit. It was all merry drinking. * * * * * * Fed up with dealing with drunks, Jin invited Elsa to join him and quietly got up from the table. "......It really has been a long time." "...... hmm." On the north side of the mansion there was a separate house, connected to the house by a corridor. Erza led Jin toward it. "......Kai kaitta" (I''m here, I''m here). Leaning on Jin''s shoulder, Elsa looked up at him. The noise of the feast does not reach the distance, and it is quiet. "It''s like a dream come true to be able to see everyone ...... like this, especially Elsa. "Me too. "A second life, I guess. ...... I''m looking forward to it. I''m glad to see you too. It''s quiet as soon as you close the sliding door. Reiko, perhaps sensing our presence, did not follow us. For the first time in a long time, Jin and Elsa spent time alone together. 2035 - - 55-10 The bustling Horai Island The next day. Despite all the drinking, none of us had a hangover. It is thanks to the robust metabolism of the homunculus. Jin, who is a compound, is not drunk by nature. After breakfast, the group gathered in the hall to discuss the future. "Well, what shall we do now? Reinhardt opened his mouth. "Horai Island, Hale, or stay here. I think we have three options at the moment. Jin says. "That''s ...... after all." "Horai Island!" "Yes, that''s right!" "Yes, that''s right!" We all agreed to go to Horai Island. In a sense, it was natural. Everyone had spent time in Horai Island in the past. "Okay, once we''ve decided that, let''s get ready. Oh... "Yeah." Everyone except ...... Jin started to pack their belongings. It wasn''t much, though, and half an hour later everyone had gathered in the warp gate room. Among them was Milowina. Now that she had a homunculus body, she was able to do many things she had never been able to do before. "Come on, let''s go." First, Jin and Reiko enter the Warp Gate. Then Erza, Hanna, and Reinhardt enter ....... One after another, everyone disappears into the warp gate. After the familiar , they moved to Horai Island. "Ah, it''s Horai Island! "It''s been so long! Everyone could not hide their joy at seeing Horaijima for the first time in a while. "You haven''t changed. "You haven''t changed at all!" It is thanks to the old masters'' efforts to preserve the island as much as possible in its original state. Jin decided to leave the happy people a little longer as they were, and followed Elsa who went to her <>. "...... hasn''t changed." "Right?" "......n." Elsa squinted nostalgically at me in the doorway. "Come on, let''s go inside." "Yeah." And then they went to their room, which they knew very well. "Ah, this place hasn''t changed either. "Elsa, Jinru, let''s go to the sea!A boat, a boat!" Saki and Marcia followed him and urged him to go to the sea. "We don''t have an ocean on the moon!" "We don''t have an ocean in Yunie," said Saki and Marcia. It''s not that we can''t help it. The cars were driven to Tatsumi Bay, not by warp gate, but by car. There was no one left, and everyone had to go to the sea. "Oh, the fruit trees around here are getting bigger. "I remember that tree. They''ve grown so much! The place was bustling with activity. The group arrived at Tatsumi Bay in the midst of the bustle. "Ah, fish tank, fish tank! "It''s just as it used to be..." "No, there are more of them. "No, it looks like there are more fish now. "Let''s get on the boat!" While everyone was excited, Marcia insisted on getting on the boat, "What do you want to ride?" Jin asked. "Well, I think a speedboat! At the answer, Jin called up . Since the is a four-seater, it can accommodate three passengers except for Marin, who is in charge of piloting the boat. So we have Jin + Elsa + Hannah, Reinhard + Belce + Licia, Luis + Bina + Maricka, Goose + Saki + Martha, Toa + Stearina + Meene, Marcia + Rodrigo, Vivian + Milowina, and so on. Reiko will not remain ...... to get out of the way, but will use her <> to fly along with them. "Well, let''s go." The seven boats started from a floating pier in Tatsumi Bay. "No, this is the one! Naturally, it was Marcia who was the most excited, but the other members could tell by the looks on their faces that they were also enjoying this boating experience. No wonder, since they had spent nearly four months in the subterranean habitat of the moon. Blue ocean, blue sky, white clouds, white waves, round horizon. "Ah!It''s the ocean! Marcia was like a fish in water. She was so thorough that she even asked Marin to take over the controls of the boat and steer it herself. "I knew Jin''s boat was great!I''ll do my best too!" In the end, after making three rounds around Horai Island, Marcia was finally satisfied. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, this, this, this is the taste! She was so excited that she got hungry, so she returned to the institute by the warp gate and had lunch. "Soba noodles from Horai Island! We had three kinds of soba noodles: one made with 10% buckwheat flour, another with 80% buckwheat flour and 20% buckwheat glue, and another with matcha green tea and yams. The dipping sauces are made of niboshi broth, bonito broth, kombu broth, sweet and dry. Condiments are wasabi, grated radish, spicy radish, green onion and chopped nori. And tempura of sweet potato, pumpkin, eggplant, shrimp, etc.... "Delicious! "More!" Me too!" They all devoured the food with such gusto that Hitoshi was astonished. "I guess I''ve become a healthy daredevil now that I''m a homunculus. ...... Jin was a little overwhelmed by their energy. 2036 - - 55-11 in the Nord Commonwealth In the afternoon, the < cruiser <> and the <> enjoyed the sea. That night, they have a party and have a good time. Then, a message came from the old man. < "What is it, Mr. Old?" <> "Yes. ......" "My what?" "Oh, ......, that''s what you mean. ......" Maricka was an international celebrity, and an important one at that. She had many students and pupils in the field of magical engineering, and many of them became important figures in their countries. The usual funeral service was held by Zion in the clan territory of , but there was no reason not to hold an international funeral. (Come to think of it, funerals of famous people were often held at the Aoyama funeral hall.) ) Even in modern Japan, where Jin lived, such ceremonies were often held much later than the anniversary of his death. Especially this time, since it was an international ceremony, it took time for both the host and the participants to prepare for the ceremony. And the reason why the old man told Jin now was because he was concerned about his previous instability, so he could not say why he did not tell him until the day before the event. I''d better get out of here. There was also the possibility of using Jin''s <>, but I felt that Zion would see right through it and it would be impolite. "Marikka, you want to go too?" "Me too? Marikka is flustered when Jin asks her to talk. "Only Zion and Rorona will recognize me, but I don''t think the others will. "Oh, I see." In that case, it is not good for Maricka to see Sion and Rorona. That much concern is necessary. "I guess it will be just me and Reiko here. Since the mourner is Zion, it is expected that he will have to greet her at least once. And with Zion''s memory, he would recognize the faces of the that are here now. "Well then, Reiko and I are going to the Nord Federation tomorrow. "Thank you, Jin-brother. "Thank you, Jin-sama, for ...... for me." Marikka bowed her head as Erza thanked her for her efforts. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, July 18, Jin, Reiko, Makina, and Squire Rei left for the Nordic Federation by . "Welcome to the Nordic Federation! They were greeted by the puppet Lord Thoth, the great-grandson of Zion. He is the great-grandson of Zion. "Jin-sama, it has been a long time. Jin-sama, it has been a long time. Rhodes'' sister, Vita, seems to be helping out. "Grandmother has been busy since yesterday, so we can''t welcome you. Rhodes looks apologetic, "I''m sure you''re right. I know, so don''t worry about it." Rhodes and Vita led the way. Rhodes and Vita led the way to a large golem car. They were going to the funeral hall in the golem car. "The funeral hall was built about 120 years ago. < began to have close diplomatic relations with the nations of the Laurentian Continent. It was a rather large building, about half the size of the Tokyo Dome. The Golem car was parked at what appeared to be the front entrance. When we entered the building, the front platform was decorated with flowers and Marikka''s portrait of the past. She was about the same age as Marikka, whose face he had seen earlier, and Jin could not help but feel a sense of discomfort inside. (In this respect, too, homunculus can''t be in contact with people in this world. ......) Jin regretted this inwardly. It seemed that the seats had been allocated, and Jin and the others were led to the front of the room. "Well then, Jin-san, this way please. "This way please, Makina-sama." Then, Rhodos shows Jin and Vita shows Makina to their seats. "......This is ......" Jin was shown to a seat near the front, close to the clan leader of <>, a VIP seat to say the least. Makina also had a VIP seat, but closer to the outskirts. Was it decided by the depth of the relationship with the clan?Jin thought. (...... in my case, Zion knows me, so I''m special, right?) Next to Jin was Rorona, Zion''s mother. She took a seat and bowed to Jin. "Welcome, Jin-sama. "It''s been a while." Jin knew where he was going, so he changed his tone and used more polite words. "It sounds like you''ve been through a lot." "Yes. Theon and Belial are attending to the guests, and Rhodes, Vita, and Ludmilla are helping by showing the guests around. Ludmilla is Rhodes'' daughter-in-law. As you say, I could certainly see her in the distance. "Well, Mr. Jin, thank you for coming." "Ah, Mr. Lucilius." Seated in front of Jin was Lucilius, a former puppet. Formerly the head of a puppet clan, he is now retired. "Marikka is too young to be alive while I am," he said. "Yes. ......" Lucilius will be 513 years old this year. He is one of the longest-lived of the northerners. Basically, the people here do not know that Marikka is still alive as a homunculus. Only Jin, Reiko, Makina, and Rei knew. * * * * * * * * * * * * It seemed that most of the people except for the VIPs were about to enter the room, and one by one, they entered the room. At a glance, there were at least 2,000 seats. Half of them were from the , and the other half were guests from the Laurentian continent. Jin felt as if he had seen Marikka''s virtue in this number of people. 2037 - - 55-12 Over there and over here Maricka''s < was held in a solemn manner. Flowers were offered by the representatives of each country, words of thanks from his disciples, and words of condolence from his relatives. The scene was also sent to Horai Island by the old man''s telescope and magi-microphone. As a side note, this gave Jin an idea that <>. In short, a TV broadcast. Aside from that, everyone in Horai Island was glued to the magic screen. "Ah, I see Zion..." "I can still see his face..." "He''s still here! "He still has his face. She looks like a lovely grandmother. "Could that be Prince Ernest''s descendant?I can see the resemblance. "Look, look, the Emperor of Shoro!Ernst II. Oh, you''ve been doing this for a long time, haven''t you? And so on, and so on, and so on. Compared to the solemnity behind the magic screen, it was quite lively. No wonder, since the person being sent, Marikka''s homunculus, is there. "But then again, it''s not right to live on as a homunculus, is it? Bina, who was listening to the representative of the Kingdom of Egelea read the eulogy, said something like this. "Yes, that''s true. But that doesn''t mean we can''t go back now. Saki agreed. "You know what Oni-chan says, as a general rule, it''s better not to have contact with living people," she said. Hannah looks a little disappointed. "Which is a better place to live, Horai Island or Hale? "It doesn''t sound so bad to stay in Hale. "We''ll talk about it when Jin comes back. Everyone agreed with Goose''s opinion. On the screen, the <> was about to end. "I''m sorry, ...... Zion." Marikka said. Then the magic screen went dark. The old man''s voice rang out. "Thank you, Mr. President. "Thank you, Mr. Lao." The members of the family thanked him. * * * * "It was a good ceremony. "It was a good ceremony." Jin, who was in the last group to leave the hall, said to Zion who was walking next to him. "Thank you. It was worth all the hard work you put into setting it up." Such a large scale ceremony is bound to have delays or unexpected problems at some point, but nothing of the sort occurred, and the ceremony went on very smoothly. "...... Speaking of which, how is <> doing?" Hanako is an automata that Marikka created with Reiko as her target. I was curious about this because it is the same relationship between myself and Reiko. "She seems to be spacing out at Marikka''s house right now." Jin wondered if this was also <>, and made a mental note to think about what he should do with Hanako. "...... So, what''s Jin going to do after this?" "You''re going to a dinner, right?I''ll show up." In modern Japan, where Jin lived, he might have called it a "shinjo-koshi," a dinner party. Jin was deeply moved by the fact that this was being held for 2,000 people, and that the food situation in the Nordic Federation had improved considerably. "Well, this Topopo cuisine is delicious. The seasoning is different from that of our country, but it is fresh and good. The ambassadors of the Kingdom of Elias were praising the food prepared in the new Topopo. "This fish dish is also excellent. Not only the seasoning, but also the flavor is indescribable. The Cline Kingdom delegation was also enjoying the fish dishes. "Jin-dono, we are going to miss you, aren''t we? "...... I will." <, was talking with Jin. In his hand was a glass made of cubic zirconia. "I miss the days when I was a young man under the tutelage of Marikka-sama. "You are still young, aren''t you, Tomax? Please keep up the good work. Yes, I want to live up to the teachings of Dr. Maricka. Then Zion came in. "Oh, Mr. Theon," she said. "Mr. Tomax, thank you for coming all the way here. Zion seems to be making the rounds to greet all the important people. Of course, it was not only Zion, but also Rhodoth, Vita, Rorona, and Belialus. No matter where they looked, they could not find any barriers between the two races that used to be called the and fought each other. * * * * On the island of Horai, the people who had finally grown tired of having fun were holding a serious debate. The main reason for the discussion was "I''m free until Jin comes back. The main reason for the discussion was that "I''m free until Jin comes back. "Hey, about the air traffic control in the Shoro Kingdom..." Hannah started. "Didn''t they use to use a flashing communication device in the past?" "Yes, we did." Marcia answered. "I think it was an idea that came up during <>''s maiden voyage, wasn''t it?" Rodrigo answered, thinking back to that time. "Yes, that''s right. I remember that they had decided on several cues by the pattern of the blinking lights." "And did I mention that Tenkunhan," Rodrigo said.I think he also made a long-distance communication device like a Morse code machine. Guth said, remembering the old days. "Yes. Her Majesty the Emperor and the Prime Minister at that time said it was a good idea." Erza also seemed to remember those days. "Hmmm...but it''s not so popular now, is it?" Hannah said regretfully. "I wonder why?" "Well, ......." Everyone tilted their heads. Then, Reinhardt seemed to have an idea. "Maybe it was too directional and difficult to use. "Yeah, maybe." Using light means that it cannot be used if it is not visible, and there are many situations where it is difficult to see, such as when the fog is thick or backlit. The problem is especially serious on the receiver side. You couldn''t solve that, could you?" Hannah nodded in agreement. "It''s not suitable for long distance communication." "So why don''t you use it for air traffic control? Bina also expressed her opinion. "I think it could be useful if it''s done well, don''t you?" "Yes, I think so!" So they all decided to discuss the practical application of the flashing lights. 2038 - - 55-13 Meaning of Study Group The members of the Jin family decided to hold a meeting to discuss the practical application of the flashing light transmitter without Jin. The meeting was to begin in earnest after breakfast on the following day, the 19th. "First, how about we list the points that are difficult to use and think about how we can improve them? Everyone nodded in agreement with Hannah''s suggestion. "That''s a good idea." "Okay, let''s start with the shortcomings. First of all, the communication range is short. If we can''t see it, it''s useless. The amount of information that can be sent is not enough." At this point, Licia raised her hand and asked a question. "Wait a minute, Hannah. What do you mean by the amount of information that can be sent? "Well, I don''t know how to say it...... you see, the way we''re doing it now is by changing the number of flashes and the intervals between them, giving meaning to the patterns, and comparing them to the corresponding list, and then sending the information." A primitive form of Morse code, if you will. Or an extension of hand signals. "Oh, so that''s what it is, okay. Go to ...... and keep going." "Yeah. ...... Any other shortcomings?" "Well, ......." "Oh, let''s leave aside the cost and the fact that it''s hard to make." Everyone tilted their heads, but so far no one could think of any drawbacks other than those mentioned by Hannah. "Well, let''s think of a way to eliminate the drawbacks!" "...... I think the communication distance and visibility will be a set, don''t you?" Bina said. "Increasing the light intensity is a simple idea, isn''t it?" "Yes, I think your sister is right. But if we do that, the light will be too bright, like a searchlight. ...... Oh, yes. How about using infrared light?" "Hannah, infrared light is invisible to the human eye. Saki pointed out, but Hanna looked cool. "Yes. So, how about we use a magi device like a golem''s eye for the light receiving part, and use the information from it to make a visible light lamp flash? "That could be interesting. That''s Hannah-chan." Reinhard is impressed. "Oh, if we''re going to use the magi device, how about decoding the signal instead of just making the lamps flash? Milowina, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "...... that''s a good idea!" "Yes, that''s it, that''s it!" Hannah and Bina were the first to agree. "Oh, this is a very interesting discussion!" "Onii-chan! Brother Jin! Then Jin came back. "Zion and the others are busy entertaining guests, so I just stayed the night and went home. Jin said that he had left early because he was busy with guests from abroad. "So, you''re looking into a communications device?" "Yes, I am. Can you give me your opinion?" Hannah explained to Jin what had happened so far. "...... I see, so the flashing communication device has been discontinued." Jin was a little disappointed. If they had continued to develop it, they might have developed a communication device like the one Hannah and the others were discussing now. "I like the idea of using infrared for sure." Jin agrees with the idea. "Even if it''s a little foggy, infrared is a good idea. He would have preferred to use radio waves, but he does not know how to send them. But he does know the principle. When sparks fly, radio waves are emitted. In reality, this is disliked as . When you turn on/off a power switch with mechanical contacts near a computer or audio equipment (especially when it is turned off), you may hear noise, but radio waves are also emitted at that time. "...... but Onii-chan,<> and <> are communicating with each other by magic wave, right?" Hannah asked a simple question. "You can use magic waves, but not radio waves?" "Well, to be precise, it''s not that we can''t use them, it''s more like we don''t use them." "What do you mean? "Magic waves are better than radio waves because they are easier to use and there is less risk of interference, but radio waves are ......" Jin said he wanted to take a more magical approach as much as possible because of the problems he sees in modern Japan, such as competition for frequency bands, malfunctioning of electronic devices with radio waves, and the health ...... hazards. "If you apply high voltage at high frequency to the transmitter antenna, you can probably get a signal to fly." With that approach, perhaps AM (Amplitude AmplitudeModulation But I don''t think I can make an electronic circuit for it. "Yes, that''s true. I can''t make an electronic circuit either. Hanna admitted that she could not make an electronic circuit. Without any reference materials, it seems impossible for even Hanna to make it out of the blue. Then, Erza came up with an idea. "Brother Jin, but isn''t light a kind of electromagnetic wave? "...... Ah!" Jin had an epiphany at those words. "That''s right. If that''s the case, we can modify the magic of <> to ......." The difference between radio waves and light is the wavelength. The wavelengths longer than far infrared rays are submillimeter waves, millimeter waves, and microwaves....... These wavelengths are used for radar because they have high linearity and are reflected when they hit an object. Jin thought that if it could emit far-infrared rays, it could also emit microwaves and ultrashort waves with a little more ingenuity, and began to consider the possibility. "Hmmm...I think I can ...... rewrite the magic formula (Magi Formula) here and change the parameters of this one." Jin thought about it, and then he recognized the formula. "Ah, ......<>." < "That one was a magnetic field, this one is an electric field. No wonder they are so similar." It was too late to notice, Jin reflected. "I think I can transmit." Jin thinks that he will leave the modulation to the magic brain. The magic brain will be like a CPU. The problem is reception. "It sure sounds difficult. ......" At this point, Meane, who usually keeps quiet and takes care of everyone''s tea and refreshments, speaks up unusually. "Um, there''s one thing I don''t understand, may I ask you?" "Of course. May I ask you something, mother-in-law? Thank you very much. ......Well, there is already a means of communication called <>, so I was wondering why you don''t use it. It was a very legitimate question as to why they don''t use or apply the means of communication called <> for those related to Horai Island, and <> for the general public. "Ah, so that''s what you mean. Well, <> is a magical device that communicates with magic waves. And what I''m thinking of now is a magical tool that communicates by radio waves. "So you are trying to use different things, ...... magic waves and radio waves. He seemed to have gotten the point somewhat. "In addition, what we are discussing now is that it is fun to think about." "Yes, Mother. We all like to think about these things, discuss them, and give them shape. Elsa added, and finally Meane seemed to be convinced. 2039 - - 55-14 bustling daily life The communication review meeting with Jin continues after lunch. "In the case of light, the problem was that it was too linear. ......" Jin opened his mouth. "What would happen if we made it into radio waves?" It is hard to imagine because it is invisible. Reiko answered. "Father, I can see radio waves too, can''t I? "What?" Reiko said, "I can see radio waves. "I didn''t tell you, but when your father enhanced my vision, I was able to detect <> and see <>. ......" "......What did I do 400 years ago?" Jin was puzzled, but when he thought about it, the function was not so strange. Since Reiko can detect magic, it would be strange if she can''t detect electric and magnetic fields. Jin decided to think so. And if she can see electromagnetic waves when she uses <, she should be able to search her surroundings like a radar ....... In other words, Reiko now has a radar-like function, albeit a limited one. "What is the difference between radio waves radiated from an antenna and those radiated by magic?" I was eager to ask him for the sake of future study. "I don''t know what a radio wave radiated from an antenna is, so I can''t say. "That''s right. ......" "Radio waves radiated by magic spread out in a cone shape, right? It''s no different than light." I see. Jin dredged up a corner of his memory, "I thought electromagnetic waves with a wavelength as short as a millimeter wave had a high linearity. "Then, I wonder if it would be easier for the receiver to use a radio wave with a longer wavelength ......." In Jin''s memory, the TV antennas of the houses in the mountains (in the analog era, of course) were all pointed high toward the sky. Jin recalled that this was because TV signals are highly linear, and it is difficult to receive them in the shadows of the mountains ....... On the other hand, AM radio signals could be received without much difficulty. This is because radio waves with longer wavelengths can be transmitted to the shadowed side of the mountain, even if there are obstacles in the way. "Let''s try it around there." Long waves, as the name implies, have longer wavelengths and thus require antennas for both transmission and reception. The wavelength is so long that it is also called . This makes it difficult to use, but not for Jin and the others. "Well, then, let''s consider that line of thought!" Reinhardt said with great enthusiasm, as if he wanted to make a prototype as soon as possible. "Good idea!" Saki agreed. "I''ll leave that to the experts." "Likewise." Bertsche, Vivian, Toa, Rodrigo, and the others seemed to be on the sidelines. * * * * "Change the parameters of the < here at ...... and you''re good to go. Jin has just finished modifying the <, which is not a flashlight. "This should produce at least a medium wave. Reiko, check it out." Jin turned on the flashlight and aimed it at the void. "How is it?" "Yes, it is. ...... but the cone has a top angle of about 170 degrees. That means that the cone is spreading toward the front, not toward the directionality. But Jin could imagine the cause. "Oh, I see. There is no way such a lens can converge." The lens used to converge visible light had absolutely no effect on the mid-wave. Incidentally, when it comes to very long waves, it penetrates through various objects. On the other hand, they are more susceptible to noise in nature, such as static electricity. ...... "We can use the lens as a magi material and make it magically converge," Saki advised. Saki then offered some advice. "Jin, why don''t we use light-attribute magi crystals?" "Oh, that might work. Let''s give it a try." As it turned out, it worked out perfectly. "Well, it seems that the focal distance can be changed by the strength of the magic power applied to the magi crystal. Saki said happily. "Yes, this is nice. But isn''t it a little too costly?" Magi crystals of the light attribute are quite expensive. "Well, if it''s only for air traffic control at airports, it''s good, isn''t it?" Reinhardt said, "It''s better to have a lot of people using it than to have it spread so widely that it gets out of control. "That''s one way to look at it." If it is limited to airports in each country, the number could be less than 100. "What about the receiving end of ......?" Elsa asks. It is true that the number of receivers would be countless. "Besides, it''s going to be a one-way street," Hannah says with some regret. Hannah says a little regretfully. Indeed, not being able to hear the visitor''s reply is a problem, everyone thought. "Well, there are still many problems to be solved. But Jin''s face looks happy as he replies, "Well, there are still many problems to be solved. He was so happy because he had never thought that he would be able to have fun with again. "Well, I wonder if we can find some clues if we consider the conditions for sound waves to travel far and how to pick up sounds from far away?" Hannah suggested an approach from another direction. "Well, ...... I wonder if we could make good use of wind attribute warding." Since we are bound to use only techniques, it is difficult to come to a conclusion even though Jin and the others are all working together and pooling their wisdom. However, it is a fun and meaningful time. There are no restrictions as to when. As a proof of this, the faces of everyone in the Jin Family were uniformly cheerful. However, it is not always easy to create something new. "...... hmmm ......" As the makers were groaning, Meene came in, "You should take a break when you are lost in thought," she said. She said to them, "You should take a break when you''re lost in thought. There is tea ready for you in the vestibule. "Thank you, ...... mother." "This is very kind of you." Everyone, a little tired, thanked Meane and left the institute for a change. "Oh." It was a nice day to take a break outside, and everyone sat down on a chair or lay down on a picnic sheet on the lawn. "The tea is good, and the rice crackers are delicious. "The sweetness of the red bean paste is indescribable. It soaks into my tired head. "Fresh juice is the best!" Seeing everyone doing what they wanted with their drinks and food, Jin felt truly relaxed. 2040 - - 55-15 as it used to be "Whew, I''m so full!" After eating daifuku, rice crackers, and fruit, and drinking green tea, tea (taehee), kuhee, and juice, Hannah lay down on the seat, her stomach growling. "...... but in the end, it''s all about the operation, isn''t it?" And then she immediately said something like that. "Hannah, take a break! Erza chides. "Yeah. ......" The sky is filled with thin clouds, the sun is soft, and the breeze is pleasant, making me feel sleepy, Jin thinks. "......Ku." Before he knew it, Hannah was asleep. "Homunculus sleeps,......?" "That''s right." Erza, sitting next to her, answered. "We are all adjusted to our <>." <> like >700672 are adjusted to be able to withstand physical labor. "I see. ...... Well, you know what I mean." "That''s why we''re hungry and sleepy." It''s natural. Jin remembers that he had been drinking and getting drunk. "...... means ...... that?" Jin was suddenly curious. "You are not wearing <> ......?" "...... no. It was with his original body, deactivated and in the ground." "Oh, that''s what you mean." I''m not going to complain about that. So let''s make a new one. "Hmm..." "...... Reiko, talk to the old man and prepare the materials so that the color will be the same as before." I''ll do that. Reiko, who had refrained from getting in the way of Jin and the others, was delighted when Jin gave her instructions and started to act. Jin followed her. Erza and the others looked warmly at her back. "Well, Erza is light blue, Reinhardt is gold. Berthe is scarlet, Meane''s mother-in-law is clear, Stearina is copper, and Toa is blue. Toa is blue and Saki is light purple. Jin processes the prepared magi crystals one after another. Marcia is dark blue, Rodrigo is dark green, Vivian is silver. Hannah is yellow, Luis is yellow-green, and Vina is crimson. The speed of the team was so fast that those who had come to check on them during the show rolled their eyes. "...... I think I haven''t seen Jin''s true spirit in a long time." "Kuhu, that''s totally awesome." "...... I think he''s even faster than before." As if this conversation had fallen on deaf ears, Jin continued his work. "Milowina is silver with gold stripes, Goose is grape brown, and Licia is blue and white maroon. Licia is blue and white marbled, Martha is yellow and white marbled, and Zion is silver and light blue marbled. Zion in silver and light blue marble, and Marikka in silver and yellow marble. That''s it. By the way, Jin is jet black and Reiko is milky white. "Jin-sama, Zion is still ......." Marikka said slowly. "Yes, I know. But Zion is supposed to be here too, right?" The old man answered. "Then it''s not a waste of time to be prepared." Jin then noticed that everyone had gathered before he knew it. "Ah, just as well. I made you a new bracelet. The color is the same as before. "Thank you, girl!" Jin, thank you. Sorry. Everyone took it gladly. "Oh, it feels just like old times." "Well, it''s Jin''s work, that''s for sure." Bina and Luis were saying things like "Oh, it feels just like the old one," and "That''s because it''s Jin''s work, "No, the performance is different. Jin adds, "No, it''s not the same. "What?" "The strength of the barrier is doubled, and it can also use <>." < "Ah, ......, you are indeed a djinn." Reinhardt let out a small sigh. "I don''t think I''ll be able to ...... use it, though." Jin''s face is smiling as he says this. "<>" he said. < Anyway, thank you, Jin. "...... I remember from the bracelet, all the clocks are in their graves too." "Oh, I see." Jin made and gave them all pocket watches for their birthdays. "That can''t be helped. Well, I''ll make another one." With these words, Jin begins to work on the watch again. "......Good grief, you''re Jin, aren''t you?" "Yeah, you haven''t changed at all. "Well, brother Jin is happy to see everyone again. That''s why he''s even more so. ......" "Kuhu, that includes Erza, right?" "......" And so, by that evening, everyone had received their pocket watches. "Ah, I feel like I''ve been making things with all my might for a long time." Jin seemed satisfied. Dinner was served. White rice, miso soup with wakame seaweed and tofu, grilled salmon fillets, grated radish, sweet omelet, simmered pumpkin, and oshinko. These are completely Jin''s favorites, but they are also the favorites of the others. Incidentally, this radish is from the northern part of the Pandor continent, and was named by Jin in the early 3500s. Until now, Jin had eaten small radishes from the Laurentian Continent or Horai Island, which looked like radishes, but the ones from the Pandorian Continent were larger, and were definitely a bred radish. Why the improved radishes were there is a story for another time. "Yes, they are delicious! Jin looked satisfied. "Ah, it''s been a long time since I''ve had this kind of seasoning. Perido, right? He''s a picky eater, isn''t he?Reinhardt knew whose seasoning it was. "Brother Rai, you''re the best." Erza is picking up a sweet egg omelet. "It''s so good to eat with everyone!" Marikka also had her mouth full of rice. "Hey, it''s not polite to talk with food in your mouth. "Whew!" Martha scolded her. The night of Horai Island was going on with a lively atmosphere. 2041 - - 55-16 Reinhardts territory is now On July 20, it rained from the morning on Horaijima. "Well, there are days like this. < "Well, it''s nice to have a rainy day once in a while. Elsa replies. Today, the other members of the are spending their time in their own way. ...... is a good one!...... That''s Rai''s voice. Reinhard, are you building something? "Well, now that I don''t have to run the estate anymore, I can do what I want. ......" "Oh, I see." Jin thinks deeply, "Now Horai Island has truly become a . < imagined, but nevertheless, those whose vocation is have gathered here. This is the way our predecessors had dreamed of, Jin thought idly as he watched the rain fall. Then the old man''s voice rang out. "In such a case, there must be something of a high urgency. Let me hear ......." "What''s wrong? "Is something wrong? "What?" < "Yes." <> "Why is ...... the highly concentrated free-magic element (ether) space blocking the free-magic element (ether) wave?" "You missed it. ......" <<>. "Sound waves propagate even in a high density medium, so I thought a powerful transmitter would be okay." Jin thought for a while about what to do then. "Brother Jin, wouldn''t it be easier to keep the distance apart?" Erza, who was listening at the side, advised. "That''s true. Since our goal is to measure the space with high concentration of free magical element (ether), it might be better to do so. Currently, there are six of them near the boundary of the nearly spherical , and they are positioned at the vertices of the octahedron. "Why don''t we add two more units and place them at the vertices of the cube that contains the sphere?" "That might work." We can control the four sondes so that the virtual plane of the square they create is in contact with the surface of the sphere in . By checking the positions of the eight sondes, we can determine the diameter of the . "Let''s build two more sondes right away!" Jin, who had been suffering from ennui due to the rain, heads for the laboratory. He uses the warp gate so that he does not have to walk in the rain. Erza watches Jin''s back and smiles softly. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Okay, Reiko, help me." "Yes, father." Jin quickly built two more with Reiko as his assistant. It took less than half an hour because they were identical. "That''s it. Send them out, please." . Jin was relieved. This will make it possible to measure the high concentration of free magical element (ether) in the space more reliably. "Now, what is Reinhardt doing?" When Jin finished his own work, he wondered what Reinhardt, who had just been shouting loudly, was doing, so he looked into the next workshop. "Reinhard, what are you doing?" "Hey, are you Jin and Reiko? Look at this! "Here." What we found there was a magi-machine with a disk-shaped body of about 30 centimeters in diameter and six legs. It looks a bit like an insect. Or rather, without legs, it would be a cleaning robot. It''s a golem to search for underground resources! "Underground resources?" When Jin asked back, Reinhardt nodded his head in agreement. "There''s a problem of resource shortage in the Shoro Kingdom, isn''t there?That''s why I made it." "I see." Jin guessed that the main purpose of this project would be to conduct a ground search. Jin thinks that the idea of not making the golem humanoid is unique to Reinhardt. Jin is always concerned about the human form. The exceptions are mermaid mermaids, golem horses, and golem cats. (Oh, there is also a glider golem...) Aside from that, Reinhardt was concerned about the lack of resources in the Shoro Empire in his own way. "I wonder what route we should take to supply this to the Shoro Empire. That is the problem at hand. "The most obvious route is <, but ......" The Shoro Empire does not have priority via <<>. The Magi machine was made by Reinhardt for the sake of his country. "Shall we present it directly to His Majesty?" "That''s fine, but I''d like to go see how the territory is doing..." Reinhardt''s estate was originally the village of Kurtz, but is now Kurtz <. The old man had informed me that he had received a stipend in the form of a family allowance ......, although the territory was too small for a count''s family. "Well then, let''s go and have a look. "Yes, can I?" "Well, is it okay?" "No one knows Reinhardt''s face anymore, so why don''t you just not call yourself that?" "...... that''s fine too." Jin and Reinhardt agreed that as long as they were careful with the name, there would be no problem. "Oh, yes." > "Yes. "Yes, that''s right. Jin decided that it would be too conspicuous for all of them to go together. "Oh, I''d like to go, too. Saki raised her hand and volunteered to go. "Oh, Saki''s house is close by, isn''t it? So Saki joined the group. Toa decided to stay behind because he did not want to add too many people to the group. "I hope the other members will be able to visit their hometowns and other places with which they have a connection. he said to himself. The old man agreed with the idea, though he was talking to himself. The question now was how to get there. "We can go there openly by <> or secretly by <>." Jin asked Reinhardt. "Well, let''s ...... go with an open mind this time." "Okay." With that decision, Jin and the others started to prepare for the trip. 2042 - - To 55-17 Exy Since he was going to visit the former Reinhardt''s estate in the Shoro Kingdom, Jin asked the old man just for a preliminary knowledge. "......So, what''s going on with Reinhardt''s family...... and the Randall family now?And what about Saki''s family,...... the Marquise Theoderic?" < The old man answered. "Oh?" The old man explains before Jin asks. You are indeed a good man. "......, yes. Brother Moritz was very happy, I think. Elsa is supposed to know about that as well. "Heh, heh ......" This was a little out of the realm of the imagination. In Jin''s memory, Karen was 17 or 8 years old, and it was hard for him to imagine her as a mother who gave birth to five children. . "Yes." "Yes, of course." "Yes, I''ve heard about that." < That gives us a rough idea of what happened. The Randalls are the only family that has remained in the Randalls'' family. "And so it is. < to Ekiti and then go to the town, not the village of Kaltz (......)." After that, they decided that if they went to the town of Mahahama, they would be able to find out what was going on with the Marquis'' family. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * We arrived at the town of Exi at around 10:00 a.m. local time. Since there is a time difference of about 5 hours and 25 minutes from Horai Island, it is a little difficult to avoid jet lag. "Basically, we should be on Horai Island time." If it is time to go to bed ......, you can go back to Horai Island through the warp gate and sleep. It is easy if you think so. There is a small airfield on the outskirts of Eksi, close to Lake Tosmo, where we could land the <>. However, since this is a small airfield without even a control tower, there is no warehouse where the Hurricane can be stored. So Jin and the others disembarked and told Hope to keep the <> far above the airfield. < "Now, how do we get to the town, not the village of Kurtz ...... from here?" I will be your guide. "Oh, you are in the fifth column?" Yes. Regulus 3, my name is Tweek. Tzik looked like a country farmer. Brown hair, brown eyes, tanned face. He was dressed in a typical farmer''s style, similar to denim overalls. "I''m in charge of the Kurtz area, sir." "I see. I look forward to working with you. So, <> will show us around. Let''s go by car. To our surprise, Tzik owns a Golem car. Jin and the others were surprised at this fact, He told us, "In the Shoro Kingdom, the car use rate is higher than that of other countries. They were told that "the rate of car ownership is higher in the Shoro Empire today than in other countries. "This is probably because the influence of the was less than in other countries. "I see." That''s very good information, isn''t it, my dear? "Yes, it is." In this order, Jin, Bertsche, and Reinhardt said the same thing. The group got into Zieg''s golem car. "Uh, <>, right?What do you know about the Theodelic family?" Saki asked as we drove away. She seemed to be curious. Tzik gave a brief explanation. "Yes, Saki-sama. The head of the Theoderic family is the Marquis Theobald Theoderic von Grain. He will be 40 years old this year. He seems to be a good lord. "Hmmm, I see. A good lord is all that matters. We''ll ask around ourselves." Then Reinhardt asked a similar question. "Do you know anything about our main family, the Randalls?" "Yes, Mr. Reinhardt. The current head of the Randall family is Count Bernhard Randall von Grasse. He is 55 years old. "I see. And what is the name of my descendant? Yes. Count Kraighard Randall von Kristus. He is 26 years old this year. The same age as Reinhardt is now. Okay. Thank you. No problem. It would be too unnatural to ask around without knowing at least the name of the person you are looking for information about. It is too unnatural not to know the name of the person whose information you want to know. Jin''s group driving on the street in a Golem car. Saki is next to Zeke, and Jin and Erza are behind her. Reiko on Jin''s lap, and Reinhard and Bertsch. Orchards, vegetable fields, wheat fields, and rice paddies. The area''s proximity to Lake Tosmo provides good water supply, and rice paddies are also being cultivated. As is typical of a main road, we occasionally passed horse-drawn wagons and golem cars, but the road was wide enough so that they did not hinder our progress at all. "I see quite a few golem cars. "Hmm, there are more than I thought." Golem cars are running alongside horse-drawn carriages, and the ratio is about three horse-drawn carriages to one golem car. Jin was inwardly pleased that a quarter of the cars were golem cars. "As expected of a place so close to Reinhardt''s territory." "Yes, yes, I''m a little bit proud too. "That''s good, isn''t it, my dear?" "Well, it''s true, it''s only the territory of Reinhardt''s descendants, isn''t it?" We were rocked by the car as we exchanged words such as "We will be arriving shortly, "We will be arriving soon," Tzik said. Tzik said, "We will be arriving soon. "Oh, I see." The scenery has not changed much. The natural scenery along the road seems to have been taken into consideration. And then... "Oh, ......" What appeared before the group''s eyes was, although old, unmistakably << Ivy House (Lanken Houses) >>. 2043 - - 55-18 Old ivy house This is the building where Reinhardt lived when he was a lord. It is a sturdy two-story building made of red granite. It has been 400 years...... or about 330 years for Reinhardt. It stood firmly in its place after 400 years...... or so for Reinhardt. "Hmmm, it still has some , , and effects, doesn''t it?" Reinhardt''s voice sounded happy as he muttered. The effects of this kind of reinforcement magic are not permanent. In principle, the molecular structure of the target object is made difficult to change by the <>, but the free magic elements (ether)...... that exist in space also fly freely through space, and if they are <>, the molecular structure of the target object will not be changed. The net is broken little by little by colliding with , and the effect disappears with time. Of course, it depends on the skill of the magician and the strength of the magic. Jin and Reinhardt guessed that this << Ivy Hall (Lanken Houses) >> must have been re-hung about 200 years ago by a very talented magical engineer (Magi Engineer), given its condition. "It looks like that is the main building now." <> of the pointed toward a new building with a new color of stone. This one is not covered with ivy. "I see." "The old building is open to the public a few days a year as a memorial hall. Today seems to be an open day. "Yes, let''s take a look." "Yes, let''s take a look." "Good idea, dear." Since Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt wanted to visit the museum together, the group decided to visit the Lanken Haus. The Golem car was left in the parking lot, and Jin and the others went on foot to the Lanken Haos. "We will ask you to write your names when you enter the museum, so please think of false names for the three of you. By "you three" I of course mean Reinhardt, Bertsche, and Saki. "Pseudonyms? ......" Reinhardt, Berche, Saki, Erza. Each of these names is also known in this period, and one by one they can be explained as the same name, but four of them together, and with the same name Jin, it is quite suspicious. "Well, I''m Hurt, then." Since he didn''t have to write his last name, he decided to use only a pseudonym. "I''ll be Belle," he says. "Hmm, well, I''ll be ...... Bach," she said. I''ll go with Elle. Jin and Reiko had already made names for themselves in this world, and Tzik told them that it would be a bad idea to use aliases now that their names were gradually becoming more and more popular. "That''s fine, I guess. Tzik''s decision was backed up by the old man, so Jin and the others could rest assured. "I would like to visit. < Please fill in your name here. Jin and the others filled in their names on the receptionist''s table. Jin, Reiko, Elle, Hurt, Belle, Bach, and Zieg. Looking at the list, there seemed to be no other visitors for the moment. "Yes, please come in. You are not allowed to take anything out of the room. "Yes, sir." Jin answered on behalf of the others, and finally the tour began. I''m looking forward to it. "It''s exciting." Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt were also very curious, as they had no idea what had happened after their death. "The entrance hall hasn''t changed, has it?" "Yes." This << Ivy Hall (Lankenhaos) >> was already in existence when Reinhardt took over the village of Kurtz as his own domain. At that time, it was quite dilapidated, but Jin called in < and from Hourai Island and reconditioned it. "That''s the work of Jin''s men, isn''t it?" At that time, the craftsmen (Smith) repaired damaged walls, creaking floors, broken stairs, and holes in the ceiling. They were as solid and firm as if they had been repaired only yesterday. "Let''s go to the office first. We went up the stairs to the center of the second floor, the room on the south side of the building. "Oh, little has changed. The heavy desk was one that he had made himself in his later years. I know this for a fact. The bookshelf behind it is lined with a collection of documents from that time. Of course, I don''t recognize the later additions. "Can I open ...... the drawers?" I ask the security golem who has just come to take a look around, "If you just want to open it and take a look," he said. He gave me permission to open the drawers. So Reinhard opened some drawers. Inside were pens, rulers, and other stationery items that he must have been using at the time. Among them was a pen barrel that he used to use, and Reinhardt squinted with nostalgia. "I guess the living room is next." The couple''s living room is at the east end of the same second floor. There are three smaller rooms, one is a living room, one is a bedroom, and the other is a child''s room. The couple knows their daughter, Juliana, by knowledge, "This is where Juliana used to sleep, right?" "Yes, you were, weren''t you? They were whispering to each other, "Juliana used to sleep here, didn''t she? "The guest room seems to have changed a lot. The guest room was on the west side of the second floor. Saki and Jin had stayed there several times. "Ah, maybe this futon is from back then." "Hmm, it brings back memories." When Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt moved into this house, Erza and Jin made bedding for them, one of them. "Kuhu, I guess the magi silk lasts for a long time." Saki said, looking impressed. "I''d like to see your kitchen. Berthe said, "I''d like to see the kitchen," and the group went downstairs. The kitchen was off to the west. "Well, things have changed a bit, haven''t they? Some of the kitchen utensils, which Bertsche had arranged herself, have been repositioned or renewed. "You see, it depends on who uses this place". "Yes, it does. ......" And the same workshop, "Oh, ......, you have changed a lot. ......" That''s what happened. "The workshop can''t be helped, can it?If you use it, it will change. Jin followed up. "Well, that''s true. Reinhardt knew this, but he was a little sad to see a place he did not know. The group spent the next two hours touring around. * * * * * * * * * "It was an unexpected visit, but I''m glad we came. < "Yes, really." "What are you going to do now?" Jin says, "I don''t see the point of staying here, since we''re not going to meet the lord. "Well, ...... we don''t have to stay here if we want to hear the reputation of the lords." After some discussion, the group decides to move on. 2044 - - 55-19 in the town of Kartz Jin and his group decided to head for a town. "Well, this town is already on the outskirts of Kaltz," Reinhardt says. Reinhardt says. "There was a lord''s mansion right next to the road, and from there it developed in the opposite direction to the lake. As Bertsche said, the town of Kurtz had a slightly different structure than most towns. The most important difference is that the lord''s house is located on the outskirts of the town. It is usually located in the center of the town. It has its advantages in terms of defense and governance. But this town is different. It was originally a small village that could be called a "cold village". The houses of the chief were built along the road because there were houses along the road. The roots of the house is a building called <>. It is said that this <> was built by a fond aristocrat a few decades before Reinhardt became a lord. It was built as a villa for a rich man, so it is a solid and stately structure for its size. "......That''s why is built in such a place." "I see." Jin, Erza, and Saki were convinced after hearing the origin from Reinhardt. "So, I''m just guessing here, but the only land available for the development of the town is on the opposite side of the lake, so they must have expanded in that direction. Reinhardt said that the lake side has a lot of marshland, which was converted to rice paddies, and the dry side was developed as a town. So, leaving the golem car as it was, the group went to see the town with Zeek''s guidance. Although it has developed, it is not a very big town, but rather a small to medium-sized town, so we could get around on foot. "Oh, it''s so lively! Jin was impressed by the liveliness of the town. "Well, it''s kind of a mess, isn''t it? "Yes, it is." Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt seem to be a little uncomfortable. "Really?I like the clutter. Jin prefers streets with a sense of the history of the people who live there, rather than streets that have been created by urban planning. A mix of old and new buildings, winding streets that have been joined and joined, and alleys that remind us of life. Jin analyzes himself that this is probably based on his original experiences as a child. The institution where he grew up was such a town. Reiko silently looks up at Jin with a slightly nostalgic look on her face. "...... I think I understand a little bit what your brother Jin is saying." Erza showed her sympathy. "You''re right, you''re a good wife. I''ve always liked messy towns, you know?" "You can see that in Saki''s room." "Wow, that''s terrible, belch...... belch!" "Ha, now that Aal is gone." "But now Perid and the others are taking care of it!" "Saki, that''s not a point of contention. The lively group is a crowd pleaser. Saki is the only one who barely calls her alias, while the others seem to have forgotten about it. "Oh, they say it''s a material store!Let''s take a look!" Saki seemed to have spotted an interesting store and rushed to it. Jin followed her and said, "By the way, what''s the matter with Saki''s eyes? Erza asks him. Erza then guesses the true meaning of Jin''s somewhat poorly worded question, "They were corrected when she became a homunculus. What I''m wearing now is a pair of glasses. They are also meant as a pair of protective glasses. He answered, "I see. "I see. That''s good to know." "Hmm." Saki is standing in front of the material store, waving at Jin and the others. "Hey, hey, Jin!Come on, Reiko!Come on, come on! She saw that Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt had already arrived and were smiling at her. "Sorry, sorry." Jin, Erza, and Reiko caught up with them, and the group went into the store together. "Oh..." < "Wow!This brings back memories!" Saki jumped at the chance to find . Saki was shocked to hear that Saki''s father, Toa, was going to marry Stearina, and in her exile, she discovered the ore on the southern shore of Lake Tosmo. "There''s some red arsenic nickel ore over here," Jin said with interest. Jin said with interest. This mineral contains a compound of arsenic and nickel. "There''s also pyrite and pyrite." Elsa looked at the shelves lined with gold-colored stones. "This one is iridosmin." What Reinhardt found was an alloy of the white metallic elements iridium and osmium, containing about 70 percent iridium. Incidentally, when iridium is 50 percent, it is called osmiridium. Both of these alloys are very hard and are used for pen nibs. The one that sticks to the tip of a high-class gold pen is called iridium. "You guys know a lot, don''t you? Hearing the conversation between Jin and the others, a woman who had been tending to the store came out from the back. She had shaggy dark brown hair and violet eyes. She was about 20 years old. She looked somewhat like Saki. "This store is for , , and some collectors. "Hmph, do we look like any of those?" Saki asked with a funny smile. "You don''t look like a collector. Your brothers are , and your sister is a .And your sister is an alchemist. Is she your daughter?The wife?I don''t know about ......." As for Reiko, he seems to have avoided judgment because she is a small child. "Yes, you are right." Saki looked at the girl intently, as if impressed. "It''s embarrassing to be looked at like that. "Oh, sorry, sorry." "Are you going to buy me something at ......?" "Yes. I''d like to look around the store a little more first. "Yeah, of course. ...... customers, please take your time. If you have any questions, please ask the clerk. The girl on duty said this and went to the back of the store. "......Here you go. We have some gemstones and some ground spiders. "There are some magi crystals over here, but ...... they are scarce. The quality is not good either." As for Magi Crystals, the current shortage in the Shoro Kingdom seems to be evident even in a store like this. "We have plenty of metal samples ...... ingots in our warehouse, please ask for them." Jin was impressed by the thoughtful way of selling metal materials. "There are not enough biological materials." Reiko also expressed her opinion. The clerk looked at the group with a bit of surprise. 2045 - - 55-20 Connections with the past After buying bauxite and iridosmin as souvenirs, Jin and his friends decide to visit another store. "Kuhu, we''ve seen the materials, now let''s see the products, shall we? "Yes. A weapon shop or a magic tool shop? Or maybe a general store. Saki, Jin and Erza. I suggest you have a meal. Reinhardt says. It is indeed 11:50, almost noon. "Yes, I agree. Let''s find some place to eat. Jin agrees, "Father, I smell oil and perfume over there," Reiko said. Reiko said. "There are other complex smells of food, so I think there is a cafeteria. "Reiko, you are very good. There is indeed a dining area there. Tzik said with admiration. It seems that all the diners are clustered in the dining hall area. That has the advantage of being able to choose the restaurant of your choice. And the restaurants are sure to compete with each other to offer tasty and inexpensive food, they thought. "Okay, let''s go there! Tzik led the group to the dining area. There were five restaurants in a row. There were five restaurants in the dining area: "Shoro Imperial Style Popular Cuisine, Shoro Imperial Style Fine Cuisine, Popular Cuisine of Various Countries, Mitsukho Style Cuisine, and Northern Style Cuisine. Although it is high-class, even the average person can afford to pay for it. "How about a restaurant that serves Shoro Imperial-style fine cuisine in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt and Saki and Erza?" Hitoshi said, "No, I''d rather have a popular dish from any country." "Me too. "Me too." "Me too." I got four "yes, me too. "...... is fine if that''s what you want." Jin was not quite sure what to think, but he decided that if the four from the Shoro Kingdom said it was okay, then it was okay. "So..." The group enters a restaurant that serves popular dishes from around the world. "Welcome! It was a little before noon, so it was not too crowded yet, and we were all able to sit at one large table. "Interesting menu, isn''t it? <, with the option of adding an additional dish. "......, but the Shoro Kingdom style is rice, miso soup, and takaimo (large sweet potatoes). ......" "I understand that the Elias Kingdom style is topopo-centric, though." I feel a little off, but I reminded myself that things can change over the course of 400 years. "As long as it tastes good." "I agree." So everyone except Jin ordered the with grilled fish, salad, stewed potatoes, croquettes, and other dishes. Only Jin ordered the <. "...... what the hell is this?" It may indeed be Kaina village style, but ....... "Rice, grilled river fish, and mushroom soup. ...... Oh, and the tea is from ." The name is a bit confusing, but in the village of Kaina they call it and it is the leaf of a tree similar to the on earth. Its ars name is Perhya. The sap becomes a natural rubber called . Jin liked to make tea from this leaf. "......It''s not clear why it''s usually so tasty." The menu was < or << Kaina village style? >>The menu is full of choices with <>but the taste was first-rate. "If I had to grade it, I would give it an 85 to 90 ......" "It''s one of the best I''ve had out there." "Mmmm, it''s so good that I''d like to come back and try it again." "Hmmm..." It seems that Reinhardt and the others had a good lunch set meal in the style of the Shoro Empire. By the way, the price was reasonable. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, what shall we do now?Weapon shop, magic tool shop, or general store? Jin opened his mouth to ask for advice on where to go. "Oh, I know a good place for that. Tzik told us that he had found a place that was a combination of both. He had missed it earlier because Jin and the others had decided to have dinner before he mentioned it. "This way, sir." The restaurant was a five-minute walk from the dining street. "Oh." The restaurant is located on the outskirts of town, but it takes advantage of its location to have a large lot with parking space for horse-drawn carriages and Golem cars. They also have carts for rent, which may be useful if you buy something bulky (but only in town). (Home improvement center?). Jin did not say it out loud, but that was his impression of the place. The first floor seems to be a general store and groceries, and the second floor a store selling magic tools and weapons. The floor space is large. The size of the store is about ten times larger than the average store in this town. It has fresh foods, dried foods, spices, and even bricks and paving stones, which should be convenient for customers. Jin was worried that other stores might lose customers because of the convenience. He has mixed feelings about this, as he knows that in modern Japan, stores in towns are closing down because they lose customers to big-box stores, and those big-box stores are also losing customers to mail-order stores (......). "Hey, Jin, what are you doing? "Brother Jin, come on." "Ah, ah..." Reinhardt called him and Erza pulled his arm, Jin came back to himself and walked to the store. "......It''s a home improvement store after all. ......" "......Brother Jin, did you say something?" "No, it''s okay. Inside the store, although the pillars are conspicuous due to the structure, the floor is spacious, and each section is divided into sections for tableware, cooking utensils, farming equipment, tools, etc., so it seems relatively easy to find what you are looking for. "This is very well thought out!" Reinhard and Saki are looking around the store as fast as they can. "Well, it''s very well thought out. The owner of this place is amazing. Jin is also impressed. Then Tzik said, "Yes, this store is a chain store of Raglan Trading Company. He told me. The Raglan Trading Company? Roland of the Raglan Trading Company was the first merchant Jin had met when he came to this world 400 years ago. "I see ...... that the Raglan Trading Company has grown to such a large scale in the Shoro Kingdom." Jin was somewhat deeply moved. "Brother Jin, let''s go there. "Yes, let''s go there. Jin walked around the store as Erza pulled him along. 2046 - - 55-21 Workshop for Descendants To my surprise, the Raglan Shokai branch even had a . In other words, a corner where they would process the materials you bought to some extent, including cutting. (Definitely a home improvement center. ......) And it was Jin who guessed that he was the one who recommended it 400 years ago. * * * * After enjoying the Raglan Shokai branch, which was a home center of sorts, Jin and his friends came outside again. "Well, they have a lot of things here." "Yes, cooking utensils nowadays haven''t changed much, have they? "That''s because the cooking process itself doesn''t change that much. Cutting, chopping, shaving, simmering, baking, boiling, deep-frying, and steaming. ...... Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt were exchanging opinions about cooking utensils. "Kuhu, it was interesting because there were quite a few alchemical tools. A little more sophisticated?" Saki is happy to see the alchemical ...... tools, in short, the apparatuses for chemical experiments. "Well, it''s not as good as the laboratory in Horai Island..." "Saki, you can''t compare them." Saki and Erza were also talking to each other in a friendly manner. Jin, on the other hand, is talking to Tzik about various topics. "So, half of your products are sold on consignment from the stores in this town?" "Yes." I thought it was a home improvement center, but it was also a shopping mall of sorts. Then, there must not be much trouble for the individual store owners. It seems that the current Raglan Company has a policy of not having hostile relations with the local community. The addition of a home center-like function was advised by Jin, who lived 400 years ago. It seems to be taking shape little by little. (That''s why it''s like a home improvement center, a shopping mall, or a department store ......) Jin also somewhat agreed with the story. "Also, the only thing you don''t have in here is medicine." "Oh." In this town, medicines can only be handled by a qualified healer, Tzik said. And that there are two apothecaries and healing centers. "I guess that makes sense." The town has less than 1,000 inhabitants, so it seems to be able to get by. "Where did the medicine come from?" Then Elsa joined us, perhaps having heard the word <>. "Most of them are derived from living things, some from minerals, and a very small part from alchemy. Not much has changed in this area in the past 400 years. After all, since healing magic cures a great deal of diseases and injuries, the demand for medicines is low. Therefore, the development in that area has been slow. "Dear Elsa, in today''s world, due to the improvement of the food situation, the spread of basic nutrition, and the improvement of public health, the average life expectancy has increased and the mortality rate of newborns and infants has decreased significantly. "...... so. Good." It seems that such realistic information is hard to come by on the Moon. And Elsa seemed to be very satisfied with this information. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The group began to tour the town again. "Oh, that store over there is a barbershop. "Oh, yeah." Jin thought to himself, "Come to think of it, we rarely see barbershops in this part of the world. So he asked Reinhardt about it, "Well, ......, I guess you''re right. Nobles would definitely get their hair done at home. "Yes, that''s true. But even common people get their hair cut at home, don''t they?" In other words, they did not go out of their way to pay to have their hair cut. "Then, what about the wealthy?" What about those who are somewhere between the aristocrats and the common people?Jin asked. "Well, maybe they call a barber, don''t they? "Yes, that''s right. There are good hairdressers and barbers in the palace. "I see." Jin recalled that there was also a profession called "hair stylist" in the historical dramas he had seen in the Director''s videos. "So you don''t call them at home, you go to them yourself." Reinhardt muttered as he looked at the barbershop sign. I only caught a glimpse of it from the outside, but it seems to be quite a thriving business. "In my world, it was a place for socializing, if I may exaggerate a bit. Jin said, remembering the barbershop. In Japan today, it seems that beauty parlors and beauty shops are more prosperous than barbershops, but Jin was a barbershop man. But Jin was a barber. After leaving the barbershop, the group continued on. "What about educational institutions?" As a former lord, Reinhardt was curious. "Yes. Yes, there is a classroom for primary education. "Yes, that''s right." Reinhardt looks a little relieved when he hears Zeke''s answer. "After the secondary education, the main family, the Randalls, will be in their own territory. The higher education will be in the royal capital, right? I see. What is the content of primary education? Yes. Reading, writing, arithmetic, and simple sanitation. "I see. That''s good. It is good for children to learn the habits of hand washing and gargling, and first aid in case of injury. "Do you know what secondary education is like?" "Yes. Yes. It is an extension of elementary education, plus rudiments of science, simple geometry, health and physical education, etiquette, etc." "Hmmm... ......" Then Reinhardt also asks a question. "Are there any educational institutions for magical engineering?" "We have three Magi Engineers who each teach a class. One of them has a little bit of Reinhardt''s blood. "Oh." Reinhardt''s face suddenly became interested when he heard that. "Would you like to visit?" "...... is it okay, guys?" The answer to Reinhardt''s question was a resounding yes. "This way." Fifteen minutes'' walk away, a small but sturdy stone building. "<> or ......" The name is Berlich Becker, and it was split off from the Randall family five generations ago. "You must be a commoner." Reinhardt guessed that the daughter had married into the commoners, since she was not a Randall. And it seems to be right. "Yes. He was a famous magi engineer at that time, and has inherited this workshop since then. And he is very dedicated to the training of his successors, Tzik explained. "I see. ...... that''s all you need to hear." "Reinhard, you don''t want to go?" "Yes, it''s okay. It''s my choice and there''s nothing I can do about it. "Really?" Jin smiled bitterly. Jin himself has been meddling with his descendants and relatives for a long time. So, "Well, if Reinhardt doesn''t want to go, that''s fine. I''ll go check it out." "Me too." Reinhardt was flustered when he saw Jin and Erza heading for the workshop together and Reiko following them. "Well, in that case, I''ll go with you! And he hurried after them. 2047 - - 55-22 To stop the runaway A man and a woman of about junior high school age came out of the workshop and ran past Jin. A man and a woman around the age of junior high school students came out of the workshop and ran past Jin. "Oh, you''re educating them from a pretty young age, aren''t you?" "It''s good that they are enthusiastic." Jin and Reinhardt shared these thoughts. "Is that the teacher?" Saki''s voice made them look at the workshop, and they saw a young man standing at the entrance, watching over the students as they left. Reiko was the first to approach him. "Excuse me, sir. Are you from this workshop? "Yes. I''m Ludwig, deputy head of the workshop. I see. Well, I''m a tourist, and I was wondering if I could take a look around your workshop. Reiko says and points to Jin and the others behind her. Ludwig looked at them, "Oh, I see. Yes, that''s fine. I have just finished lecturing to the students and the workshop is empty. He readily agreed. "Thank you very much. With that, Jin and the others began their tour of the workshop. Ludwig, the deputy head of the workshop, was a tall, thin man in his mid-twenties. He looked like Reinhardt in this way, but his ancestors were from the Kingdom of Franz, so he was not related to Reinhardt by blood. He came to the Shoro Empire about 100 years ago and has been learning engineering magic for generations. "What is the head of the workshop like?" Reinhardt is more interested in this question than in the workshop. "Mr. Berlich is a man who is very dedicated to the training of his students. Twice a week he gives a lecture to the neighborhood boys and girls. "I see. So the best students become his disciples? "That''s how it works. At present, there are five live-in apprentices including myself. There are 12 commuting apprentices. "Really?" Meanwhile, Jin and the others are touring the workshop. Saki is mainly looking around at the materials used in the workshop, and Jin is looking at the magic tools in the process of being made and junk magic machines (magi machines). Elsa and Bertsch were looking around, but not at any particular item in particular. The level is low, but the way of making is very basic.) Jin checked the magic tools, which were probably made as teaching materials, and sensed that the workshop had a strong educational policy. "Can I see Mr. Berlich?" Reinhard asked, hoping for the best, "I''m sorry, sir. He is currently in Avalon. < golem in <>, he said. "I see. ......" Jin was a little disappointed, but he had learned what he wanted to know and seen what he wanted to see, so he decided to call it a day. "Sensei! A boy jumped into the room with a loud voice. "Oh, it''s Emile! What''s wrong? What''s wrong?" "I''m in trouble! The boy called Emile is gasping for breath. Something must have happened and he came running in gasping for breath. "Calm down and explain!" Ludwig is acting like an adult. "Yes, yes!The golem we use in the fields is broken! "Yes, how did it break?" "Suddenly it stopped listening to me and started acting up!" What? What? What?) The boy Emile''s voice was so loud that Jin and the others could hear the entire conversation. And when Jin, Reinhard and Erza heard that the golem they were using in the field had << suddenly stopped listening to them and started rampaging>>, they could not believe their ears. Golems and automata that have the <> of the <> are, with a few exceptions, not supposed to go out of control even if they malfunction. They are equipped with multiple layers of safety circuits, and in the event of a malfunction, they are inscribed with a magical circuit (magi-circuit) that directs them inwardly instead of outwardly. That is how much Adriana Barbora Zetsi wished the golem to be useful to human beings, and how much she took care to prevent it from harming people. By the way, an exception is <. * * * * "That''s a big deal!What''s the damage?" "So far, only the orchard has been destroyed!" No human casualties, Emil said. "Okay." Ludwig looked at Jin and the others, "I''m sorry, but since this is what you just heard, we''re done with the tour," he said. He said. Yes, of course. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you at ......." Reinhard replied. "Thank you very much. But no problem." Ludwig then activates the golem standing by the entrance to the workshop. "<>" "Yes, Mr. Ludwig (Herr Ludwig)." The golem is activated. From what Jin and the others can see, it is quite powerful. Except for Reinhardt, (His name is like Franz''s kingdom, but his speech is like Shoro''s kingdom. ......) (His name is like Franz''s kingdom, but his speech is like Shoro''s kingdom? The <, walking a little awkwardly like a knight in black armor, followed Emil and Ludwig. After seeing them off, Jin and the others look at each other and discuss. Of course, this was the end of the tour for the day. What to do is to interfere with this unexpected incident. And the conclusion is, "Let''s wait and see before we decide. And the conclusion was, "Let''s wait and see and decide. So the group hurried after Ludwig and the others. Since they were moving at the speed of a human runner, they could follow them easily enough. Erza and the other homunculus'' physical abilities are on the same level as their original bodies, but in fact they have a secret technique. In fact, there is a secret technique. And Jin''s body never gets tired. A compound body is like a golem composed of magical atoms (magiatoms) and has the same structure as an original human being. So, Jin and the others were able to follow Ludwig and the others without delay, though not very fast. Ten minutes of running. They arrived at the site of a rampaging farm golem in an orchard on the southern outskirts of the town of Kaltz. "Oh, is that it?" "It doesn''t look like an Adriana type golem." "It''s not a spherical-jointed golem, either." It''s a form drive. Jin and Reinhardt realized that the golem that was running amok was rather old-fashioned. Ludwig''s <> jumped in to stop it. 2048 - - 55-23 Ive never heard of it before. In order to stop the runaway farming golem, the < leapt at it. The difference in their abilities was obvious, and they quickly subdued it. "Emile, do you have a cease and desist order?" I can''t accept it. It''s probably because he''s out of control. Then it can''t be helped. ......<,break......>" "No, that''s not good." Then came Jin''s words. I thought it was an intervention, but Reinhardt had asked me to do it. "In order to find out the cause of the outburst, the control core must not be damaged. You''re the one who just told me about ......... We''ll get to that later. Come on, let''s stop it. ...... Reiko! Yes, Father. For the average farmer, a farm golem is not cheap. In modern Japan, they are treated like expensive tractors and combine harvesters. It would be unforgivable to destroy them beyond repair just because they run out of control. Reinhard thought so. Jin and Reiko are accepted in this world. Reiko jumped out, and with her special vision, outstanding physical strength, and superior speed, she disconnected the power circuits of the farm golem that had been held down, namely the control core and the mana tank - an old-fashioned energy reservoir. --The connection between the control core and the mana tank is disconnected. In this way, he thrust his five fingers into the golem. It was a very surreal sight. And, of course, the farming golem came to a complete stop. "This ...... is ......." Ludwig looks on in astonishment and threat at what Reiko has done. "This automaton is Reiko Ehime ......?Then you are a !" Ludwig seemed to know about Jin. "Yes, I am Jin Nido. This is Reiko." "As I thought!It''s a pleasure to meet you! She takes Jin''s hand and waves it up and down. The calmness he had shown earlier was now gone. Emile, who was standing next to him, looked a little stunned. "Let''s, um, let''s do what we have to do first. "Oh, yes!" Ludwig finally let go of Jin''s hand and turned to face the stopped farm golem. "How did it get out of control ......?" A natural question, but one that will have to be answered. It was still light, so I decided to find out on the spot. "Jin-sama, can you help us? "I''ve come this far, and I''m already on board. Thank you! Jin wanted to know what had caused the car to run out of control like that. Jin approached the stopped farm golem and used <>. This <> is a magic that varies greatly from person to person. It is known only to the extent of the user''s knowledge. What is not known remains unknown. In other words, if Jin uses it, he can get a lot of information. "Haha ...... what a ......." Jin was at a loss for words. He was at a loss for what to say. "What is it?" Ludwig, who also knew about the effects of , left it to Jin to explain, but he was puzzled by his reaction. "Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Wait a minute." Jin peeled off the chest armor of the farming golem and took out the control core. By the way, Reinhardt and the others are watching from about two meters away. "<>" The contents of the control core are read as "Magi Formula". "Oh, ......, this is ......." "Oh, ......, that''s terrible." A voice of dismay escaped from the mouths of Reinhardt and Erza, who had somehow arrived at the side of the room. "It''s like a child''s craft. ......" A harsh remark also leaked from Jin''s mouth. "It''s true. There is not a single safety circuit. Who made this! Ludwig seemed to feel the same way. He voiced his outrage. "...... was pretty expensive." Emile looks at the broken golem and the broken fruit tree and spills out sadly. "Which merchant sold you this golem?Who sold you this golem? I''ll complain to him myself. Ludwig clapped Emil on the shoulder. "And I''ll get you compensation. So don''t be too sad." "Yes. ......" It seems that Ludwig is playing the role of a good teacher, and Hitoshi, who had been thinking about fixing the broken farm golem, decides not to. This should be left as a piece of evidence of a lousy business. "But you know what? ......" Jin glanced at Erza, looking at the broken fruit tree and wondering if there was anything he could do. "Maybe a little." Erza, who knew exactly what Jin''s gaze meant, walked under the broken fruit tree. "Reiko, can you take this?" "Yes." Erza asks Reiko to fix the broken tree ...... that is still partially connected to the tree. And then... "<>" "Oh? She grafted the tree. That''s the magic of grafting. "That''s amazing. ......" Elsa then grafted two-thirds of the broken fruit trees. "The ones that are completely broken or have a crushed cross section that can''t be connected are a bit of a challenge," she said. Still, he said, there was a possibility that they could be joined if the cross-sections were shaved and butted together. "So you''ve done grafting ...... breeding?" "Hmm. It helped us to make sweet tangerines, juicy Persicas, cold hardy Apuruls, etc." He worked with Topaz and the others on various breeding projects. "Oh, uh, now that''s magic. ......" Emile, the son of the orchardist, asked, rolling his eyes in surprise. "It''s called . < "Oh, really? (I didn''t know that... ......) Jin had never heard of it either. Jin later heard that Rorona had played a central role in researching this magic and that Erza had also cooperated in its development. 2049 - - 55-24 Hot Springs Now that the trouble was over, they decided to leave the rest to Ludwig. "We are outsiders, Ludwig seems to be in good hands, so we''ll leave it to him. This was the first part of the plan. And the real part of his intention was, "I''m curious to see how it all turns out, so keep following it until it''s all settled.) And so it came to pass. Jin and the others left the place. "What are you going to do now? Tzik asked, Tweak asked, "Well, let''s see. Is there a good place to stay? I asked him, He answered, "Yes, there is an inn with a hot spring. He answered, "Yes, there is an inn with a hot spring. "What? When I asked him about it carefully, he told me that there was a facility that used the hot spring that Jin had dug up with his cooperation in May of 3460. Since then, they have continued to dig up the source, so there are three public bathhouses, one recreational facility, and two hot spring hotels in Kaltz Town using the hot spring water. (The hot spring was still in use at that time. ......) ) Jin thought of Japan''s old hot spring resorts such as Kusatsu Onsen and Arima Onsen, saying that the source must be an excellent one if it has been gushing for 400 years. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and his friends decided to stay at one of the two hot spring hotels, the long-established ryokan . Jin chose this one because of its overall Japanese-style architecture, although there are some strange parts. "Oh, I never thought that hot spring would be like this. ......" Reinhardt looks deeply moved. This is said to be a 200-year-old ryokan, and the design of the building was inspired by the on Kunlun Island. "No wonder it''s a beautiful Japanese-style building," he said. The only difference is that there is a bed in the Japanese-style room. Since some Japanese-style inns have wooden flooring and beds in their rooms, it is not so much that it is strange. "These tatami mats are made of igusa. In the past, this tatami was imported from Mitsuho, but since tatami became popular, it has been grown in Tosmo Lake and Wasu Lake, and the tatami here is domestically produced, that is, from the Shoro Empire. The increase in the number of tatami lovers was a joy for Jin. "It seems that the number of people infected with ringworm has also decreased," said Elsa. Elsa said. "Oh, so that''s how it is." Ringworm is a fungus that causes athlete''s foot and ringworm. In a world where people are accustomed to wearing shoes all day long, once you get athlete''s foot, it is difficult to get rid of it, and it is transmitted through foot mats stepped on by people with athlete''s foot. Be careful in hot springs. The situation has been considerably improved by the sterilization method developed by Elsa, but it is not a magic that can be used by everyone, so it seems that the disease has not been eradicated. The igusa, which is used to make tatami mats, has antibacterial properties, and people take off their shoes in tatami rooms. In other words, it is good for foot hygiene. Elsa said that this might be one of the reasons why tatami is so popular. "Well, that''s just it," she said. This room is quite nice, Jin said. This time they had taken a large room out of consideration for Saki. It was a large living room with eight bedrooms. Therefore, Jin and Reinhardt have a private room to sleep with their wives. Reiko and Zeke do not need to sleep there, but they pretend to use it as a camouflage. One room will be empty, but that will have to do. I''ll just have to make do with the one room available. "Oh, it''s a nice bath." "Yeah. I remember it''s a simple spring. Jin and Reinhardt were soaking in the hot spring. "I think it was." It is assumed that the common water vein with Lake Tosmo is heated by geothermal energy, so it must be a simple spring. However, the spring contains trace amounts of elements from the ground, and <> showed that it contained trace amounts of alum. These springs are said to be effective against skin diseases, but the concentration was not high enough to be effective. "I miss these springs." Reinhardt was especially happy to be able to bathe in the nostalgic spring water. "Kuhu, it''s nice hot water." Yes. "It''s been a long time since I''ve been in a hot spring." The women were also enjoying the hot springs. And Bertsch was also enjoying the old-fashioned hot springs. The dinner was also served in the style of the Shoro Kingdom, and there was a parade of nostalgic tastes for Reinhard, Bertsch, Saki, and Erza. And since Jin is not a picky eater by nature, the dinner went off without a hitch. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, tomorrow I''m going to check on the Marquise Theoderic and see what''s going on at ......." "...... and then we''ll go home?" "Kuhuh, I know the Eschenbachs are gone. But I''m a little curious to know what''s going on with the house. At the moment, no one of Eschenbach blood is living in the city, all of them are on . I had confirmed this with Maricka. "Well then, let''s go see Saki''s birthplace and then check on the Marquis Theoderic''s family. "Yes, that''s fine. That''s fine with me. Of course I''ll go with you. I''m looking forward to it. That''s what happened. The futon was not made of "Magi Silk," but it was quite comfortable, and they were able to sleep soundly without any problems, even though they were a little jet-lagged. The next day, on the 22nd, they went to the hotel. The next day, the 22nd, Jin and his friends left . Their destination was Saki''s birthplace. "I thought we decided to leave it as it was." Saki, too, had <, not , of her later years. We arrived at a house nestled in a sparse forest. "Ah, here we are. ......" It was old, but it was still there. "It''s only natural, since your father had it carefully toughened and stabilized. Reiko reveals the secret. "Well ......, Saki. Shall we take this building to Horai Island or Hale?" Jin asked a tearful and nostalgic Saki. "What?" "I''ve decided to put a dummy house here, made to look exactly like it." I had moved Stearina''s house exactly like this one before. It is possible to move this house too. "Hmmm...so we can move it to Horai Island?" "Okay. After this trip. Jin and the others then headed for their next destination. 2050 - - 55-25 Quiet Talk 93 Follow Agricultural Golem Jin and his group went to Mahahama to see Saki''s parents'' house, July 22. <, has been busy since the morning. He is analyzing the farm golem that went haywire yesterday. As soon as that is done, he will compile the documents and contact, or rather file a complaint with the vendor who sold it to him, the . "Deputy Chief, is that the golem that went out of control yesterday?" Thomas Harunas, a member of the Ludwig workshop, peeks out from the side. "Yes. Look at this. Sloppy ......, no, too sloppy basic control magic. There are no safeguards whatsoever." "Haha, ...... it''s not even close to a cost reduction. It''s obvious that they cut corners." "Isn''t that right?As someone involved in magical engineering, I can''t allow that. "I understand. It''s a desecration of technology." Thomas Harnas was also outraged. Having seen the control core > by Jin yesterday, the analysis and paperwork were done in a short time. "Okay, let''s go." Fortunately, the <> was not going to be held on this day, so Ludwig, the deputy head of the workshop, would not be needed. Ludwig takes the necessary documents, puts his appearance in order, tells the girl at the office, and leaves the . His destination is the Banne branch of the Tekres Chamber of Commerce. It is less than 10 kilometers from Kaltz to Banne, a distance that could be reached on foot, but Ludwig decides to take a ride in a Golem car manufactured by the Berlich Werkst?tte. The road was well maintained and Ludwig drove at a speed of about 30 km/h. After 20 minutes, he arrived in Banne. Banne is not only a town on the road around Lake Tosmo, but also the starting point of the road to the north, and is a prosperous, if somewhat chaotic, town from ancient times. "Well, and ......" There is supposed to be a < in this town. It takes some time to vaguely search for it, so there are several to serve as guides in such cases. Not being a tourist information center, Ludwig went to one of the information centers, where he was given only a clerical service, but it was still enough for his purpose. "I don''t see any ......." "No!Please check it carefully! "You may say so, but what is not there is not there." "......" Of course, there is no such thing in Banne itself. "But there is a man who bought a farming golem there half a year ago! "But this simple ledger only goes back five years, and during that time there is no record of the existence of the <>." "What do you mean ......?" "The only thing I can think of is that it was a scam." The middle-aged male clerk said apologetically. Since the possibility of fraud had become so strong, Ludwig decided to visit the headquarters of the guard in Banne. Banne is the main town of the Countship of Randall (Reinhardt''s family home), so he decided that it would be most appropriate to appeal to the security force that policed the territory. "Is this a scam or ...... tell us the details." The guard who answered was as young as Ludwig, but he was sincere. "I have never heard of such a scam on our territory. ...... I will not tolerate it." He was filled with indignation befitting his youth. "Leave it to me. Fried Randall will be in charge of this case. I know I am still a young man, but I will give it my all. I look forward to working with you. Ludwig decided that he could not do any more here in Banne, and returned to the town of Kurtz. Ludwig returned to the town of Kaltz. "Now, what to do with this guy: ......" Back at the in Kaltz, Ludwig is troubled by the broken farm golem. "Thinking about Emil and the others, I''d like to fix it, but ...... hmmm." Now that the investigation of the fraud case has started, he thinks it would be better not to fix this golem, which is a strong piece of evidence. "But without a golem for farming, it would be a lot of trouble. ......" The image of a golem is like a combine harvester in modern Japan. It is a somewhat expensive piece of farm equipment to be owned by an individual. This golem was purchased not only by Emile''s family, but also by five neighboring farmers. "It seems like they''re going to be even more critical of Emile, doesn''t it?" Ludwig was concerned that the other four houses might think that Emil''s house had destroyed it, although each house took turns using it, and it just happened to run out of control when Emil''s family was using it. "Maybe we can rent out another golem. Ludwig looked around the workshop. But there was no golem that he could use. "I guess I''ll just have to make one up out of junk. ...... Fortunately, I''m off-duty today, so I won''t get any complaints about doing so. "Well then, I''ll just have to keep at it. ......" Ludwig spent the rest of the day making a golem. By the way, if you have ever done some Sunday carpentry with old lumber, you may have an idea of how tedious it is. The surface needs to be cleaned up, including nail marks and gluing, whereas if it were new, it would only be necessary to cut it to the required size. Since the pieces are already cut, it is difficult to find the necessary size of wood. Sometimes it is too small, sometimes it is a little too big, and it is a waste to have a half piece when you cut it. Sometimes we wanted to use the same material, but we had to use a different material for a part of the piece. Well, that''s the fun part. In other words, it takes time. Ludwig spent about three and a half hours until nighttime, but could only make a skeleton. "Oh, ...... this is all I could do. ......" It is not surprising that he decided to make the rest little by little in his spare time from tomorrow onward. * * * * Two days later, on July 24th. <. It was addressed to Mr. Ludwig, the deputy head of the workshop. He says he received it, but the truth is that he found it in front of the workshop in the morning. "What''s this?" Ludwig unravels the package with trepidation. "This is ......!" It was a brand new, albeit old, generic golem. "Sent by ......!" The day before yesterday, I happened to make the acquaintance of the world''s greatest magical engineer. Ludwig imagined that he had probably sent it to him as a gift in place of the deactivated farming golem. A short note was attached to the letter, which, as he had imagined, said <. "You say you broke it, but it was a necessary step." But I was glad that a man of international renown was paying attention to a local workshop like this. "Well then, let''s give this to Emile." <, Ludwig activated the general-purpose golem. "Yes, master." "Oh, you can talk." "Yes. Yes, sir. - Yes, sir. "Yes." Immediately after this, Ludwig took this generic golem to Emil''s house. When he showed this golem to the people who had purchased it together with the people from Emil''s house, they were all amazed. It was of a much higher quality than the previous golem. I am in charge of this golem. Please use it to your heart''s content. Thank you all for your cooperation. Oh, he''s talking! Oh, shh, he''s talking! I wonder if they are using the golem now. On the island of Horai, Reinhard was talking with the old man. The old man had been told by Jin that Ludwig was having a hard time preparing a replacement golem, so he consulted with Jin and prepared an based golem. was a golem that Jin had created long ago to improve the food situation of the northern tribes (then called the Demon Tribe). It looks like an old type of golem, but it has a wealth of knowledge about agriculture. Thanks to this golem, the burden of farmers including Emile''s family has been lightened and their income has increased by several percent. 2051 - - 55-26 At Mahahama The next destination of Jin''s group, the town of Mahahama. This is where the Marquis Theoderic''s house is located. Jin and his group were visiting there in the Golem car driven by Zeke. I wonder how long it''s been since I''ve been here. ......3It''s been about 80 years." The last time Saki had been there was when her grandfather, Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen, had died. "I guess not much has changed, eh ......?" Theoderick''s family has been conservative for generations, so I guess not much has changed," Saki said. And she was right. ...... little has changed. The only thing that has changed is the surrounding vegetation. Reiko, who has known the Marquises for 400 years, corroborated this. "It is natural that plants change after 400 years. Trees grow up and even die. 400 years is such a long time. "The big tree in the garden has died, as expected ......, but the small tree has grown so big ......." The big elm tree, which was over 500 years old even back then, was not left, but the camphor tree, which was still small at that time, had grown into a huge tree. Saki estimated that the tree must have been more than 30 meters tall, since he could recognize its large shape even though he was still some distance away. As she got closer, she could see a building. "The building hasn''t changed much ......," Saki muttered. Jin replied to Saki''s muttering with some kind of explanation. "I don''t think stone buildings will get old if they are taken care of regularly. But not wooden buildings," Jin added. "But you said that wooden buildings can last more than a thousand years if they are well built and cared for ......." "Is that true in the world where Jin was?That''s an amazing thing. Reinhardt was impressed when he heard Jin''s story. "Ah. is what they call carpenters who specialize in temples and shrines ...... and religious facilities, and these people have inherited traditional techniques and can build huge structures without using a single nail." "Wow, that''s amazing." Saki was also impressed. "How do they do that?You don''t use magic, do you? "Of course not. I don''t know much about it myself, but it''s supposed to be made by processing the wood so that it fits together well." "Hmm... ...... I don''t understand..." I don''t know. I''m sorry. While we were talking, the golem car driven by Tzik stopped. I''m not here to visit him, so I won''t stop at the front gate. "This is the Marquise Theoderic. It is big when I look at it again. "Oh, it hasn''t changed, has it? Saki says to me deeply. Surrounded by hedges, it does not look intimidating. In fact, the inside of the hedge is surrounded by a sturdy iron fence. This is in consideration of the surrounding landscape. "What are we going to do now?" Jin asked, "Well, to be honest, I was satisfied once I saw the house," Saki answered. Saki answered. The Marquises still live there, but Saki has no intention of visiting them. "I see. Well, shall we go home now? "Well, what should we do, Reinhard?" Don''t ask me. Bertsche. No, Saki. Elsa. Saki, ...... Jin. You''re starting to get a little funny, aren''t you? You know... "Hey." After such exchanges, the group left the Marquis Theoderic''s house. However, they are not going home. They were going to the town of Mahahama. "This is a residence, after all. The lord''s house for governing is in the town. Saki said. That''s right. It is important to have such an office in the town in order to hear the voices of the people. Reinhardt also seems to agree with this approach. So does Jin, "Well, I can understand. Separating work and home is also important. ...... "I don''t think that''s quite right." In Jin''s case, he imagined the disadvantage of living in company housing, where he would be contacted by the company at any time and sent out to work on a rush job. * * * * * * * * * * * The town of Mahahama was neat and tidy. "Ah, it''s so clear where things have changed and where they haven''t." Saki sighed. The road running through the center of the town was straight, and trees were planted at regular intervals. Even the sidewalks were well maintained. "I don''t like this part of town. ......" "Well, I think I understand." Jin agrees. "It''s too neat and doesn''t have a sense of life," he said. Jin recalled that even in the modern Japan where he used to live, the newly built towns seemed somewhat alien to him. On the other hand, the old town had a chaotic atmosphere where the old and the new sometimes harmonized and sometimes conflicted, which seemed to Jin to like. "It''s hard to say, but I feel as if the town was not built for the people to live in, but for the town to live in." "I see." Jin thought that this might be Saki''s way of explaining her discomfort. Yesterday, Bertsche had teased Saki that she liked the chaotic atmosphere of the town because of the chaos in her room. "I guess it''s good that the people here are lively in their own way." The lack of gloom on the faces of the townspeople suggests that governance is going well. "Kuhu, that''s all you need to know." The words were a bit dry, but Jin did not miss the moisture in Saki''s eyes, "Saki is not so honest sometimes, is she?" "What?" "No, you know, she used to call the Marquis that old man, but when he fell down, she was worried about him." "Ugh. ......" Saki is speechless at Jin''s point of view. "No, I know that. So, are you sure you''re done?" "Yes, I''m sure I''m done. If I stay too long, I might ...... cry." This time Saki was honest about her feelings. I see. Let''s ...... go home then. Tweak, please. "Okay." Thus, the group left Mahahama, the town of the Marquis Theoderic. 2052 - - 55-27 And the Town of Exy Jin and his group moved from Mahahama to Exi. "Okay, now let''s go to ......." Jin was about to say. "Father, the old man has something to tell you," Reiko said. So Jin called the old man with his bracelet. "What''s wrong, Mr. Lao-kun?" < "Yes, let me hear it." > Yes. What? What? Saki, who was listening at the side, also raised her voice. Reinhardt and the others seemed to feel the same way and looked surprised. In this case, a bastard child is a child born to a woman other than the head of the family. "Fuun ......" Saki acts as if she is not very interested, but it is obvious from the direction of her face that she is actually listening. "So, how''s your living situation?" Jin asks, and Saki twitches. Only she thinks she can hide it. < "Well, that''s good." At this point, Saki interrupted. "Well, old man, what''s her name?" < "Hermine, I see. ....... Does she have any academic training? << I see. What? Huh? Saki''s distant relative, Hermine. She seems to be walking firmly on her own path. "Kuh,...... I wish her all the best on her path." Saki smiled a little sadly, but contentedly. "Saki?" "......Yes, a relative?Relative?I''m not in any particular trouble. That''s all I need to know." "...... got it." So, Jin and his group had no regrets (for the time being) about the towns of Kaltz and Mahahama. * * * * "So, the last one is Exi. Eksi is the town where Elsa''s parents live. "Tweak, how is Elsa''s parents'' house? Yes, they''re currently a family of viscounts. Oh, I see. Erza''s family, the Randall family, was once destroyed because Erza''s father, Georg, acted in various ways against the national interest under the influence of , who was called at that time. After that, Elsa, who made many achievements as a <>, reestablished the family as a quasi-barony at first, and then, in recognition of her further achievements, it seems that the family is now a barony as it used to be. "Just hearing that is reassuring." Erza was standing next to Jin with a calm expression on her face. By the way, the airfield where they landed the <> was located on the outskirts of Eksi, so the land where they are now is already in Eksi. "I guess there are a lot of rice paddies around here." Now that summer is in full swing, the road is lined with lush rice fields on both sides. It is truly a carpet of green. And when that carpet breaks, that''s when the town of Exi truly comes into its own. "They grow a lot of rice in Eksi, don''t they?" "Yes. It''s a good use of land that was previously marshy and of little use, and it has a high commercial value because there are almost no crop failures." Tsyk explains. "The area of rice production is the largest in the region around Lake Tosmo," he explains. And that means that the ecology is very rich. "I see. ...... Elsa''s hometown is developing, isn''t it?" "Hmm, I''m glad." Elsa''s brother, Moritz, was a weak man, but not only was he able to pass the territory on to his direct descendants, but his descendants are excellent and are making the area prosperous, which makes Elsa happy as well. The golem car then entered the city of Eksi. "......" It was an old town, but not too cluttered, not too neat and orderly, and had an exquisite atmosphere. "It is said that during Moritz''s time, Jin was consulted by his brother and drew up an expansion plan for the town." "Is that so? ......" The duplicate Jin has no memory of this, but Erza is informed of the past in the form of information. "That''s why this is so exquisite." Still, it must have been about 350 years since then, but they seem to have worked their preservation engineering magic very well. "Yeah, it''s a nice town." "Yes, I think so." Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt and Saki seemed not to say anything so as not to interrupt the conversation between Erza and Jin. Not having any particular destination in mind, Zeke drove the Golem car through the main street of the town of Eksi. "It''s so lively!" Saki commented at this point. "Yeah. I used to visit here many times in the past, but some of the buildings I know are still there, and some of them are newly built. And it all fits together very well." Reinhardt also commented favorably. Jin thinks that this is the point where his past self had a say in the matter. >. I think he probably gave advice like that. "But I guess they have been following that principle ever since." The newest building looked to be about 10 years old, but it too was in accordance with the principle of . Jin began to think that although he enjoyed looking at the cityscape, it was not enough for him. "Maybe it''s time for a meal?" The time was 11:45 a.m. "Yes, I guess so. There seem to be many good restaurants here. "That''s exciting!" Jin and the others decided to go to the restaurant recommended by Tzik. Here it is. "Oh! The restaurant, with the sign <, has a stylish atmosphere with a parking lot for horse-drawn carriages and Golem cars. It seems to be frequented by families and tourists." Upon entering the restaurant, we were first asked to confirm the number of people in our party and then shown to our table. There we looked at the menu and decided what to order. When you have decided what you want to order, please call the waitress. The waitress put down the cold drink and left. Looking at the atmosphere and the system of the restaurant, Jin imagines that he must have been involved in this place in the past. 2053 - - 55-28 Round Throw The meal at the family restaurant-style restaurant was satisfactory for Jin and his group, as they were able to order according to their own tastes. "......I think, though, that the food here is a little more to Jin''s liking." Erza said while wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Yes, I think so. Reiko answered her question. "Yes, father. One of the 5th Quinta was involved in the seasoning of this place about 300 years ago. "Oh, I see." A member of the 5th Quinta was dispatched to various places to gather information. One of them spent several years here as a cook. That is probably why the taste of Horai Island remains here. "I guess the connection remains in unexpected places. Jin is a bit deeply moved to think that he was involved in the formation of the culture in such a way. And from the conversations of those who were eating around us, we were able to learn about the area, albeit only in fragments. The economy was in good condition, and the autumn sown wheat crop was good. However, the lack of underground resources in general seemed to be a common problem in the Shoro Empire. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, we have had a look around. Reinhardt opened his mouth as we left the store and got into a Golem car in the parking lot. "Thank you, Jin. It''s refreshing to see with my own eyes what it''s like back home ." "It really is. Thank you, Master Jin." "Yes, you''re right. I think they''re doing better than I thought they would. I agree. But Jin.., "But there''s one thing I don''t know if I can say ......, but it''s bothering you, isn''t it?" Reinhardt agrees. Reinhard seems to agree. "It''s about resources, isn''t it?" "Yes. That''s why Reinhardt made a golem to search for underground resources. Well, yeah. Now we just need to figure out how to make it a priority in the Shoro Empire. It is surprisingly difficult. <, they will probably provide the technology to all countries equally or fairly. That is not a bad thing, but as a native of the Shoro Empire, Reinhard wants to save his country from poverty. "Hmmm... I guess we''ll just have to throw them to Daikie and Cocona in Leuthart...?" That seems to be the quickest way. But in that case, we''d have to ask who made the golem for underground resource exploration. "Ah, you can say it was made by Jin, if you like." Reinhardt was very easy. "I didn''t make this one for profit, or to sell my name, or anything like that," he said. "Well, if it''s ......, I guess I''ll leave it to the Daikis. They can get an audience with the Emperor, so we can just give it to them as Jin''s request. "Are you sure?I think the final decision will be left to others. "I don''t care. I''m the one who''s supposed to be gone. Reinhardt was brisk. "Okay. I''ll do it then." It''s only a short distance to Leuthart from here. Jin called in the that was waiting overhead. "Okay, let''s get to the airfield. Tweak, please. "Yes, sir." Tweak drove the Golem car to the airfield. He was able to pull up next to a hurricane that had landed just in time. "Well, thank you for your help, Tweak." "No, sir. Jin-sama, I hope I have been of some help." "Yes, you''ve been very helpful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Following Jin, Reinhardt and the others thanked Regulus 3 of the 5th Quinta. < took off and reached the sky over Leusert, the capital of the Shoro Empire, in a few minutes. "It''s going to be a hassle, so I think I''ll just have Reiko and I go down, give Daikis and the others the , and come back up. "That sounds good." "That''s fine with me." Erza, Reinhard, Bertsch, and Saki stayed behind in and kept out of sight of Daikis and the others. < lands on the roof of the house. Daikie and Cocona greet Jin without panic despite his sudden arrival. "Welcome, Jin-sama and Reiko-sama. Sorry for the sudden visit. No problem. Jin briefly tells his business in the parlor. "Today, I''ve come to give you this Magi machine." "What''s this?" It''s a golem for exploring underground resources. What? Jin began by saying that this golem had been developed by a friend of his, and then explained its function. "Now, the Shoro Empire is supposed to be short of underground resources in general. My friend developed this because he is concerned about such a situation. He explained that he wanted Daikie to report it to the Emperor and present it to him. "Are you sure?" "Of course." Hearing Jin''s words, Daikin bowed his head again and again. "Thank you very much. Please tell your friend to thank him as well. "Yes, I will. I will. ......I''m a little busy this time, so I''ll leave you to it. Please give my regards to the Emperor. Jin stood up. "Well, well, no problem." Cocona looked a little apologetic. I''m sorry. I''ll visit ...... next time I''m in the area. "Yes, we''ll be waiting for you." And the soared into the sky again. * * * * The hurricane soars at an altitude of about 5,000 meters. Jin and the others were relaxing and reflecting on the trip. I guess you could say we are the descendants of ....... Everyone seems to be doing reasonably well," said Reinhard over tea. Reinhard said as he sipped his tea. "Yes, they are. I don''t want to interfere unless they are doing something terrible. "Kuhu, that''s right ......." "I''m sorry you had to go through all that trouble Jin." Reinhardt was a little concerned about the fact that he had entrusted Daikin with the delivery of the golem for the search for underground resources. "That''s not important. It''s better if Saki and Reinhardt don''t have any more concerns." Soon they were over Horai Island. 2054 - - 55-29 Two Redemption One The day after traveling around the Shoro Kingdom with Erza, Saki, Reinhard and his wife, they arrived at Horai Island. The old lord spoke to Jin after breakfast. "Yes, my lord?" < I see. Just hearing those names, Jin knew what the old man was talking about. "<> is ...... well, let''s open a dedicated line and connect to Milowina''s <>." <> Yes, the magic brain of the moon <> is feeling a little <>, not to say , since his former master, Milowena, is now living in Horai Island, the old man wanted to say. "I wonder what <> will do with ......." And Hanako has been in a state of mind since the death of her creator, Maricka. In this case, the best thing to do is to bring her to Hourai Island to meet Marikka''s homunculus, and let her spend time with it from then on. "Well, hey, ......" In that case, what is Hanako doing? >>I think that''s the answer to the question "How is Hanako doing? . Jin thought about that too. In any case, Marikka would not be able to see Zion and the others for the time being. She would be with Hanako and no one would be afraid of her. "But then again, there will be people who will regret Hanako''s absence. Jin guesses that Marikka''s students will probably miss her a little. > "That''s also a good idea. ......" Jin was reluctant to do so, saying that it would result in a deception. "After all, it would be safest for me to take them in. "Good." Jin immediately began to take action. First, he contacted Zion to check on Hanako. He replied, "I see. "Well, ...... I think I''ll take her in, what do you think?" <<> Zion sounded a little surprised, and then there was a pause for him to think. Then he said, Then, < well, that''s a relief>, he replied in the affirmative. He promised to pick up the car the next day at noon local time. The reason it was the next day, Jin thought, was probably because Zion had some other reason. "I have time until tomorrow. Where is Milowina, old man?" < "I see. Let''s go there then." Jin and Reiko left the workshop of the institute and went out not through the entrance but through the service entrance on the east side. It was closer to the flower beds. "Hello, Jin, Reiko. "You''re working hard, aren''t you?" "Yes. It''s nice to be able to take care of flowers on the ground like this. Since Horai Island has a subtropical climate, you can enjoy flowers all year round if you choose the right kind. The flowers in bloom now are similar to marigolds. The gradation of deep orange, light orange, and lemon yellow is beautiful. "I want to grow more and more!" "That''s good. Please let Topaz help you. "Yes." Topaz, the five-colored golem maid, is in charge of farming, so she should be able to help with the gardening. "So, what can I do for you?" As Jin looked at the flowers, Milowina''s words reminded him of what he wanted. "Oh, yes. Well, since of the moon seems to be lonely, I was wondering if I could connect a dedicated line to your bracelet, Mr. Milowena. Milowena agreed to this proposal without a second thought. "Well!I''m so glad to hear that. I would like that very much. She takes off her bracelet. "Well, I''ll leave it with you for a moment. He took the bracelet and hurried back to the workshop. "Well, I''ll add a line here, and you can use the call function and ......." The bracelet was made of high quality magi crystals and was large enough to add new functions. "The rest is over there. ......" I need to add a magi-circuit to the moon''s < as well as the bracelet so we can communicate with each other. "I''m going out for a while. I''ll go with you. Yes. Accompanied by Reiko, Jin moves to the moon via the warp gate. Welcome, Master Jin. Hello, Jack. How are you, Milowina-sama? Yes, I''m fine. I saw you watering the flowers in the flowerbed just now. I see. I see. Jin immediately tells Jack what he wants to do. Jack, that''s what I wanted to talk to you about today. I''d like to add a dedicated line to ...... Milowina''s bracelet for you and Jack. Oh, that''s very nice of you. Jack gave his immediate approval, and Jin immediately added the circuit. "Here, this is ....... What do you think?" Milowina''s bracelet was still in Jin''s possession. Yes, Jin-sama, I feel a magical connection with the bracelet. Well, it seems to have worked. Thank you. Then we''re going home. I''ll give the bracelet to Milowina as soon as I get back. Thank you. Thank you very much. ...... so here is the bracelet. "Well, thank you, Jin-kun!" Milowina received the bracelet with a big smile on her face and immediately connected the line to . "Jack, can you hear me?It''s me. < "I''m sorry I made you miss me. I''m sorry." < For the next hour or so, Milowena and talked about nothing else. 2055 - - 55-30 Two Redemption Two The next day, a dedicated line was connected between Moon''s (Yunie''s) administrative magic brain <> and Milowina''s <>. Jin had visited the < clan territory of the <> to take custody of the automata <> that Marikka had created. "I know it''s a little early, but is it okay?" "Yes, no problem." Jin''s old friend, Xiong of the <> clan, answered. "I''ve already notified everyone involved that Jin will be taking Hanako in. After that, there were many people who wanted to say goodbye to Hanako, but they all left yesterday. "It doesn''t mean we won''t see each other again. Jin said, "Hey, what are you going to do? Zion asked a little worriedly. "Oh, I won''t do anything crazy. ...... Well, I''m going to check his memory contents, and depending on the case, I think I can give him one or two additional commands with a <. "Like what?" "Yes. How about ......<>?" "Oh, that''s good. ...... Jin, take care of Hanako." The look on his face and the words he says show that he is truly concerned about Hanako. "Leave it to me. I''ll bring Hanako back once she''s healed. Zion''s face brightened as he said this. "I''m glad to hear that. I''ll be counting on you." "I''m in charge." Jin then followed Zion to Marikka''s house. Marikka''s house was next door to Zion''s house. Marikka''s house is next door to Zion''s. It is a small, cute house. "Marikka has been single for a long time. ......" Zion muttered and glanced at Jin. Jin did not understand the meaning of the look and let it go. "...... and where is Hanako?" "Over here." The front door was unlocked. Sion, who is in charge of the house, goes in and leads Jin and Reiko out. When they reached the end of the corridor, Sion said, "This is Maricka''s bedroom," he said. and opened the door to a room at the end of the hall. "......" A bed is placed along the windowsill where the sun shines softly through the lace curtains, and an automaton sits on a stool by the bedside. "Hanako!" Zion called out to Hanako, but she did not respond. "Hanako." "Hanako-san!" Jin and Reiko called out to her, but she did not respond. Hanako just stares at the empty bunk with unfocused eyes. However, both Jin and Reiko know by the flow of magic power that he has not stopped. "Hanako, come with me." Hanako said, "Hanako, come with me" but there was no response. Then Reiko took Hanako in her arms, and she finally responded. "......, no, it''s ....... ......." Hanako flinched and tried to escape from Reiko''s arms. "This is ...... not good." From her reaction, Jin judged that forcing her out of the room would have a negative impact. "Reiko, <> and <>." "Yes." Hanako stopped by forcing the mana back into the free magic element (ether) and removing the free magic element (ether). "Well then, Zion, take care of the rest, will you?" "Yes." Hanako was carried by Reiko, and Jin hurried back to Horai Island. He then went to a room on the third floor of the institute, in other words, the residential floor. There, Marikka, revived as a homunculus, was waiting for him. "Hanako......" Marikka looks worried. Jin laid Hanako gently on the bed, "Marikka, reboot her," he says. "Marikka, reboot her," he says. "Okay. ...... Hanako,<>" "......a......" Hanako''s eyes open. "Hanako, do you recognize me?" "Marikka......Sa......Ma......" Hanako slowly raises herself up. "Yes, it''s me. I''m sorry I made you feel lonely. "Marikka-sama ...... Marikka-sama!" Hanako jumped on Marikka. "Marikka-sama ......" Jin and Reiko quietly left the place, leaving the squire and his wife to reminisce about their reunion. Jin left it to Marikka to explain why he was alive and why he had been rejuvenated. "That was good, wasn''t it?" "Yes, I''m glad." Jin and Reiko smiled and nodded at each other. Jin, how did it go? Then Elsa came in. She had been concerned about Hanako ever since she heard about her. When Jin explained what had happened, "Well, that''s good," she said, smiling at him. She smiled at him and said, "Well, that''s good. The next day, Jin came to see Hanako. The next day, Jin visited Zion again with Hanako and Reiko. "Jin!Hanako!Are you all right now?" "Yes, Mr. Zion. Thank you for your concern. Hanako, now completely stabilized, bowed her head to Zion. Seeing this, Zion said "That''s Jin, isn''t it? You''re back to normal. She sighed and smiled as if she was relieved. (Sorry, Zion.) Jin apologized to Zion in his heart. Jin apologized to Zion in his heart for not telling him that Marikka had been transformed into a homunculus and still existed. According to the rule that Hannah, Lao-kun, Jack, 700672, and others had decided, <>. The rule is that the person who is going to be turned into a homunculus must not be informed. Maybe Zion might know something about it, but I am afraid to ask him face to face. (When the time comes). It makes Jin a little sad and lonely to think that Zion will be ...... at that time. 2056 - - 55-31 Looking for Malikka July 27th. Summer is in full swing in the world, and it is also a hot summer in Horai-jima. Marcia is in the sea every day, sailing <>, <>, and <>, and studying the hulls of these boats. The other members of the were also having fun at sea and climbing Mount Horai. "By the way, <> is in winter. ......" <> on the other side of Ars. Of course it is in the southern hemisphere, so it is winter now. However, it is subtropical in latitude, so it is not cold. As Jin was thinking about this, something suddenly occurred to him. "I should take Marikka with me. ......" <> of and the current <>, Tester. had sworn allegiance only to Marikka. "Don''t tell me you haven''t gone out of control now that Marikka is gone. ......" <, so I would like to think that this is not the case. "I mean, when the old man hasn''t said anything, there''s no problem. ......" He was in a hurry and satisfied by himself. He imagined that since < had existed without a master for a long time in the first place, it would not so easily become <>. Still, Jin thought of going to as soon as possible, just in case. Of course, he took Marikka with him. So, he decided to ask Marikka first. "Old man, where is Marikka now? < "Well, Mount Horai, ...... must be cool." < Even here in Ars, the temperature drops by 0.6 degrees Celsius when the altitude rises by 100 meters. If the temperature is 30 degrees Celsius at 1000 meters above sea level, it is 24 degrees Celsius at 20 meters above sea level. If the institute at 1000 meters above sea level is 30 degrees Celsius, then the temperature at 20 meters above sea level is 24 degrees Celsius. Taking advantage of this temperature, they grow crops that prefer a cooler climate at an altitude of around 2000 meters. Anyway, Jin decided to go to cool off a bit while he went to call Marikka. "Reiko, how should we get there?" "Well, you won''t get altitude sickness at about 2,000 meters, so I''ll take you there. In other words, Reiko is going to carry Jin and fly away with a force field generator. "That would be the quickest way. Jin agreed that using an aircraft would be an overreaction. "Well, ...... maybe one of these days we can make a personal flying machine, limited to Horai Island and Hale." Since Jin is a compound body, no amount of training will increase his muscle mass. Conversely, his muscular strength does not decrease even if he is lazy. And it is the same with homunculus. It never deviates from its original setting. "Well, that''s not now. ...... Then, Reiko, please." "Yes, sir." So Jin is carried by Reiko from behind and flies away from the institute. His destination was Mount Horai, the mountain that rises in the center of Horai Island. "There are a lot of bushes. The southwest slope of Horai Island is rocky and has few plants. So, they have put their hands around the area and turned it into a field. "Wasn''t this the place?" Jin walks around Mount Horai about 10 meters away from the mountainside. He still cannot find Marikka. "Father, if you ask the old man to confirm his whereabouts, you will find her soon, won''t you? Reiko says, "If we search a little longer and don''t find her," says Jin. Jin said. Actually, he wanted to enjoy the situation of flying like this. "Oh, is he there? Jin spotted a figure on the east side of Mount Horai and headed toward it. As he approached, he found Marikka, Milowina, Hanako, Topaz 51, 52 and others there. "Hey!" Jin calls out from the sky, thinking he might startle them if they suddenly landed right in front of him. "What?" At first Maricka and Milowina look around, not knowing where they are being called from, but Topaz, who is with them, spots Jin and Reiko and waves to them. "Oh, it''s ...... from the sky. It''s Jin-san." Milowina also noticed and waved. Marikka, of course. Jin and Reiko landed. "Hi, Marikka, Milowina." "Jin, Jinsha, what''s going on?" Even though she has become a homunculus, Marikka has not gotten over her habit of biting when she gets upset. "No, I just wanted to check something with Marikka. ...... and also, it was a bit hot today, so I wanted to cool off." Jin laughed. "So you came here directly without the bracelet, Jin-san. Milowina laughs. "That''s why. I mean, what you want to ask Marikka at ...... is ......." "Yes." "It''s about <> on <>." Jin said, "<> only knows that Marikka is gone, but she doesn''t know that she''s turned into a homunculus. "I was just wondering if it''s all right to keep it like this." "I''m sure you''re right. I have asked many times in my later years to protect and its inhabitants. ......" "I see. But I''m worried that <> might become unstable, just as <> became unstable when she developed >. ......" Marikka nodded at Jin''s words. I understand your concern, Jin-sama. Then let''s head for Onogoro Island. "Are you sure?" Jin looked at Marikka and Milowina alternately. "Yes." "Of course, yes. We have plenty of time." Since both of them said it would be no problem, Jin decided to use the transporter to get back to the institute as quickly as possible. < < It is for emergency evacuation, but this time we are going to use it to return to the institute. Currently, all Golems and automata in Horai Island are equipped with this device. However, since they can only transfer themselves plus alpha, Jin will be taken by Reiko, Marikka and Hanako by Topaz 51, and Milowina by Topaz 52, respectively. * * * * * * * * * In an instant, Jin and the others are transported to the laboratory. Milowina goes back to her room, and Jin and Marikka start preparing to go to . It was not much, however. Just a change of clothes and some personal effects. Marikka took a shower and changed her clothes because she felt a little dusty after climbing Mount Horai. An hour later, Jin, Marikka, Reiko, Hanako, and the others enter the Warp Gate to Onogoro Island. They had passed through the safeguarded relay base , and were on Onogoro Island in less than a minute. "Come on, let''s go!" "Yes, Master Jin." Jin and the others set out to meet Marikka at . 2057 - - 55-32 New Malikka No one picked me up on this visit to because I did not notify them. Or rather, they deliberately did not. Now Jin and Marikka are walking along the secret passage that only Marikka knows, in order to contact <>. On the way, Jin asked Marikka. "...... Hey, Marikka has her memory intact, right?" "Yes, that''s right." Since Marikka was single all her life and had no children, it seems that her memories of her death have been transcribed. "......Are you saying that you did an invisible in the same way as you did with the Peeper?" "Yes, I suppose so." The magic of illusion is to draw an illusion of a distant place using the free-magic wave ...... as a carrier wave. In this case, if we write a magic circle or a magic formula instead of an illusion, we can exercise <>. In other words, he used <> by remote control to transcribe Marikka''s knowledge and memories. Not only Marikka, but almost all of them used this method. "I guess that''s the way to do it. Jin had thought that there was no other way. In Marikka''s case, someone was always with her at all times. * * * * * * * * * * "The question is, how to tell the people of <> about Marikka, let alone <>. ......" Jin voiced his concerns as he walked down the passage. He had been thinking about it since he was on Horai Island, but he could not come to a conclusion. "No one knows Marikka when she was young, but they know about automata and golems." Edgar, Aal, Arrow, Arco, Vale, Black Knight (Schwartzritter), Neon, Sara, Serene ....... They have known each other since Jin met Marikka. "Everyone knew I was single ......, you know." "Yes." Should we assume that Marikka has been rejuvenated by a special technique or not? My thoughts inevitably lead me there. A homunculus is immortal. They can live more than 10,000 years unless they are harmed. Instead, they are incapable of reproduction and cannot produce offspring. ....... This seems to be an inseparable harm from the existence of immortality, and there are many stories about the inability to procreate in exchange for immortality. I''ll leave it at that. "But you know, ...... not everyone can enjoy this benefit." "Psychic catalyst, right?" Yes. A small amount of it is extracted from the brains of demons. It is essential for the creation of homunculus. However, the one extracted from the demons living in Ars has been unusable for some reason. The one he received from No. 700672 is from Hale. This one was used without any problem. (possibly ......) Jin imagines. The mental catalyst from Hale might not have come from demons, but from human beings. (If that is the case, even Ars would be able to obtain a high performance if it is extracted from humans.) However, this was unacceptable according to Jin''s ethical viewpoints. <, but the extraction method is not enough to make a homunculus from a single human being. (I wonder if it is ...... because a human being making a human being is still going against the natural order of things.) Just when I was about to become philosophical in my thinking, "Jin-sama, this is the way ahead. Marikka''s voice brought Jin back to himself. <, the controlling magical brain of , is located deep underground on the island and is protected by several layers of protection. Some of them were added by Jin. Therefore, it would be time-consuming to directly confront the main body of <>. First of all, it is through the terminal. Since a terminal with limited functions is not sufficient, we have come to a terminal with high importance. "<[email protected];&>>" Marikka uttered some kind of password, and a part of the wall opened to reveal a numeric keypad. "7......9......7......0......" In fact, it seemed to be a numeric keypad, and now Marikka was asked to enter her PIN. Password and PIN confirmation. We will now perform a final confirmation. Testa''s voice echoed. Check the magic pattern. Retinal pattern matching. Confirm voiceprint match ......, Marikka. Jin was relieved inside. He had thought that in case Testa did not recognize the homunculus Marikka as his master ....... However, his fears turned out to be groundless. In the first place, No. 700672 was also involved in the homunculus transformation of Marikka, and he was the one who transformed Marikka into a homunculus, He recognized the homunculus Marikka as his without a doubt. Incidentally, the homunculus technology inherited from the "Origin" can reproduce elements that are not determined by DNA, such as fingerprints and retinal patterns, which are not the same even in identical twins. It is said to be able to reproduce elements such as fingerprints and retinal patterns that are not determined by DNA. Dear Maricka, it is a pleasure to see you again. It was not Jin''s imagination that the normally calm voice of sounded a little hoarse. I see, you have gained a new body. I am happy for you. Now I can serve Marikka-sama alone for the rest of my life. Jin felt that her voice sounded happy after all. Jin decided to ask her. "Testa, what do you think Maricka should do from now on? <<> understood exactly what the question meant. Yes, it is not a good idea for her to appear in front of the people of Onogoro Island. It seems that this was the opinion of . But... But I think Marikka would be sad to see you go. was always of the opinion that Marikka comes first. So I think it would be better to tell just one little lie. "......What is it?" Marikka joined this conversation. Yes, Marikka. The premise is based on Jin-sama. <, I will assume that Marikka-sama has become a complex body, though I don''t know the principle of this rebirth. "I see. ......!" Jin was impressed by <''s strategy. I don''t understand the complex, and I don''t understand the principle. This way, we can make it known that Marikka is back, without raising any nonsense hopes that <>. "Yes, let''s go with that." I agree with this immediately. Leave the timing of the announcement to me. "Okay, I''ll take care of it. ...... Then, I''d like to connect Marikka''s bracelet to a direct line to the <>. "What do you think, <>?" "If it would be in the best interest of Marikka-sama, I have no objection. "Yes." Jin then modifies the bracelet on the spot. "<>, I''m going to synchronize the magic wavelengths, so please send out a magic wave for the connection. Understood. The work is completed in about two minutes. "Okay, now Marikka can talk directly to <> through this bracelet." "Thank you, Master Jin." Thank you, Master Jin. Thus, the homunculus-ized Marikka became the master of once again. 2058 - - 55-33 The Future Jin returns from with Marikka, and thinks about the idea of <. Then he starts to consult with the old man. "Old man, what do you think of <>''s idea?" The old man commented that it was not a bad idea to emphasize the fact that it was not man-made, as if he had been rejuvenated by chance. "I see. I thought that was a good point, too." "The other ...... are Reinhardt, Saki, Licia, Stearina and ......." < "I don''t think so." Jin was not as sure as the old man had said. He could not answer the question, "Why now? And then, "There is one more thing. Once you get to know ...... your offspring and get to know them better, I think it will be harder to say goodbye." Homunculi don''t age, so you''ll be the one to see them off. And for a long time. Jin cut him off. "It''s hard ...... for those who are left behind, isn''t it?" With this, it seems that the old man has understood what Jin wants to say. "Don''t you?" "Yes. ......?" "No, that''s not quite right. ......" As for you, I understand what you are saying for your own sake, but I am afraid of where you will end up if you do as you say. <<< But the situation you are worried about will not come for at least 500 years. In the meantime, I am sure that better measures will be found. "Such as?" "That too, I guess. ......" I don''t know if it is possible or not, but the "Mere Old Man" thinks it is not. "2000 years or ......" 2000 years is too long a time for human beings to even imagine. "It''s a unit of history, isn''t it?" I thought about it a lot after that, but decided to put it on hold for the time being. * * * * On July 28, <> first took Maricka to meet Mr. and Mrs. Trihard Randle and Suzanne Randle. Jin accompanied her because he was worried about her. "Jin-sama, who is this?.........do I know you from somewhere?" It is not surprising that Trihart and the others only knew Marikka in her later years. This is Marikka-sama. ''s voice rang out. "What? The two are astonished. "Yes, that''s right. ......The point is, like me,...... Marikka ended up like this." Jin added. "Really, Marikka-sama,......?" Marikka smiled, "Yes, it''s me. Yes, it''s me. I remember everything. Trichardt, Suzanne." "Oh ......!" "Oh, Marikka-sama ......!" They clung to Marikka and wept. Jin, who was standing beside them, almost cried as well. "There are so many strange things going on around you, Jin-sama," said Suzanne. Suzanne said. "But thanks to Jin-sama, everyone has become more lively," said Trihart. said Trihardt. After the emotional reunion with Marikka, they settled down and thanked Jin again. Jin told them that , but they didn''t believe him. "It''s like a dream come true to see you again, Marikka-sama," he said, bowing deeply. He bowed his head deeply. "So now we have to tell everyone about Marikka, what''s the best way to do that?" "Well, ......." Trihart thought for a moment. He thought about how distraught they had been and decided that they should take steps to avoid panic. "I think it would be better to start with the few people who had a close connection with Marikka. Then we would talk to them, and once they are convinced, we would give them a day or two." "Why the pause?" Jin thought, "If he''s convinced, why don''t you just let him see her? "That''s to let them make peace with their minds," said Trihart. Trihardt said. "He must still be in a state of excitement when he hears your story. But people can''t stay in that excited state for a whole day. After two nights of sleep, he should be quite calm, Trihart said. "I see." In this respect, it could be said that Trihart knew how to treat people better than Jin. "So, in three days, I will ask Marikka-sama to give a lecture. "...... We did it a long time ago. I''ll do it. Jin looked at Marikka for a moment, expecting her to be flustered, but she calmly accepted. "Well then, that''s what I''m going to do. Marikka-sama, please take care of me on the day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Three days later, that is, until August 2, Marikka was to relax on Horai Island. "I am looking forward to seeing the people of Onogoro Island again. Marikka is in a good mood. She may appear to be in her late teens, but in fact she has 493 years of wisdom and experience. "After that, let''s go to Hale, too. "Oh, that''s a good idea.700672 Mr....... Jin-sama calls them <. I''d also like to meet ." I met him when I became a homunculus, but I haven''t seen him since then because he came to the moon (Yunyi) and then to Hourai Island. "I never thought that the day would come when I would be able to spend a leisurely time with you and Jin-sama. "That''s true, me too." Marikka was having tea with Jin, Erza, Saki and others in the cafeteria of the institute on Horai Island. "By the way, Erza used in the Shoro Kingdom the other day. That''s very useful, isn''t it? "Oh, that''s the magic that you and Rorona-sama jointly developed, isn''t it?" Marikka seemed to know a lot about the development of this magic. "Yes, that''s right. <<>." "I see. ......" Jin was happy to know that his beloved wife Elsa had contributed to the world in such a way. 2059 - - 55-34 The House of Ps On August 2, Marikka made a successful debut on . "It was a great welcome. ......" Marikka looked tired when she returned to Horai Island. "Yeah, I was watching on the monitor." < had welcomed the rejuvenated Marikka with open arms and cheered her on. "Everyone welcomed Marikka! The old man had conducted a survey and found that not a single person had rejected Marikka. "I am grateful for that." < is united under the name of Marikka. It was proven so. * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, now that <> is settled, let''s go to Saki. Jin mutters over lunch in the institute''s cafeteria. Saki responded. "What?What about me?" "It''s what you said the other day. Saki''s birthplace is going to be moved. Yeah, that''s what you said. The old man has already made arrangements for a replacement. Now we just need to figure out where to move it. I guess so. Horai Island or Hale. Or even to the moon. "...... Reinhard, what would you do if you had to move ?" Saki, troubled, asked Reinhard for help. "Well, let''s see. I guess I would go to Horai Island." "I see. ...... Jin, please go to Horai Island. "Okay." Saki decided easily. Jin then gave instructions to the old man. "Now we just need a location. Can we go by the institute?" "Yes, that''s fine." Saki''s father, Toa, and his wife, Stearina, were living in Stearina''s house that Jin had moved into. They are now planning to move Saki''s birthplace near the house. The method is that the house will be dismantled by the < team, and the parts will be transported by warp gate and reassembled at the site. The location is a flat area to the south of the institute. Jin''s < is located near the institute, and Stearina''s house stands about 200 meters away from it. The house is not visible from the institute side because cypress and cedar trees are planted on the north side as a blindfold. The idea was to bring Saki''s birthplace to a place about 100 meters further south from the house. "You should also recreate the ups and downs of the land within a radius of 50 meters around the house," he said. This time, Jin wanted to create an environment as similar as possible to Saki''s house. However, the difficult part is the vegetation. Right now we are in a rather cool temperate zone, but here in Horai Island we are in the subtropical zone. "Kuhu, the trees should be similar. Saki says, "Kuhu, the tree should look like the tree. I am a person who wants to make the trees as similar as possible. Then the old man said to him < Saki said. "Oh, I see. It''s been 350 years since Saki lived there." . Saki''s memories were stored as a backup in the library of the old man. Based on this memory, the old man planted trees and transplanted grass. * * * * The same night. Of course, it is the night of the Shoro Empire, ...... local time. After setting up a muffling ward, 100 craftsmen (smiths) set out to dismantle Saki''s birthplace. Using engineering magic, the house was transformed before their eyes. The dismantled parts of the house were sent to Horai Island through a warp gate. Only now, direct transportation was possible without using the as a relay. As a result, Saki''s birthplace disappeared completely within 10 minutes after the start of the operation. At the same time, 200 craftsmen (smiths) were working at a dizzying pace on Horai Island. One hundred of them would make and send back materials that were exactly the same as the ones that had been sent. This resulted in a replica of Saki''s house being built in the same location as the original. And the other 100 are, of course, responsible for restoring Saki''s house on Horai Island. "Yes, you''re doing a great job." "Yes, they are doing well. Jin and Saki are watching the scene. "But I didn''t know that Saki''s house had been so well preserved. "Yeah, I''m surprised too. Houses that are no longer inhabited are in a state of disrepair. They are sometimes used as roosts for wild animals, vagrants, or criminals. Saki''s birthplace, however, was not like that, and had been well preserved for 350 years. The old man had dispatched a golem to take care of it. This golem had the performance equivalent to a and its mission was to keep the house clean. Three of them. They have been quietly serving each other for 350 years, maintaining each other. "I''ll make sure they are well maintained too, and I''ll turn them into a maintenance golem with a house for Saki. "Oh, great!Thank you for them! While we were having this conversation, the house was being reassembled. In about 30 minutes, three times longer than the time it took to disassemble the house, Saki''s birthplace was moved to Horai Island. "When we reassembled the house, we reinforced the interior," Jin explained. Jin explains. "I think the overall strength of the house is about 2.5 times stronger. In addition, the entire house has been and , and by Jin himself. "Wow, that''s great! "Check inside. If you don''t like it, I''ll fix it right away." "Yeah, okay." Saki looked around the house with Jin. "Oh, these scratches on the pillars were done by me when I was little. I was trying to see if I could cut the stone with a knife. Saki reminisces about past pranks. "The horizontal lines on this wall are my father''s record of my growth! "That''s right." Toa, who came to check on Saki on the way, squinted at her with nostalgia. In Japan, a scratch on a pillar is like a ......>>. "Yes, just as I remember it!That''s great, Jin! "Haha, I''m so relieved to hear you say that." Seeing Saki in a good mood, Jin was also happy. At the same time, however, Jin felt a little envious, thinking that the house where he was born and raised is probably (????) irreplaceable (......). Knowing or not about Jin''s feelings, Saki looked around the house excitedly. 2060 - - 55-35 How to come up with ideas After moving Saki''s birthplace, Jin consulted with Reinhardt. "What should we do about <>?" "Well, it would be next to impossible to grow the same ivy as that one. Whether we move it or recreate it here," Reinhardt says, "the building can be done, but the ivy covering the walls will be out of control. "So you want to go to ......?" "I think we should have a replica built and let the ivy crawl slowly." Jin nodded. "Would that be okay with Bertsche too?" Reinhard nodded at this. "Yes, we talked about it yesterday." "I see." At this point, Jin made a proposal to Reinhardt. "By the way, Reinhard, I have an idea I came up with the other day. Of course I do! Of course!" "All right, I''ll take care of it." Jin then moved to the cafeteria. He gathered everyone together. "I came up with the idea of a duplicator. "<>?" Reinhardt asked in return. "Yes. It''s a magi-machine that analyzes the size, structure, material, etc. of an object and creates an identical object." Jin imagined something like a combination of a 3D scanner and a 3D printer. "I see, that sounds interesting." "Isn''t structural analysis a lot of work?" "I don''t know how to do it. ......" Some were interested, some pondered the difficulties, and some had no idea. "If it''s simple, I don''t think it would be too difficult." Jin asked Reiko to prepare a cup made of light silver and a lump of light silver to show him an example. "Then, the cup is subjected to to determine its material and size. At ......, we use that information to < it." "Oh!" We have a cup that is exactly the same as the original cup. "This is a single material, but I''m hoping to make something more complex." "Yes, it''s very nice, isn''t it?" Bertsche agreed, imagining its value. "But it won''t be easy, will it? Saki expressed her concerns. "The most important thing is the material. Even if we can analyze what the object is made of and what it is made of, it is not easy to prepare the same material. "That''s right. The goal is not to make it look just like the object, but to make it exactly the same. "So you need to prepare the materials while researching the subject. "Yes, that''s right." "We can imitate the shape of each part, but it will be difficult to make a magi device." "Yes, I guess so." Even after a short talk like this, it is clear that it would be difficult to create a duplicator. "For example, if I leave the hosting to you, can we use a duplicator to prepare materials each time? Jin has an idea. "I don''t think it would be possible without that much work." Reinhardt nodded and Saki also nodded, "Kuhu, it would be easier if we could synthesize the elements. Saki also nodded and said, "Kuh, it would be easier if we could synthesize the elements. * * * * Although they have only discussed and not come to a conclusion on the the other day and the this time, the members of the Jin family are fond of these kinds of discussions. "Maybe someday, by some chance, we will come up with an idea that can solve the problem," said Jin. Jin said. "That''s right. I get good ideas while I''m doing unrelated things. Reinhard agreed. "But brother Jin, I think it would be good to make a that can be duplicated with a single material." Erza suggested this to Jin. "Yes. We can use them to make parts. "Besides, while you''re making such a machine, you might get some ideas. "Yeah, that''s true." "Oh, I know what you mean." Jin and Hannah agreed. * * * * * * "So, about that blinky transmitter we were discussing the other day..." "Yes." Hitoshi resumed. "Since we''ve deviated from our original goal, I think we should first try to formulate something that goes back to the basics." "Yes, that sounds good, but what exactly?" "We''ll put a highly visible lamp on the top of the control tower and use it as a signal with a specific blinking pattern." And Jin. Reinhardt says, "You''ve simplified it a lot, haven''t you?" Reinhardt says, "It has become so simple," but that was the original idea. "I think we should make the signal with a pattern common all over the world, and create a lamp ...... with good visibility, maybe orange or something.I think we need to make a signal with a pattern that is universal and a lamp with a good visibility maybe orange or something." "Then we can increase the amount of information by changing the color." Elsa spoke up with an idea. "I see... red and yellow, with the red indicating the course and the yellow indicating the speed..." "Hmm, that''s a good idea, and if we can increase the number of colors, we can send information to several aircraft at the same time. If we put red for A, yellow for B, and green for C, we can send instructions to three planes at the same time. "If we use green, the visibility will be worse in fog, won''t it?" "Nope. So I think it should be limited to clear skies." It is dangerous to have multiple planes and balloons take off and land at the same time when visibility is poor to begin with, Elsa concluded. "That''s true. But it might be nice and simple." "Kuhu, I guess that''s how ideas start." Saki said impressed. "Then I think we can leave it to <>. < should be notified and standardized among the nations. Everyone agreed on this. "By the way, are they still giving lectures on the ?" Jin muttered something that caught his attention, The second lecture is supposed to start on August 15. Jin nodded. "I see. I guess I can talk to him now, though it would be a misnomer to say that I am free ......." So he decided to visit the next day. 2061 - - 55-36 Technical Discussion <, Jin and his team decided to visit at once. As one would expect, it was not possible to visit the site on that day, so they decided to visit on the following day, August 6. This time, Jin, Reiko, and Reinhardt will accompany us. The stay is short, and Reinhardt has decided to change his hair color just in case. Hair style and hair color make a person''s impression more than you can imagine. Just by cutting long hair into a close-cropped head, it is difficult to recognize a person at a glance. In the case of Reinhardt, he changed his hair from blonde to dark brown, but it gives a very different impression. Also, I added some stuffing around his torso to make his skinny figure look thicker. "It looks a little like he''s not my brother Rai," said Elsa. Elsa says. But his loving wife, Bertje, said, "You can see it no matter how he dresses, "I can tell no matter how he dresses. She was not afraid to say, "I can tell no matter what I look like. * * * * Since Tomax Bartman, the chief administrator of Avalon, had been notified in advance, the landing of the <> went smoothly without any delays. "Welcome, Master Jin." Tomax Bartman met Jin at the airfield. "It''s been a while. I have a friend with me today." Jin introduced Reinhardt. "My name is Hurt. Pleased to meet you. "Mister Hurt, I presume. My name is Thomas Bartmann. Yes, Jin told me a lot about you. Jin then explains the rest of the story. "La ............ Harte is also a skilled magi engineer. <. "Oh, that''s great!I was giving a lecture on the Adriana method until the other day. "I see." At this point Tomax Bartmann realizes he is standing on an airfield. "Excuse me. Come on, this way please." Tomax Bartmann, Jin, Reiko, and Reinhardt got into a parked car. Once everyone was in the car, the car started to drive slowly. "In a few minutes, the underground rapid transit system will be completed," said Tomax. Tomax said. "When it is completed, travel within Avalon will be more than three times faster than it is now. "I''m looking forward to it." Reinhard is curious about visiting <> for the first time ......, or rather the first time in about 350 years. He says that seeing it on the screen is very different from visiting it in person. Perhaps out of concern for him, Tomax Bartmann explained the facilities to us. The road you are on now is not for the public, but for the officials. It will take you almost nonstop to your destination. We arrived at the . < at ...... is one of the most prestigious academies in the world. "We will be using the conference room here." We''re going to talk about the flashing lights, so they''ve asked for a wide range of participants, not just the World Guard. "Come in." Jin and the others are ushered into the middle conference room, where they find that about 20 participants have already gathered. The seats were round tables with no distinction between upper and lower seats. There was a < embedded in the wall, which could be used at any time. Among them, Jin saw a few familiar faces. Among them were Groma, Eira, and Cachea. However, next to Katya, there was an unfamiliar man sitting next to her. He is a large young man with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He seemed vaguely familiar. Jin was curious about the man and decided to ask him later. When Jin and the others took their seats, Tomax Bartmann opened his mouth. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido, has just arrived. He is here today to introduce a technology that we believe will revolutionize air traffic control. There is a round of applause. Tomax Bartman, the host and facilitator of the event, then began to explain about the . "My name is Jin Nido. I am here today to introduce a technology that I believe will be useful for air traffic control. Jin then explained the method of conveying information by means of flashing lights. There are two main points. First, use lamps of a highly visible color. The blinking pattern should be the same all over the world. He adds that the best colors for visibility are those with long wavelengths, from red to yellow. "And as a supplement, green lamps can also send out more detailed information. As an example, <> is not allowed to land. << red light on + green light flashing>> is cleared for landing. ...... and so on. "Of course, this is not a definitive list. This is just an example of how to do it. Jin explains that more detailed information could be sent by combining <> blinking patterns as well. "If we use <> and <> to represent <->, <->->. This would indicate <> or <>, and so on." Jin says you can send these signals by pushing and releasing the light switch. It is the idea of Morse code. In the end, it was quicker to send and receive voices directly by wind magic, so hand signals were not developed, and of course there is no Morse code. "It may be a good idea to start with a few patterns at first and then increase the number of patterns, as you will not be able to remember too many." He added that eventually a golem or a magic brain will be able to do it, so it will be harder to make mistakes. "The advantage of this technology is that there is no need to add extra facilities on the flying machine side," he said. The advantage of this technology is that there is no need to add extra equipment on the airframe side," he said. "Thank you very much. That''s a very interesting proposal." Tomax Bartmann asked the assembled engineers if they had any questions. A number of hands went up immediately. "Well then, Mr. Berlich?" "Yes, sir." Tomax Bartmann called Berlich, the man sitting next to Cacacea. "My name is Berlich Becker of the Shoro Kingdom. What is your proposal just now, how long do you expect the interval between the flashes?" The man answered, "Yes, I am. is 0.5 seconds. > is 1.5 seconds. How about a pause of 1 second? It could be faster if it were controlled by a magic brain, though. "Surely, that would be good. So you repeat the same signal? Yes. As long as we check it visually, we can repeat it as many times as necessary so that if we miss something, we can review it again immediately. I see. I see. ...... So, you are going to change the color for multiple planes. ......" At this point, Jin suddenly realized. He wondered how he could tell which color lamps he should be concerned about. Then, he hastily provides a different explanation. "You can change the color for different countries, or for airships, hot air balloons, and wind-powered floaters (blow floaters)," he said. "Indeed, it would be good to change the color for different models,...... Thank you very much." Berlich Becker bailed and finished his question. Jin admired his comprehension in his mind. "Would you like anything else?" The next person to ask a question was Groma Tolley. "This is Groma Tolley. ...... Well, then. Well, there are two magic tools in the world, the voice condenser and the loudspeaker, but what is the reason for not applying them?" Both have been put to practical use and can transmit voices wirelessly over a distance of about 100 meters without any problem. Groma pointed this out. "I will answer your question. There are two major reasons. First, it is a little too expensive to be loaded on a small wind-powered floatplane (blow floater), let alone on a large airship. Since it is a magic device, <> and <> are expensive. That is the first point. "Second, it is very difficult to make it possible to talk only to the desired airship or balloon." If you can deliver a voice, you would have to exchange information through conversation, but there is the problem of not being able to pick out a specific person to talk to," Jin explained. "Of course, I believe that both of these problems can be solved technically, and I hope that eventually we will be able to exchange information with a specific person by voice, as you say, Mr. Groma." "Thank you very much." After that, several more questions were raised, and Jin answered them. Finally, Hitoshi said, There may be people who cannot distinguish the colors or have difficulty in distinguishing the colors. In such a case, the colors of the lamps will not make sense, and the pilot or the person in charge of checking the lamps may need to be tested for such a problem. He concluded his remarks by assuming the possibility that some of the participants might be colorblind. 2062 - - 55-37 『ＡＧＳ』 The technical discussion in the middle conference room lasted for about three hours. The second half of the discussion had nothing to do with <>, but ....... "The idea of the <> was originally ......" "<> can be applied in the field of ......" "The future world that the <> will open up is ......" Most of them were about the <>. Even after the first lecture on <>, which had just ended, there were a few who remained at <> for a technical discussion. One of them was Berlich Becker, the head of the . He is now the fifth generation, or Berlich V. After the debate, Jin renewed old acquaintanceships with Groma, Eira, and Cachea. Reinhardt, of course, attended the meeting as a friend. Berrich Becker was also there. After eating lunch together in the cafeteria, they are chatting in a sort of debate. < has temporarily ceased to exist, Berlich said. "It is well known that my home lord Reinhardt had a powerful golem called the <>, but it is missing now." "Ah, ah, I see. ......" Actually, the <> was on <> and he didn''t know that Stephanie Randle had inherited it. "So I made a golem named <>, but it wasn''t enough." "I see." At this point, Groma Trey speaks up. "We agreed that we wanted to develop a high-performance golem," he said. "I see." Gromma is the oldest at 30, followed by Berlich at 28. Eira is 27 and Katya is 19. As a side note, all four of them will add a year to their age when their birthdays come this year. Aside from that, Hitoshi was surprised at the closeness between Katya and Berlich. He pretends not to notice, however, because he is aware that he is not the right person to comment on the relationship between a man and a woman. "......, back to the topic, I think it''s important to know what constitutes high performance, especially in the field of consumer products. Especially in the field of consumer products." When Jin said this, Berlich was the first to bite. "I think you are right. If the golem that ...... Jin-sama makes is the pinnacle, I would like to think about how we can approach it. "Well, in my case, I use a lot of rare materials. Of course, this is not the only way to make a high-performance golem, but the high basic performance of the materials is a big advantage. At this point, Reinhardt spoke up. He could no longer remain silent. "I''m a friend of Jin''s, ...... Hurt," he said. I think there are at least two approaches. One is how to make it cheap and improve performance, and the other is how to make a high performance product using expensive and rare materials, and then how to reduce the cost without compromising the performance. "That''s certainly true." Groma agreed. "Now it''s a question of which is more important, cost or performance. Cost or performance? Mr. Berlich also expressed his opinion. "Yes, yes. That''s what I mean. I can tell you from experience that it''s not very efficient to do one without the other. Reinhard says. I see, I can understand that. It''s hard to narrow down the considerations between cost and performance, isn''t it?" Berlich, the workshop owner, agrees. It''s very difficult for an engineer to improve performance while reducing cost. "For me, I would like to increase performance while maintaining low costs." Berlich states his thoughts. And Jin agreed with him. "Oh, I agree with you. But.., "Jin, you say that now ......" Reinhardt said to him. "It''s true, I basically use rare materials when I can, but if I can''t, I don''t use them. Jin retorts. Then, Katya backs him up. "That''s right. When Jin-san made , he made such an amazing golem with the materials available to him, didn''t he! "Oh ...... is that so? ......" Berlich''s energy level dropped a little, probably because Cachier was covering for Jin. Katya herself seemed to know nothing about it, "Jin-san''s Hope was always great! He praised her. She must have been remembering the sham fight between the Golem of Groma and Hope. "Ha-ha, thank you." At any rate, Jin thanked her. It seems that Katya is quite insensitive. Jin can''t say the same thing about others. "...... Let me back up a bit. Groma read the air and changed the subject. "Certainly, it''s more rewarding for us engineers to think about improving performance than to think about lowering costs." "Yes." Jin nodded. When I used to work in modern Japan, I still have memories of the chaos that ensued on the shop floor because of designs that ignored all the requests from the factory. I wish that production engineers who specialize in cost reduction would do it. I really do." "Jin?" Oh, no, I''m talking about this one. I''m talking about ...... but I''ve seen the Black Knight. It''s pretty good, isn''t it?" "What?When and why?" Naturally Berlich reacted to Jin''s words. "Actually, ......." Jin explained briefly. He had been to the Berlich workshop. The farm golem used by his student Emile''s parents had gone out of control. <. After investigating the cause of the problem, he discovered that the control core had been sloppily built. He does not tell us that Ludwig asked Fried Randall of the security guard to find out who committed the fraud. It would have been strange if Jin had known about it. "Did that happen? ...... How shameless!" Berlich was half disgusted, half indignant. "It''s inexcusable,...... and there''s nothing I can do about it, no matter how much I breathe here." Gromma looked equally chagrined. "......, how about forming something like the <>?" suggested Cachia, which was unusual. "Union?" Groma asked, not quite understanding what he was getting at. "Yes. Well, it doesn''t have to be a union. The point is that if you are a member of the union, you can guarantee a certain level of quality. "Oh, I see!" Jin guessed that what Katya was talking about was something like the (Japanese Industrial Standards) in modern Japan. Nowadays, the quality of Japanese industrial products is world-class, but I have heard from the Director that for a while after the war (after the Pacific War), pencils without the JIS mark were useless. The lead snapped off when sharpened, making them unusable. As a side note, there is also a story that the JIS mark will be changed to <> in 2017, but of course, Jin could not have known about it since it was after he was summoned to Ars. "Ars golem standard <> or ......." Jin muttered, "Yes, that''s it! Ka-CHEER said. "Ah ......, I guess <> will have to take the lead on this one." Jin thinks that this is a bit troublesome, but on the other hand, it is good that the quality of the golem is stabilized. 2063 - - 55-38 Inherited The was formed in <> in order to establish the Ars Golem Standard . The initiator is Tomax Bartmann, the Chief Administrator of <>. Honorary advisors were Jin Nido and Deus ex Machina. Members of the include Groma Trey, Eila Siata, and Cachea. Two representatives from each country were also present, so that the conditions for establishing the standard as an international standard were in place. I will not go into the details of what was discussed at the committee meeting. The items that were decided upon are as follows 1. Safety 2. required functions 3. durability 4. price For each of these items, classification and grade were determined, and the contents were also finalized. > is divided into <<. The classification by use is for agricultural use, forestry use, and so on. Special and limited use products are customized versions of mass-produced products. It is like a camping car in the case of automobiles. > is classified into ><>>>. In between are , which are more expensive than <>, but are not used for military purposes. An example would be a golem for royalty and nobility. Grades are from 1 to 5. Grade 1 is the highest and grade 5 is the lowest. The first AGS meeting has ended at ....... After this meeting, the representatives of each country will bring back their AGS to their respective countries for further discussion, and the details will be discussed again in in a month. The details will be worked out in detail. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, I''m tired. Jin was lying on the tatami mats in his on Horai Island. "Brother Jin, thank you for your hard work. Erza said to Jin. "I know it''s necessary. ......" Jin thinks that he would like to have a take his place next time. "But I guess the world will need such standards and standardization in the future." Jin said his thoughts as he lay down. "I think so. We need to rebuild for all the things that were destroyed by the ......<>." "I guess so." Still lying on the tatami mats, Jin thought about it. "We will also need various measuring instruments and standards. Length in meters, weight in grams, time in seconds, angle in degrees, temperature in degrees Celsius. These were defined by Shuki Tsetsi, but many of the auxiliary units are still undecided. "I can''t decide either, though." For example <. I know Mohs, Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell, etc., but I don''t know the standard. "There was also a rubber hardness tester. Then there were viscometers, pH meters, sugar meters, and the list goes on and on. "I hope I can spread the word to the world little by little." Erza heard Jin''s soliloquy on ......, "Brother Jin, have you changed a little? "Brother Jin, have you changed a little?" she said. "What?" "......I guess, the old Jin brother would have prepared those things by himself and taken them to <." "......" "But now he''s trying to get someone else to do it for him. It''s not because ...... it''s a hassle, it''s more like, ...... yes, I''m expecting people to take the initiative." "That may be so." Erza''s words made Jin reconsider his thoughts. "Technology and culture that are simply given to people can be lost in the slightest thing. But what we have created through hard work and ingenuity will not disappear so easily. "...... Is that <> Jin''s philosophy?" "No, philosophy is not such a lofty thing. Still, it is true that there are things that have become visible after jumping through 400 years of time. Bonds and ties have not been lost, have they? "......, I think I understand." Erza wondered if it was because Jin had jumped through time from 400 years ago that he was able to notice the . Little by little changes are hard to notice, but big changes are easy to understand. Elsa said so, "Yes, I guess so. Jin admitted. "Maybe that''s why ...... I want people to do it, not just individuals." Jin said he hoped he could help with that. "I know ...... how hard it is." Elsa gently took Jin''s hand. "But I''m going to stay with you, Jin. I will support my brother Jin." "Thank you." Jin was so happy to feel her warmth that he remained there for a while. * * * * "......Oh, I must have fallen asleep." Jin woke up. He had fallen asleep before he knew it, and the sunlight streaming in through the window was from the afternoon. "Elsa is ...... oops." I looked to the side and saw that Elsa was also lying on the tatami mats and sighing in her sleep. "...... what time is it?" "It''s 1:30 in the afternoon." Reiko answered from outside the room. "Is it that late already?" Lunch is ready. Luna and Soleil are cooking. "Oh, I see. ...... Elsa, wake up." Jin felt a little sorry for her, but he woke up Erza who was snoozing next to him. "......ngh." Jin looked at Erza, who was rubbing her eyes as she got up, and thought, "You haven''t changed in that way since the old days. "Did I fall asleep? Jin nodded to Erza, who asked a little shyly. "Yeah. You had a ...... cute sleeping face." "......!" When Jin said something teasing, Erza''s face turned bright red and she smacked him. However, it didn''t hurt at all because of her shyness. Jin was biting his lips at the happiness he feels now. 2064 - - 55-39 Partners "Thanks for the food." "Thanks for the food." Jin and Elsa finish their lunch a little ...... late, or rather a lot late, and enjoy a leisurely cup of tea. "It''s like an early 3:00 p.m. tea time, isn''t it?" "Hmm." Erza asks Jin a question amidst the leisurely flow of time. "Brother Jin, this is Milowina-san, do you need a squire? "Oh ......, I see, that''s how it is." Jin thought it would be better if he had a connection to the magical brain of Moon (Yunyi) <>, but it occurred to him that it would be better to have a terminal for <>, like Lao Kun and Lao Tzu, when Erza told him. "Maybe that would be better." Jin has Reiko and Marikka has Hanako. The other members would have to be considered in the future, but first Milowina. "There is nothing wrong with making them. It is just a question of how we should set up the appearance." Is she an old butler like Lao Tzu, a boy like Edgar, or a girl like Reiko or Hanako? "......Somehow, but I have a feeling that Milowina-san would be better suited to a type like ." "A head chamberlain or ......." In other words, an elderly female type. Indeed, Jin realized that he had not yet created such a type. "Let''s go with that." "Yes." Jin decided to start work on it immediately. He moves to the workshop to make the base body. The specifications are based on those of Golem Maid, but the use of rarer materials is intended to improve the performance. "Jin, you should contact Milowina and as well." Erza, who is watching from the side rather than ...... assisting Jin''s work, advises. "That''s also a good idea. ...... Reiko, tell the old man to connect me to <>." "Yes, father. He could have done it himself, but he is always happy to ask Reiko to do it, so he usually does. He asked Elsa to contact Milowina. * * * * * * * * * * As it turned out, <> and Milowena were both very much in favor. And Elsa''s suggestion of a "chief chamberlain style" was also accepted. Jin''s hands were now in motion. He had been slowly assembling it until he received an answer, but now that it was accepted, he began to work on it seriously, as if there was no need to hold back. Reiko, who had finished her role as liaison, resumed assisting him, and the body was completed in about five minutes. "The control core is mounted on the body," she said. As a remotely piloted machine, the control core is to be used as a supplement. For example, if for some reason <> is unable to fly. Having installed all such additional functions, Jin nodded his head in satisfaction. "Now all that''s left is the exterior. ......Elsa, can you handle it?" "Yes, I''ll take care of it. Jin looked at the female automaton, an elderly < type, and left the design to Erza. She is of medium build. This was to fully demonstrate the specs inherited from the golem maids, so there was no need to make her look fat or skinny. As Jin wondered what she was going to do with her face, Erza created a face that looked a bit like Milowina''s of the past. Or rather, she was Milowena multiplied by two, and then Meene and Martha were added and divided by four. "I see, so that''s how Elsa did it." I didn''t make her wear glasses. Her hair color is light brown and her eyes are brown. Her clothes are a slight modification of the standard Horai Island maid''s uniform. She may or may not wear a headdress as needed. "What is your name?" <> is a man''s name, so it does not suit the female form. "......<> wouldn''t work either." Jin''s naming sense was as usual, though he probably imagined J and Q for playing cards. "I think we should ask Milowina to name it for us," he said. "That''s true. So we contacted Milowina and asked her to come to the workshop. She was just taking a walk in the orchard behind the institute and arrived in less than 10 minutes. "Jin-kun, is it ready yet?" Milowina knows that Jin is working on ''s terminal because she asked him about it, but she seems a little surprised at how quickly it was completed. "Yes. What do you think?" "Well, ......." Seeing the calm atmosphere of the automata, Milowina seemed to like it. "I like it!...... This is controlled by , isn''t it?" "That''s what I was thinking, and I was wondering if you could give me a name for it." "Yeah, sure. How about ......, how about <>?" The name Jackie is often thought of as a masculine name because of the kung fu star of the same name, but in fact it can be used for both men and women in English-speaking countries. Jin wonders if it is like < or in Japanese ....... In fact, < is probably the most common nickname. Aside from that, both Jin and Elsa thought that if <>''s terminal was <>, they would immediately see the connection, just like Laojun and Laozi, "Hmm, I think it''s a good idea. They nodded their heads. "Okay, <>, is that okay with you?" They would not say no, but they asked just to be sure. Then he said, "Yes, that''s fine with me too, Yes, that''s fine with me too. After all, it is the name given by Milowina-sama. I received the expected answer. "Good. I will give the same privileges to start up the system, and you can start it from there." "Okay, I''ll give < the same permissions to start up and do other things. <> gets up. Milowina, please take care of this for me. "Jackie, it''s nice to meet you too." Yes, sir. "Thank you for your body, ...... Jin-sama. "Will you protect Milowena?" Yes, of course. Thus, <>, the mobile terminal automata for Milowina controlled by <>, took care of Milowina''s personal needs from this moment on. * * * * * * At dinner that night, when all the members of the were present, Jin reported that he had made <. "Wow, that''s great. That''s Jin." "She looks like Elsa, though." "She''s got a nice, relaxed look." Meine, one of the models, also complimented me. Jin and Erza breathed a sigh of relief that the other members had accepted them. Then they began to worry about Marcia, who seemed to be working on the ship day after day. "How is Marcia?"How is Marcia? Is she making progress with her research on the ship? "Yes, so far. "Well, I guess ...... she needs a dedicated assistant." There is no Arrow in Marcia now. No Arco, no Vail. If requested, Jin plans to make an assistant golem of the same type. 2065 - - 55-40 New Partner Does Marcia need an assistant golem?Jin asked, "Well, yes. To be honest, I miss Arrow, Arco and Vale. Since you are ......, could you make me an automata instead of a golem?" My own assistant golem is enough for Arrow and his friends. So if you''re going to make me an assistant, I''d like it to be a different concept, Marcia said. "Okay, here we go." Jin then confirms his request about the appearance. After all, his first assistant golem, Arrow, had been made to look exactly like Marcia. "Well, you don''t have to make it look like ...... me. And I think I''d like a female form." Marcia said she might feel uncomfortable with a male automaton as her assistant. "Okay. Then let''s go in the direction of manon. "Manon?" "Oh, you don''t know, do you Marcia? <. She''s like Anne, Lol, Lefa..." "I see. ...... Yeah, that''s a good idea. But they should wear something comfortable. Okay. After listening to Marcia''s request, Jin went to the workshop. It was 6:30 p.m., so there was still plenty of time. "This looks interesting. Let''s take a look." Reinhardt followed him. "The template is already ready. The process from preparation to basic assembly is fast. Reiko and the old man had prepared the materials, so the approximate shape was completed in 10 minutes. "You''re even faster than usual." Reinhard is impressed with the speed. "Well, now that it''s for Marcia, we''ll have to make some customizations." We''ll give it more knowledge of precision machining and more power for transport. The <> will be made more powerful so that the entire ship can be transferred in case of emergency. Although not for combat, they are equipped with <> for self-defense, and <> to kill <> in an instant. "Jin, it would be nice if you could use <>." Reinhardt, who was watching from the side, advises. "Underwater demons are vulnerable to low temperatures, you know. "I see, I''ll do that." Jin thought that it would be a good idea to equip them with weapons such as harpoons. Naturally, they are tuned to be good at underwater activities. "The last thing is the appearance." Jin looked at Erza, who had arrived. "Hmm, I''ll leave it to you. Hair green. "Yes." After saying that, Jin left the rest to Erza and sat down next to Reinhardt. "What about Reinhardt and Bertsche?" Neon was now owned by Edith Kuzma, a descendant of the Kuzma family and Reinhardt, and <> by Stephanie Randall. "Well, I guess ...... there''s no particular inconvenience." Reinhardt would have built it himself if he had to. "Well, yes." But what about the other members? Saki has a five-colored golem maid taking care of her, Hannah seems to have no inconvenience, and so does Vivienne. Beena and Stearina are likely to make their own golems if necessary. Lycia, too, would not have had a specific follower 400 years ago. "...... but <> or ......" Jin recalled the members he had met in this period. "Maybe we should let Rhodes and Ludmilla know. ......" This is a difficult question. To inform them would mean informing Sion as well. Theon is definitely a member of the . "......I guess I have to make a decision now." "...... Jin?" "Oh, sorry. I''ll think about it tonight, and I''ll discuss it with you in the morning. Before that, Jin went to help Erza finish the automata for Marcia. "How does it look like?" "Well, I made it like this." "Well..." Her hair is green and a little long, pulled back in a ponytail. The face was Elsa''s original, somewhat similar to Anne''s. "I tried to put it together in a safe way," she said. "I tried to make it look safe." Jin thought, "That''s true. Jin himself could make a good likeness if he had a model, but he was not good at making originals. "Yes, it looks good. Reinhardt was also impressed. "It''s not good for assistants and secretaries like this to have a very distinctive appearance," he said. Reinhardt said, "It''s better to have a safe, unremarkable appearance so that the master will stand out. "And, well, that''s the case with noble squires." "That was helpful." Jin thought that it would be a case-by-case basis for a squire to be more prominent than his master, even if he was not a nobleman, if he was always by his master''s side. In the case of himself and Reiko, it was fine for Reiko to be more famous, but a female owner would not like it if a squire of the same gender was more conspicuous. As for the attire, Jin thought of wearing a jumpsuit, reflecting Marcia''s request, but Elsa objected. She said, "If it''s the same work clothes, I''d rather wear a shirt and overalls. "I don''t know what you mean by that. Overalls are also sometimes called "ties," and are a single-piece garment. "You can change it up with the shirt part," Elsa told me. Jin was convinced by Elsa''s words, "Because you can change it with the shirt part. It took about 30 minutes so far. "So, I''ll have ...... Marcia name it." Jin checked all the parts of the automata, "All right, let''s call the others. He then called the others with . Within five minutes, everyone was in the workshop. Jin and Elsa show off their new automata. "Wow, this is my partner!Just as ordered, Jin!" Marcia seemed to like the new automaton at first sight. "You name it, Marcia." Jin said and activated the automaton. Marcia was already ranked first, with Rodrigo in second, Elsa in third, and Reinhardt in fourth. "A name or ...... I guess so ...... then . Marcia-sama, it is nice to meet you." "Yes, it''s nice to meet you too." Thus, on this day, <> became Marcia''s new partner. 2066 - - 55-41 Everybodys Opinion The day after Marcia''s new partner was completed, that is, August 10. After breakfast that day, the Jin family gathered at the institute. Missing from the group were Zion, the , Rhodotos, the , and Ludmilla. "Well, I think I said yesterday that I would share my thoughts with you, but to be honest, there are still some things I haven''t decided." "......, I know. Still, I''d like to hear your thoughts. Erza was the first to imagine what Jin was thinking about, and then she understood and urged him to go on. "The island of Onogoro accepted Marikka. But what about the Nordic Federation? Jin began to speak slowly. "Zion and his relatives will be fine. But the rest of them are probably not ...... good." Jin said regretfully. "<> thought that we should complete ...... alone, including Zion, of course." "......" Everyone listens in silence. "I just can''t stop thinking, ''Who the hell do you think you are? "Yes, I understand that." Reinhardt looked at Jin with a slightly pained expression on his face and interrupted him. "Marikka''s rejuvenation will be conveyed to Zion sooner or later from , and I think Zion should be allowed to see Marikka as it is." "Yes, I think so. I think it''s better if Jin tells her. Reinhardt said, "That''s a sign of his trust in Zion. "That''s right. I''m going to ...... after this. I''m not going to ...... tell you that I''m also planning to turn Zion into a homunculus." "Oh, I don''t have to tell you that." "And here''s the part that concerns all of you: I''m not going to tell the descendants of ......<> about all of you. ...... but this is my own idea. That''s why I wanted to hear your opinions." "......" After a short silence, it was Reinhardt who was the first to open his mouth. "Well, that''s no use. To be honest, I''d like to talk to the descendants directly, but I guess I shouldn''t." His tone was a little sad. "I''m sorry." "No." Reinhard shook his head and asked the others to check. "How are you guys doing?" "Well, I can see how they''re doing here, so I guess that''s okay." Luis answered, "Yeah, I guess so. In the first place, it is impossible for us to know how each other is doing, let alone see each other. Rodrigo also answered. "Of course, it would be nice if we could meet and talk. But it would be sad to do it over and over again ...... and then have to say goodbye. Bina said. "Well, maybe we can make it so that they don''t know that we are <> and just see each other for a little while. Saki also said something like that. "We have to be flexible about that, don''t we? ...... Jin-san and I think we can do it." Vivienne said the same thing. "I used to be so lonely and alone that I wanted a golem or an automata to be there for me, but now that I can ...... be with you all like this, I don''t have high hopes." Milowina said that she did not care at all because she did not have any descendants or acquaintances. "Yes, the biggest fear is that we will overdo it and lose our sense of ethics." Licia also agreed with Jin. The other members of the group also agreed that it was better not to have active contact with the descendants. "Is that all right with you?" "Yes, of course." "Yes, it''s fine." "Yes, it''s fine." Thus, the first Jin family was united. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "You wouldn''t know them face to face, but you would know the golems and automata of the time. After the discussion, all of us are drinking tea, somewhat tired. "That''s true. So if we are going to meet, we should choose a time when there are no golems or automata with us. Such is the conversation. "That''s not so difficult, is it? As long as you only invite human beings to Horai Island. Jin also has an idea of what to do. "If they have some purpose for bringing us here, we don''t have to meet them..." "Kuhu, that''s true." But Jin was still mulling it over alone, wondering if he still wanted to see Aal, Neon, Edgar, Selene, Arrow, Arco, Vale, the Black Knight (Schwartzritter)...... and the others again. "In that case, I think it would be best if they kept their word to themselves through the person who is number one on their priority list." Erza, who seemed to have guessed what Jin was thinking, offered some advice. "That''s true. The original master is probably the ." Jin could easily find out if he looked into it. That made Jin feel much better. "Jin-san, do you know what''s going on in <>?" Licia asked over a cup of tea. "Yes. It''s supposed to be a resort open to the public now." "Then, what about <>?" "<> or ......" Four hundred years ago, Jin was approved by all nations to serve as <>. < The old man explained it to me here. There are still people called <<<< Kunlun-kun deputy>>, but <> was a title that lasted only one generation after all>>. "So it was." That''s fine, Jin thinks. It would be best if the people of today could use both Wujinggaku and Jade Pavilion. "If that''s the case, it would be a waste to leave <-san as he is, wouldn''t it?" Hannah spoke up this time. <> takes its name from <>. He used to be the administrative magic brain of the magic fortress, but he has become subordinate to Jin and is now in charge of the Kunlun Island. "That''s right. Jin thought that the terminal would be enough for him to continue to manage the Kunlun Island. "Where are you going to move to?" "Let''s see... ...... Horai Island or Hale..." "Or we could use it as the brain of a spaceship or a space base. Elsa joined in on Jin''s words. "I guess so. Let''s let ......<> decide. "That''s a good idea." Hannah was the first to agree. So Jin decided to contact < through the old man. He asked him the following question, "I used to be the magic brain of the fortress. I would like to manage a space base if possible. was the answer. 2067 - - 55-42 Space Station "Space base or ......" who was the head of the administration of the Kunlun Island wanted to be the head of the administration of the space base. "Shall we build a space base that orbits Hale?" Jin said, "Hmm, that''s a good idea. "Oh, that''s a good idea. "That sounds fun! Everyone agreed. "Okay, let''s do it then. First, let''s see what kind of base we can make. ......" The first person to jump to the conclusion was Reinhardt. "The moon (UNY) is like a space base, right?Maybe a modified asteroid like that?" "Or else, a spherical spaceship type?" "A disk-shaped base like <> is not suitable for space. "If it''s a base, I''d rather focus on defense and observation than mobility. "Might it be necessary to launch a meteorite? Various opinions were expressed. After a comprehensive review, we came up with the following ideas. <, i.e., 300 meters in diameter, as a base. The living space is minimized and used for outfitting energy facilities and defensive equipment. A <> is essential as an observation device. The propulsion system is a <> and a . Many ultra-compact observation devices, called , will also be carried. These < were originally designed to measure high concentrations of free magical element (ether) in space, but they have many applications. The defensive device is also equipped with an Aegis shield to protect it from meteorites. "Something like this?" "Well, the big one is good, isn''t it?" "Yes, small ones can be added later. This is the way of magical engineering. "Okay, let''s start building with these specs. The arsenal on the moon would be good. Since the moon with less gravity is easier to build, Jin decides to build the huge spaceships there. Also, the (near) vacuum condition is advantageous from the viewpoint of metal corrosion. "My old man, please cooperate with of the moon and start building this spaceship and space base. < "It''s not an urgent matter, so just build at normal speed." Jack is familiar with this type of spaceship, as he has built them many times before, regardless of their size. Master Jin, you can count on us. "Please, Jack." Thus began the construction of the space base for <>. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, that''s it." Jin thinks it will take about a month to build at normal speed. It was just lunch time, so he went to the cafeteria and found that the food was already prepared. The menu was cool since it was mid-summer. Cold barley, somen noodles, and zarusoba are on the menu. According to the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards) Somen: less than 1.3 mm in diameter Cold barley: more than 1.3 mm and less than 1.7 mm in diameter The thin ones are called "somen" and the thin ones are called "barley". In other words, thin somen is somen, and slightly thicker is yakiyamugi. In fact, there seems to be some differences in the manufacturing process of hand-pulled somen, such as applying oil to prevent sticking, but these differences are not constant. Even if they did not know such things, everyone was choosing noodles according to their own taste as long as they could enjoy them. "Somen noodles have a nice texture," "Soba noodles have a nice aroma. "Soba has a nice aroma," "Soba has a nice flavor," "Somen has a crunchy texture like cold barley. I like the chewy texture of cold barley. All the members of the Jin family were sipping the noodles with great skill. The sauce is also very creative, allowing you to enjoy the different soup stock, different flavors, and different thicknesses. You can also choose your favorite condiments such as wasabi, green onion, and ginger. The soup made from the broth made from this meat is good for chilled barley. "I can''t get enough of the ginger with it." "Soba should be served with wasabi and green onion. "Agedama (fried egg) is a good way to add a different texture to your soba. After enjoying the cold soba, finish it off with hot soba tea. Sobayu (buckwheat water) is also available. "Ah, it''s delicious!" It seems that everyone has had their fill. By the way," he said, "I''d like to ask you a few questions. "By the way, Mr. Jin. Licia opened her mouth as she sipped her buckwheat tea. "I heard that Toka village is deserted now. "Ah, ...... yes." "The hot springs are no longer running." I guess so. ...... can''t something be done? "I''m not so sure." Jin said, "If you ask me if I can do it or not, I can do it, but it won''t do any good if I do everything for you. It would be fine at the time, but as soon as we stopped following up, the decline would begin. "I guess we''ll have to take care of ourselves in the end. ......" Jin also took care of and meddled in many things 400 years ago, but you can see the results of that 400 years later. "I''m finally realizing that, though." Jin smiles self-mockingly. He explains that he would like to refrain from such interference from now on. "So, yes, ...... it would be good to re-excavate the hot springs. After that, they''ll have to figure out how to revitalize the village on their own. We can help you, but we need you to do it on your own. "I understand, sir. Jin remembered that when he had visited Toka Village before, the village chief had told him that he liked airplanes and flying machines. "Why don''t we have an air race?" "Air race?" "Yes. I believe the air currents are stable around Toka village. Yes, there is a gently rolling grassland on the west side of Toka village, near the Kutsudo mine. "If we hold an air race there, tourists will come. With the exception of Lake Tosmo and Lake Asur, most of the large areas suitable for air racing are in the suburbs, so it is a pastime that cannot be held in the city. "It sounds interesting. "Now we just need to find a way to get it to be held in Toca Village." Sounds fun. A race? Reinhardt joined in, Guth became interested, and eventually the whole family decided to consider it. 2068 - - 55-43 Air Race in Toka Village "Air racing, or ...... sounds like fun!" Reinhardt seems to be interested in it. He likes such things. "What kind of race is it?Single-seater?Or remote control?" "We did remote control on Onogoro Island, so how about a one-man race with a golem or an automata? At Jin''s suggestion, Reinhardt is even more enthusiastic. "That''s a good idea. Jin and I will organize the first competition with some volunteers. We just need to see how many people we can attract. If we can get enough people to show up, we can make some money, and maybe the next time we have a tournament, there will be more people who want to participate. I think I''ll sponsor the first one. Jin was aware that he had a lot of dead money in his pocket and that it would not be good for the world economy if he did not spend it. "But if you do, you will get more money back than you invested. That''s the way it usually is. No sponsor likes to invest in an event that will lose money. "I see. ......" If the event goes in the red, the next sponsor will not come along. Then, Jin had the next best thing, or rather, the best idea. "Maybe it would be better for the future if we find a business association that would be willing to sponsor us. "Yes, that''s right. "Let''s leave the sponsorship aside for now. As for Jin, it is more suitable for him to think about the standard of airplanes. "Yes, let''s talk about airplanes. And the same goes for Reinhardt. "A golem to fly the plane, that''s good." "Yeah." "What about the airframe?" "I guess so." Jin and Reinhardt are torn. After all, the most common flying machines are balloons, airships, and blow floaters. "I don''t think a wind-powered blower would make for a very thrilling race, would it? It''s not going to be a maximum speed race or a last-minute dead heat ......," Reinhardt said. "I think it''s going to be more of a leisurely, relaxed race." "I guess." "But..." Jin says. "Depending on the rules and contents, it could be something interesting, don''t you think?" "Hmm, I see." Although in a completely different genre, Jin once read a story called in a comic book. It was a fishing manga. In general, anglers who aim for big fish enjoy the process of catching them, including the pulling force. The story was about "Tanago fishing" based on this. Jin remembers that the story was about how to enjoy the process of catching small fish by using small <, although the Tanago is probably classified as the smallest fish to be fished. ...... The details are not clear, though, as it was a long time ago. Anyway, Jin thought that even wind-powered floaters (blow floaters) could enjoy thrilling races if they tried. (Even low-speed flight competitions were quite exciting.) As Jin and Reinhardt were thinking about ......, Licia, Marcia, and Goose, who had been silent so far, interrupted them. "It was fun to listen to Jin and Reinhardt''s dialogue, but it''s worthwhile to participate in a talk like this! Goose''s line expressed the sentiments of everyone present. "I think it''s possible to have a sweaty dead heat even if the speed is not fast enough," said Marcia. Marcia said, "Yes, yes. For example, we could keep the altitude under 5 meters. Goose offers an idea. "Well, 5 meters altitude surely sounds chilling," says Goose. But what if it crashes?Even if it is a golem, won''t it destroy the blow floaters? "Then, we can put up a low altitude ward. If you touch the wards, you''ll be disqualified, though. Saki presented his idea. < "Since wind-powered blow floaters are affected by wind, how about covering the stadium with a wind shield?" "No, it would be interesting to compete with the wind blowing in the opposite direction. How should we let the spectators watch? "How should we let the spectators watch?" "I think a would be the way to go. And many other opinions were expressed. It seems that everyone loves this kind of discussion. And Licia, who is the originator of this discussion.., "I don''t know about the technology, but if you want to attract tourists to Toka village, you need to improve the infrastructure.I don''t know about technology, but if we want to attract tourists to Toka village, we need to improve the infrastructure. I said, "Oh, yes, indeed. "Oh, it''s true, it''s not easy to accept visitors out of the blue, is it? Bina sounded convinced. "What about the specialties?" "<> has become so common that it can''t really be called a specialty, you said." Jin recalled a story he had heard during a previous visit to Toka village. "I heard that Kemeria oil is a specialty. Oh, that''s right." Seeing the look on Reinhardt''s face, Jin remembered another specialty. "Oh, by the way, the red wine is delicious. "Huh?" Sure enough, Reinhardt took a bite. "I remember you said it was three years old. "I see. I''d like to try it, but if it''s three years old, there''s a good chance it''ll be well received. It could be a good sales pitch for tourists, Reinhardt said. "And then there''s the hot spring, but it''s not running anymore, is it? "Have they dried up? ......?" Licia said regretfully, but Jin shook his head. "I didn''t have time at the time, so I left it as it was, but considering the underground water veins, it shouldn''t have dried up." The hot springs in the village of Kaina are still flowing, Jin said. "It''s possible that the pipes that let the hot spring water in are clogged." This can happen when hot spring water precipitates. So it needs to be cleaned out from time to time, "Hmm, I don''t think the hot spring there has that kind of quality. "Hmm. It was a simple spring, and there was no sulfur smell, I think." Erza was present when Jin dug the hot spring in Toka village. "Oh, but I think that spring was shallow. "What?But I think Jin-san said that the water vein he dug for us was about 250 meters deep. "Me?I don''t remember ......." At this point, Reiko gave advice from the side. "Father, that was after you returned ......400 years ago, so it''s natural that your father doesn''t remember it now." "What?Oh, is that so?" "Oh, yes, that''s right!" Jin dug a deep well and secured a water source in Toka village after the original Jin returned 400 years ago, so the duplicate Jin did not know about it. On the other hand, the homunculus Lysia remembers it. Let me digress. "So the water source is deep, but the hot spring was shallow and may have dried up? Then, we can consider digging again, Jin thought. 2069 - - 55-44 Procedure Talks of an air race in Toka village had shifted to discussions of redevelopment of the village. "In any case, I think there are a lot of problems with doing it for free," Bina says. Bina says. "Indeed. It''s true that it''s not a good idea to give free of charge for seemingly unrelated land, even if it''s your own territory. ......" Jin understood this. "Then, what should we do? ......" Licia looked thoughtful. "Maybe we should approach the Kingdom of Klein and ask them to provide a budget for the project. Luis also has an opinion. "How?" Jin said, "Volunteers from the Nordic Federation want to hold a race of blow floaters on the Loren continent, and they chose Toka village because it is relatively close and the topography is favorable. Lewis replied. As one would expect from a former assistant to the lord of the Blue Lands. "I see. ......<>, there must be a lot of people who ride <>." "Yes, there are a lot of them. Maricka assured him. "Then I guess we''ll have to talk to Zion and Rhodes, too. I think we can tell them about the now," Jin said. "Everyone on Onogoro Island knows about it." "Of course they do. Mr. Zion also knows that Ms. Hanna has been studying homunculus. Marikka said, "I have a feeling that she is aware of it. "Then you can confide in Rhodes and Ludmila, too." They are the current, or second phase of the Jin family. "All right, then, let''s proceed on that basis. In Toka village, the Nordic Federation sponsors a bro-floater competition. So far, so good. The problem is that the Kingdom of Klein does not have much to offer. "I think the current king is Mericarance I, ......." The only thing I could think of was to bring up the subject through the Kingdom of Egelea or the Shoro Kingdom. By the way, I didn''t even consider going through <, because Tomax Bartmann would die of exhaustion. "So, why don''t you have Mr. Zion talk to the Klein Kingdom about that as well?" "I think that would be best." Marikka''s words forced Jin to agree that this was the only way. Marikka''s words forced Jin to agree that this was the only way to go. "That sounds interesting. I''d like to try it. Jin and Reiko moved to the . He immediately talked to Zion of . Conveniently, Rhodoth of the was also there, so it was fortunate that the conversation only needed to be held once. "I think there will be five or six workshops, including the Marikka workshop," he said. And some other individuals, like Lo. "You''re not going to participate? I''m thinking of taking a back seat this time. I see. I''m a little disappointed. However, Jin wanted to let people know the level of technology in the Nordic Federation, and to spread the fun and significance of this kind of competition, so he was hoping that only engineers from the Nordic Federation would take part in this event. "I see, I see." When I explained this to Zion, he agreed. "I will cooperate fully with you. "Thank you. I''ll take care of the financial side. "I''d like to say thank you, but I''m fine. I would like to say thank you, but it''s okay. We have enough money now. In this way, Jin has secured the cooperation of the Nordic Federation. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I''ve asked Zion for now." After returning to Horai Island, Jin reported to everyone. "Now we have to wait and see when the time comes to improve the infrastructure of Toka village. However," Jin continued. "If you don''t do it yourself and leave it to others, it will take a long time. ......" "That''s normal, though." Luis was the one who interrupted Jin''s blabbering. "Yes. Since I''ve been going out with Jin, I think I''ve rewritten a lot of my and over here. Bina laughed. "Well, I understand what you mean. If Jin takes care of most of the work, the infrastructure will be finished in less than a day." Reinhardt says. "Yes. ...... but I think that the things made in that way will not be handed down to future generations, perhaps because they are not appreciated. ......" Jin looked a little sad as he mumbled this, and Elsa and Reiko, who were sitting next to him, gently closed the distance between them. * * * * * * Anyway, since that''s the case, Jin and the others are going to be on hold for the time being. But.... "Let''s use this grace period to confide in Zion, Rhodes, and Ludmilla," Jin suggested. Jin suggested. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea. The other members agreed. Marikka also agreed, "It''s not good to keep silent from Mr. Zion," said Marikka. She looked relieved. Then they decided to discuss how to proceed. "I know you might be busy, but would it be better to have Zion come to Horai Island first?" "Yes, that would be ....... I think that would be a good idea. "Yes, that''s the way to go. Since Zion was originally a member of , he knows everyone here, and is different from Rhodes and Ludmila in that respect. The decision to call Zion was unanimous. After a brief discussion, Jin decides to call Zion with . "Zion, I know you''re probably busy, but can you come over here for a minute?" < < First, Jin alone greets Zion. The place is the cafeteria, which is also used as a meeting room. Welcome, Zion. I''m sorry I came all this way. No, it''s okay. But what''s this all about? "I don''t want you to be surprised. ......" As Jin said this, Marikka appeared as planned. "...... Zion, Ms. ......" "Marikka!" Zion ran to Marikka and hugged her. "Oh, it''s Marikka, isn''t it?I knew it!It''s so nice to see you again! "Wow, me too, ......." Theon and Marikka had an emotional reunion. 2070 - - 55-45 All gathered! "Oh, Marikka, you''re just as pretty as you used to be!" "Sion-san, it''s painful!" Marikka looked really distressed when Zion hugged her. "Oh, I''m sorry!" Theon, who would normally say sorry, seems to have returned to his old tone now that he has met the old Marikka. "But it''s like a dream to see you again like this. "Me too." I don''t ask why or how. It''s a secret, isn''t it? Yes. As expected, Zion knew what was going on with Jin and the others. "...... Jin, if Marikka is here, then there must be other people here too, right?" And he also knew what was going to happen next. "Yes, they are here. All of ...... them!" Hearing Jin''s voice, Elsa, Reinhardt, Belce, Saki, Luis, Beena, Licia, Hannah, Martha, Meene, Marcia, Rodrigo, Toa, Stearina, Goose, Vivienne, and Milowina ...... . "Hello, Zion, it''s been a long time." "Hello, Zion, it''s been a long time." And then he appeared. "Oh, guys!I''m so happy to see you again! Zion was shedding copious tears. * * * * * * * * * * * * After the joy of the reunion subsided, we all sat down to chat over a cup of tea. "......As I said before, I''m not going to ask you why." "I appreciate that." Jin spoke on behalf of everyone. "I called Zion first, but I will let Rhodes and Ludmila know about Marikka. "Well, ...... that''s a difficult thing to do." > so I don''t want to keep anything from them, Jin told Zion. "I''m sure those two will be fine as long as you talk to them properly. "I think so." Jin nodded and decided to trust them. "Well then, I have some work to do. After spending an hour on Horai Island, Zion decided to return. "See you later, Marikka." "Yes, Mr. Theon. See you later. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After that, he called Rhodes and Ludmilla to Horai Island, although it was not ...... to switch places with Sion. "Marikka-sama, you are ......? "Yes, I am." "Marikka-sama ......" Marikka-sama ......! Rhodes and Ludmila clung to Marikka and wept. "I can''t believe I''m going to see you again ......!" "It''s a dream! "Me too!" Jin waited for them to calm down, and then asked for one favor. "Don''t tell anyone about this. ...... Oh, only Zion knows about this. And everyone else on Onogoro Island. "I know. I don''t know why Marikka-sama ...... would think so, but it''s not something that can be talked about lightly." "I know the same thing. I am sure you will be relieved." As Zion said, they both seemed trustworthy. So Jin decides to take the next step and bring the <> with him. "There are some people I want you two to meet," he said. Then he gives the signal and they all come in. "Jin-sama, are these people ......?" Rhodes and Ludmila are surprised at the suddenness of the situation. "Yes, they are ......." Jin reveals that they are the <. 2071 - - 55-46 Quiet 94 Fried, Moving The town of Banne, in the Shoro Kingdom. It is the home of the Randall family, where Reinhardt was born and raised. Fried Randall von Reed, the head of the 2nd team at the headquarters of the Vanneh Guard, was furious. Of course, there had been a fraud in the town of Banne. He himself had heard from a magi engineer named Ludwig that he had purchased a golem for farming at a branch that called itself the six months ago, but that it had suddenly run out of control, which was an unbelievable problem. He tried to file a complaint, but there was no <> in Banne itself. This is clearly an act of fraud on the part of the <>. Just in case, we have received a message the other day that the broken golem has been preserved as evidence, so there seems to be no mistake. Now, where should we start? Fried Randall thought to himself. His position is that of a team leader, which means he has four subordinates. Fried had just ordered them to gather any information they could find. And of course, he himself would be investigating, but he was a little unsure. "Interviewing, or analyzing that golem: ......" Fried Randall, as his surname indicates, is of Randall descent. His ancestor was Fritz Randall von Grosch (the name of the noble family in the Shawlo Empire is first name, family name, (von, gift name)). He is a collateral descendant of the Randall family, which resides in Banne, but the two families are not on bad terms. However, Fried was not good at engineering magic, which is why he is now a member of the guard. In other words, we want to analyze it, but we don''t have the means to do so. "You said that the golem itself is kept in a workshop in Kaltz town. Fried decided to go there anyway. "It''s a workshop over there, so I could ask them to analyze it for me. The distance was only about 10 kilometers, so it would take about 30 minutes by horseback to get there. "The Berlich workshop ...... and, yes, there it is." Fried visited the Berlich Workshop and asked for help with the analysis. "I would like to help you, but we don''t have a head or deputy head of the workshop ......." The head of the workshop, Berlich, was in and the deputy head, Ludwig, was out of town, so Freed''s request could not be fulfilled by the apprentice who was on duty. And then.., "Well, if you don''t mind, could you let me do it?" I was in my early twenties. He was a serious-looking man in his early twenties. "And you?" Yes, my name is Artus, and I have been working as a temporary teacher here in the workshop since the day before yesterday. "Are you able to do that, Mr. Altus?" The apprentice asked anxiously. Yes, I can do it. ...... and I''m also very upset about this golem scam I''ve heard so much about. Please let me help you. "Okay, I''ll take you up on it." Fried decided to ask for help, since he was a competent, albeit temporary, lecturer and was outraged by the scam. There was a possibility that Altus had been sent by the fraudsters to destroy evidence, but Fried decided to trust his gut feeling when he said, "I am very upset about this golem scam. "<><><>......" Altus ran the analysis over and over again while several apprentices came out to watch. And then. "I understand a little. This was made a surprisingly long time ago. Roughly fifty years ago." How did you know that? "This material ...... is made partly of biomaterials, and judging by the degree of deterioration, I''d say it''s about 40 to 60 years old. I judged it to be between 40 and 60 years old." "So you''re saying it''s 50 years old." Yes. Then it was probably the League of Magic that created it. I''ve analyzed several of the golems they''ve made so far, and they all have one thing in common. "I see." Fried was not familiar with magical engineering and did not ask what those characteristics were, but the apprentices did. "So this is how you do it." "......<< Analyze (Analyze)>> and << Read (Decompile)>> alternately have this effect: ......" "A, Mr. Altus, what are the common characteristics?" "That''s easy. It''s easy. ...... is how to use the Magi Formula here. I don''t usually write in this way. At least, I don''t know of any other golem in the <> that is written this way." "I see. ......" Altus continues. "Perhaps this golem was a prototype. Maybe a swindler or a group of swindlers found it and modified it a bit. It''s a bit poor workmanship to be called a real product, concludes Altus. "Well, that''s very informative. Thank you, Mr. Altus! The three apprentices thanked him and went back to the office, probably realizing that this was an investigation by the security team. At the same time, they left Altus in charge of dealing with Fried. 2072 - - 55-47 Quiet Story 95 Settlement and Relationship from the Past Just knowing the name and face of one of the suspects is a major development. Fried Randall returned to Banne and started a search for the suspect, . He sent four of his men out to interview him, and then went out into the town himself. First, I went to a bar, which is a standard place for gathering information. At the first bar, I got nothing, but fortunately, at the second bar, I met a woman who said she knew Hanga Kamoi''s face. She was in her mid-twenties and introduced herself as . She was a hired woman at a bar. "I know his face. Hanga or something, right? That''s right. Where is he? "Well, he''s kind of an intellectual, and when he comes over for a drink sometimes, he''s so annoying with all his complicated theories." "......" "He only pays well, but I''m tired of dealing with him. To be honest, I''m tired of dealing with them. They usually become light-mouthed when they''ve had a few drinks, and they talk a lot of nonsense and brag." Fried Randall listened quietly until Gjena was satisfied. "Oh, I''m sorry. So that''s where he is. I don''t know ...... the details, but he said he lives in an old converted warehouse on the outskirts of town." Where''s this warehouse? In the northeast part of town. There. ...... Okay, thanks for your help. You''re welcome. We got a possible safe house. Fried thought for a moment about going alone, but decided it would be better to take four of his men with him. So he went back to the office, and while waiting for them to return, he reported to his supervisor and explained that he was going to take care of it later. He said, "Okay. I''ve been instructed by my supervisor to clean up the mess. If we don''t have enough manpower, we''ll send someone out. The understanding supervisor lent him four more men to capture the suspect. The warehouse was about 10 meters square. The warehouse was a medium-sized one, about 10 meters square. There is only one entrance at the front. There is a window for ventilation, but it is not accessible to people. Fried Randall first had four of his men surround the warehouse on all sides. Then he goes to check the warehouse with four men he himself has borrowed. "Now all we have to do is hope this guy stays in the warehouse. "I''m sure it will be fine." One of the four people loaned to me by my boss says. "There''s a magic signature in the back." "Oh, I see. You know how to do that. What''s your ...... name? Yes, Alter Grells, sir. "All right, Grells, come with me. The other three of you watch the exits. So Fried and Alter Grells started to infiltrate the warehouse. "There is a magic trap here. ...... has been deactivated." "Be careful. There''s a magic circle here. Sound-dampening magic circle is activated. ...... will now make the slightest sound undetectable." Alter Grells was so competent that Freed was able to infiltrate the warehouse with little difficulty. "The magic is underground. There must be a hidden door somewhere. Alter Grells said. "Yes, but we can''t just pound the floor to find it. Fried looks a little puzzled. But Alter Grells had a different opinion. "No, if there''s no other way out of here, we have no choice, do we?" "I guess so. ...... Okay, let''s search quietly first, and if we don''t find anything, let''s hit the floor." "Okay." Fried and Alter Grells examine the floor separately. The area to be searched is not a very large warehouse. "Here! "Got it!" Alter Grells shifts a container on the floor and discovers that there is a staircase leading to the basement. Fried Randall called in the remaining three men on loan from his boss. The four men under his command kept a clear view of the warehouse in all directions. "Okay, we''re going in!" "Ha!" The five of them run down the stairs leading to the basement. Alter has placed a soundproof magical ward on the stairs, so I think we should be okay, but we are careful to make as little noise as possible. At the bottom of the stairs, there was a door. "Of course, if we open this door, they will notice us. Be on your guard, okay?" Fried Randall said and reached for the knob ......, but Alter interrupted him. "You can''t do that, sir, the commander can''t. I''ll do it myself. I''ll do it myself." With that, he opened the door before Fried could stop him. ! !"! A bolt of lightning. < But Alter, in the lead, uses a <> to block it. Fried is impressed by his ability, but his first priority is to secure the suspect, "Just go with him!" he shouted. and intimidated a man in the back of the room. The man looked exactly like the portrait Altus had drawn of him, and there was no doubt that he was Hanga Kamoi. "d*mn!How did you know where I was? With this cry, Hanga Kamoi launched his golem. From the looks of it, it was of the same lineage as the farmer''s golem. "Leave it to me!" Alter Grells said quickly, jumping into the bosom of the golem and using <. "What ......? Whose words were those? The golem''s legs were deformed and it fell to the floor. While it was down, Freed slammed his fist into Hanga Kamoi. "Ghee!" Hanga Kamoi falls down with a slightly silly cry. With the orderly gone, the fallen golem stopped moving. From then on, things proceeded very quickly. The arrested Hanga Kamoi confessed that he had cooperated with the fraudulent group, and based on the documents we found in the basement, we were able to arrest all the former members of the fraudulent group. But there was something a little strange. One of the men that I borrowed from my boss, Alter Grells, I was told that there was no one like him. Who was he, then? Fried Randall thought about it, but there was no way he could get an answer. Then, the soldier, who was supposed to be one of the four borrowed men, was found in the shadows. He was not injured and had simply been put to sleep. It was never known by whom. * * * * On the island of Horai, the old man was working on two <. >. Regulus 50 is now disguised as Alter Grellus, and Deneb 30 as Gjena, and they are back to their <> selves. As a side note, Artus is also disguised as Regulus 50. "No, I can''t leave those who would bring disgrace to the name of the Tecleres family, to whom I was indebted in the past. The old man wanted to solve the problem as soon as possible. And Regulus 50 and Deneb 30, formerly known as Altaf and Gjenner, were hired as magecraftsmen and shipwrights by Eckart Tekles when he built his new ship. They were hired as magecraftsmen and shipbuilders (shipwrights) when Eckart Tekres built a new ship. This time it was the old man who sent them to cooperate with Fried Randall. Houraishima will continue to provide support to those who are related to them from the shadows. 2073 - - 56-01 ９月の始まりに No content 2074 - - 56-02 Activities "As I recall, the resistance of a ship is <><>><> ......" To be precise, it is wave making resistance, viscous pressure resistance, and viscous friction resistance. "I heard about wave making resistance from Jin a long time ago." Wavemaking resistance is the loss due to waves generated by the hull as it moves forward, which grows in proportion to the square of the speed. Fluid mechanics is used to predict and calculate such resistance, but unfortunately, this is something that is taught for the first time in science and engineering universities, and Hitoshi did not know much about it. That being said, Jin did not disclose all of his knowledge about such ships at ......, <<400 years ago>> he thought, << perhaps not at all. Now Jin thought. No wonder. A little inefficiency can be managed with the abundance of power. It was the same with the ship. "Yes. There is also <> and <>." "<> is kind of obvious. It''s the resistance you get when you face water head-on, right?" "Well, I guess you could say that. It seems to be ...... more precisely pulled back by the negative pressure of a vortex or something that forms behind the ship. "Oh, I see!" Marcia, who had done a lot of tests underwater, seemed to understand Jin''s explanation. "The other thing is . This can be understood by considering if water were a more viscous liquid. "I see. I can see that." "Perhaps Marcia''s experiment looks at <> and <>. And maybe the <> is being overlooked." This explanation from Jin made Marcia feel as if the scales had fallen from her eyes. "By the way, the outside of the ship I built is treated with to reduce the coefficient of friction as much as possible. This is not about experimentation, the lower the better. "I see, that''s one of the reasons why Jin''s ships are so good!" Marcia''s face cleared up as she understood. "Yeah, so in case of emergency, we can use the as well." This way, the hull is not in direct contact with the water, so <> can be ignored, and <><> is also eliminated, which means that the boat is faster. "I see, waves may be created, but it is not the boat that is creating the waves, but the boundary, so there is no loss of propulsive force of the boat itself." "That''s what I meant." "Yes, Jin''s ship is special. It''s a foul. It''s unreasonable. "Hey, hey, hey..." I''m kidding. But I want to do something without it. Jin understood and agreed with Marcia. "Most of what I''ve made so far is because I needed it. But if it''s purely a hobby, I think it''s fine to go all the way, as Marcia says. Very little of Jin''s work is hobbyist. Reiko and Golem, as well as aircraft, ships, and spaceships,...... were almost always made to protect the peace and quiet of life. There is barely a wooden ship <> that was made by binding. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, let''s resume our experiments. Marcia takes a break and gets up. Jin follows suit. "Good luck!" "Yeah, of course." Jin and Mini-Reiko returned to the laboratory. * * * * "Father, I heard that Mr. Stearina has started to make something, right? "Huh?" Jin, intrigued by Mini-Reiko''s comment, decided to go to Stearina''s workshop. "Oh!" The place was filled with green ...... or rather, young grass-colored light. "Peridotite, isn''t it?" Mini Reiko, who was sitting on Jin''s shoulder, muttered. Peridotite is a volcanic mineral. Among them, kudo peridot is called peridot or olivine because of its young grass or green apple color. The name olivine is also said to be derived from its olive color. And since it is a volcanic mineral, a considerable amount of it is produced on Horai Island. As a side note, one of the five-colored golem maids, Perido, is named as such because of its green eyes. "Oh, Jin-kun." Stearina, who had been working on the project with all her might, noticed Jin. "Are you making a golem?" "Yes. As you can see, I''m making a green this time. It''s just like Stearina, Jin thought. She used to make crystal golems of clear crystal and topaz golems of blue topaz. This time it''s the Peridot Golem. "Engineering magic is useful. Peridot this big would be impossible to find. Because peridot forms in the upper part of magma, which cools relatively fast, there are few large crystals, and most of them are small. So Stearina used her engineering magic < and to create giant peridot, which she then used to make a golem. "This is beautiful too. ......" Stearina''s sculptures are always superb, and this golem is no exception, or rather, the most beautiful one yet, Jin commented. "Thank you. I''ll have it finished by dinner time tonight, and I''ll show it off to everyone." "I''m looking forward to it." Jin left the place, not feeling comfortable to watch the process. * * * * * * "I wonder if it''s because of your father''s work on ." Jin went back to to have lunch. By the way, the members of Jin''s family are going to prepare and eat their own lunch today, so he and Elsa are alone ...... with Reiko, who is having a mini ...... lunch. "Well, I think Rai is also thinking of building a new or for the next generation." "I''m sure Reinhardt is. ......" I wonder if anyone else is making something," Jin muttered, "Not making things, but Saki is working on something. "Saki is, huh? ......" Jin understood that she was originally an alchemist, in other words a chemist. "And Beena is also working on something." "I see." Bina is also a magecraftsman of the common people who was once called <, so it is not surprising that she has started to do so. "Do you want to make something too, Elsa?" Her former squire Edgar is now in the service of Shu Nido. "No, I''m good." Erza said she had no particular desire to do so. But she continued, "I want to study healing magic and plant magic." She also said that she wanted to study healing magic and plant magic. 2075 - - 56-03 新たなる技術 Jin nodded to Erza, who wanted to study healing magic and plant magic. "Do what you want to do." "Thank you, Brother Jin." "I hope you''ll take a look at the vegetation in Hale, too." "I''d like to take Lorona there with me, then." "Oh, ......" <. She is the mother of Theon and Istaris, and is the leading botanical and agricultural researcher in the Nordic Federation. Unfortunately, however, she is not a member of the . "If you saw Erza now, you''d be surprised for sure." "......" I''ve known her for 400 years, so I don''t know what would happen if I saw her now, since I knew Erza when she was young. "In such a case, we should create a <> (......)." He thought that this way, Reinhardt and the others would be able to see the faces of their offspring. "I''ll make a female form and a male form. Erza, will you help us?" "Well, if that''s what you mean, I''d love to. So Jin and Erza went to the workshop. They decide to call a "craftsman (Smith)>>" to help them with the heavy work. She is not Reiko, but a mini-Reiko. She is a mini-Reiko, not Reiko. She is to carry mainly heavy metal materials. When the materials were ready, Jin started the process slowly. For the time being, four female and two male dolls are made at the same time. Jin finished the skeleton, muscles, nerves, sensory organs, auxiliary control core (control core), and internal armor one after another. The tuning of the body was done with a particular emphasis on magic-related abilities. Erza added skin and hair to the body. Finally, after consulting with Jin, she made it possible to change the body shape and face in the same way as the <>. "Is this okay?" "Hmm. I tried not to look like the other members of the family. The skin color is slightly dark. Since most of them are fair-skinned, this is a distinguishing feature. Also, the hair color and eye color are the usual light brown. "This is good." "Yes, I''m satisfied." Jin and Erza were satisfied with the result. These can be controlled by the old man or from the cockpit in the laboratory. Jin hoped that Erza would be able to use them and visit the Nordic Federation with him in the near future. * * * * * * * * * * * * "By the way, what is Saki researching?" < . "Biomaterials?" "Heh." The shell of the Gigantopod is the strongest material except for the dragon type. Jin was curious to know what they were going to do with it. "Thanks for the tea." He finished his tea and put down the cup, "I''m going to check on Saki. Jin told Erza that he was going to check on Saki, "Well, go on." He put the mini Reiko on his shoulder and started walking toward Saki''s house. Since the house had been moved, Saki seemed to be doing some things in the laboratory in her house, not in the laboratory. "Saki, are you there?" Jin came into Saki''s laboratory and casually called out to her in his usual tone. "Hey, Jin." Saki was conducting some kind of research with Smith99 as his assistant. "I heard that you are working on biological materials. When Jin asked this, Saki leaned forward as if she had just heard what he wanted. "Yes, that''s right. Here, look at this. Saki showed us a fragment of the shell of a Gigantopod. "The shell of a Gigantopod is weaker than the leather of an ancient dragon, but it is a material with various unusual properties. It is strange to say that ...... before he was born, but 400......35 I didn''t do enough research on it 400 years ago," Saki said. "Just as well, I''d like to hear Jin''s opinion too." Saki, who had completely stopped working, offered Jin a chair and sat down again. "About 350 years ago, I was studying how the shell of a gigantopod could be so strong. The conclusion I came to at the time was that it was made by layering the tissue and channeling magic power between the layers to improve the effect of the reinforcement. "I see." Saki said, "As a result, the magical power strengthened it remarkably and it became so strong. "Of course, that''s not all. The surface gloss and reflectivity also reflect physical magic. Even laser beams are largely repelled. "It''s a different kind of strength than the leather of the ancient dragons." "That''s true." < But the shell of a gigantopod becomes extraordinarily hard. "To return to the story, if you remove the magic power between the layers, you see? Saki peeled off a thin piece of the shell in her hand and showed it to me. "This is a sample with the magic completely removed, but you can peel it off by hand like this. It looks like mica, doesn''t it?" "Oh, this is ......." Jin was impressed. As a side note, this information is actually known to Jin''s original (400-year-old Jin). The original Jin (400 years ago) knows this information, but the duplicate Jin does not. Saki is aware of this, which is why she is explaining in this way. "I have concluded that by strengthening the magic in layers in this way, it has a great resistance against vertical forces. "I see, that makes sense." The secret of the hardness of the shell of the gigantopods has been revealed. Jin was reminded of , which is used in modern Japan. FRP is a composite material in which tough (mainly high tensile strength) fibers such as glass fiber and carbon fiber are inserted into plastic to increase its strength. Plastics have a low elastic modulus and low resistance to deformation. This composite material was developed to improve this situation. Jin thought that materials strengthened by magic power might be similar to this. And there are two ways of compositing with such fiber materials. One is to evenly sprinkle finely cut fibers. The strength of the resulting material is not directional. The other is to infiltrate the plastic with directional fibers, which significantly increases the tensile strength in the direction of the fibers, but weakens the tensile strength at right angles to the fibers. The shell of the gigantopod reminded Jin of this. "I want to find an effective way to process and use this interesting biomaterial, that is, the shell of the gigantopod." As it is, only a limited number of technicians can process the material. And if the shell is processed in such a way that it can be processed by ordinary technicians, the strength of the shell will be reduced. "Hmmm, I see. ......I see what you mean. ......" Jin thought about this problem for a while. 2076 - - 56-04 Psaki Research An effective way to use the shell of the gigantopod. This was the theme of Saki''s current research. There is a large stock of them in Horai Island. After all, she had killed five 50-meter-long individuals in the past, and most of their shells are in her stock. In addition, we have killed 1 ...... smaller individual, which is 10 meters long even if it is small. The quality of the shells themselves does not differ. There is no difference in the quality of the shells themselves, only in their thickness. "I wonder if I can be of more help. Saki''s wish was "I wonder if I can be more useful. When Jin had developed the <, he had compressed the shell of a gigantopod (gigantopod). (In that case, a new material without direction was made, but there was no ...... use for it.) I remember that it was hard, heavy, and difficult to process, and was inferior to hyperadamantite as a molecular compression material, so it was used only for that purpose. Saki seems to be researching materials that are easy to use without such molecular compression. "Hey Jin, can you tell me about normal biomaterials?" Saki, of course, is well informed, but Jin''s explanation might make her realize something she hadn''t noticed before. "Sure." Jin readily agreed and began to explain. "Bio-based materials do not work well with engineering magic. Furthermore, most of the engineering magic does not work on them when they are alive. "Yes, that''s true." Jin nodded and continued his explanation. "The main reason for this is that the free magical element (ether) flowing in the living body interferes with the effects of magic. However, if something has fallen out of the living body, it can be processed by engineering magic. That''s what''s so strange about it, isn''t it? "Indeed. It can''t be explained simply by the fact that they are alive. If the free magical element (ether) flowing in a living body interferes with the effects of magic, and this is all, then the <> should be able to make engineering magic work on a living body, but it still doesn''t work. The <> is a device that puts the free magical elements (ether) within a certain range under its control and blocks the opponent''s magic, and if Jin uses the device he created, the free magical elements (ether) within the area of effect will obey his magical power. In other words, only Jin can use magic within the range of this . However, even if the is used on a living body, the engineering magic does not become effective. "However, engineering magic will be effective on those that have been detached or fallen off from the living body. "Kuhu, that''s a subject for further research. Jin decided to leave this topic for now and continued his explanation. "The ease of processing this engineering magic depends on the biomaterial. To be more precise, it seems to depend on the strength of the original organism''s magic and how much residual magic it has. "Interesting. "So, the shell of a gigantopod can''t be processed by a second-rate magecraftsman, can it?" Is that so? "Is that so?" "Yes. My feeling is that the shell of a gigantic centipede is especially difficult to process. < "I''ve made knives and shields out of it." So in a way it''s natural that Saki would be interested in this material, Jin said. "Well, ...... I''m getting more and more interested in it." Saki, for his part, has spent more time researching the material ...... that was more commonly available than other materials ...... 350 years ago, Saki had put the shell of the gigantopod on the back burner. In any case, even if there were a large amount of this material, it was only in Horai Island, and it is unlikely to be available to the general public, so it is not surprising that it was put on the back burner. "As far as I''m concerned, if the difficulty of processing <> is 1, the difficulty of processing <> is 2, and the difficulty of processing <> is 3. <> is also 2. <> is about 10. "Hmm, so it''s like that." Now that she had quantified it, Saki seemed to have some idea of what she was talking about. "But the shell of a gigantopod has about 200. "What? Saki was astonished at the literally different order of magnitude. "That explains why ...... gin is so hard to process. I mean, who else but Jin can process ...... them?" "Reinhard, Erza, Bina, Stearena. And maybe Marikka ......." "Not just top-notch, but top-notch technicians." "......, that''s what I''d say." Saki''s face became even more difficult. "Well, I''d like to unravel its secrets, but I guess I''ll start with the effective use of materials ......." Saki says, "We have plenty of time, so let''s start with what we want to do first. "Then I have ......1 an idea." Jin opened his mouth. "I don''t know if it will work or not, but we first crush the shell with its magic power removed. Then we harden it in some way and pass the magic power through it again. In short, this is the < approach I was imagining earlier. Carbon fiber is often used in a directional manner (e.g., in layers), while short glass fibers are used in a more uniform manner. Saki was intrigued by this idea. "Hmmm... Shall we harden it with magic resin?Or better yet, we could use GSP. "Yes, that''s right." We decided to use a material that can be strengthened by magic power, namely, ground spider resin (GSP). The shells can be crushed by human power. Since it would lose its effect as a fiber if it is too fine, we limited ourselves to crushing it coarsely. We can then mix it evenly into the ground spider resin (GSP). "Let''s change the mixing ratio and check its properties." Saki seemed to be planning to conduct an experiment to find the best mixing ratio. "Yes, that would be good. Jin agreed. "Kuhu, from here on out, it''s just me and Smith99. Jin, thank you for your cooperation. "I''m looking forward to it. I hope it goes well. Jin was looking forward to the results of the experiment. After the discussion with Saki, Jin and Saki went over the results of the experiment. After the discussion with Saki, Jin went home. "Oh, is it that late already? The clock read 4:30 pm. Erza was not at <>, probably working on her own research......healing magic or plant magic that she had mentioned earlier. "...... I think I''ll take a bath." Jin decided to take a soak in the hot spring before dinner. With a mini Reiko on his shoulder, Jin went to the bathroom. "Ah, this is nice hot water. Jin relaxes in the hot spring. He feels that his mental exhaustion is being healed more than his physical exhaustion. Father, let me wash your back," says Mini-Reiko. Reiko says, but I can''t seem to reach his shoulders. I thought so, but then she used the "force field generator" to float up and rub my back properly. Moreover, the degree of force was exquisite, just like the original Reiko. "Thank you." Jin thanked her and poured hot water on her back to rinse off the soapy lather. "I wonder what Reiko''s body is doing now. ...... Jin muttered to himself, "Father, do you want me to report it? Reiko mini Reiko said. Jin decided to listen to the report while relaxing in the hot water. 2077 - - 56-05 Talking with Elza Jin decided to listen to Reiko''s report while relaxing in the hot spring. "First of all, I greeted Mr. Tomax who welcomed me and presented <> to him. She was so happy that she shed tears." "...... I wonder if he''s having a hard time." Jin feels very small because he is aware that part of that hardship is his fault. "At ......?" "<> is going to start on September 5, so after your father''s alter ego doll (doppelganger) and my main body settled down in the visitor''s room, <>"Well, I will do that. "Well, I suppose they would." Jin nodded, because he himself would have done so in that case. "And there was still Mr. Berlich Becker there. "What is he doing? Jin wonders if his workshop is okay. "I was kind of in a good mood with Mr. Katjea. "Oh, ......." Jin understands the feeling, but he asks himself for the second time if the workshop is good. "It seems that you have been staying here since the second lecture of the <>. Jin asked for the third time if it was really okay. "I got along well with Mr. Groma as we discussed various opinions about golems, and I became interested in Ms. Cachea. He seems to think that the workshop will be fine as long as Mr. Ludwig is around. Indeed, Ludwig seemed to be serious, so he should be fine, Jin smiled. "I heard that he is now treated like a visiting member of the <>," he said. "I wonder if Ludwig will eventually leave the workshop to him and take up residence in <>. ...... "That''s a possibility." "Seriously ......, I''d better get out of here." Jin decided to go up, as he was getting a little tipsy from the long hot bath. It was still hot in September on Horai Island. Jin drank some cold citran juice after taking a bath. "Well, is Elsa back?" Jin gets dressed and heads for home. "Oh, she''s home." When he enters the front door, he smells the delicious smell of miso soup. "I''m home. ......Erza is home, too? "Welcome home. ...... about half an hour ago. Did you go to ...... bath?" "Yeah. When I came back from Saki''s, Erza hadn''t left yet, so I took a bath. "...... I see." Elsa looked a little disappointed. It is true that if she came back about 30 minutes ago, she was not more than 10 minutes ahead of Jin. They must have been right in the middle of each other. "I''m sorry. After dinner, you want to take a bath with me?" "............" Erza, who had been tasting the miso soup, nodded, her cheeks reddening. * * * * That evening. "Ladies and gentlemen, I''d like to unveil our new golem!" Stearina announced the in front of the whole family. "Oh! "It''s beautiful!" "This is beautiful! "What''s its name? Someone asked, "What is its name? someone asked. "I named it Lime." "Lime. "Lime... it''s the right color." The lime is a green Ramon (lemon in Ars) like fruit that Jin discovered in the Ramon archipelago long ago and named it because of its resemblance to the lime of Earth. It also grows wild on the continent of Rasil. "Lime, say hello to everyone!" "Yes, Mr. Stearina. My name is Lime. I am Lime and I look forward to making your acquaintance. Lime bowed with a graceful gesture, and everyone in the room applauded. The others in the room applauded. Jin and Elsa are sitting on the porch, looking at the stars. Mini Reiko reads the air and stays in the next room. "Today, Marcia, Stearina, and Saki showed us their research and results. Everyone is having fun and doing what they love." It is the image that Adriana Barbora Zetsi, the previous , dreamed of. Jin spoke to Erza in a quiet voice. "Saki was doing this kind of research today..." "Hmm?" Jin explained Saki''s research in brief to Elsa. "......There are certainly a number of mysteries in biomaterials and engineering magic that we have yet to solve. Elsa also seems to be interested in these mysteries. "...... aren''t bio-based materials alive?" "Well, it''s hard to say. For example, human hair and nails can work engineering magic if they are cut, but not if they are not, right?Why is this?" Jin asked, trying to get the opinion of Erza, an expert in healing magic and the world''s top healer. "Is it because of the magic inherent in the living body?" "No, I don''t think so." "What?What? Why? Jin had thought that the living body had its own unique magic pattern and therefore magic with other people''s magic pattern would not work while it was connected to the body, so Erza''s words came as a surprise to him. "Then I should be able to exert engineering magic on my own hair. But I can''t actually do it." "Oh, I see. ......" Jin realized what Erza had said. Even if it was his own, engineering magic could not work on his hair, skin, nails, etc. when it was attached to his body. That is a fact. "That''s just like Elsa. That was indeed a blind spot." Jin honestly admitted that his hypothesis was wrong. "Then why doesn''t engineering magic work on living organisms? Back to square one again, Jin was at a loss. "...... this is my hypothesis." Elsa prefaced her explanation with this. "I think that engineering magic is a very subtle magic. "Subtle?" "Subtle? ...... I mean, it''s delicate, and even a little noise can''t make it work, in that sense, it''s subtle." "I see. ...... Jin, who is literally the best in the world at engineering magic, immediately understood what Erza meant. "But that may explain why engineering magic doesn''t work on living bodies, but it doesn''t explain why it doesn''t work on parts of your own body, does it?" Jin countered. I thought you would say that. You are mistaken." "Mistaken?" "Mistaken? The reason engineering magic doesn''t work on ...... living organisms isn''t because their magic patterns are different. "What?" Erza said something that seemed to overturn the conventional wisdom. "What do you mean?" Jin was deeply interested in what his beloved wife Elsa was going to say. 2078 - - 56-06 Soul and Sub-Ether Erza said, <>, which seemed to overturn the conventional theory. "Engineering magic does not work on people, animals, and other living creatures that have no magic power, in other words, cannot use magic. Think about why this is the case. "Ah." Jin admitted again that he had been blindsided. Engineering magic does not work on non-magical creatures when they are alive. "......Well then, why is that?" "That''s my hypothesis. I haven''t been able to verify it yet. ......" I''d love to hear it. Hmm. ...... that is present in living things and not in non-living things. I thought it would be good to know." That''s a good point. It makes sense, Jin admitted. "Then what is it? ...... life, that''s for sure, but then what is life?I guess that''s what I''m asking. "Well..." "What about the branches of the tree?...... engineering magic doesn''t work when it''s attached to the original tree, but it does if you break it off. ......We studied some of these examples, right?" "Yeah, yeah." Jin thought Erza''s method was solid. So he urged her on. "So, what else but life?He thought, and thought, and thought, and could not come up with an answer. ...... Then Jin returned ." "......Oh, that time." "Yes. Then Brother Jin shared his experiences with us. One of the stories he told us was about a spirit life form." "Oh, I see." "So, I was wondering if there might be a possibility. It''s a <>." "Soul?" Jin asked back in a parrot voice. "Yes, the soul. It''s ...... terribly vague and hard to grasp, but..." "A soul ...... or ......." "It''s something like a spiritual life form," he said. Anyway, engineering magic doesn''t work on things with souls." Elsa gave an additional explanation. "Do trees have souls?Let''s leave such metaphysical and philosophical discussions aside for now." "Well, that''s true," he said. That''s what I said. I said it''s a hypothesis. It hasn''t been tested yet." "...... understands you very well." Jin couldn''t help but hug Erza''s shoulder. "Brother Jin?" "...... No, I just thought Erza was nice." Elsa is a rare healer, a first-rate magecraftsman, and Jin''s beloved wife. She was a good mother 400 years ago ....... In addition, she is the one who can discuss such arguments and logical development with Jin. Jin felt such a love for Erza. "...... soul, huh? Then, let''s follow up Erza''s hypothesis with another hypothesis. "Brother Jin?" "Here''s what I just came up with." Jin began to talk about the thoughts that came to his mind after listening to Erza''s hypothesis. "A spiritual life form has a complete understanding and control over the free magical element (ether). Therefore, it seems to me that their existence may be sub-sub-sub free-magic element (ether), or even higher." "Hmm." "I guess that the is a or that is in the sense that we can understand it." "......" "The <> exists as a body ......, or rather, overlaps with the <>, the body." "I know." What about ......?" Erza thinks for a moment, and then refutes the question. "That would mean that magic in general does not work on the body. But in fact, it is ......." "Oh, I see." Erza says, "I understand that magic such as <> works because it causes physical phenomena, but it is strange that <> type magic works. "That''s also true. ...... Hmmm, it''s difficult to say." "But <> and <> may be the key to get closer to the truth. For example, healing magic is -like." "Hmm, I wonder if that''s true." "So, we must continue our research, that''s what''s important." "I guess so." In the end, no definite conclusion could be reached, but Jin was satisfied with the unexpected time he spent with Elsa. * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, September 2, after breakfast, Jin was summoned by Reinhardt to his workshop. Of course, he had a mini Reiko on his shoulder. "Reinhard, what''s up? "Hello, you''ve come a long way. Actually, I wanted to get your opinion on something. What? Stearina was making lime and I thought it was time to finish what I was making. Jin nodded inwardly, "Oh, I knew he was making something. "Well, look at this." Reinhardt proudly showed Jin a slender female automata. "Wow." As is typical of Reinhardt''s work, the figure is slender but has a well-defined body shape, with clear areas of protrusion and retraction. "I guess you''re not a ...... instead of a neon." The former was an automata made to look just like Bertsche, but this one looks like no one. "So, what do you want to discuss?" "Well, first of all, I was wondering what color I should wear for my hair. For now, it''s all white. Jin thinks this is fine, but Reinhardt seems to be different. "Jin has green hair, doesn''t he?" "Oh, that''s what you mean. ...... Reinhardt do the same?" The automata of the Horaijima group,......, or rather the ones Jin made this term, have green hair. "Yes, that''s fine, but I think it would be nice to have a unique color. "I don''t know if I''d call it unique, though. Possible hair colors in the Ars world include black, dark brown, brown, orange, red, gold, silver (gray), and white. On the other hand, the impossible colors are blue, green, purple, reddish purple, yellowish green, and so on. "Red, as you can see from the beena, has low saturation, doesn''t it? "Well, it won''t be a color like paint, will it? "I''m thinking of going with purple." "Purple. ......" Jin thinks of an older woman''s dyed hair color he once saw in Japan. "Wouldn''t a light purple be classy?" Reinhardt said, seemingly unaware of Jin''s thoughts. "Ah, wisteria." When Jin heard the words "light purple," he reflexively responded. "Wisteria?" "Yes, in the world I was in, they called such a color wisteria, comparing it to the color of a flower. "I see, it is the same as calling dark purple "violet". This kind of color name exists in Ars because there is also a purple violet. "Well, you can change the color, so I''ll try that for a test." Reinhard laughed. 2079 - - 56-07 How it should be The automata, whose hair color was a light purple, or , was quite splendid. "It looks good." Jin complimented, "Yes, I am relieved to hear you say so. Now we can move on to the next stage! "Next?" "Yes. This is the original body. Normally, it will be an automaton, a valet for me and Bertsch. And ......." Reinhardt pointed to a piece of material in the back of the workshop. "I''m going to wear armor made from this and become a !" Reinhardt seemed to be obsessed with the . "I see...so that''s how it is." Even if we make a black knight, it would be uninteresting to make it with the same concept as before, so this time it will be a female type. And when the time comes, she will become a black knight wearing armor. "That''s quite interesting!" Jin doesn''t dislike this idea. In fact, I love it. "So, this material. ...... Black and shiny, it was the shell of a gigantopod. It is light and tough. It would make a good suit of armor. "This is the shell of a smaller gigantopod, isn''t it? Jin guessed that it was not a 50-meter class but a 10-meter class, judging from its thickness. "Yes, that would be it. As expected of a 50-meter class, the weight is not so great, but the thickness is. Reinhard continued. "Here''s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. It''s fine to use the shell of a gigantopod, but we want to change some parts of it. ...... A single material for the whole body would be nice, but I''d like to change the material in some areas," said Reinhardt. "And maybe gauntlets." The gauntlets are armor that covers the hands, so if they are removable, he wants them to be flexible. "Oh, I have a good material for that. Jin recalled the composite material that he and Saki had discussed yesterday. So Jin and Reinhardt went to the laboratory at Saki''s house together. "Well, that''s unusual." Saki said when she saw that Jin and Reinhardt had appeared together. "I''m interested in the composite materials that Reinhardt mentioned yesterday," Jin said. Saki pulled Reinhardt''s sleeve and pulled him to the back of the laboratory. "Oh, yes, yes. Look, look, this is it!" Saki held out a slightly translucent black mass. Looking closely, she seemed to have changed the ratio of the mixture, and there were about ten lumps scattered on the table. This seems to be the best mixture," she said. I''d be glad to hear your feedback after you try it. "I see...this is it." Reinhardt knew exactly what Saki was offering since Jin had told him about it on the way here. "<>" The mass changed its shape and became a thin sheet about 30 centimeters square. "Hmmm, it''s soft in this way. ......I strengthened it through magic power......<>......Oh, this is..." Reinhardt''s engineering magic made the new sheet-like material harden. "Reiko, could you check its strength for me?" Jin was curious to see how much it had been strengthened, so he asked the mini Reiko on his shoulder, "Leave it to me, father. She jumped down from Jin''s shoulder. "Mr. Reinhardt, give it here." "Oh, oh." Reinhardt did as Mini Reiko requested and held out the sheet. "Thank you very much." Reiko took it and bent the sheet. "...... is very sturdy." Next, Mini-Reiko held the sheet with her left hand and hit it with her right hand. The sheet still did not tear. "I think the hardness and strength are enough for the gauntlet." Mini Reiko tells Reinhardt that she knows what it is used for. "Oh, well!Thank you, Reiko!" Then she turned to Saki, "Thank you, Saki. You''re just in time. Give me the recipe for this stuff! "Sure, Reinhard." Saki is also happy that her newly developed material is used immediately. Jin was relieved to know that the consultation from Reinhardt was now over, and he also wanted to try to make something with the materials. So Jin said to Saki, "Saki, give me the recipe too," he asked. Saki looked a little puzzled, He said, "What?...... is good, but maybe it''s not 100 points perfect yet.I think there is a little more room for improvement. I replied. "Well, ......, me and Reinhardt will help you, so let''s get this over with!" "That''s a good idea, Saki, let''s do it, let''s do it! Jin said, and Reinhardt was very enthusiastic. Thus, by noon that day, a new composite material combining <> and <> was completed. * * * * * * "Ah, it''s nice to have a meal after all the work we''ve done," said Reinhardt. Reinhardt is sipping his lunch of zaru soba (buckwheat noodles) with relish. Some people say that soba is better with morisoba to enjoy its aroma, but many members of the "Jin Family" also enjoy various condiments. Jin, too, has come to enjoy the first piece of soba with mori, the second with nori and wasabi, and the third with grated daikon. Therefore, the amount of each piece is small. This also made it possible to enjoy the freshly boiled soba when refilling your order (soba loses its aroma and stretches if it is left to boil). The sauce can be as sweet or spicy as you like. Saki, on the other hand, adds shichimi (seven spices) and ginger to her soba, and Reinhardt makes chilled tanuki (Kanto style) by adding deep-fried eggs. Erza had tempura of wild vegetables, Licia had prawn tempura, and Bertsche also had prawn tempura. Hannah prefers grated nameko mushroom soba and Martha likes it with a lot of Momi Nori (dried seaweed). Guth has only one bowl of hot kakesoba, and today Marcia had it with yamakake, or grated yam. Rodrigo and Toa had chasoba, and Bina had chilled tsukimi with an egg in the sauce. Luis had mori-soba with a lot of charoto (green onion). Meine and Vivienne had another bowl of zaru soba, and Maricka had tempura soba with itoto (sweet potato) and naturi (pumpkin) tempura. Milowina ate one mori-soba and one chasoba gracefully. She drank soba-yu (buckwheat water) and finished with soba-cha (buckwheat tea). "Oh, it was so delicious! Marikka said with satisfaction. And that was the feeling of all of us. Marikka said with satisfaction, and that was the feeling of everyone. "You all make a lot of things, don''t you? Milowina said with her characteristic air of softness. "Yes, we do. ...... but maybe this is the way the previous generation ...... Adriana Barbora Zetsi dreamed of Hourai Island." Jin answered as he sipped his buckwheat tea. 2080 - - 56-08 Consultation and advice After lunch, Reinhardt went to the workshop again to complete the . He is working on the design of the armor through trial and error. "I''ll be able to show it off at dinner," he said. Jin and the others are looking forward to it. Jin and the others are looking forward to it. "......I heard that Bina said she was working on something too," Jin asks. Jin asked, "Yeah, yeah. "Yes, a little bit. was the reply. Then he continued, "I see... ...... I guess it would be faster to learn from Jin in this situation. Then he said to himself, Jin, if you don''t mind, could you teach me some ...... more things after this?" He said, "Jin, if you don''t mind, I was wondering if you could teach me a little bit more about ? Of course Jin had no objection. "Yeah, sure. A workshop?" "Yes." So Jin went to the workshop where Bina was doing something. With a mini Reiko on his shoulder. "Can you take a look?" "Oh, this is ......." What Bina was building seemed to be an original . It was still in the experimental model stage. "I''d like to ride it with Mr. Lewis in Hale," she said. "That would be nice. So, what do you want to know? "Well, everything. I''ve been making tools for the general public for a long time, so I''ve never made anything for this kind of hobby. For what it''s worth, it''s a nice piece of work. When Jin says so, "Really?I feel more confident when you say so. Bina smiles happily. "<> or ......" Since Jin has not made many blow floaters before, I will give him some general notes. "The fourth is to rise and descend and to turn left and right, the third is to float and to go forward, and the second is to be stable or to be comfortable." What''s number one? "The first is not to fall off. In other words, ." "I see. ......" The <> is a different branch of technology from the earth''s airplanes. While airplanes generate lift, or the force to float, by moving forward, the force to float and the force to move forward are completely separate in a wind-powered blower-floater. In this sense, they are more like airships than airplanes. "Jin''s is a wind-powered blower-floater in a sense, too, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is." "It''s for use in Hale, so you don''t have to worry about being seen. ......" No matter how bizarre or sophisticated the technology used, no one said or did anything about it. "So you can just use Bina''s original design." "I understand that, but I''ve never made anything like that in the first place, so I''d like to ask Jin for some tips." "I see." Jin said that the first thing to consider was stable flight, and that the shape of the plane was important for that. "The lower the center of gravity, the more stable it will be. Imagine a balloon." "Yeah, I kind of get it." The center of buoyancy is at the top and the center of gravity is at the bottom. That way the balloon is stable. It won''t tip over in case of an accident. "The most stable balloon would be a parachute." A parachute? "Yeah, like this." Jin drew a picture and explained. Once upon a time, when Jin had just developed an aircraft, he had tried to make a parachute for ejection in the event of a crash, but found that it would not open if folded improperly, so he did not put it to practical use after all. After that, small warp gates (warp gates) and force field generators (force generators) were installed for escape, and the operational accident rate was virtually zero, so they were never developed. "Oh, this used to be ......<>, didn''t it?It''s like the disk machines that ...... used to bring out." "Not quite the same principle, though." Jin explained to Bina that if the cockpit and other parts were mounted so that they were suspended from a shallow dish-shaped disk, it would be very stable. "Oh, really." "Oh, that''s true," he said, "and you should try building one instead of just thinking about it. That way you''ll understand it better." "I guess so. I''ll do that. And... Jin decided to confirm the most important thing. "You know that volunteers from the <> are going to hold an air race in Toka village in the near future, don''t you?" Yes, of course. I think that would be very helpful. Yes, it would! The work was done by Maricka''s disciples and grand-disciples, so to Jin, they are his grand-disciples and great-grand-disciples. "I''m sure there will be a lot of different aircraft participating, and it will be interesting to see. "That''s true." Jin told him a little about the high-speed boat races that used to be held in Potrock. "There was even a golem with wings ...... that didn''t qualify in the end because it wasn''t strong enough." "It''s a great idea, isn''t it?" "Yes, they are. You can''t fool yourself if you can''t see what''s going on in your head. "Maybe that''s the way it is." And we''re talking like that, "Father, Ms. Beena, it''s almost 3 o''clock. Soleil and Luna are preparing tea. Mini Reiko told me. "Oh, is it that time already?" Let''s take a break. ...... body is not tired, but my head is tired and I want something sweet. "Ha ha." So Jin and Bina went out to the vestibule of the institute. There were tables and chairs set up, and the cloudy day was just right for a cup of tea. "Rusks today, huh?" There were buttery, cinnamon, and maple flavored rusks, with subtle differences to enjoy. Drinks include green tea, black tea, barley tea, buckwheat tea, and kaina tea. "It''s so crispy and tasty! I prefer cinnamon. I like it plain. Everyone ate to their heart''s content, focusing on their favorite flavor. 2081 - - 56-09 Tokamura hot springs are now Tea time passed, and everyone scattered in different directions to do their own things. "Well, what about me?" As Jin said this, he remembered what he had just said to Bina. So he asked the old man. "I suppose you have made some progress with Zion by now, haven''t you? "Oh, I see. Well then. ......" Jin decided to go check it out and called out to Licia. "Licia, you heard me right. Why don''t we go to Toka village for a while?" "Oh, you don''t mind?" "Yes. We''ve just made a doppelganger for the family, you can use it. "Wow, I see. Thank you very much, I will use it! It is unlikely that anyone in Toka village now knows Licia''s face, but just in case. "Erza, are you coming too?" Jin asked, "No, no. You should go with Licia. She said tolerantly, "Go with Licia. "Okay. I''ll go with her. "Okay. Bye." * * * * * * * Hope and are now on their way to with Jin''s doppelganger, so Sky2 takes the controls and we take < to the village of Toka. Jin has a mini Reiko on his shoulder, and Licia uses her female alter ego (doppelganger) Unit 1. The default appearance of this doll is adjusted to look like a medium build, around 20 years old, <>, i.e., a knight, a swordsman, etc. In this case, the doll is positioned as a friend of Jin and his bodyguard. She has chosen the name Lithia instead of Licia. "Oh, you''ve done a lot of things, haven''t you? "Oh, yes." Looking down on Toka village from the sky, we saw an airfield on the west side of the village, and what looked like an inn had been built nearby. "There are about 30 golems for civil engineering and construction. They are the type of the Nordic Federation, so Zion must be renting them out." It is hard to believe that the Kingdom of Klein now owns that many golems, and first of all, there were many places that seemed to have been built by Marikka. "The airfield ...... seems to be operational already. Hope, not Sky 2, land there." "Yes, sir." Sky2 has landed Conlon 3 at the edge of the airfield. There''s no storage yet, but that''s okay because we''re not going to stay the night anyway. "Okay, Sky 2, you take care of Conlon 3." "Yes, sir, I''m on it." When Jin and Licia Doppel (Licia D. Licia) got off the plane, they were greeted by Yuzo Mayaka, the chief of Toka Village. He seemed to love flying machines as usual, and Jin imagined that he must have seen <> landing and flew to ....... "Well, well, well,<>...... isn''t it Jin-sama!" Seeing him talking under his breath, Lithia is a little taken aback. "I had to come here today, so I stopped by. I heard ...... that there''s going to be an air race here?" Yuzo Mayaka smiled at this topic. "Yes, that''s right. < "Oh, you know that much? ......Yes, indeed. But I only introduced him a little. It was the people of the Nordic Federation who made the decision. "But it was you who started it all, Jin-sama. I''m deeply grateful. You got me. Yuzo Mayaka seemed to have guessed that it was Jin''s initiative. * * * * "With the help of the Kingdom, we have had new water sources drilled and the sewage system has been reconstructed." As we walked along, the village chief, Yuzo Mayaka, explained to Jin and the others. "They also built an inn, which will be run by the government for the next five years, and after that it will be sold off." "Oh, that''s good. Yes. I need this village to develop by then. "I think it would be the development of local products and ...... transportation." Jin says the first thing that comes to his mind. "If the land is suitable for air racing, it means that it is far from the center of the country. It would be different if there were some kind of regular flights. That''s true, but... "But there is the Kutsud mine, so it would be possible to build a transportation system to get the ore and people to the mine. The Kutsudo Mine is located far west of Toka Village. Jin thought that the construction of such a road would not be in vain, since it is said to be an excellent mine. (A trolley train would be difficult. ......) Jin had seen a video of a trolley train in a certain canyon on TV and wished he could pull something like that, but the concept of a railroad is lacking in the world of Ars. Considering that the monorail system that was built in the Kingdom of Cerroa in the past was not so popular, it seems that it was not to the people''s liking. (Maybe population density has something to do with it). Jin has also seen the case of local lines being abolished and replaced by buses, which was his expectation. (Maybe the development of roads and inns: ......) Jin thinks that it would be much easier to maintain the roads by using the idea of marching a dozen or so large golems to stampede along the roads. The only problem is that only the Kingdom of Selroa and the Shoro Kingdom possess such large golems. ( or should do it. ......) While Jin was thinking about this, Licia, or Lithia, was walking around the village with a nostalgic look on her face. "Speaking of which, what happened to the hot springs?" Jin asked as they passed by a deserted hot spring facility. Lithia also looked at the leaning facility with a sense of regret. "I heard that they stopped running a few hundred years ago. After that, I heard that they were checked several times by an earth mage, but to no avail. "fumu......" Jin, the one who did the digging, was a little concerned. So, "May I take a look at it?" He asked. "What?Oh, of course. Come in!" The village chief, Yuzo Mayaka, opens the door to the leaning hot springs. We reach the hot spring facility, clearing away the cobwebs and taking care not to inhale any dust. "<>...... hmm?<><>>" Jin looked satisfied after checking <<>> three times. "I understand. The hot spring is not dead. Something is clogging up the deeper parts. That''s what''s preventing the hot springs from flowing. Actually, Jin knew that the was something artificial, like a , but there was no point in saying so, so he just said . "Well, how do we get rid of it ......?" I can think of several ways. "Father, I will go." Mini Reiko on my shoulder said. "Oh, sure, Mini Reiko can do it. ......" The hole in the hot spring is about 15 centimeters in diameter, and Mini Reiko can pass through it easily enough. "Okay, will you do it?" "Yes, I''ll take care of it." As quickly as she could say it, the mini Reiko jumped into the hole from Jin''s shoulder. "Jin-sama, are you okay? The village chief, unaware of Mini Reiko''s performance, was a bit nervous, "Well, you''ll just have to wait and see, won''t you? Jin waits for Mini Reiko''s return. 2082 - - 56-10 Toka Village Redevelopment Mini Reiko followed the drilled hole in the hot spring using the <. "The inside of the hole is still solid. That''s what I''d expect from your father. After about two minutes, he arrived at the plug in question. "So this is the <......, but this is ......." The material seems to be quartz, not metal. It seems to be made of quartz, rather than metal, which may mean that the material was chosen to be impervious to the hot spring water and various ions. The shape of the object was cylindrical, and it did not seem to have been formed naturally. "I can''t pull it out like this. ...... Shall I deform it a little?" Mini Reiko can also use engineering magic. "<>" The quartz plug is deformed and made a little thinner. Mini Reiko grabs it and backs up. If she does not do so, the hot spring water may not overflow because she has pulled out the stopper. Of course, the hot spring water will not help the mini Reiko. The mini-samurai uniform she was wearing was made of the same rare material as the original one, and it did not tear, allowing Reiko to return safely to the surface where Jin was waiting for her. "I''m back! Reiko, welcome home. Here''s the plug. It was a little thicker, but I made it thinner. Thank you. Jin thanked Reiko for her work and accepted the stopper. Yuzo, the village chief, looked at the mini Reiko in surprise and without a word. Jin was oblivious to this, "A quartz plug. ......Who in the world could have put that in there?" At that moment, there was the sound of hot spring water overflowing. "Oh, it''s coming out, it''s coming out!" First gurgling, then gurgling. At that time, the village head finally came to his senses, "Oh, this is it!Thank you, Mr. Jin of ......!We can''t stay like this! We have to get people together and restore the hot springs!Excuse me!" The overjoyed chief rushed out of the village without a word of thanks to Jin. Jin looked over at him with a wry smile, "I''ve almost finished the job," he said. He then used his engineering magic to penetrate the clogged drainage ditch. He then used his engineering magic to penetrate the clogged drain. "Thank you, Mr. Jin. Licia-Licia thanked me as we left the hot spring and walked through the village. "......It''s not my family''s land anymore, but I still wanted to thank you." "Yes, I know how you feel." Jin smiled and accepted the thank-you. After that, Jin and his friends almost finished the project. After that, Jin and his group looked around the almost completed ryokan and the town that had been improved. "The sewage system and septic system are in good working order." Jin was also concerned about this infrastructure, since it was related to public health. "If we''re going to have a lot of guests, we have to make sure they''re in good working order, don''t we? "That''s right." Lithia nodded. "Now, where else should we look? Jin checked with Lithia, who was walking next to him. "Well, I''ve got a general idea of what the village looks like, and the documents are at ......." "Well, if you want to look at them, you can use the peepers later. Lithia wanted to know how the village''s tax revenues and budget were being spent. "But I don''t think we need to go that far." "Yes, that''s right." At the sound of Jin''s voice, which sounded a little stunned, Lithia nodded her head in embarrassment. "Well then, let''s go check out the flying field. After looking around, Lithia seemed satisfied, so Jin suggested. "Oh, let''s do that. The quality of the flying field is important. Especially if you are going to be here for many more air races. The flying field is a gently rolling grassland on the west side of the village. There are hills, but the maximum difference in elevation is only about 20 meters. The terrain stretches about 20 km from east to west and 8 km from north to south. To the west, the terrain rises and becomes a mountainous area with the Kutsud mine. The northern part is a small mountain range that separates the basin where the village of Kayna is located from the village of Toka, and the southern part gently drops in elevation and becomes a road, with the towns of Raknow and Doppa. The inland area was suitable for flying competitions because the winds were light when the weather was clear. "Oh, they built the spectator seats on that hill. The spectator seats were built on a natural slope and could accommodate about 1,000 people. "There are VIP seats too?" Jin guessed that they were probably for the royal family of the Klein Kingdom or similar invited guests. "There''s also a roof to protect them from the sun. "Yes. Since the event would be postponed in case of rain, there would be no need for a rain shelter. At the moment, a large was being installed. "Now, the problem will be the legs of the customers," he said. Jin thinks that since it''s an air race, it would be better to operate extra flights. "If <> rents it out,......, this will only increase the burden on Mr. Tomax. Let''s have ...... deus ex machina do it." The <> of the Machina is a large airship 100 meters long. If we use it to transport our guests,....... "...... No. Perhaps this one will stand out more." Jin dismissed the idea, imagining that <> would have more impact than an air race. "Then, maybe a bus-type golem car. ......" Fortunately, the village of Kaina is located in the area, and the roads are well maintained, so there seems to be no obstacle to the operation of the vehicles. "I''ll have Makina give it to you as a congratulatory gift for holding the first race." "Wouldn''t that be a good idea, father?" As she was riding on Jin''s shoulder, she heard his whispered soliloquy and Mini Reiko agreed with him. "Then let''s do that." Jin and Lithia, who had been walking around, had returned to the airfield where they had parked <>. "Rishi ...... Lithia, are you done?" "Yes. "Yes. Mr. Jin, thank you very much. "Yes, Mr. Jin, thank you very much. Then let''s go home. It was 5:30 p.m. in Toka village, and the sky was getting dark. Jin, Mini-Reiko, and Lithia got on board, and the <> slowly soared into the evening sky. "I guess it''s time for dinner at Hourai Island. ......Sky2, I''m sorry, but I''m going back to the warp gate first. You take your time to return." "Yes, sir. I''ll leave it to you." So, Jin and Mini-Reiko go to Horai Island by the Warp Gate equipped with . Licia is still on board since she is a doppelganger. Of course, Licia, who had been piloting the ship, left the pilot''s seat and left the rest of the work to the old man. Jin and Licia reported the current situation of Toka village to everyone at the dinner that night. 2083 - - 56-11 Buses When Jin reports on the development of Toka Village, Reinhard asked, "What is the response of the Klein Kingdom?" Reinhard asked. The village head didn''t seem to know that in detail. It might be better to ask Zion about it." "That''s true. ...... And Jin is going to make a ?" "Yes. I''d like it to be a donation or loan from deus ex machina." "Since you''re Jin, you might want to ask Zion. "Since you''re Jin, you''ll start tomorrow, right?" "Of course." When Jin nodded, Reinhardt''s face lit up, "I''ll help you! Jin smiled and agreed. "And I''ll have the fifth column (quinta) check the quartz plugs that were blocking the hot springs. Jin was not sure how far he could go with this investigation, since it was simple and happened a long time ago, but he thought that it could not be left unattended. * * * * Reinhardt was waiting for it?The next day. As soon as he finished breakfast, "Jin!Let''s go!" Reinhard tapped Jin on the shoulder, who was still drinking tea. "Bertsche-san, are you sure about that?" asked Elsa, Reinhardt''s beloved wife Berthe. "Yes, isn''t it okay?Before he died......Oh, that''s a funny way to put it. Anyway, 350 years ago I was too busy being a lord or a diplomat or whatever to make the things I like to make. We should let them do what they want at least a little bit. "...... that kind of thing?" "That''s the way it is." Seeing Bertsch smiling softly, Elsa also felt a warm glow. The car is a 30-seater, with a capacity of 30 passengers. "It should be able to seat 30 people and carry a lot of luggage. Jin told Reinhard about his vision for the bus. "I''m thinking of making it an eight-wheeled bus to cope with rough roads." The quality of the tires generally available in Japan today is not as good as in modern Japan, so the cost per tire will be reduced. The quality of Horaijima''s tires would not be good enough to be maintained by ordinary technicians. "I see, so you don''t want to use anything too technically advanced?" "I see, you don''t want to use something too technically advanced, do you? ...... but the important parts are made to be unbreakable." Jin wanted to make the heart part so that it would never break under normal use. "What are you going to make the frame ...... chassis out of?" Jin answered, "I''m going to make it out of light silver, because it''s too heavy for steel. "I wonder if it will be 64 light silver." Unlike 400 years ago, light silver is cheap enough. 64 light silver is an alloy that Jin often uses, which is made of light silver (titanium in the Ars world) mixed with 6 percent aluminum and 4 percent vanadium. The original light silver is also an isotope of titanium, with atomic number 22, and most of its 26 neutrons have been replaced by magic molecules, making it a good match for magic, but the physical performance has been further improved. 64 light silver. "It has a ladder-like frame to make it both robust and easy to maintain. ......" Modern Japanese automobiles are built with a monocoque structure, in which the chassis and body are integrated to provide strength. This has the advantage of being lightweight, but on the other hand, it has the disadvantage that distortion or loss of a part of the body can reduce the strength of the entire body. What Jin is referring to is called a , which is used in large vehicles and some special-purpose vehicles (4WD, etc.). "I think the suspension should be a stacked plate spring." <, it is used in large vehicles such as trucks and buses because of its simple and sturdy structure and relatively low cost. It was also used in passenger cars during the Showa period. The friction between overlapping plate springs also has a vibration-control effect. After deciding on the main specifications, Jin set to work on the production. Because of the size of the object, he did not use his usual workshop, but a large workshop he had built behind the institute. < Reinhardt was not content to just watch and was eager to help. "Jin, are these parts enough? "Yes, that''s enough. "Yes, that''s enough." "Shall I do this one, too? Yeah, can you do that for me? "Yes, I can." In this way, the 8-wheel bus was completed that day. Saki, who came to see the bus, was also impressed. Saki, who had come to see the bus, was also impressed. "It will be driven by a special golem, right? "That''s right. I don''t think we''ll be able to sell it. Luis comes over and gives me some advice on how to operate it. "I think it would be better to rent it. "I guess so. ......" Even though the majority of the bus was built with common technology, it was not a good idea to sell such a complete < out of the blue. They also said that a donation would not be a good way to show our intentions to the people around us. There is a big possibility that people will say, "Why are you giving preferential treatment to only one country? "You give VIPs a ride when you invite them, don''t you?If we repeat such a thing, people will realize how wonderful this bus is, and then we can think about selling it, right?" "I see. That''s a good point. "Ha ha, sometimes you have to be useful." Luis laughs. His friend Reinhardt laughed with him. Then Lewis said, "So, if you can make it look like it''s a new Machina product that is also being tested, I think that would give us a good reason to rent it at a reasonable price," he advised. I advised him. "Oh, that''s a good idea!Let''s go with that." The bus was to be transported to the capital of Klein Kingdom by <> of <> and rented to the Prime Minister or the King. "I don''t know many people in the Klein Kingdom right now. ......" When Jin wonders what to do about this, Reinhardt gives him some advice. "It would be easier to have Zion talk to me, wouldn''t it?" "Yes, that''s the only way. Thus, the debut of the new <8-wheel bus> is decided. By the way, the driver is and the assistant is . The driver is a < and the assistant is an . * * * * * * * * * * * "Wow, you made a bus?You want to rent it out to the Klein Kingdom via me at ......?" "Yes, that''s right." Jin immediately flew to the and talked to Zion. "...... You are really rough on the old man, aren''t you?" "Oh, I''m sorry." Jin hurriedly apologized. It was true that Zion would be 513 years old this year. He should have retired by now. "I''m just kidding. "Okay, let''s go tomorrow." "That would be great, thank you." As Jin thanked Zion, he wondered if he should prepare a for her as well. 2084 - - 56-12 Forgotten alibi Jin immediately set to work on giving shape to his idea. "Brother Jin, what''s wrong?" He had invited Erza to help him with his appearance, but she seemed a little embarrassed since he had dragged her to the workshop without telling her why. "Oh, sorry. Actually, ......." Jin explained to Erza that he wanted to make a for Zion, who has been under increasing strain lately, to make her a little more comfortable. "Very well. I just have to make it look good?" "Yes. While I''m making the body, please prepare the materials. Yes, okay. Elsa prepares the hair, skin, and clothes. Jin makes the body of the doppelganger, which he is used to making. It is a female doll for Zion. This time, the doll will be supported not by the old man, but by a special auxiliary magical brain, so that Zion can take a break and leave the control seat without any problem. I thought of using a massage chair for a moment, but decided against it because it would be dangerous if Zion falls asleep during the flight. He said that the massage chair should be given as a separate gift. The project was completed in 30 minutes, including the control unit. By this time, Erza had finished preparing all the materials and took over the work from Jin. "I''ll make it just like Zion''s now." Erza is very good at copying people''s appearance. Jin thought that it must be a talent to be able to create an exact copy without a model. The clothes were basically Zion''s personal belongings, so the only clothing was a simple undergarment. As it was too much for him, he dressed her in the standard maid''s uniform of Horai Island. "......Who''s the chief maid?" She didn''t wear a headdress, but she looked like an experienced head maid. However, she was petite because she was Zion, and she had a soft atmosphere, so Jin was under the impression that she was not a strict maid of honor, but a maid of honor who could be depended on. "All right, let''s go give it to Zion right away. Just as the moment he thought of it, Jin put Reiko ...... mini Reiko on his shoulder, had 77 carry the pilot''s seat, and flew to > by >>. . * * * * Even with the time difference, it was still nighttime in the , but since it was still early evening, Zion greeted Jin and the others without a trace of concern. "What''s wrong, Jin?Did you forget something? "Yes, I guess I forgot something." Jin then unveiled Zion''s . "Wow!...... me?You''re the doppelganger of ......?" "Yes. I''ve been asking a lot of Zion lately, and I''ve been feeling a bit guilty about it. "You don''t have to be so considerate,......, but thank you." Zion thanked Jin for his thoughtfulness. "But why the maid?" "Because I didn''t have the right ...... clothes. Since she is ...... Zion''s doppelganger, please dress her in Zion''s clothes." "That''s true. May I try to move it a little? Of course. I''ll fix it as soon as I find anything wrong. So, the control unit was set up in Zion''s study. The operation is simple. All you have to do is to sit on the seat attached to the control unit and put on the helmet-shaped control unit called a headset. The headset is automatically linked to the . The only thing to keep in mind is that you will become a < when you do this, so if you are not used to it, you may end up moving your body or making noises. It is much easier if you close your eyes at this time. "You see this ....... Oh, it''s kind of strange." but Zion soon got used to the controls. This is nice. I''m going to try ...... to get dressed." With that, Zion''s <>, <>, left the study and walked to the bedroom with the closet. "That''s great. Thank you, Jin." "...... If you speak like that from the pilot''s seat, your doppelganger will say the same line." "What?" It''s a good thing that Zion is the only one in his house right now, otherwise he might think he''s gone crazy. "In that case, take off the headset or pull the lever on your right hand." "Oh, that''s it." Theon pulled the lever as he was told. "Yes. Then the doppelganger will temporarily act autonomously. It has an auxiliary magical brain, so it will trace the actions that you are going to take. The behavior of the doppelganger can be checked on a monitor attached to the control unit. It shows what the doppelganger sees through its own eyes. Oh, he went to the closet. ...... that''s right, that''s the outfit." She had thought in advance what clothes she would wear, so the auxiliary magical brain had made a judgment and selected the clothes. "Just remember what you need to know, and it will work. And when the time comes, you can call the old man. The old man will take care of you just as well as my doppelganger." "That''s very kind of you. Thank you so much, Jin." Just then, Zion D returned wearing a nightgown. "Yes, you are wearing it properly. Then Zion went into pilot mode again and stopped Zion D. "I think I got the gist of it. "I think I have it figured out. This will be a lot easier on me. Jin said goodbye to the overjoyed Zion and returned to Horai Island. * * * * "......, so he was pleased. "Hmm, I''m glad." Jin returned to Horai Island and reported to Erza. He could have taken Erza with him, but he decided not to, just in case he met someone other than Zion. After all, they are a long-lived , and many of them have known Erza for 400 years. "I guess that makes you feel a little safer." "Yes." Jin, his heart burdened a little lighter, seems to have slept soundly that night. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The morning of September 4th. "Finally, the AGS meeting will start tomorrow..." After breakfast, while Jin was talking to himself, he heard a report from the old man. > "Yes, please make it simple. <<< Okay, I understand. First of all, regarding the golem grade that was mentioned in the last issue, >> <<> but there is a proposal to reverse the numbering. <<> "I see." If the highest grade is set as 1, what should we do above that? It might be similar to the way the consistency is broken if you make S, SS, SSS, and so on. "What else?" <<>. I guess that will be a discussion for the next day or so. "Is that it?" "Is that all? ...... old man, you will take care of it from tomorrow." At this point, Jin realized what had just happened. Jin D (doppelganger) is in <, but he has gone to Toka village....... But. with for the time when the master (Mylord) was meeting with someone other than the family, so there is no problem in creating an alibi. has temporarily changed its name to , so there is little danger of it being detected. Jin was relieved when he was told that had been temporarily renamed . 2085 - - 56-13 Because its for my friends. <, Zion was excitedly activating his . "Let''s put it to use right away." Sitting in the pilot''s seat and putting on the headset, he felt his mind project what <>......<> had seen. "This is nice." The control unit was in Zion''s private room, so as long as Zion D. locked the door, no one would come in. "At ......, the deus ex machina will be here soon. ...... Oh, here it comes." <, lands on the airfield of the Nord Federation. "Here you go, Theon. Come on, get in." And with that, Theon was on board. As soon as Theon gets on board, soars into the sky again. "It''s a bit far to the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, so I''ll take the <>," Makina says. Makina says, and Aristotle soars through the air at Mach 2. The black golem, the first of the <> series, or Space 1, is piloting the plane. "That''s fast. "Mach 2 at this altitude is about 2000 km/h, so we should be there in about 20 minutes. Makina said. To him, Zion said, Zion asks him, "...... Well, isn''t it Jin who is flying Makina now?" He asks, "Oh, yes, very well. "Oh, you understand well." Since there is no one else listening, we can have this conversation. Jin wanted to see for himself what kind of a person the bigwigs of the Klein Kingdom were like. In doing so, he used a deus ex machina because his own alter ego (doppelg?nger) would not be good enough. "But you are flying so high! We are flying in the stratosphere. "Yes, that''s right. We don''t want to hit a bird or another flying object. I see. Zion agreed, knowing that the barrier would keep them safe, but not the other way around. "So, have you contacted the Kingdom of Klein?" "Of course I have. < Who''s on the other end? Corwin Raqqa Kido, Minister of Magical Technology. I''m glad it''s Machina and not Djinn." Theon said something strange. "What do you mean?" "He''s a secret fan of Jin." "What?" Then came an unexpected line. "I heard that he''s had a crush on the since he was young, and he''s been dying to meet the third djinn who recently appeared on the scene." "Wow. ......" "Just in case you''re wondering, it''s your uncle, okay?" "You don''t have to tell me. ......" Jin was glad that he had come with a deus ex machina. * * * * "Oh, Mr. Zion, and Mr. Deus ex Machina, welcome! A mature man with a hint of white in his hair greeted Zion and Makina. "Thank you for welcoming us, Your Excellency." Theon greeted the Minister of Magical Technology first, "We meet for the first time. I am Corwin Racka Kiddo, Minister of Magical Technology of the Kingdom of Klein. I have heard a lot about you. Corwin Raqqa Kidoh and Deus Ex Machina shook hands. "Well, let me show you the bus right away. Makina signaled, and <>''s crew, <> 2 to 20, unloaded the bus from the hangar. "So this is the bus." "It holds 30 passengers, not including the driver and his assistant, and can handle some pretty rough roads." "I see, so it has eight-wheel drive." Corwin looks around the bus sullenly. "The driver and assistant are also golems. and . "Well, this is wonderful. Of course, this is the Adriana way, isn''t it? "Yes." Corwin said that he had recently attended an lecture in . "I hope to eventually be able to make these advanced golems." And then, we all moved to a room in the government office adjacent to the airfield. The group then moved to a room in the government office adjacent to the airfield. There, Makina gave them a pamphlet with instructions on how to use the equipment, and then decided on the conditions for lending it to them. Since < and are present, they can tell you how to use the equipment, but the conditions for lending it must be agreed upon here and now. "Hmmm...since this is a prototype for Deus Ex Machina-sama, you want us to operate it here and feed back the data? "That''s right. Then I would be happy to pay you a monthly rental fee of 30,000 dollars. That includes the bus and the two golems? Yes. I thought this was a very good deal, and we discussed it with the old man beforehand. "One more thing, I would like you to use this bus to transport the spectators of the air race organized by the volunteers of the Nordic Federation to the village of Toka. "I see. I see. I see. I understand. We would like to remind you that the bus is only a part of our cooperation with Zion. This is one of the ways to ensure the success of the air race in Toka. "If it breaks down, please contact me and I will get it to Makina-dono right away. Theon added a few more words. After some details were worked out and put into writing, three copies were made, signed by Makina, Theon, and Corwin, to be kept by each of them. "Well, well, today was a good day." After all the contracts and other paperwork was completed, refreshments and tea were served to the guests for fellowship. "I would have preferred you to come to the royal castle." "No, we have a lot of work to do later on, so we can''t stay that way." Corwin looks disappointed, and Makina (actually, Jin) refuses softly. Theon, too, says he is too old and wants to rest at home, so they decide to fly back home. "Please bring the third generation of magecraft masters, Jin-sama, with you this time." Corwin had expressed this wish again and again to Zion and Makina. Jin, who is controlling Makina, is trying to keep as much distance from her as possible, and he is unaware that the more Corwin pleads for her, the more it is having the opposite effect. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, it''s over, it''s over. Thank you, Theon. "Thank you, Jin. < had soared into the sky, Jin and Zion were able to have an honest conversation. "Jin, you''ve been spreading your hands all over the place, haven''t you?" "No, it was originally for Licia who couldn''t stand to see the decline of Toka village. "Oh, that''s right. Jin has a soft spot for his friends. Jin borrowed Machina''s words and said to Zion, "Zion is one of them, "You''re one of them, aren''t you?" Makina said, "Zion is one of them. 2086 - - 56-14 Avalon and Horai Island On September 5, a meeting began in <> to establish the >, or >. Since the compendium had already been established in the previous meeting, this meeting was to revise the compendium and to make more detailed agreements. The first revision in the compendium is the grade. <>, but the numbering was to be reversed. The correction was accepted without any problems. The focus of the meeting was likely to be on the balance between price and quality. * * * * * "Our immediate goal is to reduce the price of a general-purpose golem to a level where the average person can manage to buy one. "I don''t particularly disagree, but I think it is difficult to determine the quality of the . "I agree. I agree. I think it would be dangerous to make a decision here and there. "Oh, you make a good point. You are right. If we end up talking about it in a theoretical way, it will be a complete waste of time. We are gathered here for the sake of the world, not for the sake of our own egos. Such a meeting was relayed to Horaijima through Jin''s doppelganger. The conference room was projected on the large magic screen in the cafeteria, and the discussion could be seen clearly. "Oh, they are saying good things. Is that a representative of the Shoro Kingdom? "Yes, yes, I understand. I can hear him talking to himself, "Now and in the past, the aspirations of those who are involved in manufacturing are the same. I can hear him talking to himself. However, since the meeting at <> lasts for about 8 hours in the morning and afternoon, the Horai-jima residents do not observe the meeting from beginning to end, but rather take a break from time to time to come and listen to the proceedings. The minutes of the meeting are kept in <, so they can be ordered if necessary. The day ended with a discussion of the minimum quality of the golem. * * * * * * * * * "But the minimum quality of Golem. I had never thought about it. ......" At dinner time, Jin said something like this. "Kuhu, that''s because it''s a djinn, isn''t it?" Saki mixed it up. "I''d like to know the lowest quality gin can make. Marcia also started to say something like that. "Who is the lowest quality golem Jin has ever made?" asked Reinhardt, looking curious. Reinhardt asked curiously. "Well, ......." Jin thinks for a moment before answering. "I guess Gon and Gen ...... or the early model of < that we made in Kaina village. Neither of them had satisfactory materials at that time. But now Hope is not even close to the performance of the average golem. The same goes for Gon and Gen. "Then there are the golems that were made for the general public in that sense. Arrow, Lotte, etc." However, even so, they boasted performance that set them apart from ordinary golems. Arrow won a dead heat against Reinhardt-Elsa''s mermaid golem in the last stage of the final of the golem boat competition held in Potrock, Elias Kingdom. Also, Lotte protected the royal family with her slender arms and legs during the golem runaway incident that broke out in the royal castle of the Kingdom of Egelea. "Yeah, that''s something Jin couldn''t do!" Saki looks happy for some reason. "Well, there are some things that even Jin can''t discuss. "Of course there are. That''s why we are friends and family. Jin replies with a wry smile. There is really nothing we can''t do. Is there anything we can''t do with this group? Bina also says something like that. "Well, they''re relatively new to business, aren''t they?" Lewis answered seriously. Jin''s friends are in the fields of science, engineering, and politics. He is not good at economics. "Not that I need it or anything," said Jin. Jin said. Indeed, there is little need for business in Horaijima. "When I think of business, I remember Mr. Eckert. Reinhardt said as if reminiscing about the old days. "Mr. Eckert. That brings back memories. Jin nodded. "Yes, it does. I met Jin-kun and he asked me to ...... find a cat for him." Vivienne also looked nostalgic. "I was shown a ship and it was sabotaged." "I remember when they sent the fifth column (quinta)." "Hmm. And the ship we built for the Shoro Empire''s new project, the . On her maiden voyage, she crossed paths with the Eckert-built Brigitte. "Apparently so." That was the dawn of the era of large ships......40 to 50-meter class wooden ships. Nowadays, 50-meter class ships are in use around the world. It is difficult to build a wooden ship larger than this. At one time, the use of metal structural materials had been started, but this was abandoned due to the <>. "It seems that larger vessels are on the way." Rodrigo, Marcia''s father, said in a low voice. Unlike his daughter, he was more interested in large ships than in small speedboats. "I would like to help them technically, if only a little," he said. In today''s world, it seems to me that a little help to aspiring engineers will get them pretty far on their own. Now that they no longer had to worry about their life expectancy, Jin and the others had lost their sense of urgency. "I hope we can do research here in Horai Island and give back the results to the world little by little. Jin''s words also represented the feelings of everyone. "That''s right. We should continue to develop useful tools as well. Bina was the first to express her agreement. I''m sure Adriana will be pleased. The quiet Milowina smiled and said these words to everyone. "Father, will the island of Tsetsi remain as it is for the time being?" Mini Reiko, who was sitting on the table, asked. After all, on the island of Tsezhi lay Shuki Tsezhi and Adriana Barbora Tsezhi, the first Magecraft Meister. "I wonder if they will. For the time being, I''ve managed to keep her out of sight with , so she should be fine." Besides, we have deployed in satellite orbit to keep an eye on them," Jin continued. "So, what about the Tierra family cemetery?" "What?" The Tierra family produced Adriana Tierra, wife of Shuki Tsetsi, collaborator and pioneer of engineering magic, including golem technology. Their cemetery is located in the north-central part of the Laurentian continent. < in the country called . Jin once visited there with his friends and met <>, an automaton who was the vizier of the Tierra family. He was given the facility by <> who had been keeping the records of the Tierra family. Since then, <> changed his name to <> and has been serving Jin. "400 years ago, did I do nothing?" "No, he regularly sent his craftsmen to maintain it. "Then why now?" It is natural for Jin to ask such a question. Then the old man said I will explain it to you. 2087 - - 56-15 Tierra Family Site According to the old man''s explanation, the site of the Tierra family in <> in <> was under strict control in Horai Island. <> had also done its job for us. However, in recent years, a survey team from the Shoro Kingdom has begun to head north. "I see. ......" "Okay." Jin let out a weary sigh, "There are a lot of things to do at the same time. "That''s because Jin is no longer doing everything by himself." Reinhardt, perhaps sensing Jin''s state of mind, offered this advice. "It''s easier if you do everything yourself. You can do whatever you want." But now Jin is setting things up, but he wants the important process to be done by the people of this world, not by himself. That takes time. At the same time, it also means that Jin feels he can proceed <. "That''s what being a manager is all about." It was an analysis typical of Reinhardt, who used to manage a small estate. Lewis was the same in terms of managing a territory, but he did not seem to know how to advise Jin because he was not an engineer. Jin himself was always used by others and rarely used others. The golems and automata of Horai Island are not people, but they can fully fulfill Jin''s instructions, and with the presence of the old man, he does not have to take much trouble with them. But that is the reason why we created the old man. ....... "...... Back to the question, what should we do with the site of Tierra''s house? There are two major options. Either move it or leave it as it is. If we move it, where to?If we move the site, where? If the site is to be left as it is, should it be protected by warding or some other means? "Another means would be to protect it by opening it to the as a memorial museum." "Well, I guess there''s a good and bad answer to that." "I agree with Saki." "I think it''s time to clarify the advantages and disadvantages." Saki and Erza tilted their heads, and Stearina said what she had come up with. "Unlike her predecessor, Adriana Tierra''s name is not well known, so it might be a good idea to take this opportunity to make it known to the public." "But if we let the public in, it''s going to be rough." Reinhardt''s opinion was well understood. It was troubling to him because he had seen what happens to ruins that have been turned into tourist attractions in modern Japan and on Earth. "In that case, I think it is important what Jin thinks of the . This is Milowina. "What do you think of ......?" "Yes. Do you want to keep it forever or are you willing to let it decay? And do you care about the place? "And do you care about the place?" Jin asked back, not understanding what he meant. "Yes. Do you have any aversion or hesitation to the idea of relocating it? In short, do you consider the site as a relic or not? "Well, I''m not too concerned about it. Jin said that there are many buildings on the earth that have been relocated as memorials, and that he does not care much if the purpose is to <>. The other members seemed to agree. < "I see." The old man said so, and after further discussion among the members of , it was decided to move the house to Horai Island. > "Well, ......, I would like a quiet place." After much consideration, it was decided to move it to a small hill at the foot of the hill, which is located in the west-southwest of the institute. The only thing that remained was the method. "What if we cut out a spherical space about one kilometer in diameter and transport it? Normal wards cannot be deployed inside a solid body, but <> can. Now that it can be deployed in a spherical shape, we can use it to <>, then protect the cut surface with normal physical wards and carry it. "After all, the <> blocks and insulates space, so even the <>> will be ineffective." Naturally, it was decided that a trial run was necessary, so they decided to try it out on a rocky hill in the wasteland of Hale. The cut rocks can be effectively used as stone. * * * * * * * * So, all the available people ......<>...... came to the planet Hale. "Let''s try it on that rocky hill." Jin indicated a rocky hill protruding from the plain. "Multiply this by <> and you get ......." Since this is an experiment, we will use < with a diameter of 10 meters. An area of about 30 meters in diameter was cut off, and fell to the ground with a ground-shaking sound. "It looks like it''s going to be okay to cut it out," he said. "It looks like we can cut it out all right." Jin looks satisfied. Saki spoke to Jin as if she had noticed something. "Hey, Jin, this shield can cut objects on the contact surface, can''t it? "Huh?Yes, of course. "Then, can''t you use this to cut them into pieces? ......" Since it cuts off space, no matter what kind of material it is, it can''t withstand it. "...... sure." If it could, it would only be the same <>. "That''s right. ......" "In that sense, it would be a real last line of defense." Whether you intend to use it or not, that is. Indeed, the idea of using a barrier as a cutting weapon has been used in stories and novels, Jin recalled fondly. "Well, that''s the thing..." We must not lose sight of our original purpose for being here today. "I think we can make a good cut. Now we just need to transport it." Now we cut out the flat part, continue to cover it with warding, and experiment with carrying it out. Again, succeeded in doing this. "Let''s see if it gets bigger," he said. The key is whether it can do the same thing when it gets bigger, since they plan to eventually use a flagship < with a diameter of 300 meters. I practiced this not on ore, but on an empty wasteland three times to make sure it was no problem. Incidentally, the hemispherical depression created at this time may be used for experiments in the future, so I will leave it as it is. * * * * * * * "Now, everything is ready. All that remains is to carry out the experiment. 2088 - - 56-16 Relocation and Replication September 7. The place is Naminthe, Newell. The time is 1:30 a.m. It is midnight. Floating in the sky above is the flagship of the Jin Dynasty <, and small spacecraft of 10 meters in diameter: Hercules, Achilles, Perseus, Theseus, Castor, Pollux, Prometheus, Endemion, Daedalus, and Cepheus. We have made sure that there are no inhabitants within a 30 km radius of the site and have moved all large animals out of the area. The star of the show tonight is <. The family home of the great woman of the same name, Adriana Tierra, is to be relocated. The small spaceships have been placed in the vicinity with sound and invisibility wards in case of emergency. > The old man with the magical brain of Horai Island is in command. The one who gave the short reply was , the head of the administration of . <, , who was stationary above the site of the Tierra family, deployed a spatial barrier <> with a diameter of one kilometer. Along its geometric sphere, space is cut off. The same applies to the solid earth. The depth of the cut earth is about 10 meters, and it contains enough underground facilities. Therefore, the hemisphere is not a perfect shape, but a shallow gouge. The diameter of the above-ground portion is approximately 200 meters. < The physical barrier, which is not erected in solid areas, is deployed along the gap of a few tenths of a micron, which is separated from the solid area by <>. <> rises>>. And if <> rises in that state ....... "Oh!" "Success!!!!" The ruins of the Tierra house were lifted along with the hemispherical soil and bedrock. Some of the surrounding houses were also lifted along with ....... Since the soil and bedrock are thin at the edges, we also used a <> to hold them in place so that they would not collapse. We can then fly to Horai Island as it is. The surrounding houses that I brought with me will be restored to their original state. <, maintaining the boundary. The spacecraft flies at a speed of 1,000 kilometers per hour, below the speed of sound, to maintain caution. The distance to Horai Island is about 1,800 kilometers, which is enough to reach the island before dawn. The hole was dug, and the restoration work has been started by 500 sent by transporter immediately after the hole was dug. Three <<> have also been sent in for initial civil work, so the first stage of work, that is, the restoration of the exterior, is scheduled to be completed before dawn. The underground part will be done slowly after that. Anyway, since we did not know who would see us, we decided to restore only the exterior of the building as soon as possible. It took 30 minutes to bring in the earth and fill in the hole. It took 30 minutes to finish the pavement. 30 minutes to put back the extra buildings that had been taken away when the ground was gouged out. And an hour to build a dummy building that looks exactly like the Tierra house. In two and a half hours, the first stage of construction was completed. The time is 3 a.m., and it is still before dawn. The first round of construction was completed without being seen or known by anyone. * * * * * * * * * On the other hand, there is Horai Island. Since a hemispherical hole of the same size was drilled in the site to be relocated, we basically finished 80% of the work by fitting the building and the ground we had brought in there. It was 9:00 a.m. Horaijima time when the orientation was properly aligned and the building was installed. Of course, the cut bedrock is attached to the building by and as much as possible. The other buildings around the site were disassembled during transport and sent back to be reassembled on site, so the Tierra house is the only one here now. "Palma, do you think this will work?" I have told the automata, <>, in charge of the maintenance of the facility in advance, so I have had them cooperate with me from the very beginning. "Yes, it''s okay. ......I didn''t think that the master (my lord) would think of the future and relocate the facility in such a way. "Thank you." The Tierra house that was moved to Horai Island was completed before noon, so Palma temporarily went to the Tierra house in Naminthe <. There, they are constructing a building that looks exactly the same as the Tierra house, and they plan to make the inside of the building the same as the Tierra house. In short, they intend to make a <>, as is often the case with national treasures. The knowledge of , who has been maintaining the facility for many years, will be of great help in this regard. I will be in good hands. "Yes, my lord." Thus, the relocation of the Tierra family was completed without a hitch. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * While eating lunch at Horai Island, Jin felt that another burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "It''s done, isn''t it? The only thing left to do now was to complete the duplicate of Naminthe, and that would be the end of the whole volume. "Jin, thank you for your hard work." Saki made Jin work harder. "Brother Jin, tea?" "Yes, cold barley tea today, please." "Yes." Erza poured Jin some barley tea. "By the way, Jin..." Saki, who was also drinking cold barley tea, spoke up. "I went to Hale yesterday, and a couple of things caught my attention, didn''t they? "Yes." "One is a new ore from , right?The one that has an unusually high affinity with free magical element (ether)." "Oh, that." is Hale''s resource satellite. It is a huge lump of metallic ore. Indeed, Jin recalled that when he had learned of the material''s existence, he had thought, <>. "If that''s the case, you can do all the research you want. Or rather, do the research." "Yeah, okay." Saki nodded her head happily. "So, I have one more question..." "What kind of question?" "Well, ...... I don''t know what to say. ......" Saki stared at the ceiling for a moment, mumbling as she tried to gather her thoughts, but then quickly turned to Jin. "Well, in engineering magic, if we use <>, we can take something that was once formed and put it back together and use it for something else, right?" "Of course." "In other words, you can recycle materials by using engineering magic." Yes, that''s right. Then why are the resources of Hale so depleted?That doesn''t make sense. "I see... I see..." Jin thought for a moment and then started to explain. "Saki is right about that. < 700672 was not even born at that time. Jin said this is one of the mysteries about Hale. "I have some guesses." "You''re going to have to tell me." "Of course." Jin began to share his guesses. 2089 - - 56-17 Research and Time Jin began to explain to Saki about the depletion of resources at Hale and the possible causes of the depletion. "First of all, most of the <> were buried in space. "Space burial?" "Space burial? ...... So, they put the bodies on a spaceship and send them off in the direction of the sun, the Celan sun." "Oh, I see." In that case, the materials used for the spaceship and the coffin cannot be recovered. We will inevitably consume them. "There are very few cemeteries left here in Hale." "Surely, after thousands of years of this, we will run out of resources." "And then..." Jin began to explain the next possibility. "Even before the resources ran out, the Originals launched many exploratory spacecraft to explore the universe." "Oh, and most of them have never returned?" "Yes, that''s what I mean." If we continue this for thousands of years, it is certain that resources will be consumed. "But..." Jin continues. "It is also strange to say that they will be depleted in such a short period of time, that''s for sure. What do you mean? "One more thing, unless there is some kind of critical trouble, I don''t understand why the resources would be depleted to this extent. But there was no record of this, and the 700672 was unaware of it. "Is that so ......?" "So, here''s a hypothesis that''s not so much a complete guess ...... as it is a creation, ...... do you want to hear it?" "Now that you''ve asked me this much, I''d like to hear it." "Okay." Jin nodded and began to tell his theory. "The first one is that a part of the origin, which has not been recorded, may have gone somewhere in a spaceship. I think that they may have taken considerable resources with them in order to go to a distant place that would take generations to reach. "I see, is it possible ......?" Saki nodded. "Second. < did something with the technology of converting matter into energy. In addition to the energy obtained from the free magical element (ether), the conversion of matter into energy can provide a tremendous amount of energy. "I have discussed this with the old man for a while, and he said that it is possible that he has done some experiments that transcend time. It''s just a possibility." The energy consumed by the old man to send back Jin''s body to 400 years ago was enormous. Most of it was energy derived from the free magical element (ether) that he had accumulated over the past 400 years, but it might have been a little easier if he had also converted matter into energy. "Haha, I wouldn''t be surprised if <> is doing that kind of research." Saki admitted that this might be a possibility. "Third. There is no evidence for this, and it''s pretty ridiculous, but someone has intercepted the resources." Jin laughed, "This is almost delusional at this point. "Well, it''s true that there are few resources in Hale, and there''s no way to know for sure." Saki seemed satisfied with Jin''s explanation. Saki was satisfied with Jin''s explanation for the time being. "So, enough of that, let''s go and study the new materials. < "I heard that Jin named it <> at first." Saki looks a little stunned. "Now it''s called , so give me a break." "Kuhuh, that''s fine. ...... do you know anything about it?" "Yeah, just that it''s stable." Jin explained that one of the reasons for the formation of the material was assumed to be that it was in an area with a high concentration of free magic element (ether), which could have gradually reverted to normal material if stored at normal concentration, but that was not the case. "The rest is mostly unfinished." "Kuhu, that''s worthwhile!" Saki showed her enthusiasm by making a gesture to roll up her short-sleeved arms even further. "Oh, by the way, the old man speculated that the ore was not in the area of high concentration of free magical element (ether), but was in the area in the state of ...... magma before it became ore. Jin remembered one more thing and told Saki. "Oh, that''s an interesting theory. Thank you, Jin. Jin then said to Saki, "Hey, what happened to the research on the shell of the gigantopod that you were working on until recently? "We''ve made a breakthrough. The old man should have compiled a report for you. "Talking about free magical element (ether) reminds me, didn''t we use that material for a before?" Jin mentioned what he suddenly remembered. Saki''s answer was, "Oh, yes, I know. But how much do you think you''ll use it?" And the question was. "Let''s see, ......." I think I made them the size of AA batteries, so each one is roughly 7 cubic centimeters. The shell of a 50-meter class gigantopod has a thick part of 20 centimeters and a thin part of 5 centimeters. The average is 10 cm. This is approximated by a cylinder 50 meters long and 5 meters in diameter, which is about 38 million cubic centimeters. The amount of mana tanks that can be obtained from each animal is about 5 million, taking into account the loss of mana tanks. Assuming that 50 mana tanks are prepared for each animal, it is enough for 100,000 animals. ....... The total number of golems and automata on Horai Island is less than 10,000. Even if we equip all of them, there will be more than 90% left over. "I understand. You had a surplus even after equipping all of them, so you were thinking of ways to use them." That''s what I meant. * * * * After Saki had left for the lab to study the new materials, Erza came in. "More tea?" "Yeah, I''ll have some more tea." Jin, thirsty from all the talking, got a refill of barley tea and took a sip. "How is Elsa''s research going?" "Yes. But there are a lot of difficult problems," said Erza. "You have to take your time when working with plants. In that respect, she said, being a homunculus has made her less concerned about time. "Such as?" "A branch that''s been cut off will soon be able to use engineering magic, but the cut off branch must not be dead yet. The reason for this..." "Oh, I see." A branch is cut off and put in the ground to grow <. This is possible only because the branch has not died after being cut, so how can the engineering magic work immediately after cutting it? "Maybe what I said to my brother Jin a while ago is correct. "Well, it''s certainly a difficult question. Hmmm... But it''s fun to think about it. We have a lot of time. I agree. ......... whenever you get lost in thought, you can always ask me for help. Thank you. In this way, Elsa also seemed to be working on her research. 2090 - - 56-18 こころ On September 8, Jin was sitting on the porch of his < in Horai Island. < in Naminthe has been completed. The old man reported to me. "Oh, I see. Thank you." Now we can rest assured that the northern survey team of the Laurentian Continent will be here. "Is Parma back?" "That''s good." Jin replied, and then became a little lost in thought. "...... Jin, what are you thinking about?" Erza noticed Jin''s state and came and sat down next to him. "I was just thinking about how important it is for people to have feelings about relics,....... "What do you mean?" Elsa tilted her head. "Well, you didn''t understand. I''ll ...... see you then. ......." Jin also had some free time, so he half-seriously tried to think of an easy-to-understand analogy for Erza. And then.., "For example. ...... here are two daggers with the same appearance." "Hmm." "One of them is a memento of your parents, and the other one has nothing to do with you. Now, if you were to give one of them to someone else, which would it be? "The one that has nothing to do with me." Without a pause, Elsa answered. "Why is that?" "The memento is more important." Jin nodded. "But that''s not a difference that a third party can see, is it?" "..................Yes, that''s what I mean." At this point, Elsa seemed to understand what Jin was trying to say. "I understand what you mean about the importance of attachment." Elsa gave Jin a small, repeated nod. "The in now and the real that was moved to Horai Island. What is the difference between them?" "That''s what I mean." Of course, there are subtle differences between the restorations in <>, and they are not exactly, or even roughly, the same. However, Jin wanted Elsa to understand that he had been asking himself why he was seeking for <>. "What is important is the feeling, the heart. But that <> is always looking for <>." "I guess so." "...... difficult." Erza admitted that the human heart is a part of us that is difficult to control, as the earlier analogy of a memento illustrates. At this point, Jin also slightly changed the direction of the conversation. "As far as I''m concerned, a person''s have to mean something. Otherwise, it''s a little sad ......." "Sad ......, I know." Erza leaned back against Jin''s shoulder. "I''m not sure if I''m going to be able to do that," he said. Jin smiled at Elsa''s slightly out-of-focus line. "I think there was a theory that mental power, thoughts, souls, and ...... dimensions are different." "Dimension?" "Yes, a dimension. No, I think there was some kind of string theory or something that said the universe had 11 dimensions. This is a key word rather than ...... knowledge that Jin read in a science magazine or a science fiction magazine when he was in modern Japan. "I have no idea." "I don''t either. I don''t have a clue. ...... Maybe some spirit life form does, though." But if they knew everything, the world wouldn''t be interesting. Ha-ha, you''re right. I agree. Jin was happy. He was happy to have Erza, his companion, with whom he could have such a casual conversation and spend such a relaxing time together. "I wonder what humans ...... or any other living creatures would look like if they were seen from such a higher dimension." "Maybe they would think that they are imperfectly formed." "Speaking of which, I''ve been trying to think of an explanation for the question of why engineering magic works on a cut off branch. Let''s hear it. "Let me hear it." "Yeah. ...... So, it''s called a <>, a higher dimensional <>. It''s what separates the living from the inanimate, and it''s protected by <> when it''s a tree, but when it''s cut down, it''s out from under the protection of <>. How about that, so it can work magic?" Erza thinks for a moment, "...... makes sense." He replied. "That higher dimensional is a or a dimension higher than that, so the magic that is a free magic element phenomenon doesn''t work. "Hmm, that makes sense. What about healing magic? "Healing magic contains sub-free element (ether), so it can work on living creatures. And spirit magic too." "...... I see, that explains it in a way." Right?" Jin wondered if the spirit life forms were thinking about this kind of thing ...... from morning to night, even though there seemed to be no concept of morning or night in that world. If so, I couldn''t help feeling sorry for him. No, it could be that this is the reason why he thought that the material existence of Jin was rare and helped him out. "If we assume that, what happens to the tree that takes root and grows from the cut branches?" "Well, ...... hmmm." The cut branch does not have that works as the original organism, but when it grows, it becomes an organism that does not have engineering magic. "I wonder if the organism has a like a of the ." "The magic works on the seed, but when it grows up, it doesn''t work anymore. ...... I see." Erza agreed with this hypothesis. "......Jin''s brother and these thought games,...... I guess you could call them.It''s fun to ...... play with him." "What a coincidence. Me too." Then. "...... is this what you mean when you say we''re like this?" came from behind me. "Saki!" Saki? I turned around to see Saki and Goose standing there, smiling. "What''s going on? Jin asked a little impatiently. "No, I went to see the replica of the Tierra family site in Naminthe, and I thought I''d report back to you. ......" "Kuhu, and then I was shown a friendly couple." "......" "So, how did it go?" Erza blushed and exclaimed, and Jin barely managed to utter the question with impatience. "Well, it''s hard to believe that it was made after the fact, no matter who sees it. You did a good job, Jin. Guth, who had also studied archaeology, gave his assurance, which made Jin feel relieved. "I see. I''m glad to hear that. "Yeah. ......I remember when I visited Newell with Jin, Saki and the others a long time ago. Goose smiled fondly. 2091 - - 56-19 The truth about the plug? Goose gave several reports on his visit to . "Battaghtarf and Dathe are completely deserted now. I was only there for a short time, but I didn''t see any signs of life. And Naminthe, of course." "I see. ......" Jin wondered how things would change after the Shoro Empire''s survey team arrived. Perhaps it will be developed in cooperation with Mitsuho and Fusoh. "Or perhaps a new country will emerge. Guth correctly guessed what Jin had said. "Yes. The old Newell has perished, but perhaps a new Newell will be founded. "Yes. But it will be a long time before that happens. "Before that happens, we need to let the public know more about Adriana Tierra ......." That''s my role as a , Jin thought. "We have a lot of work to do. Jin spilled out, "Isn''t it better than having nothing to do and having too much time on your hands? Goose said to him. "Yes, it is. ." "What''s that ...... thing?I think I heard about it a long time ago. "Yeah, it means that when you have too much time on your hands, you''re a regular ......, no, a boring person who doesn''t do anything worthwhile." "I wonder if that''s true. ......You may be right,......." While I was talking with Goose, the old man reported to me. > "My Lord. Good. Is something wrong?" "Yes?Let''s hear it.......Yes, I''m going to the laboratory now." So Jin went to the laboratory. Today the mini Reiko is lying on her head, not on her shoulders. "Please." First, a map is projected on the magic screen. The map shows the village of Toka, the village of Kaina, the Shama Marsh, Lake Manuse, and the capital city of Alban. < "Yeah. ...... Oh." < Still, a mesh of underground water veins is shown. It seems that rain and snow in the northern mountains are flowing under the village of Kaina as subterranean water. Some of them flow into the Shama Marshland, and some of them flow under Toka Village. . "Yes." < "I see." The reason for the disappearance of the obvious water veins was not that the water had run dry, but that it had permeated widely. "So, what''s wrong with this water vein?" < Poison? < However, since it was about 150 years ago, all the ringleaders are no longer with us, and in any case, they cannot be held responsible. <<>. The procedure for spraying poison was simple, as the old man explains with some speculation. Throw the poison into the wells at key points and expect it to flow away. All the water veins that would spew the poison would be blocked, since the presence of the poison might be known in advance. "So you stopped the spouting spring in the village of Toka, just before the village of Kaina. ...... Oh my." Jin could not help but laugh at the ignorance of the leadership of the at that time. The hot springs in Toka Village are pumped from far deeper than the water veins of the nearby wells and springs. Otherwise, the geothermal heat would not be enough to produce hot spring water. >. < "I thought it was common knowledge that you can''t master power without knowledge." The <<<< Magic League>> never professed that scientific knowledge was not necessary as long as magic could be used. I think that they were working on such a foolish scheme without the knowledge of Markitas. The old man is also very harsh. "But what about the poison?Wasn''t there any damage?" "......Ah, that''s stupid." >. Jin and Laojun are both ...... no, "They really are idiots,......." The three of them, including the mini Reiko on top of Jin''s head, were dumbfounded. "So?...... I kind of know the results." < "I guess so." It seems that the hot spring in Toka village was drilled by Jin and the outlet channel was prepared, but it was a disaster, and once it was plugged, it stopped gushing from the other side. "We built it well." Jin learned that not only this, but also a water release channel or a safety valve structure should be considered in case of a blockage of the waterway. Yes, there is always something to learn no matter how old you are. ...... Well, do you know what the poison was?" < had used. >. "Was it aconite poison?" Most of this knowledge comes from the medical books of Shuki Tsezi, who was a medical student. < In any case, there is no record of poisoning or any other symptoms. "Okay. I guess we''re done with this." Jin decided that it was in the past and that there was no point in further questioning what had already been done. "It''s more about the future." . Jin told the old man, "What about the bus we rented to the Klein Kingdom? He asked. He is concerned about the reputation of his creation. and have reported that it has been well received. The full-scale operation is still a long way off, however. This is not surprising, since the full-scale operation will be when they carry tourists for the air race. "But you''re trying it out, hypothetically, I mean?" < "Well, I guess so." No matter how good the performance and comfort of the buses are, it is Klein Kingdom that operates them, and it is meaningless if the arrangements are bad or if the customer service is poor. Therefore, the old man explained that the buses are being operated on a trial basis as a means of short-distance transportation. 2092 - - 56-20 Quiet 96 Bus and King The Kingdom of Klein. The day after the deus ex machina rented out the <>. "Well, is this the bus?Corwin. "Yes, Your Majesty. Yes, sir. "It has four wheels. ...... No, it has eight wheels on each side. How''s the ride? We''re about to check that, sir. The location is the training ground behind the castle. There, Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, the Minister of Magical Technology, is trying to determine the performance of the in order to decide how it should be operated. Then King Mericarance I arrived and looked up at the bus with great interest. Mericarance I is 41 years old this year and in the prime of his career. He has dark blond hair and blue eyes. "You want to take them for a ride?" The king looked at the 20 soldiers standing there without their armor. "Yes. "And I''m going to ride them around the battlefield for about ten laps. "I see. I''d like to take a look. I''d like to see that." "Well, let''s get started. Minister of Magical Technology Corwin Raqqa Kido gives a brief presentation to the King. "The controls ...... will be driven by a golem named . Assistance in checking the safety of the surroundings, and support during the ascent and descent of passengers will be provided by a golem named ." "Hoho ....... This golem alone is a fortune." The difference in the quality of the golems was obvious even to the king, who was an amateur in the field of magical engineering. opens the door of the bus, "Please get in." "Come on in," he announced. Corwin gave the next signal, and the 20 soldiers got on one by one. Finally, as Corwin was about to get in, he said to ....... "Your Majesty, what are you doing? "No, I''m just trying to get on. "No, it might be dangerous." What danger?We''re just going to ride through this training ground, aren''t we? Yes, that''s true. ...... Corwin is not a pushover by nature. The king''s enthusiasm (some would say selfishness) made him allow her to ride with him. The king sat down in the front seat, "Come on, let''s see you run! He is excited. However, Corwin is now in first place in the , and since he has not given the order, does not respond. After a short delay, Corwin confirms that all the soldiers have taken their seats and gives the order to depart. "We are leaving, sir." > announces shortly, and the <> starts to move slowly. "Oh, it doesn''t shake too much. The King is impressed. The reason why the bus shakes less than the horse-drawn carriages he usually rides is partly because the period of shaking is slower due to the larger body, but more than that, the effect of the suspension has been improved. Yes, the ride is quite comfortable. Corwin was quite perceptive about this. "How fast can you go?" This was answered by assist 1. "Yes, normal speed is about 50 km/h. The maximum speed is about 100 km/h." "Oh, a hundred kilometers. That''s faster than a bad flying machine or airship!" Mericarance I looks somewhat pleased. "Corwin, can we use this bus as a model for mass production in our country?" "Yes, ......." Corwin thought for a moment, "I don''t think we can make the same bus. Corwin thought for a moment, and then replied, "I don''t think we can do the same thing. Then he asked, "Why is that, you say? It is because <> can make > but not . Cowen continues his explanation. You cannot tell just by looking at a single part what its , or allowable dimensional error, is," he says. "It is impossible to understand the design concept just by looking at the product. Perhaps only one person in the world, the Magecraft Meister, can do that," he said. "<> or ......." Hearing this title, Mericolance I spoke ruefully, "The previous ......2 generation, the <>, was originally from our country. But due to various misunderstandings, he was finally settled in the Shoro Kingdom. In terms of the group of nations at that time, he went from the eastern end to the western end. He stated. "Yes, it was." The bus slowly turns left as it nears the edge of the training ground. "The king at that time, Alois III, was not a fool. But he missed the bus because of a slight misdirection to one of his men, or because of his man''s interpretation of what he was doing. Your Majesty. So I''ve heard. It''s difficult to deal with people. I agree. Corwin and Mericarance I were actually childhood friends. Corwin is about five years older than him, so they had a friendly relationship when he was Dauphin. So, when we leave the public ...... bus, whether or not it can be said that the bus is not a public place, ...... our tone becomes old-fashioned. The 20 soldiers, who were aware of this, remained silent, not even speaking privately. < "Oh, it''s shaking indeed!" "Yes. But this rough terrain is impossible to travel on a horse-drawn carriage. "Yes, it is." With the eight wheels and the considerably heavy weight on the springs, the ride in the rough terrain does not seem to be so bad. "What''s more, it''s still going about 20 kilometers per hour on this rough terrain." "Mm. Yes, that''s for sure. Mericarance I noticed that too. "In this rough terrain, even a horse probably can''t go more than 20 km/h." "Yes, I agree." "Mmm. ...... if it could be applied to military vehicles. ......" "Your Majesty, perhaps that''s not what Makina would say." I''m sure he would. It is a well-known fact that deus ex machina wants peace. That is why it has given so much support to , and has even given its own guidance and cooperation. He is not beholden to any one nation. <> makes an elongated isosceles triangle, and comes to a halt back behind the royal castle. "Corwin, I''m sorry to interrupt. I must return to my duties. "Yes, Your Majesty." On the way back, King Mericarance I called out to the soldiers who were riding with him. "Thank you all for your hard work. Please report your impressions of today''s test ride to the Minister of Magical Technology. Incidentally, some of them wrote that they were nervous because His Majesty was riding with them. * * * * * * * * * * * * The <<<< bus seems to have done very well. In Horai Island, the old man received reports from <> and <> via the built-in manacam (manacam), and started to summarize the contents to tell Jin. 2093 - - 56-21 Black Knights On September 8, the meeting to establish the in ended, and on the morning of September 9, most of the participants returned to their respective countries. . However, some of them stayed behind with the permission of their countries and engaged in technical exchanges with the engineers of in order to improve themselves. Among them was Devair Nolas Charnedo, Viscount of the Kingdom of Klein, head of the 2nd Technical Department of the Ministry of Magic. He had become acquainted with Jin and Rhodes through their previous visit to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, where they had assisted in the disposal of an accident involving a horse-drawn carriage and a car. "I see, this way is ...... good for us." He had also studied in for a year and knew several people there. One of them was Rasnat Heilbronn, head of the . Rasnat Heilbronn is a student of Marikka''s and a native of the Kingdom of Egelea. He is a competent engineer, if a little lacking in financial sense. "But you''ve added a lot of good researchers in the short time you''ve been here." Viscount Devair Nolas Charnedo said enviously. Eira Siata and Cachea are looking at him. "Ha-ha-ha, I''m especially indebted to you, Cachair here. Especially for the budget management. Rasnat Heilbronn says shyly. Viscount Devair Nolas Charnedo joined in the fun, smiling and saying, "You have always had a good sense of money. "You''ve always had no sense of money, you know." "...... I''m sorry, but I can''t argue with that. But you''re a good one, Katya, because for the third year in a row our laboratory''s budget was short and we had to borrow money, but this year we were able to pay off the debt!" "......You all have such a lousy sense of money, don''t you?" Katya blurted out, but no one was listening. "But <>. That''s a wonderful word, isn''t it? Viscount Charnedo said, "You should have stayed with us a little longer," said Viscount Charnedo. Rasnat Heilbronn said. "No, it''s difficult for me as Viscount." "That''s the way it is." Viscount Charnedo nodded a little regretfully. "But I didn''t realize that you and Mister Jin had met so long ago. In the course of small talk, he had heard that Jin had visited the Charnedo family with Rhodes of the in October of last year. "There was some kind of accident and I was there when it happened. Then they thanked him for his hospitality and refreshments, and his daughter asked him some questions and he answered them." "Your daughter is ...... ah, Paula?" "Hmmm. At ...... time, the influence of the was still strong. < "I envy you. I envy you that you were able to talk directly to Mr. Jin. "At that time, I had not yet called myself the third generation. Perhaps it was time he finally gained the confidence to stand on his own feet. "I see." The conversation between Viscount Devair Nolas Charnedo and Rasnat Heilbronn continued well past noon, so Eira, Katya, and the other researchers were so taken aback that they returned to their own research and work as soon as possible. * * * * "Cachair, didn''t Berlich Becker, who was here the other day, say something about creating a new black knight?" Eira called out to Cachair who was standing nearby. "Why are you asking me?Don''t you know more about it than Mr. Groma?" "No, Gromma''s been busy since he became acting director. He''s still working on the documents for the budget submission meeting. "Oh, Mr. Groma is writing the documents for us, isn''t he? Oh, I see that Mr. Groma is writing it for you. I''m sure you''ll be relieved to hear that. ......Between you and me, if you have the director write the documents, it would be faster to rewrite all of them. Katya is revealing something outrageous. "Yes, I know. What''s the story about the black knight at ......?" "I don''t know!" "I see... I thought you might have heard something about him since you were close to him..." Eira asked with a probing look, but Cacha simply brushed it off. "There''s a difference between that and this. "Really?What do you mean by that? But today Eira was even more insistent. "...... I''m talking about what happened between me and Mr. Berlich and the black knight!" Cachia retorts with a slightly red face. She knows that everyone around her is aware of her friendship with Berlich. "I can manage materials and do accounting, but when it comes to making golems, I''m not very good at it. "Well, that''s what they say, the right person for the right job. Eira, knowing that Katya had no idea what was going on, stopped the conversation. "But is there such a rumor?" Katya asked. "Hmm?Yes, there is. The Berlich family is descended from Reinhard Randall, who was originally a close friend of <>. "Oh, I''ve heard. The golem created by this Reinhardt was called the <>, wasn''t it?" "Yes, it was. However, the <> has been avenging those related to <>, and his direct descendants have gone into hiding." "And then the went missing with him, didn''t he?" This is something that is taught in a course called . "So, the Berlich family is probably a branch of a branch family from the perspective of the Randall family that remains in the Shoro Empire now, but they still respect their ancestors, don''t they? "I don''t know about that." Eira agreed with Ka?ea''s comment. "I don''t either. I don''t know about that. "I agree." Both Cacha and Eira are from the Principality of Mercana. Ccea does not even have a family name, and Eira only has a family name because she was a mage. Eira, however, says that she was to the Duchy of Mercana, so she is not a pure native of the Duchy of Mercana. As for where they were born, no one knows, since they do not say. Moreover, neither of them has good memories of the nobility or the ruling class. On the other hand, here in <, although there is a hierarchical relationship based on position and title, they were basically treated fairly. * * * * * * * * * * * Now, Berlich Becker had returned to the Berlich Workshop in the Shoro Empire. "...... is the outline of the < that we have learned in the two lectures." There will be more lectures, but they will be the same as the first two, for those who did not attend the first one, so the <> will be two months away, Berlich Becker explained. Berlich Becker explained. However, these two lectures are the end of the basics," he said. That means you have learned the minimum necessary to make a golem. After a pause, Berrich Becker spoke enthusiastically. "My ancestors made and used the . My dream of creating something that can compete with it is just beginning!" * * * * All of these details were reported to Horaijima. "I see, my descendants admire the and even want to create something that can surpass it. ......" Reinhardt looks pleased to hear that. "However, I can''t deny that my skills are still insufficient," he says. "Still, it''s a sign of your high spirit that you want to try out your own abilities. Jin said to me, "Well, you could say that. Reinhardt made a slightly ticklish face. "Someday, I''d like to let the on Onogoro Island meet the that Reinhardt created here. Jin said, "Then, I would also like to see the <> that his descendants made, and the Black Knight that Berlich Becker will make in the future!" Reinhardt says, "It would be interesting if the <> made by the Randall family members were all in one place. "Yeah, it would be fun, wouldn''t it? Jin also agreed with this idea. 2094 - - 56-22 Hitoshi to the Kingdom of Klein On September 10, Jin was receiving attention from Reinhardt and Lewis in Horai Island. "Jin, I know how you feel, but you need to make a connection with the Klein Kingdom, don''t you?" "Yes, I know that, but ......" "I know it''s a hassle, but at least you have to do it yourself the first time." "...... not a word." The other day, when I delivered the <>, I left it in the hands of Makina and Zion. "Oh, that time, my alter ego (doppelganger) was in <>, so I had no choice. ......" "That''s true. It was a convenient situation." "Ugh." When you put it that way, I certainly couldn''t deny that I had chosen such a situation. "But, well, the <> seemed to have a good reputation. The other day, I received a test-drive evaluation of the <> via the old man. "Yes, indeed. As someone who helped him, I am relieved. Reinhardt has also heard about the evaluation. Lewis, too, decided to withdraw his complaint. "We had 20 men on board for the test drive, and one of them was in the <>. So he gave me a detailed report." "Mm-hmm." "Yeah." "According to the report, the suspension works great. Shock absorption is good. He said he would like to have more speed, but looking at the current situation in the Klein Kingdom, there are not many situations where top speed is needed." "I see." "I see." "The only complaint I have is that there aren''t enough passengers. Although ......, there is no vehicle that can hold more than a <>." Then why don''t you rent another car? "I see. That''ll do. Jin and Reinhardt immediately built another bus of the same model. "...... I see. Maybe I''ll take it this time. "You mean what you just said?That would be better. "Well, if that''s the case, it can''t be the same as the one made by Machina, so we''ll have to make some subtle changes. So I''m going to make a few changes. Since the bus that we had assumed to be made in Makina was a bonnet bus, we decided to use a horizontally opposed Golem engine instead of an in-line one. "It''s a horizontally opposed 12-cylinder." The goal was to make the engine as flat as possible, and it turned out to be a 12-cylinder. It is a Golem engine, so <> is not right, but that''s what you get used to. "I want to make the seats higher like a double-decker bus, but if I overdo it, it will lose stability. ......" Too bad there are almost no paved roads, so they would have to be designed for rather rough terrain. (Well, as these buses become more popular, they will be paved.) (Well, as these buses become more popular, they will be paved.) If people feel the need, they will do it with amazing enthusiasm. Jin thought it would be a good idea to build a Golem bus with higher speed. (Accidents could be prevented to a great extent by using ...... golem drivers.) Unlike humans, golems do not get tired or sleepy, and their reaction time is several times faster than humans, so they can avoid danger better than humans. (In fact, it might be safer to leave the driving to a dedicated golem.) This may be a kind of automatic driving. * * * * * * * * * * * * * So, Jin decides to use to bring the new bus to the Klein Kingdom. He asks Zion to contact the Klein Kingdom, and gets to transport the bus with the help of a deus ex machina. The reason is that a 40-meter-long < would seem to be too large ...... to carry a bus. A 100-meter-long <> would appear to carry a bus without any visual difficulty. In reality, it is a little too much for a pure airship to carry the weight of a <. "Did you make another <>?" The <> of <>...... who had come to <...... was half-amused and half-impressed. "Oh. I heard that they said something about not being able to carry enough people." "Yeah, so..." Then Jin told me his other true intention. "And one more thing, I''ve got to get in touch with the top brass of the Klein Kingdom. "That''s true." Zion D nodded. "......At any rate, the person who will pick you up is , so good luck with that." "What?" It was only natural that a point of contact had been set for the donation of such a magical machine (magi-machine). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * And on September 11, the <> with Jin, Zion D, Reiko, Deus ex Machina, and others on board landed at the capital of the Kingdom of Klein as before. "Welcome, <>, Jin Nido." We were greeted by Corwen Raqqa Kido, Minister of Magical Engineering and ....... "I''ve been looking forward to meeting you." King Mericarance I of the Kingdom of Klein. "It''s an honor." Jin shakes hands with them calmly. Inwardly, he is a little nervous. Last time I was on the deus ex machina bus, and this time I''m on my own bus. "Oh, thank you. Are you sure that the conditions of the loan are the same? Yes, that is correct. You can report back to me later on how you like it. "Yes, I promise." Mericarance I spoke with Jin in a firm manner and made a promise. This would be documented later. Then, when the conversation between the King and Jin was over, the Minister of Magic and Technology, Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, said, "Mr. Jin. I have been looking forward to meeting you. Jin said, "I have been looking forward to meeting you.Jin was surprised to hear that Jin had a different impression of Jin from what he had heard from Sion. "When I was a child, I heard of the glorious achievements of the previous ......2 generation, and I have always admired them." "I see. I am the third ...... generation, and I would like to say thank you on your behalf." I''m the third generation, but let me say thank you on your behalf. "Oh, I''m honored." Perhaps because he was in front of the King, the Minister of Magic and Technology, Corwen Raqqa Kiddo, was quite honest in his response. He then gave a brief description of the bus. "Basically, it is the same as the one in Machina, but we have eliminated the hood in order to have a better view of the front part of the bus. "Oh, ......, that''s great." "In this respect, the latecomers have an advantage. After such conversation, "Please come and have dinner with us this time. They say, "This time, please have dinner with us. Theon D. and Machina naturally had no objection, and Jin did not refuse the invitation since the purpose of this visit was to show his face to the Kingdom of Klein. parked his plane at the airfield and headed for the royal castle by carriage. 2095 - - 56-23 Reception In the carriage on the way to the castle, "By the way, I heard that you met with Viscount Charnedo last year. It was when I visited the Kingdom of Klein with Rhodes. "Yes. The gardener of the Viscount Charnedo family, ...... was involved in an accident between a carriage and a golem car, wasn''t it?...... was involved in an accident between a carriage and a golem car, and I helped him out. Paula had questioned whether it was necessary to learn science, so he had given his opinion on the matter. "Oh, that''s ...... true, the <> was still in power at that time." As the Minister of Magical Technology, Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, who is from a technical field, he says that he felt awkward every day. "Yes, it was. Then came the great invasion ......." Meanwhile, Zion D. was talking with King Mericolance I of the Kingdom of Klein. "You are always so young, Lord Theon. I envy you. "Well, what do you say to such an old lady? "No, no, I''m not flattered." Deus ex machina stares silently at the castle. They arrive at the castle. King Mericarance I moves with ease through the line of Kingsguard knights on either side of him. Jin and the others followed. First, only Jin, Reiko, and Makina are taken to the reception room. Theon heads for his office with the king. "Jin, I''ll take care of the contract regarding the rental of the bus," he said. He leaves the room. In the reception room, Jin and Makina are served tea. "Oh, it''s Kaina tea. It tastes familiar. The tea was made from the leaves of the perhya tree that grows in the village of Kayna. < Jin liked the taste of this tea. Was it by chance or by design that he had given it to , that is, ? I couldn''t tell. "Please wait for about an hour until dinner is ready. The lady who served the tea said this and left. (An hour? ......) This kind of laid-backness is frustrating when you are used to the modern Japanese lifestyle where every second counts, but it is normal in this world. Jin was once again reminded of this. And then... "Excuse me." Two young women entered the room in place of the maidservants. By the way they were dressed and their mannerisms, they seemed to be the daughters of noblemen. "My name is Norma Dope Harcourt. My name is Catherine Piller Grosin. Jin Nido. Deus ex machina. They''re both countesses, if you must know. I''ve just started studying magical engineering and would be very grateful for your help. Norma is the calm type. She has light chestnut-colored hair cut at her shoulders, somewhere between semi-long and bob. "Thank you very much!" Catherine seems to be the bubbly type. She has dark blond hair and blue eyes. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. If she wants to hear about magical engineering, Jin has no objection. Makina has the same attitude. "Sure. Well, first, I''d like to know what level you two are at. ......" Jin searches his pockets for something appropriate. But what he finds are two Magi Crystals. This is not a good practice for forming. But... "Can you tell me what you know about these magi crystals?" Jin put one of the yellow Magi Crystals on the table. "Oh, it''s a magi crystal with an earth attribute!" Catherine answered first. "Then, what about this?" Jin took out a green Magi Crystal. "It is a wind attribute Magi Crystal (......)." This time the calm Norma answered. She looked at Catherine and gave a small nod. Jin thought that Norma seemed to know what she was doing and had given the quiet Norma a flower. After that, as a matter of course, Catherine talked to Jin and Norma talked to Makina to kill time. Their enthusiasm for magical engineering was genuine and not something that was merely superficial. However, they were only beginners at the level of a university professor talking to a kindergartener. However, both Jin and Makina were polite. "So, what would you like to talk about?" "Yes, about materials. In particular, the difference between ordinary materials and <. "Okay. Okay, let''s start from here. Explain what you know about the <. "Yes. It is a material that can be strengthened by magic power. Hearing this, Jin sighed in his heart. He knew that the current educational content had fallen behind. "Yes, that''s not a mistake. But it''s not enough." They probably haven''t even learned the concept of . Jin thought that they would not be able to understand the essence of <> even if he explained it to them. Then, Jin said, "What you just explained to me is a part of the nature of the <. We need to think about why <> has such properties. I will say. "Why do you say ......?" "Yes. That is the starting point of <>. The question that every human being has, <>question. The study of is to try to find the answer to that question. "Science......" "The <> was hostile to science. That''s probably why education about science in this country has taken a back seat." Jin explained to Catherine, chewing as he went on. "Now then, let''s get back to the . < so easy to pass through magic power? Why is it easy to be strengthened by magic power? "Yes, please!" Jin explained the principle without explaining the molecular structure. ....... Meanwhile, deus ex machina. "I''m having a hard time getting the < to work. ...... "That''s first of all because you don''t have enough images." "Image, is it?" Makina nodded. "You might start by drawing a perfect circle or square as accurately as possible without using a ruler. This is also good dexterity training, Makina continued. "Ah, so that''s another way to do it. If you practice <, you''ll run out of magic after less than 20 times. ......" Yes, that''s right. It is not limited to <>, but image is especially important for engineering magic. <, and it is a good idea to do this on a regular basis." Makina even advises that the easiest way is to close your eyes and practice drawing various shapes ......, preferably three-dimensional ......, in your mind. "Well, that''s a good way to ...... thank you." Reiko was taking care of the four of them by pouring them more tea. Well, Makina never gets thirsty, but that''s part of the act. And so it went on until the maid of honor came to inform them that dinner was ready. 2096 - - 56-24 Dinner Catherine escorted Jin and Norma escorted Makina from the reception room to the dining room. (I thought they were not just a partner to pass the time. ......) In fact, these two are the children of noble families who have come to the castle as < as well as apprentices. Usually, they are the second or third daughters of barons and baronesses, but they also come from barons'' families, and on rare occasions, from counts'' families. As is to be expected, they do not come from the marquise''s family. Well, in such cases, the family''s intention is more than half of the purpose, such as to be recognized by a nobleman in an important position in the country, or to get in touch with an influential nobleman in another country. ....... Thus, two countesses, Norma Dope Harcourt and Catherine Piller Grosin, were chosen. The fact that these two had a great advantage of being able to use engineering magic, even though they were really beginners, was also a reason for their selection. It was not a honey trap. It was simply that few people would not be averse to being taken in by a young and beautiful woman who was walking the same path as them (albeit a very beginner level). And it was a lucky, albeit coincidental, chance. Jin would have been disgusted if he had been given any further <. * * * * * * "Welcome once again, Master Sion of Shinra, the 3rd Magecraft Meister of Magecraft, Master Jin Nido, the Honorary Knight, Master Reiko, and Master Deus ex Machina. King Mericarance I of the Kingdom of Klein welcomes Jin and his party. Theon assured them that Reiko was the same Reiko that the < had with him 400 years ago, so she would continue to be referred to by the title of , the title she held at the time. Theon assured me that she was the Reiko that the Magi Craft Meister had with him. From an external standpoint, Theon of <> is the wife of the clan leader, which means that she is equivalent to the queen, and the king himself is in charge of entertaining her. If this were a young Zion, the queen sitting on the other side of the king might have been jealous of her, but she was old enough that there was no problem. Next in line is Jin, the , who is entertained by the Countess. The third is Deus ex Machina, who, like Jin, is also a countess. As for Reiko, since it is well known that she is an automata, she is seated on the opposite side of the table from the Countess, with Jin on the other side. A formal meal was also served. Incidentally, Makina''s valet, Rei, was not with us this time. "Here''s to you, my guest, and to the development of the world and of our country! Cheers! The dinner started with a toast by King Mericarance I. "Well, this is quite delicious." Instead of a course meal, the dishes were served on platters, and Jin and Makina were served by their hostess. In the case of Zion, the king could not do so, so a senior lady-in-waiting took care of it. The cuisine of the Klein Kingdom, unlike magical technology, seems to have continued for 400 years, and the taste was far more refined than when I had tasted it in the past. There is also white rice. The rice was cooked to a very good degree. There was also miso soup. Miso soup with shellfish like shijimi clam. Grilled fish......, broiled eel and oshinko (Japanese pickles) are also available. On the other hand, there are also <>, a specialty of Toka village in the past, stew, fried food, and tempura, which is chaotic to Jin''s eyes, but now seems to be the norm. The evidence of this is that everyone present seems to be enjoying the food. "Well, we are in the middle of a meal. King Mericolance I opened his mouth. "You may continue with your meal, my guests. I would like to introduce our guests at ....... We will start with ......." At a signal from Mericarance I, the person seated below Jin and Reiko stood up. "My name is Philister van Todes, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Klein." He was a man of the same age as King Mericarance I, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a soft face. The next man to stand up was the man sitting in the lower seat of the machina. "My name is Auburn Tuday Souyou, Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Klein. He was stocky, with brown hair and gray eyes. "My name is Bean Shaw Border, and I am the Minister of Internal Affairs. He was a rather timid-looking man with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Next was the Minister of Magic and Technology, Cowen Raqqa Kiddo. And now a woman. "I am Eliza Yeshe, court-appointed healer of the Kingdom of Klein. She was a sharp woman in her mid-twenties with red hair in a short bob. Next was a sturdy man who looked like a military man. "I am Dan Kitche, Commander of the Kingsguard of the Kingdom of Klein. He was a stern, gray-eyed, burly man with short-cropped brown hair and a beard. Four other people were introduced and the dinner proceeded. "Well, well, well, it is a great relief to finally be able to welcome the Magecraft Meister to our country. Mericarance I said in his unaffected way. "I know that you have deep ties to the Shoro Kingdom. I also know that there are some complications. But you say. "I promise not to pry into your affairs, but I would like you to establish a little more friendship with my country." "Your Majesty!" The Prime Minister is a little flustered by these too direct words, but the King is unconcerned. "No matter how you put it, the fact remains that our country has become a backward nation in the field of magical engineering. < rose to power," he said. "I have heard of the recent golem fair in . I call it a fair, but in reality it was a performance test. The golem, <>, made by the <>, brought in by the Kingdom of Klein, was ranked last (since this was not a competition, there was no particular ranking). Mericarance I was very disappointed about it. "When the <> lectures on the <> were given, we sent a technician from our country. You can expect more from us in the future." The Minister of Magical Technology had no choice but to say so. Then Zion opened his mouth. "Mister Jin, could you ask Miss Reiko to show us a model performance? His tone was quite firm, as this was a public event. "Oh, yes. Jin responded in a tone that matched his own. "Reiko, will you sing a song for us?" "Yes, father." Reiko got up from her seat at Jin''s request and began to sing. "...... in the shape of a little bird, shining in the autumn sunset, falling leaves in the air, where do they go? Where are they going? I bet they''re going to your window, carrying my thoughts on their backs. If there''s a falling leaf tomorrow morning, it''s a message from me. ...... The audience lost their voices and listened to Reiko sing the song without any accompaniment. The song itself is a song from the late Showa period that Jin taught, but ....... If it''s a red leaf, I''ll be fine, if it''s a yellow leaf, I''ll be lonely. If the leaves are brown, I''ll wet my pillow every night to see you. "I wish I could send these feelings on a falling leaf. ......" Reiko bows in curtsey as she finishes the song. The dinner party was filled with applause. 2097 - - 56-25 Hitoshis companion "Oh, I''m tired. ......" "Good night, Jin." Jin is lying in a guest room in the villa. Jin, Reiko, Deus ex Machina, and Zion are staying with him. We were shown to a guest room with a bedroom for each of us, a large living room, a washroom, and a simple kitchen. The kitchen was not intended for family use, but rather for the attendant maidens to boil water and cook light meals. There is also a refrigerator with various drinks and fruits. "If I use ......, I won''t be charged for that, will I?" Jin says something like "What kind of inn is this? He seems to be very tired. "Oh, by the way, this palace is ......." Jin remembers with nostalgia the place where Princess Rieschen used to live. "Tia is now under Princess Mimir. Princess Rieschen had married Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egelea, and her maid of honor, the automata Tia, had gone with her, and now she was taking care of her descendant, Princess Mimir. "It looks like this palace is getting a lot of work." Jin was deeply moved by the many changes that must have taken place in the Kingdom of Klein. "I see, Jin used to visit the Klein Kingdom quite a bit in the past. "Yes. "Yes. He used to come to the Kingdom of Klein to lease the village of Kaina, or to treat Alois III, for example. Erza was the one who did the healing," Jin recalls. "......Oh, by the way, didn''t Jin and Makina have a girl with them today?" "Yes." "I think he had a little bit of an ulterior motive to ...... make her a potential wife if Jin liked her, right?" "......, I knew it." I didn''t say anything because it wasn''t as blatant as a honey trap, and after dinner I thanked her and took her back, so I didn''t pay any attention to it, although I thought it might have been ....... "I mean, if Jin is single, I''m sure he''d do something similar no matter where he went." "I knew it?" "Yes." "Well, ...... I have Elsa." Then why don''t you take her out too? But then her appearance and abilities would be a perfect match, and combined with her own abilities, she would be said to be exactly the same as the second generation from 400 years ago, Jin imagined. "It would be troublesome to have people think that I am the same person as the second generation 400 years ago. "Then, why don''t you make a of Erza and play with her appearance?" "Well, I''m afraid that if I do that, she''ll bend the navel and say that she doesn''t like my appearance. At Jin''s words, Zion burst out. "Well, well, thank you for the food. "Don''t make fun of me." "But it''s a difficult question, isn''t it?" At that moment, Reiko spoke up. "Father, why don''t you bring Hannah and Licia with you?" "What?" Jin was surprised, but Zion said it was a good idea. "That''s a good idea...bring them both! If we let them know that we have a first wife and a second wife ......, they''ll be a lot less likely to mess with us, right?" "Give me a break, ......." I don''t have that kind of personality," Jin laughed. "You have low self-esteem in this regard. You''re the one who is providing for all the current members of the in the first place. What do you mean I''m not worthy? "No, there is a difference between taking care of one''s family and having multiple wives, isn''t there?" < clan is monogamous, but there have been clans in the past that were not. So Zion understands what Jin means. I understand, but ....... "Anyway, you should always have a woman of your age with you." "That line just makes you sound like a bad person." "......" "......" "Ha ha." After a moment of silence, laughter breaks out from either side. "But you really should think about it. You could make Erza''s hair longer, or change its color. Or change the color. "Well, I can manage that." In the past, I changed her hair color to hide her true identity. Jin thinks it would be a good idea to do that this time, too. "And then there''s the accessories. Date glasses might be a good idea. "Or maybe I could wear thin sunglasses to make my eyes a little weak. And then there''s the name. He thought about calling her Elle, or even , her gift name. "Well, I''ll have to discuss it with Elsa herself. "Yes." Jin said, "Even if we have a lot of discussion here, we can''t force him if he doesn''t want to do it. * * * * * * "Hmm, neither Jin-dono nor Makina-dono are interested in them. Meanwhile, in the office of the King of Klein Kingdom. "Yes. But I think I can appreciate their humanity rather than making a move on a woman they''ve never met before." The King, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, who was not present at the dinner, joined in the discussion. "I was reminded by Lord Zion that I should never force a woman''s hand," said the Prime Minister, "and in that sense, I think this is acceptable. In that sense, this is an acceptable response. The king''s comment brought a sense of relief to the atmosphere. "He was probably immersed in technical research, so I don''t think he is too out of touch with the world. If you try to force someone like that, there is a high possibility that he will dislike you. "I see. The Prime Minister has a point. The Prime Minister continued. "Moreover," he continued, "since many countries are paying attention to him, if our country were to make a move, it would make a bad impression on those other countries." "Indeed. We must not be hasty. The king agreed. "I agree. We also know that last year, when he was still an unknown person, he and Lord Rhodes visited the Viscounts of Charnedo and made acquaintance with the family. The Minister of Internal Affairs adds. "When you say the family ......, do you mean the wife and daughter as well?" The Prime Minister says, "I had not heard that. "Yes, Your Excellency." "Well, does your boss, Corwin, the Minister of Magical Technology, know about this?" "I''m sure he knows." "...... Now, Viscount Charnedo was in , wasn''t he? I''ll ask him when he comes back. "Be gentle with him, my lord." "Be that as it may, is there any good reason for us to continue our association with the Djinn?" It would be a shame for the king to say goodbye. I agree, Your Majesty. I agree. Since you''re a ...... man, you might want to make a request." This is the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. "Oh, that''s a good idea. He is indeed a , so it is only natural that he should be asked to make something. The question is what to ask. And what will be the price? At the Prime Minister''s words, King Merikarrans the First said, "I have an idea for a commission. How about ordering a ...... automata for my daughter?" Like the nanny automaton <> that belonged to Princess Rieschen in the past," said the king. "That''s a good idea. The question is the price." Money, material goods, or something else. They discussed it further. 2098 - - 56-26 Nurse Automata On September 12, Jin was summoned by King Mericolance I. He went to the king''s office. He went to the King''s office. Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, Minister of Magical Engineering, was also present. "Actually, Jin-sama, I have a request for ......<>. "What is it?" I have a daughter, Lizabeth, who will be ten years old this year. Yes. The others were all boys, and she''s just so cute and adorable. "Yes. ......" Jin was a little defensive, but then he started talking about his love for his daughter. "Your Majesty!" The Minister of Magic and Technology gently chides him. "Uh-huh. ......It will soon be my daughter''s birthday. So, as a birthday gift, I would like to give her an automata ...... like Tia, who was once in our country." "Oh, so that''s what you mean." Jin agreed. The blue-haired automata <> that belonged to this country went to the Kingdom of Egelea when Princess Rieschen got married. And now it belongs to Princess Mimir. "Yes, sir. May I ask what kind of specifications you would like? Jin answered immediately. He didn''t care how much it would cost, since the king had asked for it. "Yes. Of course. I would like to have an automaton like at ......." The appearance of the doll would be that of a 17 or 8 year old, just coming of age, a girl on the verge of adulthood. That is the most preferred appearance. This is because it is the appearance that is preferred by everyone from small children to adults. "What is your main use? Housework?Guarding?Education? "Yes, education." Without a pause, Mericolance I answered. However, this question was only a formality, since Jin was making an automata. "Do you have any requests for hair style, eye color, etc.?" "Hair straight, maybe to mid-back. Hair and eye color is up to you. Okay, I''ll take care of it. By ...... standard, I have green hair. To distinguish me from humans," Jin explained. "Yes, that''s fine. Tia has blue hair too." "Yes, that''s good. What about the quality of the voice and tone of voice? "Yes, ......." It was not until this question that Mericolance I began to ponder. Although he had thought of the specifications beforehand, he had not expected to be asked such a detailed question. "......I prefer a calm voice. The tone of voice should be polite." "Okay. I''ll adjust it to a mezzo-soprano, something like that. Thank you. Just when Mericolance I thought that this was the end of the specifications. "Finally..." There were still more questions. "What about special equipment?" "Special equipment?" Merikalance I didn''t know what that meant, so he asked back. "Yes. For example, the ability to contact a specific person in case of emergency, or to use a specific magic. "Oh, I see. Then, it would be nice to be able to use healing magic. "That would certainly be nice. I''ll take care of it. Yes, thank you. "I''ll go back to ...... now to make the product, can you deliver it tomorrow?" The biggest bomb was dropped in this contract. "Oh, tomorrow? Mericolance I was astonished, thinking that it would take at least a week at the earliest. The princess''s birthday was October 10, which was still about a month away. "Mm-hmm. That''s fine. "Yes, sir. Then I will start working on it now. Jin bowed and left the office. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... You''ve been full of surprises, Corwin." "Yes, Your Majesty." "I''ve read about the Magecraft Meister who existed 400 years ago, but ...... I have to admit, I thought it would raise some eyebrows. "I agree. "I agree." Can you really make an automaton in a day? ...... "No, Your Majesty, it takes time to get around, but I think it''s less than that." "Oh, oh......" "...... Perhaps he has several units that can be used as prototypes for golems and automata." "Units?" Yes. For example, if we have several kinds of completed skeletons ready, we don''t have to make them after receiving a request. I see. That may be so. If we can sublimate this unit concept, we can use it in our country as well. "Yes, I''ll consider it." I''ll consider it. I will consider it. Jin, taking advantage of this opportunity, turned down Zion and Machina, and took off with Reiko in the Aristotle. They continued to gain altitude, and when they were out of sight from the ground, they used the warp gate to move to Horai Island. "Welcome home, Brother Jin. Jin looks at Erza''s face as she greets him, and remembers last night''s plan, "I''ve received a request from the Kingdom of Klein to make automata. He went to the workshop with Erza. "Father, we are ready. Reiko entered the workshop about a minute before Jin and Elsa and was ready and waiting for Jin. "Oh, that''s great, Reiko." Jin praised Reiko, patted her on the head, and immediately set to work. The material used was the standard 64 light silver. The process had been done so many times already that it could literally be done with one''s eyes closed. The basic skeleton is made, and adamantite coating is applied to the joints. Three minutes. In the meantime, Reiko has prepared magical muscles for us, and we attach the muscles to the skeleton while connecting the magical nerves. This time, four magical nerves are used per line. While working, Jin told Erza about his request regarding the appearance of the automata. "Hmm, okay." Erza started to prepare materials for hair, skin, and clothing. "Let''s see, the specifications of the power reactor should be <> and <>. Jin puts it in a heavy-duty shield case, and connects the magical nerve wires to it. "This is the way to do it." It takes 10 minutes to finish all the connections. It took him 10 minutes to finish all the connections. He then places the tactile sensors around his palms. This takes 5 minutes. "Now I guess I''ll just have to assemble the head." This was Jin''s real talent, building the robot while having fun. 2099 - - 56-27 Elzas alter ego doll The head will be done after we get some input from Elsa. What do you think of the outline? "A little bit thin, please." "Okay." Now, you can make subtle adjustments. Jin used to adjust the overall shape. The eyes were made to function as , and the ears were made to collect sound. The mouth is also equipped with an analytical function so that it can taste poison. Of course, the main <> has been adjusted to enable the use of as a special function. Her voice is mezzo-soprano, gentle and slow. The old man has stored a large amount of basic information about the maidens and nannies, so I left it to him to edit, download, and write the information. "Well, let''s put some skin on it, shall we? "Okay, I''ll take care of it. Elsa seemed to have been ready about 10 minutes ago. Elsa attached the prepared materials. Her work was not as fast as Jin''s, but it was quick enough. Her hair color was the usual green. The same green color can look completely different if the brightness, saturation, and hue are different. This time, both lightness and saturation are low. The hue is a little yellowish and calm. "Yes, it''s a nice color. The eyes are also green. The slightly yellowish hue is an apple green. The clothes, including the underwear, are left to Elsa. This time, the design is not the Horai Island standard, but is close to the design that Jin has seen in the Klein Kingdom this time. It is not exactly the same, but a little rearranged. "How about like this?" Elsa finished the work in about 15 minutes. "Yes, it looks good. Thank you." "Yes." It was lunchtime, so Jin and Elsa went to the cafeteria to check the operation. All the members of the were there, and Jin explained what had happened the day before while they were eating. "Wow, is that what the Klein Kingdom is like now ......?" Licia was the one who seemed to be most interested in what he was saying. Then, when she talked about Zion''s advice, "Yes, yes, that''s right, Jin. You should take Erza with you from now on." Reinhardt also said. "......I guess that''s right. Then, I''d like to make Erza''s own doppelganger, but even if that''s a good idea, what should we do about her appearance? "Indeed. Jin doesn''t want Erza''s appearance to be anything too out of the ordinary, does he?" "Right." Jin explained that he wanted to change the color of her hair and maybe have her wear glasses. "......, either way, okay." Erza herself seemed satisfied. "Well, I guess so. <, called himself <>, accompanied by <>, and had a companion named ,...... and she had blonde hair and light blue eyes, there would be a lot of questions. I''m sure they''d have a lot of questions." "Right?That''s why I want Erza''s alter ego (doppelganger) to have black or dark brown hair and wear date glasses. Here, Jin says, "I don''t have glasses, but I don''t have to tell you that. "So, all we need is a name. It would be too much to say that I am Jin Nido and Erza is my wife. But I might end up calling her that, Jin added. "Hmmm...should I call her by her gift name, Rasula?" Reinhardt said, "I''m not used to saying that. ...... Jin was reluctant to say it. "Then how about shortening it to <>?" "Hmmm ......." Originally the name <> was short enough that it was not difficult to call her, and she had never been called by her nickname. "What do you think Elsa?" Jin was so worried that he finally decided to ask her himself. "I think it would be a mistake if I use a completely different name, ......," he said. "That''s right." Elsa, too, was undecided. "Well, it''s my humble opinion, but I think it''s a good idea in such a case to make it not unnatural to say the wrong name. Bertsche said. "In other words, Elsa, Elna, and so on. "I see. ......" All the members nodded their heads and said, "That''s right. "If that''s the case, Elsa sounds too much like Elna, so maybe Elna would be a good choice. "Yes, I think so. He seemed to feel less discomfort with that. "Then let''s call her Erna instead of Elsa. "Yes. So, Erza''s "doppelganger" is decided to be named Erna. * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, Jin began by completing his commissioned <. However, the only thing left to do was to check the operation. I was going to have the client give it a name. "<>" "Yes, <>." The automaton woke up. The usual "How are you doing? >>After checking the self-motion check from the top and finding no problem, the 5-color golem maids check it out as well. They are experienced nannies and maidens as they have taken care of Jin and Erza''s children in the past, though they do not know Jin now. She is the perfect person to do a final check. "No problem at all, Master." replied the head of the household, Peridot Leader. "I see. Well, we''re all set. ......<>" Jin pauses. "The request is now complete. Next is Erza''s special alter ego (doppelganger). It is still 1:30 p.m., too early to return to the Klein Kingdom, even without taking the time difference into account. Jin decides to continue to make Erza''s doppelganger <>. Since the base for the <> is already made, the body part is completed in 15 minutes. The rest is to customize the exterior and the control system. Both are to be done in accordance with Elsa''s wishes. Jin decided to start with the exterior. 2100 - - 56-28 Revision of the alter ego doll for companions The body shape and physique are almost the same as Elsa''s, so all that remains is the hair color and length, eye color, and so on. "Let''s keep her voice the same. This was done by Jin, who wanted to make her voice the same as Elsa''s. Also, the voices are different in quality. If the voices are different in quality, there is a possibility that the voice will be mistaken in case of an emergency. The same goes for the appearance. Almost no one knows Erza''s face (only those related to Horai Island). So there is no problem. However, the color of her hair and eyes will be recorded, so we need to change them. The color should be black. Same as Jin''s brother. Eyes too." "I see." Jin was thinking, "They''ll be like brother and sister, He says, "We can say we''re from the same hometown." Jin says, "We''ll be like siblings. They are childhood friends. So they will still call him "Brother Jin". "That doesn''t sound so bad." Reinhardt doesn''t seem to have any objections. "Besides, dark eyes and dark hair would make a strong impression, so it would be easier to remember him. "Oh, and I was thinking of having him wear glasses. ......" "Kuhu, then you and I will be matching." Saki smiled at him. "Yes, we do. Erna''s glasses are date glasses. Jin answered as he worked on the oval frames. The frames were made of light silver, or titanium. The lenses are made of quartz glass. The lenses are made of quartz glass. They do not have power, but they are curved instead of flat so that they look like they have power to the naked eye. "Huh, now I''m wearing glasses, too, right?" "Yes, you are." Saki''s nearsightedness was completely cured by becoming a homunculus. Meanwhile, Erza had completed her appearance. "Hmm, that''s good." "Okay, let me put on the glasses. "Oh, they look good on you." Maybe it was because they were thin framed and black, but they looked good with his dark eyes and black hair. "They look good, don''t they?" Reinhardt''s words expressed the feelings of everyone present. We also confirmed that it worked. "......This is good. It''s fine." He can use healing and engineering magic just as well as he can, which will be useful for experiments. "The sensors in the mouth and nose are especially sophisticated. But they are usually limited. Jin said. If the sensors are too sensitive, it will interfere with daily life. "That''s good." Erza agreed. * * * * * * "Yeah, I did a good job today. Jin is satisfied because he was able to make what he wanted to make. He soaked in the hot springs of Horaijima and relaxed. "Jin, it just occurred to me..." Reinhardt said while soaking in the hot spring. "Yes?" "I made a doppelganger for the family a while ago..." Jin listened to what Reinhardt was going to say. "You see, we have the same skin color and so on, don''t we?" "Yes, that''s right. "You know, if two or three people go together, don''t you think they''ll look too much alike, even though they''re not siblings or relatives?" "Oh." Alone, that''s fine, Reinhardt says, but if several people go out together, that could be a problem. "......Well, let''s just make one for everyone." Reinhardt laughed and nodded at Jin''s words. "That''s more like Jin." * * * * Jin who also eats dinner with everyone at Penglai Island. "......I''m sorry, but the food at Horai Island is better than the one at home." Hearing this, Soleil and Luna, who were in charge of today''s cooking, smiled. "That''s because we know what Jin likes, don''t we? Reinhardt laughed. "So, the Kingdom of Klein seems to be fairly well settled now," said Luis. Luis said. "But there doesn''t seem to be much progress in depopulation and redevelopment in the rural areas. Licia says with some regret. "Isn''t it possible that as the population increases in those areas, they will naturally move into the rural areas ......?" Toa said something like that, which was immediately denied by Goose. "Father-in-law, an increase in population does not necessarily mean that people will go to the countryside. Concentration in cities is a more likely pattern." "Is that so?" "I see..." "Well, my father is not interested in anything other than alchemy when he is out and about." Saki chuckled, "Even though they roam the same countries, Goose seems to see more of the world ...... than Toa. "I''ve been thinking about it a little myself, and I think that in order to avoid concentration in cities, we need to have a better means of transportation." Jin also shared his opinion. "If we can use the warp gate for free, we can live wherever we want. "Yes, I understand what Jin is saying. If that happens, I''m sure I''ll want to live in a place with a nice environment and a nice view. "But we won''t get to that stage all at once. That''s why we''re having the developed as part of the redevelopment of Toka village." Licia said regretfully. "......We''re not supposed to be here. It''s up to those of us living in the present to change the world." Jin says. "I think it''s just fine to give a little help to those people." "Kuhu, I think you''re overdoing it sometimes." "Don''t mix it up!" Jin laughed at Saki''s ridicule. * * * * Jin stayed at Horai Island that night and left the next day. The time difference between Horai Island and Alban, the capital of Klein Kingdom, is about 2 hours and 40 minutes. < stays at an altitude of about 5000 meters above the Klein Kingdom, it is enough for Jin to have a light lunch on Horai Island before returning. " means that lunch will be served in Klein Kingdom. "Elsa...... should I take Erna with me or not?" That was the immediate question. 2101 - - 56-29 Delivery In the end, Jin decided to take <> with him, as a way of reporting that she had helped him make <>. "Fun." Erza is excited to go out for the first time in a while. Since she is not as much of a recluse as Jin and Reinhardt, she had been in agony because she had not been able to go out for a long time. Thus, at 1:00 p.m. local time on September 13, <> landed at the airfield of the Royal Castle in the Kingdom of Klein. The reason for this time is to explain that lunch was taken on board the airship. At the airfield, they were greeted by Mr. Cowen Raqqa Kido, Minister of Magic and Technology. Welcome back. ...... how are you?" < with a questioning look on his face. "This is Erna Nido. She is ...... my own wife." "Your wife? Corwin is surprised to learn that Nido is a married man. "Didn''t I tell you?" Jin blurts out. He seems to be able to pull off that kind of stunt. I didn''t ask you that. I''m sorry about that. I''ve come to ...... to help you make the automata you requested. "Well, well, well." This explanation seemed to make sense to him. "So, the automata is ...... Oh! < with < in her arms. When Corwin saw this, he could not help but scream. "Is this it? ......" "Yes. Can you please contact His Majesty so that we can deliver it to you? "Yes, of course. ...... in the meantime, here it is." Minister of Magical Technology Corwin Raqqa Kiddo led Jin and the others into an unoccupied reception room and seated the automata on a sofa. "Please wait here. I will summon His Majesty. "Oh, His Majesty himself is here? Jin was a little flustered because he thought it was usually the other way around. "That''s true, but this is a special case, isn''t it? Above all, you can''t just carry a nanny automaton to the office. Is that how it''s done? That''s the way it is. So, Jin, Erna, Reiko, Corwin, and the nanny automaton were seated on the sofa, waiting for King Mericolance I. After about half an hour, the door to the reception room was opened with a bang, as if he could not interrupt his work. Mericarance I had arrived, of course, accompanied by the princess. Accompanied by the princess. "...... Wow, is this my lady-in-waiting?" Lizabeth Leah Klein. She is the only princess and the reddest among the children of King Merikarrans I. And since she is the youngest, she is the only princess. As the youngest, she is doted upon by her parents and older brothers. However, this intelligent princess did not take a seat on the throne, but grew up to be an honest girl. "Oh, excuse me. My name is Lizabeth Leah Klein. I am the first princess of this kingdom. I''ll be 10 years old this year. Nice to meet you. My name is Gin Nidor. This is my wife, Erna Nidor. My name is Reiko. Jin and the others greeted back. "My father told me about you. He told me that you made a nanny automata! Jin felt that the tone of voice was quite mature for a 10 year old. (Probably because he was surrounded by older people. ......) "So, father, are you sure that you have already given this child to me?" "Yes, yes. ...... good. It''s an early birthday present." "Wow!Thank you! And the princess turned to Jin, "What is her name, Jin-sama?" She asked. "We haven''t decided on that yet. Please give him a name, Princess. Jin responded as usual. "May I put it on?......Well, yes,......I''m a lady-in-waiting,......Gijo?" "......I''m not so sure about that." The first thing that comes to my mind is the fact that I''m not sure what I''m supposed to be doing. Riza, I think so too. The king''s father also had a sour look on his face. It seems that this princess has a terrible sense of naming ......, Jin guessed. "Well then,...... let''s see..." Jin felt that he was thinking desperately, just like a 10-year-old, but he could not seem to come to a conclusion, "Well, I don''t mean to be presumptuous, but shouldn''t His Majesty name it ......?" He said, "Well, it would be presumptuous of me, but I think His Majesty should name it . Since it was a gift from the king, he thought it was a good idea. "Yes, I suppose so. ...... Riza, how about <>?" "Oh, that''s cute, Father ......!" Jin makes the final adjustments <> and <>, thinking that it''s funny how he sometimes almost says <>. "Lizabeth, would you please wake up <>?" "Ah, yes. Jin-sama, what should I do? "If you cast your magic power, Alice will wake up." I understand. Is this ...... what you want me to do? Unlike Princess Rieschen, Princess Lizabeth knew how to channel the magic power and woke up <> with no problem. However, she still doesn''t get up yet. She is in standby mode, if you will. "Alright, name . " And Jin, "Your Highness, please say <>. and taught him the key word for activation. I understand. <>...... well!" In response to the key word, <> woke up. "Nice to meet you, Master. I am <>. Pleased to meet you. Not only the princess, but also the king and the Minister of Magic and Technology looked at Alice as she performed her curtsy as a maid of honor. "Mmm...... wonderful. You''re behaving just like a human being." "No, really. You wouldn''t know it if it weren''t for the color of her hair and ...... the fact that you''ve heard about it beforehand." And Princess Lizabeth''s response. "Alice, I''m Lizabeth. Nice to meet you. ...... and you can call me by my name." "Yes, ma''am, Lizabeth." "Yes, that''s fine." We were soon in good company. "Oh, thank you, Jin-sama, for the wonderful child. Thank you very much, ...... father!" Princess Lizabeth must have been so happy that she finally called him instead of . But neither she nor her father had noticed. "Ah, it is a good day for me to see your skill, Master Jin. Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, Minister of Magical Technology, was also in a good mood. Later, Zion and Machina joined them. "Oh, you must be El ......na, it''s been a long time. "It''s been a while." Since Zion here is a , he had informed the person in the Nordic Federation in advance, so he and Erna were able to meet without any problems. And as for <>, "Wow, this is Jin''s new creation. It''s so pretty." "You can see how great Jin-dono''s technique is. Jin said to me. Especially, Jin was tickled to hear Makina''s line, because the old man must have made her say it. 2102 - - 56-30 WIN-WIN After Princess Lizabeth took her nanny automata <> to her apartment, Jin began to discuss the price with his father King Mericolance I, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Magic and Technology. "Jin, Jin-dono, what is the price for <>? At this point, Jin, as usual, felt he had made a mistake. He should have set the price first, but all he had discussed were the specifications. If he had said, "I''ll leave it to you," he would have been in trouble. After all, you have handed over a national treasure, a legendary automaton, and you have left its evaluation to them. It is a similar thing to the saying in a restaurant, <>. We cannot show a low price for a quality that everyone recognizes. "El ......na, what do you think?" Jin asked Erna, the doppelganger of Elsa, who was sitting next to him. It is not unusual for the wife to hold the purse strings. In fact, that is one of the reasons, but Erza herself is on Horai Island, so she can easily consult with the old man. * * * * * * * * * * * * <>. The old man advises Elsa. > The mines developed by Horaijima will bring profit to the Kingdom of Klein from now on. * * * * * * "Oh, is that right?" Meanwhile, Jin and the others. When Erna mentioned the idea of the old man, the king and the other people present at the meeting were surprised. "Yes. For those of us who make things, materials are sometimes more appreciated than money. There is another hidden effect to this story that the old man thought of and Erna proposed to him. It is that the area around Toka village can be developed by the Horai Islanders. During the period of one month when the mining rights are obtained, the development of the surrounding area can be done by Jin''s hands. However, the inspector from the Kingdom of Klein will come, but he will not oppose the development that will be beneficial to his country. Jin plans to build a smelting plant to smelt the mined ore and an airfield where airships can take off and land to transport the ore. The smelting plant will be sold to the Klein Kingdom at a low price, and the airfield will be useful when the volunteers of the Nordic Federation arrive during the air race. Furthermore, the airfield will be given to the Kutsud mine as a reward for the rare ore or the large amount of good quality ore that was extracted from the mine. Even if such ores are not extracted, I was also thinking of secretly transferring them from Horai Island to ....... "The Kutsudo mine, huh? It doesn''t seem to be a problem. The king said, "No, that''s a tapered mine. I''m rather concerned that it might not be too profitable for Jin-dono. The finance minister said. This opinion was expressed by the king, who ordered us not to hide anything from him. "Don''t worry about that. < makes it possible to mine in places where human miners cannot, such as in deep places or places with poor air quality. Jin replies. "Oh ...... indeed." Jin-dono had a golem, didn''t he? The people of the Klein Kingdom now understood that the tunnels that Jin had cleared would be of benefit to them as well. "Indeed, materials are the best way to thank Jin-dono, who makes things." It seemed that Jin had succeeded in convincing the people who did not know that he had resources from Horai Island and asteroids that resources were what he wanted most, since he did not have a large territory. * * * * The dinner was attended by the King, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Administration, the Minister of Magical Technology, and the court-appointed healer for Jin, Erna, Reiko, Zion D (doppelganger), and Makina. Norma Dope Harcourt and Catherine Pillar Grosin were present for Jin and Makina, as they had been yesterday, and Marielle Racca Pactola was present for Erna. Norma''s attitude toward Makina was the same as yesterday, but Catherine was a little distant from Jin. This is probably due to the presence of his wife Erna. Marielle, who is accompanying Erna, is a court-appointed apprentice healer. Marielle, who is with Erna, is a court-appointed apprentice healer. She seems to be a quiet person by nature, and Erna is not very talkative, so there has not been much conversation between them. "But I am glad that the world is at peace. King Mericarance I blurted out to Zion D. "Yes, I am, <>," he said. "Yes, now that the rebellion of the League of Magic is over, we can look forward to cultural development in the future. The people in the pew nodded their heads in agreement with Zion D''s words. "Four hundred years ago, the Nordic Federation was behind the nations of the Laurentian Continent. But with the help of the Magecraft Meisters of that time, we were able to make great progress. "Yes, that''s right. And we have been misled by the and others, and our cultural civilization has been greatly damaged. Mericarance I responded to Zion D''s words with regret. "Your country is better than ours in many ways now. I envy you." The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications says in a deep voice. But the way he said it, it sounded as if he was saying, . The Prime Minister broke out in a cold sweat. But now Zion ...... is attending Zion D, but ...... was an adult. He has the ability to let a word or two of gibberish slide. The Prime Minister, sensing this, bowed his head in his heart. Jin looked at Zion and Mericarance I without looking at them. Naturally, he also saw the queen sitting opposite him with Mericarance I on her side. My first impression was that she was a calm person. That was my first impression. Blond hair and green eyes. Princess Lizabeth looks like her mother, Jin thought. Erna has started to talk with Marielle Raqqa Pactra, albeit slowly. "I think that ...... healing magic still has room for improvement." "What do you mean?" "...... For example, I think it would be good if there was a medical examination magic that could instantly determine the usage needed by the patient." "Oh, yes, that would certainly be nice." The content was about healing magic, and not a social one, but this was fine, and Jin didn''t interfere. The only problem was that the conversation was a little depressing since it was with Jin in the middle of it. The dinner party went off without any problems. The dinner party went off without any problems, and Jin and the others were relaxing in the guest room. But I didn''t expect Erza to join in with her doppelg?nger. ...... Oh, I mean so soon." I knew Jin would be preparing a doppelganger soon," laughed Zion D. "But Erza, I don''t think she''s going to be able to do it. "But Erza, or is it Erna now?It''s a good job, isn''t it? A person who sees her will recognize her as Erza, but the general public won''t be able to tell that she is the same person. "Well, now we can follow my brother Jin outside." "Yes. Now we''ll be safe from honey traps. "Hey, hey, hey." "Oh, come on. ...... but make sure you take the others out too, okay?" "I know. We''re going to make doppelgangers for all of them when we get back. "Oh, that''s good." Zion D seemed satisfied with that answer. "But the appearance is the least of your worries, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is." "I don''t think you need to worry too much about it.Very few people will remember it." "But if you still have a picture of me, ......" So Jin answered, "I want to change my hair color at least. 2103 - - 56-31 In the Nordics Let''s go back in time. On August 10, the idea of holding an air race in the village of Toka was discussed among the Nords. The idea was conveyed to the volunteers of the Nordic Federation through of . Rhodoth, the great-grandson of Sion, had also heard of the story. "An air race. ....... I think we talked about that when Jin-san and I visited the village of Toka in the Kingdom of Klein,...... or was it in another place?Well, no." Where is not so important. Rhodes was motivated to get involved. "A wind-powered floater (blow floater) race?I love it!Let''s get out there! Marikka''s students are also motivated. After all, Marikka developed the "Blow Floater" about 250 years ago. Therefore, the response within the Nordic Federation was great, and a total of 10 teams announced their participation. * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, in Horai Island, the host of the event behind the scenes. "As for the air race, I''m thinking of calling it the <<1st Marikka Cup>>." Jin said his idea in front of the whole . "What? "Oh, I like that." "I agree." "I think it''s a good idea." Everyone agreed except for Maricka. "Is this the Marikka Cup?" "Yes. Because Marikka developed the Blow Floater, didn''t she?That''s why we named it after the developer. I don''t think there''s anything wrong with that." "Whew ......" "The winner is supposed to get a trophy with Marikka''s name on it, right?" The embarrassed Marikka receives a further blow. The voice comes from Zion, who has come to inform her of the situation in the Nordic Federation. "Whew... ......." Marikka looks more and more embarrassed. "...... It''s okay. < Zion followed up, thinking that he had indeed teased her too much. "Oh, yes, that''s right. Besides, you have to go to the site ......." But Jin also said, "But you know, ...... I''m thinking we should all go and see it together." He said to me, "No, no, no, ......." Marikka was upset. * * * * * * * * * * * Time flew by and it was September 14. "Oh, you''re doing great! Rhodes, who was testing a new type of , nodded his head in satisfaction on the plane. The circular wings have been replaced by elliptical wings, which are longer in profile and more stable than before. The result is more stability than before, though it is less maneuverable. "From here, let''s study how to increase the speed and maneuverability. After first ensuring stability and safety, research is conducted to fulfill the next requirement. That was the Rhodes way. "Lo, you seem to be doing well. "Yes, Grandmother. You''ve been working on the plane for a while now. Down below, Zion and Rhodes'' sister, Vita, were looking up at the sky. And one more. "Mr. Rhodes, you''ve shaved a second off your time!" Ludmilla, Rhodes'' fiance and <>, is also there, assisting with measurements and guidance. "Have we decided on a date for the event?" Vita asked Zion. "I just got a call from Jin, and he said that the date has been set for October 10. "That''s less than a month away. "If that''s all we have, I''m sure all the contestants will be ready." "I''m looking forward to it. * * * * The same day, Jin was about to leave the Kingdom of Klein. "Thank you, Jin-dono, for all your help. King Mericolance I himself is on his way to see him off. "Jin-dono!I hope to see you again! Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, Minister of Magic and Technology, is also holding Jin''s hand and looking as if he is about to leave. "Makina-dono, I will give you the interim report on the <>. Well, well, well, thank you very much for your time. Erna, please be careful on your way. Thank you very much. Erza''s doppelganger, Erna, also shook hands with Marielle Racka Pactra, who looked sad to leave her behind. "Good-bye, Mr. Zion. "Yes, thank you." Zion D. is also being asked to shake hands with the people of the Klein Kingdom as if he is leaving them behind. By the way, at this time, Zion himself is in the Nordic Federation, looking at Rhodes'' , and the old man is piloting it for him. And <> soars slowly into the sky. "Oh, that''s a relief." "Thank you, my lord." The old man said with the mouth of Zion D. "Thank you very much for your hard work, my lord. "...... Come to think of it, I don''t think Corwin Raqqa Kido, Minister of Magical Technology, was as threatened by Zion as he seemed to be." "Perhaps Master Zion nailed him beforehand." The old man replies in the mouth of Zion D. But to this he replies, "......Mr. Zion''s voice and face are a little strange to use that tone of voice. Jin says to him. "Yes, please do so. ......" And then, "Father, what are you going to do now? Reiko asked, "I''m going back to Horaijima for today, and from tomorrow I''ll start redevelopment of Kutsudo Mine. "The date has been set for October 10, hasn''t it? Jin and Zion D. had a meeting that morning. "Now all we have to do is to do a lot of things until the event is held. "I''ll help you." "Leave it to me, father." With these voices, Aristotle soars through the sky. "Well, instead of going straight to Horai Island, let''s stop by the Nordic Federation." "Yes, I think that''s a good idea." Erna agrees, and <> turns north. 2104 - - 56-32 Kutud Mine Redevelopment Starts The carrying Jin and the others arrived at the in about two hours. It landed at the airfield of the < clan. The scene was visible from afar, and many people had gathered at the airfield. Of course, Zion himself knows this, so Zion D...... his <> is dormant inside <>. "Jin, welcome. Makina, welcome. Welcome, Lako. Welcome to ......, Miss Erna." First Zion greeted the guests. "Makina-dono, Jin-dono, welcome!Welcome, Miss Leco!And Miss Erna, you say? Rhodes also said a few words of welcome. After being greeted by several other people, Jin and the others moved to the house of Zion ......, the residence of the clan chiefs. At this point, the only members of the Nordic Federation were Zion, Rhodoth, Vita, Ludmilla, and a servant. "Now that the schedule has been set, everyone is excited! Theon opened his mouth. "Yes, mine is 80% complete. Rhodes laughed. "That''s exciting. I''m going to work on the competition site too. "Oh, um, will Jin-san not be participating this time?" Vita asked. "No, not this time. "Yes, this time we would like to have a pure exchange between the northern peoples and the Laurentian continent people. "Is that what you mean?" "That''s why I''m neutral this time. Otherwise I''d be happy to support Rhodes. That''s all I need to hear. Rhodes replied with a smile. "Oh, yes. < is over, let''s have a private race somewhere. "Oh, that sounds great, by all means! And so it was decided. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin stayed at Zion''s house for a short time and returned to Horai Island soon after because he still had more to do. "Yes, I''m home. There will be no change ......, but how are the preparations going?" This preparation is, of course, the preparation for the redevelopment of the Kutsudo Mine. , 50 Land troops, 2 Daedalus, and 2 . "That should be enough." We need a giant golem, <>, to maintain the airfield, and a < to excavate at great depths. And <> to maintain the tunnels, and < to smelt the ore. "Okay, let''s get started." . After confirming that the area around the Kutsudo mine was empty, the old man sent them all out by transporter. After leaving the monitoring of the site to the old man, Jin finally relaxes and heads for <>. "Welcome home. < "Well, a lot has happened, but it''s over now. Erza, who had been accompanying him as Erna, must have known him well, but Jin couldn''t help but say so. "Well, thank you," she said. "Well, the Marikka Cup is coming up in less than a month. I''m busy with many things." Knowing that Jin would not stay still for a day, Erza only smiled at him as she said this. * * * * * * And then, the Kutsudo Mine in the western part of Toka Village. The time is midnight. The two Daedalahs step on their feet as they advance little by little, roughly completing the construction work. The fine adjustments are difficult for the 15-meter-tall Daedalas, so that is the job of the land team. After performing other heavy work such as moving large rocks and filling in large depressions, the two Daedara returned to Horai Island using the large warp gate of that had come to pick them up. With this, an area of approximately one square kilometer was prepared as an airfield. Overnight. When dawn broke, there was no sign of life in the area. The land crew quietly puts the finishing touches on the ground, and the ground is covered with . This engineering magic is Jin''s original, and it hardens the ground as if it were paved. The good thing is that it is reversible. This means that it is easy to put the ground back into place. The land team continues its work and by the end of the day, the airfield will be completely leveled. <<<< mole>> dig the vein>> Concurrently, exploration...... or mining of the vein was also started. > reveals rich gold and silver deposits 300 meters below the surface. In another place, veins of magi crystals of all attributes are found. The two moles dug at an angle of about 30 degrees, aiming at the veins. Their speed was one meter per minute. 300 meters is 300 minutes, or five hours. The rocks crushed on the way contain iron, copper, zinc, etc., and are smelted by <>. Although the content was low, the power source was free magic element (ether) in the atmosphere, and the smelting proceeded without regard to efficiency. As a result, in 5 hours, about 200 kg of iron, 100 kg of copper, 60 kg of zinc, and 60 kg of nickel were smelted. 60 kilograms of zinc, and 10 kilograms of nickel. The tailings are temporarily stored in a waste pile called . The tailings have been ground into gravel and can be used for paving the macadam. We are planning to pave the area around Toka village with it in the near future. Ars has a thick crust for its size and is rich in underground resources. Whether we can dig them out or not is another matter. ....... < The result of digging is that hydrogen sulfide is spewing out of the ground. The exterior of the land and craftsmen (smiths) are made of light silver, or titanium, which is highly resistant to hydrogen sulfide. However, the ordinary golems are often made of iron-based materials, which are less resistant to hydrogen sulfide. The old man has taken the measure to reduce the immediate danger by eliminating the leakage route. > Since hydrogen sulfide is slightly heavier than air, the "Mere Old Man" thought that hydrogen sulfide could be stored underground and periodically treated to make it harmless. It is also necessary to investigate whether the hydrogen sulfide is continuously generated or just accumulating. If it is just accumulating, it would be easier to talk about. Two days after starting such work, the inspector of the Klein Kingdom and Jin''s alter ego (doppelganger) visited the mine. "Ha ha, this is ......." "What do you think?" They found a one-square-kilometer airfield, a large zuri, and a smelter''s hut had been built, and a new mine shaft had been added. "That''s just as I expected from Mister Jin." In a month''s time, this will be transferred to the Kingdom of Klein. The profit to be gained from this is not small. The inspector, who had been watching the work for half a day, returned to the capital satisfied. 2105 - - 56-33 Behind the scenes On September 19, Jin received a report from My Lord on the resources of the Kutsudo Mine. "Yes, please." "I guess so." <<> "Oh, that''s good news." < The old man said that he dug in a zigzag direction. < "There''s no need to secure that much since we have it on Horai Island, too." << "That''s good. And the contents?" "Oh, that''s good, especially the platinum group elements, which are not useful in the current world, so let''s secure them here. Platinum group elements are useless metals or ores because of their high melting points. Platinum, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium are platinum group elements, but even palladium, which has the lowest melting point, melts at 1555 degrees Celsius. The highest, osmium, has a melting point of 2697 degrees Celsius. Gold and silver have melting points of 1063 and 961 degrees Celsius, respectively. However, this is not a problem for Jin because of his engineering magic. These platinum group elements are often in the form of alloys, and at present in Ars, they cannot be separated into individual elements except in Horai Island, the Nordic Federation, and the laboratories of <>. Therefore, is usually an alloy, and although there is a <>, it is treated more like a commemorative medal than a currency. I''ll leave you to talk about it. As for Jin, more than half of the project was to redevelop the Kutsudo Mine for the redevelopment of Toka Village, so it can be said that the goal has been achieved approximately. Incidentally, the nearest village or town to the Kutudo Mine is not Toka but Dopa. Doppa is the next town after the villages of Kayna, Toka, and Lac Noh. The next town is Charles. Therefore, ores and ingots from the Kutsud mine are sent to Doppa. "The goal is to improve the economic condition of the Klein Kingdom, and at the very least, to have a road built to Doppa, right?" However, the road from the town of Doppa to the Kutsudo mine is a steep uphill, and wagons are not allowed to pass. The ore and ingots are carried by horseback. "From the town of Doppa to the village of Toka is a day and a half''s journey by horseback, isn''t it?" < The old man''s opinion was that it was not enough to redevelop only the village of Toka to improve this road, and that the towns along the road would soon become desolate again, even if they became lively for a while. "Last time, you analyzed that this was the reason why Toka village was deserted, right?" Therefore, although it will take some time, we are trying to revitalize the towns and villages north of Charles <. One of the moves was the redevelopment of the Kutsud mine. This would indirectly benefit the village of Toka. Of course, the new airfield would be a direct benefit. "Now all we need is a place to stay. A hotel being built by the Kingdom of Klein on the outskirts of Toka village. "That''s modeled after the <>, right?" < "Is it strong enough?" Jade is very tough because of its dense structure and will not crack easily even if you hit it with a hammer, but granite is brittle and will crack. > "...... let''s go take a look." It would be a disaster if the floor fell out after the guests came in. Jin decided to go take a look in the near future. "What else do you have?" < "Well, that''s good to know." <<> The air race is less than a month away. Jin, who intends to be a supporter this time, is making sure that nothing will go wrong with the event. "This kind of behind-the-scenes work is interesting. This must be a new experience for him, and he is enjoying it. Knowing this, the old man and Reiko helped him without saying anything unnecessary. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "It''s pretty much done." On the western outskirts of the village of Toka, a hotel was being built at a rapid pace. Viscount Gillette Fezza Lutria, head of the 3rd Technical Department of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, who had been entrusted with overseeing the construction, was talking to herself. Next to him was his subordinate, Ritz Lakka, who was holding a timetable in his hand. "But is granite enough?" he asked. Granite would be brittle, he said. "You worry too much. Of course I know that. That''s why we''re reinforcing it in key places with steel frames. "The question is whether that is sufficient." The Jade Pavilion on the Kunlun Island is, as its name suggests, made of jade, and is known for its sturdiness. It''s too late for accidents to happen. "I understand your point. But considering the schedule. ...... "Then let''s get a few more mages to help us! "If we could do that, we would have no trouble." This exchange was observed by the old man through his peepers. < Naturally, it will affect the quality of the building. >. The old man concluded so. He concluded so. "Hmmm, I wonder if it would be good to have a <> for the construction. Jin was thinking of countermeasures when he heard the report from the old man. . "Yes, I suppose so." The old man told me in more detail that there was a construction boom and marble and granite interiors were popular at one time. "I see. It is indeed very fragile as it is, so I would like to strengthen it with magic. Jin also understands the reason for this. "So, that magic tool has already been forgotten, has it? <>. "I knew it. ......" But then, it can be revived once again. Jin immediately set to work on the construction. 2106 - - 56-34 The merits and demerits of the new magic tool Jin is making a magical tool that can be applied to the body. "As long as the <> is efficient, it can be made smaller." "...... Jin brother,<> shouldn''t be generalized?" Erza, who was watching from the side, said. "Yes, indeed. Then, let''s make the mass-produced ones with mana tank specifications. "Yes, that''s a good idea. Thus, the first prototype was completed. In appearance, it is a miniature flashlight that uses two AA batteries, not an LED. "To make it easy to see the range of the effect, I made it so that the area illuminated by the red light would be <." "Good idea." I tried ...... on some stones, but it turns out that the area of effect is too wide to be suitable for small objects. "Let''s make the range adjustable," he said. "Let''s make the range adjustable," he said, and added a zoomable format. "This time it will be better." The red light illuminates a square meter of stone. "When the toughening process is finished, the object glows red. "It''s easy to see." "The thicker the object, the longer it takes. The thicker the object, the longer it takes, because the process gradually moves from the surface to the deeper parts of the object. You need to keep shining the light during the process, but if you stop halfway through, only the surface or even the shallow part will be treated. "Yeah, that''s why it glows red when it''s done." "That''s what I mean." The stone is 10 cm thick and the process takes about 10 seconds. "It could be faster, but then it would be harder to use when you only want to do the surface. "Indeed." At any rate, this completes the magic tool for applying <. "If we make this into a mana tank, we can make it into a mass-produced product. ...... Wait?" Brother Jin, what''s wrong? "No, I just thought that if I can cast a toughening spell, then I can also cancel the toughening spell. Although he didn''t have that kind of engineering magic, Jin had a hunch that it would be easy to make. "And I think I can also make a magic tool that weakens the bonding force," he said. ...... This is not good." "What?" "I thought it would be easy to abuse. ...... So far, only those who have mastered engineering magic have been able to cast . But if this magic tool becomes widely used, anyone will be able to do it." "Nope." "But it also has the potential to make it easier to do the opposite of what you just said." Jin said that with the magic tool made to this stage, it would be possible to create engineering magic that would have the opposite effect by analyzing it. "In other words, a magic that weakens the molecular bonds and makes them fall apart." "...... I certainly think it can be done." At this point, the old man''s voice came out. "My Lord?What do you mean, after all?" "Is that so?" "Indeed. Now I remember. ...... Jin''s brother had the same idea when he was 43 years old and came to the same conclusion. ...... I didn''t have the idea at that time, though." "I didn''t think so. ......" Jin was somehow convinced that he would always be himself. "...... then the <> magic tool is a dead end. ......Maybe Reiko knew about it, too?" "Yes, father. I''m sorry." Jin was strangely convinced that this was the reason why he had helped her without saying anything until now, while he usually made some kind of comment. "I must have had a similar thought 400 years ago." Jin was enjoying himself a little. "But if that''s the case, ......" Jin tried to imagine what he would have done 400 years ago. "Old man, did I ever create an engineering magic like ?" < "I knew it. ......" < and makes it brittle. The original use would be to demolish buildings or to dig up paved surfaces. ....... "It can be used to attack castles." If used on walls and gates, it would be easy to break through. "It would be ...... horrible if used on a golem." A metal golem could be broken just by a human punching it. "...... So, 400 years ago, I thought of a countermeasure for that, didn''t I?" Jin thought that he must have thought about it so that it would not be effective even if it was used by the Horai Islanders, and he was right. "It must be a magic to be used after <> to <> the effect." < "And ......<> can''t be nullified by magic to cancel <>, can it?" "I see." Jin doesn''t dare to know the original achievement. There was a time when he thought it would be better to know, but he decided not to. However, <> if Jin is about to do something too wasteful, Rokun or Reiko is supposed to point it out to him. Jin likes this situation very much, and it will continue for a while. "In the end, it''s the turn of the <." He is capable of defending himself against most threats, and he will not be a party to any wrongdoing. <, the hotel being built in the village of Toka will be safe and secure. "The question is the price." Jin thought for a moment. "We could support them secretly ......." Or, we could get support from the . Jin decides that the latter would be more plausible. "Since you are offering us a place, we will give you some assistance, I guess." The old man also agreed that it would be better that way. "Good." Jin took Reiko and went to the Nordic Federation by warp gate. They went to visit Theon. "Welcome, Jin. So, what can I do for you today?" "From the very beginning, you think I''m here to ask you a favor." Oh, no? "No, I''m not ...... different." So Jin began to explain to Zion the reason for his visit. 2107 - - 56-35 Consultation Meeting Jin explained to Zion about the hotel under construction in Toka village. "I see. You are worried about the strength of the hotel under construction? "Yes, I am. We don''t want the floor to fall out or the ceiling to collapse. "I understand. A normal human being would be flattened. Even the Northerners can use gravity magic, but if they don''t make it in time, it''s the same thing. That''s true. Good. I''ll pick a few of them soon and take them to inspect the competition site. "Yes, please do that." Jin felt relieved. "By the way, would you mind going to see Law for a while?" Lo," Zion called his great-grandson, Rhodes the Puppet. "Okay, but what''s going on?" "Okay, but what''s going on?" "I think he''s stuck on something. You can''t be there for him outwardly, but you can at least give him some advice. "Okay. I''ll go." Jin took Reiko and went to the place Zion had told him about ......<>Clan''s airfield. There, Rhodes is standing in front of the completed , pondering. His sister, Vita, his wife, Ludmilla, and his automata, Momoko, were with him. "Ah, Jin-sama!" It was Vita who noticed Jin first. "Ah, when did you come here?" Rhodes seemed to notice Jin next. "I went to Zion''s office earlier to take care of something, and Rhodes said he was stuck on something, so I came to check on him. "Oh, I see." So what''s bothering you? The details of the competition have not been announced yet, so it should not be possible to tune the car for the competition. "Yes, I was wondering how to make it both small and stable. "I see. ......" Jin thought that it was understandable that Rhodes was troubled by these two characteristics, since they were in a sense contradictory to each other. "Well, ...... all I can say is that <> and <>." Not being able to put too much stock in any particular participant, Jin limited himself to giving a few hints. "Switching ......?" But Rhodes seemed to sense something from it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... can''t go any further than that, can it?" It was not a good idea for Jin to be so beholden to a particular participant this time. But then a thought occurred to me. "Why don''t you hold a consultation meeting? So I went back to Zion''s place and talked to him. "A consultation meeting, huh? ...... would be a good idea.Everyone might have some kind of stuck point or something that is bothering them. I thought that by opening up the questions and answers, Jin would be able to give more detailed advice. I thought that by being open about the questions and answers, Jin would be able to give me more detailed advice. Two hours later, all the participants gathered at Zion''s house. Since this is the house of the clan leader, there is a large meeting room here. About 20 people gathered. The final number of participants was ten teams, with two members from each team. The exception was Rhodes with his sister Vita and his wife Ludmilla. Hence the exact number of 21. "I''m so glad you''ve all come, you''ve been busy preparing for the race. Please listen to me while you eat. As it is lunchtime, snacks are served. There was a pile of sandwiches with different ingredients, but the pile was getting smaller and smaller. "Gin, one of the organizers of the upcoming <<1st Marikka Cup Air Race>, a Magecraft Meister, came to see me. He asked us to consult with him about any problems we might have before the race. There was a stir in the room. Some knew Jin, some were strangers. There is not a single person in the Nordic Federation who does not know the name "Magecraft Meister," even if they are strangers. As Jin watched, they all ate, chewed, and swallowed their sandwiches with great gusto. Zion and Jin watched them with smiling eyes. In about two minutes after Zion''s words, the pile of sandwiches was neatly placed in the participants'' stomachs. Then fresh juice was served. Then fresh juice was served. "Well, you can drink it while you are drinking. Let''s have a question time. Theon, who was acting as the facilitator, said, and all hands went up. "All of you, as I thought. Then let''s have the participants ask questions in the order of entry. Everyone agreed with Zion''s words. Okay, let''s start with the Road Toss team, entry number one, please. "Yes. ...... I''m wondering if it''s possible to combine small turns and stability." The same question was asked as before. Jin nodded and explained in a little more detail than before. "One of the factors responsible for the stability of <> is the position of the center of gravity. You might want to think carefully about the relationship between the position of the wings and the center of gravity." If you think of a parachute toy, the longer the string connecting the weight to the <>, the slower it falls, and the shorter the string, the faster it falls. Even considering a pendulum, the longer the string is, the slower it swings. "I think there is also a way to <>...... what and how to do it if necessary." Oh," said another participant. "<> so you''ll have to find the answer yourself." "Thank you very much." That was the end of the questions for the Road Toss team. "You must be Harnatha from team ......<> with entry number 2?" Yes. My name is Harunatha. I would like to ask your opinion on the safety of blow floaters. "By safety, do you mean strength?Or is it based on the premise of a crash?" The question was rather vague, so Jin asked again. "Ah, yes. Assuming a crash, that is." "I see. I understand your concern. However, if we increase the strength of the aircraft, the weight will increase and the flight performance will decrease. It will be a balance between the two. ...... Next, as a general rule, things that stand will fall, things that run will fall, ships will sink, and cars will hit each other. The reality is that these things cannot be completely eliminated even if we wanted to." "...... Yes." "This is one of the directions to go, not to think about what happens when you fall, but to avoid falling. We have gravity magic in the Nordic Federation. "I see. ....... Thank you very much. Harnatha seemed to have had some inspiration from this advice. As for Jin, he could not give a 100 percent answer. He can only give advice on what he would do. Even so, many of the advice seemed to be eye-opening to the participants, and they all seemed to have been inspired with some ideas. Entry No. 9 "Entry number 9, this is Kondak of <>! (He''s going to be Marikka''s granddisciple.) Zion informed Jin in a whisper. "Uh, uh, tell me the secret to increasing your speed!" Jin thought about the answer, thinking that the Nordic Federation is full of motivated engineers. 2108 - - 56-36 Trophy "Speed up or ......?" Jin thought for a moment about how to answer the question from Kondak, Marikka''s grandson and disciple, "I think you know about the air resistance, the weight of the aircraft, and the propulsion ......." "Yes, of course. "But you still don''t know how to reduce them, do you?" "That''s right." It was almost as Jin had predicted. The Nordic Federation is well educated, and in terms of general education, it far surpasses the countries of the Laurentian Continent. That is, beyond that. (I don''t know that much about it myself, you know...) "<> have high air resistance in principle, as you can see. However, there may be room for improvement by changing the shape of the wings. ......" Weight is material and structure, propulsion is efficiency and power. Jin explained these generalities as well. "Thank you very much." "The last one is entry number 10, Lerstner from <>. She is a female engineer, and Jin had seen her in Marikka''s workshop ....... "<>. Is there any harm in making it too rigid?I''m sorry, but I don''t have enough time to experiment anymore." "Fuun ......" The question and answer session so far had raised quite a few questions and hints for their solutions, so the questions tended to become more technical the later they were asked, but Jin didn''t expect this. "First of all, general remarks. Stiffness is important, but too much stiffness makes it brittle. Also, when the load exceeds the limit, it tends to be destroyed at once. I think that is dangerous. Hard things break. Soft things bend. It is difficult to find this balance, and it is the engineer''s skill to determine it," Jin said. "......" "One way to prevent this is to provide adequate elasticity and toughness, or to use composite materials. Also, the strength will vary depending on the structure." He refers to light and strong structures such as trusses and honeycomb structures. "Then there are the properties. Something hard and brittle is weak in tension and bending, but strong in compression. Concrete is a good example of this, and the design includes a lot of reinforcing steel bars in the areas where tensile load is applied. I hope these tips will help you to be creative." "Thank you very much." This concludes the questions from the 10 participating teams. This shows that they are all technical clans. Moreover, most of them are related to Marikka, i.e., disciples, grand-disciples, or colleagues. Jin thought that this might be natural since this is the <>. Finally, when asked if there were any general questions, Zion''s hand went up. "Well, I''ll start with one. Then Zion started his question with a preface. "Have you thought of a model performance? In other words, he wants to see the blow floaters that Jin has made. "I''m not thinking about it this time, but ......" Jin says, "I''m not thinking about it this time, but I''d love to see it! "I''d love to see it! Many of them said, "I''d love to see it! You see," he said. As one of the organizers, you should think about it. Jin said to Zion, Jin replied, "Okay. I will think positively. I''ll bring < to ...... at the worst. Jin replied, "I''ll think positively. * * * * Jin returned to Horai Island that evening, although he unexpectedly lost some time in the . Everyone knew what had happened from what the old man had told them, They all knew what had happened and thanked Jin for his hard work. They thanked Jin for his hard work. Everyone knew what Jin had done, but after dinner, Jin explained what he felt and how he felt. "I see, so technical people are growing up in the Nordic Federation!" Reinhardt looked pleased. "I am glad to see that my students are motivated. Marikka also looks happy. Here comes Jin, "I''m thinking about the trophy for the Marikka Cup, but I''m not sure about the statue of Marikka when she was young. "What? "Oh, that''s nice." "I think it''s good." "I think it''s a good idea." "Yes, I agree." Everyone seemed to agree, except for a few responses. "In my world, too, there was a design of a goddess of victory holding a laurel wreath above her head to wear as a sign of victory," he said. "Oh, I see." "Huh. ......." Marikka is blushing, and Jin says, "Well, it''s small, "Well, you won''t recognize him at first because he''s so small. Marikka blushed and Jin followed up by saying, "Well, you''re so small, you won''t know who he is. "......" She still looked down, "Well, let''s give it a try. and asked Reiko to bring a silver nugget to the table. Then, he said, "<>" He made a statue of Marikka at once. Instead of holding the crown of laurel above her head, she lifts it to the height of her chest. "Oh! "That''s a real gin, isn''t it?" "Huh? "You''re right, if you don''t look closely, you can''t tell who it is. That''s what I was trying to make. The outline of the figure was blurred so well that, although we could tell that it was a woman, we could not tell who she was unless we knew her to be so. She was dressed in a toga, or loose-fitting cloth, like those worn by the gods of Greek or Roman mythology, and her body lines were barely visible. Marcia complained, "I was in a bathing suit when I was here. Marcia complained, "This is not a figure, But she brushed it off, saying, "This is not a figure. But she let it slide, saying, "This is not a figure. "So, what if we put it on an ebony or purple ebony base? "Well, don''t you have any red wood? Reinhardt said, "Yes," said Reinhardt. <. You can sometimes find it on Horai Island. "I''m sure there were some samples. Reiko brought a wood sample that Jin had never seen before. It was a file of several wooden boards processed to the size of a business card, which showed the texture of the wood. It seems that this was also made by the former Jin. "Oh, this is it." was indeed wood. It is close to the tree known as in modern Japan. "I''ll take this one. What about the stock?" Enough for the base of the trophy. Okay. Thus, the trophy for the winner of the Marikka Cup was completed. 2109 - - 56-37 Reinforcement On September 22, Jin was guiding Zion (Zion D) and his party, that is, the inspection team of the , to the village of Toka. This time, they were going to a conventional airfield, not the one Jin had built. This airfield is about 100 meters square, so it will be too small for the <, when many people will come. We will ask them to use the airfield a little further west then." "Oh, there it is. ...... is big. That''s fine." < The carrying Jin and the others lands slowly at the airfield. The Kingdom of Klein has been notified in advance, so the Minister of Magical Technology, Cowen Raqqa Kiddo, and his men are there to greet Jin and the others. They were accompanied by the village head, Yuzo Mayaka. "Hello, Mr. Zion, Mr. Jin, welcome. "You look well, Mr. Cowen." I am, thanks to you. Thank you for welcoming us, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir!It''s a pleasure to welcome you, Master Zion! "Welcome, Mr. Jin, welcome to our village. I have heard about the development of the ...... mine. Well, well, well... Thank you very much for coming today. This is Mr. Istash from Shinra. I''m a construction engineer. Oh, I''m looking forward to learning a lot from you. "It''s my pleasure." After such greetings, the group is transported in the golem car that has been prepared for them. It is a one-day trip ......, or rather, Jin is supposed to take care of Zion. The ostensible reason for this is that he does not want to burden the developing village of Toka. That''s the hotel under construction. "That is a magnificent hotel. At this point, Istash of Shinra, who had accompanied Zion D., spoke up. He appeared to be a stout man of about 40 years old. Of course, he had heard about this from Jin and Zion. He is one of the key players in this project. "By the looks of it, it''s made of granite, isn''t it? "Yes, it is." Corwin, too, has some knowledge of stone materials. "Granite is very brittle. "Well, that''s the question I''m going to ask at ........ I''m on my way to the site now and I''ll check it out on site. That''s what happened. Viscount Gillette Fezza Lutria, the site supervisor and head of the 3rd Technical Department of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, greeted the car. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. Then Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, Minister of Magical Technology, gets out of the car and asks his subordinate first: "Gillette, how are you? "Gillette, is there anything you need help with? <, and Istash, an architectural engineer, means that now is a good time to ask for advice. I am sure that you will be able to find out more about this in the future. ...... Actually, I am wondering how to estimate the strength of the stone. Viscount Gillette Fetheltria was an honest man. He put practicality before his position. This ultimately resulted in the preservation of the honor of the Kingdom of Klein. "The appearance is based on the in , isn''t it?" Jin says. Yes, that''s right. The design there is so outstanding that architects from all over the world use it as a reference. Hearing this, Jin thought to himself, "I didn''t realize that. But Istash of <> complained. "Isn''t it dangerous if we don''t take the material into consideration?The <> is made of jade, as its name suggests, and jade is a very tough stone, while granite is ......." To this Viscount Gillette Fetheltria replied truthfully. "Yes, I am aware of that. So we are trying to overcome the weaknesses by adding reinforcements in various places, but I am not so sure at the moment." "I see. You are aware of the fragility of granite, aren''t you? So you know that granite is fragile. I''d be happy to. Please visit ...... and tell us about it. Thus, the group entered the hotel under construction. "Ha ha ......" After taking a look around, Mr. Istash said. "It''s not reinforced enough. Worst case scenario, the roof and floor will fall through. "What? "No, it''s fine now. It is strong enough for the load. But you never know in ...... 10 years." Granite is hard but brittle. < "If you use a steel frame as the structural material and put granite on it, that''s fine," he said. "I see. "If it is weak in bending, it is weak in force. Of course, granite is strong enough to withstand the load applied by normal usage. Istash concluded his explanation by saying that the strength of the granite would probably decrease little by little with repeated impacts. "I see, I learned a lot." Mr. Istasch then gave a supplementary explanation. "Yes, it is possible to build such a building using only granite. As long as the structure is taken into account." The point is to reduce the number of places where members are stretched as much as possible, he explained. "For example, use arches for beams and floor supports." "I see. ......!" "No, I''m learning a lot." Jin was also impressed by what he was hearing and thought it was a good reference. Jin himself was not familiar with architecture. However, he has learned the basics of structural mechanics, which he has used as a basis for his experiments and verifications. He has spread this knowledge to the general public, and the Nordic Federation is more advanced in this respect than the continent of Laurent, where the inheritance has been interrupted by the <>. Jin thinks that the arch is one of the basic stone structures. The same is true of the Roman aqueducts he has seen in photographs. Openings in brickwork are often arched as well. "Originally, the arch structure is resistant to loads from above," he says. "Yes, that''s true." It is a pity that these rudiments of structural mechanics have only been partially handed down, Jin thought as he watched the engineers of the Klein Kingdom listening to Istasch''s explanation. "I recommend that you use <> here to strengthen it. ...... Jin-san, can you join us?" "Sure. Safety can''t be bought with money." So far, so scripted. This is the scenario that the old man has devised to make it easier to use the <. "......<" "<>......" Jin and Istash apply <<>. The casual observers do not realize it, but the effect lasts for hundreds of years as Jin applies it over and over again on top of what Istash has applied. Jin does not want any accidents to happen at the event, so he is willing to help. However, we are only willing to help in a < way. As a result, this hotel will be handed down to future generations as one of the most famous buildings in the Kingdom of Klein, but that is another story. "Mm...... now it is a robust structure." After reviewing the entire structure, Istash nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you." Corwin and Gillette bowed deeply. "If there had been an accident, our country''s reputation would have been shattered. "Please come to the Nordic Federation once to study architecture." Istash of smiled and said, "You are welcome. Viscount Gillette Fezza Lutria, who was determined to study in the Nordic Federation for two years with the permission of his country, is another story. 2110 - - 56-38 Invitation The last day of September, the 30th. Jin received a report from Lao Kun on the resources mined and smelted at the Kutsudo Mine. "You''ve dug a lot." "Hou." < "I see." "You didn''t uproot them, did you?" < The shallower tunnels are lightly mined and left untouched. "That''s good." "Oh, that''s good too. ...... What about other attributes?" > "Yes, that''s good. "Yeah, that''s fine." << "Of course, this is a relatively shallow area, right?" Jin reminds him. "That''s good." But the more we consume after that, the faster it will be consumed. "Then the last hydrogen sulfide pool was bad luck, wasn''t it?" . Hydrogen sulfide had been spewing out, but subsequent investigations revealed that it was not spewing out from deep underground, but was simply accumulating in a cavity. After the hydrogen sulfide pool was sealed and the surrounding area was reinforced with <, the hydrogen sulfide was sucked out and stored in adamantite containers in the hope that it could be used for something. The hydrogen sulfide is stored in adamantite containers to see if it can be used for any purpose. I did not want to leave them on Horai Island, so I stored them in Tsuki (UNY). Some of them seem to be used as good research materials for Saki now. "And what about the refinery?" "I see." Three units each of special smelting machines for iron, copper, and light silver, and five units of general-purpose smelting machines (Magi Machines). The machines were made by Jin, but the structure is not so complicated that even the engineers of the Klein Kingdom should be able to maintain them if they work hard. "With this, the redevelopment of Toka Village will proceed. "That''s going to take some effort, right?" We have to make them take care of themselves anyway. Jin is only trying to help them a little. However, he wonders if it is in his nature to meddle. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Brother Jin, what about the people on Onogoro Island?" Erza came up beside him as he was taking a break on the porch of his <> on Horai Island. "I''m thinking about it right now. We can broadcast live, of course, but you can also invite us as tourists if you wish. "......, where are you going to be from?" It can''t be from the Nordic Federation, but it can''t be from any other country either. "So that''s the problem, isn''t it?" We can''t just say, from an unknown land. ....... "Well, if there are only a few of us, can we manage?" Jin hoped that they would be able to blend in with the general tourist crowd. "Now we just need to send invitations to Freddy, Ellis, and everyone we know." "I''m sure the people of <> will want to come." "I guess so." Jin lists the people he would be willing to invite. The descendants of <>: Trihardt, Suzanne and her husband. Rubina, Amanda, Greena, Shu, Ada, Edith, Natalia ....... Many people are there. Shoro Kingdom: Daiki and his wife Cocona. Kaina Village: Freddy and Ellis. Kingdom of Egelea: Marquis and Madame Kuzma, three daughters. Kingdom of Elias: Lilia and Sonya, who are also nostalgists. : Groma, Eira, and Cachea. That''s just to give you a rough idea. "Royalty will probably get invitations from the Kingdom of Klein. Likewise, the Viscounts of Charnedo, whose head works for the Ministry of Magical Technology, would naturally be approached. "......As I thought, the people of <> are the largest group." "I guess so." Jin thought that it would be a good idea to recruit the applicants as soon as possible. "I''ll go talk to them after this. "Yeah, I think that''s a good idea." With that, Jin headed for Onogoro Island. I''ve heard rumors about it. "I''ve heard rumors about this. First of all, he talked to Trihard Randall, the organizer of the event, who had already heard the rumors, as he was the only person involved in Marikka. I have decided on the date of the event, and I would like to officially invite you to the event. Of course, we will broadcast the event live." "That would be great. I''m sure a lot of people will want to go. Trihart checked with the residents and told Jin that he would make a decision in three days. "Yes, thank you. ...... By the way, how are Rubina, Shu and the others doing?" "They are fine. They are still making things. They are working hard. "Well, that''s good." He thought about going to see them, but he had a lot of things to do for the upcoming conference, so he just told Trihart to give his best regards and returned to Horai Island. Welcome back! "Welcome back, Jin. "Brother Jin, how did the competition turn out in the end? In Horai Island, it was almost lunch time and everyone had gathered at the cafeteria. "Okay, I''ll explain after we eat. The island of Horai was peaceful today. 2111 - - 56-39 Preparation Meeting After lunch, Jin will explain what has been decided. However, since it has not yet been officially announced, minor adjustments can be made. "There will be 10 teams. Jin read out the names on the list that Zion had given him. Hearing this, he said, "Oh, so Imimir is going to participate, too," said Marikka. Marikka said. She was a student of Maricka''s. And Bsak and Kondak were her granddisciples. They are very good, so I''m looking forward to seeing them. In the end, the participants were Entry number 1: Rhodes, the <>. Entry number 2: Harnatha the Puppet Entry number 3: Archista of the <>. Entry number 4: The Surgerer of the <>. Entry number 5: Zeddis of <>. Entry number 6 <>''s Imimir (Marikka''s disciple) Entry number 7: Bursak of Shinra (Marikka''s granddisciple) Entry number 8: Nikelis of <>. Entry number 9: Kondak of Shinra (granddisciple of Marikka) Entry number 10: Rurstner of <>. And the competition is on. "As for the competition, as it says <>, it''s a round-the-clock race among 10 planes. The race will start at the Toka village side and turn around at the Kutsudo mine side, and there will be several laps," Jin said. Since there will be people on board, we can''t have acrobatic races like we had with model airplanes on Onogoro Island," he said. "We''re thinking about doing five laps or 10 laps," he said. A lap of the course is about 10 kilometers, he explains. "I''m thinking this could also be a simple oval ......, with two turnaround poles and a loop around them." The speed of the <<> would be about 50 to 100 km/h, so a lap would take about 5 to 10 minutes. So, one lap would take about 5 to 10 minutes. "What do you think?" Jin looked around at the assembled faces. "Yes, I think it''s a good idea. I''d recommend ten laps...it should take about an hour and a half or so to satisfy the crowd." "I think so. I don''t think it would be enough if it was done in a flash." Reinhard and Lewis said. "I see." "What about safety?" Saki asked. "If the plane crashes, it will be dangerous even for the northerners, won''t it?" Jin nodded. "As for that, I''m thinking of putting up wards under the course. Jin explained that the physical wards would absorb the impact and could easily take a weight of about one ton. "I see. That should give us peace of mind. Bina nodded. "But isn''t there a danger that it could be used in a war?" He said that the wards that could stop the attack of physical weapons could be used for military purposes. "It''s possible, but it''s for defense. Since it''s not for offensive use, that point is somewhat ......, Jin said. "Besides, I''m thinking of putting the warding on the golem and retrieving it when I''m done." "I see. I see. That''s a relief. Bina agreed with this explanation. "What about the qualifying round?" Marcia asked this time. "We''ll have a time attack on a lap course of about two kilometers per lap for the qualifying round. "Oh, that sounds fun. The time will be measured by Jin or a golem lent by Makina. "I''d like to make it clear that for the time being, I or Makina will be in charge of safety and any other troublesome management issues. "Yeah, yeah, that would be fine. Saki said. "I hope someone will be willing to take over. "But, I think we could leave it to the Nordic Federation, don''t you?" Now Licia spoke up. "That''s true. But then there would be no advantage to racing on the Laurentian continent, would there?" "Oh, that''s for sure. ......" Licia looks disappointed. The original purpose of holding the race in Toka Village was to redevelop the area. "Air races are a big deal if there is an accident, you know. In Jin''s time, air races were held all over the world, but one wrong move could result in a crash or major accident. Although the competitions were dangerous, many people admired them. However, Jin wanted to save lives if he could. "Well, we don''t have to decide anything right now," Guth says. Goose says. "That''s true. We can''t start thinking about the future more than five years from now. Jin was willing to take care of things this time and next time ......, if there was a chance. "So, is there anything else you noticed?" Jin asked, looking around at the faces of the others as if to make up for something. "What about the customers?" Hannah asked. "There will be hotels for you to stay in. Some people may stay in the village of Kaina or the town of Lachnoe. Those I have invited will stay at Nido Castle. "Well, what do you do in case of sudden illness or injury?" Hannah asked, and Jin suddenly realized. "Oh, I hadn''t thought of that. Let''s send , an automaton healer, and , an automaton for nursing. "If it comes to it, I''ll help, too." Elsa came forward. Of course, she will be supported by , but it will be enough. "Hannah, thank you for saying that. ......Now, is there anything else we can do for you?" "Kuhu, is there a store?" Saki asked, wondering if there were any stores selling souvenirs or snacks. "I''m going to leave that to the chief of Toka Village. Jin replied, "No, he''s going to do something you''re not used to doing, so there''s a chance he might make a mistake. You should give him a few things to do, too. Reinhardt warned him. "I see... ...... So, how about a stall of <>, <>, and some handkerchiefs dyed with <>?" Icego is a close relative of the blueberry, but it is too bitter to eat. They grow wild in the mountains near the villages of Kaina and Toka, and Toa discovered that blue dye can be obtained from the berries. The blue dye fades quickly when left untreated, so Stearina has developed an engineering spell called that makes it resistant to ultraviolet rays. "I don''t want to make too much money, but let''s make a splash. That''s how it came to be. Thus, preparations for the first < were steadily underway. 2113 - - 57-01 First, Nido Castle On October 5, the participating team from the Nordic Federation arrived in the Kingdom of Klein. Entry number 1 <> Rhodes: accompanied by his sister Vita, his fiance Ludmila, and his assistant, the automata Momoko. Entry number 2 <> Harnatha: She is accompanied by her assistant, automata H12. Entry number 3: Archista of <>: Accompanied by his assistant, Redturf of <>. Entry number 4 <> of Sargera: the accompanying person is the assistant <> of Oak Rourke. Entry number 5 <>''s Zedais: Accompanied by his assistant and sister, <>''s Zerar. Entry number 6 <>''s Imimir (Marikka''s apprentice): accompanied by his co-developer <>''s Chemin. Entry number 7 <> Bsak: accompanied by his assistant <> Furtlan. Entry number 8 <> Nikelis: Accompanied by his assistant <> Nervis. Entry number 9: Kondak of <> (Marikka''s granddisciple), accompanied by his companion Vezan of <> and his assistant automata C60. No. 0. Entry No. 10: Lerstner of <>: accompanied by his assistant, Workrath of <>. ...... and others, their assistants and family members. And Zion. Actually, they are staying at Nido Castle in the village of Kaina. This was also a request from Zion, who had come as an escort. "It would be more comfortable for you there," was the reason. This is the reason, but it''s not the real reason, "Let''s leave the room open for the tourists of the Kingdom of Klein. The tourists will be able to enjoy the center of the kingdom. It also means that it would be better for tourists to stay in Toka Village, which is a little closer to the center of the kingdom. Even the buses rented by Jin and Makina would have a hard time carrying passengers up the mountain road between Toka and Kaina villages. Mainly because of the width of the road. In the first place, tourists coming to the village of Kaina would not bring in any real income for the Kingdom of Klein. "Ah, it''s been a while since I''ve been here!" Zion stays in the guest room on the fifth floor...... that is, the floor where Jin''s apartment is located. "The one above is the observatory, isn''t it?" He had stayed here several times in the past and liked the view. The other guests stayed in the guest rooms on the second and third floors. There are 11 rooms in total, so 10 couples can stay. The smallest room is 6 tatami mats. The smallest room is 6 tatami mats, followed by 7 tatami mats and 10 tatami mats. Teams of three have priority to stay in the 10-mat room. Automata are counted in the number of guests, and Rhodes and his team are counted as four guests. The room is rather small for three people, but it is comfortable, so there were no complaints. The room was a bit small for three people, but it was comfortable, so there were no complaints. "Wow, the hot water is very nice. "I agree, I agree." < soaked in the hot spring in the village of Kaina. The baths are larger and more comfortable than those at Nido Castle. The villagers in the village of Kaina are somewhat excited that a group of visitors has come to Nido Castle. The villagers must have been informed of the event since they had informed the village head, Gaisak, of the event in advance. Hence, "You are a contestant, aren''t you?We are cheering for you!" or "Oh, um.., "Oh, please shake my hand! The group responded with smiles. The group responded in a friendly manner. As for the people on Onogoro Island, most of them answered that they were on the island watching the live broadcast. However, Rubina Garrett, her grandmother Amanda Garrett, and Greena Kuzma wanted to come and see the event in person, so they are staying at the village chief''s house, which is a kind of guest house in the village of Kaina. Hello, long time no see. "Jin-sama, it''s been a long time." When Jin went to the village headman''s house, Amanda was there and greeted him. I''m the organizer of the race this time, so I''m sorry I can''t take care of you better. "No, no, don''t worry about it. The Golem Maid is here." Jin called five-colored golem maids, Perido 100, Ames 100, Topaz 100, from Horai Island. 100, Perido for Rubina, Amanda for Amezu, and Topaz for Gulina. "Speaking of which, where are Rubina and Grina?" "They are going to the mountains to play together. Perid and Topaz are with them. Oh, then there''s nothing to worry about. Amanda''s explanation reassured Jin. "I''ll check in on you again. "Yes, thank you very much for taking the time to see me. Thank you very much for taking the time to see me. "Well, the day of the event is finally approaching. Jin returned to Horai Island to check on the situation. "Are there people coming to Toka Village? The old man knew all such information. < "That''s good news. How do you make reservations at ......?" Jin wondered how they do it without a phone or internet. > of the Kingdom of Klein are making round trips between Alban and the village of Toka. "Hou." It seems that the Kingdom of Klein is also trying to make this event a success. "......, but the date of the event is a little too close." Jin reflected on the fact that he had set the date based on himself. The tight schedule did not allow enough time for the hotel to be built, and in the end he was able to complete the project with the help of the . "If only we had two more months. ......" However, it would have been difficult to attract visitors because it would have been in winter and it would have coincided with the year-end and New Year''s holidays. "That''s why we decided on October, but we''re not going to ......." << <<< "Well, it would be nice to have ...... temporary accommodations. ......" Jin muttered, "If not, let''s build one. He said, "If we don''t have one, we''ll build one. The image he had in mind was a camper. We can divide the use into sleeping cars, toilet cars, bathroom cars, etc., and place them in vacant lots. The cost would be reasonable." He would also like to build a dining car, but he would like to make sure that the money goes to the Klein Kingdom. > "That''s another way. Jin summarized his thoughts by saying that he could prepare the kitchen and the ingredients, and have the Raglan Chamber of Commerce prepare the cooks. "I see." So, Jin began to consider the possibility of letting the Golem of Horai Island take care of it. 2114 - - 57-02 Visitors October 7. An early tourist arrives at Toka village by bus. "Well, this bus is very comfortable! "It''s true, my dear." The bus seems to have a good reputation. "...... Is this the race site?A remote village. Some said, "I like the rustic atmosphere. It looks like a relaxing place. Some said, "It looks like a nice place to relax. () The old man was going to record all these complaints and praises of the tourists and make use of them for the future. * * * * October 8. The second group of tourists arrived. "Oh, this is quite a nice hotel!" "It looks just like the Jade Pavilion in ." Some of the guests had stayed at the Jade Pavilion before. "Hot springs, how nice!" "It''s so warming!" The hot springs in Toka Village are simple, so they do not have any special effects, but they seemed to be well received nonetheless. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * October 9. "Well, where can we stay ......?" Tourists who could not stay at the hotel arrived. "Yes, Mr. Choya Kui and his party, and Ms. Iyona Maude and Mr. Muiras Cordelan. This way, please." "Uh, what?" They are guided by the most elaborate golem I''ve ever seen, dressed in a maid''s outfit I''ve never seen before. They were taken to a place where they were met by a barrage of quarters that they had never seen before. "This way, Mr. Choya and company. Lady Iyona, this way, please. Mr. Muiras, this way. What the hell is this? I''ve never seen ...... before. "Golem will show us the way!" This is a bungalow that looks like a camper. Here, let me refer to the diary of Mullas Cordelan. * * * * * October 9. When I heard that an , or race was going to be held in Toka village, I couldn''t stand still and decided to go and watch it with my savings. However, I didn''t have enough money to stay in a hotel, so I decided to stay in a <> or <>.I applied for a plan to stay in a <> or <> or something like that.We took a plan to stay in a <> or <> or <>. A golem vehicle called a , which had been rented by the and , took us to the village of Toka for . As a novice magecraftsman, I was truly amazed by the <>. ......, I thought. But surprise was only the beginning. When we ...... arrived at Toka village, there were two other groups of non-hotel guests besides me ...... and we were taken to the outskirts of the village. First of all, the man who took us there was a golem in a maid''s outfit. It was a golem dressed in a maid''s uniform. The shape of the golem was nothing short of magnificent, and its movements looked just like those of a human being. The clothes were of a luster I had never seen before, so I guessed they were made of a rare material. The golem led us to a bungalow?The golem led us to a bungalow or some such accommodation. It looked like a guest room of a large carriage. No, it has wheels, so I guess it can actually run. I see, so the number of bungalows can be increased according to the number of guests. The hooks on the top of the carriage are probably for fishing by an airship or something. I can''t imagine an airship ...... being able to fish such a heavy object. The material is probably light silver or its alloy. The color of the airship is brownish, and I thought that it was designed not to destroy the surrounding scenery. And then, the interior. To my surprise, the interior was wooden, and although it was a little small, it was as good as an ordinary inn. The bungalow had a small window, a comfortable bunk, a side table and chair, and a glass and a pitcher of water. Thankfully, there was also a toilet, and it was nice not to have to go out of the bungalow in the middle of the night.Thankfully, a toilet was also provided, and it was nice not to have to go outside the bungalow in the middle of the night. I had originally thought that meals were not included in the price, so I was wondering what to do when I was new to the area, but my fears were unfounded. I was worried about what I would do in a new place, but my fears were unfounded.There was a bungalow ...... that served meals in a plot with a bungalow, or should I say a bungalow that served meals, but anyway there was a mobile store and a restaurant. The prices were cheaper than in the capital and the taste was not bad ......, even better than in a bad restaurant in the capital. And more and more! It was surprising that there was even a mobile bath, though it was not a hot spring. They were all run by golems dressed in maid uniforms. Was this the work of a magical engineer, the MagiCraft Meister, or a deus ex machina? As a person involved in magical engineering, I would like to create such a golem someday. Tomorrow is the first Marikka Cup Air Race. I''m so excited that I can hardly sleep. ....... * * * * << < "I see. I was worried because it was your first time, but it seems to be going well. "That''s great." Jin had prepared 100 cars for 2 people and 100 cars for 4 people. Since some guests stay alone and some stay with three people, it is inevitable that there will be a fraction of a room. "You have a lot of international guests, don''t you?" < "I see." "I''m glad to hear that." I had been worried that there might be some trouble, but so far it seems to be all right. "Well, it''s finally tomorrow ......" The event will be hosted by the Kingdom of Klein, and Jin and Makina have settled on the position of cooperating with the event. "But I have to make a speech too, don''t I? ......" Jin thinks that he should think about what he is going to say to Makina. "Oh, yes, that''s right." Jin listened to the old man''s report. 2115 - - 57-03 Participant Introduction October 10. The sky was clear from the morning and the wind was light, making it a perfect day for flying. People started to gather at the race site from the morning, and by 8:00 a.m. the general seating area was full. The official number of visitors was 2324. Not including invited guests. "Yes, it''s a good thing. The old man and Jin were talking on the island of Horai. In order to deal with any problems immediately, Jin''s doppelganger is in Toka village. He himself will be on Horai Island, watching the whole situation and giving instructions. "What about the relay to Onogoro Island?" "That''s good." The meeting will open in one hour. Oh, wow! Oh, it''s flying, it''s flying, it''s flying. "Looks like it feels good." "Dad, I wish I could fly too." The participants were making final adjustments and confirmations as they had free flight time until 8:30. At the same time, they were appealing to the audience. In order to prevent any pre-measures, the final announcement of the competition details was made yesterday, i.e., on the 9th. One of the contents was the <>. This will be awarded separately from the race results. "No, that sounds like fun." Yuzo Mayaka, the chief of Toka Village, looks up at the sky with envy. He must be thinking that he too would like to ride on one of these boats. Many other children were also inspired by the longing for the sky, and the Kingdom of Klein would later experience the <, but that''s another story. Some of the invited guests said, "I don''t think that shape will be optimal ......." Some of the invited guests seemed to feel that "that shape will never be the best ," which will spur the development of <> in other countries as well. Incidentally, the shape of the blow floaters in this competition is between that of a <> and a <>. The main wings are often circular or oval in shape, and there is no tail wing. The pilot''s seat is suspended under the wing. The main wing is not soft like a paraglider, but rigid with a framework. The pilot''s seat is also fixed under the wing, even though it is suspended. One engineer questioned the circular or elliptical shape of the main wings. His name was . He is 25 years old and an up-and-coming engineer. He is 25 years old and an up-and-coming technician. "Ladies and gentlemen, it''s almost time for the first Marikka Cup Air Race. A little before 9:00 a.m., the announcement rang out in the hall. By that time, most of the spectators had already taken their seats and were waiting for the race to start. The audience seats were facing south, and the flight area extended east to west in front of them. Directly in front of the audience seats, there are three huge monitors ...... with magic screens, which will show the flight in the distance. It is time for you to leave. We will now hold the <<1st Marikka Cup Air Race>>! The audience cheered. The MC for this event is Yuzo Mayaka, the mayor of Toka Village. The commentary is by one of the organizers, Deus Ex Machina. The audience applauded and cheered. "First of all, I would like to give a brief explanation of this tournament. < Makina took over the explanation. Yes, <> are aircraft or flying machines that use wind magic to float. Therefore, the main wings are shaped to catch the wind easily, but there is also some ingenuity in the shape of the wings. ...... Let''s have them actually fly and compete rather than just say words!" A loud cheer erupted. "Now, let me introduce the contestants and their aircrafts!Please note that titles will be omitted since this is an actual competition. At this point, a drumbeat sounded. "First up is number 1, the Rhodes team of the <>!Piloted by Rhodos, who designed and built it!" Since it is a wind-powered blower-floater, it is capable of low-speed flight. Rhodes and his plane lifted off and slowly circled in front of the spectators'' seats at about the speed of a fast walk before landing at their original location. "Number 1 has a circular wing, but it is rather small. I guess it''s more for speed. Also, the gondola where the cockpit is located is a little lower, which seems to emphasize stability." Deus ex machina explained. "Number 2, the <> Harnata!The pilot is the assistant automata H12!" "Hmmm, it looks like a normal type with circular wings, but there are some ingenious ideas to reduce the weight. ...... and that automaton, maybe it weighs about 15 kg. It is probably intended to be lightweight. "I see, the rules do not prohibit automata and golems from being controlled. As expected of Makina, she recognized the characteristics of H12 at a glance. Indeed, Harunata aimed at total weight reduction by using automata that were lightened to the utmost limit. Furthermore, we consulted with Jin <. In the race, an automaton should be used instead of a human driver. This was Harunata''s conclusion. "Arkista of the number 3, <>!The pilot is the designer and builder himself!" "Circular wing. It must have a good balance of overall performance. How to give it a unique color is the key to success. "The Sargent of the <>, number 4!Piloted by his assistant, O''Rourke! "Another circular wing, but larger. It is the opposite of the number 1. It probably has a powerful propulsion system. "Number 5, Zeddice of <>!The pilot is my assistant and sister, Zerar!" "Well, it has square wings." The wings are shaped so that the apexes are on the front, back, left, and right. "It might be interesting. It seems to have a good balance of speed and stability. "Number 6, <>''s imimir!Piloted by our co-developer, Chemin! "I heard she is a disciple of Marikka''s. It has long elliptical wings. This is interesting. This is also interesting. The long elliptical wings tend to be unstable from side to side, but the gondola position seems to be lowered to cope with this problem. "Number 7, <>''s view sack!I will pilot the gondola myself! He is the granddaughter of Marikka. ...... This is also a circular wing, but it is thinner than it looks. It is thin, probably for speed. Circular wings are usually shaped to hold air since they also serve as air sacs, but the thickness of this one is only about half that of other airframes. The air resistance during flight seems to be low because of this. "Probably, the air jets used to keep the aircraft afloat are very powerful." "Number 8, <> Nikelis!I will control it myself! "It also has square ...... or diamond-shaped wings. It is a similar type to the number 5. "It seems to be speed oriented. The propulsion system seems to be powerful. "This is the ConDuck of number 9, <>!Piloting the C600 is an automaton! He is also a granddisciple of Marikka''s. He is also a grandson of Marikka. ...... He has circular wings, but the propulsors are huge ...... rather than large. It seems to be speed oriented." "And the number 10, <>, Rulstner!He pilots it by himself! "It has circular wings, but the components are thin. I saw it as a lightweight wing with high rigidity and structural strength. "Thank you very much, Mr. Makina. Now, the preliminary rounds will begin. The qualifying round is determined by the time taken to complete one lap around the venue and back around a pillar on a hill one kilometer away from the venue. The qualifying positions will determine the starting positions for the main event! The qualifying round was about to start in 10 minutes. 2116 - - 57 : the final, and qualification "Now, the qualifying rounds are about to begin. Now you will have 30 minutes to make your laps freely and compete for the fastest time! The drums sounded again. (Would you prefer the sound of ...... buzzer?Gongs sound too Chinese.) Jin couldn''t help but think that the sound of drums sounded Japanese. Regardless of Jin''s thoughts, the preliminary round had started. "Oh, wow! "Wow! Go! The 10 blow floaters were flying and circling at their own pace. "Well, it''s a spectacular sight, isn''t it, Mr. Machina? "Yes, it is. The top speed is over 100 kilometers per hour, so it''s a spectacle to behold. In fact, it seems that the qualifying order has little to do with the advantage or disadvantage in the finals. However, the qualifying rounds were significant in another way. "Apart from the rankings in the finals, there is a popularity contest. "Yes, that''s right. It is one of the strategies to appeal to the audience. The competition was also meant to be a demonstration, a free performance. So the participants were flying in their own style. "It''s really free. ......" Yuzo Mayaka said in an envious tone. They were flying up and down, left and right, zigzagging, flying fast and then slowing down, flying in a truly style. "The air currents are surprisingly bad in the Nord Fjord, probably because of its location in the north," he says. It''s rare to have a constant breeze like we have here. Deus ex machina explained. "Haha, so ......." Yes, they had been practicing in the constantly changing winds, and they were now in the favorable conditions of Toka village. "With the cooperation of Jin-dono and myself, we''ve set up a warding two meters above the ground, so that even if we were to crash, it shouldn''t be a major accident. "Yes, that''s right." So, countermeasures against accidents are in place. It''s just that they are a little out of the ordinary. ....... "Oh, wow! One of the planes even did a somersault. "That''s number 9, isn''t it? It''s using the power of its powerful propulsion system." "That''s brilliant. ......" < Therefore, it is extremely difficult to perform a somersault in which the aircraft is on its back, even if only for a moment. The number 9 who managed to do so, even though he was piloted by a golem, was magnificent. "Oh!That''s amazing too!" Number 1, Rhodes Toss, is flying in a , that is, he is flying horizontally and in a chopping motion. "I see, so they put the gondola with the pilot''s seat closer to the wing to reduce stability." As Makina explains, Rhodes had taken Jin''s advice and made the position of the gondola variable. This improved the aircraft''s mobility. After the plane moved to horizontal flight, the gondola position was lowered again to increase stability. "That''s a good operation, that''s what I''m talking about." Makina praised Rhodes. Also performing somersaults were numbers 7 and 8, both of which had powerful propulsion systems. However, there was no other aircraft that performed horizontal rolls like the Rhodes. The lap times of each aircraft were measured by <. Since each of the 10 aircraft was in charge of one aircraft, there was no need to worry about missing or mixing up the times. After the 30-minute qualifying round, the rankings were announced. The records were converted to average speeds. 1st place, number 9, 182 km/h, the Con Duck of Shinra. 2nd place, number 8, 179 km/h, Nikelis the Puppet. 3rd, number 7, 170 km/h. <>. 4th place, number 2, 162 km/h, Harnatha the Puppet 5th Number 1, 155 km/h (155 mph) Rhodes the Puppet 6th, number 4, 146 km/h, Sargellah of the Gospel 7th, number 6, 144 km/h, Imimir of Shinra 8th, number 3, 141 km/h, Archista of <>. 9th Number 10, 138 km/h, Rulstner of <>. 10th Zeddis, number 5, 137 km/h <>. This is the order in which the teams will compete in the main race. In the main race, the teams will line up in single file and start the race in this order. Now, it''s time for the main race. I''m looking forward to it. The main race is a simple, straightforward race of 10 laps between here and the pole on the hill 10 kilometers away. "Each lap is 20 kilometers, so at 180 kilometers per hour it should take less than seven minutes." < Jin, one of the organizers, thought that the spectators would be satisfied since it would still take a little over an hour for the main race. "All aircraft are in position for the start. The venue was quiet and not a single voice could be heard. "10......9......8......7......6......5......" The countdown is underway. "......3......2......1 ......Start!" The propulsion system is activated, and all the aircraft rise to the surface at once. Since the engine is based on wind magic, the noise is quiet. All that can be heard is the sound of intake and exhaust. The first to jump out of the water was number 9, followed by number 8, then number 2, and number 7, a little late! The crowd, which had been quiet before the start, erupts in excitement. "Here are numbers 1, 4, 6, 3, 10, and 5!" The ten blow floaters were quickly out of sight from the bleachers. The spectators'' seats faced south, so the planes flew to the right of the spectators, heading west. When the shadows of the ten planes were out of sight, the audience''s eyes turned to the three giant monitors ...... in front of them, the leftmost of which had a magic screen. The leftmost one showed the leading plane, number 9, and the four chasing numbers 8, 2, and 7, but they soon disappeared from the screen and were projected on the center screen. The left monitor showed numbers 8, 2, and 7. The left monitor showed the following machines. "Go!We''re cheering for you! Some of them shouted as loud as they could, even though they could not be heard, and the race was getting exciting. 2117 - - 57-05 Guest and one more Meanwhile, Jin''s doppelganger (= Jin D). He was in the audience for the invited guests and acted as a commentator. The guests were all of high rank. The first one is King Mericarance I of the Kingdom of Klein. Queen Josephine Lumeth Klein. First Princess Lizabeth Leah Klein. The Minister of Magical Technology, Corwen Raqqa Kiddo. Five knights of the Kingsguard and Alice, the nanny automata presented by Jin. They are not invited guests, but invitees. And who are the invited guests in the true sense of the word? First of all, there is Theon of Shinra. She is here as a representative of the Nordic Federation. She, too, is from the participant (organizer) side, so I doubt if she can be called a pure invited guest. ....... Next, from <, Zora Himmel, Deputy Director of the Aircraft Research Laboratory (commonly known as the Aeronautics Laboratory), and Ciel Azure, a member of the Aeronautics Laboratory. Then, from <, Ernest XVII, CEO Emeritus of the Royal Factory of the Kingdom of Egelea, and his close aide Canaj Parosofa. Finally, there was Edda Yma, a technician from the Nostalgia party. No one from Elias, Franz, Selroa, Shoro, Mitsho, etc. It was not surprising that the was still minor. * * * * * * * * * <> are becoming common as a means of flight for a small number of people. While I hope that the development of blow floaters will be promoted in many countries, I also hope that countermeasures against accidents will be taken. "As long as they fly in the sky, there is a possibility of < in the worst case, so we need to take sufficient safety precautions," said Jin D. "I think it is important that we take safety into consideration. Jin D reminded them of the safety considerations first, and then began his explanation. The Nordic Federation is a large country with scattered towns, so wind-powered blow floaters have developed as a means of transportation. In addition, since the area is covered with snow in winter, it is difficult to use automobiles even on sunny days. "I see, I guess it''s just the way of the country." Corwin Raqqa Kido, Minister of Magic and Technology, nodded his head in agreement. "Now you are right, Mr. Jin," he said. ...... My friend Marikka once invented a wind-powered floater (blow floater) as an easy and fast means of transportation." Zion corroborated. "That''s right. I''ve heard of it too. said Zora Himmel of <>. She is a petite female technician, standing at 143 centimeters and 38 kilograms. She is in stark contrast to the 169 cm, 50 kg Ciel Azure sitting next to her. "<> is small, so walking is the only way to get around, and if you are in a hurry, there are cars, so small aircraft are not very popular." The Aeronautics Institute, to which she belongs, mainly studies medium-sized aircraft. "But when I look at all these different blow floaters, I am amazed at the variety of ideas." Ciel Azure, too, "Yes. The blow floaters that we have seen here are small, but there are many ideas that could be applied to medium-sized aircraft. I would like to experiment with it as soon as I return to <>. Right, sister?" < was Zora Himmel. "......However, there has been some research on blow floaters in the Kingdom of Egelea, but at the moment, it is only on an individual level. However, nowadays, balloons are the mainstream for individuals, and airships for medium and large sizes. Ernest XVII of the Kingdom of Egelea said. "Balloons and airships are stable when the wind is light. Jin D. added. Since the tilt of the earth''s axis is less than that of the earth and the changes of the seasons are rather mild in this world, typhoons are less frequent and winds strong enough to cause damage to buildings do not blow very often. Therefore, balloons and airships can operate safely. "......We can either move in the direction of stability or further development." Jin D. added. You are right. In our country today, there are many people who are more interested in stabilization. Ernest XVII said a little regretfully. "That can''t be helped. Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, Minister of Magic and Technology of the Kingdom of Klein, spoke up. Our country is in a similar situation. The reason for this is that we have been at the mercy of the League of Magicians for the last few years. The result is that we have lost competent ministers and it has become difficult to run the country itself. "But if we don''t work hard here, we will be left behind by the times." < said. "Indeed. The Kingdom of Klein is taking such a positive approach. Your Highness, we can''t afford to lose. Canaj Parosofa, an aide to Ernest XVII, said. Cannage was one year older than Ernest XVII and was not only his aide but also his childhood friend. "Yes. ...... Mr. Zion, Mr. Jin, is it possible to have such a tournament in our country?" Ernest XVII asked the question in a straightforward, unpretentious, and honest manner. "If you ask me if it is possible or impossible, then yes, it would be possible. And Hitoshi D. asked, "If it were the Kingdom of Egelea, it would be possible. "For the Kingdom of Egelea, it would be necessary to select an inland plain where the wind is weak. and Zion. He added, "The Kingdom of Egelea, unlike the Kingdom of Klein, is a country with the sea, so we need to consider the sea breeze. Jin D said. "To tell you the truth, it is a bit far from our country, so it would be difficult to hold this event. Zion said apologetically. Of course, we all know that our conversation here is informal. Even if the words < are spoken here, it does not mean that they will be followed. But it is therefore also true that it is an honest opinion. There do not seem to be many people here who are good at belly tricks ....... "There is only one thing that concerns me..." Mericarance I, King of Klein, spoke up. "What is it?" Theon, who was sitting next to him, immediately responded. "There are rumors that the nobles ...... who were cut off for joining the <>, or rather, the former nobles, are colluding and plotting something." "That''s possible." Jin D replied nonchalantly. In fact, images from the satellite and the old man''s had already alerted him to the fact that these were planning to take revenge on the Klein Kingdom. Their goal is to take revenge against the Kingdom of Klein, which ostracized them. To do so, they plan to attack the event, where dignitaries from other countries will gather, in order to ruin the reputation of their host, the Kingdom of Klein, as well as to harm the attending dignitaries. "But, Makina is here, too. I will make sure the convention is a success. The king was also present at the conference. It''s convenient that even the king is present. Let''s give a blow to the hated kingdom that has neglected us. "Well, it''s time. ...... I''m sure the locals will do just fine." And then <, that is, their comrades in hiding near the village of Toka, activated the metal warriors ......<> they had secretly bought or had made for them. "Go!Golem squad!Overrun the village of Toka!" "Hyahaha!Attack those who have gathered! And so, the forces that were trying to destroy the <> were brought to bear. 2118 - - 57-06 This and that "Well, the lead pack has made it to the turnaround!...... The poles here are amazing. A pillar of light, if you can call it that. Yuzo Mayaka, the commentator, replied, Makina answered, "It''s a newly developed ward because it''s dangerous to have an entity when you come in contact with it. Makina explained. Objects in flight are in danger of losing stability and crashing at the slightest disturbance. This is an attempt to alleviate this risk as much as possible. I see, this is good. ...... The first plane is number 9! It''s about 10 meters ahead of the other plane.They have turned around! A nice turnaround! Then numbers 2, 8 and 7 are turning back! Numbers 2 and 8 have switched places. The number 8 was the speedy one, but the number 2 was ahead, as if by a tactic. "1,6,3,4,5,10 followed!" 6,3,5 had moved up one place after the start, and 4 had dropped two places. "Oh!" "This is very exciting." The invited guest, Ernest XVII, leaned forward to look at the large screen of the magic screen. "Now that I''ve seen it with my own eyes, I can''t wait to get on it. Even the Minister of Magical Technology, Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, is saying something like that. "Indeed, yes." King Mericarance I of the Kingdom of Klein agreed. After all, flying is a dream of mankind, and seeing it done right in front of one''s eyes seems to make one yearn for it even more. "We should make efforts to mass-produce such blow floaters in our country. In this way, the yearning for the sky may become contagious. * * * * On the island of Horai, the old man had detected the occurrence of an through his . "Oh, finally!" Jin came to the control room after receiving the report. "Those nobles you were talking about the other day, the ones who were fired from the Klein Kingdom, right?" < "Yes, and what did they do to you?" "Oh. ......... you''ve been generous." Jin wondered in the corner of his mind if this could also be called a "kenkun ichikin grenade" (a kind of "kenkun ichikin"). "Jin, I heard that. "Jin, I heard that someone is trying to sabotage the project. "Of course, you''re going to stop them, aren''t you?" Then Reinhardt and Erza arrived. What''s going to happen? "Well, people really like to fight, don''t they?" Bertsch and Saki came into the control room a little later. "Oh, I''m late. Jin-san, what happened to the people who are sabotaging the air race? And Licia. After that, all the remaining members came in and the control room became crowded. The old man''s voice rang out. "...... is so shabby..." Bina was the first to react. "When you see Jin''s golem, you''ll realize that a golem with such a big, clunky exterior is just an appearance. "Ha-ha, thank you very much." "Oh, but only two of them are going in the other direction. Hannah''s voice made me look at the screen, and I saw that thirteen of them were going to Toka village, and the other two were going in the opposite direction. The location is the rocky area near Toka village on the road from Toka village to Kaina village. So, ....... "Are those two going to go to the village of Kaina? Jin was furious. "I won''t let them!" And there they are, "Father, I am coming!" Reiko''s voice rang out... the strongest and most powerful warrior on Horai Island. "Reiko, will you go?" "Yes, leave it to me." "Okay, old man. Reiko is also in the force, so let''s start the attack. < * * * * * * On the road from Toka village to Kaina village, there is a rocky place. It is about two kilometers from Toka village. Once upon a time, when Jin was still under the care of the village of Kaina, he was attacked by a golem when he came here with a cart full of wheat to pay his taxes. The golem was destroyed by Jin and reborn as Gon and Gen, the guardians of the village of Kaina. At the same rocky place, a golem prepared by former nobles with a grudge against the Kingdom of Klein appeared. There are many caves in this rocky area, and it is the perfect place to hide the Golem. They had hidden the golem there and activated it at this moment. "Go!Golem!Burn the village!Destroy it! Destroy it all! Two of the men on the scene had just finished giving orders to Golem when... "You''ve been caught red-handed." A girl''s voice rang out. "What are you?" It''s not too late. Stop the Golem. If you do so, you will not be severely punished. The men snickered at the girl''s words. "Oh?What are you talking about? "Talk in your sleep, little girl, okay?You don''t want to get hurt, do you?" One is a former nobleman and the other seems to be his bodyguard, judging from his bad looks. "I see. Then I won''t hesitate. The girl''s figure disappears from the men''s sight. A second later, with a roar, two golems headed toward the village of Kaina are reduced to scrap. "What about ......?" The two men froze with their mouths open, as if in disbelief at what they had seen. 2119 - - 57-07 Arrangements from the previous day A rocky place about 2 km from Toka village in the direction of Kaina village. There were 15 golems hidden there. Two of them were quickly turned into scrap. Reiko did it, of course. There was no way the people of Horai Island would allow her to sabotage the , which Jin had worked so hard to make a success, just to vent her own frustration. * * * * "What about ......?" The former nobleman of the Klein Kingdom who activated the 15 combat golems and his escort were in a daze. After all, two of the Golems were destroyed by Reiko, a girl who looked about 10 years old. "It''s already too late, you know. Reiko said, and then turned her attack on the 13 Golems headed for Toka village. "Oh ......" "Ba,baka ...... na ......" The bodies of the golems were flying in the air, their limbs torn off. The two of us just stared in amazement at the unrealistic sight. "It''s done." Reiko announced, as if she had just finished cleaning up the trash at the entrance. "O......O...... what the hell are you! The former nobleman was completely offended. "I am Reiko. I am an automaton. An automaton? Yes. No way!An automaton can''t be stronger than a battle golem! "That''s your common sense, isn''t it?Please don''t measure my father by your common sense. Reiko picked up a fist-sized stone that had fallen at her feet and crushed it to pieces in front of the two men. "Please ...... help me!" The man escorting Reiko left all shame and embarrassment behind and prostrated himself at Reiko''s feet. But... "I told you it was too late." Reiko''s fingertips extended, "<>" "What? "Gee!" She then casts a paralyzing spell, knocking them both out cold. He then hands them over to the four members of the RAND team that has been sent to the island. I''ll leave it to you. "Yes, sir." The Land team tied the two men up with ropes and lifted them onto their shoulders. "We will take them to the convention headquarters. At the same time, the pieces of the golem that Reiko destroyed are carried as evidence. There were four intact , which should be enough as evidence. After the air race, the old man thought that he should report to the king of the Klein Kingdom and ask him to take care of them. * * * * On the island of Horai, the old man remained on alert. "Is it that aristocrat?" Jin confirms. Past tense. < The friends were, of course, former nobles who belonged to the . And the sabotage plan is: ....... "Well, that''s certainly a nuisance." Such flying objects are sometimes fatal to planes flying at high speed. Hence, the venue is being monitored to prevent birds from entering the course. Anyway, Garrison and his team were planning to release many balloons at the climax of the race, and the old man had seized 45 balloons. "As far as I''m concerned, you don''t think of anything else. ......" Jin thought that it would be better if he could direct his ideas and enthusiasm in a direction that would benefit people. "And Garrison?" Garrison, the leader of the ringleaders, and his cronies had no idea that the balloon had been seized or that the Knights were already in motion. ....... * * * * On the same day, that is, yesterday, the 3rd Knights of the Kingdom of Klein surrounded the Marquise of Arx. Yes, it was literally a . "Garrison, son of the Marquis of Arx, is suspected of treason. The Knight Commander declared, holding up a warrant of arrest bearing the king''s seal and his father''s signature. "...... Garrison is not here." The man who answered was his legitimate son, Farto as Arx, who had been left in charge of the house while his father, the marquis, was away. He is 35 years old this year, brown hair, brown eyes. His father, the Marquis, is a little worried that he is too serious and gullible. "So where are you going?" He said he''s going to the Eguilla mines. "I see. ......, I''m sorry, but we''re going to have to search your house. ...... be my guest. Farto decided that it was not a good idea to resist, since he was carrying a letter bearing the king''s seal and the signature of his father, the marquis. (Did father cut off Garrison? ......) Farto regretted that they had been reasonably close brothers, even though they had different mothers. The Knights conducted a search of the house, focusing on Garrison''s room. As a result, five letters were found proving his membership in the <>. This means that Garrison is effectively no longer in the country. We also found evidence of financial support to a former member of the <>. This means that Garrison will not escape execution, no matter who helped him. And the Marquise is sure to be blamed in some way. The Second Order will take care of the rest. After securing the evidence, the leader of the Third Order muttered in a low voice. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The 2nd Knights had surrounded the Aegila mine. Of course, this action was based on a "tip-off" from the old man. "Listen, my information tells me that there is a labyrinth of underground facilities here. Be careful!" The 2nd knight commander warned his men. "Ha!" "The 1st Battalion is in the mine. The 3rd and 4th battalions will continue to surround the mine. The 2nd Battalion will remain as a ranger in case of emergency. 2120 - - 57-08 The audience, the observer, and the parties involved. "Now, we are approaching the midpoint of the race, and the gap between the lead group and the second group is closing, but we cannot afford to be complacent yet! The air race was now in its fourth lap, and things were heating up even more. The spectators were cheering loudly, and behind the scenes there seemed to be betting on who would be the winner. "Well, I don''t like betting, but I''d rather have a sanctioned bet than have these behind-the-scenes betting going on. It would bring in more money for the host city. Jin muttered. If you want to make a sure profit from betting, you should be the organizer. The first group is number 9,2,7!A few seconds behind, the second group!A few seconds behind is the second group, number 8,1,3! "We''ve roughly divided into three groups. After all, speed is the key to success on this course. Makina explained. "To begin with, the course was not announced to the participants until just before the event. Therefore, it was up to the discretion of each individual to decide what adjustments to make to his or her own machine. "I see. So it was possible to set a technical course. "That''s right. This time, one of the organizers ...... or I should say the host, Mr. Jin, tried to do it. You are asking me which is better, to let people know about the course in advance or to let people know about the course in advance? "That''s what I meant. I would say that this method is more focused on the technical skills of the participants. Makina said, "That''s just like Jin, the engineer. I see, I see. So, if the course had been announced earlier, it would have been ......." "I''m sure everyone would have made the speed-type adjustments." That would have been interesting to watch, Makina said. "Thank you very much for the commentary, Makina. ...... Now, as we listen to you, we are approaching the turnaround point for each plane!" * * * * "It''s not so impressive, but it''s exciting to think that there are people on board. ** "It''s not as powerful as I''d like, but it''s exciting to think there are people on board. I think it''s more exciting to see the crowd. "I''d love to be a part of it. ...... I''d love to attend ," whispered Rubina Garrett, her grandmother Amanda Garrett, and Greena Kuzma in a whisper so that no one around them could hear. "Don''t worry, ladies and gentlemen, we have deployed a sound barrier. We have deployed a soundproofing system. The one who is concerned is << Lao Tzu>. It is the mobile terminal of the artificial intelligence that is the brain of Horai Island''s management magic and has the world''s strongest and highest information processing capability. Jin has prepared a for his guest from <> after himself, Jin D, Reiko, and Makina ....... "Hey Lao Tzu, is Jin-sama busy right now?" "Yes, very ...... busy. Is he ready for the model flight? "He is working on a lot of things to make it in time for the model flight. I see. ...... * * * * The air race venue was bustling with excitement, but behind the scenes, the 2nd Knights of the Kingdom of Klein were making frantic efforts to capture the underground facilities of the Aegila Mine. Report, advance team! "Yes. We''ve succeeded in disarming the trap but two men are wounded. They''ve been replaced. They are in stable condition. Keep trying. The hard work was not over even after one night. The underground facilities of the mine were built on an abandoned mine road. The passageways are so intricate that only authorized personnel can easily pass through. "We have now advanced to the third basement floor. There were two golems guarding the mine but we were able to neutralize them. Thank you. What''s going on? We''ve searched the entire floor, but have yet to locate Garrison Yak Arks or anyone else. Mm. ...... "I don''t think so, but he''s not here, is he?" "That''s a possibility. It is possible, but we were ordered to search here. We must fulfill our duty. * * * * And the situation is being conveyed to Horaijima as well. > It seems that even the "Mere Old Man" could not read them all. << "I suppose it can''t be helped. I''m the one who said that the real culprit should be captured by the Kingdom of Klein. "Well, I''d like to, but I''m still concerned about it." < "<>?" < "Well, that''s a relief." Jin was relieved when he heard that the fifth column (quinta) would be injected. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The race has entered the 7th lap!Oh, here comes a big change in the second group! "We see number 1 coming out..." Number 1 is the Road Toss. "Ha ha ...... seems to have sacrificed stability to increase mobility." Can you do that, Makina-san? "Yes, it is possible. Changing the direction of flight is affected by the overall length and width of the aircraft. "...... I see, so you are saying that a large aircraft cannot turn in a small radius?" "That''s right. And the number 1 has a smaller circular wing, so it is originally a small aircraft that can turn easily. Makina and Yuzo Mayaka looked at the Number 1 as it flew across the magic screen. "Yes, indeed. "Yes, indeed," said Yuzo, "but to compensate for this, the distance between the gondola with the pilot''s seat and the wings was set farther than in other planes. We have made it closer by means of a device installed in the fuselage." Yuzo Mayaka checked the magic screen again, "Oh, it''s true. ...... have you heard that? The number 1 has such a secret!" "I guess it was because it was more agile and slowed down less on the turns, so it overtook the number 8." * * * "Oh, Rhodes has passed one!" At Horaijima, all the team members except Jin were glued to the video of the race. Then Saki comes in. "Oh, Jin, have you finished the race yet?" "No, not yet, but the old man has put in the fifth row, so it will be done soon. "Well, that''s a relief." "Yes." Jin sat down in his chair and stared at the screen. "Oh, Rhodes, you''re up in the rankings. ...... Oh, he''s starting to take advantage of his small turnaround." Reinhardt reacted to this. "Ah, so it was Jin''s advice after all. "Yes, I was just giving you a hint rather than advice. "Hmm, but will changing the position of the pilot''s seat reduce the turning radius? "Well, I could understand if it would make it easier to ascend and descend," said Reinhardt. "Reinhardt is right. Rhodes seems to have changed the position of the balance weight at the same time as he changed the position of the cockpit." "What?I hadn''t noticed that. Reinhard scratches his head. "That''s true. The balance weight is not a definite weight, but a main girder to support the circular wing. "Isn''t that dangerous?" Hannah reacted to Jin''s words. "Haha, even Hannah thinks so. But you''ll understand if you think about how to use the circular wings. "Let''s see... ...... Oh, I see!As long as we use it as a parachute, it doesn''t need to be that rigid!" "Correct." This race is a simple circumnavigation race. Therefore, the role of the wings is to keep the plane afloat and level. If this were an acrobatic race with rapid ascent and descent, right and left turns, etc., the strength of the wings would have been an important factor. However, for simple circumnavigations, there is no need for rigid wings. Therefore, Rhodes activated the gimmick in the middle of the race, when the flow of the race had settled down and the pattern could be read. He reduced the moment of inertia so that the boat could make small turns. "You digested my hints like that." It was an approach that even Jin was impressed with. 2121 - - 57-09 Towards the end of the game And the Knights, who were searching the underground facilities of the Aegila mine, said. "Hey, I can''t find him anywhere. "Well, then, is there a hidden room or a passage downstairs somewhere?" ......, still frantically searching. But in the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Knights, there was one of the , Regulus 25 a.k.a. , whom the old man had sent. . By the way, his rank is a common soldier. "Message!...... where is the 1st battalion commander!" The 2nd Battalion was a ranger unit, and he took advantage of his position to act as a messenger. "The battalion commander went back to the ground to report. What a waste of time." "Yeah. ......" Scratching his head, he turns back. But this is just as planned. Unseen, he sprints back to the first basement floor at a speed no human could match. In fact, to get to the floor where Garrison Yak Arks and the other masterminds of this incident were hiding, they had to go through the hidden door on the first basement floor. The old man had long been aware of this, but the members of the 2nd Knights only thought of going to the lower levels, and decided that they would never get anywhere if they did nothing. Returning to the first basement floor, Gallus pretended to take a wrong turn on purpose and headed for the passage with the hidden door. It was a dead end, and the hidden door was not at the end of the passage, but on the wall slightly back. "Oh, no, I made a mistake. Gals says out loud on purpose, in case someone might be watching. Then he turns around and stumbles intentionally. The hidden door is at the end of his stumble. Gallus had the hidden door with his hand. "Oh?Oh?There''s a hidden passageway here! He shouts deliberately and calls out to his colleague in the first basement level. "I''m going to report something, so please keep an eye on the area around the hidden door! And without hearing any reply, Gallus rushes out. "Report!...... found a hidden door in basement 1!No passageway found on B4 yet!Repeat. Hidden door in B1!No passage yet to basement 4!" Gallus reported to the Knight Commander who was waiting for him on the ground. "...... hmm?What? "We found a hidden door in the first basement!Still no passageway on the fourth basement!" Gallus repeated his report. "...... hmm, that hidden door on B1 smells bad. ......Good, the 3rd battalion on standby is to go to the basement floor. ...... of the ...... messenger." Gallus, sir. "Okay, Gallus. You will lead the 3rd battalion to the hidden door on the basement floor. If you want to go to ......, I can go with you to the end. What do you say?" I''d like to go in there! I see. That''s the spirit. ...... Captain of the 3rd Battalion, you can temporarily add this Gallus to your ranks. "Yes!" As a reward for finding the passage, the commander of the 2nd Knights, upon hearing the report, temporarily added Gallus to the 3rd Battalion. This was just what Gallus and the old man wanted. * * * * * * * * * Now, the village of Toka was holding a race. "It''s very crowded, Grandmother. "Yes, it is. If I had known such an event was going to be held in the neighboring village of Toka, I would have come back earlier. Freddy Nido and Elise Nido, descendants of Jin and current lords of the village of Kaina, are conversing. They were on a trip to the Kingdom of Egelea at Freddy''s suggestion to enjoy the summer sea. Elise, who has been in good health since her heart condition was cured, is traveling around with Freddy to make up for the time she has spent away from home. "I heard this was Gin-sama''s idea, too. Yes. I heard that she couldn''t ...... bear to see the village of Toka, which used to be the domain of the Farheit family, who were friends of the previous generation of Magecraft Meisters, fall into disrepair. It''s just like Jin-sama, isn''t it? "That sounds like Jin-sama." Yes, Grandmother. Miss Ellis, Miss Freddie, would you like something to drink? Oh, thank you. Yes, thank you. They were accompanied by a blue-haired automaton, Anne, who had been dispatched by Jin on short notice. "Oh, it''s delicious!" "It''s a juice made from ice goat''s fruit, a specialty of Toka Village." * * * * The aisugo is a close relative of the blueberry, but the fresh berries are too astringent to be edible. However, when they are made into juice and precipitated, the supernatant is used as a dye and the pulp is made into juice, it becomes a drink with a noble taste. Icego berries can be harvested in large quantities for dyes, and the supernatant is sufficient for dyeing, so it can be used for both juicing and dyeing, killing two birds with one stone. This way of eating them was discovered by Saki just four days ago. In order to make icego dye, the fruits were blended in a blender and precipitated, and it was found that the supernatant was blue and the precipitate contained a large amount of purple pigment. The blue supernatant is used for the dye. The precipitates can be used to make pulpy juice. The recipe is 50 % pulp. It can be diluted with water and a little sugar to make it drinkable. Honey can also be used. After this tournament, it will become a new specialty of Toka village. "Thank you, Saki-san! Licia thanked Saki. "Kuhu, it was just a coincidence. Both of them were drinking iced juice while watching the race through the magic screen. * * * * "Well, we are now in the 8th lap of the race, and there are only a few laps left! The crowd was in high spirits. The leader is the unmistakable number 9, with number 2 in second place, but number 1 has moved up to third! "Number 1, you have an outstanding performance. You can''t increase your pace just by turning in a small circle. As Makina explained, it seems that Rhodes'' Number 1 had the power to make the most of the moment. However, Makina added that since the aircraft was small, the load on the propulsors and ether converters would have been high, so they probably saved their power until the latter half of the race. The leader who was piloting Makina and his boss, the old man, seemed to feel that <<>>. "Number 9 is leading the race from start to finish, isn''t it, Makina-san? "That''s right. It is probably due to the extraordinary power of that aircraft. The design of the aircraft, which is thoroughly focused on speed, is also paying off." <<> The "Mere Old Man" was imagining such a thing. "Oh!But the second place number 2 is not losing any ground!He has made a spurt!The distance from the number 9 in front is gradually closing! "It''s a thoroughly lightweight aircraft. It is a thoroughly lightweight aircraft, so it can probably reach a high speed if it wanted to. However, there are some concerns about its strength, so we have been taking a wait-and-see approach. Moreover, the machine is controlled by an automaton. Makina explained that they were probably flying the aircraft while sensing and analyzing its behavior. "But number 9 also increased its speed!The battle for the lead is between numbers 9 and 2! The air race was now in its final stages and the battle for the lead was now between numbers 9, 2 and 1. 2122 - - 57-10 A little more Underground in the Aegila Mine, the Knights are working hard to capture Garrison Yak Arks. From the newly discovered hidden door, the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Knights, its 10 selected members, plus more, are heading for the deeper underground. "But I didn''t know there was a hidden door on the first basement floor. As expected of <>." said the captain of the 3rd battalion, who was advancing alongside Regulus 25, a.k.a. Gallus. Incidentally, Plus Alpha is a member of the 2nd Battalion. "Huh. What is ......?What is this ?" "Oh, you don''t know?That''s what your colleagues call you. You''re not very good ...... at it, but somehow you take credit for it." "Oh, is that so?" This is, of course, only because Gallus is acting on the old man''s instructions for the benefit of the Order. It may look like bad luck from the outside. He says that he found evidence of a smuggler in an abandoned house which he stepped into by mistake. When we arrested him, it turned out to be the wrong person. But the wrong person is a more vicious criminal. You fell down and accidentally hit the ground with your sword and were able to stop a dangerous magic circle from being activated. And so on, and so on, and so on. To the outsider, he takes credit for his extraordinary good fortune. On the contrary, his skills as a member of the Order are the lowest. He is only just barely allowed to belong. Well, he is fast on his feet. Therefore, he was a fairly competent messenger. ......, but sometimes he makes a hasty mistake and goes the wrong way. This time it was fortuitous. "That''s pretty far down." They are now carefully descending the stairs leading down from the basement floor. "......I think we''re at least four floors deep now, aren''t we?" "Yes, probably." Although he said "probably," Gals, who is also Regulus 25, knew that he had already reached the depth of about six floors, not four. Finally, he reached a dead end. There was a door. "Stop!" The captain of the 3rd battalion stopped everyone and faced the door. Regulus 25<> is ....... (That door is a dummy. ....... If you try to open it, it won''t open, and if you try to force it open, this passageway will collapse. Well, what should we do? ......) ( The old man, who was following the situation with his <, knew that the door at the end of the passage was a dummy and that there was a hidden door in the wall at the top of the stairs. And Regulus 25, <>, who had received instructions from the old man, said "Battalion Chief, I advise you that it would be better for me to go back upstairs as a messenger and bring someone who is good at unlocking locks," he said. He said, "I see. "I see, that''s a good idea. Okay, go." "Yes!" The staircase was about a meter wide, so the knights were descending in single file, and Gallus turned back with ease. "Watch out, Gallus!" He called out to the knights, "Watch out, Gallus! As he was walking up the stairs, his foot stumbled. "Ah!" He lost his position and thrust his right hand against the wall. He felt something different from the rock wall. "......" Gallus stops. "Hey, what''s going on?" The battalion commander below calls out to Garus, who is standing still when he should be going up. After all this time, they have long since given up the idea of making any particular noise or keeping their voices down, since they have been making so much noise during the search for the underground facilities. And since this is not a problem, the old man does not intervene either. In short, everything that happens in the underground of Eguilla Mine is under the control of the old man. "I feel something strange here! Gallus reports. What? The battalion commander came up. "...... I see. This is not a rock. He pushes, and it slowly opens. "Battalion Chief!Isn''t it dangerous? The other knights warn him.., But "What? All this fuss and no response! There is nothing to fear. * * * * * * The old man is monitoring the whole situation in Horai Island. , that captain who makes decisions based on mere intuition, is he ...... competent or incompetent? Is he consciously or unconsciously considering various events before reaching this conclusion, or is he just a brainiac? Even the old man was having a hard time making a decision. * * * * * * * * * * * "Number 9, we have made the last turn!All we have to do now is to come back to the goal! Meanwhile, in Toka village, the race was in its final stages. The next to turn was number 1! He made a small turn inside number 2 and moved into second place! Rhodes is now in contention. The order is now 9, 1, 2!They''re followed by numbers 8, 7, 5, 3, 6, 4, and 10! "Ah, the last number 10 has just turned. Now it''s just a straight line to the finish line, a pure battle of speed. The spectators are excited and cheering loudly. The crowd is cheering loudly. Rhodes, you''re doing a great job. ......? Jin''s eyes widened. The plane with number 2 broke up in mid-air. "...... No, no." All the security parts and wheels attached to the aircraft fell off. "No way, to make it lighter! It is similar to the strategy Jin adopted in the model airplane races before. ......, but I never thought anyone would do that with a real plane. And he even throws away the landing wheels. "No, it''s an automaton that''s controlling the plane, so it''s ...... okay?" Jin imagined that the automaton would probably support the plane when it landed. * * * * "It was thought that ZEKEN 2 was disassembled, but it seems that it has been lightened by removing unnecessary parts!We will accelerate even faster!" However, the Rhodes number 1 is not to be outdone. He was going to put all the energy he had saved into flying the remaining 10 kilometers to the finish line. It was the same for the other planes, all of which were increasing their speeds. But... "All planes have accelerated further!And yet, number 9 is still in the lead!How fast can he go? Number 9 is now in the lead. Numbers 1 and 2 are battling for second place and chasing the leader. The order is 7, 8, 5, 3, 6, 4, 10. "Less than five kilometers to go until the finish line!Each plane is flying with its last ounce of strength!Who will be the winner? Amidst the cheers and cheers of the crowd, the 10 blow floaters put forth their last ounce of energy to reach the finish line. 2123 - - be settled 57-11 The arrests in the Eguilla Mine underground were entering their final phase. "Everybody, move in!" A hidden door on the side wall about 10 meters back from the end of the staircase. This was the hiding place of Garrison Yak Arks. To be precise, Garrison was just Garrison, since he had been disowned by the Arks family at this point. "Uh-oh!" No wonder the old man was not worried, this was just a and nothing more. "Got him!" "Got him!" There were six people hiding there. Four men and two women. Except for Garrison, all five were former nobles of the Klein Kingdom. No, Garrison is a nobleman now. "No!I can''t be a commoner! "Let go of me!I''m the second son of House Arks! Don''t touch me, nobleman!You''re a common soldier! "...... is all I have to say. I surrender. At this point, there were still five men who were still stuck in the electorate, and one woman, not ...... a man of integrity. "All right, take them away." "Ha!" Here, the plan to sabotage the <> was averted. * * * * * * "Now, we have less than two kilometers to go!The race is about to be over! Number 9 was still in first place, but numbers 1 and 2 were making desperate efforts to catch up, and the gap between them was not as great as it had been at one point. At best, they were only a length, or maybe a plane length?or maybe even a length or two. And then numbers 1 and 2 were in a dead heat, side by side ......, so close that their wings were almost touching. "Lo is doing well, too. Theon muttered. "By the way, Lord Rhodes, number 1, is a relative of Mr. Zion, isn''t he? Josephine Lumeth Klein, Queen of the Klein Kingdom, spoke. "Yes. < clan, so I take the name of that clan now, but I''m your great-granddaughter. "Great-grandchildren?" ....... I envy you Northerners for your longevity." It is Josephine''s virtue that she can say this without a trace of sarcasm and with a smile on her face. She is a very good person, but she has a lot of hard work ahead of her. I lost a longtime friend the other day." Of course he was talking about Maricka. The queen senses this and changes the subject. "We are almost at the finish line. I guess the winner will be number 9, right? "Yes, because of the performance of the aircraft and the way the race was run. Sion avoided making any definite statement, but admitted that the number 9 was still favored. "But there are two points in favor of number 1," he said. "Well, what are they?" I''d like to know too, Mr. Theon. Corwin Racka Kiddo, the Minister of Magical Technology of the Kingdom of Klein, also took an interest. "One is the concentration of free magical element (ether). As you know, the further north you go, the higher the concentration of free ether is, and the further south the concentration is, the lower it is. "Yes, that is true." "I see. ...... I am beginning to understand." The queen nodded and Corwin Raqqa Kido, Minister of Magical Technology, seemed to have an idea. "The efficiency of the air jet, is it?" Theon nodded. "You are half right. < Rhodes has had many interactions with our countries, and has traveled back and forth many times, and has been here for a long time. In contrast, this is the first time that Kondak of Shinra has left the Nordic Federation. Although the difference in the concentration of free magical element (ether) is no longer as great as it was 400 years ago, the fact remains that it is lower here. Even if it is only a few tenths of a percent. "I think Rho has the know-how to make full use of limited resources. I see. The other thing is that he pilots his own plane. The number 1 Rhodes car and the number 9 and 2 cars vying for the top position were both piloted by automata. The automaton''s control is solid and error-free, but it is one or two steps behind in terms of tactical maneuvering when the time comes. Theon said that the advantage would not be so good against Rhodes, who had traveled all over the world. True to Zion''s words, the gap between numbers 9 and 1 with one kilometer to go had narrowed to a half-mile. "Number 1, he''s catching up fast! The sound of the race was like a shout as the final kilometer passed. "Just a few more seconds and it will be all over!" At speeds approaching 200 kilometers per hour, a kilometer can be covered in less than 20 seconds. The spectators were also very excited, leaning forward to see the approaching aircraft. The crowd was so excited that they leaned forward to see the approaching aircraft. "We''re almost there, go! Rhodes pushed his machine to the limit and chased after the leader, number 9. It was all worth it, as the gap was now almost nothing. "......, if only we could reduce the weight a little more ......!" The gimmicks that had been incorporated to achieve both stability and mobility had resulted in an increase in weight. "Or maybe a lightweight golem like the one in the number 2 ......, but I''m not sure how it would respond in an emergency." Rhodes was determined to drive the aircraft he had built with his own hands. "d*mn!I didn''t think I could catch up so much with that machine, which I was so concerned about the ...... speed!" Meanwhile, Kondak of Shinra, the creator of the number 9 aircraft, was chewing on his navel at the participants'' table. "I should have piloted it myself. ......!" It is frustrating to just watch when you know what you should have done. As expected, he was not allowed to communicate with the automaton he was piloting, which was causing Condak a lot of stress. "That''s Rhodes. Is this my limit? ......" Harunata, the puppet who created the number 2, was a friend of Rhodes. Harnata was also watching from the participants'' seat, leaving the control to the automata. ....... "Oh, I knew I should have ridden by myself! I felt so bad that I should have just been watching. But it is also true that in that case, I probably would not have made it this far to the top. "If there is a next time, I will steer myself this time. ......" And the fourth-place finishers and below also had various thoughts as this long but short race was coming to an end. Entry number 3, Archista of <>. Currently in 7th place. "I guess it was a mistake to set up an either/or situation. ......" Entry number 4,<> Sargenta. Currently in 9th place. "I should have piloted it myself. ...... but O''Cloke, we''ll hear all about it when we get back!" Entry number 5, Zeddice of <>. Currently in 6th place. "Zerar, you did well. Let''s aim for a higher rank next time!" Entry number 6, Immyr of <>. He is currently in 8th place. "Marikka-sama, please watch us!We will try harder and harder!" Entry number 7, <>''s Bursak. Currently in fourth place. "The wall of the top three is thick ......, but we will do our best!" Entry number 8, <>''s Nikelis. Currently in 5th place. "I didn''t make it to the top, but it was a very fruitful tournament! Entry #10, Lulu Stoner of <>. Currently in 10th place. "Dear Marikka, I realized that I am still inexperienced. I will work harder and harder! With the participants'' thoughts in mind, 10 blow floaters take to the skies. And then... "Now, gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" At last, the game was over. 2124 - - 57-12 Deep impressions of each "The winner, by a narrow margin, was number 9! The venue was filled with a stormy cheer. ....... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, Lo, you''re one step short." Theon muttered a little disappointed. It was a very close margin, as they say in horse racing. "Master Theon, I''m sorry about your great-grandson." Josephine Lumeth Klein, Queen of the Kingdom of Klein called out. "Yes. But I''m sure he will use this as a springboard for further growth. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The fourth place finisher was number 7! The crowd was again applauding. At this time, the venue was filled with applause and cheers. The audience applauded and cheered loudly at this time as well. "That was close, Mr. Rhodes." "Yes. It seems that the difference in the tuning of the aircraft was more apparent in the end than in the performance of the aircraft ....... Rubina and Grina were analyzing the race together. "But the final push was great." "Yes, it was. I guess you could call it bottoming power. ...... Oh, I see." Suddenly Rubina''s voice rose. "Rubina, what did you find out?" "Yes. "Yeah. Not so much as I figured it out, but... ...... you know, Jin-sama, I think so too, but I was wondering if it would be a good idea to estimate a little more than the < when making it. This is a similar idea to the safety factor. The human body normally moves with a margin of safety, so that when the time comes, it can use its "foolproof power of fire", and if an arm or a leg is injured, the remaining body parts can assist it. "Does that mean we shouldn''t make it just short of the required performance?" That''s what I mean! "But that''s an aspect that only Jin-sama can do. ...... Grina says that it is only Jin who can make something that exceeds the required performance by more than double or more. But Rubina says, "You can''t give up there!" She remained positive. She is indeed the first <. * * * * "Well, that was exciting, wasn''t it, Your Majesty! "Yes, indeed. Let''s make a budget so that we can have these races on a consistent basis. "Yes, Your Majesty. We should invite not only spectators but also participants from all over the world and make it a big event. ...... like the speedboat races in Potrock." "It was fun, mother!" "It really was. I hope we will have more of these events in the future." The people of the Klein Kingdom were very impressed with the race. "Well, it was a great race. It was simple, but deep. Ernest XVII, CEO Emeritus of the Royal Factory of the Kingdom of Egelea, said to his aide Canaj Parosofa. Yes, I think you are right. I think we should develop it in our country and try to keep up with the times. "You think so too?" From now on, the development of wind-powered floaters (blow floaters) will be a popular activity in the Kingdom of Egelea. "Oh, it was wonderful, wasn''t it, sister!" "Yes, it was. When we go back to ......, shall we appeal for the necessity of developing a small aircraft and get the money for the development? "Yes, sister! < and deputy director of the Aeronautics Laboratory, and her subordinate, Ciel Azure, nodded at each other. Edda Yima, a technician from the Nostalgia Party, was also impressed by the high level of technology of the Nordic Federation, "This is a good sign that we have come to the right place. I will have to compile a detailed report. I have to prepare a detailed report," she said, feeling motivated. * * * * "Ah, one step ...... or maybe half a step short." At Horaijima, too, Jin and the others were excited to see the dead heat at the finish line. "Rhodes was close, too. ...... number 9, Kondak must have been a little out of tune. Jin said, Jin said, "Isn''t it Jin who didn''t announce the details of the race until just before the race?I guess that''s why many of the aircraft were not adjusted halfway, isn''t it? Reinhard said. "Yes, I have that dislike. I was wondering which would be better ......." Jin replied, "Well, Jin might be able to make an aircraft that can win in any situation, but I don''t think it''s the one for this competition," he said. He says. "The Road Toss has been adjusted to cope with a variety of situations. The number 9 was a speed bet. That''s the difference, isn''t it?" "That''s the difference, isn''t it? I didn''t think of that possibility beforehand. I regret that." Jin regretted that he had pursued his own taste too much this time. Perhaps if the race had been a series of technical courses, the number 9 would have been lower in the standings. "Next time, I''ll announce the details of the race in advance," he said. "That would be normal. "Next time, we will announce the race details in advance," he said, "that would be normal. It was fun to watch." Reinhardt followed up with Hitoshi, "Yes, yes, it was, Jin. Saki nodded. "Jin-san, thank you very much for your efforts for the development of Toka village!" Licia bowed her head as well. "Well, it was a very exciting event, wasn''t it, commentator Makina-san? "Yes, it was. The next race is still undecided, but I think we can make it a series. In that case, it would be more exciting if we change the content of the races. "Oh, yes, like what, for example?" "Well, what kind of things, for example?" "Well, I can think of some kind of flying area where poles are set up in a row and you fly between them in a zigzag pattern, or through rings, ......." "I see, that sounds interesting!" "But I''m glad you didn''t have any accidents." The only thing caught in the warding was the part that had just been purged by the number 2. "The wards are supposed to gently catch any falling objects," he said. It can hold up to about one ton. Makina''s explanation astonished those who heard it. "This is under my control. I will not give it to any particular person, organization, or nation. He also reminded them that he had no intention of giving it to any particular person, organization, or nation. "That''s a shame." Someone muttered. That''s probably true. It can hold up to one ton, which would negate most physical attacks. * * * * * * "Now, until 45 minutes from now, we will be preparing for the award ceremony and the popularity contest. Yuzo Mayaka announces. "Please place your ballots in the ballot boxes from 1 to 10. This has nothing to do with race standings. During this 45-minute period, spectators cast their ballots, go to the bathroom, etc. "The final event of the day will be a demonstration by <>, Jin Nido." The purpose of bringing Jin''s model flight to the end was to prevent the audience from leaving before the awards ceremony, but even without that, none of the audience seemed to have any intention of leaving. "But this bathroom is a surprise," he said. "No, not at all." "I didn''t realize this was a temporary restroom. ......" I''m curious to know how it works. I hear it was made by Makina-dono. The temporary toilet was another surprise. The construction was simple. A magic circle is carved invisibly into the receptacle of the toilet bowl, and the excrement is sent to the waste disposal site. <, the waste that appears on the receiving side is pulled by gravity and falls down. The toilet seat has a < magic circle engraved on it to prevent stains. Paper is not provided, but is sold at a store near the toilets. The toilet seat is heated, but it is not a wash toilet. The time passed. And time flies. At the end of the scheduled 45 minutes, the ballot boxes were taken away by the convention officials. The votes will now be counted. 2125 - - 57-13 Commendation ceremony and... There will be one hour between the end of the main competition and the awards ceremony. There will be 45 minutes for voting and 15 minutes for tallying the votes and preparing for the awards ceremony. During this time, spectators can go to the restroom, drink water, and have refreshments. Then the organizers go to ....... "Oh, this is very interesting. "It''s magnificent." Music is playing in the hall. The military band of the Kingdom of Klein is playing magnificent music because it is bad for the audience to wait for an hour. Jin wanted to give them some rest afterwards, since they had camped in the field, not in a hotel or a bungalow. At the same time, he was deeply impressed by the fact that such a musical culture had developed for 400 years without being affected by the <>. And Jin thought that it would be good to show not only music but also dance, ...... or model airplane stunts at the next opportunity. * * * * One hour later. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, the tally is in!" All the spectators seemed to be back in their seats, and the cheers were as loud as at the finish line. "Before I go any further, I would like to announce the results of the main competition once again. The winner of the memorable <<1st Marikka Cup> at ...... is number 9, <> Kondak! The crowd applauds. "In second place, number 1, <>, Rhodes! Another round of applause. At the same time, the ranks and names were displayed on the giant magic screen. "Third place, number 2, Harunata of <>!4th place, number 7, Sargera of <>!5th place ......" The top ten places were announced again. "Now we will continue with the <>. This is the number of votes cast by those who put the ballots attached to their admission tickets to the tournament into the ballot boxes of their favorites. That''s an interesting experiment. Yes, Your Majesty. The King and Queen of the Kingdom of Klein are also interested in the vote. "Let''s start with the top 10. ......10, number 10, <> Lerstner! Another round of applause. ......, but unfortunately, number 10 finished in 10th place in both the main competition and the popular competition. "9th place, number 4, Sargenter of <>!......8, number 3, <>''s Archista!" * * * * In this way, Jin in Horai Island thought that the popularity ranking might be affected by the performance of the aircraft or the demonstration rather than the result of the race. * * * * * * * * * * "Seventh place, number 5, <>''s Zedais!6th place, number 6, <>''s Imimir!5th place, number 7, <>''s Vusak!4th place, number 8, <>." Everyone applauded warmly. "And in third place, number 2, Harnatha, the <>! This was probably due to the dead heat in the second half of the race. "In second place, ......, number 9, <>, Kondak!" A loud cheer went up. "And that means ......." Unintentionally, Zion also muttered aloud. "And first place goes to number 1, <>''s Road Toss! The crowd cheered and applauded loudly. "Ah, so Rhodes is the favorite. That was a hotly contested final round, wasn''t it? Jin was satisfied with the result. Finally, it was time for the awards. The top winners were awarded on a special stage by the royal family of the Kingdom of Klein. King Mericarance I and Queen Josephine Lumeth Klein. The first princess, Lizabeth Leah Klein, and three others will present the awards. First, the trophy is handed to the winner of the main competition, Kondak of <>. * * * * "Oh, that''s the trophy made by ...... Ji, Jin-sama, isn''t it?" Marikka said with a little bit of a grin. The trophy was designed in the shape of a statue of the goddess Marikka as a young woman about to hand a laurel wreath to the winner. On the pedestal, Marikka''s first blow floaters are engraved in lines. Congratulations,< "Congratulations, Lord Kondak of Shinra. King Mericarance I of the Kingdom of Klein handed over the trophy. The audience applauded again. Queen Josephine Lumeth Klein handed a commemorative shield to the second-place winner, Rhodes. The third-place winner, Harnatha the , received a commemorative medal from the lovely 10-year-old First Princess Lizabeth Leah Klein. Of course, all the prizes were made by Jin. The shield was also engraved with Marikka''s figure in relief, the front of the medal depicted Marikka''s profile, and the back of the medal depicted the <> that Marikka had first developed. * * * * * * * * * "Uu...... is embarrassing, sir." Marikka was fidgeting on Horai Island. * * * * "Next, we will present awards to the top winners of the popularity contest. This will be done by Zion of . The top three winners will receive gold, silver, and bronze medals. On one side is a profile of Marikka, and on the other side is the <, which was first developed by Marikka. This design will become a standard for the future. Marikka was blushing with embarrassment. "Third place, number 2, Harnatha the Puppet! There were cheers and applause. Harunatha received a bronze medal. "Second place, number 9, Kondak of Shinra! There was a thunderous applause, followed by cheers and applause. This is the silver medal. "Now, the winner of the popular vote is the .................. number 1, the road team of <>. The winner of the popular vote is number 1, <>''s Road Toss! The audience cheered loudly. "Congratulations, Lo! Rhodes received the gold medal from Zion, and his cheeks relaxed with happiness. Later, Deus Ex Machina presented Harnatha, number 2 , with a trophy for technical excellence, a transparent crystal engraved with the that Marikka had first developed. It seems that the thorough weight reduction and the gimmick of purging were highly evaluated. The trophy was awarded for its light weight and purging gimmick. "Now, the awards are over. All participating teams, please come to the stage. Zion called everyone from the Nordic Federation to the stage. Then everyone stood on the stage, "Ladies and gentlemen. Thanks to all of you, the first Marikka Cup Air Race has ended with great success. In a clear voice, Zion began to speak. "This Marikka of Marikka......<> was my friend and apprentice to the 2nd Magecraft Meister Jin Nido. She developed the Blow Floater about 250 years ago for the people of the Nordic Federation. The audience listened in silence. "I would like to offer a silent prayer for her. If there are any volunteers, please join us. The direction of the platform was north, toward the Nordic Federation. And Zion.., "...... silent prayer! and closed his eyes. Of course, everyone on the stage also said a silent prayer. And the guests and the audience followed suit. ....... 2126 - - 57-14 Quiet 98 Wind FLOATING MACHINE DEVELOPMENT It was a long time ago, in the year 3650 of the continental calendar. "I guess we need to move a little faster after all. Marikka of the <>, the <>, was sitting on her golem horse, staring at the sky and muttering to herself. "Oh, Marikka, what''s the matter today?" Marikka rode her golem horse to the home of the clan leader of . There she met Zion, the wife of her longtime friend and clan leader, Belialus. "Yes, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something..." "Well, you can''t just stand at the door and talk, so come in. Now Zion is 263 years old and Marikka is 243 years old. Both of them look middle-aged on the outside, since the northern people age about five times slower than the people of the Laurentian continent. Thanks to this, Zion, who used to be a tomboy, has settled down and become a dignified clan leader''s wife, while Marikka has lost the restlessness of her youth and has become a matured magic technician. "So, what do you want to talk about?" "About means of transportation." Transportation? Yes. ...... just to take an example, the weather is sunny and the snow is deep, so today''s situation is easy to explain. It''s a little tough on the golem horses, isn''t it? "Yes, it is." So there''s the sky, Marikka said. "The sky, you know. ...... "In the past, Jinsha ...... made all kinds of airplanes. I, too, want to make a plane that is appropriate for the Nordic Federation. Theon smiled. "I understand. You want me to budget for it, don''t you?" "Yes." < "Okay. You can do it, since you are Jin''s disciple. You can do it. "Thank you." The food situation in the Nordic Federation had improved, and the economic situation had improved greatly. Sion thought it was time to pursue his own culture. * * * * * * * * * "If we analyze the planes made by Mr. Jin, we can divide them into four types, can''t we?" "Yes, Marikka-sama." Marikka''s assistant is , an automata she has just made. This is Marikka''s best work, hoping for a relationship like the one between Jin and Reiko. "A type of glider that flies by generating lift on its main wings as it is propelled forward by a propulsion system." The Glider Golem, Skylark, and Albatross, which Jin made in his early days, are examples of this type. "A so-called vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) type that separates the levitator from the propulsion system. The Pegasus 1 and Condor are examples. "Balloons and airships that use lighter-than-air gases. These are Conlon 2 and hot air balloons. Well, the Conlon 2 uses a <> in combination with a ....... The last type uses a <>. Mainly spacecraft. "Force field generators and balloons are no good. Generating lift with the wings also requires a runway and ......" Marikka decided that it would be difficult to operate on the snow-covered ground. "Then again, it would have to be a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) type." By separating the means of levitation and propulsion, the aircraft could be a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) type. "The problem is the engine, or ......." I am familiar with the <> that Jin has built. But. "...... is not so common." Marikka''s goal is to create a machine that can be handled by <>. Ease of maintenance and repair is also important. The magical jet propulsion engine (Magijet engine) is unlikely to be maintained or fine-tuned by engineers of Marikka''s current level. "...... simple type," she said. Marikka spent several days puzzling over this problem. * * * * "...... was done. ......" After a few more days, Marikka built what would later be called a , or or . What makes it different from the one Jin built is that it has a wider range of airflow. "In terms of image, it''s like inflating a paratrooper with wind from below," he said. "Yes, Dr. Maricka." Maricka explains to her students. "In that case, let''s call the air vent ...... for simplicity. If the air vent is small, you have to increase the wind speed of the airflow to keep the aircraft afloat. According to Marikka''s calculations, the weight of the aircraft, including the pilot, is estimated to be 200 kilograms. This would generate winds equivalent to a major storm. In order to reduce the wind speed, the wind volume should be increased, so they designed the Magi Formula to increase the diameter of the virtual nozzle to several meters. The nozzle was made to be several meters in diameter. Let''s give it a try. The prototype was completed a few days later. The test pilot was Hanako. The location was a plaza on the outskirts of the clan territory of Shinra. The snow was about one meter thick. The snow was chosen in the hope that it would provide a cushion in the event of a crash. Hanako, be careful. "Yes, Marikka-sama." Hanako then boarded the prototype and started up the "blow engine. With a distinctive whirring sound, the main wing, the umbrella, spread out. Yes, the <> wings were still in use at this time. The plane slowly lifted off the ground. "It floats!" The prototype floated up to a height of about 3 meters above the ground, and began to move forward slowly, as if Hanako had activated the propulsion system. The speed was about that of a person walking. Marikka and her students watched with bated breath. And then... "Ah!" "Ah!" They saw a crack in the umbrella that serves as the main wing. Naturally, the plane loses its support and crashes. Hanako! Marikka runs toward the crash site. ....... "............" She is buried in the snow. "Marikka-sama, are you okay?" Hanako rescued Marikka. She had not suddenly fallen, as Marikka had expected, and the snow was almost undamaged. "Oh, thank God. ......" Marikka hugged Hanako. * * * * The cause was definitely the lack of strength of the main wings. Therefore, Prototype 2 was made with a <> umbrella. This increased the total weight by about 15 kilograms, but this was more than offset by a 20% increase in the output of the levitator. "It worked this time! "Congratulations, doctor!" Marikka and her students cheered. In this way, Marikka was getting closer and closer to perfecting her blow floatation machine. 2127 - - 57-15 Model Flight After the silent prayer, the last performance is held. Jin''s model flight. "Now, our guest and one of the organizers, <>, Jin Nido, will perform a model flight. Amidst applause, the model flight by <> and <> began. <" is attached is because Jin was busy with various things and could not make a complete new model. The original <<> has many similar and sister models. The one presented by Jin to the Nordic Federation is also the same type. However. "It''s not just a Taube, is it?" Rhodes muttered as he looked at the , which was slowly taking off. "The coloring is different, too." As one would expect, Jin was conscious of the fact that it was <> and had changed its coloring. ...... Really, though, he just changed the colors. After rising about 5 meters above the surface, <> activates its propulsion system. And then ....... "Oh, wow!That''s a lot of acceleration!" The people who had begun to prepare for the return trip sat down again. "That''s Jin''s plane, isn''t it?" Zion says with a soft smile. "Hmmm......... this is the difference in technology.......... Our country is behind, isn''t it?" "Oh!You''re as good as the winner, number 9!That''s my boy Jin!" Mericarance I of the Kingdom of Klein expressed his concern for the current state of his country, while Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, Minister of Magic and Technology, praised Jin. The Minister of Magic and Technology, Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, praised Jin. "Yes, it was a spur-of-the-moment operation, but it''s going well. Jin muttered to himself while piloting his doppelganger, Jin D, on Horai Island. "I guess my plane came last." This was because he had built a camper-like bungalow, a dining car, and a toilet car. "But this will do." The , piloted by Jin D., flies through the late afternoon sky. * * * * * * Jin-sama''s plane is different from the others, isn''t it? "Yes. It''s probably only producing 30% or 40% of its power. Rubina and Grina are in the audience, watching the flight of the . "...... usually we can get enough performance with half the power, I guess that''s the goal." "I guess so." Rubina''s grandmother, Amanda, who was not very good with technology, was happy to see her grandson enjoying talking with his friends, and she looked at him with a smile. "Oh, that''s Jin-sama!" The participants in the air race also sensed the potential of the <>. "Oh, it''s going up or ......, but what''s that?" "Is that an auxiliary wing ......?" Yes, the most significant change Jin made when he finished the was the . The < can be easily understood as a parachute that can now fly. Or < or . Jin knew that paragliders are controlled by pulling a paratrooper-like wing called <> with a string and deforming it ....... He also knew from watching TV that some motor hang gliders have a cockpit that is comparable to that of an aircraft. Many of them have triangular wings, similar to those of kites. It may be a bit rough to say, but the result of mixing them all together is <>. One characteristic is that the current <> have wings. And Marikka used <>, i.e., auxiliary propellers, to change direction. This was only possible because of her magic. Jin, however, added to this the method of maneuvering <>. In other words, he added ailerons. Or better said, elevons (elevator + ailerons). The original < had a circular wing with a plate-shaped fuselage attached to the underside of the wing, in other words, like an old pot lid turned inside out. An auxiliary wing is attached to the trailing edge of the circular wing, which can be used for attitude control. These auxiliary wings work well when flying at high speeds. "Master Jin, you''re tilting the plane a lot! "How is he able to do that!" Rubina and Grina looked at each other. "...... I''m sure the key is the small moving parts behind the circular wings." And Rubina''s keen eye had almost discovered the secret. Normally, such < are used for fine-tuning and active attitude change is done by thrusters. Jin, however, was using both the thrusters and the elevons to achieve the same maneuverability at both high and low speeds. "Oh, that''s Jin-san''s plane!" "So this is the difference between us and ......." Rhodes and the other participants were also paying attention to Jin''s flight. They knew that Jin''s plane, although not particularly spectacular, was both stable and agile. "...... If Jin-sama had competed, I''m sure he would have come out on top by a landslide." "That''s one more souvenir to take back to <>." "Yes, sister." The two technicians from <> seem to have gained a lot. "Jin-sama makes great things, doesn''t he? "Indeed. It is a far-reaching goal, Grandmother. Freddy and Elise seemed to have enjoyed the day''s racing as well. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Yes, yes, it''s just like Jin. Even though we didn''t have much time, this is still a great performance. At Horai Island, Jin D''s friends were also watching the flying of his . "This is Mr. Jin. It''s already different from my !" Marikka praised Jin. "Yes, it is. A little closer to an airplane than a blow floater, isn''t it?" Reinhardt agreed. "If we do it right, it could fly like a tailless plane, couldn''t it?" Hannah looked very interested. "If that''s the case, it''s no longer a ," Reinhard said. Reinhardt said, and Saki spoke up with an idea. "Kuhu, maybe it''s a blowplane? That''s it! That''s a good name! Saki casually said, "A blowplane. The day is near when this will become the mainstream of small airplanes and small flying machines in the future. ......? 2128 - - 57-16 After a lot of things, "It''s over." King Mericarance I of the Kingdom of Klein, Queen Josephine Lumeth Klein, and First Princess Lizabeth Leah Klein breathed a small sigh of relief when Corwin Raqqa Kiddo, Minister of Magic and Technology, said, "Well, it''s all over. "Well, that went off without a hitch. "It was a lot of fun, wasn''t it?" "Yes, father, mother..." "Lizabeth, you did great." Merikarrans I, as a father, praised his beloved daughter. "Well, Your Majesty, the Knight Commander has something to report." The knight of the Kingsguard reported. "Yes, I understand. ...... you go back to your quarters first." Mericarance I said to the queen and the princess and went to the knights'' quarters to hear what the captain of the knights had to say. The knight''s office was located in the village of Euzo, the village headman. Meanwhile, Yuzo Mayaka, the mayor of the village, asked Jin to take him for a ride on the . Of course, Jin (Jin D) was the pilot. "Oh, wow!It feels so good to be in the sky!" Yuzo and Mayaka were very excited. "Jin-dono, is it not possible for an individual to own such a ? "Yes, it is. I don''t think it is impossible. At this point, Jin came up with a good idea. "Why don''t you rent it? "Rental?You mean rent, right? Yes, that''s right. With the village''s budget. This event probably brought in about three times as much money to Toka Village as the village had ever received. Of course, it is the income of the village as a whole, so it cannot go into the mayor''s pocket. However. "It''s for emergency use, isn''t it?" "For emergencies. ......" "Toka village is quite far from the nearest town as well as the capital. If something unforeseen ...... happens, such as illness or accident, it would be difficult to cope with it." Other uses include emergency rescues and searches for missing persons, Jin explained. "I see. ...... Then we can rent one with the village budget!" Yuzo and Mayaka were very enthusiastic. After another 15 minutes of flight, the <> landed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After that, Jin was very busy. He is planning to invite all the northerners including Zion to Nido Castle for the launch party. So Rubina and the others consulted with Lao Tzu, the organizer of the party. "Hey, Lao Tzu, do you think it would be a good idea if we go to Nido Castle too? "I don''t think so. Let''s ask him. "Please." Lao Tzu''s main body, Lao Kun, told Jin in Horai Island that he knew one of them, Rhodes, and that there should be no problem to meet him. "Yeah, that might be a good idea. ......I''ll check with Zion and the others and if they say it''s okay, I''ll call Freddy and Eris too." The result was <>. "Wow, I''m so happy! Rubina and the others were delighted, "What, what?" Freddy and Elise were momentarily taken aback, "We are honored!Please let us participate!" "I''m so happy, Jin-sama!" They were overjoyed to announce their participation. I''m so happy to be a part of it! However, the people of the Kingdom of Klein were not in a position to be so carefree. "Well, first of all, they planned to attack Toka and Kaina villages using a golem. These two are the perpetrators, huh?" "......" The two, broken by Reiko, readily confessed to everything, so the interrogation was easy. But... "Your Majesty!Why are we made to sit on the ground like this! Is this the way of the Klein Kingdom? "Don''t play games with us!We are innocent!We are the ones who are responsible for the fate of our country! Garrison and the others captured underground in the Aegila mines were very troublesome. "We demand to be treated as nobles!" First of all, they were too assertive to be interviewed. "What can I say to those who think differently?I will remain silent! I don''t understand what you''re saying. "Don''t treat me like a criminal until the verdict is out!I demand better treatment! His attitude is too big. But one of them was so honest that he confessed, "Traitor!" "Traitor!" "Betrayer!" "Curse you!" The interview proceeded smoothly, amidst such invectives as "Traitor! And later, in the Kingdom of Klein, "The Marquise of Arx shall be fined 10 million Tol (about 100 million yen) per year for the next five years. The current head of the family, Jurgen Arx, is the only one who has been fined. The current head of the family, Marquis Jrgen Sanaf Arkes, is the Minister of Food and is in charge of the country''s kitchens. He is a competent man, and it is not a good idea to remove him from his post. He also disowned Garrison early on, so he did not have him demoted. "Too severe a penalty will lead to resentment, too lenient a penalty will lead to leniency. ....... It is difficult to know what is the best punishment for what one has done. Mericarance I, King of the Kingdom of Klein, later said to his queen: "It''s not easy to get a reward for a good deed, but it''s not easy to get a good punishment for a bad deed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * And then... In the hall of Nido Castle, there were guests from the Nordic Federation, including Sion and Rhodoth, three people from Onogoro Island, and Eris and Freddie, the current lords of Kaina Village. It was only natural that they would be there, "...... Ah, Grina." ...... Freddy" And so on. The banquet seemed to be in full swing even before it started. 2129 - - 57-17 At a banquet As dusk falls on the village of Kaina, a banquet is being held in the hall of Nido Castle. "Thank you for your hard work today. There were no accidents and the party was a great success. Please enjoy yourselves, relieve your fatigue, and prepare for tomorrow''s energy. And I hope those of you who are here by chance can also enjoy yourselves. After Jin''s simple and simple greeting, the atmosphere was quickly filled with excitement. "Mr. Rhodes, you were great! "Ha ha, thank you. I''ll aim for the championship next time. I''ll be rooting for you! At Rhodes'' place was Rubina. "I see Freddy came to see you, too." "Oh, yes. He was traveling with his ...... grandmother to the southern part of the Kingdom of Egelea. When we came back, we found that such an event had been held in the village of Toka. Grina was talking with Freddy. Ernest XVII and his entourage had come from the Kingdom of Egelea to attend the air race, but since it was the first edition, it was not well known to the public and Freddy and his entourage in the south had not heard about it. "But I''m glad I got to see it, even if it was at the last minute," he said. Jin-sama gave us Anne." Anne returned with a tray of drinks and snacks. "Here you go, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Freddy." "Oh, thank you." * * * * Jin, our host, is entertaining Zion, the VIP of the evening. "This time, we experimented with some things, but I think it went pretty well. "Yes, I think so. The Klein Kingdom was well received, and the other guests seemed to be satisfied as well. I hope so. I hope you''ll hold it again next year. If you say so, of course I''ll help you. I don''t think the Kingdom of Klein would refuse. "Yes, I''m sure the Kingdom of Klein won''t say no. ...... Then it would be nice to have a real flying course built in Toka village." "......Well, I understand how you feel, but we can talk about such things when we''re not having a banquet,......?" Jin said to him and Zion smiled. "Oh, yes, of course. I''m sorry." Then he changed his smile to a grimace and picked up the cup. Yes, <>. Not a glass or a mug, but a cup. It was a lacquered sake cup, the kind commonly used at Nido Castle. It is supposed to be served when <> is served at ......<>. And Zion liked Horaijima rice wine. "Oh, it''s delicious!" It is a taste that has been refined for 400 years...the end result of the tireless breeding by the five-colored golem maid Topaz and the brewing by the peridos. "......That''s very poetic." Jin said to Zion, who had become more sentimental than ever before. "Maybe it is. Maybe it''s a reaction to the race." Smiling faintly, Zion took a second sip of his drink. * * * * "......<>, is it?" "Yes. That''s what my friends at ...... named me. It''s a new genre." Jin, the host of the event, can''t keep his eyes on Zion, so he visits Rhodes and the other members of the . The topic of conversation is, of course, Jin''s <. "I found out that the ratio between the required performance and the construction to meet it is important. I have learned that the ratio is very important. This is the granddaughter of Marikka, <>''s Kondak. "I vaguely sensed it when I saw Rhodes catch up, and I understood it when I saw Jin-sama''s flight." "Hmmm ......." Jin, who was being lifted up, folded his arms and made a difficult face. "I don''t mean to be rude, but <> are not in line with Marikka''s ideas." <> are more like balloons and airships: ......<> and <> are completely separated. < relies on aerodynamics for its maneuverability. You could say that it is a development of the tailless plane ....... "I don''t know about that." Marikka''s student, Immyr of <>, objected. "Jin-sama''s <> is not <>, it is definitely <> of the <>." "Is that so?" "Yes. ......If Maricka were here, I''m sure she would say so." "...... I see." Jin smiled a smile that could be described as a wry smile, and thought back to his exchange with Marikka. It was during the daytime, when they were still in Horai Island. * * * * "Master Jin has further sublimated the !" Marikka (the homunculus) said with a gleam in her eye. "I have been trying to do something about the situation where the maneuverability is good at low speeds, but the higher the speed, the worse the maneuverability becomes." However, he said, air jets were not powerful enough at high speeds, while larger ones would interfere at low speeds. "On the other hand, we don''t want to use a movable propulsion system because it would tend to lack strength." < has the great advantage that it is easy to identify each part and each component. It is the wings and the that float. The propulsion system moves the ship forward. Thrusters are used to change direction. Easy to understand, easy to handle, and easy to maintain. Of course, it is easy to build. If you want to fly fast, make the propulsion system stronger, and if you want to lift heavy objects, increase the size of the main wings and the blow engine. However, they could not devise a way to increase agility. "It''s a wonder that they used <>. ......" "But you''ve broken the division of labor by using thrusters to change direction, haven''t you?" Marikka shook her head. "No, the division of labor is just a pretext, and I have no intention of sticking to it. Marikka told Jin firmly, "It would be a mistake not to adopt a function that is really needed because of some kind of preconceived notion. "Well, if Marikka says so, ......." * * * * There was an exchange of words: "If Marikka says so, then ......" * * * * * *. Jin was happy to see that Marikka''s students had definitely inherited her intentions and were looking to the future. Jin then goes to Elise. Freddy is in the corner talking with Greiner, and Elise is with Anne. "Oh, Jin-sama!" "Are you having fun, Mr. Ellis?Are you all right? "Yes, I am. The atmosphere alone is enough to make me happy. Ann-san is taking good care of me. "I hope so. ......" Jin glanced at Freddy who was chatting with Greiner. "Well, she took care of me during the whole trip, you know. I should at least tolerate a little talk with the girl I like." "I see." Jin saw Elise smiling at her grandson, "Anne, take care of Mr. Ellis." "Anne, take care of Mr. Ellis," he reminded her. "Hey Jin-sama, about that , ......" < "Can I ask you a few questions?" "Yes, of course. "Well, is <> a technology that is incompatible with <>?" "Hmmm ......" Jin understood what Rubina meant, and knowing the background of Marikka''s creation of the <>, he had to think about how to answer the question. 2130 - - 57-18 Two Streets At the banquet in Nido Castle, Jin was consulted by Rubina. The subject of the discussion was whether or not blow floaters are incompatible with airplanes. It may not seem like the kind of thing to talk about at a banquet, but it can''t be helped since Rubina is too old to drink alcoholic beverages. And Jin himself likes this kind of talk. "I think it''s more of a developmental type than an incompatibility," he says. A developmental type? "A developmental type? The ......<> is based on Marikka''s <> and has been developed in the direction of maneuverability and speed." "<>?" Rubina tilted her head at the new term. "Oh, yeah. I was thinking of calling them blow floaters, which use aerodynamic forces to control their attitude and change direction." "<> ....... I think it''s kinda cool." "Really?" Jin added, "You could say that a larger version of the blow up rotor, with more carrying capacity, is a hurricane. < is shaped like an airship, but it is based on the principle of a . "Oh, I see. ....... The scale is so different that sometimes I almost forget." Rubina giggled. Then Rhodes joins in. "Are you talking about <>?We were all very impressed with Jin-san''s ." "I see. ...... I''d like to try more different shapes for the wings." The area of wind emitted by a blower flotation engine (blow engine) is not limited to a circular shape. It can also be elliptical or square. The advantage is that it does not increase the weight, since it can be changed by the description of the magic formula (MagiFormula). "Then we can make a shape more like a <, and I think we can make it more maneuverable by using aerodynamics." "Oh, that sounds fun!" I''d love to build one!" Rhodes and Rubina both said with enthusiasm. "I see. Well then, ...... since we''re having a party today, maybe we can talk somewhere after tomorrow." "Yes!" "Yes, that sounds good." That''s how it came to be. And the party is going on in harmony. Since we are like a family, the atmosphere does not deteriorate even if we are opponents. The members of the Nordic Federation were enjoying themselves, praising each other''s skills and pointing out where they fell short. Ellis and Freddie had never seen or attended such a lively banquet at Nido Castle. But the atmosphere is very nice," said Ellis. Jin was relieved to hear that they enjoyed the party. As an aside, some people in Kaina Village came to see what was going on because they heard happy voices coming from Nido Castle, and Butlers B and C took the liberty of serving sake to those people. It is a further aside that villagers came to the village one by one after that. * * * * * * * * The next morning, Rhodes and his crew returned to the Nordic Federation in their . Jin takes his assistant, his family, and Zion home in the . Rubina, Amanda, and Greena stayed behind in the village of Kaina with Freddy and Ellis, who also stayed behind, to relax for a few days. However, since Ellis and Freddy are the official lords of the village of Kaina, we might say that they are on the side of Gulina and the three others. "Take it easy," Ellis said, "and enjoy your stay. said Ellis, while Greena and Freddy were busy getting to know each other since it had been a while, and Rubina was holed up in the library of the Nido Castle, reading materials. Rubina was holed up in the library of the Nido Castle, reading books, especially about the of Jin''s world. "Hmm, so this is how it works. ......" The contents of the book are mainly descriptions of the model airplanes that Jin remembered and the results of his experiments in our world. The contents are more practical than theoretical, which is perfect for Rubina''s purposes. "Hmmm... ......" When I read the book before, I felt like I had memorized it somehow, but when I read it again after learning to actually make things, I found many new things. "Directional rudders and auxiliary wings are completely different things, even though they work to change the direction of the aircraft. ......" In model airplanes, the rudder alone will turn the plane. In reality, however, by tilting the plane sideways, the rudder causes the plane to slide sideways, and that force is used as the centripetal force to make the turn. In reality, ailerons and rudder are used together. "Rudder alone was sufficient for model airplanes because they are small and light, but for actual airplanes, rudder is used in combination because they are large and heavy. Rubina interpreted the above in her own way as she read on. "The balance of the tailless plane ...... seems to be difficult. Jin-sama did a good job ......." Rubina was able to gain a deeper understanding of , or , used by Jin this time. * * * * * * "Wasn''t that great, Jin-sama''s flight?" "Yes, it really was." Freddy and Grina were impressed by Jin''s technique that they had just witnessed. This is not a very s*xy topic for a date, but it doesn''t matter, since both of them are engineers. The point is that we are similar. "I want to fly someday, too. "Me too." Freddy said, to which Greiner responded, "Oh, Gulina, you haven''t flown in the sky in a plane you made yet? Freddy asked in surprise. "Yes. ...... exactly, I''ve tried to fly a little, but I''ve never flown freely like that." "I see. That would be ......." Freddy looked a little distant and then said, "If you''d like, I could take a look at it for you, "If you want, we can work together to develop it. Freddy looked a little far away and then said to Greiner, "If you want, we can develop it together. "Oh, that''s nice." Gulina was very interested in this proposal. "It would be too reckless to aim for Jin-sama''s level, so I''d like to first develop the ability to build an aircraft that can fly safely and reliably," she said. "I agree with you." At the moment, Grina''s magical engineering skills were still better than Jin-sama''s, but she knew that if she continued at this rate, she would soon be on the same level as Jin-sama and would soon overtake him. However, she is content to let that be the way it is and is happy that she is able to see her lover''s abilities improve. Perhaps it was because of this aspect of her that she had fallen behind Rubina in the competition. "Shall we do it in the workshop at Nido Castle then? Of course, he would have to refuse Jin''s offer, but it was unlikely that Jin would refuse for such a purpose. "Yes, that''s fine. Gulina also agreed to do it. 2131 - - 57-19 Structural dynamics "Sure, of course. If there is any material you want, you can talk to Butler B or C about it." When Greerina and Freddie approached Freddie with the idea of doing research on blow floaters at Nido Castle, Hitoshi agreed to do so in a good mood. "That''s great, Freddy." "Yes. Let''s start by building a basic plane, shall we? "Yes, that''s right. Using light silver as a skeleton, Freddy and Grina began to build their original Blow Floater. "<>!< "Ugh, why is it so hard to determine the dimensions in one shot ......?" Freddy muses. The smallest of objects can be so small that the smallest of errors can lead to big discrepancies, and extremely large objects are hard to determine their dimensions, both of which make the magecraftsman weep. "Jin-sama does it with ease. ......" "I don''t think we should compare him to ...... that man." "I know, right? Let''s take it at our own pace. "I don''t disagree." Freddy and Grina agreed. "So ......, we''re going to have three people in the car, right?" "Yes. Basically, there will be two people in the car, but I think there should be room for more. "I agree. Then, it should be about the size of Jin-sama''s , right? Then, Butler B gave me some advice. "I have a table of approximate weights and their wing areas." "What about ......?" "I guess we could look at that. It''s not like it changes from person to person." Freddy said, "It''s like a function table, so if it''s a universal value, you don''t have to go through the trouble of looking it up yourself, you can just refer to it. "Hmmm ...... I wonder if that''s true. ...... I guess so." Grina agrees, and they decide on the diameter of the disk wing that will serve as the main wing. "It''s a combination with the blow engine, isn''t it? How about we start out with a larger diameter to give us more leeway? "Yes, I think that''s a good idea. The two of them proceed with the work like this. They sometimes argued about what to do and what not to do, and completed one after 5 days of work. * * * * * * * * * * * "......" Before the test flight, Freddy and Grina asked Hitoshi to check the whole machine. Jin was pleased with the way the two asked him to check their work, and was not overawed by his own skills. So he carefully checked the work. "Yes, the joints are strong enough, and there is no bias in the materials. The framework is fine. Jin checks step by step and tells the result. "Did you use thinner light silver for the wing surfaces as well? The current strength is sufficient, but we should think a little more about it in the future. "What do you mean?" At Jin''s words, Greiner asked back. "It''s OK for now because the wing framework is shaped like this, but if we use elliptical or diamond-shaped wings, there is a possibility that some parts of the wing will not be strong enough. Because the wind is blowing from below, there is a constant < force," Jin explains. "It would be better to add more weight, but also a few more ribs. In that case, you have to do a good job of removing the meat to keep the weight gain down." "......That''s what you''re saying, I understand." "The output of the blow engine seems to be ...... generous. It should be enough. "I am relieved." Greiner is relieved at the results of Jin''s last check. Freddy, on the other hand, is thinking about how he can improve on the points Jin pointed out. "Jin-sama, what you said earlier, is it OK to use > for the wings?" The most important requirement for the outer panels of wings is tensile strength. > from Horai Island has higher tensile strength than unreinforced light silver. "Ah, that''s a good point of view. In that case, we''d have to increase the number of ribs a lot more, though." "Yes." Freddy was glad that Jin approved of his idea. "Jin, Jin-sama, do you have any tips on how to remove the meat?" Gulina asks in a bit of a panic. I wonder if she thinks Freddy is ahead of her. "Yes, I do. You have to think about the structure and do it without compromising the strength ....... You should look into structural mechanics." "I understand!" It may seem a bit exaggerated to talk about structural mechanics, but Nido Castle also has such materials. For example, the strength against bending, taking a square timber of constant length as an example: ....... The strength of 12, 21, and 22 square timbers to bending in the longitudinal direction (material) is calculated based on a cross section of 11 in length and width. What is the strength of 12, 21, and 22 square timbers to bending in the longitudinal direction (material and length are the same)? The answer to this question is structural mechanics. If the strength of 1x1 is 1, the strength of 1x2 is 2 and that of 2x1 is 4. This means that the strength of 2 x 2 is 8. In other words, the strength of a long section is higher in the direction of bending. From this, we can conclude that the strength against bending is more influential on the top and the bottom side of bending, and thus we can derive the answer ...... as to where is the best place to cut out the wall. Also, a quadrilateral is distorted by lateral forces, but a triangle is not. This is called a truss structure. Using the truss structure, a strong structure can be built with thin members. This is the case with dome roofs and cross braces between columns. In addition, a in which the joints are firmly fixed so that they do not move. The cross-sectional structures include the H-beams often seen in steel frames, and the L-angles and C-channels used in aluminum. Honeycomb structure. Hollow pipes are also a product of structural mechanics. A quick digression. Without giving a direct answer, Jin suggested that we accumulate such necessary knowledge. "I see. I thought it was more about practice than knowledge!I thought. Hearing this, Jin laughed. "Ha, if you are more of a craftsman, you might feel that way. On the other hand, if you are more of a researcher, you might put more priority on knowledge. It''s not a matter of which is better or worse, it''s a balance. He feels that Greiner is more of a craftsman and Freddie is more of a researcher. They would be complementary partners. "Anyway, can I try to fly? Gulina asks. "Yeah, sure, but be careful, okay? But be careful, okay? "Yes. I''m thinking of having <> be the test pilot. Char is a girl automata with red hair and brown eyes that Gulina had created. "That''s nice." Jin himself often lets Reiko and Jin D do the test runs. Neither Greiner nor Freddie had any experience in operating a blow floater. Although Greiner has flown an elliptical-wing airplane <> with a piloted plane. Safety first and foremost. Grina and Freddy were to test fly the first prototype <> in front of Jin, Reiko, Butler B and C. 2132 - - 57-20 Origami Airplane "Wow, you''re flying." "It''s flying." The first Blow Floater, the GFX-01, built by Freddy and Greiner, was slowly circling the square in front of the Nido Castle, piloted by the automata <>. The first blow floater, <>, was slowly circling the plaza in front of Nido Castle, controlled by <>, an automata. Incidentally, <> means <> for Greiner, <> for Freddy, and for prototype. <>, which means prototype. "<> are good at this kind of leisurely flight in the first place," Jin explains. Jin explains. "That''s why we need to devise various ways to compete in the speed competition like we did the other day. "Yes, I can see it clearly when I make it like this," Freddy answered. Freddy replied. "But when you look at it like this, it seems to me that a <> is a plane that flies slowly and leisurely." Gulina says. "Yes, it is. That''s for sure. We can build on that and develop it. Jin said in a gentle tone. "And I''m not saying that we should do it alone. You can count on me when you are in trouble or when you are unsure. "Oh, thank you! "Oh, thank you!" "Good luck. I''m going to now." Jin said and headed for the warp gate of Nido Castle. "You will be a good engineer, in a different way from Rubina," he muttered. He muttered to himself. The only one who heard him was Reiko, who was walking beside him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When Jin arrived at Onogoro Island, he noticed that there was a lot of activity. "......What is it?" He went out of the warp gate room and looked outside to see the he had built earlier flying around in the sky, and many people were watching it with cheers. The that Jin used this time was the one that goes out near the airfield. This is because it is more convenient for him to fly the prototype airplane he is going to build. "Fuun ......" Jin could somehow guess the reason for this when he saw the model airplanes flying around the airfield. Probably, Jin guessed that he was inspired, or perhaps his blood was rushing, or he just couldn''t sit still after watching the <<1st Marikka Cup Air Race>> that was being broadcasted on TV. ...... It may not be far off the mark. "It''s a thriving ...... business." Jin thought that everyone had a longing for the sky, regardless of where they were. "Ah, Jin-sama! Rubina was the first to spot Jin. "Hey there," said Rubina. ...... but what''s going on here?" "Ah, Jin-sama, come in. ......I guess the people who watched the live air race got interested in airplanes and flying machines. ......" The point is that they wanted to do it too. "Children?" Jin''s voice leaked out unintentionally in disgust. He had seen children imitating the heroes, heroines, and on rare occasions, the (cool) enemies of TV cartoons right after watching them, so he was deeply moved. Anyway, he had made many copies of the model airplanes that had been used in the last competition and lent them out to the children. Some of them are said to have made and flown their own model planes. "<> is experiencing a model airplane boom?" "I guess so." The islanders seem to have chosen model airplanes over actual aircraft because they can''t go outside, and most of them don''t want to go outside. "It''s safer, and it''s a smaller space. ......" I think this is a good thing, Jin. "Eventually, I may get tired of models and move on to actual aircraft." This is Jin''s experience. Jin thinks that if he has the background to build a model, he may eventually move from a model to an actual machine. * * * * * "At ......, are you making progress with your plan? "Yes. Look at this. Rhodes and Rubina greeted Jin and presented the results of their study. "I see, a tail-less plane. There were many papers with several sketches on them. The first was the circular wing, followed by the elliptical wing, the rhombic wing, and so on. Then came the delta wing. "......This is the one after all." It looks like an upside-down Western kite. Jin picked up the diagram and looked at it. "Origami airplane. ......" "What?" Rhodes and Rubina, who had been looking at the sketch, looked up at Jin''s muttering. "I''m going to need a sheet of paper." "Ah, yes." Jin picked up a sheet of A4-size paper and began to fold it up. "......?" Rhodes and Rubina watch in silence. is almost unknown to this Ars. In the distant past, Shuki Tsezi, a who wandered from Earth, left a paper crane to his beloved daughter, Adriana Barbora Tsezi, but other than that, Jin had rarely seen origami. This is because before the wooden paper made from plant fibers, it was almost impossible to fold paper cranes because of the use of parchment and other types of paper made from leather. No one would go to the trouble of shaving expensive parchment into thin strips for folding. "Now, it''s done." Jin folded a paper airplane. It is a squid-shaped plane with a small auxiliary wing at the front. "What is this?Jin-sama." Rubina asked Jin, "Well, watch it." Rubina said, "Well, watch me," and threw it out lightly. "Ah!" It flew. ...... It''s called a squid-shaped paper plane. Jin used to make it out of advertising paper when he was a child. "I wonder if this could be applied to this?" This is an idea that Jin has been working on for a long time. The disc wing is a parachute. This is a glider. By making it possible to glide, the risk of crashing can be reduced and the landing site can be more or less selected. "It should have good straight-line stability, so it should be able to reach high speeds. Rhodes and Rubina were very enthusiastic about this proposal. "That''s just like Jin-sama!" "Jin-sama, let''s go with this! "Okay, let''s consider it." The three of them decided to study the triangular wing format more deeply. 2133 - - 57-21 Currently in production "Hmmm, what about using the tip-tail wing in this format?" Jin shouted. "What do you mean, Jin-sama?" Rubina asked. "Well, when you fly in the sky, there will be a lot of air turbulence behind the wings, called . That''s why airplanes have the wings and tail fins mounted slightly offset from each other. "Oh, I see." "So you''re saying that the turbulence created behind the tail wing would affect the main wing?" Rhodes understood what Jin meant. "That''s right. That''s why tail-less planes have their advantages." Jin did not have a thorough training in aeronautical engineering, aerodynamics, or fluid mechanics. He has only acquired fragmentary knowledge in the process of building models. On the other hand, his knowledge is quite practical. However, since it is for <, I was not sure how much it would be applicable to the actual machine. "Then, this is the way to go. Jin picked up another sheet of paper and folded it quickly. This time, it was a standard triangular paper plane.This one is a standard triangular paper airplane. Incidentally, there is a hang glider with a similar shape. "It''s called a delta wing, and this shape is also good for speed," he says. On the other hand, it is also suitable for flying as a paper airplane. In other words, it has a wide speed range," Jin said. Since the wing area can be made large, the wing loading (weight per unit wing area) can be reduced, and stability at low speeds can be ensured. "I''d like to go with this." Rubina was the first to agree. "Yes, I think it''s a good idea. Rhodes agreed. "Okay, let''s work on this. Jin spoke his conclusion. In a rough way, the world has magic, so it is possible to make some difficulties. However, it is certain that designing in accordance with the laws of physics will be more efficient. The design of the system is the same as the design of the system in the past. "So, this is your research? "It is important to experiment with models. Jin and his colleagues made origami airplanes of various shapes, flew them, observed them, and ...... experimented with them. "We''re not going supersonic, so the angle doesn''t have to be very steep." The angle of recession should be about 60 degrees, and Jin wants to make an equilateral triangle as a plane shape. "Yes, that''s right. It seems to be well-balanced as a shape. "Maybe it could be a little longer horizontally.About 45 degrees." "In that case, it would be a right-angled triangle when viewed from ...... above. That''s not so bad. Jin and his team repeated this kind of exchange. * * * * In Horai Island, Reinhardt was also following this trend. He has never been interested in vehicles, but the <<1st Marikka Cup>> seems to have set his blood boiling. I think I''m going to try to build one for myself. ...... Leela, help me." "Yes, Mr. Reinhardt." Leela is an automaton with wisteria-colored hair, created by Reinhardt. Normally, she acts as an assistant, but when she puts on her armor, she becomes a . Though he has never shown himself as a except for test runs. There was no need. Reinhardt took his own pace and built the aircraft at his own leisure. In the end, Jin and his team''s prototype was built. In the end, Jin and his team''s prototype became a delta-wing aircraft with a 45-degree recession angle. From above, it looks like a right-angled isosceles triangle, but with the wingtips cut off and an auxiliary wing attached vertically, it looks like a chunky chess board or a home base that is a little too short. "This is how stable the model was, wasn''t it?" "Yes, that''s right." The model was made of fabricated light silver, and although it started out about 30 centimeters long, by the time of the final experiment, it was 2 meters long, almost half the size of the actual model. Reiko threw it to the ground to see how it glided. "Well, let''s make three units with the same basic configuration. Jin said. "Oh, and only the final adjustments will be made by each of us? "That sounds interesting." Rubina and Rhodes agreed. The first step, however, is design. There is no formula for determining the required values, so there are many rules of thumb to be followed. The wing area is to be determined based on the assumed weight of the aircraft (including passengers), but this is not a problem since there is a wealth of precedent data. Strength was not much of a problem, since the use of 64LBE for structural materials facilitates strengthening. However, the bare strength was sufficient, as Jin checked it. "And then there''s the control system. Since it is a tailless aircraft, it has elevons on the wings and a rudder on the vertical tail. "We should also add thrusters for low-speed flight. "Yes, that''s right." These will be operated from the cockpit using wires. "Have you decided on the size of the propulsion system and the blow engine? Rhodes asked Jin. "Of course. We''ll make a generous design here. Rhodes said, "I will design and build it myself. "Then, the cockpit area will be the next step. Rubina insisted that some consideration be given to comfortability, and neither Jin nor Rhodes had any objections to this. "We''re going to spend a certain amount of time in the cockpit." Jin also wants to minimize vibration and shock during landing. Such a structure has already been conceived, and it is just a matter of making adjustments after the aircraft is built. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The prototype was completed the next day. Reiko''s test flight was a success. We did it! We did it. We did it. The first prototype was saved at the request of Rubina and Rhodes, because they had built it themselves. Because it was the best thing they had ever made, they wanted to keep it as it was for a long time as a souvenir. Once the product is made, it remains as a <, so the time and effort required to make the same product is less than one-tenth of the original. The more mass production is done, the more effective it becomes. This time, we are going to make three identical machines, adjust each of them, and compare them with each other. That is something that Jin is looking forward to. "Reinhardt is building something, too. < and is just half a day, so they are sleeping and waking according to their respective days and nights, so they don''t know each other''s situation very well, but that is where <> comes in. Through the old man, Jin and Reinhard knew each other''s situation, albeit briefly. Jin said, "If we are going to compete, it would be nice to do it in Hale. Jin said, "That''s good." "That''s a good idea! Rubina and Rhodes agreed. 2134 - - 57-22 New Goals Jin and his team built a delta-winged <. The prototype was named <. X means prototype. Three similar prototypes were built. These were named <<<. The reason why I named them <>, even though they are the same type, is that I assume that they will be modified and developed as <> in the future. Incidentally, 1 is for Jin, 2 is for Rhodos, and 3 is for Rubina. "Well, how about we each play around with these ...... and compare them in a week?" "Oh, yes! "Sounds interesting." Rubina and Rhodes agree, so Jin will be on Horai Island and Rhodes will be in the . Rubina is to conduct her research here on . * * * * * When Jin returned to Horai Island, Reinhardt had also completed his own blow floater and was conducting a test flight. "Hey, welcome back, Jin." "Hey, Reinhard. ......, you''ve made a nice one." Reinhardt''s first prototype had a shape that made Jin want to call it a motor hang glider. It had triangular wings like a kite extended sideways and a suspended pilot''s seat. < "That''s great." I''m honored to hear you say so, Jin. ......Yes, we also make maricas." "What?" "It''s not finished yet, so it should be in the large workshop behind the institute." "I see. I''ll go there. < "Here it is. ...... Marikka, come in!" "What? Marikka responded as Jin entered the large workshop. "Jin, Jin-sama, why are you here? "Because I just got back from ...... and Reinhardt told me that Marikka is also making a new blow floater." "Yes, isn''t that right,......?" "Oh, so this is it. I see. "Oh, um, Mr. Jin, please don''t stare at me too long, I''m very shy. But the blow floaters that Marikka is making are so good that even Jin is impressed. "I see, so this is Marikka''s idea." If Reinhardt''s <> was a , Marikka''s was a . The pilot''s seat is suspended from the long wing. It differs from a paraglider in that all of its components are <. In other words, paragliders can be folded into a smaller size, but this one cannot. "You made it long from side to side in order to twist the wings and use them as auxiliary wings, didn''t you? "Yes, that''s right." Jin recalled a biography of the Wright Brothers that he had read long ago. It was written that the early planes they built, <>, had twisted wings pulled by wires. Later, as the wings became stiffer, <> appeared. Since when, ...... does not know. Marikka''s aircraft was built in such a way. "The propulsion system is about standard, but the <> is more than one ......? "Ah, yes. I thought it would be safer to have more than one engine as a backup or something to prevent a crash. ...... "Yes, I agree. I agree with you. I''m honored! * * * * Jin then returned to his house. Reiko, on her own initiative, stayed behind in the laboratory. < "Welcome home. "I''m home. I''m sorry I was gone for so long. "No, it''s okay. < The research that Erza is talking about is on the subject of why engineering magic doesn''t work on living things. These days, it''s about <>. A cut-off branch becomes effective immediately, but it does not die immediately after being cut off. For some trees, it is possible to take a <> from it, so that the roots grow and the tree begins to grow again. Of course, there are cases where the cuttings are not successful, but so far, without exception, the branches that have been cut off have been able to work their engineering magic immediately, so it seems that this is not simply a case of living or non-living cells, which was the impetus for the research. "So, did you figure it out?" "......" Elsa shook her head silently . "I see. ......" Jin joined her in worrying. "......I read a manga or a novel a long time ago, and it said that living things have a material body and a spiritual body, and that the spiritual body has several layers." Erza reacted to these words with a twitch. "Tell me more about it." "No, I don''t remember if it was mysticism or spiritual science. ......" I don''t remember if it was mysticism or spiritual science, and moreover, it was fiction. "Still, the human imagination is sometimes close to the truth. Elsa says. Yes, we cannot laugh at fantasies and delusions. They often contain fragments of truth. "Well, the mental body is made up of several layers of something called the body, and the soul or mental power depends on it. ......, right?" Jin didn''t remember much more than that. "...... interesting." Still, it seemed to give Erza some clues, "There are spirit life forms, and the existence of souls is undeniable." She pondered. "You''ve considered such a theory before, haven''t you?" "Hmmm... In the words of my brother ...... Jin, <>, there is something called soul, soul, spirit, and so on. That may be the key." "I see." "A homunculus is not just a matter of transcribing memories. The <> level <<10>> may be able to transcribe such <> as well ......." "So that''s what you mean ......." Elsa further explains her theory. "Knowledge and experience are afterthoughts. Personality is not yet the essence. The base of it, that may be the ......." Jin imagined that the soul is like an operating system, on which applications are applied to form the personality ....... "It''s a deep subject. That''s why it''s worthwhile." Jin cheered for Erza, feeling that he could somehow get closer to the essence of life and living things. "Yeah, go for it." Jin was happy to see that Erza, who had regenerated as a homunculus, had also found her goal of "approaching the essence of life. 2135 - - 57-23 Technology Expansion Back in time, October 13th. < "Mr. Himmel!We should also promote the development of smaller aircraft!" "You are right!The number of personal applications will increase in the future! I think a small aircraft would be very useful during operations! "......" "Okay, okay, okay, okay." The head of the office, Roar Eisker, was a rather indecisive man, and he was intimidated by the , received a deus ex machina visit. "I apologize for the unexpectedness of this visit. Tomax interrupted Makina''s apology for his sudden visit with a wave of his hand. "No, you are always welcome here. No, you are always welcome here. ......So, what can I do for you today?" I''m afraid I have to ask for your time, so let''s make this quick. ......3 days ago, an air race was held in the village of Toka in the Kingdom of Klein. "Oh, I''ve heard. < "Yes, I know. I have also sent two young people from <> to visit the aircraft laboratory. ...... So, I think that the development of small aircraft will become popular in many countries in the future. So ......" This is a deus ex machina prediction. Tomax Bartmann listened attentively. "......I see, you can give us some material for small aircraft," he said. "Yes, I will. Not everything I''ve studied so far ......, though." "Of course not." Makina then took out three Magi Crystals that stored the data. "The contents are the same. One for viewing, one for storing, and one for emergencies. "Thank you for this." Tomax Bartmann took them. Then Manon, the secretary-automata, came in, "Mr. Tomax, Mr. Roar Eisker, the head of the aircraft laboratory, is here to see you.He wants to talk about small aircraft. He said, "What do you want to talk about? Before Tomax could answer, Makina said, "Oh, isn''t this a good time for you to talk to him? Tomax Bartman motioned for him to enter the room. "Excuse me." When Lois Eisker entered the room, she was a little surprised to see Makina, but quickly changed her mind and said, "I''d like to talk to you about the development of small aircraft, "I would like to report on the development of a small aircraft. "I would like to declare the development of a small aircraft," he began. "Yes. I have just received advice and help on this matter from Makina-sama. Tomax Bartmann showed the Magi Crystal that Makina had given him. "We, , have no problem developing a small aircraft to keep up with the world''s current trends. We will also consider the budget." "Oh, thank you very much!" Lower Eisker was relieved that the budget was approved without any difficult discussions. "Let''s go back and let the members know. Makina then called out to him. "You are the head of the aircraft laboratory, aren''t you?If you don''t mind, I would like to visit your laboratory. Makina, the leader who manages and pilots the aircraft, and the leader''s boss, the old man, decided to take this opportunity to determine the level of aircraft development in . * * * * In the aircraft laboratory, Ciel Azure said, "Director, are we there yet ......?" She was waiting impatiently for Lois Eisker''s return. Zora Himmel calmed her impatience. "For God''s sake, it''s only been ten minutes since he left. How can she be back so soon? ...... And then, "He''s home!" And then he said, "I''m home. "What? Isn''t that too soon? No wonder he was surprised. "Did you, by any chance, get turned away at the door?" "You are casually rude, aren''t you?" Roa smiles at Ciel''s foul mouth. "More importantly, we have a guest. Roa Eisker says, and the two recognize their companion. "A visitor?Is that you?...... ah ah ah! Deus ex machina! "What?Deus ex machina-sama! The other students in the back of the room came in, and a huge commotion broke out. The Master and the old man realized how popular deus ex machina was among the engineers. "We came here to talk about the advantages of small aircraft, but it seems we don''t need them anymore. Makina heard Zora Himmel and Ciel Azure spouting their theory in the laboratory. So, "So, if you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them. Makina then asked them if they had any questions. "That''s a wonderful opportunity," she said. May I ask you a question at ......? The director, Lois Eisker, came forward first. "Yes, please." "Yes, please." "Thank you. I''m ......, um, I''m just wondering about the safety of small planes." "Oh, I see." It was a vague question, but the deus ex machina (actually the imam) immediately understood what he meant. "It is true that small aircraft are inferior to medium and large aircraft in terms of strength," he said. The imam and the old man were thinking that it would be like comparing the strength of a light car with that of a large luxury car, according to their knowledge from Jin. "However, if it crashes, it will be a big accident, no matter how big or small it is." What would happen if the plane crashed from a height of 50 meters? A crash landing is one thing, but a crash? "That''s for sure." Roa nodded. Makina continued. "The proposed by Marikka separates the function of floating from the function of moving forward. In other words, the countermeasure against crashes is to strengthen the function of <>, isn''t it?" "Oh, I see." "Balloons and airships have the same separated functions, but they cannot be <>." "That''s ...... true." But <> can be dealt with by having stronger <> to keep them afloat, or by having more than one. "Ummm ......<> could also be used within it." The structure would be more complex than a balloon, but once built, maintenance costs would not change much. The speed will be faster. "It would also be easier to carry heavy objects." For balloons and airships, the only way is to increase the size of the air bladder, but even that has its limits. For a <>, the <> should be more powerful. "It certainly has a lot of advantages." Lois Eisker agreed. "Well, any other questions?" "Oh, yes, please." The next person to raise her hand was Zora Himmel, Deputy Director. 2136 - - 57-24 Spreading Ring The deus ex machina question and answer session in the <> aircraft laboratory was still going on. "Well, how large can the <> be made? Zora Himmel''s question is immediately answered by Deus ex Machina. "Your , Jin-dono, is also a . "What? A voice of surprise escaped from ......, "Yes, indeed! "That structure is the same as a blow floater!" As expected of the members of the aircraft laboratory, they understood immediately. "As long as the strength of the wind-catching wings permits, we can make it as large as possible." "I''m sure that''s true. ...... "Well, let me ask you something as well. ...... about the danger of collisions in the air. If the number of aircraft increases, such an accident is a natural possibility, and the danger is greater than that of a collision on the ground. "That''s what I mean. There are several possible countermeasures. First of all, we need to equip warding. When they are in the air, they deploy repulsive wards to avoid contact with each other and collisions with surrounding structures, trees, and other objects. "Of course, the characteristics of the wards are to repel softly." Specifically, the smaller the relative distance, the more rapidly the repulsive force increases. It is inversely proportional to the square of the distance," he explains. "In some cases, it may not be squared, but cubed or squared," Makina added. Makina added. Then he added, "By the way, the wards that were stretched near the ground surface during the air race had the same characteristics," she continued. She continued. "But these wards can also be used as weapons. < if you limit its usage. A ward that can receive physical attacks. Although it is for defensive purposes, it can be an effective weapon in battle. If you put it that way, almost any technology can be a weapon. Makina looked a little sad and disappointed. "Then there is also the possibility of having the golem pilot or assist the golem to reduce human error. This method would use a golem that is neither fatiguing nor distracting, and would allow it to detect hazards in its surroundings, or to avoid them when it detects them. It is a concept similar to the modern anti-collision system for automobiles. "I see, that''s very helpful. * * * * And the time returns to October 20. "Well, the transfer of technology to <> went smoothly. Over the next few days, Deus ex Machina had been cooperating with <> in the matter of small aircraft, which was completed on this day. On the island of Horai, Jin nodded his head in satisfaction after receiving the report from the old man. "......But really,...... most of the technology can be used for war." Jin also muttered regretfully. > "Yes, I do. "Yes, just in case. I think we should provide ...... all the magic tools of the warding and set them to erase themselves if anyone tries to analyze them. "I think so. If they develop ...... their own from scratch, ...... there''s not much we can do about that." < "Well, we still have a little grace time, so let''s think about other security measures." "Well, we still have a little time. "Well, I guess that''s about it." Jin was currently modifying the <>. Jin''s image is that of a small motorcycle. The concept is to focus on short and medium distances, and small turning radius, rather than long distance travel. "There are many other ways to travel long distances, you know. "That''s right, father." Reiko, who was helping me, concurred. "I wonder what kind of flavors Rhodes and Rubina will bring to the table. Jin is looking forward to the day when they compare. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm......... something halfway........." <, Rubina is experimenting. She was aware that one of her weaknesses was her inexperience. So, first of all, she tried various settings and repeatedly tested modifications such as <><><><>. "Is this what I''m aiming for<> or ......" I have a vague vision, but it''s not quite clear yet. "There is still time, so we will have to repeat the process. Rubina mutters to herself, and begins remodeling again. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Rhodes. "I guess my policy is stability and safety. The machine is being carefully tuned in the Nordic Federation. His assistant and test pilot is Momoko, an automata. "Mr. Rhodes, what is the next setting? "Well, let''s make it a little faster. "Okay." Rhodes'' basic policy was to emphasize stability, and within that range, he made adjustments such as increasing speed and improving maneuverability. It was a similar approach to that of Rubina, but Rhodes had a clear idea of what he was aiming for, so he made more detailed adjustments. * * * * * * * * * And then Freddy and Greena. "Well, it''s getting pretty stable, isn''t it? "Yes, it is. Now we just need to get a little more speed. "But if you go too fast, you''ll lose control of the car, right?" "Yes, that''s right. ...... do you have any materials in the castle library?" "Let''s take a look." The two of them followed the royal procedure in a sense: if they didn''t know something, they would look it up, and if they still didn''t know something, they would ask Jin or the old man through Butler B or C. Then, they steadily finished their own <>. "Now all we have to do is to take measures against crashes, right?" "Yes, that''s right. No matter how you fly, there is always the risk of crashing. ...... "Let''s think about this carefully." The two walk to the Nido Castle, discussing the matter with each other. The two of them walked to the Nidou Castle, discussing the matter with each other. "No, this is more fun than I thought it would be!" On Horai Island, Reinhardt is enjoying a ride on a blow floater of his own making. "Mr. Reinhardt, Marikka-sama is here, too." Leela, Reinhardt''s assistant automata, said. "Which is it?...... Oh, it''s true." We are on Tatsumi Bay. We are about 10 meters above sea level. The reason is that even if the plane crashes, it will not be fatally damaged. Nevertheless, the plane is so well finished and so stable in flight that it is not likely to crash unless something unexpected happens. * * * * * * * * * Moreover, the aircraft is very stable in flight and will not crash unless something unexpected happens. "Hmmm ......<> or ......" An unknown magecraftsman was also interested in this trend. 2137 - - 57-25 Quiet 99 In other countries In Asund, capital of the Kingdom of Egelea. Ernest Elm D''Andrea, the third prince and honorary CEO of the Royal Factory, a.k.a. Ernest I VII, was at an airfield south of the royal capital with his aide and childhood friend, Canaj Barosofa. VII, the Honorary CEO of the Royal Factory, had arrived at the airfield south of the royal capital with his aide and childhood friend, Canaj Barosofa. More precisely, to the laboratory and workshop at the airfield. "Canaj, the air race the other day was a shocking experience, wasn''t it? "Yes, Your Highness. If we are not careful, technology can quickly move on, can''t it? Ernest XVII nodded. "That''s right. If we stand still, we will be left behind. In other words, doing nothing would be like falling back." "Gyoi." The two squires look up at the balloons and airships floating above the airfield and talk to each other. "We''re finally getting rid of the influence of the <>." "Let''s do our best." Then a knight of the Kingsguard under Ernesto comes and makes a report. "Your Highness, a man claiming to be a magecraftsman has just arrived outside the airfield and wishes to see you. "Magecraftsman?Who is he? "I don''t know. His name is St. Mark''s Podium. The knights of the Kingsguard under Ernest XVII have a minimum knowledge of magical engineering. The Magical Craftsman (Magi Craftsman)....... that they don''t know about. "What are you seeking?It is not to gain an audience with His Highness, is it?" Canaj Barosofa, a close aide, asked. "Is. He says he wants to help you with your flying machine." "Oh?" he asked....... interesting. Bring him to me. Sir? Yes. So the knight of the Kingsguard went back and came back with the magecraftsman named . "It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am San Marco Podium. I am San Marco Podium, wandering magecraftsman. San Marco Podium has brown hair and brown eyes. He is of medium height, a little thinner than ....... His demeanor is not arrogant or condescending, but confident. "I understand that you are going to help us develop a flying machine." Yes, that''s right. "Well, I don''t know anything about you. I don''t know anything about you. Can you show me your skills in some way? "Of course. Could you call the squire who was with me at ......? "Okay. ...... bring him to me." "Yes." A few minutes later, a girl carrying a package arrived with a knight of the Kingsguard. Her hair was a stunning red. It is said that Beena has red hair, but it is a saturated brown, and dyed red hair does not exist in this world. So ....... "My name is , an automata I created." My name is Roo. Please take a moment to get to know me." Rue, the automata girl, bows in curtsy with her pack on her back, seemingly unaffected by the weight of it. "Oh ...... this is wonderful." "It''s a masterpiece, indeed. It looks just like a human being." Both Ernest XVII and Canaj Barosofa were impressed by the workmanship. What do you think? "Well, I can''t say enough good things about your skills. How about a week or so as a guest at ......?" "A guest ......?" "Yes. ......Any work is difficult to do alone. Therefore, you have to work together with your colleagues. You should think of it as a way to get accustomed to the workplace. At the same time, it is a probationary period to see how cooperative and personable they are, said Ernest XVII, CEO Emeritus of the Royal Factory, But Ernest XVII, the honorary CEO of the Royal Factory, did not go so far as to say so. He said, "I understand. I look forward to working with you from now on. Thus, the mysterious Magi Craftsman, San Marco Podium, was accepted as a guest of the Royal Factory of the Kingdom of Egelea for the time being. * * * * * * On the other hand, the Kingdom of Elias. In the capital city of Borgia, a magician (Magi Craftsman) calling himself <> appeared and sold various magical tools in the town. His magic tools became famous for their low price and high performance. "Hey, did you hear that?" "Yeah, you mean the stalls on the main street? "Yes, that''s right. I bought a magic lamp there.And it''s so bright and light! "I heard so. And I hear that the automaton who is assisting you has a reputation for being cute?" "Yes. I saw one once myself, and she looks like a girl of about 12 or 3 years old. Well, her hair is an unbelievably bright red, so I know she''s not human. These rumors spread fast. Within three days, the kingdom''s heavy hitters and ....... "Yes, you have such a person?" "Yes, Elena." Elena, the head of the Nostalgia party, had heard about it. "......Where in the world did she acquire such skills?" Elena thought to herself, "I can only think that this technology was developed before the rise of the <>. "I can''t believe there was such a person other than us and Jin-sama. ......" Elena then had them do a little research on this person. * * * * * * "Lord Marconen, we would like you to serve our country." In the Kingdom of Elias, Donnaroth Maca-Zoine, the chief engineer of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, was recruiting Markkonen. As a side note, this Donaloth is the successor of Bernarda Jasch, the chief of technology of the Ministry of Magic and Technology, who was a member of the <>. "Are you trying to hire an unknown person like me?" "No, I have been observing that for the past week with all due respect. At least, there is no secret in what you make. "What is that? You judge me by what I make? "That''s right. I believe that a work of art expresses the personality of its creator. Markkonen laughed. "At ...... most, I will try to live up to that assessment." "Oh, well, Mister Markkonen." Donalort held out his right hand and Markkonen took it. They shake hands firmly. He is now a member of the . A welcome banquet was held at the adjacent to the royal castle, where many people knew Markonen. "Well, all of the magical tools made by Lord Markonen are made based on precise designs, and I cannot help but admire them. I hope you will guide me in many ways in the future. "The best is the <>. I heard from someone that the that was recently held in the Klein Kingdom was quite successful. I heard that Deus ex Machina and the Magecraft Meister, a magical engineer, helped organize the event. Marconen''s face seemed to turn grim for a moment upon hearing this, but no one noticed. "Let''s do our best, everyone!" "Oh!" Yes, sir! The people involved were enthusiastic about the fact that the Elias Kingdom, which had been lagging behind in small aircraft, was about to begin its comeback. 2138 - - 57-26 Expectations for the Near Future October 27th, as the wind in the village of Kaina grows colder. "Well, it''s nice, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is!" Freddy and Grina are seen riding around in their <>, <>. "We''ve put a lot of emphasis on safety, so a northerly wind like this shouldn''t be a problem at all." "Yes, that''s true." The two repeatedly climbed and descended, turned right and left, and checked the comfort and safety of the ride. "Well, it turned out pretty good, didn''t it?" Of course, Jin was watching from the keep of Nido Castle. "It''s a good form of cooperation between two people, isn''t it? I''d say they complement each other. ...... They''ll make a good couple, I''m sure. And next to Jin is Elsa. She has been stuck in her research for the past three days and has come to the village of Kaina for a change of scenery. "I''m sure she''ll be a solid engineer." "Yes, I agree." And Jin and Erza go to the other side of the keep. That''s the north side. It''ll be snowing soon in the Nordic Commonwealth. Yes. "Tomorrow is the day I promised Rhodes and the others. < in the village of Toka." Jin thought that the big competition would be held in Hale, but for now, he wanted to help the village of Toka. "I heard that. I''m going to sneak out and watch." Erza said that she would go and see them without Rhodes, Rubina, and the others knowing about it. Jin wanted the village of Toka to be positioned as a mecca for blow floaters. For this purpose, they felt that they should take the initiative in using the flying area of Toka Village. "According to the old man''s report, there are many countries that are developing <." "That in itself is a good thing. But ......" Jin knew what Erza was not saying. "Yeah. It can be used for military purposes, right?" In the history of the earth, the ratio of aircraft in operation differs greatly between World War I and World War II. The growth was so great that it could be said that the war developed the technology. "But for now, the development goals of each country are focused on the domestic market. The population density is still low, so there is no need to invade other countries. "The <> is functioning well." Now <> is as powerful as an independent nation, and the <> is capable of fighting each country on its own. As long as this balance is maintained, it is unlikely that a major war will break out. Also, now that the old man is functioning perfectly, with the information from the <> and the <>, the seeds of war should be nipped in the bud before it starts. "However, I am a little concerned about the mysterious technicians who appeared in the kingdoms of Egelea and Elias. Of course, even the old man is not aware of all the happenings on Ars, but even taking that into consideration, the appearance of these two men was too sudden. "But you''re not doing anything wrong, are you?" "Well, yes. But from what I''ve heard, I''m kind of curious. What do you mean? "Well... ......" Jin began to explain slowly. The act of explaining to someone in this way is useful for collecting thoughts. "First of all, the level of technology. I heard that Elena of the <> described it as being above the level of technology that existed before the rise of the <>." "That''s ......." "That''s strange, isn''t it?I can''t understand why such a technician would pop up nowadays. "Yes, indeed." As for the second one. has conducted a background check on them, but we don''t know where they are from after all. Since they are not clearly hostile to us, we can''t take strong measures against them. "Even if they are working for a rival organization, they haven''t done anything wrong so far. We''ll have to wait and see," Jin said. "We''ll know more when we observe their behavior." If we analyze what they have made, we can find out their lineage, and we may be able to find out who their master is. "I see." Erza seemed to be satisfied, "Well then, let''s get ready for tomorrow. Jin then took Erza and went down the keep with her. * * * * * * * * * * * * At the Royal Factory, Kingdom of Egelea. Ernest XVII and his aide Canaj Barosofa in conversation. "Your Highness, that is quite ......, very good." "Yes. It''s a little creepy that we don''t know who he is, but so far he hasn''t caused any problems." In the four days since his arrival, San Marco Podium has shown his ability to be an inspiration to those who work in the workshop. "But I can''t help but notice a hint of ambition in his eyes. "I don''t know. ...... Canaj''s aide didn''t seem to get it. "Well, it doesn''t matter. "Well, it doesn''t work against us," Ernest XVII said. Ernest XVII smiled wryly. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the Kingdom of Elias, there was not a trace of the disquieting atmosphere that existed in the Kingdom of Egelea. In the <>, his assistant automata <> was more popular than Marconen ....... "Ladies and gentlemen, the tea is ready. "Oh, Ruf, thank you! "Sorry about everything." With the appearance of a 12 or 3 year old girl, quickly became a popular figure in the workshop. Marconen, the creator of , was naturally the center of attention. "It''s amazing, isn''t it, Mr. Markkonen''s technique? Can we make one too? The members in charge of Golem automata were very enthusiastic, saying such things as "Good luck with your wonderful automata! Let''s work hard and make a wonderful automaton. Markkonen replied and generously shared his skills. It looked like ....... Citranella de Zaus Firenziano, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic and Technology and Honorary Director of the in the Kingdom of Elias, was talking with Donaloth Maca Zoane, the actual director of the workshop. "So, how is Marconen doing?" "Yes. The atmosphere in the workshop is good and he is quite knowledgeable. If things continue as they are, I think our country''s technology will grow. "Yes, that''s good. Please make sure that you are doing well as the head of the ...... workshop. "Yes. I, Donnaroth Maca-Zoine, have been entrusted with this task and I will risk my life ........." Oh, don''t be so dramatic, I want to see results too. "Ha!" After this, the magical technology of the Elias Kingdom, which had lagged behind other countries, began to grow rapidly. Only the upper echelons of the Nostalgia Party wondered about this. "For now, I guess we''ll just have to wait and see, won''t we? "Yes, Elena-sama." "We have to find out when he''s going to show his tail ...... or if he''s really going to cooperate." 2139 - - 57-27 That name On October 28, Jin and his friends met in Toka village. They were Jin, Rhodotos, Rubina, and others. Rhodes did not bring his sister Vita and his fiance Ludmilla this time. Elsa, who did not want to be too conspicuous, was separated from Jin as planned. The is where the air race was held the other day. After that, Jin had the device to generate the embedded 100 meters underground here. The device cannot be activated by anyone other than Jin, and it is set to self-destruct if anyone tries to dig it out. This was Jin''s countermeasure to prevent the device from being used for military purposes. "It''s been a while... not so long as ...... to say..." "Yes, it''s good to see you. I''m glad to see you''re doing well. Jin-sama, let''s compare them soon! Rhodes, Jin, Rubina, and the others, without so much as a hello, decide to show each other their modified <. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * First, Rubina showed <. It was painted in red, just like Rubina. "Look at this!This is what I''m aiming for! "Wow!" Jin couldn''t help but exclaim in admiration. Because the machine that Rubina had modified was much better than what he had imagined. "Oh, this is a very clear concept. ......<>, right?" "Yes!That''s right!That''s right, Jin-sama!" "No, I can tell if it''s this well finished." Rhodes nodded at Jin''s words. "Yes, that''s right. A compact and lightweight aircraft will be more nimble. Jin added. "Rubina, you have learned a lot. I''m sure it must have been very difficult to reduce the moment of ...... inertia." "Yes. The hardest part was figuring out how to do it without compromising stability. "I guess so." Rubina''s < is designed to be agile enough to change direction from side to side. The vertical mobility of the has been somewhat sacrificed because it would not be stable as it is. The mobility around the Z-axis (vertical axis) is increased, and the stability around the X- and Y-axis (horizontal axes for left/right and front/rear) is emphasized. Next is the Rhodos <. The entire body was painted in a subdued silver-gray color. "I see, the concept of Road Toss is ......." Jin said, "Yes, yes!Let me speak!" Rubina said. "Rhodes''s aircraft is oriented!It''s ......, isn''t it?" "Yes, you are almost right." Rhodes nodded with a smile. "Right!The slightly lower cockpit, the vertical auxiliary wings at each end of the main wing. <." "You are very observant, Rubina." Jin also complimented her on her observational skills. "This will make it easier to control, won''t it?" Rhodes nodded at Jin''s question. "That''s what I mean. We have tried to eliminate any risk of crashing, while at the same time pursuing <> and ease of operation. < "I guess. The maximum speed is a little lower, and the response of the control stick is also much milder, I think. "That is correct." And finally, Jin''s <. The upper surface is painted white and the lower surface is painted blue. "This is the result of Jin-sama''s adjustment. ......" "Ummm, I see. ...... Is the concept of Jin-sama <>?...... No, <>?" "It''s like my < in some ways, but it''s different in many ways, isn''t it?" "Yes. If Rubina''s plane is a and Rhodes'' plane is a , then mine is a . "What''s the difference?" "I''ll explain it to you now." Jin thought for a moment about how to explain ...... and then opened his mouth. "For beginners, you know what I mean, but anyway it should be <<>. In horse terms, it''s a gentle horse." "I see. "A street horse is for short and medium distances and can be ridden casually. What would a horse be ......?" Jin had never ridden a horse before, so he could not come up with an analogy. "An honest but energetic horse," he thought. Rhodes offered a helping hand. "Oh, something like that. I''ve been to ......, and a sport horse is , but . In other words, it''s a horse." "That''s awful!" Rubina shouted in protest. "No, I didn''t mean to imply that Rubina is a jabbering idiot!" "I know that, but ......" Jin guessed that maybe Rubina had been called a ...... nymphomaniac, a jabba, or something like that when she was little,...... though she wasn''t big enough to be a jabba now. "......Then I guess he''s a <." "He''s not a rampaging horse!" Since we were getting on the subject of horses, Jin decided to get back to the subject at hand. "No, I''m not talking about horses. Rubina''s plane is not so much for competition ...... as it is for people who want to fly around in style. That makes sense. "Anyway, it''s a three-way airplane." The results of these adjustments are also recorded as <>. "Well, think about selling ....... It would be very useful to ask the customer how he/she rides and make adjustments accordingly. "Oh, I know what you mean. "So, I guess the development of <> is over." * * * We had a tea break before comparing each aircraft. At that time, Jin talked a little about the recent situation of the mysterious engineer who appeared in the kingdoms of Egelea and Elias, to which Rhodes responded. "San Marco Podium and Marconen, is it? ...... hmmm ......" "Does that ring a bell?" Jin asked Rhodes as he sipped his tea. "Yes. ...... That name seems to be the name you give to your sons and apprentices. ......" "Hmm?San Marco and Marconen? Yes. According to Rhodes, the name is very similar to the name given by a parent or master to his son or pupil with the name <>. "Marco......Marco......Marco......Maybe clan, wasn''t he?" 2140 - - 57-28 Wind Tunnel Markosius of <>. An engineer, he is said to be the greatest genius since the beginning of the <> clan, and played a variety of dark roles in the Lesser Kingdom. He manipulated a man named Marcus, seduced Erza''s father, and forced Saki''s grandfather, Marquis Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen, to drink arsenic-laced wine. ....... He was bitter that his golem was not as good as Reiko''s. He was also a bit of a fool. However, he released his resentment when Jin and Reiko saved the <>, then known as the <>, in the <> Incident. However, his ambition to create a golem or automata that would surpass Reiko''s has not disappeared, and he has left the peaceful with his whereabouts unknown. * * * * "...... that Markosias had an apprentice?" Jin guessed that both San Marco and Marconen were reported by the old man to be , so they could not be his children or grandchildren. "From what you''ve told me, that''s a strong possibility." "I see. ......" Jin and Rhodes were discussing this, "Hey, hey, what does that mean?Tell me too!" Rubina urged them. "Oh, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Let''s see, it was a long time ago... ......" Jin told Rubina all about his history with Markosias. He made sure to conceal the evil he had done. "I had such a past. ......" < "Yes. So I''m sure she''s a student of his. From what I''ve heard, it''s a bit of an unusual technical system. This is the story we heard via Elena. She said that there were some subtle differences from Adriana Barbora Zetsi''s lineage. I would like to meet her if I have the chance. As a long-lived people, it is possible that Markosias himself is still alive. Jin wondered what he would think when he saw Reiko, who has been further improved since then. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, here we go..." Jin finished his tea and resumed his work. "Aren''t you going to try to skip it? Rubina asked, "Yes, I just wanted to tell you one thing before that," replied Jin. Jin answered. "I thought it might be a good idea to do some <> on this kind of development. The wind is blown in a large room to test a one-off model and full-size components. "That way, we can reduce the time and risk of building and testing a real machine." "Oh, that sounds great." "That sounds better than just building a model and flying it. Both of them seemed to immediately understand the meaning and significance of the project. "So, we''re going to build a test wind tunnel here in Toka. It will be the first wind tunnel in Ars, and it will be used by many people, and it may even become a monumental tourist attraction. "I see, so you are thinking that far." "I see, so you''re thinking about that too." "So it would be good for the village." Since neither of them seemed to have any objections, Jin decided to talk to the mayor. "But first, let''s have a test drive. All three were equally interested in comparing the different variations of the < that each of them had made. * * * "Wow! "Wow!It''s so easy to ride!" "Hmm, it''s very stable." "This is ......!It will take me a while to get used to it." Rubina is test riding Jin''s plane, Jin is test riding Rhodes'' plane, and Rhodes is test riding Rubina''s plane. This allowed us to understand the characteristics of each aircraft. And again. "It''s stable, but what can I say?Sluggish?" "Well, it''s a real horse, isn''t it?" "It''s a straightforward maneuverability. ......" By having Rubina in Rhodes'' plane, Jin in Rubina''s, and Rhodes in Jin''s, they could clearly see the difference. "......, so let''s share our thoughts." "Yes, sir." It may sound tedious, but it is important for engineers to rethink what they have based on hands-on experience. Jin wanted to teach this to Rubina. "What Jin-san just told me about , I felt that it was exactly the right thing to do," Rhodes said, opening his mouth. Rhodes opened his mouth and Rubina agreed with him. "Me too, me too!I also thought that my seasoning was a bit extreme. "Really?I thought it was pretty mild after all. After riding in Rubina''s and Rhodes'' aircraft, Jin felt that his aircraft had become, at best, an honors student, at worst, a featureless <. "I don''t think so. I think mine is a bit extreme." Rubina contradicted Jin''s words. Jin felt that they seemed to be a little lost after having ridden each other''s aircraft. "But still, the <> makes such a difference, doesn''t it?" Rhodes said impressed. "Yes. It''s not really a modification, is it? Although a few parts have been installed, at a glance it looks like the same model. To the uninitiated, however, it is quite different. ....... "Yes, they are. If we can extract what is needed to make these three aircraft unique and reproduce them by simply replacing optional parts, then we can consider developing them for the general public. In essence, the idea is similar to the options and grades used to sell passenger cars in modern Japan. "So you are assuming that you will sell them, right?" "Eventually, yes." There are still many issues to be resolved, such as cost and licensing. We do not intend to sell it immediately, nor will Jin sell it. "It will probably be sold by <> or <>." The scheme is that manufacturing = Horai Island and sales = Avalon or Nostalgia. "It might be a good idea to build a maintenance shop in Toka village. And then there is the license center. If a license system is introduced, it will be necessary to conduct on-the-job tests, and the village will be revitalized by conducting them here in Toka village. "Jin-sama, you have thought of many things, haven''t you? "Yes, of course. "But if only Toka village develops too rapidly, won''t the surrounding villages and towns be resentful?" Rhodes expressed his calm opinion. "Certainly, that may be the case. If that''s the case, it might be better to give a role to the villages of Lachnoe, Doppa, and Charles. Jin concluded that it would be up to the Kingdom of Klein to decide. 2141 - - 57-29 Securing Budgets The leaders of the Kingdom of Klein have been discussing development plans for the area around the village of Toka. "The has proven to be more than enough to attract visitors. We need to add more accommodations for the future, don''t we?" "Of course, but first we need to improve the roads. The transportation of goods is important. "Of course, that is also important, but we must also build a in our country and train engineers so that we can compete with them. This is not something that can be done overnight, so if we are going to start, we must start early. ......" "It would also be good to maintain the racetrack in Toka village so that it can be rented out when there are no races. For this purpose, we need to improve the ancillary facilities such as the maintenance shop and the hangar. "......Ah, that''s a lot of money!" Auburn Today Souyou, Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Klein, lamented. The Kingdom of Klein''s finances are still tight. However, we are not afraid to borrow money from other countries. Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Bean Shaw Border agreed. "But this is an opportunity, so to speak. If we invest here, we can expect a big return in the future. "I understand that, but ......" Prime Minister Filistel van Todes remains reluctant. "We can''t just focus on that, you know. "Ummm... ......" King Mericarance I of the Kingdom of Klein is also pondering. "I think we should develop it even if we have to go into debt." "Your Majesty, ......!" The Prime Minister is flustered, but the Minister of Finance nods his head. "If you make a decision, ......" "Yes. But this is a matter of national importance. I''d like to take a vote. "Yes. ....... Then, those in favor of borrowing money and promoting development... The Prime Minister makes his announcement, The hand of Finance Minister Auburn came up first, followed by that of Minister Bean and then that of Prime Minister Filistel. Minister of Industry Tader Zokoi Mirana, Minister of Defense Mulder Merce Melder, and Minister of Magic and Technology Cowen Raqqa Kiddo seemed to be opposed. "Well, if I vote for it here, it will pass with a majority vote, I suppose. King Mericarance I said, but his face was not happy. He must have been concerned about the last-minute majority vote. So the King decided to ask the opponents'' opinions. "Mr. Tader, tell us why you oppose the proposal. "Yes, Your Majesty." The Minister of Industry made a bow, opened his mouth and spoke. The budget of the Klein Kingdom is limited. However, we cannot neglect the present. "Well, what do you mean?" It means that this year''s crop is somewhat poor. I see. This is the result of the combined harvest of spring wheat, winter wheat, beans, potatoes, buckwheat, vegetables and fruits. The industry minister concluded by saying that at this rate, the national budget for the next fiscal year will have to be reduced as well. "Hmmm. What about the ...... mine''s earnings?" "The Kutsud mine. ...... Yes, thanks to Mr. Jin, its earnings have doubled to two and a half times what they were before the loan. However, it has not been enough to compensate for the decline in agricultural revenue. ......" "I see, I see." Mericarance I shrugged. And what about Defense Minister Mulder? What about Defense Minister Mulder? I will answer your question, Your Majesty. Defense Minister Mulder Merce Melder spoke slowly. "It is good that the threat of the League of Magic has passed, but we do not have enough men in the army due to the expulsion of those who were under its control or influence. We need a budget to bring in new recruits and train them, and we are not able to defend ourselves well as it is now." "I see. I see. What do you mean? I''d like you to hire mercenaries or increase the number of golems for battle, but only temporarily. That''s going to cost money too. Mericarance I sighed. "What about Corwin, Minister of Magic and Technology?" "Yes, Your Majesty. I believe that the development of the village of ...... Toka will require a variety of magical tools, but it is unlikely that we will be able to provide them within this fiscal year. The Minister of Magical Technology explained that it was not a budgetary issue, but rather a need for preparation time. "Of course, if we had a budget, we could shorten the delivery period. He then casually asked for the budget as well. "Hmmm, okay." Mericarance I let out a small sigh, "Let''s work on the emergency budget," he said. "The emergency budget? "Emergency budget? "Your Majesty, it''s ......!" Emergency budget. That''s exactly what it says. It is a budget to be used in times of national emergency. It is a <> that has been accumulated by the kings of the Klein Kingdom for generations. ...... However, since it is a national savings account, the total amount is almost equal to the national budget of the Kingdom of Klein. "Emergencies are not limited to wars and famines. It is also a that must be overlooked ...... when it is an opportunity for the nation to leap forward." Mericarance I said once and for all. "......If you think that much, I have nothing more to say." The Prime Minister bowed deeply to the King. The rest of the leading figures followed suit. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Build a road to the village of Toka. "At the same time, construct lodging facilities in Toka, Raknow, Doppa, and Charles Towns. "Permission is granted to place an order for 300 general-purpose golems. Of these, 100 will be temporarily loaned to the military for combat use." "Contact <> and ask them to contact the deus ex machina. "Contact <> and ask them to cooperate with us. These were some of the instructions that were given. This was the beginning of the great reforms that would later be known as the "wise decision of King Mericarance I". * * * * The deus ex machina was to be informed, which naturally meant that Jin would also hear about it. "The Kingdom of Klein has taken a bold step. < "Well, ...... I have a plan<>, I can build it for you at ...... actual cost." This is what I was talking with Rhodes and others about just the other day. "It would be interesting if we could make Toka village the center of the < in the Kingdom of Klein." "Yes, that''s right." Then Licia came out of the room. "Mr. Jin, thank you for your time. ......" "No, in fact, the terrain and weather conditions in Toka village are suitable for aircraft test flights. <," Jin said. "We will use the machina to assist you, Master. . With Jin''s willingness, the development of the village of Toka was further promoted. 2142 - - 57-30 Airfield maintenance In the Kingdom of Klein, there was a heated debate about the development of Toka village. Yuzo Mayaka, the mayor of Toka Village, received a visit from Jin. "Wind Cave, is it? "Yes. By building and testing it, we can test the performance of the aircraft even if it doesn''t fly. "I see. You want to build one at ......?" "Yes. If we set up a workshop here, where there is a flight course, the development will be very efficient. This was synonymous with substantial support from Jin. The Kingdom of Klein will be taking various measures to develop Toka Village, but Jin intends to go beyond that and improve the facilities. The village head of Toka Village has the authority to grant permission for a wind tunnel and a workshop of this scale. "We would be very grateful if you could do that for us. The village head also gave permission for the future development of Toka Village. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Now, let''s finish the foundation work. The location for the wind tunnel and workshop has already been decided. It is on a flat land about two kilometers west of the residential area of Toka Village. It is a bit far away, but Jin does not want people to see how he is working. Also, we know from that there is bedrock right below us. "It looks like something sturdy could be built here." The work is done by <>50. Both the wind tunnel and the workshop are prefabricated at ...... Horai Island and sent by <> to be assembled on site. With this method, the building was completed in two hours. "Yes, it''s good work. Both the wind tunnel and the workshop are about the size of a small gymnasium. The wind tunnel and workshop are about the size of a small gymnasium, so that 10-meter class airframes can be tested and assembled in anticipation of the future. The interior is still to be built, but Jin had planned to invite Rhodes and Rubina to join him. * * * * Information about Jin''s plan to build a wind tunnel and workshop in Toka village was conveyed to the leaders of the Klein Kingdom by . "Oh!This is good news, isn''t it?" "Indeed it is. < is recommending this place, both inside and outside of the country. "...... Don''t panic. Before we do that, we need to get his permission to use his name. "Yes, sir." This was the exchange of words that led to the urgent dispatch of a delegation to the village of Toka. Among the delegation was, of course, the Minister of Magic and Technology, Mr. Corwin. "If you are going to make a request to Jin-dono, what if the minister does not go? he insisted. I am sure that there was a lot of personal feeling in the bottom line. "Oh, oh, oh, oh, ......!Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! It took two days for the Corwin delegation to arrive at Toka village, but the wind tunnel and the workshop had been completed the day before, and it seemed that the man they were looking for had already left. The man they were looking for had already left. As the Minister of Magical Technology Cowen''s shoulders drooped in disappointment, Yuzo Mayaka, the village chief, approached him. "Uh, sir, sir?" "What''s ......?" With his eyes dimmed, Mr. Corwin''s response was brief. "Well, sir, I''m sure that Master Jin will be back shortly. Are you sure? Yes, sir. I see. Then I''ll wait for him. Feeling a little more energetic, Magical Engineering Minister Corwin said he would take a look around the flying area and went out alone on his horse. "Ah, sir!" But the escorting knights, not wanting to see their escort go off on his own, decided that two half of them would follow him and the other two would wait in the village of Toka. Then, heading west, Minister of Magic and Technology Corwin saw the workshop and wind tunnel building that Jin had built. "It''s amazing ....... I can''t believe they were able to build something like this in such a short period of time." The structure is a steel frame treated to prevent corrosion and covered with plywood panels that have been treated with a toughening agent. The material is earthquake resistant and insulated. As Corwin gazes at the building, he hears the sound of a blow engine. What? Looking out into the sky, he sees a small black shadow. It was getting closer and closer. "Jin-dono''s ....... "You''re lucky. You were there just as we were coming back." The shadow of the plane grew larger and larger, and in about five minutes the <> landed in the flight area. "What is it?Mr. Corwin?" < and was surprised to see the face of the Minister of Magical Technology. He pretended to be ....... In fact, the old man had reported it to him before. "Oh, Jin-dono, it has been a long time. "It has been a while, Mr. Jin. I am glad to hear that you are well. Is everything all right in the kingdom? "Yes, thanks to you." After a half-formal exchange, "As a matter of fact, we''ve been working on this project. Minister Cowen explained. The location was inside a newly built workshop. There, work tables, tool cabinets, chairs, tables, and other items brought in by Jin are being carried in. "......, so to speak, our country is thinking of developing Toka village here as a policy of <>." "I see." Actually, Jin already knows what this is about. He wondered what kind of explanation and request the Minister of Magic and Technology, Mr. Corwin, would give him. In this respect, Mr. Cowen was honest. He was open about the current state of the country and even confided that the king had made a difficult decision to put his hands on the emergency budget. "This airfield here, I would like it to be called <>. Jin also requested that a monument be erected at the end of the airfield. "Oh, yes!We would be more than happy to use the names of Marikka, Jin and, if possible, Makina! I''ll talk to Makina at ....... By all means!I would be happy to do that!" Corwin was overjoyed to hear this. "I''ll take care of the airfield facilities, water, toilets, first aid facilities, etc." "Thank you, sir. You can charge us for the expenses. Discussions were held, and the construction of the Marikka Memorial Airfield was steadily underway. 2143 - - 57-31 Development Start It is mid-November and the wind in Toka Village is getting colder. However, the bustle of activity is enough to dispel the cold and create a great deal of enthusiasm. "Well, it''s almost ready, isn''t it? "Yes, Your Majesty." With the help of a giant deus ex machina golem, the maintenance of the roads was completed within a week. By the way, the road between Charles Town and Toka Village was paved 400 years ago by Jin with <, which is paved with crushed stones. Since Jin led the construction, the pavement was very durable, but after his death, Toka village became desolate and maintenance was not carried out anymore. As a result, about half of the sections were destroyed by grass and tree roots, or buried in soil and sand, and had to be re-maintained. Conversely, half of the sections remained in a paved condition, which meant that the work could be finished earlier. This macadam pavement doubled the speed of horse-drawn wagons and golem cars. Thus, a golem vehicle could cover the distance between the capital city of Arban and the village of Toka, a distance of about 190 kilometers, in a single day. When one considers that 400 years ago, the same distance would have taken about five days by horse-drawn wagon, it is a world apart. And with <>, it takes even less time to get there and back. The well-maintained airfield spread out before the eyes of King Mericarance I of the Kingdom of Klein, who was visiting the airport for the inspection. A 20-meter-high control tower, macadam-paved and <> runways and parking areas. A group of hangars for storing aircraft. And the maintenance golem provided by Jin and Makina. In the northern corner of the airfield, a monument made of natural stone stands quietly. "Your Majesty, thank you for waiting." "Oh, Mister Jin, I''m sorry to bother you." Jin had also come from Horai Island because Mericarance I was coming to visit. Makina was standing next to him. "However, I admire your and Makina''s skills, and I''m very impressed with how far you''ve come ...... in such a short period of time." "I am honored. But that is only possible if you can help others. "Hmm, you are humble. ...... By the way, what is that?" Mericarance I pointed to a group of children playing in the grassy field, throwing dish-shaped objects less than 30 centimeters in diameter. "It''s called a flying saucer," he said, "and it''s a plaything I made recently. The saucer was made of a slightly hardened rubber so that it would not hurt when it hit the children''s faces. It was also colored, and the children were playing with flying saucers of various colors. "They look like they are having fun. Mr. Corwin, the Minister of Magic and Technology who had accompanied the King, muttered to himself. "It glides through the air. Can''t we apply this to a real machine ......? It makes me dizzy. "Ha, yes." Piloting an unmanned ...... Golem would be possible, but Jin thought it wouldn''t make much sense. "And what''s that?" This is the airfield, where the kids are flocking to the <> that Reinhardt built. "My friend built this . I''ve been taking the children on a scenic flight with it. "Hmmm, I see. ...... If they are interested in it as children, many of them may grow up to become engineers. Minister of Magic and Technology Corwin is impressed, "I haven''t really thought that far ahead. It''s just that the children will enjoy it. Jin says honestly, "Oh, I see. "Oh, I see. ...... but the children seem to enjoy it. * * * * "Now, it''s your turn. Don''t interrupt." Reinhardt brought his own to Toka Village the day after Jin handed out to the children. The purpose of the aircraft was to fly leisurely, and as it slowly circled the flight course, the children gathered around it for some reason. "Hey, hey, big brother, can we ride with you?" "Hey, hey, big guy, can we ride with you?" "Yeah... ...... hmmm..." Reinhardt''s plane was going about 10 kilometers per hour, while Jin''s plane was going over 100 kilometers per hour. Which is more child-friendly: ....... "Okay, but we''re taking turns, right?" "Wow!" So, Reinhardt has Leela pilot the plane, limiting the speed to less than 10 km/h and the altitude to 1 meter, taking two passengers at a time in five-minute shifts. It was Reinhardt who was flying them in five-minute shifts. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm, but it is a very stable aircraft. Corwin, the Minister of Magic and Technology, who had been looking at it for a while, let out a voice of admiration. "Yes. We could increase the speed if we wanted to, but we have children on board. Reinhardt''s <> wing was able to move forward without the use of a propulsion system, just from the aftermath of the . The viewer can see that the triangular kite-like wing changes its wind direction after receiving the wind in a good manner and gains propulsive force like a sailboat''s sail. The relative position of the pilot''s seat is also set to lower the center of gravity and increase stability. "So this is one way to use it." "It is also necessary to change the configuration of the aircraft or the design itself, depending on the application." Jin explained that this is a way of thinking that is only possible with small aircraft that can keep the unit cost per aircraft low. "I see, that''s right." Minister Cowen nodded his head and thought for a moment about how his country should deploy the technology. * * * * While Minister Corwin was talking with Jin, Mericolance I was talking with deus ex machina. "I thank you for your help in maintaining the roads. "No, no, we were able to complete it in a very short time with the help of Jin-sama. "Well, I am amazed at the technical skills of the two of you. But we can''t just talk about such things. "Mister Machina, how about the general-purpose golem I asked you for the other day? Since it will take time to build up our forces, the plan is to temporarily fill the gap with golems. We have asked Jin and Makina for 300 general-purpose golems that can be used in other departments once we have enough manpower. "Yes, 100 in 10 days, 1,000 in 10 days after that, and 1,000 in 10 days after that. I think we can deliver 100 in 10 days, 1,000 in 10 days after that, and the remaining 100 in another 10 days. "Oh, so soon! Mericarance I was pleasantly surprised. "So, where should we deliver them?We would like to bring them here to the village of Toka, because we need a large airfield to transport such a large number. "Yes, that''s no problem." Mericarance I thought that some of the land would be used for the development of the villages of Toka, Racneau, Doppa, and Charles, and that it could be moved to Albn to plant trees, install street lights, and put the finishing touches on the road maintenance. "Yes, that''s a good idea. And Machina agreed with him. "So, we will provide the seedlings for planting, but we would also appreciate it if you could make magic lamps to be used for street lighting. This is Bean Shaw Border, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, who was standing next to Mericolance I. "Of course. The road to the town of Charles is about 70 kilometers. If we put one every 100 meters, that would be 70, and if we put one every 50 meters, that would be 1,400. If we place them every 100 meters, it would be 700, and if we place them every 50 meters, it would be 1400. I understand. I will work with Mr. Jin and have them ready for delivery in 10 days. "Oh, thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thus began the development of the Kingdom of Klein. 2144 - - 57-32 Face-to-face On the same day that Mericarance I, King of the Kingdom of Klein, was visiting the village of Toka, that is, November 14, the island of Elektra, one of the Pleiades Islands in the southern sea of the Kingdom of Elias, was discovered by the king of the Klein Kingdom, Mericarance I, in the village of Toka. Electra, one of the Pleiades Islands in the southern sea of the Kingdom of Elias. In other words, at the headquarters of the Nostalgia Party. "So there''s nothing suspicious about Markkonen so far. < "Yes, Elena-sama." The person on the other end of the line is Leelia Madagas. She is a female engineer who is a senior member of the Kaiso-kai, and usually gathers information under the cover of the . "If we get any deeper into this, it will look suspicious, won''t it?" Yes, I think so. Then we''ll have to ...... meet her in person. Is it Elena-sama? Yes, that''s right. Isn''t it dangerous? I don''t think so. ...... Marconen does not seem to have any ambition or evil intentions, and Elena has been strengthened by Jin. In addition, "I''m also taking a golem to escort me." He tells her that he will also bring a golem to protect her. "Yes, I understand. We will do our best to support you. * * * * "Elena of Nostalgia is coming to visit us. And they want to exchange technical information with her, the Elias Kingdom''s state-run magic workshop is informed. "Oh!Elena-san is coming herself? I heard she''s a beautiful girl. The workshop was abuzz with talk of her arrival. Is it the Nostalgia Party? "Yeah, you don''t know Marconen?" No, I know him somewhat. He was thinking about something as he answered. * * * * * * * * * On November 17, Elena, Arum Pitt, a mid-level engineer, and two general-purpose golems as escorts arrived at Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, by airship at 1:00 p.m. It was one o''clock in the afternoon. "Oh, it''s still beautiful, isn''t it?" "It''s as beautiful as ever. ...... Elena walked straight to the door and shook hands with Fiorina de Dorante, the Minister of Magic and Technology, who came out to greet her. "Welcome, Elena! "Thank you for the welcome, Sir Fiorina." "You look so young, Elena, I envy you." Well, thank you. Thank you for coming to ...... today. Yes, I know. Fiorina de Dorante has known Elena since long before she became Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, and she has taught her. In other words, she is a , so she had an inkling of what the purpose of this visit was. "At the moment, there are two research projects being conducted at the state-run magic workshop. and . "I understand flying machines, but automata?" Elena and Fiorina exchange words as they walk to the workshop. "Yes, that''s right. Apparently, some of the technicians are motivated ......." "You mean, you saw the automaton that newcomer Markkonen has with him?" Yes. Yes, I''m interested. Soon we arrived at the workshop. "Welcome, Elena! "Welcome to the workshop, Elena!" Amidst the welcoming voices, there was only one person who stared at Elena as if observing her. It was the well-known Marconen. After the welcoming voices had died down, Elena opened her mouth. "Thank you all for the welcome. I have come here today to talk to you about the flying machines that are being developed in many countries. This is quite natural, so no one thinks it strange. "Then, please come this way." Fiorina, the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, who was the highest ranking official in the company, led Elena and her group to a reception room in the workshop. "Yes, ...... Benitoa, Ralphart, and Marconen, please come." The Minister of Magic and Technology, Fiorina, appointed a female technician, a male technician, and a new technician who was the talk of the town. * * * * * * After the clerk has finished distributing tea to everyone, the discussion begins. By the way, Elena can also drink tea and can judge its taste <. Since it would be a formality for both the host and the hostess to be harassed if only one person is not offered tea, Elena decides to drink the tea offered to her. I''m going to stop talking now. "Now, let''s get down to business. The minister of magic and technology, Fiorina, is the facilitator of the meeting. "First of all, Elena, please tell us about the flying machines. "Yes. ...... The most popular means of < at the moment is probably the balloon. There are hot-air balloons and light-air balloons, but I think light-air balloons are more common. Balloons are not very maneuverable and are used for defense of towns, castles, forts, etc. Balloons that float on helium are called light balloons, and they have become the main type of balloons because they are easier to use than hot-air balloons, which require a heating system. "The latest development in ballooning is the blow floater, which is a type of balloon that uses wind to float. This was developed by Mr. Maricka of the Nord Federation, and its function of <> and <> are completely separated, making it simple to maintain and manufacture. So far, everyone knows this, so I listen in silence. "But there is a drawback to it. Do you know what they are?" This question was answered by Markkonen. "Forgive my presumption, but I have to say something. ...... is that it is < to make it larger." After answering in a few words, he took a breath before continuing. "The reasons for the difficulty are that the larger the size is, the less efficient it is, the less strong it is, the less maneuverable it is, and the more vulnerable it is to the wind. ...... "I see, so that''s your opinion. Do you have any other opinions? "Yes, I do." The female engineer, Benitoa Ruston, raised her hand and opened her mouth. "I don''t think we can say that larger size is a problem, because we can deal with it by changing the material. I think that we should solve the problem of the increased consumption of mana by the larger size of the product. He pointed out that since mana tanks and mana drivers are generally used, there is a problem of replenishment. "I see. But that can be solved by using an "ether converter. At this point, an unexpected word came out of Marconen''s mouth. "An ether converter? Elena interrupted. "Mister Markkonen, can you make an ether converter? "Yes, of course I can." This answer surprised everyone present, not to mention Elena. "Where in the world did you get this technology ......?" Alm Pitt couldn''t help but say. 2145 - - 57-33 Purpose "<>, I can make one, but so what?" Elena said to Marconen, who answered without hesitation. "There is nothing wrong with being able to make it," Elena said to Marconen. But there are only a few people in the world today who can do it, and I was wondering if you knew that." "Oh, really?" Marconen did not seem surprised when I asked him this. (After all, this reaction is out of this world. ......) "Yes, I am." Elena is friendly on the surface, but in her heart she is unsure of Markkonen''s true identity and true intentions. "The <> denied the technology, so the inheritance of such advanced technology was cut off." "......" Elena then folded. "How did you escape the influence of the <>, Mister Markkonen?" "............" "By all means, tell me. I don''t blame you." ".................." "Dear Mr. Markkonen..." "......Good, I will answer you." After a long pause, Markkonen opened his mouth. "I ...... am a member of a family that lives in the north ...... of the continent, far north of the Franz Kingdom." "In a place like that?" "Yes. We are a small family of less than ten people. Elena thought, "I see. The old lord of Horai Island probably couldn''t have grasped the situation if it was that small. Unless he knew what he was observing there, but since the area seemed to be uninhabited, he could only analyze the images from his <> and not observe it with his <> at all times. The head of the family is Markosius. I was wondering if anyone knows ......?" This naturally elicited a response from Elena. "Markosias,......!, are we brothers?Are we brothers or disciples?" Elena interrupted with a question. "When I say ''we,'' we are not all blood related. We are all orphans found by our master and father-in-law, Mr. Marcosias, while he was wandering. "Oh, yes. ...... I''m sorry, please continue." Elena apologized for the intrusion and asked him to continue. "I don''t have much to say to you now. We knew that the ......<> was on the rampage, so we tried to stay out of it. And now that we seem to have lost that worry, we have scattered like this." "I see. ...... Finally, what is your purpose?" Elena asked straightforwardly. This is the most important thing. "Purpose?One, I wanted to spread the word about the technique I had learned. The other is that he ordered us, his students, to see the world. And ......" "And?" "No, the other is a private matter." Markkonen trailed off. "Private, you say? ...... are you asking or looking for something, by any chance?" When Elena said this, Markkonen reacted with a slight twitch. I knew it. ......I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to test you. But we < also have a network of information. Maybe we can help you?" "......" Hearing Elena''s words, Marconen pondered. He was probably pondering whether or not to reveal his final goal to her. After about five minutes of silence, Elena was about to say, "You don''t have to talk if you don''t want to. "......An automata with black hair." Marconen whispered. "What?" "I want to see the black-haired automaton again,...... that''s what the master wants." Speaking of the black-haired automata, Elena could think of only one thing. "Mr. Reiko? I whispered to her, "That''s it!That''s the name! Marconen bit into the conversation with great speed. "You know him?" "Yes." "Can you ...... tell me ...... where it is, who owns it, or what I have to do to meet it?" "If you can tell me what you''re going to do if you meet with them, I''ll be more than willing to consider it." The discussion has already strayed far from the original purpose of the meeting, but no one mentions it. And then. "...... Master wants to meet you, isn''t that enough?" "Yes. If possible, please tell us why." "...... Okay. The master''s lifelong goal is to create an automaton that will surpass ...... that automaton called ." "......" And Markkonen continues. "I don''t mean to destroy each other or anything like that. You have to believe that." Seeing Elena''s slight frown, Markkonen hurriedly added, "It''s just that I don''t want to be a part of it. "I just want to see the end of the road I''ve been on, that''s all. Her tone conveyed that she was sincerely concerned about her mentor, Markosias. After thinking about it, Elena decided to disclose some information. "Did you know that Mr. Reiko is a follower of <>?" Yes, I have heard that. And what do you know of the current generation of magecraft masters? I don''t know much. "...... I see." I realized that I had not been in this world long enough to know much about it. "Mr. Reiko is with the current generation ......3 generation <." 2146 - - 57-34 Relationships Marconen looked surprised when he heard about the third generation . "Oh, I didn''t know that." (It seems that you are not very well informed about the current world.) Elena thought about it, "I ask you again, you are not going to meet the third generation of magecraft masters to settle your grudge, are you?" "Yes, I swear it." Marconen says that he is the third generation <>, which means that he is a different person from the second generation. (...... not a different person, but ...... let''s keep that quiet) Elena kept her mouth shut, not knowing what kind of trouble she might get into. Somehow, the atmosphere was no longer conducive to further conversation, so Elena and her party decided to leave the kingdom of Elias. "I hope you don''t mind..." "No, I don''t mind..." "No, I don''t mind..." No, thank you. Elena then asked Marconen.., "Mister Markkonen, I will contact you soon." And then she left. * * * * < <> has been raising his disciples in a secluded place. "Yes, I suppose so." > < Markosius should have been no exception. "However, ...... I think about Elsa," he said. Georg, Elsa''s father, had been seduced into rebellion by Marcus, who had been manipulated by Marcosius, and the Randall family had been temporarily destroyed. Later, because of Erza''s success as a court-appointed healer (Reichsartz), the family was able to reestablish itself as a quasi-barony, and was later promoted to the rank of baronet. Saki''s grandfather, Marquess Gehlen Theodoric von Eisen, also suffered liver damage from arsenic-laced wine and would have been in danger if not for Erza. They have such a fateful relationship. "I think we should let Zion know about this, don''t you? < "Of course." So Jin gave him a brief outline with , and the next day, the 18th, Zion himself came to Horai Island to talk about the details. < is there, so there''s no need to move around. "It''s been a while, Jin. "Yes, it has. I''m glad to see you''re doing well. After a brief greeting, Jin led Zion to the cafeteria/meeting room. All the members of the of Horai Island were there. "Mr. Xiong, it''s been a while." Marikka greeted Zion on behalf of the others. "Marikka, it''s been a while. I''m glad to see you are well. Well, homunculus do not get sick. * * * * . I''ll leave it to you to explain. The old man explained it to me in his own way. "I see. < "That being the case, there is some talk that the clans could be united instead of being divided into different clans. "Oh, I see." Jin nodded at Zion''s explanation. "There are no more clans of the . < clan. The clans will eventually be absorbed by the clans, Xiong said. "Well, that''s probably more than 200 years away." Sion laughed, saying that it would be impossible in his lifetime. "Now, about the Markosias. I''d like to hear what ...... Elsa has to say about it." Elsa is the most closely related of them all. I''d like to hear what Elsa has to say. ......I certainly haven''t forgotten what was done to me. But it''s done. I have no father or brother. The Randalls are out of my hands. That''s why ......" Elsa said she was interested to know if Marcosias was sorry for his past sins. "But I can''t go see him now." "That''s right." Jin agreed. He then asked Saki, another member with whom he had a history, "What about Saki? What about you, Saki? "Me?I''m the same as Elsa. My grandfather died a long time ago. Saki said she wanted to know first what Marcosias was thinking. "Then it''s up to me or ......." "What about Jin?" Zion overheard Jin''s muttering. "Well, Markosius has a long life span, so he must have known me in the past, right? < "Yes, that''s right. If Jin went there as it is, he''d probably say you look exactly like him and suspect a relationship. It would be too much trouble to explain. Reiko is an automata, so there is no problem. "I''ll ask Machina to go to her, or I''ll have her doppelganger disguise herself..." "I think it would be better if we disguise the doppelg?nger a little." Reinhardt said. "I don''t think Markosias will be able to remember exactly what Jin looks like, so if we change the color of his hair and eyes, and play with his hair a little, he won''t recognize him. "Hmm, I think that''s a good idea." "But how would people who have met Jin before his disguise react?" Saki asked. "Oh." Jin was troubled because he hadn''t thought of that. "A hat, a haircut, and maybe a pair of sunglasses. That alone would make it much harder to tell who he was. He had rarely met Markosias face to face, let alone face him. He was the kind of person who felt ...... like it. "That''s probably a good idea. I''ll follow up on that." Theon agreed, so Jin decided to go with that line of thinking. "So, when are you going to go?" "What?What? "Yes. Yes. We are friends, you know. "Yes. But make sure it''s a generic doppelganger. That''s how it was settled. I was going to talk to Marconen through Elena, "What about St. Mark''s Podium in the Kingdom of Egelea? Reinhardt said. "Oh, come to think of it, we haven''t confirmed yet that St. Mark''s is related to Markosias, have we?" Jin understood what Reinhardt was saying. "You want me to confirm it?"I don''t think that''s absolutely necessary, though." Reiko was the one who wanted to see Markosias, not his disciple. "Then, if we check with Markonen and find out that San Marco is also a disciple of his, we can take her with us?" Theon offered a compromise. "Well, I don''t know..." Jin tilted his head. "I don''t think we have to go that far." Reinhard said. "I guess so. I don''t think we need to be so careful. After asking the other members for their opinions, they finally decided to ask only Marconen for confirmation this time. 2147 - - 57-35 Test your skills On November 20th, Jin D, Zion D, and Reiko, carrying Jin''s "doppelganger" Jin D, Zion''s "doppelganger" Zion D, and Reiko, landed in Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, under the pilotage of Hope. Reiko, and the <> was landing at Borgia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elias, with Hope at the helm. The time was 9:00 a.m. The <> landed at the airfield in the royal castle. "Mr. Zion, thank you for coming all the way here. "No, no, please don''t worry about it." The person who greeted us was Fiorina de Dorante, Minister of Magical Technology. After exchanging a brief greeting with Zion D., she then turns to Jin D. "Third generation Magecraft Meister Jin, welcome! We haven''t seen each other since the ceremony. The last time they had met was at the coronation of the current king, Adalbert Nimmo Elias I. "Welcome, Miss Reiko!" Reiko gave the curtsey silently. After the greetings, Jin D. and the others were taken in a golem car to the . At the workshop, Fiorina, the Minister of Magical Technology, who is the highest supervisor, introduces the members. "Let me introduce you. Honorary head of the workshop, Citranella de Zaus Firenziano. A woman who resembled the Marquis de Firenziano in Jin''s memory bowed. "My name is Lydes Wojek, head of the workshop." A mature man in his 40s bowed. "And he is ......." "My name is Markkonen. It''s an honor to meet you ......." Dark brown hair, brown eyes, medium height. That was my first impression. However, his eyes sometimes turned sharp when he looked at Jin D. and Reiko, and I could imagine that he had a lot of things on his mind. On the other hand, he did not seem to have any feelings toward Zion D. We all had a discussion in the common room of the workshop. "I would like to introduce myself again. I am the assistant to Belialus, the clan leader of the Nordic Federation, and his wife, Sion. "My name is Markonen. I am ...... a disciple of Master Markosias ...... No, I am his adopted son." Jin, who was in sync with Jin D., was surprised, but Zion D. did not seem surprised. "So you are, after all. ...... A man named San Marco Podium, who served in the Kingdom of Egelea, is probably your apprentice, isn''t he?" Did you know San Marco? ......Yes, he was one of my father-in-law''s disciples." I knew it. I knew it," said Zion D. "Not many people give names like that these days, though. "So, I''d like you to take me and Jin-dono to see Markosias, is that possible?" "Yes, that''s already done. Markonen answered immediately. But he added a few words. "But if ...... you can, would you be willing to let my < compete with ...... Miss Leco?" An automata with crimson hair, Ruf. She looks like a 12 or 3 year old girl, about 145cm tall. She is a little bigger than Reiko. "What is ...... competing with?" Jin asked. If they are not breaking each other, he thinks it would be a race, weightlifting, and so on. "I''d like to ask you to do a mock battle with a shortsword. Of course, you can use a practice sword. Reiko, what do you think? "I don''t mind..." Reiko replied nonchalantly. "...... then we''ll borrow the training grounds of the Royal Castle. Fiorina de Dorante, the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology, looked a little impatient and went back to the castle to ask for permission. The rest of the group is escorted by Lydes Wojcik, the head of the workshop, to the training area. There, about ten apprentice Kingsguard knights were training for a mock battle, when Fiorina, the Minister of Magic and Technology, returned and asked them to temporarily stop their training to make room for the others. "Hey, what''s going on?" "I hear it''s a mock battle between automata." Those girls? Reiko and Ruf faced each other with their mock swords as the Kingsguard knights who had turned out to watch the event were talking amongst themselves. The judge was an instructor training apprentice knights of the Kingsguard. The winner is the one who hits the opponent in the body with the sword. ......, begin!" Before the voice could finish, the two disappeared, and then there was a high-pitched metallic sound. It was the sound of swords clashing. Instead of a head-on collision, the two men continued their sword fight, sometimes blocking, sometimes deflecting. "Hey, you see that? "Oh, yeah, barely. ......" Reiko and Ruf were fighting with such speed that even the Kingsguard couldn''t catch them, running around the training ground. (Reiko now is about ......15 percent faster than Ruf. She''s quite an automaton to be on an equal footing with Reiko. Through the eyes of Jin D, Jin of Horai Island is observing the battle. He had already instructed Reiko not to overwhelm her opponent, but to win by slightly surpassing him. Reiko then increased the output to 20 percent. Immediately afterwards there was the sound of a sword shattering, and a moment later Reiko''s sword was placed on Ruf''s neck. Ruf''s sword was broken at the root. "That''s it!Mistress Reiko wins!" There was a murmur, not a cheer. "Hey ......" "Oh, ......." "...... no matter how much you practice, you''ll never reach that realm. ......" The apprentice knight of the Kingsguard, who was watching the game, felt like his heart was about to break. "I lost. That''s the kind of automata my father-in-law is aiming for. Marconen pats Ruf on the head, feeling sorry for him. "I wonder if you are satisfied now." Hitoshi D. also worked on Reiko. "Yes, it''s strong enough to convince me." Marconen looks refreshed. "I think I understand why my father-in-law (Chichi) is so obsessed with this. ......Perhaps he wasn''t giving it his all?......Ruf was going all out." Jin silently smiled in place of an answer. * * * Marconen seemed to agree, so Jin D, Reiko, and Zion D, along with Marconen and the automata Ruf, decided to go see Markosias. "Well, Your Excellency Fiorina, Minister of Magical Technology, I''m going to borrow Mister Markonen for a while. Theon D. said and boarded the Hurricane. "And we are off." Hope piloted the Hurricane into the sky. "The stability of a large aircraft is very different from that of a small one, isn''t it? That was Markkonen''s first comment. And then, "First, please continue northward. He indicated the course to be taken. The destination was the northern part of the Laurentian Continent, further north of the Krger Mountains. 2148 - - 57-36 Reunion with the distant past Now, beneath the that Jin D and the others are riding, the land of the north is spread out. "I''ve never been in this area before. ......" It is more than 300 kilometers west of the Pazdekst isthmus, which connects the continents of Laurent and Gondor. It is mid-November, the grass is dead, and the only greenery visible is the dark green treetops of coniferous trees. Then, a crescent-shaped lake came into view. It is Lake Shirova. Please land on the south side of the lake. The south side is the concave side of the crescent moon. < As it neared the surface, it could be seen that the area had been cleared. "Hmmm......... It''s so well camouflaged that it''s hard to tell from the air." Through Jin D''s eyes, Jin felt that it was impossible to identify it from the satellite orbit <. On the south side of Lake Shiloh, there is a hill with coniferous trees growing on it. The landed near its boundary. "Please moor here." The was tethered to a bollard, a rock-like structure. Everyone disembarked, including Hope, thinking that there would be no one here to play tricks on them. But we don''t want any animals to get in, so we have put up some warding. "It''s pretty gravelly down there. < and , might be able to land, but not take off. "One moment, please." Markkonen is playing with some kind of magic tool in his hand. It seems to be a communication device. "...... should be here shortly. Please wait a little longer." "Okay." The temperature is about 5 degrees Celsius. Neither Jin D nor Zion D would be a problem at all. And Markkonen was breathing the air of his for the first time in a long time with a sense of nostalgia. His automaton, Ruf, stands silently. Three minutes later. "Welcome back, Markkonen! Markkonen says, and a man comes to greet him. She looks to be a woman in her twenties or so. Light chestnut hair, steeple eyes. Overall, she gives an impression of liveliness. "I''m home, Adelmira." Then Markkonen looks back at Jin D and the others, "This is Adelmira, one of my father-in-law''s disciples. And he introduced himself. "My name is Adelmira. ...... Hey Connie, is this the now?" Connie," was Marconen''s nickname, apparently. "Yes, that''s right. He''s the current ." Jin D. then introduced himself. I am Jin Nido, the third generation of Magecraft Meisters. This is Reiko. "This is Zion of Shinra. I know your master well." Zion D also introduced himself. "I see. ......" Adelemira seemed intrigued by Zion D.''s mention of knowing her mentor. "Come on, Mira, show us around." "Oh, yes. Uh, please follow me. Mira" was probably Adelmira''s nickname. The first group is Adelmira, followed by Zion D., Reiko, Jin D., Hope, Ruf, and Markkonen. About two minutes ahead, we came to a large tree and saw a doorway under a large rock at the base of the tree. (You are very carefully mimicking ......) Observing through Jin D''s vision, it seemed to Jin that Markosias was . (Well, we''ll know more about that when we meet and talk to him.) We passed through a doorway built under a large rock, which was brightly lit inside. The base seemed to be built underground, with a series of stairs leading down. At about 15 meters below the ground, the passage became level. When we passed through a door there, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Until then, it looked like the inside of a cave, The interior was decorated in the style of the Nordic Federation," said Zion D. As Zion D said, the atmosphere changed to that of a <>. "This way." The Nordic people also wear shoes in their daily life, so we continue on our way. Underfoot is not a short-footed carpet ...... but seems to be made of fur. Both Jin D. and Xiong D. are surprised at the spacious interior. "Please wait here." Jin D. and the others were stopped at the end of a straight corridor. There was a door and a girl who looked to be in her mid-teens was standing there. "Jessenia, where is your father-in-law?" You''re awake now. We''re waiting for you. "Oh, yeah. ......, this is Marconen, my father-in-law. Come in." Markkonen slowly opened the door. There was an old man lying on a bunk. And an automaton with crimson hair who looked about ten years old. "Welcome." The old man was Marcosias. "Markosias, ...... it''s been a while." The first person to speak to him was Zion D. "This is Zion of Shinra. Do you remember me? "Yes, I remember you well. I remember you very well. ...... We are both getting old, aren''t we? Markosias, whose hair has turned completely white. He was about 40 years older than me, wasn''t he? "I turned 551 this year." That makes you 38 years older than me. There seemed to be no discord between the two men. Then Marcosias turned to Jin. "So you are the of our time. ......... You look somewhat like your predecessor, don''t you?" Yes, I take the name Jin Nido. And ...... you say, miss Leco. You haven''t changed. Mr. Marcosius has aged well, hasn''t he? Reiko also knew Markosius. "Hmm, that can''t be helped. But it''s good to see you." After Marcosias said that, "Rubel, a chair for each of you." Rubel, give everyone a chair," he motioned to the crimson-haired automaton. "Yes, Father." The girl automata called "Rubel" lined up the chairs for all the people. One for Hope. "Please, have a seat." "Thank you." Jin-D and the others sit down on the chairs. Reiko, Hope, and even Ralph take a seat. "Now, Miss Lako, first of all, I would like to apologize to you, your former master, his wife, and his family. What do you mean? You remember what happened to you in the Shawlo Kingdom. Yes. It was a youthful indiscretion. I can''t regret it enough, but I thought I''d at least confess it to you, to whom I''m related." "I see. I''ll report it to the cemetery when I get a chance. Thank you. Markosias seemed to regret his past in his own way. 2149 - - 57-37 Perceptions The fact that Markosias regretted his past was conveyed to those on Horai Island. And then, "Erza, Saki. ...... what do you guys think?" Reinhardt asked on behalf of Jin, who was concentrating on controlling Jin D. "I ...... don''t ...... have a father anymore, and my house is being rebuilt, but that doesn''t mean I can''t be a part of it. But that doesn''t mean I can immediately forgive him for what he did. But I will accept his apology." "Well, what about ...... Saki?" "Well, I''m the same way. I think she really wants an apology from her grandfather, not from me. "I guess so." Reinhardt is not a complete outsider in this matter. Erza''s father was his uncle, he was friends with Saki, and he was there when Marcus, who was controlled by Marcosius, caused the incident. "An apology at this point would be a good thing, because I''m sure Marcosius himself would like to be saved. Reinhardt gently patted Erza and Saki on the shoulder when they said they would accept the apology, although he would not say it directly to them. * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Markosias, on the other hand, was "looking around. "I had a lot of thoughts after visiting many places. What I felt was that nothing had changed for the demon tribe and the human tribe. After all these years, the stinginess of the past seems to be gone. "I took in orphans I met on my journey and turned them into my apprentices. I''m happy to have ...... them take over my skills." "......" Jin D. is silent and Zion D. looks deeply moved, "You really have changed, Markosias. He said to her. "He has changed......, hasn''t he?" Closing his eyes, Marcosius nodded. "Don''t you want to go home,......?" "Home, you mean. I don''t have any ...... relatives here anymore. Markosias says he has enjoyed raising his adopted son and disciples here. The language of Zion D.''s partner had become a little more respectful. Jin D. realizes this and sits back down a little further away. Jin, who was piloting Jin D, felt a little sympathy for Markosias, who had taken in an orphan and raised him. So now I thought I''d let him talk as he likes. "Little by little, we improved it, you know?" At first it was two golems. Then he mined underground resources, added more golems for work, improved living facilities, built a farm, and became self-sufficient. ....... Markosias was trying to create a safe haven in his own way. "In the past, many people have left here," he said. However, rumors ......, or more precisely information gathered by the scouting golem, had indicated that at some point a fanatical group called the had emerged and was denying the technology. For a time, they had stopped leaving their because of this. "But recently, it seems that such a has been eradicated, so we sent out two of our own, San Marco Podium and Marconen." "I see." Theon D explained that when he heard the name, he thought it might be someone related to <>, or in other words, someone connected to the Markosias. "I''m sure you would understand if you heard it," he said. "Not many people give names like that these days, though." "The demons......, no, they''re called the now, aren''t they? I guess things have changed. Zion D nodded. "They have developed rapidly since then with the help of the ......2 generation of . The main reason for this is that the conflicts between the various clans have ceased." "I''m sure that''s true. < "Yes. ...... you left without seeing the development of your hometown." Haha, that hurts my ears. Theon D. and Markosias were having a normal conversation, as there was no particular conflict between them. Jin D suddenly looked to the side and saw a red-haired automata named Rubel staring at Reiko. But the look in her eyes was one of , not hatred or resentment. "What do you want from me?" Reiko asked, "No." Rubel turned his face away. At that moment, Markosias, who had been talking with Zion D., came in, "......Miss Leco, she has been listening to me complaining about you for a long time, and I''m sure she is curious about you. If you don''t mind, I''d like to talk to her for a while. He said to Reiko. "...... if that''s the case." Reiko answered a little uncomfortably, "Yes, yes. Rubel, you''re going to have to go and talk to Miss Reiko for a while. Marcosias instructed. "Yes, father." Jin-D thought to himself, "This child, like Reiko, calls Marcosias <," he said, "Oh, um, Reiko, my name is Rubel. <. My father named me after the color of my hair. ...... Rubel was talking to Reiko, looking a little happy. "I see, I''m happy for you." In contrast, Reiko''s reaction was a bit dismissive. Or rather, this is the kind of reaction Reiko has to people she is not interested in. The first me was born 345 years ago. But I was not good enough, so two years later I became the next me. I stayed for 11 years, but my father didn''t like it, so I became the third me. "...... I see." That''s a great story, Jin thought as he listened through Jin D''s perception. "The third me lasted 21 years, but your father was still not satisfied, so I became the fourth me. But there was a little mistake, and a week later I became the fifth one. That''s quite a career, Jin thought as he listened, but then he recalled that he had enhanced and improved Reiko, and that it might be similar ....... "So now I''m on my seventh. Finally, I''m satisfied with it, your father said." "I see." "But you''re no match for him, are you?" Do you understand ......? Yes. I''d say I''m about 30% of what you are. I don''t know about that. Reiko casually dismisses the question. I''m glad to see you like this. I see. "...... well, for your father''s sake, would you be willing to meet with me just once?" "...... yes?" Jin D., who was listening to the conversation through Jin D., sighed inwardly. "I know I''m no match for you, Reiko. But I want to see how much I can hold them off." "......" Reiko looks at Hitoshi D. as if she is a little troubled. Jin himself is also wondering what he should say. "......<, will you grant the child''s wish?" Marcosius said suddenly. "What?" "I told that girl too much about how I ...... wanted to win against Miss Leco." "Yes, yes,......" I don''t have the ambition anymore to overpower her, but I do want to know how far I can go. But I would like to know how close I have come. So, I want you to break this obsession," Markosias said. (......The karma of engineers is deep. ......) Jin on Horai Island reflected on himself and felt this way again. 2150 - - 57-38 Start of mock battle Let Reiko and Rubel fight, Markosias said. "I don''t have a choice. A mock battle, you mean?" "Of course." Then Jin D told Reiko, "That''s why. Reiko, play with him. Reiko, play with her. "Okay. See you at the table. ...... Ms. Rubel, show her to the right place. "Yes, this way, please." Reiko, who had understood Jin''s intention, went to the front with Rubel. Markosias said, "Sorry, Markonen, but I need you to give your the magic eye and have him relay it to us." "Yes, sir. ...... Ruf, please." Yes, sir. So Jin D and the others watched the mock battle from the large magic screen in Marcosias'' living room. Reiko and Rubel were facing each other in the wilderness a little farther from the entrance of the village. "What should we do?" Reiko asked Rubel, "I will attack. Reiko asked. Of course, you are welcome to fight back. He kicked the ground. Then he attacked Reiko like a bullet. The kick was sharp and gouged the earth for several meters. But Reiko was not there. She dodged sideways and delivered a spinning kick from behind Rubel. Rubel avoided the kick by lowering himself, and then stood on his head and threw an inverted kick at Reiko''s chin. Reiko avoided the kick with a margin. Rubel, too, uses the momentum of the kick to land a somersault, and the two confront each other again, this time from a short distance away. * * * * * * "Oh, that''s great!" Jin D''s mouth leaks out his honest impression. This was probably an exchange at about 20% of Reiko''s output. She was able to see it because of Jin<''s eyesight compensation, but she would not have been able to catch it with the naked eye. "That''s amazing, Markosius." "Yes. But there is more to come. I''m sure you''ll do it. I''ll do it. Thank you very much. But you''re not serious yet, are you? Do you understand? "Yes. I''ll show you that output is not everything, even at ......! Rubel disappeared again. This time he moved in the opposite direction from Reiko and took his distance. "<>! A lightning strike struck Reiko at a speed of 200 kilometers per second. "<>" Reiko blocked it with her warding. This <> is Jin''s original barrier, which deploys not in a spherical or hemispherical shape, but in a circular shield shape. It is stronger and deploys faster, but of course, it cannot protect against attacks from directions not directly facing it. "You''ve done it, I''ve never seen such a barrier before!And what is this?< Rubel tries to cast a ranged magic. But Reiko blocked it with her Barrier. "I''m still going!" Rubel fires a series of . Reiko caught them with her without hesitation. The situation continued for more than a minute, and finally Rubel stopped her magic attacks. His body was getting overheated from the continuous firing of super-powerful magic. "......It''s not so simple after all." "Thank you." * * * "You can even surpass that magic attack, ...... Mistress Leco?" An impressed voice escaped from Marcosias'' mouth. "You''re always amazing, aren''t you, Reiko?" Theon D. was also impressed. "But Rubel is amazing, too. I didn''t know she was such an automaton. ......" Jin D. was also impressed, but Markosias smiled sadly. "Well, Jin-dono, Miss Reiko, whom you inherited from your predecessor Jin-dono, is without a doubt the best automaton in the world. I am reaffirming that." * * * * "It''s not over yet!" Rubel came close to Reiko again. This time, Rubel unleashes a breathless series of fist strike, fist strike, kick, kick, fist strike, kick, hand, kick, back fist, kick, fist strike, kick, knee kick, fist strike ....... The attack and defense continue because they are two bodies that do not need to breathe. "I knew you''d dodge!Then! In between, Rubel begins to fold in her magic attacks. Fist strike, fist strike, kick, kick, fist strike, fire bullet, kick, hand sword, wind cutter, kick, back fist, kick....... "Doesn''t this work too!" But Reiko nullifies everything. And then... "Ah!" Rubel stepped forward, the ground collapsed, his stance shifted once, and Reiko took advantage of the opportunity with a hip throw. Rubel, who was knocked to the ground, rolled away from the ground and got up like a spring-loaded machine. "That''s what I''d expect from you, Mr. Reiko." But his fighting spirit has not yet disappeared from his eyes. He is still fighting spirit in his eyes. "That was a great fight!" Zion D''s eyes widen in astonishment. "Well, you can fight like this, Rubel. ......" Marcosias nodded in satisfaction. "Hmm, versatile attacks, speed, power. A top-notch automaton." Jin D also gave Rubel a high evaluation. "Without a doubt, this is the best fight in the world today. 2151 - - 57-39 Decided, and The mock battle between Rubel and Reiko continues. The aftermath has left the area around them gouged out and strewn with rocks, and burnt, scorched, and melted ground is everywhere. "After all, Mr. Reiko is just as I thought he would be. ......!" "I see." Rubel speaks passionately and Reiko answers calmly. I haven''t given it my all yet. I''m going to ...... give it everything I''ve got! "I''ll take it." Rubel stands a short distance away, "I''ll give it everything I''ve got!" and started to rush forward. Reiko did not catch him, but spun her body and dodged with half her body. She then used the momentum of her spin to throw a back fist at Rubel. However, either her timing was a little too late or Rubel was too fast, and the backfist only grazed her red hair. Rubel was kicking the ground with her foot as they passed each other, sending up stones and debris toward Reiko. But Reiko was no longer there. She had turned around and was chasing after Rubel. "I won''t let you go!" Reiko was one step behind, but she was faster than Rubel and caught up to him in no time. !!!!" Rubel sensed a crisis. She could not escape at this rate. And she would be severely damaged. So, she took the evasive maneuver of intentionally falling to the ground. "Kyah!" Sliding from a speed of over 300 km/h, even Rubel was not without damage, but she judged that it was much less than the damage from Reiko''s attack. Rubel rolls erratically, making a cloud of dust and sand. "But we''re far enough away from Reiko." Enough?What is a distance of 10 meters to an opponent who can travel much faster than the speed of sound? I''ve got him. ! Reiko''s voice came from behind him, and at the same time, Rubel was pinned down. "It''s over." If Reiko could increase the power by another ten percent, Rubel''s arms would fall off her shoulders. But... "I''ve been waiting for this!" Rubel had invoked some kind of magic. * * * * * * "Wow,...... this is a great fight,...... this is a mock battle?Are you kidding me?" <, was a little taken aback. The ground around the site was so rough that Jin D. thought that it would be difficult to repair the damage. Reiko and Rubel are even more impressive than that. They are moving around in all directions in the wasteland that became the stage for the mock battle. "...... I can make this many automata, I''m satisfied." Markosias, too, is watching the battle with narrowed eyes. And then. "Oh, Reiko caught Rubel!" Zion D pointed out. "Hmmm, I guess you could say it''s our first contact. What is ...... Rubel doing ...... is that engineering magic? Seeing the Magi Formula of light floating between Rubel and Reiko, Jin realized what was happening. "So you''re going to contact them and attack them with engineering magic?" "Yes. That''s the last thing I taught Rubel. Using engineering magic, he would form or separate the parts of the person he touched. This was Rubel''s last resort. * * * * * * * * * * Engineering magic cannot be used on living creatures. The reason for this is currently being studied by Elsa, and although it has not yet been clarified, it is a strict fact. And there was a hypothesis that the living body is guarded by <>. Reiko''s skin is made of < leather and her clothes are made of , both of which are biological materials. Reiko herself is under the control of <>, and she is filling it up and strengthening it. That means... "Oh no!It doesn''t work? Rubel''s desperate move did not work on Reiko. "<> activated. "Oh ......" Reiko judged that further continuation of the mock battle was likely to lead to a breaking each other, and temporarily stopped Rubel by using <>. Then, holding Rubel in her arms, she slowly returns to Jin D and the others. * * * * * * * * * "......The end was so quick," said Zion D. Zion D. says, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, "No, no, no, if we had continued like that, one of us would have been broken. Jin D. interrupted. "...... I think it was Rubel who was broken at that time, though." Marcosias also said. His face was full of satisfaction. "Thank you, Jin-sama, no, Jin-sama, for taking care of me." Slowly, Marcosius bowed his head toward Jin D. "I''m back." Then Reiko, holding Rubel in her arms, and Ruf, who had been filming the whole thing, returned. "Thank you, Reiko." "Thank you for taking care of me, Miss Reiko." Jin D. and Markosias approached Reiko. "No problem." Reiko answered shortly and gently laid down Rubel in her arms. "Please reboot him, Mr. Malkosius." "Yes, I will. ......<" "......Ah..." Rubel''s eyes opened. "This place is ...... ah, I''ve lost, haven''t I?" Then she realized that Marcosias was there, "I''m sorry, father," he said. He apologized. To which Marcosias replied, "No, it was enough. You did a good job, Rubel. He patted her on the head. Rubel rolled her eyes in surprise, and Reiko and Jin D looked at her with kind eyes. 2152 - - 57-40 Redemption "Reiko, is everything alright?" Jin D also asked Reiko. "Yes, father. I''m fine." "I see." Through Jin D, Jin could see that there was nothing wrong with Reiko''s body. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * However, Jin in Horaijima, after seeing the mock battle with Rubel, felt that Reiko''s advantage would eventually disappear if things continued as they were now. Reiko''s strength, so to speak, is largely due to <> and <>''s dominance ......, or at any rate <>. Another is the abundant use of carefully selected rare materials. Such an advantage will shrink, or at least disappear someday." > "Of course. ...... physically we are close to the limit, the rest will be magical." To this answer of Jin, the old man gives the correct answer in two seconds. "Yes. At this point, Reinhardt, who had been quietly watching and listening to the conversation, spoke up. "Jin, are you by any chance enhanced by magic power? "You guessed right." Reinhardt seemed to have arrived at the correct answer. "Well, I mean, if we compare it to <> or <>, the current strengthening is increasing the bonding force between molecules and atoms. So, what you are aiming for is beyond that, right?" Hannah also expressed her thoughts. "That''s what I''m thinking." Jin''s <, etc. have been enhanced to almost the theoretical maximum. Any more than that and you get ....... "It means to strengthen the atom itself. That is, at the subatomic level. "I suppose it would." At this point, Hanna spoke up proudly. "Well, I''ve been working on that for a while now!" "Oh, and?" "Well, I''ve gotten to a pretty good point!...... I have a feeling." "Just a feeling?" Jin asked Hannah with a wry smile. "No, I can''t really verify that, is that what you''re saying?" According to Hanna, there is a link between the theory and the results, but there is no way to confirm that what is happening in the atoms is really what the theory says. "And microscopes and electron microscopes are out of the question." It might be nice to have a sub-free-magic microscope, but so far there is no hope of making one at all. "But if we study it for another 20 or 30 years, we may be able to find out something. That''s a long time to wait. Still, the fact that he now has a homunculus, an immortal body, is a great thing that will allow him to continue this kind of research. "I''ll do my best!" Hannah is full of energy. * * * * * * * * * * * Marcosius looked refreshed as if all his possessions were completely gone. "Thank you, Jin-sama. Now the coiled feeling inside of me is gone. I am willing to make peace with the past. "Father-in-law!" Markonen shouted impatiently. But Markosias shook his head. It''s okay. ...... I have to take responsibility for my actions." Then to Reiko beside Jin D, "You know that I have done wrong in the past, automata. You can bring me to justice. and entrusted her with his fate. But... ...... I don''t know. What? Don''t decide for yourself. I don''t want you punished. Reiko said coolly. "There is no one in this world who can punish you." "...... I see." As Markosias hangs his head, Zion D. calls out to him. "Markosias, you have sinned in the past. You have sinned in the past and you are suffering from it. But you can''t undo them now, so think about what you can do to atone and how you can atone for them. "How to atone ......?" "Yes." Zion D nodded and continued. "You are a citizen of the Nordic Federation. Then it should be me, a citizen of the Nordic Confederation, who judges you. "Indeed, you are right. Then I tell you... I will tell you what I want you to do. ...... Use your knowledge and your skills for the betterment of the world. Educate your disciples and make them useful to the world. * * * * Zion D''s words were heard simultaneously by all of the members of the Jin Family who were on Horai Island that day. "Hmm, that''s good." Hearing this, Erza nodded her head with a slightly complicated expression on her face, "I guess that''s the best in this case. Saki also agreed. And Reinhardt also nodded, "Obviously, the technology of Markosius is a little different from that of Adriana Barbora Zetsi. The world needs such technology, too. He acknowledged the usefulness of the technology. Then he added The old man also declared. "It would be great if we could add the best of Adriana Barbora Zetsi''s lineage and the Markosian technology, which probably comes from the ." Reinhardt looked forward to that day. "Brother Rai, but isn''t the lineage of Markosius the same as that of the <>?" Elsa pointed out, "No, I think the roots are the same, but the subsequent stages of development are different. So I am sure that there will be some useful information. Reinhard replied. Erza agreed with him. * * * * * * * * * * * "For the good of ...... the world, sir." Marcosius looked up and muttered. "Yes. The world today is much larger than it used to be, with the continents of Laurent and Gondor, Pandor and Racir. Therefore, there are not enough good people to go around. "I understand. I don''t know how far I can go, but I will continue to train my students and send them out into the world. "Yes, please. And from now on, the Nordic Federation will support you. "What?" Zion D laughed and said to Markosias, who looked doubtful. "Markosias, you are undoubtedly one of us. At these words, Marcosias shook with surprise and tears came to his eyes. "Thank you ....... I always thought ...... that I was ...... alone." Zion D. patted him gently on the shoulder, "If you have a desire for redemption, then go for it. You are not alone. The fact that they were called the at that time and were in conflict with the people of the Laurentian continent was not the fault of Marcosius alone," said Sion D. "You have committed a crime. "The sins you committed may be the karma that all <> must bear. But then again, it is in the interest of all mankind to create a better future, he concluded. "I understand, Master Theon." Marcosias seemed to have lost his mind. I understand, Master Theon," Markosias said. "That''s a good thing you said, Zion." Jin, who had temporarily left the control of Jin D to the old man, left the pilot''s seat and was thinking about the future with the members of the <>. "It has always been a difficult problem for a man to judge another man," said Reinhard. Reinhardt smiled as he said this. There is more than one way to atone for a crime. Jin thought that it might not be up to human beings to decide what is best. The wind in the northern part of the Laurentian Continent was already winter, but here in Horai Island, the sun was warm. 2153 - - 58-01 Contributions On December 1, Jin was talking with the on Horai Island. "I knew this world had become distorted," he thought. "I can see that." Erza nodded. "I asked the old man to look into it and he told me that the number of , which was quite large about 300 years ago, has decreased to less than a tenth of what it used to be. I was shocked to hear that the number of , which were quite numerous about 300 years ago, has been reduced to less than one-tenth. "That''s true, isn''t it?" It must be unbearable for Erza, a healer, to know that because of this, the injured and sick are not being treated adequately. "It looks like most of the <> have been torn down or removed as well." This is Reinhard. "Yes, it seems so. Indeed, it''s hard to build, but easy to tear down. ......" Jin nodded, looking disappointed. "I snuck off to Potrock, but the ship seems to have degenerated somewhat. It''s a shame." Marcia said sadly. "Oh, I know what you mean. The magic tools haven''t improved at all ......, they seem to be degenerating." "I see. The other day we snuck off to the Blue Lands together. It was somewhat lackluster compared to the heyday I knew. Bina and Luis also expressed their disappointment. "The Shoro Empire was relatively better, though. I know a bit about it since I visited there the other day with Reinhardt and the others. "Still, the golem-related business seems to be declining. "Yes." Jin and Reinhardt nodded at each other. "So..." Jin opened his mouth in front of everyone. "I will eventually move to Hale and retire from Ars,...... or not, but the current situation is disappointing and unfortunate." "Uh-huh." The group was surprised to hear the word "retire" come out of Jin''s mouth, but they must have guessed his intentions, because they all turned serious. "First of all, I would like to start with the Shoro Empire and return it to the level it was at least 400 ...... or even 350 years ago. I''d like to bring it back to the level it was at least 400 or even 350 years ago. By 350 years ago, I mean when Jin was in his prime or late years. "I see...back then, ...... yes, things were certainly better maintained than they are now." "Right?I''m going to help you in various ways to achieve the way things were back then. "That''s not free ......, is it?" Reinhardt asked to confirm Jin''s words. "Of course. And by the way, I''m not going to help you with everything, and I''m not going to end it easily." Jin said, "I don''t want them to walk away and go back to the way they were. "Well, that would be fine, but it would take ...... a long time." "Well, I''m sure we''ll have plenty of time ......." Jin said with a slightly self-deprecating laugh. "Then we need to figure out how to get the resources and budget." Elsa said. "Well, we want to release the money that we have in Horai Island." To put it bluntly, Jin''s assets are not only comparable to the national budget of those countries......, but several times larger. The reason for this is that he had no way to spend it while it was accumulating. "Is most of it in ?" Jin asks the old man. <>. These <<> are the currency for saving. It is a special currency established to prevent the accumulation of gold and silver coins, which would cause various problems due to the shortage of currency. It is made of the highest quality magi crystals of all attributes, the same size and shape as gold coins, and 1000 times more valuable than gold coins. In other words, each piece is worth 10 million dollars, or about 100 million Japanese yen. One korot (a unit of magi crystal, about 1 gram) of the highest quality magi crystal of all attributes is 1 million tolls, which means 10 grams, That is 10 grams. Jin had not only tens of thousands but hundreds of thousands of such crystals. The money earned by the < and others scattered throughout the region, the sale of various magical tools and magical machines, the supply of rare materials, and the rewards for various lectures and support, etc., accumulated over a period of nearly 40 years. The money has accumulated over a period of nearly 40 years. "Can''t we take this opportunity to somehow use this money to stimulate the economy? "Well, if we release it all at once, I think we''ll end up with a mess," he said. Reinhardt nailed Hitoshi with a nail, saying, "So think about it and use it. "So let me ask you a question. What should I use ...... for?" Everyone is a little taken aback, but then they realize that it''s not so surprising. After all, they have no good ideas. In the first place, Horai Island is completely self-sufficient. Even some of the rarest materials can be gathered by oneself, not by buying them. Ancient dragon shells, for example. In other words, there is no need to do the usual <. "Sorry to be so abstract, but <><> is the only thing I can think of. Reinhard, an experienced lord, was the first to offer advice. "So, for example, if you rent land to do something, you have to pay a rental fee, and if you hire someone to operate the land, you have to pay a salary." Jin understood what he meant. "Yes. However, if you use it for commercial purposes, you will make a profit, which in turn means more money." "Yeah, that''s the whole point." How about running an orphanage, an educational institution, and a new healing center? Count Luis Wurtz Kuzma, who also has experience as a lord, said. "An orphanage, ......." Jin thought back to the institution that had raised him. "It sure would be nice. ...... Marcosius also gathered orphans and educated them." Jin said nostalgically. Saki agreed. "Kuhu, perhaps the number of orphans has increased since the <> has been stirring things up." "That''s right." "Then, how about a monument, a memorial park, and a memorial facility to commemorate the greats of the past?" Rodrigo suggested. "Yes, that would be a good idea. The airfield in Toka Village is now called . I thought I heard a voice say "huh?" but I let it go and Jin asked a further question. "Is there anyone who is such a great person ......?" Vivian was the first to answer. "Well, there is one person close to me. "Yes, who?" Instead of answering, Vivian pointed her finger at Jin. "Yes?" Reinhardt explained to Jin, who did not understand. "The second generation <>...... that is, you, Jin." 2154 - - 58-02 Detailed Decision He was told that he was a great man, but it didn''t seem to register with Jin. "Me?" "Yes. < "You should be more aware of that, Jin." Saki and Reinhardt told Jin Nido that he finally understood. "...... but I don''t want to ...... call myself ......." Jin had been happy to build the monument to Marikka, but when it came to his own ......, he was embarrassed. "Oh, I see. It''s okay if it''s a monument to the first generation." , Adriana Barbora Zetsi. If we are going to build a monument or memorial to her, it wouldn''t be strange for Jin to do it now, would it? "Hmmm......... I think they might say that it would be better to commemorate the second generation at the same time, but, well, is it a good ......?" Hitoshi insisted that the builders should be allowed to do as they please. At any rate, the first thing to do was to find out what was to be done. "How about we build a in the Shoro Kingdom to display the history of magical engineering, replicas of monumental magical tools, and ...... some kind of reference material? "Well, it''s not bad, but it''s still sad." Reinhardt objected to Jin''s words. "Kuhu, since it''s a memorial museum, we should have a bust or a bronze statue of Adriana Barbora Zetsi, a model of the house where she lived, and her achievements. Saki''s advice made sense to Jin. "It would be nice to have a statue of my predecessor and ." Reiko would know what her predecessor looked like, so there would be no problem. "I could make it out of adamantite to prevent it from being broken or stolen. It would be too heavy to carry around. If the specific gravity of a life-size human being is 1, the weight of an adamantite object would be 20 times heavier than that of a life-size human being. A person weighing 40 kilograms would weigh 800 kilograms, or more than one ton including the base. "It would also be a good stocking stuffer." So when Adamantite is needed, it can be crushed and used. "Brother Jin, then, why don''t we use a different metal for the statue and adamantite for the pedestal?" Elsa said, "I don''t know when, but it would be a shame to destroy the statue as a material. "Yes, Elsa is right. Let''s use orichalcons for the statue and adamantite for the base." The orichalcone mentioned by Jin here is magically added beryllium copper. It is stronger than steel and resistant to corrosion. Originally, there was a theory that orihalcon was a reddish metal, so Jin called <> an orihalcon, since it would be a copper alloy. Later, it is known that <> also used it as a material for spaceships. Since it is non-magnetic, it seems to have been used in places where iron-based alloys could not be used. "The statue is in the middle of the entrance lobby!" "Yes. Let''s make it an atrium, and the ceiling should be made of glass ......, or <> with a large light window." For some reason, the discussion is turning into a floor plan discussion for the memorial hall. "......Well, it''s fun, I guess." The old man records the minutes of the meeting, which is a great help, Jin thought as he continued the conversation. "Well, what else should we do for the exhibition? "Well, it''s not an exhibition, but how about holding a simple craft class or something like that on a regular basis to appeal to the visitors? Licia suggested. Jin recalled that there were indeed stores in modern Japan that held such events to attract customers. "It might be a good idea to get people interested in making things like that. "Well then, I''d like to have a room to display standard specimens of materials used in magical engineering! Saki said. "Oh, I see. We should aim for a museum where we can learn everything we can about magical engineering. Jin seemed to be on board. "We''ll have a receptionist with an automaton, and a security golem... well... employees can go to ........." "Oh, come on, Jin, that''s not going to create any jobs." Reinhardt admonished Jin for getting carried away. "That''s true. ...... Well, the receptionist is the face of the building, so an automaton would be good. And the director, too. Jin said, "Do you think we should recruit the general employees from among the public? "Well, I think that would be about right. They worked out a few other details, and when they took a break, Jin said, "Hey, Elsa. "Hey, isn''t Elsa pretty famous too?" "Yes. "She was a court-appointed healer (Reichsanstalt) and she healed some bigwigs." "Uh, yes." Erza looked away when Jin asked her. "Haha, of course Elsa is a famous person too. She has written several textbooks on healing and is the honorary principal of several healing schools. ......" "...... Brother Rai, stop it right there." Elsa was red with embarrassment at having her name mentioned in such a high light. Surely, there is a hospital called "XXX Memorial Hospital," Jin thought back to modern Japan. Then, Elsa strikes back. "...... If you say so, then Saki''s sister too." "What?" "Yeah, that''s right. Saki is known to the public as a master of alchemy and materials ...... "La, Reinhard, I''m ......." Saki is also flustered, her face flushed. "Beena is the founder of the , and Marcia is a legendary shipwright in Potlock. "Oh, I''m embarrassed when you say it like that. "Ha-ha-ha, compared to everyone else, I''m ......." "Yeah, well, I know there are a lot of famous people here." Jin said with a happy smile. "Well, for now, we can start by building the in the Shoro Kingdom." He who runs after two hares will catch neither. Jin said, "Let''s do one thing at a time first. "That''s right. I got carried away because you were having so much fun. "No, not at all. So we started over. We had a hundred opinions about what to do and what not to do, but we managed to come to an agreement, "Well then, I think I''ll pick a day and go to the Shoro Kingdom and apply for it. He came to a conclusion. "But, Jin, what about the location?" Reinhardt pointed out, "Oh, I didn''t know that was still there. Jin replied. "I''m thinking of building it on the outskirts of the capital, Leuthart, or even on the shores of Lake Tosmo. "Yes, that wouldn''t be a bad idea." "Well, in that case, I think it would be better to build it in a place that has some connection with it. "Hey, hey, Saki, a place with a connection to me is fine, but a place with a connection to your predecessor, where is that?" "Oh, I see. I was just thinking of that. The places with a connection to Jin would be the capital of Leusert, Elsa''s family home in Eksi, and his best friend Reinhardt''s family home in Banne. "I don''t want people to come here just for the fun of it, so I''m thinking somewhere on the shores of Lake Tosmo. The possible sites are Koju, Eksi on the other side of the lake, Sagina, Banne, and Mahahama. "I think I''d like to go to the Leusert side. Then the area around Koju would be the first choice. Jin decided to make an offer to the Shoro Kingdom with this as his first choice. 2155 - - 58-03 Meeting in the Kingdom of Shoro On December 2, Jin flew to the residence in Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. He was greeted by his descendants and the current owners, Mr. and Mrs. Daiki-Nido and Cocona Nido. "Welcome, Mr. Jin. "Is there a reason for your visit today?" "Yes, actually. ......" Jin was ushered into the parlor and explained his plan to the two men. "......, that''s what it''s all about." "I see...a memorial to the First Minister..." "That''s wonderful!" They agreed. "Then, shall we present it to His Majesty at once?" Jin is the Honorary Advisor to the Emperor. It is a status established for Jin by the former empress, a de facto honorary position with no binding power. It is a de facto honorary position, non-binding, but is treated as a rank above that of a count and below that of a marquis. They have the right to enter and leave the palace without notification and to apply for a visit to the emperor without an appointment. This was the perfect status for Jin, who disliked the hassle of formalities. Yes, they say, "the sooner, the better". "Well, I suggest you write up a brief summary of what you have just said. "Oh, I see." Codification was important in the sense that there is a possibility of omission if it is done orally. "......, is that all right?" "Yes, father." Reiko and, through Reiko, the old man also checked it, and they agreed that there was no problem. So Jin, Reiko, and Daikki set off for Miyagi. A car owned by the Nido family is used for the trip. < is left parked, and Hope, the pilot, stays behind to guard the house. The car drives slowly. Jin looks out over the town for the first time in a long time. "It looks better maintained than when I was here before. he muttered half to himself, "Yes. The old cobblestones and streetlights were renewed this fall. "Ah, that makes sense." Jin was relieved to hear that the Shoro Kingdom seems to be continuing to be governed well. * * * * * * "Well, Jin-dono, what can I do for you today? Since he had visited without an appointment, he had to wait for about 30 minutes, but without incident, Jin was ushered into the office of Ernst II, Emperor of the Shoro Empire. In attendance was the Prime Minister, Roderich Barberas von Heizer. He is the new Prime Minister who just assumed office this September. Also present was the well-known Minister of Magic and Technology, LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, and the Minister of Finance, Reinemer Flummels von Gausen. "Please take a look at this first." Jin submits the document he has just compiled. Prime Minister Roderich Barberas von Heizer received the document and read it aloud. "1. We would like to build a memorial hall to commemorate the achievements of the first Magecraft Meister, Adriana Barbora Zetsi. 2, We would like to have a place for it near Lake Tosmo, in the vicinity of Banne. 3,The contents of the exhibition can be found at ......." After reading the whole thing in about two minutes, the Prime Minister said, "That is all, Your Majesty." and presented the document to Ernst II. Ernst II looked over the document one more time, "Not a bad deal. You said that the entire cost would be paid by Jin-dono, but we will pay half of the construction cost. We will also provide you with the land. He said, "We will also provide you with the land. Reinemer Flummels von Gausen, the Minister of Finance, responded, "Your Majesty, shall we treat this as a state project expense?Or should we treat it as a donation? Reinemer Frummels von Gausen asked. "Yes, as a donation. "As you wish." Thus, first of all, Jin''s plan was approved. Next, the details of the plan were discussed, and Ernst II expressed his desire to participate as much as possible. "Our country is putting a lot of effort into education. I hope that the memorial hall will help to increase interest in the field of magical engineering. To this, Hitoshi replied, "Yes, we would like to make it such a facility. Here are a few ideas that I did not put in writing. "Several times a year, we would like to hold simple craft classes and seminars to attract people interested in different levels of crafting and to promote the fun and usefulness of making things. "Yes, that sounds great." I would like to participate in it. And..., "At first, we will probably start with automata, but I think it would be good to have a kind of consultation corner where people can ask for help when they have problems with their creations or repairs. "Oh, that sounds good." "Oh, that''s a good idea," "I''d like to consult with them now, wouldn''t you? The response was positive. Since the budget and land were not a problem to begin with, the project proceeded smoothly. As per Jin''s request, he was given a plot of land of about one square kilometer on the shore of Lake Tosmo, and the idea of creating a park around the building was considered. A pond filled with water from Lake Tosmo could be built on the site, and a model of a ship could be placed on it. At Jin''s suggestion, "I think it would be interesting to have a model boat race on this pond in the future. Jin suggested that the pond be as large as a 50-meter swimming pool and as shallow as 1 meter in depth. "Well, the idea of such a facility is quite fun," he said. Emperor Ernst II commented. Isn''t it? "I would be happy if Your Majesty could understand the joy of making things." The Minister of Magic and Technology seemed pleased. But... "...... I''m sorry, but you''ll have to take care of the rest. LeGrey, you''ve got it. "Yes." After an hour of chatter in the emperor''s office, Ernst II, the chancellor, and the minister of finance returned to their work. "Well, we''ll be right here." Jin and the Minister of Magic and Technology LeGray rented a small conference room to work out the details. "Shouldn''t we have a cafeteria as well?" "Yes, indeed. It would also be good to have specimens of materials from various parts of the Shoro Empire. "Oh, I see. ...... Then, how about setting up a store and selling local specialties from each region? "That''s not a bad idea, but do you want to go that far? ......" Jin later recalled that it was an enjoyable time, although the conversation got louder and louder, and we had to make a few course corrections. After three days of meetings, Jin reported to Ernst II, Emperor of Shoro. "Well, we will start construction at the beginning of the new year," he said. "Well, I look forward to it, Jin-dono." In the new year, Jin''s new work was about to begin. 2156 - - 58-04 A short trip On December 4, Jin reported to everyone in Horai Island. "...... So, our request has been approved. We will start construction next year. "So, Jin, are you going to hire a contractor over there?" asked Reinhardt as if to confirm. Reinhardt asked as if to confirm. "That''s going to happen. "Well, I think we''ll just leave the foundation work to the ." The foundation work is literally the <. Jin said, "I don''t want to leave this to a human contractor. "That''s fine, isn''t it?It''s ...... but if humans are going to do the work, it''s going to take ...... two years to complete?Three years?" "I''m thinking of having a craftsman help us in the next six months." I''m thinking of six months, "Well, it''s true that the construction period is also important," said Reinhard. Reinhard said. "No, that''s not all. The Minister of Magical Technology told me that the civil engineering and construction industry has recently ...... started using golems since the <> disappeared." "Hmph, so you can shorten the construction period?" "No, it''s not that simple." "What?" Saki looks doubtful. "It''s good that you started using the golem, but it doesn''t seem to be working very well. "I see. You only use it to carry ...... heavy things, don''t you?" Reinhard, you''re right. That''s how it''s done. So it also means that Jin is going to teach him how to use the golem. That''s good. "That would be great. I also think it would be a good idea to make a magic tool that can use engineering magic for civil engineering and construction and lend it to him. Jin said that the use of magic tools that can be used for <>, <>, <>, etc., would dramatically increase the service life of buildings. These are the basic engineering magic for the people of Horai Island when they build. "Yes, it would be no use at all if we can''t use at least that much." Reinhard seemed to agree. "So, I''ll send a golem or automata site supervisor to ...... to train the builders and construct the building." "Yes, I understand Jin''s idea. It''s good, isn''t it?" "Yes, it''s a good idea.The Shoro Empire has asked us to do it. Oh, I see. It is said that the royal family of the Shoro Empire has heard stories of what the Magecraft Meisters of the past have done. And this generation is no less ...... well, it''s only natural, since it''s him, but I''ve heard ...... that he''s a magi craft master, so they''re hoping for this kind of enlightenment. "But you''ll be free for the rest of the year, won''t you?" "Yeah. Yeah. Construction will start after the first of the year. In the meantime, Jin said, he would make a golem for the site supervisor and magic tools for civil engineering and construction. "That won''t take more than half a day. "That''s true, but..." Reinhardt interjected, and Jin nodded with a wry smile. "Brother Jin, what about support for other countries? Erza asked. "Yes. The Kingdom of Klein is still in the midst of the Toka-mura incident, and the Kingdoms of Egelea and Elias are sending disciples of Marcosius, so I don''t want to get involved too much. "Well, what about the kingdoms of Cerroa and Franz?" "Well, what about the Kingdom of Celuloa and the Kingdom of Franz?" "If we''re talking about those two kingdoms, the Kingdom of Celuloa is the more powerful one, so I''m more concerned about the Kingdom of Franz for now." Mitsuho is not a problem since it was originally outside of the . "Come to think of it, I don''t think I''ve ever met the upper echelons of the Franz Kingdom." Four hundred years ago, I would have known the king and former duchess (later the mother of the king) Lotharus de Lafayette and Catherine de Lafayette, but now I realized that I did not even know the name of the king. "Old man, what is the current situation of the Kingdom of Franz? He asked the old man. < "I see. It seems that the <<<< Magic League has been putting this country on the back burner, so there has been little damage and little impact. "Kuhu, it was a shadowy country, wasn''t it?" Saki, you are being very harsh. <<< but the country is calm and there has been little technological degradation. It was a less technologically dependent country to begin with. "As far as I know, it was an agricultural country. Vivian testified. < "Kuhu, that''s true. There are mines, but I thought they were barely self-sufficient. << Jin tilted his head at this report. "Old man, is it because of the decrease in the amount of mining from the mines or because of the increase in consumption?Or is it because of the increase in consumption? "Is it because of the technology used?" >. "Hoh." It seems that the Kingdom of Franz has managed to keep its own country together in its own way. That''s interesting, Jin thought. "If that''s the case, I''d like to take a look around the Kingdom of Franz. "I knew Brother Jin would say so." Erza, who was familiar with Jin''s personality and behavior patterns, said with a laugh. "I''d like to go there sometime during the year." "Is that as a tourist?" Reinhardt asked, "Yes, that would be nice. Reinhardt answered, "Yes, that would be nice. "I would like to visit the Kingdom of Franz just as a tourist." Jin looked at Elsa and said, "Me too? "Me too?" "Yes. Let''s go out together once in a while, not only for research. "Yes, that would be great." So Jin and Erza, accompanied by Reiko and Hope, decided to visit the Kingdom of Franz. * * * * * * * * * * They departed on December 5. We decided to take the northernmost of the three roads connecting Klein and Franz. It is the most deserted road. We chose this road because we wanted to enter the Franz kingdom as far away from the public as possible. The reason we did not enter Franz out of the blue is that we wanted to make sure that we had the country at the border. "When we went to rescue Zion''s sister ...... Istaris a long time ago, we took the middle road, didn''t we?" "Yes, that''s right. We crossed the border from Storsk to Gilohe. "Oh, yes, that''s right." That time it was a wagon pulled by a golem horse, but this time it''s a golem car. The town on the Klein Kingdom side is Nyse, and the town on the Franz Kingdom side is Coco. Incidentally, the road between Nyse and Coco is through the coniferous forest, so it is difficult to be seen. Therefore, we have transferred the whole golem car by <>. "We are almost at the border of the Klein Kingdom. In this era, border-crossing checks are more relaxed than they were 400 years ago. That''s how peaceful it has become. That''s a good thing, isn''t it? Yes. We''re almost at the border. 2157 - - 58-05 Long-established store Jin''s group passed through the barrier on the Klein Kingdom side and entered the one on the Franz Kingdom side, which also had no particular problems, and they were able to pass through just by writing their names. Neither Jin nor Erza used aliases this time. They only wrote <> and <> instead of their family names. Since the name "Jin" seems to have a good reputation, and Erza''s name is similar, it was decided that there would be no problem as long as they did not do anything conspicuous in the future. "Aren''t they going to check our belongings?" Jin muttered half to himself, "Father, according to the old man, the traffic between the kingdoms of Klein and Franz is frequent and there have been no major problems, so this is the way it is," Reiko explained. Reiko explained. "Is that so?" "Yes. This gate is the northernmost and quietest, but the other two are used by several hundred people a day. So they don''t check every single person''s belongings and luggage. Is that how peaceful it is? "Yes, I think so." After passing through the gate, the town of Koko lies ahead, but the time is still 10:30 a.m. "Master! What should we do, Master? "Well, I think we should go to ........ It''s still early, so we''ll go to ...... Lunark, I think it''s called, and go through the town of Koko to see what''s going on. "Okay." So Hope drove the Golem car directly to the town of Coco. The town of Coco is about 15 minutes away from the gate. This town had no clear boundaries, and as we drove along the road through the wheat fields, the buildings grew and before we knew it, it had become a town. "Oh, there is a <>. ......Yes, it seems to be working properly. The street became a central avenue running through the center of the town, and a <> was set up at one of its locations. From what Jin saw, it seemed to be a stand equipped with a < that he had built in the early days. "It has been working properly for 400 years. ...... With some emotion, Jin stopped the car and approached the <>. The exterior was about the size of a kerosene self-service station, and when money was inserted, mana was supplied from the end of a supply cable. The exterior had been replaced several times, but the main < was undoubtedly one of the units that Jin had built and supplied to other countries. You''ve been working well, haven''t you?) Jin worked hard in his heart. He wanted to maintain it if he could, but he could not remove the cover and other parts in public, so he gave up the idea. There were more tourists than I expected, and the place was more crowded than I had expected. "Let''s go slowly along the central street," Jin said to the driver. Jin instructed Hope, who was driving the car. "Yes, master." Jin saw a couple of Golem cars and felt that the Franz kingdom was ...... not in decline as he had expected, at least not here in Coco. Driving along the central street, Jin noticed that there were two more such <>, but they did not seem to be of Jin''s own making. "Even so, the fact that <> are functioning must mean that the infrastructure of this town is in good condition. "Yes, father. We don''t have a permanent <, but the surrounding towns haven''t changed much in 400 years." "I see. ......" Normally, unchanged has a half-bad side. Because if you don''t change when your surroundings are progressing, you are left behind, which means that you are behind the times. However, in the current era, most of the cultures and civilizations have degenerated a little because of the <>. So, we can say that we are relatively advanced in this area. "...... changed my mind. Hope, let''s stay here today. "Okay." Just past the center of town, Hope stops the Golem vehicle. They remain silent for about two seconds. "......, the old man has given us some information. Keep going 32 meters, then turn left and go about 7 meters to a quiet inn." "Okay. Okay, take me there. The time was still 11:30 a.m., but it was not unusual for tourists to check in around this time. The inn recommended by the old man was called . It was a three-story solid stone building with a bathhouse in a separate building. It is well-equipped with a parking lot for Golem cars. Not only Jin and his car, but also another car was parked there. "Welcome! The receptionist was a well-dressed woman in her late thirties who appeared to be the proprietress of the inn. Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Hope, and I filled out a guest book together, She said, "Is your daughter an automata? That''s wonderful. And she''s so cute! I was surprised and impressed. "Are you a tourist?" "Yes, well." He showed me to my room and we made some small talk. "This inn has been here for a long time, hasn''t it?" I said something I didn''t have to ask, and asked him about it. Yes, it has been around 450 years. It was built by a top-notch magecraftsman at that time, so it has hardly deteriorated at all. "That''s great. I''m interested in those old buildings and facilities, so I''ve been going around." "Oh, I see." "So I''m looking for someone who knows about the old days. "Then your father-in-law might be a good choice." Your father-in-law? Yes. He''s my father-in-law in Alexandria. In that case, please introduce me after you put your luggage down. Yes, of course. We arrived at our room. It was a corner room on the third floor with a nice view. Surprisingly, the rooms on the second floor were all occupied. Jin put the half-dummy luggage Hope had given him in the room, "If you don''t mind, I''d like to hear a story about your mother in Alexandria. He asked her, "If you don''t mind, I''d like to hear a story about your father in Alexandria. He said, "Welcome to Alexandria. "Welcome to your home. I am Gregoras Pecker, the owner of Chidori-tei. Gregorus Pecker was an old man with a bald head and a small but sturdy build. He seemed to have a limp and greeted Jin and the others in an easy chair. My name is Jin. This is my wife, Elsa. He introduced Reiko and Hope. Gregoras Pecker said, "Excuse me for sitting down, "Excuse me for sitting down. My legs are a little bad. ......" But Hitoshi brushed it off, saying, "I hope you don''t mind. You are interested in old buildings?" "Yes. I understand that this inn has been in existence for about 450 years. Yes, it has been for about 450 years. Gregoras then told me what he knew. 2158 - - 58-06 Old Story Jin and his friends are being told stories about the past by the owner of the long-established inn, Chidori-tei. "When the first owner built this inn, I believe it was during the Berkley dynasty," he says. Jin knows a little about it. He was present at the time of the change of power from the Rijohn de Barkly to Lothar de Lafayette. "At that time, this region was the domain of the Duke of Lattero de Lafayette, known as the Duke of the North, and was relatively well governed." "I see." Jin chimed in. "Please come in." Then the hostess served us tea. The same tea was placed in front of Gregoras in Alexandria. After taking a sip of the tea, Gregorus Pecker continued his story. "It was around that time that this inn was built. The location of the inn was not so bad, as it was close to the border with the Kingdom of Klein, and there was a good flow of people through the city. "I see." It was a fairly modern structure at the time. That''s interesting. If the layout and interior design have not changed since then, Jin said, it is a historical building and has great value as a cultural heritage. "I''m sure the original owner would be proud to hear you say that." Gregoras Pecker''s story continued. Jin listens to it with great interest. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After listening to the old story, Jin and the others were relaxing in their rooms after having lunch. "You got more than you expected, didn''t you? "Hmm..." In fact, this building is still in the same style as it was 400 years ago. "Maybe we can sneak ...... in later, or maybe we can make an open offer and re-enforce it." "I think that''s a good idea." "...... And, hey, the owner here, Gregoras, did you say. He''s got a limp, doesn''t he?" Jin had only a vague feeling that this was the case, but he asked Erza, who is a top-notch healer, if she knew what he was talking about, "Well, I can''t be sure of the details until I examine you properly, but maybe your knee." "I see." If it is a surgical disease, Elsa can probably fix it. "......What about compensation?I''m going to give you a reason to thank me for sharing my valuable story and to protect this precious building." Still, that''s probably going to be excessive,...... says Elsa. "Yes,...... and add healing to that,...... I don''t know." "Father, Elsa, how about paying for the accommodation?" Reiko advised. "Well, I guess that''s a good idea." Both Jin and Erza nodded their heads in agreement. However, they agreed that it would be better to make it look like <>, both in terms of reinforcement and treatment. That way, they would not be too embarrassed. As a side note, both healing <> and healing <> are national qualifications, but to call oneself a <>, one needs to have a deep scientific knowledge. * * * * * * Jin and Elsa went out to see the town in the afternoon. Reiko and Hope are accompanying them. "Hmmm, a mixture of old and relatively new buildings. "Father, the newer ones are still about 150 years old." "Yes, that''s right. < Jin analyzes the town while observing the streets. "......1, I''m curious about something..." Then Erza mutters to herself. "I''ve been looking for a healer, but I can''t find any indication of a healer or a healing center. "Oh, by the way," she says, "I was at ......." "Maybe it has something to do with the innkeeper''s leg not being healed. I''ll ask him when I get back. Hmm. Jin and the others walked around the town some more. "The town is ...... lively. It''s very lively for such a remote town. There are a few tourists here and there, not including Jin and the others. "I wonder what the other tourists are doing here, if they are tourists..." "Father, I heard that there is a specialty that appears in this region during this season. Reiko, who had been listening to the conversation of the tourists, quietly told me. "What are the specialties ......?Aurora Borealis or shooting stars? "I don''t think it''s limited to this town, Jin-bro. And I''ve never heard of the Northern Lights being seen in Ars. "I see. Erza knew about the Northern Lights because Jin had taught her a lot of earthly knowledge. But for whatever reason, there seemed to be no record of auroras appearing in Ars or Hale. Besides, meteor showers are not so unique to this region. Jin thought that eclipses of the sun and moon did not seem to occur due to the position of Ars and the moon (Uni). "...... father, it seems to be fireworks." "Fireworks?" Where do they set off such things?Jin thought, "Apparently, it seems to be in the direction of the barrier station of the Klein Kingdom. Reiko answered with more information. "You mean on the side of the Klein Kingdom?" Of course, we can see it on our side. "I think there are probably tourists coming to the town of Nyse on the Klein Kingdom side. That''s right. Jin thought, "I don''t think there would be any crazy tourists who would go all the way across the border to stay in a town in another country. "But maybe that''s why. The rooms at the inn were also quite full. All the rooms on the second floor were occupied, so Jin and the others had rooms on the third floor. That was fine with us, since it was quiet and we had a nice view from the window. "Maybe we can see it from the window of our room? Jin said, "Yes, father. If there will be fireworks, they will be on the east side. Our room is a corner room facing east and south, so you can see them if you open the window. It will be cold, though." Reiko told me. "I see. If we set up a wind ward against the cold, the warm air in the room will not escape, so it should be fine. "I think so." "...... And when are the fireworks?Tonight? "No, tomorrow night, I heard... they''re going to have fireworks over the next two days." "I see. I see. ...... So I guess I''ll have to stay one more night. Somewhat curious, Jin decides to leave town after watching the fireworks. "Well, it''s not like we have a goal or a deadline." Erza agrees. "Then, what I''m interested in is the fireworks. Jin felt a little disappointed that he would have stayed in the town on the Klein Kingdom side if he had known in advance, but he reminded himself that he could have seen the 450-year-old architecture if he had stayed here. "I''ll ask the old man to check ......." Through Reiko, Jin instructed Lao-kun to look into it. He received an immediate reply, "Father, it seems that Lao-kun already had the information about the fireworks," Reiko said. Reiko said. "I will tell you the details in your room at the inn. "Yes, please do." Although the fireworks were on their mind, Jin and the others decided to walk around the town a little more to see what was going on. 2159 - - 58-07 Fireworks It was 2:00 p.m. and Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Hope and the others were exploring the town of Coco. "There''s a pump, isn''t there? Reiko said. "It seems to have been manufactured only recently, though." The pump was the first one made by Jin in the village of Kaina. It seems that these tools were not destroyed by the League of Magic. "Is it necessary to evolve not only magic tools but also mere tools more and more ......?" "Aren''t those things imported from Mitsuho?" Erza responded to Jin''s mutterings. "Maybe so, but for some reason, tools from Mitsuho don''t seem to be widely used." Take bicycles, for example. They are widespread in Mitsuho, but not at all in Shoro and other small countries. "Maybe it''s just a matter of taste." Erza says, but Hitoshi doesn''t think that''s all it is. "Hmmm... ......" I think it''s too vague to put it all together as a preference, "I wonder if something that doesn''t use magic at all would not be well received?" Jin says with a thought. "Well, that might be a possibility. In the case of the pump, it was accepted by the general public who cannot use magic, but in the case of the bicycle, the target market is the wealthy and above, so it is different in that respect. "It''s difficult to develop a market, isn''t it?" "Hmmm..." Talking like this, Jin and Elsa continued their tour of the town. "Oh, a car." Erza pointed toward a Golem car. "I don''t know that type," she said. "It was probably made in the Shoro Kingdom," Reiko told me. Reiko told me. "I see, they are becoming more and more popular. "They use magic, don''t they?" "Well then, would it be more popular if they were magic bikes instead of bicycles?" I don''t know about that. Jin''s final decision was that it would be difficult to popularize the idea, since people who could not ride a bicycle would not be able to ride a motorcycle. He continued to tour the town, but without any further success. Not many ideas for tools and magic tools came to mind, and Jin and his colleagues returned to <> at 3:30 p.m. "What I''ve been making so far," he said. "I feel like most of the things I''ve made so far have been driven by necessity," said Jin, as he sat down to tea in his room. Jin muttered to himself as he sipped tea in his room. "Well, that may be true. Necessity is the mother of invention. Perhaps that is why it is not easy to spread the use of something that is brought from somewhere else because it looks convenient. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Since there seemed to be many overnight guests, Jin and Erza decided to use the bathroom, even though it was still light out. The bathhouse is in a separate building and is quite spacious. In this cold season, it is nice to have a bath. If the inn did not have a bath, Jin would have returned to Horai Island by the warp gate to take a bath. "Ah, it''s nice hot water. It is now 4:00 p.m., and no one has used the bath yet, so Jin is the first one to take a bath. The same was true for Elsa, who enjoyed her bath without being disturbed. The dinner was a traditional meal of the Franz Kingdom, and both Jin and Elsa ate it all, remembering the old days when they came here with Zion and the others. Then, while relaxing in their room, they decided to ask Reiko about the . "Well, let''s see... ......" Reiko began to talk. "The name ''hanabi'' comes from Mitsuho," she said. Indeed, Mitsuho is quite culturally influenced by the <>. < As a medical student, Shuki Tsetsi, who also had a good knowledge of chemistry, could have reproduced fireworks. Or, it is quite possible that he had passed down the concept and someone reproduced it in later times. That is what Jin imagined. However, the fact comes as more of a surprise to Jin. "It was your father and Saki who recreated the fireworks ...... in this world." "What!" According to Reiko, 400 years ago, when Jin...... was exactly 40 years old, Saki, the old lord, <> The " Elsa" is the name of the woman who was the first to make the "Smith". "......Erza, you knew about this?" "...... nn. I''m sorry I didn''t tell you. And I have no idea how it came to be launched here ...... at the gateway to the Klein Kingdom, so..." "I see." Jin didn''t pursue the matter any further, since I remember he had only wondered during the day why they were doing that here, but never said anything about who made the fireworks. "So, your father is wondering why you set off fireworks?" "Yes. "It started as a signal that the border was safe." Jin nodded his head and said, "I can sort of understand that. In the absence of any means of communication, this kind of visual communication is quite effective. Four hundred years ago, the kingdoms of Klein and Franz had been in repeated skirmishes until the Lafayette family took over the throne. This is probably why this means of communication was chosen. "Even after the peace was established, the "wolfsbane" continued long afterwards as a sign of peace and tranquility within the borders." Reiko said it became a mere event, and at one point an attempt was made to change the color of the smoke. "I see." "But it seems that it was quite difficult to color the smoke." "I suppose so." "So a certain engineer, whose name has not been passed down, turned his attention to fireworks." "So that''s what happened. ....... And here we are. No, it didn''t happen right away. At first we were setting off fireworks in the daytime. "Oh, they weren''t very visible." Jin laughed inwardly, thinking that fireworks in the daytime, no matter how beautiful they were, would be a waste. "Yes. So we set them off at night and they were so beautiful that we started setting them off at night. Jin was finally convinced. "In the last 100 years or so, when peace prevailed, we no longer set off the <>, and the custom of setting off fireworks for two days only remained during this season when the air is clearer. "It''s not summer there, is it?" "I heard that the wind blows unexpectedly in summer." Jin was convinced that strong winds are not acceptable when setting off fireworks, and he understood the reason. What about these two days? "I heard that the engineers who made the fireworks decided on this, but I don''t think they were properly informed about it. I''m sorry." No, it''s okay. It''s okay. I''m convinced for the first time. Jin thanked Reiko and the old man who had compiled the information. 2160 - - 58-08 As scheduled After the fireworks talk was over, it was 9:00 p.m.. Jin decided to take action as agreed. "At this time of night, the work at the inn should be finished. "Yes. So Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Hope, and others went to the caretaker''s room of the inn. The superintendent''s office was on the first floor. When they knocked and were let in, Alana Becker, the landlady, and Gregoras Pecker, a resident of Alexandria, were keeping the books. "How can I help you, sir?" The other employees were still cleaning up the dining room and eating their own meals. "Yes, actually, I need to talk to you about something. ......" Jin first explained that he would like to put a < on this building for preservation. "I want to thank you for sharing your valuable stories with me during the day, and I also want to protect this historic building." When I said this, I was naturally met with a quizzical look. "You are ......?" But that is to be expected. "Yes, I am. I may look like this, but I am a Magi Engineer. Then Jin pointed at Hope, "This Hope was made by me. And then he says, "Oh, ......!This is a wonderful work. He seemed to recognize Jin''s skill. "Father-in-law, can I leave it to you?" "Yes, I guess so. ......" So Jin decided to give it another try. As a test, he decided to hang <> on the walls, floor, and ceiling of the room. "<>......<>><>>" Multiply 6 times, once on each of the 6 surfaces, and you are done. It looks the same. But then.., "Oh, this is indeed amazing." Gregoras Pecker, who seems to have some knowledge of magical engineering, sees that Jin''s < is definitely effective. "Your customer is definitely a first-class <>, isn''t he? ......<>...are you from the Shoro Kingdom?" "That''s what I meant." Jin was relieved to hear that they were satisfied. At this point, he moved on to another matter. "Well, I would like to ask you one question... Are there any healers in this town?" "...... Yes. There is an apothecary, but the healing center has been gone for about 20 years now. "I knew it." That''s why Gregoras''s leg was not completely healed, Jin guessed. "Well, my wife ...... Elsa is a healer. If you would like to see her, I would be happy to examine you. Oh, no charge." This surprised both Gregoras Pecker and Alana Becker. Healers and healers were scarce in the Kingdom of Franz today, and therefore, they demanded a high fee for their examination and treatment. "Well, that''s ......." So when I was told that <>, I did not trust that they would suddenly say, "Oh, really? "Well, I''m on my own, but I don''t have a healing center yet, so I''d like to take this opportunity to give you some experience. Jin added that kind of setting on the spur of the moment. "I see, I thought you were still young, is that what you meant?" Surprisingly, this seemed to be accepted, "Then, shall we have a medical examination? Please do." He then allowed me to examine his foot. "First of all, let me examine you. Gregoras sits back in his chair and Elsa sits in front of him for the examination. "......<>" This is a Shoro Empire-style examination spell. "......<>" After several times of changing the examination point, the result is as follows. "I found it. The ligament in your right knee is chronically inflamed. Elsa explained that the iliotibial ligament was highly strained, causing it to rub against the bone and become inflamed in the right upper lateral knee. "Painkillers give the illusion of temporary improvement, but the symptoms have not improved. If the cause is not removed, the symptoms will recur. Iliotibial tuberculosis is also known as runner''s knee. The iliotibial ligament is a bundle of fascial fibers that runs from the iliac crest (pelvic bone) to the fibula (outer bone of the tibia) through the outer thigh just lateral to the thigh. This ligament rubs against the convexity of the femur at the knee, resulting in inflammation of the iliotibial ligament. Surgically, the convexity of the femur may be shaved off, but usually, the iliotibial ligament is relaxed. In other words, by relaxing the muscles connected to the ilio-tibial ligament, the ilio-tibial ligament itself is loosened. "<>......<>" After Elsa has controlled the pain in the affected area, she applies a procedure to relieve the overall tension. Too much attention to the affected area is not enough to heal the patient. And then <>" The whole body is adjusted as a finishing touch. "How are you feeling?" Elsa asked Gregoras as he stood up and found that the problem in his right leg had disappeared as if it had melted away completely, "Oh, it''s better!Oh, it''s better!You are a great doctor! I was overjoyed. Elsa said, "No, thank you. It was a valuable experience for me. She said humbly. Alanna, the hostess, who was watching them, said, "Well, thank you very much, sir. How can I thank you? She looked very touched. "No, no, it was a good experience for me too. Jin refused as planned. "You don''t have to say that." "No, no, really." "Please don''t be shy." "No, no, this time..." After some back-and-forth at ......, "Well then, we will give you free accommodation for today and tomorrow." After that, Hitoshi had to leave the entire inn. After that, Hitoshi had the entire inn < and completed his initial goal. 2161 - - 58-09 On Fireworks Night The next day, the 6th. A fireworks display was scheduled for that night. The town was more crowded than the previous day. < restaurant seems to be almost fully booked. "I wonder if they are well known." Today, Jin had another question. "Is there any other town that sets off fireworks?" "...... sure." Jin said he did not know where the fireworks came from, but there was no need for them to be set off only in outlying towns. "Are the fireworks expensive?Or is the process so special that they can''t be made anywhere else?" I tried several guesses, but could not come up with an answer. "Do you have any idea about that?" I asked Reiko, to which she replied in the affirmative, "Yes. "I can explain it to you, but what do you want me to do? "I guess so. ......" Asking for a quick answer to everything depends on the situation. "This time I''ll ask after I''ve seen and heard a little more myself. Jin looked at Erza, saying, "After all, we are here for a short trip, to have fun. "Hmm, thank you." Erza agreed with Jin, since she was also enjoying the trip. "Well, let me ask you something." Jin and Erza decided to avoid the tourists and asked around to the people who seemed to be locals. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......No, no..." "No, no." But the enquiries were in vain. No one knew why. Everyone''s reaction was that it was a good thing that the fireworks were increasing the number of tourists. No, only one person, to be exact, "I would like to know, but I don''t know. I would like to know, but I don''t know. That person said "The fireworks are going off in the next country, and if we are making money by taking advantage of the fireworks, it could go wrong at any time. It is a fool''s errand not to think about what to do when that happens. He said. It was the owner of a magic tool shop on the main street. "All I can tell you is that the method of making fireworks is a secret and not something that can be easily learned. "I see." Jin left the magic tool shop and considered what he had just heard. "It''s not something you can make easily. ......" Certainly, fireworks require gunpowder, which is made by mixing gunpowder with nitre, sulfur, and other combustion materials and coloring agents. However, the fireworks developed by Jin and Saki were not like that. A large part of it was made up with magical materials. "...... So, the so-called method has been lost." So all that''s left are fireworks using gunpowder, which may or may not be the original ...... originating from Mitsuho, but are the same as the old-fashioned ones anyway. "Well, maybe because they use gunpowder, they are not in the city, but in the middle of nowhere." At this point, Jin decided to ask the old man via Reiko to tell him the correct answer. "Father, your guess so far is almost correct. I will explain to you what to do next, since you don''t have enough information only in this town. Yes, please. "There was a pyrotechnician who lived on the outskirts of Nyse, a town on the side of the Kingdom of Klein. He was the only pyrotechnician in the Lesser Kingdom. Oh, is that so? "Oh, is that so?" "Yes. And he lived in such a remote place because he was afraid of gunpowder accidents. Also, we could get nitre from the nearby mountains. Nitre is potassium nitrate KNO3. It is a type of nitrogen compound formed by the decomposition of urea in organic matter in the soil and animal excrement, which is oxidized by bacteria during decomposition to form salts with potassium ions. ...... seems to be a good place to start. Since it is water soluble, it diffuses into the deep layer when it rains. Potassium nitrate is also absorbed by plant roots as a nutrient. Therefore, potassium nitrate is difficult to obtain in regions with heavy rainfall. Therefore, in Japan, human waste is fermented and aged to make nitrate. "Nitre. That''s rare in this world. ......" As far as Jin knows ......, or rather as far as the old man has investigated, the places where nitre can be extracted are quite limited. Since it is usually found at the back of caves, it is assumed that it is derived from the feces of animals living in caves, such as bats. As for explosives, since there are explosives based on <>, difficult-to-handle explosives are only used as reagents on Horai Island. However, it is difficult to make colorful flowers bloom in the night sky only with <>. "Reiko, you just spoke in the past tense. That means ...... "Yes, father, the craftsmen have been around for 170 years." "Then there must be someone else who has taken over his work." "Yes, father." "Well ...... I''m a little curious. I was thinking of taking a trip to the Kingdom of Franz, but now I''m wondering about that someone who''s setting off the fireworks." "Hmm, I know." Erza seems to be curious too, and agrees with Jin. Elsa does not know all the details either. Jin looks forward to the night, thinking that the old man probably knows the truth. The long-awaited night arrived. And the long-awaited night came. Around 8:00 p.m., a large flower bloomed in the eastern sky. "Oh, it''s definitely fireworks. It wasn''t the showy kind you see in modern Japan, but a simple, old-fashioned firework display. They were being shot off about once a minute. Tourists'' voices are heard here and there. Indeed, they are beautiful in the dark night sky. Jin thought that it was understandable that people were rushing to see the fireworks. I wonder how many shots will go up. "Oh, it''s changing color. "It''s true." From the third shot, the whitish fireworks turned reddish, and from the fifth shot, they turned green. From the 7th shot, they turned blue, and from the 10th shot, they turned white again. It was a dreamlike drama that lasted for about 10 minutes. "If they are going to light up again tomorrow, we can find out where they are. "I think you already have, but..." "That''s right. If you go to ......, you might even be able to find who is raising it." "Hmm." Jin thought about it. It''s hard to go there by myself. There is a possibility that the place where they are setting off the fireworks is in the mountains. Maybe I should ask the old man. I think that''s a good idea. "Okay." Jin contacted the old man with the bracelet. "Mr. Old, do you know who is setting off the fireworks now, where, and why?" <> Yes, please. The old man started to explain to Jin. ....... 2162 - - 58-10 Findings <. The old man said that Vikt was made to look like a scholar. < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was the year 3750. Having received information that there was a valuable in the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Klein, the old man dispatched Regulus 31, aka , of the 5th Quinta, to investigate. Half a year after the news of the death of a local pyrotechnician, there was a rumor of a fireworks display in the area. The period is 7 days from December 6 to 12. No fireworks will be set off on other days. However, since I have only confirmed this for three years, it is rather weak proof that the fireworks will be displayed for the same period in the future. The location was just down the road, wasn''t it? But why did they choose such a remote place? It is an extraordinary place, a place where one crosses a wilderness, a mountain, a valley, and a mountain beyond that from a town where people live. The mountains, however, are low in elevation. Instead, it is covered with coniferous trees, making it difficult to walk through. "I don''t think normal people would be able to venture into this area." Rock wolves and wood bears were unusually abundant. The reason for the abundance of mountain deer was the abundance of grass and berries, which also provided food. "...... In a way, I guess you could call it a natural boundary." It would be impossible for a human being to kick the life out of such a wild animal. Rock wolves are nocturnal, so they cannot be vigilant at night, and wood bears move around during the day, so they need to be on the alert 24 hours a day. It will be very hard to walk in such a deep forest where you can hardly see the sky. Unless you have a combat golem with you. And there is yet another reason why it is not suitable for humans to enter. There is no water in this forest. The lack of water supply is a major disadvantage, as there are no springs or rivers. In addition, there are many poisonous plants. Some of them cause a rash when touched, and others are poisonous or fatal when eaten. "Still, it should be fairly easy to reach your destination if you use a balloon or airship." is an automata. It is an ultra-high-performance automata created by Jin. The natural boundary that rejects human beings is no obstacle for him. The old man has been sending him information on the coordinates he has identified with his <>, so he does not have to worry about losing his destination. By the way, you may think that you don''t have to go through all this trouble if the "Mere Old Man" uses <> to look for the destination, but in that case the information is one-way. Even if there is a partner, <> is not possible. On the other hand, such surveys often provide more useful information, including the reactions of the other party. However, this is not the case when you are dealing with a hostile party, or when you want to obtain information in secret. In short, it is advisable to use the most appropriate method for each situation. Anyway, Regulus 31<> proceeded to his destination. Since he is an automata, he is naturally not a predator of rock wolves. Wood Bears could not harm him either, so he made progress. We could have moved by transporter, but in that case, we would have had to move from point to point and would not have been able to obtain any information along the way. Not only in the vicinity of the destination, but there is often unexpected information hidden in the vicinity of the destination. Therefore, unless it is urgent or impossible to travel on foot, <> travel on land on foot. The last human settlement ...... is a few 10 km north of the town of Neisse. After passing through undulations and small forests that do not show up on a large scale map, we arrived at a craggy rocky mountain. The rock walls sloped at more than 80 degrees and were too fragile to be climbed by hand. But our destination was right up there. "This must be the force field generator. Waiting for night just to be sure, and trying to avoid being seen as much as possible, Victo flew through the air and stood on top of a rocky hill. It was more like a small tableau than a mountain. The area is about the size of two soccer fields. Of course, it is not perfectly flat, but has gentle undulations and bushes. And there was a almost in the center. Victo''s olfactory sensors detected the presence of gunpowder. "I am sure that fireworks were launched from here." 25 km from the town of Neisse and 23 km from the town of Koko in the Kingdom of Franz. At this distance, the fireworks should only be visible from the two towns, but looking at what is being talked about, we can guess that they are two to three times bigger and higher than those made by Jin and Saki in the past. "So, they must have improved it in their own way." If it is to be used as a substitute for a wolfsbane, it must be highly visible. Therefore, it was thought that they made improvements in this direction. "If this hole is fine for the launch tube, where will it come from? ......" With the shape of this plateau, it is unlikely that they climbed all the way up from below. "I think there must be a service entrance for them somewhere on the plateau." Victo walked around on the plateau looking for such a doorway. His footsteps stopped in front of a rock. "Here it is." There was a seam there that was a little too obvious to see. "To open it, go to ......." First, check to see if it can be opened from the outside. If someone comes out to set off fireworks and doesn''t leave it open until the fireworks are over, there should be some kind of switch to open and close it somewhere. Victo thought that the security would not be so high because of the location, but he was right. A bush a short distance away was, on closer inspection, a fake. There was a hidden switch on the trunk, and when he operated it, the seam gradually widened to reveal a doorway. It was dark inside, but it did not matter to Victo. He could see in the dark with night vision mode or infrared mode. After descending a steep staircase, there was another door, which opened easily. Inside the second door was a small hall, which was our destination. "This is the laboratory, isn''t it?" I didn''t need to check, I could tell just by looking at the samples of fireworks on the shelves. "I guess the warehouse is in the back." And in the warehouse were stored nitric acid, sulfur, and charcoal powder. They also found metal powder used to change the color. The floor of the laboratory is made of metal to prevent static electricity. "Now all we need to know is where and who is making the fireworks. ......" That, too, was immediately apparent. Fireworks were coming out of the magi-machine in the back of the laboratory. "Is this ......?" I found out that it seems to be a magi-machine that automatically produces fireworks when raw materials are put into it. The fireworks that came out were retrieved by a small carrier that appeared to be a golem. "Shall we follow them? Victo followed the small truck. The small truck went to a passageway at the right end of the hall, and then went further and further into the hall. At the end of the passage was a warehouse, where a dozen or so fireworks were placed on shelves on the wall. "...... you mean that everything is done automatically?" Victo decided to observe the situation a little longer. 2163 - - 58-11 Set Meal . The old man''s report is still going on. * * * * * * "This is ...... still a fully automatic magi-machine, isn''t it?" Victo found out that these magi-machines were not run by a magical brain, but were controlled only at the level of performing a predetermined action. "So you just follow a program that makes fireworks for a year and then shoots them off on a predetermined date? Perhaps the creators of the system did not have such a long period of time in mind. "So, if something goes wrong, everything will stop, won''t it? For example, the system would run out of materials. For example, some magi machines malfunction due to natural disasters such as thunderstorms or earthquakes. For example, an intruder from the outside interferes. It is naive to think that others cannot come in because you are also an intruder. "Even though ......, it is a little bit strange considering the construction of this place." If they can build a facility like this, why can''t they build a magic brain or a golem, Victo thought. So he stops moving and observes for a while. <, it is not painful for Vikt to stay still. One hour became two hours, half a day, a day passed. Still no change in the situation. One day turned into two days, then a week, then a month. Finally, the long-awaited change has occurred. A golem with a human-like upper body but a cart-like lower body with four wheels appeared. (What would a golem do? ......) As Vikt continued to observe the golem, it inspected the hall, replenished its supplies, and disappeared again. (I see, you have a maintenance system in place, albeit inadequate.) From what I saw, the current golem for maintenance did not seem to have enough magical brain to make a self-judgment. (That would not be able to cope with unexpected situations, let alone expected ones.) It would probably reach its limits in about 10 to 20 years. "There doesn''t seem to be anything more to see." He decided that the old man should continue to observe the site with his <> and decided to set up <> so that he could be transferred by the transporter in case of any problems. "It would be nice to have a place where the maintenance golem won''t clear out." So we made a small hole in the floor in the middle of the hall, in an empty space, embedded the marker in it, and put the floor back to the way it was. "That should do it." Victo carefully walked out in the reverse order of his arrival. * * * * The old man finished his explanation. "I see, I understand how it happened." Jin was satisfied because many mysteries had been clarified. "I see... I guess it can''t be helped." Even the old man is not omnipotent. "So those fireworks have been around ever since?" < Since then, the old man said, he replenishes the supplies when they are about to run out. "What, you knew all this from the beginning?" < "No, it''s all right. It was fun to gather information to solve the mystery. Although everything was at your disposal, in the end, you were the seasoning for the trip. Neither Jin nor Erza were mature enough to criticize him for it. Besides, Jin was not averse to taking over the wishes of the engineers who built the facility and maintaining it in this way. In fact, I would rather encourage it. In that sense, I would like to give my compliments to the old man for a job well done. < I see. Jin imagined that the old man''s < might be a few tons. * * * * * * Having enjoyed the extra treat of fireworks, Jin and his friends left the town of Koko on December 7. Thank you for everything. Please come again! < and seeing them off, Jin and his group headed west along the highway toward Lunark. They headed west toward Lunark. "Where shall we go today? They have no particular destination in mind. "We could turn south at Lunark and go to the town of Loron. Elsa suggested. "Loron?" The town we had once visited to save Istaris, Zion''s sister. "That sounds good, let''s do that. Jin agreed to the plan. The distance from Coco to Lunark is about 18 km. The Golem car drove the distance in 30 minutes. Instead of entering the town of Lunark, we turned left, that is, south, and headed south on the road. It takes one hour to reach the town of Ramasa. From there, it took us two hours to reach the town of Trinthe, because we could not go as fast as we wanted because there were more people and carriages. "It''s a little early, but let''s have lunch here. "Hmm." They parked the Golem car in a parking lot on the outskirts of the town, asked Hope to watch the car, and Jin, Elsa, and Reiko went out to the town. The town of Trinthe is also a town on the highway, so it is quite busy in its own way. There were many travelers and many kinds of restaurants. "Oh, ......<>!" Elsa spotted such a sign. "Magimai ......?.................. Magi Craft Meister Lunch? As she approached, she saw a small note at the bottom of the sign, and Jin shouted out. "On the contrary, I''m interested." Erza says something like that. Certainly, Jin could not deny that he was curious to see what kind of food would be served, so he decided to enter the restaurant as Elsa had invited him. The time was 11:30 a.m. The restaurant was still empty, and Jin, Elsa, and Reiko were shown to a table for four in the back. The waitress asked us to order "one Maggi Mai set meal, one daily recommended set meal, and one children''s set meal". Elsa placed her order. After a wait of about 10 minutes, all three dishes were delivered. . Rice, miso soup with fried bean curd and okara, grilled bamboo shoots, boiled spinach, sweet omelet, and pickles. . Coppa bread, vegetable and chicken stew, hamburger steak, vegetable salad, a quarter of an apple. >. Pancakes, omelet, vegetable salad, bacon stew, fruit juice. Needless to say, Erza, who is not fond of coca-cola, had the Maggi-mai set meal, Jin had the daily set meal, and Reiko had the children''s set meal. 2164 - - 58-12 Dietary Score The set meals were quite tasty, said Jin. And Reiko, "The balance of seasoning was good," she said. Reiko also analyzed the set meal, saying that "the balance of seasoning was good. "...... But I wonder who made that menu the MagiCraft Meister set meal." It was certainly my favorite menu," said Jin. "I''m sorry, did you want to eat it?" "No, if you want some, I''ll have Erza cook it for you on Hourai Island. "......" After such an exchange, Jin and his friends departed from Trinthe town. The destination was the town of Loron. The number of people had increased considerably, and even the golem cars could only reach the speed of an average horse-drawn carriage, and it was late in the evening when they arrived at the town of Loron. "The roads have not been maintained well yet, have they?" "Hmm." The golem car carrying Jin and the others slowly entered Lorong Town. We saw similar golem cars here and there. "Well, shall we stay at that inn?" "......<>?" "Yes, that''s what I meant." When I visited this place 400 years ago, an informant named Fernand told me about it. Jin and Elsa remembered that it was a very nice inn. Jin had also stayed there with Rhodes last year when he was new to this world. Go straight down the central street and turn right at the intersection of another street. There is a park on the north side of the town. Adjacent to the park is a large hotel, the . "Same as back then?......No, it has been slightly modified. Elsa compared her memories with those of that time and came to the right conclusion. When she had come with Rhodes, Jin had left the payment to her and had not paid attention to how much he had charged for the accommodation, "...... seems expensive." However, it was not impossible for them to pay the accommodation fee, so Jin and Erza decided to stay at the hotel. "Welcome. Please drive your car this way. As we drove into the hotel grounds, an information clerk showed us where to park our car. The hotel seemed to take good care of our car, so we checked in with Hope and the four of us. The room was in the back of the second floor, room 216. "20,000 Tolls per night for four people. ......" The room was 10,000 Tall 400 years ago, so the price has doubled. Incidentally, Hope, a golem, is charged the same as a human. Reiko was considered a human. "I''m so sorry, Master." Hope was embarrassed, but Jin told her not to worry about it. Spending money is one of the purposes of this trip. "Well, the building is okay, I guess. The construction and materials were neither good nor bad. The size of the room is a little small for four people, but since one of them is Hope, a golem, and the other is Reiko, an automata, only two people, Hitoshi and Erza, actually use the room. Therefore, the size of the room is large enough for no complaints. "But the overall quality seems to have declined since 400 years ago. Jin agreed with Erza''s impression. "I guess so. Maybe ...... management policies have changed." Many things change over the course of 400 years. We can''t prevent it," Jin said. "I heard that you can have meals in your room or in the dining room. "Well, I''d like to eat breakfast in my room, but dinner in the dining room." "Okay." Four hundred years ago, I got a hotel room, but soon after, I met Catherine de Lafayette ......, the former duchess, who invited me to her house for some reasons. So, I didn''t stay there. Therefore, she did not stay or eat at the house. So it seems that Elsa wanted to eat both in the room and in the dining room. If she wanted to eat in her room, she would have to go to the dining room anyway. "But first, let''s take a bath. Hmmm... I was soaked in the bathtub in the room. After soaking in the bathtub in the room, Jin and Elsa headed for the dining room at 6:30 p.m. They took Reiko and Hope with them. Reiko and Hope were with them. "Oh, it''s crowded." It was a fairly large diner, but 80% of the seats were occupied. A seat in the corner was available, so I sat down there. A waiter soon arrived. When you show them the key with your room number, they immediately ask you for your order. If you order course A, you will have to wait for about 20 minutes. I checked the menu and found that, roughly speaking, the A course was a full Western-style meal and the B course was a Japanese set meal. "Well, we''ll all have B course, then. "Yes, sir." The waiter bowed and left, and in about two minutes a waitress arrived with meals for three people. Jin was inwardly impressed with the speed of the waitress. "Please take your time. The food looks quite tasty. It consists of porridge, miso soup with topopo and onion, plain omelette, grilled pig meat with ginger, pickles, fish boiled in soy, and vegetable salad. "Porridge is ...... well, I don''t know how to cook it, so I made porridge." "Miso soup, the broth isn''t very good." "The omelette seems to be well cooked." Jin and the others ate their dinners, whispering to each other, "What kind of cooking report is this? "I''d give it a 70, I guess." "......65 points." Elsa''s score was harder than Jin''s. After the meal was over, they served us Kaina tea. And it tasted pretty good. "This taste is soothing." "Hmm, 90 points." As Jin and Erza were relaxing, two people approached them. One was a woman in her mid-20s and the other was a man around 30. Jin looked at them sideways and wondered if they were a couple. The woman came closer to him, "Excuse me, but is the golem in the back yours? she asked Jin, looking at Hope. "Huh?Oh, yes, it is." "...... are you going to too?" "What?< Jin, not understanding what the woman was talking about, looked doubtful and asked back, She apologized and said, "...... sorry, I was mistaken. The couple apologized and walked away. "...... what was that all about?" "I don''t understand." Jin and Elsa looked at each other and tilted their heads. 2165 - - 58-13 Findings After the couple leaves, Jin and Elsa whisper to each other. "What do you think, now?" "......, there''s a reason for it." "I think so. ......<,or ....... If he saw Hope and said that, it means there''s something going on with the golem. "Yeah, I think so." But we don''t know what the hell is going on. "You want to check it out?" "Yes, I''m curious." Erza agrees, so we start by observing the two people we saw earlier. The two were talking to a group of three people in the middle of the cafeteria. "...... something doesn''t feel right." "Yeah." I couldn''t hear what they were saying to each other, but I could hear their lowly laughter. The three of them and the two I just mentioned left the cafeteria together. "Hmmm ...... what in the world is going on?" Then Reiko, who had a good ear, spoke up. "Father, they said they were going to the basement exhibition hall. "The fairgrounds?Is there something going on in the basement? I don''t know. Even Reiko couldn''t tell what they weren''t talking about. "It''s kind of fishy..." "Hmm..." Father, Elsa... Reiko says that it might be dangerous to go any further. "If you want to go any further, you''ll have to switch places with your doppelganger." "Right." So you follow Reiko''s advice and return to your room. The old man sends a simple warp gate to the room, and Jin and Erza use it to return to Horai Island. In place of them, he sends a . Reiko disassembles the Warp Gate. So far, it takes 5 minutes. We are now ready. We go to the cafeteria again. It seems that the golem is the key to something, so Hope goes with us. And Reiko, of course. The cafeteria is more empty than before. "Well, where do we start?" < Tonight we have an interesting twist: ...... I hear it''s quite exciting. It''s worth the trip. ...... I hear conversations such as "", and I realize that there is some kind of illegal or even borderline-illegal event going on in the basement. Jin D., Elsa D., Reiko, and Hope decided to follow the three who were having this conversation. They go to a door that seems to lead to the basement of the hotel. There was a gatekeeper there, and after some exchange of words, they were let through the door. Jin D and the others go to the door and see a message on ....... "Sir, do you have a letter of introduction? The gatekeeper stopped them and asked, "No, I don''t have one. "No, I don''t have one, but here you go. Jin D. hands four gold coins to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper took them with a grin. "Thank you very much. If you are new here, please take these. He then gave the four of us masks that covered our eyes. They said that by wearing these masks, it would be difficult to distinguish their faces. "But is it OK?I think it''s too strong for you, young lady, don''t you?" He looked at Reiko and said something like that, She looked at me and said, "Oh, it''s all right. She is an automata. The gatekeeper looked at the group with surprised eyes and led them to a different door from the three people who had just entered. After passing through the door, they found a stairway leading down to the basement. It was somewhat dark, but each step was wide enough to prevent them from stepping on the wrong foot. However, they were long. It seemed to go deep underground. "Father, we are at least 100 meters below the surface. "That far?" For a moment, the thought of going home crossed his mind, but then Jin reminded himself that his body was now Jin D. Still, he wondered about the other guests. Still, Jin felt like worrying unnecessarily about what the other guests would do. * * * * "Here, is ......" As soon as the heavy door at the end of the stairs was opened, Jin D., Elsa D., and Reiko were restrained by the men who appeared from both sides. "Golem, don''t move. If you move, I cannot guarantee the safety of your master. Since the threats were made, Jin D pretended to listen to them for the time being and nailed her not to move yet. ...... mainly to Reiko. "...... Listen, don''t move." I''m glad I came in D. Reiko would have gone berserk if she had seen me like this in the flesh. ......) It seems that those who enter through this door are considered to be people to watch out for. Because the couple who had just approached Jin and the others had been caught in the same way. You are the couple from earlier. "Oh, what a coincidence! Jin D. and the woman exchanged a few words, "Oh, you know each other. I guess I can''t let you leave now. "What?No, we just had a short conversation at the cafeteria. "Yes!These men had nothing to do with it! But the supposed leader of the men said, "You can''t trust a word they say. ...... Fortunately, you have a golem with you. Just as well, we can use it for tonight''s entertainment." He looked at Hope and said something like that. "Entertainment?" Jin D. was at a loss. So he asks the woman from before. "I''m sorry, but I don''t understand what you are talking about. "Yes, yes. Yes, yes. ...... You seem to be very calm, by the way." The reason is that none of the four of us are in any danger, since we are all though captured. "Well, okay. I don''t care about ...... me ....... This is an underground arena where black-market gambling is going on." Black market? Yes. I said arena.There''s a battle going on here between golems, and the audience is betting on who will win. "I see. ...... So I guess you''re an investigator, then?" "...... you''re really cool. I guess so." Now I understand what''s going on. There was illegal gambling going on in the basement. I guess such illegal activities will never disappear in this world, Jin thought. "......Well, that''s the way it is. You three can go home safe and sound as long as you pay up. By three, I assume you mean Jin D., Elsa D., and Reiko. "But that golem is going to be in the show. 2166 - - 58-14 Black Gambling The guy who told Hope to go to the . "The zakkyo?" "Yes. Look at that. The man opened a door behind him. There was ...... another door, and 100 meters underground, there was a large hall. Jin D and the others were in what looked like a waiting room. "...... arena." The center of the hall was one level lower, and there was a circular arena, perhaps 30 meters in diameter, surrounded by a high fence. Surrounding the arena was a spectator''s area, and about 500 people could be seen sitting in the audience seats. There were some aristocrats, some merchants, some gangsters, and their companions and bodyguards. The spectators seem to come and go by elevator, and those who use the stairs are those whom the gatekeeper deems <. Hope was taken by one of the men. Jin D. and Elsa D. are watching the situation. Reiko, too, is quiet for the moment. She said to them, "But you guys are so calm. Especially you, little girl, it''s great that you don''t cry. "......" Jin-D is at a loss for what to say. But when he hears the following words, Jin-D is also enraged. "Let the golems fight each other over there and make bets on who will win. And they''re going to battle until one of them stops moving. "What?" Jin couldn''t believe what he was hearing. He was furious at those who would make the Golems break each other''s bones just to make a bet, let alone a contest of skill. "That''s what I''m talking about. No one would bet on the golem you brought, but the customers are happy to see it destroyed. One of the men guarding Jin-D and the others mocked. "So that''s why you''re doing this. That''s what I meant. * * * * Jin D., now that he understood the situation, spent some time on Horai Island thinking. "Escape is easy. But I want to help the investigators. Jin thought that he would like to help the people on the side of the policemen as much as possible. "What would you like to do, old man?" "So that''s how you''re going to ingratiate yourself with the Franz kingdom." < The old man already had a peephole to see what was going on. But he can only <>, not make any moves. And the move to do something was on the spot. <> * * * * * * Ladies and gentlemen! An announcer''s voice echoed through the hall. Before we begin our annual Golem battle, tonight we have a special entertainment! The crowd cheers. A battle between a squire golem, the pride of our underground arena, and the golem of a traveler''s retinue! Another cheer! The outcome is too obvious to bet on, but enjoy the prelude over refreshments! More cheers! (They''re all scum, aren''t they?) Jin D. was thinking about that, (They''re all scum, aren''t they?) Jin D was thinking that, when he heard the following words: "......They''re all peaceful people. What are these aristocrats here thinking?" The female investigator also seemed to be thinking the same thing. In the center of the arena stands Hope, and now another golem appears. The cheers grow louder again. The golem was a mid-tier battle golem that had won 10 consecutive victories in this dark arena. Then, fight! The battle golem kicks the floor. * * * * * * In Horai Island, both the view of Jin D and the image of the telescope operated by the old man are projected on the magic screen. Jin D''s view was as if seen with the naked eye, and the image from the <> was projected from a bird''s eye view angle. "So that''s the middle man. ......" Jin sighed. < "Right." It was said to be a medium-sized company with 10 consecutive wins, but from Jin''s point of view, it is ....... * * * * ""Oh ......! Go!Do it!Smash it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The crowd cheered, but not a single battle took place in the arena. Or, more precisely, Hope is dodging all the attacks of the battle golem. (It moves too slowly. ......) The power is there, as one would expect. Or rather, most of its power is <. If power is <, it is proportional to the weight and to the square of the velocity. Since the velocity is not so great, the power comes from the weight. In other words, it was the epitome of "if it hits, it is powerful, but if it doesn''t hit, it is useless. The difference in speed between Hope''s speed and that of a combat golem is about 20 to 1. In a one-on-one fight, Hope had no intention of losing. ""Don''t you dare dawdle!"" Fight fair! The crowd shouted, "Who the hell do you think you are? Well, it''s time to fight back.) Hope moves in behind the battle golem and throws a front kick at its back. Hope weighs 75 kilograms and the Golem weighs about 300 kilograms. Roughly one to four. The speed difference is 20 to 1. Kinetic energy is proportional to weight and to the square of velocity. In other words, Hope''s kick is 100 times more powerful than that of the battle golem, simply calculated. Hope''s kick blasted the battle golem into the fence. 2167 - - 58-15 Initiation of Action A combat golem stopped by a crumpled fence. The impact is absorbed by the fence and there seems to be little damage. On the other side of the fence, the spectators were scared. ""Hey, that''s a bit of a challenge, that golem..."" ""It''s getting interesting as a show, isn''t it?"" The audience is saying what it wants to hear. (He''s a tough guy, isn''t he?) Hope looks at the battle golem as if nothing had happened, and wonders how to deal with it. And then... ! Hope heard a noise, and turned around to see another battle golem. Well, well, it''s quite a quick golem, but how will it run away from two of them?Let''s see! (It''s not a fair fight to begin with.) Even if there are two of them, they are too fast to catch Hope. Hope, on the other hand, is attacking steadily, playing with the two battle golems. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm, that golem is really form-driven..." < It''s slow and rough. Jin smiled inwardly, thinking that it would be amazing if he could make it move like that with Adriana''s or spherical-joint type. "I suppose so." Jin nodded at the old man''s words, "It is hard to believe that an expensive golem is disposable. "In any case, the only thing he has over Hope is his weight. Jin looked at the magic screen. > "Well, as the old man said earlier, it would be difficult to arrest ...... everyone who is involved in the backroom gambling. Jin wondered if it was realistic to arrest 500 people when there were only two investigators. "Oh, so we just have to get that list. "Oh, so we just get that one, and only the organizers are arrested here." < "I see, you are very well prepared." But you still can''t fool the old man. < "I knew it." He doesn''t talk much and I haven''t heard his voice all this time. The woman is definitely human. "Okay, let''s go with that." <> The old man explained the plan to Jin and Elsa. * * * * * * * * * * * * Enough of your fighting! Fight and get destroyed! The audience shouted. I didn''t listen to what the audience said, but that was the timing when the old man gave me the order. Oh!"""""""""""""""" For the first time, Hope met the rush of the battle golem head-on. The four-fold weight difference was no problem. Hope caught one of them, lifted it up, and threw it at the other Golem that was coming up behind her. With a clattering sound, both golems fall down. Hope took the opportunity to move away from the two golems. Then, I''m going to get serious. He then turned on his real ...... output of 50 percent. He had been producing 10 percent. Five times faster, five times stronger. Five times the speed, five times the power. What the hell? Hope caught both of them rushing forward at the same time. Then, out of the blue, she picked up one of them with each hand and threw it backward. Since they were aimed not horizontally but diagonally downwards, both of them crushed and dug into the arena floor ...... cobblestones. A part of their outer armor broke off and flew off. However, the inside of the golem is a rock golem of simple structure. It still works. "It would be easy to destroy it, ...... but that would only please the onlookers." Do it!Smash it! The audience cheered ungraciously. "......I guess this is the place to do it. ......<> activated." Hope''s built-in <> reduced all of the battle golem''s energy, <>, to <>. This type of golem is powered by the mana stored in its mana tank, not by an ether converter, so once it runs out of mana, it cannot restart on its own. The two battle golems stop moving and fall into the arena. At the same time, Jin D. and Erza D. move. At the same time, Jin D. and Erza D. move with a speed that is beyond human reaction time. Naturally, the old man is in control. "What the hell are you doing? Jin D. has the leader of the men pinned down. "Are you okay?" Elsa D. undoes the ropes binding the female agent. Reiko also jumps out of the way at <20% power output>. "Ggh!" "Gah!" "Gghh!" The three men who had been restraining Jin D and the others and watching them quickly fall into a coma. The waiting room falls silent. "Oh, thank you. ...... are you some kind of secret agent or something?" the investigator woman asks, "No, we are just travelers. Jin D. replies. "Well, that''s okay. Let''s leave it at that. Meanwhile, the arena is abuzz with excitement. Even though it was just for fun, an ineffective household golem had taken two combat golems by surprise. The announcer is trying his best to liven things up. I hope you all had a good time!Now it''s time for the traditional "......"! "That''s enough!" The female agent''s loud voice echoed through the room. "I am a criminal investigator under the direct supervision of King Franz!All of you here will be blacklisted, so be prepared!" 2168 - - 58-16 The End of the Scandal The female investigator was a criminal investigator under the direct control of the king. Aha!) Jin D wondered ...... why she would bother to reveal her identity in this situation. The audience was in an uproar. Sooner or later, some kind of action will be taken in this waiting room, such as dispatching some personnel to keep the silence. "Well, all right. Reiko, go and secure the list of those involved in the backroom gambling that you found." "Yes, sir." Reiko dashed away. Her destination is the hidden room at the other end of the arena. The old man''s peepers are useful for gathering information, but not for taking things out of the room. The < troops and the <> will be in action in that room. This time it is Reiko. < and flying through the air with her , Reiko crosses the hall where the arena is located in less than a second and arrives at the other side. With a single blow of her fist, she smashed the hidden door of the hidden room and entered. Fortunately for the backroom organization, no one was packed in there, so Reiko was able to approach the vault without resorting to physical force. The huge safe was embedded in the wall and had a steel door 30 centimeters thick. But steel is too soft for Reiko. "It''s in here, isn''t it?" With a single kick, Reiko dented the door of the safe, disabled the lock, and ripped the door open with force. "The list of names stored in the back was a dummy, wasn''t it? The old man had told her that before she left. "Here it is, isn''t it? The real list was in a hidden pocket in the ceiling of the vault. Reiko gets the list of names she is looking for and returns to Jin D''s office without looking at anything else. "I got it." Twelve seconds. The evidence is in hand. All that''s left is to find out who''s behind it. There are four unconscious people in the room, tied up by the female investigator and her automaton. There are four others, including the announcer. They are located above the bleachers. "Mr. Investigator!" Jin D calls out softly. "What is it?I''m busy right now. The female investigator, who had finally finished tying up the four men, says in a bored tone, "I found this. "I found this..." Jin presented a ledger book containing a list of the parties involved, pretending that he had found it in a desk somewhere around the room. "Oh ...... what is this!This is great!We don''t have to catch them all here today!" The female investigator is overjoyed. * * * * Meanwhile, Hope in the arena, having received instructions from the old man, took advantage of the panicked crowd rushing to the exits to secure the remaining four. With a single jump, she leaps into the announcer''s seat, "Ow!" He knocks the announcer unconscious, grabs him in his arms, and carries him into the arena. Three executives remained. One of them is the boss. The two executives were quickly captured. The boss, however, is flanked by a golem guarding him, so a surprise attack is not possible. "Shoo, shoo!Don''t think this security golem is the same as those golems!" ......," the boss was saying under his breath, "It''s the same, to me." Hope''s line, "It''s the same to me," was followed a moment later by, "Geez!" and fainted. At the same time, the guard golems on either side of her stopped moving. <, he stopped the guard golems and drove his fist into the boss''s dove-tail. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "You''re done." > In the command center of Horai Island, Jin sighs in relief. "This was supposed to be a short trip with Erza. "Well, it''s probably because Jin is getting involved in so many things." It was Reinhardt who answered Jin''s mutterings. He said he had come to take a peek because he heard something was going on in the control room. "But I couldn''t keep quiet about it," he said. "I understand how you feel." Reinhardt said that he too would have been upset if he had seen the golem being used like that. * * * * * * "Well, take care of these guys." He handed the captured black market players over to the agents, "......Who the hell are you ......, who are you people?" he asked with a look of awe on his face. "You wouldn''t believe me if I told you that I''m just a tourist passing through ......." The agent nodded silently. "I am the ......3<>, Jin Nido." Jin D. had no choice but to identify himself. This name value seems to have worked after all. "You''re that ......! I was still surprised. "Now I understand why you own such a powerful golem. "This was just a short trip," he said, "so I didn''t want to make too much noise. That''s why I don''t want to make too much noise. Do you understand?" "...... Yes, I understand." "So, can I leave it to you to clean up after these guys?" "Yes, I understand. You captured them and gave us the list. Hearing those words, Jin D felt relieved. "Well, I''ll leave it to you. If ...... they ask you anything, you can at least mention my name. "Thank you." Jin D. said what needed to be said and turned around to go back the way he had come. Even with a difference in elevation of more than 100 meters, the body of the automaton was tireless. In no time at all, Jin D., Elsa D., Reiko, Hope, and the others climbed up the stairs, smashed the closed door halfway, and ran out of the building. The gatekeeper there had long since fled upon hearing the commotion below, and no one from the <> was in sight. "Was it the hotel''s black market gambling? ......" Jin wondered if the management had changed. <. 2169 - - 58-17 Invitation I checked and found that <> was no longer staffed by a single person. "It''s a terrible hotel. ......" "Hmm." Jin D. and Elsa D. were disgusted. They discuss what to do that night. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "......No choice, let''s have the doppelgangers rest in the car." Jin in Horaijima concluded. Because of the time difference, it was after 10:00 p.m. in the Franz Kingdom, but just after midnight in Horaijima. "By the way, what was Reinhardt doing?" The other members of the were apparently sleeping, but for some reason, only Reinhardt had come to the command center. "Well, I was working on various power-ups for the <>, and it''s getting late. "Bertsche is going to be furious with me." "Yeah. I''m going to ...... to bed. Good night." That''s good. Good night. "Good night, Rai." After Jin and Elsa saw Reinhardt off, "Well, what should we do?" Because of the time difference, neither of them was sleepy yet. They are not sleepy yet because of the time difference, and if they keep going back and forth and try to adjust to the time ahead, they will get jet lag. "If we are going to keep traveling a little longer, we should sleep and wake up according to the time in the other country. "Yes, I think so." So, Jin and Elsa decided to rest at <> with the time difference of about three and a half hours. * * * * * * * * * * * * Local: ...... i.e., Loron Town, 7:00 a.m. Jin and Erza tried to switch places with their <>, but ....... "There are signs of people around you," Reiko warns. Reiko''s advice, "There are signs of people around," and she decides to take a look. "Remnants of black market gamblers?" But her prediction was wrong. "Jin-dono, no, Sir Jin Nido, the third generation of Magecraft Meister. The woman who approached me was the crime investigator from last night. "I am Najaz Khan, the crime investigator under the direct control of the King of Franz. Please, may I see His Majesty the King?" "What?What? Why? I reported last night''s capture, Your Majesty, and that''s what happened. Najaz Khan seemed to be a terrible explainer, not getting the point across. After repeated questioning, he finally understood, . This is a major achievement. Najaz Khan, however, did not believe that he alone was responsible for this, and when he reported the whole story, he received a new order this morning. This morning, he received a new order: "Bring Sir Jin Nido, the third generation of Magecraft Meisters, to King''s Landing. This is what he said. "So, you''re taking me out of the ledger?" Jin was about to say, "So, did you get my name from the ledger? Then he said, "I almost forgot to tell you about you, but thanks to your automaton, FR-028, I was able to do so. With this line, he lowered her evaluation by one level. The automaton named FR-028 is one of the universal automatons that the Kingdom of Franz ordered from . Avalon. "They are making up for the lack of manpower." I see, Jin thought. This woman, Najaz Khan, seems to be very capable, but she is lacking in some areas. She must be the right person to assist him. And that he had contacted her by . "So, how about it? No pressure," said Najaz Khan. Jin D., who was on the island of Horai rather than ......, thought for a moment before answering. "Okay, let''s go to the royal capital." * * * * > The old man asked Jin a little anxiously after his decision to go to the capital. Well, that''s all right. Well, it''s okay. I didn''t know the leaders of the Franz kingdom yet. So, for the time being, I will be working as a for the time being. * * * * * * "Wow, that''s a great golem car! In order to shorten the time required for transportation, Najas Khan and FR-028 are also on board. Incidentally, the captured black market players were left to a separate task force. It is about 60 kilometers from the town of Loron to the capital city of San Gelton. At 60 kilometers per hour, it would take an hour to get there, but with so many other travelers on horseback and on foot, the speed is only about 15 kilometers per hour at best. "The road is wide, but there is still a lot of traffic. Surprisingly, the closer we got to the capital, the more Golem cars we saw. Of course, they were not made by Jin, but he felt that there were more of them than in other countries. As we approached San Gelton, the traffic increased even more, which slowed down our speed even more, and we eventually arrived at San Gelton in the late afternoon. "I''m sorry, Mr. Jin." Najaz Khan bowed to Jin and the others. "No, no, the congestion is not your fault. Jin D. laughed it off. "If you had called the Kingsguard from the castle, we could have given you more priority. "No, I don''t really like that kind of privileged behavior." "...... is that so?" "Yes. So there is no problem. As a matter of fact, when the traffic on the road became congested, Jin D. and Erza D. temporarily left the control of the car to the old man, and Jin and Erza had their lunch just in time. As expected, they were greeted by about 10 Kingsguard knights from the castle as they entered the capital. About 10 Kingsguard knights. "Sir Jin Nido, we are here to welcome you. We will lead the way." So they follow the knights. Najaz Khan says, "Oh, what?I''m getting off at the wrong time. ...... He was in a panic, but the car was surrounded by knights in front, behind, and to the left and right of the car, so he could not stop and get off. In the end, Najas entered the royal castle with Jin D and the others. 2170 - - 58-18 Unexpected Talent "What?I didn''t hear that!" Najaz Khan, a criminal investigator, is shouting outside the door of the reception room to which Jin-D and the others are being ushered. "You just heard that, didn''t you?" And explaining to her is his boss, Abel Rossi, head of the Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. "And after this job, you''re out of the Intelligence Directorate." "You''re fired? I can hear you crying through the door. "You''re fired, but you''re next in line for a job." What''s that? What''s that? - Protecting dignitaries. You''ll be in charge of protecting state guests and visitors. You''ll be assigned to the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Does the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications have a Foreign Affairs Bureau? "Yes, we do. It''s the MIC''s role to deal with foreign dignitaries in Japan. huh? So you''ll be in charge of protecting Sir Jin Nido and his entourage for the time being. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. "......" On Horai Island, Jin and Erza looked at each other after hearing the exchange in the corridor. "Well, she''s not the right person to be a secret agent." "That''s right." He is too honest or simple-minded at heart. He may be competent and enthusiastic, but his direction is a little off. The boss seemed to understand this. I was not sure if he was right or wrong. "So, I have been asked to take care of you all during your stay. "Yes, yes. <. Still, when properly dressed, her semi-long blonde hair and blue eyes make her a beauty. The meal will be served in a few minutes. After that, after a short break, the Minister of Magic will come to greet you. ......" Najas explains the schedule. He explains the schedule to us, though he is looking at a note in his hand. Lunch was served in the style of the Shoro Empire. I guess they took into account the fact that Jin and the others were from the Shoro Kingdom. "It''s a well-balanced dish, isn''t it?" "Hmm..." Unfortunately, Jin D. and Elsa D. cannot taste it, but they check the balance of the seasoning with their mouth sensors and judge that it is quite a good dish. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On Horai Island, Jin and Erza are examining the information sent by the doppelganger. "The rice is cooked properly. The rice was cooked well, without being too soft or having a core. The miso soup also has a good broth. It seemed that the soup was made with a modest amount of dried bonito flakes. The grilled fish was cooked just right, and the salad was made with fresh vegetables. < Thank you very much for the food. "Thank you very much for the food, it was very delicious. Thank you very much. Najas was taking the meal with her, saying. "Uh, what kind of tea would you like?" Koohe said they could choose from green tea, black tea, kaina tea, buckwheat tea, hojicha (roasted green tea), or mugi-cha (barley tea), so Jin D. and Elsa D. chose hojicha. "Me too." Najas also seemed to choose the same tea. Then they chat with each other over a cup of tea. I''m the fourth daughter of the Khan family. "Uh-huh." Jin D. is a little taken aback when she suddenly starts telling him about her life. "Originally, I couldn''t take over the family, so I thought I would serve the country by working at the royal castle. "......" "I entered the Intelligence Bureau after an aptitude test, but my personality was not suited to the job. ......" Indeed, Jin and his colleagues think that it is either foolishly honest or open ...... to tell such a story to their guests. "The other day, I was sent to investigate a black market gambling operation in the town of Rolo-on, and FR-028 did more than half of the research.... ..." Not knowing what to say back, Jin D. and Elsa D. both decided to listen to Najas'' story in silence. "I was transferred from the Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to the Diplomatic Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications a short while ago because I was not suited for the job. Jin D kept sending Najas''s lines to Jin on Horai Island, thinking that the right person for the job might be in the right place at the right time. And here. "...... Hmmm... I think Najas-san is more suited to a certain profession. Elsa D. spoke up. "What?" "From what I''ve seen, you''ve got the makings of healing magic." "What?" Elsa D had sensed that Najas'' magic power was suited for with her unique sensing ability as an <. "In the first place, it is said that a spectrum of magical power suitable for healing is the one with a flat peak, not a prominent one. Apparently, this is what Erza has learned over the past 400 years. "I have healing magic?" "Yes. I think you can become a first-rate healer after two or three years of study under a proper teacher. "Oh, that''s a very interesting story. Just then the door opened and in came the Minister of Magic of the Kingdom of Franz. I knocked, but there was no answer. "Thank you very much, I beg your pardon." Jin D apologized, saying that he had been absorbed in the conversation. "So, about what you were saying earlier..." The Minister of Magic suddenly wanted to ask about the magic spectrum, "Sir, first of all, please say hello to ......" Najas interrupted him. "Oh, yes. Excuse me. My name is Jonas Tigrina, Minister of Magic of the Kingdom of Franz." I''m Jin Nido. This is my wife Elsa. The second Magecraft Meister and his wife. Yes. Yes. I call myself that in honor of them. This was an excuse I came up with recently. We decided to say that we are the second generation of the family to use the same name as Mr. and Mrs. Meister. This way, we can call each other by our names without hesitation when we go out. "......, once again, Mister Gin, Mister Erza. Is it true that Najas has a talent for ?" 2171 - - 58-19 Advice of Humanity Jin D. began to explain slowly. "I''m sure you know that there are individual differences in magical patterns." "Well," said Jin D., "in the advanced course of magical theory, we analyze such magic patterns. "In the advanced level of magic theory, we analyze such magic patterns, and the distribution of their frequencies is called the ." "I see." This is what is taught in the course at <>. From here, Elsa D. takes over the explanation. "I say that the peaky spectrum is more suitable for offensive magic. The spectrum corresponds to the attributes, with the lowest frequency being earth, water, wind, fire, light, and darkness. The spectrum can be further subdivided. For the water attribute, the lowest frequencies are ice, water, and steam. Light is similarly divided into infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, and electromagnetic waves ....... If there is a peak in the spectrum corresponding to each attribute, it means that the magician is good at the magic of that attribute. Incidentally, it was analyzed that engineering magic requires a high level of all spectra, while healing magic does not have to be high, but flat characteristics are desirable. However, this kind of research is still in the developmental stage, and depending on how future research is conducted, the current theory may be overturned. "So, sir." The explanation returns to Jin D. "Najas-san''s magic pattern and spectrum seem to be suited for healing. How do you know that? "How do you know that? I''m good at healing magic! Yonas Tigrina and Najas Khan asked back. "How can you say that? ...... Oh, um, this Reiko can detect such things." Jin quickly explained that it would be more convincing to say that Reiko, an automata, could do it than to say that he could do it. It is not a lie that Reiko can do it. Both Jin and Elsa can detect. "I see... I see... Miss Reiko can do it..." "So, I think it would be a good idea to learn healing magic from a proper master, if possible. Jin added. "Let''s think positively. Now is not the time, Jonas said. "Once again, welcome. It is an honor to have the renowned third generation of magecraft masters visit us. No, not even his predecessor. No, no, you are too modest. I have heard of your visits to neighboring countries." Jonas said he had heard that the air race in the Kingdom of Klein had been a great success. "I hope we will be able to hold such a race in our country someday," he said. "I hope we will have it in our country someday," he said. "Competitions are not only a way to improve technology, but also for entertainment. Jin D. suggested that public gambling in such a place might be a good way to get rid of black market gambling. "Oh, I see." Black-market gambling, by its very nature, is highly profitable for the operator. In other words, there is little return to the participants. If public gambling that pays legitimate dividends were to take place, it might be possible to eradicate black-market gambling. ...... Although it is necessary to be careful not to cause gambling addiction, etc. A total ban on gambling will only make people go underground. ....... Yonas Tigrina and Najas Khan were impressed when Jin explained this to them. "I see, you are very well educated, Jin-dono." "No, no, I''m just following what you say. While they were talking like this, there was a distinct knock at the door. "Yes, it''s time for you to come in. Najas opened the door to find one of the king''s secretaries standing there. * * * * * * * * * * Five minutes later, Jin D., Elsa D., Reiko, Hope, and the others were ushered into the King''s office. "Welcome, Sir Jin Nidor, the third generation of Magecraft Meister. I am Caroline de Lafayette, King of the Kingdom of Franz. The King of Franz was a queen. She was young, just a little over 30 years old. Above all, she looked a little like Catherine, whom Jin and his friends had met in the past. She must be of the same Lafayette blood. Through Jin D''s vision, Jin had such a thought in his mind. "...... Our country was not so much influenced by the <>. This is because we were originally an agricultural country and our technology was not advanced, which is a disgraceful reason. The queen began. "By coincidence, I heard that you played a role or two in solving the case in the town of Loron, and I wanted to thank you and ask if you could give us some hints for the development of our country." Next, a middle-aged man standing beside him spoke up. I am the Prime Minister, Joachims de Droe. First of all, I would like to thank you for your assistance the other day. And we offer you treatment as an and the right of free access to the royal castle. As a man who has received similar privileges from other countries, he can now behave in the same way here in the Kingdom of Franz. "I humbly accept." "Mm, superimposed." The queen opened her mouth again. "So, how do you feel about it, Mr. Jin?" "Your Majesty, you''re being too hasty." "Ummm..." The queen is hoping to get some advice from Jin, but is warned by the Prime Minister about her haste. "Well, first of all, why don''t we improve the and encourage the use of magic tools? Before coming here, I had seen many mana stands in various places, but most of them were malfunctioning, except for the one that Jin had supposedly created. Jin first said what he had noticed. "I see, if the number of magic tools used increases, the demand will also increase and the economy will be revitalized. The Prime Minister made a note of this happily. "And ...... well, since there were unexpectedly many golem cars, it would be a good idea to hold a car race. "A race, you say? ......" The Prime Minister is not very enthusiastic about this idea. Is there a problem? Yes, in fact, about fifteen years ago, we held a car race at the military parade ground, but it didn''t go very well at all. "Hmm. ...... By the way, how did you do it?" "That''s right. ......" The Prime Minister began to speak. "We built an oval course on the training ground and had people race laps around it. The number of cars running is three at a time, repeated five times." "......" "The spectators are allowed to watch the race in a special area outside the parade ground." It was a very bad example. "I think there is a problem with the way they are doing it. I don''t think that would be interesting to watch. ......" Jin D. points out points that need to be improved. First of all, increase the number of cars in a race. He explained that this would make it harder to predict which car would win, and would also make the audience more enthusiastic and the competition more intense. "I see, that''s true. "Then, the spectators can have their own seats ...... so that they can look down on the course from a slightly elevated position. Then we will charge an admission fee, which should be cheap." < "We can also set up a so that those who are far away can also enjoy the race. Jin D concluded, "It will cost money at first, but we should be able to recoup it by collecting admission fees and acting as a betting agent. 2172 - - 58-20 Foundation It seems that Jin D''s advice fell on the Prime Minister''s deaf ears. "I see......... capital investment, huh?" "That''s what you mean." At this point, Jin decided to ask him about something that had just occurred to him. "I don''t mean to be rude, but it seems that the Golem cars are surprisingly popular here. No, not really. ...... But there was an epidemic of horse sickness at one time, and this may have made it impossible to use horse-drawn carriages." "I see." Jin guessed that in the Kingdom of Franz, where healers and healers are in short supply, the equivalent of veterinarians are also in short supply. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At this point, Jin has two things in mind. He is thinking of two things at this point: to build a car race track in the Kingdom of Franz with his own money, and to establish an educational institution for healers. What do you think, old man? < "Indeed it is." As for the racetrack, once the racetrack is built, it can be transferred. "Then, let''s start with the racetrack. I am a goat. "I also like to race golem cars. If you would allow me to build a racetrack somewhere in the vicinity of ...... King''s Landing, I would be happy to do so. "A racetrack, you say?" The Prime Minister Joachims de Droe was surprised by Jin D''s offer, while Queen Caroline de Lafayette said, Queen Caroline de Lafayette said, "Oh, that''s a wonderful offer. I would like you to make it for us. The queen seemed to be busy, and she was very busy after that. The Queen seemed to be busy and asked me to have a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. The meeting was moved to a small conference room and the discussion continued. First, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, who would be joining the meeting from this point on, made a speech. My name is Claude de Chaunay, and I am the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. My name is Claude de Chaunay, and I am the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. My name is Gin Nido. This is my wife Elsa, my automata Reiko, and my golem Hope. It''s an honor to meet you. The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications could not hide his joy at meeting Jin and the others. Once again, the meeting begins. "So, I think the best location would be southeast of the capital city. The Prime Minister says that it is relatively close to the neighboring kingdoms of Selroa and Klein, and that it would be easy for tourists to visit. "That''s right. If we destroy the 3rd Training Camp, we will be able to secure a sufficient area. The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications said. Apparently, there are military training camps all over the place, and even if we destroy one or two of them, there will be no operational problem at all. "Well, how big is it? "About five square kilometers. It''s a rectangle, somewhat long from east to west. Jin D answered that it would be enough since it would be at least two kilometers on each side. "Well, you will provide the land and we will discuss the construction later, but first let me explain the concept ......". Jin D. asked me to prepare a piece of wooden paper on which he drew various pictures. First, the course. It is not an oval, but a typical race track. With hairpin curves, spoon curves, S-curves, and straight lines, it somewhat resembles Fuji Speedway. It does not have a multi-level intersection like Suzuka Circuit. Spectator seating is placed in front of the straight course, and buffer zones and fences are provided at each corner. "Well, this is interesting. In a world where the automobile industry was still in its infancy, a racetrack layout similar to the one in modern Japan seemed novel to their eyes. "I think it would be interesting to run horses on the track, don''t you? "Yes, it would. There are horse races, but they are all run on the same oval track, which is uninteresting. Since the track is not for training, it would be more interesting to run on a varied course. "Shall we use asphalt for the pavement? "Oh, that''s Mitsuho''s specialty, isn''t it? Mitsuho produces natural asphalt. In this world where horse-drawn carriages are the norm, macadam pavement made of crushed stone is the norm, but Jin thought that asphalt pavement was the way to go if they were going to have car races. "Leave the purchasing and transportation to us. He planned to purchase the cars with his own money and to have Golem take care of the transportation. The foundation work would be done by Golem of Horai Island, but the rest of the work would be done by the contractors of the Kingdom of Franz. In this way, they aim to spend some money and revitalize the local economy. * * * "I guess I''ll start this next year, too." "Yes. In Horai Island, Jin was discussing with the old man how to manage the actual schedule. . "Well, that will be the case." In the first place, there are no civil engineering works with a detailed timetable, except for those related to Horai Island. "It would be nice if we could gradually raise the level of technology in this area through the construction work." . * * * * In the small conference room of the Franz Kingdom, the Prime Minister and Jin D, who is in a good mood since the outline of the project has been decided, shake hands. "Jin D., I cannot thank you enough for bringing this much to our country. "No, as an engineer, I am excited to think about car racing. I wonder what a car race ...... would be like." I wonder what it will be like." "Isn''t there a boat race at Potrock in the Kingdom of Elias?It''s like a land version of that. "Oh, I see. That''s certainly exciting. The fast boat races at the Potrock have continued to this day. "I went to see them once, about five years ago, and it was very exciting. Minister Claude de Chaunay laughed, saying he had seen them in the Potrock. "Right?It has a long history there, and it attracts many ship engineers. You might also consider a policy of attracting such golem car workshops around the race track. Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications seemed to find this proposal from Jin D. an eye-opener. "Attracting ......!I see. You mean that we will give preferential treatment to those who wish to open a workshop? "I see. Then the nearby town of Ripa might be able to develop through the automobile industry. Yes. But I think it is important to take the right steps and to do so in a steady manner. This was the beginning of the foundation for the development of the Kingdom of Franz as an automobile kingdom. 2173 - - 58-21 Sovereign In Horai Island, Jin is having a meeting with the old man. "I see. For the Kingdom of Klein, an airfield in Toka village. For the Kingdom of Shoro, a museum of magical engineering. And in the Kingdom of Franz, an automobile racetrack. The Kingdom of Elias has the Potrock race and the home of the <>, so we are not thinking about it for the time being. What about the Kingdom of Egelea?" I am acquainted with the third prince, Ernest Elm Andrea. "I wonder if there are any magical tools related to life ......?" < Beena is from. "In any case, I don''t think I want to expand my reach any further. We don''t want to overdo it," Jin said. <<> he said, "but the mana stands around here are starting to malfunction, so we''re going to have to do something about that. Do you use <<<< fifth column (quinta)>>? >> "That''s fine. But let''s just keep it to the ones I''ve made, or something similar." . * * * * * * Meanwhile, <> is still in the Franz Kingdom, where a dinner banquet is being held. The old man is currently in control of Jin D and Elsa D. "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Oneka de Cleo, and I am the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Finance and many other important people were in attendance. The menu for this event was prepared in the style of a standing buffet party, so that people could eat what they wanted on their own plates while chatting and laughing. Since it was a standing buffet party, chairs were prepared and Jin D and the others sat down to eat. Of course, Her Majesty the Queen was also present. "I never thought I''d see the day when I''d be able to talk with Her Highness Jin D-dono face to face like this..." Jin thought, "It was a good day today. "Today was a good day. Our country is relatively peaceful, but I have felt that our culture is stagnant because of it. Apparently, the queen speaks in a pompous tone to the outside world but speaks plainly to her own people or to those who are close to her. "The foundation of a country is its people. Does our country take good care of its people? Queen Caroline de Lafayette asked Jin D. in a plain tone of voice. "Well, I don''t know all the people, but I dare say, if I may be so impertinent, that we are above <." Some of the bureaucrats'' faces seemed to scrunch up, but the queen smiled at their words. "Well, that''s a relief. I have only been on the throne for three years, so everything is still in a state of exploration. Jin and the others thought aloud in their minds, but not in their voices, that the queen must be going through a lot of hardships. "May I tell you one thing? Jin D said, and both the queen and the prime minister nodded their heads. "Of course, Sir Jin Nido." "Well, since the foundation of a nation is its people, <><><>> is important. And when these are satisfied, we can say that we have enough food and clothing and know how to be civilized. "Yes, I learned that when I studied in before, didn''t I? The queen nodded her head. "Please continue." "Yes. I would like you to think about ...... spreading the use of magic tools and other useful tools." "Well, what is it?" With tools we can work more efficiently than with human labor. This will give us more time to do more work and more jobs. "Oh, more work means more productivity." This is the Prime Minister. "Yes. Moreover, the time margin is useful not only in its own right, but also in the form of leisure time." Leisure time is the time necessary for the development of culture, which increases productivity, which increases income, which increases consumption through the development of culture. This in turn leads to economic development, Jin D. explained. "Of course, it is not that simple and there are times when it does not work. Of course, it is not that simple, and there will be times when it will not work, but in the main, I am sure that I am right. The Queen, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Minister of Finance all nodded at these words. "I understand what you are saying. Yes, it is also important to raise the standard of living of the people. It can be said that the seeds of several new policies were sown in the Kingdom of Franz with this pleasant talk. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Yes, they are. In Horai Island, the old man and Jin were analyzing this pleasant talk. "Is there such a hardship?" This situation is a bit similar to that of the former empress of the Shoro Kingdom. > "Is that so? "Is that so?" < Jin tried to imagine how difficult it would be for him to be the husband of Her Majesty the Queen, but it didn''t work out so well. "Brother Jin, in such a situation, the Queen''s husband can''t be socialized much. That''s why they get stressed out and their marriage gets ...... worse." Erza added a few words. "Is that also the case ......?" "Nope. In a bad way, it can be said that they exist only to preserve the royal offspring." "Yeah, that''s a tough one. ...... Jin felt a little sympathy for the old man, because royal power is difficult to maintain and exercise. Then, the old man said something that caught his attention. "What?You don''t know the details either, do you? "I see." The old man answered. "I''ll ask the owner about that. ......" * * * * "By the way, Your Majesty, may I ask you a question? "Oh, yes?" "I heard that a long time ago there was a large golem that was reserved exclusively for the king. Queen Caroline de Lafayette looked surprised at this question from Jin D. "You are indeed a , aren''t you? I didn''t know you knew all that. ...... Magickal Minister, will you explain it to me?" The queen left it to the Minister of Magic to explain. "Your Majesty... ...... Jin-dono, it is true that a three-meter tall, golden golem named < existed in the past." "In the past?" "The past? ...... to be precise, it still exists today. ......" Minister of Magic Joonas Tigrina trailed off. But from the way the story goes, I have a pretty good idea what''s going on. "...... no more movement, is it?" "Yes, it is." Now the queen took over the explanation. "It broke down due to reckless use right after it was built, and it is still there. "That''s ...... a waste of time and money." As the pilot of Jin D, Jin would have loved to see the golem bearing the name <......<> or <>. "A golem that is the <> of the country, right?If it can be fixed, I would like to fix it." "Oh!< "By all means, Sir Jin Nido." Thus, it was decided that Jin would examine the the next day. 2174 - - 58-22 Request for repair The Guardian of the Royal Family <>. Jin, who wanted to know more about what kind of golem it was and why it was broken, switched with <> during the night. Of course, Erza switched with him. At that time, <> were informed to him by . Otherwise, he might make a mistake such as saying hello for the first time to a person whom he should have known. And the next day. "This way." The queen herself was leading Jin to the back of the castle. The queen was accompanied by Minister of Magic Jonas Tigrina. She was accompanied by Elsa, Reiko, and Hope. "Normally only the royal family is allowed to enter the castle," she said. The queen led Jin and the others down the stairs to what appeared to be the first basement floor. There was a sturdy-looking door. Queen inserted the key she had in her hand into the keyhole. The door opened without a sound. (Is it well maintained or well made? ......) (Is it well maintained or well made?) Jin was thinking about that, since the door did not seem to be reluctant to move. And then. "Come in. < is inside." The queen urged, first Jin, then Reiko. Elsa and Hope followed, then the Minister of Magic, and finally the Queen entered the room. "This is ......<>." There lay the rather battered remains of the golem. "That''s terrible." Jin imagines ...... what happened and tries to analyze it. By looking at the destruction, he can imagine to some extent what kind of force was applied to the wreckage. "This place was broken by ...... external force. This one is dented, but the dent is a blunt instrument. "Father, the way it''s torn here, it''s twisted. There must be a great difference in force to cause this kind of fracture." Here, the wound on the head suggests a blunt object. "Master, this dent was made by a stick with a diameter of about 50 millimeters." Hitoshi, Reiko, Elsa, and Hope each state their findings. "...... In this way, it looks like he fought a 3-meter tall opponent with a stick-shaped weapon and broke it." Considering the angles of the indentations on the head and shoulders, she came to that conclusion. "So you can tell that much?" "As expected of a ......." The Queen and the Minister of Magic were amazed. "It is true that in the past, there were times when nations would compete with each other for the symbolic golem of their country. "I see. ......" Jin knew that the relationship between countries sometimes involves petty competition for pride or stubbornness. Perhaps this had been carried along and destroyed in such a conflict. "What do you think, Sir Jin Nido?Can you fix it? Without a pause, Jin answered. Of course I can fix it. But will you promise not to make the golems compete ...... or fight with each other out of pride or vanity?" At these words, Queen Caroline de Lafayette nodded quickly. "Of course, of course." She promised that she would not make the golem, the symbol of the nation, fight lightly. "Thank you." Jin is satisfied with her words and thinks about how to repair it. "Your Majesty, in order to repair it, I need to bring it back to my base once, don''t I? Jin explained that he did not have the materials to do so. "Will you allow it?" "Yes. ......" After thinking for a moment, the queen shook her head. "Yes, you may. I mean, ......, but please, please." "Yes, sir." Jin thus received permission from the Queen, and instructed Reiko and Hope to take the <> out once. First, the Sovereign is placed in a car. "Your Majesty, we would like to start repairs as soon as possible, so we would like to be excused. The Queen and the Minister of Magic nodded in surprise at Jin''s words. "Hmm, Sir Jin Nido is just as I have heard. Yes, then, by all means, please. Then the Prime Minister arrived. "Ah, you''re just in time. ...... Jin-dono, we confer upon you the status of and the title of <>. From now on, you are free to enter and leave the royal castle. He handed the letter and a metal plate to the queen. "Your Majesty, I didn''t expect you to leave so soon, Jin-dono. "I''m sorry, Prime Minister. But thank you for making it in time. The letter and the metal plate were presented to Jin by the queen herself. "Sir Jin Nido, do you accept?" The letter clearly states that this status is not an obligation and that the title is not compulsory. It was intended only to avoid binding Jin''s actions in the Kingdom of Franz. Yes, I respectfully accept. Jin was happy to accept this certification, as it meant that he now had one more freedom of action. The metal plate was made of mithril and about the size of A5. Jin asked Reiko to take care of it. "I''ll take it." Reiko puts it in her apron pocket. It was an ironclad pocket, the contents of which had never been dropped in the past. It was safer than a safe. * * * * After being escorted out of the castle by the queen, the prime minister, the minister of magic, and others, Jin and his party first head east. They headed east, because there is a forest in that direction and they can avoid being seen. Then, they were loaded into a transport plane sent by the old man, and soared into the sky. "It was all over in a hurry, wasn''t it?" Jin apologized to Erza, who was now on the plane. "No, it was a lot of fun. Erza said that the excursion, sometimes switching places with her doppelganger, reminded her of the trip she used to take with Jin. "Let''s go again sometime." "Mmm." While Jin and Erza are huddled together, <> is approaching Horai Island. The reason why they did not use the warp gate this time is because they did not want to end their trip with a transfer. lands in the plaza behind the laboratory. Immediately, four <> arrived and carried <> to the workshop. Jin tried to go to the workshop himself, but Erza held him back. "Brother Jin, it''s already noon here. You should have a light lunch to reduce jet lag. "Oh, yeah, right." Jin then followed Erza''s advice and went to the cafeteria. All the members of the on Horai Island were there. While eating a sandwich for lunch, Jin explains the situation. The explanation was mostly given by the old man, but it was more interesting to hear the explanation from the people concerned, and everyone listened attentively. "I wonder what happened? I wonder what happened," said Reinhard. "If you check the information on the control core when you repair it, you will find out what happened. Everyone seemed to be wondering how the golem had been destroyed so badly. At that time, the old man had not done much in the way of gathering information about the world since Jin had already passed away. "Well, then, I will help you to analyze it. Reinhardt said enthusiastically. The other members of the group looked interested. "Okay, then, let''s do it. Jin was itching to get started, so he headed for the workshop without stopping for after-dinner tea. 2175 - - 58-23 Past Analysis The was lying on a workbench in the workshop. "Wow, it''s really big in person," Reinhardt exclaimed. Reinhardt exclaimed. The three-meter-tall figure was a golem, the symbol of the nation. "The structure can be found at ......." Jin immediately starts checking the structure. "It is an endoskeletal ...... skeleton of the <>. ......Manufactured by ...... probably <>. Before the rise of the <>, <> could have made an <> golem. "But the materials are ......." Elsa, who was looking at it, spilled out. "d*mn, this is terrible. Even if you subtract the deterioration of the material over time, it''s still a terrible material. Saki also gave her assessment with a wry smile. "I guess. ....... The skeleton is low carbon steel...... or soft iron, and there is no coating on the joints. The exterior is bronze with gold plating. What a waste of time and money." Reinhardt said in disgust. <, also said, "The quality of this one is terrible, too. I''m beginning to wonder if ...... it was really made in <." There is a possibility that he was given a product made by a third-rate engineer who cleverly pretended that it was made in <>. All of this is beyond time, though. "<> is also deteriorated and terrible. It hasn''t even been treated to improve its shelf life." "...... would be faster to rebuild it." "I guess so." Jin agreed with Erza''s comment. "Okay, let''s just keep the dimensions the same and make everything new!" The decision was made. "Let''s use light silver for the skeleton. Of course, the joints will be coated with adamantite. The magical muscle is the Horai Island standard. The magical nerve wires should be wired to 4 lines. ......" Jin decides on the materials and specifications. As long as they are decided, the work can be entrusted to <. Jin wanted to analyze the . "First, copy it into a better quality <>," he said, "and ......." Now that everything was ready, Jin decided to let the old man analyze the original . <>. It took only one second. > "Yes. I need information on who made it and what happened to destroy it so badly." . The old man began to explain: ....... * * * * . < The name of the creator seems to have been left in the <>. <>. He said that he inquired about this to <>, the controlling magic brain of <>. > and then went out on his own. He is from the Kingdom of Franz. He set up his workshop in the town of Saint-Fosse, south of the capital. Up to this point, it was recorded in the . < was created, with some speculation. "That''s great. Let me hear it." Yes, Master (My Lord)>> * * * * It has been more than 300 years since the war between nations ceased. The historical background at that time was, in a word, peaceful. And the decadence that came with peace was beginning to show its signs. was still taking place, although there was no more . At first, it was trivial. The skill of the soldiers, the skill of the knights with their swords, the number of magic tools and golems in their collections. ....... And it escalated little by little. It became a comparison of the performance of golems owned by different countries. The ranking of countries was being determined by the performance of the golems. At that time, the Kingdom of Franz decided to create a golem that would show the authority of the king. An up-and-coming magecraftsman, Keega Ivan Yoda, was selected. He had created 10 golems for the Kingsguard the previous year, and was recognized both inside and outside the country. In particular, he had defeated the golem of the Kingdom of Celuloa in a golem simulation battle between countries, and he was chosen because of his achievements. However... One of the royal family of the Kingdom of Celuloa (probably the second prince: the old man''s note) sensed this and tried to sabotage the project. I guess, he was forced to create a golem made of degraded materials, unwillingly, because his family members or their equivalents were taken hostage, and he himself was in danger of death. This is the . Even though it was made of deteriorated materials, the craftsmanship was so outstanding that the danger of the material could not be seen from its appearance. Although the materials were of poor quality, they were adjusted to perform to the required specifications within a short period of time. After the delivery, Keega Ivan Yoda disappeared. About a week before his disappearance, a mock battle was held with the Golem of the Kingdom of Celuloa. The Golem of the Kingdom of Celuloa is . The initial <<> was a 4 meter tall golem created 150 years ago, during the reign of King Richard, but it was a type 11 golem. <> was 3 meters tall, the same height as <>. Both <<> and <> fought a mock battle with sticks. At first the <> was more than a match for the , but the poor quality of the material gradually became apparent. Within 5 minutes, they began to slow down, and after 10 minutes, they were beaten to a pulp. The King Franz, who saw this pathetic state of affairs, ordered that the <> not even be repaired, but be disposed of. Neither the ministers nor the people had any complaints about the disposal. However, only one person, the then crown prince, questioned the contents of this mock battle. He insisted, "It''s not right to dispose of a golem that was paid for with the taxpayers'' money. He insisted that the golem should not be disposed of, and it was stored in an underground warehouse. The door to the warehouse was locked with a key that only the royal family could use, and they continued to preserve it, believing that one day they would be able to analyze this disgrace. ....... * * * * . The old man has finished his explanation. . He said that he could not even get a clue from the 5th column in the vicinity of the site. "What happened to the prince of the Kingdom of Selroa?" < "Yes, I see. ......" It is possible that there was some kind of conspiracy at that time, though it may be a conceit of a large country. Keega Ivan Yoda and the Kingdom of Franz were caught up in this mysterious conspiracy. "There''s nothing we can do about it now. ......" You can''t mess with the past. We can only do what we can for now." Jin turned to the Sovereign once again. 2176 - - 58-24 Brothers Airplane "I''m even more tempted to fix it up properly." Jin looked down at the , "It''s like we''ve fallen victim to the vain and scheming of the powers that be. "I will take over the basic design and make it superior to the original in terms of materials and workmanship." The < had already completed 80% of the work, but Jin checked it again. "I said that the basic design is still the same, but I will add a shield case to prevent <>. Other minor improvements were made, and <> was completed. The exterior is made of 64 light silver, treated to a gold color. The original exterior was bronze with gold plating, so the strength of the exterior has been increased several times. "The problem is the <> setting." He would like to listen preferentially to those who have or something similar. "Do you have any good ideas?" He asked the assembled members. "Well, I think that <> is not a bad idea. Only those who hold the sword, which represents royal authority, can give orders to the <>. This way, even if the royal family is replaced, it will be fine. "Well, it''s not a bad idea to make it a dagger-shaped magical tool, separate from ...... the Kenji, and the one who holds it can be ...... the one who commands it." "But what if that dagger is stolen?" Elsa said with concern. "Surely, there''s ...... that." Jin recalled the TV cartoons and special effects he had seen in the past, in which he piloted a giant robot to fight against enemies. There was always a story about the pilot''s plane being stolen. I remember thinking to myself as a child that we should be a little more careful not to let them be stolen, or that we should not take any countermeasures against them. "There are no absolutes in things, though. ...... What Jin came up with was to strengthen security. The sword-shaped authenticator, which is not a piloting device, would be fine, but a small magical brain could be installed somewhere to determine whether the person holding the authenticator is legitimate or not. "Yes, that would be quite safe." Reinhard agreed. "Now we just need to figure out the specifications of the magic brain. To make it as reliable as possible, three will be used to supplement each other. A mini-golem is provided for repair in case of malfunction. In addition, the old man, Gengshen (the magical brain who is in charge of guarding Horai Island, Kunlun Island, Kaina Village, etc.) will monitor them and be ready for any malfunction. The whole system will be stored in an adamantite case and installed deep underground in the royal castle of the Kingdom of Franz. How about this? Yeah, it''s good, right? "Yes, it''s quite safe." Reinhardt and Erza agreed, so Jin decided to go with this plan. "I think I''ll use a golden dagger as the authenticator." The dagger will be made of 64 light silver, the same as the exterior of the <, and will be colored gold. The handle will be decorated with , and the design will be appropriate for a royal possession (ask Erza). This is what we decided to do. "N, I''ll leave it to you." At this point, Saki interrupted. "Hey, Jin, if it''s going to be the exclusive property of the royal family of the Franz Kingdom, I think it''s better to make it suitable for the Magi Crystal as well, don''t you? "What?What exactly?" "Kuhu, Lafayette''s family has had many wind mages for generations. ......, right, Vivienne?" Vivien nodded. "Yes, that''s right. There are some exceptions, but 80 to 90% of them are wind." "I see, I understand. Thank you." In other words, Erza understood that she should focus on the wind attribute of the magi crystals. The sheath, tsuba, and hilt were completed in about 15 minutes. Jin has also completed the blade. Together they made a rather gorgeous dagger. "Then, I engraved the necessary <> for this <> and ......." Thus the dagger-shaped << activation key>> was completed. "The last problem is the memory of the time of destruction. ...... It was a conspiracy by the Kingdom of Selroa, but the parties involved are no longer in existence. It''s a statute of limitations. "It''s a bad word to say that the kingdom of Franz at that time was fooled ...... if it was exposed, but it also means that they didn''t see that the quality had been compromised anyway." "Nn....... It doesn''t make sense to complain to the Kingdom of Celuloa now. So, I decided to erase the memories of the time of the destruction. <. And now the test. "Let''s see if it works. <>" "Yes, Mr. Creator." The three-meter tall golem has a presence all its own. "Okay, let''s go outside and check it out." "Okay, let''s go outside and check it out." "Yes, sir." stepped out into the front yard, where the sun was shining brightly just before noon. "All right, let''s see if you can move your body first. "Yes." < begins to walk, then gradually increases his speed and runs. His movements are light, and he does not seem to weigh more than 200 kilograms. He lightly floats along, reaching a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour, and then turns around and comes back. When he came back, he jumped vertically. The landing was perfect. "Okay, so ......" I wanted to check his martial arts, but there are no golems of similar size on Horai Island. is too big and <> is too small. "......If this happens, I''ll make one of the <> class." Jin muttered in a whisper, "......I thought that would be a good idea," said Elsa, who was standing next to him. Erza, who was standing next to him, said with a wry smile. * * * * * * * * * * So, the operation check of <> was put to rest, and Jin decided to finish another golem in a hurry. The specifications are the same as those of <>. The materials are also the same. In other words, it is a sister machine ......, or rather, a brother machine since it is male-typed. The exterior color is silver. The brothers were made once, so they are fast. The brother plane was completed in 30 minutes. Lunch before the test. On this day, we had udon noodles in a pot. It contains kamaboko (fish paste), chalote (green onion), kryptona (mitsuba), and pig meat. Although Horai Island is in the subtropical zone, hot udon noodles like this are tasty sometimes. Jin, who has a cat tongue, was careful not to burn the inside of his mouth by rushing to eat, so he was the last one to finish eating. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now, let''s start over." This golem does not have a sword-shaped activation key. "<>" "Yes, master." Your name is <>. Like a chess piece, or a castle, or a chariot, or whatever you want to call it. "Yes, I am ." The name is chosen and the system is checked. The hardware is the same as <>, but the <> is the Horai-jima standard. In other words, the firmware and software are completely different. In the Penglai Island standard, there is a method of self-check, and <> did it for about 3 minutes, "There is nothing wrong. Luke did it for about 3 minutes and reported "nothing wrong". 2177 - - 58-25 Completed, delivered <<> who has finished the self-check. Their movements are similar to those of the army units of Horai Island. The only difference between the two is that they are slightly slower due to their larger size. Now it is time to check the alternation with its sibling <. In other words, it was a very light mock battle. "Come on, Sovereign." Yes, Mr. Creator. This is your brother Luke. Luke, this is your brother, the Sovereign. Greetings, Luke. "Nice to meet you, Sovereign." After a short greeting, the two men engage in a light combat simulation, under Jin''s direction. "All right, let''s begin!" The two slowly approached each other, and first they teamed up. As of now, <> is tuned to the same level as . The only difference is the content of the . The matchup is equal. After a minute of fighting, the two fighters decided that there was no way out of the situation, so they moved away from each other. This time, they exchanged fists and kicks. Jin watched them, thinking that it was because he was used to seeing Reiko and Rando''s kumite, but he felt that it was not worth seeing ...... since both of them were using only enough power not to damage the exterior of their bodies. The two were fighting four to five times faster than human kumite. "Reiko, what do you see?" Reiko, how do you see it?" Jin asked Reiko, who has a dynamic vision and reaction time hundreds of times faster than a human, for her opinion. "Yes, there is no problem with the movement of the two. But there must be a difference in their control cores. "Okay. ...... Okay, stop!" At Jin''s command, the two brother golems stopped moving. "Try it with the sword this time." Jin hands each of them a steel sword that Reiko had given to him. Of course, they have no blades and have been <>. "Begin!" This time, the sound of sword fights resounds, and sparks fly. Again, according to Reiko''s appraisal, The precision of the movement is equal, but Luke has more leeway. The operation check was then completed. "Well, however, it would be too early to bring it today, wouldn''t it? "Well, I think so. "I think it''s better to give it at least three days." Elsa and Reinhard also advised Jin. "Yes, I understand." In the meantime, <> and <> were to gain some experience on Horai Island. They will guard with Lando''s group and learn how to drive <>. He will go around the sea with Marine team and learn how to drive a ship. With Sky team, they will do reconnaissance and learn how to fly airplanes. Learn to do housework, farming, and forestry with the golem maids and learn their jobs. Work as Jin''s assistants and make magical tools and machines. These were experienced over a period of two and a half days. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The morning of December 13th. "Well, I''m going to deliver them. "Well, I''m going to go deliver it. Jin decides to deliver the to the Kingdom of Franz by . Considering the time difference, he left Horai Island at 9:00 a.m. The time difference is about three and a half hours. The time difference is about three and a half hours, so it is now 5:30 a.m. in Franz. If we fly slowly, at a speed of about 300 kilometers per hour, we should arrive there at about 9:00 a.m. local time. By the way, <> is riding with <> on the > in a stopped state. When the members of the family discussed what to do with Luke, they almost unanimously agreed that it would be a good idea to have two of them together and leave them with the Franz Kingdom. Jin then erased the confidential information about Horai Island from the two . Since then, the two have not been reactivated. Of course, <>''s << activation key>> was also daggered. * * * * Jin''s <> seems to have been known to the Kingdom of Franz, and he was able to land in the courtyard of the castle without any problems. "Hope, please stay here." "Yes, sir." Since there are no facilities for mooring airships here, Jin asked Hope to stay behind, just in case. When Jin went outside with Reiko, he was met by Queen Caroline de Lafayette, Prime Minister Joachims de Droe, Minister of General Affairs Claude de Chaunay, Minister of Magic Jonas Tigrina, Minister of Finance Oneka de Creo, and others. "Sir Jin Nido, welcome." Jin Nidor also bowed in greeting. "Thank you for taking the trouble to meet me. Your Majesty, I will give you the <> and ask that you send a man to carry it." "Yes, I understand. ...... Prime Minister, how many people do you need?" I think so. ...... Jin-dono, how much does it weigh? "Well, it weighs about 150 kilograms. If Jin made the golem according to the standard Horai Island specifications, the specific gravity would be about 1.5. "So, would five people be enough? "No, we have two golems, so we need 10 people. "Two?Jin-sama, what do you mean by two? Queen Caroline de Lafayette let out a surprised voice. "Yes, I will explain that later. At any rate, <> and <> were moved to the multi-purpose hall on the first floor of the castle by the 10 people who had been arranged. "The gold one is named <> and the silver one is named <>. They have the same specifications, but the <> has the old <> ported over." "That''s great stuff ......." "Spectacular." He is impressed by the queen and the other two. "This is the activation key. Of course, the golden sheath is for and the silver one for ." Jin presented it to Queen Caroline de Lafayette. "Ah, thank you, Sir Jin Nido." "Please activate it immediately." "Yes. ......<>!......, and not only has he repaired and rebuilt its sibling, but he has also restored the to its original state, and has even made it into a new model. Not only that, but he also built a brother <> for us!" Queen Caroline de Lafayette declared from the high balcony. The crowd responded with applause and cheers. "<><>" The queen held up a golden and a silver dagger, respectively, and motioned to the Sovereign and Luke. The Sovereign raises her ceremonial sword in her right hand, and Luke raises his huge shield. The cheers grew louder. Jin was watching from the guest of honor''s seat. (This must have helped a little.) "This time, I am an honorary citizen. In return for his <> status and the title of <>, he had learned a great deal about the cost of repairs and construction. It would be impossible for an ordinary magecraftsman (magi-craftsman) to produce the same performance ...... as these two, but if the same materials were used, the price would be more than five times as much as Jin had offered. Well, the payment was still made with a five-year loan. On the balcony, the Queen is making a speech. "......This is how the has been restored to our country. I would like to take this opportunity to further develop our country." There was another round of applause. (I hope each country will develop in terms of culture and civilization.) Jin was thinking about this as he listened to the speech. He had asked in advance not to be conspicuous, so he did not have to give a speech, but after the Queen, the Prime Minister and then the Commander of the Kingsguard gave speeches, and in the end, Jin was held for about two and a half hours. It was 4:00 p.m., and Jin was asked to stay overnight. Jin was asked to stay the night. Jin-sama, I see that Elsa is not here today. Najas Khan was to be Jin''s ...... caretaker, or rather, his guide in the castle. "Oh. I was only going to deliver today." Najas wanted to ask Erza about healing magic. He could teach Najas some of the basics, since he had taught Erza some of the basics ....... However, time is limited and that is not the purpose of this visit, "I will also offer you a chance to go to <> for a lecture on healing magic. Najas was still quite pleased. Even so, Najas was quite pleased, "Really?Please, please, please, please! He was almost on his knees. "Okay. Leave it to me." < * * * * * * After taking a leisurely bath and relaxing, Najas poured a glass of cold fresh juice and said, "By the way, Jin-dono. "By the way, Jin-dono, are you going to see the <>?" "Auction?" "Yes. The annual year-end auction will be held in the royal capital the day after tomorrow, on the 15th. When Jin heard about the auction, he was intrigued. If there was something rare, it would not be a bad idea to buy it, he thought. "Really. What kind of things will be auctioned? "Well, last year I was checking for illegal items being traded, but there are no such items. "......What kind of things are illegal?" "Some rare plants and small animals, dangerous poisons, and state-controlled artifacts. The most common type of artifact is rarely found, as it is easily traced, but protected plants are the most common. "Poisons are the most troublesome, since they are sometimes disguised in such a way that they cannot be recognized." "I see." It is said that it is rare for an unknowing seller to offer an item for sale, and all such items are checked beforehand. "It''s a state-run auction, you know. Najas concluded, "It would be a matter of national prestige if illegal transactions were conducted on the spot. "Then I''d like to take part in it. ...... the day after tomorrow, right?" "Yes." How much stuff are they going to sell? Without knowing the market price, Jin thought, there is no way to prepare the money. "Well, last year, most of them were between 100,000 and 1 million dollars, and the highest price was 34,000,000 dollars, I remember. The highest price I remember was 340,000 dollars. "I see." Jin recognized that this was not an illegal auction, so the money was not too exorbitant. "Besides, there should be some items sold at the flea market tomorrow and the day after tomorrow that are not worth auctioning off," he said. A flea market, Jin thought.Jin thought. (Oh no, I should have brought Elsa with me. ......) Jin regrets. (No, can we call her now ......?) (No, can we call her now? .......?) He could pretend that he was in a nearby town and call her tomorrow morning with a <>, or ....... "Mr. Najas, in that case, can I call my wife?" "What?Yes, yes, Miss Elsa!Of course!Please invite her! Najas, though he was sure she didn''t just want to see Elsa, "Well then, I''ll send the out later tonight. She will be back by tomorrow morning, please inform His Majesty." "Yes, sir." Since this was an offer from Jin, an <> and <>, it was immediately accepted. Jin immediately ordered Hope to take the Hurricane and it disappeared into the night sky. Needless to say, he explained the situation immediately afterwards with the bracelet. Dinner that night was brought to the guest room where they were staying, so it was fortunate for Jin to be able to eat in peace and quiet. "By the way, what happened to the black-market gambling? "Yes, well, since you cooperated with ...... Jin-dono, I guess I can tell you about it. Based on the names on that list, a roundup was conducted ......." The breakdown was as follows: 10% of the leading nobles, 50% of the fallen nobles, 30% of the wealthy merchants, and 10% of the foreign tourists. The nobles were subject to reduction of their fiefdoms, demotion to knighthood, reprimand, and imprisonment. "I see. What''s the hotel at ......?" <. "The management changed about a year ago. Jin nodded his head inwardly. It was the only possible way for such a solid management to change to such a shady policy. "I wonder what happened to the original management?" "It seems that he was cheated by some fraudulent means and stole the hotel to cover his debts." What''s going to happen to ...... now? The government has confiscated the hotel, including the management rights, so it''s up to the bosses now. Well, that''s the way it''s going to be. If the hotel was going to be auctioned off, Jin thought it might be possible for him to buy it, rent it out at a discount to the original owner, and then give it to him when the opportunity arose. ...... "...... but that underground arena, it''s not something that can be done by an individual, is it?" "Yes. There seems to be a large organization behind it, but we haven''t been able to trace it back to the ledger or the people we captured." "How is that possible ......?" "We''re working hard on it." < or the old man would be able to help him. Jin thinks that he will think about whether he needs to cooperate with them to that extent ...... again. 2179 - - 58-27 Free City The next day, the 14th. "Oh, here it comes." At 8:30 a.m., the shadow of the <> came into view in the blue winter sky. Actually, the <> did not actually return to Horai Island. It had risen to an altitude where it could not be seen from the ground and was standing by. The next day, Erza simply moved into the <> using the warp gate provided at a reasonable time. And now the <> has landed. "Welcome, Miss Elsa." "Welcome, Miss Elsa." This time, as in Jin, Queen Caroline de Lafayette, Prime Minister Joachims de Droe, Minister Claude de Chaunay, Minister of Magic Jonas Tigrina, and Minister of Finance Oneka de Creo were there to greet them. "Thank you again for your hospitality." Elsa came down and made a beautiful curtsy. * * * * * * After putting their luggage in the guest room, Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Hope and the others went out. "Are you sure you want to go to ...... to see the auction and the free market?" "Yes, that''s right." "Yeah, that''d be fun." "Right?" Elsa also brought a little cash. About 5 million dollars. I''ll leave that with Reiko. I''ve also asked Sky11 to come by and take care of the Hurricane for Hope. Hope is supposed to be a baggage handler, accompanying Jin and the others. Najaz Khan is, of course, their guide. "Watch your step, Miss Elsa. "Thank you for ......." Najas is always looking after Elsa. Elsa, on the other hand, looks a little depressed. The plaza in front of the castle is the site of the free market, which is a short walk away. "Oh, is this ore?" Someone was selling colorful minerals. "These are dried medicinal herbs. Someone was selling various kinds of medicinal herbs, some picked from the mountains, some grown in the fields. "This is lovely." One man was selling small wood carvings that he had probably carved himself. "It''s quite fun just to look at them. "Yes." Isn''t it? Najas, who was showing us around, looked happy. Jin recalled the rag markets he used to go to when he was in modern Japan. There were many old clothes and antiques, but sometimes there were toys that could be repaired, which he bought as souvenirs for the children in the facility. I also went to the <> a few times to look for bargains. "Oh, this is ......." Jin''s eyes stopped at a certain stall. He recognized what he saw there. "...... It''s a figurine." It was not a sculpture. It was clearly a doll made with . "Hmm, but it wasn''t made by my brother Jin." The figures were not pretty girls or boys, but knights in armor, animals such as horses and wolves, and models of castles. The models of castles might be dioramas, not figures, Jin thought in a corner of his mind. "Oh, this?This is something I made myself, hehehe." A boy who was tending the store confided in me shyly. He was a clever-looking boy of about 12 years old. "Well, it''s quite a good work, isn''t it?" The modeling is still not perfect, but the production skill is good enough to pass the test. "Is there anyone here to teach you?" Jin asked the boy. "I don''t have a teacher, but my mother taught me. "I see. I''m part of the family. Keep up the good work. I''m sure you''ll become a top-notch magecraftsman." "Really?I''m so happy. "I''ll buy this as a souvenir." Jin picked up a wolf figure from among the figures on the line and paid 80 Tolu for it. "Thank you very much!" The boy waved his hand happily. "This is what makes it so interesting." "I can see that." Jin wrapped the figure he had bought in a handkerchief and put it gently in the shopping basket in Reiko''s hand. At that moment, Elsa tugged on Jin''s sleeve so that Najas wouldn''t see. What''s wrong?) Najas is now looking at the goods in the stall, so Jin asks Elsa in a whisper. "......" Elsa pointed silently. In that direction is ....... "...... Saki?and Goose?" Saki and Goose were happily touring the stalls. (Oh, they must have heard our story and came here.) (Oh, they must have come here after hearing our story.) Indeed, the ores and plants in these stalls must be Saki''s favorite ......, Jin agreed. Saki is now looking at the colorful ore stalls. "Kuhu, this is rose pyroxene. This is manganese ore!This is a cyanite ore! Jin and Erza could hear his voice. Saki seems to be having a good time. Goose is playing the brake. (Guth is playing the brake...but he looks like he''s having a good time.) Guth gave a small wave when he noticed Jin and the others, and Jin nodded in return. It is better to pretend not to know each other at this point. "What are you interested in, Najas-san?" Elsa asked, "Elsa, please call me Naja. ...... I was looking at medicinal herbs." "Yes. It is good that you have such knowledge besides ...... healing magic." "Thank you!" Elsa said to her, Then you should also be familiar with poisons. There will be times when you will have to treat poisoned people and there is a fine line between poison and medicine. He explained. Even medicine can be harmful if the dosage is exceeded. Elsa told Najas about this knowledge. "Thank you, Miss Elsa." Najaz Khan seemed to really appreciate the advice and thanked Elsa with a slightly flushed face. 2180 - - 58-28 Shopping Jin, Erza and the others took their time to look around the free market and decided to eat lunch at a street vendor. "Do you have any recommendations?" Erza asks Najas, deciding that it would be best to leave her to her own devices. "How about those skewers over there?" "...... what kind of meat?" "Cocalis. ...... Rejected. Elsa, who did not like cocaris meat, did not eat the skewers. "Well, how about that one?" "Oh, that looks good!" Jin couldn''t help but exclaim. It was an udon stall. It was a little early in the day, so it was not crowded yet, and hot udon noodles were served within about five minutes of ordering. Jin thought this was inexpensive at 20 tol (about 200 yen) per bowl. "Yes, the soup stock is well made," he said. "Mmm, it''s delicious." "There are five stores in Wangdu, including the main store and branches. By the way, Najis paid for the udon. On the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Well, let''s go around some more. "Hmm." We were about three-fifths of the way around, so we decided to go around the remaining two-fifths and headed for an unexplored area. "This is ......." "Specializing in poisonous and deleterious substances. The store is prominently and prominently labeled as a "store specializing in hazardous materials," and there are also two soldiers-like personnel stationed there. When making a purchase, you are required to show your ID card and write down your name and purpose of use. (Like when you buy something dangerous at a pharmacy). When you buy sulfuric acid or nitric acid at the pharmacy, you are asked to write your name and purpose of use clearly, such as <> or <>. At least, this was the case when Jin bought nitric acid for etching silver. "Sulfur, red arsenic nickel ore, cinnabar, asbestos (asbestos), and lead ores ......" That''s about all the minerals that Jin can see, but there are still many more in the line. "...... I don''t particularly want any of them." Jin and the others quickly left the place because they might be noticed if they stayed there too long. "Elsa-sama, is asbestos poisonous?" Najas asked Elsa from a short distance away. "By itself, it is not toxic. But when you inhale it in fine powder, it can hurt your chest." Since Najas did not yet have sufficient medical knowledge, Elsa tried to explain in a way that was easy to understand, even if a little inaccurate. "Oh, this is ......." This time Jin''s attention was caught by a store selling old and broken magic tools. "...... a refrigerator, a water heater, a lighter ...... and a popcorn machine." "......, wreckage." It was. "Oh, you''re a connoisseur!" The clerk said happily. "It''s probably a magic tool about 200 years old!" Jin inwardly said, "No, it''s about 400 years old! "I''ll buy all of them!" He declared, "I''ll buy all of them. "Thank you very much! I paid 50,000 TL for the entire package, which was packed in a container that was brought to me. "So, what are you going to do with it?" Najas asked me, "Well, I''m planning to build a museum of magical engineering in the Shoro Kingdom. I thought it could be displayed there." Jin saw that 80% of the objects were genuine. The remaining 20% were replicas, but he had bought them all for the trouble. "Hope, please put this whole container away in the hurricane," he said. "Yes, sir." Hope left with a container the size of a wardrobe, and returned in about three minutes. "Thank you." Najas rolled her eyes at how fast she was moving, and Jin and the others headed for an area they hadn''t seen yet. "Oh!" This time it was an old weapon that caught Jin and the others'' attention. It''s a rag market, so it''s not surprising that many of them are old. ....... "This is ......." There, among the rusty swords, was a shortsword from the Kingdom of Klein. Jin refused and picked it up. Secretly using >, he found ....... (......I knew I made that one!) Jin barely restrained himself from saying it. (When I went to the Klein Kingdom a long time ago,...... yes, I delivered 100 strikes, I think that''s one of them.) ) Feeling nostalgic, Jin bought the old sword as well. He bought the old sword, thinking that it might be good to display it in the memorial hall, even though it was a little embarrassing. After that, there were some more old blades, but nothing that Jin could find that he wanted. Saki and Goose had also disappeared somehow. Jin thought that they had probably come here on a day trip. "I guess we better get back." "Yeah..." And then... "Father, I have an old book here." Reiko called out. "A book?" "Oh, this is ......." Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be a magic book published before the rise of the <>. It is quite damaged and some pages seem to be missing. "I should buy this one too." Jin thought that it would be a good idea to display this book as a symbolic item of the period of decline by the <> in the history of magical engineering. Incidentally, there were three such old books, which together cost 500 dollars. All the purchased items were placed in the , and Jin and his friends returned to the Royal Castle with empty bodies. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and the others returned to their room, took a bath, and relaxed. "Yeah, I''m a little tired. "Yeah, I''m a little tired..." "Yeah, but it was fun. "Yeah, I''m a little tired," "But it was fun. I''m looking forward to the auction tomorrow." Dusk was falling outside the window. 2181 - - 58-29 Silent Story 100 Saki & Goose Report y Goose:. On December 14, the was held in St. Gerton, the capital of the Kingdom of Franz. This was a stall market in which the military training ground in front of the royal castle was opened to the public and no taxes or space fees were charged. The history of this market dates back to about 120 years ago. There was a period of time when the market was not held, but for the past 20 years, it has been held every year at the end of the year. Jin, the head and the leader of our , informed us that Saki, who has a keen interest in such things, was very eager to go, and with the support of the old man, we decided to go there. First, a piloted by Sky 23 landed in the middle of the night in a clearing in the forest near the capital. Using the warp gate provided, Saki and I moved there at 8:00 in the morning local time. From there it was an hour''s walk to the capital, so we had a small golem car sent to us by a transporter. According to what I heard, cars are widespread in the Kingdom of Franz, so it would not be so conspicuous. It took less than 10 minutes to reach the capital city of San Gelton by car. We entered the town with other cars and horse-drawn carriages without any particular assistance from anyone. The directions are in my head, so there is no problem. I have the directions in my head, so it''s not a problem. "I''m looking forward to it. Saki, my companion in the passenger seat, muttered with a peculiar half chuckle. "Yeah, I guess so." I reply. I drove the car to the parking lot, thankful to have been born again in this time as a homunculus. by Saki:. It''s been a while since I''ve been outside. Accompanying me was my husband, Goose. The purpose of the trip is to visit the in the capital of the Kingdom of Franz. It''s a bit like the <> that Jin told me about a long time ago, isn''t it? Normally, you need to pay for a place to open a store, and if you make a profit, you have to pay taxes from the profit. But this does not cost any such money. Rather than collecting taxes from this once-a-year event, the Kingdom of Franz is hoping that this will stimulate the economy and thus increase tax revenues. Guth has already explained how he went to such a , so I''ll report what happened next. < is a large place, since it is held in a military drill ground. Of course, it is not spread over the whole military training ground. It seems that there are stalls in an area of about 300 meters square. Some stalls have goods on their stalls, while others have sheets on which they spread their goods. It''s a lot of different things. Is it possible to look around all of them? It seems that the area is divided into sections according to the trend of products. I think I''d like to visit the material-related stores first. by Goose Saki and I are looking around the together. It''s fun. It''s fun just to look around, but it''s nice to be able to buy things we are interested in. I was given about one million dollars to spend for the world economy since I have more foreign currencies than I can spend in Horai Island. Frankly speaking, I feel like I am losing my sense of money. I must be careful not to let this become the norm. I am a specialist in folklore and cultural anthropology, so I enjoy seeing the results of people''s activities. On the other hand, Saki, my companion, shows an extraordinary interest in material systems. "Let''s go around that way. I have no objection. Saki invited me to go to the section where stores dealing with materials were gathered. "Wow, there are so many different kinds of ores! I smiled at her excitement, even though the ores were not so unusual for Saki. Saki is so serious when she is doing her research that she looks unapproachable, but in this way, she is as innocent as a little girl. Both of them are Saki, and this is also her charm. ...... off topic. by Saki It''s fun to look around at the materials, isn''t it? Many of the ores are familiar to me, but the fact that they are being sold in a stall like this suggests that they must have come from the mines in this country. Talking with them for a while, it seems that most of them are sold because of their beautiful colors. The pink-colored < is a precious manganese ore. What a waste. Then there is the beautiful green peacock stone and the deep blue cyanite. "Beautiful stones make me happy just by looking at them," I said to Goose. I said to Goose, and he frowned. Why is that? by Goose. Saki is looking around the ores with delight. I''m a naturalist myself, and I''m interested, but I can''t compete with her. "Just looking at a beautiful stone makes me happy. I don''t know... ....... For me, seeing Saki''s happy face is more comforting. And while I was looking around like that, I saw Jin and Erza in the distance. Saki was so absorbed in the ore that she didn''t seem to notice them. They were guests of the Kingdom of Franz, so there was no need to advertise our acquaintance. Without exchanging any words, we went away again. We will have a long talk when we return to Horaijima. by Saki After looking at the ores, I went to the section where materials are sold. Then Goose told me that he had seen Jin and Erza. I couldn''t say hello to them since they were guests of Franz''s kingdom. I hope we can show each other our trophies when we get back. Most of the materials on display are cloth, wood, and stone. But there were also a few demon-related materials. But there were also a few demonic items, such as antlers of mountain deer and tusks of rock wolf, which are relatively easy to get. by Goose. We also looked around at old magic tools. I bet Jin and the others will be there too. ....... Oh, they must be having lunch. On that note, we literally forget to eat or sleep when we''re in a place like this. ....... by Saki. The old magic tools were interesting. They were selling refrigerators, water heaters and lighters made 400 years ago. I think Jin and his friends would be interested in them. I thought about buying one, but decided not to. I thought about buying one, but decided not to. "Well, that was fun, Goose. "Yes. I''m a little tired." Saki in a good mood and Goose looking tired. No wonder, Goose has a big baggage in his hand. It is, of course, today''s trophy. "Kuhu, I''m looking forward to going back to Horai Island and analyzing it. "I want to take a good rest. ......" The two shoved their belongings into the car and drove off into the suburbs under the darkening sky. 2182 - - 58-30 Mines and Fathers The night is late in the Kingdom of Franz where Jin and his friends are staying, and the morning does not go ...... without incident, and that night, a report comes in from the old man. <. "No, it''s okay. Is there something urgent?" An unexpected name popped up. "Najaz?Is something wrong?" < "What? The report was not good to hear. Jin urges her to continue. < "Hou?" In the Franz kingdom, a local administrator is a "deputy," if you will, and is in charge of the lands under the direct control of the state. < Since the industry of the Kingdom of Franz is mainly agricultural, excellent mines are an important source of income. I guess that''s just the way it is." The moment a person is dispatched from the central government to a region, it is a leftward shift. To suppress such discontent, profits are needed. . "What do you mean?" The old man said, "It is supposed to be a fair salary only if they pinch the proceeds. "I don''t know when they decided that, but they are very strong." > I am a little off topic, but back to the original topic. >. "Yes, I think I heard that." Jin thought he had heard this during the chat. . "Yes." "Wow. ......" Jin is starting to get the picture. "What?" It was Elsa who spoke up. "......" Erza frowns when she hears this. "Hmmm, I see." < "Okay, thank you. ...... Oh, by the way, I wonder how many people in the Franz kingdom are on Najas''s side right now?" "Okay." Jin hung up the phone with the old man and looked at Erza, who had a difficult expression on her face. "...... Najas''s situation, huh?" "Nah." Erza is also a former daughter of a viscountess. But her mother was different from her brothers. In her case, she was basically loved by her family (although her father and brother treated her coldly for a while due to her brainwashing). "...... a bit sorry." "I see." Jin thought about it for a moment. It was true that Najas''s talent was too good to be buried, and since they had become close in the past few days, it would be sad to see him suffer an accident. However, we can''t let Najas and his friends clean up the whole mess. "First of all, let''s start by examining the father''s illness, shall we? "Yes, I''ll take care of it." According to the old man, the father is only 61 years old. If his illness is cured, he should be able to work for another 5 to 10 years. "I''ll make a proposal tomorrow." "Yes, that''s good." Since it was not a critical condition, Jin and Elsa rested for the rest of the day. * * * * * * * The next day, the 15th. It was the day of the auction. Since the auction was to start in the afternoon, Jin and Elsa decided to talk to Najas, the hostess, after breakfast as they had discussed last night. Of course, it was about her father''s medical examination. "Where is your father now, Mr. Najas?" "Uh, well, he''s a little bit sick, and he''s recuperating at his residence in King''s Landing. Hearing this, both Jin and Elsa thought to themselves, "Oh, well. "Well, I have some time in the morning, so I''ll check on your father. "Really?Thank you very much! Najas literally jumped for joy at Elsa''s unexpected offer. He turns down the offer to Queen Caroline de Lafayette and leaves the castle. The Khan''s house was only a ten-minute walk away, so he walked there. Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Hope, and Najas walked slowly. Along the way, they asked a few questions about Najas'' father. Viscount Astero de Caen, 61 years old this year. Like Najas, he is blonde-haired and blue-eyed. He is a mining town official and often takes the initiative in going down into the mines. "Sometimes, when there were not enough miners, my father would go out and mine the ore himself." "......" It is hard for Jin and Erza to say whether this is an appropriate behavior for a deputy or not, but it seems that his personality is not disliked by his subordinates. "This way, sir." Najas stopped in front of a medium-sized house. "Well, well, miss, who is this?" asked the guard at the gate, "A guest of His Majesty. < He explained. "I see. ...... Please, please, please save him! ......" The guard let us through, bowing repeatedly. "Come in." The garden was well maintained. We walked through them to the entrance of the house. "Welcome back, miss. You have a visitor?" An elderly man who appeared to be the family president greeted the group. Again Najas introduced Jin and Elsa. "I see. Please take good care of your husband. Anyway, Jin and the others, who were also guests of Her Majesty the Queen, were ushered into the hospital room without any problems. "Father!" "...... Najas, huh?" In the sickroom was Viscount Astero de Caen. He was 61 years old. In modern Japanese terms, he would be past his 60th birthday. He was supposed to be ....... There he was, a pale, emaciated old man. 2183 - - 58-31 Medical examination, treatment Najaz Khan''s father, Viscount Astero de Khan, was in a very bad state. "Father, this is Her Majesty''s guest, Sir Jin Nidor, Magecraft Master, and his wife, Lady Elsa, Healer." "Oh, oh ....... I''m a man who has been in bed for a long time, and I''m not going to let you go back to sleep. He seemed to be having a hard time talking and his last words were very broken. "<>" Elsa used <> before the interview. "......After all, the lungs are barely functioning. ......What do you get from the mine?" "Uh, well, he said it''s a raw material for aluminum." Najas answered. Viscount Astero de Caen nodded in agreement. "...... dust lungs". It is also called pneumoconiosis. It is a condition in which dust is inhaled and accumulates in the lungs, causing irreversible lesions in the lung tissue. Symptoms appear quickly when bauxite or aluminum powder is inhaled. "So?" Jin understood. The Viscount''s feet, peeking out from the blanket, also showed edema, or swelling. "The symptoms are advanced." "So ......" Elsa was about to ask him something when he said, "Najas! "Najas!What are you doing? The door to the hospital room was opened with a bang, and a fat ...... or rather, rotund young lady rushed ...... into the room and staggered ...... in. "My sister,......!" With those words, Jin and Erza could tell that the round girl was Narun de Khan, the third daughter of the Khan family. "Geeho-...... Geeho-......." The Viscount seemed to want to say something, but seemed to be coughing and unable to speak. "I will not allow you to send your father to see a stranger! Reiko took a half step forward at the mention of "who-knows-who. "Whoever you are, I beg your pardon. This is Sir Jin Nidor, the MagiCraft Meister of the age, Honorary Citizen of the Kingdom of Franz, and Honorary Advisor to the Royal Family. What, ...... is your proof? "You are really rude. If you think ...... this is a fake, I''ll have to tell Her Majesty the Queen. Reiko took out a mithril plate from her apron. "Oh, my ...... bad!Najas, remember that!" With these words, the round lady left the room. "It''s quiet now. Please continue your examination, Miss Elsa." "Yes." Resuming her posture, Elsa decides to leave the room first. She decided to leave the patient''s room first, because confiding everything to a patient can sometimes have a negative effect on them. I''ll see you later. Yes. Elsa was shown into the reception room and continued speaking. "The foreign material inhaled into the lungs ......, probably alumina powder derived from bauxite, can be extracted with engineering magic. But it won''t heal a deactivated lung." "What ......? Najas'' shoulders slumped in disappointment, but Elsa continued. "...... to restore a stopped lung, you need to have a ." "I''ve heard of it. It''s the highest level of healing magic, isn''t it?There are only a few people in the world who can ...... use it. ......" "Hmm. And it doesn''t heal just once. I think you need to keep applying it every day ...... for a month or so." The treatment that Jin once underwent to return his body made of > back to life also took a long time. Najas is disappointed when he hears how long it will take. "No, there are no healers who are willing to stay for such a long period of time, a month ......." Healers were a valuable resource, and it was customary in the Kingdom of Franz to require an enormous amount of money for their treatment. There was no way they could keep such a healer for a month and pay him every day. However, Elsa said something that was way above Najas''s expectations. "You can do it." "What? "I told you before. You have the gift of a healer. ......It should take you two to three years to master it, starting from the basics. ......" "You will learn it right here, right now." "What? Najas rolls his eyes and looks up. "Of course, you can''t call yourself a because you haven''t followed the proper procedure, you can''t use other healing magic as it is, and most importantly, you can only use it once or twice a day because of the huge amount of magic it consumes. ......" Erza says, "It''s full of disadvantages. "...... but if you can keep it up for a month, your father will be cured. ......What are you going to do?" "I''ll do it!" His answer was immediate. "Yes, that''s what I wanted to hear. You certainly have the gift of the healer." Erza and the others all went to the hospital room once more. First Elsa said, "Viscount, I''m going to heal you. "Viscount, I''m going to heal you, "<>". and then gave painkillers as a precaution, "<>" and extracted alumina powder, bauxite powder, and other dust from his body. "Is this ...... this ......?" Najas was horrified by the reddish-black dust. "A foreign substance in his body. This is what was poisoning the viscount''s lungs." Elsa says that he would not be in such a bad condition if he had applied an extraction immediately after inhaling. "But we''ll talk about that later. ......Nice, just take a good look at it first. ......<" A pale light enveloped Viscount Astero de Caen''s chest. "Oh!" When the light subsided, the slightly bloodier Viscount said, "It''s ...... easier now. You said Elsa, sir. Thank you very much. He said without coughing. "The inflamed bronchi and trachea should be healed." Just to be sure, Elsa went for a checkup, "Hmm, I''m fine. But since he has lost more than 90% of his lung function, he will need daily <> from now on. And a special diet for the sick. <<> is a magic to increase the healing power to the utmost limit. In other words, it activates cells and stimulates cell division. However, the nutrition for this is supplied by the patient''s own body. In other words, without nutrition, even the cured cannot be cured. "And then there are the medicines. ...... I will give you this later." The Persica juice made in Horai Island is rich in nutrients and is suitable for giving vitality to those who are seriously ill. < and will give Najas a few bottles later. "Thank you, Miss Elsa!You are the savior of the Khan family!You are the savior of the Khan family! But Elsa shook her head. "No, that''s the job of a healer. I did what I could. Now it''s up to you to heal your father." "Yes, ...... yes!" Najas bowed deeply, tears streaming down his face. 2184 - - 58-32 Hypnotic Education Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Hope, and Najaz Khan were in a <> moored in the courtyard of the royal castle. Not related to the main plot, but the piles on which the <> is moored were hastily made and driven into the ground. "First of all, here." He takes 60 bottles of Persian juice out of the cabin refrigerator, each bottle has a capacity of about 100 milliliters. Each bottle has a capacity of about 100 milliliters. "I''m sure they have a refrigerator in their house, too, so you can put them away there. In fact, the Persica juice from Horai Island, which is used as a recovery medicine, does not deteriorate because of its high content of free magic element (ether), but it is kept in the refrigerator partly because it tastes better when it is chilled. "Thank you very much." Najas pushes it to me. "Okay, I''ll teach you about <>. ...... I know this is a lot to ask of you." Yes, that''s already... Yes, it''s already done. Relax, make yourself comfortable. ......<>" First, Elsa put Najaz Khan into a mild hypnotic trance with her < spellbook. Next, she used sendinfo, which was once used by Rokhle, a servant of the Origin. This is a magic to information. Erza intends to use this to teach Najas how to use <>. However, if the other party does not have the ability to receive the information, the sent information will be useless. This time, Najas will only be taught how to use <. This is then sent repeatedly to Najas, who has been put into a passive state by , and < into him. This is a subterfuge that is almost forbidden. If Najas does not have the talent, the spell will not work even if he learns how to use it. Just as you cannot use magic by copying spells. "Good luck, Elsa!" It would have been a little quicker if Najas had been able to use , but after a quick check, it seemed that his talent in this area was limited, so he opted for this more reliable method. This way, the burden is only on Elsa. "Hmm." Jin thinks about the difference between <> and <> as he looks at Erza over and over again. It has been thought that a wider <> is a sign of talent for both, and that <> requires a higher wave height. "But..." Jin thinks there is a hole in this theory. In other words, if this theory is correct, all those who can use engineering magic should be experts in healing magic. Jin, however, is barely able to use intermediate level of healing magic and cannot use advanced level. "There must be some factor other than frequency and wave height that separates engineering magic users from healing magic users. Jin thought about it, but still could not come up with an answer. While Jin was lost in thought, Elsa''s treatment was finished. "...... end. " "...... ha...... I''m ......." Najas woke up, obeying Elsa''s words. The < state should still be going on, but since Elsa has not given any specific instructions, it is no different from the normal state. By the way, you will need a <> to immediately release it. "...... How''s it going?Would < be useful?" "Yes ............, yes, I know how to use it!" "Well, then, let me try it once here. You''ll probably use up all your magic in one go, so make sure you drink that Persica juice right away. Najas followed Elsa''s instruction. "Yes. ............<>" "<>" A faintly glowing magic circle appeared and disappeared after a few seconds. The simultaneous deployment of the <> allowed Erza to read that the magic circle was working properly. With this, she can use it against Viscount Khan with confidence from tomorrow onward. "Nah, I''m fine. The is working properly." Elsa gave her assurance, "......" Najas had collapsed due to the depletion of his magical power. "Najas-san, drink this." Elsa handed her a glass of Persica juice. Najas drank it, "Puhaaa...... did I do it right?" "Nah, it''s okay. All you have to do is keep doing it every day. Can you do it?" "Yes, of course!I''ll do it! Good luck. Elsa explains again that half of the sixty bottles of Persica juice are for Najas to drink when his magic is depleted, and the other half for the Viscount to drink. "But this is not a formal procedure. But this is not a formal procedure, so don''t use it for anything other than healing Mr. Najas'' father. Once Viscount Astero de Caen was fully recovered, Najas should go to to study to become a , Elsa told him. "We''ll get you permission to do that." "Thank you ...... for everything!" Najas bowed deeply. Elsa was.., "Healers are precious nowadays. Do your best." He said softly. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Najas had recovered from the Persian juice, so Jin and the others were taken to the reception room, where they were served an early lunch. "How do you like it? An elderly maid brought them a meal similar to the , saying, "I hope it suits your palate. "This is a dish that has recently become popular in many parts of the kingdom. I had it prepared as it was a favorite of our predecessor, the Magecraft Meister. "Hou." The menu consists of white rice, miso soup with fried bean curd and okara, baked salmon roe, sweet omelet, boiled greens, and pickled vegetables. It is the same as in the town of Trinthe. "Oh, it''s delicious!" As in an agricultural country, they use the best ingredients of vegetable origin, which are naturally better than those in the city. The soup stock is also well prepared. The omelet and salmon are well cooked. The omelet and the salmon are cooked well, "Thank you very much. The chef is also pleased. Najas looked relieved. He finished off the meal with a cup of hojicha tea, which was also delicious. "Well, I still have a few minutes before I have to leave, so I would like to ask you some questions at ......." "Well, Mr. Najas, I would like to ask you some questions. After confirming that there were no servants or butlers, Jin and Erza asked the question that had been bothering them. "Yes, if you can answer them. Najas could not refuse the offer from Jin and Erza. Or perhaps I should say that she could not refuse, since she was not yet completely released from the state of she had just been in. As for Elsa, she knew that asking a question in such a state was almost like an interrogation, but she had a strangely unpleasant feeling, so she had no choice but to ask. What is your sister like? "My older sister hates me. She has tried to kill me many times. And my bad premonition was right. What do you mean? My three sisters are the children of my father''s wife. Only I have a different mother. My two older sisters are married to other families, so it will be me or my immediate eldest sister who will inherit the Khan family. "But you are not the heir, are you?" The fact that there is no in your name proves it. Yes. But that can change at any moment, according to the will of my father, the current head of the family. In other words, Najas could become the heiress to the Khan family as long as her father approves. "My sister will not allow that to happen." Perhaps still under the influence of the hypnosis, Najas answered without hesitation. 2185 - - 58-33 Bone and Meat Jin and Elsa had felt guilty about listening to these stories under hypnosis, but after hearing Najas'' story, they changed their minds. There is no clear evidence that the sister made an attempt on their lives. It was all circumstantial. "It''s ...... kind of ...... hard to say that there''s a bone fight," Jin muses. Jin blurts out. This was a little incomprehensible to Jin, who has no blood relatives. "In most cases, it''s usually an outside person, like a spouse, who instigates it," Elsa said. Elsa says. It is true that Erza, 400 years ago, was brainwashed by her family through the conspiracy of the current Nostalgia Party, which called itself the Unification Party (Unifiler) at the time of the external ....... Jin recalled that his family had been brainwashed by the conspiracy of the current <, which was called the Unifiler>, and that he had been on the verge of despair for a while. "And then there was the property. ...... inheritance disputes. It''s sad, but it''s reality." It seems that money and power always drive people crazy. As I continued to ask him about the situation, he said that he was not being overtly confronted with murderous intent, but rather that he was being pushed into a dangerous situation. "Is that what you were doing at the Intelligence Bureau the other day?" Jin thought to himself. "...... but why would your sister go to such lengths?" Elsa wondered. She must hate Najas very much. "My sister ...... and I were only born 10 days apart." Naln''s mother and Najas'' mother were conceived at the same time. This means that the Viscount was unfaithful. "My father said it was because he wanted a boy." That may be his true intention, but we can assume that his wife would not have been amused. "My father''s wife came from a count''s family, so my father was not very proud of her. It seems that the mother''s family was very powerful. That''s why they underestimated Najas as a bastard and mistreated him since he was a child, even though they were the same age. "The count''s family was also involved in the League of Magic, and was destroyed a year ago. Since then, my father''s wife has been living apart. And since then, Nalung has been increasingly harsh with Najas. I see, Najas said that his mother was different from him, so that could be the case, Jin thought about the situation of the noble family. "Killing intent born of hatred...... nasty." Erza sighed. "I guess so,...... I guess he had a bad character to begin with,......." Jin was at a loss as to how to deal with this. "But, Najas-san, do you have any intention to take over the house?" "Yes." "...... then maybe the best thing to do is to keep your distance." "Oh, I see." Jin thought that it would be a good idea to treat the Viscount at the castle so that Najas, who was working at the castle, would not have to go back to his parents'' house every time he needed to go back to the castle. When he told this to Elsa, she said, "Yes, I think that''s a good idea. Elsa agreed. And once the Viscount is well again, Najas can concentrate on his studies of healing magic. < in , he would be able to choose his own place of employment. I will consult with Her Majesty on this matter. Both Jin and Erza thought that since it was for the training of valuable healers, they would get an OK. "...... you forget this exchange." "Yes." "Yes. Now ......<>" Elsa ordered Najas to forget about the conversation and <>, and urged him to fully awaken. It was almost time to go back to the royal castle and then to the auction house. They went to the castle on foot as they had come. Both Jin and Elsa noticed that Najas'' sister, Narun de Khan, was staring at them through the window. I''m worried about the Viscount. Reiko, contact the old man and tell him to do something.) (I understand). (Understood.) * * * * The journey to the castle was uneventful. After 15 minutes of waiting in the reception room, Claude de Chaunay, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, arrived. "Mister Gin, Mister Elsa, shall I join you then? "Yes, please." The auction was to take place at the multipurpose theater adjacent to the royal castle. So, in addition to Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Hope, Najas and MIC drive to the venue in a luxurious Golem car. We entered through an entrance that appeared to be for VIPs, and were greeted by several well-dressed servants who bowed to us in the red-carpeted aisle. "This way, please." One of the servants led me to the back of the passage. The VIP seats were at the top of a short flight of stairs. The box seats could easily accommodate 10 people. The seats are located diagonally above the auction room, offering a good view. However, the question was not so clear. How are you going to present the price of the auction? Jin thought that even if he raised his voice from here, he might not be heard. "No, you don''t have to speak up!" The minister pointed to a translucent stone slab in front of his seat. It looked a bit like a touch panel. "Here, please write numbers with the special pen. And when you''ve made your decision, press this red button: ......." Now Najas pointed to a VIP seat on the other side of the room. There was a number <<12>> and a <> inlaid in it. "......The outside of this seat also has a number and <> on it, and the number will be displayed on it, so that the facilitator can see it and make a decision." "I see." Jin was impressed by the advanced system. When Jin and the others took their seats, a maid brought drinks. It was daytime, so it was juice. As they sipped their drinks, Jin and the others chatted and laughed. The VIP seats are for wealthy merchants and high-ranking aristocrats. The lower seats are for the rest of us. Are auctions conducted in cash? "As you can imagine, that is not possible. All purchases are recorded and settled later. The same goes for the delivery of goods. It seems that the officer will actually process each buyer tomorrow. Then we wait for 20 minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. We will now begin the annual year-end auction of the Kingdom of Franz. An announcement echoed through the hall. "It''s finally started!" The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications said happily. It seemed that he was looking forward to this auction as well as Jin''s reception. First of all, the purple crystal dome! It is a dome of amethyst that is as big as a bag. The room was abuzz with excitement. The Kingdom of Franz has few good quality mines, so when they get a mineral like this that is likely to fetch a high price, they put it up for auction. The dome of the amethyst is a small-scale . It means a < hole where water <> grows. It is like an egg with a crystal inside. Of course, the shape is distorted and very few of them are egg-shaped. When you break the , the crystal inside. If it is large enough for a person to enter, it is a <>. "10!" "12!" "15! the general public shouted. "The unit of measure is 10,000 talls," Najas tells us. Najas tells us. "Twenty!" In the end, the auction went for 200,000 Tall, or about 2 million yen. The next item was a huge crystal of quartz. A crystal with a hexagonal pyramid tip measuring about 30 centimeters. 10! 15! 20! 30! This one sold for 300,000 dollars. Next was a crystal of aquamarine, which sold for 300,000 Tall. The pale aquamarine reminded Jin of the crystals he had bought 400 years ago in Yada Village, where there was a mine, when he traveled with Reinhardt and Erza to the Shoro Kingdom. 2186 - - 58-34 Successful bid The auction continued. The items that came up gradually became rarer and rarer, and at the same time, the bidding price went up. Now, the next item was an artifact! "Oh?" The facilitator''s words caught Jin''s attention. And what came out was ....... "That''s ......." It''s a sword that was supposedly used in the time of the "War of Magic" about 700 years ago! Jin was a little disappointed that it was not a magical tool, but he was curious if the sword was really from 700 years ago. (Sword or ....... (Come to think of it, Gloria of the Klein Kingdom was a sword fanatic. ......) The sword was sold for 5 million dollars. Seeing this, Jin was impressed to know that there were collectors even in this age. Now, the next item on the auction block!A magical tool said to have been used by the second generation Magecraft Meister! What?) At the mention of his favorite magical tool, Jin sat up from his chair. (Was there anything in it?) Even if there was, it would have been sold at an auction. Even if there was, would it be auctioned off?Jin cast a skeptical eye toward the venue. Reiko and Elsa seemed to be the same, staring at the auction hall as well as Jin. This is it!The talk of the town! Jin leaned forward further, wondering when this had become a topic of conversation. It''s a magic stove! (I made a magic stove when I was in Kaina Village, but I don''t remember ...... that mold.) It''s a fake. "Fake?I''m so rude!" The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications is indignant. "How dare you offer a fake at this traditional auction ......!Sir Jin Nido, can you prove it?" "Yes, yes, I can." "Well, I''m afraid you''re going to have to come with me." Jin begged the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications to come with him, and he went down to the hall with Reiko. Ladies and gentlemen! The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, who had arrived at the auction site, borrowed a loudspeaker and began to speak loudly. The just auctioned off has been found to be a fake by Sir Jin Nido, the 3rd Magecraft Meister, the 3rd Magecraft Master! A murmur spreads throughout the hall. Sir Jinn Nidor will now investigate and announce his findings! Again, a stirring of excitement enveloped the hall. Meanwhile, Jin has finished examining the stove. I knew it. (I knew it...the mold was obviously different, but the material was also different.) "Yes, I am Jin Nido, the <>. The stove made by my predecessor was made of iron plate, but this one is made of bronze plate. And most importantly, poor quality magi stones from <> were used when they should have been made of magi sand. Therefore, this has nothing to do with the previous generation. A resounding thud echoed through the hall. As Sir Jin Nido has just explained, this item will be removed from the auction. The facilitator nodded in agreement with the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to remove this magic stove from the auction. With that, Jin, Reiko, and the Minister returned to their seats. "Seanne, what about that magic stove?" Jin asked, "First of all, we will check the seller. Was he tricked into auctioning it or did he know about it? There is a big difference. I think ...... already has a team of investigators working on it." The sale of a fake at a state-authorized auction is a major incident and, by extension, a matter of national prestige, so both the Knights and the intelligence services must be working on it, said Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Claude de Chaunay. "Enjoy the auction for now," he said. "Yes, I will." Jin turned his attention back to the auction room, thinking that the old man was probably doing his own investigation. The auction was going on, Come on!Let''s get back to the second part! The facilitator''s voice had regained its energy. Another ancient magic tool!< "Whoa?" As far as Jin can see, this time it''s real. "Reiko, what do you think?" He asks Reiko, who has good eyesight, to confirm it. "Yes father, it is definitely from the time of the magic war. I see... ......! Jin decides to join in, thinking it''s a good idea to spend some money at a place like this. 10!" "15!" "20!" "30!" "5. 70! 100! It''s decided!Sir Jyn Nidor wins the bidding for one million Tallahassee dollars. Yes! A blue-haired automaton, a golem, probably the same age as Anne, Tia, Lol, Leffa, and the others, or maybe a little later. Jin thought that it might be one of the golems destroyed by , who was called at that time, and who destroyed golems and automata regardless of whether they were friend or foe. "I wonder how it survived. I guess we''ll find out about that too," he said. The auction moved on to the next item. And now, next, another relic from the ancient times!A piece of magecrystal that happened to be unearthed from the ruins! "Heh ......" Jin decided to bid on this as well, hoping to get some information. 10!" "15!" "20!" This one was not very popular and sold for 200,000 dollars. Let''s keep going!This time, a round crystal found deep in the mine. "Hmm?" It was a sphere about 5 cm in diameter with a white glassy sheen. (It''s not a crystal ...... thing, it''s probably a low-grade magecrystal of all attributes, but why ...... is it so round? Hitoshi guessed why round Magi Crystals were found deep in the mine. (Probably, a golem with such a <> was hit by lava deep in the mine. ) Jin concluded that all the materials other than the <> must have melted or burned. "But I wonder ...... if the information has probably been lost due to heat and deterioration over time." But he couldn''t resist his curiosity, 10!" "15!" "20! It was Jin, who also won the auction for 200,000 dollars. The auction continued after that. Now, here comes a slightly different item! This time it was a dagger. "Ah!" Erza raised a small voice when she saw it. The dagger looked just like the one Jin had made for Erza''s birthday when they were not even lovers yet. "But it''s not that one..." But it''s not that one. The dagger that Jin made went through many twists and turns and ended up in the hands of a certain royal family in the Kingdom of Celuloa, but the old man recovered it for 100,000 Tolu. In other words, what you see here is not the original but a replica. "But I don''t want it to fall into someone else''s hands." A replica of the dagger that Jin made for him. Erza thought that Jin''s feelings were reflected in the design. 10!" "15!" "20!" "30!" "5! 0!" "70!" "100!" Two hundred. Two million dollars!Sold to Sir Jin Nidoo! Actually, it was Erza, but the replica of the Dagger of Memories also passed into her hands. 2187 - - 58-35 Content Review The auction ended after six items were sold. By the way, since neither Jin nor Erza was interested in those items, other participants bid on them. "Thank you, Mr. Jin. "Thank you, Ms. Erza." The officials are responsible for the delivery of the purchased items. Jin and his friends are staying in a room at the royal castle. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After returning to their room, Jin and Erza took a bath and ate dinner in a refreshed state. The dinner was brought to their room, so Jin and Elsa were chatting with each other. Reiko is serving dinner and Hope is standing guard near the door. Najas Khan excused himself. "That was pretty interesting." "Yeah." "But there were very few works of art, or artifacts, ......." In Jin''s image, an auction was an auction of art works. In fact, I think that the free market was more likely to deal with such items. Jin looked at the wolf figure he had bought from an unknown boy. "Hmm, perhaps this country doesn''t have much room for such things yet," he said. Jin nodded at Erza''s words. "Maybe so. ......" Jin thought that this might be a good way to see the level of culture. "One thing I''m wondering about is the guy who exhibited the magic stove saying that he used to use it. "Hmm, I know. ...... I got a replica of a dagger from him a long time ago, but I think it was probably made by that selfish royal family member or something." "I''m sure you''re right. The original was recovered afterwards, I''m sure of it. And the original dagger was buried with Erza, the <>. As for the magic stove, the old man is investigating the matter. The truth will be revealed soon. While drinking tea after dinner, there was a knock at the door. Hope answered the door and saw Najas. Behind her, a servant was pushing a cart, on top of which was the item she had acquired at the auction. "I''m here to deliver it to you, sir." "Just in time. Thank you." Jin gets up from his seat and thanks him. Hope took over the cart. "Now, if you''ll excuse me." Najas did not enter the room, but bowed and left. "Well, ......." Looking at the carts, Jin thought for a moment about which one to pick up first, and then chose the round magecrystal found deep in the mine. "<>...... Oh, I knew it was no good." The heat of the lava and the aging of the magecrystal were so severe that there was not much information left on it. "The original was of low quality. ......" Only a fragmentary <> remained. Even so, "I knew it was made before the Magi Wars. I could understand at least that "this is a pre-War of Magi". The reason is that the format of < is old-fashioned. It is not used today. "Next, a piece of <>." Jin was wondering if this one was probably a piece of or a piece of storage that recorded some kind of information. "<>......?This one seems to have some data left." Jin continues to use engineering magic to read the data. "<>......Hoh..." "Hmm, interesting." There was an image record in this fragment. "Is this what ......<> looks like?" "Looks like it." The image shows more than 100 golems lining up and then marching in formation. "The rest can be found at ....... Oh, the data is corrupted here. Let''s not do this." Jin hoped that the old man would be able to analyze the data and complete it, so that he could learn something new. "Here''s the last of mine. It is the remains of a golem. "The material is ...... and ......, it''s a very old golem after all." The skeleton is a now-discontinued carbon steel. It contains a small amount of silicon. Silicon decreases toughness and increases hardness. In other words, adding too much makes it harder and more brittle. "0.4 percent silicon and 0.1 percent sulfur. That''s a lot of ......." Sulfur also has a significant effect on the properties of steel. It is mainly thermally brittle, meaning that it becomes brittle when heated. "Another 0.2 percent is phosphorus, which is also high." Phosphorus, contrary to sulfur, makes steel brittle at low temperatures. "So it could have been a mass-produced golem." It seems unlikely that the magecraftsmen made each of these golems individually. "There are no muscle parts left. They must have been made of biomaterials. Biomaterials deteriorate if they do not have magic power circulating through them. After 700 years of destruction, it is not surprising that they are gone. "The control core (control core) is ...... ah, too bad, there is no control core left." I did not expect that much, but it is still a pity. "But this remaining exterior is interesting. ......<>......I knew there was manganese and vanadium in it." These additions, though in small amounts, improve the hardenability. Good hardenability means that when quenching a large object, the quenching will go deep into the material. In other words, a steel with poor hardenability is hardened only on the surface but not in the interior. The hardened steel becomes martensitic and expands slightly, so poor hardenability can distort the overall shape and even cause cracking in severe cases. Therefore, the steel used for <> is the one with good hardenability. "The exterior, i.e. the armor, is made of high quality steel, but the skeleton is of poor quality. This discrepancy is probably due to the fact that they are not made in the same workshop or factory. You mean division of labor? The skeleton is made in factory A, the musculature is assembled in factory B, and the exterior is made in factory C. "I see, that makes sense." <. And the real final item was the dagger Erza had bought. "What''s in the ...... blade is silver. "Yes." The one Jin made was mithril silver......925 mithril silver, but this was just silver. "It''s too bad it only looks ...... good." "Well, I guess that''s about it. But the design looks exactly the same." "Hmm." Only the appearance is very well done. Jin is impressed by this point. I''ll keep it in my room as a memento. "I see." The items he bought at the free market are in the hurricane, so he can''t check them here and now. "Well, I guess that''s all right." "Hmm." Thus ended the auction between Jin and Elsa. 2188 - - 58-36 Tama Corporation Five days before the auction. There is a town called Lonsk in the northeastern part of the Kingdom of Selroa. It overlooks Lake Asur to the west, and is close to the borders of the Kingdom of Klein to the northeast and the Kingdom of Franz to the northwest. Further north is the town of Leinen. (Now, you said that this area has a certain smell, didn''t you?) The 5th Quinta, who received the order from the old man, is Deneb 20, a.k.a. , who is in charge of the northeastern part of the Kingdom of Celuloa. She is now disguised as a chubby woman in her early twenties. She has short blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a charming face with freckles. Char runs a bakery in the town of Lonsk. The specialty of the bakery is the "soft and fluffy bread". It was made with yeast from Horaijima and boasted of being 20% fluffier than other breads. Thanks to this, the store thrived. Deneb 21, aka , who co-owns the bakery, is her younger sister. Maria, unlike Char, is disguised as a very slender woman. She has blond hair and blue eyes. She is in her late teens. Char is in charge of management, and Maria is a baker. There is another sister, Spica7, a.k.a. , and they are supposed to be the three sisters. Maimi is in her mid-teens, of medium height and medium build. She also has blond hair and blue eyes. Her hair is short. She is the youngest of the three sisters and is in charge of the store. Since it is a small store, Char helps to bake bread, and Maria also serves customers in the store. The name of the store is . The name of the store is ...... with a wish that the store will be so busy that it will be a cat''s hand. And there is one more ....... There was <''s signboard girl ...... or signboard cat, <>, a cat golem. Him?She?is a black cat. * * * * < is very busy today. "Maimi, give me two loaves of bread. Yes, thank you very much. "Maria, your bread is soft again today. "Thank you very much." Where''s Tama-chan? "She''s on the eaves today." Tama, the signature cat golem, naps in front of the store or on the eaves during the day. "You were very busy again today, weren''t you?" "Yes, it was. I''m glad ...... is so popular. "I''m sure the master''s assets will grow even more." In this way, there are many <> who are doing business among the common people, helping to increase Jin''s assets as well as collecting information. * * * * * * "First, let''s get Tama to work for us." "I''ll get her to work. Even though she is a cat golem, she can speak. However, the cat''s mouth is a bit slurred, but that''s to be expected. Because she is a black cat and her body is small, Tama is the most suitable for activities under the cover of darkness at night. Even if Tama is discovered, she is a cat, so she is not easily alarmed. "Ittekimasu!" With these words, Tama disappeared into the darkness. The cat was not to be found. It is not an easy mission to find a clue in one night ......, but the old man had a rough idea with his . A trading house on the outskirts of town. It was a century old building, but its owner was a newly emerged nobleman. The Kingdom of Cerroa is a huge state, which has the disadvantage of not being able to pay enough attention to the rural areas, and is therefore prone to corruption in many ways. So he lives in a renovated trading house.) The control core of Tama is more than that of an ordinary golem. (But, it was a former trading house.) Tama''s control core is more than that of an ordinary golem. (But, as a former trading house, it seems to have a ...... basement.) It is common practice to build basements for storage. Tama took notice of it. He leaps over the wall and lands in the courtyard. There are no wards.) He crosses the courtyard. There was a field mouse, but Tama ignored it and attached himself to the wall of the building. (<>...... was there. We searched the basement and found a large basement. Now, how to get in?) These basements always have vents, whether retractable or open all the time, I do not know. Tama circled the house and found it. Here it is.) < There was a net to keep out the trash, but he used his engineering magic to a hole in the net, and passed through. Then he landed in the basement. (hmmm ......) The eyes of the ball are equipped with night vision. In the room where he landed, he saw many boxes piled up. (Sake of the Kingdom of Cerroa, this one is from the Shoro Kingdom, and this one is from the Franz Kingdom .......) Basements are suitable for storing liquors like wine caves because the temperature and humidity do not change easily. So this view is not strange. But... (Not necessarily the contents of the boxes are liquor.) Tama taps one of the boxes with her paw. If it were a liquor bottle, it would make a slightly muffled sound because it is somewhat hollow. ....... (What''s this?......<<>) Since it sounded heavy and resonant, I decided to examine the inside again with engineering magic. (Hmmm... ......... it''s metal inside, and a very heavy one at that...) Now, I use the built-in <. It is not fixed and its focusing accuracy is poor, so it can be used only at short distances, but this time it is good enough. (Gold ingots, or ....... Smuggling.) I checked the other boxes and found mithril silver and magi crystals in them. (So far, the old man must have known. Then, what is this new aristocrat up to?) Tama made use of her soft paw and went up the stairs without making a sound at all. At the top of the stairs there is a door. As expected, the knob cannot be turned by a cat''s hand. But.., But there is someone on the other side.) < "What?" "Is someone there?" As expected, the door is opened for confirmation. Tama, in her , passed under the feet of the man who had opened the door, and slipped through to the other side. Now what are we going to do?) Tama looks around and considers what to do. 2189 - - 58-37 Undercover Survey and the Kingdom of Celluloa On Horai Island, the old lord was reviewing the information from Tama and also monitoring the island with <>. < He came to this conclusion by observing the entries in the ledger book. If they are mere smugglers, they intend to leave it to the Kingdom of Cerroa. Then, using the manacam built into Tama, he gave new instructions. (Copy.) * * * * * * * * * * (Understood. (Move to the other target.) * * * (Move to the other target.) Tama found a window about 10 cm open and went out through it without making a sound. He landed gently on the grass. There were no more rats, so he crossed the yard, jumped over the fence, and got out of the house. He went straight to the other target that the old man had instructed him to go to. It was a medium-sized merchant''s house. It is located a little bit in the center of the town from the perimeter. (Do you go along the roof instead of the road?). Tama decides to go along the roof instead of the road, which has many obstacles, and runs up to the top of the house. The rooftops were a good vantage point from which he could see the houses of the merchants he was aiming for in the distance. Sometimes he jumped up to a higher roof, and sometimes he jumped down to a lower roof to reach his goal. His appearance is just like a black gale. Tama arrives at his destination without being seen. (Well, we''ll have to enter through the chimney here ......, though it will be dirty with soot.) This thought was not because he did not want to get dirty, but because if he got dirty, there was a high possibility that his infiltration would be detected by footprints and so on. In the end, Tama put up wards to keep dirt away, and then used the force field generator to sneak in through the chimney. (But is this house ...... a dummy if it doesn''t use fire in this season?) Yes, the most important reason why Tama thought of sneaking in through the chimney was because he sensed that there was no fire in the house. It is winter, the lowest temperature is below freezing. It is impossible not to feel the fire in the chimney coming out of the fireplace. (No one?(No one?) No. The presence that Tama felt was that of <>. However, it was a rather crude one. <. (It looks like a human being, but it''s a fake from all angles.) Four of them were standing still in the room. Tama judges that they are in a state of waiting, not stopped, since they are responding to the magic. (It would start to move when it was ordered to do so or when it detected an intruder.) So, he leaves the <> boundary deployed. (If these guys are here, there must be something important in this room.) Tama contacts the old man with the built-in manacam and asks him to do a quick search. The result will come out in 5 minutes. From what the old man has seen, it seems that they are smuggling a lot of things to the Kingdom of Franz. The contents are not good enough. The Kingdom of Franz is probably a lackey at best, the old man thinks. The ringleaders on the side of the Kingdom of Celuloa, however, are probably only minor players compared to the Unifilers and the League of Magicians of the past. Tama, however, thinks that in order to confirm the documents, he has to do something about the automata that are waiting for him. (Using the < will help in this situation, but if they check it later, they will find out that it was attacked in some way. (...... okay) Good idea?Tama, who came up with a good idea, went through the only open door and moved to the next room, which was an empty room. It was an empty room, and therefore, it seemed to be unguarded. (Is there anyone in the next room?). The built-in "peepers" were used to check the next room. When Tama saw that no one was there, he used his engineering magic to make a hole in the wall and moved on. Of course, the hole is closed with engineering magic once again. (There must be a hidden safe behind this wall.) Yes, a good idea was to use the engineering magic from the next room to take out the documents in the hidden safe . After making a hole in the wall, I saw the wall of the safe, so I made a hole there as well with engineering magic. (Is this the document the old man was talking about?) Tama deftly turns the pages, though with the hand of a cat. The old man read the contents of the document while he was still on Horai Island. In about 30 seconds, the contents of the 40 or so pages of documents were confirmed by the old man. After the verification, the procedure was reversed and the safe and the walls were repaired to their original state. * * * * * * * * * * * * The old man has checked the documents and found that the lords of this region, including the town of Lonsk, are only meddling with Franz. In other words, the Kingdom of Celuloa is not making any moves against Franz. Sometimes some of the local lords have warped ambitions. Their ambitions are usually for power or money, for promotion or for making money. And the lords of this town, with the help of a few merchants, have been meddling in the affairs of the Kingdom of Franz. And there are two main ways to use the money. One is for his own luxury, and the other is to use the money to buy a position. The lord who rules and manages the area that includes the town of Lonsk is a baronet named Laine de Matillac. The owner of this house is a merchant named Seneca Coyot. But for the time being, the old man decided that the police force of the Kingdom of Celuloa should take care of that for the time being. For this purpose, he thinks that the data he has just read should be printed out and sent to the appropriate organization. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The royal castle is located in Essaia, the capital of the Kingdom of Selroa. The current king is Beaux-Arts Valois de Cerlois, who is from the Valois family that has existed since the time of Cesar 400 years ago. He is 28 years old, unwed, and has no heir. He has been on the throne for two years. He had not yet grasped the reality of the country. "Well, the local economy is in a slump. If things continue as they are, discontent will only increase. King Beaux-Arts Valois de Selrois folded his arms and pondered. At this time, with the collapse of the <>, the industries related to magical tools and machines (magi-machines) seemed to be revitalizing, but it was still not enough. Therefore, the young king is thinking day and night to do something about it. As a part of his efforts, he had been working on a public works project to pave the roads in the country with macadam. The new king was thanked by the merchants for more than doubling the speed of their wagons. "But we can''t afford to be complacent. He was well aware that revitalizing the economy would not be a simple task. Nevertheless, he started the road public corporation for the benefit of the project. "What should we do to increase our national strength? ......When this happens, I''ll call him." King Beaux-Arts Valois de Cerlois rang the bell on his desk. 2190 - - 58-38 The political situation of each country The developments in the Kingdom of Celuloa soon became known to the old man. But he is only 28 years old. He has been on the throne for only two years, and he still needs to get his feet on the ground. < King of Cerroa, 28 years old. Queen of Franz, 32 years old. King of Klein, 40 years old. King Elias, age 30. Emperor of Shoro, 36. In such a case, there was a possibility that ambitious people would rise up and cause political instability and economic depression, but the <> worked well and brought stability to the countries. I have met the 3rd prince Ernest and the 4th princess Shannon (childhood name Mimir), but not the king or the crown prince yet. > Ronald Bowie Carter, King of Egelea, at 58, is the oldest of the current monarchs. He is the oldest of the current monarchs at 58 years old. He is not a bad king, but he is skilled in the art of taking advantage of others in favor of his own interests. If he gets to know Jin, he will probably try all kinds of tricks to get his way. < The old man felt that it would be especially troublesome if the fourth princess, Shannon (childhood name of Mimir), made some <<> to Jin. * * * * The King of Cerroa, Bozar Valois de Cerroa, had called the head of the Intelligence Department, Alon Faal Zeta, to gather information. He was a veteran of the intelligence service and had been used by the previous king. You wanted to see me, Your Majesty? "Yes, I would like you to strengthen the investigation of smuggling and tax evasion, which may be an obstacle to the policy of economic revitalization." "Yes, I understand. ...... about that, there seems to be some kind of money and logistics distortion in the northern town of Lonsk." I see. I see. ...... The lord of that place is ...... the quasi-baron de Laine de Matillac, I believe." I don''t hear much good about him. "Hmm. If Aron says so, then it must be so. ...... Okay, you can start with the Lonsk investigation. Yes, sir. * * * * * * The old man wondered how he was going to give the documents that Tama had read to the intelligence service of the Kingdom of Celuloa. After all, He decided to wait and see how they would do it before making a decision. * * * * * * * * * * On December 16, Jin and Elsa were talking with King Franz, Queen Caroline de Lafayette, Prime Minister Joachims de Droe, Minister of Internal Affairs Claude de Chaunay, and others. "It was a good show, except for a few fakes," he said. Jin told them that they had done a good job. "I''m glad to hear that." The queen was relieved. Jin and Elsa then made some suggestions about Najas. "So, while we are on the subject, is it possible to send Najas Khan, who has been our caretaker, to study at <>?" "I believe she has the talent to become a healer." Since these two people gave their opinions, the Kingdom of Franz had no choice but to listen to them. In fact, if they can get a good healer, they would love to have one. "Yesterday, I went to visit Viscount Astero de Caen and taught her on the spot, and she mastered it. Elsa''s explanation pleased them even more. "Oh!" "That''s good news." "But we can''t send her to study abroad tomorrow, because of the formalities involved. The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Queen, and the Prime Minister, respectively. "I''m sure that''s true. ...... I also have a favor to ask you about Najas-san." Elsa opened her mouth. "Viscount Astero de Caen had a dust lung, a physical disorder caused by breathing in too much ore dust. It has been treated, but it will take time for his body to recover." For about a month, Najas would have to go home once a day to heal his father, but it would be too much work, so Elsa asked if Viscount Khan could be moved to the royal castle. "Yes, I understand. I will take care of that immediately as well. And there was another concern. The inheritance rights of the Khan family. Jin explained in a rather gentle way that when he had visited the Khan family the other day to treat the Viscount, the third daughter, Narun, had seemed concerned about her inheritance rights. "I see. If the Viscount had fallen ill, it is understandable that he would be concerned. The Prime Minister took this story at face value. And then, "When Viscount Khan was in good health, he said that Najafs was a bastard and that Narn would be the head of the family or that he would be the head of the family with his son-in-law. He said this to the queen. "I see, I see. ......" Queen Caroline thought for a moment and then asked the Prime Minister. Who is the wife of the Khan family, Prime Minister? "Lady Luciane, isn''t it? She is a Countess of Bilder. Without a pause, the Prime Minister answered. "The Counts of Builder...... ah, the family that fell because of the League of Magic?" "Yes. The Countess Builder''s family was destroyed, but those who had married into other families or set up other families received only a warning or a reprimand. The more they heard about Najas''s situation, the more both Jin and Elsa grew weary of it. Neither of them wanted to hear about the sordid underbelly of the aristocracy. So they decided to interject. "Well, I''ll leave the Khan family to you. But if the viscount recovers, I think he will be able to work for another five or ten years. "I see. I will give priority to the wishes of the current head of the family regarding succession." Jin then advised him of an important matter. "One more thing. Elsa explained that the Viscount collapsed because he dived into the mine without the proper equipment. I ask you to ensure that miners wear safety glasses, dust masks, and helmets." "- Prime Minister, Minister of Internal Affairs?" The queen looked at them, wondering what was going on. According to the regulations, the three helmets are to be worn, but it seems they''re not being worn thoroughly in the field. We will conduct an on-site inspection immediately. Yes, please do so. Jin then opened his mouth to add one more thing. "This is a suggestion, but how about building an ambulance? "An ambulance? "An ambulance? A vehicle that would be used to transport the injured and sick to the healers. Since the Golem cars were surprisingly popular in the Kingdom of Franz, Jin made this suggestion. "We would ring a bell or light a conspicuous red lantern to let people know that we were transporting patients with such urgent needs, give them the right of way, and drive them straight to the healer. He also explained that the driver should be a good first-aider, but the assistant passenger should be a good first-aider. "Oh, that''s a good idea. The problem with ...... is that there are too few healers. "I think we don''t have to rush to spread that point, we can do it step by step. "Well, thank you for your advice, Mr. Jin. For the sake of our people, we will positively consider it. The Prime Minister thanked Jin. In the future, the Kingdom of Franz will be famous for being the first country to introduce , but that is another story. 2191 - - 58-39 Patient care and prospects for the future On the same day, Jin and Elsa visited the Kahn family again after their audience with the Queen. This time they were accompanied by Claude de Chaunay, the Minister of Internal Affairs. He said, "Astero and I are colleagues. They are friends. I see. So that''s why he was concerned about Najas.) "Hey, Crowe, it''s been a long time." Astero, you''re looking well. "Yes. I was treated yesterday by Erza-dono. His lungs have not regained their function yet, so he needs to hold his breath to speak. "But you look good, don''t you?" "This morning I had Najas put on the "Feligenesen" and after that I took the medicine. Persica juice is very effective. The viscount needs nourishment anyway. "Well, it seems that you have a gift for using Feligenesen. ...... So, there is talk of sending Najas to study at <>, though it is still a long way off." "Oh, I wish, I wish, I wish." Now that the Viscount, his father, has given his consent, the process should go smoothly. "And Astero, I''m going to need you to move out of here." The minister had another matter to attend to. Why? "For your treatment. I want you to move to a room in the castle so that Najas, who is giving you the Feligenesen, doesn''t have to come back to the house every time. "Okay, okay." This was a ploy by the Minister of Internal Affairs. By highlighting the impact of the move on Najas''s job at the castle, the minister had shut down the Viscount''s objections. Of course, the fact that the Viscount''s condition had recovered enough for him to be able to travel today was one of the reasons. Jin, who was standing beside me, was also impressed inwardly. * * * * * * * * * * * * So, that morning, Viscount Astero de Caen was transferred to the royal castle. Naln, Najas''s sister, seemed to see him off with a complicated look on her face. But as he was leaving, the Viscount said to her "Take care of her, will you? Narun''s face turned serious, "I''m at your service, father." I am sure that he will be able to take care of the house. * * * * * * The matter of the Viscount and Najas is left at that, and Jin and Elsa are discussing about the dust lungs. It was a more pressing issue than the car race. "There are probably a lot of patients in the mining town. "I think so. ...... maybe some of the patients are too late. I''m sure. Jin and Erza felt gloomy, thinking that there must have been quite a few deaths. "...... want to help the patients who can be helped." "Of course." Jin and Erza discuss what to do with the patients. It is difficult to save them all by themselves. "We didn''t hear anything about that in the Shoro Kingdom, but it seems to be serious in the Franz Kingdom." I''m not sure how much longer we can save them all. ...... I think it''s better to just get the dust out of their lungs. After that, the lung function can be restored by <>, although it will take some time," Elsa said. "And there may be healers who can help you with <>." Just the inflammation of the trachea and bronchial tubes, which would be the most painful part, would be healed, and the patient would feel much better, Elsa said. "I see. Then we can make a special tool to extract dust from the lungs and a tool that can use ." "Hmm." Then, the question is how much we should pay for the magic tools. Since it was not a good idea to give it away for free, Jin and Erza continued to discuss the matter further. "A healer golem would be too expensive, so I guess a magic tool is the way to go. "Hmmm... "Well, it should have limited functions and be as cost-effective as possible. "Well, ...... that''s difficult." Jin was troubled by Erza''s request. The Magi Crystals were sent from Horai Island by . "I''ll have to make sure not to use anything too high quality. Jin thinks about the specifications. "I think we should use the magic power of the user instead of using the built-in <>. The number of times it can be used continuously depends on the amount of magic power the user possesses, but Jin thought that it would be a good idea to make it a magical tool that can be used even by non-healers. "Well, then, we can make a lot of them and distribute them. Considering the world, it would be better if there were more copies of the magic tools in the market, but looking at the current level of magic technology, it is hard to imagine that there would be many copies of the magic tools in the market. "Come to think of it, what did the mines controlled by the Khan family produce?" Jin asked the old man through Reiko what else could be extracted from the mine, although it was certain that alumina could be extracted, and the old man immediately replied. "Father, I heard that we can get water and wind magi crystals. The quality is about the same. "Oh, I see." Then, we can keep the cost down by using the Magi Crystals from that mine. "......, I think it would be better to have < do this at the request of <>." "Indeed, that may be so." The cost of making the magic tools will be paid for by , in other words, by the , which will reduce the burden on the Franz Kingdom. "All right, let''s say that I contacted Machina, and let''s have him get started right away." I understand. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On the same day, Tomax Bartmann, the chief administrator of <>, received a message from <> via <>. "Manon, call an executive meeting. Tomax Bartmann gives instructions to his secretary-automaton Manon. "This is about the measures against pneumoconiosis in the mines. "Yes, sir." Avalon is strong in taking such measures, because it is able to move without the constraints of national governments. In this case, it will play the role of (World Health Organization). With the help of Jin''s communication and deus ex machina''s cooperation, 100 Each country was given 100 pieces of each. The price per unit was set at 10,000 tokens (about 100,000 yen) or of the same level of quality. This was a measure that was prepared to incur a deficit, but since the supply of machina meant that the goods were in fact taken from Horai Island, and < of similar quality, the inventory on Horai Island had not decreased by even one percent in this amount of time. <> The old man with the magical brain who was in charge of the management of Horai Island realized once again that their assets had reached a tremendous level. And, <>>. I conclude. <<>. You may release the stored resources or build a spaceship to emigrate to the space. The old man would serve Jin until that day. Horai Island was peaceful today. 2192 - - 58-40 Quiet Story 101 Each Story In the Kingdom of Celuloa, the head of the Intelligence Department, Alon Faal Zeta, mobilized his agents to root out smuggling and tax evasion. The documents found by < and the old man were supposedly kept in a hidden safe, deliberately concealed, and then discovered by an agent. The agent <> was in fact Regulus 40 of the < fifth column. The purge is accelerated by this document. "Quartermaster Baron Rain de Matillac, you are under arrest for tax evasion and smuggling!" What are you talking about?I don''t know what you''re talking about! You can explain yourself in court. The Kingdom of Celuloa is a law-abiding state, the severity of which had not changed since King Cesar decreed it 400 years ago. And because of the meritocracy, a junior baron was quickly ousted and replaced by a rising baron to fill the post. I hope that clears things up a bit. Yes, Your Majesty. King Beaux-Arts Valois de Selrois looked at one of his most trusted men, Aron Faal, Director of Zeta Intelligence, and smiled at each other. * * * * The arrests in the Kingdom of Selroa had a considerable impact on the Kingdom of Franz. The dark organization that had been hiding underground suddenly came out into the open. Perhaps someone who was behind it has withdrawn. Abel Rossi, Director of the Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, speculated. "That may be so. But first, I want you to capture as many of them as possible. "Of course. We have already arrested over 50 suspects. With this, the other black market organizations, if only temporarily, have fallen into decline and are now breathing their last breath. Peace has returned to the Franz Kingdom for the time being. * * * * * * * * * * * * * was busy dealing with the mining towns. "Manon, is there any problem with the distribution? "Yes, Mr. Tomax. 250 to the Shoro Kingdom, 200 to the Kingdom of Cerroa, 15 to the Kingdom of Egelea. 150 to Klein, 100 to Elias, 1 00 to Franz. The remaining 50 are to be used as a reserve. The remaining 50 would be kept in reserve in and sent as reinforcements to each country as needed, Manon reported. "Yes, I understand. That''s great, Manon." "Very good, sir." Manon''s ability in such computational paperwork is so high that it rivals that of more than ten human secretaries. This greatly reduced the workload of Tomax Bartmann, who was in good health. "Then, about a month from now, a candidate from the Kingdom of Franz will come to study here. "Well, that''s good news. "Since it was recommended by Jin-sama and Erza-sama, we can expect great things." "Oh, is that so?I''m looking forward to it. * * * * <<<> are also fulfilling their roles well. In Horai Island, the old man reported to Jin with satisfaction. "It seems so. However, the cat golem I made halfway as a hobby is surprisingly useful. "I guess that''s what it''s all about." < "And then there is the matter of Najaz Khan." As for Najaz Khan, Erza is concerned about him, and Jin wants to do something about it. "I mean, I don''t understand this whole Khan family mess." For Jin, the frictions and feuds among the nobles were something he did not understand and did not want to deal with. < Being from a superior family, she had a strong voice and ...... was more of a backer of the Viscount. << "......" << That is why he was able to send Najas to the Intelligence Bureau. Jin thought that this is the dark side of aristocratic society ....... < "Maybe so." "I see." "If that''s the case, Najas, you should go study abroad in and just stay there." Elsa, who had been listening quietly, interrupted. "Right." Jin and the others thought that it would be necessary to keep an eye on him, since he may have his own wishes in this regard. <, the head of , and Manon, the automata secretary of the Chief Administrator, Tomax Bartmann, to help him out. "And now we must make progress on the dust lungs?" They began to be used in the mines of the Shoro Empire, the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Klein, and the former Leonard''s Kingdom. < "Wow." Jin was disgusted by the utter destruction of cultural civilization by the . * * * * "<>" "......Oh, I feel a little better again." In the medical office of the Royal Castle of Franz, Viscount Astero de Caen is being treated by his daughter Najas. Today is the 10th day. Najas is no longer suffering from magical exhaustion, and is beginning to feel more comfortable. The consumption of Houraishima''s Persica juice seems to have helped. "How is the ...... house doing?" The Viscount was still concerned about the house. "It seems that the sister Narn is in charge," he said. Surprisingly, Narun seems to have become a little more sane now that he is the only one who can protect the house. Perhaps he has become more self-aware. Nevertheless, Najas could not bring himself to forgive his sister ......, nor did he want to return to that house. "Yes,......." But he didn''t say that in front of his sick father. "Do you want to be a healer?" "Yes." This was the only answer that came out of his mouth. "Yes, I see. Do whatever you want. I support you. "Thank you, father." The viscount, though a bastard, was also a father who cared about his daughter''s happiness. * * * * Soon the year 3900 will be over and a new year will arrive. What will the year 3901 be like? 2193 - - 59-01 New Years scenery The year 3901 dawned sunny in Horai Island. Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year! The Jin family had gathered on Horai Island, except for Zion and the others who were still in active duty. Today is the first day of the year. So we all worshiped the sunrise on the first day of the year, and then drew young water from the well. We are going to make ozoni with this water. ...... Reiko and her assistants Golem, Soleil and Luna. While the zoni is being prepared, we all pay our first visit...... to the shrine dedicated to <> Shuki Tsetsi, which is located between the institute and the <>. Please continue to watch over us. After that, we toast with ginjo sake instead of toso. The place is Jin''s house. It''s New Year''s around the kotatsu. "Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Osechi dishes include black soybeans (kuromame), tamagaki (sesame paste), kamaboko (fish paste), kinpira gobo (burdock root), boiled bamboo shoots and shiitake mushrooms, etc., etc., etc., etc. Fresh sashimi and grilled sea bream (similar to sea bream) are also available. "Yes, it''s a stretchy rice cake!" "This sashimi is delicious. "The egg is sweet and tasty!" "The simmered dishes are also well seasoned. "The simmered dishes are also very tasty and well seasoned. "I like the black beans and chestnut dumplings. "Give me another glass of sake." It was a lively New Year''s Day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, the 2nd, we all went to the island of Tsetsi, where the previous generation and the > are buried. The shrine next to the < is a Shinto shrine, but this one is a Buddhist one. The tomb guard, , and greeted them. "Welcome, my friends. "Brother Nagi, sister Nami, it has been a long time. They were Reiko''s older brother and older sister. You look well, both of you. "Yes, thanks to you." Then, the Jin family members put the flowers they had brought and paid their respects together. I should add that they did not use incense. After that, they went to the continent to clean up the area around the monument at Cape Magus. This was done only by Jin and Reiko. Erza did not touch the monument this time, but watched from a little distance. The cleaned monument was sprinkled with fresh water, and here again, everyone quietly joined hands. "Well." Jin said to everyone. "Me and Erza are going to the Shoro Kingdom after this to pay our respects at the gravesite of the female emperor ......<<>." "Then I''ll go with you." Reinhardt stepped forward. "Me too." "Me too." "I''m coming." Saki and Bertsche also put their hands up. "I''m coming, too." "Me too!" Then they all went to ....... So they sent <> by transporter, and all of us went together. The pilot was Hope. The old man had thoughtfully packed a bouquet of flowers to send to the people. Because of the time difference, the <> travels slowly at a speed of about 100 km/h. In the meantime, Jin and the others are in the middle of the city, going lightly. In the meantime, Jin and the others had a light meal inside. It was 9:00 a.m. when they arrived at Shoro. They parked the <> at the Tosmo lakeside airfield and headed for the cemetery. <>......Gerhard Hilde von Rubies Shoro''s cemetery was no problem for Jin and Erza to get through. And in front of the mausoleum. "Welcome, Jin-sama, Erza-sama, everyone! The automata, <>, the tomb guard given to the group by Jin about 350 years ago, greeted the group. She is an automata with waist-length black hair tied behind her head and dressed in a so-called "miko costume. The difference is that they wear white kimono and white hakama. "Kikuhime, I''ve come to visit you. Jin puts the bouquet he has prepared on the flower stand. Erza, Reinhardt, Bertsch, and the others also offered their bouquets in the same way. They all put their hands on their chests and prayed silently. After a minute of silent prayer, Jin opened his eyes and asked Kikuhime. "Are you feeling all right?" "Yes, Jin-sama. Yes, Jin-sama. I''ll be counting on you from now on, won''t I? Yes, I will, sir. The group then left the cemetery. After greeting Daikie and Cocona at their residence in the capital city of Leusert, the group leisurely returns to Horai Island by . The second day of the New Year ended like this. * * * * On the 3rd, Jin and Erza went to . Following the custom that Jin has passed down to them, they spend the three days of the New Year in a relaxed manner. However, since they are in the southern hemisphere, the season is summer. It is also nighttime. "It''s no wonder we don''t have a kotatsu. At the home of their caretakers, Mr. and Mrs. Trihard Suzanne, Jin and Elsa received New Year''s greetings from the main people. This was a delicate and time-consuming process that took about four hours. Afterwards, Jin said, "This was just a New Year''s greeting, I''ll come back again to relax". and returned to Horai Island. Thus began the year 3901. What kind of year will it be? ....... 2194 - - 59-02 Rehabilitation January 3901 was a busy month for Jin. First, the construction of the was to begin in earnest in the Shoro Kingdom. Then, in the Kingdom of Franz, the construction of the is scheduled to begin. On the Shoro Kingdom side, the construction work that Jin will be directly involved in is still in the works. The details of the layout and the design of the garden have already been decided, so the construction will be started by the Shoro Kingdom. Jin can check on them from time to time. However, Jin will only be responsible for leveling the ground with the help of , so he will be ready when the plots are properly demarcated. "First, we need to finalize the details of the racetrack in the Kingdom of Franz. There are still many things to be decided, such as the layout of the course and the development plans for the surrounding area. "Well then, Elsa, shall we go?" "Yes." Elsa seemed to be concerned about the situation of the Kahn family, including the condition of Najas'' father, Viscount Astero de Kahn. She is concerned about the situation of the Khan family, including the condition of Najas'' father, Viscount Astero de Khan, but only because it concerns Najas'' future. Anyway, they and Reiko arrived in the Kingdom of Franz on January 5 in a piloted by Hope. * * * * * * * * * "Happy New Year! We look forward to working with you again in the New Year." The members of the Franz delegation were in the office of Queen Caroline de Lafayette, wishing her a Happy New Year. The members of the Franzian side were Joachims de Droe, Prime Minister, Claude de Chaunay, Minister of General Affairs, Jonas Tigrina, Minister of Magic, Oneka de Creo, Minister of Finance, and others. "Happy New Year! ...... That << New Year''s Greetings> is funny. Is it in the style of the Shoro Empire? No, it''s more of a greeting from the Magecraft Meisters. Oh, I see. "It shows the feeling of celebrating the New Year. < The Prime Minister seemed to like that expression. Fragrant tea is served, and after chatting for a while, they get down to business. "I would like to discuss the circuit we are planning to build here. "Yes. Jin-dono, I can''t stay with you until the end, but I''d like to hear at least the first part of what you have to say. "Me too." The Prime Minister and the Queen had a lot of other work to do, so they looked at each other as if to say, "I''m sorry, but there''s nothing we can do. "Well, I would like to have a word with Mr. Najas. Elsa seemed to be curious about Najas. "Yes, of course. "Well, let''s bring him in." Minister Claude de Chaunay said and sent his men to call Najas. "Miss Elsa, Miss Jin, it''s been a long time!" Najas bowed respectfully as soon as he entered the room. "I''m glad to see you are well. I''d like to hear a little bit about what you''ve been up to." "Yes, with pleasure!" So the two of them went to the small conference room next door to the office. Hope was to follow them there. "Well, we''ll be right with you." After Elsa and Najas moved to the next room, Jin opened his mouth. He then unfolded a piece of paper with a proposed course layout from the materials he had brought with him. "We have considered various options. I also got some advice from my friends, and finally came up with the following shape." "Hoho ......" It was a course chart with an oval course in the center, and hairpin curves and S-curves derived from it. "I asked my friend about the advantages of an oval course." Jin was told that an oval course looks simple, but it has the advantage that the fastest lines can be taken in parallel and it is easy to compete with each other. On the other hand, a course with a complicated layout has only one fastest line, and several cars race against each other to get there, which is also competitive in another sense. In other words, it is difficult to say which is more interesting. It was also said that if horse races were to be held, the course would have to be turf or dirt, as the horses would not be able to keep their legs on the paved surface. This was different from the previous tentative meeting, Jin explained at first. "I see, that makes sense." "The horse races should be held on a different course, right?" "Yes, we can build a track for dirt racing as well. We''d like to discuss that as well, Jin said. * * * * * * Meanwhile, Elsa and Najas. How is the Viscount ...... doing? Yes, half a month has passed and his color has improved a lot. He is no longer short of breath! Najas bowed deeply. "Well, that''s good. ......Well then, let''s have a look at you now. ...... okay?" "Yes, of course! "Yes, of course!" "Okay, let''s go. ...... Hope, follow me." "Yes, Miss Elsa." So Elsa and Najas left the small conference room and headed for the former infirmary, now converted into a private sick bay. Of course, the guards had been notified. "This way, sir." The sickroom was on the first floor of the royal castle. "Yes?"Najas, what''s wrong with you today?Have you had any more... "Yes, Father. Elsa will take care of you. "Oh, that''s wonderful. I''d be very grateful. So Elsa has the Viscount lie down and examines him. "<>......Yes, I feel much better. Elsa sees that the lung function has recovered by more than half. Bronchitis had not recurred, indicating that the body''s immune system had returned to normal. "She is recovering well. It is time for rehabilitation. Elsa recommended that the bedridden and weakened body be moved little by little. "It is important to note that sudden and strenuous exercise is counterproductive. Don''t overdo it, okay?" "...... Yes." "So let''s start by standing up. ...... Hope, help her up." Yes, Miss Elsa. The viscount, supported by Hope, first raised himself up, then slowly turned his body around and lowered his legs off the bed. Najas put a pair of hospital room sandals on his feet. "Come on, try to stand up, please." "Uh-huh." It took some time, as he had been bedridden for so long that his balance was not good, even with Hope''s support, but the viscount managed to stand up on the floor. "Let''s walk a little." "Yes." With Hope''s support, he walked about 20 steps, and when he came back, the viscount was a little out of breath. "That''s enough for today. Let''s walk a little longer tomorrow. "Yes, I understand. I''m sorry, Miss Elsa. And Najas, seeing the situation, seemed to have some idea of how he should go about his rehabilitation. 2195 - - 59-03 Meeting results Jin and his team were discussing the layout of the circuit for automobile racing. "Since the speeds are different, why don''t we double the oval track, pave the outer side for car racing and leave the inner side as dirt for off-road and horse racing? Jin suggested. "Oh, that might be a good idea. But the layout of the spectator seating might be a problem. "Yes, that''s true." This exchange of opinions continued. "I would like to hear more, but I have paperwork to do, so I''ll leave you to it. "Me too." The queen and the prime minister participated in the discussion for about an hour, and then returned to their work, not wanting to interfere with their duties. "......Well, in that case, shall we build a separate dirt course?" "Yes. ......" Jin and the others concluded that it was not a good idea to be greedy. "In that case, let''s proceed only with this paved course. Let''s keep the oval course undulating, and add some undulations to the course extending outward. "Oh, that would be just right topographically. There''s a very low rise here. ......" Jin and the others devoted themselves to discussing the on-road course. "So the main stand will be like this. I see...it will be a staircase so that every seat will be able to see the course. ...... hmmm..." "So the upper seats are a little farther up, but that gives you a better view of the track? "Yes, that''s right. And since there will be so many people, food, drinks, restrooms, and a souvenir stand will be necessary. Except for the restrooms, Jin said, the restrooms could be profitable. We could charge for the restrooms, but that would make people use the restrooms and make the venue filthy as a result, he said. "I see. ......" "If possible, I would like to have a roof over the bleachers to protect them from the sun and rain." Jin-dono seems to have a clear image of what he wants. Yes, I have thought about it. That''s very encouraging. The Minister of Magic seems to like this kind of thinking, "I think we''ll need an infirmary as a facility." "We will need an infirmary as a facility," he says, "A rest room and a store are to be located next to each other? I see, that will increase the number of users. And so on, How will you manage the admission fee for events? How will you manage it? These exchanges of opinions were very meaningful, and sometimes they helped me to fill in some points that Jin had not noticed. * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Elsa and Najas had returned from the infirmary to the small conference room. "Najas-san''s treatment was appropriate. Now you can start walking, running, going up and down the stairs, and so on in a reasonable manner. But do not be in a hurry. "Yes, Miss Elsa." "And for the hands, it''s good to have them practice writing. Anyway, it''s important that he recovers his whole body, which has been weakened by being bedridden. Yes, Miss Elsa. Then all that''s left is time. In half a month the viscount''s body will be back to normal. But don''t push him too hard as soon as he gets back. "I understand." After this series of warnings, Elsa''s attention turns to the measures to be taken at the mine. "...... how about the mines in the territory?" "Yes. Since the end of last year, we have received support from Avalon, and treatment for dust lungs has begun. I''m glad to hear that. "It''s not a full recovery, so it will take three to six months, but we are grateful that we can treat several people at the same time. ...... "Well, I hope so." <, but she didn''t know how they were being used in the field, so she was relieved to hear about it. "Oh, yes. Do you know how masks and helmets are worn in the mines?" "Yes, Miss Elsa. The other day a notice was issued requiring the wearing of helmets, dust masks, and safety glasses. Until then, many people had dug into the mines without wearing them because they thought it would be too much trouble. "I guess it would be okay for a short period of time, though." Here, Erza came up with the idea of making a magic tool for <> or <>. (I''ll talk to my brother Jin about it later.) From this conversation, Erza sensed that countermeasures were beginning to be taken. (If is working, I feel relieved first of all.) Erza also felt relieved. * * * * * * That night, Jin and Elsa stayed at the Royal Castle of Franz. They stayed in the same room where they had stayed before. After taking a bath and having dinner, they were relaxing in their room and reporting each other''s achievements. "I see, Viscount Kern has made a good recovery. "Yes. I''ve examined him for a while now, and thanks to the "Feligenesen" and Persica juice, all his other ailments have disappeared. With moderation, I think I can stay in office for 10 years or more." "That''s good news." It means that the question of a successor to the Khan family can be temporarily put on hold. In the meantime, it would be best if the Viscount himself could find a solution to the problem ......, Jin thinks. "At any rate, it''s good that we got a grace period." "Hmm." Next comes Jin''s report. "The layout of the course for the car race has been decided and the construction schedule has been adjusted. That''s good. "So we''ve talked about setting up an infirmary at the racetrack, but we can''t have so many healers so quickly, so we''re thinking of using the fifth row for the first time. "Well, that may not be an option." When we have more healers and healers we can hire them," Elsa said. "Speaking of which, I was wondering if you could help me with something." Elsa then asked Jin about the idea of making a or tool for the mines. "I think there have been such magic tools in the past, haven''t there?" "What?Is that so? "Oh. ......Reiko, check with the old man. Jin asks the old man to search for it through Reiko. He gets a reply in a second. "Father, the old man says that such magic tools existed in the past. "Yes. "But there was a time when golems were used to do the mining, so those magic tools fell out of use, and then they fell out of use when the mining returned to being done by human power. "What a surprise!" The contents were so shocking that I had to use a somewhat funny expression, Jin. "Well then, we''ll have to start all over again. ...... is this from <> too?" Jin decided that it would be best if he would not be beholden to any particular country. 2196 - - 59-04 Underground construction The talk of preparing <> or <> magic tools for the mines was brought to <> through the old man. "Master Tomax, I have looked into it and found that there was a time before the rise of the <> when golems replaced the workers in the mines, especially in the deeper parts. That was about 250 years ago. Manon, the secretary-automata, reported. "Well, then it is no wonder that the current environment is so bad. Tomax agreed with this dark side of history. "So, this is also supported by the deus ex machina, is it?" "Yes. Or, to be more precise, Jin-dono too. "Yes. If those two are cooperating with us, then we''re a force of a thousand. Since Manon''s arrival, Tomax Bartmann''s workload had been reduced to less than one-third of what it had been before, and he was not only able to get more sleep, but his health had also improved, allowing him to take on new ventures without problems. His stomachache, a chronic illness, had also subsided. Simone, the same type as Manon, had joined him and he was now fully capable of fulfilling his duties as Chief Superintendent. "Tomorrow we will receive 10 units of the . They are prototypes, so please try them first and point out anything you notice. "I see, that makes sense. Then, I will lend one unit to each of the autonomous regions in the Kingdom of Klein, Franz, Egelea, Elias, Selroa, Shoro, and the former Leonard''s Kingdom for testing. The remaining three are to be used as spares, is that correct?" "That would be correct." In fact, this magical device named created by Jin did not cause any particular problems. The reason is that the old man had the data of the past use, so he used it as a reference. Therefore, the production went very smoothly. If any improvement is to be suggested, it would be in terms of the purification capability ....... It will take a few more days to get the test results. * * * * Jin and Erza had returned to Horai Island after the necessary meeting. The date is January 10, 3901. "I''ve already left the construction work over there to the contractors, so now it''s time to go to the Shoro Kingdom. "You''re busy, aren''t you?" "Yes, I am. But you don''t have to be bored. ...... I''ll come with you this time. I am also eager to introduce Elsa as Elsa as soon as possible. In the Kingdom of Klein, she was called Erna, so he wanted to correct that information as soon as possible so that it would be passed on to her. "Well, the first day will end with a meeting. Construction will start on the third day or so, right?" He is thinking of using the for leveling the ground. "Shall we use <> and say that we flew there for two days?" and to the public, then? >> "Yes, ......, but <> would be a bad idea, not <>?" Jin thought that it was about time to show the great progress of the technology to stimulate the engineers, but he also thought that it would be a problem to step up all at once when <> were still in the process of development. "Well, let''s leave the <> out of it, and let''s make a large-sized <> that can carry it. "That might be a good idea." Erza agrees, as there will be many opportunities to transport heavy items and large quantities of goods in the future. "<> weighs about 8 tons. So it should be able to carry about 10 tons." Jin is not familiar with military affairs, but the Self Defense Force''s CH-47 helicopter with two rotors is said to have a payload of about 8 tons. It is said to have a payload of about 8 tons. Therefore, it is not aerodynamically impossible. However, it was expected to be quite large. "Like the <>, the helicopter has four circular wings for flotation. Let''s place them at the apex of a square." < The old man supports him and the size of the wings is decided. "That''s pretty big. ......<> will also be installed to reduce the risk of a crash." In this way, the main specifications were also decided. "Let''s use 64 light silver to make it light and strong." < was to be made of magi type reinforced materials so that it could support a weight of 8 tons. The location of the construction site was considered to be the airfield behind the research institute. Since there is no hangar that can hold an aircraft of this size, we decided to build one at the same time. In short, it is a dock and hangar. However, Jin thinks it over here. "But I don''t want to clear too much land around the institute. ......" < or a . At that time, Erza, who heard Jin''s soliloquy, said something interesting. "Then why don''t you build it underground? "What?" "There have been a lot of people who have underground bases, so I was thinking that Jin brother should do the same." It seems that he was not obsessed with the idea of an underground base, but was thinking about it logically. "I guess so." There are no aircrafts that need a long runway on Bongrae Island now. The <>, <>, and <>, which have existed since the early days, are also equipped with a >, so they are all vertical takeoff and landing planes ( VTOL). "Then, if we have a hatch of about 50 meters square, can we make it ......?" Jin himself is very enthusiastic about this idea, having grown up in a generation that has longed for the in tokusatsu and anime. As expected, he can''t possibly finish the whole thing in a day. "Hmmm, what should we do?" There are three choices. 1. extend the trip to the Shoro Kingdom. Extend the trip to the Shoro Kingdom (for about 3 days). 2. 2. have Lao-kun proceed with the construction work while Jin and the others are in Shoro. (Because we are not going to use Daedalus right away.) 3. "For the time being, we will have a go to the Shoro Kingdom (most of the work will be done by the old man). "Well, I guess I''ll go with 1." I have not yet informed him of the date of my trip to the Shoro Kingdom, nor have I decided on it yet. I was thinking of the 11th, but that only makes sense because there are three 1''s in a row. We decided to go to Shoro on January 15, and now let''s concentrate on the construction work here. Jin''s decision was made. < We will start with the underground area. The ground around the institute is hard and strong, making it suitable for an underground base. A space 2 kilometers long, 2 kilometers wide, and 1 kilometer deep is to be built underground, and the walls are to be reinforced with < and then further reinforced with steel. The surface was left intact, and the underground was hollowed out. This hole was dug with engineering magic and 10 giant golems <>, and was completed in half a day. The soil was removed using a , so the work was quick. The reason for making it this large is so that it can hold <> and other spaceships. "Okay, let''s put the lid on." The above-ground part of the underground base, rather than the hole ......, will be left with the original airfield and returned to its original vegetation. However, most of the work has been done by hollowing out the basement, so we have only a small amount of work to do. <, there is no need for an access hatch. Nevertheless, a hatch has been made for Jin''s hobby and for emergency access to the building. The large hatch is 100 meters square and is for large aircraft such as the <>. The smaller hatches are for emergency use, and there are 10 human-sized hatches. In the basement, there will be warp gates to the surface at important places. And... "This looks like something interesting," said Reinhard, "I can''t wait to see it. Reinhardt came in, saying. "Jin, let me help you!" "Yes, please." So Reinhardt joined in the construction of the underground base. 2197 - - 59-05 Launch In the end, not only Reinhardt but also all of who were in Horai Island came and helped us in some way. Bertsche, Vivienne, and Milowina gave instructions on the interior design, while Stearina and Saki worked on the detailed layout of the house. Everyone enjoys lending a hand. "I remember when I was a little girl, we used to dig holes in the cliffs for our ," says Rai and Fritz. "Brother Rai and Brother Fritz would get all muddy, and they''d get so mad at me." "Oh, yes, I remember that too." In Reinhardt''s case, it was more of a hideout than a secret base. "I wanted a secret home of my own, didn''t I? It''s Stearina who is working on a project, saying, "I know, I know. "I know, I know. I remember when I made my own secret room in the closet and got scolded for it. Saki is also checking the measurements of the floor plan, reminiscing about her childhood memories. "I don''t know anything about making things, but I can give you some advice on the overall layout and the smoothness of internal movement in such a facility, Beena." "Yes. I am, on the contrary, very good at finding local defects. Please help me, Mr. Lewis. Bina and Luis look around the entire ship and check the possible defects. "Well, this dock looks like it could be used to build a large ship. "Well, we could use a transporter to send it out, and it could even float on the sea." Marcia and Rodrigo looked at the finished dock and were impressed. "I think we should build a bulkhead inside the dock, honey. In that case, I think it would be better in terms of strength to have <> in the center and smaller compartments around it." Hannah also gives advice to Jin. "Brother Jin, shouldn''t there also be a passageway to carry materials?" Erza suggested building a direct passage from the underground warehouse. She also said, "If the old man is going to manage this place, he should be able to monitor it without having to use a peep show telescope." "But you can get quite a bit of material from the ore you dig up underground. This is called rhomanganese ore. "I don''t know about these structures, but I think that even if they are not for living, they should have a living space or else it will be a tasteless facility." Guth, Toa, and Meane also offered their own advice. Thanks to their advice and help, the underground base was completed in one day. * * * * * * * * * Cheers to the completion of the underground base! Cheers! Cheers! That evening, a party was held on Horai Island to celebrate the completion of the underground base. "But you built it in one day..." "Kuhu, you''re Jin, aren''t you?" "No, it''s because of everyone''s help, especially with the internal layout. Jin had the outline of the base in mind, but was planning to work on the details later. But now, everything from the floor plan to the interior design is done. Moreover, the house is so complete that there is nothing left to do. "But Jin, isn''t this a base to begin with?" Bina pointed out. "Well, yeah. It''s a hangar. It''s got a dock attached to it, though." Underground hangar, underground dock. Jin wondered if there was another way to say it. "Is there a better way to call it?" He asks his friends. "Well, since we call it <> or <>, why don''t we call it <> or <>? Reinhardt was the first to answer. "Then, <> would be good. In fact, we''ll be doing the assembly and maintenance, so it''s easier to say." Marcia was the first to express her opinion. "Yes, I think that''s a good idea." Everyone in the room seemed to think, though they did not say it out loud, that a twisted name would be rather strange since it was Jin''s facility. "So, are we going to the Shoro Kingdom tomorrow?" Erza asked with a glass of juice in her hand. "No, tomorrow we will build a blow floater that can carry the Daedalus. "Oh, that''s right." This came first. "We''ll be in Shawlo on the 15th, so we''ll have some extra time to relax." "That''s true." "...... Jin, are you going to display the you bought at the auction last time in the you are planning to build in the Shoro Kingdom? Bina says. She is referring to the wreckage of the <><><><>....... It was definitely something that Beena had created under the brand. "Yeah. It''s nice, isn''t it?" "Uh...... something, I''m embarrassed." "No, it''s not. It''s a monumental piece of magic. A monument to what? Reiko quickly interrupts. "It''s a magical tool that your father, the second generation Magecraft Meister, was involved in some way with." But Hitoshi said, "No, that may be so, but that''s not it. Jin half denies it. "From what I''ve seen, the period when those magic tools were created coincides with the period when the level of magical engineering ...... in the Kingdom of Egelea, or rather the level of magical technology in the Lesser Kingdom, was improving." When Jin said this, Reinhardt looked a little taken aback, "Jin,......, do you understand that you are the cause of this ?" "What ......?" "Huh, I don''t think he understood the look on your face." Saki laughs. "Brother Jin, do you know that the period of revolution in magical technology in this world was the time of the Magecraft Meister? "What ......?" Jin has low self-esteem. Goose laughed. "Jin, it''s because of you that we are in a period of change." Vivian added with a laugh. "Well, in short, it''s the period when the <> was around, and it''s positioned as a magical tool of the early days." Reinhardt summarized, and Jin finally looked as if he understood what was meant. "So that''s what you mean." "Yes, that''s what I thought. That magic tool would not have existed without Jin. Bina also claimed that it was because of Jin. "Well, it''s still a long way off, but when the memorial hall is built, we should help with the selection of exhibits and the writing of explanations. "I agree." "Yes!" This was the moment when the Jin family reached a consensus. 2198 - - 59-06 New paint The next day, on the 11th, Jin immediately started to build a super-sized blow floater. "Well, Elsa is right, it''s easy to bring in the materials." It was very easy to use the direct passage from the underground warehouse. "I like the idea of a large dock." Until now, they had to use engineering magic to build a trestle or have <> support it. It was easier than ever before to be able to build a dock while supporting it with a special stand. "Like this, like this, like this ....... ...... Reiko, get the materials over there." "Yes, Father." Smith, I need you to adjust the other side. Yes, sir. The work is so much smoother than ever before that Jin is really getting into the swing of things. "That''s amazing. "I''ll never get tired of looking at it." "......, how about inviting Zion and the others to join us?" "Oh, that''s a good idea." Marcia, Bina, Erza and others who were watching the show came up with such an idea. It was immediately implemented. "I''m here, but ...... what is this place?" "Jin-san, you''re doing something crazy again. ...... What is this place? Theon, Rhodos and Ludmilla came and were surprised. "Ah,...... yes, of course." Bina shrugged her shoulders as she greeted them. "This is actually ...... a good idea." Erza explained to Zion and the other three. "What? "A blow floater that can carry 10 tons? "I can''t imagine. ......" Each of the three expressed his or her own opinion. "It seems that in the world where my brother Jin lived, there were aircraft that could carry that much." "By the power of the wind?That''s amazing!" "Nope. That''s why Brother Jin says we can do it here too. "Of course, he''s Jin, isn''t he?" "Jin-sama, that''s great. ......" While such conversations are going on at the side, Jin is assembling more and more. It is truly a spectacle and wonder to watch a huge ingot transform into a huge dish with a diameter of 15 meters in a few seconds. This is done one after another. Four circular wings, each 15 meters in diameter, are placed at the apex of a square. All structural materials are made of 64 light silver. It is a light and sturdy material. "Now the basic structure is OK. Next is the blow engine. Jin builds 20 powerful blow engines. Four blow engines are used for each circular wing. The remaining four engines are for emergency use. "We need to build one for propulsion." Eight < of the same type are used, including for directional change. Four for propulsion and four for directional change. "The control is basically a golem brain." Jin thought that since it was such a huge machine, it would be necessary to have a pilot on board to help control it. Rather than having a pilot on board, he wanted to direct it where to go and let it take care of the rest. "Basically, it will never carry a human being," he said. <, or vehicles like the . "Since we have a little more power, we should try a cargo type instead of a suspended type." The suspended type would not be able to maneuver too rapidly, and it would be dangerous if the mooring wires were to break. It also has the advantage of being able to carry supplies other than the golem. Therefore, we made a light and strong cargo room with 64 light silver. This allows this <> to be used for purposes other than <> transport. "Now all we need is a color, but let''s not go too fancy." Light silver can be colored in various ways by adjusting the thickness of the oxide film on its surface. Jin thinks about making it dark green, and rejects the idea, thinking that it looks like a military aircraft. "Hmmm, what should I do? Jin was too tired to think about it and decided to ask Hannah, who was just nearby. "Hannah, what color would look good on this plane? Hannah thought for a moment, "Well, how about white? She replies. "White or ......." There is no such thing as metallic white. White means that it reflects all the colors of the visible spectrum, which in the case of metals is silver. Of course, Hanna could not fail to understand this, "Why don''t you paint it? She said, "Paint it. "Paint?" "Yes. And then accent it with red and blue." Accent it with ...... lines? Yes. Indeed, Jin has mostly used light silver for the exterior and has not painted much. "I don''t remember any paints. ......" Then came Saki. "Kuhu, I have some." Saki said she had developed a special paint using . "When did you ......" "Well, we had the idea about 370 years ago. It was only recently perfected." < "Kuhuh, that''s what I was wondering. In the first place, it is not yet in the form of threads in the body of a ground spider, right?We studied how it could be stabilized in the form of threads. "Oh, I see." In the body of a ground spider, it is in liquid form, and when it comes out of the mouth, it becomes a stable thread. Saki has been studying the factors that stabilize them. "It''s magic, after all. In the first place, the is a demon that lives by ingesting . Their bodies are made of magical atoms, and the threads they secrete are also made of magical atoms. Saki said that the threads spit out from its mouth react with the free magic element (ether) in space and stabilize ....... Therefore, it seems that the threads produced by underground spiders (grand spiders) in places like Horai Island, which should be called a power spot of <>, have better characteristics than those produced in other places. "Then, why don''t you ask them to emit <> into the space where there is no <>?" "Oh, you''ll get a source of non-stiffening threads." "That''s what I meant. It wasn''t easy, but I managed to get a hold of a ground spider and extracted the source of the spider silk. Saki said that he named the source of the spider silk as .GrandSpiderGST stands for Grand Spider Thread. "If you don''t constantly irradiate <>, it turns into <>." Incidentally, the reaction between free magic element (ether) and <> is irreversible, hence <> is stable. Anyway, <> mixed with magic dye before it becomes thread becomes paint. "If you apply it in the space where <> is activated and expose it to thick <>, it reacts and hardens." The reason why it is an <> and not an <> is that the golem cannot move within the range of the <>''s effect. "With <>, the action of stopping the hardening is incomplete, though, and it only takes about 10 hours to work." < that removes and an that keeps it under control," Saki said. "No, it''s good enough." Jin decided to try this new paint. 2199 - - 59-07 Tests and new ideas The new paint Saki developed was quite well received. "Oh, it''s a beautiful color. The default color is transparent, the same as that of . Then, mix a magic dye into it, and the desired color is produced (strictly speaking, in the case of white, it is a pigment). At this time, if you give the right instructions with magic power, you can even paint the different colors in a single step. Moreover, it is possible to redo the process as many times as necessary until it hardens completely. If it hardens, it can be peeled off using engineering magic. Reiko, make that red line a little thinner. "Yes, father." The created by Jin is adjusted to Jin''s magic pattern, so Jin and his golem or automata can work together with him. "Brother Jin, the blue line over here should be a little thicker to make it look better." "Yes." So Elsa stays to give her advice. "I think we should put the Nido family crest here, don''t you? "Oh, yes." She can respond immediately to this kind of thing. "Okay, something like this." "Yes, I think it''s good." "Yeah, it''s not bad." "I think it''s good!" The family members agreed, so the <> was cut. It will react with the thick free magical element (ether) in the Horai Island area and harden it. "Kuhu, even if it hardens, it''s still . It has elasticity and won''t peel off easily. Saki said proudly. "Oh, this stuff is great!" In front of Jin and the others, a new blow floater is placed in front of them. "So, Jin, what''s the name of this plane?" "Ah." Jin was disappointed that he had cut the before he could carve the name on it. "Yes, because the previous model was <>. ......" No vultures, no vultures, no vultures, Jin thinks. But a bird bigger than a condor would have to be a flightless bird, such as an ostrich or a cuckoo. "When I say big, I''m thinking of eagles." Jin thinks of a bald eagle or a white-tailed sea eagle. "Then let''s go with an eagle." "...... is okay." Elsa gave him a hard passing grade. Such an exchange was also a heartwarming moment for Jin. The next day, he went to the Eagle to see the "Eagle". The next day, it was time for the flight test of Eagle 1. From the underground dock, the aircraft is transferred to the airfield on the ground using a transfer magic circle. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! "Wow, that''s a lot of wind. ......" Yes, if you''re a helicopter, it''s called "downwash". < "Don''t get blown away when you''re around ......" But the <> is equipped for this kind of situation. < quickly learns the necessity of such an operation, and at low altitudes, the <> is used in combination to suppress the winds blowing down to the ground. "Oh, this is good." Jin is pleased with such a response. "That''s great, Jin-san." Rhodes was impressed. "It''s Jin, isn''t it?" "Yes, Jin-san is really great. Zion is talking with Marikka, who is also impressed. "Ah,......, you''re the best, Jin-sama,......." Ludmilla was still not used to the out-of-the-ordinary nature of Hourai Island. The results of the test on this day were satisfactory enough for Jin. The maximum loading weight was about 12 tons. The maximum speed in this condition is 200 km/h. These figures are without <>. With the force generator, it would be able to reach four to five times this speed. Both in terms of payload and top speed. "Are you satisfied with this as well, Jin?" Reinhardt asked Jin, "Well, I''m satisfied with the performance, but there is one more thing to be improved. "Well, what is it?" "The control core." What''s that? A special golem. Jin thought that the Golem, which is currently equipped with only a , would be more versatile if it were a dedicated Golem. Or, to put it more bluntly, because it''s <. "<> magically so that it can be controlled without using its hands or legs when it is piloted, and separate it so that it can act independently when it is stopped, such as when it is landing or moored." "Yeah, that sounds great!" Reinhardt agreed. "We can also separate and repair it if something goes wrong. So Jin immediately decided to make the body of the golem. The basic design was to be the same as that of the Horaijima Golem. It will be made of 64 light silver, light and strong, and will be able to use the knowledge and engineering magic necessary for repair. The connection with < is made by wearing a helmet-like control device called a headset on the head. Since it was nighttime at this point, Jin decided to test the operation of the golem and the test flight with the connection on the next day. * * * * * * * * * * "Well, today was a fulfilling day. Jin muttered with satisfaction while soaking in the hot spring on Horai Island. "It''s been a while since I saw Jin''s true feelings. Reinhardt also said as they soaked in the hot spring together. "Yeah, Jin''s creativity is amazing. Goose also sounded impressed. "But I''m glad you guys could help me out." Jin thanked his friends for their cooperation. 2200 - - 59-08 Exclusive Golem, Test January 13th, lightly overcast. Since Zion and the others also stayed at Horai Island, the modern gathered to watch over <> and its exclusive golem for its activation test. "Speaking of which, Jin, what is the golem''s name?" Reinhardt wonders if it would be better to give it a similar but different name, like Lao Tzu and Lao Kun. "Well, ......Erza, anything?" "How about ......<>?" It''s an < in the style of the Shoro Empire. "Yes, let''s go with that. ......<>!" "Yes, master." Your name is Ardler 1. "Yes, my name is . Pleased to meet you. Check it out. How does it feel? Ardler1 performs a self-check and reports that everything is fine. The data for basic operation had already been installed, so there should be no problem in working, but in the case of Ardler 1, it was originally a for piloting, so he was very careful. "Okay, that''s good. ......Well, ......Reiko, just play with it for a little bit. Start with 5 percent output and work your way up." "Okay." So, a mock battle to see the fighting power of <> is started. They were to face off against each other without hands. Normally, the smaller Reiko would be at a disadvantage. ....... "Oh!I haven''t seen Reiko''s brave figure in a long time!" "Ardler1 is also quite good." At about 5 percent of Reiko''s current output, it''s a level of movement that humans can''t reach, so it''s quite powerful to look at. And Ardler 1 is able to keep up with her without any problem. Reiko sees this and increases the output. "Oh, oh! "Oh, I don''t know what''s going on. ......" Ludmilla says to Rhodes, "No, neither do I. ...... Rhodes is also staring at her. By the way, Reiko''s output is at about 15%. She could no longer catch the movement with her eyes. "Okay, that''s enough." Jin also stopped Reiko and Ardler 1. "Reiko, how high did you increase the final output?" Yes, father. 21 percent. Twenty-one percent. - Well, that''s good. Jin was satisfied that if he could beat Reiko''s 21% output now, he would be no match for the average golem. Then he checked the wear and tear on Ardor 1. "Yes, less than 0.01% deformation, no scratches. That''s good enough." The 0.01% deformation was fixed with engineering magic, and now it was time to test the connection. < has been on the airfield since yesterday, Ardler 1 remains in the cockpit. After putting on the helmet-shaped headset, <> and <> are <>. The seatbelt secures the body, but the belt is automatically set by the will of . Connection complete. All is well. Ardler 1 reports his findings to Jin and the others via an external speaker. "All right, let''s go." "Roger that. Since the launch and landing sequence had been completed yesterday, activated the and had it take off. "Yeah, you''re doing fine." The downwash was much milder than yesterday. But even though it was calm, it was enough to make a light-weight person stagger. After all, the < is a huge <> measuring 50 meters in length and width. The cargo hold is suspended below, and the height is 25 meters. Including the landing legs, the height is 30 meters. After a slow takeoff, retracts its telescopic landing gear. The ascent speed is slow at first, and then gradually increases. At an altitude of about 500 meters, the aircraft stops climbing, and then transitions to level flight. From there, the test flight is repeated as in the test flight conducted yesterday. There is no abnormality in the maneuverability of the aircraft. No problem with the delayed response of the aircraft. After a series of test flights, it is confirmed that there are no problems with the control system of the . "Hmmm, from now on, I wonder if it would be better to use the aircraft control method together." When Golem pilots the aircraft, he uses the <. When Jin flies, he flies in the normal cockpit, and so on. However, it is 99.99% unlikely that Jin or any of the family members will pilot the aircraft themselves. "Aircraft are just a matter of time, just in case. ......" Ships and cars can be maneuvered with human reaction time because their speed is below the speed of sound, but aircraft can go faster than the speed of sound, in which case the danger is greater with human vision and reaction time. "It wouldn''t be a bad thing to have two control systems, though." It''s good to have more reliability, Jin thought to himself. * * * * "Well, now we are ready to go to Shoro. While eating a sandwich for lunch in the institute''s cafeteria, Jin told the assembled members of the group. "We''re going on the 15th, right?" Reinhardt asked to confirm. "Yeah, that''s the day after tomorrow. That means the day after tomorrow. Because of the time difference, we will leave here in the morning. "So you''ll be here for the whole day tomorrow?" That''s the way it''s going to be. Jin had expected that there would be many things to do in Shoro. "Well then, let''s have a good time together today and tomorrow. It would be nice to go to Hale for the first time in a long time. "Yeah, that sounds good. "Yes!" "Yes!" "Yes!" "No objections!" We all unanimously agreed to go to Hale the next day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * January 14. The , including Zion, Rhodos, and Ludmilla, boarded the Jin flagship and headed for Hale. Of course, they were all traveling to Hale via the exclusive . Passing through the Warp Gate Bridge, which connects about 300 million kilometers, they arrive at Hale in a short time. slowly lands at the and the group steps onto the land of Hale. The is a flat, leveled area of land about two kilometers square, located on a plateau about 500 meters above sea level, close to the east coast. It had been about 10 months since our last visit, and the land had been nicely paved. We visited and his golem, a development golem. It was a beautiful day in Hale. 2201 - - 59-09 Visit to Hale "We have been waiting for you, master, everyone." As Jin and the others disembark from the , the who had gathered around greeted them. The <<> is a golem of the same type as those of Lando and Smith, and its exterior is made of 64 light silver. Its color is moss green, suggesting that it is a forestry type. "Ah, <>," Reinhardt was the first to remember. Reinhardt was the first to remember. "Jin sent them out to develop Hale about 340 years ago, didn''t he?" "Oh, I remember something like that." "Yes, I remember that." The other members also remembered. Yes, everyone except for Jin now and Rhodes and Ludmilla, who live in the present day, knows what happened 300 to 400 years ago. And of course, Zion, who has been alive since then. "And you''ve made some progress, haven''t you? "Yes. For the time being, the spaceport has been cleared and hardened. It is possible for larger spacecraft to arrive and depart. The representative, <, answered. "I see. Thank you." Jin thanked < and the others, "Is <> at home? He asked. "Yes. He sometimes goes out in his blower floater <>, but today he is at home. "I see." Would you like me to show you around? No, thank you. < I''ll be there in the . After this exchange of words, Jin and the others took the airship , which is located here, to the residence of the . There was also a < for Hale, but that one could not accommodate all seven passengers, so they decided to use the this time. Incidentally, the is stored in a hangar at the end of the spaceport. Hope, the pilot, is the one who has been assigned to accompany the ship for this purpose. "Hope, I want everyone to see the surface, so maintain an altitude of about 200 meters above the surface. "Yes, sir. I want you to maintain a speed of about 300 kilometers per hour, is that correct? "Yes, that''s fine." And they all boarded the Conlon 3 and enjoyed the trip through Hale. "Well, there''s quite a bit of greenery here. "By the way, have Reinhardt and his friends been to Hale before? "Yes, about 340 years ago." Yeah, about 340 years ago. - That''s about right. But since it was the first time for them to visit Hale as it is now, they were pleased to see the greening up of the land. "Ah, there is the house of the ." We could see a dome made of corundum and a small window drilled into the rock wall in the distance. And then landed on level ground. "Ah!There''s Jin-san!There are so many passengers!" < and comes outside. "No matter how many times I see you, you look just like the old Archelle. ......" Zion says with narrowed eyes. Rouge is a homunculus based on Archel. Archelle is the sister of Theon''s husband, Belialus, so she is also his sister-in-law. The voice is recognized and 700672 comes out from inside the house. "Oh, Marikka! She then noticed Marikka and bowed deeply. "I''ve brought some friends with me today, Master Jin." "I see. They look like people I have seen in the past. Welcome." <. * * * * * * "Oh, it''s warm here." Jin and the others were now being guided to the . It is a hemispherical dome made of transparent corundum, 10 meters in diameter and 5 meters high. The entrance and exit were underground, and they had come from <> by walking through the underground passage. Although the season of Hale is aligned with that of Arus, this is a highland on the equator, and the climate is warm all year round. The temperature outside was about 22 degrees Celsius, but inside it was regulated to about 25 degrees Celsius. Humidity was about 60 percent. There were sofas and tables for relaxing. Surprisingly, there was a six-tatami mat area where one could take off one''s shoes and lie down. "This is the first time we''ve had this many guests since we built this place. is in a good mood. Rouge and Neige are making a pot of tea. Here you go. "Here you go." "Thank you." Jin is impressed by how much more human these two have become. The environment must have changed them. The tea was sencha. "Are these tea leaves from Onogoro Island?" "Oh, yes. You know it well, don''t you? At Jin''s words, Neige looked surprised. "If they are not from Horai Island, I thought they must be from Onogoro Island." Tea trees do not grow in cold climates, so they are rarely grown in the Nordic Federation. There are some greenhouses, but they are mainly for food production rather than for pleasure. "I see, so it''s by deduction. Neige is impressed. Her expression is a far cry from the expressionless one she once wore in the white room. "Marikka-sama, can we take it easy today?" "Oh, no, I''m taking a day trip today. ......" I''m sorry to hear that. I will come back next time. Marikka was talking to 700672. "Master Jin, isn''t Rubina here today?" "Yes, she is. But you see, she is a distant ancestor of Rubina. "What, me? Beena is surprised when Jin suddenly asks her to talk about her ancestors. "What?Are you Rubina''s ancestor, sister? "Come to think of it, we might look alike. ......" Rouge and Neige hurriedly went to Beena''s place. "What, what?" "Yes, you and Rubina have the same hair." "Yes, she has the same eye color as Rubina." "Yeah, ha-ha-ha. ......" Beena was so amused by his friendliness. 2202 - - 59-10 Collaboration Neige and Rouge, who were reluctant to leave, were defeated, and the Jin family, with the exception of Jin and Elsa, decided to stay at the ''s house for a little longer. In addition to Bina, "Hannah, honey, let''s play! and "Hannah! Licia, play with me!" and "Licia, play with me! and Licia also started to play with them. And again, "Auntie Meene, teach me how to sew!" and Meene taught her how to sew. Auntie Martha, teach me how to cook! Martha was to teach Martha how to cook. They also took to Vivienne, Stearina, and Milowina. Apparently, they admired not only friends of the same s*x, but also those who made them feel like <>. Reinhard, Goose, Rodrigo, Tor, Luis and others took this opportunity to talk to the . "I see, is that what you mean here?" "I didn''t know such a thing happened a long time ago. "Haha, not only the shape but also the interior must be properly configured. ......" also seems to enjoy such explanations. Of course, Maricka stays behind, along with Zion, Rhodos, Ludmilla and the others. "I''d like to relax a little." "Please don''t be too hard on yourself, Mr. Theon. "Yes, Grandmother." Let me rub your shoulders. Rhodes and Ludmilla took this opportunity to show filial piety to their great-grandmother. The two were Rhodes and Ludmilla, who were taking this opportunity to honor their great-grandmother. With their hair pulled back, Jin, Erza, Reiko, and Hope returned to Horai Island. It was 5:00 p.m. on January 14. We took a bath and had dinner alone for the first time in a while. Tonight was chestnut rice. The chestnuts from Horai Island are peeled, mixed with eight parts glutinous rice and two parts Uruchi rice, and steamed in a seiro (earthenware pot). This is not from Jin''s memory, but from the diary of Shuki Tsetsi. Perid and the others had worked out the recipe to Jin''s liking through trial and error. Since the main dish is okowa, it is served with shimeji mushroom soup and oshinko (Japanese pickles) as a side dish. In order to enjoy the chestnut rice, Jin preferred to have fewer side dishes. And Erza has also become accustomed to such a preference of Jin''s. In short, they are a similar couple. In short, they are a similar couple. "It''s been a while. Hmm... Reiko and Hope are waiting outside the room, so they are alone. Since there had been at least one member of the on Horaijima recently, it had been a long time since they had been alone together like this. "Oh, but we were alone together in Franz''s Kingdom. "Yes, that''s true." But it has been a long time since we were alone together in the most relaxing place in the house. "What time do we leave tomorrow?" "When do we leave tomorrow?" "In the Shoro Kingdom, you know. There is a time difference of 5 hours and 20 minutes. If we arrive there at 10:00 a.m., why don''t we leave here at 3:00 p.m.? The plane is a , but we can get a transporter to take us over the Shoro Empire, so we won''t be bored on the way there. "We have quite a bit of time ......." "I guess so." "Well then, ......" Elsa decided to propose something that came to mind to Jin. "How about making a ...... model?" "A model?" The model was to be built on the shore of Lake Tosmo, <>. In Jin''s mind, it is almost complete. "It''s nice to build something like that for the first time in a long time. Jin''s eyes light up, "We''ll make it tomorrow, right? Erza nudges him. "Okay. Let''s take it easy tonight. Jin decided to follow Elsa''s request and relax for the rest of the day, as he knew he would be busy again. "Considering the time difference, should we stay up a little later today and get up later tomorrow morning? "Hmm. I''ll go to bed around midnight and wake up around 8:00 a.m.? "About that time." Usually he goes to bed at 10:00 and wakes up at 6:00. When he is short on time or in workaholic mode, he is more irregular. So Jin and Elsa decided to design <> together. "I don''t want it to be too eccentric. "Yes, I understand. "On the first floor, we''ll have a hall, and then we''ll have an event hall and the first exhibition hall. ......" A cafeteria and a store. On the second floor, there will be a second exhibition hall and a library. There should be restrooms and a doctor''s office. "I don''t think we need a third floor. But the rooftop should be an observation deck. I''d rather have a basement. "Yes, I''d rather have a basement. I want to build a secret room and set up a warp gate. In this way, support from Horai Island will be directly available. It will also function as a base of operations. After discussing such matters and writing down what they had decided on,...... at midnight, they went to sleep, asking Reiko to wake them up at 8:00 a.m. She asked Reiko to wake them up at 8:00 a.m. Elsa is used to dealing with Jin, so she managed her schedule accordingly. The next day, the 15th, Jin woke up at around 7:40. "I guess I''ll have to go back to sleep. ......" He has no choice but to get up. "Nn...... Jin brother, are you awake?" Jin''s fidgeting woke up Erza as well. "Oh. I know it''s a little earlier than planned, but let''s get up already. "Yeah." After rinsing out her mouth and washing her face, she got dressed and went to the dining room, where the breakfast porridge was steaming. Dried plums, tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce and kelp), takuan (pickled radish), and salt. I ate my morning rice porridge with various garnishes. "Oh, it''s delicious! Then he sipped miso soup with fu and leeks. It too is delicious with dashi broth. Elsa also liked this meal and had two more bowls of porridge. We finished with a cup of freshly roasted hojicha tea. "I won''t be able to taste this again for a while. "Hmm." Jin is basically a picky eater, but the taste he is accustomed to is exceptional. * * * * * * After taking a short break, Jin started to make a model of the memorial hall as we had discussed last night. He poured clay on a board of about 60cm x 45cm to make undulations to reproduce the site. At this time, the old man asked me to project the exact topography of the site, so that the model would resemble the site as closely as possible. After that, buildings are placed, and artificial objects such as trees, streetlights, and rows of trees are arranged. Reiko brings the missing materials. "Hmm, this is fun." Jin and Elsa are engrossed in building the model and work together until the scheduled time. 2203 - - 59-11 Meeting in the Kingdom of Shoro Oh, I didn''t realize it was that time already. "I was so absorbed." When the old man told them that it was time to go, Jin and Erza cleaned up the messy room and asked Reiko to load the finished model ...... diorama onto the . "Yes, I''ll take care of it." I had already loaded the diorama with my personal belongings, and if anything was missing, the old man would send it to me by transporter, so I did not have to worry too much. "Okay, I guess that''s it." The messy workshop was now clean, and Jin and Erza washed their hands and freshened up. Because of the time difference of 5 hours and 20 minutes, the time is 2:20 p.m. in Horai Island and 9:00 a.m. in Leusert, Shoro. 9:00 a.m. in Loizart, Shoro. I lightly eat a sandwich that Soleil and Luna have prepared for me. We would probably have lunch in the Shoro Kingdom later on. The time difference is a nuisance, isn''t it? "Hmm..." I have no choice but to accept it. Jin, Erza, and Reiko boarded the . The pilot is again Hope. The old man uses the transporter to transport the <> to 5000 meters above the Shoro Empire. Here, there is no need to worry about anyone finding it. The <> slowly loses altitude. As it breaks through the clouds, the view of Lake Tosmo spreads out below us. This time, is heading to Loisart for a meeting first. Hurricane "Welcome, Mr. Jin! This time, we had called ahead of time to let them know that we were coming. So it seems that the people who were going to welcome us were ready and waiting for us. The following people were waiting for Jin in the emperor''s office. Emperor Ernst II of Shoro, Prime Minister Roderich Barberas von Heizer, Minister of Magic and Technology LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius, and Minister of Finance Reinemer Flummels von Gausen, among others, greeted him. "It''s been a while. Happy New Year! "Well, happy new year." It seems that in the Shoro Kingdom, they sometimes use as a New Year''s greeting. Jin thought that it was probably because he had used it four hundred years ago. "My wife has come with me to wish you a Happy New Year. My name is Elsa." Upon receiving Jin''s introduction, Elsa bowed gracefully at the curtesy. "My name is Elsa. My name is Elsa, and I look forward to making your acquaintance. "Well, Elsa?" Ernst II seemed to know Elsa Nidor, who had once been the companion of the second Magecraft Meister. "Yes, the third took the name of Jin Nido, so I also took the name of Elsa Nido. "I see, so you are paying homage to the second generation," said the Prime Minister. I see, so you are paying homage to the second generation," said the Prime Minister. As I recall, your original name was Erna? Yes. Thanks to you, I can say my name without much discomfort. Of course. After the conversation about the name, Jin and the others left the room. Jin decided to get right down to business, and Elsa said, "Let me ask you about dust lungs. Elsa asked for the person in charge and they had a talk in the small conference room next to the office. The meeting took place in a small conference room next to the office. Now, please take a look at this. ...... Reiko." "Yes, father." Jin decided to show the diorama of the that Reiko had brought to him in a different small meeting room from the one where Erza was. "Oh!" The protective cover is removed, revealing the contents. "This is amazing. Is this the shoreline of Lake Tosmo?I see, so the image is a faithful reduction of the actual site. That''s what I''d expect from the Magecraft Meister! "I can imagine what it will look like. This is good. "I feel like I''m a giant looking at it." The diorama seems to be well received. Jin then opened the removable exterior to explain the interior of the building. "Oh!" "Is the inside of the building ready?" "Well, the inside is still at the draft level. The building is U-shaped. The mouth of the building faces south, and is the entrance. Upon entering, you will find a large entrance hall. A bust of Adriana is to be placed in the entrance hall. The first exhibition room is at the front on the right side of the U-shaped overhang. This is the permanent exhibition room. The south wall is made of glass. The history of magical engineering is displayed here, with old magic tools. The other day at the Free Market of the Kingdom of Franz, we found some magic tools here. The second exhibition room is to the left of the U-shaped overhang. Special exhibitions and projects are held here. The dining room and the store are at the end of the entrance hall, and the restrooms are at the far right, or northeast side. In the basement are the warehouse and kitchen. Jin wanted to set up a in the store to sell popcorn, which would be a reproduction of the original. In this case, the vendor would be an automaton ...... who would look like Bina, and he would also be mischievous. "I tried to decide at least ......." The location of the library and reference room has not yet been decided. "We are thinking of two floors above ground and two floors below, with an observation deck on the roof overlooking Lake Tosmo. Jin explains the plan, "Well, that''s quite nice," said the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister said. "I''m looking forward to seeing the contents of the exhibition. said Mr. LeGray, Minister of Magical Technology. "As one would expect from a leading craftsman," said Ernst II. Ernst II. And so, a rough outline of the plan is confirmed. Since this was a confirmation of what had been discussed last year, the meeting ended without problems. After that, the detailed construction schedule was discussed. "The work will be done here, is that correct?" the Minister of Magical Technology confirmed to Jin. "Yes. But we would like to do the site preparation and foundation work ourselves. "Well, why is that?" "Well, actually, we have a super-sized golem, and it would be faster to use it. A super-sized Golem? Yes. It''s used for construction work and is 15 meters tall. What? 15 meters. ...... Everyone in the room was in a state of shock. 2204 - - 59-12 Eagle 1 Start The crowd was taken aback by the mention of for civil engineering work, and by Jin''s claim to be able to carry it. "Wow, we have a giant golem in our country that is 20 meters tall. ......" Ernst II said as if he was trying to squeeze something out of his mouth. Jin knew that too. It weighs 200 tons and is not agile because of its weight. It was more of an artifact to intimidate the enemy. When repaired, it went out of control and destroyed various things. In the end, it even tried to self-destruct and melt down, and was finally stopped by the words of the female emperor, who was descended from an emissary of the past. "There was also a large golem about six meters in length, Goliath, I believe..." "You are indeed well informed, Master Jin. As you can see, an improved version is still being made. The Minister of Magical Technology replied. "However, it lacks precision movement, so its use is limited. "I see." However, the Daidara that Jin has created specializes in such precision movement. Of course, it cannot match Reiko''s fingertips, but it is far superior to a similarly sized . Its fighting power is lower, however. Nevertheless, its power is commensurate with its size, and an ordinary golem would be a match for it. Then, I will ask you for a favor. "Yes, sir." Jin contacted the manaphone installed in the hurricane to send to us, ....... * * * * * * * * * On the other hand, Elsa. In the meantime, I had a meeting with Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Elsa Strogen-Domer von Kabastan and Minister of Health and Welfare Zemlip Pring von Barock. "How is the dust lung situation here?" The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications answered. He is an ordinary looking man of medium height and medium brown hair and brown eyes, but he is a very capable man. "In our country, the mining environment is not so bad because the influence of the was not so great. Protective masks are used. So there are only a few people who suffer from dust lungs. That''s good to hear. "However, there are a certain number of people who do not like to wear masks because they find it hard to breathe. Not wearing a mask does not suddenly lead to dust lungs, so it is difficult to be thorough. "I see. ......" After all, the rate of mask use cannot be 100 percent, Elsa thought. "However, there are reports that the introduction of air purifiers has reduced such hassles," she said. This time the Health and Welfare Minister answered. This was a stout man with red hair and gray eyes. "We are in the process of collecting data on the cost of masks or air purifiers. have higher initial costs but lower running costs. The opposite is true for dust masks. They have to be renewed frequently. Yes, it will take a little more time. What about the ...... healing mage?" "They are very useful. Many of the patients have already been discharged from the hospital. That''s good to hear. Elsa let out a small sigh of relief. "So, do you have any opinions about the air purifier? This is another important point. After all, it is important to listen to the opinions of those in the field. Yes, the portability is sufficient, and the air purification function is also sufficient. But," says the Health and Welfare Minister. "I thought it would be nice if the air conditioner could display the status of the air. "Oh, I see." It would be useful to be able to see at a glance the degree of cleanliness and whether it is possible to breathe without a mask, said Health Minister Zemlip Pring von Bullock. "I will pass this on as a request. "Oh, thank you. "Anything else you would like to share?" "One more thing." Now it was the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. "Will this air purifier work outside the mine?" "What do you mean?" Elsa was not sure what the question meant. "Oh, I didn''t use the right words. I mean, would it work in an open place like a quarry or an incineration plant? Certainly, quarries emit dust and incinerators emit soot and smoke. Both are harmful to the human body if inhaled. "They can be used. But the effect will be less than it should be." "Yes, of course." "I think masks are more cost-effective in open areas." "I''m sure that''s true." Erza reminded them to use these special magic tools in the way they are supposed to. * * * * On Horai Island, preparations were underway for the launch of <>. < The << said, "This time, we will take data on the departure from the <>," and we will proceed with the procedure. <>. How about the check of <>? >> "<> reports to the Old Man. < check completed, no abnormalities." <>, please prepare to launch Eagle 1>>. "<> Roger. ......<> ready for launch." <>, cargo compartment stowed away. "<> Roger that. Closing hatch. ...... lock complete." <. Transporter ready. We''ll be beamed to 6,000 meters above Horai Island in 10 seconds. Ready. Blow engine will be activated in 10 seconds. < <. The countdown begins. ......9......8......7......>> <> are away, there is no one to hear this exchange, but Laojun and > do not skip a beat and follow all the steps. <> The huge body of <> disappeared from the dock. At the same time, it appears 6,000 meters above Horai Island. It begins to fall at the same time, but <> responds instantly. The <> stops the fall, and the <> supports the aircraft. "<> to the old man. <> Launch sequence is clear. We are now on our way to Shoro." < By the way, the main reason why the phrases of the lines are not correct is that Jin''s knowledge of military matters is not very good. Then < flew off to the west. The old man checks the launch procedure. < The old man thought that the asphalt would probably be useful in obtaining asphalt for the construction of a circuit in the Kingdom of Franz. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "This is <>. This is with an interim report. We just passed over Lake Athol. Everything is fine." < Eagle 1 will be arriving at the Shoro Empire shortly. 2205 - - 59-13 Reaction At 10:00 a.m. on January 16, in Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Empire, the crew of the blow floaters of the Palace Guard could not hide their nervousness. They could not hide their nervousness. This is because a blow floater will be arriving soon. The landing site is an airfield in the Miyagi courtyard. The fact that permission to land on the grounds of the Miyagi Palace was suddenly granted was a sign of the confidence shown in Jin by the Shoro Imperialists. "Hey, can you believe it?" "Well, I don''t care how much you say you''re a Magecraft Meister. A 50 meter square blow floater? But think about it. You must have wondered at first if you could fly with such a thing, even the blow-floater you''re flying now. "Indeed. In that sense, to assume that it is impossible is to stop thinking. The knights on guard on the ground are having such a conversation. "Hey, hey, I heard that something extraordinary is coming today. "What is it? "Something extraordinary!" "Then you don''t understand!" The gossiping amongst the palace ladies was a group of "kyusyujo" (courtesans). Jin, Erza, Reiko, Hope, and the others were standing on the roof of the palace with Shoro Emperor Ernst II, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Magical Technology, and others, looking at the eastern sky. "Ah, here they come." Reiko, who had good eyesight, pointed to a spot in the sky. "Yes, they are coming closer. Hope nodded, but Jin could not see her. Ernst II, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Magic and Technology, and the others did the same. A minute after Reiko''s discovery, Jin and the others were finally able to spot as a black dot. Eagle 1 is coming closer and closer. "Oh! As it gets closer, its shape becomes clearer. "It''s big, isn''t it? And its size, too. In terms of mere size, the 100-meter-long airship < with on board is bigger, but that''s the difference between a and a . It is a wonder that a wind-powered float plane of that size exists. (Indeed, I wonder if those who saw a four-engine heavy bomber for the first time felt the same way.) (Indeed, I wonder if people who saw a four-engine heavy bomber for the first time would have felt the same way. While Jin was thinking about this, the Eagle 1 was approaching. "Oh, wow! "It''s amazing!" "I wonder how it gets its strength at that size. ......" The Emperor, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Magical Technology all expressed their amazement in their own words. Eagle 1 was getting closer and closer. "Amazing!" Even those on the ground could see its majesty. "So, it''s big, and the wind is strong! As the altitude has been lowered, the wind has begun to blow, not so much as a downwash, but quite a bit. Hot air balloons and blow floaters, which are small flying vehicles, are not supposed to approach within a radius of 200 meters, according to advance notice. The people of Leusert were also admiring the majesty. "What the heck, that ...... is a man-made thing?" "Oh, that''s amazing. I didn''t know human technology could go this far. ...... "It''s big. ......" "I heard it was made by a Magecraft Meister." "This Magecraft Meister is amazing. He can make anything. ...... I wonder if I''ll be able to make something like that if I work hard. "It''s nice to be able to fly, isn''t it?" Eagle 1 landed quietly on the airfield in the Miyagi courtyard. The dust and sand flying up in the air was so thick that for a while, nothing could be seen. "We should pave the whole area with asphalt. ......" "Uh-huh." Jin said, and Ernst II agreed. "I never thought it would be this good." The Minister of Magic and Technology was also astonished. After about three minutes, the dust finally settled, and there was a pure white plane with not a speck of dust on it. "Oh, wow!" "That''s the . It can carry about 10 tons of stuff. ...... Hope, tell them to take the <> outside for a moment." Yes, Master. The communication was supposed to be done via the manaphone inside the <>, so Jin and the others followed that format. Incidentally, the <> was temporarily moved to the rooftop of the palace for this purpose. One minute after Hope entered the , the cargo room of Eagle 1 opened and a giant golem , 15 meters tall, emerged from it. "Oh, so that''s the giant golem that Mister Jin made!" "It moves so smoothly that you wouldn''t even notice its size. It''s hard to believe." The Prime Minister was impressed by its size, and the Minister of Magic and Technology was impressed by its movements. And Ernst II, "Well, our giant golem may be bigger, but I don''t think it can beat Jin-dono''s golem. He was analyzing the situation in terms of the strength of the battle. "Your majesty, that is for construction, so its combat power is low. Jin explained. However, just because something is big and powerful, it is always a threat. "Like my predecessors, I am not interested in domination or power," says Jin. Jin said. To Jin, this <> is Adriana Barbora Zetsi, but to the emperors, it is <>, or the original version of Jin himself ....... In any case, Jin is not interested in power. In any case, it is enough for them to understand that Jin has no attachment to power. Those who saw through the window were also astonished. "What!What is that big thing? They''re not going to attack us, are they? The maidens were a little afraid, "It''s too big!" "It seems that this generation of magecraft masters is also a man beyond the pale." "Indeed. We should be on good terms with such people. The officials were exchanging opinions among themselves. * * * * After the unveiling, Jin, who had re-stowed the Daedalus and brought Eagle 1 to a complete halt, was in the office of Emperor Ernst II. "Well, Jin-dono, I am very impressed. The Minister of Magical Technology shook Jin''s hand. "Once again, I would like to thank the heavens for the good fortune of your cooperation with our country. "No, indeed. But I''m sure the construction work will progress with his huge body. Jin replied, "But only until the ground is leveled and the foundation is laid," Jin reminded. He reminded him. "No, that''s enough. It will greatly shorten the construction period. They then confirmed the final plan to each other. 2206 - - 59-14 Start of construction On January 18, the construction of the on the shore of Lake Tosmo finally begins. At 9:00 in the morning, in addition to Jin and Elsa, Emperor Ernst II and Minister of Magic and Technology LeGray head for the planned site in a . The emperor is accompanied by a steward who takes care of the emperor''s personal needs. At the same time the is launched. Dust once again rises on the airfield in the courtyard of the palace. "Oh!" "...... I still can''t believe that something of that size can <> instead of <>." These were the honest opinions of those who were watching from the window. After coming to a stop at an altitude of 500 meters, the and lined up and headed toward Lake Tosmo. "No, it''s spectacular, isn''t it?" "Yes, Your Majesty." < fly side by side through the windows of the . "Will we eventually be able to build one of these aircraft in our country?" Jin responded. I think we can, Your Majesty. < does not use any special technology. It is something that we should be able to achieve if we improve our known technology. "I see. ...... LeGrey, we''ll have to work on that." "Yes, Your Majesty." This was also the reaction that Jin wanted. The capital, Leusert, is not far from Lake Tosmo. A five-minute flight would take us to the proposed construction site. The location is east of Koju and north of Van. The two planes slowly lowered their altitude. "As you can see, it''s somewhere around there. LeGray, the Minister of Magic and Technology, pointed to the land below. We could see stakes had been driven in the ground and ropes had been set up. It was quite a large area. The first thing that caught my eye was the workers'' quarters. These are so-called prefabricated buildings. This was apparently prepared in advance by the Shoro Kingdom. "We have been making preparations since last year. This was the story. The lands on the plain by Lake Tosmo, again raising a cloud of dust. When the dust had settled, the Hurricane also landed. "Open the hatch. ...... Daedalus 1, get out." Jin gives the command, and the hatch of the cargo room slowly opens, and Daedalus 1 comes out from inside. "Hmmm, it looks even more powerful up close!" "It looks different when you look up at it." Then the Minister of Magical Technology takes a peek inside the cargo room. "Hmm, so this is how it is structured. Did you say ...... truss structure? Yes, it is. Yes, it is. It is light and strong. The walls have a honeycomb structure. Like a beehive. The Minister of Magical Technology seems to know about this. "Oh, there''s still a golem inside." "Yes, I''ll have them support Daedalus 1. He had brought five <> with him. * * * * "Hmmm, I still can''t believe what I am seeing with my own eyes. "What a coincidence, I can''t believe it either." Half an hour after starting work, more than half of the planned work has been completed. 11 to 15 were dividing the ground according to the plan, and was leveling the ground accordingly. This combination is just so fast. clears a large area of the ground, and <> makes the final finishing touches on the remaining 10%. The basement and foundation of the building were completed in one hour, an exceptionally fast turnaround time. "After this, we''ll have to clear the site." First, water is drawn in from Lake Tosmo to create a pond. The water channel should be the last one to be drawn in, so that the construction can be completed without any problems. The depth of the pond should be 1 meter and the height of the pond should be about the height of a person. The pond should be rectangular like a swimming pool to make the garden look like a park. The size is about that of a 50-meter pool. The size of the pond is about 50-meter pool, which is designed to allow for competitions with model boats. * * * * * * * * * * * After finishing their scheduled work in the morning, < and > 11 to 15 were returned to the cargo of <. Eagle1>. The crew has lunch in the <. A kitchenette is provided so that light meals can be prepared. In this case, sandwiches. The fillings are varied. "Your Majesty, sir, please." Elsa had prepared it. "Oh, this looks delicious." Ernst II takes a bite of the sandwich after his butler, who has been formally accompanying him, tastes the poison. "Mmm, delicious." "Delicious." The main ingredients are ham, tomatoes, lettuce, topopo salad, pig cutlets, egg salad, and sliced cheese. The cutlets and salads were prepared this morning in Miyagi''s kitchen. "Erza-dono is a skillful cook, isn''t she? I envy you, Mister Gin. said Mr. LeGray, the Minister of Magical Technology, "I am in awe of you. Jin and Elsa replied, "We are in awe of you. After the meal, Citran juice was served. The refreshing acidity refreshes the palate. The refreshing acidity refreshed my palate. But our leisurely time was suddenly over. A small wind-powered blower floater of the Shoro Kingdom landed right next to the <>, and a soldier came running out. Hope noticed this and opened the door of the cabin of the <>. "I am writing to inform His Majesty the Emperor and the Minister of Magical Technology!Around noon today, a massive cave-in occurred at the mine in Trom!Rescue operations are underway!" What? What? The town of Trom is only about 20 kilometers west of where we''re working. It is the place where Saki discovered bauxite deposits in the past, and the underground is rich in resources. On the other hand, bauxite tunnels can be fragile. After all, bauxite is a fragile ore. "What was the damage?" Two of the five tunnels collapsed. The evacuation from the three intact tunnels has been completed. The two collapsed tunnels are being excavated in a rush job. The time is 1:00 p.m. About an hour after the accident. Sir, if you don''t mind, I''ll fly to the site in the hurricane. Are you sure, Mr. Jin? "Of course, Your Highness. I''ll take ......< with me. "Thank you." Three minutes later, the <> soars into the sky. Aiming west. The scene of the accident. 2207 - - 59-15 Relief and reinforcements It took less than 10 minutes to reach the mine in Trom that caused the collapse. To prevent a second collapse, the lands a few hundred meters away. Ernst II, LeGrey, the Minister of Magic and Technology, and the butler rush out as soon as the cabin door opens. Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and the five follow. "Oh, I knew they were digging the mine here toward the underground." The mines are not dug into the mountains, but rather from the ground to the underground. By the way, < and have quite different meanings in modern Japan. A mine is a place of business that mines, selects, smelts, and supplies resources, while a deposit is a place where resources are concentrated and can be extracted profitably. In other words, mine is an organizational or geographical name and ore deposit is an academic name. Anyway, out of the five tunnels that were drilled into the mine, the two tunnels in front of the mine collapsed. Workers are frantically clearing away rocks and earth, but they don''t seem to be making much progress, since the tunnels keep collapsing as they are being cleared. "Your Majesty, I''ll let the <> do it. Please tell the workers to get out of the way. "Okay. ...... Everyone, I am Emperor Ernst II. We have come to your rescue. The Magecraft Meister will now use his golem to dig them out. Everyone must evacuate! Your Majesty! <>......? Surprised by this reality, the workers evacuate the tunnels. Jin then gave instructions to the <> who had followed him. "<> 12 and 13, dig up the tunnel in front of you, 14 and 15, dig up the tunnel beyond that. 11 is for support as needed." Using engineering magic to temporarily attach the collapsed rock and prevent it from collapsing further, the <> dug up the tunnels. "Oh!" "Amazing!That''s the golem of the !" 12 and 13 first fix the entire rock in place with , and then 12 makes a hole in it. 13 carries the excavated rock and earth out of the hole. The process is repeated. The speed is more than 5 meters per minute. But as the digging continues. The speed will slow down. Because the distance to be carried out is longer. "All right, you guys, we''ll get the dirt out of here!" "Oh!" But a man who looks like the site supervisor gives the order, and they take care of the earth and sand removal. This would make the work much more efficient. Fifteen minutes passed. "We have a wounded man!" <>13, >11, who had been standing by, rushed in and brought him to a safe area. A blanket was laid there, and a healer examined him immediately. "This is ......" Both legs were broken and the head was bleeding. "What should we do? ......" The mine healer, a young and inexperienced woman, was standing there, unable to decide what to do. "...... get out of my way." Then came Elsa. "<>...... brain is clear. No bleeding. The blood from the head is from a surface cut. The fracture in the chest is more dangerous. One lung is almost collapsed and there seems to be a pool of blood," Elsa said. "It''s a good thing the broken rib is not lodged in the heart. We need to get the blood out of the rib cage first." "......" The healer woman was still motionless when Elsa spoke to her. "Come on, come on." Elsa slapped the healer lightly on the cheek. "Ah..." "You are a healer, aren''t you?Then do your duty. "Yes, yes." "Yes." "Good." After confirming that the healer had been reactivated, Elsa turned to the patient again. "Do you have a drain to remove the blood from the rib cage?" "Which one, sir?" "You don''t have a ......." The blood is still the same as the patient''s body, so it cannot be by engineering magic. Jin rushes in and hands Erza a rubber tube. The tube is spherically inflated in the middle and acts as a pump. The shape of this tube is quite different from what is called a in modern medicine. It is similar to a pump. Since the documents left by < Shuki Tsetsi were old-fashioned, such devices were only available in the 1960''s. However, the devices in our world are still in use. However, there is magic in our world. Engineering magic cannot work on living organisms, but with the use of such aids, it is possible to <> blood. Elsa inserted the tip of the drainage device into the patient''s trachea while checking the patient''s condition with a <. She then drains the blood from the lungs. If it was water, I could remove it by engineering magic<> because it was a foreign substance, but I was thinking ....... (After all, it would be better to clarify why engineering magic doesn''t work on living organisms.) (It''s still better to clarify why engineering magic doesn''t work on living bodies. If the blood is drained from the lungs, the healing magic will work better. "<>" This healed the chest fracture and stopped the bleeding from the lung at the same time. "The dangerous situation is over." Elsa sighed with relief. Then five injured people were brought to the hospital. < have already reached more than 50 meters underground, and it seems that there are still more victims. Triage. Triage? ...... don''t you know? Triage is the prioritization of treatment based on the severity of the patient''s condition. It is inevitably needed in times of disaster when the number of patients greatly outnumbers the number of doctors. Elsa had proposed ...... four hundred years ago to divide the patients into four levels: late, urgent, seriously injured, and slightly injured. (...... did not get the message. Too bad). Elsa is a bit depressed, but that''s not the point now. "......And the <> are dividing us up, to some extent." In addition, there are no patients with at least minor ...... injuries and no emergencies. The most common injuries were serious. Elsa personally examined them, giving <> to the seriously injured and <> to those with more urgent needs. "Now we have some time to spare." At least there are no more critical patients. You see a patient in critical condition? Uh, yes. < But there are still patients coming in one after another. "There are too many ......, we''ll never make it in time." When Elsa complained about this. "Erza, don''t worry. < as well. said Jin''s voice. "Hmmm.... The patients won''t wait for us at ......." "I know. I''ll have Hope help you. Hope can also use engineering and healing magic at an intermediate level. "I''d like Reiko to help too, but we''re trying to save the other side first. I''m sorry." Reiko, who is smaller than the others, is now leading the way into the tunnels, searching for survivors. "No, of course not. ...... rescue them as best you can." And after more than an hour of feverishly examining and treating the patient, he looks up and sees < I look up to see the huge body of <> about to descend. < is faster than any of the ''s flying machines, and thus the Machina herself has brought the healing personnel on board. 2208 - - 59-16 Convergence and As soon as he heard about the rockfall accident, Jin contacted Lao-kun via Reiko. The old man decided that should be used in such a case and dispatched to the site. < of <> to the vicinity of > with a transporter, and had contact Tomax Bartmann, the Supreme Administrator of Avalon>>. "What?A falling accident in the Shoro Kingdom?You need a healer at ....... Yes, sir!" Tomax Bartmann ordered his secretary automata Manon. It is urgent. How many people can you send now?" "Yes. We have one healer and three healers. We have five apprentices. We have two automata. All right, everyone is notified. Tell them to get on the of the Lord Machina. Leave one automaton here and dispatch one. Incidentally, both the healer and the healer have national qualifications, and both are wielders of healing magic, but the healer is the higher qualification, requiring in-depth scientific knowledge, and is literally qualified to educate healers as well. And <> is full of healers, healers, and students in training. Aristotle soars into the sky with those who are ready to go to work. "Maximum speed!" Makina announces shortly, and the <> reaches its maximum emergency speed of 600 kilometers per hour. This speed can only be maintained for about two hours, after which the engine will have to be completely overhauled. This is the premise of ....... < and Shoro is about 600 kilometers. In an hour, the had flown over, and landed slowly and unhurriedly. As soon as it landed, the healing personnel rushed to the obvious relief area. * * * * * * "It''s Erza-sama, isn''t it? I''m from <>! Under the lone struggling Erza, a healer, three healers, five apprentice healers (students), and a healer automata, Liese, arrived. By that time, the number of rescued patients had reached 35, 7 of whom had been healed by Erza and 16 of whom were undergoing treatment for emergencies or serious illnesses. The original healer was apparently no more than an apprentice and not very reliable, so Elsa had to deal with most of the patients by herself for the past hour and a half. If it had not been for her homunculus body, which did not tire easily, she would have reached her limit long ago. "Thank you. "Thank you. I''ve already triaged the emergency patient, please. ...... Lise, help me with this one." Yes, sir! I''m on it! And Lise, the automata healer, went to Erza''s side. Elsa is now treating a patient with a head injury. "He probably has a brain hemorrhage. His consciousness is clouded. We need to treat it immediately." The procedure involves making a small incision in the head, removing the bleeding blood, and then healing the incision as well. "Yes, sir. I''ll leave the assistant to you." "Yes." Finally, Elsa was able to concentrate on her treatment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, in the tunnel where the cave-in occurred, the desperate rescue work continued, led by Reiko and the <>. Reiko, using her small body, is diving into the tunnel ahead of the others. Reiko does not care if the tunnel collapses or if she is caught between rocks. A collapsed tunnel is no different from a walkway, and the rocks she gets caught between can be easily crushed. "There''s one at ......2 meters away." Reiko uses her power and the to push aside the sediment and continue on her way. When she finds the person in distress, she returns to him, while keeping her wards in place. "Oh!Reiko has rescued another one!" Emperor Ernst II of Shoro did not return to the palace, but remained at the scene of the accident to watch over the situation. He was the person in charge of the headquarters, which had been set up under a tent. The injured who were rescued were handed over to the treatment team led by Erza. Jin is following up on the injured while looking over the entire situation. He is now mainly ordering and supplying supplies to Erza and her treatment team. In addition to medical supplies such as clean water, clean cloths, and disinfectants, and foodstuffs such as drinking water, oral rehydration solution, and snacks, Persica juice is also prepared to support the healers and healing staff from <> in recovering their magical power. Thanks to the efforts of those involved, the tunnel was finally completely excavated four hours after the accident, and all the victims were rescued. Fortunately, no one was killed because the tunnel was mainly soft bauxite. They did not die instantly from being crushed by the rocks. And thanks to Erza''s efforts, those who had almost died were able to regain consciousness. * * * * * * * * * * * * That night. Knights from Leuthert were guarding the perimeter, and a medical team was tending to the wounded. Several tents were set up, and in one of them. "Jin-dono, Erza-dono, Makina-dono, we are truly grateful for your help! Roderich Barberas von Heizer, the prime minister who had also arrived, bowed deeply. "No, I just happened to be in the neighborhood," he said. "I was only doing what I could," he said. "I was asked to do so by ," he said. All three are humble. "And Sir Reiko, and Lord Gin''s golem!Thank you for your help. Now for the Minister of Magical Technology, LeGrey Gibbs von Vesuvius. "Thanks to you, we were able to rescue everyone in a short time. Schlotgen Dommer von Kabastan, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, also arrived on the scene, The cause of this accident is still under investigation. What do you think was the cause of the accident? He showed his motivation. "Well, the main product of this mine was bauxite, wasn''t it?" "That''s right. "As you know, bauxite is an earthy, collapsible vein, so I think it is reasonable to assume that the walls and ceiling may not have been reinforced enough." The Minister nodded. "We have thought about that, too. However, we also checked with the workers on site, as well as the other three tunnels, and there was no lack of construction." At this point Reiko raised her hand. "Forgive me for saying this." Of course, no one said no. "If you are ......, then it is still . Some of the debris I dug up showed traces of unnatural destruction. That was a bombshell. "What do you mean?" the Prime Minister leaned forward and asked. The others were eager to hear the rest of the story. "Yes. There were deep scratches on some of the former pillars, which were probably caused from the inside. From the inside" means that they were made from inside the mine. Since workers come and go, it is possible for them to get scratches or scuffs. However, if deep scratches are caused, there should be a manual that requires workers to report such scratches to their supervisors and repair them immediately. If this was not done, and it caused the cave-in, ....... "Let''s have them investigate immediately." The minister called his subordinates and told them what was going on. After that, he said, "Mister Jin, even if it was sabotage, we will investigate your case, so you can go ahead with the construction of the memorial as planned. Schlotgen Dommer von Kabastan, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, told Jin. Jin thought for a moment, I understand. I will stay here tonight and return to the site tomorrow. He replied, "I don''t know what''s going on. 2209 - - 59-17 To Mitsuho for the first time in a long time Nothing more happened that night. However, Jin had made a secret move. "My Lord, who is the Quinta in the Shoro Kingdom? <. "Good. Can this be involved in the sabotage investigation?" < "Okay, then, please." Having done what he could, Jin went back to sleep. He was not in a tent, but in a . The air-conditioning was working, so it was comfortable. * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, the 19th, Jin, Elsa, and the Minister of Magical Technology left the mine in Trom and returned to the construction site. Just in case, <> is still in the mine. "Well, the construction has been delayed for about half a day..." Jin interjects, "No, we''ve already finished leveling the ground and laying the foundation. The Minister of Magic and Technology argued correctly. "Then I guess you can leave it to us now. "Is that so?" Surely, Jin thought, I should leave my help to this point. "In that case, I think I will go to Mitsuho. "To Mitsuho, sir? Yes. < Jin glanced at the landing and said. "We can use it to pave the promenade in the memorial hall, and we also want to use it to pave the airfield." Asphalt is not produced on Horai Island. Arus has coal, but not much oil. The amount of coal is not so large either. Therefore, the common pavement is <, which is reinforced by engineering magic such as . However, the current macadam pavements may not be able to withstand the heavy loads of vehicles and aircrafts in the future. "If we had engineering magic, perhaps it would be easier to repair asphalt pavements," Jin thinks. Jin thinks. The major drawback of asphalt pavements in the modern world is that they cannot be repaired properly. When a hole is made, a new asphalt material is used to fill in the hole, but it has little affinity with its surroundings, and it sticks out or pushes in, making the pavement look uncomfortable. "But be careful about covering a large area, because it will not allow water to permeate through." It might be a good idea in a region with little rainfall, Jin thought to himself. "Anyway, ensuring water permeability will be an issue for the future." Asphalt pavement is 90 percent gravel, and the remaining 10 percent is asphalt in the original sense of the word. In other words, gravel bound with asphalt is asphalt pavement. By using gravel with a large grain size and a certain degree of uniformity, gaps are created between the gravel, and as a result, the gaps remain after paving with asphalt, making the asphalt pavement permeable. This is the outline of permeable asphalt pavement. The disadvantage is that sand and mud clog the voids and drainage becomes poor in a few years, so it is necessary to clean the gaps. * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the afternoon of the same day, Jin and Elsa left the Shoro Kingdom in a and headed for Mitsuho. "Is it difficult to pave a simple pavement ...... by pouring asphalt on top of macadam pavement?" On the way, Jin is discussing with the old man. "Now we have to see if we can improve the asphalt in Mitsuho. <> and > together, we can secure considerable strength. "And then there''s also <." Stabilization is an engineering magic developed by Stearina that makes it difficult for the molecular structure of a substance to change. Specifically, water-soluble substances become insoluble in water, and solids are less likely to be broken down by ultraviolet rays. One of the weak points of asphalt pavement is its durability, which can be improved by using this kind of engineering magic. "The only problem is that only a limited number of people can use it. ......" Jin thought that it might be necessary to make a golem for construction in the future. Then Erza called out to him. "Brother Jin, if you think too much, you will get lost, I think." "What?" Jin can do a lot of things. But that''s why you have so many choices. That''s why he sometimes thinks too much. "Maybe so. ......" Jin reflected a little that he had been thinking too much on the way to buy asphalt. "It''s been a while since I''ve visited Mitsuho." "Hmm." Unlike before, Jin did not have any connections to Mitsuho. First, he heads for the town of Seki, as is customary. "Probably Seki, right? ......" The town of Seki is associated with Shuki Tsezi, who was Japanese, and thus has many place names that may be based on Japanese words. In the town of Seki, a large airfield had been built. "Oh, it''s quite different from the old days," he said. "It must be because of the increase in the number of flying machines," Reiko says. Reiko said. "I guess so. A horse-drawn carriage is fine from Shoro, but from far away, ...... a horse-drawn carriage or a golem car is necessary to carry heavy loads, isn''t it?" "Yes, that''s right. Let''s ask the old man about the main products of Mitsuho now. Reiko uses the built-in manacam to inquire the old man, and he replies in less than a second. "Bonito flakes, wood paper, asphalt, soap, cotton, wood crafts, and coal," he says. "Not much has changed, has it? But coal? "Yes. They don''t burn it for heat, but use it as a kind of reagent. "So that''s what it is." Jin thought that if he asked Saki, she might be able to tell him exactly what it was used for, "Okay. Thank you." He thanked the old man and Reiko. "Master, we will be over the town of Seki in a few minutes. "Oh, I see." At Hope''s words, Jin looked out the window. "Oh, so that''s the airfield. Below them was an airfield about two kilometers square. < was slowly descending in altitude toward the airfield. 2210 - - 59-18 Seki Town Tourist The airfield in the town of Seki was reasonably busy. Five wind-powered blow floaters of the Shoro Kingdom and two airships of the Kingdom of Celuloa were moored there. Jin''s was parked at the end of the road. "......, this is asphalt pavement." Jin muttered to himself as he landed on the airfield. "<>" He secretly examined the structure and found that the asphalt pavement seems to be made of crushed stones laid on top of the cleared ground and hardened firmly. "This should be very durable," he said. Then an officer came in. "Welcome to the town of Seki, the land of Mitsuho. Jin-sama, Erza-sama." "...... your names?" Jin is surprised to hear his name called out of the blue. "Yes, I know very well. < The officer raised his hand and pointed to the crest of the <>. "The Nido family is the only family in the world that has two halves of a circle on its crest! The officer then wrote something on the form in his hand and handed it to Jin. This is a form for issuing an entry permit. Please go to the immigration building over there. < was parked. Jin checked the form, which was signed by the officer and had the date and time entered on it. The form was signed by the officer, and the date and time were written on it. "Please be careful not to lose it, as the form is invalid if it has not been checked upon arrival. "Okay. Thank you." We will take care of your airship. Have a nice trip! Jin and Elsa leave the airship and walk away. Reiko and Hope follow with their luggage. The immigration building was empty. Welcome to Mitsuho! A receptionist greets Jin and the others. Upon closer inspection, she appears to be an automaton. Although it was not made by Jin, it was quite a good-looking doll. Please come to window 2. Jin and the other first-time visitors were guided to the number 2 window. "You must be Ms. Jin Nido and Ms. Elsa Nido. And Ms. Reiko and Ms. Hope." After submitting the completed forms, the process was quickly completed. A card twice the size of a business card was issued. There are cards for Reiko and Hope, too. "Please make sure you carry it with you at all times." "Okay. Thank you. Have a good trip. The exit on the other side of the immigration building leads to the town of Seki. Once upon a time, the town was surrounded by a stone wall, but now the atmosphere has changed considerably. Although the walls remain, the gates are open and the town has become more open. "Oh, it''s so lively! The town of Seki is one of the most prosperous towns in Mitsuho. People from outside of Mitsuho visit here constantly. Their purposes vary from tourism to business to research. For such people, the town of Seki has been given the appearance of a . There are tourist information centers and what is called in modern Japan, so you can easily find out what places of interest and specialties are in each town. There are branches of large merchants'' associations, so you will have no trouble starting a business transaction. There is also a library with a large collection of books. Let''s get a place to stay for the time being. Nope... Then this would be a good place for you. Reiko, who had apparently heard from the old man, led Jin and the others to the inn. The hotel was located a little off the main street. Since there was just one room available, they decided to stay there. The name of the hotel is . "It''s a nice place to stay. It is a calm, two-story stone structure. It is a Shoro Imperial-style building, which is rare in Mitsuho, where many hotels are a blend of Japanese and Western styles. "I guess it''s for tourists." Yes, that seems to be the case. Jin and his friends are in a corner room on the second floor. The view from the second floor corner room is good, as most of the houses around us are single-story. They leave their luggage behind and head out to see the town. Half of the trip is for sightseeing, and the other half is to check on Mitsuho. "Reiko, take this pochette with you. "Yes, Father." At first glance, the pochette looks like an ordinary child''s pochette, but in fact it is made of sea dragon leather, so it cannot be damaged even a single scratch by an ordinary sword. Also, inside the pochette is a tiny transfer magic circle, which can send gold coins and Persica juice to the pochette. In addition, the tote bag that Erza is carrying has a transfer magic circle in the opposite direction, and can send the items in it to Horai Island. Neither of these bags can deliver items larger than the size of the bag. As a side note, at the present time, a two-way transfer is not possible with a single bag. It is a one-way transfer, either sending or receiving. The reason for this is that unlike warp gates, transfer magic circle malfunctions when placed in close proximity due to the mutual interference of magic power. Even so, with this, they have no shortage of money, and they do not have to worry about their luggage for normal level shopping. Jin and his friends set out for the town of Seki with such an outfit. "A lot has changed since the old days, hasn''t it? "Hmm..." Jin thought that this was a natural progression for a town with so many people coming and going. The old houses were a blend of Japanese and Western styles, but the new buildings were in the Shoro style. In other words, they were built of solid stone with little ornamentation. In the midst of all this, there was a dry goods store with an old-fashioned storefront. "It''s not a blend of Japanese and Western styles ....... This is already Japanese style. Shingle walls and tile roofing. The building is supported by pillars, not walls. The front is a sliding glass door. "It''s very elaborate." Curious, Jin decides to enter the store. "Welcome! The woman tending the store was an old woman. She must have been in her 80''s. Her face was wrinkled deeply, but her back was straight and she was still hale and hearty. "Oh ......" It somehow reminds me of a wooden building of the Showa period, Jin thought. Well, Jin himself was born in the Heisei era. "Bonito flakes...... and is this kelp?Oh, there is dried wakame seaweed. Oh, and dried dried sardines." It was a dry goods store. "Customer, I''ve never seen you before, but you know a lot. You are a man who is particular about dashi, aren''t you? Yes, I am. Dashi is very important in Japanese cuisine, isn''t it? Jin thinks in his mind that for Western-style dishes, dashi should be called "fon" or "bouillon" rather than "soup stock". "This is a nice dried bonito flake. The kare-bushi is a little different from the one made in Horaijima. The katsuobushi is aged with a fungus, and the type of fungus must be slightly different from the one used on Horaijima. Jin imagined that the same type of mold has been used for 400 years on Horaijima, which is a closed environment, while the type of mold may have changed little by little on Mitsuho. So, "Please give me two of each of these kare-bus kare-bus, one male and one female. "Thank you very much. The bonito that is cut into three pieces and then further grated into the back and belly is called honsubushi, and among the honsubushi, the one made from the back is called male katsuobushi, while the one made from the belly is called female katsuobushi. Female joints have a higher fat content, so they are used as broth for thickly seasoned simmered dishes. Male shavings are said to be best used for light seasonings such as soup stock. Incidentally, commercially available shavings are said to be a mixture of both. Jin recalled the old days when he had heard such knowledge from the director. 2211 - - 59-19 Chiyo Paper Co., Ltd. When I received the packet of dried bonito flakes, he gave me a warning. As a customer, you know that you should keep it away from high temperature and high humidity. And be careful not to get insects on them. Yes, that''s fine. Kare-bushi should be stored at room temperature in a cool, dark place because the mold on the surface acts as a protective film. Horaijima has such stockers, so it will be fine. Thank you very much. Please visit us again. Jin was satisfied that he had made a good purchase. "Where to next?" "Well, let''s go for a walk. Let''s go for a walk. The sun was still high. Jin and Elsa decided to walk around the town of Seki a little more. They take a street slightly off the main street. The streets are sparsely populated, making it easy to walk. The amount of litter was also fairly small, though not zero, and Jin felt as if he were walking down a modern Japanese alley. "Oh, what a beautiful store! In the direction Erza pointed, there was a cozy store with flowers in front of it. Upon closer inspection, the flowers were artificial. "It looks like a wood and paper store. As I approached the store, I saw that it seemed to be a store selling a variety of colorful wooden paper. "I''d like to take a look," Elsa said. Elsa said, "I''d like to take a look," and Jin went into the store with her. Reiko and Hope followed. "Welcome! There were two other customers in the store besides Jin and the others. One was a parent and a child, and the other was a couple. One was a parent and a child, and the other was a couple. "I want that one! "Which one do you want?" The other customers also seemed to be enjoying their shopping. "I think this would be beautiful on a box." Elsa seemed to like the beautifully patterned wooden paper. "This kind of paper, what did you call it? ...... Yes, it is <>. No, it''s yuzen washi. Jin dug up his memory of seeing this paper at a craft store, "You know a lot, sir," the clerk said happily. The clerk said happily. She was a woman in her late twenties with a calm atmosphere. "As I recall, you use a pattern and print it over and over again, don''t you? "Where did you get that?It is supposed to be a secret. ......" "Oh, is that so?" Jin kept his mouth shut in a panic, but was a little relieved that the other customers didn''t seem to hear him. Then, "I just had a chance to find out. Jin replied, "I had a chance to know something about it. "Brother Jin, is this origami? "Here you go." At that moment, Erza called out to him, and Jin went over to her. There was a piece of paper cut into a square. There was a beautiful pattern printed on it. "Yes, it is more like chiyogami. Of the paper made into squares for origami, the Japanese paper is called "origami" and the Japanese paper is called "chiyogami", which is what Jin said. "...... customer, who in the world are you ......?" Jin was surprised by the clerk again. "I''m sure we don''t spread the term ''chiyogami,'' ......." "That''s why I had a chance to know about it. Jin answered again. Then he asked a further question. "...... Do you think you can fold origami?" "Yes." This answer was also unexpected to the clerk. "How can you fold it?What is anyway!How did you know! Apparently, they knew about the work <>, but did not know about the original story, <>>. "Let''s see, ......." Jin wonders how to explain. By this time, the other customers are gone and only Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Hope, and the clerk are in the restaurant. "I only know because I know. ......" "Well, then, aren''t there many other ways to break it?" Yes, well... "...... What can be broken?" "Well, nisou-bune, sailboat, balloon, crane, box, shuriken, hakama. ......" "Hakama?Is it?That''s what they make <> wear, right?" "This is noisy. Tsumugi, what are you making a fuss about? "Oh, grandmother. "I told you to call me ''owner'' when you''re in the store, didn''t I?" Oh, yes, the owner. ......I was so happy to see that this ...... customer seems to know so much about origami and wooden paper, that I just had to ask her a lot of questions." "Well, is that so? ......? The owner of the store seemed to be the grandmother of the clerk, a slender little old lady in her mid-sixties or so. "I wonder, are you the customer Jin Nido, the Magecraft Meister of this generation?" "Uh, yes, that''s right." The old lady seems to know Jin Nido''s face. "Oh, yes!I am honored, Jin-sama!" The old lady smiles happily. "Are you going to Mitsuho for sightseeing?" There was no need to be coy here, so Jin answered in the affirmative. "Oh, no, I''m here to buy asphalt. "Well, I see. I know a merchant at ....... I can introduce you to him. That would be great. Jin is pleased to see that an unexpected connection has been made. "If you have time, how about a cup of tea? Jin turned to Elsa at her offer, "What do you say, Elsa?" "Well, why don''t you take my word for it?" "Well, just a little." "Yes, come in." We were invited into the back of the store. It was a tatami room with a raised floor, separated by a shoji door. "Master, I''ll wait here." Hope said. Reiko went up to the tatami room with her. It was like an old candy store.) (It looks like an old-fashioned candy store!) Jin recalled the old candy store in the neighborhood where he had been raised. "Ah, kotatsu!" Erza said happily. On the other side of the sliding door was a tatami mat, and a kotatsu was placed in the center of the tatami mat. On top of the kotatsu was a bowl of sweets filled with tangerines. 2212 - - 59-20 nostalgia "Well, aren''t you going to get into the kotatsu? the old lady asked, "Yes. I''m an automatic doll. Reiko said. "Oh, really?You are indeed a Magecraft Meister, aren''t you? Perhaps knowing what Jin knew 400 years ago, he is not too surprised to learn that Reiko is an automata. "Um, you know about me?" Jin was tempted to hide his identity, as is his habit, but after thinking about it, he realized that there was no problem in announcing himself openly, since he was not on a secret mission this time. "Yes, I am well aware of you. I went to see the in the Klein Kingdom last year. The old lady said she had seen Jin at that time. "Is that so?" At that time, Jin D, not Jin, was giving a commentary to the invited guests. Reiko was on Horai Island, not in Toka village, and had eliminated those who tried to interfere with the race, so it was not surprising that the old lady recognized Jin but did not know Reiko. "I''ll make you some tea. There was a brazier in the corner of the room with an iron kettle making steam. And the kotatsu was a sunken kotatsu. "If you like, you can have a tangerine, too. "Well, I''ll have one, please." Erza took a tangerine in her hand. This tangerine was bred in Horai Island from Citran. It can be easily peeled by hand. It is said that this variety was introduced to all over Japan about 250 years ago. Elsa loves citran fruits, and this tangerine was one of her favorites. "They are sweet and delicious." "That''s good to hear. By the way, could you please fold something with this? The old lady offered several sheets of chiyogami. The first one was for Elsa, who had eaten a tangerine, and the second one was for Jin. "Yes, that''s fine. Jin answered and began to fold something. First he folded it in half as a triangle, then folded it in half again and creased it. Once open, he folds the four corners of the triangle to the of the crease. This will make a smaller square. "It''s a zabuton-fold, isn''t it?" the old lady says. Jin turns it over and folds the four corners toward the center in the same way. If he folds up to three of the four edges open like a bag, he has made a "yutsu-san". "Well, it''s a guy, isn''t it?" Yes. Now, one more. Jin continues to fold chiyogami. It looks like he is folding another Nutsun, but it is actually ....... "A hakama!The one who can fold it is ...... no, you were a , weren''t you? Jin combines him with the hakama and finishes. "Well, a yakko, so to speak, is a servant of a nobleman. Hakama are their pants. Jin also explained everything he knew. "As a Magecraft Meister, I have read the records of my predecessors and the Magus, so I know at least that much," he concludes. He concludes. "Ah, I think I heard about this a long time ago. I have heard it from ......<>." Jin had not heard the name Akitsu for a long time. (Akitsu is underground in the Great Sahara Desert, right? (Akitsu is underground in the Great Sahara Desert, right?) Akitsu is an educational automata. < is a means of education set up by Shuki Tsetsi. (I guess those who have some kind of qualification can go to Akitsu and learn various things from him.) Jin has repaired the body of Akitsu, but has not changed its role. (I guess he has a little knowledge of the past, too.) Jin felt happy to know that the same world he was in had been passed on to Ars, albeit in a small way. "Oh, it''s delicious. "I''m glad it suits your taste. The tea brewed by the old lady who owned the store was quite delicious. It tasted like a stem tea, with little astringency and a lot of umami. I am the owner of this store and my name is Yuki Akari. The boy who is looking after the store is my grandson, Yuki Tsumugi. "Hello, my name is Jin Nido. This is my wife, Elsa Nido. <. "Well, I see that you both share the same name as the second generation." After some more small talk, Yuki Akari stood up and wrote a letter and handed it to Jin in an envelope. "Here is a letter of introduction to a building materials shop that deals in asphalt. The location of the store is ......." He politely told us the location of the store as well as the letter of introduction. * * * * * * * * * * * * It was getting dark, so Jin and the others left the store. "May I display the folded and < Hakama> in the store as the work of ?" I thought about it, but in the end Jin approved. "Thank you very much!I will treasure it in my store!" Jin felt embarrassed and apologetic. In the end, Erza bought ten kinds of yuzenkigami, five each. The two walk slowly toward the inn under the setting sky. Reiko and Hope follow them. "It was a little nostalgic." Jin muttered on the way back to the inn. "It''s been a while, but it reminded me of the old days." Erza silently leaned her shoulder against Jin. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin and the others returned to the inn, took a bath, and had dinner in the dining room. "We got a lot out of this, didn''t we? "Hmm." The menu, from Jin''s point of view, is a mixture of Japanese and Western food. A small steak of beef. Seasoned with salt and pepper. Stewed river fish, probably carp-like fish (......). Tempura of wild vegetables. Fried prawns. Miso soup with topopo (potato) and marunegi (onion). Vegetable salad with soy sauce dressing. And white rice. Jin ate it all without a problem. Erza did the same. "I like the seasoning, too." "Yes. It''s just... the combination... "Well, I guess. But I think it''s becoming a mitsuho standard, isn''t it?Or maybe it''s for a wider range of customers." Jin and Erza were having such a conversation over a cup of hojicha tea. 2213 - - 59-21 Business Talks The night in the town of Seki, Mitsuho, passes peacefully, and dawn breaks without incident. The weather is light and overcast. The town of Sequi is located a little north of the Tropic of Cancer, so it is warm even in winter. The problem is that it is inland and the air is dry. "...... we''re fine, but I think a lot of people are going to get a throat infection," said Elsa. Elsa said. Jin, whose body is made of magical atoms (magiatom), and Erza, a homunculus, are free from such diseases. "It would be better to put a humidifier in the room and wear a mask. "It may be difficult to do all at once." Many of them take off their masks immediately, especially if they are not used to wearing them, because they feel suffocated or depressed. "I''ll drop by the healing center when I see one." "Hmm." After a buffet breakfast and a smoke, we headed into town. Reiko and Hope are with us, of course. First, let''s go talk about asphalt. "Hmm." The time is 8:30 AM. The store opens at 8:30. Jin walked slowly, thinking that it was just like a private store. "This is it. ......" "Percentage wise, it''s big." There was a sign that read "Ikeda Shoukai" (Ikeda Trading Company). It was supposed to be a sub-branch of some sort, but it seemed to deal in various building materials and had a large area. Glancing around, there were several drum-like structures in the back of the building. Jin squinted at the metal corrugated plates and what looked like paint cans. It looked more like a store than a sub-branch of a trading company. "Let''s go in anyway." The front of the wide front door was a sliding door. A mature man welcomed Jin and the others. A mature man greeted Jin and the others. "Well, could you take a look at this? First, Jin handed them a letter of introduction given to him yesterday by the old woman ...... Akari Yuki of the Chiyogami shop. "Oh, this is Akari-san''s handwriting, isn''t it? The man who received the letter guessed that it was from Akari Yuki just by looking at the letter. He then found out that she has a very broad face. "Hmmm...hmmm......... eh!You are the <<3rd generation Magecraft Meister>, Jin-sama? < Please go to the back anyway!And your wives and followers too! The elderly man, who appeared to be the owner of the store, invited us to the business meeting space at the back of the store. This was not a tatami room, but chairs and tables. He then orders a teenage girl, who is clearly identified as a waitress, to <. After a minute or so, the tea is served, and the owner, straightening his posture, introduces himself once again. My name is Yahato Ikeda, and I am in charge of the Seki branch of Ikeda Shokai. The girl is my daughter, Yoriko. I thought she was a clerk, but it turned out to be her daughter. "Thank you very much for your kindness. < Jin then introduced Reiko and Hope. Yahato-Ikeda was introduced to Reiko, "Oh, you have the same name as the automata that the second generation had with you! He seemed to know Reiko as well. And then, "Is this Hope-dono? I think the wife of the second generation master had an automata with her, and she said her name was Edgar. He even knew who Edgar was. It seems that he is quite a <. Therefore, Jin decided to keep quiet since it might cause some trouble if Reiko told him that she was the same Reiko. After a short chat, they started to discuss the business. "Well, I''m here to buy some asphalt. "Yes, I read about it in the letter from Akali-dono. How much do you need? "The purpose is to pave the airfield. On the contrary, how much do you need? As Jin had never paved asphalt before, he had no idea how much would be needed. "Yes, ....... There is also a handy one called that can be poured over crushed stone pavement to create a simple pavement." Usually, gravel and asphalt are mixed, heated to about 160 degrees Celsius, and then spread and compacted. Because of this high temperature, construction work is frowned upon in the summer. "I see." Jin was listening to the lecture with great interest, as there were many things here and there that he had never heard of before. Asphalt pavement is made of crushed stones attached with asphalt," he said. This is called a binder." "I see." As Jin listened to the conversation, he thought that the sidewalks of <> should be paved with simple pavement. (It''s just for people to walk on.) (It would be easy to construct and repair.) "Well, for the time being," he said, "we''ll just have to pave the sidewalks for now. "Well, I think I''ll try using for the time being." "Oh, that would be good. How much do you need? We have one 18-liter can, a half-size (250-liter) drum, and three 50-liter drums. There are three types of drums: one ton (18 liters), a half-size (250 liters) drum, and a drum that holds 50 liters. "Well then, we''ll need about 10 drums for now. "Oh, that many?...... now we have 7 drums, 5 half drums, and 20 one-quart cans. The total of all of them would satisfy the demand, but Jin decided that it would be bad for the other customers. "Then let''s say five drums and two half-drums. "Okay, I understand. Well, how would you like to transport them? If it were a hundred drums, the would be the best choice, but for this kind of quantity, the would be sufficient. "If you bring them to the airfield, we can load the rest ourselves. "Okay. When would ...... be a good time? If that''s the case, can we do it tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.? Jin wanted to see the town of Seki for the day. "Yes, no problem. "If I want a large quantity at ......, would it be better to go to the main branch of the Chamber of Commerce here instead of here?" Yes, it would take less time. Would you like me to show you where it is? "Yes, please. So Jin was told where the head office was located and a letter of introduction was written. The head office is located in a town called Kushima, south of Seki. However, since the place of production of asphalt is a closely guarded secret, Jin was not told about it either. (I didn''t go to see it 400 years ago. ......) Jin felt a little disappointed to think that he would have been able to learn about it back then. * * * * "Well, let''s try to find a healing center. "Hmm." After leaving the Ikeda Trading Company, Jin and the others wander around the town looking for a healing center. Jin and Erza, who were not in a hurry, could not find a healing center, so they decided to ask the locals for help. However, they pass by only tourists at such times. Jin is annoyed, "Well, I''m a little thirsty, so let''s go into that store and ask around," he said to Erza. and headed for the coffee shop. 2214 - - 59-22 Iris Healing Center Jin and his friends entered a Japanese-style cafe. There was a choice of tatami rooms and tables. Jin and the others chose the tatami room. The tatami room has a sunken kotatsu, which is a sunken kotatsu in this season. It was comfortable for our feet. "I''ll have brown rice tea. And soy sauce crackers. "Me, too." Jin and Elsa ordered brown rice tea and rice crackers. They were delivered immediately and they took a bite of the rice cracker. It was a crispy hard-baked rice cracker. It is covered with a lot of soy sauce and has a strong flavor. It goes well with genmai-cha (brown rice tea). "Yes, it''s good. "Delicious!" We eat the rice crackers and drink tea. Jin and Erza finish their tea and say to each other, "We''ve unexpectedly found a good place to eat, "Hey, what are we doing here?" "Uh... ......" "Father, we were going to ask you where the healing center is." Reiko pointed out. "Oh, yes, yes, yes." So, when we paid the bill, "Is there a healing center near here? Jin asked, "Is there a healing center near here? "Healing center?Well, go straight west on the street in front of here and turn left at the second intersection. "Oh, thanks." I managed to remember and was able to get the correct destination, which was a good thing. After we had gone quite a distance, "Oh, I forgot to check the name of the restaurant. Jin said, "Oh, I forgot to check the name of the shop I just went to. He said that the tea and rice crackers were delicious and he would like to stop by again if he has a chance. "Father, this is Kikkyo-ya." "Oh, thank you, Reiko." It seemed that Reiko had remembered him. * * * * * * As we were exchanging these words, we passed one intersection and turned left at the second one. "Oh, there it is." Erza pointed to a sign that read <>. "Iris is a flower like an iris, isn''t it? Reiko answered my question. "I think so, father. So this is a healing center named after a flower. They just opened it now. "Good morning. Jin said, "Good morning. Is this a ...... treatment? He asked back. He added, "But it doesn''t look like there''s anything wrong with you. Jin felt that the doctor seemed to be very skillful. "Yes, I am not here to ask for treatment. I just wanted to ask you a few questions. ...... I am , Jin Nido. This is my wife Elsa, who goes by the same name as the second generation. "Well!< and !" "Eh? >?Not Honorary Healer?" < Jin was puzzled by the unfamiliar word, Erza whispered, "I received this title about 360 years ago.) Erza told him in a whisper. I don''t like to be called that because it''s embarrassing.) She also said. "...... what can I do for you?" "Oh, no, no, I mean this one. ...... so may I have a word with you?" Yes, we don''t have any patients yet. Yes, we don''t have any patients yet. Thus, Jin and the others were invited into the Iris Healing Center. < The reception room in the back was also beautiful, and was decorated with a picture of Iris flowers. "We don''t have anything for you," he said, offering me a cup of tea. The one who offered us tea was a nursing golem. It seems to be of the lineage of the mass-produced nursing golem <. "I am the director of this healing center, ," he said. The woman who introduced herself as Selin Wannabe appeared to be in her early twenties. She is rather small, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She is slim looking. She took a sip of tea and asked, "So, what can I tell you? After taking a sip of tea, Serin began. "Well, first of all, I''d like to confirm something. Jin started. "Have you ever met before, Serin?" These words came as a shock to Selin. "Well, please don''t call him Akitsu-sama." "Oh, I''m sorry." Jin apologized honestly. At the same time, he took Reiko''s arm beside him and told her not to do anything. Otherwise, Reiko was likely to react in some way. "...... Sorry. I don''t know if you people from other countries understand this, but Akitsu-sama is the mother of the nation for us Mitsuho people." "......" Jin knew the feeling, so he responded silently. Then he resumed. "Well, it has been discovered in recent years that there has been an increase in the number of patients in Shoro and Ogunkuni. I was wondering if it is safe to mine here." "Dust lung? I know the symptoms. I also know the cause. But I don''t think there are any patients around here. I am relieved to hear that. Jin recalled his visit 400 years ago. The industrial products in Mitsuho are made in the < north of the town of Miyako, the capital of Mitsuho, and the materials are mined by golems. (If there are no humans mining directly, there are no patients, or ......) Jin decided that this was a stable system and that he should not interfere with it. "One more thing. This is the main one. Jin then handed the baton to Elsa. "Well, don''t many people have sore throats, especially in winter? "Throat...... Yes, it increases. Because the air is drier." Selin Wannabe answered that respiratory illnesses increase during the winter months due to dryness. "You don''t recommend wearing masks?" "We do, but people don''t like to wear masks. "I see." Jin, who was listening at the side, came up with an idea. He decided to propose it immediately. "I have an idea. 2215 - - 59-23 For the mask "Is it an idea?" "Yes. About the mask. Jin suggested that we change the design of the masks. The only masks in Mitsuho are rectangular pieces of gauze that are folded, attached with strings to the ears, and fastened in place. "Is it a design?" "Like this, for example." Jin took a notepad out of Reiko''s pochette and drew a sketch. It was a fashionable one. In 21st century Japan, it is worn mainly by young people. "I think we can change the color." "Haha ...... that''s interesting." Selin Wannabe looked at the sketch with interest. "Let''s see, did you say <>? It is made to fit more closely to the face and to reduce the gaps." It looks better at the same time, Jin concluded. "What do you think?Wouldn''t this make it a little more popular?" Selin thought for a full three minutes and then opened her mouth. "I think it is a good idea. I am sure that it will increase the popularity of the system." Jin was relieved to hear Serin''s opinion. "Thank you very much. I am glad to hear that." To Jin and Elsa, Serin asked. But how are you going to make a mask with such a design?If it costs too much, it will hinder the spread of the masks. But Jin already had an idea. "I think it will be fine. ......Well, I''ll bring the prototype when it''s finished." With these words, Serin was satisfied. "Okay. I will look forward to it. And thus, Jin and Elsa left the Iris Healing Center. "Brother Jin, do you have a mask for me? Of course, we know that we can make masks in Horai Island. The question is, can we make them here in Mitsuho? "Yes, we do. < "...... Oh, okay." Nonwoven fabrics are defined by JIS as . However, paper, felt, and knitted fabrics are not included. Jin did not know in detail how to make nonwoven, but he thought that nonwoven could be made by straining short fibers like paper. Jin thought that it would be better to make the <> in the shape of a mask.Jin thought. He would return to Horaijima and discuss this with Saki. Jin thinks that Mitsuho, who is skilled in papermaking, would be able to make it as long as he understands the procedure. "But first," he said. What are you going to do? "I think I should meet Akitsu." Akitsu is underground in the Great Sahara Desert. The only way to get there is to use the warp gate. In any case, it is necessary to return to Horai Island. So Jin and the others headed for the airfield. < and leave the town of Seki. "It was a short stay, but this time it was just a preliminary inspection. "Hmm." And leaving Hope in charge of the Hurricane, Jin, Elsa, and Reiko return to Horai Island via the Warp Gate. < The old man''s voice greeted us. "Where is Saki and the others? Jin asked, "They have not returned from Hale yet. "Well, that may be so. ......" Jin thought that there were many unusual things in the other side of the world. "Oh well. I''m going to visit Akitsu." < The old man seems to have checked with his peepers. Sometimes Akitsu < is not so busy now, because he is teaching those who came from Mitsuho. "I''m over here." Erza said she was on Horai Island, so Jin took Reiko to the warp gate room. * * * * <. "Well, Master Jin, welcome to my home. Jin-sama, it''s been a long time. Akitsu and his attendant John Dinny greeted Jin and Reiko. "Hello, Akitsu. How are you doing? "How are you doing? John''s been taking care of me, so everything is fine. "I see. Is John okay? Yeah. He can check himself, too. The two said that it was reassuring to know that they could always rely on Houraido if things went wrong. "That''s a relief. So, I wanted to check something with Akitsu today. "Yes, what is it?" Yes, what is it? Actually, I would like to have Mitsuho produce nonwovens in the future. "Nonwovens? ......It''s a cloth made from cotton or Japanese paper fiber, isn''t it?" "Yes. It has many uses and could be a new industry for Mitsuho. What do you think about ......?" Akitsu smiled happily. "For Mitsuho, thank you very much. I think it''s technically sound." "I see!" While complex industrial products and magical tools are made in <>, there are many products made by <>, such as Japanese paper. Examples include miso (soybean paste), dried bonito flakes, wooden paper, cotton and cotton products, and wood crafts. "Then, it''s all right." We''ll use new materials and the procedure may change a little, but I''d like Akitsu and John Dinney to guide us in that direction," Jin said. "Leave it to me." Akitsu was originally there to provide such guidance. "The procedure will be studied on Horai Island from now on, but I don''t think we will have to wait long. "I understand." Thus, Jin had finished laying the groundwork for the spread of <> to Mitsuho. * * * * When Jin returned to Horaijima, most of the members of the Jin family had returned. Saki was among them, "Jin, I heard that you are going to develop some new material? she asked with great vigor. 2216 - - 59-24 Healing personnel <. He explained further, "Sounds interesting!Yes, I''ll leave it to you. She seemed to be very enthusiastic, so Jin decided to leave the project entirely to Saki. He left the design drawings of the mask, though. "By the way, Mr. President..." After taking a break, Jin decided to ask the old man about something that had been bothering him. <> "A few things about the healing personnel from <>. ...... First of all, there was one that looked just like Lise, the healing automata, wasn''t there?" Basically, <> is supposed to be exclusive to Horai Island, Jin said. <>, not <>. "Hm?What do you mean?" Jin was beginning to get the idea, but he decided to hear the explanation to the end. < created about 350 years ago by a certain magecraftsman who admired . "That''s ...... again." They admire it and make something like it. No wonder. Because Jin remembers it too. "And you named it ? < 350 years ago, so Erza knows about it. < Jin nodded as if he understood. This explained why Erza did not feel any discomfort with from during the healing process, and why she had called her to help her. Jin also recalled that when he was a little boy, he used to make dolls (not so well made as figures) of his favorite anime and tokusatsu characters and mecha. Jin guessed that the magecraftsman must have been related to Horaijima, but he did not say it out loud. "One more thing. <, is it like that?" Jin understood that since healers are qualified to train the next generation of healers, if there are not enough of them, there will naturally be a shortage of healers as well. "Is it because of the <>?" < "That''s why you didn''t train the countries ......" << for a healer and for a healer. "I see. ...... is the Shoro Empire''s way of calling them, but in other countries as well?" . Jin remembered that in Japan, too, many of the medical terms were in German. "So Erza is not a < but a ? < Jin reminds me that he also has the title of <>. (You said you didn''t like to be called that.) Then Erza came in. "Brother Jin, welcome back. "Ah, I''m back." "You''re talking about the ...... healer?" Jin nodded. "Yes. I heard that there is a worldwide shortage of healers (Altschuler) and healers (Doktor). "Yes, that seems to be the case. What are you going to do with ......? "Well, now that I''m involved, I''d like to do something about it, wouldn''t you? "Mass production of ......." "Yeah, that''s probably a safe bet. After 5 or 10 years, when the <> has grown up, we can collect it or give it to him for a fee. "Then, let''s decide on the specifications. So Jin and Erza decided to make a as a temporary healing staff. The assistants are Reiko and the <. * * * * The next day, the 21st. "The basic idea is to use , right?" "Yes. But we should think about what to do after we get it back. "I see. I''ll check out ....... There should be at most two medical automata on Horai Island. We should be able to do more than just medicine. "That''s right." I''ve got enough automata and I don''t want them to do the heavy lifting. "How about a female version of a smith?" "I see." Medical automata are often made in a female form to impress patients. In reality, it seems that women are more suitable for healing magic. On the other hand, aptitude for engineering magic is more common among males. "Then, I''ll focus on handicrafts so that I can be creative. Jin thought it would be a good idea to make Saki''s assistant available as well. "I''ll also ...... change her appearance a little from Liese''s. I''ll ...... leave that to Erza." I''ll leave that one up to Elsa. With this, we''ve decided on the general specs. "Well, let''s make a prototype. The materials will be the Horai Island standard. The body is also based on a 5-color golem maid, with more on the hands so that it can do manual work. The <> is also customized to take advantage of it. Elsa decided on the overall design and finished it. We took our time, and after about two hours, the first prototype was completed. 2217 - - 59-25 Makina Base First, I called Saki, who was studying non-woven fabrics, and showed him the prototype <. "Oh!I''ve had < helping me since Aalu left, but she looks good!" Saki was overjoyed and agreed to test the <>. "So, what''s her name?" "I was thinking of having Saki name her." "Okay, okay. How about ...... since it is related to <> in the Franz kingdom and to <>......<> as Jin. "<>...... then, you are now enge1." "Yes, I am Enge1. Please take care of me. Enju-1, how are you doing? Enju-1 followed Jin''s words and performed a self-check. "Yes, I have no problem with the operation. I am in very good shape. Jin nodded. "Good. Then you will be Saki''s assistant for a while. If you find any problems or improvements in the process, please report them to me. Saki, let me know if you have any requests. "Yes, sir." "Yes, I understand." Thus, the road to mass production of <> was paved. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, while Saki is doing the field test, let''s get the basics ready. I''ll help. Reiko, take care of the materials. "Yes, I''ll take care of it." Since there is no way to change the body, there is no problem even if the field test is not completed. In the first place, the golem-made base has already been in operation for a long time. On the same day, Jin and his team prepared 100 bodies. * * * * * * * * * * * * After dinner, the old man spoke to me. "Oh, I see." The time difference from Mitsuho is about 7 hours. The delivery started at 9:00 a.m. and finished at 10:00 a.m. The <> left the town of Seki at 10:30 a.m. "Well, thank you very much for operating the doppelganger. < "What is it?What is it? "Yes, let me hear it." < "Oh, I see." Deus ex machina is supposed to be a brother and disciple of Jin. < is stronger than Jin''s. The automata he is currently working on will be loaned out to other countries through Machina. "Sooner or later, you won''t be able to hide it any longer." . Jin thought about it. Erza, who was with him, seemed to be thinking about it as well. "I''ve been fooling around with a lot of different settings until now. ......" "Fuso Island is a good candidate. "That''s what I thought too. But it''s a little too close." Jin said it''s not a good base for a deus ex machina that no one has ever heard of before. "That''s for sure." Erza nodded. "Then there''s the Pleiades. Atlas Island is a good place to start, Erza said. "Yeah, that''s not bad. I wish the ......< headquarters wasn''t on the island of Electra." "Hmm, that''s what I''m wondering too." "I guess so." I''ve been thinking about building a mega-float. "I was thinking of building a mega-float," he says. When asked how he is securing resources, he is at a loss for an answer. The old man also gave his opinion. "Gasmada Island or ......" Gasmada Island is located in the northernmost part of the Laurentian Continent, west of the Great Isthmus of Pazdekst. "The longitude is not bad. It''s not a bad longitude, and we should be able to get to any country within a reasonable time difference." < "Well, that would be good." << If there are any ruins left, we could remodel them and use them as a base of operations, the old man said. "Oh, that''s not a bad idea. Jin, however, thinks that an isolated island is convenient in many ways. There are many troublesome things when you live on land. < "Oh!" Jin leaned forward. It looked the most interesting. "An artificial island......... sounds like a secret base. It can even navigate on its own. ......" It brought back the romance of the days when I adored anime, tokusatsu (special effects) shows, and manga. "Brother Jin, you want to build a floating island?" Erza asked, perhaps sensing Jin''s feelings. "......Yes." Jin nodded, a little embarrassed. "But, you know,...... "Why don''t you make it?" "What?" Erza''s unexpected words made Jin puzzled. "If you look at it as a base, an artificial island is close to ideal. Then, the problem is the construction cost. But that is not a problem at all with the current Horai Island. Elsa added that if the main structure is made of metal, it can be reused in case of emergency, so it is not a waste at all. "What do you think, ......, old man?" Jin felt like he was just doing it for his hobby, even though Erza had told him not to. < "I see. ......" << "I guess so." Jin thinks it should be smaller than <>. "I think it should be about one kilogram in delivery." < The old man estimated that about five 300-meter class battleships would be enough for such a size. "I see." Jin then decided to build an artificial island. 2218 - - 59-26 Artificial Island Construction Jin decides to proceed with the plan on the premise of building an artificial island as Machina''s base. "If we make it bigger than <>, we might have a lot of problems, so I think we should make it less than half the size." <> has a diameter of 2 kilometers. Jin said, "Let''s make it 1 kilometer in diameter. "When you say artificial island, are you going to fill it with soil?" Elsa asked, understanding Jin''s reluctance to call it a mega-float. "Yes. <. In addition, she wants him to understand that it is a historic building. Even if it was just built. "You''re asking for some interesting advice," says Reinhardt. Reinhardt, who had good instincts, came over. Starting with that, Stearena, Marcia, Licia, Lewis, Bina ......, and the whole Jin family gathered except for Zion, Rhodos, and Ludmila, who had returned to the Nordic Federation. Even Saki, "I need a change of scenery. "I''m going to have a change of scenery," she said. "I think steel is a good choice for the structural material. Saki says. . This is partly because steel is not used much on Horai Island. "If we use Magi type alloys, strengthen them well, and stabilize them properly, we should be able to get more than enough strength. The old man confirmed Saki''s opinion. "Then we should make a framework of steel and use light silver on the outside. . The old man suggested that a mesh of mithril silver sandwiched between light silver (titanium alloy) and orichalcum (beryllium copper alloy) would be a good structure. "I see." The mesh of mithril silver is a "nerve wire" so to speak. It is useful as a sensor to detect anomalies in the exterior as soon as possible. "What about the overall shape?" Marcia asked. "Well, I was thinking of making the body a short cylinder with a layer of earth on top. What about the bottom? "The underwater part is a cylinder. And the bottom should not be flat, but rather a loose round bottom. That would be more stable and stronger. Rodrigo agreed. "What about power?" Reinhard asked. "In the underwater part, we can place a . Of course, it will also be equipped with a force field generator. "Will it also fly in the sky?" Reinhardt seems to love this kind of talk. "Yes, I''ll make it so it can fly. That''s just an added bonus. Jin said, "We''ll give it the ability to fly as a supplementary function. "Besides, it would be easier to assemble it on the moon." The idea was that it would be easier to work on the moon (UNY), where the gravity is lower than on Ars. On the other hand, if the gravity is too low, it seems to be less workable. "So, we assemble the main body on the moon (UNY) and build the ground part here?It will be interesting to build the ground part. Now Stearena is getting more motivated for some reason. "Yes, it is. I guess you could say it''s an extension of building a garden. Vivienne is now on board. Everyone is in high spirits when it comes to building things. "It''s a base, so you''re going to build a house, a laboratory, a workshop, something like that, right? Luis said. "That''s what it will be. Jin answered, and now Bina got into the mood, "It would be nice if they are connected by an underground passageway! (They were all talking about the time they were in Hale. (Maybe everyone has been relaxing in Hale and something strange turned on...?) ) Jin imagined that he might be right. In other words, he wanted to build something like a secret base. < house. After that, we were all talking about how to design it as an island, how to divide its interior, and so on... ....... (Ah, this is the way the <> should be. ......) I was so moved, Jin. The details of the <> were not finalized in that one day, but were worked out over the next day. Okay, let''s go with this line. "Aye." I agree. "I''m looking forward to it." As a side note, the Hurricane, carrying the asphalt emulsion purchased in Mitsuho, has returned safely. Saki is working on the research and development of non-woven masks, and hopes to continue this research as soon as he is free. Saki is working on the research and development of non-woven masks. And the construction of the base begins on the moon. "Well then, , I''m counting on you." Yes, you can count on me, Master Jin. All the necessary data has been given to Jack via the old man. The materials are more than enough at the moon. Since the materials are iron-based, building in a vacuum prevents oxidation, which is also an advantage. * * * * * * * * * * * While Jin was on his way to the moon, Erza began researching the reason why engineering magic does not work on living organisms, which she had been thinking about for some time. The results of this research would be of great help to the future of medicine. Hannah and Licia were assigned to help with the research. Hannah with her excellent theory and Licia with her own healing magic. "We''ll do our best." I''ll do my best. I''ll help you, too! The three began their joint research. Whether or not there will be any results remains to be seen. ....... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Oh, Jin, take a look at this." Saki then asked Jin to help her with the prototype of the non-woven fabric. 2219 - - 59-27 Consult with everyone < "There are three different thicknesses and three different fiber densities, for a total of nine different kinds. The materials are cotton and Maggi polyethylene. Magi polyethylene is one of the magi plastics made by extracting and combining the magi isotopes carbon C and hydrogen H from magi resin. It is one of the Maggi plastics made by <> and <> of carbon C and hydrogen H. Its simple structure makes it suitable for mass production. "I feel that cotton, which is a vegetable fiber, is not strong enough. And disposable is a waste, isn''t it? Maggi polyethylene has zero water absorbency, so it can be used over and over again as long as it is disinfected." "Then why not give it a sterilization or cleanup effect?" "Kuh, that''s a good idea. ...... Then, would it be better to make it only with Magi Polyethylene?" "Wouldn''t that make the texture worse?" "Well, maybe." Jin and Saki exchanged various opinions and continued to consider. They even cut out a sample and put it on their faces to see how easy it would be to breathe. "Thick ones are out of the question because you can''t breathe through them, and the ones that are too thin don''t work as a mask either. "Yes, I like the thickness in the middle. The density is also in the middle. In that sense, Saki''s aim was right on target. Yes, the recipe is ready, I can make it again in 10 minutes. ......<, please." "Yes, Saki-sama." Saki instructed Enju1, who had been her assistant the whole time. "Speaking of which, how is Enju-1 doing?" Jin remembered that Saki had given him a practical test. "Yes, I have no complaints. If I had to say, it would be better if the voice was a little more alto. "...... got it." ''s appearance is designed by Erza to be that of a calm woman in her mid-twenties. Saki says her voice is not quite right for that. "<>, come here for a minute." "Yes, Jin-sama." Jin calls <> to him and adjusts it without stopping. Specifically, he lowered the reference frequency of the artificial vocal cords slightly. "How about this?, please speak up." "Yes, Jin-sama. Saki-sama, how is this voice? "Yes, it''s good. It''s just as I imagined! It would be easier to understand if I say that a mezzo-soprano became an alto. Jin agreed that it was indeed the voice of a calm and mature woman. "Kuhu, as a healer (doctor), it''s better to have a calming effect on patients, isn''t it? At Saki''s words, Jin was inspired. "I see, hypnosis! "What?" "Hypnosis is used to calm patients. Patients who have been seriously injured often panic. To calm them down, we use <>. "I think it''s better than paralyzing them." It is easier to understand the patient''s condition than to make him faint or go to sleep. "But isn''t hypnosis forbidden? Saki voiced her concern. "That''s right. I don''t know if it''s allowed just because I''m a <>." At any rate, since it is not illegal or anything in Horai Island, there is no problem to have such a function in <>. "The problem is that it will be misused." There is no guarantee that <> will not be misused. Moreover, <> is a magic used by the Unification Party, an organization that once tried to rule the world. Jin knows firsthand the effects of misuse of this magic. "I wonder if there is any good alternative for general use. ...... Saki joined Jin''s muttering and thought together with him. "Hmmm......... that''s it!" "Oh, Saki, you have a good idea? "Yes. ...... Let''s ask everyone!" "That''s a good idea. Saki said, "That''s a good idea," and Jin decided to ask the family members for advice. It was just lunchtime, so they went to the cafeteria. Everyone in Horai Island was there. "Oh, there you are!" Erza, Hannah, and Licia had also come to eat. Resisting the urge to ask them right away, Jin and Saki also ate their lunch. Lunch that day was hot udon noodles. Various kinds of food are prepared on the table. Chopped Charoto (leek), deep-fried egg, tempura shrimp, tempura vegetables, tempura sakura shrimps, tempura chikuwa. Kamaboko, deep-fried tofu, rice cake. Jin added rice cake and made chikyu-udon. Saki put prawn tempura and kamaboko. The other members also added their favorite ingredients and enjoyed the taste. The other members were also enjoying the taste of their own favorite ingredients. "Now, I have something I wanted to talk to you about. Jin told everyone assembled that he was trying to figure out how to achieve the <>. "The first thing that came to my mind was <>, but that is a forbidden spell, and if it were to be misused, it would be a disaster." "Yes, indeed." "Indeed. <, were the first to agree. "So, I thought I''d ask everyone''s opinion." "Hmmm ......" This topic seemed to be a difficult one, and everyone was puzzling over it. But one person, Marikka, said, "Well, Gin-sama, there is a magic we use called . He had what he was looking for. <> is a tranquilizing magic. It is used to calm extreme states of excitement, such as rage or sadness. When Marikka told Jin about it, he thought it was a good idea. "Yes, I think I can use it. What do you think about ...... Elsa? "Yes, I think it''s a good idea." Since the goal is to prevent the injured from panicking, this magic could be used to achieve it. "I''m glad you asked. Thank you, Marikka. "I''m glad I could be of help." Thus, the can now use according to the patient''s condition. Jin also decided to ask everyone present for their opinions on <>. "Yes, ......." Everyone gave it serious consideration. Among them, Martha said "For my part, I think it would be a good idea to change the appearance of the automaton to match the person you''re talking to, don''t you? Martha said, "I think it''s a good idea to change your appearance to match the person you''re dating. "I see, not only mid-20s, but also 40s, 60s, and so on." "It would be nice to have a male <." It was suggested that not only a soothing appearance but also a dependable appearance would be necessary. "Then, I guess there are three patterns." A woman in her 20s. Women in their 50s. 40s,male. "Yes, I think that''s good. "Yes." Jin immediately decided to prepare the three body patterns. 2220 - - 59-28 Discussion followed by discussion "By the way..." Elsa spoke up. "I''m currently researching why engineering magic doesn''t work on living organisms, but it''s difficult. If you have any theories, please let me hear them. At these words, the listeners showed their understanding, as if to say, <>. "Indeed, it is strange, isn''t it? "Healing magic has an effect on living organisms, doesn''t it?" "Well, ...... it''s a difficult subject." Erza intuitively thought that it would not be a waste of time to share her wisdom at this stage, although there was no way to solve the problem. < was familiar with the previous theories, so Erza did not say anything unnecessary. However, this is a topic that we have been thinking about for a long time and have not been able to come to a conclusion. This time, too, it was not so easy. Even after an hour, no new theory had emerged. However. "Well, this is just a layman''s idea..." Erza''s mother, Meene, opened her mouth. "What''s the difference between <> and <>? Erza can use both, right?Well, that''s why ...... well, I can''t really say. ......" Meane is not good at this kind of academic discussion, so her words were a bit hesitant, but those who understood what she was trying to say understood what she meant. "I see, you are approaching it from that side!" "Hmm. < "Oh, I see!" Jin and the other members of the theoretical group had just realized that there was a method of comparison. * * * * * * * * * * It was already late that day, so Erza and the others decided to try the approach again the next day based on this hint. "In order to make a comparison, I''m going to use <> and <> as the subject of magic with similar effects." "Yes, I think that would be a good idea. "I think that''s a good idea too. But is there such a magic? The members are Elsa, Licia and Hannah. "Well, there''s something called narcosis. "That''s the magic to put anesthesia, isn''t it?" I''ve never heard of it before. ...... "The other day, when I was rescuing people from a cave-in accident in the Shoro Kingdom, I wanted a magic that would make them unconscious, not just paralyzed, so I made one after I got back." "You made it?" ...... "You''re Elsa, after all." "That''s great, Elsa." Anyway, now we can compare the effects of <> and <>. "<> is a magic that passes high voltage through nerves and paralyzes them with a shock, right?" "Yes. And <> is a magic that weakens the weak nerve currents that flow into the nerves and makes them less responsive." Here Hannah says something. "Isn''t it possible to stop the nerve activity if you make it stronger?" "Nope." "What?That''s too scary!" "I think so, too, when I created ......." In other words, it is possible to stop cranial nerve activity instantly. "I think we should designate it as forbidden." I''m afraid so. Anyway, what are the similarities and differences between these two types of magic, which are a bit similar in that they both manipulate <>?The three of them began to think. "<> is applying electricity from the outside. But <> manipulates the electric current inside the body. ......" Hannah tilts her head. "I think there might be a clue in that area." "Yes. Well,......<> is a weak current/voltage in the human body,<> is a small current value but a high voltage,...... it is not." Licia is also thinking about it, but she is not quite sure what to think. "I wonder if it''s not a strength ......." Hannah sighs. "Voltage?Electric current?How do you control electricity in the first place?" Erza replies to Hanna''s question. "I think it is converting magic power into electricity. It''s difficult to understand because the magic power is subject to the will of the magician, but not so when it becomes electricity." "Ah, I can sort of understand that." Hannah cannot use magic, so she can only imagine what it is like. "In other words, healing magic requires more subtlety ......?" But Erza shook her head. "Not necessarily. Jin, for example, can eliminate errors down to the micron." < golem and automata. "In that sense, it may be <>." Elsa said. "Scale?" "Nope. Engineering magic can deal with things that are unbelievably large, but healing magic is basically for the human body." "Ah, I see!...... but I''m getting more and more confused. ......" Here Licia gave her opinion. "Erza, you can use both engineering magic and healing magic, is there any difference in how you feel ...... or how you use it?" "Hmmm... ..................." This question seemed to be surprisingly pertinent, and Elsa thought hard. "Maybe it''s <>." "<>?" "Yes. Otherwise, there is no way to tamper with other people''s neural currents. Yes, that''s right. Yes, that''s right. "It''s not just nerve currents. It''s not just about nerve currents. It''s about promoting healing in other people''s bodies, too. It''s one thing if it heals one''s own body, but it''s someone else''s body. "...... Indeed, <>, this may be the right answer." Licia also thought it over and said that this was a strong possibility. "In the case of engineering magic, the target material has no unique magic pattern. Therefore, there is no need for synchronization." Elsa thoughtfully explained. "But in the case of biological materials, they have their own unique magic patterns, so it is necessary to synchronize with them in order to exert an effect on them. Licia took over Elsa''s explanation. However, Hannah refuted her explanation. Rather, she pointed out a hole in the theory. "But then, what about living organisms that can''t use magic?Or rather, what about biological materials?For example, trees and grass? In this case, the original theme of why engineering magic does not work on living organisms became a problem, although it was not the topic of healing magic. "<> might be the key. The three of us are not surprised if we can come up with something more ....... "Well, healing magic needs <>. Engineering magic does not. Hmmm... ............ that?" Hannah pondered and came up with a confirmation experiment. "Hey Elsa, is it possible to use engineering magic on living bodies with <>?" "Oh, that''s a good idea. Licia agreed. This is an experiment that only Erza, who can use both at a high level, could ask for. "Well, even if we try ......, the subject should be ......." "Oh, I see." We can''t use < on a human subject. The three of us were thinking about what would be a good target and subject for magic. 2221 - - 59-29 Human experiments? The discussion on the possibility of using engineering magic on human beings was reaching its climax. If only there were some more opportunities ....... Then Martha, Hannah''s grandmother, arrived, "It''s time for lunch," she said. She said, "Lunch is ready. She said, "Okay. If I said I didn''t want it because I was concentrating now, I would have been dragged away with a noose around my neck, so we all stopped thinking and went to the cafeteria. In the cafeteria, everyone in Horai Island was present. The menu was, unusually, grilled rice balls. The savory aroma of the grilled soy sauce whetted his appetite. "I like this kind of thing too. The only accompaniment was a simple oshinko (pickles). The tea was hojicha. "Mmm, delicious." The aroma is indescribable. The time spent relaxing like this passed in a flash, "...... can I talk to you about something else?" Elsa said in front of everyone what she was considering. "Well, then, can I use engineering magic on my body?If we can find out, we can take a step forward. Jin said with a difficult look on his face as he folded his arms. "...... Hey, does that mean it''s okay for me and everyone else?" "............ what?" Jin''s body is made of , and everyone else is a homunculus. "Ah." Erza realizes that Jin has just pointed this out, "I ...... was careless." She was a little wistful. "But if you need help, I can get Theon and Rhodes to help you. "Yes, I''d like that very much." "Okay." So Jin asked the old man to contact Rhodes, and Rhodes, who was available, agreed to help. "Hello, everyone. "It''s been a while!Not so much ......." And Ludmilla came with him. Sion had to go to work and unfortunately could not come to the meeting. "That''s why ......." "I see, so that''s how it is. Can you use engineering magic on yourself?" In addition to Jin''s explanation, Erza also gave a supplementary explanation. "If you can use engineering magic on a living body, it will be useful for treatment. I would like you to cooperate with us. "Okay. What should I do? "Try to deform the tip of the nail with the engineering magic, forming. "I will try. I can do it with ......<>......." "Oh!" This was a new discovery. If we can <>, we may be able to restore crooked bones with engineering magic. At the moment, for such diseases, the bones are broken once and then healed again. "So, can you use <> to cut an elongated nail?" "I will try. ......<>...... done." "Excellent." "Well, can you apply < to some of the hair?" "Well, I don''t want my hair to look like needles, can I use hair from my arm?" "Sure, sure." Rhodes said that he would still like to use the visual method to target specific hairs. "Well, then. ......<>...... you''ve done it." One of the hairs on the back of his hand was as hard as a needle. I tried to pull the hair out with a plucking tool, but it really looked like a needle. So far, this confirms my hypothesis that engineering magic works on my body. Whether this is conditional or not, or whether all engineering magic can be used ......, remains to be seen. As for Elsa, she would like to use <> to treat internal bleeding or to replace drains as she did the other day. As I could not ask Rhodes to do that, I decided to end the human experiment for the time being. "Thank you, Rhodes. "No, I''m glad I could be of help. ...... and, from what I understand, to improve your medical skills, right?" Yes. Yes, and thanks to you we have made a step forward. Thus, it was proven that I could use engineering magic on my own body. This is only for the time being, because we have only been able to confirm that the magic has a physical effect. I would like to try chemical engineering magic if I can." <> to dissolve stones, <> to cure carbon monoxide poisoning, and so on. "I suppose it could also break down melanin pigments and remove blemishes." "Indeed." "And if we can break down cells into carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and so on, we can get rid of tumors." Yes, that''s true. The fusion of healing magic and engineering magic has only just begun. * * * * * * "Well, that was interesting. Saki, who was watching Elsa and Rhodes'' experiment, said happily. The whole Jin family was watching with bated breath. "Well, that''s a big step forward," said Saki. And the mystery is how engineering magic works on living plants? Erza nodded. "Saki is right. We still haven''t explained why engineering magic doesn''t work on a living tree, but it does on a branch broken off from it." At that moment, Licia asked a question. "Well, I was thinking in terms of <>, can you > with living plants?" Elsa answered, "I''m not sure if they can or not. After all, they are <." "That''s right. ......" Since there is no clear consciousness or <>, we don''t know whether the magic pattern itself exists or not. Therefore, even if they want to , they can''t do so. "So, biological materials cannot be processed in the same way as metals in the first place?It''s not ......, is it? and can be processed, can''t they?" "That''s true." At this point, Jin speaks up. "Even wood can be used for engineering magic such as <> and <>. This is fundamentally different from <> or <>, isn''t it? "That''s certainly true. ......" Jin added, "With <> you can cut a standing tree. If it were done on a very small scale, it could be <>. ...... He said. "That''s an interesting idea, girl." Hannah also seemed to be interested. Everyone present felt that it was a good idea to share wisdom and pursue a question in this way. 2222 - - 59-30 Progress of the construction of the memorial hall Everyone in the Jin family is discussing and thinking about how engineering magic works on plants, but Jin realizes that he has a time limit. "Ah ...... I should go to the Shoro Kingdom soon." He would have liked to have more of these discussions, but that was not going to happen. Jin had to go to the Shoro Empire and have a meeting about the <> anyway. "If we could do it by ourselves, we wouldn''t have to go through all this trouble. Jin now realized how difficult it is to leave things to others. Also, since this is the memorial hall of the first generation, whom he loved and respected very much, he does not want to use a "doppelganger" as much as possible. Therefore, this time, Jin himself had to visit the museum. * * * * * * * * * * * A little after noon on January 25th, Jin left Horai Island on the . "Well, I''m off then. "Have a good trip." "Well, I don''t think I''ll be here that long this time. Since Erza is staying behind this time, she is accompanied only by Reiko and her pilot, Hope. < flies through the clouds. "You''ve contacted Reuthert, haven''t you?" < "Well, then, I guess it''s all right." Jin was relieved to hear that going directly to Miyagi seemed to be okay. "But this year is going to be a year of construction work. ...... Jin muttered to himself as he gazed at the clouds drifting by outside his window. * * * * Meanwhile, in Loisart. "I understand that Jin-dono will be here today, Prime Minister. "Yes, Your Majesty. I assume his purpose is to discuss the construction. Your Highness. ...... construction has already begun and the plans are ready. "Yes, I see." Ernst II nodded. "You are in charge of this project, aren''t you, Mr. LeGray, Minister of Magic and Technology?" Yes, sir. I am curious to know what you have seen in Mitsuho, but ...... I am busy with other matters at the moment. I''d like to know what you''ve seen in Mitsuho, but I''m busy with other matters right now. "Yes, you can leave it to me." I''ll leave it to you, sir. At the appointed time, Jin was in a room at the palace in the capital city of Leusert. "Welcome, Jin-dono. I''m sorry, but I have a lot of work to do today, and I''ve left you in the hands of the Prime Minister. Let him know if you need anything else." Ernst II says regretfully. "Thank you for your concern." After greeting the emperor, Jin went to a meeting with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Magic and Technology, and others. The other day, I went to Mitsuho to buy asphalt. He first of all reported about the trip. "I have purchased an emulsion called asphalt emulsion on a trial basis. Now we are testing how to use it. "I see. In other countries, they use it to pave roads. Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Magical Technology have seen asphalt pavement and have even driven horse-drawn carriages on it. "I think it''s quite nice, but it''s hard to maintain." "Really?" So Jin explained what he had heard in the town of Seki and what he knew ...... about the difficulty of partially repairing asphalt pavement. "I see,...... that if you allow water to pass through, the pavement is more likely to crack when it freezes, and as a result, the pavement will be damaged." "And since real asphalt pavement is boiled at 160 degrees Celsius and poured over the road surface, partial repairs are difficult." Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Magical Technology understood Jin''s explanation. "Yes. However, we are testing the engineering magic to see if we can do something about that. Specifically, heating with , or to weaken the bond. In some cases, it may be necessary to develop special engineering magic, but Jin doesn''t explain that far. "Hmmm... I''ll leave that to Jin-dono. Jin is fully responsible for the asphalt. Now let me explain about the construction work. The Minister of Magical Technology explains the progress and future plans. According to him, the foundation work has already started. The craftsmen have accepted the guidance of the that Jin had left for them. "Well, when I explained that it was a construction golem made by <>, they listened to me without a second thought," said the Minister of Magical Engineering. said the Minister of Magecraft and Technology. To be precise, the <> was not a construction golem, but that was a minor detail, so Jin did not say anything. Jin is handed the construction schedule and looks it over. The schedule was roughly in line with what they had discussed. "As we discussed the other day, the construction will be completed next spring in April. Are there any problems? "Nothing in particular. The only thing I can say is that we would like to have a list of the exhibits as soon as possible. "Okay, I will complete it by the end of the year. We still have almost a year to go, but we want to examine the contents to be exhibited, so here we are. "That''s fine. Jin also wanted to make sure that the exhibit was satisfactory, and the members of the Jin family were very enthusiastic about it. After exchanging a few more confirmations, the meeting about the construction was over. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "No, no, it''s great to have Jin-dono on the other side, he talks so quickly! After the meeting, Jin and his team members were chatting over a cup of tea. "Thank you very much for listening to all our requests. Jin was also grateful that there were no changes to the plan. "Oh, yes." The Prime Minister seemed to remember something. "Shall I report to you that we have made some progress in the investigation of the cause of the recent cave-in accident? The Prime Minister asked Jin if it would be better to give a progress report since no conclusion had been reached yet, or if it would be better to give a summary report after the results had been obtained. "Yes, ......." Since the old man did not say anything, Jin guessed that it would take some time to get the results and conclusions. So , "Please let me know the results in summary when you get them. He said he hoped that he would be able to hear the results of the study in summary. "Okay. I will do so. The prime minister promised that he would contact Mr. and Mrs. Daikie at that time. 2223 - - 59-31 Increased results A bauxite mine in Trom in the Shoro Kingdom experienced a cave-in accident. It was highly probable that it was a man-made accident, or sabotage by someone, and the agents of the Shoro Empire were investigating. Among them was Regulus 45, a.k.a. <> of the 5th Quinta, a subordinate of the old lord. <> is a middle-ranking agent among the low-ranking agents ...... who are actually running around, and his performance is neither good nor bad. There are ten agents mobilized in total. They were having a meeting at the temporary headquarters. This temporary headquarters is an abandoned house on the outskirts of the town of Trom. It is ostensibly the <. There is no external problem at all since there are members to review the maintenance and management of the mine. "Now that we have completed our investigation, I would like each of you to report back to me, starting with No. 1 and No. 2. The agent leader spoke up. The leader of the agents, called number 0 for the sake of convenience, spoke up. The remaining members of the team are, of course, called Nos. 1 through 9. Regulus 45 is number 9. Basically, they work in pairs. This time, No. 1 opens his mouth. "Yes. I and No. 2 have investigated tunnels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, which are still intact. As a result, we found some small scratches similar to those on the reinforcement of the tunnel where the cave-in occurred. "Mm, I see." It seems that the tunnel No. 4 and No. 5 were not the only ones that collapsed. "The location of the scratches was about 40 centimeters from the ground, almost the same as the ones we saw in the collapsed tunnels. "I guess that means he put it in a place where it was hard to see." A wound at eye level would be easily detected, while a wound at a lower level would be more difficult to detect. Since there were no others, it was the turn of No. 3 and No. 4. "We investigated the collapsed No. 4 tunnel. As a result, we found this. ...... Hey." Following No. 3''s words, No. 4 placed a small bottle on the table. "What is this?" "This is an animal hair, we found it at the end of tunnel No. 4. He said that the fact that it was found at the end of the tunnel, where no animals are supposed to live, was a sticking point. "Of course, it is not a human hair. I did some research and it''s close to that of a rock wolf. Rock wolves are not demons, but predators. They are about one meter long, so it is possible for them to make a wound about 40 centimeters high. It is more natural to think so. However, rock wolves live in the northern forest zone and should not have the habit of entering deep into caves. "No traces of feces or prey remains were found." This concludes the reports of Nos. 3 and 4. Now it is our turn. The report of No. 5 and No. 6 begins. It seems that No. 6 is the one to report this time. "The two of us were investigating Tunnel No. 5. This was another tunnel that had collapsed, but has now been reconstructed and seems to be out of danger. And we found the same ......" A small bottle was placed on the table by No. 5. "It was animal hair." Here, too, he said, was a hair of an animal, probably a rock wolf. And again. "By coincidence, we also found footprints." No. 5 puts the sketch on the table. "They are life-size." They were indeed those of a rock wolf. "But there are no traces of feces, leftovers, or any other living ...... smells," he said. He concluded. Then it was the turn of Nos. 7, 8, and 9. They were a three-man team. "We have investigated the surrounding area," No. 7 said. No. 7 spoke up on behalf of the others. "After some time, they had almost disappeared, but we found some rock wolf tracks. They were on wet mud. "The only thing is that the footprints seem to be for more than one animal, but when I look at the footprints, they are for only one animal. What do you think about this? ......" What do you think about this? "...... could have had exactly the same footprint." He stated his opinion as follows. "Exactly the same footprint?Speak up." No. 0 said irritably. "...... I''m saying it''s a fake rock wolf." At this, half of the group laughed and the other half frowned. "Who could do such a thing ......?" At this point, a few swallowed their words. Yes, because I thought of <>. "No, not the Magecraft Meister or the Deus ex Machina. No. 9, or Regulus 45, assured us. "It''s too badly done." "......How do you know that?No, I''m not questioning the <> or the <>, I''m asking purely as a question." "That''s easy. It is impossible that these two have such poor skills that you can judge them to be fakes just by looking at their footprints. "I see." With that explanation, the group seemed to be satisfied for the time being. "Besides," Regulus45 continued. Regulus45 continued. "The two of you have no motive." There would be no profit to be gained by bringing down the mine. "Besides, both of you were involved in the rescue operation at the time of the accident. "Indeed. ......No, again, I''m not doubting you, I''m just curious as to what No. 9 is claiming that they are not the two of you. I was curious to know what No. 9 had to say that you two didn''t." No. 0 turned a straight face. "Well, we now know that it seems to be a fake rock wolf that caused the cave-in, but there is still a long way to go just to get a clue as to who the real culprit is. All of you, hang on, and be careful." I understand. I understand. The meeting was brought to the old man through the eyes and ears of Regulus 45. > The old man seems to be getting curious about the identity of the mastermind. <> < * * * * * * * * * * At the same time, at the research institute in Horai Island. "Hmmm, this asphalt emulsion is best used like this! Saki, who had continued her research, had come to a conclusion. <, she is happy with her research, and both are producing satisfactory results. "Kuhu, I can''t wait for Jin to come back. "Saki, thank you for your hard work." Erza, who remained on Horai Island this time, thanked Saki for her hard work. "You helped me a lot, too. Thank you too. "Well, I think Jin will be back tomorrow." There is a big time difference between Japan and the Shoro Empire, so it''s no wonder. It was a rush of research, but the results seemed to be bearing fruit little by little. 2224 - - 59-32 Report of Psaki On January 26th, Jin returned to Horai Island and was greeted by his beloved wife Elsa and Saki, who was very excited to see him. "Brother Jin, welcome back," Saki said to Elsa. Saki said to Elsa, "Brother Jin, welcome home, "Jin, the mask is ready!" She said at the beginning of her speech. I helped, too." Erza added. "Well. I''m looking forward to it. Jin immediately went to the workshop. "Look!" "Oh, this is nice." Saki showed him a three-dimensional mask like the ones Jin had seen in modern Japan. "If you put a pad on your nose, it will be comfortable and not fog up even if you wear glasses like me. "Yes. The masks come in five different designs and two colors, white and light blue. "They are made of a blend of cotton and Maggi polyethylene fiber. The storage case has a < effect, so you can put it away and it will be clean the next time you use it. The < effect also has a sterilization effect, so the product is clean and sanitary. "That''s very well thought out." "Cost-wise, the storage case is going to be a bit expensive, though." "Maybe they should be sold separately." If the masks are sold as a set and separately, it is possible to buy just the masks again, and if the storage case breaks down, it can be dealt with. "Yes, that''s right. I think we can decide on that when we discuss the sales format." "Yes, that''s right. You''ve done some research on asphalt emulsion at ......, haven''t you?" "Of course!That''s not really something I want to show you here, so let''s move it to another place. So Saki, Hitoshi, Elsa, Reiko and the others came to the temporary tent outside the laboratory. "Asphalt emulsion is quite smelly. I thought it would be a nuisance at mealtime." "That''s true." It has a peculiar petroleum smell. That''s why we''re doing it here. Jin and the others were led into a large tent. "We''ve been waiting for you. "Oh, <> is here. How are you? Yes, everything is fine. Good, that''s good. Before he could begin his report, he pointed to the ground. "Over there, there is a test pavement of about one meter square. Could you try it out first?" "Let''s see..." Hitoshi, too, looked interested and climbed on the pavement. "Yes, this is definitely asphalt pavement. It was very close to the asphalt pavement that Jin remembered. "Kuh-huh, I see, that''s good. Saki seemed satisfied to hear Jin''s words. "I heard from Jin that asphalt emulsion is a version of the original asphalt, right?" Jin nodded. There is no way to know what kind of existed in modern Japan, but I can analyze this world-made that I bought the other day. "Originally, asphalt was supposed to be heated to 160 degrees Celsius, melted into a sludge, and paved over, but this is supposed to be used at room temperature," Saki said. Saki says asphalt is a highly viscous hydrocarbon liquid ...... viscous body. "And you dilute it with a solvent." The solvent is volatile even at room temperature, so after a day of paving, it will regain its original viscosity and can be used as asphalt pavement. "And so far, it''s within the bounds of common sense." Saki laughed and clasped her palms together. "I''m going to report the results of my various experiments with , which my assistant lent me!" "Oh!That''s going to be fun." "Well, let''s have a look at this one, shall we?" Saki pointed to another area of pavement. "This area was paved with asphalt emulsion and then coated with a toughening agent. Do you see the difference?" "<>...... Oh, it''s not as tough!" "<> was applied, so it''s not surprising. We used half the amount of asphalt emulsion. That means we can cut costs, Saki said. "That would be nice." Jin, who is planning to use his money to help turn the economy around, thought that if he could save money, that would be great. He could put that money somewhere else. "Now, I have a favor to ask of Jin here." "Yes?What is it?" "Can you make a softening agent to soften the asphalt emulsion on this pavement? That would make it easier to remove the pavement and repair it, Saki said. "I see." Since this is engineering magic, it is certainly Jin''s domain. "So it doesn''t work on the ...... gravel, but only on the asphalt emulsion that''s attached to it." Jin thought for a moment. "Yes, it can. ...... I mean, asphalt emulsion is a hydrocarbon, right?" "Yes, it is. That''s what they use to bind the gravel together. "So, the target should be hydrocarbons, right? Jin guesses that he can soften the hydrocarbons by adjusting them to <, and immediately begins to formulate the <. It is necessary to think about the <, but Jin is not an ordinary mage. "...... Okay, yes, it''s done." "Are you sure?" "Really?" "Yes. Can I try it? Jin pointed to the pavement where he had hung the toughened pavement. "Of course. Please give it a try and show me. "Sure. ......<" "Whoa!" Jin''s newly created melt has made a mess of the paved asphalt. "It''s engineering magic that melts the hardened glue and adhesive once again." The gravel is unaffected, so the overall appearance is that it has crumbled. "...... Hmmm, I see. But the asphalt emulsion that holds the gravel together has not returned. Saki said, to which Jin replied with a wry smile. "You can''t put the volatile components back in. "That''s right. ...... can you get this back to the hardness it was when it was paved?" "Of course. Of course. Since this effect is reversible, we have considered such engineering magic at the same time. ......<>...... see? After applying <>, the asphalt returned to its asphalt-like hardness. "Yes, yes, good, good, good. Can you also apply ...... to it?" "Of course you can. ......<>" "Oh!You''re a gin, aren''t you? Now we know that paving, durability, repair and maintenance can all be done with engineering magic. This means that no paving materials are wasted and no waste materials have to be thrown away. "It''s environmentally friendly, isn''t it?" "Yes, it is." Jin nodded in agreement with Saki''s comment. "Now we can pave the circuit in the Kingdom of Franz. Jin reaffirmed his thoughts from the other day, "We''ll be spending a lot of time on construction work for a while. 2225 - - 59-33 Artificial Island On January 28th, the foundation of the artificial island that will become the base of the deus ex machina that was being built on the moon (UNY) was completed. It took two full days to fly to Ars. On January 30, it is now floating in the calm waters of Tatsumi Bay. "It''s a cylinder one kilometer in diameter and one kilometer high, and the underside is not flat but slightly rounded and protruding. Reinhardt, who had seen the shape of the boat before it landed on the water, said. "Yes, that''s right. So we''re going to build an island on top of the flat part. Jin says. "First we put a rock on top of it, right?" "Yes. "Yes. Because soil would spill over or be scraped away by the waves. The rock cliffs are surrounded by rocks, and soil and vegetation are used in the inland area. Rocks are loaded inside the main body and brought from the moon (UNY). Most of the rocks are leftovers from the debris of the and the tailings. The idea is to put them to good use. "You''re going to let Daedalus do that?" "Yes, they will. < "Well, that would be fast." The rocks are attached to the main body by engineering magic using < and so on. Basalt, andesite, peridotite, serpentinite, and tuff were bonded to the main body one after another. At first, it was flattened. In the center, the framework of a mountain about 200 meters long was formed, and the mountain was completed when the stones were attached to the framework. carries the stones, and <> attaches and adjusts them. "Wow, it''s a great view! Reinhardt is impressed. The other members of the group are watching through the large magic screen in the laboratory, but he is the only one watching the scene with Jin. The dull silver surface of the rock is covered with rocks in no time at all, and we never get tired of watching. In about three hours, the rock covering was complete. "That was fast. "Let''s go have lunch while we can." While some minor work was being done, Jin and Reinhardt moved to the laboratory''s cafeteria to have lunch. "Oh, yakisoba today." Yakisoba noodles with sauce was their lunch. It was savory with cabbage, meat, and of course, sakura shrimps. It smelled good when Jin sprinkled a lot of green laver, which he liked. "I was looking at the magic screen, but it looks like it''s almost done. Saki said as she ate, as if to confirm. "Yes. We just need to smooth out some of the irregularities, check the joints for any defects, and weather them to the right degree. The weathered appearance is necessary to explain the fact that he inherited it from the previous generation of Machina. "What about the armament?" Marcia asked. "I think I set it up 400 years ago that the deus ex machina would be better armed than I am." "Maybe they did." "So, with the whole <> thing going on, I''d like to make it more powerful than <>. With better security, of course." "What exactly?" "Basically, , , and . Oh, and <>." The <> is a cannon that can fire various kinds of attack magic, such as <><>. I''ve hardly used any of them in battle, though. "How are your defenses? Rodrigo asks. "Well, <><><>> and <>. The <> is not a spherical or hemispherical barrier, but a circular shield. While it has high defensive power, it is characterized by its directional nature, that is, it is powerless against attacks from directions to which the shield is not facing. < "What about the resident golems?" Toa asked. "Sky Squadron of Air Force (Air Force) Golems numbered 10,001 to 1,100. (Navy Golem Marine Squadron 501 to 600. Jin explains. "Army Golem''s Land Squadron is 1001-1100, Navy Golem''s Marine Squadron is 501-600. There are no space-related units." "That''s good enough for me. ...... Oh, and what about everyday life?" "Butler E, the butler golem, and two each of the five colored golem maids. ...... maids numbered 10 3 and 104. And I''m thinking of << craftsman (smith)>>101 to 120, for the maintainers." "I see." That should be enough, Toa said. "Hey, Jin, what are you going to do about the island''s management and control brain?" asked Bina. asked Bina. Of course we will have one. Of course we''ll have one. I mean, we''ve already made a tentative plan. Otherwise, it wouldn''t be possible to fly here from the moon. That''s for sure. "After this, we''ll make it more capable and formalize it." "...... and what''s your name?Oh, and the island? "Well, we haven''t decided yet." Jin''s idea is to name the island and the brain . Poseidon, the god of the sea, is a good idea, but Poseidon''s base is not in Olympus, which is from Greek mythology. Olympus is the name of a mountain. Another idea is that the island is < and the brain is . Jin himself thinks that this one is too far-fetched. "I thought I''d ask everyone''s opinion. How about ......?" "Well, I don''t know............it''s too sudden..." I''ll think about it, Reinhard said. And since the rock cover of the island is about to be finished, Jin decides to go to Tatsumi Bay again. And since he can''t observe the island as it is, he decides to take the <>. "Oh, this is nice." The view of the artificial island from the sky was quite good. "It looks like a miniature Horai Island without Tatsumi Bay. There is a mountain near the center of the island and a flat area on one side. The plan is to build a research institute or base there. "Looking at it this way, it looks like an isolated island in the middle of the sea. The thought crosses Jin''s mind, "Let''s call this one . That way, it would be a cover for the original island of Horai. However, he thought that it might be more complicated than he imagined, so he decided not to mention it. "Okinawa?There was also an ideal world called Nirai Kanai. ......" Jin looks down at the island and thinks about the name. "Or maybe I''m not familiar with Norse mythology ......." This is the musings of Jin, who always has trouble with naming things. 2226 - - 59-34 Artificial Island Tour Putting off the decision on the name, Jin decides to proceed with the construction of the artificial island. As discussed by the <> members, he is going to complete the facilities inside the island. However, since most of the work has already been done by Tsuki (Yuni), we only need to finish it. So we finished in half a day. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At dinner that night, Jin told everyone, "Tomorrow, we will all go to the island together. "Tomorrow, we will all tour the island, and if you see anything that needs to be fixed, please point it out to me. "I''m looking forward to it. "Oh, in that case, I''ll invite Zion, Rhodes, and Ludmilla to join us. Everyone nodded in agreement to Marikka''s suggestion. < is all here. * * * * * * * * * * * * On February 1, the entire was to inspect the artificial island. "Wow, ...... you made something great. But I think it''s a good thing to use it as a base for deus ex machina. Sion was surprised at first, but soon realized the importance of the project. "This is ......!That''s Jin-san''s ...... and Hourai Island." Rhodes was surprised, "Is this the work of man ......?" Ludmilla was still getting used to the idea. Ludmilla was still not used to it. "Come on, I''ll show you around." Jin took the lead and led the group to the artificial island. The old man''s deus ex machina and his knight in shining armor, Rei, were also with them. First, the group rides from the pier in Tatsumi Bay to the island on a barge that can accommodate 30 passengers, so that everyone can get on. Hope drove the barge. Even in the deepest part of Tatsumi Bay, the underwater part of the artificial island is a kilometer long, so it cannot be directly attached to the pier. Many barges are said to be unable to navigate on their own, but not this one. It is equipped with four small but powerful <>, which can travel at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour. "It''s called <>." Jin named the flat-bottomed, wide, stable barge "Frog" because the flat bottom reminded him of breaststroke. It took about five minutes to reach the artificial island from the pier. There are several rock ledges on the side of the artificial island for barges to lay on. Of course, they are artificial ledges. From there, one climbs up a cleverly constructed stone staircase to the top of the island. There is a difference in elevation of about ......30 meters. But nowadays, 30 meters is like going up to the second floor of a house. Theon was the only one who climbed up, sitting on Hope''s arm. "This is nice and easy." "Please take it easy, Grandmother," said Hope. Ludmilla was at her side. "Yes, I''m fine. I won''t. I won''t." Saying this, Zion glanced at his friend Marikka, who had been rejuvenated as a homunculus. "Well, here we are on the artificial island. There''s nothing here. Nothing but rocks. The view was desolate, with no grass, trees, or even moss growing yet. But there are places that have been leveled off. Airfields and airstrips. is a big guy." It covers an area of about 300 meters square. "That little hill over there is hollow and will be the core of the base. ...... No, the core is the part that''s underwater?" Anyway, it is ostensibly Machina''s base, Jin explained. "This is where the living quarters, guest rooms, temporary command center, and workshops are located." "If it''s temporary, does that mean the real one is in a different location?" At Zion''s question, Jin nodded. "Yes. The underwater part ...... is the cylinder part. I''ll show you later. With that, the group walked to the mountain. Then Makina said, "There is a hidden door here. and put her hand on a whitish rock. "It opens in response to the flow of magic power." With a faint sound, a hatch large enough for a truck to pass through opens. "Oh!" Reinhardt exclaimed. "I knew about this in the meeting, but it''s really impressive to see it in person. Reinhardt''s eyes lit up at the sight of the man-made island as a secret base. "This is the command center. A room with a number of large . In the center of the room, there is a seat reserved exclusively for the commander, or machina, and an elevator that takes you directly down to the lower level. The true command room is at the end of the elevator. "Functionally, however, it''s not much different from the rooms above," he says. The only difference is that the true command center can be quickly mobilized. In the true command center, there are several warp gates that allow direct access to the <> and other aircraft. "Are there any aircraft other than <>?" Jin asked in response to Zion''s question, "We haven''t made one yet. Jin answered, "We have not made it yet. Then he said, "Jin-san!When you make an aircraft, please let me know! "Oh, me too! Rhodes and Ludmilla asked me for a favor. "Of course, I don''t mind. ......" Jin had no objection. "So, this is the hangar. This is mainly for submarines. Makina explained. Jin added, explaining that large vessels are troublesome to moor, so the vehicles in the sea will be submersibles that can be used as ships, but can also be entered and exited underwater. "So, then, < in the air and a submersible in the sea?" Rhodes asked. "No, that''s not enough power, so we will build about 20 Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. Now Jin said that he also wanted to prepare large golems and multi-legged tanks for the army. "Underwater, we can have a as well." At this point, Marcia said, "What about small boats, Jin? She asked. "Yes, we need about 20 small trimaran-type high-speed boats, since we have a marine unit. "I''ll help you!" "Yes, I''ll help you then. The family members seem to enjoy this kind of work. They are also working on the interior, "I think this place could use a little more light. "We don''t know who''s going to be staying in the living quarters, so it would be nice to have some luxury rooms." "It''s been here for 400 years, so it should look old in some ways. "Then maybe we should decorate it with some antiques." Everyone offered their own useful opinions. 2227 - - 59-35 Naming and Shipbuilding After a whole day of fiddling around with this and that, the artificial island was finished up quite nicely. The next day, the morning of February 2, Jin said, "We finally have to decide on a name. Jin said. "Now that we''ve completed the management brain, we want to put it into full-scale operation. For that, we have to name it. Incidentally, the management brain that controls the deus ex machina, the , has been left untouched. Jin is thinking of naming the brain . I am also thinking of naming the island after a Greek myth. (I wonder if it would be (......, but that''s a continent, I''m told.) "I knew you should have named it after Jin." "I guess you''re right." Reinhardt spoke on behalf of everyone and Saki supported him. I regret using and in this situation. "I wonder if there is anything else to ...... ......" Jin ponders if there is anything else in the ideal world. "Shambhala......Eldorado......I''m three now....... Oh, I remember you said that was in Greece." Jin comes up with an ideal world that was in Greece. "Arcadia." Arcadia is the name of an ancient region in Greece, which was handed down in later times as a pastoral paradise and became a synonym for an ideal world. It is sometimes called Arcadia, Arcadia, Arcadia, etc. in English. "Arcadia, huh? That has a nice ring to it. "I think it''s good." "Yes, I think it''s good." Surprisingly, the members liked it. There was no point in overthinking things, "Okay, let''s name the island . The controlling magical brain shall be <. Jin declared. I explained the origin of the name to the best of my knowledge, "Well, that''s nice," he said. "An ideal world and a sea god. It fits perfectly. The response was not bad. "The brain of the controlling magician, <>. Name <>. < "Take control of this man-made island of Arcadia." < Since the nominal owner of the island is <>, he can''t call Jin <>. Here, <>, the base of <>, is born. * * * * * * * * * * * * "......This year is all about construction, construction, construction. ......" "You sound like you''re having fun while saying that." Right now, Jin and his team are building a ship belonging to <>. Reiko is working as an assistant by Jin''s side, and the <> are carrying materials and assembling them under his direction. Reiko is assisting Jin, and the <> are carrying and assembling materials under his direction. And one more person, Marcia, is interrupting. There is a reason for this. Jin says, <>. On Horai Island, there is an 8-seater submersible called . I don''t want it to look too much like that submarine, so I fully accept Marcia''s advice. The only downside is that the construction speed is slower, so there is virtually no problem. "I see, so this is what happens to submarines when they are designed by Marussia. "Well, yes. ......Since the submarine will also be used for activities on the water, it will also have a deck. So, instead of a cigar-shaped submarine, the design has a deck like the ones used in World War II. To put it bluntly, it resembles the I submarine. As for Jin, he thought that it reminded him of a ship in a submarine comic he read a long time ago. It is 20 meters long and has a maximum speed of 100 km/h underwater and 80 km/h above water. < "Well, if you use the water avoidance barrier, you can dive 1000 meters, and if you use the force field generator, you can even exceed the speed of sound underwater." "You mean, ...... over 1,500 meters per second?That''s impressive." That sounds useless," Jin said, as if he were trying to be cute. "The crew is made up of marines, so we don''t have to worry about oxygen." Nevertheless, we can''t be sure that we won''t have people on board, so we''ll make sure that we have enough room to accommodate them. "There will be times when we will have to perform rescues." "That''s true. What about ...... armament?" "Torpedoes and explosives with <>. And <>" Jin said that since it also has defensive wards, it can handle most things. "What''s your name going to be?" "Well, ......." Jin thought about it, "Let''s name it Coelacanth. < "Ten of these, I think." We decided to leave that to the <. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Next is a small speed boat. In terms of Horai Island, they are the <. "I guess a trimaran is the best choice. "I thought Marcia would say so." But then it would be similar to ," says Jin. "Oh, then I have a design like this. Marcia drew a sketch of the hull on a notepad on her desk in the workshop and showed it to me. It was a design with a large central hull and much smaller hulls on the left and right sides. "Oh, so this is the way to do it," she said. "My father and I have built and tested countless hulls. That''s something we can show off to Jin. I''m sure. Thank you for this. The same trimaran makes a completely different impression. "Okay, you''re hired. So, Jin, Reiko, Marcia, and the <> set about building a small speedboat. "Normally, the boat would accommodate five people, but in the event of a rescue, it should be able to carry up to 10 people." "That would make it about 6 to 7 meters long." As expected of Marcia, she seemed to have a rough idea of the size of the boat based on the number of passengers. "Then let''s go with that. The frame is made of 64 light silver ......" This is Jin, too, who is building < in accordance with Marcia. 2228 - - 59-36 Construction and construction The 20 small fast boats were completed without any problems. What are you going to name them? How about "Kingfisher"? "Yes, that sounds good. It is the English name of Kingfisher. Marcia once named her trimaran <, which also means kingfisher. Anyway, the name has been decided for the small fast boat belonging to Deus ex Machina. Next is the air force. * * * * * * Next is aircraft. As promised, I call out to Rhodes and Ludmilla, and they both come flying in. "Jin-san, what kind of things are you going to make? Rhodes'' eyes lit up. Ludmilla is standing silently next to Rhodes, but I can tell by her sniffing that she is unable to contain her inner excitement. "Let''s see, a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft that is fast and has some attack power. Vertical takeoff and landing is not a problem, since it is basically a <>. As for the speed, the shape of the aircraft should be modified. "The attack power is ...... well, it should be ok. < and >." Jin shows the sketch to Rhodes and the others and explains. "......, that''s why." "A slimmer airship type than ......, huh? It''s more aerodynamic. Since the aircraft is for combat use, it will have a crew of two, and since the crew is also a golem, the cabin pressurization, air conditioning, and other amenities will be minimal. The weight of the aircraft will be reduced, which will be advantageous in terms of speed and mobility. Since it is powered by <>, including propulsion and armament, it is much lighter than modern aircraft of the earth. The aircraft is 20 meters long and 5 meters wide, in the shape of a long, thin teardrop. However, since it is a <>, its lower half is only a skeleton, the same as Jin''s <>. So the prototype was completed immediately. "Oh, ......" "Oh, it''s already done? Since the basic structure is the same as that of <, we were able to assemble it without any particular problems. With the help of the <, we were able to build even such a large object in a very short time. In doing so, it is only the < who can trace Jin''s thoughts that can reach out to his itchy parts, or rather, support him ahead of time when he wants to do something like this. The same is true for Reiko; unless she wants to do something unusual, all Jin has to do is to say a few words. No wonder Rhodes and Ludmilla are surprised. "What are you going to name it?" "Well, how about ......<>?" <<> is German for comet. The Messerschmitt Me163, a rocket fighter developed in Germany during World War II, was also called <. If you remove the wings from its stocky fuselage, it may look like the <> that has just been completed. "I''m not sure about <>, but it sounds good." There may be long-period planets in the Celan solar system, but comets are not likely to come around. At any rate, the name did not sound bad, so Jin decided to name this model <>. "Okay, I''ll build 19 more of the same type. Jin declared as he looked at the first model, which was labeled <>. Following his voice, 100 <> begin their work. "<>The support from the Lords is also great. ......" These <> are responsible for part of the extraordinary production capacity of Horai Island. They are currently in the process of making nineteen of the same type of plane. In the meantime, Jin decided to test fly the <. The test pilot was Sky 1001. "Okay, let''s go. Without hesitation, Sky-1001 climbs aboard the Comete 1. With Jin and Rhodes and others watching, the <> slowly ascended. After gaining enough altitude, the plane leveled off. "Oh, it''s going fast, fast, fast!" "Wow, that''s amazing. Rhodes looks on in amazement. "Well, it''s the same configuration as the Hurricane. Well, it''s the same composition as , only the size of each part is different, so it''s not like it''s going to fail. ...... Reiko, how fast are we going now?" Yes, father. I estimate we''re going about 300 kilometers an hour. That''s good. The expected speed is 250 kilometers per hour, which is more than adequate. Next, < began the performance test. The team combines somersaults and small turns. Immelmann turn, split S....... Due to its flight principle, it is not possible to fly on its back for long periods of time, except with the use of <>. Finally, by making full use of the <> and the <>, they tested supersonic speeds, and found that they could reach Mach 3. "Okay, that''s good enough." Satisfied, Jin announces the end of the test. "......It''s Jin-san after all, isn''t it?" Rhodes lets out a small sigh. "That''s amazing. I admire you. Ludmilla also praised him. During the hour-long test flight, the 19 aircraft of the <> series were completed, and each was tested without any problems. Here, the air power of <> was complete. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Now all that''s left is the land force. In today''s world, it is unlikely to be used, but still, we never know when we will need it. "The multi-legged tanks will be based on . The large golem is based on <. Both of them can be manufactured without any problem since we have <>. The only problem is the design. We can''t make them the same as Jin''s, "Rhodes, Ludmilla. Can you design the exterior?" Jin thought about leaving it to the two of them. "Leave it to me! Please let us do it! The two were very enthusiastic. "Okay, let''s go back to the laboratory. It was almost dinner time. "Would you like to stay the night? Jin asked, "Yes, by all means! I''ll stay the night!" They were overjoyed. Rhodes and Ludmilla finished several design drawings that night. 2229 - - 59-37 Will of Elza The morning of February 3rd. "Hmmm, this is nice. After breakfast, Jin immediately showed me the design of the giant golem that Rhodes and Ludmilla had drawn. By the way, <> was originally the giant golem used in <>''s debut battle, but since its design was inherited by Jin''s <>, he wanted to change the design to differentiate it. < are looking at the design together. "This is so cool! "I think this is good. I like this design. Saki, Stearina, and Reinhardt looked at the drawing and commented on it. "Well, let''s choose this one." Jin selected one of the seven designs that was the most popular and that he himself liked. It was drawn by Ludmilla, and had an exterior that resembled a bit of armor. Since the armor was also in the style of the northern tribes, it was thought that it would look novel on the Laurentian continent. Jin then showed us a design drawing of a multi-legged tank. He decided on the Rhodesian design. The overall design is very different from the Rhodes because of its many curves. Based on this decision, we decided to build 5 giant golems based on <> and 10 multi-legged tanks based on <>. The materials used were mostly light silver and adamantite at key points, with most of the light silver purchased by Jin. * * * * * * * * * "Now, we have to make a living area. It is necessary to create a sense of living and to scatter some old things as it has been used for a long time. We can say that the interior has been renewed since Makina took over, but there should still be something that has been handed down from the previous generation. "I have some of that at my place," Zion said. Theon said. "It''s like a piece of art that you''ve had for 400 years, right?" Theon said, "I don''t think it''s a good idea to have something that was given to me as a representative of the Nordic Federation, but I think it''s okay to have something that was bought privately. "I''m sorry. Thank you. Not a lot of things, though. Two or three items would be fine. Jin has a few things he bought himself, so he thinks it would be a good idea to display some of them as well. "I think we can place them in the entrance hall and the reception room. "Yes, that would be safe," Reinhardt said. Reinhardt said. "Those would be the first two places where visitors would see it." He added that it would be better if he could explain some knowledge about the artworks, such as their origin. "The old man will know about that. ...... Oh, and you have to learn how to ask Zion to give it to you." "Yes, I''ll leave it to you. The actual pilot of the machina is the , but he shares this information with the . "And the library." Elsa said in a whisper. "Old books, new books, it would be nice to have a variety." "Oh, yes. I''ll ask the old man to make duplicates of them. I''ll ask the old man to make copies of the old books to make them look older. "Yeah, I think that''s a good idea." "...... Well, I think we''re almost done here, aren''t we?" "Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think that''s good. "Well, it''s not like we''re going to be calling anyone anytime soon." I asked the family members and they said that they did not think there would be any more major problems. * * * * * * * * * * * * * < situation had been settled. After having lunch together, Zion and the others returned to the . "What''s for lunch today? Zion said, "It''s only 10 o''clock! Jin chided him. "Uh, pasta, I think. Reiko then replies. "Soleil and Luna were kneading the flour. Reiko explained that she had eaten udon the other day, so it must have been pasta. "Oh, that was the specialty of Toka village, wasn''t it?" "Actually, Mr. Zion, pasta is fine. Licia, the one who had the pasta made, said quietly, "As long as it''s good, it''s fine. "As long as it tastes good, I don''t care." "Yeah, well, ......" Jin, however, remembered something that bothered him a little. "More importantly, and I''m sorry to say this, but how is Najas of the Kingdom of Franz doing?" The old man answered. . "Oh, I see." At this point Jin began to explain why he had just brought it up. "During the recent cave-in accident in the Shoro Kingdom, healers (Alzut) and healers (Doktor) from <> rushed to the rescue, but their numbers were somehow small, so I looked into the background. ......" The old man adds a note at the end. "So, of course, the <> had an influence." It is a well-known fact that the then Chief Superintendent was a member of the <. And his predecessors were also influenced by it in terms of ideology, if not membership. "To put it simply, there was a time when education of medical knowledge was out of date due to the widespread belief that <>. "......, I''ll get to the end of that." At this point, Elsa took over the explanation. "So, medical education was secondary, and only talent in healing magic was required, resulting in a shortage of personnel. The current Tomax Bartmann has changed the course, but education will not be so advanced, and there will still be a shortage of for a few more years, Elsa said. "In addition." Elsa continued with a frown. "At that time, it seemed that the healing magic society only focused on technology and neglected practice, and many of the healers were useless even if they were sent out to the field. "Oh, that''s an unfortunate trend. Having experienced such organizational corruption, Stearina sympathized with Elsa. "That''s what I mean. I discussed this with my brother Jin at ......, and we discussed the possibility of taking on the education of such healing personnel in <> as well. Here, it became clear why Jin had brought up Najas, and the story was connected. "Of course, I would limit it to a short period of time. Well, maybe three to five years." Jin took over again and continued the explanation. "It''s also Erza''s hope. < than . Erza has assumed the position of , so to speak, and would like to educate those who are motivated and talented. Then, when the number of leaders increases, education can be centralized in <>. I think that would be a good idea." Licia was the first to agree with this idea. "Hmmm... I''m glad you agree, because I''d like you to be a lecturer too, Licia-san. Elsa smiled. "I''d like to use , a doctor (healer) automata, , a nursing golem, and , a surgical mini-golem, to educate the students. In fact, seeing Jin so busy, Erza began to think that she too would like to contribute in some way to the world of this era. Of course, behind this was her resentment that the <> had ruined the medical technology that she had improved 400 years ago. Thus, Erza was also beginning to get involved in this world. 2230 - - 59-38 Breakdown Report < base is almost finished and when Jin and ...... are relieved, they ask, "Hey Jin, don''t we have to decide on the names of the giant golem and the multi-legged tanks? "Hey Jin, don''t you have to decide on the names of the giant golem and the multi-legged tank? Saki asked Jin, and Jin realized that he had not yet decided on the names of the giant golem and the multi-legged tank. "Well, how about for the giant golem and for the multi-legged tank? It was just that he had thought of it, but had forgotten to name it. <> is from Greek mythology. It is a bronze automaton that guards the island of Crete. <> is a lion-tiger crossbreed with a lion as its father and a tiger as its mother. Incidentally, it is said that such crossbreeds tend to be large in size. As a side note, if a tiger is the father and a lion is the mother, it is called a tigon. "Hmmm...this is somewhat different from the sense of the previous djinn. Ah, it''s better that way because it belongs to Makina. Saki seemed to agree. "It''s good, isn''t it?They both sound good. Guth says. In any case, many Greek myths and names of animals on the earth are not understood here. At any rate, this concludes the construction of the deus ex machina base. Now, we will try it and fix the problems. But then, Erza immediately points out the problem. "Brother Jin, where are you going to put <>? "Oh, there it is." It is now floating in Tatsumi Bay, but we will have to decide where it will be officially parked. Jin thought that he would ask the whole for their opinion on this matter during lunch. * * * * * * * * * * * * * As Reiko had predicted, lunch was pasta. "Oh, this is it!I love the taste of this! Zion says, "I love this taste!" This is what is called Neapolitan pasta. Tometur (tomato) ketchup, onion, pimiento (green pepper), pig bacon, butter, salt and pepper, and many other secret ingredients, with green laver on top. Although he did not add leeks instead of garlic this time, the dish tasted good enough. "I like this one better. "Me too." Elsa and Jin seem to like meat sauce. And there was one more kind, the so-called peperoncino. "I like this one," said Reinhard. This is Reinhardt. The Neapolitan group included Zion, Lodotos, Ludmilla, Maricka, Bina, Luis, and Licia. The meat sauce group includes Elsa, Jin, Saki, Marcia, Rodrigo, Vivian, Goose, Hannah, and Martha. The peperoncino group includes Reinhard, Bertsche, Saki, Toa, Stearina, Milowina, and Mine. Citran juice, lemon juice and cider were served. * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, before Zion and the others left, Jin decided to ask their opinions. "I''m wondering where we should set up <>. I want to hear everyone''s opinion about it. Jin shows the world map on the large magic screen on the wall. "For now, I''m thinking about the area between Horai Island and Kunlun Island. Jin said, "The location is to hide the original Penglai Island. "It''s not a bad ...... idea, I think." Reinhardt was the first to offer his opinion. "I don''t think there are enough problems to say no." "Yes, I agree. As Reinhardt said, I don''t think there are any major strategic problems. Lewis agreed. "<> does that mean there are small problems?" This was answered by Sion. "Yes. If we put <> in that position, the distance to Horai Island will be much closer, right?The chances of finding it will increase significantly. However, since Horai Island is within the boundary, 0.0001% will become 0.002% (but still 0.002%). 002 percent (but still double)," Zion said. "Then where are the other possible sites?" "Well. I''m thinking that the southern coast of the Shoro Kingdom would be a good choice." Luis said. The reason for this was that the Kingdom of Cerroa and the Shoro Kingdom were far from Horai Island, but if <> was placed in that position, it would be easy to reach those two countries. "I see, that''s true. "It is safe to say that we have moved to the east coast of the Laurentian Continent, which was previously on the east coast of the Laurentian Continent." And it will be close to < as well," Lewis finished his explanation. Avalon is located to the west of the Elias Peninsula, so the time difference from <> would be about an hour and a half. "Besides, if we have a base there, it will be easier for us to go to the Kingdom of Selroa and the Shoro Empire, since Jin is using it as well. Reinhard added. "Yes, that would certainly be an advantage." Reinhard asked for other opinions, but none were offered, so Jin decided to adopt Lewis''s opinion. "Then let''s move it to the south sea of the Shoro Kingdom, around 75 degrees west longitude." The latitude should be about 7 degrees north, the same as <. "We can move slowly. In the meantime, let''s check for any defects. With this, the work on <>, the base of <>, is almost complete. * * * * "Well then, I''m going home." After lunch, Zion returns to the Nordic Federation as he declared. Rhodes and Ludmilla were also with him. < business is over, Jin and the others are relaxing in the cafeteria. "......Well... Then we can start construction on the circuit of the Franz kingdom. "Brother Jin, we need to buy some asphalt emulsion first. That''s right. That means we have to go to Mitsuho again. "I have to go back to ...... Oh, I think it''s Kushima, not Seki, where the head office of Ikeda Shokai is located. Jin imagines that natural asphalt can probably be found in the vicinity. "I don''t have any urgent business in the Shoro or Franz kingdoms, so I think I''ll go there tomorrow. The old man called out to him. "Oh, have you made any progress?" > Yes, that''s fine. . The old man began his report: ....... 2231 - - 59-39 Secured The old man began to explain the results of his investigation into the Trom mine cave-in accident in the Shoro Kingdom. . "Those guys again? ......" A disgusted look on Jin''s face. < What do you mean?" Jin was disgusted, but he listened. I think we should call them <<<<< client> and <> or . In this case, it seems that the <> is the client and the mysterious being is the orderer. <> doesn''t seem to like the idea of an engineering magic memorial. "I understand that, but what does that have to do with the cave-in?" < I understand the first and second, but what is the third experiment? < The old man began to explain in detail. Doright Coatsapert is 35 years old. He is said to be a skilled but somewhat eccentric engineer. < He was inspired by the golem horses that Jin presented to the nations in the past. << However, the funds for development had run out, and they were in dire straits when they received a request from the <>. "What, the <> invited the engineers? Isn''t it impossible from the point of view of their ideology? <. < had even thought of putting technology against technology and making them fall together. >. "Is that a wolf?" In exchange for a development budget, they had him create a number of wolf-shaped golems. Dreight-Cotespart himself had no qualms about being able to make more prototypes, and he turned over a total of more than 30 golem wolves to the League of Magic. "I guess so." Jin wonders what happened to the <> in the first place. Probably, it was completed little by little, so the degree of perfection between Prototype 1 and Prototype 30 would be as different as the difference between heaven and earth. , but was caused by a golem-wolf that lost control of it. "I see." Indeed, the intent is unclear, and the ripple effect is not great. "Oh, wait a minute.Isn''t that inconsistent with the first and second intentions?" There must have been a clear intention here: to draw the parties away from the construction site and to obstruct their access to the metal materials. <> According to the old man''s explanation, the golem wolves from Prototype 11 to 16 have escaped and are headed for the Tromm mine. If we do nothing, the existence of the golem wolves will be exposed. So, they resorted to the last resort of "forced manipulation". < cannot give you detailed instructions. It seems that they were only instructed to let them dive into the tunnels and to damage the reinforcing material. "I see, so it was a sabotage operation to reverse the escape." < That makes me wonder what the <> intends to use the golem-wolf for. And the magical engineer (magi engineer) named Doright Coatsapart, who created the golem-wolf. < * * * * Just as the old man had said, the agents of the Shoro Empire, leader No. 0 and his six men from No. 5 to No. 9, had set out to secure the Dryite Coats-Part. < had only requested the production, but had taken no measures for the safety of the dolight. The location is the town of Ali, on the shores of Lake Tosmo. It is a town located south of Trom. On the outskirts of the town there is a small workshop where Doright Coatspruit lives. "That''s the protected dwelling, isn''t it?" "Mm-hmm." Is he home now? I checked. All right, we''ll go in after dark. "Yes, sir." After this conversation in a whisper, they hid in the shadows and waited for the sun to set. The winter sun sets quickly, and by 6:00 p.m. it is dark. A light comes on in the workshop. "We''ll wait a little longer. Until the light goes out." "Yes." And at 8, 9, 10, 11 p.m....... the lights stay on. "d*mn, I forgot that researchers are night owls." So they have no choice but to wait until dawn, when they are most likely to be ...... distracted. We then took turns taking naps to avoid distraction. However, being an <>, No. 9 does not need to sleep. He spent the two hours of his rotation pretending to be asleep while exchanging information with the old man using his built-in <>. However, there was little new information. Then, at 4:00 a.m., he said to himself. "Okay, it''s about time. At the signal of "0", all six of us surrounded the workshop, being careful not to make any noise. It is quiet inside. (I think I''m falling asleep.) No.9...... Actually, Regulus 45 in the was informed that the old man had checked the inside with his . "All right, let''s go in. "All right, let''s go in!" At the signal from No.0, No.5, No.6 and No.7 broke through the three windows and entered. The remaining three men stand outside and prepare for an emergency. It was as easy as securing one man, a researcher. Yes, <> was. "Whoa, whoa!What is it?What''s going on? "Dorite Coates Part. We''re officials of the Shoro Kingdom. We''re here to protect you. What? He''d just dozed off and was having trouble keeping up. Doright Coatsapart is dismayed. But after about three minutes, he manages to regain his composure, "I have some questions about the golem wolf you made, and I would like you to accompany me as an important witness," he said. I said, "I understand." He nodded his head. I was glad that we were able to secure his custody without any particular complications, since there was a possibility that we would have to use all our strength if he resisted. Dorite Coats-Part was then told to get ready. "Uh, wait a minute." Dorite Coates-Part, a Magi Engineer, fixed the broken window pane herself. The parts of the golem that were being made and other items of interest in the workshop were temporarily confiscated and taken to the headquarters of the Intelligence Bureau. Thus, up to 90% of the <> was revealed. All that remains is to find out who commissioned Doright Coatspert to create the <> and the whereabouts of the remaining <>. 2232 - - 59-40 Examination Doright Coatspurt was first taken to the < on the outskirts of the town of Trom. There he was questioned about various things. The most dangerous-looking item in the workshop was a <. It was more than twice as large as the previous ones, and if it had been completed and Dorite had resisted, it would have been difficult to get him, thought No.0 and the others ......<>. Everyone thought, except No. 9. "It''s a good thing we don''t have any other friends." It was fortunate for both parties that there was no resistance. We arrived at the task force headquarters at 5:00 am. For the time being, the agents, including Doright-Cotes-Part, decided to take a nap for about three hours, except for those who were on duty. * * * * * * * * * * * * 8:00 a.m. local time. After waking up from the nap and having a light meal, they finally started to ask for information. No. 0 is in charge of asking questions, and Nos. 5 to 9 are present to provide security. No. 0 says, "I have a lot of questions, but please answer them honestly. No. 0 says, "Yes, I understand. Dorite nodded her head. "So, ......, why ?What is the purpose of its creation? "Because I saw a golem horse that was made by a Magecraft Meister, and I was fascinated by how wonderful it was. I wanted to make one myself, but the horse was too big for my budget, so I decided to use a wolf of a suitable size. No.9 thought that the old man had already done his research in this area. "Why did you go to the trouble of putting rock wolf fur on it?" "I wanted to see how close I could make it to the real thing. Fortunately, rock wolf pelts are relatively inexpensive. Rock wolves are vermin and are hunted in large numbers. They are processed into fur, but the fur is harder and less popular than the fur of foxes such as the moshifuri fox, so it is cheaper. "You made about 30 of them, are you satisfied with the result?" "They are better than the first ones, but I''m still not satisfied with them." Quinta 9, the fifth row (Quinta), was listening to this question-and-answer session by Quinta 0 and felt that it was a very good introduction. He did not start with the main topic at once, but started with a topic that Doright could easily answer, and tried to make Doright''s caution fade away. "How much did you receive for the development?" "Well, ............ it was about 5 million dollars. In Japanese yen, 50 million yen is quite a large sum for an individual researcher. Who gave it to you? Now we are getting close to the main question. "A man in his mid-40s. He said his name was Megy Ides. What did he look like? Tall, skinny. Gray eyes. Brown hair. He had a slight Franzian accent. ......, I think." Doright Coatsapart, whose previous questions had made me less cautious, spoke easily. "Have you met the man several times?" "I''ve met him about four times. I''ve met him about four times, but only once since the beginning of this year. He said he met with the man on January 15 and handed over 10 golem wolves to him. "That was the end of our meeting. So I don''t know if the man will come back in the future. "I see...I see...I can say ......, the final product .........anyway, what is the performance of the 30th body?" Doright Coatsapart answers this question with a twinkle in his eye, leaning forward. I''m not convinced yet, but it''s the best I''ve ever seen," he says. It''s the best thing I''ve ever done, although I''m not convinced yet. ...... It runs at about 100 kilometers per hour. It can break through a steel door one centimeter thick. "Oh." "It can also chew through a steel plate up to two centimeters thick." That''s pretty impressive. Isn''t it?With ......, it can act autonomously to some extent, and it is also possible to control the prototypes from No. 21 to No. 29 that have been made up to that point. Unfortunately, the prototypes before No. 20 are not autonomous and have a poor control core, so they cannot be controlled. That''s a pretty good specs, thought the old man, who was listening to the conversation through No. 9 and No. 9. "...... By the way, did you know that there was a cave-in accident at a mine here in Trom the other day?" "No, I don''t know." This response was typical of the indifference of the researcher to the outside world. "...... I see." At this point, No. 0 hesitated a little. But in the end, he decided to check it out. "Take a look at this." First, he shows a hair in a glass bottle. "I found this at the site of the cave-in. I''m pretty sure it''s a rock wolf hair. What do you think ......?" Doright Coatsapert was mortified when he heard this. "What, what?Don''t tell me you think I''m the culprit?" No. 0 calmed Dwight down. "Calm down. I didn''t say that. ...... There''s one more thing... the footprints we found near the crime scene." This time he showed rubbings of the footprints. "They seem to be the footprints of several animals, but they all look the same. "These are ......." Dorite paled a little. "I''m pretty sure these are the footprints of my golem wolf. ......" "I see." Doright sagged. "...... am I a sinner?" No. 0 speaks to Doright in a quiet voice. "No, you made it at my request, didn''t you?If that is proven, you will not be charged with a serious crime. Hearing these words, Dorite seems to cheer up a little. "First of all, I would like you to tell me as much as you can about the man who commissioned you to make this." "Yes. ......" * * * * The whole question-and-answer session was known to the old man through Regulus 45, i.e., No. 9. We have no way of knowing who this Megyi Ides man is. However, the old man had already found the man with his "peepers" and knew that he was a member of the "League of Magic" from the ID card he was wearing. It''s hard to let <> discover him. ......>> Now Megi-Ides is in the village of Kawaha in the Kingdom of Franz. Kawaha is a small village between the capital St. Gerton and the town of St. Foze to the south. The old man took the situation a little too seriously and chose to squash the dangerous buds before they cause an uproar. Deneb 5 is in charge of the capital city of San Gelton, while Regulus 10 is in charge of the area south of San Gelton, near St. Fosse, which is convenient for dispatching them to Kawaha village. So the old man ordered the three land troops, Lands 55, 56 and 57, to stand by. If necessary, they can be sent out immediately by transporter. The situation was coming to an end. 2233 - - 59-41 Securing and transferring february 4,noon. Kawaha Village, Kingdom of Franz. It is a cold village with 21 households. Geographically, the village is located between the capital Saint-Jeluton and Saint-Fosse, a strategic point on the highway, which is not a bad location. However, the distance between Saint-Gerton and Saint-Fosse is 35 kilometers, which can be traveled in a day on foot or by horse-drawn carriage, and the development of means of transportation such as golem carriages and golem cars has led to the gradual desolation of the area. The remaining villagers provided water and snacks to travelers coming and going along the road to make ends meet. Caroline de Lafayette, Queen of the Kingdom of Franz, took this situation very seriously and offered tax relief and other assistance, but with poor results. It is no wonder. The village of Kawaha had become one of the strongholds of the . Compared to the former >, the lack of a leader and the lack of charisma of the top leaders, was it good or bad that they did not go down the path of destruction at once? What is certain is that it was bad for the world. The guerrilla movement made it more difficult to eradicate them. In the village of Kawaha, Regulus 10, a.k.a. , and Deneb 5, a.k.a. , sent by the old man, were approaching. * * * * * * * * * "According to your investigation, most of the villagers are members of the League of Magic. "That''s a problem." "But about half of them are brainwashed. Once they are released, they will become sane." Wecken. The brainwashing methods of the League of Magic are known to a large extent. The most powerful one was the brainwashing magic of Markitas, but since he was already dead and it seemed to be a mere subliminal level brainwashing, it was thought that it would be released by using the Wecken that Erza had used the other day. "Then, first, we will apply the <> to the entire village, knock them out and tie them up, then wait for them to wake up and check their thoughts, and those who are still dyed in the <>''s thoughts will be released with the <>, is that correct?" Deneb 5, Romia said as if to confirm. "That would be fine." Albert replies. "Yes, sir." "There should be 10 more , and the won''t work on them. So, I use <>. < removes the target''s free magic element (ether) from the ether tank and stores it in our ether tank. We have confirmed that <> is using <>. And we have decided that this result will be a . "I''ll call in the RAND team to make sure we don''t miss it." By the way, Jin had thought about changing the design of the Lando unit used by Deus ex Machina, but since the Golem that went to the rescue of Guillermo Malkitas in the previous battle was a Lando unit, he thought that someone must have known that Machina and Jin had the same type of Golem. The design is the same. If anyone points this out, we can reply that <>. < The old man replied, and 0.5 seconds later, Lando 55, 56, and 57 appeared. The three of them appeared 0.5 seconds later. "Well, let''s go." Without waiting for the night, they started to move. The villagers had already confirmed that they were all present. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The house of the chief of Kawaha Village was the base of the <>, the command center of Kawaha Village. There, a shower of <> suddenly poured down on them. "GUN! GUN! With a short scream, the three people in the room fall unconscious. At about the same time, many people in other parts of the village fainted. Within about 30 seconds, there was no moving human being left in the village. As an aftermath, all the kokarisks (chicken-like animals) were also unconscious. But... "...... is out!" Nine golem wolves had appeared. There must be one more, Regulus 10<> thought, who must be commanding the nine from somewhere. But for now, he decides that the first thing to do is to silence these nine. "<>!" With this, the nine fell like marionettes with broken strings. "One more!" I wonder where they are. Regulus 10 and Deneb 5 were having such a conversation at that moment. A gray shadow struck Deneb 5, aiming for his neck. "Whoa, look out!" A human would have had his carotid artery ripped out, but Deneb 5 dodged the shadow with ease. "So this is the leader." It was the leader of the golem-wolves he had been looking for. A human might underestimate them, or even want to test their abilities, but not Regulus 10 and Deneb 5, the <>. "<> Irradiation". The <> is irradiated without question. The <> tried to jump back, but there was no way it could beat the in terms of reaction speed, and it simply stopped moving. In the end, the Kawaha village was conquered in 30 minutes. Various magical tools, including junk, were also confiscated. Is this the end? Yes. < I''ll leave the rest to you. * * * * < The old man was satisfied with the result in Horai Island. This time, because of Jin''s concern and the urgency of the situation, the old man himself gave instructions and tried to solve the problem. < This is the Kingdom of Franz. We are not internationally wanted, so we can''t just escort him across the border to the Shoro Empire. <<<> by the name of Deus ex Machina III>>? Normally, this would have been a matter for <> to handle. Conveniently, <> is one of the founders of <>, and III is also an important person. The Shoro Empire''s cave-in accident has been briefly reported, and the members of the <> are basically treated as <>. * * * * At <>. "Sir Tomax, there is a message from Deus Ex Machina." "Yes, what is it?" Tomax picks up a much smaller manaphone. <> This is Tomax Bartmann, Supreme Administrator of Avalon. Deus ex machina informs Tomax Bartmann of the recent cave-in in the Shoro Empire and that they have the culprit. Tomax Bartmann guessed from that alone. "I see, so you will hand him over to the <>?Yes, sir. We will send them there immediately. Tomax Baartman gave the order, and ten minutes later, a convoy of airships departed for the Kingdom of Franz to pick up the terrorists. 2234 - - 59-42 Convergence, settlement The distance between <> and the village of Kawaha in the Kingdom of Franz is about 600 kilometers. At present, <>''s airships can reach a speed of 150 kilometers per hour, so they can make the flight in four hours. After a smooth flight, the two <> airships arrive at Kawaha Village before sunset. Since there is no suitable landing site in Kawaha, they have no choice but to land on the street. "Thank you very much for your hard work. Naturally, they were greeted by a . The cavalryman Rei is next to them. He was not in Kawaha at the time of the attack, but had arrived by transporter before the <>''s airship arrived. "Thank you for contacting us, Makina-sama. The person from <> is Jorda Carter, captain of the <>''s second airship squadron. "Ah, we have met before, on the continent of Pandor." I am honored that you remember me. When Guillermo Malkitas once led a rebellion on the Pandor continent, it was he, Jorda Carter, who led a squadron from <> to suppress the rebellion. On that occasion, they had met briefly. "This time, I was investigating the Tromm mine cave-in accident in the Shoro Kingdom on my own after hearing about it from Jin-dono, and I noticed the existence of the <>. I followed the traces of them and ended up here. "I see, you are indeed, Machina-dono." In a manner of speaking, since <> also has a qualification equivalent to <>, it is free to enter and leave countries belonging to <>. However, being "equivalent" means that they are not the same. In other words, Makina cannot take out a criminal or a suspect without the permission of the country. It is actually the request of Makina himself that individuals should not be given such extra-judicial authority. So this time, he wants to hand them over to the . With the airship landing on the street, there was no time to relax, and Jorda Carter was to pick up the terrorists, "Well, I''ll leave you now," she said to Makina. She said goodbye to Makina. "I hope you have a safe trip." "Thank you, sir. Good bye." Thus, the Tromm mine cave-in accident in the Shoro Kingdom was settled. * * * * In Horai Island, Jin received such a report from the old man. "After all, why did the incomplete cause the cave-in accident?" That was the only point that Jin could not agree with. As a result, he felt that although it was an obstacle to Jin''s project ......<>, it was done too poorly. "I don''t know, huh?" < "Yeah, that''s good. Let me hear it." Jin was just hoping to hear an explanation that made sense to him and cleared his head. << of the . "Yes." <<> but <>. <<> is the earthly equivalent of a raccoon dog. They are omnivores, like a badger, a raccoon and a civet divided by three, and are found all over Ars, although in smaller numbers. The biota of Ars has been poor since it was converted by <>. "<> or ....... Do they prefer to live in caves?" < "Huh?Then, what happened to the escaped > made it dive deep into the tunnel and damaged the reinforcement, then called it back and retrieved it>. It seems that they did not live in the hole. "Is it like a dog whistle?" A dog whistle is a whistle that emits a sound in the ultrasonic range that can be heard by dogs but not by humans. In fact, it also emits a sound in the frequency range that can be heard by humans, but this is not to let people know that the whistle is being played, but because the sound in the ultrasonic range is highly attenuated and difficult to reach far. It seems that one of the magic tools we confiscated in Kawaha Village was such a tool. "Well, I suppose so." <, it must be controlled by magic power. < or . "So, it seems that there were ten <> in Kawaha village, but what about the rest?" "That could be the case. ......Yeah, you''ve heard all you need to hear." <<< * * * * On the other hand, Doright Coates-Part was transferred to the capital, Leuthart, on the 5th, the day after he was arrested. He is treated as a person of interest, not a criminal. "Well, what about me? He looked as if he was about to be taken to the place of execution. In fact, it is said that the crime will not be so serious. "Well, they''ll probably keep us in a cell for a few years." The leader of the accompanying agents, No. 0, said to the other members of the group. "What do you mean by enclosure ......?" At the unfamiliar word, No. 8 asked back. "Yeah, enclosure is, in short, a punishment to make them produce what we demand, while restricting them from going out and meeting others as much as possible." "I see. So you want to use his skills to help us." That''s what I''m thinking. If he can make a contribution to his country, he will be detained for less time, and he can even work in a state-run workshop. "That''s what I think is reasonable." I think that''s reasonable," No. 0 concluded. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "So, you have a mastermind in the Franz kingdom, you say? And the Emperor of Shoro, Ernst II, had also received word that <> had captured the terrorists. "I guess we''re almost done here." "Yes. We can continue the construction of the memorial without any worries. Ernst II said that the guards who had been stationed at the construction site because of possible dangers could be withdrawn. "If anything should happen to the construction site, we would have no face to show to His Highness," he said. "Indeed." Ernst II and the Prime Minister looked at each other and smiled. It was a warm, sunny day, and it seemed that spring was just around the corner. 2235 - - 59-43 Silent Story 102 The whole story, this and that Saint-Gerton, the capital of the Kingdom of Franz. Here is the royal palace, the residence of the king. And now, inside the palace, there was a commotion. What was the message from Tomax Bartmann of Avalon? "Well, that''s ......." Asked by Queen Caroline de Lafayette, Claude de Chaunay, Minister of the General Affairs of the Kingdom of Franz, faltered. "What''s the matter? What is it? "Yes, yes." At his repeated prompting, Claude de Chaunay opened his heavy mouth. "Actually, the village of Kawaha, south of San Gelton, was one of the strongholds of the League of Magic. "What?The village of Kawaha is just a stone''s throw away! The queen is so surprised that she can''t help but show her true colors. Yes. Clou de Chaunay shrinks, as if revealing the incompetence of the Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which has overlooked the presence of a terrorist organization''s base in such a close proximity. "......Come on, Crowe, don''t be so timid. I know you work hard every day. That''s how crafty they''ve been. Please ...... continue your explanation." Queen Caroline''s tone returns to a man''s. "Your Majesty! "Your Majesty..." Claude de Chaunay is afraid to speak, but continues. "It seems that the villagers there are all members of the League of Magic. Though it seems that many of them were brainwashed. "Hmm, sounds like the kind of thing lowlifes would do. "We had prepared a golem for battle, the <>. Its most dangerous one is ......." Here Claude de Chaunay checks the note in his hand. "It can tear apart a 3cm steel plate..." "Terrible ...... that you could get it under control before there are any more victims." That''s what it said. So you want me to give you my permission to overstep my bounds, is that it? That''s what it means. Good. I admit it. In fact, I''d like to thank you. But then Prime Minister Joachims de Droe interrupted. "Your Majesty, it is sometimes necessary to make a complaint first, and then reluctantly admit it. But the queen rebuffed this advice. "Well, Prime Minister, you are right in your advice. However, I would like to deal with this matter ...... <> with all sincerity." "......" "The gentleman is a brother apprentice of Sir Jin Nido, with whom I have just made friendship. And Jin-dono was far from ambitious. Then there is a strong possibility that the same is true for Makina-dono. I would like to thank you first without any subterfuge. I would like to simply thank you." At these words, the Prime Minister simply bowed deeply in silence. * * * * <, Tomax Bartmann is receiving a report from his secretary, Manon the Automata. "...... I understand that the Kingdom of Franz has replied to you that they approve of all the actions in this arrest drama?" "Yes." "Well, that''s good to know." Tomax Bartmann added, "...... But it is a serious matter that an entire village, even a small village, was a member of this group." "Yes, you''re right." They feared that there might be other places and other countries. Should we inform the other countries? It would be a disgrace to the Kingdom of Franz, so I think it would be better if the information originated in that country. Yes, indeed. Besides," continued Tomax Bartmann. "...... the performance of that may even exceed that of a common battle golem." "That''s right." It is quicker and has an attack power that can destroy a vital part of the body with a single blow. If its head is dropped, most golems are crippled. Their visual sensors (eyes) and auditory sensors (ears) would be ruined, and some golems would lose their brains as well. ....... "But who would have thought that the creator of the would be a common, unnamed magical engineer?" It would be a shame to let him remain buried. "Hmmm. ......<> for protection ......, or house arrest ......, or ......." "You mean, you want to make them belong to <>?" "That''s what I''m saying. As long as I''m here, it''s unlikely that I''ll come into contact with any unscrupulous people. "You are right. I''ll contact the Shoro Empire at ......." "Yes, you should try that." * * * * In response to this, information was spread from the Kingdom of Franz to each country that there might be a local government controlled by the <> and that they should be careful. The result of the campaign will be reported later. * * * * * * * * * * * * * In Shoro, Emperor Ernst II and Minister of Magic and Technology LeGray were talking. "Hmmm, such a talent has been buried. This is our country''s loss. <, Dorite Cotespert, was an outstanding magical engineer. "We must pay more attention to the engineers on the street," he said. "For that reason, I would like to build a <> and promote engineering magic and technology in general." "Yes, that''s right. ......How is the construction progressing?" Yes, almost on schedule. * * * * And the dolight coats part. "Oh, it''s so cozy here. ......" He was working in a workshop set up in the Shoro Imperial Palace. He woke up at 6:00 a.m., and after breakfast, from 7:00 a.m. to noon, he worked according to written instructions. After a one-hour lunch break, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. he had free time to devote himself to whatever research he wanted. From 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, bathing and dinner. From 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. is a general knowledge lecture called "reeducation. After that, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. is free time. And from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next day, it was time for sleep. I wonder if Jin would say, "This is a white office. Well, even though we have holidays, we are not allowed to go out basically, and we need permission to meet with outsiders, so we do not have freedom in that sense. However, Dorite Coates-Pert did not seem to have any such acquaintances or friends, and did not seem at all dissatisfied with this treatment. He was so careless about his personal belongings except for those related to his research that he would leave the same clothes on for more than a month if his caretakers did not take care of them. He was a man. "Well, the magic lamp I had you make for me to try out is beyond the standard of most people. The Minister of Magical Arts and Technology LeGray was astonished. "How many people under my command can make something like this? If you learn ...... the basics properly, I am sure you will be able to grow even more. Just then, <> asked me if I would like to retrain the dolight coats part. After three years, <> will take care of the Dorite Coatsapert, and after that, we will decide how to treat him, taking into consideration his wishes and the wishes of the Shoro Imperial Kingdom. "Ummm, what should I do? ......" The Minister of Magical Technology is troubled. I think it would be good for Dorite to have her re-education at . On the other hand, I feared that he would not come back to Shoro after the period and would want to be a member of <>. Or rather, with the character of Doright Coates-Part that we have seen so far, he would probably want to belong to <>. "But that is because the level of technology in our country is inferior to that of <>. ......" I was aware that I should reflect on this point. "Good." I decide to leave it to the will of Dorite Coates-Part. However, he would not leave the country without a condition that he would work in Japan for at least one year at the end of the three-year period. More than a decade later, Doright Coatsapert is said to be the first quadrupedal golem, but that is another story. 2236 - - 60-01 Starts with Rosato July 1, 3464. Jin and Erza are relaxing in their house in Leuthart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom. Mio is sitting on Jin''s lap and Yu is sitting on Erza''s lap, reading a picture book. "It''s already summer, isn''t it? "Hmm." The days were getting hotter and hotter in the inland city of Leusert. "Is it time to go to a summer retreat?" "...... Kaina village?" "Yes." Hitoshi said that the village would be busy since Marcia had recently built a pleasure boat for them. "I think I''ll invite His Majesty to visit ......." "His Majesty ...... means His Majesty the Emperor Taishang?" "Yes." Emperor Taishang. Needless to say, this is the previous emperor, Gerhard Hilde von Rubies-Scholo. After abdicating the throne on May 1 of that year and handing it over to his nephew Ernst ...... Weissberg Ernst von Shawlo, he was freed from the busy life he had led up to that point and was able to enjoy a leisurely and comfortable life. He had been busy with his own life, not ...... so much, Jin said. "I heard that you have finally settled down," he said. "Well, he went through a lot of hardship, and we were also indebted to him, so I think it''s good. In addition, he knew Yu and Mio well, and when he came to Reuthert''s house on occasion, he took good care of them, and the twins were fond of him. He was not allowed to marry because of his position and remained a bachelor, so it is said that he was very attached to the children around him. If he were not an emperor, Jin would have wanted to have him as a member of the . Even if he abdicates, he is still the second-highest ranking emperor in the country, so it is not possible for him to be a member of the family. "I have a feeling that he will come here today as a guest of honor. Before Jin could say ...... or not, Butler D said, "Master, His Majesty the Emperor is here. Butler D reported. Jin left Mio to Erza and rushed to meet him with Reiko. "Jin-kun, they''re here!" Perhaps it was because he had been relieved from stress since he had stepped down from the throne, but his blood color, which was not bad to begin with, had improved even more, and his back, which had been sore due to the many hours of sitting work, had healed. Accompanying him was Flora Heckerath von Merante, who had officially become his personal attendant. She had been the head of the courtesan of the palace, and at her own request, she had become the courtesan of the Grand Emperor. She was originally a knight of the Kingsguard, so she is also a first-rate escort. However, she is a bit too serious and sometimes inflexible. She was also teased by the Emperor because of her teasing nature. On this day, Jin seemed to be a little annoyed by the capricious Emperor Taishang. "His Majesty the Grand Emperor, welcome! "Jin, it''s nice to have you with us. In contrast to the friendly Emperor Taishang, "Sir Jin Nido, I''m sorry for the trouble I''ve caused you." Flora is in her usual formal mood. "First of all, this way please. Jin led Emperor Taishang into the reception room. The Emperor Taisho, who was accustomed to this place since he had visited there many times, followed Jin''s guidance and went to the reception room without any confusion. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Come in, Your Majesty." Ames 102 brought a cup of chilled green tea. "Ah, it''s refreshing on a hot day like today. I love the refreshing bitterness and faint sweetness. Emperor Taishang took a sip of the cold tea and smiled. "I''m finally done with my chores." Sipping the tea in the drawing room, Emperor Taishang sighed. "I''d like to take it easy for a few days. "Well, there are some, but..." replied Jin. When Jin answered, Emperor Taishang leaned forward. "Where?Tell me!" Jin replied with a wry smile. "Uh, well, there is a village called Kaina, located in the north of the Kingdom of Klein. ...... Before Jin could finish, "Oh, Jin-kun''s territory! Jin immediately understood. "That''s a good idea. I couldn''t go there when I was emperor, but I can go there now. Right, Flora? "Yes, well... ......" Flora looked resigned, as if there was nothing she could do to stop him. By the way, how are the twins? "They are fine. I was reading a picture book just now. "Well, you''re very studious. ...... hey, can I see them? "Yes, I''ll see you at ......." Jin replied and told Ruby 102, who was standing by, to tell Elsa and the twins to come this way. A minute or so later, "Your Majesty, welcome!" "Welcome, Your Majesty!" "Welcome, Your Majesty!" Erza, Yu, and Mio came and greeted him. "Elsa, you look well. ......Hello, Chloe, Mio, how are you? Have you been good? "Yes, hey!" "Yes, Heika!" Emperor Taigami''s face naturally broke into a smile as he heard their cheerful answers. "Well, good boy, come here." "Yes! "Yes!" The twins hurried over to the emperor. "Oh, they''re so cute!" The Emperor Taishang picked them up in his arms. The twins were so happy and giggling. "Heh, Your Majesty. ......" Flora could do nothing but watch on with a sense of relief. The same goes for Jin and Elsa, who are looking at them anxiously to make sure they don''t do anything rude. After a while, the Emperor Taigami lowers the twins to the floor after they have had enough of their fun. Immediately Elsa picked them up and sat them down on either side of her. Then Ames 102 brought them some sweetened Citran juice. "Yay! "Wow!" The two were so excited to see their favorite food in front of them that they sipped the juice. "Yummy! "Delicious!" They were quiet while drinking the juice. Jin then resumes the conversation from earlier. "Your Majesty, if you come to the village of Kaina, I will accompany you. "Well, I''m glad to hear that. I knew you would say so, Jin! With a wry smile on his face, Jin decided to discuss a specific schedule. 2237 - - 60-02 The beginning of the trip Then, at noon, they discussed the details of the retreat in the village of Kaina. Jin thought that since it was his territory, he could take things as they came, but his lady-in-waiting, Flora, was not convinced. "So you want me to come here the day after tomorrow at eight o''clock in the morning? Emperor Taisho said as if to confirm. His face was full of anticipation, like a schoolboy on a field trip. "Yes. < to the village of Kaina. At this point Flora said, as if she was not ready to give up. "Your Majesty, can''t we get a few more people to accompany us?Sir Jin Nido has said he would be willing to do so. "That''s not necessary. You''re here, and above all, this is Jin''s territory.It might be safer than in the palace. If you mean from outside enemies, then that is definitely true. Jin has done a lot of work on the safety of Kaina Village, making it as ...... safe as a fortress, if not safer. However, you might trip on a stone, drown while swimming in the Erme River, or get scratched ...... while picking wilee (strawberries). "...... understand, yes, sir." Reluctantly, Flora nodded. "Oh, I''m looking forward to it!" Emperor Taigami, on the other hand, was excited. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The morning of July 3rd arrived without incident. Jin-kun, they are here. At 7:50 a.m., Emperor Taishang arrived at Jin''s residence. "Am I a little early?" "No, it''s fine." In this era, the time for daily life was determined by a sundial and a water clock, so it would have been impossible to keep a minute-by-minute schedule, except for the Jin family, who had a pocket watch. And since Jin himself is always a little ahead of the time table, he had no problem at all with Emperor Taishang''s visit. "Is your luggage in the carriage?" "Yes, they are." Jin then instructed Topaz 102 and Aqua 102 to bring out the luggage for the trip. The luggage was the equivalent of four large suitcases in modern Japanese terms. Flora, the attendant, carried out her own baggage by herself. This baggage was equivalent to one suitcase. First Jin showed them to the reception room, where Peridot 102 made them a cup of tea. While they drank the tea, their luggage was brought into . Please come this way, sir. After finishing the tea, Jin led Emperor Taigami and Flora to the rooftop. The rooftop of the residence is the aircraft parking lot, where the <> is moored. As a side note, when Jin is officially staying in Leuthart, <> is moored on the roof of the residence, so it is easy to know that he is at home if one sees it. In other words, when he arrives by <>, it is a top-secret stay. Erza, Yu, and Mio were already on the roof, bowing respectfully to the Emperor Taisho. "We have been waiting for you, Your Majesty. Thank you. You don''t have to be so shy. ......Yes, you can be a little more frank during this trip." Forgetting one''s status is easier said than done. Differences in position do not disappear. Therefore, the Emperor Taesang, who knew this, said, "Let''s not use formal honorifics like we do in the palace. I understand. Thank you very much." Jin decided that it would be better if he treated the guests in the same manner as he would treat his elders. On the rooftop, <> shines in the morning sun. "<> is always wonderful to see, isn''t it?" The Shoro Empire and other nations also had balloons and airships, but Jin''s aircraft, the , was in a class of its own. "Well, please get in." Jin stepped onto the ramp and extended his hand to Emperor Taishang. It was a courtesy that Elsa had taught him to show to his personal guest and superior. "Yes, thank you." The Grand Emperor smiled, took Jin''s hand, and led him up the ramp. The ramp was a gentle slope of about 10 steps, and soon they were in the cabin. Flora, his escort, got on board with only her baggage right after Emperor Taigami. Reiko, Chloe, and Mio, who were being escorted by Erza, got on board. That''s all of them. However. "This time, the pilot is Edgar. It is an automaton of my own design. The pilot was the first one to get on board, and he left <> on standby. Elsa introduced Edgar again. "Ah, I have seen you before. Edgar, nice to meet you. "I''m honored, Your Majesty. You can count on me." Edgar stood and bowed, then returned to the cockpit. <, Butler D was untying the mooring lines. We are now ready to depart. Please take your seats and fasten your seatbelts. Edgar asks the passengers to fasten their seatbelts for safety. Reiko checks around to make sure. "OK, Mr. Edgar. "Thank you, Reiko. Let''s go! floats up. It rises rapidly, looking down on Butler D and the five colored golem maids bowing to it on the rooftop. As it breaks through the clouds, takes an easterly course. "Oh, I can see the clouds below!" The aircraft leveled off, and Emperor Taigami, who had unbuckled his seatbelt, looked down through the floor window of <> and exclaimed. "That''s a great altitude. ......" Flora also seemed to be enjoying the experience of flying. She then asked me a question. "The one you took me on before had a top speed of 200 km/h. What about this one?" I couldn''t say that it was Mach 5, so I didn''t remember whether or not the ostensible top speed of <> as an airship had been publicly announced or not. So, "400 kilometers per hour. I answered "400 km/h". The distance between Leuthart and the village of Kaina is a little less than 800 km, so I set the speed at which I could fly through the village in two hours. "That''s twice the speed of the Conlon 2, isn''t it amazing? Emperor Taisho, who was listening at the side, sighed. "By the way, are you using <>?" Jin asked about the airship he had presented a while ago. It is about half the length of the <> and has a catamaran air sac. The pilot is <. "Yes, of course. But right now it''s on loan to my nephew ......, His Majesty the Emperor." According to the Grand Emperor, His Majesty the new emperor Weissberg Ernst von Shawlo has been traveling around the country in his spare time since his accession to the throne. "That''s why I lent him the Empress, who is very fast." "Oh, really?" "She ...... is the new emperor who wants to see how the people live and how he can help them in their future government." As an aunt and as the Grand Emperor, she couldn''t leave him alone. He was a kind and gentle Emperor Taesang. 2238 - - 60-03 Guide to Nido Castle The flight was uneventful, and <> reached the sky above the village of Kaina. Then, it slowly lowered its altitude. The sky here is clear and there is not a cloud in sight. "This is the village of Kayna. We are here at last. Emperor Taishang smiled bitterly, "When I was a queen, I couldn''t afford to travel abroad so easily. In order to let the Emperor Taishang take his time to enjoy the scenery, <> made a large turn and dropped down to a lower altitude. "Oh, that''s Jin''s castle, isn''t it?I''ve heard about it, but it''s very unusual. "Yes. It''s called Nido Castle. Will you show me around later? Yes, of course. While they were talking, <> landed in the plaza in front of Nido Castle. Battler B, C, and the five-colored golem maids Ames, Ruby, Aqua, Topaz, and Perido 101 were already there to greet them. They were all lined up in a row. Before the Taesang Emperor stepped off , he said "Jin-kun, while I''m here, can you call me by my name?" "Yes. ......" "Flora too. Please don''t call me "Your Majesty". I know how you feel, "Uh, uh... ......" "......Master Hilde," would you like me to call you? Reiko spoke up in place of the hesitant Jin. Yes, that''s fine. If you don''t mind, I''d prefer that you don''t ...... either." "......Well, that''s ...... not a good idea." Jin said, "Please don''t do that. "Then, you can call me ''sir. Please keep it that way from now on. "Your ...... Hilde-sama ......, is that correct?" Flora looked uncomfortable. "You too, please. ......Yes, let''s decide what kind of relationship we want to have." So, the Grand Emperor (Hilde) was a nobleman of the Shoro Kingdom who was an acquaintance of Jin''s and was now retired. Flora is his valet," said Hilde, smiling mischievously. "Welcome, Master Hilde, Flora! Welcome home, Master, Mistress, Young Master, Young Lady. <. Hilde was surprised for a moment to see that the Emperor Taisho had already been addressed, but then she thought better of it. "First, please make yourselves at home. Jin led Emperor Taisho (Hilde) into Nido Castle. < and gave Ames 101 and Ruby 10 1 to unload the baggage of the Grand Emperor (Hilde). Incidentally, Flora insisted that she would take care of her own luggage. Hilde and Flora were shown to the reception room and their luggage was taken to the guest room. Flora had brought a large suitcase by herself, but Perid 101 persuaded her to hand it over. Elsa took the twins and retreated to the living room. Jin was now entertaining the Grand Emperor (Hilde) and Flora. "Oh, this tea is delicious, it tastes so gentle. "It''s Kaina tea. It is a tea made from the leaves of the ...... tree that grows in the vicinity of this village. is also found in the Shoro Kingdom, but it is rarely consumed as tea. In the village of Kaina, the leaves are often dried in the sun when making tea, and the sunlight is said to ripen the umami compounds. is a tree similar to the Eucommia tree on earth, so the tea made from its leaves has the aspect of a healthy tea. "Now that you have had a cup of tea, let me show you to your room first. The host, Jin, leads Emperor Taisho (Hilde) and Flora around the room. This time, they have a guest room on the second floor where the parlor is located. The guest room on the southeast side of the room, in the corner, is Hilde, and the room next to it is Flora''s. "Well, this is a good room," Hilde says, "but it''s not so good. "Well, this room has tatami mats, too," said Hilde. The corridor and the reception room had wooden flooring, but this room had tatami mats. Emperor Taishang (Hilde) had experienced tatami in <> in <>. "Ah, tatami smells so good. It''s so relaxing." "Please change into something more comfortable. We will come back later. I''ll be back later. Fifteen minutes later, when Jin returned, Emperor Taisho (Hilde) and Flora had changed into their normal clothes. Lunch is ready. Because of the time difference, it was already 1:30 p.m. in Kaina village. However, it could be said that it was a late lunch, so Jin had prepared something light. It was a pancake. It was something between a 3 o''clock snack and lunch. They are delicious. They are even better than the ones at Miyagi. "Yes, it''s excellent, Your Majesty. ...... Thank you very much for the compliment. By the way, Emperor Hilde put maple syrup on hers and Flora put honey on hers. My companion Jin was a maple syrup drinker. He drank black tea. "Oh, I remember this taste. "It''s true. This is ...... the same as the one we drink at the palace, Hilde. Flora seems to have a keen sense of taste. Jin was impressed. "You have hit the jackpot. The tea leaves I brewed this time are the ones I bought in Leuthart. Jin explained that he had purchased the tea from a supplier in Miyagi. After the meal, it was time for a break. Jin took this opportunity to ask something that had been bothering him. "I heard that Flora is getting married and retiring on her retirement ......." Flora''s cheeks turned red and she looked down as if she was reluctant to say anything. Then the Grand Emperor Hilde took her place and spoke up. "This is Meinrad August von Bergmller, a knight of the Kingsguard and captain of the second squadron. He''s a serious man, so I think he''ll be a good match for Flora." However, since the emperor has just been replaced, he does not want to lose any personnel, so retirements will be gradual, and Flora plans to retire at the end of the year, with the wedding to take place early in the new year. So she will be my valet for the rest of the year. "So that''s what this is about." "That''s why my automata, , which I went to the trouble of having made for me, is staying at home this time. "I understand." Jin wanted to ask her what she thought of , but it seems that the Emperor has given priority to Flora for now. After that, we all talked about nothing else. Hilde smiled and asked, "Hey, Jin-kun. "Jin-kun, from what I saw from the sky, this castle is quite tall, isn''t it? "Yes, it is. You can see the whole village from the top floor. At this point, Jin could already guess what the Emperor Taesang (Hilde) was going to say. I want to go up there. "I will take you to ......." The request was made as expected. "Well, we''re going up the stairs. ...... Before Jin could say, "Shall I have the golem carry you up the stairs?", Emperor Taue (Hilde) said, "I can handle the stairs, "I can handle the stairs. I''m much lighter these days." She said, "I''m much lighter these days. Jin glanced at Flora and wondered if that was true, "Yes, Hilde has been going up and down the stairs in the castle every day, and her legs and back are much stronger now. She assured me. Still worried about stepping off the stairs, Jin called Aqua101 to support her. "Well, it''s a nice view after all! Hilde, who had made it to the top of the stairs almost breathlessly, praised the view from there. "Well, over there is the north. Far beyond the mountain range is the great isthmus of Pazdekst, and beyond that is the Nordic Federation. "Oh, I see. It is relatively close from here. Next, the south side is explained. "The river flowing in the south is the Erme River. Magi sand is one of the specialties of the village, and is used as a source of energy for the magic stove. "Ah, so that''s what they''re doing in that river, picking something." Jin then explained about the east and west sides of the river, to the satisfaction of Emperor Taisho (Hilde). 2239 - - 60-04 Kainamura Hot Spring Emperor Taesang (Hilde) enjoyed the view from the top floor of Nido Castle. Jin decided to show us around the castle. He explained the castle from the top floor (the 6th floor). First, the fifth floor. The fifth floor is for you and Erza''s room. Oh, so there''s a lounge here too. Yes, on every floor above the second floor. The view from here is wonderful. It would be nice to have tea time while watching the sunset and the night sky. To this Emperor Hilde, Jin replied, "Then let me prepare it for you tonight." "Well, I''m glad. Thank you, Jin. Next, we go to the third floor. "Some people say the fourth floor is bad luck in my hometown. I explain. In fact, the fourth floor is a trap level. Anyone who came up from below to reach the fifth floor, Jin''s apartment, would be trapped on this floor, which has never been used before. "There is an office, a reference room, a library, and a spare room here." Since he is a lord, he has an office, although he does not use it very often. A library with various books. A reference room displaying materials other than books. After looking at them in order, Emperor Taue (Hilde) said "What a wonderful library! It seems that there are books that we don''t have in our country either. He seemed to have read the books just by looking at the spines of the books for a short time. Jin deepened his respect for her. "May I take a look at it later? Flora asked, "Of course. This place is open to the public. Jin answered. The two were surprised at this. "You can read such a treasure trove of knowledge without any compensation. ...... Sir Jin Nido is very kind to his people!" In fact, Hannah had read all the books here and kept them to herself except for the magical practices. And this time, she was on the second floor where the guest rooms for the Grand Emperor (Hilde) and Flora were located. "Well, the bathrooms and washrooms are here and here on the north side. Of course, there is a lounge on this floor. Next, of course, we went to the first floor. Here we have a large hall that can accommodate all the villagers and is also used for gatherings and banquets. "Well, it''s spacious. It''s as big as the hall in Miyagi. Thank you very much. ...... kitchen and bathrooms are also on this floor. There is also a basement, but we will not go there. "The first basement floor is a food storage. There is enough food for a year in the village. "I see, so they are preparing for famine and disasters. Flora looked impressed as she asked for confirmation, "Yes, that''s right. I answered, "Yes, that''s right. In fact, it is true, and since it is connected to Horai Island by a dedicated warp gate, we have more than a hundred years'' worth of food reserves, not just one year. "The second basement floor is a sewage treatment facility and a leftover food processing facility. "I see." In fact, there are also dungeons and interrogation rooms, but Jin had never used them, so he omitted to explain them. "Well, this concludes my tour of Nido Castle," Jin said. Hilde, the emperor of the Grand Council of State, clapped her hands. "Thank you, Jin." The time was about to be 3:00 p.m. "Well, I''ll give you a tour of the village tomorrow. "Oh, yes, that would be nice. The bath you just showed me? Yes, you can go there too, but there are hot springs in the village of Kaina. "Oh, yes!I''d like to take a bath there. "At this time of the day, I know it''s not much, but some villagers come to enter the hot springs." That''s fine. Right, Flora? Yes. Then I''ll show you around. Please bring a change of clothes. So, with only a change of clothes, Jin took Emperor Taue and Flora to the hot springs in the village of Kaina. Of course, Reiko and Ruby 101 accompanied him. And Elsa, who has been putting the twins down for a nap. Perid 101 is watching the twins. "Ah, it''s time to harvest the wheat, isn''t it? Emperor Hilde muttered happily as we passed through the golden autumn wheat fields on the way. Jin remembered that the national emblem of the Shoro Kingdom was three wheat stalks. At the same time, it is now a good memory that during the wedding reception in the Shoro Kingdom, Jin and Erza were told about how the founder of the country planted the wheat with his own thoughts. "<>," he said. Hearing these words, the emperor was pleased. "Well, you remembered. I''m so glad." "Of course I am. It''s the words of His Majesty who congratulated me and Elsa on our new beginning. Yes, I''ll never forget that moment. Elsa also remembered those days and said to Hilde. "Thank you. Being a part of your marriage was one of the best moments of my life. A pang in the bridge of his nose, Jin dared not to be upset and continued to walk at the front of the group. No one but Reiko noticed that his eyes were slightly moistened because he was walking at the front of the group. * * * "Oh ...... nice hot water, isn''t it?" And since there was no one in the hot spring in Kaina Village, the hot spring was reserved for all. So the ladies can enjoy the hot spring without any worries. "This is a baking soda spring, so it will make your skin smooth and smooth. "Oh, that''s nice." In addition, the mildly alkaline nature of the water makes the soap work well. "Your ...... skin is young, Hilde." Elsa said without any flattery. Truly, the skin of the Emperor Taisho (Hilde) was young. Then Elsa washed Hilde''s back and washed her hair. By the way, Flora was taken care of by Ruby 101. * * * * Jin stayed in front of the hot spring without taking a bath, and was going to apologize to anyone who came to enter, but fortunately, no one came until the three of them went up. 2240 - - 60-05 The night at Nidojo Castle It was around 4 p.m. when Emperor Taue, Flora, Erza and the others left the hot springs in Kaina Village. The summer day still had the brightness of noon. The group slowly returns to Nido Castle to cool off for the evening. By this time, some villagers had finished their work in the fields and were coming back. "Oh, Jin, you''re here! "Jin, it''s been a long time. Are you a visitor?" As we passed by these people, they would call out to us one after another. "Hello, it''s a beautiful day, isn''t it? Emperor Hilde greeted them, "Good afternoon, visitor. Please make yourself at home! And.., "Hello, miss! "I''m not ," she said. "I''m not ......, am I? You must be Flora." I mean, who do you mean by is a with healing magic, this does not have healing magic, but rather a warding effect that blocks or reflects ultraviolet rays. The commercially available version contains fine particles of light silver oxide (titanium dioxide), which makes it appear white, but this one was completely transparent. "Well, does this protect against sunburn?" "Yes. It should last about half a day." "Great. ...... Here, Flora, you should put some on too." "Yes, Miss Hilde." We apply it to the exposed skin areas: arms, backs of the hands, neck, behind the ears, etc. They both wear straw hats, so their foreheads should be fine. ....... "You might want to apply it to your nose as well," Jin advised. Jin advised. "Oh, I see..." "Yes, that''s right." Hilde, the emperor of Japan, had been wearing a sunshade when she went out, but Flora was different. "The head of my nose gets sunburned unexpectedly," she said. "Oh, really?" "Well, is it?" "Yes. ...... Jin-dono, is this sunscreen available on the market?" Flora said, "It is a good cosmetic for women who work outdoors. "They are looking into the possibility of mass-producing it. For now, they were working on a substitute for the drug base. The <> is made by centrifuging blood with magic power at subsonic speeds and processing it in a <>. The blood used is all derived from demons, so it is difficult to mass-produce. <, we can synthesize it. Saki is also helping with this. "If Erza is working on this, we can count on her. The Emperor Taue trusted her. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At 9:30 a.m., when the news that the nobles of the Shoro Kingdom had arrived had probably already spread throughout the village, Jin led Hilde and Flora out of Nidou Castle. He was accompanied only by Reiko. Nevertheless, the village of Kaina is safe from the constant patrols of the twenty-six Land A to Z and the magical brain << Gengshen> watching over it. Moreover, this time, the old man should be watching over them with his <. First, Jin led them to the Erme River. The two were led to the Herme River. "Wow, this is fun! Emperor Taisho (Hilde) is in a strange state of excitement. She is now on a flat-bottomed pleasure boat, <>. She is piloted by Sailor 2. Flora was against the high-speed boat, <>, in case of any emergency, so this one was chosen, but Emperor Taue seems to be enjoying it more than expected. Of course, she was wearing a life vest. "His Majesty...... Hilde-sama must be enjoying these days since she has been living in a repressed life. ......" Jin, who was watching from the riverbank, was talking to himself like this. There were some children on the bank of the Erme River, including Hannah. "Hey, honey, that''s the former emperor, isn''t it? "Yes. You know what I''m talking about. ...... We had once welcomed the then female emperor, Hilde, at the Reuthert residence. "Sounds like fun ......." "I know. ...... I guess it was a good thing that she abdicated." Seeing his lively smile makes Jin happy. If you ask him who he respects in this world, the first person he mentions is Emperor Hilde, he is that much in love with her. "I really wanted him to join the <>. "I guess it''s a bit difficult with the royal family, isn''t it?" "Yeah. ......" Even though he has retired, the title of <> is unique in the Shoro Kingdom. He is a person who cannot be replaced by anyone else. Even now, his political influence is great. Although he does not seem to have the slightest intention of doing so. "He''s still young, and he seems to be supporting the current emperor in many ways." "Sounds like a lot of work. ......" "Oh.... I''m sure there are hardships that the common people have no idea about." "I don''t think you''re a commoner. ...... Jin smiled when Hannah said that to him. 2242 - - 60-07 No sleep in the afternoon "Well, that was fun! After an hour and a half of boating, Emperor Hilde smiled with satisfaction. "Well then, Master Hilde, I think it''s time for lunch. It was 11:30 in the morning. Back at Nido Castle, it would be a good time for lunch. "Good!" Jin called a for Emperor Taisho, who looked a little tired. This is, in short, a rickshaw pulled by a golem. It was introduced to the village of Kaina after seeing it in use in Mitsuho. The rickshaw is towed by a Land U. It is also sufficient as an escort. Once a foreigner visiting Japan saw a rickshaw, At any rate, if a golem pulls the car, there will be no such criticism. The tires are made of rubber from the Perhias trees and do not contain tubes, but the suspension and dampers are of high performance. The seat is also designed to be comfortable, so the ride should not be bad as long as the vehicle is towed at a brisk pace. "This is nice. "It''s very comfortable." The sunshade also blocked out the summer sun, and the two passengers, Emperor Taue (Hilde) and Flora, seemed to be satisfied with the ride. Lunch was a specialty of the neighboring village of Toka, <. <. This time, based on Jin''s favorite <, the peridol leader of Hourai Island has devised a new seasoning. The ingredients used are butter, soy sauce, salt and pepper, onion, bacon, and green laver. "Oh my, it''s delicious! "This is ......!I''ve never had it before, but it''s good! And so it should be. < Therefore, we did not need to prepare many kinds of sauces. The fruit is Persica from Penglai Island. The fruits are harvested ripe, so they are sweet with high sugar content. The fruits are chilled, so they are pleasant to the palate. And this is the most important, but hidden effect is . This can be said of all fruits from Horai Island, but because of its high content of <>, it can be used to write magic. However, the concentration of <> is not high enough to activate it properly, so it is only at the level of <>. Nevertheless, it was not a placebo, but an actual effect, albeit slight, so it was the perfect dessert for the Emperor Taisho (Hilde) who was tired of playing around. "Oh, it was delicious, thank you. Jin said to the very satisfied Hilde, "You must be tired from playing in the river. Please take a rest. He laid out a futon in the hall and led them to a place surrounded by partitions. The ceiling of the hall was high and airy, making it cool. It was the perfect place for a nap. Yes, I will do that. Thanks to the persica we ate for dessert, the risk of stomach upset or reflux esophagitis is very small even if we lie down after the meal. The new tatami mats smelled pleasant, and Emperor Hilde soon began to fall asleep. Flora was standing on the other side of the room, bracing herself to fulfill her duties as a guard. Flora, you don''t have to be so nervous, this Nido castle is warded, so please take it easy and relax your shoulders a little more. Flora sat down in the chair offered by Topaz 101 and leaned back against the chair. Shortly before 1:00 p.m. A little before 1:00 p.m. "Oh, I slept well," she muttered to herself. Hilde, the emperor of the Grand Council of State, woke up. Jin, who had been thinking about whether or not to wake her up at 1:00 a.m., was relieved. Jin, what time is it? It''s almost one o''clock. "Oh my... ....... You''re doing your usual habit, aren''t you? After lunch, they take a midday nap (shesta) in an easy chair as a lunch break. "I wish I could have slept longer." Here, Jin says, "Your Majesty, if you sleep too long, you will not be able to sleep at night, so I say 15 to 20 minutes is good. He advised him to sleep for 15 to 20 minutes. Hearing this, the Grand Emperor Hilde said to Jin, "Jin-kun, it''s Hilde, not His Majesty. After I warned him, "Well, I see ...... that your past habits are not so bad." He seemed to be convinced. "If you lie down immediately after eating to the point that your stomach becomes painful, the contents of your stomach may reflux into your esophagus and cause << reflux esophagitis>, so it is better to take a nap in a chair after eating." He added, "If you keep your stomach at about eight ...... or even six portions, you should be able to lie down on the futon. "I see. I''ll keep that in mind. ...... By the way, where''s Flora?" "Huh?" "...... You''re sleeping, aren''t you?" "...... you''re sleeping." Flora was leaning back in her chair, breathing softly in her sleep. "(What should I do?)" Jin whispered to her so as not to wake her up. "(Well, ....... I''m sure you must be tired from being my companion all the time. I''ll let you sleep a little longer.) "Okay." Physical exhaustion can be removed with Persica juice and a nap, but mental exhaustion is difficult to overcome. It would be nice if we could develop a magic to relax them, Jin thought at this moment. "Well then, I''d like to read a book from the library..." "Yes, please. I''ll call you when it''s a little before ......3 time. Okay. Okay. Please do. Saying this, the Grand Emperor Hilde hurriedly went to the library. He made sure to put Aqua 101 on just in case. And Flora is still sleeping. "I''m sure it''s not cold, but ...... I don''t know what to do. Should I wake her up or let her sleep? Emperor Hilde had told him to let her sleep, but Jin imagined that if he went along with that, when she woke up, he would probably feel responsible ...... for what he had done. "Okay." Jin came up with an idea and asked Reiko to go get Elsa and the twins. "Yes, Father." Two minutes later, Elsa arrived with Reiko. "What''s wrong?They are napping right now." "Oh, I see. ......" Jin remembered that, unlike adults, it was customary to let the two toddlers take a nap. 2243 - - 60-08 Relaxing Snacks Elsa wondered who Jin was that had called her up, "So, what''s going on?What''s wrong?" He asked. "Oh, actually, ......." Jin explained to Erza. Flora, the consort of the Grand Emperor Hilde, had fallen asleep. Hilde told him to let her sleep because she would be tired and went to the library. Jin was afraid to wake her up, but he thought that if he let her sleep, Flora would feel remorse when she woke up later. "So I thought I''d make things a little more lively around you so that you''d wake up naturally. "Hmmm... okay. But you''re both asleep, so don''t wake them up. "I know. So I think it''s okay if I talk to Elsa like this. Sure. Jin thought that it would be fine if he could wake her up by talking to her. And just as he had expected. "U...... must have fallen asleep by accident......!Your Majesty! Flora woke up and was in a panic. "Flora, calm down. Mr. Hilde is reading in the library right now. Jin soothed her, and she calmed down a little. "I see. Well, I''m going to go over there too. ...... "Here, Flora, take this to wake you up. Ames 101 handed her the chilled Citran juice he had prepared, and Flora drank it down in one gulp, Flora drank it down in one gulp and said, "Ah, the refreshing acidity makes me feel refreshed. Thank you." She thanked him, handing the glass back to him. "I assure you it''s safe, Flora, why don''t you read the book?" Jin said before entering the library, "Yes, I would. I will do so. Flora answered, knocking and entering the library. She knocked on the door and entered the library. "Well, I have some free time until three o''clock. Jin is now with Elsa, looking at the faces of the napping twins. He repeatedly tries to peck them on the cheeks, only to be stopped by Elsa. "What are you doing?" "No, they look soft." "You look like a child." But Elsa''s face was smiling even as she said this. A cool breeze blows in through the window. "Ah, it''s a nice breeze." Jin lay down next to the twins. "Well, me too." Elsa also lies down on the opposite side of the twins from Jin. Since there are four parents and four children, it looks like < instead of <. And before I know it, both Jin and Erza are dozing off: ....... * * * * "Otoutochan" "......" Jin was awakened by a slap on the cheek. It was Chloe who was smacking him. She woke up from a nap and found Jin sleeping next to her, so she woke him up. "Okaasyaan." "I was sleeping ......." Mio also woke Elsa up by tapping her on the forehead. "......What time is it?" Jin muttered to no one, "It''s 2:50 p.m., father," said Reiko''s voice. Reiko''s voice answered. Reiko was sitting on her haunches in the corner of the room so as not to disturb the father and daughter. If she were human, her legs might be numb and she might not be able to stand up, but Reiko looked unconcerned. "Oh, thank you, Reiko. Is it time for tea?" "Tea!" Okashi! The twins are in high spirits, even though they just woke up. "...... Reiko, are you ready to go?" Reiko asked, checking with the golem maids with her built-in manacam. "Yes, we are ready, father. "Thank you. ......Yu, Mio, let''s have a snack then. Jin then picked up Chloe by his right arm and Mio by his left arm. Jin is getting used to it these days, but he thinks that if the twins grow up faster than he gets stronger, he won''t be able to hold them like this anymore ....... "Honey, don''t strain yourself." Erza took Mio in her arms and picked him up, since she couldn''t open the fusuma (sliding door) or the door with her hands full. With his left hand free, Jin opened the door and went down the hallway. He slowly went down the stairs to the third floor. After knocking on the door of the library, he opened it to find the emperor (Hilde) and Flora reading a book together. Hilde was reading a book on science and technology, and Flora was reading a story. "Master Hilde, Flora, I think it''s time for you to take a break..." "Yes, I think it''s time for me to take a break..." "Oh, it''s already 3 o''clock. It''s already three o''clock. ...... Oh, Chloe, it''s so nice to be held by your father..." Hilde, the emperor, took her eyes off the book and noticed Chloe in Jin''s arms. And Mio was picked up by Erza behind him. The Emperor, entranced by the twins, quickly cut off his attachment to the book and stood up. Flora follows. They all move to the lounge on the south side of the same floor. From there, the view toward the Hermes River and the Togo Pass was pleasant, with a fresh river breeze blowing in. "Oh, that''s nice." There was green tea and yokan jelly on the table. "Well, you said ''yokan'', didn''t you? I love its gentle sweetness!" This was based on the information that the then female Emperor Taishang (Hilde) had loved yokans at the Kunlun Island''s <> and had ordered many refills. <, with some azuki beans left, and . No, there was also the twins'' favorite, sweet potato yokan. Green tea goes well with yokan. ......Oh, it''s delicious." "Water is also important for green tea. Jin explains. "I guess so. You said that the water in Leuthart is hard because it comes from a well. "Yes. The water from Lake Tosmo dissolves minerals when it passes through the underground permeable layer. So, when they brew green tea, they use water with reduced mineral content through a water purifier. "Here in the village of Kaina, the rain and snow that falls in the mountains to the north is used to make rivers and groundwater, and depending on the water vein, the water is softer than that of Reuthert. On the other hand, some veins contain baking soda, so well drillers need to be careful. "I see. Anyway, the tea is good. The yokans are good too. That''s all there is to it. Hey, Yu, Mio. "Yes, it''s delicious." "Yes, it''s delicious." The twins, who were eating sweet potato yokan and drinking barley tea, answered cheerfully when they were approached by the Emperor Taue (Hilde). 2244 - - 60-09 Hot Spring Talks After the snack, we relax and chat a little. "Hilde-sama, you said <> was away from home. ......" Hilde looked a little apologetic. "...... Actually, she seems to be a favorite of ...... His Majesty," Jin said, "and she and Empress are very happy to see you. < together." "...... I see." Actually, Jin knew. Since he had created this , it had a function to monitor at least some information about how it was doing. According to the report, was near the emperor. Hearing the explanation of Emperor Hilde, Jin was convinced of this. And he wonders if he should offer such an automata to His Majesty the Emperor ......, (It would be a shame if it delayed his marriage. ......) (It would be a disaster if it delayed the marriage. ) Jin also reconsidered. * * * * As the sun was setting, we decided to go to a hot spring. To get to the hot springs, we decided to use for short. This time, there are three of them. Emperor Taisho (Hilde) and Flora, Jin and Yu, and Erza and Mio ride in them. Reiko follows on foot. "Oh, Jin, are you at the hot springs?" The group arrives at the hot springs in Kaina Village, being accosted by passing villagers. Compared to the previous day, when the hot spring was reserved for only a few bathers, this day there seemed to be a few bathers, but Emperor Taisho (Hilde) did not mind, and even said that he preferred it. "Ah, it''s nice hot water." "It''s a nice hot spring!" Jin is in the hot spring with Yu. "Oh, Jin, where is this visitor from?" Rock, the leader of the men of Kaina Village, asked. He is a nobleman from the Shoro Kingdom. We invited him to stay with us for the summer. "Oh, I see. But the Shoro Empire is far away from here ....... But I guess Jin can fly there in a day. He was strangely impressed. "Then, should I say hello to them when I meet them on the street?If you''re a nobleman of the Shoro Kingdom,...... do you have any manners? He also said, I''m sure you''re right. He is a friendly person, so a normal greeting will be fine. Jin answered, "Yes, he is a friendly person, so a normal greeting will do. "Nice hot water, isn''t it? Meanwhile, in the women''s bath, Emperor Taue (Hilde), Flora, Erza and Mio are in the women''s bath. In addition, there were several ladies from the village of Kaina. "Are you a nobleman of the Shoro Kingdom? ......" "You know Erza and Jin, don''t you?" And then.., "Eee-oyoo!" Look at Mio, "Mio, you''ve grown up so much. Is she 5 years old this year?" and saying to Elsa. "Yes. I''m a little worried about your pronunciation. Elsa says, "Don''t worry about it if you''re 5 years old, "Don''t worry about it at 5 years old. After another year, she will be able to speak more clearly. She even gave her some advice. As a novice mother, Elsa is relieved by this advice. After all, her own mother, Meene, had never raised anyone but Elsa. She says, "In that case, you can ask me. Hannah''s grandmother Martha said. "Yes. However, knowing that Martha''s grandson Hannah also adored Hitoshi, it was quite awkward for Erza to visit Martha by herself. "Hmmm, Erza seems to have gotten used to everyone in the village." Emperor Taue smiles. "That''s right, Erza is Jin''s wife, you know. "Jin, you are also adored by him, aren''t you? Yes, that''s right. Gin is the savior of this village. He built us pumps and stoves and all sorts of things. Oh, there was the golem horse too. And Gon and Gen. "We had a snow room, didn''t we? "You built a clinic and called Dr. Sally. "You became a lord and gave us lower taxes." And so on, and so on, and so on. "...... Jin, they love you. I''m happy for you, Elsa." "...... yes." "Are you a human?" "...... yes. Mio''s father is loved by everyone. "I''m so happy!" The women in the village who were taking a bath looked at Erza and Mio with smiling faces. * * * * * * "Well, then, my lord, enjoy your stay." Erza-chan, Mio-chan, see you later! After leaving the spa, the ladies greeted Erza and Hilde, and returned to their respective homes. Akane clouds were rolling in the twilight sky. Jin left the hot spring one step ahead of the others and waited in the evening breeze. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Jin-kun, did I keep you waiting? No, we just got out ourselves. This is true. < So, we were a little ahead of them. <. "Ah, it''s so relaxing! Emperor Taisho (Hilde) says in a deep voice as she gazes at the sunset sky. "I''ll say it again and again. I''m going to relax. ...... Jin, this is a nice village. It''s a great place to relax. Thank you for bringing me here. "Thank you." Jin felt a little embarrassed by the praise of Kayna village. His face may have turned red, but it is hard to tell if it is the red of the sunset. The then returns to Nido Castle. Butler and the golem maids greet them. "Welcome home. Dinner is ready. I''m hungry. You''ve done so much for us. "Yay, dinner!" I''m so hungry! Emperor Hilde and the twins are happy to hear that dinner is served. Flora, Jin, and Elsa looked at them with narrowed eyes. 2245 - - 60-10 Toward the North The dinner was prepared in the style of the Shoro Empire. "Oh, hot food is so delicious! Emperor Taisho (Hilde) said happily. When he was emperor, the food had been cold because of the time that had passed between the time it was prepared in the kitchen and the time it was brought to the restaurant after being poisoned. There were trays with made by Jin before, but although they could delay the cooling process, they could not prevent it completely, and it was not possible to enjoy the hot food. "You said that the food at Miyagi is good even when it is cold, but it tastes better warm than cold, doesn''t it? "I''m sure that''s true." In terms of Jin''s favorite dishes, itpo (sweet potatoes) and natuli (pumpkins) cooked sweetly can be eaten cold, but they still taste better warm. "<>." The taste here is a cut above the rest, Emperor Taisang (Hilde) said. That''s right, the food that Hilde had at the Kunlun Island was seasoned for everyone because of the other guests, but the food here is seasoned for Hilde. "Thank you very much. Perhaps because he liked the taste, he ate 1.5 times more than usual. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Then they had an after-dinner chat over buckwheat tea. "Tomorrow, can we visit the as planned?" Jin confirms. There are still many places in the village of Kaina that I would like to show you, but for one reason or another. I wanted to give priority to this one first. The distance from the village of Kaina to the is much closer than the distance from the Shoro Empire, and most importantly, there is less time difference. "Yes, I would love to go there." "...... Jin-dono, is it safe?" Emperor Taigami (Hilde) is full of interest, and Flora looks worried. For the ordinary people living on the Laurent continent, the <> is still an unknown country. Moreover, the people who live there are the <> who fought to the death in the <> in the past, and who recently launched a bio-terrorist attack on the Klein Kingdom, and who have also stirred up trouble in the Shoro Kingdom. Flora knows from many examples that the <> are friendly people. She had heard that Radeous, the next chief of the <> clan, and his family had paid an unofficial visit to the Klein Kingdom, accompanied by Jin. Flora had heard that he had demonstrated the technique of <> in the village of Toka, but the uneasiness that was etched in the back of her mind did not go away so easily. "Yes, don''t worry. I assure you. "Then that''s good. ......" "Flora, you worry too much. < It was January 20, 3462. By the way, the representatives of the <> were Bardius and Radeous of >, who were also Zion''s grandfather and father. Since then, the <> has contributed in many ways as a member of the <>. As a side note, it was on January 15, 3460 that they first addressed the <>. The chairman at that time was the female emperor of that time, the Taisho emperor (Hilde). Since then, she has wanted to visit the <>. So Jin wanted to take this opportunity to unofficially take the Emperor Taue (Hilde) to the <>. "Yes. I''m looking forward to it. Hilde nodded happily and Flora said, "I''m looking forward to it, "Is there anything I should be ...... careful about?" Flora asked, still looking worried. Jin sensed that she was trying to keep him in a good mood, "Nothing in particular. Oh, the etiquette is somewhat different, so please don''t be concerned if you see me behaving in an unfamiliar way," he explained. He explained. "And you don''t have to think too hard about our manners either," I reminded him. I reminded him that he did not have to be so formal in his manners. I wanted Flora, who was serious and uptight, to be especially careful. One more thing, "Also, it is even cooler than here, so you might want to bring a long-sleeved jacket if you go outside. I also reminded him that it was even cooler than here, so he might want to bring a long-sleeved jacket if he went outside. And then, upon hearing that, "Long sleeves? I didn''t bring it, Flora said. She said that she was concerned about the Emperor''s, but not her own. "Oh, I''ll get it for you. Erza?" Yes. I''ll take care of it. I''ll take care of it. That''s what happened. Flora seemed to have eased some of the tension from her visit to the Nordic Federation through this conversation. Jin further tried to relieve Flora''s anxiety, "A girl named Marikka from the <> clan is my disciple. He then appeals for Marikka''s presence. At this time, Marikka was recognized by <, the magical brain that controls <>, and became his master. So, unofficially, Marikka is an important person in the top class. When Jin tells this to her, she is probably embarrassed and flustered, but ....... "You must be Marikka. I have heard your name. The Emperor Taisho (Hilde) said. "I''m sure we''ll meet." "Oh, I''m looking forward to that too." ......" Hilde is pleased and Flora is silent. < directly at the , and Flora, who had only heard about it, would have a different impression of each other. ...... Jin also thought that if they actually met and talked, they would be able to resolve the coiling issue. Furthermore, I wonder if there are still many people who think like Flora. I would like to spread the word more and more that ......<> wants peace, and that they are no different from the people of the Laurentian Continent in that respect.) I also thought that the Nordic Federation wants peace and is no different from the people of the Laurentian Continent in that respect. We continued to chat and ended the meeting at 7:30 PM. "I''m going to relax in my room. Chloe, Mio, good night. "Good night." "Good night." Emperor Taue (Hilde) returns to her room with a warm feeling after Chloe and Mio bid her good night. * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day was another beautiful day. After breakfast, Jin took Emperor Taishang (Hilde) and Flora to parked in front of Nido Castle. This time, Elsa and the twins are staying at home. Jin is accompanied by Reiko. And to reassure Flora, we decide to take all the five-colored golem maids in Nido Castle with us. This seems to have allayed Flora''s fears. Before leaving, Jin called out to Erza. "Sorry, Elsa. Can I borrow Edgar?" "Sure, no problem. Take care and have a good trip. ...... Edgar, take care of him. Yes, Miss Elsa. And the hatch of the Conlon 3 is closed. Finally, it was time to go. 2246 - - 60-11 Arrival at Nord The time is 8:00 a.m. Have a nice day. "Bye!" Erza and the twins wave goodbye, and <> slowly floats up into the blue sky. This time, <> is at an altitude of about 3000 meters. This time, <> will be flying over the low part of the northern mountains. "Wow, this is a great view! Edgar''s flight over the mountains is a joy, with snowy alpine peaks and glacier-covered valleys below. Edgar''s control is sure-footed as he flies over valleys and across mountain passes to the north. "It''s cold in the high mountains, isn''t it? I know that from what I''ve learned, but it''s still strange to see it with my own eyes. "Yes, Hilde, it is, isn''t it? ...... the temperature drops 0.6 degrees Celsius for every 100 meters of altitude gain, right? I''ve asked several times why this is so, but I don''t understand. Jin had given the Shoro Kingdom an automaton for teachers called a <. For your information, the Fewer is designed to teach scientific knowledge at the elementary and some junior high school levels. * * * * In about an hour, approached the Paz dexto isthmus. "Ah, so this is the northern end of the Laurentian continent!" Compared to the size of the continent, the isthmus of Pazdekst was a very thin and unreliable isthmus. "It''s kind of desolate, isn''t it? The rocky land stretched on and on. This was the northern tip of the Laurentian continent. "There''s no point in developing it at the moment," he said. The population of this world is small. There is no need for territorial disputes at the moment. Meanwhile, <> jumped over the isthmus and approached the sky above the continent of <>. "Uh, we''re headed for the clan territory of the <>, right? Hilde asked him, and he explained again. "Yes. The person who will be welcoming us today is the grandson of the clan chief there. As Jin answered, Flora, who had been silent all this time, asked him to confirm. "Mr. Zion, is it? "Yes, that''s right. I know him personally, so I asked him to show me around. Jin-kun, you have a very broad face. has lowered its altitude considerably. The view down below is quite clear. "The mountains over here are all white. Is it snow? "It''s a perennial snow and glaciers." As Jin answered, he wondered if it would be possible to take him to the alpine mountains where there was still a lot of snow. "We will be landing soon. The temperature outside is 16 degrees Celsius. Edgar reported. "At 16 degrees Celsius, it will be a little chilly in short sleeves. Please put this on." Jin offered two long-sleeved jackets. "Well, these are the jackets you mentioned yesterday. Oh, what a wonderful texture! "They feel wonderful!" The two who received the jacket praised the texture of the fabric. "It''s made of magi silk. It has good heat retention properties, so I think it will be warm. Also, the weave is very tight, so the wind doesn''t blow through it easily. What do you think? "It looks good on you." Emperor Taue''s is beige, and Flora''s is pale blue. Jin and Erza prepared a light blouson-like half-coat. The plane was about to land. < "Come in, come in." Jin stood first, urging Taishou Emperor (Hilde) and Flora to ....... "...... Jin-dono, are you sure there is no danger?" Flora, looking nervous, asked as she stood to protect Hilde. "Yes, I can assure you of that." "...... Flora, don''t worry. Jin, you would never put us in danger. "............ yes. We''re with you. Ruby 101, the five-colored golem maid, reassures Flora, who seems to have finally made up her mind. Flora walks away slowly. Jin takes the lead, reassuring her, and steps down the ramp with a big step. "Jin!" Zion greeted me. "Long time no see!I''m so glad you came. You look good, Theon. Yes, thanks to you. Jin and Zion greet each other as friends. This is an informal visit, so it''s not a problem at all. Jin-sama! Marikka rushes over to them and bows deeply. "Hello, Marikka. Thank you for meeting me. "I''m sure it''s nothing. ...... Jin-sama is my teacher, you know." Marikka saw them coming down the stairs after Jin, "Are you our guests?" She confirmed. When Jin nodded, Zion came down first, "Welcome to the Nordic Federation. I am Xiong, grandson of the <> Chief. Marikka followed. Marikka followed, My name is Marikka of the Shinra clan. I look forward to working with you. She bowed deeply. "You must be Zion. I am Hilde von Rubies. I look forward to working with you. The Grand Emperor (Hilde) introduced herself with a slight abbreviation of her name. "......f,Flora Heckerath von Merante. Please give me a warm welcome." Flora said her name a little nervously. Hilde," she said, "and Flora," she added. Jin added. Theon nodded broadly, "Okay. ......Hilde and Flora, welcome! And then he performed a curtesy in the style of the Shoro Empire. Hilde and Flora saw this and knew that at least Sion understood their culture. 2247 - - 60-12 At the Guesthouse < yet, "So Elsa and the twins didn''t come this time, huh? said Zion. "Yes. We have guests." Jin answered in the same way, but Zion gently pulled him away and took him to a little distance, "Hey, isn''t Hilde the former emperor?" He guessed. "You know her? Jin was surprised. "Yes. I saw him before when I went to Avalon with my father and the others, though only briefly. "Oh, I see. ......" Theon had been to <> even though he had not attended the >. "So, how is it?" "...... yes." Jin had to admit. "I''m the <> now, but I''m here on a personal visit, and I don''t like to be treated so formal. So I would appreciate it if you could entertain me as a nobleman of my acquaintance." "...... I understand." Jin and Zion went back to the Emperor Hilde and Flora. They seemed to be having a good conversation with Marikka. "Oh Jin, Marikka is such a nice person!" "I''m so sorry..." Emperor Hilde seemed to like Marikka very much. A large carriage pulled by two golem horses was prepared. The golem horses were prepared by Jin and the carriage by Marikka. "This way, please. "Thank you." Zion gets in first, followed by Emperor Taisho (Hilde), Flora, Jin, Reiko, and Marikka. The five colored golem maids, Ruby 101 and below, all rode alongside the carriage. "Oh, it''s such a comfortable ride. The carriages are great, but the road surface is not too rough, is it? "Yes, it''s called crushed stone pavement. The road surface from the airfield to the village was paved with crushed stone, which made the ride less bumpy and more comfortable. "You want to spread this pavement to all the countries of the Laurentian Continent, don''t you, Jin? Emperor Taisho (Hilde) said. Yes, I do. "I understand. It looks like it''s just paved with gravel, but it''s very solid. It doesn''t look like it would take much more than a horse-drawn carriage. GolemThey are strong enough to withstand the kicking of a horse without being gouged by the slightest thing. It also allows water to pass through it, preventing puddles from forming. In the future, when large vehicles weighing several tons come and go, it will be necessary to harden the pavement with asphalt, but for the time being, Jin thought that this pavement would be sufficient. "That''s the clan territory of the Shinra clan. Farmlands spread out around the village, which was surrounded by stone walls. The were seen tending to the land. And then, "Is that a ...... greenhouse?" It is a greenhouse with a frame made of light silver and the transparent part made of cubic zirconia. "Yes. This is a greenhouse for growing crops, especially vegetables, because of the harsh winters." "It''s beautiful." I''m in awe. The carriage drove into the stone wall and stopped in front of a very large building. "This is the guest house." It was a new building, built only this year. This is a new building that was built only this year. While the surrounding buildings are all one-story, some of them are two-story buildings, and the atmosphere is somewhat different. "We are taking a cue from the buildings of the Klein and Franz kingdoms," Zion explained. Zion explained. Well, it is true that the style of the building is quite similar to those of the Kingdom of Klein and the Kingdom of Franz. However, when viewed as a whole, it was put together in a <>, and did not seem to stand out from the surrounding buildings. A few servants were lined up in front of the gate, bowing, as if they had been told that there would be visitors. Among them was Zion''s servant . "Welcome. Emperor Taue (Hilde) and Flora looked a little puzzled when they first saw the dark skin that was different from that of Zion and the others. "......Ji, Jin-kun, these people are a little ...... different from Zion and the others. Hilde swallowed her words, but Jin understood what she meant. "Yes, there are many circumstances, but in short, they are a species that coexist and prosper together. "...... I see." Perhaps sensing something in Jin''s words, Emperor Taisho (Hilde) did not inquire any further. In fact, it was Erza''s opinion that there was no genetic difference between the <> and the <>, and that the two races would eventually become one once the discrimination was eliminated. Yes, just like Zion''s sister Istaris and her former squire and current husband Netros. A quiet word. Theon first led the group into the guest house. "Well, would you prefer a Western-style room or a Japanese-style room? "Oh, you have a Japanese-style room? Emperor Taisho was surprised. "Yes, we do. I have heard good things about the Wujinggaku and the Jade Pavilion on the Kunlun Island, and I have referred to them. Actually, Jin knows. In fact, Jin is the owner of < and , and he consulted him on various matters during the construction. He also provided the tatami mats. After all, he wants this culture to take root widely. Igusa itself is grown in Mitsuho, so it should be possible to meet the increased demand. Emperor Taisho (Hilde) was shown to a room with tatami mats, where he lay down and enjoyed the aroma of igusa. It was a room of about 12 tatami mats, and now he was alone with Flora. "Oh, tatami is so nice, isn''t it? "Yes, Miss Hilde. ......When you take off your shoes, it means that the environment is <>, doesn''t it? Flora seems to have interpreted this custom as meaning that she could escape at any time if she had her shoes on, but not if she had them off. "Yes, I guess that''s one of the aspects. But," continued Hilde, "when you really want to relax, you can''t. "When you really want to relax, it is better not to constrict your body as much as possible, right? Corsets, belts, gloves, and shoes. Or underwear. Loose-fitting clothes are better for the circulation of blood. "So ...... might be." "And Jin-kun said <>, didn''t he?" Saying this, the emperor turned on his back on the tatami mat and stretched out his arms and legs. "I don''t really know what the character for <> means, but it''s very comforting to be like this. ...... you might say, it''s not very nice." "...... no." "It''s true, it''s important to behave. Especially in public. But I think this is acceptable in private time." "...... you are right." Emperor Hilde had a point, and Flora could not help but nod in agreement. 2248 - - 60-13 Hunting Lunch that day was prepared in the style of the Shoro Empire. In the dining room of the guest house, Emperor Hilde, Flora, Zion, Marikka, and Jin are sitting around the table. Reiko is standing diagonally behind Jin, and the five colored golem maids are standing in a line behind Hilde and Flora. "It''s delicious, Mr. Zion. "I am so relieved to hear you say so. "What kind of meat is this, Marikka?It has an exquisite chewy texture and umami taste. This is the meat of a gondar kalibou. We catch it in the winter and smoke it. "Oh, that''s why it smells so good." Surprisingly?Surprisingly, Flora had also become friends with Marikka. "...... So, Zion, what''s today?The hunt. Jin confirmed something over after-dinner tea. "Yes, it is. ...... is at 12:30 now. We should be leaving in about an hour. "Well, that''s good." While Jin and Zion were having such a conversation, Emperor Taisho (Hilde) seemed to be concerned. "Jin, what are you talking about?" "Yes, there''s not much point in keeping it a secret anymore. ...... Zion, will you explain it to him first?" Jin left it to Zion to explain. "...... Well, there are many species living in this Gondor continent. We are going to for a species called the Siamese Dragon> among them. Both Hilde and Flora were astonished at this. "What!You''re going to hunt a dragon? "Oh, that''s ...... possible?" On the Laurentian continent, the only dragons you can find are sea dragons. This is because dragon species only live in places with a high concentration of free ether. Theon answered. "Siamese dragons are land-dwelling dragons that often ravage fields and cause damage to settlements, so we hunt them regularly. Siamese dragons are one of the lowest-ranking species of dragons, but they have high fighting and defensive capabilities. They have a pair of wings on their back, but cannot fly. Its leather is thick and elastic, making it a useful material. The skin of the feathers is thin and tough. The tusks are durable and resistant to impact. Its flesh is hard and tasteless. While other dragons have decreased dramatically due to the "ether stampede", the number of dragons has slightly increased. Of course, like other dragons, they are mostly found in the northern regions. When Jin disappeared from the institute due to the outburst of , Reiko was also transferred to various places following Jin''s spool. She hunted this Siamese dragon in the northern lands. "Would you like to see it?" Jin finally asks, "I want to see it!I want to see it! Hilde, the emperor, leaned forward and shouted loudly. But Flora said, "Isn''t it dangerous, Jin-dono?" she asked calmly. Jin answered, Yes, I am fine. <. "Ah, that''s a relief!" Flora was convinced by Jin''s words. * * * * At 1:00 p.m., the <> soared into the sky of the > with Zion and Marikka, who were the guides and commentators, on board. "The altitude is ......, 50 meters should be safe." "Okay. Edgar, please. Yes, sir. The floor window is fully open, so you can see right below you. "The hunt should start in about 20 minutes." Zion said. "Until then, let me explain a little about the terrain." < was located in the eastern part of the Gondor continent, a bit far from the other clans. "Because of this, we do not have a history of cooperating with other clans to fight foreign enemies. The Shinra clans were independent in their dealings. "Therefore, they had to adjust their hunting methods to prevent the number of vermin from increasing too much." "I see." Hilde nodded her head in understanding as Zion explained. "This time we will hunt the in the middle basin of the Lugada River. The Lugada River is the only river in the eastern part of Gondor. The snow that accumulates in the mountainous areas to the north of the Gondor continent has become perennial snow and glaciers, and there is little <<> that can be used for drinking and living. Perhaps for this reason, various animals and demons were abundant along the Lugada River. "Well, if you see the river, could you please head upstream along the river?" "No problem. ...... Edgar, will you take care of it? Yes, I''ll take care of it. As Sion had said, there were various animals in the middle reaches of the Lugada River. "Oh, Flora, that''s Gondakaribou! About 20 large beasts, similar to the reindeer of the earth, were bathing in the river. "I see, so that''s what they are," he said. "The fur is warm, so it''s used for warm clothing. The antlers are works of art. The antlers, which are twice as big as those of the earth''s reindeer, are processed and used as accessories. "Recently, people on the Laurentian continent have been trading in whole antlers, as they want to display them as they are," he says. "Indeed, I can understand why people would want to display the horns. Jin also chimed in. He thought about the possibility that some people might be decorating it with swords and other weapons. "Ah, there they are!" Zion''s voice said, and I looked in the direction he was pointing, to see a dozen or so people surrounding two large beasts. "Is that the Siamese dragon?" "It looks like it. I used to kill them with a single Thunderbolt strike." Reiko said in a whisper. "...... I feel like I''ve heard a great story." "I''m sure you''ve heard a great deal about it, Reiko. Zion and Marikka are smiling. And then reached the site of the hunt, just above the sky. "Let''s get started! Jin and his guests had told us in advance that they wanted to observe the hunt, so they waited for <> to arrive and begin. Below us, 12 hunters had begun their activities. The target <> consisted of two dragons, opposed by 12 young men from the <> clan. "First, two of us will use gravity magic to stop them from moving." "Oh!" One person can create a gravitational force of 10 times 10 G''s. Two people can create 20 G''s. Two people can create 20G. Two people each used on one head. Even the Siamese dragons were not able to resist the 20 times stronger gravity, and they crawled on the ground as if they were sewn to the ground. "Then, two of them attack, but if they get close, they are hit by 20 times the gravity, so the remaining two cast gravity magic against them." This method is a tactic that is only possible for veterans, he said, because it is essential that the four users of gravity magic control it well and separate its effects on the <> and the attackers. The two attackers, with their monstrous strength characteristic of the <>, aim their huge axes at the heads of the <>. The axe is swung two or three times, and after the fifth time, the dragon stops moving. The other group was still novices, and they were attacking with magic from a distance. Three of them hold the Siamese dragon with 30 times gravity magic, and three of them attack with magic. <. By repeating three times, this < also stopped its movement. 2249 - - 60-14 Reiko, Relief "It was so easy." Hilde, the emperor of the Grand Council of State, gives her honest opinion. "I suppose so, as far as I can see. But it''s a tactic that was devised so as not to endanger the hunters as much as possible. When Sion said this, Hilde apologized. "That''s right. This is not a pastime for show. I misspoke. I''m sorry." Jin, who was listening to the exchange, thought that the strength of Hilde was that she could honestly admit her fault in this way. Below, they had just dug a large pit and started to drain the blood and process the entrails. The meat is not edible, but if it is dried and powdered, it can be used as fish food or fertilizer. "a......" Jin hit upon the idea that <> could also be made into <> by processing it. The grade might be low, but it might be enough to make <>, Jin thought. "Zion, I couldn''t make it in time this time, but I''ll buy it if you save the blood and embalm it instead of throwing it away. Jin explained that the blood would be used to make medicine. "Oh, that would be great." < is happy to have more items to export. Then Edgar reported. "Excuse me for interrupting. A huge creature is approaching from upstream on the Lugada River. "What?...... Okay, head that way. Yes, sir. Jin, who had a bad feeling about this, instructed Edgar to send in the direction of the upper reaches of the Lugada River. After two minutes of flying, it became clear what it was. "Grand dragon......!" Zion muttered as he grunted. Grand dragons are carnivores, preying on creatures weaker than themselves. Of course, Siamese dragons are its prey. They have a habit of forming groups and live near the poles at latitudes above 60 degrees north ....... "I wonder if they have migrated south in search of stray Siamese dragons." They migrate south from their native habitat once every few years in pursuit of prey. "Oh no, I think it smelled the blood of a Siamese dragon. It''s not good to be attacked in the middle of the blood draining process. "...... Jin, can''t you do something?" Zion decided that he had no choice but to ask Jin. And Jin is not the kind of person who would sit idly by while his friend and his friends are in danger. "Reiko, can you help me?" "Yes, father." <, but he chose the surest path. Reiko, the world''s most powerful automata, is about to launch her attack. "Reiko, please!" "Reiko, please!" Theon and Marikka bowed their heads. "I''m off." < this time, so they are empty-handed, but that''s nothing to worry about. <, and after managing the 50 meter drop with no difficulty, she faced the approaching Grand Dragon. "Heh, Your Majesty, are you all right? Flora, who knows Reiko the least of all these people, is so dismayed that she seems to have forgotten how to call her Hilde. Theon and Marikka pretended not to hear her, since they had already noticed the Grand Emperor (Hilde). "It''s all right, Flora. It''s not a matter of struggle or worry in your case, Reiko. You''ll understand if you just watch her." "Yes, yes... ......" During this exchange, Reiko intercepts the Grand Dragon as it rushes toward her. Grand Dragon is traveling at a maximum speed of about 100 kilometers per hour. Grand Dragon approaches with an earth-shaking sound. Reiko stands in front of it. The only way for Grandragon to survive was to make a U-turn here and now, but he probably never dreamed that the little girl was capable of defeating him. She did not slow down at all, and even tried to crush Reiko with a yell. "...... won''t turn back, will you?" Reiko''s output is at 30 percent. < Whether the grand dragon wondered at Reiko''s refusal to avoid or escape remains to be seen. No one knows. Reiko struck the approaching GRANDRAGON with her right fist, clad in warding, directly in front of it. The fist exceeds the speed of sound and crashes into the grand dragon with its warding. As if it had hit a wall of steel at 2000 km/h, Grand Dragon''s body was crushed beyond recognition. "Hey, hey ......" Flora is speechless, "That''s great ......." "Yes!" Theon and Marikka are admiring. "You put on the wards so that you won''t get any blood back. That''s what Reiko is all about! Marikka even analyzed Reiko''s fighting style. Reiko then dug a hole with her <> and buried the remains of the ground dragon. Among the dragon species, the grand dragon was exceptional in that it had only a few parts that could be used as materials. No, it is more important that there were no usable parts left before that. The meat was tougher, stinkier, and tastier than that of the pseudo dragon (Siamese dragon). The skin loses its elasticity and becomes brittle if it is not treated properly. Their bones are fragile and brittle, as if they are strengthened by magic power while they are alive. The only thing that could be used were the fangs, but they were crushed by Reiko''s blow. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * lowers its altitude and Reiko jumps on top of it, saving her the trouble of landing. "Thank you, Reiko!" "Reiko, that was amazing!" Zion and the others all praised Reiko. "Reiko, you are so strong! "Reiko, Reiko, I''m so proud of you!" Emperor Hilde and Flora also praised Reiko. But for Reiko.., "Thank you, Reiko." "Yes, Father." It seems that a single word from Jin was the best reward of all. * * * * * * turns around and heads back along the route it came. There, a pseudo dragon (Siamese dragon) that had been bled and gutted was being dismantled into raw materials. "You''re quick! said Emperor Hilde. Jin felt that the people of this world, who live in a world where life is far more dangerous than in modern Japan, are able to watch such scenes without any hesitation. Jin himself has recently become quite accustomed to it. "We use everything we can, that''s our custom," Zion replies. Zion answered. "Ah, that is a noble idea. Emperor Hilde also agreed. 2250 - - 60-15 Celebration Now, Erza, Yu, and Mio, who remained at Nido Castle, were playing in the Erme River with Hannah and her friends. Of course, the twins were only playing in the shallow water. Erza was watching them from a little distance. Hannah and the other children in the village, those who are good swimmers enjoy swimming in the deep pools, while those who are not so good float on floats or practice swimming in a place where they can stand on their backs. Then Elsa received a call from the old man through <>. < "...... Is something wrong?" < "...... brother, you mean, brother Fritz?" Erza raises her eyebrows, wondering if something is wrong. < "Did something happen to my brother Moritz?" Elsa''s half-brother, Moritz Randall von Amber, is frail. Elsa wonders if he is seriously ill. But... < "What?" The unexpected content caught her off guard for a moment. "Uh, uh, say it again. < "......." After hearing it twice, I finally caught on. But I could not swallow the fact that Moritz himself had told me less than a month before that he had no intention of remarrying. "Well, who is the mother?" < "What?" Elsa gasped. She remembered how her father, Georg, had treated her when her mother, Meine, had been a maid of honor. The old man, however, sensing Elsa''s feelings, quickly added, "Don''t worry, my dear, I''m not going to hurt you. . Hearing this, Erza felt a little relieved. However, she was a little, or maybe a lot, incredulous to think that her brother Moritz was ...... with a lady-in-waiting. At any rate, she regained her composure, "Boy or girl?Girl?" I ask him. The old man answers. "......How is your wife?" "Yes, that''s good." Hearing this, Elsa felt relieved. When she felt more relaxed, her next thought was to celebrate. "......It''s not natural for me to go there today, no matter how much I want to. I can''t answer the question of how I knew. "The day after tomorrow, would that be okay?" < It is a well-known fact that Jin has a personal communication device called a manaphone (actually, it is a manacam). Erza thought that it would not be unnatural for her to receive the information a day later, and that it would not be so strange if she went to her parents'' house a day later. "What should I give you ............? Erza realized that it would be a nuisance if she had to leave Jin behind, so she stopped her attempt to contact him. The old man said so thoughtfully, and I decided to leave it to him. "Well, I''ll have to think of a new celebration ......." Since it''s a girl, clothes. It''s too early to ....... Toys. ......This is too early, too. Bouquet. ...... this looks good. Candidate #1. Fruit. ...... is good for your wife''s health. Candidate 2. And something else ...... to think about, "Clothing might be a good idea. Thinking that a lady-in-waiting can do it, Elsa decides on candidate number 3, which is a piece of clothing made of <>. "...... is all of them good?" . "How else do you think we can get to ......?" < and we are going to stay in the today. "I don''t know if I can make it to Leuthart, though. ......" < send us to Loisart. "What?" "...... is that correct?" <>. There is no contradiction in the story. There is no contradiction in the story, only too convenient timing. I''ll leave it to you then. All that''s left is to return to Horai Island and prepare the gift. So Erza called the twins back from their river trip, had them change their clothes at Nido Castle, and then took the <> to Horai Island. "Welcome back, Miss Elsa. Young master, young lady." The one who greeted me was Laozi, the old man''s mobile terminal. "I''m home. I''m going to make some preparations, thank you. I understand. I''ll leave it to you. First of all, Erza asked Soleil and Luna to take care of Yu and Mio for a while, and then she and Lao Tzu went to the institute. They settled down in the cafeteria on the first floor. This is a convenient place to give instructions and to go to the warehouse. First, a bouquet of flowers. This can be prepared without any problem. Because Penglai Island has a variety of colorful flowers blooming throughout the year. Roses of all seasons, white lilies, and hazel. Yes, sir. Lao Tzu motioned to the topaz leader. "Oh, and I want a small potted cutler''s plant. "Yes, I''ll get it." Cutler is what we call cattleya in modern Japan. It is the favorite flower of Elsa''s mother-in-law, ...... Marlene Randall von Nefler. Fruits were also prepared immediately. A basket full of persicas, aprs-citrus and citrons. Elsa put a ribbon on it herself. And then the magi silk. When I went to the warehouse, I found piles and piles of threads of magi silk and rolled up fabrics. "There are so many to choose from! Lao Tzu said to me, "Well, then, this one..." Elsa took a roll of white magi silk, one thin and one thick. "Is that all you need?" Lao Tzu asked, "...... is more than enough. Brother Moritz is a sensible man, and if you give him something too luxurious, he will be troubled by the return gift. The Shoro Kingdom has a custom of doing so. It is said that it was one of the measures to stimulate logistics and develop the economy in the past, but it is not certain. Anyway, the preparations for the gift are over. All we have to do now is to go to Leusert. 2251 - - 60-16 Meeting at my parents house Before noon on July 7, Elsa and the twins traveled to Leuthart''s mansion via the Warp Gate. They are accompanied by Soleil and Luna. Since Reiko is with Jin, they are assigned to these roles. And <> is also sent into the sky over Leuthart in an airship with a temporarily altered appearance of <>. This would give more credibility to the fact that Erza was sent by <>. The landed on the roof of Jin''s house for all to see. The plan is to have it drop us off at Erza''s parents'' house after this. They are pretending that they are taking a break for now. The disguised remained on top of the house for about an hour to show itself to the residents of Loisart, then rose into the sky again, flew northward, and disappeared over Lake Tosmo. * * * * * * * * * * Erza then visited her parents'' home in Eksi. < had taken off and disappeared as soon as Erza, the twins, and their luggage had been unloaded. "Well, Erza!Chloe, Mio, come here!" "I''m home, Mother." Marlene, Erza''s stepmother, or foster mother, greeted her at Ekki''s parents'' house. "Hello, Grandma." "Hello, Grandma!" Chloe and Mio also said hello. "Yes, hello. ......2 you two have grown up in a short time. Come on in." "Yes." Elsa was literally at home in her own house and was filled with nostalgia, "I heard that my brother Moritz had a baby, so I came to congratulate him. She explained the reason for her sudden visit. "Yes. Yesterday evening, I received a call from Reuthert that you were coming. Thank you, Elsa." "No problem. ...... and here''s a little something to celebrate." Behind Elsa, Soleil and Luna were carrying a large box. "This is for your mother. First, Elsa presents a potted cattleya to Marlene. "Oh, it''s beautiful. Thank you. I''m so happy." Next is a gift for the birth of the baby: ....... "But first, let me ask you a question. ...... Ingrid was supposed to be your maid of honor, what''s going to happen to her?" Marlene seemed to understand the meaning of Elsa''s question. "Don''t worry. She would be adopted by a family somewhere and then married properly. As was the case with Bina in the past, when a commoner marries into a noble family, it is necessary for her to be adopted by some other noble family before she is registered as their daughter. This was not a rare case, but the reality was that there were many second and third wives who did so. "......How are you feeling, my sister-in-law?" Elsa called her "sister-in-law. Her mother Marlene understood Elsa''s feelings, so she did not say anything about the way she called her sister-in-law. "Yes, it''s okay. The secretary golem <> gave me last month has done a lot for me. < midwife." <<> is a golem that Jin and Erza gave to Moritz to help him with his office work. It seems that it was useful in many ways this time. In addition to office work, she can also use healing magic up to the intermediate level, considering Moritz''s weak health. <, Erza thought, she would be able to provide a level of comfort. "She''s awake now. Please see her. Marlene, her mother-in-law, told Elsa to go to Chloe and Mio, "Chloe, Mio, be a good girl and wait for me. "Be good, Chloe. "Yes." "Yes." Elsa asked Soleil and Luna to take the twins to Ingrid''s room, accompanied by her mother-in-law Marlene. First of all, she brought flowers and fruits to congratulate the Randalls'' maid of honor. "My dear Elsa!You are very welcome. Please excuse me for being dressed like this..." said Ingrid, who was sitting up in bed and feeding the baby. I''m sorry, I''m almost finished. The baby''s face was still red and crumpled, but she was relieved to see that the baby was drinking well and seemed to be in good health. After the baby finished drinking, Ingrid patted him on the back to make him burp, and handed him to the maid of honor. "I am sorry to leave you like this. "No, don''t worry about it. ......Better yet, how are you feeling?" ......I''m still a little lazy. Hearing this, Elsa decides to see the doctor. "<>...... Oh, this is ......" Then a middle-aged woman came in. "How are you feeling, Mr. Ingrid?...... Oh, you have a visitor?Oh, yes?Could it be that you are Elsa, the court-appointed healer (Reichsanwalt)>>?It is an honor to meet you! ...... who are you? I''m Melia Caret, a midwife recently hired by this family. "Yes. Thank you for ...... bringing my baby out safely." "Thank you very much. < "Hmm. ...... are you aware that your sister-in-law is anemic?" Elsa mentioned the results of the medical examination. "Yes. So we are planning a menu with meat including liver and iron-containing vegetables. Hearing this, Elsa was satisfied. "Yes, that''s good. I''ve got something even better for you at ......." "What is it?" Elsa turned around and picked up the fruit basket that the maid of honor was holding. "Here, sister-in-law, this is for you. The basket contained Persica from Horai Island. "Well, it looks delicious! Ingrid was delighted, and right after that she noticed that Erza was calling her. "Erza-sama, I''m ......." Elsa smiles and says softly, "You are Maurice, Maurice. "You are my brother Moritz''s wife-to-be. That makes you my sister-in-law." Hearing these words, Ingrid''s eyes welled up and she bowed her head. "Thank you for ...... your kindness." Elsa smiled and pointed at the fruit. It is rich in nutrients. ...... Someone peel it for her." Someone, please, peel it for her," Elsa says, "so she can eat it right away, I''ll do it. Marlene picked up a Persica. "Mistress!What a waste! Mistress, we would have done it for you... No, let me do it! While Ingrid and the maids of honor were being discourteous, Marlene peeled the skin off. Elsa quickly held out a plate and Marlene cut the peeled persica into eight pieces. She put a fork to the plate, "Come on, eat them". Then she gave it to Ingrid with a fork. Thank you, Mistress. Ingrid took a piece, "Oh, it''s delicious!I''ve never tasted such a delicious persica! She was overjoyed and took it into her mouth one after another. In no time, Ingrid had finished eating the persica she had had peeled, "Ah, I think I''m feeling more energetic now," she said, smiling. Ingrid smiled, saying, "Ah, I feel more energetic. 2252 - - 60-17 Talks at my parents house Pointing to the piled fruit basket, Elsa said, "Persica is full of nutrients. Apurul and citran are also good for you. Ingrid was again touched by his thoughtfulness. Ingrid bowed her head again in appreciation. "Thank you, Miss Elsa." Elsa then told Melia Caret, "All the fruits you brought are very nutritious, so please include them in the menu. She also asked Melia Carretto to include them in the menu. "Yes, Miss Elsa. Melia nodded her head. Once she had settled down, Elsa ordered her maid of honor to put a bouquet of flowers in a vase. "Well, thank you for the beautiful flowers." Ingrid, who was lying down, thanked her happily. "By the way, have you decided on a name for the baby yet? Elsa asked. Ingrid shook her head. But Ingrid shook her head. I''m sure the master will decide tonight when he gets back. Moritz had just started working at the castle. He is planning to take a leave of absence somehow. "I''m busy because the autumn wheat harvest is over and I have to prepare the books for tax collection," he said. Still, he says he''ll make it home somehow. "...... brother, it seems." Hearing this, Elsa smiles. The baby was sleeping peacefully, as if her stomach was full, and Ingrid seemed to need some rest, so Elsa left the room. Melia Caret remained in the room. Melia Carrett remained in her room. "Sister-in-law, I''m glad to see you are well." Elsa returns to the living room and drinks tea with Marlene. Chloe and Mio are with her. Chloe is sitting on Marlene''s lap, picking up a cookie. Mio is on Elsa''s lap. "Yes. As I said before, it was thanks to <> and Melia. The birth itself was not too heavy, Marlene said. "And I was a little surprised that you called Ingrid your <>, but I was happy." But Elsa said, "I still want you to marry me officially. It''s an expression of my feelings." Marlene smiles at that. "Yes. I can''t remain a maid of honor." The question is what Moritz thinks. When we met him last month, he said he had no intention of marrying her. Was it because of Ingrid''s presence in his life or because he had no intention to take a wife, including her? Erza was a little worried. But she reminded herself that it would be after her brother came home and mentioned another concern. "How is father?" This was something she should ask him since she had come to her parents'' house. Georg, Elsa''s father, had suffered from brain damage after a stroke. His speech impediment was mostly improved by rehabilitation, but the right side of his body, which was showing signs of paralysis, was much better, but still not perfect. "Yes, much better. Can you ...... see him?" "......n." Now that she was with Jin and had a child, she had almost lost her dislike for her father Georg. On the contrary, Georg feels more inferior to his daughter Erza. Georg is looking forward to meeting his first grandchildren, Chloe and Mio, and he knows it well. Last month, playing with the twins was a great rehabilitation for her. The twins do not know about their mother Elsa''s struggles in the past, so they take Georg as their a little bit sick grandfather. She knocked on Georg''s door and entered, I knocked on Georg''s door and heard "Oh, good, you''re here. Elsa, Chloe, Mio." There was Georg in his wheelchair with a big smile on his face. "Father, it''s been a long time." "Grandpa." "Grandpa." "Grandpa." "Grandpa." Georg was now called grandpa by Chloe and grandpa by Mio. Last time they both called him , Erza thinks. This is another sign of their ego, she thinks. And they both call Marlene "grandma" instead of . Elsa wonders about the difference. Georg, however, doesn''t seem to think anything of it and loves his first two grandchildren. He loves his first two grandchildren so much that it doesn''t hurt to put them in his eyes. Sitting on the sofa with her mother and watching the twins clinging to Georg, Elsa''s face naturally lights up. The twins, who may or may not be aware of the fact that Georg''s right side of his body is not very strong, did not do anything reckless, but rather spoiled Georg in a natural way. From the outside, it seemed as if a kitten or a puppy was playing with the housemate. I let Chloe and Mio do as they pleased for about two minutes, but I didn''t want to keep them too long because it might be too much for my father''s health, "Chloe, Mio, come here for a while," I said. I said to them. "Yes?" "Yes." The twins listened obediently and sat down between Elsa and Marlene. This was possible because of the low seat of the sofa. "Father, I''m glad you''re feeling better." "Yes, I am. I''ve been feeling much better lately. But the weakness in the right side of his body has not yet been cured. According to Elsa''s diagnosis, there is still damage to the nervous system from the brain. A treatment for this is under study. Not for the time being, Elsa casts a healing spell on Georg. "<>" "...... Well, I feel a little lighter. I''m always sorry, Elsa." "No, I''m not. ......And congratulations on the birth of your brother''s child." "Oh, thank you." Georg is not happy. Elsa''s child is an out-grandchild, and Moritz''s child is an in-grandchild. Both are adorable to Georg, thought Georg. However, she also thought that Chloe and Mio would be at a disadvantage since they would only see each other once in a while, while the Moritz child would be with them 24 hours a day. "Erza, what are you thinking about?" Marlene called out to Erza as she sat down on the sofa after the treatment. Chloe and Mio are playing with Georg again. "Yeah, a little bit. ...... By the way, when is your brother Moritz coming back?" "He sent word by pigeon as soon as the baby was born. So I think he''ll be back this evening after his leave." "...... are you okay?" Since July 1, Moritz has just started working at Miyagi. It was an important post, and he was promised to be promoted to the rank of baron if he served for a year without a hitch. Elsa was concerned that he would request a leave of absence so soon after he started working for the company ....... "The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is busy this time of year, but as long as you follow the proper procedures, you should be able to come back." "That''s fine. Erza thought that she would ask Jin to help her out when the time came. 2253 - - 60-18 Fritzs return home Elsa decided to ask a few more questions about her brother Moritz''s work. "...... Well, what is your brother Moritz working for now?" "The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. He is the director general of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The next in rank after the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Undersecretary. This time of year, they''re busy checking the status of tax payments. Unlike the Ministry of Finance, which handles the tax itself, the director-general has a lot of analytical work to do, such as looking at the status of tax payments to determine crop yields and identify problems in the region. The fact that he was able to get this position in his mid-thirties was evidence that he was recognized as a very capable person. And there, "Mr. Fritz and Miss Gloria are here to see you. The butler came to inform him. "Oh, my brother Fritz..." "We don''t have a pigeon service to Avalon, but I asked him if he could pass on the message to Fritz during the regular morning calls at the palace.I asked him." < "Well, I guess you told Fritz this time," he said. Then the door was opened with a bang and two figures entered. "Father, mother. I''m home." Fritz salutes and reports his return, "Hello, it''s been a while." Gloria looked a little nervous. "Well, welcome back. Gloria, welcome. "Thank you." Next, Elsa stood up and greeted the guests. "Brother Fritz, it''s been a while. Gloria, my sister-in-law, how are you? Yes, I''m home. ...... Oh, Yu and Mio are here too. Hi... Hello. The twins greeted each other cheerfully. "I''m glad to see you and the twins are doing well, Elsa. Gloria also seemed to relax when she saw the twins. Elsa was impressed by Fritz''s quick action. "It was just in time to get a summer vacation," she said. When I heard the news, I flew down with Gloria. He had literally < on a regularly scheduled airship flight to the Shoro Empire. Although not as large as Jin''s <>, <> had also begun building airships. Therefore, the <> also has airships, and they are useful for activities beyond its borders. And a that travels from <> to the Kingdom of Cerroa, the Shoro Kingdom, the Kingdom of Franz, the Kingdom of Klein, the Kingdom of Egelea, the Kingdom of Elias, and back to <> for 3 days has started to operate on a trial basis. This time, Fritz and Gloria took this flight to return home. Little by little, transportation is improving, Elsa thought. This is also a credit to my husband Jin ......, she realized, "Did you see the, uh, baby? I tried to change the subject so that she would not notice my slightly reddened face. "Yeah, I just saw her. Ingrid seems to be in good health, I''m glad to hear. "Yes, she is." Gloria nodded at that. "Are you busy at your brother Fritz''s place?" "Yes. Every day is full. Fritz''s face was a fresh smile as he answered. Seeing this, Elsa thought that this kind of life must be suitable for her brother. She decided to discuss the important matter of Ingrid in the presence of her father. "......What do you think, brother Fritz, about Ingrid becoming brother Moritz''s wife?" Elsa was nervous about what the answer would be, but Fritz''s answer was simple and clear. "Hmm?It''s good, isn''t it?If that brother can forget about his sister-in-law, that''s a good thing. Helena was Moritz''s widowed wife. Their marriage was short, but they were very close ....... "...... Father, what?" Elsa asked her father nervously. The relationship between her brother Moritz and his lady-in-waiting Ingrid was similar to that of her father Georg and her mother Meine in the past. But Georg said, "...... I will abide by your decisions". Elsa was relieved from the bottom of her heart. Now, no one in Elsa''s family would object to the decision. The only thing that remained was Moritz himself and the Randall family''s intention, but he was not too worried about this. (My brother Rai would not object, and neither would my uncles (......). Erza felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. * * * * It''s a little late, but it''s been a while since we had lunch at my parents'' house. Of course, it was a traditional dish of the Shoro Kingdom. Barley risotto, stew and wurst (sausage) based on cow meat, sauteed summer vegetables, and gratin with shrimp from Lake Tosmo. Elsa and Fritz were moved to tears by the menu, which Marlene had prepared herself. ......This is a nostalgic taste. I just can''t get this taste out of my mouth." "It''s delicious. I''ll have to learn how to season it. Elsa and Gloria each expressed their own impressions of the dish. Fritz just ate it and said it was delicious. Chloe and Mio both said, "It tastes like my grandma''s." "Delicious! and "It tastes like my grandma''s! * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, when it was time for Chloe and Mio to take a nap, Marlene put them down in Elsa''s room. "...... as it used to be." Seeing her ...... room as it once ...... was, and still is, made Elsa nostalgic. It was the room where she spent her sensitive childhood. Elsa did not show her emotions much, but perhaps it was because she knew that she was only half a noblewoman and therefore reserved. Erza put the twins on her bed and asked Soleil, who had followed her, to watch them. Then the adults moved to the living room to chat and exchange information. "So, the is now much more fulfilling?" Yes, the second term cadets are being trained. The early days of an organization are hard, aren''t they? That''s what I mean. Elsa is with Fritz. So Gloria-san will continue to serve in an informal capacity? "Yes. Yes. With your permission, I''d like to support her in that way. Yes, each wife supports her husband in her own way. Yes. On the other hand, there are people whose wives work outside and their husbands work inside. Well, that''s true. Gloria and Marlene were having a conversation. 2254 - - 60-19 Mauritzs return home "Mistress, the young master has returned. When the lively conversation was over, Moritz came back at the same time. "Oh, you''re back earlier than I expected. I thought it would be at night. Marlene was surprised but pleased with his early return and got up to go greet him. Elsa followed her. "I''ll be there too. ......Please move everyone to the reception room." Elsa asked him to move and went to the front door to greet her brother, thinking that the parlor would be a better place for a proper greeting than the living room. "Welcome home." "Welcome home, brother." "I''m home, Mom. ............ is that you, Elsa?You came." You''re here. Congratulations on the birth of your child. I''ll ...... say hello one more time later, but first, here." Elsa also wanted to see her eldest brother Moritz''s face for the first time in a long time. So, "......Have you had a hard day''s work?" Moritz looked very tired. "Oh, yeah. I''ve been working hard to get ...... a vacation. ......" "But you''re not on your own anymore. You have to realize that." "Yes, Moritz. You''re going to be the parent of a human child. Marlene also advises Moritz. "Yes ...... that''s true. ......" At this point, Elsa says sharply. "Yes, but..." She says, "No... You''re obviously exhausted. At this rate, he will collapse. This is my advice, not as your sister, but as the Reichsanstalt. This seemed to make the workaholic Moritz a little more bearable. "Yeah, well, ...... I''ll be careful." He was still uncertain about his brother, but this was not the time to be talking on the doorstep. Elsa accompanied her brother to his room, which she knew well. Marlene returned to the parlor. "But you came back earlier than I expected, didn''t you? "Yes. ...... Actually, I stopped by the residence of Mr. Jin in Leuthart. What? I was going to ask him to give me a lift by airship if possible, but he wasn''t there that conveniently. "......" But Mister Butler D lent me his Golem car, so I was able to get there faster. "Oh, right." "Yeah?You also got a call from Butler D and rushed to the site, didn''t you? Yes, yes, but I didn''t hear anything about lending you the Golem car. It seems that Moritz had stopped by at Jin''s house in Leuthart. Erza quickly puts the timeline together in her mind. 5th. At 6:00 a.m. a baby is born and a pigeon messenger is sent from Eksi to Leuthart. Moritz learns of it in Miyagi at around 10:00 a.m. He immediately asks for leave. He immediately requests leave. Six days. The permission was granted at around 11:00 a.m. He was told that it would be for three days from the 7th to the 9th. During the lunch break, I went to Jin''s residence, but he was not there. However, he lent me his golem car. At this point, Jin''s side also learned of the baby''s birth. A call was made to Nido Castle (at around 4:00 p.m. local time) by <. Erza rushes to get ready. Jin also learned of this at the same time (or so he thought), and asked Erza to send him to the castle when she had a communication meeting with the deus ex machina. Erza hurries to get ready. 7th. Elsa goes to Leuthart. And now. Moritz leaves Leuthart early in the morning. He takes a rented golem car to Koju, crosses Lake Tosmo by boat (which also carries a golem car), and lands in Sagina. From Saginah, he returns home again in a golem truck. There is no inconsistency in the timeline. Erza is relieved inside. Since Moritz likes to change by himself, Elsa waits outside the room for three minutes. Mauritz came out in his normal clothes. "Now brother Fritz and Gloria are here too. "Yes, the butler told me. Let''s go and greet them. The siblings went to the reception room together. Elsa seems to have returned to her daughterhood for a moment, and walks down the short path, soaking up the nostalgia. * * * * * * * * * * Congratulations on the birth of your first child, brother. Congratulations to my brother-in-law, Mr. Moritz. Before Elsa, Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Gloria congratulate her. After that, Elsa said, "My husband couldn''t make it in time because he had some business to attend to, so I came ahead of him. Congratulations on the birth of your first child, brother Moritz! I greet him formally. Neither Mauritz nor Marlene, nor Fritz nor Gloria, knowing Jin''s friendship, said anything about his absence. Fritz brought a gift of medicines. They are highly effective ones that have started to be produced in <. Of course, they cannot compare to the ones from Horai Island, but they are more than enough for general use. "Oh, thank you for this. This is good for the people." Moritz, as a small lord, is concerned about the health of his people. This is partly because he himself is sickly. And Elsa has a roll each of thick and thin Magi Silk fabric. The price on the market would be more than several hundred thousand dollars. "Oh, this is wonderful. Ingrid will be pleased." A pure white silk that can be dyed and tailored at will. Moritz saw the value of it correctly. Although <> is stronger than ordinary silk, it is only 5 times stronger (tensile strength), and its hardness is not so high (if it were high, it would not have that texture), so ordinary people can process it. When it comes to subterranean spider silk (GSS), the shear strength becomes an order of magnitude higher, making it impossible for ordinary people to work with it. For example, it is more difficult to cut a woven cloth made of aramid fiber, which is used for body armor and stab-proof vests, than it is to cut it with ordinary scissors. On a more tangential note, Moritz also ate some of the Persica, Apurul and Citran that I had brought with me, which seemed to help a little with the fatigue that had been building up. Then came the important question. "So, brother. Tell me the name of the baby, if you have chosen one. "Oh, oh, yes, of course. I''ll announce it at ....... I''ll announce it at Ingrid''s." So with Moritz in the lead, Elsa, Fritz, Gloria, Marlene and the others went to Ingrid''s room. "Welcome back, sir. When Moritz opened the door, he was greeted by a smiling Ingrid. "I''m home. I''ve chosen a name for him and I''d like to announce it. "Yes, please tell us." "Yes, I''d love to hear it.I''m going to name her Henrietta. It''s a good name, dear. "Hmm, good name." Henrietta Randall. That''s the name of Moritz''s eldest daughter. "I like it, brother." It''s a nice name. Henrietta. ...... Eta?Or is it Rietta?" Fritz and Gloria agreed that it was a good name, and Marlene had already thought of a nickname. 2255 - - 60-20 Gift Name The time goes back one day to the morning of July 6 in the <>. Jin heard through Reiko that Moritz had given birth to a child. He would like to fly to congratulate her immediately, but he is under the care of His Majesty the Emperor. "It''s not possible right now, but I''ll be relieved if ...... Elsa will go ahead of me to celebrate." Even though they are in-laws,......, it is because they are in-laws that Jin wanted to make sure to greet them properly. "Father, why don''t you leave one of us to the doppelganger?" Reiko, unable to look at Jin, suggested, "......Hmmm,......<> is also a good idea,......" Jin is concerned about the shortcomings of the idea. Emperor Taue (Hilde) and the Moritz family. The question of whether one of them should be given a is unanswerable. "It would be disrespectful to both of them. ......" Besides, I''ll be in two places at the same time, and I don''t think I''ll have any excuses if they ask me about that. "But I''d like to go and say hello to them before the seventh night. ......" The seventh night is a celebration held on the seventh night after the baby''s birth to pray for the baby''s healthy growth. It is said to be a folk customary event that has continued since the Heian period (794-1185), and sometimes a naming ceremony is held at the same time to name the newborn child. Jin was told by the director of the hospital that the ceremony was held at ....... Jin thought that this was an event that he and the children in the facility had probably never had any connection with, but perhaps that was why it had left such a strong impression on him. Incidentally, there is no such custom in the countries of Ars. Just as Jin was thinking about his congratulatory gift to Moritz, a voice called out to him from behind. "Where are you going to greet him?" "What? Surprised, Jin says, "Your Majesty! "No, Jin-kun. I am , aren''t I?" "Oh, I''m sorry, Master Hilde." When Jin apologized, Hilde smiled at him, "Then, tell me where you are going to greet him? He asked. "I have come to ......." Jin thought for a moment about how to deceive the Emperor, but he knew he could not win against Hilde, so he decided to tell the truth. "Actually, I heard that Moritz Randall, Elsa''s brother, had a baby girl. ......" Just in case he hears about it on the <> in <>. "Well!That''s great news!I wish I could go to ...... too." "What?" The Grand Emperor Hilde said that she too wanted to go to congratulate Moritz on his child. "When I was a public figure, I couldn''t favor a particular house like that, but now I''m a private person. ...... Jin, you can handle it, can''t you?" "That''s ...... not impossible. I''m not saying you can''t do it. No, he could do it without any problem, but Jin hesitated to answer. But he was not confident that he could keep a secret from the Emperor Hilde, "I can do it. He answered, "Yes, I can. "At the maximum speed of <>, we can reach the Shoro Empire in about 4 hours. Barely, he was able to say that he could go there by <> instead of <>. "Well, that''s not a problem. We can stay here for the day as planned and leave here tomorrow before noon. Hilde said that with the time difference, they would be able to arrive at Elsa''s parents'' house on the evening of the 7th. Hilde knew exactly what the time difference was. I understand. I will try to adjust the schedule accordingly. Since there was no problem, it was possible enough to adjust the schedule. However. "Do you think I should give him something? Jin had planned to leave the gift to Erza, so he was surprised when Hilde asked him about it. "No, I think it''s enough that His Majesty ...... is going to congratulate the Emperor (Hilde), that''s all." "Is that what this is about?" "Yes, that''s the way it is." However, the Emperor Taisho (Hilde) still seems to be somewhat unconvinced. But then.., "Oh, I have an idea! she suddenly said as if she had an idea. "I''ll give you a name." A gift name. Literally, <>. When the nobles of the Shoro Kingdom come of age, their official names are <>. Before coming of age, they are not considered full-fledged nobles, so they cannot take the <> part of their name. However, it was customary to have a given name even before coming of age. The name was supposed to be given by a member of the royal family or a member of the higher nobility, depending on his or her title. Therefore, it is not strange that <><> would give a gift ....... But.... "Is it normal for a quasi-baronet to be given the name ...... by the Taishang Emperor?" "...... is not very normal." "Wow. ......." In aristocratic society, proportion is important. An ill-matched or ill-suited gift is a source of envy. "But there are examples in the past. Families that have made great achievements, or have produced many talented people. "Oh, the Randalls, then. ......" "I think we''re just barely within the bounds of common sense." Jin thought that the family that produced Elsa, the <>, would be enough for a good cause. But still, I am a little worried, "Erza herself should be over there at the moment, so I hope you will take that into consideration as well. It is said that "the stake that sticks out gets hammered down. Jin was worried that other nobles would be jealous of the newly revived Randall family. In this respect, Jin thought that it would be less embarrassing to give the gift of the name through Elsa herself. "Ah, that would be a good enough foil. You have Elsa and with you." "...... yes?" Hilde explains with a wry smile to Jin''s puzzled face. "If it''s the niece of Elsa, the <> and Jin, the <>, then it wouldn''t be surprising if I showed up." "I see." Jin had completely forgotten about himself, but with such connections, it would certainly not be surprising if the Grand Emperor was involved. And then the Grand Emperor (Hilde) said.., "She is a girl, isn''t she? If you want to ......, you can contact Von <. What do you think?" asked Jin. Rubella is made from . Like ruby, it is a red-colored gemstone. "Yes, I think so." Jin affirmed, knowing that many of the Randalls'' family names were derived from gemstones. "Yes?Then let''s name it <>." Jin hoped that Moritz''s brother-in-law would not have a stroke. 2256 - - 60-21 Dragon Material Anyway, on July 6, we are supposed to see the dismantling of the < that we have killed. The two dragons we killed the day before. Since the meat of dragon species does not decompose easily, there is no problem in dismantling them the next day. "Oh, this is going to be fun too. Emperor Taisho was anxious to see them. So Jin turns Zion down and heads to the site 10 minutes earlier than scheduled. Of course, the vehicle was the . Zion and Marikka ride with him. The is stationary 15 meters above the site so as not to get in the way. They will quietly watch over the operation. "We only drained the blood out of the fish yesterday," Zion explains. Zion explains. The dismantling work has finally begun. Since the blood had already been drained overnight, all that was left to do was to concentrate on the dismantling of the <, and the dismantling proceeded with excellent skill. In front of Jin and the others, the skin was removed in no time at all, and then the meat was cut off in sections, exposing the bones, ready for dismantling. First, the pseudo-wing of the back. After the wing membrane was neatly removed, the branch-like skeleton was folded and bound together. These bones are said to be used for fishing rods. They are said to be flexible and resistant to breakage. They are also said to make a strong bow when made from them. The entrails were drained with a drying spell and then stuffed into bags. After they were completely dried, they were ground into powder and used as fertilizer. After the bones were broken down at the joints, the stuck pieces of meat were scraped off, cleaned with cleaning magic, and loaded into carts. The tusks and teeth are removed from the bones after returning to the clan territory and used for crafting. The first meat is used to feed some of the livestock, and is also frozen for emergency use. Even though the meat is tough and tasteless, it is said that people had no choice but to eat it during times of famine. It took about an hour to finish dismantling the meat. "You''re so skillful because you''re used to it," he said. "You hardly waste anything, do you? If the blood is reused, there is almost nothing to throw away. Whale?) (Whale?), thought the Japanese Jin. In Japan, whales have been used so much that they are said to be . Japan is not a country that has been whaling only for the sake of whale oil. And Jin even ate whale meat when he was a little boy and could say it was his favorite food. ...... Apart from these thoughts, Jin was interested in the material of <. The materials of the Siamese dragons on Horai Island consisted of wing membranes, leather, bones, and fangs, but no meat. When Reiko exterminated them, she was traveling in search of Jin who had disappeared, so she was not able to remove their blood and skin in a calm manner. The quantity was also small. Moreover, since the materials for <> became available after that, he did not bother to hunt <>. Jin thought that if it would be beneficial to the <>, he would be willing to take this opportunity to review the materials for the <>. * * * * * * * * * * "Can you show me the materials for <>?" <. "Oh, I''m interested too. Emperor Taisho (Hilde) also expressed an interest in taking a look. It was only natural, since it was a precious material that was rarely found in the Shoro Empire, or even on the Laurentian continent. "Yes, of course. Sion readily agreed to the request. "But the ones I caught this time haven''t arrived yet, so if you want to stock up, I can do it right away. "Yeah, that''s fine." "Okay, this way." Jin and the others were led to one of the large warehouses. It was built like a storehouse and seemed to be suitable for storing biological materials. Inside the warehouse, the materials were stored in groups according to their parts. "Wow, they are surprisingly beautiful. Jin looked at the tusks and was impressed. The tusks had a texture similar to the ivory he had seen in photographs, with a moist luster. The thickness is about the same as a tea canister, the length is about 50cm, and the slightly curved and tapered shape is probably because it is a tusk. "<>...... strength is about the same as steel. Not so much." It seems to be more of a craft material than an engineering material. The same goes for bone. This one is even less strong. "Hey, but it''s a little different from the material we have at home at ......." Marikka hears this muttering and explains to Jin. Marikka hears this murmur and explains to Jin. "Jinsha, maybe it has not been after collection? "Heat-treated?" "Yes. When the bones of a < are heat-treated, they become denser or tougher, or ...... more usable as a material. Without heat treatment, the bones would be brittle and difficult to use. "Is that so?" This may come as a surprise, but it was the first time Jin had learned this fact. There is a reason for this. In the first place, the material for <> was only the wing membrane used as skin for Reiko in the early days, and his interest had shifted to the material for <> obtained after that. Therefore, the materials stored in Horai Island were hardly taken care of. (Hmmm... ...... Saki would be interested in hearing this...) Jin thought he would tell her when he returned home. And Jin himself was interested in it. "......It''s an interesting material. ......I wonder if any of the ingredients change when heat is applied?" Holding what looked like a finger bone in his hand, Jin was pondering. Zion, Marikka, Emperor Taisho (Hilde), Flora and others were looking at him with interest. "Jin seems to be thinking a lot. "Yes, he is. In such a case, Jin ...... comes up with an out-of-the-box idea. Marikka said to Emperor Hilde, "You are indeed Jin''s disciple, Marikka. Marikka said in admiration. "I am honored. Well, Jin-sama at a time like this should be left alone. "I guess so. After a while he will come back to his senses. "Both Zion-sama and Marikka-sama understand Jin-sama very well, don''t they? Both Hilde and Flora were impressed by how well Sion and Marikka understood Jin. Flora, in particular, seemed to have lost her initial sense of awe when she saw them. 2257 - - 60-22 Value Added After about five minutes, Jin came back to himself as Zion said. "...... I beg your pardon, Hilde-sama." Jin apologizes to the Grand Emperor (Hilde). "I''m afraid I''ve fallen completely into my own world. Jin apologizes. But Hilde laughs and forgives him. "It''s okay. It was interesting to see you thinking so seriously about something. "...... thank you." "So, what did you come up with?" Jin started to explain to Emperor Taisho (Hilde), who looked very curious. "Well, this bone..." Jin held out a small bone in his hand. "The main ingredient of bones is calcium phosphate in most living creatures, and it is the same in Siamese dragons. However, in the case of a pseudo dragon, it is thought that it is reinforced with organic matter and magic power to strengthen it. "I can sort of see that." "So, Zion said that the bones are heated and used, but I thought of another use for them." What''s that? "Here''s how. ......<<>" After leaving the main ingredient calcium phosphate and eliminating the other ingredients, crystallize the material. This results in calcium phosphate crystals, which are transparent hexagonal prisms. "Well, it''s beautiful. But Hitoshi looked reluctant. "Yes, well, transparent crystals are beautiful, too. ......" "What''s wrong with it?" Jin nodded. "Yes, the color ......." Calcium phosphate is also called < or , and its mineral name is . It is popular as a mineral specimen because of its various colors depending on the impurities it contains. With a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, it is relatively soft and easily scratched, so it is not often used as a gemstone for accessories, but it has been popular among collectors. Particularly popular were those with a deep blue-green color, like that of the ocean floor, which is what Jin expected. "I see. So it could be used for such a collectible artifact. ...... Zion-san, don''t you think this could be a specialty of the ?" "Oh, yes, I think it will." As expected of the Emperor Taue (Hilde), she instantly judges that this could be a viable industry and advises Zion. As a side note, Zion, who would later play an active role in domestic politics as the wife of the clan leader of , was nurtured through this experience. "Jin-kun, why don''t you study her to find out how to produce such a color?" Yes, that''s what I''m going to do. Jin was pleased that he had once again found a subject that Saki would be pleased with. Saki was happy to have found another subject that would make her happy. "Well, let''s make something then. Jin processed the calcium phosphate crystals he had just produced. "<>" "Ah! Flora shouted. She had seen Jin''s serious engineering magic up close, so it was not surprising. By the way, the other participants are used to seeing such things and were unmoved. No, one of them ....... "I haven''t seen Jinshama''s technique in a long time! Marikka was excited. Jin made a transparent cherry blossom. "The metal fittings are ......." A brass nail lying at the back of the shelf is < to make a pin, and the tie pin is complete. Of course, you can use it as a brooch as well as a tie pin. "Wow,......, you are as vivid as ever." "It''s beautiful. ...... The center of each transparent petal is a golden brass pin that looks almost golden. "If Marikka could make something like this, the added value would be even higher." "Oh, yes, that''s right! "I made a brooch this time, but the stone is so fragile that it would be better as an ornament rather than an accessory. Seeing this, Emperor Hilde nodded her head. "That''s what I meant. < is huge. If we can add value that others cannot imitate, we can make it a specialty product. Zion took this advice to heart and thanked him. "Thank you, Jin. Thank you, Miss Hilde." I''m not good at designing, so I''m asking you to take the lead on this one, Marikka. Jin said, and Zion said with a smile, "Oh, that''s okay. "Oh, that''s okay. Marikka is taking on apprentices right now and teaching them a lot of things. Some of them are good at design. Apparently, Marikka is recognized as a leading expert in . He is somewhat proud of this. Hearing this, Emperor Hilde said to Marikka "If you are Marikka''s disciple, then you must be Jin''s granddisciple. He said. "Oh, so that''s how it is, isn''t it? Jin nodded in agreement with Hilde''s words. "But a disciple. ...... You''ve grown up, Marikka. When Jin heard that she was teaching a student, or rather a pupil, he was pleased to hear of Marikka''s growth. "Well, it''s not much more than a hobby workshop yet,......." Marikka blushes and says. "We''re just at the stage where we''re making a few useful things while giving a little guidance to those who are willing to try. In short, something like a <>, Jin imagined. "Yes, but I think it''s good to start with something like that." Jin said, "It''s impossible to teach advanced things from the beginning, and if Marikka''s grow up, it will be easier to educate the younger generation. "That may be so. ...... I will do my best to teach them." Hearing this conversation, Emperor Taisho (Hilde) said to Jin: "Marikka-san, I''m sorry, but I''m not sure, "Marikka-san, may I visit your workshop? He said, "Marikka, would you allow me to visit your workshop? <. "Yes, um, ......." Marikka glanced at Zion, wondering what to say. "It''s okay, isn''t it?If it''s still just a hobby. If this were a state-run factory, there would be important secrets and techniques that are not allowed out of doors, so it might not be easy to allow visitors to see the factory, but the current has just been born. On the other hand, Marikka was reassured by Xion who said that she might be able to get advice from Jin and Emperor Taisho (Hilde), "Yes, I will show you around. Marikka was reassured and replied, "Yes, I will take you there. So Jin, Hilde, Flora, Reiko, Sion, Marikka, and the five colored golem maids decided to go to Marikka''s workshop together. 2258 - - 60-23 Visit the Marika Workshop <> was located on the outskirts of the clan territory of <>. This was because it was more convenient when they went out for experiments or gathering materials. "Well, it''s a beautiful building. Emperor Taue (Hilde) said in an impressed voice. Indeed, the building is still new. Jin guessed that it seemed to have been built with engineering magic. It is about twice the size of an elementary school classroom. It seems to be sufficient for small-scale production. "This way please." Marikka led Jin, Emperor Taue (Hilde), Flora, Zion, Reiko, and the five colored golem maids into the workshop. "Oh, it''s so neat!" At first glance, Jin noticed that the workshop was modeled after the one on Horai Island. The shelves of materials were lined with various metals and magical materials, and the ordinary tools were well maintained. As a workshop, <> Jin''s evaluation is 90 points. It is a high rating. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a visitor. Marikka calls out, and the three girls in the workshop all turn toward Jin and the others. They were surprised to see the five-colored golem maids behind them. "What is that? Golem maidens! "Oh, that''s so elaborate!" The three of them may have thought they were whispering in secret, but Jin and the others could hear everything they were saying. Marikka clears her throat. "...... kohon. >Master Jin and his acquaintances. Please do not be rude." Hilde and Flora looked at Marikka as she explained everything smoothly, "You are indeed a teacher. "You''re so sharp." They were impressed with her. And then.., "What?< "Really?Then, that golem-samurai woman makes sense too! "You''re Marikka-sensei''s master, aren''t you!" The three girls stood up and rushed toward Jin. "Wow, wow, it''s an honor to meet you!...... Mugu." Reiko stopped them. <. "Please calm down." "Moga......, uh, <>? "Wow, it''s really you! "You''re so cute!" "Uh, uh..." This time the three hugged Reiko. Reiko is just as popular as Jin. "...... please leave us!" But Reiko pulled them away from each other without question. * * * * "...... don''t bother us, everyone!You should be more polite!" Marikka came to her senses and gave them a hard time. "Yes, yes." "Yes, yes." "...... sorry." After calming down a bit, the three girls returned to their respective seats with a pat on the back from Marikka. Jin admired Marikka for being such a good teacher. But then.., "I''m sorry, Jin-san." I knew I had not lost the habit of biting when Jin was involved. * * * * After calming down, he resumed his work. "Recently, I''ve been working on cubic zirconia," Marikka explains, pointing to the prototypes lying on the workbench. Marikka explains, pointing to the prototypes lying on the workbench. "Cut glass, pendant tops, bangles, hair ornaments, and so on. "Beautiful!" Emperor Taisho was impressed and said, "They are different from crystals, "Is it different from crystal?" Flora questioned. "Yes. It is a mineral a little harder than crystal, and is a specialty of the Nordic Federation. Marikka replies. "Heh. ......" Flora picks up one of the cut glasses and looks at it. "The clarity is wonderful. And they seem to sparkle more than quartz. The sparkling appearance of cut gemstones is due to optical phenomena such as internal refraction and reflection. When the refractive index is high, incident light is < as if through a prism, and when they are reflected, the color appears to change depending on the angle. The light reflected from the surface also enters the eye at the same time, so the normal light and the rainbow-colored light are mixed together, giving the gem its unique brilliance. The refractive index of cubic zirconia is 2.13, while that of quartz is about 1.543. The higher the refractive index, the more sparkling it appears. By the way, the refractive index of diamond is 2.42, which is one of the highest among minerals. Rutile (titanium dioxide) has a refractive index of 2.62 to 2.90, which is higher than that of diamond, However, it is not distributed as a gemstone because transparent crystals are almost impossible to obtain in the wild. "If we treat it as a gemstone, wouldn''t it have more added value?" The Grand Emperor Hilde said, "Master Hilde, however, we have already started selling them as cut glass and accessories, so I think it would be difficult to raise the price suddenly. "Oh, I see. That''s too bad." At this point, Jin comes up with an idea. "As I recall, cubic zirconia can change its color by adding elements. I don''t know what color can be changed by adding what elements, so I''ll have to check it out by trial and error. "Then it would add value. Cubic zirconia in many colors is kind of nice." Theon said, entranced. Jin thinks to himself, "She is a girl after all," which is a bit rude. "Oh, that''s a nice idea. Marikka agreed. "Okay, I''ll check this out too. "I''ll look into that, too," said Jin. I''ll ask Saki to do it for me. I''m sure Saki will be happy to do the research.) (Saki seems to be willing to do the research.) Jin hoped that Saki would be willing to do the research. 2259 - - 60-24 Scheduled End Jin wanted to know what level the girls at the Marikka workshop ...... that is, his granddisciples were at, "How is your metalworking practice going? I asked. This is an inevitable path if you are going to make ornaments. The bases for holding stones and metal fittings such as pins are all formed by metalworking. "Well, first of all, the material is 925 silver," Marikka answered. Maricka answered. It seems to be an alloy that is easy to use. When Jin heard the word "silver".., (Ah, it would be nice to make a silver spoon as a gift to Mr. Moritz.) (Oh, it would be nice to make a silver spoon as a gift to Mr. Moritz). He had given it to Reinhardt as a gift for Juliana''s birthday before. Since Erza had been in charge of the design at that time, Jin thought that he would try to come up with a design by himself this time. "Yes. Then, have you practiced <> enough?" The result of this engineering magic depends greatly on the surgeon''s image. Usually, it is trained through repetitive practice of making spheres and planes. "Yes. Yes... I made him practice it very carefully..." Maricka answers proudly. Jin was convinced that she really took the time to teach them the basics since she said that much. At this point, one of the three students said, "Jin-sama, please make us something to commemorate our visit! Jin said. In response, "Oh, yes. Please make something for me! "Yes, please! and the other two asked for it, too, "Okay, but what should we make ......?" Jin takes a big lump of cubic zirconia in his hand, muttering to himself. He glanced at Zion and Maricka, and then began processing at once. "......Okay, ......<>" "What?" "Wow!" "Wow. ......" This time, Jin made non-scale figures of Zion and Marikka, wearing clothes. They are approximately 30 centimeters tall. Not only the three students, but also Zion and Marikka, Emperor Taue (Hilde), and Flora were absolutely amazed at his skill in shaping two completely different figures at the same time in a few seconds. The Emperor Taisho (Hilde) and Flora were also in awe of his skill. "You''ve shown me something good. "Really. You are indeed a , Jin-dono. After the tour of Marikka''s workshop, it was tea time, and Jin, Emperor Hilde, Flora, Zion, Marikka, and the others were chatting leisurely. I heard that Erza''s brother had a baby. Zion asked Jin where he had heard that. "Oh, that''s right. < Jin emphasized the point of the manaphone. Zion understood the meaning correctly. "......Yes, with <>. ......" "Because Butler D is in Reuthert''s mansion." So, I''m going to finish my tour of the Nordic Federation today and return to the Shoro Empire tomorrow, Jin told Zion. "Right, okay. ......Mrs. Hilde, Ms. Flora, are you satisfied with your visit?" After nodding to Jin''s words, Zion asked them a little anxiously. "Yes, it was a lot of fun. Thank you, Mr. Zion and Marikka. "I can''t thank you both enough." Emperor Hilde and Flora both expressed their satisfaction. And the chatting continued. Flora asked me a simple question. "...... Jin-sama, how did Butler D-sama know that Moritz-sama had a child?" "...... Well, a pigeon mail was sent from Eksi''s parents'' house to Moritz''s brother-in-law in Leuthart. So, my brother-in-law came to my place, relying on <>, but as you know, I was over here." He explained that <> was not available, but Butler D of the house lent him a golem car at his discretion. The golem car would be about 30% faster than a horse-drawn carriage. "That''s how I found out about it through that route." "I see, I understand now." It turned out that the timetable was the same as the one Elsa had estimated. I had a little more time before the evening, so I went to a line. After that, there was a little more time before the evening, so the group went to look around the clan territory of . "The fields seem to be fertile," said Emperor Taejo (Hildebrand). Hilde said, "Yes. It''s thanks to the agry provided by Jin. Zion explains, "Yes, it is thanks to the provided by Jin. But Jin says "No, it is largely due to the efforts of Sion''s mother, <>. He said humbly. In fact, Rorona of <> plays the role of Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in the current <>. He even spent several days in the area to teach agriculture to the other clans. "Jin-kun, you have avoided conflicts by supporting the livelihood of the people living on this continent. And Emperor Taisho (Hilde) had accurately identified Jin''s accomplishments. There were many other small advices, and Zion will use them to develop the <> for the better, but that is a story for the future. * * * * * * "Ah, that was fun." In the guest room of the guest house, Emperor Taisho lets out a satisfied smile. This was the end of the planned visit. "Even though it was unofficial, I now know that the people living in the Nordic Federation are just like us. Thank you, Jin. "Thank you." And Flora also said, "I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive before I came here, but after I arrived, my impression was completely changed," she said. She even said that she was ashamed of being afraid of something she didn''t know much about. I don''t think it is shameful to be afraid of the unknown. I think it''s more like an instinct for survival. Jin consoled Flora, who seemed to be a little more condescending than she should have been. "Isn''t that so ......?" "Yes, Flora. You are still young. You''ve had a good experience. The Grand Emperor Hilde also consoled Flora. "Thank you ...... for this, it disqualifies you from being my companion." Flora blushed, feeling that she had no place to stand if she was being consoled by Hilde, the one she was supposed to be protecting. "It''s okay. It''s okay. You''re on your own this time and I''m sure there are things you don''t like. That''s why Jin-kun is bringing the golem maid with him. "Yes. Thanks to you, I have much less trouble than I did in the beginning. I like this country a lot more now, Flora said. "Yes, that''s good. I''m sure that this experience will be valuable for you in the future, whether you start a family, become a mother, or go back to work. "Yes, thank you, sir." Seeing the servant, Jin quietly retreated to his room. 2260 - - 60-25 confluence The day after tomorrow, July 7, the time is 9:00 a.m.. It is the day Jin and his party leave the Nordic Federation. "First, I''m going back to Nido Castle. Jin wanted to bring a gift of his own, although he had left it to Erza. He could have asked to use materials from Marikka''s workshop, but he wanted to use his own. "Well then, thank you for everything, Zion and Marikka. "No problem. "Thank you very much, Jin-san, for everything." Jin, Zion, Marikka and the others said their goodbyes. "Mr. Zion, Ms. Marikka, I learned a lot from you. Thank you very much. "My narrow world has become wider. Thank you very much. Emperor Hilde and Flora also expressed their short but heartfelt thanks. "Thank you, Hilde, for your continued support." At the end of the ceremony, Zion bowed to the Grand Emperor in the Shoro style of curtesy. "Edgar, launch <>." "Yes, Jin-sama." Jin, Emperor Hilde, Flora, Reiko, and the five colored golem maids all boarded the <> and it floated in the air, rising rapidly. On the ground, Zion, Marikka, and Marikka''s students kept waving their hands until they were out of sight. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * First, they went to Nido Castle. There Jin spent half an hour preparing his gift. He made a silver spoon, put it in a wooden box similar to paulownia wood, and wrapped it with beautiful wooden paper and ribbon. The design of the spoon is just a modified version of the one Elsa had made earlier. As for the clothes, since they were going to the <>, they were wearing formal wear, so I decided to leave them as they were. However, in order to remove dust and dirt, the clothes of myself, Emperor Taue (Hilde), Flora, Reiko, the five colored golem maids, and Edgar were given a <. The time is 11:30 am. It is a little early, but we decide to have lunch. This time, onigiri (rice balls) are prepared. I have eaten this onigiri twice or so. They are delicious, aren''t they? "They are easy to eat." The onigiri are made in bite-sized portions so that the participants can enjoy a variety of ingredients. The ingredients are salt, sesame, pickled plum, bonito flakes, kelp, and salmon. And grilled onigiri are available in two flavors, miso and soy sauce. Jin thought it was a little disappointing that there was no cod roe.) Jin thought to himself, "The bonito is nice," he said. The kelp is also tasty. "I love the aroma of the grilled onigiri with soy sauce. "The aroma of miso is also indescribable." Jin likes simple salted musubi quite a lot. He finishes with hojicha tea. "Oh, it was delicious. Thank you for the food. "Jin-dono''s restaurant serves delicious food. I want to follow your example. Jin was relieved to hear that both Hilde and Flora were satisfied with the meal. * * * * * * * * * * * * 1:00 p.m. local time. This was the time to prepare for the trip, including loading the as the local vehicle. Jin took one golem horse for himself. And Land A and B are also getting on. "Well then, Master Hilde, we are leaving for the Shoro Kingdom. "Yes, I''m counting on you." This time, the five colored golem maids remain at Nido Castle and return to their duties. The group headed for Shoro are Jin, Emperor Taisho (Hilde), Flora, Reiko, and their pilot Edgar, Lando A and B. lifted off lightly into the sky and headed west. "The time difference was about three hours. Emperor Taisho (Hilde) asked Jin to confirm. "Yes. So it is about 10:00 a.m. in Leuthart. "If <> flies at 200 km/h, that''s about four and a half hours. ......2 should get us there around half past 3:00 or 3:00." We don''t need to ask for an emergency top speed, Emperor Taue said. "Okay." will be traveling at an altitude of around 5,000 meters this time. The mountain range on the border between the Kingdom of Cerroa and the Kingdom of Shoro should be enough to cross it. "Oh, that''s fast!" From the view below, we cannot see the details of the town, but we can get a good idea of the terrain. With Lake Asur on the left and Mount Suhonto and Mount Tokonakon on the right, we are over the Shoro Kingdom. "...... Oh?It''s a rain cloud." Unusually, it seems to be raining near the Trockenbahn (dry road). There are several huge cumulonimbus clouds in disarray. "I''m grateful for the rain nowadays, but ......" <. In fact, we could be safe from lightning strikes as long as we put up some warding. Because of the time lost by this detour, <> arrived at Exi at 3:30 p.m. local time. It landed on the shore of Lake Tosmo, and the <> was launched. The distance from the landing site to the Randall house was less than a kilometer, but we could not let Emperor Taishang (Hilde) walk. Hilde and Flora will ride in the chariot. Land A is in tow. Jin rides the golem horse. Reiko and Edgar accompany him this time. <. The one-kilometer distance is covered in about 10 minutes. Edgar first announces his arrival to the gate guard. "Master Erza''s husband, Mr. Jin, and his guests are here. Please greet them as soon as possible. He had Erza deliver such a message to him as soon as possible. Upon hearing this news, Elsa rushed to the gate to meet them. She was not surprised because she had been told through Soleil that the Grand Emperor (Hilde) was with her, and she was able to greet him properly. "Hilde-sama, you are welcome. "Oh, Elsa, you don''t have to worry about that. "No, I don''t think so." Then Jin also called out to Erza. "Erza, I''m sorry I left you in charge. But Erza shakes her head, "No, don''t worry about it. She replies, "No, don''t worry about it. And then, "Please come in." and invited the group into the house. 2261 - - 60-26 Persuasion Jin asked as he walked alongside Elsa. "Where is your brother-in-law, Moritz?" "He''s in the reception room. My brother Fritz and my sister-in-law Gloria are here." "Oh, I see." Then Elsa calls out to Edgar who is at the end of the line. "Thank you, Edgar. "Thank you, Miss Elsa." Hilde, the Grand Emperor, looked at them with kind eyes. I wonder if it''s all right to take Hilde away from here?) Jin asked Erza in a whisper so that no one else would hear. (Hey, do you think it''s all right to take Mr. Hilde out of the house suddenly? (...... a little worried). Moritz seemed to think that Jin was the only visitor. He doesn''t know who the guest is.) Well, that''s right. No one would expect the Emperor Taisho to be with us. ......) Jin and Erza had a little headache thinking what would happen if they went to the room. If they were to tell the guests that <>, they would have to explain when and where they got the information, and they couldn''t think of a good excuse for that. I could not think of a good excuse in such a case. Elsa entered the parlor first. The master is here. He says, "He''s here. ...... Uh, you''re with him. She says. "Guest?Who did Jin-dono bring...... from?" Erza thought. Should she tell him her name here, or should she invite him in first? "...... His Imperial Highness, Your Majesty the Emperor, sir." And, out of courtesy, she chose to announce her name first. "I see........................... is His Majesty!" "......, Your Majesty the Grand Emperor?" said Erza, "Even if it''s Jin-dono, that''s not ......." Mauritz and Fritz each looked up, I was afraid that Jin-san would do something out of the ordinary, but I was right. I knew it. ...... I can''t let this happen." Marlene got up and went to the entrance. Mauritz and Fritz, who had also regained some composure, hurried to follow. Gloria, of course, followed in haste. "Heh, heh, your majesty, heh, welcome, welcome! "Hello Moritz, it''s been a long time. You don''t have to be so hard. I''m just saying... ...... "I''m Hilde. I wish you would call me that. "............ Hilde-sama." "Yes, that''s fine. ......Moritz, congratulations on the birth of your child." "Oh, thank you very much. It is a great honor for me. Then the Grand Emperor turned to the others. "It''s been a long time, Fritz. Are you doing well?" "Yes. Every day is full of life. I''m glad to see you''re doing well too, Your Majesty. So, it''s Hilde today, is it? Yes, Miss Hilde. "Well, well, well, uh, Hilde ......, welcome." Marlene seemed calm on the surface, but she was still nervous, and if you looked closely, you could see her legs were shaking slightly. Then Gloria said. "Master Hilde, it is a pleasure to see you again," she said. She seemed to be the most calm except for Jin and Elsa. I am so glad to see you again," she said. "Well, well, well, so you came to our home with Jin when you heard of Henrietta''s birth in the Nordic Federation ......." "Brother, calm down." Erza took charge for now and invited everyone into the parlor and seated them in order from the top to the bottom. Of course, Hilde was the most senior. Moritz, as the patriarch, sat in front of Hilde. The order of seating is as follows. Hilde, Flora, Gloria and Jin. In front of them are Moritz, Fritz, Marlene and Elsa. Reiko stands behind Jin and Edgar behind Elsa. We are finally able to sit down and talk calmly. "I would like to ask you a question. The first to open his mouth was the Grand Emperor Hilde. "Moritz, did you say the maid of honor ...... who gave birth to your child, Ingrid?What are you going to do with her?" "......" Moritz does not answer. The Grand Emperor (Hilde) continued. "I know how much you cherished your former wife,...... Helena. But that''s one thing and this is another." "......" "Hey, bro." Fritz, sitting next to him, poked at Mauritz, who did not answer. Still silent, Fritz opened his mouth. "......You''re right, Helena, my sister-in-law and my brother were very close. Even from the outside, it was embarrassing for me. "Yes, they were. I couldn''t stand to watch Moritz when he passed away. Marlene added. "Yes, I remember. My brother was very depressed at the time." And Elsa. "I understand how you feel. But you mustn''t run away anymore." "...... Running away, huh?" Moritz finally opened his mouth at the words of the Grand Emperor Hilde. "Indeed, I am running away. ...... Then Elsa called out to him. "Brother, there were times when I was so young that I didn''t understand, but ......". Helena, my sister-in-law told me something that she had heard only once. It was, "Sister-in-law Helena told me that she loves brother Moritz and that she doesn''t want me to tie myself down." "By myself, myself ......." Erza nodded. "Now I understand. I know now that my sister-in-law Helena wanted my brother Moritz to be happy." "My ......." "Yes. And don''t forget that everyone here wishes you happiness, brother Moritz, sister Ingrid and Henrietta." "Yes, brother-in-law." Jin also called out. "That''s right, brother." Fritz said. "I feel the same way." Gloria said. "Even though I''m accompanying Hilde, I''d like to congratulate her too." And Flora. "I came here to congratulate you, and I feel the same way. And Hilde, the Grand Emperor, also said in a quiet voice as if to admonish. 2262 - - 60-27 Declaration The persuasion of the others seems to have loosened Moritz''s stubborn heart. "...... am I allowed to be happy?" Erza answered. "Rather, you have to be happy. ......Helena, your sister-in-law thinks so, too. Besides." "...... And?" "I have a duty to make my sister-in-law Ingrid and Henrietta happy." "......Oh, I see. ......Yes, that''s right. ......" Moritz looked as if he had been possessed. And here, the emperor proclaimed. "That''s right. I''m already thinking of a name for the gift. These words came as a shock to Hilde. "Your Majesty? "Oh, you''re not satisfied with me?" Hilde said in a playful tone, but Moritz turned pale. "No, no!No, no, it''s not that, it''s just that I''m too awestruck ......." But Emperor Hilde, the niece of the MagiCraft Meister and the Reichsanaltsman, told him coolly that it was only natural that he should be in such a state. "So that''s one way to look at it. ......" "Yes, it is. In fact, Mauritz was thinking that they could adopt Jin and his children or Fritz and their children to take over the Landlords'' house. Of course, he hoped that he could retire and possibly give up his aristocratic position and live a modest life with Ingrid, Henrietta, and the others. But... "Brother, we still don''t know when we will have children, and we don''t know if we will have more than one. Fritz, as if he could see through Moritz''s thoughts, nailed him with a nail. "Hmmm. ...... Chloe and Mio are both Nido''s children. If you think about the family, you should make sure that the children of the family are the direct heirs to the family. Erza also declared in a roundabout way that she had no intention of adopting a child. "Ha, ha ha ha ......" Moritz smiled weakly, his eyes moistening. "Everyone is ...... so kind to me ...... like this." And then the final blow came from Emperor Hilde. "If you like, I can adopt Ingrid and marry her off to me. "Your Majesty, please don''t do that." Flora had immediately stopped him, saying that it was too inappropriate for a baron to marry a member of the royal family, even if she was his adopted daughter, and that it would not be in Moritz''s best interest. Then again, a voice announces a visitor. "Excuse me for interrupting your pleasant conversation. Mr. Reinhardt has just arrived as a congratulatory messenger from the original Randall family. Hello, Reinhardt! "Hello, Reinhard. You look good! Brother Rai, welcome! "Oh, I didn''t know Jin and the others were here too!I''m glad to see you''re doing well too. The Jin and Reinhardt were happy to see each other again. And then all the people related to the Randall family gathered together. "Your Majesty, welcome, Your Majesty. There was Elsa, Mauritz, Fritz''s father, Georg.., "Lively. "So many people!" Jin and Elsa''s children, Yu and Mio. And.., "Oh, um, what''s going on here? ......?" Henrietta and her mother Ingrid were also there. "Yes, thank you very much for coming." Moritz made a speech. Ingrid and I have just had a baby girl and have named her Henrietta. There was a round of applause. "Thank you very much for ....... And now I am happy to announce that Ingrid is feeling better. As soon as Ingrid''s health improves, I intend to take her to be my wife. There was applause again, and then ....... "Oh, sir!" Ingrid''s face changed color in surprise. Moritz gently took Ingrid''s hand, "I have decided. You are my wife and Henrietta is the eldest daughter of the Randall family." "Sir ......" Ingrid''s eyes filled with tears as she realized what he meant. More applause was given to congratulate them. And then, "Henrietta, I will give you the gift of ," he said. Emperor Hilde said. "Thank you very much." Everyone applauded, and Moritz bowed respectfully. Only one person, Ingrid, did not seem to understand, "It''s His Imperial Highness the Emperor, the ...... personal guest of the Grand Duke." Moritz whispered softly in her ear, "What, what, what, what! Ingrid was startled, as expected. Moritz gently supported her as she was about to faint. * * * * * * * * * * * (His Majesty the Emperor has given us a gift name, which means that Henrietta is officially recognized as the eldest daughter of the Randall family.) ) "I see," whispered Erza in Jin''s ear. I see. But that''s good.) I see... I hope Ingrid and Henrietta will be happy.) Yeah, that''s true. That''s one thing, but that''s not what I meant when I said I''m happy for you.) I''m talking about Elsa.) I meant Elsa. (......Erza was worried about Ingrid and Henrietta, replacing them with her and her mother-in-law Meene, wasn''t she?) (...... understand?) That''s right. But he''s still Elsa''s husband, right?) (......) Erza clung to Jin''s arm tightly. Seeing them like that, "Daddy and mommy are good friends..." "Daddy and mommy are good friends," said Yu and Mi. said Yu and Mio. Jin and Erza thought to themselves, "Well, their pronunciation is getting better somehow. "Jin, Erza. I''m glad you guys are getting along so well. ......" Reinhardt laughed at them. Needless to say, the other people in the room were also looking at them warmly. 2263 - - 60-28 Weddings A banquet was being held in the hall of the Randall family. "So, here''s to the prosperity of the Randall family!" Cheers! Cheers! Reinhard, the representative of the original Randall family, led the toast. The Grand Emperor (Hilde) is the highest in rank, but since he is here on his own today, Reinhardt has been given the honor of being the toastmaster. The wine glass in his hand is filled with a white wine, Olsen''s 3450. It is his favorite brand. Knowing this, Moritz brought it out from the cellar. Moritz and Ingrid are in the starring roles. Ingrid, who is feeling much better after eating Persica from Horai Island, joins them only for a short time. Henrietta is being looked after by Melia Caretto. Ingrid is drinking Persica juice. Jin brought it out from the refrigerator in , and it has a more nourishing effect than eating Persica directly. The hall was filled with a feast of delicacies. The hall was filled with delicacies from the mountains and the sea, including fish from Lake Tosmo, tempura prawns, roasted whole kokarisk (chickens), cowbull (beef) steaks, and grilled glass boa (pork) with jangyi (ginger). There is also a selection of vintage red and white wines. In addition, there was a pile of Perushka, Citran, and Apurul from Horai Island that Elsa had brought to the table. Erza had brought a little too much, so they decided to eat it before it got damaged. Of course, Ingrid and Moritz have enough to eat and will send more later. ......I brought too much at once. I''m sorry." In Randall''s house without an ether stocker, it is difficult to keep the food for more than 3 days. Persica (peaches) are especially susceptible to damage. They can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days at most. After all, I brought ripe ones. "These aprs-pleurs are delicious! The citrons are delicious, too." Fritz and Gloria are smacking their lips. Moritz smiles at them. "Oh, come on, you have to eat more than just fruit..." "Oh, I''m sorry, brother, but you know, <>," says Fritz. But you know, <>, the food is good, but we can hardly eat fresh fruits. I''m sick and tired of all the dried and bottled fruits." Gloria nodded. "Yes, that''s right. This Citran is delicious." Fritz used the informal language of home and Gloria the language of the outsider. "Uh, oh, that, Ramon. ......" Elsa had brought Ramon with Citran with the idea of making a juice with honey, and was surprised to see Gloria biting into it. "Is this called Ramon?" Gloria didn''t seem to know this, since it is not a common fruit in the Kingdom of Klein. "I think it''s pretty sour. ......" "But the sourness is so delicious." Hearing this, Elsa suddenly had an idea. "Gloria, if you have recently started to eat sour food ......". But Fritz laughed it off. "Hmm?Gloria has always liked sour food." "...... so." I thought she might be in the early stages of pregnancy, but I was wrong. Still curious, I secretly went to the doctor''s office for a checkup, but to my disappointment, I found that she was not pregnant. "Congratulations, Uncle! "Congratulations, Uncle! Chloe and Mio also expressed their congratulations in their own words. (Hey, your tone of voice is back...) Jin and Erza nodded their heads. * * * * After the toast, "...... we would like to hold the wedding ceremony here." Emperor Hilde suddenly announced. "Your Majesty? Moritz and Ingrid are puzzled, but the others look cool. In fact, before the banquet, there had been a secret meeting with all the guests except for the guests themselves. In any case, it was very meaningful to hold the wedding ceremony here. His Majesty the Emperor attended the ceremony, even if it was a private one. We couldn''t have asked for a better lineup. "Well, then, I''d like to say that Ingrid is the adopted daughter of the Nido family. First Jin declared. "Yes!Are you sure?Jin-sama, Erza-sama..." "Of course. This is what we wanted. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz would have been fine, but it was decided that the Nido family would play the role of the parents, since the Randall family would not be able to play the role of the parents. This must have been based on Elsa''s earnest wish. Knowing the circumstances of her own mother, Meine, Elsa may have compared her niece to herself. By the way, Jin is 27 years old this year, Erza is 23, and Ingrid is 22, barely older than him and his wife. Although it is quite unreasonable to call the 22-year-old Ingrid a daughter, she is a formally adopted daughter, so there is no problem. The Grand Emperor (Hilde) assured us of this. So, this is the wedding of Moritz Randall von Amber and Ingrid Nidor. Jin and Elsa acted as Ingrid''s parents, and Georg and Marlene acted as Moritz''s parents (or rather, his real parents). The witness representative is, of course, the Grand Emperor (Hilde). The witnesses are, of course, the Grand Emperor (Hilde), his brother Fritz and his wife Gloria. The representative of the original Randall family, Reinhard Randall von Adamas. Baroness Flora Heckerath von Merante. There was no shortage of witnesses. * * * * Do you, Moritz, take Ingrid Nidor to be your wife and to live with her? Yes, I do. Do you, Ingrid, take Moritz Randl to be your husband and to support him? Yes, I do. Then kiss me. Moritz and Ingrid exchange vows and a kiss in the presence of the Grand Emperor Hilde. They are now, albeit briefly, husband and wife. "When we get back to the palace, I''ll make sure the recorder keeps a record of everything. "Yes, yes, thank you." Ingrid, who was still in poor health, would later join the feast in an easy chair. Moritz stands next to his new wife, taking care of her. The people around them looked at them warmly. 2264 - - 60-29 Silent Story 103 Ingrit "Congratulations, Ingrid." "Thank you, Miss Elsa." "Take care of my brother Moritz." "Yes, that''s all..." "......, by the way." Yes? How did you meet my brother Moritz? Erza, a little drunk, asks a question she would not normally ask. "Oh, I''d like to know that, too. And then the Grand Emperor Hilde joined in. "Your Majesty? "............" Seeing Erza and Hilde, Jin shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "Jin, what''s wrong?" "Reinhardt. Look at that ......." Reinhardt, at Jin''s suggestion, spotted Erza and Emperor Hilde tangling with Ingrid. "Ahhh." "See?That''s how you''d react, right?" Erza is not much of an alcoholic. Tonight was a celebration, so she only had a couple of glasses of sweet white wine, which was supposed to be easy to drink ....... Emperor Taisho (Hilde) looks a bit tipsy. Perhaps he is just amused. Flora, his companion, was with him but did not say anything. "Go ahead, talk," she says. "Uh, uh, ......" At the insistence of the Grand Emperor Hilde, Ingrid began to speak in halting tones. ....... * * * * Ingrid began her apprenticeship to the Randall family at the age of 13. This was in the year 3455, one year before Jin was summoned to this world. When she was 10 years old, her parents died one after another of epidemics, and she was staying with her uncle and his wife. When she became old enough to serve, she was looking for a job, and the Randall family offered her a position as a maid of honor. Ingrid was trained by her seniors for a year as a so-called , and in 3456, she was officially appointed as a lady-in-waiting. By the way, in the Shoro Kingdom, the maidservants...... are <> and belong to the <>. Their social status is not high. At least, they are often regarded as lower than the owners of private stores. Naturally, since neither labor laws nor labor unions existed in this world, the treatment of workers varied from employer to employer. While some workers were treated like family members, others worked in conditions that were almost as bad as slavery. The Randall family at that time was headed by Georg Randall von Amber, Elsa''s father. He was influenced by the radicals ...... of the , who were called , the ...... at that time, and also suffered from the aftereffects of a mild stroke. He had become violent in character due to the aftereffects of a mild stroke. His second son, Fritz Randall von Grosch, had also changed his character due to of a conspiracy by a secret society, the . It was at this time that Ingrid began to work for the Randall family. Naturally, he had a hard time. The salary, vacations, room assignments, etc. were fair, but the treatment from Georg and Fritz was the worst. If you made the slightest mistake, you were punished. But it was not only Ingrid, but all the other maidservants as well. Still, the pay was not bad, and few quit. The eldest son Moritz Randall von Umber and his mother Marlene, Viscountess Randall, were kind to her. In 3455, when Ingrid began her service, Moritz had lost his wife Helena Randall von Citrine, and she was a little attracted to him in his heartbreak. There is a saying, "A woman who is blind and a man who catches a cold. It means that a woman who has an eye disease looks s*xy because her eyes are moist, and a man who has a cold looks s*xy because he has a little shadow. There are various theories as to why they look s*xy. Anyway, Ingrid liked Moritz because she saw him in his grief over the loss of his wife and was touched by his kindness. (Young Master ...... seems to be in low spirits these days. You leave your meals and ...... I''m worried about you.) Since then, Ingrid has been working with her feelings for Moritz in her heart. One day she said, "Young man, it''s a beautiful day. Why don''t you take a walk in the garden? He encouraged her to move her body. And again, "Young master, I got some roses that bloomed in the garden. I will put them on your desk. He never forgot to put seasonal flowers on his desk in his study. Then came the big turning point. Georg was blamed for his eccentricities, and the Randall family was demolished. At this time, all the other maidens had found other jobs and left. In spite of this, Ingrid was the only one who stayed on voluntarily. Marlene said to Ingrid, who had offered to stay. We are not nobles anymore, you know.I don''t even know if I can pay your salary. No ma''am, I started working here and became a man here. I am what I am today because of you. Let me repay you in some small way." "Well, Ingrid, you can do that at ......." Marlene says that Ingrid''s concern brought tears to her eyes. Then came another turning point. In 3457, when Elsa married In, she gave the title of baronet to her brother Moritz. Once again, the Randalls (a branch of the Randall family) became nobles with titles. At the same time, he recruited a few maidservants. At this time, at the age of 15, she was appointed as the . This was Moritz''s way of thanking Ingrid for not abandoning them in their time of need. Later, some of the former chambermaids returned, but they did not change Ingrid''s position as the chief chamberlain. The returning maidservants also acknowledged this, and Ingrid has remained the head of the Randall family ever since. Although I must add that she was still inexperienced at the beginning and her name did not live up to her title. However, thanks to his devoted care for Moritz, who was heartbroken after his house was demolished, the distance between them quickly grew closer. Ingrid, who became a kind of personal secretary to Moritz, studied hard. She managed to master the basics of managing a territory. Thank you, Ingrid. No, this is my job. It was a pleasure for Ingrid to know that Moritz could count on her. Then, an unidentified flying object flew into the Shoro Kingdom and dropped something on Lake Tosmo, disabling magic and magical tools. Not only on the east side of Lake Tosmo, but also on the west side of the lake, the same damage occurred, causing panic among some people. In the Randall household, the magic tools suddenly stopped working, and the people in the house were filled with anxiety, not knowing what the hell was going on. But.., "Calm down, everyone. No human beings have been harmed, that''s for sure. Keep your minds calm and take appropriate actions. If you get hurt in your haste, that would be a big problem. Moritz''s voice called out to him. These words were nothing special, but they strangely helped me to get rid of the impatience in my heart. The phenomenon subsided after half a day or so, and everyone in the house realized once again that Moritz was (apparently) dependable. And Ingrid, of course. When Moritz gently soothed her impatience at not being able to use the magic tools she was used to, she realized that Moritz had become an irreplaceable presence in her life. And Moritz also hated the maid of honor who had worked for him for many years. ....... It was not long afterwards that the two began to have a s*xual relationship. 2265 - - 60-30 Return of the Emperor Taisho July 8, a day after the lively party. "I should get back soon. ......" Emperor Hilde muttered with a shrug of her shoulders. "It''s been a whole week now..." Flora said with a laugh. "Yeah, it''s been a really fun week!" "...... thank you very much. But the purpose of the summer retreat was to ......" Yes, the Emperor Taisho (Hilde) had come to Jin''s place as a summer retreat in this season when the weather was getting hotter. "I''m afraid you couldn''t relax. ......" It was a pretty intense week, wasn''t it? But Emperor Hilde laughed and said, "It was a great week for a change, I saw some interesting things and had some unexpected experiences." He said he was more mentally fatigued than physically fatigued to begin with. "I hope that''s the case. ......" "Thank you, Jin. May I ...... ask you again?" Flora, who was standing next to him, looked reluctant, but Jin smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course." His title was . Although Hilde holds the second-highest position in the Shoro Kingdom, she is never tired of being with him. As for Jin, he has enjoyed the past week. "I am very happy, thank you, Jin-kun. You''re welcome. Thank you very much. Of course, Jin and the others are at Randall''s mansion, Elsa''s parents'' house. "Your Majesty, I hope you had a good night''s rest. ......?" Hilde nodded at Moritz''s worried look. "Yes, that''s all..." "Well, that''s good. ...... "Don''t worry, it will be fine." Hilde''s reassuring smile made Moritz feel relieved. After a sumptuous breakfast, the Emperor Taisho finally returned to his palace. Hilde and Flora were naturally accompanied by Moritz. They want to register their marriage and birth as soon as possible. Elsa and the twins will stay at home for a while longer. Fritz and Gloria are staying another day. I''m off then. Can I borrow Edgar for a little while longer?" Take care. First, they took the golem car that Moritz had brought, the golem horse that Jin had brought, and the go-rickshaw to . Of course, Moritz is in the golem car, Jin on the golem horse, and Emperor Taue (Hilde) and Flora on the go-rickshaw. Reiko and Edgar accompany them as on the outward journey. Then they will take to the palace. Marlene, thank you for your help. Give my regards to Georg. Emperor Hilde also called out to Elsa''s mother. "Elsa, I''m going to need a little more time with Jin. "...... yes, have a safe journey." The group then left the Moritz residence. The journey was a short one. The <> flew slowly and arrived at Loizart, the capital of the Shoro Kingdom, at 9:00 a.m. The journey was not a problem on this short distance. <, had a free pass to the palace, so the < landed in the courtyard without being blamed. "Oh, Jin-dono, welcome. Did you send ...... Moritz too?" < had landed, he came out to meet it and found Moritz. Then the Grand Emperor (Hilde) comes down accompanied by Flora. "Prime Minister, thank you for welcoming us. He was a little surprised to see her. "Your Highness!Are you with us? After Reiko came down for the last time, the ramp was pulled up. This means that the pilot, Edgar, and Land A, B, and the others are in . "Jin-kun, since you''re here, why don''t you pay your respects to His Majesty the Emperor? "Oh, yes. But is it okay?" Hilde''s words made Jin hesitate for a moment. It''s all right. You have the qualifications and power to do so. "I don''t want to wield power, though. But you have the power because you''re Jin. "Oh, ......." While chatting in such a way, we all came to the emperor''s office. "Oh, um, am I coming in too?" Moritz, who was brought along with them, is a little impatient. "Well, I am your brother-in-law, Jin-dono, and I will soon be promoted to the rank of baron, so it will be fine. In fact, it would be good to be remembered by His Majesty." Moritz was ready for this, since even the Prime Minister had said such a thing. "Your Majesty, I''m coming in." "Yes. < with you?" "Yes. And ......" Ernst, ...... no, Your Majesty, I''m back. "Aunt, you''re back. ...... Oh, Lord Nido, welcome. Thank you for looking after my aunt. I''m sure Flora has done well. ......?Is that Quartermaster Baron Moritz at the end?" Weissberg Ernst von Shawlo, the new Emperor of the Shawlo Empire who had come to the throne in May of that year, seemed to know Flora and Moritz well. "May I have a word with you now?" The new emperor nodded. Yes, of course. What could be more important than a meeting with the Grand Emperor and the Magecraft Meister? * * * * Jin and the others, including Moritz, moved to a small conference room adjacent to the office. "Well then, let''s start with Moritz." Emperor Hilde opened her mouth. He explained about the birth of the first daughter and the marriage between Jin and Elsa''s adopted daughter. "I see, so that''s what this is all about." "I''m sorry, I''m sorry. ......" Moritz was small, but the marriage of Jin, a and , and Elsa, the adopted daughter of , a court-appointed healer, was a topic that the emperor should have known about. "And then I went to Kunlun-kun''s domain. I found that you have a very progressive and localized policy. I''ll explain that later," said Emperor Taishang (Hilde). "Also, I made an unofficial trip to the clan territories of the Nordic Federation." "What? Even the Emperor was shocked at this information. Aunt! Calm down. There was no danger and they welcomed us with open arms. In the first place, we already have diplomatic relations with the Nordic Federation. "But, but, but... ......" It seems that the new emperor is still just as afraid of the Nords as Flora is. "They are human beings too. Keep that in mind." "Yes. ......" And I''ll summarize the useful trade details later," Emperor Taue summed up. "...... is no match for your aunt." The new emperor was deeply moved by his aunt''s concern for the country even after she had abdicated to become the Grand Emperor. He secretly vowed once again to surpass his predecessor. As long as there is a leader who thinks of the country and its people, the future of the Shoro Empire will be bright. ....... 2266 - - 60-31 Quiet Story 104 Tanabata Festival in Kaina Village July 7 at Kaina Village. "Tanabata is here again this year. I''m glad it''s going to be sunny. Hannah was muttering to herself as she looked at the sky. This event has been held every year since Jin initiated it in 3458. The method is well established, and bamboo branches are planted in the garden of Nido Castle, so there is no need to worry about obtaining them. Iromokushi (colored paper for making decorations such as tanzaku) are sold at Eric''s store. The prices are at a level that even a child can afford. So, this year, too, children were making Tanabata decorations. The place was, of course, Nido Castle. However, since Jin was unfortunately absent, Erza''s mother, Meene, was taking care of the children on her behalf. Originally, Meene taught the children how to read, write, and calculate, so she is called , and is adored by the children. She is making Tanabata decorations with the children in the hall of Nido Castle. "Meine-sensei, I can''t do it right. ......" "Yes, yes, here, this is how to do it." "Oh, I see!" "Meene-sensei, I want to make something like this." "Oh, that''s right, you do this here, and this here ......". "Wow, it''s done!" ...... and Meene is a hit with the kids. Then Sally, the village''s resident healer and wife of chief Giebeck, arrived from the clinic. She said, "You''re very kind, aren''t you? "Oh, Dr. Sally, are you making the rounds?" Yes, I''m on my way back from a house call. I''m here to help you. Thank you. I''m here to help you. ...... since Jin-san isn''t here this year. ...... You''re like a guest, aren''t you? Yes. ...... Sally is also good at making these decorations because of her dexterity. She is also familiar with the children thanks to her work as a healer in the village of Kaina. "Ah, there''s Sari-sensei!" "Sari-sensei! "Sensei, tell me this!" "Yes, yes, which one?" Sarie was not averse to children either, so she started to play with them when she was free after her house call. "Come on, let''s write our wishes on strips of paper." "Yes!" Unlike in Japan, the writing style in Ars is horizontal, so the strips of paper are written on a 90-degree angle. So, when we hang them on a bamboo branch, it is difficult to read them because they are written horizontally. However, Hannah was the only one who wrote tanzaku in Japanese, since she had already memorized all hiragana, katakana, some kanji, and of course some words. were Hannah''s three strips of paper. The other children were , and << to be able to study better>>. * * * * * * * * * * Around 4:00 p.m., they put up a bamboo branch in the garden of Nido Castle. About 20 bamboos made a light rustling sound in the breeze. Butlers B, C, and others had also prepared lanterns and lanterns, making sure that it would not be so dark that the villagers could not see their feet after the sun went down. Yukata (Japanese bathrobes) were provided for all the villagers, and were lent free of charge to those who wished to use them. From the number of yukata lent out, it seems that 90% of the villagers would have to change into yukata. Hannah put on the goldfish-patterned yukata that Jin had given her. Hannah''s yukata is so cute, isn''t it? Her friend Patty said a little enviously. "It looks good on you too, Patty. "Hehehe, really?" Patty was wearing a yukata with a red dragonfly pattern on a pale akane background. It was 6:00 p.m.. At this time, when the light was still dim, Butler B, C, and the five colored golem maids opened their stalls. "Here''s your corn on the cob!" Would you like some popcorn? ? Here''s some cotton candy ? Would you like to play target practice? Of course, everything is free. By the way, target shooting is not with guns but with small bows and arrows. At 7:00 p.m., the sun has set and the stars have begun to appear. There is a Milky Way in this world, too. "Will you do me a favor, star? "If you''re a good girl, I''m sure he will. Such conversations can be heard here and there. Not only children but also their parents have come. It''s 8:00 p.m., and then... "Sorry I''m late, everyone. Jin came out of the room. "Onii-chan! The time difference between Eksi in Shoro and Kaina is about 3 hours. It was 5:00 p.m. at Randall''s mansion, and a party was in full swing. Jin had left the house for a little while to go to the restroom. "I''m busy right now and have to leave soon, but please enjoy the party without me. Jin said as he was surrounded by children who came running to him. "Jin-san, it''s not easy when you''re so busy." Meane came to his side and offered words of encouragement to Jin. "No, no, I''m having fun. Jin replied and looked up at the sky. The Milky Way was in the sky, and the stars were twinkling. The moon (Uni) is smaller in apparent size than the earth''s moon, so it does not disturb the starlight so much. Jin also gently hung a strip of paper. The wishes were written on ....... The three cards were The strips of paper hanging from the bamboo branches were swaying, and the river wind was blowing from the Ermee River. The stars in the night sky did not say anything, did not speak, but just stared gently at the ground. 2267 - - 61-01 Power Assist April 3, 3901. On the shore of Lake Tosmo in the Shoro Kingdom, a major construction project was underway. <. "Hmmm, let''s increase the power a little more ......" Jin, the third generation <> who commissioned the work, muttered to himself as he watched the construction workers trying to move the large rock out of the way. What they are using is <. In other words, they are power suits or power assistants for construction. Since it is not a suit of armor, the operator does not enter the suit but rides on the back of the shoulder. It stands 2.5 meters tall and weighs about 600 kilograms. It has three legs for stability. The reason why it has three legs instead of four is that the basic control system for grounding the legs can be simplified. There is no head, and the pilot''s upper body is placed at that position. A guard bar is attached to protect the operator''s head, so that a direct hit from a steel frame will not cause any damage to the operator''s head. The robot is about three times stronger than a human, making it suitable for heavy-duty work that does not require precision. "Oh, I like this one." "It''s just a prototype, but it''s working great. "It was hard to handle at first, but once you get used to it, it''s nothing to worry about." The controls are loosely connected from the elbows and knees down to the fuselage. Precise movements are therefore impossible. The hands are mitten-like, with no fingers, so they can barely grasp an object. In other words, he can only raise and lower his arms and grasp and release objects. However, this is still sufficient for lifting stones and carrying building materials. Its walking speed is about the same as that of a human being, so it will not run out of control. This is the result of the efforts to develop a specification that would not be diverted to military use. Jin lent five such <> to construction sites free of charge. Ostensibly for the test operation of new magic tools, but in fact to improve the efficiency of the construction work. The reason for this format, as mentioned earlier, was to make it difficult to divert the equipment to military use. <<>< << The specifications are as follows. Jin thought that it would have to be modified to the extent that it would be almost a different machine to be used in battle. In addition, by simplifying the structure as much as possible and using inexpensive materials, the cost can be kept at about 50,000 dollars. In Japanese yen, the cost is about 500,000 yen, which is less than the price of a mini-car. However, if a technical fee is added, the price increases about three times as much as the original price. That is, 150,000 dollars, or about 1,500,000 yen. Since the price was about the same as that of a high-class mini-car, Jin thought that it would not be impossible to introduce the system. In fact, "I want one of these at my place, too. "Yeah. This is nice!" "I''d like to have one of these at my place, too," and "Oh, this is nice. Jin has told them that he cannot sell them because they are prototypes. I also told them that if they pointed out any defects, I would give them priority in mass production, so each of them tried various things. The best (worst?) 3 are as follows. The best (worst?) 3 are as follows. 1. a little more power is needed. 2. slow movement speed. 3. 3. Mana cell exchange is troublesome. All of them were enough to make Jin think, "But, but, but, but.... "But I don''t think it''s a good idea to increase the performance too much. ......" Power can be increased tenfold or more if you don''t mind using muscular materials, but the skeleton will not be able to sustain it, and it will be difficult to control, which in turn leads to higher costs. The same applies to the speed of movement. "<>, you can use two of them in parallel or ......" Jin decided to give in to the idea that some users might be able to modify the manacelles by themselves. <<> is like a dry cell or a rechargeable battery, so to speak. They can be filled with mana using a mana server. The operating hours can be extended by increasing the number of units mounted ......, but we do not intend to make the whole day ...... 12 hours of actual working hours at all. . < to prevent that from happening. * * * * * * Jin checks and maintains the <> after a day''s work. "Is durability a problem?" The robot was designed to be handled roughly because it is used for civil engineering work, and although there are minor scratches, there are no scratches or dents that would affect the operation of the robot. Wear on joints and sliding parts was also within expectations. After having fully serviced the five <> units, Jin began to think about what to do about the problems that had been identified. "As for the power, we can easily increase it by 1.5 times." Since he had only used less than half of its original potential, Jin thought that it would be possible to double its power by rewriting the , but since he was concerned about the strength of its skeleton, he decided to keep the power at 1.5 times. "Let''s keep the movement speed as it is." The three legs are easy to balance statically, but difficult to balance dynamically. Rather, since the <> of walking on three legs was still incomplete, it was dangerous to increase the speed without care. The control is easy, but it is taking time to determine the various parameters since this is the first attempt. "<> I guess we should use two of them in parallel. If they work for two hours, they can be replaced during breaks. "It might even improve the working environment. It would be easy enough to do that. Reiko, help me. Yes, Father. Jin and Reiko could remodel 5 machines in 10 minutes. "That''s it. Let''s have them try it again tomorrow. Jin looks at the remodeled > and mutters in satisfaction. Reiko questioned him. "Father, even if you didn''t go to the trouble of building these things, I think <> could do the work of more than 5 units by himself. "Yes, that''s true. But in this case, the purpose is to promote the local community, raise the level of technology, and stimulate the economy. "Is that what you mean ......?" Jin nodded. <, Jin was beginning to think that the goal should be to spread the magic technology widely. "The <<2nd generation>> had the aspect of showing advanced technology and training a limited number of specialists." But that has been nullified by the <>. "It may not be a simple thing, but I think that by not only fostering experts but also spreading it widely, the tradition will not be broken so easily. "I understand." I am still not sure if this will work out as well as Jin thinks it will. However, Jin began to think that he would try to do all he could. 2268 - - 61-02 Complaining The next day, on the 4th, the improved <> was immediately highly acclaimed. "Oh!I''m getting more power than yesterday!" "I can make progress with this." "Has my walking speed changed much?" "They say it makes you less stable." "Then it''s all right. It''s practical enough as it is. I heard that the number of times to replenish mana is also reduced by half. "Well, that''s okay then. ......" "No, this is excellent. I''d like to buy it if it''s on sale. Hearing these words, Jin said, "The next step is to mass-produce this ......." He began to think. "Maybe the Berlich workshop would be a good idea. The head of the workshop, Berlich Becker, is a descendant of Reinhardt and must have taken a basic course on Adriana-style golems at <>. Jin decided to list him as one of the candidates. Jin thought that he would ask the Minister of Magical Technology LeGray if there were any other candidates. In the first place, it would not be possible to cover all the expenses with only one or two workshops. Several or even a dozen workshops would have to work on it to secure the necessary number. ....... "Well, if there is a demand for them, but I think the current reputation of the company will allow us to do so." The contractors seem to have found the five <> units useful. * * * * "Hmmm, that''s the technology of Jin-dono!" <>. "You mean it''s relatively easy to make? "Yes, it is." "Considering the cost and functionality, this is a breakthrough. Jin was relieved. If the Minister of Magical Technology approved it, it would be possible to mass-produce it. "I will soon be able to provide you with a template for this <>. As soon as we make some minor modifications," Jin says, "Oh, that''s exciting," said the Minister of Magic and Technology. The Minister of Magic and Technology said with a broad smile on his face. "Then, I would like you to select a workshop to commission the mass production. "I see. Let''s do it. Leave it to us. Do you have any recommendations for a ...... workshop? In response to this question, Jin mentioned the name of the Berlich workshop. Oh, I see, you have a good eye. I have a great deal of respect for the head of that workshop. "I am glad to hear that." "There are about four other places that I can think of, but why don''t we start by talking to the Berlich workshop? Let''s start with the Berlich workshop as a test case," said LeGray, "and after we have identified the problems, we can start full-scale mass production. "Yes, let''s take it step by step. Not wanting to stand around talking any longer, Jin and LeGray moved to one of the tents set up at the construction site. "Jin-dono, may I ask you a few questions?" As soon as they arrived at the table in the tent, Mr. LeGray asked a question. "First of all, I understand that you have chosen steel as the material. It is a question of cost. But what is this alloy called <5? nickel steel>? <<5? nickel steel> is an alloy steel containing 5.5 percent nickel. Compared to carbon steel, it is tougher and more corrosion resistant. It is used as a structural steel and corrosion-resistant alloy. Although it is inferior to alloy steels that contain more additive elements, Jin chose <<5? nickel steel>>, which he often uses in such cases, because of its required strength and durability, as well as its production cost. Jin explained something like ...... to the Minister of Magical Technology. "I see, adding nickel increases corrosion resistance. And also wear resistance. "That''s what it means. In addition, if we apply or to the material, we can ensure a considerable amount of strength. Nickel is cheap because there aren''t many uses for it in Ars at the moment. Nickel is used for nickel plating, stainless steel, heat-resistant alloys, magnetic materials, shape memory alloys, nickel-hydrogen battery electrodes, and hydrogen storage alloys. The largest user of nickel plating is actually Jin. The next is nickel plating. For this reason, the Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Empire had never used nickel plating as a material, even though he knew of it. However, the Minister of Magical Technology himself rarely produces anything himself. And now, here we have seen an example of its beneficial use. Jin''s idea of using relatively inexpensive materials to create high performance products while keeping costs low was welcomed by the Minister of Magical Technology. "This will be very helpful. The <>, which seems to be the opposite of the <. In fact, it was originally a . This is one of the forms that we arranged to fit this world. We thought that people would be surprised if we suddenly made it into an automobile type, so this is how we came up with it. As expected, it was accepted relatively smoothly. Therefore, the control is easy and the structure is simple. Although it cannot perform complicated movements, this is not a problem since it is a heavy machine. The workers, who had become accustomed to the machine, were able to use the power-assisted machine much better than Jin had expected. (There are craftsmen or skilled operators in every world, aren''t there?) (There are craftsmen or skilled operators in every world, aren''t there?) It was similar to those who can put a large-sized car in a garage without a single centimeter of deviation or carry wineglasses or eggs by heavy machinery. * * * * * * For dinner, Jin was invited to join us at the insistence of the Minister of Magic and Technology, Mr. LeGray. "Well, I wish you good luck with the construction work. Cheers. Cheers! First, they make a toast with a glass of wine. "No, Mr. Jin, it has been a great pleasure to work with you." In short, it is a thank you from the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology. "I have also been to for a short time, and have received lectures on the <, but I must say that such a simple structure is also very deep. "Because it is so simple, just by changing the structure a little, the performance can change drastically," he said. "I see, that may be true. I wish I could have developed something like that ......." Minister of Magical Technology LeGray seemed to like Jin''s <> more than he had expected. "The lecture at <> was very useful, but the practice is different, isn''t it?" Ah, you may be right. It depends on the person, theory first or practical skills first. "That''s true. Then I guess I am a practical person. You might say that I am a scholarly type and a craftsman type. Jin is more of a practitioner and craftsman type, so he understands the feelings of Mr. Legray. Mr. Legray also seems to be of the disposition to make things with his own hands. "I''m ...... so busy being a minister that I can''t even do what I want to do. ......" "...... is ......" "In the first place, it is absurd to let a person from a technical field get involved in politics! "...... ha......" "...... are you listening?Jin-dono! "...... ha......" Jin was even forced to listen to the complaints of the Minister of Magic and Technology, LeGray, who had spent a little time drinking. 2269 - - 61-03 Request On April 6, Jin and Minister of Magic and Technology LeGray took a to the town of Kaltz. "I''m sorry if I was rude to you last night. "No, no, no. Jin knew that he needed to vent, so he didn''t let it drag on. In about three minutes, the crossed Lake Tosmo. The plane parked on the outskirts of Kaltz and headed for the . The pilot, Hope, is in charge of the Hurricane, and Jin is accompanied by Reiko. Reiko was pulling a cart with a load larger than herself. Since an appointment had been made the day before, i.e., on the 5th, there was no doubt that Berrich Becker would be at the workshop. The three of us headed straight for the workshop. Jin had not been here since last July. It took about 10 minutes to get there. Here it is. ...... and ......." "Welcome, Mr. Magecraft Meister! "Welcome, His Excellency the Minister of Magical Arts and Technology LeGray!" In front of the workshop are more than a dozen craftsmen and apprentices, and.., "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Jin Nido." The head of the workshop, Berlich Becker, was there. "We met once at <>. Jin Nido said to him in a friendly manner, "Oh, you remember me, I am honored! He replied nervously. The Minister of Magical Technology, Mr. LeGray, is being greeted by Mr. Ludwig, the deputy head of the workshop. "Your Excellency, I am very sorry for coming all the way here to your dreary place. "No, of course not. Sometimes it''s good to get out and talk with young technicians in person instead of doing paperwork. * * * * The group moves to the reception/meeting room in the workshop. On the workshop side are Berlich Becker and Ludwig. "Now, we are here today to talk about a national project, the construction of a memorial to engineering magic. The Minister of Magic and Technology, Mr. LeGray, presided over the discussion. "<> is, of course, a tentative name. However, it is of great significance to build it. It will also serve as a museum of engineering magic. After explaining the premise, I cut to the chase. "First of all, let''s have a look at the real thing. ...... Sir Leco, please." "Yes." Reiko began to unpack the large luggage she had brought with her. Inside was the well-known "power-assisted reinforced exterior for civil engineering and construction". "Oh, what''s this?It looks a bit like a ...... golem. ......" "Does it have a ...... person riding on the back of its shoulders?What?" Berlich and Ludwig both rolled their eyes. "It''s called a ." Jin explains on behalf of the Minister of Magical Technology, Mr. LeGray. "As Mr. Ludwig noticed, it would be easier to understand if we call it a golem that people can ride on and move. He also explains that the use and functions of the golem are quite limited. "Do you know what the most important reason is?" Jin asked them. "It''s not the cost ......, is it?" "Hmmm......... maybe to prevent it from being diverted to military use?" "Yes, you''re right, it''s a big deal." Ludwig had arrived at the right answer, so Jin praised him. "...... golem technology can create bloodless, or lifeless soldiers. But I think it should be used to protect, not to invade. This has been communicated to the Shoro officials, including the emperor, and they understand. I understand. "It is sad to see technology used for destruction when it is for the benefit of the people." Both Berlich and Ludwig agreed with Jin''s idea. "Now, let''s get back to the story. I''m thinking of building 100 units of this >." "Oh, 100 units?" "Yes. Yes. They are in trial operation, but they have been well received. I''m sure we can sell them to civil engineering and construction workshops. Jin emphasizes, however, that the goal is not to make money. "This will make the heavy work of civil engineering easier," he says. In other words, the construction period is shortened and construction costs are lowered. The extra money thus generated can be used for other things. "I hope this will stimulate the economy." "Haha ...... Sir Nido is looking ahead, isn''t he? ......" Berrich Becker sounded impressed. "No, I just want to make things that help people and make them smile. Jin spoke his true feelings. "I would like to reach that point, too. Berlich looked at Jin with respect. "Yes, well, thank you. ...... but let''s talk about what you just said." A little embarrassed, Jin forcefully brought the conversation back to the topic at hand. "First of all, I''m not going to say anything, so I want you to see this for yourselves." Jin pointed to the > and said, "Okay! "Okay!" "I''ll give it a try!" Berlich and Ludwig immediately run up to the <> and check its structure and materials, touching it with their hands from time to time. After about 15 minutes. "I know you''re in the middle of something, but could you stop for a moment? Jin called them over. "Tell us what you think about this power-assisted reinforced exterior for civil engineering and construction, as much as you have learned so far. In response to Jin''s request, the first to open his mouth was Ludwig, the deputy head of the workshop. "It is thoroughly simplified. It has been adjusted to maximize its effectiveness within these conditions. The next to open his mouth was Berlich, head of the workshop. "The construction is designed to take into account the strength of the materials, and it is easy to maintain. Other details were also pointed out, and Jin gave it a favorable score. "It is sufficient. With this, we can outsource the production. Jin nodded to Mr. LeGray, Minister of Magical Technology. "Since we have the encouragement of Jin-dono, as the Minister of Magical Technology of the Shoro Kingdom, I would like to officially commission the production of the >. I would be honored. The deadline is two months. Quantity is 10 units. You pay 500,000 Tolls (about 5,000,000 Japanese Yen) in advance and 500,000 Tolls upon completion. In other words, the commission fee is one million dollars. All materials will be provided by the government of the Shoro Kingdom. The 10 units of <> shall have the workshop''s stamp and serial number engraved on a conspicuous part of the frame and near the starting key on the cockpit. < Of course, the details were to be put in writing by the officer in charge, and a formal contract was to be signed. 2270 - - 61-04. Set decision. On April 8, Jin was relaxing on Horai Island. "Father, are you tired?" Reiko, who brought him tea, asked a little anxiously. "No, not at all. I was thinking about what to do next. "Next?" "Yes. Yes. I''m thinking of lending them some of our power-assisted construction equipment so that they can eventually produce their own. "I see." Not all at once, but slowly, as the technology and its benefits take root and improve. Four hundred years ago, Jin was in a hurry, and this is what we are doing now. Some think that there is no need to rush because Jin and his family have a long life span now. "I''m not sure if I''ll be able to take care of them until the end or not." He encourages them to take their own initiative when they have finished setting the path, and hopes that they will do the rest steadily. "I don''t value what I get easily, you know. Of course, he knew that it was more the fault of sabotage than the <>''s spear ......, but he couldn''t help but think that with a little more rootedness in his life, he might be able to recover from what appeared to be a loss. "At the moment, there are not many good magic craftsmen (magi craftsmen) in the Kingdom of Franz." In addition to being an agriculturally oriented country, Jin also appreciated that the technology was stagnant due to the influence of the <>. "By the way, did she ...... Najaz Khan study in <>?" Jin checks with the old man. "Well, I''m glad to hear that. I''m sure Erza will be happy to hear that. Elsa was feeling a little protective of Najas, who was in a somewhat similar situation to her. "Well, first of all, I''d like to meet with the Minister of Internal Affairs, Claude de Chaunay, right?I think we should meet with ......." . "Okay, then have him contact the local <." < "Oh, and keep in mind that the date has not been set yet." < "Also, we need to prepare 5 units of <> or ......" > "Okay. Please prepare them." <> to the old man and the craftsmen (Smith), Jin decides to check on <>. There is nothing wrong with Arcadia. The artificial island of <>. It is the base of deus ex machina. <> is taking good care of it. "I see. Now it''s time to let the public know. ......" It''s a little too late for that, so I think we need some kind of a start. I tell this to the old man, <>. He replied, "I see. "I see, that''s true. < is held. But still, the question will remain, <>will remain a question. How about "it had been rehabilitated"? Hmmm ......" That''s a good idea, but Jin has a concern. "What kind of setting should we use for Makina''s house?" This was also true for Jin, who had not yet let the public know how the <> would be passed on. "We have to make it clear by the time the <> is completed." I really want to display a timeline of the history of Adriana Barbora Tsezi from the first generation. The desire was to at least make the achievements of Adriana Barbora Zetsi widely known to the general public. <<<< Magickal Engineer Magicraft Meister >> is an inheritance by competence, is that right? "Yes." The key is Reiko. Reiko, who was created by the first generation, i.e. Adriana Barbora Zetsi, finds a suitable successor and qualifies him to use the base, or something like that. This is 80% true, so you will believe me. There are two hidden things. The location of Horai Island, the base, and the fact that <> and <> are the same person. "As for the location of the base, it can be passed as a secret from generation to generation. The fact that they are the same person is ...... well, no one usually believes it." Most people would not believe him even if he told them it was the same person, Jin thought. They would think he was joking or trying to carry a joke. "Even if they were <>, it''s impossible for them to look the same for 400 years." It''s nothing to go around saying. It''s just a bit of a shame that the second generation won''t be able to use the privileges they had. "So, what about Machina''s ......?" Since they are mentioned as brother and sister, it is not a problem that they are almost the same generation, which explains why they appear in the same time period. <>? "A separated being?" <, and through a sort of aptitude test, the master (Mylord) became a <>. Machina became a deus ex machina. "I see." Jin considers the setting, "Not bad. Let''s go with that." He decides to go with it. "Then it''s not surprising that Machina knows about my base, and that explains why we have similar technology. <> was created by the second generation of Makina and the second generation of <>>? "Yes." If it was made about 300 years ago, there is no way to be sure now. And here''s the thing, we can say for sure that it did not exist in the time of the first generation, i.e. Adriana Barbora Zetsi. Not wanting to make falsehoods about the first generation, Jin said, "The rest is just a matter of origins. "The only thing left is the origin." Who taught him engineering magic? Who were his parents? These are the two points. In addition, we must also decide on Elsa''s origin. Even if she is an orphan, who picked her up? There is also a <, so this is not a problem. "......Horaijima has a second generation of descendants, and they were chosen from among them, or ......?" If we want to add a setting, we can say that the island has been in existence for a long time. Yu and Mio were born in 3459. The next generation was born 25 years later, in about 3484, and the next in about 35 The next one in about 10 years, and the next one in 3535. ....... In 3535, the next generation will follow, and so on for about 17 or 18 generations. "During that time, there have been no descendants talented enough to claim the third generation," he says. Jin concluded that this would not be a problem since it would not be possible to go back in time to investigate the past. He decided to go with this approximate setting. 2271 - - 61-05 Preparation The setting up of the origins of Jin and deus ex machina is now complete. "Yes, they are. Is something wrong?" < "I see that too. ...... but it''s also possible that they are distant relatives." It is also possible that there are two separate families, each with only one Jin and one Makina left. "They may be distant relatives, but they are not brothers. ...... Let''s go with this." . In fact, it is unlikely that the origins will be pursued that far, but it is always a good idea to have a good idea of what to expect. "Finally, let''s say that Makina is 10 years older than me. It would be too deliberate to use the same age. . ** ** "Now, let''s have a look. "Well, now that I have some time, I''ll check out before going to Franz''s kingdom. In <<>, research and development of small aircraft was underway. Erza was also a little concerned about Najas Khan, a she had met in Franz''s kingdom. Elsa was working on something in her workshop. "Hey, Elsa ......, what are you doing?" "Oh, Jin. Oh, Jin-bro... spring clothes. I just finished it." They were Jin''s clothes. "Clothes are a little different from 400 years ago. I made a modern jacket." Thank you. First, the color. Colors are a little brighter than 400 years ago. This is the same for both men and women. Black is the basic color for formal occasions, but by adding a dusky red or blue in one spot, it adds a subtle touch of glamour. Design. Loose-fitting clothes were favored 400 years ago, but nowadays, close-fitting clothes are in fashion. If the clothes were poorly tailored, they would be difficult to move in, and the tailor''s skill would be evident. But... "Oh, it''s just right and I can move around easily. "Thank you, Elsa." "You''re welcome. ...... I think the stretchy fabric worked out well." "Stretch material?" Jin feels that the elbows and shoulders are indeed easier to move. "Yes. < "That''s amazing. How did you make it stretchy without knitting it with a merry crochet ......?" "I twisted the strands a lot." GST has the ultimate tensile strength. Twist it 20 times more than usual, and you get an ultra-fine spring-like thread. Right- and left-twisted yarns are prepared (the difference is the direction of rotation during twisting: right or left). When these are further twisted together into yarn, a yarn with 40 to 50 percent more stretch is produced. "If the twist is about 10 times higher, the stretch is about 20 percent. "I see, so twist is the key. "I see. So twist is the point. So, I made this from a cloth woven with such a yarn. Jin thought, "Then it makes sense that it''s snug but easy to move around in, "That''s great, Elsa." "That''s great, Elsa," he said admiringly. "Well, actually, it was Hannah who gave me the idea. "Oh, really?" Jin was impressed with Hannah. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Elsa spoke to him, and Jin came back to himself. "Oh, yes. I''m thinking of going to Avalon sometime soon, and I was wondering if you''d like to go with me. "Sure, I''ll go." His answer was immediate. "I''m sure you will. You''re interested in Najas, aren''t you?" At Jin''s question, Elsa nodded. "Yes. And I''m also concerned about the curriculum at right now." "I see. Jin said, "Then, I think it would be better to prepare some of that kind of information for you. "Yes, I will. ...... old man, you know what I mean?" The structure of the human body is essential for basic knowledge of healing. Where are the organs located, what functions do they perform, where are the muscles attached to the skeleton, and what kind of movement do they control? How do the joints fit together? Where do the large blood vessels run? You can find out all this at ....... Knowing this and using healing magic will maximize the effect. With the help of the old man, Elsa decided to make such reference materials. * * * * * * What about me? The purpose of this project is to find a . The two that Hitoshi owns now and can be made public are the <> and <>, but the latter is still at the prototype level, and he does not want to make it public. "So, the <..." The same model has been donated to the Nordic Federation, so it is the safest choice. The shape is that of an upturned pot lid. It has circular wings with a fuselage and vertical wings attached under the wings. "I didn''t have enough time at that time, so I could only do the < version." Jin wanted to keep the circular wings and increase mobility. "Then, the fuselage should be revised. The fuselage is, in theory, a single plate. Therefore, the fuselage is useful for improving straight-line stability, but it is a factor that reduces the turning ability. "Then, what should we do ......?" After much thought, Jin came up with the conclusion that the fuselage should be bent in response to changes in direction. To be precise, the rear part of the fuselage is not fixed to the circular wing but serves as a rudder. Jin thought that the change of direction would be smoother since almost half of the fuselage would be in operation. Of course, the straight-line stability of the boat would remain unchanged since the boat would continue to move in a straight line. First, it was important to ensure the strength of the variable fuselage. "The structure is a combination of truss and honeycomb. ...... Reiko, hold this side." Yes, Father. With Reiko as his assistant, Jin assembles the new "blowplane" based on the "Taube Kai". It took about 2 hours. The < was completed that day. But it was already dark, so the test flight was postponed until the next day. 2272 - - 61-06 New model On April 9, Jin left the laboratory without breakfast to conduct a test flight of the <>. "Father, I''d like to be the test pilot. Reiko insisted. "Okay, please." "Yes!" Jin then called Hope, "Hope, you fly the TAUBE Kai. I''ll get in." "Yes, sir." I''m going to follow <> with <> and observe its subtle behavior. This is possible only with a <> which flies at a low speed. * * * * * * * * * * * Jin''s <> is waiting in the air. Reiko then sends a message via manacam. "Okay, go!" < lifts off the water. < "Looks that way." Observations from the air show no behavior that would cause any problems, and the < shows a stable takeoff. "I don''t see any instability on takeoff." The Taube, Taube Kai and Taube Kai 2 have the same circular wings, but their curvature is different. While the Taube and Taube Kai are convex at the top, the Taube Kai 2 is almost flat. Therefore, there is more loss in the airflow for lifting. Jin increased the output power of the < for lifting. <> "Okay, go!" After gaining about 50 meters of altitude, the < takes off and flies horizontally. "Yeah, that feels good." This is where the effect of the flatness of the circular blades comes into play. < or is the circular wing, which is the main wing. The speed was increased by making the wings almost flat. The propulsion engine was the same, but the speed was increased by more than 40%. Reiko then starts to test the mobility of the boat. "Oh, it''s quite maneuverable, isn''t it? The half of the fuselage that also serves as a vertical stabilizing plate has been made movable, and the effect of having it also serve as a rudder has been realized. But.... As I was testing how small a turn I could make, the <> suddenly lost its attitude. "Looks like. "Well, it looks like it stalled when it tilted its circular wing for a turn. Jin felt a little disappointed that the emphasis on maneuverability had resulted in a considerable sacrifice of stability. Then, after checking all the maneuverability, "Okay, let''s land for now." That was the end of the test flight. The <> and <> landed in the plaza in front of the laboratory. "Well, I think this is the limit for this shape. ......" Jin reflected that he had changed the shape of the aircraft to make it more peaky, but it seemed to have become a difficult aircraft to handle. "I guess that''s one way to look at it." Jin''s face was difficult to see, as it did not seem to have the performance that he had aimed for. It was because it did not turn out as he had expected. "Father, didn''t you like it?" Reiko was also a little disappointed. "No, it''s not your fault. It''s a design problem. So Jin consoled her. "It''s good for competitions, but not for daily use. <. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hmmm, let''s try another idea then: ......" Jin had been working on an idea for a that was not a . It is a <> with four circular wings, front, back, left and right. The front and rear circular wings are small and the left and right circular wings are large. The < built by Jin had <> for levitation at both ends of the main wings, which also had front and rear wings. It is similar to what is called a < in modern Japan, but is oriented 45 degrees differently from the direction of travel. The circular wings in the front and rear were intended to change the vertical angle, and the circular wings on the left and right were intended to change the horizontal angle for turning. The short fuselage and cockpit are placed in the center connecting the left and right circular wings. The total area of the four circular wings is about the same as that of a conventional <> or <>. So, the exclusive area of the aircraft will be larger. Since there is still time for lunch, Jin decides to make a prototype along these lines. "Reiko, help me." "Yes, father." Jin asked Reiko to assist him and also called in a craftsman, and in about an hour his idea took shape. This time, the circular wing is curved so that it is convex at the top. After checking everything, Jin said, "It''s still 30 minutes before lunchtime, "We still have about 30 minutes before lunch, so let''s do a quick test. He said, "There is still about 30 minutes before lunchtime. After all, he wanted to try out what he had made as soon as possible. "Well, I''ll do it." "Yes, I''ll take care of it. Reiko again stood for the position, and Hitoshi decided to leave it to her. "When turning, change the output of the left and right blow engines. The lift and descent are done back and forth." "Yes, that''s fine." Since the maneuvering and control of the boat was still unknown to them, they relied on Reiko''s reaction time. This is an area where Hope is not comfortable. "Be careful." "Yes, Father." The new attitude control system is unprecedented, so we have to be very careful. Jin calls in 50 craftsmen to set up shock-absorbing wards in case of a crash. It was the same as the one he had put up during the air race. "Okay, let''s go!" Reiko, let''s go! The prototype''s roared to life and the aircraft began its slow ascent. ....... 2273 - - 61-07 Take the form of an idea The prototype, which was the result of Jin''s idea, showed stable ascent. However, this is only an appearance, as Reiko''s exquisite control of the aircraft''s pitching, or up-and-down rotation around its left-right axis, can be seen. "Hmmm, is it still difficult to control?" After gaining about 20 meters of altitude, Reiko started to turn slowly. "Oh, this one is stable," she said. Since the left and right sides of the plane are symmetrical, it seems to be very resistant to rolling, i.e., the turbulence of turning left and right around the front-back axis. "Hmmm, then it would be better to make the front and rear symmetrical as well. Jin is observing the flight of the prototype while muttering to himself. Reiko gradually reduced the prototype from a large turn to a small turn. The 50 meter radius became 40 meters, then 35 meters, then 30 meters. The overall width of the prototype is approximately 10 meters. It would be impossible for an aerodynamically floating plane to make a turn with such a small radius. The prototype now tilted about 20 degrees to the right and made a right turn. "This is about the limit of what we can do this way. A turning radius of about 20 meters was possible. "If you put the characteristics of a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft in front ...... of you, yes, that''s right." As if she had read Jin''s thoughts, Reiko now showed the aircraft as a VTOL, i.e., stationary in the air, and then slowly changed direction. "Yes, this way I can change direction on the spot. ......Good." Jin waved his hand and motioned for Reiko to land. The prototype landed about 10 meters away from Jin. "Reiko, you did a good job." "Yes, father." Thanks to you, I found out some of the problems," he said. But first, it was time for lunch. "Brother Jin, dinner!" Erza came to call him. "Yes, okay." Jin asked Smith to bring the prototype to the workshop, and followed Elsa to the laboratory cafeteria. Lunch that day was sandwiches. Ham, vegetables, tuna salad, eggs, ham cutlet, etc. When I finished eating, Elsa asked me, "How are you doing? "How are you doing?I''m doing fine." "Well, the first half of ...... wasn''t so good. I tried another prototype, but I think that one is better. "Yeah. I''ll check it out later. "Yeah." After quenching their thirst with Citran juice, they each go to finish their unfinished work. Jin goes to the workshop and Erza to the reference room. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the workshop, Jin stands in front of the prototype, "Well, let''s fix it up a little bit," he says. He said, and then he clapped his right fist and left palm. "Father, what part?" Reiko asked. "Yes, I''m trying to make the front and back symmetrical. The left and right sides were symmetrical, so they were very well balanced. The front and rear are unbalanced due to the position of the cockpit and the position of the propulsion system. The idea was to balance the two sides well. The cockpit should be at the center of gravity. The propulsors are placed under the left and right circular wings to make them more stable. Since the original model is a <>, the stability is improved by suspending it from the circular wings. The size of the front and rear circular blades should be the same, and the distance from the center of gravity should be the same to achieve balance. To put it a little more technically, this is called <. "Okay, try it this way." "Yes, Father." The slightly modified prototype was brought to the front of the laboratory, and Reiko took the pilot''s seat again. "Okay, let''s go!" With a single voice, Reiko started up the blow engine. The prototype slowly ascended. "Oh, it looks stable." This time, without correcting the balance, the prototype climbed vertically while maintaining stability. Reiko enters a turn at an altitude of 20 meters. This is no different from the previous case. After completing the 20-meter radius turn, Reiko enters a vertical maneuverability test. "Oh, much better this time." The gentle ascent and descent is very stable, as is the front-rear balance. "Okay, Hope, let''s fly the TAUBE." "Yes, Master." Observation from the ground was no longer sufficient, so Jin decided to check from the sky. "Jin, take me with you." Then Erza arrived. She had finished compiling the data. < has a six-seater, so there is no problem at all. "Okay. Then get on board. Yes. The with Jin, Erza, and Hope on board soars into the sky over Horai Island. It chased after the prototype. < < < The who had been maintaining the warding on the ground disbanded. The two planes flew at about 100 km/h and were over Tatsumi Bay in a blink of an eye. < . The prototype accelerates toward the sea. < "Wow, it''s fast!" < is slowly closing in on them. Reiko has called. . Jin watched the behavior of the prototype with bated breath. 2274 - - 61-08 Southern Cross The prototype''s performance exceeded Jin''s expectations. Although it cannot fly on its back due to its structure, it can perform somersaults with no difficulty. Vertical ascent and descent were no problem. For short periods of time, horizontal rolls (kirimomi flight) were also possible. >. < . Jin decides that he has obtained enough data for a prototype, and returns to the laboratory. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, the strength of the joints was a little poor for stunt work. Jin muttered as he checked the prototype. "But, of course, after a flight like that..." Erza, who had followed him to the workshop, said, and Jin nodded with a wry smile. "That''s right. Blow planes are not suited for stunts. It''s even more unsuitable than trying to drift in a family car, Jin thought. However, the possibility of such a flight is not zero. Jin reinforces the relevant areas. "If we double the overall strength, it will be okay even if we increase the speed a little more. "Brother Jin, what is the concept of this new aircraft? "The <> was a private car. This is a sports car. Jin replied in a way that was difficult to understand for those in Ars. But it was enough for Reiko and Elsa. "So you mean that you have in mind to fly a little longer?" "Yes." "But, Father. But, Father, what does that have to do with the performance of the aircraft?" "Well, ...... I don''t know what to say." Jin wondered how to answer Reiko''s question, "The higher the speed, the shorter the reaction time to avoid danger should be. So, I think it makes sense ...... to improve the reaction speed of the aircraft." "I see what you mean." "At the same time, we''ve also improved the straight-line stability of the aircraft." The aircraft is stable during normal flight and agile once it enters evasive maneuvers. This was Jin''s goal. "<> is a plane that can be used for transportation in and around towns, but the prototype is designed to move from town to town. The ...... construction is." Here comes Jin''s real intention. "The first thing is that I want to build it." ".................. understand." As an engineer, Erza understands his desire to see how far he can take the performance, so she nods her head. "So, the fix is complete. Reiko, please do it again. Yes, I understand. Yes, I understand. The prototype that Jin had modified had even better performance. "Father, it''s easier to fly!" "Okay, let''s land for a moment." After a 15-minute test flight, the prototype comes to a brief pause. After checking the prototype in the courtyard of the research institute and confirming that there was nothing wrong with it, he said, "Hope, I''ve got it, "Hope, you try to fly it this time. Reiko, take the controls of the TAUBE Kai. "Yes, sir." "Yes, Father." The two planes soared into the sky of Horai Island again. Reiko is piloting the TAUBE Kai, and Jin and Erza are on board. > < <. This one is more rudderless. This time, Jin adopted the idea of changing the maneuverability depending on the speed and maneuvering. In situations where the aircraft changes direction repeatedly at low speeds, the maneuverability becomes more agile, and at high speeds and long distances, the maneuverability becomes slower. "Brother Jin, what happens when we have to avoid danger while flying long distances?" Elsa questioned after hearing Jin''s explanation. "I think it is possible to avoid danger, since the controls are designed to change maneuverability by moving the control stick quickly." "What if I operate it wrong?" Elsa''s question assumes that everyone makes mistakes. " "Hmm." Basically, if Hope or Reiko is piloting the ship, mishandling is unlikely, but mathematically it is not zero. Therefore, Jin and Erza want to ensure safety as much as possible. * * * * * * * * * After that, Jin landed the plane once, made adjustments again, and conducted another flight test. Another landing, another adjustment. "......Yeah, this should work." Finally, Jin was supposed to board the plane, but Erza opposed the idea, so he boarded the plane as a "doppelganger. Still, I could feel the comfort. "Hmm, more than I expected." Erza, who was also riding in the doppelganger, said that she had no complaints about it. The prototype is no longer a prototype. "It''s not a prototype anymore." After taking the machine to the workshop and servicing it, Jin was thinking of giving it a name. "Hmm, what about a name?" "At first I was thinking of ." That was fine when it had two circular wings on each side, but this plane has circular wings in front and behind as well, albeit smaller. "Four ...... crosses ......<>" The Southern Cross, or the Southern Cross. It is a well-known constellation in the southern hemisphere of the earth. It can be seen south of the Tropic of Cancer. The four stars are conspicuous, so named because they form a cross when joined together. It is a marker to locate the south pole of the sky. It is also famous among celestial enthusiasts for the presence of the Dark Nebula <> in the lower left corner. Jin has only seen it in photographs, but <>. There is also a constellation called <>, which is another name for the Cygnus constellation. Anyway, Jin decided to name his new <> <> because he liked the word. 2275 - - 61-09 Visit Avalon and On April 10, Jin and Elsa left for . Of course, they were carrying <>. However, in addition to the <>, they are also carrying the <>. < is 40 meters long and 10 meters wide, so the , which is 9 meters long and 9 meters wide can also be carried by the 9-meter long and 9-meter wide <. However, with these two aircraft on board, the cargo space was almost completely filled, leaving only enough room for Jin and Erza''s baggage plus more. We will probably have to reduce the number of aircraft to one or the other. * * * * * * * * * * * * * <, Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann, together with his secretary automata Manon, is waiting for Jin''s arrival with great anticipation. "I believe he will be arriving shortly." "Yes." Manon has a built-in manacam, which allows her to communicate with the old man, Reiko, and Jin. Through the manacam, the old man is informed of the expected time of Jin''s arrival. However, since <> does not have a corresponding manacam, Tomax Bartmann did not know about this function. Tomax Bartmann is greeting you based on the message he received from Jin the day before yesterday. The arrival time announced by Jin was quite accurate, and he was famous for never being off by more than 10 minutes. Three minutes before the scheduled time. "I see it. It''s Jin-sama''s ." "Oh ...... I still can''t see it." A minute later, Tomax Bartmann also saw the shadow of the Hurricane. Another minute later, Jin''s landed at the airport in . The time of arrival was 9:59 a.m., one minute earlier than the announced time. "Welcome, Jin-dono, Erza-dono, Reko-dono. It''s been a long time, Your Excellency." Jin and Tomax shook hands. Erza and Tomax followed. And finally, Reiko. The "I''ve finally finished it. So it''s finally finished? Yes, just about a week ago. The direct route from the airport east of Avalon to the World Guard headquarters has been completed on the first basement level as a passageway for Golem vehicles only. This makes it possible to move much faster in case of emergencies and emergencies without having to pay attention to pedestrians. In about three minutes, Jin and his team arrived at the first basement floor of the World Guard headquarters. From there, they took the golem elevator to the ground level. The third floor is the office of Tomax Bartmann and the reception room. Jin and the others were taken to a small reception room adjacent to the office. This room is said to be used when important people come to the office. Manon served tea to Jin, Elsa, and Tomax. "Well, let''s hear what you have to say first. Tomax opened his mouth after taking a sip of tea. "Well, I guess. There are several things, but first, I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help you with the development of a small aircraft that you have begun to develop here. Since the first Marikka Cup >>>> on October 10 last year, the development of small aircraft has begun to flourish in many countries, and Avalon was no exception. Avalon was no exception. And Jin was thinking that he would provide technical assistance only to <, not to any particular country at the moment, and ask them to spread the technology to other countries once again. "I am glad to hear that. Deus ex machina is helping us, but it would be a great help if you could also teach us, Jin-dono. "And then ......." Jin turned to Erza. "......I have a personal acquaintance, Najaz Khan, who is attending the medical course, I believe. Because of this, I was wondering if you could help me with the current medical course." At this point, Elsa produced the materials she had prepared. "A document on the structure of the human body," she said. Tomax Bartmann took the material and flipped through it. "Excellent!With this material, you will be able to take your knowledge to the next level, or even two. Lady Elsa, could you give us a special lecture using these materials? I will. "Oh, that would be great." Tomax Bartmann bowed his head toward Elsa. I''ve come to see a friend of mine," he said. Again Jin spoke up. "I see, they are from the <>. "That''s what I meant. I have some personal business there, so I thought we could meet at night around 7:00 p.m. I''ll let them know. I''ll let you know. I''ll let you know. After the discussion, we had lunch together. The place was the general cafeteria on the second floor of the <> building. This is a cafeteria-style restaurant, where you can choose from a variety of rice, bread, and side dishes. There is no charge. < building means that you are qualified to eat in this cafeteria. Here, both the chief administrator and the general staff eat the same food. Incidentally, there are three other cafeterias, two of which are high-class restaurants where food is prepared to order. These restaurants charge a fee. "Eating is one of life''s pleasures," said Tomax Bartmann. Tomax Bartmann had a combination of rice porridge, miso soup with tofu and chalote, plain omelet, cream croquettes, vegetable salad, and barley tea. The combination seemed to be easy to digest. Jin had rice, miso soup with fried bean curd and spinach, salted magica (salmon), crab croquette, vegetable salad and pickles. And hojicha. Elsa had rice, miso soup with fried tofu and spinach, sweet omelet, hamburger steak, vegetable salad, a quarter of a bowl of citron, and barley tea. "This is delicious. Isn''t it? The seasoning was so good that Jin had to have another bowl of rice. So did Elsa. Tomax also had another bowl of porridge and seemed to have a good stomach. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch. After lunch. "Well, I have some more work to do after this, so I''ll leave Fiona, my secretary''s apprentice, with you. But if you have any emergencies, please don''t hesitate to call me. Returning to his office on the third floor, Tomax Bartmann introduced a young woman of about twenty years old to Jin and the others. "My name is Fiona Fierce. Pleased to meet you." She was a quiet-looking woman with semi-long brown hair and brown eyes. "It''s nice to meet you too." Nice to meet you." Jin and Erza greeted back. "We have heard about you. Would you like to go to the GOR Laboratory first?Or would you like to go to the Aeronautical Institute? Immediately, Fiona Fierce tried to show Jin and the others around. As for Jin, he decided that his personal business could wait, "The Aeronautics Laboratory studies small aircraft, right?You should go there. He replied, "Yes, sir. "Yes, sir. This way please." Fionn Fierce stood up and started to walk. 2276 - - 61-10 Aeronautical Research < is located on the west side of the building, and research buildings are lined up next to it. One of them was the <> and <>. "It''s almost lunch time, so they will be in the lab at this time." Fiona Fierce said. The time was 11:30 am. The cafeteria is very popular and if you don''t get in line early, the menu you want will be sold out. "That is the factory and the laboratory is this way. The factory is a large one-story building. The aircraft laboratory was built next to it. Fiona knocked on the door and it was immediately opened from the inside. It seems that a call had been made. "We have been expecting you, Sir Jin Nido! Hello. There were about 10 students in the lab, and a mature man who looked like a lecturer. "I''m Lohr Eisker, head of the Aeronautics Laboratory. I''m Zora Himmel, deputy director of the Aeronautics Laboratory. Ciel Azure. Ena Kouki. Tiner Vito. "......" After each person introduced himself or herself, the group went straight into a round-table discussion. Jin followed the invitation to a conference table in one corner of the laboratory, where he found a drawing on the table. "This is ......." "This is the small aircraft we are working on." The manager of the office, Lois Eisker, said. "It''s an ...... interesting design." Jin had to agree. After all, what was depicted there was a biplane with circular wings. "I see, you did this to reduce the overall length and width, didn''t you? "You are indeed a master, Mr. Jin. You were able to recognize the intent at a glance. Lower Eisker is impressed. "This will improve the left-right mobility, won''t it? "Oh, yes, that''s right!" During World War I, most fighter planes were biplanes. Jin thought he had read in a book that biplanes were more maneuverable than monoplanes because of their reduced overall width ....... This is a one-sided view, and in reality, the purpose is largely to secure the wing area to obtain the necessary lift in combination with the engine output. During World War II, when engine power increased and speed improved, most aircraft were metal monoplanes, and their speed more than doubled. You can see that such a large, long, shape is difficult to rotate. Therefore, the Aerospace Research Laboratory came up with the idea of using two layers of circular wings to reduce the diameter of the wings. "A normal circular wing has a diameter of about 5 to 10 meters," said Zora Himmel, deputy director of the Aerospace Research Laboratory. Zora Himmel, deputy chief of staff, spoke up. "So the load, or the number of passengers, is affected. So, this is designed for four passengers." A four-seater would be in the class of 6 to 7 meters for a single circular wing. If it is 6 meters, the area is 3 x 3 x pi. If pi is 3.14, the area is 28.26 square meters. What would happen if two wings share this area? Divide half 14.13 by pi and find the square root of the result. The answer is approximately 2.12. The unit is the meter, which is the radius, so the diameter is doubled to 4.24 meters. Considering the loss of efficiency, the design drawings for this project show a diameter of 4.5 meters. <> has a diameter of 7 meters, so it looks quite compact. This makes it appear quite compact, although its overall height is about 30% higher. "Are you thinking of a low speed?" Jin asks as if to confirm. The air resistance increases, so it is not suitable for high speed flight. "That''s right. It is mainly intended for travel in and around the city. Specifically, within . "Then that should not be a problem." It is easier to design a vehicle if the purpose of use and the target performance are clear. We were just discussing the possibility of making a prototype and model at a quarter scale. "I see, that''s a good idea. Jin agreed. The smaller model would have different characteristics from the real one due to the effects of hydrodynamic constants such as aerodynamic drag, but it was thought that the effects would be relatively small for a one-fourth scale model. "Oh, that''s very encouraging to hear you say that!" Zora Himmel said happily. "We already have all the materials we need." "That''s exciting!" "We''re finally going to start processing!" Ciel Azure says happily, "We''re going to start processing the parts today," and Jin lets him observe. "If Jin-dono is with us, we''ll be a thousand strong. Jin is told to ......, but he is not going to touch it for the time being. First, let''s see how it goes.) If there is any danger, he and Reiko are willing to lend a hand. "We''ll start by processing the parts first." We process the prepared ingots of light silver according to the drawings. The first step is basic processing. Bars with the specified cross section and plates with the specified thickness are being produced one after another. (Yes, they are quite skilled.) Jin smiles with satisfaction as he sees that not only theory but also practice is being applied. * * * * * * The day ended with the processing of the parts. Jin and Elsa are escorted by Fionn Fiasse to the dining room for visitors. Tomax Bartmann was not present, and a quiet private room was prepared so that Jin and Elsa could eat alone at their leisure. Reiko sits in the back and Elsa in the front. It was a relaxing dinner with the whole family. The menu was in the style of the Shoro Empire, and both the quality and quantity were satisfactory. Jin and Elsa relaxing over a cup of tea after dinner. "......Jin, did you have a good time?" "Yes, we did. "Yes, I did. I got to see the people who will make the future. Erza giggles when she hears that line. "You look like an old person." "...... I guess so." Jin scratched his head. Then he said something else. "I still have a lot of work to do, don''t I? Hearing this, Elsa said, "Well, the road is still halfway there. Let''s ...... do our best, shall we?" "Yes, I guess so." Jin answered with a smile. 2277 - - 61-11 And Reunion "By the way, how are you going to unveil the ?" Erza suddenly spoke up and said what was on her mind. "Well, I don''t know, I lost the timing to tell you. Jin said, "When I saw how hard they were trying to realize their idea, I didn''t want to show it off. "I ...... understand a little bit." Then, Jin said to Erza, "I know a little bit about it. "To be honest, I''m a little bit envious when I see engineers walking step by step like that. "What do you mean?" "......When you''re learning something, the most fun is when you know you''re getting better." Jin said, "It''s the most fulfilling and fun when you realize that the more you practice, the more you improve. "I think I understand." Elsa gave a small nod. "But there are things you can do only because you are skilled. There are many things that can only be done at Jin''s current level, or rather, only by him, Erza said. "That''s right." Jin felt his shoulders relax at Elsa''s words. "Thank you, Elsa." "You''re welcome." Jin smiled a relaxed smile. The time was 7:00 p.m. "Well, I guess I''d better go to the then." This is the laboratory to which Kachea, Eira, and Gromma Trey, whom he met on the Pandor continent, belong. "Well, have a good day." Elsa said she would stay in the guest room. "I''m giving a lecture tomorrow." Right. She''s been asked to give a special lecture on medicine. Jin left the guest room accompanied by Reiko. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * < "Welcome, Jin! "Mr. Jin, it''s been a long time. "Welcome, Mr. Jin! Eira, KaChea, and Groma greeted me. "Hey, where are the other members?" Jin asked as he was ushered into the laboratory, which was deserted. "Everyone has already left for the day. Fifi told us that Jin was coming, so we waited for him here after dinner. Eira''s words made Jin feel a little sorry. "I see. I''m sorry I came all this way. "Don''t worry about it. We''re friends, aren''t we?Hey, Cacha, Groma... Yes. Don''t worry about it. "If I can meet and talk with Jin-dono, it''s nothing. All three of them laughed and told me not to worry about it. "I see. Then I guess I should say instead of sorry." Jin laughed back. There was a solid friendship there. "So, how are things these days?" When Jin asked a vague question, Katya was the first to answer. "I went back to my hometown for the New Year''s holidays. "Oh, is that so?" "Yes. My mother, aunt, and Helga are all fine. Katya told us about her mother Tanya, her aunt Sonya, and her friend Helga. "So, there are already regular flights to the continent of Pandor?" "Yes. The number of flights was increased during the year-end and New Year holidays. This kind of response is unique to Avalon. Didn''t Eira return? "Yes. I wasn''t born in the Principality of Mercana. Oh, I see... Jin only knew that he was an engineer invited from one of the four duchies on the Laurentian continent ......, Norway, Mimaka, Jagus, or Dalat. Eira also did not tell him. And Jin did not think of forcing him to ask about it, assuming that there must be some reason. "Not recently, but Berlich Becker went back to the Shoro Kingdom, so I think he would be envious if he knew that Jin-dono came here, don''t you think?" "Well, I don''t know.Well, Groma, you should speak more easily." "...... got it." Gloma Tolley did as Jin asked and changed to a more casual way of speaking. "Berlich can''t afford to leave his workshop so much free time, can he?" At that moment, Jin noticed that Katya was blushing a little and decided to ask her later if she had made any progress. Now it''s more about technology than about talking. "We are now planning to mass-produce this kind of thing in the Shoro Kingdom at ......." Jin showed Reiko the rough sketches of the > he had brought with him. "Wow ...... this is interesting, Jin!" Eira was the first to show interest. "This ...... is quite cost-effective, isn''t it?Is the goal to spread the word?" Cachia said. And Gloma Trey said, "I see, the purpose is to prevent military diversion, to reduce the cost, and to promote the use of the technology. He looked at the rough sketches with a keen interest. Then he slowly opened his mouth. "Do you think the three legs are for stabilization?" "That''s what I meant." "How about a third leg like a tail, so that when it walks to move, it walks on two legs, and when it wields its power, it uses its tail like a leg? "Oh, I see." "Then, the sole area should be a little larger, shouldn''t it?You weigh a lot, don''t you?" Eira also gave his opinion. "Yes, about 600 kilograms. ...... I see...foot sole area.... That''s a good idea. Other opinions came up. "If it''s for construction, it should have a light, right?" "Yeah, sure." Hitoshi nodded in agreement with Groma''s opinion. Certainly, it is not as if there is no nighttime work, and the addition of lights would not increase the cost too much. "And what about a safety belt to prevent the operator from falling off?" "That might be a good idea." Eira''s words reminded Jin that even modern Japanese passenger cars had seat belts. "Oh, and not a direct improvement idea, but do the workers wear helmets?" Katya pointed out something that Jin had forgotten. "Some of them wear helmets, and some of them don''t." Jin felt that it was necessary for all workers to wear helmets. "I think that some people may not like to wear helmets if they are not used to them. So I think it would be good to make the helmets themselves magic tools and make people think <>." Ka-cea gave me a good opinion, and I was grateful for it. It had been a long time since the three of them had met, but they offered their opinions from different perspectives from <>, and Jin was happy to hear their valuable opinions. 2278 - - 61-12 Distinctive Actions The conversation between Jin and Eira, Cachea, Groma and the others continued, and it was almost 10:00 p.m. "I think it''s time to call it a night," said Jin. "Let''s call it a night," Jin said. Jin said, "Let''s call it a night, "Well, I guess so. We still have a lot to talk about. ...... Eira also seemed to be regretting her last words. At that moment, Jin remembered something. "Oh, by the way, Katya..." "Yes, what is it?" "What happened with Berrich Becker?" What about Cacha and Berrich Becker? "Yes, yes, yes! "Oh, you''re not done yet. ......" His reaction alone was enough for Jin to guess. "That''s right, Jin. That guy, Katya, he''s been seeing Berlich a lot during his personal time, but he hasn''t made any progress at all." "E, Eira, ......" What? You''re telling the truth. "Oh, that''s because Mr. Berlich asked me for my management know-how. ......" "Oh, you were saying that in order to improve the business situation of Berlich''s workshop, we should reduce unnecessary expenses, right?" "Yes, that''s right. Mr. Groma is right!" "I''m not sure why you''re so upset." "Jin Saan ......" I''m sorry. From the way he looked at her, Jin thought that Katya''s feelings seemed to be genuine. (I''ll ask her about it next time I visit the Berlich workshop.) (I''ll ask him about it next time I visit the Berlich workshop.) Last time I couldn''t talk about it because I was with the Minister of Magical Technology, Mr. LeGray. We are done for the night for now. I''ll be back tomorrow night. "I''ll be waiting for you." Hitoshi and Reiko left the . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next day, the 11th. "Good morning. Jin-sama and Erza-sama, I hope you had a good night''s sleep. Just as Jin and the others were getting ready, Fiona Fierce came knocking at the door. "Good morning. Thanks to you, I slept well. "Me too." I''m glad to hear that. Well, let''s go and have breakfast. Fiona Fierce went to the cafeteria ahead of Jin and the others. This was the same cafeteria where she had eaten lunch yesterday. The cafeteria had a breakfast menu. Jin had rice, turnip miso soup, simmered soybean, steamed egg custard, oshinko, and hojicha. Elsa had rice, miso soup with radish and taro, boiled tofu, sweet omelet, pickles and brown rice tea. Fiona Fierce had honey toast, plain omelet, vegetable salad, and mixed fruit juice. Jin glanced around the restaurant, which was about half Japanese style and half Western style. "In a place like this, I tend to get a lot of this and that," said Jin to himself. Jin said to himself, Fiona Fierce answered, "Hmmm, that''s right. Fiona Fierce answered. And then, "Good morning, Fifi-san! A voice said, "Good morning, Mr. Fifi. It was a woman in her early twenties who seemed to be an office staff. Two others followed her, "Good morning, Mr. Fifi. "Good morning, Mr. Fifi." "Good morning, Mr. Fifi. Fiona said, "Oh, good morning! Fiona Fierce''s face was a little red. "Fifi-san?" Elsa shouts out. "I guess you are Fifi-san because you are Fionn Fias." Jin said, "Yes, that''s right, but it''s a little embarrassing, so if you could please stop as much as possible, ......". This was an unexpected response. It was an unusual reaction for Fiona, who has a calm atmosphere, (Oh, that''s why her friends and acquaintances call her Mr. Fifi. ......) (Oh, that''s why her friends and acquaintances call her Ms. Fifi, right? * * * * After breakfast. "Today, Miss Elsa, you will give a special lecture of the medical course. "Yes. What about you, Jin-sama? Jin had no particular plans. "Erza''s lecture is at noon, isn''t it? Yes. In that case, we will continue with yesterday''s lecture at the Aviation Research Institute in the morning, and have lunch here at 12:00 noon. And I would like to listen to Elsa''s lecture in the afternoon. Okay. I will arrange it that way. So this morning, Elsa will be working with Fiona Fierce to prepare materials for her lecture. Do you need any help? "No, I''m fine. No, I''m fine. I''m mostly printing. We have about ten copies of the original materials with us, and the main work is to make several hundred copies of them, Elsa said. "We have some magic tools in as well," Fiona Fiasse said. Fiona Fierce said, so Jin decided to ask her to take care of Elsa. "Then we''ll have to split up for the time being. "Well, I''ll see you later." Jin and Reiko then headed for the Aviation Research Institute. "Jin-sama, welcome! We''ve been expecting you! Jin is welcomed, and the component processing begins. Another day at the <> begins. 2279 - - 61-13 Operation method At the Aerospace Research Laboratory, the team was in the process of machining the parts that were made yesterday. Since the size of the parts is one-fourth, the work seems to be easy, and it is expected to be completed within the day. "When you make the actual machine, do you prepare the dock?" Jin asked, just to be sure. "Yes, that''s the plan. I''m planning to do that," came back the answer. "The frames of the large ones will be distorted if we are not careful when we assemble them," he said. "I will be careful." Therefore, Jin assembles the large spacecraft on the moon, where the gravity is lower. Two circular wings, each 1.1 meters in diameter, are built, secured at the top and bottom by structural materials, and a is placed at the bottom of the wings. At this point, Jin suddenly noticed something. "It''s fine to build it in one-quarter scale, but how are you going to control it?" "Ah." This question came as a bolt from the blue to the members of the Aeronautics Laboratory. "............" "......You haven''t thought about it, by any chance?" "...... yes" < On Horai Island, there is a who is 40 centimeters tall for one-fourth of the island, and a who is 10 centimeters tall for one-sixteenth. If it is 1/16, there is a > of 10cm in height, and if it is 1/64, there is a > of 25mm in height. Smith)>> who is 25 millimeters tall. And below that, there are even >, who are 1/320th of a millimeter and 5 millimeters tall, and are in charge of microscopic processing. They are capable of not only processing but also experiments and tests without regret. However, I have just noticed that there are no such small assistant golems here in . "What should we do? ......" The members of the <> stop assembling and discuss. "......" Jin gives some advice. "There is a possibility of remote control. The others respond to this. "Remote control, you mean ......? "I don''t know how to do that. ......" Jin thought to himself, "Oh no. Jin had already organized one-meter class model airplane competitions, so he thought it was a common technology, but it was not. The communication technology was still in its infancy, and remote control with multiple channels was a dream come true. "Now we just need to make a small golem," he said. "That''s more likely. ......" The members of the Aeronautics Laboratory agreed that a golem one-fourth the size, or about 40 centimeters tall, could be made. "In that case, should we ask for help from the <>?" "Yes. Zora Himmel, the vice-chairman of the Aeronautics Research Center, went to the Gor Laboratory to ask them to produce a new model. I''ll go with you. <," and decided to go with Zora Himmel to make the request. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <, Rasnat Heilbronn, the head of the office, answered my request. "Ha-ha-ha, a quarter-sized assistant golem? "It looks very interesting," said Heilbronn. "Besides, it could be used in a variety of ways." "...... So, what''s the deadline?" "Preferably by the end of the day,...... or tomorrow morning, if possible." These words were met with a gasp of dismay from everyone in the . "What?That''s ...... in any case." "Can''t you do it?" Rasnert was at a loss for a reply when the petite Zora looked up at him and asked, "No, I''ll consider it. "No, I''ll have to consider it. ......" Jin wondered if this was why Zola was here. So Jin decided to offer some advice. "You can make a small golem with no problem if you can make a normal golem. "Jin-san, are you sure? Cachair spoke up. "You''re talking about Jin, aren''t you, based on yourself?" Eira is quite harsh. But it may be a reasonable comment. I don''t think so. I think ....... It''s just a question of whether we can make it small enough. Jin emphasized that the difficulty level would increase if we tried to make it any smaller, but the difficulty level would decrease if we tried to make it one-half to one-fourth the size. "Yes, yes, I understand. Eira smiles bitterly. < looked at Eira a little enviously as she talked so easily with Jin. "Well then, I''ll join you for the rest of the morning. Jin said, and the members of <> said, "Yes!Really? they exclaimed with joy. "Well then, Mr. Rasnath, Mr. Jin, please take care of them. Please make sure that the bill is addressed to the Aeronautical Institute of Japan. "Yes, sir." Ka-CHEER replied. She is in charge of the accounting of this . If it were Jin, he would have been able to start making them right away, but this was not yet the case at the <>. We had to start by preparing a <> of a normal golem and deciding on the material and size of each component based on that template. Still, Jin assured me that the <> would be the same as the normal one, so I don''t have to worry about that, which saves me a lot of trouble. "Is bronze the right material, Mr. Jin? "Well, since the purpose over there is for test pilots, it would be better to use light silver. "Is it okay to use normal magical muscles? "Yes. "I think it would be better to use for the structure. "Of course. We are test pilots. After a series of such exchanges, a template for a small golem was created. Then, the parts are processed using light silver. That was the end of the morning session. I''m going to listen to a special lecture on medical care in the afternoon. Jin said, "I''m going to listen to a special lecture on medical care in the afternoon. Most of the members looked disappointed, I''ll come see you after that," he added. He added, "I''ll come by after that. 2280 - - 61-14 Lecture begins After having lunch with Eira, Cachia, and Groma, Jin went to the anteroom to ask Erza about her condition. "The waiting room is behind or next to the auditorium, right?" "Yes, father." Jin guessed that this was the same place where he had lectured with Rubina and Freddy in before. And he was right, Erza was in the waiting room, with a mountain of materials, a <>, and a <> on the table. <> was a magical tool created by Jin in the past, which could project image data stored in the onto the . It can be used like an OHP. "Erza, are you ready?" "Ah, Brother Jin. ......Yes, I''m ready to go." Erza smiled and nodded. "When did you prepare the image data?" "Oh, this?" < "I didn''t prepare them, I pulled them out of the archives." "Oh, so there used to be lectures." Jin nodded in agreement, "Not exactly. Elsa denied it. She then confirmed that it was just Jin, Elsa, and Reiko in the waiting room, She told me in a whisper, "It was made by me about 300 years ago.) He told me in a whisper, "I made it about 300 years ago. "I didn''t know that." She had used it several times during Erza''s lifetime, but then the had come to power and it had never seen the light of day again. "So for the first time in 300 years, I''m going to use it." "I see. It''s easier to use materials you''ve made yourself. huh? By the way, where''s Fifi? Yeah, she''s at ....... According to Elsa, Fiona Fiasse, who was not in the waiting room, was preparing for her lecture. "Fifteen minutes to go." Elsa looked at her watch and muttered. "Are you nervous?" Erza shook her head. "I don''t have a problem with lecturing, but I''m a little scared to see how far people have come. It''s a little scary to realize that all the hard work you did in your previous life has gone down the drain," Elsa said. "I understand that feeling. I also felt empty when I realized that more than half of what I had accumulated over the past 400 years had been destroyed. Jin nodded. "But Reiko was there for me. The old man was there for me. You have shown me the bonds that keep me in this world. And ...... Elsa and the others were there for me." "...... "So, whatever the current healing ...... or medical condition, let''s build it up again. Elsa can do it. We''re with you. "Well, thank you, Brother Jin." After nodding her head, Erza looked radiant. Then Fiona Fierce arrived. "Ah, Jin-sama, you have come. ......Mr. Erza, it is almost time for you to leave. I will take care of the handouts. Thank you. Fiona Fierce took out the first half of the materials, which looked like about 2,000 copies. After about two minutes, she came back and took out the other half. Two minutes later, I will be your host in about five minutes. I will be the moderator for this session. He said, "I''m going to call your name, "I will call your name, and then please come up to the stage through this aisle. Then he left the waiting room. He left the waiting room. Five minutes passed. "Now for today''s . Please welcome our special lecturer, Ms. Elsa Nido. The announcement echoed through the auditorium, and Elsa stood up. "Elsa, be sure you''re okay. I''ll be in the waiting room listening. "Yes." Elsa then left the waiting room, leaving Hitoshi and Reiko behind. "Well, let''s see what''s going on." In the waiting room, there is a large < to monitor the lecture. * * * * * * * * * * * * "I am Elsa Nido, and I would like to introduce myself to you. I am Elsa Nido. ...... I use this name in order to be as close as possible to the great people of the past. There was a round of applause. After the applause died down, Elsa activated the Magi Projector. "Today''s lecture is on . We can''t talk about all of it in three hours. Please understand." Then the lecture begins. We will start with the skeleton. This will also be helpful when you make an ." Perhaps this is why about 20% of the participants appeared to be magicians (magecraftsmen) as well as medical professionals. "Take a look at this." The large behind the podium brightened and a human skeleton was projected on the screen. "The bones of the head are called the skull, the skull of the head, the skull of the head, the skull of the head, etc., but anatomically they are called the skull of the head. This is a paraphrase from a book brought to us by Shuki Tsetsi. "These look like one, but they are made up of 28 bones ......." "It is rare that a jawbone is dislodged, but if this happens, you can pull it forward and then push it upward. ...... The explanation goes on smoothly. "The vertebrae or vertebrae are commonly called the spine. In the center is a hole through which the nerves pass." A cross-sectional view of the vertebrae was displayed. From the top are the cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, and sacral vertebrae. So that''s the neck bone, the chest bone, the hip bone, the tailbone, and so on." Elsa then seemed to decide to explain them in order from the top. The first one is the cervical vertebrae, the bones of the neck, which consists of seven bones connected by cartilage. All <> have seven bones. The pig, mountain deer, and wood bear all have seven. Elsa explained that a long or short neck does not mean that there are many bones, but that each bone is longer than the last. (Come to think of it, I remember hearing that both giraffes and pigs have seven cervical vertebrae. The audience listened quietly, looking at the materials on hand and the large magic screen on the stage. "When you look at it from the side, it is curved into an S-shape. This absorbs the impact from below, i.e., from under the feet, and protects the skull and the brain inside it. Elsa''s lecture proceeds smoothly. The audience listened attentively, not one person getting up from his or her seat. 2281 - - 61-15 Questions and comprehension 4:30 p.m. Elsa''s lecture ended 30 minutes over the scheduled time. "Thank you very much for your attention. The auditorium shook with applause as Elsa gave her closing remarks. A question and answer session followed. This concludes today''s lecture. The Q&A session will continue, but since the scheduled time has been delayed, it will last for 30 minutes until 5:00 p.m." There was some booing, but the majority of the audience seemed to agree. "Now, we don''t have much time, so if anyone has any questions, please come in. A dozen hands were raised and Fiona Fias nominated people by their seat numbers. "Seat 1204, please." "Yes. <. I am from the "...... Answer. As I explained in the lecture, it could be internal factors such as pathogens or external factors such as trauma, but other than that, it could be the presence or absence of bleeding, necrosis of the tissue, and the state of the cells. "Thank you very much. ...... Could you please explain the last one, the cellular condition?" "Tissues are composed of cells. If the cells are not vigorous, there is a high possibility that they will eventually die if they are not revitalized. Therefore, medical treatment is necessary. Thank you very much. Now, if anyone has any other questions... You are at ......53." Yes. <. You mentioned that you do on fractures, but I think that the inside of the body is invisible and requires a lot of skill. Is there any way to visually check it?" "...... Answer. There is a theory that such a thing is possible by using a special <>, but it has not been put to practical use. We are waiting for its practical application. "Thank you very much." After 30 minutes of Q&A, the special lecture ended at 5:00 p.m. * * * * * * * * * * "Elsa, thank you very much. Thank you very much, Miss Elsa. Jin and Fiona Fierce thanked Erza as she returned to the waiting room. "Well, that was okay. Erza was relieved that they knew more than she had expected and that they understood what she had said. "At this rate, we can expect more tomorrow. "Tomorrow?" Jin asked. "Well, I got a good response, so I''ve decided to give you another lecture tomorrow with the same schedule as today. "Oh, I see." "I''m sorry it took me so long to tell you." "No, that''s okay." Jin himself thought it wasn''t enough to end it today. "I haven''t unveiled <> yet either. Jin excused himself, saying that it was not that he had forgotten about it, but that he had not been able to start discussing the new model of the <> because it was so interesting. Hearing this, Elsa gave a chuckle, "I''m glad you''re interested in ......," she said quietly. She said quietly. "Erza-sama, you said that we don''t need to prepare any documents, is that all right?" Fiona Fierce, seeing that the conversation between Jin and Elsa had come to an end, asked a question. "Hmm, it doesn''t matter. < There was no problem, since the contents were made by Erza herself, rather than by the Erza of her previous life ....... "And now, about your question about ..." "Yes. "He was at the lecture today. He was in the back of the room, listening to the lecture from beginning to end. "Yes." Fiona Fierce''s report continued. This time she was looking at her notes. "She is a hard worker. She had been a mid-course transfer and had struggled at first, but now she was doing well enough to be in the top half of the class. "Elsa, are you sure you don''t want to see her?" Jin asked, and Elsa nodded her head. "Not yet, not this time. I want you to keep working hard as you are now. "I see. If it''s okay with you, it''s okay with me. Jin smiled and nodded. "......So, it''s almost 5:30. I''m going to go to the for a little while. "Yes," he said. "Well then, dinner at 6:00 p.m.?" Fiona Fias asked Jin. "Well, I''d like to have it ......6 at half past six." Give me a little time," Jin said. "Okay," said Fiona. Okay, 6:30 p.m. at yesterday''s place. Fiona Fiasse said, "You can use the dining room for the guests so that you can spend a leisurely dinner. Thank you. I''m going to ...... for a while. Jin left the waiting room and headed for the <>. * * * * "......How are you doing?" When Jin came out, most of the members of the <> had a miserable look on their faces. "Oh, Jin-san. ...... actually ......." One person who does not have a pitiful face, Katya, explains to me. "I see, the joint processing and muscle placement doesn''t work well." The process of making a golem or an automata can be summarized as follows Making a skeleton Make the control system Drawing magic nerve wires from the control system Attach magical muscles while connecting the magical nerve wires Attach sensors for eyes, ears, etc. Create and attach a control core Attach a power source (such as an ether converter or a magical reactor) The process is as follows. If the doll is an automata, it is further covered with a magical skin. Of these processes, the process of making the skeleton is the first step that does not go well. Tell me what''s wrong with it. Jin listened to what the members of the had to say. 2282 - - 61-16 Transformation of ideas 1. we were able to make a small skeleton, but the joints were not satisfactory. The movement is not good, and there is a lot of rattling. If you want to do precision work, it will not work if there is any rattling here. The output of the magical muscles is not balanced. This is the reason why the movement is not smooth. These were the two points. "I see." Jin nodded. "First of all, the joints are probably not precise enough. < have the disadvantage that they are not simple spherical joints and are difficult to reshape. Usually, this becomes less of a disadvantage with skill, but in the case of the <, it seems that they were not yet at that stage. The error in processing by < is constant regardless of the size of the workpiece. Therefore, errors that were not a problem when machining large workpieces can no longer be ignored when machining small workpieces. Incidentally, while Jin is able to track down errors to the nearest tenth of a micron, ordinary engineers can only do so to the nearest millimeter, or at best, to the nearest 0.1 millimeter. One millimeter to a meter is negligible, but one millimeter to 10 millimeters is too large an error. "And the output of a muscle is proportional to its cross-sectional area. So if the size is reduced by a factor of 4, the weight is reduced by a factor of 64 and the power output is reduced by a factor of 16. We just need to balance this. We just need to achieve this balance. "I see. ......" Jin''s explanation seemed to make some sense to everyone. "If it''s too difficult, I think it''s okay to use spherical joints instead of < only for the joints. Jin said, "Because the purpose of the aircraft is to be used for in the first place. "If those are the prerequisites, <> should be fine." Jin also said that since the machine is designed to be piloted by humans, the reaction speed does not need to be very fast. "It is also necessary to design a machine that is suitable for its intended use. Rasnath Heilbronn, the head of the <>, seemed to realize what he had just said. "No, Mr. Jin, you are right. This small golem was commissioned by the Aeronautics Research Institute. We had to consider it separately from the subject of our research, didn''t we? Rasnat scratched his head, "It was a mistake not to put as much emphasis on orders as we did in the general workshop, since we are a laboratory. "We will continue our research on making small golems, but we must complete the requested golem for the on time." Rasnath Heilbronn notifies the members of the . "I''m sure you''ve all heard about my talk with Mister Jin. Let''s use our form drives and get this done in time! Yes, sir! "Yes, sir!" "Yes, sir!" So began the production of a small golem using <>. (<> is suitable for a small golem. ...... It''s an unexpected discovery. Reiko tugged on Jin''s sleeve while he was thinking about this. "Father, it''s time ...... to go." "Oh, I see." It was almost dinner time. Dinner was about to be served, so Hitoshi said, "I''ll come back tomorrow. He said no, and left the room. As he was leaving, Eira said "Thanks for the advice, Jin. Look forward to seeing you tomorrow! She said cheerfully, Jin replied, "Yeah, good luck. Jin replied, "Yeah, good luck. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...... and that''s why..." "Oh, that''s right." After dinner in a private room, Jin told Erza about his time at the . "It''s true that the <> is suitable for small golems. Erza agreed with Jin''s opinion. "I think it has a good balance of weight and power. It doesn''t have any rattles. Jin also thinks about the reason over a cup of tea. "Maybe, yes. < is its slow speed, but I think the cause is inertia. "Indeed. That''s why it would be beneficial to use it on a golem with a small mass, in other words, a small size." Jin thought that perhaps the smaller the golem is, the more advantageous the <> would be. "It''s a real game changer," he said. "And it''s not too hard on the joints." "No need to make a separate exterior. And there''s no need to build a separate exterior. The more I think about it, the more I realize that it is suitable for a small golem. "Well, I guess we can count on that tomorrow." "Yes." Jin and Erza nodded at each other. "So, are we ready for tomorrow''s lecture?" "Yes, I have already decided on the content. Elsa said that today''s lecture would be an overview of the structure of the human body, and tomorrow''s lecture would focus on internal organs. "I might go to in the morning and in the afternoon. I''m sorry if I can''t come to your lecture. "Nah, I''ll be fine." Elsa smiled and said to Jin. "My brother Jin and I are here to show the way to those who will come after us. * * * * That night, the two of them spend the night relaxing. Although a hot spring is not available on this man-made island, the bathtub in the guest room is large enough for one person to stretch out their arms and legs and soak in the hot water. Since Elsa had taken the bath first the day before, Jin used the bathtub first on this day. Reiko did not enter the bathtub because it was for one person, and she and the old man were discussing something on the built-in manacam. Jin noticed this after he left the bath, "Reiko, you were talking with the old man about something. Reiko said. "No, father. I know it''s a bit much, but we were discussing whether it would be better to collect data on the effectiveness of the form drive I mentioned earlier for small golems. "I see, that may be true. Thank you, Reiko. The earlier we start such data collection, the more data we can collect. Reiko and Lao-kun thought that Jin would want to try to make his own products as soon as he returned to Horai Island, so they decided to make preparations for that. Jin was pleased and proud of their initiative. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, that''s a good idea! "Oh, I didn''t know there was such a way. And at the , small golems using were being made at a rate that would keep them up all night. ....... 2283 - - 61-17 Commissioning of Small Golem The day after tomorrow was April 12. "Okay, I''m off." "Okay, see you later." Jin rushed off to the Goken without even having breakfast. "Reiko, can you get me what I want?" "Yes, Father." Reiko is going separately at Jin''s request. When Jin arrives at the lab... "...... Good morning." Jin-dono, good morning. ...... "...... mnya" Half of the members were lying on the floor, and those who were awake had dark circles under their eyes. "Oh, you stayed up all night after all." Jin was concerned about this, because he knew how they felt. "Once I started, I couldn''t stop. ...... Eira is surprisingly energetic. Like Jin, she is often completely devoted to her work. "But I''m satisfied with what I''ve done," he says. Gloma Tolley also looked refreshed despite her all-nighter. By the way, Katya was the one who fell asleep. Then Reiko came in. "Father, I brought you something. It is Persica juice. <. As a side note, the old man replenishes the missing bottles right away using the transporter. "Oh, thank you. ...... Eira, Groma, try these." He hands them to the two people who know them well first. "Yes. ...... "Yes. ...... Jin handed the Persica juice to the two who looked a little sleepy, perhaps because they were relaxed by the completion of the project. They were hungry and immediately drank it down in one gulp. "......Yeah, this is delicious." "Really. ...... I feel like I have more energy now." At this point Jin handed out Persica juice to the other members of the group. "Oh, it''s delicious! "It really cheers me up." "This will keep me going a little longer." Jin handed the rest of the juice to Rasnat Heilbronn, who looked a little refreshed. "Thank you." Rasnat put it in the refrigerator in the laboratory. Then he said, "Well, Mister Jin, look at the completed miniature golem! he announced with a loud voice. "Wow, it''s a novel body design. < was made of , with the head, forearms, chest, waist, and shins protected by a thin layer of light silver. Conversely, the neck, upper arms, abdomen, and thighs were bare of <>. "Since they are one-quarter the size of the original, they are still strong enough." Rasnat Heilbronn, a representative of the developers, explains. "We have also added a simple skeleton inside to increase the overall strength." Heilbronn explained, "We added a simple skeleton inside to increase the overall strength, since it is not likely to be able to withstand 20 G''s using only Magi-Resin. "I see, I think that''s a good idea. That''s great!" Jin also praised the idea, saying that it would be effective. "Thank you very much. It is reassuring to hear you say so, Mr. Jin. Have you done a test run? "Yes. Yes, many times during development. < Rasnert says that it was more difficult to implant the conversational function and basic knowledge. < was not available. "But the conversational function and the basic knowledge are the same as <, right?" "That''s true, but the <> is different, so ......" Rasnert says that this is because the use of the <> is different between the endoskeleton <> and the <>. But Hitoshi says, "You are mistaken. Aside from the movement-related functions, conversation and basic knowledge should be independent of the golem format." These are standardized as basic routines, so there is no need to create them from scratch. "But < is, so to speak, the entire body ......ah!" Rasnat seems to have realized himself when he was about to say. "So you want to embed a for vocalization? "That''s what I mean. It should be very small, so the cost increase will be negligible. I''ll do it next time. Let''s do a test run, Mr. Manager. One of the members, invigorated after drinking Persica juice, called out to me. "Oh, yes. ...... Jin-dono, may I?" "Of course. Let''s take a look. And so the trial run of the one-quarter size Golem began. "<>" The order was given by Rasnat Heilbronn, head of the laboratory. "Prototype 4 is now ready for testing. Check pattern A. "I understand." Jin listened to Prototype 4''s speech and was impressed that it was not too high-pitched for its size. In Jin''s case, he often uses the , so his voice becomes higher pitched as the size of the prototype becomes smaller. <, and has the characteristic of sounding natural. On the other hand, golems other than Jin, on the other hand, use the <, or perhaps I should say the which is magically engineered to vibrate, to produce their voices. Incidentally, Anne, an discovered in the ruins a long time ago, was originally voiced by , but it was updated to after Jin''s redevelopment. A quick aside (aside from that). Prototype #4 performed a variety of movements in accordance with Rasnat Heilbronn''s instructions. "It''s nice to have a pattern of movements for checking." Jin was impressed with the ease of comparison with other models. Furthermore, check pattern A is a bit like radio calisthenics, Jin thought. "Reiko, how is your performance as a model airplane pilot?" Reiko''s dynamic visual acuity far surpasses that of humans. In other words, her quick motion analysis is more accurate than Jin''s. "Yes, father. I think it''s good enough. Yes, it is. Jin, too, had judged that he could trust him to control the aircraft as far as he could see with his own eyes. "Mr. Rasnath, this is good enough for you," Jin said. When Jin said this, Rasnath and the other members of the broke into a smile. 2284 - - 61-18 Rivalry Rasnat Heilbronn, Jin, Reiko, and the treasurer, Katya, take the small golem to the Aviation Research Institute. Everyone who was awake wanted to go, but Rasnat told them that it would be a nuisance to the other side. We walked leisurely in the morning light to the Aeronautical Laboratory. "Oh, here you are at last!" The Aeronautical Institute was now waiting for us. "I see, so this is a small golem! "It''s kind of cute!" "At this size, it could be useful in various ways. Various reactions came back to me. "So, the plane he''s piloting is ...... that one?" There was a biplane with a circular wing outside the workshop. "That''s right. It''s a model of our newest blow float plane! Aeronautics Laboratory Director Lois Eisker said proudly. "Okay, okay. ...... this little golem is going to pilot that thing, right?It''s not going to ...... fall down, is it?" "What?You''re not going to make a mistake and crash it, are you? "What? You''re going to make a mistake in flying and crash the plane? "That''s what I''m saying. That''s our argument. You made a mistake, so don''t tell me it''s the plane''s fault, okay? What? "What?" "......" Jin is taken aback when the two chiefs start to argue with each other. Then, in a low voice, he said to Zora Himmel, the deputy who was standing beside him, "...... is that okay?" and was surprised by the answer. She replied, "Yes, it''s fine. It''s normal." "What?" According to Zola, Rasnat Heilbronn and Rohr-Eisker were classmates, friends as well as rivals. So whenever something happens, they butt heads. So I was the one who went to them when they asked me to do it. "I see. Jin smiled as he watched the argument between the two, "I''m sure, if you had been like this at the time of the request, the conversation would not have progressed. "Sir, we''re running out of time!And you too, Mr. Roa! The small Zora Himmel called out in a strong tone, and the two stopped arguing. "Uh-huh." "Oh, oh." Zora Himmel let out a small sigh of relief when they could finally move on. "Okay, first, let''s start it up. ......<>" Next, he checked the system''s operation. "Prototype 4, run the operation check pattern. "I got it." Prototype 4 performs a movement like radio calisthenics. "Oh, this is good." < "How is it? "Yeah, it''s okay." "Well, you''re not being honest." "What?" Just as they were about to start arguing again, Zora Himmel immediately said, "Sir, can I issue a receipt for this?" "Yes, sir, I can issue a receipt for this. "Uh-huh." "Yes. ......Katya, please take care of it. "Already done." Chair, who had accompanied him, took out the receipt. "Sir, I need your signature." "...... got it." Loa Aesker signed it quickly and easily, "That''s good. ...... and transfer ownership to me." I said to Rasnat Heilbronn. "Mm. ......<>1st,Roar Eisker.2nd,Zora Himmel.3rd and below.... ..." The members of the <> were chosen for the third place and below. "This should do it. ...... here''s the delivery note." "Mm-hmm. Thank you." The receipt and the delivery note are exchanged, and the delivery of the small golem is completed. "I better give it a name. isn''t very easy to call it. ......Yes, you''re from now on." "Yes, I am Pilote." The head of the office, Roar Eisker, named the prototype four. "Hmmm, sounds like something from the Kingdom of Elias. , I see. ...... then I''m going back. Will you give me a shout when you''re ready to fly?" "Sure. Of course. Look forward to it. And Rasnat Heilbronn and Katya left. "Now, Pilote, learn how to fly this blower-floater." "Hi, Loasama." Naturally, Pilots learns well, and after an hour or so of lectures, he seems to have mastered the controls completely. In the first place, many of the methods were new to them, and there were no skilled pilots anywhere. "Well, let''s try flying it." "Ah, Mr. Director. < "Yes, I think so. ...... Zola, will you go get them? Yes, sir. Zora Himmel, the deputy director, ran out. By this time, those who had fallen asleep were all awake and had regained their vitality thanks to Persica juice. "I''m going to make a final check until the <> guys arrive. Jin-dono, could you watch over them? "Yes, sir." It would be reassuring to have Jin watching over them even if he did not touch them directly. Lower Eisker checked every detail of the one-quarter scale model. From Jin''s point of view, there were no problems, "Don''t you have a name for the plane?" I asked him. "A name?I''d like to give it a name if this test flight is successful. Lois Eisker looked around at the faces of the group. "Is that okay?" Everyone seemed to have no objections. Then Zora Himmel and a few members of the arrived. Rasnat Heilbronn, Eira, Gromma, and Katya were also there. "It looks like we are all here. We will now begin the test flight. The location is the plaza behind the Academy. The wind was near zero and it was a perfect day for a test flight. 2285 - - 61-19 Test Flights < "Okay, start it up!Start the test!" Lower Eisker''s voice rang out, and the model''s blow engine began to move. A high-pitched intake sound is heard, and the model slowly floats up. Soon the altitude was about 10 meters above sea level. "Okay, first step, we have successfully lifted off! Roar Eisker''s voice was happy. "<>, move forward slowly. Just before the other end of the square, make a U-turn and come back. Go slow." Following these instructions, the model starts to move forward slowly. The speed is about four kilometers per hour, which is about the speed of a person walking. The plaza behind the Academy is about 100 meters square, and it takes about a minute and a half to reach the other side. The model makes a 180-degree turn rather than a U-turn and slowly returns to the other side. The model slowly returned to the other side. "Yeah, yeah, it looks like it''s flying great." Rasnath Heilbronn, who was watching the scene, said to himself. "That is very stable. ...... Gloma Trey, a student of Rhodes who had seen his blow floaters several times, muttered in admiration. "Hmmm, a flying vehicle sounds interesting too." Eira seemed to be interested in aircraft. "Is this a model?" "I''d like to see a real one." "If we can get Golem to pilot the actual aircraft, won''t there be fewer human errors? The members of the <> seemed to be thinking about various things. * * * * "Okay, let''s increase the speed. Try a left turn around the vacant lot." After confirming that the aircraft was stable, Rohr-Eisker ordered the speed to be increased. The model increased its speed dramatically. About 20 kilometers per hour. About the speed of a bicycle. "Oh, that feels good." The model made a large left turn as it was, and from Jin''s point of view, it looked good. Yes, the biplane and the small Golem are good enough. This is promising. ......) And after a few laps. "Carefully increase the speed and bring it up to the maximum speed. But don''t overdo it. Lower Eisker instructed. In response, the speed of the model increased even more. "Oh, that''s pretty fast. ...... Reiko, how fast?" "Well, ...... it''s going 38 kilometers per hour." "I see. ......Well, it won''t be a simple quadrupling of speed, but 50 kilometers per hour seems solid for a real plane." Biplanes have high aerodynamic drag, so the higher the speed, the more disadvantageous it becomes. "If we want to be safe, the upper limit is about 60 kilometers per hour. This value of 60 km/h is based on the maximum speed on ordinary roads when Jin was in modern Japan. In reality, however, there are few roads with a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour, and most roads have a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour or 40 kilometers per hour. "You''re getting ahead of yourself, Jin-dono. ......" Roar Aisker overheard my conversation with Reiko, "No, that''s not true. It is important to look at the model and predict how the finished product will look like. Jin said to me, and I understood. "The larger the model is, the longer the period of shaking becomes, so we need to take that into consideration as well. "Yes, that''s true." On a different topic, it is said that if a beginner wants to practice flying a radio-controlled airplane, it is easier to get used to it if the plane is of a certain size. If you practice with a smaller one because it costs more, it will take more time to get used to it ....... Jin himself could not own such a model plane for financial reasons, but he had seen his acquaintances flying them on several occasions, and he was told about their knowledge. He told me about his knowledge of flying, "But the hard part is that you can''t simply multiply the speed by four. I heard that the resistance of air and the constants of hydrodynamics are available at ......, but I was frustrated that I didn''t know that much about them since Jin also graduated from high school. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The test flight, which took about an hour in total, was successfully completed, with a landing and check of each part in between. "That''s not bad." Loa Eisker is in a good mood. "It''s a great success!" Zora Himmel is in an even better mood. "Yes, yes, it was worth it! Rasnat Heilbronn was also happy. "It will be fun to fly in the sky with the plane we built. Eira mutters to herself. < would probably make him want to try other genres. After all, Jin himself is a man who dabbles in all kinds of genres. "If you just want to fly, I brought my blow floater," he said. I say, "Oh, that''s cool. I''d like to try it! He replied, "Yes, I''d like to ride on it! Then the members of the Aeronautical Laboratory also replied, "Oh, yes, I''d like to see your plane, too! The words, "Oh, yes, we would like to see your plane, too! Jin thought that this would be a good opportunity to unveil the new aircraft.Jin checked the time, "It''s only 10:30. Then, just for a minute. He asked those who were interested to go to the airfield where the was parked. It was a short distance to the airfield, but we all hurried at a brisk pace and arrived there in about 10 minutes. "......Let''s get the out of here. ...... Hope!" "Yes, Master." Hope, under Jin''s direction, immediately boarded the < and fired up the blow engine. Then, releasing the support rack by remote control, it floated slowly and landed on the airfield. "Oh! That''s amazing! "That''s just like Jin-dono!" "Well, this is the . By arranging the circular wings like this, we were able to improve stability and maneuverability. Jin explained the to the assembled engineers. 2286 - - 61-20 Test drive? After explaining about to the assembled people, Jin said, "Well, let me show you how to fly it, "Well, let me show you how to fly it first. Hope, please." "Yes, Master." Hope shows a demonstration flight, and Jin points to it as he explains. "...... and, as you can see, the controls are left to the professional pilot golem. Well, I''m not very good at this kind of flying. Besides, I''m no match for a golem in terms of quick judgment and reflexes. Hearing Jin''s explanation, Rasnat Heilbronn of the <> says, "I see, "I see......... we need to develop a golem for pilots, too. Rohr Eisker of the Aeronautics Laboratory said to himself, "This ...... is exactly the kind of design that pursues speed and agility," he said. He was impressed by the performance of the <>. After a three-minute demonstration flight, <> landed softly on the airfield. "Well, we don''t have much time, but if you''d like to take a ride, please visit ......." Before Jin could finish, 17 hands were raised. Nine were from the <> and eight were from the <>, so that was everyone there. "Well then, since the <> has a capacity of six passengers, let''s have five passengers each, excluding Hope, the pilot. The order was quickly decided without any quarrels among the top Ars researchers. Since Jin also boarded at first, there were four <> members. Eira, Cachier, Gromma, and Rohr-Eisker. The three friends and the director of the Aeronautical Institute were given priority. "Well then, Hope, will you take care of them?" "Yes, Master." Hope fired up the blow engine and began to ascend vertically. After gaining about 30 meters of altitude, the aircraft moves into horizontal flight. "The top speed of <> is over 100 km/h. I''ll keep it at 50 km/h this time. I''ll keep it at 50 kilometers this time," explained Jin. Jin explains. In reality, the aircraft can reach a speed of over 300 kilometers per hour, but he did not explain that much. After flying horizontally, the plane zigzagged, then rose and fell sharply. "No, the circular wings in front and behind are there for this attitude control! Roar Eisker said in a roaring voice. Even though it is a biplane, a circular wing basically keeps the plane level. The plane then gained about 100 meters in altitude and made a leisurely turn over <>. "Wow, it''s a nice view! said Kaechea happily. "It''s great to fly, isn''t it? This is Eira''s first time flying in a small plane. If you think of the difference between a jet airliner and a Cessna, you can imagine the exhilaration she feels. "I''ve been in my mentor''s < a few times, but it''s a completely different ride than this ......." "Yeah, I think that''s probably because the one Rhodtos was bringing in was disassembled and assembled." In short, Jin said, it was simplified as much as possible, so the ride was not as comfortable as it could have been. Roar Aisker, who had been listening to the conversation, asked Jin a question. "...... Jin-dono, what parameters would change the ride quality?" "Well,...... it''s the ." "Shaking. ...... is certainly true." It seemed that this hint was enough for Roa, and he started mumbling about <>, <>, and so on. * * * * * * * * * * * It takes about 10 minutes per flight, and if you fly four times, you''ll have finished loading everyone on board. "Well, thank you very much. It will be a good memory." "I will be proud to be a passenger of Mr. Jin''s blowplane for the rest of my life! Jin thanked us excessively. It was almost noon, so we decided to break up and have lunch. "Mr. Jin, would you like to have lunch with us? "Yes, of course. Do you have any recommendations for a restaurant? When invited by Ka-cea, Jin readily agreed. "Well, from here, the cafeteria at the headquarters of the World Guard is close by. "Oh, I see." That''s the building you can see from the airfield. It is less than 500 meters away. "We academics and visitors need to pay to eat there. ......" "Oh, no problem, I''ll buy you a drink." "Jin, I''m sorry, it''s okay." Eira was reserved, but Jin didn''t care, "Come on, come on, come on, come on. I''ve been a little flush lately." He stopped her from refuting his statement. It is true that he has been able to freely spend the money he had accumulated since he returned to Horaijima, so it is not a lie. * * * * * * * * * * * So, Jin instructed Hope to keep the in the dining room of the headquarters with Eira and the others. Jin, Reiko, Eira, Kaechea, and Groma headed for the cafeteria. They arrived in front of the headquarters after a 5 minute walk. In addition to Jin and the others, there were also students and researchers, indicating that there are people who come here from time to time to enjoy a different taste. "This is it." The first floor of the headquarters is open to anyone in <>. Except in case of emergency. The cafeteria was located in the back of the first floor. "It''s not so crowded yet. About half the seats were empty. "We have a set meal here," Groma said. Groma said and looked at the bulletin board. There was a picture titled "Today''s Menu. "Set meal A is rice, turnip miso soup, plain croquette, vegetable salad, kinpira, oshinko," he said. "The B set meal is ...... a plain omelette on bread with raisins, topopo (potato) soup, cut cheese, and vegetable salad. "The C set meal is udon noodles with tempura and oshinko. "There''s even a D set meal? It says, "Sandwich of the day," right? It seems that there are four different set menus to choose from, Jin thought. "This illustration is very good. Jin was impressed by the fact that he could tell what the menu was just by looking at it, even though he had drawn it quickly on the whiteboard. "Well, I''ll have set meal A," he said. "I''ll have set meal B. "I''ll have set meal A." "I''ll have set meal B." I''ll have the "B" menu." In the end, Jin and Katya got the A set meal, and Eira and Groma got the B set meal. After buying a meal ticket and presenting it at the respective set meal counter, a set meal on a tray comes out in about 20 seconds. Jin was impressed that the speed was faster than that of standing-only noodle restaurants. There were about ten people in line, so within five minutes Jin and the others were seated around a table for six. Reiko also sat down beside Jin, although she did not eat. "Oh, it''s pretty good." Jin took a sip of the miso soup and thought it was quite to his liking. "Isn''t it?The set menus here are cheap and delicious. Eira boasted as if she were talking about herself. 2287 - - 61-21 A peaceful night < headquarters, Jin left Eira and the others and headed for Erza''s place. There were people coming and going in the corridor leading to the waiting room, which seemed to be even more crowded than the day before. "Erza, are you ready?" "Ah, Jin-brother." When I went to the waiting room, Erza was alone with the materials. When I was about to ask her if Fifi was ready, she came in through the entrance on the podium side. "Ah, Mr. Jin, you are here. It seemed that he was preparing the podium. "We''re having a great turnout again today. The number of students attending the lecture has increased by 20% compared to yesterday. That''s a good thing, isn''t it? Jin believes that knowledge is treasure and knowledge is power. Of course, we also need the wisdom to apply it. ....... Anyway, that is why he printed out the materials for those who did not attend the lecture yesterday. A few dozen copies would have been fine, but there was no room for a hundred copies. "Fifteen minutes left, sir. "Fifteen minutes left." "Yes, sir." Elsa is calm. "What are you going to talk about today?Did I hear you say ......? It''s about internal organs, isn''t it? "Yes. Elsa says, "We''re going to talk about the digestive system and the circulatory system, among other things. "They''re easier to be aware of." "Yes, that''s right." Some of you may have experienced stomach pains or heart palpitations. Jin thought it would be useful for such people as well. Elsa said she would pass on the cranial nerves because it would suddenly become too much of a hurdle. "As far as Fiona told me, she seems to be okay with first aid for injuries. "Yes, because of the World Guard. They are not too far behind when it comes to traumatic injuries. "......This is proof that brother Fritz and sister-in-law Gloria were doing their best." "Yes." For a few moments, Jin and Elsa thought about the distant past. * * * * * * At 1:00 p.m., Erza stood on the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, today I am going to give a lecture on internal organs. You will be shown images that will arouse your discomfort even more than yesterday. Please pay attention." Elsa gives a few words of warning after her greeting. "I cannot explain everything in the limited time available, but I hope it will be of help to you in the future. Then Erza began to speak. A large magic screen behind her showed a schematic diagram of the digestive system. "Digestion is initiated by chewing. The chewed food is broken up into small pieces and then digested by enzymes in the saliva ......." Elsa''s lecture continues. Jin, who was watching from the waiting room, recognized that Elsa was used to lecturing, as he had yesterday. "I''m impressed. He was dazzled by the way she did what she had to do, even though she was usually so quiet. The lecture lasted for two hours and ended at 3:00 pm. The lecture was followed by a question-and-answer period, which was interrupted by a 15-minute break. "Thank you, Elsa. Elsa returns to the waiting room for a drink of water. In fact, she does not feel physically tired because of her homunculus body, but mentally she is a little tired, so she takes a break like this. "We finished today right on time. "Yeah. That''s great." It is surprisingly difficult to make a presentation on time. The faster you speak, the less time you have to finish, and the slower you speak, the more time you have to finish. In the beginning, Jin, who had just started his career, divided his presentation into several parts, set an estimated time for each part, and decided how to proceed after confirming the time. ...... But no matter how long it took or how quickly it ended, nothing changed in Jin''s evaluation,....... Rather, he began to let things slide when he often received instructions that completely ignored his presentations. In other words, no one took the newcomers'' presentations seriously. It was better to let them do service overtime than to make expensive improvements. Compared to those days, the audience here is much more healthy and enthusiastic, and Jin was once again glad to have visited this time. * * * * * * * * * * The Q&A session after the break ended at 5:00 p.m. without any problems. "Thank you very much, Miss Elsa." Fiona Fias and Tomax Bartmann greeted Elsa as she returned to the waiting room. "Thank you very much for your hard work over the past two days. "I''m sure it was very informative." Thank you very much for the opportunity. Elsa shook hands with Tomax Bartmann. "Thank you, Mr. Zinn, for your assistance to the Aeronautics and Astronautics Laboratory and to the GO Institute. "No, nothing this time. ......" Jin was modest, "No, I heard. I heard that you unveiled a new type of blow floater called the "Southern Cross". Yes, well... "Yes, well, I think it was a good inspiration for our people." And Tomax Bartman told Jin and Elsa, "You''re welcome to visit us anytime." and returned to his office. * * * * * * * * * * There was still time before dinner that day, so the two took a relaxing bath in the bathtub provided in the guest room. Elsa took the bath first. The first time I went to the bath, Elsa was the first one to enter. I''m going to go to ....... Speaking of which, is Najas ready to go?" I had come to check on Najas Khan because I was worried about his condition. "She''s fine. She''s studying hard right now." I don''t want to disturb her at this time," Elsa said. Najas is doing well on her own. She could use some help from herself or Jin, but Elsa decided that now was not the right time. "I see. I understand." You can always come to if you want to. 2288 - - 61-22 Silent Prayer After dinner, Jin and Elsa relax for a while. "Let''s go home tomorrow. I''m also worried about the construction work in the Kingdom of Franz and the Shoro Kingdom." "Yeah." Jin said that it is because of everyone''s support that we have been able to do all this. "I''m grateful for that." "Yeah, that goes for both of us." Erza was also grateful for Jin''s support. * * * * * * Later, at 8:00 p.m. Jin visited and told Eira and the others that he would return the next day. "Well, I''m going to miss you," he said. "Thank you for everything you''ve done for us. "Please come back again." These are the words of Eira, Groma, and Katya, respectively. "Oh, I may visit the continent of Pandor in the near future. When I do, I''ll invite you." Jin said, "I may need you to show me around, so I can make a formal request to <>. "I don''t mind. You should take Ka''Chea with you." "I don''t think so, either." "No? So.., "What?Jin-san is going to the Pandor continent?You want me to guide you there?Is that OK with you? ......" "No, I don''t mind, do you?If you''re interested, you can take a leave of absence." "I will. ......" The serious Katya seemed to be uncomfortable with the idea of going home with her connections. After a short talk, Jin went back to his apartment where Elsa was waiting for him. The wind was calm and the waves were quiet. * * * * * * * * * * * The morning of April 13th came. Jin and Erza are having breakfast without Fiona Fierce in the dining room. "Well, we''re going home today..." "Well, we''re going home today..." "Hmm..." "Is there anything left to do?" After drinking tea and taking a break, Jin asked Erza. "Not really, but I want to go to ......<>." "......Oh, okay. I''ll go with you." Jin, sensing Erza''s purpose, told her that he was going too. "Well, thank you. What about Jin? What about Jin brother?Erza asked. "Yeah, I''ll tell you about it when I see Mr. Tomax. "Okay." I went to the cafeteria the other day, so I know my way around. Jin, Elsa, and Reiko headed there side by side. Once at the airfield, they bring Hope with them. We decided to go to the airport with all of us who visited this time. We headed for the back of the headquarters of the . There we found a chalk mausoleum. < are enshrined here. Jin and Erza bought a bouquet of flowers at the flower shop next to the entrance of the mausoleum. They enter the mausoleum. The flower-decked entrance was just an entrance, and there was a staircase leading to the basement. Descending to a depth of about three stories below the ground, they came to a large hall. The members of the are enshrined there. Their ages and names are carved on the marble walls. When it is full, it will be continued downstairs. "...... here." Elsa quickly found the place she was looking for. On the wall is inscribed <>. and just below it > was inscribed just below it. Jin and Erza placed a bouquet of flowers right under the inscription and offered a silent prayer. Reiko and Hope followed them. After about two minutes of silent prayer, Jin and Erza looked up. "Thank you, Jin. "No, no. You''re my brother-in-law, too." "...... his grave is back home, but I wanted to pay my respects here." I understand. Being Japanese, Jin recognized that a grave is like a Buddhist altar. So this is a huge altar, and the marble walls are the tablets. "Your brother-in-law Fritz ...... ended up as the commander of the 1st Division of the World Guard, didn''t he?" "Yes, he was famous as an ogre division commander. He was famous as an ogre division commander. Naturally, Jin doesn''t know about this past, so he doesn''t know about it until Erza tells him about it. What about Gloria-san? "After becoming the first female Knight Commander, she retired at the age of 45." I see. She had two boys and two girls. I think she lived to be a ...... He must have been very happy. I hope so." The group then offered one more silent prayer and left the site. * * * * * At 9:30 a.m., Jin and the others were in the office of Tomax Baartman. "Thank you, Jin-dono and Erza-dono, for the past two days. Tomax Bartmann bowed his head. "So you are leaving already?" I thought so, but one thing has occurred to me. What is it? "I was thinking that we should build a wind tunnel for the <> at ...... or at the <> for research purposes." A wind tunnel? Yes. What is a wind tunnel? Jin explained the wind tunnel to Tomax Bartmann. It doesn''t matter if you don''t fully understand. Manon is listening beside him. "...... They are planning to build one in the Franz and Klein kingdoms." "I see. So it will be useful not only for aircraft but also for automobile development. Jin further explained that it can also be applied to golems and ships. "It can be used for wind resistance tests. Jin also explained that it could be used for wind resistance tests of buildings using a model of a house. "I see, that''s very useful," he said. "I will send you the template later. Thank you very much." With this promise, Jin and his colleagues left the office. 2289 - - 61-23 Aftercare "Yeah, it''s been busy, but it''s been fulfilling." "Hmm." Jin is relaxing with Elsa on the back to Horai Island. "Father, Miss Elsa, here is your tea." "Oh, thank you." Reiko made a pot of green tea. Reiko is the only one who can brew tea without spilling even a drop of tea in the slightly bumpy flight. "Ah, the tea tastes so good!" Jin and the others return leisurely without using the warp gate. * * * * Jin returned to Horai Island and asked the old man how the Franz Kingdom and the Shoro Kingdom were doing. "That is good news. How is the Berlich workshop doing at ......?" "I see." Then Jin remembered. "<>." So he went to the workshop and decided to start work with Reiko as his assistant. "First of all, the light ...... should be like this." This is an option so that it can be attached to the one currently being manufactured at the . I''m going to place an additional order for this one. "And ...... and... a tail instead of three legs, huh?" The two-legged movement will make it easier to control. And the outrigger-like use of the tail will help stabilize it during work. "Like this?" But since this was the first time to use this method, even Jin had to fine-tune it about three times. "That''s it." Finally, the air conditioning. "Let''s make a dust-preventing boundary generator an option." This is an option to prevent dust from being inhaled when digging in rock walls and bedrock. It can also reduce the heat when working in the hot sun. "Father, why don''t you just install it from the beginning?" Reiko says, "No, it would cost too much to install everything. Jin replies, "Is that what you mean? "Is that what you mean?" "That''s right. If it was made in Horai Island and used in Horai Island, I would put everything into it as much as possible. But this is for general use, a consumer product, so we have to consider the cost, Jin said. "So that''s what you mean. I understand." Jin and Reiko completed the new model with options in about 10 minutes. "So this is it." However, Jin thought that it would be better not to bring this to the Shoro Empire at once. He thought that it would be confusing to bring in an improved model when even the initial model was in the middle of mass production. "I think it would be better if it is just an option." So he decided to talk about the possibility of adding <><> as two options. * * * * * * * * * * * Elsa, on the other hand, was keenly aware of the need to revamp the automata for educational purposes based on this lecture. In the past, there existed an automata for educational guidance called <>. Recently, Jin has also donated an automaton <> for <> to teach the <>. Erza, in consultation with the old man, concluded that it would be necessary to create an automaton for teaching medical skills. "This is something I should discuss with my brother Jin. Erza decided to give an explanation during lunch. She explained the situation to him at lunchtime. I see, it is certainly necessary. Why not <> at ......?" <> is a female medical automaton developed by Jin and his colleagues. Saki has been testing <> as an assistant for now. "Hmm, it''s a little too advanced," she said. It''s not natural to lend it out for free, Elsa said. "Well, that''s true ......." Jin wonders how he can provide automata or golems for educational purposes at a low price. And finally, "Yes!How about replacing the control core? He came up with an idea. "Ah, that''s it." Erza seemed to understand what Jin meant. "That''s my brother Jin. "As I recall, we gave a golem maid named Saffi to before, didn''t we?What about it? The old man answered. < "Oh, that many?" < "I see. I''m not so sure about going back to ...... then ...... hmmm...." Today is April 14. He had just returned from yesterday, so he was somewhat busy, he thought. < "Ah, that''s a good idea." The data came from Erza and the <> came from Jin. And Makina will do the conversion. This should not be a problem. But the old man has a word of advice. "Yes, that''s right. Then let''s make it possible to <." The procedure is as follows, 1. replace the old <> with the new >. The data area of the new <> is already loaded with the medical knowledge prepared by Elsa. 2. 2. transfer the experience data stored in the old . "Yes, that''s good." Elsa agreed, "Then, let''s have that stopped working repaired as well. Jin said. "Erza, prepare the data for education. I''ll get the control core for the replacement. "Okay." Immediately, Reiko, the old man, and the <> were mobilized, and Jin and Erza set to work. 2290 - - 61-24 Specialties >The preparations for repairs and updates are done in half a day. . "Yes, please do that." Jin and Erza were going to monitor the results on Horai Island. * * * * * * "Now we can rest easy for the time being, right?" "Hmm, there should be no urgent work for a few days." "Can we take it easy for a bit?" "I''m sure that when he''s free, he''ll find something to do and get busy." "Yeah, is that so?" Jin and his friends are chatting over a cup of tea at 3 o''clock. Then Jin remembered what had happened the other day. Jin asks Reiko, who pours him another cup of tea. "By the way, what about the small golem using <>? Reiko had originally contacted the old man and collected the basic data. "Huh, that''s me and..." I was doing that. Saki, Reinhardt. Saki and Reinhardt appeared in the cafeteria. <''s foremost alchemist ......, the master of <> and the second best magical engineering technician after Jin had teamed up to investigate the matter. "That''s great. Have you finished collecting the data yet? Saki answered this question. "Yes, 90% of it is done. "Yes, 90% of it is done. I mean, we''ve already finished what we''re doing, and we''re still in the process of finalizing it with the help of Jin. "That''s good. So Jin decided to ask for the results immediately. "I''d like to hear the results too. "Sure, sure." So Elsa joins him. Even Elsa is a magi engineer of the highest caliber. "Okay, let''s hear it." Jin gulped down the tea from his cup in one gulp. The frown on his face was probably because it was still a little hot. ....... Then they all moved to Saki''s laboratory. "Oh, it''s pretty tidy." Jin was a little surprised at the neatness of the interior. "Kuhu, thanks to the presence of <>." "Oh, yeah, I see. ......" Saki was Saki, Jin muttered in his mind. "Oh,. Uh,...... Reinhardt, I''ll explain, okay?" "Sure. I''ll add to it when I find out." "Yes, please do. I''ll be happy to fill you in if I notice anything. Saki spread her handwritten report on the table. "Here are the results of the experiment. I''ll briefly explain that the Fluidform Drive, which uses <>, was the best." "Let me quickly add that we tested this on a one-tenth the size golem." "I see. At that size, the weight of the mercury is less of a problem. "I suppose that''s the way it is." However, mercury is also mercury. It is still harmful to the human body. "Yes, so if we are going to use it, we will have to contain it in a sealed body. This was answered by Reinhardt. "That''s what would happen. Please continue at ......." Saki nodded, "Well, the next best one is Magiresin, which is made from GSP." "I see. That would be ...... no, let me hear all the explanations first." "Yes. The next best one is made from a resin from north of the village of Kaina. It has a higher percentage of free magic element (ether) than those from other regions. "But I digress. I think the demand for this type of small golem will increase as this type of golem becomes mainstream. "I''m sure that''s true." Jin thought that there might be one more product from Kaina Village. "Okay. The next one is Magi Resin, which is based on Magi Polyethylene. The difference between the magi-polyethylene-based <> and the from Kaina Village is remarkable, he said. "Anything less than that would probably ...... not meet Jin''s requirements, no doubt about it." Saki concluded his talk by saying that he had not collected detailed data. "Thank you. That was very helpful. < "We have to make sure we don''t overharvest and kill the trees." The forests in the north are vast, but the trees from which the sap that is the source of <> is extracted are not so numerous. "We should consider planting trees in limited areas. Jin said, "Considering the protection of forest resources, it would be better to take action as soon as possible. "Yes, I think that''s a good idea. Saki spoke up at this point. "Hey Jin, <> grows naturally in the northern part of the Laurent continent, but is there any on the Gondor continent?" "No, there should not be. When I was studying golems with Rubina and the others, we once went in search of <>. At that time, the old man had informed me that Pinacea was not found on the continent of Gondor. "But there may be trees in the coniferous forests that grow on the continent of Gondor from which good quality maggirezine can be extracted. Saki''s words made Jin realize something. "You could say that. I''ll tell Zion about it at ......." If this works out, the may be able to add another specialty. Also, the planting of trees will be led by Sion''s mother, Rorona of . She is the mother of Sion and Istaris, and the best researcher on plants and agriculture in the <>. "Hmm, I think that''s a good idea." "Hmm, Theon will be pleased. Marikka too. * * * * He then contacted Zion with his manacam, Give me a week. "Yes, of course.We''re not in a hurry, you can give us a few more days?" <<< Really?I''ll give you ......2 weeks and I''ll get back to you on April 30, okay? "Yes, that''s fine. Yes, that''s fine. That''s what happened. 2291 - - 61-25 Safi Repair On April 15, at 8:30 a.m. <> time, Deus ex Machina and Squire Rey are meeting with Chief Superintendent Tomax Bartmann. "I see, you will repair <>. ......" "Yes. "Yes, but also to increase my knowledge so that I can do something similar to the lecture that Erza gave the other day." "I see!" Tomax Bartmann explains to Jin and Makina that they are distant relatives and are also distant descendants of the second <> Jin Nidor. "I am honestly grateful to hear that Gin-dono and Erza-dono are so concerned about me. Of course, I am also grateful to Makina-dono. Then, let''s take care of it right away. Yes. Then let''s go to ...... and let Manon guide you. Manon, please. Yes, Mr. Tomax. And so the deus ex machina is led by Manon to the location where the malfunctioning is stored. The materials for repairs and updates are carried by Squire Rey. The materials for repair/update are carried by Squire Rey, but only as a small piece of baggage. Once the repairs are actually started, the missing materials will be sent to us by the transporter. Here it is. <. "No, this is ......." Makina groaned when she saw the real thing. Makina groaned as she looked at the actual pieces, because about half of them were damaged rather than malfunctioning. Two of them had crushed heads. "Do you know the reason for this damage?" Both manon and machina were created by Jin, so they are equal in terms of position. Therefore, they speak roughly when there is no third person present, "I heard that there was a big accident about 50 years ago when a mine collapsed in the Kingdom of Selroa, and that Saffy, who was taken to rescue the miners, was caught in the second collapse." "I see." Of course, the old man, who is the brain of Horai Island, and the control brain of Machina, know about it, but the question is to know if the information is accurately conveyed in <>. If they were deceiving or covering it up, the worst-case scenario would be to take Saffy in. However, <> did not do anything to conceal the fact. "First of all, you passed, huh?" Makina started to repair the nearest Saffy. "Saffy 17. The skeleton is distorted and the magic nerve line is broken. ......<<<<>...... okay." Makina proceeded to repair it quickly. "Ray, I need you to hold this here." "Yes, like this." "Yes, like this." "That''s good. " At the same time, the <> is also replaced ...... and the knowledge is updated using <>. "<>" Depending on the degree of damage, each body is repaired in about 5 minutes. Some of the bodies were partially missing, but they could be repaired without any problem. But it is not possible for ordinary technicians to repair them. The old man says , thought Makina, who is piloting << the master>>, ....... It was after 11:00 p.m. when they finished repairing the 19 units in less than two hours and updating the control core. In less than two hours, he had repaired nineteen of them and finished updating the control core. "Now, what should we do with the remaining 81? The s that are still in operation are working in the cafeteria and other facilities, or doing maintenance and cleaning in <>, or somewhere else. Therefore, it was not feared to pull them out of such workplaces and bring them here. Manon opened his mouth. "Then, let''s replace them with those who have been updated in turn. Manon said, "Then let''s replace them with those who have already been updated, starting with the one with the lowest number. I can do that with my built-in manacam. "Okay, let''s do that." Thus, the remaining 81 units were summoned one by one for maintenance and updating. This also took about 5 minutes per body, so it could have been completed in less than 7 hours, but since it would have been too unnatural for a < to do so, we took breaks as needed, so it was not completed that day. The number of unmaintained safis was, oddly enough, 19. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Thank you for your hard work, Makina-sama. At 7:00 p.m., Tomax Bartmann thanked Makina for her efforts after she had finished her <>. "We are about two thirds done. We couldn''t do it by the end of the day," Makina said. Makina said, "No, no, no, no!I never imagined we could finish in such a short time. It''s fast enough! Tomax Bartmann hurriedly followed up. Makina laughed. "I''ll start again tomorrow, around eight o''clock. and returned to the guest room. Tomax Bartmann, who remained behind, asked Manon, his secretary, "Are you sure you are not overworked, Mr. Machina? "Are you sure you are not overworking yourself, Mr. Makina? He showed his concern to his secretary, Manon. * * * * Meanwhile, on Horai Island, Jin and the old man were examining what Makina had seen and heard. "The way the body was broken......2, but it was broken in a way that bothered me." It was the kind of breakage that makes the head crumple. < "What do you mean?" << "I heard that." After fifty years, there is no one left to tell the truth," the old man said apologetically. "So that''s what happened. Well, it would be nice to know why." As long as he knew that Safi had not been treated roughly, Jin was fine with it. "Other than that, I don''t see any problem. The storage of the broken Saffy was not so bad. It wasn''t just left out in the dust. > people come regularly to clean the place up. "Huh?" . Saffy is <. < would want to use the structure as a reference. "......Well, why don''t we do tomorrow''s maintenance in the presence of <>?" <<> The old man said, "It will take about 15 minutes to complete the work that should take 5 minutes. "It''s not an urgent matter, that''s all right. < to have the remaining 19 units serviced in the presence of the . Thank you. * * * * Then, in Avalon, Tomax Bartman, who heard Makina''s proposal, contacted the and said, "Oh!That''s great!Everyone!We''ll take turns visiting tomorrow! and they were very enthusiastic. 2292 - - 61-26 Emergency situations occurred On April 16th, Saffy''s repair shop was bustling with people from the morning. Of course, it was for the members of the . As the deus ex machina was repairing Saffy, they came in turn to watch the work. A human being might get distracted and lose control of his work, but Makina is not concerned with such mistakes. She just quietly worked on the repair work. However, she has slowed down her work speed to one-third of her usual speed. Still, it is the best in the world. "Oh ......" "How different from us!" "I wish I could reach that level." Those who marvel and admire straight away. "Hmmm... ...... this is how the joints here are put together..." "The joints are the same, but the way the muscles are attached is slightly different. "I believe this was made by the previous generation of Magecraft Meister, wasn''t it?" A person who is impressed by the structure and studies it intently. "Ah, so that''s how it''s done." "Excellent workmanship. I must learn as much as I can from you. "Mmm, this is the skill of an expert. ......" Those who admire and admire Makina''s skill. With various reactions, the members of the <> seemed to gain something from watching Makina''s repair work. "Hmmm, as expected of a deus ex machina that is said to be the twin of <>. ......" Gloma Trey and, "It''s a learning experience. I need to learn as much as I can." Eira Siata also had these thoughts in mind as she observed ...... or rather, practiced her skills. * * * * * * "I see, it seems to be useful. At the same time, on Horai Island, Jin was watching the repairing scenery of Makina through the "peepers and telescopes". "At that pace, it should be finished by midday. The old man makes another report. "Unusual, isn''t it?" It''s true that Death Serpents do appear in the vicinity of Potlock, so it''s not entirely out of the realm of possibility. <<>. Or they may have been attracted by the abundant food and wandered to the west of the Elias Peninsula where <> is located, the old man speculated. "Is <> aware of this?" < "I see. I''ll leave it to you ......?" << The old man said that there would be a deus ex machina if the need arose, and Jin agreed with him. He was convinced that this was true. And . As the old man had pointed out, <> is surrounded by a 10-kilometer radius of what is called <>, the inside of which is highly monitored. Of course, you will not be suddenly attacked just because you enter the inside of the sea. But... "<> southeast of here!< The Defense Detection Division reported to the Chief Superintendent, Tomax Bartmann. Normally, the Death Serpent would be handled by a lower department, but the threat level of the Death Serpent is 4, which is a very high priority under normal circumstances. Incidentally, there are five threat levels from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Threat level 5 is a situation where even <> has to send an SOS. Such a situation has never happened before. In other words, threat level 4 is the one that <> should have done its best to deal with. Tomax Bartmann reacted immediately. "Yes. Three <>?That''s a lot of danger to the kingdom of Elias. All right, let''s get the World Guard up. The Navy and Air Force are ordered to mobilize. * * * * * * Tension runs throughout . "What is it?" < do not seem to understand what is going on, but Makina, Squire Rey, and Manon understand everything. Emergency. Repeat. Emergency. Alert level B. A brief announcement will be made. "...... What is this?" Makina''s question was answered by Manon. "This is a recently introduced method. In the event of an emergency, a broadcast is made throughout in this manner, urging the residents to be prepared." "I see." It seems that the reason for not making a lengthy announcement is so that it can be understood immediately. And means that everyone should return to their posts and stand by. "A" means emergency evacuation for everyone. Manon finished his explanation. So all the members of the who had been observing returned to the laboratory, and only three people remained: Makina, Squire Rey, and Manon. And Manon, too, "I''m going back to support Tomax-sama. and returned in a great hurry. "Well, what should we do? Makina muttered, but it was the magical brain that was actually thinking. "We should suspend the repairs and wait with <>. Then it would be in accordance with the instruction to . * * * * Makina and Squire Rey return to the Aristotle and observe the situation of through the magic screen inside. "Hmm, the navy of the has already departed. The air force, on the other hand, is still waiting. Since they are moving at different speeds, they have adjusted their start time by delaying their arrival so that they will arrive at the same time. "<> is vulnerable to fire and lightning, right?" The <>, which is linked to the <>, shows the navy underway. They are half-timbered ships of 30 meters in length. Five of them. And the Air Force is also taking off. These are five airships of 20 meters in length. < and the is imminent. 2293 - - 61-27 Active Jin in Horai Island was watching the situation of the <> and the <>. He instructed them to be ready to send out the <> immediately if there was any danger. "But it''s a pity that we can''t coexist. < They occasionally migrate southward on the ocean currents. They are ferocious and carnivorous. They attack fishing boats and devour marine resources, so it is said that coexistence is impossible. Because they are demonic beasts, they occasionally use tidal waves. Since they devour fish in the vicinity, it is not enough just to get rid of them, but it is necessary to defeat them. Jin regretted this. "But it''s not the same as eradicating them. <, Jin had no intention of destroying what had been stable for tens of thousands of years. "Okay, stand by." < It is a mermaid-shaped golem unit that specializes in underwater operations and can swim at speeds of up to 400 kilometers per hour underwater. During normal times, they search for and collect undersea resources. A single unit can take on a Death Serpent. Twenty of them are on standby in case of emergency. "I hope this is all for nothing..." Jin stared at the < with bated breath. ....... * * * * <<1st fleet, 1km from target>> Chief, we are on schedule. Manon, who is receiving reports from the various units, reports to Tomax Bartman. Only in such an emergency situation, we are supposed to call him <>. It is shorter and easier to call. "Okay, attack the target as soon as you see it." "Aye, sir." One minute later, the first fleet spotted three <>. Although the ship is a half-timbered vessel, its exterior is covered with thin sheets of light silver, and important parts such as the bridge and engine room are armored even more heavily. She is a monohull, but is slightly wider and designed for buoyancy instead of speed. She is very stable and has been used for rescue operations in stormy seas. "Attack!" The arrowheads are heated until they turn red. Fired from a huge bow gun, four of the ten arrows hit the target, two from each ship. Two, one, and one arrow pierced the three Death Sea Serpents. Each arrow was about one meter long, slowing the Death Serpents down somewhat. "Second shot! Ten arrows were fired again, but all of them fell into the sea. This is because the Death Serpent dived. The Death Serpent has dived! Okay, we''re under attack. The depth of the water is about 10 meters at most. The water is so clear that they can see where they are from the air. The second airship squadron chases after the fleeing Death Sea Serpent. "The distance from the first fleet is over 200 meters!" "All right, fire the cannon!" A thunder cannon is a magical device that can fire a thunderbolt of magic. In the past, when Reinhardt attacked Death Serpent with a potlock, he used a wand containing a magic formula to release a Flame Lance, but this is a larger version of the wand, and the mana is supplied from a mana tank. The lightning magic is electricity. Lightning magic is electricity, so it is effective against monsters and beasts in the sea. However, its range of effect is limited, so it was released after confirming that the first fleet was far enough away. Literally struck by the lightning, the Death Serpent surfaced on the surface of the sea. "Release!" Aiming at the serpent, the cannon fired again. "It''s done!" At least three of them, who seemed to have been stunned, floated on the surface of the sea without any power. "One more shot, just in case!" "Yes, sir!" The third thunderbolt was fired. With this, the threat of the Death Serpent is over. Leave the rest to the first fleet. We''re coming home. Yes, sir. The second squadron of airships turns around and heads back to Avalon. "Oh, you did it. After confirming the death of , the 3rd, 4th, and 5th ships will tow one of each back to the ship." The first fleet will tow the carcass of the Death Serpent back to . They are going to use them as raw materials. Also, "There are not many fish because they were eaten by the Death Serpent, but we will collect them and return home. In the aftermath of the thunder cannon, many of the fish in the surrounding area floated to the surface. We are going to collect them and return home. For the time being, fresh fish will be on the menu in the dining hall of <>. * * * * "That was a close fight, wasn''t it? < In Horai Island, Jin has just instructed the Mermaid team to return to their normal duties through the old man. "I wouldn''t say it''s an everyday occurrence, but <> and <> are fulfilling their functions, aren''t they? Jin is glad to have made it, despite the hardships. "What about that <> as a material?" Jin recalls that in the past, leather was used for power transmission belts. < "Oh, I see." The <> would be even inferior to the Grand Dragon, but it might still be useful, the old man said. "I''d like to check that out too." The old man said that Death Sea Serpents sometimes come around Horai Island, and that he would keep one for himself the next time he found one. So far, they have only been able to drive them away. Jin hoped that this would increase the production of effective medicines, which would be good for the world. 2294 - - 61-28 And after that, <> through the manaphone. The state of emergency is immediately lifted, and normal life returns to <>. Deus ex machina also returns to the repair site. Soon Manon returns as well, and the repair of Saffy resumes. The members of the <> also return to visit. "It was the Death Serpent, wasn''t it?" "I''m glad we were able to fight it off. When it comes out, it eats up all the fish, which is a problem for the fishermen in the area. He continues to observe Makina''s work, saying such things as, "I''m glad we were able to fight them off. There are only two s left. "I would have liked to have seen more," he says. "I would have liked to have seen more, but that''s not an option. Eira and Gromma are also satisfied with the work, saying that it was very informative. After lunch, all the s were repaired and updated. * * * * * * * * * * "Thank you very much, Makina-sama. I am sure that the previous generation of will be pleased with this. Having reported the completion of the repairs, Makina was now in conversation with Tomax Bartmann. "At the same time, I have given Saffi the new knowledge that Lady Elsa has entrusted to me, so she can use it to improve her medical skills." "Yes, that''s already." They also talked about their future prospects. "You mean that you can use the blood of the Death Serpent? "Erza-sama said it''s called , didn''t she?" "I see. ......" It is no secret how to make <>. It''s just that the blood of a demon as useful as that of a sea dragon is not so easily obtained. However, <> is easy to get. Even if it is less effective, it is worth using if it can be mass-produced. "Let''s make it a subject for research." Tomax Bartmann nodded his head in agreement. < looks bright, thought Machina. * * * * * < was full of members who were still excited to see Makina''s technology and the structure of . "In such a short period of time, we have learned what a golem should be, haven''t we? "You have reminded me in such a short period of time what a golem should look like," "Yes, indeed. "I''ve learned in such a short period of time what a golem should be," and "Yes, indeed," were some of the more admiring comments, "I want to make an original Golem! "Yes, I agree." Eira and Groma were in agreement. "I want to make the golem fly!" Eira then mentioned a dream that had occurred to him the other day. "A golem in the sky. Interesting, but how? Groma was also enthusiastic. And then.., "Yes, that''s interesting!A flying golem!< Rasnat Heilbronn, the head of the lab, also said something like that. "Okay, the lab''s policy from now on is <> and <>!" "Oh!" "Oh!" They all seem to be motivated. "Then, why don''t we start with a small golem and see how it flies?" Kachea, the accountant, suggested. The reason was that it would shorten the development period and reduce the cost of prototyping. "Oh, that''s great!Two birds with one stone." "Yes, that''s a good idea. It was unanimously agreed. In other words, the first step is to develop a . The goal is to make it fly. "I think the <> will also help reduce weight." "Oh, yes. "It could be lighter than the magic skeleton." "To fly, it will need wings, but will circular wings be enough? "First, let''s make a golem that is lightweight and has a high reaction time." "......I''m a little frustrated, but maybe we need to get some flying know-how from the <>. ......" Rasnat Heilbronn, apart from his exchange with Rohr-Eisker, also seemed to be making calm decisions. * * * < was in the midst of a lively atmosphere. The with its deus ex machina takes off from and soars into the dusk sky. And then it disappears into the western sky. He is seen off by Tomax Bartmann and his secretary, Manon, an automata. "I wonder where the base of Lord Machina is. Tomax Bartmann muttered to himself. * * * * The old man who was the brain behind the magic of Horai Island thanked the master and Makina for their hard work. The medical field, in particular, is expected to grow in the future. <> is aiming for? "Heh,...... Eira said that." < The old man reported, and as expected Jin was biting his tongue. "I wonder if it''s the wings ...... or the main wing." Jin recalls an animation he saw when he was in an institution. "There were robots that flew with just rocket launchers, and there were robots that flew with winged options on their backs. Jin wonders which is better. "I wonder if it would be better to have wings if it were to fly only in the atmosphere. But in that case, it would be difficult to stop the robot in the air. In the case of robots in cartoons, there are cases where they adjust their posture in the air in order to attack, recalls Jin, recalling an old memory of ....... "Well, that was just an anime." The Horai-jima group flies with <>, so they can stand still in the air as they wish, but it would be difficult to do so with rocket-propelled jets. "I kind of want to build one of these." It was Jin who began to feel the bug of making things. 2295 - - 61-29 Start of research While Jin began to think about the concept of a flying golem, Erza and Saki also began to work on a new project. <. The term "blood products" in modern Japan is a generic term for medicines made mainly from human blood, and does not include the blood of demons. However, since there are no demons on earth to begin with, Erza uses this term knowing the original meaning of the term and assuming that there is no problem in using it in Ars. In other words, it is a medicine made from . "I see. <. Sounds interesting. "I knew Saki would say so." So they immediately started their experiments. "Is Erza still working on this at all?" "Yes, she did on some of the demons. At that time, Erza''s research targets were <> and <>. As for the <>, the healing magic was put into the <>, and it was exported to the > as a recovery medicine. "But since they could not be hunted regularly, there was no stable supply. That''s why it was never established as an industry, I guess." "The blood of the Death Serpent has been preserved, though. Collecting materials and making specimens is also one of Saki''s specialties. "<>, <>, <>, and <>." They are stored in the <> so that they can maintain their quality semi-permanently. Using them, he said, "Let''s examine them again. * * * * * * These fluids contain common components that can be classified as , Saki said. "Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Saki said as she showed the centrifuged blood sample. Since there is no anticoagulant in the blood, the separated components can be considered as serum. As a side note, centrifuged blood mixed with anticoagulant is called plasma. "So I can centrifuge this serum at subsonic speed, right?" "Uh-huh." In the beginning, the separation was done by Reiko''s swinging, but now there is a special centrifugal separator. It is a subsonic centrifuge that rotates at 200,000 rpm. With this, we should be able to centrifuge the samples for five minutes." "Be careful, Saki." The subsonic speed makes it dangerous if the sample is ejected or the machine is damaged. Therefore, the body of the centrifuge is made of 64 light silver and is magically reinforced during operation. And the adamantite exterior is double-layered, with a fail-safe that prevents the centrifuge from being turned unless both lids are closed. "Yeah, I''m careful." Saki sets the device with a careful hand, a far cry from the roughness of his daily life. Her appearance was completely safe. Erza felt at ease and let her do the work. Five minutes later, the drive stopped, but the centrifuge, which had been spinning with inertia, did not stop until two minutes later. "Is it done?" Saki opened the lid of the subsonic centrifuge with joy. "Oh, it''s separating properly. ...... Elsa, please." The blood was separated into a reddish-brown blood clot, a yellowish serum, and a clear . "Hmm. ......<>" Elsa checks each component. "There is a good separation between the clots, serum, and the true serum. The only question is what grade is the true serum. "Oh, but it''s still a true serum, isn''t it?" Although the Death Serpent is considered inferior to dragons as a demon, it is quite fortuitous that it was able to obtain the true serum. "Now, let''s take out only this true serum from ......." Saki transfers the true serum into a beaker using a dropper. "This is then filtered ......." The true serum is filtered through a filter paper made of fine-mesh Japanese paper. By repeating this process three times, even the slightest remaining impurities are removed. This process produces about 20 milliliters of the true serum derived from the Death Serpent. Once this has been obtained, it is placed in an airtight container and stored in an <>. The same procedure was then used to process the blood of the <>, and about 25 milliliters of the true serum was obtained. After extracting the true serum from the <, the experiment enters the second stage. The second stage of the experiment is to find out how much difference there is in each of the true sera. "Kuhu, this is exciting! Saki was enthusiastic, but Erza told her calmly. "Saki, let''s wash our hands and have lunch. "Yeah. ...... just a little bit more. Just a little bit more." But Erza shakes her head. "No. Saki said so and skipped the meal. And then he comes in, "Saki-sama, Erza-sama, your meal is ready. "Saki-sama, Elsa-sama, your meal is ready. "Come on, Saki. ......<" After cleaning themselves and their clothes and washing their hands, they go to the dining room. There sat Jin and Reinhardt. "Hi Elsa, Saki. "Brother Rai, you''re back?" "Yeah, yeah, just now." Reinhardt had gone on a trip to Shoro, hiding his real name. "Some things have changed, some things have stayed the same. Over dinner together, Reinhardt tells a story that also serves as a report. Four hundred years ago, Reinhardt had been a diplomat for a while and had visited many places in Japan and abroad. "Elsa''s uncle used to be a lord of Lake Wass. Now it''s a busy place with a harbor." "...... Uncle Burroughs'' estate?" Burroughs Richter von Arabus. Elsa''s foster mother and Marlene''s brother. He was a viscount and lord of the Wass Lake area. He was childless, and though not related to Elsa by blood, he was very fond of her. Later, he adopted a son to take over his lands. "I suppose that since the Richter family still rules today, they have made it all the way to the present time without much trouble." I hope so. Jin could not interfere in this area, so he asked Saki about it. "So, how is your research going?" "Yes, it''s going well. I wanted to keep going a little longer, but Erza said I had to eat. ...... "That''s right." Jin puts himself on the shelf and lectures Saki. "Saki, you always prioritize your research even if it means cutting back on food and sleep, don''t you?And you don''t even care about your clothes and personal appearance. "Kuhu, it hurts my ears, but I think Jin is pretty much the same in that respect. "...... Ah, ah. So lately I''ve been listening to the advice of Erza and Reiko. "Is that something you can be proud of,......?" "Ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,ah,...... The spring breeze blew gently and the sea was calm. The island of Horai was peaceful. 2296 - - 61-30 Quiet Story 105 Subsequent Avalon At after Jin and the others had left. "I learned a lot from your lecture the other day. ......" Najaz Khan, a medical student from the Kingdom of Franz, is studying in his room. "I heard that Deus ex Machina and Jin-san upgraded with medical knowledge, when are they going to start teaching us?" She has been studying here as a mid-career student, recommended by Jin and Erza, but her grades were already in the upper middle of the range. When she first entered the school, she could barely keep up with the lectures, but Erza had spotted her talent, and with her natural diligence, she had been able to improve rapidly. "Naja, would you like to have dinner with me?" "Oh, Polly, is it that time already?" Pollyanna Pendleton, my roommate in the dormitory, called out to me. She was from the Kingdom of Egelea, a quiet woman with semi-long brown hair and brown eyes. She calls Najas "Naja. Najas also calls her Polly. "Naja is so studious," she said. "Polly doesn''t like books." Najas knew that Polly had been in bed earlier reading a story. "Well, to each his own, I guess." Pollyanna said and hurried to the dining room. "Ah, it''s crowded..." < was quite crowded as it was just around lunch time. "Oh, but it seems to be moving fast. "Indeed." The cafeteria was run by <, whose operating efficiency had increased by 20% thanks to Makina''s maintenance of all the machines. The and are also lined up there. "Any idea where the lab or ...... Naja will fit in?" "Not yet. I''ve still got almost a year to go, so I''ve been thinking about it a lot. Nadjas and Pollyanna are having this conversation as they stand side by side. They are in the < and are studying a wide range of subjects. Next spring, they will join a laboratory to study . "But, you know, I heard that it''s easier to get your wish if you show up early to the lab you want to go to and have them remember you." "Is that so?" "Especially if the lab is popular." It is not always possible to get into the laboratory of your choice. Each laboratory has its own quota, and if the number of applicants exceeds the quota, the applicants are selected by lottery and interviews. The lottery is purely by lot, but in the case of interviews, it is said that the probability of getting your wish increases if you have a recommendation from a member of the laboratory ....... "I see. I guess I''d better decide by summer, then. ......?" "About that time." In the meantime, our turn came, and the two of us received a tray with our set menus on it and headed for an empty table. * * * * "Did you hear? "Hear what?" "I heard that there will be a facility called a wind tunnel in the near future." < "You''re going to use wind magic to generate wind, right?" "So we can test the resistance to the air, the weakness against wind, and so on. "Depending on the size of the model, they can even put the actual aircraft in it." That would be great." I don''t know where they get their information from, but they certainly have quick ears. "Also, I heard that it can be used for training in high winds. "That''s the World Guard, isn''t it?" That''s what I heard. I heard that the deus ex machina who was here the other day suggested it. No, no. < "I didn''t think so." The cafeteria at lunchtime is a place of chatter. Various topics of conversation are being exchanged. The conversation is about many things. What is it, Eira? "It''s a backpack that allows the Golem to fly. < has made three quarter-sized small Golems with slightly different structures, and has been testing their performance. Eira, Groma, and Cachea < made one of these golems, and Eira attached a backpack with circular wings to the golem. It was a backpack like a school bag with circular wings at the end of arms that extended diagonally upward from the backpack. In other words, it is like carrying a < on your back. The angle of the arm is adjustable so that the circular wing is always horizontal. "Okay, <>, give it a try." "Yes, Eirasama." As a side note, this <> is not a <>, which is said to be a spirit of the earth, but an ancient word (origin word) meaning <>. This is from a book that Katya found in the library. <> is the lightest of the three prototypes of <>. This is because the parts of the magic resin (magirezin) that it uses that do not require power are foamed in order to reduce its weight. The smaller size increases the muscle power compared to the body weight, and Jin had advised him to adjust the <> of the in order to balance the movement. However, there was plenty of time to make adjustments since the prototypes were made in the laboratory, compared to the last time when there was no time to do so. So Eira and his team tried to structurally reduce the power of the muscular part of the robot. <, the weight was also lightened, so it took time to make adjustments, and now the <> of the are being adjusted as well. Even so, we were able to reduce its weight to less than half that of the small golem delivered to the <>. "I didn''t even put in a skeleton or core material." The use of foam made it <. "This <> could be used up to about one-tenth the size." Including the prospect of miniaturizing the Golem, the <> decided that they could manage up to one-tenth of the size by themselves. activated the blow floaters on his back. "Okay, go slowly!" And then ....... "Oh!It floats, it floats!" Slowly, ''s feet leave the ground. "Yes, yes!" Eira celebrates. < floats about 50 centimeters and then comes to rest. "Okay, now try to move forward slowly. "Yes, Eira-sama." moves forward slowly, maintaining the height of 50 cm. However, since his body is still standing, it is as if he is swimming standing up in the air. "Well, success is success, but it''s not what I expected." < is completed. 2297 - - 62-01 Revisiting Avalon May 1, 3901 . "Is today May Day? ......" Jin muttered as he relaxed in his house on Horaijima. "I used to be made to participate in it every year. ......" May Day is a festival held annually on May 1 in many parts of the world. In Europe, it is a day to celebrate the arrival of summer, but in modern Japan, it is a day to celebrate the arrival of summer. In modern Japan, however, it has a stronger meaning as , a rally organized by <>. In the past, workers sometimes held demonstrations to assert their rights, and there was an incident called <>. However, at least the May Day that Jin participated in was one where the workers gathered as instructed by the labor union, walked around as instructed, and disbanded after a lazy half day of work. This was probably the nature of the labor union at the company where Jin was working. At least, the other groups he met at May Day were more serious. So, Hitoshi, being a bachelor and a low-ranking member, had to kill his precious holiday every year as a representative of his workplace. But that''s beside the point. "Well, that was a long time ago in a distant world, wasn''t it? Jin muttered and looked up at the sky. The sky of Horaijima was clear blue with white clouds floating in the sky. It was the height of spring. The Shoro Kingdom''s < is going well, and the Franz Kingdom''s circuit is also going well. And the Berlich workshop is also doing well with the delivery of the <>. Things continue to go well." Everything was flowing < without any need for Jin to interfere or help. "I think it''s time to go to the continent of Pandor ...... now or ......." For a while now, he had wanted to take Cachair to Tazie Village and other places to see what was going on there. I wanted to take Kaciea with me, first to show her around, and second, for her to go back to her home country. Kachel was also back home for the New Year''s holidays, but since it was her parents'' home, there was no need for her to be shy. So Jin decided to start preparing for the departure. He asks the old man to check his luggage. ? >> "Yes, it will be. And I will not bring <> this time. I think the <> will be fine." < "Well, then. Now we need to find out who is going to accompany us. ......" < had gone to to do research and investigation of their own. The season in Hale coincides with the season in Arus, so it is spring there too. The weather is pleasant. "I wonder if Elsa and Saki are gone too. ......" About a week ago, they went to the Shoro Kingdom. They toured the town where their parents'' home ...... used to be and visited the graves of their ancestors. They are sometimes together with other women, so they have Anne as their escort. After that, they went to the <>. As Theon had declared that he would search for it by April 30, he had found a tree from which <> could be extracted, so he went there to verify its quality. So now, Jin was the only one on Horai Island. "Maybe I should ask Ka-cea out, after all..." He was reluctant to do so, but he was a friend and wanted to be guided. And since she is related to , it would not be a problem to show her some of Jin''s magical tools. "I might have to tell Erza about this. After all, she will be traveling alone with Jin. Unless you count ...... Reiko. Jin then contacted Erza at 7:00 p.m. in the Shoro Kingdom. <> Since it was unusual for Jin to contact Erza on such a trip, Erza seemed to be suspicious. "No, it''s not like that. ......" Jin asked Ka''Chea to show him around the Pandor continent. Erza did not seem to think anything of it, since she had already told him about it before. Jin said that he thought it was extravagant of her to think that not even a piece of rice cake would be baked for her, but that it would be lonely ....... > he whispered in a small voice. He heard Erza''s voice whispering in a small voice. "Yes, don''t worry. I won''t betray your trust." And it was Berlich Becker who had the heart of Ka?ea in the first place. I''ll see you later." They exchange such a conversation and hang up just before they are about to leave. < and the connection was disconnected. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jin was meeting with Tomax Bartman, the chief administrator of <>, to make a formal offer to <>. "Ah, you want to go and see what is happening on the continent of Pandor. "I know that after the liberation, a temporary administrator is in charge of the administration, but I would like to see it from a cultural point of view, not a political point of view. At the same time, he explained what he wanted to do on the other continent. "I see, so you are mainly interested in cultural ...... and technical matters?" Yes, and I would like to help if I can. Yes, and I would like to help if I can. The has conducted political inspections on several occasions, but this is the first time that cultural and technical inspections have been conducted. So this is an informal visit? Yes, that''s right. If we go publicly, there is a high possibility that we will be hidden or misled, or that we will be shown a ...... mended appearance. "Yes, that''s true. That''s right, Mr. Jin. "...... thank you." The first reason is that it is not in my nature to be ostentatious, but I cannot say that. Besides, it is surely more convenient to know the truth if you are a <>. It''s convenient to be with a local, Katya. I understand. Let''s give Cacha a leave of absence to inspect the Pandor continent. Tomax Bartmann nodded broadly. "Thank you for your prompt attention. I will make sure that the report is filed properly. Since his days at the black-owned company, Tomax Bartmann has been in the habit of submitting reports after leaving the office for training or company business. "I''ll be counting on you." So, accompanied by Fiona Fiasse, a.k.a. Fifi, an apprentice secretary, Jin visited . "It''s been a while, Jin." Eira came out to greet Jin. "Just in time, I have something I''d like you to see. "Oh, hey." With that Eira pulled Jin to a vacant lot behind the laboratory. "Jin-sama, I''ll explain it to Katya-san. Fifi said and sent Jin off. 2298 - - 62-02 Advice, this and that "So, what is it?" Jin asked Eira as they were led out into the clearing. "I thought you should see this!" Eira pointed to a small golem. On its back was a large backpack. "This is ......." "It''s a golem that can fly!" Eira boasted proudly. "<>, let me see you float!" "Yes, Eira-sama." The small golem replied, and the lid of its backpack opened. Then, as if an arm extended from it, a circular wing deployed at the end of the arm. The deployment method is the same as that of a bat umbrella. "Wow!" Jin was amazed at how they had managed to create such a mechanism. The two circular wings deployed, the made a distinctive sound and slowly soared into the sky. "Oh, wow!You did it, Eira! Eira smiled happily at Jin''s words. "Haha, right?We worked hard on it." "Of course you did." "I had to rebuild the backpack 10 times. But it was worth it, Eira said. "Okay, , let''s see you fly around." "Yes, Eira-sama." Following Eira''s instructions, <> slowly flew in a circle around an open area about 10 meters square. "Wow, that''s amazing." Again Jin was impressed. This time he was impressed by <. This time it was , who was taking appropriate actions in response to Eira''s ambiguous instructions. "You''ve made it this far in less than half a month. ...... Eira, you''ve worked hard." "I''m glad to hear you say that Jin. Of course, I wasn''t the only one who worked hard. You had help from Groma and the rest of the Gor lab, didn''t you? You know what I mean? "Sort of. ...... That circular wing opening gimmick is Groma''s, right?" "Yes, yes. ...... you know exactly what I''m talking about. That''s what I''m talking about. Meanwhile, <> rounded the clearing and landed in front of Eira. "Well done, <>." "Hi, Eira-sama." "What do you think, Jin? "Well, I''d like to ......" Jin decided to speak his mind since he was dealing with Eira and the others. "I think circular wings as a means of transportation would be useful. The backpack is also a good idea." "Yes, yes." "The problem is the operational configuration. If we take advantage of the small size and use it for covert activities such as advance research, I''m a little concerned about the noise of the blow engine." "Yeah, that''s my concern too. But I can''t seem to get rid of the sound of this engine. ......" "I think there is a way to use it as a mere wind magic device (magi device), although the efficiency is a little lower." <<> are also used as propulsion devices, so wind speed is also important. Therefore, the diameter of the air intake and the jet is 2:1 to 10:1, and the jet is noisy. Of course, the most important factor of wind speed is the < for propulsion. "Oh, I see. At least for levitation, that might work." "For propulsion, can''t we decide on a dedicated and instead of general-purpose ones?" "I hadn''t thought of that one. ......" "It would probably consume a lot of , but it''s small enough that I think we could manage." "Yes, I suppose so. Sounds interesting. Let''s give it a try. Then Fiona Fierce came to call Jin. She was accompanied by Katya. "Mr. Jin, I have finished explaining to Ms. Katya. Mr. Rasnat, the director of the office, has also signed the documents, so you can leave anytime you want. "Mr. Jin, that''s very kind of you, but are you sure you want to go to ......?" Even at this late stage, Katya was still reserved. "It''s okay. Fife,...... Fiona explained it to you, didn''t she?I have a purpose: to go and check out the situation on the continent of Pandor." Jin reiterated that he wanted Katya to show him around and that he needed to make it look like a trip so that the other side would not be set up. "Cacha, you should be happy!" Eira even said to her, and Cacha finally said, "......, yes, ....... Jin-san, it''s nice to meet you. She smiled as if she had understood. "So you''ll leave tomorrow morning?" "Yes. Is that all right? "Of course. ......Yes, you don''t have to worry about a lot of luggage, do you?" < and that I could handle a few hundred kilometers, I said, "Of course not. I was told, "It can''t be that much. "But, I don''t mind if you bring some souvenirs or something." "...... Is that so?" When I returned home at the end of the year, I was on a airship, so to speak, and my baggage was limited to 20 kilograms or less. "Well, I''d like to buy some souvenirs, please. "Yes. "Not just a little, okay? Jin said, "I don''t have that much money. He said, "I don''t have that much money. "But a souvenir or ......?" Jin also thought of something to bring, "What would be appreciated over there?" He asked Katya. "Well, first of all, books. Especially technical books and stories. Books are heavy. That''s why he couldn''t bring so many back home with him. "And then tools, tools. Even the ones they sell here at are very expensive over there. This is also heavy baggage. "Also, seeds of crops and sweets are appreciated. Seeds are not bulky, so they are appreciated as souvenirs. Sweets are not heavy, but they are bulky, so even though he knew they would be well received, he could not buy them in large quantities to take home. "The other thing is medicines," he said. It seems that medicines in general are in short supply over there, and even over-the-counter medicines are appreciated. Of course, information about the shortage of medicines, tools, and scientific books had been passed on to the <, but as expected, there was no immediate response. "Okay. Thank you." Aside from the books, we can leave the medical supplies to Jin. Tools can be made locally. I''ll hold off on the snacks. He thought that if there was something he could make, he could make it there. "Oh, what about sugar?" I asked just to be sure, "It is about 30% more expensive than here, but it is distributed. He said, "Well, if that''s the case, we don''t have to bring sugar with us. Jin thought, "If that''s the case, I don''t have to bring sugar with me. "The other thing is alcohol," he said. "That''s a staple. Jin decided to bring more sugar. 2299 - - 62-03 In Hurricane At 10:00 a.m. on May 2, the <> carrying Jin and Katya left <> and soared into the sky, seen off by <> members, Tomax Bartman, Manon, Fiona Fierce, and others. >>and soared into the sky. "Take care!" "Have a safe trip!" "Thank you, Jin-dono, for your help." < * * * * * * "Wow. ......" Kathea looks down through the window of the < and is thrilled. "Wasn''t it an airship the last time you were back home?" Jin asks, "That time, it was a , so I couldn''t get up from my seat and walk around from the time it took off until it arrived. He replied, "What? "What?But there can''t be that many people returning to the Pandor continent from , can there?" "No, not really.The last time I went back, there were 15 people besides myself. "Is that so?" "Is that so?" "Yes, that''s right. In addition, there were 10 other people who were substituting for me in various positions in the field." "Ah, so there are people like that." Jin was convinced. Then a thought popped into his head, "Since it was Katya, she must have been nervous all the time because of all the strangers around her. I said to her, "Uu...... you''re right. Ka-cea turned red and turned her head down. Jin decided in a hurry not to play with her too much, lest Berlich bear a grudge against her later. "And for now, you are free to roam around in this ," he says. He tells them. "Only during takeoff and landing, though, it''s dangerous if you don''t stay in your seat. I''ll say something that I don''t have to say, "Yes, I understand. She nodded her head and said, "Yes, I know. She then went to the cockpit, Ms. Hope, it''s been a long time. I''m looking forward to working with you. She said something like, "Mr. Hope, it''s been a long time. Jin thought to himself as he looked at her, "I''m glad to see that you are enjoying yourself, unlike the last time I went back home. "...... but didn''t it take you a long time to get to the Pandor continent when you went back home?" The distance between < and the Pandor continent is roughly 4000 km. At a speed of 100 km/h, it would take 40 hours, or two days. This is an eastbound trip. The westward route via the four duchies of Mimaka, Dalat, Jagus, and Norway would be easier, but would take longer, since they could make an intermediate landing in the Shoro Kingdom or one of the four duchies and stay overnight on the ground. "Yes, it took us two whole days. Jin could guess that they had returned eastward. We will take the same route this time, but I think it will take about 13 hours to get there. "Really, that fast? < Since there is a time difference of about 13 hours between the two points, the eastbound flight will arrive there earlier than the departure time, which is strange. So, we will adjust the time to arrive at the same time, Jin explained. "Oh, so that''s what you mean. I understand." Ka''chia is good at calculations by nature. She was also educated at and understood Jin''s explanation including the time difference without any difficulty. * * * * * * * * * However, most of the eastward flight was over the sea, and the scenery down there was not very different and boring. So Jin decided to ask Katya how the was going for a while. "It was a mess in the beginning. Budget management was sloppy, we were buying things unnecessarily and not using them, or we were buying three or four of the same thing. "Yeah, that''s typical of poor inventory management. "Yes, that''s right!" Jin has done inventory management as part of his job, so he knows how important it is for a company or an organization. He knows how important it is for a company or an organization to manage its inventory, because waste must be reduced in order to achieve results within a limited budget. However, it is highly doubtful that Jin is able to do so now that he has acquired Horaijima. "......Now, the warehouse and the workshop are not as well organized ......, but it''s not that bad, so it''s easy to manage." "You must have had a hard time." "No, not really." In the first place, Katya is suited ...... to this kind of work, or rather, she likes to do it. I''m an indoor person,...... I don''t know if I can say that. "Recently, it has become easier for me because the materials I need are declared in advance. Thanks to this, I am now able to give them advice that I received from the laboratories on both sides of the room." "I didn''t know you went that far. ......" It is Jin''s personal opinion that researchers are generally lazy ......, but it seems that he is not far off the mark as far as <>''s laboratory is concerned. Jin imagined that when he learned that had rapidly improved its management status and that Cachier had played a leading role in this improvement, he thought that he could ...... somehow get at least a glimpse of this improvement. "I heard that he also consulted on the management of the Berlich workshop. Jin muttered to himself, "Oh, my God!You know him? Katya panicked. "No, I heard about it last time. "Oh, did I? While exchanging such comments, the time on board turned to noon. "Let''s have lunch." Reiko brought out sandwiches, a standard snack on the ship. "Oh, thank you." "...... I never thought I''d be able to eat such good food on board, Jin-san is really out of this world." Jin answered to Katya''s murmur and said. "Is that so?I''m just trying to make your stay as comfortable as possible. But Katya retorts. "That is the most difficult part." "I guess that''s how it is. ...... No, that''s how it is." Jin has his own image, technique, and materials. But usually he lacks one or all of them and has to give up. "But isn''t it human to try to be like that?" "Of course we do. but Eira and the others are working hard to make their dreams come true." "Yes. That''s why I want to support them. < had crossed the ocean and was approaching the continent of Pandor. 2300 - - 62-04 Revisiting Tajie Village The with Jin and Katya on board took 13 hours to reach the . It was a long journey, but neither of us had much trouble staying put, so it was peaceful on board. "We''re finally here. ......" "You''ve arrived already?" As for Jin, he did not use the force field generator or the warp gate. Kachea arrived in about a third of the time of the previous trip, so <. This difference in perception was hard to comprehend. "We will soon be over the village of Taj. Hope''s voice echoed through the ship. Reiko called out to them. "Father, Mr. Katya, please take your seats and fasten your seatbelts. "Okay." "Okay." "Yes." Once they are strapped in, the hurricane begins its descent. It is not like an airplane, which can stop and then drop vertically. 5,000 meters, 4,000 meters, 3 5000 meters....... "Oh, I can see the surface now." Now that we are out of the clouds, we can see the ground. 2000 meters,1000 meters,5 2000 meters....... "This is not Tazy village, is it?" "Yes. Yes. It''s a flat area on the shore of Lake Norigi, north of the village of Tadzie. "What about from here?" We''ll take the Tauve Kai. Oh, you mean the blow floaters that were on board with the Southern Cross? "Yes, yes." Jin, Reiko, and Katya take their baggage and souvenirs and use the ladder to get to the <>. Reiko is in charge of piloting. < is to be managed by Hope. There are many wild animals in this area, so it is necessary for her to stay at home. "Well then, Hope, you''ll take care of it. "Bye, master." Hope saw her off, and <> took off. * * * * Many new homes, huh? "Yes. Most of the houses were burned down during the invasion. They were burned down by the invasion of Malchitas. But there were no casualties and the reconstruction was quick because of the help of the afterwards. Nevertheless, there are still some traces of those days. "Oh, I see. I''m sorry." "No, it''s not Mr. Jin''s fault. ......" While they were talking, the < landed in a vacant lot in the village of Tajee. A few curious villagers came to watch, among them the mayor of the village, Sergei, and his daughter, Helga. When Ka?ea was the first to get out of the Tauve Kai.., "Katya!" Helga rushes to him. "Welcome home! "I''m back, Helga!" The two take each other''s hands. Then Helga sees Jin coming down the stairs. "Jin-san!It''s Jin-san, isn''t it?It''s been a long time!" Her face broke out in joy when she saw Jin. "Jin-kun, your memory has returned. You''ve grown up so well." The village head, Sergei, also welcomed Jin. "A lot has happened since you left that time. Well, why are we standing around talking? Would you like to come to my house?" "Yes, by all means." So Jin went to Sergei''s house. He said, "Dad, I''ll be with Katya at Aunt Sonya''s store. Helga said while taking one of Katya''s bags. "Okay." And with that, she and her aunt went to her aunt''s store. By the way, < is secretly watched by mini Reiko. Jin, Sergei, and Reiko walk down the road to the village chief''s house. "...... Jin, who the hell is that girl? On the way, Sergei asks about Reiko. He had thought to wait until he got home, but finally he couldn''t stand it any longer when he saw Reiko carrying a large baggage with a nonchalant look on her face. "This is Reiko. She is an automaton that I made. "Oh, <>?...... I see, Jin, you are a top-notch magical engineer. I see...so you''re powerful because you''re an automaton." He seemed to be convinced. In the meantime, the group arrived at the village chief''s house. Please come in. "Thank you for your time." The layout of the house seems to be almost the same as before. Jin and Reiko are shown into the reception room. It''s a new house, isn''t it? "Yes. After that a terrorist named Guillermo Marchitas attacked us and burned most of the village to the ground. Yes, yes. I heard about it. I''m sure you''re right. It was a big deal. Sergei''s wife, Mina, came in with a cup of tea. "Mr. Jin, it''s been a long time. Should I say welcome back?" "Oh, it''s been a while." Jin stood up and greeted her. "But you know who you are now, don''t you? That''s good. "Thank you for your help." Jin bowed. "Sit down, Meena. You sit down, too. Let''s hear what Jin has to say. You don''t mind, do you? "Yes, of course." So Jin explained to the chief and his wife everything that had happened since they had left the village of Taji. "Well, His Excellency Paelova Sondovik took a liking to me. ......" "...... and was then summoned to the royal capital. ......" "And then to the Duchy of Jagus......" "There he met a man named , and Jin found out who he was. ...... Jin explains his actual path while concealing a few facts. The chief and his wife listened with great interest. 2301 - - 62-05 Return to Home Jin spent about an hour explaining himself to the chief and his wife. This included the fact that he was a . "So you are the only one in the world to hold the title of the third generation of ." No, it was recognized by many nations after that. I am not lying. < No, that''s true. You were at one time in the grip of the powers that be." Sergei thinks about Jin''s position at the time and says he is glad he is safe. "......So, what is the purpose of your visit?" Through a series of explanations, the village head, Sergei, knew that Jin was an important person in the world. Therefore, he did not expect him to simply to this village. "Yes. I''ve settled down and wanted to say hello." "Oh..." "Then I thought it would be a good idea to bring Katya home as well." I see. Jin-kun is a very loyal man after all. Jin, I don''t want you to tell anyone about the investigation. If I told you, you would be so set up that the meaning of the investigation would be reduced to half. "I''m sorry it took me so long to come back to your office. "No, our village was on the verge of destruction due to the incident. It would have been a problem if you had come at such a time. ...... haha, is that not so?" Sergei laughed when he remembered that Jin had used his skills to repair various things in the village. "Oh, yes. If you need repairs, I''m at your service." Remembering those days, Jin laughed too. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, Katya and the others were saying. "They are almost recovered. The last time I went back home, there were still some houses under construction. "Yes, they are. < But I''m glad. "Yeah.It''s a little sad that we don''t have a home anymore. Yes. ...... While we were talking like this, we arrived at Katya''s house. "Auntie!Chair is back!" Before she could say "I''m home", Helga called her mother, Tanya, in a loud voice. "Hello, Chair, welcome home! "Welcome home, Katya!" Her aunt Sonya also shows up. When they were rebuilding the house, her mother Tanya and Aunt Sonya decided to take this opportunity to live together in one house. "Where are your brothers?" Katya has four brothers and four sisters. Three of her brothers and four of her sisters have left home to live in the surrounding villages, while the oldest brother lives here in the village of Tazy. When they rebuilt their house, he came back to live with them. He is out hunting. Many of the men in Tajee are hunters. Helga''s childhood friend Isak was also a hunter. "Come inside, you two, don''t just stand at the door. Sonya chided Katya and Tanya. "That''s right. Come on, come inside. Helga, come in too." "Yes, mother, aunt." Hello. We all sat down at the dining room table. "Oh, here''s a souvenir." Ka-CHEER holds out a package she bought at Avalon. "Oh, thank you. ...... is this a snack?" "Yes." Aunt Sonya''s face lit up. "The sweets that Katya brought me are delicious! Sonya opens the package. What comes out is a square tin of assorted cookies. < store. "Ah, this is it!Tanya, make me some tea! "Yes, sister." Tanya stops Katya, who says she''ll do it herself, and prepares tea. "The tea that Ccea gave me as a gift last time, isn''t it delicious? <. Many people buy it when they go back to their hometowns. They are suitable for souvenirs because they are light. "I''ve brought you some more," said Cacha. Katya took out two cans of tea. One can is for Helga. "Thank you!" Helga received the cans of tea with a big smile on her face. They had a lot to talk about. She explained that she wanted to come back to this village after she had settled down and wanted to say hello to the people who had helped her before. "He wanted to come a little earlier, but he couldn''t because the village was still under reconstruction. "I see. Jin-kun is very conscientious. And you seem to have been a very powerful man. "That''s right, Auntie. Did you say ...... that flies in the sky?I flew on it." Helga joined the conversation and explained about Jin. "That''s right. Jin was one of the top engineers in the world and respected in many countries. Katya also explained that they had discussed. "Oh, I didn''t know that. I guess he was ......." Sonya nods her head remembering Jin''s skill at that time. "I have a lot of say in where I work. "That''s great, isn''t it?" "You''re a good person, ......, but you''re a good person for remembering those days and coming to say hello to me." Tanya nodded. "That''s the kind of person you are, Jin-san. Helga nodded in agreement with Katya''s words. As my aunt says, he is very disciplined. Here, Cacha said something to Helga. She said she would help us if we had any inconvenience or trouble. Oh, about tools and furniture, of course. "Really?" It was still fresh in my memory that Jin fixed my pump, bathtub, and cutlery at that time. It left a strong impression on me. "We''ve recovered a lot, but I wonder if you can fix the problems that we can see now. Sonya says a little anxiously. "I hope I don''t sound brazen. But Katya denied her words. "Jin-san is not like that. Please don''t worry about it. "Yes, yes. He''s at my house right now. I''m sure he''ll ask you to get together with him tonight. Helga also confirmed what Katya had said. 2302 - - 62-06 Celebration of reconstruction That night, the main villagers were gathered in the front yard of the chief''s house. Instead of a bonfire, several balls of light lit by Jin were floating, creating enough light. "Thank you all for coming." Sergei, the village chief, began to speak at the right moment. The murmuring villagers kept their mouths shut, looked at him, and listened. "As you may have already heard, the mage Jin who used to live in this village came back this afternoon. Well, maybe not quite back.Anyway, he came back to visit us again." There was a brief flutter, but it soon quieted down. "Jin, no, Master Jin was a well-known figure in the countries of the East, the countries where the <<> is located! Here the buzz grows louder. "Well," he said, "but he is here again because he was once a guest of ours in this village. Now let me turn to Jin-dono. At this point Jin opened his mouth. "It has been a long time, gentlemen. I have been to many countries since then, but I will never forget what you have done for me here. A bow was made at this point. There was a round of applause. "I know who I am now." He doesn''t say, "My memory has returned. "And now that I have recovered from the incident, or the disaster, or whatever you want to call it, I have come here to thank you for your help. The audience applauded again. "I will stay here for a few days. As before, if you need anything, such as repairing tools, please let me know. I will be at the village headman''s house. Three times there was applause. "Well, that was a real gin, wasn''t it? "You look well." "You look well." "He said he had been to many countries, but I guess he had to go around." "But you''re back where you belong." "Thank you for remembering to visit me." Whispers are exchanged. "Well, I brought some sake as a souvenir, so please enjoy it." Jin pointed to a cask of wine from the Shoro Imperial Palace that he had prepared. It was not as expensive as Olsen''s 3450, but it was the same Olsen wine, a white wine that Reinhardt also liked. "Also, we have fruit juice for those who don''t like alcohol. This is Citran juice and Apurul juice made in Hourai Island. "Oh! That''s great!" Here the village head again raised his voice. "That''s why, everyone!Let''s have a party tonight to celebrate the recovery. Jin brought smoked meat and dried fish, so eat as much as you can! This comment was greeted with loud cheers. Tables were hurriedly set, plates were prepared, and cups were set out. Jin, along with Reiko, prepared the wine barrels, smoked meat, and dried fish. Of course, Reiko carried the wine barrels. The dried fish was grilled on a grill similar to a barbecue grill. Smoked meat can be eaten as it is, but it tastes better grilled. Other vegetables and meat from the village were also brought in, making for a grand feast. It seemed that no one had had a good time since the village was burned down, and everyone was overjoyed to have a good time for the first time in a long time. The cups were distributed to all the guests. Everyone''s cups were filled with wine and juice. When all was ready, the banquet began with a few words from Sergei, the village headman. "Cheers, everyone! Cheers! Cheers! Jin increases the number of balls of light. The darker the light, the more dangerous it is to use the grill for grilling meat and fish. "Hey, Jin!" Then came Helga''s childhood friend Isak. "Long time no see!I''m glad to see you''re doing well. How''s your little girl at ......? Isak tilted his head at the sight of Reiko standing by Jin''s side. "This is Reiko, the automata I made. "My name is Reiko." "Amazing!She looks just like a human! "Heehee ......" Many of the villagers, who had probably seen Reiko carry a large wine barrel with ease, were again impressed when she was told that she was an automata. "So you''re called Reiko," said one villager. "She''s so cute!" As soon as Reiko was told that she was an automata made by Jin, the women flocked to her. Reiko said nothing, as the praise was a credit to Jin, but she firmly refused anyone who tried to pat her on the head. Only your father is allowed to pat me," she said. He said. Meanwhile, Helga, Katya, and Isak had gathered at Jin''s place, and Katya''s mother and aunt, namely Tanya and Sonya, had also arrived. "Jin-kun ...... no, should I call you Jin-sama already?" "Please don''t. I haven''t changed at all, so please call me the same as before. I see. Then, Jin-san. After that exchange, "Thank you very much for all the help you have given to my daughter," he said. Tanya, her mother, thanked me. She said, "No, no, you helped me a lot, and it''s mutual. Jin said, "That''s not true. She is a shy girl, and I''m sure she would have been very anxious and helpless if she had been taken to the royal capital by herself. Aunt Sonya also says. Right, Katya? When asked, Katya shook her head. "When I was taken to Paelova''s place, and when I was sent to the capital. I was so relieved to have you with me, Jin-san. "I see. I''m glad I could be of help. At that time, Jin himself was full of such thoughts as whether this world was the original world or not, and how to return home. Jin was also thankful that Katya, who knew more about this world than he did, was there to help him. "So, Jin-san, what was the name of Cachair on the other side ......<<>? Isn''t there a nice guy over at ......?" "Boo!......Geez!" At Helga''s words, Katya, who was about to drink her juice, blew up and choked profusely. "Heh, Helga-chan ......" "It''s not <>, it''s <>." Jin, intoxicated by the atmosphere, blurts out something like that. "Jin-san... ......" "Oh, that''s it!Tell me more!" Katya turns red and Helga is eager to hear more. Helga seems to have been drinking wine, not juice, and her face is red. Jin said, "If you''ve told us so much, let''s finish the story, "His name is Berrich Becker, who runs a workshop in the Shoro Kingdom, and he is a promising engineer. When he came to , it seems we hit it off. I told him the whole truth. Needless to say, this got around and drunken people gathered around me and used me as a side dish for their banquet. ....... 2303 - - 62-07 Finishing the reconstruction The day after the banquet. Jin woke up refreshed and looked out of the window of his room at the dawn sky. There was a message, "Jin-kun, are you awake? Sergey came to check on Jin. He looked like he had a hangover and a headache, so he told Reiko to put and on his face, "Oh!I feel refreshed!It''s amazing! He was overjoyed. "By the way, is there a doctor ...... in the village?" "Well, I''m sorry to say that we don''t have our own healer. He comes from the royal capital for two days a month. ...... "I see." Jin made a note in his mind to <. Later, before breakfast, Jin looked around at the villagers suffering from hangovers. "Ugh, my head hurts. ......" "Reiko, please detoxify my head." The pain is relieved by removing acetaldehyde, one of the causes of headache. "Yes, father. <>" And if you lightly adjust yourself with <>... "Oh, I feel better now. Thank you, Jin-san. ......" No wonder my head feels clear. As expected, we couldn''t go all over the village, so we stayed in the neighborhood of the mayor''s house. Later, after having breakfast with the mayor and his wife and Helga, Jin asked, "What are you going to do today? The chief asked Jin, "What are you going to do today? The chief asked Jin, "What are you going to do today? "I would like to go around the village. I would like to go around the village. "It won''t look like it did when I was there, but I''d like to help finish the restoration ...... if there''s anything I can do. "That would be great. I''d be happy to help if I can. ...... Helga, can I trust you to show me around?" Yes, I can. I''m sure that Katya will be here later and we can show you around the village. I''ll show you around the village. ......, although I''m sure that Katya doesn''t know much about the new village either. In that sense, Katya will be in a position to be guided around the village. "So, first of all, is there anything wrong with this place?No, I''d prefer not to have any. When Jin asked this, the mayor replied, "Oh, ...... it''s just a small thing," he prefaced. The mayor prefaced his question with the following words, "The stairs to the second floor creak. It''s fine during the daytime, but at night it might wake up the sleepers. "I see. May I take a look at it? "Yes, by all means. So, Jin investigates the staircase. "Ha ha, this is ......." In general, there are several causes of squeaky floors and stairs, but the root cause is deflection of the planks. When the weight of the board deflects and returns, it rubs against the board and makes noise. Deflection cannot be eliminated, but it can be reduced by various means. For example, thicker planks and reinforcing materials can be used. The staircases of the village head''s house had rather thin planks. This may be the result of saving some lumber because of the need to build many buildings at once. Jin explained his diagnosis. "Oh, so that''s the reason. I guess it can''t be helped then." Sergei, the village head, half gave up, but Jin denied it. "No, no, there are still ways to do it. He then invoked his engineering magic. "<>". The most versatile of all the reinforcement types. It is a magic that forms a network of <> between molecules and increases the overall bonding strength. Its elasticity is the biggest difference from . Jin''s lasts semi-permanently. Moreover, the effect is . "It''s done." I see. Let''s try it! Helga, who had come with me, ran up the stairs and came down again, but there was no creaking sound. "Wow, that''s great!Thank you, Jin-san!" "Is there anything else?" Jin asks Sergey. Sergey thinks for a moment before answering. "Well, there are some minor things like ...... the door gap is a little wide or the drawers of the wardrobe are too tight, but there are no major problems. "I see. Let''s fix it." "You heard me!It''s not a big problem, is it? Yes, it is. Yes, but even such small defects can become bothersome after long use. Jin then adjusted two door gaps and three drawers of the chest of drawers. "Thank you, Jin." "Thank you, Mr. Jin." Both Sergey and Helga were pleased. "Well, I''ll go and get Katya, then I''ll show you around the village. "Yes, please." Good morning! Good morning, Mr. Jin. Good morning. After about five minutes of waiting, KaChea arrived with Helga. "Well, Jin-san, let''s go for a tour of the village. "Yes, please." Jin, Reiko, Helga, and Katya headed for the south of the village. "This area was the first to be hit. Helga said, "I really thought it was over at that time. "Some people still dream about it," she said. "Well, ...... I guess so." At this point Jin <> and filled in a second note in his mind. "Hey Jin, thank you for yesterday. "Jin-kun, are you making the rounds?" Everyone I met, everyone I passed, called out to Jin. As he walked along, he came to a wheat field. "The fields are south of here, aren''t they? The wheat field was lush and green. "Is there a problem?" "Yes, there is. There is a waterwheel to grind flour." "A waterwheel. ......" When they make flour, they grind it with a millstone, which is powered by a waterwheel. "There''s only about a month left until the harvest, so I thought we could do something before then. "You have a river where you can set up the waterwheel, don''t you? "Well, they used to use a waterwheel until they burned it down. That''s true. Jin, as expected, has never built a waterwheel. Or rather, he does not know how the rotation of the waterwheel is transmitted to the millstone. He then wondered if there was anything he could do to help. 2304 - - 62-08 Visits to villages Admitting that he could make a waterwheel, but not really knowing ...... how to transmit its rotation to the millstone, Jin decided to change his mind. "Are there any millstones left?" "Yes. It''s stone, so even if the water mill was destroyed, the millstone would be fine." Helga replies. "Good, that''s good. So where is the millstone? "For now, it''s in the corner of the square. There are four millstones in use: two are turned by a waterwheel and two are turned by hand. Let''s go there. "This way." Helga led Jin to the square. The square is located in the south of the village and serves as a marketplace when vendors come and as a collection point during the harvest. In one corner of the square, there were four stone mills stacked on top of each other. "Huh?...... Oh, these two have been roasted over the fire." The colors were completely different. The one that seemed to have been roasted by fire was literally dark brown. Two of the hand millstones were burnt. The millstones for the water mill were located near the river, so it seems that they were not damaged by the fire. "Reiko, take me down." "Yes, Father." Even though the millstones were hand-cranked, they were 30 centimeters in diameter and weighed more than 30 kilograms in total. Reiko easily carried two of them and brought them in front of Jin. "Wow, that''s amazing!" "That''s amazing. ......" Reiko carries two 30 kg millstones, each with one hand. The millstones here have a structure of short cylindrical members stacked one on top of the other. Reiko is holding the lower part of the millstones because the upper part is divided into upper and lower parts when she holds the upper part, and the way she holds the millstones is like pinching the lower corner of the millstone with her fingertips. The villagers who passed by also rolled their eyes. The inside is not burnt. Since the surface of the grinding seems to be fine, Jin scrapes off a thin layer of the surface of the millstone with . "Wow, it''s beautiful now." "That''s amazing. ......" The difference between Katya and Helga''s reaction was probably due to the total time they spent watching Jin''s work. Anyway, although the millstone became about two millimeters smaller, it regained its original appearance in about 30 seconds. "Can we work a little with these two units?" "Yes, we can. Thank you, Mr. Jin. Helga is pleased, "I''d like to have a grinder''s hut. Katya is calm. The wheat has to be ground indoors or the wind will blow the flour around. We also need dust masks. Jin thinks for a moment that he has been in such a dusty and powdery environment recently. "As expected, we don''t have enough materials to build a hut. Since this is not the island of Hourai, we cannot just go out and cut down some trees. Fortunately, there is still more than a month before the wheat harvest. We should be ready during that time. >, Jin writes the third note in his mind. The four millstones are to be stored in the livestock barn under construction, as it is not advisable to leave them out in the rain. It is empty because the livestock themselves have not yet arrived. Jin writes and the fourth item in his mental note. * * * * Jin and the others then head to the east side of the village. "This way is the river and the washing place, right?" A reservoir had been built with water drawn from the Nosina River, and dirty laundry was done there. "We used to use the water from the well and dump it all over the place," Cachair says. Kachair says. "If we think about the environment, we have to dispose of sewage properly. "Right." The reservoirs we came to were built under the guidance of <>, and they were quite good. There is one pond upstream, where they have started to raise trout. The next level had a washing area, and two sedimentation ponds were built downstream of the washing area. "Will the settling ponds be treated in any way?" Jin asked Helga about the question. "Yes. They haven''t done anything yet, but before the summer, they''re going to install a purification system.She said they''re going to install a magical tool for purification before summer." "I guess that''s good." Jin was relieved that this did not seem to be a problem. "Did he say anything about what to do with the mud that accumulates in the settling pond?" Jin asked one more question that had been bothering him. "Well, I heard that the water should be drained before winter and the mud should be mixed with fallen leaves and used in the field. "Oh, I see." Jin agreed that the purified mud would have a lot of organic matter in it, so mixing it with humus might make a good soil ....... "But I think it''s too acidic." "Oh, I think he said that it would be good to mix eggshells and crushed bones from the meal." "Would that be okay?" Bone meal is probably calcium phosphate, which is slightly alkaline, right?Jin thought. "It would be better to mix in some grass and wood ash if possible." The grass and wood ashes contain a lot of potassium and are definitely highly alkaline. In the case of humus and bone meal, I felt that the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus would be too high and potassium would be insufficient. Incidentally, nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium are called the three elements of fertilizer. "Can I use ashes from the hearth?" "Yes, I think so." Since the only fuel used in this village is firewood, the ashes are , so there is no problem in using them. Here, Jin made a mental note of the fifth item, . * * * * * * * * * * From there, Jin and the others walked along the Nosina River upstream, that is, to the north of the village. "The riverbed doesn''t seem to have changed much. Jin and the others walk around the north side of the village, looking at the riverbank where they searched for the rough whetstone before. "Were the fish all right?" "Yes, that''s the thing. Most of the animals have escaped, so we''ve been eating only fish for a while. Helga said. But fortunately there was more fish than we could take up. "Maybe fish farming is very suitable for us. Jin made a note in his mind to < as well. 2305 - - 62-09 Collecting famous trees The second half of our visit to the village of Tazy is now underway. We went around from the north to the west of the village. "There are so many trees around here. Trees over 100 years old make up the forest. From what Jin saw, the timber is of high quality. There is one disappointment. < could be extracted. "But ......" "<>. ......" It''s been a long time since I''ve seen a yew tree, but the leaves are familiar and the fruit is still there. It looked just like the tree that used to be used as a hedge in the institution where Jin grew up. "There are a lot of trees growing here, aren''t there? Jin-san? Sorry. Helga, what do you know about these trees? Alagi. The red part is edible, but the seeds are poisonous. It''s like a yew in that way too. Have you ever used this tree for lumber? "Well, I don''t think they use it for building material because it doesn''t yield very long lumber. Other than that, I don''t know. I''m sorry. "Oh, no, that''s okay. You''ve been very helpful. Jin followed up by saying that he didn''t expect Helga to know everything, so he hoped she wouldn''t mind. "Do you mind if I cut down one of these trees?" "Yes, I don''t mind at all. With the approval of the chief''s daughter, Jin picks out a suitable tree. It is a tree that grows alongside the vacant lot. He decides that it will be easy to clear the branches and saw the wood after cutting it down, "Reiko, please. Reiko, please", he instructs. Then he asked Helga and Ka?ea to leave for a moment. "Father, I will go." Reiko nodded, and when she was sure that Helga, Katya, and Jin were far enough away, she unusually used her magic. "<>" "Kyah!" "Kyah!" Helga and Katya were surprised by the wind magic that was suddenly released, even though they were far enough away. More than that, their eyes widened at the sight of an aragi tree that had a diameter of about 50 centimeters being cut down. No, it was not exactly cut down. Reiko had held the trunk and laid it down gently in the clearing before it fell. Jin lightly clasped his hands together in front of the tree. Somehow, he wanted to do that. "Thank you, Jin-san." Helga suddenly thanked him, and Jin was surprised. And he did it in honorific form. What?" The lumberjacks in Tazi Village traditionally pay respect to the trees they cut down. Ka-cea explained. "No, not only trees, but also birds, fish, beasts, and all ...... crops. "That''s right." "So you saw Mr. Jin paying respect to the tree you cut down, so you thought he didn''t ignore your traditions." Helga nodded yes, yes, yes. "I didn''t know that. But not because I knew, but because I wanted to." Jin explained honestly. "Well, ...... Jin-san, is that the kind of person you are?" Helga nodded her head. She remembered the short time Jin had stayed with them. "......You didn''t cut down any trees, and you weren''t hunting." "Yes." In addition, he did not have the mental capacity, he confided honestly. "...... Well, that''s okay. It''s good to know that Jin-san feels the same way as we do. Helga looked a little happy. "Well then, let''s get rid of the branches here..." Since engineering magic works on the cut down tree, he and Reiko work together to remove the branches. The thicker branches can be used for carving, so they are reserved for that purpose. "What should we do with the thin branches ......? Reiko says to Hitoshi, who is pondering what to do with the thin branches, "Father, we can make spoons and chopsticks," she said. and gathered up some suitable branches for us. The twigs and leaves were useless, so they were left there in the hope that they would return to the soil. Hitoshi took the big branches and Reiko took the trunks. And Helga and Caciea gave us a thin branch . "Heavy ......" The thick branches must have weighed about 50 kilos in total. It''s quite heavy. Still, it was only a 15-minute walk to the village, so Jin managed to bring them back home. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hey, hey, what the heck is that? Reiko was carrying the cut down aragi trunk in an upright position, so it stood out from a distance. The log, which was about 7 meters long, was moving. "......This is ......" "Wow, this is amazing." I was surprised twice because the log was being carried by a slender girl ...... dressed in a samurai costume, Reiko. The villagers are surprised three times when she lays it down in the clearing almost noiselessly. "Jin-kun, what''s this?" Sergei, the village chief, heard the commotion and came over. "Ah, Mr. Mayor, you''re in the right place. Actually, it''s ......." Jin explains the use of this tree. "This wood is dense and strong, so I think it''s good for making carvings, tableware, and small furniture. "I see." Jin decides to use his engineering magic to saw a thicker branch as a sample. "<>" The moisture content must be reduced to about 20 percent, because if there is too much moisture, the wood will deform as it dries (called ). However, rapid drying can cause <> in the wood, so we decided to stop at about 50 percent and saw the lumber. <>>>>>" The bark is removed and the tree is cut into pieces of appropriate size. In this case, since it is a large branch and will be used for carving, three pieces of approximately 10 cm square and 30 cm long were made. The rest of the wood can be used as scrap wood, so I will try to save as much as possible. "Oh ......" The village chief is muttering something, but Jin, who has entered into the manufacturing mode, does not care and proceeds with the work. "<>" After drying again, the moisture content is reduced to 15%. "That should do it." When Jin finished, he turned around to see the villagers frozen in surprise, the village chief and Helga looking amazed and dismayed, and Ka-cea smiling at him. 2306 - - 62-10 From now on in Tazee Village After a few moments, the villagers, who had frozen in surprise, came to their senses. "......Well, it''s Jin-dono. ......" Jin began to explain, thinking that it had been a while since he had heard that phrase. "I think we can make a high value-added craft using this wood." "Hmm." "For example, you can make a spoon out of these scraps of wood. ><><><>" "Oh, oh?" Three wooden spoons were made in an instant. "I used engineering magic this time, but you could have shaved them by hand." Jin said, "You can also paint the spoons with paint since they absorb water. I had some left over from taking the spoon off, "<>" Jin made a small sculpture. It is in the shape of a small bird. "Where I come from, we call it a . It''s a kind of accessory, a mascot. "Oh, this is nice." Sergei said. "If you attach it to your personal belongings, it can be both an accessory and a marker," Sergei said. "Yes, that''s right. In that case, it would be better to make it so that no two are alike. "I see." "Now all we have to do is ......<><>" "Oh?" Jin now uses another piece of wood to create a statue about 30 centimeters high. The image is the one that remains in Jin''s memory. The details are hazy, though, "It''s somewhat mysterious, isn''t it? said Katya, who looked into the statue, "It seems to be well done. "I see, with something this size, you can make quite a few if you cut one out. Sergei, the village head, seemed to understand what Jin meant. "Then we can make small boxes out of these thin sheets. Of course, the box will be engraved. "Hmmm. Anyway, we can make something small with high added value. Thank you, Mr. Jin, that''s very helpful. "You''re welcome." Anyway, Jin was happy to know that this Tajee village now had one more way to earn foreign currency. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was a little past noon. The group hurried back to the village chief''s house. "I''m sorry, Jin-san. Helga, our guide, apologized in the kitchen. He had been thinking of making a round of the village just before noon. "No, it''s okay." Jin answered while looking at Helga''s hand. The reason for the delay, Jin thought, was that he had been cutting down the tree. Helga then said, "I had a little time to spare," he says. Helga says, "I had a little bit of leeway. "You have to be able to afford it," he says. Jin''s tongue was still tied behind his back, but he knew that not just anyone could do that. "Helga has always been very considerate like that. KaChea also praised Helga. Helga does not stop her hand while she talks. "Yes, that''s good. "Yes, that''s good." "Okay." What she is doing is baking pancakes. This is actually one of the souvenirs Jin brought. He brought a large amount of Horai Island''s , because he wanted something that would last for a long time and be enjoyed by many people. Flour from Horai Island is mixed with a small amount of baking soda from Kaina Village as an expander, and a little sugar is added. Mix it with water or milk, knead it, and cook it in a frying pan, and you have a simple pancake. Of course, there are a few tricks. Flour contains a protein called gluten, so don''t stir the batter too much, because if you knead it too much, it will become sticky and not fluffy enough. This is similar to the trick to fry tempura batter quickly. And do not make it too thick, because if you try to cook it too thick, the filling may remain raw. Finally, the pan should be covered with a lid and heated slowly. "Is this what you want?" "Yes, yes, it''s just like that." With a few tricks, anyone can make this snack and snack. "It''s done!" The dumplings are placed on a plate and cut with a knife. "Yes, it''s good. "Yes, it''s good." "That''s good." The dough is spread with butter and eaten with honey, molasses, or maple syrup, depending on your taste. Maple syrup is scarce in Tazy village, so I used it this time. "Bon apptit! Helga was the first to put her fork in her mouth. Her face contorted as if she was going to melt. "Yummy!" The dish eaten in the village of Tajee was a thin, baked crepe-like dough made of flour and coated with butter and honey. No expanders were used. The dough was well-kneaded, so it was too chewy and sticky instead of crunchy, which would have been a mismatch. However, the < that Jin brought with him was something that anyone could make delicious pancakes if they followed certain procedures. "There''s still plenty left, so please share with everyone." "Yes, thank you, Jin-san! Helga, who was the first to finish her pancake, replied happily. Her smile reminded me once again that delicious food makes people smile. "About 200 kilograms or so." Hope and Reiko are carrying 20 10-kilo bags of pancake mix. "Thank you." As the daughter of the village head, Helga is often in charge of organizing events and festivals. She hoped to be able to serve these pancakes at such occasions. They are easy to make and delicious. "Milk? "The corral will be ready soon, and then you can get it at ......." "Oh, yes, that''s right." The future of Tajee Village is very promising, Jin thought. 2307 - - 62-11 That night The long spring days are drawing to a close and the village of Tazi is beginning to be shrouded in dusk. The explanation of Jin''s work was over. "Thank you for your hard work, Jin-san. Helga and Ka-cea thanked me for my hard work. "Since Jin-san came, it seems like our conversation has progressed at a rapid pace. Jin had come with that intention, so it was only natural. That night, Jin was treated to dinner at Ka-Chea''s parents'' house. Katya had insisted that he come. The meal was prepared by her mother Tanya, her aunt Sonya, and Katya. Half of the dishes were prepared in the style of the Taj village, the other half in a stateless style, as if they had learned it in . Around the table are Jin, Reiko, Katya, Tanya and Sonya. I had explained to them that Reiko was an automata, but they begged me to at least sit down. And there were two more people at the table. "Nice to meet you again, Jin-san." With Pavel, Katya''s brother and Tanya''s eldest son, "It''s nice to meet you." And his wife, Inessa. Their bellies are huge. Inessa was in the last month of pregnancy, so she did not participate in the cooking. Jin wished he had brought Elsa or at least Lise or Enge in such a situation. (No, I might still be able to manage...) Jin pretended to stand up in the bathroom...... actually, but then he contacted the old man using . "Old man, that''s why I need you to transfer a medical automaton to the inside of the ." to you. "Yes, my lord." < series are female medical automata. We are developing this series because we are concerned about the lack of medical personnel in today''s world, especially in <. Until now, Saki had been testing , but Jin thought it would be a good idea to have it work elsewhere. Back at the cafeteria, after a short chat, Tanya and Sonya withdraw to wash dishes. Katya remained in the dining room to talk to Jin. Inessa went back to her room to take care of herself. Her husband Pavel accompanied her. Jin, who had seen several such women in the village of Kaina, was a little worried ...... if she gave birth in this condition. So he decided to casually ask her. "Is there a midwife in this village?" I have already confirmed this morning that there are no medical personnel, but I wonder if there are any midwives. "We don''t have an official midwife, but my mother and aunt can do it to some extent." And Kachair. "I see. ......" It is said that experienced people in the village attend the birth as midwives. This is not an uncommon practice in rural villages, "To reduce the mortality rate of newborns, we still need a doctor," Jin muttered a little regretfully. Jin muttered a little regretfully. Katya agrees. "Yes. ......" Jin then made a proposal in a very natural way. "My has a medical automaton on board in case of emergency. Normally it''s stopped, but I heard during the day that there''s a shortage of doctors, and I think it would be a good idea to lend it to you for a while." "Jin-san, by all means, please ......." Katya was the first to beg. She must have been worried about her sister-in-law. "Okay. ...... Reiko, will you bring her to me?" "Yes, father." Hitoshi and Reiko went to the parked . They were going to use it to go to the Hurricane. Reiko can see in the dark of night. "Then, take this at your side instead of me. Reiko hands Jin the mini Reiko she has been keeping watch over. "Okay." Reiko confirms that the mini Reiko is lying on Jin''s head, "Well, I''m off." And with that, she disappeared into the darkness of the night. "...... Jin-san, who is that girl?" When Jin returned, he saw the mini Reiko for the first time and Ka-cea rolled her eyes. "It''s a mini Reiko." "I see that ...... Jin-san can even make small automatic dolls (automata)." The <> is currently developing a 40-centimeter-tall small golem, but <> is only about 30 centimeters tall, and she is an automata. Kachia has realized once again that the technological gap with Jin is still very large. "But that''s why you are , isn''t it?" Together with Helga, Cacacea was one of the earliest observers of Jin''s technology in this era. "The more you look at it, the more amazing it is. ......" Cacha sighed when she saw the mini Reiko. Although he does not make things himself, he has a keen eye for insight and appreciation. "I have a feeling that the material is different." "You''re right." More than 80% of Jin''s products are made of high-quality materials, and he uses them sparingly. But at the same time, having seen how used to be able to do things with less materials, Ka-CHEER thought that technology must be at the foundation of his work. Then Tanya and Sonya arrived, having finished washing the dishes. Mini Reiko quickly hides. She decided that if too many people saw her, there would be a complication. Hence, Tanya and Sonya are treating Jin without noticing anything. In the midst of such a conversation, "Jin-san, can you tell me what you have been doing since you left this village?She doesn''t talk to me much." "Sure." And so it came to pass. "Mother ......" Jin guessed that she must be embarrassed to talk about herself, but at the same time, he wanted to let the mother, who must have been worried about her daughter for a long time, know what was going on. So, I''ll tell you all about it. Originally, it would take me all night to tell the whole story. "...... So, Kachea was discovered to have a talent for mathematics ......." "Hmm, I see." "...... and his talent for budgeting was also discovered on the other side of the world. ......" "I knew it. ......" "Jin Saan...... already, that''s enough......." Tanya and Sonya look happy to hear the story. In contrast, Katya''s face is red. Jin sees this and decides it''s time to move on, "Anyway, your talent in accounting is very valuable," he said. He closed the conversation by saying, "Anyway, Cachier''s talent in accounting is very valuable. And then.., "Father, I''m home. Reiko came back. Of course, she was bringing with her. "Mr. Jin, who is this? Who in the world is this? Tanya and Sonya are surprised. "Mr. Jin, is this the medical ...... you were talking about?" Katya also looks surprised to see for the first time. "This is a medical automata called . Enju 2 greets Jin as he is introduced to her. "My name is Enju 2. It is a pleasure to meet you. Please take the time to get to know me. As a side note, the mini Reiko returned to in place of Reiko. As they say, "preparedness is a virtue," and that night Inessa''s condition remained unchanged and the night passed peacefully. 2308 - - 62-12 Visit of the Administrator The next morning, after breakfast at Katya''s parents'' house, Jin, Reiko, <>, and Katya go to the village head Sergei''s house. "Good morning, sir. "Oh, good morning, Jin. ...... Who''s that? He''s a medical automaton. A medical automaton? Yes. Jin told us that he had activated the medical automata that he had prepared for the <> because he had heard yesterday that medical services were still not up to par, and he was worried because Ka-cea''s sister-in-law Inessa was in her last month of pregnancy. He then said that he would lend it to her until medical staff could be dispatched from <>. "Oh, that''s very kind of you. The village head''s house would be the best place to station them. Jin thought that would be fine, since it would be the easiest to understand. "Mr. Sergei, thank you very much for your help. "Mr. Enge, right? It''s nice to meet you too. And Jin said, "So, if you are not feeling well, please let me see you." And then he says, "Please let those who are not feeling well see me. And then, "How about the consultation fee? ......" Sergey asks him, "What about the consultation fee? If I give free medical treatment, I will be in trouble when healers are dispatched in the future. "I know most of that. "Oh, I see." But since Cacha said that she also knows a little bit about the compensation for medical services in , I will leave it to her. Jin was relieved that Cacha was there, and thought that he had made the right decision in bringing her along. Anyway, Jin was a little relieved to know that the shortage of doctors would be solved. * * * * * * * * * * * * * However, it was not quite a happy ending, "Chief, are you there? A man who looked like a government official came into the room saying, "Hey, is the village headman here? "Oh, this is the superintendent. Jin guessed that the person who came was apparently the local administrator. "Is there something wrong?" "...... but first, who is this person?And who is that woman over there?" He looked at Jin and Enju 2 and said, "This is my guest Jin. This is our guest Jin-dono. This is Jin-dono''s medical automaton, Enju-2, whom Jin-dono lent us. "Oh, ......." The superintendent looked at Jin and Enju 2 with a rude attitude. "What is it?" Jin frowned because his attitude was so unpleasant, "What is your name? Jin frowned and asked, "What is your name? "Hmm?I am Gorn Maui von Keima, the Northern Administrator of the Merkana Autonomous Region. You are from the Shoro Kingdom? "Yes, but you said ...... you''re a djinn.Jin?Jin Nido ......?No, sir? Gorn finally realizes who Jin is and starts to panic. "Yes, but..." "I beg your pardon. < Now Gorn starts to be flattered. "......Oh, forget it, if there''s something wrong, just tell me what it is." Jin decided that this was not someone he wanted to deal with for too long. He has one more thing to report when he gets back. "Yes, sir. ...... well, the neighboring village of Fan has been attacked by bandits. "What?What''s the damage? "No fatalities, one seriously injured, and many slightly injured. ...... What about the bandit? "They took the food and ran away." This was a serious incident. The straight line to Fan village is 35 kilometers, and the road is about 40 kilometers. It would take one day to reach the village on foot. There is a high possibility that bandits will come to this village too. More than that, "Are the seriously wounded ...... safe?" This is a more worrisome question. On the other hand, Mr. Ghosn said, "We are in the process of arranging for a healer, and he should arrive this evening. He replied. "......" To this answer, Jin replied, "Then we might not make it in time. We''ll go to Hwangchun. ......Katya, will you come with us?" "Uh, yes." The reason for this was that we guessed that Kachair might know someone in Juan Village. After all, Jin did not know Fangchun at all. "Helga, please tell that to the people at the house in Cacha." "Okay." "Okay." Okay, let''s go! Hitoshi ran out with Reiko. Katya followed them. Before she could catch up with him.., Reiko, tell the old man to send a or to the .) < is on loan to Tajee village, and Jin wants another automata for medical use. (Okay, I understand.) <> is on loan to Tazy village. ...... father, the old man is sending .) I understand.) When he had finished, Ka-cea caught up with him. They were just at the parking place of the TAUBE KAITO. Reiko starts to prepare for the launch of the TAUBE Kai. "Jin-san, do you think the village of Taji will be safe?" "That''s why I left behind. Even that can generate five times the power of a normal human being. "I see...is that so? ......" Jin and the others then went into the <> with <>. "Hope, what about Enju 3?" Yes, Jin-sama, I''m here. Okay. "Yes, what?...... Enge ......?" But Katya is surprised to see . "Ah, this is . <. "Oh, I didn''t know that. "Oh, I didn''t know that. ...... Hope will continue to guard the . But intervene if there''s any danger to the village of Tazi. "Yes, sir." Jin gives the order in case of emergency, and the medical kit is loaded. Reiko is left in charge of the ship. Enju 3 got on board with another medical kit. Jin and Katya take their seats again. "Now, we will launch the <>." Reiko says, and the ship starts up again. The destination is Juan village. 2309 - - 62-13 In Hwang Village The flight to Fan Village took about 20 minutes, flying at 100 kilometers per hour. "Does it look safe?" As far as we could see from the air, there were no broken or burned buildings. Are there many human casualties? "Maybe. Anyway, let''s go down. Where is the best place? "Yes, I think so. I think it would be better to go down to the outskirts of the village. "Yes, that''s right." So Jin landed the in a clearing to the west of Juan village. Everyone got off, and Reiko and carried the medical kit on their backs. Jin said, "Well, unlike the village of Taj, I''m not sure about leaving them here. He said, "Can Mini Reiko pilot the ship? He asked. "She''s fine. She can float and move slowly. "I see. Then, let''s have her float in the sky and wait for us. "Okay." But Jin said that he could not be sure yet, so he contacted the old man via Reiko just in case. "Mr. Lao, your father has something for you. < with a , and if the bandits try to take it, he would leave it to you to take care of it. Now there is no need to worry about <. * * * * * * Jin and the others, with Ka-CHEER in the lead, walk through the woods toward Hwang village. There is a wooden fence outside the forest, and inside the fence is Fan Village. "By the way, do you know anyone in this village? "I have been here several times with my aunt, so there are a few people I have really met. Jin and the others enter the village, talking like this. "It''s not very lively. Although we could not see it from the sky, when we actually entered the village, we found that there was not a single person walking around outside, and it was very quiet. "Jin-san, let''s go to the village headman''s house first to ask him about the situation. "Yes, let''s go to the village headman''s house. Following Ka-cea''s opinion, Jin and the others set out for the village headman''s house, which was located in the center of the village. The doors and windows of the houses were tightly closed, indicating that the after-effects of the bandit attack were severe. Occasionally, there were eyes peering out through the boarded-up windows. "It''s worse than I thought." Jin thought, "This might be a case already. In the meantime, they arrive at the village chief''s house. Ka-CHEER rang the knocker. "Who is it?" The door immediately opened and the village headman with a bandage on his left arm appeared. "Oh, you are ...... from the next village. "I''m Katya." "Yes, you are Kachia, aren''t you? What''s up today? The superintendent told me that you were attacked by bandits. "That''s right." The mayor nodded with a disappointed look on his face. "There is one seriously wounded person, so we have brought someone with an automaton for medical treatment. "Oh, I see!Is that him? Yes. <, Mr. Jin. Since it is more convenient to say "related to Avalon" than "Magecraft Meister" around here, Katya introduces him in such a way. "Oh, you''ve been to ...... before?" "Yes, thank you for your help that time." Jin had stayed one night with Jed Aramold, the secretary of Paelova Sondvik, the regional administrator of the Principality of Mercana. The chief of the village remembered that time. "Hello, my name is Jin Nido. My name is Jin Nido. I''m sorry for your trouble. I just happened to be in the next village and heard about it from the superintendent, so I came here. Thank you very much. The village headman opened the door and welcomed Jin and the group. The injured were gathered in the hall of the chief''s house. "...... Is this a minor injury?" It turns out that the injuries are minor, but not life-threatening. The injuries themselves are quite severe. But first, Jin wanted to check if there were any serious injuries. "In that case, this way, sir. They were kept in isolation, or rather, in a separate room. The village headman led us to the room. When I opened the door, I smelled blood. "This is terrible. ...... Lying on the bed was a man of advanced age. He had probably had a serious fight with bandits. His arms and abdomen were bandaged, but the abdomen was already bright red, indicating that the blood had not stopped. "Enju 3, please." "Yes." Jin knew at a glance that his condition was critical, so he did not say anything else and ordered that he would treat him immediately. began by sterilizing the entire room. "<>" After that, a light healing spell is applied, and at the same time, painkillers are applied and anesthesia is applied. "<><><>" Enge 3 confirms that the patient is under the influence of <> and begins to slowly unwind the bandages. The reason why they do not use powerful healing spells immediately is that they do not know the state of the patient''s injuries. If you ignore this and use healing magic, you may be left with aftereffects. For example, in the case of a fracture, if the bone is healed without proper healing, the bone will be attached crookedly. "Cutting and puncture wounds caused by swords. ......<><>" Enge 3 began by checking the patient''s wounds. "The puncture wound seems to be worse than the cut. It has reached the internal organs." "Can you ...... fix it?" The village head asked anxiously. "Yes, I can." Enju 3 nodded confidently. This calm demeanor has the effect of calming and reassuring the patients and their families. "Sister Reiko, can you help me?" "Of course." Jin came here to help the seriously injured. Knowing that, there was no way Reiko would refuse. "Thank you very much. Now, I will widen the wound for a moment, would you please remove the piece of wood that is still stuck in the spleen? It seems that there was still a foreign object in his body. If the wound is sealed up without being aware of it. The foreign body could cause chronic pain, or in the worst case, it could damage the internal organs. I understand." Thus, the team of <> and Reiko began to treat the seriously injured. Now, please locate the foreign body. I''m fine. "Then open it.3......2......1...... 0! The wound was opened for about 0.1 second. In that short time, Reiko had successfully removed the splinter of wood that had been lodged in the spleen. 2310 - - 62-14 Treatment and Request With the healing magic of <>, the spleen is healed immediately after the foreign body is removed. "<>". A moment later, the wounds are perfectly aligned and healed as well. "<>" Afterwards, checks the result of this surgery. "<>...... is fine. The internal bleeding has stopped." "Oh!That''s good. ......" The village chief, who was listening at the side, was shedding tears of joy. "We will improve your physical condition. ." A pale glow enveloped the patient, and his pale face, which had been pale from the loss of blood, improved a little. "The lost blood will not return immediately, but now that you have been cured, you will recover quickly. "Thank you, <>." But Enge 3 has not yet recovered, he says. "The left clavicle is simply fractured. And there is fluid in the right lung. <>. We took care of that as well, "It will be all right now. ......Master, may I offer you a bottle of Persica Juice?" "Of course. Persica juice from Penglai Island is suitable for recovering strength. It is not as dramatic as other medicines produced in Horai Island, but it has a mild effect to restore one''s strength and physical condition. Jin took out Persica juice from the medical kit Reiko had brought and placed it by the patient''s bedside. "Please give him a drink when he wakes up." "Oh, oh, oh, thank you very much ......!" The chief repeatedly bowed so deeply that his body was bent in two. The seriously wounded man was the chief''s eldest son. He was seriously wounded while leading the fight to protect the village. The wound in the spleen was caused by a stab wound from a wooden spear handle. * * * * The treatment of Enge 3 is not the end of the story. <. (I don''t think that''s properly defined: ......) (I don''t think you defined it properly. ) They call it <> because it is not life-threatening right now. ...... Merkana Autonomous Region North Administrator, Ghosn Maui von Keima, is a native of the Shoro Kingdom. (Do people from the Shawlo Kingdom get that kind of thing?) Jin sighed inwardly. Returning to the hall of the village head''s house, Enju 3 first sterilized the entire room. Next, he performed a wide-area to determine the priority of treatment according to the degree of injury. The treatment was started on those with relatively severe injuries and those suffering from pain. "<><><>". For those whose wounds have begun to suppurate, remove the toxins, sterilize and disinfect them, and then apply the healing process. <>" For those who have really minor wounds, apply both medical and surgical healing magic. Enju 3 has finished treating a total of 14 <> before noon. * * * * "Thank you very much for your help this time, Jin-dono. Jin and Katya are being served lunch in the dining room of the village chief''s house. Reiko and Enju3 are with them, but they do not eat, so the lunch is for three people. No, we are glad we happened to be in the village of Taj. In addition, Gorn Maui von Keima, the administrator of the northern part of the Merkana Autonomous Region, had come to inform them of their visit. Ghosn will be given some kind of warning afterwards, according to Jin''s report. ....... "And then there are the bandits." Katya said anxiously. "What were they like?" Jin thought he would take this opportunity to find out more. "Yes. ....... There were about twenty of them. Some of them were wearing armor ...... in the style of the Principality of Mercana." However, they were all incomplete, with only breastplates or metal clasps. "However, we also confirmed three golem-like creatures. Is it a golem? Yes. It''s the reason he got hurt so badly. Jin thinks about it. What if there is a bandit who owns a golem on this continent? "The remnants of ......?" Not of Markitas. It could be the remnants of Pegin Borntov and others who are in favor of the Committee of Ten. "You mean the faction of the Committee of Ten? Katya seemed to have come up with that possibility. "Yes. I believe that the deus ex machina cleaned up the Markitas. So, if that''s all that''s left on that scale, ......" "...... Committee of Ten, huh?" Cachea is another who knows firsthand the corruption in the capital city of Mahaliegh. When the capital was overrun by the armies of Malchitas, the people were saved by a rescue force from <> and from the <>. At that time, some of them may have concealed their identities and affiliations to avoid detection because of the unfavorable situation, Kachair speculated. "I''m sure that Cacha, who was there, would know more about that." "Yes. At ...... time, the list of names was burned or scattered, and many of them were crushed by the rubble, and it seems that there were about 50 people missing." "I wonder if that will be the case." Jin agreed, since even on modern Earth, it is commonplace for a large number of people to go missing in the event of a major disaster. "So, perhaps it''s not too far-fetched to assume that some of those missing people are ......." "Indeed." Jin agrees with Katya''s guess. "Then, this is a case, isn''t it? Jin says what he just thought in his mind. "Yes, it is. ......" "I can''t contact <> directly right now, but I can contact Deus ex Machina from <>. I''ll let him know later." "Oh, yes." Since we only have now, we will be able to contact him after we return to the village of Tajee. So Jin decided to contact the old man with the bracelet when he stood up to use the bathroom. "Old man, please be on the lookout for us in this area. If there is any danger, I can send a Landtroop." Jin let out a small sigh of relief. "The next target will probably be the surrounding villages, not this one. ...... 2311 - - 62-15 Anti-theft measures Jin returned to his seat after giving instructions to the old man, saying he had to go to the bathroom. "......So, what about the physical damage?" Jin told the chief that he would inform <> through deus ex machina if possible. "Since the riot, our pantries have been dispersed instead of being concentrated in one place, so only one of them was uprooted. However, we have enough food for three months in our village. He said that the northern warehouse, which is one of the four storage areas in the village, was hit. "I will report that to as well. If they run out of food reserves and cannot survive the winter, they will be helped. "...... And this is about the bandits..." Jin returned to his seat, took a breath, and continued. "Assuming that the remnants...... of the banditry are still out there, why didn''t they make a move until recently?" It had been about a year and a half since the Markitas incident. I wondered what they had been doing in the meantime. "It''s certainly a mystery." As expected, Ka?ea could not explain this point because he did not have enough information. "Well, if I were to make a wild guess, it could be something as simple as preparations being made in secret, or that they ran out of food in their hiding place. Whatever the reason, robbing them was unacceptable, Jin determined. "That''s right." Katya agreed. "And that makes me worry about the other villages. ......" Jin was concerned about the villages that had not yet been attacked. "We should contact Makina as soon as possible. ...... So Jin and Ka-cea decided to return to Tazi village for the time being. Just in case, they decided to leave <> behind and come back the next day or two to pick it up. This way, we could rest assured that the injured people in Huang village would be taken care of as well. So, Jin and Kachea are now flying in <. "But this case seems to be more troublesome than I thought." "Yes, it is. ......" Since they have been in hiding for nearly a year and a half, we can assume that they have a decent hideout somewhere. Also, the size of the bandit group is not to be underestimated. Especially if they have a golem. For now, Jin''s side is exposed to a drawback when it goes on the defensive. That is . If they are attacked in several places at the same time, they will inevitably be slow in dealing with the situation. ...... This is assuming that they do not consider the support of Horai Island. Knowing this weakness, Jin contacted the old man just now. * * * * And <> went straight to <> and asked Kachea to wait for him, while Jin contacted Makina in the cabin ....... "Well,...... I''d like to have a little strength while I''m over here. ......Good!" Jin contacted the old man and asked him to send someone to temporarily take care of . A Sky 900 was immediately sent by transporter. "Take care of the Hurricane." "Yes, Master." Jin is relieved to hear that his worries have been greatly reduced. And then.., "Hope, come with me in the Hurricane. I''ll tell you where to land. "Yes, sir." He thought that with Hope and Reiko, they would be able to cope with an attack on Tajee Village. "Let''s go back to Tazee Village for now." Jin came out of the cabin of the <> and said, "Let''s go back to Tajee village for now. "I will take the <> to Tazee Village. He tells Ka?ea. "It will be easier to deal with it. "Thank you very much." Chair thanked him. She thanked him for thinking so much of the village where she had stayed only for a short time. * * * * * * With a single leap, the arrives at the village of Tazi with the in tow. The was to be parked in the plaza to the south of the village. Jin leaves Hope by the < to take a look around the village. The Sky900 will stay in the cockpit of the Hurricane and be ready for any contingency. "Wow, that''s a great thing." "Is this thing flying in the sky ...... or was it flying?" The villagers gathered around the <, curious. They also looked at Hope, "Is this the one that will protect our village? ......" "...... seems a bit unreliable, doesn''t it?But they say it''s a golem made by Jin. ...... They whisper to each other. Jin said it was a good idea since the villagers had gathered, "I heard that the neighboring village was attacked by bandits. Please be careful to lock your doors at night and do not go out. He gave a common warning to the villagers. He then added, "We have called for reinforcements for security, so there is no need to worry. In other words, he was not afraid. In other words, there was no need to be frightened, but to be on the lookout just in case. Since it was still daytime, Jin decided to make a slight modification to the defense network of the village. He asked the old man to send him some magi crystals, which he then transformed into magic tools. The number is eight. And then.., "Katya, where is the boundary of the village? He asks her. "Well, ...... might be slightly changed, so you might want to ask Helga. So, Katya beckoned Helga, who had come to see the <, and called her over, telling her of Jin''s request. "Okay. If it''s for the good of the village, I''m all for it! He said, and walked out smoothly. Jin, Reiko, and Katya followed. "When you say the boundary of the village, do you mean inside this fence?Or is the field better? Helga stopped at the northern edge of the village and asked Jin. "I think the fence is better to protect us from bandits. Jin answered, and Helga nodded. "Yes, that''s right. I don''t think there would be bandits who would go out of their way to harvest the wheat and take it with them. Jin thought about how in modern Japan there are thieves who steal farm products (......), but he did not say it at this moment. "Well, let''s make this the first point." Jin took one of the eight magic tools out of his pocket and dug a hole about three meters deep with a digger. The diameter of the hole was just large enough for the tool to fit through, i.e., about 3 cm. After dropping the tool <<1> into the hole, Jin backfilled the hole. "That''s it. Let''s move on." Jin was planning to do the same thing for the next seven points. 2312 - - 62-16 Meaning of Magic Tools The second point was near the fence to the northeast of the village. From there, we could see the Nosina River through the trees. "I think it''s around here." <, we dig a hole 3 meters deep and 3 centimeters in diameter, and bury the magical tool <<2>> in it. Similarly, to the east of the village, we buried a magical tool <<3>. And to the southeast <<4>> and to the south <<5>>. Southwest is <<6>> and west <<7>>. Northwest is <<8>. That''s it. It took about two hours to go around the village, but Jin looked satisfied. "Hey, Jin-san, Jin-san, what did you do?" Helga, who had remained silent during the work, realized that she had finished everything when she came back to her house and asked Jin. "Oh, this is ......." Jin was about to explain when he saw a faint light in the western sky. A faint light appeared in the western sky. "This is where we just buried it! "Father, I will take a look." Reiko said one word and disappeared like the wind. "Jin-san! Helga looked puzzled. "Oh, I was just explaining. It''s a magical tool that glows when something comes in from outside the village. It glows on animals and humans alike. It does no harm. But it makes it easier to deal with. We''ll have to wait for Reiko''s report. * * * * West of the village of Tazi, a deep forest stretches out beyond it. < was cut down. Ten seconds after the light was detected, Reiko was there. There was a man who was reacting as if he did not know what was going on when he stepped into the village and a light appeared. "What''s wrong?" Reiko asked him. Reiko thought she had memorized the faces of all the villagers, and they must not have known her. This man was neither. "Ah, ah, are you from this village, little girl?" Reiko thinks that she is dressed in her usual samurai costume, and that she could be considered a village girl ....... "You say so, are you from Juan village?" Reiko answers a question with a question, but the man doesn''t care, No, no, I am a traveler. ......What is this light?" The man changed the question to " what is this light? "It is a light from a magic tool that glows when ......<> are found." Reiko is trying to trick me. If it was a bandit, she thought, there should be some kind of reaction. And it seems she was right. "d*mn!" The man jumps at Reiko, probably intending to take her hostage. Normally, he would have succeeded. The man had a small knife gleaming in his hand and his body language was well trained. But it was the wrong guy. Too bad. "Geebobo!" Reiko''s fist was rammed into the tail of the man who had jumped on her. At one percent output. The man passes out, spewing vomit and diarrhea. Reiko deftly avoids the man and restrains him. "That''s too suspicious. Let''s take him away. * * * * * * Meanwhile, Reiko has disappeared from the village headman''s house in Tajee Village. Jin-san, are you sure you can handle Reiko by yourself? "I''ll be fine. A thousand or two thousand bandits..." "That''s fine. ......" Helga seemed to think it was a joke, and let Jin''s words sink in. Cachier laughs. But even he does not know Reiko''s true ability. While he was saying this, Reiko came back to him. "Father, I caught a prowler..." "Wow!" Helga shouted. Reiko was running toward them, holding a man tied with ivy above her head. "Thank you, Reiko. ...... now let''s see what we can do with this guy. I decided to tie him to a thick tree with a proper rope for the time being. Then I waited for him to wake up. "......" "............" I waited for about 15 minutes and he didn''t say a word. He was breathing, so he seemed to be alive. "......It won''t wake up." "Reiko, did you give him the proper dosage?" Yes, I did. Then, can you heal her a little? "........................I understand. " Healing magic envelops the suspicious man, "......U......" Somehow he seemed to notice. "What is this ...... place?" "We''re in the village of Taj." Jin stepped forward and looked down at the man. "Now you''ve targeted this place?" But the man kept his face blank. "Target?I don''t ...... know what you''re talking about. You can''t play dumb. You are one of the bandits, aren''t you? Thieves?What is a bandit?I am a traveler. ...... A traveler?If so, what village did you pass through before coming here? Helga asked from behind Jin. "U...... that''s ......." Helga continued. If they were travelers, they would have come from the south. There are only forests to the west. "Well, that''s ...... right, I''m lost. "There is only one road from the next village to here. No matter where you get lost, there''s no way you''re going to the west forest. "uu......" The suspicious man finally stopped talking, realizing that the more he talked, the more he would be exposed. 2313 - - 62-17 Guided interrogation? The interrogation of the suspicious man whom Reiko captured is still going on. However, the man has started to keep silent, so no progress has been made. "I''m at a loss. If you don''t talk, I won''t be able to clear your suspicion, will I? Now Sergei, the village head, is addressing the man. "......" At that moment, the sun suddenly faded. "Oh, here it comes." He looks up and sees a huge airship floating in the sky. "Jin-san, Jin-san, what is that? Sergei, the village head, sounded anxious. "It''s Aristotle, the deus ex machina. I called him here to support us. "Oh, I see..." Speaking of deus ex machina, Sergei recalled that he and <> had come to the rescue of Guillermo Marchitas when he had attacked them. The rescue operation was mainly carried out by <>, and the confrontation with Malkitas was a deus ex machina. "Deus ex machina?Why is he here in the middle of nowhere? Hearing this name, the captured man looks panicked. "What?You know the name of Machina?" Jin looked curious. "Then that''s a good thing. You''d better tell us everything you know before Makina comes here, wouldn''t you?Makina is not as naive as we are." "Guh, muh ......." The man, his face pale, hesitated for a moment, "......You''re right, I may be the thief you ...... are talking about." He opened his mouth. "But there is a reason why I attacked Fan village. "What is it?" We, the Revolutionary Party, wanted food in order to achieve our noble goal. What noble purpose? Jin asked back. "Yes. There is no one else who can unite and rule this continent but His Majesty Vladimir Khangasone Mercana!" "Vladimir Hungazone Merkana?" The name sounded vaguely familiar. "Call me your majesty, geezer!" The man shouted at Jin, who had called him by that name, in a rage. "To you, it may be His Majesty, but to us commoners, he''s just a dictator. He is nothing but a tyrant. Kacha said. "What the hell, you little girl!" The man became even more furious. And then she continued. "The Revolutionary Party?You make me laugh. They are just bandits, aren''t they? "We are not bandits!Our cause is ......." The ends don''t justify the means, do they? Katya covers the man''s words with more words, as if to drive him further away, "Before that. The ends themselves are anachronistic. It''s a moldy philosophy. He said, as if to stir up the situation. "What do you know!Don''t talk about us, who were deprived of our continental hegemony before we even knew what was going on, and called bandits! Ka-cea sighed in a conspiratorial manner, "I won''t talk about it if you don''t want me to. That''s what I call "thought-stopping". ...... Well, it suits those who can''t judge right and wrong by themselves. "You little girl, you''re so cocky ......." "What are you, a little girl who is being talked down to by a little girl?" "d*mn, d*mn, d*mn!" Even Jin can see it coming here. KaChea is intentionally trying to stir things up with this man. She must have decided that it would be easier to get information out of him. However, it seems that the normally quiet Cacha is pushing herself too hard to do that much, and if you look closely, you can see that her legs are trembling a little and her forehead is sweating. So Jin decides to take over from there. "In general, he hurts the people he is supposed to protect and steals their food. What do you call this if not tyranny?Oh, I think they''re called bandits..." "You!You too mock us! "That''s why you''re doing something that makes you look like a fool. Jin follows Katya''s lead and starts to stir things up. "Oh, I shouldn''t make fun of fools. They are idiots to begin with. He can''t be any more stupid than that. Excuse me." "You''re ......! The guy looks like he''s about to blow steam out of his head, so Jin takes the opportunity, "I''m sure your friends are all a bunch of geezers, aren''t they?What can you do with 10 or so people? The man then made a big talk and said, "You know, I don''t know what you can do with only ten or so people. Then the man said in a big tone, We have mages and engineers who excel in magic. There are also many former knights. Be in awe of our revolutionary party of over fifty! He told us the information we wanted to know. Meanwhile, Katya seems relieved and hides behind Jin. At this point, Reiko tugged on Jin''s sleeve. Then Jin decided to pull back and left the place for a while with Reiko. "So, what''s the matter, Reiko? "Yes, father. ...... don''t you think that the man''s behavior resembles the reaction of a person who has been hypnotized? "I thought so. ...... you think so too?" "Yes, I do. Yes, I agree with you. "I see. ...... Long ago, when Jin was not yet known to the world as a Magecraft Meister. He remembered that an archaeologist named Lukor, whom he had met at the ruins when he was traveling with Reinhardt and Erza to the Shoro Kingdom, had reacted in a similar way. "Then I wonder if it can be unlocked by <>?" > is a magic developed by Elsa that can remove suggestion and hypnosis. "Yes, I think it is worth a try." "Yes." However, Jin himself cannot use . So, Jin called up via Reiko. "You wanted to see me, master?" Enju2 comes immediately. "Please try to wake this one up." "Yes, Master. < Oh!......" <> is that, unlike or >, it does not electrocute you. In other words, there is little physical pain and you can act immediately after the hypnotic state is released. And the man was, as expected, under the influence of hypnosis or strong suggestion. "......This is ......where I''ve been, I''ve been at the mercy of those bandits. ......" The madness was gone from the man''s eyes. "I was brainwashed after all. ......" Jin sighed. "This opponent is a nuisance. ......" From his past experience, the opponent who can use the brainwashing magic is very troublesome. Or rather, the real enemy is that person. Jin thought that he had to confer with the deus ex machina, and waited for it to come down. 2314 - - 62-18 Role sharing < in a clearing north of the village of Taj, Deus ex Machina appeared before Jin, accompanied by his valet Rei. "Jin, it''s been a while. "Jin, it''s been a while." "I''m glad to see Makina is doing well. They greeted each other in a way that would have sounded absurd to anyone who knew the situation. "So, what happened?" Makina asked, looking at the man still tied to the tree. "Oh. Actually, ......." * * * * "I see, so that''s what happened. >...... is a nasty thing." "In the meantime, I''ve embedded a magic device around the village to detect intruders." "Yes, as expected." Makina is impressed. In a sense, he is a self-made maneuver. I hope we can round up all the bandits. They must have a hideout somewhere, and we need to find it. "There are ways to do that. ......" The problem is that we need to choose a less dramatic and more effective way. In extreme cases, if the old man mobilizes the , the transporter, and the forces of Hourai Island, he can finish it in a flash. However, in that case, it would not serve as a warning to other bandits and would-be bandits, and thus would not be enough of a deterrent. On the other hand, it would be a complete waste of time and money if they were to cause damage by doing so in a gentle manner. Therefore, Jin and Makina were troubled. Then, a man who had awakened from his brainwashing spoke to them. "Excuse me, I know one of the hideouts of ......." "Really? That was good news. "Yes. Well, I''m here, in the woods to the west of this village ...... and all the way back there, the 20 people who attacked Juan Village last time ...... are there, but I''m not here, so there are 19 of them. There are 19 of them, but they have a hideout anyway." "I see. Is that where they keep the food they took from Juan Village? Yes, maybe. According to the man, they are supposed to pick them up from headquarters tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. "So we need to finish this today?" Makina thought for a moment, "Is there a ...... golem?" she asked the man. "Yes. Three of them, I don''t know how I got them." "I see." Three golems are not a force to be taken lightly. ...... usually. Three golems is not much to go on. Makina muttered as she glanced at the knight-at-arms standing next to her. Rey alone should be able to take them down with no problem, she said. "I want Jin to protect this village. "That''s fine." Jin nodded. The fact that Makina had said this meant that it was the result of a discussion between the old man, who was the head of magic on Hourai Island, and the leader of magic who was mainly controlling Makina. In other words, it is the direction that can create the most convenient flow in the current situation. It is not the case that Jin and Reiko will move to capture Makina. Rough affairs are the domain of deus ex machina. Jin and the others are just the defense team. So leave it to me from here, Jin. "...... understand, Makina." Makina then turned to Sergei. "I will finish this tonight. So, for tonight only, can you gather the villagers in one place?" He explained that he was thinking in case the escaped bandits attacked the village. "In that case, Jin and the others will protect you. Makina said that with Reiko, Hope, and Enju 2, there was nothing to worry about. However, if they are dispersed, they may not be able to protect us, so we need them to stay together in one place. "I understand." Sergei understood the reason for this and tapped his chest, saying that he would leave it to me. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Deus ex machina left the village of Taj and returned to <>. "<> also confirmed this. In the forest to the west, about two kilometers into the forest, there is a hideout with 18 people and three golems." Squire Ray gave a report. Of course, the results of the old man''s investigation were sent to him. It would have been better to inform directly to the imam who was controlling the machina, but it was Jin''s concern to follow this procedure except in case of emergency, and also in case someone saw the report or he had to explain the development. "Eighteen?You seem to be missing one person. "It seems that one of them is also out there." "What?So they know we caught the guy from earlier? No, I''m sure that''s not a problem. The intruder detection wards set up by Jin-sama haven''t reacted. I see. Perhaps he''s some kind of liaison with headquarters. Okay. Makina, that is, the imam, decided to be flexible in this regard. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Meanwhile, in the village of Tajee. The village head instructed all the villagers to gather in and around the headman''s house. As it was impossible to gather only at the village headman''s house, they also used their neighbors'' houses. "...... So, <>, a person related to <>, has promised to settle the matter tonight. Please bear with me for one night." To this Ka?ea adds the following words. "Well, this <> is the honorary advisor of <>, and he has a large force. It is said that he was the one who settled the battle with Malchitas. Makina is my brother''s apprentice, and I can vouch for his abilities. Jin also states Makina''s ability in a few words, reassuring the villagers. Fortunately, it was not the cold season, so Jin put up a ward to keep those who could not enter the village chief''s house and the neighbors'' houses as tight as possible. The temperature inside the ward would be maintained at a reasonable level as long as people''s body temperatures were sufficient. Blankets were spread on the ground, and it was like a shelter. Incidentally, the captured man was loosened from his bonds and placed under the watchful eye of Hope. If Makina''s surprise attack was successful, it would be grounds for a reduced sentence. "All that''s left is ...... to do, Sky 900!" "Yes, Master." Jin ordered the Sky-900 to float the Hurricane 10 meters above the mayor''s house. The old people and children were given priority because they would be able to live comfortably in the cabin. This allowed the villagers to spend the night in peace. 2315 - - 62-19 3 minutes left Deus ex machina is thinking about how to attack the bandit''s hideout. "If we''re going to destroy them, the best time to do it is between dawn and dusk. We don''t want to fight a war of extermination, we want to capture them all first. This is because there is a big possibility that some of them are brainwashed to follow him. "The former <> was joined by the same people who were excellent engineers and leaders of the <>. They joined of their own free will after their brainwashing was lifted. "I''m sure there are some promising people among them." A true talent. Deus ex machina didn''t want to lose such a talent. "Alright, let''s do everything we can to conquer them at once with overwhelming force." It is well known that deus ex machina has a great power. How much, however, is not known. "After the turmoil is over, it might be a good idea to invite the people involved to ." The decision was made to emphasize that he is a different person from Jin, but at the same time to disclose some information. An unknown entity can be taken as a threat by itself. "It''s also very effective to give out information ...... in moderation, because it''s very effective to give out information in a way that the other party would that you would think." Deus ex machina, he thought to himself. "Let''s deploy the forces that belong to <>." Let''s call it <>. In the Kingdom of Elias, it means army or land force. There are 20 of them in . The specifications are the same as those of the army of Horai Island and Lando''s corps, and while Lando''s corps is silver-brown, this one is basically brown without metallic luster. They are dressed in moss green or camouflage, depending on the occasion. "With 18 men and 3 golems, <> could do 20 men and a ray. Makina has no illusions that she will be defeated in a one-on-one fight. "Okay, I guess we''ll ...... start suppressing them after the date changes, so we''ll start suppressing them at 3 am." The problem is the security equipment of the hideout, but according to what I checked with <>, there seems to be no security except for a human sentinel standing guard. "Then we should be able to control it without any problem." The mage brain who is piloting the machina, after reviewing the situation with the old man, has concluded as much. "We have to get <> to forward it to us." There is only one transporter in the world, ...... on the island of Horai, and the old man is in charge of it. Therefore, even a priest cannot send to without a request from the old man. Makina waits until he is ready. Makina waited until he was ready. Jin could think about the village of Tajee with peace of mind now that Makina was in charge. "Jin-san, do you think this village is safe ......?" Helga looked anxious, "Makina said he would do it, so he will do it. Don''t worry, all the bandits will be captured today or tomorrow. He can reassure her by saying, "Don''t worry, all the bandits will be captured today and tomorrow. The old man has already told Reiko about the plan to control Makina, and Reiko has not said anything to Jin, so we know that the plan is going well. "Inessa-san, don''t worry because Enju 2 is here. Tonight, Enju 2 was not at the village head''s house, but at Ka-cea''s parents'' house. Of course, he was there to respond quickly to the situation. Jin thought this would be a better response, since there was no patient who needed more attention than Inessa at the moment. "Thank you, Jin-san." Inessa is the wife of Ka-cea''s brother, who will turn 31 this year. She is 31 years old this year, which is a very old age in this world, so we can''t be too careful, but Jin thinks that the worst can be avoided with Enju 2 in the picture. If the worst should happen, he can call Erza. However, nothing often happens when you are fully prepared. ....... Nothing seemed likely to happen in Tajee that night either. * * * * On the island of Horai, the old lord is sending out 20 <> in accordance with Machina''s request. <> to the public. The old man was thinking of taking his time to prepare for that. While thinking like this, the old man was working on the project. < should have, and he intends to use it on a trial basis. The <> and the <> are special equipment and will not be available to the public. The <> is built into both arms, so there is no need to carry it. This experimental operation is limited to ordinary weapons. However, the robustness of the weapons is out of the ordinary. * * * * 3:00 a.m. local time. . Deus ex machina''s only miscalculation was that the two golems were completely silenced by three fist blows from <>, "I didn''t need the ...... weapon. The only miscalculation of Deus ex Machina was that "I didn''t need the weapon. I don''t know why I gave it to you ......." The reason is that there was too little resistance. It means that even a magic brain can make such a mistake in reading. Since it was not a head-on battle, the built-in was almost enough. And since conventional weapons are useless against golems, <> had to put her power to the test. "Well. "Well, humans, tie them all up. The golem should be disconnected from its energy source and put away. Next, Makina decided to take them all on board and take them to <>. Incidentally, they did not find much of the food that was supposed to have been taken from them. "Maybe after they were sent out to their headquarters. Makina decided that if he could find the transport unit, he could find the location of the headquarters. In other words, the old man is going to make a move. The morning of that day. That morning. Jin heard through Reiko that Makina had subdued the bandits and captured them all. "That was so easy!" We were relieved to hear that Makina had taken all the bandits to by . I told this to the villagers gathered at the chief''s house, "Oh!That''s good news! "All the bandits have been caught! "Now we can live in peace!" They were all relieved. Although it was only for one night, they had spent the night in the village chief''s house or in the neighborhood, not in their own homes, and they were still anxious. How relieved they felt when they heard that the danger was over! Jin quietly contacted the old man and asked him to forward Persica juice to for all the villagers. Two seconds later, it is done. Then Jin says "Well, thank you all for your hard work through the night. Please come and get the juice that will help you recover from fatigue. The container is lowered from the floating 10 meters above the village chief''s house. There was no downwash because it was floating on a , but no one could sense it. Jin takes a 120 ml bottle of Persica juice from the container and distributes it to the villagers. Helga, Katya, and Reiko helped him, and he was able to finish distributing the juice in about 15 minutes. As a side note, the island of Horai harvests persica several dozen times larger than it consumes, and the surplus is processed into juice and stored. Some of them are stored in the < that can store magic materials semi-permanently, and the rest are stored in the <> that can increase the purity of magic materials. The items in the <> can be used as medicines. The items in the <> are for tonic, and Jin had an image of the nutritional drinks distributed in modern Japan. So he used brown glass bottles this time. The lid is a cork stopper. Most of the villagers drank it on the spot, "Oh!I feel refreshed! I feel refreshed", "I feel energized! I was sleepy, but I feel refreshed! They were all walking lightly home, saying such things as "I feel refreshed! By the way, the empty bottle was not returned. They were going to wash them and reuse them. "Well, that''s okay." I can''t speak for others, since Jin also used to accumulate empty drink bottles. < I can''t throw them away. Among the bandits captured this time, there was only one person who escaped. He is a man who leads a convoy to . This transport unit is also a golem. Its strength is three times that of a mighty horse. Such a golem is leading a large wagon. Because it is a golem, it does not need a guardian. Therefore, the man was swaying on the cart. "Ahhh, what a tedious mission ......" he mutters to himself. He mutters to himself, not knowing that the others have already been captured. He was unaware that they had already been discovered and were being monitored by the old man''s <>. The headquarters is located to the west of the capital city of Mahaliegh.) From the path, the old man guessed the location of the headquarters and found it by pointing his <> in the direction of the headquarters. ( The old man observed that they had some fields, but they were far from being self-sufficient. (> or <> here>>) Too much may hinder the country''s independence, while forcing them to do something unreasonable may lead to a decline in national power. It was difficult to determine what to do. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When the old lord was thinking about how to deal with the bandits. The Pandor Continental Division of the stationed in Mahaleague, the capital city, was also informed of the situation. Of course, the route was Jin--Machina--<>--division. "A revolutionary party headed by <> or ......" The leader of the squad is Norsanon Quetos. He is a rather capable commander of a squad of 20 men. He is 31 years old, and although he looks like a stout and sturdy fighter, he is actually a man of considerable wisdom. Incidentally, he admires Fritz Ohlstadt (ne Randall), the first commander of the 1st Division. "The fact that he''s coming out now, I guess we should assume that he''s ready for something." Northanon Quetos spoke to his second-in-command, Eumis Isle. Eumis Isle is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman, 25 years old, and a logical thinker. Yes, captain. And, although it is unlikely, it could also be due to a lack of supplies. "I see. But if that''s the case, they''re a bunch of fools. I agree. "Then, we should wait for Makina-dono''s arrival before deciding on our future course of action. Thus, the situation on the Pandor continent was about to reach another turning point. 2317 - - 62-21 World Guard Pandor Continental Division At 1 p.m. on the same day, of the < arrived at the garrison of the . The location is near the coast to the east of the capital Mahaliegh. This location was chosen because of the level ground and the ease of communication with the naval vessels. "Deus ex machina, welcome to our mission. The squad leader, Northern Quetos, greeted them. "You are Northern Quethos, aren''t you? "Oh, I am so glad to know you, sir. Makina and Northeron shook hands. "I understand what''s going on. So that''s the bandit? <. The one leading him is . "That''s a fine golem, isn''t it? Of course you made that one, didn''t you, Lord Machina? Yes, they are. As they walk side by side, Northanon Quetos is talking to them. In fact, he is a big fan of Makina as well as Fritz. "Excellent!Our researchers are doing their best. ......" "......After all, the upheaval caused by the <> has hurt us." "Yes, it''s frustrating that our own <> was no exception. In that respect, Jin and I have not been affected by it. I envy you. ............ Um, where is Makina-dono''s base?" "Right now it is between the Shoro and Cerroa kingdoms. Or rather, the border between the Shoro Kingdom and the Kingdom of Celuloa, offshore on the extension of the Border River. "What? Northanon Quetos was surprised, as he had not expected to be told about this. "That would be on the other side of <> across the peninsula at the southern tip of the Kingdom of Cerroa. "Is that so?" Northerner felt as if he had been told a great secret. Makina was thinking of opening her base to the public, so she thought it might be a good idea to tell them a little at a time like this. While we were talking about this, all the bandits were taken into the temporary prison of the garrison. The prison was just a shack with simple bars. "According to Jin, most of them are brainwashed. To break the brainwashing, there is a magic called . Wakening? Yes, <>. It is a magic developed by the Mistress of Djinn and is characterized by the fact that there is almost no physical pain like stun. "Ha-ha-ha, that''s amazing, isn''t it?" "I''ll make a magic tool for de-brainwashing in the near future. Saying this, Makina fired a <> at everyone who was tied to the ropes. "......?" "...... what?" The bandits, who had been glaring at Makina and Nothernon with hatred, suddenly turned dumbfounded. "Why in the world did I ever ...... think I could do that?" "How could I have done that and not thought ...... about it?" "......oh, why didn''t I notice it before......" "It''s like a fog has lifted from my head. ......" Most of them don''t seem to know why they committed crimes with impunity when they come to their senses after the brainwashing. But.... "Kuu...... I didn''t know there were people who could break the brainwashing spell. ......" There was one guy whose <> didn''t work, or rather he was not brainwashed from the beginning. Makina and Norsanon guessed that he was probably their leader. So they decided to move the sane ones to another place. "Oh, hey ......?" "Oh, we''re the ...... wow!" Seventeen silent golems carried one person per golem. It was no wonder that those being carried were terrified. Meanwhile, the man who was left alone asked, What are you going to do to me? he asked in a brusque manner. NORTHANON answered him, "Interrogation ....... I want you to be honest with me." Of course he did. What? First of all, what do you want? I''ll answer you then. The rule of Vladimir Khangasone Mercana over this country. "...... are you serious?" The Principality of Mercana is currently under the temporary control of the as an autonomous region. As soon as it can be administered by its own citizens, the <> intends to withdraw from it, but this will not be possible until the civil unrest and civil strife are eliminated. Nothernon asked if he knew this, "What''s wrong with asserting our natural rights? The answer was, "What''s wrong with asserting our natural rights? In the first place, the Mercana family is the reason this country was established. Therefore, Vladimir Khangasone Melkhana should rule this country. "I don''t think that''s right." At this point Yumis Isle, the deputy commander, interrupted. Northerner decided to leave it to her logical mind for the moment. "Look back at history. This country was founded by settlers in the first place. No matter how far back in history you go, there is no time before 3579 in the continental calendar. "......" "And since it was settled after 3579, the reason for who governs it is weak." "......" "Moreover, the Mercana family is not even mentioned in the early days of the settlement. As I recall, they first appeared in the history of the country in 3636." Nothernon, who was listening at the side, was inwardly surprised at the erudition of Yumis. "The history books don''t tell us how the House of Mercana came to rule this country,...... at least not at the behest of the people, that''s for sure." "G......" "Now, let me ask you again. Do you really think that it is right and just for the House of Mercana to rule this country?" "Of course I do." "...... I see. ......" Eumis Isle said ruefully. "Then please cool down a little more." Thus, the first interrogation ended without much success. * * * * With Deus ex Machina, who had been a bystander all this time, Northanon Quetos, Eumis Isle, and the other three decided to discuss the matter in a separate room. "After the ......<> was lifted, the 17 people seemed to show a normal reaction, that is, they were reflecting on what they had done so far." This was the result of a simple interrogation after the golem had taken them out, said the deus ex machina. "In the first place, the former Principality of Mercana was a dependency of the country across the sea, ......<>, wasn''t it?" "You''re right, Makina-sama." Yumis Isle nodded. "I also think there is something wrong with that, but I didn''t know enough about the Duchy of Jagus to be able to point it out." "You mean to say that the Mercana family is under the sway of the Duchy of Jagus?" Yes, master Makina. That is what I think." "Ummm......... well, you said <>, doesn''t he know something about this?" 2318 - - 62-22 As expected, the hot springs . In the former Principality of Mercana, she was a local administrator in the region that includes the village of Tazy. He is related to the royal family of the former Principality of Mercana. He was ambitious but concerned about his country and his people in his own way, and he was aiming for independence from the Duchy of Jagus. And now, as a councilor of the <>, he is working day and night to stabilize the situation in the country. "This is not the future I had imagined, but it''s a good one. Paelova speaks to her secretary, Jed Alamold. "Yes, sir." "...... Jed, will you stop calling me that sir?I am no longer a superintendent." Jed Alamold, who was secretary of the former Principality of Mercana, used to call Paelove Sondvik "Your Excellency". But now Paelova is a councillor in the and Jed Alamold is her personal secretary. "Shall I call you ?" "Ummm ...... I''m not used to it, but I guess it''s better that way." "Yes, sir." I''m not used to it. < Yes. I''ve been hearing about it since the end of last year. Someone is backing them. I''m sure. I don''t know how many people they can get together, but I don''t think they can make a difference in this country right now. "That''s right. They must be receiving some kind of support from the Duchy of Jags. How do you mean? I don''t know. But I think it would be better to inform of the information at this point, instead of saying that we will wait until we know for sure. "Yes, sir." Jed Alamold secretly thought in his heart that although there was certainly some calculation involved in this, the great thing about Paelove Sondvik was that the equation "calculation = for the good of the country" was true. In other words, what one does in a calculating manner is considered to be for the good of the world. Although he did not say it out loud, Jed Alamold described Paelov Sondovik as a leader. * * * * And <. "What, a report from Paelova Sondvik?" , a councilor sent from , overheard. He''s a 42 year old, accomplished councilor. "Read it out." Another councilor, <> from <>, said. "Ha. ......The purpose of the recent outbreak of bandits is the revival of the House of Mercana, and they may be aided by the Duchy of Jagus. ......" <<>The liaison in charge read the report. "Hmmm, I see. What do you think, Mr. Daggart?" "I think it''s quite possible. In the first place, those four countries are not yet qualified to participate in the ." "That''s right. ......" It seems to be a deep-rooted problem because of the involvement of other countries. * * * * Meanwhile, Jin was relieved to finally have a load off his shoulders. "Ah, it''s over. With the bandits rounded up, the high alert in Tajee and Fan villages was lifted and peace was restored. "Thanks to Jin-san and Makina-sama." Helga looks relieved. "I''ll leave <> in Tajee Village and <> in Fan Village for a while. Since this is just for the purpose of accumulating clinical data and conducting operational tests, we will not receive any compensation. "Enju 2 and Enju 3 should be able to cope with anything other than a forceful push by numbers." Jin said, "We can do whatever we want except to attack multiple locations at the same time. (Well, in that case, we can send troops with a transporter.) ) In any case, Jin was relieved to know that the Tajee and Fan villages would be safe now. "Anyway, I guess we''ll be leaving around tomorrow. ......" "What?Jin-san, are you leaving? Helga heard Jin''s soliloquy and became impatient. "I''m not going back, I''m going to go to Lawhon after this. Hearing the name of the place, Helga seemed to get the idea. "Ah, that''s where you stayed last time. "Yes." In addition, Jin had something else on his mind. The <. The and the golem-engine car that he had made in the village of Rihoto. (Well, that one was made as a half-assed measure because we couldn''t get , but it''s a technology that I''m still very attached to. It was created by Jin, Katya, and Eira. I am also wondering how it is being handled now. Now that the environment is better prepared, Jin may be able to make further improvements. "I''m going to go to Lawhon first, then to the Mahaleague," he said. "You''re going to go to Katya, too, right?" "Yes. ...... I originally came back from vacation." "Oh, right." "Well, I''ll take it easy for the rest of the day." That''s the conversation we had. * * * * * Speaking of relaxing, I took a bath. "By the way, the bathing facilities in Hwangchun are no longer working. I remembered that I had stopped by a public bathhouse before and wondered if it was a hot spring. >>Jin recalled that he was curious about it. "And the snow room in the storage facility has also been ruined. ......" Jin regretted that not only the village of Tajee, but also other villages were not fully restored yet. "<>...... was there. Okay, <>." "Jin-san, how is it?" "Yeah, it''s coming out soon. ...... "Wow!" Jin was drilling for hot springs. After locating the underground hot water vein, he dug out the bathtub and channeled the wastewater into a settling tank in a reservoir. Then, after a simple shingle, they dug the hot spring. "Yeah, it''s pretty hot," he said. The water was about 100 meters deep, so the hot water was not so bad. The water was about 60 degrees Celsius. The water was mixed with plain water to make it the right temperature. The quality of the water was simple. The size of the bathtub was about 3 meters by 2 meters. The bathtub was about 2 meters by 3 meters, but it was not very large due to a hut. Still, it is large enough to accommodate five to six people. When they have more room, they can rebuild the building into something more solid, and the bathtub can be enlarged. "This makes me happy!" Sergei, the village head, was overjoyed. "Why don''t you go ahead and try it? "No, no, first of all, Mr. Jin, you should go in there. And so it came to be. I was so excited that I said, "Oh, it''s so nice! "Ah, it''s nice hot water." Jin stretched out his arms and legs. It had been a long time since he had been able to take a leisurely soak in a hot tub like this, since he had been using only small household baths since he came to Tajee Village. Reiko was not allowed to join him because of the eyes of the others, so she was watching the bathtub outside. Still, Hitoshi was satisfied with his relaxing experience. 2319 - - 62-23 Secretary Automata Helga and Katya were taking a leisurely soak in the women''s bath. "Oh, it feels so good, doesn''t it?" "I remember when Jin-san saw the public bathhouse in Fan Village when he was in Lawhong before, he said, ''Is this a hot spring? >>I remember you saying, "Is it a hot spring? "Oh, I didn''t know that was the case." "Jin-san likes hot springs, doesn''t he?" "I understand. I can really relax in this spacious hot spring. This hot spring has since been renovated and has become a specialty of Tajee Village. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On the morning of the 6th, Jin and Ka-Chea were seen off by the people of Tajee Village and departed as scheduled. The pilot this time was the Sky 900. Jin is going to maintain Hope as he goes. "I know you wanted to relax a little more, but I''m sorry," Jin apologized to Katya. Jin apologized to Katya. "No, it was just that I had to go back home on business. She laughed. "I think there will be a transfer magic circle on the continent of Pandor in the near future. Then it will be easier to come and go. The warp gate that Jin had used before when he was sent to the Principality of Jagus had been destroyed by Malchitas, and even if it had not been, it would have been meaningless since it was only connected to the Principality of Jagus. At the moment, the establishment of a transit route is only possible with the approval of the , and that approval will only be granted if the country''s situation is stable. "For that reason, I hope that all the bandits will be caught this time and the mastermind behind it will be clarified." "I guess so. ......" Four hundred years ago Jin was solving a lot of troublesome problems in the shadows, and the result is the world we live in today. However, the existence of the irregularity called <> is no doubt a big factor. Still, Jin felt that it was a pity that the culture and civilization, and by extension the activities of the people, were so fragile that they were destroyed by the <>. If it is to be built up again, Jin thinks that this time it should be done by the hands of the people ...... as much as possible. "So, where are you going?" Katya asks again. "Yes, as I said yesterday, I''m thinking of Lawhon and then Mahaliegh. "That''s what you said. But I think it''s better to wait for Lawhon until later." "Why?" "Well, you see, ......" According to Cachair''s explanation, the reconstruction of Lawhon has been delayed considerably. According to Cachair, the reconstruction of Lawhon has been delayed because the reconstruction of the capital, Mahaliegh, has been prioritized. "Why is the reconstruction of the rural villages progressing?" He said that this was simply an allocation of manpower. If the manpower required for the reconstruction of a rural village is set at 1, the manpower required for Lohong is 40, and that for Mahaleague is 100. Therefore, in order to restore the functions of the capital city, they are temporarily relocating the residents of Lawhon to Mahaleague for intensive construction work. "So that''s what''s going on." There are about 15 villages in the Principality of Mercana. The total of all of them is less than half of the manpower needed to rebuild Lawhon. It could be said that the power was so concentrated in the center, or it could be said that Markitas destroyed the cities first. Anyway, Cacacea insisted that it would be better to go to Mahaliegh now to get more information. Since he was accompanied by Cachair as a guide, Jin decided to listen to Cachair''s advice. * * * * * * * * * * The straight line distance from Tazi village to Mahaleague is less than 200 km. < had flown through in an hour. "Oh, it looks like about two thirds of the area has been rebuilt. From the air, Mahaleg seems to have been rebuilt in a different design than before, more like the town Jin had known. In other words, the streets are more like a grid. "Landing is at ...... Oh, there is an airfield." An airship, apparently from <>, landed in the square on the west side of the town. "Sky900, take us there." "Yes, sir." This time, I''m going to leave the Sky900 in charge and bring Hope down with me. Hope also has a connection to this town, which is why she''s ......, although one wonders if that''s a good idea when the town looks so different. < landed, the guards rushed over. "<> Sir Jinn Nido, welcome to Mahaleague!" He had received word from Tomax Bartmann. He is very good at making such arrangements, I think. Well, maybe he is supported by his secretaries Manon and Simone. "......Hey?" Jin gave Tomax Bartmann two secretary automata, Manon and Simone. Of the two, Manon seemed to be with Tomax most of the time when he met her, but I had no memory of Simone''s presence. "Hey, Katya, the secretary automata Simone that I gave to Tomax before is ......", Jin said. Jin decided to ask her, I''m here, if you''re looking for me," a voice said. He heard a voice saying, "I am here. "What?" I looked over to see an automaton with long green hair pulled back into a ponytail. "I am the leader of the restoration of the former Principality of Mercana, on behalf of Tomax-sama. "I didn''t know that." Jin was convinced that Simone''s processing ability might indeed be suitable for the job. It would be more of a problem if Tomax Bartmann tried to take care of and us at the same time. First of all, he would surely be able to do only halfway in both cases. The man who runs after two hares will not get one. And Tomax Bartmann may not be aware of it, but Simone and Manon can communicate with each other by means of a built-in manacam, which means that Manon, the secretary, can communicate with Simone by means of a built-in manacam, which means that Simone, the secretary, can communicate with Manon by means of a built-in manacam. In other words, through Manon, his secretary, Simone is able to know Tomax''s thoughts. Jin imagined that she was able to reduce the burden of Tomax Bartmann by making moves that were in line with his wishes. "Well, Simone has been organizing this place. Thank you." "No, it''s also my duty as Tomax-sama''s secretary. Jin then decided to take this opportunity to ask Simone about the recovery situation here in Mahaliegh. "Yes, sir. This way please." Simone led Jin and the others to a simple building next to the airfield. According to the information we received, this was Simone''s office. Simone does not have to get up and down, so she seems to be able to work in a simple building without any problem. "Sorry. I thought you were working." "No, no problem. No, it''s not a problem. I''ve been doing a lot less paperwork lately. In the early days, there were so many < that it was quite a lot of work just to prioritize them. But now, he says, the main focus is on <. "Vague < and are difficult to deal with. They are often just ." "I see." "If you can tell us specifically what you need you need it, it is very easy to deal with it." "Oh, I understand that." Katya, who usually does accounting work, agreed. "Now, if you don''t mind my asking, I would like to check with Ms. Simone. "Yes, what is it?" "What do you know about the magical tools that Jin-san and Eira-san jointly developed and the theory behind them?" 2320 - - 62-24 Hitoshis obsession The magical tools and theories that Jin and Eira jointly developed were, in essence, the highly efficient use of magic and its applications. It was the result of trial and error in an attempt to create a magical tool that would be as useful as possible to the people of the Principality of Mercana at a time when magical crystals and magical stones were difficult to obtain. Of course, Cachea was one of the at that time. However, being a modest woman in all things, she refused to leave her name on the stage, only because it was Jin and Eira who had developed the theory and created the magical tools. "Of course, I''m keeping it." Simone, the secretary-automata, the deputy sent by Tomax Bartmann, smiled. "Fortunately, the and that you built in the village of Rihot are almost undamaged." "I see!That''s great to hear!" Katya exclaimed joyfully. She must have been deeply moved, since she too had had a hard time procuring and managing the materials to build them. "When I get some time, I''d like to study that theory too ......." Jin muttered to himself. Katya overheard him. "Jin-san, what''s wrong?" "Yes,...... that is the theoretical and technical system that Eira and I built together, so I want to do it with Eira, not by myself. Jin expressed his true feelings. "At the moment, Eira seems to be enjoying the research at the very much. Since the distribution had improved, it was no longer necessary to make magic tools for the magic circle, and Jin himself did not continue his research. (I am sure Reinhardt would be happy to cooperate, though.) Jin, for his part, did not want to do so. Since it was a non-urgent topic, he put it off until later. To be honest, I have been so busy that I have forgotten some things. However, I am not convinced that I can complete the system of magic technology that has never existed before unless I work together with Eira. (Maybe with the help of the old man and Reiko, I could complete the rest on my own.) I don''t care about the honor of ...... as a pioneer, but I would like to enjoy the fun of development and the joy of completion together with my friends who worked hard in those days. "Please keep it safe. Maybe in time it will become a valuable monument." If this system is completed, it will be treated as a magi-machine of the early days. With such materials, later researchers will have no difficulty in following in the footsteps of Jin and his colleagues. "I understand." Simone nodded. Is there anything else? "Well, I don''t think so, not at the moment. Simone had no idea at the moment what she would like to check on, even if she had to go to the trouble of stopping her work as a . "Okay. Would you like ...... to arrange your lodging for tonight?" "Yes,......, I think it would be best if you did." "Yes, I''ll wait here for about five minutes." Simone promised to arrange a place for Jin and the others to stay, bowed, and returned to her work. Not more than five minutes passed. "Jin-sama, Katya-sama!" A female clerk came to me and handed me a piece of paper with the name and location of the hotel. "We will pay for your stay, you can stay as many nights as you like. She said, "We will take care of your accommodation expenses, so you can stay as many nights as you like. "Oh, thank you very much! Thank you very much! Jin and Katya decided to visit the inn while they were looking around the town. "This is it..." "...... is a magnificent place." It looks like a hotel built to accommodate important people. "Well, since we got it, let''s stay here. "Yes, ......." When I entered the hotel, I found that the interior was about 50% complete and that formal operations had not yet begun. But.., "Welcome. You must be Mr. Jin Nido, Ms. Katya, Mr. Reiko, and Ms. Hope. A young man who looked like a hotel staff appeared and helped me with my baggage. "This way, please." Without any formalities like filling out a guest book at the front desk, the group was led to a room on the second floor. "It''s so spacious. ......" As KaChea unintentionally muttered, the room was a main room of about 12 tatami mats with four adjoining bedrooms. As expected, there was no bath, but there was a washroom and a shower room. "There''s also a refrigerator ......, but I guess it''s empty." There was a refrigerator in the room, so I opened it, but it was empty. "We are not that well maintained. ...... sorry." The hotel staff apologized apologetically, and Jin followed up by telling him not to worry about it. "But will there be food?" KaChea asked the hotelier about his concern. "Yes, that''s fine. We will take care of breakfast and dinner. "Oh, thank goodness." Well, in case of a worst-case scenario, we have enough food stocked in the < and we can cook simple meals. We can also transfer them from Horai Island ...... but that would be a last resort since we have Katya. "If you come to the dining room on the first floor, you will be fine. Dinner is served from 6:00 p.m. and breakfast from 7:00 a.m." "Yes, sir." For the time being, we have secured a base in the Mahaleague. If there is anything you need, please call me at the extension. Extension? Yes. Yes, sir. This is ....... It is a combination of a wired < and , in other words, an that uses magic power. Almost the same thing is used in < and in . Jin decided that this was probably a reference to that. "Oh, then, can you tell us about the areas that have been reconstructed?" Jin asked before the hotel staff left. He didn''t bother to use the extension, he could just ask now. Yes, the area where this hotel is located is 80 to 90% complete. On the other hand, the area where the <> was located is about halfway complete. "I understand. Thank you." <>. That was the name of the dormitory where Jin, Katya, Eira, and the others were sent when they were assigned to the Maharigian League. Jin recalls how Groma Trey, the head of the dormitory, and Eira used to butt heads when they saw each other at that time. "Shall we take a look around the areas that have been rebuilt? "Yes, that''s right." Jin thought that he might notice something by going back to the area under reconstruction. "Well, let''s go. Reiko, Hope, follow me." Thus, Jin set out to inspect the capital city of Mahaleague. 2321 - - 62-25 Maha League Tour The weather is cloudy. A northerly wind is blowing and it is a little chilly today. The weather is a bit chilly today with a northerly wind blowing. ......, but Ka-cea is from a village further north, and Jin is wearing clothes made of , which is resistant to both hot and cold weather. After leaving the hotel, Jin and his group began to walk along the streets of the rebuilt town. "As I thought, it''s totally different. Originally a newly developed city, it is now even more orderly and well-organized. "Well, ...... I can''t guide Jin-san here anymore, can I?" The streets of Mahaliegh, where Jin and Kachea used to be, are nowhere to be found. The castle was the first to be destroyed as it had been the target of the attack by the Malquitas, and the damage to the surrounding area must have been considerable, Jin thought. "I really didn''t feel alive at that time." As if reading Jin''s thoughts, Katya muttered. "I escaped to the underground warehouse and completed my unfinished golem and tried to fight them, but there were 20 enemy golems. ...... She said she still shivers when she thinks about it. "......" Jin did not know what to say in such a situation, so he became mute. "Hmm, don''t worry about it. I haven''t been traumatized. Perhaps sensing Jin''s mute mood, Ka-cea laughed. "I''m a little stronger than I was back then, you know?" "Yes, it seems so." Cacha, who had been frightened when they left the village, was now a respectable <> employee and a research student at the <>. "Well, it''s quite well done." Jin commented as he walked along the streets. "The foundation is well done, and the structure, as far as I know, is in good condition. "I see, that''s good to hear." At this point, Reiko pointed to the right. "Father, look at that." "Oh." There stood a tower that must have been 50 meters high. "Probably a control tower," Hope said. Hope says. "Yes, it is. That''s right.Isn''t that the opposite direction of the airfield?" I didn''t see that tower when the <> landed in the first place. "Perhaps the airfield is to the east or west of Mahaliegh." Hope speculated. "Maybe one for domestic flights and one for international flights?" Jin also tried to imagine. "Yes, that is a possibility. Although they may not be separated at the moment. The airfield where Jin landed was supposed to be for domestic flights in the future. "Do you mean that the sea side is for international flights and the mountain side is for domestic flights?" "I think so. < was parked was smaller, so it is more likely that it was for domestic flights." Besides, it makes sense to build an airfield for international flights on the ocean side, Hope said. "Yes, I think you are right, Mr. Hope. Katya seems to agree with her. "That''s what that control tower is for, isn''t it? Jin and the others observe the progress of the reconstruction work as they talk like this. "When 80% to 90% of the area has been rebuilt, it''s very lively, isn''t it? "Yes, it is." Now, Jin and the others have arrived at the shopping district. Since there are residents, logistics will be created. Among them, food is indispensable. This area is very lively. Yes, it is. Let''s have lunch somewhere. It is almost noon and Jin and the others are looking for a restaurant. "Father, what do you think about that place?" Reiko, who has good eyesight, points to a diner on the other side of a wide street. "It looks like they have food from all over the world." Reiko is more than 50 meters away, but she can clearly see inside the diner, "The people eating are not looking too bad," she explained. She explained. So we decide to have lunch there. We crossed the road to the other side. No carriages or cars have passed yet, so it''s quiet. "The seats are ...... empty." The seats were about half full, so Jin and the others entered the restaurant with peace of mind. "Welcome. "Well, can I bring a golem and an automata with me?" "Yes, that''s fine." The restaurant seemed to be very open, and it was not crowded, so Jin and the four of us took a seat in the back. The menu was on the table, so we quickly checked it. "I think I''ll have this ," said Jin. Jin said. Kachaea said, "The set meal with a variety of dishes from all over the world. He chose the "International Variety Set Meal". "What''s that?" Jin asked, "It is sometimes served at <>. In short, it is a mixture of various cuisines from different countries. Hearing this, Jin understood somewhat. (A combination like bread and miso soup, sweet-and-sour pork and gratin.) Like Jin, Katya also has no likes or dislikes and eats anything. He thought that must be having this kind of combination of meals on a regular basis. The set meals were tasty and reasonably priced. "Perhaps he is a cook who studied at ," says Cachair. The taste was familiar to him, judging from what Katya said. * * * * * * * * * * * * * After lunch, we decided to visit an area under reconstruction. There, work was being carried out under the supervision of human workers, including a work golem. "It looks like there is nothing to talk about in this town. "Yes, I suppose so. I don''t think there are many jobs done with this level of efficiency. I agree. Jin, Reiko, and Hope also agreed that the work was done properly. However, only Katya was staring at one point. "What is it, Katya?" Jin asks. "Yes, I was wondering about that place ......." Chair points to a storage area. 2322 - - 62-26 Field supervision The yard to which Ka?ea pointed was piled high with lumber for construction. A new pile of lumber had just been piled there by a work golem. "Oh, look. "I see." Jin was not able to keep an eye on the old man at Horai Island since he was in charge of material management, but Ka-cea, who was in charge of such management at <>, seemed to have noticed immediately. "The site supervisor is ...... Oh, is it there?" There is a simple building where the banner of the <> is flying. There was a person giving instructions, so Jin approached. "May I have a word?" "Excuse me?This area is under construction and the public is not allowed to enter. "I understand. My name is Jin Nido, the third generation of Magecraft Meister. It''s a good thing I said my name early. "Well, well, well! The man who appeared to be the site supervisor greeted me with awe. Can I help you? "Yes, you seem to be busy, so let''s talk straight to the point. I think that timber ...... is not being managed properly." Jin changes his tone. "Management?" Jin nodded. "Yes. The old timbers are stacked at the bottom and the new timbers at the top. And you use them in order from the top, right?Then the old lumber will always be there. The foreman seemed to be surprised at this point of view. "You are absolutely right! "This season, there will be more rainy days on this continent. We may need to put up some kind of cover or a barrier to keep the rain out. Thank you very much for your advice. The foreman immediately instructs the work golem to change the way the lumber is stacked. What used to be one pile is now divided into two piles. The old lumber and the new lumber. The old timbers are used first. Meanwhile, the incoming lumber is piled into the newer pile. Then, when the old timber is gone, the new timber is used, and the new timber is piled on the place where the old timber was piled. In this way, lumber will not be left unattended for more than a certain period of time. The process takes about 30 minutes. Jin, Katya, Reiko, and Hope sat under the site tent and watched. "You''re pretty good at what you do." Jin thought to himself, "They must have sent some good people, because they were able to quickly fix the problems that had been pointed out to them. "It looks like the restoration of the Mahaleague will be no problem. "Yes, it does." Jin and Katya looked at each other and laughed. * * * * Meanwhile, at the port of Nadeaf in the southeastern eastern part of the Mahaleague, a deus ex machina was repairing the warp gate. "Okay, that should fix it." "Oh, thank you!" "No, if you can use this, it will make the passage much easier. This warp gate is different from the one in Mahaleague, which was installed at the beginning of the development of the Pandor continent and has been buried for a long time. It is connected to . <, which was on the verge of revival, was destroyed due to the upheaval caused by the . Its mechanism is different from that of Horai Island, and it is an application of the shifting magic circle discovered in the Kingdom of Celuloa. Although it took some time from activation to transfer, it was practical enough. "Mahaleague is just a stone''s throw from the port of Nadeaf, so it''s very convenient for transporting goods and personnel to and from here. The Nadeaf port administrator said. "If we build in Mahaleague, we will be targeted in many ways. Guillermo Marchitas also destroyed a warp gate in the Duke''s Castle. "I''m glad we live in a time of peace." The superintendent laughed. "Well, anyway, now that we have convenient access to and from , we have to do the first test, don''t we? I will do that," Makina said. "I repaired it myself, you know." With these words, Makina and her knight Rei stepped into the warp gate. Five seconds later, Makina and Rey disappeared and appeared at the Warp Gate of Avalon almost simultaneously. "Okay, we made it!" As he exited the warp gate, he was greeted with applause from the engineers of <>. "Congratulations on the successful repair! "Thank you, deus ex machina! With the opening of this warp gate route, the distance between <> and the continent of Pandor has been shortened dramatically. And through this Warp Gate, the members of the <> captured by Makina the other day were sent. They have already been released from their brainwashing, but they will undergo a thorough examination just to be sure, after which they will be put on trial at the and their crimes will be decided. It was thought that most of them would receive only light sentences. Judging from their knowledge, common sense, and character, most of them would work in the departments of under supervision. There is no limit to the number of capable people. * * * * On the island of Horai, the old brain of the administration magician was processing the data including the statements of the prisoners of war, and came to a conclusion. Since the customs and habits of the countries were quite different from ours, we decided that it would be a bad idea to infiltrate them, so we kept our observation to <>. <> is located in the direction to the west of Mahaliegh. <<>. <>. In other words, it is a facility built by <> who migrated from Hale. < had dug out various mineral resources from this continent of Pandor, and the resources near the surface of the earth had been depleted. . Therefore, it is not a threat to the people of Horai Island. However, Jin has a strong will to let the people living in this time period do as much as possible. While respecting his intention, the old man discussed how to minimize the damage. under the leadership of Machina. Now that the warp gate has been repaired, the time lag in sending personnel is no longer a problem. The old man decided to follow up on Jin''s action. 2323 - - 62-27 Brainwashing Magic Countermeasures Now, among the bandits who attacked Fan village, only one man escaped capture. He was on his way to take 80 people''s rations to his hideout, which was being used as a headquarters, using a wagon driven by a golem. "Oh, man, this is a boring mission," he said. He is saying this carefree line because he doesn''t know that all the other members have been captured. In fact, the wagon train led by Golem was heading smoothly toward the headquarters west of the Mahalli League without any major obstacles. Although it seems to be going smoothly, the old man is watching them. Of course, the man is unaware of this. The old man thought it would be a good idea to capture the bandit and the bandit in the headquarters'' hideout. * * * * At the Avalon. Deus ex machina has moved to using the repaired and is talking to the High Administrator, Tomax Bartmann. "...... and so, the scouts we left unattended will reveal their hideout soon." "I see. So you''ve been following the food convoy. I''m impressed. "The man''s talking to himself. They''ll be at their hideout within half a day. What will you do then? If that''s their headquarters, they''ll be well armed. It was highly doubtful how effective a surprise attack would be. "I guess we should attack from the front here, right? Makina said. I assume that they would have to surround the area and take measures to prevent them from escaping. "It will also be necessary to show them the difference in power in order to remind them of the mastermind who does not know where he is. "Makina-dono, what the hell is that? Tomax was startled by Makina''s words and asked. "Oh, it''s just an inference I''ve drawn from the stories of those we''ve taken captive..." Makina began to explain. "In the first place, there are many questions, such as whether he is the son of the former king, whether he is organizing the remnants, and where the funds and materials for the operation are coming from. I see, that''s true. "Let''s assume that there is help from abroad. Then a lot of things would make sense. "...... hmm." Tomax Bartmann is not exactly a top administrator. Listening to Makina''s explanation, he instantly considered the possibility. "...... Duchy of Juggs, is it?" Makina nodded. "That''s right. Those four countries have not yet participated in the World Conference. They have participated several times in the form of provisional participation, but the top leaders of each country are still not clear on whether they are too stubborn or not willing to give up their vested interests. Since they are not openly hostile to each other, the <> is also taking a wait-and-see attitude. "Paelova Sondvik also said that the Duchy of Jagus might be behind this. It seems so. The Duchy of Jagus was also suspected by Northanon Quetos, commander of the Pandor Continental Division of the World Guard. "I''ll look into it as a <> here. If we classify <> as an organization, the military is the <>, the political is the <>, and the scientific is the <>. The would be responsible for inquiries and investigations into the Duchy of Jaguar. "There is only one concern. ......" Tomax Bartmann did not miss Makina''s difficult words. "What''s that?" "Uh, ah, ah, I mean, where is the person who uses brainwashing magic?" "Oh, yes, that''s right." Makina''s subordinates are golems and automata, so there is no need to worry about being hit by brainwashing magic. But <> is different. Most of the <> that make up their forces are human. "Is it possible that they have already been captured?" "It''s just a possibility, Tomax. "I don''t think so. We interrogated him on the way to bring him here. Unless he had performed so well that even Machina could not detect him, but that seemed unlikely. Deus ex machina is not a human being, but a remotely controlled "doppelganger. "If they were at the headquarters, we would be walking right into a trap..." "I can''t deny that." < is human. Let the take care of the siege here, and I will take care of the advance on the headquarters. Machina''s main force is a golem. This way, they will not be affected by brainwashing magic. "That might be a good idea." Tomax Bartmann laughed and said, "I wish I had some kind of magic tool that could repel brainwashing magic. So far, Jin has not been able to create such a tool. However, he can protect himself from such brainwashing magic by putting up a <>. You can also block their magic with <>. Then, you could put on a full-body armor like a shield case made of mithril, though. In short, Jin didn''t feel the need to make such an armor, since he would just hit such an opponent with a golem squad. (I see...) * * * * * * * * * * (I see, a countermeasure against brainwashing magic. ......) When Jin returned to the inn after the inspection, he received a call from the old man. (There are two directions. (There are two directions. Prevent or eliminate.) Preventing means shielding with mithril armor or . To erase is to use something like <> or >. (Hmmm ...... being brainwashed is a brain problem, so maybe just a helmet is enough). (Well brainwashing is a brain problem, so maybe just a helmet would be enough). (I''d like to do it myself, but I can''t go back to Horai Island right now. ......) Jin then decided to ask <> members to develop it. "Old man, which members are in Horai Island right now?" < "That''s nice. Please send Erza, Saki, and Reinhardt out. < <> <> "Yeah, actually, I just thought of something. ......" Jin explained to the three about the anti-brainwashing magic helmet. > "I suppose so." Thus, Jin decides to entrust the three of them with the development of a helmet to protect against brainwashing magic. 2324 - - 62-28 Brainwashing Magic Countermeasures 2 Erza, Saki, and Reinhardt are consulting with Jin, who has asked them to come up with a . "The original idea is a mithril shield," says Reinhardt. Reinhardt said. "But then, we can''t wear it all the time, can we? Saki pointed out the problem. "Then why don''t we make helmets out of mithril woven cloth or something like chain mail? Elsa offers her opinion. "Yes, that would be a good place to start." Reinhardt agrees and we start with an experiment. "Would mithril be a good material?" "Mithril would be a good material, wouldn''t it? "Yes, considering its practicality, I suppose so. There is also a material called < shell, but it is not common. If it is to be used as equipment for the <>, it must be a common material for practical use. "However, I think it would be good to experiment with it as a sample for comparison." Erza said. "I agree. <. And so the experiment began. "First of all, <>, can Elsa use it? "I don''t think so, I''ve never practiced it." "I don''t think so." "But I''ve used it before with a hypno-magic." I used it on Najaz Khan. "But are you going to use someone else as a test subject?" "...... Saki''s right." The three of them are wondering what to do. And then... "Brother Rai, can''t you make a magical tool that glows when it receives such magic?" Erza said with an idea. "I see. That might be a good idea." Reinhardt replied and immediately started to make a magical tool. "...... but we can''t use > if there is some kind of equivalent magic ......." "Oh, then, how about <>, the magic of release?" "Yes, that might be a good idea." Erza has developed a magic for disarming brainwashing. If it doesn''t work, it seems that brainwashing magic won''t work either. We decided to proceed with the experiment based on this assumption. A wooden mannequin head is made, and a magic tool is implanted in it. There are holes in the eyes, through which light leaks when brainwashing magic is detected. It''s a little creepy. After confirming that the eyes light up with Erza''s <>, we start the experiment. "Let''s start with Mithril''s helmet. A full face, one millimeter thick. It looks a bit like a knight''s helmet, but basically it looks like a full-face motorcycle helmet with a mithril shield. The eyes have slit holes in them so that the wearer can see out. "Okay, I''ll give it a try. ......<>" "It doesn''t glow." "It doesn''t glow. So this is shielding well enough. "Next, a helmet of the same material and shape with half the thickness. A full face helmet with a thickness of 0.5 mm. It also shielded well. "It works better than I thought." "Well, that''s a nice miscalculation." Then, the next question is what shape to make. "I''d like to try it in the direction of what would happen if we made it into a hat. "Oh, you want to reduce the area that covers the head. "That kind of thing." And the result is. "No hats?" "The back of the head has to be protected." I understood that. But a jet helmet for motorcycles works well. It seems that covering the back of the head is the key. "What if we make it thinner? "What if we make it even thinner?" "If we make it 0.3mm thick, the effect will be weaker. "Kuhu, I think 0.5mm is the maximum thickness with some leeway. "Hmm, that''s a good conclusion. "Next, how about making a mesh?" A mesh made of mithril''s ultra-fine wire is processed into a jet-helmet shape. It looks a bit like a flying cap. "Oh, this is surprisingly good." The shield was effective. Let''s make it coarser and coarser. "Hmm." At first, the weave was so dense that it was almost impermeable, but then the weave was gradually made coarser. As a result, the first millimeter was fine, but the second millimeter was not. "Kuhu, then a hat made of 1mm mesh should be able to protect it, right?" "Hmm. The only thing left is the design. "So that''s what you mean. We can make it so it doesn''t look like protective gear, or we can make it look like an under-helmet cap." "What''s that, Rai?" Elsa asked at the unfamiliar word. "What is it?." "Yes." And as expected, the hat made from the shell of the ancient dragon prevented the effect of <> in the comparison experiment. "Probably because of the strong network of free magic element (ether)". "That''s why it is so effective even though it doesn''t cover the back of the head." "Kuhu, I like hats for family use." Thus, the experiment of the three ended with the result that the shell of the <> had a great effect. 2325 - - 62-29 Brainwashing Magic Countermeasures 3 Far west of Mahaliegh, the capital of the former Principality of Mercana. The gently sloping terrain rises gently to the west. To the east is a blackwood forest and to the south is a swamp. To the north is a wilderness and to the west is a rocky area. The headquarters of the <> was located in such a place. The reason why it has not been discovered from the sky is that it is far from the flight route from the Laurentian continent. In this headquarters, a small farm is also being built, aiming for self-sufficiency ......, but the scale is too small to do so. "Come on, work hard!" "......" The people working the fields are brainwashed civilians. Most of them are farmers kidnapped from the countryside. About ten of them. The fact that they had so much to eat without enough food was a bad idea, and only served to accelerate the food shortage. This was because the land in this area was not suitable for cultivation. However, the leaders of the <> had nothing to do with agriculture, so they just made them work without any care. If they still had free will as peasants, they could have listened to their opinions such as <> or <>. However, since they were regarded as nothing more than slaves, they were almost puppets without any will of their own, and they were trapped in a vicious circle. * * * * ......." Deus ex machina explains to Tomax Bartmann in the form of a report from one of his scouts. "It''s a terrible story. The two men frown in disgust, guessing that from the looks of it, they will just be discarded when they are no longer useful. "We''ll have to rescue them, too, won''t we?" "It''s hard to make a plan, isn''t it ......?" Makina and Tomax guessed that if they were detected, they would most likely use the peasants as shields. The first priority was to rescue the villagers who were believed to have been enslaved. The next priority was to secure the leaders in the hideout. Then, the control of the hideout. The last is to recover the food that has been stolen from the villagers. Those who have been brainwashed and used for their own good, even if the worst happens and they escape, we will be able to get them later. Whatever form they take, the biggest concern is the <. < are human. The thought of them being brainwashed is frightening. "So, with the help of Jin, we are developing a magic tool that will release <>. At the same time, we are also developing equipment to protect people from brainwashing. Both of them are to be made by <>. Makina is supposed to be the one in the center of the stage, while Jin is supposed to stay quiet. Whether it works or not. "They should both arrive tomorrow." "That''s very encouraging." Then we can immediately launch an operation to take control of the Revolutionary Party''s hideout. It is significant that Makina has repaired the at the port of Nadev, southeast of Mahaliegh, so that we can travel from <> to the Pandor continent with almost no time loss. "...... By the way, Makina-sama, is it true that your base is on the other side of the Kingdom of Selroa?" Tomax Bartmann asked the question after Makina''s words that he would receive it tomorrow. "I heard that you mentioned this to Northern Quetos the other day." Yes, that''s right. Yes, that''s right. ...... is around here." Makina pointed at a point on the world map on the wall. "Oh, is this it?" It was the sea at the mouth of the Border River, the great river that flows along the border between the Shoro Kingdom and the Kingdom of Selroa, extending the border line to the southwest. It is just south of Lake Wasu in the southern part of the Shoro Kingdom, and is at about the same latitude as the southern tip of the Kingdom of Celuloa, which should give you a rough idea of its location. "I''m thinking of inviting some dignitaries to come here when this mess is over," he said. "That''s ...... I''d love to visit. ...... but for now..." "Yes. <. * * * * In Horai Island. The old man asked Erza for a favor. "A magical tool that releases the Wecken?" < "Kuhu, you seem to be doing something troublesome again, don''t you? Saki, who was listening next to me, let out a sneer. "I see......... we can''t let this go, can we?" << Elsa nodded broadly. "Yes, I''ll be right with you." Elsa is not only a top-notch medical professional, but also an expert in engineering magic. Using high quality Magi Crystals, she quickly completed the Wakening Machine. "That''s great, Erza." Saki, who had been watching, applauded. "Hey, I want to know one thing... I think Jin also made a magic tool called ...... uh, yes, <> before, but why don''t you use it?" The <> has the effect of canceling even the <> used by Malkitas. The brainwashing and slavery magic used by Golbert (Guillermo) Marchitas, who was of the blood of the <>, then known as the Demon Tribe, was distinct from <> or <>. It could not be successfully released by <>. Therefore, Jin made a magic tool to disarm it, but it was too exaggerated, too effective, and too powerful for <> to manage. This <> is owned only by Horaijima and Elena of Nostalgia. So Erza has developed a magic tool of a level that <> can manage. "This should be possible for <>''s engineers to make ......." There may be no more than 10 such engineers, but they can still make it. Incidentally, the materials used were kept at the general level. "We can send this and the that my brother Rai is now mass-producing to ." Yes, Reinhardt is now mass-producing <>. There are 100 sets of helmet type and 100 sets of under-helmet caps, so it seems that even Reinhardt is taking a little time. It seems that even Reinhardt is taking a little bit of time. However, Reinhardt, who is the best of the best, finished getting the required number of helmets in an hour or so. "Wow, Erza made a , that''s interesting. Reinhardt, whose hands were now free, looked at Erza''s work and was impressed. "It''s simply to remove <> or <>." Basically, <> can be used to remove them, but it involves physical pain (hence fainting), so they have developed <> with that in mind. "<>...... no, I will deliver it to <> with <>." <> is now at Hale>>. "Ah." Erza seems to have forgotten about this. "I don''t know what to do." Erza looks at Reinhardt''s face. "I''m not the one to ask. ......" "Well, it would have been nice to have a small airship for just such an occasion. But what we don''t have, we can''t do without. But the old man..., The old man told me that <<<< He told me that there is a 2326 - - 62-30 Conference in Avalon . This is the first airship-like ship built by Jin. It was developed with the concept of flying between countries in one day. It is 40 meters long, 18 meters high, and has a capacity of 30 passengers. Maximum speed is 200 km/h. Propelled by jet thrusters. It has an air sac and floats on helium gas, but also uses a <>. <>. Alternatively, you can use your doppelganger to be safer. "Yes, I understand." Erza replied that she would go by herself, since Machina would be there. "I will adjust the time and have the transporter send to the vicinity of , and after landing, I will use the warp gate to get there." < The old man agreed with me. Normally, it should be Jin, but since he is currently on an inspection tour of the Pandor continent, his wife Elsa is acting in his place. The old man started to prepare for . * * * * * * * * At 1:00 p.m. local time on May 8. < Deus ex machina and Tomax Bartmann greet it at the airfield. "Oh, here they come." Is that the airship ......? Yes, it was built by the second generation of Magecraft Meister Jin. Makina explains. As a side note, the second generation is called , and the third generation is called . The ship lands on the ground. The cabin door opens, and the ramp slowly rises up to reveal Erza. She is accompanied by Anne, her handmaiden automata. "Erza-sama, it''s been a while. Makina greeted her first. Yes, it''s been a while. Then Tomax Bartmann says hello. "Elsa, I am very grateful to you for your hospitality this time," he says. No, I am here to protect the peace and tranquility of the continent of Pandor. After such a simple greeting, Sky 700 and 701 came down with a large container in their arms. "Here are the anti-brainwashing helmets and the magic tools to remove brainwashing. "Oh, thank you very much. Elsa handed the delivery note to Tomax Bartmann. "Certainly. Manon will take care of the payment. I understand. I''ll leave this to Anne. The container is taken to the World Guard building. Tomax Baartman, Deus ex Machina, Elsa, and Anne are also moving toward the building. Skye 700 and 701 remain in . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Is that a helmet? "Yes. <. There are 100 sets of helmet type and 100 sets of under helmet cap. First of all, Erza explained the helmets to the participants as a confirmation. "The helmets are light. "They are made of mithril. < "And this is an under-helmet cap. This one seems to be more convenient. < exclusive helmets. "Hmm, this is the . ......" Makina showed interest in the magic tool. "Oh, it''s called <>." Erza corrected the name. The <> is a magical tool that Jin had created long ago to break the brainwashing and subjugation magic of the northern peoples. "I see, <> is an awakening machine (Weckenner)>>. ...... It seems to have quite a lot of power, doesn''t it?What is its range?" Makina had recognized its performance at first glance. (......The old man and the imam both have a good way of constructing questions and answers.) Erza answered the question with inner admiration. "At full power, it is about one kilometer. In that case, the area of effect is 100 meters in diameter. "That''s amazing!" It''s reassuring to be able to de-brainwash from a distance," rejoiced Tomax Bartmann. "Exactly. This will expand the scope of our operations. Deus ex machina agreed. A strategy meeting was then held. The participants were Tomax Bartmann, Deus ex Machina, Manon the secretary automata, and Fiona Fierce, apprentice to the secretary to the chief administrator. And back at the Warp Gate are Northanon Quetos, commander of the Pandor continental squadron, and Eumis Isle, the squadron''s vice-captain. Erza, the creator of the magic tools, is also present. Anne was by her side as a maid of honor. "This operation will basically be carried out by the Pandor Continental Division. Tomax Bartmann cut in. "The first priority is to rescue the villagers who are believed to have been enslaved," Tomax Bartmann said. Next is to secure the leaders in the hideout. Then we will take control of the hideout. The last one is to get back the food that has been stolen. Please try not to cause any casualties among the villagers, said Tomax Bartmann. At this point Elsa raised her hand and spoke. "From what I have heard, these people are very weak. I think that they need to be given some kind of cure or restorative as soon as we get them out of there. "Ah, thank you very much for your remarks, Miss Elsa. You are right. I am sure you are right. I am sure you are also physically exhausted and need to take some healing medicine as well. Tomax Bartmann thanked her. Then Elsa added, "I have also brought some recovery medicine. <." "Oh, thank you!The recovery medicine prepared by Jin is very effective. Makina said. It was a deliberate move on Erza''s part, but it came as a fresh surprise to the others. "Then the enslaved people need to be treated as soon as they are protected, and for that we need medics. Northanon Quetos said. "I have heard that there are ten such people. If that''s the case, I don''t think the medics in the squad are enough. Eumis Isle also spoke up. "Well, let''s temporarily add 10 Saffies. Saffy is a golem maid donated by Jin and Makina a long time ago, but her basic performance is high. "They will be in charge of administering healing and restorative medicines and taking care of the people they protect. The medic will be in charge of magical healing. "Understood." And so the mission meeting proceeded. The operation was to take place soon after. It was decided that it would be at 1:00 p.m. local, or Pandorian continental time. The reason for the daytime is to protect the enslaved villagers first and foremost. This is the time when they are working in the open. Please put human life first. Yes, sir. Elsa, who was also observing the meeting, wondered if there was anything she could do. 2327 - - 62-31 confluence and Mahaliegh on the continent of Pandor are about 220 degrees apart in longitude. Therefore, the time difference is 14.7 hours. At noon local time, the operation headquarters for the suppression of the <> headquarters was moved to Mahaliegh. The head of the operation headquarters is Northeranon Quetos, commander of the Pandor Continental Division. His deputy is, of course, Eumis Isle, the squad''s deputy commander. The chief of staff or advisor is deus ex machina. Simone was present as honorary military commander. The term "military commander" is also used to refer to a military commander. It can also refer to a military strategist. Simone was appointed to this position because she is the deputy of the Chief Superintendent, Thomas Bartmann. Elsa is the other backup in the maharigues as a relief worker. She will be escorted by Alma 19 and 20, golems under Machina''s command. As for Erza''s safety, the old man is watching over her with a on Horai Island. * * * * * * * * * * * * "We will launch a surprise attack in two hours." Northanon Quetos announced. "Yes." Deus ex machina nodded. "Here''s the plan." Yumis Isle began to explain. "First, at exactly 2:00 p.m., we will irradiate the Weckener at maximum output. This will free the peasants from their brainwashing. "I think they will probably all fall, so I will ask Makina-sama''s forces ......<> to rescue them." Makina nodded and asked a question. Makina nodded and asked a question. "That is quite possible, and I will agree to it. But, are you sure?Will it be too late for you to join the suppression? "No, the first goal of this mission is to rescue the villagers who are thought to be enslaved. I understand. We will try to complete the rescue as quickly as possible and return to the front lines. Thank you for your cooperation. Yumis Isle then continues. "Considering the function of the Weckener, I believe that some of the members of the Revolutionary Party will come to their senses. If that happens, there will be confusion, and we will take advantage of that to neutralize the bandits. "Let''s have Ray carry the Weckenaar. That way, it will be possible to irradiate them several times. "Oh, about that..." Erza raised her hand and made a statement. "If you irradiate at maximum output more than once, it will put a burden on the magic circuit and it may burn out, so please limit it to three times. This is a side effect of producing the material at a general level. I understand. "We don''t know how many golems the bandits have. That''s the uncertainty of this operation. We wanted to take more time, but we could not take our time when we thought about rescuing the villagers who were thought to be enslaved. "For that reason, I will return my forces as soon as possible. Please do so. ......This time, we have 10 golems ready. Hearing this, Makina said, "Yes, let''s have <> stand by nearby and bring the rescued villagers there. It would be convenient for treating them and keeping them away from the danger zone. I suggested. "That sounds good. But there is one problem. Yumis Isle said regretfully. "In two hours, even Aristotle will not be able to get here from Avalon. "Ah ......" The distance of 4000 kilometers makes it impossible unless he could reach a speed of over 2000 kilometers per hour. It is impossible unless you can reach a speed of over 2000 km/h. < could reach supersonic speeds was, for the moment, a secret. The same is true for used by Elsa. But there is a silver lining. "Excuse me, I''m in the middle of a meeting. A messenger came and announced Jin''s visit. I see..." * * * * "I see, you are going to take control today. On the same day, that is, May 8, Jin was still in Mahaliegh. < was located in the west of Mahaliegh, and he stayed there thinking that he might be able to help in some way. And when I learned that the headquarters of operations to suppress the headquarters of the had been established, and that Makina and Erza were also there, I showed my face. By the way, Kachair is still at the inn. "Jin, thank you for coming." Makina got up from her chair and greeted Jin. "Your is here in Mahaliegh, isn''t it?" "Yes." The magical brain that controls the deus ex machina naturally knew this, but he dared to confirm it here by saying it out loud. "Good." Makina turned to those present at the strategy meeting. "I have Jin''s . With it, I can have it stay in the air until the mission starts, and then it will descend at the appointed time to drop my ." "Oh!" Northanon Quetos exclaimed joyfully. "And the rescued villagers will be housed immediately, right?" "That''s what I mean." Makina then explained the plan to Jin. "I see. I understand. Jin knew the gist of the plan from the old man, but he decided to go with the flow and pretend that he had just been informed of the plan. "Let''s have Reiko back me up on this. "Oh, that''s reassuring. Makina is pleased to hear Jin''s line. The treatment and care of the rescued villagers are now to take place in the . Naturally, Erza also stays here. This also allows 19 and 20 to join the operation. The medics are to concentrate on providing back-up for the suppression force, since the equipment in the <> and Erza''s presence will ensure that the villagers will be taken care of. "If Jin cooperates with us, this operation is sure to be a success. Makina''s words brightened the faces of those in attendance. However, it is the participation of that they are hoping for, not Reiko''s participation. Rather, Elsa, Makina, and Simone are the only ones who understand exactly what Reiko''s means. * * * * After explaining the operation, Jin talked with Elsa in the . "I''m sorry I left you in charge of all this. "No, it was quite fun. I am relieved to hear you say that. ......<>and<>, isn''t it nice?" "Hmm. Rai and Saki did a great job." I''ll have to thank them when I get back." Such conversations were made and the time passed. 2328 - - 62-32 Zero Hour Slowly the hours pass, and it is now 2:00 p.m. "Hope, let''s descend!" In a calm voice, Jin gives a single word of command. "Yes, Master." Jin''s Hurricane, which had been waiting 500 meters in the air, lowers its altitude at once. "<> Irradiate with full power!" At the same time, the deus ex machina on board gives orders to his valet, Rei. "Yes, Master Machina." The highest-powered deus ex machina fires its magic power downward. The <> comes to a standstill at an altitude of 15 meters, just above the tree canopy. "Okay, descend from 1 to 20!Rescue the villagers." The twenty golems jumped down the cabin hatch one after the other. "Ray, go support them." "Yes, sir." Squire Ray was the last to jump. Reiko stays behind in case of any unforeseen circumstances. At an altitude of 15 meters, both Alma and Rei can land without any problems, even without using the force field generator. At 2:00:30 PM, <> and Rey reach the cultivated land. * * * * * * Bathed in the May sun, eleven <> have been plowing, weeding, watering, and clearing the wasteland since morning. They are given only minimal rest and minimal food, and they are wobbly. "Don''t rest, work!" There is one supervisor. He is assisted by a golem. It has only one job. To see that the farm slaves do not slacken off. He raises his hoe lazily and brings it down with his weight. He repeats this action endlessly. "Work harder!" I shouted, and the agricultural slave took it as an order to work a little faster. Even in May, the sun was still strong. One of the slaves, who had been forced to work since morning without any breaks or hydration, finally collapsed. "Get up!Get up! the supervisor yelled at him, but the man would not get up. The supervisor and his assistant golem walk up to him, thinking about kicking him. < irradiated the man with all its power. * * * * * * * * * * * * "u......" "Ao......" "......" The ten <> who had been working there crumpled to the ground as if their threads had been severed. The supervisor stands up to kick the fallen man, but stops in surprise. He was about to step on the nearest < when.... "What the hell? The supervisor was rolling on the ground after being pushed by someone. An assistant golem reacted to help him, but the next moment, it was flying through the air and slammed into the ground. "What the ...... is going on? The supervisor let go of his consciousness as the shock pierced through his entire body. The last thing he sees is a brown golem that helps the fallen < up. * * * * * * Okay, that''s good. "Eleven in all." Deus ex machina and Jin muttered to themselves as they looked below. "There was one golem." But Rey silenced them. "Oh, they''ve brought back all the villagers. Hope, lower the lifting winch. "Yes, sir." Not knowing who was watching, Jin decided to use the lifting and lowering winch that he had prepared for such an occasion from the . , carrying an unconscious villager, rides up to on a winch. A simple triage, or prioritization, is performed, and the most dangerous are taken into custody first. < "......<>" Elsa first casts a healing spell for both medical and surgical use, and then checks on them. Reiko assists her, and the patient (a villager) is placed on a reclining seat. Patients are brought in at a rate of about one every 30 seconds, and after 5 minutes and 30 seconds, one patient is brought in every . One patient was admitted to the . "All with mild heat stroke, malnutrition, extreme fatigue, lack of sleep, lack of fluids. 1 with fatigue fracture of the right clavicle". Elsa makes a diagnosis. "Persica juice, administered. Then forced 10 hours of sleep. Patients with fractures are treated with healing magic." <. <>" Healing magic is applied to heal the fracture, and Elsa and Reiko supply the patient with percha juice from a sucking cup. And then... "<>" The patient was enchanted to sleep soundly. * * * * * * While Erza is treating the patient, Jin and Makina are dealing with the . First, they send the 20 who are available to them back to their hideout. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Three minutes earlier, the Pandor Continental Division of the World Guard had entered the hideout. "Let''s go!" Inside the hideout, about one-third of the population has been de-brainwashed by the powerful effects of the <>, and about one-third of the population is bewildered by the situation. "What in the world am I ...... doing?" "Don''t tell me you''ve been cooperating with these crazy people?" "Uh-oh!Oh, my God, what have I done! Forty-five former zealots were amused by their confused former colleagues. For a minute or so they were confused, unable to understand what had happened, but then they realized the truth. "...... seems to have broken the brainwashing. Take care of the ranting and raving." Are you sure? May I? - Sure, I don''t mind. They''re all low-level people. We can replace them as many times as we want. I understand. To faithfully carry out their superiors'' instructions, the men of the Revolutionary Party draw their daggers and aim for the hearts of those who continue to be in turmoil. 2329 - - 62-33 hideout control < were those who were manipulated by brainwashing magic. When the full power of the Weckenaar was used to release them, chaos ensued. < ordered them to be cut down, and their subordinates drew daggers to carry out the order. But the dagger was never thrust. "Oh ......?What the ...... f*ck!" < Enemy attack! "d*mn, why didn''t we see it?" asked a senior officer to his aide in a panic. "I don''t know!When we came to, we found that they had entered! We''ll intercept them anyway! Inside the headquarters hideout, there was chaos, just as Makina and the others had expected. However, the chaos could not continue indefinitely, so the troops who entered the area were prepared to fight a short battle. "The first level has been overrun!The defense line is retreating! The second level has been breached! "Nooooo ......" <''s hideout consists of two floors above ground and four floors below. The ground level is where the brainwashed members of the party live, and the basement level is where the unbrainwashed members of the party reside. However, the basement, which was thought to be safer, turned out to be a cul-de-sac from which there was no escape when cornered. The cadres of the <> are the former ruling class. They have lived their lives without any rough times. Therefore, they are not used to dealing with such a situation. Most of the men they kept for combat use were brainwashed and are now useless. "Is this the downside of relying only on brainwashing? ......" One of the executives muttered regretfully. It''s too late to realize it now. "They''ve broken through the second level!They are entering this level!" "GUNNUN......" , that is, the third level, was literally the last stronghold, as it was the level where the executives'' living quarters and the command center were located. "All golems, deploy!Repel the intruders!" These were the instructions that should have been given once the first level had been breached. Now that the second level has been conquered, it is a backwater situation. However, the golems have neither a sense of doom nor a sense of duty, and are simply following orders. There are 25 of them. The level of these golems is also the level of the golems developed by Groma and others in the days of the former . In other words, they are far below the standard golems of the <>, let alone the golems of Jin and Machina. The difference was something that could not be overturned even with a threefold difference in strength. No, with the participation of of Machina and the Knight Rey, a difference of more than 10 times would not make any difference. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Weak. ......" "Yeah, it''s a bit of a letdown. Be on your toes! In the control unit, voices echoed in surprise at the lack of resistance. "Was brainwashing such a useless magic?" Some people say that, but that''s not true. To be precise, it is <. Jin, who has suffered from brainwashing and hypnosis many times in the past, is the only one who can deal with it. Without that, it would not have been easy even for the <>. In the control of the first level, no one dropped out, and they neutralized and captured 15 enemies with only a few minor wounds. At the second level, thanks to the golem that I had accompanied me leading the way, we were able to take 19 of the enemy prisoners with only minor wounds. However. "Is there a ...... golem on the third level?" The squad leader, Nothernon Quetos, stopped and thought about tactics. Then and her knight, Rei, arrive. "We are here to help you, sir, according to Makina-sama''s instructions. "Oh, that would be great." With their participation, the situation on the <> side improves further. Minor wounds are completely healed by ''s healing magic, and damaged equipment is repaired by engineering magic. And the Golem of the . "...... and I can''t believe it. ......" ''s blow knocked them out of action. Two of them were blown apart by Knight Ray''s blow and stopped moving. And within three seconds, all twenty-five of them had stopped moving. "Now, will you surrender?" said Nathanon Quetos in a quiet voice. "Uh......" There were three executives left. <, the three of them have decided everything together. "Uh...... surrender." You are wise. "......, I surrender, too." I surrender, too. One surrendered, and the other two seemed to have given up and surrendered one after another. * * * * < "Yes, you did well. "But I''m worried that we can''t find anyone who can use <>. And the candidate for the high kingship ......? Oh, yeah, and I can''t find anyone named Vladimir Hungazone Mercana either. "That''s for sure." Jin and Makina wondered if any of the bandits they had captured had been like that, < The old man denied it. <>. "So that means he is somewhere else." The mastermind or the real boss. We can''t say we''ve solved the problem until we catch him. < "Hmm, that''s the worst of it." At worst, Jin and the others were prepared for the possibility that they might have to use transinfo to copy their memories to find out what was going on. The truth is, however, that the truth is not what we had expected. However, something unexpected actually happened. The World Security Forces, which captured 8 executives (including 3 top executives), 40 subordinates, and 19 brainwashed subordinates, and took them to the garrison. Pandor continental division. "Now, let''s hear what they have to say." Northern Quetos decided to interrogate the three top leaders at the same time. "Okay, okay, I''ll tell you anything! I''ll tell you anything! I''ll tell you anything, but not my life! I''ll tell you anything! I''ll tell you anything! I''ll tell you anything! I''ll tell you anything, but only my life! Only one of them made strange demands, but the two seemed willing to talk. 2330 - - 62-34 hideout survey The confessions of the top leaders of the <>, who were more loose-tongued than expected, revealed the whole picture of the <>. NORTHANON QUETOS interrogates them ...... and the questions continue, with the three of them taking turns answering them. Jin and Makina were in the monitoring the situation. Naturally, the images were captured by a <> and the sounds by a <>. The name is Pedro Lakitova. Their names are Pedro Rakitova, Cherenko Rakitova, and Yakov Rakitova. They used to work as secretaries of the , but when their masters were wiped out by the invasion of the Markitas, they were at their wits'' end, when they were invited by a certain someone. "Who is this person?" "...... His identity is unknown. He always wears a mask. <, but I suspect it is an alias. A man with no face and no name, who seemed to be the mastermind behind all this. He introduced me to a man who claimed to be Vladimir Hangazone Melkana of the Melkana royal family. According to the masked man, he was the son of the brother of Mikhailinov Hangazonet Merkana, the last king of Merkana. In other words, he is a nephew of Mikailinov. This is surprising, since it was thought that all the kings had died during the invasion of Malchitas. "He was 21 years old, 185 centimeters and 80 kilograms. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and good looks, so he was the perfect mikoshi (portable shrine)." "So he''s a palanquin. ......" "Yes. For better or worse, he''s a typical young man. All you have to do is fluster him and he''ll be fine." "I see. So where is he now? Northerner thought that he would not get an answer to this question, "He is in the Principality of Jagus. But he answered unexpectedly, "He is in the Duchy of Jagus. * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, just when I thought I''ve solved the mystery, another one pops up. Jin blurted out. It seems that the head of the <<<< revolutionary party>> was literally just a decoration>> "Yes. It seems that he''s a helpless monarch who''s satisfied with just being pampered." "He''s literally just a decoration." Jin and Makina looked at each other in disgust. "Does this mean that he is pampered in the Principality of Juggs and does as he pleases?" The old man is going to check the most likely place to find Vladimir Hangazonne Mercana in the Principality of Jagdus, that is, the capital city. "You mean he is under house arrest?" "Wow ......" This is Jin who reminded me of Liu Zen, the second Shu emperor who lost his homeland. He remembered him because he liked the comics of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. "If that''s the case, I guess I can leave that one alone. ......" "So, the problem is the masked man. ...... "Perhaps he''s the one who uses the ." Erza''s guess was the same as Jin and the others. "Then where is he?" It seemed that the did not know either. * * * * Meanwhile, at the same time, the headquarters of the <>. Food looted from all over the world was being gathered here, and some members of the <> remained behind to carry it out. At the same time, they are also investigating the inside of the hideout. The squad''s deputy commander, Yumis Isle, is in charge. "Those bags are fragile, so please carry them carefully, <>." Yes, sir. There were also five golems under Machina''s command, helping to carry the bags. "There is nothing to see on the ground floor. The ground floor was where the enslaved villagers and the brainwashed underlings lived. There were only a few personal belongings. The basement level was also empty. There was nothing of note. "Basement level 2: ...... umm... ......" Humis Isle frowned. More than half of this hierarchy is occupied by the middle class, who have not been brainwashed. Hence, personal belongings were scattered about, some of which the young woman did not want to see. "Hey, let''s go to the third basement!" "Yes, sir." Accompanying Yumis now was Machina''s valet, Rey. He should be able to handle most situations. And the third basement, where the leaders'' quarters and the command center are located. Lieutenant, we found the treasure. I knew it. ...... The leaders had amassed a personal fortune. "Get it all out of here. We''ll give it back to the people of this continent later. "Yes, sir." Yumis Isle himself is examining the command center. "I haven''t found anything new. ...... Please take out the bookshelves with the materials." On one of the walls there is a large bookshelf with a variety of books and files. I''m going to take all of them to and check them out for the time being. "...... Oh?" < had carried away the bookshelves, they had found something on the wall. "A hidden door? The thin line on the wall made it look as if there was a door there. But it''s impossible if we don''t know how to open it. I think we''d better wait for a specialist. Yumis Isle made a calm decision, "It would be a disaster if it opens on its own and something irreversible happens. * * * * * * <, the old man, who had learned about the hidden door that Yumis Isle had found, was immediately exploring the back of the door with his . "What do you think, old man?" Jin asked after a minute or so, when the old man did not say anything. < "Oh, I see." There are still undiscovered remains of the Origin scattered all over the world. One of them was probably discovered by chance and used as a hideout by the . "Could there be anything left behind by the <>?" But it seems not so well, < "That''s too bad." "I see." Jin imagined that it might be the masked man. 2331 - - 62-35 Archaeological Survey Starts Yumis Isle found a hidden door. She decides not to open it and calls in a specialist from <>. The deus ex machina who has been staying there arrives with his valet, Rey. He is accompanied by his squad leader, Northerner Quetos. "Thank you for your hospitality, Master Machina. Yumis bowed his head. "No, no problem. So this is the ...... hidden door. ......" "Whose ...... is it?" Northern Quetos nodded his head. Makina, that is, the old man and the imam, decided that it was better not to hide this anymore. "I think it is a race with super-technology ...... that has existed in this world in the past." "What? "The same is true of the in Franz''s kingdom. < was probably bequeathed by such a being. "So that''s what you''re saying. ......" Yumis Isle, a logical thinker, managed to swallow the fact. "Then what''s in the back here?" NORTHANON asks urgently. Makina shook her head. "I don''t know. But it looks like abandoned ruins, so there might not be much ...... in there." "Huh." Makina touched the wall and explored the area. "<>...... yeah, there''s a cavity on the other side after all." The old man had already confirmed this with his <>, but he pretended that he had checked here again. And we know that there is nothing dangerous. "How do I open ......?Well, here, like this: ......." Makina pressed hard on a part of the wall. Then the part was dented, and some kind of switch appeared. "Oh?" "That''s just like Makina-sama!" "No, I just followed the flow of magic power inside the wall. Makina said, and carefully flipped the switch. Then the hidden door opened without a sound. "Oh!" "So this is the real ruins. ......" Northern Quetos was impressed, and Yumis Isle carefully peeked inside. "I suppose so. Let''s have Ray explore it first. ...... Ray, please." "Yes, sir." Squire Ray answered without hesitation and stepped inside the door. After ten minutes of walking around the interior, he said, "There is no danger," he reported. He reported, "There is no danger. "Okay, let''s take a look," Makina said. Makina said, "Yes! Nothernon Quetos answered, and was the first to step behind the door. "Yes ...... captain is always ...... always ......." Eumis Isle saw this and blurted out. "Is he always like that?" "Yes, sir. When the situation calls for it, he makes calm judgments, but usually he is ......." Yumis holds his head. "Well, it''s good if you can count on him when you need him. Makina followed up and headed for the door. Squire Ray and Yumis Isle followed her. "This is ......." The walls, floor, and ceiling were all different from the previous rooms. The room was about the size of an elementary school classroom, and the ceiling was high. And there was no other entrance or exit other than the door through which we had entered. More to the point: ....... "It''s white. Does that mean anything to you?" "I think it''s a color favored by a race that existed in the past." Makina answers. <700672''s was also white, it would not be surprising if there was such a tendency. Makina guessed. "I see. ......" Then Yumis Isle gently touches the wall. "It''s not metal. It''s not cold. It''s not wood. It''s not even painted. "It''s resin." Makina gives the correct answer. "Resin?When you say ......, you mean like pine resin?" <, magi plastic is not yet common. But pine tar is literally a resin, and <> is also an unmistakable resin. "Yes. It''s more like a magical resin. <, even if it gets scratched or has a hole in it, it can be easily repaired with magic. It can be used to make a small shelf or something like that. You can also use it like this. ......<>" "Ah." When Makina used engineering magic, a part of the wall deformed, leaving a gaping hole. Behind the hole is a hidden cupboard. "I don''t think we''ll be able to find it by ordinary means." "Yes, that''s right. That''s what Makina-dono is all about!That''s wonderful! Northanon Quetos praised Makina. Opening the door of the cupboard, he found a small magic tool inside. "What is it?" Rei, the valet, grabbed Nathanon Quetos'' arm to stop him as he tried to take it out. "Do not touch it carelessly. It is a trap. "A trap? Northern Quetos was startled by Rey''s words, "Well, what will happen if you touch it?" "Well, that''s ......" Makina had a rough idea of what was going on with her short-range <, but she didn''t want to explain how she knew, so she let her words slip. "Would you like to try it?" Then, after Rei declared so, she grabbed the magic tool slowly. "Whoa! Kyaaa!" At the moment he grabbed it, an electric shock of about 10 million volts was released from the small magic tool. It was the kind of magic that makes you wonder what it would have been like if it weren''t for Ray. "Yes, was that a trap ......?" Northanon Quetos asked in a whisper as if to confirm. "I guess so. However, the current value seems to be very low, so it should be enough to knock you out." Makina was analyzing the magic of the moment with certainty. "And if you avoid or withstand the trap ......" Something will happen, Makina said. And true to her word, a second hidden cupboard appeared further inside the hidden cupboard. 2332 - - 62-36 Deep inside "Behind the hidden cupboard, another hidden cupboard? ......" Eumis Isle said in a disgusted voice. "Whoever made this has a pretty bad character ......, or was he just being cautious?" "Both, isn''t it?"